Rex Allee sciâ—â—sset vna cum vniuersa RomanoruÌ„ multitudine inestimabili gaudio admirances cuuctipotentem laudarunt tHis Emperour oute of the toune Within a ten myle eâ—uyroune Where as it thought hym for the best Hath sondry places for to rest And as fortune wold tho He was duellend at one of tho The kyng Allee forth with thassent Of Cust his wyf hath thyder sent Moryce his sone as he was taught To Themperour he goth straught And in his fadre halue he sought As he whiche his lordship sought Tht he of his hyghe worthynes He wold do so grete mekenes His owne Towne to come see And yeue a tyme in the Cyte So that his fadre myght hym gete That be wosd ones with hym ete This ford hath graunted his request And when the day was of the fest An worship of the Emperour The kyng este the Senatour Forth with her wyues bothe two With many a lord lady mo On hors ryden hym ageyne Tyl it byfell vpon a pleyne They syghe where he was comend With that Constaunce anone preyend Spak to her lord that he abyde So that I may to fore ryde To ben vpon his bien benu The fyrst whiche shal hym salu And thus after hyr lordes graunt Upon a mule whyte amblaunt Forth with a fewe rood his quâ—ne They wondred what she wold mene But ryden after a softe pas But when this lady comen was To themperour in his presence She sayd aloude in audyence My lord my fadre wel you be And of this tyme that I se Your honour your good he le Whiche is the helpe of my quarele I thanke vnto the goddes myght For tâ—ye his â—â—rt was aflyght Of that she told in remembraunce And when he wyst it was ConstauÌ„ce Was neuer fadre half so blythe Wepend he kyst hyr ofte sythe So was his hert al ouercome For though his modre were come Fro deth to lyf out of the graue He myght no more wonder haue Than he hath when he hyr syght With that hyr owne lord come nyght And is to themperour obeyed And when that comfort is be wâ—eyed How that Constaunce is come aboute So hard an hert was none oute That he for pyte tho ne wepte Arcenius which hyr fonde kepte Was than glad of that is falle So that with ioye among hem alle They ryden in at Rome gate This Emperour thought al to late Tyl that the pope were come And of tho lordes sende some To pray hym that he wol hast And he cam forth in al hast And when he the tale herd How wonderly his chaunce ferd He thanked god of his myracle To whome may be none obstable The kyng a noble feste hem made And thuo they were al glade A parlement or that they went They setten vnto this entent To put Rome in ful espeyre That morys was apparent heyre And shold abyde with hym stylle For suche was al the londes wylle Qualiter Mauricius cum Impera to â—e vt heres imperij remansit Et Rex Allee et Constancia in angâ—â—am regres si sunt wHen euery thing was fully spoke Of soro we queynt was al that smoke Tho toke his leue allee that kyng And with ful many a ryche thyng Whiche themperour hym had yeue He hath a glad lyf for to lyue For he Constance hath in his hond Whiche was the comfort of his lond For when that he come home ageyne There is no tong that myght seyne What ioye was that ylke stouÌ„de Whiche â—rst was sent of goddes sound By whome the mysbileue of synne Was left Crystes feyth cam ynne To hem that whilome were blynde Qualiter Rex Allâ—â— in Angâ—a post bicnnium humane carnis resolucionem subiens nature debitum persoluit post cuius obitum CoÌ„stancia cum patre suo Rome se transtulit moraturam â—t he which hyndreth euery kind And for no gold may be forlouÈt The deth comyng or he besought Toke with this kyng suche acqueyntauÌ„ce That he with al his retenauÌ„ce Ne myght not defende his lyf And thus he parteth from his wyf Whiche than made sorowe ynoughe And therupon hir herte droughe To leue Englond for euer And go where that she had leuer To Rome whens that she cam And thus of al the lond she nam Hyr leue goth to Rome ageyne And after that the bokes seyne She was not there but a thro we When deth of kynde hath ouerthrowe Hir worthy fadre whiche men seyde That bytwene hyr armes deyde And after ward the yere suend The god of her hath made an end And fro this worldes fayrye Hath take hyr in to companye Moryce hyr sone was coroned Whiche so ferforth was abandoned To Crystes feyth that men hym calle Morys the Crystnest of alle And thus the whele meuyng of loue Was at the last set aboue And so as thou hast herd to fore The fals tunges were lore Whiche vpon loue wold lye For thy touchend of this enuye Whiche longeth vnto bakbytyngr Be ware thou make no lesyng In hyndryng of another wyght And yf thou wold be taught aryght What meschyef bakbytyng doth By other weye a tale soth Now myght thou here anone sewend Whiche to this vyce is acordend hIc ponit Confessoâ— exempluÌ„ coÌ„ tra istos detractores qui in afterius bitupeaum mendacia confingentes diffamacomÌ„ fieri procurauit Et natrat qualiter Perseus Philippi Regis Macedonij filius Demetrio fratri suo ob eius provitatem inuidens composito detractionis mendacio ipsum apud patrem suum mortaliter accusauit dicens ê™ ipse non solum patrem sed totum Macedonij regnuÌ„ Romanis hostibus proditurie vendidisset quem super hoc in iudicinm producens testibê° que judicibns auro subornatis quamuis falsissime morte condempnatum eâ—â—cit quo defuncto eciam et pater infea breue postea mortuus est Et Persio successiue regnante deê° huius detractionis iuuidiam abhorrens Ipsum cum bniuersa suorum pugnatorum multitudine extra Dauubij fluuium ab emilio tunc Romanorum Consule euen tu bellico interfeci fortunauit ita ê™ ab illo die Macedonij potestas penitus des tructa Romano Imperio subiugata de seruiuit eius detractio quam contra aâ—â—um conspirauerat in sui ipsius diffamacionem pro perpetuo diuulgata consistit IN'a Cronyque as thou shalt wyte A grete ensample I fynd wryte Whiche I shal telle vpon this thyng Phelyp of Macedonye the kyng Two sones had he by his wyf Who 's fame is yet in grece ryf Demetrius the fyrst broder Was hote Perseus that other Demetrius they sayden tho The better knyght was of tho To whome the lond was attendanut As he whiche heyre was apparaunt To regne after his fadre day But that thyng whiche no water may Quenche in this world but euer brenneth In to his broder hert renneth The proud enuye of that he syghâ— His broder shold clynne on hygâ—â— And he to hym than
with that hastely A wether whiche was blak she â—â—ouÈ And oute therof she the blood drough And dyde in to the pyttes twoo Warme mylk she put also therto With hony meynt in suche wyse She gan to make hyr sacryfyce And cryde prayde forth with al To pluto the god infernal And to the quene proserpyne Aud so she sought oute the lyne Of hem that longen to that craft Behynd was noman laft And praid hem alle as she was couth To graunte Eson his fyrst youth This old Eson brought forth was tho A wey she bad al other goo Vpon peryl that myght falle And with that word they wenten alle And leften there them two alone And tho she began to gaspe gone And made sygnes many one And sayd hyr wordes therupone So that with spellyng hir charmes She took Eson in bothe hyr armes And made hym for to slepe fast And hym vpon hir herbes cast The blak wether tho she took And hewe the flesshe as doth a Cook On eyther aulter part she leyde And with the charmes that she seyde A fyre doune from the sky alyght And made it for to brenne lyght And when Medea sawe it brenne Anone she gan to sterte renne The fyry aulters al aboute There was no beste whiche goth oute More wylde than she semeth there Aboute hyr sholders henge hyr here As though she were oute of her mynde And torned in to another kynde Tho lay there certeyn wode clefte Of whiche the peces now efte She made hem in the pyttes wete And put hem in the fyry hete And toke the brond with al the blase And thryes she bygan to rase Aboute Eson there as he slepte And efte with water whiche she kepte She made a cercle aboute hym thryes And eke with fyre of sulphyr twyes Ful many another thyng she dede Whiche is not wryten in the stede But she can vp so doune She made a wonder soune Somtyme lyche vnto the cok Somtyme vnto the lauerok Somtyme cacleth as an henne Somtyme speketh as done menne And ryght so as hir â—argon strauÌ„geth In sondry wyse hyl forme chaungeth She semeth fayre no woman Forth with the craft that she can She was as who seith a goddesse And what hyr lyst more or lesse She dyde in bokes as we fynde That passeth ouer mannes kynde But who that wol wondres here What thyng she wrouÈt in this matere To make an ende of that she gan Suche meruayle herd neuer man A poynted in the newe mone When it was tyme for to done She sett â— cauldron on the fyre In whiche was al the hoole a tyre Where on the medycyne stood Of Iuse of water of blood And lete it boyle in suche a plyte Tyl that she sawe the spume whyte And tho she cast in rynde roote And seed floure that was for bote With many an herbe many a stone Wherof she hath there many one And eke the Cympheyus the serpent To hyr hath al hyr scales lent â—he â—ydre hyr yafe his adders skyn And she to boyle cast hem in And part eke of the horned oule The whiche men here on nyghtes houle And of a Rauen whiche was told Of nyne honderd wynter old She took the heed with al the bylle And as the medyâ—yue it wylle She took therafter the bowele Of the see wolf for the hele Of Eson with a thousand mo Of thyngis that she had tho In that caldron to gyder as blyue She put took than of olyue A drye braunche hem with to sterâ— The whiche anone gan floure bere And weye al fresshe grene ageyn When she this vertue herd fâ—yn She lete the lest drope of alle Vpon the bare flore doune falle Where as the droppe falle was Anone there spronge floure gras And waye anone al mede we grene So that it myght wel be sene Medea than knewe and wyst Hyr medycyne is for to tryse And goth to Eson there he lay And took a swerd was of assay With whiche a wounde vpon his syde She made that ther out may slyde The blood within whiche was old And seke trouble feble coldr And tho she took vnto his vse Of herbes al the best Iuse And poured it in to his wounde That made his beynes ful sounde And tho she made his woundes close And took his hond vp he wse And tho she yafe hym drynk a drauÈt Of whiche his youthe agayn be caught His heed his hert his bysage Lyche vnto twenty wynter age And lyche vnto the fresshe may His hore heres were away When passed ben the cold shoures Ryght so recouereth he his floures Loo what myght ony man deuyse A woman shewe in ony wyse More hertely loue in ony stede Than medea to Iason dede Fyrst she made hym the flees to wyn And from alle her kyth kyn With grete tresour with hym she stal And to his fader forth with al His elde hath torned in to youthe Whiche thyng none other man couth But hou it was to hyr aâ—uyt The remembraunce duelleth yet Kyng Peleus his eme was deed Iason bare coroune on his beede Medea hath fulfylled his wylle But when he shold of ryght fulfylle The trouthe whiche to hyr afore He had in the â—le of Colchos swore Tho was medea moost deceyued For he hath another receyued Whtchâ— doughter was to kynge Creon Creusa she byght thus Iason As he that was to loue vntrewe Medea left toke a newe But that was afterward sore abought Medea with hyr art hath wrought Of cloth of gold a mantel ryche Whiche semeth worth a kynges ryche And that was vnto Creusa sent In name of yeft and of present For susterhood was hem bytwene And when the yong fresshe quene That mantyl lappyd hyr aboute A none therof the fyre sprang oute And brent hyr bothe flesshe bone Tho cam Medea to Iason With both his sones on here hond And sayd O thou of euery lond The moost vntre we creature Loo this shal be thy forfeture With that she bothe his sones slough Byfore his eye he oute drough His swerd wold haue slayn hyr tho But fare wel she was a goo Vnto Pallas the court aboue Where as she pleyneth vpon loue As she that was with that goddesse And he was left in grete dystresse Thus myÈt thou see what sorow it doth To swere an othe whiche is not soth In loues cause namely My sone be wel ware for thy And kepe that thou be not forswore For this whiche I haue told tofore Ouyde telleth euery dele My fader I may leue it wele For I haue herde it ofte seye Hou Iason toke the flees aweye Fro Colchos for yet herd I nought By whom it was fyrst thyder brouÈt And for it were good to here If that thou lyst at my prayere To telle I wold you byseche My sone who that wol it seche In bokes he may fynde it wryte
that is falle And fonnd a crafte amonges alle Thurgh which he hath a sefoul dasited With his magyke so enchaunted That he flewe forth when it was nyÈt Vnto the kynges tent ryght Where that he lay amyddes his hoost And when he was a slepe moost With that the sefoull to hym brought Another charme whiche he wrought At home within his chambre stylle The kyng he turneth at his wylle And maketh hym for to dreme see The dragon and the pryuete Whiche was bytwene hym the quene And ouer that he made hym wene In sweuen how that the god Amoo Whan he from the quene aroos Toke forth a rynge wherin a stone Was set graue therupon A sone in whiche whan he cam nyght A lyon with a swerd he syght With a prente as he tho mette Vpon the quenes womhe he sette A seall goth hym forth his way With that the sweuen went his waye And tho bygon the kyng a wake And sighed for his wyues sake With that he lay within his tent And hath a greete woÌ„der what it ment With that he hasted hym to ryse Anone and sent after the wyse Among the whiche there was one A Clerk his name is Amphyone When he the kynges sweuen herd What it bytokeneth he answerd And said as sykerly as the lyf A god hath leyn by thy wyf And gete a sone whiche shall wynne The world al that was withynne As the lyon is kyng of beestes So shalle the world obeye his heestes Which with his swerd shal all be woÌ„ne As ferre as shyneth ony sonne The kyng was doutif of this dome But netheles when that he come Ageyne in to his owne londe His wyf with child grete he founde He myght not hym self stere That he ne made hir heuy chere But he whiche couthe of all sorowe Nectanabus vpon the morow Thorugh the deceyte of Nygromaunce Toke of a dragon the semblaunce And where the kyng sat in his halle Came in rampyng among hem alle With suche a noyse and suche a rore That they agast were all so sore As though they shold deye anone And netheles he greueth none But goth toward the deyse on hye And when he quene nyghe He stynt his noyse and his wyse To hir he profered his seruyce And leyd his honde vpon hir barme And she with goodly chere hir arme Aboute his neck ayeneward leyde And thus the quene with hym pleyde In sight of al men aboute And at the last he gan to loute And obeysaunce vnto hir make And he that wold his leue take And sodenly his lothely forme In to an egle he gan transforme And flewe and set hym on a rayle Wherof the kyng had grete meruayle For there he plumeth hym pyketh As doeth an hawke when hym wel liketh And after that him self he shoke Wherof that all the halle quoke As it a terremote were They saiden alle god was there In suche a rees and forth he flygh The kyng whiche al this wonder sighe When he cam to his chambre alone Vnto the quene he made his mone And of foryeuenes he hir prayd For than he knewe wel as he said She was with child than with a god Than was the kyng withoute rod Chastysed the quene excused Of that she had ben accused And for the gretter euydence Yet after that in the presence Of kyng philip and of other mo Whan they roode in the feldes tho A fesaunte came before her cye The whiche anone as they hir seye Fleyng lete an egge doune falle And it to brake among hem alle And as they token therof kepe They sawe oute of the shelle crepe A lytel serpent oute of the ground Whiche rampeth al aboute round And in ayene it wol haue wonne But for the brennyng of the sonne It myght not so he deyde And therupon the clerkes seide As the serpent when it was oute Went enuyroun the shelle aboute And myght not torne in ageyne So shall it falle in certeyne This child the world shal enuyroune And aboue all to bere the Crowne Hym shalle befalle in his yong age He shall desire in his courage When all the world is in his honde To turne ageyne in to the londe Where he was bore and in his weye Home ward he shalle with poyson deye The kyng whiche al this sawe herd Fro that day forth how so it ferd His Ielousye hath all foryete But he whiche hath the child begÌ„ete Nectanabus in pryuete The tyme of his natyuyte Vpon the constellacion A wayteth and relacion Maketh to the quene how she shalle dâ— And euery houre appoynteth so That no mynute therof was lore So that in due tyme is bore This child forth with therupon There fell wondres many one Of terremote vnyuersell The sonne took coloure of the stele And left his lyght the wyndes blewe And many strengthes ouerthrewe The see his propre kynde chaunged And al the world his forme chauÌ„ged The thonder with his fyry beuen So cruel was vpon the heuen That euery erthely creature Tho thought his lyf in auenture The tempest at the last seceth The child is kepte his age encreceth And Alysaunder his name is hote To whome Calystre and Arystote To techen hym philosophye Endenden and Astronomye With other thynges whiche he couthe Also to teche hym in his youthe Nectanabus took vpon honde But euery man may vnderstonde Of sorcerye how that it wende It wylle hym self proue at the ende And namely for to begyle A lady whiche withoute gyle Supposeth all that she hereth But often he that euyll stereth His ship is dreynte therin a mydde And in this caas ryght so betydde Nectauabus vpon a nyght When it was fayre sterre bryght This yong lord lad vpon hyghe Aboue a towre where as he syghe The sterres suche as he acounteth He seeth what eche of hem amounteth And though he knewe of al thynge Yet hath he no knowlechyng That shall vnto hym self befalle When he hath told his wordes alle This yong lord than hym opposeth And asketh yf that he supposeth What deth he shall hym self deye He seith or fortune is aweye And euery sterre hath lost his wonne Or els of myn owne sonne I shall be slayn I may not fle Thought Alysandre in pryuyte Herof this old dotard lyeth And or that other ought aspyeth Al sodenlyche his old bones He shoof ouer the wal for the nones And seyth hym lye doune there a part Wherof now serueth al thyn art Thou knowest al other mennes chauÌ„ce And of thy self hast ygnoraunce That thou hast said amonges alle Of thy persone it is not befalle Neccanabus whiche hath his deth Yet whyles hym lasteth lyf or brethe To Alysander he spak and seyd That he wâ—th wroÌ„g blame on hym leid Fro poynt to poynt al che cas He told how he hie sonne was Tho he whiche sory was ynough Oute of the dyche his fader drough And told his moder how it ferde In counceyl
guyde rule That he ne passe mote the rule Wherof that he hym self begyle For in the wymmen is no gyle Of that a man hym self bywapeth Whan he his owne wytte by iapeth I can the woman wel excuse But what man wyl vpon hym muse After the folyssh Impressyon Of his ymagynacion Within hym self the fyre he bloweth Where of the woman no thyng knoweth So may she no thynge be to Wyte For yf a man hym self excite To drenche wyl it not forbere The water shal no blame bere What may the golde though men coueite Yf that a man wyl lyue streyte The woman hath hym no thyng bouÌ„de Yf he his owne herte wounde She may not lette the folye And though so fyl of companye That he myght ony thynge purchace Yet maketh a man the first chace The woman fleeth he purseweth So that by the weye of skyl it sueth The man is cause how so befalle That he ful ofte sythe is falle Where that he may not wel aryse And netheles ful many wyse Befooled hath hem self or this As now a dayes yet it is Emonge the men euer was The sâ—ronge is febelest in this caas It syt a man by were of kynde To loue but it is not kynde A man for loue his wyt to lese For yf the month of Iuyle shal frese And that decembre shal be hote The yere mystorneth wel I wow To seen a man fro his estate Thorugh his soty effâ—mynate And leue that a man shal do It is â—s hose aboue the shoo To man which ought not to be vsed But yet the world hath ofte accused Ful grete prynces of this dede How they for loue hem self myslede Wherof manhode stode behynde Of olde ensaumples as I fynde Hic ponit exemplum qualiter pro â—o â—d Sardanapallus assirioruÌ„ prinâ—â—ps mâ—â—eri oblectamento effeminatê° fâ—e concupiscencie torpâ—rem quasi ex câ—nsuetudine adhibebat a barboro Rege â—â—doruÌ„ super hâ—c insidiante in sui feruo ris maiori voluptate subitis mutacioni bus extâ—nctus est These olde gestes tellen thus That whylom Sordanapallus Which helde al hole in his empyre The grete kyngdom of assyre Was thorugh the slouth of his corage Falle in to the ylke fyry rage Of loue which the man assoteth Where of hym self so ryotâ—th And wexeth so ferforth womannysshe That ageyn kynde as a fysshe A byde wolde vpon the londe In wymmen suche a luste he fonde That he dwelt euer in chambre stylle And onely wrought after the wylle Of wymmen so as he was bede That seldom whan in other stede If that he wolde wenden oute To seen how that it stodâ— aboute But there he kyste there he played They taughten hym a lace to â—â—ayed And weue a purs to enfyle A perle and fyl thylke whyle One barbarâ—s the prynce of mede Seeth the kyng in womanhede Was falle fro chyualrye And gate hym helpe companye And wrought so that atte laste This kynge out of his reygne he caste Which was vndoon for euer moo And yet men speken of hym so That it is shame for to here For thy to loue is in manere Nota qualiter dauid amans muliâ—reâ— propter hoc probitatâ—m armorum non minus excercuit kYng dauid had many a loue But nethelesse alweye aboue Knyghthode he kepte in suche a wyse That for no flesshly couetyse Of luste to lygge in lady armes He lefte not the luste of armes For where a prynce his lusâ—â—s sueth That he the werre not purseweth whan it is tyme to been armed His contre stante ful ofte harmed Whan the enemyes be wexe bolde That they deffence none beholde Ful many a londe hath so be lore As men may rede ofte tyme tofore Of hem that so her â—ases soughten Which after they ful dere aboughten Hic locuitâ—r qualiter regnum lasa uiâ— voluptatibus deditum de facili vin â—tâ—r Et ponit exemplum de ciro rege persarum qui cum â—ddoâ— miruÌ„ probita tis strenuissimos sibiqÈ in â—â—llo aduer santâ—s nullo modo vincere potuit cum ipsis tandem pacis tractatum dissimilans â—â—â—ordiam finalem stabilre finx it superquo â—ddi postea per aliquod tâ—mpus armis insoluti sub pacis tempore voluptatibus intendebant Quod cirâ—â— percipiens in eos armatus subito irruit ipsos que indefensibiles vincens sub imperio triâ—â—tarios subiugauit tO mochel ease is no thynge worth For it setteth euery vyce forth And euery vertu put a backe Wherof price torneth in to lacke As in a cronyke I may reherce Which telleth how the kyng of persâ— That cyrus hyght a werre hadde A geynst the people which he draddâ— Of a courte which lyddos hyght But yet for ought that he do myght As in batayle vpon the werre And had oâ— hem alwey the werre And whan he sawe wyst it wele That he by strengthe wan no dele Thenne atte laste he caste a wyle This worthy peple to begyle And toke with hem a fayned pâ—eâ— Which shold laste endelees So as he sayd in wordes wyse But he thought al in otherwyse For it btyd vpon the caas Whan that this peple in reste was They token ese many folde And worldes â—se as it is tolde By waye of kynde is the noryce Of euery luste which toucheth vyce Thus whan they were in lustes falle The werres ben forgeten alle Was none which wold the worshyp Of armeâ— but in ydelshyp They putten besynesse aweye And toke hem to daunce and pleye But moste aboue al other thynges They token hem to the lykynges Of flesshly lustes that chastyte Receyued was in no degree But euery man doth what hym lyste And whan the kyng of pers it wyste That they vnto folye entenden With his power whaÌ„ they leste weÌ„den More sodeynly than doeth the thonder He came put hem vnder And thus hath lecherye lore The londe which had be tofore The beste of hem that were tho And in the byble I fynde also Nota hic qualiter facta belli luxus infortunat Et narrat qd cum Rex amolech hebreis sibi insultantibus resis tere nequijt consilio balaam mulieres regni sui pulcherimas in castro hebre orum misit qui ab ipsis contaâ—inath graciam statim anâ—iserunt Et â—â—c ab amalech deuicti in magna multituine gladio â—â—aderunt a Tale lyke vnto this thynge How amalech the payen kynge Whan that he myght by no weyr Defende his londe put albeyr The veray peple of Israel This sarasyn as it byfelle Thorough the counceyl of balaam A rowte of fayre women nam That lusty were yonge of age And bad hem goo to the lynage Of these ebrewes forth they wente With eyen greye brolbes bente And wel arayed euery chone And whan they comen were anone Emong the brethes was none in syght But catche who that catche myght And eche of hem his sustes sought Which after they ful dere bought For grace anone began
yere xvj of kyng Richard What shal byfalle here afterward God wote for now vpon this tyde Man see the world on euery syde In sondry wyse so dyuersed That it wel nygh stant al reuersed Al 's for to speke of tyme a goo The cause why it chaungeth so It nedeth nought to specyfye The thyng so open is at the â—ye That euery man it may behold And netheles by dayes old Whan that the bookes weren leuer Wrytyng was byloued euer Of hem that weren vertuous For here in erthe among vs Iâ— noman wryte how it stode â—he prys of hem that were good Shold as who sayth a grete partye Be lost so for to magnyfye The worthy prynces that tho were The bookes shewen here there Wherof the world ensampled is And tho that dyden then ne amys Though tyrannye cruelte Ryght us they stonden in degre So waâ— the wrytyng of the werk Thus I whiche am a borell clerk Purpose for to wryte a book After the world that whylome toke Long tyme in old dayes passyd But for men seyn it is now lassed In wers plyght than it was tho â— thenke for to touche also The world whiche neweth euery daye So as I can so as I may Though I sekenesse haue vpon hond And long haue had yet wol I fonde To wryte do my besynesse That in som partye so as I gesse The wyse man may be aduysed For this prologue is so assised That it to wysedome al bylongeth That wyse man that it vnderfongeth He shal drawe in to remembraunce The fortune of the worldes chaunce The whiche noman in his persone May knowe but the god allone Whan the prologue is so dispended The book shal afterward be ended Of loue whiche doth many a wondre And many a wise maÌ„ hath put vnder And in this wyse I thenke trele Toward them that now be grete Betwene the vertu the vyce Whiche longeth vnto this offyce But for my wyttes ben to smale To telle euery mannys tale This book vpon amendement To stond at his commauÌ„dement With whome myn hert is of acorde I send vnto myn owne lord Whiche of lancastre is henry named The hyghe god hath hym proclamed Ful of knyghthode al grace So wold I now this werk embrace With hoole trust hoole byleue God graunte I mote it wel acheue t Empus preteritum presens fortuna beatum Liquit antiquas vertit in vrbe vias Progenuit veterem concors dilectio pacem Dum facies hominis nuncia mentis erat Legibus vnicolor tunc temporis aura refulsit Iusticiâ— plane tunc que fuere vie Nunc que latens odium vul tum depingit amoris Pace que sub ficta tempus ad arma tegit Instar ex varijs mutoble Cameliontis Lex ge rit regnis sunt noua iura noius Climata que fuerant solidissima sic que per orbem Soluuntur nec eo centra qietis habent E statu regnoque vt dicunt secundnm temporalia videlicet tempore Regis Ricardi secundi Auno Regni sui Sextodecimo i Shal drawe in to my mynde â–ª The tyme passed than I fynde The world stoode in al his welthe Tho was the lyf of maÌ„ in helth To was plente tho was Ry chesse Tho was fortune tho was prowesse Tho was knyghthode in prys by name Wherof the wide worldes fame Wryte in Cronycles is yet withhold Iustyce of lawe tho was holde The pryuelege of Regalye Was fast al the Baronye Worshiped was in his astate â–ª The Cytees knewe no debate The peple stood in obeysaunce Vnder the reule of gouernaunce And pees with rightwysenesse keste With charyte tho stood in reste Of mannys hert the courage Was shewed thenne in the vysage The word was lyche to the conceyte Wtthout semblaunt of deceyte Tho was ther vnenuyed loue Tho was vertu set aboue And vyce was put vnder foote Now stant the crop vnder the rote The world is chaunged oueral And therof moost in specyal That loue is falle in to discord And that I take in to record Of euery â–ª lond for his partye The comyn voys â–ª whiche may not lye Nought vpon one but vpon alle Is that men now clepe calle And seyne that regnes ben deuyded In stede of loue is hate guyded The werre wol no pees purchace And lawe hath take hyr double face So that Iustyce oute of the way With ryghtwysenes is gone awey And thus to loke on euery halue Men seen the soore without salue Whiche al the world hath ouertake Ther is no reygne of al out take For euery clymat hath his dyele After the tornynge of the whele Whiche blyude fortune ouerthroweth Wherof the certayne noman knoweth The heuene wote what is to done But we that duelle vnder the mone Stond in this world vppon a were And namely but the power Of hem that ben the worldes guydes With good counseylle on euery sides Ben kept vpright in suche a wyse That hate breke nought thassise Of loue whiche is al the chyef To kepe a reygne oute of meschyef For al reson wold this That vnto hym whiche the heued is The membres buxom shal bo we And he sholde eke her trouth alowe With al his hert and make hem chere For good counseyl is good to here Al though a man be wyse hym selue Yet is the wysedom more of tivelue And yf they stonde both in one To both it were thenne anone That god his grace wold sende To make of thylk werre an ende Whiche euery day now groweth newe And that is gretely for to rewe In specyal for cristes sake Whiche wold his owne lyf forsake Amonge the men to yeuen pees But now men tellen netheles That loue is from the world departed So stant the pees vneuene parted With hem that lyuen now a dayes But for to loke at al assayes To hym that wold reson seche After the comon worldes speche It is to wonder of thylk werre In which none wote who hath that werre For lond hym self deceyueth And of dysese his parte receyueth And yet take men no kepe But thylk lord whiche al may kepe To whome no counseyl may be hyd Vpon the world whiche is be tyd Amende that wherof men pleynen With trewe hertes with pleyne And reconsyle loue ayene As he whiche is kyng souerayne Of al the worldes gouernaunce And of his hygh purucaunce Afferme pees bytwene the londes And take here cause in to his hondes So that the world may stande appesed And his godbeede also be plesed Quas coluit moises vetus aut nouus Ipse Iohannes Hesternas leges vix colit ista dies Sic prius ecclesia bina virtute rokta Nunc magis inculta pâ—llet vtraque via Pacificam petri vagi nam mucro resumens Horruit â—â—d xâ—i verba cruoris Iter NuÌ„c tamen assiduo gladium de sangiune tinctum Viâ—rat auaricia bege repente sacra Sic lupus â—â—t pastor pater hostis mors miscrator
