The Lansdowne ms of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall. Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400.756 600dpi TIFF G4 page imagesUniversity of Michigan LibraryAnn Arbor, Michigan2006AGZ8236.0001.001828 C5O ser.1 no.7 etc.

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Chaucer Society. Publications ; 1st series, no. 7, 13, 20, 36, 43, 55, 69Publications (Chaucer Society) ; Ser. 1, [no.] 7, 13, 20, 36, 43, 55, 69The Lansdowne ms of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall. Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400.Furnivall, Frederick James, 1825-1910.702 [i.e.707] p. : ill. London :Published for the Chaucer Society by N. Trübner,1867-1879.Issued in 7 parts 1868-84.

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THE Lansdowne MS 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.

CLAY AND TAYLOR, THE CHAUCER PRESS, BUNGAY.

GROUP A. FRAGMENT I. § 1. GENERAL PROLOGUE. LANSDOWNE MS. 851. Incipit prologus fabularum Cantuariensium.

[Note: after very many final c, e, f, g, k, r, s, t, there is a stroke or a tag. The number is so great, sometimes 6 or 7 in 1 line, that I am obliged to disregard all.]

 WHan þat Aprille wyþe his schoures soote. þe drought of Marche haþe perced to þe roote. And baþes euery veyne in suche lycoure. Of whiche vertue engender is þe floure. Whan ȝephirus eke with his swete breþe. Inspired haþe in euery holte and hethe. The tendre croppes and þe ȝonge sonne. Haþe in þe Ramme his half cours ronne. And Smal foules maken melodye. þat slepen al nyht wiþ open. yhe. So prikkeþ hem nature in her corages. Than longen folke to gone one pilgrimages. And palmeres for to seeke straungere strondes. To ferne halowes cowþe in sundre londes. And specialy from euery schyres ende. Of Ingelonde to Canterburi þei wende The holy blisful Martir for to seke That hem haþ holpen whan þei were seke It be-fel þan in þat sesone vpon a daie In Suthewerke att þe tabard as .I. laie Redi to wende on my pilgremage. To Canterburie wiþ ful deuoute Corage. At nyhte was come in-to þat hostelleric Wel Nyne and twente on a companye Of sondre folke be auenture yfalle In felauschipe and Pilgrimes were þei alle To-warde Canterburi þat wolde ride The Chambres and stables weren wyde And wele weren esede at þe beste An schortly whan þe son was to reste So had .I. spoken with hem euerychone þat .I. was of her felawschep anone And maade forwarde erly for to rise To take owre waie þare as .I. ȝowe deuise Bot naþeles while .I. haue time and space Er þat .I. forþer in þis tale pace. Me þenkeþ it accordant to resone To tell ȝowe alle þe condicione Of iche of hem so as it semed me And whiche þei were and of whate degre And eke in whatte araie þat þei were inne And att a knyhte þan wold .I. furst be-ginne. A Knyght þere was and þat a worþi manne That fro þe time þat he first be-ganne To ryden owte he loued cheualrie Treuþe and honoure fredome and curtesie fful worþi was he in his lordes werre And þar-to had he riden no man so ferre As wele in Cristendom as in heyþennesse And euere honoured for his worþinesse. Att Alisander he was whān it was wonne fful oft time he had þe borde be-gonne Aboue al nacions in Pruce In Lettowe had he reysed and in Ruce No Cristeneman so oft of his degre In Gernade att þe sege eke had he be Of Algezire and riden had in Belmarye Att Leyes was he and att Satilye Whan þei were wonne. and in þe grete see Att mony a noble Arme had he bee Att Mortel Batailles had he be fiftene And fowhten for owre feiþe att Tramessene. In listes þries and ay sleyne his foo This ilke worþi knyhte hade bene also Some tim wiþe þe lorde of Palatye Aȝeine anoþer heiþen in Turkye And euer more he had a souereine prise And þoughe þat he was worþi he was wise And of his porte as meke as is a maide He neuer ȝit no velany seide In al his life til no maner wyght He was a verrey perfite gentil knyht ffor to tel ȝowe of his araye His hors was goode bot he was nouhte gaye Off ffustion he werede a Gepon All be-smoterde wiþ his haburgen. ffor he was late come fro his viage And went for to done his Pilgrimage Wiþ hime þare was his sonne a ȝonge swiere A louyer and a lusti bachellere Wiþ lokkes crulle as þei were leide in presse Of .xx. ȝeres of age he was .I. gesse. Of his stature he was of euen lengeþe And wonderly deliuer. and grete of strenkeþe And he had be sume time in cheualrie In fflandres in Artoys and in Pykardie And borne him wele as of so litel space In hope to stonden in his lady grace Embrowded was he as it were a mede Al ful of frissche flowres white and rede Singeinge he was or flowteinge al þe daie He was al so fresche as is þe moneþ of maie. Schort was his goune with sleues longe and wide Wele couþe he sitte on an horse and faire ride He couþe songes make and wele endite Iuste and eke daunce and wele purtreie and write So hote he loued þat be nyghter tale He slepete no more þan doþe þe nyhtegale Corteis he was lowly and seruisable And karf to-for his fader att þe table A ȝoman had he and seruantes no moo Att þat time for him liste ride soo And he was cladde in cote and hoode of grene A scheef of pokoke arwes briht and kene Vnder his belte he bare ful þreftelie Wele couþe he drese his takel ȝemonlie His arwes drouped nouht wiþ feþeres lowe And in his honde he bare a myhti bowe A notte hede had he wiþ a broune visage Of wodecraft wele couþe he al þe vsage Vpon his arme he bare a gaie brasere And be his side a swerde and a bokelere And on þat oþere side a gaie daggere. Herneyste wele and scharpe as þe pointe of a spere. A christofur on his breste of siluer schene. An horne he bare þe bawdrik was of grene A forster was he soþelye as .I. gesse. ¶ Thare was also a Nonne a Prioresse That of hir smyleynge was ful simple and coye Her grettest oþe was bot be seint Loye. And sche was cleped Madame Englentyne fful wele sche songe þe seruise deuine Entuned in hir nose ful semely. And franche sche spake ful faire and fetisly After þe scole att Stretford att Bowe ffor frenche of Paris was to hire vnknowe Att mete wele ytauhte was sche with-all Sche lete no morsel fro hir lippes fall Ne wete hir fingeres in hir sauce depe Wele couþe sche cary a morsel and wel kepe þat no drope ne fel vpon hir breste In curtesie was sette ful muchel her leste Hir ouere-lippe sche wyped so clene That in hir coppe þer was no fat þinge sene Of grece whan sche had dronken hir drawhte fful semelye after hir mete sche rawhte. And sekerly sche was of grete disporte. And ful plesant and ful amyable of porte And peyned hir to counterfet chere Of Courte and to be stalyche of Manere And to be holden digne of reuerence Bot for to speke of hire Conscience Sche was so charitable and so pytous. Sche wolde wepe ȝif þat sche sawe a mouse Kauht in a trape if it ware dede or bledde Of smale houndes had sche þat sche fedde Wiþ rostede flesche or melke or wastel brede Bot sore wepped sche if one of hem were dede Or if men smote it wiþ a ȝerde smart And al was conscience and tendur herte fful semely hir wympul pinched was Hire nose was streihte her yhen was grei as glas Hire mouþe ful smal. and þere-to soft and rede Bot sekurly sche had a faire forhede It was al-moste a spanne brode .I. trowe ffor hardely sche was nouhte vnder growe fful fetis was hir cloke as .I. was war Of smale coral aboute hir harme sche bar A peire of Bedes gauded al wiþ grene And þere-one honge a broche of golde ful schene On whiche þare was firste wreten wiþ a crowned .A. And After Amor vincit omnia. ¶ A noþer nonne wyþ hir had sche þat was hir Chapeleyne and prestes þre A monke þere was a faire for þe maistre An owte-rider þat loued venere A manly man to bene an Abbot Able fful mony a daynte hors hade he in stable And whanne he rode men myht his bridele here Gyngelinge in a whistelinge wynde al so clere And eke as lowde as doþe þe chapel belle There as þis lorde was keper of þe selle The rewle of seint Maure or of seint Beneyte Be cause þat it was olde and somdele streyte This ilke monke lete olde þinges pace And helde after þe newe werde þe pace He ȝaf nouht of þe text a pulled henne þat seiþe þat hunteres beþe nouht holy menne Ne that a monke whan he is recheles Is likkened til a fische þat is waterles. That is to seie A monke oute of his cloistre Bot þilke text held he nouht worþe an hoistre And .I. seide his opinione was goode Whatt scholde he stodie and make him selfe wode Vpon a boke in cloister al-weie to powre Or swynke wiþ his hondes and laboure As Austine bite howe schal þe werld be serued Latte Austine haue his swynke to him rese[r]ued Thare-for he was a prikasoure a right Grehoundes he had as swift as foules in flyht Of Prikinge and of huntynge for þe hare. Was al his lust for no cost wolde he spare. .I. seighe his sleues purfiled att þe honde Wiþ Gryse and þat þe fynest of a londe And for to festen þe hode vnder his chynne He had of golde wrought a ful coriouse pinne A loue knotte on þe gretter hende þere was His hede was balled þat schone as any glas And eke his face as he had be anoynte He was a lorde ful fatte and in goode pointe. His yhen stepe and rollinge in his hede That stemed as a furneis of a lede His botes souple his hors in grete astate Nowe certeynely he was a faire prelate. He nas nouht pale as a forpyned goste A fatte swanne loued he best of any roste His Palfrei was as broune as is a burye ¶ A frere þare was a wanton and murye. A lymitur a ful solempne manne In all þe orderes foure is none þat canne. So muche of daliance and faire langage He had maade ful mony a mariage. Of ȝonge wemmen att his owen cost Vn-to his order he was a nobel post fful wele be-loued and famulier was he. With frankeleyns ouer al in his contre. And wiþ worþe wemmen of þe toune ffor he had power of confessione As seide him selfe more þan a curate ffor [of] his order he was licenciate fful swetely herde he confessiōn And plesant was his absoluciōn. He was an hesy man to ȝef penānce Ther as he wiste to haue a goode petānce ffor vn-to a poure order for to ȝeue Is singne þat a man is wel yschriue ffor if he ȝaf he dorst make avaunt He wist þat a man was repentaunt ffor mony a man so harde is of his herte He maie nouht wepe al þouhe he sore smerte There-for in stede of wepeynge and preyeres Men mote ȝiue siluer to þe poure freres His tepet was ay farset ful of knyues And pinnes for to ȝeue faire wyues And certeinli he had a mery note Wele couþe he singen and pleine on a rote Of ȝeddinges he bare witterli þe pris His neke white was as þe floure delis Ther-to he was also stronge as a champioune He knewe þe tauernes wele in euery towne. And eueryche hosteler or a tapestere Better þan a laȝar or a Begger ffor vn-to suche a worþi man as he Accorded nouht as be his faculte To haue wiþ suche seke lazerz acquayntance It is nouht honest it maie nouht avaunce ffor to dele wiþ suche poraile Bot al wiþ riche and seller of vitaile And ouere al þare as profet schold arise Curteise he was and lowly of seruyse þer nas no man noghwere so vertuous He was þe best begger in his hous . . . . .no gap in the MS. ffor þouhe a widowe had nouht a scho So plesande was his in principio. Ȝit wolde he haue a ferþinge ar he wente His purchas was wel better þan his rent And rage he couþe riht as it were a whelpe In louedaies þare couþe he muchel helpe ffor þere he was not liche a cloistrere Wiþ a þrede-bare cope as a pouer scolere Bot he was lyke a Maistre or a Pope Of dowble worstede was his semy-cope Þat rounde as a bell out þe presse Somwhat he lisped for his wantonesse To make his yngelische swete vpon his tonge And in his harpeinge whan he had songe His yhen twynkeled in his heued ariht As doþe þe sterres in þe froste nyht This worþe Limetour was cleped Huberd ¶ A marchant was þere with a forked berde In motteley. and hye on hors he satte Vpon his heued a fflaundrisshe beuere hatte His botes clasped faire and fetislye His resons he spake ful solemplye Scheweynge alwey þencres of his wynynge He wolde þe se were keppede for any þinge Be-twyx Middelburgh. and Orewelle Wele couþe he in eschaunge scheldes selle This worþi man ful wel his wit be-sette Thare wist no white þat he was in dette So estately was he of his Gouernance Wiþ his Bargeynes and wiþ his cheuisance ffor soþe he was a worþi man wiþ all Bot sothely to seine .I. note howe men him call ¶ A clerke þere was of Oxenforde also Þat vnto Logique had longe ygo As lene was his hors as was a rake And he was nouht riht fat .I. vndertake Bot loked holwhe and þer-to soburly fful þredebare was his ouer courteby ffor he had geten him no benefice Ne was so werdly to haue office ffor him was leuer haue att his bed hede Twenty bokes cladde in blak and rede. Of Aristotle and his philo[so]phi Þan Robes Riche or Pheþel or gay Sautry Bot al by þat he was a Philosophre Ȝit had he bot litel golde in Cophre Bot al þat he myht on his frendes hente On bokes and on lerenynge he it spente And besily gan for þo sowles preye Of hem þat ȝaf him where-wiþ for to scoleye Of studye toke he most cure and moste hede Not a worde more spak he þan was nede And þat was seide in forme and reuerence And schorte and whike and ful of hihe sentence Sownynge in morall vertue was his speche And gladely wolde he leren. and gladly teche A Seriant of þe lawe war and wyse Þat often had bene att þe paruise Þat was also ful riche of excellence Discrete he was and of grete reuerence Him semed swyche his wordes weren so wyse Iustice he was ful often in assise Be Patent and be pleine commissioun ffor his science and his hihe renoun Of fees and robes had he manyone So grete a purchasour was nowhere none Al was fe symple to him in effecte His purchasinge miht nouht be enfecte No-wher so besy a man as he þare nas And ȝitte he semed bisier þan he was In termes had he cas and domes all þat fro þe time of Kynge William were fall Thare-to he couþe endite and make a þinge There couþe no whight pinche att his writeinge And euery statut couþe he pleine be rote He rode Rode bot homely in Medle cote Gerde wiþ a seint of silke withe with barres smale Of his aray tel .I. no longer tale ¶ A frankelein was in his companye White was his berde as is þe dayse Of his complexion he was sangwyne Wele loued he be þe morwe a soppe in wyne To leuen in delit euer was his wonne ffor he was Opiournes owne sonne That helde opinione þat pleine delite Was verrey felicite perfite An howse-halder and þat a grete was he Seint Iulian he was in his countre His brede his ale was alwey after one A better envined man was neuer none Wiþ owte bakemete was neuer his howse Of ffissche of flessche and þat so plentiuouse It snewide in his house of mete and drinke Of al Deynteþes þat men couþe þenke After þe sondri sesons of þe ȝere So chaunged he his mete and his soper fful many a fat partriche had he in Mewe And mony a breme and mony a luce in stewe Woo was his coke bot his sauce were Punyant and scharpe and redy al his gere His table dormant in his hall alweie Stode redy couered al þe longe deie. Att Sessions þere was he lorde and sire fful oft time he was knight of þe schire An Anelas and a gisper al of silke Honge att his gerdel white as morne melke A Schirrif had he bene and a comptoure Was nowher suche a worþi vavisoure. An Haberdassher and a Carpentere A webbe a dyere. and a tapecere And þei were cloþed all in o liuere Of a solempne and a grete ffraternite fful frische and newe hire gere a-pyked was Here knyues ware chaped nouht wiþ bras Bot al wiþ siluer wrowht ful clene and wele Here girdeles and her pouches euerydele Wele semed iche of hem a faire burgeise To sitten in a ȝelde hall on þe hihe dese Eueryche for þe wisdom þat he kanne Was schapely for to bene an Alderman ffor catel had þei ynowhe and rente And eke here wyves it wolde wele assente And elles certein þei were to blame It is ful faire to be cleped ma dame And gone to vigiles al to-fore And haue a mantil ryaliche ybore ¶ A Cooke þei had wiþ hem for þe nones To Boile þe Chikenes wiþ þe mery bones And pouder Marchant tarte and Galingale Wele couþe he knowe a drawht of londen ale He couþe roste and sethe and broile and frye Maken Mortreux and wele bake a pye Bot grete harme was it as it þouht me Þat on his schinne a mormal had he ffor blankemangere þat maade he wiþ þe beste ¶ A Schipman was þere wonnynge fer be weste ffor owht .I. wote he was of dertemouþe He rode vpon a rounse as he couþe In a goune of foldeynge to þe kne A dagger hongeynge on a lace had he Abowte his neke vnder his Arme downe Þe Hote somere had made his hiew al browne An certeinly he was a goode felawe. fful mony a drauht of wyne had he draw ffrome Burdeux-warde whan þe chapman slepe Of nice conscience toke he no kepe If þat he fauhte and had þe hiher honde Be water he sent him home be euery londe Bot of his crafte to rekken wele his tides His stremes and his dawnger him be-sides His herberwe. and his mone . and his lodemannage Thare was none swyche fro Hulle to Cartage Hardy he was and wyse to vndertake Wiþ mony a tempest had his berde be schake He knewe al þe hauenes as þei were ffro Gotelonde to þe cape Defynystre And euery Cryke in Breteine and in Spayne His barge y-cleped was þe Maudeleyne ¶ Wiþ vs þere was a doctur of Phesike In al þis werlde ne was þere none him like To speke of Phisike and of Surgerie ffor he was grounded in Astronomye He kepet his pacient a ful grete dele In houres be his Magike naturele Wele couþe he fortune þe Ascendent Of his ymages for his pacient He knewe þe cause of euer-yche maledie Were it of colde of hote or moiste or drie And where-of engenderde it. and of what humere He was a verrey perfite practisere The cause .I.-knewe and of his harme þe rote A-none he ȝaue seke man his bote fful redy had he his Apotecaries To sende him drugges and his letuaries ffor iche of hem made oþer for to winne Here ffrindeschipe nas not newe to begynne Wele knewe he þe olde Escalapius And discorides and eke Rusus Olde ypocras Haly and Galiene Serapion . Razie and Auizene Auerois Damascien and Constantine Bernard and Gatisdene . and Gilbertine Of his Dyete Mesurable was he ffor it was of no superfluite Bot of grete norsschinge and digestible His study was bot litel on þe bible In sangwyne and in pers he clad was all Lyned wiþ Tafeta and wiþ sendall And ȝit he was bot esy of dispense He keped þat he wanne in þe pestilense ffor gold in phesik is accordial There-fore he loued golde in speciale ¶ A goode wif þer was of be-side baþe Bot sche was sumdele defe and þat was skaþe Of cloþe makeynge sche had swyche an haunte Sche passed hem of . Ipres and of Gaunte In all þe parische wif ne was þere none That to þe offringe to-forne hir scholde gone And if þere dide certeyne wroþe was sche Þat sche was owte of al charite Hire couerchiefs ful fine were of grounde .I. dorste swere þei weiden ten pounde Þat on a sonday weren on hire hede Here hosen weren of fine scarlet rede fful streite tyed . and schoes ful moiste and newe Bolde was hir face and faire and rede of hewe Sche was a worþe womman al hir lyue Hosbondes att þe cherche dore sche had five . Wiþ owten oþer company in hir ȝouþe Bot þere-of nedeþ nouht to speke as nouþe An þries had sche be att Ierusalem Sche had passed many a strange streme Att Rome sche had bene att Boloyne In Galis att seinte Iame and att Coloyngne Sche couþe muche on wandrynge be þe weie Gate toþede was sche sothely for to seye Vpon an Amblere ful esely sche satte . Y-wymplede wele and one hir heued an hatte As brode as is a bokelere or elles a targe A fotmantil a-boute hir hippes large And on hir feet a paire of spores scharpe In felauschepe wele couþe sche lawghe and carpe Of remedies of loue sche couþe parchaunce ffor sche couthe of þat arte þe colde daunce ¶ A goode man was þere of religione And was a poure persone of a toune Bot riche he was of holy þouht and werke He was also a lernede man and a clerke Þat crist gospell trewly wolde preche His parisshins deuowtely wolde he teche Benygne he was and wonder diligente And in aduersite ful paciente And suche he was preuede oft sithes fful loþe were him to cursen for his tiþes Bot raþer wolde he ȝeuen owte of doute Vnto his pouer perisshens aboute Of his Offringe and of his substance He couþe in litel þinge haue suffisance Wyde was his parisshe and houses fer in sondere Bot he ne left nowtht for reyne ne for þondere In sekenes nor in Meschef to visite The fferrest in his parische moste and lite Vpon his fete and in his honde a staf This noble ensample to his schepe he ȝaf Þat ferst he wrouhte and afterwarde he tawht Owte of þe gospel he þo wordes kauht And þis figure eke he hadded þer-to Þat if gold rust what schold yren do ffor if a preste be foule of whome we truste No wonder is a lewde man to ruste And schame it is if a preste take kepe A schiten schiperd to se and a cleyne schepe Wel owhte a preste ensample for to ȝiue Be his clennes how his schepe scholde liue He sett nouht his benefice to hire And lete his schepe acumbrede in þe mire And Ran to Londen vn-to seint poules To seke him a chauntery to singe for sowles Or wiþ a breþerhede to be wiþ-holde Bot dwelte att home and keped wel his folde So þat þe wolfe ne maade it nouhte myscarie He was a scheparde and nouȝt a mercenarie And þouhe he holy were and vertuous He was nouht to sinful men dispitous Ne of his speche daungerouse ne digne Bot in his techinge discrete and benigne To drawen folke to heuen be feirenesse Be goode ensample þis was his besinesse Bot it were any persone obstinate What so he were of hihe or lowe a-state Him wolde he snybbe sharpely for þe nones A better preste .I trowe þat nowhere none es He waited after no pompe and reuerence. Ne maked him a spised conscience Bot cristes lore and his aposteles twelue He tauht bot first he folowed in him selue ¶ Wiþ him þare was a plouheman was his broþer þat had lad of donge ful mony a foþere And a trew swinker and a goode was he Lyueinge in pes and in perfit charite God loued he best wiþ al his herte Att al times þouhe he gamed or smerte And þan his neighebore riht as him selue He wolde þresshe and þer-to dike and delue ffor cristes sake for euery pouer white With owte hire if it leie in his miht His tyþes paide he ful faire and wele Bothe of his proper swynke and of his catel In a tabarde he rode vpon a mere ¶ Ther was al so a reue and a Mellere A sompnour and pardonere al so A manciple and my selfe þere nare no mo The Meller was a stowte carle for þe nones fful big he was of braune and eke of bones . That proued wele for ouer al þer he cam Att wrastelinge he wolde haue awaie þe ramme He was schort-scholdred a þike gnarre There was no dore þat he ne wolde heue of harre Or breke it wiþ a renynge with his hede His berd as any sowe or fox was rede And þer-to brode as þouhe it were a spade Vpon þe cop riht of his nose he had A werte and þere on stode a tofte of heres Rede as þe bresteles of a sowes Eres His nos-þrelles blake were and wide A swerde and a bokeler bar he be his side His mouþe as grete was as grete furneys He was a Iangeler and a goliardeys And þat was most of sinne and of Harlotries Wele couþe he stele corne and tolle þries And ȝitte he had a thombe of golde parde A white cote and a blewe hode wered he A Baggepipe wele couþe he blawe and sowne And þere wiþ all he browht vs owte of towne A gentill Maunciple was þere of a temple Of whiche acatours miht take goode ensample ffor to be wise in byynge of vitaile ffor weþer þat he paiede or toke be taile Algate he waited so in his achate Þat he was al be-forne and in goode astate Now es nouht þat of god a ful faire grace. Þat suche a lewde mannes witt schal pace Þe wisdom of an hepe of lerned men Of Maistres had he mo þan þries ten Þat weren of lawe expert and curious Of wiche þer was a doseine in þat hous Worþe to be stewardes of rent and londe Of any lordes þat is in yngelonde To make him leue be his propre goode In honoure detteles bot if he were wode Or lyue as scarsely as him lust desire And able for to helpen al a schire In any cas þat myht fal or happe And ȝit þis manciple sette here alþere cappe ¶ The reue was a sclender Colerik man His berde was schaue as nyhe as euere he can. His here was be his eres rounde y-schorne His tope was dokked like a preste to forne fful longe was [his] legges and ful lene .I.-like a staf þar was no calfe y-sene Wele couþe he kepe a gernar or a bynne Ther was non auditoure couþe on him wynne Wele wiste he be drowhte and be þe reyne The ȝeldeynge of his sede and of his greyne His lordes schepe his nete his dayre His swyne his hors his store and his pultre Was holy in þis reues gouernynge And be his couenant ȝaf þe rekenynge Sen þat his lord was twenty ȝere of age Þare couþe no man bringe him in arerage Thare nas Baillif ne herde ne oþere hyne That he ne knewe his sleyht and his Couyne Thei were adrad of him as of þe deþe His wonynge was ful faire vpon an heþe Wiþ grene trees schadowed was his place He couþe better þan his lorde purchace fful riche he was astored priuely His lord he couþe wele plese subtily To ȝiue and lenne him of his owen goode And haue a þonke and ȝit a cote and an hoode In ȝowþe he had lerned a good mistere He was a wel goode wriht a carpentere This satt vpon a fol goode stot That was a pomely greye and hihte Scot A longe surcote of peers vpon he hadde And be his side he bare a rusti blade Of Norþefolk was þis reue whiche .I. tell Be-siden a towne men clepen it baldeswell Tukked he was as is a frere abowte And euere he rode hinderest of owre Rowte ¶ A Somynour was þer wiþ vs in þat place Þat had a firy Cherubynnes face ffor sausefleme he was with yhen narowe Als hote he was and licherous as a sparowe Wiþ scalled browes blake and a pilled berde Of his vesage childerne were aferde Ther nas whike-siluer litarge or bremstone Boras orsure ne oyle of tartre none Ne oyment þat wolde clense and bite That him myht helpe of his whelkes white Nere of þe knobbes sittinge in his chekes Wele loued he garlike onyons and ȝite lekes And for to drinke stronge wyne rede as blode Than wold he speke and crie as he ware wode And whan þat he wele drongen had þe wyne þan wold he speke no worde bot latyne A fewe terems had he two or thre That he had lerned owte of sum decre No wonder is he herd it al þe daie And eke ȝe knowen it wele howe þat a Iaie Kan clepe watt as wele as kan þe pope Bot who so couþe in oþer þinge him grope Þan had he spent al his philosophie Ay Questio quid Iuris wold he crie He was a gentil harlot and a kynde A better felawe scholde men nouht finde He wolde suffer for a whart of wyne A good felaw to haue his concubyne A twelmouþe and excuse him att fulle And priuely eke a finche couþe he pulle And. if he fonde owhere a goode felawe He wolde techen him to haue none awe In suche cas of þe Archedekenes Curse Bot if [a] mannes soule were in his purse ffor in his purs he scholde punyschede be The purse es þe Archedekenes hell seide he Bot wele .I. wote he lyede riht in dede Of curssinge owht yche gilty man him drede ffor curs wil sle riht as a-soyleynge sauyþe And also war him of a significauit In dawngere had he att his owen gise The ȝonge girles of þe diocise And knewe her consel and what was al here rede A garland had he sett vpon his hede As grete as it were for an Alestake A bokelere had he made him of a kake ¶ Wiþe him þere rode a gentil pardonere Of Rouncyual his frende and his comper þat streyhte was comme fro þe courte of Rome fful loude he songe come hider loue to me. This Somenoure bare to him a stif burdoune Was neuer trompe of halfe so grete a soune This pardonere had here as ȝalowe as wax. Bot smothe it henge as doþ a strike of flax. Bi ounces henge his lokkes þat he hadde And þer wiþ he his scholdres ouer spradde But þinne it leie be culpones one and one But hode for Iolyte wered he none ffor it was trussed vp in his walet Him þouht he rode al of þe newe get Discheuele saue his cape he rode al bare Suche glayringe yhen had he as it were an hare A vernicle had he sewe vpon his cape His walet [lay] to forne him in his lappe Bret ful of pardon comen from Rome al hote A voyce he had also smale as it were a gote No berde had he ne neuer schuld haue As smoþe it was as it were late schaue .I. trowe he were a geldinge or a mare Bot of his craft fro Berwike in to ware Ne was þere suche anoþer pardonere ffor in his male he hadde a pylowbere Whiche that he seide was owre lady veyle He seide he had a gobet of þe seile That seint Peter had whan þat he wente Vpon þe see till ihesu crist him hente He had a croyce of Laton ful of stones And in a glasse he hadde Pygges bones Bot wiþe þes relikes whan þat he fonde A pouer person dwellynge vpon londe Vppon a daie he gat him more moneye Than þat þe person gatte in þe Monethes tweye And þus wiþ feyned flaterynge and Iapes He Maade þe persone and þe peple his Apes Bot trewly to tellen att þe laste He was in þe cherche a noble ecclesiaste Wele couþe he rede a lesson or a story Bot alþer best he songe a offertory fful wele he wist whan þat songe was songe He moste preche and wele affile his tonge To wynne siluer as he wele cowde Þere-fore he songe so merely and loude ¶ Nowe haue .I. tolde ȝowe soþely in a clause The estate. þe arraye. þe Nombre and eke þe cause Whi þat assembled was þis companye In Suthewerke att þis gentil Hosterie þat hiht þe taberd fast be þe belle Bot nowe is time to ȝowe for to telle Howe þat we beren vs þat ilke nyhte Whan we were in þat Osterye alyhte And after wil .I. tell of owre viage And al þe remenant of owre pilgrenage Bot first .I. preye ȝowe of ȝoure curtesie That ȝe ne ret it nowht my velenye Thoughe þat .I. pleinly speke in þis matier To telle ȝowe her wordes and eke her chere Ne þouhe .I. speke here wordes propurly ffor þis ȝe knowen as wele as .I. Who so sal tellen a tale after a mān He mote reherce as nyhe as euer he cān Eueryche a worde if it be in his charge Al speke he neuer so rudeli and so large. Or elles he most tel his tale vntrewe Or feyne þinges. or fynde wordes Newe He may nouht spare al-þouhe he ware his broþer He mot also wele seie o worde as a-nother Criste spak him self ful brode in holy writte And wele ȝe wote no velany is itte Eke plato seiþe who so kan him rede The wordes most be Cosin to þe dede ¶ Also .I. preie ȝowe for-ȝif it me Al haue .I. not sett folke in her degre Here in þis tale as þat þei scholde stonde My witte is schorte ȝe maie wele vnderstonde Grete chere maade owre oste vs euerychone And to þe soper sett he vs anone He serued vs wiþe vitailles att þe beste Stronge was þe wyne and wele drinke vs leste A semely man owre ost was wiþ all ffor to bene a marschal in a lordes hall A large man he was wiþ eyȝen stepe A fairer burgeis is none none in chepe Bolde of his speche and wyse and wele y-tawht And of manhode him lakked riht nouht Eke þere-to he was riht a mery man And after soper pleyȝen he be-gan And spak of Mirþe amonge oþere þinges Whan þat we had maade owre rekenynges And seide þus Now lordeynges trewly Ȝe bene to me welcome riht hertly ffor be my trouþe if þat .I. schal notte lye .I. sawe nouht þis ȝere so mery a companye Att ones in þis herburhe as is nowe ffayne wolde .I. done ȝowe merþe wist .I. howe And of a merþe .I. am riht nowe be-þouhte To done ȝowe ese and it schal cost nowhte ¶ Ȝe gone to Canterbury god ȝowe spede The blisful Martir white ȝow ȝowre mede And wele .I. wote as ȝe gone be þe weye Sche schapen ȝowe to talen and to pleye ffor trewly comforþe and merþe is none To riden be þe waie dom as any stone And þer-for wil .I. maken ȝowe disporte As .I. seide arst and do ȝow som comforte And if ȝowe likeþ all be on assente ffor to stonden at My Iuggemente And for to werken as .I. schal ȝowe seie To morwen whan we riden be þe weie Nowe be Mi fader sow[l]e þat is dede But ȝe bue Merie .I. ȝeue ȝowe Mine hede Holde vpe ȝowre hondes wiþ-owte more speche ¶ Owre consell was not longe for to seche Vs þouhte it was not worþe to make it wise And graunted him wiþ-oute more avise And bad him seie his verdite as him liste Lordynges quod he now herkeneþ for þe beste Bot tak it nowhte .I. pray ȝowe in disdeyne This is þe pointe to speke schort and pleine That iche of ȝowe to schort wiþ owre weie In þis viage schal tel tales tweye To Kanterbury warde .I. mene it so And homward he schal tellen oþere two Of aventures whilome þat hane be-fall And whiche of ȝowe þat bereþ him best of all That is to seyne þat telleþ in þis cas Tales of best sentence. and most solas Schall haue a soper at owre aller cost Here in þis place sittinge be þe post Whan þat we comen a-geine fro Canturbury And for to make ȝow þe more mery .I. wil my seluen goodely wiþ ȝow ride Riht att myne oune coste and be ȝowre gide And who so wil my Iuggement wiþ-seie Schal paie al þat we spende be þe weie And if ȝe vouche saue þat it be so Tel me anone wiþ-owten wordes mo And .I. wil erly schape me þere-fore ¶ This þinge was graunted and owre oþes swore With ful glad hert and praieyng him also þat he wolde vouche saue for to do so And þat he wolde be owre gouernowre And of owre tales Iugge and reporture And sett a soper att a serteine pris And we wil rewled bene att his deuis In hihe and in lowhe and þus be one assent We bene accorded to þe Iuggement And þer-vpon þe wyne was fett anone We dronken and to rest went ichone Wiþ-owten any longer taryinge An morwe whan þe daie gan to springe Vp roos owre ost and was owre alder cok And gederd vs to-geder in a floke And forþe we reden a litel mor þan pas Vnto [þe] wateringe of seint Thomas And þere owre oste gan his hors areste And seide lordes herkeneþ if ȝowe leste Ȝe wote ȝowre forward. and .I. it ȝowe recorde If þat Euynsonge. and Morwsonge accorde Lat se nowe who schal tel þe first tale As euer mot .I. drinke wine or ale Who so be rebel to my Iuggement Schal paie for al þat be þe waie is spent Now draweþ cut or þat we ferþer wynne Whiche þat haþe þe schortest schal be-ginne ¶ Sir knyht quod he my maister and my lorde Now draweþ Cut for þat is Myne accorde Commeþ nere quod he Mi ladi prioresse And ȝe sire clerke lat be ȝowre schamefastnesse Ne studiethe nowht leie honde to euery man Anone to drawe euery wight began And schortly for to tellen riht as it was Were it be aventure or sort or cas The soþe is þis þe Cut fel on þe knyht Of whiche ful bliþe and glad was euery whit And tellen he most his tale as it was resōn Bi forward and be composiciōn. As ȝe haue herde what nedeþ wordes moo And whan þis good man sawhe þat it was so As he þat wise was and obedient To kepen his forward be his fre assent He seide seþþe þat .I. schal beginne þe game What welcome be þe cut one goddes name Now lat vs ride and herkeneþ what .I. seie And wiþ þat worde we riden forþe owre weie And he be-gan wiþ riht a mery chere His tale anone and seide as ȝe mai hereNo gap in the MS. Iam que domos patrias scitice post aspera gentis Prelia Laurigero, &c. Incipit fabula Militis Whilome was as holde stories tellen vs There was a DukeBoccaccio calls Teseo 'duca di Atene' (I. 13), and says that his father Egeo was 're d'Atene' (I. 6). Of Athenes he was lorde and gouernoure And in his time suche a conqueroure That gretter was none vndere þe sonne fful Mony a riche Contre had he wonne. What wiþ wisdome and his ChiualrieBooks I-II. He conquered al þe Regne of ffemynye. That whilom cleped was Scithia And wedded þe qwene ypolita An browht hire home wiþe him in to his contre Wiþ muche glorie and grete solempnite And eke hire ȝonge sustere Emelye And þus wiþ victori and melodie Latt .I. þis nobul Duc to Athenes ride And all his hoste in aremes be his side And certes if it nere to longe to here .I. wold haue told fully þe manere How wonnen was þe Reigne of ffemynye By Theus and be his Chiualrrye And of þe grete Bataile for þe nones Be-twixen Athenes and Amaȝones And how asseged was ypolyta The faire hardie quene of Scithia And of þe fest þat was att hir weddeynge And of þe tempest at hire home comynge. Bot al þat þinge .I. mot at nowe for-bere .I. haue gode wote a large felde to ere And weike bene þe Oxen in my plouhe The remenant of þe tale is longe y-nouhe I. wil not letten eke none of þis route Latt euery felawe tel his tale aboute And latt see nowe who schal þe soper winne And þere .I. laft .I. wil aȝeine beginne ¶ This Duc of whome .I. make mensiouneII. 2-5. Whan he was comen al-most to þe toune In all his wele and his most pride He was ware as he kast his yhe a side Where þat þere kneled in þe hihe waie A company of ladyes twey. and twaie Iche after oþer cladde in cloþes blake Bot suche a crye and suche a woo þei make That in þis werlde is creature lyueynge þat herd suche a noþer weymentynge And of þis crie þei nolde neuer stentenII. 25. (before the car.) Till þei þe reynes of his bridel henten What folke bene ȝe þat att myne home comyngeII. 26. Perturbe so my fest with cryinge Quod Theus haue ȝe so grete envie. Of myne honour þat þus compleigne and crie Or who haþ ȝow mysboden or offended And telleþ me if it maie bene amended And whi þat ȝe bene cloþed þus in blake The eldest lady of hem al spake Whan sche had swowned wiþ a dedely chere That it was rewþe for to seen and here ¶ Sche seide lorde to whome ffortune haþ ȝiuen Victorie and as a conqueroure to lyuen Nat greueþ vs ȝowre honoure and ȝowre glorieII. 27. Bot we beseke ȝowe of socoure and of mercye And haue merci on owre woo and owre distrisse Some drope of Pyte þurgh þi gentillisse Vpon vs wricchede wemmen latt ȝe fall ffor certes lorde þare is none of vs allII. 28. That sche ne haþe b[e]ne a doches or a quene Nowe bene we Cayteues as it is wele sene Thonked be fortune and hire false whele Thate none astate ensureþ for to bene wele Now certes lorde to abide ȝowre presence Here in þis temple of goddes clemence(mentioned in II. 17.) We haue b[e]ne waiteinge al þis fourtenyhte Helpe vs lorde seþ it is in þi myhte .I. wriche whiche þat wepeþ and weyleþ þus Was whilom wif of Kinge CappaneusII. 28. That starfe att Thebes cursed be þat dai And alle we þat bene in þis array And Maken all þis lamentacioune We losten al oure hosbondes att þat towne. While þat a sege þare abowte laie And ȝit nowe þe olde Creon weilowaieII. 31. þat lord is nowe of Thebes CiteeII. 30. ffulfilled of ire and iniquiteII. 31. He for dispite and for his Tirannye To done the dede bodies velanye Of all oure lordes whiche þat han be slawe Haþe al þe bodies on an hepe ydrawe And wil not suffre hem be none assentII. 31. Neyþere to be beride neiþer be to brent Bot makeþ houndes ete hem in despite And wiþ þat word with-oute more respiteII. 33. þei ffellen groffe and criden pytouslye Haue on vs wrecched wemmen sum Mercie And latt owre sorwe sinken in þin herte ¶ This gentil Duc downe fro his courser sterte With hert pitous whan he herd hem speke Him þouhte þat his herte wolde breke Whan he sawhe hem so pitee and so mateII. 36-9. That whilome weren of so grete astate And in his armes he hem al vp hent And hem comforteþ in ful goode entent And swore his hoþe as he was trewe knyht He wolde done so ferforþelie his miht Vppon þe Tirant Creon hem al wreke That al þe peple of grece scholde speke How creon was of Theseus seruede As he þat had his deþe ful wele deseruede And riht anone wiþ-owten more abodeII. 50. His Baner he displeide and forþe rode. To þebes-warde and al his hoste be-side No nerre Athenes wolde he go ne rideII. 49. Ne take his ese fulli halfe a daie Bot onward on his waie þat niht he laie And sent a-none ypolita þe queeneII. 40-2. And Emely hir ȝonge suster schene. Vn to þe toune of Athenes to dwelle And forþ he rideþ þer is no more to telle ¶ The reede Statue of Marce with spere and targe So schineþ in his whigte baner large That al þe felde gleteren vp on a doune And by his baner borne is his pynoune Of gold ful riche whiche was ybete The Mynataure whiche þat he wanne in Crete Thus riht þis Duc þus ride þide þis conqueroure And in his host of cheuallerie þe floure Til þat he cam to Thebes and a-liht flaire in a felde þer as he þouht to fihtII. 53-76. Bot schortely for to speken of þis þinge Wiþ Creon whiche þat was of Thebes kinge He fawht and slowhe him manly as a knyht In pleine Bateile and put þe folke to flyht And be asseut he wan þe Cite after And rent adowne boþe wall and sparre and rafter And to þe ladies he restored a-ȝeine The bones of þeire frendes þat were sleyne To done þe obsequies as was þo þe gise Bot it were al to longe for to do-viseII. 80-1. The grete clamor and þe weymentynge þat þe ladies maade att þe berneynge Of þe bodies and þe grete honoure That Theus þe nobul conqueroure Doþe to þe bodies whan þei from him went Bot schortely to tellen is myne entente Whan þat þis worþi Duc þis TheseusII. 74. Haþe Creon sleine and wonne Thebes þus Stil in þat felde he toke al nyhte his rest And dide wiþ al þe Countre riht as him lest To ransake in þe caas of þe bodies dedeII. 85. Hem for to strepe of herneis and of wede The piloures deden þe besines and Cure After þe bataile and þe discomfetoure And so be-fel þat in þe caas þei foundeII. 85. Thorghe girt mony a greuous blody wounde Two ȝonge knyhtes liggeynge .by and by. Boþen in armes samen wrouht ful richely Of whiche two Arcita hiht þe tone And þat oþer knyhte hihte Palamone Not fully whikke ne fulli dede þei were Bot be her cote armures and by hire gereII. 86. The heraudes knew hem selfe in special As þei þat weren of þe blode roial Of Thebes and of sustren two yborne Owte of þe caas peloures haþe hem torne And haue hem caried softe vnto þe tenteII. 87. Of Theus and he ful sone hem senteII. 89. Tho Athenes to dwellen in prisone Perpetuely hem nold nouht raunson ¶ And whan þis worþi Duc had þus ydoneII. 90-95. He toke his hoste and home he rideþ anone Wiþ Laurer Coroned as a conqueroure And þere he leueþ in joy and in honoure Terme of his lif what nedeþ wordes moo And in a toure in Angwysse and in wooIII. 3. Dwellen þis Palomon and eke Arcite ffor euer more þer maie no golde hem qwyte This passeþ ȝere be ȝere and daie be daie Til it fel ones in a Morneinge of maie Þat Emelye þat fairer was to sene Than is þe lylye vpo his stalke grene[See XII. 58.] And fresscher þan þe maie wiþ floures newe ffor wiþ þe rose coloure strofe hir hewe .I. note whiche was feireste of hem two Er it were daie as was hire wonne to doIII. 10. Sche was aresen and al redi diht ffor Maij wil haue no sloggardye on nyght The seson Prikkeþ euery gentil hert And makeþ it owte of his slepe to sterte. And siþen arise an done may obseruaunce This Makeþ Emelye to haue remembrance To done honoure to maie and for to rise Icloþed was sche ffresche for to devise'— in giubba iscalza' (en deshabille). III. 8.III. 8. ¶ Here ȝelowe here was browded in a tresse'Co' biondi crini avvolti alla sua testa.' III. 10.III. 10. Be-hinde hire bake a ȝerde longe .I. gesse And in þe Gardine att þe sonne vpristeIII. 8-10. Sche walked vpe and downe and as hir liste Sche gedereþ flowres partie white and rede To make a sotil garland for hire heuedeIII. 10. And as an Angel heuenyssly sche songe ¶ The grete toure þat was þo þike and strongeIII. 11. Whiche of þe Castel was þe chef dongeone There as þe knyhtes weren in prison Of whiche .I. tolde ȝowe and telle schall Was euen Ioynant to þe Gardeine wall There as þis Emely had hire pleyinge Brihte was þat sonne and clere in þat Morneynge And Palamon þis woful prisonere['Arcita si levo III. 11.] As was his wonne be leue of his gaylere Was resen and romed in a chambre an hihe In whiche he all þe nobel Cite sihe An eke þe Gardeine ful of braunches grene Ther as þe frissche Emely þe schene Was in hir walke and romede vpe and doune This sorweful prisonere þis Palamon Goþe in his chambre romeynge to and froo And to him selfe compleinynge of his woo þat he was borne ful oft seide alas And so be-fel be aventure or cas That þorghe a window þikke of mony a barreIII. 11. Of yren grete and sware as any sparre He kest his Eyen vpon Emelya And þere wiþ al he bleynte and criede A. . . tutto stordito, Gridò, Omè! As þouhe he stongen were vn to þe herteIII. 17. And wiþ þat crie Arcite anone vp sterte And seide Cosine myne what eyleþ þe þat ert so pale and dedely on to see Whi cridest þou who haþ þe done offence ffor goddes loue tak al in pacience Owre prisonynge for it maie none oþere be ffortune haþe ȝeue vs þis aduersite Som wikked aspect or disposicione Of Saturne be sum constillacione Haþe ȝeuen vs þis al-þowhe we had it sworne So stode þe heuen whan þat we were borne We most endure it þis is þe schorte and pleine ¶ This Palamon Ansewarde and seide a-gayne. Cosine for soþe of þis Opinione Thou hast a veine ymaginacione This prisonment caused not me to crie Bot .I. was hurte riht nowe þoruhe-oute myn eyeIII. 16. In to myne hert þat wil my bane beIII. 20. The fairnesse of þat ladi þat .I. se Ȝonde in þe Gardeine Romeynge to and froo Is cause of al my cryinge and woo .I. note where sche be womman or goddes Bot venus is it soþeli as .I. gesIII. 14. And þerewiþal on knes downe he fylle And seide venus if it be þi wille Þou in þis Gardine þus to transfigure Be-for me sorweful wriched creature Owte of þis prison helpe þat we maie scape And if so be my destanye be schape Bi eterne werlde to dyȝen in prisōne Of owre linage haue some compassiōne þat is so lowe y-brouht be tirannye ¶ And wiþ þat worde Arcite gan aspie Where þat þis ladi romede to and fro And wiþ þat siht hire beaute hurte him so That if palamon was wounded soreIII. 16-17. (reversing the or|der of the names.) Arcite is hurte as muche as he or more And wiþ a sike he seide Pitously The frische bewte sleþe me sodeynly Of hir þat romeþ in þat ȝonder place And bot .I. haue hir merci and hir grace That .I. maie seen hire att þe lest weie .I. ne am bot dede þer nys no more to seie This Palamon whan he þes wordes herde Dispitusli he loked and and Answerde Wheþer seistowe þou þis in ernest or in pleye Naie quod Arcite in ernest be my feye God helpe me so me list fu yuel pleie This Palamon gan knyte his browes tweie Itt weere to þe quod he no grete 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 false or for to be traitour To me þat am þi cosin and þi broþere .I.-sworne ful depe and iche of vs to oþere þat neuer for to diȝen in þe peyne Til deþe haþe departe vs tweyne Neyþer in loue to hinder oþer Ne in none oþere case my leue broþer Bot þat þou scholdest trewly forþer more In euery case and .I. schal forþer þe þore This was þine oþe and myne certeine .I. wote riht wele þou darste it nouht wiþ-seine Thus art þou of my counsel owte of dowte And Nowe þou woldest falsely bene abowte To loue my ladi whome .I. loue and serue And euer schal til þat myne hert sterue Nowe certes false Arcite þou schalte not so I loued hir first and tolde þe my woo As to my Cosin and my broþer sworne To ferþer me as .I. haue tolde to forne ffor whiche þou art bownden as a knyht To helpe if it laie in þi myht Or elles ert þou fals .I. dare wele seine ¶ This Arcite ful prowdeli spake aȝeine Thowe schalt quod he [be] raþer false þan .I. Bot þowe ert false .I. tel þe witerly. ffor paramoure .I. loued here first ar þoue What wiltow seine þow wist it not ȝit nowe Wheþer sche be a womman or a goddesse Thine es affecione of holynesse And myne is loue as to a creatur ffor whiche .I. tolde þe myn aventur As to my cosine and to my broþere sworne ¶ .I. pose þat þou louest had . hir to forne Wost þowe nouht wele þe olde clerkes sawe That who schal ȝeue a louer any lawe.Quis legem dat amantibus Loue is a gretter lawe be my panne Than maie be ȝeue to ani erþeli manne And þere positif lawe and swyche decree Is broke al daie for loue in yche degree A man most nedes loue maugrif his hede[See V. 51.] He maie not fliȝen it þouhe he scholde be dede Al be sche maide or wydow or elles wif And eke it is nouht likely al þi lif[See V. 45, 49.] To stonde in hir grace na more schal .I. ffor wele þou wost þi self verrely That þou and .I. bene dampne to prison Perpetuely . vs geyneþ no Raunson We striuen as houndes for þe bone They fouhten al daie and ȝit þeire parte was none There come a kite whil þat þei were so wroþe That bare awaie þe bone be-twex hem boþe Ac þere-fore att þe kinges courte my broþer Eche mon for him self þere is none oþer Loue if þou list for .I. loue and ay schall And soþeli leue broþer þis is all Here in þis prison most we endure And eueryche of vs tak his aventure ¶ Grete was þe strif and longe be-twex hem tweie If þat .I. had leiser for to seie Bot to þis effecte it happened on a daye To tellen it ȝow as schortly as .I. maye A worthi Duc þat hiht. PerotheusIII. 47. That felowe was vn-to Duc Theseus Sen þilke daie þat þei weren childern lite Was commen to Athenes his felawe to visite And for to pleie as he was wont to do ffor in þis werlde he louede no man so And he loue him also as tendrely a-ȝeine So wele þey loued as olde bokes seine That whanne þat one was dede sothely to tell His felaw went and sowht him downe in hell Bot of þat stori leste me nouht to write Duc Perotheus louede wel ArciteIII. 51-4 And him knowe att Thebes ȝere be ȝere And ffinally . att request . and prayere Of Perotheus wiþ-owten any Raunson. Duc Theseus him lete owte of prison ffrely to gone where þat him list ouer all In suche a gise as .I. ȝowe telle schall This was þe forward pleinly to endite Be-twex Theseus and him Arcite That if so were þat Arcite was fownde Euere in his lif be daie or nyht or stownde In any Contre of þis Theseus And war cauht it was accorded þus That wiþe a swerde he scholde lese his hedeIII. 54. Ther nas none oþere remedye ne rede Bot takeþe his leue and homwarde he him spedde Lat him be war his nek liþe to wedde How grete a sorwe suffurþe nowe arcite The deþe he feleþ þoruhe his hert smite He wepeþe he weyleþ and crieþ pitously To slene him self he waiteþ priuely He seide alas þat .I. was borne[Gen. resembl. See III. 75, &c.] Nowe is my prison werse þan be-forne Nowe is me schape eternalie to dwelle Nouht in purgatorie Bot in helle Alas þat euer .I. knewe Perotheus ffor elles had .I. dwelled wiþ Theseus Ifetterd in his prison euer mo Than had .I. bene in blisse and nowht in woo Onely þe siht of hire whome þat .I. serue Thouhe þat .I. neuere hir grace miht deserue Wholde haue ysuffised riht .I.-nowhe for me ¶ O dere Cosine Palamon quod he Thine is þe victorie of þis auenture fful blisfully in prisōn mayght þou dure In prison sertes naye bot Paradise Wele haþ fortune turned þe dise That haþe þe siht of hire and .I. þe absence ffor possible is seþþe þou hast hir presence And art a kny[ght] a worþi and an able That be som caas fortune is chaungeable Thou maiste to þi desire somtime ateigne Bot .I. þat am exiled and bareigne Of al grace and in so grete dispeire That þer nys erþe water fire ne ayre Ne creature þat of hem Maked is That may me helpe ne do me comford in þis Wele owht .I. sterue In wanhope and distris . . . . .line out: no gap in the MS. Alas why pleine men so in Comune On purueance of god or of fortune þat ȝeueþe hem ful of in many a gise Wele bet þan þei can hem self deuise Som man desireþ for to haue richesse þat cause is of his mordre or grete sekenesse And som man wolde owte of his prison fayne That in his house is of his meine sleyne. Infinite harmes bene in þis matiere We wote nowht what þinge we praien hiere We faren as he þat dronken is as a mouse A dronken man wote wele he haþe an house Bot he note whiche þe riht waie is þedere And to a dronken man þe waie is scleþere And certes in þis werlde so faren we We seken fast after felicite. Bot we gone wronge oft ful trewli Thus maie we seine all and namelyche .I. That wende and had a grete opinione That if .I. myht scippe fro prisone Than had .I. b[e]ne in Ioye and parfit hele There nowe .I. am exiled fro my wele Sen þat .I. may not sene ȝowe EmelyeIII. 75. .I. am bot dede þer nyse no remedie ¶ Vpon þat oþere side Palamon Whan þat he wiste þat Arcite was agone Suche sorwe he makeþ þat þe grete toure Resouneþ of his ȝellinge and clamour The pore fettres on his schinnes grete Were of his bitter salte teres wete Alas quod he Arcita Cosyn myne Of al oure strif god wote þe fruyt is þine Thow walkes now in Thebes att þi large And of my woo þou ȝeuest litel charge Thou maiste sinne þou hast wisdome and manhede Assemble al þe folke of ȝoure kinrede And Maake a werre so scharpe on þis Cite That be som auenture or sum trete Thou maiste haue to lady and to wife ffor whome þat .I. most nedes lese my life ffor as be weie of Possibilite Sethe þou art att þi large of prison fre An art a lorde grete is þine avantage More þan is myne þat sterueþe here in a cage ¶ ffor .I. mote wepe and waile wil þat .I. leue With al þe wo þat prison maie me ȝeue Ande eke wiþe peine þat loue me ȝeueth also That dowbleþ al my turment and my wo Thare-wiþe þe fire of Ielousie vp sterte With-inne his breste and hente him be þe herte So woodly þat he like was to be-holde The box tree or þe asshen dede or colde. ¶ Than seide he O cruel goddes þat gouern This werlde wiþ byndeinge of ȝowre worde eterne And wreten in þe table of Atthamaunt Ȝowre parlement and ȝowre eterne graunt What is Mankinde More vn-to ȝo holde Than is þe schepe þat rowkeþ in þe folde ffor sleine is man riht as anoþere beste And duelleþe eke in prison and in areste And haþe sekenesse and grete aduersite And ofte time giltles parde ¶ What gouernance is in þis prescience That giltles tormenteþ Innocence And encreseþ þus al my penaunce That man is bounde to his obseruaunce ffor goddes saake to letten of his will þere as a beste maie al his lust fulfill And whan a beste is dede it haþe no peine Bot after his deþe man moste wepe and pleyne. Thouhe in þis werlde he haue care and woo Wiþ-owten doute it maie stonden soo The ansewere of þis lette .I. to dyuines Bot wele .I. wote þat in þis werlde grete peine es Alas .I. see a serpent or a þef That mony a trewman haþ done meschief Gone att his large and where him list maie turne Bot .I. most be in prison þoruhe Saturne An eke þoruhe Iuno Ialous and eke wode That haþe destruyde nyhe al þe blode Of Thebes wiþ his waste walles wide And venus flieþ me on þat oþere side ffor Ialousie and fere of him Arcite"paurosa gelosia" V. 2 ¶ Nowe wil .I. stinte of Palamon a lite And lat him in his prisone stille dwelle And of Arcite forþe .I. will ȝowe telle The somer passeþ and þe nihtes longe Encreseth dowble wise þe peynes stronge Boþe of þe louere and þe prisonere .I. note wiche haþe þe wofuller myster ffor schortelye for to seine þis Palamon Perpetuely is dampned to prison In chynes and fettres to þe dede And Arcit is ercilede vpon his hede ffor euere more as oute of þat Cuntre Ne neuere ne schal his lady see. ¶ Ȝowe louiers .I. aske þis questiōne Who haþ þe wers Arcite or Palamōne The one maie se his lady . daie be daie Bot in prison he most dwel alweie The toþere where him liste Maie ride or goo Bote sene his lady schal he neuer moo Nowe demeþ as ȝowe liste þat ȝe canne ffor .I. wil tel forþe as .I. be-ganne[No gap in the MS.] [PART II. No gap in the MS.] ¶ Whan þat Arcite to Thebes commen was fful often adaie he swelte and seide alas ffor seen his ladi schal he neuer moo And schortly to concluden al his woo So muche sorwe had neuer creature That is or schall whil þat þe werde mai dure His slepe his mete his drinke is be-raftIV. 26, 27. þat lene he wex and drie as is a schaft His yhe hollowe and grisely to be-holdeIV. 28. His hiew falowe and pale as asshe coldeIV. 27. And solitarie he was. and euer a lone And weyleynge al þe nyht makinge his mone. And if he herde songe or instrument Than wolde he wepe he myht nouht be stent So feble eke were his spretes and he loweIV. 29. And Chaungede so þat noman couþe knowe His speche nor his voice þouhe men hit herde And in his gere for al þe werlde he ferde Not comly lyke to louers maledye Of heres bot raþer like manye Engenderd of humor malancolike Be-forne his celle ffantastike And scortly torned was al vp and downe Boþe Abite and disposicioune Of him þis woful louer dame Arcite ¶ Wat schold .I. al daie of his wo endite Whan he endured had a ȝere or two This cruel torment and þis peine and woo As Thebes in his Contre as .I. seide Vpon a nyhte on slepe as he him leide. Him þouht howe þat venged god Mercurie Be-forne him stode and bad him to be merie His slepi ȝerde in honde he bar vp riht An hatte he werede vpon his heres briht Arraide was þis god as as he toke kepe As he was whan þat Argus toke his slepe And seide him þus to Athenes þow schalt wende Where is þe schapen of þi woo an ende ¶ And wiþ þat worde Arcite woke and sterte Now trewli how sore þat me smerte Quod he to Athenes riht nowe wil .I. fare Ne for þe drede of deþe schal .I. nouht spare To se my lady þat .I. loue and serue In hire presence .I. reche not to sterue And wiþ þat worde he cauht a grete Mirroure And sauhe þat chaunged was al his coloure And sauhe his vesage al in anoþer kinde And riht anone it ran him in his myndeIV. 38. That seþ his face was so disfigurede Of þe Maledy whiche he had endurede He myht wele if þat he bare him lowe Leue in Athenes euer more vnknowe An seen his lady wel ny day be daye And riht anone he chaunged his Araye And clad him as poure laborerepover valletto, IV. 22. An al alone saue onely o swiereumil garzone, IV. 22. That knewe his priuete and al his casepovero valletto IV. 40. Whiche was disgised pouerly as he was To Athenes is gone þe next waye And to þe courte he went vpon a daye And att þe gate he proferd his seruyse To drugge and drawe what so men wil deuise And schortly of þis mater for to seine He fel in office wiþ a chamburleine The whiche þat was dwellinge wiþ Emelye ffor he was wise and sone couþe aspye ffor euery seruant whiche þat serueþ here Wele couþe he hewen wode and water bere ffor he was ȝonge and myhti for þe nones And þer-to he was stronge and briht of bones To done þat any whit him can devise A ȝere or two he was in þis seruise Page of þe chambere of Emely þe briht And Philostrat he seide þat he hiht[Penteo IV. 3, &c.] Bot halfe so wele be-loued a man as he Ne was þere neuer in Courte of his degre He was so gentil of condicioune That þoruhe-owte al þe courte was his renoune Thei seide þat it were a charite That Theseus wolde en-haunse his degre And putten him in worschip-ful seruise There as he myht his vertue exercise And þus wiþ-inne a while his name is sprongeIV. 59. Boþe of his dede and his good tonge That Theseus haþe taken him so nere That of his chambre he maade him a swiere And ȝaue him gold to mainteigne his degre And eke men brouht him oute of his contre ffro ȝere to ȝere so priuely his rente But onestly and sleyhtly . he it spente þat noman wondred howe þat he it hadde And þrei ȝere in þis wise his lif he ladde And bare him so in pees and eke in werre There was no man þat Theseus hathe derreIV. 59. And in þis blisse let .I. nowe Arcite And speke .I. will of Palamon a lite ¶ In derkenes and horrible and stronge prisoneV. 1. Þis seuen ȝere haþe siten Palamone ffor-pined whate for wo and for destresse Who feleþ double sore and heuinesseV. 3. Bot Palamon þat loue destreyneþ so That woode owte of his witte he goþ for wo And eke þere-to he is a prisoner Perpetuelly not onely for a ȝere Who couþe rime in Englisshe propurly His martirdome for soþe it am not .I. There-fore .I. passe al so lihtly as .I. maye ¶ It fel þat in þe seuent ȝere of maie The þridde nyhte as holde bokes seine That all þis story telleþ more pleine Were it be aventure or destanye As whan a þinge is schape it schal bye Þat sone after þe mydenyht PalamonV. 25-7. Be helpinge of a frende brake prison And fleeth þe Cite fast as he mai goo ffor he had gif his Gailer drinke sooV. 24. Of a clarre maade of a certein wyne Wiþ nercotiks and opie of Thebes fyne That al þat nyht þouhe þat men wold him schake The Gaillere slepe he myht nouht awake. And þus he flieþ as fast as euere he maie The nyht was schort and fast be þe daie That nedes coste he most him self hiden And til a groue faste fast þere be-sidenV. 33. Wiþ dredful fote þan stalkeþ Palamon ffor schort þis was his opinion That in þat groue he wolde him hide aldaie And in þe nyht þan wolde he take his waie To Thebes-warde his frendes for to praye On Theseus to helpe him to werreie Or schortly he wolde lese his lif Ore wynnen Emely to his louely wif This is þefecte and his entente pleine ¶ Now whiles turne we to Arcite aȝeine That litel wiste how nihe þat was his care Til þat fortone hadde cauht him in his snare The besi larke messagiere of daie Salueþ in hir songe þe morwe greie And firy phebus riseþ vp so bright Þat al þe orient lawheþ of þe sight And wiþ his streme drieþ in þe greues The siluer dropes hangeinge on þe leues And Arcita þat in þe courte roial Wiþ Theseus his swier principal Is resen and lokeþ on þe mery daie And for to done his obseruance to maie Remembringe on þe pointe of his desire He on his coursere stertynge as fire Is reden to þe feldes him to pleie Owte of þe Court were it a meyle or tweye And to þe groue of whiche as [I] ȝow tolde Be aventur his weie he gan to holde To Maken him a garlonde of þe greuesIV. 62. Were it of wodebinde or of heiþorne leues And loude he songe a-ȝein þe sonne schene Maie wiþ al þi floures and þi grene Welcom be þou feire fresche Maie I. hop þat .I. sume grene get maie And from his coursur wiþ a lusti herte In to þe groue ful hastely he sterte And in a paþe he romeþ vp and doune Thar as be aventur of þis Palamon Was in a busshe þat no man miht him see ffor sore aferde of his deþe was he No þinge knewe he þat it was Arcite God wote he wolde haue trowed it ful lite Bot soþe is seide gon siþe many ȝeres That felde haþe yȝen. and wode haþe eres It [is] ful faire a man to bere him euen ffor aldaie meteþ men att vn-sette steuen fful litel wote arcite of his felawe Þat was so nyhe to herken of his sawe ffor in þe busche he sitteþ now ful still Whan þat Arcite had romede al his fill And songen al þe roundel lustely In to a stody he fel sodanly As done þes louers in hir queynte geres Nowe in þe crope nowe downe in þe breres Nowe vp nowe downe as a boket in a welle Riht as þe fridaie soþeli for to telle Nowe it schineþe nowe it reineþ fast Riht so gan geri venus ouer cast The hertes of hir folke riht as hir daie Is gerful riht so chaungeþ sche arraie Seld is þe fridaie al þe weke ylike ¶ Whan þat Arcite had songe he gan to sike And set him doune wiþ-owten any more Alas quod he þat daie þat .I. was bore Howe longe Iuno þoruhe þi crueltee Wiltow werien Thebes þe Citee Alas brouht it is to confusioneSee IV. 13, 14. The blode Roial of Cadine and Amphione Of Cadinus whiche þat was þe first man That Thebes bulet or first þe toune be-gan And of þe Cite first was Crouned kinge Of his linage am .I. and of his ospringe Be verrei. ligne as of þe stok Roialle.See IV. 31. And Now .I. am so caitif and so þralle. That he þat is my mortal ennemyeSee IV. 85. .I. serue him as his swier pouerelye And ȝit doþe me Iuno wel more schame ffor .I. dar .I. not be-knowe myne owne name Bot þere as .I. was wonte hiht ArciteSee IV. 84. Now .hiht. Philostrate not worþe a myte[Penteo, IV. 84.] Allas þou fel mars Allas þou Iuno.See IV. 17. Thus haþe ȝower ire owre lignage al for-do. Saue only me and wreched palamon That Theseus Martireþ in prison And ouer al þis to slene me vtterlyIV. 82. Loue haþ faire his darte so brinyngly Istiked þoruhe my trewe careful herte That schapen was my deþ arst þan my scherte Ȝe slene me wiþe ȝowere yhen Emelye The be þe cause were-for þat .I. die Of al þe remenan of myne oþere care Ne sette .I. nouht þe mountance of a tare So þat .I. couþe do ouhte to ȝowre plesance And wiþ þat worde he fel doune in a trance A longe tim and he afterwarde vpstert ¶ This Palamon þat þouht þat þoruhe his herte He felde a colde swerde sodeinly glide ffore ire he whoke no lenger wolde he bide And whan þat he had herde Arcites tale As he were wode wiþe face dede and pale He stert him vpe oute of þe boskes þikke And seide Arcite. false treitoure wikke Nowe art þow hent þat louest mi ladie so ffor whome þat .I. haue al þis peine and woo And art my blode and to my consel sworne As .I. ful oft haue tolde þe here be-forne And hast be-japed here Duc Theseus And falsely haste þou chaunged. þi name þus .I. wil be dede or elles þou schalt diȝe Thou schalt nouht loue my ladie Emelye Bot .I. will louere onely. and no mo ffor .I. am Palamon þi mortal fo And þoughe þat .I. no wepen haue in þis place. Bot owte of prisoun am asterte be grace .I. drede nouht þat ouþer þu schal diȝeSee V. 54. Or þou ne schat not louen Emelye Ches whiche þou wilte or þou schalt nouht asterte ¶ This Arcite wiþ ful dispitouse herte Whan he him knewe and had his tale herde As fers a[s] lion he pulled owte a swerde And seid þus be god þat sitteþ aboue Nere it were þat þou art seke and woode for loue And eke þat þou no wepen hast in þis place Thou scholdest neuer oute of þis groue pace. That þou ne scholdest deiȝen of myne honde ffor .I. defie þe suyrte and þe bonde'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. Whiche þat þou seist .I. haue maade to þe Whatt verreie foole þinke wele þat loue is freV. 51. And .I. wil loue hir Maugre al þi myht Bot for al so muche as þou ert a worþi knyht And wilneste to darreine hir be Bataile Haue here my trowþe to morne wil .I. nouht faile Wiþouten weteinge of any oþere wight That here .I. wil be founden as a knyht And bringen herneys riht. ynowhe for þe And chese þe beste and leue þe werst for me And mete and drinke þis nyht wil .I. bringe .Y.-nowghe for þe and cloþes for þi bedynge And. if so be þat þou my lady wynne And sle me in þis wode þare .I. am inne Þou maiste wele haue my lady as for me This Palamon ansewerd .I. graunt it þe And þus þei bene departid til on morwe Whan iche of hem had leide his feiþe to borwe Occupiede owte of al charite ¶ O regne þat wolde no felawe haue wiþ þe fful soþe is seide þat loue ne lordeschipeV. 13. Wil not his þonkes haue no felauschipe We finde þat of arcite and of Palamone Arcite is Reden anone in to þe toune And on þe morwe ar it were daies liht fful priuely tuo herneys haþe he diht Boþe suffisant and mete to darreine The Bataile in þe felde be-tuex hem tweyne And on his hors alone as he was borne He carieþ al his herneyce him be-forne And in þe groue att þe time and place y-sette Þis Arcite and Palamon ben mette To chaungen gan þe coloure in her face Riht as þe hunters in þe Reigne of TraceVII. 106. Þat stondeþ att a gappe wiþ a spere Whan huntide is þe lyon or þe bere And hereþ him come rossheinge in þe greues And brekeþe boþe bowes and þe leuesVII. 119. And þinkeþ here comeþ my mortale enmye Wiþþe-owte faile he most be dede or .I. ffor eiþer .i. mote slene him att þe gappe Or [he] most sle me. if þat me mys happe So ferden [þey] in chaungeinge of hire hewe As fer as iche of hem oþer knewe Thar nas no good daye ne no salueynge Bot streite wiþouten worde or reherseinge Eueryche of hem helpe to arme oþere As frendely as he were his owen broþere And after þat wiþ scharpe speres stronge Thei foynen eche att oþere wonder longe Thou mihtest wene þat this palamon In his feihtinge were a wode lyon · And as a cruel tigre was Arcite As wilde bores gunne þei to smyte Þat froþen white as fome. for ire wode Vp to þe Ancle fouht þei in þeire blode And in þis wise .I. lete hem feihtinge dwelle And forþ .I. wil of Theseus ȝowe telle The destanye Ministre generalVI. 1. That executeþ in þe werld oueral The Purueance þat. god haþ seie be-fore

