The Cambridge ms (University library, Gg. 4.27) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall. Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400.738 600dpi TIFF G4 page imagesUniversity of Michigan LibraryAnn Arbor, Michigan2006AGZ8234.0001.001828 C5O ser.1 no.4 etc.

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Chaucer Society. Publications ; 1st series. no. 4, 10, 17, 28, 33, 40, 52, 66Publications (Chaucer Society) ; Ser. 1, [no.] 4, 10, 17, 28, 33, 40, 52, 66The Cambridge ms (University library, Gg. 4.27) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall. Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400.Furnivall, Frederick James, 1825-1910.678 [i.e. 685], 28 p. : ill. London :Published for the Chaucer Society by K. Paul, Trench, Trübner,1868-1879.Issued in 8 parts, 1868-84?

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THE Cambridge MS (University Library, Gg. 4. 27) OF Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

EDITED BY FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL.

LONDON : PUBLISHT FOR THE CHAUCER SOCIETY BY N. TRÜBNER & CO., 57 & 59, LUDGATE HILL. 1868-1879.

First Series, IV, X, XVII, XXVIII, XXXIII, XL, LII, LXVI

JOHN CHILDS AND SON, PRINTERS.

 [hEre begynneth the book . of tales of Caunterburye . com|piled by Geffraie Chaucers . of Brytayne chef poete. GROUP A. FRAGMENT I. § 1. GENERAL PROLOGUE. [Prologus. Libri.Harl. 1758, leaf 1

CAMBRIDGE UNIV. MS. Gg. 4. 27. (Its gaps are filled in from Harl. 1758 and Sloane 1685.)

 Whan that Aprille . with his schoures swote. The drought of Marche . hath perced to þe rote. And bathed euery veyne . in suche licoure. Of whiche vertue . engendrid ys the floure. And ȝephirus eke . with his swete breth. Enspired hath . in euerie holt and heth. The tendre croppes . and the yong sonne. In to the Ram . his half cours ronne. And smale fowles . maken melodye. That slepen all the nyght . with open eye. So priketh hem nature . in here corages. Than longen folk . to gon in pilgrymages. And palmers for to seke . straunge strondes To ferne halwes . couthe in sondry londes. And specialy . from euerie schires ende. Of Englond to Caunterburye thei wende. The holy blisfull martyr . for to seke. That hem hath holpen . whan þat þei were seke. Byfell that . in that sesoun on a daye. In suthwerk . at the Thabard as I laye. Redy to wenden . on my pilgrymage. To Caunterbury . with full deuoute corage. At nyght was come . in to þat hostelrye. Well nyne and twenty . in a companye. Of sondry folk . by auenture falle. In felschip . and pilgrymes were þei alle. That towarde Cauntirbury . wolde ryde. [The chambres . and the stables weren wyde.[Harl. 1758] And well were esid . at the beste. And schortly . whan the sonne was to reste. So had I spoken . with hem euerychon. That I was . of here felaschip anon. And made forward . erly for to ryse. To take oure way . there as I you deuyse. But natheles . while I haue tyme and space. Or that I ferþer . in this tale pace.] Me thynketh it a-cordaunt to resoun[The Cambridge MS., leaf 132, begins here.] To telle ȝow / al the conchusyoun Of eche of hem as it semyth me And whiche þey were & of what degre And ek in what aray þat they were inne And at a knyȝt þanne wele I ferst begynne ¶ A knyght þere was & that a worthy manMiles [on the left. On the right, in a later hand, like all the subsequent names,] Knyth That from the tyme that he ferst began To rydyn out he louede Chyualrye Trouthe honour fredom & curteysie fful worthi was he in hese lordis werre And therto hadde he / redyn noman ferre As wel in cristyndom as in hethnesse And euere honoured for hese worthynesse ¶ At Alisandir he was whan it was wonne And ofte tyme / he hadde þe bord begunne A-bouyn alle nacyounnys in Pruce In lectowe hadde he reysed & in reuce Non cristene man so ofte / of his degre In gernage at þe sege ek hadde he be Of Algazer & redyn in balmarye At leyeys was he & at satalye Whan they were wonne & in þe grete see At manye a nobil aryue hadde he be At mortal bataylis hadde he be fiftene And [foughten] for oure feith at tramessene In lystis thryis / & ay slayen his fo This ilke worthi knyth hadde ben also Sumtyme with þe lord of Palatye Ageyn anothir hethen / in Turkye And eueremor he hadde a souereyn prys And thow that he were worthy he was wys And of hese port as meke as is a mayde He neuere ȝit non velany ne sayde In al his lyȝf vn to no maner wight He was a weray perfit gentil knyȝt But for to telle ȝow of his aray Hese hors were goode / but he was not gay Of fustien he werede a iopoun Al besloteryd with hese habirioun for he was late come from hese vyage And wente for to don here pilgrymage ¶ With hym þere was / hese sone a ȝong squyerSquyer A louere / & a lusty bacheleer With lokkis crulle as þey were leyd in presse Of twenty ȝer / of age he was I gesse Of hese stature / he was of euene lenthe And wonderly delyuere / & of gret strenthe And he hadde ben sumtyme In chyuachie In fflaunderis in artoys / & in pikardye And boryn wel as of so litil spase In hope to stondyn / in hese lady grace Enbroudit was he / as it were a mede Al ful of frossche flourys white & rede Syngynge he was or floutynge al the day He was as frosch as is the monyth of may Schort was his gounne / with sleuys longe & wide Wel coude he sitte on hors / & fayre ryde He coude songis make / & fayre endite Iuste & ek daunse / & wel portreye & wryte So hote he louede þat be nyghter tale He slepte no more than doth a nyghtyngale Curteis he was loueli & seruysable And karf be-forn hese fadir at the table ¶ A ȝeman hadde he & seruauntys no mooȝeman At that tyme / for he leste ryde soo And he was clad in cote & hod of grene A schef of pekok / arwys bryȝte & schene Vndir his belte he bar ful thryftyly Wel coude he dresse hese takil ȝemanly Hese arwis droupede nought with federys lowe And in his hand he bare a myghty bowe A not hed hadde he / with a broun vesage Of wode craft wel coude he al þe usage Vp on his arm he bar a gay braser And by his side / a swerd & a bokeler And on that oþer side a gay daggere Harneysed wel / & schrap as poynt of spere A Cristofere / on his brest of siluyr schene An horn he bar þe baudryk was of grene A foster was he sothli as I gesse Ther was also a nunne a prieressePrieresse ¶ That of here smylyng was ful simple & coy Here gretteste oth was but be seynt loy And sche was clepid Madame Eglentyne fful wel sche song / þe seruyse of deuyne Entuned in here nose so semely And french sche spak ful fayre & fetysely As aftyr þe schole of stratforthe at the bowe ffor french of parys was to here onknowe ¶ At mete wel I-tauȝt / was sche with alle Sche let no morsel / from here lyppis falle Ne wette here fyngyr / in here sause depe Wel couthe sche carye a morsel / & wel kepe That no drope ne fel vp on here brest In curteysie was set ful meche here lyst Hire ouere lippe wipede sche so klene That in hire coppe þer was / no ferthyng sene Of gres / whan sche dronkyn / hadde her draught fful semely aftyr here mete sche raught And sekyrly sche was of gret disport And ful plesynge & amyable of port And peynede here to contyrfete chere Of court & to been / estatly of manere And to ben holde dygne of reuerence But for to spekyn of here concience Sche was so charytable & so pitous Sche wolde wepe ȝif that sche seye a mous Kauȝt in a trappe ȝif it were ded or bledde Of smale houndis hadde sche þat sche fedde With rostid flesch or mylk or wastelbred But sore wepte sche ȝif on of hem were ded Or ȝif men smot it with a ȝerde smerte And al was concience & tendere herte ¶ fful semely here wimpil pynched was Here nose tretis here eyen greye as glas Here mouth ful smal & þerto softe & red But sekyrly / sche hadde a fayr forhed It was almost a spanne brod I trowe ffor hardily sche was not vndir-growe fful fetys was here cloke as I was war Of smale corl aboute here arm sche bar A peyre of bedis I-gaudeit al with grene And þeron heng a broche of gold so kene On wich þere was wretyn a cround A And aftyr Amor vincit omnia ¶ A nothir nonne with here hadde schecnapeleyn ¶ That was here chapelen & prestis threNonne prest ¶ A monk þere was a fayr for the maystryeMonk An out ridere þat louede uenerye A manly man to ben an abbot able fful manye a deynte hors hadde he in stable And whan he rod men myȝte his brydil here Gyngelyn in a whistelyng wynd als clere And ek as loude as doth the chapel belle There as this lord was kepere of the selle The reule of seynt Maur / & of seynt benyght Be cause that it was old & sumdel streyt This ilke monk let olde thynge pace And held aftyr the newe world the space He ȝaf not of that tixt a pulled henne That seith þat hunterys ben not holye menne Ne that a monk whan he is rekeles Is lykened to a fysch that is watyrles This is to seyne a monk out of hese cloystre But tilke tixt held he not worth an oystere And I seyde his opynyoun was good What schulde he stodie & make hymseluyn wood Vp on a bok in cloystere alwey to poure Of swynkyn with hese hondis & laboure As Austyn bit how schal þe world be servid Let Austyn han his swynk to hym reservid Therfore he was a prekasour aryȝt Grehou[n]dis he hadde as swift as foul in flyȝt Of prekyng & huntynge for the hare Was al hese lust for no cost wolde he spare I sey hese sleuys / purfilid at the hand With grys / & that the feyneste of a land And for to festene his hod vndir his schyn He hadde of gold I-wrouȝt a ful coryous pyn A loue knot in the grettere ende þere was His hed was ballyd that schon as ony glas And ek hese face as he hadde ben enoynt He was a lord ful fat & in good poynt Hese eyen stepe & rollynge in hese hed That stemyd as a furneys of a led Hese botis souple / his hors in gret estat Now serteynly he was a fayr prelat He nas not pale as a forpynnede gost A fat swan louede he best of ony rost His palfray was as broun as is a berye A frere þere was a wantoun & a merye ¶ A lymytour a ful solempne manffrere In alle the orderys foure is non that can So mekil of daliauns & fayr langage He hadde mad ful manye a maryage Of ȝonge wemen at hese owene cost On to his ordere he was a noble post fful wel he louyd / & famyliar was he With frankeleynys / oueral in his cuntre And with worthi wemen of the toun ffor he hadde power of confessioun As seide hym self more than a curat ffor of hese ordere he was licencyat fful swetli herde he confessioun And plesaunt was hese absolucyoun He was an esi man to ȝeue penaunce There as he wiste to han a good petauns Vnto pore orderis for to ȝeue Is[s by a later hand] ygne that a man Is[s by a later hand] wel I-schreue ffor ȝif he ȝaf he durste make auaunt He wiste that a man was repentaunt ffor manye a man so hard is of hese herte He may not wepe though hym sore smerte Therfore in stede of wepyng & preyeres Men mote ȝeue siluer to the pore freres ¶ Hise tipet was ay farsed ful of knyuys And pynnys for to ȝeuyn fayre wywes And serteynli he hadde a merye throte Wel couthe he synge & pleyen on a rote Of ȝeddyngis he bar vttyrli the prys His nekke whit was as the flour de lis Therto he strong was as a chaumpioun He knew the tauernys wel in euery toun And eueryche osteler & tapstere Bet than a laser or a bakystere ffor vn to swich a worthi man as he Acordith not as by his faculte To haue with swiche sike men a-queyntaunce It is not honest it may not auau[n]ce ffor to dele with non swich parayle But al with riche & selleris of vitayle And oueral there profit schulde aryse Curteys he was & louly of seruyse Ther was no man now so vertywous He was the beste begere in hese hous . . . . .no gap in the MS. ffor thow a wedewe hadde not a scho So plesaunt was his in principio Ȝit wolde he haue a ferthyng er he wente His purchas was wel betyr than hese rente And rage he couthe as it were ryȝt a whelp In louedayis there couthe he mekil help ffor there he was not lik a cloysterer With a thredbare kope as is a scholer But he was lik a mystir or a pope Of double worstede was hese semeli kope Tha[t] rounded as a belle / out of the presse Sumwhat he lipsede for hese wantounnesse To make hese engelisch swete vp on his tunge And in hese harpynge whan that he hadde sunge Hese eyȝyyn twynkeledyn in hese hed aryȝt As don the sterrys / in the frosty nyght This worthi limytour / was cleped hobert A marchaunt was there with a forkede berdMarchaunt In motle an heigh on horse he sat Vp on his hed a flaunderich bemysch hat Hese botis clospede ful fetusely Hese resoun he spak ful plesauntly[in a late hand] Sounynge alwey the cres of hese wynnyng He wolde the se / were kept for ony thyng Be-twixe myddil-bourgh & orewelle Wel couthe en eschaung schildis selle This worthi man ful wel his wit be-sette There wiste no man that he was in dette So estatli was he of hese gouernaunce With hese bargaynys & hese cheuysance fforsothe he was a worthy man withal But sothe to seyn I not how men hym cal A clerk there was of oxsenforthe alsoClek of Oxenforthe That vnto logyk hadde longe I-go As lene was hese hors as is a rake And he nas not / 1rygh fat / I vndyrtake1[1-1 later hand] fful thredbare was hese ouereste courtepy . . . . .a line blank ffor he hadde getyn hym ȝit no benefys Ne was so wordely for to hauyn offys ffor hym was lefere to haue at hese bedis hed Twenty bokis I-clad in blak or red Of Aristotle & his philoso-phie þan robis ryche or fedele or gay sautrie But al be þat he was a philisofre þat hadde but lityl gold in cofre But al þat he myȝte of hese frendis hente On bokis & on lernynge he it spente And besily gan for þe soulys preye Of hem þat ȝaf hym wherwith to schole heye Of stodie tok he most kep & most hede Not a word spak he more þan was nede And þat was seyd in forme & reuerence And schort & quik & ful of hey sentence Sounynge in moral uertu was hese speche And gladly wolde he lerne & gladli te-che A seriaunt of the lawe bothe war & wysSeregeaun That oftyn hadde ben at þe paruys He was also ryche of excellence Discret he was & of gret reuerence He semede swich hese wordis were so wyse Iustyse he was ful oftyn in asyse Be patent & be pleyn commyssioun ffor hese sience & for hese heye renoun Of feis & robis hadde he manyon So gret a purchasour was neuere nor Al was fesymple to hym in effect His purchase myȝte not ben enfect Neuere so besy a man as he þere nas And þat he semede besiere þan he was In termys hadde he cas & domys alle þat from the tyme of kyng welyam were falle Therto he coude endite & make a thyng Ther coude no man pynche at hese writyng And euery statut coude he pleyn be rote He rod but homely in a medely cote Gyrt with a seynt of silk with barrys smale Of hese aray telle I no lengere tale A frankeleyn was in hese cumpanyeffrankeleyn Whit was hese berd as is þe daysie Of complexioun he was sanguyn Wel louede be þe morwe a soppe in wyn To leuyn in delit was euere hese wone ffor he was epicurus owene sone That[t in later hand] held opynyoun þat pleyn delyt Was uery felicite parfyt An housholdere & þat a gret was he Seynt Ielion he was in that cuntre Hese bred hese ale was alwey aftyr on A betere enuynede man was nower non With-oute bake mete was neuere his hous Of fysch & flesch & þat so plentyuous It snowede in his mouth of mete[te in late hand] & drynk Of alle deynteis that[t altered to at by a later hand] men coude þynk Aftyr þe sundery sesenys of the ȝer So chaungede he hese mete & hese soper fful manye a fat perterych hadde he in mewe And many a brem / & manye a luce in stewe Wo was hese cook / but ȝif hese sauce were Poynaunt & redy al hese geere His table dormaunt in hese halle alwey Stod redy keuered / al the longe day At sessiounnys þere was he lord & syre fful ofte tyme he was kn[i]ght of the schyre An Anlas & a gipser al of sylk Heng at hese gyrdil whit as morwyn mylk A schirreue hadde he ben & countour Was[as in a later hand] nower swich a vanasour An habirdaschere & a carpenter A webber a dyere & a taphiser And þey were clothid alle in on lyuere Of a ful solempne & a gret fraternyte ffrorsch & newe here ger apikede was Here knyues were chapid not with bras But al with sylvir wrouȝt ful clene & wel Here grerdelys & here pouchis euerydel Wel semede eche of hem a fayr burgeys To sittyn In a ȝilde halle on a deys Euerych for the wisdam that he can Was schaply for to ben an aldirman ffor catel hade þey I-now & rente And ek here wyuys wolde it wel assente And ellis serteyn weryn þey to blame It is ful fayr to be clepid madame And gon to vigilis al be-fore And han a mental ryalliche I-bore A cok hadde þey with hem for þe nonysA Cook To boile the chekenys & the marye bonys And poudir Marchaunt tard & galyngale Wel coude he knowe a drauȝt of londen ale He couth roste & sethe & boyle & frye Makyn mortereus & wel bake a pye But gret harm was it as it semede me That on hese schene a mormal hadde he ffor blankmanger þat made he at the beste A schipman was þere wonynge fer be westea Shipman ffor ouȝt I wot he was of dertemouthe He rod up on a rouncy as he couthe In a gounne of faldynge to the kne A daggere hangynge on a lace hadde he Aboute his nekke vndir his arm adoun The hote somyr hadde mad his hew al broun And serteynli he was a good felawe fful manye a drauȝt of weyn hadde he I-drawe ffrom burdeux ward whil that the chapman slep Of nyce consience tok he none kep Ȝif that he fauȝt & hadde the heyere hand Be watyr he sente hem hom by euery land But of hese craft to rekene wel hese tydis Hese stremys & hese daungerys hym besyde His herberwe & hese mone his[s in a later hand] lodmyngage There nas non swich from hul to cartage Hardy he was & wys to vndirtake With manye a tempest hadde his berd ben schake He knew alle þe hauenys as þey were ffro gotlond to the kape of fenystere And euery Cryk in bretayne & in spayne His barge clepid was de maudelayne With vs þere was a doctour of phisikDoctor de physik In al þis world was ther non hym lik To speke of phisik & of surgerye ffor he was groundit in astronomye Hepte hese pacient a ful gret del In houres by his Magik naturel Wel couthe he fortwnen the ascendent Of hese ymagis / for hese pacient He knew the cause of euery maladye Were it hot or cold or moyst or dreye And where þey engendere & of what humour He was a veray parfyt praktysour The cause I-knowe & of hese harm the rote Anon he ȝaf the seke man hese bote fful redy hadde he sese apotecaryis To syndyn hym hese droggis & hese letewaryis ffor eche of hem made oþere for to wynne Here frenschepe was not newe to begynne Wel knew he the olde exculapijs And diascorides & ek Rufijs Olde ypocras lylye & galien Serapion Raȝis & Auycen Auerois damascyen & constantyn Bernard & Gadefleun & gilbertyn Of hese diete mesurable was he ffor it was of non superfluyte But of gret nuryschynge & digestible His stody was wol lytyl in the bible In sanguyn & in pers he clad was al lynede with taffata & sendal And ȝit he was but esy of dispence He kepte that he wan in pestelence ffor gold in phisik is a cardial Therfore he louede gold in special A good wif was there of beside batheA wyf of bathe But sche was sumdel def & þat was skathe Of cloth makyng sche hade swich an hand Sche passed hem of ypres & of gaunt In al the parich wif was there non That to the offerynge to fore her schulde gon And ȝif þere dede serteyn so wroth was sche That sche was out of alle charite Here couercheis ful fyne were of ground I durste swere þey weyedyn a pound That on a sunday weryn vp on here hed Here hosyn weryn of fyn skarlet red fful streyte I-teyede & schois ful moyste & newe Bold was here face & fayr & red of hewe Sche was a worthi woman al here lyue Husbondis at cherche dore sche hadde fyue With-outyn oþere compayne in ȝouthe But þerof nedith not to speke as nouthe And thryes hadde sche ben at Ierusalem Sche hadde passed manye a strong strem At rome she hadde ben & at boloyne In galis at seynt Iame & at coloyne Sche couthe meche of wonderyng be þe weye Gat-toþed was sche sothly for to seye Vp-on an aumbelere ful esily sche sat I-wympeled wel & on here hed an hat As brod as is a bokeler or a targe A fot-mental a-boute here hepis large And on here fet a peyre of sporys scharpe In felauschepe wel coude sche lawe & carpe Of remedijs of loue / sche knew per schaunce ffor sche coude of that art / the olde daunse A good man was there of religiouna Persoun And was a pore persoun of a toun But riche he was of holy thouȝt & werk He was also a lerned man a clerk That cristis gospel trewely wolde teche Hese parischiens deuoutly wolde he teche Benyngne he was & wondyr delygent And in aduersite ful pacient And swich he was preuyd ofte sythis fful loth were hym to cursyn for hese tythis But rathere wolde he ȝeuyn out of doute Vnto hese pore parschens aboute Of hese offeryng & hese substau[n]ce He couthe in lityl thyng han suffisiaunce Wyd was hese parysch & housys fer asundir But he ne lyfte not for reyn ne thondir In seknesse nor in myschif to visite The fertheste in hese parich meche & lite Vp on hese fet & in hese hond a staf This noble ensaumple to hese schep he ȝaf That fyrst he wrouȝte & aftyrward he tauȝte Out of the gospel he to wordis cauȝte And this figure he addede þerto That ȝif gold rustede what schal yryn do That ȝif a pryst be foul on whom we truste No wondyr ist[MS. altered] lewede men to ruste And schame it is ȝif a pryst take kep A schetyn schepperde & a clene schep Wel outhe a prest ensaumple for to ȝeue By hese clennesse how hese schep schulde leue He sette not hese benefys to hyre An let hese schep[p in a later hand] acumbrit in the myre And ran to lundene vn to seynt poulys To seke hym a chauntriye for soulys Or with a broþerhed to be with holde But dwelte at hom & kepte wel hese folde So that þe wolf ne made it not myscarie He was a schepherde & not a mersenarye And þow he holy were & vertyuous He was not to synful men dispitous Ne of hese speche daungerous ne digne But in hese techynge 3discreet & benygne3[3_3 in a later hand] To drawyn folk to heuyn be clennesse Be good ensaumple this was hese besynesse But ȝif it were ony persone obstynat What[t in a later hand] so he were of hey or low estat Hym wolde he snybbyn scharpli for the nonys A bettyr pryst I trowe neuere non is He waytid aftyr no pompe ne reuerence Ne makid [him[in a later hand]] a spisede concience But cristis lore & hese apostill twelue He taughte but fyrst he folwede it hym selue With hym þere was a plowman that was hese broþer[A Plouman That hadde led of donge manye a fodir A trewe swynkere & a good was he leuynge in pes & parfit charite God louede he best with al hese hole herte At alle tymys thow hym gamenede or smerte And thanne his nyȝhe-bour riȝt as hym selue He wolde throsche & þerto dyke & delue ffor cristis sake for / eue[r[r in a later hand]]y pore wyght With-outyn hyre / ȝif it leye in his myȝt Hese tythis payede he ful fayre & wel Bothe of [his] propre swynk & his catel In a tabbard he rod vp on a mere There was also a reue & a mellere¶ a Reve. a. Mellere. a Sunour. a Pardonnere. A somnour & a pardounner also¶ a Maunciple Chaucer A maunsiple & myn self there were no mo The meller was a strong carl for the nonys ful big he was of braun & ek of bonys That preuyd he wel for ouyr al þere he cam At wrastelynge he wolde haue alwey the ram He was schort schulderid brod & thikke knarre Ther nas no dore that he wolde heue of harre Oor breke it at a rennyng with hese hed His berd as ony sowe or fox was red And þerto brod as þow it were a spade Vp on the cop ryȝt of hese nose he hade A wrete & theron stod a tust of herys Red as the brostelis of a sowys erys Hese nosetherlis blake were & wide A swerd & a bokeler bar he bi hese syde His mouth as a[a in a later hand] gret furneys He was a ganglere & a galiardeys And that was most of synne & harlotrye Wel coude he stele corn & tolle twye And that he hadde a tabbard2 of good parte2[2_2 in a later hand] A whit cote & a blew hod werede he A bagge pipe wel couthe he blowe & sounne And þerwithal he brouȝte / vs out of tounne A gentyl maunciple was þere of a templeA Maunciple Of whiche acatouris myȝte take exsaumple ffor to ben wys in beyinge of uytayle ffor where that he payede or tok be tayle Algate he waytide so in hese acate That he was ay be-forin & in good state Now is not that of god / a ful fayr grace That swich a lewede manys wit schal pace The wisdam of an hep / of lernede men Of maystrys[s, hr: later] hadde he mo þan thryis[s, hr: later] ten That were of lawe expert & corious Of whiche þere were a doseyn in that hous Worthi to ben styward of 2rente & lond2[2_2 later] Of ony lord that is in yngelond To make hym lyue / by his owene good In honour detteles but he werere wod Or leue as skarsely as hym liste desire And able for to helpyn al a schyre In ony cas that myȝte falle or happe And ȝit this maunsiple / sette here allerys cappe The reue was a sclendere colerik manA Reve Hese berd was schaue as nygh as euere he can His her was by hese erys ful rou[n]de I-schorn His top was dokkyd as a pryst be-forn fful longe were hese leggis & ful lene y-lik a staf ther was no calf I-sene Wel couthe he kepe a gerner & a bynne There [was] non auditour couthe on hym wynne Wel wiste he be þe droute & be the reyn The ȝildynge of hese sed & of hese greyn His lordis schep hese net hese deyerye Hese swyn hese hors hese stoor & his pultrie Was holly in þis revis gouernynge And be þe couenaunt ȝaf the rekenynge Syn þat his lord was twenty ȝer of age The[r] coude no man bryngyn hym in a-rerage Ther nas bayle herde ne oþer hyne That he knew his sleythe & conynge The were adred of hym as of the deþ Hese wonyng was ful fayre / vp on an heth With grene treis I-schadewid was hese place He couthe betere þan hese lord purchase fful riche he was a-storid preuyly Hese lord. wel couthe he plese subtily To ȝeue & lene hym of hese owene good And haue a thank & ȝit a cote and1 hood1[1_1 nd, hood: later]. In ȝouthe he hadde lernyd a good mystir He was a wol good wryȝte a carpenter This reue sat vp on a ful good stot That was a pomeli grey & hyȝte skot A long surcote of pers vp on he hadde And bi hese syde he bar a rusty blade Of norfolke was þis reue of whiche I telle Be syde a toun men clepe baldiswelle Tukkede he was as is a frere aboute And euere he rod þe hemereste of oure route A somnour was þere with vs in that plaseA Somenour That hadde a fer red cherubynys face ffor sausefleme he was with eyen narwe As hot he was & lecherous as a sparwe With skalede browys blake & pilid berd Of hese vesage chylderyn weryn a-ferid Ther nas quyk siluyr litarge ne bronston Boras seruse ne oyle of tartre non Ne oynement þat wolde clense & byte That hym myȝte helpyn of hese whelkys white Ne of the knobbis sittynge on hese schekes Wel louede he garlek onyounnys & ek lekys And for to drynkyn strong wyn red as blod Thanne wolde he speke & crye as he were wod And whan he wel dronkyn hadde þe wyn Thanne wolde he speke no word but latyn A fewe termys hadde he to or thre That he hadde lernyd out of sum decre No wondir he herde it al the day And ek ȝe knowe wel that a Iay Kan clepe watte as wel as can the pope But who so couthe in oþere þyngis hym grope Thanne hadde he spent al hese philosophie Ay questio quod Iurys wolde he crye He was a gentil harlot & a kynde A betere felawe schulde men not fynnde He wolde suffere for a quart of wyn A good felawe to haue hese concubyn A twelmonyth & excusyn hym at the fulle fful pryuyly a fync ek couthe he pulle And ȝif he fond ower a good felawe He wolde techyn hym to haue non awe In swich cas of the erchedekenys curs But ȝif a manys soule were in hese pors ffor in hese purs he schulde ponyschid be Purs is the erchedekynys helle seyde he But wel I wot he lyeþ ryȝt in dede Of cursyng owyth eche gilty man drede ffor curs wele sle ryȝt as asoylyng sauyth And also war hym of a sygnyficauyth In daunger hadde he at hese owene gyse The ȝonge gerlys of the diosyse And knew here conseyl & was al here red A garlond hade he set vp on hese hed As gret as it were for an ale stake A bokeler hadde he mad hym of a cake With hym there rod a Ioly pardounnerA Pardounner Of rouncyuale his frend & his cumper That streyt was comyn from the court of rome fful loude he song loue come hedir come This somnour bar to hym a stif bordoun Was neuere triompe half of so gret a soun This pardounner hade her as ȝelw as ony wax But smothe it heng as doþ a strik of flex Be ouncis heng hese lokkys þat he hadde And þerwith he hese schulderys ouerspradde But thenne it lay be culpounnys on & on And hod for Iolite werede he non ffor it was trussed vp in hese walet Hym thouȝte he rod al of the newe iet Discheuele saf his cappe he rod al bare Sweche glarynge. eyen. hadde. he as an hare A vernykele hadde he sowyd vp on hese cappe Hese walet be-foryn hym in hese lappe Bret ful of pardoun come from rome hot A uoys he hath as smal as haþ a got No berd hadde he ne neuere schulde haue As smothe it was / as it were late schaue I trowe he were a geldyns or a mare But of hese craft from berewik in to ware Ne was swich a noþer pardounnere ffor in his male he hadde a pilwe bere Wich þat he seyde was oure lady ueyl He seyde he hadde a gobet of þe seyl That seynt petyr hadde whan þat he wente Vp on þe se tyl that god[that god: later] hym hente He hadde a cros / of latoun . ful of stonys And in a glas he hadde piggis bonys But with þese relikys whan þat he fond[d: later]. A pouere persoun vp on lond Vp on a day he gat hym more moneye Than þe persoun gat in moneþis tweye And þus with feynede flaterye & Iapis He made the persoun & the puple hese apys But trewely to tellyn at the laste He was in cherche a noble ecclesiaste Wel couthe he rede a lessoun or a story But aldirbest he song an offratory ffor wel he wiste whan that song was sunge He muste preche & wel affile hyse tunge To wynne syluer as he wel couthe Therfore he song the meryerely & loude Now haue I told ȝow sothly in a clause The estat tharay the noumbre & ek the cause Whi assemblid was this cumpayny In southwerk at this ientil ostelry That hyȝte the tabbard faste by þe belle But now is tyme to ȝow for to telle How that we beryn vs that ilke nyȝt Whan that we were in that ostelrye alyȝt And aftyr wole I telle of oure viage And al the remenaunt of oure[u: later] pilgrymage But fyrst I prey ȝow of ȝoure curteysye That ȝe narette not myn velanye Thow that I pleynly speke in þis matere To telle ȝow here wordys & here cher Ne thow I speke here wordis properly ffor this ȝe knowyn als so wel as i[i: later] Who so schal telle a tale aftyr a man He mote reherse as nyh as euere he can Eueryche a word ȝif it be in his charge Al speke he neuere so rewedely & large Or elle he mote telle his tale ontrewe Or feyne þyng or fyndyn wordis newe He may not spare al-they he wer his broþer He mote as wel seyn on word as a noþer Crist spak hym self ful brode in holy wryt And wel ȝe wote no velany is it Ek plato seyth ho so can hym rede The wordyss: later] mote be chose to the dede Also I preye ȝow to forȝeue it me Al haue I not set folk in here degre Here in this tale al as þey schulde stonde Myn wit is schort ȝe may wel vndyrstonde Gret chere mad oure ost vs euerychon And to the soper sette he vs a-non He seruede vs with vitayle at the beste Strong was the wyn & wel to drynke vs liste A semely man oure ost was with al ffor to ben a marchal of an hal A large man he was with eyne stepe A fayrere burgeys is þere non in chepe. Bold of hese speche & wis & wel I-tauȝt And of manhod hym lakkede ryȝt noȝt[noȝt: later][Cambridge stops till l. 965] Eke therto he was right a mery man And aftir soper pleyn he bygan. And spak of mirthe among and othere thingis Whanne that he hadde mad oure rykenynges And seide thus now lordyngis trewly Ye ben to me welcome ryght hertily ffor certis yf that I shal not lye I sawe nought this yere so mery a companye At ones in this herborowe as it now ffayn wolde I don you myrthe wiste I how And of a myrthe I am right now bithought To don yow ese and it shal coste nought. Ye gon to Caunterbery god yow spede The blisfull martir quyte you youre mede And wel I wote as ye gon by the weye Ye schapen yow to talen and to pleye ffor truly comfort ne mirthe is noon To riden by the weye doumbe as a stoon And therfore wole y maken you disport As I seide arst and don yow som comfort /. And if yow liketh alle by oon assent fforto stonden att my Iuggement And forto werken as I shal yow seye To morowe whanne ye riden by the weye Now so god saue me at my most nede But ye be merie I wole yeue yow myn heede[Sloane MS. 1685] Holde up youre hondis withoute more speche Oure councel was not long forto seche Vs thought it was not worth to make to wys And grauntide hym withouten more avys. And bade hym seie his verdoit as hym liste Lordlyngis quod he herkeneth now for the beste But take it nought / I praie ȝow in disdeigne This is the poynt to speke short and pleigne That eche of yow to short with oure weye In this viage shal telle tales tweye To caunterbury ward I mene it so And homward he shal tellen other two Of auentoures that haue bifalle And which of yow that berith him best of alle That is to seyn that tellith in this cas Tales of best sentence and moost solas Shal haue a souper/ at oure aldercost Here in this place sittynge bi this post Whanne that we comen ageyn fro Cauntirbury And forto make yow the more myry I wole my siluen goodly with ȝou ride Right at myn owne caste and be youre gyde And who so wole my iugement withseye Shal paye al that we spende by the weye And if ye vouche saaf that it be so Telle me anoon without ony word moo And I wole erly shape me therfore This thing was graunted and oure othes swore With ful glad herte and preien him also That he wolde vouche saaf forto do soo And that he wolde be oure gouernour And of oure tales Iugge and reportour/ And sette a soper / at a certeyn prys And we wolen reuled ben at youre deuys In high and logh and thus by oon assent We ben acordid to the Iuggement[Sloane MS. 1685] And theruppon the wyn was fet anoon We dronken and to rest wente echon Withouten ony lenger / tariyng A morow whanne the day gan to springe Vp roos oure oost and was oure alde cok And gaderede us to gidre in a flok And forth we riden a litil more than pas Onto the watering of seynt Thomas And there oure oost gan his hors areste And seide lordis herkeneth if yow leste Ye wote youre forward and I it yow recorde If euensong and morowe song accorde Let se now who shal telle the firste tale As euere mote I drynke wyn or ale Who so rebelle to my Iuggement Shal paye for all that by the weye is spent Now drawith Cutt er that ye ferther/ twynne Which that hath the shortest shal bigynne Sir knyght quod he my maister/ and my lord Now drawith Cutt for that is accord Cometh nere quod he my lady prioresse And ye Sir clerk lat be youre shamfastnesse Ne studieth noght leye hond to euery man Anoon to drawe euery wight bigan And shortly forto tellen as it was Were it by auenture or by sort or cas The sothe is the Cutt fel to the knyght Of which ful blythe and glad was euery wight And tellen he most his tale as it was resoun By forward and by composicioun As ye han herd what nedith wordes moo And whanne this gode man sawe that it was soo As he that wys was and obedient To kepen his forward by his fre assent He seide sithen I shal bigynne the game What welcome be the Cut a goddis name.[Sloane MS. 1685] Now lat us ride and herkneth what I seie And with that word we riden forth oure weye And he bigan with riȝt a mery chere His tale anoon and seide as ye may heereIamque domos patrias scithie post prelia gentis. Prelia laurigero & cetera. ¶ Heere endith the prolog of this book; and heere bigynneth the first tale which is the knyghte tale ¶ ffabula militis. WHylom as olde stories tellen vs¶ ffabula militis. Capitulum. Im. Ther was a Duk that hight ThesiusBoccaccio calls Teseo 'duca di Atene' (I. 13), and says that his father Egeo was 're d'Atene' (I. 6). Of Athenes he was lord and gouernour And in his tyme sich a conquerour That gretter was noon vndir the sonne fful many a riche Contre hadde he wonne What with his wisdom and his ChiualrieBooks I-II. He conqueride al the regne of femyny The whylom was clepid sithia And weddide the queene ypolita And brought hir hom with hym in his Contre With mich glorie and gret solempnyte And eke hir yonge sister Emelye And thus with victory and with melodie Lat I this noble Duk to Athenes ride And al his oost in armes hym biside And certis if it ne were to longe to heere I wolde haue told fully the manere How wymmen was the regne of femynye By Theseus and by his chyualrie And of the gret batayle for the nones Bitwixen athenes and Amaȝones And how assegid was ypolita The fair / hardi queene of scithia And of the feeste that was at hir wedding And of the . . . .[Rubbed] at hir / home comyng But al that [t]hing I moot as now forbere I haue god woot a large feld to ere And weyk ben the oxen in[Rubbed] my plough The remenaunt of the tale is long ynough I wole not letten eke noon of this Route Lat euery felowe telle his tale a-boute[Sloane MS. 1685] And lat se now who shal the soper wynne And ther as I left I wole bygynne ¶ This Duk of whom I make mecioun¶ Incipit narracio.II. 2-5. Whanne he was comen almost to the town In al his wele and his moost pride He was ware as he caste eyȝe aside Where that ther knelide in the high weye A company of ladies tweye and tweye Ech aftir/ other/ cladde in[So in MS.]chothes blake But sich a crie and sich a woo they make That in this world is creature lyuynge That herde sich another/ weymentyng And of this crie thei nolde neuere stenteII. 25. (before the car.) Tyl they the reynes of his bridel hente What folk be ye that at myn hom comyngeII. 26. Disturblen so my feeste with criynge Quod Theseus haue ȝe so gret enuye Of myn honour that thus compleyne and crie Or who hath yow mysboden or offendid And telleth me if it may be amendid And whi that ye ben clothed thus in blak The eldest lady of hem alle spak Whanne she hadde swouned with a deedly chere That it was reuthe forto seen and here She seide. lord to whom fortune hath ȝyuen Victorie and as a conquerour/ to lyuen Not greueth vs youre glorie and youre honour/II. 27. But we biseke mercy and socour Haue mercy on oure wo and oure distresse Sum drope of pite thorough thi gentilnesse Vppon vs wrecchid wymmen lat yow falle ffor certis lord ther is noon of vs alleII. 28. That she nath ben a duchesse or a quene Now be we caytifs as it is wel sene Thanked be fortune and hir/ fals wheel That noon estat ensureth forto ben wel[Sloane MS. 1685] Now certis lord to abide youre presence Heere in this temple of the goddess clemence(mentioned in II. 17.) We haue be waytyng al this fourte-nyght Helpe vs lord sith it is in thy myght. ¶ I wrecche which that wepe and weyle thus Was whylom wif of kyng cappaneusII. 28. That starf at thebes cursid be that day And all we that ben in this array And maken all this lementacioun We losten all oure hosbondis at that toun While þat the assege there abowte lay And yet now the olde Creon weilowayII. 31. That lord is now of thebes citeeII. 30. ffulfillid with ire and of iniquiteeII. 31. He for despite and for his tyrannye To don the dede bodies velonye Of alle oure lordes which that ben slawe Hath all the bodies on a hepe I-drawe And wole not suffre hem by non assentII. 31. Neither/ to ben I-buried neither I-brent But makith houndis ete hem in dispite And with that word with outen more respiteII. 33. Thei fyllen gruf and crieden pitously Haue on vs wrecchid wymmen sum mercy And lat oure sorowe synken in thyne herte ¶ This gentil duke from his Coursour/ he sterte With herte pitous whanne he herde hem speke Hym thoughte that his hert wold breke Whanne he sawe hem so pitee and so mateII. 36-9. That whilom were of so grete astate And in his armes he hem vp hente And hem counfortith in ful good entente And swoor his oothe as he was trewe knyght / He wole don so ferforthly his myght Vppon the treaunt Creon hem to wreke That alle the puple of grece shold speke How creon was of thebeus y-serued As he that hath his deth ful wel disserued[Sloane extract ends.] And ryȝt a-non with-oute more abodCambr. MS. Gg. 4. 27II. 50. Hese baner he displayeþ & forth rod To thebes-ward & al hese ost by hese side No ner athenys wolde he go ne rydeII. 49. Ne take hese ese fully half a day But onward on hese way þat nyȝt he lay And sente anon Ipolita the queneII. 40-2. And emelie here ȝynge systyr schene Vn to the toun of Athenys to dwelle And forth he rit ther is no more to telle The rede statue of mars with spere & targe So schynyth in hese white baner large That alle the feldis glederyn vp & doun And bi hese baner is born hese penoun Of gold ful ryche in whiche þere was I-bete The mynatour whiche þat he slow in Crete Thus ryȝt þis deuk þus ryȝt þis conquerour And in his cost of cheualrie the flour Til that he come to thebes & a-ligthe ffayre in a feld there he thoute to fyghteII. 53-76. But schortli for to spekyn of this thyng Witht Creon which that was of thebes kyng He faught & slow hym manly as a knyght In pleyn batayle & putte the folk to fleyȝ And by assent he wan the sete aftyr And rent a-doun bothe wal & spere[late a over e] & raftyr And to þe ladyis he restorede ageyn The bonys of here frendis þat were slayn To don obsequies as was þo the gyse But it were al to longe for to deuyseII. 80-1. The grete clamour & the waymentyng That þe ladyis made at the brennyng Of the bodyis & the grete honour That theseus the noble conquerour Doth to þe ladijs whan þey from hym weynte But schortely for to telle is myn entente Whan that this worthi duk this thesiusII. 74. Hath Creon slayn & wonne thebes thus Stille in that feld he tok al nyȝt hese reste And dede with al the cuntre as hym leste To ransake in the taas of bedijs dedeII. 85. Hem for to strepe of harneys & of wede The pilouris dydyn besynesse & cure Aftyr the batayle & discumfiture And so bi-fel that in the taas was foundeII. 85. Thorgh girt with manye a blody wounde Two ȝonge knyȝtys liggynge by & by Bothe in on armys wrouȝt ful richely Of whiche too Arcita hyȝte þat onArcita. And that oþer knyȝt hyȝte palomounPalamon. Not fully queke ne fully dede þey were But by here cote armoure & by here gereII. 86. Theroudis knew hem best in special As þey þat were of the blod ryal Of Thebes & of systeryn to I-born Out of the taas the pilouris han hem torn And han hem caryed softe on to the tenteII. 87. Of thesyus & ful sone hem senteII. 89. To Athenes to dwellyn in presoun Perpetually he nolde no raunsom And whan this worthi deuk haþ þus I-donII. 90-95. He tok hese Ost & hom he rit a-non With laurer crouned as a conquerour And there he lyuyth in ioye & in honour Terme of lyf what nediþ wordis mo And in a tour in angwisch & in woIII. 3. This Palamoun & hese felawe Arcite ffor eueremor ther may mo gold hem quyte This passeth ȝer be ȝer & day be day Til it fel onys in a monyth of may That emale that fayrere was to sene Than is the lylie vp on hese stalke grene[See XII. 58.] And frosscher than þe may with flourys newe ffor with the rose colour frosch here hewe I not whiche was fynere of hem too Er it were day as was here wone to doIII. 10. Sche was a-resin & al redy dyȝt ffor may wele haue no slogardye on nyȝt The sesyn prekyth euery gentyl herte And makyth it out of hese slep to sterte And seyth a-rys & do þyn obseruaunce This makith emalie to haue remembraunce To don honure to may & for to ryse I-cloþed was sche fresch for to deuyse'—in giubba iscalza' (en deshabille). III. 8.III. 8. Here ȝelwe her was broyded in a tresse'Co' biondi crini avvolti alla sua testa.' III. 10.III. 10. Be hynde here bak a ȝerde long I gesse And in the gardyn at the sunne vp-risteIII. 8-10. Sche walkyth vp & doun & as here lyst Sche gaderith flouris party white & rede To make a suptyl garlond for here hedeIII. 10. And as an aungel heueneliche sche song The grete tour that was so thikke & strongIII. 11. Whiche of the castel was the chef donioun There as the knyȝtis weryn In presoun Of whiche I tolde ȝow & telle schal As euene ioynande to the castel wal There as this emale hadde here pleyingEmelye. Bryȝt was the sunne & cler in that morwenyng And palamoun þis woful presoner[' Arcita si levo' III. 11.] As was hese wone be leue of hese gayler Was resyn & romede in a chau[m]bre an hey In whiche he al the cete sey And ek the gardyn ful of braunchis grene There as this frosche Emelye the schene Was in here walk & romede vp & doun This sorweful louere this palamoun Goth in the chambre romynge to & fro And to hymselue compleynynge of hese wo That I was born ful ofte he seyde allas And so be-fel be auenture & cas That þorow a wyndowe thikke of manye a barreIII. 11. Of yryn gret & squere as ony sparre He caste his eye vp on emelyea And þerwithal he blenthe & cryede A. . . tutto stordito, Gridò, Ome! III. 17. As thow he stongyn were to þe herte And with þat cry a-non arcite vp styrte And seyde cosyn myn what eylith þe That art so pale & dedly on to se Whi cryestow who hath the don offense ffor goddys loue tak al in pacience Oure prysoun for it may non oþer be ffortune haþ[o altered] ȝouyn vs þis aduersite Sum wekede aspect or disposicioun Of saturne by sum constolacioun Hath ȝouyn vs þis al-þow we hadde it sworn So stod the heuene whan that we were born We muste endure it þis is the schorte & pleyn This Palamoun onswerde & seyde a-geyn Cosyn for sothe of this opynyoun þow hast a vayn ymagynacyoun This prisoun causede me not for to crye But I was hort ryȝt now thorgh-out myn yeIII. 16. In-to myn herte that wele myn bane beIII. 20. The fayrenesse of myn lady þat I se Ȝond in the gardyn romyn to & fro Is cause of al myn cryinge & myn wo I ne wot wheþer sche be woman or godesse But venus it is sothly as I gesseIII. 14. And þerwithal on kneis doun he fel And seyde Venus ȝif it be þyn wil Ȝow in this gardyn thus to transfigure Be-for me sorweful wreche cryature Out of this prysoun help þat we may skape And ȝif so be myn destene be schape By eterne world to deyen in presoun Of oure kynrede haue sum compassioun That is so lowe brouȝt be tyranye And with that word Arcite gan asspie Where as this lady romede to & fro And with that syȝt here beute hurte hym so That ȝif þat Palamoun was woundede soreIII. 16-17. (reversing the or|der of the names.) Arcite is hurt as wel as he or more And with a sik he seyde pitously The frossche beute sloth me sodeynly Of here that romyth in the ȝondir plase And but I haue here mersy & here grase That I may sen here at the leste weye I nam but ded þere nys no more to seye This Palamoun whan he þo wordis herde Dispitousli he lokede & answerde Wheþer seyst þou this in ernest or in pley Nay quod arcyte in ernest be myn fey God help me so me lyst but euel pleye This palamoun gan knytte hese browis tweye It were to the quod he no gret honourThe whole debate in prison is an imitation of the longer debate (in the Teseide) when they meet in the grove.V. 43. ffor to be fals ne for to be traytour To me that am thyn cosyn & thyn brothir I-sworn ful depe & eche of vs to oþer That neuere for to deyin in peyne Til that the deth departe schal vs tweyne Neyþer of vs in loue to hynderyn oþer Ne in non oþer cas myn leue broþer But þat þou schuldist trewely forþere me In euery cas & I schal forthere the This was þyn oth & myn also serteyn I wote it wel þou darist it not with-seyn Thus art þou of myn conseyl out of doute And now þou woldist falsely ben aboute To loue myn lady whom I loue & serue And euere schal tyl that myn herte sterue Now certis false arcite þou schat not so I louede here fyrst & tolde þe myn wo As to myn conseyl & to myn br[o]þer sworn To forthere me as I haue told be-forn ffor which þou art boundyn as a knyȝt To helpyn me ȝif it leye in þy myȝt Or elle art þou fals I dare wel seyn This arcite ful proudely spak a-geyn Þou schat quod he be raþere fals than I But þou art fals I telle þe vttyrly ffor paramour I louede here ferst er þou What wit þou seyn þou wyst no ȝit now Wheþer sche be a woman or goddesse Thyn is affeccioun of holynesse And myn is loue as to creature ffor whiche I telle þe myn auenture As to myn cosyn & myn broþer sworn I pose that þou louedist here be-forn Wist þou not wel the olde clerkys sawe That ho schal ȝeue a louere ony lawe Loue is a grettere lawe be myn pan Than may ben ȝouyn to ony erthely man And þerfore posityf lawe & swich decree Is brokyn alday for loue in eche degree A man mote nedis loue maugre in hese hed[See V. 51.] He may not flen þat þogh he schulde be ded Al be sche mayde or wedew or elle wif And it is not likly al thyn lyf[See V. 45, 49.] To stondyn in here grace no more schal I ffarewel þou wist þyn seluyn verayly That þou & I ben dampned to presoun Perpetuelly vs geynyth no raunsun We stryue as dede the houndis for the bon They fouȝte al day & ȝit here part was non Ther cam a kete whil that þey were wrothe That bar awoy the bon be-twixe hem bothe And þerfore at the kyngis court myn broþer Eche man for hym self ther is non oþer Loue ȝif the lyst for I loue & ay schal And sothli leue broþer this is al Here in this presoun mote we endure And euerych of vs take his auenture Gret was the stryf & long be-twixe hem tweye Ȝif that I hadde leyser for to seye But to þe effect it happede on a day To telle it ȝow as schortly as I may A worthi deuk that hyȝte perotheusIII. 47. That felawe was vn to deuk Theseu Syn thilke day þat þey were childeryn lite Was come to athenes hese falawe to visite And for to pleye as he was wone to do ffor in this world he louede no man so And he louede hym as tendirly ageyn So wel þey louedyn as olde bokys seyn That whan that on was ded sothly to telle His felawe wente & souȝte hym doun in helle But of that story liste me not to wryte Deuk Perotheus louede wel arciteIII. 51-4. And hadde hym knowyn at thebes þer be ȝere And fynelli at requist & at preyere Of perotheus with-outyn ony raunsoun Deuk Theseus hym let out of presoun ffreli to gon whil that hym leste ouyral In swich agyse as I ȝow telle shal[altered from caul] This was the forward pleynly for tendit Be-twixe Thesius & hym Arcite That it were that Arcite were founde Euere in his lyf be day or nyȝt or stounde In ony cuntre of this thesyus And hee were cauth it was acordit þus That with a swerd he wolde lese his hedIII. 54. Ther nas non oþer remedie ne red But takyth his leue & homward he hym spedde let hym be war his nekke lith to wedde How gret a sorwe sufferith now arcyte The deth he felyth thorgh his herte smyte He wepith weyleth cryeþ pitously To slen hym self he waytyth priuyly He seyde allas that day that I was bore[Gen. resembl. See III. 75, &c.] Now is myn prisoun werse þan be-fore Now is me schapyn eternally to dwelle Not in purgatory but in helle Allas that euere knew I perotheus ffor elle hadde I dwellid with thesyus I-fetered in his prisoun euere mo Thanne hadde I ben in blysse & not in wo Only the syȝthe of her whom that I serue Though I neuere here grace may disserue Wolde han suffysed ryȝt I-now for me O dere cosyn palamoun quod he This is the victorie of this auenture fful blysful in prisoun mayst þow endure In prysoun nay parde but in paradys Wel hath fortune I-turnede the deys That hast the syȝt of here & I the absens ffor possible is syn þow hast here presens And art a knyȝt a worthi & able That by sum cas syn fortune is chaungable Thow mayȝt to þyn desyr sumtyme atteyne But I that am exiled & barayne Of alle grace & in so gret dispeyr That þere nys erthe watyr fyre ne eyr Ne criatur that of hem makyd is That may me helpyn or don comfort in this Wel ouȝte I sterue in wanhope & distresse ffarwel myn lyf myn lust & myn gladnesse Allas whi pleyne men so in comune On puruyaunce of god or of fortune That ȝeuyth hem ful ofte in manye a gyse Wel betyr þan þey can hem self deuyse Sum man desiryth for to haue richesse That is cause of hese mordere or gret seknesse And some wolde out of hese presoun fayn That in hese hous is of hese meyne slayn Infynyte harmys ben in this matere We wote not what þyng þat we preyen here We farn as he þat dronke is as a mous A dronke man wot wel that he hath an hous But he not whiche the ryȝte weye is þedyr And to a dronke man the weye is sledyr And sertys in þis world so faryn we We sekyn faste aftyr felycite But we gon wrong oftyn trewely Thus may we seyn alle & namely I That wende & hadde a gret opynyoun That I myȝte skapyn from prysoun Thanne hadde I be in ioye & parfyt hele There now I am exilyd from myn wele Syn that I may not sen ȝow emalyeIII. 75. I nam but ded þere nys non oþer weye Vp on that oþer syde palamon Whan that he woste Arcyte was a-gon Swich sorwe he makyth that þe grete tour Resounnyth of hese ȝoulyng & clamour The pure feterys of hese schenys grete Weryn of hese bittere salte terys wete Allas quod he arcita cosyn myn Of al oure stryf god wot the freut is þyn Thow walkyst now in thebes at þyn large And of myn wo þou ȝeuyst lityl charge Thu mayst sen þou hast wisdom & manhede Assemblyn alle the folk of oure kynrede And make a werre so scharp on this cyte That by sum auenture or sum trete Thw mayst haue here to lady & to wyf ffor whom that I muste nedys lese myn lyf ffor as be weye of possibilite Sithe þou art at thyn large of prisun fre And art a lord gret is thyn auauntage More than is myn that sterue here in a cage ffor I mot wepe & waile whil I leue With al the wo that prisoun may me ȝeue And ek with peyne that loue me ȝeuyth also That dubelyth al myn turment & myn wo Therwith the fyr of ielusye vp sterte With-inne hese brest & hente hym by the herte So wodly that he lyk was to bi-holde The boxtere or the asschyn dede and colde Thanne seyde he O crewel goddis þat gouerne This word woth byndyng of ȝoure word eterne And wretyn in the table of athamaunte Thorw parlemen & ȝoure eterne graunte What is mankynde more on to ȝow holde Thus is the schep that rokiþ in the folde ffor slayn is man ryght as a nothir beste And dwellith ek in prisoun & areste And hath seknesse & gret aduersite And ofte tyme gilteles parde What gouernynge is in this prescience That gilteles turmentyth innocence And encreseth þis al myn penaunce That man is boundyn to hese obseruaunce ffor goddis sake to lettyn of hese wille Ther as a beste may al hese lust fulfylle And whan a beste is ded he hath no peyne But man aftyr his ded hym muste wepe & pleyne Though in þis world he haue care & wo With-outyn doute it may stondyn so The answere of þis lete I to deuynys But wel I wot that in þis world gret peyne is Allas I se a serpent or a thef That manye a trewe man hath don myschef Gon at hese large & wher hym liste may turne But I mot ben in prisoun þour saturne And ek thorgh Iuno ielous & ek wood That hath distroyed wol ny al the blood Of thebes with hese waste wallys wyde And venus sleth me on þat oþer syde ffor Ielousie & fer of hym Arcyte"paurosa gelosia" V. 2. Now wele I stynte of palamoun a lite And late hym in hese prysoun stylle dwelle And of Arcyta forth I wele ȝow telleArcita The somyr passeþ & the nyȝtys longe Encresyn double wise the peynys stronge Bothe of the louere & the prisounner I not ho hath the wofulere[lere: later.] myster ffor schorth for to seyn this palamoun Perpetuelly is dampned to prisoun In cheynys & in feterys to ben ded And Arcyte is exiled vp hese hed ffor eueremo as out of that cuntre Ne neuere mo schal hese lady se Ȝow louerys axe I now þis questioun Ho hath the werse arcyte or Palamoun The ton may sen his lady day be day But in prisoun ho mot dwelle alway That othir where hym leste may ride or go But sen hese lady schal he neuere mo Now demyth as ȝow lyste ȝe þat can ffor I wele telle forth as I be-gan[No gap in the MS.] [PART II. No gap in the MS.] Whan that Arcyte to thebes comyn was fful ofte a day he swelte & seyde allas ffor sen hese lady schal he neuere mo And schortly to concludyn al hese wo So meche sorwe hadde neuere creature That is or schal whil that þe world may dure Hese slep hese mete // hese drynk is hym beraftIV. 26, 27. That lene he wex / & dreye as is a schaft Hese eyne holwe / & gresely to beholdeIV. 28. Hese hewe falwe / & pale as[as: later] asschen coldeIV. 27. And solitarie he was / & euere alone And waylynge al the nyȝt makynge hese mone And ȝif he herde song or instrument Thanne myȝte he wepe he myȝte not be stent So feble ek weryn hese spiritis & so loweIV. 29. And chaungit so þat no man coude hym knowe Hese speche nor hese voys þow men it herde And in hese ger for al the world he ferde Not only lik the louere maladye Of hereos but rathere lyk manye Engenderid of humourys malencolik Be-forn hese owene selle fantastik And schortly turned was al vp so doun Bothe abit & ek[ek: later] disposicioun Of his this woful louere daun Arcite What schulde i of hese wo alday endyt Whan he endured hadde a ȝer or to This crewel turment & this peyne & wo At thebes in his court as I seyde Vp on a nyȝt in slep as he hym leyde Hym thouȝte that the vengede god mercurye Be-forn hym stod & bad hym to be murye Hese slepi ȝerde in hond he bar vp ryȝt An hat he werede vp on hese herys bryȝt Arayed was þis god as he tok kep As he was whan that Argus tok hese slep And seyde hym thus to Athenys schat þou wynde There is the schapyn of thi wo an ende And with that word Arcyte wok & styrte Now trewely how sore that me smerte Quod he tathenys / rygh now wele I fare Ne for the dred of deth schal I not spare To se myn lady that I loue & serue In here presence I rekke not to sterue And with that word he cauȝte a gret myrour And saw that schaunged was al hese colour And say hese vesage al in anoþer kynde And ryȝt a-non It ran hym in hese myndeIV. 38. That sithe hese face was so disfyguryd Of maledye whiche he hadde endured He myȝte wel ȝif that he bar hym lowe Leuyn in athenys euere more onknowe And sen hese lady wel ney day be day And ryȝt a-non he chaungede hese aray And cladde hym as a pore labourerpover valletto, IV. 22. And al alone saue only a squyerumil garzone, IV. 22. That knew hese preuyteis & al hese caspovero valletto, IV. 40. Whiche was disgised porely as he was Tatthenys is he gon þe nexte way And to the court he wente vp-on a day And at the gate he proferyth hese seruyse To drogge & drawe what so men wolde deuyse And schortly of this mater for to seyn He fil in offys with a chaumbyrleyn The whiche that dwellynge was with emalye ffor he was wys & coude sone aspie Of euery seruaunt whiche that seruyth here Wel coude he hewyn wode & watyr bere ffor he was ȝong & myȝty for the nonys And þerto he was long & big of bonys To don that ony with can hym deuyse A ȝer or too he was in þis seruyse Page of the chaumbere of emale þe bryȝt And philostrate he seyde þat he hyȝt[Penteo IV. 3, &c.] But half so wel be-louyd a man as he Ne was there neuer in court of hese degre He was so Ientyl of condicioun That þour-out al the court was hese renoun They seydyn that it were a charite That Thesyus wolde enhaunsyn hese degre And puttyn hym in worschepful seruyse There that he myȝte hese vertue excercise And þus with-inne a while his name is sprongeIV. 59. Bothe of hese dedis & hese goode tunge That Thesius hath takyn hym so ner That of hese chaumbere he made hym a squyer And ȝaf hym gold to meyntene his degre And ek men brouȝtyn hym out of hese cuntre ffrom ȝer to ȝer ful priuyly hese rente But onestly & slyly he it spente That no man wonderede how þat he it hadde And thre ȝer in this wise his lyf he ladde And bar hym so in pes & ek in werre Ther was no man that thesyus hath derreIV. 59. And in this blisse lete I now arcite And speke I wele of palamoun a lite In derknesse & horrible & strong prisounV. 1. This seuene ȝer hath setyn palamoun ffor-pynyd what for wo & for distresse Who feleth doubble sorwe & heuynesseV. 3. But palamoun þat loue distreynyth so That wod of hese wit he goth for wo And ek þerto he is a presounner Perpetuelly not only for a ȝer Who coude ryme in englys properly His marterdam for sothe it am[? MS.] not I Therfore I passe as lyȝtely as I may It fel that in the seuynte ȝer In may The thredde nyȝt as olde bokys seyn That al this story tellyn more & pleyn Were it by auenture or destene As whan a þyng is schapyn it schal be That sone aftyr the mydnyȝt palamounV. 25-7. Be helpyng of a frend brak hese presoun And fleth the cete faste as he may go ffor he hadde ȝouyn hese gayler dronkyn soV. 24. Of a clarre mad of certeyn wyn With nertotikes & opie of Thebes fyn That al that nyȝt though þat men wolde hym schake The gayler slep he myȝte not wake And þus he fleth as faste as euere he may The nyȝt was schort & faste by the day That nedis cost / he muste hym seluyn hide And tyl a groue faste þere besydeV. 33. With dredful fot þanne stalkyth palamoun ffor schortely þis was hese opynnyoun That in þat groue he muste hym hide alday And in the nyȝt þanne wolde he take his way To thebes-ward hese frendis for to preye On Thesyus to helpe hym for to werye And schortly oþer he wolde lese[? MS. lefe] hese lyf Or wynnyn emelye vn-to hese wyf This is theffect & hese entente pleyn Now wele I turne vn-to Arcite ageyn That lityl wiste how nygh that was hese care Tyl þat fortune hadde brought hym in þat snare The besye larke messenger of the day Salueth in here song the morwe gray And fery phebus ryseth vp so bryght That al the oryent laugheeth of þe lyght And with hese stremys dreyeth in þe greuys The syluere dropis hangynge in the leuys And arcita that is in þe court royal With Theseus is squyer pryncypal Is resyn & lokyth on the merye day And for to don hese obseruance to may Remembrynge on the poynt of hese desyr He on a courser stertelynge as the fyr Is redyn in to þe feldis hym to pleye Out of the court were it a myle or tweye And to þe grene of wheche þat I ȝow tolde By auenture his weye he gan to holde To make hym a garlond of the greuysIV. 62. Were it of wode-bynde or hawethorn leuys And loude he song a-ȝen the sunne schene May with alle thynne flourys & thynne grene Welcome be þou fayre frosche may In hope þat I sum grene getyn may And from hese courser with a lusty herte In-to the greue[MS. altered] ful hastyleche he sterte And in a path he romede vp & doun There as be auenture this palamoun Was In a bosch that no man myȝte hym se ffor sore ofered of hese death was he Ne þyng ne knewe he that it was arcit God wot he wolde a trowed it ful lite But soth is seyd gon sithe manye ȝerys That þe feld hath eyen & þe wode hath erys It is ful fayr a man to bere hym euene ffor al day metiþ men at vnset[nset: later] stevene fful lityl wot arcyte of hese felawe That was so nygh to heryn of hese tale ffor in the bosch he sittyth now ful stylle Whan þat Arcite hadde romede al hese fylle And sungyn al the roundele lustyly In-to a stodye he fel sodeynly As don þese louerys in here queynte geres Now in the crop now doun in the brerys Now vp now doun as boket in a welle Ryȝt as the fryday sothly for to telle Now it schynyth now it reynyth faste Ryȝt so can gery venus ouercaste The hertys of here folk ryȝt as here ȝe[ȝe ma: later] may Is gerful ryȝt so chaungith sche aray Selde is the fryday al the wouke lyk Whanne that Arcyte hadde sunge he gan to sik And sette hym doun with-outyn ony more Allas quod he that day þat I was bore How longe Iuno thorw þyn crewelte Wiltow werreyen Thebes the sete Allas I-brouȝt is to confusiounSee IV. 13, 14. The blod royal of Cadme & amphioun Of Cadme wich þat was þe ferste man.i. edificare That Thebes beelte[ee: later] / or fyrst þe toun began And of the Sete fyrst was crounnede kyng Of hese lynage was I / and hese of-spryng By verray lyne / as of the stok royalSee IV. 31. And now I am so kaytif & so thral That he that is myn mortal enemySee IV. 85. I serue hym as hese squyer purely And ȝit doth Iuno me more schame ffor I dare not beknowe myn owene name There as I was wone to hyȝte arcyteSee IV. 84. Now highte I philostrate not worth a myȝte[Penteo, IV. 84.] Allas þou felle Mars allas IunoSee IV. 17. Thus hath ȝoure yre oure lynege fordo Saue only me wrechede Palamoun That Thesyus marteryth in presoun And oueral þis to slen me vttyrlyIV. 82. Loue hath hese fery darte so brennyngely I-stekid þour myn trewe carful herte That schapyn was myn deþ er þan myn scherte Ȝe slen me with ȝoure eyen emelye Ȝe ben the cause wherfore that I deye Of al the remenaunt of myn oþer care Ne sette I not the mountenauns of a tare So þat I coude don ouȝt to ȝoure plesaunse And with þat word he fyl down in a traunce A long tyme & aftyrward he vp styrte This palamoun þat thoute þat thorw hese herte He felte a cold swerd sodeynliche glyde ffor yre he quok / no lengere wolde he byde And whan þat he hadde herd Arcytis tale As hewere wod with face ded and pale He styrte hym vp out of the boschis þikke And seyde arcite false traytour wikke Now art þou hent þat louyst myn lady so for whom þat I haue al þis peyne and wo And art myn blod & to myn conseyl sworn As I ful oftyn haue seyd þe here be-forn And hast beiapid here deuk Thesyus And falsely chaunged þyn name thus I wele ben ded or ellys þou schat deye þou schat not loue myn lady Emalye But I wele loue here only & no mo ffor I am palamoun þyn mortal fo And þow þat I no wepene haue in þis place But out of prisoun am styrt by grace I drede not þat outher þou schat deyeSee V. 54. Or þou ne schat not louyn emalye Ches which þou wit or þou schat not asterte This Arcyte with ful dispitous herte Whan he hym knew & hadde hese tale herd As fers as lyoun pullede out a swerd And seyde þus bi god that set a-boue Nere it þat þou art sek & wod for loue And ek for þou no wepen hast in þis place Thow schuldist neuere out of þis grene pase That þou ne schuldist deyen of myn hond ffor I defie the surete & the bond'Love cannot be given up as thou deemest: and he loves but little, who ceases loving in order to keep a promise.' V. 51.V. 51. Wiche þat þou seyst þat I haue mad to þe What veray fol þink wel that loue is freV. 51. And I wele loue here maugre al þyn myȝt But for as meche þou art a worthy knyȝt And wilnyst to darrayne here be batayle Haue here myn trouthe to-morwe I nyl not fayle With-oute wetynge of ony oþer whight That here I wele be foundyn as a knyght And bryngyn harneys ryȝt I-now for the And ches the best & lef the werste to me And mete and drynk þis nyȝt wele I brynge I-nough for þe & clothis for þyn beddynge And ȝif so be þat þou myn lady wynne And sle me in þis wode þere I am inne þou mayst wel han þyn lady as for me This palamoun answerde I graunte it the And þus þey be toparted til a morwe Whan eche of hem hadde leyd hese feyth to borwe O cupide out of alle charite O regne that wolde no felawe han with the fful soth is it seyd that loue and lordschepV. 13. Wolde not hese þankys han no felauschep Wel fyndy þat arcite and palamoun Arcite is rydyn anon in to þe toun And on þe morwyn er it were day lyȝt fful fynly to harneys haþ he dyȝt Bothe sufficiaunt & mete to darreeyne The batayle in the feld be-tweixe hem tweyne And on hese horse alone as he was born He caryeth al þis harneys hym be-forn And in the groue at tyme & place I-set This arcite & þis palamo[n] ben met To chaunge gan the colour in here face Rygh as the hunterys in the regne of traceVII. 106. That stondiþ at the gap with a spere Whan huntede is the lyoun or the bere An herith hym come russchynge in the greuys And brekith boþe the bowis & the leuysVII. 119 And þynkyth here comyth myn mortal enemy With-oute fayle he mote be ded or I ffor eyþer I mote slen hym at the gap Or he slen me ȝif that me mys hap So ferdyn þey in chaungyng of here hewe As fer as eueryche of hem oþer knewe Ther nas no good day ne no saluynge But streyt with-oute word or rehersynge Eueryche of hem halp for to arme oþer As frendly as he were hese owene brothyr And aftyr þat with scharpe sperys stronge They foynedyn eche at oþer wondyr longe Thow myȝtist wene þat þis palamoun In hese fyȝt were a wood lyoun And as a cruel tygre was arcite As wilde borys gunne þey to smyte That frothyn white as fom for yre wod Vp to the anches foute þey in here blod And in this wyse lete I hem fyghtynge dwelle And forth I wele of thesyus ȝow telle The destenye mynystere generalVI. 1. That executyth in the world oueral The puruyauns þat god hath seyn be-forn

Comp. Troilus and Cressida, IV. st. 136:

— For some men sain, that God seeth all beforne, . . . . . Than mote it fallen, though men had it sworne, That purveiaunce hath seene beforne to be—

 So strong it is þat thow þe world hadde sworn The contrarye of a thyng be ȝa or nay Ȝit sumtyme it schal fallyn on a dayV. 77. That fallyth not eft with inne a thousent ȝere ffor certeynly oure aspectis here Be it of werre or pes or hate or loue Al is þis reuled be the siȝte a-boue This mene I now be myȝty thesyusV. 77. That for to huntyn is so desirous And namely at the grete hert in may That in hese bed þere dawede hym no day That he nys clad & redy for to ryde With hunte & horn & houndis hym besydeV. 77. ffor in hese huntynge hath he swych delyȝtV. 78. That it is al hese Ioye & apetyt To ben hym self the grete hertys bane ffor ofte mars he seruyth now dyane Cler was þe day as I haue told or this And Thesyus with alle Ioye & blys With hese ypolita the fayre quene And Emale clothed al in grene[See XII. 65.] On huntyng be þey redyn really And to the groue stod ful faste by In whech there was an hert as men him tolde Deuk thesyus þe ryȝte weye hath holde And to the launde he rydith hym ful ryȝt ffor there was the hert wone to have his flyȝt And ouer a brok & so forth on hese weye This deuk wele han a cours with hym or tweye With houndis which as hym lyste comaunde And whan This deuk was comyn vn-to þe launde Vndir the sunne he lokyth & þat a-non He was war of Arcite & Palamon That foutyn breme as it were boris too The bryȝte swerdis wentyn to & fro So hidously that with the leste strok It semede as it wolde felle an ok But what þey were no þyng he ne wot This deuk hese courser with the sporys smotV. 82. And at a stert he was be-twixe hem too And pulle out a swerd & cryede hoo No more vp peyne of lesynge of ȝoure hed Be myghti mars he schal a-non be ded That smyth ony strok that I may sen But telle me what myster men ȝe benV. 83. That ben so hardy for to fytyn here With-outyn Iuge or oþer offiser As it were in a listis ryaly This Palamon answerde hastyly And seyde sere what nedith wordis mo We haue the deth deseruyd bothe two Two woful wrechis ben we two caytyuys That ben encomberit of oure owene lyuys And as þou art a ryȝtful lord & Iuge Ne ȝif vs neythir mercy ne refuge But sle me ferst for seynte charite But sle myn felawe ek as wel as me Or sle hym ferst for þow þou knowist it lyte He is þyn dedly enemy arcyte That fro þyn lond is banysschid on his hedSee V. 91. ffor which he hath [de]seruyd to ben ded ffor this is he that come on to þyn ȝate And seyde that he hyte philostrate Thus hath he Iapid þe ful manye a ȝer And þow hast makid hym þyn squyer And this is he that louyth Emelye ffor sithe the day is come that I schal deye I make pleyn myn confessioun That I am thilke woful Palamoun That hath thyn presoun broke wekedelSee V. 91. I am thi mortal fo / & it am I That louyth so hote Emalia the bryȝte That I wele deye present in here syȝte Wherfore I aske deth & myn Iu-wiseV. 90. But sle myn felawe in the same wise ffor bothe haue we disseruyd to ben slayn This worthi deuk answerde anon agayn And seyde þis is a schort conclusyoun Ȝoure owene mouth be ȝoure confessioun Hath dampned ȝow & I wele it recorde It nedith not to pyne ȝow with the corde Ȝe schul be ded be myȝty mars the rede The quene a-non for veray woman-hede Gan for to wepe & so dede emelye And alle the ladyis in the cumpanye Gret pete was it as it thoughte hem alle That euere swich a chaunse schulde falle ffor gentil men þey were of gret estat And noþyng but for loue was this debat And saw here blody woundis wide & sore And alle criedyn both lasse & more Haue mersi lord[v: later] vpon vs wemen alle And on here bare kneis adoun þey falle And wilde a kissede hese fet þere as he stod Til at the laste a-slakede was hese mod ffor pete rennyt sone in gentil herte And though he ferst for yre quok & sterte he hath consideryd schortely in a clause The trespase of hem bothe & ek the cause[chauce: altered] And al-thow that hese yre hese gilt acused Ȝit in hese resoun he hem bothe excused As thus he thouthe wel that euery man Wele helpe hym selve in loue ȝif that he can And delyuere hym self ȝif that he moun[moun: later] And ek hese herte hade compassioun Of wemen for þey wepyn euere in on And in hese gentil herte he thouȝte a-non And softe to hym self he seyde fy Vpon a lord that wele haue no mercy But byn a lyoun bothe in word & dede To hem that ben in repentaunt & drede As wel as to a proud dispitous man That wele meyntene that he ferst began That lord hath lityl discrecioun That in swich cas hath no dyuysioun But weyeth pride & humblesse aftyr on And schortly whan hese yre is þus agon He gan to lokyn vp with eyȝyn lyȝte And spak these same wordis alle on hyȝte The god of loue a benedicite How myghti & how gret a lord is he A-ȝens hese myȝt þere geynyth none obstakell He may be clepid a god for hese myrakell ffor he can makyn at hese owene gyse Of eueryche herte as he leste deuyse Lo here þis arcite & þis Palamoun That quytely weryn out of presoun And myȝtyn a leuyd in thebes really And wetyn I am here mortal enemy And that here deth lyth in myn myȝt also And ȝit hath loue maugry here eyȝyn two Brought hem hedyr bothe for to deye Now lokith is not this an hey folye Who may ben a fol but ȝif he loue Behold for godis sake that sit a-boue Se how þey blede be þey not wel arayed Thus hath here lord the god of loue hem payed Here wagis & here feis for here seruyse And ȝit þey wene for to ben ful wyse That seynth loue for ouȝt that may be-falle But þis is ȝit the beste gise of alle That sen for whom they han this iolyte Kan hem therfore as meche thank as me Sche wot no more of al this hote fare By god than wot a kokkow or an hare But al mote ben asayed hot or cold A man mot nede ben a fol or ȝong or oldV. 92. I wote it be myn self ful ȝore agon ffor in myn tyme a seruaunt was I on And þerfore syn I knowe of loue peyne And wot how sore it can a man distreyne As he that hath ofte be cauȝt in his las I ȝow for-ȝeue al holy this trespasV. 92-3. At request of the quen that knelith here And ek of emalye myn systir dere And ȝe schul bothe a-non vn-to me swere That neuere mo ȝe schul myn cuntre dere Ne mak werre vp-on me nyȝt ne day But ben mynne frendys in al that ȝe may I ȝow for-ȝeue þis trespas euerydel And þey hym sworyn hise axinge fayre & welV. 93. And hym of lordschepe & of mercy preyede And he hem grauntede grace & þus he seyde To speke of ryal lynage & of rychesseV. 96. Thow that sche were a quen or a princesse Eche of ȝow bothe is worthi douteles To weddyn whan tyme is / but neuer the les I speke as for myn sustyr Emalye ffor whom ȝe han þis stryf of Ielousye Ȝe wote ȝoure self sche may not wedde twoV. 95. At onys þey ȝe fyȝte euere mo To on of ȝow / al be hym loth or lef He mote go pipe in an yuy lef This is to seyn sche may not now han bothe Al be ȝe neuere so Ielous ne so wrothe And for-thi I ȝow putte in þis degre That eche of yow schal han hese destene As hym is schapyn & herkenyth in what wyse Lo here ȝoure ende of that I schal ȝow deuyse Myn wil is this for plat conclusioun With-outyn ony replicacyoun Ȝif that ȝow likyth tak it for the beste That eueryche of ȝow schal gon ryȝt were hym leste ffrely with-oute raunsum or daunger And þis day fifty woukis fer & ner'un anno intero,' V. 98. Eueryche of ȝow schal brynge an hunderit knyghtisV. 97. Armyd for lystis vp at alle ryghtis'nel teatro nostro.' Al redy to darrayne here by batayle And this be-hote I ȝow with-outyn fayle Vp on myn trouthe & as I am a knyȝt That whethir of ȝow bothe that hath myght This is to seyne that wheþer he or þou May with hese hunderede as I spak of nowV. 98. Sle hese contrarye or out of lystis dryue[no slaying men|tioned.] Than schal I ȝeue Emalye to wyue To whom that fortune ȝeuyth so fayr a grace The lystis schal I make ryȝt here in þis plase And god so wisely on myn soule rewe That I schal euene Iuge ben & trewe Ȝe schul non oþer ende with me make That on of ȝow schal be ded or take And ȝif ȝow þynkith þis is wel I-sayd Seyth ȝoure auys and holdith ȝow apayed This is ȝoure ende & ȝoure conclusyoun Who lokyth lyȝtely now but palamoun Who spryngyth vp for Ioye but arcite Who couthe telle or who couthe endite The Ioye that is now schewid in the place Whan Thesius hath / don so fayr a grace['tanta grazia,' V. 100.] But doun on kneis wente euery man[er] wiȝt And þankede hym with al here herte & myȝt And nameliche the thebens ofte sythe And þus with god hope & with herte blythe They take here leue & homward þey gunne ryde To Thebes with olde wallys wyde [PART III. No gap in the MS.] I trowe men wolde it deme necligencethe lystis Ȝif I for-ȝete to telle þe dispence Of Thesius that goth so besily To makyn vp the listis ryally That swich a noble theatre as it was I dar wel seyn in this world þere nas The Cyrcuyt a myle was abouteVII. 108. Wallyd of ston & dychid al with-oute[no ditch.] Round was the schap in maner of cumpas fful of degreis the heyȝte of sexty pas That whan a man was set on a degreVII. 110. He lettyth not his felawe for to se Estward þere stod a gate of marbil whitPorta MarmorisVII. 109..i. ėx oposito Westward swich a noþer in the opposit And schortly for to conclude swich a place Was non in erthe of so lytil space ffor in the lond þere nas no crafty man That iemetrye or arsmetrik can Ne portretour ne keruere of ymagis That Thesyus hym ȝaf mete & wagis The theatre for to makyn & deuyse And for to don his ryte & sacryfise He est-ward hath vp on the gate a-boue In worschepe of venus goddesse of loueVenus Don make an auter & an oratorye And on the westward in memorye Of mars he makyd hat ryȝt swich a noþerMars That coste of gold largely a fother And norward in a toret of the wal Of alabastre whit & red coral An oratorye ryche for to se In worschepe of Diane of chastiteDyane Hath Thesius don wrouȝt in noble wise But ȝit hadde I forȝetyn to deuyse The noble keruyng & the portreyture The schap the contenaunce & the fygure That weryn in these oratoryis thre ffyrst in the temple of venus mayst þou se Wrouȝt on the wal ful pitous to be-hold The brokene slepis & the sikys colde The secret terys & þe waymentyng The fery strokys of the desyryngVII. 59. That louys seruauntys of this lyf enduren The Cothis that here couenauntys assuryn Plesaunce hope desyr folhardynesseSee VII. 55-6, &c. Beute & ȝouthe baudrie richesse Charmys & force lesynge & flateryeSee VII. 56, & 64.See VII. 55-6, 59. Dispence besynesse & Ielousye That werede of ȝelwe flourys a garlond And a cokkow sittynge on hese hand ffestis instrumentis karolys daunsisSee VII. 53, & lust & aray & alle þe circumstancis Of loue whiche that I reken & rekne schal Be ordere were peyntid on the wal And mo þan I can make of mencyoun ffor sothly al the mount of CytherounVII. 50. There venus hath hese pryncipal dwellyng Was schewid in the wal in portreying Videvi storie per tutto dipinte . . . . . E'l grand Ercole vide tra costor.o. VII. 62. With al the gardyn & the besynesse Not was forȝetyn the portyr ydilnesse'Richezza' is Porter in the Teseide, VII. 64: the Roman de la Rose is followed here. Ne narcyus the fayre of ȝore a-gon And ȝit the folye of kyng salamon And ek the grete strenthe of ercules Videvi storie per tutto dipinte . . . . . E'l grand Ercole vide tra costor.o. VII. 62. Thenchauntementz of Media / & Circes Ne of Turnes / with the hardy ferce corage The ryche Cresus caytyf in seruage Thus may ȝe sen that wisdam ne rychesse Beute ne sleythe strenthe ne hardynesse Ne may with wenus holde champardye ffor as here lust the world þanne may sche gye Lo alle these folk so cauȝt were in here lase Til they for wo ful ofte seyde allas Suffyseth here ensaumplys on or to And þow I couthe rekene a thousent mo The statue of Venus gloryous for to seSee H. of Fame, 198; and Albricus Philosophus in Staveren's Auctores Mythographi, 1702, vol. ii. p. 903.Venus Was makyd fletynge in the large se And from the nauelle doun al couered was Which was grene & bryȝt as ony glas A Cythole in here ryȝt hand hadde sche And on here hed so semely for to se A rose garlond frosch & wel smellynge A-boue here hed here dounnys flekerynge By-forn here stod here sone cupido[a second o added; later] Vp-on hese schulderys wyngis hadde he to[a second o added; later] And blynd he was as it is ofte sene A bowe he bar & arwys bryȝte & kene Whi schulde I not as wel telle ȝow al The portreyture that was vp-on þe wal With-inne the wal of myȝty mars the rede[Mars] Al peyntid was the wal in lenthe & bredeVII. 36. Lyk to the Estrys of the gresely placeVII. 29, 30. That hyȝte the grete temple of Mars in Trace In tylke colde frosty regyoun Ther as Mars hath hese souereyne mancyoun ffyrst on the wal was peynted a forestVII. 31. In whiche þere dwellith neyþer man ne beste[but a real forest there, not a painted one.] With knotty knarry bareyne treis olde Of stubbis scharpe and hidous to beholde In whiche þerein ran a rumbil in a swogh As þow a storm schulde brestyn euery bowgh And doun from an hyl vndyr a bente There stod the temple of Mars armypotenteVII. 32. Wrouȝt al of bornede stel of wheche thentre Was long & stryt and gastely for to se And ther-out come a rage in swich a weseVII. 33. That it made al the gate for to rese The northren light In at the dorys shon Boccaccio makes the temple lighted by altar-fires, kindled from the flames of plundered cities. VII. 35. ffor wyndow on the wal was there non Thorw whiche men myghte ony lyth discerne The doris were ale of athamanutȝ eterneVII. 32. I-clenchede ouerthwert & endelong With yryn tough & for to make it strong Euery peler the temple to susteyneVII. 33. Was tunne gret of yryn bryȝt & schene There saugh I fyrst the derke ymagynyng Of felonye and the compassyng The crewel yre red as ony glede The pike-purs & the pale drede The smylere with the knyf vndyr the clokeVII. 33. [not the pickpurse.]VII. 34. The shepne brennynge with the blake smoke The tresoun & the morderyng in the bed The opene werre with woundis al be-bled Contek with blody knyf & scharp manaceVII. 34. Al ful of chyrkyng was that sory place The sloere of hym self ȝit saw I þere Hese herte blod hath bathed al hese here The nayl I-dreue in the schod a nyȝt The colde deth with mouth gapynge vp ryght In myddis of the temple there sat myschaunce'Amyddes of the' place sat 'la virtù tristissima.' VII. 34. With disconfort & sory cuntenauns Ȝit saw I wodnesse laughynge in hese rageVII. 35. Armyd compleynt / outes & fers corage'La Morte armata vide e lo stupore.' VII. 35. The careyn in the bosch with throte I-korwe A thousent slayn & not of qualm I-storve The tyraunt with the pray by forse I-raft The toun distroyed there was no þyng laftVII. 36. Ȝit saw I brent the schepis hospesterys'Le navi bellatrici.' VII. 37. Neither Boccaccio, nor yet his prototype Statius, speaks of any ships as burnt, but merely as trophies. The hunte strangeled with the wilde berys The sowe fretyn the child ryȝt in þe cradil The cook I-skaldit for al hese longe ladil Nouȝt was for-ȝetyn by the infortune of marthe The cartere ouyr redyn with hese carteVII. 37 Vndir the whil ful lowe lay he a-doun There were also of martyrs dyvysioun The labourer the bocher & the smyth That forgith scharpe swerdis on the steyth And al a-boute depeyntid in a tour Saw I conquest sittynge in gret honour With the scharpe swerd ouyr his hed Hangyng by a sotyl twynede thred Depeyntid was the slautre of Iulyus Of grete nero & of antonyus Al be that ilke tyme they were onborn Ȝit was here deth depeyntid þere be-forn By manasynge of mars ryȝt by fygure So was it schewid in that portreture As is depeyntid in the sertres above Who schal be slayn or elle ded for loue Suffiseth on ensaumple in storyis olde I may not rekene hem thow I wolde The statue of mars vp-on a carte stod Armyd & lokede grym as he were wod And ouer hese hed þere schynyn two figurys Of storyis þat ben clepid in scripturys That on puella that othir Rubeus This god of armys was arayed thus A wolf there stod be-forn hym at hese fet With eyȝyn rede & of a man he et With sotyl pensel was depeyntid þis story In redoutynge of mars & of hese glory Now to the temple of dyane the chasteDyane As schortly as I can I wele me haste To telle ȝow al the discripcioun Depeyntid ben the walle vp & doun Of huntyng & of schamfast schastite Ther saw I how woful Calistope Whan that dyane agreuyd was with here Was turnyd from a woman til a bere And aftyr was sche mad the lode sterre That shynyth in the hevyn / from yow so ferre[whole line later] Here sone is ek a sterre as men may se There saw I dane I-turnede til a tre I mene not the goddesse dyane But Pennyus douȝtyr whiche that hyȝte dane There saw I. Attheon / an hert I-makid ffor vengaunce that he saw dyane al nakyd I saw how that hese houndis han hym caut And fretyn hym for that þey knewe hym not Ȝit peyntid was a lityl ferþere more How atthalaunte huntid þe wilde bore And Melyagre & manye a-noþer mo ffor whiche diane wrouȝte hym care & wo There saw I manye a-noþer wondir story The wheche me lyste not drawe to memory This goddesse on an hart[art nearly erased] / wol hye set With smale hundys / al aboute here fet And vndirnethe here fet / sche hadde a mone Waxinge it was & schulde wanye sone In gaude grene here statue clothede was With bowe in hond & arwis in a cas Here eyȝyn caste sche / ful lowe adoun Ther pluto hath / here derke regioun A woman trauaylynge / hadde sche be-forn But for here child / so longe was on-born fful pitusly lucyane gan sche calle And seyde help for þou mayst best of alle Wel coude he peynte lyfly that it wrouȝte With manye a floreyn / heye it was bouȝte Now ben these lystis / made & thesyus That at hese grete cost arayed þus The temple & the theatre euerydel Whan it was don / it likede hym wondyr wel But stynte I wele of Thesyus a lyte And speke of Palamoun & [of] Arcite The day a-prochith of here returnynge That eueryche schulde an hunderit knyȝtis brynge The batayle to darrayn as I ȝou tolde And to atenys here couenaunt for to holde Hath eueryche of hem brouȝt an hunderit knyȝtis Wel armede for to werre at alle ryȝtis And sekyrly þere trowede manye a man That neuere sithe that the world be-ganVI. 71. As for to spe[ke] of knyght-hod of here hond As fer as god hath makyd se & sond Nas of so fewe so noble a cumpanyVI. 71. ffor euery wyȝt that louede chyualry And wolde hese þank han a passaunt name Hath preyed that he myȝte ben of that game'giuoco,' VII. 4. And wel was hym that þerto schosyn was ffor ȝif there fel to-morwe swich a cas Ȝe knowe wel that euery lusty knyȝt Th[a]t louyth paramouris & hath hese myȝt Were it in yngelond or ellys where They wolden here thankys willyn to be there To fyghtyn for a lady benedicite It were a lusty syȝte for to se And ryȝt so ferdyn þey with Palamoun With hym þere wentyn knyghtys manye on Some wele ben armede in an habirioun And in a brest plate & in a lyȝt Iopoun And some wele haue a peyre platys large And some wele haue a pruce schild or a targe Some wele ben armyd on hese leggys wel And han an ax & some a mace of stel There is non newe gyse that it nas old Armede were þey as I haue ȝow told Eueryche aftyr hese opynyoun Ther mayst þou sen / comynge with palamoun[on Arcita's side, Tes.] Ligurge hym selue / the grete kyng of traceVI. 14. Blak was hese berd / & manlyche was hese faceVI. 21. The points marked VI. 21, 22, are taken from the description of 'Aga|memnone.' The Cerkelys of hese eyen / in hese hed They glowedyn / by-twethyn ȝelw & red And lyk a grefoun lokede he a-boute With kempe herys on hese browys stoute His lemys grete / hese brawnys grete & strongeVI. 21. Hese schuderys brode hese armys rounde & longe And as the gyse was in his cuntre fful heye vp on a char of gold stod heVI. 21. With foure white bolys in the trays In stede of hese cote armour ouer hese harneysVI. 22. With naylys ȝelwe & bryghte as ony gold He hadde a berys skyn / cole blak for old Hese longe her was kemb be-hynde his bakVI. 22. As ony rauenys fedyr it schon for blak A wrethe of gold / arm gret of heuge weighte Vp-on hese hed set ful of stonys bryghte Of fynne rubeis & of dyamauntys A-boute hese char there wente whyȝte Alauntis Twenty & mo as grete as ony ster To huntyn at the lyoun or the der And folwede hym with mosel faste I-bounde Colerid of gold / & torettys fylede rounde An hunderit lordis hadde he in hese route Armede ful wel with hertis sterne & stoute With arcyta in storyis as men fynde The grete emetreus the kyng of Inde Vp-on a stede bay trappit in stel Couered in cloth of gold diaperyd welVI. 29. The points here are from the descriptions of 'Ippodamo' (VI. 29), of 'Peleo' (VI. 17, 16), and of 'Peritoo' (VI. 41). Come rydynge liik the god of armys mars Hese cote armeure was of cloth of taris Couchede with perlys white & rounde & grete Hese sadil was of brend gold newe beteVI. 17. A mantyl vp-on hese schuldyr hangyngeVI. 16. Bret ful of Rubyis rede &as fer sparkelynge Hese crispe her lyk ryngis was I-roune And þat was ȝelw / & glederit as the sonne Hese nose was hey hese eyȝyn bryght sitryne Hese lyppis rounde hese colour was sanguyn A fewe frakenys in hese face I-sprend Be-twixe ȝelw / & sumdel blak I-meynd And as a lyoun he hese lokynge caste Of fyue & twenty ȝer / hese age I caste Hese berd was wel begunne for to sprynge Hese voys was as a trumpe thonderynge Vp-on hese hed he werede a laurer greneVI. 41. A garlond frosch & lusti for to seene Vp-on hese hond he bar for hes deduyt An egle tame as ony lylye whit An hunderid lordys hadde he with hym there Alle armede sone / here hedis in al here gere fful rychely in alle maner thyngis ffor trustyth wel that dukis erlys kyngisVI. 65. Were gaderid in this noble cumpanye ffor loue & for encres of chiwalrye A-bouthe this kyng / there ran on euery part fful manye a tame / lyoun & lebard And in this wise / these lordis alle & some Ben on the soneday / to the sete come Aboute prime & in the toun a-light This thesyus this deuk this worthi knyghtVI. 65. Whanne he hadde brouȝt hem in-to hese cete And innede hem / euerych at hese degre He festith hem / & doth so gret labour To esyn hem / & don hem alle honour That ȝit men wenyn / that no mannys wit Of non estat / ne coude amendyn it The menstralcye / the seruyse at the festeVI. 69-70. The grete ȝiftys to the meste & leste The ryche aray of thesyus palays Ne ho sat ferst or last vp-on the deys What ladyis fayrest ben or best daunsynge Or whiche of hem can daunsyn best or syngeVI. 70. Ne who most felyngely / spekyth of loue What haukys syttyn on the perche a-boueVI. 8. What houndys liggyn in the flor adoun Of al this make I now no mencyoun But al theffect that þynkyth me the beste Now comyth the poynt / & herkenyth ȝif ȝow lyste The soneday nyȝt er day be-gan to spynge Whan palamoun The larke herde synge Al-þey it were nought / day be ourys topalamun to venus Ȝit song the larke / & palamoun also With holy herte & with an hey corage He ros to wendyn / on hese pilgrymage Vn-to the temple blysful Cythera benygne I mene venus honurable & dygne And in here hour he walkith forth a pas Vn-to the lystis there here temple was And doun he knelith & with vmble chere And herte sor / he seyde as ȝe shal here ffayreste of fayre / O lady myn venus Doughtyr to Ioue / & spouse of VlcanusVII. 43. Thow gladere of / the mount of Cytheroun ffor thilke loue / þou haddyst to Adoun Haue pete of myne bittere teris smerte And tak myn humble preyere at þyn herte Allas I ne haue no langage to telleVII. 45. Theffectis ne the turmentis of myn helle Myn herte may myn harm[arm: later] not bewreyen I am so confus þat I can not seyenVII. 45. But mercy lady brygh that knowyst wel Myn thought & fest what harmys that I fel Considere al this & rew vp-on myn sor As wisely as I schal ȝit eueremor Enforte myn myȝt thi trewe seruaunt be And holdyn werre alwey with chastite That make I myn owene so ȝe me helpe I kepe not of armys for to ȝelpeVII. 46. Ne I ne axe not / to morwe to haue victorye Ne renoun in this cas / ne ven glorye Of prys of armys blowyn vp & doun But I wolde haue fully possessioun Of Emelye & deye / in þyn seruyse ffynd þou the maner how & in what wyseVII. 47. I reche not but I may betere be To haue victorye of hem & þey of me So that I haue myn lady in myne armys ffor thow so be / that Mars I god of armys Ȝoure vertu is so gret in heuene a-boue That ȝif þou lyst I schal wel haue myn loue Thyn temple wele I worschepe euere moVII. 48. And on thyn auter where I ryde or go I wele don sacrifyse & ferys bete And ȝif ȝe wele not so myn lady sweteVII. 49. Thanne prey I the to-morwe with a spere That Arcitha / me þour the herte bere Than rekke I not whan I haue last myn lyf Thow Arcithe / wynne here to hese wyf This is theffect / & ende of myn preyere Ȝyf me myn loue þou blysful lady dere Whan þe orysoun was don of palamounVII. 68. Hese sacrifyse he dede & þat a-non fful pitously with al circumstaunceCompare also stanza 42, 'con vittime piatose.' Al telle I not as now hese obseruaunce But at the laste the statwe of Venus schokVenus And made a sygne wherby that he tok That hese preyere acceptid was that day ffor though the sygne schewede a delay Þo wiste he wel þat grauntid was hese bone And with glad herte he wente hym hom ful sone The threde hour inequal that Palamoun Be-gan to Venus temple for to gon Vp ros the sunne & vp ros EmalyeEmale And to the temple of dyane gan hyeDiane Here maydenys þat sche thidir with her laddeVII. 71. fful redyly þe fuyr with hem þey hadde Thensens the clothis & the remenaunt al That to the sacrifise longyn schal The hornys ful of mete / as was the gyseVII. 71. Ther lakkede not to don here sacryfise Smokynge þe temple ful of clothis fayreVII. 72. This Emelye with herte debonayre[a altered from o] Here body wesch with watyr of a welleVII. 73. But how sche dede here ryte / I dar not telle But ȝif it be ony þyng / in general And ȝit it were a game to here it al To hym that menyth wel / it were no charge But it is good a man be at hese large Here bryghte her was kempt vntrussed al A coroun of a grene ok cerialVII. 74. Vp-on her hede was / set / ful fayre & mete Too fyrys on the auter / gan sche bete And dede here thyngis as men may beholde In stace of Thebes & these bokys olde Whan kyndelit was this fuyr with pitous chereVII. 76. Vn-to dyane sche spak / as ȝe may here O chaste goddesse of the wodys greneVII. 79. To whom boþe heuene & erthe & se is seneVII. 77. Quen of the regne / of pluto dirk and lowe Goddesse of maydenys / þat myn herte hast knowe fful manye a ȝer and wost what I desire So kep me from þyn veniance & þyn yreVII. 79. That attheon Aboughte crewelly Chaste godesse wel wost þou that I Desire to ben a maydyn al myn lyf Ne neuere wele I be no loue ne wyf I am þou wost ȝit / of thyn compaygnyeVII. 81. A mayde & loue huntyng & venery And for to walkyn in the wodys wilde And not to ben a wyf & ben with chylde Not wele I knowe compaynye of manVII. 81. Now help lady sithe ȝe may [&[erasure]] can ffor to thre formeste that þou hast in þe And palamoun that hath swich loue to me And ek arcite that louyth me so sore This grace I preie the with-oute moreVII. 84. And send loue & pes be-twixe hem to And from me turne a-wey here hertis so That alle here hote loue & al here desyr And al here besy turment and here fyr Be queynt & turne in a noþer place And ȝif so be þou wilt not do me grace Or ȝif myn destene be schapen soVII. 85. That I schal nedys han on of hem to As send me hym that most desyryth me Be-hold goddesse of clene chastite The bittere terys that on myne che-kys falleVII. 78. Syn þou art maydyn & kepere of vs alle My maydynhed þou kepe & wel conserue And whil I leue / a mayde I wele þe serue The fyrys brenne vp on the auter clereVII. 88. Whyl Emalye was þus in here preyere But sodeynly sche sey a seyghte queynte ffor ryght a-non [on] of the ferys queynteVII. 91. And quekede a-geyn & aftyr that anon That othyr fer was queynt & al a-gon And as it queynte it made a whistelyng As don the wete brondis in here brennyngVII. 92. Ant at the brondis ende out ran a-non As it were blodi dropis many on ffor which so sore agast was emalye That sche was wol nygh mad & gan to crye ffor sche nyste what it sygnefyedVII. 92. But only for the fer þus hath sche cryed And wep þat it was pete for to here And þerwithal diane gan apereVII. 88. With bowe in hond rygh as an hunteresse And seyde doughtir stynt þyn heuynesse Among the goddys hye it is afermydVII. 89. And by eterne world wretyn and confermyd['con eterna pa|rola,' VII. 85.] Thow schalt ben weddit vn-to on of twoVII. 89. That han for the so meche care & wo But vn-to whiche of hem I can not telleVII. 89. ffarwel for I ne may no lengere dwelle The furys whiche þat on myn auter brenneVII. 89. Schul the declaryn or that þou go henne Thyn auenture / of loue as in this cas And with þat word / þe arwis in the cas Of the goddesse clateryn faste & ryngeVII. 90. And forthe sche wente & made auanysschynge ffor wich / this emaly / a-stonyd was And seyde what amountyth this allas I putte me in thyn proteccioun Dyane & in thyn dispocycyoun And hom sche goth anon the nexte weyeVII. 93. This is theffect þere is no more to seye The nexte hour of Mars folwynge thisArcite . Mars Arcite vn-to the temple walked is Of ferse Mars / to don his sacrifyse With al his rygh / of hese poyn devise With pitous herte & hey deuocyounVII. 23. Rygh þus to Mars he seyde hese orysoun O stronge god / that in the regnys coldeVII. 24. Of trace honoured art & lord I-holde And hast in euery regne and euery lond Of armys al the bridil in þyn hond And hem fortunyst as the lyste deuyse Accepte of me myn pitous sacrifyse Ȝif it so be that myn ȝouthe may disserueVII. 25. And that myn myght be worthi for to serve Thyn godhed that I may ben on of thyne Thanne preye I the / to rewe vp-on myn pyne ffor thylke pyne & thylke hote fuyr In whiche whilhom þou brentist for desyr Whan that þou vsedest the beuteVII. 25. Of fayre ȝouthe frossche venus fre And haddist here in armys at þyn wille Al-though the onys on a tyme mysfylle Whan vlcanus hadde caught þe in hese lasVII. 25. And fond the lyggynge by his wife allas ffor thilkee sorwe / that was in thyn herte Haue routhe as wel vp-on myne peynys smerte I am ȝong / and oncunnynge as þou wystVII. 26. And as I trowe with loue offendit most That euere was ony / lyuys cryatureVII. 26. ffor sche that doth me al this wo endure Ne rechith neuere whedyr I synke or fleete And wel I wot er sche me mercy hete I mot with strenthe wynne here in the place And wel I wot / with-oute helpe or graceVII. 26. Of the; ne may myn strenthe not a-vayle Than help me lord to morwe in myn batayleVII. 27. ffor thilke fuyr that whilhom brente the As wel as thilke fer / now brennyth me And do þat I to morwe haue victorie Myn be þe trauayle & thyn the glorye'Io il diletto, e tu n' abbia l' onore.' VII. 27. Thyn souereyn templ wel I muste honoure Of ony place & alwey most laboure In thyn pleasaunce & in thi craftys stronge And in thi temple I mowe myn baner hongeVII. 28. And alle the armys of myn cumpanye And euere mo vn-to þat day I deye Eterne fuyr I wele be-fore the fyndeVII. 28. And ek to this a-wow I wele me bynde Myn berd myn her that hangith long adounVII. 28. That neuere ȝit me felte offencyoun Of rasour ne of schere I wele the ȝeue And ben thyn trewe seruaunt whil I leue Now lord haue routhe vp on mynne sorwis sore Ȝif me the victorie I aske the no more The preyer stynte of arcita the stronge The ryngis on the temple dore that henge And ek the doris clateredyn ful fasteVII. 39. Of which arcita sum-what hym gaste The fuyres brende vp on the autyr bryȝtVII. 40. That it gan al the temple for to lyȝt A swete smel a-non the ground vp ȝaf And arcita anon hese hond vp hafSee VII. 40. And more ensens in to the fuyr he [c altered from st]caste With othere ryȝtys mo and at the laste The statue of mars be-gan hese hauberk ryngeVII. 40. And with that soun he herde a murmurynge fful lowe & dym þat seyde þus victorye ffor which he ȝaf / to Mars1. the glorye1[1-1 over victorye erased] And þus with Ioye & and hope wel to fareVII. 41. Arcita anon vn-to his in is fare As fayn as foul is of the bryȝte sunne And ryȝt anon þere is swich stryf be-gunneMurmurVII. 67. ffor thilke grauntynge in the heuene aboue Be-twixe venus the goddesse of loue And mars the sterne god Armypotent That Iupiter was besi it to stynte Til that þe pale saturne the colde That knowith so manye of auentouris olde ffond in hese old experience an art That he ful sone hath plesid euery part As soth is seyd elde hat gret auauntage In elde is bothe wisdam & vsage Men may the elde at-renne & not at-rede Saturne a-non to stynte stryf & drede Al be it þat it is ageyn hese kynde Of al this stryf he gan remedie fynde Myn dere douȝtyr venus quod saturne Myn course þat hath so wyde for to turne Hath more power than wit ony man Myn is the drenchyng in the se so wan Myn is the prisoun in the derke cote Myn is the strangelyng & hangynge bi the throte The murmur & the cherle rebellynge The groynynge & the priue enpoysounynge I do veniaunce and pleyn coreccioun Whyl I dwelle in the sygne of the lyoun Myn is the ruyne of the heye hallys The fallynge of the tourys & of the wallys Vp-on the mynour or the carpenter I slow Samson schakynge þe piller And myne ben the maladijs colde The darke tresounnys & the castis olde Myn lokynge is þe fadir of pestelence Now wep no more I schal don diligence That Palamoun that is þyn owene knyȝt Schal han hese lady as þou hast hym hyȝt Though Mars schal helpe hese knyȝt ȝit neuertheles Be-twixen ȝow there may ben sumtyme pes Alle be ȝe not of on complexioun That causeth al day swich dyuysioun I am thyn aiel redi at thyn wille Wep now no more I wil þyn lust fulfylle Now wil I stynte of the goddis aboue Mars & venus goddesse of loue And tellyn ȝow as goodly as I can The grete effect for whiche þat I began [PART IV. No gap in the MS.] Gret was the feste in Athenys þat day And ek the lusti sesen of þat may Made euery whitht to ben in swich plesaunce That al that moneday Iustene they & daunce And spendyn it in venus hey seruyse And by the cause that þey schulde ryse Erly for to sen the grete fyȝt Vnto here reste wente þey þat nygh[t] And on the morwe whan þat day gan sprynge[General imita|tion of VII. 95-99. Of hors & harneys noyse & claterynge There was in ostelleryis al aboute And to the paleys rod þere manye a route Of lordys vp-on stedis & palfreyis There mayst þou sen / deuysyng of harneys So vncouth & so ryche & wrough so wel Of gold smetheris / of broudynge & of stel The scheldys bryghte testers & trappurys Gold hew helmys hauberkis cote armurys lordis in paramentis on here courserys Knyghtis of retenew & ek squyerys Naylynge the sperys & helmys bokelynge Giggynge of schyldys with lanyerys la-synge Ther as nede is þey were no þyng ydyl The fomy stedis on the goldene brydylVII. 97. Gnawynge faste .the. armurys also With fyle & hamyr prikynge to & fro Thanne on fote comounnys[MS altered] manye on With schorte stauys / as thikke as þey may gon Pypis trumpis nakerys claryounnys That in the batayle blowyn blody sounys The paleys ful of peplys vp & dounVII. 99. Here thre þere ten / holdynge here questyounVII. 98. Deuynynge of these / thebene knyghtis too Some seyde thus / some seydyn it schulde be so Some heldyn with hym with the blake berd Some with the ballede some with the thykke herid Some seyde he lokede grymme & he wolde fyghte He hath a sparth of twenty pound of weighte Thus was the halle ful of dynynynge Longe aftyr that the sunne be-gan to sprynge The grete thesyus that of hese slep a-wakydVII. 96. With mynstrelsye & noyse that was makyd Held ȝit the chambre of hese paleys ryche Tyl that the theben knyghtis bothe I-liche Honoure weryn / in-to the paleys fet Deuk thesyus is at a wyndowe set Arayed wel as he were a god in trone The puple presede dedyrward ful sone Hym for to sen & don hey reuerence And ek to herkene his hest & his sentence An heraud on a skaffald made an hoo Til al the noyse of the puple was I-do And whan he say / the noyse of puple al stylle Tho schewede he the myghty dukis wille The lord hath of hese hey discrecyounSee VII. 7-13. Consyderit þat it were distructyoun To gentyl blod to fygtyn in the gyse Of mortel batayle now in this empryseVII. 7. Wherfore to schapyn þat þey schul not dye He wele hese ferste purpos modyfye No man þerfore vp peyne of los of lyfVII. 12 [no lances allowed in Boccaccio]. No maner schort polax / no schort knyf In to the lystys sende ne dedyr brynge Ne schort swerd for to steke with poynt bytynge No man it drawe ne bere it by hese syde Ne no man schal vn to hese felawe ryde But on cours with a scharp I-grounde spere ffayn ȝif hym lyst / on fote hym self to were And he that is at myschef schal be takeVII. 131-132. And not slayn / but ben brought vn-to the stake That schal ben ordeynyd on eyþer syde But dedir he schal be forse & þere abyde And ȝif so falle the cheuynteyn be take On eythyr syde or ellys slen hese make No lengere schal the turnyinge leste God spede ȝow. goth forth / & leyth on faste With long swerd & with macys fytyth ȝoure fylleVII. 12 [and with 'bipenne']. Goth now ȝoure wey / this is the lordys wille The voys of peple touchede the heueneVII. 14. So longe cryedyn þey with merye steuene God sawe swich a lord þat is so good He wylnyth non distructioun of blod Vp goth the trumpys & the melodye And to the lystis rit the cumpaynye By ordenaunce Throuout The sete large Hangit with cloth of gold & not with sarge fful lyk a lord þis noble deuk gan rydeSee VII. 100-102. These too thebenys vp on eyþer syde And aftyr rod the quen & emelye And aftyr þat a noþer cumpanyeVII. 113-4. Of on & oþer aftyr here degre And thus þey passyn thour out the cite And to the lystis come þey betyme It nas not of the day fully pryme Whan set was Thesyus ful ryche & hye Ypolita the quen & Emely And oþere ladyis in degreis aboute Vnto the setis / presith al the route And westwardis thorugh þe gatys vndyr martheArcita (in Boccaccio) comes from the quarter of 'Euro' (VII. 114): Pale|mone comes 'Dall' altra parte' (VII. 118). No mention is made by Boccaccio of their banners being red and white.VII. 114. Arcite & ek the hunderit of hese parte With baner red is enteryd rygh a-non And in that selue moment PalamonVII. 118. Is vndyr venus Estward in the place With baner whit & hardy cher & fac In al the world to sekyn vp & dounVII. 19. So euene with-oute variacyoun There ne were sweche cumpanyis tweye ffor þere ne was non that coude seye That ony hadde of oþer auauntage Of worthynesse ne of estat ne age So euene were þey [l altered from h]chosen for to gesse And too ryngis fayre þey hem dresse Whan that here namys rad were euerychon That in here noumbre gile was þere non Tho were the gatys schette & cryed was loude Do now ȝoure deuer ȝynge knyghtis proude The heroudys lefte here prykynge vp & doun Now ryngyn trompys loude & claryounVIII. 5. There is no more to seyne but west & est In gon the sperys ful gladly in at rest In goth the scharpe spere in to þe sydeVIII. 7. Ther sen men ho can Iuste & ho can ryde There sleueryn sperys vp-on schildys þikke He felyth thorw the herte spon the prykke Vp spryngyn sperys twenty fote on heyghte Out gon þe swerdis as the syluyr bryght The helmys they hewyn & to-schrede Out brest the blod with sterne stremys rede With myghty macys the bonys they to-bresteSee VIII. 14, 29, 33, 40, 69, 81, &c. He thour the thikkeste of the thrang gan threste There semblyn stedys stronge & doun goth al He rollith vndyr fote as doth a bal He foynyth on hese feet with hese trunchoun And he hym hurtelith with hese hors adoun He thour the body is hurt & sithe take Magry his hed & brough vn-to the stake As forward was / ryȝt þere he wolde abyde Anoþer lad is on that oþer syde And sumtyme doth hem Thesius to reste Hem to frossche & drynkyn ȝif hem leste fful ofte a day han these Thebens twoVIII. 12. To-gedere I-met & wrought hese felawys wo Vn-horsede hath eche oþer of hem tweye Ther nas no Tigre in the vale of Galgopheye Whan that here whelp is stole whil it is lyteVIII. 26. So crewel on the hunte as is arcyte ffor Ielous herte vp-on this Palamoun Ne in Belmarye þere ne is non so fel lyoun That huntid is or for hese hungyr wod Ne of hese prey desyreth so the blod As Palamoun to slen hese fo Arcyte The Ieluse strokys on here helmys byte Out rennyth blod on boþe here sydis rede Sumtyme an ende þere is of eyþer dede ffor er the sunne vn-to þe reste wente The strong kyng / emetryus gan hente This Palamoun as he faught with Arcyte And made his swerd depe in hese flesch to bite And be the forse of twenty is he take Vn-ȝoldyn & Idrawyn to the stake And in the rescous of this palamoun The stronge kyng lygurge is born adoun And kyng Emetrius [al] for hese strenthe Is born out of hese sadil a swerdis lenthe So hitte hym palamoun or he were take But al for nought he was brought to the stake Hese hardy herte myghte hym helpe nought He muste abyde whan that he was caught By forse & ek by compocycioun Who sorwith now but woful palamounVIII. 123 That may[altered from mo] no more gon ageyn to fyghte And whan that Thesius hadde seyn that syghte Vn-to the folk that foughtyn thus echon He cryede ho / no more for it is don I wele be trewe iuge & no partye Arcite of Thebes schal haue Emelye That bi hese fortune hath here fayre wonne A-non þere is a noyse of puple begunne ffor ioye of this so loude & heye with al It semede þat the lystis schulde fal What can now fayre venus don aboue What seyth sche now / what doth this quen of loue But wepith so / for wantynge of here wille Tyl þat here terys in the lystis fylle Sche seyde I am a-schamyd duteles Saturne seyde douȝtyr hold þyn pes Mars hath his wille his knyght al hese bone And be myn hed þou schat ben esed sone The trumpis with the loude mestrelcye The heroudis þat ful loude ȝelle & crye Ben in here wele for ioye of daun Arcyte But herkenyth me & styntyth now a lite Which a merakele þere be-fel a-non This ferse arcyte hath of hese helm I-donVIII. 131. An[d] on a courser for to schewe hese face He prikyth endelong the same plase Lokynge vpward vp on þis Emelye And sche ageyn hym caste a frendely yeVIII. 131.VIII. 124-6. . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. And was al hese cher as in hese herte Out of the ground a furye infernal sterte[a Fury, raised by Venus, IX. 4.] ffrom pluto sent at request of saturne ffor which hese hors for fer gan to turneIX. 7. And lep a syde & founderede as he lep And er þat arcite may takyn kep He pyghte hym on the pomel of hese hed That in þe place he lay as he were dedIX. 8. His brest to-brostyn withe sadil bowe As blak he lay as ony cole or crowe So was the blod ronnyn in hese face A-non he was I-born out of the placeIX. 47. With herte sor to theseus paleys Tho was he korvyn out of hese harneysIX. 13. And in a bed I-brout ful fayre & blytheIX. 48. ffor he was ȝit in memory & alyue And alwey cryinge aftyr Emelye Duk Thesius with al hese cumpanyeIX. 38. Is comyn hom to athenus hese cete With al blys & gret solempnete Al be it þat this / auenture was falle He nylde not disconfortyn hem alle Men seyde ek that Arcita schal not deyeIX. 26. He schal ben helyd of hese maladye And of a noþer þyng þey wern as fayn That of hem alle was þere non I-slaynBocc. makes many of them slain: 'Artifilio,' 'Cornisso' (VIII. 15), 'Rifeo,' 'Arione' (36), 'Narizio' (39), and others, and describes their funerals (X. 4-8). Alle were þey sore I-hurt & namely on That with a spere was therlyd hese brest bon To othere woundis & to brokene armys Some haddyn saluys & some haddyn charmysBoccaccio makes only a general mention of the care and comfort bestowed on the wounded (X. 10). ffermacies of erbis & ek saue Þey dronken / for þey woldyn here lemys haue ffor which this noble deuk as he wel can Confortyth & honoureþ euery man And made reuel al the longe nyghtIX. 61. Vn to þo straunge[altered from stronge] lordis as was ryght Ne þere was holdyn non disconfitinge But as a iustis or a turneynynge ffor sothely þere was non disconfiture ffor fallynge nys not but an auenture Ne to be lad be forse on to the stake Vnȝoldyn &. with twenty knyghtis I-take On persone a-lone with-oute mo And haried by arm fote & to And ek hese stede dreuyn forth with stauys With footmen bothe ȝemen & ek knavys It nas arettyd hym no velanye There may no man clepe it cowardye ffor which a-non deuk Theseus let crye To styntyn alle rancure & enuye The gre as wel on o syde as of othirIX. 54. And eythyr syde liche[MS. altered] lyk a oþeris brothir And ȝeue hem ȝiftys aftyr here degreXII. 80. And fully held a feste dayis threFifteen days. And conueyed þe kyng worthily Out of hese town a iurne largely And hom wente euery man the ryghe wayXII. 83. Þere was no more but farwel & heue good day Of this batayle I wele no more endyte But speke we of palamoun & arcite Swellyth the brest of Arcite & the sor'But [of the wounded] Arcita alone could not be cured: so much was he shattered in wardly by his fall' (X. 11).See X. 11. Encreseth at hese herte more & mor The cloterede blod for ony leche-craft Corupteth & is in hese bouk I-laft That neyþer veyne blod ne ventusynge Ne drynk of erbis may ben hese helpyngePoint from Boccaccio, differently turned (X. 13). The vertu expulsyf of anymal ffor thilke vertu clepe I natural Ne may the vertu voyde ne expelle The pypis of hese lungys gunne to swellePoints from Boccaccio, differently turned (X. 13, 12). And euery lacerte in hese brest adoun Is schent with vertu & corupcyoun Hym gaynyth neyþer for to gete his lyf Vomyt vpwar ne dounward laxatyf Al is to-brostyn / thilke regioun Nature hath no domynacyounPoints from Boccaccio, differently turned (X. 13, 12). And serteynly þere nature wele not werch ffarwel fysyk go bere the man to scherche This al and sum that arcite mot deyeX. 12. ffor which he sendyth Aftyr EmalyeX. 37, 51. And palamoun that was hese cosyn dere Thanne seyde he þus as ȝe schul aftyr here Nowt may the woful spyrt in myn herteX. 54-5. Declare on poynt of alle mynne sorwis smerte Do ȝow myn lady that I loue most But I be-quethe the spyrit of myne gostX. 64. To ȝow a-bouyn euery cryature Syn that myn lyf may no lengere dure Allas the wo allas the peynys strongeX. 102. That I for ȝow haue suffered & so longe Allas the deth allas myn EmelyeX. 103. Allas the partynge of oure cumpaynye Allas myn hertis quene allas myn wif Myn hertis lady endere of myn lyf What is this world what askyn men to haue Now with hese loue now in hese colde graue A-lone withoutyn ony cumpanye ffarewel myn swete fo myn emelye And softe tak me in ȝoure armys tweye'I await the last kisses from thee, oh dear spouse' (X. 65). ffor loue of god & herkene what I schal seye I haue here with myn cosyn palamounX. 60-2. Had strif & rancur manye a day agon ffor loue of ȝow & for myn Ielusye And Iupiter so wisely myn soule gye To spekyn of a seruaunt proprely With alle circumstauncys trewelyX. 62. That is to seyne / strenth. honour. knyghede. Wisdam. vmblesse. estat. & hey kynrede. ffredom. & al that longith to that art So Iupiter haue of myn soule part As in þis world now ne knowe I nonX. 63. So worthi to be louyd as palamon That seruyth ȝow & wele don al hese lyf And ȝif that euere ȝe schul be a wif ffor-ȝet not palamoun the gentyl man. . . 'egli è gentile' (X. 62). And with that word hese speche fayle gan ffor from hese herte vp to hese brest was comeX. 111, 112. The colde of deth þat hadde hym ouercome And ȝit more ouyr for in hese armys two The vital strenthe is lost & al a-go Only the intellect with-outyn more That dwellede in hese herte syk & sore Gan fayle whan the herte felte deth Dusked hese eyne þo & faylede breth But on hese lady ȝit caste he hese eye Hese laste word was mercy Emelye Hese spyrit schaungede hous & wente þereSee XI. 1-3, and the end of Troilus & Cressida. As I cam neuere I can not telle where There-fore I stynte I neam no dyuynystere Of soulys fynde I not in þis registre Ne me ne leste thilke opynyounnys to telle Of hem though they write / where þat þey dwelle Arcyte is cold there Mars hese soule gye Now wele I speke forth of Emelye Schrikte Emelye & houlith palamounXI. 6. And thesyus hese sistyr tok a-non Swounnynge & bar here from the cors away Wha helpith it to tarie forth the day To telle how sche wep bothe eue & morwe ffor in swich cas wemen haue swich sorwe Whan that here hosbondys ben from hem a-go That for the more part þey sorwe so Or ellys fallyn in swich maledye That at the laste serteynly þey deye Infynyte ben / the sorwis & þe terysXI. 8. Of olde folk & folk of tendere ȝerys In al the toun for deth of this Theban ffor hym there wepith boþe child & man So gret a wepynge was there non sertaynXI. 7. Whan Ettor[tt, t: modern] was brought[tt, t: modern] al frosch I-slayn To troye allas the pete þat was there Crachynge of chekys / rentynge of [h: later]here Whi woldist þou ben ded þese wemen crye And haddyst gold I-now & emelye No man myghte glade Thesyus'Niun potea racconsolar Teseo,' says Boccaccio (XI. 9), not excepting 'Egeo;' but he immediately goes on to speak of the old man's attempt to con|sole 'Palemone,' and the rest,—without the slightest success (XI. 11).—(See also XI. 33.)XI. 9. Sauynge hese olde fadyr egyus That knew this worldis transmutacyounXI. 10, 11. As he hadde seyn it vp & doun Ioye aftyr wo & wo aftyr gladnesse And schewede hem ensaumplys & lyknesse Ryght[t: later] as þere deyede neuere man quod heXII. 6. That he ne leuede in erthe in sum degre Ryght so þere leuede neuere man he seyde In al this world that sumtyme he ne deyede This world is not but a thourfare ful of wo And we ben pilgrymys passynge to & fro Deth is an ende of euery wordely sore And oueral þis ȝit seyde he mechil more To this effect ful wisely to enhorte The pule that þey schulde hem reconforte Deuk Thesyus with al hese besi cureXI. 13. Cast now wher[r: later] þat þe sepulture Of goode Arcyt may best I-makyd be And ek most honurable in hese degre And at the laste he tok conclusioun That þere as fyrst arcite & palamoun Haddyn for loue the batayle hem be-twene That þe selue groue sote & greneXI. 13. Ther as he hadde hese amerouse desyres Hese compleynt & for loue hese hote fyres He wolde make a fyr in whiche thoffys funeral. he myghte al a-complice And let comaunde anon to hakke & heweXI. 14. The okys olde & leyn hem on a rewe In culpounnys wel arayed for to brenne Hese offyserys with swifte feet þey renne And ryde a-non at hese comaundement And aftyr þis thesius hath sche sentXI. 15. Aftyr a bere & it al ouer-spradde With cloth of gold the rycheste that he hadde And of the same sute he cladde arcite Vp-on hese hondis hese glouys whyte Ek on hese hed a coroune of laurer grene And in hese hand a swerd ful brygh & kene He leyde hym bare þe vesage on the bere Therwith he wept þat pete was to here And for the puple schulde sen hym alleXI. 16. Whan it was day he broughte hym to þe halle That roryth of þe cryinge & þe sounXI. 30. Tho cam þis woful Theban Palamun With flotery & rogi flateri herys In cloþys blake I-droppid al with terys And passynge oþere of wepynge Emelye 'Non men dolente, Emilia pur piangea, . . . . . I circostanti più pianger facea' (XI. 31).XI. 31. The reufuleste of al the cumpaynye In as meche as the seruyse schulde be The more noble & ryche in hese degre Duk Thesyus let forth thre stedis bryngeXI. 35. That trappede were al in stel al glederynge And keuered the armys of daun arcyte Vp-on þese stedis grete & white There setyn folk of which on bar hese schyld Anothir hese spere vp on hese hondys held The thredde bar with hem hese bowe turkeys Of brend gold was the cas & ek the harneysXI. 35. And redyn forth a pas with sorweful chere Toward the groue as ȝe schul aftyr here The nobileste of the grekys þat þere wereXI. 38. Vp on here schulderyn caryedyn the bere With slak pas & eighen . reede & wete Thorugh-out the Cete / by the maystyr strete That sprad was al with blak & wondyr hye Ryght of the same is the strete I-wrye Vp-on the ryght hand wente old egeusRight and left of Palemone (XI. 40).XI. 40. And on that oþer syde deuk Thesyus With vessellys in here hondys of gold ful fynIn the hands of the noblest of the Greeks (XI. 37).]XI. 37. Al ful of. hony. mylk. blod & wyn.XI. 40. Ek Palamoun with ful gret cumpaynye And aftyr that cam woful emelye With fuyre in hond as was þat tyme þe gyse To don the offyse of feneral seruyse Hey labour & ful gret aparaylyngeXI. 18. Was at the seruyse & the fer makynge That with hese gret top the heuene raughteXI. 26. And twenty fademe of brede þe armys straughte This is to seyne þe bowys were so brode Of treis fyrst þere were leyd manye a lodeXI. 27. But how þe fuyr was makyd vp on heighteXI. 22-25. Ne ek the namys what þe treis hyghte As. ook. fyrre. Birch. asp. Aldyr. Holm. Popeler Wylw. Elm. Plane. Assh. Box. chesteyn. lynde. laurer Mapil. thorn. Bech. hasil. Ew. Whippil. trre How þey were feld schal not be told for me Ne how the goddys rennyn vp & doun Dysheritid of here abitacyoun In wheche þey wendyn in reste & pes Nymphus ffaunes & amadries Ne how the bestis & þe bryddys alleXI. 21. ffleddyn for fer whan the wode was falle Ne how the ground agast was of the lyght That was not wont to sen the sunne brygh[t]XI. 21. Ne how the fer was couche fyrst with streXI. 27. And þanne with dreye stikkis clouyn a thre And þanne with grene wode & spicerye An þanne with cloth of gold & with perryeXI. 29. And garlondis hangynge with mani[ani: later] a flourXI. 27. The mirre[irre: later] þe ensens with al so gret odourXI. 28. Ne how arcite lay a-mong al[l: later] þisXI. 39. Ne what richesse a-boute hese body Is Ne how þat Emelye as was te gyseXI. 40. Putte in the fuyr of funeral seruyse Ne how sche swounnede whan men made þe fuyrXI. 41-46. Ne what sche spak ne what was here desyr Ne what Iewell men in the fuyr casteXI. 48, 50. Whan þat the fuyr was gret & brente faste Ne how some caste here schyld & some here spereXI. 56. And of here vestementis which þat they wereXI. 50. And cuppis ful of wyn & mylk & blodXI. 50, 51. In-to the fuyr þat brente as it were wod Ne how the grekys with an heuge routeXI. 52. Thryes redyn al the fuyre a-bouteXI. 53. Vp-on the left half with a loud schoutynge And thryes with here sperys claterynge[line repeated and crossed out] And thryes how the ladyis gunne cryeXI. 54. Ne how that lad was hom-ward Emalye Ne how Arcyte was brent to asschyn coldeXI. 57, 58. Ne how that lyche / wake was I-holdeXI. 59-67. Al thilke nyght ne how the grekys pleye The wake-pleyis ne kepe I not to seye Who wrestelyth best nakyd with oille enoynt Ne who þat bar hym best in no disioynt I wele not tellyn ek how þat þey gon Hom to athenys whan the pley is don But schortly to the poynt þanne wele I wende And makyn of myn longe tale an ende Be proces & be lenthe a certeyn ȝerys Al styntyd is the mournyng & the terysXII. 3, 'giorni,' instead of years. Of grekys be on general assent Than semede me þere was a parlement At athenes vp on certeyn poyntys and cas A-mong the poyntys spokyn was To haue with certeyn poyntys alyance And haue fully of thebans obeissaunce ffor which this nobil theseus anon Let sendyn aftyr gentil palamonXII. 4. Vnwist of hym what was the cause & why But in hese blake cloþis sorwefully He come at hese owene comaundement in hye To sente Theseus / for emelye Whan þey were set & hust was al the placeXII. 5. And thesyus abedyn hadde a space Er ony word cam from hese wyse brest Hese eynyn sette he þere as was hese lest And with a sad visage he sikede stille And aftyr þat ryght þus he seyde hese wille The ferste mournere[? MS.] of the cause aboueIX. 51. Whan he ferst made þe cheyne of louemondo, for 'cheine of loue.' Gret was theffect & hy was hese entent Wel wiste he why & what þerof he mentIX. 51. ffor with that fayre cheyne of loue he bond The fuyr the eyre the watyr & the lond In certeyn boundys þat þey may not fle That same prince & þat same Moeuere quod he[See IX. 51, 52, and XII. 6.] Hath stablyschid in this wrechede world a doun Certeyn dayis & duracioun To alle þat is engenderid in þis place Ouer the whiche day þey may not pace Alle mowe þey ȝit þe dayis wel a-bregge Þere nedyth non autorite to legge ffor it is preuyd be experyence But þat me lyste to clare myn sentence Thanne may men by þis ordere wel diserne That tylke moeuere stylle & sterne Wel may men knowe but it be a fol That euery part dryuyth from hese hol ffor nature hath takyn hese begynnyng Of no party or of a cantel of a þyng But of a þyng þat parfyt is & stable Dessendynge so til it be corumpable And þerfore for hese wise puruyaunce He hath so wel be-set hese ordenaunce That specyfie of þyngis & progressiounnys Shul endure be succesciounnys And not eterne with-outyn ony lye This mayst þou vndyrstondyn & sen at eye lo þe ok that hath so long a norichyngeXII. 7. ffrom the tyme þat it ferst begynnyth to sprynge And hat so long a lyf as we may se Ȝit at the laste wastyd is the tre Considerith ek how that the harde ston Vndir oure fet on whiche we trede & gon Ȝit wastith it as it lyth be the weye The brode reuyr sumtyme waxeth dreye The grete tounnys se we wane & wende Than may I say þat al þis thyng hath ende Of man & woman se we we wel alsooXII. 8. That nedyth in on of þese termys too This is to seyne in ȝouthe or ellys age He mote be ded the kyng as schal a page Some in his bed some in the depe seXII. 10. Some in the large feld as men may se There helpith not al goth that ilke weye Thanne may I seyn al þis þyng mote nedis deye What makyth þis but Iupiter þe kyng That is prynce & cause of alle thyng Conuertynge al vn-to hese propere welle ffrom wiche it is deryvit soth to telle And here ageyn no cryatour on. lyue Of no degre a-uaylith for to stryueXII. 6. Thanne is it wisdom as it þynkyt meXII. 11. To makyn vertu of necessite And take it wel that we may not eschewe And nameli that to vs alle is dewe And ho so grochit out he doth folyeXII. 13. And rebel is to hym þat al may gye And serteynly a man hath most honourXII. 9, 12. To deyen in hese excellence & flour Whan he is sekyr of hese goode name Thanne hath he don hese frend ne hym no schame And gladdere owith hese frend to ben of deth Whan with honour is ȝoldyn vp hese breth Than whan his name apeyred is for age ffor al forgetyn is his wasseyllage Thanne is it best as for a worthi fame A man to deye whan he is best of name The contrarie of al this is wilfulnesXII. 13. Why groche we why haue we heuynesXII. 14-17. That goode arcite of chyualrye flour Departid is with deynte & honour Out of þis foule prysoun of þis lyf Why grochyn here his cosyn & his wif Of [his welfare that loueth hem so wel][Sloane MS. 1685] Can he hem thank nay god wot neuere adel That boþe hese soule & ek hym self offende And ȝit þey mowe here lustis not amende What may I conclude of þis longe serye But aftyr wo I rede vs to be meryeXII. 19. And thankyn Iupiter of al hese grace And er þat we departe from þis place I rede we make of sorwys too On parfyt Ioye lastynge eueremo And lokyth now where most sorwe is her inne There [wil I first bigynne[Sloane MS. 1685] [Suster quod he this is my ful assent[Sloane MS. 1685] With alle thaues heere of my parlement That gentyl palamon ȝoure owne knyght That seruyth ȝou with wil herte and myght As euer hath don sithen ȝe first hym knewe That ȝe shul of ȝoure [grace] vpon him rewe And taken for husbond and for lord Lene me ȝoure hond for this is oure acorde Lete see now if youre wommanly pitee He is a kingis brother sone parde A[nd thouȝ he be a pore bachelere S[ithen he hath serued ȝou so many a ȝere A[nd had for ȝou so gret aduersite It [most be considered leuyth me][Sloane extr. ends] ffor gentyl mercy owith to passyn ryghtCambridge Gg. iv. 27 Than seyde he þus to palamoun ful rygh[t] I trowe þere nedyth lytil sarmonynge To make ȝow assente to the thynge Come ner & tak ȝoure lady bi the hond By-tweþyn hem was mad anon the bondXII. 69. That hyghte matrymonye or mariage By al the cuntre & the barounnage And þus with al blys & melodyXII. 72. Hath Palamoun I-wedded emely And god þat al þis wyde word hath wrought Synde hym his loue þat hath it dere abought ffor now is Palamoun in alle weleXII. 83. leuynge in blysse in richesse & in hele And Emelye hym louyth so tenderely And he here seruyth so gentylly That neuere was þere no word hem be-twen Of Ielousye or ony oþer teene[teene: later] Thus endyth Palamoun & Emelye And god saue al this ffayre cumpaynye.[rest of leaf nearly all cut out.] SO whan þe knyght hath þus hese tale told In al þe route nas þere ȝyng ne old That he ne seyde it nas a noble story And worthy for to drawe to memory And nameli þe gentilis euerychon Our ost lough and swor so mote I gon Thys goth aryght onbokeled is the male Let sen now who schal telle a noþer tale ffor trewely the game is wel begunne Now tellyth ȝe sere monk ȝyf þat ȝe cunne Sumwhat to quite with þe knyghtis tale The mellere that dronke was al pale So that a-nethe vp on his hors he sat He nulde a-vale neythyr hod ne hat Ne abyde no man for hese curteysye But in pilat voys he gan to crye And swor by armys & by blod & bonys I can a noble tale for thenonys With whiche he wele now quyte þe knyȝtis tale Oure ost saw þat he was dronke of ale And seyde a-byd Robyn myn leue brothyr Sum betere man schal telle vs fyrst a nothyr Onbyd & lat vs werke thryftyly By goddys soule / quod he þat wele nat I ffor I wele speke or ellys gon myn wey Oure ost answerde telle on a delewey Thow art a fol thy wit is ouercome Now herkenygh quod the mellere alle & some But fyrst I make a protestacyoun That I am dronke I knowe it be myn soun And þerfore ȝif I mys speke or seye Wite it the ale of Southwerk I preye ffor I wele telle a legende & a lyf Bothe of a carpenter & hese wyf How that a clerk hath set the wryghtis cappe The reue answerde & seyde stynt þyn clappe let be þyn lewede dronke harlotrye It is a synne & ek a gret folye To apeyre ony man or hym diffame And ek to bryngyn whyuys in swych fame þou mayst I-now of oþere thyngis sayn This dronkyn mellere spak ful sone ageyn And seyde leue brothyr Osewold Ho hath no wif he is no coukewold But I seye not þerfore þat þou art on There ben ful goode wivis manyon And euer a thousent goode a-ȝens on badde That knowyst þou wel þyn self / but ȝif þou madde Why art þou angry with myn tale now I haue a wif also as wel as þou Ȝit nolde I not for the oxsyn in myn plow Takyn vp on me more þan I-now As demyn in myn self þat þou were on I wele be-leue wel þat I ne am non An husbonde schal not ben inquysityf Of goddis priuyte nor of hese wyf So he may fyndyn godis foysounn there Of the remenaunt nedyth not tenquyre What schalde I seyn But this mellere He wolde hese wordys for no man forbere But tolde hese cherlych tale in hese manere Me thynkyth I schal reherse it here And þerfore euery gentyl wygh I preye ffor goddys loue demyth not þat I seye Of euyl entent but for I mot reherse Here talys al be þey betere or werse Or ellys fallyn sum of myn matere And þerfore who so leste it not here Turne ouer the lef & ches a noþer tale for he schal fynde I-nowe grete & smale Of storyal thyng þat touchith gentillesse An ek Morallite and holynesse Blamyth not me ȝif ȝe chesyn amys The mellere is a cherl ȝe knowe wel this So was the reue & oþere manye mo And harlotrye þey tolde bothe to Avyseth ȝow put me out of blame And ek men schal not makyn ernest of game here endith the prologe/[No gap in the MS.] & here begynnyth the tale. WHilhom þere was dwellinge in Oxenforde A ryche gnoff þat gestis helde to borde And of his craft a carpenter With hym þere was dwellynge a pore scoler Hadde lernede art but of hese fantasye Was turned for to lernyn astronomye And coude a certyn of conclusiounys To demyn by interrogacyounnys Ȝif that men axsed hym in certeyn hourys Whan men schulde haue droughte or elle schourys Or ȝif men axsede hym what schulde be-falle Of euery thyng I may not rekene hem alle This clerk was clepid hende nycholas Of derne loue he coude & of solas And þerto he was sly & ful preue And lyk a mayde meke for to se A chambre hadde he in that ostelrye Alone with-outyn ony compaygnye fful fetously I-dygh with erbis sote And he hym self as swete as is the rote Of licorys or ony Cetewale Hese almageste & bokys grete & smale Hese augrym stonys lynge fayre apart Hese astellabre longynge for hese art On scheluys couchede at hese bedys hed Hese presse I-couered with a faldynge red And al aboue þere lay a gay sautrye On whiche he made on nyghtis melodye So swetely þat al the chambere rong And Angelus ad uirginem he song And aftyr þat he song the kyngis note fful oftyn blyssede was hese mery throte And þus this swete clerk hese tyme he spente Aftyr hese frendys fyndynge & hese rente This carpenter hadde weddid newe a wyf Whiche þat he louede more þan hese lyf Of eightene ȝer sche was of age Ielous he was & held here narwe in cage ffor sche was wilde & ȝyng & he was old And demede hym self / ben lyk a coukewold He knew not catoun for hese wit was rude That bad men schulde wedde here symylitude Men schulde wedde aftyr here estat ffor ȝoughte & elde ben oftyn at debat But sythyn þat he was fallyn in the snare He muste endure as oþere folk hese care ffayr was þis ȝonge wif & þerwith al As ony wesele here body gent & smal A seynt sche werede þe seynt al of sylk A barme cloth as whit as ony mylk Vp on here lendis ful of manye a gore Whit was here smok I-brouded al be-fore And ek be-hyndyn on here coller aboute Of col blak silk with-inne & ek with-oute The tapes of here white voluper Were of the same sute of here coller Hyre filet brod of silk I-set ful hye And sekyrly sche hadde a lycorous eye fful smale I-pullede were hese browis to And þo were bent & blake as is a slo Sche was more blysful on to se Than is the newe pere Ionete tre And softere than is the wolle of a wedyr And by here gerdil heng a purs of ledyr Tassellid with sylk & perlit with latoun In al this world to sekyn vp & doun There is no man so wys that coude thynche So gay a popelote or swych a wenche fful bryght was the schynynge of here hewe Than in þe tour/ the noble forgit newe But of here song it was as loude & ȝerne As ony swalwe syttynge on a berne And þerto sche coude skippe & make game As ony kede or kalf folwende hese dame Here mouth was swete as braket or the methe Or hord of appillis leyd in hay or hethe Wynsynge sche was as is a ioly colt Long as a mast & vp ryght as a bolt A broche she bar vp on here lowe coler As brod as is the bos of a bokeler Here schois were lasyd on here leggis hye Sche was a prymrole & a piggis nye ffor ony lord to liggyn in hese bedde Or ek for ony good ȝeman to wedde Now sere & eft sere so be-fel the cas That on a day this hendyn Nicholas ffil with þis ȝynge wif rage & pleye Whil þat here husbonde was at Hoseneye As clerkys ben ful sotyl & ful queynte And priuyly he caughte here bi þe queynte And seyde I-wis but I mowe haue myn wille ffor derne loue of the lemman I spille And held here harde be the haunche bonys And seyde lemman loue me al at onys Or I wele deyin al so god me saue And sche sprong as a colt doth in the traue And with here hed sche wrythed faste a-wey Sche seyde I wel not kysse þe be my fey Whi let be quod sche let be nycholas Or I wele crye out harrow allas Do wey ȝoure hondis for ȝoure curteysy This nycholas gan mercy for to cry And spak so fayre & proferede hym so faste That sche here loue hym grauntede at þe laste And swor here oth be seynt Thomays of kent That he wolde ben at hese comaundement Whan þat sche may here layser wel asspye Myn husbonde is so ful of Ielousye That but ȝe waite wel & ben priue I wot ryght wel I am but ded quod sche Ȝe muste ben ful derne as in þis cas Nay þerof care ȝe not quod Nicholas A clerk hadde lethyrly be-set hese while But ȝif he coude a carpenter be-gyle And þus they ben acordit & I-sworn To wayte a tyme as I haue told be-forn Whan Nicholas hadde don þis euery del An thakkede here a-boute the lendis wel He kyssith here swete & takyth hese sautrye And pleyeth faste & makyth melodye Thanne fel it thus þat to þe parich cherche Crystys owene werkys for to werche This goode wyf wente on an haly day Here forehed schon as bryght as ony day So was it wasschyn whan sche let here werk Now was þere of that cherche a parysch clerk The wheche þat was clepid absolon Crol was hese her & as þe gol it schon And strut as a fan large & brod fful streyt & euene lay hese Ioly schod His rode was red hese eyȝyn greye as gos With poulys wyndow I-korwyn on hese schois In hosyn rede he wente fetusly I-clad he was ful smal & properly Al in a kyrtel of a lyght vachet fful fayre & thikke . ben the poyntis set And þerupon he hadde a gay surplys As whit as is the blome on the rys A merye chyld he was so god me saue Wel coude he letyn blod & wel schaue And make a chartere of lond & aquitaunce In twenty manerys coude he trippe & daunce Aftyr the skole of Oxenforthe þo And with hese leggis castyn to & fro And pleyen songys on a smal rubybe Therto he song sumtyme a loud quynyble And as wel coude he pleye on a geterne In al the toun nas brew hous ne tauerne That he ne visityd with hese solas There ony galiard tapstere was But soth to seyn he was sumdel coymous Of fartynge & of speche daungerous This absalon that Ioly was & gay Goth with a senser on the halyday Sensynge þe wyuys of the parych faste And manye a louely lok on hem he caste And namely on þis Carpenterys wyf To loke on here he thouȝte a merye lyf Sche was so propere & swete & lycurous I dar wel seyn ȝif sche hadde ben a mous And he a cat he wolde here hente a-non This parych clerk þis Ioly Absalon Hath in hese herte swich a louelongynge That of no wif tok he non offerynge ffor curteysye he seyde he wolde non The mone whan it was nyght ful bryghte it schon And absalon hadde hese geterne take ffor paramourys he thoughte for to wake And forth he goth Iolyf & amerous Tyl he come to þe carpenterys hous A lytil aftyr þe cokkys hadde crowe And dressede hym vp be a schot wyndowe That was vp on the carpenterys wal He syngyth in hese wois[corrected] gentil & smal Now dere lady ȝif thyn wille be I preye ȝow that ȝe wele rewe on me fful wel acordaunt to hese geternynge This carpentire a-wok & herde hym synge And spak vn to hese wyf & seyde a-non What alysoun heryst not þou absalon That schauntyth þus vndyr oure bouris wal And sche answerde here husbonde þerwithal Ȝis god wot Ihun I here it euerydel This passeth forth what wele ȝe bet þan wel ffrom day to day this Ioly Absolon So wowith here þat hym is wo begon He wakyth al the nyght & al the day He kempte hese lokys brode & made hym gay He wowith here be menys & procage And swor he wolde ben here owene page He syngyth brokkynge as a nyghtyngale He sente here pyment mede & spicede ale And waferys pipinge hote out of the glede ffor sche was of tounne he proferede mede ffor sum folk wele be wonne for richesse And some for strokys & some for gentillesse Sumtyme to schewe hese lyghtnesse & maystrie He pleyeth heroudis vp on a skafald hye But what auaylyth hym in þis cas Sche louyth so þis hende Nicolas That Absalon may blowe the bukkys horn He ne hadde for al hese labour but a skorn And sche makyth Absalon here ape And al hese ernest is turnyd tyl a Iape fful soth is this prouerbe it is no lye Men seyth ryght þus the nyght slye Makyth the chartere lef to be looth ffor thow that absalon be wod or wroth Be cause þat he fer was from here syght This nyght Nicholas stod in hese lyght Now bere the wel þou hende nycholas ffor absalon may wepe & synge allas And so befel it on a satyrday This carpenter was gon to Osenay And hende nycholas & Alysoun Acordede ben to this conclusioun That Nicholas schal schapyn hym a wile This sely Ielous husbonde to begyle And ȝif so be this game wente aryght Sche schulde slepe in hese armys al nyght ffor this was here desyr & hese also And rygh a-non with-outyn wordys mo This nicholas no lengere wolde tarye But doth ful softe vnto hese chambere carye Bothe mete & drynk for a day or tweye And to here husbonde bad here for to seye Ȝif that he axede aftyr Nicholas Sche schulde seye he nyste neuer wher he was Of al þe day sche say hym not with ye Sche trowyth þat he was in malady ffor no cry here mayde coude calle He nulde answere for no thyng that myghte falle This passeth forth al þat satyrday That Nicholas stille in hese chambere lay And et & slep & dede what hym lyste Thil soneday þat the sunne goth to reste This sely carpenter hath so gret merueyle Of Nicholas or what thyng myghte hym eyle And seyde I am adred be seynt thomays It stondyth not a-rygh with nycholas God schylde þat he deyede sodeynly This world is now ful tekyl sekyrly I saw to day a cors boryn to scherche That now on moneday last I saugh hym werche Go vp quod he vn to hese knaue a-non Clepe at hese dore or knokke with a ston Loke how it is & telle me boldely This knaue goth hym vp ful sturdyly And at the chambere dore whil that he stod He cryede & knokkede as þey he were wod What how what do ȝe Maystyr Nicholay How may ȝe slepen al the longe day But al for nought he herde not a word An hole he fond ful lowe vp on a bord There as the cat was wont in for to crepe And at the hole he lokede in ful depe And at the laste he hadde of hym a sygh This Nicholas sat alwey gapynge vp rygh As he hadde kykyd on the newe mone Adoun he goth & tolde hese maystyr sone In what aray he saw this ilke man This carpenter to blyssyn hym be-gan And seyde helpe vs seynte frydiswyde A man wot lytyl what hym schal betyde This man is falle with hese astronemye In sum wodnesse or in sum agonye I thoughte ay wel how þat it schulde be Men schulde not knowe of goddis priuyte Ȝe blyssede be alwey a lewede man That nought but only his bileue can So ferde a nothyr clerk with astronomye[r: later] He walkede in the feldis for to prie Vp on the sterrys what þere schulde befalle Til he was in a marbil pyt I-falle He say not that but ȝit be seynt Thomays Me rewyth sore of hende Nycholas He schal be ratyd of hese stodying Ȝif that I may be Ihesu heuene kyng Get me a staf that I may vndyr spore Whil that þou robyn hevyst vp the dore He schal out of hese stodyinge as I gesse And to the chambere dore he gann hym dresse Hese knave was a strong carl for the nonys And by the haspe he haf it of at onys And in the flor the dore lay a-non This nycholas sat ay as stylle as ston And euere gapede vpward in to the eyre This Carpenter wende he hadde 1ben in dispeyre1[1_1 corrected] And hente hym by the schulderis myghtyly And shok hym harde & cryede dispitously What Nicholas what how loke adoun Awake & thynk on crystis pascioun I crouche the from elvys & from whitys[corr. to whichys] Therwith the nyght spel[corr. to ffeel] a-non ryghtis On foure haluys of the hous aboute And on the throsschewald of the dore with-oute Ihesu cryst & seynt benedyt Blysse this hous from euery wede wygh ffor the nyghtis verie / the white pater noster Where wonyst þou now seynte peterys systyr And at the laste þis hende Nicholas Gan for to syke sore & seyde allas Schal al the world ben lost eftsonys now This carpente answerde what seynst þou What thynk on god as men don whan þey swinke This Nicholas answerde fet me drynke And aftyr wele I speke in priuyte Of serteyn thyng that touchith me & the I wele telle it non oþer man certeyn This carpentyr goth doun & comyth ageyn And broughte of myghti ale a large quart And whanne that eche of hem hade dronke his part This Nicholas hese dore faste schette And doun the Carpenter by hym he sette And seyde Ihun myn ost lef & dere Thow schat vp on thi trouthe swere me here That to no wyght þou schat þis conseyl wreye ffor it is crystis conseyl that I seye And ȝif þou telle it man þou art forlore ffor this veniaunce þou schat han þerfore That ȝif þou wreye me þou schat ben wod Nay cryst forbede for hese holy blood Quod þo this selye man I nam no labbe Ne þow I seye I ne am not lef to gabbe Sey what þou wylt I schal it neuere telle To chyld ne wyf by hym that harwede helle Now Iohn quod Nicholas I nyl not lye I haue I-foundyn in myn astronemye As I haue lokyd in the mone bryght That now a moneday nest at quarter nyght Schal falle a reyn & that so wilde & wod That half so gret was neuere Noyes flod This world he seyde in more thn an oure Schal be drenk so hydous is the schour Thus schal mankynde drenche & lese here lyf This carpenter answerede allas myn wif And schal sche drenche allas myn alysoun ffor sorwe of this he fel almost a doun And seyde is there no remedye in this cas Whi ȝis for gode / quod hende Nichola Ȝif þou wilt werkyn aftyr lore & red Thow mayst not werkyn aftyr þyn owene red ffor thus seyth salamon that was for trewe Werk al be conseyl & þou schalt not rew And ȝif þou werke wylt be good conseyl I vndyrtake withoute mast or sayl Ȝit schal I schaue here & the & me Hast þou not herd how sauyd was noe Whan þat oure lord hadde warnede hym beforn Tha al the word with wayr schulde be lorn Ȝis quod this carpenter ful ȝore ago Hast þou not herd quod Nicholas also The sorwe of Noe with hese felauschepe E[r] þan he myghte gete hese wyf to schepe Hym hadde ben lefere I dar wel vndyrtake Al thilke tyme than hese wederis blake That sche hadde had a schep here self a lone And þerto wost þou what is best to done This askyth haste & of an hasty thyng Men may not preche ne make taying Anon go gete vs faste in to þys in A knedyng trow or ellys a kemelyng ffor eche of vs but loke that þey be large I wheche we mowe sweme as in a barge And han þerinne vitayle suffyciaunt But for a day fy on the remenaunt The watyr schal aslake & gon away Aboute pryme on the nexte day But robyn may not wetyn of this thyn knave Ne ek thym maydyn gille I may not sve Axe not whi for thow þou axe me I wele not telle godis priuyte Suffyseth þe but ȝif thy wit madde To han as gret a grace as Noe hadde Thyn wif schal I wel saue out of doute Go now thyn wey / & sped the here aboute But whan þou hast for here & þe & me I-getyn vs these knedyng tubbys thre Thanne schat þou hangyn hem in the rof ful hye That no man of oure puruyaunce aspye And whan þou hast þus don as I haue seyd And hast oure vitayle fayre in hem leyd And ek an ax to smyte the corde a two Whan that the watyr comyth þat we may goo And breke an hole an hey vp on the gable Into the gardynward ouer the stabele That we mowe frely passe forth ore way Whan that the grete schour is gon a-way Than schat þou sweme as merye I vndyrtake As doth the white doke aftyr the drake Thanne wele I clepe how alisoun how Ion Be merye for the flod wele passe a-non And þou wit seyn heyl maystyr Nicholay Good morwe for I se þe wel for it is day And thanne schul we be lordys al oure lyue Of al the world as Noe was & hese wyue But of a[a later] thyng I warne the ful ryght Be wel auysed on þat ilke nyght That we ben enteryd in to schepys bord That non of vs ne speke not a word Ne clepe ne crye but ben in hese preyere ffor it is goddys owene heste dere Thyn wyf & þou motyn hangyn fer a twen ffor that be-twixe ȝow schal ben no syn No more in lokynge þan þere schal in dede This ordenaunce is seyd go god þe spede To morwe at nyght whan we ben alle aslepe In to oure knedynge tulbis we schul crepe And sittynge þere abydynge goddys grace Go now þyn way I ne haue no lengere space To make of thys no lengere sarmounnyng Men seyth þus / synd þe wyse & sey no þyng Thow art so wys it nedyth þe not teche Go saue oure lyf & that I þe beseche This sely carpenter goth forth hese way fful ofte he seyde allas & welle away And to hese wif he tolde hese priuyte And sche was war & knew it bet þan he What al this queynte cast was for to say But neuertheles sche ferde as sche wolde day And seyde allas go forth þyn waye a-non Help vs to skape / er we ben dede eche on I am thyn verray trewe weddede wyf Go dere spouse & help to saue oure lyf Lo which a gret thyng is affeccyoun Men may deye thour Imagynacyoun So depe may impressioun be take This sely Carpenter begynnyth to quake Hym thynkyth verayly þat he may se Noyous flod come walwynge as the se To drenchyn alysoun hese hony dere He wepyth waylyth makyth sory chere He sykyth with manye a sory swough And goth & getyth hym a knedyng trough And aftyr a tubbe & a kemelyn And pryuyly he sente hem to hese in And hyng hem in the rof in priuyte With his owene hand he made ladderys thre To klymbyn bi þe roungis & the stalkys On to the tubbe hangynge in the balkis And hem vitaylede bothe trow & tubbe With bred & chese with good alle in a tubbe Suffysynge rygh I-now as for a day But er he hadde mad al thys aray He sente hese knaue & ek hese wenche also Vp on hese nedis to lundene for to go And on the moneday whan it drow to nyght He schette hese dore with-outyn candele lygh And dressede alle thynge as it schulde be And schortly vp they clumbe alle thre They setyn stylle wel a furlong wey Now pater noster clum seyde Nicholay And clum quod Ion & clum quod Alysoun This carpentyr seyde hese deuocyoun And stylle he sit & biddyth hese preyere Awaytynge on the reyn ȝif he it here The dede slep for verray besynesse ffel on this Carpentyr rygh as I gesse A-boute corfeu tyme or lyte more ffor trauayl[l: later] of hese gost he groynede sore And efft he routyth for hese hed mys lay Doun on the laddere stalkyth Nicholay And Alysoun ful softe a doun sche spedde With-outyn wordys mo þey gon to bedde There as the carpentyr is wone to lye There was the reuel & the melodye And þus lyth alysoun & Nycholas In besynesse of merthe & of solas Tyl þat the belle of laudis gan to rynge And frerys in the schaunsel gunne synge Thys parich clerk this Amerouse Absalon That is for loue alwey so wo begon Vp on the moneday was at oseneye With cumpanye hym to disporte & pleye And axede vp on cas a cloysterer fful priuyly aftyr Ion the carpenter And he drow hym a part out of the cherche And seyde I saw here not werche Syn satyrday I trowe that he be went ffor tymbyr þere oure abbot hath hym sent ffor he is wont for tymbyr for to go And dwellyn at the graunge a day or too Or ell he is at hese hous serteyn Where that he be I can not sothly seyn This absalon ful Ioly was & lyght And thoughte now is tyme to wakyn al nygh ffor sekyrly I say hym not sterynge A-boutyn hese dore tyl day be-gan to sprynge So mot I the I schal at cokkys crowe fful priuyly knocke at hese wyndowe That stant ful lowe vndyr hese bourys wal To alysoun now wele I tellyn al Myn loue longynge for ȝit I schal not mysse That at the leste weye I schal here kysse Sum maner confort schal I haue parfay Myn mouth hath ȝechid al þis longe day That is a sygne of kyssynge at the leste Al nyght me mette I was at a feste Therfore I wele go slepe an oure or tweye And al the nyght þanne wele I wake & pleye Whan that the ferste Cok hath crowe a-non Vp rist this Ioly louere this absalon And hym arayeþ gay at poyn deuyse But fyrst he schewith greyn & licorys To smelle sote er he hadde kemb his her Vndyr hese tunge a trewe loue he ber ffor therby wende he to be gracious He romyth to the carpenterys hous And stille he stant vndyr the schot wyndowe Vn to hese brest it raught it was so lowe And softe he coude with a semy soun What do ȝe hony komb ȝe swete alysoun Myn fayre bryd myn swete synamome Awakyth leman myn & spekyth to me Wol lytil thynkyn ȝe vp on myn wo That for ȝoure loue I swete þere I go No wondyr ist þow I swalte & swete I morne as doth a lamb aftyr þe tete I-wis leman I haue so meche loue longyng That lik a turtele I trowe is myn mornyng I may not ete no more þan a mayde Go from the wyndowe Iakke fol sche sayde As helpe me god it wele not be cumpame I loue a-nothir & ell I were to blame Wel bet þan þe be Ihesu Absalon Go forth þyn way or I wele caste a ston And let me slepe a twenty dele wey Allas quod absalon & welleawey That trewe loue was euere so euele be-set Than kys me syn it may be no bet ffor Ihesus[MS Ihc] loue & for the loue of me Wilt þou þanne go thyn wey therewith quod sche Ȝa certis lemman quod þis absalon Thanne mak þe redi quod sche I come anon . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. This Absalon sette hym doun on hese kneis And seyde I am a lord at alle degreis ffor aftyr this I hope þere comyth more leman thyn grace & swete bryd þyn ore The wyndowe sche ondoth & that in haste Haue don quod sche come of & sped þe faste Lest that thyn neyhebouris þe aspye This absalon gan wype his mouth ful drye Derk was the nyght as pouche or as the cole And out at the wyndowe sche putte here ars hole And absalon fel neyþer bet noþer wers But with hese mouth he kyste here nakede ars fful sauourly er he were war of this A bakke he styrte & thouthe it was a mys ffor wel he wiste a woman hadde no berd He felte a thyng al row & long I-heryd And seyde fy allas what haue I do Te he quod sche & claptte here wyndowe to And absalon goth forth a sory pas A berd a berd quod hynde Nicholas Bi goddis corpus this goth fayre & wel This sely absalon herde euerydel And on his lippe he gan for angyr bite And to hym self he seyde I schal þe quyte Who rubbyth now ho frotyth now hese lippis With dust with sond with straw with cloth with schippis But absolon þat seyth ful ofte allas Myn soule be-take I onto saternas But me were betere þan al this toun quod he Of þis dispyt a-wrokyn for to be Allas quod he allas why ne hadde I bleynt Hese hote loue was cold & al I-queynt ffor from that tyme that he hadde kyst his ers Of paramour he sette not a kres ffor he was heled of hese maladye fful ofte paramouris he gan defye And wepte as doth a chyld þat is I-bete A softe pas he wente ouer the strete Vn tyl a smyth men clepedyn daun Ieruys That in hese forge he smethede plow harneys He scharpith schar & cultyr besyly This absalon knokyth al besyly And seyde ondo Geruays & þat a-non What ho art þou it am I Absalon What Absalon what crystis swete tre Whi ryse ȝe so rathe ey benedicyte What eylyth ȝow sum gay gerl god it wot Hath brouȝt ȝow þus vp on the merytot This Absolon ne roughte not a bene Be seynte note ȝe wete wel what I mene Of al this pley no word he ne spak He hadde more tow on hese rak Whan geruays knew & seyde fren so dere That hote cultyr in the chemene here As lene it me I haue þerwith to done I wele bryngyn it þe a-geyn ful sone Gerueys answerede sertis were it gold Or in a poke nobellys al ontold Thu schuldyst haue as I am trewe smyth Ey cristis foo what wele ȝe do þerwith Ther-of quod Alsalon be as be may I schal wel telle it þe to morwe day And caughte þe cultyr by the colde stele fful softe out at þe dore hym gan stele And wente vnto þe carpenterys wal He knokyth fyrst & kallyth[corr.] þerwithal Vp on þe wyndowe rygh as he dede er This alysoun answerde ho is ther That knokyst so I warent the a thef Why nay quod he god wot myn swete lef I am thyn absalon myn derelyng Of gold quod he I haue þe brought a ryng Myn modyr ȝaf it me so god me saue fful fyn it is & þerto wel I-graue This wele I ȝeuen þe ȝif I þe kysse This Nicholas was resyn for to pysse And thoute he wolde a-mendyn al þe Iape He schulde kysse hese ars er þan he spake And vp the wyndowe dede he hastyly And out hese ars he puttyth pryuyly Ouer the buttok / to þe haunche bon And þerwith spak this absolon Spek swete brid I not where þou art This Nicholas a-non let flye a fart As gret as it hadde ben a thondyr dent And with þe strok he was almost I-blent And he was redy with hese yryn hot And Nicholas a mydde þe ars he smot Off goth the skyn[corrected] / an hande brede aboute The hote cultyr / brende so hese toute And for the smert he wende for to deye As he were wod / for wo he gan to crye Help watyr watyr / help for godys herte This carpenter / out of hese slombir sterte And herde on cryen / watyr as he were wod And thoughte allas now comyth Newel flod[2? Nowel] He sit hym vp with/oute wordys mo And with hese ax / he smette the corde on to A doun he[corrected] fel.[corrected] he fond no[corrected] thyng[corrected] to selle Neyþer bred ne ale / Ne no thyng elle Vp on the flor / & þere aswounne he lay Vp styrte here Alysoun & nycholay And cryedyn out / harrow in the strete The neygheborys boþe smale & grete In ronne for to gauryn on þis man. That ȝit a swounne he lay boþe pale & wan.[Cambridge stops till l. 3891.] ffor with that fal he brusten hath his arme But stonden he must vnto his owne harme ffor whanne he spak he was anoon bore doun With hynde Nicholas and Alisoun Thei tolde euery man that he was wood He was a-gast so of the Nowels flood Thurgh fantasie that of his vanyte He hadde bought hym kneding tubbes three And hadde hem hanged in the roof aboue And that he praiede hem for goddis loue To sitten in the roof par companye The folk gan laughwen at his fantasie And to the roof thei kiken and thei gape And turned al his harm vnto a Iape ffor what this carpentere answerde It was for nought no man his resoun herde With othes gret he was sworne adoun That he was holden wood in al that toun ffor euery clerk anoon right helde with other Thei seide the man is wood my leue brother And euery wight gan laughwen at his stryf Thus swyued was the carpenters wyf ffor al his kepyng and his Ialousie And Absolon hath kist hir nethir ye And Nicholas is scaldid in his toute This tale is don and god saue al the route Explicit fabula molendinarij.[No break in the MS.][Of leaf 85, the Cambridge MS has only cas l. 3855, pleye, l. 3858, and greue l. 3859.] ¶ Heere bigynneth the prolog of the Reues Tale.[Sloane MS 1685] WHanne folk han laughwen at this nyce cas Of Absolon and hynde Nicholas Dyuerse folk dyuersely they seide But for the more part thei lough and pleyde Ne at this tale I saw no man him greue But it were oonly Oswold the Reue By cause he was of Carpenteres craft A litel ire is in his herte laft He gan to grucche and blamede it a lite So the yk quod he ful wel kouthe I ȝou quite With blering of a proude mellers ye If that me list to speke of rybaudye But yk am old me list not pleye for age Gras tyme is don my foddere is forage This white top writeth myn olde ȝeres Myn herte is al so mouled as myn heres But if I fare as doth an openers That ilk fruyt is euere lenger the wers Til it be roten in mullok or in stree We olde men I drede so fare we Til we be roten can we nought be ripe We hoppen alweye while the world wil pipe ffor in oure wille ther stiketh euere a naile To haue an hoor her / and a grene taile As hath a leek . for though oure might be gon Oure wille desireth folye euere in oon ffor whanne we may nought don than wil we speke Ȝit in oure asshen old is fire reke ffoure gledes haue we whiche I shal diuise Auauntyng . liyng . Angre . Coueitise These foure sparkles longith vnto elde Oure olde lymes mowe wel be vnwelde But wille ne shal not failen that is soth[Sloane MS 1685] And ȝit haue I alwey a coltes toth As many a ȝere as it is passed henne Sith that my tappe of lyf bigan to renne[Sloane extract ends.] ffor sekyrly whan I was boryn anonCambr. MS. Gg 4. 27 Deth drow þe tappe of lyf & let it gon And euere sithe hath so þe tappe Ironne Til þat almost al emty is þe tunne The strem of lyf now droppith on þe chymbe The sely tunge may wel rynge & chymbe Of wrechedenesse þat passede is ful ȝore With olde folk saue dotage is no more Whan þat þe ost hadde herd this sarmounnyng He gan to spek as lordly as a kyng He seyde what amountyth al þis wit What schul we speke al day of holy writ The deuyl made a reue for to preche And of a soutere schipman or a leche Sey forth thyn tale & tarye not þe tyme Lo Depeforthe & it is half weye pryme Lo Grenewych þere manye a schrewe is inne It were hey tyme þyn tale to begynne Now serys quod this Osowold the reue I preye ȝow alle þat ȝe nat ȝow greue Thow I answere & sumdel sette hese howe ffor lefful it is þat forse / forse of schowe This dronkene mellere hath I-told vs here How þat begiled was a carpentere Parauenture in scorn for I am on And by ȝoure leue I schal ȝow quyte a-non Ryght in hese cherlis termys wele I speke I preye to god his nelke mote breke He can wel in myn eye sen a stalke But in hese owene he can not sen a balke Here begynnyth the[head of painting of the Reeve] Reue his tale AT Trompyngtoun not fer fram cantabregge Þere goth a brok & ouer þat a bregge Vp on þe which brok þer stant a melle And this is veray soth þat I ȝou telle A mellere was þer dwellynge many a day As ony pekok he was proud & gay Pype he coude and fyssche and netys beete And turne cuppis & wel wrestele & schete Ay by hese belte he bar a long panade And of a swerd ful trenchaunt was the blade A Ioly poppere bar he in hese pouche Ther was no man for peryl durste hym touche A sheffeld Thwytel bar he in hese hose Round was hese face & kammede was hese nose As pelyd as an ape was hese skolle He was a markat betere at þe fulle There durste no wygh hand vp on hym leye[ye corrected] That he ne swor þat he schulde anon a-beye[ye corrected] A thef he was for sothe of corn & mele And þat a sly & vsaunt for to stele And his name was hotyn deynous symkyn A wif he hadde comyn of noble kyn The persoun of the toun here fadyr was With here he ȝaf ful many a peny of bras ffor þat Symkyn schulde in hese blod alye Sche was fostered in a nunnerye ffor Symkyn wolde no wyf as he seyde But sche were wel Inoryschid & a mayde To sauyn hese estat of ȝemanrye And sche was proud & pert as is a pye A ful fayr syghte was it on hem to On holye dayis be-forn here wolde he ge With hese typet boundyn a-boutyn hese hed And sche come aftyr in a gite of red And symkyn hadde hosyn of the same Ther durste no wygh clepyn here but dame Was non hardy þat wente be þe weye That durste with here rage or onys pleye But ȝif he wolde be slayn of symkyn With panade or knyf or boytekyn ffor Ielous folk ben perelous euere mo Algate þey wolde here wyuys wenden so And ek for sche was sumwhat smotyrlych Sche was as dygne as watyr In a dich And ful of hokyr & of bismerye Sche thoughte þat a lady schulde here spareye What for here kynrede & here Norterye That sche hadde lerned in þe nunnerye A doughtyr hadde þey be-twixe hem too Of twenty ȝer with-outyn ony moo Sauynge a chyld þat was of sene ȝer age In cradil it lay & was a propere page This wenche thikke & wel I-growyn was With cammuse nose & eyen greye as glas Buttokkys brode & brestis rounde & hye But rygh fayr was here her I wele not lye This persoun of the toun for sche was so fayr In purpos was to makyn here hese eyr But of hese catel & hese mesewage And straunge he made it of here maryge Hese purpos was for to be-stowe here hye In to sum worthi blod of aunceterye ffor holicherche good / mote ben dispendit On holy cherchis blod / þat is dessendit Þerfore he wolde / hese holy blod honoure Thow þat he holy cherche / schulde devoure Gret sokene hath / this mellere out of doute With whete & malt / of al the lond a-boute And namely þere was a gret college Men clepyth þe soler halle at cantebrege There was heyre whete & here malt I-grounde And on a day it happede in a stounde Sek lay þe mauncypele on a malady Men wendyn wisely þat he schulde dey ffor which this mellere stal bothe mele & corn An hundere tyme more þan be-forn ffor þere be-forn he stal but curteysly But now he was a thef outragyously ffor whych þe wardeyn schod & made fare But therof sette this mellere not a tare He crakyth bost & swor it was not so Þanne were there pore clerkys too That dwelledyn in þis halle of whiche I seyde Testyf þey were & lusty for to pleye And only for here myrthe & reuerye Vp on þe wardeyn besily þey crye To ȝeue hem leue but a lite stounde To gon to melle / to sen here corn I-grounde And hardely þey durste leyn here nekke The mellere schulde not stele hem half a pekke Of corn be sleyghte ne be forse hem reue And at þe laste þe wardeyn ȝaf hem leue Ion highte þat on & aleyn hyghte þat oþer Of on toun were þey born þat hyghte strother ffer in the north I can not tellyn where This aleyn makyth redy al hese gere And on an hors he caste þe sak a-non Forth goth aleyn þe clerk & also Ion With good swerd & bokeler bi here syde Ion knew þe weye hem nedyth no gyde And at þe melle þe sak a-doun he leyth Aleyn spak fyrst alheyl symound in feyth How farys þyn fayre douȝtyr & thyn wif Aleyn wolcome quod symkyn be myn lyf And Iohn also how now what do ȝe here Symond quod Iohn bi god nede has no pere He muste serue hym self þat has no sweyn Or ellis he is a fol as clerkis seyn Oure maunciple I hope he wele be ded Swa werkis ay / þe wangis in hese hed And þerfore is I come & ek aleyn To grynde oure corn & carie it hom a-geyn I prey ȝow spede vs hene as ȝe may It schal be don quod symkyn be myn fay What wel ȝe don whil þat it is in hande By god ryȝt by þe hopyr wele I stande Quod Ion & sen how þe corn goth in Ȝit saw I neuere be myn fadir kyn How þat þe hopir wagis to & fra Aleyn answerede & seyde wist þou swa Thanne wele I be beneth bi myn croun And sen how þat þe mele fallyth don In to þe trow þat schal ben myn dysport ffor Iohn yfayth I may ben of ȝore sort I is as ille a mellere as is ȝe This mellere smylede of here nysetee And thouȝte al þis it nys don but for a wyle They wene þat no man may hem be-gyle But be myn thryft / ȝit wele I blere here ye ffor al þe sleyȝte in here philosofye The more queynte crokede þat þey make The more wele I stele whan I take In stede of flour / ȝit wele I ȝeue hēm bren The gretteste clerkys ben not wyseste men As whilom to þe wolf þus spak þe mare Of al here art I counte not a tare Out at þe dore he goth ful pryuyly Whan þat he saw hese tyme softely He lokyth vp & doun tyl he haue founde The clerkys hors þere as it stod I-bounde Be-hynde þe melle vndyr a leuesel And to þe hors he goth fayre & wel He strepith of þe brydil ryght a-non And whan þe hors was los he gynnyth gon Toward þe fen þere wilde marys renne And forth with wehe þour theke & thorw thenne This mellere gooth a-ȝen / no word he seyde But doth his note & with þe clerkis pleyede Til þat here corn was wel & fayre grounde And whan þe mele is salkyd & I-bounde This Iohn goth out & fynt his hors away And gan to crye harow & weyleaway Oure hors is lorn aleyn for godys bonys Step on thyn foot Aleyn come of atonys Allas oure wardeyn has hese palfrey lorn This aleyn for-gat bothe mele & corn Al was out of hese mynde hese hosebondrye What whedir is he gon he gan to crye The wyf cam lepynge inward with a ren Sche seyde alas ȝoure hors goth to þe fen Wyth wylde marys as faste as sche may go Vn-thank come on hese hand þat bond hym so And he þat betere schulde a knyt þe reyne Allas quod aleyn for crystis peyne Ley doun þyn swerd / & I wele myn al swa I is ful wyȝt god woot as is a raa By goddis herte / he schal nat skape vs baþe Whi ne haddist þou pit þe capyl in þe lathe Ille hayl aleyn be god þou is a fonne These sely clerkis han ful faste I-ronne Toward þe fen / bothe aleyn & ek Iohn And whan þe mellere saw þat þey were gon He half a buschel of here flour hath take And bad hese wif gon knede it in a kake He seyde I trowe þe clerkys were a-feryd Ȝit can a mellere make a clerkys berd ffor al here art now lat hem gon here woye Lo where he goth þat lat þe childeryn pleye They gete hym not so lyȝtely / be myn croun These sely clerkys rennen vp & doun Wyth kep kep / stand stand stand Iossa ware þe rere Ga whystele thow & I schal kepe hymm here But schortly til þat it was veray nyght They coude not Thow they don al here myȝt Here capil cache he ran al wey so faste Tyl in a dych þey caughte hym at þe laste Wery & wet as beste is in þe reyn Comyth sely ion & with hym comyth aleyn Allas quod Iohn þe day þat I was born Now are we dreuyn tyl hethng & to scorn Oure corn is stole men wele vs folys calle Boþe þe wardayn & oure felas alle And namely þe mellere weyleawey Thus pleynyth Iohn as he goth be þe wey Toward þe melle / & bayard in hese hond The mellere sittynge by þe fyr he fond ffor it was nyȝt & ferþere myȝte þey nought But for þe loue of god þey hym be-sought Of herberwe & of ese for here peny The mellere seyde a-geyn ȝif þere be eny Swich as it is ȝit schal ȝe haue ȝoure part Myn hous is streyt but ȝe han lernede art Ȝe cunne with argumentis make a place A myle brod of twenty fote of space Let se now ȝif þis space may suffyse Or make it roum with speche as is ȝoure gyse Now symond seyde Iohn be seynt Cutbert Ay art þou merye & þis is fayre answeryd I haue herd seyd men schal tan of too thyngis Swich as he fynd or take swich as he bryngis But specially I preye þe hoot & deere Gete vs sum mete & drynk & make vs chere And we wele paye trewely at þe folle With emty hand men may none haukys tolle Lo here oure syluyr / redy for to spende This mellere in to þe tounne hese doughtyr sende ffor ale & bred & rostede hem a goos And bond here hors it schulde not gon loos And in hese owene chaumbir made a bed With schetis & with chalounnys fayre I-spred Not from his owene bed ten fote or twelve Hese douȝtyr hadde a bed al by here selue Rygh in þe same schaumbyr by & by It myȝte ben no bet & cause why There was non roumere herberw in þe plase The soupe & þey speke hem to solase And dronkyn ay strong ale at þe beste Aboute medenyȝt wente þey to reste Wel hath this mellere vernychid hese hed fful pale he was for-drunke & not red He ȝyksneth & spekyth þourw þe nose As he were on þe quakke or on þe pose To bedde he goþ & with hym goth his wif As ony iay sche lyȝt was & iolyf So was here ioly whistele wel I-wet The cradil at here beddys feet is set To rokke & to ȝeue þe child to souke And whan þat dronkyn al was in þe crouke To bedde wente þe douȝtyr ryȝt a-non To bedde goth aleyn & ek Iohn Ther nas no mor hem neded no dwale This mellere hath so wysely bibbit alle That as an hors he snortyth in hese slep Ne of hese tayl ne takyth he no kep Hese wif bar hym a burdoun a ful strong Men myȝtyn here hyre route too furlong The wenche routyth ek par cumpaynye Aleyn þe clerk þat herde þis melodye He pokede ion & seyde slepist þou Herdist þou euere swich a song er now Lo swich a copil is a-mong hem alle A wylde fyr mote on here bodyis falle Ho herkenyth euere swich a ferly thyng Ȝa þey schal haue þe flour of ille endyng This longe nyȝt þere tydis me no reste But ȝit no fors al schal ben for the beste ffor Iohn seyde he as euere mote I thryue Ȝif þat I may þe wenche wele I schryue Sum esement has lawe I-schapyn vs ffor Iohn þere is a lawe þat says þus That ȝif a man in a poynt be a-greuyd That in a noþer he schal ben releuyd Oure corn is stolin schortly it is non nay And we han had an ille fit al þis day And syn I schal han non a-mendement A-geyn my los I wele haue eysement By godys sale it schal non oþer be This Iohn answerde Aley a-vise þe The mellere is a perlyous man he seyde And ȝif þat he out of hese slep a-breyde He myȝte vs don bothe a velanye Alyn answerde I counte hym not a flye And vp he sterte & by þe wenche he crepte This wenche lay vp ryght & faste slepte Tyl he so nygh was er sche myghte aspye That it hadde be to late for to crye And schortely for to seyn þey were at on Now pley aleyn for I wele speke of ion This Iohn lyth stylle a furlong wey or too And to hym self he makyth reuthe & woo Allas quod he þis is a wekede iape Now may I seyn þat I is but an ape Ȝit hath myn felawe sumwhat for hese harm He has þe melleris douȝtyr in hese arm He auntered hym & has hese nedis sped And I lye as a draf sek in myn bed And whan þis iape is told a noþer day I schal ben told a daffe a cokenay I wele ryse & antere it be myn fay Vn-hardi is vn-sely þus men say And vp he ros & softely he wente Vn to þe cradil & in hese hond it hente And bar it softe vn to hese bedis feet Sone aftyr þis þe wyf here routyng let And gan to wake & lefte for to pysse And cam a-geyn & gan here cradil mysse And gropede here & þere / but sche fond non Allas quod sche I hadde almost mys gon I hadde al most gon to þe clerkys bed Ey benedyste þanne hadde I foule I-sped And forth sche goth tyl sche þe cradel fond Sche gropede alwey ferþere with here hond And fond þe bed & thouȝte not but good Be cause þat þe cradyl by it stod And nyste where sche was for it was derk And fayre & wel sche crep in bi þe clerk And lyth ful stylle & wolde a cauȝt a slep With-inne a while þis Iohn vp lep And on þis goode wif he leyth on sore So merye a fit ne hadde sche ful ȝore He prikyth harde & sore as he were mad This ioly lyf han þese too klerkis lad Tyl þat þe fyrste kok be-gan to synge Aleyn wex wery in þe dawenynge ffor he hadde swonkyn al þe longe nyȝt And seyde farwel malyn swete wyȝt The day is come I may no lengere byde But euere more where so I go or ryde I is þyn owene clerk so haue I sel Now dere leman quod sche go fare weel But er þou go on thyng I wele þe telle Whan þat þou wendyst homward be þe melle Ryȝt at þe entre of þe dore be-hynde Þou schat a cake of half a buschel fynde Þat was I-makyd ryȝt of þyn owene mele Which þat I halp myn fadyr for to stele And goode leman god þe saue & kepe And with þat word sche gan almost to wepe Aleyn vp ryst & thoughte er þan it dawe I wele gon crepe in by myn felawe And fond þe cradyl with hese hand a-non By god þouȝte he al wrong I haue mys gon Myn hed is toty of myn swynk to nyȝt Þat makyth me þat I go not aryȝt I wot wel by þe cradyl I haue mys go Here lyth þe mellere & hese wyf also And forth he goth a twenty deleway Vn to þe bed þere þat þe mellere lay He wende a crepid bi hese felawe Ion An by þe mellere in he crepede a-non And cauȝte hym by þe nekke softe he spak He seyde þou Iohn þou sweuenyst a-wak ffor cristis soule & here a nobele game ffor by þat lord þat called is seynt Iame As I haue thryes in þe schorte nyȝt Swyuyd þe melleris douȝtyr bolt vp ryȝt Whil þou hast as a coward been a-gast Ȝa false harlot quod þe mellere hast A false traytour false clerk quod he Thow schat ben ded be godis dynete Ho durste ben so bold to disparage Myn douȝtyr þat is comyn of swych lenage And by the throte bolle he caughte aleyn And he hente hym dyspitously a-geyn And on þe nose he smot hym with hese fest Doun ran þe blod strem vp on hese brest And in þe floor with nose & mouth to-broke They walwe as don too piggis in a poke And vp þey gon & don a-geyn a-non Tyl þat þe mellere spurnede aȝen a ston And doun he fyl bakward vp on hese wif That wiste no þyng of þis nyse stryf ffor sche was falle a slepe a lyte wyght With Iohn þe clerk þat wakede al nyȝt And with þe fal out of here slep sche bryde Help holy croys of bromeholm sche seyde In manus tuas lord to þe I calle A-wake symond þe fend is on vs falle Myn herte is brokyn allas I ne am but ded There lyth on vp on myn wombe & on myn hed Help symkyn for þe false klerkys fyȝte This Iohn styrte vp as faste as euere he myȝte And graspith by the walle to & fra To fynde a staf & sche styrte vp alswa And knew þe estis betere þan dede þis Iohn And bi þe wal a staf sche fond a-non And saw a lytyl schemeryng of a lyȝt ffor at an hole in schon þe mone bryt[corrected] And by þat lyȝt sche say hem boþe too But sekyrly sche nyste ho was who But as sche say a whit thyng in here eye And whan sche gan þe whyte þyng espye Sche wende þe clerk hadde wered a wolyper And with the staf sche drow ay ner & ner And wende an hit þes aleyn at þe fulle And smot þe mellere on þe pylede sculle And doun he goth harow I deye These clerkys bete hym wel & lete hym lye And hastede hem & toke here leue a-non And ek here mele & on here woye þey gon And at þe melle ȝit þey toke here kake Of half a buschel flour wol wel I-bake Thus is þe proude mellere wel I-bete And hath I-lost the gryndyng of þe wete And payed for þe souper euery del Of aleyn & of Iohn þat bete hym wel Hese wyf is swyuyd & hese doughtyr als Lo swich It is a mellere[re: later] to ben fals And þerfore this prouerbe is seyd ful soth[soth: later] Hym thar not wene wel þat euele doth A gylour schal[l: later] hym self begylede be And god þat settyth hye in[in: later] mageste Save all þese cumpanyis grate[? corrected to grete] & smale Thus haue I quit þe mellere in myn tale[Break of 3 lines in the MS.] THe cook of lundene whil þe reue spak ffor ioye hym thouȝte he clawede hym on þe bak Ha ha ha for cristys passyoun This mellere hadde a scharp conclusyoun Vp on his argument of herbergage Wel seyde salamon / on his langage Ne brynge not euery with in to þyn hous ffor herberwynge be nyȝte is perlyous Wel auȝte a man avysede for to be Whom þat he brouȝte in to hese priuyte I preye to god so ȝeue me sorwe & care Syn euere I highte hoge of ware Herde I euere a mellere betere I-set a werke He hadde a Iape of maleys in þe derke But god for-bede þat we stentyn here And þerfore ȝif ȝe wouche saf to here A tale of me þat am a pore man I wele ȝow telle as wel as euere I can A lytyl Iape what fel in oure cete Oure ost answerde & seyde I graunte it þe Now telle on roger & loke þat it be good ffor manye a paste hast þou letyn blod And manye a rakke of douere hast þou sold/ That hath ben twyes hot & twyes cold Of manye a pilgrym hast þou cristis curs ffor of thyn persele ȝit thy fare þe wers That þey han etyn with thyn stobil goos ffor in thyn schoppe is manye a flye los Now telle on gentyl roger be þyn name But ȝit I preye þe be not wroth for game A man may sey ful soth in game & play Thow seyst ful soth quod roger be myn fay But sooth pley quaad pley as þe flemyng seyth And þerfore herry bayly be þyn feyth Be þou not wroth er we partyn here Thow þat myn tale be of an ostelere But natheles I wele nat telle it ȝet But er we parte I-wis þou schat be quit And þerwithal he low & made chere And seyde hese tale as ȝe schal aftyr here[No break in the MS.] Here begynnyst the kok of lundene hi tale[painting of the Cook]

