The Romaunt of the Rose from the unique Glasgow ms. parallel with its original, Le Roman de la Rose [ME text only]. Edited by Max Kaluza, Ph.D. Part I. The texts. Roman de la Rose Guillaume, de Lorris, active 1230. 221 pages, ca. 505 kb University of Michigan Library Ann Arbor, Michigan 2018 CME00038 01640393 AGZ8255 sdr-uva.u1064941

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 The Romaunt of the Rose from the unique Glasgow ms. parallel with its original, Le Roman de la Rose. Edited by Max Kaluza, Ph.D. Part I. The texts. Roman de la Rose Guillaume, de Lorris, active 1230. Chaucer, Geoffrey, -1400. Jean, de Meun, approximately 1240-approximately 1305. Kaluza, Max, 1856-1921. ed. 3 p.l., 439 p. 23 cm. [London] Pub. for the Chaucer society by K. Paul, Trench, Trübner & co., 1891. Publications (Chaucer Society) ; Ser. 1,[no.] 83 Half-title: The Romaunt of the Rose. The English fragments from the unique ms. v. 3. 7 in the Hunterian museum, Glasgow, with their French original, mainly from M. Michel's edition, 1864, collated with other mss. No more published? Mode of access: Internet.

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38 CME00038 CME00038

The Romaunt of the Rose

FROM THE UNIQUE GLASGOW MS, PARALLEL WITH ITS ORIGINAL Le Roman de la Rose.

EDITED BY MAX KALUZA, PH. D.

PART I.—THE TEXTS.

PUBLISHT FOR THE CHAUCER SOCIETY BY KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & CO., PATERNOSTER HOUSE, CHARING CROSS ROAD, W. C.

1891.

The Romaunt of the Rose.

THE ENGLISH FRAGMENTS FROM THE UNIQUE MS. V. 3. 7 IN THE HUNTERIAN MUSEUM, GLASGOW, WITH THEIR FRENCH ORIGINAL MAINLY FROM M. MICHEL'S EDITION, 1864, COLLATED WITH OTHER MSS.

EDITED BY MAX KALUZA, PH. D., KÖNIGSBERG.

The English text closely follows the unique MS. V. 3. 7, Hunterian Museum, Glasgow. Eleven leaves (containing ll. 1-44, 333-380, 1387-1482, 2395-2442, 3595-3690, 7383-7574) are now lost in the MS.; the deficiency is supplied from Thynne's edition (1532). In the foot-notes I give corrections from Morris's (= M.), Bell's (= B.), and Urry's (= U.) editions, with some emendations of my own.

 [MANY men sayn that in sweueninges Ther nys but fables and lesynges But men may some sweuen sene 3. Read sweuenes. Whiche hardely that false ne bene But afterwarde ben apparaunt This maye I drawe to warraunt An authour / that hight Macrobes That halte nat dremes false ne lees But vndothe vs the auysioun That whilom mette kyng Cipioun And who so saith / or weneth it be A iape / or els nycete 12. M. B. elles. To wene that dremes after fal 13. M. B. falle. Lette who so lyste a fole me cal 14. M. B. calle. For this trowe I / and say for me That dremes signifiaunce be Of good and harme to many wightes That dremen in her slepe a nyghtes Ful many thynges couertly That fallen after al openly Within my twenty yere of age Whan that loue taketh his corage Of yonge folke / I went soone 23. M. wente. To bedde / as I was wont to done And faste I slepte / and in slepyng Me mette suche a sweuenyng That lyked me wonders wele 27. M. B. U. wonderous. But in that sweuen is neuer a dele That it nys afterwarde befal 29. M. B. befalle. Ryght as this dreme wol tel vs al. 30. M. B. alle. Nowe this dreme wol I ryme a right To make your hertes gaye and lyght For loue it prayeth / and also Commaundeth me that it be so And if there any aske me Whether that it be / he or she Howe this booke / whiche is here Shal hatte / that I rede you here It is the Romance of the Rose In whiche al the arte of loue I close. ¶ The mater fayre is of to make God graunt me in gree that she it take 42. U. omits me. For whom that it begonnen is And that is she / that hath ywis] ll. 1-44 are taken from Thynne's Edition (1532): the first leaf being lost in the MS. So mochel pris and therto [she] So worthy is biloued [to be] That she wel ought of pris [and ryght] Be cleped Rose of euery wi[ght] The ends of ll. 45-48 are supplied from Thynne, a piece of parchment being off in the MS. That it was May me thought tho 49. M. thoughte. It is. V. yere or more ago That it was May thus dremed me In tyme of loue and Iolite That al thing gynneth waxen gay For ther is neither busk nor hay In May that it nyl shrouded bene 57. grene, first e illegible; two small holes in the parchment. And it with newe leues wrene These wodes eek Recoueren gr[e]ne That drie in wynter ben to sene And the erth wexith proude withałł 59. Read erthe. For swote dewes that on it fałł And the pore estat forgette 61. Read forget. In which that wynter had it sette 62. Read set. And than bycometh the ground so proude That it wole haue a newe shroude And makith so queynt his Robe and faire That it had hewes an hundred payre 66. Read hath. Of gras and flouris ynde and Pers And many hewes ful dyuers [That is the robe I] mene I wis [Through whiche the] ground to preisen is [The byrdes that hav]en lefte her song The beginnings of ll. 69-71 and part of l. 72 torn off in the MS. and supplied from Thynne. 71. Th. han for [hav]en. While thei [suffr]ide cold so strong 72. Th. thei han suffred; but no more than five letters are wanting, and the lower parts of s, ff, r are still visible in the MS. In wedres gryl and derk to sight Ben in may for the sonne bright So glade that they shewe in syngyng That in her hertis is sich lykyng That they mote syngen and be light Than doth the nyghtyngale hir myght To make noyse and syngen blythe Than is blisful many sithe The chela[un]dre and papyngay 81. chelaundre, two small holes in the parchment; second stroke of u and n are gone. M. B. U. insert the before papyngay. Than yong folk entenden ay 82. M. younge. Forto ben gay and amorous The tyme is than so fauerous 84. B. U. saverous. Hard is the hert that loueth nought 85. B. U. his for the; cf. l. 3541. In May whan al this mirth is wrought Whan he may on these braunches here The smale briddes syngen clere Her blesful swete song pitous And in this sesoun delytous Whan loue affraieth al thing 91. M. alle. Me thought a nyght in my sleping Right in my bed ful Redily That it was by the morowe e[rly] And vp I roos and gan me clot[he] Anoon I wisshe myn hondis both[e] The ends of ll. 94-96. are torn off in the MS; the letters wanting are supplied from Thynne. A sylure nedle forth y droughe Out of an Aguler queynt ynoughe And gan this nedle threde anon For out of toun me list to gon The song of briddes forto here That in thise buskes syngen clere And in . . . swete seson that swete is 103. There is an erasure between in and swete; insert that. The last letters of that and swete are written over an erasure; read leef (B. U. lefe; M. leve) for swete. With a threde bastyng my sleu[i]s 104. M. B. U. slevis, i erased in the MS. Thynne sleuys. Alone I wente in my plaiyng The smale foules song harknyng They peyned hem ful many peyre To synge on bowes blosmed feyre Ioly and gay ful of gladnesse Toward a Ryver gan I me dresse That I herd Renne fast by 111. M. B. faste. For fairer plaiyng non saugh I Than playen me by that Ryuere For from an hiłł that stood ther nere Cam doun the streme ful stif and bold Cleer was the water and as cold [As any welle is / sot]h to seyn 117. Read seyne. [And somdele lasse] it was than Seyn 118. Read Seyne. [But it was stray]ghter wel away 119. Thynne strayter. [And neuer sau]gh I er that day The beginnings of ll. 117-120. torn off in the MS; the deficiency is supplied from Thynne. The watir that so wel lyked me 121. The upper part of The watir gone; but the two words are still legible. Thynne water. And wondir glad was I to se That lusty place and that Ryvere And with that watir that Ran so clere My face I wysshe tho saugh I wełł The botme paued euerydełł With grauel ful of stones shene The medewe softe, swote and grene Beet right on the watir syde Ful clere was than the morowtyde And ful attempre out of drede Tho gan I walk thorough the mede 132. M. B. walke. Dounward ay in my pleiyng The Ryuer syde costeiyng And whan I had a while goon I saugh a gardyn right anoon Ful long and brood and euerydełł Enclosed was and walled wełł 138. Read Enclos it was for Enclosed was; cf. l. 1652 enclos is (: rosis). With high walles enbatailled 139. M. highe. Portraied without and wel entailled With many riche portraitures And bothe the ymages and the peyntures 142. U. omits second the. Gan I biholde bysyly And I wole telle you Redyly Of thilk ymages the semblaunce As fer as I haue in remembraunce 146. B. U. omit in; cf. l. 996. Amyd saugh I a hate stonde 147. Read Amydde. B. U. omit a. That for hir wrathe yre and onde Semede to ben an Mynoresse 149. Omit to; cf. ll. 173, 214, 305 etc. M. B. mov∣eresse. An angry wight a chideresse And ful of gyle and felle corage By semblaunt was that ilk ymage And she was no thyng wel arraied But lyk a wode womman afraied Frounced foule was hir visage And grennyng for dispitous Rage Hir nose snorted vp for tene Ful hidous was she forto sene Ful foule and Rusty was she this Hir heed writhen was ywis 160. M. ywrithen. Ful grymly with a greet towayle An ymage of another entayle A lyft half was hir by 163. Insert faste (U. fast) before by; cf. l. 111, 208, 224 etc. Hir name aboue hir heed saugh I And she was called felony 165. Read Felonye. Another ymage that vilany 166. Read Vilanye. Clepid was saugh I and fonde Vpon the wal on hir right honde Vilany was lyk somdełł 169. Read Vilanye. That other ymage and trustith wel She semede a wikked creature By countenaunce in portrayture She semed be ful dispitous And eek ful proude and outragious Wel coude he peynte I vndirtake That sich ymage coude make Ful foule and cherlysshe semed she And eek vylayneus forto be And litel coude of Norture To worshipe any creature And next was peynted Coueitise That eggith folk in many gise To take and yeue right nought ageyne And gret tresouris vp to leyne And that is that for vsure 185. U. inserts she after is. Leneth to many a creature The lasse for the more wynnyng So coueitise is her brennyng And that is that penyes fele 189. U. inserts she after is. That techith forto Robbe and stele 190. B. omits That. These theues and these smale harlotes And that is routh for by her throtes Ful many oon hangith at the laste She makith folk compasse and caste To taken other folkis thyng Thorough Robberie or myscoueiting 196. Read myscounting. And that is she that makith trechoures And she makith false pleadoures 198. U. inserts that after she. That with hir termes and hir domes Doon maydens children and eek gromes Her heritage to forgo Ful croked were hir hondis two For coueitise is euere wode To gripen other folkis gode Coueityse for hir wynnyng Ful leef hath other mennes thing Another ymage set saugh I Next coueitise fast by 208. M. faste. And she was clepid auarice Ful foule in peyntyng was that vice Ful sade and caytif was she eek And also grene as ony leek So yuel hewed was hir colour Hir semed to haue lyued in langour 214. Omit to; cf. l. 173, 149, 305. She was lyk thyng for hungre deed That ladde hir lyf oonly by breed Kneden with eisel strong and egre And therto she was lene and megre And she was clad ful porely Al in an old torn courtpy 220. M. courtepy. As she were al with doggis torne And bothe bihynde and eke biforne Clouted was she beggarly A mantyl henge hir fast by 224. M. U. faste. Vpon a perche weike and smałł A burnet cote henge therwith ałł Furred with no menyvere 227. menyvere, u altered to v. But with a furre rough of here Of lambe skynnes heuy and blake It was ful old I vndirtake For auarice to clothe hir wełł Ne hastith hir neueradełł For certeynly it were hir loth To weren ofte that ilk cloth 234. U. of for ofte. U. ilke. And if it were forwered she Wolde haue ful gret necessite Of clothyng er she bought hir newe Al were it bad of wołł and hewe This auarice hilde in hir hande A purs that henge by a bande And that she hidde and bonde so strong Men must abyde wondir long Out of that purs er ther come ought For that ne cometh not in hir thought It was not certein hir entent That fro that purs a peny went And by that ymage nygh ynough Was peynted enuye that neuer lough 248. Read peynt. Nor neuer wel in hir herte farede 249. Omit hir; cf. ll. 691, 1486. Read ferde; cf. l. 499, 673. But if she outher saugh or herede 250. Read herde; cf. l. 500, 674. Som gret myschaunce or gret disese No thyng may so moch hir plese As myschef and mysauenture Or whan she seeth discomfiture Vpon ony worthy man falle Than likith hir wel with alle 256. U. inserts right before wel. She is ful glade in hir corage If she se any grete lynage Be brought to nought in shynful wise 259. U. sham[e]ful. And if a man in honour Rise Or by his witte or by his prowesse 261. Omit first Or. Of that hath she gret heuynesse For trustith wel she goth nygh wode Whan any chaunge happith gode Envie is of such crueltee That feith ne trouth holdith she 266. M. trouthe. To freend ne felawe bad or good Ne she hath kynne noon of hir blood That she nys ful her enemye 269. Read enemy. She nolde I dar seyn hardelye 270. Read hardely. Hir owne fadir farede wełł 271. Read ferde; cf. l. 249. And sore abieth she euerydełł Hir malice and hir male talent For she is in so gret turment And hath such whan folk doth good 275. Insert wo after such. That nygh she meltith for pure wood Hir herte keruyth and so brekith That god the puple wel a wrekith Envie I wis shal neuere lette Som blame vpon the folk to sette I trowe that if envie Iwis Knewe the best man that is 282. M. beste. On this side or biyonde the see Yit somwhat lakken hym wolde she And if he were so hende and wis That she ne myght al abate his pris Yit wolde she blame his worthynesse Or by hir wordis make it lesse I saugh envie in that peyntyng Hadde a wondirful lokyng For she ne lokide but a wrie 291. Read awry. Or ouerthart ałł baggyngly 292. Read ouerthwart. And she hadde vsage 293. M. B. insert a foul (U. a full foule) before vsage. She myght loke in no visage 294. M. myghte. Of man or womman forth right pleyn But shette hir eien for disdeyn 296. U. one eye for eyen. So for envie brenned she Whan she myght any man se 298. M. U. yse. That fairer or worthier were or wise 299. U. faire. U. worthy. Or ełł stode in folkis pryse 300. M. B. elles. Sorowe was peynted next envie Vpon that wałł of masonrye But wel was seyn in hir colour That she hadde lyued in langour Hir semede to haue the Iaunyce 305. Omit to; cf. ll. 149, 173, etc. Nought half so pale was avarice Nor no thyng lyk of lenesse 307. B. lyke. For sorowe thought and gret distresse That she hadde suffred day and nyght Made hir ful yolare and no thyng bright 310. B. yolwe; U. yelowe. Ful fade pale and megre also Was neuer wight yit half so wo As that hir semede forto be Nor so fulfilled of ire as she I trowe that no wight myght hir please Nor do that thyng that myght hir ease Nor she ne wolde hir sorowe slake Nor comfort noon vnto hir take So depe was hir wo bigonnen And eek hir hert in angre Ronnen A sorowful thyng wel semed she Nor she hadde no thyng slowe be Forto foreracchen al hir face And forto Rent in many place Hir clothis and forto tere hir swire As she that was fulfilled of ire And alto torn lay eek hir here Aboute hir shuldris here and there As she that hadde it alto Rent For angre and for maltalent And eek I telle you certeynly Hough that she wepe ful tendirly 332. B. How. [In worlde nys wyght so harde of herte [sign. A a. iij. bk., col. 1] That had sene her sorowes smerte That nolde haue had of her pyte So wo begone a thyng was she She al to dassht her selfe for woo And smote togyder her hondes two To sorowe was she ful ententyfe That woful rechelesse caytyfe Her rought lytel of playeng 341. M. roughte. M. playing; B. pleiyng. Or of clypping or kissyng 342. Insert of before kissyng. For who so sorouful is in herte Him luste not to play ne sterte Ne for to dauncen / ne to synge Ne may his herte in temper bringe [To make ioye on euen or morowe For ioy is contrarie vnto sorowe. 348. U. to for vnto. Elde was paynted after this That shorter was a foote iwys Than she was wonte in her yonghede Vnneth her selfe she might fede So feble and eke so olde was she That faded was al her beaute Ful salowe was waxen her colour Her heed for hore was whyte as flour Iwys great qualme ne were it none Ne synne / al though her lyfe were gone Al woxen was her body vnwelde And drie and dwyned al for elde A foule forwelked thyng was she That whylom rounde and softe had be

[See l. 365.]

Her eeres shoken faste withall As from her heed they wolde fall Her face frounced and forpyned And bothe her hondes lorne fordwyned So olde she was / that she ne went A foote / but it were by potent The tyme that passeth nyght and daye And restlesse trauayleth aye And steleth from vs so priuely That to vs semeth sykerly That it in one poynt dwelleth euer And certes it ne resteth neuer But gothe so faste / and passeth aye That there nys man that thynke may What tyme that nowe present is Asketh at these clerkes this For men thynke it redily 379. Insert er before men. Thre tymes ben passed by] ll. 333-380 are taken from Thynne; a leaf being lost in the MS. 380. M. U. ypassed. The tyme that may not soiourne But goth and may neuer Retourne As watir that doun renneth ay But neuer drope Retourne may Ther may no thing as tyme endure Metałł nor erthely creature For ałł thing it frette and shałł The tyme eke that chaungith ałł And ałł doth waxe and fostred be And al thing distroieth he 390. M. alle. The tyme that eldith our Auncessours And eldith kynges and Emperours And that vs alle shal ouercomen Er that deth vs shal haue nomen The tyme that hath al in welde To elden folk had maad hir elde So ynly that to my witing She myght helpe hir silf no thing 398. M. myghte. But turned ageyn vnto childhede She had no thing hir silf to lede Ne witte ne pithe in hir holde 401. U. within for in. More than a child of two yeer olde But natheles I trowe that she Was faire sumtyme and fresh to se Whan she was in hir rightful age But she was past al that passage And was a doted thing bicomen A furred cope on had she nomen Wel had she clad hir silf and warme For colde myght ełł don hir harme 410. M. B. elles. These olde folk haue alwey colde Her kynde is sich whan they ben olde Another thing was don there write That semede lyk an Ipocrite And it wa clepid poope holy 415. M. B. U. was. U. Papelardie for poope holy. That ilk is she that pryuely Ne spareth neuer a wikked dede Whan men of hir taken noon hede And maketh hir outward precious With pale visage and pitous And semeth a semely creature 421. U. simple for semely. But ther nys no mysauenture That she ne thenkith in hir corage Ful lyk to hir was that ymage That makid was lyk hir semblaunce She was ful symple of countenaunce And she was clothed and eke shod As she were for the loue of god Yolden to Relygioun Sich semede hir deuocioun A sauter helde she fast in honde And bisily she gan to fonde To make many a feynt praiere To god and to his seyntis dere Ne she was gay ne fresh ne Iolyf 435. B. U. omit ne before fresh. But semede to be ful ententyf 436. Omit to; cf. l. 149, 173, etc. To gode werkis and to faire And therto she had on an haire Ne certis she was fatt no thing But semed wery forfasting Of colour pale and deed was she From hir the gate ay werned be Of paradys that blisful place For sich folk maketh lene her grace 444. Read face for grace. As crist seith in his euangile To gete prys in toun a while And for a litel glorie veigne They lesen god and his Reigne 448. M. inserts al (U. eke) before his. And alderlast of euerychon Was peynted pouert al aloon That not a peny hadde in wolde Ałł though she hir clothis solde 452. U. inserts that after though. And though she shulde an honged be For nakid as a worme was she And if the wedir stormy were For colde she shulde haue deyd there 456. Read deyed. She nadde on but a streit olde sak And many a cloute on it ther stak This was hir cote and hir mantełł No more was there neuer a dełł To clothe hir with I vndirtake 462. M. hadde. Grete leyser had she to quake And she was putt that I of talke Fer fro these other vp in an halke There lurked and there coured she For pouer thing where so it be Is shamefast and dispised ay Acursed may wel be that day That pouere man conceyued is For god wote al to selde Iwys Is ony pouere man wel fedde Or wel araied or cledde 472. Insert wel before cledde. Or welbiloued in sich wise In honour that he may arise Alle these thingis wełł avised As I haue you er this devysed With gold and Asure ouer ałł Depeynted newe vpon the wałł Square was the wałł and high sumdełł Enclosed and barred wełł 480. M. U. ybarred. In stede of hegge was that gardyne Come neuere spepherde therynne Into that gardyn wel wrought 483. M. U. ywrought. Who so that me coude haue brought By laddris or ełł by degre 485. Read laddre; cf. l. 523. M. B. elles. It wolde wel haue liked me For sich solace sich ioie and play I trowe that neuere man ne say As was in that place delytous The gardeyn was not daungerous To herberwe briddes many oon So riche a yeer was neuer noon 492. Read yerd for yeer; cf. l. 634, 656, 1582, 1591. Of briddes songe and braunches grene Therynne were briddes mo I wene Than ben in ałł the Rewme of Fraunce Ful blisful was the accordaunce Of swete and pitous songe thei made For ałł this world it owght glade 498. M. owghte. And I my silf so mery ferde Whan I her blisful songes herde That for an hundreth pounde wolde I If that the passage opunly Hadde be vnto me free That I nolde entren forto se Thassemble god kepe it fro care Of briddis whiche therynne ware That songen thorugh her mery throtes Daunws of loue and mery notes 508. B. Daunces; U. Dauncis. WHan I thus herde foules synge I felle fast in a weymentyng By which art or by what engyne I myght come into that gardyne 512. M. myghte. Read in for into. But way I couthe fynde noon Into that gardyne for to goon Ne nought wist I if that ther were Eyther hole or place where 516. Perhaps read any where for where. By which I myght haue entre 517. M. myghte. Ne ther was noon to teche me For I was al aloone Iwys 519. al written above the line. For wo and angwishis of this 520. Perhaps read Ful wo and angwishous of this. Til atte last bithought I me That by no weye ne myght it be That ther nas laddre or wey to passe Or hole into so faire a place Tho gan I go a fułł grete pas Euyronyng evene in compas 526. M. B. Envyronyng. The closing of the square wałł Tyl that I fonde a wiket smałł So shett that I ne myght In gon And other entre was ther noon Uppon this dore I gan to smyte That was fetys and so lite 532. M. inserts so before fetys. For other weye coude I not seke Ful long I shof and knokkide eke And stood ful long and of herknyng If that I herde ony wight comyng 536. U. omits that. Til that dore of thilk entre 537. U. inserts the before dore. A mayden curteys openyde me Hir heer was as yelowe of hewe As ony basyn scoured newe Hir flesh tendre as is a chike 541. Insert as before tendre. With bent browis smothe and slyke And by mesure large were The openyng of hir yen clere Hir nose of good proporcioun Hir yen grey as is a faucoun 546. Omit is. With swete breth and wel sauoured Hir face white and wel coloured With litel mouth and rounde to see A cloue chynne eke hadde she Hir nekke was of good fasoun In lengthe and gretnesse by resoun Withoute bleyne scabbe or royne Fro Jerusalem vnto Burgoyne Ther nys a fairer nekke Iwys To fele how smothe and softe it is Hir throte also white of hewe As snawe on braunche snawed newe Of body ful wel wrought was she Men neded not in no Cuntre A fairer body forto seke And of fyn Orfrays hadde she eke A chapelet so semly oon Ne werede neuer mayde vpon And faire aboue that chapelet A rose gerland had she sett She hadde a gay mirrour 567. Insert in honde after hadde; cf. l. 431, 239. And with a riche gold tresour 568. Read tressour. Hir heed was tressed queyntly 569. M. queyntely. Hir sleues sewid fetously And forto kepe hir hondis faire Of gloues white she had a paire And she hadde on a cote of grene Of cloth of gaunt withouten wene Wel semyde by hir apparayle She was not wont to gret trauayle For whan she kempte was fetisly And wel arayed and richely Thanne had she don al hir iourne For merye and wel bigoon was she She ladde a lusty lyf in may She hadde no thought by nyght ne day Of no thyng but if it were oonly 583. U. omits if. To graythe hir wel and vncouthly WHan that this dore hadde opened me This may semely forto see 586. Read mayde; cf. l. 564. I thanked hir as I best myght And axide hir how that she hight And what she was I axide eke And she to me was nought vnmeke Ne of hir answer daungerous But faire answeride and seide thus Lo sir my name is ydelnesse So clepe men me more and lesse Ful myghty and ful riche am I And that of oon thyng namely For I entende to no thyng But to my Ioye and my pleyng 598. Read pleying. And forto kembe and tresse me Aqueynted am I and pryue With myrthe lord of this gardyne That fro the lande of Alexandryne Made the trees hidre be fette That in this gardyne ben sette 604. M. ysette; U. iset. And whan the trees were woxen on hight This wałł that stant heere in thi sight Dide myrthe enclosen al aboute And these ymages al withoute He dide hem bothe entaile and peynte That neithir ben iolyf ne queynte But they ben ful of sorowe and woo As thou hast seen a while agoo ANd ofte tyme hym to solace Sir myrthe cometh into this place And eke with hym cometh his meynee That lyuen in lust and Iolite And now is myrthe therynne to here The briddis how they syngen clere The mavys and the nyghtyngale And other Ioly briddis smale And thus he walketh to solace Hym and his folk for swetter place To pleyn ynne he may not fynde 623. M. pleyen. Al though he sought oon in tyl ynde The alther fairest folk to see That in this world may founde be Hath mirthe with hym in his route That folowen hym always aboute Whan ydelnesse had tolde al this And I hadde herkned wel ywys Thanne seide I to dame ydelnesse Now also wisly god me blesse Sith myrthe that is so faire and fre Is in this yerde with his meyne Fro thilk assemble if I may Shal no man werne me to day That I this nyght ne mote it see For wel wene I there with hym be A faire and Ioly companye Fulfilled of ałł curtesie And forth withoute wordis mo In at the wiket went I tho That ydelnesse hadde opened me Into that gardyne faire to see ANd whan I was Inne Iwys 645. M. inserts ther before Inne. Myn herte was ful glad of this For wel wende I ful sikerly Haue ben in paradys erthly So faire it was that trusteth wel It semede a place espirituel For certys as at my deuys Ther is no place in paradys So good Inne forto dwelle or be As in that gardyne thought me 654. M. thoughte. For there was many abridde syngyng Thorough out the yerde al thringyng In many places were nyghtyngales Alpes fynches and wodewales That in her swete song deliten In thilke places as they habiten There myght men see many flokkes Of turtles and lauerokkes 662. U. inserts of after and. Chalaundres fele sawe I there That wery nygh forsongen were And thrustles terins and mavys That songen forto wynne hem prys And eke to sormounte in her songe That other briddes hem amonge By note made faire seruyse These briddes that I you devise They songe her songe as faire and wele As angels don espirituel And trusteth wel that I hem herd 673. B. U. whan for that. Read herde. Ful lustily and wel I ferde For neuer yitt sich melodye Was herd of man that myght dye 676. M. myghte. Sich swete song was hem amonge That me thought it no briddis songe But it was wondir lyk to be Song of meremaydens of the see That for her syngyng is so clere Though we mermaydens clepe hem here In English as is oure vsaunce Men clepe hem sereyns in Fraunce. ENtentif weren forto synge These briddis that nought vnkunnyng Were of her craft and apprentys For of song sotil and wys 688. B. But for For. And certis whan I herde her songe And sawe the grene place amonge In herte I wexe so wondir gay That I was neuer erst er that day 692. U. omits erst. So Iolyf nor so wel bigoo Ne merye in herte as I was thoo And than wist I and sawe ful wełł That ydelnesse me serued wełł That me putte in sich Iolite Hir freend wel ought I forto be Sith she the dore of that gardyne Hadde opened and me leten Inne FRom hens forth hou that I wrought 701. M. hennes. I shal you tellen as me thought First wherof myrthe serued there And eke what folk there with hym were Without fable I wole diseryue 705. M. Withoute. And of that gardyne eke as blyue I wole you tellen aftir this The faire fasoun ałł ywys That wel wrought was for the nones I may not telle you ałł at ones But as I may and can I shałł By ordre tellen you it ałł Ful faire seruise and eke ful swete These briddis maden as they sete Layes of loue ful wel sownyng They songen in their yarkonyng 716. U. jargoning. Summe high and summe eke lowe songe Vpon the braunches grene spronge The swetnesse of her melodye Made al myn herte in reuerye And whan that I hadde herde I trowe These briddis syngyng on a rowe Than myght I not withholde me That I ne wente Inne forto see Sir myrthe for my desiryng Was hym to seen ouer ałł thyng His countenaunce and his manere That sight was to me ful dere 728. Read sighte. THo wente I forth on my right honde Doun by a lytel path I fonde Of mentes fułł and fenełł grene And fast by without wene 732. M. faste. M. withoute. Sir myrthe I fonde and right anoon Vnto sir myrthe gan I goon There as he was hym to solace And with hym in that lusty place So faire folk and so fresh had he That whan I sawe I wondred me Fro whenne siche folk myght come 739. M. myghte. So faire they weren ałł and some For they were lyk as to my sight To angels that ben fethered bright This folk of which I telle you soo Vpon a karole wenten thoo A lady karolede hem that hyght Gladnesse blisfułł and the light 746. U. inserts the before blisfułł. Wel coude she synge and lustyly Noon half so wel and semely And couthe make in song sich refreynynge 749. Read made for couthe make. It sat hir wondir wel to synge Hir voice ful clere was and ful swete She was nought rude ne vnmete But couthe ynow of sich doyng As longeth vnto karolyng For she was wont in euery place To syngen first folk to solace For syngyng moost she gaf hir to No craft had she so leef to do THo myghtist thou karoles sene And folk daunce and mery bene 760. M. folke. And made many a faire tournyng 761. Read make. Vpon the grene gras springyng There myghtist thou see these flowtours Mynstrales and eke Iogelours That wel to synge dide her peyne Somme songe songes of loreyne For in loreyn her notes bee Fułł swetter than in this contre There was many a tymbester And saillouris that I dar wel swere Couthe her craft ful parfitly The tymbres vp ful sotilly They caste and hente fułł ofte 773. Insert hem (U. them) after hente. Vpon a fynger faire and softe That they failide neuer mo 775. U. inserts ne after they. Ful fetys damysels two 776. M. B. damyseles. Ryght yonge and fułł of semelyhede In kirtles and noon other wede And faire tressed euery tresse Hadde myrthe doon for his noblesse Amydde the karole forto daunce But herof lieth no Remembraunce Hou that they daunced queyntly 783. M. queyntely. That oon wolde come ałł pryuyly Agayn that other and whan they were To gidre almost they threwe yfere Her mouthis so that thorough her play It semed as they kiste alway To dauncen wełł koude they the gise What shulde I more to you deuyse Ne bode I neuer thennes go Whiles that I sawe hem daunce so Vpon the karołł wonder faste I gan biholde til atte laste A lady gan me forto espie And she was cleped curtesie The worshipfułł the debonaire I pray to god euere falle hir faire 798. Omit to; cf. l. 1255. Ful curteisly she callede me What do ye there Beau ser quod she Come and if it lyke yow To dauncen dauncith with vs now And I without tariyng 803. M. withoute. Wente into the karolyng I was abasshed neuer a dełł But it to me liked right wełł That curtesie me cleped so And bad me on the daunce go For if I hadde durst certeyn I wolde haue karoled right fayn As man that was to daunce right blithe 811. Omit right. Thanne gan I loken ofte sithe The shap̄ the bodies and the cheres The countenaunce and the maneres Of ałł the folk that daunced there And I shal tełł what they were 816. Perhaps insert you after tełł. 34. M. firste. FUl faire was myrthe ful longe and high A fairer man I neuere sigh As rounde as appille was his face Ful rody and white in euery place Fetys he was and wel beseye With metely mouth and yen greye His nose by mesure wrought ful right Crispe was his heer and eek ful bright Hise shuldris of a large brede And smalish in the girdilstede He semed lyke a portreiture So noble he was of his stature So faire so Ioly and so fetys With lymes wrought at poynt deuys Delyuer smert and of grete myght Ne sawe thou neuere man so lyght Of berde vnnethe hadde he no thyng For it was in the first spryng Ful yonge he was and mery of thought And in samette with briddis wrought And with gold beten ful fetysly His body was clad ful richely Wrought was his Robe in straunge gise And alto slytered for queyntise In many a place lowe and hie And shode he was with grete maistrie With shoon decoped and with laas By drury and by solas 844. M. druery. His leef a Rosyn chapelet Hadde made and on his heed it set ¶ And wite ye who was his leef Dame gladnesse there was hym so leef That syngith so wel with glad courage That from she was .XII. yeer of age She of hir loue graunt hym made Sir mirthe hir by the fynger hadde Daunsyng and she hym also 853. Insert In (U. A) before Daunsyng. Grete loue was atwixe hem two Bothe were they faire and bright of hewe She semede lyke a Rose newe Of colour and hir flesh so tendre That with a brere smale and slendre Men myght it cleue I dar wel seye 859. Read seyn (M. seyne). Hir forheed frounceles al pleye 860. Read playn (M. pleyne). Bent were hir browis two 861. Insert Broun and before Bent. Hir yen greye and glad also That laugheden ay in hir semblaunt First or the mouth by couenaunt I wot not what of hir nose I shal descryue 865. U. omits wot and I shal. So faire hath no womman alyue Hir heer was yelowe and clere shynyng I wot no lady so likyng Of orfrays fresh was hir gerland I which seyen haue a thousand Saugh neuer ywys no gerlond yitt So wel wrought of silk as it 872. M. U. ywrought. And in an ouergilt samet Cladde she was by grete delit 874. Read samit. Of which hir leef a Robe werede The myrier she in hir herte ferede 876. U. omits hir; cf. l. 691. And next hir wente in hir other side 877. U. omits And. The god of loue that can deuyde Loue and as hym likith it be But he can cherles daunten he And maken folkis pride fallen And he can wel these lordis thrallen And ladyes putt at lowe degre Whan he may hem to poude see 884. M. B. U. proude. THis god of loue of his fasoun Was lyke no knave ne quystroun His beaute gretly was to preyse 887. U. prise. But of his Robe to devise I drede encombred forto be For nought clad in silk was he 890. M. U. yclad. But ałł in floures and in flourettes [No gap in the MS.] 892. Thynne inserts Ypaynted al with amorettes. And with losynges and scochouns With briddes lybardes and lyouns And other beestis wrought ful wełł His garnement was euerydełł Portreied and wrought with floures 897. U. iwrought. By dyuers medlyng of coloures Floures there were of many gise Sett by compas in assise Ther lakkide no flour to my dome Ne nought so mych as flour of brome Ne violete ne eke pervynke Ne flour noon that man can on thynke And many a Rose leef ful longe Was entermelled theramonge And also on his heed was sette Of Roses reed a Chapelett 908. A line left blank at the end of leaf 17, back; cf. l. 892. But nyghtyngales a fułł grete Route That flyen ouer his heed aboute The leeues felden as they flyen And he was ałł with briddes wryen With popyniay with nyghtyngale With Chalaundre and with wodewale With fynche with lark and with archaungełł He semede as he were an Aungełł That doun were comen fro heuene clere Loue hadde with hym a Bachelere That he made alleweyes with hym be Swete lokyng cleped was he This Bacheler stode biholdyng The daunce and in his honde holdyng Turke bowes two fułł wel deuysed had he 923. U. omits full. That oon of hem was of a tree That bereth a fruyt of sauour wykke Ful crokid was that foule stikke And knotty here and there also And blak as bery or ony slo That other bowe was of a plant 929. other, r written above the line. Without wem I dar warant 930. M. Withoute. Ful euene and by proporcioun Treitys and long of ful good fasoun And it was peynted wel and twythen 933. Read thwyten. And ouer al diapred and writen With ladyes and with Bacheleris Fułł lyghtsom and glad of cheris 936. U. inserts ful before glad. These bowes two helde swete lokyng That semede lyk no gadelyng And ten brode arowis hilde he there Of which .V. in his righthond were But they were shauen wel and dight Nokked and fethered right 942. U. aright. And ałł they were with gold bygoon And stronge peynted euerychoon 944. M. B. poynted. And sharp forto keruen wełł 945. M. sharpe. But Iren was ther noon ne steełł 946. steełł, e written above the line. 951. U. inserts the before best. For al was golde men myght it see Outake the fetheres and the tree THe swiftest of these Arowis fyue Out of a bowe forto dryue And best fethered for to flee And fairest eke was clepid Beaute [t]hat other arowe that hurteth lasse 953. U. lesse. Was clepid as I trowe symplesse The thridde cleped was Fraunchise That fethred was in noble wise With valour and with curtesye [t]he fourthe was cleped compaignye 958. compaignye, e added by a later hand. That heuy forto shoten ys But who so shetith right ywys 960. Read nigh for right. May therwith doon grete harme and wo The fifte of these and laste also Faire semblaunt men that arowe calle The leest grevous of hem alle 964. M. leeste. Yit can it make a ful grete wounde But he may hope his soris sounde That hurt is with that arowe ywys His wo the bette bistowed is For he may sonner haue gladnesse Hir langour ought be the lesse 970. M. oughte. FIue arowis were of other gise That ben ful foule to deuyse For shaft and ende soth forto telle Were also blak as fende in helle The first of hem is called pride That other arowe next hym biside It was cleped vylanye 977. M. U. ycleped. That arowe was as with felonye 978. U. omits as. Envenymed and with spitous blame The thridde of hem was clepe shame 980. M. cleped. The fourthe wanhope cleped is The fifte the newe thought ywys THese arowis that I speke of heere Were ałł fyue on oon maneere And alle were they resemblable To hem was wel sittyng and able The foule croked bowe hidous That knotty was and al Roynous That bowe semede wel to shete These arowis fyue that ben vnmete And contrarye to that other fyue But though I telle not as blyue Of her power ne of her myght Herafter shal I tellen right The soothe and eke signyfiaunce As fer as I haue Remembraunce Ałł shal be seid I vndirtake Er of this book an ende I make NOw come I to my tale ageyn But aldirfirst I wole you seyn The fasoun and the countenaunces Of ałł the folk that on the daunce is The god of loue Iolyf and lyght Ladde on his honde a lady bright Of high prys and of grete degre This lady called was Beaute And an arowe of which I tolde 1007. Read As for And. Ful wel thewed was she holde Ne she was derk ne broun but bright And clere as the mone lyght 1010. U. inserts is after as. Ageyn whom ałł the sterres semen But smale candels as we demen Hir flesh was tendre as dewe of flour Hir chere was symple as byrde in bour As whyte as lylye or Rose in Rys 1015. Read And for As. Hir face gentyl and tretys Fetys she was and smale to se No wyntred browis had she 1018. M. hadde. Ne popped hir for it neded nought To wyndre hir or to peynte hir ought Hir tresses yelowe and longe straughten Vnto hir helys doun they raughten Hir nose hir mouth and eyhe and cheke Wel wrought and ałł the Remenaunt eke A ful grete sauour and a swote Me thought in myn herte Rote 1026. Read toucheth for thought. As helpe me god whan I remembre Of the fasoun of euery membre In world is noon so faire a wight For yonge she was and hewed bright Sore plesaunt and fetys with ałł 1031. Perhaps read Sade for Sore. Gente and in hir myddiłł smałł Biside Beaute yede Richesse And hight lady of gret noblesse 1034. B. An high for And hight. And gret of prys in euery place But who so durste to hir trespace Or til hir folk in werk or dede He were fułł hardy out of drede For bothe she helpe and hyndre may And that is nought of yisterday That Riche folk haue fułł gret myght To helpe and eke to greue a wyght The beste and the grettest of valour 1043. U. omits the before grettest. Diden Rychesse ful gret honour And besy were hir to serue For that they wolde hir loue deserue They cleped hir lady grete and smałł This wide world hir dredith ałł This world is ałł in hir daungere Hir court hath many a losengere And many a traytour enuyous That ben ful besy and curyous Forto dispreisen and to blame That best deseruen loue and name Bifore the folk hem to bigilen These losengeris hem preyse and smylen And thus the world with word anoynten And aftirward they prile and poynten 1058. Read prike for prile. The folk right to the bare boon Bihynde her bak whan they ben goon And foule abate the folkis prys Ful many a worthy man ywys 1062. Read and wys (U. and wise) for ywys. An hundrid haue do to dye 1063. M. B. insert they after haue. These losengers thorough flaterye Haue maad folk ful straunge be 1065. U. And makith for Haue maad. There hem ought be pryue 1066. M. oughte. Wel yuel mote they thryve and thee And yuel achyued mote they be 1068. U. arived. These losengers ful of envye No good man loueth her companye RIchesse a Robe of purpur on hadde Ne trowe not that I lye or madde For in this world is noon hir lyche Ne by a thousand deełł so Riche Ne noon so faire for it ful wełł With Orfrays leyd was euerydeełł And portraied in the Ribanynges Of dukes storyes and of kynges And with a bend of gold tasseled And knoppis fyne of gold enameled 1080. Omit fyne. Aboute hir nekke of gentyl entayle Was shete the Riche Cheuesaile In which ther was fułł gret plente Of stones clere and bright to see Rychesse a girdełł hadde vpon The bokele of it was of a stoon Of vertu gret and mochel of myght 1087. U. omits of before myght. For who so bare the stoon so bright Of venym durst hym no thing doute While he the stoon hadde hym aboute That stoon was gretly forto loue And tyl a Riche man byhoue Worth ałł the gold in Rome and frise The mourdaunt wrought in noble wise Was of a stoon fułł precious That was so fyne and vertuous That hole a man it koude make Of palasie and tothe ake And yit the stoon hadde such a grace That he was siker in euery place Ałł thilk day not blynde to bene 1101. M. B. thilke. That fastyng myght that stoon seene 1102. Insert have before seene. The barres were of gold ful fyne Vpon a Tyssu of Satyne Fułł heuy gret and no thyng lyght In eueriche was a besaunt wight Vpon the tresses of Richesse Was sette a Cercle for noblesse Of brend gold that fułł lyght shoon 1109. M. lyghte. So faire trowe I was neuer noon But she were kunnyng for the nonys 1111. U. he for she. That koude deuyse ałł the stonys 1112. Read deuysen [W. W. Skeat]. That in that Cercle shewen clere It is a wondir thing to here For no man koude preyse or gesse Of hem that valewe or Richesse 1116. B. U. the for that. Rubyes there were Saphires ragounces 1117. M. B. jagounces. And Emeraudes more than two ounces But ałł byfore ful sotilly A fyn charboncle sette saugh I The stoon so clere was and so bright That also soone as it was nyght Men myght seen to go for nede 1123. M. myghte. A myle or two in lengthe and brede Sich lyght sprang oute of the stone That Richesse wondir bright shone 1126. M. brighte. Bothe hir heed and ałł hir face And eke aboute hir al the place Dame Richesse on hir honde gan lede A yong man fułł of pmelyhede 1130. M. B. semelyhede. That she best loued of ony thing His lust was mych in housholding In clothyng was he ful fetys And loued to haue wełł hors of prys 1134. Th. wel to haue; omit to [W. W. Sk.]. He wende to haue reproued be Of theft or moordre if that he Hadde in his stable ony hakeney 1137. U. an for ony. And therfore he desired ay To be aqueynted with Richesse For ałł his purpos as I gesse And forto make gret dispense 1141. M. B. U. Was for And. Withoute wernyng of diffense 1142. M. B. U. or for of. And Richesse myght it wel sustene And hir dispence wełł mayntene And hym alwey sich plente sende Of gold and siluer forto dispende 1146. Th. spende. Withoute lakke or daunger 1147. Th. lackyng. As it were poured in a garner ANd after on the daunce wente Largesse that settith al hir entente 1150. Read set [W. W. Sk.]. Forto be honourable and Free Of Alexandres kyn was she Hir most Ioye was ywys 1153. M. moste. Whan that she yaf and seide haue this Not auarice the foule caytyf Was half to gripe so ententyf As largesse is to yeue and spende And god ynough alwey hir sende So that the more she yaf awey The more ywys she hadde alwey Gret loos hath largesse and gret pris For bothe folk and vnwys 1162. M. B. insert wyse before folk. Were hooly to hir baundon brought So wel with yiftes hath she wrought And if she hadde an enemy I trowe that she coude tristely Make hym fułł soone hir freend to be So large of yift and free was she Therfore she stode in loue and grace Of Riche and pouer in euery place A fułł gret fool is he ywys That bothe Riche and nygart is A lord may haue no maner vice That greueth more than avarice For nygart neuer with strengthe of honde May wynne gret lordship or londe For freendis ałł to fewe hath he To doon his wiłł perfourmed be And who so wole haue freendis heere 1179. heere, second e written above the line. He may not holde his tresour deere For by ensample I tełł this Right as an Adamaund Iwys Can drawen to hym sotylly The Iren that is leid therby So drawith folkes hertis ywis Siluer and gold that yeuen is Largesse hadde on a Robe fresh Of Riche purpur Sarlynysh 1188. Read Sarsynesh. Wel fourmed was hir face and cleere And opened hadde she hir Colere For she right there hadde in present Vnto a lady maad present Of a gold Broche ful wel wrought And certys it myssatte hir nought