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 stronge it is þat þeihe þe werlde had it swore The contrarie of a þinge be ȝe or naye Ȝit some time it schal fal on a daye.V. 77. Þat falleþ nouht eft wiþ-inne a þousande ȝere ffor certeinly oure appetites here Be it of werre of pese. or hate or loue All is þis rewled be þe siht aboue This Mene .I. nowe be myhty TheseusV. 77. That for to hunt is so desirus And namely att þe grete hert in maie That in his bed þere daweþ him no daie Þat he na es clad and redi for to ride Wiþ hunte and horne and hundes him bisideV. 77. ffor in his huntynge haþe he swyche deliteV. 78. That it is al is hope. Ioy and appetite To bene him self þe grete hertes bane ffor after mars. he serueþ now Diane Clere was þe daie as .I. haue told ar þis And Theseus wiþ al Ioy and blisse Wiþ his ypolita þe faire quene And Emely cloþed al in Grene[See XII. 65.] On huntyn bene þe reden Roially And to þe Groue þat stod ful fast by In whiche þer was an herte as men him tolde ¶ Duc Theseus þe streiht waie haþ holde And to þe launde he rideþ him ful riht ffor þeder was þe hert wonte to haue his fliht And ouer a broke and so forþe on his weie This Duc wil haue a cours att him or tweie Wiþ houndes suche as him lust commaunde And whan þis Duc wa[s] come vn to þe launde Vnder þe sonne he loked And a-none He was war of Arcite and Palamone. þat fowhten breme as it wer boly two The briht swerdes wenten to and foo.[? MS. fro] So hydously þat wiþ þe lest stroke It semeþ þat it wald fel an oke Bot whate þei were noþinge he wote This Duc his Coursur wiþ his spores smoteV. 82. And att a sterte he was be-twix hem two And pulled owte a swerde And cride ho No more vpon peine of leseynge of ȝoure hede Be myhti Mars he schal a-none be dede That smyteþ any stroke. þat .I. maie seen Bot telle me what mester men ȝe beenV. 83. That bene so hardy to feihten here Wiþ-owten Iugge or oþer officere As it were in a litel list roiallie ¶ This Palamon ansewerd hastelye And seide sire what nedeþ wordes mo We haue þe deþ deserued boþe tuo Two wofull wreches be we tuo Caytyues That bene encumberde of owre owen liues And as þou art a riht-ful lorde and Iuge Ne ȝif vs neyþer mercy ne refuge Bot sle me first for seinte Charite And sle my felaw eke as wele as me Or sle him for þouhe thou knowest it lite Þis is þi mortal fo þis is Arcite That fro þi londe is banysshed on his hedSee V. 91. ffor whiche he haþe deserued to be dede ffor þis is he whiche come vn to þi gate And seide þat he hiht Philostrate. Thus haþe he Iaped þe ful mony a ȝere And þou hast maade him þi chef swyere And þis is he þat loueþ Emelye ffor seþ þat daie is come þat .I. schal diȝe .I. make pleinely my confessione Þat .I. am þilke woful palamone Þat haþe þi prisone broken wikkedly.See V. 91. .I. am þi mortale foo and it am .I. Þat loueþe so hote Emelye þe brihte That wil diȝe present in hire sihte Where-fore .I. ax deþe and my IuyseV. 90. Bot sle my felawe in þe same wise ffor boþe we haue deserued to be sleine ¶ This worþi Duc ansewerd anone aȝeine And seide this is a schort conclusione Ȝowre owren mouþe be ȝowre confessione Haþe dampne ȝow and it wil recorde It nedeþ nouht to pyne ȝowe wiþ corde Ȝe schal be ded be myhti Mars þe rede The qweene anone for verrei wommanhede Gan for to wepe and so dide Emelie And al þe ladies in þe companye Grete pite was as hem þouht alle That euer suche a chaunce shold falle ffor gentilmen þei were of grete astate And noþinge bot for loue was þis debate And sauhe hire blody woundes wide and sore And al criden boþe lasse and more Haue merci lorde vpon vs wemmen alle And on her bare knees downe þei falle And wolde haue kist his fote þere as he stode Til att laste a-slaked was his moode ffor pite renneþ sone in gentil herte And þouhe he firste fore Ire quoke and sterte He considered schortly in a clause The trespas of hem boþe and eke þe cause And al-þouhe þat his Ire hir gilte accusede Ȝit in his reson he hem boþ excusede And þus he þouht wele þat euery man Wil helpe him selfe in loue if þat he can And eke deliuere him self owte of prisone And eke his herte had compassione Of wemmen for þei wepen euer in one And in his gentill hert. he þouht anone And soft vn to him self he seide fie Vpon a lorde þat wille haue no mercye Bot he be lyone boþe in worde and in dede To hem þat bene in repentance and drede Al so wele as to a proude dispitous man That wil Maiten þat he first be-gan That lorde haþ litel of discrecion That in suche cas can no deuision And weieþe pride and humblenesse after one And whan his Ire is þus a-gone He gan to Loken vpe wiþ yhe liht And spake þis same wordes al on hiht ¶ The god of loue A Benedicite Howe myhti and howe grete a lorde is he Aȝeines his myhtes þere gayneþ none obstacles He maie be cleped a god for his miracles ffor he can maken att his owen gise Of eueryche hert as þat him list deuise Loo here þis Arcite and Palamon That quytly weere owte my prison And myht haue leued in Thebes roialye And weten .I. am here mortale enemye And þat hire deþe liþe in my myht also And haþe loue Maugre here eyen two Brouht hem hider boþ for to die Nowe lokeþ is nouht þat an hihe folye Who maye be a foole bot if he loue Be-holde for goddes sake þat sitteþ aboue Se howe þei blede be þei nouht wele araide Thus haþe hire lorde þe god of loue ypaide Hire wages and her fees for hire seruise And ȝut þei wenen for to be ful wise That seruen loue for ouht þat maie be-falle Bot þis is ȝete þe beste game of alle That sche for wham þei haue þis Iolite Kan hem þerfore as muche þonke as me Sche woote no more of all þis hote fare Bi god þan wote a cokkowe or an hare Bot al mot bene assaide hote and colde A man most be a foole or ȝonge or oldeV. 92. .I. wote it be my selfe ful ȝore a-gone ffor in my time a seruant was .I. one And þare-fore seþ .I. knowe of loues peine .I. woote howe sore it kan a man distreine As he þat haþe bue cauht oft in his lace .I. ȝowe for-ȝef al holely þis trespaceV. 92-3. At þe request of þe quene þat kneleþ here And Eke of Emely my suster dere And ȝe schall Boþe anone vn to me swere þat neuer ȝe schal my coroune dere Ne make werre vpon me nyht ne daie Bot bene my frendes in al þat ȝe maie .I. ȝowe for-ȝeue þis trispaas euery dele And þei him sworne his axen faire and weleV. 93. And him of lordeschipe and of Mercie preide And hem graunteþe grace and þus he seide ¶ To speke of Roial lignage and richesseV. 96. Thouhe þat sche weere a queene or a Princesse Eche of ȝowe boþe is worþi doutelesse To wedden whan time is bot naþelesse .I. speke as for [my] suster Emelye ffor whom .I. haue. þis strif and Ialowsie Ȝe wit ȝoure selfe sche maie nouht wedden twooV. 95. Att ones þouhe ȝe feihten euer moo Bot one of ȝowe al be him loþe or leue He mote go pipen in an yuy leue This to sei sche maye nouht haue boþe Al be ȝe neuer so Ielouse ne so wroþe And for-þi .I. ȝowe pute in þis degre That iche of ȝow schal haue his destanye As him is schape and herkeneþe in whatt wise Lo here ȝowre ende of þat .I. schal deuise ¶ Mi will is [this[MS. rubbed]] for plate conclusione Wiþ-owten any replicacione If þat ȝowe likeþ takeþ it for þe beste That eueryche of ȝowe schal gone where him leste ffrely wiþ-owten Raunson or daungere And . þis daie fifty wekes fer ne nere'un anno intero,' V. 98. Eueryche of ȝowe schal bringe an .C. knyhtesV. 97. Armed for lystes vp al Rihtes'nel teatro nostro.' Al redi to darreine hir by Bataile And þis behet .I. ȝow wiþ-owte faile. Vpon my trouþe and as .I. am knyht That wheþer of ȝowe boþe þat haþe miht This is to seine wheþer he or þou Maie wiþ his hundreþ as .I. spak of noweV. 98. Sle his contrarie or owte of listes driue[no slaying men tioned.] That schal .I. ȝeue Emelia to wif To whome þat fortone ȝeueþ so faire a grace The listes schal .I. maken in þis place And god so wisly on my soule rewe As .I. schal Euen Iuge be and trewe Ȝe schol none oþer ende wiþ me makene Þat one of ȝowe ne schall be dede or takene And ȝif ȝowe þinkeþ þis is wele .I.-seide Seiþe ȝowre avise and holde ȝowe wele apaide This es ȝoure ende and ȝoure conclusione Who lokeþ lihtly nowe bot palamone Who springeþ vp for ioie bot arcite Who couþe telle or who couþe it endite The ioye þat is maked in þe place Whan Theseus haþe done so faire a grace['tanta grazia,' V. 100.] But downe one knees went. euery manere wiht And þonked him wiþ al here hert and myht And namely þe Thebanes oft siþe And þus wiþ good hope and wiþþe herte bliþe Thei taken here leue and homward gan þei ride To Thebes wiþ olde walles wide [PART III. No gap in the MS.] .I. trowe men wolde it deme Necligence Ȝif .I. for-ȝate to tellen þe dispence Of Theseus þat goþe so besily To Maken vp þe listes roially Þat suche a noble theatre as it was .I. dare wele saie in þe werlde þere nas The circuite a Mile was abouteVII. 108. Walled of stone and diche all wiþ-oute[no ditch.] Rounde was þe schappe maner of compas fful of degrees þe heighte of sexti pas That whan a man was sette on o degreeVII. 110. He let-it nouhte his felow for to see Estwarde þere stoode a gate of marble whiteVII. 109. Westward riht stoode a-noþer in þe opposite. And schortly to conclude suche a place Was none in erþe and in so litel a space. ffor in þe londe þere nas no crafti man That Geomatrie or arce metrik can Ne Purtreoure ne keruer of ymages Thas Theseus ne ȝafe mete and wages The Theatre to make and to deuise And for to done his riht and sacrifice He Estwarde haþ vpon þe gate aboue In worschipe of venus goddes of loue Done maken an Auter and an Oratorie And in þe westwarde in Memorie Of Marce he Maked haþe riht suche anoþer Þat cost largeli of gold a foþer And Northwarde in a toret on· þe walle Of Alabastre white and rede Coralle An oratorie riche for to se In worschipe of Dyane of chastite Haþe Theseus don wrouht in noble wise Bot ȝite had .I. forgeten to deuise Þe noble painteynge and þe purtres The schappe þe countenance and þe figures That weren in þese oratories þre fferst in þe temple of venus maist þou see Wrouhte in þe walle fu[l] pitouse to be-holde The broken slepes. and þe sikes colde The sacrede teres and þe weymenynge The firy strokes of desireingeVII. 59. That loues seruantȝ in þis life enduren The oþes þat here couenantz ensuren Plesant and hope desire foolhardinesseSee VII. 55-6, &c. Beaute and ȝouþe. bauderie RichesseSee VII. 56, & 64. Charmes and force leseinges flaterieSee VII. 55-6, 59. Dispense Besinesse and Ielowsie That wered of ȝalowe gowldes a garlonde And a kokkowe sittinge on his honde ffestes Instrumentes karoles dauncesSee VII. 53, & 57. Luste and arraie and al þe Circumstaunces Of loue whiche þat rekened and reken schall Be order were peinted on þe wall And mo þan .I. can make of Mencione ffor soþeli al þe mounte of GitheroneVII. 50. There venus haþ hir principal dwellinge Was schewede on þe wall in purtreinge Videvi storie per tutto dipinte . . . . . E'l grand Ercole vide tra costoro. VII. 62. Wiþ al the Gardyne and þe lustinesse Nat was for-ȝete þe porter ydelnesse'Richezza' is Porter in the Teseide, VII. 64: the Roman de la Rose is followed here. Ne Narcisus þe faire of ȝore agone Ne þe foly of kinge salamon Ne ȝitte þe grete strenke of hercules Videvi storie per tutto dipinte . . . . . E'l grand Ercole vide tra costoro. VII. 62. Thenchauntementez of Medea and Circes Ne of Turnus wiþ þe hardy fiers corage The Riche Crisus Caitif in seruage Thus maie ȝe seen þat wisdome ne richesse Beute ne strengeþe ne sleiht ne hardinesse Ne maie wiþ venus halde Champartie ffor as sche liste þe werlde þan maie sche gye. Lo al þis folke so kauht were in hire lace Til þei ful woo ful oft seide Alace Suffiseþe here ensamples one or two And þouhe .I. couþe rekken a þousand mo The Statue of venus glorious for to seeSee H. of Fame, 198; and Albricus Philosophus in Staveren's Auctores Mythographi, 1702, vol. ii. p. 903. Was made fleteynge in þe large see And fro þe nauel doune al couerd was Wiþ wawes grene and briht as any glas A Citole in hire Rihte honde had sche And on hir hede ful semely for to see A rose garland frische and wele smellinge A-boue hire hede here doufes flikeringe Be-forne hir stode hir sonne Cupido Vpon his scholderes wenges had he tuo And blinde he was as it is oft sene A bowe he bare and arwes briht and kene ¶ Whi schold .I. nouht also wele eke tel þe hall The purtratoure þat was vpon þe wall Wiþ-inne þe temple of myhti mars þe rede Al peinted was þe wal in lengethe and bredeVII. 36. Like to þe estres of þe grisely placeVII. 29, 30. That hihte þe grete temple of mars in trace In þilke colde frosti Region Ther as Marce haþe his souereine Mansion ffirste on þe wal was peinted a forestVII. 31. In whiche þere dwelled neyþer man ne beste[but a real forest there, not a painted one.] With knotty knarry baran tres olde Of stubbes scharpe and hidouse to be-holde In whiche þer ran a rombel in a swouhe. As þouhe a storme scholde berste euery bouhe. And dounewarde from an hill vnder a bent Ther stode þe temple of Mars armipotentVII. 32. Wrowht al of Burnede stele of wyche þentre Was longe and streite and gastly for to see And þere owte come a rage and suche a vezeVII. 33. That maade al þe gates for to rese The Northern liht in att þat dore schoneBoccaccio makes the temple lighted by altar-fires, kindled from the flames of plundered cities. VII. 35. ffor windowe on þe [walle] was þere none. Thoruhe whiche men myht any liht discerne The dores waren all of Attemant ete[r]neVII. 32. Ychenchede ouereþwart and enlonge Wiþ yren toughe and for to make it stronge Euery peler þe temple to susteineVII. 33. Was tune grete of yren briht and schene There sawe .I. first þe derke ymaginynge Of felony an al þe compassinge The Cruele Ire as rede as any glede The Pike-purs and eke þe pale dredeVII. 33. [not the pickpurse.] The smyler wiþe þe knyf vnder þe clokeVII. 34. The Shepen birneinge with þe blake smoke The Treson of þe Morþeringe in þe bedde The Open werre wiþ wondes all be-bledde Contek wiþ blody knyfe and scharpe manaceVII. 34. All fful of schrikeinge was þat sor place The sleere of himself ȝit sawe .I. þere His herte haþ baþed al his here The naile y-dryue in þe schode on nyht The colde deþe wiþ mouþe gapeand vpriht A mides of þe temple satte Mischaunce'Amyddes of the' place sat 'la virtù tristissima.' VII. 34. With discomford and sori countenaunce Ȝit sauhe .I. wodenes lawheynge in his rageVII. 35. Armed compleinte outehees and fires outrage'La Morte armata vide e lo stupore.' VII. 35. The karoigne in þe buske wiþ þrote. ycorue A. þousand ysleine and not of qualme ystorue The terant wiþe preie be for þrafte The towne destroiede. þer was no þinge laftVII. 36. Ȝete sawe .I. bernte þe schippes hoppesters'Le navi bellatrici.' VII. 37. Neither Boccaccio, nor yet his prototype Statius, speaks of any ships as burnt, but merely as trophies. The hunte strangeld wiþ þe wilde beres The sowe freteynge þe childe riht in þe Cradell The Coke. Iscalded for al his longe ladell Nouht was forȝeten be þenfortune of Marte The Carte ouerriden wiþ his CarteVII. 37. Vnder þe whele ful lowe he laie a doune There were also of Martis diuisioune The barboure and þe bocher and þe smithe That forgeþ scharpe swerdes on his stiþe And al aboue depeinted in a toure Sauhe .I. conqueste sit in grete honoure Wiþ þe scharpe swerde ouere his hede Hangeinge be a subtile twine þrede Depeinted was þe slawhter of Iulius Of grete Nero and of Anthonius Al be þat ilke time þei weren vnborne Ȝite was þeire deþe depainted þere be-forne Be Manassinge of Mars riht be figure So was it schewde in þat purtrature. As is depeinted in þe sertres a-boue Who schal be sleine or elles dede for loue Suffiseth oone ensample in stories oolde .I. maie nouht reken hem al þouhe þat .I. wolde ¶ The statue of Mars vppon a Carte stode Armed and loked grime as he war wode And ouere his heuede þere schines two figures Of sterre þat bene closed in scriptures Þat on puella þat oþer Rubeus This god of armes was arraide þus A wolfe þere stode be-for him att his fete Wiþ yȝen reede and of a man he ete Wiþþe sotel pensel was depeinted þis storie In redouteinge of Mars and of his glorie. ¶ Nowe to þe temple of Diane þe chast As schortli as .I. can .I. wil me haste To telle ȝowe al þe descripcioune Depeinted bene þe walles vp and doune Of huntynge and of schamfast chastite There sauhe .I. howe woful Caliste Whan þat Diane was agreued wiþe here Was turne fro a womman to a bereVrsa Maior And after was sche maade þe lode-sterre Thus was sche peinted .I. can sei ȝowe no ferre. Hir sone is eke a sterre as men Maie see Thar sawhe [I] Dane turned til a tree .I. mene nouht þe goddes Diane Bot Penneus douhter whiche þat hiht Dane. ¶ Ther sawhe .I. Accheon an herte ymaked ffor veniaunce þat he sawhe Diane al nakede .I. sawhe howe þat his hondes haþ him cauht And freten him for þat þei knewe him nauht Ȝite y-peinted was a litel forþermore Howe Athalance hunted þe wilde bore And Meliagre and mony an oþer moo ffor whiche Diane wrouht care and woo There sawhe .I. many a noþer wondere storie The whiche me luste nouht drawe to memorie ¶ This Goddes on an hert ful hihe sche seete Wiþ smalle houndes al aboute her feete. And vnder-neþe hire feete sche had a mone Waxinge it was and scholde wany sone In gaude grene hire statue cloþed was Wiþ bowe in honde and arwes in a kas Hir yhen kest sche ful lowe adoune Thare pluto haþ his derke Regione A womman trauaillinge was hire beforne Bot for hire childe was so longe vnborne fful pitously Lucina gan sche calle And seide helpe for þou maiste best of alle Wele couþe he peinte lifly þat it wrouht Wiþ many a floren he þe hewes bouht Nowe bene þes listes maade and Theseus That att his grete cost arraide þus The temples and þe Teatre euery dele Whan it was done it liked him wondere wele Bot stinte .I. will of Theseus a lite And speke of Palamon and of Arcite The daie approcheþ of hire retournynge That eueryche schold an .C. knyhtes bringe. The Bataile to darraine as .I. ȝowe tolde And til Athenes here couenant for to holde Haþe eueryche of hem brouht an .C. knyhtes Wele armed for þe werre att al rihtes An sekurly þere trowed mony a man That neuer siþþe þat þe werlde be-ganVI. 71. As for to speke of knyhthode of hire honde As fer as god haþ maked see and londe Was of so fewe so noble a compaignyeVI. 71. ffor euery whiht þat loued cheualrie. And wold his þonkes and haue a passant name Haþe preide þat he myhte be of þat game.'giuoco,' VII. 4. And wel was him þat þere-to chosen was ffor if þere fell to morwe suche a cas Ȝe knewe wele þat euery lusty knyht Þat loueþ paramoures . And haþ his myht Were it in Ingelonde or elles where Thei wolde here þonkes willen to be þere To fighte for a lady benedicite It were a lusti siht for to see And riht so ferden þei wiþ Palamon Wiþe him þere went knyhtes manyon Some wol ben armed in an haburgeon And in a breste plate . And in a liht Iepon And some wil haue a paire plates large And some wil haue a pruce schelde or a targe Some wel bene armed on his legges wele And haue an ax and some a mace of stele Thar is no new gise þat it nas holde Armed were þei as .I. haue ȝowe tolde Eueryche after his opinione Thare maistowe see comynge wiþ palamon[on Arcita's side Tes.] Ligurge him selfe þe grete kinge of traceVI. 14. Blake was his berde and manly was his faceVI. 21. The points marked VI. 21, 22, are taken from the description of 'Aga|memnone.' The cercles of his yhen in his hede Thei glowde be-twix ȝalowe and rede And like a griffon loked he a-boute With kempe heres on his browes stoute His limes grete . his braune harde and strongeVI. 21. His scholdres brod . his armes rounde and longe And as þe gise was in his contre fful hihe vpon a chare of gold stode heVI. 21. Wiþþe foure white boles in þe trays In stede of cote armoure ouer his hernaysVI. 22. Wiþ naille ȝelow and briht as any golde He had a berskinne cole-blake for olde His longe here was kembed be-hinde his bakVI. 22. As any Rauenes feþer it schane for blak A wreþe of golde arme grete of huge wighte Vpon his hede sette ful of stones briht Of fine Rubies and of diamantz A-boute his chare þer went white alantz Twenty and moo as grete as any stere To hunten att þe lyon or þe dere And folowed him wiþ mosel fast bounde Colers of golde and turettes filed rounde An .C. lordes had he in his Route Armed ful wele wiþ hertes sterene and stoute ¶ Wiþ Arcita in Stories as men finde The grete Emetrius þe kinge of Inde Vpon a stede baie trapped in stele Couerd wiþ cloþe of gold diapred weleVI. 29. The points here are from the descriptions of 'Ippodamo' (VI. 29), of 'Peleo' (VI. 17, 16), and of 'Peritoo' (VI. 41). Cam rideinge like þe god of Armes mars His cote armur was of cloþe of tars Couched wiþ perles white and rounde and grete His sade[l] was of brent gold new ybetteVI. 17. A mantelet vpon his scholdere hongeyngeVI. 16. Breteful of Rubies rede as fire sparklinge His crispe here like ringes was yronne And þat was ȝalowe and gleteringe as þe sone His nose was hihe his yȝen briht Citrine His lippes rounde . his colour was sanguyne A fewe fraknes in his face y-sprined Be-twix ȝalowe and somdel blak ymeyned And as lion he his lokeynge cast Of five and twenti ȝere his age .I. cast His berd was wele be-gunne for to springe His vois was as a trompe thundringe Vpon his hede he wered of laurer greneVI. 41. A garland fresche and lusti for to seene Vpon his honde he bare for his deduyte An Egle tame as any lely white An .C. lordes had he wiþ him þere Al armed saue hire hedes in al her gere fful richely in al maner þinges ffor trusteþ wele þat Dukes Erles and kingesVI. 65. Weren gaderd in þis noble compaignie ffor loue and for encres of chiualrie A-boute þis kinge þar ranne on euery parte fful mony a tame lion and lepart ¶ And in þis wise þes lordes al and some Bene on þe sondaie to þe Cite come Aboute prime and in þe towne a-lihte This theseus þis duc þis worþi knyhtVI. 65. Whan he had brouht hem in to his Citee And Inned hem eueriche att his degree He festeþ hem and doþe so grete la-boure To esen hem and done hem al honoure That ȝit men weneþ þat nomannes witte Of none astate ne couþe amende it The minstralcie þe seruice att þe festeVI. 69-70. The grete ȝeftes to þe most and leste The Riche arraie of Theseus Paleis Ne who satt first ne last vppon þe deis What ladies fairest bene or best daunceinge Or whiche of hem can best daunsen or singeVI. 70. Ne who moste feleingelike spekeþ of loue What haukes sitten in þe perche aboueVI. 8. What houndes liggen on þe flore adoune Of all þis make .I. nowe no mencioune Bot al þeffect þat þenkeþ me beste Now comeþ þe pointe and herken if ȝow leste ¶ The sondaye att nyht ar day be-gan to springe Whan Palamon þe larke herde singe Al þouhe it nar nouht daie be houres tuo Ȝete songe þe larke An Palamon riht þo Wiþ holy herte and wiþ an hihe corage He rose to wende on his pilgrenage Vnto þe blisful Citharea benigne .I. mene venus honurable and digne And in hire houre he walkeþ forþe apace Vnto þe listes þer hir temple wace An doune he kneled and wiþ humble chere And hert sore he seide as ȝe schal here ¶ ffairest of faire O ladi myne Venus Douhter to Ioue and spouse to vulcanusVII. 43. Thou glader of þe mounte of Citherōn ffor þilke loue þou haddest to Adon Haue pite of my bitter teres smarte. And take myne humble preier att þine herte Allas .I. ne haue no langage to telleVII. 45. The effectes ne þe torment on myn helle Mine herte maie myne harmes nouht bi-wreie .I. am so confuse þat .I. can nouht seieVII. 45. Bot Merci ladi briht þat knowest wele Mi þouhte and seest what harmes þat .I. fele. Considere al þis and rewe vpon my sore As wisly as .I. schal for euer More Enforþe my myht þi trewe seruant be And halden were alwaie wiþ chastite That .I. make myne avowe so ȝe me helpe .I. kepe nouht of armes for to ȝelpeVII. 46. Ne .I. ne axe not to morne to haue victorie Ne renoune in þis caas ne veine glorie Of pris of armes blowen vp and doune Bot .I. wolde haue fully possessione Of Emelye and die in his seruise ffinde ȝowe þe manere howe and in whatt wiseVII. 47. .I. reche nouȝt bot it better maie bue To haue victorie of hem or þei of me So þat .I. maie my lady in myne armes ffor þouhe so be þat mars is god of Armes Ȝoure vertue is so grete in heuene aboue þat. if þou liste .I. schal wel haue my loue ¶ Thi temple wil .I. worschipe euere moVII. 48. And on þine autere where .I. ride or go .I. wil dōn sacrifise and fires bete And if ȝe wil nouȝt so my lady sweteVII. 49. þan praie .I. þe to-morne wiþ a spere Þat Arcite [me] þourhe þe herte bere Than reke .I. nouht whan .I. haue lost my lif Thouht þat Arcite winne hire to his wif This is þeffect and ende of my prayere Ȝef me my loue þou blisseful ladi dere ¶ Whan þe orison was done of PalamonVII. 68. His sacrifice he dide and þat a-none fful pitously wiþ al circumstancesCompare also stanza 42, 'con vittime piatose.' All tel .I. not as nowe his obseruances Bot att þe laste þe Statue of venus schooke And Maade a signe where-bi þat he toke That his praier was accept þat daie ffor þoughe þe signe schewed a delaie Ȝit wist he wele þat graunted was his bone And wiþ glad herte he went him hom ful sone The þrede houre inequale þat Palamon Be-gan to venus temple for to gone Vp rose þe sonne and vpe roos Emelye And to þe temple of Diane gan hye The Maidens þat þedere wiþ hire laddeVII. 71. fful redely wiþ hem þe fire þei hadde The encens þe cloþes and þe remenant all That to þe sacrifice longen schall The hornes ful of Meþe as was þe giseVII. 71. There lakked nouht to done hir sacrifise Smokeinge þe temple ful of cloþes faireVII. 72. This Emely wiþ hert debonaire Hir body [wessh] wiþe water of a wellVII. 72. Bot how sche did hir riht .I. dar not tell Bot it be any þinge in generall And ȝit it were a game to here it all Til him þat meneþe wele it ner no charge Bot it is goode a man be att his large Her brihte here vn-kembed vntrussed al A coron of a grene oke serialVII. 74. Vpon hire hed sett ful feire and mete Two fires on þe auter gan sche bete And dide hir þinges as men mai be-holde In Stace of Thebes as þes bokes olde Whan kindeled was þe fire wiþ pitous chereVII. 76. Vn to Diane sche spak as ȝe maye here ¶ O chaste goddes of þe wodes greneVII. 79. To whom boþe heuen and erþe and see is seneVII. 77. Queene of þe regne of Pluto derke and lawe Goddes of maydenes þat myn hert haste knowe fful mony a ȝere and woste what .I. desire As kepe me fro þi veniance and þine ireVII. 79. Þat Attheon abouht cruely Chaste goddes wel woste þou þat .I. Desire to be a maiden al my lif Ne neuer wil .I. be no loue ne wi .I. am þou woste ȝit of þi compaignieVII. 81. A mayden and loue huntynge and venerye And for to walken in þe wodes wilde And nouht to bene a wif and be wiþ childe Note wil .I. knowe company of manVII. 81. Now he[re] me ladi seþþe ȝe maie and can ffor þree formes þat þu haste in þe And palamon þat haþ suche a loue to me And eke Arcite þat loueþ me so sore Þis grace .I. pray. ȝowe wiþ-owten moreVII. 84. And sende loue and pees be-twene hem two And fro me torne awaie her hertes soo That al her hote loue and desire And al her bysy torment and hire fire Be qveynte or tornede in a noþeþer place And if so be þou wilt nouht do me grace Or if my destany be schapede soVII. 85. That .I. schal nedes haue one of þem tuo As sende me him þat most desireþ me Be-holde goddes of clene chastite The bitter teres þat on my cheke falleVII. 78. Sen þou art Maiden and keper of vs alle My maidenhede þou kepe and wele conserue And wile .I. leue a maide .I. wil ȝowe serue The fires berne vpon þe auter clereVII. 88. While emely was þus in hir preiere Bot sodanly sche sawe a siht queynte ffor rihte a-none on of þe fires queynteVII. 91. An quyked aȝeine and after þat anone That oþer fire was queynte and al agone And as it queynte it maad a whistelynge As done þes wete brondes in her brenyngeVII. 92. And att þe brondes ende oute ran anone As it were blodi dropes many one ffor whiche so sore agaste was Emelye That sche was nyhe mad and gan to crie ffor sche ne wist what it signifiedVII. 92. Bot onely for þe fere þus haþ sche cried And wepe þat Pite was to here And þere wiþ all Diane gan a-pereVII. 88. Wiþ bowe in honde riht as an hunteresse And seide douhter stinte þine heuinesse Amonge þe goddes on hihe it is affermedeVII. 89. And be eterne worde wreten and confermede['con eterna pa|rola,' VII. 85.] Thou schalt be wedded vn to one of þooVII. 89. That haue for þe so muche care and woo Bot vnto whiche of hem .I. maie nouht telleVII. 89. ffare wele for .I. ne maie no longer dwelle The fires whiche þat on myn auter berneVII. 89. Schole ȝe declaren arr þat ȝe gon henne ¶ Thyne auentur of loue as in þis caas And wiþ þat worde þe Arwes in þe caas Of þe goddes claterne fast and ringeVII. 90. And forþe sche wente and made a vanyssinge ffor whiche þi[ng] emely astoned was And seide what a-mounteþ þis alas .I. pute me in þi protectione Diane and in þine dispocicion And home sche goþe a-none þe next weyeVII. 93. Þis is þeffecte þere is nomore to seie ¶ The next houre of Mars folwynge þis Arcite vnto þe temple walke is Of fires Mars to don his sacrifice Wiþ all þe rihtes of his payen wise Wiþe pitous hert and hihe deuocioneVII. 23. Riht þus to mars he sent his orison ¶ O stronge good þat in þe regne coldeVII. 24. Of Trace honoured erte and lorde .I.-holde And hast in euery regne and in euery londe Of armes al þe bridel in þin honde And hem fortunest as þe liste deuyse Accepte of me my pitous sacrifise If so be þat my ȝouþe mai deserueVII. 25. And þat .I. myht be worþi for to serue Thi godhede þat .I. maie bene one of þine Þat praie .I. to þe to rewe vpon my pine ffor þilke pine and þilke hote fire In whiche þou whilome berneste for desire Whan þat þou vsedest þi beauteVII. 25. Of faire ȝonge fressche venus fre And haddest hir in armes att þi will Al-þouhe ȝe ones on a time mysfell Whane vulcanus hadde cauht þe in his laasVII. 25. And fonde þe liggynge be his wif alaas ffor þilke sorwe þat was in þin herte Haue reuþe as wele vpon my peines smerte .I. am ȝonge and vnkunynge as þou wosteVII. 26. And as .I. trowe wiþ loue offendude moste Þat euer was any liues creatureVII. 26. ffor sche þat doþe me al þis woo endure Ne reccheþ neuer wheþer .I. sinke or flete And wele .I. wote ar sche me merci hete .I. moste wiþ strenkeþ winne hir in þe place And wele .I. wote wiþ-owten helpe or graceVII. 26. Of þe; ne maie my strenkeþ nouht aveile Than helpe me lorde to-morne in my bataile.VII 27. ffor þilke fire þat whilom brente þe As wele as þilke fire nowe brenneþ me An do þat .I. to-morne haue þe victorie Myne be þe trauayle and þine be þe glorie'Io il diletto, e tu n' abbia l' onore.' VII. 27. Thi souereyne temple wele most .I honouren Of any place and al-wey moste labouren. In þi pesauntez and in þi craftes stronge And in þi temple .I. will Mi baner hongeVII. 28. And al þe armes of my compaignye And euer more vntil þat .I. dye Eterne fire .I. will be-for þe findeVII. 28. And eke to þis a-vowe .I. wil me binde Mine Mine here þat hongeþ longe a douneVII. 28. That neuer ȝite ne felte offensione Of Rasoure ne of schere .I. wil þe ȝeue And bene þi treu seruant while .I. leue. Now lorde haue reuþe vpon my sorous sore Ȝif me þe victorie .I. ax þe no more ¶ The preier stinte of Arcita þe stronge The ringe on þe temple dore þat honge. And eke þe dores claterden ful fastVII. 39. Of whiche arcita sumwhat him a-gaste The fires brenten vpon þe auteres brihteVI. 40. That it gan al þe temple for to lihte And swete smelle þe gronde anone vp ȝafe And Arcita a-none his hand vp hafeSee VII. 40. And More encence in to þe fire he caste Wiþ oþere rihtes moo and at þe laste The Statue of Marcȝ began his hauberk ringeVII. 40. And wiþ þe sounde he herde a memorynge fful lowe and dimme þat seide þus victorie ffor whiche he ȝafe to mars honour and glorie And þus wiþ Ioy and hope wele to fareVII. 41. Arcite a-none vn to his Inne he is fare As feine as fowle is of þe briht sonne And riht anone ffrissche strife is be-gunneVII. 67. ffor þilke grauntynge in þe heuen a-boue Be-twix venus þe goddes of loue And marce þe steren god Armipotentent That Iubiter was besie it to stent Til þat þe pale Saturnus þe colde þat knewe so mony of aventures olde ffond in his olde experiens an arte That ful sone haþe pleside euery parte A soþe is seide Elde haþ grete auantage In Elde is boþe wisdome and vsage Men Maie þe olde att-renne and nouht atrede Saturne a-none to stint strif and drede Al be it þat it is aȝeines his kinde Of Al þis st[r]if he gan remedi finde Mi dere Douhter venus quod Saturne Mi course þat haþe so wide for to turne Haþ more powere þan haþ any manne Mine is þe drynchinge in þe see so wanne Mine is þe prisone in þe derke cote Mine is þe strangle and hongeinge by þe þrote The murmure and þe cheles rebellinge The groneynge and þe priue enprisoneinge .I. do vengeance and pleine correctione Wil .I. dwelle in þe signe of þe leone Myne is þe ruyne of þe hihe halles The fallynge of þe toures and of þe walles Vpon þe minor and þe Carpenter I slowhe Sampson schakinge þe piler And myne bene þe Maladies colde The derke tresoures and þe Costes olde My lokeynge is þe fader of pestelence Nowe wepe nomore .I. schal do diligence Þat palamon þat is þine owen knyht Schal haue his lady as þou him hihte Mars schal helpe his knyht naþeles Be-twix ȝowe þere mot be sum time pes Al be nouht boþe of on complexione Þat causeþ al daie suche diuisione .I. am þin ayell rede att þi will Wepe nowe no more þi lust .I. wil fulfill Nowe will .I. stente of þe goddes aboue Of Mars and of venus goddes of loue And tell þowe also pleinely as .I. can Þe gret effecte of whiche that .I. be-gan [PART IV. No gap in the MS.] ¶ Grete was þe feste in Athenes þat daie And eke þat lusti seson of þat maye Maade euery knyht to bene in suche plesaunce That al þat monday Iousten þei and daunce. And spende it in hihe venus seruise Bot be þe cause þat þei scholde rise Erly for to seen þe grete fighte Vnto her reste went þei att nihte And on þe morwe whan þe dai gan springe[General imita|tion of VII. 95-99. Of hors and herneys noyse and clateringe There was in hostries al a-boute And to þe Paleys rode þer mony a route Of lordes vpon stedes and palfreis There maist þou seen diuiseinge of harneys So vnkouþe and so riche and wrouhte so wele Of gold smyþerie of brondeinge and of stele The Scheldes briht testeres and trappures Gold hewen helmes hawberkes cote armures Lordes in paramentes on hir courseres Knyhtes of Retenu and eke swieres Naillinge þe speres and helmes bokelynge Gideinge of scheldes wiþ layners lasinge There as nede is þei were no þinge ydel The fomy stedes on þe golden bridelVII. 97. Gnawen and faste þe armureres also Wiþ file and hamur prikinge to and fro Ȝomen on fote and comune mony one Wiþ schort staues riht as þei mai gone Pipes trompes nakers clarions þat in þe retaile blewe blodi sownes The Paleis ful of peple vp and douneVII. 99. Here þre þer ten holdeinge her questiouneVII. 98. Deuyneinge of þis thebane knyhtes tuo Som seide þus sum seide it schal be so Some holden wiþ him wiþ þe blake berde Some wiþ þe balle some wiþ þe þikke herede Some seide he loked grimme and he wolde fihte He haþ a sparþe of .xx. pounde of wihte Thus was þe hal ful of diuineinge Longe after þat þe sonne gan to springe The grete Theseus þat of his slepe awakedVII. 96. Wiþ mynstralcye and noys þat was maked Held ȝite þe Chambres of his palays riche Til þat þe Thebanes knyhtes boþen yliche Honorable weren in to þe Palays ffette Duc Theseus is att þe window sette Arraide riht as he were a god in Throne The peple presed þederwarde ful sone Him for to seyn and done hihe reuerence And eke to herken his heste and his sentence An heraude on a scafold maad an hoo Til all þe noys of þe peple was . y-doo And whan he sawe þe peple of noyse al still Thus schewed he þe myhty dukes will ¶ The lorde haþ of his hihe discrecioneSee VII. 7-13. Considered þat it were destructione To gentil blode to fihten in þis gise Of Mortaile bataile nowe in þis empriseVII. 7. Whare-for to schapen þat þei schal not deye He will his first purpos modefye No man þar-fore vpon peine on his lifVII. 12. [no lances allowed in Boccaccio] No manere schotte ne polax ne schorte knyfe In to þe listes sende ne þeder bringe Ne schort swerde for to stoke wiþ pointe biteinge. No man ne drauhe ne bere it be his side Noman schal vn to his felawe ride Bot oo cours wiþ a scharpe ygrounde spere ffoyne if him list on fote him self to were And [he] þat is att Meschef schal be takeVII. 131-132. And nouht sleine bot be brouht vnto þe stake That schal bene ordeined on eyþer side But þider he schal be force and þare abide And if so fal þe Cheftaigne be take On eyþer side or elles sleine his make No longer schal þe tornynge last God sped ȝow go forþe and laie on fast Wiþ longe swerdes and wiþ maces fihten ȝoure fillVII. 12 [and with 'bipenne']. Go nowe ȝoure weie þis is þe lordes will The voice of þe peple touched heuenVII. 14. So loude cried þei wiþ mery steuene God saue suche a lorde þat is so goode He wilneþ no destruction of mannes blode Vp goþe þe trompes and þe melodie And to þe listes rydeþ þe compaignie Be ordinance þoruhe oute þe Cite large Honged wiþ cloþe of golde and nouht wiþ sarge fful like a lorde þis noble Duc gan rideSee VII. 100-102. The tuo Thebanes vpon eyþer side. And aftere rode þe queene and Emely And after þat an oþer compaignieVII. 113-4. Of one and oþer after here degre And þus þei passen þurgh oute þe Citee And to þe listes come þei be time It was nouht of þe daie ȝit fulliche prime ¶ Whan sette was Theseus ful riche and hihe Ipolita þe queene and Emelye And oþer ladyes in degres a-boute Vn-to þe setes preseþ all þe route. And westwa þoruhe þe gates vnder MarteArcita (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 and eke þe hundreþ of his parte Wiþ baner rede is entred riht anone And in þat selfe moment Palamon.VII. 118. Is vnder venus est-warde in þe place Wiþ banere white and hardy chere and face In al þe werlde to seken vpe and douneVII. 19. So euen wiþ-oute variacioune þer ner suche companyes tweye ffor þere was none so wise þat couþe seye Þat any had of oþere auantage Of worþinesse ne of state of age; So euen were þei Chosen for to gesse And in to Rynges faire þei hem dresse ¶ Whan þat here names were rad euerychone That in hir nombre gile were þere none Tho was þe gates schette and cried was lowde Do nowe ȝowre deuere ȝonge knyhtes prowde The herawdes left he prikinge vpe and downe Nowe ringen trompes loude and clariouneVIII. 5. The[r] is no more to seine west or est In goþe þe speres ful sadly in a rest In goþe þe scharpe spere in to þe sideVIII. 7. Ther seen men who kan Iusten and who can ride Ther schyueren schaftes vp on scheldes þikke He fileþ þoruhe þe hert spone þe prike Vp springeþ speres. twenty fote on hiht Oute gone þe swerdes as þe siluer briht The helme þei to-hewen and to-schrede Oute bresteþ þe blode. wiþ steren stremes rede Wiþ myhty Maces þe bones þei to-bresteSee VIII. 14, 29, 33, 40, 69, 81, &c. He þoruhe þe þikkest on þe þronge gan þreste Ther stumbles stedes stronge and downe gone al He rolleþ vnder fote as doþe a bal He foyneþ on his fote wiþ his tronchon And he him hurteþ wiþ his hors adoune He þoruhe þe body is hurte and sithen take Maugre his hede and brouhte vnto þe stake As forward was riht þere he must abide An oþer is lad on þat oþer side And som time doþe hem Theseus to reste Hem to refresche and dringen if hem lest ¶ fful oft a day haue þese Thebanes twoVIII. 12. To-gedere ymet and wrowht his felaw woo Vnhorsede haþe yche oþere of hem tweie þere nas no tigre in þe vale of golgopheie Whan þat hir whelpe is stole whanne it is liteVIII. 26. So cruel on þe hunt as is Arcite ffor Ialouse herte vpon þis Palamon Ne in Belmary ne is so fel lyon That huntid is or for his hunger wode Ne of his preie desireþ so þe blode As Palamon is to sle is fo Arcite The Ielous strokes on hire helmes bite Oute renneþ þe blode on boþe hir sides rede Some time an ende þere is of euery dede ffor or þe sonne vnto þe rest wente The stronge kinge Emetrius gan hente This palamon as he fauht wiþ Arcite And made his swerde depe in his flesche bite And be þe for[ce] of twenty is he take Vn-ȝolden and drawen to þe stake And in þe rescous of þis Palamon The stronge kinge Ligurge is borne a doune And kenge Emetrius for al his strenkeþ Is borne owte of his sadel a swerdes lengeþ So it him Palamon ar he were take Bote al for nouht brouht he was to þe stake His hardy herde myht him helpe nouht He moste abide whan þat he was cauht Be force and eke be composicione Who sorewþe nowe Bot woful palamoneVIII. 123. That moote no more gone aȝeine to fiht And whan þat Theseus had seen þis siht He criede ho no more for it is done Ne none schal longer to his felowe gone. .I. will be trewe Iugge and not partie ArCite Of Thebes Schal haue Emelye That be his fortune haþe hire faire ywonne Anone þer is a noise of peple be-gunne ffor Ioy of þis so lowde and lihte wiþ al It semed þat þe listes scholde fal ¶ Whan kan nowe faire venus done aboue What seiþe sche nowe what doþe þis queene of loue Bot wepeþ so for wantynge of hire wille Til þat hire teres in þe listes fille Sche seide .I. am aschamede dowteles Saturnus seide douhter holde þi pes Mars haþ his wil his knyht haþe al his bone And be my hede þou schalte bene esed sone ¶ The trompoures wiþ þe loude menstralcie The heraudes þat ful loude ȝelle and crie Ben in here wele for ioye of dann Arcite Bot herkeneþ me and stinte noy a lite Whiche a miracle þere be-fel anone This fers Arcite haþe of his helme. y-doneVIII. 131. And on a koursour for to schewe his face He Prikkeþe endlonge þe large place Lokeynge vpward vpon þis Emely And sche a-ȝeine him kest a frendeliche eyeVIII. 131.VIII. 124-6. ffor wemmen as to speken in comune The folowen al þe fauoure of fortune And was al his chere as in his herte Owte of þe grounde a fire infernale sterte[a Fury, raised by Venus, IX. 4.] ffrom Pluto sent att þe request of saturne ffor whiche his hors for fere gan to torneIX. 7. And leped on side and foundrede as he leppe And ar þat Arcite mai taken kepe He Piht him on þe Pomel of his hede That in þe place he leie as he were dedeIX. 8. His breste to-brusten wiþ his sadel bowe As blake he laye as any cole or crowe So was þe blode ronne in his face Anone he was borne owte of þe placeIX. 47. Wiþe hert sore to Theseus paleys Tho was he coruen oute of his herneysIX. 13. And in a bede ybrouht ful faire and blyueIX. 48. ffor he was ȝit in memorie and a lyue And alweie cryeinge After Emelye Duc Theseus whiþe all his companyeIX. 38. Is comen to Athenes his Citee Wiþ alle blisse and grete solempnite Al be it þat þis a-ventur was fall He nolde nouht discomford hem all Men seinden eke þat Arcite schal not deyeIX. 26. He schal bene heled of his maladie And of anoþere [þing] þei were as feine That of hem alle was þere none sleineBocc. makes many of them slain: 'Artifilio,' 'Cornisso' (VIII. 15), 'Rifeo,' 'Arione' (36), 'Narizio' (39), and others, and describes their funerals (X. 4-8). Al were þei sore hurte and namely one þat wiþe a spere was þrelled his breste bone To oþere woundes. and to broken armes Some hadden salue and somme hadden charmesBoccaccio makes only a general mention of the care and comfort bestowed on the wounded (X. 10). ffermacies of herbes and eke saue Thei dronke for þei wolden hir liues haue ffor whiche þis noble duc as he wele canne Comforteþe and honoureþe euery man. And makeþ reuel al þe hole nyhtIX. 61. Vnto þe straunge lordes as it was riht Ne þer was holden no descomfytinge Bot as a Iustenes or a torneyinge ffor Sothely þere was none disconfiture ffor fallinge nys bot aventure Ne to [be] ladde be force to þe stake Vn-ȝolden and wiþ twenty knyhtes take A persone al a-lone wiþ-owten mo And haried forþ by arme fote and to And eke his stede dreuen forþe wiþ staue Wiþ foote men boþe ȝemen and knaves It was aritted him no velanie Ther maie no man clepe it cowardie ffor whiche a-none Duc Theseus lete crie To stinte al rancor and envie The gree as wele of þe o side as of þe oþereIX. 54. And eyþer side ylike as oþere broþere And ȝaf hem ȝeftes after here degreeXII. 80. And fully helde he feste daies þreeFifteen days. And Conveiede þe kynges worþelye Oute of his toune a Iourney largely And home went euery man þe riht weyeXII. 83. There was no more bot fare wele and haue good daie Of þis bataile .I. wil no more endite Bot speke of Palamon and of Arcite ¶ Swelleþe þe breste of Arcite and þe sore'But [of the wounded] Arcita alone could not be cured; so much was he shattered inwardly by his fall' (X. 11).See X. 11. Encreseþ att his hert more and more The clotred blode for any leche-crafte Corrupteþ and is in his bouke. ylefte Þat neyþer veinblode ne ventusinge Ne drinke of herbes maie be his helpingePoint from Boccaccio, differently turned (X. 13). The vertue expulsif or anymal ffro þilke vertue cleped natural Ne maie þe venime voide ne expelle The pipes of his longes gan to swellePoints from Boccaccio, differently turned (X. 13, 12). And euery lacert in his breste adowne Is schent wiþ venim and corrupcione Him gayneþ neyþer for [to] gete his life vomet vpwarde ne donewarde laxatif All is to-bruston þilke Region Nature haþe no dominacion.Points from Boccaccio, differently turned (X. 13, 12). And certeinly. þer nature wil nouȝt wirche ffare wele Phisike go bere þe man to chirche This all and some þat Arcita most deyeX. 12. ffor whiche he sendeþ after EmelyeX. 37, 51. And Palamon þat was his cosine dere ¶ Than seide he þus as ȝe schal after here Nouht may þe woful speret in myne herteX. 54-5. Declare a pointe of al my sorwes smarte To ȝow my lady þat .I. loue moste Bot .I. be-queþe þe seruise of my gosteX. 64. To ȝowe a-boue euery creature Sen þat my life may no longer dure Alas þe woo alas þe peynes strongeX. 102. That .I. for ȝowe haue suffred. and so longe Alas þe deþ alas myne EmelyeX. 103 Alas departyinge of owre compaignie Alas myn hertes queene Alas my lif Mine hert-is lady endere of my lif What is þis werlde what axed men to haue Nowe wiþ his loue nowe in his colde graue Alon wiþ-owten any compaignie ffare wele my swete foo myne Emylye And soft take me in ȝoure armes tweye'I await the last kisses from thee, oh dear spouse' (X. 65). ffor þe loue of god and herken what .I. seye .I. haue here my Cosin PalamonX. 60-2. Had strif and rancoure mony a day agone ffor loue of ȝowe and for my Ielousye And Iubiter so wisse my sowle gye To speken of a seruant propurlye Wiþ circumstance al trewlyeX. 62. That is to seine treuþe honour knyhthede Wisdome humblesse estat and hihe kinrede ffredom and al þat longeþ to þat arte So Iupiter haue of my soule parte As in þis werlde riht nowe knowe .I. noneX. 63. So worþi to be loued as Palamone That serueþ ȝou and wele done al his lyue And ȝef þat euer ȝe schall be a wiue ffor-ȝete not Palamon þe gentilman. . . 'egli è gentile' (X. 62). And wiþ þat worde his speche faile gan ffor frome his fete vn to his breste was comeX. 111, 112. The colde of deþe þat had him ouercome And ȝite more ouer for in his armes tuo The vital strengeþ is loste and al a-go Onely þe intellecte wiþthe-owten more That dwelled in his hert sik and sore Gan faylen whan þe hert felte þe deþe Busked his yen two and failed breþe But on his lady ȝit kaste he his eye His laste worde was mercy Emelye His sprete chaungede house and wente þereSee XI. 1-3, and the end of Troilus & Cressida. As .I. cam neuer .I. can nouht tel where There-fore .I. stinte .I. am no diuinistre Of soules fynde .I. nouht in þis registre Ne me ne liste þilke opinions to telle Of hem. þouhe þat þei wreten where þei dwelle Arcite is colde lat mars his soule guye ¶ Nowe wil .I. speken forþe of Emelye Shrighte. Emelye and houleþ PalamoneXI. 6. And Theseus his suster he toke anone Swonynge and bare hire fro þe cors awaie What helpeþ it to tarien forþe þe daie To telle howe sche wepe boþe eue and morwe ffor in suche caas wemmen han suche sorwe Whan þat her husbondes bene fro hem a-go That for þe more part þei sorwen so Or elles fallen in suche a maladie Þat att last certeinly þei deye Infinite bene þe so[r]wes and þe teresXI. 8. Of olde folke. and folke of tendur ȝeres In all þe toune for deþe of þis Thebanne ffor him þere wepeþ boþe childe and manne So grete wepeynge was þere none certeineXI. 7. Whan Ector was brouhte and frissche y-sleine To troye Alas þe pite þat was þere Craccheinge of chekes rendinge eke of here Whi woldest þou be dede þis wemmen crye And haddest golde y-nouhe and faire Emelye No man myht glad Theseus'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. Saueynge his olde fader Egeus That knewe þis werlde transmutacioneXI. 10, 11. As he had seine it vp and doune Ioy after woo and woo after gladnesse And scheweþ hem ensample and likkenesse Riht as þere dide neuer man quod heXII. 6. That he ne leuede in Erthe in sum degre Riht so þere leued neuer man he seide In Al þis werlde þat sum time he ne deide This werlde is nouht bot a þoruhe-faire ful of woo And we bene Pelgremes passinge to and fro Deþe is an ende of euery werldly sore And ouer al þis ȝitte seide he muche more To þis effect ful wisly to enhorte The peple þat þei scholde him recomforte ¶ Duc Theseus wiþ al his besi cureXI. 13. Cast nowe where þat þe sepulture Of goode Arcite y best ymakede be And eke moste honurable in his degre And att þe laste he toke conclusione That þere as first Arcite and Palamone Had for loue þe bataile hem be-twene That in þe selfe groue swete and greneXI. 13. Thare as he had his amorous desires His compleinte and for loue his hote fires He wolde make a fire in whiche þe office ffuneral he myht hem al complice He lete anone command to hakke and heweXI. 14. The okes olde and leine hem on a rewe In culpons wele arraide for to berne His officers wiþ swift foote þei renne And ride a-none att his commaundement And aftere þis Theseus haþ .I.-sentXI. 15. After a bere a bere and it al ouere spradde Wiþ cloþe of golde þe richest þat he hadde And of þe same suyte he cladde Arcite Vpon his hondes his gloues white Eke on his hede a coroune of Laurel grene And in his honde a swerde brihte and kene He laide him bare / þe visage on þe bere There-wiþe he weppe þat pite was to here And for þe peple schold seen him allXI. 16. Whan it was daie he brouhte hem in to þe hall That roreþ of þe crie and þe souneXI. 30. ¶ Tho come þis woful Palamone Wiþ flotery berde and ruggy asshi heres In cloþes blakke dropped al wiþ teres And passinge oþere of wepeinge Emelye 'Non men dolente, Emilia pur piangea, . . . . . I circostanti più pianger facea' (XI. 31).XI. 31. The reufulleste of al þis compaignie In as mulche þat þe seruise schold be The more noble and riche in his degre Duc Theseus lete forþe þrei stedes bringeXI. 35. Þat trappede were in stele al gleteringe And couerde wiþ þe armes of Dan Arcite Vpon þese stedes grete and white There sitten folke of whiche on bar his schelde Anoþere his spere vppon his hondes helde The þrede bare him wiþ his bowe turkeys Of brente golde was þe caas and eke þe herneysXI. 35. And riden forþe a pas wiþ sorweful chere To-warde þe groue as ȝe schol after here The noblest of þe grekes þat þere wereXI. 38. Vpon her scholdres Cariden þe bere Wiþ slake paas and yȝen rede and wete Þoruhe-oute þe Cite be þe maistre strete Þat sprad was al wiþ blake and wonder hihe Riht of þe same is þe strete y-wrye Vpon þe rihte honde went olde EgeusRight and left of Palemone (XI. 40).XI. 40. And on þat oþer side Duc Theseus Wiþ vesseles in hir honde of gold ful fineIn the hands of the noblest of the Greeks (XI. 37).XI. 37. Al ful of hony melke and blode and wyne.XI. 40. Eke Palamon wiþ full grete compaignye And efter þat cam woofull Emelye With fire in honde as was þat time þe gise ffor to done þe Office of funerale seruise Hihe Laboure and full apparaillingeXI. 18. Whas att þe seruise and att þe fire makeinge That whiþe his grene top þe heuen rauhteXI. 26. And twenty faþome on brede þe armes strauhte This to seine þe bowes were so brode Of stre first þer was leide mony a lodeXI. 27. Bot howe þe fire was maked vp on hihteXI. 22-25. Ne eke þe names howe þe trees hihte As oke. fir. beche. aspe. alder holme popelere Wylowe. elme. plane. asshe. Box. chasteine Binde Laurere Mapul. þorne. berche. hasul. ewe. whipiltre Howe þei were felde schal nouht be tolde for me Ne howe þe goddes ronnen vp and doune. Disherited of here habitacioune In whiche þe wonden in rest and pes Nimphes faunes and amadries Ne howe þe bestes and þe birdes allXI. 21. ffledden for ferde whan þe [wood] was fall Ne howe þe grounde agast was for þe liht That was nouht wonte to se þe sonne brihtXI. 21. Ne howe þe fire was cowched first wiþ streeXI. 27. And þan wiþ drye stikkes clouen a three And þan wiþ grene wode . and spicerie And þan wiþ cloþe of golde and of PerryeXI. 29. And garlondes hongeinge wiþ ful mony a floureXI. 27. The mirre Thensens wiþ also swete odoureXI. 28. Ne howe Arcite lay amonge al þisXI. 30. Ne what riches abowte his body is Ne howe þat Emelye as was þe gyseXI. 40. Putte in þe fire of funeral seruise Ne howe sche swownede whan maade was þe fireXI. 41-46. Ne what sche spak ne what was hir desire Ne what Iuels men in þe fire castXI. 48, 50. Whan þat þe fire was grete and brende fast Ne howe som kast hir schelde and som hir spereXI. 56. And of her vestementes which þat þei wereXI. 50. And coppes ful of melke wyne and blodeXI. 50, 51. In to þe fire þat brente as it were wode Ne howe þe Grekes wiþ an huge routeXI. 52. Thries riden al þe fire abouteXI. 53. Vppon þe lefte hand . wiþ a bowe scheteinge And þries wiþ here speres Clateringe And þrie howe þe ladies gan cryeXI. 54. Ne howe þat ladde was homward Emelye Ne howe Arcite is bernte to asshe coldeXI. 57, 58. Ne howe þat liche wake was yholdeXI. 59-67. Al þilke nyht . ne howe þe grekes pleie The wake playes ne kepe .I. nouht to seie Who wersteleþ beste nakede wiþ oile anoynte Ne who þat bar him best in no disioynte .I. wil nouht tellen al howe þei gone Home til Athenes whan þe pleie was done Bot schortly to þe point þan wil .I. wende And maken of myne longe tale an ende ¶ Be proces and be lengthe of certein ȝeres Al stinte is þe morneynge and þe teresXII. 3, 'giorni,' instead of years. Of Greges be one general assent Than semede þare was A parlement Att Athenes vppon a certeine pointe and caas A-monge þe whiche poyntes spoken was To haue wiþ certein crontres alliaunce And haue fully of Thebane obeisaunce ffor whiche þis noble Theseus a-none Lete sende after gentil PalamoneXII. 4. Vnwiste of him whatt was þe cause and whie Bot in his blake cloþes sorwfully He came att his commandement in hye. Tho sente Theseus for faire Emelye Whan þei were sett and huyst was in þe placeXII. 5. And Theseus abiden haþ a space Or any worde cam fro his wise breste His eyȝen sett he þere as was his leste And wiþ a sadde visage he siked stille And af[t]erward riht þus his wille ¶ The firste mouere of þe cause aboueIX. 51. Whan he first maade þe faire cheine of louemondo, for cheine of loue.' Grete was þeffect . and hihe was his entente Wele wiste he whi . and what þere-of he menteIX. 51. ffor wiþ þat faire cheine of loue he bonde The fire þe Aire . þe watere and þe londe. In certeine boundes þat þei maie nouht fle That same prince and þat meuer quod he[See IX. 51, 52, and XII. 6.] Haþ stabled in þis wrechede werlde a-doun Certeine daies and d[omi]nacioun To al þat ben engrendred in þis place Ouere þe whiche daie þei maie nouht pace All mowe þei ȝute þo daies a-brugge There nedeþ none auctorite to lugge. ffor it is proued be experience Bot þat me lust declaren my sentence Than maie men wele by þis order discerne That þilke mouere stable is and eterne Wele maie men knowe bot it be foole That euery partie darrained fromme his hoole ffor nature haþe nouȝt take his begynnynge Of no partie nor of cantel of a thinge Bot of a thinge þat parfite is and stable Descendeinge so to it be corrumpable And þere-for for . his wise purueance He haþ so wele be-sette his ordenance That specie of þinges and progressions Schullen endure be successions And nouht eterne wiþ-oute any lye Þis maystowe vnderstonden and seen att eye Lo þe oke þat haþe so longe a norissheyngeXII. 7. ffro þe time þat it first biginneþ to springe And haþ so longe a lif as ȝe maye see Ȝut att þe laste wasted is þe tree Considereþ eke howe þat þe harde stone Vnde[r] owre fote on whiche we trede and gone Ȝit wasteþ it as it liþe be þe weie The brode riuer som time waxeþ dreie The grete townes see we wane and wende Than ȝe see þat al þis þinge haþ ende Of man and womman see we wele alsoXII. 8. Þat nedeþ in oone of þe teremes tuo Þis is to seine in ȝouþe or elles age He mote be dede þe kinge as schal a page Som in his bede some in þe depe see.XII. 10. Some in þe large felde as ȝe maie see. There helpeþ nouht al goþe þat ilke weie Þan may .I. seie þat al þis þinge mote deie What makeþ þis bot Iubiter þe kinge That is prince . and cause of al þinge Conuertynge all vn-to his propre wille ffro whiche it is darreyned soþe to tylle And here a-geynes non creature on lyue Of no degre aveileþ for to striueXII. 6. Than is it wisdome as þenkes meXII. 11. To make vertue of necessitee And take it wele þat we maye nouht eschewe And name þat to vs al is dewe And who gruccheþ ouȝt he doþe folyeXII. 13. And rebel is to him þat al maie guye And serteinly a man haþ most honoureXII. 9, 12. To deyen in his excellence and floure Whan he is seker of his good name Than haþe he done his frendes ne him no schame And gladder ouhte his frendes bene of his deþe Whan wiþe honoure is ȝolden vp þe breþe Than whanne his name apalled is for age ffor al forȝeten is his vessellage Than is þe best as for a worþi fame To deyȝen whan he is best of name The contrarie of al þis is wilfulnesXII. 13. Whi grucchen we whi haue we heuynesXII. 14-17. That good Arcite of chiualrye þe floure Departed is wiþ dewte and wiþ honoure Owte of þis foule Prisone of þis life Whi gruccheþ here his cosine and his wife Of his welfare þat loueþ him so wele Kanneþ he hem þonke nay . god wote neuer a dele That boþen his soule and eke him offende And ȝit þei mowe her lustes nouȝt amende What . may .I. conclude of þis longe serie Bot after woo .I. rede vs to be merieXII. 19. And þanke Iubiter al his grace And er we departen frome þis place .I. rede we make of sorwes two O parfite Ioye lasteinge euermo And lokeþe nowe whe[r] moste sorwe is inne Ther wil .I. firste amenden and be-gynne. ¶ Suster quod he þis is my ful assente Wiþ al þau-ys here of my parlemente. That gentill Palamon ȝoure owen knyht That serueþ ȝowe wiþ will and herte and myht And euer haþe do seþ firste ȝe him knewe That ȝe schall of ȝowere grace vpon him rewe And taken him for husbonde and for lorde Lene me ȝowre honde for þis is oure accorde Lat see nowe of ȝowre wommanly pyte He is a kinges broþer sonne parde And þouhe he weere a pouer bachellere Sen he haþe serued ȝowe so mony a ȝere And had for ȝowe so grete aduersite It moste be considered leueþ me ffor gentil mercye oute to passen riht Þan seide he þus to Palamon þe knyht .I. trowe þere nedeþe litul sermonynge To make ȝowe assente to þis þinge Comeþ nere and takeþ ȝowre lady be þe honde Be-twexen hem anone was maade þe bondeXII. 69. Þat hiht Matrimoigne or mariage Be al þe counsel and þe Baronage And wiþ al blis and melodyeXII. 72. Haþe Palamon ywedded Emelye An god þat haþe al þis werlde wrouht Sende him his loue þat haþ it dere bouht ffor nowe is Palamon in al his weleXII. 83. Leueinge in blis richesse and hele And Emely him loueþ so tenterly And he hir se[r]uith so gentilly That þere no worde was hem be-twene Of Iolousy or any oþer tene Thus Endeþ Palamon and Emelye And god saue al þis faire compaignye Explicit fabula mylitis. Incipit prologus Melendenarij Whan þat þe knyht had þus . his tale y-tolde In al þe company nas þere ȝonge ne holde That he ne seide it was noble storye And worþi for to drawen in memorie And nameliche þe gentils euerychone Owre oste louhe and swore so mot .I. gone This goþe ariht vnboklede is þe male Lat see nowe who schal tel anoþer tale ffor trewly þe game is wele be-gunne Now telleþ ȝe sire monke if ȝe kunne Somewhat to white wiþ þe knyhtes tale ¶ The Mellere þat for-dronken was al pale So þat vnneþ vpon his hors he sat He nolde a-valen neyþe hode ne hat Ne abide noman for his curtasie Bot in Pilates voice he gan to crie And swore be armes and be blode and bones .I. can a noble tale for þe nones Wiþ whiche .I. wil nowe qvite þe knyhtes tale Owre oste sauhe þat he was dronken of ale And seide abide Robin leue broþere Som better man schal tel us firste a-noþer Abide and late vs werken þreftely Be goddes sowle quod he þat wil nouht .I. ffor .I. wil speken or elles go my weye Oure Oste ansewerd . tell on þan a deuelweye Thowe ert a fole þi witte is ouer come Nowe herken quod þe Mellere al and some Bot first .I. make a protestacioun Þat .I. am dronken .I. knowe it be my sowne And þere if .I. speke or mys saie Wiyte it þe ale of Souþewerk I. ȝowe praie ffor .I. will tell a legende and a lif Boþen of a carpenter and his wif Howe þat a clerke haþe sette þe wrihtes cappe The reue ansewerde stinte þi clappe Latt bue þi lewed dronken harlotrie It is a sinne and eke grete folye To appeiren any man or him defame And eke to bringe wiues in suche fame Þou maist ynouhe of oþere þinges saine This dronken Meller spak ful sone aȝeine And seid leue broþer oswolde Who haþe no wif he is no cokewolde But .I. seie nouȝt þere-fore þat þou art oon Ther bene ful gode wives Many on . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. Whi ert þou angri wiþ my tale nowe I. haue a wife perde as wele as þowe ȝete nolde .I. note for þe oxen in my plouhe Tak vpon me more þan .I. nowhe As demen of my self þat .I. were oone .I. will beleue þat .I. am none An husbonde schal nouht be inquisitif Of goddes priuetees ne of his wif So he may finde goddes foyson þere Of þe remenant nedeþ nouht to enquere What schold .I. more seie; Bot þis Mellere He nolde his wordes for noman forbere Bot [sayde] his cherles tale in his manere Me aþenkeþ þat .I. schal reherce hem here And þer-for euery . gentil whight .I. preie Demeþ nouht for goddes loue þat .I. seie Of yuel enten bot þat .I. mot reherce Her tales al be þei better or werse Or elles falsen somme of my matiere And þere-fore who so list nouht to here Torne ouere þe leue and chese a-noþer tale ffor ȝe schal finde . y-nowe grete and smale Of storial þinge þat toucheþ gentillesse And eke moralite and holynesse Blameþ nouȝt me if þat ȝe chesen a-mys The meller is a cherle ȝe knowe wele þis So was þe reue eke and oþer mo And harlotrye þei tolden boþ tuo Auiseþ ȝowe and putte me owte of blame And eke men schal nouȝte make ernest of game[No gap in the MS.] Explicit prologus. Incipit fabula WHilom þere was dwellyng att Oxenford A riche gnof þat gestis helde to bord And of his craft he was a Carpentier With him þere was dwellinge a pouer scolier Hadde lerne arte bot al his fantasie Was torned for to leren astrologie And couþe a certeine of conclusions To demen be interrogaciones If þat men axed him in certeine houres Whan men schold haue drouht or elles schoures Or if men axed him what schal be-falle Of euery þinge .I. may nouht reken alle This clerke was cleped hende Nicholas Of derne loue he couþe and of solas And þere-to he was sleight and wele priue And like a maide meke for to see A chambre had he in þat hostellerie Alone wiþ-oute any compaignie fful fetisly diht wiþ herbes swote And he him selfe as swete as is þe rote Of lycoris or of any settewale His almagiste and bokes grete and smale His Astrelabre longeinge to his arte His augrim stones leyen faire a parte On schelues chowched as his beddes hede His prisse . ycouerid wiþ a foldeynge rede And al aboue þere leie a gaie sawtrie On whiche he made a nyht melodie So swetely þat al þe chambre ronge And Angelus ad virginem he songe And after he songe þe kinges note fful oft blissed was his mery þrote And þus þe swete clerke his time spente Affeter his frendes findeynge and his rente This Carpenter had wedded newe a wif Whiche þat he loued more þan his lif Of .xviij. ȝere sche was of age Ielous he was and helde hire narwe in cage ffor sche was wilde and ȝonge and he was holde And demed him self bene like a cokewolde He knewe nouȝt Caton for his witte was rude That bad men wedde his similitude Men scholde wedde after hire astate ffor ȝouþe and elde is often att debate Bot seþen þat he was fallen in þe snare He moste endure as oþere folke his kare ffaire was þis ȝonge wif and þerto wiþ al As any wesel[l: later] hir bodi gente and smal A seinte sche wered barred al of silke A barmecloþe as white as any morwes mylke Vppon hire lendes fol of mony a gore White was hire smoke and broude al be-fore And eke be-hinde on hire colere aboute Of cole blak silke within and eke with-oute. The tapes of hir white volupere Were of þe same sute of hire colere Hire felet broode of silke and sitt ful[l: later] hihe And sekurly sche had a lykuruse eye fful small y-pulled was hire browes two. And þo were bente. and blake as any. slo. Sche was ful more blisfull for to see Thane is þe newe perionet tree And softer þan wolle is of a weþer And be hir gyrdel[gyrdel: later] hinge a purs of leþere Tassilde wiþ selke a[n]d perlid wiþ laton In al þis werlde to seken vpe and downe Þere is noman so wise þat couþe þenche So Gaye a popelote or swiche a wenche fful brihter was þe schineinge of hir hewe Than in þe toure þe noble forgode newe Bott of hir songe it was so lowde and ȝerne As any swalowe Chiterynge on a berne There-to sche couþe skippe and make a game As any kide or calfe foloweynge his dame Hir mouþe was swete as braket or þe meþe Or horde of appeles layde in haye or heþe Wynsinge sche was as a Ioli colte Longe as a maste and vpriht as a bolte A broche sche bare on hire loue colere As brode as is þe boos of a bokelere Hir schoes were laced on hir legges hihe Sche was a primerol a pigges nye ffor any lorde to liggen in his bedde Or ȝit for any good ȝoman to wedde ¶ Nowe sire and eft sire so be-fell þe cas That on .a. daie þis hende Nicholas ffil wiþ þis ȝonge wif to rage and to pleie While þat hire husbond was att Osenaye As clerkes ben ful sotel and ful wheinte And priuelye he cauht hire be þe queynte And seide. ywis bot if .I. haue my. will. ffor derne loue of þe lemman .I. spill And held hire harde be þe haunche bones And seide lemman loue me wele att ones Or .I. wille deyen also god me saue And sche spronge as a colte doþ in þe traue And wiþ hire hede sche wried fast a-waie Sche seide .I. wil nouht kisse þe be my. faie Whi labbe quod iche lat be nycholas Or .I will crie out harrowe and alas Do weie ȝoure hondes for ȝowre curtesie This Nicholas gan mercie for to crie. And spake so faire and proferd him so fast That sche hire loue grauntide him att last And swore an he-oþe be seinte Thomas of Kent That sche wolde be att is commandement Whan þat sche maie hir leisere wele aspie Mine husbonde is so ful of Ielousye That bot .I. weite wele and be priue .I. whote riht wele .I. name but dede quod sche Ȝe motte be ful derne as in þis cas Nay þere-of care þe nouht quod Nicholas A clerke hadde liþerli be-sette his while Bot if he couþe a carpenter begile And þus þei attorden and. y-sworne To wayte a tyme as .I. haue tolde be-forne Whan Nicholas hadde þis euery dele And þakked hire aboute þe lendes wele He kiste hire swete and takeþ his sautrie And plaieþ fast and makeþ melodie ¶ Than fel it þus þat to þe Parissche cherche Cristes owen werke for to werche This good wife went on an haly daie Hire forhed schone as briht as any daie So was it whassche whan sche lete hir werke Nowe was þere of þat chirche a parische clerke The whiche þat was ycleped Absolon Crull was his here and as þe gold it schone And strouted as a ffan large and brode fful streighte and euen lay his Ioly schode His rud was rede his yen grei as goos Wiþ poules wyndowe coruen on his schoos In hoses rede he went fetisly Y-cladde he was ful smal and propurly Al in a kertell of a liht wachett fful faire and ful þike be þe pointes sett And þere vpon he hadd a gaie surplise As white as is þe blossome on þe Rise A mery childe he was as god me saue And wele couþe he laten blode or clippe or schaue And make a charter of londe or on quitance In twenti manere quod he trip and daunce After þe scole of Oxenforde þo And wiþ his legges casten to and fro And pleyen songes in a small rebibe Ther-to he songe some time a loude quynyble And also wele couþe he pleie on a geterne In all þe toune nas brewes ne tauerne That he ne viset it wiþ his solas There any gailerd tapstere was Bot soþe to seine he was sumdele squaymous Of fartinge and of speche daungerous ¶ This absolon þat Ioly was and gaie Goþe wiþ a censer on þe haly daie Sensynge þe wyues of þe parische faste And many a louely loke on hem caste And nameli on þis Carpenteres wif To loken on hire him þouhte a mery lyf Sche was so propre and swete and licorous I dar wele seie if sche hade bue a mous And he a cat he wolde her hinte anone This Pariche clerce. þis Ioly Absolone Haþe in his herte suche a loue longeinge That of no wif toke he none offringe For curtesye he seide he wolde none The mone whan it was nyht ful briht schone And absolon his geterne haþe ytake ffor paramoures he þouhte for to wake And for he goþ Iolif and amorous Til he came to þe Carpenters hous A litel after cokkes had. ycrowe And drissed him vp be a schot windowe That was vp on þe carpenteres wall He singes in his voice gentill and small Nowe dere lady if þi willes be .I. preie ȝowe þat ȝe wil rewe on me fful wele accordant to his geterneynge This Carpenter awoke and herd him singe And spake vnto his wif and seide anone What Alison heres þou not Absolone That chaunteþ þus vnder oure boures wal And sche ansewerde hir husbonde þer-wiþ-al Ȝis god wote Iohen .I. wote it euery. dele Þis passeþ forþe what wil ȝe bet þan wele ffro daie to daie þis Ioli Absolon So woweþ hire þat him is woo be-goon He wakeþ all þe nyght and al þe daie He kembed his lokkes brode and maade hem gaie He woweþ hire be menes and brocage And swore he wolde bene hir owen page He singeþ brokkinge as a nyhtingale He sente hir Meþe and Piment and spyced ale And weifres pipeinge hote vnder þe glede And for sche was of towne he proferd medeVn Ouidius Ictibus agrestes For some folke wil be wonne with richesse And sum for strokes and somme for gentilnesse Somtime to schewe his lyhtnesse and Maistre He plaieþ Heraude vpon a scafolde hihe Bot what aveileþ him as in þis caas Sche loueþ soo þis hende Nicholas That absolon maie blowe þe bokkes horne He ne haþe for his laboure bot a scorene And þus sche Makeþ Absolon hire Ape And al his erneste torneþ till a Iape For soþe is þis prouerbe it is no lye Men sein right þus Alweie þe neighe Sleyȝe Makeþ þe fer leue to be loþe For þouhe þat Absolon be woode or wroþe Be cause þat he fer was from hir siht This nyhe Nicholas stode in his liht ¶ Nowe bere ȝowe wele hende Nicholas ffor Absolon may waile and singe Alas And so be-fell it on a seturdaie This Carpentier was gone to Oseneye And hende Nicholas and Alison Accorded bue to þis conclusione That Nicholas schapen hem a wile Þese sely Ielouse husbonde to be-guyle And if so be þe game went ariht Sche scholde slepen in his arme al nyht ffor þis was his desire and hire also And riht anone wiþ-oute wordes moo This Nicholas no langere wolde tarye Bot doþe soft vn to his chambre Carye Boþe mete and drinke for a daie or tweye And to hir husbonde bad hire for to seie If þat he axede after Nicholas Sche scholde seie sche nyst where he was Of al þat daie sche seihe him nouȝt with Eye Sche trowed þat he was in sum Maledye ffor for no crye hire maide couþe him calle He wolde ansewere for noþinge þat myht falle This passeþ forþe al þilke Saturdaie Þat Nicholas stil in his chambur leye And ete or slepede or dide what him liste Til þe sonday þat þe sonday goþ to riste This sely Carpentier haþe grete Merveile Of Nicholas or what þinge miht him aile And seide .I. am adrede be seint Thomas It stondeþ nouht a-riht wiþ Nicholas God schelde þat he deyede sodanly This werlde is nowe ful tekel sikurly .I. sihe to daie a corps borne to cherche That nowe on Monondaie last .I. sawhe him werche Go vp quod he vn to [his] knaue anone Clepe att his dore or knoke wiþ a stone Looke howe it is and tel me boldely. This knaue goþ him vp ful studely And att þe chambre dore while þat he stode He criede and knokked as þat he were wode What howe what do ȝe Maister Nicholay Howe maie ȝe slepen al þe longe daie Bot al for nouht he herde nouht a worde An hole he fonde ful longe vpon a borde There as þe catte was wonte inne for to crepe And att þat hole he loke in ful depe And att þe last he had of him a siht This Nicholas satt euer gapinge vpriht As he had keked on þe newe mone And doune he goþe and tolde his meister sone In what araie he sauhe þis ilke man This Carpenter to blissen him be-gan And seide helpe vs seint ffritheswide A man whote litel what him schal be-tide This man is fall wiþ his Arstromye In some wodenes or somme Agonye .I. thouht ay wele howe it scholde be Men scholde nouht knowe of goddes priuete Ȝe blissed be alwey a lewed man. Þat nouht bot onely his beleue can. So ferd anoþer clerke wiþ Astronomye He walked in to þe feldes for to prye vppon þe sterres what þere scholde befalle Til he was in a marle pitte y-falle He sawhe nouht þat Bot ȝit be seint Thomas Me rewþe sore of hende Nicholas He schal be rated of his stodiynge If þat .I. maie be Iesus heuen kinge Gete me a staf þat .I. maie vnder spore While þat þou Robin heueste vpe þe dore He schal oute of his stodiinge as .I. gesse And to þe Chambre dore he gan him dresse His knaue was a stronge karle for þe nones And be þe hespe he heue it vp att ones In to þe flore þe dore fel a-none This Nicholas satt ay as still as any stone And euer gaped vp in to þe aire This Carpenter wende he were in despeire And hent him be þe scholdres myhtely And schoke him harde and cried spitously What Nicholas what howe loke a downe Awake and þenke on cristes passion .I. crouche þe from elues and from whihtes There-wiþe þe nyhtes spel seide he anone rihtes. Of foure halues. þe hous aboute And on þe þresshewolde on þe dore wiþ-oute Ihesu criste and seint bendight Blisse þe house frome euery wikke whight ffor þe nyghte very þe white Pater noster Where wentestowe þou seinte petur. soster And att þe last þis hende Nicholas Gan for to sike and seide Alas Schall all þe werlde be loste ef sones nowe This Carpenter ansewerd what seistow What þinke on god as we done men þat swynke This Nicholas ansewerd ffeche me drynke And after will .I. speke in priuete Of certeine þinge þat toucheþ þe and me .I. will tel it it none oþer man serteine This Carpentier goþe doune and comeþ aȝeine And brouht of myhty ale a large quarte And whan þat iche of hem had dronken here parte This Nicholas his dore fast schette And doune þe Carpentier be him he sette And seide Iohn myne Ostee leue and dere Thowe schalt vpon þi trouþe swere me here That to whight þou schal þis consel wriee ffor it is cristees counsell þat .I. seiee And if þou tell it man þou art for-lore ffor þis venieance þou schalt haue þere fore That if þou wreye me þou schalt be woode ¶ Nay crist for-beede it for his holy blode Quod þoo þis sely man .I. nam no labbe And þouhe .I. seie .I. ne am not leue to gabbe Saie whatt þou wolte .I. schal it neuer telle To childe ne wife be him þat haried helle Nowe Iohn quod Nicholas .I. wil nouȝt lye .I. haue .I.-founde in myne astrologie As .I. haue loked in þe mone brihte Þat nowe a mononday next a quarter nyhte Schal fal a rayne and þat so wilde and wode Þat halfe so grete was neuer noes flode This werlde he seide in lesse þan in an houre Schal be al dreinte so hydous is þe schoure Thus schal mankinde drenche and lese hir lyf This carpentier ansewerd alas my wif And schal sche drenche alas myn Alisoune ffor sorwe of þis he fel almoste a-doune And seide is no remedie in þis caas Whi ȝis for god quod hende Nicholas If þou wolte worchen after lore and rede Thou maiste nouȝt werchen after þine owen hede ffor þus seiþe Salomon þat was ful trewe Werke al be counsel an þu schalt nouht rewe And if þow worchen wilte be goode counseile .I vnder-take wiþ-oute mast or seile Ȝit schal .I. saue hire and þe and me Haste þow nouht herde how sauede was Noe Whan þat owre lorde haþe warned him be-forne That all þe werld wiþ water scholde be for-lorne Ȝis quod þis Carpentier ful ȝore a-go Hast þou nouht herde quod Nicholas also The sorwe of Noe wiþ his felauschep Or þat he myht get his wif to schip Him had leuer .I. dar wele vnder-take Att þilke time þan all his weþeres blake That sche had a schippe al his selfe alone And þere-fore wost þow whatt is best to done This axeth haste and of an hastif þinge Men maie nouht preche ne maake tariynge Anone go gete vs fast in to þis inne A knedeynge trowhe or elles a kemelyne ffor iche of vs bote looke þat þei bene large In which men mow swymme as in a barge And hane their vitaile sufficeant Bot for a day fy on þe remenant The water schal aslake and gone his waie About prime vpon þe next daye Bot Robyne maie nouht witte of þis þi knaue Ne eke þe maide gill .I. maie nouht saue Ax nouht whi for þouhe þou axe me .I. wil nouȝt tellen goddes priuete Suffiseþe þe bot if þi wittes Madde To haue as grete a grace as noe Hadde Thi wif schal .I. wele saue oute of doute. Go nowe þi weie and spede þe here abowte Bot whan þou hast for hire and þe [and] me Y-geten vs þis knedeinge tubbes þre þan schalt þou honge hem in rofe fol hihe þat no man of owre pureance aspie And whan þou þus haste done as .I. haue seide And hast oure vitaile faire in hem y-leide Ande eke an ax to smyte þe corde a two Whan þat þe water comeþ þat we maie go An breke an hole on hihe vpon þe gable Vnto þe gardeine ward ouer þe stable That we mai freli passen forþe owre weye Whan þat þe grete schowre is gone awaie Th[en sch]alt þou swymme as mery .I. vnder-take As doþe þe white duke after his drake Than wil .I. clepe howe .Alison. howe Iohn Be mery for þe flode wil passe a-none And þou wilt seine haile Maister Nicholay Gode morne .I. see þe wele for it is daye And þan schal we be lordes al oure lif. Of al þe werlde as Noe and his wif. Bot þat of o þinge .I. warne þe ful riht Bene wele avised vpon þat ilke nyht þat we bene entrede in to schippes borde þat none of vs ne speke nouht a worde Ne clepe ne crye bot bene in his praiere ffor it is goddes owen heste dere Thi wif and þou moste honge fer a twynne ffor þat betwox ȝow schal be no sinne Ne more in lokeinge þan þer schall in dede This ordenance is seide go god þe spede To morwe att nyht whan men bene al aslepe Into owre knedeinge tubbes wil we crepe And sitten þere a-bideinge goddes grace Go nowe þi weie .I. haue no longer space To make of þis no longer sermoneinge Men seine þus . Sende þe wise and sei no þinge Thow ert so wise it nedeþ þe nouht teche Go saue owre lif and þat .I. þe beseche. ¶ This sely Carpentier goþ forþ his weie fful of of he seide . alas and waleweie And to his wif he tolde his priuete And sche was warre and knewe it bet þan he What all þis queynte cast was for to seie Bot Natheles sche ferd as sche wold deie And seide alas go forþe þi weie anone Helpe vs to scape or we bene dede iche oon .I. am þi trewe verrei wedded wif Go dere spouse and helpe to saue oure lif ¶ Loo whiche a grete þinge is affection Men may deie of ymaginacione So depe maye impressione be take This seli Carpentier beginneþ qwake Him þenkeþe verraily þat he maie see Noe flode come walkinge as þe see To drenche Alison his owen dere He wepeþ he weileþ he makeþ sori chere He sikkeþ wiþ ful mony a sory swoghe And goþe and geteþ him a knedeinge troughe And after a tubbe and a kimlyne And priuely he sent hem to his inne And henge in þe rofe in priuete His owene honde: he made eke leddres þree To climme by þe ronges and þe stakes Vn-to þe tobbes hongeinge in þe balkes And hem vitailled boþe trouhe and tubbe Wiþe brede and chese and good ale in a Iubbe Suffisinge . riht ynouhe as for a daie Bot ar he had maade al þis araie He sente his knaue and eke his wenche also Vpon his nede to londen for to goo And on mononday whanne it drouhe to nyhte He schette his dore wiþ-outen candellyhte And dressed al þinge as it schold be And schortely clomben vpe al þre Thei setten stille wele a forlonge weie Nowe pater noster Clum seide Nicholaie And clum . seide Iohn . and Clum seide Alison This Carpentier seide his deuocion And stille he sitteþ and biddeþe his preier Awaiteinge on þe reine if he it here The deþe slepe for wery bisinesse ffel on þis Carpentier riht as .I. gesse Aboute Corfew time or litel more ffor traueile of his goste he groneþ sore And eft he routeþe for his hede misleie Doune of þe ladder stalkeþ Nicholeie And Alison ful soft a-doune sche spedde Wiþ-outen wordes mo þei gone to bedde Ther as þe Carpentier is wonte to lye There was þe reuel and þe melodie And þus liþe Alison and Nicholas In besines or merþe and of solas Til þat þe bell of lawdes be-ganne to ringe And freres in þe chauncell gonne singe ¶ This Parissche clerke þis amorous absolon þat is for loue alwei so wo begone vpon þe Monondaie was att Osneye Wiþ company him to desporte and pleye And axed vpon caas a cloistrere fful priuely after Iohn þe Carpentiere And he droughe him a-parte out of þe cherche And seide .I. note .I. seihe him here nouht wirche Seþ Saturdaie .I. troue þa he be wente ffor timbre þere oure Abbote haþ him sent ffor he is wonte for timebre for to go And dwellen att þe grange a daie or tuo Or elles he is at his hous certeine Wher þat he be .I. kann nouȝt sothely seine This Absolon ful Ioly was and liht And þouht. Now is time to wake al nyht For sekurly .I. sawhe him nouhte steringe Abouten his dore sen dai be-gan to springe So mote .I. Thriue .I. schal att þe Cokkes crowe fful priuely knokken att his wyndowe That stant ful lowe vpon his bowres wall To Alison Nowe will .I. tellen all My loue longeinge for ȝit .I. schall nouht mys That att þe leste waye .I. schal hire kis ¶ Som manere comforþe schal .I. haue parfaie My mouþe haþe yched all þis longe daie That [is] a signe of kissinge att þe leste All nyght me mete eke þat .I. was att a feste There-fore I. wil go slepe an houre or tueye And all the nyht þan will .I. wake and pleye Whan þat þe first cokko hath crowe anone Vp riseþ þis Ioly louer Absolon And him arrayeþ gaye and pointe deuise Bot first he cheweþ greine and licorise To smellen swote or he had kemped his here Vnder his tonge a trewe loue he bere ffor þerby wende he to be gracious He romeþe to þe carpenteres house And still he stant vnder þe schotte wyndowe Vnto his breste it rauht. it was so lowe An soft he couched wiþ a seme sowne Watt do ȝe hony combe swete Alisone Mi faire birde mi swete Sinamome And wakeþ lemman myne and spekeþ wiþe me Wel litel þinken ȝe vpon my woo That for ȝoure loue .I. swete ar .I. go No wonder is þouhe þat .I. swelt and swete .I morne as doþe lome after þe tete .I.