[Nearly all leaf 193 of Camb. MS is cut out. Only He l. 4372, As 4373, We 4374, At 4375, H 4376, ff 4377, and bits of O and T, 4378-9, are left, and se of plase, l. 4410, and aunce 4412.]

 A Prentis whilom dwellid in oure citee And of a craft of vitalers was he Gaillard he was as gol-fynche in þe schawe Broun as bery. a proper short felawe With lokkes blake I-kempt ful fetisly Daunce he kouþe so wel and Iolyly That he clepid perkyn reueilloure He was as ful of loue and paramour As is þe hive ful of hony swete Wel was þe wenche with him myght mete At euery bridale wold he synge and hoppe He louede bette þe tauerne þan þe shoppe ffor whan þer any ridynge was in chepe Out of þe Shoppe þeder wold he lepe Til þat he had al þe sight I-seyn And daunced wel wold he not come a-gayne And gedrid hym mony of his sort To hoppe and synge and make suche disport And þere þey setten steuene for to mete To pleyn at þe dys in suche a strete ffor in þe toun nas ner no prentis That fairer couþe cast a peyre of dys Then perkyn couth and þerto he was free Of his dispence in place of pryuyte That fonde his maister wel in his chaffare ffor ofte tyme he fonde his box ful bare ffor sikirly a prentis reuelour . . . . .no gap in the MS. His maystir shuld it in his shep abye Al haue not part of þe mynstralcie ffor theft and riot þei ben conuertible Al can he pleye on geterne or rubible Reuel and trouth as in lowe degree[Sloane MS 1685] They ben ful wroth al day as men may see This Iolye prentis with his mayster boode Til he were nyghe oute of his prentis-hoode Al were he snybbit erly and late And somtyme lad with Reuel to Newgate But at last his maystir him by-þoght Vpon a day whan he his paper sought Of a prouerbe þat saith þis same word Wel bet is roten appel oute of hoorde Than þat it rotet alle þe remenant So farith it by a ryocous seruant It is ful lasse harme to late hym passe Than he shend alle þe seruauntz in þe place Therfore his maystir ȝaf him a quytaunce And bade him go with sorow and myschaunce And þus this Ioly prentis had his leuee Now let hym Riot al þe nyght or leue And for ther is no theof with-oute a loke That helpith hym to wasten and to sowke Of þat he bribe can or borow may Anoon he sent his bede and his array Vn to a couper of his owne soort That loued dys Reuel and disport And had a wif þat held for contynaunce A shope and swyfed for hir sustynaunce[Sloane extract ends.] GROUP B. (α. FRAGMENT II.) § 1. MAN OF LAW'S HEAD-LINK. CAMBRIDGE MS. Here begynneth the Prolog of the man of lawe.

[Harleian MS 1758, leaf 55, back.]

 oure Oste saugh well that the bright sonne. The arke of his artaficiall day had ronne. The fourthe parte & half an houre & more. And though he were not deep experte in lore. He wist it was the .xviij. day. Of Aprill that is messager/ to May. And saugh well that the schadow of euery tre. Was as in lengthe the same quantite. That was the body erecte that causid it.[Harl. extract ends] And þerfore by þe schadewe he tok hese witCamb. MS That phebus which þat schon so cler & bryȝt Degreis fyue & forty I-clombe on hyȝt And for þat day as in þat latytude It was ten of þe clok he gan conclude And sodeynly he plyȝte hese hors a-boute Lordyngis quod he I warne ȝow al þis route The fourte party of þis day is gon Now for þe loue of god & seynt Iohn Leseth no tyme as fer forth as ȝe may Lordyngis it wastyth nyȝt & day And stelyth from vs what priuyly slepynge And what þerwith neclygence In oure wakynge As doth þe strem þat turnyth neuere a-geyn Dessendynge from þe monteyn In-to pleyn Wel can senykeke & manye a phylisofere Bewaylyn tyme more þan gold in cofere ffor los of catel may recouerede be But los of tyme schendyth vs quod he It wele not come a-geyn with-outyn drede No more þan wele malkenys maydynhede Whan sche hath lost it in here wantounnesse Let vs not moulyn þus in ydylnesse Syre man of lawe so haue ȝe blys Telle vs a tale now as forward is Ȝe ben submyttit þour ȝoure fre assent To stondyn in þis cas at myn Iugement A-quytht ȝow now of ȝoure be-heste Þanne haue ȝe don ȝoure deuyr at þe leste Host quod he depardeux I assente To brekyn forward is not myn entente Byheste is dette & I wele holde fayn Al myn beheste I can no betere seyn ffor swich lawe as man ȝeuyth a-noþer wyȝt He schulde hym selue vse it be right Thus wele oure tyxt / but natheles serteyn I can not now non thrifty tale seyn That Chaucer thoughte he can but lewedely On metris & on rymyng craftyly As seyde hem in swich engelych as he can Of olde tyme as knowyth manye a man And ȝif he haue not seyde hem leue broþer In on bok he hath seyd hem in a noþer ffor he hath told of louerys vp & down Mo þan ouyde made of mencyoun / In hese epistell þat ben ful olde What schulde I telle hem syn þat þey ben tolde In ȝouthe he made of Ceys & alceoun And syþe haþ he spoke of euerychon These nobele wyuys & þese loueris ek Who so þat wole hese large volum sek Clepid þe seyntis legende of cupide There may he se þe large woundis wyde Of lucresse & of babiloyn Tisbee The swerd of dido for þe false Enee The tre of phill for here demephoun The pleynt of dyane & of hermyoun Of adryane & of Isiphilee The barayne yle standynge in þe se The dreynte leandere for hese erro The terys of elyne & ek þe wo Of brixseyde & of þe ladomya The cruelte of þe quene media Thy lityl childeryn hangynge by þe hals ffor thy Iason þat was in loue so fals O ypermystre penolopee Alceste Ȝoure wifhod be commendit with þe beste But serteynly no word wryty[t]h he Of thilk ensaumple of Canacee That louede here owene broþer synfully Of swiche cursede storyis I seye fy Or ellis of Thiro appolonyus [How þe cursid kynge Anciocus Byrafte hys douȝtir hir Maydenhede þat ys so horrible a tale for to here Whan he hir þrowe þorough þe pament And þ[er]fore he of full avisement Wolde nevere write in none of his sermones Of whiche vnkynde abhomynacions Ne I· ne wil non reherse if þat I may But of my tale how shalle doo þis day Me were lothe he lykned douteles To Muses þat men clepen pieriedes Metham-orphaseos wot wat y mene But natheles I ne reche not a bene Thoughe ·y· come after hym with aw bake I speke in prose & let hym Rymes make And with þat worde he with a sobre chere By-gan his tale as ye shul after here Here endithe þe prolooge [No break in the MS here or between the stanzas.] & bygynnithe þe tale [THE PROLOGUE.] Ohatfulle harme condicion of pouert[Sloane MS 1685] With thrust with colde with hungre so confunded To asken helpe þe shameth in þine hert If þou now axe with nede arte þou so wounded That verray nede vnwrappid al þi wounde hyd Maugre þine hede þou moste for Indegens Or stele or begge or borowe þi dispense Thou blamest crist & seyst fulle vtterly He in his departith rychesse temporal Thy neghboure þou witest synfully And seyste þou haste to lytelle & he hath alle Par fay seyste þou some tyme þou reken shalle Whan þat his tayle shal brenne in þe glede ffor he nouȝt helpith nedefulle in her nede Herkene what ys þe menynge of þe wise Bet is to dien þan to haue Indigence · Thy self neghbore wol þe dispice If þou be pore fare wele þi reuerence Ȝet of þe wise man take þis sentence · Alle dayes of pore men be wykke Be ware þerfore or þou com in þat prik / If þou be pore þi Brother hatith þe Alle þi ffrendes fleen fro þe Allas · O riche merchantes ful of wele be ȝe[The MS trans|poses these two lines.] O noble prudent folke as in þis cas[The MS trans|poses these two lines.] youre bagges buth not fullyd with ambes ais But with sys synke þat renneth of your chaunce. At cristes masse merie may ye daunce. Ȝe sechen londe and See for your wynnynges As wyse folkes þat knowen alle þe staat / Of regnes ye ben fadres & tydynges And tales bothen of pees & debate I were riȝt nowe of talys dissolate Nere þat a marchaunt goon ys many ·a· yeere Me taught a tale whiche as · ȝe shal here[Sloane extract ends.][Lines 981-7, p. 161, are repeated in the MS, leaf 208. Here is the second version, marked, in a later hand, vatat, for vacat, at the side:— This senatourys wif hyre aunte was But for al þat sche knew hyre neuere þe more I wele no lengere taryen in þis cas But to kyng alla which I spak of ȝore That for his wyf wepith & sykyth sore I wele returne & lete I wele custaunce Vndyr þe senatourys gouernaunce] [THE TALE.] [PART I.] In Surry whilom dwellede a c[u]mpaignyeCambridge MS Of chapmen riche & þerto sadde & trewe That wide where sentyn here spicerye Clothis of gold & satynys ryche of hewe Here chaffare was so thrifty & so newe That euery wight hath deynte to chaffare With hem & ek to sellen hem here ware Now fil it that þe maysteris of þat sort Han shapyn hem to rome for to wende Were it for chapmanhod or for disport Non oþer message wolde he dedyr sende But comyn hem self to rome þis is thende And in swich place as thoghte hem thawauntage ffor hire entent þey take hire herbergage Soiournyd han þese marchauntis in þat toun A serteyn tyme as fel to here plesaunce But so be-fel þat thexselent renoun Of themperourys doghter dame Custaunce Reportid was with euery circumstance Vn-to thys surryne marchantys in swich wise ffrom day to day as I schal ȝow deuyse This was the comune voys of euery man Oure emperoure of rome god hym se A doughtir hath þat syn þe world be-gan To rekene as wel here goodnes as here beute Was neuere swich a-noþer as is sche I preye to god in honour here sustene And wolde sche were of al Europe þe quene In here is high beute with-oute pryde Ȝouthe with-oute grenehede or folye[in a later hand] To alle here werkys vertu is here gyde Humblesse hath slayn in here al tyrannye Sche is myrour of alle curteysye Here herte is verray chambyr[or chambur] of holynesse Hire hand mynystre of fredom for almesse And al þis voys was soth as god is trewe But now to purpos lat vs turne ageyn These marchantys han don frauȝt here schepis newe And whan þey han þis blysful maydyn seyn Hom to surry ben þey went ful feyn And on here nedys as þey[han put-in in a later hand] don ful ȝore / And lyuen in wele I can sey ȝow no more Now fil it þat these marchantys stode in grace Of hym þat was þe soudon of surrye ffor whan þey come from ony strange place He wolde of hese benygne curteysye Make hem good cher & besyly espye Tydyngis of sundery regnys for to lere The wonderis þat he myghte sen or here Amongis oþere thyngis specially These marchauntis han hym told of dame Custaunce So gret noblesse in ernest certeynly That this soudan hath cauȝt so gret plesaunce To han hyre fygure in hese remembraunce And al hese lust & al hese besy cure Was for to loue here whil his lyf may dure Perauenture in thilke large boke Which þat clepid is þe heuene I-wretyn was With sterrys whan þat he hese berthe tok That he for loue schulde han hese deth allas ffor in þe sterris clerere than is glas Is wrete god wot ho so coude it rede The deth of euery man / with outyn any drede In sterrys manye a wyntyr there be-forn Was wretyn þe deth of ector achilles Of pompeye Ielyus er þey were born The stryf of thebes & of hercules Of sampson Thurnus & of socrates The deth but menys wittys ben so dulle That no with can wel rede it at þe fulle This soudon for hese priuy conseyl sente And schortely of þis matiere for to pace He hath to hem declarede his entente And seyde serteyn but he myȝte han grace To han custaunce with-inne a lytyl space He nas but ded & chargede hem in hye To schapyn for hese lyf sum remedye Dyuerse men dyuerse thyngys seydyn They argumentyn & castyn vp & doun Manye a subtyle resoun forth þey leydyn They spekyn of Magyk & Abusioūn But fynally as in conclusioun They can not sen in that non auantage Ne in non othir woye saue maryage Thanne sawe they þerin swich difficulte Be weye of resoun for to speke al pleeyn Be cause þere was / swich dyuercyte Be-twethyn here bothe lawys þat þey seyn They trowede that no crystene prynce wolde fayn Weddyn his chyld vndyr oure lawys swete That vs was tauȝt be mahoun oure prophete And he answerde raþere than I lese Constance I wele ben cristened douteles I mote ben hers / I may non oþer chese I prey ȝow holde ȝoure argument in pes Sauyth myn lyf & beth nat recheles To getyn here that hath myn lyf in cure ffor in þis wo I may not longe endure What nedyth grettere dilatacioun I sey be tretys & enbassadrye And bi þe popis mediacioun And al the cherch & þe chyualrye That in distruccioun of mametrye And in encres of Crystes lawe dere They ben ecordit so as ȝe schal here How þat the soudan & hese baronage And alle hese lyges schulde cristenede be And he schal haue custaunce in maryage And serteyn gold I not what quantyte And heer to fyndyn sufficient suretee This same a-cord was sworn on eyþer syde Now fayre Custaunce al-myȝty god ȝow gyde Now wolde sum men waytyn as I gesse Ȝit I schulde telle al þe puruyaunce That þe emperour of his greete noblesse Hath schapyn for hese doughtur[altered] dame[altered] Custaunce Wel may men knowe þat so gret ordenaunce May no man telle in swich a lytyl clause As was arayed for so high a cause Byschopis ben schapyn with here for to wende Lordyngis ladyis knyȝtis of renoun And oþere folk I-nowe this is the ende And notyfyed is thorw out þe toun That euery knyȝt with gret deuocioun Schulde preye crist þat he this maryage Receyue In gre & spede þis viage The day is come of here departynge I sey the woful fatal day is come That þere may be no lengere taryinge But forward þey hem drese alle & some Custaunce that was with sorwe al ouyrcome fful pale a-ryst & dreseth here to wende ffor weel sche seeth there is non oþer ende Allas no wondir is it þow sche wepte That schal be sent in-to straunge nacioun[altered] ffor frendys that so tenderely here kepte And to ben boundyn vndyr subieccyoun Of on sche knowyth not hese condicioun Housbondis ben alle goode & han been ȝore That knowyn wyuys I dar sey ȝow no moore ffadyr sche seyde þyn wrechede chyld Custaunce Thi ȝonge douȝty fosterede vp so softe And ȝe myn modyr myn souereyn plesaunce Ouer alle thynge out take cryst on lofte Custaunce ȝore child hire recomaundyth ofte Vn-to ȝoure grace for I schal to surrye Ne schal I neuere sen ȝow more with eye Allas vn-to þe barbre nacioun I muste anon sithe þat it is ȝoure wille But cryst þat starf for our redempcyoun So ȝeue me grace hese hestis to fulfylle I wreche woman no fors thow I spille Wemen are bore to thraldam & penaunce And to ben vndyr manys gouernaunce I trowe at troye whan pirrus brak þe wal Or ylion brende at thebes the cetee Nat rome for þe harm þorw hanybal That romaynys han enqueschid tymys three Nas herd swich tendere wepyng for pete As in the chaumbere was for here departynge But forth sche muste / where so sche wepe or synge O fyrste moeuyng crewel fyrmament With thi dyurnal which þat croudist ay And hurlyst al from est til occident That naturally wolde holde a-noþer way Thi croudyng set þe heuene in swich aray At þe begynynge of this ferse viage That crewel mars hath slaye þis maryage Infortunat ascendent tortuous Of which þe lord is helpeles falle allas Out of hese angels in-to þe derkeste hous O mars o ataȝer as in this cas O febele mone vn-happi ben thi pas Thow knyttist þe þere þat art not reseyuyd There þow were wel from thens art thow weyuyd Inprudent Emperour of Rome allas Whas þere no philisophere in al thyn toun Is no tyme bet þan oþer in swich cas Of viage is þere non eleccioun And namely to folk of high condicioun Nat whan a rote is of a burthe I-knowe Allas we ben to lewede & to slowe To schip is brouȝt this woful fayre mayde Solempnely with euery circumstaunce Now Ihesu crist be with ȝow alle sche seide[altered from sende] There is namore but fare wel fayre Custaunce Sche peynyth here to make good cuntenaunce And forth I lete here sayle in this manere And turne I wele a-geyn to myn matere The modyr of the soudon welle of vices Espyed hath here sonys pleyn entente How he wolde lete his olde sacrifises And ryȝt a-non sche for here conseyl sente And they be come to knowe what sche mente And whan assembelede were þe folk en feere Sche sette here doun & seyde as ȝe schal here Lordys quod sche ȝe heryn euerychon How þat myn sone in poynt is for to lete The holy lawis of oure alkaron Ȝeuen be goddys message Makomete But on a wow to grete god I heete The lyf schal raþere out of myn body sterte On makometes lawe out of myn herte What schulde vs tydyn of this newe lawe But thraldam to oure bodyis & penaunce And aftyr in helle for to be drawe ffor we reneyede mahoun oure creaunce But lordis wele ȝe makyn a suraunce As I schal seyn assentynge to myn lore And I schal make vs saf for euere more They sworyn & assentyn euery man To lyue with hyre & deye & by here stonde And eueryche in þe beste wyse sche can To strenthe here schal alle here frendis fonde And sche hath this empryse take on honde Whiche ȝe schal here that I schal deuyse An[d] to hem alle sche spak ryth in þis wyse We schul fyrst feyne vs cristene-dam to take Cold watyr schal nat greue vs but a lite And I schal swich a feste & reuel make That as I trowe I schal the soudon quyte ffor thow hese wyf be crystenede neuere so whyte Sche schal han neede to wasche a-wey the reede Thow sche a funt ful of watyr with here leede O soudonesse roote of iniquite Virago thow semiame the secunde O serpent vndyr femynynyte Lyk to the serpent deepe in helle I-bounde O feynede woman al that may conffounde Vertu & innocence thour thyn maleyce Is bred in þe / as nest in euery vice O satan enuyous syn thilke day That þou were chasede þour oure erytage Wel knowyst þou to wemen þe elde way Thow madist eua brynge vs in seruage Thow wilt for-don this cristene maryage Thyn Instreument so weyleawey the whyle Makyst þou of wemen wan þou wit begile This soudonesse whom I þus blame & warye Let pryuyly hire conseyl gon here way What schulde I in this tale lengere tarye Sche rydith to þe soudan on a day And seyde he wolde receyue hire lay And cristendom of prestis hondis fonge Repentynge hire sche hethene was so longe Be-sekynge hem[altered from here] to don here þat honour That sche muste haue þe crystene folk to feste To plesyn hem I wele don myn labour The soudon seyth I wele don at ȝoure heste And kenelynge thankyth here of þat requeste So glad he was he nyste what to seye Sche kyste here sone / & hom sche goth here weye [PART II.] Aryuede ben these crystene men to londe In surrey with a gret solempne route And hastiliche þis soudan sente hese sonde ffyrst to hese modir & al hese regne a-boute And seyde hese wyf was comyn out of doute And preyede hire to ryde a-ȝen þe quene The honour of hese regne to sustene Gret was þe pres & riche was tharay Of surreynys & romeynys met in fere The modyr of the soudan ryche & gay Receyuyth hire with also glad a chere As any modir myȝte hire douȝtyr dere And to þe nexte sete þere be syde A softe pas solempnely þey ryde Noght trowe I þe triumphe of Iulius Of which þat lucan makyth swich a bost Was royallere ne more curyous þan was thasemble of þis blysful ost But þis scorpioun þis wekede gost The soudonesse for al hyre flaterynge Caste vndyr this ful mortali to stynge The soudan comyth hym self sone aftyr this So royali þat wondir is to telle He wolcomyth hire with al ioye & blys And þus in merthe & ioye I lete hem dwelle The freut of this matiere is þat I telle Whan tyme cam men thouȝte it for þe beste That reuel stynte & men gone to here reste The tyme cam this olde soudonesse Ordeynyd hath this feste of which I telle And to þe feste cristene folk hym dresse In general ȝe bothe ȝynge & olde Here may men feste & rialte be-holde And deynteis mo þan I can ȝow deuyse But al to dere they bouȝte it er they ryse O sodeyn wo that euere art successour To wordely blysse spreynt with bittyrnesse Thende of the ioye of oure wordely labour Who occupiet the fyn of oure gladnesse Herkene þis conseyl for thyn sekyrnesse Vp-on thyn glade day haue in thyn mynde The onwar wo or harm that comyth be-hynde ffor schortely for to tellyn at on word The soudon & the crystene euerychone Ben al to-hewe & stikid at the bord But it were only dame custaunce a-lone This olde soudanesse cursede crone Hath with here frendis don this curssede dede ffor sche here selue wolde at the cuntre lede Ne þere was surreyn non that was conuertid That of the conseyl of the soudon wot That he was hewe er that he a-sterted And custaunce han they take a-non fot hot And in a schip al stereles god wot They han hire set & bidde hire lerne sayle Out of surrie a-geyn ward to ytayle A serteyn trosor that sche theþer ladde And soth to sayn vitayle gret plente They han hyre ȝeuyn & clothis ech sche hadde And forth sche saylyth in the salte see O myn custaunce ful of benyngnete O emperouris douȝtyr ȝonge dere He that is lord of fortune be thi stere Sche blysseth hire & with ful pitous voys On to the Croys of crist thus seyde sche O cler o wilful auter holy cros Reed of the lambis blod ful of pite That wesch þe world from old iniquite Me from the fend & from hese clawis kepe That day þat I schal drenchyn in þe deepe Victorious tre protexioun of trewe That only worthy were for to bere The kyng of heuene withese woundis newe The white lomb that hurt was wyt a spere fflemere of feendis out of hym & hire On which thyn lyfis feythfully extenden Me kep & ȝif me myȝt myn lyf to a-menden Ȝeerys & dayis fleth this creature Torw-out the strem of grece in-to strayte Of marrok whiche that was hese auenture On manye a sory Mel now may ȝe beyte Aftyr hire deth ful ofte may sche wayte Er than þe wylde wawys wole here dryue Vn-to the place there sche schal a-ryue Men myȝtyn axsyn whi sche was not slayn Ek at the feste ho myȝte hire body saue And I answere to that demaunde a-gayn Ho sauede daniel in þe orybele caue There euery with saue he maystyr & knave Was with the lyoun frete er he a-sterte Non wigh but god þat he bar in hese herte God lyste to schewe his wondyrful merakele In hire for we schud sen hise myȝty werkys Cryst which þat is / to euery harm tryakele Be serteyn mene oftyn as knowyn klerkes Doth thyng to serteyn ende þat ful derk is To mannys wit that for oure ignoraunce Ne kunne not knowe hese prudent puruyaunce Now sythe sche was not at the feste slawee Who kepte hyre from the drenchynge in þe see Who kepte Ionas in the fyschis mawee Thil he was spoutid out at niniuee Wel may men knowe it was no wiȝt but he That kepte þe peple Ebrayk from here drenchynge With dreye feet thorw-out þe se passynge Who bad the foure spirytis of tempest That power han tanoyen lond & se Bothe north & south & also west & est Anoyeth neyþer se lond ne tree Sothly the comaundour was hee That from the tempest ay[altered] this[altered] woman kepte As wel whan sche wok as whan sche slepte Where myȝte this woman mete or drynk haue Thre ȝer & more how lastyth hire vitayle Ho fedde þe egipcien marye in þe caue Or in desert no wiȝt but crist sauns fayle ffyue thousent folk it was a gret meruayle With louys fyue & fyschis too to feede God sente hese foysoun at here moste neede Sche dryuyth forth in-to oure occian Thour-out oure wilde see til at þe laste Vndyr an hold þat nemenyn I ne can ffor in northumbyrlond the wawis hire caste And in þe se hire schip stekede so faste That þens ne wolde it not of al a tide The wyl of here was þat sche schulde a-byde The constabele of þe Castel doun is fare To sen þis wrak & al þe schip he souȝte And fond þis wery woman ful of care He fond also þe tresore þat sche brouȝte In hyre langage mercy sche be-souȝte The lyf out of hire body to twynne Hire to delyuere of woo þat sche was inne A maner latyn corupt was hire speche But algatis þerbi was sche vndir-stonde The Constabele whan hym lyste no lengere seche This woful woman brouȝte he to the londe Sche knelyth doun & thankyth godis sonde But what sche was sche durste no man seye ffor foul ne fayr thow þat sche schulde deye Sche seyde sche was so masede in the see That sche forgat hire mynde by hyre[altered] trouthe The cunstabele hath of hire gret pite And ek his wif that þey wepe for routhe Sche was so diligent with-outyn slouthe To serue & plese eueryche in þat place That alle hyre louyn þat lokyn in hyre face This constabil & dame hermengylt his wyf Were payenys in þat cuntrey euery where But Ermengylt louede hire ryȝt as hire lyf And Custaunce hath so longe soiurnede þere In orisounys with manye a bittere tere Til Ihesu hath conuertede þour hese grace Dame Ermengilt Constabellesse of þat place In al þat lond no cristene durste at route Alle cristen folk ben fled from þat cuntre Thour poynyms þat conqueredyn al a-boute The plagis of the north & se To walis fledde þe cristianyte Of olde brytunys dwellynge in þis yle There was hire refeut for the mene while But ȝit nere cristene britounys so exiled þat þere nere some þat in hire priuite Honourede crist & hethene folk begilede And n[i]gh þe castel[altered] swich[altered] þere dweltyn thre That on of hem was blynd & myȝte not se But it were with þe ilke eyen of hise mynde Wit[h] whiche men sen aftyr þat þey ben blynde Bryȝt was þe sune as in þat someris day ffor which þe Constabel & hese wyf also And custaunce hath I-take þe ryȝte way Toward þe se a furlong wey or to To pleyen & to romyn too & fro And in hire walk þis blynde man þey mette Crokid & old with eyen faste I-schette In name of cryst cryede þis blynde Erytoun Dame Hermengelt ȝif me myn syȝt a-geyn This lady wex a-freyed of þe soun Lest þat hire husbonde schortly for [to] seyn Wolde hire for ihesu crist han slayn Til Custaunce made hire bold & bad hire for to werche[altered] The wil of crist as doughtyr of hise cherche The Constabele wex a-baschid of that syȝt And seyde what amounty[t]h al þis fare Custaunce answere syre it is cristis myȝt That helpith folk out of þe fendis snare And so fer forth sche gan oure lay declare That sche þe Constabele er þan it was eue Conuertid & on cryst made hym bileue This Constabele was no þyng lord of þis place Of whiche I speke þere he constaunce fond But kepte it strongely manye a wynteris space Vndir alla kyng of al northhumbir londe That was ful wys & worthi of hese honde A-geyn þe skottis as men may wel here But turne I wele a-gen to myn matyere Satan þat euere wayth vs to be-gyle Saugh of Custaunce al þe perfeccioun And caste a-non how he myȝte quite hire while And made a ȝong kn[y]ght þat dwellede in þat toun Loue hire so hote of foul affeccioun That verayly hym thouȝte he schulde spille But he of hire myȝte onys haue hese wille He wowyth hire but it a-uaylyth nouȝt Sche wolde don no synne be no weye And for dispit he compassith in his thouȝt To makyn hyre on schamful deth to deye He waythith whan þe Constable is a-weye And priui vp-on a nyȝt he crepte In-to Hermengildis chaumbere whil sche slepte Wery for-wakede in hire orysouns Slepith custaunce and hemegild also This knyȝt þour satanys temptacions Al softeli is to þe bed I-go And kitte þe throte of Hermegild a too And leyde þe blodi knyf be dame Custaunce And wente his wey þere god ȝyf hym myschaunce Sone aftyr comyth this Constabele hom ageyn And ek .Alla. þat kyng was of þat lond / And saw his wif dispitously I-slayn ffor which ful ofte he wepte & wrong here hon[d] And in þe bed þe blody knyf he fond By dame Constance Allas what myȝte sche seye ffor werray woo hire wit was al a-weye To kyng alla was told þis tale Mischaunce And ek þe tyme where & in what wyse That in a schyp was founde þis custaunce As here be-forn þat ȝe han herd deuyse The kyngis herte of pete gan to gryse Whan he saw so benygne a creature ffalle in desese & in mysauenture ffor as þe lomb toward þe deth is brouȝt So stant this innocent by-fore þe kynge This false knyȝt that hath this tresoun wrought Beryth hire on honde þat sche hath don þis thynge[altered] But natheles þere was gret mornyng A-mong the puple & seyn þey can not gesse That sche hadde don so gret a wekedenesse ffor they han seyn hire so vertuous And louynge hermengild ryȝt as hire lyf Of þis bar witnesse eueryche in that hous Saue he þat hermengelt slow with his knyf This gentil kyng hath cauȝt a gret motyf Of this witnesse & thoght he wolde enquire Deppere in this trouthe for to lere Allas Custaunce þou hast no chaumpioun Ne fyȝte canst þou so weyle-awey But he that starf for oure redempcioun And bond satan & ȝit lyth þere he lay So be þeyn stronge champioun þis day ffor but ȝif cryst opyn merakele kythe With-outyn gilt þou schat ben slayn aswythe Sche sette hire doun on kneis & thus sche seyde Inmortal god þat sauedist susanne ffrom false blame & þou merciful mayde Marye I mene douȝtyr to seynt ann By-forn hos child aungell synge osanne If I be gilteles of this felonye Myn socour be for ellis schal I deye Han ȝe nat seyn sumtyme a pale face Among a pres of hym þat hath be lad Toward hese deth where as he gat no grace And swich a colour in hese face hath had Men myȝte knowe hise face þat was be-stad Amongis alle þe facis in þat route So stant custaunce & lokyth hire a boute O queenys lyuynge in prosperite Duchesses & ȝe ladijs euerychone Hauyth sum routhe of hire aduercite An emperouris douȝtyr stant a-lone Sche hath no wyȝt to whom to make hire mone O blood royal þat standyst in þis drede[altered] ffer ben thyne frendis at thi grete nede This alla kyng hath swich compascioun As gentyl herte is ful fyld of pite That from hyse eyen ran the watyr doun Now hastyfliche do feche a bok quod he And ȝif this kn[y]ȝt wele swere þat sche This woman slow ȝit wele we vs auyse Hom þat we wele þat schal ben oure Iustyse A brytoun bok wrytyn with euaungilis Was fet in on this bok he swor a-non Sche gilty was & in the mene whilis An hand hym smot vp-on the nekke bon That doun he fyl a-tonys as a ston And bothe hise eyen broste vp on hise face In syȝte of euery body in þat place A woys was herd in general audience And seyde þou hast disclaunderede gilteles The douȝtyr of holy cherche in high presence Thus hast þou don & ȝit I holde myn pees Of this mervayle a-gast was al þe pres As masede folk they stodyn euerychone ffor drede of wreche saue Custaunce allone Gret was þe dred & ek þe repentaunce Of hem þat han wrong suspecioun Vp-on þis sely Innocent custaunce And for this myrakele in conclusioun And by Custauncis mediacioun The kyng & manye a noþer in þat place Conuertede were thankid be godis grace This false knyȝt was slayn for hise ontrouthe Be Iugement of alla hastifly And ȝit Custaustaunce hadde of hise deth routhe And aftyr this Ihesus[Ihe] of hise mercy Made alla weddyn solempnely This holy maydyn þat is so bryȝt & scheene And þus hath Cryst mad Custaunce a queene But who was woful ȝif I sc[h]al not lye Of this weddyng but donegild & no mo The kyngis modir ful of tyrannye Hire thouȝt hire curssede herte brast a to Sche wolde not hire sone hadde don so Hire thouȝte a dispit þat he schulde take So straunge a creature vn-to hise make Me lyste not of þe chaf nor of þe stre Makyn so long a tale as of þe corn What sholde I telle of the royalte At mariage or wich cours goth be-forn Who blowith in a trompe or in an horn The freut of eueri tale is for to seye They ete & drynke & daunce & synge & pleye Thei gon to bedde as it was skele & ryȝt ffor þow þat wiuys ben ful holye thyngis They muste takyn in pacience at nyȝt Swiche manere of necessarijs as ben plesyngis To folk þat han wedit hem with ryngis And leyn a lityl here holynesse a-syde As for þe tyme it may non oþer be-tyde On hire he gat a knave child a-non And to a bischop & his constabele ek He tok hise wyf to kepe whan he is gon To skotlondeward hise fomen for to seke Now fayre custaunce þat is so vmble & meke So longe is gon with childe til þat stille Sche halt hire chaumbere a-bydynge cristis wille The tyme is come a knaue child sche beere Mauricyus at þe funtston þey hym calle This Constabele doth forth[clepe put at the side, later] a massanger And wrot on-to his kyng þat clepid was alle How þat this blisful tydyng is byfalle And oþere tydyngis spedful for to seye He taath þe lettere & forth he goth hise weye This massanger to don his auauntage Vn-to þe kyngis modyr ridyth swythe And saluyth hire ful fare in hyre langage Madame quod he ȝe may ben glad & blyþe And thankede god a hunderede thousent sythe Myn lady quen hath child with-outyn doute To Ioye & blysse to al þe regne a-boute Lo here þe letteris selede of þis thyng That I mot bere with þe haste I may Ȝif ȝe wele ouȝt on-to ȝoure sone þe kyng I am ȝoure seruaunt bothe nyȝt & day Donegild answerede as now at þis tyme nay But here al nyght I wele þou take þyn reste To morwe wele I seye þe what me leste This massangere drank faste ale & wyn And stole were hise letteris priuyly Out of his box whil he slepte as a swyn And countyrfetid was ful subtilly Anoþer lettere wrouȝt ful synfully[altered] Vn-to þe kyng direckt of this matere ffrom his Constabil as ȝe schal aftyr here The lettere spak þe quen delyuerede was Of so orible & fendlyche cryature That in þe castel non so hardy was That ony while durste þere endure The modyr was an elf be nature I-comyn by charmys or bi socerye And euery wyȝt hath hire cumpanye Wo was this kyng whan he þis lettere hath seyn But to no wyȝt he tolde hise sorwis sore But of hyse owene hand he wrot a-geyn Wolcome þe sonde of cryst for euere more To me that am now lernede in þis lore Lord wolcome be thyn lust & þyn plesaunce Myn lust I putte al in thyn ordenaunce Kepith this child al be it foul or fayr And ek myn wyf on-to myn hom comynge Cryst whan hym lyste may sende me an eyr More agriable þan this to myn[altered] lykynge[altered] This lettere he selyth pryuyly wepynge Whiche to þe massangere was take sone And forth he goth þere is no more to done O Massanger fulfild of dronkenesse Strong is thi breth thi lemys falteryn ay And þou be-wreyest alle sekere-nesse Thyn mynde is lorn þou iangelist as a Iay Thyn face is turnede in a newe aray There dronkenesse regnyth in ony route There is no conseyl hid with-outyn doute O donegilt I haue non engelissh dygne Vn-to þyn maleys & thi tyrannye And þerfore to þe fend I þe resigne Let hym endyte of thyn tratorye ffy mannyssh fy / o nay by god I lye ffy fendelyche spirit for I dar wel telle Thow þow here walke thyn spyrit is in helle This Massanger comyth from þe kyng a-geyn And at þe kyngis moderis court he lyghte And sche was of þe massenger ful fayn And plesede hym in al þat euere sche myȝte He drank & wel hise gerdyl vndyr pyȝt He slepith & he snortith in hise gyse Al nyȝt tyl þe sunne gan a-ryse Eft were hise letterys stolyn euerychon And counterfetid letterys in þis wyse The kyng comaundyth hise constablis a-non Vp peyne of hangynge & heigh Iuyse That he ne schulde suffere in no wyse Custaunce in whith[altered from whiche] his regne for tabyde Thre dayis & a quartyr of a tide But in þe same schip as he hire fond Hire & hyr ȝenge sone & al hire geere He schulde putte & croude from þe lond And charge hire þat sche neuere eft come þere O myn custaunce wel may þy gost haue fere And slepynge in þyn drem han penaunce Whan donegilt caste al þis ordenaunce This messenger on morwe he wok On-to þe castel holt þe neste wey And to þe constabele he þe lettere tok And whan þat he þis pitous lettere say fful ofte he seyde allas & weyle-away Lord crist how may þis world endure So ful of synne is manye a cryature O myȝti god ȝif þat it be þyn wille Sith þou art ryȝtful Iuge how may þis be That þou wit suffere innocentis to spille And wekede folk regnyn in prosperite O goode Custaunce allas so wo is me þat I mote be þyn turmentour or deye On schamys deth þere is non oþer weye Wepyn bothe ȝynge & olde in þat place Whan þat þe kyng his cursede letere sente And Custaunce with a dedly pale face The forte day toward hire schip sche wente But natheles sche takyth in good entente The wil of crist & knelynge on þe stronde Sche seyde lord ay wolcome be þyn sonde He þat me kepte from þe false blame Whil I was on þe lond a-mongis ȝow He can me kepe from harm & ek from schame In þe salte se al þow I se nat how As strong as euere he was he is now In hym troste I & hyse modyr dere That is to me myn sayl & ek myn stere Hyre lytyl child lay wepynge in hire arm And knelynge pitously to hym sche seyde Pes lityl sone I wele don þe non harm With þat hire couerchif ouer hire hed sche bryde And ouer hise lityl eyen sche it leyd And in hyre arm sche lullede it ful faste And in-to heuene hyre eyen vp sche caste Modyr quod sche & mayde / bryȝte marye Soth is þat þour wemanys eggement Man kynde was lorn & dampnede for to deye ffor wich þyn chyld was on a cros I-ret Thi blysful eyen saw al his turment Thanne is þere non comparisoun be-twene Thi wo & any wo / man may sustene Thow saw þyn child slawyn be-fore þyn eyen And ȝit now lyuyth my lityl child parfey Now lady bryȝt to whom alle folk now cryen Thow glorye of womanhede fayre may Thow hauene of refut bryȝte sterre of day Rewe on myn child þat of þyn gentillesse Rewist on euery reuful in destresse O lityl child allas what is þyn gilt That neuere wroughtist synne as ȝit parde Whi wolde thyn harde fadyr han þe spilt O mercy dere constabele quod sche As lat myn lytil child dwelle here with þe And ȝif þou darst not sauyn hym from blame So kysse hym onys in hese faderys name Therwith sche lokith bakward to þe londe And seyde farewe[l] housbonde routheles And vp sche rist & walkyth doun þe stronde Toward þe schip here folwyth al þe pres And euere sche preyeth hire child to holde hise pes And takyth hire leue & with an holy entente Sche blysseth hire & in-to schip sche wente Vitaylid was þe schip it is no drede Habundaunt for hyre ful longe space And oþere necessaryis þat schuldyn nede Sche hadde I-now haryed be godis grace ffor wynd & wedyr al-myȝty god purchase And brynge hire hom I can no betere seye But in þe se sche dryuyth forth hire weye [PART III.] Alla þe kyng comyth hom soone aftyr þis On-to þe Castel whiche I tolde And axsith where þat his wif & his child is The Constabele gan a-boute hise herte colde And pleynly al þe manere hym tolde As ȝe han herd I can telle it no bettre As schewith þe kyng his sel & hise lettere And seyde lord as ȝe comaundede me Vp peyne of deth so haue I do serteyn This massanger turmentid was tyl he Moste beknowe & telle plat & pleyn ffrom nyȝt to nyȝt what place he hadde leyn And þus by wit & subtyl Inquyrynge Ymagined was bi hom þis harm gan sprynge The hand was knowe þat þe lettere wrot And al þe venym of þis cursede dede But in what wise serteynli I not Theffect is þis þat Alla out of drede His modyr slow þat may men pleynly rede ffor þat sche traytour was to hire legiaunce Thus endyth donegild with myschaunce The sorwe þat þis alla nyȝt & day Makith for his wif & hise child also Ther is no tunge þat it telle may But now wolde I on-to Custaunce go That fletyth in þe se in peyne & wo ffyue ȝer & more as lykede cristis sonde Er þat hir schip aprochede to þe londe Vndyr an hethene castel at þe laste Of which þe name in myn tixt not I fynde Custaunce & ek hire child þe se vp caste Almyȝty god þat sawith al mankynde Haue on custaunce & of hire child sum mynde that is fallyn in hethene hand eft sone In poynt to spylle as I schal telle ȝow sone Doun from þe castel comyth þere manye a wyȝt To gauryn on þis wyȝt & on custaunce But schortly from þe castel on a nyȝt The lordis styward god ȝeue hym myschaunce A thef that hadde reneyed oure cre-aunce Cam in-to þe schip alone & seyde he schulde Hire leman be wheþer sche wolde or nolde Wo was þe wrechede woman þo be-gon Hire child cryed & sche cryede pitously Blysful marye halp hyre ryȝt a-non ffor with hire strogelyng wel & myȝtyly The thef fel ouyr bord al sodeynly And in þe se he dreynte for veniaunce And þus hath cryst onwemmede kept custaunce O foule lust of luxurye lo thyn ende Not only þat þou feyntist manys mynde But verayly þou wilt hise body schende Thende of þy werk or of þynne lustis blynde Is compleynynge how manyon may men fynde That not for werk but only þe entente To don þis synne ben owthir slayn or schente How may þis wayke woman han þis strenthe Hire to defende a-ȝen þis Renegat O golyas vnmesurabe of lenthe How myȝte dauid make þe so maat So ȝong & of armeure so desolat How durste he loke vp-on þyn dredful face Wel may men sen it was but godis grace Ho ȝaf Iudyth corage or hardynesse To slen hym Olofernus in hise tente And to delyueryn out of wrechedenesse The peple of god I sey for þis entente But ryȝt as god spyrit of vigour sente To hym & sauede hym from myschaunce So sente vigour & myȝt to Custaunce fforth goth the schip þour-out þe narwe mouth Of Iubaltare / and Cepte dryuynge ay Sumtyme west & sumtyme north & south And sumtyme est ful many a wery day Til Cristis modyr blyssede be sche ay Hath schapyn þour hire endeles goodnesse To make an ende of al hire heuynesse Now lat vs stynte of Custaunce but a trowe And speke we of þe romayn Emperour That out of surry hath bi letterys knowe The slauthe of Cristene folk & dishonoure[? eure] Don to his douȝtyr by a fals traytoure I mene þe wikkede cursede soudonesse That at þe feste let sle boþe more & lesse ffor which þis emperour hath sent a-nor His senatour with royal ordenaunce And oþere lordis god wot many on On surryens to take veniaunce They brenne & slen & brynge hem to myschaunce fful manyaday but schortly þis is þe ende Homward to rome þey schapyn hem to wende This senatour repayreth wictorye To romeward saylynge ful ryalye And mette þe schyp dryuynge as seyth þe story In which Custaunce sit pitously No þyng knewe he what sche was ne why Sche was in swich a-ray / ne sche wolde seye Of hyre estat þow sche schulde deye He bryngith hire to rome & to hise wyf He ȝaf hire & hire ȝonge sone also And with þe senatour sche ledde hire lyf Thus can oure lady bryngyn out of wo Woful custaunce & manye a noþer mo And long tyme dwellede sche in þat plase In holye werkys euere as was hyre grace This senatourys wyf hyre aunte was But for al þat sche knew hyre neuere þe more I wele no lengere taryen in þis cas But to kyng alla which I spak of ȝore That for hise wyf wepede & syghede sore I wele retorne & lete I wele Custaunce Vndyr þe senatourrys gouernaunce[This stanza is repeated in the MS. See the second version on p. 133 above] Kyng Alla wich þat hadde hise modyr slayn Vp-on a day fil In swich repentaunce That ȝif I schortely schulde telle & playn To rome he comyth to receyue hese penaunce And putte hym in þe popis ordenaunce In high & logh & Ihesu crist be-souȝte fforȝeue hise wikke werkis þat he wrouȝte The fame a-non þour rome toun is born How Alla kyng schal come in pilgrymage By herberiourys þat wentyn here be-forn ffor which þe senatour as was þe vsage Rod hym a-geyn as was þe vsage As wel to schewyn his magnificence As to don any kyng a reuerence Gret cher doth þis noble senatour To kyng alla & he to hym also Euerych of hem doþ oþer gret honour An[d] that with-in a day or too This senatour is to kyng Alla go To feste & schortly ȝif I schal not lye Custauncis sone wente in his cumpanye Summen wolde seyn at þe request of Custaunce This senatour hath lad þis child to feste I ne may not tellyn euery circumstaunce Be as be may þere was he at þe leste But soth is þis þat at his moderys heste By-forn Alla durynge þe metis space This child stod lokynge in þe kyngis face This Alla kyng hath of þe child gret wondyr And to þe senatour he seyde a-non Whos is þat fayre child þat standis ȝondyr I not quod he bi god & bi seynt Iohn A modyr he hath but fadyr hath he non That I of wot & schortly in a stounde He tolde alla how þat þe child was founde But god wot quod this senatour also So verteuous a leuere in myn lyue Ne saw I neuere as sche ne herde of mo Of wordely wemen maydyn nor of wif I dare wel seyn hire hadde leuere a knyf Thurgh-out hyre brest þan ben a woman weke þere is no man coude brynge hire to þe prikke Now was þis child as lyk on-to custaunce As possible is a creatour to be This alla hath þis face in remembraunce Of dame custaunce & þeron musede he Ȝif þat þe childis modyr were ouȝt sche That is his wyf & pryuyly he sighte And sped hym from þe table þat he myȝte Parfay thouȝte he fantome is in myn hed I oghte deme of ryȝtful iugement That in þe salte se myn wif is ded And aftyr he made hise argument What wot I if þat crist hath hire I-sent Myn wif be se as wel as he hire sente To myn cuntre from þens þat sche wente And aftyr non hom with þe senatour Goth alla for to se þis wondyr chaunce This senatour doth alla gret honour And hastilyche he sente aftyr custaunce But trustyth wel hire lyste not to daunce Whan þat sche wiste wherfore was þat sonde Oneþe vp-on hire feet sche myȝte stonde Whan Alla saw his wif fayre he hire grette And wep þat it was routhe for to se ffor at þe ferste lok he on hyre sette He knewe wel verayly þat it was sche And sche for sorwe as doumb stant as a tre So was hire herte set in distresse Whan sche remembrede hys vnkyndenesse Twyes sche swounnyth in hise owene syghit He wepte & hym excuseth pitously Now god quod he & hise halwis bryȝte So wisely on myn soule as haue mercy That of ȝoure harm as gilteles am I As is Mauryce myn sone so lyk ȝoure face Ellis þe fend me feche out of þis place Long was þe sobyng & þe bittere peyne Er þat hire woful hertis myȝtyn cesse Gret was þe pyte for to here hem pleyne Thorgh whiche pleyntis gan hire wo encrese I prey ȝow of myn labour to relese I may nat telle here wo vn-tyl to morwe I am so wery for to speke of sorwe But finalli whan þat þe sorwe is wist That Alla giltles was of hire wo I trowe an hunderede tymys ben þey kyst And swich a blysse is þere be-twen hem two That saue þe ioye þat lastyth eueremo There is non lyk þat any creature Hath seyn or schal whil þe word wele dure Tho preyede sche hire housbonde mekely In relef of hire longe pitous peyne That he wolde preye hire fadyr specially That of his maieste he wolde enclyne To vouche-saf sumday with hem to dyne Sche preyede hym ek he schulde be no weye Vn-to hire fadyr no word of hire seye Summen wolde seyn how þat þe child mauryce Doth þis message vn-to þis emperour But as I gesse alla was not so nyce To hym þat was of so souereyn honour As he þat is of cristene folk þe flour Sente any child but it is bet to deme He wente him selue & so it may wel seme This emperour hath grauntid gentyly To come to dyner as he hym be-souȝte And wel rede I he lokede besily Vp-on þis child & on his douȝtyr thouȝte Alla goth to hise in and as hym ouȝte Arayede for þis feste in euery wyse As fer forth as hise kunnynge may suffyse The morwe cam and alla gan hym dresse And ek his wif þis emperour to mete And forth þey rede In ioye & in gladnesse And whan sche saw hire fadyr in þe strete Sche lyȝte a-doun & fallyth hym to feete ffadyr quod sche ȝoure ȝonge chyld Custaunce Is now ful clene out of ȝoure remembraunce I am ȝoure douȝty[r] custaunce quod sche That whilhom han sent vn-to surrye It am I fadyr þat in þe salte se Was put a-lone & dampned for to deye Now goode fadyr mercy I ȝow preye Sende me no more vn-to to non hethenesse But thanke myn lord here of his kyndenesse Who can þe pytous ioye tellyn al By-twexe hem thre syn þey ben þus I-mette But of myn tale makyn an ende I schal The day goth faste I wele no lengere lette These glade folk to dyner þey ben sette In ioye & blysse at dyner I lete hem dwelle A thousent fold more þan I can telle This child Maurice was sythe emperour Mad bi þe pope & lyuede cristene lyf To Cristis cherche he dede gret honour But I lete alle hise storyis passyn by Of Custaunce is myn tale specially In þe olde romayn storyis may men fynde Maurycis lyf I bere it not in mynde This kyng Alla whan he hise tyme say With his Custaunce his holy wif so swete To ingelond ben þey come þe ryȝte way Where as þey lyue In ioye & in quiete But lytil while it lastyth I ȝow hete Ioye of þis world for tyme wele not a-byde ffrom day to nyȝt it schaungith as þe tyde Who lyuede euere in swich delyt a day That sche ne menede outhir concyence Or yre or talent or sumkenys a-fray Enuye or pride or passioun or offence I ne seye but for þis ende this sentence That lytyl while in ioye & in plesaunce Lastith þe ioye of alla with Custaunce ffor deth þat takyth of high & low hise rente Whan passede was euene a ȝer as I gesse Out of þe world þis kyng alla he hente ffor whom Custaunce hath ful gret heuinesse Now let vs preyen god his soule blysse And dame Custaunce finally to seye Toward þe toun goth hire weye To rome is comyn þis holy creature And fyndith hire frendis hole & sounde Now is sche scapid al hire Auenture And whan þat sche hire fadyr hath I-founde Doun on hire kneis fallyth sche to grounde Wepynge for tendirnesse in herte blyþe Sche heryeth god an hundered thousent sythe In vertu & holy allemesse dede They lyuyn alle & neuere asundyr wende Thil deth departyth hem þis lyf þey leede And faryth now wel myn tale is at an ende Now Ihesu crist þat of his myȝt may sende Ioye aftyr wo gouerne vs in hise grace And kepe vs alle þat ben in þis place. Amen Here endyth the man of lawe hise tale[Break of 2 lines, after which is the heading of the Wife of Bath's Prologue.] GROUP D. FRAGMENT V. § 1. WIFE OF BATH'S PREAMBLE. CAMBRIDGE MS. [Sloane MS 1685, leaf 103.] ¶ The Prologe ¶ Of þ Wyf of Bathe[headline] Experyment/ þough none auctoryte Were in þis worlde is riȝt/ ynouȝe for me To speke of woo þat ys in mariage ffor lordynges siþen I twelfe yere was of age Thanked by god þat ys eterne on lyue Housbondes atte Chirche dore haue I hade fyue Yf I so ofte myȝt haue wedded be But alle were worþi men in her degre But me was tolde certayne not longe a-gone ys þat sithen cryste ne went nevere but onys To weddynge in þe Cane of Galile þat be þilke ensample tauȝt he me þat I ne shulde wedded be but onys Herke with a sharpe worde with þe nonys By syde a welle Ihesu god & man Spake in reprefe of þe Samarytan Thou haste y-hade .v. husbondes quod he And þat ilke man þat nowe hathe the Ys not þine husbonde þus sayde he certayne What he mente þerby I can not sayne Well but I axe why þe fyfte man Was none housbonde to þe Samarytan And herde telle in myne age howe many myȝt she haue in mariage Vpon þis nombre of diffinicion[Sloane MS 1685] Men may deuyne and glose vp and doun But wele I wote expresse with-out lye God bad vs wexe and multiplie þat gentille text/ can I wele vndirstonde Eke wele I wote he sayd myn husbonde Schulde let ffadir and modir and take to me But of none nombre mencion made he Of Bygamye or of Octogamye¶ Quamobrem relin|quet homo patrem & matrem et adherebit vxori sue Genesis ijo. Whi shulde men of hit haue vilonye Loke better þe wyse man kynge Salamon I trowe he hade wyues mo þan on Now. wold god hit leffulle were to me To be refresshid half so ofte as he Whiche yifte of god hade he for alle his wyues No man þat hathe suche þat in þis world ys God wote þis noble kynge as to my witte The fyrst nyȝt/ hade many a mery fytte With Iche of hem so wele was he a lyue Blissed be god þat I haue weddid fyue Welle come þe sixte whan þat euere he shalle ffor siche I wille nouȝt kepe chaste in alle What myne husbonde ys fro þe worlde gone Some crysten man shalle wedde me a-none ffor þan þe Appostell seithe þat I am fre To wedde a goddes half where hit likes me he seyth þat to be weddid ys no synne Bettere ys to be wedded þan to brenne¶ Melius est nubere quam vri What recketh me þouȝe folke say vilonye Of shrewed lameche and his Bygamye I wote wele Abraham was an holy man And Iacob eke as fer as I euere can And eche of [hem] hade wyues mo þan two And many an othere man also Where can ye say in eny manere age þat vs god deffendid mariage By expresse worde I prey you telle me[Sloane MS 1685] Or where comaundid he virgynyte I wote as wele as ȝe hit ys no drede The Apostill whan þat he speketh of Maydenhede he sayd precept þer-of hade he none Men May consayle a woman to ben one But consaylynge ys none comaundement He putte hit in oure owen Iugement ffor hade god commaunded Maydenhede þan hade he dampned weddynge with þe dede And certes yf þere were no sede y-sowe Virgynyte þan where-of shuld hit growe Poule durste not comaunden atte leste A thynge of whiche his Mayster yaf hym none heste þe dart ys set vpe for Virgynite Chase who so may who so renneth best let see][Sloane extract ends] But þis word is not take of euery wyghtMS Gg. 4. 27 But þere as god lust ȝeue it of hise myȝt I wot wel þat thapostele was a mayde But natheles thogh þat he wrot & sayde He wolde þat euery were swych as he Al nys but cunseyl to virginite And for to been a wyf he ȝaf me leue Of indulgence so is it no repreue To wedde me ȝif myn make deye With-oute excepcioun of bygamye Al were it good no woman for to touche He mente as in his bed as in hyse couche ffor peril is fer & tow thasemble ȝe knowe what þis exsaumple may recemble This is al & sum þat virginyte More profitith þan weddyng in frelete ffrelete clepe I ȝif̣ þat he & sche Wolde leede al here lyf in chastite I graunte it wel I haue non enuye Thow maydynhed profere bigamye Hem lykith to be clene body & gost Of myn estat I nyl not make no bost ffor wel ȝe wete a lord in hyse houshold He hath nat euery vessel al of gold Some ben of tre & don here lord seruyse God clepith folk to hym in sundery wyse And eueryche hath of god a propere ȝifte Summe þis some þat as hym lestyth schyfte Virginite 1is gret perfeccyoun1[1_1 later] And contynens ek with reson But crist þat of perfeccioun is welle Bad nat euery wyȝt schulde selle Al þat he hadde & ȝeue it to þe pore And in swich wise folwe hym and hese foore He spak to hem þat wolde leue perfytly And lordyngys by ȝoure leue þat am nat I I wele be-stowe þe flour of al myn age In the artys & in þe freut of maryage Telle me also to what conclusyoun Were membris made of generacioun And for what profyt was a wyf I-wrouȝt Trostyth ryȝt wel þey were nat mad for nouȝt Glose ho so wele I seye vp & doun That þey were makyd for purgacyoun Of vryne boþe & thyngis smale And ek to knowe a femel from a male And for non oþer cause sey ȝe no The experience wit wel it is nat so So þat ȝe clerkis ben nat with me wrothe I seye þis þat þey ben makede for boþe That is to seye for offyse & for ese Of engendereure þere we not god displese Whi schuldyn men ellys in here bokis sette That a man schal ȝilde to his wif hire dette Now wherewith schulde he make hyse payement If he ne vsede his instrument Thanne were þey made vp-on a creature To purge vryne & for engendereure But I sey not þat euery wyȝt is holde That hath swich harneys as I of tolde To gon & vse hem in engenderure They schul nat take of chastite no cure Cryst was a maydyn & schapyn as a man And manye a seynt sithe þe world be-gan ȝit leuede þey euere in parfyt chastite I nyl not enuye swych virginite Let hem be bred of pure whete seed And lat vs wyuys hote barli breed And ȝit with barli bred mark telle can That oure lord refroschid manye a man In swich estat as god clepith vs I wele perseuere I am nat precious In wyf-hod I wele vse myn instrument As frely as myn makere hath it sent ȝif I be dangerous god gif me sorwe Myn housbonde schal it haue on eue & morwe Whan þat hym lyste come forth & paye hise dette An housbonde wele I haue I nyl nat lette Whiche schal be boþe myn detour & myn thral And haue hise trybulacioun with-al Vp-on hise flesch whil I am his wyf I haue þe power durynge al myn lyf Vp-on hyse proper body & noght he Ryght þus thapostele tolde it me And bad oure housbondys forto loue vs wel Al þis sentence me likyth euerydel Vp sterte þe pardoūner & þat a-non Now dame quod he bi god & by seyn Iohn ȝe ben a noble prechour in þis cas I was a-bute to wedde a wyf allas What schulde I it beye on myn flesch so dere ȝit hadde I leuere wedde no wif to ȝere A-byde quod sche myn tale is nat be-gunne Nay þou schat drynkyn of a-noþer tunne Or þan I go schal sauoure werse þan ale And whan þat I haue told forth myn tale Of trybulacioun þat is in maryage Of which I am expert in al myn age This is to seyn myn self hath ben þe wippe Thanne mayȝt þou chese wheþer þou wolt skyppe Of þat tunne þat I schal a-broche Be war of it er þou to nygh a-proche ffor I schal telle ensample mo þan ten Who so þat wele nat be war by oþere men By hym schul oþere men corectid be The same wordys wrytht protholome Rede it in hise almagestis & take it þere Dame I wolde preye ȝif ȝoue wil it were seyde þis pardounner as ȝe be-gan Tellyth forth ȝoure tale sparyth nan And tellith vs ȝynge men of ȝoure praptik Gladly sire sithe it may ȝow lyk But ȝit I preye to al þis cumpaynye If þat I speke aftyr myn fantasye As takyth nat a gres þat I seye ffor myn entent is but for to pleye Now sere now wele I telle forth myn tale As euere mote I drynkyn wyn or ale I schal sey soth of housbondis þat I hadde As thre of hem were goode & thre were badde The thre men were goode & rych & olde Oneþe myȝt þey þe statut holde In which þat þey were boundyn on to me ȝe wete wel what I mene of þis parde As helpe me god I laughe whan I thynke How pytously on nyȝt I made hem to swynke But be myn fey I tolde of it no stor They haddyn me ȝeuyn hire lond & hire tresor Me nedede not do lengere diligence To wynne hire loue & don hire reuerence They louede me so wel by god a-boue That I ne told no deynte of here loue As wys woman wele sette hire euere in on To gete hire loue þere as sche hath non But sythe I haue hem holy in myn hond And sithe þey han me ȝeuyn al here lond What schulde I take hed hem for to plese But ȝif it were for myn profyt & myn ese I sette hem so a-werke be myn fey That manye a nyȝt þey sunge weyleawey The bakon was nat fet for hem I trowe That some men han in exces at dunmowe I gouernede hem so wel aftyr my lawe That eche of hem was blysful & ful fawe To brynge me gay þyng from þe feyre They were ful glad whan I spak tyl hem fayre ffor god it wot I schid hem spitously Now herkenyth how I bar me properly ȝe wise wyuys þat kunne vndyr-stonde Thus schul ȝe speke & bere hem wrong on honde ffor half so boldely can þere no man Swere & lye as can a woman I seye it nat be wyuys þat been wyse But ȝif it be whan þey hym mysavise A wis wif ȝif þat sche can hire good Schal bere hym on hande þe cou is wod And take witnesse of hire owene mayde Of hire asent but herkenyth how I seyde Syre olde caynard is þis þyn aray Whi is myn neyheborys wif so gay Sche is honourede euere al þere sche goth I sitte at hom & haue no thryfty cloth What dost þou at myn neyhebouris hous Is sche so fayr & þow so amerous What rounne ȝe with oure maydenys benedicite Sire olde lechour lat ȝoure iapis be And ȝif I haue a gossib or a frend With-outyn gilt þou chidist as a fend ȝif þat I walke or pleye vn-tyl hise hous þou comyst hom as dronkyn as a mous And prechist on þyn bench with euele pref þou seyst to me it is a gret myschef To wedde a poore woman for costage And ȝif sche be ryche & of hey parage þanne seyst þou it is a turmeterye To suffere hire pryde & malencolye And ȝif þat sche be fayr þou veray knaue þou seyst þat euery holour wele hire haue Sche may no while in chastite on byde That is a-sayled on eche a-syde þou seyst þat some folk desyryn vs for rychesse Summe for oure schap some for oure fayrenesse And some for sche can synge & daunce And some for gentilesse & some for dalyaunce Some for hire handis & for hire armys smale Thus goth al to þe deuyl be þyn tale Thow seyst men may nat kepe a castel wal It may so longe asaylede ben oueral And ȝif þat sche be foul þou seyst þat sche Coueytith euery man þat sche may se ffor as a spaynel sche wil on hym lepe Til þat sche fynde sum man hire to schepe Ne non so grey gos þat goth in þe lake As þou seyst wele be with-oute a make And seyst it is an hard þyng for to welde A thyng þat no man wele hise thankis helde Thow seyst horel whan þou gost to bedde How þat no wys man nedyth for to wedde Ne no man þat tendyth on-to heuene With wylde thundyr dynt in fery leuene Mote þyn wekede neke be to-broke þou seyst þat droppynge housis & ek smoke And chydyng wyf makyth men to fle Out of here owene hous a benedicite What eylyth swich an old man to chyde þou seyst þat we wyuis wele oure vicis hyde Til we ben fast & þanne we wele hem schewe Wel may þat ben a prouerbe of a schrewe þou seyst þat oxsyn Assis hors & houndys þey ben a-sayed at dyuerse stoundys Basenys lauourys er þan men hem beye sponys & stolis & alle swich husbondrye And also cloþis pottys & a-ray But folk of wyuys makyn non a-say Til þey ben weddit olde dotard schrewe Thanne seyst þou we wele oure vicis schewe Thou seyst also þat it displeseþ me But ȝif þat þou wilt preyse myn beute And but þou poure alwey in myn face And clepe me fayre dame in euery place And but þou make a feste on þat day þat I was born & make me frosch & gay And but þou do to myn noryce honour And to myn chaumberere with-inne myn bour And to mynne faderys folkys & mynne alyes Thus seyst þou olde barel ful of lyis And ȝit of oure apprentys Iankyn ffor his scrip here schynynge as gold fyn And for he squyeryth me vp & doun ȝit hast þou cauȝt fals suspecioun I nyl hym not þow [þou] were ded to morwe But telle me whi hydistow with sorwe The keyes of myn cheste al day from me It is myn good as wel as þyn parde What wenyst þou to make an ydiot of oure dame Now by þat lord þat callede is seynt Iame Thow schat not boþe þow þou were wood Ben maystyr of myn body & ek of myn good That on þou schat for-gon maugery þyn Iyen What helpith it of me te enquere or spyen I trowe þou woldist louke me in þyn cheste Thow schuldist sey wyf go where þe leste Take ȝoure disport I nyl leue no talys I knowe ȝow for a trewe wif dame alis We loue no man þat take kep or charge Where þat we gon we wele ben at oure large Of alle men blyssede mote he bee The wyse Astrolages dann Protholomee That say þis prouerbe in his almageste Of alle men his wisdom is þe heyeste That rekyth neuere ho hath þe world in honde By þis prouerbe þou schat vndyrstonde Haue þou I-now what thar þe reche or care How meryly þat oþere folkys fare ffor serteyn olde dotard by ȝoure leue ȝe schal haue queynte ryȝt I-now at eue He is a gret nygard þat wolde werne A man to lyȝte a candele at his lanterne He schal haue neuere þe lesse lyȝt parde Haue þou I-now þe thar not pleyne þe þou seyst also þat ȝif we make vs gay With cloþynge & with precious aray That it is peryl of oure chastyte And ȝit with sorwe þou muste enforse þe And seye þese wordis in þe apostelys name In abite mad with chastite & schame ȝe wemen schul aparayle ȝow quod he And not in trussede her & gay parre As pereles ne with gold ne with cloþis ryche Aftyr þyn tix ne aftyr rubryche I wol not werke as meche as a gnat þou seydist þis þat I was lyk a cat ffor who so wolde senge a cattis skyn Thanne wolde þe cat dwelle in his In And ȝif þe cattis skyn be slyk & gay Sche wil not dwelle in house half a day But forth sche wele er any day be dawyd To schewe hire skyn & gon a catirwawid This is to seye ȝif I be gay sere schrewe I wele renne a-boute myn borel to schewe Sire olde fol what eylyth þe to aspien Thow þou preye argus with hise C eyen To be myn warde cors as he can best In feyth he schal nat kepe me but me lest ȝit I coude make his berd so mote I the þou seydist ek þat þere ben thyngis thre Theche thyngis trobelyn al þis erþe And þat no whit may endure þe ferþe O leue sire schrewe Ihesu schorte þyn lyf ȝit prechist þou & seyst þat an hateful wyf I-rekenede is for on of þese myschauncis Ben þere non oþere of þese recemblauncis That ȝe may likene ȝoure parabele to But ȝif a sely wif be on of þo þou likkenyst womanys loue to helle To barayne lond þere no watyr may dwelle þou likenyst it also to wildefer The more it brennyth þe more it hath desyr To consumme euery þynk þat brent wele be Thow seyst ryȝt as wermys consume a tre Ryȝt so a wif distroyeþ hire husbonde That knowyn þey þat ben to wyuys bonde Lordyngis ryȝt þus as ȝe han vndyrstonde Bar I stifly myn olde housbonde on honde That þus þey seydyn in here dronkenes And al was fals but þat I tok witnes On Iankyn & on myn nece also O lord þe peyne I dede hem & þe wo fful gilteles by godys swete pyne ffor as an hors coude bite & whine I coude pleyne & ȝit was in þe gilt Or ellis I hadde ofte tymys ben spilt Who so come fyrst to melle fyrst grynt I pleynede fyrst so was oure werre stent They were ful glad to excuse hem blyue Of thyng þey neuere a-gilt in al here lyue And of wenchis wolde I bere hem on honde Whan þat for sek oneþe myȝte stonde ȝit tekelede I his herte for þat he Wende þat I hadde had of hym gret chirte I sey þat al myn walkynge out be nyȝte Is for to espien wenchis þat he dyȝte Vndyr þat colour hadde I manye a murthe ffor al swych wit is ȝeuyn vs in oure burthe Deseyt wepynd spynnyng god hath ȝeue To wemen kyndely whan þat þey may lyue And þus of on thyng I a-waunte me At þe ende I hadde þe betere in eche degre Be sleyghe or forse or sum manere thynge As by continuel murmure & grochynge Nameli on bedde hadde þey myschaunce There wolde I chide & don hem non plesaunce I wolde no lengere in þe bed a-byde ȝif þat I felte his arm ouyr myn syde Til he hadde mad his raunsum on to me Thanne wolde I suffere hym to don hise nysete And þerfore euery man hise tale telle Wyn ho so may for al is for to selle With emty hond men may none haukys lure ffor wynnyng wolde I al hise lust endure And make me a feynede apetit And ȝit in bacoun hadde I neuere delit þat made me euere þat I wolde hym chyde ffor þow þe pope hadde sete by hyse syde I nolde hym spare at hise owene boord ffor by myn trouthe I quitte hym word for word As help me veray god omnypotent Thow I schulde make now myn testement I ne owe hem nat a word þat it nys quit I brouȝte it so a-boute by myn wit That þey muste ȝeue it vp as for þe beste Or ellis hade we neuere ben in reste ffor þow he lokede as a wood lyoun ȝit he schulde fayle of hise conclusioun Thanne wolde I seye goode loue take kep How mekely lokyth wilkyn oure schep Come neer myn spouse lat me ba þyn scheke ȝe schul be al pacient & meke And haue a swete spicede concience Sithin ȝe preche so of Iobes pacience Sufferith alwey sithe ȝe so wel can preche And but ȝe don certeyn we schul ȝow teche That it is fayr to haue a wyf in pes On of vs to muste bouwe douteles And seyth a man is more resonable þan woman is ȝe muste be sufferable What eylyth ȝow thus to groche & grone Is it for ȝe wolde han myn queynte alone Whi take it al lo haue it euerydel Petyr I-schrewe ȝow but ȝe loue it wel ffor ȝif I wolde selle myn belechose I coude walke as frosch as ony rose But I wele kepe it for ȝoure owene toth ȝe ben to blame by god I seye ȝow soth Sweche manere of wordis hadde we on honde Now wele I speke of myn fourte housbonde Myn fourte housbonde was a reuelour This is to seyne he hadde a paramour And I was ȝong & ful of ragerye Styborne & strong and Ioly as a pye Wel coude I daunce to an harpe smale And synge I-wis as ony nyghtyngale Whan I hadde dronke a drauȝt of swete wyn Metullius þe foule clerk þe swyn That with a staf be-rafte his wif hire lyf ffor sche drank wyn & I hadde been his wif He schulde nat a dauntid me from drynk And aftyr wyn on venus muste I thynk ffor al so sykyr as cold engenderyth hayl A lycorous mouth muste han a licorous tayl In woman vinolent is no defence This knowyn lechourys bi experyence But lord cryst whan it remembryth me Vp-on myn thout & on myn iolyte It tykelith me a-boute myn herte rote Vnto þis day it doth myn herte bote That I haue had myn world as In myn tyme But age allas þat al wole vndyrmyne Hath me be-reft myn beute & myn pith Let go farewel þe deuyl go þerwith The flour is gon þere is no more to telle The bren as I best can now muste I selle But ȝit to ben merye wele I euere fonde Now wele I telle of myn fourte husbonde I seye I hadde in herte gret dispit That he of ony oþer hadde delyt But he was quit by god & be seynt Ioce I made hym of þe same wode a croce Nat of myn body in no foul maner But serteynly I made folk swich cher That in hise owene grese I made hym frye ffor pure angir & for Ielouye Bi god in erþe he was in purgatorie ffor whiche I hope his soule be in glorie ffor god it wot he sat ful ofte & song Whan þat his schon ful bittyrly him wrong There was no wyȝt but god & he þat wiste In manye wise how sore I hym twyste He deyede whan I cam from Ierusalem And lith I-graue vndir þe rode bem Al Is his toumbe not so coryous As was þe sepulcre of hym daryus Whiche þat Arpelles wrouȝte so subtily It is but wast to burye hem so precyously Lat hym fare wel god ȝeue his soule reste He is now in hise graue & in his cheste Now of myn fifte husbonde wele I telle God lete his soule neuere come in helle And ȝit was he to me þe moste schrewe That fele I on mynne rebis alle be-wrewe And euere schal vn-to myn endyng day But in oure bed he was so frosch & gay And þerwithal wel coude he me glose Whan þat he wolde haue myn belechose That þow he hadde me betyn on euery bon He coude wynne myn loue a-ȝen a-non I trowe I louede hym beste for þat he Was of his loue dangerous to me We wemen haue ȝif I schal nat lye In þis matyre a queynte fantasye That what þyng we may nat lyȝtely haue þeraftyr wele most crye & craue fforbede vs thyng þat desyre we Presse on vs faste & þanne wele we fle With daunger oute we oure chaffare Gret pres in market makyth dere ware And to good chep is holde of lytyl prys This knowyth euery woman þat is wys Myn fyfte husbonde god his soule blysse Whiche þat I tok for loue & no rychesse He sumtyme was a clerk of oxsene forde And hadde left skole & wente at hom to borde With myn gossib dwellynge in oure toun God haue hire soule hire name was alysoun Sche knew myn herte & ek myn pryuite Bet þan oure paryche prest so mote I the To hire be-wreyede I myn conseyl al ffor hadde myn husebonde pissede on a wal Or don ony thyng þat schulde a cost his lyf To hire & to a-noþer worthi wyf And to myn nece þat I louede wel I wolde haue tolde hise conseyl euerydel And so I dede ful ofte god it wot That made hise face ofte red & hot ffor verray schame & blamede hym self þat he Hadde told me so gret a pryuyte And so be-fel þat onys in a lente So ofte tyme I to myn gossib wente ffor euere þat I louede to be gay And for to walke in marsch auerylle & may ffrom hous to hous to heryn sundery talis That Iankyn [c rubbed out]clerk & myn gossib dame Alis And I myn self vp to þe feldis wente Myn housbonde was at lundene al þat lente And I hadde þe betere leyser for to pleye And for to se & ek for to be seye Of lusty folk what wyste I where myn grace Whas schape for to be or in what place Therfore I made mynne visitaciounnys To vigilis & to procesciounnys To prechyngis ek & to pylgrymagis To pleyes of myrakelis & of mariagis And werede vp-on myne scarlet gites These wormes these mothis & these mytis Vp-on myn peryl frete hem neuere a del And wost þou why for they were vsede wel Nowe wele I telle forth what happede me I seye þat in the feldys walkede we Tyl trewely we haddyn swich a dalyaunce This clerk & I þat of myn puruyaunce I spak to hym & seyde how þat he ȝif I were wedewe he schulde wedde me ffor serteynly I seye for no bobaunce ȝit was I neuere with-oute puruyaunce Of mariage & more thyngis eek I holde a mousys herte not worth a leek That hath but on hole to sterte to And that fayle thanne is al I-do I bere hym on honde he enchauntede me Myn dame taughte me þat sotylete And ek I seyde I mette of hym al nyȝt He wolde a slayn me as I lay vp ryȝt And al myn bed was ful of veray blood But ȝit I hope þat he schal do me good ffor blood be-tokenyth gold as me was tauȝt And al was fals I dremede of it ryght nauȝt But I folwede ay myn damys lore As wel of this as of oþere thyngis more But now syre lat se what schal I seyn A-ha by god I haue myn tale a-geyn What that myn husbonde was on bere I weep & made a sory chere As wyuys motyn for it is vsage And with myn couerechef couerede myn visage But for þat I was purueyed of a make I wepte but smal & þat I vndyr-take To cherche was myn husbond o born on morwe With negheboris þat for hym madyn sorwe And Iankyn oure klerk was on of thoo As help me god whan that I saw hym goo Aftyr þe beere me thoughte he hadde a payre Of leggis & feet so clene & fayre That al myn herte I ȝaf vnto his hold He was I trowe twenty wyntyr old And I was fourty ȝif I schal sey sooth And ȝit I hadde alway a coltys toth Gat-tothid I was & that be-cam me wel I hadde the prente of seynt peterys sel As help me god I was a lusty on ffayr & ryche & frosch & wel be-gon And trewely as myn husbondys toldyn me I hadde the beste quoniam that myȝte be ffor sertis I am al venerient In felynge & myn herte is marcient Venus me ȝaf myn lust myn licorousnesse And mars ȝaf me myn hardy-nesse Myn ascendent was taur & mars ther Inne Allas allas that euere loue was synne I folwede ay myn Inclynacyoun By vertu of myn constolacioun That made me that I coude nat withdrawe Myn chambere of venus from a good felawe ȝit haue I Martes mark vp-on myn face And also in a-nothyr preue place ffor god so wis be myn sauacyoun I ne lewede neuere by non discrecyoun But euere folwede myn apetit Al were he schort or long or blak or whȝt I tok no kep so þat he lykede mee How pore ne ek o what degree What schal I sey but at þe monethis ende This Ioly clerk Iankyn that was so hynde Hath wedede me with gret solempnetee And to hym ȝaf I al that lond & fee That euere was me ȝeuyn þere by-foore But aftyrward me repentede sone therfore He nolde suffere no thyng of myn lyst But onys he smot me with hyse fyst ffor I rente onys out of hyse bok a lef That for the strok myn ere wex al def Styborne I was as a leonesse And of myn tunge a veray Iangeleresse And walke I wolde as [I] hadde don by-forn ffrom hous to hous al-thow he hadde it sworn ffor whiche ofte tymys he wolde preche And me olde romayn geestys teche How he symplycious Gallus lafte his wyf And hire for sok for terme of al his lyf Not but for o poynt he hyre say Lokynge out of hyse dore vp-on a day Anothir Romayn tolde he by name That for hise wif was at a somer game With-outyn hyse wetynge he for-sok hire eke And thanne wolde he vp-on hise bible seeke That ilke prouerbe of ecclesiaste Where he comaundyth & forbedyth faste Men schal not suffere here wyvis to roule a-boute Thanne wolde he seye thus with-outyn doute Who-so byldyth hise hous al of salwys And prikyth hyse blynde hors ouere þe falewis And sufferith his wyf go sekyn halwys Is worthi to been hangyn on the galwis But al for nouȝt I sette nat an hawe Of hise prouerbis ne of hise olde sawe Ne I nulde of hym corectede be I hate hym that mynne vicis tellyn me And so don mo god wot than I This made hym holde me wood al outerely I nolde forbere hym in no manere cas Now wele I sey ȝow soth by seynt Thomays Whi that I rente out of hise bok a lef ffor whyche he smot me that I was def He hadde a bok that gladly nyȝt & day ffor his disport he wolde rede alway He clepede it valerye & theofraste At which bok he low ful faste And ek he seyde that sumtyme there was a clerk at rome A cardenale that hyȝt Ierome That made a bok a-ȝen Iouynian In whiche bok þere was ek Tertulan Crisippus Tortula & Helowys That was abbesse not fer from Parys And ek the parabele of Salamon Ouydis art & bokys many on And alle these were boundyn In on volome And euery day & nyȝt was hyse custome Whan he hadde leyse[r] & vacacyoun ffrom oþere wordely ocupacyoun To redyn on hise bok of wekede wyuys He knew of hem mo legendys & lyuys Than ben of goode wyuys in the byble ffor trostyth wel it is an Impossible That any clerk schulde speke good of wyuys But ȝif it be of holye seyntis lyuys Ne of non othere woman neuere þe mo Who peyntede þe lyoun tel me who Bi god ȝif women haddyn wretyn storyis As clerkis han with inne here oratoryis They wolde a wrete of men more wekedenesse Than al þe Mark of adam may redresse The chylderyn of mercurye & of venus Ben in hyre werkys wol contraryous Mercurye louyth wysdom & science And venus louyth riot & dispence And for hire dyuerse dispocicioun Eche fallyth in oþeris exsaltacyoun And þus wot god Mercurye is desolat In Pisses where Mercurye is exaltat And venus fallyth where Mercurye is reysed Therfore no woman of no klerk is preysed The clerk whan he is old & may not do Of venus werkys worth hyse olde scho Thanne sit he doun & wryt in hise dotage That wemen kunne not kepe here maryage But now to purpos why I tolde the That I was betyn for a bok pardee Vp-on a nyȝt Iankyn that was oure syre Radde on his bok as he sat by the fyre Of Eua fyrst that for hyre wikkedenes Was al mankynde brouȝt to wrechedenes [For whiche þat Ihesu Crist hym selfe was slayne That boughte vs with his herte blode agayne Lo here expresse of women Maye ye ffynde That women was the losse of All Mankynde[Not in Sloane MS 1685, lf 111, bk; Harl. 7335, lf 70, bk; or Reg. 18 C 2, leaf 113, bk.]] Tho radde he me how sampson loste hyse heris Slepynge his leman kitte hem with hyre scherys Thorgh whych tresoun loste he bothe hyse eyen Tho radde he me ȝif I schal nat lyen Of ercules & of hyse dyanyre That causede hym to sette hym selue a fyre No thyng for-gat he the care & the wo That socrates hadde with hyse wyuys two How Exantippa caste pis vp-on his hed This sely man sat stylle as he were deed He wypede his hed no more durste he seyn But er thundyr stynte þere comyth a reyn Of phasippa that was the queen of Crete ffor schrewedenesse hym thouȝte the tale swete ffy spek na more it is a gresely thyng Of hire horrible lust & hire lykyng Of clitemysta for hire lecherye That falsely maade hire husbonde for to deye He radde it with ful good deuocioun He tolde me ek for what occasyoun Amphiorax at thebes loste his lyf Myn husbonde hadde a legende of his wyf Eryphilem þat for an Ouche of gold Hath priuyly on to þe grekys told Where þat hyre husbonde hidde hym in a place ffor whiche he hadde at thebes sory grace Of lyma tolde he me & of lucye Th[e]y bothe made here housbondis for to dye That on for loue that oþer for hate Lyma hire housbonde on an euyn late Enpoysounede hath for þat sche was his fo Lucya lykerous louede hyre housbonde so That he schulde alwey on hire thynke Sche ȝaf hym swich a manere loue drynke That he was ded er it was by þe morwe And þus algatys housbondis haddyn sorwe Thanne tolde he me how on latymyus Compleynede to his felawe Arryus That in hyse gardyn growede swych a tre On whiche he seyde þat his wyuys thre Hangede hem self for herte despitous O leue brothir quod this Arryus ȝif me a plante of that blyssede tre And in myn gardyn schal it plauntede be Of lattere date of wyuys þanne he radde That some han slayn here housbondis in here bedde And leet hire lectour dyȝte hire al þe nyȝt Whils þat þe cors lay in þe flor vp-ryȝt And some han dryue a nayl in here brayn Whils þat þey slepte & þus þey han hem slayn Some han ȝeue hem poysoun in here drynk He spak more harm than herte may be-thynk And þer-with-al he knew mo prouerbis Than in this world þere growe gres or erbis Bet is quod he þat thyn habitacioun Be with a lyoun or a foul dragoun Than with a waman vsynge for to chyde Betere is quod he hye in þe rof a-byde Than with a wekede woman doun in an hous They ben so wekke & so contraryous They hatyn that here housbondys louyn ay He seyde a woman caste hire schame a-way Whan sche caste of hire smok & ferþere mo A fayr woman but sche be chast also Is lik a golde ryng in a sowis nose Ho wolde wene or ho wolde suppose The wo that in myn herte was & pyne And I saw þat he wolde neuere fyne But redyn on hise cursede bok al nyȝt Al sodeynly thre leuys haue I plyȝt Out of his bok as he sat ful meke And with myn fist so tok I hym on þe cheke That in oure fyre he fyl bakward a-doun And he vp stirte as doth a wood lyoun And with his fyst he smot me on the hed That In the flor I lay as I were ded And whan he saw how stylle I lay He was a-gast & fledde a-way Til at þe laste out of myn swow I breyde O hast þou sleyn me thef I seyde And þus for myn lond wilt þou mordere me Er I be ded ȝit wele I kysse the And ner he cam & knelede fayre a-doun And seyde myn dere sistyr alysoun Als helpe me god I schal þe neuere smyte That I haue don It is thyn self to wyte ffor ȝeue it me & þat I þe be-seke And ȝit eft-sonys I hitte hym on the cleke And seyde thef þus meche I may me wreke Now wele I deye I may no lengere speke But at þe laste with meche care & wo We fille a-cordit by oure seluyn two He ȝaf me al þe brydyl in myn hond To haue gouernauns of hous & lond And of his tunge & of his hond also And made hym to brenne his bok ryȝt þo And whanne I hadde I-getyn on to me By maysterye al þe souereyntee Thanne he seyde myn owene trewe wyf Do as ȝe leste for terme of al ȝoure lyf Keep thyn honour & thyn estat Aftyr þat day we ne haddyn neuere debat God help me so I was to hym as kynde As ony wif from denmark vn-to Inde And as trewe & so was he to me I preye to god þat sit in mageste So blysse his soule for his mercy dere Now wele I seye myn tale ȝif ȝe wele here [The Wrangle between the Summoner and Friar.] The frere low whan he hadde herd al this Now dame quod he also haue I Ioye or blis This is a long preamble of a tale And whan þe somnour herde þe frere gale Lo quod the sumnour bi goddys armys too A frere wele entirmete hym euere mo Lo goode men a flye & ek a frere Wele falle in euery disch & matere What spekyst þou of perambulacioun What amble or trotte or pes or go sit doun þou lettyst oure desport in þis matiere ȝa wilt þou so syre somnour quod þe frere Now by myn fey I schal er þat I go Telle of a sumnour a tale or too That alle þe folk schul law he in þis place Now ellis frere I be-schrewe thyn face Quod this sumnour & I be-schrewe me But ȝif I telle talis too or thre Of freris er I come to Sidyngborne That I schal make þyn herte for to moorne ffor wel I wot þyn pacience is goon Oure ost cryede pees & þat a-non And seyde lat þe woman telle hire tale ȝe fare as folk dronke were of ale Doth dame tellyth forth ȝoure tale & þat is best Al redy sire quod sche ryght at ȝoure lest ȝif I haue lycens of þis worþi frere ȝis dame telle forth & I schal here Here endith þe prologe of the wyues tale of Bathe.[Gap of one line in the MS.] Here begynnyt the wyf of bathe hire tale[Painting of the Wijf.] IN olde dayis of kyng Arthour Of whiche þat brytons spekyn gret honour Al was this lond ful fyld of fayrye The elf quene wyth hire cumpanye Dauncede ful ofte in manye a grene mede This was the olde opynyoun as I rede I speke of manye hunderede ȝeris a-go But now can no man se eluys mo ffor now the charite & þe prayeris Of lymytouris & of oþere holy frerys That serchyn euery lond & euery strem As thikke as motys in þe sone bem Blessen halles chaumbery[s] kichenys bourys Ceteis borwys[rwys: later.] castelis hyghe tourys Thropes bernys / Schipnes dayryis That makyth that þere ben no fayryis ffor þere as wont was[was: later.] for to walke an elf There walkyth now þe lymytour hym self In vndirmelys & in morwenyngis And seyth hyse matynys & hyse holye thyngis As he goth in hyse lymytacioun Wemen mowe go sauely vp & doun In euery bussch & vndyr euery tree There is nower non Incubus but he And he wele don hym non dishonour And so be-fel þat this kyng Arthour Hadde in his hous a ryche bacheler That on a day cam rydynge from reuer And happede a-lone as sche was born He saw a mayde cam rydynge hym by-forn Of whiche maydyn a-non maugry hire hed By veray forse by-rafte he hire maydynhed ffor which apprecioun was swych clamour And swych pursut to kyng arthour That dampnede was the knyȝt for to be ded By cours of lawe & schulde a lost hyse heed Perauenture swich was the statute þo But that þe queen & oþere ladyis moo So longe preyedyn the kyng of grace Tyl he his lyf grauntede at þat place And ȝaf hym to the queen at hire wille To chese wheþer sche wolde hym saue or spille The queen thankede þe kyng with al hyre myȝt And aftyr this þus spak sche to þe knyȝt Whan sche saw hyre tyme vp-on a day Thow stondist ȝit quod sche in swich aray That of thyn lyf [thou] hast no surete I graunte þe lyf ȝif þou canst telle me What thyng ist that wemen most desyryn Be-war & kep thyn neke bon from yryn And ȝif þou canst not telle me anon ȝit wele I ȝeue þe leue for to goon A twelvemonyth & a day to lere An answere sufficiaunt in this matire And surete wele I haue er þat þou pace Thyn body for to ȝildyn in þis place Wo was this knyȝt & sorwefully he sikede But ȝit may he nat don as hym lykede And at þe laste he ches hym for to weende And come a-ȝen ryȝt at þe ȝerys ende With swich answere as god wolde hym purueye And takyth his leue & wendyth forth hyse weye And sekyth euery hous & euery place Where as he hopith to fynde grace To lernyn what thyng wemen louyn most But he ne coude aryuyn In no cost Where as he myȝte fynde in this matyre Two wightis a-cordyn in fyre Some men seydyn women louyn best rychesse Some men seyde honour some [written over an erasure.]iolynesse[written over an erasure.] Some men seyde ryche aray some lust in bedde And ofte tyme be wedewe & ofte I-wedde Some men seyde oure herte is most I-esed Whan þat we been I-flatered & I-plesed He goth ful nygh þe sothe I nyl not lye A man schal wynne vs best with flaterye And with attendaunce & besynesse Be we I-lymyd boþe more & lesse And some men seyn þat we louyn best ffor to be fre & do ryȝt as vs lest And þat no man repreue vs of oure vice But seye þat we be wys & no thyng nyse ffor trewely þere is non of vs alle ȝif ony wyȝt wele clawe vs on the galle That we nolde kyke for he seyth vs soth Asay he schal fynde it þat so doth ffor be we neuere so vicious with-inne We wele be holde wis & clene of synne And some seyn that gret loue haue we ffor to ben holde wyse & secre And in on purpos stedefastly to dwelle And not be wreye thyng þat men vs telle But þat tale nys not worth a rake stele Parde we wemen can nothyng hele Witnesse of Mida wil ȝe here þe tale Ouyde a-mongis oþere thyngis smale Seyde Mida hadde vndyr hyse longe herys Growynge on his hed two assis erys The whiche vice he hyde as he best myghte fful subtyly from euery manys syȝte That saue his wyf þere wiste of it no mo He louede hyre most & trostid to hyre also He preyede hyre þat to no cryature Sche schulde telle of his disfygure Sche swor hym nay for al this world to wynne Sche nolde not do þat vilany or synne Go make hyre husbonde to haue so foul a name Sche nele it telle for hyre owene schame But neuere-þe-les hire thouȝte þat sche dyde That sche so longe a conseylde hyde Hire thouȝte it swal so sore a-boute hyre herte That nedely sum word muste a-sterte And sythe sche durste telle it to no man Doun to a mareys faste by sche ran Tyl sche cam þere hire herte was a fyre And as a bitore bumbith in þe myre Sche leyde hyre mouth to þe watyr adoun Be-wrey me not þou watyr with thyn soun Quod sche to þe I telle it & no mo Myn husbonde hath longe erys too Now is al myn herte hol now is it oute I myȝte no lengere kepe it out of doute Here may ȝe se þow we no tyme abyde ȝit out mote it we can no conseyl hyde The remenaunt of þe tale ȝif ȝe wele here Rede ouyde & þere mowe ȝe it leere This knyȝt of which myn tale is specyally Whan he saw he myȝte not come þerby This is to seye what wemen louyn most With-inne his brest full sorwefully was þe gost But hom he goth he myȝte not soiorne The day was come that homward muste he turne And In hyse wey as happede hym to ryde In al hise care vndyr a forest syde Where as he saw vp-on a daunce go Of ladyis foure & twenty & ȝit mo Toward þis dauns he drow ful ȝerne In hope þat sum wisdam schulde he lerne But serteyn fully er he cam ther Vanysschid was the daunce he nyste wher No cryateure saw he þat bar lyf Saue on þe grene he saw syttynge a wyf A foulere wyȝt þere may no man devyse A-ȝens þis knyȝt this olde whiȝt gan ryse And seyde syre knyȝt here forth lyth no weye Telle ȝe me what ȝe seke be ȝoure feye Perauenture þe betere may it be These olde folk can moche thyng quod sche Myn leue modyr quod this knyght serteyn I ne am but deed but ȝif þat I can seyn What thyng ist þat wemen most desyre Koude ȝe me wische I wolde quyte ȝoure hyre Plyghte me þyn treuth in myn hond quod sche The nexte thyng that I require the Thow shalt it do ȝif it be in þy myght And I wele telle it ȝow er it be nyght Haue her myn trouthe quod þe knyght I graunte Thanne quod sche I dar me wel a-vaunte Thyn lyf is saf I wele stonde þerby Vp-on myn lyf þe quen wele seye as I Lat se which is þe proudest of hem alle That weryth on a couerechief or a calle Tha[t] dar sey nay of þat I schal the teche Lat vs go forth with oute lengere speche Tho rounnede sche a pistyl in hyse ere And bad hym to be glad & haue no fere Whan þey been comyn to þe court þis knyȝt Seyde þat he hadde holde his day þat he hyȝt And redy was his answere as he sayde fful manye a nobele wyf & manye a mayde And manye a wedewe for þat þey ben wyse The queen hire self syttynge as a iustyse Assembelede been his answerys for to here And aftyrward þis knyȝt was bode to pere To euery wyȝt was comaundede silence And þat þe knyȝt schulde telle in audyence What thyng þat wordely women louyn best The knyȝt stod not stille as a beest But to his questioun a-non answerde With manly voys þat al þe court it herde Myn lige lady generally quod he Wemen desyryn to han souereynte As wel ouyr hire husbondis as ouer hire hove And for to been in maystrye hem a-boue This is þe moste desyr thow ȝe me kylle Doth as ȝow leste I am al at ȝoure wille In al þe court ne was þere wif ne mayde Ne wedewe contraryede þat he sayde But seydyn þat he was worthi to han his lyf And with that word vp sterte þe olde wyf Whiche þat þe knyȝt saw syttynge on þe grene Mercy quod sche myn souereyn lady quene Er þat ȝoure court departe doth me ryght I taughte this answere to þe knyth ffor which he plyȝte me his trouthe þere The fyrste thyng þat I wolde hym requere He wolde it do ȝif it lay in his myȝt By-fore þe court þanne preye I þe syre knyȝt Quod sche þat þou me take on to þyn wyf ffor weel þou wist þat I haue kept þyn lyf ȝif I seye fals say nay vp-on þy fey This knyȝt answerde allas & weyleawey I wot ryȝt wel þat swich was myn beheste ffor goddys loue as ches a newe requeste Tak al myn good & lat myn body goo Nay þanne quod sche I be schrewe vs boþe too ffor þow I be foul old & pore I nolde for al þe metal ne for ore That vndyr þe erþe is graue or lyth a-boue But ȝif þyn wyf I were & ek þyn loue Myn loue quod he nay myn dampnacyoun Allas þat ony of myn nacyoun / Schulde euere so foule disparagit be But al for nouȝt þanne is þis quod sche Constreynede was he nedys he muste hyre wedde And takyth his olde wif & goth to bedde Now wil some men seye parauenture That for myn neclygens I do no cure To telle ȝow þe ioye & also tharray That at þat ilke feste was þat day To whiche thyng sothely I answere schal And seye þere was no Ioye ne feste at al There was but heuynesse & meche sorwe ffor priuyly he wedde hire in þe morwe And al day aftyr hydde hym as an houle So 1wo was1[1_1 later] hym his wyf lokede so foule Gret was þe wo þe knyȝt hadde in his thouȝt Whan he was wyth his wyf in bedde I-brouȝt He walwith & he turnyth too & fro This olde wif lay smylynge euere mo And seyde o dere husbende benedicite ffaryth euery knyȝt with his wyf as ȝe Is þis þe lawe of kyng arthures hous Is euery knyȝt of his þus daungerous I am ȝoure owene loue & ȝoure wyf I am sche þat sauede hath ȝoure lyf And sertis I dede ȝow neuere vnryȝt Whi fare ȝe þus with me þe ferste nyȝt ȝe fare lyk a man þat hadde lost his wit What is myn gilt for godis loue telle me it And it schal been a-mendit ȝif þat I may A-mendit quod this knyȝt allas nay nay It wele not been a-mendit neuere mo Thow art so loothly old & so pore also And þerto comyn of so low a kynde That lytyl wondir ist þow I walwe & wynde So wolde god myn herte wolde breste Is þis quod sche þe cause of ȝoure onreste ȝa serteynly quod he no wondir is Now sere quod sche I coude a-mende al þis ȝif þat me lyste er it were dayis thre So wel myȝte ȝe bere ȝow to me But for ȝe speke of swich gentillesse As is dessendit out of olde richesse That þerfore schul ȝe ben holdyn gentil men Swich arrogaunce is not worth an hen Loke ho þat is most verteuous alwey Pryue & apert & most entendyth ay To do þe gentyl dedys þat he can Take hym for þe gretteste gentil man Cryst wele we cleyme of hym oure gentylesse Noght of oure elderys for oure olde rychesse ffor þow þey ȝeue vs al here erytage ffor which we cleymyn to been of high parage ȝit may þey not by-quethe for no thyng To noon of vs here verteuous lyuyng That made hem gentylmen I-callede be And bad vs foldyn hem in swich degre Weel can þe wise poete of florence That hyȝt dant declare þis centence Lo in swych a manere rym is dantes tale fful selde vp rysith by hyse braunchis smale Prowesse of man for god of his prowesse Wele þat we cleyme of hym oure gentillesse ffor of oure eldere we may no thyng cleyme But temperel thyng þat man may hurte & mayme Ek euery wyȝt wot þis as wel as I ȝif gentillesse were plantid naturelly Vp to a certeyn lennage doun be lyne Preue nor apert þanne wolde þey neuere fyne To don of gentillesse þe offys They myȝte don no vilenye nor vice Tak fyr & bere in þe derkeste hous Be-twyxe this & þe mount of Cankerous And let men schette þe dore & go þenne ȝit wil þe fyr lye as fyr & brenne As twenty thousent men myȝte it by-holde His offise naturel ay wel it holde Vp peril of myn lyf tyl þat it deye Here may ȝe wel sen how þat genterye Is not annexed to possescioun Sithe folk ne don here operacioun Alwey as doth the fyr in hise kynde ffor I wot men may ful ofte fynde A lordis sone do schame & vilanye And he þat wele haue prys of his genterye ffor he was bore of a gentyl hous And hadde hise olderis nobele & vertuous And nyle hym self don non gentyle dedis Ne folwe his gentyle auncetere þat deed is He nys not gentyl be he duk or el ffor violens synful dedys make eke a cherl ffor gentillesse nys but renomee Of thynne auncestris for here hygh bounte Whiche is a strong thyng to thyn persone The gentillesse comyth from god a-lone Thanne comyth oure verray gentillesse of grace It was no thyng be-quethe vs with oure place Thynkith how nobele as seyth valerius Was that ilke tullius hostilius That out of pouert ros to gret noblesse Redyth senec & redith eek boece Ther schul ȝe se expres þat no dred is That he is gentyl that doth gentyl dedis And þerfore leue husbonde I thus conclude Al were it þat myne auncestris were reude ȝit may þe hye god & so hope I Graunte me grace to leue verteuosly Thanne am I gentyl whan þat I be-gynne To leuyn verteuously & leuyn synne And þere as ȝe of pouert me repreue The hye god of whom ȝe me repreue In wilful pouert ches to lede his lyf And certys euery man mayde or wyf May vndyrstondyn Ihesus[MS Ihc] heuene kyng Ne wolde not chese an vicious leuyng Glad pouert is an oneste thyng certeyn This wele Senek & oþere clerkys seyn Ho so hym halt payed of his pouerte I holde hym ryche hadde he but a sherte He þat coueytyth is a pore wight ffor he wolde han þat is not in his myȝt But he þat nought haht ne coueythit to haue Is[s later] riche al-thow men holde hym but a knaue Veray pouert it syngith properly Iuenal seyth of pouerte meryly The poure man whan he goth by the weye By-fore þe thewis he may synge & pleye Pouerte is hateful good as I gesse A ful gret bryngere out of besinesse A gret amendere ek of sapience To hem þat takyth it in pacience Pouerte is this al-thow it seme alenge Possessioun þat no man wele calenge Pouerte ful ofte whan a man is lowe Makyth his god & hym self to knowe Pouerte a spectakele is as thynkyth me Thorw whech he may his veray frend I-se And þerfore syre syn þat I ȝow not greue Of myn pouerte no more ȝe me repreue Now syre of olde ȝe repreue me And sertis syde thogh non autoryte Were in no bok the gentylys of honour Seyn þat men schuld an old wyȝt don fauour And clepyn hym fadyr of ȝoure gentilesse And auctouris schal I fyndyn as I gesse Now þere ȝe seyn I am foul & old Thanne drede ȝow not to ben a coukewold ffylthe & elde alsomote I the Ben gret wardaynys vp-on chastite But natheles sythe I knowe ȝoure delyt I schal fulfylle ȝoure wordely apetyt Chese now quod sche on of þese thyngis tweye To haue me foul & old tyl þat I deye And be to ȝow a trewe vmble wyf And neuere ȝow displese in al myn lyf Or ellis ȝe wele haue me ȝyng & fayr And take þe auenture of the repayr That schal be to ȝoure hous be cause of me Or in sum oþer place may wel be Now cheseth ȝoure selue wheþer þat ȝow likyth This knyȝt a-uyseth hym & sore sykyth But at þe laste he seyde in þis manere Myn lady & myn loue & myn wyf so dere I putte me in ȝoure wise gouernaunce Cheseth ȝoure self whiche may be most plesaunce And most honour to ȝow & me also I do no fors wheþer of the too ffor as ȝow lykyth it suffyseth me Thanne haue I gete þe maysterye quod sche Syn I may chese & gouerne as me leste ȝa sertys wif quod he I helde it for þe beste Kis me quod sche we be no lengere wrothe ffor be myn trouthe I wele be to ȝow bothe That is to seyne bothe fayr & good I preye to god I mote sterwe wod But I to ȝow be al so good & trewe As euere was wyf syn þat þe world was newe And but I be to morwe as fayr to sene As eny lady Emperesse or quene That euere was be-twixse þe Est & þe west Doth with myn lyf & doth ryȝt as ȝow lest Cast vp þe curtyn & loke how þat it is And whan þat þe knyght saw verrayly al þis That sche so fayr was & so ȝyng þerto ffor ioye he hente hyre in hise armys too His herte bathit in a bath of blys A thousent sythe a rowe he gan hire kys And sche obeyede hym in euery thyng That myȝte do hym plesaunce or lykyng And þus þey lyue vn-to here lyuys ende In parfyt Ioye & Ihesu crist vs synde Husbondis meke ȝinge & frosche in bedde And grace to ouer byde hem þat we wedde And ek I preye Ihesu schorte here lyuys That wele not been gouernyd by here wyuys And olde & angery nygardys of dispence God sende hem sone verray pestelence Here endith the Wif of Bathe hyre tale[Gap of one line in the MS.] Here begynnyth the prologe of the frerys tale.