[Two lines left blank in the MS.]

For thorough hir smokke wrought with silk The flesh was seen as white as mylk Largesse that worthy was and wys Hilde by the honde a knyght of prys Was sibbe to Artour of Britaigne And that was he that bare the ensaigne Of worship and the Gousfaucoun 1201. Read gounfanoun (U. gonfannoun). And yit he is of sich Renoun That men of hym seye faire thynges Byfore Barouns Erles and kynges This knyght was comen ałł newly 1205. M. newely. Fro tourneryng faste by 1206. M. B. U. tourneiyng. U. inserts there before faste. The hadde he don gret Chyualrie 1207. M. B. There for The. Thorough his vertu and his maistrie And for the loue of his lemman He caste doun many a doughty man And next hym daunced dame Fraunchise Arayed in fułł noble gyse She was not broune ne dunne of hewe 1214. Th. yfallen. But white as snowe fałł newe Hir nose was wrought at poynt devys For it was gentyl and tretys With eyen gladde and browes bente Hir here doun to hir helis wente And she was symple as dowue of tree 1219. B. U. on for of. Ful debonaire of herte was she She durst neuer seyn ne do 1221. M. durste. But that that hir longed to And if a man were in distresse And for hir loue in heuynesse Hir herte wolde haue fułł gret pite She was so amiable and free For were a man for hir bistadde She wolde ben right sore adradde That she dide ouer gret outrage But she hym holpe his harme to aswage Hir thought it ełł a vylanye 1231. M. B. elles. And she hadde on a sukkenye That not of hempe ne heerdis was 1233. Read hempen herdes [W. W. Sk.]. So fair was noon in ałł arras Lord it was ridled fetysly Ther nas a poynt trewly 1236. Read oo for a [W. W. Sk.]. M. B. trewely. Tha it nas in his right assise 1237. M. B. U. That. Fułł wel clothed was Fraunchise 1238. M. U. yclothed. For ther is no cloth sittith bet On damysełł than doth Roket A womman wel more fetys is In Roket than in cote ywis The whyte Roket rydled faire Bitokeneth that fułł debonaire 1244. Read Bitokened. And swete was she that it bere Bi hir daunced a Bachelere I can not telle you what he hight But faire he was and of good hight Ałł hadde he be I sey no more The lordis sone of wyndesore 1250. lordis, is written above the line. And next that daunced curtesye That preised was of lowe and hye For neither proude ne foole was she She forto daunce called me I pray god yeue hir right good grace Whanne I come first into the place She was not nyce ne outrageous But wys and ware and vertuous Of faire speche and of faire answere 1259. Omit second of. Was neuer wight mysseid of hire 1260. Read here. She bar rancour to no wight 1261. Insert Ne before She. Clere broune she was and therto bright Of face of body wenaunt 1263. M. B. avenaunt. I wot no lady so plesaunt She worthy forto bene 1265. Insert was well (Th. were) before worthy. An Emperese or crowned quene And by hir wente a knyght dauncyng That worthy was and wel spekyng And ful wel koude he don honour The knyght was faire and styf in stour And in armure a semely man And welbiloued of his lemman Faire Idilnesse thanne saugh I That alwey was me fast by 1274. M. faste. Of hir haue I without fayle 1275. M. withoute. Told yow the shap and apparayle For as I seide loo that was she That dide to me so gret bounte That she the gate of the gardyn Vndide and lete me passen In And after daunced as I gesse And she fulfilled of lustynesse 1282. Read Youthe for And she; cf. Ten Brink, Chaucer-Studien, p. 30. That nas not yit .XII. yeer of age With herte wylde and thought volage Nyce she was but she ne mente Noon harme ne slight in hir entente But oonly lust and iolyte For yong folk wole witen ye 1288. M. yonge. U. wel (B. welle) for wole. Haue lytel thought but on her play Hir lemman was biside alway In sich a gise that he hir kyste At ałł tymes that hym lyste That ałł the daunce myght it see They make no force of pryuete For who spake of hem yuel or wełł They were ashamed neueradełł But men myght seen hem kisse there As it two yonge dowues were For yong was thilke Bachelere Of beaute wot I noon his pere And he was right of sich an age As youthe his leef and sich corage The lusty folk that daunced there 1303. Read thus for that (W. W. Skeat]. And also other that with hem were That weren ałł of her meyne Ful hende folk and wys and free And folk of faire port truly There were ałł comunly Whanne I hadde seen the countenaunces Of hem that ladden thus these daunces Thanne hadde I wiłł to gon and see The gardyne that so lyked me And loken on these faire loreyes 1313. Read loreris (U. Laureris). On pyntrees cedres and Oliueris The daunces thanne eended were For many of hem that daunced there Were with her loues went awey 1315. Read y-ended [W. W. Sk.]. Vndir the trees to haue her pley A lord they lyued lustyly A gret fool were he sikirly That nolde his thankes such lyf lede For this dar I seyn oute of drede That who so myght so wel fare 1323. M. myghte. For better lyf durst hym not care For ther nys so good paradys As to haue a loue at his deuys Oute of that place wente I thoo And in that gardyn gan I goo Pleyyng a longe fułł meryly The god of loue fułł hastely Vnto hym swete lokyng clepte No lenger wolde he that she kepte 1332. Read he for she. His bowe of gold that shoon so bright He hadde hym bent anoon ryght 1334. Read He bad hym bende it. And he fułł soone sette an ende 1335. Read it sette on ende [W. W. Sk.] And at a braid he gan it bende And toke hym of his arowes fyue Fułł sharp and redy forto dryue Now god that sittith in mageste 1339. sit [W. W. Sk.]. Fro deedly woundes he kepe me If so be that he hadde me shette 1341. Read he wole me shete. For if I with his arowe mette 1342. Th. mete. It hadde me greued sore Iwys 1343. Read It wol me greue. But I that no thyng wist of this Wente vp and doun fułł many awey 1345. M. B. a wey. And he me folwed fast alwey But no where wold I reste me Tiłł I hadde in ałł the gardyn be 1348. Read hadde ałł the yerde in be. THe gardyn was by mesuryng Right euene and square in compassing It as long was as it was large 1351. Read It was as long as. Of fruyt hadde euery tree his charge But it were any hidous tree Of which ther were two or three There were and that wote I fułł wełł Of pome garnettys a fułł gret dełł That is a fruyt fułł wełł to lyke Namely to folk whanne they ben sike And trees there were of gret foisoun 1359. B. U. omit of. That baren notes in her sesoun Such as men notemygges calle That swote of sauour ben withałł 1362. At the bottom of leaf 27 there is written by a 16th cent. hand: I had my frynde And my sylver I lente my To my I asked my Of my I loste my And my

Of course, we must transpose frynde and sylver, and read:

I had my sylver And my frynde I lente my To my I asked my Of my I loste my And my
And almandres gret plente Fyges and many a date tree There wexen if men hadde nede 1365. Th. weren. Thorough the gardyn in length and brede Ther was eke wexyng many a spice As clowe gelofre and lycorice Gyngevre and greyn de parys 1369. Read paradys. Canełł and setewale of prys And many a spice delitable To eten whan men rise fro table And many homly trees ther were That peches Coynes and apples beere Medlers plowmes perys chesteyns 1375. Read chesteynis. Cherys of which many oon fayne is Notes aleys and bolas That forto seen it was solas With many high lorey and pyn 1379. Read lorer. Was Renged clene ałł that gardyn With Cipres and with Olyuers Of which that nygh no plente heere is There were Elmes grete and stronge Maples asshe Oke aspe planes longe 1384. Read Maple. Fyne ew popler and lyndes faire And othere trees fułł many a payre [What shulde I tel you more of it? 1387. M. B. telle. There were so many trees yet 1388. B. yit. That I shulde al encombred be Er I had rekened euery tree These trees were sette that I deuyse One from another in assyse Fyue fadome or sixe / I trowe so But they were hye and great also And for to kepe out wel the sonne The croppes were so thicke yronne And euery braunche in other knytte 1397. Read knet. And ful of grene leues sytte 1398. Read set. That sonne myght there none discende 1399. Read myghte; omit there [W. W. Sk.] Lest the tender grasses shende 1400. Insert it after Lest. There myght men Does and Roes y se And of squyrels ful great plente From bowe to bowe alwaye lepynge Connes there were also playenge 1404. M. B. Connies. That comyn out of her clapers Of sondrie colours and maners And maden many a tourneyeng Vpon the fresshe grasse spryngyng In places sawe I welles there In whiche there no frogges were And fayre in shadowe was euery wel 1411. M. B. welle. But I ne can the nombre tel 1412. M. B. telle. Of stremys smal that by deuyse 1413. M. B. smale. Myrthe had done come through condyse Of whiche the water in rennyng Gan make a noyse ful lykyng About the brinkes of these welles And by the stremes ouer al elles Sprange vp the grasse / as thicke yset And softe as any veluet 1420. Insert as before softe. On whiche men myght his lemman ley 1421. M. B. leye. As on a fetherbed to pley [sign. B. b. iii back] 1422. M. B. pleye. For the erthe was ful softe and swete Through moisture of the wel wete 1424. M. B. welle. Spronge vp the sote grene gras As fayre / as thicke / as myster was 1426. Read and thicke for as th. But moche amended it the place That therthe was of suche a grace That it of floures hath plente 1429. Read had. That bothe in somer and wynter be There sprange the vyolet al newe And fresshe peruynke riche of hewe And floures yelowe / white / and rede Suche plente grewe there neuer in mede Ful gaye was al the grounde and queynt And poudred / as men had it peynt With many a fresshe and sondrie floure That casten vp ful good sauour I wol nat longe holde you in fable 1439. Omit in. Of al this garden dilectable I mote my tonge stynten nede For I ne maye withouten drede Naught tellen you the beaute al Ne halfe the bounte there with al I went on right honde and on lefte About the place / it was nat lefte 1446. Read nought for nat. Tyl I had al the garden bene 1447. Read yerde in for garden; cf. l. 1348. In the efters that men myght sene 1448. M. esters; B. estres. M. myghte. And thus while I wente in my playe The god of loue me folowed aye Right as an hunter can abyde The beest / tyl he seeth his tyde 1452. B. beste. To shoten at goodmesse to the dere 1453. Read shete at good mes [W. W. Sk.]; see l. 3462. Whan that hym nedeth go no nere And so befyl / I rested me Besydes a wel vnder a tree 1456. Read Besyde a welle [W. W. Sk.]. Whiche tree in Fraunce men cal a Pyne But sithe the tyme of kyng Pepyne Ne grewe there tree in mannes syght So fayre / ne so wel woxe in hight In al that yarde so high was none And springyng in a marble stone Had nature set / the sothe to tel 1463. M. B. telle. Under that pyne tree a wel 1464. M. B. welle. And on the border al without Was written in the stone about Letters smal / that sayden thus 1467. M. B. smale. Here starfe the fayre Narcisus Narcisus was a bachelere That loue had caught in his dangere [Fo. C.xxxv. bk., col. 2] And in his nette gan hym so strayne And dyd him so to wepe and playne That nede him must his lyfe forgo For a fayre lady that hight Echo 1474. U. omits that. Him loued ouer any creature And gan for hym suche payne endure That on a tyme she him tolde That if he her louen nolde That her behoued nedes dye There laye none other remedy 1480. M. B. remedye. But nathelesse for his beaute So feirs and daungerous was he] ll. 1387-1482 are taken from Thynne 1532, Fo. C. xxxv; two leaves being lost in the MS. That he nolde graunte hir askyng 1483. Th. graunten. For wepyng ne for faire praiyng And whanne she herd hym werne soo 1485. Th. werne her soo. She hadde in herte so gret woo And took it in so gret dispite That she withoute more respite Was deed anoon but er she dide 1489. U. deide. Fułł pitously to god she preide That proude hertid Narcisus That was in loue so daungerous Myght on a day be hampred so For love and ben so hoot for woo That neuer he myght to Ioye atteygne 1495. Read myghte; omit to [W. W. Sk.]. And that he shulde feele in euey veyne 1496. Th. Than shulde he. M. B. U. every. What sorowe trewe louers maken That ben so velaynesly forsaken THis prayer was but resonable Therfore god helde it forme and stable 1500. U ferme. For Narcisus shortly to telle By auenture come to that welle To resten hym in that shadowing A day whanne he come fro huntyng This Narcisus hadde suffred paynes For rennyng alday in the playnes And was for thurst in grete distresse Of heet and of his werynesse That hadde his breth almost bynomen Whanne he was to that wel comen 1510. M. welle. Th. ycomen. That shadowid was with braunches grene He thoughte of thilke water shene To drynke and fresshe hym wel withałł And doun on knees he gan to fałł And forth his heed and necke he straught To drynken of that welle a draught And in the water anoon was seen His nose his mouth his yen sheen And he therof was ałł abasshed His owne shadowe was hym bytrasshed 1520. U. had for was. For wełł wende he the forme see Of a child of gret beaute 1522. U. inserts full before gret. Wełł kouthe loue hym wreke thoo Of daunger and of pride also That Narcisus somtyme hym beere He quytte hym wełł his guerdoun there For he musede so in the welle 1527. Read so musede [W. W. Sk.]. That shortly ałł the sothe to telle He louede his owne shadowe soo That atte laste he starf for woo For whanne he saugh that he his wiłł Myght in no maner wey fulfiłł And that he was so faste caught That he hym kouthe comforte nought He loste his witte right in that place And diede withynne a lytel space And thus his warisoun he took For the lady that he forsook Ladyes I preye ensample takith Ye that ageyns youre loue mistakith For if her deth be yow to wite God kan ful wełł youre while quyte Whanne that this lettre of which I telle Hadde taught me that it was the welle Of Narcisus in his beaute I gan anoon withdrawe me Whanne it felle in my remembraunce That hym bitidde such myschaunce But at the laste thanne thought I That scathles fułł sykerly 1550. Th. scathelees. I myght vnto the welle goo Wherof shulde I abaisshen soo [No gap in the MS.] 1553. Thynne inserts Vnto the welle than went I me And doun I loutede forto see 1554. The last line of leaf 29 left blank in the MS.; cf. l. 1553. The clere water in the stoon And eke the grauełł which that shoon Down in the botme as siluer fyn For of the wełł this is the fyn In world is noon so clere of hewe The water is euere Fresh and newe That welmeth vp with wawis bright The mountance of two fynger hight Aboute it is gras spryngyng For moiste so thikke and wel likyng That it ne may in wynter dye No more than may the see be drye DOwne atte the botme sette sawe I Two cristałł stonys craftely In thilke fresh and faire wełł But o thing sothly dar I tełł That ye wole holde a gret mervayle Whanne it is tolde withouten fayle For whanne the sonne clere in sight Cast in that wełł his bemys bright And that the heete descendid is Thanne taketh the cristałł stoon ywis Agayn the sonne an hundrid hewis Blewe yelowe and rede that fresh and newe is Yitt hath the merveilous cristałł Such strengthe that the place ouerałł Bothe foule and tree and leues grene And ałł the yerde in it is scene And forto don you to vndirstonde To make ensample wole I fonde Ryght as a myrrour openly Shewith ałł thing that stondith therby 1586. Read stant [W. W. Sk.]. As wełł the colour as the figure Withouten ony couerture Right so the Cristałł stoon shynyng Withouten ony disseyuyng The entrees of the yerde accusith 1591. Read estres for entrees; cf. l. 1448. To hym that in the water musith For euere in which half that ye be 1593. Read he for ye. Ye may wełł half the gardyne se 1594. Read He for Ye. And if he turne he may right wełł Sene the remenaunt euerydełł For ther is noon so litil thyng So hidde ne closid with shittyng That it ne is sene as though it were Peyntid in the Cristałł there This is the mirrour perilous In which the proude Narcisus Sawe ałł his face faire and bright That made hym swithe to ligge vpright 1604. Th. sithe to lye. For who so loketh in that mirrour 1605. Th. loke. Ther may no thyng ben his socour That he ne shałł there sene some thyng That shal hym lede into laughyng 1608. Read louyng for laughyng. Fułł many worthy man hat it 1609. Th. many a worthy. M. B. U. hath. Blent for folk of grettist wit 1610. M. U. Yblent. Ben soone caught heere and awayted Withouten respite ben they baited Heere comth to folk of Newe rage Heere chaungith many wight corage Heere lith no rede ne witte therto For venus sone daun Cupido Hath sowne there of loue the seed That help ne lith there noon ne rede So cerclith it the welle aboute His gynnes hath he sett withoute Ryght forto cacche in his panters These damoysels and bachelers Loue wiłł noon other bridde cacche Though he sette oither nette or lacche And for the seed that heere was sowen This welle is clepid as wełł is knowen The welle of loue of verray right Of which ther hath ful many a wight Spoke in bookis dyuersely But they shułł neuer so verily Descripcioun of the welle heere Ne eke the sothe of this matere As ye shułł whanne I haue vndo The craft that hir bilongith too Ałł way me liked forto dwelle To sene the cristałł in the welle That shewide me fułł openly A thousand thinges fast by 1638. M. faste. But I may say in sory houre Stode I to loken or to poure For sithen I sore sighede 1641. Insert haue before I. Read siked. That mirrour hath me now entriked 1642. me written above the line. But hadde I first knowen in my wit The vertues and strengthes of it 1644. Read The vertue and the strengthe of it. I nolde not haue mused there Me had bette bene ellis where For in the snare I fełł anoon That hath bitrisshed many oon 1648. Read bitrasshed. In thilk mirrour sawe I tho 1649. M. thilke. Among a thousand thinges mo A Roser chargid fułł of Rosis That with an hegge aboute enclosid is 1652. Read enclos is (Th. enclosis). Tho had I sich lust and envie That for parys ne for pavie Nolde I haue left to goon att see 1655. B. U. and for att; cf. l. 1311. There grettist hepe of Roses be Whanne I was with this Rage hent That caught hath many a man and shent Toward the Roser gan I go And whanne I was not fer therfro The sauour of the Roses swote Me smote right to the herte Rote As I hadde ałł enbawmed me 1663. M. B. be for me. And if I ne hadde endouted me To haue ben hatid or assailed Me thankis wole I not haue failed 1666. Read wolde. To pulle a Rose of ałł that Route To bere in myn honde aboute 1668. M. beren. And smellen to it where I wente But euer I dredde me to repente And leste it greuede or forthought The lord that thilk gardyn wrought 1672. M. thilke. Of Roses ther were grete wone 1673. Read were ther [Sk.]. So faire waxe neuer in Rone Of knoppes clos some sawe I there And some wel beter woxen were And some ther ben of other moysoun That drowe nygth to her sesoun 1678. M. B. nygh. And spedde hem fast forto sprede 1679. M. faste. I loue wełł sich Roses rede For brode Roses and open also Ben passed in a day or two But knoppes wiłł fresh be 1683 Insert all after wiłł. M. freshe. Two dayes atte leest or thre The knoppes gretly liked me For fairer may ther no man se Who so myght haue oon of ałł It ought hym ben fułł lief withałł Might I gerlond of hem geten 1689 Insert a before gerlond. For no richesse I wolde it leten Among the knoppes I chese oon So faire that of the remenaunt noon Ne preise I half so wełł as it Whanne I avise it in my wit For it so wełł was enlomyned With colour reed as wełł fyned 1696. M. ifyned. As nature couthe it make faire And it hath leues wel foure paire 1698. Read had. That kynde hath sett thorough his knowyng 1699. Read had. Aboute the Rede Roses spryngyng The stalke was as rish right 1701. U. rishe. And theron stode the knoppe vpright That it ne bowide vpon no side The swote smelle spronge so wide That it dide ałł the place aboute 1705. Perhaps read filde for dide. Whanne I hadde smelled the sauour swote No wiłł hadde I fro thens yit goo Bot somdełł neer it wente I thoo To take it but myn hond for drede Ne dorste I to the Rose bede For thesteles sharpe of many maners 1711. Read maneres. Netles thornes and hokede breres For mych they distourbled me 1713. Read Over for For; cf. l. 3842. For sore I dradde to harmed be THe god of loue with bowe bent That ałł day sette hadde his talent To pursuen and to spien me Was stondyng by a fige tree And whanne he sawe hou that I Hadde chosen so ententifly The botheum more vnto my paie 1721. Read botoun. Than ony other that I say He toke an arowe fułł sharply whette And in his bowe whanne it was sette He streight vp to his ere drough The stronge bowe that was so tough And shette att me so wondir smert That thorough me nye vnto myn hert 1728. M. myn ye (B. myn eye) for me nye. The takel smote and depe it wente And therwith ałł such colde me hente That vnder clothes warme and softe Sithen that day I haue cheuered ofte Whanne I was hurt thus in stounde 1733. Insert that before stounde. I felle doun platte vnto the grounde Myn herte failed and feynted ay And long tyme a swoone I lay 1736. M. longe. But whanne I come out of swonyng And hadde witt and my felyng 1738. U. inserts my before witt. I was ałł maate and wende fułł wełł Of bloode haue loren a fułł gret dełł But certes the arowe that in me stode Of me ne drewe no drope of blode For why I founde my wounde ałł drie 1743. Read dreye. Thanne toke I with myn hondis tweie The arowe and ful fast out it plight And in the pullyng sore I sight So at the last the shaft of tree I drough out with the fethers thre But atte the hokede heed ywis 1749. M. B. U. yit for atte. The which it beaute callid is 1750. M. whiche for which it. Gan so depe in myn herte passe That I it myght nought arace 1752. Insert out before arace. But in myn herte stiłł it stode Al bledde I not a drope of blode I was bothe anguyssous and trouble For the periłł that I sawe double I nyste what to seye or to do 1757. U. omits second to. Ne gete a leche my woundis two 1758. M. B. U. to for two. For neithir thurgh gras ne rote 1759. In∣sert thurgh before rote. Ne hadde I helpe of hope ne bote 1760. M. B. Ne hadde I hope of helpe ne bote. But to the bothum euermo 1761. Read botoun. Myn herte drewe for ałł my wo My thought was in noon other thing For hadde it ben in my kepyng It wolde haue brought my lyf agayn For certis euenly I dar wel seyn 1766. Read certainly for certis euenly. The sight oonly and the sauour Alegged mych of my langour Thanne gan I forto drawe me Toward the bothom faire to se 1770. Read botoun. And loue hadde gete hym in his throwe 1771. Read a for his [Sk.]. Another arowe into his bowe And forto shete gan hym dresse The arowis name was symplesse And whanne that loue gan nyghe me nere 1775. Read saw for gan. He drowe it vp withouten were And shette at me with ałł his myght So that this arowe anoon right Thourgh out eigh as it was founde 1779. U. inserts myn before eigh. Into myn herte hath maad a wounde Thanne I anoon dide al my crafte Forto drawen out the shafte And therwith ałł I sighede efte But in myn herte the heed was lefte Which ay encreside my desire Vnto the bothom drawe nere 1786. Read botoun. And euermo that me was woo The more desir hadde I to goo Vnto the Roser where that grewe The freysshe bothum so bright of hewe 1790. Read botoun. so written above the line. Betir me were to haue laten be 1791. Omit to. But it bihouede nedes me 1792. nedes, s written above the line. To done right as myn herte badde For euere the body must be ladde Aftir the herte in wele and woo Of force togidre they must goo But neuer this archer wolde feyne To shete at me with ałł his peyne And forto make me to hym mete The thridde arowe he gan to shete Whanne best his tyme he myght espie The which was named curtesie Into myn herte it dide auale A swoone I fełł bothe deed and pale Long tyme I lay and stired nought Tiłł I abraide out on my thought 1806. U. of for on. And faste thanne I auysede me To drawe out the shafte of tree 1808. Read drawen. But euere the heed was left bihynde For ought I couthe pulle or wynde So sore it stikith whanne I was hit 1811. U. stikid. That by no craft I myght it flit But anguyssous and fułł of thought I lefte sich woo my wounde ay wrought That somonede me alway to goo Toward the Rose that plesede me soo But I ne durste in no manere Bicause the archer was so nere For euermore gladly as I rede Brent child of fier hath mych drede And certis yit for al my peyne Though that I sigh yit arwis reyne And grounde quarels sharpe of steełł Ne for no payne that I myght feełł Yit myght I not my silf witholde The faire Roser to biholde For loue me yaf sich hardement Forto fulfille his comaundement Vpon my fete I Rose vp thanne Feble as a forwoundid man And forth to gon myght I sette 1831. M. B. U. insert my before myght. And for the archer nolde I lette Toward the Roser fast I drowe But thornes sharpe mo than ynowe Ther were and also thisteles thikke And breres brymme forto prikke That I ne myght gete grace 1837. M. myghte. The rowe thornes forto passe To sene the Roses fresshe of hewe I must abide though it me rewe The hegge aboute so thikke was That closide the Roses in compas But o thing lyked me right wełł I was so nygh I myght fele 1844. M. myghte. Of the bothom the swote odour 1845. Read botoun. And also se the fresshe colour And that right gretly liked me That I so neer myght it se 1848. Read it myghte [W. W. Sk.] Sich ioie anoon therof hadde I That I forgate my maladie To sene I hadde siche delit 1851. Read it hadde I for I hadde. Of sorwe and angre I was al quyte And of my woundes that I hadde thore For no thing liken me myght more Than dwellen by the Roser ay And thens neuer to passe away 1856. M. thennes. But whanne a while I hadde be thare The god of loue which alto share Myn herte with his arwis kene Castith hym to yeue me woundis grene 1860. Read Caste [W. W. Sk.]. He shette at me fułł hastily An arwe named company The which takełł is fułł able 1863. M. whiche. To make these ladies merciable Thanne I anoon gan chaungen hewe For greuaunce of my wounde newe That I agayn fełł in swonyng And sighede sore in compleynyng Soore I compleyned that my sore On me gan greven more and more I hadde noon hope of allegeaunce So nygh I drowe to desperaunce I rought of deth ne of lyf 1873. M. dethe. Whader that loue wolde me dryf 1874. M. B. Wheder. Yf me a martir wolde he make I myght his power nought forsake And while for anger thus I woke The god of loue an arowe toke Ful sharpe it was and pugnaunt 1879. U. full poinaunt for pugnaunt. And it was callid faire semblaunt The which in no wise wole consente That ony louer hym repente To serue his loue with herte and ałł For ony periłł that may bifałł But though this arwe was kene grounde As ony rasour that is founde To kutte and kerue at the poynt 1887. M. kerven. The god of loue it hadde anoynt With a precious oynement Somdełł to yeue a leggement Vpon the woundes that he hadde That he hadde the body hole made 1892. Written by a later hand on a line originally left blank; Thynne inserts: Through the body in my herte made. To helpe her sores and to cure And that they may the bette endure But yit this arwe without more 1895. M. with∣oute. Made in myn herte a large sore That in fułł grete peyne I abode But ay the oynement wente abrode Thourgh oute my woundes large and wide It spredde aboute in euery side Thorough whos vertu and whos myght Myn herte ioyfułł was and light I hadde ben deed and alto shent But for the precious oynement The shaft I drowe out of the arwe Rokyng for wo right wondir narwe But the heed which made me smerte Lefte bihynde in myn herte With other foure I dar wel say That neuer wole be take away But the oynement halpe me wele And yit sich sorwe dide I fele That al day I chaunged hewe Of my woundes fresshe and newe As men myght se in my visage The arwis were so fułł of rage So variaunt of diuersitee That men in eueriche myght se 1918. M. myghte. Bothe gret anoy and eke swetnesse And ioie meynt with bittirnesse Now were they esy now were they wode In hym I felte bothe harme and goode 1922. M. B. hem. Now sore without aleggement Now softyng with oynement 1924. M. softenyng; U. softining; It softnede heere and prikkith there 1925. U. prickid. Thus ese and anger to gidre were THe god of loue delyuerly Come lepande to me hastily And seide to me in gret rape Yelde thee for thou may not escape May no defence availe thee heere Thefore I rede make no daungere 1932. M. B. U. Therfore. If thou wolt yelde thee hastly 1933. M. hastely; B. U. hastily. Thou shalt rather haue mercy 1934. U. inserts the before rather. He is a foole in sikernesse That with daunger or stoutenesse Rebellith there that he shulde plese In sich folye is litel ese Be meke where thou must nedis bowe To stryne ageyn is nought thi prowe Come at oones and haue ydoo For I wole that it be soo Thanne yelde thee heere debonairly And I answerid ful hombly Gladly sir at youre biddyng I wole me yelde in al thyng 1946. M. U. alle. To youre seruyse I wole me take For god defende that I shulde make Ageyn youre biddyng resistence I wole not don so grete offence For if I dide it were no skile Ye may do with me what ye wile Saue or spille and also sloo Fro you in no wise may I goo My lyf my deth is in youre honde I may not laste out of youre bonde Pleyn at youre lyst I yelde me Hopyng in herte that sumtyme ye Comfort and ese shułł me sende Or ellis shortly this is the eende Withouten helthe I mote ay dure But if ye take me to youre Cure Comfort or helthe how shuld I haue Sith ye me hurt but ye me save The helthe of loue mut be founde 1965. Read louers [Sk.]. Where as they token firste her wounde And if ye lyst of me to make Youre prisoner I wole it take Of herte and wiłł fully at gree 1969. B. willefully. Hoolly and pleyn y yelde me Without feynyng or feyntise 1971. M. Withoute. To be gouerned by youre emprise Of you I here so mych pris 1973. M. myche. I wole ben hool at youre devis Forto fulfille youre lykyng And repente for no thyng 1976. M. B. U. insert to before repente. Hopyng to haue yit in some tide Mercy of that I abide 1978. M. U. insert that before I. And with that couenaunt yelde I me Anoon down knelyng vpon my kne 1980. U. on for vpon. Proferyng forto kisse his feete But for no thyng he wolde lete 1982. Th. wolde me lete. ANd seide I loue thee bothe and preise Sen that thyn aunswar doth me ease 1984. Written by a later hand on a line originally left blank. For thou answerid so curteisly For now I wote wel vttirly That thou art gentyłł by thi speche For though a man fer wolde seche He shulde not fynden in certeyn No sich answer of no vileyn For sich a word ne myght nought 1991. M. U. myghte. Isse out of a vilayns thought Thou shalt not lesen of thi speche For thy helpyng wole I eche 1994. Insert to before thy; cf. l. 2126. And eke encresen that I may But first I wole that thou obaye Fully for thyn auauntage Anoon to do me heere homage And sith kisse thou shalt my mouthe 1999. Read sithen [Sk.]. Which to no vilayn was neuer couthe Forto aproche it ne forto touche For sauff of cherlis I ne vouche That they shułł neuer neigh it nere For curteis and of faire manere Wełł taught and fułł of gentilnesse He must ben that shal me kysse And also of fułł high Fraunchise That shal atteyne to that emprise And first of o thing warne I thee That peyne and gret aduersite He mote endure and eke trauaile That shal me serue without faile 2012. Read withoute [Sk.]. But ther ageyns thee to comforte And with thi seruise to desporte Thou mayst fułł glad and ioyfułł be So good a maister to haue as me And lord of so high Renoun I bere of loue the Gonfenoun Of curtesie the banere For I am of the silf manere Gentil curteys meke and fre That who euer ententyf be 2022. Read who so euer [Sk.]. Me to honoure doute and serue And also that he hym obserue Fro trespasse and and fro vilanye And hym gouerne in curtesie With wiłł and with entencioun For whanne he first in my prisoun Is caught thanne must he vttirly Fro thens forth fułł bisily 2030. Read thennes. Caste hym gentyłł forto bee If he desire helpe of me Anoon without more delay 2033. M. withoute. Withouten daunger or affray I bicome his man anoon And gaue hym thankes many a oon 2036. Written by a later hand on a line originally left blank. And knelide doun with hondis ioynt And made it in my port full queynt The ioye wente to myn herte rote Whanne I hadde kissed his mouth so swote I hadde sich myrthe and sich likyng It cured me of langwisshing He askide of me thanne hostages I haue he seide taken fele homages Of oon and other where I haue bene Disteyned ofte withouten wene 2046. Read Dis∣ceyued. These felouns fułł of falsite Haue many sithes biguyled me And thorough her falshede her lust achieued 2049. U. omits first her. Wherof I repente and am agreued 2050. U. greved for agreued. And I hem gete in my daungere Her falshede shułł they bie fułł dere But for I loue thee I seie thee pleyn I wole of thee be more certeyn For thee so sore I wole now bynde That thou away ne shalt not wynde Forto denyen the couenaunt Or don that is not auenaunt That thou were fals it were gret reuthe Sith thou semest so fułł of treuthe Sire if thee lyst to vndirstande I merveile the askyng this demande For why or wherfore shulde ye Ostages or borwis aske of me Or ony other sikirnesse Sith ye wole in sothfastnesse 2066. M. B. U. wote for wole. That ye haue me susprised so And hole myn herte taken me fro That it wole do for me no thing But if it be at youre biddyng Myn herte is youres and myn right nought As it bihoueth in dede and thought Redy in ałł to worche youre wiłł Whether so turne to good or iłł 2074. Insert it before turne. So sore it lustith you to plese No man therof may you desese Ye haue theron sette sich iustice That it is werreid in many wise And if ye doute it nolde obeye Ye may therof do make a keye And holde it with you for ostage Now certis this is noon outrage Quod loue and fully I acorde For of the body he is fułł lord That hath the herte in his tresour 2085. Th. tresore. Outrage it were to asken more THanne of his Awmener he drough A litełł keye fetys ynowgh Which was of gold polisshed clere And seide to me with this keye heere Thyn herte to me now wole I shette For ałł my iowełł loke and knette 2092. Read iowellis [Sk.]. I bynde vndir this litel keye That no wight may carie aweye This keye is fułł of gret poeste With which anoon he touchide me Vndir the side fułł softly 2097. M. softely; U. softily. That he myn herte sodeynly Without anoye hadde spered That yit right nought it hath me dered Whanne he hadde don his wiłł al oute And I hadde putte hym out of doute Sire I seide I haue right gret wille Youre lust and plesaunce to fulfille 2104. Th. pleasure. Loke ye my seruise take atte gree By thilke feith ye owe to me 2116. Either omit And or read gre [W. W. Sk.]. I seye nought for recreaundise For I nought doute of youre seruise But the seruaunt traueileth in vayne That forto seruen doth his payne Vnto that lord which in no wise Kan hym no thank for his seruyse LOue seide dismaie thee nought Syn thou for sokour hast me sought In thank thi seruise wole I take And high of degre I wole thee make If wikkidnesse ne hyndre thee But as I hope it shal nought be To worshipe no wight by auenture May come but if he peyne endure Abide and suffre thy distresse That hurtith now it shal be lesse I wote my silf what may thee saue What medicyne thou woldist haue And if thi trouthe to me thou kepe I shal vnto thyn helpyng eke To cure thy woundes and make hem clene Where so they be olde or grene Thou shalt be holpen at wordis fewe For certeynly thou shalt wełł shewe Where that thou seruest with good wille Forto compleysshen and fulfille My comaundementis day and nyght Whiche I to louers yeue of right A Sire for goddis loue seide I Er ye passe hens ententyfly Youre comaundementis to me ye say And I shałł kepe hem if I may For hem to kepen is ałł my thought And if so be I wote hem nought Thanne may I vnwityngly Wherfore I pray you enterely 2141. Insert synne after I [W. W. Sk.]. With ałł myn herte me to lere That I trespasse in no manere