her mercy But syre of that ye wold mene That I shold otherwyse wene To be byloued than I was I am beknowe as in that cas Confessor My good sone telle me how Amans Now lest I wol telle you My good fadre how it is Ful ofte it hath byfalle or this Thorugh hope was not certeyne My wenyng hath be set in veyne To truste in thyng that helpe me nouÈt But onlyche of myn owne thought For as semeth that a belle Lyke to the wordes that men telle Ansueryth ryght so nomore ne lesse To yow my fadre I confesse Suche wyl my wytte hath euer set That what so hope me behet Ful many a tyme I wene it sothe But fynally no spede it dothe Thus may I telle as I can Wenyng begyleth many a man So hath it me ryght wel I wote For yf a man wol in a bote Whiche is withoute botome ro we He must nedes onerthrowe Ryght so wenyng hath ferde by me For whan I wende next haue be As I by my wenyng cast Than was I forthest at last And as a foole my bowe vnbende Whan al was fayled than I wende For thy my fadre as of this That my wenyng hath gone amys Touchend to Snrquedrye Yeue me my penaunce or I dye But yf ye wold in ony forme â— Of this mater a tale enforme Whiche were ayene this vyce set I shold fare wel the bet hIc ponit confessor exemplum coÌ„ tra illos qui in suis viribus presumeÌ„tes debiliores efficiuntur Et narrat qualiter ille Capaneê° miles m armis probatissimus de sua presumens audacia inuocacionem ad superos tempore necessitatis ex vecordia tamen et non a liter primitus prouenisse asseruit vnde in obsidione Ciuitatis Thebarum cuÌ„ ipse quodam die coram suis hostibus ad debellan dum se obtulit ignis de celo subito superueniens Ipsum armatum totaliter in Cineres conbussit mY sone in al maner wyse Surquedrye is to despyse Wherof I fynde write thus The proud knyght Capaneê° He was of suche Surquedrye That he thorugh his chyualrye Vpon hym self so mochel truste That to the goddes hym ne lust In no quarelle to beseche But sayd it was an ydel speche Whiche cause was of pure drede For lak of herte for nede And vpon suche presumpcion He held this proud oppynyon Tyl at the last â–ª vpon a day Aboute Thebes where he lay Whan it of syege was beleyne This knyght as the Cromyque seyne In al mannes syght there Whan he was proudest in his gere And how nothyng myght hym dere Ful armed with his sheld spere As he the Cyte wold assaylle God toke hym self the bataylle Ayene his pryde fro the sky A fyry thonder sodenly He sende to poudre hym smote And thus the pryde whiche was hote Whan he most in his strengthe wende Was brent lost withouten ende So that it proueth wel therfore The strengthe of man is sone lore But yf that he it wel gouerne And ouer this a man may lerne That eke ful oftyme it greueth What that a man hym self beleueth As though it shold hym wel beseme That he al other men can deme And hath foryete his owne vyce A tale of hem that be so nyce And feynen hem self to be wyse I shal telle the in suche a wyse Wherof thou shalt ensample take That thou no suche thyng vndertake hIc loquitur Confessor contra illos qui de sua scieÌ„cia presumentes aliorum condicioues dâ—udicantes indi screte redarguuÌ„t Et narrat ExempluÌ„ de quodam principe Regis Hungarie Germano qui cum featrem suum pau peribus m publico vidit humiliatum Ipsum redarguendo in contrarium edocere presumebat Sed Rex omni sciencia prepollens ipsum sic incaute presumentem ad humilitatis memoriam ter ribili prouidencia micius castigauit I Fynde vpon Surquedrye How that whilom of huÌ„garye By old dayes was a kyng Wyse honest in al thyng And so byfel vpon a daye And that was m the moneth of Maye As thylk tyme it was vsance This kyng with noble purueannce Hath for hym self his chaar arrayed Wheryn he wold ryde amayed Oute of the Cyte for to playe With lordes grete arraye Of lusty folk that were yonge Where somme pleyd somme songe And somme gone som ryde And somme pryke her hors a syde And brydlen hem now in now oute The kyng his eye cast aboute Tyll he atte last was ware And sawe comend ageyne his chare Two pylgryms of so grete age That lyche vnto a drye ymage That weren pale fade hewed And as a busshe whiche is besnewed Here berdes be hoore whyte Ther was of kynde but a lyte That they ne semen fully dede They come to the kyng bede Somme of his good pur charyte And with grete humylyte Oute of his chare to grounde he lepe And hem m bothe his armes kepe And kyst hem bothe foote honde Byfore the lordes of his lond And yaf hem of his good therto And whan he hath this dede do He goth in to his chare ageyne Tho was murmour tho was dysdeyne Tho was compleynt on euery syde They sayden of her owne pryde Echone to other what is this Oure kyng hath do this thynge amys So to abesse his Royalte That euery man it myght se And humbled hym in suche a wyse To hem that were of none empryse Thus was it spoken to fro Of hem that were with hym tho Al pryuely behynde his bak But to hym self noman spak The kynges broder in presence Was thylk tyme grete offence He toke therof was the same Abouen al other which most to blame Vpon his lyege lord hath leyd And hath vnto the lordes seyd Anone as he can tyme fynde There shal nothyng be left behynde That he wol speke vnto the kyng Now what felle vpon this thyng They were mery fayr ynongh Echone with other playd lough And fellen in to tales newe How that the fresshe floures grewe And how the grene leues spronge And how that loue among the yonge Bygan the hertes than to wake And euery byrd hath chose his make And thus the may day to th ende They lad home aye ne they wende The kyng was not so sone come That whan he had his chambre nome His broder ne was redy there And brought a tale vnto his ere Of that he had suche a shame In hyndeyng of his owne name When he hym self wold dretche That to so vyle a pouer wretche Hym deyneth shewe suche symplesse Ageynst the state of his noblesse And sayth he shal no more vse And that he mote hym self excuse Toward his lordes euerychone The kyng stode stylle as onystone And to his tale an ere he leyde And thought more than he seyde But netheles to that he herde Wel curtoysly he ansuerde And told it shold be amended And thus when that here tale was
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
grace That al his pryce on her he â—eyde In audyence thus he seyde My fayre mayde wel ye be Of thyne ansuere eke of the Me lyketh as thou wylt Foryeue be thy fadre gylt And yf thou were of suche lygnage That thou to me were of parage And that thy fadre were a pere As he is now a bachylere Thou sholdest then be my wyf So syker as I haue lyf But this I say netheles That I wol shape thyn encrees What worldes good that thou wolt baue Axe of my yeft thou shalt haue And she the kynges wordes wyse Knelyng thanked in this wyse My lyege lord god mote yow quyte My fader here hath but a lyte Of waryson that he wende Had al be lost but now amende Ye may wel thorugh your noble grace With that the kyng ryght in his place A none forth in the fressh hete An Erldom whiche than was eschete Was late falle in to his honde Vnto the knyght with rente londe Hath youe with his chartre sesed And thus was al the noyse appesed This maide which sate vpon hir knees Byfore the kynges charytees Comen deth sayth euermore My lyege lord ryght now to fore Ye sayde as it is of record That yf my fadre were a lord And pere vnto these other grete Ye wolden not elles lete That I ne shold be your wyf And thus wote enery worthy lyf A kynges word mote be holden For thy my lord yf that ye wolden So grete a charyte fulfylle God wote it were wel my wylle For he whiche was a bachilere My fadre is now made a pere So when as euer that I cam An erles doughter now I am This yong kyng whiche plesyd alle Hyr beaute hyr wyt with alle As he that wae with loue hente A none therto yaf his assente He myght not the mayde asterte That she nys lady of his herte So that he took hyr to his wyfe To holde whyle that he hath lyfe And thus the kyng toward this knyÈt Acordeth to hym as it is ryght And ouer this good is to wyte In the Cronyes as it is wryte This noble kyng of whome I tolde Of Spayne by tho dayes olde The kyngdome had in gouernaunce Aud as the book maketh remembrauÌ„ce Alphons was his propre name The knyght also yf I shal name Dom Petro hyght as men telle His doughter wyse Petronelle Was cleped whiche was ful of grace And that was sene in thylk place Where she hyr fadre oute of tene Hath breuÈt made hyr self a quene Of that she hath so wel disclosed The poyntes wherof she was opposed Confessor Lo now my sone as thou myght here Of al this thyng to my matere But one I take that is pryde To whome no grace may betyde In heuene he felle oute of his stede And paradys hym was forbede The good men in erthe hym hate So that to helle he mote algate Where euery vertu shal be weyued Aud euery vyce be receyued But Humblesse is al other wyse Whiche moost is worthy noo repryse It taketh ageyne both softe fayre If ony thyng stant in contrayre With humble speche it is redressed Thus was this yong mayd blessyd The whiche I spak of now to fore Her fadre lyfe she gat therfore And wanne with al the kynges loue For thy my sone yf thou wolt loue It sytt the wel to loue pryde And take Humblesse on thy syde The more of grace thou shalt gete Amans My fadre I wol not foryete Of this that ye haue told me here And yf that ony suche manere Of humble port may loue appaye Here afterward I thenke assaye But now ouer I beseche That ye more of my shryfte seche Confessor My good sone it shal be do Now herkne lay an ere to For as tonchand of pryde fayre Al 's ferforth as I can declare In cause of vyce in cause of loue That thou hast pleyne herd aboue So that there is nomore to seye Touchend of that but other weye Touchend enuye I thynk to telle Whiche hath by propre kynde of helle Withoute cause to mysdo Toward hym self other mo Here afterward as I vnderstonde Thou shalt the spyces as they stonde Explicit liber primus Liter secundus hOw after pryde the second Ther is which many a wo ful stouÌ„d To wardes other beryth aÌ„boute Within hym self not withoute For in his thought he brenneth euer Whan that he wote another leuer Or more vertuous than he Whiche passeth hym in his degre Wherof he taketh his maladye That vyce is cleped hoote enuye For thy my sone yf it be so That the art or hast ben one of tho As for to speke in loues cas Yf euer yet thyn herte was Seke of other mennes hele So god auannce my quarele My fadre ye a thousand sythe Whan I haue sene another blythe Of loue a goodly chere Ethna whiche brenneth yere byyere Was than not so hoote as I Of thylk for whiche pryuely Myn hertes thought within brenneth The ship whiche on the wawe renneth And is forstormed for blowe Is not more payned for athrowe Than I am than whan I se Another whiche that passeth me In that fortune of loues yefte But fadre this I telle in shryfte That now here but in a place For who that seche fynde grace In other stede it may nought greue But this ye may ryght wel byleue Toward my lady that I serue Though that I wyst for to sterue Myn hert is ful of suche folye That I my self may not chastye Whan I the court see of Cupyde Approche vnto my lady syde Of hem that lusty ben fresshe Though it auayle hem not a resshe But only that they ben of speche My sorowe is than not to seche But whan they rownen in her ere Then groweth al my most fere And namely whan they talen long My sorowes be than so strong Of that I se hem wel at ease I can not telle my dysease But syre as of my lady selue Though she haue wowers x or twelue For no mystrust I haue of hire Me greueth nonght for certes syre I trowe in al this world to seche Nys woman that in dede speche Wol better auyse hyr what she doth Ne better for to sey a soth Kepe hyr honour at al tyde And yet gete hyr a thank besyde But netheles I am be knowe That whan I see ony throwe Or elles yf it I may here That she make ony man good chere Though I therof haue not to done My thought wol entermete sone For though I be my self straunge Enuye maketh myn hert chaunge That I am sorowfully be stad Of that I se another glad With hyr but of other alle Of loue what so may byfalle Or that he fayle or that he spede Therof take I but lytel hede Now haue I sayd my fader alle And of this poynt in specyal As ferforthly as I haue wyst
mote obeye That may he suffer by no weyâ— With strength durst he no thyng stoÌ„â— So took he lesyng vpon honde When he sygh tyme spak therto For it byfelle that tyme so His fadre grete werres had With Rome whiche he streyt lad Thorugh myÈty strength of his maÌ„hod As he whiche hath yuough knygthod And ofte hâ—m had sore greued But or the werre were acheued As he was vpon ordynaunce At home in grece it felle par chaunce Demetaus whiche ofte aboute Rydend was stood that tyme oute So that this Perse in his absence Whiche bare the tonge of pestylence With fals wordes whiche he feyneth Upen his owne broder pleyneth In pryuete behynde his bak And to his fadre thus he spak My dere fadre I am holde By wey of kynde as reson wolde That I fro yow shal no thyng hyde Whiche myght torne in ony syde In youre estate to greuaunce For thy myn hertes obeysaunce Toward yow I thenke to kepe For it is good ye take kepe Upon a thyng whiche is me told My broder hath vs al sold To hem of Rome yow also For then they behote hym tho That he with them shal regne in pees Thus hath he cast for his encres That youre estate shal go to nought And thus to proue shal be brought So ferforth that I vndertake It shal not wel mow be forsake The kyng vpon his tale ansuerd And said yf this thyng whiche he herd Be soth may be brought to proue It shal not be to his behoue Whiche vs hath shapen so the werst For he hym self shal be the ferst That shal be dede yf that I may Thus afterward vpon a day When that Demetrius was come Anone his fadre hath hym nome And bad to his broder Perse That he his tale shal reherce Of thylk treson whiche he told And whiche al vntrouthe wolde Counseylleth that so hyghe a nede Be treted where as it may spede In comon place of jugement The kyng therto yafe his assent Demetrius was put in holde Wherof that Perseus was bolde Thus stood the trouth vnder the charge And the falshede goth at large Whiche thouâ—gh byhest hath ouercome The grettest of the lordes some That preuelyche of his acord They stond as wytnesse of record The Iuge was made fauourable Thus was the lawe deceyuable So ferforth that the fronth fond Rescouse none thus the lond Forth with the kyng deceyued were The gyliles was dampned there And deyde vpon acusement But suche a fals conspyrement Though it be preuy for a throwe God wold not it were vnknowe And that was after ward wel proued In hym whiche hath that deth coÌ„troued Of that his broder was so slayn This Perseus was wondre fayn As he that â–ª tho was apparauÌ„t Upon the regne expectauÌ„t Wherof he wax so proud beyn That he his fadre in dysdeyn Hath take set at none acompte As he whiche thouÈt hym to surmouÌ„te That where he was fyrst de bonayrâ— He was tho rebelle contrayre And not as heyr but as a kyng He took vpon hym in al thyng Of malyce of tyrannye In contempt of Regalye Lyued his fadre soo wrought That when the fadre hym bethought And sawe to whedyr syde it droughe Anone he wyst wel ynough How Perse his fals tonge Hath so thenuyous belle ronge That he hath slayne his owne broder Wherof as then he knewe none other But sodenly the Iuge he nome Whiche corrupt sat vpon the dome In suche a wyse hath hym pressed That he the soth hym hath confessed Of al that he hath spoke do More sory than the kynge was tho Was neuer man vpon this molde And thought in certeyne that he wold â—engeaunce take vpon this wrong But the other party was so strongr That for the lawe of no statute There may no ryght be execute And vpon this dyuysyon The lond was torned vp so doun Wherof his herbe is so distraught That he for pure sorowe hath caught The maladye of whiche nature Is queynt in euery creature And when this kyng is passed thus This fals tonged Perseus The regyment hath vnderfonge But ther may no thyng stond longe Whiche is not vpon trouthe grounded For god whiche hath al thyng bouÌ„ded And sawe the falshede of his gyle Hath set hym but a lytel whyle That he shal regne vpon depose For sodenly as the rose So sodenly doune he felle In thylk tyme it so byfelle This newe kyng of newe pryde With strengthe shope hym for to ryde And sayd he wold Rome waste Wherof he made a besy haste And hath assembled hym an hoost In al that euer he myght most What man that myght wepen be re Of al he wold none forbe re So that it myght not be nombred The folk whiche was encombred Thorugh him that god wold ouerthrowe Anone it was at Rome knowe The pompe whiche that Perse lad And the Romayns that tyme had A consul whiche cleped was thus The name Panle Emilius A noble a worthy knyght with alle And he whiche cheef was of alle This werre on hond hath vndertake And whan he shold his leue take Of a yong doughter whiche was his She wepte what cause it is He axeth she hym ansuereth That Perseus is dede he it hereth And wondreth what she mene wold And vpon childehode hym told That Perse his lytel hound is dede Withethat he pulleth vp his hede And made ryght a glad vysage And seyd how that was a presage Touchend vnto that other Perse How that fortune hym shald aduerse He seyth for suche a prenostyke Moost of an hound was to hym lyke For as it is an houndes kynde To berke vpon a man behynde Ryght so behynde his broders bak With fals wordes whiche he spak He hath do slayn that is routhe But he whiche hateth al vntrouth The hyghe god it shal redresse For so my doughter prophetesse Forth with hyr lytel houndes deth Betokeneth thus forth he geth Conforted of this euydeucâ— With the Romayns in his defence Ageyne the grekes that be comende This Perseus as nought semende This meschyef whiche that hym abode With al his multitude rode And prayd hym vpon the thyng Of that he was bycomen a kyng And how he had his Royalme gete That he hath al the ryght foryete Whiche longeth vnto gouernaunce Wherof thorugh good ordynaunce It felle vpon the wynter tyde That with his hoost he shold ryde Oner Dauubye thylke flood Whiche al be frorn than stood So hard that he wende wel To passe but the blynde wheel Whiche torneth ofte or men beware Thylk yee whiche hors men bare To brak so that a grete partye Was dreynt of the chyualrye The rereward it took awey Cam none of hem to lond drey Paulus the worthy knyÈt romeyn By his aspye it herd seyn And hasteth al that he may So that vpon that other day He cam where he this hoost byheld And that was in a
large feld Where the baners ben displayed He hath anone his men arrayed And when that he was enbataylled He goth hath the feld assaylled And slough took al that he fonde Wherof the Macedonye londe Which thurgh kyng alisaÌ„der is honoured Long tyme stood was than deuoured To Perse al infortune â—â—â—y wyte so that the comune Of al the lond his heyre exyle And he dyspeyred for the whyle Desguysed in a power wede To Rome goth ther for nede The â—â—aft whiche thylk tyme was To worken in lawnÌ„ in bras He lerneth for his sustenaunce Suche was the sones purueaunce And of his fadre it is sayd In strong pryson that he was layd In Albe where that he was dede For honger for defaulte of brede The hounde was token of prophecye That lyche an hound he shold dye Whiche lyche was of condycyon Whan he with detractyon Bark on his broder so behynde Coufessor Lo what proufyde a man may fynde Whiche hyndre wol another wyght For thy with al thyn hool myght My sone eschewe thylk vyce Amans My fadre elles were I nyce For ye therof so wel haue spoke That it is in myn hert loke And euer shal but of enuye If ther be more in his baylye Towardes loue say me what My sone as gyle vnder the hat With sleyghtes of a Tregetour Is hyd enuye of suche colour Hath yet the fourth deceyuaunt The whiche is cleped fals semblaunt Wherof the mater the forme Now herkne I the shal enforme Nil bilinguis aget nisi duplo conci tat ore Dumque diem loquitur vox sua vota tegit Vultus habet lucem tenebras mens sermo salutem Actus sed morbum dat suus esse grauem Pox tibi quam spondet magis est prenostica guerre Comoda si dederit disce subesse dolum Qnodque patet esse fides in eo fraus est que positi Pâ—ncipium pacti finis habere negat O qmÌ„ condicio talis deformat amantein Qui magis apparens est in amore nichil hIc tractat Confessor super quarta specie Inuidie que dissimulacio dicitur cuius vultus quanto maio ris amicicie apparenciam ostendit taÌ„to subtilioris doli fallacias ad decipien duÌ„ mens ymaginatur oF fals seÌ„blauÌ„t yf I shall telle Aboue al other it is the welle Out of that which deceyt floweth There is no man so wyse that knoweth Of thylkf lood whiche is the tyde Ne how he shold hym self guyde To take sauf passage there And yet the wynd to mans ere Is softe as it semeth oute It maketh clere weder al aboute But though it seme it is not soo For fals semblaunt hath euer moo Of his counseyl in companye The derke vntrewe Ipocrysye Whoo 's word destroyeth in his thouÈt For thy they be to gyder brought Of one couyne of one houshold As it shal after ward thus be told Of fals semblaunt it nedeth nought To telle of old ensamples ought For al day in experyence A man may see thylk euydence Of fayre wordes whiche he hereth But yet the barge of enuye stereth And halt it euer from the londe Whiche fals seÌ„blauÌ„t with oore in hond It roweth wol not arryue But lete it on the wawes dryue In grete tempest grete debate Wherof that loue his estate Empeyreth therfore I rede My sone that thou flee drede This vyce what that other seyn Lete thy semblaunt be trewe pleyn For fals semblaunt is thylk vyce Whiche neuer was withoute offyce Where that enuye thynketh to gyle He shal byfore that ylke whyle Of pryue counseylle be messagere For when his semblaunt is most clere Than is he most derke in his thought Though man hym se they knowe hym nouÈt But as it sheweth in the glas Thyng whiche theryn neuer was So sheweth it in his vysage That neuer was in his courage Thus doth al his thyng with sleyght Now laye thy conscyence in weyght My good soue shryue the here If thou were euer customere To fals semblaunt in ony wyse For ought I can me yet auyse My good fadre certes no For I for loue haue do so Now axe I wold pray yow For elles I wote neuer bow Of fals semblauÌ„t how that I haue gyâ—t My sone sethyn that thou wylt That I shal axe gabbe nought But telle yf euer was thy thought With fals semblaunt couerture To wyte of ony creature How that he was with loue stad So wery or sory or he were glad Whan thou wystyst how it were Al that he rouneth in thyn ere Thou toldest forth in other place To setten hym fro loues grace Of that woman that hym best lyst Theryn no man his counseyll wyst But thou by whome he was deceyue â–ª Of loue from his purpoos weyued And thoughtest at his dysturbaunce Thyn owne cause shold auaunce As who seyth I am so secrete There may no mans pryuete Behâ—led halue so wel as myn Art thou my sone of suche engyn Telle on My good fadre nay As for the more party I say But of somdele I am byknowe That â–ª I may stonde in thylk rowe Among hem that saundres vse I wol me not therof excuse That I with suche colour ne steyne When I my best semblaunt feyne Telle my fela we of that I wote Al his counseylle both cold hote For by that cause I make hym chere Tyl I his loue knowe here And yf so be myn herte soucheth That ought vnto my lady toucheth Of loue that he wold me telle Anone I renne vnto the welle And cast water in to the fyre So that his carte amyd the fyre By that I haue his counseyll knowe Ful ofte syth I ouerthrowe When that he weneth best to stonde But this I do yow to vnderstonde Yf that a man loue elles where So that my lady be nought there And he me telle he wol it hyde There shal no word escape asyde Forth with deceypt of no semblaunt To hym breke I none couenaunt Me lyketh not in other place To let no man of his grace Ne for to be Inquesytyâ— To knowe another mans lyf Where that he loue or loue nought That toncheth no thyng to my thouÈt But al it passeth thorugh myn ere Ryght as a thyng that neuer were And is foryete layd asyde But yf it toucheth ony syde My lady as I haue er spoken Myn ere 's be than nought loken For certes whan that by tyt My wyl myn hert al my wyt Ben fully set to herken spere What ony man wol saye of here Thus haue I feyned companye Ful ofte for I wold aspye What thyng it is that ony man Telle of my worthy lady can And for two causes I do this The fyrst cause wherof is At that I myght herken seke That ony man of her myspeke I wol excuse hyr so fully That when she wyst it veryly Myn hope shold be the more To hane hyr
That for to wysse the more Somme good ensample vpon this lore Ye wold me telle of that is wryte That I the better myght wyte How I foolhast shoâ—d esche we And the wysedome of counseyl sewe My sone that thou myght enforme Thy pacyâ—nce vpon the forme Of old ensamples as they felle Now vnderstond what I shal telle â—Ic ponit Confessor Exemplum contra istos qui nimio furoâ— attensi vindictam â—re sue vltra quam decet consâ—â—uâ— effectant Et narrat qualiter Athemas et Demephon Reges cum Iâ—sâ— a bâ—â—â—o Troiano ad propria remeassâ—nt Et aâ—us ibidem pacifice receptinon frussâ—â—t congregatoruÌ„ aâ—unde pug natâ—rum â—â—eratu regiones suas non solum vastare incendio sed omÌ„s in eâ—sdem habitantes a minimo vsque ad ma â—orem in perpetuam vindicte memorâ—aÌ„ gladis interficere feruore iracundie pro pesuâ—runâ— Sed Rex Nestor qui senâ—â— sapiens fuit fractatê° inteâ— ipsos reges eorum regna inita pace humsmodi impetuositaâ—â— in miciuâ— pacificaâ—t wHen noble Troye was byleyn And ouercome home ageyn The gregoys torned froÌ„ the siege The kynges fonde her owne lyege In many places as men seyde That hem forsoke dysobeyde Among the whiche fel this cas To Demephon Athemas That were kynges bothe two And both were serued so Here syeges wold not hem receyue So that they more algates weyue To seche lond in other place For there fond they noo grace Wherof they token hem to rede And soughâ—â—n frendes at nede And eche of hem assureth other To helpe as to his owne broder To vengen hem of thylk oultrage And wynne oyene her herytage And thus they ryde aboute fast To geten hem helpe at the laste They hadden power suffysaunt And maden than a couenaunt That they shold no lyf saue Ne prest ne clerk ne lord ne knaue Ne wyf ne child of that they fynde Whiche bereth vysage of mankynde So that no lyf shal be socoured But with the dedely swerde deuoured In suche a foolhast here ordynaunce They shape for to doo vengeaunce When this purpos was wist knowe AmoÌ„g theyr hoost tho was ther blowe Of wordes many a speche aboute Of yong men the lusty route Were of this tale glad ynough There was no care for the plough As they that were foolhastyf They ben acorded to the sâ—ryf And seyn it may not be to grete To vengen hem of suche forfet Thus sayth the vnwyse wylde tonge Of hem that there were yonge But Nesâ—or whiche was old hore The salue sawe to fore the sore As he that was of counseyl wyse So that anone by his aduyse There was a preuy counseyl noâ—e The lordes be to geder come This Demephon Anthemas Her purpoos tolden as it was They seten al stylle herde Was none but Nestor ansuerde He bad hem yf they wold wynne They sholden see or they begynne Here ende set her fyrst entent That they hem after ne repent And axeth hem this questyon To what fynal conclusyon They wolden â—egne kynges there If that no peple in â—onde were And seyth it were a wonder wyerd To seen a kyng bycomen an hyerd Where no lyf is but only beste â—onder the lygeaunce of his heste For who that is of man no kyng The remenauut is as no thyng He seyth eke yf he the purpoos holde To slee the peple as they two wolde When they it myght not restore Al grece it shold abye ful sore To see the wylde lestes wone Where whylome duellyd a mans sone And for that cause he had hem trete And stynte of the manaces grete Better is to wynne by fayr speche He seyth than suche a vengeauÌ„ce seche For when a man is moost aboue Hym nedeth moost to gete hym loue Whan Nestor hath this tole sayd Arene hym was no word withsayd It thought hem al he sayd wel And thus fortune hyr dedely wheel For werre torneth in to pees But forth they wenten netheles But when the Countreyes herd seyn And how here kynges be beseyn Of suche a power as they lad Was none so told that hym nedrad And for to seche pees â—ryth They sende prayd forthwith So that the kynges ben aâ—â—esed And euery mannes hert is esed Al was foryeâ—â— not recorded And thus they â—en to geder acorded The kynges were ayene receyued And pees was take wrath weyued And al thorugh counseyl whiche was good Of hym that reson vnderstood By this ensample sone attempre Thyn hert lete no wyl dystempre Thy wytee do no thyng by myght Whiche may be do by loue ryght Foolhast is cause of mochel wo For thy my sone do not so And as touchend of Homycyde Whiche toucheth vnto loues syde Fulofte it falleth vnauysed Thurgh wil whiche is not wel assised When wyt reson ben awey And that foolhast is in the wey Wherof hath falle grete vengeaunce For thy take in to remembraunce To loue in suche a maner wyse That thou deseâ—â—e no iuyse For wel I wote thou myght not lett That thou ne shalt thyn hert sett To loue where thou wolt or none But yf thy wyt be ouergone So that it torne in to malyce There wote noman of thylk vyce What perylle that there maye byfalle Wherof a tale amonges alle Whiche is grete pyte for to here I thenke for to tellen here That thou such mordre myÈt withsâ—â—d When thou the tale hast vnderstonde Hic ponit Confessor Exemplum coÌ„ tra illos ob sue concupiscencie desidâ—riuÌ„ homicide efficiuntur Et narrat qualiter Climeston â—xor Regis Agamen onis cum ipse a bello Troiano domi redisset consiâ—io Egisti quem adulteâ—â— peramauit sponsum suum in cubili dormienteÌ„ sub noctis silencio truâ—dabat cuiê° mor â—em filius eius Horestes â—unâ—â—nioris etatis postea dijs admonitus crudelissi ma seueritate vindicauit OF roTyr at thylk noble toun Who 's fame staÌ„t yet of renoun And euer shal to mannes ere The syege last long there Er that the grekes it myght wynne While Pâ—â—amus Was kyng withynne But of the grekes that lyen aboute Agamenon lad al the route This thyng is knowen oueral But yet A thynke in specyal To telle my mater therupon An what wyse Agamenon Thorugh chaunce whiche may not be werued Of loue vntrew was deceyued An old sawe is who that is syhe An place where he may be nyhe He maketh the ferre leef loth Of loue thus fulofte it goth â–ª There whyle Agamenon bataylleth To wynne Troye it assaylleth From home was long tyme there Egysius drough his quene nere And with the leyser whiche he had This lady at his wylle he lad Clymestre was her ryght name She was therof gretely to blame To loue there it may not laste But fel to meschyef at the laste For when this worthy noble knyght Fro Troye cam the fyrst nyght That he at home a bed laye Egistus long or it was daye And this