[Gap of 6 lines in the MS. Leaf 228 (containing 'prologe', painting, and 22 lines of the tale) has been cut out.]

 [THis worthi[worthi, a maner, yet, in the margin] lymytour/ this noble ffrere. he made alweie a maner/[worthi, a maner, yet, in the margin] louryng chere . vp-on the Sompnour but yet[worthi, a maner, yet, in the margin] for honeste . No vilenous worde as yet spak/ he . But at the laste he seide vn-to the wif . Dame gode god yeue you right good lif/ . Ye han touched here also mote I the . In scole mater/ gret/ difficulte . Ye han seide mochell thyng right well I seie . But dame here as we riden bi the weie . Vs nedith not to speken but of game . And late auctorites go[go in margin] a goddis name . To prechyng/ & to scole eke of clergie . But if it like vn-to this companye . I will you of a somnour telle a game . Parde ye may well knowe be the name . That of no somnour may no gode be saide . I praye that non of you be euyll a-paide . A Somnour is a romere vp & doun . With maundementis/ of ffornycacioun . And is bete at euery townes ende . Our/ oost tho spak a sir/ ye schulde ben hende . And curteis as man of your/ estate . In companye we woll no debate . Telleth your/ tale & lateth the Somnour be . Nay quod the Somnour late hym saie[saie in margin] to me What so hym list whan it cometh to my lot . Bi god I schall hym quyte euery grot . I schall hym telle whiche a gret honour/ . It is to be a flateryng lymytour/ . And eek/ of full manye another/ cryme . Whiche nedith not rehersen at this tyme . And his office I schall hym telle y-wis . Our/ hoste answerid pees no more of this . And aftirwarde he seide vn-to the ffrere . Tell forth your/ tale my leue maister/ dere . Here endith the prolog/. and begynneth the tale;;.Harl. MS 1758, on leaf 102, back WHilom ther/ was dwellyng/ in my contre . An Erchedekene a man of hye degre . That boldely dide execucioun . In ponyschyng of ffornycacioun . Of wicchecrafte & eek/ of baudrie . Of diffamacioun & avoutrie . Of chirche reeues & of testamentis . Of contractis & of lak/ of sacramentis . Of vsure & Symonye also . But certis lecchours dide he most wo . Thei schulden syngen if thei were hent . And smale tithers weren foule schent . Yf ony persone wolde vp-on hem pleyne . Ther/ myght a-sterte hym no pecunyall peyne . ffor smale tithes & eek/ smale offerynge . he made the peple spitously to synge . ffor or the Bischop caughte hem with his hooke . Thei weren in the Erchedekenes booke . And then had he thorow his Iurdiccion . Power/ to doon on hem correccion . he had a Sompnour redy to his honde . A slier/ boie was non in Engelonde .][Harl. extract ends] ffor subtily he hadde hise expyayleMS Gg. 4. 27 That tauȝte hym where hym myȝte a-vayle He coude spare of lechourys on or two To techyn hym to foure & twenty mo ffor þow þis somenour wood were as an hare To telle his harloterye I wele not spare ffor we ben out of his coreccioun They han of vs no Iurediccioun Ne neuere ne schuln of alle here lyuys Petyr so been wemen at þe styuys Quod þe somenour I-put out of oure cure Pees with myschaunce & with mysauenture Thus seyde oure ost & lat hym telle his tale Now tellith forth þow þat þe somenour gale Ne sparyth not myn owene maystyr dere This false thef þis somenour quod þe frere Hadde alwey baudys redy to his hond As ony hauk to lure in ingelond That tolde hym al þe secre þat þey knewe ffor hire aqueyntauns was not comyn of newe They were hise apprououris pryuyly He tok hym self a profyt þerby His maystyr knew not alwey what he wan With-outyn maundement a lewede man He coude somounne vp peyne of crystis curs And þey were ful glad to fille his purs And made hym noble festis at þe nale And ryȝt as Iudas hadde purse smale And was a thef ryȝt swich a thef was he Hise mayster hadde but half his duete He was ȝif I schal ȝeuyn hym hise lawede A thef & ek a somenour & a baude He hadde ek wenchis at his retenew That wheþer syre Robert oþer syre Hewe Or Iakke or Raf or who so þat it were That lay by hem þey tolde it in hise ere Thus was þe wenche & he at on assent And he wolde feche a feynede maundement And somoune hem to chapitere boþe two And pile þe man & lete þe wenche go Thanne wolde he sey frend I schal for thyn sake Don stryke þe out of oure letteris blake The thar no more as in þis cas trauayle I am thyn frend þere I þe may a-vayle Certeyn he knew of bryberyis mo Than possible is to telle in ȝeris two ffor in þis world nys doge for þe bowe Than kan an hurt der from an hol knowe Bet þan þe somenour knew a sly lechour Or auoutir or a paramour And for þat was þe freut of al his rente Therfore he sette on it al hyse entente And so be-fel þat onys on a day This somenour euere waytynge on hyse pray Wente for to somounne a wedewe an old rybibe ffeynynge a cause for he wolde brybe And happede he saw by-fore hym ryde A gay ȝeman vndir a forest syde A bowe he bar & arwis bryȝte & kene He hadde up-on a courtepy of grene An hat vp-on his hed with frengis blake Syre quod þe somenour wel a-take Wolcome quod he & euery good felawe Wheþer rydistow vndyr þis grene wode schawe Seyde þis ȝeman wilt þou fer to day This somenour answerde & seyde nay Here faste by is myn entente To rydyn & to reysyn vp a rente That longith on to myn lordis duete Art þou þanne a baylyf / ye quod he He durste not for veray fylthe & schame Seye he was a somenour for þe name De-pardeus quod þis ȝeman leue broþer Thou art a balyf & I am a-noþer I am onknowyn as in þis cuntre Of thyn aqueyntauns I wolde preye þe And ek of brotherhode ȝif that ȝow leste I haue gold & siluyr in myn cheste ȝif þat ȝe happyn to comyn in oure schyre Al schal be ryȝt as ȝe wele desyre Graunt mercy quod þis somenour be myn fey[th] Eueryche in oþeres hand his trouthe leyth ffor to ben swore breþeryn tyl þey deye In daliaunce þey ryde forth & pleye This somenour þat was so ful of Iangelys As ful of venym ben þese variangelys And euere enquyrynge vp-on euery thyng Brothir quod he where is ȝoure dwellyng A-noþer day ȝif þat I schulde ȝow seche This ȝeman hym answerede in softe speche Broþer quod he fer in þe north cuntre Where as I hope sumtyme I schal þe se Er we departe I schal þe so wel wische That of myn hous ne shalt þou neuere mysse Now broþer quod þe somenour I ȝow preye Teche me whils þat ȝe ryde by þe weye Syn þat ȝe be a balyf as am I Sum subtilete & telle me feythfully In myn offys how I may most wynne And sparyth not for concience ne for synne But as myn broþer telle me how do ȝe Now by myn trouthe broþer dere seyde he As I schal telle þe a feythful tale Mynne wagis been ful streyte & ful smale Myn lord is hard to me & daungerous And myn offys is ful laberous And þerfore by extorciounnys I leue ffor sothe I take al þat men wele me ȝeue Algate by sleyȝte or by violence ffrom ȝer to ȝer I wynne al myn dispence I can no betere telle feythfully Now sertis quod þis somenour so fare I I spare not to take god it wot But ȝif it be to heuy or to hoot What I may gete in conseyl pryuyly No manere concience haue I Nere myn extorcioun I myȝte not lyue Ne of sweche Iapis I wele not be schreue Stomak ne concience knowe I non I schrewe þese schryft faderys euerychon Wel be we met by god & by seynt Iame But leue broþer telle me þanne þyn name Quod this somenour & in þis mene while This ȝeman gan a lytyl for to smyle Broþer quod he wilt þou þat I þe telle I am a fend myn dwellyng is in helle And here I ryde a-boute myn purchasyng To wete where men wolde ȝeue me ony thyng Myn purchas is þe effect of al myn rente Loke how þou rydist for þe same entente To wynne good þou rekist neuere how Ryght so fare I for ryde wolde I now Vnto þe worldis ende for a preye A quod þe somenour benediste what seye I wende ȝe were a ȝeman trewely ȝe haue a manys schap as wel as I H[a]ue ȝe a figure þanne determynat In helle þere ȝe ben in ȝoure estat Nay serteyn quod he þere haue we non But whan vs lykyth þanne can we takyn on Or ell make ȝow seme þat we been schape Sumtyme lyk a man or lyk an ape Or lyk an aungel can I ryde or go It is no wondyr thyng thow it be so A lousy iogelour can deseyue þe And parde ȝit can I more craft þan he Whi quod þe somenour ride ȝe þanne or gon In sundery schap & not alwey in on ffor we quod he wele vs swich formys make As most able is oure prey for to take What makyth ȝow to haue al þis labour fful manye a cause leue sire Somenour Seyde þis fend but alle thynge hath tyme The day is schort / & it is passede pryme And ȝit ne wan I no thyng on this day I wele entende to wynnyng ȝif I may And noght entende oure wordis to declare ffor broþer myn thyn wit is al to bare To vndyrstonde al thow I tolde hem the But for þou axsyst why laboure we ffor sumtyme we ben goddys instrumentis And meeuy[n] for to don hise comaundementis Whan þat hym lyste vp-on hyse creaturys In dyuerse art & in dyuerse figurys With-outyn hym we haue no myȝt certeyn ȝif þat him liste stande þere ageyn And sumtyme at oure preyere han we leue Only þe body but not þe soule to greue [Wytnesse on Iob whom þat we · did woo And some tyme haue we myȝt of bothe two] This is to seyne of soule & body ek And sumtyme be we sufferede for to sek Vp-on a man & don his soule onreste Noght his body & al is for þe beste Whan he withstandith oure temptacioun It is þe cause of his sauacioun Al be it þat it was not oure entente He schulde be saf but þat we wolde hym hente And sumtyme be we seruauntys vn-to man As to þe Erchebischop seynt Dunstan And to þe apostell ek seruauaunt was I ȝit telle me quod þe sumnour feythfully Make ȝe ȝow newe bodyis þus alwey Of elementis / þe fend answerde nay Sumtyme we feyne & sumtyme we areyse With deede bodyis in ful sundery wyse And speke as renable & fayre & wel As to þe Phitonyssa dede Samuel And ȝit wele some men seyn it was nat I do no fors of ȝoure dyuynyte But o thyng warne I þe I wele not iape Thow wolt algatis wete how we ben schape Thow schalt here aftyward myn broþer dere Come / where þe nedyth not of me to lere ffor þou schat by thyn owene experyence Cunne in a chayer þanne rede þis sentence Bet þan virgilie whilis he w[as] on lyue Or daunt also whils he was on lyue ffor I wele holde cumpanye with þe Til it be so þat þou for-sake me Nay quod þe somenour þat schal neuere be-tyde I am a ȝeman knowyn is ful wyde Myn trouthe wele I holde [to þe as in þis caas ffor þouȝe þou were þe Deuell Sathanas My trouþe wolle I holde] myn leue broþer As I am sworn and eche of vs tyl oþer ffor to be trewe broþer in þis cas And boþe we gon a-boute oure purchas Take þou þyn part of þat men wele þe ȝeue And I schal myn þus may we boþe leue And ȝif þat ony of vs haue more þan oþer Let hym be trowe & parte it with his broþer I graunte quod þe deuyl be myn fey And with þat word þey ryde forth here wey And ryȝt at þe enterynge at þe tounnys ende To which þis somenour schop hym for to wende The[y] saw a carte þat chargede was with hey Which þat a Cartere drof ferth in þe wey Dep was þe weye for which þis carte stod The cartere smot and cryede as he were wood Hayt sket hayt lyarad hat brok atonys The fend quod he ȝow feche body & bonys As ferforth as euere were ȝe folyd So meche woo as I haue with ȝow tholyd The deuyl haue al boþe hors & carte & hey The somenour seyde here schul we haue a pley And ner þe frere he drow as nouȝt ne were fful priuyly & rounnede in his ere Herke myn broþer herke be thyn feith Heryst þou nought how þe cartere seyth Hende it a-non for he hath ȝouen it þe Boþe hey & carte & ek his capillis thre Nay quod þe deuyl neuere a del It is not his entente troste wel Axe hym thyn self ȝif þou not trostiste me Or ellis stynte a-while & þou schat se This cartere thakkyth hise hors vp-on þe croupe And þey be-gunne to drawe & to stoupe Hayt now quod he now Ihesu cryst ȝow blysse And al hise hondwerk boþe more & lesse That was wel twyȝt myn owene lyard boy I preye god saue þe body & seynt loy Now is myn carte out of the slow parde Lo broþer quod þe fend what tolde I the Heere may ȝe seen myn owene dere broþer The cherl spak on thyng & mente a-noþer Lat vs gon forth a-boutyn oure viage Here wynne I no good vp-on caryage Whan þat þey comyn sumwhat out of tounne This somenour to his broþer gan to rounne Broþer quod he here wonyth an old rebekke That hadde almost as lef to lese his nekke As for to ȝeue a peny of hire good I wele haue twelue penys thow sche be wood Or I wele somounne hyre to oure offys And ȝit god wot can I no vys But for þou canyst not as in þis cuntre Wynne thyn cost take here ensaumple at me This somenour clepith at þe wedewis gate Come out quod he þou olde verye crate I trowe þou hast sum frere or prest with the Ho clepith þere seyde þis widew benedicice God saue ȝow syre what is ȝoure swete wille I haue quod he of somounnys a bille Vp peyne of cursynge loke þat þou be To morwe by-fore þe Erchedekenys kne To answere to þe court of serteyn thyngis Now lord quod sche Ihesu kyng of kyngis So wysely helpe me as I ne may I haue be sek & þat ful manye a day I may not goon quod sche so fer ne ryde But I be ded so prykyth it in myn syde May I not axe a libel syre somenour And answere þere by myn procatour To swich thyng as men wele oposyn me ȝis quod this somenour pay a-non lat se Twelue penys lat se & I wele þe aquyte I schal no profyit haue þerby but lyte Myn maystir hath the profit & not I Come of & let me rydyn hastely ȝeue me twelve penys I may no lengere lette Twelue penys quod sche now lady seynte marye So wysely helpe me out of care & synne This wyde world þow þat I schulde wynne Ne haue I not twelue penys with-inne myn holld ȝe knowe wel þat I am pore & old Kythe ȝoure almesse on me pore wreche Nay þanne quod he þe fend me feche ȝif I þe excuse th[o]w þow schuldist be spylt Allas quod sche god wot I haue no gilt Pay me quod he or be swete seynt anne As I wele bere a-wey þyn newe panne ffor dette whiche þou owist me of old Whan þat þou haddist þyn husbonde coukewold I payede at hom for þyn coreccioun Thow lyxt quod sche be myn sauacyoun Ne was I neuere er no wedewe ne wyf Somounede on to ȝoure court in al myn lyf Ne neuere I nas but of myn body trewe Vn-to þe deuyl blak & row of hewe ȝeue I thyn body & myn panne also And whan þe deuyl herde hire curse so Vp-on hire kneis sche seyde on þis manere Now mabelyn myn owene modir dere Is þis ȝoure wille in ernest þat ȝe seye The deuyl quod sche so feche hym er he deye And panne & al but he wele hym repente Nay olde stot þat is not myn entente[Gg. 4. 27 stops] [Quod þe Somnour for to repent me ffor eny þenge þat I haue hade of þe I wolde I hade þi smok/ & euery clothe Nowe Broþer/ quod þe Deuyll be not wrothe Thy body and þis panne ys myne by riȝt Thou shalte with me to helle · ȝit to nyȝt/ þere þou shalt/ knowe of/ oure pryuete More þan a Maystre of/ Diuinite And with þat worde þe foule fende hym hent Body and soule with þe fende went Where þat Somonours haue hir/ herytage And god þat made aftyr/ hys Image Man-kynde saue and gyde vs alle and somme And leue þis Somonour/ gode man by-come/. Lordynges I coude a tolde you quod þe frere Hade I hade leyser/ of thys Somnour here After/ þe Tyxt/ Cryst poule & Iohn . And of other/ doctours many on . Suche peynes þat youre hertes may a-gryse . Also by hyt þat no þenge may deuyse . Thou þat I myȝt/ a þousand wynter/ telle . The peyne of þilke Cursed house of helle . But for to kepe vs fro þat cursed place[Sloane 1685] Wakethe and preithe Ihesu for his grace To kepe vs . fro þe Temptour/ Sathanas herken þis worde be ware in þis caas The lyonn sit in his wayt alway To sle þe Innocent yf þat he may Disposethe ay youre hertes to withstonde þe fende þat you wolde make þrall and bonde he may not tempten you ouere your myȝt And Cryst woll be youre Champioun and your knyȝt And preythe þat þis Sompnour/ hym repent Of/ hys mysdede or þe fende hym hent Here endethe þe ffreres tale [Here begynneth the Prolog/ of the Somnour/.

[Harl. MS 1758, leaf 106, back]

 THis Somnour/ in his stirop hye stood . Vp-on this ffrere his herte was so wood . That like an Aspen leef he quoke for yre . Lordyngis quod he but oo thyng I desire . I you beseke that of your/ curtesie . Sethyns ye han herd this fals ffrere lye . As suffreth me I maye a tale telle . This ffrere bosteth that he knoweth helle . And god woot that it is litell wondir/. ffreres & fendes ben but litell a sondir/. ffor parde ye han ofte tyme herd telle . how that a ffrere rauysched was in [to is in margin]to helle . In spirit onys by a visioun . And as an angell lad hym vp & doun . To schewyn hym the peynes that ther/ were . In all the place sawe he not a ffrere . Of other/ folke he sawe y-now in woo . Vn-to this angell spake the ffrere tho . Now sir/ quod he han ffreres suche grace . That non of hem schall come to this place . Yes quod this angell manye a mylioun . And vn-to Sathanas he lad hym a-doun . And now hath Sathanas saith he a taile . Bradder/ then of the Carik is the saile . Holde vp thyn taile Sathanas quod he . Schewe forth thyne ers & lete the ffrere se . Where is the neste of ffreres in this place . And er/ that half/ a forlong/ wey of space . Right so as Bees swermen out of an hyue .[Harl. 1758] Out/ of the deuylles ers thei gon dryue . .xx.ti thousande ffreris on a route . And thorow-out helle swarmed all a-boute . And camen a-yen as fast/ as thei may gone . And in his ers thei crepedyn euerichone . He clapt/ his tale a-yen & laye still . This ffrere when he lokid had his fill . Vp-on this tormentis of this sory place . his spirit god restorid of his grace . Vn-to his bodye a-yen & he a-woke . But natheles for fere yet he quoke . So was the deuelis ars ay in his mynde . That is his heritage of verrey kynde . God saue you alle saue this cursid ffrere . Mi Prolog woll I ende in this manere . Here endith the Prolog/ and begynneth the Tale.

[Harl. MS 1758, on leaf 106, back]

 LOrdyngis ther/ is in york schire as I gesse. A merschy contre called holdernesse. In whiche ther/ wente a lymytour/ a-boute. To preche & eek/ to begge it is no doute. And so bifell that on a daye this ffrere. had preched at chirche in this manere. And specially a-bouyn euery thyng. Excited he the peple in his prechyng. To trentalis & to yeue for goddis sake. Wher/-with men myghte holi housis/ make. Ther/ as deuyne seruyse is honoured. Nought ther/ as it is wasted & deuoured. Ne there it nedith not for to be yeue. As to possessioners that may ellis lyue. Thanked [h, with the tail scratcht out]be god in wele & habundaunce. Trentales seide he delyuerith fro penaunce. Here frendes soules as well olde as yong. Yef that thei ben hastely song. Nought for to holde a preest ioly & gay. he syngeth not but oo messe in a day. Delyuerith out/ a man quod he the soulis. ffull hard it is with fleschehoke or with oulis. Now spede you hastely for cristes sake. To kepe you fro peynes of fendis blake. And whan the ffrere had seide alle his entente. With Qui cum patre forth he wente. When folke in chirche had yeue hym what hem lest. he wente his way no lenger/ wolde he rest. With scrippe & tipped staf tucked full hye.[Harl. 1758] In euery hous he gan to pore & prye. And beggeth mele or chese or ellis corn. his felalawe had a staf tipped with horn. A peire of/ tablis of yuory. And a poyntell polched fetisly. And wrot/ alweye the names there he stood. Of alle folke that yaf hym any good. As-caunce as he wolde for hem preie. Yeue vs a buschell whete malt/ or reie.][Harl. extract ends] A godis kechil or a trip of cheseMS Gg. 4. 27 Or ellis what ȝow lyste we may not chese A godis halpeny or a masse pany Or ȝeue vs of ȝoure braun ȝif ȝe han any A dagoun of ȝoure blanket leue dame Oure sistyr dere lo here I wryte ȝoure name Bacoun or bef or swich þyng as ȝe fynde A sturdy harlot wente hem ay by-hynde That was here ostys man & bar a sak And what men ȝoue hem leyde it on his bak And whan he was out at þe dore a-non He planede a-wey þe namys euerychon That he be-fore hadde wrytyn in hyse tablis He servede hem with nyflys & wyth fablys Nay þere þou lext þou somenour quod þe frere Pes quod oure ost for cristis modyr dere Telle forth ȝoure tale & spare it not at al So thryue I quod the somenour so I schal So longe he wente hous be hous tyl he Cam to an hous þere he was wone to be Refresched more þan in an hunderede placis Sek lay þe goode man whos þe place is Bedrede vp-on a couche lowe he lay Deus hic quod he O tomays frend good day Seyde þis frere curteysly & softe Thomas quod he god ȝelde ȝow ful ofte Haue I vp-on þis benche fare ful wel Here haue I ete ful manye a murye mel And fro þe bench he drof awoy þe cat And leyde a-doun his potente & his hat And ek his scryppe & sette hym softe adoun His felawe was go walkede in þe toun fforth with his knawe vn-to þat ostelrye Where as he schop hym þe ilke nyȝt to lye O dere maystir quod þis syke man How haue ȝe fare sythe þat March be-gan I saw ȝow not þis fourtenyȝt or more God wot quod he laboured haue I ful sore And sp[e]cially for thyn saluacioun Haue I seyd manye a precious orisoun And for oure oþere frendis god hem blysse I haue to day been at ȝoure cherche at messe And seyd a sarmoun aftyr myn symple wit Nat al aftyr þe text of holy wret ffor it is hard to ȝow as I suppose And þerfore wele I telle ȝow al þe glose Glosyng is a glorious thyng serteyn ffor lettere sleth as we clerkis seyn There haue I tauȝt hem to be charytable And spende here good þere it is resonable And þere I saw oure dame a where is sche Ȝond in þe ȝerd I trowe þat sche be Seyde þis man & sche wele come a-non Ey maystir wolcome be ȝe by seynt Iohn Seyde þis wif how fare ȝe hertely This frere arysith vp ful curteysly And hire enbraseth in hise armys narwe And kysseth hire swete / & chirketh as a sparwe With his lippis dame quod he ryȝt wel As he þat is ȝoure seruaunt euerydel Thankede be god þat ȝow ȝaf soule & lyf ȝit saw I not þis day so fayr a wyf In al þe cherche god so saue me ȝa god amende þe fautis sere quod sche Algatis wolcome ȝe by myn fey Graunt merci dame þis haue I founde alwey But of ȝoure grete goodnesse by ȝoure leue I wolde preye ȝow þat ȝe nat ȝow greve I wele with Thomas speke a lytyl throwe These curatis been ful neglygent & slowe To grope tenderely a concience In schrifte in prechynge is myn diligence And stodie in peteris wordis & in Poulis I walke to fyche cristene menys soulys To ȝilde Ihesu crist / hise propere rente To sprede his word is set al myn entente Now by ȝoure leue o deere maystyr quod sche Schidith hym wel for seynte trynyte He is as angery as a pissemyre Thow that he haue al þat he can desyre Thow I hym wrye a nyȝt & make hym warm And ouer hym leye myn leg oþer myn arm He gronyth lik oure bor lyth in oure sty Oþer disport ryȝt non of hym haue I I may not plese hym in no manere cas O Thomas Ie vous dy Thomas Thomas This makyth þe feend[d: later] þis muste ben a-mendit Ire is a thyng þat highe god defendit And þerof wele I speke a word or two Now maystir quod þe wyf er þan I go What wele ȝe dyne I wele go þere aboute Now dame quod he Ie vous dy sanz doute Haue I nat of a capoun but þe lyuere And of ȝoure softe bred but a scheuere And aftyr þat a rostede pigis hed But þat I nolde no beste for me were ded Thanne hadde I with ȝow homely suffysaunce I am a man of lytyl sustenaunce Myn spirit hath his fosterynge in þe bible The bodi is ay so redy & penible To wake þat myn stomak is distroyed I prey ȝow dame ȝe be nat a-noyed Thow I so frendely ȝow myn conseyl schewe By god I nolde nat telle it but a fewe Now syre quod sche but on word er I go Myn child is deed with-inne these woukis too Sone aftyr þat ȝe wentyn out of þis toun His deth saw I be reuelacioun Seyde þis frere at hom in oure dortour I dar wel seyn þat er þat half an our Aftyr his deth I saw hym bore to blysse In myn auysioun god so me wisse So dede oure sexteyn & oure fermorer That han ben trewe frerys fifty ȝer They may now god be thanked of his lone Makyn here Iubyle & walkyn a-lone And vp I ros & al oure couent ek With manye a tere trynkelynge on myn cheke With-outyn noyse or claterynge of bellis Te deum was oure song & no thyng ellis Saue þat to cryst I seyde an orysoun Thankynge hym of myn reuelacioun ffor sere & dame trostith to me wel Oure orisounys ben more effectuel And more we sen of secre thyngis Than burel folk al þow þey were kyngis We lyue in pouert & in abstinence And burel folk in rychesse & dispence In mete & drynk & in here foule delyt We han þis wordelis lust al in dispit Laȝar & dyuers leuedyn dyuers lyf And dyuers gerdoun haddyn þey þerby Ho so wele preye / hym muste faste & be clene And fattyn his soule & make his body leene We faryn as seyth þe appostele cloth & fode Suffyseth vs / þow þey been not ful goode The clennesse & þe fastynge of vs frerys Makyth þat cryst / acceptyth oure preyerys Lo moyses forty dayis & forty nyȝt ffastid er þat þe hyghe god of myȝt Spak with hym in þe mount of synay With emty wombe / fastynge manye a day Resseyuede he þe lawe þat was wretyn With godis fyngir & elye wolde wetyn In Mount oreb er he hadde any speche With hye god þat is oure lyuys leche He fastede longe & was in contemplaunce Aaron þat hadde þe temple in gouernaunce And ek þe oþere postellis euerychon In-to þe temple whan þey schulde gon To preye for þe peple & do seruyse The[y] nolde drynke in no manere wyse No drynk whiche þat myȝte hem dronke make But þere in abstinence preye & wake Lest þat þey dey[y: later] dyn tak hede what I seye But þey ben sobere þat for þe puple preye War þat I seye no more for it suffyseth Oure lord Ihesu as holy wryt deuyseth ȝaf vs ensaumple of fastynge & preyerys There-fore we mendynauntis we frerys [Ben weddid to pouert & contynence. To charite humblenesse & pacience. To persecucion for rightwisnesse. To wepyng/ mysericord & clennesse. And therfore maye ye se that our/ praieres. I speke of vs we mendenauntis we ffreres.][Harl. extract stops] Been to þe hye god more acceptable Than ȝoure is / with ȝoure festis at þe table ffrom paradys fyrst ȝif I schal nat lye Was man out chased for his glotenye And chaast was man in paradys serteyn But herke now thomas what I schal seyn I ne haue of it no text as I suppose But I schal fynde it in a-noþer glose That specyally oure swete lord Ihesus Spak þis be freris whan he seyde þus Blyssede ben þey þat poore in spiryt been And so forth al þe gospel may ȝe sen Wheþer it be lykere oure profescioun Or hire þat swemyn in possessioun ffy on hire pompe & on here gletenye And for here lewedenesse I hem defye Me thynkyth þey been lyk to Iouynyan ffat as a whal & walkynge as a swan Al vinolent as botel in þe spence Hire preyere is of ful gret reuerence Whan þey for soulis seyn þe salme of dauith Lo buf þey seye / cor meum erouctauyth Ho folwyth cristis gospel & hise fore But we þat vmble ben & chaste & poore Werkeris of godis word not audytourys Therfore ryȝt as an hauk ryȝt at a sourys Vp spryngith in þe eyre ryȝt so preyerys Of charytable & chaste besy frerys Makyn here sours to goddys erys two Thomas Thomas so mote I ryde or go And by þe lord þat clepid is seynt Iue Nere þou oure broþer schudist þou not thryue In oure chapitre preye we day & nyȝt To cryst þat he þe sende hele & myȝt Thyn body for to wendyn hastyly God wot þerof nothyng þerof fele I So helpe me crist as in a fewe ȝerys I haue spendit vp-on dyuers maner frerys fful manye a pound ȝit fare I neuere þe bet Certeyn myn good haue I almost be-set ffarwel myn good for it is al a go The frere answerde O thomas dost þou so What nedyth ȝow dyuers frerys seche What nedyth hym þat hath a parfit leche To sechyn oþere lechis in þe toun Ȝoure inconstaunce is ȝoure confusioun Holde ȝe þanne me or ellis oure couent To preye for ȝow ben ensufficient Thomas þat Iape nys nat worth a myte Ȝoure malady is for ȝe han to lyte A ȝif þat couent half a quarter otys And ȝif þat couent foure & twenty grotis And ȝif þat frere a peny & lat hym go Nay nay Thomas It[t: later] may no thyng be so What is a ferthy[n]g worth partid on twelve Lo eche thyng þat is onyd in hym selue Is more strong þan whan it is to-skateryd Thomas of me þou schalt not[not: later] ben I-flatered Thow woldyst han oure labour al for nouȝt The hie god þat al þis world hath wrouȝt Seyth þat þe werke man worthy is his hyre Thomas noght of ȝoure tresore I desyre As for myn self but þat al oure couent To preye for ȝow is ay so diligent And for to bildyn cristis owene chyrche Thomas ȝif ȝe wele lerne for to werche Of bildyng vp of cherchis may ȝe fynde Ȝif it be good in Thomas lyf of ynde Ȝe lye here ful of anguyssch & of yre With wych þe deuyl set ȝoure hette a-fyre And chidyn here þis sely innosent Ȝoure wif þat is so meeke & pacient And þerfore Thomas trowe me if þe lest Ne stryue nat with þyn wif as for þe best And bere þis word a-woy now be þyn feyth Touchynge swich thyng lo as þe wyse seyth With-inne þyn hous ne be þou no lyoun To þynne subiectis do non oppressioun Ne make þynne aquentauncis not to fle And Thomas ȝit eft sonys I charge þe By-war from hire þat in þyn bosum slepith By-war from þe serpent þat so slyly crepith Vndyr þe gres & styngith subtyly By-war myn sone & herke paciently That twenty thousent men han lost here lyuys ffor stryuyng with here lemanys & here wyuys Now sithe ȝe han so holy meke a wyf What nedyth ȝow Thomas to makyn stryf There is I wis no serpent so crewel Whan man trat on his tayl ne half so fel As woman is whan sche hath cauȝt an yre Veniaunce is þanne al þat þey desyre Ire is a synne on of þe gretteste of synnys Abomynable vnto þe god of heuene And to hym self it is distruxcioun This euery lewede veker or parsoun Kan seen how yre engenderyth homysyde Ire is in soth executour of pryde I coude of Ire sey so meche sorwe Myn tale schulde laste tyl to morwe And þerfore preye I god boþe day & nyȝt An yrous man god sende hym lityl myȝt It is gret harm & ek greet pete To sette an yrous man in heigh degre ¶ Whylom þere was an yrous potestatOf an Irous potestat/ As seyth Senek þat durynge his estat Vp-on a day out rydyn knyȝtis too And as fortune wolde þat it were so That on of hem cam hom þat oþer nouȝt A-non þe knyȝt by-fore þe Iuge is brouȝt That seyde þus þou hast þyn felawe slayn ffor which I deme þe to þe deth sertayn And to a-noþer knyȝt comaundede he Go lede hym to þe deth I charge þe And happid as þey wente by þe weye Toward þe place þere he schulde deye The knyȝt cam which men wende he hadde be ded Thanne thouȝte þey it was þe beste red To leede hem boþe to þe Iuge a-geyn They seyde lord þe knyght ne hath not slayn His felawe here he stondyth hol a-loone Ȝe schul ben ded a-noon so mote I gone That is to seyne boþe on & too & thre And to þe ferste knyȝt þus spak he I dampnede þe þu muste algatis be ded And þou also muste nedys lese þyn hed ffor þou art cause whi thyn felawe deyeth And to þe thredde knyȝt ryȝt þus he seyeth Thow hast not don þat I comaundede þe And þus he dede hem slen alle thre Irous Cambises was ek dronkelewe And ay delitede hym to ben a schrewe And so be-fel a lord of his meyne That louede verteuos moralite Seyde on a day be-twixe hem ryȝt þus A lord is lost ȝif he be vicious And dronkenes is ek a foul record In any man & namely in a lord There is ful manye an ye & manye an ere A-waytynge on a lord & he not where ffor godys loue drynk more a-temperelly Wyn makyth man to lesyn wrechedely His mynde & hyse lymys euerychon The reuers schal þou sen & þat a-non And preve it by thyn owene experyence That wyn ne doth to folk non swich offence There is no wyn be-reuyth me myn myȝt Of hond ne foot ne of myn eye syȝt And for despit he drank mekyl þe more An hunderede part than he hadde don by-fore And ryȝt a-non þis yrous cursede wreche Leet þis knyȝt sone by-fore hym feche Comaundynge hym he schulde by-fore hym stonde And sodeynly he tok his bowe on honde And vp þe stryng he pullede to hyse ere And with an arwe he slow þe child ryȝt þere Now wheþer haue I sekyr hand or non Quod he is al myn myȝt & mynde a-gon Hath wyn be-reuyd me myn eyen syth What schulde I telle þe answere of þe knyȝt His sone was slaye þere is no more to seye Beth war þerfore with lordys how ȝe pleye Syng placebo & I schal ȝif i can But ȝif it be vnto a pore man To a pore man men schulde his vicis telle But not to a lord þow he schulde go to helle Lo yrous Cyrus thilke percyen How he distroyed þe Ryuer of Gyseen ffor þat an hors of his was drenkt þerinne Whan þat he wente babylonye to wynne He made þat þe ryuer was so smal That wemen myghte wade it oueral Lo what seyde he þat so wel teche can Ne be no felawe to an yrous man Ne wyth no wood man walke by þe weye Lest þe repente I wele no ferþere seye Now thomas leue broþer lef thyn yre Th[o]u schalt me fynde as Iust as is a squre Hold not þe deuyll knyf ay at þyn herte Thyn angyr doth þe al to sore smerte But schewe to me al thyn confescioun Nay quod þe syke man by seynt symoun I haue be schryue this day at myn curat I haue hym told al holy myn estat Nedith it no more to speke of it seyth he But ȝif me lyste of myn humylite Ȝif me of ȝore gold to make oure cloystere Quod he for manye a muskele & manye an oystere Whan oþere men han ben ful weel at eyse Hath ben oure fode oure Cloystere for to reyse And ȝit god wot oneþe þe fondement Parformed is ne of oure pauuement Nis not a tyl ȝit with-inne oure wonys By god we owyn fourty pound for stonys Now help tomays for hym þat harwede helle Or ellis muste we oure bokys selle And ȝif ȝow lakke oure predicacioun Thanne goth þe world al to distruccioun ffor ho so from þis world wolde vs be-reue So god me saue thomas be ȝoure leue He wolde be-reue out of þis world þe sunne ffor who can teche & werke as we cunne And þat is not of lytyme quod he But sithe þat elye was or elyse Han frerys ben þat fynde I of record In charyte thankede be oure lord Now Thomas help for seynte charyte And doun a-non he sette hym on his kne This syke man wex ny wood for yre He wolde þat þe frere hadde bee a-fyre With his false dissymylacioun Swych thyng as is in myn possessioun Quod he may I ȝeuyn & non oþer Ȝe sey me þis how þat I am ȝoure broþer Ȝa certis quod þe frere trostyth wel I tok oure dame oure lettere with oure sel Now wel quod he & sumwhat schal I ȝeue On to ȝoure holy couent whil I leue And in þyn hand þou schalt it hald a-non On þis condicioun & oþere non That þou de-parte it so my derere broþer That euery frere haue as meche as oþer This schalt þou swere on þyn professioun With-oute fraude or cauelacyoun I swere it quod þe frere vp-on myn feith And þerwithal his hand in his he leith Lo here myn feyth in me schal ben no lak Now put þanne þyn hand doun by myn bak Seyde þis man & grope wel by-hynde Be-nethe myn buttok þere schat þ[o]u fynde A thyng þat I haue hid in pryuyte A thoute þis frere þat schal gon with me And doun his hand he lau[n]chith to þe clyfte In hope for to fynde þere a ȝifte And whan þis syke man felte þis frere Aboute his tewel grope þere & here A-myd his hand he let þe frere a fart There nys no capil drawynge in a cart That myȝt a lete a fart of swych a soun The frere vp-stirte as doth a wood lyoun A false cherl he seyde for godys bonys This hast þou for dispit don for þe nonys þow shalt a-beye þis fart ȝif þat I may His meyne þat herdyn þis a-fray Come lepynge in & cachede out þe frere And forth he goth with a ful angery chere And fette hese felawe þere as hadde his stor Ho lokede as it were a wylde boor He grynt with his teth so was he wroth A sturdy pas doun to þe court he goth Where as þere wonede a man of greet honour To whom þat he was alwey confessour This worthi man was lord of þat village This frere cam as he were in a rage Where as þis lord sit etynge at his bord O-neþe myȝte þe frere speke a word Tyl at þe laste he seyde god ȝow se This lord gan to loke & seyde benedicite What frere Ihn what maner world is þis I se wel þat sumthyng þere is a-mys ȝe loke as thow þe wode were ful of thewys Sit doun a-non & telle vs what ȝoure gref is And it schal ben a-mendyt If I may I haue quod he had a dispit to day God ȝilde ȝow a-doun in ȝoure village That in þis world nys non so poure a page That he nulde haue abomynacioun Of þat I hare resseyuyd in ȝoure toun And ȝit me greuyth me no þyng so sore As þat þis olde cherl with lokys hore Blasfemyd hath oure holy couent ek Now maystir quod þe lord I ȝow be-sek No maystyr quod he sire but seruytour Thow I haue had in scole þat honour God lykyth not þat rabi men vs calle Neyþer in market nyn in ȝoure large halle No fors quod he but telle me al ȝoure gref Syre quod þis frere an odyous myschef þis day is betid to myn ordere & me And so par concequens to eche degre Of holy cherche god a-mende it sone Syre quod þe lord ȝe wete what is to done Distemperyth ȝow not ȝe ben myn confessour ȝe ben þe salt of þe cherche & þe sauour ffor godys loue ȝoure pacience ȝe holde Telle me ȝoure gref & he anon hym tolde As ȝe han herd be-fore ȝe wete wel what Te lady of þe hous ay stille sat Til sche hadde herd what þe frere seyde Ey godis modyr quod sche blysful mayde Is þere not elle telle me feythfully Madame quod he how lykyth ȝow herby How þat me thynkyth quod sche so god me speede I seye a cherl haþ don a cherlis dede What schulde I seye god lete hym neuere the His syke hed is ful of vanyte I holde hym in a manere of frenesye Madame by god I schal not lye But I on oþer whise may ben wreke I schal de-fame hym ouyral þere I speke This false blasfemour þat chargede me To departe þat wele not departede be What euery man I-lyche meche with myschaunce The lord sat stylle as he were in a trance And in his herte he rollede vp & doun How hadde þis cherl þis ymaginacioun To schewe þis probleme to a frere Neuere erst er now herde I of swych matere I trowe þe deuyl put it in his mynde In arsmatryk coude þere no man fynde By-forn þis day swich a questyoun Who schulde mak a demonstracioun That euery man schul haue I-lyche hise part As of þe soun or sonour of a fart O nyse proude cherl I-schrewe his face Lo serys quod þe lord with harde grace Ho herde euere of swich a thyng er now To euery man I-like telle me howe It is an inpossible it may not be Ey nyce cherl god lete hym neuere the The rumbelyng of a fart & euery soun Nys bot of eyr reuerberacioun And euere it wastith lyte & lyte awey þere is no man can deme be myn fey ȝif þat it were departid equally What lo myn cherl lo how schrewedely Vp to myn confessour to day he spak I holde hym certaynly demonyak Now ete ȝoure mete & lete þe cherl go pleye Let hym gon hangyn him selue a deuele wey[The Solution of the "Probleme" by the Lord's Squire|and-Carver. No break in the MS.] Now stod þe lordys squyer at þe bord That karf his mete & herde word be word Of alle thynge whiche I haue ȝow sayd Myn lord quod he be ȝe not euele a-payd. I coude telle for a goune cloth To ȝow sere frere be so ȝe ben not wroth How þat þis fart schulde euene delid be A-mong ȝoure couent ȝif it lyke me Telle quod þe lord & þou schat haue a-non A gounne cloth by god & be seynt Iohn Myn lord quod he whan þat þe wedir is fayr With-oute wynd or parturbynge of eyr Lat brynge a carte whel here / in to þis halle But loke þat it haue hyse spokys alle Twelue spokys hath a carte whel trowe I And brynge me þanne twelve frerys wet ȝe why ffor trettene is a couent as I gesse The confessour here for his worthynesse Schal parforme vp þe nombre of his couent Thanne schul þey knele don be on asent And to euery spokys ende in his manere fful sadly leye his nose schal a frere ȝoure nobele confessour þere god hym saue Schal holde his nose vpryght vndyr þe naue Thanne schal þis cherl with bely sterne & stout As ony tabour ben hedyr brought out[out: later] And sette hym on þe whil ryȝt off þis carte Vp-on þe naue & make hym lete a farte And ȝe schuln seen vp peryl of myn lyf By pref which þat is demo[n]stratyf That equally þe soun of it wele wende And ek þe stynk vnto þe spokys ende Saue þat þis worthy man þis confessour By cause he is a man of gret honour Schal han þe ferste freut as worthy is And as þe nobele vsage ȝit of frerys is The worthy men of hem schul ferst be servid And serteynly he hath it wel deseruyd He hath to day tauȝt vs so meche good With prechynge in þe pulpit þere he stod That I may vouche saf I sey for me He hadde þe ferste smel of fartys thre[Gg. 4. 27 stops] [And so wolde all/ his/ couent/ hardeli. He berith hym so faire & holili. The Lorde the Ladie & euery man saf the ffrere. Seiden that/ Iankyn spak/ well in this/ matere. As/ well/ as/ Ouyde or Ptholome. Touchyng/ the cherle thei seide that/ subtilite. And hye witte made hym speke as/ he spak/. He is/ no fooll/ ne no demonyak/. And Iankyn hath wonne a newe gowne. Mi tale is/ done we ben almost at/ towne. Here/ endith the/ Sompnours/ tale/.][Harl. 1758 extract ends] GROUP E. FRAGMENT VI. § 1. THE CLERK'S HEAD-LINK. [Here begynneþe þe Prologe of/ þe Clerk/ of Oxenford

CAMBRIDGE MS. [Leaves 242 and 243 (containing the Clerk's Head-Link, the painting of him, and the first 8 stanzas of the Tale) are cut out.]

 [Sir Clerk/ of Oxenford oure Oste sayd Ye ride as stylle as Coy as dothe a mayde Were newe spoused sittynge at þe borde þis day ne herd/ I of youre mouthe a worde I trowe þat ȝe study a-boute some sophyme But salamon saithe alle þenge hathe tyme ffor goddes sake bethe of better/ chere hit ys no tyme nowe to study here Telle vs som mery tale by your fay ffor what man ys entred in to a play he nedes mote into þat play assent But precheth not as freres done in lent To make us for oure olde synnes to wepe Ne þat þi Tale ne make vs not to slepe Telle vs some mery þenge of auentures ȝoure termes your figoures and your coloures kepe hem in store tyl so be ȝe hem endite hieȝe style as when men to kynges wryte Spekethe so playne at þis tyme I you pray þat we may vndirstonde what ȝe say This worþi Clerke benyngely vnswared Oste quod he I am vnder your/ ȝerde ȝe haue as nowe of vs þe Gouernaunce And þerfore wolle I do ȝowe now obeysaunce As fer as reson askethe hardelySloane 1635, on leaf130 I wille you telle a tale whiche þat I lerned at Padow/ of a worþi clerke As prouyd by hys wordes and his werk/ he ys nowe dede and nailid in his chest I pray to god to sende his saul gode reste Fraunceys petrak þe laureol poet hiȝt/ þis Clerk whos rethorik/ swete Illumyeth alle Italy þurgh poetrye As lynean dyd of philosophi · Or lawe or oþere art particuler But dethe þat wolle suffre no þinge here But as hit were twynkelynge of an eye Bothe hathe he slayne and alle shalle we deye But for to tellen of þis worthi man þat taught me þis tale as I first be-gan I sey þat he first with hiȝe stile enditethe Or he þe body of his tale writeth A prochem in þe whiche desernethe he The Mounde & of Saluce þe contre And spekethe of appenen þe hilles hie þat bene þe boundes · of west lumbardye And of Mounte resulus in special where as þe Pope out of a welle smal Takith his first spryngynge and his sours Where as he holte þe euen streight way his cours To enel ward to Ferrar & to venyse The whiche a longe þenge were to devise And truly as to my Iugement Me thynke hit a thinge impertinent/ Saue he wolle conueye his matere But this is þe tale whiche þat ȝe shulle here Here endeth þe Prologe & here be-gynneth þe Tale

[Sloane 1685, on leaf 130, back.]

[No gaps between the stanzas in the MS.]

 There ys at þe weste syde of Itayle Doun at þe root of vesulus þe cold A lusty playne habundaunt of vitayle Where many a Toun þou mayste be-holde þat founded were in tyme of eldres old And many an oþer/ delectable siȝt/ And Saluce þis noble cuntre hiȝt ¶ A marquis whilom was in þat londe As were his worþi eldres hym be-fore And obeisaunt and redy to his honde Were alle his legees bothe lesse & more Thus in delyte he lyued and hath done ȝore By-loued and drad þurgh fauoure & fortune Bothe of his lordes and of his comune // þere with he was as to speke of lynage þe gentelest/ yborne of alle lumbardy A fayre person and stronge and yonge of age And fulle of honour/ and curtesye discrete y-nouȝe his contrey for to guye Saue in some thenges he was to blame And Walter was þis yonge lordes name ¶ I blame hym þus þat he considerith nouȝt/ In tyme comynge what myȝt be-tyde But on his luste present was alle his þouȝt And forto hauke and hunte on euery syde Wele nyeȝ alle oþere cures let he slyde And eke he ne wolde þat was worste of alle Wedde no wyf for ouȝte þat myȝt be-falle ‖ Only þat poynt his peple bare so soreSloane 1685, on leaf130, back. þat flok/ mele on a day þei went [And oon of hem that wisest was of lore. Or ellis that the lorde wolde best/ assent.] þat he shulde telle hym what his peple ment Or elles coude he wele shewe suche mater he to þe Marquis sayd as ȝe shulle here O noble Marquis your humanyte Assuresse vs and ȝeue vs hardynesse As ofte tyme as hit ys necessite þat we you mowe telle oure heuynesse Accepteth lord/ of youre gentilnesse þat we to you with pitous hert compleyne And let youre Eres nouȝt my voyce disdeyne Alle haue I nouȝt/ to done in þis matere None þan an other hathe in þis place ȝit for asmoche as ȝe my lord so dere haue alway shewed fauoure & grace I. dare þe better/ aske of you a space Of audience to shewen oure request/ And ȝe my lord to done riȝt as you lust ffor certes lord so wele vs lyketh you And alle youre werkes and euere haue don þat we · Ne coude not oure owen self devisen howe we myȝt more lyf/ in felicite Safe on þenge lord yf hit youre wille be þat for to be a wedded man ȝif þou lyst þan were youre pepull in soueren hertes rest/[Sloane 1685 extract ends] Bowith ȝoure nekke / vndyr þe blysful ȝokCambr. Univ. Lib. MS Gg. 4. 27 Of souereynte / & not of seruyse Which þat men clepe / sponsayle or wedlok And thynkith lord / a-mong ȝoure thouȝtys wyse How þat oure dayis / passe in sundery wyse ffor thow we slepe / or wake or rome or ryde Ay fleth þe tyme / it nyl no man a-byde And þow ȝoure / grene thouȝt floure as ȝit In crepith age / al-wey as stylle as ston And deth manasith / euery age & smyt In eche estat / for þere escapith noon And also serteyn / as we knowyn echon That we schal deye / as vncerteyn with alle Been of þat day / whan deth schal on vs falle Acceptyth þanne / of vs þe trewe entent That neuere ȝit / refusedyn þyn heste And we wele lord / ȝif þat ȝe wele assent Chese ȝow a wyf / in schort tyme at þe leste Born of þe / gentilleste & of þe meste Of al þis lond / so þat it oghte seene Honour to god / & ȝow as we can deme Delyuere vs / out of al þis bosy drede And tak a wif for hyghe godis sake ffor ȝif it / so be-fel as god forbede That þorw ȝoure deth ȝoure lyf schulde slake And þat a straunge successour schulde take ȝoure erytage o wo were vs on lyue Wherfore we prey ȝow hastyly to wyue Hire meke preyere & here pitous chire Made þe Markis herte to haue pytee ȝe wele quod he myn owene peple dere To þat I neuere erst thouȝte to streyne me I me reioysede of myn libertee That selde tyme is founde in maryage There I was fre I mote been in seruage But na the les I se ȝoure trewe entent And truste vp-on ȝoure wit & han don ay Werfore of myn fre wil I wele assente To wedde me as sone as euere I may But þere as ȝe han proferede me to day To chese me a wyf I ȝow relese That choys & prey ȝow of þat profere sese Let me a-lone In chesynge of myn wyf That charge vp-on myn bak I wele endure But I ȝow preye & charge vp-on ȝoure lyf What wyf þat I take I ȝow ensure To worschepe hire whil þat hyre lyf may dure In word & werk bothe here & ellis where As sche an emperourys douȝtir were ffor god it wot þat childeryn oftyn been Vnlyk here worthy elderys hem be-fore Bounte comyth of god / nat of þe treen Of whiche þey been engenderede & I-bore I truste in goddis bounte & þerfore Myn maryage & myn estat & resste I hym be-take / he may don as hym leste And ferþere more þis schal ȝe swere þat ȝe A-geyn myn choys schul neyþer groche ne striue ffor sythe I schal for-gon myn lyberte At ȝoure request as euere mote i thryue There as myn herte is set þere wele I wyue And but ȝe wele asente in swych manere I prey ȝow spekyth no mor of þis mateere With hertely wil þey swore & a-sentyn To al þis thyng þere sey no wigh nay Be-sekynge hym of grace er þat þey wente That he wolde grauntyn hem a serteyn day Of his sponsayle as sone as euere he may ffor ȝit alwey þe puple sumwhat dredde Lest þat þe markes no wyf wolde wedde He grauntede hem a day swych as hym leste On which he wolde be weddit sekyrly And seyde he dede al þis at his requeste And þey with humble entent buxsomly Knelynge vp-on hire kneis ful reuerently Hym thankede alle & þus þey han an ende Of hire entent & hom a-geyn þey wende And here vp on he to hise offyserys Comaundith for þe feste to purueye And to hyse priue knyȝtis & squyerys Swich charge ȝaf as hym leste on hem leye And þey to hise comandementis obeye And ech[In a later hand over an erasure.] of hem doth al his dilygence To don vn-to þe feste reuerence [PART II.] [N[A space has been left in the MS for this letter.]] Oght fer from thilke paleys honurable Where as þis Markys / schop his maryage Ther was a thorpt of sighte delytable In which þat poore folk of þat village Haddyn here bestis & here herbergage And of hire labour tok here sustenaunce Aftyr þat þe erþe / ȝaf hem habundaunce A-mongys þese poore / folk þere dwellede a man Whiche þat was holde / poreste of hem alle But highe god / sumtyme sende can His grace in-to / a lytyl oysis stalle Ianicula / men of þat thorp hym calle A doughtyr he hadde / fayr & ȝyng to syȝtegrisild[In a later hand.] And Grysilde / þis ȝynge maydyn hyȝte But for to speke / of verteuous beute Thanne was sche on / þe fayreste vndyr sunne ffor pourely / I-fosterede vp was sche No lykerous lust / was thorw hire herte I-ronne Weel oftere of / þe welle þan of þe tunne Sche drank & for / sche wolde vertu plese Sche knew wel labour / but non ydyl ese But thow þis mayd / tendere was of age ȝit in þe 1in here chaste virginite1[1_1 later] There was enclosede rype & sad corage And in gret / reuerence & charyte Hyre olde pore / fadyr fosterede sche A fewe schep / spynnynge on feld sche kepte Sche wolde not / ben ydyl tyl sche slepte And whan sche homward / cam sche wolde brynge Wortis or oþere / erbis tymys ofte The whiche sche dalf / & sette for hyre lyuynge And made hyre bed / ful harde & nothyng softe And ay sche kepte hyre faderys lyf on lofte With euery obeysaunce & dilygence That child may don to / faders reuerence Vp-on Grysilde / þis pore creature fful ofte tyme / þis Markis sette his eye As he an huntyng / rod parauenture And whan it fel / þat he myȝte hire espye He not with wauntoun / lokyng of folye His eyen cast on / here / but in sad wyse Vp-on hire cher / he wolde hym ofte a-vyse Comendynge in his / herte / hire womanhede And ek hire verteus / passynge ony wyght Of so ȝyng age / as wel in chere as dede ffor thogh þe puple / hath no gret ensyȝt In vertu he / consyderede ful ryȝt Hire bou[n]teis / & purposede þat he wolde Wedde hire only / ȝif þat he wedde schulde The day of weddyng / cam but no wight kan Telle what / woman þat it schulde be ffor whiche merueyle / wonderede manye a man And seydyn whan þat / þey were in pryuyte Wele not oure lord / ȝit leue his vanyte Wele he not wedde / allas allas þe whyle Whi wele he þus hym self & vs begyle But natheles þis Markis hath don make Of gounnys set / in gold & in asure Brochis & ryngis / for gresildis sake And of hire clothynge / tok he þe mesure By a maydyn / lyk to hyr stature And ek of oþere / aornementis alle That on to swich / a weddyng schulde falle The tyme of vnderne / of þe soneday Aprochith that / þis weddynge schulde bee And al þe paleys / put was In aray Bothe halle & chaumberys / eche in hese degre Housis of offysis / stuffed with gret plente There mayst þou sen / of deynteuous vitayle That may be founde / as fer as last ytaylle This riche Markis / ryally arayed Lordis & ladiis in his cumpaynye The whech to þe / feste were I-preyed And of his / retente þe bacherye And manye a soun / of sundery melodye Vn-to þe village / of þe whiche I tolde In þis aray / þe ryȝte weye han holde Gresylde of þis / god wot ful Innocent That for hire schapyn / was al þis aray To feche watyr / at a welle is went And comyth hom / as sone as euere sche may ffor wel sche hadde / herd seyd þat ilke day The Markys schulde / wedde & ȝif sche myȝt Sche wolde fayn / a seyn sum of þat syȝte Sche thouȝte sche wolde / with oþere maydenys stonde That been myne felas / in oure dore & see The Mayrkysesse / & þerfore wele I fonde To doon at hom / as sone as it may bee The labour which / þat longith on to me And þanne I may / at / leysere hire byholde ȝif sche this weye / vn-to þe castel holde And as sche wolde / ouyr hyre throswald gon The Markis cam / and gan hyre for to calle And sche sette doun / hyre watyr pot a-non By syde þe throschewald / in an oxis stalle And doun vp-on hyre / kneis sche gan to falle And with sad cuntenaunce / knelede stylle Til sche hadde / herd þe lordis wille This thoghtful Markys / spak vn-to þis mayde fful sobirly / & seyth / in þis manere Where is ȝoure fadyr / O Grysild he seyde And sche with reuerence / In humble chere Answerde lord / he is al redy here And in sche goth / sche 1wolde no lengere lette1[1_1 Written over an era|sure in a later hand.] And to þe Markis / sche hyre fadyr fette He by the hond / thanne tok þis olde man And seyde þus / whan he hym hadde a syde Ianicula / I neyþer may ne kan Lengere þe plesaunce / of myn herte hyde ȝif þat þou vouche saf/ what so be-tyde Thyn douȝtyr wele I / take 1er þan I wende1[1_1 Written over an erasure in a later hand.] As for myn wif / vn-to myn lyuys ende Thow louyst me / I wot it wel serteyn And art myn feythful / lyge man I-bore And al þat lykyth me / I dare wel seyn It lykyth þe / & specially þerfore Tel me þat poynt / þat I haue seyd be-fore ȝif that þou wilt / vnto þat purpos drawe To take me / as for þyn sone in lawe The sodeyn cas / þis man a-stonede so That red he wex / a-bayst & al quakynge He stod oneþe / seyde he wordys moo But only this / lord quod he myn willyng Is as ȝe wele / ne a-ȝens ȝoure lykyng I wele no thyng / ȝe be myn lord so dere Ryght as ȝow lyst / gouernyth þis matyere That wel I wot / quod / þis Markis softely That in thy chambir / I & þou & sche Haue a colacioun / & wyst þou whi ffor I wele aske ȝif it hire wille be To be myn wif / & rewele hyr aftyr me And al þis schal been don / in þyn presence I wele not spek / out of þyn audience And in þe chambere / whil þey were a-boute This tretys which / þat ȝe schul aftyr here The puple cam / vnto þe hous with-oute And wondere hem / in how oneste manere And tentyfli sche / kepte hire fadyr dere But outyrly / Grisildis wondere myghte ffor neuere erst / ne saw sche swich a syghte No wondir ist / þow þat sche were a-stonyd To seen so greet / a geste come in-to plase Sche neuere was / to swich a geste wonyd ffor whiche sche lokede / with ful pale face But schortly þis / matyer for to chase These are þe wordis / þat þe Markis sayde To þis benynge / veray fey[t]hful mayde Grysilde he seyde / ȝe schul wel vndyrstonde It lykyt to ȝoure / fadyr & to me That I ȝow wedde / & ek it may so stonde As I suppose / ȝe wele þat it so be But þese demaundis / aske I ferst quod he That sythe it schal / been don in hasty wyse Wele ȝe assentyn / or ellis ȝow auyse I seye þis be ȝe / redy with good herte To al myn lust / & þat I frely may As me best lykyth / do ȝow lauhe or smerte And neuere ȝe / to groche it nyght ne day And ek whan I seye ȝa / ne seye not nay Neyther be word / ne frounnynge cuntenaunce Swere þis / & here I swere oure allyaunce Wonderynge vp-on þis word quakynge for drede Sche seyde lord / vndyng & vn-worthy I am to thilke honour þat ȝe me beede But as ȝe wele ȝoure self ryȝt so wele I And here I swere / þat neuere wyllyngly In werk ne thouȝt I nyl ȝow disobeye ffo[r] to be ded thow me were loth to dye T[h]is is I-nogh Grysilde myn quod he And forth he goth with a ful noble cheere Out at þe dore & aftyr þat cam[cam: later, over an erasure.] sche And to þe puple he seyde in þis manere This is myn wif / quod he þat standyth heere Honoureth hire / & louyth hire I preye Who so me louyth þere is no more to seye And for þat nothyng / of hire olde gere Sche schulde brynge in-to his hous he bad That wemen schulde dispoylyn hire ryȝt þere Of whiche þese / ladyis were not ryȝt glad To handele hire clothis / wherIn sche was clad But natheles þis mayde bryȝt of hewe ffrom foot to heed they cloþede han al newe Hyre heris han þey kembit that lay vntrussede fful rudely & with here fyngerys smale A coroun on hire heed þey han dressyd And set hire ful of nouchis grete & smale Of hire a-ray what schulde I make a tale Oneþe þe puple hire knew for hire fayrnesse Whan sche translatede was in swich rychesse This Markis hath hire spousede with a ryng Brouȝt for þe same cause & þanne hire sette Vp-on an hors snow whit & wel amblenge And to his paleys he wolde no lengere lette With Ioyful puple þat hire ledde & mette Conueyede hire & þus þe day þey spende In reuel tyl þe sonne gan descende And shortely forth þis tale for to chace I seye þat to þis / newe Markysesse God hath swych fauour sent hire of his grace That it semede not bi liklynesse That sche was born & fed in rewedenesse As in a Cote / or in an oxsis stalle But norchede in / an emperourys halle To euery wight sche wexen is so dere And worchepeful / þat folk þere sche was bore And from hyre burthe knew hire ȝer be ȝere Oneþe trowede þey but durste a swore That to Ianykele of which I spak be-fore Sche doghtir were / for as be coniecture Hem thouȝte sche was a-noþer cryature ffor thow þat euere / verteuous was sche Sche was encresede in swych excellence Of thewys goode / I-set in high bounte And so discret & fayr of eloquense So benyngne & so dygne of reuerence And coude so þe puples herte embrace That eche hire louede þat lokede in hire face Not only of Saluces in þe toun Publischid was þe bounte of hyre name But ek be-sydyn in manye a regioun ȝif ony seyde wel a-noþer seyde þe same So spradde of hire / high bounte þe fame That men & wemen as wel ȝynge as olde Com to saluce / vp-on hire to be-holde This Water lowely nay but roially Weddede with fortunat oneste In godis pes leuyth / ful honestely At hom / & outwar / grace I-nogh haþ he And for he saw þat vndyr low degre Was ofte vertu hid / þe peple hym hilde A prudent man / & þat is seyn ful seelde Not only this Grisyldis thourgh hire wit Koude al þe fet of wyfly humbilnesse But ek whan þe cas / requyrede it The comune profyt coude sche redresse There nas discord rancure ne heuynesse In al þat lond þat sche ne coude a-pese And wysely brynge hem in reste & ese Thow þat hire husbonde / absent were a-non ȝif gentyl men or oþere of hire cuntre Were wroth sche wolde / brynge hem at oon So wyse & rype wordis hadde she And Iugementis of so gret equite þat sche from heuene sent as men wende Puple to saue & oþere men tamende Not longe tyme aftyr þat þis gresylde Was I-weddit sche a doughtyr hath I-bore Al hadde sche leuere a born a knaue chyld Glad was þe markis & þe folk þerfore ffor thow a mayde chyld cam al by-fore Sche may vn-to a knauechild a-teyne By liklyhed syn sche nys nat bareyne [PART III.] Ther fel as it bi-fel tymys mo Whan þat þis child hath soukede but a throwe This markis in his herte longith soo To tempte his wyf hire sadnesse for to knowe That he ne myȝte out of his herte throwe This meruelious desyr his wyf tasayee Nedles god wot he thouȝte hyre for taffraye He hadde a-sayed hire ryȝt I-now be-fore And fond hire eeuere good / what neded it Hire for to tempte alwey more & more Thow sum men preyse it for a subtil wit But as for me I seye þat yuele it sit Tassaye a wyf / whan þat it is noon nede And put hire in anguys & in drede ffor which þis Markys / wrowt in þis manere He cam alone / a nyȝt þere as sche lay With sterne face / & with ful sturdy chere And seyd thus / Grisilde quod he þat day That I ȝow tok / out of ȝoure pore aray And put ȝow in estat/ of hegh noblesse ȝe han not þat / forgetyn as I gesse I sey Grisilde / this present dignete In which þat I haue / put ȝow / as I trowe Makyth ȝow nat / forȝetful for to be þat I ȝow tok / in pore estaat ful lowe ffor ony wele / ȝe motyn ȝoure seluyn knowe Take heed of / euery word þat I ȝow seye Ther is no wight / þat hereth it but we tweye Ye woot youre self wel / how that ye cam heere In-to this hous / it is nat longe a-go And thow to me / þat ye been lef & deere Vn-to myn sentens ye been nothyng so They seyn to hem / it is greet schame & wo ffor to been subiect / & been in seruage To the þat born art / of a smal village And nameliche / sithe thyn doughtyr was bore These wordis han / they spoke douteles But I desire / as I haue doon by-fore To lyue myn lyf / with hem in reste & pees I may nat in / this cas been rechelees I mot doon with thyn / doghtyr for the beste Nat as I wolde / but as myn peple leste And ȝit god wot / it is ful looght to me But natheles / with-outyn ȝoure wytynge I wol not don / but this wol I quod he That ȝe to me / assente as in this thyng Schewe now ȝoure / pacience in ȝoure werkyng That ȝe me hyȝte / & swore in ȝoure wyllage That day that maked / was oure mariage Whan sche hadde herd al this she noght a-meued Neythir in word / ne chire nor cuntenaunce ffor as it semede sche was nat agreuyd Sche seyde lord al lyth in ȝore plesaunce Myn chyld & .I. / with hertely obey-saunce Been ȝourys al & ȝe mowe saue or spille Youre owene thyng werkyth aftyr ȝoure wylle There may no thyng god so myn soule saue Lykyn ȝow þat may displesyn me Ne I desyre nothyng for to haue Ne drede for to lese saue only thee T[h]is wil is in myn herte & ay schal bee No lenthe of tyme or deth schal this defase Ne change myn corage tyl a-noþer place Glad was this markis of this answeryng But ȝit he feynede as it were nat so Al drery was hise chir & hise lokynge Whan þat he schulde out of the chambir goo Sone aftyr this a furlong woy or too He pryuyly hath told al his entente Vn-to a man & to his wif hym sente A maner seriaunt was this priue man The whiche that fei[t]hful ofte he foundyn hadde In thyngis grete & ek swiche folk wel kan Doon execucioun / in thyngis badde The lord knew wel that he hym louede & dradde And whan this sergeaunt / wiste this lordis wille In-to þe chaumbre / he stalke hym ful stylle Madame he seyde ȝe mote for-ȝeue it me Thow I do thyng to whiche I am constreynyd Ye ben so wis that ful weel knewe ȝe That lordis hestys mowe not been I-feynyd They moun been weel bewailyd & compleynyd But men mot nede vntyl his lust obeye And so wele I / þere is no more to seye This child I am comaundit for to take And spek no more but out the child he hente Dispitously & gan a chire make As they he wolde a slayn it er he wente Grysyldis muste / al suffere & al consente And as a lomb sche sittyth meke & stylle And leet this crewel seriaunt don his wille Suspecious was / þe/ diffame of this man Suspect his face / suspect his word also Suspect the tyme / in which that this be-gan Allas hire doghtyr that sche louede so Sche wende he wolde a slayn it ryght tho But natheles sche neyther wept ne sikyd Conformyng hire to that þe markis lykyd But at the laste spekyn sche be-gan And mekely sche to the seriaunt preyde So as he was a worthi gentil man That sche muste kysse hire child er þat it deyede And on hire barm this lytyl child sche leyde With ful sad face & gan the child to blysse And lullede it & aftyr gan it to kysse And thus sche seyde in ful benyngne voys ffare wel myn child I schal þe neuere se But sythe I the haue markede with the croys Of thilke fadyr blyssede mote he bee That for vs deyede vp-on a coroys of tree Thyn soule lytyl chyld I the be-take ffor this nyȝt schat þou deye for myn sake I trowe that to a norys in this cas It hadde been hard / this routhe for to see Weel myghte a modyr / þanne han cryede allas But nathelas / sad / & stedefast was sche That sche endurede / al aduercite And to þe sergeaunt / mekelyche sayde Haue here agayn / ȝoure ȝynge lite mayde Seth now quod sche & doth myn lordis heste But on thyng wele I preye ȝow of ȝoure grace That but myn lord forbad ȝow at the leste Berieth this lite bodi in sum place That bestis ne non oþere briddis it to-race But he no word wolde to þat purpos seye But tok the child & wente vp-on hise weye This sergeant cam vn-to his lord a-geyn And of grysildis wordis & hire chere He told hym word in schort pleyn And hym presentyth with his doughtyr dere Sumwhat this lord hadde routhe in this manere But natheles his purpos held he stylle As lordys doon whan they welen han here wille And bad this segeaunt þat he priuyly Schulde this chyld softe wynde & wrappe With alle cyrcumstauncis tenderely And carye it in a cofere or in a lappe But vp peyne of his hed of for to swappe That no man schulde knowe of his entente Ne whens he cam ne wheþer þat he wente But at boloyne he to his sustyr deere That thilke tyme of pavyk was cuntesse He schulde it take & schewe hire this matyere Bysekynge hire to don hyre bysynesse This child to fostere in al gentillesse And whos chyld þat it was he bad hire hyde ffrom euery wyght for ought þat may be-tyde This sergeaunt goth & hath ful-fyld this thyng But to the markis now rotorne we ffor now goth he ful faste ymaginyng ȝif by his wywis cheer he myghte se Or by hire word aperceyue that sche Were chaungede but he neuere hire coude fynde But euere in on I-lyke sadde & kynde As glad as humble as besy in seruyse And ek in loue as sche was wone to be Was sche to hym in euery manere wyse Nor of hire doughtyr nouȝt a word spak she Non accident for noon aduersite Was seyn in hire / ne neuere hire doughtiris name Ne nemenede sche in ernest nor in game [PART IV.] In this estaat there passede been foure ȝeer Er sche with childe was but as god wolde A knaue child be this Waltyr fful gracious & fayr for to be-holde And whan that folk it to his fadyr tolde Not only he but al his court merye Was for this child & god þey thankede & herye Whan it was two ȝeer old & fro þe brest Departede of his norysce on a day This Markis caughte ȝet a-nothir best To tempte his wyf ȝit oftere ȝif he may O needeles was sche temptid in assay But weddede men ne knowe no mesure Whan that þey fynde a pacient creature Wyf quod this Markys ȝe han herd er this Myn peple beryth hevye oure maryage And namely sithe myn sone I-born is Now is it werse than euere in al oure age The murmur sleth myn herte & myn corage ffor to mynne eris comyth the vois so smerte That it wel nygh distroyed hath myn herte Now sey they thus now Waltyr is a-goon Than schal the blood of Ianicle succede And been oure lord / for oþere haue we non Swich wordis seigh myn peple out of drede Weel oughte I of swich murmour takyn heede ffor certeynly I drede swich sentence Thogh they not pleynly speke in myn audience I wolde leue in pees ȝif that I myȝte Wherfore I am disposed vttyrly As I his sistyr seruede be nyghte Ryȝt so thynke I to serue hym priuyly This warne I ȝow that ȝe nat sodeynly Out of ȝoure self / for no woo schulde out-raye Beth pacient & þerof I ȝow praye I haue quod sche seyd thus & euere schal I wol nothyng / ne nyl nothyng certeyn But as þou lyst not / greuyth me at al Thow that myn doughtir & myn sone be slayn At ȝoure comaundement it is to seyn I haue not had no part of chyldere tweyne But fyrst seknesse / & aftyr wo & peyne Ye been oure lord doth with ȝoure owene thyng Ryȝt as ȝow leste axseth no reed at me ffor as I leffte at hom al myn clothynge Whan I ferst cam to ȝow ryȝt so quod sche Lefte I myn wil / & myn liberte / And tok ȝoure clothyng wherfore I ȝow preye Doth ȝoure plesaunce I wele ȝoure lust obeye And sertis ȝif I hadde prescience ȝoure wil to knowe er ȝe ȝoure lust me tolde I wolde it don with-outyn necligence But now I wot ȝoure lust & what ȝe wolde Al ȝoure plesaunce ferme & stable I holde ffor wiste I þat myn deth wolde don ȝoure ese Ryȝt gladly wolde I deye ȝow to plese Deth may not make non comparisoun Vn-to ȝoure loue & whan this Markys say The constaunce / of his wyf he cast a doun Hise eyen too / & wonderyth that sche may In pacience / suffere al this a-ray And forth he goth / with drery cuntenaunce But to his herte it was / a ful gret plesaunce This vgely sergeaunt in þe same wyse That he hire douȝtyr cauȝte ryȝte so he Or werse ȝif men werse can deuyse Hath hent hire sone that ful was of beute And euery in on so pacient was sche That sche no chere made of heuynesse But kisse hire sone / & aftyr gan it blysse Saue this sche preyede hym that ȝif he myȝte Hire litille sone he wolde in erthe graue Hise tendere lemys delitat to syȝte ffrom foulys & from bestis hym to saue But sche non answere myȝte haue He wente his wey as hym nothyng rouȝte But to bolonye he tenderly it brouȝte This Markys wonderyth euere lengere the more Vp on hire pacience & ȝif that he Ne hadde sothli knowe ther by-fore That parfytly hire childeryn louede sche He wolde a went / þat of subtilite And of maleys or of crewel corage That sche hath suffered / this with sad visage But weel he knew þat next hym self certeyn Sche louede hire childeryn best in euery wyse But now of women wilde I axsyn fayn If these assayis myghte not suffyse What coude a sturdy husbonde more deuyse To preue hire 1wyffehode1[1_1 in a later hand.] & hire stedefast-nesse And he contynuynge euere in sturdynesse But þere been folk of swich condycioun That whan þey han a certeyn purpos take They can not stynte of here entencioun But ryȝt as they were boundyn to þat stake They wil not of that / ferste purpos slake Right so this ilke markis fullyche hath supposed To tempte his wyf / as he was fyrst purposed Here waytith / ȝif be word or cuntenaunce That sche to hym was chaungit of corage But neuere coude he fynde varyaunce Sche was ay on in herte & in visage And ay þe ferthere þat sche was in age The moore trewe ȝif þat it were possyble Sche was to hym in loue & more penyble ffor which it semede thus that of hem two Nas but on wil for as Waltyr leste The same lust was hyre plesaunce also And god be thankede al fyl for the beste Sche schewede wel for no wordely onreste A wyf as of hire self nothyng ne schulde Wille in effect / but as hire husbonde wolde The sclaundere ofte & wyde spradde That of a crewel herte / he wekkedely ffor he a poore woman wedded hadde Hath morderyd bothe hise childere priuyly Swich mordere was a-mong hem comounly No wondyr is for to þe peplis ere There cam no word / but þat þey morderede were ffor wych ther as his puple ther by / fore Hadde loued hym wel the slaundere of his diffame Maade hem þat they hym hatid þerfore To been a morderere is an hateful name But natheles for ernest ne for game He of his crewel purpos nolde stente To tempte his wyf was set al his entente Whan þat this doghtyr twelf ȝeer was of age He to the court of rome in subtyl wyse Enformede of his wil sente his massage Comaundynge hem sweche bullys to deuyse As to his crewel purpos may suffyse How þat the pope as for the peplis reste Bad hym to wedde a-nothir ȝif hym leste I seye he bad th[e]y schulde countrefete The popis bullis makynge mencioun That he hath leue his fyrste wif to lete And by the popis dispensacioun And stynte rancure & dissencioun By-twixe þe puple & hym thus seyth þe bulle The whiche they han pupliced at þe fulle The rude peple as it no wondyr is Wendyn ful wel that it hadde been ryȝt so But whan these tydyngis cam to Grysildis I deeme that hire herte was ful wo But sche I-like sad for euere mo Disposede was this vmble cryature Thaduersite / of fortune al tendure Abydynge euere his lust & his plesaunce To wom that sche was ȝeuyn herte & al As to hire verray wordely suffysaunce But schortely ȝif this story I tellyn schal This Markys wrytyn hath in special A lettere in wheche he schewith hys entente And secrely he to boloyne it sente To the erl of pauyk which þat hadde tho Wedded his sistyr preyede he specially To brynge hym hom a-geyn his chyldere two In honurable estat al opynly But on thyng he hym preyede vtterely That he to no wyght for no manere. Sholde not telle whos childre th[e]y were But seye the maydyn schulde I-weddid be Vn-to the markis of saluce a-non And as this erl was preyed so dede he ffor at the day set he on his weye is goon Toward saluce & lordis manyon In ryche a-ray this made for to gyde Hire ȝynge brothir rydynge by hire syde A-rayed was sche toward hire maryage This fresche mayde ful of gemmys cleere Hire brothir which seuene ȝeer was of age Arayede ek ful frosch in his manere And thus in gret noblesse & with glad chere Towar Saluces schapynge hire Iourneye ffrom day to day they rydynge in here woye [PART V.] [A[A space has been left in the MS for this letter.]]-Mong al this aftyr his wikkede vsage This Markys ȝit his wif to tempte more To the vttyreste priue of hire corage ffully to han experience & lore ȝif that sche were as stedefast as by-foore He on a day in opyn audience fful boystously hath seyd hire this sentence Certis Grisilde I hadde I-now plesaunce To han ȝow to myn wif for ȝoure goodnesse As for ȝoure trouthe & for ȝoure obeisaunce Not for ȝorere lynage / ne for ȝoure rychesse But now knowe I in verray sothfastnesse That in gret lordschepe If I wele auyse Ther is gret seruytut in sundery wyse I may nat do as euery plowman may Myn puple me constreynyth for to take A-noþer wyf & cryen day be day And ek þe popis rancure for to slake Consenteth it þat dar I vndyr-take And trewely þus meche I ȝow seye Myn newe wif is comynge by the weye Be strong of herte & woyde a-non hire place And thilke dowere þat ȝe broughte me Take it a-geyn I graunte it of myn grace Returnyth to ȝoure faderis hous quod he No man may han alwey prosperite With euene herte I rede ȝow to endure The strok of fortune or of auenture And sche answerde a-noon in pacience Myn lord quod sche I wot & wyste alwey How that by-twixe ȝoure magnificence And myn pouerte no wyght can ne may Makyn comparysoun it is no nay I ne hylde me neuere dygne in no manere To be ȝoure wyf no / ne ȝoure chaumberere And in this hous there ȝe me lady made The hyghe god take I for myn witnesse And also wysely he myn soule so glade I hyld me neuere lady ne maystresse But vmble seruaunt to ȝoure worthynesse And euere schal whil myn lyf may dure Abovyn euery wordely creature That ȝe so longe of ȝoure benyngnetee Han holde me in honour & nobleye Wher as I was not worthy for to bee That thanke I god / & ȝow to whom I preye ffor ȝilde it ȝow ther is no more to seye And to myn fadyr gladly wele I wende And with hym dwelle vn-to myn lyuys ende There I was fostered of a chyld ful smal Tyl I be deed myn lyf there wele I leede A wydewe clene in body herte & al ffor sythe I ȝaf to ȝow myn maydynhede And am ȝoure trewe wyf it is no drede God schilde swich a lordis wyf to take A-nothir man to husbonde or to make And of ȝoure newe wif god of his grace So graunte ȝow wele & prosperitee ffor I wele gladly ȝildyn hire myn place In which þat I was blysful wone to be ffor syth it lykyth ȝow myn lord quod sche That whilhom were al myn hertis reste That I schal gon .I. wele goon whan ȝow leste But there as ȝe me profere swych dewarye As I fyrst brouȝte it is weel in myn mynde It were mynne wrechede clothis no thyng fayre The wheche to me were hard now for to fynde O goode god how gentyl & how kynde ȝe semedyn be ȝoure speche & ȝoure visage The day that makyd was oure maryage But soth is seyd / algate I fynde it trewe ffor in effect it preuede is in me Loue is not old / as whan þat it is newe But sertis lord for noon aduercite To deyen in þe cas it schal nat be That euere in word / or werk I schal repente That I ȝow ȝaf myn herte / with hol entente Myn lord ȝe wot that In myn faderys place ȝe dede me strype out of myn poore weede And rychely me claddyn of ȝoure grace To ȝow brouȝte I not ellis out of dreede But feyth & meknesse & maydynhede And heere ageyn myn clothynge I restore And ek myn weddynge ryng for euere more The remenaunt of ȝoure Iewellys redy bee In with ȝoure chaumbere that dar I sayn Nakyd out of myn faderys hous quod sche I cam / & nakyd I mot / turne ageyn Al ȝoure plesaunce I wele folwe fayn But ȝit I hope it be not ȝoure entente That I smokles out of ȝoure paleys wente ȝe coude not don so disonest a thyng That ilke wombe in whiche ȝoure chyldere leye Schulde by-fore the peple in myn walkynge Be seyn al bare / therfore I ȝow preye Lat me not lyk a werm / goon by the weye Remembrith ȝow myn owene lord so deere I was ȝoure wyf thow I onworthy weere Wherfore in guerdoun of myn maydynhede Whiche that I brouȝte & not ageyn I bere As vouche ȝe saf / to ȝeue me to myn meede But swich a smok as I was wone to were That I therwith may wrye þe wombe of hire That was ȝoure wyf / & here I take myn leue Of ȝow myn owene / lest that I ȝow greue The smok quod he that thow hast on thyn bak Lete it be stylle & bere it forth with the But wel onethe thilke word he spak But wente his wey for reuthe & for pite By-forn hyre folk / hyre seluyn strepyth sche And in hire smok with hed & feet al bare Toward hire faderys hous / forth is sche fare The folk hyre folwyn / wepynge 1in hire weye1[1_1 later] And fortune ay they curssyn as they goon But sche from wepynge kepte hire eyen dreye Ne in this tyme word ne spak sche noon Hyre fadyr þat of this tydyng herde a-non Curseth the day / & tyme that nature Schop hym to been a lyuys creature ffor out of doute this olde poure man Was euere in suspect of hire maryage ffor euere he demede sythe that it be-gan That whan the lord fulfyld hadde his corage Hym wolde thynke it were a disparage To his estat so lowe for to a-lyghte And woydyn hire / as sone as euere he myghte A-geyn his doughtyr / hastyliche goth he ffor he by noyse of folk / knew hire comyng And with hire olde coote / as it myghte be He cowerith hire / ful sorwefully wepynge But on hire body / myghte it not brynge ffor rude was the cloth / & sche more of age By dayis fele / than at hire maryage T[h]us with hire fadyr / for a certeyn space Dwellyth this flour of wyfly pacience That neythir by hire wordys ne hire face By-fore the folk ne ek in hire absence Ne schewede sche þat hire was don offence Ne of hire highe estat no remembraunce Ne hadde sche as by hyre cuntenaunce No wondyr is / for in hire greete estate Hyre gost was ay in pleyn humylitee No tendere mouth non herte delicate No pompe no semblaunt of royaltee But ful of pacient benygnetee Dyscreet & prideles / ay honurable And to hire husbonde euere mek & stable Men speke of Iob / & most for his humblesse As clerkis whan hem leste can wel endite Namely of men / but as in sothfastnesse Thow Clerkys preysyn wemen but a lyte There Can no man in humblesse hem a-quyte As wemen 1can ne ben half so trewe1[1_1 later] As wemen ben but it be falle of newe [PART VI.] ¶ ffrom Boloygne as this erl of pauyk come Of which þe fame vp sprong bothe more & lesse And to the peplis eris alle & some Was kouth eek that a newe Markisesse He with hym broghte in swich pompe & richesse That neuere was there seyn with manys eye So noble a-ray in al west Lumbardye This Markis which that shoop & knew al this Er þat this erl was come / sente his massage ffor thilke sely pore 2Gresyldis2[2_2 later] And sche with 2houmble2[2_2 later] herte & glad visage Noght in a swollyn thoght in hire corage Cam at his heste / & on hire kneis hire sette And reuerently & wisely / sche hym grette Grisilde quod he / myn wil is outirly This mayde þat schal weddit been to me Resseyuede ben to morwe as roially As it possible is in myn hous to be And ek that euery wiȝt in his degere Haue his estat / in sittynge & seruyse And hegh plesaunce / as I can best deuyse I haue no wemen suffisaunt certeyn The chambris for taraye in ordenaunce Aftyr myn lust & þerfore wolde I fayn That thyn were / al swich manere gouernaunce Thow knowyst ek of old / al myn plesaunce Thow thyn aray be badde & euele be seye Do þou thyn deuer / at the leste weye Nat only lord þat I am glad quod sche To do ȝoure lust / but .I. desyre also ȝow for to serue & plese in myn degre With-outyn feyntynge & schal euere mo Ne neuere for no wele ne no wo Ne schal myn gost with-inne myn herte stente To loue ȝow best / with al myn hol entente And with that word sche gan the hous to dighte And tabellis for to sette & al redy make And peynede hire to don al þat sche myȝte Preyinge þe chambereris for godis sake To haste hem & faste swepe & shake And sche þe moste / seruyable of alle Hath euery chambre arayed and his halle A-boutyn vndryn gan this erl a-lyȝte That with hym broghte these noble childere tweye ffor which the peple ran to seen the syght Of hire aray so rychely be seye And thanne at erst a-mongis hem they seye That waltyr was no fol thow þat hym leste To chonge his wyf / for it was for the beste ffor sche is fayrere as they demyn alle As is Gresilde & more tendere of age And fayrere freut be-twen hem schulde falle And more plesaunt for hire heye lenage Hire brothir ek so fayr was of visage That hem to sen þe peple hath caught plesaunce Comendynge now þe Markys gouernaunce O stormy puple / on sad & euere vntreweAuctor Ay vndiscret & chaungynge as a fane Delytynge euere in rumbul þat is newe ffor lyk the mone / ay waxe ȝe & wane Ay ful of clappyng deere ynogh a Iane ȝoure dom is fals / ȝoure constaunce euel preuyth A ful greet fol is he þat on ȝow leuyth Thus seydyn sadde folk in þat Cetee Whan þat the peple gaȝede vp & doun ffor they were glad rygh for þe noueltee To haue a newe lady of hire toun No more of this now make I mencioun But to grysilde a-geyn wil I me dresse And telle hire constance & hire besynesse fful bisy was Grisilde / in euery thyng That to þe feste / was apertynent Rygh nought was sche / abast of hire clothynge Thow it were rude & sumdel ek to-rent But with glad chier to þe ȝate is went With oþere folk to greete the Markisesse And aftyr doth / forth hire besinesse With so glad chiere / hire gestis sche resseyuydh And so benyngnely euerych in his degre That no defaute no man aperseyuyth But ay they wondere / what sche myghte be That in so pore aray / was for to se And coude swich honour / & reuerence And worthily they preyse hire prudence In al this meene while / sche ne stente That mayde & ek hire broth[i]r to comende With al hire herte in ful benyngne entente So wel þat no man coude hire pris a-mende But at þe laste / whan that þe lordys wende To syttyn doun to mete he gan to calle Grysilde as sche was bysy in the halle Grysilde quod he as it were in his pley How lykyth þe myn wif & hire beaute Ryȝt wel quod sche myn lord / for in good fey A fayrere saugh I neuere non þan sche I preye to god / ȝeue ȝow prosperite And so hope I þat he wele to ȝow sende Plesaunce I-now vn-to ȝoure lyuys ende O thyng biseke I ȝow & warne also That ȝe ne pryke / with no turmentynge This newe mayde as ȝe han don mo ffor sche is fosteryd in hire norychynge More tenderely & to myn supposynge Sche coude not aduercytee endure As coude a pore fosterede creature And whan this waltyr saugh hire pacience Hire glad chere & non maleyce at al And he so ofte hadde don hire offence And sche ay sad & constaunt as a wal Conteynynge euere / hire innocent ouyr al This sturdy Markys gan his herte dresse To rewe vp-on hire / wifly stedefastnesse That is I-nogh Grisilde myn quod he Be now no moore a-gast ne euele a-payed I haue thyn feyth & thyn benygnetee As wel as euere weman was a-sayed In gret estat & porely arayed Now knowe I deere wif / thyn stedefastnesse And hire in armys took / & gan hyre kesse And sche for wondyr tok of it no kep Sche herde not what thyng he to hire seyde Sche ferde as sche hadde styrt out of hyre slep Tyl sche out of hire masedenesse a-breyde Grisilde quod he bi god that for vs deyede Thow art myn wif / ne non oþer ne haue Ne neuere ne hadde as god myn soule saue This is thyn douȝtyr / which þow hast supposyd To been myn wyf / þat oþer feithfully Schal been myn eyr / as I haue ay supposid Thow bar hym in thyn body trewely At Boloyne haue I kept hem pryuyly Take hem a-geyn for now þow mayst nat seye That þou hast lost non of thynne childeryn tweye And folk that oþere weyis han seyd of mee I warne hem weel that I haue don this dede ffor no maleys / nor for no creueltee But for tassaye in the thyn womanhede And not for to sle mynne childeryn god for-beede But for to kepe hem priuyly & stille Til I thyn purpos knew & al thyn wille Whan this sche herde / aswounne doun sche fallyth ffor pytous Ioye & aftyr hire swounynge Sche beþe hire ȝonge chyldere vn-to hyre callyth And in hire armys / pitously / wepynge Enbrasyth hym / & tenderely kyssynge fful lyk a modyr with hire salte terys Sche bathith bothe hire visage & hire herys O which a pitous thyng it was to se Hire swounnynge & hire humble voys for to heere Graunt mercy lord / god thanke ȝow quod sche That ȝe han sauede me mynne chyldere deere Now rekke I neuere to been ded ryȝt here Sithe I stonde in ȝoure loue & in ȝoure grace No fors of deth ne whan myn spiryt pace O tendere o ȝonge o deere childere mynne ȝoure woful modyr / wende stedefastly That crewel houndis / or sum foul vermyn Haddyn etyn ȝow / but god of his mercy And ȝoure benyngne fadyr tendyrly Hath don ȝow kept & in that same stounde Al sodeynly sche swapte a-doun to grounde And in hire swough so sadly holdyth sche Hyre chylderyn two / whan sche gan hem tenbrace That with gret sleyȝt / & gret difficultee The chyldere from hire arm / they gunne a-race O manye a ter / on manye a pitous face Doun ran of hem that stodyn hire besyde Vnnethe a-boutyn hire myȝte they not a-byde Walter hire gladith / & hire sorwe slakyth Sche rysith vp abaschid from hire traunce And euery wiȝt hire Ioye & feste makyth Til sche hath cauȝt a-geyn hire cuntenaunce Walter hire doth so feythful plesaunce That it was deynte for to sen the cheere By-twixe hem two now the[y] ben met in feere These ladyis whan that they here tyme sey Han takyn hire & in-to chambere goon And strippe hire out of hire rude a-ray And in a cloth of gold that bryȝte schoon With a coroun of manye a ryche stoon Vp-on hire heed they in-to halle hire brouȝte And þere sche was honourede as hyre ouȝte Thus hath this pitous day a blysful ende ffor euery man & woman doth his myȝt This day in myrthe & reuel to dispende Tyl on the walkyn schon the sterrys lyȝt ffor more solempne in euery manys syȝt This feste was & grettere of costage Than was the reuel of hyre maryage fful manye a ȝeer in hih prosperite Lyuyn these too in concord & in reste And richely his doghtyr maryede he Vn-to a lord on of the worthieste Of al ytayle & þanne in pees & reste Hise wyuys fadyr in his court he kepith Tyl þat þe soule out of the body crepith His sone succedith in his heritage In reste & pees aftyr his faderys day And fortenat was ek in mariage Al put he nat his wif in greet assay This world is nat so strong It is no nay As it hath been in olde tymys ȝoore And herkenyth what this auctor seyth therfore This stori is seyd noght for that wyuys schuldeAuctor ffolwyn grysilde as in humylitee ffor it were importable thogh they wolde But for that euery wight in his degree Schulde been constaunt in aduersitee As was Grisilde / therfore this Petrak wryteth This story which he with high style endyteth ffor sythe a woman was so pacient Vn-to a mortal man wel more vs oghte Receyuyn al in gre þat god we see ffor greet skele is he / preue that he wroghte But he ne temptyth no man that he boughte As seith seynt Iame / If ye his pistyl reede He preuyth folk al day / it is no drede And sufferyth vs as for excercice With scharpe schourgis / of aduercitee fful ofte to be bet in sundery wyse Not for to knowe oure wil for certis he Er we were born knew al oure freletee And for oure beste is al his gouernaunce Lat vs thanne lyue in verteuous sufferaunce But on word lordynyis herkenyth er I go It were ful hard to fynde now on dayis In al a toun Grysildis thre or two ffor ȝif that thei were / put to swych a-sayis The gold of hem han now so badde alayis With bras that thogh the coyn be fayr at Iye It wele rathere breste atwo than plye ffor which heere for the wyuys loue of bathe Whos lyf & al hyre secte god meynteene In high maystrye & ellis were it skathe I wele with lusty herte frosch & grene Sey ȝow a song to glade ȝow I wene And let vs stynte of ernest-ful matiere Herkenyth myn song / þat seyth in this manere Lenuoy de Chaucer Grysilde is deed & ek hire pacience And bothe at onoys buryed in Ytayle ffor whiche in opene audience No weddede man / so hardy be tassaylle His wyuys pacience entrost to fynde Grisildis for in certeyn he schal faylle O noble wyuys ful of prudence Let noon humilite ȝoure tunge nayille Ne lat no klerk haue cause nor dilygence To wryte of ȝow a story of swych meruaile As of Grisildis pacient & kynde Lest Chicheuache / you swolwe in hire entrayle ffolwith Ecco / that holdyth no sylence But euere answerith at the countretayle Beth not bedaffyd for ȝoure Innocence But scharpely takyth on ȝow the gouernaile Enpryntith wel this lessoun in ȝoure mynde ffor comune profyt / sithe it may a-wayle Ye Archewyuys stondyth at ȝoure defence Syn ȝe been stronge as is a greet Camayle Ne sufferyth nat / þat men ȝow doon offence And sklendere wyues feble as in batayle Beeth egre as is a tigre ȝong in ȝouthe Ay clappith as a melle I ȝow consayle Ne drede hem nat do hem no reuerence ffor thow thyn husbond / armede be in mayle The arwis of thyn crabbede eloquence Schal perce his brest & ek his auentayle In Ialusye I reede ek thow hym bynde And thow schat make hym couche as doth a quayle If thow be fayr / ther folk been in presence Schewe thu thyn visage & thyn aparayle ȝif thow be foul be fre of thyn dispence To gete the frendys ay do thyn trauayle Be ay of chir as lyght as lef on lynde And lat hym care & wepe & wrynge & wayle Heere hath the clerk of Oxenforthe ended his tale APPENDIX TO GROUP E, § 2. [? Original, but rejected, End-Link to the Clerk's Tale, perhaps following l. 1162, with which the paraphrase of Petrarch's Latin ends, or l. 1169.] This worthi clerk whan endede was his tale Oure ost seyde & swor by godys bonys Me were leuere than a barel ale Myn wif at hom hadde herd this legende onys This was a gentil tale for the nonys As to myn purpos woste ȝe myn wille But thyng that wil nat be lat it be stille Heere folwith the prologe of the marchauntes tale

[Leaf 260 (containing the Merchant's prologue, the painting of him, and 20 lines of the tale) has been cut out of the Cambridge MS Gg. 4. 27.]

[Cambr. Univ. MS Dd. 4. 24.]