-wis lemman .I. haue suche loue longeinge That ilke a turtul trewe. is my Morneinge .I. maye note eten no more þan a maide Go fro þe window Iak fole sche seide ¶ As helpe me god .I. will nouht be compaine .I. loue a-noþer ande elles .I. war to blame Wele bette þan þe be ihesu Absolone Go for þi waie or .I. wil cast a stone And lat me slepe a twenti deuel weie Alas quod Absolon and walawaie That trewe loue was euer so yuel be-sette Than kisse me sen it maie be no bette ffor ihesu[MS ihūe] loue. and for þe loue of me Wilt þou þan go þi weie þere-wiþ quod sche ȝe certes lemman quod þis Absolon Than make þe redy quod sche .I. come anone . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. This Absolon downe sett him on his knes And seide .I. am a lorde att all degres And after þis .I. hope þere comeþ more Lemman þi grace and swete birde þine ore The wyndow scho vndoþe and þat in haste Haue do quod sche come of and spede þe faste Leste þat owre neybores þe Asspie This Absolone gan wipe his mouþe ful drie Derke was þe nyhte as pyche or as þe cole And att þe wyndowe owte sche put hire hole And Absolo[n] him fel no bette ne wers Bott wiþ his mouþe he kissed hir naked ers fful sauorly or he was warre of þis A-bakke he sterte and þouht it was a-mys ffor wele he wiste a womman haþe no berde He felte a þinge al roughe and longe yherede And seide fie Alas what haue .I. doo Tehe quod sche and clapped þe window to And Absolon goþe forþe a sory paas A berde a berde seide hende Nicholas Be goddes corps þis goþe faire and wele This sely Absolon herde it euery dele And on his lippe he gan for angur bite And to him selfe he seide .I. scal þe qwite Who rubbeth nowe who froteþ nowe his lippes Wiþ duste wiþ sonde. wiþ strawe wiþ cloþe wiþe chippes Bot Absolon þat seiþe ful ofte Alas My soule be-take .I. to sathenas Bot me were leuere þan al þis toune quod he Of þis dispite awroken for to be. Alas quod he alas .I. ne hadde yblente His hote loue is colde and al yquente ffor fro þat time þat he had kissed here ers Of paramours he sett nouht a cres ffor he was helede of his maladye ffull oft paramours he gan defie And weppe as doþe a childe þat is ybete A soft pas he went ouere þe strete Vnto a smyþe Men clepen Daun geruays þat in his forge smyþeieþ . plouhe hernays He scharpeþ schare and culter bisilie This Absolon knokkeþ al eselye And seide vn to geruais and þat anone What who art þou . It am .I. Absolone What Absolone . What cristes swete tree Whi rise ȝe so raþe . ey benedicite Whate eyleþ ȝowe some gaie gerle god it wote Haþe brouht ȝowe þus on þe veritote Be seint note ȝe wote wele whatt .I. mene This Absolon ne rouht nouht a bene Of al his pleie no worde aȝeine he ȝaffe He had more towe on his distaffe Than geruays knewe and seide frende so dere The hote Culter in þe chymene here As lene it me .I. haue þer-wiþþe to done .I wil bringe it aȝein ful sone Gerueys ansewerde Certes were it golde Or in a poke nobles al vntolde Thowe scholdest haue as .I. am trewe smyþþe Ey Cristes foo what will ȝe do þer-wiþþe There-of quod Absolon be as be maye I. schal wele telne it þe to morwe daie And cauhte þe Culter be þe colde stele fful soft owte att þe dore he gan stele And wente vnto þe Carpentiers wal He koughed first and knokked þer wiþ al vpon þe wyndowe riht as he dide ere This Alison ansewarde who his þere þat knokkeþ so .I. warant . it a þefe Whi naye quod he god wote my swete lefe .I. am þin Absolon þin derleinge Of golde quod he .I. haue þe browht a ringe Mi modere ȝafe it me so god me saue fful fyne it is and þarto wel y-graue þis wil .I ȝeuen þe . if þou me kisse þis Nicholas was resen for to pisse And þouhte he wolde amenden al þe Iape He scholde kisse his ers er þat he scape And vpe þe windowe dede he hastely. And oute his ers he put priuelye Ouer þe buttok to þe haunche bone And þer-wiþ spak þis clerke þis absolone Speke swete birde .I. note where þu ert This Nicholas anone lete flie a fart As grete as it had be a þonder dinte That wiþ þat stroke he was almost yblint And he was rede wiþ his yren hote And Nicholas in þe ers he smote Of goþe þe scynne an handebrode aboute The hote culter so brent his toute ¶ And for þe smerte he wende for to deie As he were woode for woo he ganne to creie Helpe water water helpe for goddes herte This Carpentier owte of his slomere sterte And herde one Crie water as he was wode And þouht alas Nowe commeþ Noes flode And sett him vp with wordes moo And wiþe an ax he spote þe corde a twoo And doune goþe al He fonde Neiþer to selle No brede Nor ale til he cam to þe selle Vpon þe flore and þer aswowen he laye Vp sterte Hire Alison and Nicholaye And criede oute and harrowe in þe strete The neyhebores boþe smal and grete. In ronnen for to gauren vpon þis man That on swoune laie boþe pale and wan For wiþ þat fal he broken haþ his arme Bot stonde he moste vn-to his owen harme For when he spake he was a-none borne doune Wiþe hende Nicholas and Alisoune Thei tolden euery man þat he was wode He was a-gast so of þe Nowels flode Thurghe fantasie þat of his vanite He had him bouhte knedeyng tubbes þre And had hem hongede in þe roofe aboue And þat he preide him for goddes loue To sitten in þe roof par compaignye The folke gan lawhen att his fantasie An to þe roofe þei keken and þei gape And torned al his harme vnto a Iape. ffor what so þis Carpentier ansewerde It was for nouht no man his resone herde Wiþe oþes grete he was so sworne y-doune That he was holden woode in all þe toune ffor euery clerke anone riht ichone helde wiþ oþere Thei seide þe man is wode my leue broþere And euery white gan lauhen att his strif Thus swyued was þe Carpentiers wif ffor al his kepeinge and his Ielouseie And Absolon haþe keste hire hir neþer eye And Nicholas is scalded in his toute This tale is done and god saue al þe route.[No gap in the MS.] Explicit fabula Molendenarii Incipit prologus. WHan folke han lawhen att þis nyce caas Of Absolon and hende Nicholas Diuers folke diuersely þei seide Bot for þe more parte þei lowhe and pleide Ne att þis tale I. sauhe no man him greue Bot it were onely Oswolde þe Reue Be cause he was of Carpenteres craft A litel ire is in his hert laft He gan to gruche and blame it a lite So þeyke quod he ful wele couþ .I. ȝow quyte Wiþ blerynge of a proude mellers eye If þat me liste to speke of ribaudie Bot ik am olde me list nouht pleie for age Gras time is done my foder is forage This white toppe writes myne olde ȝeres Myne herte is also moulde . as myne heres Bot if .I. fare as doþe an openers þat ilke fruyte is euer longe þe werse Til it be roten in molloke and in stree We olde men .I. drede so fare we Til we be roten can we nouht be ripe We hopen al-weie while þe werld wil pipe For in owre wille þere stikeþ euer a naile To haue an hore here and a grene taile As haþe a leke for þouhe oure myht be gone Owre wille desireþ foly euery in one ffor whan we maie nouhte done þan wil we speke Ȝit in owre hasschen olde is fire y-reke ffoure gledes han we whiche .I. schal deuise Auauntynge . lyeinge . Anger . and Couetise This foure sperlkes longeþ vnto elde Owre olde limmes Mowe wele bene vnwelde Bot wil[h and e have been scratched out to re|duce this word.] ne schal nouht failen þat is soþe And ȝit haue .I. alwei a coltes toþe As mony a ȝere as it is passed henne Sen þat my tap of lif beganne to renne ffor sekerly whan .I. was borne a-none Deþe drowhe þe tape of lif and lete it gone And euery siþþe haþþe so þe tap .I.-ronne Till þat al-moste al empti is the tonne The streme of lif nowe droppeþ on þe chimbe The seli tonge maie wele ringe and climbe Of wrechedenesse þat passed is ful ȝore Wiþ olde folke saue dotage is no more ¶ Whan þat oure oste had herd þis sermonynge He gan to speke as lordly as a kinge He seide what a-mounteþ al þis witte What schal we speke al day of holy writte The deuel maade a reue for to preche Or of souter schipman or a leche Say forþe þi tale and tary nouht þe time Loo depford and it is halfe weie prime Loo grenewiche þat mony a schrewe is inne. It were al time þi tale for to gynne ¶ Nowe sires quod Oswalde þe reue .I preie ȝowe al þat ȝe nouht ȝowe greue Thowhe .I. ansewere and sumdel sett his howue For leueful it is wiþ force force to schowue This dronken melle haþe .I.-tolde us here Howe þat be-giled was a carpentier Parauentur in scoren for .I. am one And be ȝoure leue .I. schal him quyte anone. Riht in his cherles termes wil .I. speke I preie to god his neke mot he breke He can wele in myne eye seen a stalke Bot in his owen he can nouht sene a balke þe revese tale / begynneþ here At Trumpyngton nouht fer fro Cambrugge There goþe a broke . and ouere þat a brugge Vppon þe whiche broke þere stant a Melle And þis is verrey soþ þat .I. telle A meller was þere duellinge mony a daie As any pekok he was proude and gaie Pipe he couþe and fisshen and nettes bete And torne coppes and wele wrastel and schete. Ay be his belte he bare a longe Panade And of a swerde ful trenchant was þe blade A Ioly popper bare he in his puche Ther was no man for perile dorst him touche A scheffeld þwitel bare he in his hose Rounde was his face and kamuse was his nose As pilled as an hape was his Sculle He was a Market beter att þe fulle Ther was no whihte þat dorst honde on him ligge Bot if he swore he schole anone abegge A þefe he was for soþe of corne and mele And þat a sleigh . and vsand for to stele His name was hoten deynous symkyne A wife he had commen of Noble kinne The parson of þe toune hir fadere was Wiþe hire he ȝafe mony a panne of bras For þat Simkin schold in his blode allye Sche was yfostrede in a Nonnerye ffor Simkin wold no wif as he seide Bot sche were wele ynorissched and a maide To saue his astate of ȝomanrye And sche was proude and pert as a pye A ful faire siht was it vppon hem tuo On Halidaies be-forne hire wolde he go With his tepet wonden aboute his hede And sche cam after in a gide of rede And simkyn hadd hosen of þe same Thare dorste no whiht clepen hire bot dame Was none so hardy þat wente be þe weie That dorste with hire ones rage or pleie Bot if he wolde be sleine of Simkynne Wiþ panade or wiþ knyf or wiþ Boydekynne ffor Ielous folke bene perlous euer mo Al-gates þei wolde here wives wenden so And eke for sche was somdele smoterliche Sche was as deyne as water in a diche As ful of Hokere and of bismare Hir þouht þat a lady schold spare What for hire kinred and hire Nortelrie That sche had lerned in the Nonnerye A douhter had þei be-twexe hem two Of twenty ȝere wiþ-outen any moo Saueinge a childe þat was of halfe ȝere age In cradel it ley. and was a propur page þis wenche þikke and wele y-groue was wiþ Camois nose and eyen . grei as glasse wiþ buttokes brode . and brestes rounde and hihe Bot rihte faire was hire here .I. wil nouht lye The parson of þe toune for sche was so faire In purpos was to make hire his hayre Boþe of his Catel and his Mesuage And strange he maade it for hire Mariage His purpos was to be-stowe hire hye In to somme worþi blode of Auncestrie ffor holy cherche goode mot be despended On holy cherche blode þat is descended Ther-fore he wolde his holy blode honoure þouhe þat holy cherche scholde deuoure Grete soken haþe þis meller oute of doute Wiþ wete and malte of al þe lande aboute And namely þer was a grete College Men clepen þe solier halle att Cantabregge There was hir whete and eke his malte ygrounde And on a daye it happide on a stounde Seeke laie þe Maunciple on a Maledye Men wenden wisly þat he scholde deye ffor whiche þis meller stale boþe mele and corne An hundreþ time more þan be-forne ffor þere be-forne he stale bot curteysly Bot nowe he was a þef outrageou[s]ly ffor whiche þe wardeine chidde and made fare Bot þere-of sette þe Meller nouht a tare He crakke bost and swore it was nouht soo Than were þere ȝonge scolers tuo That dwelten in þe hal of whiche .I. seye Testif þei were and lusti for to pleie And oonely for her mirþe and reuelrie Vppon þe wardeine besely þei crie To ȝeue hem leue bot a litel stounde To goone to melle and seen her corne . y-grounde And hardely þei dorst leine her neke þe Meller schold nouht stele hem half a pekke Of corne ne be sleihte ne be force heme reue And att þe laste þe wardeine ȝaf hem leue Iohn hight þat one . and Aleyne hiht þat oþere Of one towne were þei borne þat hiht stroþere ffer in þe Norþe .I. can nouht tel where This Aleine Makeþ redi all his gere And one an hors þis sak he cast anone fforþe goþe Aleyne þe clerke and also Ione Wiþ good swerde and wiþ bokeler be his side Iohn knewe þe weie him nedeþ no gide And att þe melne þe sakke adoune he laythe Alayn spak first . al haile Simonde in fayþe Howe fareþ þi faire douhter and þi wife Alayne welcome quod Simkin be my life And Iohn also howe nowe what do ȝe here Be god quod Iohn . Simond . nede haþe no pere Him be-houeþ serue him self þat haþe no sweyne Or elles he is a foole as clerkes seine Oure Maunciple .I. hope he wil be dede Swa werkes him þe wanges in his hede And þere-fore es .I. come and alswa Aleine To grinde oure corne and carie it ham aȝeine .I. prei ȝowe spede vs heþen þat ȝe maye It schal be done quod Simkin be my faye ¶ What will ȝe done while þat it is in hande Bed god . riht be þe hoper will .I. stande Quod Iohn and see howe þe corne goþe Inne Ȝit sawe .I. neuer be my fader kinne Howe þat þe hoper wagges till and fra Aleyne Ansewerd Iohn wil-tow swa Than wil .I. be by-neþe be my croune And see howe gates þe mele falles adowne In-till þe troughe þat schall be my disporte Quod Iohn in faaþe .I. es al of ȝowre sorte .I. es as il a Melnere as es ȝe This Mellere smyled of here Nicite. And þouht al þis nys done bot for a wyle þei weene þat no man may þem be-gile Bot be my þreft ȝit schal .I. blere here eye ffor al þe sleight in hire philosophie þe moo qweinte crekes þat þei make þe more wil .I. stele whan .I. take In stede of flowre ȝit will .I. ȝeue hem branne The grettest clerke ne is nouȝt þe wiseste manne As whilome to þe wolfe þus spak þe mare Of al hire arte counte .I. nouhte a tare Oute att þe dore he goþe ful priuelye Whan þat he sawhe his time softly He lokeþe vp and doune til he haue founde The clerkes hors þere as it stode bounde Be-hinde þe Mille vnder a leuesel And to þe hors he goþ him feire and wel He strepeþ of þe bridel riht a-none Whan þe hor[s] was laus he ginneþ to gone Toward þe fenne þere wilde mares renne And forþe wiþe wehe þoruhe þikke and þoruh þenne This mellere goþe aȝein no worde he seide Bot doþ his note and wiþ his clerkes pleide Til þat her corne was faire and wele ygrounde And whan þe mele is sakked and ybounde This Iohn goþe owte and findeþ his hors aweie And gan to crie harrowe and walaweie Oure hors is loste Aleine for goddes banes Steppe on þi fete man come of al att anes Alas oure wardeine has his palfraie lorne This Aleine al for-ȝat boþe mele and corne Al was owte of his mynde his hosbandrie What whilke waye es he gane he gan to crye The wife cam lepeinge inwarde att a renne Sche seide Alas ȝoure hors goþe to þe fenne Wiþ wilde mares as faste as he may go Vnþanke com on his hand þan bonde him so And he þat better scholde haue knet þe Reyne Allas quod Iohn Aleine for cristes peine Lay doune þi swerde . and I wil myne alswa .I. es ful swift god wate as is a ra Be goddes hert he sal not scape vs baþe Whi ne hadde þou putte þe capel in þe laþe Il a hayle be god aleyne þou es a grete fonne Thes sely Clerkes han ful fast ronne To-warde þe fenn bothen Aleyne and eke Iohn And whan þe Meller sihe þat þei were gone He half a busschel of her flour haþe take And bad his wife go knede it in a kake And seide .I. trowe þe clerkes weren aferd ȝit can a meller Make a clerkes berde ffor al his arte ȝit late hem gone hire weie Lo where he goþe ȝe latt þe children pleie Thei get him nouht so lihtly be my crowne þeis seli clerkes rennen vp and doune wiþ kepe kepe stande stande .Iossa warderere Ga whistil þou and .I. schal kepe him here Bot schortly til it was verrei nyht þei couþe nouhte þouhe þei dide al her myht Hir caple cache he ran alwei so faste Til in a diche þei cauht him att þe laste wery and wete as best is in þe reine Comeþ sely Iohn . and with him commeþ Aleine ¶ Alas quod Iohn þe daie þat .I. was borne Nowe er we dreuen til heþinge and til scoren Owre corne is stolle Men wil vs foles calle Boþe þe wardeine and owre felawes alle And Namely þe Meller walewaye Thus pleyneþ Iohn as he gaþ be þe weie Towarde þe Melle and bayard in his honde The meller sittinge be þe fire he fonde ffor it was nyht and ferþer myht he nouht Bot for þe loue of god þei him be-souht Off herboruhe and of ese as for her penye The Mellere seid ageine . if þere be anye Swyche as it is ȝute schal ȝe haue ȝoure part Myne hous is streite bot ȝe haue lerned arte Ȝe can be argument Make a place A Mile brode of twenti foote of space Latt se nowe if þis place Maie suffise Or make it Romer wiþ speche as is ȝoure gise Now Simond seid þis Iohn be seint Cutberde Ay es þou Mery and þat is faire ansewerde .I. haue herde saye Men sall taken of tua þinges Swilke as he fint or swilke as he bringes Bot specialy .I. praie þe ooste dere Gete vs sum mete and drinke and make vs chere And we wil payen trewly att fulle Wiþ empti handes men maye nouhte haukes tulle Lo here owre siluere redy for to spende This Meller to þe toune his douhter sende ffor al and brede and rosted hem a goos And bonde her hors it schold no more go loos And in his owen chambre he maade hem a bede Wiþ schetes and wiþ chalons faire y-sprade Nouht fro his owen bedde ten fote or tuelue His douhter had a bedde al be hire selue Riht in þe same chambre by. and bye It myht be no bet and cause whie Ther was no romer herboruhe in þe place Thei soupen and þei speken hem to solace And drenken euer stronge ale att þe beste Aboute mydnyhte wente þei to reste Wele haþe þis Mellere vernysshed his hede fful pale he was for-dronken and nouht rede He ȝexeþ and he spekeþ þoruhe þe nose As he war on þe quakke or one þe pose To bede he goþe and wiþ him goþe his wif As any Iay he lyht was and Iolif So was hir Ioly whistel wele y-wette The crade att þe bedes feete is sette To rokken and to ȝeue þe childe to souke And whan þat dronken was al in þe crouke To bedde wente þe douhter riht anone To bedde goþe Aleine and also Iohn There nas no more þem neded no dwale This Meller haþe so wisly bibbed ale That as an hors he snowrteþ in his slepe Ne of his taile behinde he toke no kepe His wif bare him a burdon a ful stronge Men myhten here routeynge halfe a forlonge The wenche routeþe eke par comopaignye Aleyne þe clerke þat herde þis melodye He poukede Iohōn and seide slepest þou Herdest þou euer slyke a sange or nowe Lo swilke a compline es be-tuene hem alle. A wilde fire on þeire bodies falle Wha herde euere slyke a ferly þinge Ȝe þei schal haue þe floure of il endynge ¶ This lange myhte þer sal .I. haue na reste Bot ȝit na force al sal be for þe beste ffor Iohn seide he as euere mote .I. þriue If þat .I. maye þe wenche wil .I. swyue Some esement haþ þe lawe schapen vs ffor Iohn þere is a lawe þat seiþe þus þat if a man in o pointe be agreuede þat in a-noþer he sal be releuede Oure corne is stollen soþely it is no naye And we haue hade an yuel fitte to daye And seen .I. schal haue none amendement Ageyn my losse .I. wil haue esement Be goddes saule it sal nane oþere be This Iohn Ansewerde Aleine avise þe The Meller is a parlous man he seide And if þat he oute of his slepe a-breide He myhte done vs baþe a velanye Aleyne ansewarde .I. count him nat a flye And vpe he reste and be þe wenche he crepte þis wenche lay vpriht and fast sche slepte Tyl he so nyhe was or sche myht spye That it hadde bene to late for to crie And schortly for to seye þei were att one Now plaie Aleine for .I. wil speke of Iohne This Iohn liþe still a furlonge waie or two And to him selfe he makeþ reuþe and woo Alas quod he þis is a wikked Iape Now may .I. saie þat .I. es bot an ape ȝit haþe my felawe sum what for his harme He haþe þe Mellers douhter in his arme He Auntre him and haþ his nedes spedde And .I. ly as a draf sakke in my bedde And whan þis Iape is tolde anoþer daie .I. sall be holden a daff a Cokeneye .I. wil arise and auntre it it be my faithe Vnhardy is vnsely þus men seyþe And vppe he ros and softly he went Vn to þe cradel and in his honde it hente And bare it soft vn to his beddes fete Sone after þe wife hire routeynge lete An gan to wake and went hir oute to pisse And cam a-gaine and gan hir cradel Misse An groped here and þere bot sche fonde none Allas quod sche .I. had almost mys gone I hadde al-moste gone to þe clerkes bedde Ey benedicite þan had .I. foule .I.-spedde And forþe sche goþe til sche þe cradel fonde Sche gropeþ alwey forþer wiþ hire honde And fonde þe bedde and þouht nouht bot goode Be cause þat þe cradel by it stode And neste where sche was for it was derke Bot faire and wele sche crepe in to þe clerke And liþe ful still. and wolde haue cauht a slepe Wiþ-in a while þis Iohn þe clerke vp lepe And on þis goode wife he leiþe on sore So mery a fitte ne had sche not full ȝore He prikeþ harde and depe as he were madde þis Ioly lif haue þese tuo clerkes ladde Til þat þe þredde koke be-gan to singe Aleyne wex wery in þe dawneinge ffor he had swonken all þe longe nyht And seide faire wele Malyn swete whight The daie is come .I. maie no longer bide Bot euere-mo where-so .I. go or ride .I. am þine owen clerke so haue .I. sele Nowe dere lemman quod sche go fare wele. Bot or þou go oo þinge .I. will þe telle Whan þat þou wendest homwarde be þe melle Riht att þe entre of þe dore be-hinde Thou schalt a cake of halfe a buschell finde That was ymaked of þin owen mele Whiche þat .I. helpe my sire for to stele And goode lemman and god þe saue and kepe And wiþ þat worde almost he gan to wepe Aleine vprist and þouht or þat.It dawe .I. wil go crepen inne be my felawe And fonde þe cradel wiþ his honde anone Be god þouht [he] al wrange .I. haue mys gone Myne hede is toty of my swynke to nyhte þat makeþ me þat .I. go nouht arihte .I. wote wele be þe cradel .I. haue mys go Here liþe þe mellere and his wif al so And forþe he goþe a twenty deuel weye Vnto þe bedde þere as þe Meller leye He wende haue cropen be his felawe Iohōn And by þe Meller ine he crape a-none And kauht him be þe nekke and soft he spakke He seide þou Iohn þou swineshede awake ffor cristes soule and here a noble game ffor [by] þat lorde þat called is seinte Iame As .I. haue þries in þis schorte nyhte Swyuede þe meller douhter bolt vpriht While þou hast as a cowarde bene agaste Ȝe false harlot quod Meller haste A false traytur false traitur quod he Thou schal be dede be goddes dignite Who dorste be so bolde to disparage My douhter þat is comen of suche lignage ¶ And be þrote bolle he cauht Aleyne And he hinte him dispitously a-ȝeine And one þe nose he smote him wiþ his fiste Doune run þe blode streme vpon his briste And in þe flore wiþ nose and mouþe to-broke Þei walowe as tuo pigges in a poke And vpe þei gone and doune a-ȝeine anone Til þat þe meller sporned att a stone And doune he fel bakwarde vpon his wif That wist no þinge of þis nice strif ffor sche was fal a slepe a litel wyht Wiþ Iohōn þe clerke þat waked had al þe nyhte And wiþ þe fal oute of here slepe sche braide Helpe holy cros of bromeholme sche saide In manus tuas lorde to þe .I. call Awake Simonde þe fende is on me fall Myne herte is broken helpe .y. ne am bot dede There one vp my wombe and vp myne hede Helpe Simkyn for þe false clerkes fihte Þis Iohn stert vp al so fast as euer he myhte And grasped be þe walles to and fro To finde a staf and sche sterte vp al so And knewe þat estres beter þan dide þat Iohn And by þe wal a staf sche fande a-none And sawhe a litel schimeringe of a lyght ffor att an hole in schone þe mone briht And be þat liht sche seihe hem boþe two Bot sekerly sche nyst who wa[s] who Bot as sche sauhe a white þinge in hire eye And whan sche gan þis white aspie Sche wende þe clerke had wered a volupere And wiþe þe staf sche drowhe ay nere and nere And wende haue hit þis Aleine att full And smote þe Mellere on þe pilled scoll That downe he goþe and cried harrowe .I. deye This Clerkes bet him wele and lete him lye And greyþen þeym and toke her hors a-none And eke here mele and on þeire weie þei gone And att Melle ȝit þei toke her cake Of halfe a busschel flowre ful wel y-bake ¶ Thus is þe proude Mellere wele ybete And haþe yloste þe grindeinge ofe þe whete And paiede for þe sopere euery dele Of Aleyne and of Iohn þat bet him wele His wif is swyue and his douhte als Lo swyche it is a mellere to be fals And þer-to þis prouerbe is seide ful soþe Him þar note wene wele þat yuel doþe A gylour schal him self be-giled be. And god þat sitteþ hihe in Maiestee Saue al þis compainye grete and smale Thus haue .I. quyte þe Meller in my tale[No gap in the MS.] Explicit fabula Incipit Prologus Coce. THe coke of london while þe reue spakke For Ioy him þouht he clowde him on þe bakke Ha ha quod he for cristes passione This Mellere haþe a scharpe conclusioneþe koce. Vpon his argument of herbegage Wele seide Salamon in his langage Ne bringe nouhte euery man in to þine hous For herberwynge be nyhte is perilous Wele ouhte a man avisede for to be Whome þat he brouhte in to his priuete .I. prei to god so ȝeue me sorwe and care If euer siþen .I. hight Hogge of ware Herd .I. mellere better sett a werke He had a Iape of Males in þe derke An þere-fore if ȝe wowche saue to here Bot god for-bede þat we stente here A tale of me þat am a por man .I. wil ȝowe tel as wele as euer y can A litel Iape þat felle in owre Citee ¶ Owre Oste ansewerde and seide .I. graunt it þe Now tell on Roger. loke þat it be goode For mony a paste haste þou laten blode And mony a Iak of douere hast þou solde That haþ bene twis hote and twis colde Of Mony a pilgrim hast þou cristes curse For of þi percelly ȝit þei fare þe wrse Þat þei haue eten wiþ þe stoble goose For in þi schope is mony a flie lose Nowe tell on gentil roger be þi name Bot ȝit .I. prey þe be nouhte wrothe for game A man maie seie ful loþe in game and plaie Thou seist ful soþe quod Roger be my faie Bot soþe pleie. quade pleie as the flemynge seiþe And þer-fore herry baillif be þi feiþe Be þou nouht wroþe er we departen here þouhe þat myne tale be of an Ostelere Bot naþeles .I. wil nouȝt tel it ȝit Bot or we departe .I.-wis þou schalt be quyt And ther wiþ al he lowhe and made chere And seide his tale as ȝe schal after here[No gap in the MS.] Explicit prologus. Incipit fabula APrentis whilom duelled in oure Cite And of a craft of vitaillers was he Gaillard he was as goldefinche in þe schawe Broune as a bery. a propur schort felawe Wiþ lokkes blake y-kempt ful fetisly Daunce he couþe so wele. and Iolyly þat he was clepede Perkinne reueloure He was as ful of loue and paramour As is þe hyve ful of hony swete Wele was þe wenche wiþ him myht mete Att euery bridel wolde he singe and hoppe He loued bett þe tauerne þan his maistier schoppe For whan þer any rydeinge was in chepe Owte of þe schoppe þeder wolde he lepe Til þat he hadde al þe siht yseyne And daunced wele wolde he nouȝt come aȝeine And gaderd him a Meyne of his sorte To hoppe and singe and maken swiche disporte And þere þei setten steuen for to mete To pleine att þe dys in suche a strete For in þe toune was þere no prentis Þat fairer couþe cast a paire of dis Than perkyn couþe and þere-to he was fre Of his dispense in place of priuete ¶ That fonde his Maister wele in his chaffare For oft time he fonde his box ful bare For sekurly a prentis reueloure þat haunteþ dis. riot or paramoure His Maister schal it in his schoppe a-bye Al haue he not part of þe menstralcye For þeft and ryot þei bene conuertible Al conne he plaie on geterne or ribible Reuele and treuþe as in a louhe degre Thei bene ful wroþe aldaie as men maie see This Ioly prentis with his maister bode Til he weer nyhe oute of his prentishode Al were he snybbed boþe erly and late And sum tyme ladde wiþ reuel to newgate Bot att þe last his maister him be-þought Vpon a daie whan he his paper souht Of a prouerbe þat seiþe þis same worde Wele better is roten appel oute of horde Than þat it rote al þe remenant So fareþ it be a riotous seruant It is full lasse harme to latt it passe Þan he schende al þe seruantes in þe place Thare-for his maister ȝaf him aquitance And bad him go wiþ sorwe and wiþ meschaunce And þus þis Iolif prentise had his leue Nowe lat him riote al þe nyhte or leue And for þere is no þef wiþ-owten a lowke Þat helpeþ him to wasten and to sowke Of þat he bribe can or borwe maye Anone he sent his bedde and his araie Vnto a Conper of his owen sorte Þat loued dis and reuel and disporte And had a wife þat helde for countinance A schoppe and swyued for his sustenance.[No gap in the MS.] APPENDIX TO GROUP A. [THE SPURIOUS TALE OF GAMELYN.] [Spurious Link.] Fye þer-one it is so foule .I. will nowe tell no forþere For schame of þe harlotrie þat seweþ after A velany it were þare-of more to spell Bot of a knyhte and his sonnes My tale .I. wil forþe tell [THE SPURIOUS TALE OF GAMELYN.] [Tale.] And þere-fore listeneþ. and herkeneþ þis tale ariht. And ȝe schullen here of a douhte knyht Sir Iohn of Boundys was his name He couþe of nortur and muchel of game þre sonnes þe knyht had and wiþ his body he hem wanne The eldest was a muche schrewe and sone he beganne His breþerne loued wele here fader and of him were agast The eldest deserued his fader curs and had it att þe last The good knyht his fadere leuede so ȝore That deþe was commen him to and handeled him sore The goode knyht cared sore seke þer he leye How his children schold leuen after his deye He had bue wide where bot no husbonde he was All þe londe þat he[he later] had was verrey purchas Fayne he wolde it were y-dressed a-monge hem al That iche of hem miht have his parte as it wald fal Tho sente he in-to Contre after wise knyhtes To helpen delen his londes and drisse hem to rihtes He sent hem worde by lettres þei scholden hihe belyue If þei wolde speke wiþ him if þei were on lyue Tho þe knyhtes herden seek þat he laye Had þei no reste neyþer nyht nor daye Til þei cam to hime þere he lay stille On his deþ bede to abide goddes wille Than seide þe good knyhte seke þere he lay Lordes .I. ȝowe warne soþe wiþ-owten nay .I. may no longer leue here on þis stonde ffor þorwhe goddes will deþ draueþ me to grounde. Ther nas none of hem all þat herde him a-riht That þei hadden rewþe of þat ilke knyht And seid sir for goddes loue ne dismay ȝowe nouht God maye done bote of bale þat is nowe ywrouht Than spake þe good knyht seeke þere he[he later] laie Bote of bale god may sende .I. wote it is no naye Bot .I. be seke ȝow knyhtes for þe loue of me Goþ and dresseþ my londes amonge myne sonnes þre And for þe loue of God deleþ hem nouht a-mys And for-ȝete nouht Gamelyn my yonge son þat i Takeþ hede to þat one as wele as to þe toþer Selde ȝe see any heire helpen his broþer Tho lete þei þe knyht lyen þat was nouht in hele And wenten in to counseil his londes for to dele ffor to delen hem al to one þat was here þouhte And for gamelin was ȝongest he schold haue nouht All þe londe þat þere was þei dalten it in tuo And leten Gamelyn þe ȝonge wiþ-owten lande go And iche of hem seide to oþere ful loude His breþerne mow ȝeuen him londe whan he goode coude Whan þei hadde deled þe lond att þeire will They comen to þe knyht þere he laie ful still And tolde him a-none howe þei had wrouht And þe knyht þere he laie liked it riht nouht ¶ Than seide þe knyht be seinte Martine ffor al þat ȝe haue done ȝit is þe londe myne ffor goddes loue neyboures stondeþ al still And .I. will delen my londe riht after my will Iohn myne eldest son schal haue ploues fiue þat was my faders heritage while he was on lyue And my Meddelest son fiue plowhes of londe That .I. helpe for to geten wiþ my riht honde And al myn oþere purchas of londes and of ledes That .I. be-quethe Gamelyne and al my goode stedes And .I. be-seeke ȝowe good men þat lawe conne of londe ffor Gamelyn loue þat my quest stonde ¶ Thus dalte þe knyht his londe be his daye Riht on his deþe bed seke þere he laye And sone afterward he laye stone still And deide whan time came as it was cristes will Anone as he was dede and vnder gars graue Sone þe alder broþer giled þe ȝonge knaue And toke in-to his honde his londe and his lede And Gamelin him selfe to cle and to fede He cloþed him and fedde yuel. and eke wroþe And lete his for fare and his houseȝ bothe His Parkes and his wodes and dide no þinge wel And seþþen he it abouhte on his faire fel So longe was Gamelin in his broþers hall ffor þe strongest of good will þei douten him all Ne was þere none þer-inne ȝonge ne olde That wold wreþþe ware he neuer so bolde ¶ Gamelyn stode vp on a daie in his broþere ȝerde And be-gan wiþ his honde to handel his berde He þouhte on his londes þat layen vnsawe And his faire Okes þat doune were drawe His parkes were broken and his dere reuede Of all his goode stedes was none him be-leuede His howses weren vnhelde and ful yuel y-diht Tho þouht Gamelyn it wente nouht a-riht Afterwarde cam his broþer walkinge þere And seide to Gamelin is oure mete ȝere þo him wreþþed Gamelyn and suore be goddes boke Thou schalt go bake þi selfe .I. wil nouȝt be þi koke Howe broþer Gamelyn howe answeres þou nowe Thou spak neuer suche a worde as þou dost nowe Be my faiþe seide Gamelin now me þenkeþ nede Of al þe harmes that .I. haue .I. toke neuer are hede My parkes bene broken and myn dere be reuede Of myne armoure and my stedes nouht is me be-leued Al þat my ffader me be-quathe al goþe to schame And þer-for haue þou goddes curse broþer be þi name ¶ Than be-spakke his broþer þat rape was of rees Stond still gedelinge and hold riht þi pes Thou schalt be faine for to haue þi mete and þi wede What spekest þou gamelin of londe or of lede Than seide Gameline þe childe þat was ȝinge Cristes curs mot he haue þat clepeþ m[e] gedelinge .I. am no wers gadelyn ne no wers whyght Bot borne of lady and geten of a knyht Ne dorste he nouht to Gamelyin neere a fote go Bot cleped to him his men and seide to hem þo Goþe and bete þis boye and reueþ him his witte And lat him leren a-noþer time to answere me bitte Than seide þe childe ȝonge Gamelyn Cristes curs most þou haue broþer art þou myne. And if schal algate be beten a-none Cristes curs must þou haue bot þou be þat one And anon his broþer in þat grete hete Made his men to fet staues Gamelin for to bete Whan euery of hem had a staf ynome Gamely was war þoo he sey hem comen Tho Gamelyn seye hem com he loked ouere all And was ware of a pestel stondeinge vnder a wall Gamelyn was liht and þeder gan he lepe And droue al his breþes men riht on an hepe He loked as wilde lyon and leide on good wone Tho his broþer sawhe þat þei be-gan to gone He fleyhe vpe in-til a lofte and schotte þe dore fast Thus Gamelyn with his pestel made hem al a-gast Som for for Gamelines loue and somme for his eye Al þei drouhe be halues whan he be-gan to pleye What nowe seide Gamelin yeuel mot ȝe þe Wil ȝe beginne contik and so sone flye Gamelin souht his broþere whider he was flowe And sawh where þat he loked oute at a windowe Broþer seide Gamelyn come a litel nere And .I. wil teche a pleie att þe bokelere His broþer him ansewarde and swore be seint Richere While þe pestel is in þi honde .y. come þe no nere Broþer .I. wil make þi pees .I. swere be goddes ore Cast awaie þi Pestel and wraþþe þe nomore .I. mot nede seide Gamelyne wraþþe me att ones ffor þou wolde make þi men breke my bones Ne had .I. had maine and miht in boþe myn armes To fende hem from me þei wolde haue done me armes Gamelin seide his broþere be þou nouht wroþe ffor to seen þe haue harme me were riht loþe .I. ne dide it nouht broþer but for a fondeinge ffor to loken if þoue were stronge and art so ȝynge Come a-doune þan to me and graunt me my bone Of þinge .I. will þe axen and we schal sauhte sone ¶ Doune þan cam his broþer þat fikel was and fel And was riht sore agast of þe pestel He seide broþer Gameline ax me þi bone And loke þou me blame bot .I. it graunt þe sone Than seide Gamelyin broþe ywis And we schol bene att one þou most me graunt þis All þat my fader me bequaþe while he was on lyue Þou most do me it haue if we scholl nouht striue That schalt þou haue Gamelyn .I. swere be goddes ore Al þat þi fader þe be-quaþe þouhe þou woldest haue more Thi londe þat lieþ ley wele it schal be sowe And þin house reised vpe þat ben leide so lowe Thus seide þe knyht to Gameline be mowþe And þouht of falsenes as he wele couþe The knyht þouht on treson and Gamelin þouht none And went and kissed his broþer And whan þei weren att one Alas ȝonge Gamelyne no þinge he ne wiste With suche false treson his broþer him kyst Lysten and lythes and holdeþ ȝoure tonge. And ȝe schal here talkeinge of Gamelin þe ȝonge Ther was þere be-side cride a wrastlinge And þer for þere was sette a rame and a ringe And Gamelyn was in wil to wende þer to ffor to prouen his myht what he couþe do Broþere seide Gameline be seint Richere Thou moste lene me to nyht a litel coursere þat is frische to þe spores on for to ride .I. moste on an herande a litel here be-side Be god seide his br[o]þer of stedes in my stal Go and chese þe þe best and spare none of al Of stedes or of couurseres þat stoden hem be-side And tel me good broþer wheder þou wilt ride Here be-side broþer is cried a warstelinge And þer for schal be sett a ram and a rynge Meche worschipe it were broþe to us alle Might .I. þe ramme and þe ringe bringe home to þis halle A stede þere was sadeled smerly and skete Gamelin dide a paire of spores faire on his fete He sete fote in þe sterep þe stede he be-strode And to-warde þe wrastelinge þe ȝin childe rode Tho Gamelin þe ȝonge was reden oute att þe gate The false knyht his broþer lokked it after þate And be-souht Ihesu crist þat is heuen kinge He myht breke his neke in þat wrestlinge As sone as Gamelin cam þer þis place was He liht doune of his stede and stode on þe gras And þere herde a frankelein walawaie singe And be-gan bitterly his hondes to wringe Gode man seide Gamelin. whi makes þou þis fare Is þer no man þat maie ȝow helpen oute of þis care Alas seide þis frankelein þat euer was .I. bore ffor twey stalworþ sonnes .I. wene þat .I. haue lore A champion is in þe place þat me haþ wrowht sorwe ffor he haþ sleine my twey sonnes bot if god hem borwe .I. wil ȝeue ten pounde be ihesu crist and more Wiþe þe nones .I. fand a man to halden him sore Gode man seide Gamelin wilt þou wele done Hold myn hors while my man draweþ of my schone And help my man to kepe my cloþes and m[y] stede And .I. wil in-to þe place gone to loke if .I. mai spede Be god seide þe frankelein it schal be wele done .I. wil my self be þi man to drawen of þi schone And wende þou in-to þe place ihesu crist þe spede And drede nouȝt of þi cloþes ne of þi goode stede Barfor and vngert Gamelin inne cam All þat were in þe place hede of him þei name Howe he dorste auntre him on him to done his myht That was so dowhti a champion in wrastelinge and in fiht Vp stert þe Champion rapely anone To-ward ȝonge Gamelin he be-gan to gone And seide who his fader and who is þi sire For soþe þou arte a grete fole þat þou com hire Gamelione ansewarde þe champion þoo Thow knewe wele my fader while he couþe goo Whiles he was on live be seint Martine Sir Iohōn of Boundes was his name and .I. Gamelyne ffelaw seide þe champion so mot .I. þriue .I. knewe wele þi fader while he was on lyue And þi selfe gamelyne .I. wil þat þou it here While þoue were a ȝonge boye a muche schrewe þu were Than seide Gamelyn and swore be cristes ore Now .I. am alder wax þou schalt finde me a more Be god seide þe champion welcom mot þou be Come þou ones in myne honde schalt þou neuer þe It was wele wiþ-inne þe nyht and þe mone schone Whan Gameline and þe champion to-geder gonne gone The Champion kast tornes to Gamelin þat was prest And Gamelin stode stil and bad him done his best Than seide Gamelin to þe Champeoun Thou ert fast a-boute to bringe me doune Nowe haue I prouede many tornes of þine Þou mot he seide fele on or tuo of myne Gamelyn to þe champeon ȝed smartly anone Of al þe turne þat he couþe he schewde him bot one And kest on þe left side þat þre ribbes to-brake And þere-to his one harme þat ȝaf a grete crake Than seide Gamely smertly a-none Schal it be hold for cast or elles for none. Be god saide þe champion weþer þat it be He þat comes ones in þine hande schal he neuer þe Than seide þe frankelein þat had his son þere Blissed be þu Gamelin þat euer þou borne were The frankeleine seide to þe champion on him stode him none eye This is ȝonge Gamelyn þat tauht þe þis. pleie Aȝeine anseward þe champion þat liked no þinge well He is alþer maister and his pleie is riht fell Seþþe .I. wrasteled first it is go ȝore Bot was neuer my lif handeled so sore Gamelin stode in þe place alone wiþ-outen serk And seide if þere be mo let hem come to werk The Champioun þat payned him to wirche so sore It semeþ be his countenance þat he wil no more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. ffor he handeled þe champion so wonderly sore Two gentil men ȝemed þe place Cam to gamelin god ȝeue him gode grace And seide to him do on þin hosen and þin schone ffor soþe att þis time þe faire is done And þan seid Gamelin so mot .I. wele fare .I. haue nouȝt ȝit haluendel solde my ware Tho seide þe Champion so brouke .I. my swere He is a foole þat þer-of byeþ þou selles it so dere Tho seide þe frankelen þat was in muche care ffelawe he saide whi lakkes þou his ware Be seinte Iame in Galeys þat mony man haþ souht Ȝit it is to goode chepe þat þou hast bought Tho þat wardeins were of þe warstelinge Come and brouht Gamelin þe Ram and þe ringe And seide haue Gamelin þe ringe and þe Ram ffor þe best warstelier þat euer here cam Thus whanne Gamelin þe ramme and þe Ringe And went wiþ muche Ioy home in þe Morneinge ¶ His Broþer seyhe where he came wiþ þe grete route And bad schette þe gate and holde him wiþ-oute Te porter of his lorde was sore agast And stert a-none to þe gate and lokked it fast Now liþeþ and listeneþ boþ ȝonge and olde And ȝe schal her gamen of Gameline þe bolde Gamelin cam to þe gate for to haue commen in And þan was it schot fast wiþ a pin Than seide Gamelin. Portier vndo þe gate ffor mony goode mannes son stonden þer-ate Than anseward þe portier and swore be goddes berd Þou ne schalt Gamelin com in to þis ȝerde Thou lixt said Gamelin so brouke I my chinne He smote þe wiket wiþe his fote and brak awaie þe pinne The portier sauhe þo it myht no beter bee He sette foote on erþe and gan for to flee Be my faiþe seid Gamelin þat trauel is lorene ffor .I. am as liht on fote as þou if þat þou haddest it sworne Gamely ouer toke þe portere and his teen wrake And girt him in þe neke þat he began to brake And toke him be þat on arme and þrewe him in a welle .Vij. faþem it was depe as .I. haue herd telle Whan Gamelin the ȝonge þus had plaide his plaie All þat in þe ȝerde were drowen hem awaie They dreden him ful sore for þe werke þat he wrouht An þe faire compaignie þat he þeder brouht Gameline ȝede to þe ȝate and lete it vp wide He lete in al þat gone wolde or ride And seide ȝe be welcom withe-outen any greue ffor we will bue Maistres here and aske noman leue Ȝisterdaic I. left seide ȝonge gamelyne In my broþer seler. five tun of wyne .I. wil nouȝt þis company parten a twynne And ȝe wil done after me whan any sope is þere-inne And if my broþer gruche or make foul chiere Othere for spence of mete and drink þat we spende here .I. am oure Catur and bereþ oure aller purse He schal haue for his grucheinge seint Maries curse Mi broþer is a negon .I. swere be cristes ore And we wil spende largely þat we haue spent ȝore And who þat makeþ grucchinge þat we here duelle He schal vnto þe drawe welle .Vij. daies and seuen nyht Gamelin helde his fest Wiþþe muche solas was þer and none chest In a litul ture turet his broþer steke And sawehe him waste his goode bot dorst he nouȝt spek Erly on a morneynge on þe .viij. daie The gestes cam to Gamelin and wolde gone here waie Lorde seide Gamelin wil ȝe soo hihe All þe wyne is nouht ȝit dronken so brouke .I. myn eye Gamelin in his hert was ful woo Whan his gestes toke here leue fro him for to goo. He wolde þei had duelled longer and þei seide naye Bot be-tauht Gamelyn god and goode daye Thus made Gamelin his fest and brouht wele to ende And after his gestes had take leue to wende . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. ¶ And all þe while þat Gamelyne helde his mangeri His broþere þouht on him be wreke wiþ his trecheri Whan Gamelin gestes were reden and gone Gamelyne stode þan alone frende had he none Tho after-warde ful sone wiþ-inne a litel stonde Gamelin was taken and ful harde ybounde fforþe cam þe false knyht oute of selere To gamelin his broþer he ȝode ful nere And seide to Gamelin who maade þe so bolde ffor streye my store of myn housolde Broþer seide Gamelin wraþþe þe riht nouht ffor it is mony day gone seþþe it was bouht ffor broþer þou hast had be seint Richere Of .xv. plowhes of londe þis .xvj. ȝere And of al þe bestes þou hast forþe bredde Þat my fader me quaþe on his dede bedde Of al þis .xvj. ȝere .I. ȝeue þe prowe ffor þe mete and þe drinke þat we han spende nowe Than seide þe false knyhte þere yuel mot he þe Herken broþer Gamelin what .I. wil ȝeue þe ffor of my body broþer geten here haue .I. none .I. will make þe my eire .I. swere be seint Iohn Par ma faye seide Gamelin and it so be And þou þinke as þou seiste god ȝelde it þe No thinge wist Gamelin of his broþers gile There-for he was be-gilede in a litel while Gamelyn seide he o þinge .I. þe tell Tho þou þrewe my porter in to þe drawe well .I. swore in þat wraþþe and in þat grete mote That scholdest be bounden boþe honde and fote Ther-fore .I. þe be-seche broþe Gameline Lat me nouȝt be for-sworne broþer art þou myne Lat me binde þe boþ honde and foote ffor to holden myne avowe as .I. þe be-hote Brother seide Gamelin so mot .I. þe Þou schalt not be for-sworne for þe loue of me Tho maad þei Game to sitte myht he nouht stonde Til þei hadde him bowden boþe fote and honde The false knyht his broþer of Gamelin was a-gast And sent affeter fetters to fetterne him fast His broþer maade lesinges on him þer he stode And tolden hem þat comen inne þat Gamelin was woode Gamelin sto' a post bounden in þe hall Þo þat comen In . loked on him all Euer stode Gamelin euen vp-riht Bot mete and drinke hadde ne none neyþer daye ne nyht Than seide Gameline broþer be my halse Nowe .I. haue aspyede þou ert a party false Had .I. wist þat treson þat þou hast founde .I. wolde haue ȝeue strokes ar .I. hadde be bounde Gamelin stoode bounden still as any stone Two daies and two nyhtes mete hade he none Þan seide Gamelin þat stode y-bounde stronge Adam spenser me þinke .I. fast to longe Adam spenser now .I. be-seche þe ffor þe muche loue my fader loued þe If þou maie come to cayes lesse me oute of bonde And .I. wil parte wiþe þe of my fre londe Than seide Adam þat was þe spensere .I. haue serued þi broþer[? booþer] þis .xvj. ȝere If .I. lete gone oute of his boure He wolde sei af[te]rward .I. were a traitoure Adam seide Gamelin so brouke .I. myn hals Thou schalt finde my broþe att last riht fals There-fore Adam broþer lese oute of bondes And .I. will part wiþ þe of my fre londes Vp suche forwarde Adam .I.-wisse .I. wil do þer-to al þat me is Adam seide Gamelin as mot .I. þe .I. wil halde þe couenant and þou wil me Anone as Adam lorde to bed was gone Adam toke þe kaye and lete Gamelin oute anone He vn-lokked Gamelin boþe hondes and fete In hope of avauncement þat he him be-hete Than seide Gamelin þonkede be goddes sonde Now .I. am louse boþe fote and honde Had .I. nowe eten and dronken a-riht Þere is none in þis hous schold binde me þis nyht Adam toke Gamelin stil as any stone And ladde him into þe spence rapeli a-none And set him to soper riht in a priue stede And badd him do gladly . and Gamelin so dede Anone as Gameline had ete wel and fine Therto he dronke wele of þe rede wine Adam seide Gamelin what is nowe þi rede Where .I. go to my broþer and gerde of his hede Gamelyn seide Adam it schal nouhte be so .I. kan teche þe a rede þat is worþe tuo .I. wote wele for soþe þat þis is no naie We schal haue a maungeri riht on sonondaye Abbotes and priours mony her schal be And oþer men of holy cherche as .I. tell þe Þou schalt stonde vp be þe post as þu were bounde fast And .I. schal leue þeim vnloke þat awaye þou maie hem cast Whan þat þei haue eten and wasschen her hondes Thou schalt be-seke hem al to bringe þe oute of bondes And if þei will borwe þe þat were good gamme Þan were oute of prison . and .I. owte of blame And if iche of hem seie to vs naie .I. schal do anoþer .I. swer be þis daie Thou schalt haue a goode staf and .I. wil haue a-noþer And cristes curs þat on haue þat faileþ þe tother Ȝe for god seid Gamelin .I. saie it for me If .I. faile on my side yuel mot .I. þe .If. we schol algate assoile hem of her sinne Warne me broþe Adam whan we schal be-ginne Gamelin seide Adam be seinte charité .I. wil warne þe be-forne whan it schal be Whan .I. twynke on þe loke for to gone And cast awaie þi fetters and com to me anone Adam seide Gamelin blissed be þi bones That is a good counsel ȝiuen for þe nones If þei werne me to bringe me oute of bendes .I. wil sett good strokes riht on here lendes Tho þe sondaie was comen and folk to þe feste ffaire þei were welcome boþe lest and meste And euer as þei att þe hall dore cam inne Thei keste þeire eye on ȝonge Gameline The false knyht his broþer and ful of trecherie Al þe gestes þat þer were att þe Mangerie Of Gamelyn his broþer he tolde hem be mouþe Al þe harme and þe schame þat he telle couþe Whan þei were serued of mete iche mese after oþe Than seid Gamelin howe serue ȝe me þat am ȝoure broþe It is nouht wele serued be god þat al maade Þat .I. schal sitt fastinge and oþer men maak glade Þe false knyht his broþer þer þat he stode Told al his gestes þat Gamelyne was woode And Gamelin stode still and anseward nouht Bot Adames wordes he held in his þouht Tho Gamelin gan spek dolfoly wiþ all To þe grete lordes þat saten in þe hall Lordes he seide for cristes passione Helpe to bringe Gamelin oute of prisone ¶ Than seide Abbote sorwe on his cheke He schall haue cristes curse and seint Maries eke That þe oute of prison beggeþ oþer borwe Bot euer worþe him wele þat doþ þe muche sorwe Affter þat Abbot þan spak a-noþer .I. wolde þin hede wer of þouh þou were my broþer Al þat þe borwe foul mote þaym fall Thus þei seiden al þat weren in þe all Than seide A prioure yuel mote he þriue It is muche sorwe and scaþe boþe þat þou art a liue ¶ Nowe seide Gamelin so brouke .I. my bone Nowe .I. haue aspied þat frendes haue .I. none Cursed mot he worþe boþe flesche and blode Þat euere doþe Priour or Abbot any goode Adam þe spencer toke vp þe cloþe And loked vpon Gamelin . and sawhe þat he was wroþe Adam on þe Pantri litel he þouht Bot tuo goode staues to hall dore he brouht Adam loked on gamelin . and he was war anone And keste awaye þe fetteres and be-gan to gone Tho he cam to Adam he toke þe toke þe to staf And be-gan to wirche and goode strokes ȝaf Gameline cam into þe hall and þe spenser boþe And loked hem aboute as þei had be riht wroþe Gamelin sprengeþ holy water with an oken spire Than sum þat stod vp right ffellen in þe fire Ther was no lewe man þat in þe hall stode That wolde do Gamelin any þinge bot gode Bot stoden be side and lete boþe worche ffor þei had no rewþe of men of holy cherche. Abbot or priour Monke or Chanoune That Gamelin ouere toke a-none þei ȝeden downe Thar was none of hem al þat wiþ his staf mette Þat he ne maade hem ouer þrowe . and qwite hem his dette Gamelin seide Adam for seint Charité Pay good liuere for þe loue of me And .I. kepe þe dore so euer her .y. masse Er þei bene assoiled schal þer non passe Dowte þe nouht seide Gamelin while we ben in fere Kepe þou wel þe dore and .I. wirche here Stere goode Adam and latt þere none fle And we schol tel largely hou mony þer be Gamelin seide Adam do hem bot goode Thei bue men of holy cherche drawe of hem no blode Saue wele þe croune . and done hem none harmes Bot breke boþe here legges and sithen here armes Thus Gamelin and Adam wrouht riht fast And pleiden wiþe þe monkes and made hem agast Theder þei cam rideinge Ioly with swaynes And home a-ȝeine þei weren ledde in cartes and in waynes Tho þei hadden al y-do þo saide a graie frere Alas sir Abbot what did we nowe here Tho þat we comen hider it was a colde rede Vs had be better att home wiþ water and brede While Gamelin gaf ordres to monk and to frere Euer stod his broþer and mad foul chere Gamelin vp wiþþe his staf þat he wel knewe And gerd him in þe nekke þat he ouer þrewe A litel aboue þe gardel þe rigge bot to-brast And in þe fetters sette him þer he satt arst Sitt þer broþer broþer seide Gameline ffor to coly þi bodi as .I. dide myne As swyþe as þei had wroken hem on her fone The asked water and wissen anone What som for her loue and sum for awe Al þe seruantȝ serued ham of þe best lawe The schirreue was þen bot .v. mile And al þis was tolde him in a litel while Howe Gamelin and Adam had done a sori res Bounden and wounden men aȝein þe kinges pes Tho be-gan son striff for to wake And þe scherref aboute gameline for to take ¶ Nowe lyþes and listeneþ so god gif ȝow good fine And ȝe schall here good game of ȝonge Gameline ffoure and twenty ȝongemen þat helde hem full bolde Cam to þe scherreue and seide þat he wold Gameline and Adam for to fette a-waye The scherref ȝaue hem leue soþe as .I. ȝowe saye Thei hiden fast wolde þei nouht linne To þei cam to þe gate þer Gamelin was inne Thei knokken on þe gate þe porter was nyhe And loked out att an hole as a man þat was slyhe: The porter had be-holde hem a litel while He loued wele Gamelin an was drad of gile: An lete þe wyket stonde ful still And asked hem þer-out what was here will ffor al þe grete Compaigny þan spak bot one Vndo þe gate Portier and latt vs inn goone Then seide þe porter so brouke .I. my chinne Ȝe schal sei ȝoure erant er þat ȝe comme inne Sei to Gamelin and to Adam . if þeire will be We wolde speke withe hem tuo wordes or þre ffelaw saide þe portier stonde þer still An .I. wil wende to Gamelin to weten his will In wente þe portier to Gamelin a-none And seide sire .I. warne ȝowe here be commen ȝoure fone The scherrefs men ben att gate ffor to take ȝoue boþe schal ȝe nouht skape Portier seide Gamelin . So mot .I. wel þe .I. will allowe þe þi wordes whan .I. mi time see Go aȝein to gate and dwel wiþ hem a while And þou schal see riht sone porter a gile Adam seide Gamelin loke þe to gone We haue fomen att gate and frendes neuer one It buen þe schirreues men þa hider bue come Þei be sworre to-geder þat we schal be nomme Gameline seide Adam hie þe riht be liue And if .I. faile þe þis daie yuel mot .I. þriue And we schol so wel-come þe scherreues men That som of hem shal make here beddes in þe fen A good Cart staf in his honde he hent Gamelin and att postern gate oute he wente Adam hent sone a-noþer good staf ffor to helpen gamelin and goode strokes ȝaf Adam felde tweine and Gameline felled þre Þe toþer sett fete on erþe and gan to fle What saide Adam so euer here .I. masse .I. haue riht goode wyne drinke ar ȝe passe Naie be god seide þei þi drinke is not goode It wold make mannes brayne to lye in his hode Gamelin stoode still and loked him aboute And sawhe þe scherreue come wiþ a grete route Adam seide Gameline whate be nowe þi redes Here comeþ þe scherreue and wil haue oure hedes Adam seide to Gamelin my rede is nowe þis Abide we no longer lest we fare a mys .I rede þat we to woode gone ar þat we be founde Better is þer louse þan in toune bounde Adam toke be þe honde ȝonge gamelin And eyþer of hem dranke a drauht of wyne And after token her cours and wenten her waie Tho fonde þe scherref nest bot no naie Þe scherref lyht doune And went in to þe hall And fonde þe lorde fetterd fast wiþ all The scherreve vnfetterd him riht sone anone And sent after a leche to helen his rigge bone Late we nowe þe false knyht lyhe in his care And talke we of Gamelin and loke howe he fare Gamelin in to þe wode stalkeþ still And Adam spencer loked riht ill Adam swore to Gamelin be seinte Richere Nowe .I. se it is mery to be a spensere That me were leuer kaye to bere Than walken in þis wilde wode my cloþe to tere Adam seide Gameline dismaie ȝe riht nouht Many good mannes childe in care is brouht As þei stode talkinge boþe in fere Adam herde talkinge of men and nyhe hem þouht he were Tho Gamelin vnder wode loked ariht .Vij. score of ȝonge men he sawe wele a-diht All satt att mete compas aboute Adam seide Gamelin nowe haue ȝe no doute After bale comes bote þoruht goddes myht Me þe þinkeþ þat of mete and drinke .I. haue a siht Adam loked þo vnder wode bouhe And þo he sauhe mete he was glade y-nowhe ffor he hope to god for to haue his dele And he was sore alonged after a goode mele As he had seide þat word þe Maister outelawe Sawe Gamelin and Adam vnder wode schawe Ȝonge men seide þe maister be þe goode rode .I. am war of gestes god send vs goode Ȝonde bene two ȝon[g]e men riht wele adiht And parauentur þer bene mo who so loked ariht Ariseþ vp ȝonge men and fette hem to me It is good þat we weten what men þei be Vpe þer sterten .vij. fro þe denere And Metten wiþ Gamelin . and Adam spensere Whan þei were nyhe hem þan seide þat one Ȝeldeþ vp ȝonge men ȝoure bowes and ȝoure flone Than seid Gamelin þat ȝonge was of elde Muche sorwe mot he haue þat to ȝowe hem ȝelde .I. curs none oþer bot riht my selue Þough ȝe fette to ȝow .v. þat be ȝe tuelue Tho þei herde be his worde þat myht was in his arme Ther was none of hem þat wolde do him harme Bot seide to Gamelin Mildely and still Com a-for oure maister and seie to him þi will Ȝonge men seide Gamelin be ȝoure leute What man is ȝoure Maister þat ȝe wiþ be Al þei ansewerd wiþ-oute lesinge Oure maister his crouned of owtelawes þe kenge Adam seide Gamelin go we in cristes name He maye neyþer mete ne drinke warne vs for schame If þat he be hende and come of gentil blode He will ȝeue vs mete and drinke and do vs sum goode Be seinte Iame seid Adam what harme þat .I. gete .I. wil auentur me to þe dore þat .I. hade mete Gamelin and Adam wenten forþe in fere And þei grete þe maister þat þei fonde þere Than seide þe maister kinge of owtelauwes What seke ȝe ȝongmen vnder wodee schawes Gamelin ansewarde þe kinge wiþ his croune He moste nedes walke in wode þat maye nouht walke in toune Sire we walke nouht here men harme to do Bot if wee mete a dere to schete þer to As men þat bene hungri and maie no mete finde And bene harde bestade vnder wode linde Of Gamelyne wordes þe maister had reuþe He seide sche schal haue .I.-nouhe haue god my treuþe He bad hem sette doune for to take rest And bad ete and dringe and þat of þe best As þei eten and dronken wele and fine Than seide þe tone to þe toþer þis is Gameline Tho was þe Maister owtelawe into counseile nome And tolde howe it was Gamelin was þeder come Anone as he herde howe it was be-fal He maade him maister vnder him ouere hem al Wiþ-inne þe þred weke him cam tidynge Tho þe maister owtlawe þat was here kinge Þat he scholde come home his pes was made And of þe goode tiþinge he was ful glade Tho seide he to his ȝonge men soþe to tell Me be commen tiþinges .I. maie no longer duel. Tho was Gameline anone wiþ-oute taryinge Maade Maister owteley . and crouned here kinge Tho was Gamelin crounede kinge of outelawes And walked a while vnder wode schawes The false knyht his broþer was scherreue of þe schire And lete his broþer endite for hate and for ire Tho were his bondemen sori and nouht gladde Whan Gamelin her lorde was cried wolueshed and maade And sent oute of his men wher þei myht him finde ffor to seke Gamelin vnder wode linde To tel him tiþinge þe winde was went And al his goode reued and his men schent Whan þe hadden him founde on knees þei hem setten And a-doune wiþ here hode and here lorde gretten. Sir wraþþe ȝou nouht for þe goode rode ffor we haue brouhte ȝowe tiþinges bot þei be nouȝt goode Nowe is þi broþe scherreue and haþe þe baille And haþe enditede þe and wolues-hed doþe þe crie Allas seide Gamelin þat euer .I. was so slakke Þat .I. ne hadde broke his nekke . þo .I. his rigge brakke Go greteþ wele myne husbondes and wif .I. wil bene att þe next schire haue god my lif Gamelyn cam wel redy to þe next schire And þer was his broþer boþe lorde and sire Gamelin cam boldely in to þe mote hall And put adoune his hode a-monge þe lordes all God saue ȝowe lordeinges þat nowe here be Bot brokebakke scherreue yuel most þou þe Whi haste þou do me þat schame and velanye ffor to late endite me and wolues-hede do me crye Tho þouht þe fals knyht for to be awreke And lete take Gameline most he nomore speke Miht þere be no grace bot Gamelin att þe last Was cast in to prison and fetterd fast Gameline haþe a broþer þat hiht sir Ote A goode knyht and hende as miht gone on fote Anone ȝede a messagier to þat good knyht And tolde hem al togeder howe Gameline was diht . . . . .no gap in the MS. He was riht sorie was he noþinge liht . . . . .no gap in the MS. And to his tweine breþer ful sone he came Sir seide sir Ote to þe Scherref þoo We bene bot þree breþern schal we neuer be mo And þou hast prisoned þe best of all Suche a-noþer Iuel mot him befall Sire Ote, seide þe false knyht lat be þi curs Be god for þi wordes he schal fare þe wurs To þe kinges prison he his ynomme And þere he schal abide vnto þe iustice come Pardie seide sire Ote Better it schall be .I. bidde him to mainprise þat þou graunt to me Til þe next siteinge of deliuerance And lat þat Gamelin stonde to his chaunce Broþe in suche a forward .I. take him to þe And be þi faderes soule þat be-ȝate þe and me Bot he be redi whan þe Iustice sitte Þou schalt bere þe Iuggement for all þi grete witte .I. graunt wele quod sire ote þat it so be Lat do liuer him a-none and tak him to me Tho was Gameline deliuerde to sir Ote his broþer And þat nyht dwelden þe tone wiþ þe toþere On þe morwe seide Gamelin to sir Ote þe hende Broþe he seide .I. mot for soþe fro þe wende To loke how my ȝonge men leden here lif Wheþer þei leuen in ioye or elles in strif Be gode seide sir hote þat is a colde rede Now .I. see þat al þe carke schal fal on myne hede ffor whan þe Iustice sitte and þou be nouht yfounde .I. schal anone be taken and in þi stede ybounde Broþer seide Gamelin dismaie þe nouht ffor be seint Iame in Galeis þat mony men haþ souht If þat god almyhty holde me my lif and witte .I. wil be þere redy whan þe Iustice sitte Than seide sir Ote til gamelin god schelde þe fro schame Com whan þou seest time and bringe vs oute of blame . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. ¶ Gamelin went þo vnder wode rise And fonde þere playinge men of prise Tho was ȝonge Gamelin riht glad ynouhe Whanne he fonde his men vnder woode bouhe Gamelin and his men talken in fere And þei had good Game here maister to here His men tolden him of aventures þat þei had founde And Gamelin hem tolde aȝein howe he was fast bounde Whan Gamelin was outelawe he hadde no cors Ther was no man þat for him ferde þe wors Bot Abbotes and priours and monke and chanone On hem left he nouht whan he myht hem nome While Gamelin and his men made merþes rive The fals knyht his broþer yuel most he þriue ffor he was fast aboute boþe daie and oþer ffor to hire þe queste for to honge his broþer ¶ Gamelin stode vpon a daie and he be-helde Þe wode and þe schawes in þe wilde felde He þouht on his broþer howe him be-hette Þat he wolde be redy whan þe Iustice sette He þouht wele þat he wolde wiþ-oute delaie Com afor þe Iustice to kepen his daye And seide to his ȝonge men diht ȝowe ȝare ffor whan þe Iustice sitte we mot be þare ffor .I. am vnder borwe til þat .I. come And my broþer for me to prison schal be nomme Be seint Iame seide his ȝonge men and þou reede þerto Ordeigne howe it schal be and it schal be do While Gameline was cominge þer þe Iustice satt The false knyht his broþe for-ȝate he nouȝt þatt To hire men on his queste to hangen his broþer Þouhe þei had nouht þe tone he wolde haue þat oþere Tho cam Gamelin fro vnder wode rise And brouht wiþe hem ȝonge men of prise I se wele saide Gamelin þe Iustice is sette Go a-forne Adam and loke how it spette Adam went in to þe hall and loke al aboute He sawhe þere stand lordes grete and stoute And sir Ote his broþere fetterd ful faste Tho went Adam oute as he were agaste Adam seide to Gamelin and to his felawes all Sire Ote stant fetterd in þe mote hall Ȝonge men seide Gamelin þis here ȝe alle Howe sir Ote stant fetterd in þe mote halle If god ȝife vs grace wele for to do He schal it a-bigge þat brouht it þer-to Than seide Adam þot lokkes had hore Cristes curs mot he haue þat him bonde so sore And þou wilte Gamelin do after my rede Þare is none in þe hall schal bere awaie his hede Adam seide Gamelin we wil nouht do soo We wil sle þe Giltif and late þe oþere goo .I. wil into þe hall and wiþ þe Iustice speke On hem þat ben Giltif .I. wil bene awreke Lat none scape att þe dore takeþ ȝonge men ȝeme ffor .I. wil be Iustice þis daie domes to deme God spede me þis daye att my newe werke Adam Com þou wiþ me for þou schal be my clerke His men Anseward him and bad him done his best And if þou to vs haue ne le þou schal finde vs preste We wil stand wiþ þe while þat we maie dure And bot we wirken manly paie vs non hire Ȝonge men seide Gameline so mote .I. wel þe As trusti a maister schal ȝe finde on me Riht þere þe Iustice satte in þe hall In went Gamelin a-monge hem all Gamelin lete vn-fetter his broþer oute of bende Than seide sir Oke his broþer þat was hende Thou haddest al-most gamelin dwelled to longe ffor þe quest is oute for me þat .I. scholde be honge Broþer seide Gamelin so god gif me gode rest Þis daie þei schal be hongede þat bene on þi queste And þe Iustice boþe þat is þe Iugge man And þe scherreue boþe þoruh him it be-ganne Than seide Gamelin to þe Iustice Nowe is þi power done þou most nedes a-rise Thou hast ȝeue domes þat bene yuel diht .I. wil sitten in þi sette and dressen hem a-riht The Iustice satt still and rose nouht anone And Gamelin cleue his cheke bone. Gamelin toke him in his armes and no more spak Bot þroue him ouer þe barre and his arme to-brak Dorst none to Gameline seie bot gode ffor ferde of þe compaignie þat wiþ-oute stode Gamelin set him doune in þe Iustice sete And sir Ote his broþer by him and Adam att his fete Herke of bourde þat Gamelin dede He þouht for to make hem riht sore adrede ¶ He lete fetter þe Iustice and his false broþer And lete hem come to þe barre þe tone wiþ þe toþer Tho Gamelin had þus done he no rest To he had enquered who was on þe quost ffor to demen his broþer sir Ote for to honge Or he wiste whiche þei were he þouht ful longe Bot as son as Gamelin wist where þei were He dide hem euery-chon fetter in fere And bringe hem to þe barre and sett hem on rewe Be my faiþe seide Iustice þe scherreue is a schrewe Than seide Gamelin to þe Iustice Thou hast ȝeue domes of þe werst assise And þe .xij. sisours þat weren on þe queste Thei schal ben an-hanged þis daie so haue .I. goode reste Than seide þe scherreue to ȝonge Gameline Lorde .I. crie þe Mercye broþe art þou myne Ther-fore seide Gamelin haue þou goddes curs ffor and þou were Meister ȝit .I. scholde haue wors ffor to make schort tale and nouht to longe He ordeyned him a queste of his men so stronge The Iustice and þe scherreve boþ hongede hihe To veyven wiþe þe ropes . and wiþ þe wynde drye And þe .xij. sisours sorwe haue þei þat rekke All þei were hanged fast be þe nekke Thus endeþ þe false knyht wiþ his trecherie That euer hade ladde his lif in falsnes and in folye He was hongede be þe nekke. and nouht be þe purce Þat was þe mede þat he had for his fader curs Sire Ote was eldest and Gamelin was ȝinge Wente wiþ here frendes and pesed wiþ þe kinge Thei made pes wiþ þe kinge of þe best sise The kinge louede wele sir Ote and maade him Iustice And after þe kinge maade Gamelin boþe in est and weste Chief Iustice of his fre forest. All his whight ȝonge men þe kinke for-ȝaue here gelte And siþen in good Office he haþe hem al pelte Thus wan Gamelin his londe and his lede And wrake him of his enemys and quyte hem here mede And sir Ote his Broþer maade him hi[s] heire And seþþe wede Gameline a wif a goode and a feire Thei leueden to-geder while þat crist wolde An syþen was Gamelin Grauen vnder molde And so schal we al maie þere none fle God bringe vs to þat Ioye þa euer schal be AmeN.[No gap in the MS.] Explicit fabula Coci. GROUP B. (α. FRAGMENT II.) § 1. MAN OF LAW'S HEAD-LINK. LANSDOWNE MS. Incipit prologus Legis periti.on leaf 65 OWre Oste sauhe wele þat þe briht sonne The arke of his artificial daie had ronne The ferþe part & half an houre & more And þouhe he were nouȝt expert in lore He wist it was þe .xviij. daye Of Aprill þat is messagiere of maie And sawhe wele þat þe schadow of euery tree Was as in lengeþ in þe same quantite As was þe body erect þat caused it And þere-for be þe schadowe he toke his wit That phebus whiche þat schone so clere and briht Degres was .xlv. clome on hiht And for þat daie as in þat latitude It was .x. att clokke . he gan conclude And sodenly he piht his hors aboute Lordeinges quod he .I. warne ȝou al þis route The ferþe party of þis daie es gone Nowe for þe loue of god and seinte Iohn Leseþ no time as ferforþ as ȝe maie Lordeinges þe time it wasteþ nyht and daie And steleþ from vs what priuely slepeinge And what þorwhe necligence in oure wakeynge As doþe þe streme þat turneþ neuer a-ȝeine Descendeinge fro þe mountaigne in to þe pleine Wele cane senec and mony a philosophre Be-weylein time more þan golde in Cophre ffor losse of catell maie recouerd be Bot losse of time schendeþ vs quod he It wil nouht com aȝein wiþ oute drede Ne mor þan wil Malkins Maidenhede Whan sche haþe lost it in hire wantonnes Lat vs nouȝt moulen þus in ydelnes Sir Man come[later] of quod he so haue ȝe blisse Tel vs a tale nowe as forward is Ȝe be submitted þorwhe ȝoure fre assent To stonden in þis caas att my Iuggement Acquiteþe now ȝowe of ȝoure beheste Than haue ȝe done ȝoure deuer att leste Ost quod he de par deux iche assent To breke forwarde is nouht myne entent Beheste is dette and .I. wil holden faine Al my byheste .I. can no better seine ffor suche lawe as a man ȝeueþ anoþer whihte He scholde him selfe vsen it be riht Thus wil oure text bot naþeles certeine .I. can . riht nowe no trusti tale seine Þat chaucer þouhe he can bot lewdly On metres and in rymeinge craftely Haþe saide hem in suche ynglysshe as he can Of Olde time as knoweþ mony a man And if he haue nouht seide hem leue broþer In o boke he haþe seide in a noþer ffor he haþ tolde of louers vp and doune Moo þan Ouide Maade Mencion In his Episteles þat been ful olde What schold .I. tellen hem sen þei bu tolde In ȝouþe he maade of Ceys and Alcione And siþen haþe he spoken of euerichone Thes noble wifes and þes louers eke Who so þat wil his large veloine seke Cleped þe seintes Legent of Cupide There maie he see þe large woundes wide Of Lucres and of Babilan Thisbe The swerde of dido for þe fals ene The tree of phillis for hir demefon The pleinte of Dianyre and of Ermyon Of Adriane and of ysiphilee The barayn ysel stondeynge in þe see The dreynt leandre for his erro The teres of Eleyne and eke þe wo Of brixseide and of þe ladomya The cruelte of quene Medea The litil childern hongeinge be þe hals ffor þi Iason þat was of loue fals Of ypnistra Penelope Alceste Ȝoure wifehode he commendeþ wiþ þe beste Bot certeynly no worde writeþ he Of þilke wilke ensample of Canace Þat loued hir owen broþer sinfully Of suche cursed stories .I. saie fye Or elles of Tiro Appolonius How þat þe cursed kinge Anthiochus Beraft his douhter of hir maydenhede That is so orrible a tale for to rede Whan he hire [? yrewe]þrewe þoruhe þe pament And þer-for he of ful avisement Nolde neuer write in none of his sermones Of whiche vnkinde abhominaciones Ne .I. ne wil none reherce if þat .I. maie Bot of my tale . howe schal .I. done þis daie Me were loþe be likned douteles To muses þat men clepen pieriedes Methamorphoseos woote what .I. mene Bot natheles .I. recche nouȝt a bene Þowhe .I. come after him wiþ halve bake .I. speke in prose and lat him rimes make And wiþ þat worde he wiþ a sobre chere Began his tale as ȝe schal after here. Hic incipit fabula legis periti.