Egypt A werre whiche that hym beclypt Hath in a marche costeraunt And he whiche was a pursyuaunt Worship of armes to atteyne This Romayn anone lete ordeyne That he was redy euery dele And when he was arrayed wele Of euery thyng which hym bylongeth StrauÈt vnto Kayre his wey he fong geth where he the Sowdan than fond And axeth that within his lond He myght hym for the werre serue As he whiche wol his thank deserue The Soldan was ryght glad with all And wel the more in specyall When that he wyst he was Romayn But what he was elles incertayn That myghte he wyte by no wey And thus the knyght of whome I sey Toward the Soldan he is be left And in the marches now eft Where that the dedely werres were He wrought suche knyghthode there That euery man spak of hym good And thylke tyme so it stood This myghty Soldan by his wyf A doughter hath that in her lyf Men sayd there was none so feyr She shold be hyr fadres heyr And was of yeres rype ynough Hyr beaute many an herte drongh To bowe to that ylke lawe Fro which no lyf may be withdra we And that is loue whos nature Set lyf deth in noo mesure Of hem that knyghthode vndertake This lusty peyne hath ouertake The hâ—rte of this Romayn so sore That to knyghthode more more Pro wesse auaunteth his courage Lyche to the Lyon in his rage Fro whome that al bestes fbe Suche was the knyght in his degre Where he was armed in the felde Ther durst none abyde his shelde Grete pryce vpon the werres he had But she whiche al the chaunce lad Fortune shope the marches so That by thassent of bothe two The Soldan the Calyphe eke Batayll vpon a day they seke Whiche was in suche awey set That lenger shold it not be let They made hem strong on euery syde And when it drough toward the tyde That the bataylle shold be The Soldan in grete prynete A goldryng of his doughter toke And made hyr swere vpon a book And eke vpon the goddes alle That yf fortune so byfalle In the bataylle that he dye That she shal thylk man obeye And take hym to her housbonde Whiche thylk same ryng to honde Hyr shold brynge after his deth This hath she swore forth he geth With al the power of his lond Vnto the marches where he fond His enemy ful enbataylled The Soldan hath the feld assaylled They that ben hardy sone assemblen Wherof the dredeful hertes tremblen That one sleeth that other sterueth But abouen all his pryce deserueth The knyght Romayn where he rode His dedely swerd no man abode Ayene the which was no defence Egypt fled in his presence And they of Perse vpon the chace Pursuen but I not what grace Byfelle on arowe oute of a bowe Al sodenly that ylke throwe The Soldan smote there he lay The chaas is left for thylke day And he was bore in a tent The Souldan syghe how it went And that he sholde algate dyâ— And to this knyaht of Romanye As to hym he most tryst His doughter rynge anone twyst He took hym told hym al the cas Vpon here othe what token it was Of that she shold ben his wyf When this was sayd the hertes lyf Of this Souldan departed sone And therupon as was to done The dede body wel fayre They carye tyl they come at Kayre Where he was worthelyche bygraue The lordes whiche as wolden saue The regne whiche was desolate To brynge it in to good estate A parlement they set anone Now herkne what fel therupon This yong lord this worthy knyght Of Rome vpon the same nyght That they a morowe trete shold Vnto his bachyler he told His counseyll the ryng with â—lle He sheweth thurgh whiche that he shall He seyth the kynges doughter wedde For soo the rynge was leyd to wedde He told in to hyr fadre honde That with that man that she it fonde She shold â—ym toke vnto her lord And thus he seyth stant of record But no man wote who hath this ring This bachyler vpon this thyng His ere his entent lâ—yde And thought more than he seyde And feyneth with aâ—fals vysage That he was glad but his courage Was sâ—t in another wyse These old philosophrâ—s wyse They wryten vpon thylk whyle That he may best a man begyle In whome the man hath most credence And this byfelle in euydence Toward this yong lord of Rome His bachyler whiche he nome When that his lord by nyght slepte This ryng whiche his mayster kepte Oute of his purs awere he dede And put another in the stede A morow when the court is set This yong lady was forth fet To whome the lordes done homage And after that of maryage They treten axen of her wylle But she whiche thought to fulfylle Her fadre hest in this mater Sayd openly that men may here The