 [Wepyng and waylyng / care and other sorwe I knowe I-now / on Euen and on morwe Quod the Marchaunt / and so don othere moo That wedded ben / I trowe that it be so fful wel I wot / it fareth so by me I haue a wyf / the werste that may be ffor though the fend / to hire I-coupled were She wolde him ouer macche / I dar wel swere what shulde I ȝow reherce / in special hire heye malice / she is a shrewe with al There is a long / and a large difference Be-twix Grisildis / grete pacience And of my wyf / the passyng cruelte were I vnbounden / also mot I the I wolde neuere eft / comen in the snare we wedded men / lyue in sorwe and care Assay who so wyl / and he shal fynde That I seye soth / be seynt Thomas of Inde As for the more part / I seye nat alle God shilde that it shulde / so byfalle A goode sire hoost / I haue I-wedded be Theise Monthes two / and more nat parde And ȝet I trowe / that he that al his lyue wyflees hath ben / though that man wold him ryue Vn-to the hert / ne coude in no manere Tellen so meche sorwe / as I now here Coude tellen / of my wyues cursidnes Now quod oure Host / Marchaunt so god ȝow blis Syn ȝe so mechil knowen / of that art fful hertily I pray ȝow / telle vs part Gladly quod he / but of myn owen sore ffor sory hert / I telle may nomore][Dd. 4. 24 extract ends] [Whilome þere was dwellynge in Lumbardye A worþi knyȝt þat borne was at pavye In whiche he lyued in grete prosperite And sixty ȝere a wyfles man was he And folowyd ay hys bodyly delyte On womman þere as was hys appetyte As don þese foules þat ben seculers And whan þat he was paste sixty ȝeres Were hit for holynesse or for doteage I can not sey but suche a grete corage hade þis knyȝt to be a weddid man þat day and nyȝt he dothe all þat he can To aspye where þat he wedded myȝt be Praynge oure lorde to graunten hym þat he Myȝt onys knowe þat blessefulle lyf That ys bytwext an husbonde & his wyf And for to leuen vnder þat holy bonde With first god man to womman bande Non other lyf seyde he ys worthe a bene For wedlok ys so esy & so clene][Sloane 1685 extract ends] That in this world it is a paradysCamb. Gg. 4. 27 Thus seyde this olde knyght þat was so wys And serteynly as soth as god Is kyng To take a wyf it is a glorious thyng And nemely whan a man is old & hore Thanne is a wyf the freut of his tresore Thanne schulde he take a ȝong wyf & a fayr On whiche he myȝte engendere & been eyr And leede his lyf in ioye & in solace Where as these bachelerys synge allas Whan that they fynde ony aduercitee In loue which is but childis vanytee And trewely it is weel to been so That bachelerys han ofte peyne & wo On brothil ground they bylde / & brothelnesse They fynde / whan they wene sekyrnesse They lyue but as a bryd or as a beste In lyberte & vndyr non areste There as a weddede man in his estat Leuyth a lyf blysful & ordenat Vndyr the ȝok of maryage I-bounde Wel may his herte in ioye & blisse aboūnde ffor who can been so buxsum as a wif Who is so trewe & ek so ententyf To keepe hym syk & hol as is his make ffor weel or wo sche wele hym not for-sake Sche is nat wery hym to loue & serue Thogh þat he lye bedrede tyl he sterue And ȝit some clerkys seyn it is nat so Of which þe theofraste is on of tho What fors thow Theofraste lyste to lye Ne take no wyf quod he for husbonderye As for to spare in houshold thyn dispence A trewe seruaunt doth more diligence Thyn good to kepe than tyn owene wyf ffor sche wele cleyme half part al hire lyf And ȝyf þou be sek so god me save Thynne verray frendys or a trewe knave Wele kepe þe bet / than sche that wayth ay Aftyr thyn good / & hath doon manye a day And ȝif thow take a wyf on to thyn hold / fful lyghtely mayst þou been a coukewold¶ Caue This sentence / & manye an hunderede werse Wryth this man / there god his bonys cursse But takyth no kep of alle swich vanytee Defye Theofraste & herke me A wyf is godys ȝifte verrayly Alle oþere manere ȝiftys hardyly As londys[first lordys] rentys / pasture or comune Or meoblys alle been ȝiftys of fortune That passyn / as a schadewe vp on a wal But dredles if pleynly speke I schal A wyf wele laste & in thyn hous endure Weel lengere than the lyste parauenture Maryage is a ful gret sakrement He which that hath no wyf I helde hym schent He lyuyth helpeles & al desolat I speke of folk in seculeer estat And herke why I seye nat this for noght That weman is for manys helpe I-wrought The heye god[first good] whan he badde adam makyd And say hym al a-lone bely nakyd / God of his greete goodnesse seyde than Lat vs now make an helpe vn-to this man Lyk to hym self & thanne he made hym Eue Heere may ȝe se &[erasure] here may ȝe preue That wif is manys helpe & his confort His paradys terestre / & his desport So buxsum & so vertevous is sche They muste nedis liue in vnite On flesch they been & on blood as I gesse Hath but oon herte / in wele & in destresse A wif a seynte Marie benedicite How myȝte a man han ony aduersite That hath a wif sertis I can not seye The blysse that is be-twixe hem tweye Ther may non tunge telle nor herte thynke ȝif he be pore sche helpith hym to swynke Sche kepith his good / & wastyth neuere a del Al that hire husbonde luste hire likyth weel Sche seyth nat onys nay whan he seyth ye Do this seyth he al redy sere seyth sche O blysful ordere of wedlok precious Thow art so merye & ek so vertyuous And so comendit & apreuyd ek That euery man that halt hym worth a lek Vp-on hise bare kneis oghte al his lyf Thankyn his god that hym hath sent a wyf Or ellys preye to god hym for to fynde A wif to laste vn-to his lyuys ende ffor thanne his lyf is set in sekyrnesse He may not ben disseyuyd as I gesse So þat he werche aftyr his wyuys reed Thanne may he baldely beryn vp his heed They been so trewe & therwithal so wise ffor which ȝif þou wilt werkyn as the wyse Do alwey so as wemen wele þe reede Lo how that Iacob as these clerkys rede By good conseyl of his modyr Rebekke Bond the kidis skyn a-boutyn his nekke ffor which his faderis benyson he wan Lo Iudith as the story telle can By good conseyl sche godys peple kepte And slow hym Olefernus as he slepte Lo Abigayl bi good conseyl how sche Sauede hire husbonde / Naabal whan þat he Schulde a be slayn & loke Ester also By good conseyl deliuerede out of woo The peple of god / & made hym Mardoche To assure en-haunsede for to bee There nys no thyng In gre superlatyf As seyth senec. A-boue an humble wyf Suffere thyn wyuys tunge as catoun bit Sche schal comaunde & sche schal suffere it And ȝit sche wele obeye of curteysye A wyf is kepere of thyn husbondrye Weel may the syke man bewayle & wepe There as þer is no wif the hous to kepe I warne the ȝif wisely thow wilt werche Loue wel thyn wif / as Cryst louede his cherche If thow louyst thyn self thow louyst thyn wyf No man hatyth his flesch but in his lyf He fosteryth it & therfore bidde I the Cheryche thyn wyf or thow schat neuere the Husbonde or wyf / what so men Iape or pleye Of wordely folk / holdyn þe sikere weye They been so knyt there may non harm be-tyde And namely vp-on the wyuys syde ffor which this Ianuarye of whiche I tolde Considerede hath with hise dayis olde The lusty lyf / the vertyvous quiete That is in maryage hony swete And for hise frendis on a day he sente To tellyn hem teffect of his entente ¶ With face sad / his tale he hath hem told He seyde frendis I am hor & old And alwey god wot on myn pittis brynke Vp-on the soule sumwhat muste I thynke I haue myn body folyly dispendit Blyssede be god that it schal ben a-mendit ffor I wele been certayn a weddede man And that a-noon / in al the haste I can Vn-to sum mayde fayr & tendere of age I preye ȝow schapith for myn maryage Al sodeynly for / I nyl nat a-byde And I wele fonde tespie on myn syde To whom I may been weddit hastyly But for as meche as ȝe been mo than I Ȝe schul rathere swich a thyng espyen Than I & wheere me best were to allyen But on thyng werne I ȝow mynne freendis deere I wele non old wyf han in no manere — Sche schal not passe twenty ȝeer certayn Old fysch & ȝong flesch/ wolde I haue ful fayn Bet is quod he a pyk than a pykerel And bet than old bef is the tendere veel I wil no weman / thretty ȝeer of age It is but benestraw / & gret forage And ek these olde wyuys god it wot They cunne so meche craft on wadis boot So meche broke harm whan hem leste That with hem schulde I neuere lyue in reste ffor sundery scolys make subtyl clerkys Woman of manye scole half a clerk is But serteynly a ȝong thyng may men gye Ryght as men may warm wex with handis plye Wherfore I sey ȝow pleynly in a clause I wele noon old wyf han for this cause ffor ȝif so were I hadde swich myschaunce That I in hire ne coude haue no plesaunce Thanne schulde [I] lede myn lyf in a-vouterye And streyt to the deuyl whan I deye Ne chyldere schulde I none vp-on hire gete Ȝit were me leuere houndis haddyn me etyn Than that myn erytage schulde falle In straunge hand & this I telle ȝow alle I dote not I wot the cause why Men schulde wedde & ferthere more wot I There spekyth manye a man of mariage That wot no more of it than wot myn page ffor whiche causis men schulde take a wyf Sith he ne may nat liue chast his lyf Tak hym a wyf with gret deuocioun By cause of leful procreacioun Of childere too thonour of god a-boue And nat only / for paramour or loue And for they schulde / lecherye eschue And ȝilde here dette / whan þat it is dewe Or for eche of hem / schulde helpyn oþer In myschif / as a systyr / schal the brothir And lyuyn in chastite ful holy-ly But siris bi ȝoure leue þat am not I ffor god be thankyd I dar make a-vaunt I fele myn lemys starke & suffisaunt To do al that a man bihouyth to I wot myn self best what I may do Thow I be hor I fare as doth a tree That blosmeth er than freut I-wexe bee A blosmy tre is neythir dreye ne ded I fele me nower hor but on myn heed Myn herte & alle mynne lymys been as grene As laurer thourgh þe ȝeer is ay seene And syn that ȝe han herd al myn entente I prey ȝow to myn wil ȝe wele assente ¶ Dyuers men dyuersly hym tolde Of mariage manye ensaumplis olde Some blamede it some preysede it certeyn But at the laste schortely for to seyn As alday fallyth altercacioun By-twyxe fryndys in disputacioun There fyl a stryf bi-twyxen hise bretheryn two Of which that on is clepid placeboPlacebo Iustinus sothly cleped was that oþer Placebo seyde o Ianuarye brothir fful lityl neede/ hadde ȝe myn lord so decre Conseyl to axe of ony that is heere But that ȝe been so ful of sapience That ȝow ne lykyth for ȝoure hye prudence To wyue fro the word of Salamon [ ][No gap in MS, but a mark of omission; and a line is left blank at the bottom of the leaf for the omitted words. Werke alle thynge by conseyl thus seyth he And thanne schat þou not repente the And thow that salamon spak swych a word Myn owene deere brothir & myn lord So wysely god myn soule brynge at reste I holde ȝore conseyl is the beste ffor brothir myn of me tak this motyf I haue now been a court man al myn lyf And god it wot thow I onworthy bee I haue stondyn in ful gret de-gree A-boutyn lordis of ful high estaat Ȝeet hadde I neuere with non of hem debaat I neuere hem contraryed trewely I woot weel that myn lord can moore þan I What that he seyth I holde it ferme & stable I sey the same or ellys thyng semblable A ful gret fol is ony conseyllour That seruyth ony lord of hey onour That dar presume or ellys thynkyn it That his conseyl schulde passe his lordis wit Nay lordis been none folys be myn fay Ȝee han ȝoure self schewid heere to day So high sentence so holyly & so wel That I consente & conferme euery deel Ȝoure wordis alle & ȝoure opynyoun By god there nys no man in al this toun Ne in al ytayil that coude bet a sayd Cryst hoold hym of this consayl wol weel apayed And trewely it is an hygh corage Of ony man that schapyn is in age To takyn a ȝong wyf by myn fader ken Ȝoure herte hangith on a Ioly pyn Doth now in this matyr ryȝt as ȝow lyst ffor finally I holde it for the best ¶ Iustinus þat ay stylle sat & herdeIustinus Ryȝt in this wyse / to placebo answerde Now brothir myn be pacient I preye Syn ȝe han seyd & herkenyth what I seye Senek a-mong hise othere wordis wyseSeneca. Syn that a man hym ouȝte rygh weel tavise To whom he ȝeuyth his lond or his catel And syn I ouȝte a-vise me ryȝt wel To whom I ȝeue myn good a-wey fro me Weel more I ouȝte avisede be To whom I ȝeue myn body for alwey I warne ȝow weel it is no childys pley To take a wif with-oute a-vysement Meen muste enquyre this is myn assent Wher sche be wys & sobere or dronkelewe Or proud or othere weyis a schrewe A chidystere or wastouur of thyn good Or ryche or pore or ellis mannyssch wood Al be it so that no man fyndyn schal Noon in this world that trottyth hool in al Ne man ne beste whiche as men coude deuyse But nathe-lees it oghte I-nough suffise With ony wyf ȝif so were that sche hadde Moo thewys goode / than / vicis badde And al this askyth leyser for tenqueere ffor god it wot I haue wepte manye a tere fful priuyly syn that I hadde a wyf Preyso ho so wole a weddede manys lyf Certeyn I fynde it but cost & care And obseruancis of alle blyssis bare And ȝit god wot myne neighe-bouris a-boute And namely of women manye a route Seyn that I haue the moste stedefast wyf And ek the mekeste on that beryth lyf But I wot best where wryngeth me myn scho Ye mowe for ryght as ȝow leste do A-viseth ȝow ȝe been a man of age How that ȝe enteryn / in-to a maryage And namely with a ȝyng wif. & a fayr By hym that maade watyr erthe & ayr The ȝyngeste man that is in al this route Is bisy I-nogh to bryngyn it a-boute To han his wif a-lone trostyth me ȝe schul not plese hire fully ȝerys thre This is to seyne to don hire ful plesaunce A wyf axeth ful manye an obseruaunce I preye ȝow that ȝe ben nat euele a-payed ¶ Weel quod this Ianuarye hast þou sayd Straw for thyne senek & for thyn prouerbis I counte not a paner ful of erbys Of scole termys wisere men than thow As thow hast herd assentedyn right now To myn purpos Placebo what sey ȝe I seye it is a cursede man quod he That lettyth matrimonye sekerly And with that word they rysyn sodeynly[deynly corrected: sodeynli in margin] And been assentid fully that he schulde Been wedded whan hym leste & where he wolde ¶ His fantasye / & curyous besynesse ffrom day to day / gan in the soule enpresse ffor Ianuarye a-boute his maryage Manye fayr schap & manye fayr visage There passede thorw his herte nyght be nyght As who so take a myrour pulschede bryght And sette it in a comoun market place Thanne schulde he seen manye a figeur pace[first face] By his myrour & in the same wyse Gan Ianuarie in with his thought a-vyse Of maydenys which that dwellyn hym by syde He wiste nat where that he myghte a-byde ffor ȝif that on haue beute in his face A nothir stant so in the puplis grace ffor hire sadnesse & hire benyngnetee That of the peple gretteste voys hadde sche And some were ryche & haddyn badde name But natheles by-twixe ernest & game He at the laste apoyntyd hym on on And leet alle oþere from his herte goon And chese hire of his owene autoritee ffor loue is blynd alday & may not see And whan that he was in his bedde brought He portreyede in his herte & in his thought Hire frossche beute & hyre age tendere Hire myddyl smal & hire armys longe & sklendere Hire wise gouernaunce / hire gentillesse Hire womanly berynge & hire sadnesse And whan that he on hire was condessendit Hym thouȝte his choys myȝte not been a-mendit ffor whan that he hym selue concludede hadde Hym thouȝte eche othere manys wit so badde That impossible it were to replye A-geyn his choys that was his fantassie Hise frendis sente he tho[to altered to tho] at his instaunce And preyede hem to do hym that plesaunce That hastely they wolde don hym come He wolde abrege hire lordschepe alle en some Nedyth namore for hym to goon ne ryde He[e corrected] was a-poyntid there he wolde a-bide Placebo cam & ek hise frendis soone And aldyrferst he had hem alle a boone That noone of hem / noone argumentis make Ageyn the purpos which that he hath take Which purpos was plesaunt to god seyde he And verray ground of his prosperitee He seyde there was a maydyn in the toun Which that of beute hadde greet renoun Al weere it so sche weere of smal degre Suffiseth hym hire ȝouthe & hire beutee Whiche mayde he seyde he wolde han to his wyf To leede in ese & holynesse his lyf And thankede god that he myȝte han hire al That no wyȝt of his blysse partyn schal And preyede hem to laboure in this nede And schapen that he fayle nat to speede ffor thanne he seyde his spiryght was at ese Thanne is quod he no thyng may me displese Saue on thyng prikyth in myn concience The whiche I wele reherce in ȝoure presence ¶ I haue he seyde herd seyd / ful ȝore ago There may no man haue parfit blyssis two This is to seyne in erthe & ek in heuene ffor thow he kepe hym from the synnys seuene And ek from euery braunce of tylke tree Ȝit is there so parfit felicite And so greet ese & lust in maryage That euere I am a-gast / now in myn age That I schal leede now so merie a lyf So delicat with-oute woo & stryf That I schal han myn heuene in erthe here ffor sythe that veray heuene is bouȝt so dere With tribulacyounnys & greet penaunce How schulde I thanne lyue in swich plesaunce As alle weddede men doon with here wyuys Come to the blis there Crist eterne on liue is This is myn drede & ȝe myne brethere tweye Assoylyth me this questioun I preye ¶ Iustinus whiche that hatith his folye Answerde a-noon ryȝt in his Iaperye And for he wolde his longe tale abregge He wolde non autorite a-legge But seyde sere so there be noon obstakele Othir than this god of his heye mirakele And of his mercy may so for ȝow werche That er ȝe han ȝoure ryȝt of holy cherche ȝe may repente of weddede manys lyf In whiche ȝe se ther is no woo ne stryf And ellis god for-beede but he sente A weddede man hym grace to repente Wel ofte rathere than a sengle man And therfore syre the beste reed þat I can Dispeyre ȝow not but hauyth in memorye Perauntir sche may been ȝoure purgatorye Sche may been goddis meene & goddys whippe Thanne schal ȝoure soule vp to heuene skyppe Swiftere than an arwe out of a bowe I hope to god here aftyr ȝe schul knowe That ther is non so greet felycite In maryage ne neuere mor schal be That ȝow schal lette of ȝoure saluacioun So that ȝe vse as skil is & resoun The lustis of ȝoure wyf attemprely And that ȝe plese hire nat to amourously And that ȝe kepe ȝow ek from othere synne Myn tale is doon for myn wit is thenne Byth not a-gast heere-of myn brothir dere But let vs wadyn [o corrected]out of this mateere The wyf of bathe ȝif ȝe han vndyrstonde Of maryage which ȝe han on honde Declarid hath ful wel in lytyl space ffaryth now weel god haue ȝow in his grace And with that word this Iustyne & his brothir They take here leue & eche of hem of othir ffor whan they sagh that it muste needis be They wroughte so sly & wys tretee That sche this mayde which þat Mayus hyghte As hastyly as euere sche myghte Schal weddede been on to this Ianuarye I trowe it weere to longe now to tarye Ȝif I ȝow tolde of euery scrit & bond By which that sche was feffyd in his [l corrected]lond Or for to herkene of hire ryche aray But fynally is comyn the day That to the cherche bothe be they went ffor to resceyue the holy sacrement fforth comyth the prest with stole a-bout his nekke And bad hire be lyk sarra & rebekke In wisdam & in trouthe of maryage And seyde his orysounnys as is vsage And crouchith hem & bit god schulde hem blysse And made al sikyr I-nough with holynesse Thus been they weddit with solempnetee And at the laste sittyth he & sche With othere worthi folk vp on the deys Al ful of Ioye & blisse is the paleys And ful of instrumentis & of vitayle The moste deynteuous of al Itaylle By-forn hem stood swich instrument of soun That Orpheus nor[r corrected] Thebes Amphioun Ne made neuere swich a melodye At euery cours þan cam loud menstralsye That neuere trumped Ieob for to heere Ne Theodomas ȝit half so cleere At Thebes whan the Citee was in doute Bacus the wyn hem shynketh alle a-boute And venus laugheth vp-on euery wyght ffor Ianuarye bycomyn was hire knyght And wolde bothe asaye hise corage In liberte & ek in maryage And with hire fyr brond in hire hand a-boute Daunceth by-fore the bryde & al the route And certeynly I dare ryȝt wel sey this Ymeneus / that god of weddyng is Saw neuere his lyf / so merye a weddede man Hold thow thyn pees / thow poete Marcian That wrytist vs that ilke weddyng murye Of hire Philologie / & hym mercurie And of the song that the Musys sunge To smal is bothe thi penne & ek thyn tunge ffor to discryue of thyn maryage Whan tender ȝouthe haue weddit stoupynge age There is swych myrthe It may not been I-wretyn Assayeth it ȝoure self thanne may ȝe wetyn Ȝif that I lye or noon / in this matyre Mayus that sit with / so benynge a cheere Hire to byholde it semede fayrye Queen Ester lokede neuere with swich an eye On Assure / so meke a lok hath sche I may ȝow nat deuyse al hure beutee But thus meche of hire beute telle I may That sche was lyk the bryȝte morwe of may fful fyld of alle beute & of plesaunce This Ianewarye is rauyst in a traunce At euery tyme he lokede on hire face But in his herte he gan hire manace That he that nyght in armys wolde hire streyne Hardere than euere parys dede Eleyne But natheles ȝit hadde he greet pitee That ilke nyȝt offendyn hire muste hee And thouȝte allas o tendere creature Now wolde god ȝe myȝte wel endure Al myn corage it is so scharp & keene I am a-gast ȝe schul it not susteene But god for-beede þat I dede al myn myȝt Now wolde god[first good] that it were waxe nyght And that the nyȝt / wolde lastyn euere mo I wolde that al this peple were a-go And fynally he doth al his labour As he best myghte / sauynge his honour To haste hem from the meete in subtyl wyse The tyme cam that resoun was to ryse And aftyr that men daunce / & drynkyn faste And spicis al aboute the hous they caste And ful of ioye & blysse is euery man Alle but a squier· hyte Damyan The whiche carf by-fore þe knyght manye a day He was rauysschd on his lady May That for the verray peyne he was nygh wood Almost he schulde a swounnede as he stod So soore hath venus hurt him with hire brond As that sche bar daunsynge in hire hand[a partly altered to o] And to here bed they wentyn hastyly Na moore at this tyme speke I But theere I leete hym weepe I-nogh & pleyne Tyl frosche may wele rewyn on his peyne O perylous fyr þat in the bed straw bredythAuctor O famulier fo that his seruise beedith O seruaunt traitour false homeli hewe Lyk to the neddere in bosum sly ontrewe God schilde vs alle from ȝoure aqueyntaunce O Ianuarie dronkyn in plesaunce In mariage se how thyn damyan Thyn owene squyer & thyn bore man Entendyth for do the velanye God graunte the thyn homely fo tespye ffor in this world is wersse pestelence Than homely foo alwey in thyn presence ¶ Parformede hath the sunne his ark dyurne No lengere may the body of hym soiurne On thorisonte / as in that latitude Nigh with his mental that is derk & rude Gan ouersprede Themysperie a-boute ffor which departid is this blisful route ffrom Ianuarie with stant on euery syde Hoom tyl here housis hastily they ryde Where as they don here thyngis as hem leste And whan they saw here tyme goon to reste Soone aftyr that this lusty Ianuarye Wol go to bedde he wil no lengere tarye He drynkith Ipocras clarre[? first cleree] & vernage Of spicis hoote tencresyn his corage And manye a letuarie hadde he ful fyn Swych as the cursede Monk daun Constantyn Hath wretyn in his cursede bok de Coitu To ete hem alle he was no thyng eschu And to hise priue frendis thus seyde he ffor godis loue as soone as it may bee Let voydyn al this hous in curteys wyse And they han doon ryȝt as they wole deuyse Men drynkyn & the trauys drawe a-non The bryde was brough a bedde as stylle as ston And whan the bed was was with the prest I-blyssid Out of the chambere hath euery wygh hym dressid And Ianuarye hath faste in armys take His frosche May his paradys his make He lullyth hire he kissith hire ful ofte With thilke brustelis of his berd on-softe Lyk to the skyn of houndfysch scharp as brere ffor he was schaue al newe in his manere He rubbith hire a-boute hire tendere face And seide thus allas I mote trespace To ȝow myn spouse & ȝow gretly offende Er tyme come that I schal doun dessende But nathe-les consideryth this quod he There wot no werkeman what so euere he be That may bothe werke weel & hastely This wil been don at leyser parfitly It is no fors how longe that we pleye In trewe wedlok coupplit been we tweye And blyssede be the ȝok that we been inne ffor in [oure] actis we mowe don no synne A man may doon no synne with his wif Ne hurte hym selue with his owene knyf ffor we han leue to pleye vs bi the lawe Thus labourith he tyl the day gan dawe And thanne he takyth a soppe in fyn clarree And vp ryȝt in his bed thanne sittyth hee And aftyr that he song ful loude & clere And kyste his wif & made wantoun cheere He was al coltissh / ful of ragerye And ful of Iargoun / as a flekkede pye The slakke skyn a-boute his nekke shakyth Whil that he song so chuntyth he & crakyth But god wot wat that May thouȝte in hire herte Whan sche hym say vp syttyn in his scherte In his nyght cappe & in his nekke lene Sche preyseth nat his pleying worth a beene Thanne seyde he thus myn reste wele I take Now day is come I may no lengere waake And doun he leyde his heed & slep tyl pryme And aftyrward whan that he saugh his tyme Vp ryseth Ianuarie but frosche may Held[ld corrected] hire chaumbere tyl the fourte day As vsage is of wyuys for the beste ffor euery labour sumtyme mote han reste Or ellis longe may he not endure This is to seyne no lyuys creature Be it of fysch or bryd or beste or man ¶ Now wele I speke of woful Damian That languysseþ for loue as ȝe schal heere Therfore I speke to hym in this maneere I seye O sely Damyan / allas Answere to myn demaunde as in this cas How schalt thow to thyn lady frosche May Telle thyn wo / sche wele alwey seye nay Ek ȝif thu speke sche wele thyn wo bi-wreye[y corrected] God be thyn helpe I can no betere seye This syke Damyan in Venus fyr So brennyth that he deyeth for desyr ffor which he put his lyf in auenture No lengere myghte he in this lyf endure But pryuyly a pennere gan he borwe And in a lettere wrot he al his sorwe In maner of a compleynt or a lay Vn-to his fayre frosche lady May And in a purs of silk he hyng on his scherte He hath it put & leyd it at his herte The mone that at noon was thilke day That Ianuarie hath weddyd frosche May In two of Taur was in-to Cancre glydyn So longe hath Mayus in hire chaumbre a-bedyn As custome is vn-to these nobles alle A bryde schal nat etyn in the halle Til foure or thre dayis at the leste I-passede been thanne lat hire goon to feste The fourte day compleet from noon to noon Wha[first What] that the hie masse was I-doon In halle sit this Ianuarye & May As frosche as is the bryghte somerys day And so bi-fel how that this goode man Remembrede hym vp-on Damyan And seyde seyntemarye how may this be That damyan entendith nat to me Is he ay sik or how may it be-tyde Hise squyeris that stodyn there by syde Excusede hym by cause of his siknesse Whiche lettede hyn to don his busynesse Noon othir cause myȝt make hym to tarye That me forthynkyth quod this Ianuarye He is a gentil squyer by myn treuthe ȝif that he deye it were harm & reuthe He is as wys descreet & as secre As ony man I wot of hys degre And therto manly & ek seruysable And for to been a thrifty man ryȝt able But aftyr mete as sone as euere I may I wele myn self visite hym & eek May To don hym al the confort þat I kan And for that ilke word hym blyssede euery man That of his bounte & his gentillesse he wolde so confortyn in seknesse his squyer for it was a gentyl dede Dame quod this Ianuarye tak good heede At aftyr mete ȝe with ȝore women alle Whan ȝe han been in chaumbere out of this halle That alle ȝe go to se this damyan Doth hym disport he is a gentil man And tellyth hym that I wele hym visite Haue I no thyng but restede me a lyte And speede ȝow faste for I wele a-byde Til that ȝe slepe faste by myn syde And with that word he gan to hym to calle A squyer that was marchale of his halle And told hym serteyn wordis that he wolde This frosche May hath streyt hire woye I-holde With alle hire wemen on to Damyan Doun by his beddis syde sit sche than Confortynge hym as goodly as sche may This damyan whan that his tyme he say In secre wyse his purs & ek his bille In which that he I-wrytyn hadde[he erased] his wille Hath put In-to hire hand with-outyn moore Saue þat he sikyth wondyr deepe & soore And softely to hire thus seyde he Mercy & that ȝe nat discouere me ffor I am deed ȝif that this thyng be kyd This purs hath sche / in with hire bosum hid And wente hyre woy ȝe gete no more of me But vn-to Ianuarye I-comyn is. sche That on his. beddis. syde sat ful softe And thakyth hire & kysseth hire ful ofte And leyde hym doun to slepe & that a-non Sche feynede hire as that sche muste goon There as ȝe wot that euery man mot neede And whan sche of that bille hath takyn heede Sche rente it al to cloutis at the laste And in the pryue softely it caste ¶ Who stodyeth now but fayre frosche May A-doun by olde Ianuarye sche lay That slepte tyl that the covhe[first coghe] hath hym a-wakyd A-non he preyede hire to stryppe hire al nakyd He wolde of hire he seyde han sum plesaunce And seyde hire clothis dide hym encumbraunce And sche obeyeth be hire lef or loth But lest the precious folk be with me wroth How that he wrouȝte I dar not to ȝow telle Or whethir hire thoughte it paradys or helle But heere I lete hem werke in hire wyse Til euynsong rong & thanne they muste ryse Were it by desteny or by auenture Were it by influence or by nature Or constellacioun / that in swich estat The heuene stood / that tyme fortunat ffor to putte a bille / forth of venus werkis ffor alle thynge hath tyme / as sey these clerkys To ony woman for to geete hire loue I can not seye but greete god a-boue That knowith that noon act is causeles He deeme of alle / for I wil holde myn pees But soth is this how that this frossche May Hath take swich emprescioun that day Of pite of this ilke damyan That from hire herte sche ne dryue can This [rme altered]remembraunce for to doon hym ese Sertayn thouȝte sche / whom that this thyng displese I rekke not / for here I hym assure To loue hym best/ of ony criature Thow he namore / hadde than his scherte Lo pete rennyth sone / in gentyl herte Heere may ȝe se how excellent fraunchise In wemen is whan they hem weel a-vise Sum tyraunt is as theere been manyon That hath[h inserted] an herte as hard as is a ston Which wolde a lat hym steruyn in the place Wel rathere than grauntyn hym hire grace And hem reioysyn in hire crewel pryde And rekkyn nat to been An homytyde This gentil May fulfyld of pitee Ryȝt of hire owene hand makede sche In which sche grauntyth hym hire werray grace There lakkyth not but only day & space Where that sche myȝte vn-to his lust suffyse ffor it schal been ryȝt as ȝe wele deuyse And whan sche saugh hire tyme vp-on a day To visite þis Damyan/ goth May And subtyly this lettere doun sche threste Vndyr his pilwe rede it ȝif him leste Sche takyth hym by the hand & harde[rde corrected] hym twyste So secrely that no man of it wyste And bad hym been al hol / & forth sche wente To Ianuarye whan that he for hire sente ¶ Vp ryseth Damyan[a corrected] the nexte morwe Al passede was his siknesse & his sorwe And kymbith hym & proynyth[a partly al|tered to o] hym & pikyth He dooth al that hym luste & lykyth And ek to Ianuarye he goth as lowe As euere dede a dogge for the bowe He is so plesaunt on to euery man ffor craft is al / ho so do it can That euery wyȝt is fayn to don hym good And fully in his ladyis grace he stood Thus leete I Damyan a-boute his neede And in myn tale forth I wele procede ¶ Some clerkis seyn that felicitee Stant in delyt / & therfore serteyn he This noble Ianuarie with al his myȝt In honeste wys as longith to a knyȝt Schop hym to lyue ful delyciously His housynge his a-ray as honestely To his degre was makyd as a kyng is A-mongis his othere honeste thyngis He made a gardyn wallede al wyth stoon So fayr a gardyn woot I nowher noon ffor out of doute I verrayly suppose That he that wrot the romauns of the rose Ne coude of it the beute weel deuyse Ne priapus ne myȝte nat suffyse Thow he be god of gardynys for to telle The beaute of the gardyn & the welle That stood vndyr a laurer al wey grene fful ofte tyme he pluto & his queene Proserpen & al hire fayrye Disportyn hem & makyn melodye A-boute that welle & dauncedyn as men tolde This noble knyght this Ianuarye the olde Swich deynte hath[h inserted: i altered] // in it to walke & pleye That he wele no wyȝt suffere to bere þe keye But he hym self / for of the smale wiket He bar alwey of syluyr a Clyket Of which whan that hym lykith he it on-schette And whan he wolde paye his wyf hire dette In somyr sesoun thidyr wolde he go And May his wyf & no wyȝt but they two And thyng that were nat doon a bedde He in the gardyn parfornede hem & spedde And in this wyse manye a merye day Lyuede this Ianuarye & frossche May But wordely ioye may non alwey dure To Ianuarie ne to non creature ¶ O sodeyn hap o fortune onstable Lyk to the scorpioun so deceyuable That flateris wythyn hed whan þou wolt stynge Thyn tayl is deeth thourgh thyn enuenymynge O bretil Ioye o sweete venym queynte O Monstre that so subtyly canst peynte Tynne ȝiftys vndyr colour of stedefastnesse That thow disseuyst bothe moore & lesse Whhy hast thow Ianuaris thus disseyuyd That haddyst hym for thyn fulle frend resceyuyd And now thow hast by-raft hym bothe his Iyen ffor sorwe of which desyryth he to deyen Allas this noble Ianuarye free A-mydde his lust & his prosperitee Is waxen blynd / & that al sodeynly He wepith & he waylyth pitously[pitously corrected] And therwithal the fyr of Ielusye Lest that his wif schulde falle in sum folye So brente his herte that he wolde fayn That sum man bothe hym & hire hadde slayn ffor neythir aftyr his deth ne his lyf Ne wolde he that sche weere loue ne wyf But euere lyue as widewe in clothis blake Soul as the turtle that hat lost hire make But at the laste aftyr a monyth or tweye His sorwe gan a-swage soth to seye ffor whan he wiste / he may noon oþer bee He paciently takyth his aduersite Saue out of doute he may not for-goon That he was Ielous eueremor in oon Whiche Ielusye it was so outrageous That neythir in halle ne in noon othir hous Ne in non othir place neuere the mo He nolde suffere hire neythir to ryde or go But ȝif that he hadde hand on hire alwey ffor which ful ofte wepith fresche May That louyth Damyan so benygnely That sche mot othir deye sodeynly Or ellys sche mote han hym as hire leste Sche wayth whan hire herte wolde breste ¶ Vp-on that othir syde ek damyan By-comyn is the sorwefuleste man That euere was for neythyr nyȝt ne day Ne myȝte he speke a worde with frosche May As to his purpos of no swich mateere But If that Ianuarie muste it heere That hadde an hand vp-on hire euere mo But natheles by wrytyng too & froo And priue sygnys wiste he what sche mente And sche knew ek the fyn of his entente O Ianuarye what myȝte it the a-vayleAuctor// Thow myȝtist se as fer as schepis sayle ffor also good is blynd disseyuyd bee As to be disseyuyd whan a man may see Lo Argus which that hadde an hunderede eyen ffor al that he coude poure or pryen Ȝit was he blynd as god wot so been mo That wenyn wisely that it be nat so Passe ouyr is an ese I seye namoore This frosche May that I spak of so ȝore In warm wex hath enpryntit the klyket That Ianuarye[first Ianuerye] bar of that smale wiket By which in to his gardyn ofte he wente And Damyan that knew al his entente The klyket countirfetid priuyly There nys no more to seye but hastily Sum wondyr bi this cliket schal by-tyde Which ȝe schul here ȝif ȝe wele on byde O noble ouyde ful soth is seyd god wotAuctor What sleyȝte is it thow it be longe & hoot That he nyle it fynde out in sum manere By Piramus & Tisbee / may men leere Thow they were kept ful longe streyt ouyral They been a-cordit rounynge thorw a wal Ther no with koude a founde swich a slyghte But now to purpos er than dayis eyghte Were passed er the monyth of Iuil[uil corrected] be-fel That Ianuarie hath cauȝt so greet a wyl Thour eggyng of his wif hym for to pleye[ye corrected] In his gardyn & no wight but thy tweye That in a morwe vn-to this May sente hee Rys vp myn wyf myn loue myn lady free The turtell voys is herd myn douwe sweete The wyntir is goon with hise reynys weete[first sweete] Come forth with thynne eyne columbyn Hou fayrere been thynne brestis than is wyn The gardyn is enclosede al a-boute Come forth myn leue spouse out of doute Thow hast me wounded in myn herte o wyf No spot of the ne knowe I al myn lyf Come forth & lat vs takyn oure disport I cheese the for Myn wif & myn confort Sweche olde lowede wordys vsede he On Damyan a signe made sche That he schulde go bi-forn with his Cliket Damyan hath thanne openid the weket And in he sterte & that in swich manere That no wyght myghte it wetyn nothir I-here And stylle he sit vndyr a busch a-noon This Ianuarie as blynd as is a ston With Mayus in his hand no wyȝt mo In to his frosche gardyn is go And clapte to the weket sodeynly Now wyf he seyde heere nys but thow & .I. That art the creatour that I best loue ffor by that lord that sit in heuene a-boue Leuere I hadde to deyin on a knyf Than ȝow offendyn trewe deere wyf ffor godys sake thynk how I the chees Nought for no coueytyse douteles But only for the loue I hadde to the And thow that I be old & may not se Beth to me trewe & I telle ȝow whi Thre thyngis certis schul ȝe wynne þer-by ffyrst loue of crist & to ȝoure self honour And al myn eritage toun & tour I ȝeue it ȝow makyth charteris as ȝow leste This schal been don to morwe er sunne reste So wysely myn soule good brynge to blysse I prey ȝow fyrst in couenau[n]t ȝe me kysse And thow that I be Ialous wite me noght Ȝe been so deepe enpryntid in myn thought That whan that I considere ȝoure beute And therwithal the onlikely elde of me I may not certis thow I schulde deye fforbeere to been out of ȝoure cumpaynye ffor verray loue this is with-outyn doute Now kys me wif & lat vs rome a-boute This frosche may whan sche these wordys herde Benyngnely to Ianuarye answerde But fyrst & forward sche be-gan to wepe I haue quod sche a soule for to kepe As wel as ȝe & also my honour And of myn wyfhod [h altered]theilke tendir flour Whiche that I haue assurede in ȝoure hond Whan that the prest to ȝow the body bond Wherfore I wele answere in this manere By the leue of ȝow myn lord so deere I preye to god that neuere dauwe þe day That I ne sterve as foule as woman may Ȝif euere I do on to myn kyn that schame Oþer ellys I enpeyre so myn name That I be fals / & if I do that lak Do strepe me & putte me in a sak And in the nexte ryuer do me drenche I am a gentil woman & no wenche Whi speke ȝe thus but men been euere vntrewe And women haue repref of ȝow ay newe ȝe can noon othir cuntenauns I leue · But speke to vs of onthrift & repreue And with that word sche saw where Damyan Sat in the busch & coghe sche be-gan And with hire fyngir signis made sche That Damyan schulde clymbe vp on a tre That chargede was with freut & vp he wente ffor verrayly he knew al hire entente And euery signe that sche coude make Wel bet than Ianuarye hire owene make ffor in a lettere sche hadde tolde hym al Of this matire how he werchin schal And thus I leete hym sitte vp on the pyrye And Ianuarye & May romynge merie ¶ Bryȝt was the day & blev the fyrmament Phebus hath of gold hise stremys doun sent To gladyn euery flour with his gladnesse He was that tyme in gemynys as I gesse But lytyl from his declinacioun / Of Cancer Iouis exaltacioun And so byfel that bryȝte morwe tyde That in that gardyn · in the ferthere syde Pluto that is kyng of fayrye And manye a lady in his cumpainygnye[nyg corrected] ffolwynge his wyf the queen Proserpyne Eche aftyr othir right as ony lyne Whil that sche gaderede flourys in the mede In Claudian ȝe may the storijs rede How in his gresely carte he hire sette This kyng of fayrye thanne a-doun hym sette Vp-on a benche of turuys frosche & greene And ryght a-non thus seyde he to his queene ¶ Myn wyf quod he there may no man sey nay Thexperience so preuyth euery day The tresoun / which that wemen doon to man Ten hunderede thousent tellyn I can Notable of ȝoure ontrouthe & brotilnesse O salamon[? salomon] wys & rycheste of rychesse fful fyld of sapience & of wordely glorye fful worthi been thynne wordis to memorie To euery witht that wit & resoun can Thus preyseþ he ȝit the bounte of man A-mongis a thousent men ȝit fond I oon But of wemen alle fond I noon Thus seyde þe kyng þat knowith ȝoure wikkedenesse And Ihesus[MS Ihc] filyus Syrac as I gesse Ne spekyth of ȝou but selde reuerence A wylde fyr & corupt pestylence So falle vp-on ȝoure bodyis ȝit tonyght Ne se ȝe nat this honurable knyght By cause allas that he is blynd & old His owene man schal make him Cokewold Lo heere he sit the lecchour in the tree Now wele I grauntyn of myn mageste On-to this olde blynde worthi knyght That he schal han a-ȝyn hie eyen sight Whan that his wyf wolde don hym vilenye Thanne schal he knowe al hire harloterye Bothe in repref of hire & of othere mo Ȝe shal / quod Proserpyne wol ȝe so Now by myn moderys syris soule I swere That I schal ȝeue hire sufficiaun[t] answere And alle women aftyr for hire sake That thow they ben in ony gilt I-take With face bold they schuln hem self excuse And bere hem doun that wolde hem accuse ffor lak of answere non of hem schal deye Al hadde men seyn a thyng with bothe hise eyen Ȝit schul we wemen visage it hardely And weepe & swere & chyde subtyly So þat ȝe men schul been as lewede as gees What rekkith me of ȝoure autoriteis I wot wel that this Iew this Salamon[altered to Salomon] ffond of vs wemen folis many on But thow he ne fond no good woman Ȝit hath there foundyn manye a nothir man wemen ful trewe ful goode & verteuous witnesse that dwelle in crystis hous with martyrdom thy preuyn here constau[n]ce The romayn geestis ek makyn remembraunce Of manye a verray trewe wyf also But sire be nat wroth / al be it so Thow that he seye he fond no good woman I prey ȝow takyth the sentense of the man He mente thus that in souereyn bountee Nis noon but god that sit in trynitee ¶ Ey for verray god that is but on What make ȝe so meche of salamon What thow he made a temple godys hous What thow he weere ryche & gloryous So maade he ek a temple of false goddis How myȝte he don a thyng that moore forbodyn is Parde as fayre as ȝe his name enplaystre He was a lechour & an ydolastere And in his elde he verray god for-sok And ȝif god ne hadde as seyth the bood I-sparede for his faderis sake he schulde Haue lost his regne rathere than he wolde I sette ryght noght al[? for at] al the vilanye That ȝe of wemen wryte a Botyrflye I am a woman nedis muste I speke Or ellis swelle tyl myn herte breke ffor sithyn he seyde we been Iangleressis As euerre mote I brouke mynne tressis I schal nat spare for non curteysye To speke hym harm that wolde hym vilanye Dame quod this pluto be no lengere wroth I ȝeue it vp but sithe I swor myn oth That I wolde graunte hym his syghte ageyn Myn word schal stonde I werne ȝow certeyn I am a kyng it sit me not to lye And I quod sche a quen of fayrye Hire answere schal sche han I vndyr-take Lat vs no moore wordis hereof make ffor sothe I wele no lengere ȝow contrarye ¶ Now lat vs turne a-geyn to Ianuarye That in the gardyn with his fayre May Syngith ful muriere than the popyniay Ȝow loue I best & schal & othir noon So longe a-boute the aleyis is he goon Til he was comyn a-geyn thilke pirie Where as this Damyan sittyth ful merye And hye a-mong the frossche leuys grene This frosche may that is so bryȝt & schene Gan for to sike & seyde allas myn syde Now sire quod sche for ough that may be-tyde I muste han of the perys that I se Or I mot deye so sore longith me To etyn of the smale perys grene Help for hire loue that is / of heuene queene I telle ȝow weel a woman In myn plyt May han to freut so greet an apetyt That sche may deyen but sche of it haue Allas quod he that I ne hadde here a knaue That coude clymbe allas allas quod he That I am blynd ȝa sere no fors quod sche But wolde ȝe vouche saf for godis sake The pirie inwith ȝoure armys for to take ffor weel I wot that ȝe mystroste me Thanne schulde I klymbe wel I-nough quod sche So I myn foot myȝte sette vp-on ȝoure bak Certys quod he ther-on schal been no lak Myghte I ȝow helpyn with myn herte blod He stoupede doun & on his bak sche stod And caughte hire by a twyste & vp sche goth Ladyis I preye ȝow þat ȝe been nat wroth I can nat glose I am a rude man And sodeynly a-noon this Damyan Gan pullyn vp the smok & in he throng And whan that pluto saw this greete wrong To Ianuarye he ȝaf a-geyn his syght And maade hym se as wel as euere he myght And whan that he hadde cauȝt his siȝt a-geyn Ne was there neuere man of thyng so fayn But on his wyf his thouȝt was euere mo Vp to the tre he caste his eyen two And saw that Damyan his wyf hadde dressed In swich maner it may not been expressed But ȝif I wolde speke vncurteysly And vp he ȝaf a roryng & a cry As doth the modyr whan the schild schal deye Out help allas / harrow he gan to crye O stronge lady stoore what dost thow And sche answerde sire what eylyth ȝow Hauyth pacience & resoun in ȝoure mynde I haue ȝow holpyn on bothe ȝoure eyen blynde Vp peril of myn soule I schal not lyen As me was tauȝt to hele with ȝoure eyen Was no thyng bet to makyn ȝow to see Than strogele[first strugele] with a man vp on a tree God wot I dede it with ful good entente Strogele quod he / ȝa algate in it wente God ȝeue ȝow bothe on schamys deth to deyen He swyuede the I say it with mynne eyȝen And ellis be I hangid bi the hals Thane is quod sche myn medecyn al fals ffor certeynly ȝif that ȝe myȝte see Ȝe wolde not seyn these wordys vn-to me Ȝe han sum glemesyng & no parfyt syght I se quod he as weel as euere I myȝt Thankyd be god with bothe myne eyen two And bi myn treuthe me thynkyth he dede þe soo Ȝa maȝe maȝe good sere quod sche This thank haue I for I maade ȝow to se Allas quod sche that euere I was so kynde Now dame quod he lat al passe out of mynde Come doun myn lyf & If I haue myssayd God helpe me so as I am euele a-payid But by myn fadyr soule I wende haue seyn How that this Damyen hadde by the leyn And that thyn smok hadde leyn vp-on his brest Ȝa sere quod sche ȝe may wene[ne altered] as ȝow lyst But sere a man that wakyth out of slep He may not sodeynly takyn kep Vp-on a thyng ne seen it parfytly Til that he be a-dawed verrayly Rygh so a man that longe hath blynd ybe Ne may not sodeynly so weel I-see ffyrst whan his syȝte is come newe ageyn As he that hath a day or too I-seyn[1 leaf out of Camb. MS] [Tylle þat youre siȝt y-stabled by a while þere may fulle many a siȝt you be-gyle By ware I prey you for by heuen kynge Fulle many a man weneth to see a thynge And hit ys all an oþere þan hit semyth he mysse conceyueth mysse demeth And with þat worde she lepe doun of þat tre Thys Ianuarye who was glade but she he kyssith and clypythe hir fulle ofte And on hir wombe he strokethe hir fulle softe And to hys palys home he hathe hir ladde Nowe gode men I prey you to be glad Thus endethe here my tale of Ianuarye God blesse vs and his modir/ Seynt Mary Amen][Sloane 1685 extract ends] [b y goddes mercy seide oure ost tho Now swich a wif y preye god kepe me fro lo swiche sleighthes and subtilites In wommen ben for ay as besy as bees Ben they vs sely men for to deseyue And from a sothe euere wil they weyue Bi this marchauntis tale hit preueth wel And natheles as trewe as ony steel I haue a wif thogh that she poore be But of hir tonge a labbyng shrewe is she And yit she hath an heepe of vices moo Ther-of no fors let al swiche thynges goo But wite ye what in counseil be it seide Me reweth sore y am vn to here teyed ffor and y shulde rekene euery vice which that she hath y-wis y were to nyse And cause whi it shulde reported be And told to here of sume of this compaignie Of whom it nedith nat for to declare Syn wommen konnen oute swiche chaffare And ek my wit sufficeth not ther too To tellen al wherfore my tale is do] GROUP F. FRAGMENT VII. § 1. THE SQUIRE'S HEAD-LINK. CAMBRIDGE MS. [Squyer come ner if it youre wille be And sey sumwhat of loue for certes ye Konnen ther on as moche as ony man Nay sere quod he but sweche thyng as y can With hertly wille for y wil not rebelle Ageyn youre lust a tale wol y telle haue me excusid if y speke a mys Mi wille is good and lo my tale is this] [Here bygynneth þe tale. [AT Sarray in þe londe of Sarcarye There dwelt / a kynge þat weryd Russye Thouȝe whiche þere dyede many a duȝty man Thys noble kynge was clepyd Kambynskan whiche in his tyme was of so grete rennoun That þer was nouthir/ in regioun So excellent a lord / in alle þinge Hym lakkith nouȝt þat longith to a kynge As of þe Cite whiche he was borne he kepte hys lawe to whiche þat he was sworne And þerto he was hardy wyse & ryche And pitouse & Iuste alle wey yliche Sothe of/ hys worde benygne & honorable Of/ his corage as eney centre stable] Camb. MS, leaf 277;part of leaf torn off; filled-in here from Sl. 1685Ȝon[ge fresshe stronge in armes desyrous] As on[y bachelere of alle hys hous] A fayr per[son he was & fortunat] And kepte a[lle wey so wele ryalle estate] That there na[s nouthir suche a noþere man] This noble kyng [of Tartre þis Kambynskan] Hadde two sonys on [Eltheta his wif] Of whiche the eldeste [hiȝt Algarsife] That oþer sone was clepid [Camballo] A doughtyr hadde this worth[y kynge also] That[hat corrected] ȝyngeste was & hyghte Canace But for to telle ȝow al hire beautee It lyth not in myn tunge nyn myn kunnyng I dar nat vndyrtake so high a thyng Myn engelysch is ek insufficient It muste be a Rethor excellent That coude hise colouris / longynge for that art ȝif he schulde discryuyn euery part I am non schich I mot speke as I can And so by-fil that this Cambynskan Hath twenty wyntyr boryn his diademe As he was wone ffrom ȝer to ȝeer I deme He leet the feste of his natyuitee Doon cryen thour Sarray his Citee [The last Idus of Marche aftir þe yere Phebus þe Sonne fulle Iolyf was & clere ffor he was nyh · his exaltacion In martes face and his mancion In aries þe Coloryk þe hoot signe fful lusty was þe weder & benygne ffor whiche þe foules ayeyn þe son shene what for þe seson and þe yonge grene fful lowde songe hir affecciouns hem semyd þei hade goten hem protecciouns A-yeyne þe swerde of wynter kene & Colde This Kambynskan of whiche I haue you tolde In riall vestement syt on hys deys with a Dyademe full hiȝe in his paleys And holte his feste sollempne & so riche þat in þis worlde ne was þere none hit lyche Of whiche yf I · shalle telle alle þe array That wolde hit occupie a somers day And eke hit nedyth not to devise At euery cours þe ordre of h]ere seruyseCambr. MS [I wolle not telle of her straun]ge sewys [Ne of here swannes ne ofThis line wanting in Sl. 1685, half is supplied from Harl. 1758, leaf 68, back] here heirounnsewis [Eke in þat londe as tel]lyn knyȝtis olde [There ys some mete þat ys fulle] deynte holde [That in þis l]ond men reche of it but smal [There ys] no man that may reportyn al [I wol] not taryin ȝow for it is prime[s prime corrected] [And] for it is no freut / but los of tyme Vn-to myn fyrste I wele han myn recours And so be-fel that aftyr the thredde cours Whil that this kyng sat thus in his nobleye Herkenynge his mynstrall here thyngis pleye By-forn hym at the bord deliciously In at the halle dore al sodeynly There cam a knyght vp on a stede of bras And in his hand a brood myrour of glas Vp on his thumbe he bar of gold a ryng And by his syde a nakede swerd hangyng And vp he ridyth to the heye bord In al the halle ne was there spokyn a word ffor merueyle of this knyght to be-holde fful besily they wayte ȝynge & olde This straunge knyȝt that cam thus sodeynly Al armede saue his hed richely Saluyth kyng & queen & lordis alle By ordere as the setyn in the halle With so heigh reuerence & obeysaunces As weel in his speche as in hise cuntenaunces That Gaweyn with his olde curteysye Thow he weere comyn aȝen out of fayrye Ne coude hym not amendyn / with a word And aftyr thys by-fore the heye bord He wyth a manly voys seyth his message Aftyr the forme vsed in hise age[age corrected] With-outyn vice of sillable or of lettere And for his tale schulde seme the bettre Acordau[n]t to hise wordis was hise chere As techith the art of speche hem that it lere Al be that I can not soune his style Ne can not clymbyn ouyr so hegh a style ȝit seye i this as to comune entent Thus meche a-mountyth al that euere he ment ȝif it so be þat I haue it in mynde He seyde þe kyng of arabye & of ynde Myn lige lord on this solempne day Salueth ȝow as he best can or may And sendyth ȝow in honour of ȝoure feste By me þat am al redy to ȝouere heste This steede of bras that esyly & wel Can in the space of a day naturel This is to seyne in foure & twenty ourys Where so ȝow liste in drouȝte or ellis schouris Beryn ȝoure body in-to euery place To whiche ȝoure herte willyth for to pace With-outyn wem of ȝow thour foul or fayr Or ȝif ȝow leste to flien as hyghe in þe ayr As doth an egele whan hym lyste to soore This same steede schal bere ȝow euere moore With-outyn harm tyl [? MS y or i corrected]ȝe been there ȝow lesten Thow that ȝe slepyn on his bak or restyn And turne a-ȝen with wrythyng of a pyn He that it wrouȝte it coude ful manye a gyn He waytede ful manye a constelacioun Er he hadde doon this operacioun And knew ful manye a sel & manye a boond ¶ This myrour ek that I haue in myn hond Hath swich a myȝt that men may in it se Whan there schal falle ony aduercite Vn-to ȝoure regne / & to ȝoure self also And opynly ho is ȝoure frend or[r corrected] foo And ouyral this ȝif ony lady bryȝt Hath set hire herte on ony maner wyȝt ȝif he be fals sche schal his tresoun see His newe loue & al his subtiletee So opynly that ther schal nothyng hyde Wherfore a-geyn this lusty somerys tyde This myrour & this ryng[g corrected] that ȝe may see He hath sent on-to myn lady Canacee ȝoure excellent doughtyr that is here Te vertu of the ryng ȝif ȝe wile heere Is this that ȝif hire luste it for to weere Vp-on hyre thumbe or in hire purs it beere There is no foul that flyeth vndyr the heuene That sche ne schal weel vndyrstondyn his steuene And knowe his menyng opynly & pleyn And answere hym in his langage a-geyn And euery gres that growyth vp on roote Sche schal ek knowe & whom it schal don boote Alle be hise woundys neeuere so deepe & wyde This nakede swerd that hangyth by myn syde Wich wertew hath that what man þe smyte Thouru out his armeur it wele byte Were it as thikke as is a brauncheede ook And what man is wounded with that strok Schal neuere be hol tyl þat þou lest of grace To stroke hym with the plat / in þat place Theere he is hurt this is as meche to seyn ȝe moote with the plat swerd a-geyn Stryke hym on the wounde & it wele close This a verray soth with-oute glose It faylyth not whil it is in ȝoure hoolld And whan this knyȝt hat thus his tale told He rydyth out of halle & doun he lytyth His steede whiche þat schon as sunne brighte Stant in the court stylle as ony stoon This knyght is to hise chambere lad a-noon And is on arayed & to mete I-set These presentis been ful ryally I-fet This is to seyne the swyrd & the myrour And born a-non in-to the hye tour with serteyn offycerys[ys corrected] ordeynyd there fore And on to Canacee this ryng was bore Solempnely ther sche sit at þe table But sikyrly with-outyn ony fable The hors of bras that may not been remeuyd It stant as it were to the ground I-glewyd Ther may no man out of the place it dryue ffor noon engyn of wyndas or palyue And cause whi for they can not the craft And therfore in the place they han it laft Til that þe knyght hath taughte hem the manere To voydyn hym as ȝe schal aftyr heere ¶ Gret was the pres that swarmyth to & fro To gauryn on this hors that standyth so ffor it so high was & so brod & long So wel proporciounnyd for to been strong Ryȝt as it were a stede of lumbardy Therto so horsely & so quyk of Iye As it a gentil poleys Courser were ffor certis from his tayl vn-to his eere Nature ne art ne coude hym nat a-mende In no degre as al the peple wende But euere more here moste wondir was How that it coude goon & was of bras And[nd corrected] was as fayr as al the peple seemede Dyuers folk dyuersly they demyd As[s corrected] manye hedis as many wittis þere been They murmuredyn as don a swarm of been And madyn skill aftyr here fantasyis Rehersynge of these olde poetryis And seydyn it was lik the pegasee The hors that hadde wyngis for to flee Or ellis it was þe Grekis hors Synoun That brouȝte Troye to distruccioun As men in these olde gestis reede Myn herte quod on is eueremor in drede I trowe some men of armys been þerinne That schapin hem this cete for to wynne It were right good that alle thynge were knowe A nothir rounede to his felawe lowe And seyde he lyede it is rathere lik An apparence mad by sum Magyk As Iogelouris pleye at these 1festis greete1[1_1 corrected] Of sundery doutis thus they Iangele & trete[trete corrected] As lewede peple demyth comounly Of thyngis that been mad more subtily Than they can in here louwedenesse comprehende They demyn gladly to the baddere ende And some of hem wonderedyn on the myrour That born was vp in the hyghe tour How men myȝtyn in it sweche thyngis see A noþer answerde & seyde it may wel be Naturelly by compociciounnys Of angles & of slygh reflecciouns And seydyn þat in rome was swich on They spoken of Alocen & Vituloun And Aristotle þat wrytyn in here lyuys Of queynte Mirouris & of prospectyuys As knowyn they that han here bokys herd And oþere folk han wonderede on the swerd That wolde partyn thour out euery thyng And fille in speche of Tholophus þe kyng And of achilles with his queynte speere ffor he coude with it bothe hele & dere Rygh in swich wise as men myȝte with the swerd Of which ryȝt now ȝe han ȝoure selue herd They spekyn of sundery hardyng of metal And spoke of medycynys therwith-al And how & whanne it schulde I-hardit be Whiche is vnknowe algate[te corrected] on-to me Tho speke they of Canaceis ryng And seydyn alle of that swych a wondyr thyng Of craft of ryngis herde they neuere noon Saue that he moyses & kyng salomon Hadde a name of rounnynge in swich art Thus seyth the peple & drawyn hem a part But natheles some seydyn that it was Wondyr to makyn oof fern aschyn glas And ȝit ne is glas lich aschyn of fern[fern corrected, from a lightly written fern in the margin] But for they han knowyn it so fern There-fore chesen hire Iangelyng & hire wondyr As soore wonderyn some of on cause of ȝoundyr On ebbe on flod on gossomyr & on myst And alle thynge tyl that the cause is wist Thus Iangele they & deeme & deuyse Til that þe kyng gan from his bord a-ryse Phebus hath left the angle meridional And ȝit ascendyng was the beste royal The gentyl lyoun with his aldryan[n corrected] Whan that this tartre Cambynscan[? MS Cambyuscan] Ros from his bord þere that he sat ful hye To-fore hym goth the loude menstralcye Tyl he cam to hise chambere of parementis There as they sounyn dyuerse Instrumentis That is lyk an heuene for to here Now dauncyn lusty venus chylderyn deere ffor in the fych hire [l corrected]lady sat ful hyghe And lokyn on hem with a frendely Iye This noble kyng is set vp in his trone This stronge knyght / is[first it] fet to hym ful sone And on the daunce he goth with Canacee Here is the reuel & the Iolyte That is nat able a dul man to deuyse He muste haue knowe loue & his seruyse And been a festelyche man as May That schulde ȝow deuyse swich aray Who coude tellen ȝow the forme of dauncis So vncouth & so frosche cuntenauncis Swich subtyl / lokyngis & dissimulyngis ffor drede of Ialuse mennys aperceyvyngis No man but lancelot & he is deed There-fore I passe ouyr al this lustyhed I seye namore but in this iolynesse I leete hem tyl men to the soper dresse The styward bit spicis for to hye And ek the wyn in al this melodye The vsscheris & the squyeris been I-goon The spicis & the wyn be comyn a-noon They ete & d[r]ynke & whan this hadde an ende Vn-to the temple as reson was they wende The seruyse doun they soupyn al be day What nedyth [m corrected]me reherce al here a-ray Eche man wiste wel þat a kyngis feste[first e corrected] Hath plente to meste & ek to leste And deynteis moo than been to myn knowyng At aftyr sopir goth this noble kyng To seen this hors of bras with al the route Of lordis & of ladyis hym a-boute Swich wonderyng was on this hors of bras That syn the greete sege of Troye was Ne was there swich a wonderyng as was tho There as men wonderedyn on an hors also But finally this kyng askyth this knyght The vertu of this courser & the myȝt And preyede hym to telle his gouernaunce This hors anon be-gan to tryppe & daunce Whan that this knyght leyde hand vp-on his regne And seyde sire there nys no moore to seyne But whan thu lyste to ryde any where ȝe mote trylle a pyn stant in his eere Whiche I schal ȝow telle be-twyxe vs two ȝe mote nemenyn hym to what place also Or to wat cuntre þat thow lyste to ryde And whan ȝe come there as ȝow leste abyde Bydde hym discende & trylle a nothir pyn ffor theere lyth theffect of al the gyn And he wele doun descende & don ȝoure wille And in that place he wele stonde stylle Thow al the world the contrarye haddyn swore He schal not thens been drawe ne bore Or ȝif þou wit bidde hym thenys goon Trille this pyn & he wele vanyche a-noon Out of the syȝte of euery maneere wyȝt And come a-geyn be it day or nyght Whan that þou lystist to clepyn hym a-geyn In swich a gyse as I schal to ȝow seyn Bi-twixe ȝow & hym & that ful sone Ride whan þou lyste there is no moore to doone Enformede whan that kyng was of that knyght And hath conseyuid in his wit a ryȝt The manere & the forme of al this thyng Thus glad & blythe this nobele kyng Repeyrith to his reuel as by-foryn The brydyl is in to the tour I-boryn And kept a-mong hyse [ew corrected]Iewelys leue & deere The hors vanyschit I not in what maneere Out of hire syȝte ȝe gete no more of me But thus I lete in lust & iolyte This Cambiscan hese lordis festenynge Tyl wol nygh þe day be-gan to sprynge Secunda pars THe noryce of digestyoun the sleep Gan on hem wynke & bad hem take kep That muche drynk & labour wolde han reste And with a galpynge mouth hem alle keste And seyde it was tyme to lye a-doun ffor blood was in his domynacioun Cherisshet blod naturys frend quod he They thankyn hym galpynge bi too by thre And euery wyght gan drawyn hym to his reste As slep hem hadde they take it for the beste Here dremys schul not been told for me fful weere here heedys of fumositee That causeth drem of whiche þere is no charge They slepyn tyl it was pryme large The moste part but it were Canacee Sche was ful mesurable as wemen bee ffor of hire fadyr hadde sche takyn leue To gon to reste sone aftyr it was eue Hire lyste not appallid for to bee Nor on the morwe onfestelyche for to se And slepte hire fyrste sleep & thanne a-wok ffor swich a slep sche[? MS e] in hire herte tok Bothe of hyre queynte ryng & hire Mirour That twenty tyme sche [? MS schangede]changede hire colour And in hire sleep ryȝt for imprescioun Of hire Mirour sche hadde a visioun Where fore the sunne gan vp glyde Sche clepede on hire maysteresse hire be syde And seyde þat hire luste for to ryse[s corrected] These olde wemen that been gladly wyse As is hire Maysteresse answerede hire a-non And seyde madame wheþer wele ȝe goon Thus erly for the folk been alle at reste I wele quod sche a-ryse for me leste No lengere for to slepe & walke a-boūte Hire Maystresse clepid wemen a greet route And vp they ryse weel a ten or twelue Vp rysyth frossche Canace hire selve As rody as brygh as doth the ȝonge sunne That in the Ram is foure degreis vpronne Noon heyere was he / whan sche redy was And forth sche walkyth esyly a pas A-rayed aftyr the lusty sesoun soote Lyȝtely for to pleye & walke on foote Not but with fyue or sexe of hyre meyne And in a trench forth in the park goth sche The vapour which that from the erthe glod Made the sunne to seme rody & brood But natheles it was so fayr a syȝt That it made alle here hertis for to lyȝt That for the sesoun & the morwenynge And for the foulys that sche herde synge ffor ryȝt a-noon she wiste what they mente Ryȝt by here song & knew al here entente The kn te[? first knlte] whi that eueri tale is told ȝif it be taryed tyl that lust be cold Of hem that han it aftyr herkenyd ȝoore The sauour passith euere lengere the moore ffor fulsumnesse of his prolixite And by the same resoun thynkyth me I schulde to þe knotte condescende And makyn of hire walkynge sone an ende ¶ A-mydde a tre fordreyed as whyt as chalk As canascee was pleyinge in hire walk There sat a facoun ouyr hire heed ful hye That with a pytous voys so gan to crye That al the wode resounnede of hire cry I-beetyn hath sche hire self so pitously With bothe hire wyngis tyl the reede blood Ran endelyng the tree there sche stood And euere in on sche cryede al wey & schr[i]kte And with hire bek hire seluyn so sche prykte That þere nys tygre ne non so crewel beste That dwellyth eythir in wode or in foreste That nolde a wept ȝif that he weepe coude ffor sorwe of hire sche shrikte alwey so loude ffor there was neuere man ȝit on lyue If that I coude a facoun weel dyscryue That herde of swich a nothyr / ȝit/ of fayrnese As weel of plumage as of gentyllesse Of schap & of al that myghte I-rekenede bee A facoun peregryn thanne semeede sche Of fremde lond / & eueremore as sche stood Sche swounnyth now & now for lak[or lak corr.] of blod Tyl wel nygh is sche fallyn from the tree This fayre kyngis doughtir Canacee That on hire fyngyr bar the queynte ryng Thour whiche sche vndyrstod weel euery thyng That ony foul myghte in hise ledene seyn And coude answere in his ledene ageyn Hath vndyrstonde what this facoun seyde And wel nygh for the routhe almost sche deyede And to the tre sche goth ful hastyly And on this facoun lokyth pitously And held hire lappe a-brod for well sche wyste The facoun muste falle from the twyste Whan that it swounnede next for lak of blood A long while to waytyn hire sche stood Til at the laste sche spak in this maneere Vn-to the hauk as ȝe schul aftyr here ¶ What is the cause ȝif it be for to telle That ȝe been in this furyal peyne of helle Quod Canace vn-to this hauk a-boue Is this for sorwe of deth or los of loue ffor as I trowe these been causys two That causyn most a gentyl herte wo Of oþer harm it needyth not to spekyn ffor ȝe ȝoure self vp-on ȝoure self ben wrekyn Whiche previth weel that eythir loue or drede Moot been enchesoun of ȝoure crewel deede Syn that I se non oþer wight ȝow chace ffor loue of god as doth ȝoure self sum grace Or what may been ȝoure helpe for west nor est Ne saugh I neuere er now no brid ne beste That ferde with hym self so pitously Ȝe sle me wyth ȝoure sorwe verrayly I haue of ȝow so greet compassioun ffor godis loue come from the tre a-doun And as I am kyngis doughtyr trewe ȝif that I verrayly the cause knewe Of ȝoure deseese ȝif it lay in myn mygh[t] I wole amendyn it er it weere nyght As wisely helpe me greete god of kynde And erbis schal I ryȝt I-nowe fynde To heele with ȝoure hurtis hastely Tho schrykt this facoun moore ȝit pitously Than euere sche dede & fyl to grounde a-noon And lith[lith corrected] a swounne ded lych a stoon Tyl canace hath in hire lappe hire take Vn-to the tyme sche gan of swow a-wake And aftyr that sche of hire swow a-breyde Rygh in hire haukys ledene thus sche seyde That pete rennyth sone in gentyl herte ffelynge his simylitud in peynys smerte Is preuyd alday as men may it I-se As weel by werk as by autorite ffor gentyl herte kytheth gentillesse I se weel ȝe han of myn distresse Compassioun myn fayre Canacee Of verray womanly benygnetee That nature in ȝoure prynciples han I-set But for noon hope for to fare the bet But for to obeye vnto ȝoure herte free And for to makyn oþere / be war by me And bi the whelp chastysed is the lyoun Rygh for that cause & for that conclusioun Whil that I haue a leyser & a space Myn harm I wele confesse er I pace And euere whil that on hire tolde That othir wepte as sche to watyr wolde Tyl that the facoun bad hire to been stylle And wyth a syk ryȝt thus sche seyde hire tille ¶ That I was brad allas that harde day And fosterede in a roche of marbyl gray So tenderely eylyth / it[t corrected] eylede me I nyste[y corrected] not what was aduercyte Tyl I coude fle ful hye vndyr the skye Tho dwellede a tercelet me faste bye That semede weel of alle gentillesse Al weere he ful of tresoun & falsenesse It was so wrappid vndyr humble chire And vndyr hewe of trouthe in swych maneere Vndyr plesaunce & vndyr bisy pyne That I not[a word scratcht out] cude a wend he coude feyne So deepe in greyn he dyede his colourys Ryȝt as a serpent hid hym vndyr flourys Tyl he may seen his tyme for to byte Rygh so this god of loue this ypocryte Doth so hise sermonys & obeysauncis And kepyth in semblaunt alle hise4 cuntenauncys4[4_4 corr.] That sounnyn in to gentilesse of loue As in a toumbe is al the fayrenesse a-boue And vndir is þe cors swich as ȝe woot Swich was this ypocryte bothe cold & hoot And in this wise he seruede his entent That saue the feend non wiste what he ment Til he so longe hadde wepid & compleyned And manye a ȝeer his seruyse to me feynyd Tyl that myn herte to pitous & to nyce Al innocent of his crounede malyce ffor-fered of his deth as thoughte me Vp-on hise othis & hise seuretee Grauntede hym loue vp-on this condicioun[is condicioun corrected] That euere more myn honour & renoun Were sauyd bothe priue & apert This is to seyne that aftyr his desert I ȝaf hym al myn herte & al myn thought God wot & he / þat oþerwyse noght And tok his hert in chong of myn for ay But soth is seyd goon sithe manye a day A trewe wigh & a thef thynkyn nat oon And whan he saugh the thyng so fer a-goon That I hadde grauntede fully myn looue In swich a gise as it was seyd a-boue And ȝeuyn hym myn trewe herte as fre As he swoor he ȝaf his herte to me A-non this tigre ful of doubilnesse ffil on hise kneis with so deuout humblesse With so high reuerence as bi hire cheere So lyk a gentil louere of manere So rauyschid as it semede for the Ioye That neuere Troylis Ne parys of Troye Iason certis ne non oþer man Syn lameth was / þat aldyrferst be-gan To louyn too as wrytyn folk by-forn Ne neuere syn the fyrste man was born Ne coude man by twenty thousent part Countyrfete the sophemys of his art Ne were worthi onbokele his galoche There doubilnesse or feynynge schulde aproche Ne so coude thanke a whit as he dede me His manere was an heuene for to se To ony weman were [s]che neuere so wys So peyntede he & kembede at poynt deuys As weel hise wordis as hise contenaunce And I louede hym for his obeysaunce And for the trouthe I demede in his herte That ȝif so were that ony thyng hym smerte Al were it neuere so lyte & I it wiste Me thouȝte I felte deth myn herte twyste And schortely so fer forth this thyng went That myn wil was his willis instrument This is to seye myn wil obeyede his wil In alle thynge as fer as resoun fil Kepynge the boundis of myn worchepe euere Ne neuere hadde I thyng so leef ne leuere As hym god wot ne neuere schal no mo This lastede lengere than a ȝeer or twe That I supposede of hire not but good But finally thus at the laste it stood That fortune wolde that he muste twynne Out of that place which that he is inne Where me was woo that is no questyoun I can not make of it discripcioun ffor on thyng dar I telle baldely I knowe what is the peyne of deth therby Swich harm I felte for he ne myȝte beleue So on a day of me he tok his leue So sorwefully ek that I wende verrayly That he hade felt as meche harm as I Whan that I herde hym speke & saw his hewe But natheles I thoute he was so trewe And ek that he repeyre schulde ageyn With-inne a lytil while sotth to seyn And resoun wolde ek that he moste go ffor his honour as ofte it happith so That I maade vertu of necescitee And tok it weel syn that it muste bee As I best myghte I hidde from hym myn sorwe And tok hym by the hond seynt Iohn to borw And seyde hym thus lo I am ȝourys al[MS alle schalle, with le dotted under] Beth swich as I to ȝow haue been & schal[MS alle schalle, with le dotted under] What he answerde it nedyth not reherce Who can seye bet than he / ho can seye werse Whan he hath al I-seyd thanne hath he don Therefore byhouyth hire a ful long spon That schulde ete with a feend thus haue I herd seye So at the laste he mote forth his weye And forth he flyeth til he cam there hym leste Whan it cam hym to purpos for to reste I trowe he hadde thilke tyxt in mynde That alle thynge repeyrynge to hise kynde Gladyth hym self thus seye men as I gesse Men loue of propyr kynde newefangilnesse As bryddys don that men in cage feede ffor thow thu nyȝt & day of hem take heede And strawe hyre[a word scratcht out] cage / as softe as ony silk And ȝeue hym sugere hony breed & Mylk[2 leaves out of the Camb. MS] [Ȝit riȝt a none as þat hys dore ys vppe he with hys feete wille spurne doune hys Cuppe And to þe woode he wolle & wormes ete So newefangylle bene þei of hyr mete And louen noueleryes of propre kynde No gentyllnesse of bloode may hem bynde So farithe þis Tarselet allas þe day Thouȝe he were gentylle fresshe & gay And goodly for to sene and humble & fre he sawe opon a tyme a kyte fle And sodeynly he louythe þis kyte so þat alle his loue ys clene fro me goo And hathe his trouthe falsehede in þis wyse Thus hathe þe kyte my loue in hys seruyce And I am lorne with oute remedy And with þat worde þis faucon gan to crye And swoned efte in Canaces barme Grete was þat sorowe of þat haukes harme þat Canacee and alle hir women made þei · nyste howe þei myȝt þe faucon glade But Canace home berithe hir in hir lappe And softely in plastres gan hir wrappe There as she with hir beeke hathe hurte hir silfe Nowe can not Canace but erbys delue Of herbes precious and fyne of hewe Oute of þe grounde and maken salues newe To helyn with þe hauke fro day to nyȝt Scho dothe hir besynesse & alle hir myȝt And by hir beddys hede sho made and muwe And couerid hit with velowetys blewe In sene of trouthe þat ys in woman sene[Sloane 1685] And alle with oute þe muwe ys · peyntyd grene In whiche were paynted alle þese false foules And bethe þe Tydifs terselettys & owlys. Riȝt for dispyte were peyntid hem by syde Pyes on hem for to crye and chyde þus lete I Canace hir hauke kepynge I wolle no more as nowe speke of hir rynge Tylle hit come efte to purpos for to sayn how þat þis faucon gate hir loue a ȝeyn Repentaunt as þe story tellithe vs By mediacion of Cambassus The kynges sone of whiche y you tolde But hennes I wolle processe holde To speken of aventures and of batayles þat ȝit was neuere herde so grete mervayles ffirst wolle I telle you of kambynskan þat in hys tyme many a Citee wan And aftyr wolle I speke of Algarsyf how þat he wan Theodora to his wyf ffor whanne fulle ofte in grete perelle he was Ne hade he ben holpen by þe hors of bras And aftyr wolle I speke with Camballo þat fauȝt in lystes with þe bretheren two · ffor Canace or þat he myȝt hir wynne And þere I lefte I wolle a-gayne by-gynne Appollo whirlithe vp hys chare so hyȝe Tylle þat þe god Marcurius hows þe skye Here endith þe tale of þe sqyere][Sloane 1685 extract stops] [Here begynnyth þe prologge of þe Marchaunt IN faythe sqyere þou haste þe wele quyt And gentely I preyse wele þi wytte Quod þe Marchaunte considerynge þis ȝouthe So felyngely thouȝthe spekist sir I the allouthe As to my dome þere ys none þat ys here Of eloquence þat shalle be þi pere [And if þou lif god [ȝ]if þe goode chaunce[Hatton MS 1] And in vertu send þe perseueraunce] ffor of þi speche I haue grete deynte I haue a . sone and by þe trinite I hade leuere þan twenty pounde worth of londe þouȝe hit riȝt nowe were fallen in myne honde ye are a man of suche discrecion As þat ye ben fy vpon possession But yf a man by vertuous with alle I haue my sone snybbyd and ȝit I shalle ffor he to vertu listith not entende But for to pley at dyes and to dispende And lese alle þat he hathe ys hys vsage And he hade leuere talke with a page þan to commune with eny gentille wiȝt Where he myȝt lerne gentilnesse ariȝt Strawe for youre gentilnesse quod our Oste What Marchaunt Sir parde wele þou woste þat eche of you mot tellen atte leste A tale or twoo or breken hys by-heste þat knowe I wele quod þe Marchaunt certayne I prey you not hauethe me in disdeyne Thouȝe to þis man yf I speke a worde or two[Sloane 1685] Telle on þi tale with out wordes moo Gladly Sir Oste quod he I wolle obey Vnto youre wille nowe herkeneth what I seye I wolle not contrarye you in no wyse As fer as my wyttes woll suffice I prey to god þat hit mot plesen you þan wote I wele þat hit ys gode ynowe Here endithe þe prologge of þe Marchaunt] [and bygynnethe þe tale [THE PROEM.] Thys olde gentell Brytouns in hir/ dayes Of dyuerse auentures maden layes Remedyn in hert / first Britoun tonge Whiche layes with her/ Instrumentes þei songe Oþere elles radden hem for her plesaunce And on of heme haue I in remembraunce Whiche shalle seye with as goode wille as I can But Sires be cause þat I am a burell man At my begynnynge firste I you be-seche hauethe me excused of my rude speche I lerned neuere rethorike certayne Þenge þat I speke hit mote be bare & playne I slepe neuere on þe Mount of pernaso Ne neuere lered marchus Tullius ne Cithero Colours of rethoryke ne knew I none with outen drede But suche Colours as growen in þe mede Oþere elles suche as men dye or peynte Coloures of rethorike ben me to queynte Myne sperit feliþe · nouȝt of suche matere But ȝif you luste my tale shalle ȝe not here][Sloane extr.ends] [THE TALE.] IN Armoryk that callyd is BritayneCamb. MS There was a knyȝt that louede & dede his payne To serue a lady in his beste wyse And manye a labour / manye a gret empryse He for his lady wrouȝte er sche weere woune ffor sche was on the fayreste vndyr sunne And ek therto come of so hegh kynrede That weel onethe durste this knyȝt for drede Telle hire his woo his peyne & his distresse But at the laste / sche for his worthynesse And namely for his meke obeysaunce Hath swich a pete cauȝt for his penaunce That pruyuyly sche fel of his acord To take hym for hire husbonde & for hire lord Of swich lordschepe as men han of here wyuys And for to leede þe more in blysse hire lyuys Of his frewil he swoor hire as a knyȝt That he neuere his lyue day ne nyȝt Ne schulde vp on hym take maystrye A-geyn hire wil ne kythe hire Ialusye But hire obeye & folwe hire wil in al As ony louere to his lady schal Saue that the name of souereynte That wele he haue for schame of his degre Sche thankede hym with ful greet humblesse And seyde sire seyth of ȝoure gentillesse ȝe profere me to haue so greet a reyne Ne wolde neuere god be-twyn vs tweyne As in myn gylt were other werre or stryf Syre I wele be ȝoure humble trewe wyf Haue here myn trouthe tyl myn herte breste Thus been they in quyete & in reste ffor o thyng syrys sauely dare I seye That frendys eueryche oþer moote obeye ȝif they wele longe holde cumpannye[? MS ini for nn] Loue wele not been constreynede by maystrye Whan maystrye comyth the god of loue anon Bethith his wyngis & farewel he is goon Loue is a thyng as ony spyryt free Wemen of kynde desire libertee And not to been constreynd as a thral And so don men ȝif I soth seyn schal Loke ho so most is pacient in loue He is at his auauntag al a-boue Pacience is an high vertu certeyn ffor it venquyschith as these clerkis seyn Thyngis þat rygour schulde neuere atteyne ffor euery word men may not chide or pleyne Lernyth to suffere or ellis so mote I goon ȝe schul it lerne wheþer ȝe wele or non ¶ ffor in this world serteyn there no wyȝt is That he ne doth or seyth sumtyme a-mys Ire seeknesse or constelacioun Wyn wo or chaungyng of complexioun Causeth oftyn to don amys or spekyn On euery wrong a man may not been wrekyn Aftyr the tyme muste be thatemperaunce To euery wyȝt that can on gouernaunce And therfore hath this wyse worthi knyȝt To leue in ese sufferaunce to hire hyȝt And sche to hym ful wisely gan to swere That there schulde neuere been defaute in hire ¶ Heere may men se an humble wys a-cord Thus hath sche take hire seruaunt & hire lord Seruaunt in loue & lord in maryage Thanne was he bothe in lordschepe & seruage Seruage nay but in lo[r]dschepe a-boue Sythe he hath bothe his lady & his loue His lady certis & his wyf also To whiche the lawe of loue a-cordyth þerto And whan he was in this prosperitee Hom with his wyf he goth to his cuntre Nough fer fro pedmark þere his dwellynge was Where as he lyuyth in blysse & in solas Who coude telle but he hadde weddede bee The Ioye / the ese / & the prosperite That is be-twyn an husbonde & his wyf A ȝeer & more lastyth this blysful lyf Tyl that the knyȝt of whom I spak of thus That of kayrrud was clepid Arueragus Schoop hym to goon & dwelle a ȝeer or tweyne In Ingelond that clepid was er Breteyne To seeke in armys worschepe & honour ffor al his lust he sette in swich labour And dwelte there too ȝeer the bok seyth thus Now wele I stynte of this [A, first a]Arueragus And speke I wele of dorigious his wyf That louyth hire husbonde as hire lyf ffor hyse[first hire] absence wepith sche & sykyth As doon these noble wyuys whan hem lykyth Sche / mornyth / wakyth / waylyth / fastith pleynyth Desyr of hise presens so hire streynyth That al this wyde world sche sette at nouȝt Hire frendys whiche that knewe hyre heuy thouȝt Confortyn 3here in al3[3_3 corrected] that euere they may They preche hire they telle hire nyght & day That causeles sche sleth hyre selue allas And euery confort possible in this cas They don to hire with al here besynesse Al for to make hire leue hire heuynesse By proces as ȝe[ȝe corrected] knowyn euerichoon Man may so longe grauyn in a stoon Tyl sum fygure ther-in enpryntid be So longe han they confortid tyl that sche Resceyuede hath by hope & by resoun Thenprentyng of [h, first ȝ]hire consolacyoun Thorw whiche / al hire sorwe gan swage Sche may not al wey duryn in swych rage And ek [A, first a]Arueragus in al this care Hath sent hire lettere hom of his weelfare And that he hastely wele come a-geyn Or ellis hadde this sorwe hire herte slayn Here freendis saw hyre sorwe gan a-slake And preyede hire / on kneis for godis sake To comyn & romyn heere in cumpanye A-wey to dryue hire derke fantasye And finally sche grauntede that requeste ffor wel sche thouȝte it was for the beste Now stood hire castel faste by the see And oftyn with hire frendis walkede sche Hire to disporte on this banke an high Where that sche manye a schip & barge seigh Seylynge here cours / where as hem leste goo But thanne was that a parcel of hire woo ffor to hire self ful ofte seyde sche Is there no schip / of so manye as I se Wil bryngyn hom myn lord thanne were myn herte Al warychid of hire bittere peynys smerte A nothir tyme there wolde sche sitte & thynke And caste hire eyen / doun fro the brynke But whan sche say / the gresely rokis blake ffor verray feer / so wolde hyre herte quake That on hire feet / sche myȝt hire not sustene Thanne wolde sche sitte / adoun vp on the grene And pitously / in-to the se by-holde And seye ryȝt thus / with sorweful sikys colde Eterne god / that thour thyn puruyaunce Ledist the world / be Iuste gouernaunce In ydil as men seyn / ȝe nothyng make But lord these grysely / feendly rokkis blake That semyn rathere / a foul confusioun Of werk than ony fayr creacioun Of which / a parfyt / wys god & stable Why han ȝe wrouȝt this werk onresonable ffor bi this werk. South. North / West & Est There is I-fostered. no man / ne brid ne best It doth no good / to myn wit but a-noyith Se ȝe nat lord how mankynde it distroyeth An hunderede thousent / bodyis of mankynde Han rolkis slayn / al ben they nat in mynde Whiche mankynd is / so fayr a part of thyn werk That þou it madist / lyk to thyn owene merk Thanne semythit ȝe hadde a gret chiertee Toward[o corrected] mankynde but how thanne may it be That ȝe sweche meenys make it to distroyen Whiche menys doon no good but euere a-noyen I wot wel clerkys wele seye as hem leste[este corrected] By argumentis that al is for the beste Thow I ne can the causis not I-knowe But that god / that made wynd to blowe As keepe myn lord / this is myn conclusioun To clerkis leete I al discripcioun But wolde god that alle these rokkis blake Were sunkyn in-to helle for his sake These rokkis sleen myn herte for the fere Thus seyde sche with manye a pitous teere Hire fryndys saw that it was no disport To romyn by the se but disconfort And schopyn for to pleyen sum wher ellis They leddyn hire by reueris & by wellis And ek in othere places delectables Th[e]y dauncedyn the[y] pleyedyn at ches & tablys So on a day ryȝt in the morwetide Vn-tyl a gardyn that was ther byside In whiche they haddyn mad here ordenaunce Of vitaylis & of othere puruyaunce They goon & pleye hem al the longe day And this was on the sexte morwe of may Whiche may hadde peyntid with[h later] hise softe schourys This gardyn ful of leuys & of flouris And craft of manys hand so curiously Arayed hadde this gardyn trewely That neuere was thare[first that] gardy of swich a prys But it hadde been the verray paradys The odour of flourys & the frosche syght Wolde han maad ony herte for to lyȝt That euere was born but ȝif to gret seknesse Or to greet sorwe hadde it in distresse So ful it was of beute with plesaunce At aftyr dyner gunne thei[i later] to daunce And synge also saue dorygeen[orygeen cor.] alone Whiche maade alwey hire compleynt & hyre mone ffor sche ne saw hym on the daunce go That was hire husbonde & hire loue also But natheles sche mote a tyme ( a-byde And wyth good hope lete hire here[ere corrected] slyde Vp on this daunce a-mongis oþere men Daunsede a squier bi-fore Dorigen[o corrected] That froschere was & Iolyere of aray As to myn doon as is the monyth of may He syngith daunseth passynge ony man That is or was syn the world be-gan Ther-with he was ȝif men schulde hym discryue On of te beste farynge man on lyue ȝong. strong. ryght verteuous. & ryche. & wys And weel be-louyd & holdyn in greet prys And schortely ȝif the sothe tellyn schal Onwetyng of this Dorygen at al This lusty squyer seruaun to venus Whiche þat I-clepede was aurelius Hadde louyd hire best of ony creature Too ȝeer & more as was his auenture But neuere durste he telle hire his greuance Wyth-oute cuppe he drank al his penaunce He was dispeyred nothyng durste he seye Saue in his songis sumwhat wolde he wreye His woo as in a gentyl compleynynge He seyde he louede & was belouyd nothyng Of swiche matiere made he manye layis Songis compleyntis / roundelis virelayes How he durste not his sorwe telle But languscht as a furye doth in helle And deye he muste he seyde as dede Ekko ffor Narcisus[sus corrected] that durste not telle his wo In othere maner than ȝe here me seye Ne durste he nat to hire his woo be-wreye Saue that parauenture sumtyme at daunces There ȝonge folk kepyn here obseruaunces It may wel be he lokede on hire face In swich a wyse as men that askyth grace But no thyng wiste sche of his entente Nathe-les it happid er they thens wente By cause that he was hire neghebour And was a man of worchepe & honour And hadde I-knowyn hym of tyme ȝore They fille in speche & they more & more Vn-to his purpos drow aurelius And whan he saw his tyme he seyde thus Madame quod he by god that this world maade So that I wyste it myȝte ȝoure herte glade I wolde þat day that ȝoure arueragus Wente ouyr the se that I Aurelyus Hadde went there neuere I schulde a comyn a-geyn ffor weel I woot myn seruyse is in veyn My guerdoun is but brestynge of myn herte Madame rewyth on mynne peynys smerte ffor with a word ȝe may ne sle & saue Heere at ȝoure feet god wolde that I were graue I ne haue as now no leyser more[more corrected] to seye Hauyth mercy swete or ellis ȝe do me deye ¶ Sche gan to lokyn vp on aurelius Is this ȝoure wil quod sche & seye ȝe thus Neuere erst quod sche ne wiste I[I corrected] what ȝe mente But now[w corrected] Aurelius I knewe ȝoure entente By-twixe god that ȝaf me soule & lyf Ne schal I neuere been vntrewe wyf In word ne werk as fer as I haue wit I wele been his to whom that I am knyt Take this for fynal answere as of me But aftyr in pleyn thus seyde sche Aurele quod sche bi hye god a-boue Ȝit wolde I grauntyn ȝow to been ȝoure loue Syn I se ȝow so pitously compleyne Loke what day that endelyng Breteyne Ȝe remoue alle the rolkis ston be ston That they ne lette schyp[first schpp] ne boot to goon I seye whan ȝe han mad the cost so clene Of rokkis that there ne is no stoon I-seene Thanne wele I loue ȝow best of ony man Haue here myn trouthe In al that euere I can Is there noon othis grace quod he No be that lord quod sche that makede me ffor wel I wot that It schal neuere betyde Lat sweche folyis out of ȝoure herte slyde What deynte schulde a man han in his lyf ffor to go loue a-noþer manys wyf That hath hire body whan so that hym lykyth Aurelius ful ofte sore sykyth Wo was aurelius whan that he this herde And with a sorweful herte he thus answerde Madame quod he this were an Impossible Thanne mote I deye on sodeyn deth horrible And with that word he turnede hym a-non Tho come here othere frendis manyon And in the aleyijs they romede vp & doun And no thyng wiste of this conclusioun But sodeynly begunne reuel newe Til that the bryȝte sunne loste his hewe ffor thorisonte refte þe sunne his lyȝt This is as meche to seye as it was nyȝt And hom they goon In Ioye & in solas Saue only wreche Aurelius allas He to his hous is goon with sorweful herte He seth he may not from his deth asterte Hym somede that he felte his herte colde Vp to the heuene hise hondis he gan holde And on hise kneis bare he sette hym doun And in his rauynge seyde his orysoun ffor verray woo out of his wit he broyde He nyste what he spak but thus he seyde With pitous herte his pleynt hath he bygunne Vnto the goddis & fyrst vp to the sunne ¶ He seyde Appollo god & gouernour Of euery plaunte herbe tre & flour That ȝeuyst aftyr thi declinacioun To eche of hem his tyme & his sesoun As thyn herberwe chaungith lowe & hyghe Lord phebus cast thyn merciable Iye On wrechede auryele wheche that am but lorn Lo lord myn lady hath myn deth I-sworn With-outyn gilt but thyn benyngnete Vp-on myn dedly herte haue sum petee ffor wel I wot lord phebus If thow lest ȝe may me helpe saue myn lady best Now vouchith saf that I may ȝow deuyse How that I may been holpe & in what wyse ¶ Ȝoure blysful systyr luciane the schene That of the see is cheef goddesse & queene Thow neptinius haue deyte on the see ȝit Enaparensse a-bouyn hym is sche ȝe knowyn weel lord that ryȝt as hire desyr is to been quykyd & lyghtenyd of ȝoure fyer ffor whiche sche folwyth ȝow ful busyly Ryȝt so the see desyryth naturelly To folwyn hire as sche that is goddesse Bothe in the se & ryuerys more & lesse Therfore lord phebus this is myn request Do this myrakele or do myn herte brest That now next at this opposicioun Which in the sygne schal be of the lyoun As preyeth hire so greet a flood to brynge That fyue fademe at the leste it ouyr sprynge The hyeste rok in armorik briteyne And lat this flod endure ȝerys tweyne Thanne sertys to myn lady may I seye Holdyth ȝoure heste the rokkis been a-wey Lord phebus doth this myrakele for me Preyeth hyr sche go no fastere cours than ȝe I seye preye ȝoure systyr that sche goo Non fastere course / these ȝerys two Thanne schal sche been at the fulle alwey And spryng flood laste bothe nyght & day And but she wouchesaf in swich maneere To graunte me myn souereyn lady deere Preye hire to synke euery rokke a-doovn In to hire owene derke regioun Vndyr the ground there [plu corrected]pluto dwellyth Inne Or neuere more schal I myn lady wynne Thy temple in delphos wil I barfoot seke Lord phebus se the teris on myn cheke And of myn peyne haue compassioun And with word for sorwe he fel a-doun 2And long tyme he lay / forth in a traunce2[2_2 on an erasure] His brothir which that knew of his penaunce Vp cauȝte hym / & to bedde hath hym brouȝt Dispeyrede in this turnement & this thoght Lete I this woful creature lye Chese he for me / where he wele leue or dye ¶ Arueragus / with heye[y corrected] & gret honour As he that was of chyualrye the flour Is comyn hom & othere worthy men O blysful art tow now thow Dorigeoun That hast thyn lusty husbonde in thyne armys The frosche knyȝt the worthi man of armys That louyt the as his owene hertis lyf Nothing luste hym to be ymaginatyf ȝif ony wight hadde spoke whil he was oute To hire of loue he hadde of it no doute He not entendyth to no swich matere But dauncith Iustyth makyth hire good chere And thus in Ioye & blysse I leete hem dwelle And of the sike Aurelyus I wele ȝow telle ¶ In langure & in turnemen furyus Two ȝeer & moore lay wreche aurelyus Er ony foote he myȝte on erthe goon Ne confort in this tyme ne hadde he noon Saue of his brothir which that was a clerk He knew of al this wo & al this werk ffor to noon othir creature certeyn Of this matere he durste no word seyn Vndyr his brest he bar it sore And so fer forth it greuede hym the moore[spurious] Than euere dede Pamplius or Galatheene His brest was sor with-outyn for to sene But in his herte ay was the arwe kene And weel ȝe knowe that of a sursanure In surgerye is parlious the cure But men myȝte tuche the arwe or come therby His brothir wep & waylede pryuyly Til at the laste hym fil in remembraunce That whil he was at orlionys in fraunce As ȝonge clerkis that been likerous To rendyn artis that been curious Sekin in eueri halk & euery herne Particuler sciencis for to lerne He hym remembrede that vp-on a day At orlionys in stodie he say Of magyk naturel whiche that his felawe That was that tyme a bacheler of lawenota bacularium Al were he there to lerne a nothir craft Hadde priuyly vp on his deske laft Touchynge the eyghte & twenty manciounnys That longyn to the moone & swich folye Swich book that spak meche of the operaciounnys [As in oure dayes nys not worþe a flye][Sloane 1685] ffor holycherchis feyth in oure beleue Ne suffere noone illusiounnys vs to greue And whan this bok was in remembraunce Anoon for ioye his herte gan to daunce And to hym self he seyde pryuyly Myn brother schal been warshit[rshit corrected] hastily ffor I am sekyr that theere ben sciencis By whiche men mak diuers apparencis Sweche as these subtyle tregettourys pleye ffor ofte at festis / haue I weel herd seye That tregettouris with-inne an halle large Haue mad come in a watyr & a barge And in the halle rowyn vp & doun Sumtyme haue semyd to come a grym lyoun And sumtyme flouris sprynge as in a mede Sumtyme a vine & grapis white & reede Sumtyme a castel al of lym & stoon And whan hym lykith woydede it anoon Thus semede it to euery manys syȝt Now thanne conclude I thus as ȝif I myght At orlyonys sum old felaue I fynde That hadde these monys manciounnys in mynde Or othere Magyk naturel a-boue He schulde weel make myn brothir han his love ffor with apparens a clerk may make To mannys syȝt that alle the rokkis blake Of Brytaygne were voydede euerychon And schippis by the brynke comyn & goon And in swich forme endure a day or two Thanne were myn brothir warsched of his woo Thanne muste sche nedys holdyn hyre by-heste Or ellis he schal schame hire at the leste What schulde I make a lengere tale of this Vnto hise brotheris bed he comyn is And swich confort he ȝaf hym for to goon To Orlyonys that he vp styrte a-noon And in his weye forward is he fare In hope for to been lessede of his care Whan they were come / almost to that cete But ȝif it were a two furlong or thre A ȝong clerk romynge by hym self he mette Whiche that in latyn thrystily hym grette And aftyr that he seyde a wondyr thyng I knowe quod he the cause of ȝoure comyng And er they ferthere ony foote wente He told hem al that was in here entente This Britoun Clerk hym askede of felawys The whiche hem had knowe of olde dawis And he answerde hem that they dede were ffor which he wepte ful ofte manye a teere Doun of his hors Aurelyus lyȝte a-non And with this Magicien forth is he gon Hom to his hous & maade hem wel at eese Hem lakkede no vitayle that myghte hem pleese So weel arayede hous as there was oon Aurelyus in his lyf saw neuere noon He shewede hym er he wente to soper fforestis / parkis ful of wylde deer There saugh he hertis with here hornys hye The gretteste that euere were seyn[first senn] with Iye He saw of hem an hunderede weere slayn with houndis And some with arwis bledde of bittere wondys He say whan woyded were the wylde deer The faucounneris vp-on a fayr reuer That with here haukys han the heyroun slayn Tho saugh he knyȝtis slayn in a playn[a altered] And aftyr this he dede hym swich plesaunce That he hym schewede his lady on a dau[n]ce On whiche hym selue daunsede as hym thouȝte And whanne this Maystyr that this Magik wrouȝt Saw it was tyme he clapte hise handis two And farweel al oure reuel was a go And remoūuede they neuere out of the hous Whil they seye al the syght meruelious But in hise stodie there as hise bokys be They seetyn stille & no whit but they thre To hym his maystir callede his squyer And seyde thus is redy oure [so altered]soper Almost an hour it is I vndyrtake Sythe I ȝow bad oure soper for to make Whan that these worthi men wentyn with me In-to myne stodye there as mynne bokis be Syre quod this squyer whan that it lykyth ȝow It is al redy thow ȝe wele rygh now Go we thanne suppe as for the beste These amerouse folk sumtyme mote han reste At aftyr soper felle they in tretee What summe schulde this maysteris gerdoun bee To remeuyn alle the rokkis of bretayne And ek from Gerounde to the mount of Sayne He made it straung[first strong] & swor so god hym saue Lasse than a thousent pound wolde he nat haue Ne gladli[i later] for that summe wolde he nat goon Aurelyus with blysful herte a-noon Answerde thus fy on a thousent pound This wide world which that men seyn is round I wolde it ȝeue ȝif I weere lord of it This bargayn is ful drewyn for we been knyt Ȝe schal been payed trewely be myn trouthe But lokyth now for no necligence ne slouthe Ȝe tarye vs no lengere than to morwe Nay quod this clerk / here myn feyth to borwe To bedde is goon Aurelius whan hym leste And wel nygh al that nyght he hadde his reste What for his labour & his hope of blys His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lys Vp on the morwe whan that it was day To bryteyne toke they the ryȝte way Aurelyus & the Magicyoun by syde And been descendit there they wele vnbyde And this was as the bokys me remembre The colde frosty sesoun of decembre[c corrected] Phebus wex old & hewid lyk latoun That in his hoote declynacioun Schon as the burnet gold with streemys bryȝte But now in Caprycorn adoun he lyghte Wheere as he schon ful pale I dar weel seyn The bittere frostis with the sleet & reyn Distroyed hat the grene & euery ȝerd[r altered] Ianus sit by the fyr with double berd And drynkyth of hyse bugle horn the wyn By-forn hym stant braun / of the tuskyd swyn An Nowel syngyth / eueuery lusty man Aurelius in al that euere he can Doth to his maystyr chier & reuerence And preyeth hym to don his dilygence To bryngyn hym out of hise peynys smerte Or with a swerd that he wolde slytte his herte This subtyl clerk swych routhe hadde of this man That nygh[t] & day he spedde hym as he kan To waytyn a tyme of his conclusioun That is to seyne to makyn illusioun By swich an apparens or iogilrye I ne can no termys of astrologie That sche & euery wygh[t] schulde wene & seye That of Brytayne the rokkys were a-weye Or ellys they were sunkyn vndyr grounde So at the laste he hath his tyme I-founde To make hise Iapis & hise wrechedenesse Of swich a supersticious cursedenesse Hise tablis colletanes / forth he brouȝte fful weel correctid / ne there lakkede nough[t] Neythir his collect / ne his expans ȝeeris Ne hise rotis ne hise othere geris As been hise sentris & hise argumentis And hise proporciounnys conuenyentis ffor hise equatiou[n]s / in euery thyng And by his .8e. speere / in his werkyng He knew ful weel / hu fer Alnath was schoue ffro the hed of thilke[first thikke] / fixe aries a-boue That in the nynte speere considered is fful subtily he calkelid al this Whan he hadde founde his fyrste mancioun He knew the remenaunt / by proporcyoun And knew tharysyng of the moone weel And in whos face & terme euerideel And knew ful weel the monys mancioun A-cordaunt to his operacioun And knew also hise othere obseruauncis ffor sweche illusiounnys & sweche myschauncis As hethene folk vsedyn / in thilke dayis ffor which no lengere makyth he delayis But thour his magik for a wyke or tweye It semede þat alle the rokkys were aweye ¶ Aurelyus which that ȝit dispeyred is Where he schal han his loue / or fare a mys Awaytht nygh[t] & day on this myrakele And whan he knew þat there was noon obstakele That woydede weere the rokkys euerychon Doun to hise maysteris feet he fel a-noon And seyde I woful wreche aurelyus Thanke I[I ȝo corrected] ȝow lord & lady myn Venus That me han holpyn of myne caris colde And to the temple his weye forth hath helde Where as he knew he schulde his lady see And whan he saw his tyme a-noon ryght he With dredful herte & with humble cheere Saluyth hath his souereyn lady deere ¶ Myn ryghte lady quod this woful man Whom I most dreede & loue as I best can And lothest weere of al this world displeese Neere it þat I for ȝow / haue swich disese That I muste deyen here at ȝoure fot a-non Nat wolde I telle how me is wo bygoon But sertys othir muste I deye or pleyne Ȝe sle me giltles for veray peyne But of myn deth thow ȝe han no routhe A-vyseth ȝow er than ȝe breke ȝoure trouthe repente ȝow for thilke god a-boue Er ȝe me sle by cause that I ȝow loue ffor madame weel ȝe wot what ȝe han hyȝt Nat that I chalange ony thyng of ryght Of ȝow myn souereyn lady but ȝoure grace But in a gardyn / ȝond in swich a place Ȝe woot ryȝt weel what ȝe be-hyghtyn me And in myn hand ȝoure trouthe plyghte ȝe To loue me god wot ȝe seyde so Al be that I vnworthi am therto Madame I speke it for the honour of ȝow Moore than to saue myn hertys lyf ryȝt now I haue don so as ȝe comaundede me And ȝif ȝe vouche saf ȝe may go se Doth as ȝow lyste hauyth ȝoure heste in mynde ffor quyk or ded rygh[t] there ȝe schul me fynde In ȝow lyth al to do me lyue or deye But weel I wot the rolkis been a-weye He takyth his leue & sche a-stonyd stod In al hire face nas a drope of blood Sche wenede neuere / haue come in swich a trappe Allas quod sche that euere this schulde happe ffor wende I neuere by possibilite That swich a monstre or merueyle myghte be It is ageyn the prosses of nature And hom sche goth a sorweful criature ffor verray fer onethe/ may sche go Sche wepith waylyth al a day or two And swounnyth that routhe it was to see But whi it was to no wyȝt tolde schee ffor out of tounne was goon arueragus But to hire self sche spak & seyde thus With pale face & with ful sorweful cheere In hire compleynt as ȝe schal aftyr heere ¶ Allas quod sche on the fortune I pleyne That vndyr wrapped / hast me in thyn cheyne ffor which to skape[kap corrected] woot I no socour Saue only deth / or ellys dishonour Oon of these two / by-howith me to cheese But na-theles ȝit haue I leuere to lese Myn lyf than of myn body to han a schame Or knowyn myn self[el corrected] fals or lese myn name And with myn deth I may been quit I-wis Hat there nat manye a noble wyf er this And manye a maydyn I-slayn hire self allas rathere than with hire body don trespas Ȝis certis lo these storyis bere witnesse Whan thretty tirauntis ful of cursedenesse Hadde slayn Phidoun in atthenes[h altered] at the feste They comaundit his doughtren for tareste And bryngyn here[first he] by-forn hym in despit Al nakid to fulfylle his foule delyt And in here fadyris blood they made hem daunce Vp on the pauement god ȝeue hym myschance ffor which these woful maydenys ful of drede Rathere than thy wolde lese here maydynheede They[ey corrected] priuyly ben styrt in-to a welle And drenkte hem seluyn as the bokys telle ¶ They of Messene lete enquire & seke Of Latedomye fifty madenys eke On whiche they wolde doon here lecherye But was theere noon of al that cumpaynye That sche nas slayn & with a good[first god] entente Ches rathere for to deye / than assente To been oppressed of hire maydynhede Whi schulde I thanne to deye been en drede ¶ Loke ek the [ty corrected]tyraunt aristoclides That louede a mayden / hyghte stymphabides Whan that hire fadyr slay was on a nyght On to dyane temple goth sche ryȝt And hente the emage in hire armys two ffrom which I-mage wolde sche nat go No whygh[t] myghte hire handys of it a-race Tyl sche was slayn ryȝt in the selue place ¶ Now sythe that maydenys / [ad cor.]haddyn swich dispit To been defoyled with manys foule delyt Weel oghte a wyf[f corrected] rathere hyre selue slee Than been defoyled as it semyth mee What schal I seye of hasdrubales wyf That at cartage be-rafte hire self hire lyf Whan['that' scratcht out] sche say that romaynys wan the tounn Sche tok hire chyldere alle & skypte a-doun In-to the fer & ches rathere to deye Than ony romayn dede hire vilanye[n altered] ¶ Hath not lucresse I-slayn hire self allas At rome whan sche oppressed[o. pres corrected] was Of Tarquyn for hire thoughte it was a schame To lyuyn whan sche hadde lost hire name ¶ The seuene maydenys of Melesye also Han slayn hem self for verray drede & wo rathere than folk of gaule hem schulde opperesse Mo than a thousent storyis as I gesse Coude I now telle as touchynge this mateere ¶ Whan Hadrabate was slayn his wyf so deere Hire selvyn slow / & leet hire blood to glyde In Hadrabis woundis deepe & wyde And seyde myn body at the leste way There schal no man defoylyn ȝif I may What schulde I mo ensaumplys hereof sayn Syn that so manye / han hem selue slayn Wel rathere than they wolde defoyled be I wele conclude that it is bet to me To slen myn self than ben defoyled thus I wele been trewe vn-to [A corrected]Arueragus Or rathere slen myn self[el corrected] in sum manere ¶ As dede democienys doughtyr deere Bi-cause sche wolde not defoylyd be ¶ O Cedasus it is ful greet pite To redyn how thynne doughteryn deyedyn allas That slow hem self for swych manere cas ¶ As greet a pyte was it or wel moore The theban maydyn that for nychanore Hire seluyn slow / ryȝt for swych maner wo ¶ A nothir theban maydyn dede ryȝt so ffor on of massedoyne hadde hire oppressed Sche with hyre deth hyre maydynhed redressed ¶ What schal I seyn of nycherates wyf That for swich cas berafte hire self hyre lyf ¶ How trowe ȝe ek was Althebiades Hyre loue al rathere for to deyen chees Than for to sufferyn hyse[first hyre] body onburyede be ¶ Loo which a wyf was Alceste quod sche ¶ What seyth Omer of goode penolopee As Crece knowyth of hire chastitee ¶ Parde of Lacedomya is wrytyn thus That whan at troye was slayn Protheselaus No lengere wolde sche leuyn aftyr hise[first hife] day ¶ The same of noble porcya tellyn I may With-outyn Brutus coude sche nat lyue To whom sche hadde al hol hire herte ȝyue ¶ The parfyte wifhod of Arthemesye Honoured is thour al the Barbarye ¶ O Teuta queen / thyn wyfly chastitee To alle wyuys may a myrour bee . . . . .[Not in any Brit. Mus., Cambr., or Bodleian MS, or Christ-Church.] . . . . .no gap in the MS. Thus pleynede Dorigen a day or tweye Purposynge euere that sche wolde deye But natheles vp-on the thredde nyȝt Hom cam Arueragus this worthy knyȝt And axed hire why that sche weep so sore And sche gan wepyn euere lengere the more ¶ Allas quod sche that euere was I born Thus haue I seyd quod sche thus haue I sworn And tolde hym al as ȝe han herd be-fore It nedith nat reherse ȝow no moore This husbonde with glad cheere in frendely wyse Answerede & seyde as I schal ȝow deuyse Is there ought ellis / Dorigene but this Nay nay quod sche god helpe me so as wis This is to meche & it were godys wille ȝa wyf quod he / lat slepyn & be stylle [hit may be wele ȝit perauenture to say ȝe sholen yuore trouthe holden by youre fay] ffor god so wysely haue mercy vp-on me I hadde wel leuere I-stekyd for to be ffor verray loue whiche that I to ȝow haue But ȝif ȝe schulde ȝoure trouthe kepe & [first haue]saue Trouthe is the heyeste thyng that man may kepe And with that word he brast a-non to weepe And seyde I ȝow forbede vp peyne of deth That neuere whil ȝow lastyt lyf or breth To wyght telle thow of this auenture As I best may I wele myn wo endure Ne make no cuntenaunce of heuynesse That folk of ȝow may deme harm or gesse And forth he clepith a squyer & a mayde Goth forth a-non with Dorigene he sayde And bryngith hire to swich a place a-non They take here leue & on here weye they gon But they ne wyste why she thidyr wente He nolde no wight tellyn his entente . . . . .[Not in any MS in the Brit. Mus., Cambridge or Oxford, or the Helmingham MS. l. 1493-8 known only in the Ellesmere MS.] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. This squier which that hyȝte aurelyus On Dorigene that was so amerous Of auenture happede hire to meete A-myd the toun rygh[t] in the [y altered]quykkeste strete As sche was boun to go the woye ful ryȝt Toward the gardyn there that sche hadde hight And he was to the gardynward also ffor weel he spyed whan sche woldo go Out of hire hous to ony maner place But thus they mette of auenture or grace And he saluyth hire with good entente And axed hire whidyrward sche wente And sche answerde half as sche were mad Vn-to the gardyn as myn husbonde bad Myn trouthe for to holde allas allas ¶ Aurelius gan wonderyn of this cas And in his herte hadde greet compassioun Of hire & of hire lamentacioun And of Arueragus the worthi knight That bad hire holdyn al that sche hadde hiȝt So loth hym was his wyf schulde breke hire trouthe And in his herte he caughte of this greet routhe Considerynge the beste on euery syde That for his lust ȝit were hym leuere a-byde Than don so high a cherliche wrechedenesse Agayns fraunchese of alle gentillesse[sse later] ffor which in fewe wordys seyde he thus Madame sythe to ȝoure lord Arueragus That sithe I se his grete gentillesse To ȝow & eek I se wel ȝoure distresse That he were leuere han schame & that were routhe Than ȝe to me schulde breke thus ȝoure trouthe I haue wel leuere euere to suffere wo Than I departe the loue by-twixe ȝow two I ȝow relese madame in-to ȝoure hond Quyt euery surement & euery bond That ȝe han mad to me as here be-forn Sith thylke tyme which that ȝe were born Myn trouthe I [ly first hi]plyghte I schal ȝow neuere re-preue Of no beheste & here I take myn leeue As ofthe treweste & the beste wyf That euere ȝit I knew in al myn lyf But euery wif be war of hire byheste On Dorigene / remembr[i]th at the leste Thus can a squyer doon a gentyl deede As weel as kan a knyȝt / with-outyn drede ¶ Sche thankede hym vp-on hire kneis al bare And hom vn-to hire husbonde is sche fare And told hym al as ȝe han herd me seyd/ And be ȝe sykyr / he was so weel apayed That weere impossible me to wryte What schulde I lengere / of this cas endyte Arueragus & Dorygene / his wyf In souereyn blysse leedyn forth here lyf Neuere eft ne was there angyr hem be-twene He cherysseth hire ryȝt as sche were a queene And sche was with hym trewe[first trowe] for eueremoore Of these two folk ȝe gete of me no more ¶ Aurelyus that his cost hath al for-lorn Cursith the tyme that euere was he born Allas quod he allas that I be-hyȝte Of purede gold a thousent pound of wighte On to this philysophere how schal I do I se namoore but that I am fordo Myn erytage mote I nedis selle And ben a beggere heere may I nat dwelle And schamyn al myn kynrede in this place But I of hym may getyn betere grace But natheles I wele of hym assaye At serteyn dayis ȝeer be ȝer to paye And thanke hym of his greete curteysye Myn trouthe wele I kepe I wele nat lye With herte sor he goth vnto his cofere And bryngith gold vn-to this philisophere The valew of fyue hunderede pound I gesse And hym be-sechith of hise gentilesse[Camb. MS, leaves 298, 299, 300, and 301, are cut out.] [To graunten hym dayes of þe paymentSloane 1685, on leaf 157 And sayde Maystere .I. dare wele make a vaunte I fayled neuere of my trouþe ȝet ffor sykerly my dette shalle be quyt Towardes ȝowe howe þat euere I fare To gone a beggere in my kirtell bare But wolde ȝe vouche saue vpon suerte Two ȝere or þre for to respiten me Then were I welle for elles mot I selle Myne herytage þere nys no more to telle Thys phylosophre soberly vnswared And said þus when he þis worde herde haue I not holde Couenaunte vnto þe ȝee certes wele and truly quod he haste þou not hade þi lady as þe lykest No no quod he and sorowfull he siȝeþe What was þe cause telle me yf þou can Aurelius his tale a-none be-gan And tolde hym alle as ȝe han hard by-fore hit nedith not to rehersen hit no more he sayd Arueragus of gentilnes hade leuere dye in sorowe and dystresse Than hys wyf were of hir/ trouþe false[Sloane 1685] The · sorowe of Doregen he tolde hym alse howe · loþe hir/ was to ben a wykked wyf And þat she leuere þat day loste · hir lyf And þat hir/ trouþe she · swore þorough Innocence Sche neuere erste herd speke of apparence þat made me han of hir/ so grete pite And riȝt as frely as he sent hir/ me As frely sent I hir/ to hym a-gayne Thys ys alle and somme þere nys no more to sayne Thys phylosofre answered leue broþer Euere yche of/ you did gentilnesse to oþere þou arte a squyer/ and he ys a knyȝt But god for-bede for hys blysfull myȝt But ȝif a. Clerk couþe do a gentel dede As wele as ony of you withouten drede Sir/ I relese þe þi þousand pounde As þou riȝt nowe were cropen oute of grounde Ne neuere or nowe hadest þou knowe me ffor I wylle not taken a peny of þe ffor alle my craft and nouȝt for my travayle þou haste y-payed wele for my vitayle It ys y-nouȝe and fare wele and haue god day And toke his hors and forth he gothe hys way Lordynges. þis question wylle I axe nowe Whiche was þe most fre as þenkeþe you Now telleþe me or þat I ferthere wende I can no more my tale ys at an ende Here endithe þe Frankeleyns tale][The Doctor's Tale followed in the Cambridge MS: one leaf only, 302, is left.] GROUP C. FRAGMENT IV. § 1. THE DOCTOR'S TALE. CAMBRIDGE MS. [and begynneth þe taleSloane MS 1685, on leaf 178 There was as tellith me Titus lyueus. A knyȝt/ þat clepid was Virgineus Fulfyllyd of honoures and of worþinesse And stronge of ffrendes and of grete rychesse A douȝtyr/ he hade by hys wyf/ And neuere hade he mo in alle hys lyf· ffayre was þis mayde in excellent beute A-bouen euery wyȝt/ þat man may see· ffor nature haþe with souereyne diligence ffourmyd hir/ in so grete excellence As þouȝe she wolde say loo I nature Thus can I forme and peynt/ a creature Whan þat/ me lyst/ who can me counterfet/ Pignalyon nouȝt þouȝe he alwey forge and bete Or graue or peynte for y dare wele sayne Apollus ȝepherus shulde worche in vayne To graue or peynte or forge or bete ȝif/ þei presumyd me forto conterfete ffor he þat ys þe formour principal Hath made me his Viker/ general To forme and peynte eche erthly creature Ryȝt/ as me lyste for alle thynge ys in my cure Vnder/ þe mone þat may wane or waxe And for my werke no þenge wille I axe My lord/ and I ben fully at accorde[Sloane MS 1635] I made hir/ to þe worshipe of my lord So do I alle myne oþere creatures· Of what coloure þei be or what figures þus semethe me þat nature wolle say This mayde was of/ age twelue ȝeere & twey In whiche þat nature hath suche delyte For riȝt/ as she can peynte as lyly white And rudy as roose riȝt with suche paynture She paynteth hath þis noble creature Or she was borne vpon hir/ lymes fre Were also bryȝt/ as suche coloures shuld be And Phebus dyed hade hir/ tressys grete Lyke to þe stremes of his bornyd heete And ȝif þat excellent was hir/ beaute· A þousand sithe more Vertuouse was she In her/ ne lacked no condicioun That/ ys to preyse as by discrecioun As wele in body as goste Chast was she ffor whiche she floured in Virgynite With alle humilite and abstynence With alle temperance & pacience With mesure eke and berynge of array Discrete she was in answerynge alway Though she were wys as Pallas dar I sayne hir/ faucond eke fulle womanly & pleyne None counterfetid termes hade she To seme wys but / aftyr/ hir/ degre Sche spake alle hir/ wordes more and lesse Sounynge in vertu and in gentilnesse Constant in hert / and euere in besynesse Schamefaste she was in maydens shamefastnesse To dryue hir/ oute of hir/ slougardye Bacus hade of/ hir/ mouthe no Maystrie ffor wylle and þouȝt done Venus encrece As men in fyre wille casten oyle or grece And of/ hir/ owen vertu vnconstreyned[Sloane MS 1685] She hathe fulle ofte tyme hir/ seeke feyned ffor þat she wolde fle þe companye Where likly was to treten of foly As ys at feestes Reueles and at daunces þat/ bene occasions of/ dalyaunces Suche thynge maken · Chyldren for to be To sone rype and bolde as men may see Whyche ys fulle peryllous and hath bene yore ffor alle to sone may she lerne lore Of/ boldenesse whan she ys a wyf And ȝe maystresses in youre olde lyf þat/ lordes douȝters han in gouernaunce Ne taketh of/ my worde no displesaunce Thynges þat ben sette in gouernynges · Of lordes douȝters only for two thynges Ouþer for ȝe han kepte youre honeste Oþere elles ȝe han fallen in frelete And knowen wele ynouȝe þe olde daunce And conne for-sake fully myschaunce ffor euermo · þerfore for crystes sake kepith wele þo · þat ȝe Vndirtake A theefe of veneson þat hath for-laft his lycouresnesse and alle his þefes craft kan kepe a forest best/ of any man Nowe kepeth hem wel for and ȝe wele kan lokeþe wele þat to no vice ȝe assent Leest/ ȝe be dampned for youre euel entent ffor who so dothe a traytour ys certayn And taketh of þat þat I shal sayn Of/ alle tresoun suffreyn pestelence Ys whan a wyȝt be-trayth Innocence ȝe fadres and ȝe modres eke also Thogh ȝe haue Childre by it one or two Ȝoure ys þe charge of alle her/ sufferaunce Whiles þei bene vnder/ gouernaunce Be ware þat be ensample of/ youre liuynge[Sloane MS 1685] Outher by necligence of Chastisynge That þei ne peryssh for I dare wele say Ȝif þat/ þei done ȝe shulle fulle sore obeye Vnder .a. sheperd softe and necligente The wolfe hath many an sheepe & lambe to-rente Suffiseth on · ensample nowe as here ffor I mote turne a-yeyne to my matere Thys mayde of whiche I telle my tale expresse Sche kepte hir selfe hir/ nedeth no maystresse ffor in hir lyuynge maydens myȝt/ rede As in a booke euery gode worde & dede That longethe to a mayde vertuous Sche was so prudent and so bounteuous · ffor whiche oute spronge on euery syde Bothe of hir/ beaute and of hir/ bounte wyde þat/ þorouȝe þe londe þei preysed hir eccheone That/ louyd vertu safe Envie allone þat/ sorye ys of oþere mennes wele And glad ys of hys sorowe and vnhele The docture maketh þis discripcioun Thys mayde wente on a day into þe toun Toward þe temple with hir/ moder/ dere As ys of yonge maydens þe manere // Now was þere a Iustice in þe toun þat/ gouernour was of þat regioun And so by-felle thys Iuge hys eyȝen caste Vpon þis mayde avisynge hir/ fulle faste As she come forth by þere þe Iuge stoode A-none his hert chaungeth and hys mode So was he/ cauȝt/ with beaute of þis mayde And to hym · self/ fulle pryuely he saide Thys mayde shalle be myne for ony man A-noone þe feende in-to hys hert/ ranne And tauȝte hym sodeynly by/ what sleiȝt/ þe mayde to hys purpos wynne he myȝt/ ffor certes by no force ne by no mede[Sloane MS 1685] hym þouȝt he was not able for to spede ffor he was stronge of frendes and eke she Confermyd was in suche souereyne beaute þat/ wele he wyste he myȝt/ hir/ nevere wynne As for to make hir with hir/ body synne ffor whiche with grete deliberacioun he sent/ aftyr/ a Clerk/ in-to þe toun The whiche he knewe for sotelle and for bolde Thys Iuge vnto þis Clerk his tale hathe tolde I secre wyse and made hym to assure he shulde telle it to no creature And ȝif/ he did he shulde lese hys hede Whan ascented was þis cursid reede Glad was þe Iuge and made glad chere And ȝafe hym ȝiftes precious & dere Whan shapen was alle þis conspiracie ffrom poynt to poynt how þat his lecherie Perfourmed shulde be fulle sotelly As ȝe shalle here and afterward opunly home gothe þis. Clerk þat hiȝt Claudius. Thys false Iuge þat/ hiȝt Apius. So was hys name for it ys no fable But/ knowen for an historialle þenge notable The sentence of/ hit · sothe ys oute of/ doute Thys false Iuge gothe nowe faste a-boute To hasten his delyte al þat/ he may And so by-felle sone after/ on a day Thys false Iuge as tellethe vs þe storie As he was wonte sat in his consistorie And ȝaue his domes vpon sundry caas. This false clerke come forthe a wele gode paas. And said lord ȝif it be youre wille Ȝis dothe me riȝt/ vpon þis pitous bille][Sloane extract ends] In which I pleyne vp-on virginiusCamb. Univ. Lib. MS Gg. 4. 27 And ȝif he wele seyn it is not thus I wele it preue / & fynde it good witnesse That soth is that myn bille wele expresse The Iuge answerde / of this in his absence I may not ȝeue diffynytiue sentence Lat do hym calle & I wele gladli here Thow schalt haue alle ryȝt & no wrong heere Virgynyus cam to wete the Iugis wille And ryȝt a-non was rad this curssede bylle The sentence of it was as ȝe schul here To ȝow myn lord sire apius so deere Schewith ȝoure poure seruaun[t] claudyus How that a knygh[t] / callyd virgynyus A-geyns the lawe a-geyn alle equyte Holdyth expres a-geyn the wil of me Myn seruant which that 1is myn1[1_1 later] thral be ryȝt Whiche from myn hous was stole vp-on a nyȝt Whil that sche was ful ȝyng this wele I preue By witnesse lord so that it nat ȝow greue Sche nys his doughty[r]/ nat what so he seye Wherefore to ȝow myn lord ȝe Iuge I preye Ȝilde me my thral / ȝif þat it be ȝoure wille Lo this was al the sentens of his bille Virginius gan vp-on the cherl be-holde But hastyly er he his tale tolde And wolde a preued it as schulde a knyȝt And ek by witnesse of manye a wight That it was fals that seyde his aduersarye This cursede Iuge wolde no thyng tarye Ne here a word more of virginius But ȝaf his Iugement & seyde thus I deme a-noon / this cherl his seruaunt haue Thow schalt no lengere / in thyn hous[2 ous & 2_3 corrected] here saue3 Go brynge hire forth / & putte hire in owere warde This cherl schal han / his thral this I awrarde And whan this worthi / knyȝt virgynyus Thour sentence / of this Iustyse Apyus Muste be forse his dere douȝtyr ȝeuy Vn-to the Iuge in lecherye to lyuyn He goth hym hom & settyth hym in his halle And leet a-non his deere douȝtyr calle And with a face ded as aschyn colde Vp-on hire humble face he gan by-holde With faderys pite styngynge thour his herte Al wolde he not from his purpos conuerte Douȝtyr quod he virginia bi thyn name There been two woyis othir ded or schame That þou muste suffere allas that I was bore ffor neuere thow deseruedist wherefore To deyen with a swerd or wit a knyf O deere douȝtyr endere of myn lyf Which I haue fostered vp with swich plesaunce That thow were neuere out of myn remembraunce O douȝtyr[yr corrected] which that art myn laste wo And in myn lyf myn laste Ioye also O gemme of chastite in pacience Take thow thyn deth for this is myn sentence ffor loue & not for hate þou muste be deed Myn pitous hand mote smytyn of thyn heed Allas that euere apius the say Thus hath he falsely Iuged the to day And tolde hire al the case as ȝe be-fore[e later] Han herd / nought nedyth for to telle it more. O mercy dere fadyr quod this mayde. And with that word sche bothe[he corr.] hire armys layde Aboute his nekke as sche was wont to do. The teris broste out of hise eyen two And seyde goode fadyr schal I deye Is there no grace is there no remedye No certis dere douȝtyr myn quod he Thanne ȝeue me leue fadyr myn quod sche Myn deth for to compleyne a lytyl space Parde Iepte ȝaf his douȝtyr grace ffor to compleyne er he hire slow allas And god it wot no thyng was hire trespas[Camb. MS has lost 2 leaves] [But þat she ranne hir/ fadir/ fyrst/ to seeSloane MS 1685, on leaf181, back To welcome hym with grete sollempnite And with þat worde she felle on swoune a-noone And aftyr/ whan hir/ swonynge was gone Sche risethe vp and to hir/ fadir/ sayde Blessyd be god þat I shalle deye a mayde ȝif/ me my dethe or þat/ I haue a shame Dothe with youre childe youre wille of goddes name And with þat worde she praythe fulle ofte þat with his swerde he shulde smyte hir/ softe And with þat/ worde on swone doune she felle Hir fadyr/ with fulle sorowfulle hert/ and fel Hir/ heede of/ smote and by þe top it hent/ And to þe Iuge he yaue it/ to present As he sat in hys dome in consistorie What þe Iuge it sawe as saithe þe storie He bade take hym and honge hym also faste But riȝt/ a-noon alle þe peple in þraste To saue þe knyȝt/ for reuthe and for pite ffor knowen was þe folys Iniquyte The peple a-none hade suspecte in þis thynge By manere of thys Clerkes chalengynge That it was by þe assent/ of Apius· They wyste wele þat he was lecherous· ffor whiche vnto þis Apius þei gone And kysten hym in prison riȝt anone Where as he slouȝe hym self/ and claudius þat seruaunt was vnto þis apius. Was demed for [to] hange vpon a tre But Virgineus of/ his grete pite Prayde for hym þat he was exiled And elles certes he hade be begyled· The remenaunt were honged more & lesse þat consentid weren to his cursidnesse here may men see how synne hathe hys merite[Sloane MS 1685] Be ware for no man wote howe god wille smyte In no degre ne in whiche manere wyse· The worme of conscience wylle aryse Of wycked lyf/ þouȝe it/ so preue be þat/ no man woote of hit but god and he. Wheþere he be lewed man or leryd he note howe sone þat he may ben a-feryd· Therfore I rede you þis counselle take ffor-sakeþe synne or synne you for-sake Here endethe þe tale of þe Mayster of phisyk/ [Here begynneth þe prologge of/ þe Perdonere [? MS Z, E, or I.]Oure oste gan swere as he were woode Harrowe quod he by nayles and by bloode Thys was a false Clerk/ and a false Iustice As shamefulle deth as tonge can deuyse Come to þe Iustice and hir/ aduocase Algate þis sely woman ys slayne Alas. Alas [to] dere a-bouȝte she Bewte Wherfore I say al day þat men may see þat ȝift/ of fortune or of nature Ben cause of/ dethe of many a creature . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. As bothe ȝiftes as I speke of nowe Men han fulle ofte more harme þen prowe But/ truly myn owen Maystre dere Thys ys a pitous tale forto here But natheles passe ouere ys no force I pray to god so saue þi gentel corse And þine vrynales/ and þyne Ioudans Thyne ypocras and eke þi galyans· And euery Boxe fulle of þi letuary God blesse hem and oure lady seynt/ mary So mot I the þou art/ a propre man And I-lyke a prelate be seynt Runyan Saue þat/ I kon not/ speke wele in terme But/ wele I woote þou doest/ myn hert erme þat/ I haue almoste cauȝt a Cardiache By corps bones but/ yf/ I haue treacle Or. elles a drauȝt/ of moost or corny ale Or but/ I here a-none a mery tale My hert/ ys loste for pite of þis mayde[Sloane MS 1685] Than belamy Iohn perdoner/ he sayd Telle vs some myrthe or some Iapes here anone hit shal be done quod he by seynt/ runyon But first/ quod/ he at þe next/ ale stake I wol bothe dryng and ete of a kake But/ riȝt anone þise gentelys gan to crye Nay let/ hym telle vs of/ no rebaudrye Tel vs some moral thenge þat/ we may here Some wytte and þan wille we gladly here I graunte I-wys quod he but/ I mot/ thynke Vpon some honest/ thynge whyle þat I drynke [Here] endeth þe Prolooge and begynneth þe tale [Lor]dynges quod/ he in Chirche whan I preche [I] peyne me to haue an hautyn speche [And] rynge it/ oute as rounde as goth a belle ffor I con alle by roote þat I telle [My teme] ys alle-way on and euere was Radix omnium malorum est cupiditas ffyrst/ I pronounce whens þat I come And þan my bulles shewen alle and somme Oure lege lordes seal on my patent þat/ shewe I fyrst/ my body to warant/ That no man be so bolde prest nor Clerk Me to disturbe of/ crystes holy werke And after þat telle I forthe my tales Bulles of Popes and of/ Cardynales Of Patryarkes and Bysshopes I shewe And in laten I speke wordes fewe To sauere with my predicacioun And forto styrre men to deuocioun þan shewe I forth my longe Cristal stones I-crommed fulle of/ cloutys and of bones Relikes þei bene as wene þei ychone þan haue I in laton a shulder bone Whiche þat was an holy Iewes shepe Goode men say I take at my wordes kepe ȝif þat þis bone be wasshen in a welle ȝif/ cowe or Calf/ shepe or Ox swelle þat any worme hathe ete or stonge A-boute þe herte or elles þe longe And it is hole a-none and ferthermore[Sloane MS 1685] Of/ pockes and of scabbe and of/ euery sore Shall euery shepe be hole þat of þis welle Drenkyth a draught/ take hede what I telle Ȝif þat þe godeman þat þe bestes ouȝte Wolle euery wooke or þat/ þe Cok/ hym crouthe/ ffastynge drynke of/ þis welle a drauȝt/ As þilke holy Iewe oure eldres tauȝt/ hys beestes and hys store shal multeplie And sires also it heleth Ielousey And þouȝe a man be fallen in a Ielouse rage let maken with þis water/ hys potage And neuere shal he hys wyf mystruste Thouȝe he þe sothe of his defaute wyste Alle hade she taken preestes two or thre here ys a myteyne eke þat/ ye may se he þat/ hys honde wylle putte in his myteyne he shalle haue multiplyenge in his greyne Whan he hathe sowen be it Whete or Otes So þat/ he brynge me gode pans or elles grotes And men and women oo þenge I warne you Ȝif/ ony wiȝt/ be in þis Chirche nowe þat/ hathe done synne horrible þat/ he Dare not/ for shame of it/ shryuen be Or ony woman be she yonge or olde þat/ hath made hir/ husbonde Cokewolde Suche folke shul haue no power ne no grace To offre to my relleckes in þis place And who fyndeth hym oute of suche blame They wol come vp and offre in goddes name][Sloane extract ends] And I assolie hym be the autoriteCamb. Univ. Lib. MS Gg. 4. 27 Which that by bulle is grauntid on-to me By this gaude haue I wonne ȝeer be ȝeer An hunderede mark sythe I was pardounneer I stonde lyk a clerk in myn pulpet And whan that the lewede peple is doun I-set I preche so as ȝe han herd by-fore And telle an hunderede false Iapis more Thanne peyne I me to streche forth myn nekke And est & west vp-on the peple I bekke As doth a douue syttynge on a berne Mynne handys & myn tunge goon so ȝerne That it is Ioye to se myn besynesse Of auarice & of swich cursedenesse Is al myn prechyng for to makyn hem fre To ȝeuyn here penys & nameli on-to me ffor myn entent is not but for to wynne And no thyng for correccioun of synne I rekke neuere whanne that they been beryed Thow that[t corrected] here soulis goon a blakeberyed ffor certis manye a predicacioun Comyth ofte of euele entencioun Some for plesaunce of folk & flaterye To been a-vansed be ypocrysie And some for veynglorie & some for hate And whanne I dar non othere woyis debate Thanne wele I stynge men with myn tunge smerte In prechynge so that I schal nat a-sterte To been defamyd falsely that he Hath trespased to myne brothir or to me ffor thow I telle nat his proper name Men schal wel knowe þat it is the same By sygnys & be othere circumstauncis Thus quyte I folk that don vs displesauncis Thus spitte I out myn venym vndyr hewe Of holynesse to semyn holy & trewe But schortely myn entent I wele deuyse I preche of no thyng but of coueytyse Therefore myn teme is ȝit & euere was Radix malorum est cupiditas Thus can I preche a-ȝen the same vice Whiche that I vse & that is aueryce But thow myn self be gilty in that synne Ȝit can I make othere folk to twynne ffrom aueryce & sore to repente But that is nat myn pryncipal entente I preche no thyng but for coueytyse Of this matire it ouȝte I-nogh suffise Thanne telle I hem ensaumplys many on Of olde storyis long tyme a goon ffor lewede peple louyn talys olde Sweche thyngis can they wel reporte & holde What trowe ȝe that whilis that I may preche And wynne gold & syluyr for I teche That I wele lyue in pouerte wilfully Nay nay I thouȝte it neuere trewely ffor I wele preche & begge in sundery landis I wele don no labour with mynne handys Ne make basketys & lyue therby By cause I wele nat beggen ydely I wele none of the apostelys countyrfete I wele haue monye / wolle / cheese / & wheete Al weere it ȝeuyn of the poreste page Or of the poreste wedew in a village Al schulde hire chylderyn sterue for famyne Nay I wele drynke licour of the [v, first w]vyne And haue a Ioly wenche in euery toun But herkenyth lordyngis in conclusioun Ȝoure lykynge is that I schal telle a tale Now haue I dronke a draught of corny ale By god I hope I schal ȝowe telle a thyng That schal be resoun been at ȝoure lykyng ffor thow myn self be a ful vicious man A moral tale ȝit I ȝow telle can Whiche I am wonet to preche for to wynne Now holde ȝoure pes myn tale I wele begynne Here begynnyth the Pardounner his tale[Painting of the Pardoner.] [The I runs the length of the page]IN flanderys whilhom dwellede a cumpaynye Of ȝonge folk that hauntedyn folye As ryot hasard stewys & tauernys Where as with harpys lutys & geternys They daunce & pleye at deis bothe day & nyght And ete & drynke also ouyr here myȝt Thoure whiche they don the deuyl sacryfise With-inne that deuyll 2temple in2[2_2 corrected] cursede wyse By superfluyte / abominable Here othis been so greete & so dampnable That it is gresely for to here hem swere Oure blyssede lordis body they to-tere Hem thouȝte that Iewis rente hym not I-nough And eche of hem at otherys synne lough And thanne ryȝt a-non / comyn Tumbesteris ffetyse & smale & ȝynge frutesteris Syngeris with harpis / Baudis wafereris Whiche been / the 3werray devill offiserys3[3_3 corrected] To kyndele & blowe the fyr of lecherye That is annexed on-to Glotenye The holy writ take I to witnesse That luxurye is in wyn & dronkenesse Lo how that dronkyn looth vnkyndely Lay by his doughterys two on-wityngely So dronke he was he nyste what he wrouȝte Herodes who so weel the storyis souȝte . . . . .no spurious lines in this MS. Whan he of wyn was replet at his feste Rygh at his owene table he ȝaf his heste To slen the Baptist Iohn ful gilteles Senek seyth a good word doutelesSeneca. He seyth he can no difference fynde By-twixe a man that is out of his mynde And a man which that is dronkelewe But that wodnesse I-fallyn in a schrewe Perseueryth lengere than doth dronkenesse O glotenye ful of cursedenesse O cause fyrst of oure confusioun O original of oure dampnacioun Til Cryst hadde bouȝt vs with his blod a-geyn Lo how deere schortely for to seyn Abovghte was thilk cursede vilanye Corrup was al this world for glotenye Adam oure fadyr & his wif also ffrom paradys to labour & to wo Were dreuyn for that vice it is no drede ffor whil that adam fasted as I rede He was in paradys / & thil that he Eet of the freut defendit of the tre A-non he was out cast to wo & pyne O glotenye on the / wel ouȝte vs pleyne O wiste a man how manye maladyis ffolewyn[e inserted] of exces & of glotenyis He wolde been the moore mesurable Of his dyete syttynge at his table Allas the schorte throte the tendere mouth Makyth that est & west & north & South In erthe in Ayr / in watyr men to swynke To gete a glotoun / deinte mete & drynke Of this matire / O paul weel canst thow trete Mete on-to wombe / & wombe weel vn-to mete Schal god distroyen / bothe as paul seyth Allas a foul thyng is it / be myn feith To seye this word / & foulere is the dede Whan man so drynkyth / of the white & reede That of his throte / he makyth his priue Thurgh thilke cursede / superfluite The apostele wepynge / seyth ful pytously T[h]ere walkyn manye / of whiche ȝow told haue I I seye it now / wepynge with pitous woys There been enemyis / of crystis croys Of whiche the ende is deth / wombe is here god O wombe / O bely / O stynkynge Cod ffulfyld of dunge & of corrupcioun At eythyr ende of the foul is the soun How greet labour & cost is the to fynde These cookis[is corr.] how they stampe & streyne & grynde And turnyn substauns in-to accident To fulfille al the lykerous talent Out of the harde bonys knokke they The mary for thei caste nat a-wey That may goon thurgh the golet softe & soote Of spicerye / of lef / of bark / of roote Schal been his saus / makyd bi delyt To make hym ȝit / a newere apetit But certis he that / hauntyth swyche delicis Is ded whil that he / lyuyth in swiche vicis A lecherous thyng / is wyn and[and later] dronkenesse Is ful of stryuyng & of wrechedenesse O dronke man / disfigured is thyn face Sour is thyn breth / foul art þou to enbrace And thour thyn dronke nose / semyth the soun As thow þou seydyst euere / sampsoun Sampsoun And ȝit god wot/ Sampsoun drank neuere no wyn Thow fallist / as it weere a stekyd swyn Thyn tunge is lost & al thyn honeste cure ffor drunkenesse is verray sepulture Oof mannys wit & his discrecioun In whom that drynk hath dominacioun He can no conseyl kepe it is no drede Now kepe ȝow from the white & from the reede And namely from the white wyn of lepe That is to selle in fiche streete or in Chepe This wyn of spayne crepyth subtily In othere wynys growynge faste by Of which there rysith swich fumosite That whan a man haue dronkyn drauȝtis thre And weneth that he be at hom in chepe He is in spayne ryȝt at the toun of leepe Nat at rochel / ne at burdeux toun And thanne wele he seye sampsoun sampsoun But herkenyth lordyngis o word I ȝow preye That alle the souereyn actis dar I seye Of victoryis in the olde testament Thurgh verray god that is omnypotent Were don in abstinence & in preyere Lokyth the bible & there ȝe may it leere Loke attilla the greete conquerour Deyede in his slep / with schame & dishonour Bledynge at his nose in dronkenesse A Capitayn schulde leue in soberenesse And ouyr al this / aviseth ȝow ryȝt weel What was comaundit to Lamuel Nat Samuel but Lamuel seye I Redyth the byble / & fynde it expresly Of wyn ȝeuynge to hem that han iustise Namore of this for it may I-nough suffyse And now that I haue spokyn of glotenye Now wele I ȝow defende hasarderye Hasard is verray modyr of lesyngis And of disseyd & cursede forsweryngis Blaspheme of Cryst manslauȝt & wast also Of catel of tyme / & ferthere mo ¶ It is repref & contrarye to honour ffor to ben holdyn a comoun hasardour And euere the heyere he is of 1estat1[1_1 corrected] The moore is he holdyn desolat ȝif that a prynce vseth hasarderye In alle gouernaunce & polycie He is as be comune opinioun I-holde the lesse in reputacioun Stilboun þat was a wys Embassadour Was sent to Corenthe in ful greet honour ffrom latidomye to makyn hire allyaunce And whan he cam hym happede par chaunce That alle the gretteste that were of that lond Pleyinge at the hasard he hem fond ffor which as soone as it myghte be He stal hym hom a-geyn in-to his cuntre ¶ And seyde there wel I nat leese myn name Nay wil nat take on me so greet diffame Ȝow for to a-lye vn-to none hasardourys Sendyth othere wyse embassadourys ffor be myn trouthe me were leuere dye Than I ȝow schulde to hasardourys alye ffor ȝe that been so gloryous in honourys Schal not a-lye ȝow to hasardourys By myn wil ne as bi myn tretee This wyse philisophere thus seyde he Loke ek that to the kyng demetryus The kyng of Parthes as the bok seyth vs Sente hym a payre of deis of gold in scorn ffor he hadde vsed hasard there by-forn ffor which he held his glorye or his renoun At no valu or reputacioun ¶ Lordis may fynde other maner pley Honeste I-now to dryue the day a-wey Now wele I speke of othes false & greete A word or two as olde bokys trete Greet swerynge is a thyng abhominable And fals swerynge 2is ȝit2[2_2 corrected] more repreuable The hye god[first good] forbad swerynge at al Witnesse of Mathew but in special Of swerynge seyth the holy Ieremye Thow schalt swere soth thynne othis & not lye And swere in dom & ek in ryghtwysnesse But ydele swerynge is a cursedenesse Bi-hold & se that in the ferste table Of heye goddys hestis honurable How that the secounde heste of hym is this Take nat myn name in idil or a-mys Lo rathere he forbedyth sweche swerynge Than homyside or manye a cursede thyng I seye that as by ordere thus it standith This knowith that his bokys vndirstonde How that the secunde heste of god is that And ferthere ouyr / I wele the telle al plat That vengeaunce schal nat passe from his hous That of hise othis is to outrageous By godys precyus herte & by hise naylys And by the blod o crist that is in haylys Seuene is myn chaunce / & thyn is synk & treye By godys armys ȝif thow falsely pheye This daggar schal thorgh out thyn herte go This freut comyth of þe bicche bonys two fforswerynge Ire falsenesse homysyde Now for the loue of cryst þat for vs deyede Leveth ȝoure swerynge bothe greete & smale But serys now wele I telle forth myn tale Theise riotourys thre of whiche I telle Longe erst er pryme rong the belle Were sett hem in a tauerne to drynke And as the[y] sat / they herde a belle 2clynke2[2_2 later] By-forn a cors was caryed to his graue That on of hem gan callyn to his knaue Go bet quod he and axe redyly What cors is this that caryed is forby And loke that thow reporte his name wel Sere quod this boy it nedyth neuere a deel It was me told er ȝe cam here thre ouris He was parde an old felawe of ouris And sodeynly he was I-slayn to nyght ffor-dronke as he sat on his bench vp ryȝt There cam a priue thef men clepyn deth That in this cuntre al the peple sleth And with his spere he smot his herte atwo And wente his weie with-outyn wordis mo And maystir er ȝe come in his presence He hath a thousent slayn this pestelence Methynkyth that it were necessarye ffor to ben war of swich an aduersarye Beth redy for to mete hym euere more Thus thaute me myn dame I seye nomore Be seynte marie seyde this tauernere The child seyth soth for he hath slayn this ȝere Hene ouyr a myle with-inne a greet village Bothe man & woman child & hewe & page I trowe his habitacioun be there To been a-vised greet wisdam it weere Er that he deyede a man a dishonour ¶ Ye goddis armys quod this riotour Is it swich peril with hym for to mete I schal hym seeke by woye & ek bi streete I make a wow to goddys digne bonys Herkenyth felawis we thre been a-lonys Lat ych of vs holdyn vp his hand to othir And eche of vs bi-comyn otherys brothir And we wele sleen this false traytour deth He schal been slayn he that so manye sleth By godis dygnete er it be nygh To-gederys han these thre here treuthes plyght To lyuyn & deyen eche of hem with othyr As though he were his owe bore brothir And vp they stertyn & dronkyn in this rage And forth they gon towardys that village Of whiche the tauerner hadde spoke by-forn And manye a gresely oth thanne han they sworn And crystis blyssede body they to-rente Deth schal ben ded ȝif they may hym hente Whan they han goon nat fully half a myle Ryght as they woldyn a trodyn ouyr a style An old man & a poure 1with hem1[1_1 corrected] mette This olde man ful mekely hem grette And seydyn thus now lordis god ȝow see The proudeste of these ryatourys three Answerede a-gayn what cherl with sory grace Why art thow for-wrappid saue thyn face Why lyggist thow so longe in so greet age This olde man gan lokyn in his visage And seyde thus for I ne can nat fynde A man thow I walkede in-to ynde Neythir in cete ne in non village That wolde chaunge his ȝouthe for myn age And therfore mote I holde myn age stylle As long tyme as it is godys wille Ne deth allas wele nat han myn lyf Thus walke I lych a recheles caytyf And on the ground whiche is myn moderys gate I knokke with myn staf bothe erly & late And seye leue modyr lete me in Lo how I vanyche bothe flesch & blood & skyn Allas whanne schal myne bonys been at reste Modyr with ȝow wolde I schaunge myn cheste That in myn chaumbre long tyme hath be Ȝa for an heyre clout to wrappe me But ȝit to me ȝe wele nat do that grace ffor which ful pale & welkid is myn face But syrys to ȝow it is no curteysye To spekyn to an old man vilanye But he trespace in word or ellis in dede In holy wryt ye may youre seluyn weel reede [A-geyns an olde man / hoor vp-on his hed Ȝe shulde aryse / wherfore I ȝeue ȝow red] Ne doth vn-to an old man noon harm now Na more than ȝe wolde men dede to ȝow In age ȝif that ȝe so longe a-byde And god be wyth ȝow where ȝe go or ryde I mot go thedyr there I haue to go ¶ Nay olde cherl by god thow schat nat so Seyde this othir hasardour a-non Thow partist nat so lyȝtely by seynt Iohn Thow speke ryȝt now of thilke traytour deth That in oure cuntre alle oure frendys sleth Haue here myn treuthe as thow art his espie Telle where he is / or / thow schalt it a-bye By god & by holye sacrement ffor sothly thow art of his assent To sleen vs ȝonge folk thow false thef Now seris quod he syn that ye be so lef To fynde deth turne vp this crokede wey ffor in that groue I lefte hym by myn fey Vndyr a tre & there he wolde a-byde Nat for youre bost he wele hym nat hyde Se ye that ook ryȝt there ye schul hym fynde God saue yow that boughte a-ȝen man-kynde And ȝow a-mende thus seyde this olde man ¶ And eueryche of these ryotourys ran Til they come to that tre & there they founde Of floreynys fyne of gold I-coynede rounde Wel nygh an viij buschellis as hem thouȝte No lengere thanne aftyr deth they souȝte But eche of hem so glad was of the syght ffor that floreynys been so fayre & bryȝt That doun they sette hem by this precious hord The werste of hem spak the ferste word Bretheryn quod he thyng what I seye Myn wit is greet thow that I borde & pleye This tresore hath fortune vn-to vs ȝeuyn In myrthe & Iolyte oure lyf to leuyn And lyghtely as it comyth so wele we spende Ey godys precyous dignetee ho wende To day that we schuldyn han so fayr grace But myghte this gold been caryed from this place Hom to myn hous or ellys vn-to ȝourys ffor weel ȝe wot that al this gold is ourys Thanne were we in high felicite But treweli by day it may nat be Men woldyn seyn that we were thevis stronge And for oure owene tresore doon vs honge This tresore muste Icaryede been by nyght As wysely & as slyly as men myght Therefore I rede that cut a-mong vs alle Be drawe & lat se where the cut wele falle And he that hat the cut with herte blythe Schal renne to tounne & that ful swythe And brynge vs breed & wyn pryuyly And two of vs schal kepen subtily This tresor wel / if he wele nat tarye Whan it is nyght we wele this tresore carye By on assent / where as vs thynkyth best That on of hem the Cut brouȝte in his fest And bad hem drawe & loke wheere it wolde falle And it fel on the ȝongest of hem alle And forth toward the toun he wente a-non And al so soone as þat he was goon That oon of hem spak on-to that othyr Thow knowyst weel thow art myn swore brothir Thyn profyt wele I telle the a-noon Thow wist weel that oure falawe is goon And heere is gold & that ful greet plentee That schal departid be a-mong vs three But natheles If I can speke it so That it departyd were a-mong vs two Hadde I nat doon a frendys turn to thee That othir answerde I not how that may bee He wot that the gold is with vs tweye What schal we do what schal we to hym seye Schal it be conseyl seyde the ferste schrewe And I schal tellyn in a wordys fewe What we schal doon & brynge it weel a-boute I graunte quod that othyr out of doute That by myn trouthe I wele the nat by-wrye Now quod he thow wost weel that we ben twye And two of vs schal strengere been than oon Loke whan he is set that ryȝt a-noon Arys as thow woldys with hym pleye And I schal ryue hym thour the sydys tweye Whil that thow strogelyst with hym as in game And with thyn daggere loke thow do the same And thanne schal al this gold departid be Myn deere frend be-twixe me & the Thanne may we bothe oure lustis al fulfylle And pleye at the deis ryȝt at oure owene wille And thus acordede been these schrewys tweye To sleen the thredde as ȝe han herd me seye ¶ This ȝongeste wyght that wente to the toun fful ofte in hese[se corrected] herte he rollede vp & doun The beute of the floreynys newe & brighte O lord quod he If so were that I myȝte Haue al thes tresor to myn self a-lone There is no man that lyuyth vndyr the trone Of good that schulde liue so merye as I And at the laste the fend oure enemy Put in his herte / that he schulde poysounne 2beye2[2_2 corr.] With whiche he myghte sleen hise felawis tweye ffor why the fend fond hym in swich lyuynge That he hadde leue hem to sorwe brynge This was vttyrly his entente To slen hem bothe & neuere to repente And forth he goth no lengere wolde he tarye In-to the toun vn-to a potecarye And preyede hym that he hym wolde selle Sum poysoun that he myȝte hise rattis quelle And eek there was a polkat in his hawe That as he seyde his capounnys hadde he slawe And fayn he wolde wreke hym ȝif he myȝte On vermyn that destroyede hym be nyghte ¶ The potecarye answerde & thow schalt haue A thyng that also god myn soule saue In al this world there is no creature That etyn or drynk of this confyture[y corrected] Nat but the moutenaunce of a corn of wheete That he schal his lyf a-noon for-leete Ya sterue he schal and that in lasse while Than thow wylt gon a pas nat but a myle The poysoun is so strong & violent ¶ This cursede man hath in his hond I-hent The poysoun in a box & sythe he ran In-to the nexte streete vn-to a man And borwede hym large botellys tre And in the two his pousoun pourede he The thredde he kepte clene for his drynk ffor al the nygh[t] he schop hym for to swynk In caryinge of that gold out of that place And whan this ryotour with sory grace Hadde fylled wyth wyn hise greete botellis thre To hise felas a-geyn repayrede hee ¶ What neede of it to sarmone moore ffor ryȝt as they hadde cast his deth byfore Rygh[t] so they han hym slayn & that a-noon And whan this was doon thus spak that oon Now lat vs sitte & drynke & make vs merye And aftyr that we wele his body berye And with that word it happede hym percas To take the botel there the poysoun was And drank & ȝaf his felawe d[r]ynke also ffor whiche a-noon they storve bothe two ¶ But certys I suppose that Aucyen Wrot neuere in no canoun ne in no fen Mo wondere sygnys of enpoysounnynge Than hadde these wrechis two er hire endynge Thus endede been these homycidis two And ek the false enpoysonere also ¶ O cursede synne of alle cursedenesse O traytourys homycyde / o wikkedenesse O glotonye / luxurye / & hasarderye Thow blasphemere of cryst with vilonye And othis greete of vsage & of pryde Allas mankynde how may it betyde That to thyn creatour whiche that the wrough And with hise precious blood the bough Thow art so fals & so vnkynde allas Now goode men god for-ȝeue ȝow ȝoure trespas And ware ȝow from the synne of aueryce Myn holy pardoun may ȝow alle waryce So that ȝe offere / noblis or starlyngis Or ellys syluyr sponys brochis ryngis Bowith ȝoure heed vndyr this holy bulle Comyth vp ȝe wyuys offerith of ȝoure wolle Ȝoure name I entere here in myn rolle a-non In-to the blysse of heuene schul ȝe gon I ȝow assoyle by myn heye power Yow that wele offere as clene & eek as cleer As ȝe weryn born & lo seris thus I preche And Ihesu cryst that is oure soulys leche So graunte ȝow his pardoun to resceyue ffor that is best I wele ȝou nat disceyue But seris on word forgat I in myn tale I haue relikys & pardoun in myn male As fayre as ony man in yngeland Whiche were me ȝouyn by the popis hand Ȝyf ony of yow wele of deuocyoun Offeryn & han myn absolucioun Comyth forth anon & knelyth here a-doun And mekely resseyuyth myn pardoun Or ellis takyth pardoun as ȝe weende Al newe & frosch at euery mylys ende So that ȝe offere alwey newe & newe Nobelis & penys whiche that been goode & trewe It is an honour to eueriche that is here That ye mowen haue a suffycient pardonere To a-soyle ȝow in cuntre as ȝe ryde ffor auenture whiche that may be-tyde Perauenture there may falle on or two Doun of his hors & breke his nekke a· two Loke which a seurete it is to ȝow alle That I am in ȝoure felaueschepe I-falle That may assoyle ȝow bothe more & lasse Whan that the soule schal from the body passe I rede that oure ost here schal begynne ffor he is most enuolupid in synne Come forth sere ost & offere here a-non And thow schat kysse myne relykys euerychoon Ye for a groote vnbokele a-noon thyn pors Nay nay quodd[d later?] he / thanne haue I crystis curs Lat be quod he it schal nat be so theech Thow woldyst make me to kysse thynno olde brech And swere it weere a relike of a seynt They it were with tyn fundement depeynt But by the cros that seynt elyne fond I wolde I hadde thyne colyounnys in myn hond In stede of relikys or of seyntewarye Let kutte hem of I wele from the hem carye They schul been schrynyd in an hoggis tord This pardouner answerde nat a word So wroth he was he wolde no word seye Now quod oure ost I wele no lengere pleye With the ne with noon othyr angery man But rygh a-noon the worthy knygh be-gan Whan that he saw that al the peple lough Na moore of this for it is ryght I-nough Sire pardoneer be merie & glad of cheere And sere ost that been to me so deere I preye ȝow that ȝe kysse the pardounneer And pardounner I preye the drawe the neer And as we dede lat vs laughe & pleye Anon they kyste & rede forth here weye Here endith the pardonneris[? second n] tale GROUP B. (β. FRAGMENT III.) § 4. THE SHIPMAN'S TALE. [& begynnethe þe tale A Marchaunt whilom dwellyd at seynt denys þat riche was for which men helde hym wys A wyfe he hade of excellent beaute And compenable and reuerent was she Whiche ys a thynge þat causeth more dispense þan worthe ys alle þe chere and reuerence þat men hem done at festees and at daunces Suche salutacions and contenaunces Passeth as doth þe shadowe vpon a walle But woo ys hym þat payen mot for alle þe cely husbonde algate he mot paie he mote vs clothe and vs arraie Alle for his owne worship rychely In whiche arraie we dauncen Iolilye And yf þat he may not parauenture Or elles luste none suche espense to endure But thynkith þat it is waste and y-loste þan mote a-noþere paien for oure coste Or lene vs golde & þat ys perilous This noble Marchaunt hylde a noble house ffor wwhiche he hade alday grete repaire ffor hys largesse and for hys wyf was faire þat wonder ys but herkeneth to my tale Amonges alle hys gestes grete & smale þere was a monke a faire man & a bolde I trowe .xx. wynter he was olde þat euere in on was drawynge to þat place þis yonge Monke þat was so faire of face A-queynted was so with þat gode man[Sloane MS 1685] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . no gap in the Sloane MS, in Harl. 1758, or Reg. 18 C ii.] And eke þis Monke of whiche I be-gan Were bothe two borne in oo vilage þe Monke hym cleymed as for cosynage And he a-yeyne saith not onys nay But was as glade as any foule of day ffor in his hert it was a grete plesaunce Thus bene þe knyt with eterne aliaunce Of Bretherheed/ whiles þat her lyf may dure And ilke of hem gan oþere assure ffre was dan Iohn and namly of dispense As in þat hous and fulle of diligence To do plesaunce and also grete costage he nouȝt for-yate to ȝeue þe laste page In alle þat hous but aftyr hir degre he ȝave þe lord / and siþens his meyne whan þat he came some manere honest thynge ffor whiche þei were as glade for hys comynge As foule ys fayne whan þe sonne vp rysethe Nomore here-of as nowe for þis sufficethe But so befelle þis Marchaunt on a day Schope hym to make redy hys array Toward þe town of Bruggeys for to fare To byen þere a porcion of ware ffor whiche he hathe to parys / sent anone A messangere and prayed hathe Dan Iohn þat he shulde come to seynt Denys to pleye with hym and with his wyf a day or tweye Or he to bruggeys went in alle wyse This noble Monke of whiche I you deuyse][Sloane extract ends] Hath of his abbot as hym leste lycenceCamb. MS By-cause he was a man of hygh prudence And ek an offycer out for to ryde To seen here granges & here bernys wyde And vn-to seynt Denys he comyth a-noon Who was so wolcome as myn lord daun Iohn Oure deere cosyn ful of curteysye With hym he brouȝte a Iubbe of Maluesye And ek a nothir ful of fyn vernage And volatyl as was his vsage And thus I lete hem drynke & ete & pleye This Marchaunt & this Monk a day or tweye The thredde day this Marchaunt vp a-ryseth And on hise nedis sadly hym auyseth And vp in-to his countour house goth he To rekene with hym self weel may be Of thilke ȝeer how that it with hym stod And how that he dispendit hadde his good And ȝif that he encresede were er non Hise bokis & hise baggis manyon He leyth be-forn hym on his county[n]g bord fful ryche was his tresor & his hord ffor which ful faste his countour dore he schette And ek he nolde that no man schulde hym lette Of hise acountis for the mene tyme And thus he syt[altered] tyl it was passid pryme ¶ Daun Iohn was rysyn in the morwe also And in the gardyn walkith to & fro And hath hise thyngis seyd ful curteysly This goode wyf cam walkynge pryuyly In-to the gardyn there as he walkyth softe And hym saluyth as he hath doon ofte A maydechild cam in hyre cumpaynye Whiche as hyre lyste sche may gouerne & gye ffor ȝit vndyr the ȝerde was the mayde ¶ O deere Cosyn myn daun Iohn sche sayde What aylyth ȝow so rathe for to ryse Nece quod he it oghte I-nogh suffyse ffyue hourys for to slepe vp-on a nyght But it were for an old appollyd wyght As been these weddede men that lye & dare As in a forme sit a very hare Were al for-strauȝt with houndys greet & smale But dere nece why be ȝe so pale I trowe certis that ȝoure goode man Hath ȝow laboured sythe the nyght be-gan That ȝow were nede to restyn hastily And with that word he lough ful meryely And of his owene thouȝt he wex al red This fayre wyf gan for to schake hire heed And seyde thus ȝa god wot al quod she [Nay cosyn myne hit stont not so with me ffor by þat god þat yave me soule & lyf In alle þe reme of fraunce ys þere no wyf þat lasse luste hathe to þat sorie playe ffor I may syngen alas and weel awaye þat I was borne but to no wiȝt quod she][Sloane extract ends] Dare I nat telle how that it stant with me[Cambr. MS] (no gap above) Wherefore I thynke out of this world to wende Or ellis of myn self to make an ende So ful am I of drede & of care / This Monk be-gan vp-on this wif to stare And seyde allas myn nece god for-beede That ȝe for ony sorwe or ony drede ffor-do ȝoure self but tellyth me ȝoure greef Parauenture I may in ȝoure myschif Conseyle or helpe / & therfore tellyth mee Alle ȝoure a-noy for it schal be secree ffor on myn portoos here I make an oth That neuere in myn lyue for lef ne loth Ne schal I of no conseyl ȝow be-wreye The same a-geyn to ȝow quod sche I seye By god & by this portos I ȝow swere Thow men woldyn me al in-to pecis tere Ne schal I neuere for to goon to helle Be-wreye a word of thyng that ȝe me telle Noght for no Cosynage ne allyaunce But verrayly for loue & affyaunce Thus been th[e]y swore & here vp-on they keste And eche of hem told othir what hem leste Cosyn quod sche ȝif that I hadde a space As I haue non & namely in this place Thanne wolde I telle a legende of myn lyf What I haue suffered sithe that I was a wyf With myn[altered] husbonde al be he youre cosyn Nay quod this monk by god & seynt martyn He nys no moore Cosyn vpon to me Than is the lef that hangyth on the tre I clepe hym so by seynt denys of fraunce To han the moore cause of acqueyntaunce Of ȝow whiche I haue louyd specyally A-bouyn alle wemen sikyrly This swere I ȝow on myn perfeccioun Tellyth ȝoure gref lest that he come a doun And hastyth ȝow & goth a-wey a-non Myn deere loue quod sche o myn daun Iohn fful leef were me this conseyl for to hyde But out it mot it may no moore a-byde ¶ Myn husbonde is to me the worste man That euere was sithe the world be-gan But sithe I am a wyf it sit nat me To telle no wigh of oure pryuyte Neythir a bedde ne in non othyr place God schilde I schulde it telle for his grace A wyf ne schal nat seyn of hyre housbonde But al honour as I can vndyrstonde Saue on to ȝow thus tellyn I schal As helpe me god he nys nat worth an al In no degre the valeu of a flye But ȝit me greuyth that most his negarderye And weel ȝe wot that wemen naturelly Desyryn thyngis gaye[altered] as wel as I They wolde that here husbondys schulde bee Hardy . & ryche & wys & therto free And buxsom vnto his wyf & frosch a-bedde But by that ilke lord that for vs bledde ffor his honour mynself for to araye A sunday next I mot nedys paye An hunderede frankis or ellys am I lorn Ȝit weere me leuere that I weere on born Than me were don a slaundere or velanye And ȝif myn husbonde ek myghte it espye I nere but lost & therefore I ȝow preye Lene me this summe or ellys mote I deye Daun Ion I seye lene me these hunderede frankys Parde I wele nat fayle yow myn thankys If that yow lyste to don that I ȝow praye ffor at a certeyn day I wele ȝow paye And don to ȝow that plesaunce & seruyse That I may don ryght as ȝow leste deuyse And but I do god take on me vengeaunce As foul as hadde Genyloun of fraunce ¶ This gemtil Monk answerde in this manere Now trewely myn owene lady dere I haue quod he on ȝow so greet routhe That I ȝow swere & plyȝte ȝow myn trouthe That whan youre husbonde is to flaunderys fare I wele delyuere yow out of this care ffor I wele brynge ȝow an hunderede frankys And with that word he caughte hire by the flankys And hire enbrasith harde & kyste hire ofte Goth now ȝoure wey quod he al stylle & softe And lat vs dyne as sone as euere he may ffor by myn Chylendere it is pryme of day Goth now & beth as trewe as I schal be Now ellys god forbeede sire quod sche And forth sche goth as Ioly as a pye And bad the Cokys that they schulde hem hye So that men myghte dyne and that a-non Vp to this husbonde is this wyf a-gon And knokkyth at his countour boldely Who there quod he / petyr it am I Quod sche what sere how longe wele ȝe faste How long tyme wele ȝe / rekene & caste Youre summys & youre bokys & ȝoure thyngis The deuyl haue part of alle sweche rekenyngis Ye haue I-now parde of godys sonde Come doun to day & lat ȝoure baggis stonde Ne be ȝe nat aschamyd that daun Iohn Schal fastynge al this day alenge goon What lat vs heere a masse & go we dyne Wyf quod this man lytyl canst thow deuyne The Curyouse besynesse that we haue ffor of vs Chapmen al so god me saue And by that lord that clepid is seynt Yue Skarsely a-mongis twelve ten schul thryue Contynewelly lastynge vn-to oure age We may wel make cher & good visage And dryue forth the world as it may be And kepyn oure estat in pryuytee Tyl we been ded or ellis that we pleye A pylgrymage or goon out of the weye And therefore haue I greet necessite Vp-on this queynte world tauyse me ffor euere mo we mote stonde in drede Of hap & fortune in oure Chapmanhede To flaunderis wele I go to morwe at day And come a-geyn as sone as euere I may ffor whiche myn deere wyf I the beseke As beth to to euery whit buxsom & meke And for to keepe oure good been curyous And honestely gouerne weel oure hous Thow hast I-nough in euery maner wyse That to a thryfty houshold may suffyse The lakkyth non aray ne non vitayle Of syluyr in thyn purs schalt thow non fayle And with that word his countour dore he schette And doun he goth no lengere wolde he lette And hastily a masse was theere seyd And spedyly the tabelys weere I-leyd And to the dyner faste hem spedde And rychely this Monk the Chapman fedde At aftyr dyner daun Iohn sobyrly This Chapman tok apart & pryuyly He seyde hym thus / Cosyn it standyth so That wel I se to Bruggis wele Iego God & seynt Augustyn speede ȝow & gyde I preye ȝow cosyn wysely that ȝe ryde Gouernyth ȝow also of ȝoure dyete Attemprely & namely in this heete By-twixe vs two nedyth ne straunge fare ffare weel cosyn god schylde ȝow from care And ȝif that ony by day or by nyght If it lye in myn power & myn myght That ȝe me wele[later] comaunde in ony wyse It schal be don ryght as ȝe wele deuyse othyng Or that ȝe go If it may be I wolde preye ȝow for to lene me An hunderede frankys for a wyke or tweye ffor serteyn bestes that I muste beye To store with a place & that is oures God helpe me so I wolde it were ȝourys I schal not fayle surely of myn day Nat for a thousent frankys a myle way But lat this thyng been secre I ȝow prey ffor ȝit to nygh[t] these bestis mot I beye And fare now weel myn owene cosyn deere Graunt mercy of ȝoure cost & of ȝoure goodely chere This noble Marchaunt gentely a-non Answerede & seyde o cosyn myn daun Iohn Now sekyrly this is a smal requeste Myn gold is ȝourys whan that it ȝow leste And not only myn gold but myn chafare Taake what ȝow lyste god schilde that ȝe spare But o thyng is ȝe knowe it wel I-now Of chapmen that here monye is here plogh We may encrece whil we han a name But goldeles for to been it is a schame Payeth it a-geyn whan it lyth in ȝoure ese Aftyr myn myth ful fayn I wolde ȝow plese These hunderede frankys he fette forth a-noon And pryuyly he tok hem to daun Iohn No whyt of al this world wyste of this lone Sauynge this marchaunt & daun Iohn a-lone They drynke & speke & rome a whyle & pleye Tyl that daun Iohn rydyth to his abbey The morwe cam & forth this marchaunt ridith To fflaunderis ward his prentys weel hym gydith Tyl he cam in-to Bruggis myriely Now goth this Marchaunt faste & busyly Aboute his neede & byeth & creaunceth He neythir pleyeth at deis ne daunceth But as a marchaunt schortely for to telle He lat his lyf & there I lete hym dwelle The soneday next the marchaunt was a-goon To seynt Denys is come daun Iohn With croune & berd al frosch & newe schaue In al the hous ne was so lyte a knawe Ne no whit ellys that he nas ful fayn That myn lord daun Iohn was come a-gayn And schortely to the poynt rygh[t] for to goon This fayre wyf a-cordyt with daun Iohn That for hise hunderede frankys he schulde al nyght Haue hyre in hise armys bolt vp ryȝt And this acord parforned was in deede In myrthe al nyght a busy lyf they leede Til it was day that daun Iohn wente his way And bad the meyne fare wel haue good day ffor non of hem ne no wyght in the toun Hath of daun Iohn rygh non suspecyoun And forth he rydyth hom to his abbey Or wheere hym luste no more of hym I seye ¶ This Marchaunt whan that endit was the fayre To seynt Denys he gan for to rapayre And with his wyf he makyth feste & cheere And tellyth hyre that chaffare is so deere That nedys muste he make a cheyuyssance ffor he was boundyn in a reconyssance To payen twenty thousent sheeld a-non ffor with this marchaunt is to parys goo To borwe of certeyn frendys that he hadde A certeyn frankys & some with hym he ladde ¶ And whan that he was come in to the toun ffor gret chieretee & greet facoun Vn-too daun Iohn he fyrst goth hym to pleye Nat for to axe or borwe of hym monye But for to wete & se of his weel fare And for to tellyn hym of hys chaffare As frendys doon whan they been met in feere Daun Iohn hym makyth feste & myry chieere And hym tolde a-geyn ful specially How he hadde weel I-bouȝt & graciously Thankede be god al hol his marchaundyse Saue that he wolde in alle wyse Makyn a cheuyciaunce as for hise beste And thanne he schulde ben In Ioye & reste ¶ Daun Iohn answerede sertis I am fayn That ȝe in heele are comyn hom a-gayn And ȝif that I were ryche as I haue blys Of twenty thousant sheld schulde ȝe nat mys ffor ȝe so kyndely this othir day Lente me gold & as I can & may I-thankede be god & by seynt Iame But natheles I tok vn-to oure dame Ȝoure wyf at hom the same gold agayn Vp-on ȝoure benche sche wot it wel certeyn By certeyn tokenys that I can ȝow telle Now by ȝoure leue I may no lengere dwelle Oure abbot wole out of this toun a-noon And in his cumpaynye mote I goo Grete weel oure dame myn owene nece sweete And fare wel deere cosyn tyl we meete ¶ This marchaunt which that was ful war & wys Creanced hath & payed ek in parys To certeyn lumbardys redy in here hond The summe of gold & gat of hem his bond And hom he goth myrye as a popyniay ffor weele he knew he stood In swich aray That nedys mote he wynne in that vyage A thousent frankys a-bouyn al his Costage [Hys wyf fulle redy mette hym at þe ȝaate And she was wonte of olde vsage algate And alle þat nyȝt in myrthe þei be sette ffor he was ryche and clerely oute of dette Whan it was day þis Marchaunt gan enbrace Hys wyf alle newe and kyssed here in þe face And pp he gothe and makethe hit wonder towe No more quod she be god ye haue ynouȝe And wantonly with hym agayne she playde Tylle at þe laste þis Marchaunt sayde By god quod he I am a lytelle wrothe With you my wyfe alle þouȝe yt be me lothe And woote ȝe why by god as þat I gesse ffor ye haue made a manere of straungenesse Be-twexte me and my Cosyn Daun Iohn Ȝe shulde haue warned me or I hade goon. þat he hade you an hundred frankes payde[Sloane MS 1685] Be redy token · and he helde hym euel y-payde ffor þat I to hym spake of Cheuesaunce Me semyd so as by hys contenaunce But nathelees be god þat ys heuen kynge I þouȝte nouȝt to axe of hym no thynge I pray þe wyf ne do no more soo. Telle me alle way or þat I fro þe goo Ȝeue eny detoure hathe in myn absence I-payede þe laste þoroue þi necligence I myȝt hym axe as thynge þat he hade payde Thys wyf was not aferde nor afrayde But boldely she sayd and þat a-none Mare I defye þat false Monke Daūn Iohn I kepe not of hys tokens neuere a dele He toke me certayne golde I woote hit wele What euel þedom of hys monke snowet ffor god it woote I wende withoute doute þat he hade yeue it me be cause of you To done þere-with myne honoure & my prowe ffor cosynage and eke for beel chere þat he hath hade full ofte tyme here But siþen I see I stonde in suche disioynt I wylle answere you shortly to þe poynt Ȝe haue mo slacker dettours þan am I ffor I wille pay you wele and redely ffro day to day and if so be þat I fayle I am youre wyf score it on my tayle And I shalle pay as sone as euere I may ffor be myn trouþe I haue on myn array And not in waste bestowed euery dele And for I haue bestoyed it so wele To youre honour for goddes sake y say As be not wrothe bot let vs jape & play Ȝe shalle my Ioly body haue to wedde Be god I nelle not pay you but a bed ffor-yeue yt me myn owen spouse dere[Sloane MS 1685] Turne hyderward and make me better chere Thys Marchaunt sawe þere was no remedy And forto chyde it nere but foly Seþen hit may not amendid be And wyfe he sayde I forȝeue it þe But by þi lyf be no more so large. Kepe better my gode þis ȝeue I þe in charge Thus endeth nowe my tale and god vs sende Talynge ynouȝe vnto our lyfes ende // Amen Here endeth þe tale of þe Shipman Here begynneth þe Prolooge of þe Pryoresse WEle y-sayde be corpus Dominus quod oure hoost Nowe longe mote ye sayle be see cooste Sir gentil mayster gentil marynere God yeue þe Monke a þousand laste of quad ȝeere A ha felaw be ware of suche a jape The Monke putte in þe mannes hoode an ape And yn hys wyfes eke by seynt Dunstyn Droweth non monkes to your ynne But nowe passe ouere and let vs seke aboute Who shalle nowe telle of alle þis route An oþere tale and with þat worde he sayde As curteysely as hit hade bene a Mayde My lady Pryoresse with our leue So þat I you not wille to greue I wolde deme þat ye telle shulde A tale nexte yf so be þat ye wolde Nowe wolle ȝe vowchesafe my lady dere Gladly quod she and sayde as ye shall here Here endeth þe Prolooge and begynneth þe tale [The Prologue.]