[No breaks in the MS between the stanzas.] O Hateful harme condicione of pouert With þurst . with colde . with hungre so confounded To asken helpe þou schameþ in þine hert If þou[a late none inserted] axe with nede þou art so wounded þat verrei nede vnwrappeþ al þi wound hid Maugreue þin hede þou most for indigence Or steele or begge or borwe þi despense Þou blamest crist and seist ful bittirly. He mys departeþ richesse temporal Þi neiheburghe þou witest sinfully And seiste þou haste to litel and he haþ al Per fey seys þou sum tyme he reken schal Whan þat his taile schal berne in þe glede ffor he nouȝt helpeþ nedeful in here nede Herken what is þe meneynge of þe wise Better is to dyen þan to haue indigence Þi self neighebore wil þe dispise If þou be pore fare wele þi reuerence Ȝit of þe wiseman takeþ þis sentence All þe daies of pormen ben wikke Be war þar fore or þou com in þat prikke ¶ If þou be pore þi broþer hateþ þee And al þi frendes flye fro þe alas O riche marchauntes ful of wel be ȝe O noble prudent folke as in þis cas Ȝoure bagges bene nouȝt filled wiþ ambes aas Bot wiþ sis sinke þat renneþ for ȝoure chaunce Att Cristes masse mery maie ȝe daunce ¶ Ȝe seken londe and see for ȝoure wininges As wise folke þat knowen al þe astate Of regnes ȝe bene faders of tiþinges And tales bothen of pes and debate I. was riht nowe of tales desolate Nar þat a marchant gone is mony a ȝere Me tauht a tale whiche as ȝe schal here [THE TALE.] In Surre some while dweled a company. Of chap men riche and þer-to sadde and trewe That wide where senten hire spicery Cloþes of golde and satine riche of hewe Here chaffer was so þrefty and so newe That euery wiht haþe deynte to chaffare Wiþe hem and eke to sellen hem here ware ¶ Nowe felle þat þe maistres of þat sorte Hane schapen hem to Rome for to wende Were it fo chapmanhode or for disporte None oþer Messagier wolde þei þeder sende Bot cam hem selft to rome þis es þe ende And in swyche place as þouht hem auantage ffor here intent þei take here herbergage ¶ Soiorne haue þese marchantes in þat toune A certaine time as fell to here plesaunce Bot so be-fel þat þe excellent renoune Of þe Emperoure douhter dame Custance Reported was wiþ euery circumstance Vn to þis surrien Marchantez in suche wise ffro day to day as .I. schal ȝowe deuise ¶ This was þe comune voyce of euery man Owre Emperour of Rome Gode him see A douhter he haþe þat sen þe werlde beganne To rekken as wele hire goodnes as beaute Was neuer suche anoþer as is sche .I. praie to gode in honoure hire susteigne And wald sche were of al Europe þe quene.Europa est tercia pars mundi. In hir is hihe beaute wiþ oute pride Ȝowþe wiþ oute greuehode or foly To al hire werkes vertue is hir gyde Humblesse haþe slayne in ȝowe al tyranny . . . . .no gap in the MS. Hire herte is verrai chambre of holynesse Hir hande Ministre of fredam for almesse ¶ And al þis voice was soþe as god is trewe Bot nowe to purpos lat vs turne aȝeine This marchantez han don frauht here schippes newe And whan þei han þis blisseful Maiden seine Home to surre be þei wente aȝeine And done here nedes as þei han done ȝore And leuen in wele .I. can say ȝow no more ¶ Nowe fel it þat þese marchantz stoden in grace Of him þat was Souldan of Surrye ffor whan þat þei cam from any strange place He wolde of his benigne curtesie Make hem good chiere and besilye aspye Thinges of sundre remes for to lere The wonderes þat þei myht se or here ¶ Amonges oþer þinges specialy Thos Marchantz hane him tolde of dame Custance So grete noblesse in erneste curiousely Þat þis souldan haþ kauht so grete plesance To hane hir figure in his remembrance And al his lust and al his besy cure Was for to loue hir while his lif maie dure ¶ Parauenture in þe large booke Whiche þat cleped þe heuen y-writen was Wiþ sterres whan þat he his birþe toke That he for loue schol haue his deþe alas ffor in þe sterres clerer þan is þe glas Is wreten god wote who so couþe it rede Þe deþe of euery man wiþ outen drede ¶ In sterres mony a winter þar be-forne ¶ Ceptra pharonei furtum discordia thebe ¶ Flammam phetontis deu-calionis aque ¶ In stellis priami; species audacia turni ¶ Sensus vlixeus herculeus que vigor. Was wreten þe deþe of Ector and achilles Off Pompe Iulius or thei were borne The strif of Thebes and of Hercules Of Sampson turnus and of Socrates The deþ bot mennus wittes bene so dulle That no whiht can wel rede it att þe fulle ¶ This Sowldan for his priue conseile sente And schortly of þis matier for to passe He haþe to hem declared his entent And seide hem certeine bot if he myht haue grace To haue Custance wiþ inne a litel space He nas bot dede and charged hem in hihe To schapen for his lif som remedie ¶ Diuers men diuers þinges saiden The Argumentz custen vp and doune Many a sotyl reson forþe þei leyden Thei speken of Magik and abusion Bot finalli as in conclusion Thei can nouȝt seen in þat none auantage Ne in none oþer waie saue Mariage ¶ Than sauhe þere suche difficulte Be way of Reson for to speke as pleine Be cause þat þere was suche diuersite Be twene here boþe lawes as þei seine Thai trowe þat no cristen prince wold feine Wedden his childe vnder her lawes so swete That hem was tauht bue Mahoun þe prophete ¶ And he Ansewarde raþer þan .I. lese Constance .I. wil be cristened douteles .I. mot bene hirs .I. maie none oþer chese .I. pray ȝow holde ȝoure argumentes in pes Saueþ my lif and beþ nouht recheles To gete hir þat haþ my lif in cure ffor in þis woo .I. maie nouht longe endure ¶ What nedeþ gretter dilataciōn .I. sey be tretise and embassadrie And be þe popes Medeacione And al þe cherche and al þe chiualrie That in destruccion of Maumetrie And in encrese of cristes lawe dere Thei bene accorded so as ȝe schal here ¶ How þat þe Souldan and his Baronage And alle his leges scholde cristened be And he scal haue Constance in Mariage And certeigne gold .I. not what quantite And herto founden sufficiant surtie This same accorde was swor in eyþer side Nowe faire Constance almyhti god þe gide ¶ Nowe wolde sum man waiten as .I. gesse Þat .I. schol telle al þe purueance That þe Emperour of his noblesse Haþ schapen for his douhter Dam Custance. Wele maie men knowen þat so grete ordinance. Maie no man tellen in a litel clause As was arraied for so hihe a cause ¶ Cardinals and Bischops bene schapen wiþ hir to wende Lordes and lades and knyhtes of renoune And oþer folke .I.-nowe þis is þe ende And notified is þoruhe oute þe toune That euery whight wiþe grete deuocione Schold praie criste þat þis Mariage Resceyue in gree and spede þis viage ¶ The daie is comen of hire departeinge .I. say þat woful daie fatal is come That þat þere maie be no longer tariynge Bot forþwarde þei hem dresse alle and somme Constance þat wiþ sorwe is al ouer-come fful pale a-rist and drisseþ hire to wend ffor wele sche seeþe þere is none oþere ende ¶ Allas what wonder is it þouhe sche wepete That schall be sent to so strange nacione ffro frendes þat so tendurly hir keppete And to be boundon vnder subiectione Of one sehe knoweþ nouht his condicion Husbondes bene al good and hane bu ȝore þat knewen wives .I. dar sei ȝow no more ffader sche seide . þi wreched childe Constance þi ȝonge douhter fostred vp so soft And ȝe my moder my souereigne plesance Ouer al þinge oute take criste on loft Constance ȝowre childe hir recommandeþ oft Vn to ȝoure grace for .I. schal to Surrye Ne schal .I. neuer seen ȝow more wiþ eye ¶ Alas vn to þe Barbarie Nacion .I. most anone seþ it is ȝoure wille Bot crist þat starf for oure redempcione So ȝeue me grace his hestes to fulfille .I. wriched womman no force þou .I. spille Wemmen arne born to þraldom and penance And to bue vnder mannes gouernance ¶ .I. trowe att troie whan purrus brake þe wal Or. ylion þat brende Thebes þat Citee Noute Rome for þe harme þorwhe Hanybal That Romaynes haþ venquissed times þre. Nas herde swiche tender wepeinge for pite As in þe chambre for hire departeinge Bot forþe sche mote whereso sche wepe or singe ¶ O ferst moueynge cruel firmament Wiþ þi diurnale sweigh þat croudest aie And hurlist al fro est to Occident Þat naturelly wold hold a-noþer waye Thi croudeinge sett þe heuen in suche arraie Att þe be-ginnynge of þis fers viage That cruel Mars haþe slayne þis mariageVnde Tholomeus. libro primo capitulo 8. Primi motus Celi duo sunt quorum vnus est qui mouet totum semper ab oriente in occidentem; vno modo super orbes &c. Alter vero motus est qui mouet orbem stellarum currencium contra motum primum videlicet. ab occidente in orientem super alios duos polos &c. Omnes enim sunt concordati quod elecciones sint debiles nisi in diuitibus Habent enim isti licet debilitentur eorum elecciones radicem .i. natiuitates eorum que confortant omnem planetam debilem in itinere Huc. Philoso|phus. [ a quotation in the middle of the text.] ¶ Infortunate ascendent tortuous Of whiche þe lorde is falle alas Out of his angle in to þe derkest house O mars o.ataȝir as in þis caas O feble mone vn-happy bene þi pas Thou knettest þe þar þou ert nouht receyuede The þou weere wele fro þens nowe ert þou weyued ¶ Imprudent emperour of Rome allas Was þere no philosopher in al þi toune Is no time bet þan oþer in suche cas Of viage is þere none eleccion Namely to folke of hihe condicion Nat whan a rote is of a burþe y-knowe Alas ȝe bene to lewed or to slowe ¶ The schippe is brouht þis woful faire maide Solempnely wiþe euery circumstance. Nowe ihesu criste be wiþ ȝowe al sche saide There is no more bot fare wele faire Constance Sche peyneþ hire to make gode continance And forþe þei lete hir saile in þis manere And turne .I. wil aȝeine to my matier ¶ The moder of þe Souldan wel of vices Espied haþe hir sones pleine entent How he wil lete his olde sacrifises And riht a-none sche for hire conseille sent And þei comen to knowen what sche ment And whan assembled was þes folk in fere Sche sett hire doune and seide as ȝe schalle here. ¶ Lordes quod sche ȝe knowen euerychone Howe þat my sonne in pointe is fo to lete The holy lawes of owre Akkaron Ȝeuen be goddes Messagiere Makomete Bott on avowe to grete god .I. hete The lif schal raþer oute of my bodi sterte Or Macometis lawe oute of myne herte ¶ What schuld vs tiden of þis newe lawe Bot þraldom to oure bodies and penance And afterward in hel to be drawe ffor we reneyed Mahon oure creance Bot lordes wil ȝe maken assurance As .I. schal seine assentinge to my lore And .I. schal make us sauf for euer more ¶ Thei sworen and assenten euery man To leue wiþ hire and deye and by hire stande And eueryche in þe best wise he can To strengþen hir schal al his frendes fonde And sche haþe þis emprise take on honde Whiche ȝe schal here þat .I. schal deuise And to hem al sche spak in þis wise ¶ We schol first feyne vs cristendom to take Colde water schal nouht greue vs bot a lite And .I. schal suche a fest and a reuel make Þat as .I. trowe .I. schal þe sowdan quite ffor þouhe his wif be crestened neuer so white Sche schal haue nede to whasse awaie þe rede Thouhe sche a fonte ful of water wiþ hire lede ¶ O sauldanesse rote of iniquite Virago þu semiram þe seconde. O serpent vnder femenyte Like to þe serpente depe in helle bownde O feyned womman alle þat may confounde Vertue and innocence þoruhe þi Malice Is bred in þe as nest of euery vice. ¶ O Sathan envious sen þilk daie That þou were chased from owre heritage Wele knowes þou to wemmen þe olde waie Þou madest Eua to bringe in seruage Þou wilt for-done cristen Mariage Þine instrument so welawaie þe while Makeste þou of whan þu wilte begile ¶ This Souldanesse wham .I. þus blame and wery. Lete priuely hire consielle gon here waye What schold .I. in þis tale longer tary Sche rideþ to þe souldan on a daye And seide þat sche wold reney hir laye And cristendome of prestes hondes fonge Repentynge sche heþen was so longe ¶ Besekeinge him to done hir þat honoure Þat miht haue þe cresten folke to feste To plese hem .I. wil do my laboure The souldan seiþe .I. wil done at ȝoure heste And knelynge þonkeþ hire of þat requeste So glad he was he nyst what to seie Sche kist hire sonne and home sche goþe hir waie [PART II.] ¶ Arriued bene þis cresten folk to londe In Surry wiþþe a grete solempne route And hastely þis Souldan sent his sonde ffirst to his Moder and al þe regne aboute And seide his wif was commen oute of doute And praide hir for to riden aȝein þe qwene The honoure of his regne to suteigne ¶ Grete was þe pres and riche was þe raie Of Surrys and Romeyns mette .I.-fere The Moder of þe souldan riche and gaie Reseiueþ hire wiþ also glad a chere As any moder myht hire douhter dere And to þe next Cite þere beside A soft pas solempnyeli þei ride ¶ Nouht trowe .I. þe triumphe of Iulius Of whiche þat lukan maade suche a boste Was Roialer ne more corious Than was þassemble of þis blisful oste Bot þis Scorpion þis wikked goste This Sauldanesse for al hir flateringe Kast vnder þis mortali to stinge ¶ The Souldan comeþ himself sone after þis So Roialy þat wonder is to tel He welcomeþ hire wiþ al Ioy and blis And þus in merþe and Ioye .I. lete hem duel Þe fruyte of þis matier þat .I. tel Whan tim com men þouht it for þe best That Reuel stinte and men gon to rest ¶ The time come þis olde Souldanesse Ordeined þe fest haþ of wich .I. tolde And to þe feste Cristenten folke hem dresse In generale boþe ȝonge and olde He may men feste and Roialte beholde And deynteþs mo þan .I. can ȝou deuyse Bot al to der þei bouht it er þei rise ¶ O Sodan woo þat euer art succesour To werldly blisse spreynde is wiþ bitternes The ende of þe ioye of oure werldly labour Woo occupieþ þe fine of oure gladnes Herke þis conseile for þi securnes Vpon þi glad daie haue in mynde The vnwar wo or harme þat comeþ be-hinde ¶ ffor schortly for to telle att o worde The souldan and þe cristen euerychone Be al to-hewe and stiken att þe borde Bot it war only Dam Custance alone Thys olde Sauldanes cursed crone Haþ wiþ hir frendes don þis cursed dede ffor sche hir selfe wolde þe contrei lede ¶ Ne þere was Surreyne ne none þat was conuertede That of þe counsel of þe souldan wote That he ne es alto-hewen or he astert-it And Constance han þei take a-none fote hote And in a schippe al sterles god wote Thei hane hir sett and beden hire leren to saile Owte of Surry aȝeine to Itaile ¶ A certeine tresoure þat sche þeder ladde And soþe to seine vital grete plente Þei hane here ȝeuen and cloþes eke sche hadde And forþ sche saileþ in þe salte see O my Custance fful of benignite O . Emperours ȝonge douhter dere He þat is lorde ouere fortune he þe steere ¶ Sche blisseþ and wiþ ful pitous voyce Vn to þe croys of crist þus seide sche O clere o welful auter holy croyce Rede of þe lambes blode ful of pite Þat whisse þe werlde fro þe olde iniquite Me fro þe fende and fro his clowes kepe þat daie þat .I. schal drenchen in þe depe ¶ Victorious tree proteccion of trewe Þat oonely worþi war for to bere Þe kinge of heuen wiþ his wondes newe Þe wyght lambe þat hurt was wiþ a spere fflemer of frendes oute of him and here On whiche þi lynes faiþfuly extenden Me kep and ȝife me myht my lyf to amenden ¶ Ȝeres and dayes fleteþ þis creature Þoruhe owte þe see of grece vnto þe streite Of Marrok as it as it was hir auenture O many a sory mele noue maie sche baite Affter her deþ ful oft mai sche waite Or þat þe wilde wawes wil hir drive Vn to þe place þare sche schal ariue ¶ Men myht axen whi sche was nouȝt sleine Eke att þe feste who myht hir body saue .I. answere to þat demande aȝeine Who saue Danyel in þe horrible caue Þere euery saue he Maister or knaue Was wiþ þe lyons frete in a sterte No whight bot god þa he bare in his hert ¶ God luste to schewe his wonderful miracle In hire for sche schold see his myhty werkes Crist whiche þat is to euery harme treacle Be certeine Menes oft as knowen clerkes Doþ þinge for certein ende þat ful derke is To mannes witte þat for owre ignorance Ne conne knowe his prodent purueance ¶ Nowe seþ sche was not at þe fest slawe Who kepped hire fro þe drencheinge in þe see Who keppet Iona in þe fisches mawe To he was spouted vp att Niniue Wele maie men knowe it was no whight bot he Þat keppe þe peple Ebayk fro drencheinge Wiþ dri feete þoruhe oute þe see passinge ¶ Who had þe foure spirites of tempest Þat power hane to anoyen londe and see Boþe norþe and souþe and also west and este Anoyeþ neyþer se ne londe ne tree Soþe þe comander of þat was he Þat fro þe tempest ay þis womman kepet As wele whan sche woke as wen sche slepet ¶ Whare myht þis womman mete and drenke haue Three ȝere and more how lasteþ hir vytaile Who fede þe Egipciane Marye in þe caue Or in desert non bot crist sans faille ffyve þousand folke it was a grete mervaille Wiþ loues five and ffisches tuo to feede Gode sente his foyson att her grete nede ¶ Sche dryueþ forþ in to owre Occeane Þoruhe oute þe wilde see till att þe last Vnder an castel þat neuen .y. ne can ffor in Norþe Humbrelond þe wawe her caste And in þe sonde þe schippe stikked so fast That þens wold it nouht of al a tyde The wil of criste was þat sche scholde abide ¶ The Cunstable of þe Castel doune is fare To seen þis wrakke and al þe schipe he souhte And fonde þis wery womman ful of Care He fonde also tresoure þat sche brouht In hir langage Mercie sche be-souht Þe lif oute of þe body for to twynne Hir to deliuer of woo þat sche was inne ¶ A maner latine corrupte was hir speche Bot algatez þere by was sche vnderstonde The Constable whan him lust no longer seche This wooful womman brouht he to þe londe Sche kneleþ doune and þonkeþ goddes sonde Bot what sche was sche wolde no man seye ffor foule ne faire þouhe þat sche scholde deye ¶ Sche seid sche was so mased in þe see Þat sche for-gat here mynde be hir trouþe The constable of hir haþe so grete pite And eke his wif þat þei wepen for reuþe Sche was so diligent wiþ owten sleuþe To serue and plese eueryche in þat place That al hir louen þat loken on hir face ¶ The Constable and dam Ermenilda his wif Where payneins and þat cuntre euery where Bot Ermenilda loued here riht as hir lif And custance haþ so longe soiourned þere In orisons wiþ mony a better tere Til ihesu haþe conuerted þoruhe his grace Dam. Ermenilda Constablesse of þilke place ¶ In al þat londe dorst no kersten route Al cresten folke bene fledde fro þat contre Þoruhe payneins þat conquerden here aboute The plages of þe norþe be þe lande and þe see To Wales fledd fledde þe cristeante Of olde bretons dwelynge in þis Isle Ther was hire refute for þe mene while ¶ Bot ȝit was neuer cristen bretons so exiled Þat þer nas sum in hir priuete Honoured crist and heyþen folk be-giled And nyhe þe castel þer dwel þer dwelden þre Þat one of hem was blinde and myht nouht see Bot it weere wiþe ilke yen of his mynde Wiþ wiche men seen after þat þei be blinde ¶ Briht was þe sonne as in þe somers daie ffor whiche þe Constable and his wif also And Constance hane ytake þe riht waie To-warde þe se a forlonge way or tuo To pleyen and to Romen to and fro And in her waie blende men þaie mette Croked and olde wiþ fast eyen schett ¶ In þe name of criste cried þis blinde bretoune Dame Ermenilda ȝeue me my sihte aȝeine This lady wex affrayde of þe soune Lest hir husbonde schortly for to seyne Wolde hir for ihesu cristes loue haue sleyne Til Constance made hir bolde and bad hire wirche The wil of criste as douhter of his chirche ¶ The Constable wex abassched of þat siht And seide what amounteþ al þis fare Custance anseward it is cristes miht Þat helpeþ folke oute of þe fendes snare And so ferforþe sche gan oure laye declare Þat sche constable ar þat it was eue Conuerteþ and on criste maad him beleue ¶ This Constable was nouht lorde of þis place Of whiche .I. spak þare he constance fonde Bot keped it stronge mony a winter space Vnder Allea kynge of of Northehumbrelonde . . . . .no gap in the MS. Aȝein þe scottes as men may wele here Bot torne .I. wil a-ȝeine to my matier ¶ Sathan þat euer waiteþ vs to begile Sauhe of Custance al hir perfeccioun And kast anone howe he myht white hir while And maad a ȝonge knyht þat dwelleþ in þe toune Loue hire so hote of foule affeccione Þat verraily him þouht þat he scholde spille Bote of hir myht ones haue his wille ¶ He woweþe hir bot it aveileþ nouht Sche wolde do no sinne be no weie And for dispite he compassed in his þouht To make hir a schameful deþe to deye He waiteþ whan þe Constable was awaie And priuely on a nyhte he crepte In Ermenilda scambur whiles þat sche sleped ¶ Wery for-waked in hire orisons Slepeþ custance and Ermenilde also Þis knyht þouht to performe sathanas temptacions Al softly he is to þe bedde go And kette þe þrote of Ermenylde a tuo And leide þe blody knyf be dam Custance And wente his weie þere god ȝiue him meschaunce ¶ Sone affter comeþ þis Constable aȝeine And Eke Allea þe kenge þat was of þis lande And sauhe his wyf dispitously sleyne ffor whiche ful of oft he wepet and wronge his honde And in þe bedde þe blody knyfe he fonde Be dam Custance Alas what myht sche seye ffor verre woo hir witte was al awaie ¶ To Kinge Alla was tolde al þis meschance And eke þe time and where and in what wise Þat in a schip was founden þis Constance As ȝe haue herde to-forne devise The kinges herte of pite gan agrise Whan he seþe so benyngne a creature ffal in disese and in mesauenture ¶ ffor as þe lambe towarde towarde his deþe is brouht So stant þis Innocent be-for þe kenge This fals knyht þat haþe þis treson wrouht Bereþ hir on honde þa sche haþe don þis þinge Bot naþeles þer was grete Morneinge Amonge þe peple and sei þe can not gesse That sche had done so grete a wikkenesse ¶ ffor þei haue sene hir euer so vertuous And loueinge ermenilde riht as hir lif Of þis bare wittenes eueryche in þat house saue he þat Ermenilde slowhe wiþ his knyfe This Gentil kinge haþe cauht a grete motif Of þis wittenes And þouht he wolde enquere Depper in þis caas he troueþ for to lere ¶ Alas Constance þou naste no champioun Ne fiht cans tow nouht so walawaie Bot he þat for oure redempcioun And bonde Sathan. and lythe ȝit þere he laye So be þi stronge champion þis daie ffor bot if criste oopen myracle kyþe Wiþe outen gilt þou schalt be sleyne also swyþe ¶ Sche Sett hir doune on knes and þus sche seyde Immortale god þat sauedest Susan ffrom false blam and þou mercyful mayde Mary .I. mene douhter of seint Anne Beforne whos childe Angels singe osanne If .I. be giltles of þis felonye Mi soker be. for elles schal .I. deye ¶ Haue ȝe nouht seen sum tyme a pale face Amonge a pres of him þat haþe be lad To wardes his deþ where him gat no grace And suche a colour in his face haþ hadde þat men miht knowe his face þat was be-stadde Amonge al þe faces in þat route So stant Custance and lokeþ hire aboute ¶ O queens leueinge in prosperite Duchesses and ladies euerychon Haue some reuþe of his aduersite An Emperour douhter stant alone Sche haþe no whihte to whome to make hire mone O blode Roial þat standest in þis drede ffer bue þin frendes att þi grete nede ¶ This allea kinge haþ suche compassioun As gentil hert is fulfilled of pete Þat from his yen ran þe water doune Nowe hastely do feche a boke quod he And if þis knyht wil swere howe þat sche This womman slowhe ȝit wil we vs avise Whome þat we wolde þat schal be oure Iustice ¶ A breton boke wreten wiþ þe euangelies Was fett and on þis boke he swore anone Sche giltif was in þe mene whiles An hande him smote vpon þe nekke bone Þat doune he fel att ones as a stone And boþe his eyȝen borst oute of his face In siht of euery body in þat place ¶ A voice was herde in general audience And seide þou haste disclaundred giltles The douhter of holy cherche in hiehe presence Thus hast þou done and ȝit .I. mot hold my pes Of þis Merueile a-gast was al þe pres As Mased folke þei stoden euerychone ffor drede of wreche saue Constance alone ¶ Grete was þe dede and eke þe repentance Of hem þat hadden wronge suspecione Vpon þis cely Innocent constance And for þis miracle in conclusione And by Constance Mediacione The kinge and mony a-noþer in þat place Conuerted was þonked be cristes grace ¶ This fals knyht was sleyne for his vntrewþe Be Iuggement of Allea Hastelye And Constance haþe of his deþe grete rewþe And after þis ihesus of his mercy Maade Alla wedden ful solempnely. Þis holy mayden þat is briht and schene And þus haþe criste maad Constance a queene ¶ Bot who was woful. If .I. schal not lye Of þis wedynge bot Domylda and no mo Þe kinges moder ful of Tiranny. Hire þouht hir cursed hert braste a two Sche wolde nouht her sonne had don so Hir þouht a dispite þat he scholde take So straunge a creature vnto his maake ¶ Me list nouht of þe chaf ne of þe stre Maake so longe a tale as of þe corne What scholde .I. tellen of þe royalte Of þe Mariage or whiche cours goþ to forne Who bloweþ in a trompe or in an horne The fruyte of euery tale is for to seie Thei ete. and drinke and dance. and singe and pleie ¶ Thei gone to bed as it was skill and riht ffor þouhe þat wyues bene holy þinges Thei must take a pacience a nyht Suche maner necessaries as biene plesinges To folke þat hane ywedded hem wiþ ringes And laie a lite hire holines a side As for þe time it maie non oþer betide ¶ On hire he gate a knaue childe anone And to a bischop and his Cunstabule eke He toke his wif to kepe whan he is gone To scotelande ward his fomen for to seke Nowe faire Custance þat is so humble and meke So longe is gone wiþ childe til þat still Sche halt hir chambure abideinge att cristes will ¶ The time is come a knaue childe sche bare Mauricius att þe font þei him calle This Constable doþ forþe come a Messagier And wrote to his kinge þat cleped was Alle Howe þat þis blisful tiþinge was be-falle And oþer tiþinge spedful for to seie He takeþ þe letter and forþe he goþ his weie ¶ This Messagier to done his auantage Vnto þe kinges moder rideþ swyþe And salueþ hire ful faire in his langage Madame quod he he ȝe maye glad and bliþe And þonkeþ god an hundreþ þousand siþe My lady queene haþ childe wiþ oute doute To Ioy and blisse of al þis regne a-boute ¶ Lo here þe lettres selede of þe tiþinge þat .I. mote bere wiþ al þe hast .I. maie If ȝe wille ouht vn to ȝowre sone þe kinge. I am ȝoure seruant boþe niht and daie Domilda anseward as nowe at þis time Bot here al niht .I. wil þat þou take þi rest To morwe will .I. saie what me lest ¶ This Messagier dranke sadly ale and wyne And stollne was his lettres priuely Out off his box while he slepe as a swyne And Conterfet was ful sotely And oþer lettres wrouht ful sinfuly. Vnto þe kinge direct of þis matier ffro his Constable as ȝe schal after here ¶ The lettre spak howe þe queene deliuerd was Of so horrible fendelyche creature That in þe Castel none so hardy was That any while dorst þer in endure The moder was an elfe be aventure Ycome be charmes or be sorceri And euery whitte hateþe hir company ¶ Woo was þis kinge whan he þis lettre had seyne Bot to no white he tolde þis sorwe sore Bot of his owen he wrote ageyne Welcome be þe sonde of criste for euer more To me þat am nowe lerend in his lore Lord welcom be þi lust and þi plesance Mi lust is put al in þine ordinance ¶ Kepeþ þis childe al be it foule or faire And eke my wif vnto myne home comynge Criste whan him liste maie sende me an heire More Agreable þan this to my likinge This letter he seleþ priuely wepeinge Whiche to þe Messagier was take sone And forþe he goþe þare is nomore to done ¶ O Messagier fulfilde of dronkennesse Stronge is þi breþe þi limmes faltern aye And þou be-wreyest al sekurnesse Thi mynde is lorne þu Iangelest as a Iaye Thi face is turned in a newe arraie There drunkennesse reygneþ in any route Þere is no counsel hidde wiþ outen doute ¶ O domilda. I ne haue non englisshe digne Vnto þi malice and þi tirannye An þer-for to þe fende .I. þe resigne. Lat him endite þi traitery ffy mannysshe fy. o nay be god .I. lye ffy fendlyche spirit for .I. dare wele telle Thouhe þou here walke þi spirit is in helle ¶ This Messagier comeþ fro þe kinge aȝeine And att þe kinges moder courte he liþe And sche was of þis Messagier ful faine And plesed him in al þat euer sche myht He dranke and wele his girdel vnder pyht He slepeþ and he fronteþ in his gise Alle nyht til þe son gan rise ¶ Eft was his letters stollen euerychōn And Conterfet lettres in þis wise The kinge Commandeþ his constable a none Vppeyne of hangeynge or an hihe Iewys Þat he ne schold suffur in no wise Constance inwiþe his regne to Abide Thre daies and a quarter of a tide ¶ Bot in þe same schippe as he hir fonde Hire and hire ȝonge sone and hir gere He schold putte and croude fro þe londe And Charger þat sche neuer eft com þere O my Constance wele may þi goste haue fere And slepeinge in þi dreme be in penance Whan Domilda cast al þis ordinance ¶ This Messagier on morwe whan he woke Vnto þe castel halt þe next waie And to þe Constable he þe letter toke And whan þat he þis pitous lettre saye fful oft he seide alas and walawaie Lord criste quod he howe maie þis lettre endure So wooful of synne is mony a creature ¶ O myhti god. if þat it be þi wille Sethe þowe is riht-ful Iugge howe maie it be Þat þou wilt suffur Innocent to spille An wikked folk reigne in prosperite O good Constance alas so woo is me Þat .I. mot be þi tormentour or deye On schames deþ þere is none oþer weie ¶ Wepen boþe ȝonge and olde in al þat place Whan þat þe kinge þis cursede letter sent And Custance wiþ a dedly pale face Þe ferþe daie to warde þe schippe sche wente Bot Naþeles sche takeþ in goode entente Þe will of criste and kneleinge att þe stronde Sche seide lorde ay welcome be þi sonde ¶ He þat me keppet fro þe fals blame While .y. was in þe londe amonges ȝowe He can me kepe from arme and eke frome schame In salt see al-þouhe .I. see nouȝt howe As stronge as euer he was he is riht nowe In him trust .I. and in his moder dere Þat is to me my saile and eke my stere ¶ Hire litel childe laie wepeinge in hir arme And knelynge pitusly to him sche seide Pees litel son .I. will do þe none harme Wiþ þat þe kerchef of hir hede sche braide And ouer his litel yen sche it leide And in hir arme sche lulleþ it ful fast And in to heuen her yen vp sche cast ¶ Moder quod sche and Maiden briht Marie Soþe is þat þoruh wommannes egment Man kinde was lorne and dampned aye to deye ffor whiche þi childe was on a crois rente Þi blisfully yen sawhe all his tornement Than is þere no comparison be-twene Þi woo and any woo man may susteigne ¶ Thowe sawhe þi sonne slayne to for þin eyȝene And ȝit leueþ now my childe parfaie Now lady to whome al woful cryȝen Thow glorie of wommanhode þou faire maie Þou haven of refute briht sterre of daie Rew on my childe þat of þi gentillesse Rewest on euery rewful in destrisse ¶ O litel childe alas what is þi gilte Þat neuer wrouhtest sinne as ȝit parde Whi wil þi hard fader haue þe spilte O merci dere constable quod sche As lat my litel childe dwel here wiþ þe And if þou darst nouht saue him frome blame So kesse him ones in his faders name ¶ Ther-wiþ sche loked bakward to þe londe And seide fare wel husbonde rewþeles And vp sche riseþ and walkeþ doune þe stronde To warde þe schippe hir foloweþ al þe prees And euer sche praieþ her childe to holde his pees And takeþ hire leue and wiþ an holy entent Sche blisseþ hir and in to schippe sche went ¶ Vitailled was þe schip it is no drede Abundantly for hire ful longe space And oþere necessaries þat schold nede Sche had .I.-nowhe heried be goddes grace . . . . .no gap in the MS. And bringe hire home .I. can no better saie Bot in þe see sche driueþ forþ hire waie [PART III.] ¶ Alla þe kinge comeþ home sone after þis Vnto his Castel of þe whiche .I. tolde And axeþ where his wif and his childe is The Constable gan aboute his hert colde And pleinly al þe maner he him tolde As ȝe hane herde .I. kan tel it no better And scheweþ þe kinge his seal and his letter ¶ And seide lorde as ȝe commaunded me Vp peine of deþ so haue .I. done certeine This Messagier tumended was til he Most be-knowen and tellen plat and pleine ffrom nyht to nyht where þat he had leine And þus be witte and soubtile enquereinge Imagened was be wham þis harme gan springe ¶ The hande was knowe þat þe lettre wrote And al þe venym of þis cursed dede Bot in what wise certeinli .I. note þe effecte is þis þat oute of drede His moder he slowhe þat mai men pleinli rede ffor þat sche traitour was to hire legance Thus endeþ olde Domylda wiþ meschaunce ¶ The sorwe þat þis Alla nyht and daye Makeþ for his wif and his childe also Ther is no tunge þat it telle maie Bot now wil .I. vnto Custance go Þat fleteþ in þe se in peine and wo Þre ȝere and more as liked crist sonde Or þat hir schip approched vnto þe londe ¶ Vnder an heyþen castel att þe last Of whiche þe name in my text not .I. finde Custance and eke hir childe þe see vpkast Al myhti þat saueþ al mankinde Haue on Constance and hire childe sum mynde That fallen is in heyþe honde eft sone. In pointe to spille as .I. scall tel ȝowe sone ¶ Done fro þe Castel commeþ þere mony a whihte To gauren on þis schep and on Constance Bot schortly fro þe castel on a nyht The lord steweard god ȝiue him meschance A þef þat had reneyde oure creance Com vn schip alon and seide he schold Hir lemman be where sche wolde or nolde ¶ Woo was þis wreched womman woo be gone Hir Childe cride and sche cried pitously Bot blisse-ful Marye helped hir a none ffor wiþþe hir strogelinge wele and myhtily The þef fel ouere þe borde al sodanly. And in þe se he drenched for vengance And þus haþ crist vnvenemed keped Custance ¶ O foule lust of luxurie lo þine ende Not onely þat þou faintest mannes mynde Bot verraili þou wilt his body schende The ende of þi werk or of þi lust-is blinde Is compleigneinge howe many oone men maie finde Þat not for werke sum time bot for þe entente To done þis sinne bene eyþer sleyne or schente ¶ Howe maie þis wayko womman haue þe strenkeþ Hir to dofende aȝeine þis renegate O golyas vnmesurable of lengeþe Howe myht dauid make þe so mate So ȝonge and of Armour so desolate Howe dorst he loke vpon þi dredeful face Wele maie men seen it is bot goddes grace ¶ Who ȝaf Iudith. Corage or hardinesse To slene him Olefernus in his tent And to deliuer oute of wrechednesse Þe peple of god .I. seide for þis entente Þat riht as god spiret and vigor sente To heme and saued hem out of meschance So sent he myht and vigor to Constance ¶ ffor goþe hir schipe þoruhe oute þe narow mouþe Of Iubalter and þens driueinge aye Sum tim west and sum tim norþe and souþe And som time est ful mony a wery daie. Til cristes moder blissed be sche aye Haþ schapen þoruhe hire endeles goodenes To make an hende of al her heuenes ¶ Now latte vs stent of Constance bot a þrowe An speke we of þe Romaine Emperour That oute of Surry haþe be letters knowe The slawhte of Cristen folk and dishonour Done to his douhter be a fals traitour .I. mene þe Curssed wikked Sawdanesse Þat att þe fest le slen boþe more and lesse ¶ ffor whiche þis Emperour haþ sent anone His Senatour wiþ roial ordinance And oþer lordes god wote manyone On Surriens to taken hir vengeance Thei brennen slene and bringen hem to meschance ffol mony a day bot schortly þis is þe ende Homwarde to Rome þei schapen hem to wende ¶ This Senator repaireþ wiþ vittorie To Romewarde seileinge ful Roialy And mette þe schippe driueynge as seiþe þe storie In whiche Constance sitte ful pitously. No þinge ne knewe he what sche was ne whi Sche was in Suche aray ne sche wil seye Of hir estate þouhe sche schold deie ¶ He bringeþ hir to Rome And to his wif He ȝaf hire and hire ȝonge sone also And wiþ þe Senatur sche led hir lif Thus can owre lady bringen oute of wo Woful Constance and mony anoþere mo And longe time dwelled sche in þis place In holy werkes euer as was hire grace ¶ The Senatour wif hire [MS corrected]Aunte was Bot for alþat sche knewe hire neuere more .I. wil no longer tarien in þis cas Bot to kinge Alla whiche .I. spake of ȝore That for his wif wepeþ and sikeþ sore .I. wil retorne and lete .I. wil Constance Vnder þe Senatour gouernance Kinge Alla whiche þat had his moder sleyne Vppon a daie fel in suche repentance Þat . if .I. schortly tellen schall and pleyne To Rome he comeþ to receyuen his penance And put him in þe popes ordinan[c]e In hihe and lowe and ihesu crist be-souht ffor-ȝeue his wikked werke þat he wrouht ¶ The fame anone þorwhe Rome toune is borne Howe alla kinge scha com in pilgrenage Be herberioures þat went him be forne ffor whiche þe Senatour as was þe vsage Rode him aȝeine and mony of his lignage Als wele to schewe his magnificence As to done any kenge a reuerence ¶ Grete chiere doþe þis noble Senatour To kinge Alla and he to him also Eueriche of hem doþ to oþere grete honour And so be-fel þat on a daie or two This Senatur is to kinge Alla go To feste and schortly if .I. schal nouht lye Costance sone in his companye ¶ Som men wald seine att þe request of Custance This Senatour haþe ledde þis childe to fest .I. maie not tel euery Circumstance Be as be may þere he was at lest Bot soþ þis is þat att his moder hest Be-forne Alla dureinge þe mete space The childe stode lokeinge in þe kinges face ¶ This Alla kinge haþ of þis childe grete wonder And to þe Senator he seide a none Whos is þat faire childe þat stondeþ ȝonder .I. note quod he be god and be seinte Iohn A moder he haþe bot fader haþe he none Þat .I. of wote and schortly schortly in a stounde He tolde Alla howe þat þis childe was founde ¶ Bot god woote quod þis Senatour also So vertuouse a leuere in my lyf Sawhe .I. neuer as sche . ne herd of moo Of werldly wemmen . Maiden or wif .I. dar wele saie sche had leuer a knyf Thoruhe hir breste þan bene a womman wik There is no man couþe bringe hire to þat prik ¶ Nowe was þis childe as like vn to custance As possible as is a creature to be This Alla haþe þe face in remembrance Of Dame Custance and þere-on mused he If þat þe childes moder weer ouht sche That is wif and priuely he siht And sped him fro þe table þat he myht ¶ Par faye þouht he þe fantome is in myn hede .I. hauht demen of skilful Iuggement Þat in þe salt se my wif is dede And afterward he maade his Argument What wote .I. if þat crist hire haþ hider sent .Mi. wyf be see as wele as he hire sent To my contre from þens þat sche was went ¶ And after none home wiþ þe Senatour Goþe Alla for to seen þis wonder chaunce This Senatour doþ alla a grete honoure And hastely sent after Custance Trusteþ wele hire liste nouht to daunce Whan þat sche wiste where for was þat sonde Vnneþe vp vpon hire feete sche myht stonde ¶ Whan Alla sauhe his wif faire he hire grete And wepped þat it was reuþe for to see ffor att þe first loke he on hire sette He knewe wele verraile þat it was sche And for sorwe as dombe stant as a tre So was hir hert schette in hire distresse When sche remembred his vnkindenesse ¶ Twys sche swownede in his owen siht He wepe and him excuseþ pitusly God quod he and his Halowes briht So wisly of my soule as haue mercy That of ȝoure harme as gelteles am .I. As. is Moris my sone so like ȝowre face Elles þe fende me feche out of þis place ¶ Longe was þe sobynge and þe bitter peine Or þat hir woful hertes myht cesse Grete was was þe pite for to here hem pleine Thoruhe whiche pleintes gan her woo encres I. pray ȝow al my labour to relese .I. maie nouht tel hir woo vn-to to morwe .I. am so wery to speke of hir sorwe ¶ Bot fynally whan þat þe soþe is wist That Alla gilteles was of hir woo .I. trowe. an .C. times bene þei kist And suche a blisse is þere be-tuex hem two That saueþ þe ioy þat lasteþ euer mo There is none like þat any creature Haþ seen or schal while þe werlde maye dure ¶ Tho praide sche hir husbond mekly In releueinge of hir longe pitous pyne Þa he wolde praie hir fader s[p]ecialy That he of his hihe Magestee enclyne To vowchesaue som day wiþ him to dyne Sche praide him eke he scholde be no weie Vnto hire fader no worde of hir seie ¶ Som men wold sey howe þat þe Childe morice Doþ þis Message vn-to þis Emperour Bot as .I. gesse Alla was nouht so nyce To him þat was of so souereigne honoure As he þat is of cristen folke þe floure Sent any Childe but it is bet to deme He went him selfe and so it maie wele seme ¶ This Emperoure haþ graunted gentilly To come to denere as he him besouht And wele rede .I. he loked besyly. Vpon þis child. and on his douhter þouht Alla goþe to his Inne as him ouhte And array for þis feste in euery wise As ferforþe as his comynge maie suffise ¶ The morwe cam and Alla gan him dresse And eke his wif þis emperour for to mete And forþe þei redde in Ioy. and in gladnesse And whan sche seyhe hire fader in þe strete Sche lihteþ adoune and falleþ him to fete ffader quod sche ȝoure ȝonge childe Constance Is nowe ful clene oute of ȝoure remembrance ¶ .I. am ȝoure douhter Constance quod sche That whilome ȝe sente vnto Surrye It am .I. fader þat in salt see Was put alone and dampned for to dye Goode fader to ȝowe .I. crye Sende me no more[re interlined in red] in to heyþennesse Bot þonke my lorde here of his kindenesse ¶ Who kan þe pytous Ioy tellen all Be-twixe hem þree seþþen þei bue þus ymett Bot of my tale make an ende .I. schall The day goþe fast .I. wil no longer lette This gladde folke to denere þei hem sette In Ioy and blisse att þe mete .I. lete hem dwelle A. þousand folde wel mor þan .I. can telle ¶ Þis Childe Moris was siþen Emperour Maade be þe pope an leued Cristienly To Cristes chirche he dide grete honoure Bot I. lat al his storie passen bie Of Constance is my tale sekerlie In olde Romeyne gestes men mai finde Moris lif .I. bere it nouht in mynde ¶ This kinge Alla whan he his time seie Wiþ his Custance his holy wif so swete To Ingelonde bue þei comen þe riht weie Where as þei leue in Ioy and in quyete Bot litel while it lasteþ .I. ȝowe hete Ioy of þis werlde for time wil nouȝt abide ffro day to nyht it chaungeþ as þe tide ¶ Who so leueþ euer in suche delite a daie þat ne meued eyþer conscience Or ire or talent or sumkin afraie Envie or pride or passion or offense .I. ne saie bot þis ende þis sentense þat litel while in Ioy or in plesance Lasteþ þe blisse of alla wiþ Constance ¶ ffor deþ þat takeþ of hihe and louhe his rent Whan passed was a ȝere euen as .I. gesse Oute of þis werlde kinge Alla he hente ffore whome Constance haþe ful grete heuinesse Now latt vs preyne God his soule blisse And dam Constance fynally to seye To warde þe toune of Rome goþe hire weye ¶ To Rome is comen is comen þis holy creature And fyndeþe here frendes hole and sounde Now is sche scaped al hir a-venture Whan sche hir fader haþ founde Doune on hir knees falleþ sche to grounde Wepeinge for tendurnesse in hert bliþe Sche herieþ god a .C. þousand siþe ¶ In vertu and holy almosdede Thei leuen al. and neuer a sonder wende Til deþe depart hem þis lif þei lede An fare nowe wele my tale is att an ende Nowe ihesu criste þat of his myht maye sende Ioy after woo gouerne vs in his grace And kepe vs al þat bene in þis place Explicit fabula legis periti. Incipit prologus Armigeri.on leaf 79 OWre Ost vpon his stereps stode anone And seide goode men herkeneþ euerychone This was a þrefty tale for þe nones Sir pariche preste quod he for goddes bones Tel vs a tale as was þi forward ȝore .I. se welee þat ȝe lerned men in lore Can muchel goode be goddes dignite The person him anseward benedicite What eyley þe man so sinfuly to swere Owr oste anseward Iankin be ȝe þere .I. smel a loller in þe wynde quod he How good men quod oure oste herkeneþ me Abideþ for goddes deyne passione ffor we schal haue a predicacione This loller will prechen her sumwhat Nay be my fader sowle þat sal he nat Seid þe swyere her schal he nouht preche He schal no gospel glosen here ne teche He leueþ al in þe grete god he He wolde sowen sum difficulte Or sprengen cokel in oure clene corne And þar-for oste .I. warne þe be-forne Mi Ioly body . schal a tale tell And .I. schal klynken ȝow so mery a bell Þat .I. schal waken al þis compaignie Bot it schal not bien of philosophie Ne fisleas ne turnies queynte of lawe There is bot litel latine in my mawe[The Squire's Tale follows in the MS.] Explicit prologus. Incipit fabula.on leaf 79 Att Sarray in þe londe o Tartary . Ther dwelled a kinge þat werred Russy þoruhe whiche þere deyed mony a douhti man . þis nobil kinge was cleped Kambynskan Whiche of his time whas of so grete renone Thar þere nas nouhewere in no Regione So excellent a lorde in al þinge Him lakked nouh þat longed to a kenge As of þe secte of whiche þat he was borne He kepped his laye to whiche þat he was sworne And þer-to he was harde wise and riche And pytous and Iuste alwaie ylyche Soþe of his worde benigne and honurable Of his corage as any Centre stable.i. centrum celi. Ȝonge fressche and stronge in armes desirous[or circuli.] As any bachillier of al his house A faire person he was and fortunate And kepped alwaie so wele roiale astate Þat þer nas nouhewhere suche a man þis noble kinge þis tartaryn Cambynskan Had tuo sonnes on Eltheta his wif Of whiche þe eldest hiht Algarsif The toþer was cleped Camballo A douhte had þis worþi kinge also Þat ȝongest was and hiht Canace Bot for to tell ȝowe al hir beaute It liþe nouht in my tunge ne in myne sowneinge .I. dar nouht vnder-tak so hihe a þinge Myn ynglisse eke is insufficient It most bene a Rector excellent That couþe vse colours longeinge for þat art Ȝif he schold hire discryue any parte .I. am none suche .I. most speke as .I. can And so be-fel whan þat þis Cambynskan Haþe tuenty wynter borne his Diademe As he was wonte fro ȝere to ȝere [I deme] He lete þe feste of his Natiuite Done crien þoruhe Sarray his Cite Þe last Idus of Mars after þe ȝere Phebus þe sonne ful Ioly was and clere For he was nyhe his exaltacion In Martes face and his mansion In Aries þe Colerik þe hote signe Ful lusty was þe weder and benygne For whiche þe foules a-ȝein þe sone schene What for þe seson and þe ȝonge grene Ful loude songe hire affections Hem semed han geten hem protections Aȝeine þe swerde of wynter kene and colde This Kambynskan of whiche .I. haue ȝow tolde In Roial vestment sitte on his dese Wiþ Dyademe ful hihe in his paleyce And halt his feste solempne and so riche Þat in þis werld ne was þer none it lyche Of whiche if .I. schal tel al þe arraye Þan wolde it Occupie a somers daie And eke it nedeþ nouht to deuise Of euery cours þe order of hir seruise .I. wil nouht tel of hir strange sewese Ne of hir swannes ne of hire heronsewese Eke in þat londe as tellen knygtes olde Þer is sum mete þat is ful deynte holde þat in þis lande men reche bot smal Þere is no man þat maie reporten al .I. wil nouht tarien ȝow for it is prime For it is no fruyte bot losse of time In to my ferst purpos .I. wil haue my recours And so be-fel þat after þe þred cours While þat þis kinge sitte þus in his nobley Herkenynge his mynstralles here þinges pley Be-forne him att þe borde deliciously In at þe hall dore al sodeynly þere com a knyht vpon a stede of bras And in his honde a brode meroure of glas Vpon his þome he had of golde a renge And be his side a naked swerde hanginge. And vpe he rideþ to þe hihe borde In all þe hall ne was þere spoke a worde For merveile of þis knyht him to be-holde Full besily þei wayten ȝonge and olde This strange knyht þat cam þus sodanly Al armed saue his hed ful richelye Salued þe kinge þe qwene and þe lordes all Be order as þei seten in þe hall Wiþ so hihe reu[er]ence and obeissance als wele in speche as in countenance Þat Gawen wiþ his olde Curtasie Thouhe he come aȝeine oute of fayre Ne couþe him nouht amende wiþ no worde And after þis be-for þe hihe borde He wiþ a manly voice seide his mesage After þe forme vsed in his langage. With-oute vice of sillable or letter And for his tale scholde seme þe better Accordant to his wordes was his chiere As techeþ arte of speche hem þat it lere Albeit þat .I. ne can soune his stele Ne can nouht cleme ouere so hihe a stele Ȝit seie .I. þis as to comen entente Þus muche amonteþ al þat euere he mente If it so be þat .I. haue it in my mynde He saide þe kinge of arabie and of ynde My liege lorde on þis solempne daye Salueþ ȝowe as he best can and maie Ande sendeþ ȝowe in honour of ȝowre feste Be me þat am redie al att ȝoure heste This stede of bras þat Esily and wele Can in þe space of a daie Naturele This is to saie in .xxiiij. houres Where so ȝowh lust in drouht or in schoures Beren ȝoure body in to euery place To whiche ȝoure herte wilneþ for to pace Wiþ-oute wem of ȝowe þoruh foule or faire Or if ȝowe liste to flie as hihe in þe Eyre As doþ an E[g]le whan him list to sore Þis same stede schal bere ȝowe euer more Wiþ-oute harme til ȝe be þere ȝow list Thow þat ȝe slepen vpon his bak or rist And torne aȝeine wiþ writhinge of a pinne He þat it wrouht couþe ful mony a gynne He waited mony constillacion Or he had do þis operacion And knewe ful mony a seale and mony a bonde This Miroure eke þat .I. haue in myne honde Haþ suche a myh[t]e þat men maie in hit se Whan þere schal fal any aduersite Vn-to ȝoure Regne or to ȝoure self also And openly who is ȝoure frende or foo And oue al þis if any lady briht Haþe sette hire hert on any maner whiht If he be false [she] schal his treson see His newe loue and al his subtilite So oppenly þat þere schal no þinge hide Where-for aȝein þis lusti somer tide This mirrour and þis ringe þat ȝe maie see He haþe sent to my ladie Canacee Ȝowre excellent douhter þat is here The vertue of þis ringe if ȝe wil here Is þis þat if hire list it for to were Vpon hir þome or in hir purse it bere There is no foule þat flieþ vnder heuen Þat sche ne shal vnder-stonde his steuen And knowe his meneynge openly and pleyne And answere him in his langage aȝeine And euery grasse þat groweþ vpon rote Se schal wel knowe and whom it wil do bote Al be his wondes neuer so depe and wide ¶ This naked swerde þat hingeþ be my side Suche vertue haþ þat what man so it smyte þoruhe oute his armour it wil kerue and bite Were it as þikke as is a braunched oke And what man þat is wonded wiþ þe stroke Schal neuere be hole til þat ȝou list of grace To stroke him wiþ þe plat in þilke place There he is hurte þis is as muche to seine Ȝe most wiþ þe platte swerde a-ȝeine stroke him in þe wounde and it wil close This is a verrei soþe wiþ-outen glose It faileþ nouht whiles it is in ȝoure holde ¶ And whan þis knyht haþe þus his tale tolde He rideþe oute of þe hall and doune he liht His stede which þat schone as sonne briht Stant in þe courte stille as any stone Þis knyht is to his chambre lad anone And is armede and is to þe mete y-set The presentes bien ful richely .y-fett This is to seine þe swerde and þe mirrour And borne a-none vnto þe hihe toure Wiþ certeine oficeres y-ordeyned þere fore And vnto Canacee þe ringe is bore Solemply þer sche sit att þe table Bot sekurly wyþ-outen any fable The hors of bras þat maye nouȝt be remewed It stant as it were to þe grounde y-glewed Þer maie no man oute of þe place it driue For none engyne of windas or poliue And cause whi for þei can nouȝt þe craft And þer-for in þe place þei haue it laft Til þat þe knith haþe tauht hem þe manere To voyden him as ȝe schal after here Grete was þe pres þat swarmed to and fro To gauren on þis hors þat stondeþ so For it so hihe was and brode and longe So wele proporcioned for to be stronge Riht as it were a stede of lumbardie Ther-wiþ so horslye and so quik of eye As it a gentil poileys courser were For certes fro his taile vn-to his ere Nature ne art kouþe him nouht mende In no degre as al þe peple wende Bot euer-more here most wonder it was How þat it couþe gone and was of bras It was of faire as þe peple semed Diuerse folke diuersely haue demed As mony hedes as mony wittes þere bene þei mormorede as done a swarme of bene And maden skilles after hire fantasies Rehersinge of þe olde poetries And seide it was like to þe pegasee.i. equs pecasus[first, pedasdus] Þe hors þat hade wenges for to flee Or elles it was þe grekes hors Sinon Þat brouht troye to destructione As men þis olde gestes rede Myne herte quod one is euer-more in drede .I. trowe som men of armes bene þar inne That schapen hem þis Cite for to wynne It were riht good þinge þat al suche wer knowe Anoþere rowned to his felowe lowe And seide he lyed for it is raþer like An apparence made be some magik As Iogelours pleyne att þes festes grete Of sundry þinges þus þei Iangle and trete As lewed peple demeþ comunlye Of þinges þat bene more maad soubtillye Þan þei can in her lewdenes comprehende Þei demen gladdely to þe badder ende And some of hem wondren on þe myrroure þat borne was vpe vnto þe maister toure Howe men miht in it suche þinges see Anoþer ansewarde and seide it miht wele bee Naturaly be composicions Of Angeles and of slyhe reflexions And seide þat in Rome was suche one Þei speke of alocen and vitilione Of Aristotle þat write in hir liues Of wheynte merorous and of wheynte perspectiues As knowen þei þat hane hire bokes herde ¶ And oþer folke hane wondred on þe swerde Þat wolde perce þoruhe euery þinge And fel in speche of Theople þe kinge And of Achilles for his queinte spere For he couþe wiþ it boþe hele and dere Riht in suche wise as men mai wiþ þe swerde Of whiche riht nowe ȝe hauen ȝoure seluen herde Þei speken of sundri hardinge of Metal And speke of Medecines þer wiþ al And howe and whan it schold harded be Whiche is knowe algat vnto me Tho speke þei of Canace ringe And seyden al þat suche a wonder þinge Of craft of ringes herde þei neuer none Saue þat he Moyses and kinge Salomone Had a name of kunynge of suche arte Thus seine þe peple and drawen hem aparte Bot naþeles sum seide þat it was Wondre to maken of feren assche glas And ȝit is nouȝt glas not like Aschen of ferene Bot for þei han knowen it so ferne Ther-for ceseþ hir Iangelinge and hir wonder As sore wonder sum of cause of þonder On hepe on flode on gossomere and on myst And al þinge til he þe causes wist Þus Iangele þei and demen and deuise Til þat þe kinge gan fro his borde arise Phebus haþ laft þe angel Meredyonal And ȝit ascendinge was þe best Royal The gentil Lion wiþ his Aldrian Whan þat þis Tatre kinge Kambiuskan Ros fro his borde þer as he satt ful hihe Be-forne him goþe þe lowde Minstralcye Till he came vnto his chambre of paramentes Ther as þei sownen diuers In[s]trumentes Þat is like an heuen for to here Nowe dauncen lusti venus childern dere For in þe fissche her lady satt ful hihe And lokeþ on hem wiþ a frendely eye This noble kinge is sette vppon his trone This strange knyht is fette to him ful sone And on þe daunce he goþe wiþ Canacee Here is þe reuel and þe Iolyte þat is not able a dol man to deuise He most han knowe loue and his seruise And bene a festely man as fressche as maye þat scholde ȝowe devisen suche arraye. Who couþe tellen ȝowe þe forme of þe daunces So vnkouþe and suche frisshe contenance Suche lokeinges subtile. and dissimilignes For drede of Ielowsy mennes perceyueinges No man bot Launcelet and he is dede There-for .I. pas ouer of al þis lustihede .I. saie no more Bot in þis Iolines .I. lete hem to men to soper hem dres The stewarde biddeþ spices for to hihe And eke þe wine in al þis Melodye þe vssheres and þe esquiers bene y-gone The spices and þe wine be come a-none Thei ete and dronke and whan þis had an ende In to þe temple as reson was þei wende The seruice done þei sowpen al be daye What nedeþ ȝow rehersen hire arraye Iche man wote wele þat att þe kinges fest Haþ plente to þe maste and to þe lest And deinteþes mo þan be in my knowynge And affter soper goþ þis noble kinge To seen þis hors of bras wyþ al a route Of lordes and of ladis him aboute Suche was þere on þis hors of bras þat seþen þe grete sege of troy was Thar as men wonderden on an hors also Ne was þere suche a wondrynge as was þo Bot finaly þe kinge axeþ þis knyht þe vertue of þis courser and þe myht And praied him to tel his gouernance The hors anone began to trippe and daunce Whan þat þe knyht laide honde vpon þe ryne And seide sir þer is no mor to seine Bot whan þe luste to ride any where Ȝe most trill a pinne þat stant in his ere Whiche .I. schal tel ȝow be-twene vs tuo Ȝe mot neuen him to what place also Or to what cuntre þat ȝoue lust to ride And whan ȝe come þere as ȝe lust to abide Bid him descende and tril anoþere pinne For þere-in liþe þe effect of al þe ginne And wil doune descende and done ȝowre will And in þat place he wil abide still If al þe werld had þe contrarie swore He schal not þens be þrowe ne bore Or if þu luste bidde him þens gone Tril þis pinne and he wil vanessche a-none Owte of þe siht of euery maner whiht And come aȝeine be it daie or nyht Whan þat ȝowe lust to klepen him aȝeine In suche a gise as .I. schal to ȝowe seine Betwexen ȝowe and me and þat ful sone Ride whan ȝow luste þer is no more to done Enformed whan þe kinge was of þe knyht And haþe conseyued in his witte a riht The manere and þe forme of all þis þinge Ful glad and bliþe þe noble douhti kinge Repeiringe to his reuel as be-forne The bridel is in to þe toure y-borne And kepped amonge his Iewels leue and dere The hors vanissed .I. not in what manere Owte of her siht ȝe gette no mor of me Bot þus .I. lete in lust and Iolite þis kambynscan his lordes festinge Til wele nyhe þe daie be-gan to springe[One line blank in the MS.] [PART II.] The norice of digestion is slepe Gan on hem winke and bad hem take kepe That muche mete and labur wold haue rest And wiþ a galpinge mouþe he al hem kest And seide þat it was time to lye a-downe For blode was in his dominacione Chiriseþ blode naturs frende quod he Thei þonken him galpinge be two be þre An euery whiht gan drawene him to his rest As slepe hem bad þei toke it for þe best Hir dremes schal nouht be told for me Ful was here heuedes of fumosite That causeþ dreme of wiche þer is no charge Thei slepen til it was prime large The most parte bot it were Canace Sche was ful mesurable as wemmen be For of hir fader had sche take hir leue To go to rest sone after it was eue Hir lust nouȝt apalled for to bue For on þe morwe vnfestlyche for to se And sleped hir furst slepe and wooke For suche a ioye sche in hire hert toke Boþe of hir wheynte ringe and of hir meroure Þat twenty times sche chaunged hir coloure And in hir slepe riht for impressione Of hir meroure sche hadde a visione Where for or þat þe sonne vp gan glide Sche cleped vpon hire Maistres hire be-side And seide þat hir luste for to rise Thes olde wemme þat bene gladly wise As is her Maistres answard hire anone And seide Madame wheder wil ȝe gone Thus erely folke been al in rest .I. wil quod sche arise for me lest No longer slepe bot to walken aboute Hire Maistres clepeþe wimmen a grete route And vp þei resen wele ten or twelue Vp riseþ ffrische Canacee hire selue As Rody and briht as þeyhe þe ȝonge sonne þat in þe ram ten degres is vp ronne Noon hier was he whan sche redy was And forþ sche walkeþ esili apase Arraid afte þe lusti seson suote Lyhtly for to pleye and walk on fote Not bot .v. or .vj. of hir Meinȝe For in a trenche fere in þe parke goþ sche The vapor whiche þat fro þe erþe glode Makeþ þe sonne to seme rody and brode Bot naþeles it was so faire a siht Þat it maad all hir hertes for to liht What for þe seson and þe morneynge And for þe foules þat sche herde singe For riht anone sche wist what þei mente Riht be hir songe and knowe al her entente The knotte whi þat euery tale is tolde If it be taried til lust be colde Of hem þat han it herkened after ȝore The sauoure passeþe euer þe langere more For fulsomnesse of prolixite And be þis same reson þenkeþ me .I. schol vnto þe knotte condescende And make of hire walkinge sone an ende Amydde a tree for-drie as white as chalke As Canacee was pleyinge in hir walke Ther sat a fawcon ouer hir heued ful hihe That wiþ a pitous voice so gan to crie That al þe woode resed of hire Crie [And beten hadde hire self so pitouslye] wiþ boþe hire wenges til þe rede blode Ran endlonge þe tre þer as sche stode And euer in one sche cried alweie and schryht And wiþ hir beke hire seluen so sche piht þat þere ne was tigre ne cruel beste þat dwelleþ eyþer in wode or in foreste þat nolde haue wepped If þat wepe he couþe For sorwe sche shreyht for hir alweie so lowþe For þar nas neuer ȝit man on liue If þat .I. couþe a faukon wele discriue þat herd of suche anoþer of fairnes As wele of plumage as of gentilnes Of schap of þat þat myht rekened be A faukon peregryne þan semed sche Of fremed londe and euer-more as sche stode Sche swowned now and now for lak of blode Til wel nyhe is sche fallen fro þe tree This faire kinges douhter þis Canace þat on her finger bare þe wheynte ringe Thorwe whiche sche vnderstod wele euery þinge þat any foule may in his leden seine And kowde ansewere him in his leden aȝeine Haþe vnderstonde þat þis faukon seide And wel nyhe for reuþe almoste sche deide And to þe tre sche goþe ful hastely And on þis faukon loked ful pitously . And held hir lap abrode for wele sche wist The fawkon most fal fro þe twyst Whan þat it swoned next for lak of blode A longe while to waite hire sche stode Til att þe last sche spak in þis manere Vnto þe hauke as ȝe schal after here ¶ What it þe cause if it be to tell That ȝe bue in þis furial peine of hell Quod Canacee vnto þis hauke aboue Is þis for sorwe of deþe or losse of loue For as [I] trowe þes bene causes two Þat Causen moste a gentil hert woo Of oþer harme it redeþ not to speke For þi ȝoureselfe vpon ȝoure self ȝowe wreke Whiche þat proueþ wele þat eyþer ire or drede Mot bene encheson of ȝoure crewel dede Sen þat .I. see none oþer whiht ȝoue chace For loue of god so do ȝowre self grace Or what maye be ȝoure helpe for west nor este Ne sawhe .I. neuere ar nowe no brid no beste That ferd wiþ him self so pitously Ȝe slee me wiþ ȝoure sorwe verrayly .I. haue of ȝowe so grete compassione For goddes loue com fro þe tre a-downe And as .I. am a kinges douhter trewe If þat .I. verrayly þe cause knewe Of yowre disease if laie in my myht .I. wold amend it or þat it wer nyht As wissely helpe me grete god of kinde And herbes schal .I. riht y-nowe finde To hele wiþþe ȝowre hurtes hastely Tho schright þis faukon more pitously Than euer sche dede and fel to grounde a-none And lieþ on swowne dede as any stone This Canace haþe in hir lappe hir take Vn-to þat time sche gan of swoune a-wake And after þat sche of swowne gan a-braide Riht in hir haukes loden þus sche seid That pite renneþ sone in gentil hert Feleynge is similitude in peines smert Is proued al daie as men maie it see As wele be werke as be auctorite For gentil hert kepeþ gentillesse I. see wele þat ȝe hane of me destresse Compassione my faire Canacee Of verrey wommanly benyngnite Þat nature in ȝoure principles haþe sett Bot for no hope for to fare þe bett Bot for to obeie vnto ȝoure hert fre And for to maken oþere be war be me As be þe whelpe chastized es þe lyon Riht for þat cause and for þat conclusion While þat .I. haue a leiser and a space. Myne harme .I. wil confessen ar .I. pace And euer while þat one hire sorwe tolde þe toþer weped as sche to water wolde Til þat þe faukon bad hir to be still And wiþ a sike þus sche seide hir till There .I. was bred alas þat ilke daie And fosterd in a roche of Marble graie So tenderly þat no þinge eyled me .I. wist nouht what was aduersite Til .I. kouþe flie ful hihe vnder þe skye Tho dwelled a tarselet me fast bye Þat semed wele of al gentillesse Al were he ful of treson and of falsenesse It is wrapped vnder humble charite And vnder hiewe of trowþe and in suche manere Vnde[r] plesance and vnder besi peine Þat no wyht couþ haue wende he couþ feyne So depe in greine he deiede his coloures Riht as a serpent hideþ him vnder floures til he may se his time for to bite Riht so þis god of loue Ipocrite Doþe so his cerimonijs and obeiceances And keped in semblant al his obseruances And souneþ in to gentilles of loue As in to a tombe is al þe faire a-boue And vnder is þe cours suche as .I. wote Swyche was þis ypocrit boþe colde and hoote And in þis wise he serued his entent þat saue þe fende no man wist what he mente Til he so longe had wepen a[n]d compleyned And mony a ȝere his seruice to me feyned Til þat myne herte to pytous and to nyce Al Innoce of his crowel malice For-fered of his deþ as þouht me Vpon his oþes and his surete Graunted him loue vpon þis condicione þat euer mo myn honoure and renoune Were saued boþ priue and aperte This is to seine þat after his desert .I. ȝaf him al myn herte and al myn þouht God woote and he and oþer wise nouht And toke his hert in chaunge of myne for aye Bot soþe is seide gon siþen mony a daye A trew wihte and a þefe þenkeþ nat one And whan he sawe þe þinge so fer y-.gone That .I. graunted him fully my loue In suche a gise as .I. haue seide a-boue And ȝeuen him my trewe herte as fre As he swore he ȝaue his hert to me Anone þis Tigre ful of doublenesse Fele on his knees wiþ so deuoute humblesse With hihe reuerence and as be his chier So like a gentil louere of manere So rauesshed as it semed for þe Ioye þat neuer Iason ne Paris of troye Iason certes ne none oþere man Syn lameþ was þat alþer first be-gan To louen two as writen folke by-forne Ne neuer siþe þe first manne was borne Ne couþe man be tuenty þousand parte Counterfete þe sophimes of his arte Ne war worþi to vnbokle his galoche Ther dowblenesse or feyneinge schold aproche Ne so kouþe þonke a whight as he did me His maner was an heuen for to see Til any womman were sche neuer so wise So peynted he and kembeþ att pinte deuise Als wele is worde as his countenance And .I. so loued him for his Obeissance And for þe treuþe .I. demed in his herte That if so were þat any þinge him smerte Al ware it neuer so litel and .I. it wiste Me þouht .I. felt deþ att myne hert twiste And schortly so fer forþe þis þinge went þat my will haþ his willes Instrument This to seine my will obeide his will In al þinge as fer as reson fill Kepeinge þe boundes of my worschip euere Ne neuer had .I. þinge so lefe ne leuere As him; god woote ne neuer schal no mo This last longer þan a ȝere or two That .I. supposed of him no þinge bot goode Bot finaly þus att þe laste it stode That fortune wolde þat he most twynne Owte of þat place whiche þat .I. was inne Where me was woo it is no questione .I. kan nouȝt make of hit discripcione For o þinge dar .I. tell boldely .I. knowe what is þe peine of deþe þer-by Suche harme .I. felte for he ne myht be-leue So on a daye of me he toke is leue So sorwfully eke þat .I. wende verrayly That he had feled as muche harme as .I. Whan þat .I. herd him speke and sawe his hiewe Bot naþeles .I. þouht he was so trewe And eke þat he repaire scholde agayne Wiþ inne a lite while soþe to seine And reson wolde eke þat he mot go For his honour as oft happeþ so þat maade vertue of necessite And toke it wele seþþe þat it most be As .I. best myht .I. hidde fro him my sorwe And toke him by þe honde seint Iohn to borwe And seid þus. lo .I. am ȝoures al Beþe suche as .I. haue. bue to ȝowe and schal What he answarde it nedeþ nouht reherse Who can sei bet þan he whou kan do werse Whan he haþ al wele seide þan haþ he done Ther-for be-houeþ him a ful longe spone þat schal eten wiþ a fende þus herd .I. seie So att þe last he mote forþe his weye And forþe he flyeþ til he cam where him liste Whan it com him to purpos for to riste. I trowe he hadde þilke text in mynde. Þat al þinge repaireinge to his kinde Gladeþ him selfe þus seine men as .I. gesse Men loue of propre kinde newefangelnesse As birdes done þat men in cage fede For þouhe þe nyht and daie take of hem hede And strewe hir cage faire and soft as silke And ȝiue hem suger hony brede and melke Ȝit riht anone as þat his dore is huppe He wiþþe wiþ his fete wi[l] sporne doune his cuppe And to þe wode he wil and wermes ete So new fongel be þei of her mete And louen none leueres of propre kinde Ne gentilles of maie hem binde So ferde þis tarselet alas þis daie þouhe he ware gentil borne frische and gaie And goodly for to see and humble and free He sawe vp-on a time a kite fle And sodanly he loued þis kite soo þat al his loue is clene fro me goo And haþ his trouþe falsed in þis wise þus haþe þe kite my loue in her seruise And .I. am lorne wiþ-oute remedie And wiþ þat worde þis fawkon gan to crie And swowned eft in Canace barme Grete was þe sorwe of þat haukes harme That Canacee and al hir wemmen maade Thei nest howe þat þei myht þe faukon glade Bot Canace home bereþ hir in lappe And softely in plastres gan hir wrappe þer as sche wiþe hire beke hadde hert hir selue Nowe can nouȝt Canace bot herbes delue Oute of þe grounde and maken salues newe Of herbes precious and fyne of hewe To helen wiþ þe hauke fro daie to nyht Sche doþe hire besines and al hir myht And be hir beddes hede sche maade a mewe And couerd it wiþ veluetes blewe In singne of treuþe þat is in wemme[n] seene. And al wiþe-oute þe mewe is peynted grene In whiche war peynted as þis fals fowles As bien þis tideues tarseletz and owles. Riht for dispite was peinted hem by side Pyes on hem for to crie and Chide Thus lete .I. Canace hir hauke kepeinge .I. wil no more nowe speke of hire ringe Til it come eft to purpos for to seine Howe þat þis fawkon gatt hir loue aȝeine Repentant as þe storie telleþ vs Be Mediacion of Camballus þe kinges son of whiche .I. ȝowe tolde Bot hense forþe .I. wil proces holde To speken of aventures and of batailes þat ȝit was neuer herde so grete merveiles ffirst wil .I. tell ȝowe of Cambynskan That in his time mony a Cite wan And after wil .I. speke of Algarsif Howe þat he wanne Theodora to his wif For whan ful oft in grete perile he was Ne had he bue holpen be þe hors of bras And after wil .I. speke of Camballo Þat fauht in listes wiþ þe breþerne tuo ffor Canace ar þat he my[ht] hir wynne And þere .I. left .I. þenke aȝeine be-gynne Bot .I. wil here nowe maake a knotte[8 spurious lines] To þe time it come next to my lotte For here be felawes behinde an hepe treulye þat wolden talke ful besilye And haue her sporte as wele as .I. And þe daie passeþ fast certanly Therefore oste takeþ nowe goode heede Who schall next tell and late him speede Explicit fabula Armigeri. GROUP D. FRAGMENT V. § 1. WIFE OF BATH'S PREAMBLE. LANSDOWNE MS. Incipit prologus vxoris/. de Bathe.on leaf 87 THan schortly ansewarde þe wife of Bathespurious link And swore a wonder grete haþespurious link Be goddes bones .I. wil tel nextspurious link .I. will nouht glose bot saye þe textspurious link Experiment þouhe none auctorite Where in þis werlde is riht y-nouhe for me To speke of woo þat is in mariage For lordeinges sen .I. twelue ȝere was of Age Þonked be god þat eterne alyue Hosbondes att þe cherche dor .I. haue hadde five If .I. so oft myht haue wedded be Bot al were worþi men in here degre. Bot me was tolde certein nouȝt longe a-gon es Þat seþen criste ne went neuer bot ones To weddeinge in þe Cane of Galile That be þilke ensample tauht he me Þat .I. ne scholde wedded bue bot ones Herke eke loo suche a scharpe worde for þe nones Be side a well ihesu god and man Spak in repreue of þe Samaritan Þou hast hi-hadde fyve husbondes quod he And þat ilke man þat nowe haþe þe Is nouht þin husbonde þus seide he serteine What he ment þerby .I. kan nouht seine Well . Bot þat .I. ax. whi þe fift mane Was none husbonde to þe Semaritane How many myht sche haue in mariage Ȝit herd .I. neuer tell in myne age vpon þis nombre diffinicione Men maie devine and glosene vp and downe Bot wele .I. wote expresse wiþ-oute lye God bad vs wax and multiplye Þat gentil tixt can .I. wele vnder-stonde Eke wele .I. he seide myn husbonde Scholde lete fader and moder and tak to me Bot of no nombre mencione maade he Of bygamy or of octagamye Whi scholde y þan of it haue velanye Loke here þe wisman kinge Salomon .I. trowe he had wyues mo þan one Now wolde god it leuefull were to me To be refresched half so oft as he Whiche ȝift of god had he for al his wyves No man haþe suche þat in þis werld on lyue is God wote þis noble kinge as to my witt Þe first nyht he hadde mony a mery fitt Wiþ iche of hem so wele was him on live Blissed be god þat .I. haue wedded fyue Welcome be þe sext whan þat euer he schall For soþe .I. wil nouȝt kepe chaste in all Whan myn husbonde is from þe werlde gone Son cresten man schal wedde me a-none For þan þe Apostle seiþe þat .I. am fre To wedde on goddes halue where it likeþ me He seiþe to be wedede is no sinneMelius est nubere quam vri Better is to be wedded þan to berne What rekkeþe me þouhe folke seie velanye Of schrewed lameþ and his Bigamye .I. wote wele Abraham was an holy man And Iacob eke as fer as euere y kan And eche of hem had wyves mo þan tuo And mony anoþer holy man also Wher can ȝe seye in any maner age Þat vs god defended Mariage Be expresse worde .I. praie ȝowe telleþ me Or where commaunded he virginite .I. wote as wele as ȝe it is no drede The Apostle whan he spekeþe of Maidenhede He seide þere-of precept had .I. none Men mai consel a womman to bene one Bott counseillinge is no comandement He put it in owre owen Iugement For had god commanded maidenhede þan hadde he dampned wedinge wiþ þe dede And certes if þere were no sede .I.