charge whiche hyr fadre bad Tho was this lord of Rome glad He droughe toward his purs anone But al for nought it was a gone His bachyler hath forth drawe And axeth therupon the lawe That she hym hold couenaunt The tokne was so suffysaunt That it myght not be forsake And netheles his lord hath take Quarelle ayene his owne man But for no thynge that euer he can He myght as than nought be herd So that his clayme is vnansuerd And he hath of his purpos fayled This bachiler was soo counsayled And wedded of thylk empyre He was crouned lord syre And al the lond hym hath receyued Wherof his lord whiche was deceyued A sekenes or the thyrd morowe Conceyued hath of dedely sorowe And as he lay vppon his deth Ther whyle hym lasteth speche breth He sende for the worthyest Of al the londe eke the best And told hem al the soth tho That he was sone heyre also Of themperour of grete Rome And how that they to gyder come This knyght he ryght as it was He told hem al the pleyne cas And for that he his counseyll tolde That other al that he wolde And he hath fayled of his mede And for the good he taketh none hede He sayth but only of the loue Of whiche he wende haue be aboue And therupon by letter wryte He doth his fadre for to wyte Of al this mater how it stood And than with an bertely mood Vnto the lordes he besought To telle his lady how he bought Hyr loue of whiche another gladeth Aud with that word his hewe fadeth And sayd a dieu my lady swete The lyf hath lost his kyndely hete And he lay dede as ony stone Wherof was sory many one But none of al so as she This fals knyght in his degre Arested was put in hold For openly when it was told Of the treson whiche is falle Thorugh oute the lond they sayden alle If it be soth that men suppose His owne vntrouth hym
the beaute of her face Ne yet for vertu ne for grace Whiche she hath elles ryght Inough But for the park for the plough And other thynges whiche therto loÌ„geth For in none otherwyse ther longeth To loue but yf they profyt fynde And yf the profyte be behynde Hyr loue is euer lesse lesse For after that she hath rychesse Here loue is of proporcyon If thou hast suche condycyon My sone telle ryght as it is Myn holy fader nay Iwys Condycyon suche haue I none For truly fader I loue one So well with al myn hertes thougÌ„ht That certes though she had nought And were as poure as Medea Whiche was exyled for Creusa I wold hyr nought the lesse loue Ne though she were at hyr aboue As was the Ryche quene Candaâ—e Whiche to deserue loue grace To Alysander that was kyng Yofe many a worthy ryche thyng Or elles as Pantasylee Whiche was the quene of Femyne And grete Rychesse with hyr nam When she for loue of Hector cam To Troye in rescous of the toune I am of suche condycyon That though my lady of hyr selue Where also ryche as suche twelue I couthe not though it were so No better loue hyr than I do For I loue in so pleyne a wyse That for to speke of couetyse As for pouerte or for rychesse My loue is nouther more ne lesse For in good feyth I tro we this So couetous no man is For why he my lady syghe That he thorugh lokyng of his eye Ne sholde haue suche a stroke withyn That for no gold he myght wyn He shold nought hyr loue asterte But yf he lefte there his herte Be so it were suche a man That couthe-skylle of a woman For there be men so rude some When they among the women come They gone vnder protectyon That loue his affectyon Ne shal not take hem by the sleue For they ben oute of that byleue Hem lusteth of no lady cheere But euer thynkend here there Where as the gold is in the Cofte And wol none other loue profre But who so wote what loue amouÌ„teth And by reson trulyche acompteth Then may he knowe taken hede That al the lust of womanhede Whiche may ben in a lady face My lady hath eke of grace If men shold yeuen here apryse They maye wel seye hou she is wyse And sobre symple of contenaunce And al that to good gouernaunce Belongeth of a worthy wyght She hath pleynly for thylk nyght That she was bore as for the nones Nature set in hyr al at ones Beaute with bounte so byseyn That I maye wel afferme seyn I sawe yet neuer creature Of comlyheede of feture In ony kynges Regyon Be lyche hyr in comparyson And therto as I haue you told Yet hath she more a thousand fold Of bounte and shortely to telle She is pure heede welle And myrroure ensample of good Who so hyr vertues vnderstood Me thynketh it ought ynough suffyse Withouten other couetyse To loue suche one to