[No breaks between the stanzas in Sloane, Cambr. or Harl. MS.]

 O lord oure lord þi nane so marvelous[Sloane MS 1685] ys in þis worlde y-sprad quod she ffor not only þi laude precious performed ys by men of dignyte But be þe mouthe of Children þi bownte Perfourmed ys for in oure brest soukynge Some tyme shewen þei þine heryinge Wherefore in lawde as I can beste & may Of the þat and of þe þat holy floure . . . . .no gap in the MS. To tellen a storie I woll do my labour Not þat I may encrece hir honoure ffor she hir self ys honoure & þerto roote Of bounte next hir sone of saules bote . . . . .no gap in the MS. O . bussh vnbrent brennynge in Moses siȝt But rauyssheþ doun fro þe dignete Thorouȝe þine humblenesse þe goste þat in þe lyȝt Of whos vertu whan he in þine hert lyȝt Conceyued was þe fadres sapience helpe me to telle yt in þine reuerence ¶ Lady þi bounte and þi magnificence Thy vertu and thy grete humilite There may no þinge expresse in no sentence ffor som tyme lady or men pray to þe þou geste be-fore of þi benygnite And geteste vs þe lyȝt/ þorouȝe þi prayere To leden vs vnto þi sone so clere Iy comynge ys to weyke O . blysfull quene[Sloane MS 1685.] fforto declare þi grete worthynesse þat I ne may þe wyȝt not sustene But as a chylde of twelfe moneth of age or lesse þat can vnneth eny worde expresse ffor so fare I and þerfore I you pray Gydeth my songe þat I shalle to you say [THE TALE.] There was a Chylde in a grete cite Amonge crysten folke in þe Iewrye Susteyned by a lord of þat countre ffor foule vsurye and lucre of vlanye þat felle to Cryste and to hys companye And þorouȝe þe streete men myȝt ryde & wende ffor hyt was fre and open at eyþere ende Plyte scoole of crysten folke þere stoode Doun atte fyrthere ende in whiche þere were Chyldren an heepe comen of crysten bloode þat lerned in þat scole yere by ȝeere Suche manere doctryne as men vsyd þere Thys ys to say to synge and to rede As smale Chyldren do in hir Chylde-heede Amonge þese children was a wydowe sone A lytel Clerygion seuen yeere of age þat day by day to scole was hys wone And also eke where as he saw þe ymage Of crystes modere hade he in vsage As hym was tauȝte to knele a-doun & say hys Aue marie as he goth by þe way Thus hathe þis wydowe hir litel Child tauȝt[Sloane MS 1685.] Oure blysfull lady Crystes modir dere To worshipe ay and he for-yate hit nouȝt ffor sely Chylde wylle al day sone lere But ay when I remembre me of þis matere Seynt Nicholace stonte euere in my presence ffor he so yonge to Crist dyd reuerence Thys Child his lytel booke lernynge As he sat in þe scole at hys primere he alma redemptoris mater herd synge As Children lernyd hir antephonere As · as he durste he drowe hym nere & nere And herkened ay þe wordes & þe noote Tylle he þe fyrste verse coude by roote Not what þat latyne was to seye ffor he so yonge and tendre was of age But on a day hys felawe he gan preye To expoune hym þis songe in hys langeage Or tellen hym why þis songe was in vsage Thus prayde him to construe and declare ffulle ofte tymes . on his knees bare Hys felawe whiche was eldere þan he Answeryd hym þus . þis songe I herde seye was made of oure blesfulle lady fre here to salowe and eke hir to preye To bene oure helpe and our socour whan we deye I can no more expone in þis matere I lerne songe I can but lytel gramere And ys þis songe made in reuerence Of crystes moder sayd þis Innocent Now certes I wylle do my diligent To konne þis or crystemasse be went Thouȝe I for my prymer shalle be shent And to be beten þryse on an oure I wolle yt konne oure lady to honoure Hys felawe tauȝte hym hamward pryuely ffro day to day til he coude yt by roote And þan he songe it wele and boldely ffro worde to worde accordynge with þe note Thrys on a day it passed þorouȝe hys þrote To scoleward and hamward whan he went On Crystes modir sett was hys entente ¶ As I haue sayd þorouȝe oute þe Iewrie Thys Chylde as he came to & fro ffulle merely þan wolde he synge & crye O alma redemptoris mater euere mo The swetnesse hath hys hert percid so Of Crystes moder þat to hir to praye he can not stynte of syngynge by þe weie][Sloane extract ends.] Oure fyrste fo the serpent satirnasCamb. MS That hath in Ieues herte his waspis nest Vp swal & seyde O ebraik peple allas Is this to yow a thyng that is honest That swich a boy schal walkyn as hym lest In ȝoure despyt & syngyn of swich centence Which is a-ȝens oure lawys reuerence ffrom thenys forth the Iewys han conspyred This innocent out of this world to chace An homycyde thereto han they heryd Rygh in an aley at a pryue place And as the child gan forth by-for to pace This cursede Iew hym hente & held hym faste And kitte his throte & in a pit hym caste I seye that in a warderope they hym threwe Where as these Iewys purgyn here entrayle O cursede folk of herodes al newe What may ȝoure euele entent ȝow a-vayle Mordere wele out certeyn it wele nat fayle And namely there as thonour of god schal sprede The blod out cryeth on youre cursede dede O martyr soudede to virginite Now mayst tow syngyn folwynge euere in on The whyte lamb celestial quod sche Of whiche the greete euangelyst seynt Iohn In pathmos wrot / which seyth that they that gon By-forn this lamb & synge a song al newe That neuere fleschely woman they ne knewe This pore widewe which that waytith al that nyȝt Aftyr hire lytyl chil[d] & he cam nouȝt ffor which as sone as it was dayis lyȝt With face pale of drede & busy thouȝt Sche hath at scole & elles were hym souȝt Tyl fynally sche gan so fer espye That he last seyn was in the Ieuerye With moderis pite in hire brest enclosed Sche goth as sche were half out of hire mynde To eueriplace where as sche hath supposid Be liklyhede / hire litil child to fynde And euere on crystis modyr meke & kynde Sche cryede & at the laste thus sche wrouȝte Among the cursede Iewys sche hym soughte Sche askyth & sche fraynyth pitously Of euery Iue that dwelte in thilke place To telle hire of hire child wente out forth by They seydyn nay but Ihesu of his grace Yaf in hire thouȝt with inne a lytyl space That in that place aftyr hire sone sche cryede Where he was casten in a pit be-syde O greete god that parfornedist this laude By mouth of innocentis lo here thyn myght This gemme of chastite this emeroude And ek of martyredom the rubye bryȝt There he with throte I-korvyn lygh vp ryght He alma redemptoris gan to synge So loude that al the place gan to rynge The cristene folk that thurgh the strete wente In comyn for to wonderyn vp-on this thyng And hastyliche they for the prouost sente He cam a-non with-outyn taryeng And heryeth Crist that is of heuene kyng And his modyr honour of mankynde And aftyr that the Iewis leet he bynde This child with pitous lamentacioun Vp takyn was syngynge his song alwey And with honour of greet processyoun They caryen hym vn-to the nexte abbey His modyr swoūnynge by the beere lay Vnnethe mygh[t]e the puple that was there This newe Rachel bryngyn from the beere With turnement & with schameful deth echon This prouost doth these Iewis for to sterue That of this mustere wiste & that a-noon He nolde non swich cursedenesse obserue Euele schal he haue that euele wele disserue Therefore with wilde hors he dede hem drawe And aftyr that he hyng hem by the lawe Vp-on this beere lyth ay this Innocent Byfore the highe auteer whil the masse laste And aftyr that the albot with his couent Han sped hem for to buryen hym ful faste And whan they holy watyr on hem caste Ȝit spak this child whan sprent was holy watyr And song . O alma redemptoris mater This Abbot which that was an holy man As monkys been or ellis oughten bee This yonge child to coniure he be-gan And seyde o deere child I halse the In vertu of the holy trynytee Telle me what is thyn cause for to synge Sithe that thyn throte is kit to myn lokynge Myn throte is kit vn-to myn nekke bon Seyde this child & as be woye of kynde I schulde a deyed ȝa longe tyme a-gon But Ihesu Crist as ȝe in bokys fynde Wele that his glorye laste & be in mynde And for the worschepe of his modyr deere Ȝit may I synge O Alma . loude & cleere This welle of mercy cristis modyr swete I louede alwey as aftyr myn cunnynge And whan that I myn lyf schulde for-lete To me sche cam & bad me for to synge This anteme verayly in myn deyinge As ȝe han herd & whan that I hadde sunge Me thouthe sche leyde a greyn vp-on myn tunge Wherfore I synge & synge mot certeyn In honour of that blysful maydyn fre Tyl fro myn tunge I-takyn is the greyn And aftyr that thus seyde sche to me Myn lytyl child now wele I feche the Whan that the greyn is from thyn tunge take Be nat agast I wele þe nat for-sake This holy monk this abbot hym mene I His tunge out caughte & tok awey the greyn And he ȝaf vp the gost ful softely And whan this abbot hadde this wondyr seyn Hise salte teris trekelede doun as reyn And grof he fel al flat vn-to the grounde And stille he lay / as he hadde leyn I-bounde The Conuent ek lay on the pauement Wepynge & herynge Cristis modyr deere And aftyr that they ryse & forth been went And toke awey this martir from his beere And in a toumbe of marbilstonys cleere Enclosyn they this lytil body sweete There he is now god leue vs for to meete O yonge Hugh of Lyncoln slayn also With cursede Iewis as it is notable ffor it is but a lytil while I-go Preye ek for vs we synful folk vnstable That of his mercy god so merciable On vs his greete mercy multyplye ffor reuerence of his modyr marye / Amen Heere hath the Prioresse endid hire tale Byhold the myrie talkynge of the Hoost to Chaucer WHan seyd was al this myrakele euery man As sobere was that wondir was to see Til that oure hoost Iapyn tho[later] be-gan And thanne at erst he lokede vp-on mee.i. Chaucer And seide thus what man art thow quod he Thow lokyst as thu woldyst fynde an hare ffor euere vp-on the ground I se the staare Approchith neer & loke vp myryely Now ware ȝow seris & lat this man haue place He in the wast is schape as weel as I This weere a popet in an arm tenbrace ffor ony weman smal & fayr of face He semyth eluych by his cuntenaunce ffor vn-to no wygh doth he no dalyaunce Sey now sumwhat syn othere folk han seyd Telle vs a tale of myrthe & that a-non Hoost quod I ne beth nat yuele apayed ffor othir tale certis can I non But of a rȳm I lernede longe a-goon Ȝe that is good quod he now schul we here Sum deynte thyng me thynkyth by hise cheere Heere begynnyth Chaucers tale of sere Thopas

[No breaks in the MS between the stanzas: third lines set on the right.]

 [Fyt I.] lTl[The illuminator has put T, instead of L as directed.] Estyth lordyngis in good entent And I wele telle verrayment Of myrthe & solas And of a knyght was fayr & gent In batayle & in turnement His name was sere Thopas I-born he was in fer cuntre In flaunderis al be-ȝounde þe see At poperyng in the place His fadir was a man ful fre And lord he was of that cuntre As it was godis grace Syre Thopas wex a doghty sweyn Whit was hise face as payn demayn Hise lippis rede as rose His rode is lyk skarlet engrayn As I ȝow telle in good certayn He hade a semely nose His heer his berd was lik saferon That to his gerdil raughte a-doun Hise schon of cordewayne Of brugis were hire hosyn broun His robe was of siklatoun That coste manye a Iayne He coude hunte at wilde deer And ryde on hauking for ryueer With grey goshauk & hunde Therto he was a good archier Of wrastelyng was theere non his pir Theere ony ram schal stonde fful manye a maydyn brygh in bour They mornede for hym paramour whan hem were bet to slepe But he was chast and no lechour And sweete as is the brymbil flour that beryth the rede hepe And so it fil vp-on a day ffor-sothe as I ȝow telle may Sire Thopas wolde out ryde He worthith vp-on hise stede bay And in his hand a launcegay A long swerd by his syde He prykyth thorw a fayr forest Therein is manye a wylde best ye bothe bukkys & hare And as he prykyth north & est I telle it ȝow hym hadde al-mest Bytid a sory care Theere spryngyn erbis grete & smale The lycorys & the Cetewale And manye a clowe Ielofere And notemuge to putte in ale Whethir it be moyst or stale Or for to leye in cofere The bryddys synge it is non nay The sperhauk & the popyniay That Ioye it was to heere The thrustilcok made ek his lay The wode douwe vp-on the spray sche song ful loude & cleere Sire Thopas fil in loue longynge Al whan he herde the thrustil synge And prikede as he were wod Hise fayre stede in hise prykynge So swatte that men myȝte hym wrynge Hise sydys were al blod Sere topas ek so wery was ffor prykynge on the softe gras So fiers was hise corage That doun he leyde hym in the plas To makyn his stede sum solas And ȝaf hym good forage O seynte marye benedicite What eylyth this loue at me To bynde me so soore Me dremede al this nyght parde An Elf queene schal myn leman be And slepe vndyr myn goore An Elf queene wele I haue I-wis ffor in this world no woman is Worthi to ben myn make In tounne Alle othere women I forsake And to an elf queene I me be-take by dale & ek by doūne In-to his sadyl he clomb a-non And prykyth ouyr style & ton An elf queen for tespye Til he so longe hath rydyn & goon That he fond in a pryue woon The cūntre of fayrye So wilde for in that cuntree was there non . . . . .no gap in the MS. Neythir wif ne childe Til that theere cam a greet geaunt His name was sire olyfaunt A parlious man of dede He seyde child by termagaunt But ȝif thow pryke out of myn haunt Anon I sle thyn steede With Mace Here is this queen of fayrye With harpe & pype & Symphonye Dwellynge in this place The child seyde also mote I the To morwe wele I meete the Whan I haue myn armoure And ȝit I hope parmafay That thow schat with thyn launcegay Abyen it ful soure Thy mawe Thyn hauberk schal I persen if I may Er it be fully pryme of the day ffor heere schalt thow[altered] been slawe Syre Thopas drow a-bok ful faste This Ieaunt at hym stonys caste Out of a fel staf slynge But fayre eschapith sire thopas And al was thour godys gras And thour his fayre berynge Yit lestyth lordyngis to myn tale Muryere than the nyghtyngale I wele ȝow roune How sire Thopas with sydis smale Prykynge ouyr hil & dale Is comyn a-geyn to toūne Hise merye men comaundede hee To make hym bothe gamyn & glee for nedys muste he fyghte With a geaunt with hedis thre ffor paramour & Iolyte Of oon that schon ful bryȝt Do come he seyde myne mynstralis And Gestourys for to tellyn talys A-non in myn armyng Of romauncis that been royalis Of popis & of Cardenalys And ek of loue lykynge They fette hym fyrst swete wyn And mede ek in a Mahelyn And royal spicerye Of gynge breed that was ful fyn And lychorys & ek comyn With sugere that is trye He dede next his white lere Of cloth of lake fyn & cleere A brech & ek a scherte And next his schirte an aketoun And ouyr that an habyrioun[altered] for persynge of his herte And ouyr that a fyn hauberk Was al I-wrouȝt of Iewys werk ful stronge it was of plate And ouyr that his coote armour As whit as is a lylye flour In whiche he wolde debate Hese shild was al of gold so red[These lines are written in an other hand over an erasure.] And there in was a borys hed[These lines are written in an other hand over an erasure.] A Charbokele by his syde And there he swor on ale & breed How that the Ieaunt schulde be deed By-tyde what betyde Hise Iambieux were of quyrboyly His swerdys schede of yuory Hise helm of latoun bryȝt His sadil was of rewel boon His brydyl as the sunne It schon Or as the moone lyght Hise spere was of fyn cipres That biddyth werre and no thyng pees The hed ful scharpe Igrounde Hise steede was of dapil gray It goth an ambil in the way ful softeli & rounde In londe Lo lordyngis[altered] myne here is a fyt If ȝe wele ony moore of it To telle it wele I fonde [Fyt II.] Now holdyth ȝoure mouth for charyte bothe knygh & lady free And herkenyth to myn spelle Of batayle & of chyualry And of ladyis loue drewery A-noon I wele ȝow telle Men spekyn of romauncis of prys Of hornchild & of Ipotys Of Beevis & sire Gy Of sire lybeus & playndamour But sire Thopas beryth the flour Of royal chyualry His goode stede al he be-strod And forth vp-on his weye he glod As sparkele out of bronde [Vp on his creste he bar a tour. And ther yn stiked a lilye flour. God schilde his cors fro schonde. ¶ And for he was knyght Auntrous. He ne slepte in non hous. But logged in his hood. His bright helme was his wonger. And bi hym baited his dester. Of herbis fyn & good. ¶ Hym self drank water of the welle.[Harl. MS 1758] As dide the knyght sir Percyuelle. So worthely vnder wede. Till it was on a daye. ¶ Here endeth Sir Thopas.] [The prolog of Mellibe NO more of this for goddes dignite Quod oure oost for þou makest me So wery of þin lewdenes That also wisly god me bles Myn eres ake of thi darsty speche Now suche a ryme þe deuel I be-teche This may be wel ryme dogerell quod he Whi so quod I why wilt þou lette me More of my tale than an other man Sethyns it is þe beste ryme I can By god quod he pleynly I the say Thou shalt no lenger rymen here to day Thow dost noght elles but dyspendest tyme Sire oo word þou shalt no lenger ryme Let see wheþer þou canst telle ought in geste Or telle in prose somwhat at þe leste In whiche þer be somme merthe & som doctrine Gladly quod I by goddes swete pyne I wil ȝou telle a litel thing in prose That oughte lyke ȝou as I suppose Other elles certes ȝe ben to daungerous Hit is a moral tale vertuous Al be hit tolde somtyme in sundry wyse Of sondry folk as I shal ȝou deuyse As þus ȝe wote wel euery euaungeliste þat telleth vs of Ihesu Crist Ne saith not al þing as his felawe doth But natheles her sentence is al soth And alle accorden as in her sentence Al be ther in her tellynge difference for some of hem seyn more & somme seyn lesse when þey his pitous passion expresse I mene of Marc Matheu Luke and Iohn But douteles her sentence is al on þerfore lordynges alle [I] ȝou beseche Ȝif þat ȝe þinke I varye in my speche As þus ȝif þat I telle somwhat more Of prouerbes þen ȝe haue herd byfore Comprehendid in þis litel tretys here To enforce with þe effecte of my matere And þoughe I nadde þe same wordes saye As ȝe han herd ȝit to alle ȝou I praye Blameth me not for as in myn sentence ȝe schal not fynden moche difference ffro þe sentence of þe tretys lyte After þe whiche þis mery tale I wryte And herkeneth what I schal seye And lete me telle my tale I preye Here endith the prolog //] [Here endith the prolog // And begynneþ the tale of Melibe

[There are no line-numbers or breaks between the paragraphs in the MS. Tyrwhitt's breaks are kept here to prevent slight differences in the Six Texts throwing out many lines.]

MS Reg. 18 C II, on leaf 197.]

[2157] A Yong man whilom celled Melibe myghti and ryche bygat vpon his wyf þat called was prudence a doughter whiche þat cleped sapience.

[2158] vpon a day fel þat he for his disport is went in to þe feldes him to pleye / [2159] his wyf and eke his doghter hath he left with-ynne his hous of whiche þe dores were faste I-schet // [2160] ffoure of his olde foos han hit aspyed. and . setten laddres to þe walles of his hous and by þe wyndowes ben entred [2161] and betyn hys wyf and wounded his doughter with fyue mortal woundes in fyue sondry places / [2162] This is to sayn in here feet in here hond and in here eres in hire nose and in here mouth & laften her for deed and wenten here way //

[2163] When Melibeus retorned was aȝeyn vntil his hous and sawh all þis meschief // And he I-lyke a mad man rend|yng his clothes gan to wype and crye euerlenger þe more //

[2164] Prudence his wyf as ferforth as sche durste by-soght him of his wepyng for to stynte [2165] but noght for-thi he gan to wipe & crye euer the lenger þe more //

[2166] This noble wyf prudence remembred here on þe sentence of Ovide in his book þat cleped is þeOvidius remedye of loue / where he saith: [2167] he is a fool þat desturbeth þe moder for to wipe in þe deeth of hire child til sche haue wepte her fille for a certeyn tyme: [2168] Then schal man don his diligence with amyable wordes hire to conforte and to preye hire of her wepyng for to stynte; [2169] for whiche reson this noble prudence suffred her housbonde for to wepe and crye as for a certayn space // [2170] And when she sawh her tyme she saide him in þis wyse / Alas my lord quod she whi make ȝe ȝoure self for to be lyke a fool; [2171] fforsothe it perteyneth not to a wisman to maken suche a sorwe / [2172] ȝoure Doughter with þe grace of god shal be warisched and askape / [2173] And all were it so þat sche right nowe were deed ȝe oughte not as for her deth] Camb. Univ. Libr. MS Gg, 4. 27, begins here.ȝoure self dystroye // [2174] ¶ Senec seyth the wyse man schal nat take to greet disconfort for the deth of hise childeryn / [2175] but certis he schulde sufferyn it in pacience As wel as he a-bydyth the deth of hise propere persone /

[2176] ¶ This Melibeus answerde a-noon & seyde / What man quod he schulde of his wepynge stynte / that hath so greet a cause for to weepe / [2177] Ihesu crist oure lord hym self wepte for the deth of lasarus his freend [2178] ¶ Prudence answerede / crertys weel I wot / Atempre wepyng is no thyng defendit to hym that sorweful is a-mongis folk / in sorwe / but it is rathere graunted hym to weepe [2179] ¶ The apostele paule vn-to the romaynys wrythth / Man schal reioyse with hem that makyn Ioye / And wepyn with sweche folk as wepyn / [2180] but thogh attempere wepyng be grauntid / outrageous wepynge certis is defendid / [2181] mesure of wepynge schulde been consideryd aftyr the loore that techith vs Senek [2182] ¶ Whan that thyn frend is deed quod he / let not thynne eyen to moyste been of teerys / ne to meche dreye / Al-thow thynne terys comyn to thynne eyen / lat hem nat fallyn [2183] And whan thow hast forgoon thyn freend . . .no gap in the MS. & this is moore wysdom / than for to wepyn for thyn frend / whiche that thow hast loryn / for theere-inne is no boote / [2184] And therfore ȝif ȝe gouerne ȝow be sapience putte awey sorwe out of ȝoure hertis / [2185] Rememberyth yow that Ihesus Syrat seyth A man that is ioyous & glad in herte / it hym con|seruyth floryschynge in his Age / & sothly sorweful herte makyt hise bonys dreye [2186] he seyth ek thus that sorwe in herte; sleth ful manye a man [2187] ¶ Sa|lomon seyth / that ryght as mothis in the schepis flesch anoyeth to the clothis / & the smale wermys to the tree / rygh so anoyith sorwe to the herte. [2188] Wherefore vs oughte as weel in the deth of oure childeryn; as in the loos of oure goodys temperelys haue pacience

[2189] ¶ Remembrith yow vp-on the paciente Iob / Whan he hadde lost hise childeryn & his temperel sul|staunce / & in his body endurynge & resceyuyd ful manye a greuous trybulacioun / yet seyde he thus [2190] ¶ Oure lord hath [sente it me / oure lord hath] be-raft it me / rygh so as oure lord hath wold / rygh so it is don / I-blyssede be the name of oure lord / [2191] ¶ To these forseyde thyngis Answerde Melybeus to his wyf prudence ¶ Alle thynne wordys quod he been sothe & therto pro|fitabele / but trewely myn herte is troubeled / with this sorwe so greuously / that I not what to don. [2192] ¶ Lat calle quod Prudence thyn trewe frendys alle And thyn lynage / whiche that been wyse tellyth ȝoure cas And herkenyth what they seye in conseylynge And ȝow gouerne aftyr here sentente [2193] ¶ Salomon seith werke alle thyn thyngis by conseyl; & thow schalt neuere repente

[2194] ¶ Thanne by the conseyl of his wyf Prudence; this Mellibeus leet callyn / a gret congregacioun / of folk / [2195] as Surgeons Phisiciens olde folk And ȝynge & some of hise olde enemyis reconsyled As by here semblaunt / to his loue & in to hise grace / [2196] & therewithal theere come some of hise negheboris That dydyn hem reuerence / moore for dreede than for loue as it happith ofte / [2197] There comyn also manye subtyle flatererys / & wise aduocatys / lernede in the lawe

[2198] ¶ And whan these folk togedere assemblede were / this Mellibeus in sorweful wyse / schewede hem his cas / [2199] & by the manere of hise speche / it semyd that in herte he bar a crewel yre / redy to doon venge|aunce vp-on hise fois / & sodeynly desyrede that the werre schulde begynne / [2200] but neuere the les ȝit axede he here conseyl / vp-on this matyere / [2201] A surgeen by lycence / And assent of sweche as were wyse vp ros & vn|to Melybeus seyde as ye may here

[2202] ¶ Sire quod he / as to vs surgeenys apertenyth that we do to euery wight the beste / that we can wheere as we been with holdyn / And to oure pacient that we don no damage / [2203] Wherfore it happith manye tyme / & ofte that whan twey men / hath euerych woundyd othyr .O. same surgeen helyth hem bothe / [2204] Wherfore vn-to oure art it is nat perteynent to noryche werre / ne partyis to supporte [2205] ¶ But sertys as to the waryschyng of ȝoure doughtir Al be it so sche be perlyously woundit we schul do so ententyf bysynesse / from day to nygh That with the grace of god sche schal been hool & sound / as soone as is possible / [2206] Almost ryȝt in the same wyse the phisycionys answeredyn / Saue that they seydyn a fewe wordys moore / [2207] that ryght as maladyis ben cureede by here contraryis / rygh so schal men waryche / werre; by vengeaunce [2208] ¶ Hise neghe|boris ful of enuye / Hise feynede frendis that semede reconsyled & hise flatererys [2209] madyn semblaunt Of wepyng / & empeyrede & agregede meche of this matyr. in preysynge greetly Mellibie / of mygh of power / of rychesse & of frendys / despisynge the power of hise aduersaryis [2210] & seydyn vtrely that thy schuldyn Anon wrekyn hym on hise fois & begynne werre /

[2211] vp ros thanne an Aduocat / that was wys / by leue & by conseyl of othere / that weere wyse & seyde [2212] ¶ Lordyngis the neede which that we been assembled in this place / is ful heuy thyng / & an heygh matire [2213] by cause of the wrong & the wikkedenesse that hath been doon / & ek by resoun of the greete damages / that in tyme comynge been possible to fallyn for the same / [2214] & ek by resoun of the greete rychesse & power of the partyis bothe [2215] for the whiche resonys / it weere a ful greet peril / to erryn in this matyer [2216] ¶ Wherefore Mellybeus this is oure sentens. we conseyle ȝow a-bouyn alle thynge / that rygh a-non thow do thyn dylygence / in kepynge of thyn propre persone in swich a wyse / that thow ne wante noon espie / ne wache thyn body for to saue [2217] ¶ And aftyr that we conseyle That in thyn hous thu sette suffyciaunt garnysoun. so that they may as weel thyn body as thyn hous defende [2218] But certys for to meue werre / ne sodeynly for to doon vengeauns we may not deme in so lytyl tyme. that it weere profit|able / [2219] Wherfore we axe leyser & espase to haue delyberacioun / in this cas to deeme [2220] ffor the comune prouerbe seyth this / He that soone demyth sone schal repente; [2221] & ek men seyn that thylke Iuge is wys that sone vndyrstondyth a matiere And Iugith be leyseer / [2222] for al be it so that alle taryinge be a-noyeful algatis it is not to be repreuyd in yeuynge of iugement / ne in vengeaunce takynge whan it is suffisaunt & resonabele / [2223] & that schewede oure lord Ihesu cryst by en|saumple / for whan that woman was takyn in auouterye was brough in his presence to knowyn what schulde been don of hire persone / al be it that he wyste weel / hym self what that he wolde answere; yet ne wolde he nat answere sodeynly but he wolde haue deliberacioun & in the ground he wrot / twyis / [2224] & by these causis; we axe deliberacioun & we schul thanne by the grace of god conseyle the thyng that schal been profitable //

[2225] vp styrtyn thanne the ȝonge fok at onys & the moste partye of that cumpanye / han skorned this olde wise man And begunne to make noyse / & seydyn / that [2226] ryght so as whil that yryn is hoot / men schuldyn smytyn. rygh so schuldyn men wreke here wrongis / whil that they been frosche & newe & with loude voys. [se escrièrent, "guerre! guerre! guerre!"

[2227] Adonc se leva un des anciens,] And with hise hand made contenaunce that men schuldyn holdyn hem stylle / and ȝeuyn hym audience. [2228] lordyngis quod he theere is ful manye a man that cryeth werre werre; that wot ful lytil what werre amountyth / [2229] werre at hise begynny[n]g hath so greet an entre and so large; that euery whight may entre whan hym lykyth / & lyghtely fynde werre / [2230] but certis what ende therof schal falle; it is nat lyght to knowe [2231] ffor sothly whan that werre is onys begunne; there is ful manye a child born of hise modyr that schal sterue ȝong be cause of thilke werre / & ellys lyue in sorwe & deye in wrechedenesse / [2232] And therefore or that ony werre begynne men must haue gret conseyl / & gret deliberacyoun [2233] And whan this olde man wende for to enforse his tale be resouns wel nygh alleattonys / bygunne they to ryse / for to brekyn his tale & bodyn hym ful oftyn hise wordis to abregge [2234] for sothly he that prechith to hem / that lestyth not to heere hise wordys; his; sarmoun hem anoyeth [2235] ¶ ffor Ihesus Syrak seyth. that Musik in wepynge; is a-noyous thyng this is to seyne / as meche avaylyth to speke by-fore folk / to whiche hise speche anoyeth as doth to synge be-fore hym that wepith [2236] ¶ And whan that þis wyse man wantede audience; al schamefast he sette hym doun / agayn [2237] ¶ ffor salomon seyth. There as thow maght haue noon audience / enforce the not to speke / [2238] I se weel quod this wyse man that the comune prouerbe is soth that good conseyl wantyth whan it is most neede. [2239]

And ȝit hadde this Mellibeus in his conseyl manye folk that priuyly in hise eere conseylede hym / certeyn thyng. & conseyllede hym the contrarye; in general audyence// [2240] Whanne Melibeus hadde herd that the grettere partye of his conseyl were acorded that he schulde make werre; a-noon he concentede to here conseylynge And fully affermede hire centence [2241] ¶ Thanne dame. prudence / whan that sche saw how that hire husbonde schop hym for to wreke hym on hise fois & to begynne werre / Sche in ful humble wyse whan sche sagh hire tyme / seyde hym these wordys [2242] Myn lord quod sche / I ȝow beseche al hertyly / as I dar & can. ne hastyth ȝow to faste / And for alle guerdounnys as ȝeuyth me audyence [2243] ¶ ffor Piers Alfonce seyth / who so that doth to the othir good or harm / haste the not to quite it / for in this wise / thi frend wole abyde / & thyn enemy schal the lengere lyue in drede // [2244] The prouerbe seyth / he hastyth weel that wisely can abyde / And in wikke hast is no profyt

[2245] ¶ This Melibee answerede vn-to his wyf prudence I purpose [. . . .] not to werkyn by thyn conseyl for manye causis & resonys / for certys euery whit wele holdyn me thanne a fool / [2246] this is to seyne / If I for thyn conseylynge wolde schaunge thyngis that been ordeyned And afformede be so manye wise [2247] ¶ Sec|undely I seye. That alle wemen been wekke & noon good of hem alle. ffor of a thousent men seyth Salomon / I fond on good man / but certis of alle wemen good weman fond I neuere [2248] ¶ And also certys ȝif I gouernede me by thyn conseyl; it schulde seme that I hadde ȝouyn the the maisterye / & goddys forbode that it so were / [2249] for Ihesus Sirak seyth / that ȝif the wyf haue the maysterye / sche is contraryous to hire husbonde [2250] ¶ And Salomon seyth neuere in thyn lyf to thyn wyf / ne thyn child / ne to thyn frend ne ȝeue power ouyr thyn self / for bettere it weere That thynne childeryn axsyn of thyn persone thyngis that hem nedyth; than thow see thyn self in the hondys of thynne childeryn / [2251] And also ȝif I wolde werke by thyn conseylyng / certis myn conseyl muste been secre til it weere tyme that it muste ben knowe & this it may nat bee [2252. For it is written, 'the Iangelerye of women can hide thyngis that they wot nought.' [2253] Furthermore the philo|sopher saith, 'in wikkede conseyl wemen venquysse men;' and for these reasons I ought not to make use of thy counsel. See lines 2274, 2280, p. 209, 210, below.] [2254]

WHan dame Prudence ful debonerly & with greet pacience hadde herd al that hire husbonde hadde seyd & that hym likede for to seyne / thanne axed sche of hym lycence for to spekyn & seyde in this wyse [2255] ¶ Myn lord quod sche as to ȝoure fyrste resoun certis it may lyghtely been answeryd ffor I seye that it is no folye for to chaunge conseyl / whan the thyng is chaungit / or ellys whan the þyng semyth othir wyse than it was by forn / [2256] And moore-ouyr I seye / that thogh that ȝe han sworn & by-hight to perforne ȝoure empryse / & nathe-les ye weyue to perforne tilke same empryse by iuste cause / men schulde nat seyn therefore / that ȝe weere a lyere ne for-sworn [2257] for the bok seyth that the wyse man makyth no lesynge; whan he turnyth hise corage to the bettere. [2258] And al be it so that ȝoure empryse be establid & ordeined / by gret multitude of folk / ȝit thar ȝe not accomplyssche thikke same ordynau[n]ce but ȝow lyke // [2259] ffor the trouthe of thyngis & the profyt been rathere ffoundyn in fewe folk that been wyse & ful of resoun than by greet multytude of folk theere euery man cryeth & clateryth what that hym lykyth / sothly swich multytude is nat honest / [2260] And to the secunde resoun wheere that ȝe seyn that alle wemen been wekke. saue ȝoure grace / certis ȝe dispise alle wemen in this wyse / & he that alle dispiseth; alle displesyth as seyth the book / [2261] & senek seyth / that who so wele haue sapi|ence. schal no man dispreyse / but he schal gladly teche the cience that he can; with-outyn presumpcioun or pride / [2262] And sweche thyngis as he nought ne can; he schal not been aschamed to lerne hem / & enquyre of lasse folk than hym self [2263] And syre that theere hath been ful manye a good woman; may lyghtely been preuyd / [2264] for certys / sere oure lord Ihesu crist / wolde neuere han descendit to been born of a woman; ȝif alle wemen hadde been wekke / [2265] And aftyr that for the greete bounte / that is in oure lord Ihesu crist / whan he was resyn from deth to lyue / aperede rathere to a woman than to hise apostellis / [2266] And thogh that salomon seyth that he ne fond neuere woman good; it ne folwyth nat therfore that alle wemen been wikke / [2267] for thow that he ne fond no good woman; certys manye a nothir man hat foundyn manye a woman ful good & trewe [2268] ¶ Or ellis the entent of Salomon perauenture was this / that as in souerein bounte he fond no woman / [2269] this is to seyne that theere is no wyȝt that hath souereyn bountee saue god a-lone / as he hym self recordyth in hise Euaun|gelie [2270] for theere is no cryature so good; that he ne wanthith sumwhat of the perfeccioun of god that is his makere [2271] ¶ Youre thredde resoun is this / ȝe seyn þat ȝif ȝe gouerne ȝow by myn conseyl; it schulde seme that ȝe hadde ȝeue me the maystrye & the lordschepe ouyr ȝoure persone / [2272] Sire saue ȝoure grace / it is nat so / for if it so were that no man schulde been conseyled but only of hem that hadde lordschepe & maystrye of his persone; men wolde nat been conseyled / so ofte / [2273] for sothly thilke man that axsith conseyl of a purpos / ȝit hath he fre choys whether he wele werke by that conseyl / or noon [2274] ¶ And as to ȝoure forte resoun / there ȝe seyen that the Iangelerye of women can hide thyngis that they wot nought As ho sey that a woman can not hyde that sche wot [2275] Sire these wordys been vndyr|stonde / of women that been Iangleressis / & wekkede / [2276] of whiche wemen men seyn / that thre thyngis dryuyn a man out of his hous / that is to seyne smoke / droppynge of reyn & wikkede wyuys / [2277] And of sweche wemen seyth salomon / that it weere bettere to dwelle in disert; than with a wekkede woman that is ryotous / [2278] And sire by ȝoure leue that am not .I. [2279] for ȝe han ful ofte assayed myn grete sylence & myn greete pacience / & ek how wel that I can hyde & helyn thyngis that men oughtyn secrely to hidyn [2280] ¶ And sothly as to ȝoure fyfte resoun where as ȝe seyn that in wikkede con|seyl / wemen venquysse men / god wot thikke resoun stant heere in no stede / [2281] for vndyrstonde now ȝe axe conseyl to do wekkedenesse / [2282. et se tu vouloies user de mauvais conseil et de mal faire] & ȝoure wif restreynyth thilke wekkede purpos / & ouyr-comyth ȝow be resoun & be good conseyl / [2283] certys ȝoure wyf; oughte rathere been preysed / than I-blamyd / [2284] thus schul ȝe vndyr|stonde the philysophere / that seyth In wekkede conseyl women wenquysschyn here husbondys [2285] ¶ And theere as ȝe blamyn alle wemen & here resonys / I schal schewe manye ensaumplys that manye a woman hath been ful good and ȝit been / & here conseylys holsom & profitable [2286] ¶ Ek sum men han seyd that the conseylynge of women is othir to dere or to lytyl of prys [2287] but al be it so that ful manie a woman is badde & here conseyl vile / & not worth / ȝit han men foundyn ful manye a good woman / & ful descreet & wis in conseyllynge / [2288] lo Iacob by conseyl of hise moodyr Rebekka / wan the benysoun of ysaak his fadyr & the lordschepe ouyr alle hise bretheryn / [2289] Iudith by hire goode conseyl; delyuerede the cete of Bethulye in whiche sche dwellede out of the bondys of Olofernus / that hadde it be-segit & wolde it al distroye [2290] ¶ Abygail deliuerede Nabal hire husbonde from Dauid the kyng þat wolde han slayn hym & a-paysed the yre of the kyng bi hire wit / & by hyre goode con|seylyng [2291] Hester by hire goode conseyl / enhaunsede gretly the peple of god in the regne / of Assuerus the kyng [2292] ¶ And the same bountee in good conseylyng of manye a good woman may men telle / [2293] & moore ouyr / whan that oure lord hadde creat Adam / oure forme fadyr / he seyde in this wyse / [2294] It is not good to be a man a-loone / make we to hym an helpe / semblable to hym self // [2295] Heere may ȝe se / that if that wemen weere not goode / ne here conseyl good & profytable; [2296] oure lord god of heuene wolde neythir han wrouȝt hem / ne callede hem helpe of man / but rathere confusyoun of man / [2297] And there seyde onys a clerk in two wers / What is betere than gold. Iaspre. What is betere than Iaspre / Wysdom / [2298] What is betere than wysdom / woman / & What is betere than good woman / no thyng. [2299] And sire by manye oþere resonys may ȝe se þat manye weemen been goode / & here conseyl good & profitable / [2300] and therfore ȝif ȝe wele troste to myn conseyl; I schal restore ȝow ȝoure douȝtyr hol & sound / [2301] and ek I wele do ȝow so mechil that ȝe schul haue honour in this cause [2302]

WHan Melibee / hadde herd the wordys / of his wyf Prudence / he seyde thus [2303] ¶ I se wel that the word of Salomon is soth // he seyth that wordis / that been spokyn discreetly by ordenaunce; been hony|combis / for they ȝeue swetenesse / to the soule / & holsom|nesse to the body [2304] ¶ And wif by cause / offe thynne swete wordys / and ek for I haue asayed & preuyd thyn greete sapience / & thyn greete trouthe / I wele gouerne me by thyn conseyl in alle thynge /. [2305]

NOw seere quod dame prudence / an syn ȝe wouche saf to been gouernyd by myn conseyl / I wele enforme ȝow / how ȝe schul gouerne ȝow / self in chesynge of ȝoure conseyl [2306] ¶ ȝe schal fyrst in alle ȝoure werkys / meekely besekyn to the hye god that he wele been ȝoure conseylour / [2307] and schapith ȝow to swych entente that he ȝeue ȝow conseyl & confort as tauȝte Thobie his sone // [2308] At alle tymys thow schat plese god / And preye hym to dresse thynne weyis / and loke þat alle thynne conseylis / been in hym for euere moore / [2309] seynt Iame / ek seyth / If onye of ȝow haue nede of sapience / axe it of god / [2310] And aftyrward thanne schal ȝe take conseyl in ȝoure self / & examyne wel ȝoure thouȝtis / of sweche thyngis / as ȝow thynkyth that been best for ȝoure profyt [2311] and thanne schul ȝe dryue forth / from ȝoure herte the thyngis that been contrarious to good conseyl / [2312] that is to seyne / yre coueytyse / & hastyfnesse /

[2313] ffyrst he that axsith conseyl of hymself / certis he muste ben with-outyn Ire / for manye causes // [2314] The ferste is this / he that hat gret wrathe & yre in hym self he wenyth alwey that he may don thyng; that he may not doon / [2315] And secundely he that is yrous / & wratheful / he ne may not wel deme / [2316] And he that may not wel deme / may not weel conseyle [2317] ¶ A|nothir is this / that he that is yrous & wratheful as seyth Senek / ne may not spekyn but blameful thyngis / [2318] and with hise vicyous wordis he steryth othere folk to angir / & to yre [2319] ¶ And ek sere ȝe muste dryue coueytyse out of ȝoure herte [2320] ffor thapostele seyth / that coueytyse / is rote of alle harmys / [2321] & truste weel / that a coueytous man ne can not deeme ne thynke; but only to fulfylle the ende of his coueytyse / [2322] and sertis that ne may neuere / been aconplichit / ffor euere the moore habundaunce that he hath of rychesse the more he desyryth [2323] ¶ And the moste also dryuyth out of ȝoure herte / hastyfnesse / for certys [2324] ȝe may not demyn for the beste of a sodeyn thouȝt that fallyth in ȝoure herte but ȝe muste avyse ȝow on it ful ofte / [2325] for as ȝe herde heere be-forn / the comune prouerbe / is this / that he that sone demyth soone repentyth //

[2326] Sire ȝe been not alwey I-lyk in disposicioun / [2327] for certys sum thyng / that sumtyme semyth to ȝow that it is good for to do; a nothir tyme it semyth to ȝow the contrarye

[2328] ¶ Whan ȝe han takyn conseyl in ȝoure self / & han demyd by good deliberacioun / swych thyng as ȝow semyth best / [2329] thanne rede I ȝow that ȝe kepe it secree / [2330] bewreye not ȝoure conseyl to no persone / but if so be that ȝe wenyn sekyrly / that thorw ȝoure bewreyinge / ȝoure condycioun schal ben to ȝow the moore profitable // [2331] ffor Ihesus Syrak seyth neythir to thyn fo ne to thyn frend / discouere not thyn secre ne thyn folye / [2332] for they wele ȝeue ȝow audyence & lokynge & supportacioun in ȝoure presence / & skorne ȝow in ȝoure absence / [2333] A nothir clerk seyth / that skarsely schalt thow fyndyn ony persone / that may kepe conseyl secrely / [2334] the bok seyth / whil that thow kepist thyn conseyl in thyn herte thow kepist it in thyn prysoun / [2335] And whan thow bewreyist thyn conseyl to ony whit he holdyth the in his snare [2336] And therfore ȝow is betere / to hyde ȝoure conseil in ȝoure herte; than preyen hym to whom ȝe han bewreyed ȝoure conseyl; that he wele kepe it clos & stylle [2337] ¶ ffor Seneca seyth If so be that thow ne mayst / not thyn owene conseyl hyde; how mayst thow preye ony othir whit thyn conseyl secrely to kepyn / [2338] But natheles ȝif thow wene sekyrly that thyn bewreyinge of thyn conseyl to a persone wele make thyn condycioun stondyn in the betere plyt thanne schat thow telle hym tyn conseyl in this wyse [2339] ffyrst thow schat make no semblaunt whethir the were leuere pes or werre / or this or that / ne shew hym nat thyn wil ne thyn entent / [2340] for troste weel that comounly these / conseylourys been flatererys [2341] namely the conseylourys of greete lordis / [2342] for they enforse hem alwey rathere to speke plesaunte wordis enclynynge to othere lordys lust; than othere that been trewe / & profitable / [2343] And therfore men seyn / that ryche men / han selde good con|seyl / but if he haue it of hym self / [2344] and aftyr that thow schat considere thyne frendys / & thynne enemyis. [2345] And as touchinge thyne frendys / thow schat con|sideryn whiche are most feythful / & most wys & oldeste & most apreuid in conseylynge / [2346] & of hem schalt thow axe thyne conseyle; as the caas requiryth /

[2347] I seyde that fyrst ȝe schul clepyn to ȝoure con|seyl ȝowre frendis that been trewe // [2348] ffor Salomon seyth that ryȝt as the herte of a man delythth in sauour that is sote / ryȝt so the conseyl of trewe frendys ȝeuyth swetnesse to the soule / [2349] & he seyth also theere may no thyng [be] to the trewe frend / [2350] for certis gold ne syluyr ben not so meche worth; as the goode wyl of a trewe frend [2351] ¶ And ek he seyth that a trewe frend / is a strong defens / who so that it fyndyth; sertis he fyndyth a greet tresor [2352] ¶ Thanne schul ȝe ek considere If that ȝoure trewe frendis; been descreete / & wise ffor the bok seyth / Axse alwey thyn conseyl of hem that been wyse / [2353] And by this same resoun / schul ȝe clepyn to ȝoure conseyl / of ȝoure frendis / that been of age / Sweche as han seyn / & been expert in manye thyngis And been apreuyd in manye thyngis conseilynge / [2354] ffor the bok seyth that in olde men is the sapience / & in long tyme the prudence // [2355] And tullius seyth / that greete thyngis ne ben not ay accompliced / be strenthe ne be delyuerenesse of body / But by conseyl be autoritee of personys / & by science / the whiche thre thyngis ben not feblid by age / but certys they enforsyn & en|cresyn day be day // [2356] And thanne schal ȝe keepe this for a general reule / ffyrst schal ȝe clepe to ȝoure conseyl a fewe of ȝoure frendys that been especial [2357] ffor Salomon seyth / Manye frendis haue thow / but a-mong a thousent cheese the on to been thyn conseyl|our [2358] ffor al be it so / that thow ne telle thyn conseyl but to a fewe / thow mayst aftyrward tellyn it to mo yf it be neede / [2359] but loke alwey that thyn conseylouris haue thilke thre condiciounnys / that I haue seyd before / þat is to seye / that they been trewe wyse & of old experience / [2360] And werke not in euery thingis alwey be on conseylour alone / for sumtyme byhouyth it to been conseyled by manye / [2361] ffor salomon seyth / Saluacioun of thyngis is / where as there been manye conseylourys

[2362] ¶ Now sithe that I haue told ȝow / of whech folk ȝe schul ben conseylid. now wele I teeche ȝow whiche conseyl ȝe oughte to eschewe [2363] ¶ ffyrst ȝe schul eschewe/ the con seylyng of folys / for salomon seyth take no con|seyl of a fool / for he ne can not conseyle but aftyr his owene lust & his affeccioun / [2364] The book seyth / that the properte of a fol is this he trowyth lyghtely harm of euery wight / & lyȝtely trowyth alle bounte in hym self / [2365] Thow schalt ek eschewe / the conseylynge of alle flatereris wheche as enforsen hem rathere to preysyn ȝoure persone by flaterye than to telle ȝow the sothe|ffastnesse of thyngis /

[2366] Wherfore Thullyus seyth / among alle the pestelences that been / in frenchepe / the gretteste is flaterye / & therfore it is more neede / that thow eschewe & drede flatererys than ony othir peple // [2367] The bok seyth thow schalt rathere drede & fle from the swete wordis of flaterynge preyseris / than from the egere wordis of thyn frend that seyth the thynne sothis [2368] ¶ Salomon seyth that the wordis of a flaterere is a snare to cachyn innocentis / [2369] he seyth also / that he that spekyth to hise frend / wordis of swetnesse & of plesaunce; settith a net be-forn hise feet to cachyn hym / [2370] & therfore seyth Tullius / Enclyne not thyne eris to flatereris / ne take no conseyl of wordis of flaterye / [2371] And Catoun seyth Auyse the weel & eschewe wordis of swetnesse & of plesaunce [2372] ¶ And ek thow schalt eschewe the conseylynge of thyne olde enemyis that been reconsyled // [2373] The bok seyth that no wight retornyth sauely into the grace of hise olde enemy [2374] ¶ And ysope seyth / ne truste not to hem to wheche thow hast had sumtyme werre or enmytee ne telle hem not thyn conseyl / [2375] And Seneca tellyth the cause why / It may not be seyth he / that where as greet feer long tyme hath deured; that there ne dwellyth sum vapour of warmnesse [2376] And therfore Seyth Salomon / in thyn olde fo truste neuere / [2377] ffor sekirly / thow thyn enemy be reconsyled / & makyth the cheer of humylite / & loutyth to the with hise heed / ne truste hym neuere / [2378] ffor sekyrly he makyth thilke feynede humylitee more for his owene profyt than for loue of thyn persone / by cause that he dem|yth to haue victorie ouyr thyn persone / by swich feynede contenaunce / the whiche victorie / he myȝte not haue be stryf or werre / [2379] & Petyr Alfonce seyth make non felaueschepe with thynne olde enemyis / for ȝif thow do hem bounte; they wele peruertyn it in to wikkedenesse // [2380] And ek thow muste eschewe the wekedenesse of hem & the conseyil that been thynne seruauntis & beryn the grete reuerence / for perauenture they seyn / it moore for drede than for loue. [2381] And therfore seyth a philisofere in this wyse / There is no whit perfytely trewe to hym that he to soore dredyth / [2382] And Tullius seyth / theere is no myȝt so greet of ony Emperour / that longe may endure / but ȝif he haue moore loue of the peple than drede [2383] ¶ Thow schalt also enchewe the conseylynge of folk that been dronkelewe / for they ne can no conseyl hyde / [2384] ffor Salomon seyth there is no priuyte; theere as regnyth dronkenesse // [2385] ȝe schal also han in suspect / the conseylynge of sweche folk as conseyle ȝow o thyng priuyly / & conseyle ȝow the contrarie opynly [2386] ¶ ffor Cassiodere seyth / that it is a manere sleyte to hynderyn whan a man schewith to don on thyng pryuyly & werkyth the contrarye opynly / [2387] Thow schalt also haue in suspect / the conseylynge of wekede folk ffor the bok seyth the conseylynge of wekede folk; is alwey ful of fraude / [2388] And Dauid seyth blisful is that man that hath not folwid the conseylynge of schrewis / [2389] Thow schalt also eschewe the conseylynge of ȝonge folk for here conseyl is not rype [2390]

NOw sere sithe I haue schewyd to ȝow of whiche folk ȝe schul take ȝoure conseyl / & of whiche folk ȝe schul folwe the conseyl; [2391] now wele I teche ȝow how ȝe schul examyne ȝoure conseyl aftyr the doctryne of. thullyus [2392] ¶ In examynynge of ȝoure conseylourys; ȝe schul considere many thyngis / [2393] Aldyrferst thow schat considere that in thilke thyng that thow purposyst & vp-on what thyng thow wilt haue conseyl / that verray trouthe be seyd & conseruyd / This is to seyne / Telle trewely thyn tale / [2394] for he that seyth fals may not weel been conseyled / in that cas of whiche he lyeth / [2395] And aftyr this thow schat considere the thyngis that acordyn to that / thow purposist to don by thyn conseyl|ours ȝif resoun acordyn therto / [2396] & ek ȝif thyn myȝt may atteyne therto / & ȝif the more part / & the betere part of thyne conseylouris acordyn therto / or no // [2397] Thanne schalt thow considere / What thyng schal folwe of that conseyllyng as. hate. pees. w[e]rre. grace. profyt or damage & manye othere thyngis / [2398] [et en toutes ces choses] thow schalt chese the beste / & weyuyn alle othere thyngis [2399] ¶ Thanne schalt thow considere / of what rote is engenderede the matyre of this conseyl / & what freut it may conteyne / & engen|deryn [2400] ¶ Thanne schalt [thow] considere ek alle these causes from whens they been sprongyn [2401] And whanne ȝe han examynyd ȝoure conseyl as ȝe haue seyd / & whiche partye is the betere & more profitable And han aproued it be manye wyse folk & olde. [2402] thanne schat thow considere; ȝif thow mayȝt perforne it & makyn of it a good ende / [2403] ffor resoun wele / that ony man schulde begynne a thyng / but ȝif he myȝte perforne it as hym oughte / [2404] Ne no wiȝt schulde take vp-on hym / so heuy charge / that he myȝte not bere it / [2405] for the prouerbe seyth / he that to meche enbraset distreynyth lityl / [2406] And catoun seyth / Assay to don swich thyng as thow hast power to don / lest that the charge appresse the not so sore / that the be-houith to weyue thyng that thow hast begunne [2407] & ȝif so be that thow be endoute / wheþer thow mayȝt perforne it or non chese rathere to suffere than begynne / [2408] And Petyr Alfonce seyth / ȝir thow hast myȝt to doon a thyng / of whiche thow muste repente; it is betere // ȝa // than nay / [2409] this is to seyne the is betere to helde thyn tunge stylle; than for to spekyn / [2410] Thanne may ȝe vnderstonde by strongere resonys / that ȝif thow hast power / to perforne a werk of whiche thow auht repente; thanne is it betere / that thow suffere / than begynne / [2411] weel seyn they that defendyn euery wiȝt to asay a thyng of whiche he is endoute / whethir he may perforne it or no [2412] And aftyr whan ȝe han examynyd ȝoure conseyl as I haue seyd beforn / & knowyn weel that ȝe may per|forne ȝoure emprise conforme it thanne sadli til it be at an ende— [2413]

NOw is it resoun & tyme that I schewe ȝow whanne & wherfore / that ȝe may chaunge ȝoure con|seylourys with-outyn repreve / [2414] Sothly a man may chaungyn hise [conseil et son] purpos ¶ ȝif the cause cesseth or whanne a new cas betydyth [2415] ¶ ffor the lawe seyth that vp-on thyngis / that newely betydyn / byhouyth newe conseyl / [2416] & seneca seyth / ȝif thyn conseyl is come to the eeris of thynne enemy / chaunge thyn conseyl. [2417] Thow mayst also chaunge thyn conseyl; ȝif so be that thow fynde that be errour / or be othere cause / harm or damage / may betyde / [2418] Also ȝif thyn conseyl [est déshonneste, ou vient de cause déshonneste, [2419] car les lois dient que toutes pro|messes that] be dishonest. been of no value / [2420] And ek ȝif it so be / that it be inpossible / or may not been goodly performyd or kept //

[2421] And take this for a general rewle / that euery conseyl þat is affermyd so strongely that it may not been chongit for no condicioun that may betyde / I seye that thilke conseyl is wikke [2422]

THis Melibeus whan he hadde herd the doctryne / of his wyf / Dame Prudence; answerede in this wise [2423] Dame quod he as ȝit into this tyme / ȝe han weel & conabely tauȝt me as in general / how I schal gouerne me in chesynge & in wotholdynge of myne conseylouris [2424] ¶ But now wolde I fayn that ȝe woldyn condessendyn in especial / [2425] & tellyn how ȝow lykyth or what semyth ȝow by oure conseylouris that we han chosyn in oure present neede / [2426]

MYn lord quod sche I beseke ȝow in alle humblesse that ȝe wele nat wilfully repleye // a-ȝen myne resonys / ne distempare ȝoure herte thow I speke thyng that ȝow displese / [2427] ffor god wot that as in myn entent / I speke it for ȝoure beste. for ȝoure honour & for ȝoure profit ek / [2428] And sothly I hope that ȝoure be|nyngnete wele takyn it in pacience / [2429] Trustith me weel / quod sche that ȝoure conseyl / as in this cas ne schulde nat as to spekyn propirly / been callyd a conseylynge / But a mocioun or a meuynge of foly [2430] in whiche conseyl ȝe han erred / [en moult de manière]

[2431] [Premièrement, tu as erré] in the assem|blynge of ȝoure conseylouris / [2432] ffor ȝe schulde ferst a clepid a fewe folk / [et puis après plusieurs] if it hadde been neede / [2433] But certis ȝe han clepid sodeynly to ȝoure con|seyl / a greet multitude of peple ful chargeaunt & ful anoyous for to heere [2434] ¶ Also ȝe han errid for theere as ȝe schulde only haue clepid to ȝoure conseyl ȝoure trewe frendis olde & wyse / [2435] ȝe han I-clepid straunge folk. ȝonge folk. false flatereris / & enemyis reconsyled / & folk þat don ȝow reuerence with-outyn loue / [2436] And ek also ȝe han erred / for ȝe han brouȝt with ȝow to ȝoure conseyl; Ire. Coueytyse. & Hastifnesse / [2437] the wheche thre thyngis been con|traryous / to euery conseyl honeste & profitable / [2438] And the whiche thre thyngis; ȝe han not anientissed or destroyed hem neythir in ȝoure self ne in ȝoure conseylourys / as ȝe ouȝte [2439] ¶ Ȝe han erred also for ȝe han schewid to ȝoure conseylouris ȝoure talent & ȝoure affeccioun to makyn werre anon & for to doon vengeaunce / [2440] they han espied be ȝoure wordis to what thyng ȝe been enclyned / [2441] & therefore han they conseylid ȝow rathere to ȝoure talent; than to ȝoure profit [2442] ¶ Ȝe han errid also / for it semyth that ȝow suffysith to han been con|seylid by these conseylouris only / & with litil avis [2443] wheere as in so greet & in so high a neede / it hadde been necessarye / mo conseylouris / & moore deliberacioun / to perforne ȝoure emprise [2444] ¶ Ȝe han errid also ffor ȝe han not examynyd / ȝoure conseyl in the for seyde manere / ne due maneere / as the caas requiryth [2445] ¶ Ȝe han errid also for ȝe han makid non deuysioun / bytwixe ȝoure conseylouris / . . . . .no gap [2446] ne ȝe ne haue not knowe / the wil of ȝoure trewe frendis olde & wyse / [2447] but ȝe han cast alle here wordys in an hochepot / & enclyned ȝoure herte to the more part & to the grettere noumbere // And theere been ȝe condescendit / [2448] & sith ȝe wote weel that men schal alwey fynde a grettere noumbre of folys than of wise men / [2449] & therfore in the conseylis that been at congregaciounnys & multitudis of folk there as men take more reward to the nombre than to the sapience of personis / [2450] ȝe seen weel that in sweche conseylyngis foolis han the maistrie [2451]

MElibeus answerede agen & seyde I graunte wel that I haue erryd / [2452] but theere as thow hast told / me heere be-forn / that he nys to blame that chaungith his con|seyl in certeyn cas / & for certeyn Iuste causis [2453] I am al redy to schaunge myn conseylouris / ryȝt as thow wolt deuyse / [2454] the prouerbe seyth that for to do synne / is mannyssch / But certis to perseuere longe therinne; is werk of the deuyl [2455]

TO this centence answerede anon Dame prudence / & seyde // [2456] Examynyth quod sche ȝoure con|seyl / & lat vs se the whiche of hem han spokyn moost resonablely & taught ȝow best conseyl // [2457] And for as meche as the examynacioun is necessarie / lat vs begynne at the Surgens / & at the phisiciens / that fyrst spekyn in this matyere / [2458] I seye ȝow that the surgeens & phisiciens han seyd ȝow in ȝoure conseyl descretly as hem ouȝte / [2459] & in here space seydyn ful wysely / that to the offyse of hem aperteynyth to doon to euery wyȝt honour & profyt / & no wyȝt to anoyen [2460] & aftyr here craft to don greet diligence vnto the cure of hem whiche that they han in here gouern|aunce / [2461] And sire ryȝt as they han answerid wisely & discretly / [2462] ryȝt so rede I that they been heyly & souereynly gwerdounnyd for here noble speche / [2463] And ek for they schuldyn don the moore ententif besynesse in the curacioun of thyn doughtyr deere / [2464] for al be it so / that they been ȝoure frendis / therfore schal ȝe nat sufferyn; that they serve ȝow for naught [2465] but ȝe oughtyn rathere gwerdounnyn hem & schewyn hem ȝoure largesse / [2466] And as touchynge the prepocicioun whiche the phisiciounnys encresedyn in this cas / this is to seyne / [2467] that in maladyis / that on contrarye is war chid by a-nothir contrarye / [2468] I wolde fayn knowyn how ȝe vndyrstonde thilke text / & what is ȝoure sentence. [2469] CErtis quod Melibeus I vndirstonde it in this wise / [2470] that ryȝt as they han don. a contrarye ryȝt so schulde I doon hem a-nothir / [2471] ffor ryȝt as they han vengede hem on me / & don me wrong; ryȝt so schal I wengyn me vp-on hem & doon hem wrong / [2472] And thanne haue I cured on contrarye by a-nothir [2473]

LO lo quod Dame Prudenence how lyȝtely is euery man enclyned to his owene desyr / & to his owene plesaunce / [2474] Certis quod sce the wordis of the phisiciens ne schuldyn not han been vndyrstondyn in this wise / [2475] for certis wikkedenesse is not contrarye to wikkedenesse / ne vengeaunce to vengeaunce / ne wrong to wrong / but [sont semblables [2476] Et pour ce, vengence par vengence, ne injure par injure, n'est pas curé, [2477] mais] euerich of hem encresith & morith othir // [2478] But certis the wordis of the phisiciens / schuldyn ben vndirstondyn in this wise / [2479] ffor good & wekede|nesse been two contraryis / & pees & werre / & venge|aunce & sufferraunce / discord & acord / and manye othere thyngis / [2480] But certis wikkedenesse; may been waryschid by goodnesse discord; by acord / werre; by pees / & so forth of othere thyngis // [2481] And heereto a-cordyth seynt Poule the apostelle in manye placis [2482] he seyth / Ne ȝildith not harm for harm / ne wikkede speche for wikkede speche / [2483] but doth weel to hym that doth the harm / And blysse hym that seyth to the harm / [2484] & in manye othere placis he amonestyth pees & accord / [2485] But now wele I spekyn to ȝow of the con|seyl that was ȝouyn to ȝow of the meen of lawe / and the wise folk [2486] that seydyn alle by on acord / as ȝe han herd by-fore / [2487] That ouer alle thynge ȝe schal don ȝoure diligence to kepyn ȝoure persone & to warnestore ȝoure hous / [2488] and seydyn also that in this caas ȝe oughtyn for to werkyn ful a-visely / & with greet delib[er]acioun / [2489] And sere as to the fyrste poynt that touchith to the kepynge of ȝoure persone / [2490] ȝe schul vndyrstonde that he that hath werre schal eueremore deuoutely & meekely preyen before alle thynge [2491] that Ihesu cryst of his mercy / wele han hym in hise protexioun / & ben his souereyn helpynge at hise neede / [2492] for certys in this world / theere is no wyȝt that may been conseylyd ne kept sufficyantly / with|outyn the keping of oure lord Ihesu Cryst / [2493] To this centence acordyth þe prophete dauid / that seyth / [2494] If god ne kepe the cete. In idyl. wake he that kepeth [2495] ¶ Now sere thanne schul ȝe commytte the kepynge of ȝoure persone to ȝoure trewe frendis that been aprouyd & I-knowe / [2496] & of hem schul ȝe axen helpe ȝoure persone for to kepe ¶ ffor catoūn seyth / ȝif thu hast nede of helpe; axe it of thynne frendis / [2497] ffor theere ne is noon so good a phisicien as thyn trewe frend / [2498] And aftyr this thanne schul ȝe keepe ȝow ffrom alle straunge folk and from lyeris / and haue alwey in suspekt / hire compaynye / [2499] ffor pers Alphonse seyth Ne take no compaignye by the weye of a strāng man but ȝif it be so that thow haue knowyn hym by a long tyme beforn / [2500] & ȝif so be that he falle / in-to thyn cumpanye per|auenture with-outyn thyn assent / [2501] enquire thanne as subtyly as thu mayst / of his conuersacioun / & of his lyf be-fore / & feyne thyn weye / Sey that thow wel go thedyr there that thow wilt not go / [2502] an ȝif he beryth a spere / hold the on the ryȝt syde / & ȝif he bere a swerd / hold the on the left syde [2503] ¶ And aftyr this thanne schal ȝe kepe ȝow wisely from alle sweche manere peple / as I haue seyd be-fore / And hem & here conseyl eschewe / [2504] And aftyr this thanne schal ȝe kepyn ȝow in swich maner / [2505] that for ony presumpcioun of ȝoure strenthe / that ȝe ne dispise / ne attempte not the myȝte of ȝoure aduersarye / so lite that ȝe lete the kepynge of ȝoure persone / for ȝoure presumpcioun / [2506] for euery wise man dredyth his enemy / [2507] And salomon seyth / Weleful is he that of alle thynge hath dreede / [2508] ffor certys he that þour the hardynesse of his herte or thorw the hardynesse of hym-self / hath to greet presumpcioun / hym schal euele betyde / [2509] Thanne schal ȝe eueremoore countre wayte embusschementȝ / & espiaill // [2510] for Seneca seyth / that the wise man that dredith harmys / eschewith harmys / [2511] ne he ne fallyth in-to perilys / that perilis eschewyth / [2512] And al|be-it so / that it seeme that thow art in sekyr place / ȝit schalt thow alwey doon diligence in kepynge of thyn persoone / [2513] this is to seyn ne be not necligent to keepen thyn persone / not only for thynne gretteste enemyis / but from thyn leste enemye / [2514] Seneca seyth / a man / that is weel auysed / he dredyth his leste enemye // [2515] Ouyde seith / that the litelle wesele / wele sle the greete bole & the wilde hert // [2516] And the book seyth that the lytil thorn; may pryke a kyng wol sore / & an hound wele holde the wylde boor / [2517] But nathelees I sey nat þat thow schat been so coward that thow doute there wheere-as is no drede / [2518] The book seyth / that sum folk han greet lust / to disseyue; but ȝit they dredyn hem to been dis|seyuyd / [2519] ȝit schalt thow dreede to ben enpoysounnyd / And keepe the from the cumpaygnye of skornerys / [2520] ffor the book seyth / woth skornerys make no compaignye / but fle here wordys as venym /

[2521] Now as to the secunde poynt / wheere-as ȝoure wise conseylourys / conseylede ȝow to warnestore / ȝoure hous with greet diligence / [2522] I wolde knowe how that ȝe vndyrstande / thilke wordis & what is ȝoure centence [2523]

MElibeus answerede & seyde / certis I vndyrstonde it in this wyse / That I schal warnestore myn hous / with touris & sweche as han castell & othere manere edifices & armure and artelleryes / [2524] by whiche thyngis I may myn persone & myn hous so kepyn & defendyn / that myne enemyis schul been in dreede myn hous for to aprochyn [2525]

TO this centence answerede anon Prudence // warne|storynge is quod sche of heye tourys & of greete edifices / [appertaining aucune ffois a orgueil [2526] apres on fait les tours et les grans edifices (MS Reg. 19 C vii, lf 133, bk)] with greete costagis & with greete trauayle / And whan that they been accomplesed / ȝit be they not worth a stre but if they been defendit by trewe frendys that been olde & wyse // [2527] And vndyrstonde weel that the gretteste & the strengeste garnesoun that a ryche man may han / as weel to kepyn his persone as hese goodis / is [2528] that he be belouyd with hise subiectis. And with hise neigheboris / [2529] ffor thus seyth thullyus that there is a manere garnesoun / that no man may venquische / Ne desconfite / & that is [2530] a lord to been belouyd / of hise citesynys & of his peple [2531]

NOw sere as to the thredde poynt wheer-as ȝoure olde & wise conseylouris / seydyn that ȝow ne ouȝtyn / not sodeynly ne not to hastifly procedyn in this neede / [2532] But that ȝow ouȝtyn purueyen / & appar|aylyn ȝow / in this cas / with greet diligence / & greet delyber|acioun / [2533] trewely I trowe that they seydyn / ryȝt wisely & ryȝt soth / [2534] for tullyus seyth in euery neede / er thow begynne it / apparayle the with gret diligence / [2535] Thanne seye I that in vengeaunce takynge in werre / in batayle / & in warnestoryinge / [2536] er thow begynne I reede / that thow apparayle the not therto & do it with greet dyligence & greet deliberacioun // [2537] ffor Thullyus seyth that longe apparaylynge / by-forn þe batayle / makyt schort victorye [2538] ¶ And Cassiodorus seyth The garnesoun is strongere whan it is longe tyme auysed

BUt now lat vs spekyn of the conseyl / that was acordit be ȝoure neigheboris / Sweche as doon ȝow reuerence with-outyn loue / [2540] ȝoure olde enenyis reconsyled / ȝoure flatereris [2541] that conseyledyn ȝow cer|teyn thyngis pryuyly / & opynly conseyledyn ȝow / the contrarye / [2542] The ȝonge folk also that conseylede ȝow / to venge ȝow & make werre a-noon [2543] And certis sere as I haue seyd be-forn; ȝe han greetly errid / to han clepid / swich manere folk to ȝoure conseil [2544] whiche conseylouris / been I-nowgh repreuyd / be the resonys a-fore-seyd / [2545] but natheles lat vs now dessende to the special // ȝe schul fyrst procedyn / aftyr the doctrine / of thullius / [2546] Certis the trouthe of this matire or of this conseyl / nedyth not diligently enquire [2547] for it is weel wist whiche they been that han don to ȝow this trespas / and vilenye / [2548] and how manye trespasouris / and in what manere they han doon to ȝow al this wrong & al this vilenye // [2549] And aftyr this ȝe schuln examyne al the secunde condicioun whiche þat the same thullyus addyth in this mateere / [2550] ffor tullius put a thyng whiche that he clepith consentynge / This is to seyne / [2551] who been they / & whiche been they / and how manye been they / & whiche been thei that consentedyn to ȝoure aduersaryis / [2552] [et considérons aussi qui sont ceulx, et quans, qui se consentent à tes adversaires. (Le Mén. i. 211.)] [2553] And certis as to the fyrste poynt / it is weel knowyn whiche folk been they / that consentedyn to ȝoure hastif wilful|nesse / [2554] ffor trewely alle tho that consentede ȝow to makyn sodeyn werre / ne been not ȝoure frendis / [2555] lat vs now considere [qui tu es et] whiche been they that ȝe holdyn ȝowre frendis / as to ȝoure persone [2556] ffor al be it so / that ȝe been myghty & ryche / Certis ȝe ne been but a-loone / [2557] for certis ȝe ne han no child but a douȝtyr / [2558] ne ȝe ne han breteren ne cosynys germaynys / ne noon othir nygh kenrede [2559] wherefore that ȝoure enemyis / for drede schulde stynte to plede / with ȝow or distroye ȝoure persone / [2560] ȝe knowyn also that ȝoure rychesse mote been despendit in dyuerce partis / [2561] and whan that euery wigh hath his part / they ne wele takyn but lityl reward to vengyn thyn deth // [2562] But thynne enemyis been thre and they han manye childeryn / bretheryn cosynys & othere nygh kenrede / [2563] and thow so weere / thow hadyst slayn of hem two or thre / ȝet dwellyn þere I-nowe to wrekyn here deth / & to sle tyn persone / [2564] & thow so be that ȝoure kynreede / be moore sekyr & stefast / than the kenreede of ȝoure aduersarye / [2565] ȝet natheles / ȝoure kenrede nys but a fer kynrede they been but lytil sibbe to ȝow / [2566] and the kyn of ȝoure enenyis been nygh sibbe to hem / & certis as in þat heere condicioun is betere than is ȝourys // [2567] Tanne lat vs considere also / if the conseylynge of hem that conseyledyn / ȝow to takyn sodeyn vengeauns / whethir it acorded to resoun or no / [2568] And certis ȝe knowe wel nay / [2569] for as be ryȝt & resoun / theere may no man ta kyn venieaunce on no wight but the Iuge that hath the Iurysdixioun of it / [2570] whanne it is I-grauntid / to take thilke vengeaunce / hastily or at|temprelly as the lawe requyrith / [2571] & ȝit moore ouyr / of thilke word that Thullius clepith consentynge [2572] thow schalt considered ȝif thyn myȝt & thyn power / may consente & suffise / to thyn wilfulnesse / & to thynne conseylourys [2573] and sertis thow mayst weel seyn þat nay / [2574] ffor sekirly as for to spekyn proprely. we may doon nothyng but only swich thyng as we may don it rithtfully / [2575] & certis ryȝtfully may ȝe take no venieaunce / as of ȝoure propre autorite [2576] thanne may ȝe seen / that ȝoure power ne consentith nat ne acordith nat with ȝoure wilfulnesse [2577] ¶ Lat vs now examyne the thredde poynt that / Thullius clepith consequent / [2578] Thow schalt vndyrstonde / that the vengeaunce that thow purposest for to take is the conse|quent / [2579] And therof folwith a-nothir uengeau[n]s / peril & werre & othere vengeaunce & damagis with-outyn noumbere / of whiche we been not war as at this tyme // [2580] And as touchynge the / fourte poynt / That Thullius clepith engenderynge / [2581] thow schalt considere that this wrong whiche that is doon to the; is engenderyd / of the hate of thynne enemyis / [2582] & of the vengeaunce takyng vp-on that / wolde engendere a-nothir / vengeaunce. And meche sorwe / in wastynge of rychessis as I seyde

[2583] ¶ Now sere as to the poynt that tullius clepith causes / with that is the laste poynt / [2584] thow schalt vndirstonde / that the wrong that thow hast resceyuid hath certeyn causes / [2585] whiche that clerkis clepyn Oriens / & efficiens / And Causa longinqua / & Causa Propinqua / this is to seyne the ffer cause / & the nygh cause / [2586] the fer cause is almyghti god / that is cause of alle thyngis / [2587] the nygh cause is thynne thre enemyis / [2588] the cause accidental was hate / [2589] the cause material; been the fyue woundis of thyn doughtre [2590] The cause formal is the manere of here werkynge / that brougtyn ladderys & clombyn in at thyne wyndowis / [2591] the cause final was for to sle thyn dougtyr / It lettede nat in as meche as in hem was // [2592] But for to spekyn of the ferthe cause as to what ende they schul come / or what schal finally betyde of hem in this caas / ne can I nat deeme / but be coniectynge & by supposynge [2593] for we schul suppose / that they schul come to a wekkede ende / [2594] bi-cause that the bok of Decreis seyth / Selde or woth greet peyne been causis I-brouȝt to a good ende / Whan they been baldely begunne [2595]

NOw sere ȝif meen wolde axsyn me whi that god sufferede / men to doon ȝow this veleny certis I can|not weel answeryn as for no Sothfastnesse / [2596] for thapostelle seyth that the sciencis & the iugementis of oure lord god / almyȝty; been ful deepe / [2597] there may no man comprehende / ne serchyn hem sufficiently [2598] ¶ Nathelees / bi certeyn presumpciounnys / & coneytyngis I holde & bileeue / [2599] that god whiche that is ful of iustise / & of ryghtwisnesse hath suffered this betyde by iuste cause / resonable

[2600] Thyn name is Melibee this is to seyne a man / that drynkyth hony / [2601] or he that hath I-dronkyn hony / so meche of sweete temperel richesse & delicis of honouris of this world [2602] that thow art dronkyn / & hast forgetyn Ihesu cryst thyn creature / [2603] thow ne hast nat doon to hym swich honour & reuerence / as the ouȝte [2604] ne thow ne hast not weel takyn keep to the wordis of Ouide that seyth [2605] vndyr the hony of the goodis / of the body is hid the venym that sleth the soule / [2606] And salomon seyth ȝif thow hast foundyn hony / ete of it that suffyseth / [2607] ffor ȝif thow ete of it out of meseur / thow schalt spewe / & been nedy / & poure / [2608] & perauenture / cryst hat the in dispyt and hath turnede awey from the hys face & hise eeris of mysericorde / [2609] And also he hath sufferede / that thow hast been ponyschid / in the maneere that thow hast trespased / [2610] Thow hast doon synne a-geyn oure lord Ihesu cryst / [2611] ffor certis the thre enemyis / of mankynde that is to seyne / the flesch the feend & the world / [2612] thow hast suf fred hem to entre in-to thyn herte wilfulli by the wyndowys / of thyn body / [2613] & hast not defendit thyn self sufficiauntly a-geyn here assautis / & here temptaciouns So that they han woundede thyn soule in fyue placis [2614] this is to seyne; the dedly synnys that been entered in-to thyn herte / by thynne fyue wittis / [2615] And in the same manere / oure lord crist hath wold & suffered that thyne .iij. enemyis been entrede in-to thyn hous by the wyndowys [2616] And han I-wounded thynne douȝtyr / in the forseyde manere / [2617]

CErtis quod Melibee I se wel that ȝe enforce ȝow mechel by wordis to ouyrcome me in swich manere; that I schal nat venge me of myne enemyis / [2618] Schewynge me the perilis & the euell that myȝtyn fallyn of this vengeaunce // [2619] But who so wolde considere / in alle vengeauncis the perilis & the yuyllys that myȝte sewe of vengeaunce takynge / [2620] a man wolde neuere take vengeaunce / & that were harm / [2621] for by the venge|aunce takynge; been the wikkede men disseuered from the goode men / [2622] And thei that han wil to doon wikkede|nesse; restreyne here wikkede purpos / whan they seen the ponyschynge & the chastisynge of the trespasourys / [2623]

[Ad ce respont dame prudence Certes dist elle Ie te ottroie que de vengance vient moult de biens [2624] Mais faire vengance nappartient pas a vn chascun fors aux iuges / Et a ceulz qui ont les iuridicions sur les malfauteurs ] [2625] And ȝit seye I moore / that ryȝt as a senguler persone synnyth in takynge vengeaunce / of a-nothir man; [2626] righ so synnyth the Iuge ȝif he do no vengeaunce / of hem that it han deseruyd / [2627] for Senek seyth / that maystir is good that preuyth schrewis / [2628] And as Cassiodere seyth / A man dredith to doon outrages / whan he wot & knowith that it displeseth to the Iugis / & to the souereynys / [2629] And a-nother seyth / The Iuge that dredith to doon ryȝt; makyth men schrewis // [2630] And seynt poule thapostelle seyth in his epistelle / whan he wrythith vnto the romaynys / that the Iuges berith not the spere / with-outyn cause; [2631] but they beryn it to ponysche þe schrewis & mysdoerys / & for to defendyn the Goode men [2632] Ȝif ȝe wele than ne take vengeaunce of ȝoure enemyis / ȝe schul returne or haue ȝoure recours / to the Iuge that hath the Iurisdiccioun / vp-on hem / [2633] & he schal punyschyn hem as the lawe axit & requirith [2634]

Aquod Melibee this vengeaunce likyth me nothyng / [2635] I bethynke me now & take heed how fortune hath norichid me / from myn chyldeheede / & hath holpyn me to passyn manye a strong paas / [2636] now wele I assayen hire trowynge with godis helpe / that sche schal helpyn me myn schame for to venge [2637]

CErtis quod Prudence / If ȝe wele werke by myn con|seyl / ȝe schul not assaye fortune by no way / [2638] ne ȝe schul not lene / or bowe / on to here aftyr the word of senek / [2639] for thyngis that been folyly doon / & that been doon in hope of fortune / schuln neuere been brouȝt to good ende / [2640] And as the same Senek seyth / the moore cleer & the more schynynge that fortune is; the moore bretil & the sunnere brokyn sche is / [2641] truste nat in here for sche nys nat stedefast ne stable / [2642] ffor whan thow trowist to been most sekyr or sewir of hire helpe; sche wele fayle & disseyue the / [2643] And wheere as ȝe seyn that Fortune hath norichid ȝoure childheede [2644] I seye that in so meche schul ȝe the lasse truste in here wit / [2645] For senek seyth / what man that is norichid by ffortune; sche makyth hym a greet fool / [2646] Now thanne syn ȝe desyre & aske vengeaunce / & the vengeaunce that is doon aftyr the lawe / & by-fore the Iuge / ne likyth ȝow nat [2647] And the vengeaunce that is doon in hope of fortune is perli|ous & vncerteyn / [2648] thanne haue ȝe noon othir remedie / but for to haue ȝoure recours / vn-to the souereyn Iuge that vengith alle vilanyis / & wrongis / [2649] & he schal venge ȝow aftyr / that hym self witnessith where as he seyth / [2650] leuyth the vengeaunce ¶ to me & I schal doon it [2651]

MElibie answerede / If I ne venge me not of the vilanye that men doon to me / [2652] I somoune or warne hem that han doon to me that vilenye & alle othere to doon to me a-nothir vilenye / [2653] for it is wretyn / ȝif thow take ne vengeaunce of an opyn vilanye / thow somoun|yst thynne aduersaryis; to do the a newe velanye [2654] And also for myn sufferaunce men woldyn do me so meche vilenye / that I ne myghte neythir beere it ne sus|teene / [2655] & so schulde I bee put & holdyn ouyr lowe / [2656] ffor men seyn in meche sufferynge schal manye thyngis falle vn-to the whiche thow schalt nat mowe suffere [2657]

CErtis quod .prudence. I graunte now that ouyr meche sufferaunce / is nat good [2658] But ȝit ne folwith it not therof / that euery persone to whom men doon vilenye; tak of it vengeaunce / [2659] for that aper|tenyth & longith al only to the Iugis / for they schul venge / the vilanyis & the Iniurijs / [2660] And therfore to two autoriteis / that ȝe han seyd a-bouyn / been only vndyrstondyn In the Iugis / [2661] For whan they sufferyn ouermeche the wrongis & vilenyis to been doon with-outyn punyschynge [2662] they somone nat a man al only for to doon newe wrongis / but they comaundyn it / [2663] also a wys man seyth / that the Iuge that cor|ectith nat the synnere comaundyth / & biddyth hym to do synne / [2664] & the Iugis & souereynys / myȝtyn in here land so meche suffere of the schrewis & mysdoerys; [2665] that they schuldyn by swich sufferaunce / by processe of tyme / waxen of swich poweer & myȝt / that they schuldyn puttyn out / the Iugis & the souereynys from here placis [2666] & at the laste makyn hem to lesyn here lordschepe //

[2667] But lat vs now putte that ye han leue to vengen ȝow / [2668] I seye ȝe been nat of myȝt & power as now to venge ȝow / [2669] ffor ȝif ȝe wele make comparisoun vn-to þe myȝt of ȝoure aduersaryis / ȝe schul fynde in manye thyngis that I haue schewid ȝow er this / that hire condicioun is bettere than ȝoures [2670] & therfore seye I that it is good / as now / that ȝe suffere & been pacient

[2671] Fertheremore ȝe knowe wel / that aftyr the comune sawe. it is a woodnesse a man to stryue with a strongere / or a moore myȝty man / than he is hym selue / [2672] & for to stryue with a man of euene strenthe / that is to seyne with as strong a man as he is hymselue / it is peril / [2673] And for to stryue with a weykere man; it is folye / [2674] & therfore schulde a man fle stryuynge / as meche as he myȝte // [2675] ffor Salomon seyth it is a greet worschepe / to a man to kepyn hym from noyse / & stryf. [2676] & If it so befalle or happe / that a man be of grettere myȝt & strenthe / than thow art / do the greuaunce / [2677] stodye & besye the rathere to stylle the same greuaunce; than to venge the / [2678] ffor senek seyth / that he puttith hym in greet peryl / that stryuyth with a grettere man than he is hym self / [2679] And catoun seyth // If a man of heyere staat or degre or moore myȝt than thow / do the ony noye or greuaunce / suffere hym / [2680] ffor he that onys hath greuyd the / mai a-nothir tyme releue the & helpe // [2681] Ȝit sette I caas ȝe han bothe a lycence / for to venge ȝow / [2682] I seye that theere been ful manye thyngis / that schul restreyne ȝow of vengeaunce takynge / [2683] & make ȝow for to enclyne to sufferre & for to han pacience / in the wrongis that han been don to ȝow / [2684] fferst & foreward ȝif ȝe wele / considere the defautis / . . . . .[2685] . . . . .no gap god hath suffered ȝow to haue this tribulacioun / as I haue seyd ȝow heere by-fore / [2686] For the Poete seyth that we ouȝtyn paciently / takyn the tribu|laciounnys that comyn to vs whan that we thynkyn & con|sideryn that we han deseruyd to han hem [2687] ¶ And seynt Gregorie seyth that whan a man considerith weel the noumbere of hise defautis & of hise synnys / [2688] the peynys & the tribulaciounnys that he sufferyth semyn the lasse vnto hym / [2689] And in as meche as hym sem|yth his synne is moore heuy / & greuous [2690] in so meche semyth his peyne the lyȝtere & the esiere vnto hym // [2691] Also ȝe owyn to enclyne / & bowe ȝoure herte to take the pacience[MS repeats the pacience] of oure lord Ihesu cryst / as seyth seynt petyr / In hise episteles / [2692] Ihesu Crist he seith hath suffered for vs / & ȝeuyn ensample to euery man to folwe / & sewyn hym / [2693] for he dede neuere synne ne neuere cam there / A vileyns word out of his mouth [2694] whan men cursede hym; he cursede hem not / . . . . .no gap in the MS. [2695] Also the greete pacience / whiche seyntis that been in paradys han had in tribulaciounnys / that they been I-sufferid with-outyn here desert or gilt / [2696] oughte meche stere ȝow to pacience / [2697] Ferthere more ȝe schul enforse ȝow to haue pacience / [2698] considerynge that the tribulaciounnys / of this world but lityl while endure / & soone passede been & goone / [2699] And the Ioye that a man sekyth for to han bi pacience in trybulaciounnys / is perdurable / aftyr that thapostele seyth in his epistele [2700] ¶ The Ioye of God is perdurable that is to seyne euere lastynge / [2701] Also trowith & bileuyth stedefastly / that he nys not weel I-noryschid / ne weel I-tauȝt that can not haue pacience / or wele not receyue pacyence / [2702] For salomon seyth / that the doctryne & the wit of a man is knowyn by pacience / [2703] And in a-nothir place he seyth that he that is pacient gouernyth hym by greet prudence / [2704] And the same Salomon seyth / That the angry & the wratheful man; makyth noysis / & the pacient man attempereth hym & stillith / [2705] he seyth also it is moore worth to ben pacient; than for to ben ryȝt strong / [2706] And he that may haue the lordschepe of hese owene herte; he is moore to preyse / than he that by his force or strenthe; takyth greete ceteis [2707] And therefore seyth seynt Iame In his epistle / that Pacience is a greet vertu of perfeccioun. [2708]

CErtis quod Melibee I graunte ȝow dame Prudence / that Pacience is a greet vertu of perfeccioun [2709] But euery man may not han the perfeccioun that ȝe seekyn / [2710] ne I am not of the noumbre of ryȝt per|fite men / [2711] For myn herte may neuere been in pees / vnto the tyme it be ven git / [2712] And al be it so / that it was greet peril to mynne enemyis to doon me a vilenye / in takynge vengeaunce vp-on me; [2713] ȝit take they noon heede at the peril /. but fulfilledyn here wekede wil / & here corage / [2714] & therfore me thynkyth men ouȝte nat repreue me thogh I putte me in a lityl peril / For to vengyn me / [2715] And thow I do a greet excesse / that is to seyne that I venge oon outrage / by a-nothir. [2716]

Aquod dame Prudence / ȝe seyn ȝoure wil & As ȝow likyth / [2717] but in noo cas of the world a man schulde nat doon outrage ne exces. ffor to vengyn hym / [2718] For Cassiodere seyth / that as euele doth he that vengith hym by outrage; as he that doth the outrage / [2719] And therefore ȝe schul venge ȝow; aftyr the ordere of ryȝt / that is to seyne by the lawe / & nat by excesse / ne by outrage [2720] And also ȝif ȝe wele venge ȝow / of the outrage of ȝoure aduersarijs in othere maneere than ryȝt comaundyth / ȝe synnyn [2721] & therfore seyth Senek / that a man schal neuere venge schrewedenesse by schrewedenesse / [2722] & ȝif ȝe seyn that ryȝt axeth a man to defende violence / [ . . . . .] & fyȝtynge. By fytynge [2723] certis ȝe seyn soth / whan the defence is doon a-noon with-outyn interual or with-outyn taryinge or delay [2724] for to defende hym; & not for to venge hym / [2725] And it behouth that a man putte swich attemperaunce in his defence / [2726] that men haue no cause / ne matere to repreuyn hym; that defendyth hym from excesse & outrage / for ellis weere it a-geyn resoun / [2727] ¶ Parde ȝe knowyn weel that ȝe makyn no defence / as now for to defende ȝow; but for to venge ȝow / [2728] And so sewith it that ȝe han no wil / to doon ȝoure deede atemperelly / [2729] And therfore me thynkyth / that Pacience is good ffor Salomon seyth / that he that is not pacient; schal haue greet harm [2730]

CErtis quod Melibee I graunte ȝow that whan a man is inpacient & wroth of that that touchith hym / not / & that apertenyth nat vn-to hym; thow it harme hym it is no wondyr / [2731] for the lawe seyth that he is coupable that entyrmetith or medelyth with swich thyng / as apertenyth nat vn-to hym [2732] ¶ And Salomon seith that he that entirmetyth hym of the noyse of stryf / of a-nothir man / is lyk to hym that takith an hound bi the eeris / [2733] For ryȝt as he that takith a strong hound bi the eris; is othirwhile betyn with the hound / [2734] Ryȝt in the same wise is it resoun that he haue harm that by his enpacience medelyth hymself bi the noyse of a-nothir man where as it aperteynyth not vn-to hym / [2735] But ȝe knowyn weel that this deede that is to seyne / myn greef & myn deseese touchith me ryȝt now / [2736] And therfore thow I be wroth & in|pacient; it is no meruayle // [2737] And sauynge ȝoure grace / I can not seen that it myȝte greetly harme me thow I tok vengeaunce [2738] ffor I am richere & moore myȝty than myne enemy is been // [2739] And weel knowe ȝe that by monee & by hauynge / greete posses|siouns been alle thyngis of this world / gouernyd [2740] ¶ And salomon seith That alle these thyngis obeye to monye. [2741]

WHanne Prudence hadde herd these wordis of hire hosisbonde how he auaunted hym of hese richesse / and of hise mene / dispreysynge the poweer / of hise aduersaryis / sche spak & seyde in this wyse / [2742] Certis deere sere / I graunte ȝow that ȝe been riche / & myghty / [2743] & that the richessis been goode to hem / that han weel I-getyn hem and that weel cunne vse hem // [2744] For rygh as the body of a man may not leue with-outyn the soule; no moore may it leue with-oute the temperel goodis / [2745] and by richessis may a man getyn hym best frendis / [2746] And therefore seyth Pamphilles ¶ If Auerthes doughtir he seyth be ryche / Sche may chesen of a thousent men . . . . .[2747] . .no gap in the MS. / oon wele not forsakyn hyre ne refusyn hire / [2748] And this Pamphiles seith also / If thow be ryȝt happy / that is to seyne / If thow be ryȝt ryche / thow schat fyndyn a greet noumbere of felawys & frendis / [2749] And ȝif thyn fortune chonge Fare weel freendschepe & felaweschepe / [2750] for thow schat been a-loone / with-outyn ony cumpanye But if it be the cumpanye of poore folk [2751] ¶ And ȝit seyth this Pamphilles moore ouyr That they that been / boonde & thralle / of linage schuln been made worthy & noble bi the richesses [2752] & ryȝt so as by richessis theere comyn manye goodys; ryȝt so by pouerte / comyn theere manye harmys / & euellis / [2753] For greet pouerte; con|streynyth a man to doon manye euellis / [2754] And th[e]r|fore clepith Cassiodere / pouerte the moodyr of ruine / [2755] that is to seyne the modyr of ouyrthrowynge or of fallynge doun / [2756] And therrefore seyth Peers alfonce On of the gretteste aduersiteis of this world is [2757] whan a fre man by kynde / or of burthe is constreyned / bi pouerte / to ete te almesse / of hise enemy / [2758] & the same seyth Innocent in oon of hise bookis / he seith that sorweful & myshappi · is the condicioun of a poore beggere / [2759] for if he axe nat his meete / he dieth fore hungir / [2760] And ȝif he axe / he dieth for ¶ schame / And algatis necescitee constreynyth hym to axe / [2761] And therfore seith Salomon / betere is it to deye than for to haue swich pouerte / [2762] And as the same Salo|mon seith Betere it is to deye of bittere deth; than for to leuyn in swich wyse / [2763] By these resonys that I haue seyd vn-to ȝow / & by manye othere resonys / that I coude seye / [2764] I graunte ȝow that richessis been goode to hem that hem getyn weel / And to hem that weel vsyn the rychessis / [2765] and therffore wele I schewe ȝow how ȝe schul haue ȝow in [amassant les (Le Ménagier, i. 222)] rychessis & in what maneere ȝe schul vse hem /

[2766] Fyrst ȝe schul geete hem with-outyn greet desyr / bi good leyseer / sokyngely but nat ouer hastyfely / [2767] For a man that is to desyrynge / to geete rychessis / abandonyth hym fyrst to thefte & to alle othere euyllis / [2768] And therfore seyth Salomon he that hastyth hym to busily to wexen ryche / he schal been noon innocent / [2769] he seyth also that the rychesse that hastily comyth to a man; soone anlyghtely goth & passith from a man / [2770] But that richesse that comyth lityl & lyȝtil / wexeth alwey & multyplyeth / [2771] And sere ȝe schul gete richessis by ȝoure wit / & by ȝoure trauayle / vn-to ȝoure profyt [2772] & that with-outyn wrong or harm doinge to ony othir persone / [2773] For the law seyth / that there makyth no man hym ryche / ȝif he do harm to a-nothyr witht. [2774] this is to seyne / that nature defendyth / & forbedyth by ryght / that no man make hym self ryche; vn-to the harm of a-nothyr / persone. [2775] And thullius seyth / that no sorwe ne no drede / of deth ne nothing that may falle vn-to a man [2776] is so meche ageyns nature; as a man to encrese his owene profit / to the harm of a-nothir man / [2777] And thow the greete men / & the myȝty men / getyn richessis / moore lyȝthely than thow / [2778] ȝit schalt thu nat been ydyl ne slow to don thyn profit ffor thow schalt in alle wise / fleen ydilnesse / [2779] ffor Salomon seyth / that idilnesse techith a man to doon manye euyllis / [2780] And the Same Salomon seyth that he that trauaylith / & besijth hym to tilyin his lond schal etyn breed / [2781] But he that is idyl & castyth hym to no besynesse / ne ocupacioun schal falle in-to pouerte / & deye for hungir / [2782] And he that is ydil & slow / can neuere fyndyn conabele tyme for to doon his profyt [2783] ffor there is a versefiour seyth / that the ydele man excuseth hym in wyntyr bi cause of greet cold / & in somyr by cause of the greete heete / [2784] For these causes / seyth catoun wakyth & enclynyth ȝow nat ouyrmeche for to slepe / ffor ouyrmeche slep causeth & norichith manye vicis [2785] And therfore seyth seynt Ierome / doth some goode dedys / that the deuyl whiche is oure enemy / ne fynde ȝow nat vn-ocupied / [2786] For the deuyl takyth nat lyȝtely vn-to hise werk|ynge sweche as he fyndyth ocupied in goode werkis /

[2787] Thanne thus in getynge richesses the muste fleen Idilnesse / [2788] & aftyrward ȝe schul vse the rychesses / whiche ȝe han getyn by ȝoure wit And by ȝoure trauayle / [2789] in swich manere that men holdyn ȝow nat to scars ne to sparynge / ne fool large / that is to seyne ouyr large a spendere / [2790] For ryȝt as men blamyn an auericious man / by cause of hise scarcite & chyncherye; [2791] ryȝt so / in the same wise / is he to blame that spendyth ouyr largely / [2792] And therefere seyth Catoun vse he seyth thynne richessis / that þu hast getyn [2793] in swich a maner / that men haue ne matier ne cause to calle the neythir wreche ne chinchere / [2794] ffor it is greet schame to a man to haue a poore herte & a ryche purs [2795] he seyth also the goodis that thow hast getyn / vse hem by meseur / that is to s[e]yne spende mesurabely / [2796] for they that folyly wastyn & despendyn the goodis that they han / [2797] whan they han no moore propere of here owene / they schapyn hem to takyn the goodis of a-nothyr man [2798] ¶ I seye thanne ȝe schul fleen aueryce [2799] vsynge ȝoure richessis in swich manere / that men seye nat that ȝoure richessis been I-buryed / [2800] But that ȝe haue hem in ȝoure myȝt & in ȝoure weldynge // [2801] ffor a wys man repreuyth the auericious man / & seyth thus in two vers / [2802] Wherto & whi buryeth a man hise goodis bi his greete aueryce / & knowyth weel that nedis muste he deye / [2803] for deth is the ende of euery man as in this present lyf / [2804] And for what cause & what enchesoun / ioynyth he hym or knyttyth he hym / so faste vnto hise goodis / [2805] that alle hise wittys moun nat disseueren hym ne departyn hym from hise goodis / [2806] & knowith weel or oughte to knowyn / that whan he is deed he schal no thyng bere with hym / ouȝt of þis world / [2807] And therefore seyth seynt Augustyn / that the auarycious man is lykkened vn-to helle / [2808] that the more it swolwith / the moode desyr it hath to swolwe / & deuoure / [2809] And as weel as ȝe wolde eschewe / to been called an auerycious man / or chynche / [2810] as weel schulde ȝe keepe ȝow & gouerne ȝow in swich a wyse / that men ne calle ȝow nat fool large / [2811] Therfore seyth Tullius / the goodis he seyth of thyn hous schulde not been kept ne hid so cloos / But that they myȝtyn been openyd bi pete & debonayeretee / [2812] that is to seyne to ȝeuyn hem part / that han greet neede / [2813] Ne thynne goodis schulde not been so opyn / to been euery manys goodis [2814] ¶ Aftyrward in getynge of ȝoure richesse & in vsynge hem / ȝe schul alwey haue thre thyngis in ȝoure herte / [2815] that is to seyne oure lord god Concience / And good name // [2816] ffyrst ȝe schul haue god in ȝoure herte / [2817] And for no rychesse ȝe schul doon no thyng that schulde displese oure lord good / that is ȝoure creature & makere / [2818] ffor aftyr the word of salomon / It is bettere to haue a lytil good with the loue of god [2819] than to haue meche good / & tresor And leese the loue of hise lord god / [2820] And the prophete seyth / that t[h]e moore prophit & the betere it is to been a good man / & haue lytil good & tresore; [2821] than to been heldyn a schrewe & haue greete rychessis [2822] And ȝit seye I ferthere moore / that ȝe schul alwey doon ȝoure besynesse to gete ȝow richessis [2823] so that ȝe gete hem with good concience // [2824] And thapostelle seyth / that there ne is thyng in this world of whiche ȝe schulde haue so greet Ioye / as whan oure concience beryth vs witnesse / [2825] And the wise man seyth. The substaunce of a man is ful good / whan synne is not in mannys concience / [2826] Aftyrward in getynge of ȝoure richessis / & in vsynge of hem [2827] ȝow muste haue greet besynesse / And greet dilligence / that ȝoure goode name be alwey kept & conseruyd / [2828] ffor Salo|mon seyth that betere it is / & moore it a-vaylith a man to haue a good name than for to haue manye rych[e]ssis / [2829] And therfore he seyth in a-nothir place / Doo greet diligence seyth salomon in kepynge of thyn frend & of thyn goode name / [2830] for it schal longere a-bydyn / with the than ony tresore be it neuere so precious / [2831] and certis he schulde nat been callid a gentil man that aftyr god & good concience / alle thynge left / ne doth his diligence / & bisynesse to kepyn his goode name // [2832] And Cassiodere seyth / That it is signe of a gentil herte / whan a man louyth & desiryth to haue a good name / [2833] And therfore seyth seynt austyn / that there been two thyngis that been necessarye & nedeful [2834] & that is good Concience & good loos / [2835] that is to seyne good concience to thyn owene parsone / In word and good los / for thyn neyghebore owtward / [2836] And he that trustith hym so mechil in hise goode concience / [2837] that he displesith & settyth at nouȝt / his goode name or los / & rekkith nat thow he kepith nat his goode name / nys but a crewel cherl /

[2838] Sire now haue I schewid ȝow / how ȝe schuldyn doon to getyn rychessis / & how ȝe schuldyn vsyn hem / [2839] And I se weel that for the trust that ȝe han in ȝoure richessis / ȝe wele meue werre / & batayle [2840] ¶ I conseyle ȝow that ȝe begynne no werre in trust of ȝoure rychessis / for they ne suffyse not / werrys to mayn|tene / [2841] And therfore seyth a philysophere That man that desyryth & wele algatis han werre / schal neuere han suffisaunce / [2842] for the rychere that he is the grettere dispencis wolde he makyn / ȝif he wele haue wor|schepe & victorie [2843] And Salomon seyth / that the grettere rychessis that a man hath; the mo dispendouris / he hath [2844] ¶ And deere sere / al be it so that for ȝoure rychessis / ȝe mowe haue meche folk / [2845] ȝit behouyth it nat / ne it is nat good to bryngyn werre / where as ȝe mowe in othere manere haue pees / vn-to ȝoure worschepe & profyt / [2846] ffor the victorye of bataylis / that been in this world / lyth not in grete nou[m]bre or multitude of peple / ne in the vertew of man / [2847] but it lyth in the wil & in the vertu of oure lord god / almighty / [2848] & therfore Iudas / Machabeus / whiche was goddis knygh / [2849] whanne he schulde fyghte aȝen hyse aduersaryis that a grettere noumbre & a grettere mul|titude of puple of folk & was strongere / than was his puple of Machabye / [2850] ȝit he reconfortyth his litil cumpanye / & seyde ryȝt in this wise / [2851] Also lyghtely quod he may oure lord god / almyghty ȝeue victorye to a fewe folk; as to manye folk / [2852] for the victorie of batayle / comyth not by the greete noumbre of peple [2853] but it comyth from oure lord god / of heuene [2854] ¶ And deere sere for as meche as theere is no man / certeyn if it be worthi that god ȝeue hym victorie / . . . . .no gap in the MS. or noght aftyr that salomon seyth / [2855] therfore euery man / schulde greetly drede werris / to begynne / [2856] And by cause that in bataylis fallyn manye perilis / [2857] And happith othir|while / that as soone as the greete man slayn as the lityl man / [2858] And as it is I-wretyn in the secunde book of kyngis / the deedis of bataylis been auenturouse And no thyng certeyn / [2859] for as lyȝtely is on hurt with a spere as a-nothir / [2860] And for there is gret peril in werre / therfore schulde a man fle & eschewe werre in as meche as a man may goodly / [2861] ffor Salomon seyth / he that louyth peril / schal falle in peril / [2862]

Aftyr that Dame Prudence hadde spokyn in this maneere / Melibee answerede & seyde [2863] I se weel dame prudence / that be ȝoure fayre wordys and by ȝoure resonys / that ȝe han schewede me; that the werre lykyth ȝow no thyng / [2864] but I haue not ȝit herd ȝoure conseyl / how I schal doon / in this neede [2865]

CErtis quod sche / I conseyle ȝow that ȝe acorde with ȝoure aduersaryis / & that ȝe han pees with hem / [2866] ffor seynt Iame seyth / in hise epistellis That by concord & pees / the smale rychessis waxen greete / [2867] & by debat & discord / the greete richessis fallyn doun [2868] & ȝe knowyn weel that on of the gretteste / & most souereyn thyng that is in this world / is vnytee & pees / [2869] and therfore seyde oure lord Ihesu Crist to hise apostell in this wyse / [2870] wol happi & blyssede been they / that louyn & purchasyn pees / for they been callede childeryn of god / [2871] A Quod Melibee / Now se I that ȝe louyn not myn honour / ne myn worchepe / [2872] ȝe knowyn weel that mynne aduersaryis han begunne this debaat & brige / by here outrage [2873] & ȝe seen weel that they ne requiryn ne preyen me nat of pees / ne they axsyn nat to been reconsylid / [2874] wele ȝe thanne that I goo and meeke / me & obeye me to hem / & crye hem mercy / [2875] for sothe that weere nat myn worschepe / [2876] ffor ryȝt as men seyn / that oure greete homelynesse / engenderyth dispressynge so faryth it / by too gret humilte or meeknesse [2877]

Thanne bygan Daame Prudence / to makyn sem|blaunt of wrethe & seyde [2878] Certis sire saue ȝoure grace / I loue ȝoure honour & ȝoure profyt as I do myn owene / & euere haue do / [2879] ne ȝe ne noon othir seyen neuere the contrarye / [2880] And ȝit If I hadde seyd / that ȝe schulde / han purchasyd / the pees & the reconsyliacyoun / I ne hadde nat meche mystake me / ne sayd a-mys // [2881] ffor the wise man seyth / The dis|sencioun begynnyth by a-nothir man / & the reconsylyng bygynnyth by thi self / [2882] And the prophete seyth ffle schrewedenesse & do goodnesse / [2883] Seeke pees & folwe it in-asmeche as ȝe may / [2884] ȝit seye I nat / that ȝe schul rathere / pursewe to ȝoure aduersarye / for pees / than they schul to ȝow / [2885] ffor I knowe weel that ȝe been so hard hertid / that ȝe weele doon no thyng for me // [2886] And Salomon seyth / that he that hath ouyr hard an herte / that he at the laste schal myshappe or mystyde.