Clymestre had hym assent And weren bothe of one assent By treson slough hym in his bed But mordre whiche may not ben hed Sprong oute to euery mans ere Wherof the lond was ful of fere Agamenon hath by this quene A Sone that was after seue But yet as than he was of youthe A babe whiche no reson couthe And as god wold it fel hym thus A worthy knyght Taltabeus This yong child had in kepyng And when he herd of this tydyng Of this treson of this mysdede He gan within hym self to drede An aunter yf this fals Egiste â—pon hym come or he it wyst To take mordre of this malyce This child whiche he hath to noryce And for that cause in al hast Oute of the lond he gan hym haste And to the king of grece he goth strauÈt And hym this yong lord betaught And prayd hym for his fadre sake That he this child wold vndertake And kepe hym tyl he be of age So as he was of his lygnage â–ª And told hym oueral the cas How that his fadre mordred was And how egistus as men seyde Was kyng to whome the lond obeyde Aud when Adonemeus the kyng Hath vnderstondyng of this thyng Whiche that this knyÈt hym had tolde He made sorowe manyfolde And took the child vnto his warde And sayd he wold hym kepe warde Tyl that he were of suche a myght To handle a swerd be a knyght To wngen hym at his owne wylle And thus Horestes duelleth stylle Snche was the childes ryght name Whiche after wrought nâ—ochel shame An â—â—nÄeaunce of his fadre deth The tyme of yerrs ouer geth That he was man of brede lengthe Of wyt of manhode of strengthe A fayre persone amonges alle And he gan to clepe calle As he whiche come was to man Vnto the kynge of grece than Prayend that he wold hym make A knyght power with hym take For lenger wold he not byleue He sayth but prayth the kyng of leue To gone cleyme his herytage And venge hym of thylk oultrage Whiche was vnto his fadre do The kyng assenteth wel therto With grete honour knyÈt hym maketh And grete power with hym betaketh And gaÌ„ his iourney for to case So that Horestes at the last His loue he taketh forth he goth As he that was in herte wroth His fyrst pleynt to be mene Vnto the Cyte of Athene He goth hym forth was receyued So there he was nought deceyued The dust â—tho that were wyse They proferen hem to his seruyse And he them thanketh of theyr profer And sayd hym self he wol gone offer Vnto the goddes for his spede And al men yeue hym rede So goth he vnto the Temple forth Of yeftes that be mochel worth His sacryfyce his offryng He made after his axyng He was ansuerd yf that he wold His estate than recouer he shâ—ld Vpon his moder do vengeaunce So crueâ— that the remembraunce Therof myght euer abyde As she that â—as an Homycyde And of her oâ—ne lord Mordryce Horestes whiche of thylk offyce Was no thyng glad as than ho prayd Vnto the goddes there sayd That they the Augement deuyse How she shal take the juyse And therupon he had ansuere That he hyr pappes shold of tâ—re Oute of her brest his owne hondes And for ensample of al londes With hors she shold be to drawe Tyl honndes had her bones gnawe Withoute ony sepulture This was a woful auenture And when Horestes hath al herd How that the goddes haue ansuerd Forth with the strengthe whiche he lad The dust his power he had And to a cyte forth they gone The whiche was cheped Cropheone Where as Phoieuâ— was lord syre Whiche profereth hym withouten hyre His helpe al that he may do As he that was ryght glad thertâ— To greue his mortal enemy And tolde hym certayne cause why How that Egyste in maryage His doughter whylome of ful age Forlay afterward forsoke When he Horestes modre toke Men seyne old synne newe shame Thus more more â—â—rose the blame Ayene Egyst on euery syde Horestes with his hoost to ryde Bygan Phoieus with hym went Atro we Egyste shal hym repent They ryden forth vnto Mycene There lay Clymestre thylk quene The whiche Horestes moder is And when she herd telle of this The gates were fast shet And they were of herâ— entre lett Anone this Cyte was withoute Beleyn beseged al aboute And euer it among assayle Fro day to nyght so trauayle Tyl at last they it wonne Tho was there ynough begonne Horestes dyd his modre calle Anone tofore the lordes alle And eke to fore the peple also To her told his tale tho And sayd O cruel best vnkynde Hou myghtest thou thyn herte fynde For ony lust of loues draught That thou acordest to the slaught Of hym whiche was thyne owne lord Thy treson stant of suche record Thou myght thy werkes not forsake So mote I for my fâ—dre sake Vengeaunce vpon thy body do As I commaunded am therto Vnkyndely for thou hast wrought Vnkyndelyche it shal be bought The sone shal the modre slâ—eâ— For that whylome thou saydest ye That thou sholdest nay haue sayd And he with that hie hondeâ— hath layd Vpon his modeâ—â— brest anone And rent out from the barâ— bone Hyr pappes bothe cast a way A myddes in the cart way And after took the dede corps And leâ—â— it be drawe awey wyth hors Vnto the hound to the Rauen She was none otherwyse grnuen Egystus whiche was elles where Tydynges come to his ere How that Mycenes was byleyn But what was more herd he not seyn With grete manace mochel bost He drough power made an hoost And cam in the â—â—scous of the Toun But al the sleyghte of this treson Hooâ—stes wyst it by a spyâ— And of his men a gtrâ—â— partye He made abusshement abyde To wayde on hym in suche a tyde That he myght her hond escape And in this wyse as he hath shape The thyng byfel so that Egyste Was take or he hym self it wyste And was forth brouÈt his hoÌ„des boÌ„de And when men haue a treytour fouÌ„de And tho that were with hym take Whiche of reson were ouertake To geder in one sentence falle But fale Egyst aboue be in alle Was demed in dyuers peyne The werst that men couthe â—â—deynâ— And soo after by the lawe He was vnto the gybet drawe Where he aboue all other hongeth As to a traytour it bylongeth The fame of hyr sâ—â—yft wynges Aboute fleeth bare tydynges And made it couthe in al londes How that Horestes with his hondes Clymestâ—â— his owne modre sâ—â—ugh Somme seyn he dede wel â—nough And somme seyn he dyde amys yuers opynyon ther is That she is dede they spesten alle But pleynly how it is byfalle The mater in so lytel thro we An soth there myght noman knowe But they that weren at
There was it proued how it stood To Perse whiche was ful of good They maden werre in especyal Anâ— soo they dyden oâ—eral Where grete rychesse was in lond So that they left no thyng stond â—n werred but only Archade Nota ê™ greci omnem terram deâ—ellabant fertilem sed tantum ArchadiaÌ„ pro eo quam pauper et steriâ—â—s fuit pacifiâ—â— dimiserunt For there they no werres made By cause it was bareyn pouer Wherof they myght not recouer And thus pouerte was forbore He that nought had nought â–ª hath lore But yet it is â–ª a wondre thyng When that a ryche worthy kynge Or other lord what so he be Wol axe clayme propyrte In thyng whiche he hath no ryght But only of his grete myght For this may euery man wel wyte That bothe kynde lawe wryte Expressely stonde there ageyn But he mote nedes somwhat seyn Al though â–ª there be no reson ynne Whiche seche cause â–ª for to wynne For wyt that his wyl oppressed When couetyse hym hath redressed And al reson put awey He can wel fynde suche a wey To werre where as euer he lyketh Wherof that he the word entryketh That many a man of hym coÌ„pleyneth But yet alwey somme cause he feyneth And of his wrongful hert hath demed That al is wel that euer hym semed Br so he may wynne ynough For as the trewe man to the plough Only to the gaygnage entendeth Ryght so the werryour dyspendeth His tyme hath no conscyence And in this poynt for euydence Of hem that suche werres make Thou myght a grete ensample take How they hyr tyrannye excusen Of that they wrongful werres vsen And they stonde of one acord The Sâ—udyour forth with the lord The poure man forth with the ryche As of courage they ben lyche To make werres to pyle For lucre for none other skyle Wherof a propyr tale I rede As it whylome byfell in dede hIc declarat per Exemplum coÌ„tra istos principes seu alios quos cumque illicite guerre motores Et narrat de quodam Pirata in partiâ—ê° mari nis spoliatore qui cum captus fuisset in iudicium coram Rege Alexandro productus de latricinio accusatê° dixit O Alexandre vere quia cum pau cis socijs spoliorum causa naues tantuÌ„ exploro â–ª ego latrunculus vâ—ooâ— tu auteÌ„ qâ—â—a cum infinita bellatorum multitu dine vniuersam terram subiuganâ—o spoliasti Imperator diceres Ita quam sta tus tuus a statu meo differt sed eodeÌ„ animo condicionem paâ—â—lem habemus Alexander vero eius audaciam in responsione comprobans penes se familiarem retinuit Et sic bellicosus bellatori complaâ—â—t oF hym al this erthe drad When he the world so ouerlad Thurgh werre as it fortuned is Kyng Alysaunder I rede this How in a marche where he lay It felle par chaunce vpon a day A Rouer of the see was nome Whiche many a man had ouercome And slayn take her good awaye This Pylour as the boks saye A famous man in sondry stede Was of the werkes whiche he dede This prysoner afore the kyng Was brought therupon this thyng In audyence was he accused And he his dede hath nought excused And praid the kyngÌ„ to done hym ryÈt And seyd Syre yf I were of myght I haue an hert lyche vnto thyn For yf thy power were myn My wylle is moost in especyal To ryfle to gete oueral The large worldes good aboute But for I lede a poure route And am as who sayth at meschyef The name of Pylour of thyef I bere thou whiche Routes grete Maye lede take thy beyete And dost ryght as I wold doo Thy name is nothyng cleped so But thou art named Emperour Oure dedes ben of one colour And in effect of one deserte But thy Rychesse my pouerte They be not taken euen lyche And nethâ—lâ—â— he that â—s ryche This day to morowe he may by poure And in contrary also receuer A pouer man to grete ryches Men seyn for thy ryghtwysenes Be peyced euen in the balaunce The kyng his hardy contenaunce Behelde his wordes wyse And sayd vnto hym in this wyse Thyne ansuere I haue vnderstonde Wherof my wyl â—e that thou stonde In my seruyce stylle abyde And forth with al the same tyde He hath hym â—â—â—me of lyf witholde The more for he shal beholde He made hym knyght yaf hym lond Whiche afterward was of his hond Aâ— orped knyght in many a stede And grete prowesse of armes dede As the Cronyke it recorden And in this wyse they acorden The whiche of one â—â—ndycyâ—n Be sett vpon destructyon Suche Capytayne suche retenue But for to see what yssue The kyng befallyth at the laste In his grete wondre what men caste Her â—â—â—t vpon suche wrong to wynne Where no beâ—â—â—e may be Inne And deth dyâ—â—se on euery syde But when reson is put a syde And wylle gâ—nerneth the courage The fauâ—â—n with that fleeth ramage And suffreth no thyng in the weye Wherof that he may take his preye Is not more set vpon rauyne Than ylk man whiche his couyne Hath set in suche maner wyse For al the world ne may suffyse To wyl whiche is not resonable Wherof ensample concordable Lyche to this poynt of whiche I mene Was vpon Alysander sene Whiche had set al his entent So as fortune with hym went That the reson myÈt hym not gouerne But of his wylle he was so sterne That al the world he ouerâ—an And what hym lyst he took wan In inde the superyour When that he was ful conquerour And had his wylful purpoos wonne Of al this erthe vnder the sonne This kyng homeward to Macedoyne When that he cam to Babyloyne And wende moost in â–ª his empyre As he whiche was lord syre In honour for to be receyued Moost sodenlyche he was deceyued And with strong poyson enuenynâ—â—d And as he hath the world mystymed Not as he shold with his wyt Not as he wold it was acquyt Thus was he slayn that whylome slongh And he whiche ryche was ynough This day to morowe had nought And in suche wyse as he was wrouÈt In dysturbaunce of worldes pees His werre he fonde than endeles In whiche for euer dyscomfyte He was â–ª lo now for what proufyte Of werre it helpeth for to ryde For couetyse worldes pryde To slee the worldes men aboute As bestes whiche gone ther oute For ony lyf whiche reson can Ought wel â–ª to knowe that a man Ne shold thorugh no tyrannye Lyche to these other bestes dye Tyl kynde wold for hym sende I not how he it myght amende Whiche taketh awey for euermore The lyf that he may not restore For thy my sone in al weye Be wel auysed I the preye Of slaught or that thou be culpable Withoute cause resonable My fadre vnderstonde it is That ye haue sayd but ouer this I pray you
telle me nay or ye To passe oueâ— the grete see To werre slee a SaraÈyn Is that the lawe Sone myn To preche suffre for the feyth That I haue herd the gospel seyth But for to slee that here I nought Cryst with his owne deth hath bought Al other men made hem fre In tokne of parfyte charyte And after that he taught hym selue When he was dede these other twelue Of his apostles went aboute The holy feyth to preche oute Wherof the deth in sondry place They suffre so god of his grace The feyth of Cryst hath made aryse But yf they wold in other wyse By werre haue bought in the creauÌ„ce It had yet stonde in balaunce And that may prouen in the dede For what man the Cronykes rede Fyrst that holy chirche hath weyued To preche hath the swerd receyued Wherof the werres be begonne A grete partye of that was wonne Of Crystes feyth stant now myswent God doo therof amendement So as he wote what is the best But sone yf thou wylt lyue in rest Of conscyence wel assysed Er that thou slee be wel auysed For man as tellen vs the clerkes Hath god aboue al erthely werkes Ordeyned to be pryncypal And eke of soule in specyal He is made lyche to the godhede So syt it wel to taken hede And for to loke on euery syde Er that thou falle in homycyde Whiche synne is now so general That it wel nye stant oueral In holy chirche elles where But al the whyle it is so there The wdorl mote nede fare amys For when the â–ª whele of pyte is Thorugh couetyse of worldes good Defouled with shedyng of bloâ—d The remenaunt of folk aboute Vnnethe stonden in ony doute To werre eche other to slee So is it al not worth a stre The charyte wherof we prechen For we do no thyng as we techen And thus the blynde conscyence Of peâ—â— hath lost thylk euydence Whiche cryst vpon the erthe taught Now may meÌ„ see mordre manslauÈt Lyche as is by dayes olde Whan men the synnes bought solde In grece afore Crystes feyth I rede as the Cronyke seyth Touchend af this mater thus In thylk tyme how peleus His owne broder Phocus slough But he had gold ynough To them his synne was dyspensed With gold wherof it was compensed Achastê° whiche with Venus was Her pryest assoylled in that cas Al were there no repentaunce And as the bokes make remembrauÌ„ce It tellyth of Medâ—e also Of that she slough her sones two Egeus in the same plyte Hath made hyr of hyr synne quyte The sone eke of Amphyoras Who 's ryght name Almeus was His moder slough Eryphele But Achylo the prest he So as the bokes it recorden For certayne somme of gold acorden That thylk horryble synful dede Assoylled was thus for mede Of worldes goode it fallyth ofte That homycyde is set alofte Here in this lyf but after this There shal be knowe how that it is Of hem that suche thynges wyrche And how also that holy chirche Lete suche synnes passe quyte How they wol hem acquyte Of dedely werres that they make For who that wold ensample take The lawe whiche is naturel By weye of kynde the weth wel That homycyde in no degre Whiche werreth ayene charyte Among men shold not duelle For a foer that the bokes telle To sâ—che in al the world ryche Men shal not fynde one his lyche No best that wyl take his preye And syth kynde hath suche a weye Than it is wondre of a man Whiche kynde hath reson can That he wol eyther more or lasse His kynde reson ouerpasse And slee that is to hym semblable So is the man not resonable He kynde that is not honeste When he is worse than a beste Nota secundum Solinum contra hoâ—â—iadium de natura cuiusdam aius faciâ—m ad similitudinem humanam habentis qiu cum de preda sua hominem myta flauium occident â–ª vident que in aqua sunile sibi occisum statim pro delo 〈◊〉 moritur aMong the bokes which I finde Solinê° speketh of a woÌ„dre kinde And seith of foules ther is on Whiche hath a face of bloood bone Whiche to a man in resemblaunce And yf it falle hym so par chaunce As he whiche is a foule of pray That he a man fynde in his way He wold hym slee yf that he mâ—y But after ward the same day When he hath eten al his felle And that shal be besyde a welle In whiche he wol drynke take In whiche visage he seeth the make That he hath slayne anone he thynketh Of his mysdede it forthynketh So gretely that for pure sorowe He lyueth not tyl on the morowe By this ensample it may wel se we That men shal homycyde eschewe For euer is mercy good to take But yf the lawe it hath forsake And that Iustyce is them ageyne Fnl oftyme I haue herd seyne Amonges that werres hadden That they som whyle her cause ladden By mercy when they myÈt haue slayn Wherof that they were after fayn And sone yf that thou wolt recorde The vertu of myserycorde Thou syghe neuer thylk place Where it was vsed lak grace For euery lawe euery kynde The mannes wyt to mercy bynde And namely the worthy knyghtes When they stonde moost vpryghtes And ben most myghty for to greue They sholden thenne most releue Hym whome they myÈten ouerthrowe As by ensample may men knowe Hic ponit Confessor Exemplum de pietate contra homicidium Et narrat qualiter Achilles vna cum Thephalo filio suo contra Regem Mesee qui tunc Theucer vocabatur bellum inicrunt Et cum Achilles dietum Regem in bello prostratum occidere voluisset Thephalê° pietate motus ipsum Clipeo cooperiens veniam pro Rege a patre postulauit ê“ quo facto ipse Rex adhuc viuens Thephalum Regni sui heredem libera voluÌ„tate constituit hE may not faylen of his mede That hath mercy for this I rede In a Cronyke I fynd thus Whan Achilles with Telaphus His sone to ward Troye were It fel hem or they come there Ayene Thoucer the kyng of mese To make warre for to lese His lond as they that wolde regne And Theucer pnt oute of his regne Thus the marches they assaylle But Theucer yaf to hem bata ylle They foughten on bothe sydes faste But so happeth at the laste This worthy greke Achilles The kyng among al other ches As he that was cruel felle With swerd on hond on hym he felle And smote hym with a dethes wouÌ„de That he vnhorced fel to grounde Achilles vpon hym alyght And wold anone as he wel myght Haue slayn hym in the place But Thephalus his fadre grace For hym besought for pyte Prayth that he wold late hym be And cast his sheld bytwene hem two Achilles axeth hym why so And Thephalus his cause tolde
And seyth that he is mochel holde For whylome Theucer in a stede Grete grace socour to hym dede And sayth that he hym wold acquyte And prayth his fadre to respyte Achilles tho withdrough his hond But al the power of the lond When that they sawe hyr kyng thus take They fled hath the fâ—ld forsake The grekes vnto the chaas falle And for the moost part alle Of that countre the lordes grete They took wonne a grete beyete And anone after this vyctorye The kyng whiche had memorye Vpon the grete mercy thought Which the laphus toward hym wrouÈt And in presence of al the londe He took hym fayre by the honde And in this wyse he gan to seye My sone I mote by double weye Loue desyre thyn encrees Fyrst for thy fadre Achilles Whylome ful many a day or this When I shold fare amys Rescouse dyd in my quarele And kepte al myn estate in hele How so ther falle now dystaunce Among vs yet remembraunce I haue of mercy whiche he dede Than â–ª thou now in this stede Of gentylnes of fraunchesse Hast do mercy the same I gesse So wol I not that ony tyme Be lost of that thou hast do byme For how so this fortune falle Yet stant my trust abouen alle For the mercy whiche I now fynde That thou wolt after this â—e kynde And for that suche is myn espeyr And for my sone for myn he yre I the receyue al my lond I yeue sese in to thyn honde And in this wyse they accorde The cause was myserycorde The lordes do her obeysaunce To Thelaphus purueaunce Was made so that he was coroned And thus was mercy reguerdoned Whiche he to Theucer dyde to fore Loo this ensample is made therfore That thou myght take remembraunce My sone when thou seest a chaunce Of other mens passyon Take pyte compassyon And lete no thynge to the be leef Whiche to another man is greef And after this yf thou desyre To stonde ayene the vyce of Ire Counseyl the with pacyence And take in to thy conscyence Mercy to be thy gouernour So shalt thouâ—fynde no rancour Wherof thyn herte shal debate With homycyde ne with hate For cheste or melancolye Thou shalt be softe in companye Withoute conteck or foolhast For elles myght thou long wast Thy tyme or that thou haue thy wylle Of loue for the wedyr stylle Men preyse blame the tempestes My fadre I wol do your hestes And of this poynt ye haue me tauÈt Toward my self the better saught I thenke bewayle whyle that I lyne But for as moche as I am shryne Of wrathe al his circumstaunce Yeue that ye lyst to my penaunce And axe forther of my lyf Yf other wyse I be gyltyf Of ony thyng that toucheth synne My sone or we departe a twynne I shal behynde no thynge leue Amans My good fadre with your leue Than axe forth what you lyste For I haue in you suche tryste As ye that be my soule hele That ye fro me nothyng wol hele For I shal telle you the trouthe My sone art thou culpable of slouthe In ony poynt whiche to hym longeth My fadre of tho poyntes me longeth To wyte pleynly what they mene So that I maye me shryue clene Now herkne I shal the pointes deuyse And vnderstonde wel myn appryse For shryfte stant of no value To hym that wol hym not vertue To leue of vyces the folye For wynd is word but the maystrye Is that a man hym self defende Of thyng whiche is not to comende Wherof ben fewe now a daye And netheles so as I may Make vnto thy memorye knowe The poyntes of slouthe thou shalt knowe Explicit liber Tercius Incipit liber quartus dIcuÌ„t accidiaÌ„ fore nutriâ—em viaoruÌ„ Corpet in cunctis tarda que lenta bonis Que fieri possent hodie transfert piger in ceas Furato que prius hostia clandit equo Poscenti tardo negat emolumeÌ„ta cupi do Sed venê° in câ—beri ludit amore viri Iâ— in quarto libro loquitur con 〈◊〉 fessor de speciebus Accidie qua 〈◊〉 primam tardacionem vocat cuius â—â—â—diciouem pertractans Amanti suâ—â— hoc consequenter opponit bPon the vyces to procede After the cause ofemaÌ„nes dede The fyrst poynt of slouthe I calle Lachesse and is the chyef of alle Aud hath this properly of kynde To leuen al thyng behynde Of that he myght do now here He taryeth al the long yere And euermore he sayth to morowe And so he wol his tyme borowe And wyssheth after god me sende Than when he weneth to haue an ende Than is he forthest to begynne Thus bryngeth he many meschief Inue Vnware tyl that he be mescheued And may not than be releued And ryght so nother more ne lesse It stant ofloue of lachesse Somtyme he slouteth on a daye That he neuer after gete may Now sone as of this ylke thyng If thou haue ony knoulechyng That thou to loue hast done or this Telle on my good fadre yis As of laches I am be knowe That I may stonde vpon his rowe As I that am clad of his sute For when I thought my pursute To make therto set a day To speke vnto the swete may Lachesse bad abyde yet And bare on hond it was no wyt Ne tyme for to speke as tho Thus with his tales to fro My tyme in taryeng he drough When ther was tyme good ynough He sayd another tyme is better Thou shalt now sende here a letter And par caas wryte more pleyn Than thou by mouthe durst seyn Thus haue I lete tyme slyde For slouthe kept not my tyde So that laches with his vyce Ful of be hath made my wyt so nyce That what I thought speke or do With taryeng be â—eld me so Tyl when I wold myght nought I not what thyng is in my thought Or it was drede or it was shame But euer in ernest in game I wote ther is no long tyme passed But yet is not the loue lassed Whiche I vnto my lady haue For though my tonge is slouÈ to ocaue At al tyme as I haue bede Myn hert stant euer in one stede And axe besylyche grace The whiche I may not yet embrace And god wote it is maulgre myn For this I wote ryght wel afyn My grace cometh so selde aboute That is the slouthe whiche I doute More than of al the remenaunt Whiche is to loue appertenaunt And thus as touchend of lachesse As I haue told I me confesse To yow my fadre Eâ—byseche That ferthermore ye wol me teche And yf ther be of this matere Som goodly tale for to lere How I may do lachesse awey That ye it wold telle I prey To wysse the my sonne rede Among the tales whiche I rede An old ensample therupon Now herkne I wol telle on hIc ponit Confessor Exemplum contra Istos
it trete But yet they faylen of beyete For of to moche or of to lyte There is algate found a wyte Soo that they folowe not the lyne Of the parfyte medycyne Whiche grounded is vpon nature But they that wryten the scrypture Of Greke Arabe Caldee They were of suche auctoryte That they fyrst founden oute the weye Of al that thou hast herd me seye Wherof the Cronyke of her lore Shal stonde in pryce for euermore But toward oure marches here Of the latyns yf thou wolt here Of hem that whylome vertuous Were and therto laboryous Carment made of here engyne The fyrst lettres of latyne Of whiche the tonge Romayne cam Wherof that Arystarchus nam Forth with Donat and Dyndymus The fyrst reule of scole thus How that latyn shal be compowued And what wyse it shal be souned That euery word in his degre Shal stonde vpon congruyte And thylk tyme of Rome also Was Tullyus with Cythero That wryten vpon Rethoryke How that men shal the wordes pyke After the forme of eloquence Whiche is men seyn a grete prudence And after that oute of he breâ—â—e Ierome Whiche the langage knewe The byble in whiche the lawe is closed In to latyn he hath transposed And many another wryter eke Oute of Caldee Arabe Greke With grete labour the bokes wyse Ttanslateden another wyse The latyns of hem self also Here studye at thylk tyme so With grete trauayl of scole took In sondry forme for to look That we may take here euydence Vpon the lore of the scyence Of craftes bothe of clergye Among the whiche in poesye To the louers Ouyde wrote And taught of loue to be hote In what maner it shold akele Confessor For thy my sone yf that thou fele That loue brynge the tofore Behold Ouyde take his lore My fadre yf they myght spede My loue I wold his bokes rede And yf they techen to restreyne My loue it were an ydel peyne To lerne a thyng whiche may not be For lyche vnto a grene tre If that men took his rote aweye Ryght so my herte shold deye If that my loue be withdrawe Wherof touchend vnto this sawe There is but only to pursewe My loue ydelshyp to esche we My good sonne soth to seye If there be syker ony weye To loue thou hast seyd the best For who that wol haue al his rest And doo noo treuayle at nede It is no reson that he spede In loues cause for to wynne For he Whiche dare no thyng begynne I not what thyng he shold â—cheue But ouer this thou shalt byleue So as it syt the wel to knowe That there ben other vyces slowe Whiche vnto loue done grete let Is thou thyn hert vpon hem set â—erdit homo causam linquene sua iuâ—â— seperi Et quasi dimidtum pars suâ— mortis habet Est in amore vigil venus et quam habet vigilanti Obsequium thalamis fert vigilata suis Hic loquitur de Sompnelencia que Acâ—idie Cameraria dicta est cuius natura semunortua alicuius negocij vigi lâ—as obserâ—are seperi fero torpere recusâ—r vnde quatenus amorem concernit Confessor Amanti diligencius opponit tOward the slowe progenye There is yet one of CoÌ„panye And he is cleped SoÌ„pnoleâ—ice Whiche deth to slouthe his reuerence â—â— he whiche is his Chamberleyn That many an honderd tyme hath leyn To slepe when he sheld wake He hath with loue treâ—â—es take That wake who so wake wylle If he may couche a deune his bylle He hath al what hym lyst That ofte he goth to bedde vnkyst And sayth that for no druerye â—â— wol not leue his sluggardye For though that noman it wold allowe To slepe leuer than to wowe Is his maner thus on nyghtes When he seeth the lusty knyghtes Reâ—â—len where these women are Awey he seulketh as an hare And goth to â—â—dde leyth hym softe And of his sleuthe â—e dremeth ofte Hou that he siyketh in the myre And hou he sytteth by the fyre And claweth on his bare shankes And hou he clymeth vp the bankes And fallyth in the slades depe But than who so taketh kepe When he is falle in suche a dreme Ryght as a shyp ageynst the streme He routeth with a slepy noyse And brustleth as a monkes froyse When it is throwe in to the panne And other whyle selde whanne That he may dreme a lusty sweuene Hym thynketh as though he were in heuene And as the world were holy his And than he speketh of that this And maketh his exposycyon After his dysposycyon Of that he wolde in suche a wyse He doth to loue al his seruyce I not what thank he shal deserue But sone but yf thou wolt loue serue I rede that thou do not so A good fadre certes noo I had leuer by my trouthe Er I were set on suche a slouthe And bere suche a slepy snoute Bothe eyen of my hede were oute For me were better fully deyâ— Than I of suche sluggardye Had ony name god me shelde For when my modre was with chilâ—e As I lay in hyr wombe cloos I wold rather Antropos Whiche is goddesse of deth Anone as I had ony breth Me had fro my moder cast But now I am no thyng agast I thanke god for lachesys â—e cleto whiche here felawe is Me shopen no suche destyne When they at my Natyuyte My werdes setten as they wold But they shopen that they shold Eschewe of slepe the truandyse Soo that I hope in suche a wyse To loue for to ben excused That I no sompnolence haue vsed For certes fadre Genius Yet vnto now it hath be thus At al tyme yf it befelle So that I myght come duelle In place there my lady were I was not sloâ—â—e ne slepy there For than I dar wel vndertake That when hyr lyst on nyghtes wake In chambre as to carole daunce Me thynketh it may me more auaunce If I may gone vpon hyr honde Than yf I wynne a kynges lond For when I may hâ—r hond beclyppe With suche gladnes I dauÌ„ce skyppe Me thynketh I touche not the floor The Roo whiche renneth on the moor Is than nought so lyght as I So mowe ye wyten al for thy That for the tyme slepe I hate And than it fallyth other gate Soo that her lyketh not to daunce But on the dyes to caste the chaunce Or axe of loue somme demaunde Or elles that her lyst commaunde To rede here of Troylus Ryght as she wol or so or thus I am alredy to consente And yf so is that I may hente Somtyme among a good leyser So as I dar of my desyre I telle a part but when I preye Anone she byddeth me go my weye And seyth it is ferre in the nyght And I swere it is euen lyght But as it falleth at the last There may no worldes ioye last So mote I nedes fro hyr wende And of my watche
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
euery theef vpon rychesse A wayteth for to robbe stele Suche â—â—ood is cause of harmes fele And also though a man at ones Of al the world within his wones The Tresour myght haue euery deele Yet had he but one mans dele Toward hym self so as I thynke Of clothynge of mete of drynke For more oute take vanyte There hath no lord in his degre And thus vpon the poyntes dyuerse Dyuersly he gan reherce What poynt hym thought for the best But pleynly for to gete hym rest He can no syker weye cast And netheles yet at the last He felle vpon the couetyse Of gold than in sondry wyse He thought as I haue sayd to fore How Tresour may be sone forlore And had an Inly grete desyre Touchend of suche recouer Hou that he myght his cause auayle To gete hym gold withoute fayle Within his hert thus he preyseth The gold sayth hou that he peyseth Aboue al other metal most The gold he sayth may lede an hoost To make werre ayene a kyng The gold put vnder al thyng And set whome hym lyst aboue The gold can make of hate loue And werre of pees ryght of wrong And long to short short to long Withoute gold may be no fest Gold is the lorde of man beste And may hem both bye selle Soo that a man may sothely telle That al the world to gold obeyeth For thy this kyng to bachus preyth To graunte hym gold but he excedeth Mesure more than hym nedeth Men tellen that the maladye Whiche callyd is Ioropesyâ— Resembled is to this vyce By weye of kynde Auaryce The more Idropesye drynketh The more thyrsteth for hym thynketh That he may not drynke his fylle Soo that there may no thyng fulfylle The lustes of his appetyte And ryght in suche maner plyte Stant euer Auaryce euer stood The more he hath of worsdes good The more he wolde kepe streyte And euer more and more coueyte And ryght in suche condicyon Wythoute good discrecyon This kyng with auaryce is smete That al the worlde it myght wete For he to Bachus then preyd That wherupon his honde he leid It sholde thorugh his touche anone Become gold therupon This god hym graunteth as he bad Tho was this kyng of Fryge glad And for to put it in assaye With al the hast that he maye He toucheth that he toucheth this And in his hond al gold it is The stone the tre the leef the gras The Floure the fruyte al gold it was Thus toucheth he while he may last But hongre att the last Hym took soo that he mote nede By wey of kynde his hongre fede The clothe was leyd the boord was set And alle was forth byfore hym set His dissh his drink his cuppe his meet But when he wold drynk or ete As to his mouth anone cam nyghe It was al gold then he syghe Of Auayrce the folye And he with that bygnne to crye And preyde Bachus to foryeue His gylt suffre hym for to lyue And be suche as he was to fore Soo that he were nought forlore This god whiche of this greuaunce Herd toke routhe vpon his repentauÌ„ce And bad hym goo forth redyly Vnto a flood was fast by Whiche paceole than hyght In whiche as sone as euer he myght He sholde hym wasshe oueral And said hym than he shal Recouere hys fyrst astate ageyn This kyng right as he herd seyn In to the flood goth fro the lond And wesshe hym bothe fote hond And so forth al the remenaunt As hym was set in â—â—uendunt And than he sawe meruayles strauÌ„ge The flood his coloure gan to chaunge The grauel with the smal stones To gold they torne al attones And he was quyte of that he had And thus fortune his chaunge lad And when he sawe his touche gone He goth hym home ryght forth soone And lyueth forth as he dyde er And put al Auaryce a fer And the ryches of gold despyseth And seyth that mete clothe suffyseth Thus hath this kyng experyence Hou fooles done the reuerence To gold whiche of his owne kynde Is lasse worth than is the rynde To sustenaunce of mans fode Then he made lawes goode And al his thyng set vpon skylle He lede his people for to tylle Her lâ—nd lyue vnder the lawe And they also shold forth drawe Bestayl seche none encrees â—f gold whiche is the breche of pees For this a man may fynde wryte To fere the tyme that gold was smyte In coygne that men the floren knewe There was wel nyhe noman vntrewe There was nother shelde ne spere Ne dedely wepen for to be bere Tâ—o was the toune withoute walle The whiche now is closed ouer alle Tho was there no broâ—â—ge in lond Whiche now taketh euery cause on hoÌ„d So may that man knowe hou the floreyn Was moder fyrst of malengyn And brynger in of alle werre Wherof this world stant oute of herre Thorugh the counseyl of auaryâ—â— Whiche of his owne propre vyce Whiche as the helle wonderful For it may neuermore be ful That what as euer cometh therynne Awey it ne may neuer wynne But sone myn do thou not so Late al suche auaryce go And take thy part of that thou hast I byd not that thou do wast But hold largesse in mesure And yf thou see a creature Whiche thorugh pouert is falle in nede Yeue hym somme good for this I rede To hym that wol not yeuen here What peyne he shal haue elles where There is a peyne among al Bynethe in helle whiche men calle The woful peyne of Tantaly Of whiche I shal the redely Deuyse hou theryn men stond In helle thou shalt vnderstâ—nd There is a flood of thylk offyce Whiche serueth al for auaryce What man that stonde shal therin He stant vp euen to the chynne Aboue his hede also there hougeth A fruyt whiche to that peyne longeth And that fruyt toucheth euer in one His ouerlyppe and therupon Suche thyrst honger hym assayleth That neuer his appetyte ne fayleth But when he wende his hongar fede The fruyt withdraweth hym at nede And though he haue his hede on hyghe The fruyt is euer alyche nyghe So is the honger wel the more And also though hym thurst sore And to the water bowe adoune The flood in suche condycyon Aualeth that his drynke areche He may not loo now whiche a wreche That mete drynk is hym so couthe And yet ther comth none in his mouth Lyche to the peynes of this flood Stant Auaryce in worldes good He hath Inough yet hym nedeth For his scarcenes it hym forbedeth And euer his honger after more Trauayleth hym alyche sore So is he peyned oueral For thy thy goodes oueral My sone loke that thou dyspende Wherof thou myght thy self amende Bothe here eke in other place And also yf thou wolt purchace To be loued thou must vse Largesse for yf thou refuse To yeue for thy