[See ll. 2149-52.]

The god of loue thanne chargide me Anoon as ye shałł here and see Worde by worde by right emprise So as the Romance shałł devise The maister lesith his tyme to lere Whanne that the disciple wole not here 2150. B. U. omit that. It is but veyn on hym to swynke That on his lernyng wole not thenke 2152. Th. thynke. Who so luste loue late hym entende For now the Romance bigynneth to amende 2154. Read gynneth amende [W. W. Sk.]. Now is good to here in fay If ony be that can it say And poynte it as the resoun is Set for other gate ywys It shałł nought wełł in ałł thyng Be brought to good vndirstondyng For a reder that poyntith ille A good sentence may ofte spille The book is good at the eendyng Maad of newe and lusty thyng For who so wole the eendyng here The crafte of loue he shałł mowe lere If that ye wole so long abide 2167. Th. he for ye. Tyl I this Romance may vnhide And vndo the signifiance Of this dreme into Romance The sothfastnesse that now is hidde Without couerture shałł be kidde Whanne I vndon haue this dremyng Wherynne no word is of lesyng VElanye atte the bigynnyng I wole say loue ouer ałł thyng 2176. M. sayde; B. sayd; U. saied. Thou leue if thou wolt be 2177. M. inserts ne before wolt. Insert nought after wolt. Fals and trespasse ageyns me 2178. M. ageynes. I curse and blame generaly Ałł hem that louen vilanye For vilanye makith vilayn And by his dedis a cherle is seyn Thise vilayns arn withouten pitee Frendshipe loue and ałł bounte I nyl resseyue vnto my seruise 2185. U. to for vnto. Hem that ben vilayns of emprise But vndirstonde in thyn entent That this is not myn entendement To clepe no wight in noo ages 2189. U. age. Oonly gentiłł for his lynages 2190. U. linage. But who so is vertuous 2191. Read who so that is [Sk.]. And in his port nought outrageous Whanne sich oon thou seest thee biforn Though he be not gentiłł born Thou maist wełł seyn this is in soth 2195. Read a for in [Sk.]. That he is gentil by cause he doth As longeth to a gentilman Of hem noon other deme I can For certeynly withouten drede A cherle is demed by his dede Of hie or lowe as ye may see Or of what kynrede that he bee Ne say nought for noon yuel wille Thyng that is to holden stille It is no worshipe to mysseye Thou maist ensample take of keye That was somtyme for mysseiyng Hated bothe of olde and yong 2208. Read ying. As fer as Gaweyn the worthy Was preised for his curtesie Kay was hated for he was fełł Of word dispitous and cruełł Wherfore be wise and aqueyntable Goodly of word and resonable Bothe to lesse and eke to more 2215. Th. mare. And whanne thou comest there men are Loke that thou haue in custome ay First to salue hym if thou may 2218. Read hem. And if it fałł that of hem somme Salue thee first be not domme 2220. U. inserts thou after be. But quyte hym curteisly anoon 2221. Read hem. Without abidyng er they goon For no thyng eke thy tunge applye To speke wordis of Rebaudrye To vilayne speche in no degre Late neuer thi lippe vnbounden be For I nought holde hym in good feith Curteys that foule wordis seith And ałł wymmen serue and preise And to thy power her honour reise And if that ony myssaiere Dispise wymmen that thou maist here Blame hym and bidde hym holde hym stille And thy myght and ałł thy wille 2234. M. B. insert set (U. sette) after And. Wymmen and ladies forto please 2235. Wommen altered to Wymmen. And to do thyng that may hem ese That they euer speke good of thee For so thou maist best preised be Ioke fro pride thou kepe thee wele For thou maist bothe perceyue and fele That pride is bothe foly and synne And he that pride hath hym withynne Ne may his herte in no wise Meken ne souplen to seruyse For pride is founde in euery part Contrarie vnto loues art And he that loueth trewly 2247. M. trewely. Shulde hym contene iolily Without pride in sondry wise 2249. M. Withoute. And hym disgysen in queyntise For queynte array without drede 2251. M. withoute. Is no thyng proude who takith hede For fresh array as men may see Without pride may ofte be 2254. M. Withoute. Mayntene thy silf aftir thi rent Of Robe and eke of garnement For many sithe faire clothyng A man amendith in mych thyng 2258. Read myche. And loke alwey that they be shape What garnement that thou shalt make Of hym that kan best do 2261. Read kan hem beste do; see l. 2259 [Sk.]. With ałł that perteyneth therto Poyntis and sleues be wełł sittande Right and streght on the hande 2264. U. upon for on. Of shone and bootes newe and faire Loke at the leest thou haue a paire And that they sitte so fetisly That these ruyde may vttirly Merveyle sith that they sitte so pleyn How they come an or off ageyn 2270. M. B. on. Were streit gloues with awmere 2271. Read awmenere. Of silk and alwey with good chere Thou yeue if thou haue richesse And if thou haue nought spende the lesse Alwey be mery if thou may But waste not thi good alway 2276. Read away. Haue hatte of floures as fresh as may Chapelett of Roses of wissonday For sich array ne costneth but lite 2279. Read cost. Thyn hondis wasshe thy teeth make white And lete no filthe vpon thee bee Thy nailes blak if thou maist see Voide it awey delyuerly And kembe thyn heed right iolily Farce not thi visage in no wise 2285. Read Fard [Sk.]. For that of loue is not them prise For loue doth haten as I fynde A beaute that cometh not of kynde Alwey in herte I rede thee Glad and mery forto be And be as ioyfułł as thou can Loue hath no ioye of sorowful man That yvełł is fułł of curtesie That knowith in his maladie 2294. Read lowith (= laughs). For euer of loue the sijknesse Is meynde with swete and bitternesse The sore of loue is merveilous For now the louer ioyous 2298. M. B. U. insert is before ioyous. Now can he pleyne now can he grone Now can he syngen now maken mone To day he pleyneth for heuynesse To morowe he pleyneth for iolynesse The lyf of loue is fułł contrarie Which stounde mele can ofte varie But if thou canst mirthis make 2305. Insert som before mirthis [Sk.]. That men in gre wole gladly take Do it goodly I comaunde thee For men shulde where so euere they be Do thing that hem sittyng is 2309. M. inserts most before sittyng. For therof cometh good loos and pris Where of that thou be vertuous Ne be not straunge ne daungerous For if that thou good ridere be Prike gladly that men may se In armes also if thou konne Pursue to thou a name hast wonne 2316. Th. tyl for to. And if thi voice be faire and clere Thou shalt maken gret daungere 2318. B. U. insert no after maken. Whanne to synge they goodly prey 2319. U. inserts Thee after Whanne. It is thi worship fortobeye Also to you it longith ay To harpe and gitterne daunce and play For if he can wel foote and daunce 2323. Perhaps read floute for foote. It may hym greetly do auaunce Among eke for thy lady sake Songes and complayntes that thou make For that wole meuen in hir herte 2327. Read meue hem for meuen [Sk.]. Whanne they reden of thy smerte Loke that no man for scarce thee holde For that may greve thee many folde Resoun wole that a louer be In his yiftes more large and fre Than cherles that ben not of louyng For who therof can ony thyng He shal be leef ay forto yeve In londes lore who so wolde leve 2336. Read loues for londes. For he that thorough a sodeyn sight Or for a kyssyng anoon right Yaff hoole his herte in wiłł and thought And to hym silf kepith right nought Aftir this swiffte it is good resoun 2341. Read swich gift for this swiffte. Omit it [Sk.]. He yeve his good in a boundoun 2342. B. abandoun. NOw woly I shortly heere reherce 2343. M. B. wole for woly. Of that I haue seid in verce 2344. Read that that I [Sk.]. Al the sentence by and by In wordis fewe compendiously That thou the better mayst on hem thenke 2347. U. bet. Whether so it be thou wake or wynke For the wordis litel greve A man to kepe whanne it is breve 2350. U. thei be for it is. Who so with loue wole goon or Ride He mote be curteis and voide of pride 2352. Omit He. Mery and fułł of iolite And of largesse a losed be 2354. M. a-losed. FIrste I ioyne thee that heere in penaunce 2355. U. omits that. That euere withoute repentaunce Thou sette thy thought in thy louyng To laste withoute repentyng And thenke vpon thi myrthis swete That shałł folowe aftir whan ye mete ANd for thou trewe to loue shalt be I wole and comaunde thee 2362. Insert eek after and [Sk.]. That in oo place thou sette ałł hoole Thyn herte withoute halfen doole For trecherie and sikernesse 2365. Perhaps read Of (M. Fro) for For. For I louede neuere doublenesse To many his herte that wole departe Eueriche shal haue but litel parte But of hym drede I me right nought That in oo place settith his thought Therfore in oo place it sitte And lat it neuere thannys flitte For if thou yevest it in lenyng I holde it but a wrecchid thyng Therfore yeve it hoole and quyte And thou shalt haue the more merite If it be lent than aftir soone The bounte and the thank is doone But in love fre yeven thing Requyrith a gret guerdonyng Yeve it in yift al quyte fully And make thi yift debonairly For men that yift holde more dere That yeven with gladsome chere 2384. M. B. U. insert is after yeven. That yift nought to preisen is That man yeveth maugre his Whanne thou hast yeuen thyn herte as I Haue seid thee heere openly 2388. Insert al before openly [Sk.]. Thanne auentures shułł thee fałł Which harde and heuy ben with ałł For ofte whan thou bithenkist thee Of thy louyng where so thou be Fro folk thou must departe in hie That noon perceyve thi maladie [But hyde thyne harme thou must alone And go forthe sole / and make thy mone Thou shalte no whyle be in o state But whylom colde and whilom hate Nowe reed as Rose / now yelowe and fade Suche sorowe I trowe thou neuer hade Cotidien / ne quarteyne It is nat so ful of peyne 2402. U. inserts half before so. For often tymes it shal fal 2403. M. B. falle. In loue / among thy paynes al 2404. M. B. alle. That thou thy selfe al holy Foryeten shalte so vtterly That many tymes thou shalte be Sty! as an ymage of tree Domme as a stone / without steryng Of fote or honde / without spekyng Than soone after al thy payne To memorye shalte thou come agayne A man abasshed wonder sore 2413. M. B. As for A. And after syghen more and more For wytte thou wele withouten wene In suche astate ful ofte haue bene That haue the yuel of loue assayde Wherthrough thou arte so dismayde. AFter a thought shal take the so That thy loue is to ferre the fro Thou shalte saye (god) what may this be That I ne maye my lady se? Myne herte alone is to her go And I abyde al sole in wo Departed fro myne owne thought And with myne eyen se right nought Alas myne eyen sene I ne may 2427. Read sende for sene. My careful hert to conuay 2428. M. B. U. herte. Myne hertes gyde / but they be I prayse nothyng what euer they se Shul they abyde than / nay 2431. B. thanne. But gone and visyten without delay 2432. Omit and. M. withoute. That myne herte desyreth so For certainly / but if they go A foole my selfe I maye wel holde Whan I ne se what myne hert wolde Wherfore I wol gone her to sene Or eased shal I neuer bene But I haue some tokenyng Than gost thou forthe without dwellyng But ofte thou faylest of thy desyre Er thou mayst come her any nere] ll. 2395-2442 are taken from Thynne (fo. exl, back), a leaf being lost in the MS. And wastest in vayn thi passage Thanne fallest thou in a newe rage For want of sight thou gynnest morne And homewarde pensyf thou dost retorne 2446. U. omits thou. In greet myscheef thanne shalt thou bee For thanne agayne shałł come to thee Sighes and pleyntes with newe woo That no yecchyng prikketh soo 2450. Th. itchyng. Who wote it nought he may go lere Of hem that bien loue so dere No thyng thyn herte appesen may That ofte thou wolt goon and assay If thou maist seen by aventure Thi lyues ioy thine hertis cure So that bi grace if thou myght Atteyne of hire to haue a sight Thanne shalt thou done noon other dede But with that sight thyne eyen fede That faire fresh whanne thou maist see Thyne herte shałł so rauysshed be That neuere thou woldest thi thankis lete Ne remoue forto see that swete The more thou seest in sothfastnesse The more thou coveytest of that swetnesse 2466. U. omits of. The more thine herte brenneth in fier The more thine herte is in desire For who considreth euerydeełł It may be likned wondir wełł The peyne of loue vnto a fere For euermore tho neighest nere 2472. Read euer the more [Sk.]. M. B. U. thou for tho. Thought or whoo so that it bee 2473. Read Thou for Thought. For verray sothe I tełł it thee The hatter euere shałł thou brenne As experience shałł thee kenne Where so comest in ony coost 2477. Insert thou before comest. Who is next fuyre he brenneth moost And yitt forsothe for ałł thine hete Though thou for loue swelte and swete Ne for no thyng thou felen may Thou shalt not willen to passen away And though thou go yitt must thee nede Thenke ałł day on hir fairhede Whom thou biheelde with so good wiłł And holde thi silf biguyled iłł That thou ne haddest noon hardement To shewe hir ought of thyne entent Thyn herte fułł sore thou wolt dispise And eke repreve of cowardise That thou so dulle in euery thing Were domme for drede withoute spekyng Thou shalt eke thenke thou didest folye That thou were hir so fast bye 2494. M. U. faste. And durst not auntre thee to say Som thyng er thou cam away For thou haddist nomore wonne 2497. Insert if before thou. To speke of hir whanne thou bigonne But yitt she wolde for thy sake In armes goodly thee haue take It shulde haue be more worth to thee Than of tresour gret plente Thus shalt thou morne and eke compleyne And gete enchesoun to goone ageyne 2504. Read chesoun for en∣chesoun. Vnto thi walke or to thi place Where thou biheelde hir fleshly face And neuer for fals suspeccioun Thou woldest fynde accasioun 2508. M. B. occasioun. Forto gone vnto hire hous So art thou thanne desirous A sight of hir forto haue 2511. Read hire. If thou thine honour myghtist saue Or ony crande myghtist make Thider for thi loves sake Fułł fayn thou woldist but for drede Thou gost not lest that men take hede Wherfore I rede in this goyng And also in thyne ageyn comyng Thou be wełł ware that men ne wite Feyne thee other cause than itte To go that weye or fast bye 2521. M. U. faste. To hele wel is no folye And if so be it happe thee That thou thi loue there maist see In siker wise thou hir salewe Wherewith thi colour wole transmewe And eke thy blode shal alto quake Thyne hewe eke chaungen for hir sake But word and witte with chere fułł pale Shułł wante forto tełł thy tale And if thou maist so fer forth wynne That thou resoun derst bigynne 2532. Insert thy before resoun. And woldist seyn thre thingis or mo Thou shalt fułł scarsly seyn the two Though thou bithenke thee neuer so wełł Thou shalt foryete yit somdełł BUt if thou dele with trecherie For fals louers mowe ałł folye 2538. U. fully for folye. Seyn what hem lust withouten drede They be so double in her falshede For they in herte cunne thenke a thyng And seyn another in her spekyng And whanne thi speche is eendid ałł Ryght thus to thee it shałł byfałł If ony word thanne come to mynde That thou to seye hast left bihynde Thanne thou shalt brenne in gret martire For thou shalt brenne as ony fiere This is the stryf and eke the affray And the batełł that lastith ay This bargeyn eende may neuer take 2551. Read batail for bargeyn. But if that she thi pees wiłł make And whanne the nyght is comen anoon A thosande angres shałł come vppon To bedde as fast thou wolt thee dight Where thou shalt haue but smal delite For whanne thou wenest forto slepe So fułł of peyne shalt thou crepe Sterte in thi bedde aboute fułł wide And turne fułł ofte on euery side Now dounward groff and now vpright And walowe in woo the longe nyght Thine armys shalt thou sprede abrode 2563. U. a brede. As man in werre were forweriede 2564. U. forwerede. Thanne shałł thee come a remembraunce Of hir shappe and hir semblaunce Whereto none other may be pere And wite thou wel withoute were That thee shal se somtyme that nyght 2569. M. B. seme for se. That thou hast hir that is so bright Naked bitwene thyne armes there Ałł sothfastnesse as though it were Thou shalt make eastels thanne in spayne And dreme of ioye ałł but in vayne And thee deliten of right nought While thou so slomrest in that thought That is so swete and delitable The which in soth nys but fable 2578. Th. inserts a before fable. For it ne shałł no while laste Thanne shalt thou sighe and wepe faste And say dere god what thing is this My dreme is turned ałł amys Which was fułł swete and apparent But now I wake it is al shent Now yede this mery thought away Twenty tymes vpon a day I wolde this thought wolde come ageyne For it aleggith wełł my peyne It makith me fułł of ioyfułł thought It sleth me that it lastith noght A lord why nyl ye me socoure The ioye I trowe that I langoure The deth I wolde me shulde sloo While I lye in hir armes twoo Myne harme is harde withouten wene My gret vnease fułł ofte I meene BUt wolde loue do so I myght Haue fully ioye of hir so bright My peyne were quytte me Rychely Allas to grete a thing aske I Hit is but foly and wrong wenyng To aske so outrageous a thyng And who so askith folily He mote be warned hastily And I ne wote what I may say I am so fer out of the way For I wolde haue fułł gret likyng And fułł gret ioye of lasse thing For wolde she of hir gentylnesse Without more me oonys kysse 2610. M. Withoute. Th. kesse. It were to me a grete guerdoun Relees of ałł my passioun But it is harde to come therto Ałł is but folye that I do So high I haue myne herte sette Where I may no comfort gette I wote not where I seye wełł or nought 2617. Omit wote (not = ne wot). But this I wote wel in my thought That it were better of hir alloone 2619. Read bet [Sk.]. Forto stynte my woo and moone A loke on hir I caste goodly 2621. Read me for hir [Sk.]. M. B. i-caste. That forto haue al vtterly 2622. U. Than for That. Of an other ałł hoole the pley A lord where I shałł byde the day That euere she shałł my lady be He is fułł cured that may hir see A god whanne shal the dawnyng springe To liggen thus is an angry thyng 2628. Read lye [Sk.]. I haue no ioye thus heere to lye Whanne that my loue is not me bye A man to lyen hath gret disese Which may not slepe ne reste in ese I wolde it dawed and were now day And that the nyght were went away For were it day I wolde vprise A slowe sonne shewe thine enprise Spede thee to sprede thy beemys bright And chace the derknesse of the nyght To putte away the stoundes stronge Whiche in me lasten ałł to longe The nyght shalt thou contene soo Withoute rest in peyne and woo If euere thou knewe of loue distresse Thou shat mowe lerne in that sijknesse 2644. M. B. shalt. And thus enduryng shalt thou lye And ryse on morwe vp erly Out of thy bedde and harneyse thee Er euere dawnyng thou maist see Ałł pryuyly thanne shałł thou goon What whider it be thi silf alloon 2650. Read weder for whider [Sk.]. For reyne or hayle for snowe for slete Thider she dwellith that is so swete The which may fałł a slepe be And thenkith but lytel vpon thee Thanne shalt thou goon ful foule a feerd 2655. M. a-feerd. Loke if the gate be vnspered And waite without in woo and peyne Fułł yuel acoolde in wynde and reyne Thanne shal thou go the dore bifore If thou maist fynde ony score 2660. M. fynden. Or hoole or reeft what euere it were Thanne shalt thou stoupe and lay to ere If they withynne a slepe be I mene ałł saue the lady free 2664. Th. thy. Whom wakyng if thou maist aspie Go putte thi silf in iupartie To aske grace and thee bimene That she may wite without wene That thou nyght no rest hast hadde 2669. M. B. U. insert al before nyght. So sore for hir thou were bystadde Wommen wel ought pite to take Of hem that sorwen for her sake And loke for loue of that relyke That thou thenke noon other lyke For whanne thou hast so gret annoy 2675. Read wham or whom for whanne. Shałł kysse thee er thou go away 2676. Perhaps read Thou kisse the dore er thou go away. And holde that in fułł gret deynte And for that noman shal thee see Bifore the hous ne in the way Loke thou be goone ageyn er day Such comyng and such goyng Such heuynesse and such walkyng Makith louers withouten ony wene Vnder her clothes pale and lene For loue leueth colour ne cleernesse Who loueth trewe hath no fatnesse Thou shalt wel by thy silf see 2687. M. silfe. That thou must nedis assaid be

[See ll. 2685/86.]