-sowe virginite þan where-of schold it growe Poule dorst nouht commanden att þe leste A þinge of whiche his maistre ȝaf him none heste The darte is sett vp for virginitee Chase who so maye . who so renneþ best let see Bot þis worde is nouht take of euery whiht Bot þere as god wolde gif it of his myht .I. wote wele þat þe Apostle was a maide Bot Naþeles þouhe þat he wrote or saide He wolde þat euery wight were suche as he All ne is bot counseill to virginite And for to be a wif he ȝaue me leue Of Indulgence so is it of no repreue To wedde me if þat my . make dye Wiþ-oute excepcione of bigamye Al were it goode no womman for to touche He ment as in his body or his couche For perill is boþe to touche and for to assemble Ȝe knowe what þis ensample maie resemble Þis all and somme he helde virginite Mor perfite þan wedded in frelete. Freelte clepe .I. nouht bot þat he and sche Wolde lede here life al in chastite .I. graunte it wele .I. haue none envye þouhe maidenhed prefer bygamye It likeþ hem to be clene in body and goste Of myne astate .I. wil make no boste For wele ȝe knowe a lorde in his housholde Haþe nouht euery vessel of golde Some biene of tree and done lorde seruise God clepeþ folke to him in sunder wise And eueryche haþ of god a proper ȝift Som þis. som þat. as him likeþ to schift Virginite is grete perfectione And conscience eke wiþ deuocione Bot crist þat of perfection is well Bad nouht euery whight he schold sell All þat he hadde and ȝiue it to þe pore And in suche wise folowe him and his lore He spak to hem þat wolden leue perfitelye And lordeynges be ȝoure leue þat am nouȝt .I. .I. wyl be-stowe þe flowre of al myne age In charite and fruyte of Mariage Tel me also to what conclusione Were membres maade of generacione And of so perfit wise and why y-wrouht Tresteþ riht wele þei were nouht maad for nouht Glose who so will and sei boþe vp and doune þat þei were maad for purgacione Of vryne. and owre boþe þinges smale Were eke to knowe a female frome a male And for none oþere cause what seie ȝe noo þe experience woote it is nouȝt soo So þat þe clerkes be not wiþ me wroþe .I. sei þis þet þei maked bue for boþe þis is to seine for Office and for ese Of engenderinge þere we nouht god displese Whi scholden men elles in hire bokes sette þat man schal ȝelde to his wife his dette Nowe where-wiþ scholde he paye his payment If þat he ne vsed his sely instrument Than were þei maade vpon a creature To purge vryne and eke for engendrure Bot .I. sei nouȝt þat euery wyht is holde þat haþe suche hernays as .I. to ȝow of tolde To gone and vsen hem in engendrure Than scholde men take of chastite no cure Criste was a mayden and schapen as a man And mony a seinte soþþ þat þis werlde began Ȝit leued þei euer in perfite charite .I. nyl envye wiþ no virginite Lete hem ete brede of pured whete sed And late vs wyues ete barly brede And ȝit wiþ barly brede Marke tel can Owre lorde ihesu refrissched mony a man In suche astate þat god haþ cleped vs .I. wil perseuere .I. am nouht precious In whifehode wil .I. vse myne Instrument As frely as my maker haþ it sent If .I. be daungerous god gif me sorwe Myne husbond schal it haue boþe eue and morwe Whan þat him luste com forþe and paie his dette An husbond .I. wil haue .I. wil not lette Whiche schal be boþe my dettour and my þrall And haue his tribulacione wiþ all¶ Ad Corinthios .vijo. vir sui corporis potes|tatem non habet set mulier. Vpon his flesche while þat .I. am his wif .I. haue þe powere dureinge al my lif Vpon his propre body and not he Riht þus þe Apostle tolde to me And bad owre husbondes for to loue vs wele Al þis sentens me likeþ euery dele Vp stert þe pardoner and þat anone Nowe dame quod he be god and be seinte Iohn Ȝe bue a noble prechoure in þis cas .I. was aboute to wed a wif alas What schold .I. by it on my flesche so dere Ȝit had .I. leuere none wedde to ȝere Abide quod sche Mi tale is nouȝt be-gonne Nay þou schalt drinken of a noþere tonne Are þat .I. go schal sauere wers þan ale And whan þat .I. haue tolde forþe my tale Of tribulacione in mariage Of whiche .I. am experte in myne age This is to seye Mi-self haþ be þe whippe þan maist þou chese weder þou wilt scippe Thilke tonne þat .I. schal a-broche Be ware of it er þou to nyhe aproche For [I] schal tell ensamples mo þan tenne Wo so þat wil be war of oþere menne Be him schal oþer men correct be þis same wordes writeþe tholome Ride in his almagist and take it þere Dame .I. praye ȝowe if ȝoure wil were Said þis pardoner as ȝe began Tel forþ ȝowre tale spare for no man And teche vs ȝonge men of ȝoure practike Gladly quod sche if it maie ȝowe like Bot þat .I. praie to al þis compaignye If þat .I. speke after my fantasie As takeþe not a greue of þat .I. saie For myne entent is nouht bot for to pleie Nowe sires þan schal .I. tel ȝowe my tale As euere most .I. drink wyne or ale .I. schal seie soþe þe husbondes þat I. had As þre of hem were riht good and tuo were badde The þre were godemen and riche and olde Vnneþ myht þei þe state holde In whiche þei were bounden vnto me Ȝe wote wele what .I. mene of þis parde As god me help .I. lauhe whan .I. þinke Howe pytously a nyht .I. maade hem swynke Bot be me feie .I. told of hit no store þei hadde me ȝeue hir londe and here tresore Me neded nouȝt do longer diligence To wynne her loue and done hem reuerence Thei loued me so wele be god aboue þat .I. ne tolde no deynte of here loue A wise womman wil bisie hire euere in one To gete hire loue ȝe þare as sche haþe none Bot seþþe .I. hadde hem holy in myne honde And siþþe þat þei hadde ȝif me al hir londe What schold .I. take hem for to plese Bot if it were my profit and myne ese Bot .I. set hem so awerke be my faye þat mony a nyht þei songen walawaye The bacon was nouȝt fette for hem .I. trowe That sum men haue in Essexe att Donnemowe I gouerne hem so wele after my lawe That iche of hem ful blisful was and fawe To bringe me gay þinges fro þe fayre Knyves ringes and purces wel fayre For god it wote .I. chidde hem spitously Nowe herkeneþe howe .I. bare me propu[r]ly Ȝe wise wyves þat can vnder-stonde Thus scholde ȝe speke and bere hem wronge on honde For halue so boldely þer can no man Swere and lye as a womman can .I. seie nouht þis be wives þat bue wise Bot it be whan þet þei hem mis-avise A wise wif schal if þat sche can hire gode Bere him on honde þat þe cowe is wode And take wittenes of hire owen maide Of hir assent Bot herkeneþe how .I. saide Sir olde keynard þis is þin arraie Whi is my neihbors wif so gaie Sche is honoured ouer al wher sche goþe .I. sette att home .I. haue no þrifty cloþe What dedest þou att myn neihbors house Is sche so feire ert þou so amerouse What roune ȝe wiþ oure maide benedicite Sire olde lichour lat þi Iapes bue And if .I. haue a gossib or a frende Wiþ-oute gilte ȝe chide as a fende Ȝif þat .I. walk or pleie in-to his house Thowe comest home as dronke as mouse An prechest on þi bynche wiþ yuel preue Tho seid to me it is a grete Meschief To wedde a pouer womman for costage And if þat sche be riche of grete parage Þan seist þat it is a tormentrie To suffur hire pride and malancolie And if þat sche be faire þou verre knave Thow seiste þat euery hullur will hir have Sche maie no while in chastite abide That is assaide vpon iche a side Thowe seiste som folke desire us for oure richesse Som for oure schappe and some for owre fairenesse And sum for sche kan eyþer singe oþere daunce Þus seyse þou wernard god ȝeue þe meschaunce Some for her hondes and her armes smale Þus goþe al to þe deuel be þi tale Þou seiste men maie nouȝt kepe a castel wall It maye so longe assailed be ouer all And. if þat sche be foule þou seist þat sche coueteþe euery man þat sche maie see For as a spanyel sche wil on him lepe Til þat sche finde sum man þat wil hir chepe Ne none so grei goos goþe þere in þe lake As seiste þou þat wil bue wiþ-owten make And seist it is an harde þinge for to welde A wyght þat no man wil his þonkes helde Thus seiste þou lorel whan þou gost to bedde And þat no wise man nedeþ for to wedde And no man þat entendeþ to þe heuene Wiþ wilde þonder dint and fire leuene Mot þi welked nekke be to-broke Thow seist þat dropinge howses and eke smoke And chidinge wyves maken men to flye Owte of her owen house a benedicite What eyleþe suche an holde man for to chide þou seist we wiues wil owre vices hide Til we be fast and þan we wil hem schewe Wele maie þis be a prouerbe of a schrewe Thou seist þat oxen assen hors and houndes þei buen assaide att diuers stoundes Basyns lauours er þat men hem bye Spones stoles and suche husbondrie And so buen cloþes pottes and oþere araies Bot aren of wemmen maked none assaies Til þei be wedded olde dotard schrewe And seystowe we wil þan owre vices schewe Thou seiste also þat it displeseþ me Bot if þou wilt preis my beute And bot þou poure alwei vpon my face And clepe me faire dame in euery place Bot þou make a fest on þilke daie Þat .I. was borne and make me frische and gaie And bot þou do to my Norise honoure And to my chambre wiþ-inne my boure An to my faders folke and his allyes Thus seist þou olde barel full of lyes And ȝit of oure prentise Iankyn For his crispe here schyneinge so gold fine And for he swyers me boþe vp and downe Ȝit hast þou þouht and false suspecione .I. will him nouht þouhe þowe were dede to morue Bot tel me þis whi hides þou wiþ sorwe The kayes of þi kist aweie fro me .It. is my good as wele as þine parde What wenes þou maake an Ideot of owr dame Nowe be þat lorde þat calle is seint Iame Thowe schalt nouht boþe þouhe þat þou were wode Be maistre of Mi body and my goode Þat on þou schalt for-goo mawgreve þine eyȝen What helpeþ it on me enquere and spien .I. trowe þouhe þou woldest loke me in þi chist Þou schold seie wif go where as ȝow liste Take ȝowre disporte .I. wil not leue no tales .I. knowe ȝow for a good wif Dam Ales We loue no man þat take kepe or charge Where þat we go we will be at owre large Of al men blissed mot he be The wise Astrologen Dam Ptholome That seiþ þis prouerbe in his Almagest Of al men his wisdome is hiest Þat rekkeþ nouht who haþ þis werlde in honde Be þis prouerbe þou schalt wele vnde-stonde Haue þoue .I.-nowhe what þare þe rekke or kare Howe merely þat oþe[r] folke fare For certes olde dotterd be ȝoure leue Ȝe schal haue qweynte riht. ynowhe att eue He is to grete a nigarde þat wil warne A man to lyht a candel att his lanterne He schal haue neuere þe lesse liht parde Haue þou .I.-nowhe þe þar not pleine þe Thou seiste also þat if þou make vs gaie Wiþ Cloþeinge or wiþ precious araye þat it is peril of owre chastite And ȝit wiþ wordes þou moste enfors me And seie þes wordes in þe Apostles name In Abite maad wiþ chastite and schame Ȝe wemmen schold apparel ȝowe quod he And nouȝt in tressede here and gay perre As perel ne wiþ gold ne cloþes riche Aftere þi tixte ne after þi rubriche .I. wil nout wirke as muche as a gnatte Thou seide als þat .I. was like a catte Bot who so wolde seigne a catte scynne þat wolde þe cat wele dwelle in his Inne And if þe catt skynne be skyke and gaie Sche nil nouht dwel in house halue a daie Bot forþe sche will or any daie be dawede To schewe hir scynn and go a Caterwawede This is to sei .If .I. be gaie sir sch[A letter has been scratcht out after the h in this word.] ewe .I. wil rinne out My borell for to sschewe Sire olde foole whatte helpeþ þe to spyen Theihe þou preie Argus wiþ his hondred eyȝenArgus habuit C oculos To be my wardecors as he can best In feiþe he schal nouȝt kepe me bot if me list Ȝite couþe .I. maake his berde so mut .I. þe Thow seist eke þat þere be þinges þre The whiche þinges troublen al þis erþe And þat no whiht ne maye endure þe ferþe O leue sir schrewe ihesu schort þi lif ȝet prechest þou and seist an hateful wif .I.-reknyd is for on of þis meschaunces Bene þere none oþer maner resemblaunces That ȝe maie likken ȝowre parables to Bot ȝif a sely wif be on of þo Thou likenest wommannes loue to hell To Bareine londe þer water maie not dwelle Thou likenest it also to wilde fire þe more it berneþ þe more it haþe desire To consume any þinge þat brent wolde bee þou seist riht as wermes schendeþ a tree Riht so a wif distreyeþ hir husbonde This knowe þei þat bue to wyues bonde ¶ Lordeynges riht þus as ȝe haue vnder-stande Bare .I. stifly myne olde hu[s]bondes on hande þat þus þei seiden in her drunkennes And þat he had suspecion and Ielousenes On Iankyn and on my nefe also O lorde þe peine .I. ded hem and þe woo Ful giltelesse be goddes swete pine For as an hors .I. couþe boþe bite and whyne .I. couþe pleine. and .I. was in þe gilte Or elles oft time .I. had bue spilte Who-so þat first to mell comeþ first grindeþ .I. pleyned first so .I. owre werre stinteþ Thei were ful gladde to excusen hem ful bliue Of þinge whiche þei gilt neuer her lyue Of wenches wolde .I. beren hem on honde Whann þat for seke vnneþ þei myht stonde Ȝit tikeled .I. his hert for þat he Wend .I. hadde of him so grete cherte .I. swore þat al my walkynge be nyht Was to aspye wenches þat he diht Vnder þat colour had .I. mony a myrþe For al suche witte is ȝeue us in owre birþe Desceite wepeynge spynnynge . god haþe ȝeue¶ Fallere flere nere dedit deus in Muliere To womman kindely while þat þei maie leue And þus of o þinge .I. auaunt me Att þe ende .I. had þe beste in yche degre Be sleyȝt or force or be sum manere þinge As by continuel murmur or grucchinge Namely abedde had þei muschaunce Ther wolde .I. chide and do hem no plesance .I. wolde no longer in þe bedde abide If þat .I. felte his arme ouer my side Til he had made his raunson vn-to me Than wolde .I. suffre him do his nycete ¶ And þer-for euery man þis tale .I. telle Wyue who so maie al her for to sell Wiþþe empty hande men may none haukes lure For wynynge wold .I. al his lust endure And make me a feyned appetite And ȝit in bacon had .I. neuere delyte That maked me þat euer y wolde him chide For þouhe þe pope had sette him be side I wold nouȝt spare him att his owene borde For be my trouþe .I. white him worde for worde As helpe me verrei gode omnipotent þouhe .I. scholde riht nowe make my testament .I. ne hawe him a worde þat it nes quitte .I. brouht it so aboute be my witte þat he mot ȝeue it vp as for þe best Or elles had we neuer bue in rest For þouhe he loked as a lyone Ȝit scholde he faile of his conclusione þan wolde .I. sei goode leue take kepe Howe Mekely lokeþ wilkin owre schepe Com nere my spouse lat me ba þi cheke Ȝe scholle be al pacient and meke And hane a swete spiced conscience Sen ȝe so preche of Iobis pacience Suffreþ al-weie synne ȝe so wel can preche And bot ȝe do certeine we schol ȝowe teche þat it is faire to haue a wif in pes One of vs mote bowen douteles And siþþe a man is more resonable Than womman is sir ȝowe must be more suffreable What eyleþ ȝowe to gruche þus and grone Is it for ȝe wolde haue myn queynte alone Whi take it al lo haue it euery dele Petere .I. schrewe ȝowe bot ȝe loue me wele For. if .I. wolde selle my bele chose .I. couþe walke as fresche as a rose Bot .I. wil kepe it for ȝoure owen toþe Ȝe be to blame be god .I. saie ȝow soþe Suche maner wordes had we on honde ¶ Now wil .I. speke of my ferþe husbonde My ferþe husbonde was a reueloure This is to sey he had a paramour And .I. was ȝonge and ful of ragerie Stiborne and stronge and Ioly as a pye Lorde howe couþe .I. daunce to an harpe smale And singe .I.-wis as any nyhten-gale Whan .I. hadde dronke a drawht of swete wyne Metelinge þe foule cherle þe swyne That wiþ a staf beraft his wif here lyf For sche dranke wyne. þouhe .I. had bue his wif Ne scholde he nouht haue daunted me fro drinke And after wyne of venus must .I. þinke For also seker as colde engendereþ haile A likerous mouþe most haue a likerous taile In womman vi[n]olent is no defence þis knowen lichours bue experience Bot lorde criste whan þat it remembreþ me Vpon my ȝouþe. and my Iolyte. It tikeleþ me aboute myne herte Rote Vnto þis daie it doþ myne hert bote That .I. haue had my werlde as my time Bot age alas þat all wil envenyme Haþe me be-raft my beaute and my piþþe Lat go fare wele þe deuel go þere wiþþe The floure is gone þere is no more to telle Þe bran as .I. best can nowe mot .I. selle Bot ȝit to be riht merye wolde .I. fonde Now forþe to tell of my ferþe husbonde .I. sei .I. had in herte grete dispite þat he of any oþer had delite Bot he was qwytte be god and be seinte Iose .I. maade him of þe same wode a crose Not of my body in no foule manere Bot certeynly .I. maade folke suche chiere þat in his owen gres .I. maade him frie For angers and for verraie Ielousye Be god in erþe .I. was his purgatorye For whiche .I. hope his soule be in glorie For god it wote he satte ful ofte and songe Whan þat his scho ful bitterly him wronge. For þere was none saue gode and he þat wiste In mony wise where .I. him twiste He dyed whan .I. cam from Ierusaleme And lyeþ in a graue vnder þe rode beme Al nys is toumbe not so curious As was þe sepulcre of him Darius Whiche þat Appelles wrouhten soubtely It nys bot wast to beri him preciouslye Lat him fare wele god ȝeue his sowle rest He is nowe in his graue and in his chest Nowe of my fift husbond wil .I. tell God lat neuer his soule come in hell And ȝete was he to me þe most schrewe þat fele .I. on my ribbes al be rewe And euer schal vn-to myne endeynge daie Bot in owre bedde he was so fressche and gaie And þer-wiþ also wele couþe he me glose Whan þat he wolde haue my bele chose þat þouhe he hadde me bette on euery bone He couþe winne a-ȝeine my loue a-none .I. trow .I. louede him bette for he Was of his loue daungerous to me We wemmen haue if þat .I. schal nouht lye In þis manere a qweynte fantasye Whayte what þinke we may nouht lyhtly haue Þere-after wil we crie al daie and craue For-bede us þinge and þat desiren we Pres on vs fast and þan wil we fle Wiþe daungier owten we al oure chafre Gret pres att þe Market makeþ dere ware And to grete chepe is holde att littel pris þis knoweþ euery womman þat is wys My venus husbonde god his soule blisse Whiche þat .I. toke for loue and for no richisse He sumtyme was a clerke of Oxenforde And had left scole and went att home to borde Wiþþe my gossibbe dwelinge in oure toune God haue hire soule hire name was Alison Sche knewe myne hert and al my priuete better þan oure parische preste so mot .I. þe To hire be-wryed .I. my counsell all For hadde my husbond pissed on a wall Or done a þinge þat schold haue cost his lif To hir and to anoþer worþi wif And to my nece whiche .I. loue wele .I. wolde haue tolde his counsel euery dele And so .I. dide ful often god it wote þat maade his face often rede and hote For verray schame and blamed him-selfe for he Had tolde to me so grete a priuete And so it be-fell þat ones in a lente So oft time .I. to my gossip wente For euer ȝit .I. loued to be gay And for walke in marche aprile and Maie Fro hous to hous to herken sondaye tales Þat Iankin clerke and my gossib dam Alice And .I. my selfe in-to þe felde wente Myne husbond was att Londen al þat lente .I. hadde þe better leyser for to pleie And for to see and eke for to be seie Of lusty folke what wist .I. where my grace Was schapen for to be or in what place There-for maade .I. my visitacions To vigiles and to processions To precheinge eke and to þis pilgrimages To pleis of Miracles and of Mariages And wered vpon my gaie scarlet Gytes This wermes ne þes mouhtes ne þis mytes Vpon my perel fete hem neuer a dele And wost þou whie for þei were vsed wele Nowe wil .I. telle forþe what happed me .I. saie þat in þe felde walked wee Til trewely we had suche daliance þis clerke and .I. þat of my purueance .I. spak to him and seide how þat he .If .I. were wedowe scholde wedde me For certeinly .I. saie for no bobance þat was .I. neuer ȝit wiþ-oute purueance Of mariage ne of oþer þinges eke .I. holde a mannes witte nouht worþe a leke þat haþ bott one hole to sterte vnto And if þat faile þan is þat al y-do [I bare hym on honde he hadde enchaunted me[Cambr. Univ. MS Ii 3. 26, leaf 116, line 9] My dame taught me that subtilte And I seide I mette of hym all nyght He wolde haue shamed me as I ley vp-right And my bedde was verey blode But yite I hope that ye shull do me good ffor good blode be-tokenyth Golde as I was taught And all was fals I dremed of hym right noght But as I folowed my Dames lore [a line misst in the MS.][MS Ii 3. 26 extract stops]] Bot nowe sire lete me se what .I. schal seyne A ha be god .I. haue my tale a-ȝeine Whan þat myn faire husbonde laie on bere .I. wepe al gate. and maad sory chiere As wives moten for it is vsage And wiþ my kerchef kouerde my vesage Bot for þat .I. was purveide of a make .I. wepe bot smale and þat .I. vnder take To cherche was my husbonde borne on morwe Wiþ neyhbors þat for him maad sorwe And Iankin oure clerke was on of þo As helpe me god whan þat .I. sihe him go Affeter þe bere me þouht he hadd a peire Of leges of feet so clene and faire þat al my herte .I. ȝaf vn-to his holde He was .I. trowe tuew[n]ty winter olde And .I. was fourty. if þat .I. schal seie soþe Bot ȝit .I. had alwaie a coltes toþe Gate toþede .I. was and þat be-come me wele .I. had þe printe of seint venus seale As helpe me god .I. was a lusti one And faire and riche and ȝonge and wele be-gone And treuly as myne husbonde tolde me .I. hadde þe best quoniam þat myht be [ffor certis/ I am all/ fulli reueryan. In felyng/ & myn herte all marcian. Venus/ me yaf my lust/ my likyng/ & licorousnes/. And Mars/ gaf/ me my sturdi hardynes/.] Myne asscendent was taurus and mars þere inne Alas alas þat euer loue was sinne .I. folowed ay myne Inclinacion Be vertue of mye constillacion þat maade me .I. couþe nouȝt wiþ-drawe Mi chambre of venus frome a goode felawe [yet/ haue I a marke of/ Mars vp-on my face. And also in another/ pryue place. ffor god so wisse be my saluacion. I louyd neuyr/ bi non discrescion. But euyr/ folewid myn appetite. All/ were he schort/ long/ blak/ or white. I toke no kepe so that/ he liked me. How pore he was/ ne eke of what/ degre.[Harl. 1758 ex|tract stops]] What scold .I. seie bot at þe moneþes ende This Ioly clerk Iankin þat was so hende Haþe wedde me wiþ grete solempnite And to him ȝaf .I. al þe londe and fee þat euere was me ȝeuene þare before Bot afterwarde repentede me ful sore He wolde suffer no þing of my lust Be god he smote me ones on þe luste for þat .I. rent oute of his booke a lef þat of þat stroke myne eren wexen def Styborne .I. was as is a lyonesse And of my tonge a verreie Iangeleres And walke .I. walde as .I. had do be-forne Frome house to house al þouhe he had it sworne For wiþ often time he wolde preche And me olde romans gestes teche Howe he simplicius gallus left his wif And hire for-soke for terme of his lif Not bot for hopen hede he hire seie Lokeynge oute att his dore on a daie Anoþer Romeyne tolde he me be name That for his wif was att a somer game Wiþ-owte his weteinge he for-sooke here eke And þan wolde he vpon his bible seeke þat ilke prouerbe of ecclesiast Where he commandeþ and for-bedeþ fast Man schal not suffur his wif go roile a-boute Than wolde he saie riht þus wiþ-outen doute ¶ Who so þat bildeþ his house al of salowesNota And prikeþ his blinde hors ouere þ[e] falowes And sufferþ his wif for seken halowes Is worþi to be honge on þe galowes Bot al for not .I. set not an hawe Of his prouerbes ne of his olde lawe. Ne .I. wolde nouht of him correct be .I. hate him þat my vice telleþ me And so do mo god wote of vs þan .I. þis maade him wiþe me woode al vtterly .I. nolde nouht for-bere him in no caas Nowe wil .I. seye ȝowe soþe be seint thomas Whi þat .I. rent oute of his boke a lefe For whiche he smote me þat .I. was defe He had a booke þat gladly nyht and daie For his disporte he wolde rede al weie He clepede valerye and theofraste Att whiche boke he lauhe al-weye ful fast Ande eke þare was sum time a clerke in rome A Cardinale þat hiht seint Ierome þat maad a boke aȝeine Iouynyane In whiche booke eke þer was torculane Crisippus Trecula and helowys That was Abbas nouȝt fer fro parische And eke þe paraboles of Salomon Ovydes arte and bokes many one And al þis were boundene in o velome And euery nyht and day was his custome Whan he had leysere and vacacione frome oþer werldly occupacione To reden on þis boke of wikked wyues He knewe of hem mo legentez and liues Than bue of goode wyues in þe bible For trusteþ wele it is an impossible þat any clerke wil speken good of wyves Bot if it bue of holy seintes lyues Ne of none oþer womman neuere þe mo Who peynted þe lyon tel me who Be god if wemmen had wreten stories As clerkes haue wiþ-inne hire oratories Thei wold haue wreten of men more wikkednesse þan al þe mark of Adam maie redresse The childern of Mercure and Venus Bene in hire wirkeinge contrarius Mercurie loue wisdome and sciens And venus loueþ riote and dispens And for hir diuers disposicion Sche falleþ in oþer exaltacion. And þus godde wote Mercurie is desolate In piscis where venus is exaltate And venus falleþ þere Mercurie is reised Þere-for no womman of no man is preised Þe clerke whan he is olde and maie nouht do Of venus werkes worþe his olde scho Than sitte he doune and write in his dotage That wemmen kan nouht kepe here Mariage Bot nowe to purpos why .I. tolde þe Þat .I. was beten for a booke perde Vpon a nyht Iankin þat was owre sire Radd on his boke as he satte be þe fire Of Eue first þat for hire wykkednesse Was al man kinde first brouht to wrechednesse [for which Ihesu crist / him silff was sleyne that bought vs with his herte blood ageyne lo here expresse of recorde / may ye fynde that woman was the loos / of al mankynde[No other Oxford MS has these lines.—G. Parker.]] þo redde he me howe sampson lost his heris Slepeinge his lemman kut it wiþþe hire scheris Thorwhe whiche treson loste he boþe his eyȝen þo redde he me if þat .I. schal nouht lyȝen Of Hercules & of Dyamyre þat caused him to sett him self a fire Noþinge forȝate he þe penance and woo þat Socrates had wiþþe his wyues twoo Howe þat ancippa kest pisse on his hede þis sely man satte still as he were dede He wype his hede no more dorst he seine Bot or þat þonder stinte comeþ a raine Of Phasipha þat was queene of Crete For schrewednesse him þouht þe tale swete Fy speke no more it [is] a grisely þinge Of hire orrible lust and hir lykeinge Of Clitermistra for hir lycherie þat falsly maad hir husbond for to deye He red it wiþ ful good deuocion He told me for what occasion Amphiorax att Thebes lost his lif Myne husbond hadd a legent of his wife Eriphilem þat for a nouche of golde Haþe priuely vnto þe Grekes tolde Where þat hir husbond hid him in a place For whiche he hadd att Thebes sori grace Off lima tolde he me . & of lucye þei boþe maade her husbondes for to deye That oone for loue þe toþer was for hate Lyma hir husbonde on euen late Enpoysond had for þat sche was his foo Lucia likerous loued hire husbond soo Þat for he schold vpon hire alweie þinke Sche ȝaue him suche a loue maner drinke þat he was dede or it was be þe morwe And þus algates husbondes haue sorwe Þan tolde he me howe one latumyus Compleynede to his felawe Arius That in his gardyne groued suche a tre On whiche he seide þat his wyues þre Honged hem self for hertes dispitous O leue broþer quod þis Arrius ȝif me a plante of þat blisful tre And in my gardine plantid it schal be ¶ Of latter date of wyues haþe he radde Þat han sleyne here husbonde in her bedde And lete hire lychoure diht hire al þe nyht Whan þat þe cors laie in flore vpriht And sum haue dreuen nayles in here brayne While þat þei slepe and þus þei haue hem sleyne Some haue ȝeuen poyson in my drynke He spake more harme þan hert maie be-þinke And þerwiþal he knewe of mo prouerbes Þan in þis werlde þer growen grasse or herbes Bet is quod he þin habitacione Be wiþ a leoun or a foule dragone Þan wiþ a womman vsinge for to chide Better is quod he hihe in þe rofe abide Þan wiþ an angre wif doun in an hous Þei bene so wikked and contrarious þei hateþ þat her husbonde loueþ aye He seid a womman kest hir schame awaye Whan sche cast of hire smok and forþermo A faire womman bot sche be chaste also Is like a gold ringe on a sowes nose Who walde wene or wold suppose þe wo þat in myne hert was and pine And whan .I. sawe he wolde neuer fyne To reden on þis cursed booke al nyht Al sodanly. þre leues had .I. plyht. Out of his boke riht as he redde and eke .I. wiþ my fiste so toke him on þe cheke þat in oure fire he fel bakward a-doune And he vp stert as doþe a woode lyone And wiþ his fist he smote me on þe hede Þat in þe flore .I. laie as .I. ware dede And whan he sawhe howe stille þat .I. laie He was a-gast and wolde haue fledde a-waie Til atte þast owte of myne swohe .I. braide O hastowe sleyne me false þefe .I. seide And for my lande þus hast þou morþerd me Or .I. be dede ȝit wil .I. kisse þe And nere he come and kneled faire a-doune And seide dere suster Alison As helpe me god .I. schal þe neuer smyte Þat .I. haue done it is þi self to wite For-ȝeue it me and þat .I. þe be-seke And ȝit eft-sones .I. hitte him on þe cheke And seide þef þus wil .I. me awreke Nowe wil .I. deye .I. maie no longer speke Bot att þe last wiþ muchel care and woo We fell accorded be oure seluen tuoo He ȝaue me al þe bride in myn honde To haue þe gouernance of owse and londe And of his tunge and of his honde also And maade him birne his boke anone riht þo And whan þat .I. had geten vn-to me Be maistre al þe souerainte þan he seide myne owen trewe wif Do as þu lyst þe terme of al my lyf Kepe þine honoure and kepe eke my astate After þat daie we had neuere debate God helpe me so .I. was to him als kinde As any wyf fro danmark in-to hinde And also trewe and so was he to me .I. praie to god þat siteþ in maieste So blisse his sowle for his mercy dere Nowe wil .I. seie my tale . if ȝe wil here [The Wrangle between the Summoner and Friar.] The frere lowhe whan he had herd al þis Nowe dame quod he so haue .I. ioye or blis þis is a longe preamble of a tale And whan þe Somenour herde þe frere gale [ It repeats And whan þe somen|our herd þe frere gale]Lo quod þe Somenour be goddes armes tuo A frere wil entremete him euer mo Lo godemen a flye and eke a frere will fal in euery dissche and eke matere What spekest þow of preambulacione What amble or trote or pees or goo sitte adoune Thou lettest owre disporte in þis manere Ȝe wil-tow so Somenour quod þe frere Nowe be fey .I. schal or þat .I. go Tell of a somenour . suche a tale or tuo þat al þe folke schal lawhen In þis place Nowe elles frere .I. be-schrewe þi face Quod þis Somenour. and .I. be-schrewe me Bot .I. tell þe tales two or þre Of freres ar .I. come to sideingborne þat .I. schal make þine herte for to morne For wele .I. wote þi pacien is gone Owre oste cried pees and þat a-none And seide lat þe womman tel hir tale Ȝe faren as folken bien of ale Do dame tel forþe ȝowe tale and þat is best Al redi sire quod sche riht as ȝow lest Ȝif .I. haue lycence of þis worþi frere Ȝis dame quod he tell forþe þi tale .I. wil here Incipit fabula vxoris de Bathonia. IN þe olde daies of þe kinge Arthoure Of whiche þat bretons speken grete honoure. All was þis land fulfilled of faire The Elphe queene wiþ hir Ioly compaignie Daunced withe-oute in mony a grene mede Þis was þe olde opinion þat .I. rede .I. speke of mony a .C. ȝere a-go Bot now can no man see none elues mo For þe grete charite and þe preiers Of lymytours and of oþer pouere frers Þat serchen euery lande and euery streme As þikke as motes in þe sonne beme Blissinge halles chambres bowres Citees burghes Castels hihe towres Thorpes bernes schipnes dayeries þis makeþ þat þere be no fairies For þere as was wonte to walke an elfe Þer walkeþ nowe þe limitour him selfe In vndermeles and in morneynges And seiþe his Matines and his holy þinges As he goþ in his visitacioune Wemmen maie go nowe sauely vpe and doune In euery bossche or vnder euere-y tre There is none oþer Incubus bot he And he wil do hem bot disonoure And so fel it þat þis kinge Arþoure Had in his house a lusty bachellier Þat on a daie cam rideinge fro þe reuere And happed a-lone as sche was borne He sawhe a maiden walkinge him be-forne Of whiche maiden maugreue hire hede be verrei force he raft hir hir maidenhede For wiche oppression was suche clamoure And suche pursuyt vnto kinge Arthoure That dampned was þis knyht for to be dede Be cours of lawe and scholde haue lost his hede Parauenture suche was þe statute þo Bot þat þe queene and oþer ladies mo So longe preide þe kinge of grace Til he his him graunted in þe place And ȝaue to þe qwene al att hir will To chese weþer sche wolde him saue or spill The queen þonked þe kinge wiþ al here myht And after þis þus spak sche to þe knyht Whan þat sche seihe her time vpon a daye Thou stondest ȝit quod sche in suche araye þat of þi lyf ȝit hast þou no surte .I. graunte þe lif; if þu canst tel me what þinge is þat wemmen moste desiren Be war and kepe þi nekke bone from yren And if þou can nouȝt tel it me anone Ȝit wil .I. ȝeue þe leue for to gone A twelmoþ and a daie to seke and lere An ansewere sufficiant in þis matier And surte wil .I. haue ar þat þou pace Thi body for to ȝelden in þis place Woo was þis knyht and sorwful he sikeþ Bot whate he may nouht do al as him likeþ And att þe last he chase him for to wende An com aȝeine riht att þe ȝeres ende With suche answere as god wold him purueye And takeþ his leue and wendeþ forþ his weye He sekeþe euery house and euery place Where as hopeþ for to finde grace To leren whatt þinge wemmen louen most Bot he nowe couþe riden in no cost Where as he myht finde in þis matier Two creatures accordinge in fere Some seide wemmen louen best riches Some seide honour some seid Iolynes Some seide Riche araye and lust abedde And oft tim to be wedowe and wedde Some seide þat we be most esede Whan þat we bene flaterde and yplesede He goþ ful nyhe þe soþe .I. wil nouht lye A man schal wynne vs best wiþ flaterye And wiþ attendance and wiþ besines Bene we y-lymede boþ more and les And som men sein howe þat we louen best For to bue fre and do riht as vs lest And þat no man repreue vs of oure vice Bot sei þat we bue wise and noþinge nice For trewly þare is none of vs al If any wight wil clowe vs on þe gal Þat we nyl loke or he seie þe soþe Assaie and he schal finde it þat he doþe For be we neuere so vicious with-inne we wil be holden wise and clene of sinne And summen seine þat grete delite haue we For to be holden stable and eke secre And in o purpos stedfastly to dwell And nouht be-wrye þinge þat men vs tell Bot þat tale is nouȝt worþ a rake stele Parde we wemmen kan no þinge hele Wittenesse of myda wil ȝe here þe tale Ouide a-monges oþer þinges smale Seiþ Mida ha vndre his longe heres Growinge vpon his tuo asse eres The whiche vice he hidde as he best myht Ful subtily from eueryche mannes siht That saue his wif þer wist þere-of no mo He loued hir most and trist to hir also He praide hir most þat vnto no creature sche schold nouȝt tel of his disfigure Sche swore him naye for al þis werld to wynne Sche nold do; þat velany or þat synne To make hir husbonde haue so foule a name For reproueinge of him and fowle schame Bot Naþeles hir þouht þat sche deide þat sche so longe scholde a counsel hide Hir þouht it satt so sore aboute hir hert Þat nedely sum worde hir mot a-stert And seþ sche dorste tel it to no man Doune to a marese fast sche ranne Til sche came þer hire hert was a fire And as betoure bebleþ in þe myre Sche laide hir mouþe in-to þe water downe Be-wrye me nouht þou water wiþ þi soune Quod sche . to þe .I. tel it and no mo Myne husbonde haþe longe asses eres tuo Nowe is myne hert al hole now it is owte .I. myht no longer kep it oute of doute Here mai ȝe see þouhe we a time abide Ȝit oute it mot we mowe no counsel hide Þe remenant of þe tale if ȝe wil here Redeþ ovide and ȝe maie it lere This knyht of wiche mi tale is speciali Whan þat he sauh he miht nouht com þere bye This to seie what wemmen louen most Wiþ-inne his hert sorweful was þe goste Bot home he goþe he miht nouht soiorne The daie was come þat homward most he torne And in his wei it happed him to ride In all his care vnder a forest side Where he sawhe on o daunce go Of ladys foure and twenty and ȝit moo Towarde þe dawnce he drowhe him ȝerne In hope þat som wisdome scholde he lerene Bot certeinly ar he came fully þere Vanyssched was þe daunce he wist nouht where. No creature sawe he þat bare lif Saue in þe grene he sawhe sittinge a wif A fowler wight þei may no man devise A-ȝein þe knyht þe olde wif gan arise And seid sir knyht here forþe liþe no weye Tel me what þat ȝe seken be ȝoure feye Parauentur it maie þe better be[bue, with u scratcht out] This olde folke can muche þinge quod sche My leue quod þis knyht serteine .I. am bot dede bot if þat .I. can seine Whatt þinge it is þat wemmen most desire Couþe ȝe me wise .I. wold wele white ȝowre hire Plyht me þi trouþe here in my honde quod sche The next þinge þat .I. require þe Thowe schalt it do if it ly in þi myht And .I. wil tel it ȝowe ar it he nyht Haue here my trouþe quod knyht .I. graunt Þat quod sche .I. maye me wele auant Thi lif is saue for .I. wil stonde þer bye Vpon my lif þe qweene wil saie as .I. Latt see whiche is þe proddest of hem al That wereþ on a kercheue or a cal þat dar sey nay of þat .I. schal ȝow teche Lat vs go forþe wiþ-oute longer speche Tho rouned sche a pistel in his ere And bad him to be gladde and haue no fere Whann þei be commen to þe courte þis knyht Seid he had holde his daie as he had hiht And redy was his ansewere as he seide Foll[? MS Fo or Fv] mony a noble wif and mony a maide And mony a wedew for þat þei bu wise The queene hire seluen sitt Iuge as Iustise Assemblede ben his answere for to here And afterwarde þis knyht was bode a-piere And þat þe knyht schold tel in audience To euery. wight commanded was silence What þinge þat werldly wemmen louen mest þis knyht ne stode nouȝt stil as doþe a beste Bo to þis questione a-none he ansewerde Wiþ manly voyce þat al þe court it herde My liege lady lady general quod he. Womman desiret to haue souereynte As wele ouer hir husbonde as hir loue And for to be in maistre him a-boue This ȝowre most desire þouhe ȝe me kill Doþe as ȝowe list .I. am here att ȝoure will In al þe courte ne was þer wif ne maide Ne wedowe þat contraried þat he seide Bot seyden he was worþi to haue his lyf And wiþ þat worde vpstert þis olde wif Whiche þat þe knyht sawe sittinge on þe grene Mercie quod sche Mi souereine ladi qweene Ar þat ȝoure Court depart do me riht .I. tauht þis ansewer vn-to þis knyht For whiche he pliht me his trouþe þere The first þinge .I. wolde of him require He wolde it do if it lei in his myhte Be-for þe Court þan praie .I. þe sir knyht Quod sche þat þu me tak vnto þi wif For wele þu woste þat .I. haue kepped þi lif If .I. saye fals seye soþe vpon þi fey This knyht ansewerd alas and walawaie .I. wote riht wele þat suche was my beheste For goddes loue chese a newe requeste Tak al my goode and lat my body go Nay þan quod sche .I. schrewe vs boþe tuo For þat .I. be foule olde and pouer .I. nolde for al þe metal ne for Oer þat vnder erþe is graue or liþe aboue Bot if þat .I. þi wif were and þi loue Mi loue quod he nay my . dampnacione Alas þat any of my nacione Schold euere so foule disparaged bue Bot al for nouht þe ende is þis þat he Constreigned was he nedes most he hir wedde And takeþ þis olde wif and goþ to bedde Now wold sum men seine parauenture Þat for my necligence .I. do no cure To tel ȝowe þe Ioye and þe arraye Þat att þe feste was þilke daye To whiche þinge schortely ansewere .I. schal. .I. seie þer was no ioye ne fest att al Þer nas bot heuynes and muche sorwe For priuely he wede hire on morwe And al daie after hidde him as an owle So woo was him his wif loked so foule. Grete was þe sorwe þe knyht had in his þouht Whan he was wiþ his wyf ybedde brouht He waloweþ and torneþ to and fro His olde [wyf] laye smyleinge euermo And seide Dere husbonde o benedicite Fareþ euery knyht þus wiþ his wif as ȝe Is þis þe lawe of kinge Arþors house Is euery knyht of his þus daungerous .I. am ȝoure loue and eke ȝoure wif .I. am sche whiche saued haþ ȝoure lif And sertes ȝit dide .I. ȝowe neuer vnriht Whi fare ȝe þus wiþ me þe first niht Ȝe faren like a man þat had lost his witte Fy what is my gilte for goddes loue tell itte And it schal bue amended if .I. maie Amend quod þis knyht nay naye That wil nouht bue amendede neuere mo Þou ert so loþely and so olde also And þer-to comen of so lowe a kinde þat litel wonder is þouhe .I. walow and winde So wolde god myne herte wolde to-breste Is þis quod sche þe cause of ȝoure vnreste Ȝe certeinly quod he no wonder is Nowe sir quod sche .I. couþe amende al þis If þat me list ar it were daies þre So well ȝe myhtte bere ȝowe vn-to me Bot for ȝe speken of suche gentillese As is descended oute of al richesse þat þere-for scholden ȝe be gentil men Suche errogance is nouht worþe an hen Lo who þat most is vertuous alweie Preue and a-pert and most endeþ aie To do gentil dedes þat he can And take him for þe grettest gentil man Crist will we cleime of him oure gentilnes Not of oure eldres for here olde reches For þouhe þei ȝeue vs al her Heritage For whiche we cleime to be of hihe parage Ȝit may þei nouht be-queþe for no þinge To none of vs her vertuous leueinge That maad hem gentil men y-called be And bad vs folowen hem in suche degre. Wele can þe wise Poet of fflorens Þat hiht Dante spekeþ in þis sentens Lo in Suche maner rim is dantes tale Ful selde vp riseþ be his braunches smale Prowes of man for god of his prouesse Wil þat we of cleime oure gentillesse For of oure helders maie we no þinge cleime Bot temperal þinge þat man maie hirte and maheime Eke euery white wote þis as wele as .I. If gentillesse were planted naturalye Into a certeine lignage doune þe line Preue and aperte þan wold hey neuer fyne To done of gentillesse þe faire ofice Thei myhten do no velany nor vice Tak fire and bere it in þe derkest house Be-twex þis and þe mount of Caucasouse And let men schette þe dore and go þeṇne Ȝit wil þe fire ly as fair and brenne As þouh a .M. men myht it be-holde His office naturele ay wil it holde Vp peril of lif til þat it deie Here maie ȝe se wele howe þat genterye Is nouht anexed to possession Seþ folke doþ nouht her operacion Alweie as doþe þe fire lo in his kinde For god it wote men maie ful often finde A lorde sone do schame and velanye And he þat wil haue prise of his gentirye For he was borne of a gentil hous And hadde his heldres noble and vertuous And nyl him-seluen do no gentil dedes Ne folowe his gentill ancestre þat dedes He is nouht gentil be he duc or Erle For veleyns sinful dede mak a cherle For gentillesse ne is bot reuente Of þine Auncestres for hire bente Whiche is a stronge þinge for þi persone The gentilles comeþ fro god alone Than comeþ oure verraie gentilles of grace He was noþinge be-queþe vs wiþ oure place Thinkeþ howe noble as seiþ valerius Was þilke tullius hostilius. That oute of pouert ros to hihe noblesse Redeþ Senec and rede eke Boesse There schold ȝe seen expresse þat it no drede is That is gentil þat doþe gentil dedes And þer-fore dere husbonde .I. þus conclude Al were þat myne Ancestres were so rude Ȝit maie þat hihe god and so hope .I. Graunt me grace to leue vertuously Than am .I. gentil whan þat .I. be-ginne To leuen vertuously and weuen sinne ¶ And þare as ȝe of pouert me repreue The hihe god on whom þat we beleue In wilful pouert ches to leue his lif And certes euery man and maide and wif Maie vnder-stonde ihesu heuen kinge Ne wold nouȝt chese a vicious leueinge Glad pouert is an honest þinge certeigne This wil senec an[d] oþere clerkes seine Who so þat holde him paide of his pouert .I. holde him riche al had he nouht sert He þat coueteþ is a pouer wight For he wold haue þat is nouht in his myht Bot þat nouht haþe ne coueteþ to haue Is riche al-þouhe men holde him bot a knaue Verray pouert is sinne propurly Iuuenal seiþe of pouert merely The pore man whan he goþ be þe waye Be-for þe þeues he maie singe and pleye Pouert is hatel good and as .I. gesse A ful grete bringer oute of besinesse A gre amender eke of Sapience To him þat lakkeþ it in pacience Pouer is þis al þouhe it seme Alinge Possessione þat no wyht wil chalinge. Pouert ful oft whan a ma[n] is lowe Makeþ his and eke him self to knowe Pouert in spektacle is as þenkeþ me Þourhe whiche he maie his verray frende se And þere sen þat .I. ȝowe nouȝt greue Of my pouert no more me repreue¶ Nota de Senectute Nowe sire of elde ȝe preue me And certes sir þoruhe none auctorite Wher in no boke ȝe gentil of honoure Seine þat men scholde an olde wife do fauoure And clepe her moder for her gentillesse An Auctours schal .I. finde as .I. gesse Nowe þere ȝe seine þat .I. am foule and olde Þan drede ȝowe nouht to be no cokewolde For filþe and helþe as mot .I. þe Bene grete werdeins vpon chastite Bot naþeles sen .I. knowe ȝoure delite .I. scha[l] ful-fill ȝoure werly appetite Chese nowe quod sche one of þis þinges tweye To haue me foule and olde til þat .I. deie And be to ȝowe a trewe humble wif And neuer ȝoue displese in al my lif Or elles ȝe wil haue me ȝonge and faire And take ȝoure auenture of þe repaire That schal com to ȝoure house be cause of me Or in sume oþere place wel maie be Nowe chese ȝoure seluen wheþer þat ȝou likeþ This knyht a-vised him and sore he sikeþ Bot att þe last he seide in þis manere My lady and my loue and wife so dere .I. putte me in ȝoure wise gouernaunce Gesseþ ȝoure self whiche maie be most plesaunce And most honour to ȝowe and me also .I. do no force wheþer of þe tue For as ȝowe likeþ it sufficet me Than haue .I. gete of ȝowe þe maistre quod sche Sen .I. may chese and gouerne as me lest Ȝe sertes wif quod he .I. holde it for þe best Kisse me quod sche we be no longer wroþe For be my trowþe .I. will be to ȝowe boþe Þis is seine to be to ȝowe boþe feire and goode .I. praie to god þat .I. mot steruen woode Bot .I. to ȝowe be also sadde and trewe As euer was wif sen þat þe werlde was newe And bot .I. be to morwe also faire to seen As any lady Emperes or qween Þat is be-twene þe est and eke þe west Do wiþ my lif and deþe riht as ȝow lest Kast vp þe kurteyne and loke how it is And whan þe knyht sauhe al þis Þat sche so faire was and so ȝonge þer-to For ioy he hent hir in his armes tuo His hert baþed in a baþþe of blisse A. M. time a rewe he gan hir kisse And sche obeide him in euery þinge Þat myht done him plesans or likeinge And þus þei leued vnto her lyues hende In parfite Ioye and ihesu criste vs sende Hosbonde meke ȝonge and fresshe y bedde And grace to ouer-lede hame þat we wedde And eke .I. praie to ihesu schort her lyues Þat wil nouht be gouernd be hir wyues And olde and Angrye Nigard in dispence God send hem sone a verrei Pestelence Explicit fabula Matrone vxoris de Bathonia. Incipit prologus fratrison leaf 102 This worþi lymitour þis noble frere He maad alweie lowreynge chere Vpon þe Sompnour bot for honeste No veleyns worde as ȝite spake he Bot att þe last he saide vnto þe wife Dame good god ȝyue ȝowe riht good life Ȝe haue touchede here as mot .I. þe In scole Matier gret difficulte Ȝe haue seide muchel þinge riht wele .I. seie Bot dame here as we riden be þe weie Vs nedeþ nouht to speken bot of game And lete Auctorites in goddes name To precheinge and to schole eke of clergie Bot if it like vnto þis compaignie .I. wil ȝowe of a Somnour tel a game Parde .I. maie wele knowe be þi name þat of no somnour mai no good be seide .I. praie þat none of ȝowe be yuel apaide A Somnour is a romer vp and doune Wiþ a mendement of fornicacioune And is .I.-bette att euery tounes ende Owre þan spake a sir ȝe scholde be hende And curteis as man of ȝoure astate In compaignie we wil no debate Telleþ ȝoure tale and lateþ þe somenour be Naie quod Somnour late him sei to me What so him liste whan it comeþ to my lote Be god .I. schal him qwite euery grote. I schall him tell whiche a grete honour It is to be [a] flateringe limitour And of ful mony anoþer crime Whiche nedeþe nouht rehersen att þis time And his office .I. schal him tell .I.-wis Owre oste answard pees no more of þis And afterwarde he seide vn-to þe frere Tel forþe ȝowre tale my leue mayster dere. Explicit prologus. Incipit fabula.on leaf 102, back Whilom þere was dwelinge in myne contre An Arche-deken a man of hihe degre That boldely dide execucion In poneschinge of fornicacione Of whiche craft and eke of baudrye Of diffamacion and avowtrie Of cherche reues and of testamentes Of contractes and of lac of sacramentes Of vsury and of Simony also Bot certes Lychoures dede he grettest woo Thei scholden singe if þei wer hente And smale tiþers weren fowle schente If any person wolde vpon hem pleine There myht a-stert him no pecuniale peyne For smale tiþes and eke smale offringe He maade þe peple spitusly to singe For or þe bischop cauht hem wiþ his hoke Thei were in þe Arche-decanes boke And þan hadde he þoruhe his Iurdictione Power to done on hem Correctione He had a somnoure redy to his hand A slyhere boye was none in yngelande For Sotely he had his especiaile That tauht him where he myht availe He couþe spare of lychours one or tuo To techen him to foure · and twenty mo ffor þouhe þis somnour woode were as an hare To tel his harlotry .I. wil nouȝt spare For we bue oute of her correctione Thei haue of vs no Iurdictione Ne neuer scholle terme of al her lyues Peter so bue þe wymmen of þe styues Quod þis Somnour yput houte of al oure cure Pes wiþ meschaunce and wiþ misauenture Thus seid owre oste and late him tel his tale Now telleþ forþe and lete þe Somnour gale Ne spareþ nouht myne owen meister dere This false þef þis somenour quod þe frere Hadde alweie baudes redye to his honde As any hauke to lure in Ingelonde þat tellen him al þe secree þat þei knewe Of hire acqueyntance was nat come of newe þei weren his approwers priuely He toke him self a grete profit þer by His maister knewe nat alweie what he wan Wiþ-outen maundement of a lewed man He couþe Somne of pein cristes curs And þei weere glad to fill his purs And maade him grete festis att nale Riht as Iudas had purse smale And was a þeef riht suche a þeef was he His maister had bot half his Dewte He was. if .I. schal ȝeuen him his laude An þeef and eke a somnour and a baude He had eke wenches of his retenue That wheþer sir Robert or sir hewe Or Iohn or Raufe or who þat it wer þat lei by hem þei tolde it in his ere Þus was þe wenche and he of on assent Ande he wolde feche a feyned maundement And somone hem to chapeter boþ tuo And pil þe man and latt þe wenche go Than wolde he seie frend .I. sal for þi sake Do strike þe oute of owre letter blake þe þar no more as in þis caas trauaile .I. am þi frende þere .I. þe maie availe Sertein he knewe of briburs mo þan possible is to tell ȝou to For in þis werlde is no doge for þe bowe þat knowe an hurt dere fro an holde bet cowe þan þis Somenour knewe a licour Or a vouter or elles a paramour And for þat was þe fruyte of al þe rente Ther-for on it he set al his entente And so be-fel þat ones on a daie þis Somnour euere wayteinge one his preye Rode for to somne a holde wif a ribibe Feynein a cause for he wald bribe And happed þat he sauhe to-for him ride A gaie ȝoman vnder a forest side A bowe he bare and arwes briht and kene He had vpon a courteby of grene An hatte vpon his hede wiþ fenges blake Sir quod þis Somnour heile and wele a take Welkom quod he and euery good felawe Weder rides þou vnder þis grene wod schawe Saide þis ȝoman wilt þou fer to daie þe Somnour him ansewerd and seide naye Here fast by quod he is myn entent To riden for to reisene vp a rent It longeþ to my lordes dewte Ert þou þan a baillif ȝe quod he He dorst nouȝt fo verre felþe and schame Sei þat he was somnour for þe name De par dieux quod þis ȝoman dere broþer þou ert a bailif. and .I. am anoþer .I. vnknowen as in þis contre Of þin acqueyntance .I. wil praie þe And eke of breþerhede if þat þou liste .I. haue golde and siluer in my chiste If þat ȝe happed to com in to owre schire It schal be þine riht as þou wilt desire Gremercie quod þis Somnour be my feiþe Euer-iche in oþers honde her trouþ leyþe For to be swore breþer to þei deye And wiþ þat worde þei ride forþe þer weie þis somnour wiþ þat was as ful of Iangles As foll of venym be þis wereangles And euere enquireinge vpon euery þinge Broþer quod he where is ȝoure dwelynge Anoþer daie if .I. schal ȝou seche þis ȝoman him ansewarde in soft speche Broþe[r] quod he fer in þe norþe cuntre Where as .I. hope some time .I. schal þe se Ar we departe .I. schal þe so wel wisse þat of myne hous schalt þou neuer mysse Now broþer quod þis Somenour .I. ȝow preie Teche me while we riden be þe weie. Sen þat ȝe be a baillif as am .I. Som subtilite tel me feiþfully In myne office how þat .I. maie most winne And spare nouht for conscience ne sinne Bot as my broþer tel me howe do ȝe Nowe be my trewþe broþer dere seide he As .I. schal tellen þe a faiþful tale My wage buen ful streite and smale My lorde is harde to me and dangerous And myne Office ful laborous And þere-fore be extorcions .I. leue For soþe .I. al þat men wil me ȝeue Allgate be sleiht or violence Frome ȝere to ȝere .I. winne al my dispence .I. kan no better tellen faiþfully Now sertes quod Somnour so fare .I. .I. spare nouht to taken god it wote Bot if it be to heuy or to hote What .I. maye gette in Counseill priuely No manere consciens of þat haue .I. Ner mye extorcion .I. myht not leuen Of suche Iapes wil .I. nouht bu schreuen For stomak ne for conscience knowe .I. none .I. schrewe þis schrift faders euerychone Wele be we mette be god and be seint Iame Bot leue broþer tel me þan þi name Quod þis Somnour in þis mene while This ȝoman gan a litel for to smyle Broþer quod he wil towe þat .I. þe tell .I. am a steue my dwellinge is in hell And here .I. ride aboute my purchasinge To witte if men wil ȝeue me any þinge Mi purchache is to fett al my rent Looke howe þou ridest for þe same entent To winne good þou rekkest neuer howe Riht so fare .I. for ride wolde .I. nowe In to þe werldes ende for a preie A quod þis somnour Benedicite what ȝe seie .I. wende ȝe were a ȝoman trewly Ȝe haue a mannes schappe as wel as .I. Haue ȝe þan a figure determinate In hel þer ȝe bene in ȝoure astate. Nai certainly quod he þare haue we none Bot whan vs likeþe we can tak vs one Or elles make ȝou seme we bene schape Som tim a man or lyke an hape Or lyke an angel can .I. ride or goo It is no wonder þinge þouhe it be soo A lousy Iogelour can disceyue þe And perde ȝit can .I. mor craft þan he Whi quod þis Somnour Ride ȝe þan or gone In Sondre schappe and nouht alweie one For we quod he wil vs suche forme make As most able is oure preis to take What makeþ ȝowe to haue al þis laboure Ful mony a cause leue sir Somnour Seid þis fende bot al þinge haþe time þe daie is schort and it is passed prime And ȝit ne wann .I. no þinge in þis daie .I. wil entend to wynynge if .I. maie And nouht entende oure wittes to declare For broþer myne þi witte is al to bare To vnderstonde þouhe .I. tolde hem þe Bot for þou axest whi labour we For sum time we bue goddes instrumentz And mennes to done his commandementz Whan þat him vpon his creatures In diuerse attes and in diuers figures Wiþ-outen him we haue no myht certaine If þat him lust stande þer aȝeine And sum tym att oure preie haue we leue Onely þe body and nouht þe soule greue Wittenes on Iob whom þat we deden woo And sumtyme haue we myht of boþe tuo This to seine of soule and body eke And som time we buen suffered for to done seke Vpon a man and do his soule vnrest Nouht his body and al is for þe best Whan he wiþ-stondeþ oure temptacione It is a cause of saluacione Al be it þat it was nouȝt owre entent He scholde be saue bot þat we wold him hent And some tim be we seruant vn-to a man As þe Erchebysschope seiþe Dunstan And to þe Aposteles seruant was .I. ȝit tell me quod Somnour feiþfully Maake ȝe ȝowe bodys þus al wey Of Elementes þe fende seid naye Som time we feine and sum time we rise Wiþ dede bodies in ful sundre wyse And speke as renably faire and wele As to þe phitonessa did Samuele And ȝit wil sum men saie it was nouht he .I. do no fors of ȝoure diuinite Bot o þinge warne .I. þe .I. wil nouht Iape Thou wilt algates wite howe we be schape Thou schalt her-after-ward my broþer dere Come where þe nedeþ not of me to lore For þou schalt be þin owen experience Com in to þe chaier to rede þis sentence Better þan virgile while he was on lyue Or dante also nowe lat vs ride belyue For .I. wil holde company wiþ þe Til it be so þat þou for-sake me Naie quod Somnour þat schal not be-tide .I. am a ȝoman knowe is ful wide Mi trouþe wil .I. holde to þe as in þis caas For þeih þou were þe deuel Sathanas My trouþe will .I. holde to my broþer As .I. am sworne and iche of vs to oþere For to be trewe broþer in þis caas And broþer wee goon to owre purchas Take þu þi part what men wil þe ȝeue And .I. schal myne þus maye we boþe leuen And if þat any of vs haue more þan oþer lat him be trewe and part it wiþ his broþer .I. graunt quod þe deuel be my feye And wiþ þat worde þei reden forþe þeire weie And riht att þe entringe of þe tounes ende To whiche þe somnour schope him for to wende He sawhe a cart þat charged was wiþ haye Whiche þat a carter droue forþ on his waye Dep was þe way for whyche þe cart stode þis carter smote and striued as he war woode Heyt brok heyt scotte what spare we fore þe stones The fende quod he ȝowe fette boþe bodi and bones As ferforþly as euer were ȝe folde So muche woo as .I. haue for ȝowe þoled The deuel haue al boþe hors and carte and haye Thouht þis Somnour here schal we haue a pleie And nere þe fende he drouhe as nouhten were An ful priuely rouned in his ere Herken my broþer herken be þi feiþe Heres þou nouht howe þe carter seiþe Hent it a-none for he haþ ȝeuen it þe Boþe heye and carte and eke his caples þre Nay quod þe deuel god wote neuer a dele It is nouht his entent trust me wele Ax him þi self if þou trowest not me Or elles stinte a while and þou schalt see This Carter þakkes his hors on þe croupe And þei be-gonne to drawe and to stoupe Heyte nowe quod he þat ihesu criste ȝow blisse And al his hondewerke boþe more and lisse þat was my faire lyarde boye And .I. praie god saue þe and seinte loye Nowe is my carte oute of þe slouhe parde Lo broþer quod þe fende what tolde .I. þe He[re] maie ȝe se myne owen dere broþer Þe carle spak o þinge bot he þouht anoþer Latt vs go forþe abouten owre viage. Here wynne .I. no þinge vpon cariage Whan þei com somwhat oute of þe toune This Somnour to his broþer gan roune Broþer quod he here wonneþ an olde rebek þat hadde al-moste as leue to lese here neke As for to ȝeue a peny of hire goode .I. wil haue tuelue pens þouhe þat sche be wode Or .I. wil somone hire to oure Office And ȝit god woote of hire know .I. no vice Bot for þou canst nouht as in þis countre Wynne þi coste take here ensample of me This Somnour clepeþ att þe wydoues gate Come owte he seide þou olde veritate .I. troue þou hast sum frere or preste wiþ þe Who clepeþ seide þis wif benedicite God saue ȝowe sire what is ȝoure swete wil .I. haue quod he a somons of þe here a bil Vp peine of Curseinge loke þat þu be To morwe to-for owre Archidiacane kne To anseward to þe Courte of certeine þinges Now quod sche lorde ihesu criste kinge of kinges So wissely helpe me as .I. ne maie .I. haue bue seke and þat ful mony a daie .I. maye nouht so ferre go quod sche ne ride Bot .I. be dede so prikeþ it in my side May .I. nouȝt ax a libel sir Somonour And anseware þe by my procatoure To suche a þinge as men wolden aposen me Ȝis quod þis Somonour paie anone latt se Tuelue pens to me. and .I. wil þe acquite I schal no profett haue þer-by bot lite Mi maister haþe þe prophet and not .I. Com of and late me riden hastili Ȝeue me tuelue pens .I. maie no longer tarie Tuelue quod sche ladi seint Marie So wisely helpe out of care and sinne Þis wide worlde þouhe þat .I. schold it wynne Ne haue .I. noȝt tuelue pens wiþ-in myne holde Ȝe knowen wele þat .I. am pouer and olde Kyþe ȝoure Almos on me pouere wrecche Nay þan quod he foule fende me fecche If .I. þe excuse if þou scholdest be spilte Alas quod sche god wote .I. haue no gilte Pay me quod he or be þe swete Anne As .I. wil bere awaie þi newe panne For dett whiche þou owest me of olde Whan þou madest þin hosbonde kokewolde .I. paied att home for þi correccioun Thou lext quod sche be my saluacioun Ne was .I. neuer or now wedowe ne wif Somned in-to ȝoure court in al my lif Ne neuer .I. was bot of my body trewe To þe deuel blake and rouhe of hewe Ȝif I. þi body. and my panne also And whan þe deuel herd hir curs so Vpon hir knes he seid in þis maner Now Mable myne owen moder dere es þis ȝowre wil in ernest þat ȝe seie The deuel quod sche fette him ar he deie. And panne and al but he will him repent Naie olde stote þat is nouȝt myne entent Quod þis Somnour for to repent me For any þinge þat .I. haue hadde of þee .I. wolde .I. hadde þi smokke and euery cloþe Nowe broþere quod þe deuel be nouht wroþe This body and þis panne is my be riht Thou schalt wiþ me to hell ȝut to-nyht Where þou schalt know of oure priuete More þan a maistre of diuinite. And wiþ þat worde þis foule fende him hente Body and soule he wiþ þe deuel went Where þat Somnours han her heritage And god þat maad after his ymage Mankinde saue and gide vs al and sume An leue þis Somnour good man to be-come Lordinges .I. couþe haue tolde ȝoue quod þis frere Hadde .I. had leiser for þis Somnour here After þe tixt Crist Poule and Iohn And of oure oþer doctours mony on Suche peines þat ȝoure hert myht a-grise Albeit so no tunge maie devise þouht þat .I. myht a þousand wynter tell þe peyne of þilke corsid house of hell Bot for to kepe us fro þat cursed place Wakeþ and prayeþ ihesu for his grace . . . . .no gap in the MS. Herkeneþ þis word be war as in þis caas The lion sitte in his awaite alweie To sle þe Innocent if þat he maie Disposeþ aye ȝoure hertes to wiþ-stonde The fende þat ȝowe wold make þrall and bonde He maie nouht tempten ȝowe over ȝowre myht For criste wil be ȝoure champion and knyht And praieþ þat þis somnour him repent Of his mesedede ar þat þe fende hem hent Explicit fabula; Incipit prologus aparitorison leaf 106, back This Somnour in his stirep hihe stode Vpon þis frere his hert was so wode þat like an haspen lef he quoke for ire Lordeinges quod he bot o þinge .I. desire .I. ȝowe be-seche þat of ȝoure curtesie Seþ ȝe haue herd þis fals frere lye As suffreþ me .I. maie a tale tell This frere bosteþ þat he knoweþ hell As god wote þat is litel wonder Freres and fendes ben bot litel in sunder For parde ȝe haue oft time herd tell How þat a frere rauisshed was in hell In spiret ones be a visione And as Angel led him vp and downe To schewen him þe peynes þat þere were In al þe place sawe he nouȝt a frere Of oþer folke he sawe y-nowe in woo Vnto þis Angel spak þe frere þoo Now sir quod he haue freres suche grace þat none of hem schal com in-to þis place ȝis quod þis Aungel mony a melione And vn-to Sathanas he had him adoune And now haþ Sathanas saiþ he taile Bradder þan of þ[e] Carrik is þe seile Holde vp þi taile þu Sathanas quod he Schewe forþe þin erse and let þe frere se Where is þe nest of freres in þis place And ar þat halue a forlonge waie of space Riht so as bees swarme oute of an hive Owte of þe deuels ers þei gon drive twenty þousand freres on a rowte And þouht hell swarme al aboute An comen aȝeine als fast as þei maie gone And in his hars þei crepen euerychone He clapped his taile a-ȝeine and leye still This frere whan he loked had his fill Vpon þis tormentes vpon þis sor place His spirit god restored of his grace Vnto his body aȝeine and he awoke Bot naþeles for fere ȝit he qwoke So was deueles ars aie in his mynde þat is his heritage of verrai kinde God saue ȝoue al saue þis curse frere My prologe wil .I. ende in þis Manere. Explicit/ prologus. Incipit/ fabula aparitorison leaf 107 LOrdeynges þere is in ȝorke-schire as .I. gesse A merschy contre called holdernesse In whiche þere went a limitour a-boute. To preche and eke to bigge it is no doute And so be-fell þat on a daie þis frere Hadde preched att þe cherche in þis manere And specialy aboue euery þinge He excited þe peple in his precheinge To trentals and for goddes saake þere-wiþe men mihte holy houses maake þere as deuyne seruice is honoured Nouȝt þere as is wasted and deuoured Ne þere it nedeþ nouht for to be ȝeue As to possessioners þat maie elles leue þankede he god in wele and abundance Trentals seide he deliuerþ fro penance Here frendes soule as wele olde and ȝonge If þat þei bien hastely songe Nouht for to holde a preste Iolif and gaie He singeþ not bot o messe on a daie Deliuerd oute anone þe soules Ful harde it is wiþ fleschehokes or with oules Nowe spede ȝowe hastely for cristes sake To kepe ȝowe fro þe peines of þe fendes blake And whan þe frere hadde seide al his entente Wiþ qui cum patre forþe he wente Whan folke in churche had ȝeue him what hem lest He went his waie no longer wolde he rest Wiþ scrippe and tipped staf tokked ful hihe In euery . hous he gan to poure and prie And beggeþ mele or chiese or elles corne His felowe had a staf tipped wiþ horne A peire of tables of yvory And a pointel polisched fetusly And wrote þe names alweie as he stode Of euery folke þat ȝaue hem any goode Askaunse þat he wolde for hem preie ȝeue vs a boschel wete malte or rie A goddes kechel or a trep of chese Or elles what ȝowe lest we maie nouhte chese A goddes halpenye or a mespeny Or ȝeue vs of ȝoure branne if ȝe haue any A dagon of ȝoure blanket leue dame Lo suster dere lo here .I. write ȝoure name Bacon or befe or suche þinge as ȝe finde A stordy harlote went hem aie be-hinde þat was he osteman and bare a sakke And what men ȝaue hem laide on his bakke And he was out att þe dore anone He pleyned awaie þe names euerychon þat he be-fore had wreten in his tables He serued hem wiþ nifles and wiþ fables Nay þere þou lext þou Somnour quod þe frere Pes quod oure host for criste/ moder dere Tel forþ þi tale Spare it nouht att al So þriue .I. quod þe Somnour so .I. schal So longe he went hous be hous quod he Til he come to an hous þer he was wonte to be Refressched more þat in an hundreþ place Seke laye bonde man wos þe place[is scratcht out] And vpon a couche lowe he laye Deus hic quod he O Thomas frende good daie Seide þis frere curtasly and soft Thomas seide he god ȝelde ȝowe ful oft Have .I. vpon þis benche fare wele Here haue .I. ete mony a mery mele And fro þe benche he drove a-waie þe catt And laide adoune his potent and his hatt And eke his scripe and sett him soft adoune His felowe was go walked in þe toune Forþe wiþ his knaue in-to þat hostlerie Where as he schope him þilke nyht to lye O dere maister quod þis seke man Howe haue ȝe fare . seþ marche be-gan .I. sauhe ȝou nouht þis fourtenyht and more God wote quod he labourde haue .I. ful sore And speciali for þin saluacione Haue .I. seide mony a precious orisone And for oure oþere frendes god hem blesse .I. haue to-daie done at ȝoure cherche a messe And seide a seremon after my simple witte Nouht al after þe text of holy wrytte For it is harde to ȝowe as .I. suppose Ther-fore. wil .I. tell al þe glose Glosinge is a glorious þinge certeine For letter sleþe so as clerkes seine Ther haue .I. tauht hem to be charitable. And spende here goode þere it resonable þere .I. sauhe oure dame a where is sche ȝonde in þe ȝerde .I. trowe sche be Seide þis man and sche wil come anone Ey Maister welcome be ȝe be seint Iohn Seide þis wif howe fare ȝe hertly þe frere riseþ vp ful curtasly And her · enbraseþ in his armes narwe And kisseþ hir swete and chirkeþ as a sparowe Wiþ his lippes; dam quod he riht wele As he þat is ȝoure seruant euerydele I-þonkede be god þat ȝow ȝaf soule and lif Ȝit sawe .I. nouht to-daie so faire a wif In al þe cherche so god · saue me Ȝe god amend defautes sire quod sche Algates welcom be ȝe be my faye Graunt Merci dame þis haue .I. founde al weie Bot of ȝoure grete goodenes be ȝowre leue .I. wolde praie ȝoue þat ȝe not ȝowe greue .I. wil · wiþ thomas speke a litel þrowe þis Curates buen ful necligent and slowe To gropen tenderly a consciens In schrift and in precheinge is my diligence And stody in peters wordes and in poules .I. walke and fische men soules To ȝelden ihesu criste his propre rent To sprede his wordes .I. sett al myne entent Now be ȝoure leue o dere sir quod sce Chideþ him wele for god in trinite He is as Angry as a pismyre Ȝeihe þat he haue al þat he can desire þeihe .I. him wrye a nyht and make him warme And ouere him laye my legge or myne Arme He groneþ like owre bore groneinge in his stye Oþer disport of him riht none haue .I. .I. maie nouht plesen him in no maner caas .Ieo vous die treschier & bien amy o thomas þis makeþ þe fende it most bue amended Ire is a þinge þat hihe god defended And þere-of wil .I. speke a worde or tuo Nowe Maister quod þe wif ar þat .I. go What wil ȝe dyne .I. wil go þere aboute Nowe dame quod he Ie vous dy sanz doute Haue. note of a capon bot þe liuere And of ȝoure soft brede bot a schiuere And after þat a rosted pigges hede Bot þat .I. wold for me no beste were dede þan hadde .I. wiþ ȝowe holy sufficeance .I. am a man of litel sustinance Mi spirte is fosterd in þe bible Þe body is aie so redy and penyble To wake þat my stomak is destruyed .I. prei ȝowe dame þat ȝe be nouht anoyȝed Þouhe .I. so frendely my counsel schewe Be god .I. wold nouht tell it bot a fewe Nowe sire quod sche bot a worde ar .I. goo My childe is dede wiþ-in þes wekes tuo Sene þat ȝe went oute of þis towne His deþ sawe .I. be reuelacione Seiþe þis frere att home in owre dortouure .I. dar wele sein ere þan halue an houre After his deþ .I. sawhe borne to blisse In myne avison so god me wisse So dede oure sexteine and oure fermourere þat haue bue trewe freres .l. ȝere þei maie nowe god be þanked of his lone Maken her Iubile and walken alone. And vp he ros and al oure couent eke Wiþ mony a tere trillinge on my cheke Wiþ-owten noyes or clateringe of belles Te deum was owre sange and no þinge elles Saue þat to crist .I. saide an orison Thonkeinge him of his reuelacione For sir. and dame tresteþ me riht wele Oure orisons bene mor esprituele And more we see of cristes secre þinges Than burel folke [þouȝe þei were kynges To lyue in pouert and in abstinaunce And borelle folke] in reches and wynynges[dispense, Sloane 1685] In mete and drinke and in hire foule delite We haue þis werldes lust al in despite Lazar and diues leueden diuersly And diuers guerdone had þei þere-bye Who so wil praie he mot fast and be clene And fatte his soule and mak his bodi lene We fare as seiþe þe postle cloþe and foode Soffiseþ vs þouhe þei bo nouht gode The clennes and þe fasteinges of vs freres Makeþ þat crist accepteþ oure preiers Lo Moyses .xl. daies and .xl. nyht Fasted or þat hihe god of miht Spak wiþ him in þe mounte of Synay Wiþ empty wombe fastinge mony a day Receyued he þe lawe þat was wreten Wiþ goddes finger and helthe wel ȝe weten In þe mount or er he any speche Wiþe þe hihe god þat is oure liues leche He fasted longe and was in contemplance And aaron þat had þe temple of god in Gouernance And eke þat oþre pristes euery-chone In-to þe temple whan þei schold gone To preie for þe peple and do seruice þei wold nouȝ dringen in no manere wise No drinke whiche þat miht hem drunke make Bot euer in abstinens to preie and wak Lest þat þei deide take hede what .I. seie Bot þei be sobre þat for þe peple preie Ware þat I. seie no more for it suffisit Oure lorde ihesus[MS ihūc] as holy god deuisit ȝeueþ vs ensample of fastinge and of preiers þer-for we amende fautes we pouere freres Bene wedded to pouert and to contenence To charite humblenesse and also pacience Persecucione for rihtwisnesse To wepeinge misericord and clennesse And þere-for may ȝe se þat oure preyers .I. speke of vs me vendinant freres Bene to þe hihe god more acceptable Þan ȝoures wiþ ȝoure fest att þe table For paradise first if .I. schal nouht lye Was man out chased for his glotonye An chaste was man in paradise certeine Bott herken þere what .I. schal seine .I. haue no text of þat as .I. suppose Bot .I. schal finde it in a maner glose þat speciali oure swete lorde ihesus[MS ihc̄] Spak þus be verse whan he seid þus Blissed be þei þat pouer in spirit buen. And so forþe al þe gospel maie ȝe seen Where it be like oure professione Or her þat swemmen in possessione Fye on here pompe and on her glotonye And for here lewdenes .I. hem defye Me þenkeþ þei ben like Iouynyan Fatt as a whal and walkinge and as a swan As vinolent as a botel in þe spense Her praier is ful of grete reuerence Whan þei for sowles seine þe psalme of Dauit Lo buf þei seine Cor meum Eructauit Who foloweþ cristes gospel and his lore Bot we þat humble be chast and pouer Werkes of goddes worde and eke auditoures There-fore riht as an hauke ripe att a sores Vp springeþe in-to þe eyre riht preiers Of charitable and chast besy freres Makene here sores to goddes eren and hoo Thomas þere-for so must .I. ride or goo And be þat god þat cleped is seint Iue Nere þou owre broþer scholdest þou noȝt þryue In owre chapetre prei we daie and nyht To crist þat he sende þe hele and myht Thi body for to welden hastely God wote quod he no þinge þere-of wote .I. As helpe me criste as in fewe ȝeres Haue .I. spended of diuers maner freres Full mony a pounde ȝit fare .I. neuer þe bette Certein my good almost haue .I. be-sette Fare wele my golde for it is al a-goo þe frere answerde o thomas whi dostowe soo What nedeþ ȝowe diuers freres to seche What nedeþ hem þat haþ a parfite leche To seche oþer leches in þe toune Ȝoure inconstance is ȝoure confusione Holde ȝe me þan or elles oure couente To praie for ȝowe buen insufficiente Thomas þat Iape is nouht worþe a myte Ȝoure maladie is for ȝe haue geuen vs so lite A ȝef þat couent half a quarter otes A ȝef. on or tuo grotes A ȝef þe frere a peny and late him goo Nay nay Thomas it maie no þinge be so What is a ferþinge worthe parted in twelue Lo iche a þinge þat is houed be him selue Is more strange þan whan it is scaterd Thomas of me þou schalt nouht bene flaterde Tho woldest owre laboure haue for nouht þe hihe god þat al þis welde haþ wrouht Seiþ þat þe werkman is worþi his hire Thomas nouht of ȝowre tresoure .I. desire As for my self. bott for al oure couent To praie for ȝowe is aye so diligent And for to bilden cristes owen chirche Thomas if ȝe wil leren for to wirche Of bildeinge vp of cherches mai ȝe finde If it be goode In thomas lif of hinde Ȝe ligge here ful of Anger and of yre Wiþ whiche þe deuel sette ȝowre eres of fire An chiden hire þis sely innocent Ȝoure wif þat is so meke and pacient And þer-fore Thomas trowe me if ȝowe list Ne striue wiþe þi wife al for þe best And bere pis worde awaie be þi faiþe Toucheinge suche þinge lo what þe wise man seiþe Wiþ-inne þin hous ne bue þou no lyone To þi subgettes done none oppressione Ne maake þine acqueintance not for to flie And Thomas ȝitt eft-sonenes saie .I. þe Be war for hire þat in þi bosome slepeþ Be war of þe serpent þat so slely crepeþ Vnder þe gras þat stingeþ sotely Be war my sonne and herken paciently þat .xx.M. men haue lost her liues For þat þei haue bu spitous to her wives Nowe seþþe þus ȝe haue so holy and so meke a wif What nedeþ[þ not complete] ȝow thomas to maken strif Ther is .I.