they made they telle Among the wondres that byfelle When Alexander fro Candace Cam rydend in a wylde place Vnder an hylle a caue he fond And Candalus whiche in that lond was bore was Candaces sone Hym told hou that of comon wone The goddes were in thylk caue And he that wold assaye haue A knoulechyng yf it be soth Lyght of his hors in he goth And fond therin that he sought For thoruÈ the fendes sleyÈt hym thouÈt Among other goddes mo That Scrapys spak to hym tho whome he sawe there in grete aray And thus the fende from day to day The worshyp of Idolatrye Trough forth vpon the fantasye Of hem that were than blynde And couthen nought the trouthe fynde Thus hast thou herd in what degre Of Grece Egypte Chaldee The mysbylene whylome stood And hou so they be not good Ne trewe yet they sprongen oute Wherof the wyde world aboute His part of mysbyleue took Tyl soo by felle as seyth the book That god a peple for hym selue Hath chose of the lygnages twelue Wherof the sothe redyly As it is wryten in Genesy I thynke telle in suche a wyse That it shal be to hym a pryse De Hebreorum seu Iudeorum secta quorum Sinagoga coclesia Cristi superueniente defecit aFter the flood fro whiche Noe Was sauf the world in his degre Was made as who seyth new agein Of flour of fruit of gras of grein Of beest of byrde of mankynde Whiche euer hath be to god vnkynde For not with stondynge al the fare Of that this world was made so bare And afterwarde it was restored AmoÌ„g the men was nothyng mored Toward god of good lyuyng But al was torned to lykyng After the flesshe so that foryete Was he whiche yafe hem lyfe mete Of heuene erthe creatour And thus cam forth the grete errour That they the hyghe god ne knewe But maden other goddes newe As thou hast herd me sayd to fore There was no man that tyme bore That be ne bad after his choys A god to whome he yafe his voys wherof the mysbyleue cam In to the tyme of Abraham But he fond oute the ryght weye How only men shold obeye The hyghe god whiche weldeth al And euer hath done euer shal In heuen in erthe eke in helle There is no thyng his myght may telle This Patryarche to his lygnage Forbad that they to none Image Enclyne shold in no wyse But her offrend sacryfyse With al the hoole hertes loue Vnto the myghty god aboue And they shold hym no mo And thus in thylk tyme tho Bygan the feyth vpon the erthe Whiche of byleues was the ferthe Of ryghtwysenes it was conceyued So must it nedes be receyued Of hym that al ryght is Inne The hyghe god whiche wold wynne A people vnto his owne feyth On Abraham the ground he leyth And made hym for to multyplye In to so grete a progenye That they Egypte al ouer sprad But Pharao with wrong hem lad In seruytude ayene the pees Tyl god lete sende Moyses To make the delyueraunce And for his peple grete vengeannce He took whiche to here a wonder The kyng was slayn the loÌ„d put vnder God bad the reed see deuyde Whiche stood vpryght on euery syde And yafe vnto his people a weye That they on foote it passed dreye And gone so forth in to desert Where for to kepe hem in couert The dayes when the sonne brent A large cloude hem ouer went And for to wyssen hem by nyght A fyry pyler hem alyght And when that they for hongre pleyn The myghty god began to reyne Manna fro heuen doune to grounde Wherof that eche of hem hath fonnde His fode suche ryght as hym lyst And for they shold vpon hym tryst Right as who set a tonne a broche And perced the hard roche And spronge oute water al at wille That man beste hath bronke at wyll And afterward he yafe the lawe To moyses that hem withdrawe They shold not fro that he bad And in this wyse they be lad Tyl they took in possessyon The lond of promyssyon Where that Caleph and Iosue The marches vpon suche degre Departen after the lygnage That eche of hem as herytage His pourpartye hath vnderfonge And thus stood this byleue longe Whiche of prophetes was gouerned And they had eke the peple lerned Of grete honour that sholde hem falle But at moost nede of alle They fayleden when Cryst was bore But hou that they her feyth haue lore It nedeth nought to tellen al The mater is soo general When Luafer was best in heuene And ought moost haue stond in euene Towardes god he took debate And for that he was obstynate And wold nought to trouthe enclyne He fel for euer in to ruyne And Adam eke in paradys When he stood moost in al his prysÌ„ After the state of Innocence Ayene the god brake his defence And fell out from his hye place a wey And ryght by suche maner weye The Iewes in her best plyght When they shold moost parfyght Haue stonde vpon the prophecye Tho fellen they to moost folye And hym whiche was froÌ„ heuen come And of a mayde his flesshe hath nome And was amonge hem born fed As men that wold nought be sped Of goddes sone with one voys They henge slough vpon the croys Wherof the parfyte of her lawe Fro then forth was forth drawe So that they stonde of no meryte Bnt in truage as folk subgect Withoute propyrte of place They lyuen oute of goddes grace Dyspers in al londes oute And thus the feyth is come aboutâ— That whylome in the Iewes stood Whiche is nonght parfytely good To speke as it is now be falle There is a feyth abouen alle In which the trouthe is comprehended Wherof that we ben al amended De fide Cristiana in qua perfecte le gis complementum summi â—isterij sacramentum nostreque saluacionis fundamentum infallibiliter consistere credimus tHe hyghe Almyghty mageste Of ryght wysenes of pyte The synne whiche that Adam wrouÈt When he sawe tyme than he souÈt And sende his sone fro the heuene To sette mans soule in euene Whiche than was so forfalle Vpon the poynt whiche was so byfalle That he ne myght hym self aryse Gregorye sayth in his apryse It helpeth nought a man be bore If goddes sone were vnbore For than thurgh the fyrst synne Which whilom Adam brouÈt vs Inne There sholden al men be lost But Cryst restoreth thylk lost And bought it with his flesshe blood And yf we thynken hou it stood Of thylk raunson whiche he payd As seynt gregorye it wrote sayd Al was behouely to the man For that wherof his woo bygan Was after cause of al his welthe When he whiche is the welle of helthe The hyghe creatour of lyf Vpon the nede of suche a stryf So wold for his creature Take on hym self the forfeture And suffre for the mans sake
tolde To themperour ryght in his ere And said hym that he wist where A Tresour was soo plentyuous Of gold eke so precious Of Iewelles ryche stones That vnto al his hors at ones It were a charge suffisaunt This lord vpon this couenaunt Was glade axeth where it was The maister saide vnder the glas He told hym eke as for the myne He wolde ordeyne suche engyne That they the werk shold vndersett With timbre withoute lett Men maye the Tresour sauely delue Soo that the myrrour by hym selue Withoute empeirement shal stonde And thus the maister vpon honde Hath vndertake in al weye This lord whiche had his wit alweye And with couetise blent Anone therto yafe his assent And thus to myne forth with aâ— The tymbre sette vp oueral wherof the pyler stood vp ryght Til it byfelle vpon a nyght These clerkes whan they were ware Hou that the Tymbre only bare The piler where the myrroure stood Here sleight no man vnderstood They go by nyght vnto the myne with pitche with sulphir with â—â—syne And when the cyte was a slepe A wylde fyre in to the depe They cast among the tymbre werk And so forth whyle the nyght is derk Desguysed in a pouer array They passeden the Towne or day And when they comen vpon an helle They sawen hou the myrrour felle Wherof they made ioye ynough And eche of hem with other lough And sayd Loo what Couetyse May do with hem that be not wyse And that was proued afterward For euery lond to Rome ward Whiche had be subgett to fore When that myrrour was forlore And they the wonder herd seye Anone begonne dysobeye With werres vpon euery syde And thus hath Rome lost his pryde And was defouled oueral For this I fynde of Hanybal That he of Romayns in a day When he hem oute of away So grete a multytude slough That of gold rynges whiche he drouÈ Of gentyle handes that ben dede Busshellys ful thre I rede He feld and made a brydge also That he myght ouer Tyber goo Vpon the corps thaÌ„t dede were Of the Romayns whiche he slouÈ there But now to speke of the Iuyse The whiche after the couetyse Was take vpon this Emperour For he destroyed the myrrour It is a wonder for to here The Romayns made a chayere And set her Emperour therin And sayden for he wold wynne Of gold the superfluyte Of gold he shold plente Receyue tyl he sayde ho And with gold whiche they had tho Boylend hote within a panne In to his mouthe they poure thanne And thus the thirst of gold was queint With gold whiche had ben atteynt Wherof my sone thou myght here When couetyse hath lost the stere Of resonable gouernaunce There falleth ofte grete greuaunce For there may be no werse thyng Then couetyse aboute a kyng If it in his persone be It doth the more aduersyte And yf it in â–ª his counseyl stond It bryngeth al day meschyef to hond Of comon harme yf â–ª it growe Within his court it wol be knowe For than shal the kyng be â–ª pyled The man whiche hath his lond tyled Awayteth nought more redyly The heruest than they gredely Ne maken thenne warde watche Where they the profyte myÈten catche And yett ful ofte it falleth soo As men may seen among hem tho That he whiche moost coueyteth fast Hath lest auauntage at last For when fortune is ther ageyne Though he coueyte it is in veyne The happes ben nought al alyche One is made pouer another ryche The court to som it doth profyte And som ben euer in one plyte And yet they both alyche sore Coueyte but fortune is more Vnto that one part fauourable And though it be nought resonable This thyng may a man seen al day Wherof that I the telle may After ensample in remembraunce Hou euery man maye take his chauÌ„ce Or of Rychesse or of pouerte Hou so it stonde of the deserte Here is nought â–ª euery thyng aguyte For ofte a man may see this yet That who best doth lest shal haue It helpeth nought the worlde to craue Whiche oute of reule of mesure Hath euer stand in auenture As wel in court as elles where And hou in al dayes there It stood so as the thynges felle I thynke a tale for to telle Ic ponit â—xhemplum contra illos qui in domibns Regum seruientes pro eo quam ipsi secundum eorum cupidita tem promoti non existunt de Regio ser uicio Puis in eâ—â—nm defectu indiserete murmurant IN a Cronyke this I rede Aboute a kyng as must nede Therof was knyghtes squyers Grete route eke offycers Som of long tyme hym had seruyd Ano thouÈten that they haue deseruid Auauncement gone withoute And som also ben of the route That comen but a whyle agone And they auaunced were anone These old men vpon this thyng So as they durst ageyn the kyng Among hem self compleynen ofte But there is no thynge sayd so softe That it ne cometh oute at last The kyng it wyst al 's fast As he whiche was of hyghe prudence He shope therfore an euydence Of hem that pleynen in that cas To knowe in whos defaute it was And al within his owne entent That noman wyst what it ment Anone he bete two cofres make Of one semblaunce of one make So lyche that no lyf thylk throwe That one may fro that other knowe They were in to his Chambre brought But noman wote why they be brouÈt And netheles the kyng hath bede That they be set in pryue stede As he that was of wysedome sly When he therto his tyme sygh Al pryuelyche that none it wyst His owne hondes that one kyst Of fyn gold fyne perrye The whiche oute of his tresorye Was take anone he feld ful That other cofre of strawe mull With stones meuyd he feld also Thus be they ful bothe twoo So that erlyche vpon a day He bad within there he lay There shold to fore his bed A boord vp set fayre spred And than he lete the cofres fette Vpon the boord dyde hem sette He knewe the names wel of tho The whiche ayene hym grutched so Bothe of his chambre of his halle Anone sente for hem alle And sayd to hem in this wyse There shal no man hym despyse I wote wel ye haue long serued And god wote what ye haue deserued But yf it is on long on me Of that ye bnauaunced be Or elles yf it be long on yow The soth shal be preued now To stoppe with your euyl word Loo here two Cofres on the boord These whiche you lyst of bothe two And wyteth wel that one of tho As with Trosour so ful bygone That yf ye happe therupone Ye shal be ryche men for euer Now chese take whiche you is leuer But be wel ware or that ye take For of that one I
le there There was a shepe as it was told The whiche his flees bare al of gold And so the goddes had it sette That it ne myght a wey be fette By power of no worldes wyght And yet ful many a worthy knyght At had assayed as they dorst And euer it fel hem to the worst But he that wold it nought forsake But of his knyghthode vndertake To doo what thyng therto belongeth This worthy Iason sore alongeth To see the straunge regyons And knowe the condycyous Of other marches where he went And for that cause his hoole entent He set Colchos for to seke And therupon he dyde â–ª speke To Peleus his eme the kyng And he wel payd was of that thyng And shope anone for his passage Suche as were of his lygnage With other knyghtes whiche he chees With hym he toke Hercules Whiche ful was of chyualrye With Iason wente in companye And that was in the moneth of may When colde stormes were away The wynd was good the shyp was yare They took hyr leue forth they fare Toward Colchos but on the weye What hem byfelle is long to seye Hou Lamedon the kyng of Troye Whiche ought wel haue made hem ioyr When they to rest a whyle hym preide Oute of his lond he hem congeyde And so felle the dyssencyon Whiche afterward was destructyon Of that cyte as men may here But that is not to my matere But thus this worthy folk gregoys Fro that kyng which was not curtois And fro his land with seyl vpdrawe ThenÌ„e went hem forth many a sawe They made many a grete manace Tyl at last in to that place Whiche as they sought they arryue And stryken seyle forth as blyue They senten vnto the kyng tolden Who were there what they wolden Oetes whiche than was kyng When that he herd this tydyng Of Iason whiche was comen there And of these other what they were He thought done hem grete worshyp For they anone come oute of shyp And strayt vnto the kyng they went And by the hand Iason he hent And that wa s at the paleys gate So fer on the kyng cam on his gate Toward Iason to done hem chere And he whom lakketh no manere When he the kyng sawe in presence Yafe hym ageyn suche reuerence As to a kynges state belongeth And thus the kyng hym vnderfongeth And Iason in his arme he caught And forth in to the halle he straught And there they sat speke of thyngis And Iason told hym tho tydyngys Why he was come fayre hym prayde To haste his tyme the kyng sayde Iason thou art a worthy knyght But it lyeth in no mans myght To done that thou art come fore There hath be many a knyght forlore Of that they wolden it assaye But Iason hym wold not esmaye And seyd of euery worldes cure Fortune stant in auenture Parauenter wel parauenter woo But hou as euer that it goo It shal be with myn hond assayed The kyng tho helde hym not wel paid For he the grekes sore dredde In aunter yf Iason ne spedde He myght therof here a blame For tho was al the worldes fame In Grece as for to speke of armes For thy he drad hym of his harmes And gan to preche hym to preye But Iason wold not obeye But sayd he wold his purpoos holde For ought that ony man hym tolde When the kyng these wordes herde And sawe how that the knyÈt ansuerde Yet for he wold make hym glad After Medea gone he had Whiche was his doughter she cam And Iason whiche good hede nam When he hyr sawe ageyn hyr goth And she which was hym nothing loth Welcomed hym in to that londe And softe took hym by the honde And doune they seten bothe same She had herd spoke of his name And of his grete worthynes For thy she gan hyr eye inpresse Vpon his face his stature Aud thought hou neuer creature Was so welfarend as was he And Iason ryght in suche degre Nc myght not withholde his look But so good hede on hyr he took That hym ne thouÈt vnder the heuene Of beaute saw he neuer hyr euene With al that felle to womanhede Thus eche of other took hede Though there was no word of record Here hertes bothe of one acord Ben set to loue but as tho There myghten be no wordes mo The kyng hym made grete joye fest To al his men he yaf an hest So as they wol his thank deserue That they sholde al Iason serue Whyle that he wold there duelle And thus the day shortely to telle With many myrthes is dyspent Tyl nyght was come tho they went Echone of other took his leue When they no lenger myghten leue A not hou Iason that nyght slepe But wel I wote that of the shepe For whiche he cam in to that yle He thought but a lytel whyle Al was medea that be thought Soo that m many wyse he thought His wyt wakend or it was daye Somtyme ye somtyme nay Somtyme thus somtyme so As he was styred to fro Of loue eke of his conquest As he was holde of his heste And thus he roos vp by the morowe And took hym seynt Iohn to borow And sayd he wold fyrst begynne At loue after for to wynne The flees of gold for whiche he come And thus to hym good hert he nome Medea ryght in the same wyse Tyl day cam that she must ryse Lay bythought hyr al the nyght Hou she that noble worthy knyght By ony weye myght wedde And wel she ne wist yf he ne spedde Of thyng whiche he had vndertake She myght hyr self noo purpoos take For yf he deyde of his bataylle She most than algate fayle To geten hym when he were dede Thus she vygan to sette rede And torne aboute her wyttes al To loke hou it myght falle That she with hym bad a leyser To speke telle of his desyre And soo it felle the same day That Iason with that swete may To gyder sette hadde space To speke he besought hyr grace And she his tale goodly herd And afterward she hym ansuerd And seyd Iason as thou wylt Thou myÈt be sauf thou myÈt be spilt For wyte wel that neuer man But yf he couthe that I can Ne myght that fortune acheue For whiche thou comest but as I loue If thou wolt holde couenaunt To loue of al the remenaunt I shal thy lyf honour saue That thou the flees of gold shalt haue He sayd al at your owne wylle Madame I shal truly fulfylle Youre hest whyle my lyf may last Thus long he prayd at last She graunteth hyght hym this But when nyÈt cometh it tyme is She wold hym sende certeynly Suche one that shold hym pryuely A lone in to hyr chambre brynge He thanketh hyr of that tydyng For of that grace is hym begonne Hym thynketh al other thinges woÌ„ne The
whyle suche tydyng The whiche shall make vs bothe gaâ—â— But for he wold kepe hyr name When that he wyst it was nyhe day He said adyeu my swete may And forth with hym he took his geâ—â— The whiche she bad take hym there And streyght vnto his chambre he weÌ„t And gothe to â—ed a slepe hym henâ— And lay that no man hym awoke For Hercules hede of hym toke Tyl it was vnder of the day more And than he ganne to syke sore And sodenly abrayed of slepe And than they took of hym kepe His chamberleyns â—en soone there And make redy al his gere And he awos and vnto the kyng He went and said how to that thyng For whiche he cam he wold go The kyng therfore was wonder woo And for he wold hym fayn withdraw He told hym many a dredeful saw But Iason wold it not recorde And at the last they were accorde When that he wold not abyde A â—ote was redy at the â—yde In that which this worthy knyÈt of greâ—â— Ful armed vp at euery pece To his batayle that belongeth Toke other on hond sore him longeth Till he the water passid were And whan he cam to that yâ—â— there He set hym on his knee doun strauÈl And his carecte as he was taught He rad made his sacryfyce And sythen anoynced hym mâ— wysâ— As Medea hym hath â—ede And than he arose hym fro the 〈◊〉 And with the glewe the fiâ—e he quâ—ynt He anone after gan ateynt The grete serpent and hym slough But erst he had sorowe ynough For that serpent made hym to trauaile So hard and sore of his batayle That now he stood now he felle For long tyme soâ— it be felle Thâ—t with his swerd ne with his spere He myght not that serpent dere It was so shelled al aboute It spyld al edge tole withoute He was soo rude and hard of skyn There myght no thyng goo ther in Venym and fire to geder he cast That he â—ason greued sore with blast And yf it had not ben his oynement His rynge his enchauntement The whiche Medea took hym beforn He had with that worm be lorn But thurgh the vertu that therof caâ— Iason the dragon ouercam And he anone the tethe oute drowe And set his oxen in a plowe With the whiche he brake a pece of â—ond And sewe hem with his owne â—ond Than myght he grete merueyle see Of euery tooth in his degre SpraÌ„g vp a knyÈt with spere sheld Of the whiche ryght anon 〈◊〉 the feld Echone slough other with that Iason not Medea forgat On bothe his knees he gan doune fall And gaâ— thankyng to the goddes all The flees he took gothe to the bote The sonne shyneth bryght hote The flees of gold shone forth with all The water glystered oueralle Medea weped and syghed ofte And stode vppon a to wre aloft Al pryuely within hir self There herd it not ten or twelf She prayd and said god hym spede The knyght that hath my maidenhede And dy she loked toward the yle And when she sawe within a whyle The flees glisteryng â—geyn the sonne She said O lord al is wonne My knyght the feld hath ouereomen Now wold god that he were comen O lord god I wold he were in londe But I dare take this on honde If that she had wynges two She wold haue flowen to hym tho Streyte there he was vnto the â—ote The day wâ—s clere the sonne was hote The grekes were in grete doute The whyle that hyr lord was oute They wise not what shold betyde But waited vpon the tyde To see what ende shold falle There stood also the nobles alle Footh with the comyn of the Towne And as they loked vp doune They were ware within a throwe Where as cam the bote as they wel know And saw how â—ason brought his prey And than they gan al to sey And â—â—yden of with one sreuen O where was euer vnder heuen So noble a knyght as Iason is And wel nyâ—e al saiden this That Iason was a fayre knyght 〈…〉 t was neuer of mans myght The â—â—â—es of gold so for to wynne And thus to talk they begynne 〈…〉 that the kyng forth anone 〈◊〉 sawe the flees how that shone And when Iason cam to the londe The kyng hym self took his honde And kyssed hym â–ª and greete ioyr made â—he grekes were wonder glade And of the thyng right mery thought And forth with hym that flees they broÈt And euery man gan prece in For well was hym that myght wyn To see there of the propyrte And thus they passen the Cyte And gone vnto the place straught Medea the whiche forgate hyr naught Was redy there and saiâ— anone Welcome O worthy knyght Iason She wold haue kyst hym woÌ„der fayne But shame borned hyr agayne It was not the maner as tho For thy she durst not do so She took hyr leue and Iason wenâ—e In to his chambre she hym sente Hyr maide to see how he ferd The whiche whan she sawe and herdâ— How that he had faren oute And that it stood wel al aboute She told hyr lady what she wist And she for ioye hyr mayden kyst The bathes were than arrayd With herbes tempred and assayd And Iason was vnarmed soonâ— And dyde as it befelle to done In to his bathe he went anone And wysshe hym clene as ony â—one He took a soppe and oute he came And on his best array he name And kempt his hede when he was glad And goth hym forth al mery glad Ryght streyght in to the kynges hallâ— Aâ—pmg the grete lordes alle And made hym glad welcomyng And he hem told the tythyng Of this that how it befelle When that he wan the shepes felle Medea when she was after sent Came soone to that parlement And when she myght Iason see Was none so glad of al as she There was no ioye for to seche Of hym made euery ma n a speche Som men said one somme saide other But though he were goddes broder And myght make fire and thonder There myght be no more wonder Then was of hym in that Cyde Eche man taught other this is he That hath in his power within That al the world myght not wyn Lo here the best of al goode Thus seid they that there stood And also that walked vp and doune Bothe of the Court of the towne The tyme of souper cam anone They wysshen therto they gone Medea was with Iason set Tho was there many a deynte fet And set to â—ore hem on the boord But none soo lykyng as the word Which was ther spoke amoÌ„g hem two Soâ— as they dorst speke tho But though they â—adden lytyl space Yet they acorden in that place How Iason shold come at nyght When euery torche euery lyght Were oute than of other thynges They speken a loude for supposynges Of hem that stoden there aboute For loue is
And netheles yf thou wolt wyte In the maner as thou hast preyde I shal the telle hou it is seyde Nota qualiter aureum vellus in pardes Insule Colchos primo deuenit Athemas Rex philen habiut coniugem 〈◊〉 qua Faxum genuit et Hellen Mortua autem Hellen Athemas Iunonem Regis Cadmi filiam postea 〈◊〉 vxorem dnxit que more Nouerce diâ—tos infaÌ„tes in tantum recollegit odiâ—que ambos in mari proici penes Regem procurauit Vnde Iuno compaciens quemdam Arietem grandem aureo vestitum vellere ad litus natantem destinauitâ— super cuius dorsum pueros apponi iussit quo facto Aries super vndas regressus cum solo Frixo sibi adherente in Colchos applicuit vbi Iuno dictum Arietem cuÌ„suo vellere prout in alijs canitur â—coniâ—is sub aâ—ta custodia collocauit tHe fame of thylk shepes felle Which in Colchos as it bifelle was al of gold shal neuer deye Wherof I thynke for to seye Hou he cam fyrst in to that I le There was a kyng in thylk whyle To wardes grece and Athemas The Cronyke of his name was And had a wyf whiche Phylen hyght By whome so as fortune it dyght He had of chyldren yong two Fayâ—s the fyrst was of tho A man chylde ryght fayre with all A doughter eke whiche men call Hellen he hade by this wyf But for ther may no mans lyf Endure vpon this erthe here This worthy quene as thou myÈt here Er that the chyldren were of age Took of her ende the passage With grete worshyp was bygraue What thyng it lyketh god to haue It is grete reason to ben his For thy thys kyng so as it is With grete suffrauÌ„ce it vnderfongeth And afterward as hym belongeth When it was tyme for to wedde A newe wyf he toke to bedde Whiche Iuo hyght was a mayde And eke the doughter as men sayde Of Cadme whiche a kyng also Was holde in thylke dayes tho When Iuo was the kynges make She cast hou that she myght make These chyldre to hyr fadre loth And shope a wyle ayene hem both Which vnto the kyng was at vnknow A yere or two she sete doo sowe The lond with soden whete aboute Wherof no corn may spryngen oute And thus by sleyghte by couyne Aroos the derthe the famyne Thorugh oute the lond in suche a wyse Soo that the kyng a sacryfyce Vpon the poynt of this dyserrsse To Ceres whiche is the goddesse Of corne hath shape hym for to yeue To loke yf it may be foryeue The meschyef whiche was in his lond But she whiche knewe to fore the hond The cyraimstaunce of al thys thyng Ageyn the comynge of the kyng In to the Temple hath shape soo Of hyr acord that al tho Whiche of the Temple prestes were Haue sayd ful declared there Vnto the kyng but yf so be That he desyuer the countre Of Fryxus of hellen bothe With whome the goddes ben so wrothe That whyle tho chyldre ben within Suche tylthe shal no man begyn Wherof to gete hym ony corn Thus was it sayd thus was it sworn Of al the prestes that there are And she whiche causeth al this fare Seyd eke therto what that she wolde And euery man than after tolde Soo as the quene had hem preyd The kyng whiche bath his ere leyd And leueth al that euer he herde Vnto here tale thus ansuerde And seyth that leuer is hym to chese His chyldren bothe for to lese Than hym al the remenaunt Of hem whiche are apperdendunt Vnto the lond whiche he shal kepe And bade his wyf to take kepe In What manere is best to done That they delyuerd were sone Oute of the world she anone Two men ordeyneth for to gone But fyrst she made hem for to swere That they the chyldren shold here Vnto the see that none it knowe And hem therin both throwe The children to the see ben lad Where in the wyse as Yuo bad These men be redy for to doo But the goddesse whiche Iuno Is hote appereth in the stede And hath vnto the men forbede That they the chyldren not ne slee â–ª But bad hem loke in to the see And taken hede of that they syghen There swam a sheepe to fore hyr eyen Whoo 's flees of burned gold was al And this goddesse forth with al Comaundeth that withoute let They shold anone the chyldre set Aboue vpon the shepes bak And al was do ryght as she spak Wherof the men gone home ageyne And felle so as the bokes seyne Hellen the yong mayden tho Whiche of the see was wo bego For pure drede hyr hert hath lore That fro the shepe whiche hath hyr bore As she that was swounend feynt And felle hyr self deeynt Frixus this shepe forth swam Tyl he to the I le of Colchos cam Where Iuno the goddesse he fond Whiche toke the shepe to the lond And sâ—tte it there in suche a wyse As thou to fere hast herd deuyse Wherof camâ—after al the wo Why Iason was forswore soo Vnto medeâ— as it is spoke My fader who that hath to broke His trouth as ye haue here told about He is not worthy for to loue Ne be beloued as me semeth But euery loue ne we quemeth To hym whiche newe fangle is And netheles now after this If that thou lyst to taken hede Vpon my shryfte to procede In loues cause ayene the vyce Of couetyse and Auoryce What there is more I wold wyte My sone this fynde I wryte There is yet one of thylk brood Whiche only for the worldes good To make a Tresoure of moneye Put al conscyence a weye Wherof in thy Confessyon The name and the condycyon I shal here afterwarde declare Whiche maketh one ryche another bare Plus capit vsura sibi quam debetur et illud Fraude colocata sepe latenter agit Sic amoz excessus quam sepe suos vt cuarus Spirat et viuus tres capit ipse loco Hic tractat de illa specie Auaricie que vsura dicitur cuius creditor in pecunia tantum numerata plus quam sibi de iure debetur incrementum lucri ad auget â—Pon the benche syttend on hyÈ With auaryce vsure I syghe Ful clothed of his owne sute Whiche after good maketh chase sute With his brocours that renne aboute Lyche vnto ratches on a route Suche lucre is none aboue ground Whiche is not of the ratches founde For where they see beyete sterte That shal hem in no wyse asterde But they it dryue in to the net Of lucre whiche vsure hath set Vsure with the ryche duelleth To al that euer he byeth selleth He hath ordeyned of his sleyghte Mesureâ— double double weyghte Outward he selleth by the lasse And with the more he maketh his tasse Wherof his hous is ful withynne He retcheth nought be soo he wynne Though that he lese ten or twelue His loue is al toward