For men that shape hem other weye Falsly her ladyes forto bitraye 2690. B. U. omit for. It is no wonder though they be fatt With false othes her loves they gatt For of I see suche losengours 2693. M. B. U. ofte. Fatter than abbatis or priours Yit with o thing I thee charge That it to seye that thou be large 2696. M. B. is for it. Vnto the mayde that hir doith serue So best hir thanke thou shalt deserue Yeue hir yiftes and gete hir gace 2699. M. B. U. grace. For so thou may thank purchace 2700. Insert her before thank. That she thee worthy holde and free Thi lady and ałł that may thee see Also hir seruauntes worshipe ay And please as mych as thou may 2704. B. myche; M. mychel. Grete good thorough hem may come to thee Bi cause with hir they ben pryue They shal hir telle hou they thee faude Curteis and wys and wełł doande And she shałł preise wełł thee more 2709. B. thee wełł the for wełł thee. Read mare. Loke oute of londe thou be not fore 2710. Read fare. And if such cause thou haue that thee Bihoueth to gone out of Contree 2712. Omit to [Sk.]. Leve hoole thin herte in hostage Tiłł thou ageyn make thi passage Thenke longe to see the swete thyng That hath thine herte in hir kepyng Now haue I tolde thee in what wise A louere shałł do me seruise Do it thanne if thou wolt haue The meede that thou aftir crave 2720. U. inserts dost after thou. WHanne love ałł this hadde boden me I seide hym sire how may it be That louers may in such manere Endure the peyne ye haue seid heere I merneyle me wonder faste How ony man may lyue or laste In such peyne and such brennyng In sorwe and thought and such sighing A yee vnrelesed woo to make 2729. M. B. Aye for A yee. Whether so it be they slepe or wake In such annoy contynuely As helpe me god this merveile I How man but he were maad of stele Myght lyue a monthe such peynes to fele THe god of loue thanne seide me Freend by the feith I owe to thee May no man haue good but he it bye 2737. Read noon for no man. A man loueth more tendirly The thyng that he hath bought most dere For wite thou wełł withouten were In thanke that thyng is taken more For which a man hath suffred sore Certis no wo ne may atteyne Vnto the sore of loves peyne Noon yuel therto ne may amounte Nomore than a man counte 2746. M. U. insert may before counte. The dropes that of the water be For drye as wełł the greet see 2748. M. greete. Thou myghtist as the harmes telle Of hem that with loue dwelle In seruyse for peyne hem sleeth And that ech man wolde fle the deeth 2752. Read yet for that [Sk.]. And trowe thei shulde neuere escape Nere that hope couthe hem make Glad as man in prisoun sett And may not geten forto ete But barly breed and watir pure And lyeth in vermyn and in ordure 2758. Second in written above the line. With ałł this yitt can he lyue Good hope such comfort hath hym yeve Which maketh wene that he shałł be Delyuered and come to liberte In fortune is fułł trist 2763. M. B. insert his before full; U. has fully his for full. Read trust. Though he lye in strawe or dust In hoope is ałł his susteynyng And so for louers in her wenyng Whiche loue hath shitte in his prisoun Good hope is her saluacioun Good hope how sore that they smerte Yeueth hem bothe wiłł and herte To profre her body to martire For hope so sore sore doith hem desire 2772. M. B. U. omit second sore. To suffre ech harme that men deuise For Ioye that aftirward shałł aryse HOpe in desire cacche victorie In hope of loue is ałł the glorie For hope is ałł that loue may yeue Nere hope ther shulde no louer lyue Blessid be hope which with desire Auaunceth louers in such manere Good hope is curteis forto please To kepe louers from ałł disese Hope kepith his londe and wole abide For ony periłł that may betyde For hope to louers as most cheef Doth hem endure ałł myscheef 2786. Read enduren. Hope is her helpe whanne myster is And I shałł yeve thee eke Iwys Three other thingis that gret solas Doith to hem that be in my las 2790. Read ben. The first good that may be founde 2791. M. firste. To hem that in my lace be bounde Is swete thought forto recorde Thing wherwith thou canst accorde Best in thyne herte where she be Thenkyng in absence is good to thee 2796. Read Thought for Thenkyng; see l. 2804. Whanne ony louer doth compleyne And lyueth in distresse and in peyne 2798. Omit second in. Thanne swete thought shal come as blyue Awey his angre forto dryue It makith louers to haue remembraunce 2801. U. omits to. Of comfort and of high plesaunce That hope hath hight hym forto wynne For thought anoon thanne shałł bygynne As ferre god wote as he can fynde To make a mirrour of his mynde Forto biholde he wole not lette Hir persone he shałł afore hym sette Hir laughing eyen persaunt and clere Hir shappe hir fourme hir goodly chere Hir mouth that is so gracious So swete and eke so sauerous Of ałł hir fetures he shałł take heede 2813. Omit hir [Sk.]. His eyen with ałł hir lymes fede THus swete thenkyng shałł aswage The peyne of louers and her Rage Thi ioye shałł double withoute gesse Whanne thou thenkist on hir semlynesse Or of hir laughing or of hir chere 2819. U. omits second of. That to thee made thi lady dere This comfort wole I that thou take And if the next thou wolt forsake Which is not lesse sauerous Thou shuldist not ben to daungerous 2824. Omit not. THe secounde shal be swete speche That hath to many oon be leche To bringe hem out of woo and were And helpe many a bachilere 2828. Read holpen. And many a lady sent socoure That haue loued paramour Thorough spekyng whanne they myght heere 2831. M. myghten. Of her louers to hem so dere To me it voidith ałł her smerte 2833. Read hem for me. The which is closed in her herte In herte it makith hem glad and light Speche whanne they mowe haue sight 2836. U. inserts not after mowe. And therfore now it cometh to mynde In olde dawes as I fynde That clerkis writen that hir knewe Ther was a lady fresh of hwe 2840. M. B. U. hewe. Which of hir loue made a songe On hym forto remembre amonge In which she seyde whanne that I here Speken of hym that is so dere To me it voidith ałł smerte 2845. Insert my before smerte; cf. ll. 2833, 2848. Iwys he sittith so nere myne herte 2846. Read sit [Sk.]. To speke of hym at eve or morwe It cureth me of ałł my sorwe To me is noon so high plesaunce As of his persone dalyaunce She wist fułł wełł that swete spekyng Comfortith in fułł mych thyng Hir loue she hadde fułł wełł assaid 2853. Read His. Of hem she was fułł wełł apaied 2854. B. hym. To speke of hym hir ioye was sett Therfore I rede thee that thou gett A felowe that can wełł concele And kepe thi counsełł and wełł hele To whom go shewe hoolly thine herte Bothe wełł and woo ioye and smerte 2860. Insert and before ioye. To gete comfort to hym thou goo And pryuyly bitwene yow twoo Yee shałł speke of that goodly thyng That hath thyne herte in hir kepyng Of hir beaute and hir semblaunce And of hir goodly countenaunce Of ałł thi state thou shalt hym seye And aske hym counseiłł how thou may Do ony thyng that may hir plese For it to thee shałł do gret ese That he may wite thou trust hym soo Bothe of thi wele and of thi woo And if his herte to love be sett His companye is myche the bett For resoun wole he shewe to thee Ałł vttirly his pryuyte And what she is he loueth so To thee pleynly he shal vndo Withoute drede of ony shame Bothe tełł hir renoun and hir name Thanne shałł he forther ferre and nere And namely to thi lady dere In syker wise yee euery other Shałł helpen as his owne brother In trouthe withoute doublenesse And kepen cloos in sikernesse For it is noble thing in fay To haue a man thou darst say Thy pryue counsełł euery deełł For that wole comforte thee right wełł And thou shalt holde thee wełł apayed Whanne such a freend thou hast assayed THe thridde good of gret comforte 2893. good, o written above the line. That yeueth to louers most disporte Comyth of sight and of biholdyng 2895. U. omits second of. That clepid is swete lokyng The which may noon ese do 2897. M. whiche. Whanne thou art fer thy lady fro Wherfore thou prese alwey to be In place where thou maist hir see For it is thyng most amerous Most delytable and faverous 2902. B. saverous; cf. ll. 84, 2812, 2823. Forto a swage a mannes sorowe 2903. M. a-swage. To sene his lady by the morwe For it is a fułł noble thing Whanne thyne eyen haue metyng With that relike precious Wherof they be so desirous But al day after soth it is They haue no drede to faren amysse They dreden neither wynde ne reyne Ne noon other maner peyne For whanne thyne eyen were thus in blisse Yit of hir curtesie ywysse Alloone they can not haue her ioye But to the herte they conueye 2916. Insert it after they [Sk.]. Parte of her blisse to hym thou sende 2917. Read they for thou [Sk.]. Of ałł this harme to make an ende 2918. U. amende for an ende. The eye is a good messangere Which can to the herte in such manere Tidyngis sende that hath sene 2921. M. B. U. insert he before hath. To voide hym of his peynes clene Wherof the herte reioiseth soo That a gret partye of his woo Is voided and putte awey to flight Right as the derknesse of the nyght Is chased with clerenesse of the mone Right so is al his woo fułł soone Devoided clene whanne that the sight Biholden may that fresh wight 2930. M. B. U. freshe. That the herte desireth soo That al his derknesse is agoo For thanne the herte is ałł at ese Whanne they sene that may hem plese Now haue I declared thee ałł oute 2935. Read thee declared [Sk.]. Of that thou were in drede and doute For I haue tolde thee feithfully What thee may curen vtterly And ałł louers that wole be Feithfułł and fułł of stabilite Good hope alwey kepe bi thi side And swete thought make eke abide Swete lokyng and swete speche Of ałł thyne harmes thei shałł be leche Of euery thou shalt haue gret plesaunce 2945. Omit gret. If thou canst bide in suffraunce 2946. Th. sufferaunce. And serve wel withoute feyntise Thou shalt be quyte of thyne emprise With more guerdoun if that thou lyue But ałł this tyme this I thee yeue 2950. Read yiue. THe god of loue whanne al the day Had taught me as ye haue herd say And enfourmed compendiously He vanyshide awey ałł sodeynly And I alloone lefte ałł soole So fułł of compleynt and of doole For I sawe no man there me by My woundes me greued wondirly Me forto curen no thyng I knewe Save the bothom bright of hewe 2960. Read botoun. Wheron was sett hoolly my thought Of other comfort knewe I nought But it were thorugh the god of loue I knewe not ełł to my bihoue 2964. M. B. elles. That myght me ease or comfort gete But if he wolde hym entermete The Roser was withoute doute Closed with an hegge withoute As ye toforn haue herd me seyne And fast I bisiede and wolde fayne Haue passed the hay if I myght 2971. Insert that after if. Haue geten ynne by ony slight Vnto the bothom so faire to see 2973. Read betoun. But euere I dradde blamed to be If men wolde haue suspeccioun That I wolde of entencioun Haue stole the Roses that there were Therfore to entre I was in fere But at the last as I bithought Whether I shulde passe or nought I sawe come with a glad chere 2981. Th. gladde. To me a lusty bachelere Of good stature and of good hight And Bialacoil forsothe he hight Sone he was to curtesie And he me grauntide fułł gladly The passage of the outter hay And seide sir how that yee may Passe if youre wiłł be 2989. Insert it after if [Sk.]. The fresh Roser forto see 2990. M. U. freshe. And yee the swete sauour fele Youre warrans may right wele 2992. U. warrant. M. inserts I be after may. So thou thee kepe fro folye Shałł no man do thee vylanye If I may helpe you in ought I shałł not feyne dredeth nought For I am bounde to youre seruise Fully devoide of feyntise. Thanne vnto Bialacoil saide I I thanke you sir fułł hertly 3000. M. hertely. And youre biheest take at gre 3001. M. biheeste. Insert I before take [Sk.]. That ye so goodly profer me To you it cometh of gret fraunchise That ye me profer youre seruise Thanne aftir fully delyuerly 3005. Th. ful for fully. Thorough the breres anoon wente I Wherof encombred was the hay I was wel plesed the soth to say To se the bothom faire and swote 3009. Read botoun. So fresh sprange out of the rote 3010. Th. freshe spronge. ANd bialacoil me serued wełł Whanne I so nygh me myght fele 3012. M. myghte. Of the bothom the swete odour 3013. Read botoun. And so lusty hwed of colour 3014. M. B. U. hewed. But thanne a cherle foule hym bityde Biside the Roses gan hym hyde To kepe the Roses of that Roser Of whom the name was daunger This cherle was hid there in the greves Kouered with gras and with leves 3020. U. grasse. To spie and take whom that he fonde Vnto that Roser putte an honde He was not soole for ther was moo For with hym were other twoo Of wikkid maners and yuel fame That oon was clepid by his name Wykked tonge god yeue hym sorwe For neither at eve ne at morwe He can of no man good speke 3029. Insert no before good [Sk.]. On many a iust man doth he wreke Ther was a womman eke that hight Shame that who can reken right Trespace was hir fadir name Hir moder Resoun and thus was shame Brought of these ilk twoo 3035. U. inserts forth after Brought. M. ilke. And yitt hadde trespasse neuer adoo With Resoun ne neuer ley hir bye He was so hidous and so oughlye 3038. Omit second so. I mene this that trespas hight But Resoun conceyueth of a sight 3040. Read conceyued. Shame of that I spake aforne And whanne that shame was thus borne It was ordeyned that chastite Shulde of the Roser lady be Which of the bothoms more and lasse 3045. Read botouns. With sondre folk assailed was 3046. With, h written above the line. That she ne wist what to doo 3047. M. wiste. For venus hir assailith soo That nyght and day from hir she stale Bothoms and Roses ouer ałł 3050. Read Botouns. To Resoun thanne praieth chastite Whom venus hath flemed ouer the see 3052. Read flemed hath. That she hir doughter wolde hir lene To kepe the Roser fresh and grene Anoon Resoun to chastite Is fully assented that it be And grauntide hir at hir request 3057. Read requestis. That shame by cause she honest 3058. Read honest is; see l. 6039/40, 6977/78. Shałł keper of the Roser be And thus to kepe it ther were three That noon shulde hardy be ne bolde Were he yong or were he olde Ageyn hir wiłł awey to bere Bothoms ne Roses that there were 3064. Read Botouns. I hadde wel spedde hadde I not bene Awayted with these three and sene For Bialacoil that was so faire So gracious and debonaire Quytt hym to me fułł curteislye And me to please bade that I Shulde drawe me to the bothom nere 3071. Read botoun. Prese in to touche the Rosere Which bare the Roses he yaf me leue 3073. U. Rose. This graunte ne myght but lytel greve And for he sawe it liked me Ryght nygh the bothom pullede he 3076. Read botoun. A leef ałł grene and yaff me that The whiche fułł nygh the Bothom sat 3078. Read Botoun. I made of that leef fułł queynte 3079. Insert me after made. And whanne I felte I was aqueynte With Bialacoil and so pryue I wende ałł at my wiłł hadde be Thanne waxe I hardy forto telle To Bialacoil hou me bifelle Of love that toke and wounded me And seide sir so mote I thee I may no ioye haue in no wise Vppon no side but it rise For sithe if I shałł not feyne 3089. Read sithen. In herte I haue hadde so gret peyne So gret annoy and such affray That I ne wote what I shałł say I drede youre wrath to disserue 3093. Read wrathe. Leuer me were that knyues kerue My body shulde in pecys smałł Than in any wise it shulde fałł 3096. Perhaps read any weyes for in any wise; cf. l. 3249. That ye wratthed shulde ben with me Sey boldely thi wiłł quod he I nyl be wroth if that I may For nought that thou shalt to me say THanne seide I ser not you displease To knowen of myn gret vnnese In which oonly loue hath me brought For peynes gret disese and thought Fro day to day he doth me drye Supposeth not sir that I lye In me fyve woundes dide he make The soore of whiche shałł neuere slake But ye the Bothom graunte me 3109. Read Botoun. Which is moost passaunt of Beaute My lyf my deth and my martire And tresour that I moost desire Thanne bialacoil affrayed ałł Seyde sir it may not fałł That ye desire it may not arise 3115. U. rise for arise; cf. l. 3088. What wolde ye shende me in this wise A mochel foole thanne I were If I suffride you awey to bere The fresh bothom so faire of sight 3119. Read botoun. For it were neither skile ne right Of the Roser ye broke the rynde Or take the Rose aforn his kynde Ye are not curteys to aske it 3123. M. asken. Late it stiłł on the Roser sitt And late it growe til it amended be 3125. Omit late it. And parfytly come to Beaute I nolde not that it pulled were Fro the Roser that it bere To me it is so leef and deere With that sterte oute anoon daungere Out of the place were he was hidde 3131. M. B. where. His malice in his chere was kidde Fułł grete he was and blak of hewe Sturdy and hidous who so hym knewe Like sharp vrchouns his here was growe [A line left blank in the MS.] 3136. Thynne inserts His eyes reed sparclyng as the fyre glowe. Omit sparclyng [Sk.]. His nose frounced fułł kirked stoode He come criande as he were woode And seide Bialacoil telle me why Thou bryngest hider so booldly 3140. M. booldely. Hym that so nygh the Roser 3141. M. inserts cam (Sk. is) before the. Thou worchist in a wrong maner He thenkith to dishonoure thee Thou art wel worthy to haue maugree To late hym of the Roser wite Who serueth a feloun is yuel quitte Thou woldist haue doon gret bounte And he with shame wolde quyte thee Fle hennes felowe I Rede thee goo It wanteth litel it wole thee sloo 3150. M. B. I for it. For Bialacoil ne knewe thee rought Whanne thee to serue he sette his thought For thou wolt shame hym if thou myght Bothe ageyns resoun and right I wole no more in thee affye That comest so slyghly for tespye For it preveth wonder wełł Thy slight and tresoun euery deełł I durst no more there make abode For the cherl he was so wode So gan he threte and manace 3161. Read threten. And thurgh the haye he dide me chace For feer of hym I tremblyde and quoke So Cherlishly his heed it shoke 3164. B. U. he for it. And seide if eft he myght me take I shulde not from his hondis scape Thanne Bialacoil is fledde and mate And I ałł soole disconsolate Was left aloone in peyne and thought For shame to deth I was nygh brought Thanne thought I on myn high foly How that my body vtterly Was yeve to peyne and to martire And therto hadde I so gret Ire That I ne durst the hayes passe There was noon hope there was no grace I trowe neuere man wiste of peyne But he were laced in loues cheyne Ne no man and sooth it is But if he loue what anger is Loue holdith his heest to me right wele Whanne peyne he seide I shulde fele Noon herte may thenke ne tunge seyne A quarter of my woo and peyne 3184. my written above the line. I myght not with the anger laste Myn herte in poynt was forto barste 3186. Th. brast. Whanne I thought on the Rose that soo That was thurgh daunger cast me froo 3188. B. U. omit That. A longe while stode I in that state Til that me saugh so madde and mate The lady of the high warde 3191. M. U. highe. Which from hir tour lokide thiderward REsoun men clepe that lady Which from hir tour delyuerly Come doun to me without more 3195. M. withoute. But she was neither yong ne hoore Ne high ne lowe ne fat ne lene But best as it were in a mene Hir eyen twoo were cleer and light As ony candełł that brenneth bright And in hir heed she hadde a crowne 3201. M. B. U. on for in. Hir semede wel an high persoune For rounde enviroun hir crownet Was fułł of Riche stonys frett Hir goodly semblaunt by devys I trowe were maad in paradys For nature hadde neuere such a grace 3207. Omit a [Sk.]. To forge a werk of such compace For certeyn but if the letter lye 3209. Omit if. God hym silf that is so high Made hir aftir his ymage And yaff hir sith sich avauntage That she hath myght and seignurie To kepe men from ałł folye Who so wole trowe hir lore Ne may offenden neuermore ANd while I stode thus derk and pale Resoun bigan to me hir tale She seide alhayle my swete freende Foly and childhoode wole thee sheende Which ye haue putt in gret affray 3221. B. thee for ye. Thou hast bought deere the tyme of may That made thyn herte mery to be In yvełł tyme thou wentist to see The gardyne wherof ydilnesse Bare the keye and was maistresse Whanne thou didest in the daunce 3227. M. B. yedest (U. yedist) for didest. With hir and hadde a queyntaunce 3228. Read haddest. M. a-queynt∣aunce. Hir aqueyntaunce is perilous First softe and aftir noious 3230. U. inserts full before noious. She hath trasshed withoute wene 3231. M. B. U. insert the before trasshed. The god of loue hadde the not sene Ne hadde ydilnesse thee conveyed 3233. Read Nadde. In the verger where myrthe hym pleyed If foly haue supprised thee Do so that it recouered be And be wel ware to take nomore Counsel that greveth aftir sore He is wise that wole hym silf chastise And though a yong man in ony wise 3240. Omit a or in. Trespace amonge and do foly Late hym not tarye but hastily Late hym amende what so be mys And eke I counseile thee Iwys The god of love hoolly foryete That hath thee in sich peyne sette And thee in herte tourmented soo I can sene how thou maist goo 3248. M. B. U. insert not after can. Other weyes to garisoun For daunger that is so feloun Felly purposith thee to werye 3251. U. werreie. Which is ful cruel the soth to seye 3252. U. omits the. ANd yitt of daunger cometh no blame In rewarde of my doughter shame Which hath the roses in hir warde As she that may be no musarde And wikked tunge is with these two That suffrith no man thider goo For er a thing be do he shałł Where that he cometh ouer ałł In fourty places if it be sought Seye thyng that neuere was don ne wrought So moche tresoun is in his male Of falsnesse forto seyne a tale 3264. B. feyne (U. faine) for seyne. Thou delest with angry folk ywis Wherfore to thee bettir is From these folk awey to fare For they wole make thee lyue in care This is the yuełł that loue they calle Wherynne ther is but foly ałłe For loue is foly everydełł Who loueth in no wise may do wełł Ne sette his thought on no good werk His scole he lesith if he be a clerk 3274. U. omits a. Of other craft eke if he be He shal not thryue therynne for he In love shal haue more passioun Than monke hermyte or chanoun The peyne is hard out mesure 3279. M. U. insert of after out. The Ioye may eke no while endure And in the possessioun Is mych tribulacioun 3282. M. myche. The ioye it is so short lastyng And but in happe is the getyng For I see there many in travaiłł 3285. Omit in. That atte laste foule fayle I was no thyng thi Counseler Whanne thou were maad the omager Of god of love to hastily Ther was no wisdom but foly Thyne herte was Ioly but not sage Whanne thou were brought in sich arrage 3292. B. U. a rage for arrage. To yelde thee so redily And to loue of his gret maistrie 3294. Read And (or But) to leue of is gret maistrie. I Rede thee loue awey to dryve 3295. do altered to to. That makith thee recche not of thi lyve The foly more fro day to day Shal growe but thou it putte away Take with thy teeth the bridel faste To daunte thyne herte and eke thee caste If that thou maist to gete thee defence 3301. Omit thee [Sk.]. Forto redresse thi first offence Who so his herte alwey wole leve Shal fynde amonge that shal hym greve WHanne I hir herd thus me chastise I answerd in ful angry wise I prayed hir ceessen of hir speche Outher to chastise me or teche To bidde me my thought refreyne Which loue hath caught in his demeyne What wene ye love wole consente That me assailith with bowe bente To drawe myne herte out of his honde Which is so qwikly in his bonde That ye counseyle may neuere be For whanne he firste arestide me He took myne herte so hoole hym tille That it is no thyng at my wille He thought it so hym forto obey 3319. Read taught for thought. That he it sparrede with a key I pray yow late me be ałł stille For ye may wełł if that ye wille Youre wordis waste in Idilnesse For vtterly withouten gesse Ałł that ye seyn is but in veyne Me were lever dye in the peyne Than love to me ward shulde arette Falsheed or tresoun on me sette I wole me gete prys or blame And love trewe to saue my name Who that me chastisith I hym hate With that word Resoun wente hir gate Whanne she saugh for no sermonynge She myght me fro my foly brynge Thanne dismaied I lefte ałł sool Forwery forwandred as a fool For I ne knewe no cherisaunce 3337. Read chevisaunce. Thanne fełł into my remembraunce How love bade me to purueye A felowe to whom I myght seye 3340. M. myghte. My counsełł and my pryuete For that shulde moche availe me With that bithought I me that I Hadde a felowe fast by 3344. M. faste. Trewe and siker curteys and hende And he was called by name a freende A trewer felowe was no wher noon In haste to hym I wente anoon And to hym ałł my woo I tolde Fro hym right nought I wold witholde I tolde hym ałł withoute were And made my compleynt on daungere How forto see he was hidous And to me ward contrarious The which thurgh his cruelte 3355. M. whiche. Was in poynt to meygned me 3356. M. B. U. insert have after to. Th. meymed. With Bialacoil whanne he me sey Withynne the gardeyn walke and pley Fro me he made hym forto go And I bilefte aloone in woo I durst no lenger with hym speke For daunger seide he wolde be wreke Whanne that he sawe how I wente 3363. U. inserts that after how. The fresh bothom forto hente 3364. M. U. freshe. Read botoun. If I were hardy to come neer Bitwene the hay and the Roser THis freend whanne he wiste of my thought He discomforted me right nought But seide felowe be not so madde Ne so abaysshed nor bystadde My silf I knowe fułł wełł daungere And how he is feers of his cheere At prime temps love to manace Ful ofte I haue ben in his caas A feloun firste though that he be Aftir thou shalt hym souple se Of longe passed I knewe hym wełł Vngoodly first though men hym feele He wole make aftir in his beryng 3379. M. U. Th. meke for make; cf. l. 3403. Been for seruice and obeyssyhng I shal thee telle what thou shalt doo Mekely I rede thou go hym to Of herte pray hym specialy Of thy trespace to haue mercy And hote hym wełł here to plese That thou shalt neuermore hym displese Who can best serue of flaterie Shałł please daunger most vttirly MI freend hath seid to me so wel That he me esid hath somdełł And eke allegged of my torment For thurgh hym had I hardement Agayn to daunger forto go To preve if I myght meke hym soo TO daunger came I ałł ashamed The which aforn me hadde blamed Desiryng forto pese my woo But ouer hegge durst I not goo For he forbede me the passage I fonde hym cruel in his rage And in his honde a gret burdoun To hym I knelide lowe a doun Ful meke of port and symple of chere And seide sir I am comen heere Oonly to aske of you mercy That greveth me fułł gretly 3406. M. gretely. That euere my lyf I wratthed you But forto amenden I am come now With ałł my myght bothe loude and stille To doon right at youre owne wille For love made me forto doo That I haue trespassed hidirto Fro whom I ne may withdrawe myne herte Yit shałł neuer for Ioy ne smerte 3414. M. B. U. insert I after shall. What so bifałł good or ille Offende more ageyn youre wille Lever I haue endure disese Than do that you shulde displese 3418. Insert thing after do; see l. 3436. I you require and pray that ye Of me haue mercy and pitee To stynte your ire that greveth soo That I wole swere for euer mo To be redressid at youre likyng It I trespasse in ony thyng Saue that I pray thee graunte me A thyng that may not warned be That I may love ałł oonly 3427. Read al anerly [Sk.]. Noon other thyng of you aske I I shall doon ełłes wełł Iwys 3429. B. (note) I shal don al your wil iwys. If of youre grace ye graunte me this And ye may not letten me For wel wot ye that love is free And I shałł loven sichen that I wille 3433. Th. suche. Read sith [Sk.]. Who euere like it wełł or ille And yit ne wold I for ałł fraunce Do thyng to do you displesaunce THanne daunger fille in his entent Forto foryeue his male talent But ałł his wratthe yit at laste He hath relesed I preyde so faste Shortly he seide thy request Is not to mochel dishonest Ne I wole not werne it thee For yit no thyng engreveth me For though thou loue thus euermore To me is neither softe ne soore Loue where that the list what recchith me 3447. U. omits that. So fer fro my roses be 3448. M. B. insert thou after So. Trust not on me for noon assay I ony tyme to passe the hay 3450. M. B. U. In for I. Thus hath he graunted my praiere Thanne wente I forth withouten were Vnto my freend and tolde hym ałł Which was right ioyfułł of my tałł He seide now goth wel thyn affere 3455. Read affaire. He shałł to thee be debonaire Though he aforn was dispitous He shałł heere aftir be gracious If he were touchid on somme good veyne He shuld yit rewen on thi peyne Suffre I rede and no boost make Tiłł thou at good mes maist hym take By suffraunce and wordis softe A man may ouercome ofte 3464. M. overcomen. Hym that aforn he hadde in drede In bookis sothly as I rede Thus hath my freend with gret comfort Avaunced with high disport 3468. M. B. U. insert me before with. Which wolde me good as mych as I And thanne anoon fułł sodeynly I toke my leve and streight I wente Vnto the hay for gret talent I hadde to sene the fresh bothom 3473. Read botoun. Wherynne lay my saluacioun And daunger toke kepe if that I Kepe hym couenaunt trewly 3476. M. trewely. So sore I dradde his manasyng I durst not breke his biddyng 3478. Read breken. For lest that I were of hym shent I brake not his comaundement Forto purchase his good wille 3481. Read goode. It was forto come ther tille 3482. M. inserts hard after was. His mercy was to ferre bihynde I wepte for I ne myght jt fynde I compleyned and sighed sore And langwisshed euermore For I durst not ouer goo Vnto the Rose I loued soo Thurgh out my demyng outerly That he had knowlege certanly 3490. Written by a later hand on a line originally left blank. Read Thanne for That. Thanne love me ladde in sich a wise 3491. B. (note) That for Thanne. That in me ther was no feyntise Falsheed ne no trecherie And yit he fułł of vylanye Of disdeyne and cruelte On me ne wolde haue pite His cruel wiłł forto refreyne Thou I wepe alwey and me compleyne 3498. M. Though. Omit me. ANd while I was in this torment Were come of grace by god sent 3500. U. ysent. Fraunchise and with hir pite Fulfild the bothom of bounte They go to daunger anoon right To forther me with ałł her myght And helpe in worde and in dede For wełł they saugh that it was nede First of hir grace dame Fraunchise Hath taken of this emprise 3508. Per∣haps insert word after taken. She seide daunger gret wrong ye do To worche this man so mych woo 3510. M. myche. Or pynen hym so angerly It is to you gret villanye I can not see why ne how 3513. U. inserts ne before why. That he hath trespassed ageyn you Saue that he loueth wherfore ye shulde The more in cherete of hym holde The force of loue makith hym do this Who wolde hym blame he dide amys He leseth more than ye may do His peyne is harde ye may see lo And loue in no wise wolde consente That ye haue power to repente 3522. M. B. U. he for ye. For though that quyk ye wolde hym sloo Fro loue his herte may not goo Now swete sir it is youre ese 3525. M. B. is it for it is. Hym forto angre or disese 3526. Read angren. Allas what may it you avaunce To done to hym so gret grevaunce What worship is it agayn hym take Or on youre man a werre make Sith he so lowly euery wise Is redy as ye lust devise If loue hath caught hym in his lace You for to beye in euery caas And ben youre suget at youre wiłł Shuld ye therfore willen hym iłł Ye shulde hym spare more ałł oute Than hym that is bothe proude and stoute Curtesie wole that ye socour Hem that ben meke vndir youre cure His herte is hard that wole not meke Whanne men of mekenesse hym biseke THat is certeyn seide pite We se ofte that humilite Bothe Ire and also felonye Venquyssheth and also malencolye To stonde forth in such duresse This cruelte and wikkidnesse 3548. This = This is. Wherfore I pray you sir daungere Forto mayntene no lenger heere Such cruel werre agayn youre man As hoolly youres as euer ye can 3552. M. B. he for ye. Nor that ye worchen no more woo Vpon this caytif that langwisshith soo 3554. U. On for Vpon. Which wole no more to you trespasse But putte hym hoolly in youre grace 3556. Th. put. His offense ne was but lite The god of loue it was to wite That he youre thrałł so gretly is And if ye harme hym ye done amys 3560. Read mys for amys. For he hath hadde fułł hard penaunce Sith that ye refte hym thaqueyntaunce Of Bialacoil his most Ioye 3563. M. U. moste. Which alle hise peynes myght acoye He was biforn anoyed sore But thanne ye doubled hym wełł more For he of blis hath ben fułł bare Sith Bialacoil was fro hym fare Loue hath to hym do gret distresse He hath no nede of more duresse Voideth from hym youre Ire I rede Ye may not wynnen in this dede Makith Bialacoil repeire ageyn And haueth pite vpon his peyne For fraunchise wole and I pite That mercyful to hym ye be And sith that she and I accorde Haue vpon hym misericorde For I you pray and eke moneste Nought to refusen oure requeste For he is hard and fełł of thought That for vs twoo wole do right nought Daunger ne myght no more endure He mekede hym vnto mesure I Wole in no wise seith daungere Denye that ye haue asked heere It were to gret vncurtesie I wole ye haue the companye Of Bialacoil as ye devise I wole hym lette in no wise 3590. Read letten. To Bialacoil thanne wente in high Fraunchise and seide fułł curteislye Ye haue to longe be deignous Vnto this louer and daungerous [Fro him to withdrawe your presence Whiche hath do to him great offence That ye not wolde vpon him se Wherfore a sorouful man is he Shape ye to paye him / and to please Of my loue if ye wol haue ease Fulfyl his wyl / sithe that ye knowe Daunger is daunted and brought lowe Through helpe of me and of Pyte You dare no more aferde be I shal do right as ye wyl Saith Bialacoil / for it is skyl Sithe Daunger wol that it so be Than Fraunchise hath him sent to me BYalacoil at the begynnyng Salued me in his commyng No straungenesse was in him sene No more than he ne had wrathed bene As fayre semblaunt than shewed he me And goodly / as aforne dyd he And by the honde without doute 3615. M. withoute. Within the haye right al aboute He ladde me with right good chere Al enuyron the vergere That Daunger hadde me chased fro Nowe haue I leaue ouer al to go Nowe am I raysed at my deuyse Fro hel vnto paradyse 3622. M. helle. Thus Bialacoil of gentylnesse With al his payne and besynesse Hath shewed me onely of grace The estres of the swote place I sawe the Rose whan I was nygh Was greatter woxen / and more high Fresshe / roddy / and fayre of hewe Of coloure euer yliche newe And whan I hadde it longe sene I sawe that through the leues grene The Rose spredde to spaunysshinge To sene it was a goodly thynge But it ne was so sprede on brede That men within myght knowe the sede For it couert was and close 3637. Read enclose for close; cf. l. 1652. Bothe with the leues and with the rose The stalke was euen and grene vpright It was theron a goodly syght And wel the better without wene For the seed was nat sene 3642. M. isene; U. ysene. Ful fayre it spradde the god of blesse 3643. Read god it blesse for the god of blesse [Sk.]. For suche another / as I gesse Aforne ne was ne more vermayle I was abawed for marueyle For euer the fayrer that it was The more I am bounden in loues laas Longe I abode there sothe to saye Tyl Bialacoil I ganne to praye Whan that I sawe him in no wyse To me warnen his seruyce That he me wolde graunt a thynge Whiche to remembre is wel syttynge This is to sayne / that of his grace He wolde me yeue leysar and space To me that was so desyrous To haue a kyssynge precious Of the goodly fresshe Rose That so swetely smelleth in my nose 3660. Omit so. For if it you displeased nought I wolde gladly / as I haue sought Haue a cosse therof freely Of your yefte / for certainly I wol none haue / but by your leue So lothe me were you for to greue HE sayd / frende so god me spede 3667. M. sayde. Of Chastite I haue suche drede Thou shuldest nat warned be for me But I dare nat for Chastyte Agayne her dare I nat mysdo For alwaye byddeth she me so To yeue no louer leaue to kysse For who therto maye wynnen ywisse He of the surplus of the praye My lyfe in hoope to gette some daye 3676. M. May lyve. For who so kyssynge maye attayne Of loues payne hath (sothe to sayne) The best and most auenaunt 3679. U. inserts the before most. And ernest of the remenaunt. 3680. Read ernes for ernest. OF his answere I sighed sore I durst assaye him tho no more I hadde suche drede to greue him aye A man shulde nat to moche assaye To chafe hys frende out of measure Nor putte his lyfe in auenture For no man at the first stroke 3687. M. fyrste; B. firste. Ne maye nat fel downe an oke 3688. Read felle. Nor of the reysyns haue the wyne Tyl grapes be rype and wel a fyne] Ll. 3595-3690 are taken from Thynne's Edition (Fo. C.xlvi. back, col. 2, to Fo. C.xlvii, col. 2.); two leaves being lost in the MS. 3690. Omit be [Sk.]. M. afyne. Be sore empressid I you ensure And drawen out of the pressure But I forpeyned wonder stronge Though that I aboode right longe Aftir the kis in peyne and woo Sith I to kis desired soo Tiłł that rennyng on my distresse 3697. M. rewyng for rennyng. Ther come venus the goddesse 3698. Read to me for come [Sk.]. Which ay werieth chastite 3699. Read werreyeth [Sk.]. Came of hir grace to socoure me Whos myght is knowe ferre and wide For she is modir of cupide THe god of love blynde as stoon That helpith louers many oon This lady brought in hir right honde Of brennyng fyre a blasyng bronde Wherof the flawme and hoote fire Hath many a lady in desire Of loue brought and sore hette And in hir seruise her herte is sette 3710. Read hertis for herte is [Sk.]. This lady was of good entaile Right wondirfułł of apparayle Bi hir atyre so bright and shene Men myght perceyue wełł and sene She was not of Religioun Nor I nełł make mencioun Nor of Robe nor of tresour Of broche neithir of hir riche attour 3718. Read nor for neithir [Sk.]. Ne of hir girdiłł aboute hir side For that I nyłł not longe abide But knowith wel that certeynly She was araied richely Devoyde of pruyde certeyn she was To Bialacoil she wente apas And to hym shortly in a clause She seide sir what is the cause Ye ben of port so daungerous Vnto this louer and deynous To graunte hym nothyng but a kisse To worne it hym ye done amysse 3730. Th. warne. Sith wełł ye wote how that he Is loues seruaunt as ye may see And hath beaute wher through is 3733. M. U. insert he before is. Worthy of loue to haue the blis How he is semely biholde and see How he is faire how he is free How he is swoote and debonaire Of age yonge lusty and faire Ther is no lady so hawteyne Duchesse ne Countesse ne chasteleyne 3740. Th. omits first ne. That I nolde holde hir vngoodly Forto refuse hym outterly His breth is also good and swete And eke his lippis rody and mete Oonly to pleyne and to kisse 3745. Read pleyen. Graunte hym a kis of gentilnysse His teth arn also white and clene Me thenkith wrong withouten wene If ye now worne hym trustith me 3749. Th. warne. To graunte that a kis haue he The lasse ye helpe hym that ye haste 3751. B. (note) to helpe for ye helpe. The more tyme shul ye waste Whanne the flawme of the verry bronde That venus brought in hir right honde Hadde Bialacoil with hete smete Anoon he bade me withouten lette 3756. Omit me; see l. 3757 [Sk.]. Grauntede to me the Rose kisse 3757. Th. Graunt to me. Thanne of my peyne I gan to lysse And to the Rose anoon wente I And kisside it fułł feithfully Thar no man aske if I was blithe Whanne the sauour soft and lythe Stroke to myn herte withoute more And me alegged of my sore So was I fułł of ioye and blisse It is faire sich a flour to kisse It was so swoote and fauerous 3767. B. saverous; cf. l. 84, 2812, 2823, 2902. I myght not be so angwisshous That I mote glad and Ioly be 3769. Insert ne after I [Sk.]. Whanne that I remembre me Yit euer among sothly to seyne I suffre noye and moche peyne THe see may neuer be so stille That with a litel wynde it wille 3774. Read nil for wille [Sk.]. Ouerwhelme and turne also As it were woode in wawis goo Aftir the calme the trouble soune 3777. Read soone [Sk.]. Mote folowe and chaunge as the moone 3778. Read chaungen [Sk.]. Right so farith love that yelde in oon 3779. M. B. U. selde for yelde. Holdith his anker for right anoon 3780. his written above the line. Whanne they in ese wene beste to lyve They ben with tempest ałł fordryve Who serueth loue can telle of woo The stoundemele ioie mote ouergoo Now he hurteth and now he cureth For elde in oo poynt love endureth 3786. M. B. U. selde for elde. NOw is it right me to procede How shame gan medle and take hede Thurgh whom fele angres I haue hadde And how the strong wałł was maad 3790. M. U. stronge. And the castełł of brede and lengthe That god of love wanne with his strengthe Ałł this in Romance wiłł I sette And for no thyng ne wiłł I lette So that it lykyng to hir be That is the flour of beavte 3796. U. inserts all before beavte. For she may best my labour quyte That I for hir loue shal endite Wikkid tunge that th covyne 3799. M. B. U. the. Of euery lover can devyne Worste and addith more somdełł For wikkid tunge seith neuer wełł To meward bare he right gret hate Espiyng me erly and late Tiłł he hath sene the gret chere 3805. M. U. grete. Of Bialacoil and me Ifeere He myght not his tunge withstonde 3807. M. myghte. Worse to report than he fonde 3808. M. reporte. He was so fułł of cursed Rage It satte hym wełł of his lynage For hym an Irish womman bare His tunge was fyled sharpe and square Poignaunt and right kervyng 3813. U. inserts And right before Poig∣naunt. And wonder bitter in spekyng For whanne that he me gan espie He swoore affermyng sikirlye Bitwene Bialacoil and me Was yuel aquayntaunce and pryue He spake therof so folilye That he awakide Ielousye Which ałł afrayed in his risyng Whanne that he herd Ianglyng 3822. M. herde. Insert him after herde. He ran anoon as he were woode To Bialacoil there that he stode Which hadde leuer in this caas Haue ben at Reynes or amyas For foot hoot in his felonye To hym thus seide Ielousie Why hast thou ben so necligent To kepen whanne I was absent This verger heere left in thi warde To me thou haddist no Rewarde 3832. Th. regarde. To truste to thy confusioun Hym this to whom suspeccioun I haue right gret for it is nede It is wełł shewed by the dede Grete favte in thee now have I founde By god anoon thou shalt be bounde And fast loken in a Tour 3839. M. U. faste. Withoute refuyt or socour FOr shame to longe hath be thee froo Ouer soone she was agoo Whanne thou hast lost bothe drede and feere It semede wel she was not heere She was bisy in no wyse 3845. Insert not after was [Sk.]. To kepe thee and chastise 3846. U. inserts to before chastise. And forto helpen chastite To kepe the Roser as thenkith me For thanne this boy knave so booldely Ne shulde not haue be hardy In this verge hadde such game 3851. Read Nor in this verger had [Sk.]. Which now me turneth to gret shame BIalacoil nyst what to sey 3853. M. nyste. Fułł fayn he wolde haue fled awey For feere han hidde nere that he Ałł sodeynly toke hym with me And whanne I saugh he hadde soo This Ielovsie take vs twoo I was a stoned and knewe no rede But fledde awey for verrey drede THanne shame cam forth fułł symply She wente haue trespaced fułł gretly 3862. Th. wende. Humble of hir port and made it symple Weryng a bayle in stide of wymple 3864. Th. vayle. Th. stede. As nonnys don in her Abbey By cause hir herte was in affray She gan to speke withynne a throwe To Ielousie right wonder lowe First of his grace she bysoughte 3869. U. inserts him after she. And seide sire ne leveth noughte Wikkid tunge that fals espie Which is so glad to feyne and lye He hath you maad thurgh flateryng On Bialacoil a fals lesyng His falsnesse is not now a newe It is to long that he hym knewe This is not the first day 3877. M. U. firste. For wikkid tunge hath custome ay Yonge folkis to bewreye And fals lesynges on hem lye 3880. Read leye [Sk.]. YIt neuertheles I see amonge That the loigne it is so longe Of Bialacoil hertis to lure In loues seruyse forto endure Drawyng such folk hym too 3885. M. U. suche. That he hath no thyng with to doo But in sothnesse I trowe nought That Bialacoil hadde euer in thought To do trespace or vylonye But for his modir curtesie Hath taught hym euer to be 3891. M. U. insert for before to. Good of aqueyntaunce and pryue For he loveth noon heuynesse But mirthe and pley and ałł gladnesse He hateth ałł trechours 3895. Read trecherous. Soleyn folk and envyous For ye witen how that he 3897. Insert wel before ye [Sk.]. Wole euer glad and ioyfułł be Honestly with folk to pleye I haue be negligent in good feye To chastise hym therfore now I Of herte I crye you heere mercy 3902. M. B. omit I. That I haue been so Recheles To tamen hym withouten lees Of my foly I me repente Now wole I hoole sette myn entente To kepe bothe lowe and stille 3907. Read lowde for lowe. Bialacoil to do youre wille Shame shame seyde Ielousie To be bytrasshed gret drede haue I Leccherie hath clombe so hye That almoost blered is myn yhe No wonder is if that drede haue I Ouer ałł regnyth lecchery Whos myght growith nyght and day 3915. Insert yit after myght [Sk.]. Bothe in cloistre and in abbey Chastite is werried ouer ałł Therfore I wole with siker wałł Close bothe Roses and Roser I haue to longe in this maner Left hem vnclosid wilfully Wherfore I am right inwardly Sorowfułł and repente me But now they shałł no lenger be Vnclosid and yit I drede sore I shałł repente ferthermore For the game goth ałł amys Counsełł I must newe ywys 3928. Read mot take for must [Sk.]. I haue to longe tristed thee But now it shal no lenger be For he may best in euery cost Disceyue that men tristen most I see wel that I am nygh shent But if I sette my fułł entent Remedye to purveye Therfore close I shałł the weye Fro hem that wole the Rose espie And come to wayte me vilonye For in good feith and in trouthe I wole not lette for no slouthe To lyve the more in sikirnesse Do make anoon a fortresse 3942. Read To for Do. Read forteresse. Thanne close the Roses of good sauour 3943. Read To enclose for Thanne close. In myddis shałł I make a tour To putte Bialacoil in prisoun For euere I drede me of tresoun I trowe I shal hym kepe soo That he shal haue no myght to goo Aboute to make companye To hem that thenke of vylanye Ne to no such as hath ben heere Aforn and founde in hym good chere Which han assailed hym to shende And with her trowandyse to blynde 3954. Th. blende. A foole is eyth to bigyle 3955. Insert for before to [Sk.]. But may I lyve a litel while 3956. I written above the line. He shal forthenke his fair semblaunt ANd with that word came drede auaunt 3958. that written above the line. Which was abasshed and in gret fere Whanne he wiste Ielousie was there He was for drede in sich affray That not a word durst he say But quakyng stode fułł stiłł aloone Til Ielousie his weye was gone Saue shame that hin not forsoke 3965. hin written above the line; M. B. U. him. Bothe drede and she ful sore quoke That at last drede abreyde 3967. Read Til that [Sk.]. M. atte laste. And to his cosyn shame seide Shame he seide in sothfastnesse To me it is gret heuynesse That the noyse so ferre is go And the sclaundre of vs twoo But sithe that it is byfałł 3973. it written above the line. Insert so after is [Sk.]. We may it not ageyn całł 3974. Insert do before całł [Sk.]. Whanne onys sprongen is a fame For many a yeer withouten blame We han ben and many a day For many an apriłł and many a may We han passed not shamed 3979. B. ashamed. Tiłł Ielousie hath vs blamed Of mystrust and suspecioun Causeles withoute enchesoun 3982. Read withouten [Sk.] Go we to daunger hastily And late vs shewe hym openly That hath not aright wrought 3985. M. B. U. insert he before hath. M. iwrought; U. ywrought. Whanne that sette nought his thought 3986. M. B. U. insert he before sette. To kepe better the purprise In his doyng he is not wise He hath to vs do gret wronge 3989. M. ido. That hath suffred now so longe Bialacoil to haue his wille Ałł his lustes to fulfille He must amende it vtterly Or ellys shałł he vilaynesly Exiled be out of this londe For he the werre may not withstonde Of Jelousie nor the Greef Sith Bialacoil is at myscheef TO daunger shame and drede anoon The right weye ben goon 4000. M. The righte weyes ben agoon. The cherle thei founden hem aforn Liggyng vndir an hawethorn Vndir his heed no pilowe was But in the stede a trusse of gras He slombred and a nappe he toke Tyłł shame pitously hym shoke And grete manace on hym gan make Why slepist thou whanne thou shulde wake Quod shame thou doist vs vylanye Who tristith thee he doth folye To kepe Roses or bothoms 4011. Read botouns. Whanne thei ben faire in her sesouns Thou art woxe to familiere Where thou shulde be straunge of chere Stoute of thi porte redy to greve Thou doist gret folye forto leve Bialacoil here Inne to calle The yonder man to shenden vs alle 4018. Read shende [Sk.]. Though that thou slepe we may here Of Ielousie gret noyse heere Art thou now late Rise vp an high 4021. Read in hy for an high [Sk.]. And stoppe sone and delyuerly Ałł the gappis of the hay Do no fauour I thee pray It fallith no thyng to thy name To make faire semblaunt where thou maist blame 4026. Omit To. YF Bialacoil be sweete and free Dogged and fełł thou shuldist be Froward and outerageous ywis A cherl chaungeth that curteis is This haue I herd ofte in seiyng That man may for no davntyng 4032. M. U. insert ne before may. Make a sperhauke of a Bosarde Alle men wole holde thee for musarde That debonair haue founden thee It sittith thee nought curteis to be 4036. Read sit [Sk.]. To do men plesaunce or seruise In thee it is recreaundise Lete thi werkis fer and nere Be like thi name which is daungere Thanne ałł abawid in shewing Anoon spake drede right thus seiyng And seide daunger I drede me That thou ne wolt bisy be 4044. Insert not (or nat) before bisy [Sk.]. To kepe that thou hast to kepe Whanne thou shuldist wake thou art a slepe 4046. Read shulde; see l. 4008 [Sk.]. Thou shalt be greved certeynly If the aspie Ielousie Or if he fynde thee in blame He hath to day assailed shame And chased awey with gret manace Bialacoil oute of this place And swereth shortly that he shałł Enclose hym in a sturdy wałł And ałł is for thi wikkednesse For that thee faileth straungenesse Thyne herte I trowe be failed ałł Thou shalt repente in speciałł If Ielousie the sooth knowe 4059. M. soothe; U. sothe. M. B. U. knewe. Thou shalt forthenke and sore Rewe WIth that the cherl his clubbe gan shake Frounyng his eyen gan to make And hidous chere a man in Rage 4063. M. B. U. as for a. For Ire he brente in his visage Whanne that herd hym blamed soo 4065. M. B. U. insert he before herd. He seide oute of my witte I goo To be discomfyt I haue gret wronge Certis I haue now lyued to longe Sith I may not this closer kepe Ałł quykke I wolde be doluen deepe If ony man shal more repeire Into this gardyne for foule or faire 4072. U. To for Into. Myne herte for Ire goth a fere That I lete ony entre heere