-wis no serpent so cruel Whan men trede on his taile nouȝt half so fell As womman is whan sche haþ cauht an yre Vengaunce is þan al þat þei desire Ire is a sinne on of þe grettest of seuen Abhominable vnto god of heuen/ And to him self it is a destruccion This euery lewed vicarie or parson Can sey howe ire engendereþ homicide Ire in soþe is executor of pride .I. couþe of ire seie so muche sorwe Mi tale schold last to tomorwe And þer-for .I. praie god daie and nyht An yrus man send him litel miht It is grete harme and certes grete Pyte To sett an Irus man in hihe degre Whilom þer was an Irrous potestate As seiþ Senec duringe his astate Vpon a daie out riden knyhtes tuo And as fortune wolde it were so That one of hem cam home þat oþere nouht Anone þe knyht to-for þe Iuge is brouht And seide þus þou hast þi felaw sleine For whiche .I. deme þe to deþ certeine And to anoþer knyht commaunded he Go lede him to þe deþ .I. charge þe And happe as þei went be þe weie Towardes þe place þere as he scholde deie The knyht cam whiche þei wende had bu dede Then þouhten þei it were þe beste rerede To lede hem boþe to þe Iuge aȝeine þei seiden lorde þe knyht ne haþ nouht sleine His felaw here standeþ on lyue Ȝe schollen be dede quod he so must .I. þriue þis to sei boþe oone tuo and þre And to þe first knyht riht þus spak he .I. dampned þe þou most algate be dede And þou also mot nedes lose þine hede for þou art cause whi þi felawe deyeþ And to þe þred knyht rih[t] þus he seiþe þou hast nouht done þat .I. comaunde þe And þus he dide sle hem al þre Irrous Cambises was eke dronkenlewe And aye delite him to bene a schrewe And so be-fel a lorde of his meigne Tha[t] loued vertuus moralite Seide on a daie vnto him self riht þus A lorde is lost if þat he be vicious A dronkenesse eke is a foule recorde Of any man and namely in a lorde There is ful mony eye and mony an ere Awaytteinge on a lorde and he note where For goddes loue dringeþ more attemperelly Wyne makeþ man to lese wrecchely His mynde and eke his limes euerychone The reuerse schal þou se quod he anone And proue it be þine owen experience Þat wyne doþe to folke none suche offence Þere is no wyne be-reueþ me my myht Of hande ne foote ne of myn eyȝen siht And for despite he dranke ful muche more An .C. parte þan he hadd done to-fore And riht a-none þis cursed wreche Lete þis knyhtes son be-forne him fecche And commandeinge hem þei schol be-for him stonde And sodanly he toke his bowe on honde And vp þe stringe he pulle to his ere And wiþ an arwe he slowe þe childe riht þere Nowe weþe haue .I. seker honde or none Quod he is al my witte and my witte agone Haþe wyne bereued me my eyesiht What scholde .I. tell þe Ansewere of þe knyht His son was sleyne þere is no more to seie Beþe warre þer-fore wiþ lordes howe ȝe pleie Singeþ Placebo and .I. schal. If .I. can Bot ȝif it be vn-to a pouer man To a pore man he schold his vices tell Bot nouȝt to a lorde þouhe he schold go to hell Lo Irrous Sirus þilke percien How he destreiede þe river of Gysen For þat an hors of his was drenched þere-inne Whan þat he wente babiloyne to wynne He maad þat þe riuer was so smale þat wemmen mihten wade ouer ale Lo what seide he þat so wele teche can Ne be no felow to none yrous man. Ne wiþ no wood man walke be þe waie Leste þe repent .I. wil no more seie Now thomas leue broþer leue þin Ire þou schalt me finde als iust as is a swire Holde nouht þe deueles knyf ay þat þin herte Þine Anger doþe þe al to sore smarte Bot schew to me al þin confession Nay quod þe seke man be seint Simon .I. haue be schreue þis daie att my curate .I. haue him tolde al holy myne estate It nedeþ no more spek of hit seide he Bot if me lust of myne humilitee Ȝif me þan of þi golde to make oure cloyster Quod he for mony a muskel and many an oyster Haþe buen oure fode oure cloi[s]ter for to reise Whan oþer men haþe be ful wele att eyse And ȝit god wote vneþ þe foundement Performed is ne of oure Paiment Nis nouht a tile ȝit wiþ-inne owre wones Be godde we owen fourti pounde for stones Now helpe thomas for him þat herewed helle Or we most oure bokes selle And if we lakke our predicacione Than goþ þe werlde al to destruccione For who wolde fro þis werlde vs be-reue So god me saue Thomas be ȝoure leue He wolde be-reve oute of þe werlde þe sonne For who can teche and worche as we conne And þat is nouht of litel time quod he Bot seþyns Elye was or Elyȝe Haþe freres buen þat finde .I. of recorde. In Charite y-þonked be oure lorde Now thomas helpe for seint charitee Adoune a-none he sett him on his kne ¶ This seeke man wex nyhe woode for ire He wolde þat þe frere had bue on fire Wiþ his fals dissimulacione Suche þinge as is here in my possessione Quod he þat maie .I. ȝeue and none oþere Ȝe seine me þus þat .I. am ȝoure broþer Ȝe sertes quod þe frere trusteþ me wele .I. toke oure dame oure lettres wiþ owre seale ¶ Nowe wele quod he and sumwhat wil .I. ȝeue Vn-to ȝoure holy Couent whiles .I. leve And in þin hand þou schal it haue anone Vpon þis condicione and oþere none Þat þou depart it so myne owene dere broþer Þat euery frere haue also muche as oþer This schalt þou swere on þi professione Wiþ-oute fraude or cauellacione .I. swere it quod þis frere vpon my feiþe And þere-wiþ-al his honde in his he leiþe Lo here my feiþe in me schal be no lakke þan put þine honde doune be my bakke Seide þis man and grepe wel be-hinde Be-neþe my buttok þere schaltow finde A þinge þat .I. haue hid in priuete A þouht þis frere þat schal go wiþ me An doune his honde he launceþ in-to þe clift He hoped þere for to finden a ȝift And þan ful besi was þis frere Aboute his touele gropeinge here and þere Amiddes his honde he lete þe frere a fart Þare is no capel draweinge in þe cart þat myht haue latt a fart of suche a sowne Þe frere vp stert as it were a fers lyone A fals cherle quod he for kokes bones þis hastow for spite done for þe nones þou schal abye þis fart if þat .I. maie His meignȝe whiche þat herden þis affray Cam lepeinge inn and chased owte þe frere And forþe he goþe wiþ a ful Angry chiere An fette his felawe þere as leie here store He loked as it were a wilde bore He grenteþ his teþ so was he wroþe A stordy pas doune to þe courte he goþe Where as þere wonned a man of grete honoure To whome þat he was al weie confessoure This worþi man was lorde of þat vilage þis frere cam as þouhe it were in a rage Where as þis lorde satte eteinge att his borde Vnneþ miht þe frere speke a worde Til att þe last he seide god ȝow se Þis lorde gan loke and seide benedicite quod he ffrere Iohn what manere werlde is þis .I. see wele þat sum þinge is amys Ȝe loken as þe wode were ful of þeues Sitteþ anone and tel me whate ȝou greues And it schal bene amended if þat .I. maye .I. haue quod he a dispite to daye God ȝelde ȝow a downe in ȝoue vilage Þat in þis werlde þere is none so pouer a page Þat he nolde haue abhomynacioune Of þat .I. haue reseyuede in ȝowre toune And ȝit me greueþ no þinge so sore As þat þis olde cherle wiþ lokkes hore Blasphemed haþ oure holy Couent eke Now mayster quod þis lorde .I. ȝowe beseke No maystere quod he bot seruitoure þeih .I. haue had in scole þat honoure God lykeþ nouht þat men vs Raby call Neyþer in Market ne in ȝoure hall No force quod he bot tel me of ȝoure greue Sir quod þe frere an hydous mescheue This daie be-tidde is to myne order and to me And so par consequence to iche degre Of holy cherche god amend it sone Sir quod þe lorde ȝe wote what is to done Distemper ȝowe nouȝte ȝe be my confessoure Ȝe bue þe salt of þe erþe and þe sauoure For goddes loue ȝoure paciens ȝe holde Telleþ me ȝoure greue and he anone him tolde Als ȝe haue herde be-for ȝe wote wele whatt The lady of þe hous ay stil satt Til sche herde what þe frere seide Ey goddes moder quod sche blisful meide Es þere nouht elles telleþ me feiþfully Ma dame quod he howe þinke ȝowe þer by Howe þat me þenkeþ quod sche so god me spede .I. seie a cherle haþe done a cherles dede What scholde .I. sei god lat him neuere þe His seeke hede is ful of vanite .I. holde him in a maner franseye Ma dame quod he be god .I. schal nouȝt lye Bot .I. on oþere wyse mai bene a-wreke .I. schal sclander him ouer al where .I. speke þe fals blasphemour þa[t] charged me To parte þat myht nouht departed be To euery man y-liche wiþ meschaunce The lorde satte stille as he lay in a traunce And in his hert he rolle vp vdoune Howe had þis cherle ymaginaciounce To schew suche a probleme to þe frere Neuer arst or nowe herde .I. of suche matiere .I. trowe þe deuel put it in his mynde In ars metrike schal þere no man finde Be-for þis daie of suche a questione Who schold make a demonstracione þat euery man schold haue .I.-like his parte Of a sowne or of a sauoure of a farte O nyce proude cherle .I. schrewe his face Lo sires quod þis lorde wiþ harde grace Who euer herde of suche a þinge or nowe To euery man .y.-lyke tel me howe It is an impossible it mai nouȝt be A nyce cherle god lat him neuer þe The rumblinge of a farte and euery sowne Ne es bot bot of eyre reuelacioune And þere-wiþ wasteþ lytel and lyte a-waie Ther is no man can deme be my faie If þat it were departed equali What lo my cherle lo ȝit howe schrewdelye Vn-to my confessour to-daie he spak .I. holde him certeine a demonyak Nowe eteþ ȝoure mete and let him go pleie Latt him go honge him self a deuel weie[The Solution of the "Probleme" by the Lord's Squire. No break in the MS.] Nowe stoode þe lordes swyer att þe borde þat kerue here mete and herde worde for worde Of alle þinge of whiche .I. haue ȝowe seide My lorde quod he be nouht heuel apaide .I. couþe telle for a gone cloþe To ȝow sir frere so ȝe be nouht wroþe How þat þis scholde euen ydelt be Amonge ȝoure Couent if it lykeþ me Tel on quod þe lorde and þou schalt haue anone A goune cloþe be god and be seint Iohn Mi lorde quod he whan þis weder is feire Wiþ-owten wynde or pertubeinge of eyre Lat bringe a carte whele here in-to þis hall Bot loke he haue his spokes all Twelue spokes haþ a cart whele comunly And bringe me þan .xij. freres witte ȝe why For twelue is a Couent as .I. gesse Ȝowre confessour hede for his worþinesse Schal performe vp þe nombre of his Couent Than schal þei knele a-doune by on assent And to euery spokes ende in þis manere Ful saddely scholden lay here nose iche a frere Ȝoure noble Confessoure þere god him saue Schal holde his vpriht in-to þe naue Than schal þis cherle wiþ bely styffe and touht As any tabur hider buen brouht And sett him on þe whele riht on þis carte Vpon he naue and late him maake a farte And ȝe schol see vp peril of my lif Be preue whiche þat is demonstratif þat equali þe soune of it wil wende And eke þe stynk to þe spokes ende Saue þat þis worþi man þis confessoure Because he is a man of grete honoure Schal haue þe first fruyte as reson is The noble vsaga of freres ȝit is þis The worþi men of hem scholen first be serued And Serteynly he haþ it wele deserued He haþ to-day tauht vs so muche goode Wiþ precheinge in þe pilput þer he stoode þat .I. maie vouche saue .I. saie for me He hadde þe first smel of fartes þre And so wolde al his couent hardely He bereþ him so faire and so holyly The lorde þe lady and eche mon saue þe frere Saiden þat Iankyn spak in þis matiere As wele as Euclide or ptholome[t is l crost] Toucheinge þe cherle subtelite And by hihe make him speke as he spak He is no fule ne none demoniak And Ianky haþ wonne a newe gowne Mi tale is done we buen almost att towne Explicit fabula Aparitoris; GROUP E. FRAGMENT VI. § 1. THE CLERK'S HEAD-LINK. LANSDOWNE MS. ¶ Incipit prologus Clerici;on leaf 114 Sir Clerc of Oxenforde owre Oste seide Ȝe ride as still and coie as doþ a maide Weer newe spowsed sittinge att þe borde This daie ne herde .I. of ȝoure tounge a worde I trowe þat ȝe stody aboute some sophime Bot Salomon seiþe euery þinge haþe time For godessake beþe of Better chier It is no time for to stodie here. Tel vs sum mery tale be ȝoure feie For what man is entrede in-to pleie He nedes mote vnto þe plaie assent Bot preches nouht as freres done in lente To make vs for oure olde sinnes wepe Ne þat þi tale Make us nouht to sl[e]pe Tell vs sum Mery þinge Of Auentures Ȝoure termes ȝoure coloures ȝoure figures Kepe hem in store til so be ȝe enditen Hihe stylede as whan þat men to kinges writen Spekeþ so pleine att þis time .I. ȝou preie That we may vnderstonde what ȝe seie ¶ Þis worþi clerke benyngly ansewerd Oste quod he .I. am vnder ȝoure ȝerde Ȝe hane of vs as noue þe gouernance And þerfore wil .I. do ȝowe obeissance As fer as reson axeþ hardely .I. will ȝowe tel a tale whiche þat .I. Lerened att Pādouse of a worþi clerke As preuede be his worde and his werk He is nowe dede and nailed in his chist .I. praie to god ȝif his soule good ryst Fraunces Petrak þe Laureat poet Hiht þis clerke whos rethorik swoet Enlumyned al. ytaile of Potrie As Linian dide of Philosophie Or lawe or oþer arte particulere Bote þat wil nouht suffur dwell here Bot as it were a twynklinge of an eye Hem boþe haþe and al schal we dye Bot for to tell of þis worþi man þat tauht me þis tale as he gan .I. seie þat wiþ hyhe stile first enditeþ Or he þe body of his tale writeþ A prohemye in þe whiche descriueþ he Pymonde and of Saluces þe Contre And spekeþ of Appenyne þe hulles hihe þat buen þe boundes of lumbardie And of þe mounte vesulus in special Where as þe poe out of a wel smal Takeþ his first springeinge and his sours þat estward ay encreseþ in his cours To Emel warde · ferrir and venise Whiche of longe þinge were to deuise And treuly as to my Iuggement Me þenkeþ þat a þinge impertinent Saue þat he wil con[u]eyn his matier Bot þis is tale whiche þat ȝe maie hier Explicit prologus; hic incipit fabula [No breaks are between the stanzas in the MS.] Ther is riht att þe west side of Itaile Doune att þe rote of Vesulus þe colde A lusti pleine aboundaunt of vitaile Where mony a toure and toune þou maiste beholde Þat founden were in time of faders olde And mony anoþer delitable siht And Saluces þe noble contre hiht A markes whilome lorde was of þat lande [As were his worthi elderes hym be-fore[MS Reg. 18 C 2omits l. 66-7.]] And obeissan aie redy to his hande Were al his lieges boþe lesse and more Þus in delite he leueþ and haþ done ȝore Beloued and drad þorwhe fauoure of fortune Boþe of his lordes and of his comune Þere-wiþ he was as to speke of Lignage A faire person and stronge and ȝonge of age The gentillest bore of lombardye [And ful of honoure and of curtesye[MS Reg. 18 C 2]] Discrete ynouhe his Contre for to Gye Saue in summe þinges he was to blame And Waltier was þis ȝonge lordes name. I. blame him þus þat he considerd nouht In time comynge what myht him be-tide Botte on his luste present was al his þouht [And for to hauke and hunte on euery syde] Wel nyhe al oþere Cures lete he slide And eke he nolde þat was þe werst of all Wedde no wife for owhte þat maie befall Onely þat poynte his peple bare so sore Þat flokingmele on a day to him þei went And of him þat wisest was of lore Or elles þat þe lorde beste wolde assent Þat scholde tellen him what his peple ment Or elles couþe schew wele suche matier He to þe Markys seide as ȝe schal here O noble Markes ȝoure humanite Assuriþe vs and whisse vs hardines As oft as time is of necessite That we to ȝowe maie tell oure Heuinesse Accept lorde now of ȝoure gentilnesse þat we wiþ petous hert to ȝowe pleine And late ȝoure eres nouht my voice disdeyne ¶ Al haue .I. nouht to done in þis matiere Mor þan anoþere man haþe in þis place Ȝitte as for as muche as ȝe my lorde so dere Haue alweie schewde me fauore and grace .I. dare þe better ax of ȝowe a space Off Audience to schewen oure request And ȝe my lorde to do riht as ȝowe liest ¶ For certes lorde so wele lykeþ vs ȝowe And al ȝowre werkes and euer haþe þat we Ne couþe nouht oure seluen deuisen howe We myht leue in more felice Saue o þinge lorde if ȝowre wil be þat for to be a wedded man ȝowe list þan were ȝoure peple in Souereigne hertes rest ¶ Bouþe ȝoure nek vnder þat blisfull ȝok Off Souereignete nouht of seruise Whiche þat men clepe spowsal or wedlok And þinkeþ lord amonges ȝoure þouhtes wise [ffor of wedlok/ cometh gret emprise[Harl. 1758, leaf 115; not in MS Reg. 18 C 2]] For þouhe we slepe or wake or roume or ride Ay. flieþ þe time and wil no man abide And þouh ȝoure grene ȝouþe floure as ȝite ¶ In crepeþ Age al wei as still as stone And deþe manasseþ euery age and smyteþ In eche astate for þer askapeþ none And also certeigne as we knowe ichone þat we schal deie. As vncerteigne we all Biene of þat daie þat deþ schal on vs fall ¶ Accepte þan of vs þe trewe entente þat neuer ȝit refuysed ȝoure hest And we lorde ȝif þat ȝe wil asente Chese ȝowe a wif in schort time att þe lest Borne of þe gentelest and of the mest Of al þis londe so þat it ouht seme Honour to god and ȝowe as we can deme ¶ Deliuer vs of al þis besy dede And takeþ a wif for hihe goddes sake ffor if it so be-fel as god for-bede þat þoure deþe ȝoure lignage scholde slake And þat a stronge successoure scholde take Ȝoure Heritage woo were vs on lyve Where-for we praie ȝowe hastely to wiue ¶ Here meke preiere and here pitouse chiere Maaked ȝe Markes hert haue pite [Wol ye quod he myn oune peple deere] To þat .y. nerste euer þouht to steyne me I. me reIoysed of my lybertie Þat selden time is founden mariage Þere .I. was fre .I. most be in seruage ¶ Bot naþeles .I. see ȝoure trewe entente And truste vpon ȝoure witte and haue done aye Where-for wiþ all my fre wil .I. wil assente To wedde me als sone as eu[er]e .I. maie Bot þere as ȝe haue proferd me to daie To chese me a wif .I. ȝowe relese Þat choise and pray ȝoue of ȝoure profure cese ¶ For .I. wote þat childern often bien Vnlyke here elders hem before Bounte comeþ al of god nouht of þe strene Of whiche þei bue engenderd and y-bore .I. truste in godese bounte and þere fore Myn mariage and myne astate and reste .I. him be-take he maie do as him leste ¶ Lete me alone in cheseinge of my wif Þat charge vpon my bak .I. wil endure Bot .I. ȝowe preie and charge vpon ȝowre lif Þat what wife .I. take ȝe me assure To worschip hire while þat hire life maie endure In worde and werke boþe here and euerywhere As sche an Emperoure douhter weere ¶ And ferþer-more þis schal ȝe swere þat ȝe Aȝeine my choice schal neuer gruche ne strive ffor seþ .I. schal for-go my liberte Att ȝoure request as euer mot .I. þryve þer as my hert is set þer wil .I. wiue[This line at the side, in a different 15th-cent. hand.] And bot ȝe wil assente in suche manere .I. praie ȝowe spekeþ no more of þis matiere ¶ Wiþ hertly wil þei swore and assenten To al þis þinge þer seide no whiht naye Besekeinge him of grace or þat þei wenten þat he wold graunten hem a cerceigne daie Of his spowsel as sone as euere he maie For ȝit alweie þe peple sum what drede Lest þat þis Markes no wife wold wedde ¶ He graunted hem a dai suche as him list On whiche he wil be wedded sekurly. And seide He dide al þis att þeire request An þei wiþe humble entent ful buxhumly. Kneleynge vpon here knese ful reuerently Him þonkynge all and þus þei haue an ende Of here entente and home aȝeine þei wende ¶ And here-vpon he to his officiers Commaundeþ for þe feste to purveie And to his priue knyhtes and swyers Suche charge ȝaf as him list on hem leye And þei to his commandement obeie And yche of hem doþ his diligence To do vn-to þe fest reuerence. [PART II.] Prima pars fabule Nowht fer fro þe paleis honurable Where as þe Markes schope his mariage The[re] stode a þrope of þe Cite delitable In whiche þat pouer folke of þat vilage Hadden her bestes and her herbergage And of here laboure toke here sustinance After þe erþe ȝaf hem abundance ¶ Amonge þise pouer folke þer dwelled a man Whiche was holde pouerest of hem al Bot þe hihe god sum time sende can His grace in-to a lite oxe stal Ianicula Men of þat þorpe him cal A douhter had he faire ynouhe to siht An Crisilda þis ȝonge maiden hiht ¶ Bot for to speke of vertuouse beute Þan was sche one of þe fairest vnder sonne Ful pouerly fosterd was sche No lycourous luste was in hire hert yronne Wele ofter of þe wel þan of þe tonne Sche dranke for sche wolde vertuse plese Sche knewe wele laboure bot none ydel ese ¶ Bot þouhe þis maide tender were of age Ȝite in þe breste of hire virginite þere was y-closed ripe and scharpe corage And in a grete reuerence and charite Hire olde pouer fader fosterd sche A fewe schepe spynynge on þe felde sche kepped Sche nolde nouȝt be ydel til þat sche slepped ¶ And whan sche cam homwarde sche wald bringe Wortes or oþer herbes times oft The whiche sche schredde and seþe for here leueinge And maade hire bedde ful harde and noþinge soft And ay sche kepped her faders life on loft Wiþe euerye obeissance and dilegence Þat childe myht do to fadere reuerence ¶ Vpon Crizilda þe pouer creature Ful oft siþe þe Markes sett is eye As he on hunteinge rode perauenture And whan it fell þat he myht hire aspye He nouht wiþ wanton lokeinge of folye His eyen kast on hire bot in sad wise Vpon hire chere he wolde him of avise ¶ Commendinge in his ert here wommanhede And eke hir vertue passinge any whihte Of so ȝonge age as wele in chere as in dede For þouhe þe peple haue no grete insiht In vertue he considered ful riht Her bounde and disposed þat he wolde Wedde hire onely if euere he wed scholde ¶ þe daie of weddinge cam bot no whihte can Tel what womman þat it scholde be For whiche merveile wondereþ mony man And seiden whan þei were in priuete Wil nouht oure lorde leue his vanite Wil he nouht wedde alas alas þe while Whi wil he þus him self and vs be-gile ¶ Bot naþeles þis Markes haþe done make Of gemmes sette in golde. and in asure Broches and ringes for crisild sake And of hir cloþinge toke he þe mesure Of a maiden lyke to hire stature And eke of oþer ornamentes al þat vnto suche a wedynge scholde fal ¶ The time of hundren of þe same daie Aprocheþ þat þis weddynge schold be And al þe paleis putt was in araie Boþe hal and chambre iche in his degre Houses of officez stoffed wiþ plente Ther mai þou see of daynteuos vitaile That maie be founde as fer as last ytaile ¶ This Roial Markes richeli araide Lordes and ladies in his compaigne The whiche vnto þe feste were praide And of his retenu þe bachellarie Wiþ mony a soune of sundre Melodie Vnto þe vilage of whiche .I. tolde In þis arraie þe riht weie haþe holde ¶ Crisid of þis god wote ful innocente That for hir schapen al þis arraie was To fecche water atte þe wel is went And comeþ home as sone as euer sche maie For wele sche hadde herde saie þat ilke daie Þat Markes scholde wedde and if sche miht Sche wol feine haue seine sum of þat siht ¶ Sche þout .I. wil wiþ oþer maidens stonde Þat bien my felaues in owre dore and see The Markes and þarfore wil .I. fonde To done att home as sone as it mai be The laboure þat longeþ vnto me And þan .I. maie att leiser hire be-holde If sche þis waie in-to þe castel holde ¶ And as sche wolde ouer þe þresshewolde gone The Markes came and ganne hire for to call And sche sett doune hire water pott a-none Be-side þe þresshewold of þis ox. stall And doune vpon hir knesse sche gan to fall Wiþ sadde Countenance kneleþ still Til sche hadd herde what was þe lordes will ¶ This þouhtful Marquys spake vnto þis maide Ful soburly and seide in þis manere Where es ȝowre fader Crizild he seide And sche wiþ reuerence and humble chiere Ansewerd lorde he is all redie here And in sche goþe wiþ-oute langer lette And to þe Markys hir fader sche fette ¶ He be þe honde þan toke þis olde man And seide þus whan he had him a side Ianicula .I. neyþere maie ne kan lenger þe plesance of myne herte hide If þat þou vouche-saf what so be-tide Þi douhter .I. wil take ar þat .I. wende As for my wif vnto hire liues ende ¶ Thowe louest me .I. wote it wele certeine And arte my feiþeful liege Maifaie y-bore And al þat likeþ me .I. dar wel seine It likeþ þe and specialische þere-fore Tel me þat point as .I. haue seide be-fore If þat þou wilte vnto þat purpose drawe To take me as for þi son in lawe ¶ The sodeyne caas þe man a-stoned so þat rede he wex a-bassched and al qwakynge He stoode vnneþ he seide worde no moo Bot only þus lorde quod he my willynge Is as ȝe will nouht a-ȝeines ȝoure lykeynge .I. wil noþinge ȝe be my lorde so dere Bot as ȝow luste gouerneþ þis matier ¶ Ȝit wil .I. quod þis Markes softlye Þat in þi chamber .I. and þowe and sche Haue a collacione and wost þu whie For .I. wil ax if þat hire wil bee To be my wif and reule hire aftere me And al þis schal be done in þi presence .I. wil nouht speke owte of þine Audience ¶ And in hire Chambre while þei were aboute Here treteis whiche þat ȝe schal after here The peple cam in to þe hous wiþ-oute And wondred hem in here honest manere And tentifly sche kepped hir fadere dere Bot vtterly Crizilda wonder myht For neuer eft sauhe sche suche a siht ¶ No wonder is þouhe þat sche were a-stoned To se so grete a geste in þat place Sche neuer was to suche gestez woned For which sche lokede wiþ ful pale face Bot schortly forþe þis matie[r] for to chace Thes aren þe wordes þat Markes seide To his benigne feiþ-ful maide ¶ Crizild he seide ȝe schal wele vnderstonde It likeþ to ȝoure fader and to me Þat .I. ȝowe wedde and eke it maie so stonde As .I. suppose ȝe wil þat it so be Bot þis demandes ax .I. first quod he. That seþen it schal be done in hastie wise Wil ȝe assent or elles ȝowe avise ¶ I seie þis be redye wiþ goode herte To al my lust and þat I. frely maie As me best þenkeþ do ȝowe knowe ore smerte And neuer þe to grucche it nyht ne daie And eke whan .I. seie ȝe ne saie nouht naie Neyþer be worde ne be frounynge contenance Swere þis and here .I. swere oure alliance ¶ Weddinge vpon þis worde whakeinge for drede Sche seide lorde vndigne or vnworþi Am .I. to þat ilke honor þat ȝe me bede Bot as ȝe wil ȝoure self riht so wil .I. And here .I. swere þat neuer wilingely In werke ne þouhte .I. nyl ȝowe disobeie For to be dede þouhe me were loþe to deie ¶ This is ynouhe Crizilda myne quod he And forþe he goþe wiþe a ful sobre chiere Oute atte þe dore and after þat cam sche And to þe peple he seide in þis maniere This is my wife quod he þat stondeþ hiere Honoureþ hir and loueþ hire eke .I. preie Who so me loueþe þare is no more to seie ¶ And for þat noþinge of hire olde gere Sche scholde bringe in to his house he badde Þat wemmen scholde dispoylen [hire] riht þere Of whiche þe ladies weren noþinge gladde To handel hire cloþes where in sche was cladde Bot naþeles þis maiden briht of hewe Fro þe fote to þe hede þei cloþed hane al newe ¶ Her here ha þei kembed þat laie vntressed Thei tirede hir hede þat longe rudely laie dressed Ful roodely. and wiþ hire fingers smale Of hire araye what scholde .I. maake a tale Sche is nowe faire of hewe þat arst was pale Vnneþ þe peple hire knewe for hire fairenesse Whan sche transemute was in suche rechesse ¶ This Markes haþ her wed wiþ a ringe Brouht for þe same cause and hire sette Vpon an hors snowe white and wele Amblynge And to þe paleis ar he langer lette Wiþ Ioyful peple þat hire ladde and mette Conueyde hire and þus þe daie þei spende In reuele til þe sonne gan descende ¶ And schortly forþe þis tale for to chace .I. seie þat to þis new Marquysesse God haþe suche fauore sent hire of his grace Þat it ne semed nouht be liknesse Þat sche was borne and fedde in rudesse As in a Cote or in an ox stall Bot norissched in an Emperours hall ¶ To euery whight sche waxen is so dere And worschipful þat folke þere sche was bore And frome hire birþe knewe hire ȝere be ȝere Vnneþ trowed þei bot dorst han swore That to Ianicul of whiche .I. spak before Sche douhter nas for as be couertore Hem þouht sche was a noþer creature ¶ For þouhe euere vertuous was sche Sche was encresed in suche excellence Of þewes goode sette in hihe bounte And so discrete and faire of eloquence So benigne and digne of reuerence And couþe so þe peple hertes so enbrace That iche hire loueþe þat lokeþ in hire face ¶ Nouȝt only of Saluces in þe toune Purplyste was þe bounte of hire name Bote eke be-side in mony a Regioune If one seide wele a noþer seide þe same So spredeþe of hire hihe bounte and fame That men and wemmen also wele ȝonge as olde Gone to Saluce vpon hire to be-holde ¶ Thus Walter lowly. nouȝt. but royalye Wedded wiþ fortunate honeste In goddes pes leueþ ful esilye Att home and outewarde grace. ynowhe had he And for he sauhe þat vnder lowe degre Was oft vertue hidde þe peple him helde A prudent man and þat is seene ful selde ¶ Nouht only þis Crisilde þourhe hire witte Couþe al þe feiþe of wifly homlynesse Bot eke whan þat þe caas required it The comune profit couþe sche redresse Ther nas discorde rancor ne heuinesse In al þat londe þat sche couþe apese An wisely bringe hem al in hertes ese ¶ Thouhe þat hir husbonde absent were anone If gentil men or oþere of here contre Weere wroþe sche wolde bringe hem att one So wise and ripe wordes had sche And Iuggement of so grete equite That from heuen ysente was as men wende The peple to plese and euery wronge to amende ¶ Nouht longe time after þat þis Crisilde Was wedded sche a douhter haþ .I.-bore Al had hire leuer haue borne a knaue childe Gladd was þis markes and his folk þer fore For þouhe a mayden childe cam al before Sche maie vnto a knaue childe atteigne Belikned seþ sche is nouht bareine [Explicit] Secunda pars ffabule. [PART III.] There fel att befalleþ times mo [or ino] Whan þat þis childe hadde sowked bot a þrowe This Markes in his hert langeþ so To tempt his wif hire saddenesse for to knowe That he ne myht oute of his hert þrowe This meruelous desire his wif to assaie Nedeles god wote he þouht hire to affraie ¶ He hadde assaide hire ynouhe before And fonde hire euere goode what nededeþe Hire for to tempte and alweie more and more Bot as for me .I. seie þat yuel it sitte Þouhe sume men it preise for a subtile witte To assaie a wif whan þat it is no nede And to putten hire in angwysse and in drede ¶ ffor whiche þis markys wrouht in þis manere He cam a nyht alone þere as sche leye Wiþ steren face and wiþ trouble chiere And seide þus Cr[i]ȝilde quod he þat deye Þat .I. ȝoue toke oute of ȝoure poure aray And putt ȝowe in astate of hihe noblesse Ȝe haue nouht for-geten as .I. gesse ¶ .I. seie Criselde þis present dignite In whiche .I. haue put ȝowe as. I trowe Makeþ ȝowe nouht for-ȝeteful for to be Þat .I ȝowe toke in poure astate ful lowe For any wele ȝe moste ȝoure selue knowe Take hede of euery worde þat .I. ȝowe seie Þere is no whight þat hereþ it bot we tweye ¶ Ȝe wote ȝoure self wele howe þat ȝe com here In to þis house þat is nouht longe a go And þouhe to me ȝe be riht leue and dere Vn-to my gentils ȝe be noþinge so Thei seie to hem it is grete schame and woo For to be soubgetes and be in seruage To þe þat art borne of a smale vilage ¶ And namely seþþe þi douhter was bore Þis wordes haue þei spoken doutelese Bot .I. desire as .I. haue done be-fore To lede my lyue wiþ hem in rest and pese .I. maie nouht in þis caas be recheles .I. mote do wiþ þi douhter for þe best Nat as .I. wolde bot as my genteles leste. ¶ And ȝite god wote þis is ful loþe to me Bot naþeles wiþ owten ȝoure witeinge .I. wil nouht do bot þis will .I. quod he Þat ȝe to me assent as in þis þinge Schewe nowe ȝoure pacience as in werkynge Þat me ȝe hiht and swore in ȝoure vilage Þat daie þat maked was oure Mariage ¶ Whan sche hadde herde al þis sche nat ameued Neiþere in worde ne chiere ne countenance For as it semede sche was nouht agreued Sche saide lorde al liþe in ȝoure plesance My childe and .I. wiþ hertly obeissance Bene ȝoures all. and ȝe mowe saue and spille Ȝoure owen þinge workeþ after ȝoure wille ¶ There maie no þinge so god my soule saue Likeinge to ȝowe þat maie displesen me Ne .I. desire no þinge for to haue Ne drede for to leese saue onlye þe Þis wil is in myne hert and aie schal be Ne lengeþ of time or deþe maie þis deface Ne chaunge myne corage to anoþer place ¶ Glad was þis Marquys for hir ansewaringe Bot ȝit he feyned. as it wer nouht soo Al drery was his chier as his lokeinge Whan þat he scholde oute of þe chambre goo. Sone after þis a furlonge waie or tuo He priuely haþ tolde al his entent Vnto a man of his assent ¶ A maner seriant was þis priue man Þe whiche he feiþeful often fonden hadd In þinge grete. and eke suche folke wele can. Done execucione of þinges badde The lorde knewe wele þat he him loued and dradde And whan þis Sereiant knewe his lordes wille In-to þe chambure he stalked him ful stille ¶ Madame He seide ȝe mot for-ȝiue it me Þouhe .I. do þinge whiche .I. am constreeyned Ȝe bue so wise þat ful wele knowen ȝe Þat lordes hestes mow nouȝt be feyned Þay may wele be weiled or compleyned Bot most nede to here luste obeie. And so wil .I. þer is no more to seie ¶ This childe am .I. commaunded for to take And spak no more bot owte þe childe he hent Dispytously and gan a chere make As þouhe he wolde haue sleyne it ar he went Crisilde most al suffur and consent And as a lombe sche sitteþ meke and still And lete þis seriant haue al his will ¶ Suspecious was þe fame of þis manne Suspecte his face suspecte his worde also Suspecte þe time in whiche he þis be-ganne Alas his douhter þat sche loued so Sche wende he wolde haue sleyne it riht þo Bot naþeles sche neyþer wepped ne siked Confemeinge hir to þat þat markes lyked ¶ Bot att þe last speke sche began And mekely to þe seriant praiede So as he was a worþi gentil man Þat sche mot kisse hir childe ar þat it deide And in hire barme þis litel childe sche leide Wiþ ful sadde face and gan þis childe to blisse And lulled it and affter gan it kisse ¶ And þus sche seide in hire benigne voice Fare wele my childe .I. schal þe neuer se Bot seþe .I. haue þe merked wiþ þe croyse Of þilke fader blissed mot þou be. Þat for vs deide vpon a cros of tre Thi soule litel childe .I. him be-take For þis nyht schalt þou deie for my saake ¶ I trowe to a norice in þis caas It hadde bien harde þis reuþe for to see Wele myht a moder þan haue cride alas Bott naþeles so sadde stedfast was sche Þat sche endureþ al aduersite And to þe Seriaunte mekely sche seide Haue here aȝeine ȝoure litel ȝonge maide ¶ Goþe nowe quod sche and doþe my lordes heste Bott o þinge wolde .I. praie ȝoue of ȝoure grace Þat but my lorde for-badde ȝowe att þe leste Beriþe þis litel body in sum place Þat bestes ne birdes it to-race Bot he ne wolde no worde to þe pupos seie Bot toke þe childe and wente vpon his weie ¶ This seriaunt came vnto þis lorde aȝeine And of Crisilde wordes and hir chiere He tolde him worde for worde in schorte and pleine And him presenteþ wiþ his douhter dere Somwhat þis lorde had reuþe in his manere Bot naþeles his purpos helde he still As lordes done whan þei wil haue here will ¶ And badde þis sergeant þat he priuely Scholde þis childe ful oft wynde and wrappe Wiþ al circumstance tenderly And Carie it in a cofer or in a lappe Bott vppon peine his hede of for to swappe Þat no man scholde knowe of his entente Ne whene ne whedere þat he wente ¶ Bot att þe Boloigne it to his suster dere þat ilke time of Pauyke was Countesse He scholde it take and schewe hir þis matiere Be-secheinge hire to tone hir besinesse This childe to fostre in al gentillesse And whos childe þat it was he bad hire hide Frome euery whiht for ouhte þat maie be-tide ¶ Þis sergeant goþe and haþe fulfilled þis þinge Bot nowe to þis ma[r]kes retorne wee For nowe goþe he ful oft ymagyneinge ȝif be his wyues chiere he myht see Or be hir worde perceyue þat sche Were chaunged bot he neuer couþe hir finde Bot euere in one ylike sadde and kynde ¶ As gladde as besy as humble in seruise And eke in loue as sche was wont to be Was sche to him in euery manere wise Ne of hir douhter nouht a worde spak sche Accident for none aduersite Was seine in hire ne neuer hir douhter name Ne nemend sche in ernest ne in game [Explicit] Tercia pars fabule. [PART IV.] IN þis . astate þere ben passed foure ȝere Er sche wiþ childe was Bot as god wolde A knaue childe sche bare be þis waltere Ful gracious and faire to be-holde And whan þat folke it to his fader tolde Nouht onlyche he but al þe contre mury Was for þis and god þei þonke and hery ¶ Whan it was tuo ȝere olde and fro þe breste Departid of his norice on a daye þis Markes cauht ȝit anoþere leste To tempte his wif ȝit ofter if he maie O nedeles was sche tempted in assaie Bot wedded men knowen no mesure Whan þat þei finde a pacient creature ¶ Wif quod þis Markes ȝe haue herde of þis My peple sekely bereþ heuye of oure mariage And namely seþ my son borne is Nowe is wers þan euer in al oure age The mormure sleþe myn herte and myne corage For to myne eres commeþ voice so smarte That it wel nyhe destruyde hathe myne herte ¶ Nowe seye þei þus whan Waltier is a-gone Than schal þe blode of Ianicle succede And bien oure lorde for oþere haue we none Suche wordes seiþe my peple it is no drede Wele ouhte .I. of suche murmure taken hede For certeinly .I. drede suche sentence Þouhe þei nouht pleine speke in myne audience ¶ I wolde leue in pes if þat .I. myhte Where-fore .I. am disposed vtterlye As .I. his suster serued be nyhte Riht so þenke .I. to serue him priuely Thus warne .I. ȝowe for ȝe nouht sodanly Oute of ȝoure selue for no woo scholde outraie Beþe pacient and þerfore .I. ȝow preie ¶ .I. haue quod sche saide and euer schal .I. will no þinge certeigne Bot as ȝoue luste nouht greueþe me al Þouhe þat my douhter and my son bue sleine Att ȝoure commandement þis is to seine .I. haue nouht had no parte of childern tweyne Bot first sekenesse and after woo and peine ¶ Ȝe bene oure lorde do wiþ ȝoure owen þinge Riht as ȝowe liste axeþe no rede att me For as .I. left att home al my cloþinge Whan .I. first came to ȝowe riht so quod sche Lest .I. my wil and al my liberte And toke ȝoure cloþinge where-fore .I. ȝowe preie Doþe ȝoure plesance .I. wil ȝoure lust obeie ¶ And certes if .I. had prescience Ȝoure will to knowe ar ȝe ȝoure lust me tolde .I. wolde it do wiþ-outen necligence Bot nowe .I. wote ȝoure luste and what ȝe wolde Al ȝoure plesance ferme and plesance .I. holde For wist .I. þat my deþe wolde do ȝowe ese Riht gladly wolde .I. deie ȝowe to plese ¶ Deþ maie nouht make no comparisone Vnto owre loue and whan þis Markis seye Þe Countenance. of his wif he cast a-doune His eyȝen tuo and wonderþ þat sche maye In paciens suffur al þis araye And forþe he goþ wiþ drery countenance Bot to his hert it was riht grete plesance ¶ Þis Ogel seriant in þe same wise Þat he hir douhte cauht riht so he Or wers. if men wers can deuise Haþe hente hire son þat ful was of beute And euer in oone so paciente was sche That sche no chiere made of heuinesse Bott kissed hir son and after gan it blesse ¶ Saue þis sche praide him if þat he myht Hir litel son he wolde in erþe graue His tendre limes delicate to siht Fro foules and fro bestes forto saue Bot sche none ansewere of him myht haue He went his waie as he no þinge rouht Bot to Boleigne he tendurly it brouht ¶ This Markes wondreþ euer lenger þe more Vpon hire paciens and if þat he Ne hadde soþely knowe þere before Þat perfitly hir cheldern loued sche He wolde haue wende þat of summe subtilite And of Males or for cruel curage Þat sche hadde sufferd þis wiþ sadde visage ¶ Bot wele he knewe next him selue certeigne Sche loued hir childern best in euery wise Bot nowe of wemmen wolde .I. axe feine If þes assaies myht nouht suffise What couþe a stordy husbonde more deuyse to preue his wif and hir stedfastnesse And he continuinge euer in stordenesse ¶ Bot þere buen folke of suche condicione þat whan þe haue a certeine purpos take þei can nouht stinte of hire entencion Bot riht as þei were bounden to a stake þai wil nouht of þat first purpos slake Riht so þis ma[r]kes fully haþe purposyd To tempt his wif as he was firste disposyd ¶ He waiteþ if be worde or countenance That sche to him was chaunged of Corage Bot neuer couþe he finde variance Sche was aie oon in hert and in visage And aie þe forþer sche was in age The more trewe if þat it were possible Sche was to him loue and more pesible ¶ For whiche it semed þus þat of hem tuo Þer nas bot o will for as Waltier luste Þat same lust was hir plesance also And god he þonked as fel for þe beste Sch schewed wele for no werldly vnreste A wif as of hire self no þinge ne scholde Wille in effecte bot as hir husbonde wolde ¶ The sclander of Walter oft and wide spradde That of a cruel hert he wikkedly For he a pouer womman wedded hadde Had murdred boþ his childern priuely Suche murmur was ymonge hem comunly No wonder is for to þe peples ere Þere come no worde bot þat þei murdred were ¶ ffor whiche þer as his peple þere before Had loued him wel þe sclaunder of his defame Maade hem þat þei hated him þer-fore To biene a Mordrer is an hateful name Bot naþeles for ernest ne for game He of his crewel purpos nold stint To tempte his wif was sette al his entent ¶ Whan þat his douhter . xij. ȝere was of age He to þe Courte of Rome in soubtile wise Enformed of his will and sente his message Commandeinge hem suche bulles to douise In þis manere and in þis same gise Howe þat þe pope for his peple rest Bat him to wedde anoþer wif ȝif þat him lest ¶ I saie he badde þei scholde countrefete The popes bulles makeinge mencione þat haþe leue his first wif to lete As by þe popes despensacione To stinte Rancor and discencione Be-twix his peple and him þus spake þe bulle The whiche þei han publisced att þe fulle ¶ The rode peple as it no wonder is Wenden ful wel þat it hadd be riht so Bot whan þis tiþinges came to Crisildis .I. deme þat hire hert was ful woo Bot sche ylike sadde for euer moo Disposed was þis humble creature To aduersite of fortune al to endure ¶ Abideinge euer his lust and his plesaunce To wham sche was ȝeuen hert and al As to hir werldly verray suffisance Bot schortly ȝif þis storie tell .I. schal This Marqwys writen haþe in special A lettre in whiche he scheweþ his entent And secretely he to Boleigne it sent ¶ To þe erle of pauyke whiche þat hadde þo Wedded his suster prayede he specialy To bringe home aȝeine his childerne two Bot he o þinge praide vtterly Wiþ all his hert ful affectuously Þat he to no wight þouh man wolde enquere Schol nouht tellen whos childen þat þei were ¶ Bot seie þe maiden schold y-wedde be Vn-to þe Markes of Salucez riht anone And as þis Erle was preide riht so dide For att þe daie sette . he on his waie is gone To-wardes Salutz and lordes many one In riche Araie þis Mayden for to Gyde Hir ȝonge broþer rideynge be hire side ¶ Araide was to-warde hir mariage This frische maide ful of gemmes clere Hire broþer whiche þat seuen ȝere was of age Araide eke ful frische in his manere And þus in grete noblesse and wiþ gladde chiere To-ward Saluces schapinge hire Iornaie Fro daie to daie þei rideinge in hire weie. [Explicit] Quarta pars fabule [PART V.] Amonge al þis after his wikked vsage Þis Markes ȝit his wif gan tempte more To þe vttrest preue of hir Corage Fulli to haue experiment and lore. If þat sche was as stedfast as before He on a daie in open audience Ful bustusly haþ seide hir þis sentence ¶ Certes Crisilde .I. had .I.-nowhe plesance To haue ȝowe to my wif for ȝoure goodnesse As for ȝoure trouþe and ȝoure obeissance Not for ȝoure lignage ne for ȝoure rechesse Bot nowe quod he in verreie so þefastnesse That in grete lordeschippe ȝif .I. wil a-vise There is grete seruitute in sundre wise ¶ .I. maie not do as euery plouhe man may My peple me constreyneþ forto take Anoþer wif and crien daie be daie And eke þe pope rankoure for to slake Consenteþ it þat dare .I. vnder-tak And trewlye þus muche .I. wil ȝowe seie My newe wif is cominge be þe weie ¶ Be stronge of herte and voide anone hir place And þilke dowaire þat ȝe brouhten me Tak it aȝeine .I. graunte it of my grace Retorneþ to ȝoure faders house quod he No man maye alweie haue prosp[er]ite Wiþ euen hert .I. rede ȝoue to endure The stroke of fortune or of aventure ¶ And sche aȝeine ansewarde in pacience My lorde seide sche .I. wote and wist al weie How þat be-twex ȝoure magnificence And my pouerte no whight can ne maie Maken comparison þat is no naye .I. held me neuer digne in no manere To be ȝoure wif ne ȝit ȝoure chamberere ¶ And in þis þere ȝe me lady maade The hihe god take .I. for my wittenesse And also wisely he my soule gladde .I. neuer helde me lady ne maistresse Bot humble seruant to ȝoure worþinesse And euer schal while þat my lif maie dure Abouen euery worldly creature ¶ That ȝe so longe of ȝoure benignite Haue holde me in honour and nobleie Where as .I. was nouht worþe to be þat þonke .I. god and ȝowe whome .I. preie For-ȝelde it ȝow þere is no more to seye Vnto my fader gladly wil .I. wende And wiþ him duel vnto my lyues ende ¶ Ther .I. was fostred a childe ful small Til .I. be dede my lif þer wil .I. lede A wedowe clen in body hert and all For seþþe .I. ȝaue to ȝowe my maidenhede And am ȝoure trewe wif it is no drede God schelde suche a lordes wif to take Anoþer man to husbonde or to make ¶ And of ȝowre newe wif god of his grace So graunt ȝowe wele and hihe profperite For .I. wil gladly ȝelden hire my place In whiche .I. was blisful wonte to be For seþe it likeþ ȝowe my lorde quod sche That whilom were al myn hertes rest That .I. schal go .I. wil go whan ȝoue lest ¶ Bot þere as ȝe me profer suche dowaire As .I. fist brouht it is wele in my mynde It were my wreched cloþes noþinge faire The whiche to me were nowe ful hard to finde O goode god howe gentil and howe kinde Ȝe Semed be ȝoure speche and be ȝoure visage The daie þat maked was oure mariage ¶ Bott soþe is seide al gate .I. finde it trewe For in effecte it proued is on me Loue is nouht olde as whan þat it is newe Bot certes lorde for none aduersite To deien in þe caas it schal nouht be Þat euer in worde or werke .I. schal repent Þat .I. ȝowe ȝafe myne herte in hole entent ¶ Lorde ȝe wote þat in my faders place Ȝe dide me stripe out of my poure wede And richely me cladden of ȝoure grace To ȝowe brouht .I. not elles out of drede Bot feiþe and nakednes and maidenhede And here aȝeine ȝoure cloþinge .I. restore And eke ȝowre weddinge ringe for euer more ¶ Þe remenant of ȝoure Iewels redi be Wiþþe in ȝoure chambre dar .I. sauely seine Naked oute of my faders house quod sche .I. cam and naked .y. mote aȝeine Al ȝoure plesance wold .I. folow feine Bot ȝit .I. hope it be nouht ȝoure entent þat smokles oute of ȝoure paleys .I. went ¶ Ȝe couþe nouht do so dishonest a þinge þat þilke wombe in whiche ȝoure childern leye Scholde be-for þe peple in my walkinge Be seene al bare whe[r] for .I. ȝowe praye Late me nouht like a werme go be þe waie Remembre ȝowe myn owen lorde so dere .I. was ȝowre wif þouhe .I. vnworþe were ¶ Wherefore in guerdon of myn maidenhede Whiche þat .I. brouht and not awaie .I. bere As vowcheþ saue to ȝeue to my mede Bot suche a smok as .I. was wonte to were. þat .I. þer-wiþ maie wrie þe wombe of here þat was ȝoure wif. and here take .I. my leue Of ȝowe myne owen lorde leste .I. ȝowe greue ¶ The smokke quod he þat þou haste vpon þi bakke Lat it still and bere it forþe wiþ þe Bot vnneþ þilke worde he spake Bott wente his weie for rewþe and pite Be-forne þe folke hir seluen strepeþ sche And in hire smoke wiþ foote and hede al bare To-ward hir fader house sche is fare ¶ The folke hire folowen wepein in hir weie And fortune aie þei cursen as þei gone Bot sche fro wepeinge kepped her eyȝen drie Ne in þis time worde ne spak sche none Hire fader þat þis tiþinge herd a-none Cursiþ þe daie and time þat nature Schope him to be a lyues creature ¶ ffor oute of doute þis olde poure man Þat whan þe lorde had fulfilde his corage For euer it demed siþþe it first began Him wold þinge it were disparage To wedde one of so pouere a lignage To his astate so lowe to a lyht And voide hir as sone as euer he myht ¶ Aȝeine his douhter hastely goþe he For he be noyse of folke knewe hire comeinge And wiþ hire olde cote as it miht be He couerde hir ful sorwfully wepinge Bot on hir bodi myht he it nouht bringe For rude was þe cloþe and more of age Be fele daies þan was hire Mariage ¶ Thus wiþ hire fader for a certeine space Dwelleþ þis floure of wifly pacience That neyþe[r] be hir wordes ne be hir face Be-forne þe folke ne eke in hir absence. Ne schewede sche þat hir was done offence Ne of hire hihe astate in remembrance Ne hadde sche as be hir countenance ¶ No wondere is for in hire grete astate Hire goste was euer in pleine humilite No tendre mouþe none herte delicate Ne pompe ne semblant of roialte Bot ful of pacience and benignite Discrete and prideles ay honurable And to hir husbond euere meke and stable ¶ Men speken of Iob and most of his humblesse As clerkes whan hem liste can endite Namely of men bot as in sothefastnesse Thow clerkes preisen wemmen bo[t] a lite Ther can no man in humblesse him acquite As wemmen can ne can be halfe so trewe As wemmen buen bot it be fal of newe [PART VI.] ¶ Fro Boleyne is þis erle of pauyhe comme Of whiche þe fame vp spronge to more and lesse And to þe peple eres al and somme Was Couþe eke þat a new Marquysesse He wiþ him brouht in suche pompe and recchesse Þat neuer was þer seen wiþ mannes eye So noble araie in al west lumbardeye ¶ Ther Markes whiche þat knewe and schope al þis Or þat þis Erle was comme sent his message For þilke cely poure Crisild And sche wiþ humble herte and glad visage Nouhte wiþþe no swollen hert in hire Corage Cam att hire heste and on hir knes hir sette And reuerently and wisly sche him grette ¶ Crisilda quod he my wil is vtterlye This maiden þat schal be wedded to me Receyved be morwe as Roiallye As possible is in my house to be And eke þat euery wyght in his degre Haue his astate in sittinge and seruice And hihe plesance as .I. can best deuise ¶ .I. haue no womman suffisant certeine The chambres for to arraie in ordinance After my lust; and þere-fore wolde .I. feine Þine were al suche maner gouernance Þou knowest eke of olde al my plesance Þouhe þine araie be bad and yuel be-seye Do þou þi deuere att þe leste waie ¶ Not only lorde þat .I. am gladde quod sche To do ȝoure lust bot .I. desire also Ȝowe for to serue and plese in my degre Wiþ-outen feynteinge and schal euer moo Ne neuer for no wele ne for woo Ne schal þe goste wiþ-inne myne hert stinte To loue ȝow best wiþ al my trewe entente ¶ And wiþ þat worde sche gan þe house to diht And tables for to sette aud beddes make And peyned hire to done al þat sche myht Preieinge þe chambreres for goddes sake To hasten hem and fast swepe and shake And sche þe most seruisiable of all Haþe euery chambre arraide and his hall ¶ Aboute vndern gan þis erle alyht And wyþ him brouht his noble childern tweye For-wiþ þe peple ran to see þat siht Of hir arraye so Richely beseye and þan at arst amonges hem þei sey þat Walter was no fule þouhe þat him leste To chaunge his wif for it was for þe beste ¶ For sche is fairere as þei demen alle Þan is Crisilde and more tendir of age And feirer fruyte betwene hem schold fall And more plesance for hir hihe lignage Hir broþer eke so faire was of visage That hem to se þe peple haþ kauht plesance Commendynge nowe þe Markes gouernance ¶ O stormy peple vnsad and euer vntrewe Ay indiscrete and chaungeinge as a fane Deliteinge aye in Romble þat is newe Fare like þe mone ay wexen ȝe and wane Ay ful of Clappinge dere ynowhe a Iane Ȝoure dome as fals ȝoure inconstance wele preueþ A for grete fole is he þat on ȝowe leueþ ¶ Thus seiden sadde folke in þat Cite Whan þat þe peple gased vp and doune For þei were glad riht for þe nouelte To haue a newe lady of here toune No more of þis now make .I. mencione Bot to Crisilde anone .I. wil me dresse And tel hir Constance and hir besinesse ¶ Ful besy was crisilde in euery þinge Þat to þe feste was apertenent Riht nouht was sche abassched of hire cloþinge þouhe it were rode and eke somdele to-rente Bot wiþ glad chiere to þe ȝate is wente Wyþ oþere folke to grete þe marquysesse And after þat doþ forþe hire besinesse ¶ Wiþ so gladde chiere his gestes sche resceyueþ And conyngly eueryche in his degre Þat defaute no man apperceyueþ Bot aie þei wondren what sche myht be That in so pouer araye was for to se And couþe suche honoure and reuerence And worþely þe preised hire prudence ¶ In al þis men while sche ne stinte This maiden and eke hir broþer to commende Wiþ al hir hert wiþ ful benynge entente So wele þat no man couþe hir prise amende Bot att þe laste whan þes lordes wende To sitten doune att mete he gan to call Crisilde as sche was busy in his hall ¶ Crisild quod he as it were in his pleie Howe likeþ þe my wif and hire beaute Riht wele quod sche my lorde for in goode feie A feirer sawhe .I. neuer none þan sche .I. prei to god ȝif. ȝoue prosperite And so hope .I. þat he wil to ȝoue sende Plesance ynowhe vnto ȝoure liues ende ¶ .O. þinge beseche .I. ȝowe and warne also Þat ȝe prikke wiþ no turnementynge Þis tender maiden as ȝe haue done mo For sche is fosterd in hir norischeinge More tendrely and to my supposinge Sche couþe nouht aduersite endure As couþe a pore fostred creature ¶ And whan þis Waltier sauhe hire pacience Hir glad chiere and no malece att al And he so oft had done hire offence And sche aye sadde and constante as a wal Continuinge euer hire Innocens ouer al This stordy Markes gan his hert dresse To rewen on hire wifly stedfastnesse ¶ This is ynouhe Crisilde myne quod he Be nowe no more agaste ne yuel a-paide .I. haue þi feiþe and þi benignite As wele as euer womman was assaide In grete astate and pouerly araide Now knowe .I. dere wife þi stedfastnesse And hire in armes toke and gan hir kesse ¶ And sche for wonder toke of it no kepe Sche þouht nouht what þinge he to hir seide Sche ferde as sche had stert oute of hir slepeLine repeated at top of leaf 127 Til sche oute of hir masedenesse abraide Crisida quod he be god þat for vs deide Thou ert my wif ne none oþer .I. haue Ne neuer had so god my soule saue ¶ This is þi douhter whiche þou hast supposed To be my wif þat toþer faiþe fully Schal be myne heire as .I. haue aye purposed Thou bare hem in þi bodi trewly. Att Boleyne haue .I. kepped hem priuely Takeþ hem aȝeine for nowe maist þou nouȝt sey Þat þou hast lorne none of þi children tweie ¶ And folke þat oþere wise haue seide of me .I. warne hem wele þat .I. haue done þis dede For no malece ne for no cruelte Bot for to assaie in þe þi wommanhede And nouht for to sle my childern god for-bede Bot for to kepe hem priuely and still Til .I. þi purpos knewe and al þi will ¶ Whan sche þis herde a swoune doune sche falleþ For pitous Ioye and after hire swoneinge Sche boþe hir ȝonge childerne to hire calleþ And in hir armes pytously wepeinge Embraseþ hem and tendurly kissinge Ful lyk a mode wiþþe hir salte teres Sche baþes boþ hire vesage and hire eres ¶ O whiche a pitous syht it was to see Hir swoneynge and hire humble voice to here Graunt mercye lord god .I. þonked ȝowe quod sche þat ȝe haue sauede me my childern dere Nowe reche .I. neuere to be dede riht here Seþþe .I. stonde in ȝoure loue and in ȝoure grace No force of deþe ne whan my sprite passe ¶ O tender o dere o ȝonge childern myne Ȝoure woful modere wende stedfastly Þat cruel houndes or sum foule vermyne Had eten ȝowe bot god of his mercye And ȝoure benigne fader tendurly Haþe done ȝowe kepe in þe same stounde Al sodanly sche swapped a-downe to grounde And in hir swoune so sadly haldeþ sche Here childern tuo whan sche gan hem enbrace That wiþ grete slyht and grete difficulte The childerne from hir harme þei gun race O many a tere on mony a pitous face Doune ranne on hem þat stoden hir be side Vnneþ aboute hir myhten þei a-bide ¶ Walter hire gladeþ and hire sorwe slakeþ Sche riseþ vp a-basched from hir traunce And euery wyht hire ioyeþ and fest makeþ Til sche haþe cauht aȝeine her countenance Waltier hir doþe feiþefully plesance Þat it is deynteþ for to see þe chiere Be-twexe hem tuo nowe þei bue mette in fere ¶ This ladyse whan þat þei her time seie Han taken hire and in to chambre gone And strippen hir oute of hir rode araie And in a cloþe of golde þat briht schone Wiþ a corenal and mony a riche stone Vpon hir hede þei in-to hal hir brouhte And þan sche was honoured as sche ouhte ¶ Thus haþe þis pytous daie a blisful ende For euery man and womman doþe her myht This daie in merþe and reuel to despende Til on þe welkine schone þe sterres briht For more solempne in euery mannes siht This feste was and gretter of costage Than was þe reuel of hir Mariage ¶ Ful mony a ȝere in hihe prosperite Leuen þis tuo in concorde and rest And richely his douhter maried he Vn-to a lorde one of þe worþiest Of all ytaile þan. and pees and rest His wives fader in his courte he kepeþ Til þat his soule oute of his body crepeþ ¶ His sonne succedeþ in his heritage In reste and pes after his fader daie And fortunate eke was in mariage Al pute he nouht his wif in grete assaie þis werlde is not so stronge it is no naye As it haþe bue in olde time ȝore And erkeneþ what þis auctor seiþ þere-fore ¶ This storie is seide not for þat wyues scholde Folowen Crisilde as in humilite For it were importable þouhe þei wolde Bot for þat euery whight in his degre Scholde be constant in aduersite As was Crisilda þer-for Petrake wryteþ This story whiche he wiþ hihe stile enditeþ ¶ For seþþe a womman was so paciente Vnto a mortel man wele more vs ouht Receyuen al in gre þat god vs sente For grete skylles he proueþ þat he wrouht Bot he tempteþ no man þat he bouht As seiþe seinte Iame if ȝe his pistel rede He proueþ folke aldaie it is no drede ¶ And suffreþ vs as for oure exercise Wiþ scharpe scourges of aduersite Ful often to be beten in sundry wise Nouȝt for to knowe oure wil for certes he Or we ware borne knewe al oure frelete And for oure best is al his gouernance Lete vs þan leue in vertuous suffrance ¶ Bot lordinges o worde herkeneþ ar .I. go It ware ful harde to finde nowe a dayes In al a toune Crisildes one or tuo For if þat þei were put to suche assaies The golde of hem haþe nowe so bad laies Wiþ bras þat þouhe þe coyne be faire at eye It wolde raþer briste y tuo þan plye ¶ For whiche: for þe wyues loue of baþe Whas lyf and al here helþe god maynteigne In hire maystre and elles ware it skaþe .I. wolde wiþ lusty herte frische and grene Sey ȝowe a songe to glad ȝowe .I. wene And latte us stint of enestful matiere Herkeneþ my songe þat seiþe in þis manere Lenvoye de Chaucer Criselde is dede and hir pacience And boþe at ones beried in ytaile Wher-fore .I. crie in open audience No wedded man be hardie to assaile His wives pacience in hope to finde Crisildez for certes he schal faile O noble wyues ful of ire prudence Lat none humylite ȝoure tonge naile Ne late no clerke haue cause or diligence To write of ȝowe a storie of suche merveile As Crisilde pacient and kinde Lest chicheuache ȝowe swelowe in hire entreile Foloweþ here to and holdeþ no silence Bot euer answer att þe countretaile Beþ nouht bedaffed for ȝoure innocence Bot scharpely take on ȝowe þe gouernaile Enprinteþ wele þis lesson in ȝoure mynde For commune profite seþþe it maie availe þe Archewyues standeþ att þe fense Seþ ȝe be stronge as is a grete Camaile Ne suffreþ nouȝt þat men do ȝowe offence And sclender wives and febel as in a bataile Beþ egre as is a tigre ȝonde in. Inde Ay clappeþ as a melle .I. ȝowe counseile Ne drede hem nouht . ne do hem no reuerence For þouhe þi husbonde armed be in maile Þe arwes of þi crabbed eloquence Schal pers his breste and eke his aduentaile In gelowsye .I. rede eke þou him binde And þou make him couche as doþe a qwaile If þow bue faire þere folke bue in presence schew þou þi visage and þine aparaile If þo be foule be fre of þi dispence To gete þe frendes do aye þi trauayle Be ay of chier as liht as lef on lynde And late him care and wepe and wringe and wayle. Explicit commendacio Incipit ffabula.on leaf 128, back WHilome þer was dwellinge in lumbardie A worþi knyht þat borne was in Paue In whiche he leued in grete prosperite And .xl. ȝere a wifles man was he And folowde aye his bodely delite On wemmen was his hole appetite As done þes foles þat bu seculere And whan þat he was passed .lx. ȝere Were it for holynes or for dotage .I. can nouht seie but suche a grete corage Had þis knyht to be a wedded man 1Þat daie and nyht he doþ al þat he can To aspie where he myht wedded be11_1 repeated on leaf 129 Preinge oure lorde to grant him þat he myht ones knowe þat blisful life þat is betwex an husbond and his wif And for to leue vnder þat holy honde Wiþ wiche god first man and womman bonde None oþer life seide he is worþe a bene For wedlok is so esy and so clene That in þis werlde it is a paradise Thus seide þis olde knyht þat was so wise An certeinly as soþe as godde is kenge To take a wif it is a gloriouse þinge And namely whan a man is olde and hore þan is a wif fruyt of his tresore þan scholde he take a ȝonge wif and a faire On whiche he myht engender him an heire And leden his lif in Ioy and solace Where as þe bachellier singen alace Whan þat þei finden any aduersite In loue whiche þat is bot childes vanite And trewli it sitte wele to be so þat bachilliers haue ofte peine and woo On brutel grounde þei boiled brutilnesse þei finde frelte whan þei wene Sikernesse þei leue bot as a burde or as a beste In liberte and vnder none areste þere as a wedded man in his astate Leueþ . his lyf blisful and ordinate Vnder þe ȝokke of mariage .ybounde Wele may his herte In Ioy and blisse abounde For who can be so buxum as a wife Who is so trewe and eke so tentife To kepe him seeke and hole as is his make For wele or woo sche nyll nouht him for-sake Sche is nouht werye him to loue and serue þeih þat he lye beddred til he sterue And ȝit somme clerkes seine it is nouht so Of whiche Theofrast is one of þo What fors þouhe Theofrast list lye Ne take no wif quod he for husbandrie As for to spare in householde þi despence A trew seruant doþe more diligence Thine goode to kepe þan þine owen wif For sche wil claime half parte in al hire lif And ȝif þat þou be seke so god me saue Thyne verrey frendes or a trew knaue Wil kepe þe bett þan sche þat waiteþ aie After þi goode and haueþ do mony daie [And if thou take a wife that to the is vn-trewe. ffull ofte tyme it schall the rewe. Not in Addit. 5140, leaf 149] To þis entente and an .C. siþes wers Writeþ þis man þere god his soule cors Bot take no kepe of al such vanite Defye Theofrast and herkeneþ me ¶ A wif is goddes ȝift verraily Al oþer maner ȝiftes hardely As landes rentes pasture or comune Oþer eyþer ȝiftes þat bien mebles of fortune þat passen as a schadowe on a wal Bot drede nouht if pleinly speke I. schal A wif wil last and in þine house endure Wel langer þan þe list endure Mariage is a ful grete sacrament He whiche haþ no wif .I. holde him schent He leueþ helples and is al desolate .I. speke of folke in seculere astate And herken whi .I. seie nouht þis for nouht þe womman is for mannes helpe I-wrouht þe hihe god whan he had Adam maked And sauhe him a-lone b[e]ly nakeded God of his grete goodnesse seide he þan Latt vs nowe make an helpe to þis man .I.-like to him selfe and þat he maade Eue Here maie ȝe see and here be preue Þat wif is mannes help and comforte His paradise terestre and his disporte So buxum and so vertuus is sche þei moste nedes leue in vnite O flesche and o blode as .I. gesse Ne haþe bot on herte in wele and in destresse A wif a seinte mare benedicite Howe myhte a man haue any aduersite þat haþ a wif certes .I. can nouht seye The blisse þat is be-tuex hem tueye Þere maie no tunge tel or hert þinke. If he be pouere Sche helpeþ him to swynke Sche kepeþ his gode and wasteþ neuer a dele And al þat hire husbond lust hire lykeþ wele Sche seiþ nouht ones naie whan he seiþe ȝe Doþ þis saiþe he Alredy sire seiþ sche O blisful order. o wedlok precious þou ert so mery and eke so vertuous And so commended and approued eke þat euery mon þat holdeþ him worþe a leke Vpon his bare knees ouht al his lif Thonken his god þat him haþ sente a wif Oþire praie god him for to sende A wif to last vnto his lyues ende For þan his lif is sett in sekurnesse He may nouhte be deceiued as .I. gesse So þat he worche after his wyues rede þan maie he boldely bere vp his hede þei buen so trewe and so wise For wiche if þou wilt worchen as þe wise Do al waie so as þe womman wil þe reede Lo howe þat Iacob as þes clerkes rede Be goode Counsel of his moder Rebek Bande þe kidde scynne aboute his nek For whiche his faders benison he wan Lo Iudith as þe storie eke tel can Be wise Counsel sche goddes peple kept[t rubbed out] And slowhe him Olofernus while he slept Lo howe Abigaile be gode counsel howe þat sche Saued hir husbond nabal whan þat he Schold haue be sleyne and Loke after al so Be goode counsel deliuerd out of wo The peple of god and made hem mardothe Of Assure enchaunced for to be There nes noþinge in[? in in a later hand] gre superlatiff As seiþ Senec aboue an humble wif Suffurþ þi wiues tonge as Caton bitte Sche schal commande and þou schalt suffur it And ȝute sche will obeie of Curtesye A wif is keper of þin husbondrie Wele maie þe seke man be-waile and wepe þere as þere nes no wif þe house to kepe .I. warne þe if wisely þou wilt worche Loue wele þi wif as crist loueþ his chirche If þou loues þi self þou loues þi wif No man hateþ his flesche bot in his lif He fostreþe it and þer-for bid .I. þe Chirische þi wif or þou scalt neuer þe Husband and wif whatt so men Iape or pleie Of werldly folke holde þe riht weie Thei buen so knytte þer maie non harme be-tide And namely vpon the wif side For whiche þis Ianuare of whiche .I. tolde Considered in wiþ his daies olde The lusty þe vertuous quiete That is in mariage any swete And for his frendes on a daie sent To tellen hem þeffect of his e[n]tent Wiþ face sadde he haþ hem þis tale tolde He seide frendes .I. am hore and olde And almoste god wote att my puttes brinke Vpon my soule sum what most .I. þinke .I. haue my body folely dispended .I.