whiche hath a route of his couyne Rauyne among the maystres dwelleth And with his seruauÌ„tes as men telleth Extorcion is now witholde Rauyne of other mennes folde Maketh his lord payeth nought For where as euer it may be sought In his how 's ther shall no thyng lack And that ful ofte abyeth the pack Of poure men that dwellen aboute Thus stoÌ„deth the comyn peple in doute The whiche can doo none amendement For whan hym fayleth payment Rauyne maketh none other skyle But taketh by strengthe what he will So ben other in the same wyse Louers as I shal deuyse That whan not els may auayle Anone with strengthe they assayle And gete of loue the sesyne When they see the tyme by Rauyne Of loue Certes fader no For I my lady loue soo For though I were as was Pompey That al the world me wold obey Or els suche as Alisandre I wold not do suche a sclaundre He is no good man that soo doth In good feyth sone thou seyst sooth For he that wol of purueannce By suche a weye his lust auaunce He shal it after sore abye But yf these old examples lye Now good fader telle me one So as they conne many one Touchend of loue in this matere Now lysten my sone thou shalt here So as it hath befallen or this In loues cause how that it is A man to take the Rauyne The pray the whiche is femenyne Hic ponit Exemplum contra istos in amoris causa raptores Et narrat qualiter Pandyon Rex Athenensis du as filias progne auteÌ„ Regi Tracie terres desponsata contigit quod cum Tereus ad instanciam vxoris sue Philomenam de Athenis in Traciam sorore visitacionis causa secum quadam vice perduceret in concupiscenciaÌ„ Philoment tanta seueritate in Itinere dilapsus est quod non solum ipse violencia sue rapine virginitateÌ„ oppressit sed et ipsiue linguam non factum detegeret forpice intulauit vnde imperpetue memorie cro nicam tanti raptoris postea vindicaruÌ„t tHer was a ryal noble kyng A ryche of al worldes thyng The whiche of his propre enherytaÌ„ce Athenis had in gouernaunce And who so thynketh therupon His name was kyng Pandyon Two doughters had he by his wyf The whiche he loued as his lyf The first doughter proygne hyght The second as she wel myght Was called faire philomene To whom felle after moche tene The fader of his purueaunce His doughter Proygne wold auance And gaf hir vnto maryage A worthy kyng of his lygnage A noble knyght also of his honde So was he kyd in euery lond Of Trace he hyght Thereus The Clerk Ouyde telleth thus This thereus his wyfe home ladde A lusty lyf with hir he hadde Till it be felle vppon a tyde This Proygne as she lay hym besyde Bethought hyr how that it myght be That she hir suster myght see And to hyr lord hir wylle she said With goodly wordes hym praid That she to hyr myghe goo And yf it lyked hym not so That than he wold hym self wende Or els by somme other sende The whiche myght hir dâ—re sufter grete And shape how they myght mete Hir lord anone to that he herd Gaue his acord thus answerd I wille he said for youre sake The wey after youre suster take My self and bryng hir yf I may And she with that there as she lay â—igan hym in hir armes to clyppe And kyssed hym with hyr softe lyppe And said syre graunt mercy And he sone after was redy And tooke his leue for to go In sory tyme dyd he soo This thereus goth forth to shippe And with hym his felaushippe By see the right cours he nam In to the Countrey til he cam Where Philomene was dwellyng And of hyr suster the tydyng He told than they were glade And mochel ioye of hym they made The fader and the moder bothe To leue hir doughter they were lothe But yf they were in presence And neuertheles at the reuerence Of hym that wolde hym self trauaile They wold not that he shold faile Of that he praid to gyue hir leue And she that wold not behynde leue In al hast made hir â—are Toward hir suster for to fare With Thereus and forth she went And be with his hole entent When she fro hir frendes is gone So sottith hym on hyr loue anone That his eyen myght he not withoâ—â— That he ne must on hyr behold And with the sight he gan desyre And set his owne herte a fyre And fire when it to towe approchetâ— To hym anone the strengthe â—â—rocheth Till with his hete it be deuoured The towe ne may be succoured And so that Tiraunt rauener When that she was in his power And he therto sawe tyme and space And he that lose hath al grace Forgate he was a wedded man And in a rage on hir he ran Ryght as a wolf that taketh his pray And she bygan to â—â—ye pray O my fader and moder dere Now help but they ne myght it here And she was of to lytel myght Defence ageyne so rude a knyght â— To make when he was so woode That he no reson vnderstoode But helde hir vnder in suche a wyse That she myght not arise But say oppressid and dysesed And yf a Goushauke had seysed A byrd the whiche durst not for fâ—â—â— Remeue and thus this Tiraunt theâ—â— Byâ—aft suche thyng as men seyn May neuer more be yolden ageyn And that was the Vyrgynyâ—â— Of suche â—auyn was pyâ—â— But when she to her self came And of meschyef hede name And knewe how that she was no maid With woful herte thus she said O thou of al men the werse Where was there euer man that dersâ— Doo suche a dede as thou hast do That day shall falle I hope soo That I shalle telle oute my fylle And with my speche I shall fulfille The wyde world in â—rede and lengthe That thou hast done to me with strâ—gth And yf that I among the peple dwelle Vnto the peple I shall it telle And yf I be with in walle Of stones closed than I shalle Vnto the stones clepe and â—â—yâ— And telle hem al the felonye And yf I to the wodes wende There shalle I â—â—le â—llâ— aâ— enâ—â— And crye it to the byrdes oute That they shall here it al aboute For I so lowde shall reherse That my voyce shall the heuen perce That it shalle sowne in goddes erâ— O fals man where is thy fere O more â—â—uel than ony beest How shalt thou hold thy byheste The whiche thou vnto my suster madesâ— O thou that al loue vngladese And arte ensample of al vntrewe Now wold god my suster knewe Of thyn vntrouthe how that it stood And he than as a lyon wode With his vnhappy hondes stronge He caught her by the tresses longe With the whiche he bond hir armes That was a feble dede of armes And to the grounde anone hyr case And oute
super oÌ„nia magis gaudere de eo quod contra sue carnis concupiscenciam victoriam opâ—â—nuisset nam et ipse virgo omnibus diebus vite sue castissimus permansit aN Emperour by old dayes There was he at al assayes A worthy knyÈt was of his honde There was no suche in all the loÌ„d But yet for all his vassellage He stood vn wedded al his age And in Cronycle as it is told He was an honderd wynter old But when men wold his dedes peyse And his knyghthode of armes preyse Of that he did with his hondes When he the kynges the londes To his subiection put vnder Of all that pryce had he no Wonder For he it set at none acounte And seid â—ll that myght not amounte Ageyn one poynte that he hath nomen That his flesshe he hath ouercomen He was a virgyn as he sayde On that batayle his prys he laid Lo now my sone auyse the Fader all this may wel be But and al other did soo The world of men were sone agâ— And in the lawe men may fynde How god to man the lawe of kynde Hath set the world to multyplye And who that wylle hym Iustyfye It is not to doo the lawe And neuertheles youre good sawe Is good to kepe who so may I wol not there ageyne seye nay My sone take it as I say If maydenhede be taken away Withoute lawes ordynaunce It may not fayle of vengeauuce And yf thou wylt the sooth wyten Behold a tale the whiche is wryten How that the kyng of Agamenon When he the Cyte of Lâ—sbon Had wonuen a mayden there he fond That was the fairest of the londe In that tyme that men wyst And he had of hir what hym lyst Wherof that she was daungerous Of the thyng that whiche was most precious This fayre mayden cleped is Creseyde the doughter of Crysys The whiche was that tyme speciall Of that tyme bisshop pryncipal Where Phebus had his sacryfyce So was it wel the more vyce Agamenon was than in way To Troyward and tooke a way This mayden that he with hym ladde And grete lust in hir he hadde But Phebus that whiche had grete disdeyne For that this maiden was forleyn Anone as he to Troye came Mengeaunce vpon this dede name Aud sent a comune pestylence They sought than hir euydence And made calculacion To knowe in what condicyon This deth cam in sodenly And at the last redyly The cause also the man they fonde And forth with all the same stounde Agamenon opposed was The whiche hath knowleched all the cas Of the foly that he hath wrought And therupon mercy they sought Toward the god in dyuerse wyse With prayer with sacryfyce And the mayden home they sende And gafe hir gold ynough to spende For euer whyles she wold lyue And thus the syn was forgyue And all the pestylence seced Loo what it is to be encrecid Of loue whiche is ylle wonne It were letter be vnbegonne Than take a thyng withoute leue Whiche thou must after nedes leue And yet haue maugre forth with all For thy to robben ouerall In loues cause yf thou begynne I not what ease thou shalt wynne My fader so wyl I wys My sone be wel ware of this But now youre examplarye In loue is cause of Robberye I haue it right wel vnderstonde But ouer this how so it stonde Yet wol I wyte of youre apryse What thynge is more of Couetyse Inâ—idiando latens tempus rimatur et horam Fur quibus occulto tempore furta parat Sic amor insidijs vacat et sub tegmine laudes PreÌ„dere furtiuos nocte fauente queat Hic tractat super illa cupiditatis specie que secrum latrocinium dicitur cuius natura custodire rerum nesciente ea que cupit tam per diem quam per nâ—c tem absqÈ strepitu clauculo fnratur wYth Couetyse yf I fynde A seruaunt of the same kynd Which steleth is hote myche â—ye With hym is euer in companye Of whome yf I shall telle sooth He stalketh as a Pecok doth And taketh his pray soo couerte That no man wote it in aperte And wote the lord at home Than wold he stalke aboute come And what thyng he fynt in his way When that he sawe the men away He steleth it goth forth with al That therof no man knowe shal And eke â—uf oft he goth a nyght Withouten mone or sterre lyght And with his craft the dore vnpykyth And taketh therin what hym lyketh And yf the dore be so shet That he be of his entre lette He wylle at the wyndowe in crept And whyle the lord is fast a slepe He steleth what thyng hym best lyst And goth his wey or it be wyst Ful ofte also by lyght of day Yet wold he stele make assay Vnder the cete his hond he put And with a knyf his purs he cut And receyueth what he fynde therin And thus he auntreth hym to wyn And bereth an horne not bloweth For no man of his counceyll knoweth That he may gete of his mychyng It is al bylle vnder the wyng And as an hound goth to fold And hath there taken what he wold His mouth vppon the gras he wypeth And so with feyned chere hym slyketh And what as euer of shepe he strangle There is no man therof shall iangle As for to knowe who it dede Ryght so doth stelthe in euery stede Where as hym lyst his pray take He can so wel his cause make And so wel feyne so wel glose That there ne shalle no man suppose But that he were an Innocent And thus a mannes eye he blent So that this craft he may vse Withoute helpe of ony refuse There ben louers of that degre With all hir lust in pryuete As who sey geten al by stelthe And ther of atteynen to grete welthe And for the tyme that it lasteth For loue awayteth euer casteth How he may stele catche his pray When he therto may fynde a way For be it nyght or be it day He taketh his parte when he may And yf he may no more doo Yet wol he stele a kysse or two Telle yf thou euer dydest so In ony wyse thy lady vnto My fader how my sone thus If thou haue stolen ony kus Or other thyng that therto longeth For no man suche theues hongeth Telle on for thy sey the trouthe My fader nay that is routhe For by wylle I am a thefe But she that is to me moost lefâ— Yet durst I neuer in pryuete Mot ones take by r by the kne To stele of hir or this or that And yf I durst I wote wel what And netheles but yf I lye By stelthe ne by robberye Of loue whiche felle in my thought To hir dyd I neuer nought But as meÌ„ seyn where herte is fayled There shalle no castel be assayled But though I had hertes ten And were as strong as all men
he sawe that ymage tho And taketh in his armes two And it embraceth hym ageyne And to the kyng thus gan it seyne Vlixes vnderstood wel thâ—s The token of oure acqueyntaunce is Here afterward to mochel tene The loue that is vs bitwene Of that we now suche ioye make That one of vs the deth shal take When deth cometh of destyne It may none other wyse be Vlixes tho began to praye That this figure wold hym saye What wyght he is that seyth hym so This wyght vpon a spere tho A pensel whyte was wel bigone Enbrowdred shewed hym anone Thre fysshes all of one coloure In manere as it were a toure Vpon the pensel were wrought Vlixes knewe this token nought And praid to wyte in somme partyâ— What thyng it myght â—ygnyfye A signe it is whiche answered Of an empyre and forth it ferd Al sodenly when he that said Vlyxes oute of slepe he brayd And that was ryght ayene the day That lenger slepen he ne may Ayene a man hath knowlechyng Saue of hym self of all thyng His owne chaunce no man knoweth But as fortune it on hym throweth Was yet neuer so wyse a Clerke Whiche myght knowe al goddes werk Ne the secrete whiche god hath sette Ayene a man may not be lette Vlyxes though that he be wyse With all his wytte in his auyse The more that he his sweuen acounteth The lesse he wote what it amounteth For all his calculacion He seeth none demonstracion Al pleynly for to knowe an ende But netheles how so it wende He drad hym of his owne sone That maketh hym wel the more astone And shope therof anone with all So that within a castel walle Thelamon his sone he shette Tyl he myght knowe the bette The sooth for there he ne knewe Til that fortune hym ouerthrewe But netheles for sykernesse Where that he myght wyte gesse A place strengest in his londe There lete he make of lyme sonde A strengthe where he wold dwelle Was neuer man yet herd telle Of suche another as it was And for to strengthe hym in that cas Of al his â—onde the sykerest Of seruanntes and of the worthyest To kepe hym within ward He charged hem they sholden harde And make suche an ordynaunce For loue ne for acqueyntaunce That were it erly were it late They shold bete in at the yate No mauer man what so betydde But it so were hym self it bydde But al that myght hym not auaylâ— For whome fortune wyll assayle There may be no resistence Whiche myght a man make defence That al shall be must fal algate This Cyrces whiche I spake of tate On whome Vlyxes hath bigete A childe though he it haue foryete When tymâ— came as it was wonne She was delyuerd of a sonne Whiche cleped is thelogonus The child when he was bore thus Aboute his moder to ful age That he can reson and langage In good estate was drawe forth And when he was so mochel wâ—â—th To stonde in a mannes stede Circes his moder hath hym bede That he shall to his fader go And told hym al to geder tho What man he was that hym begaâ— And when â—lelogonus herd that Was ware had ful knowlechyng How that his fader was a kyng He prayd his moder fayre this To go where that his fader is And she hym graunted that he shall And made hem redy forth with all It was that tyme suche vsaunce That euery man the congâ—ysaunce Of his Countre bare in his honde When he went in to straunge londe And thus was euery man therfore Well knowe where that he was bore For espyall or mystâ—o wynges They dyde than suche thynges That euery man may other knowe Sâ—o it bifelle in that throwe Thelogonus as in this cas Of his Contre the signe was Thre fisshes whiche he sholde bere Vpon the pynon of a spere And when he was thus arrayd And had his harneys all assayd That he was redy euerydele His moder bad hym fare wele And said hym that he shold sâ—ythe His fader grete a thousand â—ythe Thelogonus his moder kyâ—â— And took his leue where he wyst His fader was the way he name Til he vnto Nachare came Whiche of that lond the chyef Cyte Was cleped there asketh he Where was the kyng how he ferde And when that he the sooth herde Where that the kyng Vlixâ—s was Alone vpon his hoâ—s grete paas He roodâ— hym forth in his honde He bare the signall of his londe With fisshes thre as I haue told And thus he went in to that hold Where that his owne fader dwelleth The cause why he came he telleth Vnto the kepars of the gate And wold haue cemen in ther ate But shortely they hym said nay And as fayre as euer he may Besought told hem of this How that the kyng his fader is But they with proude wordes grete Biganne to manace and threte But he go fro the gate fast They wold hym take and set fast Fro wordes vnto strokes thus They felle so that Thelogonus Was sore hurte wel nyhe dede But with his sharp speres hede He maketh defence how so it falle And wan the yate vpon hem alle And hath slayne of the best fyue And they aseryeden as belyue Thorugh oute the castel al aboute On euery syde men came oute Wherof the kynges herte aflyght And he with al the hast that he myght A spere caught oute he goeth As he that nyhe was woode wroth He sawe the yates ful of blood Thelogonus where he stood He sawe also but he ne knewe What man he was and to hym threwe His spere he sterte oute asyde But desteny whiche shold betyde Befelle that ylke tyme so Thelogonus knewe no thyng tho What man it was that to hym cast And whyles his owne spere last With al the signe therupon He cast vnto the kyng anone And smote hym with a dedely wouÌ„de Vlixâ—s felle anone to grounde Tho euery man the kyng the kyng Began to crye of this thyng Thelogonus whiche sawe the caas On knees felle seid alas I haue myn owne fader slayn Now I wold deye wonder faynâ— Now slee me who that euer wylle For certes it is right good skylle He cryeth he wepeth he seid therfore Alas that euer was I bore That this vnhappy destyne So wofully cometh in by me This kyng which yet hath life ynougâ— His herte ayene vnto hym drough And to that voyce an ere he leyd And vnderstood all that he seid And gan to speke said on hyghe Bryng me this man whan he syghe Thelogonus his thought he set Vpon the sweuen whiche he met And axeth that he myght see His spere on whiche the fysshes thre He sawe vpon a pensel wrought Tho wyst he wel it faileth nought And bad hym that he telle shold Fro whens he came what he wold Thelogonus in sorowe woo So as he myght told
tho Vnto Vlixes all the caas How that Cyrces his moder was And so forth seid hym euery dele How that his moder grete hym wele And in what wyse she hym sent Tho wist Vlixes what it ment And tooke gym in his armes softe And al bledyng kyst hym ofte And said sone whyles I lyue This infortune I the foryeue After his other sone in hast He sente he bigan hym hasâ—s And cam vnto his fader tyâ—e But when he saw hym in suche plyte He wold haue ronnen vpon that other Anone slayne his owne broder Ne had ben that Vlixes Bitwene hem made acord peâ—s And to his heyre thelamacus He had that he Thelogonus With al his power shold kepe Till he were of his woundes depe Al hole and than he shold hym yâ—â—â— Londe where vpon to lyue Thelamacus when he this herde Vnto his fadâ—â— he answerd And said he wold done his wylle So dwellen they to geder stylle These bretheren and the fader sterueth Lo wherof sorcery serueth Thorugh sorcerye his lust he wan Thorugh sorcery his wo bygan Thorugh sorcerye his loue he chese Thorugh sorcerye his lyf he lese The child was getâ— in sorcerye Whiche dyd all this felonye Thyng which was ayene kynde wroÈt Vnkyndely it was bought The child his owne fader slough That was vnkyndeship ynough For thy take heede how that it is So for to wynne loue amys Whiche endeth â—l his ioye in wo For al this arte I fynde also That hath be doâ— for loues sake Where thou myght ensample take A grete Cronycle Emperyall Whiche euer in memoryall Among the men how so it wende Shal dwelle vnto the worldes ende Hic nâ—rrâ—t Exemplum quâ—â—â—ter Nectanabus ab Egiptâ— in Macedoniam fugitiâ—â—s Olimpiadem philippi re gis ibidem tunc absentis vxorem arte magiâ— decipâ—ens câ—m ipsa concubuitâ— magnum quam ex ea Alexandrum sortelogus genuit qui natus pâ—stea cum ad erudiendum sub custodia Nectanabi patrem suum ab altitudine cuiusdam turris in fossam profundam percipiens interfecit Et sic sortilâ—gus ex suo sortilegio infortunij sortem sortitus est tHe hye Creatoure of thynges Whiche is kyng of al kynges Ful many worldes chaunce Lâ—te slyde vnder his sufferaunce There wote noman the cause why But he whiche is al myghty And that proued whilome thus When that the kyng Nectanabus Whiche had Egypte for to lede But for he sey before the dede Thorugh magyke of his sorcerye Wherof he couthe a grete partye His enemyes to hym comende Fro whome he myght not hym defende Oute of his owne londe he fledde And in the wyse as he hym dredde It felle for al his wytchecraft So that Egypte was hym beraft And he desguysed fledde awey By ship held the ryght wey To Macedoyne where that he Arâ—yueth at the chyef Cyte Thre yomen of his Chambre there All only for to serue hym were The whiche he trusteth wonder wele For they were trewe as ony stele And hapneth that they with hym lad Parte of the best good he had They toke lodgyng in the towne After the disposicioun Where as hym thought best to dwelle He axeth than herd telle How that the kyng was oute go Vpon a werre he had tho But in that cyte than was The quene whiche Olympias Was hoote with solempnyte The feste of hir natyuyte As it be fell was than holde And for hir lust to biholde And prayd of the people aboute She shope hir for to ryde oute And after mete al openly Anone were al men redy And that was in the Monethe of may This lusty quene on good aray Was set vpon a mule whyte To sene it was a grete delyte The ioye that the Eyte made With fresshe thynges with glade The noble tâ—une was al behonged And euery wyght was sore alonged To sâ—e this lusty lady ryde There was grete myrthe on euery side Where as passeth by the strete Thâ—re was full many tymbre bete And many a mayde carolyng And thus thurgh out that tâ—un playeng This quene vnto a pleyne rode Where that she houed and abode To see dyuerse gâ—me pley The lusty folk Iust and torney And so forth euery other man Whiche play couthe â—is playe bigan To plese with this noble quene Nectanabus came to the grene Amonges other drough hym nyghe But when that he this lady syghe And of hir beaute hede tooke He â—â—uthe not withdrawe his loke To see nought elles in the felde But stood only hir biheld Of his clothyng of his chere He was al vnlyche other there So that it hapneth at the last The quene vpon hym hir eye cast And knewe that he was sâ—rauÌ„ge anone But he biheld hir euer in one Withoute blemysshyng of his cheere She took good â—ede of hâ—s manere And wondreth why he dyd so And bad men sheld for hym goo He came dyd hir reuerence And she axeth in sylence From whome he came what he wold And he with sobre wordes told And seyth madame a Clerke I am To yow and in message I cam The whiche I may not tellen here But yf it lyke yow to here It must be said al pryuely Where none shal be but ye and I Thus for the tyme he tooke his leue The day goth forth till it was eue That euery man mote lete his werk And she thought euer vpon this clerk What thyng it is that he wold mens And in this wyse abode the quene It passeth ouer thylk nyght Till it was on the moro we lyght She send for hym and he came With hym his Astrolahe he name Whiche was of fyne gold precious With poyntes and cercles merueylous And eke the heuenly fygures Wronght in a book full of peyntures He took this lady for to shewe And told of eche of hem by rewe The cours and the condycyon And she with grete affectyon Sate stylle herd what he wold And thus when he seeth tyme he told And feyneth with his wordes wyse A tale and seyth in suche a wyse Madame but a whyle agoo Where I was in Egypte tho And radde in scole of this scyence It felle in to my conscyence That I in to the temple went And there with all my hole entent As I my sacryfice dede One of the goddes hath me â—edâ— That I yow warne pryuely So that ye make yow redy And that ye be no thyng agaste For he suche loue hath to yow cast That ye shall ben his owne dere And he shall be youre bedfere Til ye conceyue be with child And with that word â–ª she wex al myldâ— And somdele bicame for shame And axrth hym that goddes name Whiche so wol done her companye And he seid amos of luby And she said that may I not leue But yf I see a better preue Madame quod Nectanabus In token that it shal be thus This nyght for enformacion Ye shall hane a vysyon That Amos shall to
the norice Vnto the fosteryng of the vyce Wherof ful ofte netheles A kyng is blamed gyltles Nota qualiter principum curijs adula tores triplice grauitate offendunt A philosophre as thou shalt here Spake to a kyng of this matere And said hym wel how that flaterours Coulpable were of thre errours One was toward the goddes on hye That weren wroth of that they syghe The myschyef whiche befalle shold Of that the fals flaterour tolde Toward the kyng another was Whan they by sleyght by fallas Of feyned wordes make hym wene That blacke is whyt blew is grene Touchyng of his condicion For whan he doeth extorcion With many another vyce moo Men shul not fynde one of tho To grutche or speke there ageyn But holden vp his oyle sayn That al is wel what euer he doth And thus of fals they maken soth So that the kynges eye is blente And wote not how the world is went The third errour is harme comune with which the peple mote comune Of wronges that they bryngen ynne Aud thus they werchen treble synne That ben flaterours aboute a kynge There myght be no werse thynge Aboute a kynges regalye Than is the vyce of flaterye And nethelesse it hath ben vsed That it was neuer yet refused As for to speke of courte ryalle For there it is most specialle And many longe before bore But whan this vyce of hem is bore That shold the vertuous forth brynge And trouth is torned in to lesynge It is as who sayth ageynst kynde Wherof an olde ensaumple as I fynde Hic contra vanitates adulandum loquitur et narrat quod cum arisippus de cartagine philosophus scole studium relinquens sui principio obsequio in magnis adulacionibus pre ceteris carior asistebat Accidit vp ipse quodam die Dioginem philosophum uuper socium suum virum tam moribus quam probatissimum herbas ad olera sua collectas lauantem ex casu ad ripam inuenerat Cui ait o diogene scito sicut et ego principi tuo placere scires huiusmodi herbas aut celligere aut non lauare indigeres O arisippe certe si tu olera tua lauare scires be in blanâ—icijs et adulacioniâ—us principi tuo seruire non oporteret â—Mouge these olde tales wyse Of phylosophres in this wyse I trde how whilom two there were And to the soole for to lere Vnto athenis fro cartage Her frendes whan they were of age Hem sente there they stoden longe Tyl they suche lore haue vnderfonge That in her tyme they surmounte Al other men that to accounte Of hem two was grete fame The first of hem his right name Was drogenes than hote In whom was founde no ryote His felowe arisippus hyght Whiche moche coude myght But atte last sothe to sayne They bothe torned home agayne Vnto cartage soole lete This dyogynes no beyete Of worldes good lasse or more Ne sought for his longe lore But toke hym onely for to dwelle At home as the bookes telle His how 's was nygh to the ryuere Besyde a bridge as thou shalt here There dwelled he toke his reste So as it thought hym for the beste To studye in his philosophye As he whiche so wold defye The worldes pompe on euery syde But arisippe his bookes a syde Hath leyed to the courte he wente Where many a wyle many a wente With flaterye wordes softe He caste hath compasseâ— ofte How he his prynce myght plese And in this wyse he gate hym â—ase Of veyne honour worldes good The londes rule vpon hym stode The kyng of hym was wonder glad And al was do what thynge he bad Bothe in the courte eke with out With flaterye he brought about His purpoos of the worldes werke Which was ageyn the state of clerke So that the philosophye he lefte And to the riches hym self vp lefte â—o thus had arisippe his wylle But dyogenes dwellyd stylle At home loked on his boke He sought not the worldes croke For veyn honour ne for richesse But al his herdes besynesse He set to be vertuous And thus within his owne how 's He lyueth to the suffysaunce Of his hauyng fyl perchaunce This dyogynes vpon a day And that was in the monthe of maÌ„y That whan these herbes ben holsom And walked for to gader som In his gardyn in whiche his iolytes He thought to haue thus aboutes WhaÌ„ he hath gadred what hym liketh He set hym doun than pyketh And wysshe his herbes in the flode Vpon which his gardyn stode Nygh to the bridge as I tolde ere And happeneth whyle he sitteth there Came arisippes by the strete With many hors routes grete And streyght vnto the bridge he rode Where that he houed abode For as he caste his eye nygh His felowe dyogenes he syghe And what he dyd he sawe also Wherof he sayd to hym tho O diogenes god the spede It were certes lytel nede To sit here wortes pyke If thou thy prynce coudest lyke So as I am in my degree O arisippe ageyn quod he If that thou coudest so as I Thy wortes pyke truly It were as lytel nede or lesse That thou that so worldly wold compasse With flaterye for to serue Wherof thou thynkest to dysserue Thy prynces thanke to purchace How thou myght stonde in his grace For getyng of a lytel good If thou wold take in to thy mood Reson thou myght by reson deme That so thy prynce for to queme Is not to reson accordaunt But it is gretely discordaunte Vnto the sooles of athene â—o thus answerd diogene Ageyn the clerkes flaterye But men seen the assemplarye Of arisippe is wel receyued And thylke of dyogene is weyued Offyce in courte golde in coffre Is now men sayn the philosophre Whiche hath the worshyp in the halle But flaterye passeth alle In chauÌ„bre when the courte â—uauÌ„ceth For vpon thylke lotte it chaunceth To be byloued now a daye I note yf it be ye or nay How dante the poete answerde To a flaterour the tale I herde Vpon a stryf betwene them two He sayd hym ther ben many mo Of thy seruauntes than of myn For the poete of his couyne Hath none that wyl hym clothe fede But a flatour may rule lede A kyng with al his londe aboute So stante the wyse man in doute Of hem that to folye drawe For suche is now the comyn lawe And as comune boece it telleth And where that flaterye dwelleth In ony londe vnder the sonne There is ful many thynge begonne Whiche were better to be lefte That hath he shewed now efte But yf a prynce wold hym rule Of the romayns after the rule In thylke tyme it was vsed This vyce shold be refused Wherof the poyntes ben assoted But where the playn trouth is noted There may a prynce wel conceyue That he hym self deceyue Of that he hereth wordes pleyne Of hym