[See ll. 4081-83.]

I haue do folie now I see But now it shałł amended bee Who settith foot heere ony more Truly he shałł repente it sore For no man moo into this place Of me to entre shal haue grace Lever I hadde with swerdis tweyne Thurghoute myne herte in euery veyne Perced to be with many a wounde Thanne slouthe shulde in me be founde From hennes forth by nyght or day I shałł defende it if I may Withouten ony excepcioun Of ech maner condicioun And if I it eny man graunte 4089. M. if I eny man it graunte. Holdeth me for recreaunte THanne daunger on his feet gan stonde And hente a burdoun in his honde Wroth in his Ire ne lefte he nought But thurgh the verger he hath sought If he myght fynde hole or trace Where thurgh that me mote forth by pace 4096. me miswritten for men [Sk.]. Or ony gappe he dide it close That no man myght touche a Rose 4098. M. myghte. Of the Roser ałł aboute He shitteth euery man withoute Thus day by day daunger is wers More wondirfułł and more dyuers And feller eke than euere he was For hym fułł ofte I synge allas For I ne may nought thurgh his Ire Recouere that I moost desire Myne herte allas wole brest a twoo For Bialacoil I wratthed soo For certeynly in euery membre I quoke, whanne I me remembre 4110. U. quake. Of the bothom which I wolde 4111. bothom, the two last strokes of m crased. Read botoun. Insert that after which [Sk.] Fułł ofte a day sene and biholde And whanne I thenke vpon the kisse And how mych Ioye and blisse 4114. M. myche; Th. moche. I hadde thurgh the sauour swete For wante of it I grone and grete Me thenkith I fele yit in my nose The swete sauour of the Rose And now I woot that I mote goo So fer the fresh floures froo 4120. M. U. freshe; Th. fresshe. To me fułł welcome were the deth Absens therof allas me sleeth For whilom with this Rose allas I touched nose mouth and face But now the deth I must abide But love consente another tyde That onys I touche may and kisse I trowe my peyne shałł neuer lisse Theron is ałł my coueitise Which brent myn herte in many wise Now shal repaire agayn sighinge Long wacche on nyghtis and no slepinge Thought in wisshing torment and woo With many a turnyng to and froo That half my peyne I can not telle For I am fallen into helle From paradys and welthe the more My turment greveth more and more Anoieth now the bittirnesse That I to forn haue felt swetnesse And wikkid tunge thurgh his falshede Causeth ałł my woo and drede On me he leieth a pitous charge Bi cause his tunge was to large NOw it is tyme shortly that I Telle you som thyng of jelousie That was in gret suspecioun Aboute hym lefte he no masoun That stoon coude leye ne querrour He hirede hem to make a tour And first the Roses forto kepe Aboute hem made he a diche deepe Right wondir large and also broode Vpon the whiche also stode Of squared stoon a sturdy wałł Which on a cragge was founded ałł And right grete thikkenesse eke it bare Aboute it was founded square 4158. Read Abouten [Sk.]. An hundred fademe on euery side It was ałł liche longe and wide Lest ony tyme it were assayled Ful wel aboute it was batayled And Rounde enviroun eke were sette Ful many a Riche and faire tourette At euery corner of this wałł Was sette a tour fułł pryncipałł And euerich hadde withoute fable A porte colys defensable To kepe of enemyes and to greve That there her force wolde preve And eke amydde this purprise Was maad a tour of gret maistrise A fairer saugh no man with sight Large and wide and of gret myght They dredde noon assaut 4175. Insert ne before dredde [Sk.]. Of gynne, Gunne nor skaffaut The temprure of the Mortere 4177. Insert For before The. Was maad of lycour wonder dere Of quykke lyme persant and egre The which was tempred with vynegre The stoon was hard of Ademant 4181. Read as for of; cf. l. 4385. Wherof they made the foundement The tour was Rounde maad in compas In ałł this world no Riccher was Ne better ordeigned therwith ałł Aboute the tour was maad a wałł So that bitwixt that and the tour Roses were sette of swete sauour 4188. Read Rosers for Roses. With many Roses that thei bere And eke withynne the castełł were Spryngoldes gunnes and bows archers 4191. bows, s written above the line. And eke aboue atte Corners Men seyn ouer the wałł stonde Grete engynes who were nygh honde And in the kernels heere and there Of Arblasters grete plente were Noon armure myght her stroke withstonde It were foly to prece to honde Withoute the diche were lystes maade With wałł batayled large and brade 4200. Read walles. For men and hors shulde not atteyne To neighe the dyche ouer the pleyne Thus Ielousie hath enviroun Sette aboute his Garnysoun With walles Rounde and diche depe Oonly the Roser forto kepe And daunger erly and late 4207. Insert bereth after daunger. The keyes of the vtter gate The which openeth toward the eest 4209. U. opened. And he hadde with hym atte leest Thritty seruauntes echon by name That other gate kepte Shame Which openede as it was couth Toward the parte of the south Sergeauntes assigned were hir too Ful many hir wiłł forto doo Thanne drede hadde in hir baillie The kepyng of the Conestablerye Toward the north I vndirstonde That openyde vpon the lyfte honde The which for no thyng may be sure But if she do bisy cure 4222. U. inserts her (M. hir) before bisy. Erly on morowe and also late Strongly to shette and barre the gate Of euery thing that she may see Drede is aferd wher so she be For with a puff of litełł wynde Drede is a stonyed in hir mynde Therfore for stelyng of the Rose I Rede hir nought the yate vnclose A foulis flight wole make hir flee And eke a shadowe if she it see THanne wikked tunge fułł of envye With soudiours of Normandye As he that causeth ałł the bate Was keper of the fourthe gate And also to the tother three He wente fułł ofte forto see Whanne his lotte was to wake anyght His instrumentis wolde he dight Forto blowe and make sowne Ofte thanne he hath enchesoun 4242. M. Ofter; U. Oftir. And walken oft vpon the wałł Corners and wikettis ouer ałł Fułł narwe serchen and espie Though he nought fonde yit wole he lye 4246. M. wolde. Discordaunt euer fro armonye And distoned from melodie Controue he wolde and foule fayle With hornepipes of Cornewaile In floytes made he discordaunce And in his musyk with myschaunce He wolde seyn with notes newe That he fonde no womman trewe 4254. Insert ne after he [Sk.]. Ne that he saugh neuer in his lyf Vnto hir husbonde a trewe wyf 4256. Read To for Vnto. Ne noon so ful of honeste That she nyl laughe and mery be Whanne that she hereth or may espie A man speken of leccherie Eueriche of hem hath somme vice Oon is dishonest another is nyce If oon be fułł of vylanye Another hath a likerous ighe If oon be fułł of wantonesse Another is a chideresse THus wikked tunge god yeue hem shame 4267. M. B. U. him. Can putt hem euerychone in blame Withoute disseit and causeles 4269. B. U. desert (M. dessert) for disseit. He lieth though they ben giltles I have pite to sene the sorwe That walketh bothe eve and morwe 4272. B. U. waketh. To Innocentis doith such grevaunce I pray god yeve hem evel chaunce 4274. M. U. him. That he euer so bisie is Of ony womman to seyn amys Eke Ielousie god confounde That hath maad a tour so Rounde And made aboute a garisoun To sette bealacoil in prisoun The which is shette there in the tour Ful longe to holde there soiour There forto lyue in penaunce 4283. M. lyven. And forto do hym more grevaunce Which hath ordeyned Ielousie 4285. Read There for Which [Sk.]. An olde vekke forto espye The maner of his gouernaunce The which devel in hir enfaunce 4288. M. whiche. Hadde lerned of loues arte 4289. Insert muche before of [Sk.]. And of his pleyes toke hir parte She was except in his seruise 4291. U. expert. She knewe eche wrenche and euery gise Of love and euery wile 4293. Perhaps insert loueres before wile [Sk.]. It was harder hir to gile 4294. Insert the before harder. Of bealacoil she toke ay hede That euere he lyveth in woo and drede He kepte hym koy and eke pryve Lest in hym she hadde see Ony foly countenaunce For she knewe ałł the olde daunce And aftir this whanne Ielousie Hadde Bealacoil in his baillie And shette hym vp that was so fre For seure of hym he wolde be He trusteth sore in his castełł The stronge werk hym liketh wełł He dradde not that no glotouns Shulde stele his Roses or bothoms The Roses weren assured ałł Defenced with the stronge wałł Now Ielousie fułł wełł may be Of drede devoide in liberte Whether that he slepe or wake For his Roses may noon be take BVt I allas now morne shałł Bi cause I was withoute the wałł Fułł moche doole and moone I made Who hadde wist what woo I hadde I trowe he wolde haue had pite Love to deere hadde soolde to me The good that of his love hadde I I wente aboute it ałł queyntly 4322. Read: I wende a (= have) bought it all queyntly. But now thurgh doublyng of my peyne I see he wolde it selle ageyne And me a newe bargeyn leere The which ałł oute the more is deere For the solace that I haue lorn Thanne I hadde it neuer aforn Certayn I am ful like in deede To hym that caste in erthe his seede And hath ioie of the newe spryng Whanne it greneth in the gynnyg 4332. M. gynnyng. And is also faire and fresh of flour 4333. U. so for also. Lusty to seen swoote of odour But er he it in sheves shere May falle a weder that shal it dere And make it to fade and falle 4337. M. maken; U. makin. The stalke the greyne and floures alle That to the tylyers is fordone 4339. U. tiller. The hope that he hadde to soone I drede certeyn that so fare I For hope and travaile sikerlye Ben me byraft ałł with a storme The floure nel seeden of my corne For love hath so avaunced me Whanne I bigan my pryvite To Bialacoil ałł forto telle Whom Ine fonde froward ne felle But toke a gree ałł hool my play But love is of so hard assay That ałł at oonys he Reved me Whanne I wente best abouen to haue be 4352. Read wende. Omit to (cf. l. 4322). It is of love as of fortune That chaungeth ofte and nyl contune Which whilom wole on folk smyle 4355. M. U. folke. And glowmbe on hem another while Now freend now foo shalt hir feele 4357. Insert thou before shalt. For a twynklyng turne hir wheele 4358. Insert in before a [Sk.]. Th. tourneth. She can writhe hir heed awey This is the concours of hir pley She caune arise that doth morne 4361. Th. areyse. And whirle adown and ouer turne Who sittith hieghst but as hir lust A foole is he that wole hir trust 4364. Read al for but [Sk.]. For it is I that am come down Thurgh charge and Reuolucoun 4366. Read change for charge. M. B. U. Revolucioun. Sith Bealacoil mote fro me twynne Shette in the prisoun yonde withynne His absence at myn herte I fele For ałł my ioye and ałł myne hele Was in hym and in the Rose That but yone wole which hym doth close 4372. Read yon wałł for yone wole [Sk.]. Opene that I may hym see Love nyl not that I cured be Of the peynes that I endure Nor of my cruel auenture A Bialacoil myn owne deere Though thou be now a prisonere Kepe atte leste thyne herte to me And suffre not that it daunted be Ne late not Ielousie in his Rage Putten thine herte in no servage Al though he chastice thee withoute And make thy body vnto hym loute Haue herte as hard as dyamaunt Stedefast and nought pliaunt In prisoun though thi body be At large kepe thyne herte free A trewe herte wole not plie For no manace that it may drye If Ielousie doth thee payne Quyte hym his while thus agayne To venge thee atte leest in thought If other way thou maist nought And in this wise sotilly Worche and wynne the maistrie But yit I am in gret affray Lest thou do not as I say I drede thou canst me gret mavgre That thou enprisoned art for me But that not for my trespas 4401. Insert is after that [Sk.]. For thurgh me never discoured was Yit thyng that ought be secree 4403. M. oughte. Wel more anoy is in me 4404. Insert ther before is [Sk.]. Than is in thee of this myschaunce For I endure more harde penaunce Than ony can seyn or thynke 4407. U. inserts man after ony. That for the sorwe almost I synke Whanne I remembre me of my woo Fułł nygh out of my witt I goo Inward myn herte I feele blede For comfortles the deth I drede Owe I not wel to haue distresse Whanne fals thurgh hir wikkednesse 4414. M. false. And traitours that arn envyous To noyen me be so coraious 4416. Read curious for co∣raious. A bialacoil fułł wel I see That they hem shape to disceyue thee To make thee buxom to her lawe And with her corde thee to drawe Where so hem lust right at her wille I drede they haue thee brought thertille Withoute comfort thought me sleeth This game wole brynge me to my deeth For if youre good wille I leese 4425. Read goode or gode [Sk.]. I mote be deed I may not chese And if that thou foryete me Myne herte shal neuere in likyng be Nor ełł where fynde solace 4429. M. elles. If I be putt out of youre grace As it shal never been I hope THanne shulde I falle in wanhope 4432. Read fallen. Allas in wanhope nay pardee For I wole never dispeired be If hope me faile thanne am I Vngracious and vnworthy In hope I wole comforted be For love whanne he bitaught hir me Seide that hope where so I goo Shulde ay be Reles to my woo But what and she my baalis beete And be to me curteis and sweete She is in no thyng fułł certeyne Lovers she putt in fułł gret peyne 4444. Read put [Sk.]. And makith hem with woo to deele Hir faire biheeste disceyveth feele For she wole byhote sikirly And failen aftir outrely A that is a fułł noyous thyng For many a lover in lovyng Hangeth vpon hir and trusteth fast Whiche leese her travel at the last Of thyng to comen she woot right nought Therfore if it be wysely sought Hir counseiłł foly is to take For many tymes whanne she wole make A fułł good silogisme I dreede That aftirward ther shal in deede Folwe an evełł conclusioun This putte me in confusioun 4460. Read put [Sk.]. For many tymes I haue it seen That many haue bigyled been For trust that they haue sette in hope Which felle hem aftirward a slope BVt nevertheles yit gladly she wolde 4465. Th. nathelesse. That he that wole hym with hir holde Hadde ałł tymes her purpos clere 4467. M. B. his for her. Withoute deceyte or ony were That she desireth sikirly Whanne I hir blamed I dide foly 4470. blamed, d written above the line. But what avayleth hir good wille Whanne she no may staunche my stounde ille 4472. B. Th. ne. That helpith litel that she may doo Outake biheest vnto my woo And heeste certeyn in no wise Withoute yift is not to preise 4476. Read pryse [Sk.]. WHanne heest and deede a sundry varie 4477. Th. asondre. They doon a gret contrarie 4478. Insert me haue after doon [Sk.]. Thus am I possed vp and doun With dool thought and confusioun Of my disese ther is no noumbre Daunger and shame me encumbre Dre also and Ielousie 4483. M. B. U. Th. Drede. And wikked tunge fułł of envie Of whiche the sharpe and cruel Ire Fułł ofte me putte in gret martire 4486. Read put [Sk.]. They han my ioye fully lette Sith Bialacoil they haue bishette Fro me in prisoun wikkidly Whom I love so entierly That it wole my bane bee But I the sonner may hym see And yit more ouer wurst of ałł Ther is sette to kepe foule hir bifałł A Rympled vekke ferre Ronne in age Frownyng and yelowe in hir visage Which in a wayte lyth day and nyght That noon of hem may haue a sight NOw mote my sorwe enforced be Fułł soth it is that love yaf me Three wonder yiftes of his grace Whiche I haue lorn now in this place Sith they ne may withoute drede Helpen but lytel who taketh heede For here availeth no swete thought And sweete speche helpith right nought The thridde was called swete lokyng That now is lorn without lesyng YIftes were faire but not forthy 4509. Read The yeftes [Sk.]. They helpe me but symply 4510. Read simpilly [Sk.]. But Bialacoil loosed be 4511. Insert may before loosed [Sk.]. To gon at large and to be free For hym my lyf lyth ałł in doute But if he come the Rather oute Allas I trowe it wole not bene For how shult I euermore hym sene 4516. M. B. shuld. He may not oute and that is wronge By cause the tour is so stronge How shulde he oute by whos prowesse Oute of so stronge a forteresse By me certeyn it nyl be doo God woot I haue no witte therto But wel I woot I was in Rage Whonne I to love dide homage 4524. B. Whanne. Who was in cause in sothfastnesse But hir silf Dame Idelnesse Which me conveied thurgh faire praiere To entre into that faire verger She was to blame me to leve The which now doth me soore greve A foolis word is nought to trowe Ne worth an appel forto lowe Men shulde hym snybbe bittirly At pryme temps of his foly I was a fool and she me leevede Thurgh whom I am right nought releeved Sheo accomplisshid ałł my wille That now me greveth wondir ille REsoun me seide what shulde falle A fool my silf I may wełł I may wel calle 4540. Th. omits I may wełł. That love assayde I hadde leyde 4541. Th. a syde I had nat layde. And trowed that dame Resoun seide Resoun hadde bothe skile and ryght Whanne she me blamed with ałł hir myght To medle of love that hath me shent But certeyn now I wole repente ANd shulde I repente nay parde A fals traitour thanne shulde I be The devełł engynnes wolde me take If I my loue wolde forsake 4550. Read lorde for loue. Or Bialacoil falsly bitraye Shulde I at myscheef hate hym nay Sith he now for his curtesie Is in prisoun of Ielousie Curtesie certeyn dide he me So mych that may not yolden be 4556. Read it for that [Sk.]. Whanne he the hay passen me lete To kisse the Rose faire and swete Shulde I therfore cunne hym mawgre Nay certeynly it shal not be For love shałł neuere yeve good wille 4561. Read yef god for yeve good. Here of me thurgh word or wille Offence or complaynt more or lesse Neither of hope nor Idilnesse For certis it were wrong that I Hated hem for her curtesie Ther is not ellys but suffre and thenke 4567 Read nought [Sk.]. Read thynke [Sk.]. And waken whanne I shulde wynke Abide in hope til love thurgh chaunce Sende me socour or allegeaunce Expectant ay tiłł I may mete To geten mercy of that swete WHilom I thenke how love to me Seide he wolde take att gree My seruise if vnpacience Caused me to done offence He seide in thank I shal it take And high maister eke thee make If wikkednesse ne Reve it thee But sone I trowe that shałł not be These were his wordis by and by It semede he lovede me trewly Now is ther not but serue hym wele 4583 Read nought [Sk.]. Read thynke [Sk.]. If that I thenke his thanke to fele My good myne harme lyth hool in me In love may no defaute be For trewe love ne failide neuer man 4587. Omit ne [Sk.]. Sothly the faute mote nedys than As god forbede be founde in me And how it cometh I can not see Now late it goon as it may goo Whether love wole socoure me or sloo He may do hool on me his wille I am so sore bounde hym tille From his seruise I may not fleen For lyf and deth withouten wene Is in his hande I may not chese He may me doo bothe wynne and leese And sith so sore he doth me greve Yit if my lust he wolde acheve To Bialacoil goodly to be I yeue no force what felle on me For though I dye as I mote nede I praye love of his goodlyhede To Bialacoil do gentylnesse For whom I lyve in such distresse That I mote deyen for penaunce But first withoute repentaunce I wole me confesse in good entent And make in haste my testament As lovers doon that feelen smerte To Bialacoil leve I myne herte Ałł hool withoute departyng Doublenesse of Repentyng Coment Raisoun Vient a lamant 4614. M. B. U. Th. insert Or before Doublenesse. THus as I made my passage In compleynt and in cruel Rage And I not where to fynde a leche That couthe vnto myne helpyng eche Sodeynly agayn comen doun Out of hir tour I saugh Resoun Discrete and wijs and fułł plesaunt And of hir porte fułł avenaunt The Right weye she tooke to me 4623. M. righte. Which stode in gret perplexite That was posshed in euery side That I nyst where I myght abide Tiłł she demurely sad of chere Seide to me as she come nere Myne owne freend art thou yit greved How is this quarełł yit acheved Of loues side anoon me telle Hast thou not yit of loue thi fille Art thou not wery of thy seruise That the hath in sich wise 4634. U. inserts grevid after hath. What ioye hast thou in thy louyng Is it swete or bitter thyng Canst thou yit chese late me see What best thi socour myght be 4638. M. myghte. THou servest a fułł noble lorde That maketh thee thrałł for thi rewarde Which ay renewith thy thi turment 4641. Th. omits thi. With foly so he hath thee blent Thou fełł in mycheef thilke day 4643. M. myscheef. Whanne thou didist the sothe to say Obeysaunce and eke homage Thou wroughtest no thyng as the sage Whanne thou bicam his liege man Thou didist a gret foly than Thou wistest not what fełł therto With what lord thou haddist to do If thou haddist hym wel knowe Thou haddist nought be brought so lowe For if thou wistest what it were Thou noldist serue hym half a yeer Not a weke nor half a day Ne yit an hour withoute delay Ne neuer I lovede paramours 4657. Read han loved for I lovede [Sk.]. His lordshipp is so fułł of shoures Knowest hym ought Lamaunt yhe dame parde Raisoun Nay nay Lamaunt yhis I Raisoun wherof late se Lamaunt Of that he seide I shulde be Glad to haue sich lord as he And maister of sich seignorie Raisoun Knowist hym no more Lamaunt nay certis I 4659/64 (in the MS.): Knowest hym ought Lamaunt yhe dame parde Raisoun Nay nay Lamaunt yhis I Raisoun wherof late se Lamaunt Of that he seide I shulde be Glad to haue sich lord as he And maister of sich seignorie Raisoun Knowist hym no more Lamaunt nay certis I Save that he yaf me rewles there And wente his wey I nyste where And I aboode bounde in balaunce Raisoun Lo there a noble conisaunce 4668. Raisoun written at the end of this line. BVt I wille that thou knowe hym now Gynnyng and eende sith that thou Art so anguisshous and mate Diffigured oute of a state 4672. Th. astate. Ther may no wrecche haue more of woo Ne caytyfe noon enduren soo It were to euery man sittyng Of his lord haue knowleching For if thou knewe hym oute of doute Lightly thou shulde escapen oute Of the prisoun that marreth thee Lamant Yhe dame sith my lord is he 4680. Lamant written at the end of l. 4679. sith written above the line. And I his man maad with myn honde I wolde right fayne vndirstonde To knowe of what kynde he be If ony wolde enforme me Raisoun I wolde seide Resoun thee lere Sith thou to lerne hast sich desire And shewe thee withouten fable A thyng that is not demonstrable 4688. Read knowen [Sk.]. Thou shalt withouten science 4689. Insert wite after shalt; cf. l. 4692. And knowe withouten experience The thyng that may not knowen be Ne wist ne shewid ne shewid in no degre Thou maist the sothe of it not witen Though in thee it were writen Thou shalt not knowe therof more While thou art reuled by his lore But vnto hym that love wole flee The knotte may vnclosed bee Which hath to thee as it is founde So long be knette and not vnbounde Now sette wel thyne entencioun To here of love discripcioun LOve it is an hatefułł pees A free acquitaunce withoute relees And thurgh the frette fułł of falsheede 4705. M. B. A trouthe for And thurgh the. A sikernesse ałł sette in drede In herte is a dispeiryng hope And fułł of hope it is wanhope Wise woodnesse and vode resoun 4709. M. wode. A swete perełł into droune 4710. M. Th. in to. An heuy birthen lyght to bere A wikked wawe awey to were It is karibdous perilous Disagreable and gracious It is discordaunce that can accorde And accordaunce to discorde It is kunnyng withoute science Wisdome withoute sapience Witte withoute discrecioun Havoire withoute possessioun It is like hele and hool sekenesse 4721. M. B. sike for like. A trust drowned and dronknesse 4722. Read thurst (M. thrust). M. B. in for and. And helth fułł of Maladie 4723. Read An helthe for And helth. And charite fułł of envie And anger fułł of habundaunce 4725. Read An hunger (B. And hunger) for And anger. And a gredy suffisaunce Delite right fułł of heuynesse And dreried fułł of gladnesse 4728. M. drerihed. Bitter swetnesse and swete errour Right evełł sauoured good sauour Sen that pardoun hath withynne 4731. Read Sinne (M. U. Sin). And pardoun spotted withoute synne 4732. M. B. insert with after withoute. A peyne also it is Ioious And felonye right pitous Also pley that selde is stable And stedefast right meuable 4736. Read stedefastnesse. A strengthe weyked to stonde vpright And feblenesse fułł of myght Witte vnavised sage folie And ioie fułł of turmentrie A laughter it is weping ay Reste that traveyleth nyght and day Also a swete helle it is And a soroufułł paradys A plesaunt Gayl and esy prisoun And fułł of froste somer sesoun Pryme temps fułł of frostes white And May devoide of al delite With seer braunches blossoms vngrene And newe fruyt fillid with wynter tene It is a slowe may not forbere Ragges Ribaned with gold to were For also wełł wole love be sette Vnder Ragges as Riche Rochette And eke as wel by amourettes 4755. Read ben. In mournyng blak as bright burnettes For noon is of so mochel pris Ne no man founden so wys 4758. M. U. insert is after founden. Ne noon so high is of parage Ne no man founde of witt so sage No man so hardy ne so wight Ne no man of so mychel myght Noon so fulfilled of bounte That he with loue may daunted be 4764. Read But for That [Sk.]. Ałł the world holdith this wey Loue makith ałł to goon myswey 4766. There is an erasure between goon and myswey. But it be they of yuel lyf Whom Genius cursith man and wyf That wrongly werke ageyn nature Noon such I loue ne haue no cure Of sich as loves seruauntes bene And wole not by my counsel flene For I ne preise that lovyng Wherthurgh men at the laste eendyng Shałł calle hem wrecchis fułł of woo Loue greveth hem and shendith soo But if thou wolt wel love eschewe Forto escape out of his mewe And make al hool thi sorwe to slake No bettir counsel maist thou take Than thynke to fleen wel Iwis 4781. Th. flye. May nought helpe elles for wite thou this If thou fle it it shal flee thee Folowe it and folowen shal it thee Lamant WHanne I hadde herde ałł Resoun seyne Which hadde spilt hir speche in veyne Dame seide I I dar wel sey Of this avaunt me wel I may That from youre scole so devyaunt I am that neuer the more avaunt Right nought am I thurgh youre doctrine I dulle vnder youre discipline I wote no more than wist euer 4793. M. B. U. insert I before wist. Read er for euer. To me so contrarie and so fer Is euery thing that ye me lere And yit I can it ałł by partuere 4796. B. omits by. M. B. parcuere. Myne herte foryetith therof right nought 4797. Read forget [Sk.]. It is so writen in my thought And depe greven it is so tendir 4799. M. U. graven. That ałł by herte I can it rendre And rede it ouer comunely But to my silf lewedist am I BVt sith ye love discreven so And lak and preise it bothe twoo Defyneth it into this letter That I may thenke on it the better For I herde never diffyned heere 4807. Read diffyne it er. And wilfully I wolde it lere If loue be serched wel and sought 4809. M. B. insert Raisoun before this line. It is a sykenesse of the thought 4810. a written above the line. Annexed and kned bitwixt tweyne With male and female with oo cheyne 4812. Read Which for With. So frely that byndith that they nyłł twynne 4813. Omit first that. Read bint [Sk.]. Whether so therof they leese or wynne The roote springith thurgh hoote brennyg 4815. M. brennyng; U. brenning. Into disordinat desiryng Forto kissen and enbrace And at her lust them to solace Of other thyng love Recchith nought But setteth her herte and ałł her thought 4820. Read set [Sk.]. More for delectacioun Than ony procreacioun Of other fruyt by engendrure 4823. Read engen∣dryng; cf. l. 6114. Which love to god is not plesyng For of her body fruyt to gete They yeve no force they are so sette Vpon delite to pley in feere And somme haue also this manere To feynen hem for loue seke Sich love I preise not at a leke For paramours they do but feyne To love truly they disdeyne They falsen ladies traitoursly And swerne hem othes vtterly With many a lesyng and many a fable 4835. Omit a. And ałł they fynden deceyvable And whanne they han her lust geten 4837. Read her lust han geten. The hoote Ernes they al foryeten Wymmen the harme they bien fułł sore But men this thenken euermore That lasse harme is so mote I the Deceyve them than deceyued bo And namely where they ne may Fynde none other mene wey For I wote wel in sothfastnesse That what doth now his bisynesse 4846. Read what man doth his b. With ony womman forto dele For ony lust that he may fele But if it be for engendrure He doth trespasse I you ensure For he shulde setten ałł his wille To geten a likly thyng hym tille 4852. Read gete. And to sustene if he myght 4853. Read sustenen [Sk.]. And kepe forth by kyndes Right His owne lyknesse and semblable [A line left blank in the MS.] 4856. Thynne inserts: For bycause al is corrumpable. And faile shulde successioun Ne were their generacioun 4858. Read ther. Oure sectis strene forto saue Whanne Fader or moder arn in grave Her children shulde whanne they ben deede Fułł diligent ben in her steede To vse that werke on such a wise That oon may thurgh another Rise Therfore sette knyde therynne delite 4865. Read set [Sk.]. For men therynne shulde hem delite And of that deede be not erke But ofte sithes haunt that werke For noon wolde drawe therof a draught Ne were delite which hath hym kaught This hadde sotille dame Nature For noon goth right I thee ensure Ne hath entent hool ne parfiȝt For her desir is for delyte The which fortened crece and eke The pley of love for ofte seke And thrałł hem silf they be so nyce Vnto the Prince of euery wise 4878. M. B. U. vice for wise. For of ech synne it is the rote Vnlefułł lust though it be sote And of ałł yuełł the Racyne As Tulius can determyne Which in his tyme was fułł sage In a boke he made of age Where that more he preyseth eelde Though he be croked and vnweelde And more of commendacioun Than youthe in his discripcioun For youthe sette bothe man and wyf 4889. Read set [Sk.]. In ałł perełł of soule and lyf And perełł is but men haue grace The perełł of yougth forto pace 4892. For perełł read tyme [Sk.]. Th. youthe. Withoute ony deth or distresse It is so fułł of wyldenesse So ofte it doth shame or damage To hym orto his lynage 4896. M. B. U. or to. It ledith man now vp now doun In mochel dissolucioun And makith hym loue yuełł companye 4899. Read ill [Sk.]. And lede his lyf disrewlilye And halt hym payed with noon estate Withynne hym silf is such debate He chaungith purpos and entente And yalte into somme couente 4904. Insert him after yalte. To lyven aftir her Emprise And lesith fredom and fraunchise That nature in hym hadde sette The which ageyne he may not gette If he there make his mansioun For to abide professioun Though for a tyme his herte absente It may not fayle he shal repente And eke abide thilke day To leve his abite and gone his way 4914. Read and go way. And lesith his worshipp̄ and his name And dar not come ageyn for shame But al his lyf he doth so morne By cause he dar not hom retourne Fredom of kynde so lost hath he That neuer may recured be But that if god hym graunte grace 4921. M. But if that god. That he may er he hennes pace Conteyne vndir obedience Thurgh the vertu of pacience For youthe sett man in ałł folye In vnthrift and Ribaudie 4926. B. U. insert in before Ribaudie. In leccherie and in outrage So ofte it chaungith of corage Youthe gynneth ofte sich bargeyne That may not eende withouten peyne In gret perełł is sett youthede Delite so doth his bridil leede Delite this hangith drede thee nought 4933. M. B. thus for this. Bothe mannys body and his thought Oonly thurgh youthes chambre 4935. B. youthe, his chamberere. That to done yuełł is custommere 4936. Read ill [Sk.]. And of nought elles taketh hede But oonly folkes forto lede Into disporte and wyldenesse So is frowarde from sadnesse 4940. Insert she (cf. l. 4988) or it (cf. l. 4894) after is. But eelde drawith hem therfro Who wote it nought he may wel goo And moo of hem that now arn olde 4943. Read Demande for And moo [Sk.]. That whilom youthe hadde in holde Which yit remembreth of tendir age 4945. Read remembre. Hou it hem brought in many a rage And many a foly therynne wrought But now that eelde hath hym thourgh sought 4948. U. hem. They repente hem of her folye That youthe hem putte in Iupardye In perełł and in mych woo 4951. M. myche. And made hem ofte amys do to 4952. M. B. U. to do for do to. And suen yuełł companye Riot and avoutrie 4954. Read avouterie. BVt eelde gan ageyn restreyne 4955. Read can for gan [Sk.]