-blissed be god þat it schal be amended For .I. wil be certeine a wedded man And þat in al þe hast þat .I. can Vnto sum maide faire and tendre of age .I. praie ȝowe schape for mi Mariage Als sudanly for .I. wil nouht abide And .I. wil fonde aspie on my side To whome .I. maie be wedded hastely Bot for also muche as ȝe buen mo þan .I. ȝe scholl raþerne suche a þinge aspyen þan .I. and where me lust best to allyen Bot o þinge warne .I. ȝowe my frendes dere .I. wil none olde wif haue in no manere Sche schal nouht passe .xvj. ȝere certeigne Olde flesshe and ȝonge flesshe þat wolde .I. haue ful feine Bet is quod he a pike þan a pikerele And better þan olde bufe is tendre vele .I. wil no womman .xx. ȝere of age It nes bot benestrawe. and grete forage And eke þis olde wedowes god it wote þei kon so muche craft on wades bote So mechil broken harme whan þat hem lest Þat wiþe hem schold .I. neuere leue in rest For sondre scoles makeþ soubstile clerkes Wemmen of mony a scole halue a clerke is Bot certeynly a ȝonge þinge maie me guye Riht as men maie warme wex wiþ hondes to plie Where-for .I. seie ȝowe pleynly in clause .I. wil none olde wif for þis cause For if so weer if .I. hadde so meschaunce That .I. in hire couþe haue [no] plesance Than scholde .I. lede my lyf in adultrie And so strike to þe deuel whan .I. deie Ne chil scholde .I. none vpon hir geten Ȝit were me leuer houndes had me eten þat þat my heritage schold fal In straunge hande and þus .I. tel ȝowe al .I. doute nouht .I. wote þe cause whye Men schold wedde and forþer more wote .I. Ther spekeþ mony men of Mariage That wote no more of it þan wote my page For whiche cause men schold tak a wif If he maie nouht chast be be his lif Tak him a wif wiþ grete deuociōn Be cause of leueful procreaciōn Of Childer to þe honour of god aboue And not onely for paramour and for loue And for þei scholde lychery eschewe And ȝelde her dettes whiles þat it is newe Or for þat ilke man schold help oþer In Meschef as a suster schal do a broþer And leue in Chastite ful heuenly Bot sires be ȝoure leue þat am nouht .I. For god be þonke-it .I. dar make a-vaunt .I. fele my lymes stark and sufficeant To done al þat a man be-longeþ to do .I. wote my seluen best what .I. may do Thouhe .I. be hore as doþe a treie þat blossomeþ ar þat þe fruyte y-waxe bue A blossome tre is neiþer drie ne dede .I. feel me nowhwhere hore bot on myn hede Myne herte and my lymes buen as grene As laurer þat þorwh. þe ȝere is seene And seþen ȝe haue herd al myne entent .I. prai ȝow to mi wil þat ȝe assent Diuers men diuers him tolde Off Mariages mony ensa[m]ples olde Somme blamed it som preised it certeigne Bot att þe last schortly for to seine As al dai falleþ altercacione Be-twex frendes in disputacione There fel a strif be-twix his breþern tuo Of whiche þat tone was cleped Placebo Placebo seide O. Ianuer broþer To ȝou tel .I. þis tale and to none oþere Foll litel nede had ȝe my lorde so dere Counsel to ax of any þat is here Bot þat ȝe be oone so ful of sapience þat ȝowe ne likeþ for ȝoure hihe prudence To wayue fro þe worde of Salomone This worde seide he vnto vs euerychone Wirke al þinge be counseile þus seide he And þan schal þou nouht repent þe Bot þouhe þat Salomon spek suche a worde Mine owen dere broþer and my lorde So wisly god my soule bringe att rest .I. holde ȝoure owen consel is þe best For broþer myne of me take þis motif .I. haue nowe bue a court man al my lif And god wote þouhe .I. vnworþi be .I. haue stande in ful grete degre Abouten lordes in ful grete astate Ȝit hadde .I. neuer wiþ none of hem at bate .I. neuer hem contraried trewly .I. wote wele þat mi lorde can more þan .I. What þat he seiþe .I. holde it ferme and stable .I. seide þe same or elles þinge semblable A fful grete fole is any counselloure þat seruith any lorde of hihe honoure þat dar presume or ones þinken it þat is counsel schol pas his lordes witte Nay lordes ben no foles be my faie Ȝe haue ȝoure selfe spoken here to-daie So hihe sentence so holy and so wele þat .I. consent and conferme euery dele Ȝoure wordez al and ȝoure opynyoun Be god þer nys no man in al þis toune Ne in Itaile couþe bette haue saide Crist haldeþ him of þis ful wele apaied And trewly . it is an hihe corage Of any man þat stoupin in his age To tak a ȝonge wif be my fader kinne Ȝoure herte hongeþ vpon a Ioly pinne. Doþ nowe in þis matier riht as ȝowe leste For finaly .I. halde it for þe best ¶ Iustinus þat ay still satt and herde He riht on þis wise to placebo he ansewarde Nowe broþer myne be pacient .I. praie Seþins ȝe haue seide and herkeneþ whatt .I. saie Senec amonge oþere wordes wise Seiþe þat a man ouht him riht wele avise To whome he ȝeue his londe oþer his catel And seþins .I. auht avise me riht wel To whom .I. ȝeue my good aweye fro me Wele more .I. auht auyse [me parde] To whome .I. ȝeue my body for alweie .I. warne ȝowe wele it is no childes pleie To take a vif wiþ-outen avisement Men most enquere þis is my assent Wheþer sche be wise and sobre oþere dronkenlewe Oþere proude oþere vþerweie a schrewe A chidistere oþere a wastour of þyne goode Oþere riche oþere pouere oþere of maners woode Al be it so þat no man finde schal None in þis werlde þat trotteþ hole in al Ne man ne beste suche as men deuise Bot naþeles it auht ynouȝe suffise Wiþ any wif if þat so were sche hadde Mo goode þewes þan hir vices badde And al þis askeþ leiser to enquere For god it woote .I. haue weppet mony a tere Ful priuely seþ þat .I. had a wif Preiseþ who so wol a wedded mannes lif Certein .I. finde it bot cost and care And obseruaunces of al blisses bare And ȝite god. wote my neihbours aboute And namely of wemmen mony a route Saine þat .I. haue þe most stedfast wif And eke þe mekest oon þat beriþ lif Bot .I. wote beste where wringeþ me my schoo Ȝe maie for me riht as ȝoue likeþ doo Aviseþ ȝowe ȝe bue a man of Age Howe þat ȝe entren in to Mariage And namely wiþ a ȝonge wif and a faire Be him þat maad water erþe and ayre The ȝongest man þat it in al þis route Is besy ynowhe to bringe it aboute To haue his alone trusteþ to me Ȝe schol nouȝt only plesen hire ȝeres þre Þis is to sai done hire plesance A wif axeþ ful mony an obse[r]uance .I. praie ȝowe þat ȝe ne been yuel apaide Wele quod þis Ianuar and hast þou al seide A strawe for þi Senec and for þi prouerbes .I. count nouht a panyȝer ful of herbes Of skole termes wisere men þan þoue As þou hast herde assenten riht nowe To my purpos Placebo what seie ȝe .I. seie it is a corsed man quod he Þa[t] letteþ matrimonye sekurlye And wiþ þat worde þei resen sodanlye And buen assented ffulli þat he schold Be wedded whan him lust and whan he wolde The fantasy and þe besy curiousenesse Fro day to day gan in þe soule impresse Of Ianuare aboute his mariage Many faire schapen and mony faire visage þere passeþ þourhe his hert nyht be nyht As who so take a merour pulisshed briht And set it in a comune Market place Than scholde he se mony a figure pace Be his merour and in þe same wise Gan Ianuar in wiþ his þouht deuise Of Maidenes whiche þat dwelt be side He wiste nouht where he myht abide For þouhe þat one haþe beuty in hir face Anoþer stant so in þe peples grace For hir sadnes and hire benignite þat of þe peple grettest voice had sche And sum were riche and had bad name Bot naþeles betuyx ernest and game He att þe laste apoynted him on one An lete al oþere fro his hert gone And ches hire of his owen autorite For loue is blinde al daie and maie nouht se And whan þat he was in þe bedde brouhte He purtreide in his hert and in his þouhte Her fressche beute and hire age tendre Her myddel small and hir armes longe and sklender Hire wise gouernance and hir grete gentilnesse Here wommanlye bereinge and hire gentil sadnesse And whan þat he was fro hire condescendid Him þouht his þouht miht nouȝt bue amendid For whan þat he him selfe concludid hadde Him þouht euery oþer mannes witte so badde þat impossible it were to replie Aȝeins his choys þis was his fantasie His frendes sent he to att his instance And preide hem to done him þat plesance þat hastely þei wolden done to him come He wolde a-brigge her laboure al and somme It nedeþ no more for him to gone or ride He was apoynted þere he wolde abide Placebo cam and eke his frendes sone And alder first he badde hem al a bone þat none of hem none argumentez make Aȝeines þe purpos whiche þat he haþ take Whiche purpos was plesant to god seide he And verrei grounde of his prosperite He seide þer was a maiden in þe toune Whiche þat of beute hadde grete renoune Al were it so sche were of smal degre Sufficeþ him hire ȝouþe and hire beaute Whiche maide he seide schold be his wyf To lede in ese and in holynesse his lif And þonked god þat he myht haue hire al That no whight wiþ his blisse parten schal And preide hem to laboure in þis nede And schapid þat he failed nouht to spede For þan he seide his spirte was att ese þan is quod he noþinge may me displese Saue o þinge prikeþ in my conscience The whiche .I. wil reherce in ȝoure presence .I. haue herd saie ful ȝare agoo There maie no man haue parfite blisses tuoo This is to seie in erþe and eke in heuen For þouhe he kepped him fro þe sinnes seuen And eke for euery braunche of þilke þree Ȝite is þere so parfite prosperite And so grete ese and luste in mariage Þat euer .y. am agast noue in myn age Þat .I. schal lede nowe so mery a lyf here [So delycat / wyth-outen woo and stryf That y shal haue myn heuene / in erthe heer]Not in Sloane 1685, leaf 92, back; or Harl. 1758, leaf 80, back; or Harl. 7333, leaf 70, bk; or Sloane 1686, leaf 182; or Reg. 18 C 2, leaf 95, back] For seþ þat verrei heuen is bouht so dere Wiþ tribulacione and wiþ grete penance How scholde .I. leue in suche plesance As al wedded men doþe wiþ her wives Com to þe blisse þere caste eterne on lyue is This is my drede and ȝe my breþerne tweie Assoileþe me þis question .I. ȝowe preie Iustinus whiche þat hated his foly Anseweringe anone riht in his Iaperye And for he wolde his longe tale abrugge He wolde none auctorite alegge Bot seide sire so þere bue none obstacle Oþere þan þis god of hihe meracle And of his mercy maie so for ȝoue worche þat ar ȝe haue ȝoure ȝiftes of holi churche Ȝe maie repent of wedded mannes lif In whiche ȝe seine þere nys neiþer woo ne strif And elles god for-bede bot if he sent A wedded man grace him to repent Wel often raþer þan a sengel man And þere-for sir þe best rede .I. kan Dispeireþ ȝowe nouȝt haueþ in memorie Perauenture sche maie be ȝoure purgarie Sche maie bue goddes mene and goddes whippe þan schal ȝoure soule vp to heuen skippe Swifter þan doþ an arwe oute of a bowe .I. hope to gode here afterwarde schalt þou knowe þat þere ne is so grete felicite In mariage ne neuer more schal be þat ȝe schal lache of ȝoure saluacion So þat ȝe vse as scyl is and reson þe lustes of ȝoure wif attemperaly And þat ȝe plese hire nouht to amorously And þat ȝe kepe ȝoue eke fro oþere sinne Mi tale is done for my witt is þinne Beþe nouht agast here-of my broþer Bo[t] lat vs wade fro þis matire to anoþer Þe wif of baþe if ȝe haue vnderstonde On mariage whiche ȝe haue on honde Declared haþe ful wel in litel space Fareþ nowe wele god haue ȝowe in his grace And wiþþe þis word þis Iustine and his broþer Haue [take] here leue and elke of hem of oþer For whan þei sawhe it most nedes bue Thei wrouht so be wise sleiht and trete þat sche þis maide wiche þat Mayus hiht As hastifly as euer þat sche myht Schal wedded bue vn-to Ianuarie .I. trowe it were to longe ȝoue to tarie If .I. ȝowe tolde of euery scrite or bande Be whiche þat sche was ffeffed in his lande Oþere for to herken of her riche araie Bot finaly commen is þis daie þat to þe chirche boþe bue þei went For to receyuen þe holy sacrament Forþ comeþ þe preste wiþ þe stole aboute his nek And badd hir be like Sarra and Rebek In wisdome and treuthe of mariage And seide his orisons as his vsage And crowched hem and badde god scholde hem blesse And maad al sekur .I.-nouhe wiþ holynesse Thus buen þei wedded wiþ solempnite And att þe feste sitteþ he and sche Wiþ oþer worþi folke vpon þe dese Al ful of Ioye and blisse is þe palese An ful of instrumentes and of vitaile Þe most deinteuous of al ytaile Be-forne hem of Instrumentes whiche soune That Orpheus. ne of Phebes Ampheoune Ne maad neuer suche a Melodye And att euery cours cam loude Menstralcie That neuer Ioab tromped for to here Neiþer Theodomas ȝit halfe so clere And Thebes whan þe Cite was in doubte Bachus þe wyne hem schenkeþ al a-boute. And venus lauheþ on euery wyht For Ianuar was becom hir knyht And wolde boþe assaien his corage In liberte and eke in Mariage And wiþ hir fire-bronde wiþ hir honde aboute Daunceþ to-fore þe bride al aboute An certeinly .I. dar wele seie riht þis Emyneus þat god of weddinge is Sawe neuer in his lif so mery a wedded man Halde þou þi pes þou poet Marcean Þat writest vs þat ilke weddinge mury Of hire Philologie. and of Mercury And of þe songe þat þe Muses songe So smale as eke þi penne and eke þi tonge For to discriuen of þis Mariage Whan tender ȝouþe haþe wedded stoupeinge age Ther is suche murþe þat it maie nouht be writ Assaieþ it ȝoure self þan maie ȝe wit If þat .I. lakke or none in þis matiere Mayus þat siht wiþ so benigne a chiere Hire to be-holde it semed faire Qween estier loked neuer wiþ suche an eye On assure so meke a loke haþe sche .I. maie ȝoue nouȝt deuise al here aboute Bot þus muche of hir beute tell .I. maie That sche was like þe briht morwe of maie Fulfillede of beaute and plesance This Ianuar is rauisshed in a traunce And att euery time he loked on hire face Bot in his herte he gan hire to manace þat he þat nyht in armes wolde hire streine Harder þan euer paris dide Elyne Bot naþeles ȝit had he grete pite þat þilke nyht offenden hir must he And þouht Alas o tender creature Now wold god ȝe myht wele endure Al my corage it is so scharpe and kene .I. am a-gaste ȝe schollen it nouht sustene Bot god for-bede þat .I. ded al my myht Nowe wolde god þat it were waxen nyht And þat þe nyht wolde lasten euer mo .I. wolde þat al þis peple war a-go And fynaly he doþ al his laboure As he best myht saueinge his honoure To haste hem fro þe mete in subtile wise The time cam þat reson was to rise And after þat men daunce and drinke fast And spices al aboute þe house þei cast An ful of ioy and blisse is euery man All bot a swyere þat hiht Damyan Whiche karue to-for þe knyht many daie He was so rauisshed on his lady maie Þat for þe verraie peine he wex nere wode Almoste he suelte and swouned þere he stode As þat sche bare daunceinge in hire honde So fressche sche was and þer-to so likeande[Spurious. In Sloane 1686, leaf 184, back And to his bed he went him hastely. No more of him att þis time speke .I. Bote .I. lete him wepe ynowe and pleine Til frische maie wil rewe on his peine O perelous fire þat in þe bedde strawe bredeþ O famylere foo þat is seruise bedeþ O seruant traitur fals holy hiew .y-lyke to þe nadder sleiȝe and in bosom vntrewe God schelde vs al fro ȝoure iniquitance O Ianuere dronken in plesance O mariage see how þine Damyan þine owen swyer and þine borne man Entendeþ to do þe velanye God grant þe þine harme to aspie For in þis werlde ne is wers pestilence Þan humble fo aldaie in þi presence Performed haþ þis devine daie his ark diurne No longer maie þe bodie of him soiorne The oriȝote as in þat latitude Niht wiþ his mantil þat is derke and rude Gan for to sprede þe mysprei aboute For whiche departed is þe lusti route For Ianuer wiþ þonke on euery side Home to her houses lustely þei ride þer as þei done her þinges as hem lest And whan þei sawe her time go to rest Sone after þat þis hastif Ianuare Wil go to bedde. he wil no longer care. He drinkeþ. ypocras clarre and vernage Of spices ote to encresen his corage And many a letuarie had he ful fyne Suche as þe Cursed Monke Dam Constantine Haþe wreten in his boke of coitue To eten hem al he was noþinge eschewe And þus to his priue frendes saide he For goddes loue as sone as it may be Late voyden al þis house in curteis wise sone Men dronke and þe trauers droue anone þe bride was brouht to bedd as stil as stone So hasted Ianuarie it most be done[spurious] [And when the bedde was with the preste blessed] Owte of þe chambre haþ euery wyght him dressed And Ianuare haþe fast in armes take His frisshe maie his paradis his maake He lulliþ hire he kisseþ hir ful oft Wiþ þilke bristeles of his berde vnsoft ylike to þe skinne of hundefische scharpe as brere For he was schaue al newe in his manere He rubbeþ hir vpon hire tender face And seid þus alas .I. must trespace To ȝowe my spowse and ȝowe gretely offende Or time come þat .I. wil downe descende Bot naþeles considereþ þis quod he þer nys no werkman whatt so euere he be þat maie boþe werche wele and hastelye This wil be done att leyser parfitelye It is no force howe lon[ge] þat we pleye .I. troue in wedlok complete be we tueye And yblissed be þat ȝok þat we bue inne For in oure actes we mowe do no sinne A man maie do no sinne wiþ his wif Ne hurt him self wiþ his owen knyf Nowe we haue leue to pley vs be þe lawe Thus laboureþ he til þat þe daie gun dawe And þan he takeþ a soppe in fine clarre And vp riht in his bedde þan sitteþ he And after þat he songe ful loude and clere An kessed his wif and maade wantoun chere He was al coltisshe and ful of ragerie And ful of Girgun as is a flecked pye The slake skynne aboute his necke sshakeþ While þat he songe so chaunteþ he and crakeþ Bot god woote watt maie ȝouþe in hire hert Whan sche him sawhe vpsitinge in his schert In hys nyht cappe and wiþ his nek lene Sche preiseþ nouht his pleyinge worþe a bene Than saide he þus Mi ristinge wil .I. take Nowe daie is comme .I. maie no lenger wake And doune he laide his hed and slept to prime And afterward whan þat he sawhe his time Vpriseþ Ianuer bot þe frisshe maie Holdeþ hir chambre vnto þe ferþe daie As vsages is for wives for þe best For euery loboure som time mote haue rest Oþere elles longe maie he nouht endure This is to seie no liues creature Be it of fisshe or birde or beste or man ¶ Nowe wil .I. speke of woful Danyan þat longuriþ for loue as ȝe schol here The for .I. speke to him in þis manere .I. seye o cely Damyan alas Ansewer to þis demaunde as in þis cas How schal tow to þi lady fresshe maie Tel þi woo sche wil al weie seie naie Eke if þou speke sche wil þi wo be-wreye God bu þin helpe .I. can no better seie This seke Damyan in venus fire So berneþ þat he deyeþ for desire For whiche he put his lif in aduenture Ne lenger myht he in þis wise endure Bot priuely a pennere gan he borwe And in a lettre wrote he al his sorwe In manere of a compleint oþere a laie Vnto þis faire and fresshe lady maie And in a purse of silke honge on his schert He haþ it put and leide it att his hert The mone þat att none was þat ilke daie Þat Ianuar haþe wedded þat fressche maie In tuo of taure was in þe Cankre gliden So longe haþe sche in hir chambre byden As custume is vnto þis noblis all A bride schal nouhte eten in þe hall Til daies foure oþere þre att leste .I.-passed buen þan late hir go to feste The fourte daie complete fro none to none Whan þat þe hihe messe was done In hall sitteþ þis Ianuer and maie As fresshe as is þe briht somers daie And so be-fel howe þat þis goode man Remembreþ him vpon þis Damian And seide seinte marie howe maie þis be þat Damyan entendeþ nouht to me Is he aie seke or howe maie þis be-tide His swyers whiche þat stoden him be-side excuseinge him be cause of his sekenesse Whiche þat letid him to done his besinesse None oþere cause myht make him care That me for-þinkeþ quod þis Ianuare He is a gentil swyer be my trouþe If þat he deie it were harme and rouþe He is as wise discrete and secre As any man .I. wote of his degre And þer-to manly and eke seruisable And for to be a þrifty man riht able Bot after mete as sone as euer y maie .I. wil my self viset him and eke maie To done him al þe comfort þat .I. can And for þat worde blissed him euery man þat of his bounte and his gentilnesse He wolde so comforten him in his sekenesse His swyere for it was a gentil dede Dame quod he þis Ianuare takeþ good hede Att þe after mete ȝe wiþ ȝoure wemmen all Whan ȝe haue buen in chambre oute of þis hall þat al ȝe gone to se þis Damyon Doþe him disporte he is a gentile mon And telleþ him þat .I. wil him vesyte Haue .I. noþinge bot rest me a lyte [And spede you faste for y wol abide Til that ye slepe faste be my syde][Not in Sloane 1685, lf 96; or Harl. 1758, lf 83, bk; or Sloane 1686, lf 186, bk; or Reg. 18 C 2, leaf 99; or Harl. 7333, leaf 72.] Nowe wiþ þat worde he gan to him call A swyer þat was marchal of his hall And tolde him certeine þinges whatt he wolde This frische maie haþ streiht her weie yholde Wiþ al hire wemmen vnto þis Damyan Doune be his bed side satt sche þan Comforteing him as goodly as sche maie This Damyan whan þat he his tim saie In secrete wise his purse and eke his bille In whiche þat he had wreten al his wille Haþ pute in to hir honde wiþ-outen more Saue þat he syked wonder sore And soþe to hir riht þus seide he Mercye and þat ȝe discouereþ nouht me For .I. am dede if þat þis þinge be kidde This purs haþ sche inne withe hire bosome hidde And went hir waie ȝe gette no more of me Vn-to Ianuer Commen is sche An on his bedde side sitte ful soft He takeþ hir and kisseþ hire ful oft And leide him doune to slepe and þat anone Sche feyne hir þat sche most gone þer as ȝe wote þat euery whight must nede And whan sche of þis bill haþ taken hede Sche rent it al to cloutes atte þe last And in þe priue softly sche it cast Who stodieþ nowe bot faire fresche maie And a-doune be Ianuare sche laie That slepet til þat þe couhe him haþ awaked Anone he preide hire to stripen hire al naked He wolde of hire he seide haue sum plesance He seide hire cloþes did him encumbrance And sche obeieþ be he leef or loþe Bot lest þat precious folke be wiþ me wroþe How þat he wrouht .I. dar to ȝowe nouht tell Oþere wheþer þat he þouht on paradis or of hell Bot .I. lete hem werche in here wise Te euesonge ringe and þat þei mot arise Were it be destany or aueuture Were it be influence or be nature Oþer in constillacione þat in suche astate The heuen stoode þat time fortunate Was for to putte a bil of venus werkes For al þinge haþe time as seiþe þe clerkes To any womman for to gete hire loue .I. kan not sei bot þe grete god aboue þat knoweþ þat none acte is causeles He deþ of al for .I. wil holde my pes Bot soþe is þis howe þat þis maie Haþ take suche impression þat daie On pite on þis seke Damyan That fro hir herte sche ne driue can The remembrance for to done him ese Certeine þouht sche whome þat þis þinge displese .I. rek nouȝt for here .I. him assure To loue him beste of any creature Thouhe he no more hadde þan his scherte Lo pite renneþ sone in gentile herte Here maye ȝe see howe excellent fraunches In wemmen is whan þei narwe hem avise Sum terant þere is as þere be mony one That haþ an herte as hard as any stone Whiche wolde haue late him sterue in þe place Wel raþare þan haue graunted him þat grace And hem reioysen in þeire crouel pride And reccheþ nouȝt to bue an homycide This gentil maie ful filled of al pite Riht so of hire honde a letter maade sche In whiche sche graunteþ him of hire verraie grace Thar lakeþ nouht onely bot daie and place Where þat sche miht to his lust suffice For it schal bue riht as he wil deuise And whan sche see hire tim vpon a daie To visite þis Damyan goþe þis faire maie And sotelly þis letter doune sche þrest Vnder his pilowe rede if him lest Sche takeþ him be þe honde and harde him tueste So secretely þat no whight it weste And bad him be al hole and forþe sche wente To Ianuare whan þat he for hire sente Vp riseþe Damyan þe next morwe Al passed was his sekenes and his sorwe He kembeþ him and proyneþ and pikeþ He doþ al þat his lady luste and likeþ And eke to Ianuare he goþe as lowe As euere dide a doge for þe bowe He is so plesante to euery man Fro craft it is who þat it can þat euery whight is feine to teche him goode And fully in his ladie grace he stode Thus lete .I. Damyan aboute his nede And my tale forþe .I. wil procede Somme clerkes halden þat felicite Stant in delite and þarefor he This Noble Ianuare wiþ al his myht In honest wise as longeþ to a knyht Schope him to leue ful deliciously His houseynge his arraie al honestly To his degre was maked as kenges Amonge oþere of his honest þinges He had a grardyne al walled wiþ stone So faire a gardyne wote .I. ney where none For oute of doute .I. verraily suppose þat he þat wrote þe romans of þe rose Ne couþe of it þe bewte wele deuise Ne Priapus ne miht noȝt suffise Þouhe he be god of Gardyns for to telle The beute of þe gardyn and of þe welle That vnder a laurer alwaie grene Ful oft time kinge Pluto and his queene Preserpina. and all hire fairee Disporten hem and maken melodee Abouten þat wel and daunced as men tolde This noble knyht þis Ianuare þe olde Suche deinte haþ in hit to walken and to pleie That he wil suffur no wyht to be þe kaie Saue he him self for of þe smale wiket He bare alwaie of siluer a kleket Wiþ þe whiche whan þat him vnschette And whan he walde paie his wif hire dette In somer seson þeder wolde he goo And maie his wiff and no whiht bot þei tuoo An þinges whiche þat were nouht done abedde þei in þe Gardeine performed haue and spedde And in þis wise mony a mery daie Leued þis Ianuare and fressche maie Bott werldly Ioy mai nouht alweie endure To Ianuare ne to no werldly creture O sodeine happe o þou fortune vnstable .I.-lyke to þe . þe scorpion vnstable þat flaterst wiþ þin hede whan þou wilt stinge Thi taile . is deþ þoruhe þine enuenymynge O brutel ioye O swete poyson queynte O mynester þat solely can peinte Thin ȝeftes vnder þe hewe of stedfastnesse þat þou deceyuedest boþe more and lesse Whi hast þou Ianuer þus deceyued And haddest him for þi ful frende receyued And now þou hast be-raft him boþ his eyen For sorwe of whiche desireþ he to deiȝen Alas þis noble Ianuare þat is so fre Amydde his luste and his prosperite Is waxon blinde and al sodanly His deþ þere-for desireþ he vtterly And þere-wiþ-al þe fire of Ielousye Lest þat his [wif] schold fall in sum folye So bernt his hert þat wolde feine Thatt summe man boþe hir and him had sleine For neuer after his deþ ne in his lif Ne wolde he þat sche were loue ne wif Bot euer leue as a wedew in cloþes blake Soule as a tortle doþe þat haþ lost hir make Bot att þe last after a Moneþ or tuey His sorwhe gan to swage soþe to sey For whan he wiste it mai none oþer be He paciently tok his aduersite Saf oute of doute maie he noȝt for-gone Þat he nas Ielous euer more in one Whiche Ielouse it was so outrageous þat neiþere in hal ne in none oþere hous Ne in none oþere place neuer þe mo He nold suffre hir neyþer ride nor go Bot if þat he hande on hire alweie For whiche ful of wepeþ frische maye þat loueþ Damyan so benyngly þat sche mote eiþer deie sodanly Or elles sche most han him att hire lust Sche waiteþ whan hire hert wald birst Vppon þat oþer side Damyan Becommen is þe sorwfulhest man Þat euer was for neiþer niht ne daie Ne myht he speke a worde to fresche maie As to his purpos of no suche matier Bot if þat Ianuare most it here þat had on honde vpon hire euermoo And neuer les be writeinge to and fro An priue signes wist he what sche ment And sche knewe of þe syne of his entent O Ianuare what myht þe availe þouhe þou myht see as fer as schippes saile For also good is a blynde deceyued be As to be deceiued whan a man may se Lo Argus whiche þat hadd . an .C. yene For all þat euere he couþe poure oþir prine Ȝit was he blent and god wote so be moo That wenene wisly þat it is nouht soo Passe ouer is an ese and seie no more This fresche maie of whiche .I. spak of ȝore In warme wax haþe emprintid þis cliket Þat Ianuare bare of þat smale wiket Be whiche into his gardine oft he went And Damyan þat knewe hire entent The cleket counterfetid priuely There is no more to seie bot hastely Some wonder be his cleket scha[l] be-tide Whiche ȝe schollen here if ȝe wollen abide O noble Ouide soþe seist þou god woote What sleyht is it þouhe it be longe and hote That he nil finde it oute in somme manere By Pyramus and thesbe maie men lere. Thouhe þei were kepped ful longe treite ouer al Thei biene acorded rowneinge þoruhe a wal There is no whight couþe han founde oute suche a sleihte Bot nowe to purpos ar þat daies eyhte Were passe or þe Moneþ of Iuyl befyll Þat Ianuare haþ cauht so grete a will Thoruhe engine of his wife him for to pleie In his Gardine and no whiht bot þei tweie That in a mor vn-to his may seide he Rise vp my wife my loue my lady fre The turtlys voice is herde my doufe swete The winter is gone wiþ al Reynes wete Com forþe nowe wiþ þin eyȝen Columbyne Howe feirer buen þi brestes þan is wyne The gardine es enclosed al aboute Com forþe my white spouse oute of doute Þou hast me wounded in myn hert o wif No spotte in þe was in al my lif Com forþ and lat vs take oure disporte .I. chese þe for my wif and my comforte Suche olde lewde wordes vsed he On Damya[n] a signe Maade sche þat he scholde go be-forne wiþ his cleket þis Damyan haþe openede þe weket And in he sterte and þat in suche manere þat no wight myht it se ne here And still he sit vnder a busche anone This Ianuare so blinde as is a stone Wiþ Mayus in his honde and no whight mo In to his frische gardein is he goo And clapped to þe weket sodanlye Nowe wif quod he here nys bot þou and .I. þat art the creature þat .I. best loue For be þat lorde þat sitteþ vs al aboue .I. had leuer deyȝen on a knyf Than þe offenden my dere treue wif For goddes sake þinke howe .I. þe ches Nouht for no Coueites douteles Bott onely for þe loue .I. had to þe And þouht þat .I. be olde and maye nouht see Be to me trewe and .I. wil tel ȝowe whie Certes þrei þinges schal ȝe winne þere bie Firste loue of Criste and to ȝowre self honour And al myne Heritage tonne and toure .I. ȝeue it ȝowe make charters as ȝowe liste þis schal be do to morwe ar sonne ariste So wissely god my soule bringe in blisse And pray ȝowe on Couenant þat ȝe me kesse And þouhe þat .I. be Ielouse wite me nowht Ȝe buen so depe enprinted in myne þouht þat whan þat .I. considere ȝoure beute And þere-wiþ-al þe vnlikly elde of me .I. maie nouht sertes þouhe .I. schold deie For-bere to be oute ȝoure compaigne For verrei loue þis is wiþ-outen doute Nowe kisse me wif and lat vs rome aboute ¶ This frisshe maye whan sche þis wordes herde Benigly to Ianuare ansewerd Bot first & forwarde sche began to wepe .I. haue quod sche a soule for to kepe As wele as ȝe and also myne honour And of my wifhede þilke tender floure Whiche þat .I. haue assured in ȝoure honde Whan þat þe preste to ȝowe my body bonde Wharfor .I. wil ansewer in þis manere Wiþ loue of ȝoue my lorde so dere .I. praie god þat neuer dawe þat day. Þat .I. ne sterue as foule as womman maye Ȝif euer y do vnto my kynne þat schame Or elles .I. enpeire so my name þat .I. be ffalse and if .I. do þat lake To stripe me and putte me in a sake And in þe next Riuere do me drenche .I. am a gentil womman and no wenche Whi speke ȝe þus but men ben euyre vntrewe And wemmen haue repreef of ȝowe ay newe Ȝe can noon oþere continaunce yleue Bot speke to us as vntreste and in repreue And wiþ þat worde sche sauhe wher Damyane Satt in þe busche and knele he beganne And wiþ hire fingers signes maade sche þat Damyan scholde climbe vpon þe tre þat chargede was wiþ fruyte a[n]d vpe he wente For verraily he knewe al hir entent And euery signe þat sche couþe make Wele bett þan Ianuare hire owen make For in a lettre sche had told him al Of þis matiere houe he werche schal And þus I lete sette in þe pire And Ianuare and Mayus rouneinge ful merie Briht was þe daie and bleue þe firmament Phebus of golde doune haþ his stremes sent To gladen euery floure wiþ his warmenesse He was þat time in geminis as .I. gesse Bot litul fro his declinacioun Of Cancer Iouys exaltacioun ¶ And so be-fel in a briht morwe tide þat in þe gardine on þat ferþire side Pluto þat is þe kinge of faire And mony a ladi in his companye Folowinge his wif þe queene Proserpina Whiche þat he rauesched oute of proserpina. Whiles þat sche gaderd floures in a mede In claudian ȝe maie þe storis rede How in his grisly carte he hire fette This kinge of ffaire a-doune him sette Vppon a benche of torues frische and grene And riht anone seide he þus vnto his qwene My wif quod he þat maie not seie naie The experiens proueth it euery daie The treson whiche þat womman doþ to man Ten hundreþ þousand tell .I. can Notable of ȝoure vntreuþe and brutelnes Of Salomon rychest of al riches Ful filled of Sapiens and of werly glorie Ful worþi bien þi wordes to memorie To euery wiht þat witte and reson can þus preiseþ he ȝitte þe bounte of man Amonge a .M. men ȝit fonde .I. one Bot of al wemmen fonde .I. neuer none þus seiþe þe kinge þat knoweþ ȝoure wikkednesse And ihesus filius Syrak as .I. gesse Ne spekeþ of ȝowe but seldyn reuerence A wilde fire a corrupt pestilence So fal vpon ȝoure bodies ȝit to nyht Ne see nouht þis honurable knyht Because alas þat he is blinde and olde His owen man schal make him cokewolde Loo where he sitte þe lichoure in þe tree Nowe wil .I. graunte of my Maiestee Vnto þis olde blinde worþi knyht þat he schal haue aȝeine his eyȝen siht Whan þat his wif wold done him velanye Than schal he knowe al her harlotrye Boþe in repreue of hire and oþere mo Ȝe schal quod Procerpine and wil ȝe soo Nowe be my Moders sire soule .I. swere þat .I. schal ȝeue hire sufficeant ansewere And alle wemmen after for ȝoure saake þat þouhe þei buen in any gilte ytake Wiþ face bolde þei schollen hem self excuse And bere hem doune þat wolde hem accuse For lakke of ansewere non of hem schollen deyen Al had ȝe seihe a þinge wiþ boþ ȝoure eyȝen. Ȝit schollon we so visage it hit hardelye And wepe and swere and chide subtellye þat ȝe schol buen as lewde as arne gese What rekkeþ me of ȝoure auctoritees .I. wote wele þis Iewe þis Salomone Fande of vs wemmen fules many one Bot þouhe þat he fonde no goode womman There haþe he founde mony anoþere man [Wommen ful trew ful good ful vertuous Witnes on hem þat dwellen in cristes hous Wiþ martirdom þey prouyd hir[MS h] constance The romaygne Iestis maken remembrānce Of many a verry trewe wyff also But sire ne be nouȝt wroth as be it soo þouȝ þat he seide he fond no good womman I praye ȝow take þe sentence of þe man[ Not in Harl. 1758, leaf 87; or Harl. 7335, leaf 127; or Sloane 1686, leaf 192, back; but in Addit. 5140, leaf 166, bk; 17 D xv, leaf 121, bk; Sloane 1685, leaf 101; the sheet out of Harl. 7333 (lf72-73).]] He ment þus þat in souereigne bounte Nys none bot god neyþere he ne sche Ey for verrey god þat nys bot one What make ȝe so muche of Salomone What þouhe he maad a temple goddes hous What þouhe he were riche and glorious So maade he a temple of fals goddes Who myht do a þinge þat more for-bode is Parde als faire as ȝe his name implastre He was a lichoure and a ydolastre And in his elde he verrei god for-soke And ȝif þat god na hadde as seiþe þe boke yspared him for his fader saake he scholde Haue lost his reigne sauner þat he wolde .I. sett nouht of al þe velany þat ȝe of wemmen write a botterflie .I. am a womman nedes most .I. speke Or elles swel til myn hert breke For þeþins he seide þat we be Iangelers As euer mote .I. brouke boþe my tresses I schal spare for no curtesie to spek him harme þat wolde vs velanye Dame quod þis pluto be no longer wroþe .I. ȝeue it vp bot seþen .I. swore myn oþe þat [I] wolde graunt him his siht aȝeine My worde schal stande þat warne .I. þe certeine .I. am a kinge it sitte me nouht to lye And .I. quod sche a queene of fayre Hire ansewar sche schal haue .I. vnder-take Lat us no mo wordes nowe make.[For the rest of the Tale (from Harl. MS 1758) see the Appendix.] Explicit fabula Mercatoris. (As in Sloane 1686, and Corpus.) [THE PROEM.] Incipit prologus de le ffrankeleyne.on leaf 141 THis olde gentil bretons in hire daies Of diuers auentures maden laies Rimyden in hir first breton tonge Whiche laies wiþ here instrumentes þei songe. Oþer elles redden hem for her plesance And one of hem haue .I. in rembrance Whiche .I. schal seie wiþ as goode wil as .I. can Bot sires be cause þat .I. am a burel man Att my ginnynge first .I. ȝoue beseche Heueþ me excused of my roode speche .I. lernd neuer retorik certeine þinge þat .I. speke it most . be bare and pleine .I. slept neuer on þe mount of parnaso Ne .y. neuere lerid Marcus . Tullius . ne Cithero Colours of retorike ne knewe .I. none wiþ-outen drede Bot suche colours as growen in þe mede Or elles suche as men dye or peinte Colours of rethorik bene me to queynte My sprite feleþ nouȝt of suche Matier Bot if þou luste Mi tale schal .ȝe.[nouht crosst out] here. Explicit prologus Incipit fabula. [THE TALE.] Ther was a knyht þat loued and dide his peyne In Armorik þat cleped is bretaigne To seruen a lady in his best wise And many a labour and mony a grete emprise He for his lady wrouht er sche were wonne For sche was on of þe fairest vnder sonne And eke þere-to com of so hihe kinrede þat wele vnneþis dorst þis knyht for drede Tel hir his woo his peine and his distresse Bot att þe last sche for his worþinesse And namely for his meke obeissance Haþ suche a pite cauht of his penance þat priue sche fel of his accorde To take him for hir husbonde and hir lorde Of suche lor[d]schip as men haue ouer hire wyues And for to lede þe more in blisse her lyues Of his fre wil he swore hire as a knyht þat neuer in his wil be daie ne be nyht Ne scholde he vpon him take no maistre Aȝeines hir wille ne kuythe hure Ielousye Bot hire obeie and folowe hire wille in al As any louer to his ladi schal Saue þat þe name of Souereignete That wolde he haue for schame of his degre Sche þonkeþ him and wiþ ful grete humblesse Sche seide sir seþþe ȝe of ȝoure gentilesse ȝe profer me to haue als large a reyne Ne wold neuere god be-twix vs tueyne As in my gulte ware eyþer werre or striffe Sir .I. wil be ȝoure owen humble trewe wif Haue here my trouþe til þat myn hert burst Thus buen þei boþe in quiete and in ruste For o þinge sires saufly dar .I. seie þat frendes eueryche oþere motte obeie If þei wil longe hold compaigne Loue wil nouht buen constreyned be maistre Whan Maistre commeþ god of loue anone Beteþ on his wenge and fare wele he is gone Loue is a þinge as any spirit fre Wemmene of kinde desiren liberte And nouht to be constreined as a þrall And so doþ men. if .I. þe soþe saie schall Loke who þat is most pacient in loue He is att auantage aboue Paciens is an hihe vertue certeigne [ffor it venquyscheth as these clerkis seyne.] Thinges þat Rigor schol neuere atteigne For euery worde men maie nouht chide ne pleine Lereneþ to suffur or elles so must .I. gone Ȝe scholne it leren wheþer so ȝe wol or none For in þis werlde certeine no wight ne is þat he ne doþ or seiþe sum time of mys Or eiþer sekenes or constillacione Wyn wo or channgeinge of complexione Causeþ ful often to don amys or speken On euery wronge men maye nouht bue awreken After þe time most be temperance To euery whiht þat can no gouernance And þerfore haþe þis worþe wise knyht To leue in ese suffrance hir be-hiht And sche to him ful wiseli gan to swere þat neuere scholde be defaute in hire Here maie men seen an humble wise accorde Thus haþ sche take hire seruant and hir lorde Seruant in loue and lorde in Mariage þan was he boþe in lordeschipe and seruage Seruage naye bot in lordeschip a-boue Seþen þat he haþ boþe his ladi and his loue His lady certes and his wif also The whiche þat lowe of loue accordeþ þarto And whan he was in þis prosperite Home wiþ his wif he goþ to his contre Nouht ffer fro penmarke þar as his dwellinge was Where as he leues in blisse and in solas Who couþe tell bot he had wedded bue The . Ioye þe ese. and þe prosperite That is betwyx an husbonde and his wif A ȝere and more lasted þis blisfull liff Til þat þis kniht þe whiche .I. spak of þus þat of kynred was cleped Arneragus Schope him to gone and dwelle a ȝere or tweyne In yngelond þat cleped eke was Bretayne To seche in armes worschipe and honoure For al his luste he sette in suche laboure And dwelleþe þere þe boke seiþe þus Nowe wil .I. stint of þis arnaragus And speken .I. of Dorigen. his wif þat loueþ hire husbond as hire hertes lif And for his absence wepeþ sche and sykeþ As done þis noble wives whan hem likeþ Sche morneþ wake waileþ fasteþ and pleyneþ Desire of his presence hir so distreineþ That al þis wide werld sche sett att nouht Hire frendes whiche þat knewe hir heue þouht Comforted hire in al þat euer þei myht or maie Thei prechen hire þei telen hire nyht and daie þat causeles sche sleþe hir self alas And euer-.I. comford possible in þis cas þei done to hire with al here bisinesse And al for to make hire lete hire heuynesse Be proces as ȝe knowe wele euerychone Men Maie so longe graue in þe stone Til figure þer-inne printed be So longe haue þei comfort hire þat sche Receyuede haþe be hope and be resone þe emprinteinge of hire constillacione Thoruhe whiche hire grete sorwe gan eswage Sche maie not alweie endure suche a rage And eke Arnargus in al þis care Haþe sent hir lettres home in al þis fare. And þat he wolde come hastely aȝeine Or elles hadde þis sorwe hire hert sleyne Hire frendes sauhe hire hert gan to slake And preide hire on knes for goddes sake To come and to Rome in companye Awaie to driue hire derke fantasie And finally sche graunted þat request For wele sche sauhe it was for þe best Now stode hir castel fast by þe see And often wiþ hire frendes walked sche Hir to disport on þe se banke on hihe Where as sche many schippes and barges seihe Seileinge her course where hem luste to goo Bot ȝite was þere a percel of hir woo For to hir selue ful often seide sche Is þere no schippe of so mony as .I. see Wil bringe home my lorde þan wolde myne herte Al warisshe of þis bitter peine smarte Anoþere time þere wil sche sitte and þenke And kast hir eye donward fro þe brenke Bot whan sche sawhe þe grisely Rokkes blake For verrei fere so wolde hire heret qwake þat one hir feete sche myhte nouht hire susteigne þan wolde sche sit adoune vpon þe grene And pitously into þe see sche walde be-holde And seine riht þus wiþ sorweful hertes colde Eterne god þat þoruhe þi purueance Ledest þe werlde be certein gouernance In ydelnes as men seine ȝe noþinge make Bot lorde þis griseli fendely Rockes blake þat semen raþer a foule confusione Of werke þat any faire creacione Of whiche a parfit god and a stable Whi haue ȝe wrouht þis werk vnresonable For be þis werke souþe. norþe. este and west þare nes ifostred man ne birde ne beste It doþe no good to my witte bot anoyeþ Sche ȝe nouht lor how mankinde it destrueþ. An hundreþ þousand bodyes of mankinde Haue rokkes sleine and al be þei nouht in mynde Whiche mankinde is so faire parte of þi werke þat þou it madest ylike to þine handwerke. Than semed it ȝe hadde a grete chierte To-ward mankynde bot howe þan maie it be That ȝe suche menys make it to destroyen Wyche menys doþ no good but euere annoyen .I. woote wele clerkes woln sayn as hem lest By argumentz þat al þinges is for þe best They .I. ne can þe causes for soþe knowe Bot þilke god þat maade winde to blowe As kepe my lorde þis conclusion To clerkis lat .I. al disputasion Bot wolde god. þat al þe Rokkes blake Ware sonken in-to hel for his sake þes rokkes sleen myne hert for fere Thus wold sche seine wiþ mony a pitous tere Hire frendes sawe þat it nas no disporte To Roumen be þe see bot discomfort And schopen for to pleyne sum where elles Thei leden hire be Reuers and be welles And eke in oþer place delitables Thei daunce and plei att chesse and att tables So on a dai riht on þe morwe tide Vnto a Gardeine þat was riht þere beside In whiche þat þei had maade her ordinance Of vitaile and of oþer purueance Thei gone and pleine hem al þe longe daie And þis was on þe sext morwe of maie Whiche had peintede wiþ his soft schoures This gardine ful of leues and of floures And wyþ craft of mannes honde so curiously Araide had þis gardine trialli That neuer was þer gardine of suche prise Bot if it were þe verrei paradise The odur of floures and þe frisshe siht Wolde han maade ony pensif man liht That euer was borne bot if to grete sekenesse Oþer to grete sorwe hilde it in distresse And after dener gan þei to daunce So ful it was of beute wiþ plesance And singen also bot Dorigen songe alone Sche made alweie here compleinte and hire mone For sche ne sawhe him on þe daunce goo þat was hir husbonde and hire loue also Bot naþeles sche moste hire time a-bide And wiþ goode hope lete sche here sorwe glide Vpon þis daunce amonges oþere men Daunced a swyer to-forn Dorigen That frisscher was and Ioliere of araie As to my dome þan is þe moneþ of maie He singeþ and daunseþ passinge any oþer man þat is or was seþþe þis werlde be-gan þare-wiþ he was if men schold him discryue On of þe beste faringe men on liue ȝonge stronge riht vertuous ryche and wise And wele beloued and holden in grete prise And schortly if þe soþe tellen .I. schal Vnweteinge of þis dorigen att all This lusty swyero seruant to Venus Whiche þat ycleped was aurelius Had loued hire best of any creature Two ȝere and more as was his aduenture Bot neuer dorst he tellen hire of his greuance Wiþ-outen cuppe he drank al his penance He was dispeired noþinge dorst he saie Saue in his soule sum what wolde he wraie His woo as in general compleineinge He seide he loued and was beloued no þinge Of suche Matier maade he mony layes Songes compleintes Roundeletis virrelayes Howe þat he durst nouht his sorwe tell þat languisseþ as fire doþe in hell And deye seide he must as dide ekko For Narsisus þat dorst nouht tell hir wo In oþere maner þan ȝe here me seie Ne dorst he nouht to hire his wo be-wreie Saue perauentur sumtime att daunces There ȝonge folke kepen her obseruaunces It mai wel be he loked on hir face In suche a wise as man þat Axeþ grace Bot no þinge wist sche of his entent Naþeles it happed er þei þens went Be cause þat he was hire neiȝbore And was a mon of worschippe and honoure And had yknowen him of[a later t after of] times ȝore Thei fel in speche oft more and more Vn-to his purpos drouhe Aurelius And whan he sauhe his time he seid þus Madame quod he be god þat þis werld maade So þat .I. miht ȝoure hert glade .I. wolde þat daie þat ȝoure Arnaragus Wente on see þat .I. Aurelius Hadde wente þat .I. scholde neuer haue com aȝeine For wele .I. wote my seruise is in veine Mi guerdon nys bot bristinge of myn herte Ma dame reweþ vpon my peines smarte For as wiþ a swerd ȝe maie me sle or saue Here att ȝoure fote god wolde þat .I. were graue .I. haue as nowe no leiser for to seie Haue merci on me swete or ȝe wolne do me deye Sche gan to loke vpon Aurelius Is þis ȝoure wil quod sche and seie ȝe þus Neuer eft quod sche wist .I. what ȝe ment Bott nowe Aurely .I. know ȝoure entent Be þilke god þat ȝaue me soule and lif Ne schal .I. neuer be vntrewe wiff In worde ne in werke as fer as .I. haue witte .I. wil be his to whome þat .I. am knytte Bot affter þat þou pleine þus seide sche Tak þis for final ansewer as for me Aurely quod sche be hihe god aboue Ȝit wil .I. graunt ȝoue to be ȝoure loue Sen þus .I. ȝowe see so pitously compleigne Loke what daie þat yngelonde is breteigne Ȝe remewe al þe rokkes stone be stone þat þei let schippe ne bote to gone .I. saie whan ȝe haue maade þis coste so clene Of Rokkes þat þer nys no stone seene þan wil .I. loue ȝowe best of any mān Haue here my trouþe in al þat euer y can Is þere none oþer grace quod he No be þat lorde quod sche þat maade me For wele .I. wote þat. þat schal neuer be-tide Late suche foly oute of ȝoure hert glide What deynte scholde man haue be his lif For to loue a noþer mannes wif þat haþ hir body when so þat him likeþ Aurelius ful oft sore sikeþ Woo was Aurely whan þat he þis herde And wiþ a sorwful hert þus ansewerde Madam quod he þis were an inpossible Than Mot .I. deie on sodeine deþe Orrible And wiþ þat worde he torned him anone Tho cam her oþer frendes mony one And in þe alies romed vp and doune And no þinge wist of þis conclusioune Bot sodenlye be-gan to reuel newe Til þat þe briht sonn lost his hewe For þe orizonte haþ raft þe sonne his liht This is as muche to saie as it was niht And home þei gone in ioye and in solas Saue onely wriched Aurelius alas He to his hous is gone wiþ sorweful hert He seiþe he maie nouht fro his deþ astert Him semeþ he feleþ his hert colde Vp to þe heuen his hondes gan he olde And on his kenes bare he sett him doune And in his raueinge seide his orisoune For verrei woo he oute of his witte he braide He nyst nouht what he spak bot þus he seide Wiþ pitous hert haþe he his compleinte be-gunne Vnto þe goddesse and first vnto þe sonne He seide Apollo god and gouernoure And euery planete herbe tre and floure þat ȝeuest after þine declinacione To iche of hem his tyme and his sesone And þin hebour chaungeþ lowe and hihe Lorde phebus cast þi me[r]ciable eyhe On wriched Aureli whiche þat am for-lorne Lo lorde my lady haþ my deþ sworne Wiþ-outen gilte bot þine benygnite Vppon myne dedly hert haue sum pyte Bot wele .I. wote lorde phebus if ȝou liste ȝe maie me helpe saue my ladi best Now voucheþ saue þat .I. maie ȝoue deuise Howe þat .I. maye be holpe and in what wise Ȝoure blisful suster lucina þe schene þat of þe see is chife goddes and qwene þouhe. neptunus haue deite in þe see Ȝite emperes aboue him is sche Ȝe knowen wele lorde riht as hir desire Is to be queked and lihteþ of ȝoure fire For whiche she folowþ ȝowe ful besily Riht so þe see desireþ naturelly To folowen hir as sche þat is goddesse Boþ in þe see and in reuers more and lesse Wher-for lord Phebus þis is myn request Do þis miracle or .I. do myne hert to brest þat þou next att þis opposicion Whiche in signe schal be of þe lyōn Haþe praide hire so grete a flode to bringe þat .v. faþom att þe lest it ouer springe The hiest rokke in Armorik bretaine And lat his flode endure ȝeres tueyne Than certes to my lady may .I. seie Holdeþ þoure heste þe rokkes bene awaie Lorde phebus do þis Miracle for me Preie hire sche go no faster cours þan ȝe .I. seie ȝoue þus prei ȝoure suster þat sche go None fastere cours þan ȝe þis ȝeres tuo þan schal sche euere be att þe foll al weie And springe lasten boþ nyht and daie And bot sche vowchesaue in suche manere To graunt me my lady souereigne dere Praie hir to sinken euery rok adoune In-to hir owen derke regione Vnder þe grounde þer pluto duelleþ inne Oþer neuer more schal .I. my lady wynne Thine temple in delphos wil .I barfote seek Lorde Phebus seþe ȝe þe teres on my cheke And of my pyne haue compassione And wiþ þat worde in swoune he fel a-doune And longe time he laie in traunce His broþer whiche þat knewe of his penaunce Vp cauht him and to bed him brouht Despeired in his torment and in his þouht Lo .I. þis woful creature lye Chese he for me weþer he wil leue or deye ¶ Arueragus wiþ hele and grete honoure As he was of þe chiualrie þe floure Is commen home and oþer worþi men. O blisfulful ert þou doregen That haste þin lusti husbande in þine Armes þe frische knyht þe worþi man of armes þat loueþ þe as his owen hertes lif No þinge lust him to be ymaginatif Of any wight had spoke whiles was oute To hire of loue he maade þere-of no doute He nouhte entendeþ to none suche matiere Bot daunceþ Iustiþ and makeþ good chere As þus in ioy and blisse .I. late hem dwelle And of þe swete aurelius wil .I. tell In langure and in furious tormentes þus Two ȝere and more laie wreched Aurelius Or ony foote on erþe he myht gone Ne comfort in þis time had he none Saue of his broþer whiche þat was a clerke He knewe of al þis woo and of al þis werke For to none oþer creature certeine Of þis matier ne dorst he no worde seine Vnder his brest he bare his more secre Than euer dide Pamphilius for Galathe His brest was hole wiþ-owten for to sene Bot in his herte was aie þe arwe kene And wele ȝe wote þat a sore savoure In surgere ful perilous is þe cure Bot man myht touche þe arwe or come þerby His broþer wepeþ and weileþ priuely Til att þe last him fel in remembrance þat whiles he was att Orliaunce in fraunce As ȝonge clerkes þat buen licorous To reden artes þat buen curious Seken in euery halke and in euery herne Particulere sciens for to lerne He him remembreþ vpon a daie Att Orliance in stode a boke he saye Of Magik naturelle whiche is felawe þat was þat time a bacheller of lawe Al were he þere to lerne anoþer crafte An priuely vpan his deske he lafte þis boke whiche spak muche of þis operacions Toucheinge þe .xxviiij. Mancions That longeþ to þe mone and suche folye As in oure daies ne is not worþe a flye For holy cherche seiþe in owre beleue Ne suffureþ none illusione vs to greue And whan þis booke was in remembraunce Anone for ioye he gan to daunce And to him self seide priuely Mi broþer schal be warisched hastely For .I. am seker þat þere be sciencis Be whiche men make diuers apparences Whiche as þe subtile tregitours pleine For oft att festes herd .I. seine þat tregetours wiþ in an hal large Haue maad in come water and a barge And in þe hall rowe vp and doune Som time haþe semed a grime lyoune [And som tyme floures spryngin in A mede Sum tyme wyne & grapis white & rede[ Not in Harl. 1758, leaf 132, or Reg. 17 D xv, leaf 183, back.]] Som tim a castel al of lyme and stone And whan him liked voide it anone Thus semed it to euery mannes siht Nowe þan conclude .I. þus if þat .I. myht At orlyance some olde felawe finde þat had þe mones mancions in mynde Oyþer magik naturel a-boue He scholde wele mak my broþer haue his loue For wiþ apparens a man maie make To mannenes siht þat al þe rokkes blake Of B[r]eteigne were went euerychone And þat schippes be þe brinke myht comen and gone And in suche forme endure a ȝere or tuo Then were my broþer waresched of his wo Then most sche nedes knowe hire be-hest Or elles he schamen hire schal att þe leste What scholde make a longer tale of þis Vnto his broþer bedde commen he is And suche comfor[t] he ȝaf him for to gone To Orliaunce þat vp sterte anone And on his waie forwarde is he fare In hope to be lessed of his care Whan þeie were come almoste to þat Citee Bot if were a tuo furlonge or þree A ȝonge clerke romeynge by himselfe þei · mette Whiche þat in latine þrefteli hem grette And after þat seide he a wonder þinge .I. knowe quod he þe cause of ȝoure comynge. An er þei forþer any foote wente He tolde hem al þat was in her en-tent This briton clerke him asked of felawes The whiche þat he had knowen in olde dawes And he anseward him þat þei dede were For whiche he wepped ful oft mony a tere Downe of his hors Aurelius liht anone And furþe wiþ þis Magicien is he gone Home to his howse and maade hem wele att ese Hem lakked no vitaile þat hem myht plese So wele araide hous as þer was one Aurelius in his lif ne sawe he none He schewde him ar he went to soper Forest Parkes ful of wilde dere [þer sawe he hertes with hornes hyȝe / The grettest that euer were se with ye / He / say of hem An hunderid slayn with houndes And some with Arowes bled & bitter woundes He say whan voydid were thes wylde der þe fauconers vp on A faire rever[ Not in Harl. 1758, leaf 132, back. In Reg. 17 D xv, leaf 184, back.]] And how fakons haue þe heron sleine Than sawe he knyhtes Iusten in a pleine And after þis he dide him suche plesance That he him schewde his lady in a daunce On whiche him self he daunced as him þouht And whan þis maister þat þis magik wrouht Sawe it was time he clapped his hondes two And fare wele al oure reuel is do And ȝitte remewe þei neuere oute of þis house Whiles þei sawe al þis siht meruelouse Bot in his stodye þere as his bokes be The[i] satten stil and no whight bot þei þre To him þis maister called þan a swyere And seide him þus is redi oure sopere Al most an houre it is .I. vndertake Seþens .I. ȝowe badde oure soper to make When þat þis worþi men wenten wiþ me Vnto my stode þer as my bokes be Sire quod þis Swye[r] whan it lykeþ ȝoue It is al rede þouhe ȝe wolde riht nowe Go we þan to soupe quod he and for þe best þes auerous folke sum time mot haue rest And after soper fel þei in trete What somme schold þis maister guerdone be To remoue al þe rokkes of bretaigne And eke fro geroun to þe mouþe of seine He maade it straunge. and swore so god him saue Lesse þan a þousand pounde he nolde not haue Ne gladly for þe somme ne wolde he gone Aurelius wiþ blisful herte anone Onsewarde þus fy on a þousand pounde This wide werlde þat men seine is rounde That wold .I. ȝeue if .I. were lorde of it This Bargeyne is ful dreue for we bue knyt Ȝe schollene be paide treuly be my trouþe Bot lokeþ nowe for no necligens or sleuþe Ȝe tary vs here no longer þan to morwe Nay quod þis clerke haue here my trouþe to borwe To bed is gone Aurelius whan him luste And wel nyhe al þat nyht he had his ruste That for his laboure and for his hope of blisse His woful herte of penance hadde a lisse Vpon þis mo[r]we whan þat it was daie To bretaine toke þei þe riht weie Aurelius and þis magicien be side And buene descendit þere þei wilne a-bide And þis was as þe bokes me remembre The colde frosty seson of decembre Phebus waxede olde and hewed ylike latoun þat in his hote declinacioun Schone as þe burnyd gold wiþ stremes briht Bot nowe in scorpion a-doune he liht Where as he schone ful pale .I. dare wel seien The bitter frostes wiþ slete and reine Destruyed haþ ȝe grene in euery ȝerde Ianus sit be fire wiþ double berde And drinkeþ of his bugle horne þe wyne. Be-forne him stant þe braune of þe twext swyne And a nouel crieþ euery lusti man Aurelius in al þat euere he can. Doþe his maister chier and reuerence And preyeþ him to done his diligence To bringen him oute of his peines smerte Oþer wiþ a swerde þat he wold slitt his herte That subtille clerk whiche þat reuþe hadde on þis man þat nyht and daie he him spedde þat he ne lan To waite a time of his conclusione þis is to seie to make illucione .I. ne can no termes of astrologie Be whiche an apparens of Iogellery That sche and euery wight schold wene and seie þat of Bretaigne þe rokkes were aweie Or elles þei were sonken vnder grounde So att þe last whan that he his time founde To make his Iapes and his wrechednesse Of whiche a supersticious cursedenesse His tables colletanes forþ he brouht Ful wele corrected for þere lakked nouht Ne his collectes ne his expans ȝeres Ne his rotes ne his oþere geres As biene is centres and his argumentez And his proporcione conuenientez For his equacions in euery þinge And be his .viij. spere in his wirkinge He knewe howe fere alnaþe was. yschoue From þe heued of þilke fix aries aboue þat in þe .ix. spere considerd is Ful subtilli he calleþ al þis And whan he had fonde his first mancion He knewe þe remenant be proporcion And knewe þe ariseinge of þe mone wele And in whos face and terme euery dele And knewe ful wele þe mones mansion Accordant to his operacion And k[n]ewe al so his oþer obseruauncez For suche illusions and suche meschaunces As eyþen folke vside þilke daies For whiche no longer Maked he delaies Bott þoruhe his magik for a weke or tweie It semede þat al þe rokkes were a waie Aurelius whiche þat despayred is Weþer he schal haue his or fare amys Awaiteþ nyht and daie of þis miracle And whan he knewe þer was none obstacle þat voided were þes rokkes euerychon Doune to his maistres fete he fel a none And seide .I. wooful wriche Aurelius Thank ȝowe lord and lady myne Venus That me haue holpe fro my .Cares colde And to þe temple forþe his weie haþe holde Where ke knewe he scholde his lady se And whan he sawhe his time anone riht he Wiþ d[r]edeful herte and humble chiere Saluyd haþ his souereigne lady dere ¶ My rihtful lady quod þis woful man Whome .I. moste drede and loue as .I. best can And loþest wer of al þis werlde displese Nere it þat .I. for ȝowe haue suche disese þat .I. muste deye here att ȝoure fote anone Bot nouht wold .I. tel howe me is wo begone Bot certes eyþer must .I. deye or pleine Ȝe sleine me giltles for verrei peine Bot of my deþe ȝouhe ȝe haue no reuþe Aviseþ ȝowe ar þat ȝe lese ȝoure treuþe Repenteþ ȝowe for þilke god aboue Or ȝe me sleyne because þat .I. ȝowe loue For madame wele ȝe wote þat ȝe haue hiht [Nouȝt that I Chalenge ony thing of ryght] Of ȝow souereigne ladye bot ȝoure grace Bot in a gardeine ȝonde in suche a place ȝe woote riht wele þat ȝe be-hiht me And in ȝoure honde ȝoure trouþe pliht me To loue me best god wote ȝe saide so And al be þat. þat .I. vnworþe am þerto Madame .I. speke it for þe honoure of ȝoue More þan to saue myn herte lif riht nowe .I. haue done as ȝe haue commanded me And if ȝe vouche-saf ȝe maie go see And as ȝow luste haueþ ȝoure behest in mynde For whikke or dede riht þus ȝe schal me fynde In ȝowe liþe al to do me lyue or deye Bot wele .I. wote þe rokkes bene aweye He toke his leue and sche astonyed stode In al hir face þere nas a drope of blode Sche wende neuer haue commen in suche a trappe Alas quod sche þat euer þis scholde happe For wend .I. neuer be possibelite That suche a mustre or suche a merveile scholde be It is aȝeine þe process of Nature[These lines are trans|posed in the MS.] And home sche goþ a sorweful creature[These lines are trans|posed in the MS.] For verraie vnneþ maie sche go Sche wepeþ and weyleþ a daie or tuo And swowneþ þat it reuþ was to see Bot whi it was to no whight tolde sche· For oute of toune was gone ArneragusThis line is repeated on top of leaf 149 Bot to hir selfe sche saide and spak þus In hire compleint as ȝe schollen affter here Wiþ face pale and wiþ sorwheful chiere Alas quod sche on þe fortune .I. pleine þat vnwar hast wrapped me in þi cheyne For whiche þe Eskape wote .I. no socoure Saue only deþe oþir dishonoure One of þis tuo behoueþ me to chese Bot naþeles ȝit hadde leuere to lese Mi lif þan of my bodi to haue a schame Oþer knowe my self fals oþer lese my name And wiþ my deþ .I. may me quyte y-wis Haþ þere nouht mony a wif ar þis And mony a maiden ysleine hire self alas Raþer þat wiþ hire bodis done trespas And certes lo þes stories bereþ wittenesse Whan .xxx. tyrantez ful of cursednesse Had sleyne Phidon in Athenes att þe lest Thei commaunded his douhtres to arest And bringen hem be-forne him in despite Al naked to ful-fil hire foule delite And in here faders blode þe[i] made hem daunce Vppon þe pament god ȝeue hem meschaunce For whiche þes woful maidens ful of drede Raþer þan þe[i] wolden lese here maidenhede þei priuely bene stert in-to a well And dreinte hem self as þe bokes tell. Thei of Mesne lete e[n]quere and seke Of lacedemye .l. maydens eke On whiche þei wolden done here licherye Bot was þere none of al þat companye þat sche nas sleyne wiþ a gladd entent And raþer chase to deye þan for to assent To bien oppressed[? MS ofpressed] of here maidenhede Whi schold .I. þan to deye buen in drede ¶ Lo eke þe tyrant Anstoclides þat loued a maide þat hiht simphalides Whan þat hir fader sleine was on a nyht Vnto Dyanes temple goþe sche a-none riht And hent þe ymage wiþ hire armes tuo Fro whiche ymage wold sche neuer goo No wyht myȝt of it hire hande race Til sche was sleine in þe selue place Nowe seþen þat maidens hadd suche despite To bien defouled wiþ mannes foule delite Wele auht a wif raþer her self sle þat to bue defouled as þenkeþ me That schal .I. seien of Asdrubardis wiff þat att Cartage beraft hir self here liff For whan sche sawe þa romeine wanne þe toune Sche toke hir children al and swep adoune In to þe fire and chase raþer to deye þan any Romeyne did hire velanye Haþ nouht Lucres sleyne hire self alas Att Rome þare sche oppressed was Of Tarquyne for hire þouht it was a schame To leue whan þat sche had lost hire name The .viij. Maidens of Milesye also Haue sleyne hem self for drede and woo Raþer þan folke of Gaule schold hem oppresse Mo þan a þousand storis as .I. gesse Couþe .I. nowe tell as toucheinge þis matier Whan Abradas was sleyne his wif so dere Hire selfe slowhe and lete hire blode to glide In Abradas woundes brode and wide And seide my body att þe leste waye þar schal no whight defoule it if þat .I. maie What schold .I. mo ensamples here of sayne Seþen þat so many haue hem selfe slayne Wele raþer þan þei wolde defouled be .I. wil conclude what is best for me [To sle my self thanne be defoulid thus I wol be trewe vn-to Arueragus[Not in Harl. 1758, leaf 135;or Harl. 7333, leaf 85, bk, col. 2; or Sloane 1686, leaf 285.]] Oþir rather sle my self in sum manere As did Demonycious douhter dere Because þat sche nold nouht defouled be O cedasus. it is ful grete pite To reden howe þin douhtern deyden alas þat slowhe hem self for suche a maner cas As grete pite was it· or more Theban Maiden þat fo[r] Nichasor [hir seluen slowgh right for swich manere wo An othir theban mayde dede right so[ In Harl. 7333, lf 85, back, col. 2;not in Harl. 1758, leaf 135;or Sloane 1686, leaf 285.][spurious]] Hire had wedded and dressed For one of Macedoyne had hire oppressed What scha[l] .I. seie of Nichostratifs wif þat for suche caas beraft hire self hir lif Howe trew was eke to Alcebiades His loue þat fo[r] to deyen chese Then for to suffren his body vmbreide be Lo whiche a wif was Alcestem quod sche What Emore of good Penolope Al grece knoweþ of her chastitee Parde of Leodomya is wreten þus Thate whan att troye was slayne protheselayus No longer wolde sche leue after his daye þe same of noble Porcia tel .I. maie Wiþ-outen brutus couþ sche nouht leue To whome he had al hole hir herte .yȝeue The parfyte wyfhode of Arthemesye Honouryd is þurhe al þe barberye O Teuta queene in þine wifly chastite To al wyves maie a merrour be . . . no gap in the MS: these lines . . . . known only in Ellesmere MS. Thus pleyned dorigen a day or tueye Purposed euere þat sche wolde deye ¶ Bot Naþeles on þe þredde nyht Home cam Arueragus þe worþi knyht And axed hire whi þat sche wepped so sore And sche gan wepen euere þe longere more Alas quod sche þat euer was .I. borne Thus haue .I. seide quod sche þus haue .I. sworne .I. tolde him al as ȝe haue herde before .It nedeþ nouht to rehersen it no more This husbonde wiþ glad chere in sondre wise Anseward and seide as .I. schal ȝowe deuyse Es þer ouht elles dorigen bot þis Nay naye quod sche god helpe me so as wis This is to meche· and it were goddes will ȝe wife quod he lat slepe þat is still It maie be wele ȝit perauentur to seie Sche schol ȝoure trouþe holden be my faie For god so wisly helpe me .I. hadde well leuer ystiked for to be For verrei loue whiche þat .I. to ȝoue haue Bot if ȝe scholde ȝoure trouþe saue Trouþe is þe hiest þinge þat man maie kepe Bot wiþ þat worde he brast anone to wepe And seide .I. ȝoue for-bede vpon peyne of deþe þat neuer whiles ȝe last lif ne breþe. Til no wihte telle howe þat þis matier As .I. maye kepe .I. wil me wo endure Ne make no countenance of heuynesse þat folke of ȝowe maie deme harme or gesse And forþe he cleped a swyer and a maide Goþe forþe anone wiþ Dorogen he saide And bringeþe hir to suche a place anone þei toke her leue and on þeire wei þei gone Bot þei ne wist whie sche þedere went He nold no whiht telle hire entent . . . . .[These lines known only in the Ellesmere MS.] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. This Swyere whiche þat hiht Aurelius On dorigen whiche þat was so amerous Of aduenture happed. hire to mete A-mydde þe toune riht in þe quek strete As sche was boune to gone þe waie forþ riht To-warde þere as sche had hiht And he was to þe Gardeine ward also For wele he spiede whan sche wold go Owte of hire hous to any maner place Bot þus þei mette of aduenture or of grace And he saluyd hire wiþ glad entente And axed of hire wheder þat sche wente And sche ansewarde half as sche was madde [Vnto the gardyn as my husbonde bad] My trouþe for to holde alas alas Aurelius gan wonder of þis caas And in his hert had grete compassione Of hire and of hire lamentacione And of Arnaragus þe worþi knyht þat bad hire holde al þat sche hiht So loþe he was his wif schold breke hir trouþe And in his herte he kest of þis grete rouþe Consideringe þe beste on euery side þat fro his luste were him better abide þan done so hihe a cherles wrechednesse Aȝeines ffraunchis and aȝeynes al gentillesse For whiche in fewe wordes seide he þus Madame seiþe to ȝoure lorde Arneragus þat seþin .I. see þis grete gentillesse To ȝowe. and eke .I. see wele ȝoure destresse þan ȝe to me þus scholde breke ȝoure trouþe Sertes me þinkeþ it were riht grete rouþe[spurious 1529] .I. haue wele leuer euer to suffre woo Then .I. departe þe loue be-tuex ȝow tuoo .I. ȝowe reles ma dame in to ȝoure honde Quyte euery surement and euery bonde þat ȝe haue maade to me as here be-forne Seþyns þilke time þat ȝe were borne My trouþe .I. plihte .I. schal ȝowe neuer repreue Of no by-heste and here .I. take my leue As of þe trewest and þe best wif þat euere ȝit knewe .I. in al my lyf Bot euer y wyht bewar of hire behest On dorigen remembreþ att þe lest þus can a swyer done a gentil dede As wele as kan a knyht wiþ outen drede Sche þonke him vppon hire knees al bare And home vnto hire housebonde is sche fare And told him all ȝe haue herde me seide And be ȝe seker he was so wele apaide þat it were impossible to write What schold .I. longer of þis cas endite Arueragus and Dorigene his wif In seuereigne blisse leden forþe here lyfe Neuer eft ne was þere anger hem be-twene He chiriseþ hire as þouhe sche where a quene And sche was to him treue for euer more Aurelius þat his cost haþe Al forlore Curseþ þe time þat euer he was borne For certes he seiþ .I. am for-lorne[spurious] Alas quod he alas þat I be-hiht O pured gold .a. þousand pou[n]de of wyht Vn-to þis Philofre howe schal .I. do .I. se no more bot þat .I. am for-do Myne heritage most .I. nedes sell And buen a begger here may .I. no longer dwell And schamen al þis kinrede in þis place Bot .I. of him maie gette þe better grace [But netheles I wolle of him assay At Certeyne yeeris and dayes to pay[ Also in Reg. 17 D 15, leaf 190, and Harl. 1758, leaf 136. Not in Sloane 1686, leaf 206, back.]] .I. wil þonke him of his grete curtesie Myne trouþe wil .I. kepe .I. wil nouht lye Wiþ hert sore he goþe vnto his cofre And brouht golde vnto his philosofre The valewe of .vj.C pounde .I. gesse And him besecheþ of his gentillesse To graunt him daies of þe remenant And maistere .I. dare wele make auaunt .I. failed neuer my trouþe as ȝite For sekurly my dettes schal .I. quyte To-warde ȝowe howe euer þat .I. fare To gone abigged in my kirtel bare Bot wold ȝe vouche sauf vpon suyrte Two ȝere oþer þre te respite me Then ware .I. wele for elles most. I sell Myne heritage þer nys no more to tell Thi[s] philosophre soburly ansewerd And seid þus whan he þes wordes herde Haue .I. nouht holden couenant vnto þe ȝis certes wele and treuly quod he Hast þou not had þi lady as þe lykeþ No no quod he and sorwfully he sikeþ Whatt was þe cause tel me if þou can Aurelius his tale a-none be-gan And tolde him al as ȝe han herde be-fore It nedeþ nouht to rehersen no more [He seide Arneragus/ of gentilnesse.