that nought by reson pleyne That warned is or hym be woo And that was fully preâ—yd tho Whan rome was the worldes chyef â—he sooth sayer tho was leef Which wold not the trouthe spare But with his worde playnâ— bare To themperour his sothes tolde As in cronyke is yet withholde Here afterward as thou shalt here Accordyng vnto this matere Hic narraÌ„t super eodem qualiter nuper Romanorum Imperator cum ipso triumphator in hostes a bello rome rediret Tres sibi laudes in signum sui triumphi precipue debebantur primo quatuor equi abbissimi currum in quo sedebat veherent Secundo tunica Iouis pro tunc indueretur Tercio sui captiui prope currum ad viriusque latus cathena ti deambularent Set ne tanti honoris adulacio eius animum in superbiam extolleret quidam scurra linguosus iuxta ipsum in curru sedebat qui quasi contumatis vocibus improperando Notheos hoc est noscete ipsum quia hodie fortunata sibi prospera sunt cras forte versa rota mutabilis aduersabitur O see this olde ensaumplerye That whilom was no flaterye Toward the prynces wel I fynde Wherof so as cometh to mynde My sone a tale vnto thyn ere While that the worthy princes were At rome I thynke for to tellen For whan the chaunces so byfellen That ony emperour as tho Victorye vpon his foo And so came forth to rome ageyn Of treble honour he was certeyne Wherof that he was magnefyed The first as it is specefyed Was whan he came that ylke tyde The chare in whiche he shold ryde Four whyt stedes shold it drawe Of Iubyter by thilke lawe The cote he shold were also His prisoners eke shold goo Endlonge the chare on eyther honde And al the noblesse of the londe To fore â—after with hym come Rydyng broughte hym to rome In token of his chyualrye And for none other flaterye And that was she wed forth with al Where he satte in his chare ryalle Besyde hym was a rybaud set Which had his worde so beset To themperour in al his glorye He said take in thy memorye For al this pompe al this pride Lete no iustice goo a syde But knowe thy self what so befalle For men seen oftymes falle Thynges which men wende siker stoÌ„de Though thou victorye haue in honde Fortune may not stonde alwey The whiche perchaunce another day May turne thou myght ouer throwe Ther lasteth no thynge but a throwe With these wordes with moo This ribaulde which sat with hym the To themperour hys tale tolde And euermore after what be wolde Or were it euyl or were it good So playnly as the trouth stood He spareth not but be speketh oute And so myght euery man aboute The day of that solempnyte His tale telle as wel as he To themperour al openly And al was this cause why That while he stode in that noblesse He shold his vanyte represse With suche wordes as he herde Lo now how thylke tyme it ferde Toward so hygh a worthy lorde For this I fynde eke of recorde Whiche the cronycle hath auctorized What emperour was Intronyzed Hic eciam contra adulacionem narrat qd primo die quo nuper Imperator intronisatus extitit latonij sui ab ipso constanter peterent de quali lapide sue sepulture tumulum fabricarent vt sic futuram mortem commemorans vani tates huius seculi transitonas facilius reprimeret tHe first day of his corone Where he was in his ryal trone And helde his feste in the paleys Sittyng vpon his hye deys With al the lust that may be gete Whan he was gladdest at his mete And euery mynstral had played And euery gestour had sayed What moste was plesaunt to his ere Atte laste came in there His masons for they shullen craue Where that he wold be bygraue And what stone his sepulture They sholden make what scripture He wold ordeyne there vpon Tho was there flatrrye none The worthy prynce to beiape The kyng was otherwyso shape With good counceyl other wyse They were hem self than wyse And vnderstoden wel knewen Whan suche softe wyndes hlewen Of flaterxe in to her ere They setten nought her hertes there But whan they herde wordes feyned The pleyne trouthe it hath disdeyned Of hem that weren so dyscrete So toke the flaterer no beyete Of hym that was his prynce tho And for to proue that it is so A tale which I fynde in dede In a cronycle of rome I rede Hic inter alia gesta cesaris narrat vnum exempluÌ„ precipue contra illos qui cum in aspectu principis alijs sapi enciores apperere vellent quando que tamen similitate sapiencie talia comittunt per que ceteris stulciores in fine comprobantur cEsar vpon his ryal trone Where that he satte in his persone And was hyest in al his pryse A man whiche wold make hym wyse Fyldoun knelyng in his presence And dyd hym suche a reuerence As though he hygh god were Men had grete meruayle there Of the worshyp which he dede This man aroos fro thylke stede And forth withal the same tyde He goeth hym vp by his syde He set hym doun as there a pere And said yf thou that sittest here Arte god whiche al thynges myght Than I haue doo worshyp a right As to the god otherwyse Yf thou he not of thylke assyse Bnt arte a man suche as am I Than may I syt the faste by For we be bothe of one kynde Cesar answerd said o blynde Thou arte a fole it is wel sene Vpon thy self yf thou wene If I be a god thou doest a mys To sit where thou seest that god is And I be a man also Thou hast a grete foly do Whan thou to suche one as shal deye The worshyp of thy god alweye Hast yeuen so vnworthely Thus may I preue redely Thou arte not wyse that herde How wysely that the kyng answerde It was to hem a newe lore Wherof they dreden hym the more And brought no thynge to his ere Bnt yf it treuth reson were So ben there many in suche a wyse That faynen wordes to be wyse And al is veray flaterye To hym whiche can it wel aspyr Nota qualiter ista circa principem adultores potius a curia expelli quam ad regie magestatis munera acceptan policia suadente delerent tHe kynde flatour can not loue But for to brynge hym self aboue For how that euer his mayster fare So that hym self stonde out of care He retcheth nought thus ofte Deceyueth with wordes softe The kynges that ben Innocent Where as for thastement The wyse phylosophre seyed What kyng that so his tresour leyed Vpon suche folke he hath the lesse And yet no doeth he no largesse â—nt harmeth with his owne honde Hym self eke his owne londe And that by many a sondry weye Wherof yf that a man shal seye As for to
que iusticia nominata est â—â—â—us condicio legibus incorupta vniuiaue qd suum est cquo pondere distribuit wHat is a londe there men be none What ben the men that are allone Without a kynges gouernaunce What is a kyng in his lygeaunce Where that there is no lawe in londe What is to take lawe on honde But yf the Iuges ben trewe These olde worldes with the newe Who that wyl take in euydence There may he se experience What thynge it is to kepe lawe Thorow which wronges be withdrawe And rightwysnes stande coÌ„mended Wherof the regnes ben amended For where the lawe may commune The lordes forth with the comune Eche hath his propre deute And eke the knyghtes ryalte Of bothe his worshyp vnderfongeth To his estate as it bylongeth Whiche of his worthynesse Hath to gouerne rightwysnesse As he whiche shal the lawe guyde And neuerthelesse vpon soÌ„me syde His power stante aboue the lawe To yeue bothe and to drawe The forset of the mannes lyf But thynges whiche are excessyf Ageyn the lawe he shal not doo For loue ne for hate also Imperatoriam magestatem non solum armis sÈ eciam legibus oportet esse armatam b The myghtes of a kyng be grete But yet a worthy kyng shal â—etâ— Of wronge to done al that he myght For he whiche shal the peple right Yt sitteth wel to his regalye That he hym self fyrst Iustefye Toward god in his degree For his estate is elles fre Toward al other in his persone Saue onely to the god allone Whiche wyl hym self a kyng chastyse Where that none other may suffyse So were it good to taken hede That fyrst a kyng his owne dede Betwene the vertu and the vyce Redresse than his iustyce So sette in euen the balaunce Towardes other in gouernaunce That to the powre to the ryche His lawes myght stonde in lyche He shal excepte no persone But for he may not al hym one In sondry place to Iustyce He shal of his ryal offyce With wyse consyderacion Ordeyne his dysputacion Of suche Iuges as ben lerned So that his peple be gouerned By hem that trewe ben wyse For yf the lawe of couetyse Be set vpon Iuges honde Woo is the peple of thylke londe For wronge may not hym self hyde But allas on that other syde Yf lawe stonde with the right The peple is glad stonte vp right Where as the lawe is meuable The comyn peple stante resonable And yf the lawe torne a mys The peple also mystorned is Nota hic iusticia maximinj imperato ris qui cum alicuius prouincie custodeÌ„ sibi constituere volebat primo de sui nominis sama proclamacione facta ipsius condicionem diligencius inuesti gabat aNd in ensaumple of this matere Of maxymyn a man may here Of Rome Whiche was emperour That whan he made a gouernour By weye of substytucion Of prouynce or of regyon He wold fyrst acquyre his name And lete it openlye proclame What man he were or euyl or good And vpon that his name stode Enclyned to vertu or to vyce So wold he sette hym in offyce Or ellis put hym al a weye Thus helde the lawe the right weye Whiche fonde no lette of couetyse The world stode than vpon that wyse By ensaumple thou myght rede And holde in thy mynde I rede Hic ponit exemplum de iudicibus incorruptis narrat qualiter Gaius Fabricius nuper Rome consul aurum a sampnitibus sibi oblatum remiâ—t dicens qd nobilius est aurum possidentes domino subuigare quam ex auri cupidi tate dominij libertacem amâ—â—tere IN a cronyque I fynde thus How that gayus fabricius Whiche whylom was consul of rome By whom the lawes yede come Whan the sampnytes to hym brought A somme of golde hym besought To done hym fauour in the lawe Toward the golde he gan hym drawe Wherof in al mennes loke A parte in to his honde he toke Whiche to his mowthe in al haste He put it for to smelle and taste And to his eye to his lere But he ne foude no comforte there And than he began it to despyse And tolde vnto hem in this wyse I note what is wyth golde to thryue Whan none of al my wyttes fyue Fynde sauour ne delyte therin So it is but a nyce synne Of golde to be couetouse But he is ryche and gloriouse Whiche hath in his subieccion Tho men whiche in pocessyon Ben riche of golde by this skylle For he may al day whan he wylle Or be hym lefe or be hym lothe Iustyce doon vpon hem bothe Lo thus he said with that worde He threwe tofore hym vpon a borde The golde out of his honde anone And said theym that he wold none So that he kepte his lyberte To doo Iustyce and equyte With lucre of suche rychesse Ther ben now fewe of suche I gesse For it Was thylke tyme vsed That euery Iuge was refused Whiche was not frende to comyn right But they that wolden stonde vp right For trouthe onely to Iustyce â—referred were in thylke offyce To deme Iuge comyn lawe Whiche now meÌ„ sayn is al with draw To settâ— a lawe and kepe it nought There is no comune prouffyt sought But abeue al nethelees The lawe whiche is made for pees Is good to kepe for the beste For that setteth al men in reste Hic nâ—rrat de iusticia nuper conrar â—i imperatoris cuius tempore alicuius reuerencia persone aliqua seu precum inâ—â—ruencione quacunqÈ vel auri redempcione legum statuta coÌ„mutari seu râ—dâ—â—i nullatenus potuerunt tHe rightful emperour conrâ—de To kepe pees suche a lawe made That none within the cyte In dysturbaunce of vnyte Durst ones meuen a matere For in his tyme as thou myght here What poynte that was for lawe sette It sheld for no good be lette To what persone that it were And this brought in the comyn fere Why ony man the lawe dradde For ther was none which fauour had Nota exemplum de constancia judicis vbT narrat de carunidotiro rome nuper coÌ„sule aui cum sui statuti legem nes ciens offendisset Romani que super hee penam sibi remittere noluisseÌ„t ipeÌ„ propria manu vbi nullns alius in ipsum vnidex fuit sui criminis vindic tam exâ—cutus est sO as these olde lookes sayn I fynde write where a romayn Whiche consul was of pretoyre Who 's name was caromydotâ—yre He sette a lawe for the pees That euery man be Wepenlees That came in to the counceyl how 's And elles as malicious He shal ben of the lawe dede To that statute to that rede Accorden al it shal be so For certeyn cause whiche was tho Now here what fyl herafter sone This consul had for to done And was in to the feldes ryden And they hym longe abyden That lordes of the couuceyl were And bad hym come and he came there With swerde y
gyrde and had foryete Tyl he was in the couuceyl sete Was none of hom that made speche Tyl he hym self it wold seche And fonde out the defaute hym self And said vnto the twelfe Whiche of the senate weren wyse I haue deseruyd the juyse In haste that it were I do And they hym sayden al no For wel they wyst it was no vyce Whan he ne thought no malyce But onely of a lytel slouthe And thus they leften as for routhe To do justyce vpon his gylte For that he shold not be spylte And whan in the maner how They wold hym saue he made a vowe With manful herte thus he sayed That rome shold neuer abrayed His heyres whan he was of dawe That her auncetour brake the lawe For thy that they weren ware Forthwyth the same swerde he â—are The statute of his lawe he kepte So that al rome his deth be wepte Nota â—d falsâ— iudices mortis penâ— puâ—iendi sunt narrat enim qualiter cambices Rex persarum quemdam iudicem coruptum excoriâ—â—â— viuum fecit eius que pelle cathedram iudicialem opeâ—â—â—â— coÌ„stituit â—ta qd filius suus supeâ— patâ—s pellem posteâ— pro tribunali sessurus iudicij equitatem euidenâ—ius me â—oraretu â—N other places also I rede Where that a Iuge hys owne dede Ne wil not venge his lawe broke The kyng it hath hym self y wroke The grete kyng whiche cambises Was hoâ—e a juge lawles He fonde and to remembraunce He dyd vpon hym suche vengeaunce Out of his skyn he was befloyne Al quycke in that wyse slayne So that his skyn was shape al metâ— And nayled vpon the same setâ— Where that his sone shold sitte Auyse hym yf â—e wold flitte The lawe of couetyse There sawe he redy his juyse Thus in defaulte of other juge The kyng mote other while inge To holden vp the right lawe And for to speke of the olde dawe To take ensaumple of that was tho I fynde a tale wryten also How that a worthy prynce is holâ—â— The lawes of his londe to helde First for the hygh goddes sake And for that hyâ— is betake The peple for to guyde lede Whiche is the charge of his kyngheâ—â— Hic ponit exemplum de principiâ—uâ— illis qui non solum legem statuentes illam conseruant Set â—t comune bonum adaugeant propriam fatultate in diminuunt Et narrat qd cum liguri us atheum princeps in omni prosperitatis habundancia diues vnanimes congruis legibus stare fecisse volens ad vtilitatem reipubâ—â—e leges il las firmius obsâ—ruari peâ—â—gri profâ—â—ssi se fuixit set prius iuramentuÌ„ solempne a leges suis sub hac forma exegit qd ipsi vsque in reditum suuÌ„ leges suas millaâ—enus infringerent quibus miratis pere gâ—â—nacionem suam in exiliuÌ„â—bsque redditu perpetuo delegauit IN a cronycle I rede thus Of the rightful lygurgyus Whiche of athenes prynce was How he the lawe in euery was Wherof he shold his peple rule Hath sette vpon so good a rule In al this world that cite none Of lawe was so wel begone Forthwith the trouthe of gouernauÌ„ce There was emonge hem no distannce But euery man hath his encrees There was without werre pees Without enuye loue stood Richesse vpon the comune good And not vpon the synguler Ordeyned was the power Of hom that weren in estate Was sauf wherof vpon debate There stode no thynge so that in reste Myght euery man his herre reste And whan this noble rightful kyng Saw how it ferde of al this thynge Wherof the peple stode in ese He whiche for euer wold plese The hye god whos thonke he soughte A wonder thynge than he bethoughtâ— And shope how that it myght be How that his lawe in the cite Myght afterward for euer laste And there vpon his witte he caste What thynge hym were beste to sayen That his purpoos myght atteyne A parlemente thus he sette His wysdom â—here that he be sette In audience of grete smale And in this wyse he tolde a tale God wote so ye woten alle Here afterward how so it falle Yet to now my wylle hath be To do iustyce and equyte In ferderyng of the comyn proffyt Suche hath ben euer my delyte But of one thynge I am beknowe The whâ—les my wylle is that ye knowe The lâ—â—e whiche I toke on honde Was al to gyder of goddes sonde And no â—ynge of myn owne wit So mote it nede endure yit And shal do lenger yf ye wyl For I wyl trlle you the skyl The god mercurius no man He hath me taught al that I can Of suche lawes as I made Wherof that ye ben al glade It was the god no thynge I Which dyd al this now for thy He hath coÌ„maunded of his grace That I shal come in to a place Whiche ferre out in an yle Where I moto tarye for a whyle Wich hym to speke as he hath bede For as be saith in thylke stede He shal me suche thynges telle That euer while the world shal dwelle Aâ—â—nes shal the better fare But fyrst or that I thyder fare For that I wold that my lawe Amonges you ne be withdrawe The whiles that I shal be oute For thy to setten out of doubte Bothe you me thus wil I praye That ye me wold assure saye With suche an othe as I wyl take That eche of you shal vndertake My lawes for to kepe holde They sayden al that they wold And there vpon they swere theyr othe That fro that tyme that he gothe Tyl he to hem be come ageyn They shullen his lawe wel pleyne In euery poynte kepe fulfille Thus hath lygurius his wylle And toke his leue forth he wente But here now wel to what entente Of rightwysnes he dyd so For after that he was a goo He shope hym neuer to be founde So that athenes whiche was founde Neuer after shold be releced Ne thylke good lawe seced Which was for comune prouffyt souÈt The kyng his owne estate ne rought To do prouffyt to the comune He toke of exyle the fortune And lefte of pryuely thylke offyce Onely for loue for justyce For whiche he thoughte yf that he myÈt For euer after his deth to right The cite which was hym betake Wherof men ought ensaumple take With hem whiche vnder gouernaunce The good lawes to auaunce And who that wold take kepe The lawes haue for to kepe Of hem that first the lawes founde As ferre as lasteth ony grounde Of londe her names yet be knowe And yf it lyke the to knowe SoÌ„me of their names how they stonde Now herken thou shalt vnderstonde Hic ad eorum laudem qui iusticie causa leges statuerunt aliquorum nomina specialius commemorat oF euery benefete the meryte The god hym self it wyl acquyte And eke ful ofte it falleth so The world it wyl acquyte also But that may not be euen syche
To god he yeueth the heuen ryche The world yeueth onely but a name Which stante vpon the good fame Of hem that done the good dede And in this wyse double mede Receyuen that done wel here Wherof yf that thou list to here After the fame as it is blowe Ther myght thou wel the soth knowe How thilke honest besynesse Of hem that first of rightwysnesse Emonge the men the lawes made May neuer vpon this erthe fade For euer while there is a tonge Her name shal be redde songe And hole in the cronyke write So that the men shullen wyte To speke good as they wel oughten Of hem that first the lawes soughten In forderyng of the worldes pees Vnto thebrewes was moyses The first the Egypciens Mercurius to troiens First was ne wma pompilius To athenes ligurius Yaue first the lawe vnto gregoys Foroneus hath thylke voyce And romulus of romayns For suche men as ben vylayns The lawe in suche a wyse ordeyneth That what man the lawe pleyneth By so the juge stonde vp right He shal be serued of his right And so ferforth it is befalle That lawe is comune emonge vs alle God lene it moâ—e wel be holde As euery kyng therto is holde For thynge whiche is of kynges sette With kynges ought it not to be lette What kyng of lawe taketh no kepe By lawe he may no royame kepe Do lawe aweye what is a kynge Where is the right of ony thynge If that there be no lawe in londe This ought a kyng wel vnderstonde As he which is to lawe sworne That yf the lawe be forlorne Withouten execusyoun Hit maketh a londe torne vp so dou n Which is vnto the kyng sclaundre For thy vnto kyng alisaundre The wyse philosophre hadde That he hym self first be ladde Of lawe than forth with alle To doo justyse in generalle That al the wyde londe aboute The iustyce of his lawe doubte And than shal he stonde in reste For therto lawe is one the beste Aboue al other erthely thynge To make a liege drede his kynge But how a kyng shal gete hym loue Toward the hygh god aboue And eke a man in erthe This nexte poynte whiche is the ferthe Of aristotles lore it techeth Wherof who the soole secheth What polecye that it is The book reherceth after this Nil racionis habens vbi vel tiraÌ„ni 〈◊〉 regna Stringit amor populi transiet exul ibi Set pietas regnum que conseruabit in euum Non tantum po pulo set placet illa deo Hic tractat de quarta principum re giminis policia que pietatis dicta est per quam principes erga populum mi serioordes effecti misericordiam altissimi consecuntur iT nedeth not that I debate The prynce which preised is algate And hath ben euer euer shal Wherof to speke in special It is the vertu of pyte Thorough which the hye mageste Was sterred whan his sone alyght And in pyte the world to right Toke of the mayde flesshe blood Pyte was cause of thylke good Wherof that we ben all saue Wel oughte a man pyte to haue And the vertu to sette in price Whan he hym self which is al wyse Hath shewed why it shal be preysed Pyte may not be counterpeysed Of tyrannye with no peyse For pyte maketh a man curteyse Bothe in his worde in his dede It sit wel euery liege to drede His kyng to his heste obeye And right so by the same weye It sit a kyng to be pytous Toward his peple gracious Vpon the rule of gouernaunce So that he worche no vengeauuce Whiche may be cleped cruelte Iustyce which doth equyte Is dredeful for he no man spareth But in the lâ—nde where pyte fareth The kyng may neuer fayle of loue â–ª For pyte thorough the grace aboue So as the phylosophre affermeth His reygne in good estate confermeth The appostle iames in this wyse Sâ—yth what man that shold do iuyse And hath not pyte forth wyth all The dome of hym whiche demeth all He may hym self ful sore drede That hym shal lacke vpon the nede To fynde pyte whan he wolde For who that pyte wyl beholde It is a poynte of cristes love And for to loken ouermore It is behouely as we fynde To reson to lawe of kynde Tassyodre in his aprise telleth The royame is sauf where pite dwelleth And tullyus this tale auoweth And saith what kyng to pite boweth And with pyte stonte ouercome He hath that shelde of grace nome Whichâ— vnto kynges yeueth victoryâ— Of alisannder in his hystorye I rede how a worthy knyght Of sodeyn wrath not of right Foriuged bath he appeleth And with that word the kyng quareleth And said none is aboue me That wote I wel my lord ad he Fro thy lordshyp appele I nought But fro thy wrath in al my thouÈt To thy pyte stante myn appele The kyng which vnderstode hym wele Of pure pyte gaue hym grace And eke I rede in another place Constantinus imperator ait vere se dominum esse â–ª comprobat qui seruum pietatis se facit Thus said whilom constantyne What emperour that is enclyne To pyte for to be seruaunte Of al the worldes remenaunte He is worthy to ben a lorde In olde bookes of recorde Traiâ—nus ait qd cum ipse subditos suos solite pietatis fauore magis quaÌ„ austeritatis rigore regere corum que be neuolenciam pocius quam timorem penes se attractare proponebat tHis fynde I write of ensauÌ„playr Traian the worthy debonayr By whome that rome stode gouerned Vpon a tyme as he was lerned Of that he was to famulyer He said vnto that counceller That for to be an emperour His wylle was not for veyne honour Ne yet for reddour of Iustyce But yf he myght in his offyce His lord his peple plese Hym thought it were a grete ease With loue her hertes to hym drawe Than with the drede of ony lawe For whaÌ„ a thynge is done for doubte Ful ofte it cometh the wers aboute But where a kynge is pytous He is the more gracious That mykel thrist hym shal leiyde Whiche ellis shold torne a syde Qualiter Iudeus predester cum pa â— gaue equitante itinerauit per desertum et ipsum de fide sua interrogauit tO do pite supporte grace The phiâ—â—sophre vpon a place In his writyng of dayes olde A tale of grete ensaumble tolde Vnto the kyng of macedoyne How bytwene cayr babyloyne Whan comen is the somer hete It happened two men for to mete As they shold entre in to a paas Where that the wyldernes was And as they wente forth spekende Vnder the large wodes ende That one man axeth of that other What man art thou my lyef broder Which is thy creaunce thy feyth I am a paynym that other seyth And by the lawe which I vse I shal not in my feyth refuse To louen al men y
liche The poure bothe eke the riche Whan they be glad I shal be glad And sory whan they ben bestad So shal I lyue in vnyte With euery man in his degre For right as to my self I wolde Right so toward al other I sholde Be gracious debonayr Thus haue I tolde the softe fâ—yâ— My feyth my lawe my creaunce And yf the lyst for acqueyntaunce Now telle what manere man thou art And he answerd vpon his part I am a Iewe by my lawe I shal to no man be felawe To kepe hym trouth in worde ne dde But yf he be without drede A veray Iewe right as am I For ellis I may truly Bereue hym bothe lyf good The paynym herde vnderstood And thought it was a wonder lawe And thus vpon their sondry sawe Talkyng bothe forth they wente The day was hote the sonne brente The paynym rode vpon an asse And of his catel more lasse With hym a riche trusse he ladde The Iewe which al vntrouth hadde And went vpon his feet besyde Bethought hym how he myght ryde And with his wordes slye wyse Vnto the paynym in this wyse He said o now it shal be sene What it is thou woltest mene For yf thy lawe be certeyn As thou hast tolde I darwel seyn Thou wylt beholde my distresse Which am so ful of werynesse That I ne may vnnethe goo And lete me ryde a myle or two So that I may my body ese The paynym wold hym not dysplese Of that he spake but in pytee It list hym for to knowe see The pleynte whiche that other made And for he wold his herte glade He light made hym no thyng strauÌ„ge Thus was ther made a newe chauÌ„ge The paynym the Iewe a lofte Was sette vpon his asse softe Soo goon they forth carpend faste On this on that tyl on the laste The paynym myght goo nomore And prayed vnto the Iewe therfore To suffre hym ryde a lytel whyle The Iewe which thouÈt hym to begyle Anone rode forth the grete paas And to the paynym in this caas He seid thou hast do thy right Of that thou haddest me behyght To do socour vpon my nede And that accordeth to the dede As thou arte to the lawe holde And in suche wyse as I the tolde I thynke also for my partye Vpon the lawe of Iewrye To werche do my duete Thyn asse shal goo forth with me With al thy good whiche I haue sesed And that I wote thou arte dysesed I am right glad not myspayed And whan he hath these wordes sayed In al haste he rode aweye The pâ—â—nym wote none other weye But on the grounde he kneleth euen His hondes vp vnto the heuen And said o hye sothfastnes That louest al rightwysnes Vnto thy dome lord I appele Beholde deme my quarele With humble herte I the beseche The mercy bothe the wreche I set al in thy Iugement And thus vpon his marrement This paynym hath made his prayere And thenne he was with drery chere And goeth hym forth in his gate â—e caste his eye aboute algate The Iewe yf that he myght see But for a tyme it may not bee Tyl atte last ageyn the nyght So as god wold he wente a right As he whiche helde the hye weye And theÌ„ne he sawe in a valeye Where that the Iewe liggend was Al blody deed vpon the gras Which strangeled was of a leon And as he boked vp doun He fonde his asse fast by Forthwith his harneys redely Al hool sounde as he it lefte Whan that the Iewe it hym byrefte Wherof he thanked god knelende â—o thus a man may knowe at ende How the pytous pyte deserueth For what man that to pyte serueth As aristotle it bereth wytnesse God shal his foomen so represse That they shal ay stonde vnderfote Pyte men sayn is thylke rote Wherof the vertues spryngen alle What infortune that befalle In ony londe lacke of pyte Is cause of thylke aduersite And that alday may shewe at eye Who that the world discretely syhe Good is that euery man therfore Take hede of that is said tofore For of this tale other y nowe These noble princes whylom drowe Her euydence and her appryse As men may fynde in many wyse Who that these olde bookes rede And though they ben in erthe dede Her good name may not deye For pyte which they wold obeye To doo the dedes of mercy And who this tale redely Remembre as aristotle it tolde He may the wylle of god beholde Vpon the poynte as it was ended Wherof the pyte stood comended Which is to charite felawe As they that kepen bothe one lawe Nota hic de pietate principis erga populum vbi narrat quod â—odius rex atheuis contra dorences bellum gere re deberet consulto prius appoline respoÌ„sum accepit quod vnum de duobus vâ—â—eâ—â—cet seipsum preliâ— interfeci et populum saluari aut seipsum saluum fiâ—ri â— populum interfeci eligere oportâ—ret Super quo rex pietate motâ—â— plebis que sui magis quaÌ„ proprij corporis salutem affectans mortem sibi â–ª preelegit Et sic bellum aggredieÌ„ce provita multorum solus incerijt oF pyte for to speke playne Which is with mercy wel besayn Fuf ofte hym self he wold peyne To kepe another fro the peyne For charite the moder is Of pyte which no thynge a mys Can suffre yf he it may amende It sitteth to euery man lyuende To be pytons but none so welâ— As to a kyng which on the whele Fortune hath set abouen alle For in a kyng yf so befalle That his pyte be ferme stable To al the londe it is vaylable Onely thorugh the grace of his persone For the pyte of hym allone May al the large royame saue So sit it wel a kyng to haue Pyte of this valere tolde And said how that by dayes olde Godrus which was in hys degree Kyng of athenes the cyte A werre he had ageynst dorrence And for to take his euydence What shal lefalle of the batayle He thouÈt he shold hym self counceyl With appollo in whom he triste Thorough whos answer thus he wyste Of two poyntes that he myght chese Or that he wold his body lese And in batayle hym self deye Or ellis the second weye To seen his peple dyscomfyte But he which pyte hath persyte Vpon the poynte of his byleue The peple thought to releue And chese hym self to be dede Where is now suche another hede Which wold for the lymmes deye And nethelesse in somme parteye It ought a kynges herte stere That he his lyege men forbere And eke toward his enemyes Ful ofte he may deserue prise To take of pyte remembraunce Where that he myght do vengeaunce For whan he hath the victorye And than he drawe in to memorye To do pyte in stede of wreche He may not fayle of thylke speche Wherof ariseth the worldes fame
pryuelye He had in his condycion And vnto this conclusion That tyraunt is to dyspryse I fynde ensaumple in sondry wyfe And namelyche of hem ful ofte To whom fortune hath set aâ—ofte Vpon the warres for to wynne But how so that the wronge begynne Of tyrannye it may not laste But suche as they done atte laste To other men suche on hem falleth For ageyn suche pyte calleth Vengeaunce to the god aboue For who that hath no tender loue In sauyng of a mannys lyfe He shal be founde so gyltyfe That whan he wold mercy craue In tyme of nede he shal none haue Nota qualiter beo homiÌ„bÈ stratis ê‘cit Of the nature thus I fynde The fiers lyon in his kynde Which goeth rampyng after his praye Yf â—e a man fynde in his waye He wil hym slee yf he withstonde But yf the man coude vnderstonde To falle anone tofore his face In signe of mercy and of grace The lyon shal of his nature Restreyne his yre in suche mesure As though it were a beste y tamed And torne aweye halfyng ashamed That be the man shal no thyng greue How shold than a prynce acheue Thâ— worldes grace yf that he wold Dâ—â—â—râ—ye a mâ—n whan he is yolde And stante vpon his mercy alle But for to speken in specialle There haue be suche suche there be Tyrauntes whos hertes ne pyte May to no poynte of mercy plye That they vpon her tyrannye Ne gladen hem the men to slee And as the ractes of the see Ben vnpytous in the tempeste Right so may no pyte reste Of cruelte the grete vltrage Which the tyraunt in his corage Engendreth hath wherof I fynde A tale now which cometh to mynde Hic loquitur contra tiraÌ„nos illos qui cuÌ„ in bello vicere possuÌ„t huaÌ„ni saÌ„guinis effusioâ— saturare nequeuÌ„t et narrat in exempluÌ„ de quodam ê‘saâ— rege cuiê° nomen sê‘tachus erat qui pre ceberis tuÌ„c in oriente bellicosus victoriosus quoscuÌ„qÈ gladio vincere poterat absqÈ pietate interfeci coÌ„stituit Set tandem sub manu thamaris marsegittaruÌ„ regine in bello captus quam a diu quesiuit seueritatem ê“ seueritate finalâ—t inuenit nam ipaÌ„ quoddmÌ„ has de sanguine ê‘saruÌ„ plenuÌ„ ante se offerre decreuit in quo capud tiranni vsqÈ ad morteÌ„ mergens dixit O tiraÌ„naruÌ„ crudeâ—ssime semper esuriens sanguinem sicisti ecceiam ad saturitatem sanguinem bibe I Rede in olde bokes thus Ther was a due which spertachus Men cleped was a wetrour A cruel man a conquerour With stronge power which he ladde For this condicion he hadde That where hym happeneth the victorye His lust al his glorye Was for to slee not to saue Of rauÌ„son wold he no good haue For sauyng of a maÌ„nys lyfe But al goeth to the swerde knyfe So beef hym was mannys blood And nethelesse thus it stodâ— So as fortune aboute wente He fyl right heyre as by dyssent To pers was crowned kynge And whaÌ„ the worship of this 〈◊〉 ynge Was falle he was kyng of pers If that they weren fyrst dyuers Hath shape for vpon a tyde Whan he was hyest in his pryde In his rancour in his hete Ageyn the quene of mersagete Which thamaris that tyme hyght He made werre al that he myght And she which wolde hir londe defeÌ„de Hir owue sone ageyn hym sende Which the deffence hath vndertake But he dyscomfyte was take And whaÌ„ this kyng hym had in honde He wold no mercy vnderstonde But dyd hym slee in his presence The kyng of his vyolence Whan it came to the moders ere She sende aâ—one ay wyde where To suche frendes as she had A grete power tyl that she lad In sondre wyse tho she caste How she this kyng may ouercaste And atte last accorded was That in the daunger of a paas Thorugh which this tyrauÌ„t shold pas She shope his power to compas By strengthe of men by suche a weye That he shal not escape aweye And whan she had thus ordeyned She hath hir owne body feyned For fere as though she wold flee Out of hir londe when that he Hath herde how that thys lady fledde So fast after the chase he spedde That he was founde out of araye For it betyd vpon a day In to the paas whan he was falle The enbusshementes to breke alle And hym beclypte on euery syde That fle ne myght he not a syde So that there were dede take Two hondred thousand for his sake That weren with hym of his hoost And thus was leyed the grete boost Of hym of his tyrannye Hit helpeth not mercy for to crye To hym which whilom dyd none For he vnto the quene anone Was brought when that she hym sye This word she spake leyed on hye O man which out of mannes kynde Reson of man hath lefte behynde And lyued wors than a beste Whom pyte myght not areste The mannys blode to shede spylle Thou haddest neuer yet thy fylle But now the last tyme is come That thy malyce is ouercome And thou tyl other hast mys do Now shal be do to the right so Tho bad this lady that men shold A vessel brynge in which she wolde See the vengeaunce of his Iuyse Which she began anone deuyse And toke the princes whiche she ladde By whom his chyef counceyl he hadde And while hem lefte ony brethe She made hem blede to the dethe In to the vessel where it stode And whan it was fulfilled of blode She caste the tyraunte therin And said to thus myght thou wynne The lustres of thyn appetyte In blode was whylom thy delyte Thou shalt now drynke al thy fylle And thus onely of goddes wylle He which that wold hym self sirauÌ„ge To pyte fonde mercy so straunge That he without grace is bore So may it wel shelbe therfore That cruelte hath no good ende But pyte how so that it wende Maketh that god is merciable If there be cause resonable Why that a kyng shal be pytous But ellys yf he be doubtous To sleen in cause of rightwysnesse It may be sayd no pytousnesse But it is pusillanymyte Which euery prynce shold flee For yf pyte mesure excede Kynghode may not alwey procede To do Iustyse vpon right For it belongeth to a knyght As gladly for to fyght as reste To sette his liege peple in reste Whan that the warre vpon hem falleth For them he mote as it befalleth Of his knyghthode as a lyon Be to the peple a champyon Without vny pyte fayned For yf manhode be restreyned Or be it pees or be it werre Iustyce goeth out of herre So that knyghthode is set behynde Of aristotles lore â— fynde A kyng shal mâ— ke good vysage That no man knowe of his corage But al honour worthynesse For yf a kyng shal vpon gesse Without vâ—râ—y cause drede He may be lyke to that I rede And though that it be lyke a fable