serue Whiche with hyr chere can deserue To be byloued better ywys Than she par cas that rychest is And hath of gold a mylyon Suche hath be myn opynyon And euer shal neuertheles I saye nought she is haueles That she nys ryche wel at ese And hath Inough where with to plese Of worldes good whome that hyr lyst But one thyng I wold wel ye wyst That neuer for no worldes good Myn hert vnto hyr ward stood But only ryght for purr loue That wote the hyghe god aboue Now fader what ye say therto Confessor My sone I saye it is wel doo For take of this ryght good byleue What man that wol hym self releue To loue in ony other wyse He shal wel fynde his couetyse Shal sore greue hym at last For suche a loue may not last But now men seyn oure dayes Men taken but a fewe assayes But yf the cause be rychesse For thy the loue is wel the lesse And who that wold ensamples telle By old dayes as they felle Than myght a man wel vnderstond Suche loue may not long stonde Now herkne sone thou shalt here A grete ensample of this matere Hic ponit Exemplum contra istos qui non propter amorem sed propter diuicias sponsalia sumunt Et narrat de quodam Regis Apubic Senescalla qui non solum propter pecuniam vxorem duxit sed eciam pecunie comeâ—cis vxorem sibi desponsatam vendidit tO trete vpon the cas of loue Soo as we tolden here aboue I fynde wryte a woÌ„der thyng Of puyle whysome was a kyng A man of hyghe complexyon And yong but his affectyon After the nature of his age Was yet not falle in his courage The lust of women for to knowe Soo it betyd vpon a throwe This lord felle in to grete sekenes Phisyk hath done the hesynes Of sondry cures many one To make hym hoole therupon A worthy mayster whiche ther was Yafe hym counseyl vpon this cas That yf he wold haue parfyte heele He shold with a woman dele A fresshe a yong a lusty wyght To done hym compauye a nyght For than he sayd hym redely That he shal be al hole ther by And otherwyse he knewe no cure This kyng which stode in auenture Of lyf deth for medycyne Assented was of couyne His styward whome he trusteth wel He took told hym euery del Hou that this mayster hath seyd And therupon he hath hym prayd And charged vpon his lygeaunce That he do make purueaunce Of suche one as be couenable For his plesaunce delytable And bad hym hou that euer it stood That he shal spare for no good For his wylle is ryght wel to paye The styward seyd he wold assaye Bnt now here after thou shalt wyte As I fynde in the bokes wryte What couetyse in loue doth This styward for to telle soth Amonges al the men on lyue A lusty lady hath to wyue Whiche netheles for gold he took And nouÈt for loue as seyth the book A ryche marchaunt of the lond Hyr fader was hyr fond So worthely suche Rychesse Of worldes good suche largesse With hyr he yafe in maryage That only for thylk auauntage Of gold the styward hath hyr take For lucre nought for loues sake And that was in the stiward wel sene Now herkne what it wol mene The styward in his owne herte Sowe that his lord may not asterte His maladye but he haue A lusty woman hym to saue And though he wold yeue Inough Of his tresour wherof he drough Grete couetyse in to his mynde And set his honour fer behynde Thus he whome gold hath ouerset Was trapped in his owne net The gold hath made his wyttes lame Soo that sechend his owne shame He rouneth in the kynges ere And seyd that he wyste where A gentyl a lusty one Tho was thyder wolde he gone But he mote yiue yeftes grete For
the scottes for to fonde The werre whiche he toke on honde Qualiter Regina Constancia infaÌ„tem masculum queÌ„ in baptismo Mau ricium â—ocant Rege absente enixa est Sed inuida mater Regis Domilda super isto facto condolens mendacibus regi certificauit ê™ vxor sua demoniaci et non humani generis quondam monstruosum fantasma locum geniture ad ortum produxit huiusmodique detractoâ—ibus aduersus Constanciam procurauit qd ipsa in nauim qua prius venerat iterum ad exilium vna cum suo par tu remissa desolabatur tHe tyme set of kynde is come This lady hath hyr chaÌ„bre nome And of a sone borne ful Wherof that she was ioyeful She was delyuerd sauf sone The bisshop as it was to done Yaf hym baptysme Morys calleth And therupon as it byfalleth With lettecs wryten of record They sent vnto her lyege lord That kepers weren of the quene And he that shold go bytwene The messager to knaresburgh Whiche Towne he shold posse thorugh Rydend he cam the fyrst daye The kynges modre there laye Who 's ryght name