Whanne Melibee hadde herd dame Prudence makyn semblaunt / of wrathe / he seyde in this wise / [2888] Dame I preye ȝow that ȝe been nat displesid / of thyngis that I seye / [2889] ffor ȝe knowe weel / that I am angery & wroth / & that is no wondyr / [2890] & they that been wrothe; wetyn nat weel what they doon / ne what they seyn / [2891] Therfore the prophete seyth / that troublede eyen han no cleer syȝt / [2892] but seyth & conseylyth me / as ȝou lykyth / for I am redy to do / ryght as ȝe wele desire / [2893] and ȝif ȝe repreue me of myn folye / I am the moore holdyn for to loue ȝow & to preyse ȝow // [2894] ffor Salomon seyth / that he that repreuyth hym that doth folye [2895] he schal fynde grettere grace / than he that disseyuyth hym with sweete wordys / [2896]

Thanne seyde dame Prudence / I make no semblaund / of wrathe ne of angir: but for ȝoure greete profyth / [2897] ffor Salomon seyth he is more worth / that re|preuyth or chydyth / a fool for hise folyee / schewynge hym semelaunt of wrethe; [2898] than he that support[it]h hym / & preysith hym in his mysdoinge. and laughit at hise folye / [2899] and this same salamon seyth aftyrward / that by the sorweful visage of a man that is to seyne by the sorye & heuy cuntenaunce / of a man [2900] the fool / correctyth & amendyth hymself / [2901]

Thanne seyde Melibee / I schal nat cunne answere to so manye & fayr resonys as ȝe puttyn on to me / & schewyn / [2902] seyth schortely vn-to me ȝoure wil & ȝoure conseyl / & I am al redy to performe it & fulfille it /

Whanne Dame Prudence discouerede al hire wil on to hym & seyde / [2904] I conseyle ȝow quod sche abouyn alle thynges / that ȝe makyn pees by-twexe god and ȝow / [2905] & beth reconsyled vn-to hym / & to hise grace / [2906] ffor as I haue seyd ȝow heere by-forn / God hath sufferid ȝow to haue this tribulacioun & dissese for ȝoure synnys / [2907] and ȝif ȝe do as I seyde ȝow / god wele sende ȝore aduersarijs vn-to ȝow / [2908] & make hem to falle at ȝoure feet / redy to doon ȝoure wil & ȝoure com|aundement / [2909] for Salomon seyth / whanne the con|dicioun of a man / is plesaunt & lykynge to god / [2910] he chaungith the hertis of the mannys aduersarijs & con|streynyth hem to beseke hym of pees & of grace [2911] & I preye ȝow lat me spekyn with ȝoure aduersarijs pryuyly / [2912] for they schal nat knowe that it be of ȝoure wil / or ȝoure assent / [2913] and thanne whanne I knowe here wil & here entent I may conseyle ȝow the moore sewerly

[2914] DAme quod Melibee doth ȝoure wil & ȝoure lykynge / [2915] for I putte me holly in ȝoure disposicioun and ordynaunce [2916]

Thanne dame Prudence whanne sche saw the greete wil of hire husbonde / delibered & took auys in hireself / [2917] thynkynge how sche myȝte brynge this neede into a good conclusioun / & to a good ende [2918] And whan sche saw hire tyme sche sente for hise aduersaryis / to come vn-to hire into a priue place / [2919] & schewede wisely vn-to hem / the greete goodis that comyn of pees [2920] & the greete harmys / & perilis that comyn in werre / [2921] & seyde to hem in a goodely manere / how that hem oughte to han greet re|pentaunce / [2922] of the Iniurie & the wrong that they hadde doon to hire lord / and vn-to hire & to hyre douȝtyr [2923]

And whanne / they herdyn the goodelyche wordis off Dame Prudence / [2924] they weere so suppreysed / & rauyschit & haddyn so greet Ioye of hire that wondyr was to seen / or telle // [2925] A lady quod they ȝe han schewyd vnto vs / the blyssynge of swettnesse / aftyr the sawe of dauyth the prophete / [2926] ffor the reconsilyng whiche we ne been nat worthi for to haue / in no maneere / [2927] but we ouȝtyn to requiryn it with vericontrycioun / & humilitee that [2928] ȝe of ȝoure greete goodnesse / haue presentid vn|to vs / [2929] Now se we weel / that the science & the cun|nynge / of Salomon is ful trewe / [2930] ffor he seyth that sweete wordys / multiplyen & encresyn frendis / & makyn schrewys to been debonayre & meeke /

[2931] Certis quod they / we putte oure deede & al oure matyere & cause al only in ȝoure goode wil / [2932] and been redy to obeye to the comaunde|ment of myn lord / Melibee / [2933] And therefore deere & benygne lady / we preye ȝow & beseke ȝow as mekely as we cunne / And moun / [2934] that it like vnto ȝoure greete goodnesse / to fulfylle in deede ȝoure good|lyche wordis // [2935] ffor we consideryn & knowelechyn / that we haue offendit & greuyd myn lord Melibee out of mesure [2936] so fer forth that we been nat of poweer / to makyn hise amendis / [2937] And therfore we obligyn & byndyn vs & oure frendis for to doon his wil / & al his comaundementz / [2938] but perauenture he hath swich heuynesse & swich wrathe to vsward / by cause of oure offence [2939] that he wele enioynyn vs swich a peyne as we mowe nat bere ne sustene / [2940] And therfore noble lady we besekyn to thyn womanly pete / [2941] to takyn swich auysement / in this neede / that we ne oure frendis been nat diseritid ne distroyed / thorw oure folye [2942]

CErtis quod Prudence / it is an hard thyng [et per|illeuse] [2943] that a man putte hym al vtreely in arbitracioun / and Iugement & in the mygh & power of hyse enemyis / [2944] ffor Salomon seyth / Leeuyth me & ȝeuyth credence to that that I schal seyn / I seye quod he the puple / folk / & gouernouris of holy cherche [2945] to thyn sone to thyn wif / to thyn frend ne to thyn brothyr [2946] ne ȝeue thow neuere mygh ne maystrye / of thyn body whil thow leuyst [2947] ¶ Now sithyn that he defendyth that a man schulde nat ȝeuyn to hise brothir ne to his frend the myȝt of hise body / [2948] by a strongere resoun / he defendith & forbedyth a man / to ȝeuyn hym self to his enemy / [2949] And nathe|les I conseyle ȝow that ȝe mystruste nat myn lord / [2950] for I wot weel & knowe verrayly / that he is debonayre / and meeke large curteys / [2951] & no|thyng desyrous / ne coueytous of good ne rychesse / [2952] for there ne is no thyng in this world / that he desiryth; saue only worschepe & honour / [2953] fferthere-moore I knowe & am ryȝt sekyr that he schal nothyng doon in this neede with-outyn myn conseyl / [2954] And I schal so werkyn in this cause / that by the grace of oure lord god ȝe schul been reconsyled vn-to vs

[2955] Thanne seydyn they with oon wois / worschepe|ful lady we putte vs & alle oure goodis // all fully in ȝoure wil & disposicioun [2956] and been redy to come / what day it lyke vnto ȝoure noblesse / to lymite vs / or assigne vs / [2957] for to makyn oure obligacioun / & boond as strong as it likith vn-to ȝoure goodnesse / [2958] that we mowe fulfylle the wil of ȝow // and of myn lord Melibee [2959]

Whanne Dame Prudence / hadde herd the answerys of these men / sche bad hem gon a-gayn priuyly / [2960] and sche retornede to hire lord Melibee / and tolde hym how sche foond hise aduersarijs ful repentaunt / [2961] knowelechynge ful lowely here synnys & trespase and how they were redy / to suffere alle peyne / [2962] requirynge & preyinge hym / of merci & pete [2963]

Thanne seyde Melibee / he is weel worthi to haue pardoun & forȝeuenesse of hise synne / that excusith nat his synne / [2964] but knowelecheth & repentith hym axinge indulgence [2965] ffor Senek saith theere is the remissioun & forȝeuenesse of synne / wheere as the con|fescioun is / [2966] neighbore to innocence; is confessioun / [2967] . . . . .no gap in the MS. And therfore I assente / & conferme me to haue pees / [2968] but it is good that we doon not with-outyn the assent & wil of oure frendis [2969]

Thanne was prudence / ryȝt glad & Ioyeful and seyde / [2970] Certis sere quod sche / ȝe han weel & goodly answeryd / [2971] for rygh as by the conseyl / assent & helpe of ȝoure frendis / ȝe han been stirid to venge ȝow / & make werre / [2972] ryȝt so with|outyn hire conseyl / schul ȝe nat acordyn / ȝow / ne haue pees with ȝoure aduersarijs / [2973] ffor the lawe seith There ne is no thyng so good be woye of kynde as a thyng to been onbounde / by hym that it was I-bou[n]de //

[2974] And thanne Dame Prudence / with-outyn delay or taryinge / sente a-non hire messagis for hire kyn & for hire olde frendis / whiche that were trewe / & wyse [2975] & tolde hem bi ordere in the presence of Melibee / al this matieere as it is a-boue expressid / & declared / [2976] And preyede hem that they wolde ȝeue hire a-vis & con|seyl / what best were to don in this neede // [2977] And whanne Melibees frendis haddyn takyn hire auys / & deliber|acioun of the forseyde matieere [2978] & hadde examynede it bi greet auysement & besynesse & greet diligence / [2979] they ȝeve ful conseyl / for to haue pees & reste / [2980] And that melibee schulde resseyue with good herte hise aduer|saryis / to forȝeuenesse & mercy

[2981] ¶ And whanne dame Prudence / hadde herd thassent of hire lord / Melibee & the conseyl of hise frendis / [2982] acord / with hire wil / & hyre entencioun [2983] sche was wondirly glad / in hire herte / & seyde / [2984] there is an old prouerbe / quod sche / that seyth That the goodnesse that thow mayght don this day do it / [2985] & abyde not ne delaye it not til tomorwe / [2986] & therfore I conseyle that ȝe sende ȝoure massagis / sweche as been discreete / & wyse. [2987] vn-to ȝoure aduersaryis / tellynge hem on ȝoure behalue / [2988] that ȝif they wele trete of pees / & of acord / [2989] that they schape hem with-outyn delay or tarynge to comyn vn-to vs / [2990] whiche thing perfornede was / in deede [2991] & whanne these trespasouris & repentynge folk of here folyis / that is to seyne the aduersaryis of Melibee / [2992] haddyn herd what these messageris seydyn vn-to hem / [2993] they weere right glad & ioyeful / & answeredyn ful mekely & benygnely [2994] ȝeldynge gracis / & thankyngis to here lord Melibee & to alle his cumpaynye / [2995] & schopyn hem with-outyn delay to gon with the massangeris / & obeye to the comaundement of here lord Melibee //

[2996] & ryȝt a-noon they toke here woye to the court / of Melibee / [2997] & tokyn with hem summe of here trewe frendis to make feith for hem / & for to been here borwys / [2998] And whanne they were come to the presence / of Melibee / he seyde hem these wordys / [2999] It standith thus quod Melibee / & soth it is that [3000] causeles & with-outyn skille / & resoun ȝe [3001] han doon greete Iniurijs & wrongis / to me & to myn wif Prudence And to myn doughtyr also / [3002] for ȝe han entred in-to myn hous by violence / [3003] & han doon swich outrage that alle men knowyn wel / that ȝe han deseruyd the deth / [3004] And therfore wele I knowe & wete of ȝow [3005] whethir ȝe wele putte the ponyschynge and the chastisynge in-to vengeaunce / of this outrage in the wil of me / & of myn wyf; or ȝe wele nat [3006]

1THanne the wyseste of hem thre / answerede for hem alle & seyde / [3007] Sire we knowe wel that we been onworthy to come to the court of so gret a lord & so worthy as ȝe been [3008] ffor we han so greetly mystakyn vs / & han offendit & agilt in swich a wise ageyn ȝoure hye lordschepe / [3009] that trewely we han deseruyd the deth / [3010] But ȝit for the greete goodnesse & debonaierete / that al the world witnessith of ȝoure persoone / [3011] we submyttyn vs to the excellence & the benygnete of ȝoure graciouse lordschepe [3012] And been redy to obeye to alle ȝoure comandementis/ [3013] besekynge ȝow that of ȝoure Merciable pete / ȝe wolde considere oure geeete repentaunce & lowe submissioun [3014] & graunte vs forȝeuenesse of oure outrageous trespacis and offence [3015] for weel we knowyn / that ȝoure liberal grace / & mercy / strechyn hem ferthere / in-to good|nesse; than don oure outrageous giltis & trespacis in-to wekedenesse [3016] Albe-it that cursedely & damp|nably we han gilt agen ȝoure highe lordschepe.1[1_1 All this paragraph is repeated in the MS, begin|ning Whanne instead of Thanne.] [3017]

THanne Melibee tok hem vp from the ground ful benygnely / [3018] & resseyuede here oblygacyounys & here bondis / by here othis vpon here plegges / & borewis / [3019] and assignede hem a certeyn day to retourne vn-to hise courtt [3020] forto resceyue & accepte the sentence/ & Iugement that Melibee wolde commaunde to been doon on hem / by the cause afforseid. [3021] whyche thyngis or|deynyd / euery man retourned to his hous //

[3022] And whanne that dame Prudence saw hire tyme sche feynede and axede hire lord Melibee [3023] what vengeaunce he thouȝte to takyn of hise aduersaries [3024]

TO whiche Melibee answerede & seyde certis quod he I thynke & purpose me fully [3025] to dys|erite hem of al that they han / & for to putte hem in exil for euere. [3026]

CErtis quod dame prudence this were a crewel sentence / & mechil a-geyn resoun / [3027] for ȝe been riche I-now / & han non ned of othere menys / [3028] & ȝe myȝtyn lyȝtely in this wyse / getyn ȝow a coueytous name [3029] whiche is a vicious thyng & oughte to been eschewid of euery good man / [3030] ffor aftyr the sawe of the word of thapostele / Coueytyse is roote of alle harmys / [3031] & therfore it were betere / for ȝow to lese so meche good / of ȝoure owene; than for to takyn of hire good / in this manere [3032] ffor betere it is to lese good / with worchepe; thanne it is to wynne good with vilanye / & schame / [3033] And euery man oughte to doon his diligence / & his besynesse / to getyn hym a good name / [3034] & ȝit schal he nat only / besye hym in kepynge his good name; [3035] but he schal also enforsyn hym alwey to doon sumthing by whiche he may renouelle / hise goode name [3036] ffor it is wretyn / that the olde goode loos / or goode name / of a man is soone goon & passid / whanne it nys nat newid ne re|nouellyd / [3037] And as touchynge that ȝe seyn ȝe wele exile ȝoure aduersaryis / [3038] that thynkyth me mekyl ageyn resoun And out of meseure / [3039] con|syderede the power that they han ȝeuyn ȝow vp-on hem-self / [3040] And it is wretyn that he is worthy to leese hise priuylege that mysuseth & the poweer / that is ȝeuyn hym / [3041] & I sette caas / ȝe myȝte enioyne hem / that peyne by ryȝt / & by lawe / [3042] whiche I trowe ȝe ne may not do / [3043] I seye ȝe myght nat putte it to execucioun parauenture [3044] & thanne weere it likly to returne to the werre as it was by-forn [3045] & therfore ȝif ȝe wele that men doon ȝow obeys|aunce / ȝe muste deeme moore curteysly [3046] this is to seye ȝe muste ȝeue moore esy sentenceȝ & Iugementis / [3047] ffor it is wrete / that he that most curteysli comaundyth / to hym; meen muste obeye / [3048] & there|fore I preye ȝow / that in this necescite / & this neede ȝe caste ȝow to ouercome ȝoure herte // [3049] ffor senek seyth that he that [ones] ouyrcomythis cut out [his/herte ouercomeþ twies/ [3050] And Tullius/ seith. þer is/ no þing/ so¶ Tullius/. comendable in a gret lorde. [3051] as/ when he is/ debon|eire & meke. & appesiþ hym mekeli. [3052] And I praie you · þat ye woll/ forbere now to do vengeaunce [3053] in suche a maner þat your good name maie be kept & conserued. [3054] & þat men maie haue cause & mater/ to preise you in pite & mercy. [3055] & þat ye haue no cause to repent you of þing/ þat ye done. [3056] ffor Senek seith. he ouercomeþ in euyll/¶ Seneca. maner þat repentiþ hym of his/ victorie. [3057] Wher|fore I praie you lat/ mercy ben in your herte [3058] to þe effecte & þe entente þat god almyȝti haue mercy vp-on you in his/ last iugement [3059] 3¶ ffor seynt/ Iame seith in his/ epistell/. Iugement3[3_3 in margin] with¶ Iacobus/. out mercy schall/ be do to. hym. þat haþ no mercy of anoþer wight.

[3060] When Me libe had herd þe grete skiles/ & resons/ of dame Prudence & of/ her/ wise informacions/ & techinges/. [3061] his herte gan enclyne to þe wille of his/ wif. considering/ to her trewe entent/. [3062] con|formed hym anon & assentid fulli to wirchen aftir/ hir/ counceile. [3063] & þankid god of/ whom procediþ all/ goodnes/ þat hym sent a wif/ of so gret discrecion. [3064] And when þe daie come þat his/ aduer|saries/ schulden appere in his presence. [3065] he spak/ to hem full/ goodli & seide to hem in þis/ wise. [3066] ¶ All/ be it/ so þat of your pride & hie presumpcion & folie & of your necligence & vnkonnyng. [3067] Ye haue mys/ born you & trespaced to me. [3068] Yet for as/ meche as/ I se & beholde your gret humylite [3069] & þat ye ben sorie & repentaunt of/ your giltes/. [3070] it/ constreyneþ me to do yow grace & mercy · [3071] wherfore I receyue you to my grace. [3072] & foryeuen/ you intierli alle þe offences/ yniuries/ & wrongis/· þat ye han done ayenst/ me & myn. [3073] to þis/ effecte & to þis/ ende þat god of his/ endeles/ mercy · [3074] will/ at þe tyme of diyng/. foryeuen/ our/ giltes/ þat we haue trespaced vn-to hym in þis/ wrecchid worlde. [3075] ffor doutles/ if/ we be sorie & repentaunt/ of þe synnes/ & giltes/· in þe whiche we han trespaced in þe sight/ of our/ lord god. [3076] he is/ so fre & so merci|full/. [3077] þat he will/ foryeuen/ vs/ our/ giltes/. [3078] & bryngen vs/ to þilke blis/ þat neuer hath ende . To whiche blis/ he vs/ brynge · þat blood on crois/ for vs/ did sprynge. Qui cum deo patre. & cetera.//

Here/ endith Chaucers/ tale/ of Melibe/ And Prudence/][Harl. MS 1758 extract ends] [Here be-gynneth þe Prolooge of þe Monke. Whan endid was þis tale of Melybe And of / Prudence and of hir/ benygnyte Oure hoste sayd as I am a · feyth-full man And by þe preciouse corpus madryan I hade leuere þan a Barelle of ale þat godeleve my wyf hade hard þis tale ffor she nys no þenge of suche pacience · As was þis Melibeus wyfes prudence Be godes bones whan I bete my knaues. Sche bryngeth me þe grete clubbed staves. And cryethe slee þe dogges euereycheon And breke bothe backe and bone And ȝif þat ony neghebour of myne Wolle not in chirche to my wyf enclyne Or be so hardy to her/ to trespace When she cometh home she renneth in my face And cryeth false coward wreke þi wyfe By corpus bonus I wylle haue þi knyfe And þou shalte haue my distafe and go spynne ffro day to nyȝt riȝt þus she wolle begynne Alas she seithe þat euere I was shape To wedde a melke soppe or so grete an ape þat wolle bene ouere lade with euery wyȝt þou dorste not stonde by þi wyf a ryȝt Thys ys my lyfe but ȝif I wolde fyȝt And oute at þe dore a-none I mote me dyȝt Or elles I am lost but ȝif þat I Be lyke a wylde lyonn foule hardy I wote wele she wylle do me slee som day Some neyȝeboure and þan go my way][Sloane extract ends] For I am perlious with knyf in hondeCamb. Univ. Lib. MS Gg. 4.27 Al be it that I dar nat hire with-stonde For sche is big in armys by myn feyth That schal he fynde that hire mys doth or seyth But lat vs passe a-way from this matiere Myn lord the Monk be merye of cheere For ȝe schul telle a tale trewely Lo rouchestre stant heere faste by Ryde forth myn owene lord / brek nat oure game But by myn trouthe I knowe nat ȝoure name Wher schal I calle ȝow myn lord daund Iohn Or daun Thomas or ellis daun Albon Of what hous be ȝe by ȝoure fadyr kyn I voue to god thow hast a ful fayr skyn It is a gentyl pasture theere thow gost Thow art nat lyk a penaunt or a gost Vp-on myn feyth thow art sum offyseer Sum worthi Sexteyn or sum Celereer ffor by myn fadyr soule as to myn doom Thow art a maystyr whan thow art at hom No poore Cloysterer ne non nouys But a gouernour worthy & wis And therwithal of braun & of bonys A weel farynge persone for the nonys I preye to god ȝeue hem confusioun That ferst the brouȝte vn-to relygeoun Thow woldyst a been a tredefowel aryȝt Haddyst thow as greet a leue as thow hast myght To perforne al this lust in engendernge Thow haddyst begetyn manye a creature Allas why werys thow so syd a cope God ȝeue me sorwe but & I were a pope Nat only thow but euery myghty man Thow he were schore hye vp on his pan Schulde han a wif for al the world is lorn Religeous hath takyn vp al the corn Of tythyng / & we borel meen been schrympis Of feble treis theere comyn febele ympis This makyth that oure eyris been so sklendere And feble that they may not weel engendere This makyth that oure wiuys wele assaye Relygeous folk for ȝe mowe the betere paye Of Venus payementis than mowe we God wot no lusschebruys paye ȝe But be nat wroth myn lord thow that I pleye Ful ofte in game a sothe I haue herd seye THis worthy Monk tok al in pacience And seyde I wele don al myn diligence As fer as sounyth in-to honeste To telle ȝow a tale or two or three And ȝif thow leste to herkyn hedyrward I wele ȝow seyn the lyf of seynt Edeward Or ellis fyrst tragedeis wele I telle Of whiche I haue an hundered in myn celle Tragedie is to seyne a certeyn storye As olde bokys makyn vs memorie Of hym that stod in greet prosperitee & is I-fallyn out of hygh degre In-to myserye & endyth wrechedely And they been vercified comounly Of sexe feet whiche men callyn exametroun In prose ek endytid been many on And ek in metre in manye a sundery wyse Lo this declarynge oughte I-nough suffyse Now herkyth ȝif ȝow lyke for to heere But fyrst I ȝow be-seke in this matiere Thow I be ordere telle nat these thyngis Be it of popis emperourys or kyngis Aftyr here agis as men rede & fynde But telle hem some by-fore & some be-hynde As it comyth to myn remembraunce Haue me excusede of myn ygnoraunce Here begynnyth the Monk his tale[Painting of the Monk on horseback.] I[This initial I is carried down to line 3198, in MS.] Wole be-wayle in manere of Tragedie The harm of hem that stood in hey degre And fellyn so that theere nas no remedie To brynge hem out of here aduercitee For certeyn whan that fortune leste to fle Theere may no man the cours of hire withholde Lat not man truste on blynd prosperitee By-war by these exsaumplys trewe & olde [Lucifer.] At lucyfer thow he an aungel weereLucifer And not a man at hym I wele begynne For thow fortune may noon aungel deere From high degre ȝit fel he for his synne Doun in-to helle where as he ȝit is inne O lucifer bryȝteste / of aungellis alle Now art thow satenas that mayst not twynne Out of myserie / in which that thow art falle [Adam.] Loo Adam in the feeld of damasseneAdam With goddys owene fyngyr mad was hee And not begetyn of manys sperme onclene And welte al paradys sauynge on tree Hadde neuere wordely man so heigh degree As adam tyl he for mysgouernaunce Was dreue out of his hye prosperite To labour & to helle & to myschaunce [Sampson.] Loo Sampson that was annunciatSamson By aungel longe er his natyuite And was to god almyghty consecrat And stood in noblesse whil he myȝte see Was neuere swich a-nothir as was hee To speke of strenthe & therwyth hardynesse But to hise wiuys tolde he his secree Thorw whiche he slow hym self for wrechedenesse Sampson this noble almyghty champioun With-outyn wepene saue hise handis tweye He slow & al to-rente the lyoun Toward his weddyng walkynge by the weye His false wif coude hym so pleese & preye Til sche his conseyl knew & sche vntrewe Vn-to hise fois his conseyl gan be-wreye And hym forsok & tok a-nothir newe Thre hunderede foxis tok Sampson for yre And alle here taylys he to-gedere bond And sette the foxis taylys alle on feere For he on euery tayl hadde knyt a brond And they brende alle the corn in that lond On alle hire Oliueis[is corrected] & vinys ek A thousent men ek slow he with his hond And hadde non wepene but an assis cheeke Whan they were slayn so trustede hym that he Was wol nygh lorn for which he gan to preye That god wolde on his peyne han sum pete And sende hym drynk / or ellis muste he deye And of this Assis cheke that was dreye Owt of a wange tooth / sprong a-noon a welle Of whiche he drank I-nough schortely to seye Thus helpede hym god as Iudicum can telle By verray force at a Gaȝan on a nyght Maugere philistienys of that Citee The ȝatis of the toun he hath vp plyȝt And on his bak I-karyede hem hath hee Hye on an hil wheere as men myȝte hym se O noble almyghty Sampson leue & deere Haddist thow nat told to women thyn secre In al this world ne hadde be thyn peere This Sampson neythir Sythir drank ne wyn Nor on his heed cam rasor non ne scheere By precept of the massangeer deuyn / For alle hise strenthis in hise heris weere And fully twenty wyntyr ȝeer be ȝeere He hadde of Israel the gouernaunce But soone schal he wepe ful manye a teere For women schal hym brynge to myschaunce Vn-to his leman Dalida he tolde That in hise heris al hise strenthe lay And falsely to hise fomen sche hym solde And slepynge vp in hire barm vp-on a day Sche maade to clippe or schere his heer a-way And made his fomen his craft espyen And whan that they hym fond in this aray They boundyn hym faste & puttyn out hise eyen But er his heed / was clyppid or I-schaue Theere was no bond[nd, / with whiche menen, corrected] mygh hym bynde But now is he / in prisoun in a Caue Wheere as they made / hym at the querne to grynde O noble Sampson / strongeste of man kynde O whilom Iuge / in glorye & in rychesse Now mayst thow wepyn / with thynne eyen blynde Sythe thow from wele / art fallyn in wrechedenesse The ende of this caytyf was as I schal seye Hise fomen made / a feste vp-on a day And made hym as a fool / by-fore hem pleye And this was in a temple / of greet aray But at the laste he maade a foul affray For he two pilleris schok / & made hem falle And doun fil temple & al there it lay And slow hym self & ek hise fo-men alle This is to seyne the pryncis euerychon And ek thre hunderede bodyis weere theere slayn With fallynge of the greete temple of stoon Of Sampsoun wele I no moore seyn Beth war bi this 1exsaummple olde & pleyn1[1_1 later] That no man telle here conseyl to here wyuys Of swich thyng as they wele haue secre fayn If that it touche / hire / lymys or hire lyuys [Hercules.] Of Hercules the souereyn conquerour¶ Hercules Syngyn his laude his werkis & his renoun For in his tyme of[of corrected] strenthe he was the flour He slow & rafte the skyn from the lyoun He of Centauros leyde the beste a-doun He arpijs slow the crewel briddys felle He goldene appillis / rafte of the dragoun He drow out Cerberus out of helle He slow the crewel tyraunt Busirus And made his hors to frete hym flesch & boon He slow the fery serpent venymous Of Achilois hornys 3too / he brak on3[3_3 corrected] And he slow Cakus in a Caue of stoon. He slow the geaunt Antheus the stronge He slow the gresely boor & that a-noon And bar the heed vp-on his spere longe Was neuere wight swich sithe that this world be-gan That slow so manye monstris as dede he Thourw out this wide world his name ran What for his strenthe & for his hye bounte And euery reume wente he for to se He was so strong that no man myghte hym lette At boothe the wordys endis seyth trophee In-stede of boundis / he a piller sette A lemman hadde this noble Champioun That highte dianira / frosch as may And as these clerkis makyn mencyoun Sche hath hym sent a scherte frosch & gay Allas this scherte allas & weyleaway Enuenymyd was so subtyl with alle That er that he hadde wered it half a day It made his flesch al from hise bonys falle But natheles summe clerkis hire excusyn By on that hyghte Nessius that it makid Be as be may I wele hire not excusyn But on his bak this scherte he werede al nakid Til that the scherte was for the venym blakid And whan he saw noon othir remedye In hoote colys he hath hym self I-rakyd For with no venym deynede hym to deye Thus starf this myghti Hercules Lo ho may truste on fortune ony throwe ffor hym that folwith al this world of prees Er he be war is ofte I-leyd ful lowe fful wis Is he that can hym seluyn knowe Beeth war for whanne that fortune leste to glose Thanne waytith[ith corrected] sche hire man to ouerthrowe By swich a weye as he wolde lest suppoose [Nebuchadnezzar.] ¶ The myȝty trone the precious tresor¶ Nabegodonosor The gloriouse Ceptre & royal mageste That hadde the kyng Nabegodonosor With tunge onethe may discryuede be He twijs wan Ierusalem Cete The vessel of the temple he with hym ladde At babiloine was his souereyn see In whiche his glorye & his delyt he ladde The fayreste childeryn of the blod royal Of Israel he leet do gilde a-noon And makede eche of hem to been his thral A-mongis othere Danyel was oon That was the wiseste child of euerichon For he the dremys of the child expoungnede Where-as in chaldeye clerk was theere noon That wiste to what fyn hise dremys sounede The proude kyng leet make a statute of gold Syxti Cubitis longe & seuene in breede To whiche ymage he bothe ȝonge & olde Comaunded to loute & haue in dreede Or in a furneys ful of flaumbis reede He schal been brend that wolde not obeye But neuere wolde assente to that deede Danyel ne hise ȝonge felawys tweye This kyng of kyngis proud was & elayt He wende that god that sit in Mageste Ne myghte hym not byreue of his estat And sodeynly he loste his dygnetee And lik a beste hym semede for to bee And eet hey as an oxe & lay there oute In reyn with wilde bestis walkede he Tyl certeyn tyme was I-comyn a-boute And lyk an egellis federis wexsyn his erys Hise naylis lyk a briddis clawis weere Til god relesede hym a certeyn ȝerys And ȝaf hym wit & thanne with manye a teere He thankede god & euere his lyf in feere Was he to doon a-mys or moore trespace And tyl that tyme / he leyd was on his beere He knew that god was ful of myȝt & graace [Belshazzar.] His sone which that hyȝte BalthasarBaltasar That held the regne aftyr hire fadyris day He by his fader coude not be war ffor proud he was of herte & of aray And ek an ydolastre was he ay Hise hye estat assurede hym in pryde But fortune caste hym doun & there he lay And sodeynly his regne he gan deuyde A feste he made vnto hise lordis alle Vp-on a day & bad hem blythe bee And thanne hise offiseris gan he calle Goth bryngith forth the vessell quod he Which that myn fadyr in his prosperite Out of the temple of 1Ierusalem1[1_1 corrected] berafte And to oure hye goddis thanke we Of honour that oure olderis with vs lafte His wif hise lordis & hise concubynys Ay dronkyn whil here apetitis laste Out of these noble vessellis sundery wynys And on a wal this kyng his eyen caste And saw an hand armles that wrot ful faste ffor 1feere1[1_1 corrected] of whiche he quok & sykede soore This hand that balthasar so soore a-gaste Wroot Mane 1techel1[1_1 corrected] phares & na moore In al that land magicien was non That coude expoungne what these letterys mente But danyel expoungnede it a-noon And seyde kyng god to thyn fadyr sente Glorie & honour / regne tresor rente And he was proud / & no thyng god ne dradde And therfore god greet 1wreche1[1_1 corrected] on hym sente And hym berafte / the regne that he hadde He was out cast of manny cumpaynye With assis was his habytacioun And eet hay as a beste / in weet & drye Tyl that he knew by grace & by resoun That god of heuene hath domynacioun Of euery regne / & euery creature And thanne hadde god of hym compascioun And hym restorede his regne & his figure Ek thow that art his sone art proud also And knowist alle these sygnys verrayly And art rebel to god & art his foo Thow drank ek of hise wellys boldely Thyn wyf ek & thynne wenchis synfully Dronke of the same vessel sundery wynys And heryist false goddis cursedely Therfore to the I-schapyn ful greet pyne is This hand was sent from god that on the wal Wroot mane techel phares trust to me Thyn regne is doon thow weyest noght at al Deuidit is thyn regne / & it schal bee To Medes & to perses ȝeuyn quod he And tilke same nyȝt this kyng was slawe And Daryus ocupied his degree Thow he thereto hadde neythir ryȝt ne lawe Lordyngis ensaumple hereby may ȝe take. How that in lordschepe is no sekyrnesse. For whan fortune wele a man forsake. Sche beryth a-wey his regne & hys rychesse. And ek hise frendis bothe moore & lasse. For what that hath frendis thourr fortune. Mishap wele make hem enemyis I gesse. This prouerbe is ful soth & ful comune. [Zenobia.] ¶ Cenobia of palimerye queene¶ Cenobia As wrytyn percyens of hire noblesse So worthi was in armys & so keene That no whit passede hire in hardynesse Ne in lynage nor othir gentillesse Of kyngis blod of perse is sche dessendid I seye that sche hadde not mooste fayrenesse But of hire schap sche myȝte nat been a-mendid. From hire childhod / I fynde that sche fledde Offise of wemen & to wode sche wente And manye a wylde hertis blood sche schedde With arwis broode that sche to hym sente Sche was so swift that sche anoon hem hente And whan that sche was eldere sche wolde kylle Leonys lebardis & beris al to-rente And in hire armys wilde hem at hire wille Sche durste wilde beestis denys seeke And rennyn in the mounteigny[s] al be nyght And slepyn vndyr the busch / & sche coude ek Wrastellyn by verray forse & verray myght With any ȝong man were he neuere so wight There myghte no thyng in hire armys stonde Sche kepte hire maydynheed from euery wyght To no man degnede hire for to been bonde But at the laste hire frendys haddyn hire maryed To onedake a prynce of that cuntree Al weere it so that sche hem longe taryed And ȝe schal vndyrstonde how that he[he corrected] Hadde swiche fantasyis as hadde sche But nathelees whan they weere knyt in feere They leuede in Ioye & in felycite For eche of hem hadde othir leef & deere Saue on thyng that sche wolde neuere assente By no wey. that he schulde by hire lye But ones: for it was hire pleyn entente To haue a child the world to multyplye And also sone as sche myghe espye That sche was nat with childe with that deede Thanne wolde sche suffere hym don his fantasye Eft sonys & not but onys out of dreede And If sche were with childe[childe, more, corrected] at tylke cast Namore[childe, more, corrected] schulde he pleyen tylke game Tyl fynally fourty dayis weere past Thanne wolde sche onys suffere hym the same Al weere this Onedake wilde or tame He gat na moore of hire for thus sche sayde It was to wyuys lecherye & schame In othir cas ȝif men with hem playede Two sonys bi this Onedake hadde sche The whiche sche kepte / in vertu & lettyrure But now vn-to oure tale turne we I seye so worschepeful a criature And wis therewith & large with mesure So peynyble in the werre & curteys ek Ne moore labour myghte in werre endure Was noon thow al this world men schulde seeke Hyre ryche aray myghte not be told As wel in vessel as in hyre clothynge Sche was al clad in perre & in golde And ek sche lafte not for noon huntynge To haue of sundery tungis ful knowynge Whan that sche leyseer hadde / & for to entende To lerne bokys was hire lykynge How sche myghte in wertu hire lyf dyspende And schortely of this story for to trete So doughty was hire husbonde & ek sche That they conquerede manye regnys greete In the oryent with manye a fayr cete Apertenaunt vn-to the mageste Of rome & with strong hand held hem faste Ne neuere myghte hire fomen don hem fle Ay whil 1that Onadakys dayis laste1[1_1 later correction] Hyre bataylis who so lyste hem for to reede A-gayn soper the kyng & othere moo And how that al this proces fyl in deede Why sche conquerede & what tytle therto And aftyr of hire myschif & hire wo Hov[Hov corrected] that sche was be-segit & I-take Let hym vn-to myn maystir Petraik go That writ I-nough of this I vndyrtake Whan Onedake was deed sche myghtyly The regnys held & with hire propre hond A-gayns hire fois sche faught so crewelly That theere nas kyng nor prynce in al that lond That he nas glad ȝif he that grace fond That sche ne wolde vp-on his lond werreye With hire they made allyaunce by bond To been in pees & leete hire ryde & pleye The Emperour of rome Claudius Ne hym be-forn the [R corrected]Romen Galyeen Ne durste neuere been so corageous Ne noon Ermyn ne non Egipcien Ne Surreyn ne non Arabieen With-inne the feeldys that durste with hire fyȝt Lest that sche wolde hem wit hire handis sleen Or with hire meyne puttyn hem to flyght In kyngis habite wente hire sonys two As heyris of hire faderys regnes alle And hermanno / & thimalao Hire namys were as .persiens. hem calle[first calde] But ay fortune hath in hire hony galle This myghty queen may no while endure Fortune out of hire regne / made hire falle To wrechedenesse & to mysauenture Aurelyan whan that the gouernaunceAurelian Of Rome cam In-to hire handis tweye He schop vp-on his queen to doon vengeaunce And with hise legiounnys he tok his weye Toward Senobie & schortely for to seye He made hire fle / & at the laste hire hente And feterede hire & ek hire chyldere tweye And wan the lond & hom to rome he wente A-mongis othere thyngis that he wan Hire chaar that was with gold wrought & perre This greete roman this aurelian Hath with hym lad for that men schulde it se By-forn his triumphe walkyth sche With gilte cheynys 1vp-on here nekke hangynge1[1_1, later corrections] Corounede was sche as[later corrections] aftyr hyre degree And ful of perre chargit hire clothynge Allas fortune sche that whilom was Dredeful to kyngis & to emperourys Now gauryth al the peple on hire allas And sche that helmede was in starke stourys And wan by force tounnys stronge & tourvs Schal on hire heed now were a vitremyte And sche that bar the Ceptre ful of flour Schal bere a distaf hire cost forto quyte[The modern instances which should come here, are at the end of the Tale in this MS] [Nero.] Al-thow that Nero were viciousNero As ony feend that lyth ful lowe a-doun Ȝit as tellyth vs Switonyus This wide world hadde in subieccioun Bothe est & west / North & Septemptrioun Of Rubees Safferys / & of perlys whyte Weere alle hise clothis broudede vp & doun For he in gemmys gretly gan delyte More delicat / more pompous of aray Moore proud was neuere emperour than hee That ilke cloth that he hadde wered a day Aftyr that tyme he wolde it neuere se Nettis of gold thred hadde he greet plente To fysche in tibre whan hym lyste to pleye His lustis were alle lawe in his decree For fortune as his frend / hym wolde obeye He Rome brende for his delicasie The Senatouris he slow vp-on a day To heere how that men schulde weepe & crye And slow his brothir & by his sistyr lay His modyr made he in pytous array ffor he hyre wombe slytte to byholde Wheere he conseyuede was so weyle-awey That he so lytyl of his modyr tolde No teer out of hise eyen for that syght Ne cam but seyde a fayr woman was sche Greet wondyr is how that he coude or myghte Be domysman of hire deede beaute The wyn to bryngyn hym comaundede he And drank a-noon / non othyr wo he made Whan myght is Ioyned on to creweltee Allas to deepe wil the venym wade In ȝouthe a maystyr hadde this Emperour To teche hym letterure & curteysye For of moralite he was the floure As in his tyme but ȝif bokis lye And whil this Maystyr hadde of hym maystrye He makede hym so cunning[ing corrected] & so souple That long tyme it was er tyranye Or ony vice durste on hym oncouple This Seneca / of which that I deuyse By cause that Nero hadde of hym swich dreede For he from vicis wolde hym ay chastyse Discretly by word & not by deede Syre wolde he seyn an emperour mot neede Been vertyuous & hatyn tyrannye For which he in a bath made hym to bleede On bothe hise armys tyl he muste deye This Nero hadde ek of a custumance In ȝouthe a-geyn his maystyr for to ryse Which aftyrward hym thoughte a greet greuaunce Therfore he made hym deye in this wyse But natheles this Seneca the wise Ches in a bath to deye in this 2manere2[2_2 corrected] Rathere than han a-nothir 3turmantrise3[3_3 tur, ise corrected] And thus hath Nero slayn his maystir deere Now fil it so that fortune leste no lengere The hyghe pryde of nero to cheryce For thow that he were strong ȝit was sche strengere Sche thouȝte thus bi god I am to nyce To sette a man that is fulfyld of vice In high degre & emperour hym calle By god out of his seete I wele hym tryce Whan he lest wenyth / sonest schal he falle The peple ros vp on hym on a nygh[t] For his defaute & whan he it espyed Out of his doris he hath a-non hym dygh[t] A-loone & theere he wende a been alyed He knokkede faste & ay the more he cryede The fastere schettyn they the dorys alle Tho wiste he weel he hadde hym self mys gyede And wente his wey no lengere durste he calle The peple cryede / & rumblede vp & doun That with hise eris herde he how they seyde Wheere is this false tyraunt this neroun For fer almost out of his wit he broyde And to hise goddis pitously he preyede For socour but it myghte not be-tyde For dreed of this hym thoughte he deyede And ran in-to a gardyn hym to hyde And in this gardyn fond he cherlys tweye That seetyn by a fyr / greet & reed And to these cherlys two he gan to preye To sleen hym & to gyrdyn of his heed That to his body whan that he was deed Weere no dispyt doon / for his defame Hym selue he slow be coude no betere red Of whiche fortune lough & hadde game [Holofernes.] ¶ Was neuere a capitayn vndyr a kyngOlifern That regnys mo pute in subieccioun Ne strongere was in feeld[d later] of alle thyng As in his tyme ne grettere of renoun Ne moore pompous in high presumpcioun Than oloferne whiche fortune ay kyste So licorously & ladde hym vp & doun Til that his hed was of or that he wyste Nat only that this world hadde hym in awe For lesynge of rychesse or liberte But made euery man reneye his lawe Nabugodonosor was god seyde hee Noon othir god schulde adowred bee A-geyn this heste no whigh dar trespace Saue in Bethulia a strong cete Where Eliachym a prest was of that place But tak keep of the deth of Oloferne A-mydde his ost / he dronke lay a nyght With-inne his tente / as large as is a berne And ȝit for al his pompe & al his myght Iudith a woman as he lay vp-right Slepynge his heed of smot / & from his tente Ful priuyly sche stal from euery wight And with his heed / vn-to hire towr sche wente [Antiochus.] What nedyth it of kyng antiochusAntiochus To telle his hyghe royal magestee His hyghe pride hise werkys venymous For swich a-nothyr was theere non as he Reede which that he was in machabee And reede the proude wordis that he seyde And whi he fyl from high prosperite And in an hil how wrechedely he deyede Fortune hadde hym[? MS byn] enchauntede so in pride That verrayly he wende he myghte attayne On-to the sterris vp-on euery syde And in a balaunce weyn eche mountayne And alle the flodys of the see restrayne And goddis peple hadde he most in hate Hem wolde he slen in turnement & in peyne Wenynge that god ne myghte his pride a-bate And for that nychanore & thymothee With Iewis were venquischid myghtily Vn-to the Iewis swich an hate hadde he That he bad ordeyne his char ful hastily And swoor & seyde ful dispitously Vn-to Ierusalem he wolde eft soone To wreeke his yre on it ful crewelly But of his purpos he was let ful soone God for his manace hym so soore smot With inuisible wounde ay incurable That in hise guttis carveit so & bot That hise peynys were Importable And certeynly the wreche was resonable For manye a manys guttis dede he peyne But from his purpos cursede & dampnable For al his smert he wolde hym nat restrayne But bad a-noon aparaylyn his host And sodeynly er he was of it war God dauntede al his pryde & al his bost For he so sore fil out of his Chaar That 2it hese2[2_2 corrected] lymys & his skyn to-tar So that he neythir myghte go ne ryde But in a chaar men a-boute hym bar Al forbrosed bothe bak & syde The wreche of god hym smoot so crewelly That thurgh his body wikkede wermys crepte And therwythal he stank so horybely That noon of al his meyne that hym kepte Whethir so he a-wok or ellis sleepte Ne myghte not the stynk of hym endure In this myschef he waylede & ek wepte And knew god lord of euery cryature To al his host & to hym self also Ful wlatsom was the stynk of his carayne No man myghte hym beryn to ne fro And in this stynk & in this horible peyne He starf ful wrechedely in a mounteyne Thus hath this robbour & this homycyde That manye a man made to weepe & pleyne Swich gwerdoun as bylongith on-to pryde [Alexander the Great.] ¶ The storye of alysaundir is so comuneAlisaundyr That euery wight that hath discrecioun Hath herd al or sumwhat of his fortune This wyde world as in conclusioun He wan by strenthe / & for his highe renoun They weere glad for pees vn-to hym sende The pride of man & beste he leyde a-doun Wheere so he cam vn-to the worldis ende Comparisoun myghte neuere ȝit been makyd By-twixen hym & a-nothir conquerour For al this world for dreed of hym hath quakyd He of knyghthod & of fredom flour Fortune hym made the heyere of hire honour Save wyn & wemen no thyng myȝte aswage His hye entente in armys & labour So ful he was of lyonyn corage What preys weere it for hym thow that I tolde Of daryus & an hunderede thousent mo Of Kyngis Dukis. Erlys. pryncis bolde Whiche he conquerede & broughte in-to woo I seye as fer as men may ryde or go The world was his what schulde I moore deuyse For thow I wryte or tolde ȝow euere mo Of his knyghthod it myghte not suffyse Twelue ȝeer he regnede / as seyth Machabee Philippis sone of Macidonye he was That fyrst was kyng of grece the cuntre O worthi gentile Alisaundere allas That euere schulde fallyn swich a cas Enpoisounnede of thynne owene folk thow weere Thyn sys fortune hath turnede in-to aas And for the ne wepe sche neuere a teere Who schal me ȝeuyn teerys to compleyne The deth of gentilesse & of fraunchise That al this world weldede in his demeigne And ȝit hym thoughte it myghte nat suffyse So ful was his corage / of high empryse Allas ho schal me helpe to endyte ffals fortune & poysoun to dispise The whiche two of al this wo I wyte [Julius Cæsar.] ¶ By wisdam manhod & by greet labourIulius From homble bed to royal mageste Vp ros he Iulius the conquerour That wan al th [o corrected]occydent bothe lond & se By strenthe of hand or ellys by tretee And vn-to Roome made hem trybutarye And sithe the Emperour of rome was he Tyl that fortune wex his Aduersarye ¶ O myghty Cesar that in ThessalyeCesar A-geyns Pompeynys fadyr thyn in lawe That of thorient hadde al the Chiualrye As fer as that the day be-gynnyth dawe Thow thour thyn kynghod hast hem take & slawe Saue fewe folk that with Pompeious fledde Thorw which thow puttist al the oryent in awe Thanke fortune that so weel the spedde But now a lytyl while I wele bewayle / This Pompeyous this nobele gouernour Of Rome whiche that fleigh at this batayle I seye on of his men a fals traytour His hed of smot to wynnyn hym fauour Of Iulius & hym the hed he broughte Allas Pompeye of thorient Conquerour That ffortune vn-to swich a fyn the broughte To Rome a-gayn repayrith Iulius With his tryumphe lauryat ful hye But on a tyme Brutus Cassius That euere hadde of his estaat enuye Ful pryuyly hath mad conspiracye A-geyns this Iulius in subtyl wise And caste the place in whiche he schulde deye With boydekynys / as I schal ȝow deuyse This Iulius to the capitolye wente Vp-on a day as he was wone to goon And in the Capitolye a-non hym hente This false Brutus & 1hese othere ffoon1[1_1 corrected] And stikede hym with Boydekynys a-noon With manye a wounde & thus they leete hym lye But neuere gront he at no strok but oon Or ellis at two / but if his storye lye So manly was this Iulyus at herte And so weel louyd estatly honeste That thow hise dedly woundis soore smerte His mental ouer his hepis castyth he For non man schulde seen his priuyte And as he lay on deyinge in a traunce And wiste verrayly that deed he muste bee Of honeste ȝit hadde he remembraunce Lucan to this storye I recomende And to Swetoun & to valerius also That of the storye wrytyn word & ende How that these greete Conquerourys two Fortune was fyrst freend & sithe a foo No man ne truste vp-on hire fauour longe But haue hire in a-wayte for euere mo Witnesse on alle these conquerourys stronge [Cresus.] ¶ This ryche crysus whilom kyng of lydeCrisus Of whiche Cresus / Cirus soore hym dradde Ȝit was he caught a-mydde al his pryde And to be brent men to the fuyr hym ladde But swich a reyn doun from the walkyn shadde That slow the fuyr & made hym to escape But to be war no grace ȝit he hadde Til fortune on the galwis made hym gape Whan he escapid was 1he can nat stente1[1_1 corrected] For to begynne a newe werre a-gayn He wende weel for that fortune hym sente Swich hap that he escapid thour the rayn That of hise fois he myghte nat been slayn And ek a sweuene vp-on a nyght he mette Of which he was so proud & ek so fayn That in vengeaunce he al his herte sette Vp-on a tre he was as that hym thouȝte Where Iubiter hym wesch bothe bak & syde And phebus ek a fayr towayle hym broughte To dreye hym with & therfore wex his pryde And to his doughtyr which that stod hym besyde Which that he knew in high science habounde He bad hire telle hym[m corrected] what it signefye And sche his dreem bygan ryght thus expoungne The tre quod sche the galwis is to meene. And Iubiter bitokenyth snow & reyn. And Phebus with his towayle so cleene. Tho been the sunnys stremys for to seyn. Thow schat an hangede been fadyr certayn. Reyn schal the wasche & sounne schal the dreye. Thus warnede hym ful plat & ful pleyn. His doughtyr which that callede was Phanye. An hangede was Cresus the proude kyng His royal trone myghte hym not a-vayle Tragedy is noon othir manere thyng Ne can in syngynge crye ne bewayle But for that fortune al day wele assayle With vn-war strok the regnys that been proude For whan men trustyth hire thanne wele sche fayle And couere hire brighte face with a cloude[These 4 modern instances should follow 'Zenobia,' p. 486 (6-T. 268).] [Peter the Cruel, of Spain.] .O. noble .O. worthy Petro glorie of SpaynePetro Whom fortune heeld[d late] so highe in mageste Weel oughtyn men thyn petous deth to compleyne Out of thyn land thyn brothir made the fle And aftyr at a sege by subtyletee Thow were betraysed & lad vn-to his tente Wheere as he with his owene hand slow the Succedynge in thy regne & in thyn rente The feld[d, g, ak, corrected] of snow / with the egel[d, g, ak, corrected] of blak[d, g, ak, corrected] therin Caugh with the lymerod colourede al with glede.[Bertrand du Guesclin.] He brew this cursedenesse & al this synne The wekede nest was werkere of this neede Nought Charles / Olyuer that tok ay hede Of trouthe & honour but of armoryke[Oliver de Mauny of Britanny.] Genyloun Olyuer corrupt for meede Broughte this worthi kyng to swich a bryke [Peter of Cyprus.] O worthy Petro Kyng of Cipre alsoPetro That Alisaundere wan by high maystrye fful manye an hethene wroughtist thow ful wo Of whiche tweyne oune lyges hadde envie And for no thyng but for thy chiualrye They in thyn bed han slayn the by the morwe Thus can fortune / hire wheel gouerne & gye And out of Ioye brynge men to sorwe [Bernabo Visconti, of Milan.] ¶ Of Melan grete [? MS.?G]Bernabo Viscounte God of delyt & schorge of lumbardye Whi schulde I nough thyn Infortune acounte Syn in estat thow clombyn weere so hye Thyn brotherys sone that was thyn double allye ffor he thyn nevew was & sone in lawe With-inne his prysoun made the to deye But why he how not I that thow weere slawe [Ugolino, Count of Pisa.] ¶ Of the Erl hugelyn of Pyre the langour Theere may no tunge telle for pite But lytyl out of Pize stant a tour In which tour in prysoun put was he And with hym been hise lyte childere thre The oldeste skarsely fyue ȝeer was of age Allas fortune it was greet crewelte Swiche bryddis to putte in swich a cage Dampnede was he to deye in that prysoun For Roger which that bischop was of Pyze Hadde on hym mad a fals suggestioun Thour the peple gan vp-on hym ryse And puttyn hym in prysoun in swich wyse As ȝe han herd & mete & drynk he hadde So smal that wel anethe it may suffyse And there withal it was fful poore & badde And on a day by-fel that in that hour Whan that his meete / wont was to been brought[Leaves 363-4, Camb. MS, are cut out; till l. 3653.] [The Ieylour shet þe dores of þe toure he herd it wele but he sawe it nouȝt As in hys herte a-none þere felle a þouȝt þat þei for hungre wolde done hem dye Alas. quod he Alas þat I was wrouȝt þere-with þe teeres felle fro þe eye His ȝonge sonne þre ȝeere was of age Vnto hym said fader why do ȝe wepe Whan wille þe Gaylour brynge our potage Is þere no morselle brede þat ȝe do kepe I am so hongerye þat I may not slepe Nowe wolde god þat I myȝte slepen euere [Than schulde non hungre in my wombe crepe. Ther/ is/ nothyng saue breed that me were leuyr/.] Thys day by day þe childe gan to crye Tyll in hys ffadere barme a doune hit lay And said fadir/ fare wele I mot deye And kyste hys fader and deyde þe same daye And whan hys woofulle fadere did hym saye ffor. woo hys armes too he gan to byte And sayde fortune Alas and weylaway þi. false wyles my woo I may wyte His children þat fortune hungry was[Sloane MS 1685] þat he hys armes gnewe and not for woo And said fader do not so Alas. But rathere ete þe flesshe vpon vs twoo Oure. flessh þou yaveste vs take oure flesshe vs fro. And ete y-nouȝe riȝt þus to hym þei saide And after þat with-In a day or two þei leyde hem doune in his lappe & dyed Hym selfe dispeyred eke for honger starfe Thus endid ys þe myȝti Erle of pyse ffro hyeȝe estate fortune fro hym carf Of þis Tregedye hit ouȝt ynouȝe suffice ho · so wylle here hit/ in a lenger wyse Redeth þe grete poete of Itayle þat/ hyȝt/ Daunte for he can hit deuyse ffro poynte to poynte not oo worde wille he fayle][Sloane ex|tract ends.] [Here begynneth þe Prolooge of þe Nunne Preoste· Hoo quod / þe knyȝt gode sir / no more of thys þat ȝe han sayde ys riȝt ynoweȝ y-wys. And mochel more for litel hevynesse ys ryȝt ynouȝe to mechel folk as I gesse I sey for me hit ys a grete disese Where as men han ben in grete helth & eese To herene of her/ sodeyn fall Alas And þe Contrarye is. grete Ioy & solace And whan a man hath ben in pore estate And clymbith vp and wexeth fortunate And þere abydeth in prosperite Suche thynge ys gladsom as hit thynketh me And þouȝe suche thynge were goodely forto telle //Ye. quod/ oure hoost by Seynt Poules belle Ye say riȝt sothe þis Monke clappeth loude he. spake howe fortune couered with a cloude I note neuere what & also of a treaide Ryȝt/ nowe ye herd & parde no remedie hit ys forto be-wayle & complayne. þat þat ys done and als hit ys a payne As ye haue sayd/ to here of/ hevinesse Sir/ Monke no more of þis so god you blesse Your/ tale annoyeth al þis companye Suche talkynge ys not worth a butter-flyeȝ And þere-in ys. no sporte nor/ no game Where-fore Sir/ Monke doun Piers by your name I pray you hertely telle vs som what elles ffor siker nere clynkynge of/ your belles þat in your bridell hongeth on euery syde[Sloane MS 1685] By heuen kynge þat for vs alle dyede I shalle for þis falle doun for slepe Al-þouȝe þe sloweȝ hade neuere be so depe þan hath youre tale ben tolde in vayne ffor certeynly as þese clerkes sayne Where as a man may han none audience Nouȝt helpeth to tellen hys sentence And wele I woote þe substaunce ys in me yf ony thynge shal wele reportid be Sir/ saye some what of huntynge I you praye Nay quod / þe Monke I· haue no luste to playe Nowe let a noþer telle as I haue tolde þan spake our Oste with rude speche and bolde And sayd vnto þe Nonnes Preost a-none Come nere Sir Preost comme nere sir Iohn Telle vs suche thenges as may our hertes glade Be mery þoūȝe þou ryde vpon A Iade. þat/ þei þine hors . be foul or lene Yf/ he wille serve þe recke þe nouȝt/ a bene looke þat þine hert/ be mery euere mo · Ȝis . hoste [q]uod he so mote I ryde or go · But/ I be mery y-wys I wille be blamed And riȝt/ a-none he hathe hys tale y-tamed · And þus he sayde to vs euereichon Thys swete preost/ þis gode man Sir/ Iohn Here endeth þe Prologge & begynneth þe tale Apore wydowe some dele stope in age Was whilom dwellynge in a narow cotage Be-sydes a grove stondynge in a dale Thys wydow of whiche I telle you my tale Syþens þilke day þat she was laste a wyfe In pacience ladde a fulle symple lyf ffor lytelle was hir/ catelle & hir rent By husbondry of suche þat god hir/ sent Sche fonde hir/ self / & eke hir douȝtren two· Thre large sowes hade she & no moo Thre kyne & eke a shepe þat hiȝt/ mal fful soty was hir/ boure and eke hir / hall In whiche she ete many a sclender mele Of/ poynaunte sawce hir nedeth nevere a dele No deynte Morsell passed hir/ throote hir diete was accordaunt to hir coote Replecion ne made her neuere seke A-tempre dyete was alle hir/ physike And excercise & hert sufficiaunce. þe gowte let hir/ no thynge to daunce Ne poplexie ne shente nouȝt hir/ heede Ne wyne dronke she neiþer whyte nor reede Her bord was served moste with white & blake Mylke and browne brede in whiche she fonde no lake Seynde bakon and some tyme an eye or tweie ffor she was as hit were a manere of a deie A gardeyne she hade enclosed alle aboute With stykes and a drye dyche with-oute In whiche she hade a Cok/ þat hyȝt Chauntelere In alle þe londe of Crawynge was hys peere hys voice was muryer þan þe murye orgon[Sloane MS 1685] On masse dayes þat in þe Chirche goon Wele sykerere was þe crowynge in hys loggo Then ys a Clok /. or an Abbey orlogge Be nature he knewe eche ascencioun Of equynoxiol of þilke toune ffor when degrees xv were discended þan knewe he þat it myȝt not be amendid][Sloane extract ends] His colour was reddere than the fyne coralCamb. Univ. MS Gg. 4. 27 And batayled as it were a castel wal His byl was blak / and as the Ieet it schoon Like asure weere hise leggis & hise toon Hise naylis whittere / than the lylye flour And lik the burnede gold was his colour This gentil kok hadde in his gouernaunce Seuene hennys for to doon al his plesaunce Whiche weere hise susterys & hise paramouris And wondyr lyk to hym of colourys Of whiche the fayreste hewyd on hire throte Was clepid fayre dameselle Pertelote Curteys sche was / discreet & debonayre And compaynable & bar hire self so fayre Syn thilke day that sche was seue ȝeer old That trewely sche hath the herte in hold Of Chauntecleer lokyn in euery lith He louede hym so that weel was hym therwith But swich a Ioye it was to heere hem synge Whan that the bryghte sune be-gan to sprynge With sweete a-cord myn lef is faryn on londe ffor thilke tyme as I haue vndyrstonde Bestis & bryddis coude speke & synge And so be-fel that in a dawenynge As Chauntecleer a-mong hise wyuys alle Sat on his perche that was in an halle And next hym sat Dame Pertelote This Chauntecleer gan gronyn in his throte As man that in his dreem is drechid sore And whan that pertelote thus herde hym roore Sche was a-gast & seyde herte deere What eylyth ȝow to groone in this maneere ȝe been a verray slepere fy for schame· And he answerde thus / & seide Madame I preye ȝow that ȝe take it nat at gref By god me mette I was in swich myschef Rygh now that ȝit myn herte is soore afrit Now god quod he myn sweuene reche a-rygh[t] And kepe myn body out of foul prysoun Me mette how that I romede vp & doun With-inne oure ȝerd where that I saw a beste Was lik an hound & wolde han mad a-reste Vp-on myn body & anhad me deed His colour was be-twixe ȝelw & reed And typpid was his tayl & bothe hise eris With blak onlyk the remenaunt of hise heris His snoute smal with glowynge eyen tweye Ȝit for his lok for fer almost I deye This causede me myn gronyng douteles Avoy quod sche fy on ȝow herteles Allas quod sche for by that god a-boue Now han ȝe lost myn herte & al myn loue I can nat loue a coward by myn feyth ffor certys what so any woman seyth We alle desyryn ȝif it myghte be To han husbondis hardy wyse & fre And secre / & no nygard ne no fool Ne hym that is agast of euery tool Ne noon auauntour by that god a-boue How durste ȝe seyn for schame on to ȝoure loue That any thyng myghte make ȝow a-feryd Han ȝe no manys herte & han a berd Allas & cunne ȝe been agast of sweuenys No thyng god wot but vanite in sweuen is Sweuenys engenderyn / of repleciounnys And ofte of fume & of complexiounys Whanne humouris been to haboundaunt in a wight Sertis this drem whiche ȝe han met to nyght Comyth of the greete superfluite Of ȝoure reede colera parde Whiche causyn folk to dredyn in here dremys Of arwis & of fyr with rede lemys Of rede bestis that they wele hym byte Of contek & of whelpis greete & lite Righ as the humour of malencolye Causith ful manye a man in slep to crye ffor feer of blake beris / or of bolys blake Or ellis blake deuyllis wole hem take Of othere humouris coude I telle also That werkyn manye a man in sleep ful wo But I wele passe as lyghtely as I can To Catoun which that was so wis a man Seyde he nat thus ne do no fors of dremysSompnia ne cures Now sire quod sche whan we flye from the bemys ffor godis loue tak sum laxatyf Vp peril of myn soule & of myn lyf I conseyle ȝow the beste I wele nat lye That bothe of colere & of malencolye ȝe porge ȝow & for ȝe schal nat tarye Thow in this toun is non apotecarye I schal myn self to erbis techyn ȝow That schul been for ȝoure hele & for ȝoure prow And in oure ȝerd two erbis schal I fynde The whiche han of here propirte by kynde To porge ȝow be-nethe & ek a-bove ffor-ȝet nat this for godis owene lowe ȝe been ful colerik of complexioun Ware the sunne in his ascencioun Ne fynde ȝow nat replet / of humouris hoote ffor yef he do / I dar leye a grote That ȝe schul han a feuere terciane Or an agu that may been ȝoure bane A day or two ȝe schul haue digestivis Of wermys er ȝe take ȝoure laxatyues Of lauriole sentaurye / & fumeteere Or ellis of Elebre that growith theere Of Catapuce / or of Gattris beryis Or Erbe Iue that growith in oure ȝerd theere merye is Pikke hem vp righ as they growe & ete hem in Be merye husbonde for ȝoure fadyr kyn Dredyth no dreem I can seye ȝow no moore Madame quod he graunnt mercy of ȝoure lore But natheles as touchith Daun Catoun That hath of wisdam swich a greet renoun Thow that he bad no dremys for to dreede By god men may in olde bokis rede Of manye a man moore of autorite Than euere catoun was so mote I the That al the reuers seyn of his sentence And han weel foundyn by experience That dremys been signyficaciounnys As wel of ioye as of tribulaciounnys That folk enduryn in this lyf present Theere nedyth of this makyn non argument The verray preue schewith it in dede ¶ Some of the gretteste autourys as men reedeNaracio Seyth thus that to felawys wente On pilgrymage with a ful good ente[nte] And happede so they comyn in a toun Where as theere was swich a congregacioun Of peple & ek so streyt of herbigage That they ne founde as meche as a cotage In whiche they myghe bothe I-loggede be Wherefore they musten of necescite As for that nyght departyn cumpaynye And eche of hem goth to his ostellerye And tok his logyng as it wolde falle That on of hem was logit in a stalle ffer in a ȝerd with oxin of the plough That othir man was logid weel I-nough As was his auenture / or his fortune That vs gouernyth alle as in comune And so be-fel that longe er it was day This man mette in his bed there as he lay How that his felawe gan vp-on hym calle And seyde allas for in an oxis stalle This nyght I schal been morderid there I lye Now help me deere brotyr er I deye In alle haste come to me he seyde This man out of his slep for fer abreyde And whan that he was wakenede of his slep He turnede hym & tok of this no keep Hym thoughte his dreem nas but a vanyte Thus twyis in his slepynge dremede he And at the thredde tyme / ȝit his felawe Cam as hym thoughte / & seyde I am now slawe Byhold mynne blody woundis deepe & wyde A-ris vp erly in the morwe tyde And at the west gate / of the toun quod he A carteful of donge / there thu schat se In wich myn body is hid ful pryuyly Do thilke carte a-reste boldely Myn gold causede myn mordere certeyn And tolde hym euery poynt how he was slayn With a wol pitous face pale of hewe And truste weel this drem he fond ful trewe ffor on the morwe as sone as it was day To his felawe he tok te nexte way And whan that he cam to his oxis stalle Aftyr his felawe he be-gan to calle ¶ The hosteleer answerede hym a-non And seyde sere ȝoure felawe is a-goon As sone as day he wente out of the toun This man gan fallyn in suspecioun Remembrynge hym on the dremys that he mette And forth he goth no lengere wolde he lette Vn-to the Westgate of the toun & fond A dong carte wente as it weere to dunge lond That was a-rayed in that same wyse As ȝe han herd the dede man deuyse And with an hardy herte he gan to crye Vengeaunce & Iustise of this felonye Myn felawe morderede is this same nyght And in this carte heere he lyth gapynge vp-ryght I crye out on the mynystris quod he That schulde kepe & rewele this cete Harrowe allas here lyth myn felawe slayn What schulde I moore vnto this tale sayn The peple out sterte & caste the carte to grounde And in the myddyl of the donge they founde The dede man that morderede was al newe O blysful god that art so Iuste & trewe Lo how that thow bewreyis mordere alway Mordere wele out that se we day be day Mordere is so wlatsome & abhomynable To god that is so Iust & resonable That he ne wele not suffere that it helid be Thow it abyde a ȝeer or two or thre Mordere wele out this myn conclusioun And ryght a-noon mynyste of that toun Han hent the cartere & so sore hym pynyd And ek the hosteller so soore engyned That they be-knewe here wikkedenesse a-non And weere an hangede by the nekke boon Here may men seen that dremys been to drede ¶ And certis in the same bok I reede Rygh in the nexte chapitere aftyr this I gabbe not so haue I ioye or blys Two men that wolde a passed ouyr the see ffor certeyn cause in-to a fer cuntre If that the wynd ne hadde been contrarye That made hem in a cete for to tarye That stod ful merye vp-on an hauene syde But on a day a-geyn the euetyde The wynd gan schaunge & blew rygh as hem leste Iolyf & glad they wente to here reste And castyn hem ful erly for to sayle But herkenyth to that on man fyl a gret meruayle That on of hem in slepynge as he lay Hym mette a wondyr drem a-geyn the day Hym though[t]e a man stod bi his bedys side And hym comaunded that he schulde a-byde And seyde hym thus ȝif thow to morwe wende Thow schat ben dreynk / myn tale is at an ende He wok & tolde / his felawe what he mette And preyede hym his viage for to lette As for that day he preyede hym for to a-bide His felawe that lay bi his bedys syde Gan for to lauhe & skornde hym ful faste No drem quod he may so myn herte agaste That I wele lette for to do myne thyngis I sette not a straw / by thynne dremyngis ffor dremys been but uanyteis & Iapis Men dreme al day of oulis & of apis And of manye a mase there withal Men dreme of thyng that neuere was ne schal But sithe I se that thow wild here a-byde And thus for slouthen / wilfully thyn tyde God wot it rewith me / & haue good day And thus he tok his leue & wente his way But er that he hadde half his cours I-seyled Not I not why / ne what myschaunce it eyled But casewelly / the schipis boteme it rente And schip & man vndyr the watyr wente In sight of othere schepis besyde That with hem seyled at the morwe tyde And therefore fayre pertelote so deere By sweche ensaumplis olde mayst thow leere That no man schulde been so recheles Of dremys for I seye the douteles That manye a drem / ful soore is for to drede Lo in the lyf of seynt kenelm I reede That was kenulphus sone the noble kyng Of Merturyke how kenelm mette a thyng A lite er he was mordered on a day His mordere in his auysioun he say His noryce hym expoungnede euerydel His sweuene / & bad hym / for to keepe hym weel ffrom tresoun but he was but seuene ȝeer old And therfore lytil taale hath he told Of any drem so holy was his herte By god I hadde leuere than myn scherte That ȝe hadde rad his legende as haue I Dame pertelote I seye ȝow trewely Matrobeus that wret thauysioun In Affryk of the worthi Ciprioun Affermyth dremys & seyth that they been Warnynge of thyngis that men aftyr seen And ferthere more I prey ȝow lokyth weel In the olde testement of danyel ȝif he helde dremys ony vanyte Redyth ek of Iosep & there ȝe schul se Wheere dremys ben sumtyme I seye nat alle Warnynge of thyngis that schul aftyr falle Loke of Egip the kyng daun pharao His bakere & his boteler also Wheere they ne feltyn non effect in dremys Who so wele seke actis of sundery remys May reede of dremys manye a sundery thyng Lo Cresus that was of lide kyng Mette he nat how that he sat vp-on a tre Whiche signefyed anhangid schulde bee Lo heere Andromatha ectoris wif That day that Ector schulde lese his lyf Sche dremede on the same nyght by-foren How that the lyf of Ector schulde been loryn ȝif thilke day he wente in-to batayle Sche warnede hym but it myghte nat auayle He wente for to fyghte netheles But he was slayn a-noon of Achilles But tylke tale is al to long to telle And ek it is nygh day I may nat dwelle Certeynly I seye as for conclusioun That I schal han of this auysioun Aduersite / & I seye ferthere-moore That I ne telle of laxatyuys no store ffor they been venimes I wot it weel I hem defye I loue hem neuere a deel Now lat vs speke of myrthe & stynte al this Madame pertelote so haue I blys Of on thyng god hath sent me large grace ffor whanne I se the beute in ȝoure face ȝe been so skarlet red aboute ȝoure eyen It makyth al myn dred / for to deyen ffor al so sekyr as In principio Mulier est homin[i]s confusio Madame the sentence of this latyn is Woman is manys Ioye & al his blys ffor whan I fele a nyght ȝoure softe syde Al be it that I may nat on ȝow ryde ffor that oure perche is mad so narw allas I am so ful of Ioye & of solas That I defye bothe sweuene & drem And with th[a]t word he fley doun from the beem ffor it was day & ek hise hennys alle And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle ffor he hadde foundyn a corn lay in the ȝerd Royal he was he nas no moore aferyd He feterede Pertelote twenty tyme And trad as ofte er it was pryme He lokyth as it weere a grym lyoun And on hise tois he romyth vp & doun Hym deynyth nat to sette hise feet to grounde He chukkith whan he hath a corn I-founde And to hym rennyn thanne hise wyuys alle Thus royal as a prynce is in an halle Leue I this chauntecleer in his pasture And aftyr wele I telle his auenture ¶ Whan that the monythe / in which that the world be-gan That high[t]e March / whan god ferst makede man Was compleet & passede weere also Syn March bygan .30. dayis & two By-fel that chauntecleer in al his pryde His seuene wyuys walkynge hym by-syde Caste vp hire eyen to the bryghte sunne That in the signe of taurus hadde I-rounne Twenty degreis & on & sumwhat moore And knew by kynde & by noon othir lore That It was pryme & krew with b[l]ysful steuene The sunne on heye is clombyn vp on heuene .90. degreis & on & moore I-wis Madame pertelote myn wordelis blys Herkenyth these blysful brydis how they synge And se the frosche flouris how they sprynge fful is myn herte of reuel & solas But sodeynly hym fel a sorweful cas ffor euere the lattere ende of Ioye is wo God wot that wordely ioye / is soone ago And ȝif a retor coude fayre endyte He in a cronicle sauely myghte it wryte As for a souereyn notabilyte Now euery wise man now herkene me This storye is also trewe I vndyrtake As Is the bok of launcelot de lake That women heelde in ful greet reuerence Now wele I turne a-geyn to myn sentence A col fox ful of sly Iniquite That in the groue hadde dwelled ȝeris thre By hygh Imaginacioun for-cast The same nyght thour-out the hegis brast In-to the ȝerd there chauntecleer the fayre Was wont & ek hise wyuys to repayre And In a bed of wortis stylle he lay Til it was passed onderen of the day Waytynge his tyme on Chauntecleer to falle As gladly doon these homycidis alle That in a-wayt liggyn to morderen men O false morderour lurkynge in thyn den O newe Scariot / newe Genysoun ffalse dissimylour / O Grek Synoun That broughtist Troye al vttyrly to sorwe O Chauntecheer a-cursede be that morwe That thow in-to that ȝerd / flaw from the bemys Thow weere ful weel I-warnede be thynne dremys That thilke day was perlyous to the But what that god forwot mot nedis be Aftyr the opynioun of certeyn clerkis Witnesse on hym that ony perfyt clerk is That in scole is greet altercacioun In this matiere & greet disputacioun And han been of an hunderede thousent men But I can not butte it to the breen As can the holy doctour Augustyn Or Boece or the bisshop Bradwardyn Whethir that goddys worthi forwetyng Streynyth me nedely for to do that thyng Needely clepe I symple necescite Or ellis fre choys be grauntede me To do that same thyng or do it not Thow god fore-wot it er that I was wrought Or ȝif his wetynge streynyth neuere a deel But by necescite condiciounnel I wele not han to done of swich mateere Myn tale is of a cok as ȝe may here That tok his conseyl of his wif with sorwe To walkyn in the ȝerd vp-on that morwe That he hadde met the drem that I ȝow tolde Womenys conseylis been ful oftyn colde Womenys conseylis broughte vs ferst to woo And made Adam from paradys to go Theere as he was ful merye & weel at ese But for I not to whom I myghte displese ȝif I conseyl of women wolde blame Passe ouyr for I seyde it in myn game Reede autouris wheere they trete of sweche matiere And what they sey / of women / ȝe may here These been the cokkis wordis & nat myne I can noon harm on no woman deuynne ffayre in the sond to bathe hire meryely Lyth Pertelote & alle hire susteryn by A-geyn the sunne & Chauntecleer so free Song meryere than the mermeydyn in the se ffor phisiologus seyth sekyrly How that they syngyn weel & meryely And so be-fel that as he caste his yen A-mong the wortis on a botyrflye He was war of this fox that lay ful lowe No thyng ne lyste hym thanne for to crowe But criede a-noon kok kok & vp he styrte As man that was afrayed in his herte ffor naturelly / a beste desirith fle ffrom his contrarye / ȝif he myghte it se Thow he neuere erst hadde sey it with his Iye ¶ This chauntecleer whan he gan hym espye He wolde a fled but that the fox a-noon Seyde gentyl sire / allas whidyr wole ȝe goon Be ȝe afrayed of me that am ȝoure freend Now certys I were werse than a feend ȝyf I to ȝow harm or velenye I am nat come ȝoure conseyl for tespie But trewely the cause of myn comynge Was only for to herkene how that ȝe synge ffor trewely ȝe han so merie a steuene As ony aungel hath that is in heuene Therewith ȝe han In musik moore felyng Than hadde. boece. or ony that can syng Myn lord ȝoure fadyr god his soule blys And ek ȝoure modyr of hire gentilles Han in myn hous I-been to myn greete ese But certys syre ful fayn wolde I ȝow pleese ¶ But for men speke of syngyng I wil seye So mote I broukyn weel myn eyen tweye Saue ȝow I herde neuere man so synge As dede ȝoure fadyr in the morwenynge Certis it was of herte al that he song And for to make his voys the moore strong He wolde peyne hym that with bothe hise eyen He muste wynke so loude he muste cryen And stondyn on his typton therewithal And streche forth his nekke long & smal And ek he was of swich discrecyoun That there was no man in no regioun That hym in song or wisdam myghte passe I haue weel red in daun burnel the Asse A-mong hise vers how that ther was a kok ffor a prestis sone ȝaf hym a knok Vp-on his leg whil he was ȝond & nyce He made hym for to lese his benefice But certeyn there ne is no comparisoun By-twixe the wisdom & discrecioun Of ȝoure fadyr & of his subtiletee Now syngith sere for seynte charite Lat se cunne ȝe ȝoure fadyr countyrfete This chauntecleer hise wyngis gan to beete As man that coude his tresoun nat aspye So was he rauyschid with his flaterye ¶ Allas ȝe lordis manye a flaterour Is in ȝoure court & manye a losengeour That plesen ȝow weel more be myn fayth Than he that sothfastmesse vn to ȝow sayth Redyth ecclesiaste of flaterye Beth war ȝe lordis of hire trecherye This Chauntecleer stood hye vp-on hise tois Strechynge his neke & held his eyen clos And gan to crowe loude for the nonys And daun Rusell the fox styrte vp at at anys And by the garget hente Chauntecleer And on his bak to the wode hym beer ffor ȝit theere ne was no man that hym sewid O destene that mayst nat been eschewid Allas that Chauntecleer fley from the bemys Allas his wyf ne roughte nat of dremys And on a fryday fil al this myschaunce O venus that art goddesse of plesaunce Syn that thyn seruaunt was this chau[n]tecleer And in thyn seruyse dede al his power Moore for delyt than world to multeplye Why woldist tow suffere hym on thyn day to deye O ganfryd deere maystyr souereyn That whan thyn worthy kyng Richard was slayn With schot compleynedist his deth so soore Whi ne hadde I-nough thyn centence & thyn loore The fryday for to chide as dedyn ȝe ffor on a fryday sothly slayn was he Thanne wolde I schewyn how that I coude pleyne ffor Chauntecleeres dreede & for his peyne ¶ Certis swich cry ne lamentacioun Was neuere of ladijs mad whan ylyoun Was wone & Pirrus with his streyte swerd Whan that he hadde hent kyng priame bi the berd And slayn hym as seyth vs Enidos As madyn alle the hennys in the cloos Whan they hadde of Chauntecler the syght But souereynly dame Pertelote shryght fful loudere than dede Hasdrubalis wyf Whan that hire husbonde hadde y-lost his lyf And that the Romaynys haddyn brent Cartage Sche was so ful of turnement & of rage That wilfully in-to the feer sche sterte And brende hire seluyn with a stedefaste herte O woful hennys ryght so cryedyn ȝe As whan that nero brende the Cete Of Rome cryedyn / Senatouris wyuys ffor that here husbondys lostyn alle here lyuys With-outyn gylt this Nero hath hem slayn Now wole I turne to myn tale agayn ¶ The sely wedewe & ek here doughteryn two Herdyn these hennys crye & makyn wo And out at the dorys stirte they a-non And seyen the fox toward the groue gon And bar vp-on his bak the Cok away And cryedyn out harow & weyleawey .Ha. ha. the fox & aftyr hym they ran And ek with stonys many a-nothir man Ran Colle oure doge & talbot & Garland And Malkyn with a distaf in hire hand Ran cow & Calf & ek the verray hoggis ffor-fered for berkynge of the doggis And schoutyng of the men & women ek They ronne so they thoute here herte brek They ȝelledyn as fendis doon in helle The dokis cryedyn as men wolde hem quelleof the Cambr. MS is cut out. [Out of the hyues/ come the swarme of bees/. The gees/ for feer/ flowyn ouyr/ the trees/. So hidous/ was/ the nois/ a benedicite. Certis/ he Iak/ strawe & his/ meyne. Ne made neuyr/ schoutis/ half so schrille. When that thei wolde anye fflemyng kille. As/ that/ ilke daie was/ made vp-on the ffox. Of/ bras/ thei broght bemes/ & of box. Of horn & boon in whiche thei poupid. And ther with all/ thei schrichid & schoutid. It semyd as/ that/ heuyn schulde falle. Now good men I praie you herkenyth alle. Lo how fortune turneth sodenlye. The hope & eke pride of her/ enuye. This/ Cok/ that laie vp on the ffox bak. In all his/ drede vn-to the ffox spak/. And seide sir/ if/ I were as/ ye. Yet schulde I seie as/ wis/ god helpe me. Turne a-yen ye proude chirles/ alle. A verry pestilence vp-on you falle. Now am I come vn-to this/ Wode side. Maugre your/ heed the Cok schall/ here a-bide. I woll/ hym ete in feyth & that a-non. The ffox answerid in feith it schall be don. And he spak/ that word all/ sodenly. This Cok brak/ fro his/ mouthe delyuerly. And hye vp on a tre he flewe a non. And when the ffox sawe that/ he was/ gon. Alas quod he O chauntecler/ allas/. I haue quod he don to you trespas/. In as/ meche as/ I made you a-ferde. When I you hent & broght out/ of/ the yerde. But sir/ I dide it noght in no wicked entent/. Cometh downe & I schall/ telle you what I ment. I schall/ seie soth so god helpe me so. Naie than quod he I schrewe vs/ bothe two. And first/ I schrewe my self bothe blood & bones/.[Harl. 1758.] If thou be-gile me ofter/ than ones. Thou schalt/ no more with thi flaterie. Do me syng & wynke with myn ye. ffor he that wynketh when he schulde se. As/ wisly god lete hym neuyr/ the. Naie quod the ffox god yeue hym myschaunce. That is/ so vndiscrete of gouernaunce. That iangleth when he schulde haue pees/. Lo suche is/ for to be recheles/. And necligent/ & trusteth on flaterie. But ye that/ holdyn this/ folie. As/ of a ffox of a Cok/ & of an hen. Taketh the moralite good men. ffor seynt Poule seith all that writen is/. To our/ doctryne it is/ writen y-wis/. Taketh the fruyt & letith the chaf be stille/. Now good god if it be thi wille. As/ seith my lorde so make vs/ alle good men. And bryng vs/ alle to his/ hye blis/ amen. Here endith the/ tale/ of the Nonnes/ Preest/.][Harl. 1758 extract ends.][The Manciple's Prologue follows in Harl. 1758, after a space of 28 lines in the middle of page 200.] GROUP G. FRAGMENT VIII. § 1. THE SECOND NUN'S TALE. CAMBRIDGE MS. [THE PROEM.] [Here begynnethe þe Prologge of þe Secound Nunne[No breaks between the stanzas in Sloane.] (1) The mynystre of þe Noryce vnto vices. whiche þat men clepen in englys ydylnesse The portere of þe gate ys of delyces To eschewe and by hir contraryry hym oppresse þat ys to say by lefefulle besynesse wele ouȝte we don oure entent leste þat þe fende þorouȝe ydelnesse vs hent (2) ffor he þat with his þousand cordes sliȝ Contynuelly vs awayteth to be-clappe þan he may man in ydelnes aspye he can so liȝtly cacche hym in his trappe Tylle þat a man be hent riȝt/ by þe lappe he nys not ware þe fende haþe hym in honde wele ouȝt vs worche and ydelnesse with stonde][Sloane 1685 extract stops] (3) And thow men dreddyn neuere for to deyinCamb. MS Gg. 4. 27 ȝit seen men weel by resoun douteles That ydilnesse is rote slogardye Of whiche there neuere comyth encrees And seen that slouthe hire holdyt in a lees Only for to slepe & ete & drynke And to deuoure al that othir swynke (4) And for to putte vs from swich ydilnes That cause is of so greet confusioun I haue here don myn feythful businesse Aftyr the legende in translacioun Rygh of thyn glorious lyf & pascioun.id est. cecilie Thow with thyn garland wrogh[t] with rose & lilye Tho meene I mayde & martyr Seyn Cecyle (5) And thow that flour of virgynis art alle Of whom that bernard lyste so weel to write To the at myn begynnynge I leste to calle.i. ihesus [MS ihc] Thow confort of vs wrechis do me endite[later] Thyn maydenys deth / that wan thour hire meryte The eternal lyf & ouyr the fend victorye As man may aftyr redyn in h[i]re storye (6) Thow maydyn & modyr doghtir of the sone Thow welle of mercy synful soulys cure In whom that god of mercy ches to wone Thow humble & heig ouer euery creature Thow nobledist so fer forth oure nature That no disdayn the makere hadde of kynde His sone in blood & flesch to clothe & wynde (7) With-inne the cloystre blisful of thynne sydis Tok mannys schap the eternal loue & pees That of the tryne cumpas lord & gide is Won heuene & se & erthe out of reles Ay heryen & [h altered]thow virgyne wemmelees Bar of thyn body & dweldist mayde pure The creatour of euery creature (8) Assembled is in the magnyficence With mercy goodnesse & swich pete That thow that art the sunne of excellence Nat only helpist hem that preyen the But ofte tyme of thyn benygnetee fful frely er that men thyn helpe be-seche Thow gost by-forn & art oure lyuys leche (9) Now help thow meke & blysful fayre mayde Me flemede wreche in this desert of galle Thynk on the woman Canane that sayde.i. Maria [later] That whelpis etyn some of the cromys alle That from hire lordis table been I-falle And thow that I onworthi sone of eue Be synful ȝit accepte myn beleue (10) And for that feyth is deed with outyn werkis So for to werkyn ȝeue me wit & space That I be quyt from thens that most derk is O thow that art so fayr & ful of grace Be myn aduocat in that hyge place Theere that withoutyn ende is sunge osanne Thow cristis modir doughtir deere of Anne[first anne] (11) And of thyn grace[corr.] myn soule in prisoun lighte That troblid is bi the cogitacioun[as in Arch. Seld. B. 14] Of myn body & also by the whighte Of ertheli lust & fals affeccioun O hauen of refut / O saluacioun Of hem that been in sorwe & in distresse Now help for to myn werk I wele me dresse (12) Ȝit preye ych 1ȝow þat1[1_1 corrected] ffor-ȝeue me that I do / no diligence This ilke story / subtily tendite ffor bothe haue I / the wordis & the sentence Of hym that at the / seyntis reuerence The storye wrot / & folwe hire legende And preye ȝow that ȝe / wele myn werk amendeleaf 374 is out of the Camb. MS. (13) [THE TALE.] [ffyrst wolle I you þe name of Seynt Cecile Expoune as men may in hir stories see hit ys to say on englysshe heuen lilie Pure Chastnesse of Virginite Or for she wytnesse hade of honeste Of greue of conscience and of gode fame The swoote sauoure lylie was hir name (14) Other / Cecile ys to say þe wey to blynde ffor she ensample was by god techynge Or elles Ceciles as I wryten fynde Is ioyned by manere comoynynge Of heuen and lya and hiȝer/ in figurynge þe heuen ys. sette for þouȝt of holynesse And lya for hir lastynge besynesse (15) Cecile may eke be sayde in þis manere Wantynge hir blynednesse for hir grete liȝt Of sapience for hir/ thewes clere Or elles lo þis maydons name briȝt Of/ heuen and loos comethe for whiche be riȝt Men myȝt þe heuen of peple hir/ calle Ensample of god and wyse werkes with alle (16) ffor leos peple in Englyssh in to say[Sloane 1685] And riȝt/ as men may in þis heuen se The sonne and mone and sterres euery way Riȝt/ so gostely in þis mayden fre Seyen þe feithe of Magnificence And eke of helthe and of sapience And sondry werkes briȝt of Excellence (17) And riȝt as þe phylosophre wryte þat heuen ys swyfte rounde and brennynge Riȝt so was fayre Cecile þe white ffulle swyfte and besy euere in goode wirkynge And rounde and hoole in goode perseuerynge And brenne euere in Charite liȝt Nowe haue I declared you what she hiȝt Here endethe þe Prologge and begynnethe þe tale (18) This mayd bryȝt Cecile as hir/ lyf sayþe Was comen of Romayns & of noble kynde And so forthe forstred vp in þe feiþe Of Cryst and bare his Gospel in hir mynde Sche neuere sesede as I wryten fynde Of hir/ prayers but god to loue & drede Besechynge hym to kepen hir/ maydenhede (19) And whan þis Mayde shulde vnto a man y-wedded be þat was so ȝonge of age The whiche y-cleped was Valerian And þe day was come of/ hir/ maryage She fulle deuoute and humble in hir corage Vnder hir robe of golde þat sat fulle fayre And nexte hir/ flesshe ycladde was in heyre (20) And while þe Organes made melodye[Sloane 1685] To god alle loue þus in hert sange she O lord my saule and eke my body gye Vnwemmed leste I confounded be And for hys loue þat deyde vpon a tre Euery second or þrid day she faste Ay bydynge in hir Orisons fulle faste][Sloane 1685 extract stops] (21) 1The nyght cam & to bedde muste sche goonCamb. MS Gg. 4. 27 With her husbond as ofte is the manner And preuyly to hym sche saide A-noon1[1_1 rewritten by the corrector?] O sweete & weel belouyd spouse deere There is a conseyl & ȝe wele it here Whiche that rygh fayn I wolde vn-to ȝow seye So that ȝe swere ȝe schul it nat bewreye (22) Valerian gan faste vn-to hire swere That for no cas ne thyng that myghte be He schulde neueremore bewreyen hire And thanne at erst to hym seyde sche I haue an aungel whiche that louygh me That with greet loue wheere so I wake or sleepe Is redy ay myn body for to keepe (23) But ȝif that he may felyn out of dreede That ȝe me touche or loue in vilenye He rygh a-noon wele sle ȝow with the dede [And in your yowthe thus ye shulden dye[No gap in the Camb. MS, but at the end of the stanza there is space for a line.]] And ȝif that ȝe in cleene loue me gye He wele ȝow loue as me for ȝoure clennesse And schewe to ȝow his ioye & his bryghtnesse (24) This valerian corektid as god wolde Answerede a-geyn as I schal truste the Lat me that angel se & ek beholde And ȝif that it a verray aungel be Thanne wele I doon as thow hast preyed me And ȝif thow loue a-nothir man forsothe Ryght with this swerd I wele sle ȝow bothe (25) Cecyle answerede a-noon rygh in this wise ȝif that ȝe lyste the aungel schal ȝe se So that ȝe trowe on cryst & ȝow baptyse Goth forth to via apia quod sche That from this toun stant but mylis three And to the poure folkys that theere dwelle Seye hem righ as I schal ȝow telle (26) Telle hem that I Cecile ȝow to hem sente To shewyn ȝow the goode vrban the olde ffor secre nedis & for good entente And whan that ȝe seynt vrban han beholde Telle hym the wordis whiche I to ȝow tolde And whan that he hath purgede ȝow from synne Thanne schal ȝe seen that aungel er ȝe twynne (27) This valerian is to the place I-gon And rygh as he was taught by his lernynge He fond this holye olde vrban a-non A-mong the seyntis veryely lokynge And he a-non with-oute taryinge Dede his massage & whan that he it tolde Vrban for Ioye / hise handys gan vp holde (28) The teeris from hise eyen leet he falle Almyghty lord now Ihesu cryst quod he Sowere of chast conseyl / herde of vs alle The freut of thilke seed of chastite That thow hast sowe in Cecyle take to the Lo lyk a bisy bee with-outyn gile The seruyth ay thyn owene thral Cecile· (29) ffor thilke spouse that sche tok but now fful lik a feers[first feeris] leoun / sche sendyth hire As meke[ke corrected] as euere was ony lamb to ȝow And with that word a-noon there gan apeere An old man clad in white clothis cleere That hadde a bok with lettere of gold in honde And gan byforn valeryan to stonde (30) Valerian as deed fil doun for dreede Whan he hym saw / & he vp hente hym tho And on his bok rygh thus he gan to reede O lord o god o feith with-outyn mo O cristendom & fadyr of alle also Abouyn alle & ouer alle euerywheere These wordys alle of gold I-wretyn weere (31) Whanne this was rad thanne seyde this olde man Leuyst this thyng or no sey ȝe or nay I leue al this thyng quod Valeryan ffor sothere thyng this / I dar weel say Vndyr the heuene no wight thynkyn may Tho vaneschid this olde man he nyste wheere And Poope vrban hym cristenede ryght theere (32) Valarian goth hom & fynd Cecile In-with his chambir with an Au[n]gel stonde This aungel hadde of rosis & of lylye Corounnys two the whiche he bar in honde And fyrst to cecilie as I vndirstonde He ȝaf that on & aftyr gan he take That othir to valeryan hire make (33) With body cleene & with vnwemmede thought Kepith ay cleene these coronys quod he ffrom paradys to ȝow / I haue hem brought Ne neuere mo ne schal they rote be Ne leese here sote sauour trustith me Ne neuere wigh schal seen hem with his ye But he be chast & haate vilenye (34) And thow Valerian for thow so soone Assentedist to good conseyl also Sey what the lyste & thow schat haue thyn boone I haue a brothir quod valeryan tho That in this world I loue no man so I preye ȝow that myn brothir may han grace To knowe the trouthe as I do in this place (35) The aungel seyde god lykyth thyn requeste And bothe with the palm of martyrdom ȝe schul come vn-tyl his blysful feste And with that word Tiburse his brothyr coom And whan that he the sauour Vndyrnom Which that the rosis & the lylyis caste With-inne his herte he gan to wondere faste (36) And seyde I wondere this tyme of the ȝeer Whens that the sote sauour comyth so Of rose & lylyis / that I smelle heere / ffor thow I hadde hem in myne handis two The sauour myghte in me no deppere go The swete smel that in myn herte I fynde Hath chaunged me al in a nothir kynde (37) Valerian seyde two corounnys han we Snow whit & rose reed that schynyn cleere Whiche that thynne eyne han no myght to se And as thow smellyst hem thour myn preyere So schalt thow seen hem leue brothir deere Ȝif it so be thow wolt with-outyn slouthe Byleue arygh & knowyn werray trouthe (38) Tiburse answerde seyst thow this to me In sothnesse or in drem I herkene this In dremys quod Valerian haue we be Vn-to this tyme brothir myn I-wis But now at erst in trouthe oure dwellynge is How wost thow this quod Tiburce & in what wyse Quod valerian that schal I the deuyse (39) The Au[n]gel of god hath me the trouthe taught Which thow schalt se ȝif that thow wilt reneye Thynne Idolis & been cleene & ellis not And of the myrakele of these coronys tweye Seynt Ambrose in his prefas leste to seye Solempnely this noble doughtyr dere Commendyth it & seyth in this maneere (40) The palme of marterdam for to reseeyue Seynt Secile fulfild of godis ȝifte The world & ek hire[first hise] chambre gan sche weyue Witnesse Tiburce & Cecilies schryfte To whiche god of his bounte wolde shifte Corounnys two of flouris sweete smellynge And made his aungel hem the corounnys to brynge (41) This maydyn hath brought hem to blysse a-boue The world hat wist / what it is wroth certeyn Deuocioun of chastite to loue Tho schewede hym Cecile al opyn & pleyn That alle ydolis nys but a thyng in veyn ffor they been dombe & therto they been deeue And chargede hym hise ydolis for to leue (42) Who so that trowith not this a beste he is Quod tho tyburse ȝif that I schal nat lye And sche gan kisse his brest that herde this And was ful glad he coude trouthe espye This day I take the for myn alye Seyde this blysful fayre mayde deere And aftyr that sche seyde as ȝe may here (43) Lo right so as the loue of Crist quod she Made me thyn brothir wif rygh in that wise A-noon for myn alye I here take the So that thow wolt thynne ydolis espie Go with thyn brothir now & the baptyse And make the clene so that thow mowe be-holde The aungellis face of which then brothir tolde (44) Tyburce answerde & seyde brothir deere ffyrst telle me whidyr that I schal & to what man To whom quod he come forth with rygh good cheere I wele the lede vn-to the pope vrban Tyl vrban brothir myn valerian Quod tho Tiburce / wilt thow me dedyr leede Me thynkyth that it were a wondyr deede (45) Ne knowyst tow nat vrban quod he tho That is so ofte dampned to be deed And wonyth in halkis alwey two & fro And dar nat onys putte forth his heed Men schulde hym brenne in a fyr so reed ȝif he were founde or ȝif men myghte hym spye And we also to bere hym compaynye[o altered] (46) And whil we seke thilke dyuinite That is I-hid in heuene pryuyly Algate I-brend in this world schul we be To whom Cecile answerde boldely Men myghtyn dredyn weel & skylfully This lif to lese myn owene dere brothir If this weere lyuynge only & non othir (47) But theere is betere lyf in othir place That neuere schal been lost ne drede the not With godys sone / vs tolde thour his grace That faderis sone hath alle thyngis wrouȝt And al that wrouȝt is with a skylful thouȝt The gost that from the fadyr gan procede Hath soulede hem with-outyn ony dreede (48) By word & by myrakele he goddis sone Whan he was in this world declared heere That theere is othir lyf / theere men may wone To whom answerde Tiburce o sistyr deere Ne seydist tow right now in this maneere Theere nys but on god / in sothfastnesse And now of thre / how maystow bere witnesse (49) That schal I telle quod sche er 1than I1[1_1 altered] go Ryght as a man hath sapiencis thre Memorye engyn & intellect also So in o beyinge of dyuynytee Thre personys may theere weel bee Tho gan sche hym ful busili to preche Of Cristis sone & of hise peynys teche (50) And manye poyntis of hise passioun How goddis sone in this world was with-holde To doon mankynde pleyn remyssioun That was I-boundyn in synne & caris colde Al this thyng sche vn-to tiburce tolde And aftyr this Thiburce with good entente With valerian to pope vrban he wente (51) That thankede god & with good herte & lyght He cristenede hym & made hym in that place Parfit in his lernynge goddis knyght And aftyr this Tibur[c]e gat swich grace That eueri day he saw in tyme & space The aungel of god & euery manere boone That he god axed it was sped ful soone (52) It weere ful hard by ordere for to seyn How manye wonderis Ihesu for hem wroughte But at the laste to tellyn schort & pleyn The sergeauntis of the toun of rome hem souȝte And hem by-forn almache the prefect broughte Which hem opposede & knew al hire entente And to the ymage of Iupiter hem sente.— (53) And seyde ho so wele not sacrifise Swap of his heed this myn centence heere Anoon these martiris that I ȝow deuyse On Maximus that was an officeere Of the Prefectis & his Corniculeere Hem hente & whan he forth the seyntis ladde Hym self he wepte for pite that he hadde (54) Whan Maximus hadde herd the seyntis loore He gat hym of the turmentouris leeue And ladde hem to his hous with-outyn moore And with heere prechyng er than it was eue They gunne from the turmentouris to reue And from Maxime & from hise folk echoone The false feith to trowe in god a-loone (55) Cecile cam whan it was wexe nyght With prestis that hem cristenede alle in feere And aftyrward whan day was wexen lyght Cecile hem seyde with a ful sobere cheere Now cristis owene knyghtis leue & deere Cast al a-wey the werkis of derknesse And armyth ȝow in armys / of brightnesse. (56) ȝe han forsothe don a greet batayle / ȝoure cours is don / ȝoure feyth haue ȝe conseruyd Goth to the coroun of lyf that may nat fayle The rightful Iuge / which that ȝe han seruyd Schal ȝeue it ȝow right as ȝe han [dis in the margin]seruyd And whan this thyng was seyd as I deuyse Men ledde hem forth / to don the sacrifise (57) But whan they weere to the place brought To tellyn schortely the conclusyoun The nolde encense[first ensense] ne sacrifise right noght But on here kneis they settyn hem a-doun With humble herte & sad deuocioun And leftyn bothe here heuedis in the place Here soulis wentyn to the kyng of grace (58) This Maximus that saw this thyng betyde With pituse teris tolde it a-non right That he here soulis saw to heuene glyde With aungellis ful of cleernesse & of ligh And with his word conuertede manye a wight ffor whiche Almachius dide hym so beete With whippe of leed til he his lyf gan lete (59) Cecile hym tok & buried a-non Bi Tiburce & Valirian softely With-inne hire buriinge place vndyr the stoon And aftyr this Almathius hastili Bad hise mynystris fightyn opynly Cecile so that sche myghte in hise presence Don sacrifise & Iupiter encence (60) But they conuertid at here wise loore Weptyn ful soore & ȝeuyn ful credence Vn-to hire word & cryedyn moore & moore Crist goddis sone with-outyn difference Is verray goddys sone this al oure centence That hath so good a seruaunt hym to serue This with on vois we trowyn thow we sterue (61) Almachius that herde al this doing Bad feche Cecile that he myghte hire se And aldyr ferst lo this was his axsyng What manere woman art thow quod he I am a gentil woman born quod sche I axe the quod he thow it the greeue Of thyn religioun & of thin beleeue (62) ȝe han begunne ȝoure questioun folyly Quod sche that woldyn to answeris conclude In on demaunde ȝe axsyn lewedely Almache answerede vnto that simylitude Of whens comyth thyn answerynge so rude Of whens quod sche / whan that sche was freynyd Of concience & of good feyth vnfeynyd (63) Almachius seyde ne takist thow noon hede Of myn powere & sche answerde him thus ȝoure myght quod sche ful lytil is to drede ffor euery manys mortal power nys But lyk a bladdere ful of wynd I-wis ffor with a nedellis poynt whan it is blowe May al the bost of it been leyd ful lowe (64) fful wrongfully bigunne thow quod sche And ȝit in wrong is al thyn perseueraunce Wost tow not how oure myghti pryncis free Han thus comaundit & mad ordenaunce That euery cristene whight schal han penaunce But ȝif that he his cristendom withseye And goon al quik ȝif he wele it reneye (65) Ȝoure pryncis erryn as ȝoure nobleye doth Quod tho Cecile / & with a wood centence ȝe makyn vs gilty & is nat soth ffor ȝe that knowyn weel oure Innocence ffor as meche as we doon a reuerence To Cryst & for we bere a cristene name Ȝe puttyn on vs a cryme & ek a blame (66) But we that knowen thilke name ffor vertuous we may it not with-seye Almache answerde chees on of these two Do sacrifise & cristendam reneye That thow mowe escape by that weye At which this holy blysful fayre mayde Gan for to laughe & to the Iuge sayde (67) O Iuge confus in thyn nycete Wilt thow that I reneye Innocence To makyn me a wikkede wight quod sche Lo he dissimulyth here in audience He starith & wodit in hise aduertence To whom Almachius onsely wreche Ne wost thow not how fer myn mygh may streche (68) Han not oure mighti pryncis to me ȝeuyn ȝe boothe power & autorite To makyn folk to deyin or to leuyn Whi spekist thow so proudely thanne to me I speke noght but stedefastly quod sche Nat proudely I seye as for myn side We hatyn dedly thilke vyce of pryde— (69) And ȝif thow dreede nat a soth to heere Thanne wele I schewe al opynly be ryght That thow hast mad a ful greet lesyng heere Thow seyst thynne pryncis han the ȝouyn myght Bothe for to slen & for to quekyn a wight Thow that ne mayst but only lyf bereue Thow hast non othir power ne no leue (70) But thow mayst seyn thynne pryncis han the makid Ministre of deth / for ȝif thow speke of mo Thow lyist for thyn power is ful nakyd Do wey thyn boldenesse seyde Almathius thoo And sacrifise to the goddis er thow go I reche nat what wrong that thow me profere ffor I can suffere it as a Philisophere (71) But thilke wrongis may I not endure That thow spekist of oure goddis heere quod he Cecile answerde o nyce creature Thow seydist no word syn thow spake with me That I ne knew therwith thyn nycetee And that thow were in euery maner wise A lewede offiser & veyn Iustise (72) Teere lakkyth no thyng to thyn vtter Iyen That thow nart blynd / for thyng that we seen alle That is a stoon that men may wel espyen That ilke stoon a god thow wilt it calle I rede the let thyn hond vp-on it falle And taste it weel & ston thow schalt it fynde Syn that thow sest nat with thynne eyin blynde (73) It is schame that the peple schal So scorne the & laghe at thyn folye ffor comounly men wot it weel oueral That myghty god is in hise heuenys hye And these ymagis weel thow mayst espie To the ne to hem self may nought profyghte ffor in effect they been nat worth a myghte (74) These wordis & swiche othere seyde sche And he wex wroth & bad men schulde hire leede Hom to hire hous / & in hire hous quod he Brenne hire right in a bath with flambis reede And as he bad ryȝt so was doon the dede ffor in a bath the gune hire faste schette And nygh & day greet fyr they vndyr bette (75) The longe nyght & ek a day also ffor al the feer & ek the bathis heete Sche sat al cold & felede no woo It made hire not a drope for to sweete But in that bath hire lyf muste sche lete ffor he Almachius with a wekkede entent To sleen hire in the bath his sonde sent/ (76) Thre strokis in the nekke he smoot hire tho The turmentour but for no manere chaunce He myghte nat smyte al hire nekke a two And for there was that tyme an ordynaunce That no man schulde doon / man swich penaunce The fourte strook to smyte soffte or sore This turmentour ne durste doon no moore (77) But half deed with hire nekke I-koruyn theere He lefte hire lye / & on his woye is went The cristene folk whiche that a-boute hire weere With scheetis han the blood ful fayre I-hent Thre dayis leuede sche in that turnement And neuere sesede hem the feyth to teche That sche hadde fosterede hem sche gan to preche (78) And hem sche ȝaf hire meoblis & hire thyng And to the Poope Vrban bi-tok hem tho And seyde I axede this of heuene kyng To haue thre dayis respit & namo To recommende to ȝow / er that I go These soulis lo & that I myghte do werche Heere of myn hous perpetuelly a cherche (79) Seynt vrban with hise dekenys priuily The body fette & beriede it be nyght Among hise othere seyntis honestely Hyre hous the cherche of seynt cecile hyghte Seynt Vrban halwede it as he weel myght In which in to this day in noble wyse Meen don to Cryst & to his seynt seruyse Here folwyn the mery wordys of chaucer & of þe host And the prologe of the chanonnys manon leaf 380, back hat told was the lif of seynt Cecile [[gaps filled-in from Sloane 1685, leaf 165,except that at2 it has "Boxton."] Er w]e fully haddyn redyn fyue myle [At 2Boug]hton vndyr Blee vs gan a take [A man] that clothede was in clothis blake [And vn]dyr that he hadde a whit surplys [hys ha]keny that was al pomele gris [So swa]tte that it wondir was to se [hit seme]de that he hadde prekede mylis thre [The hors eke þat hys yoman r]od vpon [So swet þat vnneþe my]hte["myȝt," in Sloane 1685] it goon Aboute þe pey[trelle stode the] fom ful hye He was of foom al flekked as a pye A male twifold on his croper lay It semede that he cariede lyte aray Al lygh for somyr rod this worthi man And in myn herte wonderyn I began What that he was that I vndyrstood How that his cloke was sowid to his hood ffor which whanne I longe hadde auysede me I demede hym a schanoun for to be His hat hyng doun at his bak by a lace ffor he hadde redyn moore than trot or pace He hadde ay prikyd lyk as he were wood A cloote lef he hadde vndyr his hood ffro swot & for to kepe his heed from heete But it was Ioye for to seen hym sweete His forhed dropped as a stillatorie Were ful of plauntayn & of permytorye And whan that he was come he gan to crye God saue quod he this fayre compaynye ffaste haue I prikyd quod he for ȝoure sake By cause that I wolde ȝow a take To rydyn in this murye cumpaynye His ȝeman ek was ful of curteysie And seyde sens now in the morwe tyde Out of ȝoure hostelrye I saw ȝow ryde And warnede heere myn lord & myn souereyn Which for to ridyn with ȝow is ful fayn ffor his disport he lout[h[gaps filled-in from Sloane 1685] dalyaunce] ffreend for thyn warny[nge god ȝeue þe gode chaunce] Thanne seyde oure h[Oste certes hit wolde seme] Thyn lord weere w[yse and so I may wele deme] He is ful Iocunde a[lso dare I leye] Can he ough a me[ry tale or tweye] With which he glade [may þis companye] // Who sere myn lord [ȝe with out lie] He can of merthe & [eke of Iolyte] Nat but I-now also [sir trestyth me] And ȝe hym knewe a[lso wele as] that do I Ȝe woldyn wondere how weel & craftyly He coude werke & that in sundery wise He hath takyn on hym manye a greet emprise Whiche were ful hard for ony that is heere To brynge a-boute but 2they of hym it leere2[2_2 later] As hoomely as he rit a-mongis ȝow Ȝif ȝe hym knewe it wolde be for ȝoure prow ȝe wolde nat forgoon his aqueyntaunce ffor meche good I dare leye in balaunce Al that I haue in myn possessioun He is a man of heigh discrecioun I warne ȝow weel he is a passynge man Weel quod oure host I preye the telle me than Is he clerk or noon I preye the telle me this Nay he is grettere than a clerk I-wis Seyde this ȝeman & in wordis fewe Hoost of his craft sumwhat I wele ȝow schewe I seye myn lord can swich sotyletee But al his craft ȝe may nat wete at me And sumwhat helpe I ȝit to his werkyng That al this ground on which we been rydyng Til that we comyn to cauntyrbery toun He coude al clene turne vp so doun And paue it al of syluyr & of gold / And whan this ȝeman hadde this I-told Vn-to oure host he seyde benedicite This thyng is wondyr meruelious to me Syn that thyn lord is of so hegh prudence By cause of which men wolde hym reuerence That of his worschepe rekkith he but lyte His ouere sloppe nys nat worth a myte As in effect to hym so mote I go It is al baudit & to-tore also Whi is thyn lord so slottysch I the preye And is of power betere cloth to beye If that his deede a-cordit with his speche Tel me that & that I the be-seche // Whi quod this ȝeman wherto axe ȝe me God help me so for he schal neuere the But I wele nat a-wowe that I seye And therfore kepe it secre I ȝow preye He is to wis in feyth as I be-leue That is ouerdone it wele nat preue Aryght / as clerkis seyn it is a vice Wherfore in that I helde hym lewid & nyce ffor whan a man hath ouergreet a wit fful ofte hym happith to mysusen it So doth myn lord & that me greuyth soore God it amende I can sey ȝow na moore Therof no fors goode ȝeman quod oure hoost Syn of the cunnyng of thyn lord thow wost Telle how he doth I preye the hertyly Syn that he is so crafty & so sly Wheere dwellyn ȝe / ȝif it to tellyn be In the subarblis of a toun quod he Lurkynge in hernys & in [first lonys]lanys blynde Where as these robbouris & these theuys by kynde Holdyn here priue ferful residence As they that dore nat schewe here presence So fare we ȝif I schal seye the sothe Now quod oure hoost ȝit lat me speke to the Whi art thow so discolouryd in thyn face Petir quod he god ȝeue it harde grace I am so vsed in the fuir to blowe That it hath chaunged myn colour I trowe I am not wone in no myrour to prye But swynke sore & lerne multeplye We blundere euere & poure in the fuyr And for al that we fayle of oure desyr ffor euere we lakke oure conclusioun To muche folk we doon illusyoun And borwe gold be it a pound or two Or ten or twelve or manye summys mo And makyn hem to wenyn at the leste weye That of a pound we coudyn make tweye ȝit is it fals but ay we han good hope It for to doon & aftyr it we grope But that science is so fer vs be-foren We mow not al-thogh we haddyn it sworen It ouyrtake it slyt awey so faste It wele vs make beggeris at the laste // Whil this ȝeman was thus in his talkyng This chanoun drow hym neer & herde alle thyng Which this ȝeman spak . for suspecioun Of menys speche / euere hadde this chanoun for Catoun seyth he that gilty isConcius esse sibi. Demyth alle thynge is seyd of hym I-wis That was the cause he gan so nygh hym drawe To his ȝeman to herkenyn al his sawe And thus he seyde vn-to his ȝeman tho Hold thow thyn pees & spek no wordis mo ffor ȝif thow do thow schat it dere a-beye Thow slaunderyst me / heere in this cumpaynye And ek discouerist that thow schuldist hide Ȝa quod oure ost telle on whatso betyde Of al this thretyng relke nat a myte Infeyth quod he namore I do but lyte And whan this chanoun saw it wolde nat be But his ȝeman wolde telle his pryuyte He fledde a-wey for verray sorwe & schame A quod the ȝeman here schal aryse game Al that I can a-non now wele I telle Syn he is goon the foule fend hym quellecut out of the Camb. MS. [ffore neuere here aftere wolle with hym mete ffor peny ne for pounde I be-hete he þat me brouȝt/ fyrst/ in to þat game Er/ þat he deyde sorowe haue he & shame ffor hit ys ernest/ to me by my fayþe þat fele I wele what so ony man saythe And ȝit for alle my smert and alle my greef / And alle my sorowe laboure and myschef I couþe neuere leeue hit / in no wyse Nowe wolde god my wytte myȝt / suffice To tellen alle þat longethe to þat arte But nathles ȝit wylle I telle you part Syþens þat my lorde ys gone I wolle not spare Suche þenge as I knowe I wille declare Here endith þe Prologge and be-gynneþe þe tale [THE PREAMBLE.] Wyth þis Chanon dwellyd haue I seuen ȝeere And of hys science neuere þe nere And þat I hade I haue loste þerby And god woote so hathe mony mo þan I There I was wonte to be riȝt fresshe & gay Of cloþinge and of gode array Nowe may I were an hose vpon myne hede And where my coloure was bothe fressh & reede Nowe it ys wan and of a len hewe Who so hit vseþe sore shalle he rewe And of my swynke blered ys myn eyee Lo whiche avauntage hit ys to multiply þat slydynge science hathe me made so bare That I haue no gode where þat euere I fare And ȝit / I am endetted so þer by Of golde þat I haue borowed truly þat whyle I lyue hit/ shalle I quyte nevere lat euery man by ware by me for euere what manere man þat casteth hym þer to yf/ he contynewe I holde hys thryfte y-do. [But so helpe me god ther/-by schall he noght wynne. But empten his/ purs/ & make his/ wittis/ thynne. And whan he thorough his/ madnesse & folye/. Hath lost his/ owne good thorough iopardye. Than he exitith other/ men therto. To lese her/ good as/ hym self haþ do.] ffor vnto shrewes Ioye hit ys and ese To haue hir/ felawes in peyne and dissese Thys was I oones lerned of a Clerke[Sloane 1685] Of þat no Charge I wolle speke of oure werke whan we bene þere as we shall exercise Oure Eluysshe crafte we seem wonder/ wyse Oure termes ben so clergial and so queynte I blowe þe fyre tylle þat myn hert/ feynte what/ shulde I telle ecche proporcioun Of/ þenges whiche þat we worchen vppoun As on fyue or sixe vnces may wele be Of siluere or of som oþere quantite][Sloane 1685 extract ends] And besye me to telle ȝow the namysCamb. MS Gg. 4. 27 Of orpemynt brend bonys / Iren squamys That in to poudere grounde been ful smal And in an erthene pot how put is al And salt I-put in & also papeer By-fore these pouderis that I speke of heer And weel I-keuered with a laumpe of glas And of muche othir thyng whiche there was And of the pot & glasis enlutynge That of the ayr myghte passe out nothynge And of the esy fuyr & smert also Whiche that was mad & the care & wo That we hadde in oure mateeris sublymyng And in a-malgamynge & calcenyng Of quik siluyr I-clepede Mercurye Crude ffor alle oure slytis we cunne not conclude Of oure orpemynt & sublimyd mercurye Oure groundyn lytarge ek & the porphurye Of eche of these / of ounces a certeyn Noght helpith vs oure labour is in veyn Ne ek oure spiritis ascencioun Ne oure matieris that lyn al fyx a-doun Mowe in oure werkynge no thyng vs avayle ffor lost is al oure labour & trauayle And al the cost a twenty deuelleweye Is lost also which we on it leye Ther is also ful manye anothir thyng That is vnto oure craft aperteynynge Thow I be ordere / hem nat reherce can By cause that I am a lewede man That wele I telle hem as they come in mynde Thow I ne can nat sette hem in hir[h r altered] kynde As bole armonyak verdegres boras And sunderi vessellys mad of erthe & glas Oure vrynallis & oure discensories Violys / Crosletis / & sublymatories Cucurbites / & alembikes eek And othere swiche / deere I-nogh a leek Not nedyth it for to reherse hem alle Wateris rubifyinge & bolis galle Arsenyk Salarmoniak & bronston And erbis coude I telle ek manyon Of Egremoyne Walerian & lunarye And othere sweche / If that me leste tarye Oure laumpis brennynge bothe nyght & day To brynge aboute oure craft ȝif that we may Oure furneys ek of Calcinacioun And of oure wateris albifacacioun Vnslekkid lym chalk & gleyer of an ey Pouderis dyuerce Aschis donge / pisse & cley Cerede pokettis Sal petyr vitriole And dyuerse feris mad of wode & cole Sal tartere altaly / And Sal preparaat And combust matiers / & coagulaat Cley mad with hors heer or manis & oyle Of Tartere Alumglas. berme wort & argoyle Rosealger & othere matieris enbibyng And ek of othere matieris / encorporyng And of oure siluyr citrynacioun Oure cymentynge / & formentacyoun Oure ingotis testis & manyon mo I wele ȝow telle as was me taught also //The foure spiritis & the bodyis seuene By ordere As ofte herde I myn lord hem nemene The fyrste spirit quik siluys callid is The secunde orpemynt & the thredde I-wis Sal Armonyak & the fourte brunston The bodyis seuene lo hem ek here a-non Sol gold is & luna syluyr whe treepe Mars yryn. Mercurie quik siluyr we clepe Saturnus led & Iupiter is tyn And Venus Copir be myn fadir kyn This cursede craft who so wele excercyse He schal no good han that hym may suffyse ffor al the good he spendyth theere aboute He lese schal therof haue I no doute Ho so that lystyth outyn his folye Let hym come forth & lerne multeplye And euery man that hat ought in his cofere Lat hym apere & wexe a philysophere Ascauns that craft is so lyght to lere Nay nay god wot al be he monk or frere Prest or chanoun or ony othir whit Thow he sete at his bok day or nygh[t] In lernynge of this eluyssch nyce loore Al is in veyn & parde meche moore To lerne a lewede man this sotylete ffy spek nat therof for it wele nat be And kunne he lettereure or cunne he non As in effect he schal fynde it al oon For bothe to be myn saluacioun Concludyn as in multiplicacyoun I-lyche weel / whan they han al I-do This is to seyn they fayle bothe twe // ȝit forgat I to make rehersayle Of wateris coresif & of lemayle And of bodyis mollyficacioun And also of here induracioun Oyles absolucioun / & metal fusible To tellyn al wolde passyn any bible That ower is / wherefore as for the beste Of alle[word scratcht out] these namys now wele I me reste ffor as I trowe I haue ȝow told I-nogh To reyse a fend al loke he neuere so rogh // A nay lat be the philisopheris stoon Elixer clepid / we sekyn faste echon ffor hadde we hym we were sekyr I-nogh But on to god of heuene I make a wow ffor al oure craft whan we han al I-do And al oure sleyghte he wele nat come vs to He hath I-mad vs spende mechil good ffor sorwe of whiche almost [word scratcht out] we wexe wood But that good hope crepith in oure herte Supposynge euere thow we sore smerte To be releuyd by hym aftyrward / Swich supposynge & hope is scharp & hard I warne ȝow wel it is to sekyn euere That future temps that made men to disseuere In trust therof from al that euere they hadde ȝit of that art they can not wexe sadde ffor vn-to hem it is a bittyr swete So semyth it for ne hadde they but a schete Whiche that they myghte wrappe hem in a nyght And a bakke for to walke in be day light They wolde hem selue / & spendyn on this craft They can not stynte til no thyng be laft And euere more where that euere they goon Men may hem knowe by smel of bronston ffor al the world they stynkyn as a got Here sauour is so rammysch & so hot That thow a man[some letters scratcht out] from hem a myle bee The sauour wele enfecte hem trustyth me Lo thus be smellynge & thredbare aray ȝif that men lyste these folk knowe may And ȝif a man wele aske hem pryuyly Whi that they been clothid so vn-thriftyly They righ a-non wele rounne in his ere And seyn ȝif that they espied were Men woldyn hem sle by cause of here science Lo thus these folk betrayen innocence Passe ouer this I go myn tale vnto Er than the pot be on the fyre I-do Of metallis with a certeyn quantite Myn lord hem tempereth & no man but he Now he is goon I dar say boldely ffor as men saye he can do craftyly Algate I wot wel he hath swich a name And ȝit ful ofte he rennyth in a blame // And wete ȝe how ful oftyn it happith soo The pot to-brekith & farwel al is go These metallis been of so greet violence Oure wallis mowe not make hem resistence But ȝif they were wrought of lym / & ston They perce so & thour the wal they gon And some of hem synke in-to the ground Thus haue we lost be tymys manye a pound And some are skaterede in the flor a-boute Some lepe in-to the rof / with-outyn doute Thow that the fend nat in the sight hym schewe I trowe he with vs be that ilke schrewe In helle where as he is lord & syre Ne is there more wo ne more rancour ne yre Whan that oure pot as I haue sayd / Euery man chit / & halt hym euelle a-payed //Some seyn it was a-long on the fyr makyng Some seydyn nay / it was on the blowyng Thanne was I aferid / for that was myn offis Straw quod the thredde / ȝe been lewede & nys It was nat tempered as it aughte to be Nay quod the forte stynt & lestene to me By cause oure fyr was not mad of bech That is the cause & othir noon so theech I can not telle wheron it was long But wel I wot greet stryf is vs a-mong // What quod myn lord there is no more to done Of these perilis I wele be war eft sone I am rygh sekyr that the pot was crased Be as be may be ȝe no thyng a-mased As vsage is lat swepe the flor aswythe Pluk vp ȝoure hertys & beth glad & blythe The mullok on an hep I-swepid was And on the flor I-caste a canevas And al the mullok in a seue I-throwe And syftid & I-pikid manye a throwe // Parde quod on / sumwhat of oure metal ȝit is ther heere they that we haue nat al And thow this thyng mys happe as now A-nothir tyme it may be weel I-now Vs muste putte oure good in auenture A marchaunt parde may not al-wey endure Trustyth me wel in his prosperite Sumtyme his good is drouned in the se And sumtyme comyth it saf vn-to the londe Pes quod myn lord the nexte tyme wele I fonde To brynge oure craft al in a-nothir plit And but I do sere lat me han the wit There was defaute in sumwhat wel I wot A-nothir seyde the fuyr was ouyr hot But be it hot or cold I dare seye this That we concludyn euere more amys We fayle of that whiche that we woldyn haue And in oure madnesse eueremore we raue And whan we been to-gederis euerichon Euery man semyth a salamon But alle thynge whiche that schynyth as the goldNon teneas aurum &c. Nis nat gold / as I haue herd told Ne eueri appil that is fayr at eye Ne is nat good / what so men clappe or crye Righ so lo faryth it a-mongis vs He that semyth the wiseste be Iesus Is most fol whan it comyth to the pref And he that semyth treweste is a thef That schal ȝe knowe er that I from ȝow wende By that I of myn tale haue mad an ende[No break in the MS.] [THE TALE.] // There is a chanoun of religioun A-mongis vs wolde enfecte al a toun They it as gret were as was nynyue Rome Alysaundir Troye / & othere thre Hise sleyghtis & his infinit falsenesse There coude no man write as I gesse Thow that he myghte leue a thousend ȝeer In al this world of falshed nys his per ffor in hise termys he so wel hym wyndis And spekyn hise wordis in so slye kyndis Whan he comune schal with ony wight That he wele make hym dote a-non ryght But it a fend be as hym seluyn is fful manye a man hath he begyled er this And wele ȝif that he leue may a while And ȝit men ride & goon ful manye a myle Hym for to seke & haue his acqueyntaunce Not knowynge of his false gouernaunce And ȝif ȝow liste to ȝeue me audyence I wole it telle / here in ȝoure presence But worschepful Chanony[s] relygious Ne demyth nat that I slau[n]dere ȝoure hous Al thow myn tale of a chanoun be Of euery ordere sum schrewe is pardee That god forbede that al a cumpayny Schulde rewe a synguler manys foly To slaundere ȝow is nothyng myn entent But to correcte that is mys I-ment This tale was nat only told for ȝow But for othere mo ȝe wete wel how That a-mongis cristis apostellis twelwe There was no traytour but Iudas hym selue Thanne why schulde the remenaunt han blame That gilteles were / be ȝow seye I the same Saue only this ȝif ȝe wele herkene me If ony Iudas in ȝoure couent be Remeuyth hym be tymys I ȝow rede If schame or los may causen ony drede And beth nothyng displesid I ȝow preye But in this cas herkenyth what I schal seye // In lundene was a prest an annueler That therin dwellede hadde manye a ȝer Whiche was so plesaunt & so seruysable Vn-to the wif where as sche was at table That sche wolde suffere hym no thyng for to paye ffor bord ne clothing wente he neuere so gaye And spendynge siluyr hade he righ I-now Therof no fors I wele procede as now And telle forth myn tale of the Chanoun That brougte this prest to confusioun // This false Chanoun cam vp on a day Vn-to this prestis chaumbere where he lay Be-sekynge him to lenyn hym a certeyn Of gold & he wolde quite it hym ageeyn Lene me a mark quod he but dayis thre And at myn day I wele it quytyn the And If so be that thow me fynde fals A-nothir day do hange me by the hals // This man[first monk] hym tok a mark & that aswythe And this chanoun hym thankede ofte sythe And tok his leue & wente forth his weye And at the thredde day broughte his monye And to the prest tok his gold a-geyn Wherof this prest was wondir glad & fayn Certis quod he no thyng a-noyeth me To lene a man a nobele or to or thre Or what thyng were in myn possessioun Whan he so trewe is of condicioun That in nowise he breke wele his day To swich a man I can neuere seyn nay // What quod this chanoun schulde I be ontrewe Nay that were a thyng I-falle were al of newe Trouthe is a thyng that I wele euere kepe Vn-to that day In whiche that I schal crepe [In to my graue or elles god for-bede Beleueth þis as sykere as ys youre crede] God thanke I & in good tyme be it seyd That there was neuere man ȝit euele apayed ffor gold ne siluyr that he to me sente Ne neuere falshed in myn herte I mente And sere quod he now of myn pryuyte Syn ȝe godly han ben on to me And kythed to me so gret gentillesse Sumwhat to kythe with ȝoure kyndenesse I wele ȝow schewe & ȝif ȝow lyste to lere I wele ȝow teche pleynly the manere How I can werke in philosophie Takith good hed ȝe schul wel sen at Iȝe That I wele don a maystrie er I go // Ȝe quod the prest / ȝe sere & wele ȝe so Marie therof I preye ȝow hertely At ȝoure comaundement trewely Qu[o]d the chanoun & ellis god for-beede Lo how this thef coude his seruyse bede fful soth it is that swich profered seruyse Stynkyth as wytnesseth these olde wise And that ful sone I wele it veryfye In this chanoun rote of alle trecherye That eueremore delit hath & gladnesse Sweche fendely thouȝtis in his herte inpresse How cristis peple he may to myschef brynge God kepe vs from his false dissymulynge // Not wiste this prest with hom that he delte Ne of his harm comynge he no thyng felte O sely prest o sely innocent With coueytyse a-non thow schat ben blent O graceles ful blynde is thyn conceyte[first concente] No thyng art thow war of the disseyte Whiche that this fox I-schapyn hat to thee Hise wyly wrenchis / thow ne mayst not fle Wherfore to the conclusioun That referith to thyn confusyoun Vnhappi man a-non I wele me hie To tellyn thyn vnwit & heigh folye And ek the falsenesse of that othir wreche As fer forth as that myn conyng wele streche // This Chanoun was myn lord ȝe wolden wene Sire hust in feyth & by the heuenys queene It was a nothir Chanoun & not he That can an hunderede fold more subtylete He hath betrayed folkis sundery tyme Of his falsenesse it dullyth me to ryme Euere whan that I speke / of his falshede ffor schame of hym mynne chekis waxen reede Algatis they begynne for to glowe ffor rednesse haue I non righ wel I knowe In myn visage for fumys dyuerse Of metallis whiche as ȝe han herd me reherse Consumyd & wastid han myn rednesse Now tak bed of this Chanounnys curssedenesse Sere quod he to the prest let ȝoure man gon ffor quik siluyr that we hadde it a-non And lat hym bryngyn ouuncis two or thre And whan he comyth as faste schul ȝe se A wondyr thyng whiche ȝe say neuere er this // Sere quod the prest it schal ben don I-wis He bad his seruaunt / fechyn hym this thyng And he al redy was at his bedyng And wente hym forth & cam a-non a-geyn With this quik syluyr sot[h]ly for to seyn And tok these ouncis thre to the Chanoun And hem [l first h]leyde fayre & weel a doun And bad the seruaunt colis for to brynge That he a-non myght go to hese werkynge The colis right a-non weren I-fet And this Chanoun tok out a croslet Of his bosum & schewed it the prest This instrument wheche that thow sest Take in thyn hand / & put thyn self ther-inne Of this quiksiluir [an vnce and here be-gynne][Sloane 1685, lf 173: half the line scralcht out in Camb. MS.] In name of cryst to wexe a philysophere There ben but fewe to whiche that I wolde profere To schewyn hem thus meche of myn science ffor ȝe schul sen here be experience That this quik siluyr I wele mortifye Rygh in ȝoure sighte a-non with-outyn lye And make it as good siluer & as fyn As there is ony in ȝoure pors or myn Or ellis where & make it malliable And ellis heldith me fals & vn-stable Amongis folk for euere to appere // I haue a poudere here that coste me ful dere Schal make al good for it is cause of al Myn kunnyng whiche that I ȝow schewe schal Voydith ȝoure man & lat hym be ther oute And schet the dore whil we ben a-boute Oure pryuyte that no man vs espye Whilis that we werke in this philosephie Al as he bad fulfyld was in dede This ilke seruaun[t] a-non ryght out ȝeede And his maystyr schette the dore a-non And to here labour spedyly they gon This prest at this chanonys biddy[n]g Vp-on the fer a-non sette this thyng And blew the fuyr & besiede hym ful faste And this chanoun in-to the croslet caste A poudere not I wherof that it was I-mad othir of chalk othir of glas Or sumwhat ell / was nat worth a flye To blynde with this prest & bad hym hye The colis for to couche al a-boue The croslet for in tokenynge I the loue Quod the chanoun thynne owene handis two Schul werche alle thynge whiche that schal here be do Graunt mercy quod the prest & was ful glad And couchede cole as that the chanoun bad And whil he besi was this fendeli wreche This false chanoun the foule fend hym feche Out of his bosum tok a bechene cole In which ful subtily was mad an hole And there in was put of siluyr lymayle An ounce & stoppid was with-outyn fayle This hole with wex to putte the lymayl in And vndyr-stondith that this false gyn Was not mad there but it was mad byfore And othere thyngis that I schal telle more Here aftyrward which that he with hym broughte Er he cam ther hym to begile he thoughte And so he dede er than they wente a twynne Til he hadde ternede hym coude he not blynne It dullede me whan I of hym speke On his falsehed fayn wolde I be wreke Ȝif I wiste how but he is her & ther He is so varyaunt he abit nower But takyth hed seris now for godis lowe He tok his cole of which I spak a-boue And in his hand he bar it pryuyly And whilis the prest couchede besili[first pryuyly] The colis as I tolde ȝow er this This chanoun seyde frend ȝe don a-mys This is nat couched as it oughte be But sone I schal amendyn it quod he Now lat me medle therewith but a while ffor of ȝow haue I pete be seynt gyle ȝe been rygh hot I se wel how ȝe swete Haue here a cloth & wipe awoy the weete And whilis that the prest wipede his face This chanoun tok his cole with sory grace And leyde a-boue vp on the mydward Of the croslet & blew wel aftyrward Til that the colys begynne faste brenne Now ȝeue vs drynke quod the Chanoun thānne As swythe al schal be wel I vndirtake Sitte we doun & lat vs merye make And whan that this chanonys bechene cole Was brent al the lemayle out of the hole In-to the croslet fyl a-non a-doun And so it muste nedis be resoun Syn it so euene a-boue couchede was But therofne wyste the prest allas He demede alle the colis lyche goode ffor of the sleyghte he nothyng vndyrstode And whan this alcamystre saw his tyme Rise vp quod he sere prest & stand by me And for I wot weel Ingot haue ȝe non Goth walkyth forth & bryngeth a chalk ston ffor I wele make it of the same schap That is an Ingot / ȝif I may han hap And brynge ek with ȝow a bolle or a panne fful of watyr & ȝe schul wel se thanne How that oure besynesse schal thryue & preue And ȝit for ȝe schal han non mys-beleue Ne wrong conceite of me in ȝoure absence I wele not ben out of ȝoure presence But gon with ȝow & come with ȝow a-geyn The chambere dore schortly for to seyn They openede & schette & wente here weye And forth with hem they caryedyn the keye And come ageyn with-outyn ony delay What schulde I taryen al the longe day He tok the chalk & schop it in the wise Of an Ingot as I schal ȝow deuyse I seye he tok out of his owene sleue A teyne of syluyr euele mote he cheue Whiche that ne was but an ounce of weighte And taketh hed now of his owene sleighte He schop his Ingot in lenthe & in breede Of this teigne with-outyn ony drede So slyly that the prest it nat espide And in his sleue a-non he gan it hide And from the fuyr he tok vp his mater And in the Ingot put it with merye cheer And in the watyr vessel he it caste Whan that hym leste & bad the prest as faste Loke what there is put in thyn hand & grope Thow fynde schalt there syluyr as I hope What deuyl of helle schulde it ellis be Schauynge of syluyr syluyr is parde // He put his hand in & tok vp a teyne Of silluyr fyn & glad in euery veyne Was this prest whan he seyg[h] that it was so Goddis blyssyngis & hise moderis also And alle halwis haue the sere chanoun Seyde the prest & I here malysoun But & ȝe vouchen saf to techyn it me This nobelle craft & this sotylete I wele been ȝoure in al that euere I may // Quod the chanoun ȝit wele I make asay The secunde tyme that ȝe may takyn hede And been expert of this / & in ȝoure nede A-nothir day assay in myn absence This disciplyne & this crafty science Let take a-nothir vnce quod he tho Of quyk siluyr with-outyn wordis mo An[d] do therwith as ȝe han don er this Whith that othyr which that now syluyr is // The prest hym besyed in al that euere he can To doon as this Chanoun this cursede man Comaundede hym & faste blew the fyr ffor to come theffect of his desyr And this chanoun rygh in the meene while Al redy was this prest eft to begyle And for a cuntenaunce in his hand he bar An holmene stikke / taak keepe & be war In the ende of which an ounce & nomore[first namare] Of silvir lemail put was as byfore Was in his cole / & stoppid with wex weel ffor to kepe in his lymayl euerydel And whil the prest was in his besynesse This chanoun with his stikke gan hym dresse To hym a-non & his poudere caste in As he dede er [t first d]the deuyl out of his skyn Hym turne I preye to god for his falsehede ffor he was euere fals in thought & dede And with this stikke a-boue the Croslet That was ordeynyd with that false Iet He styre[ty altered] the colis til relente gan The wex a-ȝen the fer as euery man But it a fol be wot wel it mot neede And al that in the stikke was out ȝede And in the croslet hastyliche it fel // Now goode sere what wele ȝe bet than weel Whan that this prest was begiled ageyn Supposynge nought but trouthe sothe to seyn He was so glad that I can not expresse In no manere his trouthe & his gladnesse And to the Chanoun he proferede eft sone Body & good ȝe quod the Chanoun sone Thow pore I [b altered]be crafty thow schat me fynde I warne the ȝit is there more be-hynde. . Is there 2ony copyr / herinne seyde he2[2_2 in the cor|rector's hand] ȝa quod the prest / sere I trowe wel there be Ellis go beye vs sum & that aswythe Now goode sere go thyn wey an hithe He wente his wey & with this coper cam And this chanoun it in his handis nam And of that copar weyed vp but an ounce Al to symple is myn tunge to pronounce As mynystre of myn wit the doubilnesse Of this Chanoun rote of alle cursedenesse He semede frendely to hem that knewyn hym not But he was feenly bothe in werk & thouȝt It deryeth me to telle of his falsenesse And neuer the les ȝit wele I it expresse To the entent that men may be war therby And for non othir cause trewely // He putte his Ounce of copir in the croslet And on the fer aswythe he hath it set And cast in poudyr & made the prest to blowe And in his werkyng for to stoupe lowe As he dede er & al was but a Iape Rygh as hym lyste the prest he made And aftyrward in the Ingot it caste And in the panne put it as the laste Of watyr / & in he putte his owene hand And in his sleue as ȝe be-forynhand Herde me telle he hadde a syluyr teyne He slyly tok it out this cursede heyne Vnwetynge this prest of this false craft And in the pannys boteme he hath it laft And in the watyr roumbelynge to & fro And wondyr pryuyly tok vp also The copyr teyne nought knowynge this prest And hedde it & hym hente by the brest And to hym spak & thus seyde in his game [s later]sToupith a-doun by god ȝe be to blame Helpith me now as I dede ȝow whil er Put in ȝoure Hand & lokyth what is ther This prest tok vp the syluyr teyn a-non Thanne seyde the chanoun lat hym gon With these thre teynys 2which thatwe han wrought2[2_2 corr.] To sum gold smyth & loke ȝif they been ouȝt ffor be myn feyth I nolde for myn hood But ȝif there were siluyr fyn & good And that aswithe preuyd schal 2it be2[2_2 corr.] // // Vn-to the goldsmyth with these teynys thre They wente & putte these teynys in asay To fier & hamyr ne myghte no man sey nay But that they were as hem oghte bee // This sottede prest ho was gladdere than he Was neuere brid gladdere a-ȝen the day Ne nyghtyngale in the sesoun of may Was neuere non that leste bet to synge Ne lady lustiere in carolynge Or for to speke of loue & womanhede Ne knyght in armys to don an hardy dede To standyn in grace of his lady dere Than hadde this prest this sory craft to lere And to the Chanoun thus he spak & seide ffor loue of god that for vs alle deyede And as I may deserue it vn-to ȝow What schal this resceyt coste tellith me now // By oure lord quod this Chanoun it is dere I warne ȝow wel / for saue I & a frere In [I first i] Ingelond there can no man it make No fors quod he now sere for godys sake What schal I paye tellith me I preye I-wis quod he it is wol deere I seye Sire at on word ȝif that ȝow leste it haue Ȝe schul paye fourty pound so god me saue And nere the frenchepe that ȝe dede er this To me ȝe schuldyn paye more I-wis This prest the summe of fourty pound anon Of noblis fette & tok hem euerichon To this Chanun for this ilke resseit Al his werkyng was but fraude & disseid Sire prest quod he / I kepe to han no loos Of myn craft for I wolde it kept weere clos And as ȝe loue me kepith it secre ffor and men knewyn al myn subtilete By god they woldyn haue so gret enuye To me by cause of myn philosophie I schulde been deed there were non othir weye God it for-bede quod the prest what seyȝe ȝit hadde I leuere to spendyn al myn good Whiche that I haue & ellis wexe I wood Than that ȝe schuldyn fallyn in swich myschef ffor ȝoure goode wil sere haue ȝe rygh good pref Quod the chanoun & farewel graunt mercy He wente his wey & neuere the prest hym sey Aftyr that day & whan the prest schulde Makyn assay at swych tyme as he wolde Of this resseit farewel it wolde not be Lo thus be-Iapid & begiled was he Thus made he his introductioun To brynge folk to distruccioun // Considerith seris / how that in eche estat By-twixe men & gold there is debat So fer forth that onethis is there non This multiplyinge thus blent manyon That in good fey I trowe that it be The cause grettest of swich skarsete Philisopheris spekyn so mystily In this craft that men may not come therby ffor ony with that men han now on dayis They mowe weel cheteryn as don Iayis And in here termys sette here lust & peyne But to here purpos schul they neuere atteyne A man may lightely lerne ȝif he haue ought To multyplye & turne his good to noght Lo swich a lukere is in this lusty game A manys murthe it wolde turne in-to grame And emptyn grete & heuy pursis And makyn folk for to purchase cursis Of hem that han here good there-to I-lent O fy for schame they that han been brent Allas can they nat flen the feris hete ȝe that it vse I rede ȝe it lete Lest ȝe lese al / for bet than neuere is late Neuere to thryue were to longe a date Thow ȝe prolle ay ȝe schul it neuere fynde ȝe been as bold as is bayard the blynde That blunderith forth & peril castyth non He is as bold to renne ageyn a ston As for to gon besydis in the weye So fare ȝe that multyplie I seye ȝ[i]f that ȝoure eye can not seen a ryght Loke that ȝoure mynde lakke not ȝoure sight ffor thow ȝe loke neuere so broode & stare ȝe schul no thyng wynne on that chaffare But waste al that ȝe may rape & renne With-drawe the fuyr lest it to faste brenne Medelyth no more with that art I meene ffor ȝif ȝe don ȝoure thrift is goon ful cleene And rygh aswithe I wele ȝow tellyn heere What that ȝe philisopheris seyn in this mateere // Lo thus seyth arnold of the newe toun As his rosarie makyth mencyoun He seyth riȝt thus with-outyn ony lye Theere may no man Mercurye mortifye But ȝif it be with his brotheris knowelechyng How that he / which that fyrst seyde this thing Of philosopheris fadir was / hermes He sey how that he dragoun douteles Ne deyeth nat but ȝif that he be slayn With his brothir & that is for to sayn By dragoun mercurye & non othir He vndyr-stod & brymston by his brothyr That out of sol & luna weere I-drawe And therfore tak heed / seyde he to myn sawe Lat no man besye this art for to seche But ȝif that he thentencioun & speche Of philisopheris vndyrstonde can An[d] ȝif he do he is a lowede man ffor this science & this cunnynge quod he Is of the secre of the secretis parde // Also there was a disciple of plato That on a tyme he seyde his maystir to As his bok Senyor wele bere witnesse And this was his demaunde in sothfastnesse Teelle me the name of the pryue stoon And plato answerde vn-to hym a-noon Take the ston that Titanos men name Whiche is that quod he Magnasia is the same Seyde plato ȝa syre & is it thus This is ignotum per ignocius What is magnacia goode sere I ȝow preye // It is a watyr that is mad I seye Of elementis foure quod Plato Telle me the rooche goode sire quod he tho Of that watyr ȝif that it be ȝoure wil Nay nay quod plato serteyn that I nyl // The philisopheris sworn were euerichon That they schulde discouere it on to non Nor in the bok it write in no manere ffor on to cryst it is so lef & deere That he wele not that it discouered be But wheere it likyth to his deitee Men for to enspire & ek for to defende Whom that hym likith lo this is the ende Thanne conclude[lu first hi] I thus syn that god of heuene Ne wele not that the philisopheris neuene How that a man schal come vn-to this stoon I rede as for the beste lat it gon ffor ho so makyth good his aduersarye As for to werkyn ony thyng In contrarye Of his wil sertis neuere schal he thryue Thow that he multyplie terme of lyue And there a poynt for endit is myn tale God sende euery trewe man bote of his bale Here is endit the chanounnys manys tale[Slight break in the MS.] GROUP H. FRAGMENT IX. § 1. THE MANCIPLE'S HEAD-LINK. CAMBRIDGE MS. Heryth the merye wordys of the Host to the cok of Lundene.[Gap of two lines in the MS.] WOte ȝe not where there stant a lityl toun Which[word scratcht out] that I-clepid is Bobbe vp & doun Vndyr the ble in Cauntyrbury weye Theere gan oure ost for to Iape & pleye And seyde seris what doun is in the myre Is there no man for preyere ne for hire That wole a-wake oure felawe here be-hynde A thef myghte ful lightely hym robbe & bynde Se how he nappith so how for[word scratcht out] Cokkis bonys That he wele falle from his hors at onys Is that a cok of lundene with myschaunce Do hym come forth he knowith his penaunce ffor he schal telle a tale be myn fey Al thow it be not worth a botel hey[otel hey, later?] A-wake thow cok quod he god ȝeue the sorwe What eylith the to slepe by the morwe Hast thow had flen al nyght or art thow dronke Or hast thow with sum quene al nyght I-swonkyn So that thow mayst nat holdyn vp thyn hed This cok that was ful pale & no thing red Seyde to oure hoost so god me blysse As there is fallyn on me swich heuynesse Not I not why that me were leuere slepe Than the beste galoun wyn in chepe // Wel quod the Maunciple ȝif it may doon ese To the sere Cook & to no whight displese Whiche that here rydyth in this cumpaynye And that oure host wele of his curteysye I wele as now excuse the of thyn tale ffor in good fey thyn visage is ful pale Thynne eyne daswe ek as that me thynkith And weel I wot thyn breth ful soure stynkith That schewith weel thow art nat weel disposed Of me certeyn thow schalt nat been I-glosed Se how he ganyth lo this dronkene wight As thow he wolde swelwe vs a-noon right Hold clos thyn mouth man by thyn fadyr kyn The deuyl of helle set his foot ther in Thyn cursede breth wele enfecte vs alle ffy stynkynge swyn fy foule mote the be-falle A takyth hede seris of this lusty man Now swete seris wole ȝe Iuste at the fan There-to me thynkyth ȝe been weel I-schape I trowe that ȝe dronkyn han wyn ape And that is whan men pleyen with a straw And with his speche the Cook wex wroth & wraw And on the Manciple he gan nodde faste ffor lak of speche & doun the hors hym caste Wheere as he lay tyl that the hym vp tok This was a fayr chiuache of a cook Allas ne hadde holde hym bi his ladil And er that he ageyn were in his sadil Theere was greet schowyng / bothe two & fro To lyfte hym vp & meche care & wo So vnwery was this sorye pallede gost And to the mauncyple thanne spak oure hoost By-cause drynk hat dominacioun Vp-on this man by myn saluacioun I trowe lewedely he wolde telle his tale ffor were it wyn or old / or moysti ale That he hath dronkyn he spekyth in his nose And sneseth faste & ek he hath the pose He hath also to don moore than I-nogh To kepe hym & his capil out of the slow And If he falle from his capil eft sone Thanne schal we alle han I-nogh to done To liftyn vp his heuy dronkene cors Telle on thyn tale of hym make I no fors // But ȝit Manciple In feyth thow art to nyce Thus opynly repreue hym of his vyce Anothir day he wele parauenture Reclayme the & brynge the to loure I mene he speke wele of smale thyngis As for to pynche at thynne rekenyngis That were nat onest ȝif that it come to pref // No quod the Manciple that were a greet myschef So myght he lyghtely brynge me in the snare Ȝit hadde I leuere payen for the mare Whiche he rit on than he schulde with me stryue I wele nat wrathe hym also mote I thyrue That that I spak I seyde but in borde And wete ȝe weel I haue heere in a gorde A draght of wyn ȝa of a ripe grape And right a-noon ȝe schul seen a good Iape This cok schal drenke therof If I may Vp peyne of deth he wele nat sey me nay And certeynly to tellyn as it was Of this vessel this Cook drank faste allas What nedith hym he drank I-now by-forn And whan he hadde poupid in this horn To the manciple he tok the gorde a-geyn And of that drenk the Cook was wondyr fayn And thankede hym in swich wyse as he coude Thanne gan oure hoost to laghe wondyr loude And seyde I se weel it is necessarie Wheere that we goon / we good drynk 1with vs carie1[1_1 corrected] ffor that wele turne rancour & disese. To a-cord & loue & manye a wrong appese. O Bacus I-blyssede 1be thyn name.1[1_1 corrected] That so canst turne ernest in-to game. Worchipe & thank be to thyn deite. Of that matiere ȝe gete namore of me. Telle on thyn tale manciple I the preye. Weel sere quod he herkenyth what I schal seye.[The remainder of the page is blank.] Here begynneth the Manci ple hys tale[Painting of the Manciple on horseback.] WHan phebus dwellede heere in this erthe adoun As olde bokys makyn mencioun He was the moste lusti bacheleere In al this world & ek the beste archere He slow Phitoun the serpent as he lay Slepynge a-geyn the sunne vp-on a day And manye a nothir[t altered] noble worthi dede He with his bowe[w first b] wroughte as ȝe may rede[rede first bere] Pleeyen he coude on euery menstrelsye And syngyn that it was a melodye To heryn of his cleere voys the soun Sertis the kyng of thebes Amphioun That with his syngyng wallede that cete Koude neuere syngyn half so wel as he Therto he was the semylyeste man That is or was sithe that the world be-gan What nedith it hise feturis to discryue ffor in this world was non so fayr on lyue He was therwith fulfyld of gentylesse Of honour & of parfyt worthynesse. // This phebus that was flour of bachillerie As wel in fredom as in chyualrye ffor his disport in signe ek of victorye Of phitoun so as tellyth vs the storye Was wont to beryn in his hand a bowe // Now hadde this phebus in his ohous a C altered Crowe Whiche in a cage he fosterede manye a day And taughte it speke as men teche a Iay Whit was this crowe as is a snow whit swan And countyrfetid the speche of euery man He coude whan he schulde telle a tale Therwith in al this world non nyghtynghale Ne coude by an hunderede thousent deel Syngyn so wondir meryely & weel // Now hadde this phebus in his hous a wyf Whiche that he louede moore than his lyf And nyght & day dede euere his diligence Hire for to pleese & don hire reuerence Saue only the sothe that I schal sayn Ialus he was & wolde haue kep here fayn ffor hym were loth byiapid for to bee And so is euery wight in swich degre But al in ydyl for it auaylyth noght A good wif that is slene in werk & thought Schulde not been kept in noon a-wayt certeyn And trewely the labour is in veyn To kepe a schrewe for it wele nat bee This holde I for a verray vanytee To spille labour for to kepe wivis Thus wrytyn olde clerkis in here lyuys But now to purpos as I ferst be-gan This worthi phebus doth al that he can To plesyn here / wenynge that sweche plesaunce And for his manhede & hise gouernaunce That no man schulde haue put hire from hire grace But god it wot there may no man enbrace As to discryue a thyng / whiche that nature Hath naturelly set in a cryature // Take any thyng & put it in a cage And do al thyn entent & thyn corage To fostere it tenderely with mete & drynk Of alle deynteis that thow canst be-thynk And keepe it also clenly as thow may Al thow his cage of gold be neuere so gay ȝit hath this bryd be twenty thousend fold Leuere in a forest that is· rude & cold Gon ete wermys & sweche wrechedenesse ffor euere this bryd wele doon his busynesse To escapyn out of his cage ȝif he may His lyberte this brid desiryth ay // Lat take a Cat & fostere hym weel with mylk And tendere flesch & make his couche of silk And lat hym seen a mous goon by the wal A-non he weyvith Milk & flesch & al And eueri deynte that is in that hous Swich apetit hath he / to ete a mous Loo heere hat lust his dominacioun And apetit flemyth discrecioun // A sche wolf hath also a dyuers kynde The lewedeste wolf that sche may fynde Or lest of reputacioun that wele sche take In tyme whanne hire lust to han a make // Alle these ensaumplis speke I by these men That been ontrewe & no thyng by wemen ffor men han euere a lykerous apetit On lowere thyng to parfornyn here delyt[delyt corrected] Than on here wyuys ben they neuere so fayre Ne neuere so trewe ne neuere so debonayre fflesch is so newefangil with myschaunce That we ne cunne in nothyng han plesaunce That sounyth in-to wertew ony whyle This phebus which that thoughte on no gyle Disceyuede was for al his Iolyte ffor vndyr hym a-nothir hadde sche A man of litil reputacioun Not worth to phebus in comparisoun The more harm is it ofte happith so Of whiche there comyth meche harm & wo And so be-fel that phebus was absent His wif a-non hath forth his leman sent Hire leman Certis this is a knauych speche ffor[r first ȝ]-ȝeuyth it me & that I ȝow be-seche The wyse plato seyth as ȝe may reede The word mote nede a-corde with the dede ȝif men schal telle propirly a thyng The word mot Cosyn be to the werkyng I am a boystoūs man ryght thus seye I Theere is no differens trewely Be-twixe a wyf that is of high degre Ȝif of hire body disonest sche be [And a pouer/ wenche othir/ than this/. If/ it so be thei wirke bothe a mys/.] But that the gentile in hire stat a-boue Sche schal be clepid his lady as in loue And for that othir is a pore woman Sche schal be clepid his wenche or his lemman And god it wot myn owene deere brothir Men leyn that on as as lowe / as lyth that othir // Righ so by-twixe a titeleles tyraunt And an outlawe or a thef [er corrected]erraunt The same I seye there is no difference To alysaundere was told this sentence That for the tyraunt is of grettere myght By force of meyne for to slen doun ryght And brennyn hous & hom & make al pleyn Lo therfore is he clepid a capitayn // And for the outlawe hat but smal meyne And may not doon so gret an harm as he Ne brynge a cuntre to so greet myschif Men clepe hym an outlawe or a thef But for I am a man not textuel I wele not telle of textys neuere a del · I wele go to myn tale as I be-gan Whan Phebus wif hath sent for hire leman Anon they wroughtyn al here lust volage The white Crowe that heng ay in the cage Beheld here werk & seyde neuere a word And whan that hom was come Phebus the lord This Crowe song Cokhow cokhow cokhow[w first we] // What brid quod Phebus what song syngist thow Ne were thow wone so meryely to synge That to myn herte it was a reioysynge To here thyn voys allas what Ioye is this By god quod he I synge nat a-mys Phebus quod he for al thyn worthynes ffor al thyn beute & thyn gentiles ffor al thyn song & thyn menstralsye ffor al thyn waytyng blered is thyn eye With on of lytyl reputacioun Nogh[t] worth to the in computacioun The mountenaunce of a gnatte so mot I thryue ffor on thyn bed thyn wif I saw hym swyue What wele ȝe more the crowe a-non hym tollde By sadde tokenys & bi wordis bolde How that his wif hadde doon hire lecherye Hym to gret schame & to greet vilenye And tolde hym oftyn he saw it with hise yen // This Phebus gan a-woyward for to wryen And thoute his sorweful herte brast a-to His bowe he bente & sette therin a flo And in his yre his wif thanne hath he slayn This is theffect there is no more to seyn ffor sorwe of which he brak his menstrelcie Bothe harpe & lute geterne & sauterye And ek he brak hise arwis & his bowe And aftyr that thus spak he to the crowe // Traytour quod he with tunge of Scorpioun Thow hast me brought to myn confusioun Allas that I was[was corrected] wrought why nere I ded O deere wyf o gemme of lustiheed That were to me so sad / & ek so trewe Now lyst thow deed / with face pale of hewe fful gylteles that durste I swere I-wis O rakele hand to don so foule a-mys O troubele wit O yre recheles That on auysid smytist gilteles ¶ O wantrust ful of fals suspecioun Where was thyn wit & thyn discrecioun O eueri man be war of rakilnesse Ne trowe no thyng with-oute gret witnesse Smyt nat to sore er than ȝe wetyn why And beth auysed weel & sobirly Er ȝe doon ony execucioun Vp-on ȝoure yre for suspecioun Allas a thousent folk han rakil yre fully fordon & brough hem in the myre Allas for sorw I wele myn seluyn sle And to the crowe o false thef quod he I wele the quite a-non thyn false tale Thow sunge whilhom lich a Nyghtyngale Now schalt thow false thef thyn song forgon An ek thynne white federis euerichon Ne neuere in al thyn lyf ne schalt tow speke Thus schal men on a traytour been a-wreke Thow & thynne ospryng / Schul been blake Ne neuere swete noyse schul ȝe make But euere crye a-ȝen tempest & reyn In tokenynge that thour the myn wif is slayn And to the Crowe he styrte & that a-non And pullede hise white federis euerychon And made hym blak & raft hym al his song And ek his speche & out ate dore hym slong Vnto the devil whiche I hym be-take And for this cas been alle crowis blake ¶ Lordyngis by this exsaumple I ȝow preye Beth war & takyth kep what that I seye .;Ne tellyth neuere no man In ȝoure lyf How that a nothir man hath dyght his wyf He wele ȝow hatyn mortally certeyn Daun Salomon as wise clerkis seyn Techith a man to kepe his tunge weel But as I seyde I ne am not tixtuel But natheles that taughte me myn dame // Myn sone thynke on the Crowe a godis name Myn sone kep weel thyn tunge & kep thyn frend A wekede tunge is werse than a feend Myn sone from a feend men may hem blysse Myn sone god of his endeles goodnesse Wallede a tunge with teth & lippis ek ffor man schulde hym a-vise what he spek Myn sone ful ofte for to meche speche Hath manye a man been spilt as clerkis teche But for lytil speche auysely I no man schent to speke generally Myn sone thyn tunge schuldist thow restreyne At alle tymys but whan thow dost thyn peyne To speke of god in honour & preyere // The fyrste vertu sone ȝif thow wilt leere Is to restreyne & kepe weel thyn tunge Thus lernede childeryn whan that they ben ȝonge Myn sone of mekyl spekynge euele avysed There lasse spekynge hadde I-now suffised Comyth meche harm it was me told & taught In mechil speche synne wantyth naughtIn multi-loquio non de|est peccatum. Wist thow wh[e]rof rakyl tunge seruyth Right as a swerd forkyttyth & for-keruyth An arm on two myn deere sone ryght so A tunge kyttyth frendsche[pe] al atwo A Iangelere is to god abamynable Reede salomon so wys & honurable Reede Dauyth in hise psalmys rede Senekke Myn sone spek nat but with thyn heed thow bekke Dissymule as thow weere def ȝif that thow heere A Iangelere speke / of parlyous mateere The flemyng seyth & lerne it ȝif the leste That lytil Iangelyng causyth meche reste Myn sone ȝif thow no wekede word hast seyd The thar nat drede the for to been by-wreyd But he that hath mysseyd / I dare weel sen He may by no weye clepe his word a-geyn Thyng that is seid / is seyd & forth it goth Thow hym repente or be hym lef or loth He is his thral to whom that he hath sayd A tale of whiche he is now euele apayed Myn sone be war & be non autour newe Of tydyngis whedyr they been false or trewe Wheere so thow come a-mongis highe or lowe Keek weel thyn tunge & think vp-on the Crowe Here is endit the Mauncipell tale/ GROUP I. FRAGMENT X. § 1. THE BLANK-PARSON LINK. CAMBRIDGE MS.