The ensaumple Is good resonable Hic loquitur secundum philosophuÌ„ diâ—ns ad sicut non decet principes tiâ—aÌ„nia 〈…〉 esse câ—â—deles ita nec â—â—â—â—t â—â—moâ—osa pusillamitate esse vecorâ—â—â— â— Sâ—â— by olde dayes felle I rede whylom that an helle Vpâ—n the loâ—des of arcâ—â—de A wonder dredeful noyse made For so it fyl that ylke day This hylle on his chyldyng lay And when the thâ—â— wes on hym come His â—oyse like the day of dome Was fereful in mannys thought Of thynges which that they see nouÈt But wel they herden al aboute The â—oyse of which they were in doute As they that wenden to be lore Of thynge which theÌ„ne was vubore The nere this hylle was vpon chaunce To taken his delyueraunce The more vnbuxumlyche he cryed Euery man fledde a syde For drede lefte his owne holbs And atte laste it was a molbs The which was lore to notice Bytake tho they helde hem nyce For they withouten cause dradde Thus yf a kyng his herte ladde With euery thynge that he shal here Ful ofte he shold chaunge his chere And vpon fantasye drede Whan that ther is no cause of drede Nota hic secundum oracium de mag nanimo â—aâ—â—de pusillanime thersite Orace to his prynce tolde That hym were lâ—uer that he wold Vpon knyghthede achylles sewe In tyme of warre than eschewe So as thersites dyd at troye A chilles al his hole ioye Set vpon armes for to fyght Thersytes sought al that he myggt Vnarmed for to stonde and reste But of the two it was the beste That achilles vpon the nede Hath do wherof that his knyghthede Is yet commended ouer alle Kyng salamon in specialle Saith as there is a tyme of pees So is a tyme nethelees Of werre of which a prynce algate Shal for the comyn right debate And for hs owne worshyp eke But it behoueth not to seke Onely the werre for worshyp But to the right of his lordship Which he is holde to deffende Mote euery worthy prynce entende Betwene the symplyesse of pyte And the fole hast of cruelte Where stante the hardynesse Therupon a kyng his herte adresse Whan it is tyme for to forsake And whan tyme is also to take The godely werres vpon honde That he shal for no drede wonde If rightwisnes be withal For god is myghty ouer al To forther euery maÌ„nes trouthe But it le thorugh his owne slouthe And namely the kynges nede It may not fayle for to spede For he stante one for hem alle So mote it wel the better falle And wel the more god fauoureth When he the comune right socoureth And for to â–ª see the soth in dede Beholde the byble thou myght rede Of grete ensaumples many one Wherof that I wyl telle one Hic dicit qd princeps iusticie causa bellum modo timere debet Et narrat qualiter dux gedeon cum solis â—ercentis viris quinque Reges scilicet Madianitharum amalichitarum amortanrum Amorâ—orum â—â—buseorum cum eoruÌ„ excercitu qui â—d nonaginta milia numeratus est gracia cooperante diuina victoriose infugam conuertit uPon a tyme as it byfelle Ayenst Iude of Israelle Whan sondry kynges come were Iâ— purpoos to destroye theâ—e The peple whiche god kepte tho And stode m thylke dayes so That gedeon which shold lede The goddes folke toke hym to rede And sende m al the londe aboute Tyl be assembled hath a route With xxx thousand of deffence To fyght make resystence Ageyn the which he wold assayle And nethelesse that one batayle Of thre that were enemyes Was double more than was al his Wherof that gedeon hym drad That he so litel peple had But he which al thynge may helpe Where that ther lacketh maÌ„nes helpe To gedeon his aungel sente And bad or that he forther wente Al openlye that he do crye That euery man in his partye Which wold after his owne wylle In his delyte abyde stylle At home in ony maner wyse For purchace or for couetyse For lust of loue lacke of heâ—te He shold not aboute sterte But holde hym stylle in pees Wherof vpon the morowe he lees Wel xx thousand men mo Which after the crye ben goo Thus was with hym but onely lefte The thyrd parte yet god efte His aungel sende said this To gedeon yf it so is That I thyn helpe shal vndertake Thou shalt yet lesse pexle take By whom my wyl is that thou spede For thy to morowe take good hede Vnto the flode whan ye be come What man that hath the water nome Vpon his hande lappeth so To thy parte chese out al â—â—o And hym which wery is to swynke Vpon his Wombe lyeth to drynke Forsake put hem al albeye For I am myghty al weye Where as me lyse my helpe to sewe In good men though they be fewe This gedeon a wayteth welle â— Vpon the morowe euery delle As god hym bade right so he dede And thus they laften in that stede With hym thre hondred no moo The remenaunte was al a goo Wherof that gedeon merueyleth And therupon with god counceylleth Pleynyng as ferforth as he dare And god that wold â—e were ware That he shal spede vpon his right Hath bede hym goo the same nyght And toke a man to hym to here What shal be spoke in this matere Amonge the hethen enemyes So may he be the more wyse What afterward hym shal befalle This gedeon â—monges alle Phara to whom he tryst moste By nyght toke toward thylke hooste Whiche lodged was in a valeye To here what they wolden seye Vpon his fote as he ferde Two sareÈyns spekyng he herde Quod one arede my sweuen a right Which I met in my sweuen to nyght Me thought I sawe a barley cake Which fro the hyll his weye hath take And came rollyng doun at ones And as it were for the nones Forth in his cours as it ran The kynges tente of madyan Of amalech of amareye Of amon of Iebuseye And many another tente mo With grete ioye as me thought tho It threwe to grounde ouercaste And al his hoost so sore agaste That I woke for pure drede This sweuen can I wel arede Qd the other sareÈyn anone The barly cake is Gedeon Which fro the hylle doun sodeynlye Shal come set suche a skrye Vpon the kynges vs bothe That it shal to vs al lothe For in suche drede he shal vs brynge That yf we hadden flight of wynge The weye of fote in dyspayre We shul leue flee in the ayre For ther shal no thyng hym withstoÌ„de Whan gedeon hath vnderstonde This tale he thanked god of alle And pryuelye ageyn he stalle So that no lyf hym bath perceyued And than he hath fully conceyued That he shal spede there vpon The nyght sewyng he shope to gone This multitude to assayle Now shalt thou here a grete meruayle
to fayle That whan they â—â—men to batayle Than after that in seâ—y plyte They were take and dyscomfyte So that wythin a lâ—tel throwe The myght of hem was ouerthrowe That whylom were wonte to stonde Tyl phâ—nces the cause on honde Hath take this vengeaunce laste But than it câ—sed atte laste For god was poyed of that he dede For where be fonde vpon a stede A 〈◊〉 which mysferred so 〈…〉 te hem bothe two 〈…〉 ge in mennys eye 〈…〉 which hem sye Ensaumyled hem vpon the dede And â—raâ—ed vnto the godhede Her olde synnes for to amende And he which wold his mercy sende Mâ—sâ—oâ—ed hem to newe grace This may it shewe in sondry place Of chasâ—yte how that clennesse Accordeth to worthynesse Of men of armes ouer alle But moste of alle in specialle This verta a â—yng â—ylongeth For vpon his fortune it hongeth Of that his bonde shal spede or spylle For thy but yf a kyng his wylle Fro â—ustes of his flesshe restreyne Ageynst hym self he maketh a treyne In to the which yf that he slyde Hym were better goo besyde For eurye man may vnderstonde How for a tyme that it stonde It is a sory luste to lyke Whâ—s ende maketh a man to syke And torneth ioyes in to sorowe The â—râ—ght sonne by the morowe Beshyueth not the derke nyght The lusey yongthe of mannes myght In age but it stonde weâ—e Mystorneth al the laste wheâ—e Hic boquitur qualiter principum irre gulatâ— voluptas eos et semita recta multociens deuiare compellit Et narrat exemplum de salamone qui ex sue carnis concupiscencia victus muâ—ierum blandimentis in sui scandalum deos aâ—â—enos colore presumebat tHat euery worthy prynce is holde Within hym self hym self beholde To see the state of his persone And thynke how ther be ioyes none Vpon this erthe made to laste And how the flessh shal atte laste The lustes of his lyf forsake Hym ought a grete ensaumple take Of salamon whos appetyte Was hooly set vpon delyte To take of wymmen the plesaunce So that vpon his ygnorâ—unce The wyde world meruayleth yet That he which al mennes wyt In thylke tyme hath ouerpassed With flesshly lustes was so cassed That he which had vnder lawe The peple of god hym self withdrawe He hath fro god in suche a wyse That he worshyp sacrefyse For sondry loue in sondry stede Vnto the false goddes dede This was the wyse ecclesiaste The fame of whome shal euer laste That he the myghty god forsoke Ageyn the lawe whan he toke His wyues his concubynes Of hem that were sarazyns For which he dyd ydolatrye For this I rede of his sotye O she of sydone so hym ladde That he knelyng his fader spradde So stratâ—hâ—n with grete humblesse Which of her bonde was the goddesse And she that was of moabyte So ferforth made hym to delyte Thorugh lust which al his wyt deuou reth That he chamos hir god honou reth And other amonyt also With loue hym hath assoted so Hir god moloche that wyth encence He sacreth doeth reuerence In suche a wyse as she hym badde Thus was the wysest ouerladde With blynde lustes which he sought But he it afterward abought Nota hic qualit achias ê“pheta in fig nuÌ„ qd regna pest mortem sabomonis ob eiê° peccatum a suo herede dimuneretur palluâ—â— suum in duodecim partes scidit vnde deceÌ„ partes Ieroboe filio nabul qui regnaturus postea successit precep to dei tribuit fOr achyas soleuytes Which was prophete or his deces Whyle he was in his lustes alle Betokeneth what shal after falle For on a day when that he mette Ieroboam the knyght he grette And bad hym that he shold abyde To here what hym shal betyde And forth with al achyas caste His mantel of also faste He cut it in to pyâ—ces twelfe Wherof two partyes toward hym selfe He kepte al the remenaunte As â—od hath sette his couenaunte He toke vnto Ioroboas Of nabâ—l which the sone was And of the â—ynges courte a knyÈt And said hym suche is goddes myÈt As thou hast seen departed here My mantel in suche manere After the deth of salamon God hath ordeyned therupon This reygne than he shal deuyde Which tyme thou shalt eke abyde And vpon that dyuysyon Thy reygne as in proporcion As thou hast of my mantel take Thou shalt receyue I vndertake And thus the sone shal abye The lustes and the lecherye Of hym which now his fader is So for to taken hede of this It sit a kyng wel to be chaste For ellys he may lighlly waste Hym self eke his reygne bothe And that ought euery kyng to bothe O which one synne vyolente Wherof a kyng was shente That the vengeannce of his persone Was not Inough to take alone But afterward whan he was passed It hath his heritage â—assed As I more openly tofore The tale tolde thus tofore The phylosophre vpon this thynge Write counseyld to a kynge That he the forfete of luxure Shal tempre and rule of suche mesure Which be to kynde suffyciaunte And eke to reson accordaunte So that the lustes ygnoraunce By cause of mysgouernance Thorugh which that he be ouerthrowe As he that wyl no reson knowe For but yf a maÌ„nys wyt be swerued Whan kynde is dulyche serued It ought of reson to suffyse For yf it fyl hym otherwyse He may the lustes sore drede For of anthony thus I rede Which of seuerus was the sone That he his lyf of comune wone Yaue holy vnto thylle vyce And ofte tyme he was so nyce Wherof nature hath hir compleyned Vnto the god which hath disdeyued The werkes which anthony wrouÈt Of lustes which he ful sore abought For god his forfete hath so wroke That in cronâ—ke it is yet spoke But for to toke râ—men â—râ—unce Of specyal mysgâ—uernaunce Thorugh câ—uetyse and â—niustyce Forth with the remenaunt of vyce And namesye of lecherye I fynde write a grete partye In a tale as thou shalt here Which is the saumple of this matere Hic bâ—quitur de tarquino nuper Rome â—patore necnoÌ„ de eiusdem filio noieÌ„ arrâ—us â— oimÌ„ vicieruÌ„ variâ—taâ— repleti taÌ„ in hâ—â—eÌ„s quam in muliâ—res innumera scâ—le ra ê“petrauiÌ„t set specialif suê‘ hijs oue contra gabinos fraudulenter operati sunt tractare intendit SO as these olde gestes seyn The proude tyrauntee Romayn Tâ—rquynus which was theÌ„ne kynge And wrouÈt many a wroÌ„gful thyng Of so nes he had many one Emenge the which arrous was one â—yâ—e to his fader of maners So that within fewe yeres With treson and with tyrannye They wonne of londe a grete partye And token hede of no Iustyce Which dewe was to her offyce Vpon the rule of gouernaunce But al that euer was â—lesaunce Vnto the flesshes luste they toke And fyl so that they vndertoke A werre which was not acheued But ofte tyme he had hem greued Aâ—eyn the folke which
appolinus a facie regis fugiens quamplura prout inferius intitulatur propter amorem pericula passus est oF a cronycle in dayes gone The which is cleped pantâ—one In loues cause I rede thus How that the grete aniyochus Of whom that antioche took His first name as saith the bock Was coupled to a noble quene And had a doughter them bytwene But which fortune came to honde That dethe which no kyng may with stonde But euery lyf it mote obeye This worthy quene toke aweye The kyng which made mochel mone Tho stode as who saith hym allone Without wyf but nethelees His doughter which was peerlees Of bewete dwelte aboute hym stylle But whan a man hath welth at wyl The flesshe is freel falleth ofte And that this mayde tendre softe Which in hir faders chambre dwelte Within a tyme wyst felte For lykyng of concupiscence Withouten insyght of conscyence The fader so with lustes blente That he caste al his entente His owne doughter for to spylle The kyng hath leyser at his wylle With strengthe whan he tyme seye The yonge mayden he forleye And she was tendre ful of drede She coude not hir maydenhede Defende thus she hath forlore The floure whiche she hath longe bore It helpeth not though she wepe For they that shold hir body kepe Of wymmen were absent as than And thus this mayden goeth to man The wylde fader thus deuoureth His owne flessh which none secoureth And that was cause of mochel care But after this vnkynde fare Out of the chambre goeth the kynge And she laye styl of that thynge Within hir self suche sorowe made Ther was nouÈt that myght hir glade For fere of thylke horryble vyce With that came in the norice Which fro chyldehode hir had kepte And axed hir yf she had slepte And why hir chere was vnglad But she which hath be ouer lad Of that she myght not be wreke For shame coude vnnethys speke And nethesse mercy she prayed With wepyng eye thus she sayed Alas my suster wel away That euer I sawe this ylke day Thyng which my body firsst begat In to this world onelych that My worldes worshyp hath byrefte With that she swowneth now efte And euer wissheth after deth So that welny she lacketh breth That other which hir wordes herde In comfortyng of hir answerde To lete hir faders foule desyre She wyst no recouryre Whan thynge is do ther is no lote So suffren they that suffren mote Ther was none other which hym wist So hath this kynge al that he lyste Of his lykyng of his plesaunce And last in suche a contynuunce And suche delyte he toke there in Hym thought it was no syn And she durst hym no thyng withsey But fame which goeth euery wey To sondry royames aboute The grete bewte telleth out Of suche a mayde of hye parage So that for loue of mariage The worthy princes come sende As they which al honour wende And knew no thyng how that it stode The fader whan he vnderstode That they his doughter thus lysought With al his wyt he caste sought How that he myght fynde a lette And suche a statute thenne he sette And in this wyse his lawe taxeth That what man his doughter axeth But he coude his questyon Assoyle vpon sugestyon Of certeyn thynges that byfelle The which he wold vnto hem telle He shold in certeyn lese his hede And thus there were many dede Her hedes stondyng on the gate Tyl atte laste longe late For lacke of answer in the wyse The remenaunte that weren wyse De aduentu appoâ—oni in autiochiam vbi ipse filiam regis antioche in vxorem postulauit Escheweden to make assay Tyl it befyl vpon a day Appollynus the prynce of tyre Which hath to loue a grete desyre As be which in his hygh mode Was lykyng of his hâ—te blode A yonge a fresshe a lusty knyght As he laye musyng on a nyght Of the tydynge whiche he herde He thought to assay how that it ferde He was with worthy companye A rayed with good nauye To shyp â—e goeth the wynde hym dryueth And saileth tyl that he ariueth Saufe in the porte of antyoche He londeth goeth to approche The kynges courte his presence Of euery natural science Which ony clerke hym coude teche He coude ynough in his speche Of wordes he was eloquent And whan he sawe the kyng present He prayeth he must his doughter haue The kyng ageyn began to craue And tolde hym the condycyon How fyrst vnto his questyon He mote answere fayle nought Or with his heed it shal be bought Questio regis antiochi sâ—â—lere vehor materna caâ—ne vâ—sooâ— quero patrem me um matris mee viruÌ„ vxoris mee filiuÌ„ aNd he hym axeth what it was The kyng declareth hym the caas With sterne lock stâ—rdy chere To hym said in this manere With felonye I am vp bore I ete haue it not forbore My mod rs flessh whos husbond My fader for to seche I fonde Which is the sene eke of my wyf Herof I am inquysytyf And who that can my tale saue Al quyte he shal my doughter haue Of his answer yf he fayle He shal be deed without fayle For thy my sone qd the kyng Be wel aduysed of thie thyng Which hath by lyf in Ieopartye Appolâ—ynus for his partye When he this ouâ—sâ—yon had herde Vnto the kyng he hath answerde And hath reherced one one The poyntes said therupon The questyon which thou hast spoke Yf thou wylt that it be vnlâ—ke It toucheth al the pryuyte Betwyxte thyn owne chylde the And stante al vpon you two The kyng was wonder sorâ—â—tho And theuÈt yf that he said it oute Thenne were he shamed al aboute With sly wordes with felle He said my sone I shal the telle Though thou be lytel of wytte It is no meruayle as yet Thyn age may it not suffyse But loke wel thou not despyse Thyn owne lyf for of my grace Of thyrty dayes ful of space I graunte the to ben aduysed And thus with loue tyme assysed This yonge prynce forth he wente And vnderstood wel what it mente Within his herte as he was lered That for to make hym afered The kyng his tyme hath so deloyed Wherof he drad was amayed Of treson that he deye shold For he the kyng trouth tolde And sodeynly the nyght tyde The morowe wold he not abyde Al pryuelye his barge he hente And home ageyn to tyre he wente And in his owne witte he sayed For drede yf he the kyng bewrayed He knewe so wel the kynges herte That deth ne shold he asterte The kyng wold hym so pursewe But he that wold his deth eschewe And knewe al this tofore the honde Forsake he thought his owne londe For there wold he not abyde For wel he knewe on somme syde This tyraunt of his felonye By somme manere
of trecherye To greue his body wyl not leue For thy with outen takyng leue As pryuelyche ashe myght He geeth to the see by nyght In shippes that ben with whete laden Her takyl redy tho they maden And haleth the saitâ— forth they fare But for to telle of the care That they of tyre began tho Whan that they wyst he was agoo It is a pyte for to here They loste lust they loste chere They took vpon hem suche penaunce Ther was no songe ther was no dauÌ„ce But euery myrthe melodye To them was thenne a maladye For vnlust of that auenture Ther was no man which toke tonsure In dredeful clothes they them clothe The bathes the stewes bothe They shyt in by euery weye Ther was no lyf which lust to pleye Ne take of ony ioye kepe But for hir liege lord to wepe And euery wyght saith as he couthe Alas the lusty floure of youthe Our prynce our hede our gouernoure Thorugh whom we stonden in honoure Without the conoune assent Thus sodeynly is from vs went Suche was the clamour of hem alle But see now what is befalle Qualiter thaliartus miles vt appolinum veneno intoxicaret ab antiâ— oche in tirum missus ipse ibidem non Inuento antiochiam rediit vpon the fyst tale playn And torne we thereto agayn Antiochus the grete syre Which ful of rancour of yre His herte bereth so as he herde Of that this prynce of tyre answerde He had a felowe bacheler Which was his pryuy counceyller And thaliart by name he hyght The kyng a strong poyson hym dyÈt Within a boxe golde therto In al haste bad hym goo Strayte vnto tyre for to coste Ne spare tyl he had loste The prynce which he wold spylle And whaÌ„ the kyng hath said his wylle This talyart in a galeye With al haste he toke his weye The wynde was good they seyled blyue Tyl he toke londe vpon the ryue Of tyre forth with al anone In to the borough he gan to gone And toke his ynne bode a throwe But for he wold not be knowe Dysgysed thenne he goeth hym oute He sawe the wepyng al aboute And axeth what the cause was And they hym tolde al the caas How sodeynly the prynce was goo And whan he sawe that it was so And that his labour was in veyn A none he torneth home ageyn And to the kyng whan he came nyghe He tolde hym that he herde syghe How that the prynce of tyre was fled So was he comen ageyn vnsped The kyng was sory for a whyle But whan he sawe that with no wile He myght acheue his cruelte He stynte his wrath lete hym be Qualiter apoollinus in portu tharsis applâ—cauit vbi in hospicoÌ„ cuiusdaÌ„ magni vin nomine strangulionis hospitatus est bVt ouer this now for to telle Of aduentures that byfelle Vnto this prynce of whom I tolde He hath his right cours forth holde By stone nedyl tyl he came To tharse there londe he name A bourgeys ryche of golde fee Was thylke tyme in that cyte Which cleped was stranguyllyo His wyf was dyonysye also This yonge prynce as sayth the book With hym his herbegage took And it befyl that cyte so Befâ—â— tyme thenne also Thouâ—gh stronge famyn which he lad Was none that ony whete had Appollynus when that he herde The myschyef how that the cyte ferde Al frelyche of his owne gyfte His whete emonge hem for to shyfte The which by shyp he had brought He yaue toke of hem right nought But sythen fyrst this world began Was neuer yet to suche a man More ioye made than they hym made For they were al of hym so glade That they for euer in remembraunce Made a fygure in resemblaunce Of hym in comyn place They set it vp so that his face Myght euery maner man beholde So that the cyte was beholde It was of laton ouer gylte Thus was his face nouÈt spylte Qualiter hellicanus ciuis tiri tharsim Veniens apollinum de insidijs anthiochi â—rrminiuit vPon a day with a route This lord to pleye goeth hym oute And on his weye of tyre he mette A man which on knees hym grette And hellican by name he hyght Which prayed his lord to haue insyÈt Vpon hym self said hym thus How that the grete antyochus Aweyteth yf that he myght hym spyl That other thought helde hym styl And thanked hym of his warnyng And bad hym telle for no thynge Whan he to tyre came home ageyn That he in tharse hym had seyn Qualiter appolinus portuÌ„ tharsis relin quens cum ipse per mare nauigio securiorem quesiuit superuenieute tempestate nauis cum omnibus preter ipsum solum in eadem contentis iuxta pentapolim periclitabatur fOrtune hath euer be muable And may no whyle stonde stable For now it hyeth now it loweth Now staÌ„te vp right now ouerthroweth Now ful of blysse now ful of bale For now as in tellyng of my tale Here afterward a man may here Which is grete routhe for to here This lord which wold done his beste Within hym self hath lytel reste And thouÈt he wold his place chauÌ„ge And seke a contre more straunge Of tharsyens his leue anone He toke is to shyp gone His cours he name with sayle vp drawe Where as fortune doth the lawe And sheweth as I shal reherce How she was to the lord dyuerce The which vpon the see she ferketh The wynde aroos the weder derketh It blewe made suche tempeste That none anker myÈt the shyp arest Which hath broken al his gere The shypmen stood in suche a fere Was none that myght bestere But euer awayte vpon the lere Whan that they shold drenchen al atones Ther was ynough within the wones Of wepyng of sorowe tho The yonge kyng maketh moche woo For to see the shyp trauayle But al that myght no thynge auayle The mast to brake the seyle to roof The shyp vpon the wawes droof Tyl that they see the londes coste Tho made a vowe leste and moste By that they myghten come a londe But he which hath the see on honde Neptunus wold not accorde But he al to brake cable corde Or they to londe myght approche The shyp to claue vpon a roche And al goeth doun in to the depe But he which al thyng may kepe Vnto this lord was mercyable And brought hym saue vpon a table Which to the londe hath hym bore The remenaunte was al forlore Therof he made mochel mone Thus was this yonge lord allone Qualiter appollinus nudus superlitus iactabatur vbi quidam piscator ipsum collobio suo vestiens ad vrtem pentapolim direxit aL naked in a poure plyte His colour which was whylom whyt Was than of water fade pale And eke be was so sore a cale That he hym self wyst of no bote It helpe no thynge for to mote
pluriê° famulialiter intendebat Vnde placata puella in amorem appolini exazdescens infirmabâ—tur tHey toke lette as for that nyght And whan it was on morow right Vnto this yonge man of tyre Of clothes and of good attyre With golde syluer for to spende This worthy yonge lady sende And thus she made hym wel at ease And he with al that he can plese Hir serueth wel fayr ageyn He taughte hir tyl she thas certeyn Of harpe of cytole of rote With many a tewne many a note Vpon musyque vpon mesure And of hir harpe the temprure He taughte hir wel as he roel couthe But as men sayn that frele is youthe With leâ—â—er contynuaunce This mayde fyl vpon a chaunce That loue hath mad hym a quarele Ageynst yongthe fressh frele That mangre wheder she wyl or nouÈt She mote with al her hertes thought To loue to his loue obeye And that she shal ful sore obeye For the wote not what it is But euer emonge she feleth this Towchyug this man of tyre Hir herte is hote as ony fyre And other whyle it is a cale Now is she reed now is she pale Right after the condycyon Of hir ymagynacyon But euer emonge her thoughtes alle Hir thought what may befalle Or that she laughe or that she wepe She wold hir good name kepe For fere of womannysshe shame But what in ernest in game She stante for loue in suche a plyte That she hath loste al appetyte Of mete of drynke of nyghtes reste As she that note what is the beste But for to thynke al hir fylle She holde hir ofte tymes stylle Within hir chambre goeth not oute The kyng was of hir lyf in doute Which wyst no thynge what it mente But fyl a tyme as he out wente tO walke of prynces sones thre There came fyl to his knee Qualiter tres filij principum filiam regis singillatim in vxorem suis supplicacionibus postularent And eche of hem in sondry wâ—se Bysought proferith his seruyse So that he myght his doughter haue The kyng which wold hir honour saue Saith she is seek of that speche Tho was no tyme to beseche But eche of hem do make a bylle He bad wrytc his owne wylle His name his fader his good And whan she wyst how that it stood And had hyr lylles ouer seyn They shold haue answer ageyn Of this counceyl they were glad And wrote as the kyng hem bad And euery man his owne bock In to the kynges honde bytook And he it to his doughter sende And prayed hir for to make an ende And wrote ageyn hir owne honde Right as she in her herte fonde Qualiter fitia regis omnibus alijs retictis appollinum in maritu 〈…〉 preclegit tHe bylles were wel receyued But she hath al hir loues weyued And thouÈt that thaÌ„ was tyme space To put hir in her faders grace And wrote ageyn thus she sayd The shame which is in a mayde With speche dare noâ— be vnloke But in wryfyng it may be spoke So wryte I fader to you thus But yf I haue apollynus Of al this world what so besyde I wyl none other man abyde And certes yf I of hym fayle I wote right wel without fayle Ye shal for me be faderles This lettre came there was prese Tofore the kyng there as he stode And whan that he it vnderstode He yaue hem auswer by by But that was do pryuelye That â—â—â—e â—f other counceyl wyste They toke her leue where hem lyste And wente forth vpon theyr weys The kyng wold not bewreye The counceyl for no maner hye But suffreth tyl he tyme sye Qualiter rex regina in maritagium filie sue cum appolino consencierunt And whan that he to chambre is come His counceyl therto hym nome This man of tyre lete hym see The lettre al the pryuyte The which his doughter to hym sente And he his knee to grounde bente And thonked hym and hyr also And or they wente thenne a two With good herte good corage Of ful loue and ful mariage The kyng he be hole accorded And after whan it was recorded Vnto the doughter how it stode The yefte of al the worldes good Ne shold haue made hir halfe so blythe And forth with al the kyng asswithe For he wyl haue hir good assent Hath for the quene hir moder sente The quene is comen when she herde Of this matere how that is ferde She sawe debate she sawe dysese But yf she wold hir doughter plese And is therto assented ful Which is a dede wonderful For no man knewe the soth â—â—as But he hym self what man he was And nethelesse so as hym thought His dedes to the sothe wrought That he was come of gentyl blood Hym lacketh but worldes good And as therof is no dyspeyre For she shal be hir faderes heyre And he was able to gouerne Thus wyl they not the loue werne Of hym hyr in no wyse But al accorded they deuyse Qualiter appollinus filie regies nup â— sit et primo nocte cum ea concubiens ipsam inpregnauit tHe day of tyme of mariage Where loue is lorde of corage Hym thynketh longe or that he spede But atte laste vnto the dede The tyme is come in her wyse With grete offryng sacrefyse They wedde make a grete feste And euery thynge was right he neste Within how 's eke without It was so done that al aboute Of grete worshyp grete noblesse There cryed many a man a largesse Vnto the lordes hygh loude The knyghtes that be yonge prowde They Iuste fyrst after daunce The day is goo the nyghtes chaunce Hath derked al the bright sonne The lord which hath his loue wonne Is goo to bed with his wyf Where as they lede a lusty lyf And that was after somdele sene For as they pleyden hem bytwene They gete a chylde betwene hem two To whom fyl after mochel woo Qualiter amtassiatores a tiro in quodam naui pentapolim venieÌ„tes mortem regis antiochi Appollino nuÌ„ciaueruÌ„t Now haue I tolde of the spousayles But for to speke of the meruayles Which afterward to hem byfelle It iâ— a wonder for to telle It fyl a day they rode out Kyng quene al the route To pleye hem vpon the seconde Where as they seen toward the londe A shyp saylyng of grete araye To knowe what it mene may Tyl it be come they abyde Than sawe they stonde on euery syde Endlong the shyppes borde to shewe Of the penonnes a ryche rewe They axâ—d whan the shyp is come Fro tyre anone answerd somme And ouer this they sayden more The cause is they comen fore Was for to seche for to fynde Appollynus which of kynde Hir lyege lord he appereth And of the tale which he hereth He was riÈt glad for they hym tolde That