. From sich foly and refreyne And sette men by her ordinaunce In good Reule and in gouernaunce But yvełł she spendith hir seruise 4959. Read ill [Sk.]. For no man wole hir love neither preise 4960. Read ne prise for neither preise. She is hated this wote I welle Hir acqueyntaunce wolde noman fele Ne han of elde companye Men hate to be of hir alye For noman wolde bicomen olde Ne dye whanne he is yong and bolde And eelde merveilith right gretlye Whanne thei remembre hem inwardly Of many a perelous emprise Whiche that they wrought in sondry wise Hou euere they myght withoute blame Escape awey withoute shame In youthe withoute damage 4973. Insert any before damage [Sk.]. Or repreef of her lynage Losse of membre shedyng of blode Perełł of deth or losse of good Woste thou nought where youthe abit That men so preisen in her witt With delite she halt soiour For bothe they dwellen in oo tour As longe as youthe is in sesoun They dwellen in oon mansioun Delite of youthe wole haue seruise To do what so he wole devise And youthe is redy euermore Forto obey for smerte of sore Vnto delite and hym to yeue Hir seruise while that she may lyue WHere Elde abit I wole thee telle Shortly and no while dwelle For thidir byhoueth thee to goo If deth in youthe thee not sloo Of this iourney thou maist not faile With hir labour and travaile Logged ben with sorwe and woo That neuer out of hir court goo 4996. Th. courte. Peyne and distresse syknesse and Ire And malencoly that angry sire Ben of hir paleys senatours Gronyng and grucchyng hir herbeiours 5000. Read herber∣geours [Sk.]. The day and nyght hir to turment With cruełł deth they hir present And tellen hir erliche and late That deth stondith armed at hir gate 5004. Read stant [Sk.]. Thanne brynge they to her remembraunce The foly dedis of hir infaunce Whiche causen hir to mourne in woo That youthe hath hir bigiled so Which sodeynly awey is hasted She weped the tyme that she hath wasted 5010. M. wepeth. Compleynyng of the preterit And the present that not abit And of hir olde vanite That but aforn hir she may see In the future somme socour To leggen hir of hir dolour To graunte hir tyme of repentaunce For her synnes to do penaunce And atte the laste so hir gouerne To wynne the Ioy that is eterne Fro which go bakward youthe he made 5021. B. U. her. In vanite to droune and wade For present tyme abidith nought It is more swift than any thought So litel while it doth endure That ther nys compte ne mesure But hou that euere the game go Who list to love ioie and mirth also 5028. Read have for to love. Of loue be it he or she High or lowe who it be 5030. U. inserts so after who. In fruyt they shulde hem delyte Her part they may not elles quyte To saue hem silf in honeste And yit fułł many one I se Of wymmen sothly forto seyne That desire and wolde fayne The pley of love they be so wilde And not coueite to go with childe And if with child they be perchaunce They wole it holde a gret myschaunce But what som euer woo they fele They wole not pleyne but concele But if it be ony fool or nyce 5043. U. omits if. In whom that shame hath no Iustice For to delyte echone they drawe That haunte this werke bothe high and lawe Saue sich that arn worth right nought 5047. Th. suche. That for money wole be bought Such loue I preise in no wise Whanne it is gouen for coueitise I preise no womman though so be wood 5051. M. sho for so. That yeueth hir silf for ony good For litel shulde a man telle Of hir that wole hir body selle Be she mayde be she wyf That quyk wole selle hir bi hir lif Hou faire chere that euere she make He is a wrecche I vndirtake That loued such one for swete or soure 5059. Read loueth. Though she hym calle hir paramoure And laugheth on hym and makith hym feeste For certeynly no such beeste 5062. Th. suche. To be loued is not worthy Or bere the name of drurie 5064. Read druerie. Noon shulde hir please but he were woode That wole dispoile hym of his goode Yit neuertheles I wole not sey That she for solace and for pley 5068. Read But for That [Sk.]. May a iewel or other thyng Take of her loues fre yeuyng But that she aske it in no wise For drede of shame of coueitise And she of hirs may hym certeyn Withoute sclaundre yeven ageyn And ioyne her hertes to gidre so In loue and take and yeve also Trowe not that I wolde hem twynne Whanne in her loue ther is no synne I wole that they to gedre go And don al that they han ado As curteis shulde and debonaire And in her love beren hem faire Withoute vice bothe he and she So that alwey in honeste Fro foly love to kepe hem clere 5085. Read they for to. That brenneth hertis with his fere And that her loue in ony wise Be devoide of coueitise Good love shulde engendrid be Of trewe herte Iust and secre And not of such as sette her thought To haue her lust and ellis nought So are they caught in loues lace Truly for bodily solace Fleshly delite is so present With thee that sette ałł thyne entent Withoute more what shulde I glose Forto gete and haue the Rose Which makith so mate and woode 5099. M. B. U. insert thee before so. That thou desirest noon other goode But thou art not an Inche the nerre But euere abidist in sorwe and werre As in thi face it is sene It makith thee bothe pale and lene Thy myght thi vertu goth away A sory geste in goode fay Thou herberest hem in thyne Inne 5107. Read herberedest [Sk.]. Th. omits hem. The god of loue whanne thou let Inne Wherfore I rede thou shette hym oute Or he shałł greve thee oute of doute Forto thi profiȝt it wole turne 5111. M. For to. Iff he nomore with thee soiourne In gret myscheef and sorwe sonken Ben hertis that of loue arn dronken As thou perauenture knowen shałł 5115. Read peraunter; see l. 5192 [Sk.]. Whanne thou hast lost the tyme ałł 5116. U. thy for the. And spent by thought in ydilnesse 5117. Read thy youth for by thought. In waste and wofułł lustynesse If thow maist lyue the tyme to se 5119. thou altered to thow. Of loue forto delyuered be Thy tyme thou shalt biwepe sore The whiche neuer thou maist restore For tyme lost as men may see For no thyng may recured be 5124. Th. recouered. And if thou scape yit atte laste Fro loue that hath thee so faste Knytt and bounden in his lace Certeyn I holde it but a grace For many oon as it is seyne Haue lost and spent also in veyne In his seruise withoute socour Body and soule good and tresour Witte and strengthe and eke richesse Of which they hadde neuer redresse Lamant THus taught and preched hath Resoun But love spilte hir sermoun That was so ymped in my thought That hir doctrine I sette at nought And yitt ne seide she neuer a dele That I ne vndirstode it wele Word by word the mater ałł But vnto love I was so thrałł Which callith ouer ałł his pray He chasith so my thought ay 5144. There is an erasure between thought and ay. Read alway or al day (5174) for ay [Sk.]. And holdith myne herte vndir his scle 5145. Read halt [Sk.]. As trust and trew as ony stele So that no deuocioun Ne hadde I in the sermoun Of dame Resoun ne of hir Rede 5149. hir written above the line. It toke no soiour in myne hede For ałł yede oute at oon ere That in that other she dide lere Fully on me she lost hir lore Hir speche me greued wondir sore THat vnto hir for Ire I seide 5155. Read Than for That. For anger as I dide abraide Dame and is it youre wille algate That I not loue but that I hate Alle men as ye me teche For if I do aftir youre speche Sith that ye seyne loue is not good Thanne must I nedis say with mood If I it leue in hatrede ay Lyuen and voide loue away From me a synfułł wrecche 5165. Insert and been before a [Sk.]. Hated of ałł that tecche 5166. In∣sert that loue after ałł [Sk.]. I may not go noon other gate For other must I loue or hate And if I hate men of newe More than loue it wole me Rewe As by youre preching semeth me For loue no thing ne preisith thee Ye yeve good counsel sikirly That prechith me al day that I Shulde not loues lore alowe 5175. The first two lines of leaf 102: Ye yeve good counsel sikerly That prechith me all day that I are repeated from leaf 101, back, but afterwards cancelled. He were a foole wolde you not trowe In speche also ye han me taught Another loue that knowen is naught Which I haue herd you not repreue To love ech other by youre leve If ye wolde diffyne it me I wolde gladly here to se Atte the leest if I may lere Of sondry loves the manere Raisoun CErtis freend a fool art thou Whan that thou no thyng wolt allowe That I for thi profit say 5187. Insert thee after I; see l. 5188. 5194 [Sk.]. Yit wole I sey thee more in fay 5188. thee, second e written above the line. For I am redy at the leste To accomplisshe thi requeste But I not where it wole avayle In veyn perauntre I shal travayle Love ther is in sondry wise As I shal thee heere devise For somme loue leful is and good I mene not that which makith thee wood And bringith thee in many a fitte And Rauysshith fro thee al thi witte It is so merveilouse and queynte With such love be no more aqueynte LOue of freendshipp also ther is Conment Raisoun Diffinist aunsete 5201. Read amisete (amisté, amistié) for aunsete; cf. Englische Studien, XIII, p. 529. Which makith no man done amys Of wille knytt bitwixe two That wole not breke for wele ne woo Which long is likly to contune Whanne wille and goodis ben in comune Grounded by goddis ordinaunce Hoole withoute discordaunce With hem holdyng comunte Of ałł her goode in charite That ther be noon excepcioun Thurgh chaungyng of entencioun That ech helpe other at her neede And wisely hele bothe word and dede Trewe of menyng devoide of slouthe For witt is nought without trouthe 5216. M. B. withoute. So that the ton dar ałł his thought Seyn to his freend and spare nought As to hym silf without dredyng To be discouered by wreying For glad is that coniunccioun Whanne ther is noon susspecioun Whom they wolde prove 5223. Read [Ne lak in hem] whom they wolde prove [Sk.]. That trewe and parfit weren in love For no man may be amyable But if he be so ferme and stable That fortune chaunge hym not ne blynde But that his freend ałł wey hym fynde Bothe pore and Riche in oo state 5229. Read in oon estate [Sk.]. For if his freend thurgh ony gate Wole compleyne of his pouerte He shulde not bide so long til he Of his helpyng hym requere For goode dede done thurgh praiere Is sold and bought to deere Iwys To hert that of grete valour is For hert fulfilled of gentilnesse Can yvel demene his distresse And man that worthy is of name To asken often hath gret shame A good man brenneth in his thought For shame whanne he axeth ought He hath gret thought and dredeth ay For his disese whanne he shal pray His freend lest that he warned be Til that he preve his stabilte But whanne that he hath founden oon That trusty is and trewe as stone And assaied hym at alle 5249. Insert hath before assaied. And founde hym stedefast as a walle And of his freendshipp̄ be certeyne He shal hym shewe bothe joye and peyne And ałł that dar thynke or sey 5253. M. B. U. insert he before dar. Withoute shame as he wel may For how shulde he a shamed be Of sich one as I tolde thee For whanne he woot his secre thought The thridde shal knowe therof right nought For tweyne of noumbre is bet than thre In euery counsełł and secre Repreue he dreded neuer a deele 5261. Th. dredeth. Who that bisett his wordis wele For euery wise man out of drede Can kepe his tunge til he se nede And fooles can not holde her tunge A fooles belle is soone runge Yit shal a trewe freend do more To helpe his felowe of his sore And socoure hym whanne he hath neede In ałł that he may done in deede And gladder that he hym plesith 5271. B. inserts be after gladder. Than his felowe that he esith And if he do not his requeste He shal as mochel hym moleste As his felow for that he May not fulfille his volunte Fully as he hath requered 5277. Insert As before fully [Sk.]. U. re∣quired. If bothe the hertis love hath fered 5278. Omit the [Sk.]. U. fired. Joy and woo they shułł departe And take euenly ech his parte 5280. Read taken [Sk.]. Half his anoy he shal haue ay And comfort what that he may 5282. U. inserts him before what. And of this blisse parte shal he 5283. Read his for this. If loue wole departed be ANd whilom of this vnyte Spake Tulius in a ditee And shulde maken his requeste 5287. Read A man for And. Vnto his freend that is honeste And he goodly shulde it fulfille But it the more were out of skile And other wise not graunte therto Except oonly in cause twoo 5292. Read casis for cause; cf. l. 5301 [Sk.]. If men his freend to deth wolde drife Late hym be bisy to saue his lyne Also if men wolen hym assayle Of his wurshipp̄ to make hym faile And hyndren hym of his Renoun Late hym with fułł entencioun His deuer done in eche degre That his freend ne shamed be In this two caas with his myght 5301. Read cases [Sk.]. Taking no kepe to skile nor right As ferre as loue may hym excuse This ought no man to refuse 5304. M. oughte. This loue that I haue tolde to thee Is no thing contrarie to me This wole I that thou folowe wele And leue the tother euerydele This love to vertu ałł entendith The tothir fooles blent and shendith ANother loue also there is That is contrarie vnto this Which desire is so constreyned 5313. Perhaps insert with before desire. That is but wille feyned 5314. M. B. insert it (U. it ne) before is. Awey fro trouthe it doth so varie That to good loue it is contrarie For it maymeth in many wise Sike hertis with coueitise Ałł in wynnyng and in profit Sich love settith his delite This loue so hangeth in balaunce That if it lese his hope perchaunce Of lucre that he is sett vpon It wole faile and quenche anoon For no man may be amerous Ne in his lyuyng vertuous But he loue more in moode 5327. Read But if he [Sk.]. Men for hem silf than for her goode For loue that profit doth abide Is fals and bit not in no tyde Loue cometh of dame fortune 5331. Insert This before Loue; cf. ll. 5305, 5321. That litel while wole contune For it shal chaungen wonder soone And take Eclips right as the moone Whanne he is from vs lett 5335. U. she for he; cf. ll. 5339-46. M. ilett; U. ylet. Thurgh erthe that bitwixe is sett The sonne and hir as it may falle Be it in partie or in ałł The shadowe maketh her bemys merke And hir hornes to shewe derke That part where she hath lost hir lyght Of phebus fully and the sight Til whanne the shadowe is ouerpaste She is enlumyned ageyn as faste Thurgh the brightnesse of the sonne bemes 5345. U. omits former the. That yeveth to hir ageyne hir lemes That love is right of sich nature Now is faire and now obscure 5348. U. inserts it after is. Now bright now clipsi of manere And whilom dymme and whilom clere As soone as poverte gynneth take With mantel and wedis blake 5352. M. U. insert with before wedis. Hidith of loue the light awey 5353. Read It hit for Hidith [Sk.]. That into nyght it turneth day It may not see Richesse shyne Till the blak shadowes fyne 5356. Th. blacke; M. U. blake. For whanne Richesse shyneth bright Loue recouereth ageyn his light And whanne it failith he wole flit And as she greueth so greueth it 5360. Read And as she groweth so groweth it. Of this loue here what I sey The riche men are loued ay And namely tho that sparand bene That wole not wasshe her hertes clene Of the filthe nor of the vice Of gredy brennyng auarice The Riche man fułł fonned is ywys 5367. Read fond [Sk.]. That weneth that he loued is If that his herte it vndirstode It is not he it is his goode He may wel witen in his thought His good is loued and he right nought For if he be a nygard eke Men wole not sette by hym a leke But haten hym this is the sothe Lo what profit this catell doth 5376. B. U. Th. his for this. Of euery man that may hym see It geteth hym nought but enmyte But he amende hym silf of that vice 5379. U. omits silf. And knowe hym silf he is not wys Certys he shulde ay freendly be To gete hym loue also ben free Or ellis he is not wise ne sage Nomore than is a gote Ramage That he not loueth his dede proueth Whan he his Richesse so wel loueth That he wole hide it ay and spare His pore freendis sene forfare To kepen ay his purpose 5389. Read To kepe it ay is his purpose [Sk.]. Til for drede his Iyen close And til a wikked deth hym take Hym hadde leuer a sondre shake And late ałł hise lymes a sondre Ryue 5393. Omit ałł or asondre. Than leve his Richesse in his lyue He thenkith parte it with no man Certayn no love is in hym than How shulde loue withynne hym be Whanne in his herte is no pite That he trespasseth wel I wote 5399. Th. wate. For ech man knowith his estate For wel hym ought to be reproued 5401. Read oughte for ought to [Sk.]. That loueth nought ne is not loved But se we arn to fortune comen 5403. Th. sithe for se. And hath oure sermoun of hir nomen 5404. Read have. A wondir wiłł y telle thee nowe Thou herdist neuer sich oon I trowe I note where thou me leven shałł Though sothfastnesse it be it ałł 5408. Th. omits second it. As it is writen and is soth That vnto men more profit doth The froward fortune and contraire Than the swote and debonaire And if thee thynke it is doutable It is thurgh argument provable For the debonaire and softe Falsith and bigilith ofte For lyche a moder she can cherishe And mylken as doth a norys And of hir goode to hym deles 5419. Read hem. And yeveth hym parte of her Ioweles 5420. Read hem. With grete Richesse and dignite And hem she hoteth stabilite In a state that is not stable But chaungynge ay and variable And fedith hym with glorie and veyne 5425. U. hem. B. U. Th. Omit and And worldly blisse noncerteyne Whanne she hym settith on hir whele 5427. U. hem. Thanne wene they to be right wele And in so stable state withałł That neuer they wene forto falle And whanne they sette so high be 5431. M. highe. They wene to haue in certeynte Of hertly freendis to grete noumbre 5433. M. B. so for to. That no thyng myght her state encombre They trust hem so on euery side Wenyng with hym they wolde abide 5436. Read hem In euery perełł and myschaunce Withoute chaunge or variaunce Bothe of catełł and of goode And also forto spende her bloode And ałł her membris forto spille Oonly to fulfille her wille They maken it hole in many wise 5443. Read make. And hoten hem her fułł seruise How sore that it do hem smerte Into her naked sherte 5446. M. inserts veray (B. U. Th. very) before naked. Herte and ałł so hole they yeve For the tyme that they may lyue So that with her flaterie They maken foolis glorifie Of her wordis spekyng 5451. Insert gret before spekyng [Sk.]. And han cheer of a reioysyng 5452. Read ther-of for cheer of. And trowe hem as the euangile And it is ałł falsheede and gile As they shal aftirward se 5455. M. aftirwardes; U. aftirwardis. Whanne they arn falle in pouerte And ben of good and catełł bare Thanne shulde they sene who freendis ware For of an hundred certeynly Nor of a thousande fułł scarsly Ne shal they fynde vnnethis oon Whanne pouerte is comen vpon For thus fortune that I of telle 5463. Read this for thus. With men whanne hir lust to dwelle Makith men to leese her conisaunce 5465. Th. hem for men. And norishith hem in ignoraunce BVt froward fortune and perverse Whanne high estatis she doth reuerse And maketh hem to tumble doune Or with hir whele with sodeyn tourne 5470. B. U. Th. Of for Or with. And from her Richesse doth hem fle And plongeth hem in pouerte As a stepmoder envyous And leieth a plastre dolorous Vnto her hertis wounded egre Which is not tempred with vynegre But with pouerte and indigence Forto shewe by experience That she is fortune verelye In whom no man shulde affye 5480. Insert that after whom [Sk.]. Nor in hir yeftis haue fiaunce She is so fułł of variaunce Thus kan she maken high and lowe Whanne they from Richesse arn throwe Fully to knowen without were 5485. M. withoute. Freend of affect and freend of chere 5486. Read effect [Sk.]. And which in loue weren trewe and stable And whiche also weren variable After fortune her goddes 5489. M. Th. goddesse. In pouerte outher in richesse For ałł that yeueth here out of drede 5491. Read she yeueth for yeueth here. Vnhappe bereveth it in dede For in fortune late not oon 5493. M. B. U. In-fortune. Of freendis whanne fortune is gone I mene tho freendis that wole fle Anoon as entreth pouerte And yit they wole not leve hem so But in ech place where they go They calle hem wrecche scorne and blame And of her myshappe hem diffame And namely siche as in Richesse Pretendith moost of stablenesse Whanne that the sawe hym sett on lofte 5503. M. B. U. Th. they for the. And weren of hym socoured ofte And most I hope in ałł her neede 5505. M. B. U. i-holpe (Th. yholpe) for I hope. But now they take no maner heede But seyn in voice of flaterie That now apperith her folye Ouer ałł where so they fare And synge go fare wel feldfare 5510. Th. feldefare. Ałł suche freendis I beshrewe For of trewe ther be to fewe But sothfast freendis what so bitide In euery fortune wolen abide Thei han her hertis in suche noblesse That they nyl loue for no Richesse Nor for that fortune may hem sende Thei wolen hem socoure and defende And chaunge for softe ne for sore For who is freend loueth euermore Though men drawe swerde his freend to slo He may not hewe her love a two But in case that I shałł sey 5523. Insert this before case; see l. 5529 [Sk.]. For pride and Ire lese it he may And for reproue by nycete And discovering of priuite With tonge woundyng as feloun Thurgh venemous detraccioun Frende in this case wole gone his way For no thyng greve hym more ne may And for nought ellis wole he fle If that he love in stabilite And certeyn he is wel bigone Among a thousand that fyndith oon 5534. Read fint [Sk.]. For ther may be no Richesse Ageyns frendshipp of worthynesse For it ne may so high atteigne As may the valoure soth to seyne Of hym that loveth trew and wełł Frendshipp is more than is catełł For freend in court ay better is Than peny in purs certis 5542. U. inserts is after peny. And fortune myshappyng Whanne vpon men she is fablyng 5544. Read fallyng for fablyng. Thurgh mysturnyng of hir chaunce And caste hem oute of balaunce 5546. Read castith [Sk.]. She makith thurgh hir aduersite Men fułł clerly forto se Hym that is freend in existence From hym that is by apparence For yn fortune makith anoon 5551. M. yn-fortune. To knowe thy freendis fro thy foon By experience right as it is The which is more to preise ywis Than in myche Richesse and tresour 5555. Read is for in. For more depe profit and valour 5556. Read doth for depe; sce l. 5410. Pouerte and such aduersite Bifore than doth prosperite For the toon yeueth conysaunce And the tother ignoraunce ANd thus in pouerte is in dede Trouthe declared fro falsheed For feynte frendis it wole declare And trewe also what wey they fare For whanne he was in his Richesse These freendis ful of doublenesse Offrid hym in many wise Hert and body and seruise What wolde he thanne ha yow to ha bought 5569. Read What wolde he than ha yeve, ha bought [Sk.]. To knowen openly her thought That he now hath so clerly seen The lasse bigiled he shulde haue bene And he hadde thanne perceyued it But Richesse nold not late hym witte Wel more avauntage doth hym thanne Sith that it makith hym a wise man The gret myscheef that he perceyueth 5577. Read receyueth. Than doth richesse that hym deceyueth Richesse riche ne makith nought Hym that on tresour sette his thought For Richesse stonte in suffisaunce And no thyng in habundaunce For suffisaunce ałł oonly Makith men to lyue Richely LOr he that hath mycches tweyne 5585. M. B. U. Th. For. Insert but after hath [Sk.]. Ne value in his demeigne 5586. Insert more after Ne [Sk.]. Lyueth more at ese and more is Riche Than doth he that is chiche 5588. Insert so after is [Sk.]. And in his berne hath soth to seyn An hundred mavis of whete greyne 5590. Read mowis [Sk.]. Though he be chapman or marchaunte And haue of golde many besaunte For in the getyng he hath such woo And in the kepyng drede also And sette euermore his bisynesse Forto encrese and not to lesse Forto avment and multiplie And though on hepis that lye hym bye 5598. For that read it, referring to richesse [Sk.]. Yit neuer shal make his Richesse Asseth vnto his gredynesse But the poure that recchith nought Saue of his lyflode in his thought Which that he getith with his travaile He dredith nought that it shałł faile Though he haue lytel worldis goode Mete and drynke and esy foode Vpon his travel and lyuyng And also suffisaunt clothyng Or if in syknesse that he fałł And lothe mete and drynke withałł Though he haue not his mete to bye 5611. Read nought [Sk.]. He shal bithynke hym hastly 5612. Th. hastely. To putte hym oute of ałł daunger That he of mete hath no myster Or that he may with lytel eke Be founden while that he is seke Or that men shułł hym berne in haste 5617. Read bere. To lyue til his syknesse be paste To somme maysondewe biside He caste nought what shal hym bitide 5620. Read cast [Sk.]. He thenkith nought that euere he shałł Into ony syknesse fałł ANd though it fałł as it may be That ałł be tyme spare shałł he 5624. Written by a later hand on a line originally left blank. As mochel as shal to hym suffice While he is sike in ony wise He doth for that he wole be 5627. Insert it after doth [Sk.]. Contente with his pouerte Withoute nede of ony man So myche in litel haue he can He is apaied with his fortune And for he nyl be importune Vnto no witte ne honerous 5633. M. wightte; B. U. wight. Th. onerous. Nor of her goodes coueitous Therfore he spareth it may wel bene His pore estate forto sustene OR if hym lust not forto spare But suffrith forth as not ne ware 5638. Read nought. Atte last it hapneth as it may Right vnto his last day 5640. M. U. laste. And take the world as it wolde be 5641. Read taketh [Sk.]. For euere in herte thenkith he The sonner that deth hym slo 5643. Th. sooner. Insert shall before hym. To paradys the sonner go 5644. Th. sooner. He shal there forto lyue in blisse Where that he shal noo good misse 5646. M. goode. Thider he hopith god shal hym sende Aftir his wrecchid lyues ende Pictigoras hym silf reherses 5649. Th. Pythagoras. In a book that the golden verses Is clepid for the nobilite Of the honourable ditee Thanne whanne thou goste thy body fro Fre in the Eir thou shalt vp go And leuen al humanite And purely lyue in deite He is a foole withouten were That trowith haue his Countre heere In erthe is not oure Countre That may these clerkis seyn and see In Boice of consolacioun Where it is maked mencioun Of oure countre pleyn at the Eye By teching of philosophie Where lewid men myght lere witte Who so that wolde translaten it If he be sich that can wel lyue Aftir his Rent may hym yeve 5668. M. U. rente. Read yive. And not desireth more to haue Than may fro pouerte hym saue A wise man seide as we may seen Is no man wrecched but he it wene Be he kyng knyght or Ribaude And many a Ribaude is mery and bavde That wynkith and berith bothe day and nyght 5675. M. B. U. Th. swynkith. Many a burthen of gret myght The whiche doth hym lasse offense For he suffrith in pacience They laugh and daunce trippe and synge And ley not vp for her lyuyng 5680. her, r written above the line. But in the tauerne ałł dispendith The wynnyng that god hem sendith 5682. U. inserts which before that. Thanne goth he fardeles forto bere With as good chere as he dide ere To swynke and traueile he not feyntith 5685. Th. fayneth; cf. l. 4831. For for to Robben he disdeyntith 5686. Th. disdayneth; cf. l. 4832. But right anoon aftir his swynke He goth to tauerne forto drynke Ałł these ar Riche in abundaunce That can thus haue suffisaunce Wel more than can an vsurere As god wel knowith withoute were For an vsurer so god me se 5693. Omit an. Shal neuere for richesse riche be But euermore pore and indigent Scarce and gredy in his entent FOr soth it is whom it displese Ther may no marchaunt lyue at ese His herte in sich a where is sett 5699. M. B. were. That it quyk brenneth to gete 5700. Insert more before to [Sk.]. Ne neuer shal though he hath geten 5701. Read ynough have for though he hath. Though he haue gold in gerners yeten Forto be nedy he dredith sore 5703. M. For to. Wherfore to geten more and more He sette his herte and his desire 5705. Th. set. So hote he brennyth in the fire Of coueitise that makith hym woode To purchace other mennes goode He vndirfongith a gret peyne That vndirtakith to drynke vp seyne 5710. Th. Sayne. For the more he drynkith ay The more he leueth the soth to say Thus is thurst of fals getyng 5713. Read This for Thus. U. inserts the before thurst. That laste euer in coueityng 5714. Read last [Sk.]. And the angwisshe and distresse With the fire of gredynesse She fightith with hym ay and stryueth That his herte a sondre ryueth Such gredynesse hym assaylith That whanne he most hath most he sailith Phiciciens and advocates Gone right by the same yates They selle her science for wynnyng And haunte her crafte for gret getyng Her wynnyng is of such swetnesse That if a man falle in sikenesse They are fułł glad for ther encrese For by her wille withoute lees Eueriche man shulde be seke And though they die they sette not a leke 5730. Omit second they. After whanne they the gold haue take Fułł litel care for hem they make They wolde that fourty were seke atonys 5733. U. omits that. Yhe .II. hundred in flesh and bonys And yit .II. thousand as I gesse Forto encrecen her Richesse They wole not worchen in no wise But for lucre and coueitise For fysic gynneth first by fy The phicicien also sorthely 5740. M. B. Th. sothely. And sithen it goth fro fy to fy 5741. M. sy for second fy. To truste on hem is foly 5742. Th. inserts it before is. For they nyl in no maner gre Do right nought for charite Eke in the same secte ar sette Ałł tho that prechen forto gete Worshipes honour and richesse 5747. richesse, r faded. Her hertis arn in grete distresse That folk lyue not holily 5749. Insert ne before lyue [Sk.]. But abouen ałł specialy Sich as prechen veynglorie 5751. Insert for after prechen. And toward god haue no memorie But forth as ypocrites trace And to her soules deth purchace And outward shewing holynesse 5755. Read shewen. Though they be fułł of cursidnesse Not liche to the apostles twelue They deceyue other and hem selue Bigiled is the giler thanne For prechyng of a cursed man Though to other may profite 5761. U. inserts it before to. Hymsilf it availeth not a myte 5762. Omit it [Sk.]. For ofte goode predicacioun Cometh of evel entencioun To hym not vailith his preching Ałł helpe he other with his teching For where they good ensaumple take There is he with veynglorie shake But late vs leven these prechoures And speke of hem that in her toures Hepe vp her gold and fast shette 5771. Th. M. faste. And sore theron her herte sette 5772. U. hertis. They neither loue god ne drede They kepe more than it is nede And in her bagges sore it bynde Out of the sonne and of the wynde They putte vp more than nede were 5777. Th. ware. Whanne they seen pore folk forfare For hunger die and for cold quake God can wel vengeaunce therof take The gret myscheues hem assailith 5781. M. B. Thre. And thus in gadring ay trauaylith With mych peyne they wynne richesse 5783. M. myche. And drede hem holdith in distresse To kepe that they gadre faste With sorwe they leve it at the laste With sorwe they bothe dye and lyue That vnto Richesse her hertis yiue 5788. Read to for vnto. And in defaute of loue it is As it shewith ful wel Iwys For if this gredy the sothe to seyn 5791. Th. these. U. omits the Loueden and were loued ageyn And goode loue regned ouer ałł Such wikkidnesse ne shulde fałł But he shulde yeue that most good hadde To hem that weren in nede bistadde And lyue withoute false vsure For charite fułł clene and pure If they hem yeue to goodnesse Defendyng hem from ydelnesse In ałł this world thanne pore noon We shulde fynde I trowe not oon But chaunged is this world vnstable For loue is ouer ałł vendable We se that no man loueth nowe But for wynnyng and for prowe And loue is thralled in seruage Whanne it is sold for avauntage Yit wommen wole her bodyes selle Suche soules goth to the deuel of helle

[No break in the MS.]