was Domylde Whiche after al the cause spylde For he whiche thanke deserue wolde Vnto this lady goth tolde Of his message how it ferde And she with feyned ioye it herde And yafe hym yeftes largely But in the nyght al pryuely She took his lettres whiche he had Fro poynt to poynt ouer rad And she that was thuruÈ oute vntrewe And do wryte other newe In stede of hem thus they speke Prima littera in commendacione n Constancie ab episcopo Regi missa per Domildam in contrarium falsata Oure lyege lord we the beseke That thou with vs ne be not wroth Though we suche thyng as is the loth Vpon oure trouthe certyfye Thy wyf whiche is of fayrye Of suche a child delynerd is Fro kynde whiche stant al amys But for it shold not be seye We haue it kepte oute of the weye For drede of pure worldes shame A power childe in the name Of thylke whiche is so mysbore We took therto we be swore That none but only thou we Shal knowe of this pryuete Morys it hatte thus men wene That it was borne of the quene And of thy owne body gete But this thyng may not be foryete That thou ne send vs word anon What is thy wylle therupon This letter as thou hast herd deuyse Was counterfete in suche a wyse That no man shold it perceyue And she whiche thought to deceyue It leyde where she that other toke This messager when he awoke And wâ—st no thynge how it was He â—oos â—ood the grete pas And took his lettres to the kyng And when he saw this wondre thyng He maketh the messager no chere But netheles in wyse manere He wrote ageyne yaf hem charge That they ne suffre not at large His wyf to go but kepe hyr stylle Tyl they haue herd more of his wylle This messager was yeftles But with his letter netheles â—â— be hym leef or be hym loth In al hast ageyne he goth By â—â—naâ—â—sbuâ—â—gh as he went Vnto the modâ—â— his entent Of that he fond to ward the kynge He told she vpon this thyng Seyth that he shold abyde al nyght And made hym fest chere aryght Feyned as though she coude him thoÌ„k But he with stroÌ„g wyn which he droÌ„k Forth with the trauayle of the daye Whiche dronke a slepe whyle he laye She hath his lettres ouer saye And formed in another waye There was a newe letter wryte Secunda leâ—tâ—ra per Regem Episâ—â—â—â— missa a Domilda iterum falsata wHiche sayth do yow for to wyte That thorugh the couÌ„seyll of you two It stonde in poynt to be vndo As he whiche is a kyng deposed For euery man it hath supposed How that my wyf Constance is faye And yf that I feyne the delaye To put hyr oute of companye The worship of my regalye Is lore ouer this they telle Here child shal not amoÌ„g yow dwelle To claymen ony herytage So can I see none auauntage But al is lost yf she abyde For thy to loke on euery syde Toward the meschyef as it is I charge yow byd this That ye the same ship vytaylle In whiche that she toke arryuaylle Theryn putteth both two Hyr self forth with hyr child also And so forth brought in to the depe Be taketh hyr the see to kepe Of foure dayes tyme set That ye this thyng no lenger let So that youre lyf be not forfete And thus this letter counterfete The messagyer whiche was vnware Vpon the kynges halue bare And where he shold it haue bytake But when that they hede take And rad that wryten is withynne So grete a sorowe they begynne As they her owne modre seyen Brenne in a fyre byfore theyr eyen There was wepyng ther was wo But fynally the thyng is do Vpon the see they haue here brought But she the cause wyst nought And thus vpon the flood they wone This lady with her yong sone And than her handes to the heuene She straught with a mylde steuene Knelend vpon hyr bare kne She sayd O hyghe mageste Whiche seest the poynt of euery trouth Take of thy woful woman routh And of thylk childe which I shal kepe And with that word she bygan to wepe Swouned as dede there she lay But he whiche al thynges may Comforteth hyr at the last She loketh her eyen cast Vpon hyr child sayd this Of me no maner charge it is What sorowe I suffre but of the Me thynketh it is grete pyte For yf I sterue thou shalt deye So mote I nedes by that weye For moderhode 7 for tendrenesse With al myn hole besynesse Ordeyne me for this offyce As she whiche shal be thy Noryce Thus was she strengthed for to stoÌ„de And thâ— she took hyr child on honde And yaf it souke but euer amonge She wepte other whyle songe To rokke with hyr child on slepe And thus her owne child to kepe She hath vnder the goddes cure Qualiter nauis Constancie post biennium in partes