Dysesed courteysly she sayd Do way my lorde I am a mayde And yf ye wyst what I am And out of what lygnage I cam Ye wold not be so saluage With that he sobreth his corage Qualiter sicut deus destinauit patri filiam inuentam recognouit And put aweye his heuy chere But of hem two a man may here What is to be so feble of blood None wyst of other how it stood And yet the fader atte laste His herte vpon this mayde caste That he hir loueth kyndely And yet he wyst neuer why But al was knowe or that they went For god which wote her hole entent Her hertes bothe anone dyscloseth The kyng vnto the mayde opposeth And axeth first what is hir name And where she lerned al this game And of what kyn she was come And she that hath his wordes nome Answereth seith my name is thayse That was somtyme wel at ayse In tharse I was withdrawe fedde There I lernyd tyl I was spedde Of that I can my fader eke I note where I shold hym seke He was a kynge men tolde me My moder dreynte was in the see Fro poynte to poynte to hym tolde That he hath longe in herte holde And neuer durst make hir mone But onely to this lorde allone To whome hir herte can not helâ— Terned to woo torned to wele Torne it to good torne it to harme And he tho took hir in his arme But suche a ioye as she tho made Was neuer seen thus ben they glade That forth hadden be toforne Fro this day forth fortune hath sworn To set hym upward on the whâ—le So goeth the world now woo now wele Qualiter allenagâ—ras appollinum de nâ—â— in he spiaum henorifice recollegit thaâ—sim patre consenciente in vxorem â—uxit tHis kyng hath founde newe grace So that out of his derke place He gâ—eth hym vp in to the lyght And with hym came that swete wyÈt His doughter thayse forth anone They bothe in to the caban gone Which was ordeyned for the kynge And there he dyd of al his thynge And was arayed ryally And cut he came al openlye Where aâ—â—enagoras he fonde Which was lorde of al the bonde He prayeth the kyng to câ—me see The castel bothe his cytâ— And thus they goon forth al in fere Tâ—ie kyng this bord this mayden dere Thie lord tho made hym ryche feste With euery thynge that was honeste To these with this worthy kynge Ther lacketh hym no manere thynge But yet for al this nolle araye Wyuâ—les he was vnto that day As he that yet was of yonge age So fyl there in to his corage The lusty woo the glad payne Of loue which no maÌ„ may restrayne Yet neuer myght as now tofore This lord thynketh al this world lore But yf the kyng wyl done hym grace He wayteth tyme he wayteth place Hym thouÈt his herte wold to lreke Tyl he may to this mayde speke And to hir fader eke also For maryage it fyl so That al was done right as he thouÈt His purpoos to an ende he brought She wedded hym as for hir lorde Thus ben they al of one accorde Qualiter appolinus vna cum filia eius marito nauim ingrediâ—tes a metilena vsqÈ tharsâ—n ê“posueruÌ„t sÈ appolinus in sompnis amoitus versus â—phesim vt ibid in tâ—plo diane sacrificaret vela per mare diuertit WhnÌ„ al was done riÈt as they wolde The kyng vnto his sone tolde Of tharse thylke trayterye And said how now in his companye His doughter hym seluen eke Shal goo vengeaunce for to seke The shyppes were redy sone And whan they sawe it was to done Without â—ette of ony went With sayle vp drawe forth they went Towarde tharse vpon the tyde But he that wote what shal betyde The hye god which wold hym kepe Whan that this kyng was fast a slepe By nyghtes tyme he hath hym bede To seke vnto another stede To ephesym he bad hym drawe And as it was that tyme lawe He shal do there his sacrefyse And â—ke he bad in al wyse That in the temple emongest alle His fortune as it is befalle To wâ—hyng his doughter his wyf He shal be knowe vpon his lyf The kyng of this auysyon Hath grete ymagynacion What thynge it sygnefye may Ande nethelesse whan it was day He bad cosâ—e anker abode And whyle that he on anker rode The wynde that was to fore straunge Vpon the poynte began to chaunge And torneth thyder as it sholde Tho knewe he wel that god it wolde And â—ud the maister make hym yare Tofore the wynde for he wolde fare To ephesym so he â—ede And whan he came in to the stede Where as he shold londe he londeth With al the haste he may fondeth To shapen hym in suche a wyse That he may by the morowe aryse And done after the commaundement Of hym which hath hym thider sent And in the wyse that he thought Vpon the morowe so he wrought His doughter his sone he nome And forth to the temple he come With a grete rowte in companye His yeftes for to sacrefye The cyteÈeyns tho herden seye Of suche a kyng that came to praye Vnto dyane the goddesse And lefte al other besynesse And camen thyder for to see The kynge and the solempnyte Qualiter appolinê° ephesym in tem plo dyane sacrifiâ—â—ns vxoreÌ„ suam ibid velatam inuenit qua secum assumpta nauim versus tirum regressus est With worthy knyghtes enuyroned The kyng hym setf hath abandoned To the temple in good entente The dore is vp in he wente Where as with grete deuocioh Of holy contemplacion Within his herte he made his shryfte And after that a ryche yefte He offreth with grete renerence And there in open audyence Of hem that stoden al aboute He tolde hem declareth oute His happe suche as is hym byfalle Ther was no thynge foryete of alle His wyf as it was goddes grace Which was professed in the place As she that was abbesse there Vnto his tale hath leyrd hir eere She knewe the voys the vysage For pure ioye as in a rage She straught to hym al at ones And fyl a swowne vpon the stones Wherof the temple flore was paued She was anon with water laued Tyl she came to hir self ageyn And than she began to seyn A blessyd be the hygh sonde That I may see my husbonde Which whylom he I were one The kyng with that knewe hir anone And toke hir in his arme kyste And al the towne this sone wyste Tho was there ioye many folde For euery man this tale hath tolde As for myracle weren glade But neuâ—r man suche ioye made As doth the kyng which hath his wyf And when men herde how that hir lyf By hym saued by whome it was They wondred al of suche a caas Thorugh al the londe aroos the speche Of mayster Cyrymon
the leche And of the cure which he dede The kyng hym self this hath hym bede And eke the quene forth wyth hym That he the towne of ephesym Wyl leue goo where that they be For neuer man of his degre Hath do to hem so mychel good And he his prouffyt vnderstood And grauÌ„teth with hem for to wende And thus they maden there an ende And token leue went to shyp With al the fayre felawshyp Qualiter appolliuus vna cum vxere â—t fiâ—ia sua tirum applicuit This kyng which now hath his desire Sayth he wold holde his coâ—â—rs to tyre They hâ—dden wynde atte wylle tho With topsayle cool forth they goo And stryken neuer tyl they come To tyre where as they haue nome And â—â—nden hem with mochel blysse Thâ—re was many a mowthe to kysse Echone â—â—elcometh other home But whan the quene to londe come And thayse hir deughter by hir syde The â—â—ye was tâ—ylke tyde Ther may no mannes tunge telle They sayden al here cometh the welle Of al womanlye grace The kyng hath take his ryal place The quene is in to chambre goo There was grete feste arayed tho Whan tyme was they goon to mete Al olde sawes ben foryete And gladen hem with ioyes newe The dyscolered peple hewe Is now become a â—â—ddy cheke Ther was no myrthe for to sâ—ke Qualiter appollinus anthenogo â—â—m cum tharse vxore sua super tyrum câ—ronaâ—â— feâ—t But euery man hath what he wolde The kyng as he wel â—â—ude shelde Maketh to his peple right good there And after sone as thou shalt here A parlement he had somoned Where he his doughter hath coroned Forthwyth the lord of metelene That one is kyng that other quene And thus the faders ordenaunce This londe hath sette in gouernaunce And said that he wold wende To tharse for to make an ende Of that his doughter was betrayed Wherof were al men wel payed And said how it was for to done The shyppes weren redy sonâ— Qualiter appollinus a tiro y mare versus tharsim iter axipiens vindictam contra strangulionem et dionisiam vx orem suam pro inuiria quam ipiÌ„ thaysi filie sue intulerâ—nt iudicialiter assecutus est aStronge power with hym he toke Vpon the skye he toke his loke And sawe the wynde was couenable They hale vp ancre with the calle The seyle on hye the stere in honde And seylen tyl they come on londe At tharse nygh to the cyte And whan they wysten it was he The towne hath doo hym reuerence He telleth hem the vyolence Which the traytour strangulyo And dyonyse hym had doo Towâ—lyng his doughter as he herde And whan they wyst how it ferde As he which peâ—s loue sought Vnto the towne thus he bysought To done hym right in jugement Anone they weren bothe assente With strengthe of men cemen sone And as hym thought it was to done Atteynt they were by the lawe And demed to be honged drawe And brent with wynde to blowe That al the world it myght knowe And vpon this condycyon The dome in execucion Was put anone without fayle And euery man hath grete meruayle Which herde telle of this chaunce And thonked goddes purueaunce Which doth mercy with iustyce Slayn is the mordrer the morâ—â—â—â— Thorugh very trouth of rightwysnesse And thorugh mercy saue is symplenesse Of hir whom mercy preserueth Thus hath he wel that wel deserueth Qualiter artestrate pentapolim rege mortuo ipsi de regno epistolas suâ— hoc appolino direxerunt Vnde appolinus vna cum vxore sua ibidem aduenientes ad decus imperij cum magno gaudio coronati sunt When al this thyng is goo ended This kyng which loued was frended A letter hath which came to hym By shyp fro pentapolym In which the londe hath to hym write That he wyl vnderstonde wyte How in good mynde in good pees Deed is kyng arestrates Wherof they al of one accorde Hym prayden as her lyege borde That he the letter wyl conceyue And come his reygne to receyue Which god hath yeue hym fortune And thus besought hym the comune Forth with the grete lordes alle This kyng sawe how it is befalle Fro tharse in prosperyte He toke his lâ—ue of that cyte And goeth hym in to shyp ageyn The wynde was good that see was pleyn Hem nede not a ryff to slake Tyl they pentapolym haue take The londe which herde of that tydyng Was wonder glad of that comyng He resteth hym a day or two And toke his counceyl to hym tho And set a tyme of parlement Where al the londe of one assent Forthwith his wyf hath hym câ—roned Where al good hym was forsoned Lo what it is to be wel grounded For he hath first his loue founded Honestlye as for to wedde Honestly his loue he spedde And had chyldren with his wyf And as hym lyst he ledde his lyf And in ensaumple his lyf was wryte That al louers myghten wyte How atte last it shal be sene Of loue what they wolden mene For see now on that other syde Antyochus with al his lewde pryde Which sette his loue vnkyndely His ende had sodeynly Set ageyn kynde vpon vengeaunce And for his lust hath his penaunce Confessor ad amantem procedendo Lo thus my sone thou myght lere What it is to loue in good manere And what to loue in other wyse The mede aryseth of the seruyse Fortune though she be not stable Yet at somtyme is fauourable To hem that ben of loue trewe But certes it is for to rewe To see loue ageyn kynde falle For that maketh a man sore to falle As thou myght tofore rede For thy my sone I wyl the rede To lete al other loue aweye But yf it be by suche a weye As loue reson wyl accorde For ellis yf that thou discorde And take luste as doeth a leste Thy loue may not be honeste For by no skyl that I fynde Suche luste is not of loues kynde Confessio amantis vnde pro finali conclusione consiliuÌ„ confessoris impetrat mY fader how so that it stonde Your tale is herde vnderstonde As thynge which worthy is to here Of grete ensaumple grete matere Wherof my fader god you quyte But in this poynte my self acquyte I may right wel that neuer yet I was assoted in my wyt But onely in that worthy place Where al luste and al grace Is set that yf daunger ne were But that is al my moste fere I note what the fortune acounte But what thyng daunger may amouÌ„ te I wote wel for I haue assayed For whan my herte is beste arayed And I haue al my wyt thorugh souÈt Of loue to beseche hir ought For al that euer I syke may â— am concluded with a nay That one syllable hath ouerthrowe A thousand wordes in a rowe Of suche as I best speke can â—â—us am I but a lâ—ude man But
Thynkyng vpon the bedes â—lake And how they were me betake For that I shold byd praye And whan I sawe none other waye But onely that I was refused Vnto the lyf which I had vsed I thought neuer to torne ageyn And in this Wyse soth to sayn Homewarde a softe paas I wente Where as with al myn hole entente Vpon the poynte that I am shryue I thynke to bydde whyle I lyue Marce precor xpriste populus quo gau det iste Anglia ne triste subeat rex summe resiste Corrige quosque fragiles absolue reatus vnde deo gratê° vigeat â—ocus iste beatus hE which within dayes seuen This large world forthwith the heuen Of his eternal prouydence Hath maad thylke intellygence In mannes sowle resonable Hath shape to be perdurable Wherof the â—an of his feture Aboue al erthely creature After the sowle is inmortal To thylke lord in special As he which is of al thynges The creatour of the kynges Hath the fortunes vpon honde His grace mercy for to fonde Vpon my bare knees I preye That he this londe in syker weye Wyl sette vpon good gouernaunce For yf men taken remembraunce What is to lyue in vnyte There is no state in his degre That nâ— ought to desyre pees Without which it is no lees To seche loke in to the laste Ther may no worldes ioye laste Fyrst for to loke the clergye Hem ought wel to iustefye Thynge which bylongeth to theyr cure As for to praye to proâ—â—re Our pees toward the heuen aboue And eke to sette reste loue Emonge vs on this erthe here For yf they wrought in this manere After the rule of charite I hope that men sholden see This londe amended ouer this To seche look how it is Touchend of the chyualrye Which for to loke in somme partye Is worthy for to be commendyd And in somme parte to â—e amended That of her large retenue The londe is ful of meyntenue Which causeth that comyn right In fewe contrees stonde vp â—ight Extorcyon contek rauyne Withholde ben of that couyne Al day men here grete compleynte Of the dysease of the constreynte Wherof the peple is sore oppressyd God graunte it mote be redressyd For of knyghthode thordre wolde That they deffende kepe sholde The comyn right the fraunchyse Of holy chirche in al wyse So that no wycked man it dere And therof serueth shelde and spere But for it goeth now other weye Our grace goeth the more aweye And for to â—oken ouermore Wherof the peple pleynen sore Toward the lawes of our londe Men say that trouth hath broke his boÌ„de And with brocage is goon aweye So that no man can see the weye Wher for to fynde rightwisnesse Aud yf men seke sykernesse Vpon the lucre of marchandye Compassement trycherye Of synguler prouffyte to wynne Men sayn is cause of mochel synne And namely of dyuysyoun Which many a noble toun Fro welthe fro prosperyte Hath brought to grete aduersyte So were it good to be allone For mochel grace therupon Vnto the cytees shold falle Which myght auayle to vs alle Yf thyse estates amended were So that the vertues stoden there And that the vyces were aweye Me thynketh I durst thenne seye This londes grace shold aryse But yet to loke in other wyse Ther is astate as ye shal here Aboue al other on erthe here Which hath the londe in his balaunce To hym bylongeth the lygeaunce Of clerke of knyght of man of lawe Vnder his honde al is forth drawe The marchaunt the laborer So stante it al in his power Or for to spylle or for to saue But though he suche power haue And that his myghtes be so large He hath hem nought without charge To which that euery kyng is swore So were it good that he therfore Fyrst vnto the rightwysnes entende Wherof that he hym self amende Toward his god leue vyce Which is the chyef of his offyce And after al the remenaunt He shal vpon his couenaunt Gouerne lede in suche a wyse So that there be no tyrannyse Wherof that he his peple greue Or ellis may he nought acheue That longeth to his regalye For yf a kyng wyl Iustefye His londe hem that â—en within Fyrst at hym self he must begyn To kepe rule his owne estate That in hym self be no debute Toward his god for otherwyse Ther may none erthely kyng suffyse Of his kyngdom the folke to lede But he the kyng of heuen drede For what kyng sette hym vpon pride Ad taketh his lust on euery syde And wyl not goo the right weye Though god his grace cast aweye No wondre is for atte laste He shal wel wyte it may not laste The pompe which he secheth here But what kyng with humble chere After the lawe of god escheweth The vyces the vertues selveth His grace shal be suffysauunt To gouerne al the remenaunte Which longeth to his duete So that in his prosperite The peple shal not be oppressyd Wherof his name shal be blessed For euer be memoryalle And now to speke as in fynalle Tolbchyng that I vndertook In englysshe for to make a book Which stante bytwene ernest game I haue it made as thylke same Which axe for to be excused And that my book be not refused Of lered men when they it see For lacke of curyosyte For thylke scole of eboquence Bylongeth not to my scyence Vpon the forme of rethorike My wordes for to peynte pyke As tullyus somtyme wrote But this I knowe thus I wote That I haue done my trewe peyne With rude wordes with pleyne In al that euer I couthe myght This book to wryte as I behyght So as sekenes it suffre wolde And also for my dayes olde That I am feble Impotente I wote not how the world is wente So praye I to my lordes alle Now in myn age how so byfalle That I mote stonden in theyr grace For though me lacke to purchace Her worthy thanke as by deserte Yet the symplesse of my pouerte Desyreth for to do plesaunce To hem vnder whos gouernaunce I hope spker to abyde But now vpon my last tyde That I this book haue made wryte My muse dothe me for to wyte And saith it shal be for my beste Fro thie day ferth to take reste That I nomore of loue make Which many a horte hath ouertake And ouertorned as the blynde Fro reson in to salbe of kynde Where as the wysdem goeth aweye And can not see the right weye How to gouerne his owne estate But euery day stante in debate Within hym self can not leue And thus for thy my synal leue I take now for euermore Without makyng ony more Of loue of his dedely hele Which no physycyen can hele For his nature is so dyuers That it hath euer somme trauers Or of to moche or of to lyte That playnly may no man delyte
tanquam deuÌ„ in Caldea primus adorari decreuit These elementes ben creatures So ben these heuenly fygures Wherof may wel be iustyfyed That they may not be deifyed And what taketh awey the honour Whiche due is to the creatour And yeueth it to the creature He doth to grete a forteture But of Caldee netheles Vpon this feyth though it be les They holde affermed the creaunce So that of helle the penaunce As folk whiche stant oute of byleue They shal â—ceyue as we byleue Of the Caldees loo in this wyse Stant the byleue oute of assyse But in Egypt worst of alle The feyth is fals hou so it falle For they dyuers beestes there Honoure as though they goddes were And netheles yit forth with al The goddes most in specyal They haue forth with a goddesse In whome is al her sekernesse The goddes yet be cleped thus Orus Cyphon and Isyrus They were bretheren al thre And the goddes in here degre Hyr suster was Isys hyght Whome Isyrus forlay by nyght And helde hyr after as his wyf So it by felle that vpon stryf Typhon hath Isire his broder slayn Whiche had a child to sone Orayn And he his fader deth to herte So took that he may not asterte That he Typhon after ne slough Than he wa s â—ype of age Inough But yet the Egypcyens trowen For al this errour that they knowen That these bretheren ben of myght To sette kepe Egypt vp ryght And ouer thurgh yf that hem lyke But Isys as seyth the Cronyke Fro Grece in to Egypte cam And she then vpon honde nam To teche hem for to sowe â—re Whiche noman knewe to fore there And when the Egypcyans syghe The felde ful a fore here eye And that the lond bygan to greyne Whiche whysome had be bareyne For the erthe bareâ— after the kynde His due charge this I fynde That â–ª she of byrthe the goddesse Is cleped so that in dystresse The women ther vpon chyldyng To her clepe and here offryng They â—ere when that they be lygÌ„ht Loo hou Egypt al out of syght Fro reson stant in mysbyleue For lak of bore as I byleue De secta Grecorum Among the grekes out of the weye As they that reson put aweye There was as the Cronyke seyth Of mysbyleue an other feyth That â—ere goddes here goddesse As who seyth taken al to gesse Of suche as weren ful of vyce To whome they made sacryfyce â—he hyghe god so as they sayde To whome they worshyp layde Nota qualiter Saturnus deoruÌ„ summns appellatur Saturnus hyght kyng of Crete He had be put out of his sete He was put doune as he whiche stood In frenesye was so wood That fro his wyf whiche Reá hyght His owne children he to plyght And ete hem of his comon wone But Iupyter whiche wâ—s his sone And of ful age his fader bonde And kyt of with his owne honde His genytalles whiche also fast In to the depe see he cast Wherof the grekes afferme seye Thus when they were cast awey Cam Venus forth by wey of kynde And of Saturnus also I fynde Hou afterward in to an yle This Iupyter hym dyd exyle Where that he stood in grete meschyef Loo what a god they maden cheef Whiche stood moost in his degre And sythen that suche one was he Among the goddes thou myÈt knowe These other that ben more lowe Ben lytel worth as it is founde Iupiter â—eus deliciarum For Iupyter was the seconds Whiche Iuno had vnto his wyf And yet a lechour al his lyf He was in auoutrye He wrought many a trecherye And for he was so ful of vyces They cleped hym god of delyces Of whome yf thou wolt wyte Ouyde the poete hath wryte But yet here sterres bothe twoo Saturne and Iupyter also They haue although they be to blame Attytled to her owne name Mars deus belli Mars was another man in that laste The whiche in trace was forth drawe Of whome the clerk Vegecius Wrote in his book told thus Hou he in to Italye cam And fortune there he nam That he a mayden there oppressyd Whiche in hyr ordre was professed As the whiche was the Pâ—yoâ—esse In bestes Temple the goddesse So was she wel the more to blame Dame Ilya this lady name Men clepe she was also The kynges doughter that was tho Whiche mynyter by name hyght Soo that ayene the lawes ryght Mars thylke tyme vpon hyr that Remus Romulus he vygat Whiche after when they come in age Of knyghthode of bessellage Italye al hoole they ouercome And foundeden the grete Rome In armes and of suche empryse They weren that in thylk wyse Hyr fader mars for the meruayle The god was cleped of the batayle They were his children both two Though hem he took his name soo There was none other cause why And yet a sterre vpon the sky He hath vnto his name applyed In whiche that he is â—â—guyfyed Another god they hadden eke To whome for counseyl they byseke The whiche was broder to Venus Appollo men hym clepe thus He was an hunte vpon the helles There was with hym no vertu elles Wherof that ony bokes carpe But onlyche that he couthe harpe Whiche whan he walked ouer lond Ful of tyme he woke on hond To gete hym with his sustenaunce For lak of other purueaunce And other whyle of his falshede He feyneth hym to conne a rede â–ª Of thyng which afterward shold fall Wherof among his sleyghtes all He hath the leude folk receyned So that the better he was receyued Loo now thorugh what â–ª creacyon He hath deyfycacyon To suche as be the foles yet And cleped is the god of wyt Another god to whome they sought Mercurye hyght hym ne rought What thyng he stale ne whom â–ª he slouÈ Of sâ—râ—â—rye he couthe ynough That when he wold hym self transfor me Ful oftyme he toke the forme Of woman his owne lefte So dyde he wel the more thefte Agrete speker in al thynges He was also of lesynges An Autor that men wyst none An other suche as he was one And yet they maden of this theef A god whiche was vuto hym leef And cleped hym in tho vyleues The god of marchauntes of theues But asterre vpon the heuene He hath one of the planetes senene But Vulcanus of whome I spa Ho had a courbe vpon the bak And therto he was hyppe halt Of whome thou vnderstonde shalt He was a shrewe in al his youthe And he none other vertu couthe Of vertu to helpe hym self with But only that he was a smyth Whiche with Iupyter in his forg e Dyuerse thynges made hym forge So wote I not for what desyre To clepe hym the god of fyre Kyng of Cecyle Ipolytus A sone had and Eolus He hyght of his fader graunt He helde the weye of couenaunt The gouernaunce of euery Ile Whiche was longed vnto Cecyle Of hem that
fro the lond foreyn Lye vpon to the wynde al pleyn And fro thylk Iles to the lond Ful ofte cam the wynd to hond And after the name of hym for thy The wynde is cleped Eoly And is cleped the god of wynd Loo no whou this byleue is blynd The kyng of Crete Iupyter The same whiche I spast of er Vnto his broder whiche Neptune Whiche was hote hym lyst comune Part of his god so that by shyp He made hym strong of the lordshyp Of aÌ„l the see in tho partyes Where that he wrought his tyrannyes And the straunge Iles al aboute He wan that euery man hath doute Vpon his marche for to sayle For he anone hem wold assayle And robbe that thyng that they laddeÌ„ His sauf conduyt but yf they hadden Wherof the comon voys aroos â—n euery londe that suche a loos He caught al nere it worth a stre That he was cleped of the see The god by name yet he is With hem that so byleue amys This Neptunê° whiche was thylk also Whiche was the fyrst founder tho Of noble Troye he for thy Was wel the more lete by The boresman of the shepeherdes And eke of hem that Netherdes Was of Archade hyght pan Of whome hath spoke many a man For in the wode of Nouertyne Enclosed with the trees of pygne And oute of the mount of parysye He bade of beestes the baylye And eke bynethe in the valeye Where thylk ryuer as men may seye Whiche Ladon hyght made his cours He was the cheef of gouernours Of hem that kepen tame beestes Wherof they make yet the festes In the cyte of Stursalydes And forth with al yet netheles He taught men the forth drawyng Of bestaylle eke the makyng Of Oxen of hors the same Hou men hem shold ryde tame Of foules eke so as we fynde Ful many a subtyle craft of kynde He fonde whiche noman knewe to fore Men dyd hym worshyp eke therfore That he the fyrst in thylk lond Was whiche the melodye fond Of reedes when they were rype With double pypes for to pype Therof he yafe the fyrst lore Tyl afterward men couthe more To euery craÌ„ft of mannes helpe He had a redy wyt to helpe Thorugh natural experyence Thus the nyce reuerence Of fooles when he was dede The foote was torned to the hede And clepen hym god of nature For so they maden his fygure Another god so as they fele With Iupyter vpon Semele Bygate in his auoutrye Whome for to hyde his lecherye That none therof shal take kepe In a montayne for to kepe Whiche Dyon hyght was in Inde He sente in bokes as I fynde And he by name Bachus hyght Whiche afterward when that he myÈt A wastor was al his rente In wyn bordel he dyspente But alweye he wonder bad Among the grekes a name he had They cleped hym the god of wyne And thus a gloton was dyuyne There was yet Esculapius A god in thylk tyme as thus His craft stood vpon Surgerye But for the lust of lecherye That he to Dayres doughter drough It fel that Iupyter hym slough And yet they made hym nouÈt for thy A god wyst no cause why In Rome he was long tyme so A god among the Romayns tho For as he sayd in his presence There was destroyed a pestylence When they to the yle of Delphos wente And Appollo with hem sent This Esenlapius his sone Among the Romayns for to wone And there he duelte for a whyle Tyl afterward in that yle Fro when he cam ayene he torneth Where al his lyf that he soiourneth Among the grekes tyl he deyde And they vpon hym than leyde His name god of medycyne He â—atâ—e after that ylk lyne Another god of Hercules They made whiche was netheles A man but that he was so strong In al this world that brood long So myghty was no man as he Merucyles twelue in his degre As it was couthe in sondry londes He dyd with his owne hondes Ageyne geauntes monstres bothe The whiche were horeyble lothe But he with strengthe hem ouercam Wherof so grete a prys he nam That they hym clepe amonges alle The god of strengthe to hym calle And yet there is no reson Inne For he a man was fulfylled of synne Whiche proued was vpon his ende For in a rage hym self he brende And suche a cruel mannes dede acord Acordeth nought to the good lord They made of goddes yet another Which Pluto hyght was the broder Of Iupyter he fro youthe With euery word which cam to mouth Of ony thyng when he was wroth He wold swere his comon oth By Lethen and Flageton By Cocheton and Acheron The whiche after the bookes telle Ben the chyef flodes of helle By Segne Styge he swore also That by the depe pyttes twoo Of helle the moost pryncypal Pluto these othes oueral Swore of his comon custumounce Tyl it felle vpon a chaunce That he for Iupyters sake Vnto the goddes late do make A sacryfyce for that dede One of the pyttes for his mede In helle whiche I spak of er Was graunted hym thus he ther Vpon the fortune of this thynge The name took of helle kynge Loo these goddes wel mo Among the grekes they had tho And of goddes many one Whoos names thou shalt here anone And in what wyse they deceyuen The fooles whiche her feyth receyuen Oo as Saturne is souerayn Of al goddes as they sayn So is Cybylle of goddesses The moder whome withoute gesses The folk preyn honour serue As they the whiche her lawe obserue But for to knowen vpon this Fro when she cam what she is Bethnicia the countre hyght Where she cam fyrst to mannes syght And after was Saturnus wyf By whome thre children in her lyf She bare were cleped tho Iuno Neptunus Pluto The whiche of Nyce fantasye The people wold deyfye And for her children were soo Cybelle than was also Made a goddesse they hyr calle The moder of the goddes alle So was that name bore forth And yet the cause is lytel worth A voys vnto Saturne told Hou that his owne sone hym shold Oute of his reygne put awey And he by cause of thylk wey That hym was shape suche an hate Cybelle his wyf began to hate And eke her progenye bothe And whyle that they were wrothe By Phyberem vpon a day In this auoutrye he lay On whome he Iupyter vygat And this child was after that Whiche wrouÈt al that was prophecyed As it to fore was specyfyed So when that Iupiter of Crete Was kyng a wyf vnto hym mete The doughter of Sybell he took And that was Iuno sayth the book Of his deyfycacyon After the fâ—ls oppynyon That haue I told so as I mene And for this Iuno was the quene Of Iupyter and suster â—ke The fooles vnto her seke And seyn that she is the goddesse Of Regnes bothe