WHanne love hadde told hem his entent 5811. Read entente. The baronage to councel went 5812. Read wente. In many sentences they fille And dyuersely they seide hir tille 5814. Read her wille (Th. her wyll; B. hir wille; U. ther wille) for hir till. On leaf 115, back and all the pages following there is the heading: ¶ Falssemblant. But aftir discorde they accorded And her accord to loue recorded Sir seiden they we ben atone 5817. Read at oon [Sk.]. Bi euene accorde of euerichone 5818. Read euerichoon [Sk.]. Outake Richesse al oonly That sworne hath ful havteynly 5820. Read sworen [Sk.]. The she the castełł nyl not assaile 5821. M. B. U. Th. That for The. U. omits not. Ne smyte a stroke in this bataile With darte ne mace spere ne knyf For man that spekith or berith the lyf And blameth youre emprise Iwys And from oure hoost departed is Atte lest wey as in this plyte 5827. M. U. leste. So hath she this man in dispite For she seith he ne loued hir neuer And therfore she wole hate hym euere For he wole gadre no tresoure 5831. Th. tresore. He hath hir wrath for euermore He agylte hir neuer in other caas Lo heere ałł hoolly his trespas She seith wel that this other day 5835. Written twice in the MS.; but the first line struck out. He axide hir leue to gone the way 5836. Th. asked. That is clepid to moche yevyng And spak fułł faire in his praiyng But whanne he praiede hir pore was he 5839. Read prayde [Sk.]. Therfore she warned hym the entre Ne yit is he not thryuen so That he hath geten a peny or two That quytely is his owne in holde 5843. Read quitly [Sk.]. Read hold [Sk.]. Thus hath richesse vs ałł tolde 5844. Read told [Sk.]. And whanne Richesse vs this Recorded Withouten hir we ben accorded ANd we fynde in oure accordaunce That false semblant and abstinaunce With ałł the folk of her bataille Shułł at the hyndre gate assayle That wikkid tunge hath in kepyng With his normans fułł of Ianglyng And with hem curtesie and largesse That shułł shewe her hardynesse To the olde wyf that kepte so harde 5855. Read kepeth. Fair welcomyng withynne her warde Thanne shal delite and wel heelynge Fonde shame adowne to brynge With ałł her oost erly and late They shułł assailen that ilke gate 5860. Read thilke for that ilke [Sk.]. Agayns drede shałł hardynesse 5861. M. Agaynes. Assayle and also sikernesse With ałł the folk of her ledyng That neuer wist what was fleyng FRaunchise shałł fight and eke pite With daunger fułł of cruelte Thus is youre hoost ordeyned wele Doune shałł the castełł euery dele If eueriche do his entent 5869. Read en∣tente. So that venus be present 5870. Read presente. Youre modir fułł of vesselage 5871. Read vasselage [Sk.]. That can ynough of such vsage Withouten hir may no wight spede This werk neithir for word ne deede Therfore is good ye for hir sende For thurgh hir may this werk amende LOrdynges my modir the goddesse That is my lady and my maistresse Nis not ałł at my willyng 5879. Insert at before ałł. Ne doth not ałł my desiryng Yit can she some tyme done labour Whanne that hir lust in my socour As my nede is forto a cheue 5883. Read Al my nedis for As my nede is. M. a-cheve. But now I thenke hir not to greue My modir is she and of childehede I bothe worshipe hir and eke drede 5886. Omit eke [Sk.]. For who that dredith sire ne dame Shal it abye in body or name And netheles yit kunne we 5889. Read natheles. Sende aftir hir if nede be And were she nygh she comen wolde I trowe that no thyng myght hir holde MI modir is of gret prowesse She hath tan many a fortresse 5894. Th. forteresse. That cost hath many a pounde er this There I nas not present ywis And yit men seide it was my dede But I come neuer in that stede Ne me ne likith so mote I the That such toures ben take withoute me 5900. Omit That and ben. For why me thenkith that in no wise It may bene clepid but marchandise GO bye a courser blak or white And pay therfore than art thou quyte The marchaunt owith thee right nought Ne thou hym whanne thou it bought 5906. M. inserts hast before bought. I wole not sellyng elepe yevyng For sellyng axeth no guerdonyng Here lith no thank ne no merite That oon goth from that other al quyte 5910. al written above the line. But this sellyng is not semblable For whanne his hors is in the stable He may it selle ageyn parde And wynnen on it such happe may be 5914. Read wynne. Ałł may the man not leese Iwys For at the leest the skynne is his Or ellis if it so bitide That he wole kepe his hors to Ride Yit is he lord ay of his hors But thilk chaffare is wel wors 5920. M. U. thilke; Th. thylke. There venus entremetith ought For who so such chaffare hath bought He shal not worchen so wisely That he ne shal leese al outerly Bothe his money and his chaffare But the seller of the ware The prys and profit haue shałł Certeyn the bier shal leese ałł For he ne can so dere it bye To haue lordship and fułł maistrie Ne haue power to make lettyng Neithir for yift ne for prechyng That of his chaffare maugre his Another shal haue asmoche Iwis If he wole yeue as myche as he Of what contrey so that he be Or for right nought so happe may If he can flater hir to hir pay Ben thanne siche marchauntz wise No but fooles in euery wise Whanne they bye sich thyng wilfully There as they leese her good folyly 5942. Read fully for folyly. But natheles this dar I say 5943. Th. saye. My modir is not wont to pay 5944. Th. paye. For she is neither so fool ne nyce To entremete hir of sich wise 5946. M. U. vice (Th. vyce) for wise. But trust wel he shal pay ałł 5947. U. trustith; M. Th. truste. That repent of his bargeyn shałł Whanne pouerte putte hym in distresse Ałł were he scoler to Richesse That is for me in gret yernyng Whanne she assentith to my willyng BVt my modir seint venus 5953. M. B. insert by before my. And by hir fader saturnus That hir engendride by his lyf But not vpon his weddid wyf Yit wole I more vnto you swere To make this thyng the seurere 5958. Read sikerere for seurere; cf. ll. 6147, 7308. Now by that feith and that beaute 5959. M. B. leaute for beaute; cf. l. 6006. That I owe to ałł my britheren fre 5960. Omit That. Of which ther nys wight vndir heuen That kan her fadris names neuen So dyuerse and so many therbe 5963. M. B. U. ther be. That with my modir haue be priue Yit wolde I swere for sikirnesse The pole of helle to my witnesse Now drynke I not this yeere clarre If that I lye or forsworne be For of the goddes the vsage is That who so hym forswereth amys Shal that yeer drynke no clarre Now haue I sworne ynough pardee If I forswere me thanne am I lorne But I wole neuer be forsworne Syth Richesse hath me failed heere She shal abye that trespas ful dere 5976. B. U. omit ful. Atte leest wey but hir arme 5977. M. U. leeste. M. inserts she after but. With swerd or sparth or gysarme 5978. Insert with before gysarme [Sk.]. For certis sith she loueth not me Fro thilk tyme that she may se 5980. Th. thylke. The castełł and the tour to shake 5981. Read to-shake. In sory tyme she shal a wake 5982. M. a-wak. If I may grepe a riche man 5983. Th. grype. I shal so pulle hym if I can That he shal in a fewe stoundes Lese ałł his markis and his poundis I shal hyn make his pens outslynge But they in his gerner sprynge 5988. Read But if they [Sk.]. Oure maydens shal eke pluk hym so That hym shal neden fetheres mo And make hym selle his londe to spende But he the bet kunne hym defende POre nen han maad her lord of me Al though they not so myghty be That they may fede me in delite I wole not haue hem in despite No good man hateth hym as I gesse 5997. M. B. U. Th. hem. For chynche and feloun is richesse That so can chase hym and dispise 5999. M. B. U. Th. hem. And hem defoule in sondry wise They louen fułł bet so god me spede 6001. Read loue. Than doth the riche chynchy grede 6002. Read gnede for grede [Sk.]. And ben in good feith more stable And trewer and more seruiable And therfore it suffisith me Her good herte and her beaute 6006. M. goode. Read leaute for beaute; cf. l. 5959. They han on me sette ałł her thought And therfore I forgete hem nought I wole hem bringe in grete noblesse 6009. Read wolde. If that I were god of Richesse As I am god of loue sothely 6011. Read sothly [Sk.]. Sich Routhe vpon her pleynt haue I Therfore I must his socour be That peyneth hym to seruen me For if he deide for loue of this Thanne semeth in me no loue ther is SIr seide they soth is euery deel That ye reherce and we wote wel Tilk oth to holde is resonable 6019. Th. Thylke; M. B. Thilk. For it is good and couenable That ye on Riche men han sworne For sir this wote we wel biforne If Riche men done you homage That is as fooles done outrage But ye shułł not forsworne be Ne lette therfore to drynke clarre Or pyment makid fresh and newe Ladies shułł hem such pepir brewe If that they fałł into her laas That they for woo mowe seyn allas Ladyes shullen euere so curteis be That they shal quyte youre oth ałł free Ne sekith neuer othir vicaire For they shal speke with hem so faire That ye shal holde you paied fułł wele Though ye you medle neuer a dele Late ladies worthe with her thyngis 6037. Th. worche. They shal hem telle so fele tidynges And moeue hem eke so many requestis Bi flateri that not honest is And therto yeve hym such thankynges 6041. M. B. U. Th. hem. Read thwakkynges for thank∣ynges. What with kissyng and with talkynges That certis if they trowed be Shal neuer leue hem londe ne fee That it nyl as the moeble fare Of which they first delyuerid are Now may ye telle vs ałł youre wille And we youre heestes shal fulfille BVt falsseblant dar not for drede 6049. M. B. U. Fals-semblant. Of you sir medle hym of this dede For he seith that ye ben his foo He note if ye wole worche hym woo Wherfore we pray you alle beausire That ye forgyue hym now your Ire And that he may dwelle as your man With abstinence his dere lemman This oure accord and oure wille nowe 6057. This = This is. Parfay seide loue I graunte it yowe I wole wel holde hym for my man Now late hym come and he forth ran Falssemblant quod loue in this wise I take thee heere to my seruise That thou oure freendis helpe away 6063. M. B. U. Th. alway. And hyndreth hem neithir nyght ne day 6064. U. hindre. But do thy myght hem to releue And eke oure enemyes that thou greue Thyne be this myght I graunte it thee My kyng of harlotes shalt thou be We wole that thou haue such honour Certeyne thou art a fals traitour And eke a theef sith thou were borne A thousand tyme thou art forsworne But netheles in oure heryng 6073. Th. nathelesse. To putte oure folk out of doutyng I bidde thee teche hem wostowe howe Bi somme general signe nowe In what place thou shalt founden be If that men had myster of thee And how men shal thee best espye For thee to knowe is gret maistrie Telle in what place is thyn hauntyng Sir I haue fele dyuerse wonyng That I kepe not rehersed be So that ye wolde respiten me For if that I telle you the sothe I may haue harme and shame bothe If that my felowes wisten it My talis shulden me be quytt For certeyne they wolde hate me If euer I knewe her cruelte For they wolde ouerałł holde hem stille Of trouthe that is ageyne her wille Suche tales kepen they not here I myght eftsoone bye it fułł deere 6094. Omit fułł. If I seide of hem ony thing That ought displesith to her heryng For what word that hem prikke or biteth 6097. U. prickith. In that word noon of hem deliteth Al were it gospel the euangile That wolde reproue hem of her gile For they are cruel and havteyne And this thyng wote I wełł certeyne If I speke ought to peire her loos Your court shal not so wełł be cloos That they ne shałł wite it atte last Of good men am I nought agast For they wole taken on hem no thyng Whanne that they knowe al my menyng But he that wole it on hym take He wole hym silf suspecious make That he his lyf let couertly In gile and in Ipocrisie That me engendred and yaf fostryng They made a fułł good engendryng Quod loue for who so sothly telle They engendred the deuel of helle BVt nedely how so euere it be Quod loue I wole and charge thee To telle anoon thy wonyng places Heryng ech wight that in this place is And what lyf that thou lyuest also Hide it no lenger now wherto Thou most discouere ałł thi wurchyng How thou seruest and of what thyng Though that thou shuldist for thi sothe sawe Ben altobeten and to drawe And yit art thou not wont pardee But natheles though thou beten be Thou shalt not be the first that so Hath for sothsawe suffred woo SIr sith that it may liken you Though that I shulde be slayne right now I shal done youre comaundement For therto haue I gret talent Withouten wordis mo right thanne 6135. Th. than. Falssemblant his sermon biganne 6136. Th. began. And seide hem thus in audience Barouns take heede of my sentence That wight that list to haue knowing Of falssemblant fułł of flatering He must in worldly folk hym seke And certes in the cloistres eke I wone no where but in hem twey 6143. Read tweye. But not lyk even soth to sey 6144. Read seye. Shortly I wole herberwe me There I hope best to hulstred be And certeynly sikerest hidyng Is vndirnethe humblest clothing Religiouse folk ben fułł couert Seculer folk ben more appert But natheles I wole not blame Religious folk ne hem diffame In what habit that euer they go Religioun vmble and trewe also Wole I not blame ne dispise But I nyl loue it in no wise I mene of fals Religious That stoute ben and malicious That wolen in an abit goo And setten not her herte therto REligious folk ben al pitous Thou shalt not seen oon dispitous They loven no pride ne no strif But humbely they wole lede her lyf With which folk wole I neuer be 6165. Read swich for which. And if I dwelle I feyne me I may wel in her abit go But me were leuer my nekke a two Than lette a purpose that I take 6169. Read lete [Sk.]. What couenaunt that euer I make I dwelle with hem that proude be And fułł of wiles and subtilite 6172. Read sotelte [Sk.]. That worship of this world coueiten And grete nede kunnen espleiten 6174. Read nedes cunne [Sk.]. And gone and gadren gret pitauncz 6175. B. U. pitaunces. And purchace hem the acqueyntauncz 6176. B. U. acqueyntaunces. Of men that myghty lyf may leden And feyne hem pore and hem silf feden With gode morcels delicious And drinken good wyne precious 6180. good written above the line. And preche vs pouert and distresse And fisshen hem silf gret Richesse With wily nettis that they cast It wole come foule out at the last They ben fro clene Riligioun went They make the world an argument That a foule conclusioun 6187. M. B. U. Th. insert hath before a. I haue a Robe of Religioun Thanne am I ałł Religious This argument is ałł roignous 6190. Written in the margin by the same hand. It is not worth a croked brere Abit ne makith neithir monk ne frere 6192. U. omits neithir. But clene lyf and deuocioun Makith gode men of Religioun Netheles ther kan noon answere 6195. Th. Nathelesse. How high that euere his heed he shere With resoun whetted neuer so kene 6197. M. B. U. Th. rasour for resoun. That gile in braunches kut thrittene 6198. Perhaps read trenches for braunches. Ther can no wight distincte it so That he dare sey a word therto BVt what herberwe that euer I take Or what semblant that euere I make I mene but gile and folowe that For right no mo than gibbe oure cat [A line left blank in the MS.] 6205. Thynne inserts: (That awayteth myce & rattes to kyllen). Ne entende I but to bigilyng 6206. Th. begylen. Ne no wight may by my clothing Wite with what folk is my dwellyng Ne by my wordis yit parde So softe and so plesaunt they be Biholde the dedis that I do But thou be blynde thou oughtest so For varie her wordis fro her deede They thenke on gile without dreede 6214. M. withoute. What maner clothing that they were Or what estate that euere they bere Lered or lewde lord or lady Knyght squyer burgeis or bayly RIght thus while falssemblant sermoneth Eftsones loue hym aresoneth And brake his tale in his spekyng As though he had hym tolde lesyng And seide what deuel is that I here What folk hast thou vs nempned heere May men fynde Religioun In worldly habitacioun yhe sir it folowith not that they Shulde lede a wikked lyf parfey 6228. A line left blank in the MS. at the bottom of leaf 123, back. Ne not therfore her soules leese That hem to worldly clothes chese For certis it were gret pitee Men may in seculer clothes see Florishen hooly religioun Fułł many a seynt in feeld and toune With many a virgine glorious Deuoute and fułł religious Han deied that comyn cloth ay beeren 6237. Read comun [Sk.]. Yit seyntes neuere the lesse they weren I cowde reken you many a ten Yhe wel nygh these hooly wymmen 6240. M. B. insert alle (Th. al) before these. That men in chirchis herie and seke Bothe maydens and these wyues eke That baren fułł many a faire child heere 6243. Omit fułł. Wered alwey clothis seculere And in the same dieden they That seyntes weren and ben alwey The .XI. thousand maydens deere That beren in heuen her ciergis clere Of whiche men Rede in chirche and synge Were take in seculer clothing Whanne they resseyued martirdome And wonnen heuene vnto her home Good hert makith the good thought 6253. M. Th. herte. M. goode; U. gode. The clothing yeveth ne reveth nought The good thought and the worching 6255. M. goode; U. gode. That makith the Religioun flowryng Ther lyth the good religioun 6257. M. goode; U. gode. Aftir the right entencioun WHo so took a wethers skynne 6259. Read toke [Sk.]. And wrapped a gredy wolf therynne For he shulde go with lambis whyte Wenest thou not he wolde hem bite Yhis neuerthelasse as he were woode He wolde hem wery and drinke the bloode And wel the rather hem disceyue For sith they cowde not perceyue His treget and his cruelte They wolde hym folowe al wolde he fle IF ther be wolues of sich hewe Amonges these apostlis newe Thou hooly chirche thou maist biwailed 6271. M. B. U. be wailed. Sith that thy Citee is assayled Thourgh knyghtis of thyn owne table 6273. Thourgh, r written above the line. God wote thi lordship is doutable If thei enforce it to wynne 6275. Insert hem after enforce; see l. 6407 [Sk.]. That shulde defende it fro withynne Who myght defense ayens hem make Without stroke it mote be take 6278. M. Withoute. Of trepeget or mangonel Without displaiyng of pensel And if god nyl done it socour 6281. it written above the line. But lat renne in this colour 6282. Read let hem for lat [Sk.]. Thou most thyn heestis laten be Thanne is ther nought but yelde thee Or yeve hem tribute doutlees 6285. Read doutelees. And holde it of hem to haue pees But gretter harme bitide thee That they al maister of it be Wel konne they scorne thee withal By day stuffen they the wałł 6290. Insert wel before stuffen [Sk.]. And al the nyght they mynen there Nay thou planten most elles where 6292. Read most planten [Sk.]. Thyn ympes if thou wolt fruyt haue Abide not there thi silf to saue BVt now pees heere I turne ageyne I wole nomore of this thing feyne 6296. Read seyn. If I may passen me herby I myght maken you wery 6298. Read myghte. But I wole heten you al way To helpe youre freendis what I may So they wollen my company For they be shent al outerly But if so falle that I be Ofte with hem and they with me And eke my lemman mote they serue Or they shułł not my loue deserue Forsothe I am a fals traitour God iugged me for a theef trichour Forsworne I am but wel nygh none Wote of my gile til it be done THourgh me hath many oon deth resseyued That my treget neuere aperceyued And yit resseyueth and shal resseyue That my falsnesse shal neuere aperceyue 6314. Omit shal [Sk.]. But who so doth if he wise be Hym is right good be warre of me 6316. Read war [Sk.]. But so sligh is the aperceyuyng [A line left blank in the MS.] 6317-18. Read But so sligh is the deceyuyng That to hard is the aperceyuyng. 6318. Thynne inserts That al to late cometh knowynge. For Protheus that cowde hym chaunge In euery shap homely and straunge Cowde neuere sich gile ne tresoune As I for I come neuer in toune There as I myght knowen be 6323. M. myghte. Though men me bothe myght here and see Fułł wel I can my clothis chaunge Take oon and make another straunge Now am I knyght now chasteleyne Now prelat and now chapeleyne 6328. and written above the line. Now prest now clerk and now forstere Now am I maister now scolere Now monke now chanoun now baily What euer myster man am I Now am I prince now am I page And kan by herte euery langage Somme tyme am I hore and olde Now am I yonge stoute and bolde 6336. Read yong and stout [Sk.]. Now am I Robert now Robyn Now frere menour now Iacobyn And with me folwith my loteby To done me salas and company 6340. M. B. solas; Th. U. solace. That hight dame abstinence and reyned 6341. Read streyned for and reyned; cf. ll. 7323, 7364, 7481. In many a queynte array feyned Ryght as it cometh to hir lykyng I fulfille al hir desiryng Somtyme a wommans cloth take I Now am I a mayde now lady 6346. Omit a. Somtyme I am religious Now lyk an anker in an hous Somtyme am I Prioresse And now a nonne and now Abbesse And go thurgh ałł Regiouns Sekyng ałł religiouns But to what ordre that I am sworne I take the strawe and bete the corne 6354. B. lete for bete. To Ioly folk I enhabite I axe nomore but her abite What wole ye more in euery wise Right as me lyst I me disgise Wel can I were me vndir wede 6359. U. bere (Th. beare) for were. Vnlyk is my word to my dede Make into my trappis falle 6361. M. B. U. Th. Thus make I for Make. Read in for into [Sk.]. Thurgh my pryueleges alle That ben in cristendome alyue I may assoile and I may shryue That no prelat may lette me Ałł folk where euere thei founde be I note no prelate may done so But it the pope be and no mo That made thilk establisshing Now is not this a propre thing But were my sleightis a perceyued [A line left blank in the MS.] 6372. Th. U. omit this line; B. (note) has: I shulde no lenger ben received; M. inserts: Ne shulde I more ben receyved. As I was wont and wostow whye For I dide hem a tegetrie 6374. M. B. tregetrie. But therof yeue I a lytel tale 6375. Omit a. I haue the siluer and the male So haue I prechid and eke shreuen 6377. Read shriven. So haue I take so haue I yeven 6378. Read me yiven for I yeven. Thurgh her foly husbonde and wyf That I lede right a Ioly lyf Thurgh symplesse of the prelacye They knowe not al my tregettrie BVt for asmoche as man and wyf Shulde shewe her parocħ prest her lyf Onys a yeer as seith the book Er ony wight his housel took Thanne haue I pryuylegis large That may of mych thing discharge 6388. M. myche; Th. moche. For he may seie right thus parde Sir preest in shrift I telle it thee That he to whom that I am shryuen Hath me assailed and me yeuen 6392. M. B. assoiled; U. assoilid; Th. assoyled. For penaunce sothly for my synne 6393. Th. omits For. Which that I fonde me gilty ynne Ne I ne haue neuere entencioun To make double confessioun Ne reherce efte my shrift to thee O shrift is right ynough to me This ought thee suffice wele 6399. M. oughte. Ne be not Rebel neuer a dele For certis though thou haddist it sworn I wote no prest ne prelat borne That may to shrift efte me constreyne And if they done I wole me pleyne For I wote where to pleyne wele Thou shalt not streyne me a dele Ne enforce me ne not me trouble To make my confessioun double Ne I haue none affeccioun To haue double Absolucioun The firste is right ynough to me This latter assoilyng quyte I thee I am vnbounde what maist thou fynde More of my synnes me to vnbynde For he that myght hath in his honde Of ałł my synnes me vnbonde And if thou wolt me thus constreyne That me mote nedis on thee pleyne There shałł no Iugge imperial Ne bisshop ne Official Done Iugement on me for I Shal gone and pleyne me openly Vnto my shriftfadir newe 6423. M. shriftefadir. That hight not frere wolf vntrewe And he shal cheueys hym for me For I trowe he can hampre thee But lord he wolde be wrooth withałł If men hym wolde frere wolf całł For he wolde haue no pacience But done al cruel vengeaunce He wolde his myght done at the leest No thing spare for goddis heest 6432. Insert Ne before No. And god so wys be my socour But thou yeve me my sauyour At ester whanne it likith me Withoute presyng more on thee 6436. Read pressyng. I wole forth and to hym gone And he shal housel me anoon For I am out of thi grucching I kepe not dele with thee no thing Thus may he shryue hym that forsaketh His parocħ prest and to me takith And if the prest wole hym refuse I am fułł redy hym to accuse And hym punysshe and hampre so That he his chirche shal forgo BVt who so hath in his felyng The consequence of such shryuyng Shal sene that prest may neuer haue myght To knowe the conscience a right Of hym that is vndir his cure And this ageyns holy scripture 6452. this = this is. That biddith euery heerde honeste Haue verry knowing of his beeste But pore folk that gone by strete That haue no gold ne sommes grete Hem wolde I lete to her prelates Or lete her prestis knowe her states Forto me right nought yeve they 6459. M. For to. And why it is for they ne may 6460. M. is it for it is. They ben so bare I take no kepe But I wole haue the fat sheepe 6462. M. Th. fatte. Lat parish prestis haue the lene I yeue not of her harme a bene And if that prelates grucche it 6465. Read prelats grucchen [Sk.] That oughten woth be in her witt 6466. M. B. U. wroth. To leese her fat beestes so 6467. M. Th. fatte. I shal yeve hem a stroke or two That they shal leesen with force 6469. Perhaps read by seint Joce for with force; see C. T. D. 483. Yhe bothe her mytre and her croce Thus Iape I hem and haue do longe My pryueleges ben so stronge FAlssemblant wolde haue stynted heere But loue ne made hym no such cheere That he was wery of his sawe But forto make hym glad and fawe He seide telle on more specialy Hou that thou seruest vntrewly 6478. M. vntrewely. Telle forth and shame thee neuer a dele For as thyn abit shewith wele Thou seruest an hooly heremyte 6481. Read semest for seruest; cf. Ten Brink, Chaucer-Studien, p. 29. Sothe is but I am but an ypocrite 6482. Omit but an. Thou goste and prechest pouerte Yhe sir but richesse hath pouste Thou prechest abstinence also Sir I wole fillen so mote I go My paunche of good mete and wyne 6487. M. goode. As shulde a maister of dyuyne For how that I me pouer feyne 6491. Read thacqueyntaunce for that queyntaunce; cf. l. 3562. Yit ałł pore folk I disdeyne ILoue bettir that queyntaunce Ten tyme of the kyng of fraunce Than of a pore man of mylde mode 6493. Omit mylde. Though that his soule be also gode For whanne I see beggers quakyng Naked on myxnes al stynkyng For hungre crie and eke for care I entremete not of her fare

[See ll. 6505-6.]

They ben so pore and ful of pyne They myght not oonys yeve me a dyne 6500. Omit a. For they haue no thing but her lyf What shulde he yeve that likketh his knyf It is but foly to entremete To seke in houndes nest fat mete Lete bere hem to the spitel anoon But for me comfort gete they noon But a Riche sike vsurere Wolde I visite and drawe nere Hym wole I comforte and rehete For I hope of his gold to gete And if that wikkid deth hym haue I wole go with hym to his graue And if ther ony reproue me Why that I lete the pore be Wostow how I not a scape 6515. Read mot for not. I sey and swere hym ful rape That Riche men han more tecches Of synne than han pore wrecches And han of counsel more mister And therfore I wole drawe hem ner But as grete hurt it may so be Hath a soule in right grete pouerte 6522. U. omits a; see l. 6523. As soule in grete Richesse forsothe Al be it that they hurten bothe For richesse and mendicitees Ben clepid .II. extremytees The mene is cleped suffisaunce Ther lyth of vertu the aboundaunce For Salamon fułł wel I wote In his parablis vs wrote As it is knowe to many a wight 6531. Th. of for to. In his thrittene chapitre right 6532. U. thirtieth. God thou me kepe for thi pouste Fro Richesse and mendicite For if a Riche man hym dresse To thenke to myche on richesse 6536. Insert his before richesse. His herte on that so fer is sett That he his creatour foryett 6538. he written in the margin. And hym that beggith wole ay greue 6539. Read begging for beggith; cf. l. 6787. How shulde I bi his word hym leue Vnnethe that he nys a mycher Forsworne or ellis goddis lyer 6542. Read god is for goddis. Thus seith Salamon sawes 6543. Sala∣mones. Ne we fynde writen in no lawis And namely in oure cristen lay Whoso seith yhe I dar sey nay That crist ne his apostlis dere While that they walkide in erthe heere Were neuer seen herbred beggyng 6549. M. B. her bred. For they nolden beggen for no thing 6550. Read nolde [Sk.]. And right thus was men wont to teche And in this wise wolde it preche 6552. it written above the line. The maistres of diuinite Somtyme in Parys the citee ANd if men wolde ther geyn appose The nakid text and lete the glose It myght soone assoiled be 6557. M. myghte. For men may wel the sothe see That parde they myght aske a thing Pleynly forth without begging For they weren goddis herdis deere And cure of soules hadden heere They nolde no thing begge her fode For aftir crist was done on rode With ther propre hondis they wrought 6565. Read her [Sk.]. And with trauel and ellis nought They wonnen ałł her sustenaunce And lyueden forth in her penaunce 6568. Perhaps read pacience for her penaunce. And the remenaunt yaf awey 6569. Read yave. To other pore folkis alwey 6570. Read folk [Sk.]. They neither bilden tour ne halle But they in houses smale with alle 6572. Read ley for they. A myghty man that can and may Shulde with his honde and body alway Wynne hym his fode in laboring If he ne haue rent or sich a thing Al though he be religious And god to seruen curious Thus mote he done or do trespas But if it be in certeyn cas That I can reherce if myster be Right wel whanne the tyme I se 6583. The initial S has been cut out of the MS.; M. B. U. Th. Seke. Eke the book of seynt Austyne Be it in papir or perchemyne There as he writ of these worchynges Thou shalt seen that noon excusynges A parfit man ne shulde seke Bi wordis ne bi dedis eke Al though he be Religious And god to seruen curious That he ne shal so mote I go With propre hondis and body also 6592. Read honde; see l. 6574. Gete his fode in laboryng If he ne haue proprete of thing Yit shulde he selle ałł his substaunce And with his swynk haue sustenaunce If he be parfit in bounte Thus han tho bookes tolde me 6598. Read told it for tolde. For he that wole gone ydilly And vsith it ay desily 6600. M. B. U. besily. Go haunten other mennens table 6601. Th. B. U. To for Go. M. B. Th. mennes. He is a trechour ful of fable Ne he ne may by gode resoun Excuse hym by his orisoun For men bihoueth in somme gise Ben somtyme in goddis seruise 6606. Read Somtyme leven for Ben somtyme in; cf. ll. 71, 6610 [Sk.]. To gone and purchasen her nede Men mote eten that is no drede And slepe and eke do other thing 6609. eke written in the margin by the same hand. So longe may they leue praiyng So may they eke her praier blynne While that they werke her mete to wynne Seynt austyn wole therto accorde In thilke book that I recorde Justinian eke that made lawes 6615. Justinian, interlined. Hath thus forboden by old dawes 6616. M. B. Th. olde. NO man vp peyne to be dede Mighty of body to begge his brede If he may swynke it forto gete Men shulde hym rather mayme or bete Or done of hym aperte Iustice Than suffren hym in such malice They done not wel so mote I go That taken such almesse so But if they haue somme pryuelege That of the peyne hem wole allege But how that is can I not see But if the prince disseyued be Ne I ne wene not sikerly That they may haue it rightfully But I wole not determine Of prynces power ne defyne Ne by my word comprende Iwys If it so ferre may strecche in this I wole not entremete a dele But I trowe that the book seith wele Who that takith almessis that be Dewe to folk that men may se Lame feble wery and bare Pore or in such maner care That konne wynne hem neuer mo For they haue no power therto He etith his owne dampnyng But if he lye that made al thing And if ye such a truaunt fynde Chastise hym wel if ye be kynde But they wolde hate you percas And if ye fillen in her laas They wolde eftsoonys do you scathe If that they myght late or rathe 6650. M. myghte. For they be not fułł pacient That han the world thus foule blent And witeth wel that god bad 6653. Insert though before god. The good man selle al that he had 6654. Read gode and omit that [Sk.]. And folowe hym and to pore it yeue He wolde not therfore that he lyne To seruen hym in mendience For it was neuere his sentence But he bad wirken whanne that neede is And folwe hym in goode dedis Seynt poule that loued al hooly chirche He bade thappostles forto wirche And wynnen her lyflode in that wise 6663. Read wynne. And hem defended truaundise And seide wirketh with youre honden 6665. Read honde. Thus shulde the thing be vndirstonden 6666. Read under∣stonde. He nolde Iwys haue bidde hem begging 6667. Omit haue [Sk.] Ne sellen gospel ne prechyng Lest they berafte with her askyng Folk of her catel or of her thing For in this world is many a man That yeveth his good for he ne can Werne it for shame or ellis he Wolde of the asker delyuered be And for he hym encombrith so He yeveth hym good to late hym go But it can hym no thyng profit They lese the yift and the meryte The good folk that poule to preched 6679. M. goode. Profred hym ofte whan he hem teched Somme of her good in charite But therfore right no thing toke he But of his hondwerk wolde he gete Clothes to wryne hym and his mete 6684. Read wryen [Sk.]. TElle me thanne how a man may lyuen That al his good to pore hath yiuen And wole but oonly bidde his bedis And wole but only done that . . . 6688. Written by a later hand on a line originally left blank; last word illegible. Thynne has: And neuer with hondes labour his nedes. May he do so yhe sir and how Sir I wole gladly telle yow Seynt Austyn seith a man may be In houses that han proprete As templers and hospitelers And as these chanouns regulers Or white monkes or these blake I wole no mo ensamplis make And take therof his sustenyng For therynne lyth no begging But other weys not ywys 6699. M. weyes. Yit Austyn gabbith not of this 6700. Read Yif for Yit. And yit fułł many a monke laboreth That god in hooly chirche honoureth For whanne her swynkyng is agone They rede and synge in chirche anone ANd for ther hath ben gret discorde As many a wight may bere Recorde Vpon the estate of mendiciens 6707. Read mendience; cf. l. 6657. I wole shortly in youre presence Telle how a man may begge at nede That hath not wherwith hym to fede Maugre his felones Iangelyngis For sothfastnesse wole none hidyngis And yit percas I may abey 6713. M. abeye. That I to yow sothly thus sey 6714. M. seye. LO heere the caas especial If a man be so bestial That he of no craft hath science And nought desireth ignorence Thanne may he go abegging yerne Til he somme maner crafte kan lerne Thurgh which without truaundyng 6721. M. withoute. He may in trouthe haue his lyuyng Or if he may done no labour For elde or sykenesse or langour Or for his tendre age also Thanne may he yit a begging go Or if he haue perauenture Thurgh vsage of his norture 6728. Th. noriture. Lyued ouer deliciously Thanne oughten good folk comunly Han of his myscheef somme pitee And suffren hym also that he May gone aboute and begge his breed That he be not for hungur deed Or if he haue of craft kunnyng And strengthe also and desiryng To wirken as he had what 6737. M. hadde. But he fynde neithir this ne that Thanne may he begge til that he Haue geten his necessite Or if his wynnyng be so lite That his labour wole not acquyte Sufficiantly al his lyuyng Yit may he go his breed begging Fro dore to dore he may go trace Til he the remenaunt may purchace Or if a man wolde vndirtake Ony emprise forto make In the Rescous of oure lay And it defenden as he may Be it with armes or lettrure Or other couenable cure If it be so he pore be Thanne may he begge til that he May fynde in trouthe forto swynke And gete hym clothe mete and drynke 6756. Read clothes [Sk.]. Swynke he with hondis corporełł And not with hondis espirituełł IN al this caas and in semblables 6759. Read thise. If that ther ben mo resonables He may begge as I telle you heere And ellis nought in no manere As william seynt amour wolde preche And ofte wolde dispute and teche Of this mater ałł openly At Parys fułł solemply 6766. M. solempnely. And also god my soule blesse As he had in this stedfastnesse The accorde of the vniuersite And of the puple as semeth me NO good man oughte it to refuse Ne ought hym therof to excuse Be wrothe or blithe who so be For I wole speke and telle it thee Al shulde I dye and be putt doun As was seynt poule in derke prisoun Or be exiled in this caas With wrong as maister william was That my moder ypocrysie Banysshed for hir gret enuye MI modir flemed hym Seynt Amour The noble dide such labour 6782. Th. This for The. To susteyne euere the loyalte That he to moche agilt me 6784. M. U. agilte. He made a book and lete it write Of thyngis that he beste myghte 6786. Written by a later hand on a line originally left blank; Thynne has: Wherein his lyfe he dyd al write. Read endite for al write. And wolde ich reneyed begging And lyued by my traueylyng If I ne had rent ne other goode What wened he that I were woode For labour myght me neuer plese I haue more wille to bene at ese And haue wel leuer soth to sey Bifore the puple patre and prey And wrie me in my foxerie Vnder a cope of paperlardie 6796. Th. papelardie. QVod loue what deuel is this that I heere 6797. Omit that [Sk.]. What wordis tellest thou me heere What sir falsnesse that apert is Thanne dredist thou not god no certis For selde in grete thing shal he spede In this world that god wole drede For folk that hem to vertu yeven And truly on her owne lyuen And hem in goodnesse ay contene On hem is lytel thrift sene 6806. Th. ysene. Such folk drinken gret mysese That lyf may me neuer plese 6808. Insert ne before may [Sk.]. But se what gold han vsurers And siluer eke in garners 6810. M. inserts her before garners. Taylagiers and these monyours Bailifs bedels prouost countours These lyuen wel nygh by Rauyne The smale puple hem mote enclyne And they as wolues wole hem eten Vpon the pore folk they geten Fułł moche of that they spende or kepe Nis none of hem that he nyl strepe And wrine hem silf wel at fułł 6819. Read him-self [Sk.]. Read atte for at. Without scaldyng they hem pułł 6820. M. Withoute. The stronge the feble ouergoth But I that were my symple cloth Robbe bothe Robbyng and Robbours 6823. B. U. robbed for Robbyng. And gile giling and gilours 6824. B. U. giled for giling. By my treget I gadre and threste The gret tresour into my cheste That lyth with me so fast bounde 6827. M. U. faste. Myn high paleys do I founde 6828. M. highe. And my delites I fulfille With wyne at feestes at my wille And tables fułł of entremees I wole no lyf but ese and pees And wynne gold to spende also For whanne the gret bagge is go 6834. M. U. grete. It cometh right with my Iapes 6835. Insert yet after right [Sk.]. Make I not wel tumble myn apes To wynnen is alwey myn entent 6837. Read wynne. My purchace is bettir than my rent For though I shulde beten be Ouer al I entremete me Without me may no wight dure 6841. M. Withoute. I walke soules forto cure Of al the world cure haue I 6843. U. inserts the before cure; cf. l. 7680. In brede and lengthe boldly 6844. Read boldely.