hispanie superior is inter SaraÈinos iactabatur In quorum manibus deus ipsam conseruans graciosissime liberauit aNd so fel vpon auenture When ylke yere hath made his ende Hyr ship so as it mote wende With streÌ„gth of wynd which god hath yine Estward was in to spayn dryue Ryght fast vnder a castel walle Where that an hethen admyralle Was lord he afterward had One Thelons whiche al was bad A fals knyght a renegate He goth to loke in what estate The shyp was comen there he fonde Forth with a child vpon hyr honde This lady where she was al one He took hede on the persone And sawe she was a worthy wyght And thought he wold vpon the nyght Demene hyr at his owne wylle And in the ship she kepte hyr stylle
qui in amoris causa tardantes delinquunt Et narrat quali ter Dido Regina Eartaginis Eneam ab Incendijs Troie fugitiuum in amo rem suum gaiusa suscepit qui cum postea in partes Italie a Cartagine bella turum se transtulit ninuam que ibidem moram faciens tempus redditus sui ad Didonem vltra modum tardauit Ipsa intolieravili gaudio concussa sui cordis intima gladio transfodit aGeyne lachesse in loues caas I fynde how whylom Eneas Whome Anchyses to sone had With greete nauye which he lad Fro Troye arryueth at Eartage Where fo a while his herbergage He took betyd soo With hyr whiche was quene tho Of the Cyte his acqueyntaunce He wan whos name in remembrauÌ„ce Is yet Dydo she was hote Whiche loueth Eneas soo hote Vpon the wordes whiche he sayd That al hyr herte on hym she layd And dyd al holy what he wolde But after that as it be sholde Fro then he goth to Itayle By shyp thew his arryuayle Hath take shope hym for to ryde But she whiche may not long abyde The hote payne of loues throwe Anone within a lytel throwe A setter vnto hyr knyght hath wryte And dyde hym pseynsy for to wyte If he made ony tarying To dretche of his ayene comyng That she ne myght hym fele see She shold stonde in suche degree As whylome stood a swan to fore Of that she had hyr make â—ore For sorowe a fether in to her brayne She shoof hath hyr self slayn As kyng Menander in a lay The soth hath fonde where she lay Spraulend with her wynges tweye As she whiche shold than deye For loue of hym which was her make And so shal I do for thy sake This quene sayde wel I wote Lo to Enee thus she wrote With many another word of coÌ„pleynt But he which had his thoughtes feint Towardes loue ful of slouthe â—â—s tyme let that was routhe For she whiche loueth hym to fore 〈◊〉 euer more more And when she sawe hym tarye so Hyr hert was so ful of wo That compleynend manyfolde She hath hyr owne tale tolde Vnto her self thus she spack A who fonde euer suche a lack Of slouthe in ony worthy knyght Now wote I wel my deth is dyght Thurgh hym whiche shold haue be my â—yf But for to stynten al this stryf Thus when she syghe none other bote Ryght euen vnto her hert rote A naked sword anone she threste And thus she got hyr self reste In remembraunce of al slowe Wherof my sone thou myght knowe Hou taryeng vpon the nede In loues cause is for to drede And that hath Dydo sore abought Whoo 's deth shal euer be bethought And euermore yf I shal seche In this maner another speche In a Cronyke I fynde wryte A tale whiche is good to wyte His loquitur super eodem qualiter â—enolope vlixum maritum suum in obsidione Troie diucius morantem ob ipsius ibidem tardacionem epistola sua redargiut aT Twye when kyng Vlyxes Vpon the sege among the pres Of hem the worthy kniÈtes were Abode longe tyme stylle there In thylke tyme a man may see Hou goodly that Penolope Whiche was to hym his trewe wyf Of his lachesse waâ— pleyntyf Wherof to Troye she hym sende Hyr wylle by letter thus spekende My worthy loue lorde alsso It is hath be euer soo That where a woman is alone At maketh a man in his persoue The more hardy for to wowe In hope that she wolde bowe To suche thyuge as his wylle werr Whyle that here lord were elles where And of my self I telle this For it so long passed is Syth fyrste that ye from home went That we le nyhe euery man is went To come there I am whyle ye be oute And besyly eche of hem aboute Whiche loue can my loue secheth With grete prayer me bysecheth And somme maken grete manace That yf they myght come in place Where that they myght here wyl haue There is no thyng me shold saue That they ne wold worche thynges And somme telle me tydynges That ye he dede somme seyn That certeynly ye be beseyn To loue a newe leue me But holle as euer that it be I thanke