[This is really a link between some unwritten Tale and the Parson's. It has been made into the Manciple-Parson Link (or Yeoman-Parson by the Christ-Church MS) by Chaucer's copiers, though not meant for it.]

 And here folwyn the wordys of chaucer to the hoston leaf 398, back BY that the Manciple hadde his tale I-endid The sunne from the south lyne was descendid So lowe that he ne was not to myn sight Degreis nynne & twenty as in hight Ten of the clok it was tho as I gesse ffor eleuene fote or lytil more or lesse Myn schadew was at tilke tyme as theere Of swiche feet as in myn lenthe partede weere In sexe feet equal of proporcyoun Therwit[h] the 1monys exaltacyoun1[1_1 over an erasure] I mene libra alwey gan assende As we were enterynge at a thorpis ende ffor which oure host as he was wone to gye As in this cas this Ioly cumpaynye Seyde in this wise lordyngis euerichon Now lakkith vs no talys mo than on ffulfillyd is myn sentence & myn decre I trowe that we han herd of eche deg[r]e Almost is fulfyld al myn ordenaunce I preye to god so ȝeue hym righ good chaunce That tellyth tis tale to vs lustily ¶ Sere prest quod he art tow a vicary Or art a Persoun sey soth by thyn fey Be what thow be ne breke thow nat oure pleye[leaves 399 and 400 are cut out] [ffor euery man saue thou hath tolde his/ tale/. Vn-bocle & schewe vs/ what/ is/ in thi male. ffor truly me thynketh be thi chere. Thou schuldist knyt/ vp well/ a gret/ matere. Telle vs/ a fable a-non for cockis/ bones/. This/ Person answerde all/ at/ ones. Thou getist/ fable non y-tolde for me. ffor Poule that/ writeth vn to Tymothe. Repreuyth hem that/ waifen sothfastnesse. And tellen fablis/ & suche wrecchidnesse. Whi schulde I schewen draf out/ of/ my feste. When I maie schewe whete if/ that/ me leste. ffor whiche I seie if/ that/ thou list/ to here. Moralite & vertuous/ matere. And then that/ ye wolen ȝeue me audience. I woll/ full/ feyne at/ cristes/ reuerence. Don you plesaunce leefull/ as/ I can. But trustith well/ I am a sothryn man. I can noght/ geste rom ram ruf bi lettre. Ne god woot/ rym holde I but litell/ bettre. And therfore if you list/ I woll/ noght/ glose. I woll/ you telle a merye tale in prose. To knyt/ vp all/ this/ feste & make an ende. And ihesu for his/ grace/ witt/ me sende. To schewe you the weie in this/ viage. Of/ thilke parfite glorious/ pilgrymage. That/ hight/ hierusalem celestiall/. And if/ ye vouche saf/ a-non ye schall/. Begynne vp on my tale for whiche I preie. Telle your/ a-vys/ I can no better/ seie. But/ natheles/ this/ meditacion. I put/ hit/ aye vndir/ correccion. Of/ clerkis/ for I am noght/ text/ well/. I take but/ the sentence trustith well/. Therfore I make protestacion. That/ I woll/ stonde to correccion. Vp on this/ word we han assentid sone.[Harl. 1758] ffor as/ it/ semyd it/ was/ for to done. To endyn in some vertuous/ sentence. And for to yeue hym space & audience. And bad our/ Ost/ he schulde to hym seie. That alle we to telle his/ tale we preie. Our/ Ost/ had the wordis/ for vs/ alle. Sir/ preest/ quod he now faire mote you bifalle. Seie what/ you list/ & we schulen gladly here. And with that/ word he seide in this/ manere. Tellith quod he your/ meditacioun. But/ hasteth you the sonne woll/ adoun. Beth fructuous/ & that in litell/ space. And to do well/ god sende you his/ grace. Here endith the Prolog/.]

[Harl. MS 1758, leaf 205, for Cambr. MS.]

[There are no paragraph-breaks in the MS, but Tyrwhitt's are kept in the print for convenience sake. The many curls, tags, and lines, to final e/, f/, g/, ll/, r/, s/, t/ in Harl. 1758, are not printed here.]

 [And begynneth the tale.Harl. 1758, on leaf 205

Ier. 6o. State super vias & videte & interogate de semitis antiquis que sit via bona & ambulate in ea & inuenietis refrigerium animabis vestris.

[75] Our swete lord god of heuyn þat no man woll perische, but will þat we comen alle to þe knoweliche of hym. & to the blisfull lif þat is perdurable. [76] Amonyscheth vs bi þe prophet Ieromie. þat seith in this wise. [77] ¶ Stondith vp on þe weies & seeth & axeþ of olde pathees. þat is to seyn of olde sentences whiche is þe good weie. [78] & walkiþ in þat weie & ye scholen fynde refreschyng for your soulis. & cetera. [79] ¶ Manye ben þe weies espirituels þat ledyn folk to our lord ihesu crist & to the Regne of glorie. [80] Of whiche weies ther is a full noble weie & a full couenable whiche maie noght faile to man ne to woman that thorogh synne hath mys goon fro the right weie of Hierusalem celestiall. [81] And this weie is clepid[Nota de peni|tencia. ‖] penytence. of whiche men schuldyn gladly herkyn & enquere with all his hert [82] to wite what his pen|aunce & whens it is clepid penytence. & in how mony maneres ben the accions of worchyng of penytence [83] & how manye spices ther ben of penytences & whiche thynges a-pertenyn & bi-houyn to penytence. Whiche thynges distourben penytence.

[84] Seynt Ambrose seith that penytence is the¶ What is peny|tence playnyng of man for the gilt that he hath doon. & no more to doon ony thyng for whiche hym ought to pleyne. [85] ¶ And som doctour seith. Penytence is the weyment|yng of man that sorwith for his synne & pyneth hym self for he hath mys doon. [86] Penytence with certeyn circumstaunces is very repentaunce of man that holdeþ hym self in sorow & other peyne for his giltes. [87] & for he schall be verye penytent. he schall first be-weilen the synnes that he hath doon. And stidfastly purposid in his herte to haue schrift of mouthe. & to don satisfaccion [88] & neuyr to do thyng. ffor whiche hym oughte more to be-weile or to compleyne & to con|tynue in good werkis or ellis his repentaunce maie noght a-vaile. [89] ¶ ffor as seith seynt Isidre. He is a iaper &¶ Isiderus. a gabber & no very repentaunt man that efte sone doth thyng for whiche hym ought to repent [90] wepyng & noght for to stynte to do synne may noght a-vaile. [91] ¶ But natheles men schulen hope that at euery tyme that man falleth be it neuyr so ofte that he may arise thorogh peny|tence if he haue grace. ¶ But certeynly hit is gret doute. [92] for as seith seynt Gregorie. vnnethes ariseth he out¶ Gregorius. of his synne that is charged with the charge of yuell vsage. [93] ¶ And therfore repentaunt folk that stynte for to synne & for to lete synne er that synne for-lete hym. holi|chirche holdith hem siker of her sauacion. [94] And he that synneth & verrily repentith hym in his last ende. Holi chirche yet hopith his sauacion bi the gret mercy of our lord ihesu crist for his repentaunce but take the sikerer weie. & þe more certeyn.

[95] ¶ And now sethyns I haue declarid you what thyng is penytence. Now schulen ye vndirstonde that ther¶ Tres sunt ac|ciones peni|tencie ben thre accions of penytence. [96] ¶ The first is that if a man be baptiste after that he hath1a. accion of penytence. synned. [97] seynt Austyn seith. but he be penytence¶ Augustinus. for his olde synfull lif he may not be-gynne the newe clene lif. [98] ffor certis if he be baptised with out penytence of his olde gilt. he receyueþ þe mark of baptisme. but not the grace ne the remysson of his synnes till he haue verraye repentaunce. [99] ¶ Another defaute is this that men doon deedly synne after that¶ .2. accion. thei haue receyued baptisme. [100] The þrid defaute¶ .3. accion. is that men fallen in venyall synnes aftir her baptisme. fro daie to daye. [101] Ther of seith seynt Austyn.¶ Augustinus that penytence of good & humble folk is the penytence of euery daie.

[102] ¶ The spices of penaunce ben thre; that oon¶ The spices of penytence. of hem is solempne. Another is comune. & the .3. is pryue. [103] ¶ Thilk penaunce that is so|lempne¶ of penaunce solempne. is in two maneres. as is to be put out of holy chirche in lente for slaughter of childryn & suche maner thyng. [104] ¶ Another is when a man¶ Of open penaunce. hath synned openly of whiche synne the fame is openly spoken in the contre. ¶ And then holy chirche bi Iuge|ment distreyneth hym for to do penaunce opene. [105] Som penaunce is that preestis enioynen[Harl. 1758 extract ends]] Cambr. beginmen in certeyn cas / As for to goon parauenture nakid in pilgrymage or barefot. [106] ¶ Pryue penaunce is thilke that men doon alday for certeyn synnys that been priue / of whiche we schryue vs pryuely / & receyue priue penaunce

[107] ¶ Now schalt thow vndyrstonde what is behofly & necessarie to verray perfit penytence & this stant on thre thyngis. [108] Contrycioun of herte / Con|fessioun of mouthe / & Satisfaccioun / [109] For whiche seyth seynt Iohn Crisostomus ¶ Penytence constrynyth a man to accepte benyngnely euery peyne that is enioyned hym. with contricioun of herte & schrifte of mouthe. with Satis|faccioun. And in werkynge of alle manere humylite / [110] And this is freutful penytence a-geyn .iij. thyngis. in wheche we wrethe oure lord Ihesu cryst / [111] this is to seynne / by delyt in thynkynge / by recheles-nesse in spekynge And be wikkede synful werkynge / [112] And a-geyn these wekede giltis is penytence that may be likkenyd vntil a tree

[113] ¶ The rote of this tre is contricioun / that hydith hym in the herte that is verray repentaunt / righ as the rote of a tre; hydyth hym in the erthe. [114] ¶ Of the rote of contricioun spryngith a stalke that berith braunchis & leuys of Confessioun & freut of satisfaccioun [115] ¶ for whiche Crist seyth in his gospel / Doth digne freut of penytence / for by this freut may men knowe this tree / & not by the rote that is hid in the herte of man ne bi the braunchis ne by the leuys of Confessioun. [116] And therfore oure lord Ihesu Crist seyth thus by the freut of hem; schul ȝe knowyn hem. [117] ¶ Of this roote ek spryngith a seed of grace the whiche seed; is modir of sekyrnesse / & this seed is egre & hoot / [118] the grace of this seed spryngith of god thourw re|membraunce of the day of doome / & on the peynys of helle [119] ¶ Of this mateere seyth Salomon that in drede of god / man forletyth his synne / [120] the heete of this seed is the loue of god / & desyrynge of the Ioye perdurable / [121] this heete drawith the herte of man to god / & doth hym hate his synne / [122] For sothly there is nothyng that saurith so weel to a child as the mylk of his noryce / ne no thyng is to hyre selvyn;[e selvyn; corrected] more abomynabele / . . . . .no gap in the MS. [125] for sothly the lawe of god; is the loue of god / For whiche Dauid the prophete seyth / I have lowyd thyn lawe / & hatid wekedenesse And[nd corrected] he that louyth god; kepith his lawe & his word / [126] This tre saw the prophete danyel / in spiryt vp-on the auysioun of Nabugodonosor whanne he con|seyled / hym to do penytence [127] Penaunce is the tre of lyf / to hem that it resceyuyn / And he that holdyth hym in verray penytence is blyssid aftyr the centence of Salomon /

[128] ¶ In this penitence / or contricoun / man schal vn|dyrstondyn .iiij. thyngis That is to seyne what is contricioun / & whiche been the causis that meuyn a man / to Con|tricioun / & how he schulde been contryte / & what Con|tr[i]cioun avaylyth to the Soule / [129] ¶ Thanne is it thus / that contricioun is the verray sorwe that a man resceyuyth in his herte for hise synnys with sad purpos / to schryue hym & to do penaunce & neuere moore to do synne / [130] And this sorwe schal been in this maneere / as seith seynt bernard / . It schal ben heuy & greuous / & ful scharp & poygnaunt in herte. [131] ¶ ffyrst for man hath a-gilt his lord / & his Creature / & more scharp & poynaunt for he hath . . . . .[132] . . . . .no gap in the MS. wrathid / & agilt hym that bought hym / that with his precious blod hath delyuered vs from the bond of synne / & from the crewelte of the deuyl And from the peynys of helle

[133] ¶ The causys that oughtyn to meue a man to con|trycioun; been sexe / ¶ ffyrst a man schal remembre hym of hise synnys / [134] but loke that thilke remem|braunce / be to hym no delyt / be no weye / but gret schame & sorwe for hise synnys / ffor Iob seith synful men don werkys worthy of Confescioun / [135] & therefore seith esechie ¶ I wele remembre me alle the ȝerys of myn lyf in the bittirnesse of myn herte / [136] ¶ And god seith in the apocalipse ¶ Remembre ȝow from whene ȝe been falle / for by-fore that tyme that ȝe synned; ȝe were the childeren of god / & lemys of the regne of god / [137] but for ȝoure synne ȝe been wexen thral. & foul & menbris of the deuyl / hate of aungell / Sclaundere of holy cherche And foode of the false serpent / perpetuel mater of the fer of helle [138] / & ȝit moore foul & abom|ynable for the trespa syn so ofte tyme as doth an hound / that retornyth to ete his spewynge / [139] And ȝit been ȝe more foulere; for ȝoure longe contynuynge therin / & ȝoure synful vsage / for whiche ȝe been rotyn in ȝoure synne; as beste in his dunge [140] Sweche manere of thoughtis makyn a man to haue schame of hise synnys / & no delit / As god seyth by the prophete Eȝechiel / [141] ȝe schal remembre ȝow of ȝoure weiis / And thi schul displese ȝow sothly / Synnys been the weyis that ledyn folk to helle [142]

THe secunde cause that oughte to meue a man to haue disdeyn of synne; is this / as seith seint Petyr / who so that doth synne is thral of synne / & synne puttyth a man in gret thraldam / [143] And ther|fore seyth the prophete Eȝechiel / I wente sorweful in disdeyn of myn self ¶ Certis weel ouȝte a man / haue disdayn of synne & withdrawyn hym from that thraldam & vilenye / [144] And lo what seyth Seneca / in this matere he seith thus ¶ Thow I wiste that / neythir god ne man ne schulde neuere knowe it / ȝit wolde I haue disdayn for to do synne / [145] And the same Seneca also seyth / I am born to grettere thyngis / than to ben thral to myn body . or than for to makyn of myn body a thral / [146] ne a foulere thral may no man maken of his body; than for to ȝeuyn his body to synne / [147] Al were it the fouleste cherl or the fouleste woman / that leuyth & lest of valew / ȝit is he thanne more foul & moore in seruitute / [148] euere from the heyere degre that man fallyth; the more is he thral / & the moore to god & to the world vile & abomyn|nable / [149] ¶ O goode god wel oughte man haue greet disdeyn of synne / sythe that thorw synne / there he was fre / now is he makid bonde / [150] And therfore seyth seynt Augustyn ¶ If thow haue disdayn of thyn seruaun[t] / ȝif he haue gilt or synne Haue thow thanne disdayn / that thow thyn self schuldyst doon synne / [151] take reward of thyn value / that thow ne be to foul to thyn self // [152] Also weel auȝte they thanne haue disdayn / to been seruauntys & thralles to synne & soore been aschamyd / of hem self / [153] that god of his endeles goodnesse / hat set hem in high estat or ȝeuyn hem wit strenthe / hele of body / beute prosperite / [154] & boughte hem from the deth with his herte blood that they so onkendely aȝens his gentilesse / quytyn hym so vileynly to slauthere of here owene soules. [155] O goode god / the wemen that been of greet beute. remembrith ȝow of the prouerbe of salomon / he seyth [156] & likkenyth a fayr woman þat is a fol of hire body; lik to a ryng of gold / þat were in the groyn of a sowe / [157] ffor rygh as a Sowe wrothith in eueryche ordure; so wrotith sche hire beute / in stynkynge ordure of synne [158]

THe thredde cause þat oughte to meue a man to contrycioun; is drede of the day of dome & of the horrible peynys of helle / [159] ffor as seynt Ierom seith At euery tyme that me remembrith of the day of dome; I quake. [160] for whan I ete or drynke or what so euere I do / euere semyth me that the trumpe sounyth in myn ere. [161] Ryseth ȝe vp that been dede & comyth to the Iugement. [162] O goode god meche ouȝte a man to drede / swich a Iugement/ there as we schul been alle as seynt poule seyth by fore the cete of oure lord Ihesu Cryst / [163] where as he schal makyn a general con|gregacioun / where as no man may Been absent / [164] for certis there auaylith non essoyne ne excusacioun / [165] And not only that oure fautis schuln ben Iugit. but that alle oure werkis schuln opynly been knowe / [166] And as seyth seynt Bernard / There ne schal no pledynge auayle ne no slyȝte / we schul ȝeue rekenynge / of euery Idele wod [167] there schul we han a Iuge / þat may not ben disseyued ne corupt / And why / ffor certis al oure thouȝtis been discryued as to hym / ne for preyer ne for mede he schan not ben corupt / [168] And therefore seyth salomon / the wrethe of god . . . . .no gap in the MS. ne wele not spare no wight / for preyere ne for ȝifte / And therfore at the day of dome / there is non hope to escape / [169] wherefore as seyth seynt Anselm ¶ Ful gret angwisch schul the synful soulis haue at that tyme [170] there schal the sterne & wrothe Iuge / sitte a-boue / & vndyr hym the horryble pit of helle / opyn to di|stroyen hem that mot beknowyn here synnys / whiche synnys opynly ben schewid by-foryn god / & beforyn euery cryature / [171] And on the left syde / mo deuyllis than herte may bethynke / For to harye & drawe / the synful soulys to the pit of helle / [172] And with|inne the hertis of folk. schal be the bytynge concience And withoute folk; schal be the world / al brennynge / [173] whedyr schal thanne the wrechede synful man fle to hidyn hym certys he may not hidyn hym / he muste come forth & schewyn hym / [174] For certis as seyth seynt Ierom / the erthe schal caste hym out of hym / & the se also / & the eyr also / that schal ben ful of thundyr clappis / & lyghtenyngis [175] ¶ Now sothly ho so wele remembre hym / of these thyngis / I gesse that his synne schal not turne hym in-to delyt / but to greet sorwe for drede of the peyne of helle / [176] And ther|fore seyth Iob to god ¶ Suffere lord that I may a while bewayle / & wepe or I go / wit oute returnynge to the derke lond / keuerred with the derrkenesse of deth / [177] to the lond of mysese & of derkenesse / where as there is the schadewe of deth / where as there is non ordere of ordynaunce / but gresely drede that euere schal laste / [178] Lo heere may ȝe seen / that Iob preyede of respit / a while /. to bewepe & wayle his trespacis / For certis on day of respit; is betere than al the trespas of this world [179] And for as meche as a man may aquyte hym self byfore god / by penytence in this world & not by tresore / therfore schulde he preye to god to ȝeue hym respit / a while to be-wepe & wayle hise synnys. [180] ffor certis alle the sorwe that a man myȝte make from the begynnynge of this world. nys but a lyte thyng at regard at the sorwe of helle [181] ¶ The cause why that Iob clepith helle the lond of derknesse [182] Vndyrstonde that he clepith it lond or erthe for it is stabeled / & neuere schal fayle /. derk; for he that is in helle schal fayle lyȝt material /. [183] for certis the derke lygh[t] that schal come out of the fyr that euere schal brenne / schal turne hem al to peyne that is in helle / for it schewith hym to the horrible deuillys / that hym turnementyn / [184] couerid with the derkenesse of deth / that is to seyyne / he that is in helle; schal haue defaute of the syȝte of god / ffor certis the sigh[t]e of god / is the lyf perdurabele / [185] The derke|nesse of deth; ben the synys that the wrechede hath don. whiche that disturbyn hym to seen the sase of god. ryght as the derke cloude / by-twixen vs & the sunne [186] ¶ Lond of mysese / by cause that there been .iij. maneris of defautis a-ȝen .iij. thyngis / that folk of this world han in this present lyf / that is to seyne. honouris. delycis. and richessis / [187] ¶ A-geyns honour haue þey in helle schame & confusyoun / [188] for wel ȝe wote that men clepyn honour the reuerence that men doth to man / but in helle is non honour ne reuerence / for certis no more reuerence schal be doon / there to a kyng; than to a knawe / [189] for wich god seith by the prophete Ieromye / Thilke folk that me dispysyn / schul been in dispit. [190] ¶ Honour is ek clepid gret lord|schepe / there schal no man seruyn othir but of harm & turnement / Honour is ek clepid gret dignetee / & hegh|nesse; but in helle schul they ben al fortrodyn with deuyllis / [191] As god seyth / the horyble deuyllys schul gon & comyn vp on the hondis / of dampnede folk And this is for as meche / as the heyere that they were in this present lyf. the more schul they been abatyd and defouled in helle / [192] ¶ A-geyns the richesse of this world schul they han myseyse / of pouerte / & that schal been in foure / [193] In defaute of tresore / of whiche that dauyth seyth. The riche folk that enbrasedyn / & onedyn al here herte / to tresore of this world / schul slepyn in the slepynge of deth And no thyng ne schal they fynde / in here handis of al here tresore / [194] ¶ And more ouyr the mysese of helle schal been in defaute of mete / & drynk / [195] for god seyth thus be Moyses / They schul been wastid / with hungyr And the bryddis of helle schul deuoure hem with bittere deth / And the galle of the Dragoun / schal been here drynk / And the venyn of the dragoun schal ben here morsellys [196] ¶ And ferthere ouyr / here mysese schal been in defaute / of clothynge / for they schul ben nakyd in body as of clotyng saue the fyre in whiche they brenne & othere feltys / [197] And nakede schul they been of soule of alle manere vertuis / whiche that is the clothynge of soule / Where ben thanne the gaye robis / & the softe schetis / & the smale schertis / [198] ¶ Lo what seyth god of hem / bi the Prophete Isaye / that vndyr hem schul be strowede mothis / An here couertouris schul been of wermys / of helle / [199] ¶ And ferthere ouyr / here mysese schal ben in defaute of frendis / for he is nat pore that hath goode frendis / but there ne is no frend / [200] for neythir god ne no cryature schal been here frend / and eueriche of hem schal hatyn othir with dedly hate / [201] the sonys & the douȝteryn schul rebellyn a-geyns fadyr & modyr / and kenrede a-geyns kenrede / And chydyn & dispysyn euerich a-geyn othir bothe day & nyght / as god seyth by the prophete Michias / [202] & the louynge childeryn that whilom louedyn / so fleschly eueryche of hem othir; woldyn euerich of hem etyn othir / ȝif they myȝte / [203] for how schulde they louyn hem to-gedere in the peyne of helle / whan they hatid euerich of hem othyr in the prosperite of this lyf /[204] for troste wel her fleschely loue was dedly hate. as seith the prophete Dauid. Who so that louyth wikkede|nesse he hatyth his soule [205] And ho so hatyth his owene soule / certis he may louyn non othir wiȝt in no manere [206] And therfore in helle is no solas / ne no frenschepe / but euere the more flesly kenredis that been in helle / the more cursedenesse / the more chyd|yngis / & the more dedly hate there is / amongis hem [207] ¶ And ferthere ouyr / they schul haue defaute of alle manere delycis / for sertis delycis been aftyr the apetitis of the fyue wittis As Sighte. Herynge. Smellynge / Sauour|inge / & touchynge / [208] but in helle here syghte schal ben ful of derknesse / & of smok & therfore ful of terys / And here Herynge ful of waymentynge / & of grochynge of teth as seyth Ihesu Crist. [209] Here nose|therlys schul be ful of stynkynge. ¶ And as seith Isaye the prophete here sauouringe schal been ful of bittere galle / [210] And touchynge of al here body / I-keuerede with fyr / that neuere schāl quenche / & wit wermys that neuere schal deyen. As god seyt by the mouth of Isaye [211] And for as meche / as they schul nat wene / that they may deye for peyne / And by here deth fle from peyne. / That may they vndyrstonde in the word of Iob that seyth. there as is the schadewe of deth / [212] Certis a schadewe hat the liknesse of the thyng of whiche it is schadewid / but shadewe is not the same thyng / of whiche it is shadewe [213] riȝt so faryth the peyne of helle / it is lyk deth for the horrible anguysch / And / why for it peynyth hem euere As thow men schulde deye a-non / but certis þey schul not deye / [214] For as seyth seynt Gregory / To wreche caityuys / schal been deth with-oute deth & ende with-outyn ende / & defaute with-oute faylynge / [215] for here deth schal alwey lyuyn / & here ende schal euere more begynne / And here defaute schal nat fayle / [216] And therfore seyth seynt Iohn the Euaungelist // They schul folwe deth And they schul not fyndyn hym / And þey schul desyre to deye & deth schal fle from hem / [217] And ek Iob seyth there is non ordere of rewele / [218] And al be it so that god hath creat/ alle thyngis in ryȝt ordere & no thyng with|outyn ordere / but alle thynge been ordeyned / & noum|bered but ȝit natheles / þey that been dampned / ben no thyng in ordere / ne holdyn non ordere / [219] for the erthe ne schal bere hem no freut / [220] For as the prophete Dauid seith god schal distroye the freut of the erthe as fro hem ne the watyr schal ȝeue hem no moysture / ne the ayr no refreschynge / ne fer no lyght [221] ffor as seith seynt Basilie / the brennynge of the fuyr of this world / schal god ȝeuyn in helle to hem that been dampnyd / [222] but the lyȝt & the clernesse schal be ȝeuyn in heuene / to hise childeryn / righ as the goode men ȝeuyn flesch to here childeryn / & bonys to here houndis / [223] And for they schul haue non hope to escape / seyth seynt Iob at the laste. there schal horrour And gresely drede dwelle / with-outyn ende [224] ¶ Horrour is al wey drede of harm / that is to come / And þis drede schal euere dwelle / in the hertis of hem that been dampned / & therfore han they lore al here hope for .vij causis / [225] ¶ fferst for god that seyth / here Iuge schal ben with-oute mercy to hem / & they may not plesyn hym / ne none of hise halwis / ne they ne may ȝeue no thyng for here raunsum / [226] ne they schul [Cambr. leaf405 is cut out; sup|plied from Harl. MS. 1758, on leaf 208, backhaue no vois to speke to hym. Ne thei may noght fle fro peyne. Ne thei haue no goodnes in hem that thei may schewe to delyuer hem fro peyne. [227] ¶ And therfore seith Salamon. The wicked man¶ Salamon. dyeth & when he is deed he schall haue non hope to escape fro peyne. [228] Who so aschamed is well wolde vn|dirstonde these peynes & bi-thynke hym well that he hath deseruyd thilk peynes for his synnes. Certis he schulde haue more talent to sike & to wepe; then for to syngen & to pleie. [229] ¶ ffor as seith Salamon¶ Salamon. who so that hadde the science for to knowe the peynes that ben establisched & ordeyned for synne he wolde make sorow. [230] Thilke science as seith seynt Austyn¶ Augustinus. maketh a man to weymentyn in his herte.

[231] ¶ The fourþe poynt that ought make a man.4. causa. haue contricion is the sorowfull remembraunce of the gode that he hath lost to don here in erthe & eke the gode that he hath lorn. [232] ¶ Sothly the gode werkis that he hath loste. either thei ben the gode werkis that he wroght er .he fell in to deedly synne. Or ellis the gode werkis that he wroght while he laye in synne. [233] ¶ Sothly the gode werkis that he dide bi-forn that he fell in synne ben alle mortefied & astonyed & dullid bi the ofte synnyng. [234] ¶ That other gode werkis that he wroght whiles he laye in synne thei ben outerly deed as to the lif perdurable in heuyn. [235] then thilke gode werkis that ben mortified by ofte synnyng whiche gode werkis he did whiles he was in charite. ne mowen neuyr quyken a-yen with-outyn verrye penytence. [236] ¶ And þer-of seith god bi the mouthe of Ezechiell þat is the rightfull man re|turne¶ Ezechielle. a-yen from his rightwisnes & to werke wicked|nes schall he lyue [237] nay . for alle the gode werkis that he haþ wroȝt ne schulen neuyr be in remembraunce for he schall dye in his synne. [238] And vp on thilke Chapitre seth seynt Gregorye thus. þat we schulde vndir|stonden¶ Gregorius this pryncipally. [239] That when we doon deedly synne. hit is for noght than to reherce or drawe in to memorie the gode werkis that we han wroght bi-forne. [240] ffor certis in the werkyng of deedly synne ther is no triste to no good werke þat we han doon to-forn. that is to seyne as for to haue ther-by the lif per|durable in heuyn [241] . . . . .no gap in the MS. whan we han contricion. [242] ¶ But sothly the gode werkis that men doon whiles that thei ben in deedly synne. for as meche as thei weryn doon in deedly synne thei may neuyr quyken a-yen. [243] ¶ ffor certis thyng that neuyr had lif may neuyr quyken. ¶ And natheles all be hit that thei ne a-vaile noght to han the lif perdurable. yet a-vailen thei to a-breggen of the peyne of helle or ellis to getyn temperall richesse. [244] Or ellis that god woll the rather enlumyn & lightne the herte of the synfull man to han repentaunce [245] & eke thei a-vailen for to vsen a man to doon good werke that the fende haue the lasse power of his soule. [246] ¶ And thus the curteis lord ihesu crist ne woll that no good werke be loste. for in som what it schall a-vaile. [247] but for as meche [as] the gode werkis that men doon whiles thei ben in good lif ben alle mortefied be synne folwyng ¶ And eke sethyns alle the gode werkis that men doon whiles thei ben in dedly synne ben outerly deede as for to haue the lif perdurable. [248] Well may that man that no gode werke ne doth. syng thilke fresche song. Iay tout perdu moun temps & moun labor. [249] ¶ ffor certis synne bireuyth a mannys goodnesse & nature & eke the goodnesse of grace. [250] ¶ fforsothe the grace of the holy gost fareth as fyre that may noght ben ydell. for fire faileth a-non as hit for-lesith his wirch|yng . . . . .no gap in the MS. [251] then lesith the synfull man the goodnes of glorie. That only is be-hight to good men that labouren & werken [252] well may he be sorye then. that owith all his lif to god as long as he lyueth hath lyved & eke as long as he schall lyue that no goodnes ne hath to paie with his dette[Harl. extract ends.]] to god / to whom he owith al his lyf. [253] for truste wel he schal ȝeue a-countys as seyth seynt Bernard. of alle the godis that han be ȝeuyn hym in this present lyf and how he hath hem dispendit [254] not so meche that here 4schal not periche & here of is heed4[4_4 Rubd out, but still visible.] ne a moment of an oure / ne schal not perissche that he schal ȝeue of it a rekenynge. [255]

THe fyfte thyng that oughte to meue a man to Va Contrycioun is remembraunce of the passioun that oure lord Ihesu crist sufferede for oure synys / [256] ffor as seyth sey[n]t Bernard / whil that I leue I schal han remem|braunce / of the trauaylis / that oure lord crist sufferede in prechynge [257] his werynesse in trauaylynge / hise tempt|aciounys whan he fastide / Hise longe wakynge whan he preyede / Hise teris whan that he wepte for pete of good peple [258] ¶ the wo & the schame / & the filthe that men seydyn to hym / of the foule spittynge that men spittyn in his face / of the buffetys that men ȝeue hym / of the foule mowis that men ȝeue hym / & of the foule re|preuys that men to hym sede / [259] of the naylys with the whiche he was nayled to the cros / and of al the remenaunt of his passioun / that he sufferede for myne synnys & no thyng for hyse gilt / [260] ¶ And ȝe schul vndyr|stonde / than in manys synne / is euery manere ordere / or ordenaunce turned / vp so doun / [261] for it is soth that god & resoun / & sensualytee / & the body of man been ordeyned that euerych of these foure thyngis schulde haue lor[d]schepe ouer that othir [262] As thus / god schulde haue lordschepe ouer resoun / & resoun ouyr sensualite / & sensualite ouyr the body of man [263] ¶ But sothly whan man synnyth / Al this ordere & ordenaunce is turned vpsodoun / [264] And therfore thanne for as meche / as the resoun of man ne wele nouȝt been subiect ne obeysaunt to god that is his lord by ryȝt there|fore leseth it the lo[r]dschepe that it schulde haue ouyr sensualite / & ek ouer the body of man / [265] And why for sensualite rebellyth / thanne a-geyns resoun And by that weye leseth resoun the lordschepe / ouer sensualite / & ouyr the body. [266] for ryȝt as resoun is rebel to god / rygh so is sensualite / rebel to resoun and the body also / [267] And certis this disordenaunce & this rebellioun oure lo[r]d Ihesu crist abouȝte vp-on his precious body / Ful deere And herkenyth in which wise /. [268] for as meche / thanne as resoun is rebel to god / ther|fore is man worthi to han sorwe / & to be ded / [269] This sufferede oure lord Ihesu cryst for man Aftyr that he hadde be betrayed of his disciple And distreyned / and boundyn so that his blod brast out at euery nayl / of hise handis as seyth seynt Augustyn [270] ¶ And ferthere ouyr for as meche as resoun of man wele / not doute sensu|alite whan it may therfore is man worthy / to haue schame. And this sufferede oure lord Ihesu cryst for man whan they spitte in his visage [271] ¶ And ferthere ouyr / for as meche as the caytyf body of man is rebel bote to resoun / & to sensualite / therfore is it worthy the deth / [272] And this sufferede oure lord Ihesu Crist vp-on the cros / where as was no part of his body fre / with-oute gret pyne / & bittyr passioun / [273] And al this sufferede Ihesu crist that neuere forfetid // And therfore resonabely may be seyd of Ihesu in this manere ¶ To meche am I pynyd for the thyngis that I neuere deseruyd / And to meche defouled / for schenschepe that man is worthy to haue / [274] And ther|fore may the synful man / weel seye / as seyth seynt Bernard / acused be the bittyrnesse of myn synne / for whiche there muste been suffered so meche bittyrnesse / [275] ffor certis aftyr the dyuerce discordaunce / of oure wekedenesse; was the pascioun of Ihesu cryst ordeyned / in dyuerse thyngis/ [276] ¶ As thus /. Certis synful manys soule; is betraysed of the deuyl be coueytyse of temperel prosperite / & skornyd be disseid whan that he cheseth fleschely delycis / And ȝit is it turmentid by inpacience / of aduersite & bespit be seruage & subieccioun of synne / & at the laste it is slayn fynally / [277] for þis disordenaunce of synful man; was Ihesu crist fyrst betrayed / and aftyr that was he bounde that cam for to onbynde us of synne & of pyne [278] ¶ Thanne was he bescorned / that only schulde a ben honoured / in alle thyngis . .no gap in the MS. [279] ¶ Thanne was his visage / that ouȝte be desyred of alle mankynde / in whiche visage aungellis / desire to loke; vileynly be-spit [280] ¶ Thanne was he scorgit that no thyng hadde a-gilt / And fynally thanne was he Crucified / & slayn / [281] thanne was accompleced / the word of ysaye ¶ He was woundit for oure mysdedis / & defoulid by oure felonyes [282] ¶ Now sithe that Ihesu crist tok vp on hym self / the peyne of al oure wekkedenesse; Meche ouȝte synful man wepyn / & be-waylyn that for hise synnys; goddis sone of heuene schulde al this peyne endure [283] THe .vj..vj.a thyng that schulde meue a man to contricioun; is the hope of .iij. thyngis that is to seyne forȝeuenesse of synne / And the ȝifte of grace weel for to do And the glorie of heuene / with whiche god schal gerdounnyn man / For hise goode dedis / [284] And for as meche as Ihesu crist ȝeuyth vs these ȝiftis of hise largenesse & of his souereyn bountee. therfore is he clepid Iesus[MS. Ihc] nazarenus rex iudiorum [285] Ihesu is to seyne sauyour / or sal|uacioun on whom men schul han forȝeuenesse as they schul hope of here synnys / whichiche that is properly saluacioun of synnys [286] And therfore seyde the aungel to Ioseph // Thow schalt clepe his name Ihesus that schal saue his peple / of here synnys / [287] and here of seyth seynt petir Theere is non othir name vndir heuene that is ȝeue to ony man / by whiche a man may be sauyd / but only Ihesus. [288] Nazarenus / is as meche for to seyne as flouryschynge in whiche a man schal hope that he that ȝeuyth hym remyssioun of synnys schal ȝeue hym ek grace / weel to do ¶ ffor in the flour is hope of freut tyme comynge / And in the forȝeuenesse of synne / hope of grace weel to do [289] I was at the dore of thyn herte seyth Ihesus / & clepede for to entere / he that openyth to me schal haue forȝeuenesse / of synne / [290] I wele entere in to hym be myn grace / And soupe with hym by the goode werkis that he schal doon / whiche werkis been the fode / of which / & he schal soupe with me by the greete Ioye / that I schal ȝeue hym / [291] ¶ Thus man schal hope / for hise werkis of penaunce / that god schal ȝeue hym his regne / as he behetyth hym in his gospel

[292] NOw schal a man vndyrstonde in which manere schal ben his contricioun / ¶ I seye that it schal be vnyuersel / & total A man schal be / uerray repentaunt for alle hise synnys / that he hath doon / in delit of his theut for delit is ful parlious / [293] For there ben two maneris of consentynges / . that on of hem is / clepid consentynge of affeccioun / whan a man is moeuyd to do synne / & thanne delytith hym longe for to thynkyn on that synne / [294] & his resoun aperseyuyth it weel / that it is synne ageyns the lawe of god / and ȝit his resoun refreynyth not his foule delit / or talent. thow he se wel apertely that it is synne / & ageyns the reuerence of god. Althow his resoun ne consente not to don that synne in dede; [295] ȝit seyn some doctourys / that swich delyt that dwellith longe / it is ful parlious al be it neuere so lite / [296] And also a man schulde sorwe namely for al that he hath desyred a-geyn the lawe of god / with parfit consentyng of his resoun / for therof is no doute / that it is dedly synne / . . . . .[297] . . . . .no gap in the MS. that it is ferst in manys thouȝt / And aftyr that in his delyt & so forth in to consentynge & in to dede [298] ¶ Wherfore I feere that manye man / ne repentyn hem neuere of sweche thoughtys & delycys / ne neuere schryuyn hem of it / but only of the dede of greete synnys outward / [299] wherfore I seye that sweche wekede thouȝtis & wekkede delitis / been subtyle begilouris of hem that schul been dampned / [300] Moore ouer a man ouȝte to sorwe / for hese wekede wordys / as wel as hise wikkede dedis / For certis the repentaunce of a sengeler synne & not repentaunt for alle hise othere synnys / or ellis repente hym of alle hise othere synnys & not of a senguleer synne may not auayle / [301] for certis god almyȝti is al good & therfore / othyr he forȝeuyth al or ellis ryȝt noght [302] And herof seyth seynt augustyn / . I wot certeynly [303] that god is enemy to euery synnere / & how thanne he that observit on synne / schal he han forȝeuenesse of the othere synnys; Nay [304] ¶ And ferthere ouyr / Contricioun schal been wondyr sorweful And an|guyssous / & therfore ȝeuyth hym god pleynly his mercy / And therfore whan myn soule was angwissous / with-inne me / I hadde remembraunce of god / that myn preyere myȝte come to hym [305] ¶ fferthere ouyr / Contricioun muste be contynewel / & that man haue stede|fast purpos to schryue hym & to amende hym of his lyf / [306] For sothly whil contricioun lastith man may euere haue hope of forȝeuenesse / & of this comyth hate of synne that distroyeth synne bothe in hym self & ek in othere folk / as his power [307] ¶ ffor whiche seyth dauyd / he that louyn god hatyn wekkedenesse / for trustith weel / for to loue god; is for to loue that he louyth / & hate that he hatith /

[308] ¶ The laste thyng that we schal vndyrstonde; is this / whereof auaylith contricioun / I seye that sumtyme Contricioun delyueret man from synne / [309] of whiche that dauid seyth / I seye quod Dauid / that is to seyn. I purpose it fermely / to schryue me / And thow lord relesedyst myn synne / [310] And rygh so as contricioun auaileth nouȝt with-oute sad purpos of schrifte / If man haue oportunyte / rygh so lite worth is schrifte or satisfaccioun with-outyn contricioun [311] ¶ And more ouer Contricioun distroyet the prysoun of helle / & makyth week & feble alle the strenthis of the deuyllis / and restorith the ȝiftys of the holy gost / & of alle goode werkys / [312] & it clenseth the soule of synne / & delyuerith the soule from the pit of helle / & from the cumpayny of the deuyl / & from the seruage of synne / & restorith it to alle godis spiritueles & to the cumpayny & communioun of holy cherche / [313] And ferthere it makith hym that whilhom was sone of yre / to be sone of grace / And alle these thyngis been prouyd by holy writ [314] ¶ And therfore he that wolde settyn his entent to teche thyngis he were ful wis // ffor sothe he schulde not thanne in al his lyf haue corage to synne / but ȝeue his body & al his herte to the seruyse of Ihesu crist / & therof don hym homage [315] For sothly oure swete lord / Ihesu Crist hath spared vs so debonerly in oure folyis / that ȝif he ne hadde pete of manys soule / a sory song we myghte alle synge /

Explicit prima pars penitencie Et sequitur / secunda pars eiusdem.

[316]

THe secunde partie of penytence is Confessioun that is signe of Contricioun / [317] Now schul ȝe vndyrstonde / what is Confessioun & whethir it oughte nedis be doon or non And whiche thyngis ben nede to verray Confessioun

[318] ¶ ffyrst schalt thu vnderstonde that Confessioun is verray schewynge of synnys to the prest / [319] this is to seyne verray; for he muste confessyn hym of alle the condiciounnys that belongyn to hese synnys / as fer forth as he can / [320] al muste be seyd / & nothyng excused / ne hid ne forwrappid / & nouȝt auaunte the of thynne goode werkys [321] ¶ And ferthere ouyr it is necessarye / to vndyr|stonde whens that synnys sprynge / And how they entere / & whiche they been

[322] ¶ Of the spryngynge of synnys / seyth seynt poul in this wyse / That ryȝt as by a man / Synne enterede ferst in to this world / And thour that synne deth / ryght so thilke deth / endtred in alle man that sennen [323] And this man was .adam. by whom synne enterede in to this world / whan he brak the comaundement of god / [324] and therfore he that fyrst was so myghty / that he ne schulde nat a deyed / becam swichon that he muste nedis deyee whedyr he wolde or non / And al his progenye in this world / that in thilke man synnedyn [325] ¶ Loke that in stat of innocence whan Adam & Eue were makid in paradys / & nothyng haddyn schame of here nakedenesse [326] how that the serpent that was most wyly of alle othere bestis / that god hadde makyd / seide to the woman / why comaunded god to ȝow that ȝe schulde nat ete of euery tre in paradys / [327] The woman answerede / of the freut quod sche of the treis in Paradys we fedyn vs But sothly of the freut of the tre that is in the myddyl of paradys / god forbad vs for to ete / ne nought touche it / lest perauenture we schulde deye [328] ¶ The serpent seyde to the woman / Nay nay ȝe schul not deye / of detht / ffor sothe god wot that what day that ȝe ete therof / ȝoure eyen schul openyn & ȝe schul been as goddys / knowynge good & harm / [329] The woman thane 1saw þat the tre was godd to fedyng & fair to þe eyen & delitable to sight Sche tok of the freut & et it & ȝaf to hire husbonde & he et / & a-non þe eiȝen of hem bothe openedyn / [330] And whan þat they knewin that þei were nakede they sowedin of fegelevis a manere of brech to hidyn here membris / [331] There may ȝe se that dedly synne hath ferst suggestioun of the feend as schewith heere by the Naddre1[1_1 In corrector's hand, over an erasure.] And aftyrward the delyȝt of the flesch as schewith heere by eue / And aftyr that consentynge of resoun; as schewith heere by Adam // [332] For troste weel thow it so weere / that the fend temtede .eue. that is to seyne the flesch / & the flesch hadde delyt in the beute of the freut / defended / ȝit sertis tyl that resoun that is to seyne adam / con|sentede to the etynge of the frut; ȝit stood he in the estat of Innocence // [333] Of thilke Adam; toke we thilke synne orygynal / for of hym fleschly; descendede be we alle / & engendrede of vyle / & corupt mateere / [334] And whan the soule is put in oure body / righ a-noon is con|tract orygynal synne / And that that was ferst but only peyne of concupscence / is aftyr-ward bothe peyne & synne / [335] & therfore ben we alle born / sonys of wrathe / & of dampnacioun / perdurable / ȝif it neere baptisme / that we resseyvyn / whiche be-nemyth vs the culpe. but for sothe the pyne dwellith with vs as to temptacioun / whiche peyne hyghte concupiscence / [336] this Concupiscence / whan it is wrongfully disposed / or ordeyned in man / it makyth hym coueyte by coueytyse of flesch / flesschely synne be syghte of hise eyen / as to erthely thyngis / And eek coueytise of heynesse / be pryde of herte

[337] ¶ Now as to spekyn of the ferthe coueytyse that is Concupiscence / aftyr the lawe of oure membris / that weere laufully I-makede / And be ryghtful Iuge|ment / of good / [338] I seye for as meche / as man is nouȝt obeysaunt / to god that is his lord / therfore is the flesch to hym dysobeysaunt / thorw Concupiscence / 1whiche is clepid norisschynge of synne & occasioun of synne / [339] Therefore al the while / that a man hath withinne hym the pyne of concupiscence1[1_1 repeated in MS.] / it is impossible / but he be temptid sumtyme / & meuyd in his flesch to synne / [340] & this thyng may not falle as longe as he leuyth / it may weel waxe feble & fayle be vertew of baptisme / and by the grace of good thorw penytence / [341] but fully schal it neuere quenche / that he schal sum|tyme be meuyd / in hym self but he were al refreyned be seknesse or by malefice of socerye / or colde drynkis [342] ¶ ffor lo what seyth seynt Paul / the flesch coueytith a-ȝen the spyryt / & the spirit ageyn the flesch / they been so contrarye / & so stryuyn that a man may nat alwey don as he wolde [343] ¶ The same Seynt Poule Aftyr his greete / penaunce / in watyr & in lond / in watyr be nyght / & be day in gret peril & in greet pyne In lond in femyn & thurst / & cold & clothis / & onys stooned / almost to the deth [344] ȝit seyde he allas I caytif man / ho schal delyuere me from the prysoun of myn caytyf body / [345] And Seynt Ierom whan he long tyme hadde wonyd / in deserd / where as he ne hadde noon cumpaynye / but of wilde bestes / where as he hadde no mete but erbis / and watir to his drink ne no bed but the nakede erthe / ffor whiche his flesch was blak / as an Ethiopen / for hete & nygh distroyed / for cold / [346] ȝit seyde he / that the brennynge of lecherye / boylede in al his body / [347] wherfore I wot wel sekyrly that they ben disseyuede / that seyn that they ben not temptid in here body [348] witnesse of seynt Iame / the apostelle that seyth / that euery wiȝt is temptid in his owene Con|cupiscence / that is to seine that euery of vs hath mater & occasioun to be temptid / of the norysshynge of synne / that is in his body / [349] And therefore seyth seynt Iohn the ewangelist/ ȝif that we seyn that we been with-oute synne we disseyuyn oure seluyn / & treuthe is not in vs

[350] ¶ Now schal thow vndyrstonde / [. . . . .] how synne wexeþ And encreseth in man ¶ The ferste thyng is thilke noryschynge of synne / of whiche I spak by-fore / thilke fleschely concupiscence / [351] and aftyr that comyth subieccioun / of the deuyl / this is to seyne the deuylis bely with wheche he blowyth / in man the fer of fleschely concupscence / [352] And aftyr that a man be|thynkyth hym whethir he wele do or noo the ilke thyng to wheche he is temptid / [353] And thanne if that a man withstonde / & weyue the ferste entisyngis of hise flesch / & of the feend / thanne is it no synne And ȝif so be that he do not so / thanne fleit he a noon / a flaume / of delit / [354] and thanne is it good to be war / & kepe hym weel or ellys he wele / fallyn a noon in to consentynge / of synne / And thanne wele he do it ȝif he may / haue tyme & place / [355] and of this mater seyth Moyses. be the deuyl in this manere The fend seyth I wele chase & pursewe the man be wekede sulieccioun / & I wele hente hym be meuyng or steri[n]g of synne / & I wele departe myn preyse or myn prey by de|liberacioun / & myn lust schal be accomplischid / in delit / I wele drawe myn swered / in concentynge / [356] for certis rygh as a swerd / departyth a thyng in to pecis / righ so consentynge departith god fro man / And thanne wele I sleen hym with myn hand / in dede of synne / thus seyth þe fend [357] For certis thanne is a man al deed / in soule / & thus is synne accompleschid with temp|tacioun / bi delyt & be concentynge / & thanne is the synne clepid actuel

[358] ¶ fforsothe synne is in two manerys / othir it is venyal or dedly / synne / Sothly whan man louyth ony thyng more than Ihesu Crist oure creature; thanne is it / dedly synne / And venyal synne / is it / ȝif man loue Ihesu Crist lesse than hym ouȝte / [359] forsothe the dede of this venyal synne is wol parlyous / for it amenuseth the loue that a man schulde haue / to good moore & more [360] And therfore ȝif a man scharge hym self / with manye sweche venyal synnys / certis but ȝif so be that he sum|tyme dyscarge / hym of hem be schrifte the mowe ful lightely / amensyn in hem al the loue that he hath / to Ihesu crist / [361] & in this wyse skippith venyal in to dedly synne / For certis the more that a man schargyth hys soule with venyal synnys; the moore is he enclynyd to dedly synnne [362] And therefore lete vs not be to necligent to discharge vs / of venyal synnys / for the prouerbe seith That manye smale makyn a greet [363] ¶ And herkene this ensaumple / A greet wawe of the se comyth sumtyme with so greet a violence / that it drenchith the schip / And the same doth sumtyme the smale dropis of watir that enteryn thorw a lytil crauas in the thurrok & in the boteme of the schip If men ben so necligent that men ne scharge hem not be tyme / [364] And therefore al thow theere be a differens be twethe these two causys / of drenchynge; algate the schip is drenkt [365] ¶ Ryght so faryth it sumtyme / of dedly synne / And of noyouse venyal synne / whan they multiplie in man / so greetly that theyilke wordely thyngis that he louyth thorw whiche he synnyth he synnyth venyally / is as greet in his herte / as the loue of god / or moore / [366] And therfore the loue of euerithyng / that is not be set in god / ne doon principally for godis sake; al thow a man loue it lasse than god / ȝit is it venyal synne / [367] And dedly synne / whan the loue of ony thyng/ wegheth in the herte of man / as meche as the loue of god or moore / [368] ¶ Dedly synne as [seyth] seynt austyn / is whan a man turnyth his herte from god / whiche that is verray souereyn bounte / that may not schaunge / & ȝewith his herte to thyng that may schaunge & flitte [369] & certis / that is euery thyng saue god of heuene for soth is ȝif a man ȝeue his loue / whiche that he owith al to god / with al his herte / vn-to a creature / certis as meche of his loue as he ȝeuyth to that ilche creature / so meche he be-reuyth from god / [370] And ther|fore doth he synne / for he that is dettour to god / ȝildyth not al his dette to god / that is to seyne / al the loue of his herte

[371] ¶ Now sithe man vndyrstonde / generally whiche is venyal synne thanne is it couenable / to telle specially of synnys whiche that manye a man / parauenture ne demyth hem no synnys & schryuyth hym not of the same synnys / And ȝit natheles they been synnys [372] Sothly as these clerkis wryte / this is to seyne that at euery tyme / that man etith or drenkyth moore than suffiseth to the sustenaunce / of his body in certeyn he doth synne / [373] And ek whan he spekyth more than hym nedith / it is synne ek / whan he herkenyth not[not later] be|nygnely to the compleynt of the poore / [374] ek whan he is in hele of body / And wele not faste whan othere folk faste / with-oute cause resonable / eek whan he slepith more than nedith / or whan he comyth be thilke enchesoun to late to cherche / or to othere werkis of charitee / . [375] eek whan he vseth his wif with-outyn souereyn desyr of engenderure to the honour of god / or for the entent to ȝilde his wif the dette of his body / [376] Ek whan he wele not visite the sike or the prisounner / ȝif he may / Ek ȝif he loue wyf or child or othir wordely thyng more than resoun requyrith / Ek ȝif he flatere or blaundise more than hym oughte for ony necescite. [377] Ek ȝif he withdrawe or menuse the almesse of the poore. Ek ȝif he apparayle his mete more delisciously than nedyth or ete to hastily by licourse|nesse /. [378] Ek ȝif he tale uenyteis at cherche / or at godis seruyse / or that he be a talkere of idele wordis / of folye / or of vilenye / for he schal ȝilde acountis of it at the day of doome / [379] Ek whan he hotith or assuryth a thing that he may not parforne / Ek whan he by lightnesse or foly / mysseith or skornyth his neghebour. [380] Ek whan he hat ony wekke suspecioun of thyng that he wot of no soth|fastnesse [381] ¶ These thyngis And mo with-outyn noumbre ben synnys / as seith seynt Augustyn

[382] ¶ Now schal men vndirstonde that al be it so that non erthely man / may eschewyn alle venyal synnys; ȝit may he refreyne hym by the brennynge loue that he hath to oure lord / Ihesu crist/ And by preyeris & confessioun & othere goode werkys / so that it schal but litil greue / [383] For as seith seynt Augustyn / ȝif a man loue god in swich manere / that al that euere he doth is in the loue of god . . .no gap in the MS. werrayly / for he brennyth in the loue of god / [384] loke how meche that a drope of watyr / that fallyth in a furneys ful of feer avaylyth / or greuyth / so meche anoyeth a venyal synne to a man / that is parfit in the loue of Ihesu Crist . . . . .no gap in the MS. be resseyuynge ek of holy watyr / by almesse dede by general confessioun of Confiteor at the masse / and at Compelyn / And be blyssynge of Besschopis & of Prestis & by othere goode werkys.[leaf 412 is cut out of the Cambr. MS.]

De Superbia et eius dependencijs circumstancijs spectantibus

[387] NOw is it bi-houeli thyng to tellen whiche ben dedly synnes. that is to seie. kaitifnesse of synnes alle they renne in colis. But in dyuers maner. Now ben thei clepid kaitifes. ffor as meche as thei ben chief & spryngen of alle other synnes. [388] ¶ Of the rote of these .4. synns. Then is pride the generall rote of alle harmes ¶ ffor of this rote spryngen certeyn branchis. as. Ire. Enuye. Accidie. or slewthe. Auarice or couetise to comyn vndirstondyng. Glotenye & lecherie. [389] And eueryche of these cheef synnes hath his branchis & his twigges as schall be declarid in her chapitres folwyng.

 [Of Pride, and its Twigs.]

[390] ¶ And thogh so be that no man can telle vtterli the nombre of the twigges & of the branchis that cometh of pride. yet woll I schewe a partie of hem as ye schullen vndirstondyn. [391] ¶ Ther is. inobedience. Auauntyng. Iprocrisie. Dispite. Arregaunce. Impudence. Swellyng of herte. Insolence. Elacion. Inpacience. Strif. Contumacie. Presumpcion. Irreuerence. Pertynacie. Veynglorie. And manye another twigge that I can noȝt declare. [392] Ino|bedience is he that disobeieth for dispite to the comaunde|ment of god & to his souereynes & to his gostly ffadir. [393] ¶ Auauntour is he; that bosteth of the harme or of the bounte that he hath done. [394] Ipocrisie is he that hideth hym to schewe hym suche as he is & schewith hym suche as he is not. [395] ¶ Dispitous is he that hath disdeyn of his neighboris. that is to seyn of his euyn cristen or hath dispite to do that he ought to do. [396] ¶ Arrogaunt is he. that thenketh that he hath thilke bountees in hym that he hath not. Or weneth that he schulde haue hem be his desertis. Or ellis that he demeth that he be þat he is not. [397] ¶ Im|pudent is he that for his pride hath no schame for his synne. [398] ¶ Swellyng of herte is he that when a man reioiseth hym of harme that he hath doon. [399] ¶ Inso|lent is he that dispiseth in his Iugement alle other folk as to regarde of his value & of his connyng & of his spekyng & of his beryng. [400] Elacion is when that he ne may neither suffre to haue maistrie ne felawe. [401] ¶ Inpacient is he that woll noght ben taught ne vndir|nome of his vices. ¶ And be strife werreieth trouthe wetyngly & defendeth his folye. [402] ¶ Contymax is he that thorogh his indignacion is a-yens eueryche auctorite or power of hem that ben his souereyns. [403] ¶ Pre|sumpcion is he that when a man taketh an emprise that hym ought noght to do. Or ellis he may it noght do. & that is called Surquedrie. ¶ Inreuerence is when men don noght honour ther as hem ought to doon & waiteth to be reuerencid; [404] ¶ Pertynacie is whan a man defendith his folye. & trusteth to mechill to his owne witte. [405] ¶ Veynglorie is / for to haue[Harl. 1758 extract ends]] Camb. MS.pompe & delit in his temperel heynesse / & gloryfye hym in wordely estatis [406] ¶ Iangelyng is / whan man spekith to meche be-fore folk / & clappyn as a melle And take no kep what they seye /

[407] And ȝit is there a preue spice / of pryde that wayth fyrst for to be saluyd; er than he wele salue / al be he lesse worthi than that othir is / parauenture / And ek he waitith or desyrith to sitte / or ellis goon a-boue hym in the weye / or kisse pax / or been ensensed / or goon to offerynge by-fore his neighebore / [408] & sweche semblable thyngis / a-geyns his deute parauenture / but that he hath his herte / & his entent in swich a proud desir to be magnyfied & honoured / by-forn the peple.

[409] ¶ Now be there two manere of pride that on of hem is with inne the herte of a man And that othir is with oute / [410] of whiche sothtly these for|seyde thyngis & mo than I haue seyd / apertenyn to pryde / that is in the herte of man / And that othere spicis of pryde. been with-oute / [411] but neuere the les that on of these spicis / of pride; is sygne of that othir riȝt as the gay ¶ Leuesel at the tauerne; is signe of the wyn / that is in the seler / [412] & this is in manye thyngis / as in speche & cuntenaunce / & in outrageous aray / of clothynge / [413] For certis ȝif there hadde be no synne in clothynge; Crist wolde not so soone haue notid / & spokyn of the clothynge of the riche man in the gospel [414] & as seyth seynt Gregory / that precious clothynge is cou|pable / for the derthe of it / & for his softenesse / & for his strangenesse & degisynesse / & for the super|fluyte or for the inordinat skarsenesse of it [415] ¶ Allas may man nat seen as in oure dayis the synful costelewe aray of clothynge / & namely in to meche superfleuyte / or ellis in disordenat skarsenesse

[416] ¶ As to the ferste synne in superfluyte of clothynge / whiche that makith it so deere to harm of the peple / [417] nat only the cost of the enbroudynge / the degyse endentynge / or barrynge / owndynge . palynge / wyndynge or bendynge & semblable wast/ of clothynge in vanyte / [418] But there is also the costelewe furrynge in hire gounnys / so meche pounsounnynge / of chesellis to make holys / so meche daggynge of scheris / [419] forth-with / the superfluite in lenthe / of the forseide gounys / trayl|ynge in the dunge / & in the myre / on horse & ek on foote as weel of man as of woman / that al thilke traylyng is verrayly as in effect wastid consumyd thred|bare & rotyn with donge / rathere than it is ȝeue to the poore / to greet damage of the forseyde poore / folk [420] & that in sundery wise / this is to seyne / that the more the cloth is wastid; the more mote it coste / to the peple for the skarsenesse [421] And ferthere ouyr ȝif so be that they wolde ȝeue swiche pounsonede / & daggede clothynge to þe pore peple / it is not conuenyent to were for here estat ne sufficient to be to here necescite / to kepe hem from the distemperaunce of the firmament. [422] ‖ Vp-on that othir syde / to speke of the disord|ynat skarsenesse / of clothynge as been these cuttede sloppis or haunseleynys / that thorw here schortnesse keuere not the schameful membris / of man to wekede eentent / [423] Allas some of hem schewyn the boce of here schap / & the horyble swollyne membris / that semyth lyk the maladie of hirnya in the wrappynge of here hosyn / [424] And ek the buttokis of hem / farn as thow it were the h[y]ndere part of a sche Ape in the fulle of the moone [425] And moore ouyr the wrechede swollene membris / that they schewe thorw disgisyng in departynge of here hosyn / in whit & red / semyth that half here schame|ful preue menbris were flayn / [426] & ȝif so be that they departyn here hosyn in othere colouris / as is whit & blew / or with whit & blak / or blak & reed and so forth / [427] thanne semyth it as be variauns of colourys that half here preue membris been corupt by the fier of seynt Antonye / or by cankre or othir swich myschaunce [428] ¶ Of the hyndere part of here buttokys it is ful horryble for to se / for certis in that partye of here body / there as they porgyn here stynkynge ordure / [429] that foule partie schewe they to the peple / proudely in dispit / of honeste / which honeste that Ihesu crist & hise frendis obserued to schewyn in here lyue [430] ¶ Now as of the outrageous aray of wemen / god wot that thogh the visage of some of hem seme ful chast & debonayre / ȝit notyfie they in here aray or atyr / likerousnesse & pride / [431] I sey not that honeste in clothynge of man or woman is oncon|able / But certis the superfluite / or disordenat skantite of clothynge / is repreuable / [432] Also the synne of ornement or of apparayle / is in thyngis that apperteignyn to rydynge / As in to manye delicate horsis that been holdyn for delit that been so fayre fatte & costlewe / [433] & also in manye a vicious knaue / that is susteynyd by cause of hem. In to coryous harneys / as in sadelis croperis / peitrelis / & brydelys kouered with precious clothynge & riche barris & platis of gold / and of syluyr [434] ¶ For whiche god seith be ȝacharie the prophete. I wel confounde / the rideris of sweche hors / [435] These folk take liytil reward of the rydynge of goddis sone / of heuene / & of his harneis whan he rod / vp-on the asse / And ne hadde non othir harneys but the poore clothis of hise disciplis / ne we ne reede not that euere he rod / on othir beste [436] I speke this for the synne of superfluyte / & not for resonable honeste whan resoun it requyreth [437] ¶ And ferthere ouyr/certis pryde is gretly notified/in holdynge of greet meyne/ whan they been of lytil profit or of ryȝt no profit / [438] & namely whan that meyne is felonous / & damage|ous to the peple / by hardynesse of greet lordschepe / or by weye of offys [439] ¶ For certis sweche lordis / selle thanne here lordschepe / to the deuyil of helle / whan they susteyne the wikkedenesse of here meyne [440] ¶ Or ellis whanne these folk of lowede degre / as thilke that holdyn ostelryis / suste ne the theffte of here hostelleris / & that is in manye manere / of disseytis / [441] thilke manere of folk been the flyis / that folwyn the hony or ellis the houndis that folwyn the carayn / sweche manere of folk folwyn strangelyn spiritually here lordschepis / [442] for whiche thus seyth dauyd the prophete ¶ Wikkede deth mote come to sweche lordschepis / And god ȝeue that they mote discendyn in to helle al doun / for in herere housis been inyquiteis / & schrewedenessis / & noght god of heuene / [443] & certys til dey doon a-mende|ment / ryght as god ȝaf his benysoun to Pharao / bi the seruyse of Iacob / & to laban bithe the seruyse of Ioseph; so god wele ȝeue his malysoun to sweche lordschepis that sustene the wikkedenesse of here seruauntis / but they come to a-mendement [444] ¶ Pryde of the table apperyth ek ful ofte / For certis riche men been clepid to festis / & poore folk been put a-wey & rebukid [445] And also in exces of diuerse metis & drynkis & namely sweche manere bake metis / & dischemetis brynynge with wildefeer / peynted & castellid with paper / & semblable wast / so that it is abisioun for to thynke / [446] & ek in to gret preciousnesse of vessel & coryouste of menstralsie by whiche a man is sterid the moore to delycis / of lecherye / [447] ȝif it so be that he sette the lesse his herte vp-on oure lord Ihesu crist / certeynly it is a synne. & certeynly the deuyllis myght is so greet in this cas / that a man myghte lighteli by hem falle in to a dedly synne. [448] The especes that souredyn of pryde / sothly whan they sourdyn of maleis ymagyned auysed & forcast or ellis of vsage by dedly synne / it is no doute / [449] & whanne they souredyn bi frelte on|auysed / sodeynly / & sodeynly withdrawen a-geyn alle been they greuous / synnys / I gesse that they been nat dedly [450] ¶ Now myghte men aske wherof Pride souredith & spryngit / And I seye that it spryngith sumtyme of the goodis of nature / And sumtyme of the goodis of fortune / And sumtyme of the goodis of grace / [451] Certis the goodis of nature stondyn outirly in goodis of body or goodis of soule [452] Certis goodis of body; been hele of body / strenthe delyuyrnesse / Beute genterye / Fraunchise / [453] Goodis of nature of the soule; been good wit / scharp vndirstondynge / subtyl engyn / uertu naturel / good memorye / [454] Goodis of fortune been rychessis hei degreis of lordschepes / preysynge of the peple / [455] Goodis of grace been science / power to suffere spirituel trauayle / benygnetee verteuous contemplacioun / withstondynge of temptacioun / & semblable thyngis / [456] of whiche forseide goodis / certis it is a ful greet folye / a man to prydyn hym in onye of hem / alle [457] ¶ Now as for to spekyn of goodis of nature god wot that sumtyme we han hem in nature / as meche to oure damage as to oure prophit / [458] As for to spekyn of hele of body; certis it passith ful lyghtely / & ek it is ful oftyn enchesyn of the seknesse of oure soule / ffor god wot that the flesch is a wel greet enemy to the soule / And therfore the more that the body is hol the moore be we in peril to falle [459] ¶ Ek for to pride hym in his strenthe / of body; it is an high folye ffor certis the flesch / coueythith a-geyns the spirit And ay the moore strong that the flesch is / the soryere may the soule be [460] And ouyral this strenthe of body / & wordily hardynesse / causeth ful ofte manye a man to peril & myschaunce [461] ¶ Ek for to pryde hym of his genterye / is wol greet folye for ofte tyme the gentrye of the body / benymyth the gentrie of the soule / And ek we been alle of oon / fadyr / & of on modir / & alle we been of on mater rotyn & corupt/ bothe riche & poore / [462] Forsothe on manere genterye is for to preyse / that aparaylyth manys corage / with vertuys & moraliteis / & makith hym cristis child / [463] ffor truste weel that ovir what man that synne hath maystrye he is a verray cherl to synne

[464] ¶ Now been there general signys of gentilessis / as eschuynge of vicis / and ribaudye & seruage of synne in word in werk & contenaunce [465] & vsinge vertu curtaysie & clennesse & to be liberel / that is to seyne large be mesur for thilke that passith mesur; is folye & synne / [466] A nothir is to remembre hym of bounte / that he of othere folk hath resseyued / [467] A nothir is to be buxsome to hese sogettis / wherof seith Senec/ there is no thyng moore conabele to a man of hey estat / than debonayrete & pete / [468] And therfore these flyes that men clepe beis / Whan they make here kyng; they chese on that hath no prikke wherwith he may stynge // [469] A nothir is a man to haue a noble herte / & a diligent to atteyne to here vertuuous thyngis [470] ¶ Now certis a man to pride hym in the goodis of grace / is ek an outragious folye for thilke ȝiftis of grace / that schulde a turnyd hym to goodnesse / And to medicyne turnyth hym to venym and to confusioun as seith seynt gregory // [471] Certis also ho so prydith hym in the goodis of ffortune; he is a ful greet fol / for sumtime is a man a ryȝt greet lord be the morwyn / that is a caytif & a wreche er it be euyn [472] And sumtyme the richesse of a man; is cause of his deth Sumtyme the delicis of a man; is cause of the greuous seknesse thour whiche he deyeth / [473] Certis the comendacioun of the peple / is sum|tyme ful fals & ful brethil for to triste / this day they preise / to morwe they blame. [474] god wot desir to haue commendacioun of the peple hath caused deth to manye a besi man [475] ¶ Now sithe that so is / that ȝe han vndirstonde what is pride / & whiche been the spicis of it / And whens pride sordith & spryngith /

 Remedium contra peccatum Superbie (in the margin).

[476] Now schul ȝe vndirstonde whyche is the remedye a|ȝens pride ¶ Humylite or . . . .no gap in the MS. meknesse / [477] is the remedye Ageyns Pride / that is vertu thorw whiche a man hat verray knowelechyng of hym self. & heldith of hym self no prys ne deynte / as in regard of hise de|sertys / considerynge euere his frelte [478] ¶ Now be there thre maneris of humilitee. as humylite in herte / And othir humylite in his mouth. the thredde in hise werkis / [479] The humilite in herte; is in foure maneris / that on is whan a man holdyth hym self as nygh wroth bi-fore god of heuene / A nothir is whan he dispiseth non othir man / [480] The thredde is whan he ne rekke nat thow men holde hym not worth / the ferthe is whan he ne is not sory of his humyliacioun / [481] Also the humylite of mouth; is in iiij. thyngis / in a-tempre speche / And in humylite of speche / And whan he knowith with his owene mouth that he is swich as he thynkith that he is / in his herte / Anothir is whan he preyseth the bounte of a nother man / and no thyng therof amenuseth / [482] Humylite ek in werk / is in .iiij. manerys / The fyrste is whan he puttyth othere men bi-foryn hym / the secunde is to chese the loweste place oueral / The thredde is. gladly to assente to good conseyl / [483] The forte is to stonde gladly to the award / of hise souereynys or of hym that is in heyere degree /. Certeyn this is an greet degree of humylite.(Below are two painted figures: one "Inuidia", a man in a green dress, riding a clawd feline animal (? a wolf) biting a bone; the other, "Charite", a woman with a 3-crownd mitre on her head, carrying a wingd and flaming (or bleeding) heart in her left hand, a staff in her right. See the Society's Chaucer Autotypes, Part 2.)

[484] Aftyr pride wele I speke of the foule synne of enuye / whiche that is as by the word of the philysofere Sorwe of othere menys prosperite // And aftyr the word of seynt Augustyn / it is sorwe of othere manys wele / And the Ioye of othere menys harm // [485] This foule synne is platly a-geyns the holy gost / . . . . .no gap in the MS. ȝit natheles for as meche / as bountee. pertenyth properly to the holy gost / & enuye comyth propyrly of maleys / ther|fore it is propirly a-geyn the bounte of the holygost // [486] Now hath Maleys .ij. spicis that is to seyne hardynesse / of herte in wekedenesse or ellis the flesch of man is so blynd that he considerith not that he is in synne / or rekkith not that he is in synne whiche is the hardynesse of the deuyl [487] That othir spice of enuye / is whan that a man werreyeth trouthe whan that he wot that it is trouthe / & ek whan he werreyeth the grace that god hath ȝoue to his And al this is by enuye // [488] Certis thane is enuye the werste synne that is / For sothly alle othere synnys / been sumtyme onli a-geyns on special vertu / [489] But certis enuye / is a-geyns alle othere wertuis a-geyns alle goodnesse / for it is sory of alle the bounteis / of his neghebour And in this manere / it is dyuerse from alle othere synnys [490] For weel onethe is there ony synne / that it ne hath sum delit in it self / saue only enuye / that euere hat in it self / Angwissch & sorwe // [491] The spicis of enuye ben these / theere is ferst sorwe of othere menys goodnesse / & of his pros|perite / & prosperite is kyndeli mater of ioye / Thanne is enuye a synne a-geyns kynde / [492] The secunde spice of enuye / is Ioye of othere menys harm / & that is proprely lyk to the deuyl that euere reioyeth hym of othere manys harm [493] ¶ Of these two spycys / comyth bakbytynge And this synne of bakbitynge / or detrac|tyoun hath serteyn spicis / as thus sum man preyseth his neighebour by a wekede entent [494] For he makyth alwey a wekkede knotte / at the laste ende . . . . .no gap in the MS. that is digne of moore blame / than worth is al the preysynge / [495] The secunde spice is that ȝif a man be goode / & doth or seyth a thyng to good entent / the bakbitere wele turne al thilke goodnesse vp so doun / to hise schrewede entent / [496] The iij is to amenuse the bounte / of his neighe|boure / [497] The ferthe spice of bakbytynge is this that ȝif men speke goodnesse of a man / thanne wele the bakbitere seyn / Parfey ȝit swich a man is bet than he / in dispreysynge of hym that men preyse / [498] The fifte spice is this / for to concente gladly & herkene gladly to the harm that men speke of othere folk this synne is ful gret / And ay encreseth aftyr the wekkede entent/ of the bakbytere [499] ¶ Aftyr bakbytynge comyth grochynge / or murmuracioun & sumtyme it sp[r]yingith of inpacience / a-geyns god & sumtyme a-geyns man / [500] A-geyns god it is whan a man / grochith ageyns the peyne of helle / or ageyns pouerte / or los of catel or a-geyns reyn or tempest or ellis grochyn that schrewis han prosperite or ellis that goode men han ad|uersite / [501] And alle these thyngis schulde men suffere / paciently / for they come by the ryghful Iugement / & ordenaunce of god / [502] Sumtyme comyth grochynge of aueryce As Iudas grochede a-ȝens the Magdelyne / whanne sche a-noynted the heued of Cryst with here preciouse onyment / [503] this maner murmour is swich as whan man grochith of goodnesse that hym self doth / or that othere folk doon of here owene catel / [504] Sumtyme comyth murmour of pryde / as whan Symon the pharyse grochede a-geyns the Magdalyn whanne sche aprochede / to Ihesu Crist / & wepte at his feet / for hire synnys [505] And sumtyme it sordyth of enuye / whan men discoueryn a manys herm / that was preue / or beryth hym on hande thyng that is fals [506] ¶ Murmure ek is ofte a-mongis seruauantis / that grochyn whan here souereynys biddyn hem don lefful thyng [507] & for as meche as they dar not opynly with seye the comaundementis of here souereynys / ȝit wele seyn seyn harm & groche & murmure pryuyli for verray despit / [508] whiche wordis men clepe the deuyllis pater noster thow so be that the deuyl hadde neuere no pater noster but that lewede folk ȝeue it swich a name [509] ¶ Sumtyme it comyth of yre or priue hate / that norschith rancour in herte / as aftyrward I schal declare [510] ¶ Thanne comyth ek bittirnesse / of herte / thorw whiche bittirnesse euery good dede of his neighebour semyth to hym bittyr & onsauoury [511] ¶ Thanne comyth discord that vnbyndith alle manere of frenchepe / Thanne comyth scornynge as whanne a man sekyth occasioun to anoyen his neighe|bour / al do he neuere so weel [512] ¶ Thanne comyth accusynge / As whan a man sekyth occasioun to anoyen his neihebour whiche that is lik the craft of the deuyl that wayth bothe nyght & day to acusyn vs alle [513] ¶ Thanne comyth malignete / thour whiche a man noyeth his neighebour / priuyly ȝif he may / [514] & If he not ne may algate his wilke wil schal not fayle / as for to brenne his hous pryuyly . or enpoysoune or sle 1hese bestis or semblable thyngis

 [In the margin :] Remedium contra Inuidiam./

[515]

NOw wele I speke of the1[1_1 Over an erasure in the corrector's hand.] remedye a-geyns this foule synne of enuye ffyrst is the loue of god principal & louynge of his neghebour as hym self ¶ ffor sothly that on ne may not been with-outyn that othir / [516] And troste weell that in the name of thy name / of thyn neghebour; thow schalt vndyrstonde the name of thyn brothir / for certis we han on fadyr fleschely / & on modyr ¶ That is to seyne Adam. & Eue. & ek on fadir spirituel / that is god of heuene [517] ¶ Thi neighebore art thow holde for to loue & willyn hym alle goodnesse / And therfore seith god loue thin neghebore / as thyn self / that is to seynne to saluacioun bothe of lyf & soule [518] ¶ And more ouer thow schat loue hym in word / & in benygne amonestynge & schastysynge / & conforte hym in hise anoyis ¶ And preye for hym with al thyn herte [519] ¶ And in dede thow schat loue hym in swich wyse / that thow schat doon to hym in charite; as thow woldist that it were doon to thyn owene persone / [520] & therfore thowleaf 418 is cut out of the Camb. MS. [Harl. 1758, on leaf 215, back fills in.schalt not doon hym no damage in wicked worde ne harme in his bodie ne in his catell ne in his soule bi entisyng of wicked ensample. [521] Thou schalt not desiren his wif non of his thynges. Vndirstonde eke that in the name of thi neighbore is com|prehendid his enemye. [522] ¶ Certis a man schall loue his Enemye for the comaundementis of god. & soþli thi frende schalt thou loue in god. [523] I seie thyn Enemye schalt þou loue for goddis sake bi his comaunde|ment. ffor if it were reson þat man schulde hate his Enemye. forsothe god schulde not take vs to his loue; that ben his Enemyes [524] a-yens thre maner of wrongis that his Enemye doth to hym. he schall do thre thynges. as þus. [525] ¶ A-yens hate & rancour of herte. he schall loue hym in herte. Ayen chidyng & wicked wordis he schall praie for his Enemye ¶ Ayens the wicked dede of his Enemye he schall doon hym bounte. [526] ffor crist seith. Loueth your Enemyes & preieth for hem that speke you harme. And eke for hem that you chacen & pursewyn & doth bounte to hem that you haten. Lo thus commaundeth vs our lord ihesu crist to do to our Enemyes. [527] ¶ ffor sothli nature dryueth vs to loue our frendis. And parfaie our Enemyes han more nede to love then our frendis. And thei that muste nede haue. certis to hem schall men do good|nes. [528] & certis in thilke dede haue remem|braunce of the loue of ihesu crist that died for his Enemyes. [529] ¶ And in as meche as thilke loue is the more greuous to parfourme. so meche is more gret the merite. & therfore the louyng of our Enemye hath confoundid the venyme of the deuyll [530] ffor as the deuyll is discomfited be humylite. Right so is he woundid to the deth bi the loue of our Enemye. [531] Certis then is loue the medecyne that caccheth out the venyme of Enuye fro mannes hert. [532] The spices of this pas schull ben more largeli in her chapiters folwing /

 ¶ De Ira [from margin]

[533]

Affter Enuye woll I declare the synne of Ire. ffor sothli who that hath Enuye vp on his neighbore. a-non comenli he woll fynde hym mater of wraþthe in worde or in dede a-yens hym to whom he hath Enuye. [534] ¶ And as well cometh Ire of Pride as of Enuye. ffor sothli he that is proude or Enuyous is lightli wroth.

[535] This synne of Ire aftir the discryuyng of seynt Austyn. is wicked wille to ben a-vengid bi word or bi dede [536] ¶ Ire aftir this Philosophre. is¶ Philosophus the feruent blood of man quyked in his herte thorogh whiche he woll harme to hym that he hitteth. [537] ¶ ffor certis the herte of man bi enchaūfyng & meuyng of his blood wexith so trouble that he is oute of all Iugement of reson. [538] But ye schullen vndirstonde that Ire is in two maneres. That oon of hem is good & that other is wicked. [539] ¶ The good Ire is bi ielousie of goodnes thorogh the whiche a[Harl. MS. 1758 ends.]] man is wroth with wikkedenesse & ageyn wekkedenesse And ther|fore seyth a wis man that Ire is bet than pley / [540] this ire is with debonoyrete & it is wroth with|oute bittyrnesse / not wroth ageyns the man; but wroth with the mysdede of man As seyth the prophete dauyd. Irascimini et nolite peccare. [541] Now vndirstondith that wekede yre is in two manerys that is to seyne sodeyn yre / or hastif Ire with-outyn a-visement & consentynye of resoun / [542] The menynge & the sens of this / is that the resoun of a man / ne con|sente not to thilke sodeyn yre / & thanne is it venyal [543] ¶ Anothir yre is / ful wekkede that comyth of felonye of herte auysed & cast be-forn wit wikkede wil to don vengeaunce / & therto his resoun consentith and sothly this is dedly synne / [544] this yre is so dis|plesaunt to god that it distorbelyth his hous / & chaseth the holy gost out of manys soule / & wastyth & dis|troieth the liknesse of god. that is to seyne the vertu that is in manys soule / [545] & put in hym the lyk|nesse of the deuyl / & be-nemyth the man from god that is his ryghtful lord [546] this ire is a ful greet plesaunce to the deuyl for it is the deuyllis furneys that is eschafid / with the fyr of helle / [547] for certis ryȝt so as fyr is moore myȝty to distroye ertheli thyngis / than ony othir elemen / ryȝt so Ire is myty to distroye alle spirituel thyngis / [548] loke ho that fuyr of smale gledys that been almost dede vndir aschyn welyn quekyn a-geyn whan they been touchede / with brynston / right so Ire wele eueremore quekyn a-geyn / Whan it is touchid by the pryde that is couered in manys herte [549] for certis fyr ne may not come out of no thyng but if it were fyrst in the seme thyng naturelly as fyr is drawyn out of flyntys with styl. [550] And ryght so as pryde is manye tyme matire of yre; righ so is rancure noryce & kepere of Ire // [551] There is a manere of tree as seith seynt Isydre that whan men make fyr of the ilke tre & kouere the colis with aschyn / sothly the feer of it wil lastyn ale a ȝeere or more / [552] And riȝt so farith it of rancure / what it is coueryd in the hertis of summe men certeyn it wele laste perauenture / from oon Esterne day On tyl a nothir esterne day / & moore / [553] but certis thilke man is ful fer from the mercy of god al thilke while.

[554] In this forseyde deuyllis furneys / there forgyn iij schrewis / Pryde that ay blowyth & encresith the feer by chydyng & welkede wordis / [555] thanne stondith Enuye And holdyth the hoote yryn in the fyr vp-on the herte of man / with a peyre of longe tongis; of long rancur [556] And thanne stant the synne of contumelye or stryf & cheest & baterith & forgith by vileyns repreuyngis [557] Certis this cursede synne a-noyeth bothe to the man hym self & ek to his neighebore / for sothly almost al the harm that ony man doth to his neighebore comyth of wrathe / [558] ffor certis outragious wratha doth al that euere the deuyl comaundyth hym / For he ne sparith nothyr crist ne his swete modyr / [559] & in his out|ragious angir / & Ire Allas ful manyon / that tyme felyth in his herte / ful wikkedely bothe of cryst & of hise seyntis / & ek of alle hise halwys. [560] Is nat this a cursed vse. ȝis certis allas it be-nemyth from man his wit & his resoun / & al his debonayre lyf spirituel that schulde kepe his soule // [561] Certis it be-nemyth ek goddis due lordschepe. & that is mannys soule / & the loue of hise neigheboris // It stryuyth ek alday ageyn trouthe / it reuyt hym the quyete of his herte & subuertith his soule.

[562] Of Ire comith these stynkende gendruris Fyrst hate that is old wrathe / Discord thurh whyche a man for-sakith his olde frend / that he hath louyd ful longe / [563] And thanne comyth werre & euery maneere of wrong that man doth to his neghebour in body or in catel. // [564] Of this cursede synne of Ire comyth ek manslaughtre / And vndirstonde weel that homycide that is manslaughtre is in dyuerse thyngis. sum manere of homycide is spirituel. & sum is bodyly. [565] Spirituel manslaughtre; is in .vj. thyngis. Fyrst bi hate as seyth seynt Iohn that he that hatith his brothyr is homycide [566] homycide is ek bi bakbitynge of whiche bakbiteris seyth Salomon that they han two swerdis / whith whiche they sleen heere neigheborys / for|sothe as wikke is it to be-neme hym his goode name / as his lyf. [567] Homycide is ek in ȝeuynge of wikkede conseyl be fraude / As for to ȝeue conseyl to areyse wrongful customys / & talagis [568] of whiche seith Salo|mon / Leoun rorynge & Bere hungery; been lik to the crewel lordschepis in whiche lordschepis holdynge or a bregynge of the schepe or the heere of the wagis of seruauntis / or ellis in vsure or in withdrawynge of the almesse of poore folk / [569] ffor whiche the wyse man seyth ffedith hym that almost deyeth for hungir. ffor sotly but ȝif thow feede hym thow slest hym. And alle these been dedly synnys / [570] Bodily manslauȝtere is this / whan thow slest hym with thyn tunge. In othere manere; as whan thow comaundist to sleen a man / or ellis ȝeuyst hym conseyl to sleen a man. // [571] Manslaughtre in deede is in foure maneris / that oon is by laue ryght as a Iustise dampnyth hym that is coupable to the deth. but let the Iustise been war that he do it ryghtfully & that he do it not for delit to spille blood / But for kepynge of ryghtwis|nesse [572] Anothir homycide is doon for necessite / as whan a man sleth a nothir / in his defendaunt / And that he ne may non othirwise askape . . . . .[573] . . . . .no gap in the MS. with|oute slauȝtere of his aduersarye / . .no gap in the MS. he doth synne & he schal bere penaunce as for dedly synne // [574] Ek ȝif a man be cas or aventure schete an arwe or caste a stoon with whiche he sleth a man he is homycide. [575] Ek ȝif a woman by neklygence ouyrlye hire child in hire slepynge it is homycide / & dedly synne / [576] Ek whan man disturblith con|cepcioun of a child & makith a woman outhir barayn be drynkyng of venenouse erbis / thorw whiche sche may not conseyue / or sleth a child be drynkis / or ellis putty[t]h certey[n] material thyngis / in here secre placys to slen the child [577] or ellis doth onkyndely synne by whiche man or woman sleth here nature in manere or in place theere as a child may not ben con|seyuyd / Or ellis ȝif a woman hath conseyuyd & hurt hire self & sleth the child ȝit is it homycyde [578] What seye we ek of wemen that morderyn here childeryn for dreed of wordely schame certis an horrible homycide / [579] omycide is ek ȝif a man ap|rocheth to a woman by desir of lecherye thorw whiche the child is perschid / or ellis smythitt a woman wetyngely thour wheche sche sleth hire child / Alle these been homy|cidis / & horible dedly synnys / [580] ȝit comyth there of Ire manye mo synnys / as weel in word as in thought & in dede as he that arrettith vp-on god / or blamyth god of thyng of whiche he is hym self gilty. or dispiseth god / & alle hise halwys As doon these cursede hasardourys in dyuerse cuntreis / [581] this cursede synne doon they / whan they felyn in here herte / ful wekkedely of god & of hise halwys. // [582] Also whan thei tretyn onreuerently the sacrement of the auteer / thilke synne is so gret that vnnethe may it be relesid / but that the mercy of god passith alle hise werkys / it is so greet / & he so benyngne [583] Than comyth of yre an attery angir / whan a man is scharply amonestid in his schryfte to for|lete synne / [584] Thanne wele he been angery / & answeryn hokyrly / and angyrly or defende or excuse his synne / by onstedefastnesse of his flesch / or ellis he dede it for to holde cumpany with hise felawys / or ellis he seyde the feend entisede hym / [585] or ellis he dede it for his ȝouthe. or ellis his complexioun is so coragious that he may not forbere / or ellis it is his destenye as he seyth in to a certeyn age / or ellis he seith it comyth hym of gentylesse of hise Auncestris And semblable thyngis // [586] Alle thesse manere of folk so wrappyn hem in here synnys / that they ne welen not delyuere hemself // ffor sothly no wigh that excuseth hym wilfully of his synne; may not be delyuered of his synne til that he mekely beknowith his synne [587] After this thanne comyth swerynge that is expres a-geyn the comaundement of god / And this be-fallith ofte of Angir & of yre. [588] God seyth thow schat not take the name of thyn lord god in veyn / or in Idil. Also oure lord Ihesu crist seyth by the word of seynt Mathew / . . . . .no gap in the MS. [589] Ne wil ȝe not swere in alle maner nothir be heuene; for it is godis trone. ne be erthe for it is the bench of his feet / Ne be Ierusalem for it is the cyte of a greet kyng / ne be thyn heed for thow ne canst not make an heer nothir whit ne blak [590] But seyth be ȝoure word .ȝe. ȝe. &. nay. nay. And what that is moore it is of euyl / thus seith Crist / [591] ffor Cristis sake sweryth nat so synfully in dismembrynge of crist by his soule. herte. bonys. & body. for certis it semyth that ȝe thynke that cursede Iewis / ne dismembredyn not I-nough the preciouse persone of crist / but ȝe dismembryn hym moore / [592] And ȝif so be / that the lawe com|pelle ȝow / to swere thanne rewelyth ȝow aftyr the lawe of god / in ȝoure swerynge as seyth Ieromye .4o. co. . . . .no gap in the MS. Thow schalt kepe iij condiciounnys ¶ Thow schat swere in trouthe in dom & in righwisnese / [593] this is to seyne thow schalt swere sooth / ffor euery lesyng is a-geyns crist / for Crist is verray trouthe / and thyngk wel this that euery greet swerere nat compellid laufully to swere / the wounde schal nat departe / from his hous / whil he vseth swich onlefful swerynge [594] ¶ Thow schalt sweryn ek in dom / whan thow art constreyned by thyn domys man to witnesse the trouthe [595] Ek thow schalt not swere for enuye / ne for fauour / ne for meede / but for ryghwisnesse for declarynge of it to worschepe of god & helpe of thyn euyn|cristene / [596] And therfore euery man / that takith goddis name in Idyl or falsely sweryth with his mouth or ellis takyth on hym the name of Crist / to be callid a cristene man / And lyuyth a-geyns Cristis lyuynge & his techynge / alle they take goddis name in ydyl [597] loke ek what seyth seynt Petyr Actuum .4o. co. Non est aliud nomen sub celo. &. c. Theere is non othyr name seith seynt Petyr / undyr heuene / ȝeuyn to men wherwith they mowe be savid / that is to seyne but the name of Ihesu Crist /. [598] Tak kep ek how that the name so precious is of Ihesu Crist / as seyth seynt Poule / ad Philipenses 2o. In nomine Ihesu &c. / That in the name of Ihesu euery kne of heuynly creaturys / erthely & of helle / schulde bowe / for it is so hey & so worschepeful that the cursede fend in helle schulde tremble to here it nemene it / [599] Thanne semyth it that men that swere so horibly bi his blissede name that they dispise it / more boldely / than the cursede Iewys / or ellys the deuyl that tremblith whan he herith his name

[600] ¶ Now certis sythe that swerynge but ȝif it be laufully doon / is so heyly defendit/ moche werse is forswerynge falsely / And ȝit needeles /

[601] what seye we ek of hem that delite hem in swerynge . . . . .no gap in the MS. /othis. And what of hem that of verray vsage ne cese not to swere greete othis / al be the cause nat worþ a straw / certis this horrible synne / [602] Swerynge sodeynly is ek a greet synne / [603] But let vs go now to that horrible synne swerynge of adiuracioun as don these false en|chauntouris or nigramanciens in bacenys ful of watyr or in a brygh swerd / in a cerkele / or in a fir or in the schuldir|bon of a scheep / [604] I can nat seyn but that they doon cursedely & dampnably a-geyns crist & al the feith of holy cherche /

[605] ¶ What seyn we of hem that beleyn on dyuynalis / as be flight or be noyse of briddis / or of bestis / or by sort bi Griomancye be dremys by chirkynge of doris / or krakynge of housys / by gnawynge of rattis / and sweche manere wrechedenesse / [606] Certis al this thyng is defendyt/ bi god & holy cherche / for whiche thei been acursed / til thei come to a-mendement that on swich felthe besettyn here be-leue / [607] Charmys for woundis / or maladie of men / or of bestis / if they takyn ony effect / it may be parauenture that god sufferith it for folk schulde ȝeue the moore feith / & reuerence to his name

[608] ¶ Now wele I speke of lesyngis / whiche gener|ally is fals sygnyfiaunce / of word in entent to disseyuyn his euene cristene / [609] Some lesyngis of whiche there comyth non auauntage to no wight / And sum lesyng turnyth to the ese or profit of a man & to damage of anothyr man. [610] A nothir lesyng for to saue his lyf or his catel . . .no gap in MS. comyth of delit for to lye / for swich delit they wele forge a long tale / & peynte it with alle circumstauncis / where al the ground of the tale is fals / [611] sum lesyng comyth for he wele sustene his word Sum lesynge comyth of recheles-nesse / with-outyn a-visement and sem|blable thyngis /

[612] Lete vs now touche the vice of flaterye / wiche ne comyth not gladly but for dreed or for coueytyse [613] ¶ fflaterye is generally wrongful preysynge. fflater|eris been the deuyllis Noricis / that norischyn his childeryn / with mylk of lesyngerye / [614] Forsothe Salamon soith that flaterye is wers than detraccioun / for sumtyme de|traccioun / makith an haunteyn man / been the moore humble / for he dredith detraccioun ¶ But certis flaterye that makyth a man / to enhauntyn his herte and his cuntenaunce / [615] Flatereris been the deuyllis enchantourys / for they make of a man to weene of hym self been lyk that he ne is nat lyk / [616] They been lik to Iudas that be-traysyn . . . . .no gap in the MS. a man to selle hym to his enemy / that is to the . . . [617] . . .no gap in the MS. deuyllis chapilleynys / that syngyn euere placebo / [618] I rekene flatrye in the spicis of yre / for ofte tyme ȝif on man be wroth with a nothyr thanne wele he flatere sum wight to susteyne hym in his querel /

[619] speke we now of swich cursynge as comyth of yrous herte ¶ Malisoun generally may be seyd euery manere pouwer of harm Swich cursynge bereuyth euery man from the regne of god / as seith seynt poule / [620] And ofte tyme swich cursynge wrongfully returnyth a-geyn to hym that curseth. as a brid that turnyth a-geyn to his owene nest / [621] And ouer alle thynge / men oughte eschewe to curse here childeryn and ȝeue to the deuyl here engenderure as fer forth as in hym is / certis it is greet peril & greet synne.