[See ll. 6841-42.]

I wole bothe preche and eke counceilen With hondis wille I not traueilen For of the Pope I haue the bułł I ne holde not my wittes dułł I wole not stynten in my lyue These Emperours forto shryue 6850. Read Emperoures. Or kyngis dukis lordis grete But pore folk al quyte I lete I loue no such shryuyng parde But it for other cause be I rekke not of pore men Her astate is not worth an hen Where fyndest thou a swynker of labour 6857. Omit a. Haue me vnto his confessour But Emperesses and duchesses Thise Queenes and eke Countesses Thise Abbessis and eke bygyns 6862. M. grete. These gret ladyes Palasyns These Ioly knyghtis and baillyues Thise Nonnes and thise burgeis wyues That Riche ben and eke plesyng And thise maidens welfaryng Wher so they clad or naked be Vncounceiled goth ther noon fro me And for her soules sauete At lord and lady and her meyne I axe whanne thei hem to me shryue The proprete of al her lyue And make hem trowe bothe meest and leest Hir parocħ prest nys but a beest Ayens me and my companye That shrewis ben as gret as I Fro whiche I wole not hide in holde No pryuete that me is tolde That I by word or signe ywis Wole make hem knowe what it is 6880. Read Nel or Nil (Th. Ne wol) for Wole [Sk.]. And they wolen also tellen me They hele fro me no pryuyte And forto make yow hem perceyuen That vsen folk thus to disceyuen I wole you seyn withouten drede What men may in the gospel rede Of seynt Mathew the gospelere That seith as I shal you sey heere 6888. Read seye you. Uppon the chaire of moyses Thus is it glosed doutles 6890. M. douteles. That is the olde testament For ther by is the Chaire ment Sitte Scribes and pharisen 6893. Read pharisien. That is to seyn the cursid men Whiche that we ypocritis calle Doth that they preche I rede you alle But doth not as they don a dele That ben not wery to seye wele But to do wel no wiłł haue they And they wolde bynde on folk al wey 6900. Read wole. That ben to be giled able 6901. U. be begilid for be giled. Burdons that ben importable 6902. Read Burthens or Burdens. On folkes shuldris thinges they couchen That they nyl with her fyngris touchen And why wole they not touche it why For hem ne lyst not sikirly For sadde burdons that men taken 6907. Read Burthens or Burdens. Make folkes shuldris aken And if they do ought that good be That is for folk it shulde se Her burdons larger maken they 6911. Read Burthens or Burdens. And make her hemmes wide alwey And louen setes at the table The firste and most honourable And forto han the first chaieris In synagogis to hem fułł deere is And willen that folk hem loute and grete 6917. Read wille. Whanne that they passen thurgh the strete And wolen be cleped maister also 6919. Read wole. But they ne shulde not willen so The gospel is ther ageyns I gesse That shewith wel her wikkidnesse ANother custome vse we Of hem that wole ayens vs be We hate hym deedly euerichone 6925. Read hem. And we wole werrey hym as oon 6926. Read hem. Hym that oon hatith hate we alle And congecte hou to done hym falle And if we seen hym wynne honour Richesse or preis thurgh his valour Prouende rent or dignyte Fułł fast Iwys compassen we Bi what ladder he is clomben so And forto maken hym doun to go With traisoun we wole hym defame And done hym leese his good name 6936. M. goode; U. gode. Thus from his ladder we hym take And thus his freendis foes we make But word ne wite shal he noon Tiłł ałł hise freendis ben his foon For if we dide it openly We myght haue blame redily For hadde he wist of oure malice He hadde hym kept but he were nyce ANother is this that if so falle That ther be oon amonge us alle That doth a good turne out of drede We seyn it is oure alder deede Yhe sikerly though he it feyned Or that hym list or that hym deyned A man thurgh hym avaunced be Therof ałł parseners be we And tellen folk where so we go That man thurgh vs is sprongen so And forto haue of men preysyng We purchace thurgh oure flateryng Of Riche men of gret pouste Lettres to witnesse oure bounte So that man weneth that may vs see That ałł vertu in vs be And al wey pore we vs feyne But how so that we begge or pleyne We ben the folk without lesyng That ałł thing haue without hauyng Thus be we dred of the puple Iwis And gladly my purpos is this I dele with no wight but he Haue gold and tresour gret plente Her acqueyntaunce wel loue I This is moche my desire shortly 6970. Omit is; This=This is; cf. l. 6452. I entremete me of brokages I make pees and mariages I am gladly executour And many tymes a procuratour 6974. Omit a. I am somtyme messager That fallith not to my myster And many tymes I make enquestes For me that office not honest is To dele with other mennes thing That is to me a gret lykyng And if that ye haue ought to do In place that I repeire to I shal it speden thurgh my witt As soone as ye haue told me it So that ye serue me to pay My seruyse shal be youre alway But who so wole chastise me Anoon my loue lost hath he For I loue no man in no gise That wole me repreue or chastise But I wolde al folk vndirtake And of no wight no teching take For I that other folk chastie Wole not be taught fro my folie I Loue noon hermitage more Ałł desertes and holtes hore And gret wodes euerichon 6997. M. U. grete. I lete hem to the baptist Ioħn I quethe hym quyte and hym relese 6999. Th. relesse. Of egipt ałł the wildirnesse To ferre were alle my mansiouns Fro Citees and goode tounes 7002. Read For in for Fro. My paleis and myn hous make I There men may renne ynne openly And sey that I the world forsake But al amydde I bilde and mak My hous and swmme and pley therynne 7007. M. B. U. swimme. Bet than a fish doth with his fynne OF antecristes men am I Of whiche that crist seith openly They have Abit of hoolynesse And lyuen in such wikkednesse , Outward lambren semen we , Fułł of goodnesse and of pitee And inward we withouten fable Ben gredy wolues rauysable We enviroune bothe londe and fe 7017. M. B. se (Th. see) for fe. With ałł the world werrien we We wole ordeyne of al thing Of folkis good and her lyuyng IF ther be castel or Citee Wherynne that ony begger be 7022. Read bouger for begger. Al though that they of Milayne were For therof ben they blamed there Or if a wight out of mesure Wolde lene his gold and take vsure For that he is so coueitous Or if he be to leccherous Or these that haunte symonye 7029. Perhaps read Or thefe or for Or these that [Sk.]. Or prouost fułł of trecherie Or prelat lyuyng iolily Or prest that halt his quene hym by Or olde horis hostilers Or other bawdes or bordillers Or ełł blamed of ony vice 7035. Written in the margin by the same hand. M. B. elles. Of whiche men shulden done Iustice Bi ałł the seyntes that me pray 7037. Th. we for me. Read praye. But they defende them with lamprey 7038. Read lampreye. With luce with elys with samons With tendre gees and with Capons With tartes or with cheffis fat 7041. M. chessis. With deynte flawns brode and flat 7042. M. B. flawnes. With Caleweis or with pullaylle With Conynges or with fyne vitaille That we vndir our clothes wide Maken thourgh oure golet glide Or but we wole do come in haste 7047. M. B. U. Th. he for we. Roo venysoun bake in paste 7048. M. ibake; U. ybake. Whether so that he loure or groyne He shal haue of a corde a loigne With whiche men shal hym bynde and lede To brenne hym for his synful deede That men shułł here hym crie and rore A myle wey aboute and more Or ellis he shal in prisoun dye But if he wole his frendship bye 7056. M. B. oure for his. Or smerten that that he hath do More than his gilt amounteth to But and he couthe thurgh his sleght Do maken vp a tour of hight Nought rought I whethir of stone or tree Or erthe or turves though it be Though it were of no vounde stone 7063. Read bounde for vounde [Sk.]. Wrought with squyre and scantilone So that the tour were stuffed wełł With ałł Richesse temporełł And thanne that he wolde vpdresse Engyns bothe more and lesse To cast at vs by euery side To bere his good name wide 7070. M. goode. Such sleghtes I shal yow neuene 7071. Insert as before I. Barelles of wyne by sixe or seuene Ll. 7071 and 7072 are transposed in the MS.; but the right order is marked in the margin by b, a. Or gold in sakkis gret plente He shulde soone delyuered be And if noon sich pitaunces 7075. M. B. U. insert he have before noon. Late hym study in equipolences And late lyes and fallaces 7077. Insert be after late. If that he wolde deserue oure graces Or we shal bere hym such witnesse Of synne and of his wrecchidnesse And done his loos so wide renne That al quyk we shulden hym brenne Or ellis yeue hym suche penaunce That is wel wors than the pitaunce FOr thou shalt neuer for no thing Kon knowen a right by her clothing The traitours fułł of trecherie But thou her werkis can a spie And ne hadde the good kepyng be 7089. Read nadde for ne hadde. Read goode. Whilom of the vniuersite That kepith the key of Cristendome Of al that here axe juste their dome 7092. Written by a later hand on a line originally left blank; Thynne has: We had ben turmented al and some. Suche ben the stynkyng prophetis Nys none of hem that good prophete is For they thurgh wikked entencioun The yeer of the incarnacioun A thousand and two hundred yeer Fyue and fifty ferther neuer 7098. Read fer ne ner for ferther neuer. Broughten a book with sory grace To yeven ensample in comune place That seide thus though it were fable This is the gospel perdurable That fro the holy goost is sent Wel were it worth to bene brent 7104. Read worthy. M. ibrent. Entitled was in such manere This book of which I telle heere Ther nas no wight in ałł parys Biforne oure lady at paruys , To copy if hym talent toke , 7109. See note to l. 7013. [A line left blank in the MS.] 7109/10. Thynne has: That they ne myght the booke by The sentence pleased hem trewly To the copye / if hem talent toke Of the Euangelystes booke; M. B. (note) insert: That they ne myghte buye the booke, before l. 7109 There myght he se by gret tresoun Fułł many fals comparisoun As moche as thurgh his gret myght 7113. M. U. grete. Be it of hete or of lyght The same sourmounteth the mone 7115. M. Th. sonne; B. U. sunne for same. That troublere is and chaungith soone And the note kernełł the shełł I scorne not that I yow tełł Right so withouten ony gile Sourmounteth this noble euangile The word of ony euangelist And to her title they token Crist And many a such comparisoun Of which I make no mencioun Might men in that book fynde 7125. M. booke. Who so coude of hem haue mynde THe vniuersite that tho was a slepe Gan forto braide and taken kepe And at the noys the heed vpcast Ne never sithen slept it fast But vp it stert and armes toke Ayens this fals horrible boke Al redy bateil to make 7133. M. U. insert for before to. And to the Iuge the book to take But they that broughten the boke there Hent it anoon awey for fere They nolde shewe more a dele 7137. Read it neuer for more. But thenne it kept and kepen wiłł 7138. Read wel for wiłł. Til such a tyme that they may see That they so stronge woxen be That no wyght may hem wel withstonde For by that book durst not stonde 7142. M. B. U. insert they before durst. Alwey they gonne it forto bere 7143. M. B. U. Awey. For they ne durst not answere 7144. M. durste. By exposicioun no glose 7145. B. ne. To that that clerkis wole appose 7146. Read wolde. Ayens the cursednesse Iwys That in that book writen is 7148. Read booke; cf. l. 7125, 7164. Now wote I not ne I can not see What maner eende that there shal be Of al this that they hyde 7151. Insert booke after this. But yit algate they shal abide Til that they may it bet defende This trowe I best wole be her ende THus antecrist abiden we For we ben alle of his meyne And what man that wole not be so Right soone he shal his lyf forgo , We wole a puple vpon hym areyse , 7159. See note to l. 7013. Read reyse for areyse. And thurgh oure gile done hym seise And hym on sharpe speris ryue Or other weyes brynge hym fro lyue But if that he wole folowe Iwis That in oure book writen is 7164. Read booke; cf. ll. 7125, 7148, 7188. THus mych wole oure book signifie That while petre hath maistrie 7166. Insert that after while [Sk.]. May neuer Ioħn shewe wełł his myght Now haue I you declared right The menyng of the bark and rynde That makith the entenciouns blynde But now at erst I wole bigynne To expowne you the pith withynne After l. 7172 insert: And first by Peter, as I wene, The Pope, as witen alle, I mene [Sk.].

[No gap in the MS.]

And the seculers comprehende That cristes lawe wole defende And shulde it kepen and mayntenen Ayens hem that ałł sustenen 7176. Read Ayeines. And falsly to the puple techen That Ioħn bitokeneth hem to prechen 7178. Read And Iohn bitokeneth hem that prechen. That ther nys lawe couenable But thilk gospel perdurable 7180. M. B. U. thilke. That fro the holygost was sent To turne folk that ben myswent THe strengthe of Ioħn they vndirstonde The grace in whiche they seie they stonde That doth the synfułł folk conuerte And hem to iesus crist reuerte Fułł many another orribilite May men in that book se 7188. M. booke. That ben comaunded douteles Ayens the lawe of Rome expres And ałł with antecrist they holden As men may in the book biholden And thanne comaunden they to sleen Alle tho that with petre been But they shal neuere haue that myght And god to forne for strif to fight 7196. Read ne for second to. That they ne shal ynough fynde 7197. Insert men after ynough [Sk.]. That petres lawe shal haue in mynde And euere holde and so mayntene That at the last it shal be sene That they shal ałł come therto For ought that they can speke or do And thilk lawe shal not stonde 7203. M. thilke. That they by Ioħn haue vndirstonde But maugre hem it shal adowne And bene brought to confusioun , But I wole stynt of this matere , 7207. See note to l. 7013. For it is wonder longe to here But hadde that ilke book endured Of better estate I were ensured And freendis haue I yit pardee That han me sett in gret degre OF ałł this world is Emperour Gyle my fadir the trechour And Emperis my moder is Maugre the holygost Iwis Oure myghty lynage and oure Rowte Regneth in euery regne aboute And wełł is worthy we mynystres be 7219. Read worth [Sk.]. Read maistres for mynystres. For ałł this world gouerne we And can the folk so wel disceyue That noon oure gile can perceyue And though they done they dar not sey 7223. Read seye. The sothe dar no wight bywrey 7224. Read bywreye. But he in cristis wrath hym ledith That more than crist my britheren dredith He nys no fułł good champioun That dredith such similacioun 7228. Read simulacioun. Nor that for peyne wole refusen Vs to correcte and accusen 7230. Read correcten [Sk.]. He wole not entremete by right Ne haue god in his iye sight And therfore god shal hym punyshe But me ne Rekke of no vice 7234. Th. recketh. Sithen men vs louen comunably 7235. Read comunly. And holden vs for so worthy That we may folk repreue echoon And we nyl haue repref of noon Whom shulden folk worshipen so But vs that stynten neuer mo To patren while that folk may vs see 7241. Omit may [Sk.]. Though it not so bihynde be ANd where is more wode folye Than to enhaunce chyualrie And loue noble men and gay That Ioly clothis weren alway If they be sich folk as they semen So clene as men her clothis demen And that her wordis folowe her dede It is gret pite out of drede For they wole be noon ypocritis Of hym me thynketh gret spite is 7252. U. hem. U. grete; perhaps read despit for spite. I can not loue hym on no side 7253. Read hem. But beggers with these hodes wide With steight and pale faces lene 7255. B. sleight. And grey clothis not fułł clene 7256. M. greye; Th. graye. But fretted fułł of tatarwagges And high shoos knopped with dagges 7258. M. highe. That frouncen lyke a quaile pipe Or botis Reuelyng as a gype To such folk as I you dyuyse Shulde princes and these lordis wise Take ałł her londis and her thingis 7263. Read thing [Sk.]. Bothe werre and pees in gouernyngis 7264. Read governing [Sk.]. To such folk shulde a prince hym yiue That wolde his lyf in honour lyue ANd if they be not as they seme That seruen thus the world to queme There wolde I dwelle to disceyue To folk for they shal not perceyue 7270. M. Th. The for To. But I ne speke in no such wise That men shulde humble abit dispise So that no pride ther vndir be No man shulde hate as thynkith me The pore man in sich clothyng But god ne preisith hym no thing That seith he hath the world forsake And hath to worldly glorie hym take And wole of siche delices vse Who may that begger wel excuse That papelard that hym yeldith so And wole to worldly ese go And seith that he the world hath lefte 7283. Read left [Sk.]. And gredily it grypeth efte 7284. Read eft [Sk.]. He is the hounde shame is to seyn That to his castyng goth ageyn BVt vnto you dar I not lye But myght I felen or aspie That ye perceyued it no thyng Ye shulde haue a stark lesyng Right in youre honde thus to bigynne 7291. Read hond [Sk.]. I nolde it lette for no synne The god lough at the wondir tho And euery wight gan laugh also And seide lo heere a man a right Forto be trusty to euery wight FAlssemblant quod loue sey to me Sith I thus haue avaunced thee That in my court is thi dwellyng And of Ribawdis shalt be my kyng Wolt thou wel holden my forwordis 7301. Read forwardis. Yhe sir from hens forewardis , 7302. M. hennes. 7013-7302. In the MS. ll. 7109-7158 [= leaf 140, l. 17-leaf 141, l. 18] are misplaced before ll. 7013-7108 [= leaf 141, l. 19-leaf 143, l. 16], and ll. 7159-7206 [= leaf 145, l. 17-leaf 146, l. 16] after ll. 7207-7302 [= leaf 143, l. 17-leaf 145, l. 16]. The same transposition occurs in Thynne's, Speght's and Urry's Editions; see Chaucer's Works, ed. by W. W. Skeat, I p. 12. Hadde neuer youre fadir heere biforne , 7303. See note to l. 7013. Read biforn [Sk.]. Seruaunt so trewe sith he was borne 7304. Read born [Sk.]. That is ayens ałł nature 7305. Read ayeines. Sir putte you in that auenture For though ye borowes take of me The sikerer shal ye neuer be For ostages ne sikirnesse Or chartres forto bere witnesse I take youre silf to Recorde heere That men ne may in no manere Teren the wolf out of his hide Til he be slayn bak and side 7314. U. inserts bothe before bak. Though men hym bete and alto defile 7315. Read al to-fyle [Sk.]. What wene ye that I wole bigile 7316. Read nil for wole. For I am clothed mekely Ther vndir is ałł my trechery Myn herte chaungith neuer the mo For noon abit in which I go Though I haue chere of symplenesse I am not wery of shrewidnesse Myn lemman streyneth abstinence 7323. Th. strayned; cf. ll. 7364, 7481. Read abstinaunce; cf. ll. 7354, 7481. Hath myster of my purueaunce She hadde ful longe ago be deede Nere my councel and my rede Lete hir allone and you and me And loue answerde I trust thee 7328. Th. truste. Without borowe for I wole noon 7329. M. Withoute. And falssemblant the theef anoon Ryght in that ilke same place That hadde of tresoun al his face Ryght blak withynne and white withoute Thankyth hym gan on his knees loute 7334. Read and on his knees gan loute for gan on his knees loute. THanne was ther nought but euery man Now to assaut that sailen can Quod loue and that fułł hardyly Thanne armed they hem communly Of sich armour as to hem felle Whanne the were armed fers and felle 7340. M. B. they for the. They wente hem forth ałł in a Route And set the castel al aboute 7342. Read sette. They wiłł nought away for no drede Tiłł it so be that they ben dede Or tiłł they haue the castel take And foure batels they gan make And parted hem in foure anoon And toke her way and forth they gone The foure gates forto assaile Of whiche the kepers wole not faile For they ben neithir sike ne dede But hardy folk and stronge in dede NOw wole I seyn the countynaunce 7353. Th. countenaunce. Of falssemblant and abstynaunce That ben to wikkid tonge went But first they heelde her parlement Whether it to done were To maken hem be knowen there Or elles walken forth disgised But at the last they deuysed 7360. M. U. laste. That they wolde gone in tapinage As it were in a pilgrimage Lyke good and hooly folk vnfeyned And dame abstinence streyned Toke on a Robe of kamelyne And gan hir gracche as a bygynne 7366. M. graithe. Th. bygyne. A large couerechief of threde She wrapped ałł aboute hir heede But she forgate not hir sawter A peire of bedis eke she bere Vpon a lace ałł of white threde On which that she hir bedes bede But she ne bought hem neuer a dele For they were geven her I wote wele God wote of a fułł hooly frere That seide he was hir fadir dere To whom she hadde ofter went Than ony frere of his couent And he visited hir also And many a sermoun seide hir to He nolde lette for man on lyue That he ne wolde hir ofte shryue [And with so great deuocion They made her confession That they had ofte for the nones Two heedes in one hoode at ones Of fayre shappe / I deuysed her the 7387. Read I deuyse her thee. But pale of face somtyme was she That false traytouresse vntrewe Was lyke that salowe horse of hewe That in the Apocalips is shewed That signifyeth to folke beshrewed 7392. M. B. tho for to. That ben al ful of trecherye And pale / through hypocrisye For on that horse no colour is But onely deed and pale ywis Of suche a colour enlangoured Was Abstynence iwys coloured Of her estate she her repented As her visage represented She had a burdowne al of thefte That Gyle had yeue her of his yefte And a skryppe of faynte distresse That ful was of elengenesse And forthe she walked sobrely And False semblant saynt / ie vous die And as it were for suche mistere 7407. Read Had for And. Done on the cope of a frere With chere symple / and ful pytous Hys lokyng was not disdeynous Ne proude / but meke and ful pesyble About his necke he bare a Byble [And squierly / forthe gan he gon And for to rest his lymmes vpon He had of treason a potent 7415. Read potente [Sk.]. As he were feble / his way he went 7416. Read wente [Sk.]. But in his sleue he gan to thring 7417. Read thringe [Sk.]. A rasour sharpe / and wel bytyng 7418. Read bytynge [Sk.]. That was forged in a forge Whiche that men clepen Coupe gorge So longe forthe her waye they nomen Tyl they to Wicked Tonge comen That at his gate was syttyng And sawe folke in the way passyng The pilgrymes sawe he faste by That beren hem ful mekely And humbly they with him mette 7427. M. B. humblely. Dame Abstynence first him grette And sythe him False semblant salued And he hem / but he not remeued 7430. Read remued [Sk.] For he ne dredde hem not a dele For whan he sawe her faces wele Alway in herte / him thought so 7433. M. thoughte. He shulde knowe hem bothe two For wel he knewe dame Abstynaunce But he ne knewe not Constreynaunce He knewe nat that she was constrayned Ne of her theues lyfe fayned But wende she come of wyl al free But she come in another degree And if of good wyl she beganne 7441. Read began. That wyl was fayled her thanne 7442. Read as than for thanne [Sk.]. ANd False Semblant had he sayne alse 7443. Read seyn for sayne [Sk.]. But he knewe nat that he was false Yet false was he / but his falsnesse Ne coude he nat espye / nor gesse For Semblant was so slye wrought That Falsenesse he ne espyed nought [But haddest thou knowen hym beforne 7449. Read beforn [Sk.]. Thou woldest on a boke haue sworne 7450. Read sworn [Sk.]. Whan thou him saugh in thylke araye That he / that whilome was so gaye And of the daunce Ioly Robyn Was tho become a Iacobyn But sothely what so menne hym cal 7455. Read men [Sk.]. Frere preachours bene good menne al 7456. Read men [Sk.]. 7456. Read Freres [Sk.]. Her order wickedly they beren Suche mynstrelles / if they weren So bene Augustyns / and Cordylers And Carmes / and eke Sacked freers And al freres shodde and bare 7461. Read alle [Sk.]. Though some of hem ben great and square 7462. Read grete [Sk.] Ful hooly men / as I hem deme Eueryche of hem wolde good man seme But shalte thou neuer of apparence Sene conclude good consequence In none argument ywis If existens al fayled is For menne maye fynde alwaye sopheme 7469. Read men [Sk.]. 7469. Read sophyme [Sk.]. The consequence to enueneme 7470. Read envenyme [Sk.]. Who so that hath hadde the subtelte 7471. Omit hadde. The double sentence for to se Whan the pylgrymes commen were To Wicked Tonge that dwelled there Her harneys nygh hem was algate By Wicked tonge adowne they sate That badde hem nere him for to come And of tidynges telle him some And sayd hem: What case maketh you To come in to this place nowe? SIr sayd Strayned Abstynaunce 7481. M. sayde. We for to drye our penaunce 7482. M. dryen. With hertes pytous and deuoute Are commen / as pylgrimes gon aboute Wel nyght on fote alway we go 7485. M. B. nygh. [Ful doughty ben our heeles two 7486. B. (note) dusty for doughty. And thus bothe we ben sent 7487. M. isent. Throughout this worlde that is miswent To yeue ensample / and preche also To fysshen synful menne we go For other fysshynge / ne fysshe we And sir / for that charyte 7492. Read sire. As we be wonte / herborowe we craue Your lyfe to amende Christ it saue And so it shulde you nat displease We wolden / if it were your ease A shorte sermon vnto you sayne 7497. Read short sermoun [Sk.]. Read sayn [Sk.]. And Wicked Tonge answered agayne 7498. Read agayn [Sk.]. The house (quod he) suche (as ye se) Shal nat be warned you for me Say what you lyst / and I wol here Graunt mercy swete sir dere. 7502. Read sire. (Quod alderfirst) dame Abstynence And thus began she her sentence Sir / the firste vertue certayne 7505. Read certayn [Sk.]. The greatest / and moste souerayne 7506. Read most souerayn [Sk.]. That may be founde in any man For hauynge / or for wytte he can That is his tonge to refrayne Therto ought euery wight him payne For it is better styll be 7511. M. stylle. U. inserts to before be. Than for to speken harme parde And he that herkeneth it gladly He is no good man sykerly And sir / abouen al other synne In that arte thou moste gylty inne Thou spake a iape / not longe a go And sir / that was ryght yuel do Of a yonge man / that here repayred And neuer yet this place apayred Thou saydest he awayted nothyng [But to disceyue Fayre welcomyng Ye sayd nothyng sothe of that 7523. M. sayde. But sir / ye lye / I tel you plat He ne cometh no more / ne gothe parde 7525. Read goth [Sk.] I trowe ye shal him neuer se Fayre welcomyng in prison is That ofte hath played with you er this The fayrest games that he coude Without fylthe styl or loude 7530. M. B. Withoute. Read stylle [Sk.]. Nowe dare she nat her selfe solace 7531. M. B. U. he for she and himselfe for herselfe. Ye han also the manne do chace 7532. Read man [Sk.]. That he dare neyther come ne go What meueth you to hate him so? But properly your wicked thought That many a false leasyng hath thought That meueth your foole eloquence That iangleth euer in audyence And on the folke areyseth blame And dothe hem dishonour and shame For thynge that maye haue no preuyng But lykelynesse / and contryuyng 7542. Read controvyng or contrevyng [Sk.]. For I dare sayne / that Reason demeth It is nat al sothe thynge that semeth And it is synne to controue Thynge that is to reproue 7546. M. inserts for before to. This wote ye wele / and sir: therfore Ye arne to blame the more 7548. Insert wel before the. And nathelesse / he recketh lyte He yeueth nat nowe therof a myte For if he thought harme parfaye 7551. M. thoughte. He wolde come and gone al daye He coude himselfe nat abstene Nowe cometh he nat / and that is sene For he ne taketh of it no cure But if it be through auenture [And lasse than other folke algate And thou her watchest at the gate 7558. Read heer [Sk.]. With speare in thyne arest alwaye 7559. Read alway [Sk.]. There muse musarde al the daye 7560. Read day [Sk.]. Thou wakest night and day for thought Iwis thy traueyle is for nought And Ielousye withouten fayle Shal neuer quyte the thy traucyle And skathe is / that Fayre Welcomyng Without any trespassyng 7566. Read Withouten. Shal wrongfully in prison be There wepeth and languyssheth he And though thou neuer yet ywis Agyltest manne no more but this 7570. Read man [Sk.]. Take nat a grefe it were worthy To putte the out of this bayly And afterwarde in prison lye And fettre the tyl that thou dye] Ll. 7383-7574 are taken from Thynne's Edition; four leaves being lost in the MS. For thou shalt for this synne dwelle Right in the deuels ers of helle But if that thou repente thee Mafay thou liest falsly quod he What welcome with myschaunce nowe Haue I therfore herberd yowe 7580. Read herberwed [Sk.]. To seye me shame and eke reproue With sory happe to youre bihoue Am I to day youre herbegere 7583. Read herbergere [Sk.]. Go herber yow elles where than heere 7584. Read herberwe. That han a lyer called me Two tregetours art thou and he That in myn hous do me this shame And for my sothe saugh ye me blame 7588. U. sothe sawe. Omit ye [Sk.]. Is this the sermoun that ye make To ałł the develles I me take Or elles god thou me confounde But er men diden this castel founde 7592. Written in the margin by the same hand. It passith not ten daies or twelue 7593. Read passid. But it was tolde right to my selue 7594. Read told [Sk.]. And as they seide right so tolde I He kyst the Rose pryuyly Thus seide I now and haue seid yore I not where he dide ony more Why shulde men sey men such a thyng If it hadde bene gabbyng Ryght so seide I and wole seye yit I trowe I lied not of it And with my bemes I wole blowe To alle neighboris a rowe 7604. M. a-rowe. How he hath bothe comen and gone Tho spake falssemblant right anone Ałł is not gospel oute of doute That men seyn in the towne aboute Ley no deef ere to my spekyng I swere yow sir it is gabbyng I trowe ye wote wel certeynly That no man loueth hym tenderly That seith hym harme if he wote it Ałł be he neuer so pore of wit And soth is also sikerly This knowe ye sir as wel as I That louers gladly wole visiten The places there her loues habiten This man yow loueth and eke honoureth This man to serue you laboureth And clepith you his freend so deere And this man makith you good chere And euery where that you meteth 7623. U. inserts he after that. He yow saloweth and he you greteth 7624. Th. saleweth. He preseth not so ofte that ye Ought of his come encombred be Ther presen other folk on yow Fułł ofter than he doth now And if his herte hym streyned so Vnto the Rose forto go Ye shulde hym sene so ofte nede That ye shulde take hym with the dede He cowde his comyng not forbere Though he hym thrilled with a spere 7634. M. U. ye for he. I nerer not thanne as it is now 7635. M. B. Th. It nere for I nerer. But trustith wel I swere it yow That it is clene out of his thought Sir certis he ne thenkith it nought No more ne doth faire welcomyng That sore abieth al this thing And if they were of oon assent Fułł soone were the Rose hent The maugre youres wolde be And sir of o thing herkeneth me Sith ye this man that loueth yow Han seid such harme and shame now Witeth wel if he gessed it Ye may wel demen in youre wit He nolde no thyng loue you so Ne callen you his freende also But nyght and day he wole wake 7651. Read olde; cf. l. 7649 [Sk.]. The castełł to destroie and take If it were soth as ye devise Or some man in some maner wise Might it warne hym euerydele Or by hym silf perceyuen wele For sith he myght not come and gone As he was whilom wont to done He myght it sone wite and see But now ałł other wise wote he 7660. Read doth for wote. Thanne haue sir al outerly 7661. M. B. insert ye ter haue. Deserued helle and Iolyly The deth of helle douteles That thrallen folk so giltles 7664. M. gilteles. FAls semblant proueth so this thing That he can noon answeryng And seth alwey such apparaunce That nygh he fel in repentaunce And seide hym sir it may wel be Semblant a good man semen ye And abstinence fułł wise ye seme Of o talent you bothe I deme What counceil wole ye to me yeven 7673. Read yiven. Ryght heere anoon thou shalt be shryuen And sey thy synne withoute more Of this shalt thou repent sore 7676. M. repente. For I am prest and haue pouste To shryue folk of most dignyte That ben as wide as world may dure Of ałł this world I haue the cure And that hadde neuer yit persoun Ne vicarie of no maner toun And god wote I haue of thee A thosand tyme more pitee Than hath thi preest Parochial Though he thy freend be special I haue avauntage in o wise That youre prelatis ben not so wise Ne half so lettred as am I I am licenced boldely To Reden in Diuinite And longe haue red 7692. Perhaps add parde after red. The MS. ends with l. 7692. Instead of ll. 7691-92 Thynne has: In diuynite for to rede And to confessen out of drede If ye wol you nowe confesse And leaue your synnes more and lesse Without abode / knele downe anon And you shal haue absolucion. Explicit ¶ Finis. ¶ Here endeth the Romaunt of the Rose: And here foloweth the boke of Troy∣lous and Cre∣seyde.