vnto the goddes alle As yet for ought that is byfalle May no man do my chekes rede But netheles it is to drede That lachesse in contynuaunce Fortune myght werke suche aâ—chaunce Whiche nomanâ— after shal amende Loo thus thys lady compleynend A letter vnto hyr lord hath wryte And prayd hym that he wold wyte And thynke how that she was al his And that he tarye not in this But that he wold his loue acquyte To her ayeneward not wryte But come hym self in al hast That he none other paper wast Soo that he kepe holde his trouthe Withoute let of ony slouthe Vnto her lord loue lyege To Troye where the grete syege Was leyd this letter was conueyd And he whiche wysedom hath purueyd Of al that to reson belongeth With gentyl hert it vnderfongeth And when he hath it ouer rad In part he was ryght Inly glad And eke in part he was dysesed But loue his hert hath thorugh sesed With pure ymagynacyon That for none occupacyon Whiche he gan take on other syde He may not flyt his hert asyde For that his wyf hym had enformed Wherof he hath hym self conformed With al the wyl of his courage To shape take the â—yage Homeward what tyme that he may Soo that hym thynketh one day A thousand yere tyl he may see The â—ysage of Penolope Whiche he desyreth moost of alle And when the tyme was so byfalle That Troye was destroyed brent He made no delayment But goth hym home in al hyghe Where that he fond to fore his eye His worthy wyf in good estate And thus was seced the debate Of loue slouthe was excused Which doth gret harme where it is bsed And hyndreth many a cause honest Nota ad huc de quodam Astrologo super eodem qui quondam opê° ingeniosum quasi ad complementum septennius perducens vnius momenti tardacione omnem sui operis diligenciam pe nitus feustrauit For of the grete clerk Grostest I rede how redy that he was Vpon clergyr an hede of bras To make forge it for to telle Of suche thynges as befelle And seuen yeres besynesse He layde but for the lachesse Of half a mynute of an houre Fro fyrst that he began laboure He lost al that he had do And other whyle it fareth soo In loues cause who is slowe That he withoute vnder the wowe By nyght fue ofte stant a colde Whiche myght yf that he had wolde His tyme haue kept haue ben Inne Nota ad huc contra tardacionem de virginibus fatuis que niâ—â—iam moraÌ„ facientes intrante sponso ad nupaâ—â—s cum ipso non introterunt But slouthe may no profyt wynne But he may
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
slowe and wery soone Of euery thyng whiche is to done He is of kynde suffisaunt To hold loue his couenaunt But to hym lacketh appetyâ—â— Whiche longeth vnto suche delyte What man that taketh his kynd oâ— the ayâ—â— He shal be lyght he shall be fâ—yre De complexione sanguinis Fyrst his complexion is bloode Of al there is none so good Forth he hath bothe wylle myght To plese and pay loue his right Where he hath loue vndertake Wrong is yf he be forsake The fire of his condicion Appropreth the complexion Whiche in a mâ—n is cold hote Whoo 's propirtâ—â—s ben drye hote It maketh a man to be engynous And swyfte of foote â—ke yrous Of conteke â—ke ful of hastynesse He hath a ryght grete besynesse To thynk on loue and lytel mâ—y Though he be hote wel â— day On nyght when that he wol assay He may ful euyll his dette pay Nota qualiter quatuor complexionis quatuor in homine huÌ„acoÌ„nes diuiâ—â—m possident After the kynde of the element Thus stant a mannes kynde went As touchyng his complexion Vpon sondry dyuysyon Of drye of moyst of colde of hete And eche of hem his owne sete Appropred hath within a man And first to telle as I began Splen domus est melancolie The splen is to Melencolye Assigned for herborgery Pulmo domus est fleumatis The moyste fleume the whiche is cold Hath in the longes for his holde Ordeyned hym a propre stede And dwelleth there as he is bede Epar domus est sanguiuis To the sanguyne complexion Nature of his inspection A propre how 's hath in the lyuer For his dwellyng made delyuer Fel domus colere The fourth coloure with his hetâ— By wey of kynde his propre sete Hath in the gâ—lle where he dwelleth So as the philosophre telleth Nota de stomâ—cho qui vna cum alijs specialius deseruit Now ouer â—â—â—s is for to wyte As it is in phisike wryte Of lyuer longe of galle of splene They al vnto the herte bene Seruanntes and eche in his offyce Entendeth to doo hym seruyce As whiche is lord aboue The lyuer maketh hym for to loue The longes gyue hym wey