[622] ¶ Lete vs thanne speke of chydyng & reproche / whiche been ful greete woundis in manys herte / for they onsewe the semys of frenschepe / in mannys herte [623] ffor certis vnnethe may a man pleynly been accordit with hym that hym opynly hath reuylid / & repreuyd and disclaundered / ¶ This a ful gresely syne as crist seyth in the gospel / [624] & take kepe now that he that repreuyth his neighebore ¶ or he repreuyth hym by sum harm of peyne that he hath vp-on his body / as mesel crokid harlot or by sum synne that he hath doon. [625] Now ȝif he repreue hym by harm of peyne; thanne turnyth the repref to Ihesu crist / for peyne is seyt by the ryȝtwise sonde of god & by his sufferaunce / be it meselerie or maym or maladye / [626] & ȝif he repreue hym on-charitably of synne / as thow holour thow dronkelewe harlot / & so forth / thanne parteynyth that to the reioysynge of the dewil / that euere hath Ioye that men doon synne / [627] And certis chidynge may not come but of a vilens herte / for aftyr the haboundauns of the herte spekyth the mouth ful ofte / [628] And ȝe schul vndirstonde / that loke by onyweye /Ex abundancia cordis os loquitur whan ony man schal chastise a nothir that he be war of chydyng or repreuyng / For trewely but he be war he may ful lyghtely quekyn the fer of angir / & of wrathe whiche schulde quenche / & parauenture sleth hym that he mygh[t]e chastise with benyng|nete / [629] ffor as seith Salomon / The amyable tunge is the tre of lyf / that is to seyne the lyf spirituel / And certis a dislaue tunge sleth the spyritis of hym that repreuyth. And ek of hym that is repreuyd / [630] lo what seyth seynt augustyn / There is no thyng so lyk the deuyllis child / as he that ofte chidith . .no gap in MS. ¶ I seruaunt of god behoue not to chide / [631] And how that chydynd / by a vilens thyng / by-twixe alle manere folk that is it certis most on-conable bi-twixe a man & his wif for there is neuere reste And therefore seyth Salomon. An hous that is onkeuered & droppynge / & a chidynge wif been lyke / [632] ¶ A man that is in a droppynge hous / in manye placis / thow he eschewe the droppynge in on place. it droppyth on hym in anothir place / so farth it by a chydynge wif / but ȝif sche schide hyn in on place . . . .no gap in the MS. [633] And therfore betere is a morsel of breed with Ioye; than an housful of delicis with chidyng seith Salomon / [634] Seynt Poule seyth / ȝe wemen be ȝe subiectis to ȝoure hous|bondis as byhouyth in god / And ȝe men louyth ȝoure wiuys. ad Colonienes .3o.

[635] ¶ Aftyrward speke we of skornynge whiche is a wekkede synne / And namely whan he skornyth a man["a man" repeated in MS.] for hise goode werkis / [636] ffor certis sweche skornerys faryn lik the foule toode that may not endure to smelle the sote sauour / of the vyne whan it floryschith / [637] these skorneris been partynge felauis / with the deuyl / ffor they han Ioye whan the deuyl wynnyth / & sorwe whan he lesith / [638] they been aduersaryis of Ihesu crist / for they hatyn that he louyth / that is to seyne saluacioun of soule /

[639] Speke we now of wekkede conseyl /. . . . .no gap in the MS. whiche is a traytour for he disseyuyth hym that trustith in hym ¶ Vt Achitofel ad Absolonem / But natheles / ȝit is his wekkede conseil fyrst a-geyn hym self / [640] . . . . .no gap in the MS. that he that wele a-noye a-nothyr man / he anoyeth ferst hym self [641] And men schal vndyrstonde that man schal not take his conseyl of false folk ne of angery folk ne of greuous folk ne of folk that louyn specially to meche wordely folk / namely in conseylynge of soulys //

[642] ¶ Now comyth the synne of hem that sowyn & makyn discord a-mongis / folk whiche is a synne that crist hateþ vttyrly & no wondir is / for he deyede for to make concord / [643] And moore schame do they to crist than dedyn they that hym crucyfyed / for god louyth louyth bettere that pes be a-mongis folk than he deyede his owene body. whiche that he ȝif for vnyte. therfore been they lekkenyd to the deuyl / that euere is aboute to make discord /

[644] ¶ Now comyth the synne of double tunge whiche as spekyn fayre be-foryn folk & wikkedely by-hynde / or ellis they make semblaunt / as thogh they spoke of good entencioun or ellis in game / & pley . and ȝit they speke of wekkede entent //

[645] ¶ Now comyth bewreyinge of con seyl thourw whiche a man is diffamyd certis onethe may he restore the damage //

[646] ¶ Now comyth Manace / that is an opyn folye / for he that oftyn manacith; he thretheth moore than he may parforme / ful ofte tyme /

[647] ¶ Now comyn ydele wordis . . . . .no gap in the MS. And ek of hym that herkenyn tho wordys / or ellys Idele wordis been tho that been nedelees or with-outyn entent of naturel profit [648] And al be it that ydele wordys / been sum|tyme uenyal synnys ȝit schuldyn men doutyn hem / for we schul ȝeue rekenynge of hem be-fore god

[649] ¶ Now comygh Iangelynge/that may not been with|outyn synne And as seyth Salomon it is a synne of a-pert folye / [650] And therfore a Philisophre seyde whan men axede hym how men schulde plese the peple / And he answerde do manye goode werkis / And speke fewe Iangelys

[651] ¶ Aftyr this comyth the synne of Iaperys / that been the deuyllys apis / for they make men to laughe at here folye / & at here Iaperyes / as folk doon at the gaudis of an Ape / whiche Iaperis diffendyth seynt poule [652] Loke how that vertevous wordis & holye confortyn hem that trauaylyn in the seruyse of Crist; And right soo confortyn the vileyns wordis & knakis of Iaperis hem that trauayly in the seruyse of the dewil ¶ [653] These been the synnys that comyth of the tunge / that comyn of yre & of othere synnys

 [The Remedy against Ire]

[654]

THe remedie ageyns yre / is vertue þat men clepyn mansuetude / that Ihon de Bonania clepith debonayretee / & ek a nothir wertu that men callyn pacience / or suffraunce /

[655] ¶ Debonoyretee / withdrawith & refrayn|yth / the sterynge & the meuynge of manys corage / in his herte in swich maneere / that they ne skippe nat out be angir / ne by yre [656] ¶ Sufferaunce sufferith sweetely alle the anoyauncis & the wrongis / that men doon to man outward [657] ¶ Seynt Ierome seith thus of debonayretee that it doth noon harm to no wyȝt ne seith ne for non harm that men doon ne seyn / he ne eschafyth not a-geyn resoun / [658] This vertue comyth sumtyme of nature . for as seyth the philisophere As man is a quik thyng by nature debonayre & tretable / to goodnesse / but whan debonayrete is enformyd / of grace thanne is it the more worth

[659] ¶ Pacience is a-nothir remedye a-geyns yre / and is a vertu that sufferith swetly euery mannes goodnesse / & is not wrooth for non harm that is doon to hym [660] ¶ The Philisophre seyth that pacyence is thilke vertu that sufferyth debonayrely alle the outragis of aduercite / & euery wikkede word [661] This vertu makyth a man lik to god & makyth a man goddys owene deere child / as seith Crist this vertu disconfortith thyn enmy & therfore seith the wise man / ¶ If thow wilt / venqusche thyn enemy lerne for to suffere / [662] And thow schal vndirstonde that man suffere iiij manere of greuauncys in outward thyngis a-geyns the wheche .iiij. he mote haue .iiij. maneere of paciencis

[663] The ferste greuaunce is of wekke wordis. thilke sufferede Ihesu Crist with-oute grochynge ful paciently whanne the Iewis dispisedyn hym ful ofte [664] ¶ Suffere thow therfore paciently / for the wise man seith If thow stryue with a fool. thow the fool be wroth or thow he laughe; algatis thow schalt haue no reste / [665] ¶ That othyr greuaunce outward / is to haue damage of thyn catel. Theere ageyns sufferede Crist/ ful paciently; whan he was dispoyled of al that he hadde / in this lyf. And that nas but hise clothis / [666] ¶ The .iij. greuaunce is a man to hauen harm in his body. That sufferede Crist ful paciently in al his passioun [667] ¶ The .iiij. greuaunce is this in outragious labour in werkis wherfore I seye that folk that makyn here seruauntys to trauayly to greuosly or out of tyme as on halydayis Sothly they doon greet synne [668] ¶ Hereageyns sufferede crist ful paciently & taughte vs pacyence / whan he bar vp-on his blyssede schuldyr the cros on the whiche he schulde suffere dispitous deth/ [669] Heere may men lerne to been pacient. ffor certis nat only cristene men been pacient for loue of Ihesu crist And for gerdoun of the blisful lyf that is perdurable But certis the olde paynemys that neuere were cristene commendyn & vsyn the vertue of pacience

[670] ¶ A Philisophre vp-on a tyme that wolde a bete his disciple / for his greete trespas / ffor whiche he was Ameuyd / & broughte a ȝerde to skoure the child. [671] & whan the child say the ȝerde. he seyde to his Maystyr / what thynke ȝe to do. I wele beete the quod his maystir for thyn correccioun / [672] Forsothe quod the child ȝe oughte ferst to corecte ȝoure self that haue lost al ȝoure pacience for the gilt of a child. [673] fforsothe quod the maystyr al wepynge thow seist soth. haue thow the ȝerde myn deere sone & corekte me for myn Inpacience [674] ¶ Of pacience comyth obedience / thorw whiche a man is obedient to Crist & to alle hem to whiche he oughte to been obedyent in Crist / [675] And vndyrstond weel that obedyence is parfit whan that a man doth gladly And hastyly with good herte entyerly al that he schulde do [676] ¶ Obedyence generally is to parforme the doctryne of god & of hise souereynys to whiche hym oughte to been obeysaunt in al ryghtwisnesse

 De Accidiais cut out.

[677]

[Harl. MS. 1758, on leaf219, back Aftir the synnes of Ire I woll speke of the synnes of Accidie. ffor Enuye blyndeth the herte of a man & Ire troublyth a man. & Accidie makith hym heuy thoughtfull & wrawe. [678] ¶ Enuye & Ire maken bitternes in herte whiche bitternes is modir of Accidie. & be-nymeth hym the loue of all goodness. Then is Accidie the anguysche of a trouble herte. And seynt Austyn seith.¶ Augustinus./ it is a-noie of goodnes & anoye of harme. [679] ¶ Certis this is a dampnable synne. ffor it doth wrong to ihesu crist. in as meche that he nymeth the seruyce that men ought to do to ihesu crist with all diligence. As seith Salomon.¶ Salamon./ [680] But Accidie doth non suche diligence. he doth all thyng with a-noie & wrawnes. slaknes & excusacion & with dulnes & vnluste ¶ ffor whiche the book seith. A-cursid be he that doth the seruyce of god necligentli. [681] Then is Accidie enemye to eueri estate of man ffor certis the estate ofbe-forn þat he fell in to synne. man is in .3. maners. [682] ¶ Either it is the estate of¶ Of .3. maners of Estat of man Innocence as was the estate of Adam. biforn that he felle in to¶ Estate of Inno|cence./ synne in whiche estate he was holdyn to wirche as in herying & honouryng of god [683] ¶ Another estate is the Estate of synfull men in whiche estate men ben holdyn¶ Estate of syn|fulle men./ to labour in praiyng to god for amendement of her . . . . .no gap in the MS.¶ Estat of grace./ synnes [684] ¶ Another estate is the estate of grace in whiche estate he is holdyn to do werkis of penytence. And certis to alle thes thynges is Accidie Enmye & con|trarie. ffor he louyth no besynes at all.// [685] ¶ Now certis this foule synne Accidie is eke a full gret enuye to the liflode of the body. for it hath no puruyaunce a-yen temperall necessite . ffor it is for-sleuthe & for|sloggeth & distroieth alle godis temperallis bi rechilnes.

[686] ¶ The .4. thyng is. that Accidie is like hem¶ Accidie is lik to hem þat ben in the peyne of helle./ that ben in the peyne of helle . bi cause of her slouthe & of her heuynes. ffor thei that ben dampned ben so bounde that thei ne may well do ne well thenke. [687] ¶ Of Accidie cometh first that a man is anoied & encombrid to don eny goodnes & maketh that god hath abhomynacion of suche Accidie. as seith seynt Ion.¶ Johannes./

[688] ¶ Now cometh sleuthe that woll not suffre non¶ Of Slewthe/ hardnes ne no penaunce. ffor sothe slouthe is so tendir & so delicate. As seith Salomon. That he woll not¶ Salamon./ suffre non hardnes ne penaunce & therfore he schendith all that he doth [689] ¶ a-yens this rotyn¶ Remedium./ hertid synne of Accidie & slouthe schulde men excercise hem self to don good werkis & manli & vertuousli cacchen corage well to don. thenk|yng that our lord ihesu crist quyteth euerye good[Harl. extract ends.]] Cambr. be|gins. deede be it neuere so lytil // [690] ¶ Vsage of labour is a greet thyng for it makyth as seyth seynt Bernard / the labourer to haue stronge armys & harde senewis / And slouthe makyth hem feble & tendre [691] ¶ Thanne comyth dreed to begynne to werke onye goode werkis / for certis he that is enclyned to synne; hym thynkyth it is to greet an enpryse / for to vndyrtake to doon werkis of goodnesse / [692] And castith in his herte / that the circumstauncis of goodnesse / . . . . .no gap in the MS. as seyth seynt. gregory./

[693] ¶ Now comyth wanhope that is dispeyr of the merci of god // that comyth sumtyme of to meche out|ragious sorwe / & sumtyme of to meche drede ymagyn|ynge / that he hath don so meche synne that it wele not auayle hym thow he wolde repente hym / and forsake synne / [694] thorw whiche dispeyr or drede he abandownyth al his herte to euery manere synne / As seyth seynt Augustyn [695] whiche dampnable synne / ȝif that it contynewe on to his ende it is clepid synnynge in the holygost / [696] This horrible synne is so parlious that he that is dispeyred / theere ne is no felenye ne no synne that he doutith for to do / As schewede weel be Iudas / [697] Certis a-bouyn alle synnys / thanne is this synne most displesant to Crist And most aduersarye [698] ¶ Sothly he that dispeyrith hym is lyk the coward / champioun recreaunt tat seyth creaunt withoutyn nede // Allas allas nedeles / is he recreaunt / and nedeles dispeyred / [699] Certis the merci of god is euere redy to the penytent / And is a-bouyn alle hyse werkis [700] Allas can not a man be-thynken hym / of the gospel of seynt. Luk .iij. where as Cryst seyth / that as weel schal theere been Ioye in heuene vp-on a synful man that doth penytence than vp-on a .90. & 19 ryghful men that neuere ne dede synne Ne nedyn no penytence [701] ¶ Loke ferthere in the same gospel the Ioye & the feste of the goode man / that hadde lost his sone whan his sone with repentaunce was returned to his fadyr // [702] Can they not remembre hem ek that as seyth seynt Luk .33o. how that the thef that was hangit be syde Ihesu crist seyde. Lord remembre of me whan thow comyst in-to thy regne. [703] ffor soth seyde Crist I sei to the / to day schalt tow be with me in paradys / [704] Certis there is non so horryble synne of man that it ne may in his lyf been distroyed be penytence / thorw vertu of the passioun of the deth of cryst / [705] Allas what nedyth men thanne for to been dispeyred sithe that his mercy so redy is / & large. Axe & haue [706] ¶ Thanne comyth sompnolence / that is sluggy slumbrynge / whiche makyt a man been heuy & dul in body & sowele And this synne comyth of slouthe / [707] And Certys the tyme that by weye of resoun / man schulde not slepyn / that is by the morw but ȝif there were cause resonable [708] For sothly the morwe tyde is most conable A man to seye hise preyeris / & for to thanke his god / & for to honoure god / And to ȝeuyn almesse to the poore / that comyth fyrst in the name of crist // [709] lo what seyth Salomon. Who so wele by the morwe a-wake to seke me he schal fynde / [710] ¶ Thanne comyth necligence / or recheleesnesse / that rekyth of nothyng and how that ignoraunce / be modir of alle harm / Certis necligence is the noryche / [711] Necligence ne doth no fors whan he schal doon a thyng whedyr it be doon wel or euele /

[712] ¶ Of the remedye of these two synnys as seyth the wise man / that he that dredith god / ne sparyth nough[t] to don that hym auȝte to don [713] And he that louyth god he wele doon diligence to plese god by hise werkis / And enforce hym self with al his myght weel for to doon. [714] Thanne comyth Idilnesse / that is the ȝate of alle harmys / An Idyl man is lik a place that hath none wallys / the deuyllis may entre on euery syde / or shete at hym at discouert by temptacyoun on euery syde / [715] This ydillenesse is the thurrok of alle wekked / & vylens thoutys & of alle Ianglys truflis / & of alle ordure / [716] Certys this. the heuene ys ȝevyn to hem that wil labouryn / & not to ydil folk / Ek dauid seyth that they ne been not in the labour of men / ne they schul nat been whippid with men / that is to seyne in purgatorye // [717] ¶ Certis thanne semyth it they schul been turmentid / with the deuyl in helle / but ȝif they doon penytence //

[718] Thanne comyth the synne that men clepyn tarditas as whan a man is so laterede or taryinge / er he wele turne to god / And certis that is a greet folye he is lyk hym that fallyth in the deyth & wil non aryse [719] And this vice comyth of fals hope / that he thynkith that he schal leue longe / but that hope faylith ful ofte

[720] ¶ Thanne lacchesse that is he / whan that he begynnys / ony good werk / Anon he wele forlete it And stynte as doon they that haue ony wight to gouerne / and ne take of hym no moore keep / a non as they fynden ony contrarye or any anoy / [721] these been the newe schepperdys that letyn here scheep wetyngely go renne to the wolf that is in the brerys / ne do no fors of here owene gouernaunce [722] of this comyth pouerte / & distruccyoun bothe of spirituel & temperel thyngis / thanne comyth a maner coldnesse / that fresith al the herte of man / [723] Thanne comyth ondeuocioun / thour whiche a man is so blent. And as seyth seynt Bernard / hat swich langour / in soule that he may neythyr / reede ne synge in holy cherche / ne heere ne thynke of no deuocioun / ne trauayle with hise handys in no good werk that it nys to hym vnsauourry And al appallid / [724] thanne wexith he slow & slombry and soone wele be wroth / And sone is enclynyd to haate & to enuye / [725] ¶ Thanne comyth the synne of wordely sorwe / swich as is clepid tristicia / that sleth man as seyth seynt Poul / [726] ffor certis swich sorwe werkyth to the deth of the soule & of the body also ffor therof comyth that a man is a-noyed / of his owene lyf. [727] wherfore swich sorwe. schortyth ful ofte the lyf of man / er that his tyme is come by weye of kynde./

Remedium contra peccatum Accidie.

[728]

AGayns this oryble synne of acydye & the braun|chis of the same; Theere is a vertu that is callyd fortitudo / or strenthe that is an affeccioun thour whiche a man dispiseth noyouse thyngis [729] ¶ This vertu is so myghty and so vigerous / that it dar with|stonde myghtyly and wysely keepe hym self from perilis that been wekkede / & wrastele a-geyn the sautys of the deuyl [730] for it enhaunsith & enforseth the soule rygh as accidie; abatith & makith it feble ¶ ffor this ffortitude may endure by long sufferaunce the trauaylis that been couenable

[731] This vertu hath manye spicis ¶ the ferste is clepid magnanymytee that is to seyne greet corage ¶ ffor certis there behouyth greet corage a-geyns Accidie ¶ lest that it ne swelwe not the soule by the synne of sorwe / or distroye it by wan hope. [732] this vertu makith folk vndyrtake harde thyngis & greuouse thyngis by his owene wil wysely & resonably [733] And for as mechil / as the deuyl fiȝtith a-geyns a man more by queyntise & by slouthe; than by strenthe / therfore a man schal withstonde hym by wit & by resoun. & by dis|crecyoun [734] ¶ Thanne are theere the vertuis of feyth / & hope in god / & hise seyntis to accomplische the goode werkis in the whiche he purposith fermely to contynue [735] ¶ Thanne comyn seurete / or sekyrnesse. And that is whan a man ne doutyth no trauayle in tyme comynge of the goode werk that he hath begunne [736] ¶ Thanne comyth magnyficence ¶ That is[leaves 428 and 429 are cut out of the Cambr. MS.][Harl. MS. 1758, on leaf221to seyn when a man doth & performeth gret werkis of goodnes that he hath bigonne & that is the ende whi that men schulde do gode werkis. ffor in the accomplesyng of good werkis lith þe grete guerdon. ¶ [737] Then is ther Constaunce that is stablenes of corage & this schulde¶ Of Con|staunce./ be in herte bi stedfast feith & in mouthe & in beryng & in chere & in dede. [738] Eke ther ben mo speciall thynges & remedies a-yens Accidie in dyuers werkis & in consideracions of the peyne of helle & of the ioye of heuyn & in the truste of the grace of the holi|gost that woll yeuyn hym myght to performen his entente /

 ¶ De Auaricia /

[739]

Aftir Accidie woll I speke of Auarice & of Couetise. Of whiche synne seith seynt Poule¶ Paulus./ that the rote of alle synnes is Couetise. & Thymoth. 6o. [740] ffor sothli when that the herte of man is confoundid in hit self & trouble & that the soule hath lost the counfort of god. þen seketh he an ydell solace of worldli thynges.

[741] ¶ Auarice aftir the scripcion of seynt Austyn.¶ Augustinus./ is a licorousness in herte to haue ertheli thynges. [742] Som other folk seyn. that Auarice is for to purchace manye ertheli thynges. & no thyng yeue to hem that han nede. [743] ¶ & vndirstonde thou well that Auarice is noght onli in lond ne Catell but som|tyme in science & in glorie & in euery maner of outragious thynges is Auarice & Couetise [744] ¶ And the difference be-twixe Auarice & Couetise is this.¶ The difference betwixe Auarice & Couetise./ Couetise is for to coueite suche thynges as thou hast not. And Auarice is for to withholde & kepe suche thyngis as thou hast with-outen rightfull nede. [745] ¶ Sothli this Auarice is a synne that is full dampnable. ffor all holi writ cursith it & spekith a-yens hit. ffor it doth wrong to ihesu crist. [746] ffor it bireuyth hym the Loue that men to hym owyn & turnyth hit bakwarde a-yen all reson [747] & makith that the Auaricious man hath more hope in his Catell. than in ihesu crist. ¶ And . . . . .no gap in the MS. [748] therfore seith seynt Poule Ephesios .5o. That an Auaricious man haþ more¶ Paulus ./ his hope in thraldom of Ydolatrie.

[749] what difference is bitwixe an ydolastre &¶ Difference be|twixe an Ydol|atre & an Auar|ous man ./ an Auaricious man. But þat an ydolastre & an Auaricious man perauenture ne hath but a mawmet or two & the Auaricious man hath manye. ffor certis euerye ffloreyn in his cofre is his a mawmet [750] & certis the synne of mawmetrie is . . . .no gap in MS. that god in þe ten comaunde|mentis. As berith witnes in Exodi. capitulo .20. [751] Thou schalt haue no fals goddis bi-forn me. Ne þou schalt make to the no grauyn thyng. thus is an Auaricious man that loueth his tresour a-forn god An ydolastre [752] thorogh his synne of Auarice & of couetise comen this hard lordschipes thorogh whiche men ben streyned bi tailages customes & cariages more then her dewte or reson is. ¶ And ellis take thei of her bonde men amercementis whiche myghten more resonabli be clepid extorcions then amercementis. [753] Of whiche amercementis & raunsonyng of bonde men som lordis stiwardis seyn that it is rightfull. ffor as meche as a cheerll hath no temperall thyng that it ne is his lordis as they seyn. [754] ¶ But certis thes lordes don wrong that bireuyn her bonde folke thynges. that thei neuyr ne yaf hem. Augustinus. de. civitate. libro .9o. [755]¶ Augustinus ./ ¶ Soth is that the condicion of thraldom. & the first cause of thraldom is for synne. Genesis .5o.¶ Genesis .5o.

[756] ¶ Thus may ye seen that the gilte deseruyth thraldom. but not nature. [757] Wherfore these lordis ne schulden not meche glorifie hem in her lordschip. sethyn that bi naturall condicion. thei ben lordis ouyr her thrallis. but for that thrall-dom cam first by deserte of synne [758] ¶ And further ouyr there as the lawe seith. that temperall godis of bonde folke ben the godis of her lordschipes. Ye that is for to vndirstonde. the godis of the Emperour to defende hem in her right. but not to robbe hem ne to reue hem. / [759] ¶ And therfore seith Seneca. Thi prudence schulde lyue benyngli with¶ Seneca ./ thyn thrallis. [760] thilke that thou clepist thyn thrall. ben goddis peple ffor humble folke ben cristes frendis. thei ben contubernyall with the lorde.

[761] ¶ Thenke eke that suche seed as cherlis spryngen. of suche seed spryngen lordis. As well may the cherle be sauyd. as the lord. [762] The same deth that taketh the cherle. the same deth takith the lorde. ¶ Wherfore I rede do right so with thi cherle as thou woldist thi chirle did with the. if thou were in his plite. [763] Euery synfull man is a cherle to synne. I rede the certis that thou lord thou wirche in suche wise that thi cherlis rather loue the than drede the. [764] I wote well there is degre a-boue degre as reson is & skill is that men don her deuyr ther as it is dewe. But certis extorcions & dispites of your vndirlynges is dampnable.

[765] ¶ And further ouyr vndirstonde well that Conquerours or tirauntis make full often thrallis of hem that ben born of as roiall blood. as ben thei that hem conqueryn. [766] ¶ This name of thraldom was¶ Genesis .10. Maledictus Canaan seruus seruorum erit fratribus / suis / neuyr knowe erste. till that Noe seide that his sone Canaan schulde be thrall to his bretheryn for his synne [767] ¶ What seie we than of hem that pilen & don extorcions to holi chirche ¶ Certis the swerde that men yeuyn first to a knyȝt when he is newe dobbid.¶ How knyght|hode schulde defende holi chirche ./ signyfieth that he schulde defende holy chirche & noght robbe hit. And who so doth is a traitour to crist. [768] As seith seynt Austyn. Thei ben¶ Augutinus ./ deuyls wolfis that stranglen the scheep of ihesu crist & don wers than wolfis. [769] ¶ ffor sothli when the wolfe haþ full his wombe; he stynteth to strangle scheep. But sothli the pilours & distroi|ers¶ Of pilours & distroiers of holi chirche goodis ./ of godis of holi chirche ne do not so for thei ne stynte neuyr to pilen. [770] ¶ Now as I haue seide sethyns so is that synne was first cause of thraldom. then it is thus that thilke tyme that all the worlde was in synne. then was all this worlde in thraldom & in subieccion. [771] But certis sethyns the tyme of grace cam. God ordeyned that som folk schulde be more hye in estate & hye degree & som folke more lowe & that eueriche schulde be seruyd in his estate & in degre. [772] And therfore in some contrees ther thei ben thrallis when thei han turned hem to the feith. thei maken her thrallis fre out of thraldom. And therfore certis the lord owith to his man. that the man owith to his lorde. [773] ¶ The Pope clepith hym self seruaunt of seruauntis of god. But for as meche as the state of holi chirche ne myght not han be. ne the comune profite myght han be kept in pees & reste in erthe. But if god had ordeyned that some men han heyer degre & som men lowir [774] ¶ Ther-fore was souereyne ordeyned to kepe & maynten & de|fende her vndirlynges or her sogettis in reson as fer forth as it lith in her power & noght to distroie hem ne as ferforth confounde. [775] ¶ Wherfore I seie that thilke lordis that ben thilke wolfis that de[Harl. MS. 1758 extract ends.]] Camb. MS.vouryn the possessiouns or the catel of pouere men wrongfully with-oute mercy or meseur. [776] They schul receyue by the same meseur that they han mesured to poore folk the meseur of Ihesu crist but it be amendid [777] ¶ Now comyth deceyt be-twixe Marchaunt and Marchaund ¶ And thow schat vndir|stonde that marchaundise is in manye maneris / that on is bodyly & that othir is gostely; that on is honest & lefful; & that othir is dishonest & onleful. [778] Of thilke bodyly marchaunddyse that is lefful & honest is this there that god hath ordeyned / that a rem or a cuntre is suffisaunt to hym-self; thanne is it honest & lefful that of haboundaunce of this cuntre that men helpe a nothir Cuntre that is more nedy. [779] And therfore there mote been marchauntis to brynge from that oon cuntre to that othir hire march|aundyse / [780] That othyr marchaundyse that men hauntyn / with fraude & trecherye And deceyt with lesyngis & falso othis is cursed & dampnable [781] ¶ Espirituele marchaundyse is propirly symonye that is ententyf desyr / to beyen thyng espirituel that is thyng that aparteneth to the seyntewarye of god / & to cure of the soule [782] ¶ This desir ȝif so be that a man do his dilygence to parforne it / al be it that his desir take noon effect. ȝit is it to hem a dedly syne. & ȝif he be ordered. he is irregulere / [783] Certis Symonye is clepid of Symon magus / that wolde a bouȝt for temperel catel / the ȝifte that god hadde ȝouyn by the holy gost to seynt Petyr. & to the apostellis / [784] And therfore vndyrstond that by that he that sellyth & he that beyeth thyngis espirituel been clepid Symonyalys / be it be catel be it be procurynge / or by fleschely preyere of hise frendis. fleschely frendis or spyrituel frendis / [785] Fleschely in two manerys as by kenreede or othere frendis sothly ȝif they preye for hym that is not worthi & able it is Symonye ȝif he take the benefice / and ȝif he be worthi & able; theere is non. [786] ¶ That othir maner is / whan men or women preyen for folk to auauncyn hem only for wekede fleschely affeccioun that they han vn-to the persone & that is foul symonye / [787] But certis in ceruyce for whiche men ȝeuyn thyngis espirituel on to here seruauntis / it mote been vndirstande that the seruyce mote been honest & ellis nat / And ek that it be with-outyn bargaynynge & that the parsone be able / [788] ffor as seith Seine Damasye / Alle the synnys of the world at regard of this synne arn as thyng of nough / for it is the gretteste synne that may ben aftyr the synne of lucyfer & of antecryst / [789] ffor by this syne god forlesyth the cherche & the soule that he bouȝte with his precyous blood / By hem that ȝeuyn cherchis / to hem that been not digne [790] for they putte in theuys handis / that stelyn the soulis of Ihesu cryst And distroyen the patry|monye [791] Be sweche indigne prestis & curatis / han lewede men lesse reuerence of the sacrementis of holy cherche. And swe[che] ȝeueris of cherchis; putte the ȝeueris of cryst out / & puttyn in the cherche the deuyllis owene sone / [792] they sleen the soulys that lambis schulde kepe / to the wolf that that strangelyth hem And therfore schul they neuere han part of the pasture of lambis that is the blysse of heuene. [793] Now comyth hasardrye with hise apor|tenancis. as tablis. & rafles / of sweche comyth deceit false othis chydyngis / And alle rauynesse. blasphemynge And renayinge of god / And hate of hise neghebourys. wast of goodis. Mis spendynge of tyme. & sumtyme man|slauȝtere. [794] Certis hasardourys ne mow not been with-oute greet synne / . . .no gap in the MS. [795] Of Auaryce comyn ek lesyngis. thefte. fals witnesse. & false othis ¶ And )e that vndirstonde that these been greete synnys & expres a-geyn the comandementis / of god as I haue seyd / [796] ffals wytnesse; is in word & ek in deede By word as for to reue thyn neighebour his goode name bi thyn false witnessynge / or by-reuen hym his catel or his herytage / by thyn false witnessyng whan thow for yre or for mede or for envie berist fals witnesse or accusist hym. or excusest hym by thyn false witnesse. Or ellis ex|cusist thyn self falsely / [797] ware ȝow ȝe quest mongeris / & Notarijs Certis for fals witnessenge was Susanne in ful greet sorwe & peyne & manye a nothir mo. [798] ¶ The synne of thefte is ek expres. a-geyns goddis heste / & in two maneris corporel or spirituel / [799] [Corporel] As for to take thyn neigheborys catel a-geyns his wil / be it be forse or be sleyghte / be it be met or be meseur [800] by stelynge ek of false endytementis vp-on hym / & in borwynge of thyn neghebouris catel / in entente neuere to paye it a-geyn / & semblable thyngis / [801] Es|pirituel thefte is sacrilege that is to seyne / hurt|ynge of holy thyngis sacrede to crist / in two maneris / be resoun of the holy place As cherchis or cherche hawys / [802] ffor whiche euery vileyns synne that men doon in swich placis / May ben clepid sacrilege / or euery violence in the semblable placis / ¶ Also they that withdrawyn falsely the rightis that longyn to holy cherche [803] and plesynge / and generally Sacrylege is to reuyn holy thyng out of holy place or onholy thyng out of holy place / or holy thyng out of on|holy place

 Releuacio contra peccatum Auaricie.

[804]

NOw schul ȝe vndirstonde that the releuynge of auarice is mysericorde & pete largely takyn / ¶ And men myghtyn axen why that mysericorde & pete is releuynge of Auaryce [805] ¶ Certis the Auaricious man / Schewith no pete ne myseri|corde to the nedful man / for he delitith hym in the kepynge of hes tresor & not in the rescowynge or in the releuynge of his euene cristene & therfore speke I ferst of myserycorde [806] thanne is Miserycorde as seith the philisophere a vertu be whiche the corage of a man is sterid bi the . . .no gap in the MS. mysesed [807] ¶ vp-on which mysericorde / folwith pete / in parfornynge of charytable werkis of myse ricorde [808] And certis these thyngis meuyn a man to myserycorde of Ihesu crist that he ȝaf hym self for oure gilt And sufferede deth for mysericorde / And forgaf oure original syne [809] And therby releseth vs from the peynys of helle & amenuseth the peynys of purgatorye by penytence / & ȝeuyth grace weel to do and at the laste the blysse of heuene [810] ¶ The specis of myserycorde been as for to lene & for to ȝeue And to forȝeuyn & to relesyn and for to han pete in herte / & compassioun of the myschif of his euene cristene and ek to chastise there as is neede [811] A nothir maneere of remedye ageyns auaryce; is resonable largesse But sothly heere be-howith the con|sideracioun of the grace of Ihesu crist & of his temperel goodis And ek of the goodis perdurable that crist ȝaf to vs [812] & to han remembraunce of the deth that he schal resceyue he not whanne wheere ne how and ek that he schal forgoon al that he hath / saue only that he hath spendid in goode werkis /

[813] But for asmeche as some folk been onmesur|able / men oughte to eschewe fol largesse that men clepyn wast. [814] ¶ Certis he that is fol large / he ȝevith not his catel but he lesith his catel Sothli wat thyng that he ȝeuyth for veynglorye as to menstrallis & to folk to beryn his renoun in the world he hath synne therof & non almesse [815] Certis he lesyth foule his good / that he ne sekyth with the ȝifte of his good no thyng but synne. [816] he is lyk to an hors that that sekyth rathere to drynkyn drouy or trouble watyr than for to drynke watyr of the cleere welle. / [817] ¶ And for as meche as they . . . .no gap in MS. schulde not ȝeuyn to hem apartenyth thilke malicioun that Crist schal ȝeuyn at the day of dome to hem that schuln be dampned

 Sequitur Gula

[Two figures, of a man, 'Glotenye', riding on a bear or sloth?, and of a woman, 'Abstinence', crownd and halo'd, with a jug in the right hand, and a flower in the left. See the Society's Chaucer Autotypes, Part 2.]

[818] AFtir Auarice comyth Glotenye whiche is expres ek a-geyns the comaundement of god Glotenyee/ is vnmesurable apetit to ete or to drynke or ellis to don I-now to the onmesurable appetit / & disordeyned coueytyse to etyn or to drynke [819] ¶ This synne corrumpid / al this world as is weel schewyd in the synne of adam & of eue. Loke ek what seyth seynt poule of glotenye. [820] Manye seyth seynt Poule goon of whiche I haue ofte seyd to ȝow & now I seye it wepynge that been the enmyis of the croys of crist of whiche the ende is deth and of whiche here wombe is here god & here glorye in confusioun of hem that so deuouryn erthely thyngis [821] he that is vsaunt to this synne of glotenye he ne may no synne withstonde he mot been in seruage of alle vicis / for it is the deuillis hord there he hydith hym and restith [822] this synne hat manye spicis / ¶ The ferste is dronkenesse / that is the horible sepulture of mannys resoun / And ther|fore whan a man is dronkyn; he hath lost resoun & this is dedly synne // [823] ¶ But sothly whan a man is not woned to strong drynk & parauenture ne knowith not the strenthe of the drynk or hath febilnesse in his heed / or hath trauayled / thour whiche he drenkyth the moore / Al be he sodeynly cauȝt with drynk it is no dedly synne but venyal [824] ¶ The secunde spece of glotenye is // that the spirit of a man / wexeth al trouble for dronkenesse; bereuyth hym the discrecioun of his wit. [825] ¶ The thredde spece of Glotenye is whan a man deuourith his mete / & hath not ryghtful manere of etynge. [826] ¶ The fourte is whan thour the greete habund|aunce of his mete. the humuris in his body been dis|temperede [827] ¶ The fifte is forȝetefulnesse be too meche drynkynge for whiche sumtyme a man forȝetith on the morwe what he dede at euyn or on the nyght be-forn

[828] ¶ In othere manerys been distynit the specis of glotenye aftyr seynt Gregorye ¶ The ferste is for to etyn be|fore tyme of etynge ¶ The secunde is whan a man get hym to delicat mete or drynk. [829] ¶ The thredde whan men takyn ouyr mesure ¶ The forte is curiositee with greet entent to makyn & apparaylyn his mete ¶ The fifte is for to ete gredileche. [830] ¶ These been the fyue fyngerys of the deuyllis hand be whiche he drawyth folk to synne

Remedium contra peccatum Gule

[831]

Ageyns glotenye is the remedie Abstynence as seyth Galiene / but that holde I not meritorye / ȝif he do it only for the hele of the body. Seynt Augustyn wele that abstynence be doon forvertu & not for vice / but with pacyence. [832] Abstynence he seyth is lytil worth but ȝif a man haue ryght good wil therto & but it be enforsed bi pacience / And be charite & that men don it for godis sake And in 1hope to haue the blysse of heuene

[833] ¶ The felawis of abstynence been attemper|aunce/ that holdith1[1_1 MS. repeats hope to haue the blysse of heuene ¶ The felawis of abstynence been Attemperaunce. that holdith] the meene in alle thyngis. Ek schame that eschewith al disoneste ¶ Sufferaunce that sekith no ryche metis ne drenkys / ne doth no fors of too outragious apparaylynge of mete. [834] Mesure also that restreynyth by resoun the dislaue appetit of etynge / Sobirnesse also that restreynyth the outrage of drynk. [835] Sparynge also that restreynyth the delicat man as is to sitte longe at his mete & softely wherfore some folk stondyn of here owene wil to etyn at the lasse leyser.[Two paintings, "Lecherye," seated on a goat, with a sparrow (both animals types of lechery) on her right forefinger, and "Chastite" standing on the rump and forepaws of some tawny couchant tuskt animal, with a spear in her hand.]

 Sequitur de peccato Luxurie

[836]

AFtyr glotonye comyth Lecherye For these two synnys been so nygh Cosynys / that ofte tyme thei wele not departe god [837] wot This synne is ful displesaunt thyng to god For he seyde hym self. Do no lecherye And therfor he putte greete peynys a-geyn this synne in the olde lawe / [838] ¶ If woman thral were takyn in this synne sche schulde been betyn with stonys to the deth. And ȝif sche weere a gentil weman sche schulde be slayn with stonys / And if sche were a bischopis doughtyr sche schulde been brent by godis comaundement. [839] ferthere ouyr bi the synne of lecherye god drenkte al the world / at the diluge / and aftyr that he brente .v. ceteis with thundyr liȝth & sank in to helle

[840] ¶ Now lat vs speke of that stynkende Synne of lecherye. that men clepe auouterye of weddede folk / that is to seyne that ȝif that on of hem be weddit or ellis bothe. [841] Seynt Ioon seyth auouteryis schuln been in helle in a stark brennynge fere of bronston . . . . .no gap in the MS. for the stynk of here ordure [842] ¶ Certis the brekynge of this sacrementis is an orrible thyng / it was makyd of god hym self in Paradys. & confermed be Ihesu crist. as witnesseth seynt Mathew / in the gospel / A· man schal lete fadir & modyr / & takyn hym to his wif / And they schuln ben two in on flesch. [843] This sacrement be-toke|nyth the knyttynge to-gedere of Crist & of holy chirche / [844] And nat only that god forbad auoutrye in dede.[MS. adds in text, Non concu|pisces uxorem proximi tui (on an erasure).] but ek he comaundede that thow schuldist not coueyte thyn neyhebouris wif. [845] And in this heste seyth seynt augustyn; is forbodyn alle manere coueytyse to doon lecherye. lo what seyth seynt Mathew in the gospel. That ho so seth a woman to coueytyse. of his lust he hath doon lecherye with hire in herte / [846] Heere may ȝe seen that nat only the deede of this synne / is forbodyn. but ek the desir to doon that synne / [847] This cursede synne a-noyeth greuously hem that it hauntyn. & ferst to here soule. for he obligeth it to synne. & to peyne of deth that is perdurable [848] On to the body anoyeth it greuously also. ffor it dreyeth hym And wastith hym also & schyndyth hym. And of his blood he makyth sacrifise to the deuyl of helle it wastith his catel . . . . .[849] . . . . .no gap in the MS. on women. // ȝet it is a foulere thyng whan that for swich ordure wemen spendyn vp-on men here catel & here substance. [850] This synne as seyth the prophete / bereuyth man & woman here goode fame & al here honour / & it is ful plesaunt to the deuyl. For therby wynnyth he the more party of this world [851] And ryght as a marchaunt delytith hym most in chaffare that he hath most auau[n]tage of. ryght so dely tith the feend in this ordure

[852] ¶ Thys is that othir hand of the deuyl with .v. fyngerys / to cache the peple to his vilanye / [853] The ferst fyngir is / the fool lokynge of the fool woman. And of the fool man. that sleth rygh as the Baselycok sleth folk by the venyn of his syth. for the coueytyse of eyen; folwith the coueytyse of the herte. [854] ¶ The secunde fyngir is the vyleyns touchynge in wekede manere And therfore seyth Salomon. that ho so touchith a woman or handelith; he farth lyk to hym that handelyth the skorpyoun that styngith & sodeynly sleth thour his enuenymynge. As ho so touche warm pych. it schent hise fyngerys [855] The thredde is foule wordys. that farth lyk fuyr that rygh a-non brennyth the herte. [856] The fourte fynger is. the kyssynge. And trewely he weere a greet fool that wolde kysse the mouth of a brennynge ouene or of a forneys [857] And moore folys been they. that kessyn in vilenye. for that mouth is the mouth of helle. and namely these olde dotardys holouris ȝit wole they kisse and smatere hem thow they may nat doon. [858] Certis they been lyke to houndys. for an hound whan he comyth by the roser. or by othere beauteis. thow he may not pisse. ȝit wele he heue vp his leg and make a cun|tenau[n]ce to pisse. [859] And for that manye men wenyth. that he may not synne for no lykerousnesse that he doth with his wif. Certis ȝit the opynyoun is fals God wot a man may sleen hym self. with his owene knyf And make hym self dronke of his owene ale or of his owene wyn. [860] Certis be it wif be it child. or ony wordely thyng that he louyth by-forn god. it is his maumet. & he is an ydolastre. [861] Man schulde louyn his wif by dyscrecyoun paciently. & attemprelly. And thanne is sche as they it weere his systir. [862] ¶ The fyfte fyngir of the deuyllys hand; is the stynkynge dede of lecherye. [863] Certis the .v. fyngyr of glotenye the fend put in the wombe of a man. And with his fyue fyngerys of lecherye; he grypyth hym by the regnys / for to throwyn hym in-to the furneys of helle. [864] theere as they schal have the fyre that euere schal laste / & wepynge & waylynge & scharp hongir & thurst grymnesse of deuyllis / that schuln al to-trede hem with-outyn . .no gap in MS. ende. [865] ¶ Of lecherye as I seyde Sourdyn dyuerse spechis / as fornycacioun. that is between man & woman that been not maried. And this is dedly synne. and a-geyns nature. [866] Al that is enemy & distruxioun to nature; is a-geyns nature [867] parfay The resoun of a man tellyth eek hym weel that it is dedly synne. ffor as moche as god forbad lecherye And seynt poule ȝeuyth hem the regne that ne is dewe to no wyȝt But to hem that don no dedly synne. [868] A nothir synne of lecherye is; to bereue a maydynhede. for sertis he that so doth; he castyth a maydyn out of the heyeste degre that is in this present lyf. [869] And be-reuyth hire the ilke precyouse freut that the book clepith the hunderede freut I ne can seye it noon othere weyis in engelisch but in latyn it hyȝte Centesimus fructus [870] Certis he that so doth is cause of manye damagis & vylenyis mo than ony man can rekene. ryght as he sumtyme is cause of alle damagis that bestis doon in the feeld / that brekyn hegis of the closeure / thorw whiche he distroyeth that may not been restrored. [871] ffor certis no more may maydynhede; . .no gap in the MS. than an arm that is smetyn from the body may returne a-geyn & wexe. [872] Sche may haue mercy this wete I weel / ȝif sche haue wil to don penytence / but neuere schal it be that sche nas corupt. / [873] And al it so be. that I haue spoke sumwhat of avouterye; it is good to schewyn perilys that longyn to a-uouterye. ffor to eschewe that foule synne // [874] Auouterye in latyn is for to seyne aprochynge of othere manys bed / thorw whiche / tho that whilom weere on flesch Aboundone here bodyis to othere personys. [875] Of this synne as seyth the wyse man folwyn manye harmys. Fyrst brekynge of feyth. And certis in feyth is the keye of cristendom [876] And what that feyth is brokyn & lorn; sothly cristendam stant veyn. And withoutyn freut. [877] this syne is ek a thefte. for thefte generally is as to reue a wight his thyng ageyns his wil [878] Certis this is the fouleste thefte that may be / whan a woman stelyth hire body from hire husbonde & ȝeuyth it to hire holour / to defoulyn hire And stelyth hire soule from cryst / & ȝeuyth it to the deuyl / [879] this is a foulere thefte than for to breke a cherche & stele awey the chalys ¶ ffor these auoutyeris brekyn the temple of god / spirituelly & stelyn the vessel of grace that is the body & the soule / For whiche Crist schal distroye hem as seyth seynt poule. [880] ¶ Sothly of this thefte doutede greetly Iosep whan that his lordys wif preyede him of vylenye / whan he seyde lo myn lady how myn lord hath take to me vndyr myn warde al that he hath in this world / ne nothyng of his thyngis is out of myn power but only ȝe that been hise wyf [881] And how schulde I thanne do this wekedenesse & synne so horyble a-geyns god. & a-geyns myn lord / god it for-beede Allas al to lytil is swich trouthe now I-founde [882] The thredde harm is the fylthe thorw whiche they breke the comaundement of god / & defoule the auctour of matrymonye that is cryst [883] for certis in so meche as the sacrement of maryage is so noble & so dygne; so meche is it grettere synne for to brekyn it for god made maryage in paradys In the estaat of innocence to multyplye mankynde in the seruyse of god / [884] and therfore is the brekynge therof the more greuous / Of whiche brekynge comyn false eyrys ofte tyme that wrongfully ocupye menys eritage And therfore god wele putte hem out of the regne of heuene that is herytage to goode folk. [885] ¶ Of this brekynge comyth ek that folk that onwar weddyn or synnyn with here owene kenrede / And namely thilke harlotys / that hauntyn bordelys / of this folk; women mowe be lykenede to a comune gonge wheere as men porgin here ordure. [886] // What sey we ek of putruse that lyuyn by the horryble synne of putrye And constreynyn wemen to ȝeuyn to hem a certeyn rente of here bodyly putrye. ȝa sumtyme of his owene wif or his child as doon these baudys. Certys these been cursede synnys [887] ¶ Vndyrstond ek that auouterye is set in the ten comaundementis be-twixe thefte & man|slauȝthere for it is the gretteste thefte that may be for it is thefte of body & of soule / [888] and it is lyk to homycyde / for it keruyth a too / & brekyth atwo; hem that ferst were makid o flesch. And therfore by the olde lawe of god; they schulde been slayn / [889] But natheles by the lawe of Ihesu crist that is lawe of pite / whan he seyde to the woman that was foundyn in auouterye / & schulde han ben slayn with stonys aftyr the wil of the Iewys as was here lawe. Go quod Ihesu crist & haue no more wil to synne or wille no more to synne. [890] ¶ Sothly the vengeaunce of Auouterye; is awardit to the peynys of helle. but if so be that that it be disturbit be penytence [891] ¶ ȝit been there moore spicis of these cursede synne / as whan that on of hem is relygious / or ellis bothe / or of folk that been entrid in-to ordere. as subdekene / dekene. & preest / or ospitallerys / And euere the heyere that he is in ordere; the moore is the synne [892] ¶ The thyngis that gretly agreggyn here synne; is the brekynge of here awowe of chastite whan they resceyuyn the ordere. [893] And ferthere ouyr soth is that holy ordere is cheef of al the tresore of god / & his especial sygne & marke of chastite to schewe that they been ioyned / to chastite whiche that is most precious lyf that is / [894] and these orderede folk been specially tytelede to god / and of . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. his peple / for they leuyn of the peple. . . . .no gap in the MS. [895] Prestis been aungellys / as by the dignetee of here mysterie but forsothe seynt Poule seyth that Sathanas transformede hym in an angel of lyght. [896] Sothly that preest that hauntyth dedly synne he may been lykkened to the aungel of derknesse transformed hym in to the aungel of lygh. he semyth Aungel of lyght but forsothe he is aungel of derknesse [897] Sweche prestis been the sonys of belyal as seyth in the book of kyngis / that they weere the sonys of Belyal that is the deuyl. [898] Belial is to seyne with-outyn Iuge / And so farn they. hem thynkyth they been free and haue no Iuge no moore. than hath a fre bole / that takyth euery cow of the toun that hym likyth / [899] So farn they be wemen / for riȝt as on fre bole is I-nowgh for al a toun; righ so is a wekkede prest corupcioun I-now for al a parisch or for al a cuntre / [900] these prestis as seyth the bok ne kunne not mynystre the mysterie of presthode to the peple / ne god ne knowe they not / they ne helde hem nat a-payed / as seith the book of sodyn flesch that was to hem offered; but they take by forse the flesch tat is raw. / [901] Sertis so these schrewis / ne holde hem nat apayed / of rostede flesch & sode flesc[h] with whiche the peple fedyth hem with greet reuerence / but they wele haue raw flesch of folkys wyuys / And here douȝteris / [902] And sertis these wemen that consentyn to here harloterye; doon gret wrong to crist & to holy cherche & alle halwys & to alle soulis. for they bereue alle these hym that schulde worschepe cryst & holy cherche & preye for cristene soulys [903] And therfore han sweche prestis / & here lemanys ek that consentyn to here lecherye; the malysoun of al the court cristene til they come to a-mendement. [904] ¶ The thredde spece of auouterye; is sumtyme be-twixe a man & his wif / And that is whan they take no reward in here assemblynge; but only to here fleschly delit / as seyth seynt Ierome / [905] and ne rekkyn of no thyng but that they been assemblit / bi cause that they been maryed / al is good I-now as thynkyth to hem / [906] but in swich folk / hat the deuyl power as seit the aungel Raphael to Thobie / for in here assemblynge they putte Ihesu crist out of here herte & ȝeuyn hem self to alle ordure. [907] The forte spece is the assemblynge of hem that been of . . . . .no gap in the MS. oon affynytee. Or ellis of hem with whiche here faderis / or here kenrede han delid / in the synne of lecherye / this synne makyth hem lyk to houndys that take no keep to kenrede. [908] And certis parentele is in two manerys othir gostely oth[ir] fleschly. Gostly as for to dele with his gossib. [909] for rygh so as he that engenderyth a child / is his fleschely fadyr; rygh so is his godfadyr his fadyr esspirytuel. for whiche a weman may in no lasse synne assemble with hire gossib than with hire owene fleyschely brothyr. [910] ¶ The fyfte spece is. thilke abo mynable synne of whiche abhomynable synne that no man onethe oughte speke of . . . . .[911] . . . . .no gap in the MS. horrible synne . . . . .no gap in the MS. that schynyth on the myxene. [912] A nothir synne apartenyth to lecherye that comyth slepynge and this synne comyth ofte to hem that been maydenys And ek to hem that been corupt & this synne men clepyn polucioun that comyth of iij manerys / [913] Sumtyme of languyschynge of body for the humouris been to ranke & habundant in the body of man / Sumtyme of Infyrmyte for the febillesse of the vertu retentyf / as Phisyk makyth mencyoun Sumtyme of surfeet of mete & drynk. [914] And sumtyme of vyleyns thoughtys that been enclosede in mannys mynde whan he gooth to slepyn / whiche may not been withoutyn synne / For whiche men muste kepe hem wysely / or ellis men may synne ful greuously.

 Remedium contra peccatum luxurie

[915]

NOw comyth the remedie a-geyns lecherye & that is generally chastite & contynence that re|streynyth alle dysordenee meouyngis that comyn of fleschely talentys [916] And euere the gretter meryt schal he han / that most restreynyth the wekede eschewyngis of the ordure of this synne And this is in two manerys that is to seyne chastite in maryage and chastyte in wedewehode / [917] Now schalt thow vndyrstonde that matrymonye is lefful assemblynge of man & woman that resseyuyn be wertu of this sacrement the bond thurgh whiche they may not be departid in al here lyf that is to synne whiche that they leuyn bothyn. [918] This as seyth the bok is a ful greet sacrement / god makede it as I haue seyd in paradys / And wolde hym self been born in maryage / [919] & for to halwyn in maryage he was at a weddyng where as he turnede watyr in to wyn / whiche was the ferste myrakele that he wrouȝte / in erthe by-forn hise dissyplys / [920] Trewe effect of maryage / clensyth fornycacyoun / & replenyschith holy cherche of goode lynage / for that is the ende of maryage & chaungith dedly synne in to venyal synne be-twyxen hem that been I-weddyt / & makyth the hertis of on of hem that been I-weddyt as weel as the bodyis [921] Verray maryage was establysschid / by god er that synne be-gan. whan naturel lawe was in his ryghte poynt in paradys. ¶ And it was ordeynyd / that oon man schulde han but oon woman And on woman but on man As seyth seynt augustyn by manye resonys /

[922] ffyrst for maryage is figurd be-twyxe crist & holy cherche / & that othir is for a man is heuyd of a woman. algate by ordenaunce it schulde be so. [923] For if a woman hadde mo men than oon; thanne schulde sche haue mo heuedys than on / And that were an horyble synne / by-forn god / And ek A woman ne myghte not / plese two manye men at onys and also theere schulde neuere been pees ne reste amongis hem / for eueryche wolde axe his owene thing [924] ¶ And ferthere ouyr no man schulde knowe his owene en|genderure ne ho schulde haue his erytage / And the woman schulde been the lesse be-louyd / for the tyme that sche weere comeynt to manye men

[925] ¶ Now comyth how that a man / schulde bere hym with his wif & namely in two thyngis / that is to seyne in sufferaunce & reuerence as shewith crist whan he made ferst woman / [926] for he ne made hire not of the heed of Adam; for [sche] schulde not cleyme to greet lorschepe / [927] For theere as the woman hath the maystrye; sche makyth to greet disray Theere nedyn none exsaumplis of this / the experience day be day oughte I-now suffyse. [928] ¶ Also certis god ne made not woman / of the foot of Adam / for sche schulde not ben holdyn to lowe / for sche can not pacyently suffere / but god made woman of the ribbe of man; for woman schulde been felawe on to man. [929] Man schulde beryn hym vnto his wif / in feyth in trouthe / & in love as [seyth] seynt Poule that a man schulde louyn his wif as crist lovede holy cherche that louede it so weel that he deyede for it / So schulde a man for his wif If it weere neede.

[930] ¶ Now how that a woman schulde been subiect to hyre housbonde / that tellyth seynt Petyr fyrst in obedi|ence / [931] And ek as seyth the Decree a woman that is wif as longe as schche is a wyf sche hath non autorite to swere ne bere witnesse with oute leue of hire husbonde that is here lord/ algatis he schulde be so be resoun / [932] sche schulde ek seruyn hym in alle onestee / & been attempre of hire aray I wot wel that they schulde sette here entent to plese here hus|bondis. But not by queyntyse of aray [933] ¶ Seynt Ierom seyth that vyuys that been apparaylede in silk and in precious purpure; ne mowe not clothe hem in Ihesu crist What seith seynt Ion ek in thys matyere. [934] Seynt gregory ek seyth that no wight sekyth precious aray; but only for veynglorie to been honoured the moore be-forn the peple. [935] It is a greet folye a woman to haue a greet aray outward / And in hire self be foul inward [936] ¶ A wif schulde ek be mesurable / in lokynge & in berynge & in laughynge & discreet in alle hire wordis / & hire dedis. [937] And a-bouyn alle wordely thyngis sche schulde loue hire husbonde with al hire herte / & to hym been trewe / of hire body / [938] so schulde an husbonde been to his wif / For sythe that alle the body is the husbondis so schulde hire herte been / or ellis theere is by-twixe hem two; as in that; no parfyt maryage [939] ¶ Thanne schal we vndyr|stonde that for thre thyngis a man & his wyf fleschly moun assemble The fyrste is in entent of engen|derure of childeryn to the seruyse of good / for certis there is the cause fynal of matrymonye [940] ¶ A nothir cause is to ȝeldyn euerych of hem to othir the dettis of here bodijs / for neythyr of hem hath power of here owene body. The thredde is for to eschewe lecherye & vilenye / The forte is forsothe dedly synne [941] ¶ As to the fyrste is meritorye the secunde also. For as seith the Decree / that sche hath merite of chastite that ȝeldyth to hire husbonde the dette of hire body. ȝe thow it be a-geyn hire likyng & the lust of hire herte. [942] The thredde manere is venyal synne / . . . . .no gap in the MS. for the corupcioun & for the delyt. [943] The fourte manere is for to vndirstonde / ȝif they assemble only for amorous loue / & for noon of the forseyde causys / but for to exemplice thilke brennynge delit they rekke neuere how ofte Sootly it is dedly synne. And that with sorwe some folk wele peynyn hem more to doon; than here apetit suffisyth.

[944] ¶ The secunde manere of chastite is / for to been a cleene wedewe / & eschewe the enbrasyngis of man / And desyre the enbrasyngis of Ihesu crist / [945] These been tho that han been wyuys And han forgetyn here hus|bondys. And ek wemen that han doon lecherye. & been resseyuyd be penytence. [946] And certis ȝif that a wyf coude kepyn hire al chast by lycence of hire husbonde / So that sche ȝeue noon occasyoun that he agilte it were to hire a greet merite. [947] This manere of wemen that obseruyn chastite . . . . .no gap in the MS. in clothynge & in cuntenaunce abstinent in etynge & drynkynge in spekynge & in deede they been the vessel or the Boyste of the blyssede Magdelyn that fulfillyth holy cherche of good odour [948] ¶ The iij manere of chastite; is vyrgynyte / & it be-houyth that it be holy in herte and cleene of body thanne is sche spouse to Ihesu crist. And sche is the lyf of aungellis / [949] Sche is the preysynge of this world / And sche is as these martyrys egalyte / sche hat in hire that tunge may not telle / ne herte thynke / [950] Virginyte bar oure lord Ihesu crist. And virgyne was hym selue.

[951] ¶ Anothir remedye ageyn lecherye is this / specyally to withdrawe sweche thyngis as ȝeuyn occasioun to thilke vilenye as ese etynge & drynkynge. ffor certis whan the pot boylyth strongely; the beste remedye is to with|drawe the feer [952] Slepynge longe in greet quyete; is ek a gret noryce to lecherye

[953] ¶ A nothir remedye a-geyn lecherye is that a man or a woman eschewe the cumpaygnye of hem be whiche he doutyth to been temptyd / For al be it so / that the dede is withstonden ȝit is theere greet temptacioun [954] Sotly a whit wal al thow it brenne not with stekynge of a candele; ȝit is the wal blak of the lyght. [955] Ful ofte tyme I reede that no man ful truste in his owen perfeccioun. but he be strengere than Sampsoun. or holyere than Danyel. And wisere than Salomon

[956] ¶ Now aftyr that I haue declared / ȝow as I can the seuene dedly synnys / And some of here braunchis. & here remedyis. Sothly ȝif I coude I wolde telle ȝow the ten Comaunndementis. [957] but so high doctryne I lete to deuynes. Natheles I hope to god they been touchede in this tretyse eueryche of hem alle./

 Sequitur iija.iija and pars Penitencie 3Decem mandata33_3 corrected.

[958]

NOw for as meche as the secunde partye of penytence stant in confessioun of mechil as I be-gan in the ferste chapitere I seye seynt Augustyn seyth / [959] Synne is euery word / & euery dede & al that men coueyte ageyn the lawe of Ihesu crist And this is for to seyne. in herte in mouth & in dede by the fyue wittys / that is by herynge syghte smellynge tastynge or sauourynge and felynge [960] ¶ Now is it good to vndyrstondyn ¶ That þat aggreggith mechil euery syne / [961] Thow schat considere what that thow art that dost that synne / Whedyr thow be male or femele / ȝong. or old/ gentil. or thral / fre. or seruaunt. hol or sek / weddit or sengele / ordered. or onordered / wis. or fol. Clerk. or Seculer / [962] yf sche be of thyn kynrede. bodyly or gostely or noon / ȝif ony of thyn kenrede haue synned with hire or non And manye mo thyngis

[963] ¶ A nothir circumstaunce is this / Whethir it be doon in fornycacioun or in auouterye / or non. . . . .no gap in the MS. in manere of homycide or non / horrible greete synnys. or smale & how longe thow hast contynued in synne [964] ¶ The thredde circumstaunce is the place there thow hast do synne. Whethyr in othere menys hovs or in thyn owene. In feeld or in cherche or in cherche hawe. in cherche dedicat or non / [965] ffor if the cherche be halwyd. And man or woman spylle his kynd withinne that place be woye of synne / or be wekede temptacioun / the cherche is entretydede . . . . .no gap in the MS. [966] And the prest that dede swiche. the terme of al his lyf he schulde not synge no masse. & ȝif he dede he schulde do dedly synne. at euery tyme that he schulde so synge messe. [967] ¶ The fourte circumstaunce is by sweche medya|tourys or be sweche messangerys / as for entysement or for consentement to bere compaygnye with fals schepe. for manye a wreche for to bere compaignye wele go to the deuyl of helle [968] wherfore they that eggyn or con|sentyn / to the synne been partenerys of the synne / And of the temptacyoun of the synnere

[969] ¶ The fifte circumstaunce is / how manye tymys that he hath synnyd / ȝif it be in his mynde / & how ofte that he hath falle / [970] for he that hath ofte falle in synne / he dispiseth the mercy of god / and encresith his synne And is vnkynde to cryst / And he wexeth the moore feble to withstonde synne / & synnyth the moore lyghtely / [971] & the lattere aryseth / & is the moore eschew for to schryue hym / an namely to hym that is his con|fessour. [972] For whiche that folk whan they falle a-geyn in there olde folyis othir they for-ȝete here olde confessouris al outrely or ellys they departyn here schrifte in dyuers placcis But sothly sweche departede schrifte deseruyth no mercy of god / of hise synnys [973] The sexte Circum|staunce is why that a man synnyth as by temptacyoun / & ȝif hym selue procure the ilke temptacyoun or by the ex|cytynge of othere folk. or if he synne with a woman by force or by hire owene assent [974] orr ȝif the woman maugre hire heed / hath been aforced or non / this schal sche telle. for coueytyse or for pouerte / & ȝif it was hire procurynge or non & swiche manere harneyes [975] ¶ The Seuynte circumstance / is in what manere he hath doon his synne / or how that sche haue sufferede that folk han don to hire [976] & the same schal the man telle with alle circumstauncys And whedyr he hath synnyd with comoun bordel wemen or noon / [977] or don his synne in holy tymys or non In fast|ynge tyme or non / or by forn his schrifte / or aftyr his laste schrifte / [978] and hath parauenture brokyn therfore his penaunce enioyned be whos helpe & whos conseyl / by sorcerye / or craft al must ben told [979] ¶ Alle these thyngis aftyr that they been greete or smale engreggyn the concyence of man & ek of the prest that is thyn Iuge may the betere been auysed of his Iugement in ȝeuynge of thyn penance & that is aftyr thyn contrycyoun [980] ¶ ffor vndyrstonde wel that aftyr that tyme that a man hath defouled his bapteme by synne if he wele come to saluacioun / there is non othir weye but be penytence & schryfte and satisfaccioun / [981] & namely by the two / if there be a confessour to whiche he may schryue hym / And the threde If he haue lyf to parforne it

[982] ¶ Thanne schal men loke and consydere that ȝif he wele make a trewe & a profitable confessioun there muste been .iiij. condisciounnys / [983] ffyrst it moote been in sorweful . . . . .no gap in the MS. bittyrnesse of myn herte / [984] this condicioun of bittyr|nesse hath .v. signys The ferste is that confessioun mote been schamefast not for to couere ne hyde his synne / for he hath a-gilt his god & defouled his soule ./ [985] And herof seyth seynt Augustyn / the herte trauaylyth for schame of his synne & for he hath greet schamefastnesse he is digne to haue greet mercy of god [986] ¶ Swych was the confessioun of the Publican that wolde not heue vp hise eyen to heuene for he hadde offendit god of heuene / for whiche schamefastnesse he hadde a-non the mercy of god / [987] And therof seith seyn Augustyn that sweche schameful folk been next forȝeuenesse & remyssioun [988] ¶ A nothir sygne is humylite in confessioun of whiche seyth seynt Petyr / Humblith ȝow vndyr the mygh of god / the hond of god is myghty in confessioun / for therebi god forȝeuyth the thynne synys / for he alone hath the power / [989] & this humylite schal been in herte / & in signe outward / for rygh as he hath humylite to god in his herte / rygh so schulde he humble his body outward / to the prest that sittyth in godis place / [990] For which in no maner seth that Crist is Souereyn & the prest meene & Mediatour be|twethe Crist & the synnere. And the synnere is the laste be weye of resoun / [991] thanne schulde not the synnere sitte as heye as the Confessour; but knele by-forn hym or at hise feet / but if maledye disturbe it / for he schal not take kep who sit there; but in whois place that he sittyth. [992] A man that hath trespased to a lord / & comyth for to axe mercy / & makyn his acord / & sette hym doun a-non by the lord / men wolde holde hym outrageous & not worthy so sone to haue remyssioun ne mercy. [993] The thredde signe is how that thyn schrifte schulde ben ful of teerys if man may / & ȝif he may not wepyn with his bodily eyen. let hym wepe in herte / [994] swich was the confessioun of seynt petir / for aftyr that he hadde forsake ihesu Crist he wente out & wepte ful bittyrly [995] ¶ The ferthe signe is that he ne lette not for schame to schewyn his confessioun [996] Swich was the confessioun of marye Maudelyn that ne sparede for no shame of hem that weryn at the feste for to go to oure lord ihesu Crist & beknowe to hym here synnys // [997] ¶ The fifte signe is that a man or a woman be obeysaunt to resceyue the penaunce that hem is enioynyd / ffor certis Ihesu Crist for the giltis of man was obeysaunt to the deth

[998] ¶ The secunde condicyoun of verray confessyoun is that it be hastyly don / For certis if a man hadde a dedly wounde. euere the lengere that he taryede to wariche hym self / the more wolde it corupte & haste hym to his deth / & ek the wounde wolde be the werse to hele. [999] And rygh so faryth synne that long tyme is in a man o-nschewid / [1000] Certis a man oughte hastyly schewyn hise synnys for manye causys as for dred of deth that comyth off the sodeynly / & no serteyn what tyme it schal be ne in what plase / And ek the drechynge of on synne drawyth in a-nothir / [1001] & ek the lengere that he taryeth / the ferthere he is from crist / And ȝif he a-byde to his laste day / skarsely may he schryue hym or re|membre hym of hise synnys or repente for the greuous maledye of his deth [1002] And for as meche / as he ne hath not in his lyf herkenyd Ihesu Crist . . . . .no gap in the MS. at his laste day & skarsely whil he herkenyth hym [1003] And vndyrstonde that this condycioun / muste haue .iiij. thyngis ¶ Thyn schryfte muste been purueyed by-forn & a-vysed / for wekede haste doth no profit / And that a man can schryue hym of hise synnys be it of pryde or of enuye & so forth with the spechis & circumstauncis [1004] & that he haue comprehendit in his mynde the noumbre & the gretnesse of hise synnys / & how longe that he hath leyn in synne / [1005] & ek that he be contrit of hise synnys & in stedefast purpos with the grace of god neuere eft to falle in synne. And ek that he dreede & countrewayte hym self that he fle the occasiounnys of synne / to wheche he is enchynyd / [1006] Also thow schalt schryue the of alle synnys to on man / & not a parcel to oo man / & a parcel to a nothir man ¶ That is to vndyrstonde / en entent to departen thyn confessioun / as for schame or dreed for it is but strangelynge of thyn soule / [1007] For certis ihesu crist is entyerely al good / in hym nys non imperfeccioun And therfore othir he forȝeuyth al parfitly or neuere a del. [1008] I sey not if thow be assygnit to the pentauncer for certeyn synne / that thow art bounde to schewyn hym alle the remenaunt of thynne synnys / of wheche thow hast be schreuyn of to thyn curat but if it lyke to the / of thyn humylite / this is no departynge of schrifte [1009] ¶ Ne I seye not there is a spice of dyuysioun of confes|sioun / that if thow haue lycence for to schryue the to a dis|creet & to an onest prest / wheere the lykyth & by lycence of thyn curat that thow ne mayst wel schryue the to hym of alle thynne synnys / [1010] but lat no blot been by-hyndyn ¶ Lat non synne been on-told as fer as thow hast remem|braunce / [1011] And whan thow schat be schreuyn to thyn curat telle hym ek alle the synnys that thow hast doon syn thow were last Ischreue / this is no wekede entent / of dyuysioun of schrifte

[1012] Also the verray schrifte axeth certeyn con|dyciounnys / fyrst that thow schryue te by thyn fre wil. noght constreynyd / ne for schame of folk / ne for maledye ne sweche thyngis / for it is resoun that he that trespasith by his fre wil; that by his fre wil confesse his synne / [1013] & that noon othir man telle his synne but hym self / ne he ne schal not nayte ne denye his synne / ne wrathe hym agay[n] the prest/ for his amonestynge to leue synne [1014] ¶ The secunde condicioun is that thyn schrifte be be lauweful. that is to seyne that thow schryuyst the & ek the prest/ that heryth thyn confessioun / been verrayly in the feith of holy cherche / [1015] & that a man ne be not despeyred / of the mercy of Ihu Cryst / As caym or iudas / [1016] And ek a man mote acuse hym selue of his owene trespase / & not a-nothir but he schal blame & wyte hym self / & his owene malyce / of his synne / & noon othir. [1017] but natheles / if that a-nothir man be occasioun / or entysynge of his synne or the estat of a persone / be swich thour his synne / that it is aggreggit or ellis that he may not pleynly schryue hym but he telle the persone with whiche he hath synnyd / thanne may he telle [1018] so that his entente be not to bakbyte the persone / but only to declare his con|fessioun

[1019] ¶ Thow ne schalt not ek / make none lesyngis / in thyn confessioun for humilite parauenture to seyn that thow hast doon synnys of whiche thow were neuere gilty in [1020] for seynt augustyn seyth / if that thow be cause of thyn humilite makyst lesyngis on thyn self / thow ne were not in synne be-forn / ȝit art thow thanne in synne thour thyn speche [1021] ¶ Thow muste ek schewe thyn synne by thyn owene propere mouth but thow be wexe doumb. & nat by no lettere / for thow that hast don the synne; thow schalt haue the schame therfore [1022] ¶ Thow schalt nat ek peyntyn tyn confessioun / by fayre subtyle wordis / to couere the more thyn synne / ffor thanne begilyst thow thyn self / & nat the prest/ thow muste telle it platly be it neuere so foul ne so horrible / [1023] Thow schalt ek schryue the to a prest that is discreet to conseyle the / & ek thow schat not schryue thee for veynglorye / ne for ypocrise / ne for non cause but only for the doubte of ihesu Crist / & the heele of thyn soule / [1024] thow schat nat ek renne sodeynly to the prest to telle hym thyn synne lyghtly as ho so tellit a iape or a tale / but auysely & with gret deuocioun [1025] And generally schryue the ofte if thow ofte falle & a-ryse by confescioun / [1026] And thow thow schryue the oftere than onys of synne of whiche thow hast be schryuen it is the moore meryt / And as seyth seynt augustyn / thow schalt haue more lyghtely relesynge & grace of god / bothe of synne & of peyne [1027] And certis onys a ȝeer at the leste weye it is laueful for to been houseled / for certys onys a ȝer alle thynge renouelyn

[1028] ¶ Now haue I told of verray confessioun that is the secunde party of penytence.

Tercia pars penitencie est Satisfaccio

[1029]

THe thredde partye of penytence is Satisfaccioūn / & that stant most generally in almesse & in bodyly peyne. [1030] ¶ Now be there thre manere of alle manere of almesse / contricioun of herte Wheere a man offeryth hym self / to god / a-nothir is to haue pete / of defaute of hise neigheboris / And the thredde is / in ȝeuynge of good conseyl gostely & bodily where men haue nede & namely sustenaunce of mannys fode. [1031] And take that a man haue nede of these thyngis generally. he hath nede of fode / he hath nede of clothynge. and herberwe he hath nede of charitable conseyl. & visitynge in prisoun / & in maladie / & sepulture of his dede bodi [1032] And if thow mayst not visite the nedeful with thyn persone visite hym bi thyn message & thynne ȝiftys [1033] these been general almessis or werkis of charyte of hem that hath temperel richessis or discrecioun in conseylynge ¶ Of these werkis schalt thow here at the day of dome /

[1034] These almessis schalt thow don of thynne owene propere thyngis and hastyly & priuyly if thow mayst [1035] . . . .no gap in the MS. nat don it pryuyly thow schat not forbere it to don allmesse thow men seen it so that it be nat don for thank of the world / but for the thank only of ihesu Crist. [1036] For as witnessith seynt Matthev .co. 5°. A cete may not been hid that is set on a greet mounteyn / ne men lyghte not a lanterne & putte it vndir a buschel / but men sette it vp on a candel stikke to ȝeuyn lyght to the men in the hous / [1037] Right so schal ȝoure lygh lightyn by-fore men that th[e]y may seen ȝourere goode werkys & gloryfye ȝoure fadyr that is in heuene

[1038] Now as to spekyn of bodyly peyne it stant in preyeris in wakyngis in fastyngis / in vertyuous techyngis of orisounnys [1039] ¶ And ye schal vndyrstonde that orisounnys or preyeris is for to seyne a pitous wil of herte that redresseth it in good / And expresseth it by wil outward to romounnyn harmys & to haue thyngis espirituel & durable & sumtyme temporel thyngis / Of whiche orisounnys / certis in the orisoun of the pater noster / hath ihesu crist enclosed / most thyngis. [1040] Certis it is pryuyleged / of thre thynges in his dignetee. for whych it is more digne / than ony othir preyere for that ihesu Crist hym self makede it [1041] & it is schort for it schulde be coud the moore lyghtely & for to with-holde it the more esyly in herte & helpyn hym self the moore oftere with the orysoun / [1042] & for a man schulde been the lasse werye to seyn it/ & for a man may not excuse hym to lerne it / it is so schort & so esy / & for it comprehendyth in it self alle goode preyeris / [1043] The expocicioun of this holy preyere that is so excellent & digne; I be-take to these maystris of Theologie / saue thus meche wele I seyn thāt whan thow preyest that god schulde for-ȝeuyn the thynne giltys as thow for-ȝeuyst hem that agyltyn to the / be ful weel war that thow ne be nat out of charyte / [1044] This holy orisoun amenuseth ek venyal synne / & therfore it apartenyth specially to penytence

[1045] ¶ This preyere muste been trewely seyd / & in verray feyth & that men preye to god / 1ordinatly & dis|cretly & deuoutly & alwey a man schal putte his wil to be subiect to the wil of god1[1_1 'ordinatly—god;' repeated in MS.] / [1046] this orysoun muste ek be seyd / with gret humblesse / & ful pure honestee / & not to the anoyaunce of ony man or woman It muste ek be contynued with thynne werkys of charitee [1047] It auaylyth ek a-geyn the vicis / of the soule / For as seyth seynt Ierome by fastynge been sauyd the vi cys of the flesch / & be preyerys the vertu of the soule

[1048] Aftyr this thow schat vndyrstonde that bodyly preyere stant in wakynge / ffor Ihesu Crist seith / wakyth & preyeth that ȝe ne entre in wekkede temptacioun / [1049] ȝe schulde vndyrstonde also that fast|ynge stant in thre thyngis / in forberynge of bodyly mete & drynk / & in forberynge of wordely iolytee / & in for|berynge of dedly synne this is to seyne that a man schal kepe hym from dedly synne with al his myght /

[1050] Thow schalt vndyrstonde ek that god ordeynede fastyngis / And to fastynge partenyth iiij thyngis. [1051] largenesse to poore folk. gladnesse of herte espirituel nat to be angry ne a-noyed / ne groche for he fastith. And also rosonable our for to ete be mesour that is for to seyne / a man schal nat ete in on tyme / ne sitte the lengere at his table for he fastyth /

[1052] ¶ Thanne schalt thow vndyrstonde that bodyly peyne stant in disciplyne or techynge be word / or by wrytynge / or in exsaumple / also in werynge of heyrys or of stamyn or of habyrgeouns on here nakede flesch for crystis sake And sweche manere panauncis. [1053] but ware the wel that sweche manere penauncis on thyn flesch ne make the nat ouyr angery or a-noyed of thyn self / for betere is to caste a-wey thyn heyre / than to caste a-wey thyn sekyr|nesse of Ihesu crist [1054] And therfore seyth seynt Poule / clothith ȝow as they that been chosyn of god / in herte of myserycorde / debonayrete / sufferaunce & swich manere of clothynge / of whiche ihesu Crist is more a-payed / than of heyrys / or haubergeouns or hauberkys

[1055] ¶ Thanne is disciplyne ek in knokkynge of thyn brest / in scorgynge with ȝerdys / in knelyngis in tribulaciouns / [1056] in sufferynge paciently wrongis that been doon to the / & ek in pacient sufferaunce of maledyis or lesynge of wordely catel / or of wif or of child / or othere frendys

[1057] ¶ Thanne schalt thow vndyrstonde whiche thyngis disturben penaunce / & this is in .iiij. manerys / That is dreede. schame. hope & wanhope that is desperacioun [1058] ¶ And for to speke ferst of drede for wheche he wenyth that he may suffere no penaunce [1059] There ageyns is remedye for to thynke that bodyly penau[n]ce is but schort & lytil / at regrard of the peyne of helle. that is so crewel & so long that it lastyth with-outyn ende

[1060] ¶ Now a-geyns the schame that a man hath to schryue hym / & namely these ypocritis / that woldyn been holdyn so parfite / that they han non neede to schryue hem[1061]// A-gayns that schame schulde a man thynke / that be weye of resoun that he that hath not been aschamyd / to doon foule thyngis; certis hym oughte not to been aschamyd to doon fayre thyngis / . . . . .[1062] . . . . .no gap in the MS. & alle hese werkys to hym may no thyng been hid / ne couered / [1063] Men schulde ek remembre hem / of the schame that is to come at the day of dome / to hem that been nat penytent / & schryuyn in this present lyf / [1064] for alle the creatourys in erthe & in helle / schulyn seen aperly al that they hidyn in this world

[1065] ¶ Now for to speke of hem that been so necligent & slowe to schryue hem / that stant in two manerys / [1066] that on is for that he hopit to leue longe / & for to purche meche rychesse for his delyt & thanne he wolde schryue hym / And as he seyth hym self thanne tymely I-now / to come to schrifte / [1067] A-nothir is of surquiderye / .i.[.i. = id est] necligent hope that he hath in cristis mercy. [1068] A-gayns the ferste vice / he schal thynke that oure lyf is in no sekyrnesse And ek that alle the rychessis in this world / been in auenture & passyn as a schadewe on the wal. [1069] & as seyth seynt Gregorye that it apertenith to the greete ryght-wisnesse of god that neuere schal the peyne stynte of hem that neuere wolde withdrawe hem / from synne here thankis / but ay contynewe in synne / for thilke . . . . .no gap in the MS. perpetuel peyne.

[1070] ¶ Wanhope is in two maneris / the fyrste wan|hope is in the mercy of crist / that othyr is / that they thynke that they myghte nat longe perseuere in good|nesse // [1071] The ferste wanhope comyth of that he demyth that he hath synnyd so gretly & so ofte & so longe leyn in synne that he schal not been sauyd / [1072] Certis a-geyn that cursede wanhope / schulde he thynke that the passioun of Ihesu Crist is more strong for to onbynde; than synne is strong for to bynde. [1073] ¶ Ageyns the secunde wanhope / he schal thynke that as ofte as he fallyth he may ary[s]e a-geyn by penytence & thow he neuere so longe haue leyn in synne / the mercy of Crist is euere more redy to resceyue hym to mercy. [1074] ¶ A-geyns the wanhope that he demyth / that he schulde nat longe perseuere in goodnesse / he schal thynke that the febilnesse of the deuyl may no thyng don but if men wele suffere hym [1075] And ek he schal han strenthe of the helpe of ihesu crist & of al holy chyrche / & of the protexioun of angelis ȝif hym leste //

[1076] Thanne schal man vndyrstonde what is the meryt[meryt corrected] of penaunce / & aftyr the word of ihesu Cryst it is the endeles blysse / of heuene / [1077] theere Ioye hat non ende no contrarite of woo / ne greuaunce / there alle harmys been passid of this present lyf / theere as is the sekyrnesse from the peyne of helle / theere as is the blysful cumpany that reioysyn hem euere moo euereyche of otherisIoye/[1078] theere as the body of man that wilhom was foul & derk; is moore cler than is the sunne / there as the body that whylom was sik frel & febele & mortal; is inmortal / & so strong & so hol that theere may no man apeyre it / [1079] there as ne is neythyr hungir thrust ne cold but euery soule replenyschid / with the syghte of the parfite knowynge of god [1080] ¶ This blysful regne / may men purchase by pouerte espirituel / & the glorye by lou|nesse / the plente of Ioye with hungir & thurst & the reste; by trauayle / & the lyf be deth & mortificacioun of synne /

Here takyt the makere of this bok his leue:·[Leaf 444 is torn out. Prol. to Legende follows.]

[1081] Reg. 18 C. ii. also has the Epilogue. NOw praie I to hem alle that/ herken this/ litell/ tretis/ orrede it. that/ if ther/ be anye thyng/ in it. þat liketh hem; that ther/ of thei thanken our/ lord ihesu crist/. of/ whom procedith all/ witte & all/ goodnes/. [1082] And if ther/ be anye thyng that displese hem; I praie hem also that/ thei arecte it/ to the defaute of myn vnkonnyng. & not to my will/ that/ wolde fulfayne haue seide bettre if/ I had had kunnyng/. [1083] ffor our/ book/ seith. All/ that/ is/ writen. is/ writen for our/ doctryne & that is/ myn entente. [1084] ¶ Wherfore I beseke you mekeli for the mercy of god that/ ye praie for me that crist haue mercy on me. & for-yeue me my giltes/. [1085] & namli of my translacions/ & enditynges/ of worldli vanytees/. the whiche I reuoke in my retraccions/. [1086] ¶ As/ is/ the book/ of/ Troilus/. ¶ The book also of ffame. ¶ The book/ of/ the .25. ladies/. ¶ The/ book/ of/ the Duchesse. ¶ The book/ of/ seynt Valentynes/ daie of the parlement/ of briddes/. ¶ The talis/ of Cauntir|burie that/ sownen in to synne. [1087] The book/ of/ the Lion. & manye anothir/ boke. if/ thei were in my remembraunce. And manye a song/. & mony a lecherous/ laye. that/ crist/ for his/ gret/ mercy foryeue me the synne. [1088] ¶ But of the translacion of Boyce de consolacione; & other/ bokis/ of/ Legendis/ of seyntes/ & Omelies/ & moralite & deuocion [1089] þer of/ thanke/ I our/ lord ihesu crist & his/ blessid modir/ & alle the seyntes/ of heuyn [1090] besechyng/ hem that/ thei from hens/ forth vn to my lyues/ ende. sende me grace be-waile my giltes/. & to studie to sauacion of/ my soule. And graunt me grace of verye penaunce con|fession & satisfaccion to don in this/ present/ lif [1091] thorogh the benyngne grace of hym that is/ kyng/ of/ kynges & preest/ of/ alle preestis/ that bought vs/ with þe precious/ blood of/ his/ herte. [1092] so that I may be oon of hem at the/ daye of/ dome that/ schulen be sauyd. Qui cum patre. & cetera//

[Edwarde Foxe oweythe this booke ex dono patris sui][later hand]

 ¶ Here/ endeth the/ book/ of/ the/ tales/ of Caunter|burye/. Compyled bi Geffroye/ Chaucers/. Of/ whos/ soule/ Ihesu crist/ haue/ mercye/. ¶ AmeN quod Cornhylle.:.] APPENDIX TO GROUP A. [THE SPURIOUS TALE OF GAMELYN.] [Spurious Link.] But here of I wil passe as nowline 11. And of ȝong Gamelyne I wil telle ȝou [Tale.] The tale of ȝong Gamelyn Erthen and listeneth and herkenyth a right And shul here of a doughty knyght Sir Iohan de Boundys was his name He coude of norture and of mochel game Thre sones þe knyght had and with his body hem wan The eldest was a moche schrewe and sone he be-gan His brethren loued wel her fader and of hym were a-gast The eldist disserued his fader curs and had it at þe last The gode knyght his fader lyued so ȝore That deth was comen hym to. and handelid him ful sore The gode knyght cared sore. sike þere he lay How his children shuld lyuen after his day He had ben wide where but non husbond he was Al þe londe þat he had hit was purchas ffayn he wold hit were dressed a-mong hem alle That eche of hem hadde his part as it myght falle Tho sente he in to cuntre after wise knyghtes To helpen delen his londes and dressen hem to rightes He sent hem. word by lettres þai shuld hye blyue Ȝif þei wold speke with him while he was on lyue Tho þe knyghtes. herden. sike þat he lay Had þey no rest nothir nyght ne day Til þey come to him þere he lay stille On his deth bed to a-bide goddes wille. Then seyde þe goode knyght sike þere he lay Lordes I ȝou warne for soþe with-oute nay I may no lenger lyuen here in þis stonde ffor thorugh goddes wille deth drawes to gronde Ther nas non of hem alle þat herde hem a right That þey hadden reuthe of þat ilke knyght And seiden sir for goddes loue ne dismay ȝou nouȝt God may done bote of bale þat is now I-wrouȝt Than spake þe gode knyght sike þere he lay Bote of bale god may sende I wote it is not nay But I beseche ȝou knyghtes for þe loue of me Goth and dresseth my londes a-mong my sones thre And for þe loue of god delith not hem amys And for-ȝeteþ not Gamelyn my ȝong sone þat is Taketh hede to þat one as wel as to þat oþer Selde ȝe seen any heire helpen his brother Tho leten þey þe knyght lyen þat was not in hele And wenten in to counseil his londis for to dele ffor to delen hem alle to oon þat was her þoght And for Gamelyn wast ȝongest he shuld haue nouȝt Alle þe lond þat þer was þei dalten it in two And leten Gamelyn þe ȝong with-outen lond go And eche of hem saide to other ful lowde His brethren myght ȝeue hym lond when he good cowde When þey had deled at her wille They comen to þe knyght þer he ley stille And tolde hym a-non how þei had wrought And þe knyght ther he lay likid it right nought Than seyde þe knyght by seynt martyn ffor al þat ȝe haue don ȝet is þe lond myn ffor go goddes loue Neigboures stondith al stille And I wil delen my lond right after my wille Iohn my eldest sone shal haue plowes fyue That was my fadres heritage while he was on lyue And my mydlest sone fyue plowes of lond That I halp for to gete with my right hond And al myn oþer purchas of londes and ledes That I be-queeþe Gamelyn and alle my gode stedes And I beseke ȝou good men þat law con of lond ffor Gamelyns loue þat my quest stond Thus dalt þe knyght his lond by his day Right on his deth bed sike þere he lay And sone aftirward he lay stoon stille And died whan tyme come as it was cristes wille A-none as he was deed and vnder gras graue Sone þe elder broþer gyled þe ȝong knaue He toke in to his honde and his lede And Gamelyn him selfe to clothen and to fede He cloþed hym and fedde hym yuel and eke wrothe And lete him his londes for-fare and his houses boþe His parkes and his wodes and dide noþyng welle And sithen he it a-bowȝt on his owne felle So longe was Gamelyn in his brothers halle ffor þe strengest of good wille þei doutenden alle Ther was none þere in. noþer ȝong ne old That wold wrath Gamelyn where he neuer so bold Gamelyn stode on a day in his brothers ȝerde And by-gan with his hand to hondel his berde He þouȝt on his landes þat lay on-sawe And his faire okes þat doune were I-drawe His parkes were broken and his dere reved Of alle his good stedes noon was him by-leued His houses were vn-hiled and ful euel dight Tho þouȝt Gamelyn it went not a right Aftirward came his brother walkyng þere And seide to Gamelyn is oure mete ȝere Tho wrathed him Gamelyn and swore by goodes booke Thou shalt go bake þy self I wilnot be þi cooke Now broþer Gamelyn hou vnswarest þou now Thou spakkest neuer suche a word as þou dost now By my feythe seide Gamelyn now me þynkith nede Of alle þe armes þat I haue I toke neuer ȝet hede My parkes ben broken and my dere by-reved Of myn armes and my stedes noght is me byleued Al þat my fader me quaþ al goth to schame And þerfore haue goddes curs broþer by þyn name Than spak his brother þat rape was of rees Stand stille gadlyng and hold þy pees Thou shalt fayne to haue þy mete and þy wede What spekest þou gadlyng of lond or of lede Than seide Gamelyn þe child þat was ȝyng Cristes curs mote he haue þat clepith me gadlyng I am no worse gadlyng ne no worse wight But borne of a lady and geten of a knyght Ne dirst he note to Gamelyn neuer a fote go But clepid to him his men and saide to hem þo Goth and bethet þis boy and reueth him his witte And lette hym lerne an oþer tyme to vnsware me bette Then seide þe child ȝong Gamelyn Cristes curs mote þou haue brother art þou myn And ȝif y shal algate be beten a-noon Cristes curs mote þou haue but þou be þat oon An-noon his brother in þat grete hete Made his men to fette staffes Gamelyn to bete When euery of hem hed a staffe nomen Gamelyn was ware tho he seigh hem comen Tho Gamelyn seigh hem comen he lokid ouer all And was war of a pestel stood vnder þe wall Gamelyn was light and þider he can lepe And droff alle his brothers men right sone on hepe And lokid as a wild lyon and layde on gode wone Tho his brother sei þat he by-gan to gone He fley vp in to a loft and shete þe dore fast Thus Gamelyn with his pestel made hem alle a-gast Some for Gamelyns loue and some for eye Alle þey drowen hem to halues þoo he gan to flee What now seide Gamelyn euel mote ȝe þe Wille ȝe by-gynne contyk and so sone flee Gamelyn souȝt his brother whider he was flow And saughe where he lokid oute of a wyndow Brother seyde Gamelyn come a litul nere And I wille teche the a play at the bokeler His brother him vnswarid and seide by seynt Richere While þat pestel is in thi hond I wole come no nere Brother I wil make thi pees I swere by cr[i]stes ore Cast a-way þe pestel and wrath the no more I moste nede saide Gamelyn wrath me at ones ffor þou wold make þy men to breke my bones Ne hadde I hadde mayn and myght in myn armes To haue hem fro me thei wold haue do de harmes Gamelyn saide his brother be þou not wroth ffor to seen the haue harme me were right loth I ne dede it nouȝt brother but for a fondyng ffor to loken or þou art strong and art so ȝyng Come a doune þen to me and graunt me my bone Of o þyng I wil þe axe and we shul saught sone Downe þan come his brother þat fekil was and felle And was swich sore a-ferd of the pestell He seide brother Gamelyn axe me þy bone And loke þou blame but I it graunt sone Than seide Gamelyn brother I was And we shull be at one þou most graunt me þis Alle þat my fader me by-quaþ while þat he was on lyue Thou moust do me it haue ȝif we shul not stryve That shalt þou haue Gamelyn I swere by cristes ore Alle þat fader þe be-quaþ þough þou woldest haue more Thi lond þat lith leye. wel it shal be sowe And þyn houses reised vp þat ben leide ful lowe Thus seide þe knyght to Gamelyn with mouth And þouȝt on falsenes as he wel couth The knyght þought on treson an Gamelyn on none And went and kissed his brother and whenne þey weren atone Allas ȝong Gamelyn no þyng he ne wiste With suche fals treson his brother hym kyste Lyithenyth and lystnyth and holdith ȝoure tong And ȝe shul here talkyng of Gamelyn þe ȝong Ther was ther be siden. cried a wrastlyng And ther for ther was sette a Ram and a ryng And Gamelyn was in wille to wende þer to ffor to preuen his myght what he coude do Brother seid Gamelyn be seynt Richere Thou most lene me to nyght a litel coursere That is fressh to þe spores on for to ryde I most on an Erand a litel here by side Be god seide his broþer of stedes in my stalle Go and chese the best spare non of hem alle Of stedes and of coursers that stoden hem be side And telle me gode brother whedir þou wilt ride Here by side brother ys cried a wrastlyng And þerfore shal be set a Ram an a ryng Moche worship it were brother to vs alle Might ȝe the ram and þe ryng bryngen home to þis halle A stede þer was sadeled smertly and skete Gamelyn did a paire of spores fast on his fete He sette his foot in þe stirop þe stede he by-strood And toward þe wrastlyng þe yong child rood Tho Gamelyn þe yong was riden oute at gate The fals knyght his brother lokid yit after þate And by-souȝt ihesu crist þat is heuen kyng He myght breke his nekke in þat wrastlyng As sone as Gamelyn come þere the place was He light doun of his stede on the gras And ther he herde a frankeleyn weylaway synge And bi-gan bitterly his hondes for to wrynge Gode man saide Gamelyn whi makest þou þis fare Is ther no man þat may ȝou helpen oute of care Allas seide þis f[r]ankelyn þat euer y was bore ffor twey stalworth sones I wene þat I haue lore A Champyon is in þe place þat haþ wrouȝt me sorowe ffor he hath slayn my two sones but ȝif god hem borowe I wel ȝeue ten pound by ihesu crist and more With þe nones that I fonde a man to handle hym sore Gode man seide Gamelyn wilt þou wel done Hold my hors while my man drawith of my shone And helpe my man to kepe my clothes and my stede And I wil in to place gone to loke if y may spede By god seyde the frankeleyn it shal be done I wille my self be þy mane[MS name] to draw of þy shone And wende þou in to place ihesu crist the spede And drede not of thi clothes ne of thi gode stede Barfoot and vngirt Gamelyn In came Alle þat were in þe place hede of him þei name How he dorste auntre him to done his myght That was so doughty a champion in wrastlyng and in fight Vp sterte þe Champion rapely a-none Toward ȝong Gamelyn he by-gan to gone And seide who is þy fader and who is þy sire ffor soþe þou art a grete foole þat þou come here Gamelyn vnswarid þe Champion tho Thou knew wel my fader while he couthe go Whilis he was on lyue by seynt Martyn Sire Iohan of Boundis was his name and I Gamelyn ffelaw seide the Champion so mote I thryue I knewe wel the fader whiles he was on lyue And thi self Gamelyn I wil þat þou it here While þou were a ȝong boy a moche schrew þou were Than saide Gamelyn and swore by cristes ore Now I am older wax þou shal fynde me a more By god seyde þe Champion wel come mote þou be Come þou ones in myn honde þou shalt neuer the It was wel with-inne nyght and þe mone shone When Gamelyn and the Champion to gedre gon gone The Champion cast tornes to Gamelyn þat was prest And Gamelyn stode and bade hym done his best Than seide Gamelyn to þe Champion Thou art fast a-boute to bryng me a-don. Now I haue proued mony tornes of thyne Thow most he seide proue on or two of myne Gamelyn to the Champion ȝede smertly a-none Of alle tornes þat he couthe he shewed hym but one And kest hym on the lift side þat þre ribbes to-brake And þerto his on arme þat ȝaf a grete crak Than sayde Gamelyn smertly a none Shal it be hold for a cast or ellis for none By god seide þe Champion where it be He þat comeþ ones in þy honde shal he neuer the Than seide þe frankelyn þat had his sones þere Blessed be þou Gamelyn þat euer þou bore were The frankeleyn seide to the Champion on hym stood hym no eye This is ȝon Gamelyn þat taught the þis pleie Aȝen vnsward þe Champion þat liked no þyns wel He is alther meister and his pleie is right felle Sithen I wrastelet first it is gon ȝore But I was in my lif handled neuer so sore Gamelyn stode in the place a-non with-oute serke And seide ȝif þer be mo let hem come to werke The Champion þat payned hym to werke sore Hit semeth by his contenance þat he wille nomore Gamelyn in the place stoode stille as stoon ffor to a-bide wrastlyng but þer come non Ther was none with Gamelyn þat wold wrastle more ffor he handlid þe Champyon so wonderly sore To gentil men ȝemed þe place Come to gamelyn god ȝyue hym gode grace And seide to hym to on thi hosen and þi shone ffor soþe at þis tyme þis faire is done And þan saide Gamelyn so mote I wel fare I haue not ȝet haluendel sold my ware Tho seide þe Champion so brok I my swere He is a fool þat þer-of bief þou sillest it so dere Thoo seide the frankeleyn þat was in moche care ffelaw he seide why lakkist þou þis ware By seynt Iame in Gales þat mony man hath sought Ȝit is it to good chepe þat þou hast bought Tho þat wardeyns were of þat wrastlyng Come and brouȝt Gamelyn þe Ram and þe ryng . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. And Gamelyn thouȝt it was a faire þyng And went with moche Ioy home in þe mornyng His broþer seie where he came with þe grete route And bade shit þe gate and hold hym with-oute The porter of his lord was sore a-gaste And stert a-none to the gate and lokked it faste Now lytþeþ and lysteneyth boþe yong and old And ȝe shul he Gamyn of Gamelyn þe bold Gamelyn come þerto for to haue comyn In Than was it schet fast with a pyn Than seide Gamelyn porter vndo þe ȝate ffor gode mannys sone stond þer ate Than answered þe porter and sware by goddes berd Thou ne shalt Gamelyn come in to this ȝerd Thou lixt seide Gamelyn so broke I my chyne He smote the wiket with his foote and brake a-way þe pyne The porter sey tho it myght no better be He sette fote on erthe and by-gan to flee By my fey seide Gamelyn þat trauel is lore ffor I am on fote as light as þou haddest it swore Gamelyn ouer toke þe porter and his tene wrake And girt him in the nekke þat þe boon to-brake And toke him in his arme and threw hym in a welle Vijc. fadame it was depe I haue herd telle Whan Gamelyn þe ȝong þus had plaide his plaie Alle þat in the ȝerde were drowen hem a-waye They dredein hym fol sore for werke þat he wrought And for þe faire companye þat he þedir brought Gamelyn ȝede to þe ȝate and lete hit vp wide He lete in alle þat gone old or ride And seide ȝe be welcome with-oute eny greue ffor we wille be maisters here and axe no man leue Ȝersterday I left . seyde ȝong Gamelyn In my broþer seller fyue tonne wyne I wilnot þis companye parten on twyne And ȝe wille don after me while sope ys þer-inne And ȝif my brother gruche or make foule chere Other for spence of mete or drynke þat we spende here I am oure Catour and bere oure alþer purse He shal haue for his gruchyng seynt marie curse My brother ys a nygon y swere by cristes ore And we wille spende largely þat he hath spared ȝore And who þat make gruchyng þat we here dwelle He shal to porter in to þe drawe welle Vij. dayes and vij. nyght : Gamelyn held his fest With moche solace was there and none chest In a litel torret his broþer ley steke And sey hem wast his good and dorst not speke Erly in a mornyng on the viij. day The gestes come to Gamelyn and wold gone her way Lordes seide Gamelyn wil ȝe so hye Alle þe wyne is not ȝet dronke so broke I myn eye Gamelyn in his hert was ful wo Whenne his gestes toke her leue fro hym for to go He wold þey hadde dwelled lenger and þey seide nay But by-tauȝt Gamelyn god and goode day Thus made Gamelyn his fest and brouȝt it wel to ende And after his gestes to leue to wende Lytheþ and lystenyth and holdeth ȝoure tonge And ȝe shul here Gamen of Gamelyn þe ȝong Herkenyth lordynges and lystenyth a right Whenne alle gestes were gon how Gamelyn was dight Alle þe while þat Gamelyn held his mangerie His broþer þoght on hym be wreke with his trecherie Tho Gamelyns gestis were riden and gone Gamelyn stode a-none allone frende hed he none Tho after felle sone with-In a litul stonde Gamelyn was taken and ful hard I-bonde. fforþ come þe fals knyght oute of þe solere To Gamelyn his broþer he ȝede ful nere And saide to Gamelyn ho made þe so bolde ffor to stroien my store of my householde Brother seyde Gamelyn wrath the right noght ffor it is mony day gone sith it was boght ffor broþer þou last hadde by seynt Richere Of xv. plowes of lond þis sixtene ȝere And of alle the bestis þou hast forþ bredde That my fader me by-quaþ on his deþ bedde Of alle þis sixtene I ȝeue þe þe prowe ffor þe mete and the drynke þat we haue spended now Than sayde þe false knyght euyl mote he the Herken broþer Gamelyn what I wil geve þe ffor of my body brother here geten haue I none I wil make the myn eyer I swere by seynt Iohan Parfay saide Gamelyn and it so be And þou þinkest as þou seist gold ȝeld it the No thyng wist Gamelyn of his broþer gyle Therfore he hym by-gyled in a litul while Gamelyn seide he oo þyng I þe telle Tho thow threw my porter in þe drawe wel I swor in þat wrath and in that grete moote That þou shuldist be bond both hond and foote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. ffor to holden my a-vou as I the be-hote Brother seide Gamelyn as mote ȝe the Þou shalt be for-swore for the loue of me Tho maden þei Gamelyn to sitte myght he not stonde Til þey hadde him both foot and honde The fals knyght his broþer of Gamelyn was a-gast And sende after feters to feteren him fast His broþer made lesynges on hym þer he stode And tolde hem þat comen In þat Gamelyn was wode Gamelyn stode to a post bonden in the halle Tho that comen In . loked on hym alle Euere stode Gamelyn euen vp right But mete and drynke had he none noþer day ne nyght Than saide Gamelyn brothir by myn hals Now I haue aspied þou art a party fals Had I wist þe treson þat þou hast fond I wold haue ȝeue strokes or I had be bond Gamelyn stode stille bonde as eny stone Two dayes and two nyghtes mete hadde he none Than seide Gamelyn þat stode I-bonde strong Adam spenser me þinkiþ I fast to long Adam spenser now I beseche the ffor þe moche loue my fader loued the Ȝif þou may come to the keyes lese me out of bond And I wil parte with the of my fre lond Than seide Adam þat was þe spencer I haue serued þy brother þis xvj. ȝere Ȝif I let the gon out of his beure He wold saie afterward I were a traitour Adam seide Gamelyn so brok I myn hals Thou shalt fynd my broþer at þe last fals Therfore broþer Adam lose me oute of bondes And I wil parte with the of my fre londes Vp suche forward seide Adam I-wis I wil do þerto al þat in me is Adam seide Gamelyn as mote I the I wille hold þe couenaunt and þou wil me Anone as Adams lord to bedde was gone Adam toke þe keyes and lete Gamelyn oute a-none He vnloked Gamelyn boþe hondes and feete In hope of auauncement þat he him be-hete Than seide Gamelyn þankid be goddes sonde Now I am lose boþe foote and hande Hadde I now eten and dronken a right Ther is none in this hous shuld bynde ne þis nyght Adam toke Gamelyn as stille as eny stoon And lad hym in to spense raply a-none . And sette hym to soper right in a priue stede He badde him do gladly adam so dide Anon as Gamelyn had eten wel and fyne And þerto I-dronken wel of þe rede wyne Adam seyde Gamelyn what is now þi rede Or I go to my brother and gird of his hede Gamelyn seid Adam it shal not be so I con teche the a rede þat is worth þe two I wote wel for soþe þat þis is no nay We shul haue a mangery right on sonday Abbotes and prioures mony here shal be And oþer men of holy chirche as I telle the Thou shalt stond vp by þe post as þou wer hond fast And I shal leue hem vnloke þat a-way þou may hem cast Whan þat þei haue eten and wasshen her hondis Thou shalt biseke hem alle to bryng the oute of bondys . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. And if eche of hem say to vs nay I shal do an oþer I swere by þis day Thou shalt haue a gode staff I wil haue another And cristes curs haue þat oon þat falith þat oþir Ȝe for god seide Gamelyn I sey it for me Ȝif I faile on my side euel mote I the Ȝif we shul algate assoile hem of her synne Warne me brother Adam whan we shul be-gynne Gamelyn saide Adam by seynt charite I wil warne the by-forne whan it shal be Whan I wynke on the loke for to goon And caste a-way thy feders and come to me anoon Adam seyd Gamelyn blessed be þy bones That is a gode conseil ȝeuen for þe nones Ȝif þey werne me to bryng þe oute of bondes I wil sette gode strokes right on her lendes Tho þe sonday was comen and folke to þe feste ffaire þei were welcomed boþe lest and meste And euere as þey at þe halle dore come Inne They cast here eye on ȝong Gamelyn . The fals knyght his brothir ful of trecherye Alle þe gestes þat þer were at þe mangerye Of Gamelyn his brothir he told hem with mouthe Alle þe harme and þe shame þat he telle couthe Tho þei were I-serued of messes two or thre Than seide Gamelyn how serue ȝe me It is noght wel serued by god þat all made That I sitte fastyng and oþer men make glade The fals knyght his brother þer as he stoode Told alle gestes that Gamelyn was woode And Gamelyn stoode stille and vnswared noght But Adams wordes he held in his þought Tho Gamelyn gan speke deolfully with alle To þe grete lordes þat saten in þe halle Lordes he saide for cristes passion Helpe to bryng Gamelyn oute of prison Than saide an Abbot sorow on his cheke He shal haue cristes curs and seynt maryes eke That þe oute of prison beggeþ or borowe But euer worth hym wel þat doþe þe moche sorowe After þat abbot þan spake an oþer I wold þyn heed were of þeigh þou were my brother Alle þat þe borow foul mote hem falle Thus þei saide alle þat were in the halle Than saide a priour euel mote he preue It is grete sorow and care boy þou art on lyue Ow seide Gamelyn so broke I my bone Now I haue spied þat frendes haue I none Cursed mote he worth both flessh and blood That euer doth abbot or priour eny good Adam þe spense toke vp toke vp þe cloþe And loked on Gamelyn and say þat he was wroth Adam on þe pantrie litul he þought . . . . .no gap in the MS. Adam lokith on Gamelyn and he was war anone And cast a-way þe feters and by-gan to gone Tho he come to Adam he toke þe on stafe And by-gan to worche and good strokes ȝafe Gamelyn come in to the halle and þe spencer boþe And lokid hem a-boute as þei hadde be wroþe Gamelyn spreynyþ holiwater with a Oken spire That some þat stood vp right fel in the fire Ther was no lewed man þat in þe halle stode That wolde do Gamelyn ony þing but gode But stoden bisiden and leten hem boþe wirche ffor þei hadde no rewth of men of holy chirche Abbot or priour monk or chanoun That Gamelyn ouertoke anoon þei ȝeden doun Ther was noon of alle þat with his staff mette That he made hem ouerthrow and quitte hem his dette Gamelyn seide Adam for seint Charite Paye gode lyueray for þe loue of me And I wil kepe the dore so euere here I masse Er þei ben assoyled ther shall noon passe Doute þee nought seide Gamelyn while we ben in fere Kepe þou wel þe dore and I wole worche heere Bistere þee gode Adam and let ther noon fle And we shull telle largely how many þat þer be Gamelyn seide Adam do hem but gode Thei ben men of hooly chirche drawe of hem no blode Saue wel þe coroun and do hem no harmes But breke bothe her leggis and sithen her armes Thus Gamelyn and Adam wrought right fast And playde with the monkes and made hem agast Thider þei come ryding iolily with swaynes And home aȝen þei weren lad in cartes and in waynes Tho þei hadden alle don þanne seide a gray frere Alas sir Abbot what dide we now heere Tho þat we comen hider it was a cold rede Vs hadde ben better at home with water and with brede While Gamelyn made ordres of Monkes and frere Euer stode his brother and made foule chere Gamelyn vp with his staff þat he wel knewe And girt hym in þe necke þat he ouerthrewe A litel aboue the girdel þe rigge boon to-brast And sette hym in þe fetres þere he sat sat arst Sitte þer brother seyde Gamelyn fforto colen thi body as I dide myne As swithe as þei hadden wroken hem of her foon Thei asked water and wasshen anoon What some for her loue and some for her awe Alle þe seruauntes serued hem of þe best lawe The Sherryf was þenne but fyue myle And alle was told hym in a lytel while How Gamelyn and Adam hadde don a sory res Bounden and wounden men aȝens þe kinges pes Tho bigan soone stryf forto wake And þe Sherryf aboute Gamelyn for to take Now lytheth and lystneth so god ȝeue ȝou good fyne And ȝe shullen here good game of ȝong Gamelyne ffoure and twenty ȝongemen þat helden hem ful bolde Come to þe Sherryf and seide þat þei wolde Gamelyn and Adam fette by her fay The Sherryf ȝeue hem leue soth forto say They hyeden fast wolde þei not lynne Tyl þei come to þe gate ther Gamelyn was Inne They knokkiden atte gate þe porter was nygh And lokide out at an hole as man þat was sligh The porter hadde biholde hem a litel while He loued wel Gamelyn and was a-drad of gyle And let þe wiket stonde ful stille And asked hem withoute what was her wille ffor al þe gret companye þan spak but oon Vndo þe gate porter and let us yn goon Thanne seide þe porter so broke I my chyn Ȝe shullen seye ȝoure erand er ȝe come In Say to Gamelyn and adam if þer wille be We wille speke with hem two wordes or thre ffelowe seide þe porter stonde þere stille And I wil wende to Gamelyn to wite his wille. In went þe porter to Gamelyn anoon And seide sir I warne ȝou heere be comen ȝoure foon The Sherrefs men ben atte gate fforto take ȝou bothe shul ȝe not ascape Porter seide Gamelyn so mote I wel thee I wole allow þee þi wordis whanne y my tyme se Go agayn to þe gate and dwelle with hem a while And þou shalt se right soone porter/ a gyle Adam seide Gamelyn loke þee to gone We haue fomen atte þe gate and freendes neuere one It ben þe Sherryfs men þat hider ben comen They ben swore to-gidre þat we shullen be nomen Gamelyn seide adam hye þee right blyue And if I fayle þee þis day yuel mote I thryue And we shullen so welcome þe Sherrifs men That some of hem shullen make her beddes in þe fen At a posterne gate Gamylyn out went And a good Cartstaff in his hond hent Adam hente soone anoþer gret staff fforto helpen Gamelyn and good strokes ȝaf Adam fel tweyne and Gamelyn fel three The Other sette feet on erþe and bigan to flee What seide adam so euere here I masse I haue right good wyne drynk er ȝe passe Nay bi god seide þei þi drynk is not goode It wolde make mannes brayn to lien in his hoode Gamelyn stode stille and lokide hym aboute And seide þe Sherrif cometh with a gret route Adam seide Gamelyn what ben now þi redes Heere cometh the Sherryf and wil haue oure heedes Adam seide to Gamelyn my rede is now þis Abide we no lenger lest we fare Amys I rede þat we to wode gone er þat we be founde Better is þere louse þan in towne be bounde Adam toke by þe hond ȝong Gamelyn And euery of hem drank a draught of wyn And aftir token her cours and wenten her way Tho fonde the Sherryf nest but noon Eye The Sherryf light downe and wente into halle And fonde þe lorde fetred fast withalle The Sherryf vnfetrede hym right soone Anone And sente aftir/ a lege to hele his rygge bone Lete we now þe fals knyght lie in his care And talke we of Gamelyn and loke howe he fare Gamelyn into the wode stalkid stille And adam spencer/ liked right ille Adam swore to Gamelyn by seint Richere Now I se it is mery to be a spencere That leuer/ me were keyes to bere Thanne walken in this wilde wode my clothes to tere Adam seide Gamelyn dismay thee right noght Many goode mannes child in care is brought As þei stode talking bothen in fere Adam herde talking of men and nygh hym thoght þei were Tho Gamelyn vndir/ wode lokide a right Seuene score of ȝongemen he se wel I-dight Alle Sate at þe mete compas aboute Adam seide Gamelyn now haue I no doute After bale cometh bote thorogh goddis myght Me þenke of mete and drynk I haue a sight Adam lokide tho vndir/ wode bough And tho he Say mete and he was glad ynough ffor he hoped to god to haue his dele And he was sore alonged aftir a good mele As he seide þat word þe mayster outlawe Sawgh Adam and Gamelyn vndir wode shawe Ȝongemen seide þe maister bi þe goode Rode I am war/ of gestes god send vs goode Ȝonde ben two ȝongemen wel dight And perauenture ther ben more who so lokid a right Arisith up ȝongemen and fette hem to me It is good that we witen what men they be Vp ther sterten seuene fro the dynere And metten with Gamelyn and adam spencere Whan þei weren nygh hem þanne seide that one Ȝeldeth ȝou ȝongemen ȝoure bowes and ȝoure flone Thanne seide Gamelyn that ȝonge was of eelde Mich sorowe mote thei haue þat to ȝou hem ȝelde I course noon other/ but right my selue Though ȝe fette to ȝou fyue þan be ȝe twelue Tho þei herde bi his word that myght was in his arme Ther was noon of hem þat wolde do hem harme But seide to Gamelyn myldly and stille Come afore our maister and seie to hym þi wille Ȝongemen seide Gamelyn by ȝoure lewte What man is ȝoure maister that ȝe with be Alle þei answeride withoute lesyng Oure mayster is corouned of outelawis king Adam seide Gamelyn go we in cristes name He may neiþer mete ne drynk werne vs for shame If þat he be hende and come of gentyl bloode He wole ȝeue us mete and drynk and do us some goode By seint Iame seide adam what harme þat I gete I wil auenture me that I hadde mete Gamelyn and adam wente forth in fere And þei grette þe mayster þat þei fonde þere Thanne seide the mayster king of outlawis What seke ȝe ȝongemen vndir wode shawes Gamelyn answeride þe king with his coroun He must nedis walke in feeld þat may not walke in toun Sire we walke not heere noon harme to do But if we mete a dere to shete therto As men that ben hungry and mowe no mete fynde And ben hard bistad vnder wode lynde Of Gamelyn wordis the maister hadde ruthe And seide ȝe shal haue ynow haue god my treuthe He bad hem sitte doun forto take reste And bad hem ete and drynke and that of the beste/ As þei eten and drunken wel and fyne Thanne seide oon to another/ þis is Gamelyne Tho was the maister outlawe into Counsel nome And tolde how it was Gamelyn that was thider come Anone as he herde how it was bifalle He made hym maister vnder hym ouer hem alle Withynne the thridde woke hym come tydyng To the maister outlawe that was her king That he shulde come home his pees was maad And of that good tyding he was ful glade Tho seide he to his ȝongemen soth forto telle Me ben comen tydynges I may no lenger dwelle Tho was gamelyn anone without tariyng Made maister/ outlawe and corouned her king Tho was Gamelyn crowned king of outlawes And walkide a while vndir wode shawes The fals knyght his brother/ was Shereue and sire And lete his brother endite for hate and for hire Tho were his bondemen sory and no þing glad Whanne Gamelyn her lord wolfes heed was cried & maad And sent oute of his men where þei myght hym fynde fforto seke Gamelyn vndir wode lynde To telle hym tidyng the wynde was went And all his good reued and alle his men shent Whanne þei hadden hym founden on knees þei hem setten And a-doun with her hoode and her lord gretten Sire wrathe ȝou nought for þe goode roode ffor we haue brought ȝou tydyng but þei be nought gode Now is þi brother Sherreue and hath the baillie And hath endited thee and wolfes heed doth thee crie Allas seide Gamelyn þat euere I was so slak That I ne hadde broke his necke tho I his rigge brak Goth gretith wel myn husbondes and wyf I wil be atte þe next shire and god sende me lyf Gamelyn cam redy to þe next shire And there was his brother boþe lord and sire Gamelyn booldlich come into the mote halle And putte a-doun his hoode among the lordis alle God saue ȝou lordis that here bee But brok bak Sherreue yuel mote thou thee Why hast thou do me that Shame and vylonye fforto late endite me and wolfes heed do me crie Tho thought the fals knyght fforto ben a-wreke And lete Gamelyn most he no thing speke Might ther be no grace but Gamelyn atte þe laste Was cast in prisoun and fetered faste Gamelyn hath a brother that hight Sir Ote As good a knyght and hende as myght gone on fote Anone ȝede a messager to that good knyght And tolde hym al to-gidre how gamelyn was dight Anone as Sir Ote herde how Gamelyn was dight He was right Sori. was he no thing light And lete sadle a stede and the way he name And to his tweye breþerne ryght soone he came Sir Seide Sir Ote to þe Sherreue tho We ben but three briþerne shullen we neuere be mo And thou hast prisoned the best of vs alle Sich another brother/ yuel mote hym bifalle Sir Ote seide the fals knyght lat be thi cours Bi god for thy wordes he shal fare the wors To the kinges prisoun he is nome And there he shal abide tyl the Iustice come Parde seide Sir/ Ote better it Shal be I bydde hym to maynprise þat þou graunt me Tyl the next sitting of delyueraunce And late thanne Gamelyn stonde to his chaunce Brother in siche a forward I take hym to þee And bi þi fadris soule þat þee bigat and me But he be redy whanne the Iustice Sitte Thou shalt bere þe Iugement for al thi gret witte I graunt wel seide Sir Ote that it so be Late delyuer hym anoon and take hym to me/ Tho was gamelyn delyuered to Sir Ote his brother And that nyght dwellide the oon with the other On the morowen seide Gamelyn to Sir Ote þe hende Brother he seide I mote forth fro ȝou wende To loke how my ȝongemen leden her lyf Whether they lyuen in ioye or ellis in stryf By god seide sir Ote þat is a cold rede Now I see that alle þe cark shall falle on myn hede ffor whanne þe Iustice sitte and þou be not founde I shal anoon be take and in thi stede bounde Brother seide Gamelyn dismay thee nought ffor by seynt Iame in Gales þat many man hath sought If þat god almyghty holde me my lyf and my witte I wille be redy whanne þe Iustice Sitte Thanne seide Sir Ote to Gamelyn god shilde þee fro shame Come whanne þou seest tyme and bringe vs out of blame Litheth and listneth and holde ȝou stille And ȝe shullen heere how Gamelyn hadde his wille Gamelyn wente vndir wode Rys And fonde there plaiyng ȝongemen of prys Tho was ȝong Gamelyn right glad ynough Whanne he fonde his men vndir/ wode bough Gamelyn and his men talkiden in fere And they hadde good game her mayster/ to heere His men tolde hym of Auentures þat þei hadde founde And Gamelyn hem told aȝen hou he was fast bounde Whyle Gamelyn was outlawe hadde he no cors Ther was no man that for hym farde the wors But Abbotes and prioures Monkes and Chanoun On hem left he nought whanne he might hem nome Whyle Gamelyn and his men made mirthes Ryue The fals knyght his brother yuel mote he pryue ffor he was fast aboute boþe day and other/ fforto hire the quest to hangen his brother/ Gamelyn stode on a day and biheelde The wodes and the shawes and the wylde feelde He thought on his brother how he hym byhette That he wolde be redy whanne the Iustice sette He thought wel he wolde withoute delay Come afore the Iustice to kepen his day And sayde to his ȝonge men dighteth ȝow ȝare ffor whanne the Iustice sitte we must be thare ffor I am vndir borowe tyl that I come And my brother for me to prison shal be nome By seynt Iame seyde his ȝongemen and þou rede þerto Ordeyne how it shal be and it shal be do While Gamelyn was comyng þere þe Iustice Satt The fals knyght his brother forȝate he not þat To hire the men on his quest to hangen his brother Though they hadde not the oon þei wolde haue þe oþer Tho come Gamelyn fro vndir þe wode Rys And brought with hym ȝonge men of prys I see wel seide Gamelyn the Iustice is sette Go aforn Adam and loke how it spette Adam went into þe halle and lokide al aboute He say þere stonde lordes grete and stoute And sir Ote hir brother fetered ful fast Tho wente Adam oute of þe halle as he were agast Adam seyde to Gamelyn and to his felowes alle Sir Ote stondith fetered in the mote halle . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. If god ȝeue vs grace wel for to do He shal it abigge that it brought þerto Thanne seide Adam þat lokkes hadde hore Cristes curs mote he haue þat hym bonde so sore And þou wolt Gamelyn do aftir my rede Ther is none in the halle þat shal bere awey his hede Adam seide Gamelyn we wille not do so We wil sle þe gyltif and late þe other go I wil into þe halle and with the Iustice speke On hem þat ben gyltif I wil ben a-wreke Lete none scape atte þe dore take ȝongemen ȝeme ffor I wil be Iustice þis day domes to deme[Sloane 1685 wants 2 leaves] God spede me þis daye And my newe werke Adam come with me ffor þou schalte be my Clarke His Men answerede hym And badde hym doone his best And yefe þou to vs haue nede þou schalte sfynde vs prest We woll stonde with the whyle þat we maye dure Butte we werke Mannelye paye vs none hyere Yonge Men sayde Gamelyn so motte I well thee As trusty A Mayster ȝe schulle fynde of me Righte there As the Iustyce satte in the halle In wente Gamelyn Amonges hem all Gamelyn lete vnfetter his brother owte of bonde Than sayde Sir Ote his broþere þat was hende Thou haddeste Almoste Gamelyn dwellede to longe The qweste is owte of Me þat I schulde honge Brother sayde Gamelyn As god yeue me gode reste This daye þey schullen be hangede þat bene on thy qweste And the Iustyce bothe that is the Iugge Man And þe Schryve boþe þroughe hym hitt biganne Than sayde Gamelyn to the Iustyce Now is thy power doone þou Muste nedes Aryse Thou haste youen domes þat bene euylle dyghte I woll sytten in þe Sete And dressen hem aryghte The Iustyce sate stylle And rose notte anone And Gamelyn cleuede his Cheke bone Gamelyn toke hym in his Armes and no more spake Butte þrewe hym ouer the barre and his Arme brake Durste none to Gamelyn saye butte gode ffor ffere of the Company þat withoute stode Gamelyn sette hym downe in the Iustyce stede . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. Harken of bourde that Gamelyn tho dyde He lette ffettere his brother and þe ffalse Iustyce And lete hem come to þe barre þat oone with that other Tho Gamelyn hadde þus ydone hadde he no reste Tylle he hadde enquerede who was on the qweste ffor to demen sir Ote his brother ffor to honge Or he wyste whiche þey were itt þoughte hym to longe Butte As soone as Gamelyn wyste where they were He dydde hem euerychone fettren in ffere And bryngen hem to the barre And sette hem in rewe By my faythe sayde the Iustyce þe Schryve is A schrewe Than sayde Gamelyn to the Iustyce Thou haste youen domes of the worste Assyce And the xij sysours that weren of the qweste They schulle to daye be hangede So god yeue me gode reste Than sayde the Schryve to yonge Gamelyn Lorde I crye the Mercye brother Arte thou Myne Therefor sayde Gamelyn haue thou Cristes curse ffor And thou were Mayster yett schulde I ffare worse ffor to make schorte tale And notte to longe He ordeynede hym A qweste of his men so stronge The Iustyce and the Schryve bothe hangede hye To wayuen with the ropes And with the wynde drye And the xij sisours Sorrowe haue þat recke All they were hangede ffaste by the necke Thus endede the ffalse knyghte with his treccherye That euer hadde ledde his lyfe in ffalsenesse and ffollye He was hangede by the necke and noughte by the purse That was the Mede þat he hadde ffor his ffaders curse Sir Ote was eldeste And Gamelyn was yonge Wenten with her ffrendes and passede with the kynge They made pease with the kynge on the beste syse The kynge louede Sir Ote well And made hym Iustyce And affter the kynge made Gamelyn boþe in Este and Weste Chyfe Iustyce of his fre fforeste All his wyghte yonge Men þe kynge foryaue her gylte And sythen in gode office þe kynge hadde all hem pylte Thus wyse wanne Gamelyn his londe and his lede And wrake hym of his ennemyes And qwytte hem her Mede And Sir Ote his brother Made hym his heyer And sythen weddede Gamelyn A wyfe boþe gode and ffayer They lyueden togider whyle that Criste wolde And sythen was Gamelyn grauen vnder Molde And So schall we all Maye þer no Man flee God brynge vs to the Ioye þat euer schall be Here endith the tale of the Coke