of speche The galle serueth to doo wreche The splene doth hym to laugh play Whan al vnclennes is away Loo thus hath eche of hem in dede To suffren hem and fede In tyme of recreacion Nature hath increacion The stomake for a comune koke Ordeyneth so as seith the booke The stomak Cook is for the halle And boyleth mete for hem alle To make hem myghty for to serue The herte that he shall not sterue For a kyng in his empyre Aboue al other is lord syre So is the herte pryncipall To whome reson in special Is yeue as for the gouernaunce And thus nature his purueaunce Hath for man to lyuen here But god the whiche the sowle deâ—â— Hath formed it in other wyse That can no man pleynly deuyse But as Clerkes vs enforme That lyche to god it hath a forme Thorugh whiche forme and lykenesse The sowle hath many an hye noblesse Appropred to his owne kynde But of hiâ— wyt be made blynde Al onlyche of this ylk poynte That hir abydyng is conioynte For with the body for to dwelle That one desireth toward the helle That other vpward vnto heuen So shold they neuer stond in enâ—n But yf the flesshe be ouercome And that the sowle haue hooly nome The gouernaunce and that is selde Whyle that the â—â—esshe may he welde Al crthely thyng whiche god began Wao only made to serue man But the sowle al only made Hym seluen for to serue and glade And other beestes that men fynde They serue vnto hir owne kynde But to reson the sowle serueth Wherof the man his thonke deserueth And gete hym with his werkes good The perdurable syues foode hIc loquitur vlterius de diuisione terre â—ue post deluuium tâ—bus filijes Noe in tres partes seilicet Asiam affâ—â—cam Europam diuidebatur oF that mater it shall be told A tale lyketh many fold The better yf it be spoke pleyne Thus 〈…〉 I for to torne ageyne And telle pleynly therfore Of the erthe wherof now to fore I spake and of the waters eke So as these old clerkes speke And set propyrly the bounde After the forme of mappamounde Thorugh which the greuÌ„d in partyes Departed is in thre partyes That is Asye Affryke Europe The whiche vnder the heuen cope Begâ—ypeth al this erthe rounde As serre as stretcheth ony grounde But after that the hyhe wreche The water weyes lete oute feche And ouer goo the hylles hye Whiche euery kynde made dye That vpon myddel erthe stood Oute take Noe his bloode His sone his doughters thre They were saue so was he Her names who that rede ryght Sem Cam Iaphet the bretheren hyÈt And when thylk almyghty honde Withdre we the water fro the londe And al the rage was away And erthe was the mans weye The sones thre of whiche I told Ryght after that them self wold This world departe they begonne Asia the whiche lyeth to the sonne Vpon the marche of Oryent Was graunted by a comune assent To whome whiche was sone oldest For that partye was the best And double as moche as other two And was that tyme bounded soo Wher as the flode whiche meÌ„ nyle calleth Departed fro his cours falleth In the see Alleâ—andryne There taketh Asye first sesyne Towards the west ouer this Of Cana hym where the flood is In to the grete see rennende Fro that in to the worldes ende After Asy it is algates Till that men comen vnto the gates Of paradys and there hoo And shortely for to speke it so Of Oryent in generall Within his bounde Assy hath allâ— Nota hic de Affrica et Europa And than vpon that other side Westward as it felle thylk tyde The brother whiche hyghte cam Vpon his parte Affryke nam Iaphet Europe tho took he Thus parâ—â—d they the world in thrâ— But yet ther ben of londes fele In occident as for the chele In oryent as for the hete Whiche of the peple be forlete As londe deserte that is vnable For it may not be erable Nota de mare quod magnum Occeanum diatur The water eke hath sondry bounde After the londe where it is founde And taketh his name of thylk londes Where that it renne on the strondes But thylke see whiche no wane Is cleped the grete Occeane Oute of whiche aryse and come The hye floodes al and some Is none so lytell wel spryng Whiche there ne taketh his begynnyng Lyche a man that haleth brethe By wey of kynde so it gethe Oute of the see and in ageyne The water as the bookes seyne Nota hic secundum philosophum de quinto elemento quod omnia sub celo creata infra suuÌ„ ambitum continet cui nomeÌ„ orbis specialiter appropriatuÌ„ eÌ„ oF elementes the propyrtees How
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
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