[ Also in Harl. 7333, lf 86, back, col. 1,and Reg. 17 D 15, leaf 136, back.] Had leuyr/ dye in sorow & distresse. Than his/ wif were of hir/ trouthe fals/.Harl. 1758. Not in Sloane 1686, leaf 207. The sorow of Dorigen he tolde hym als/. How loth hir/ was/ to ben a wickid wif. And that sche leuyr/ had that day lost hir/ lif. And that hir/ trouthe sche swore thorogh ynnocence. Sche neuyr/ erst/ herd speke of apparence[Harl. extr. ends]] And riht as frely as he sent hire to me þat maad me haue of hire so grete pite As frely sent .I. hire to hime aȝeine This is al and somme þere nys no more to seine This philofre Ansewerde leue broþere Euer-iche of ȝowe ded gentlyche to oþere þou ert a swyere and he is a knyht Bot god for-bede for his blisful myht Bot if a clerke couþe do as gentil a dede As wele as any of ȝowe it is no drede Sire .I. reles þe þi þousand pounde As þou riht nowe were crepe out of þe grounde Ne neuere or nowe ne haddest knowe me For sir .I. wil nouȝt take a peny of þe For al my craft ne nouȝt for my trauaile þou haste y-paiede wele for my vitaile It is ynowhe and fare wele and haue good daie He toke his hors and forþe he goþe his waie //Lordinges þis question þan wald .I. ax nowe Whyche was þe most fre as þenkeþ ȝowe Nowe telleþ me or þat .I. forþe wende .I. can no more my tale is att an ende. Explicit Liber / GROUP G. FRAGMENT VIII. § 1. THE SECOND NUN'S TALE. LANSDOWNE MS. [THE PROEM.][No breaks between the stanzas in the MS.] Incipit prologus .2e. Monyalys (1) THe Ministre of þe Norice vn-to vices Whiche þat men clepen in englisshe ydelnesse The porter of þe gate is of delices To eschiewe. And bu hir contrarie hire oppresse That is to seine be leful besinesse Wele ouhte we to done oure entent Lest þat þe fende þoruhe .Idelnesse vs schent (2) ¶ For he þat wiþ his þousand cordes slyȝe Contenuely vs wayteþ to be-clappe Whan he maie man in Idelnesse aspiȝe He can so lihtly cache him in his trappe Til þat a man be hente riht be þe lappe He is not waree þe fende haþe him in honde Wele ouhte vs werche and ydelnesse wiþ stonde (3) ¶ And þouhe men dradden neuer for to deye Ȝit seen men wele be reson douteles þat ydelnesse is rotin slogardye Of þere comeþ neuere none encrese And seþens þat slouþe hir haldeþ in a lese Onely to slepe and for to ete and drinke And to deuowren al þat oþer swynke (4) ¶ And for to putt vs fro suche Idelnesse þat cause is of þe grete confusione .I. haue here done my feiþeful besinesse After þe legent in translacione Riht of þe glorious lif and passione þou with þi garlonde wrouht wiþ rosus and lylie The mene .I. a maide and Martire seint Cecile (5) ¶ And þou þat floure of virgines art al Of whome þat Bernarde lust so wele to write To þe att my begynynge first .I. call þou comfort of vs wreches do me endite þi maydens deþ þat was þoruhe hir merite þe eternale lif and of þe fende victorie As men maie after reden in hir storie (6) ¶ Thou maiden and moder douhte of þi sonne Thou well of Mercy sinful soules cure In whome þat god for bounte chees to wonne þou humble and hihe ouer euery creature þat no desdeyne þe Maker had of kinde þou noblest so fere oure nature His sonne in blode and flessche to cloþe and winde (7) ¶ Wiþ-inne þe cloister blisful of þi sides Toke mannes schap eterne loue and pees þat of þe trine compas lorde and gide es Whome heuen and see and erþe out reles Ay herien. and þou virgine wemles Bare of þine body and dueldist maide pure The creatore of euery creature (8) ¶ Assembled is in þe magnificence With mercy goodnesse and wiþ suche pite þat þou ert þe sonne of excellence Nouht only helpest hem þat preyen þe But oft time of þi benignite Ful frely er þat men þin helpe beseche þou gost be-forne and ert her lyues leche (9) ¶ Nowe help þou meke and blisful faire maid Me flemed wriche in þis desert of gal þenke on þe womman Canan þat seide þat whelpes eten somme of þe crommes al þat from her lordes table buen yfal· And þouhe þat .I. þe vnworþe douhter of Eue Be synful ȝit accept my be-leue (10) ¶ And for þat feiþ is dede wiþouten werkes So for to worchene ȝeue me witte and space þat .I. be qwyte frome þe place þat most derke is O þou þat art so faire and so ful of grace Be myne aduocate in so hihe a place There as wiþ outen eende is songe Osanna Thou cristes moder and douhter of Anna (11) ¶ And of þine lyht þou graunt my self haue parte þat triblide is be þe cogitacione [Of my body / and also by þe weyght Of erthely lust and fals effeccion] O heuen o refute o saluacione Of hem þat buen in sorwe and destresse Nowe helpe for vnto my werke .I. wil me redresse (12) ¶ Ȝet praie .I. ȝowe þat reden þat .I. write For-ȝeueþ me þat .I. do no diligence þis ilke storie subtely to endyte For boþe haue .I. þe wordes and þe sentence Of hem þat att þe seintes reuerence þe stori wrote and folowen here legende And praien ȝowe þat ȝe woll my werk amende (13) [THE TALE.] ¶ ffirste will .I. ȝowe þe name of sein Cecile Expounde as men maie in here stories see It is to seyen on Englisshe heuenes lylye For pure chastenesse of virginitee Oþer for sche witnesse hadde of honeste Of grene of conscience and of good fame The swete sauoure lylye was hir name (14) Oþere Cecely. is to seie þe waie to blinde For sche ensample was be gode techeinge Or elles Cicily is as .I. writen fynde Is Ioyned be a maner conioyneinge Of heuen and lya. and hire in fygureinge þe heuen is sette for þouht of holynesse And lya for hire lasteinge besinesse (15) Cecile eke mai be seide in þis manere Wanteynge of blindenesse for hire grete liht Of Sapiens and for hire þewes clere Or elles lo þis maydens name briht [Off heuen and leos commyth ffor which bi riht] Men myht þe heuen of þe peple hir call Ensample of goode and wise werkes all (16) For leos peple in ynglissle is to seie And riht as men may in þis heuen see The sonne and mone and þe sterres euery weye Riht so gostly in þis mayden fre Seyen þe faiþe of Manificence And eke of helþe and of sapiens And sondre werkes briht of excellence (17) An[d] riht as þes philosofers write þat heuen is swift rounde and berneinge Riht so was faire Cecile þe white Ful sweft and besi euer in good workinge And rounde and hole in goode perseueringe And bernede euer in charite liht Nowe haue .I. declared ȝow what sche hihtExplicit Prologus Incipit fabula. (18) This maiden hiht Cecile as hire lif seiþe Was comen of Romeyns and of noble kinde And so forþe fostred vp in þe feiþe Of Crist and bare his gospell in hir mynde Sche neuer cesede as .I. wreten finde Of hire praier and god to loue and drede Besecheinge him to kepe hire Maidenhede (19) And whan þis maiden scholde vnto a man Iwedded be þat was ful ȝonge of Age Whiche þat ycleped was Waleriane And þe daie was commen of his Mariage Sche fel deuoute and homble in hire Corage Vnder hire robe of golde þat satte ful faire And next hire flesche yclad hire in an haire (20) ¶ And while þe orgens maden melodie To god alone þus in hert songe sche O lorde my soule and eke my bode gie Vnwemed lest þat .I. confounded be And for his loue þat deied vpon a tree Euery secunde or þe þred daie sche fast Aie biddi[n]ge in hir orisons ful fast (21) ¶ The nyht came and to bed sche most gone Wiþ hire husbond as often is þe manere And priuely sche seide anone O swete and wel be-loued spouse dere þer is a counsel and ȝe wold it here Whiche þat riht feine .I. wil vnto seine So þat ȝe me assured it nouȝt to be-wreine (22) ¶ Valerian gan fast vn to hir swere þat for no caas ne þinge þat miht be He scholde for noþinge neuere be-wrien hire And þann att erst vnto him þus seid sche .I. haue an Angel whiche þat loueþ me þat wiþ grete loue wheþer so y wake or slepe Is rede ay my bode for to kepe (23) // And ȝif þat he may felen oute of drede [That ye me touche or love in vilonye He ryȝt a-non wol slee you with þe dede And in your thought þus schulle ye dye And yf ye me in clennes gy] He wolde ȝowe loue as me for ȝoure clennesse And schewen ȝowe of his ioye and his brihtnesse (24) ¶ Valerian correctid as god wolde Ansewerd aȝeine if .I. schal truste to þe Latt me þat Angel see and him be-holde And if þat it a verraie Angel be þan wil .I. done as þou hast preide me And if þou loue a noþere man for soþe Riht wiþ þis swerde .I. wil sle ȝowe boþe (25) ¶ Cecile ansewerd anone in þis wis If þat ȝowe lust þat Angel schal ȝe see So þat ȝe trowe on criste and ȝowe baptize Goþe forþe to via apia quod sche That frome þis toune ne stant bot miles þree And to þe pouer folkes þat þere duelle Sei hem riht þus as þat .I. schal ȝowe telle (26) ¶ Tel hem. þat .I. Cecile ȝowe to hem sent To schewen ȝowe þe good vrbane þe oolde For secre nedes and for good entent And whan þat ȝe seint vrban haue be-holde Tel him þe wordes whiche þat .I. ȝowe tolde And whan þat he haþ purged ȝowe fro sinne Than schal ȝe se þat angel ar ȝe twinne (27) ¶ Valerian is to þat place y-goon And riht as him was tauht be his lerenynge He fonde þis holy Vrban anone Amonge þe seintes buriels lotiynge..i. latitans And he anone wiþ-outen tariynge Did his Message and whan þat he hadde tolde Vrban for Ioye gan his hondes vpholde (28) The teres from his yen lete he fall Almihti god o ihesu Crist quod he Sewere of Chaste counseil. and herde of vs all The fruyte of þilke seed of chastite þat þou hast sowe in Cecile take to þe Loo ylike abuse bee wiþ oute gile þe serueþ aye þin owen þral Cecile (29) ¶ For þilke spouse þat sche toke bot nowe Ful like a fers lyon sche sendeþ here As meeke as any lombe was to ȝowe And wiþ þat worde anone þer gan apere And old man clad wiþ white cloþes clere And had a booke wiþ lettres of gold in honde And gan beforne Valerian stonde (30) ¶ Valerian as dede fel doune for drede When he him saughe and him vp hent þoo And on his booke riht þus he gan to rede O lorde .o. feiþe .o. god wiþ owten mo Of Cristendome and fader of all also Aboue all and ouer al euery where þis wordes al wiþ golde wreten were (31) ¶ Whan þis was radde þan seide þis olde man Leuest þou þis þinge or no sey ȝe or naye .I. leue al þis þinge; [quod valerian ffor sother thing] þan þis .I. dare wele saye Vnder þe heuen no whiht ne þenke maye Tho vanysched þe olde man he nyste wher An pope Vrbane him cristene riht þere (32) Valerian goþe home and sein Cecile ¶ Wiþ-inne his chambur he sauhe an Aungel stande þis Aungel hadde of Roses and of lyle Corons tuo whiche he bare in hande And first to Cecile as .I. vnderstande He ȝaf þat one and after gan he take þe tother to Valerian hire make (33) ¶ Wiþ body clene and vnwemmed þouht Kepe ay wele þis Corounes quod he Frome paradise to ȝowe haue .I. hem brouht Ne neuer more scholl þei roten be Ne lese her swete sauore trusteþ me Ne neuer whight schal seen hem wiþ his eyȝe Bot he be chaste and hate velanye (34) ¶ And þou walerian for þou sone Assentest to good counsel alsoo Sey what þe lust and þou schalt haue þi bone .I. haue a broþer quod valerian þoo þat in þis werd .I. loue no man soo .I. praie ȝowe þat my broþer maie haue grace To knowe þe trouþe as .I. do in þis place (35) ¶ The Angel ansewarde god lykeþ ȝoure request And boþe wiþ þe pame of Marterdome Ȝe schol com vnto þe blisful feste And wiþ þat worde Tiburce his broþer come And whan þat he sauoure vnder nome Wiþ þat þe roses and þe lyles Caste Wiþ inne his herte he gan to wonder fast (36) ¶ And seide in þis time .I. wonder of þe ȝere Whens þis suote sauour comeþ so And Roses and lilys it .I. smell here For þouhe .I. had hem in myn hondes tuo The sauoure in me myht no depper go The swete smel it in myne here .I. finde Haþe chaunged me al in anoþer kinde (37) ¶ Valerian seide tuo corounes haue we Snowe white and rose rede þat schyneþ clere Whiche þat þine yen haue no myht to se And as þou smellest hem þoruhe my preiere So schalt þou seen leue broþer dere If it so be þat wolte wiþ oute slouþe Beleue a riht and knowe verrei trouþe (38) Tiburce answerd saist þou þus to me In soþenesse or in dremes herken ȝe þis In dreme quod Valerian han we bue Vnto þis time myn broþer ywisse Bot nowe att erst oure trouþe dwellyngis How woost þou quod Tiburs and in what wise Quod Valerian þat .I. schal deuise (39) ¶ The Aungel of god haþe me trewþ ytauht Whiche þat þou schalt seen if þat þou wolte reneye þe ydoles and be clene and elles nouht And of þe miracles of þes corounes tueye Seint Ambrose in his preface lust to seie Solempnely þis noble doctor dere Commendeþ it and seiþ in þis manere (40) ¶ The palme of marterdome for to receyue Sein Cecile fulfild of goddes ȝift þe werlde and eke here Chambre . gan sche weyue Wittnesse Tiburce and Cecilez schrift To whiche god of his bounte wolde schift Corounes tuo of floures wele smellynge And maade þe Angel hem þe Corounes bringe (41) ¶ The maide haþ brouhte þes men to blisse a-boue The werlde haþ wiste what it was worþe certeyne Deuocione of chastite to loue Tho schewde him open and pleine þat al ydoles nys but þinge in veine For þei bu domme and þerto þei bue def And charged him his ydoles for to lef (42) ¶ Who þat þis troueþ nouht a beste he is Quod þo Tyburce if þat .I. schal nouht lye Sche gan þan kisse his breste and þat herd þis And was ful glad he couþe trouthe aspye þis daie .I. take þe for myne a-lye Seide þis blisful maide faire and dere For affter þat sche seide as ȝe maye here (43) ¶ Lo. Riht so as þe loue of crist quod sche Maad me þi broþers wif riht in þat wyse Anone for myne Allye here take .I. þe Seþens þat þou wolde þin ydoles despise Go wiþ þi broþer nowe and þe baptize And maake þe clene so þat þou maiste beholde The aungels face of whiche þi broþer tolde (44) Tiburce ansewarde and seide broþer dere ¶ First tel me wheder .I. schal and to what man To whome quod he come forþe wiþ riht good chier .I. will þe leede vn to þe pope vrban To vrban broþer myne valerian Quod þo Tiburce wil þou me þeder lede Me þinkeþ þat it were a wonder dede (45) ¶ Remenest þou nouht vrban quod he þo þat is so of dampned to be dede And wonneþ in halkes to and fro And dare nouhte ones put forþe his heede Men wolde him berne in a fire so rede If þat he were founde and men miht him aspye And we also þat bere him companye (46) ¶ And whiles we seken þilke diuinitee þat is hidde in heuen priuey Algate y-brent in þis werld shol we be To whome Cecily anseward boldely Men myht drede wele and skilfully þis lyf to lese myne owen dere broþer If þis were leueynge only and none oþere (47) ¶ Bot þere is better lif in oþer place þat neuer schal be lost ne drede þe nouht Whiche godes sonne vs tolde þorwhe his grace [þat fadres son hathe al þing wrouȝt And all þat wrovte[rov corrected] is with a skylfull þouȝt þe gost that from the fadir gan procede He souled him with-oute eny drede (48) By worde & by myracle by goddes son[Harl. 7333] When he was in this worlde declared her þat þer was oþer lyf þer men may wene To whom aunswerd tyburce o systur der Ne sedest thow ryght now in þis maner þer nas but O. lord god in sothefastnes And now of thre how maist þou bere wytnes (49) þat schall I tel quod sche or I goo[Harl. 7333 extract ends]] Riht as a man haþ sapiens þre Memorie engyne. and intellect also Soo moo beynge of diuinite þre persones riht wel þere maie bee ¶ Tho gan sche him busily preche Of cristes come and of his peynes teche (50) And mony poyntes of his passione How goddes son in þis werld was holde To do mankinde pleine remissione þat was ybonde in sinne and cares colde Al þis þinge sche vnto tyburce tolde ¶ And affter þis tiburce in good entent To pope vrban wiþ valerian he went (51) Whiche þonked god and wiþ glad hert and liht He Cristened him and maade him in þat place Parfite in his leueynge goddes knyht And aftur þis Tiburce gat suche grace That euery daie he sawe in time and space The aungel of god and euery maner bone þat he god axed it was sped ful sone (52) ¶ It were ful harde be order for to seyne Howe mony wonderes ihesu for him wrouht Bot att þe last to tel schort and pleine The seriant of þe toune of Rome hem souht And hem be-forne Almache þe prouost brouht Whiche hem opposed and knewe all her entente And to þe ymage of Iubiter he hem sente (53) ¶ And seid who so wil nouȝt sacrifice Swappe of his hede þis is my sentence here Anone þes marters þat .I. ȝowe of deuise On Maximius þat was an officere Of þe profectes and of Corniculere Hem hent and when he forþe þe seintes ladde Him selfe he wope for pite þat he hadde (54) ¶ And whan maximius hadd herd þe seintes lore He gatte hem of þe tormentours leue And hadde hem in his house wiþ oute more And wiþ here precheinge ar þat it were eue þei gōn fro þe tormentours to reue And frome maximius and frome his folke ichone þe fals feiþe to trowe in god a-lone (55) ¶ Cecele Came whan it was waxen nyht Wiþ prestes þat hem crėstened al in fere And afterward whan daie was waxen liht Cecile hem seide wiþ a sobre chere Nowe cristes owen knyhtes leue and dere Cast al awaye þe werkes of derknesse And armeþ ȝowe in armure of lyhtnesse (56) ¶ Ȝe haue for sothe done grete Bataile And haþe þe victorie ȝoure feiþe ȝe haue confermed Go to þe croune of lif þat maie nouht faile Þe rihtful Iugge whiche þat ȝe haue serued Will bringe ȝowe to his blisse þat to ȝow haþ reserued And whan þis þinge was seide as .I. devise Men led hem forþe to done þe sacrifise (57) ¶ Bot whan þei were vn-to þe place ybrouht To tell schortly þe conclusioune Thei nolde encense no sacrifise riht nouht Bot on her knees þei satten hem a doune Wiþ humble hert and sadde deuocion And losten boþe her hedes in þe place Here soules went to þe kenge of grace (58) ¶ This Maxinius þat sawe þis þinge be-tide Wiþ pitous tales tolde it a-none riht Þat he her soules sawhe to heuen glide Wiþ algels ful of clerenesse and of liht And wiþ his worde conuerted mony a wyht For whiche almachius dide him so to-bete Wiþ whippe of leede to he his lif gan lete (59) Cecilie him toke and beried him anone Be tiburce and valeriane softly Wiþ inne hire heriynge place vnder a stone And after þis Almachius hastely. Badde his Ministres ffecchen openly Cecile so sche myht in his presence Do sacrifice and Iubite encense (60) ¶ Bot þei conuerted þorwhe here wise lore Wepten sore and ȝaf credence Vnto her worde and cryden more and more Crist god son with outen difference Is verrey god. þis is al oure sentence þat haþe so good a seruant him to serue þus wiþ o voice; we trowe þei we sterue (61) Almachius þat herd al þis Bad fecche Cecile þat he miht hir see And alþer ferst lo þis was his askeinge What maner womman ert þou þo quod he .I. am gentill womman borne quod sche .I. ax quod he þouhe it þe greue Of þi religion and of þi be-leue (62) Whi þan be-gan ȝoure questione folilye quod sche þat woldest þou ansewere conclude In o demande ȝe axed lewdly Almachius anseward to þat similitude [Of whens comthe thin Answer so rude] Of whense quod sche when þat sche was refreynede Of concience and of good feiþe vnfeynede (63) Almachius seide takest þou none hede Of þin Ansewere and sche him ansewerd þus Ȝoure myhte quod sche litel is to drede For euery mo[r]tel manesse power ne is Bot y-lyke a bledder ful of wynde y-wis For wiþ a nedeles point whan þat is blowe Maie al þe bost of it be leid ful lowe (64) ¶ Ful wrongefully began þou quod he And ȝut in wronge is þi perseuerance Woste þou nouht howe owre mihti princes fre Bene þus commanded and maken ordinance þat euery cristen whight scha[l] haue penance Bot if þat he his cristendome wiþ seie And gone al quyte if he wil it renaye (65) ¶ Ȝoure Princes erren as ȝoure noblen doþe Quod þo Cecile and a woode sentence ȝe maake us gilti and it is nouht soþe Fore þat knowen wele oure Innocence For as muche as we done a reuerence To criste; and for we bere a cristen name ȝe put on vs a crime and eke a blame (66) ¶ Bot we þat knowen þelk name so For vertuous we maie it nouȝt seie Almachie seide chese one of þes tuo Do sacrifice or cristendom reneye þat þou mowe skapen be þat weie Att whiche þe holy blisful maide Gan for to lauhe and to þe Iuge sche saide (67) ¶ O Iuge confuse in þi nycete Wilt þou þat .I. reney Innocence To maken me a wikked wyht quod sche Lo he dissimuleþ here in audience He stareþ and wodeþ in his aduertence To whome Almachius seide o vncely wrecche Ne wost þou not houe fer my miht mai streche (68) ¶ Haþe nouht oure myhte prince to me yȝouen ȝe bothe power and auctorite To make folke to deyȝen or to leuen. Whi spekest þou so proudely þan to me .I. speke it nouȝt bot stedfastly quod sche Nouht proudly for .I. saie as for my side .I. hate dedely þilke vice of pride (69) ¶ And ȝif þou drede nouht a soþe to here þan wil .I. schewen al openly be riht þat þou hast maade a ful grete leseinge here þou seist þi princes haue ȝeue þe myht Bothe to slene and for to whikke a wiht Thou þat ne maist bot onely lif here be-reue Thou na haste þerto neiþer pouer ne leue (70) Bot þou maist seie þi Princes han þe maked Ministre of deþe; for if þou speke of mo þou liest for þi pouer is ful naked Do waie þi boldenes seide Almachius þo Or sacrifice to oure goddes or tuo .I. reche nouht what wronge þat þou me profer For .I. can suffre it as a philosofer (71) Bot þilke wronges maie .I. not endure þat þou spekest of owre goddes here quod he Cecile ansewerd .o. nice creature þou seidest no word seþens þou spak to me þat .I. ne knewe þere wiþ þi nicete And þat þou were in euery maner wise A lewde Officer and a veine Iustise (72) þere lakkeþ no þinge to þine vtter yȝen þat þou nart blinde for þinge þat wee seen all þat is a stone þat men wele maie aspyen þat ilke stone a god þou wol it call .I. rede þe latt þine honde vpon hit fall And tast it wele a stone þou schalt it finde Sens þat þou sixt it not wiþ þine yȝen blinde (73) It is a schame þat þe peple schal Schal scoren þe and lauhe att þi folye For communly wemmen wote it wele ouere al þat myhte goddes is in his heuenes hihe And þes ymages wele þan maistowe aspie To þe ne to hem self ne maie þei profit For in hire effecte þei bue nouht worþe a myte (74) þus and suche oþere wordes seide sche And he wex wroþe and badde sche scholde be ledde Home to hire hous and in hir hous quod he Birne hire riht in a fire wiþ flammes rede And as he bad riht so was done þe dede And in a bathe þei gan hir fast schetten And nyht and daie grete fire vnder þei maden (75) Al þe longe niht and þe daie also For al þe fire and eke þe baþes hete Sche satt al colde and felt of it no wo Ne maade hire nouȝt a drope for to swete Bot in þat baþe hir lif sche moste lete. For he Almachius wiþ ful wekked entent To sleene hir in þe baþe his sonde sent (76) þree strokes in þe nekke he smote hir þo The tormentour bot for no maner chaunce He myhte nouhte smyte al here nek y tuo And for þere was þat time an ordinance That no man schold do to man suche penance The ferþe stroke to smyten soft or sore þis tormentour ne dorste no more (77) Bot half dede wiþ hire nek y-coruen þere He left hire lye and in his weie he wente The cristen folke whiche abowten hire were Wiþ schetes home ful feire here hente þree daies leued sche in þis torment And neuer cesed hem þe feiþe to teche þat sche had fostred hame sche gan to preche (78) And hem sche ȝaue here mebles and her þinge And to þe Pope vrban be-toke hem þo And seide þus axed þis of heuen kinge To haue respite þrei daies and no mo To recommande to ȝowe er þat .I. go þes sowles loo and þat .I. miht do wirche Here of myne house perpetuelly a cherche (79) Seint vrban wiþ his dekenes priuelye The lady fette and beried it be nyht Amonge his oþere seintes honestly Here house þe cherche of seinte cecely hiht Seinte vrban halowed it as he wel myht In þe whiche in to þis daie in noble wise Men done to criste and to his seintes seruise. Explicit vita sancte Cecilie. Incipit prologus .Canonice.on leaf 158 Whan ended was þe lif of seint Cecile Er we had reden fulli. fiue myle Att bouhton vnder þe ble vs gan a take A man þat cloþed was in cloþes blake And vnder þat he hadde a white surplis His Hakenay þat was al pomel gris So swete þat it wonder was to see It semed he had priked myles þre þe hors eke þat ȝoman rode vpone So swet þat vnneþ myht he gone Aboue þe paitrel stode þe fome ful hyȝe He was of fome al flekked as a pye A male tweyfold on his cropur leye It semed þat he Caride litel araye Al liht for somere rode þis worþe man And in myn herte wonder .I. be-gan What þat he was til þat .I. vnder-stode Howe þat his cloke was sewed to his hode For whiche when .I. longe had auysed me .I. demed him sum chanon for to be His hatte honge doune be-hinde his be a lace For he had ridde more þan a trote or a pace It hadde ay priked lyke as he ware wode A clote lef he had vnder his hode For suote and for to kepe his hed from hete Bot it was Ioy for to seen him swete His fored dropped as a stillatorie Where ful of pleintein and of peritorie And whan he come he gan to crye God saue quod he þis Iolie companye Fast haue .I. priked quod he for ȝoure sake Because þat .I. wold ȝowe ouer take To riden in þis mery companye His ȝoman eke was ful of curtasie And sires nowe in morwe tide Oute of ȝoure Ostlery .I. sawe ȝowe ride And warned here my lorde and my souereine Whiche þat to ride wiþe ȝowe is ful feyne For his disporde he loueþ daliance Frende for þi warneyinge god ȝeue þe good chaunce Seide oure oste sertes it wolde seme Thi lorde were wise and so .I. maie wele deme He is ful Iocunde also dar .I. laie Can he ouht tell a mery tale or tueye Wiþ whiche he glade maie þis companye Who sire my lord ȝe ȝe wiþ oute lye He kan of merþe and eke of Iolyte Not bot .I.-nowhe also sir tresteþ me And ȝe him knewe as wel as do .I. ȝe wold wonder howe wele and þreftely He couþe werke and þat in sundre wise He haþ tak on him mony sundre aprise Whiche were ful harde for any þat is here To bringe aboute. bot þei of him it lere As homely as he rideþ amonges ȝowe If ȝe him knewe. it wolde be ȝoure prowe ȝe nolde nouht forgone his aqueyntance For mochel good .I. dare leie in a balance Al þat .I. haue in myne [? for possossione]proossione He is a man of hihe discrecione .I. warne ȝowe wele he is a passinge man Wele quod oure oste .I. pray þe tel me þan Is he clerk or none tel what he is Nay he is gretter þan a clerke ywis Seide ȝoman and in wordes fewe Oste and of his craft sum what .I. wil ȝowe schewe .I. sei my lorde can suche a sutelte Bot al his craft ȝe maie nouht wite att me And som what help .I. ȝit to his worcheinge þat al þis grounde whiche þat we bien on rideinge Til þat we come to Canturbury toune. He couþe al clene torne vp so[? MS se] doune And paue it al of siluer and of golde And whan þis ȝoman hadde þus ytolde Vnto oure hoste he seide benedicite þis þinge is wonder meruelous to me Seþens þat þi lorde of so hihe prudence Be cause of whiche men scholde hem reuerence þat of his worschipe recheþ he so lite His ouere slope is not worþe a myte As in effecte to him so mot .I. go It is al bawde and to-tore also Whi is þi lorde so slottesche .I. þe preie And his of pouer better cloþes to beie If þat his dede accorde wiþ þi speche Tel me þat. and þat .I. þe beseche Whie quod þis ȝoman wherto ax ȝe me God helpe me so for he schal neuer þe Bot .I. wil nouht avowe þat .I. seie And þere for kepe it secre .I. ȝowe preie He is to wise in feiþe as .I. beleue þat þat is ouere done it wil nouht preue And riht as clerkes seine it is a vice Where-fore in þat .I. holde him lewde and nyce For whan a man haþ ouere grete a witte Ful oft it hapneþ to mis vsen it So doþe my lorde and þat me greueþ sore God it amend .I. can seie nowe no more Thare-of no force good ȝoman quod oure Oste Seþens his connynge of þi lorde þou woste Tel. howe he doþe .I. praie þe hertelye Seþen þat he is so craftie and so slye Where dwellen ȝe it to tel be In þe subbarbes of a toune quod he Lurkeinge in Hirnes and in lanes blinde Where þes robbers and þeues be kinde Holden her priue fereful residence As þei þat dare nouht schewe her presence So fare we if .I. schal sey þe soþe ȝit quod oure Oste lat me talke to þe Whie ert þou discoloure in þi face Peter quod he god ȝif harde grace I am so vsed in þe fire to blow That it haþe chaunged my colour as .I. trowe .I. am nouht wont in no myrrour to prie Bot swynke sore and leren to multiplie We blondern euer and pouren in þe fire And for al þat we failen of oure desire For euere we lakken oure conclusione To muche folke we bene bot illusione And borwe golde be it a pounde or tuo Or ten. or .xij. or mony summes mo And make hem wene att þe leste weie þat of o pou[n]de we couþe maake tweie ȝit is it fals and aye we haue good hope It forto done and after it we grope Bot þat science is so fer vs be-forne We mowe nouhte al-þouhe we had it suorne It ouertake. it slide a-waie so faste It wil vs make beggers att þe last Whiles þis ȝoman was þus in þis talkeinge This Chanon drouhe him nere and herd al þinge Whiche þat þis ȝoman spak for suspecione Of men speche euer had þis chanone For Caton seiþe he þat giltif is Demeþ al þinge be spoke of him ywys Because of þat he gan so nyhe to drawe His ȝoman þat he herd al his sawe And þus he seide vnto his ȝoman þo Holde þow þi pees and speke wordes no mo For if þou do þou schalt it dere abye Tho sklanderst me here in þis compaignye And eke diskeuerest þat þou scholdest hide ȝe quod oure Oste tel one what so be-tide Of al þis þreteinge reche þe nouht a myte In feiþe quod he no more .I. do bot a lite And whan þis Chanone sawe it wolde nouht be Bot his ȝoman wolde tel his priuete He fledde awaie for verrei sorwe and schame A quod þis ȝoman here schal arise game Al þat .I. can anone wil .I. tell Seþen he is gone þe foule fende him quell For neuer here after wil .I. wiþ him mete For penye ne for pounde .I. be-hete He þat me brouht first vnto þat game Er þat he deie sorwe haue he and schame For it ernest to me be my feiþe þat fele .I. wele what so any man seiþe And ȝitte for al my smert and al my greue For al my sorwe laboure and mescheue .I. couþe neuere leue it in no wise No wolde god my witte myht suffise To tellen al þat longeþ for þat arte Bot naþeles ȝit wil .I. tel ȝowe parte Seþen my lorde is gone .I. wil not spare Suche þinge as .I. knowe .I. wil declare Explicit prologus [THE PREAMBLE.] Incipit ffabula.on leaf 160 Wythe þis chanon dwelled haue .I. seuen ȝere And of his science am .I. neuer þe nere Al þat .I. had .I. haue .I.-lost þere by And god wote so haþe mony mo þan .I. Ther .I. was wont to be riht frissche and gay Of cloþinge and of good arraie Nowe may .I. were an hose vpon myn hede And where my coloure was boþe freche and rede Now it is wan and of a lewde hewe Who so it vseþ sore sc[h]all he rewe And of my swynke ȝit blered is myne eyȝe Lo whiche avantage is for to multepliȝe. þat slideinge science haþ me maade so bare Þat .I. haue no goode where þat euere y fare And ȝite .I. am endited & endetted so þar bye Of golde þat .I. haue borwed trewlye þat while .I. leue .I. schal it quite neuer þat euery man be war be me for euer What manere man þat casteþ him þer to If he continue .I. holde his þreft ydo For so helpe me god þar by schal he nouht wynne Bot empte his purce and make his wittes þinne And whan he þoruhe his madnes and foly Haþ lost his owen goode þorul Iopardy þan he exciteþ oþer men þerto To lese here gode as hem self haþ do For vnto schrewes Ioye it is an[d] ese To haue her felowe in peine and disese. Thus was .I. lerned ones of a clerk Of þat no charge .I. wil speke of oþer werke Whan we bene þare as we schal exercise Oure eluyssche craft we seme wonder wise Oure termes buen so clergial and so wheinte .I. blowe þe fire til þat myne hert feinte What schold .I. tel of suche proporcion Of þinges whiche þat we worche vppon As .on. v. or .vj. vnce it maie wel be Of siluer or of sum oþe[r] quantite And bise me to tel ȝowe þe names Of orpement bernt bones yren swames þan in to pouder grounde bue ful smal And in an erþen potte houe þat potte is al And salt put inne and also papere Be for þes pouders þat .I. speke of here And wele ycouerd wiþ a lampe of glas And of muche oþere þinge what þat þere was And of þe potte and glas engluteinge That of þe eyere myht passe no þing And of the esye and smarte alsoo Whiche þat was maad and of þe care and woo þat we hadde in oure matiers sublimeinge And amalgamynge and calcenynge Of whike siluere y-cleped Marcurie crude For all oure sleytes we can nouht conclude Oure orpement and sublimed Mercurie Oure grounde litage eke on þe perorforie Of yche of þes vnces a certeine Nouȝt helpeþ vs oure laboure is in veine Ne eke owre spirites ascencion Ne eke oure matiers þat lien al fix adoune Mowe in oure werkeinge noþinge vs aveile For lost is al oure laboure and traueile And al þe cost in .xx. deuel waie Is loste also whiche we on it leie þere is also mony anoþere þinge þat is to oure crafte or perteineinge þouhe .I. be order hem here ne reherse can Because þat .I. am a lewde man ȝit wil .I. tel hem al þei come to mynde þouhe .I. ne kan sette hem in her kinde As bole armonyac verte grece and borace And sundere vessels maade of erþe and glasse Oure Orinales and oure descensories Viols cresletes and sublimatories Cocurbites[? MS Corurbites] and alembekes eke And oþer suche dere y-nowhe a leke Note nedeþ it to reherse hem al Waters rubefinge and boles gall Arcenyk sal armonyak and bromstone And herbes couþe .I. tel eke many one As egremoyne valeriane and lunarie And oþer suche if þat me luste to tarye Oure lampes berneinge boþe nyht and daie To bringen aboute oure craft it þat we maie Oure forneys eke of Calcinacione And of waters albificacione Vnslekked lyme chalke and gleire and of an aye Pouders diueres asshes donge pisse and cleie Ceride poketes Sal peter and vitriol And diuers fires maad of wode and cole Sal tarter Alkaly and sal preparate And combust matiers and coagulate Cleye made wiþ hors here and oyle Of tartre Alumglasse berme worte and Argoile Resalgar and oþer matiers enbybeynge And eke of oþer maters encorperinge And of siluer citrinacione Oure cementinge and fermentacione Oure Ingotes testes and mony mo .I. wil ȝowe tell as was me tauht also The . foure spirites and þe bodis seuen Be order of ofte as .I. herd my lorde neuen þe . first spirit whiksiluer cald is þe . secunde Orpement þe þred .I.-wis Sal armoniac . and þe fourt bromstone The bodis .vij. eke lo hem here anone Sol . gold . is . and luna . siluer we þrepe Mars . yren . Mercure . whikseluer we clepe Saturnus lede . and Iubiter is tynne And Venus coper be my fader kinne þis cursed craft who so wil exercise He schal no goode hane þat maie him suffise For al þe good he spendeþ þere aboute He lese schal þer-of haue .I. no doute Who so þat lust to outen his folie Lat him com forþe and leren to multeplie Ande euery man þat ouht in his cofre Lete him appere and wax a philosophre Ascanse þat craft is so liht for to lere Nay nay god it wote al be he monke or frere Preste or chanone or any oþer wyht þouhe he sitte att his boke boþe daie and nyht In lerneynge of þis elvisshe nice lore Al is in veine and parde muche more Is to lerne a lewd man þe sotelte For fye speke nouht þere-of for it wil nouht be Al couþe he letterure or couþe he none As in effect he schal finde it al one For boþe tuo be my saluacione Concluden in multiplicacione I-lyche wele whan þei haul al y-do þis is to seine þe feile boþe tuo ȝit for þat .I. to muche rehersaill Of waters Corosif and of lymayle And of bodis mollificaciōne And also of here induracione Oyles ablucione and metale fusible. To tellen al wald passen any bible. That ouhwhere is where-for as for þe best Of all þis names now will .I. me rest For as .I. troue .I. haue ȝowe tolde ynowhe To Reysen a fende loke he neuer so rouhe A nay lat be þe philosophre stone Elixir cleped we sechen fast ychon For had we him þan were we seker ynowhe Bot vnto god of heuen .I. maak a vowe For al oure craft whan we haue al y-do And al oure sleiht he wil nouht com vs to He haþe vs made spend muche good For sorwe of whiche al-moste we wexen wode Bot þat goode hope crepeþ in oure herte Supposeinge euer þouhe we sore smert To be releued be him afterwarde Supposinge and hope is scharpe and harde .I. warne ȝowe wele it is to seken euer þat futur temps haþ maad men deseuer In trust þer-of from al þat euer þei hadde Ȝit of þat art þei couþ nouht wex sadde For vn to hem it is a bitter swete So semeþ it forne had þei bot a shete Whiche þei miht wrappe in a nyht And Abak to walken inne be daie liht Thei wold hem sellen and spenden on þis craft Thei can nouht stint til noþinge be laft And euer more where þat euer þei gone Men maye hem knowe be smell of bromstone For al þe worlde þei stinken as a gote Hire sauoure is so rammysshe and so hote That þouhe a man from hem a mile be The sauour wil infecte trusteþ me Lo þus be smellinge and be þrede bare arraie If þat men lust þis folke þei knowe maie And if a man wil ax him priuely Whi þei bue cloþed so vnthriftely. Riht anone þei wil roune in his ere And seie if þei espied were Men wold hem fle be cause of hire science Lo þus folke be-trayen Innocence Passe ouer þis .I. go my tale vntoo Er þat þe pote be on þe fire ydoo Of Metaile wiþ a certeine quantite Mi lorde hem tempreþ and no man bot he Nowe he is gone .I. dare sei boldely For as men seine he can do craftely. Algate .I. wote wele he haþe suche a name And ȝitte ful ofte he renneþ in þe blame And witte ȝe howe ful oft it hapneþ so þe potte to-brekeþ and fare wele al is goo þes metals been of so grete violence Owre walles maie nouht make hem resistence Bott if þei wrowht of lime and stone þei percen so and þoruhe þe wal þei gone And sum of hem sinken in to þe grounde þus haue we lost be times mony a po[u]nd And somme erne scaterd al þe flore aboute Somme lepen in to þe roof wiþþe-outen doute þouhe þat þe fende note in oure siht hem schewe .I. trow þat he wiþ vs be þat schrewe In hell where þat his lorde and sire Ne is þere no more woo ne angur ne Ire Whan þat owre potte is broke as .I. haue seide Euery man Chitte and halt him yuel apaide Som seide it was longe on þe fire makeinge Somme seide nay . it was longe on þe bloweynge Than was .I. ferde for þat was myne office Strawe quod þe þredde ȝe be lewde and nyce It was nouht tempred as it ouhte to be Nay quod þe ferþe stinte and herken me Be cause oure fire was nouht maade of beche þat is þe cause none oþer so þeeche .I. can not tell where on it is a-longe Bot wele .I. wote grete strife is vs amonge What quod my lord þere is no more to done Of þes periles .I. wil be ware eft sone .I. am riht seker þat þe pott was crased Be as be maye be ȝe no þinge amasud As vsage is late swepe þe flore as swyþe Pluke vpe ȝoure herte and be ȝe gladde and bliþe The mollok on an hepe yswepped was And on þe flore cast a canvas And al þis mollok in a sif yþrowe And ysiftide and yplucked mony a þrowe Parde quod one summe what of oure metale ȝitt is þere here þouhe we haue nouht al And þouhe þis þinge mishapped haþe as nowe Anoþer time it maie be wele ynowhe Vs most putte oure goode in aduenture A marchant parde maie nouht aie endure Tristneþ me wele in his prosperite Som time is goode is drowned in þe see And sum time it commeþ sauf vnto þe londe Pes quod my lorde þe next time .I. wil fonde To bringe oure crafte al in anoþere plite And bote .I. do sires latt me haue þe wite There was defaute in sum what wele .I. wote An oþere seide þe fire was ouere hote Bot be hit hote or colde .I. dar sei þis þat we concluden euermore amys We failen of þat whiche þat we wolde haue And oure madnesse euer more we raue And whan we bue to-geder euerychon Euery man semeþ as wise as salomon Bot al þinge whiche þat schyneþ as þe gold Is not golde as .I. haue herde it tolde Ne euery appel þat is faire att eyȝe Ne is not good whatt so men clappe or crie Riht so loo farith it amongus vs He þat semeþ þe wisest be ihesus[MS ihc] Is most foole whan it commeþ to þe prefe And he þat semeþ trewest is a þefe þat schol ȝe knowe er þat .I. fromme ȝowe wende Be þat .I. of my tale haue maade an ende[No break in the MS.] [THE TALE.] THer is a chanon of religion.ija. pars Amonges vs wolde enfecte al a toune þouhe it as grete were as nynyue Rome Alisander . Troy . and oþer þre His sleihtes and his infinite falsenesse There couþe no man writen as .I. gesse þouhe þat he myht leuen a . þowsande ȝere In al þis of fals-nesse ne is his pere For in his termes he wil him so winde And speke his wordes in so slyhe a kynde Whan he comun schal wiþ any wiht What he wil make him dote anone riht Bot it þe fende be as his seluen is Ful mony a man haþe he bigiled ar þis And will if þat he maie leue a while And ȝit men riden and gon ful mony a myle Him for to seeke and haue acqueyntance Nat knoweinge of his fals gouernance And if þe luste to ȝeue me audience .I. will it tellen here in ȝoure presence Bot worschipful chanon religious Ne demeþ nouht þat .I. sclander ȝoure house Al þouhe my tale of chanon be Of euery order some schrewe is parde And god for-bede þat al a companye Sholde rewe a singuler mannes folye To sclander ȝowe is not myne entente Bot to Corretten þat mys yment This tale was nouȝt onely tolde for ȝowe Bot eke for oþere mo ȝe woote wele howe þat amonge cristes posteles twelue Þere nas no traytur bot Iudas him selue Than whi scholde þe remenant al haue blame That giltles were . by ȝowe say .I. þe same Sauf only þis if ȝe wil herken me If any Iudas in ȝoure Couent be Remoueþ him be time .I. ȝowe rede If schame or losse maie causen any drede And buþe noþinge displesed .I. ȝowe preie Bot in þis caas herkeneþ what .I. wil seie IN Londen was a preste an annuellere þat þer-inne dwelled had mony a ȝere Whiche was so plesant and so seruisable Vn-to þe wiff where he was att table That sche wolde suffur him no þinge for to paye For borde ne for cloþeinge wente he neuer so gaye And spendinge siluer hadde he riht ynouhe þere-of no force .I. wol procede as nowhe And tel forþe my tale of þe Chanon þat brouht þis prest to confusion This fals chanon cam vppon a daye Vnto þe prestes chambre þer he laye Besecheinge him to lene him a certeine Of golde and he wolde white him a-ȝeine Lene me a marke quod he bot daies þre And att my daie .I. wil it quyte þe And it so be þou finde me fals Anoþer daie honge me be þe hals This preste him toke a marke and þat als swiþe And þis chanon him þonked oft siþe And toke his leue and went forþe his weie And att þe þered daie brouht his monye And to þis preste he toke þis golde aȝeine There-of þis prest was glad and feine Certes quod he no þinge anoyeþ me To lene a man a noble or tuo or þre Or what þinge were in myn possessione Whan he so trewe is of condicione þat in no wise breke wil his daie To suche a man .I. can neuer saie naye What quod þis chanon schold .I. be vntrewe Naye it were þinge fallen al of þe newe Treuþe is a þinge þat .I. wil euer kepe In to þe daie in whiche þat [I] schal crepe In to my graue and elles god for-bede Beleueþ þis as seker as is ȝoure crede God þonke .I. and in goode time be it seide þat þer was neuer man ȝit yuel appaide For golde ne siluer þat he to me lent And neuer falsed in myne herte y ment And sir quod he nowe of my priuete And seþen . ȝe so goodly haue bue to me And kiþed to me so grete gentillesse Som whatte to whiten wiþ ȝoure kindenesse .I. wil ȝowe schewe .&. if ȝowe lust to lere .I. schal it schewe to ȝowe anone riht here Howe .I. kan worchen in filosophie Takeþ goode hede ȝe scholn sene wele att ye þat .I. wil do a maistre ar .I. goo Ȝe sir quod þe preste . ȝe sire and wil ȝe so Mary þere-of .I. praie ȝowe hertely Att ȝoure commandement sir treuly Quod þe chanon and elles god for-bede Lo how þis þef couþe . his seruise bede Ful soþe it is þat suche proferd seruise Stinkeþe as wittenes þis olde wyse And þat ful sone .I. wil . it verifie In þis chanone is rote of al trecherie That euermore delite haþe and gladnesse Suche fendely þouhtes in his hert empresse Howe cristes peple he maie to meschief bringe God kepe vs fromme his fals discimulinge What wist þis preste wiþ whome he delte Ne of his harme comynge noþinge he felte O cele preste o celi Innocent Wiþ Couetise anone þou schalt be blent O graceles ful blinde is þi conceite No þinge ert þow war of þi deceit Whiche þat þis fox schapen haþ to þe His wyle wrenches þou maiste nouht flyhe Wher-fore to go to þe conclusion þat referreþ to þi confusion Vnhappe man anone .I. wil me hihe To tellen þin vnwitte and þi folye And eke þe falsenesse of þat oþer wreche As ferfor as my connynge wil streche þis chanon was my lorde ȝe wolde wene Sir oft in faiþe and bue þe heuen quene It was anoþer chanon and nouht he þat can an .C. folde more sotelte He haþ be-traied folke mony a time Of his falsnesse it deliteþ me to rime Euer whan .I. speke of his falsede For schame of him my cheke waxen rede Al gates þei be-gon for to glowe For redenes haue .I. riht nowe wele .I. knowe In my vesage for sinnes diuers Of Metals whiche ȝe haue herd me reherce Consumed and wastede haþe myne redenesse Now takeþ hede of my chanons cursednesse Sir quod he to þe preste lat ȝoure man gone Fo[r] whiksiluer þat we is had anone And latte him bringe vnces tuo or þre And whan he commeþ als fast schal we se A wonder þinge whiche ȝe sawe neuer ar þis Sir quod þe preste it schal be done ywisse He bad his seruant fechen him his þinge And he al rede was at his bedynge And went him for and cam anon aȝeine Wiþ þis whike siluer schortly for to seyne And toke þes vnces þre to þe chanone And he it leide faire and wele adoune And bad þe seruant coles for to bringe þat he anone myht go to his wirkeinge þe coles riht anone weren yfet And þis chanon toke oute a croselet Of his bosome and schewe it þe prest This quod he whiche þat þou sest Take in þine hande and put þi self þere inne Of þis whike siluere an vnce and here beginne In þe name of crist to wex a philosofer Ther bene ful fewe whiche þat .I. wil profer To schewe hem þus muche of my science For ȝe schol seen here be experience þat þis siluer .I. wil mortifie Riht in ȝoure siht anone wiþ oute lye And maak it as god siluer and als fyne As þer is any in ȝoure porce or in myne And þerto als doulcete and malliable And elles holde me fals and vn-able Amonge folk euer to appere .I. haue a pouder here . it cost me dere Schal make al good for it is cause of al Mi konnynge whiche . þat .I. ȝowe schew shall Voideþ ȝoure man and lat him be þer oute An schette þe dore whiles we bene aboute Oure priuete þat no man vs aspie Whiles we werken in þis philosophie Al as he bad ffulfilled was in dede þis ilke seruant anon riht oute ȝede And his maister schett þe dore anone An to her laboure spedely þei gone þes preste att þis cursed chanons bydynge Vpon þe fire a-none sett þis þinge And blewe þe fire and besid him ful fast And þis chanon in to þis croselett cast A pouder note .I. wher-of it was .y.-maade of chalk oþere of glas Or sum whatte elles was nouht worþe a flie To blinde wiþe þis preste and badd him hihe þes coles for to cowchen al aboue This Croslet for in token þat .I. þe loue Quod þis chanon þine hondes tuoo Schal worche al þinge whiche as schal be doo Gremercy quod þe preste and was ful gladde And couched coles as þe Chanon badd And whiles he besy was þis fendely wrecche þis fals chanon þe foule fende him fecche Oute of his bosom toke a bechen cole In whiche ful sotelly was maad an hole And þereinne pitt was of siluer limaile An vnce and stopped was wiþ oute faile This hole wiþ wex to kepe the limal inne An[d] vnderstondeþ þat þis false gynne Was not maade þere bot it was maade to fore And oþer þinges .I. schal tel more Here after warde whiche þat he wiþ him brouht Ar he com þere to begile him he þouht And so he dide are he went a twynne Til he had tornyd him kouþe he not blinne It dulleþ me whan þat .I. of him speke On his fals hede faine wolde .I. me awreke If .I. wist howe bot he is here and þere He is so variant he bideþ no where Bo[t] takeþ hede nowe sires for goddes loue He toke his cole of whiche .I. spak aboue And in his honde he bare it priuely And whiles þe priste couched besili þe coles as .I. tolde ȝow er þis þis Chanon seide frende ȝe done amys þis is nouht couched as it ouht to be Bot sone .I. schal amend it quod he Nowe lat me medel þere-wiþ bot a while For of ȝoue haue .I. pete be sein gile ȝe been riht hote .I. see wele how ȝe swete Haue here a cloþe and wype aweie þe wete And whan þe prest him wyped haas This Chanon toke his cole .I. schrewe his face And leid it vpon abouen þe Midward Of þe croselett . And blewe wele afterward Til þat þe Coles gan fast berne Now ȝif vs drinke quod þe Chanone þann Als swiþe al schal be wele .I. vndertake. Sit we doune and lete vs mery make And whann þe chanons bechen cole Was brente al þe limal oute of the hole Into þe croselet anone fel adoune And so it mot nedes be resoune Seþþen it so heuen aboue couched was Bot þere-of wist no þinge þe preste alas He demed al þe coles ylyche goode For of þe sleyht no þinge he vnderstode And whan þis Alkamistrie sauhe is time Riseþ vp sir priste and stonde be me And for .I. wote Ingote haue ȝe none Goþe walkeþ forþe and bringeþ a chalke stone For .I. wil make it of þe same schappe þat is an Ingote if .I. maie haue happe And bringe wiþe ȝowe a bol or a panne Ful of water and ȝe schal see þanne How þat oure besines schal happe and preue And ȝit for ȝe schal haue no mysbeleue Ne wronge conseite of me in ȝoure absence I wil nouht bue oute of ȝoure presence Bot go wiþ ȝowe and com wiþ ȝow ageine The chamber dore schortly to seine Thei opened and schette and went forþe her waie And forþe wiþ hem þei caried þe keie And comen aȝeine wiþ outen any delaye What scholde .I. tary al þe longe daie He toke · þe chalke and schoppe it in þat wise Of an Ingote as .I. schal ȝowe deuise .I. seye he tok out of his owen sleue A cheyne of siluer . yuel mot he cheue Whiche þat was bot an vnce of wheyht And takeþ hede nowe of his cursede sleyht He schop his Ingote in lengeþ and in brede Of þe cheyne wiþ outen any drede So slely þat þe preste it nouht aspide And in his sleue aȝeine he gan it hide An[d] frome þe fire toke vp his matier And in to þe yngote it putte wiþ meri chere And in to þe water vessel he it kest Whan þat him lust and badde þe preste as fast Loke what þere is put in þine honde and grope Thou schalte finde þer siluer as .I. hope What deuel of hel scholde it elles be Chaueynge of siluer silue is parde He putte in his honde and tok vp a teyne Off siluer fyne and glad in euery veine Was þis priste whan he sauhe þat it was so Goddes blissinge and his moders also And al halowes haue ȝe sir Chanon Seid þe preste and .I. here Malison Bot and ȝe vouche sauf to teche me This noble craft and þis soteltie .I. wil be ȝoures in al þat euer .I. maie Quod þe chanone ȝit wil .I. make asaie þe secunde time þat ȝe mowe take hede And bee experte of þis and in ȝoure nede Anoþer daie in Mine absence This discipline and þis crafte science Lat take anoþer vnce quod he þo Of whiche siluer wiþþe outen wordes moo And do þerwiþ as ȝe haue done ar þis Wyþe þat oþere whiche þat nowe siluere is This preste him besieþ in al þat he can To done as þis chanone þis cursed man Commandeþ him . and fast blewe þe fire For to come to þeffette of his desire And þis chanon riht in þe mene while Al redi was þis preste oft to begile And for a countenance in his honde bare An holowe stikke take hede and be ware In þe ende of whiche an vnce and no more Of siluer lymal put was al be-fore Was in his coule and stopped wiþ wax wele for to kepe inne his lymal euereydele And while þis preste was in his besinesse This chanon wiþ his stike gan him dresse To him a-none and his pouder kast inne As he dide ere þe deuel out of his kinne Him torne .I. praie to god for his false-hede For he was euer fals in worde and dede And wiþ his stikke a-boue þe croselett That was ordeygned wiþ þat fals gett He stireþ þe coles til relent gan The wex aȝeine þe fire as euery man Bot it a fole be; wote wele and mot nede And al þat in þe hole was oute ȝede And in to þe croselet hastely it fel þe preste supposed nouht bot wele Bot busid him fast and was wonder feyne Supposinge nouht bot treuþe soþe to seine He was so glad .I. can nouht expresse In no manere his merþe and his gladnesse And to þe Chanon he proferd eft sone Body and goode ȝe quod þe chanone sone þouhe poure .I. be crafte þou schalt me finde .I. warne þe ȝit is þere more be-hinde Is þere any coper here inne seide he ȝe sir quod þe preste .I. troue þere be Elles go by sum and þat aswyþe Nowe sir go for þi waie and hyhe þe And went his waie and wiþ his coper he came And þis chanon in his hode it name And of þat coper weyde oute bot an vnce Al to simple is my tonge to pronounce His mostre and his witte þe doublenesse Of þis chanone rote of Corsednesse He semed frendly to him þat knewe him nouht Bot he was fendely boþe in werke and þouht It werieþ me to telle of his falsenesse And neþeles ȝit wil .I. it expresse To þat entent þat men maie be war þere bye And for none oþer cause treulye He putte þis vnce of coper in to þe crosellet And on þe fire also swiþe he haþe it sett And kest in pouder and maade þe preste to blowe And in his worcheinge for to stoupe lowe As he dide erst and al was bott a Iape Riht as him lust þe preste he maade his ape And afterwarde in to þe Ingote he it kest And in þe panne put it att þe last Of water and inne he put his owen honde And in his sleue as ȝe beforne honde Herde me tell he had a siluer cheyne He slyhely toke is oute þis cursed hyne Vnwetinge þis preste of his fals craft And in þe pannes bothom he haþ it left And in þe water rumbleþ to and fro And wonder priuely toke it vpp also þe coper teyne nouh[t] knoweinge þe preste And hid it and hent him be þe breste And to him spak and þus seide he in his game Stoupeþe adoune be god ȝe be to blame Helpeþe me nowe as .I. dide ȝowe whilere Put in ȝoure honde and loke what is þere This preste toke vppe þis siluer teyne anone And þan seide þe Chanon latt vs gone Wiþ þes þre teynes whiche þat we haue wrouht To summe gōlsmyþe and wit if it be owhte For be my feiþe .I. nolde for myne hode Bot if þei were siluer fine and gode And þat as swyþe proued schal he be Vnto þe goldsmythe wiþ þes teynes þre Thei wente and put þes teynes in assaie To fire and hamur myht no man seie naie Bot þei were as hem ouht to be þis soted preste who was gladder þan he Was neuer bridde gladder aȝeines þe daie Ne nyhtgale in þe seson of maie Was neuere none þat lust better to singe Ne lady lustier in Carolynge And for to speke and loue and wommanhede Ne knyhte in armes done an hardy dede To stonden in grace of his ladie dere þan hadde þis preste þis craft to lere And to þe chanon þus he spak and seide For þe loue of god þat for us al deyde And as .I. maye deserue it vn to ȝowe What schal þis receyte cost telleþ nowe Be oure lady quod þis chanon. it is dere .I. warne ȝowe bot saue .I. and a frere In. yngelonde þere can no man it make No fors quod he now sir for goddes saake What schal .I. paye tel me .I. þe preye .I.-wys quod he it is ful dere .I. seie. Sire att o worde if þat þe list it haue ȝe schal paie fourte[a later þ added] pounde so god me saue And ne were þe frindeschippe þat ȝe dide ar þis. To me ȝe scholde paie more ywys This preste þe summe of .xl. pounde anone Of nobles fette . & toke hem euerychone To þis Chanon for þis ilke receit Al his worcheinge was fraude and deceite Sire preste he seide .I. kepe for haue no los Of my craft for .I. wolde it were kepped clos And as ȝe loueþe me kepeþ it secre For and men knewe al my subtilite Be god men wolde haue so grete envie To me be cause of my philosophie .I. scholde be dede þere were none oþere weye God it for-bede quod þe preste what ȝe seye ȝit had .I. leuer spende all þe goode Whiche þat .I. haue and elles wex .I. woode þan þat ȝe scholde fall in suche meschife For ȝoure goode wil sire haue ȝe riht good prefe Quod þe chanone wele graunt mercie He went his waye and neuer þe priste him sihe After þat daie and whan þat þis preste schold Maken assay . att suche time as he wolde Of þis receyte fare wele it wil nouht be Lo þus be-Iaped and begiled was he Thus makeþ he his introduccion To bringe folke to hire destruccion ¶ Considereþ sires howe þat myche astate Be-twex men and golde þar is debate So ferforþe þat vnneþes þere is one This multepliynge blindeþ · so mony one þat in good feiþe I trowe þat it be þe cause grettest of al subtilite This Phylosophres speken so mystelye In þis craft þat men can nouht com þer bye For any witte þat men haue nowe a dayes þei maie wele Chitter and ganglen as done þes Iayes And in her termes sett lust and peine Bot to here purpos schal þei neuere atteyne A man may lyhtlyche leren if he haue ouhte To multeply and bringe his good to nouht Lo suche a locre is in þis lusty game A mannes merþe it wil torne al to gram And empte also grete and heuy porces And make folke to purchasen curses Of hem þat han þere-to here good ylente O fy . for schame þei þat haue be brente Alas Can þei nouht flye þe fires hete ȝe þat it vsen .I. rede ȝowe it lete Lest ȝe lees al · for bet þan neuer is late Neuer to þriue were to longe a date þouhe ȝe prolle aye ȝe schol it neuer finde ȝe bene als bolde as is bayer þe blynde þat blunderþ forþ and peril casteþ he none He is as bolde to renne aȝeine a stone As for to go be side in þe weie So fare ȝe þat multeplie .I. seie If þat oure yȝen kan not seen a riht Lookeþ þat ȝoure mynde lake nouht ȝoure siht For þouhe ȝe looke neuere so brode and stare ȝe schol nouht wynne a myte of þat chaffare Bot wasten al þat ȝe maie rappe and rinne Wiþ-drawe þe fire lest it so fast birne Medeleþe no more wiþ þat art .I. mene For ȝif ȝe done ȝoure þreft . is gone ful clene And riht als swiþe .I. wil ȝoue to here What þat þe Philosophres seine in þis matiere Lo þus seiþe Arnalde of þe Newtoune As his rosarie makeþ Mencioune He seiþe riht þus wiþ outen any . lye There maie no man Mercuri Mortifie Bot if it be wiþ his broþer knowelecheinge Howe þat he wiche þat first seide þis þinge Of philosophres fader was Ermes Seiþe howe þat þe dragon douteles Ne deyeþ not bot if he he sleine Wiþ is broþer and þat is for to seyne Be þe dragon Mercurie and none oþer He vnderstode þat bromston were is broþere þat oute of sol and luna were ydrawe And þerfore seide he take hede to my sawe Latt no man besy hime þis arte for to seche Bot he þat þe entencion and speche Of Philosofres vnderstonde kan And if he doo he is a lewde man For þis science and þis connynge quod he . Is of secre of secretees parde Also þere was a disciple of Plato þat on a time seide his maister to As his booke sonier wil bere wittnesse And þis was his demaunde in soþefastnesse Tel me þe name of þe priue stoone And plato ansewerd vnto him anone Take þat titanus men name Whiche is þat quod he Magnesia is þe same Seide Plato; ȝe sire and es it þus þis is ignotum per ignocius What is magnesia good sire .I. preie It is a water þat is maad .I. seie Of elementes foure quod plato Tel me þe roches good sir quod he þo Of þat water if it be ȝoure will Naie Naie quod plato certeine þat .I. nyll The philosophres were sworne euerychon þat þei scholde discouere it to no mon Ne in no booke it write in no manere For vnto criste it is so leue and dere þat he wil nouȝt þat it discouerd be Bot where so it likeþ to his deite Man to enspire and eke to defende Whome þat him lykeþ lo þis is þe ende That conclude .I. þus seþen þat god of heuen Ne wil not þat þe philo[so]fres neven Howe þat a man schal com vn-to þis stone .I. rede as for þe beste latt it gone For who so makeþ god his aduersarie As for to worche any þinge in contrarye Vnto his wil certes neuer schal he þriue Thouhe þat he multiplie terme of his liue And þere a pointe for endid is my tale God sende euery trewman bote of his bale Explicit fabula. Incipit prologus Magistri Phisici.on leaf 169 NOwe trewly quod oure Oste þis is a prati tale For litel merveile it is þat þou lokest so pale Seþen þou hast medeled wiþ so mony þinges Wiþ bloweinge att þe cole to melte boþe brochez & ringes And oþere many Iewels dar .I. vnder-take And þat þi lorde couþe vs tel: if we myht him ouere-take Bot lat him go a deuel waye þe compaigny is neuer þe wers And al suche fals harlotes .I. sette not be hem a kers Bot latt pas ouere nowe al þes subtilitees And sume worþi man tel vs summe veritees As ȝe worschipful Maister of Phisike Telleþ vs somme tale þat is a cronyke Þat we may of ȝowe leren sum witte Quod þe Maister of Phisik a tale þat .I. finde writte In cronyke passed of olde tyme Herkeneþ for .I. wil tel it ȝow in rime Explicit prologus. GROUP C. FRAGMENT IV. § 1. THE DOCTOR'S TALE. LANSDOWNE MS. ¶ Incipit fabu[l]a.on leaf 169, back Ther was as telleþ vs titus liueus A knyht þat cleped was virgineus Fulfilled of honoure & worþinesse And stronge of frendes and of riches A douhtere he hadd be his wyf And neuer hadde he mo in al his lif Faire was þis maide in excellent beautee Abouen euery whight þat maie see For Nature haþe wiþ souereigne diligence Formed hir in so grete excellence As þouhe sche wolde seie loo .I. Nature Thus can .I. forme and painte a creature Whan þat me leste who can me counterfete Pigmalyon nouht þouhe he alweie forge or bete Or graue or peinte for .I. dar wel seine Apollus ȝepherus schold werche in veine To graue or peinte or forge or bete If þei presumed me for to counterfete For he þat is þe formour principal Haþe maade me his viser general To forme and peinte eche erþely creature Riht as me lest for al þinge is in my cure Vnder þe mone þat maie wane and wax And for my werke no þinge wil .I. ax My lorde and .I. bene fullye att acorde .I. maade hire to þe worschip of my lorde So do .I. al myn oþere creatures Of [what] colour þei bue or what figures Thus semeþ me þat Nature wold seie This maide was of age twelue ȝere and tweye In whiche þat Nature haþe suche delite For riht as sche kan peinte as lyle white An[d] Rode as rose riht wiþ suche peinture Sche peinted haþe þis noble creature Ar sche was borne vppon hire limmes fre Were als briht as suche coloures scholde be And phebus hadd dyed hire tresses grete Lyke to þe stremes of his burned hete And if þat excellent was hire beute A þousand folde mor vertuous was sche In hire ne lakkeþ no condicione þat is to preise as be discrecione As wele in body . as goste chast was schee For whiche sche floured in virginite Wiþ al humilite and abstinence And wiþ al attemperance and pacience Wiþ mesure eke and bereinge of araie Discrete sche was in ansewaringe alweie þouhe sche were wise as pallas dar .I. seine Hire faukonde eke ful wommanly and pleyne None conterfeted termes hadde sche To seme wise bot after hire degre Sche spakk and al hir wordes more and lesse Souneinge in vertue and in gentillesse Schamefast sche was in maidens schamfastnesse Constant in hert and euer in his besinesse To dryue hire oute of hire slogardie Bachus hadde of hire mouþe no maistre For wil and þouht to done venus encrese As men in fire wil kasten oyle or grese And of hir owen vertue vnconstreyned Sche haþe ful oft time hire seke feyned For þat sche wolde flye þe companye Where likly was to treten of folye As es att festes reueles and att daunces þat bene occasione of dalyaunces Suche þinges maken childern for to bee To sone Ripe and bolde as men maie see Whiche is ful perilous and haþe be ȝore For al to sone maie sche leren lore Of boldenesse whan sche is a wyfe And ȝe maistresses in ȝoure olde life þat lordes douhters haue in gouernance Ne takeþ of mi worde no displesance Thinges þat bien set in gouernynges Of lordes douhtres only for tuo þinges Eyþer for ȝe han kepped ȝoure honeste Or elles ȝe haue fall in frelte And knowe wele ynowhe þe olde daunce And konne forsaake fully meschaunce For euere mo þer-fore for crist saak Kepeþ wel þo þat ȝe vndertak A þef of venison þat haþ for-laft His lycorusnesse and al his þefes craft Kan kepe a forest best [of] ony man Nowe kepeþe hem wele for ȝe wele can Lokeþ wele to no vice þat ȝe assent Lest [ȝe] be dampned for ȝoure yuel entent For who so doþe a traitour is certeine And takeþ of þat þat .I. schal seine Of al treson suffreine pestelence Is whan a whight be-trayeþ Innocence Ȝe faders and ȝe moders eke also Þouhe ȝe haue childern be it on or mo Ȝoure is þe charge of al her suffrance Whiles þei bien vnder gouernance Beþe ware þat be ensample of ȝoure leueinge Eyþer be necligence in chastisinge þat þei ne perische for .I. dare wele seie Ȝif þat þei done ȝe schol ful sore abye Vnder a scheperd soft and necligent þe wolf haþ mony a schepe and lamme to-rent Sufficit one ensample nowe as here For .I. most torne aȝeine to matiere This maide of whiche .y tel my tale expresse Sche kepped hir self sche neded no maistresse For in hire leueynge maydens myht rede As in a boke euery good worde and dede þat longeþ to a mayden vertuous Sche was so prudent and so bounteuous For whiche oute spronge on euery side Boþe of hir beute and hire bounte wide þat þoruhe þe londe þei presede hire ychon þat loued verteus saue envye alone þat sory is of oþer mennes wele And gladde is of his sorwe and vnhele The doctour makeþ þis descripcioune This maide went on a daie in-to þe toune To-warde þe temple wiþ hir moder dere As is of ȝonge Maidens þe manere Nowe was þer a Iustice in þe toune þat gouernour was of þat regioune And so befel þis Iuge his eyȝen kast Vppon þis maide aviseinge hire ful fast As sche cam forþ by þere þe Iuge stode Anone his hert chaungeþ and his moode So was he cauht wiþ þe beaute of þis maide And to him self ful priuely he seide This maiden schal be myne for any man Anone þe fende in to his hert ran And tauht him sodanly be what sleyht The maiden to his purpos wynne he myht For certes be no force ne be no meede Him þouht he was not able for to spede For he was stronge of frendes and eke sche Confermed was in suche souereigne beute That wele he wist he myht hire neuer wynne As for to maake hire wiþ hire bodi synne For whiche wiþ grete deliberacioune He sent after a clerk in to þe toune The whiche he knewe ful sotel and ful bolde This Iuge haþe vn-to þis clerke his tale ytolde In secre wise and maade him to assure He schold tel it to no creature And if he dide he scholde lese his hede And whan assented was þis cursed rede Gladde was þe Iuge and maade goode chiere And ȝaf him ȝeftes precious and dere Whan schapen was al þis conspiracie From pointe to pointe howe þat his licherye Performed schold be ful sotellye As ȝe schal heren afterward openlye Home goþe þis clerk þat hiht Claudius This fals Iuge þat hiht Apius So was his name it is no fable Bot knowen for an historall þinge notable The sentence of it soþ is oute of doute This fals Iuge goþ nowe faste aboute To hasten his delite al þat he maie And so be-fel sone after on a daie Þis fals Iuge as telleþ vs þe storie As he was wonte satt in his Consistorie And ȝaue his domes vpon sundre caas This fals clerke cam forþe a wel good paas And seide lorde if þat it be ȝoure will As doþe me riht vpon þis pitous bill In whiche .I. pleine vpon virgineus And if þat he wil seine it is nouȝ[t] þus .I. wille preue it and finde good wittenesse þat soþe is þat my bill will expresse The Iuge Ansewerde of þis in his absence .I. maie not ȝif diffinitif sentence Latt done him call . & .I. wil gladly here Thou schalt haue riht and no wronge here Virgineus came to wite þe Iuges will And riht a-none was redde þis cursed bill þe sentence of hit was as ȝe schal here To ȝowe my lorde sir Apius so dere Scheweþ ȝoure pouer seruant Claudius Howe þat a knyht called virgineus Aȝeines þe lawe aȝeines al equite Holdeþ expresse aȝeines þe wil of me Mi seruant whiche þat is þrall be riht Wyche from myne hous was stolne one a nyht Whiles sche was ful ȝonge .I. will . it preue Be wittenesse lorde so þat ȝe ȝowe nouht greue Sche his nouht his douhter what so he seie Where-for my lorde þe Iugge to ȝowe .I. preie Ȝelde me my þrall if it be ȝoure wil Lo þis was þe sentence of þe bil Virgineus began vpon þe clerke be-holde Bote hastely ar he his tale tolde He wolde haue defended it as scholde a knyht And be wittenesse of mony a trewe wyht That al was fals þat seide his aduersarie This Cursed Iuge wolde no longer tarie Ne here a worde more of Virgineus Bot ȝaf his Iugement and seide þus .I. deme anone þis clerk his seruant haue Thou schalt no longer in þin house hir saue Go bringe hir forþe and bringe hir in owre warde This clerk schal haue his þralle þus .I. awarde And whan þis worþi knyht Virgineus Thoruhe þassent of þe Iuge Apius Most be force his dere douhter ȝeuen Vn-to þe Iuge in lichere to leuen He goþe him home and sett him in his hall And lete anone his dere douhter call And wiþ a face dede as asshen colde Vpon hire hum[ble] face he gan be-holde Wiþ faders pite stikinge þoruhe his hert Al wolde he nouht from his purpos conuert Douhter quod he virginea be þi name There bien tuo weys eyþer oþer schame þat þou must soffer alas þat .I. was bore For neuer þou deseruest where fore To deyen wiþ a swerde or wiþ a knyf O der douhter ender of my lif Whiche .I. haue fosterd vp wiþ suche plesance þat þou ne weer oute my remembrance O douhter whiche þat ert my last woo And in lif my last ioy also O gemme of chastite in pacience Take þou þi deþ for þis is my sentence For loue and nouht for hate þou must be dede My pitous honde most smyte of þin hede Alas þat euer Apius þe seyhe Thus haþe he falsly Iugged þe to day And tolde hire al þe cas as ȝe be-fore Haue herd it nedeþ nouht to tel it no more Merce dere fadere quod þis maide And wiþe þat worde sche boþe hire armes leide Aboute his nekke as sche was wont to do The teres barsten oute of hire yen tuo And seide goode fader schal .I. deye Is þere no grace is þere no remedie No certes dere douhter myne quod he Than ȝeue me leue fader myn quod sche My deþ to compleyne a litel space For parde Ieffa ȝaue his douhter grace For to compleine ar he hir slowhe alas And god it wote no þinge was hire trespas Bot þat sche rann hir fader first to see To welcom him wiþ grete solempnite And wiþ þat worde sche fel in swoune anone And after whan hir swounynge was agone Sche riseþ vpe and to hire fader seide Blissed be god þat .I. schal deye a meide ȝif me my deþe ar þat .I. haue a schame Doþe wiþ ȝoure Childe ȝoure wil a goddes name And wiþ þat word sche praieþ ful oft þat with his swerde he scholde smite hir softe And wiþ þat word in swoune doune sche felle Hir fader wiþ ful sorweful hert and felle Hire heued of smote and be toppe it hent And to þe Iuge he ȝaue it to present As he satt in his dome in consistorie Whan þe Iuge it sauhe as seiþe þe storie He badde take him and honge him also fast Bot riht anone al þe peple in þrast To saue þe knyht for reuþe and for pyte ffor knowen was þe foles iniquite þe peple anone hadd susspecte in þis þinge Be maner of þis clerkes chalangeinge þat it was be þe assent of Apius That wist wele þat he was lycherous ffor whiche vn-to þis Apius þei gone And kesten him in prison riht a-none Whereas he slowhe him selfe and Claudius That seruant was vn-to þis Apius Was demed for to honge vpon a tre Bot virgineus of his grete Pite Praide for him þat he was exiled And elles certes he hadde be by-gilede The remenant were honged more and lesse That consented were to þis cursednesse Here maye men see how sinne haþe his merite Be war for no man wote howe god wil smyte In no degre ne in wyche maner wise þe werme of conscience wil arise Of wikked lif þouhe it so priue be þat no man woot of it bot god and he Wheþer he be lewde man or lerede He note howe sone . he maie bee aferde Ther-fore rede .I. ȝowe þis counsel take For-sakeþ sinne ar sinne ȝoue for-sake Explicit fabula Magistri Phisicorum Incipit prologus questorison leaf 173 Owre Oste gan swere as he ware wode Harrowe quod he be Nayles and be blode This was a cussed þef a fals Iustice A schendful deþe as hert can deuise So fal vpon his body and his bones[*] Þe deuel .I. be-ken him al att ones[*] Alas to dere bouht sche hir beute Wherefor .I. seie þat al men maie see þat ȝiftes of fortune or of Nature Beþe cause of deþe of mony a creature Hire beute was hir deþe .I. dare wele seine Alas how pitously as sche was sleine Bot here-of wil .I. nouht procede as nowe[spurious] Men haue ful often more harme þan prowe Bot trewly myne owen maister dere This is a pitous tale for to here Bot naþeles pas ouer is no force .I. praie to god to saue þi gentil corps And þine vrinals and þi Iordanes Þine ypocras and þine Galiounes And euery box ful of þine letuarie God blesse hem and oure lady seint Mary So mot .I. þe þou ert a propre man And ylike a prelate · be seinte Runyan Sayd .I. nouht wele can .I. nouȝht speke in terme Bot wele .I. wote þou doste myne herte to erme þat .I. almost haue cauht a cardiacle Be corpus bones bot ȝiue .I. haue triacle Or elles a drauht of moiste and corne ale Or bott .I. here a-none a meri tale Myne hert is loste for pete of þis maide Thowe belamy Iohen Pardoner he saide Tel vs sum Merthes or Iapes riht anone It schal be do quod he be seinte Ninione Bot first quod he here at þis ale stake .I. wil boþe drinke and ette of a kake Bot riht anone þes gentiles begon to crie Nay lat him tel vs of no Rebaudie Tel vs sume Moral þinge þat we mowe lere Some wytt and þan will we gladly here .I. graun[t] y-wysse quod he . bot .I. most þenke Vppon . sum honest þinge whiles þat .I. drinke Explicit Prologus questoris Incipit fabula questoris. LOrdynges quod he in cherches whan .I. preche .I. peyne me to haue an haunteine speche Hereynge oute as rounde as goþe a bell For .I. kan be roote þat .I. tell My teme is alweie one and euer was Radix omnium malorum est/ cupiditas; fferst .I. pronounce wense þat .I. come An[d] þan my billes schewe .I. al and somme Oure liege lorde seal is my patent þat schewe .I. first my body to warent þat no man be so bolde preste ne clerke Me to destorble of cristes holy werke And after þat tel .I. forþe my tales Bulles of popes and of Cardinales Of Patriarkes and of Bischopes .I. schewe And in latine .I. speke wordes a fewe To sauern wiþ my predicacione And for to ster men to deuocione þan schewe .I. forþe my longe cristal stones Y-crammed ful of cloutes and of bones Relekes þei buen as ween þei euerychon Than haue .I. in laton a scholdere bone Whiche þat was an holy Iewes schepe Goodmen saie .I. takeþe of my wordes kepe If þat þis bone bue wasche in any welle Of cowe or calfe schepe or oxe swelle þat worme haþe y-ete or y-stonge [Take watir of that welle and wasshe his tonge[Not in Addit. 25,718]] Touche he þis bone anone he schal be sounde And ȝit also forþermore; of pokkes & scabbes & of euery sore. Schal euery schepe be hole þat of þis well Drenkeþ a drawht of takeþ kepe what .I. tell Wil euery wyhte er þat þe koke him croweþe And doþe þinge þat him oweþe ffastynge drinke of þis welle a drauht And þilke holy Iewe oure helders ones tauht His bestes and his store schal multeplie And sires also it heleþ Ielousye And þouhe a man be fal in Ielowsie rage Lat make wiþ þis water his potage And neuer schal he more his wif mestruste þouhe he þe soþe a defaute by hire wiste Al hadde sche taken prestes tueyne or þre Here is a Metaine eke ȝe maye see He þat his honde wil put in þat Metane He schall haue multipliinge of his greine Whan he haþe sowen be it whete or otes So þat of pens oþer of grotes And men and wemmen o þinge warn .I. ȝowe If any whight be in þis cherche nowe þat haþ done sinne orrible þat he Dare nouht fo[r] schame schriuen be Or any womman be sche ȝonge or olde þat haþ ymaad hir husbond cokwolde Suche folke schal haue no powere no grace To offer to my relikes in þis place And who so findeþ him oute of suche blame þei wil come vp and offer in goddes name And .I. assoile him be þe auctorite Suche as be bul was graunted me Be þis Gaude haue .I. wonne euery ȝere An .C. mark seþen .I. was pardonere .I. stonde like a clerke in mony a pulpitt And schewe þe lewde peple and doune þei sitt .I. preche so as ȝe haue herde be-fore And tel an hundreþ Iapes more Than peyne .I. me to strecche forþe my nekke And est and west uppon þe peple .I. bekke As doþe a doue sittinge vpon a berne Myne hondes and my tonge go so ȝerne þat it is Ioye to see my besinesse Of avarise and suche oþer cursednesse Is as Mi preccheinge to make hem fre To ȝeue here pens namely vnto me For myne entent is nouht bot for to wynne And no þinge for correction of sinne .I. reke neuer whan þat þei be buried þouhe þat here soules gone a blakberied For certes mony a predicaciōne Souneþ oft time of yuel entencione [Somme for plesance of folk and for flaterie To ben auaunsed for ypocresye And somme for veynglory and somme for hate ffor when I dar nought oother weys de-bate Thenne wolly stynge him with my tunge smert I preching and that he shal nought astert To ben defamed falsly if that he Hath trespased to myn britheren other to me ffor though I telle nought his propre name Men shal wel knowe that hit is the same Bothe by seignes and oother circumstaunces Thus . rule I folk that doth vs displesances Thus spitte I myn venym vnder hewe Of holinesse to seme holy and trewe But shortly myn entent wol I deuyse I[? MS sir] preche of no thing but of Coueytise Ther-fore my teme is ȝet and euer was Radix malorum est cupiditas Thus kan I preche ayayns that same vice[Addit. MS extract stops]] Suche þat .I. vse and þat is of auarice Bot þeihe .I. me self be gilte in þat sinne Ȝit kanne .I. maake oþer folke to wynne Fromme auarice and sore to repent Bot þat nes nouht myn principal entent .I. preche no þinge bot for Couetise Of þis matiere it ouȝte ynowhe suffise þan tel .I. of ensamples many one Of Olde stories longe time agone For lewde peple louen tales olde Whiche þinges can þei wele reporte and holde What trowe ȝe whiles þat .I. maie preche And wynne gold and siluer for .I. teche þat .I. wil leue in pouert wilfully Nay . nay .I. þouht it neuer treulye ffor .I. preche and begge in sundre landes .I. wil nouht do no labour wiþ myn handes An[d] make basketes and leue þere-bye Be-cause .I. wil nouht bigge ydelye .I. wil none of þe aposteles counterfete .I. wil haue mony chese and whete Al were it ȝeuen of þe porest page Eyþer of þe pourest wedowe in a vilage Al schold hir childerne sterue for famyne Nay .I. wil drinke þe lycoure of þe vine And haue a Ioly wenche in euerych toune Bot herkeneþ lordynges in conclusione Ȝoure lykeinge is þat .I. schal tel a tale Nowe .I. haue dro[n]ke a drauhte of Corne ale Be god .I. hope .I. schal tel ȝowe a þinge þat schal be reson biene at ȝoure lykeinge ffor þouhe my self be a ful vicious man A more.-il tale ȝit .I. ȝowe telle can Whiche .I. am wont to preche for to wynne Now holde ȝoure pes my tale .I. wil beginne.[no break in the MS.] IN flaundres whilom was a compaignie Of ȝonge folke þat hawten folye As Riott . Hasard . stewes . and tauerns [[Addit. 25,718 reads "And suche oother diuers mischaunces", leaf 55]Where as with harpees lutes and gyternes] þei daunce and pleie and dise boþe daie and nyht And eten and drenke al-so ouer al here myht Thorwhe whiche þei done þe deuel sacrifise Wiþ-inne þe deueles temple in cursed wyse The superfluys abhomynable Here oþes bene so grete and dampnable þat it is grisely for to here hem swere Oure blissed lordes body þei to-tere Hem þouht . Iewes rent him nouht ynowhe And yche of hem att oþer sinnes lowhe And riht anone þan came tomblesters ffetis and smal and ȝonge fruytsters Singers wiþ harpes baudes waferes Such bien þe deuel officiers To kendel and blowe þe fire of lychery þat is annexed to glotonye þe holy writte take .I. to wittenesse þat lycherie is in wyne and dronkennesse Lo howe þat dronken lothe vnkindelye Lay be his douhtres tuo vnweteynglye So dronke he was he nest what he wrouht And þerfore sore repent him ouhte[spurious] Herodes who so wil þe story seche þere maie ȝe leren and be ensample teche[spurious] Whan he of wine was replete att his feste Riht att his owen table ȝaf his heste To slene þe Baptiste Iohn ful gilteles Senec seiþe eke good wordes douteles He seiþe he kan no difference finde Be-tuex a man þat is oute of his mynde And a man þat is drongelewe Bot wodenes is falne in a schrewe Perseuereþ longer þan doþ dronkennesse O glotony ful of cursednesse O cause firste of oure confusione O originale of owre dampnacione To criste hadde bouht owte wiþ his blode aȝeine Lo howe dere and schortly was to seine A-boute was þe cursed velanye Corrupte was al þis werld þoruhe glotonye Adam oure fadere and his wif also Fro paradise to labour and to woo Were dreue for þat vice it is no drede For whiles þat adam fasted as .I. rede He was in paradise & whan þat hee Ete of þe fruyte defended on a tree Anone he was out cast to woo and pyne O glotonye on þe wele ouht vs to pleine O wist a man howe many maladies Foloweþ of excesse and of glotonies He schold be þe more mesurable Of his Diet sittinge att þe table Alas þe schort þrote þe tender mouþe Makeþ þat est and west Norþe and souþe In erþe in eyre in water men to swynke To gette a gloton Mete and drinkge Of þis matiere o paule wele cans þou entrete Metee vn-to wome and wombe eke vn-to mete Schal god discriuen boþe as poule seiþe Alas a foule þinge it is be my feiþe To seie þis worde and fouler is þe dede When men so drenken of þe white and of þe rede Þat of his þrote he maade his priuetee Þoruhe þilke cursed superfluyte þe Appostell wepeinge seiþe ful pitously þere walken mony of whiche ȝoue tolde haue .I. .I. saye it nowe wepeinge wiþ pitous voice There bien enmyes of cristes croice Of whiche þe ende is deþe þe wombe is hire god O wombe o holy o stinkinge cod Fulfilled of donge and of corrupcione Att eyþe[r] ende of þe foule is þe soune Howe grete cost and laboure is to finde þes cokes howe þaie stame and striue and grinde And turne substance in-to accident To fulfil al þi lykorous talent Oute of þe harde bones knoke þeie þe mery for þei cast nouht aweie þat maie go þoruh þe golet soft and swote Of spicere of leues barke and rote Schal be his sauce be maade be delite To maak him ȝitt a newere appetite Bot certes he þat haunteþ suche delices Is dede whiles þat he leueþ in þe vices A lycherous þinge is wyne and dronkennesse Is ful of stryueynge and of wrechednesse O dronken man disfigured is þi face. Foul is þi breþ . foule ert þou to embrace And þoruhe þi drongen nose semeþe þi soune As þouhe þou ay said Samson samsoune And ȝit goode wotte Samson dranke neuer wyne þou falest as a dronken swyne þi tonge is loste and al þine honest cures For dronkenes is verreie sepultures Of mannes witte and his discrecion In whome þat drinke haþ dominacion He can no counsel kepe it is no drede Now kepe ȝowe fro þe white and fro þe reede Namely fro þe white wyne of lepe þat is to sel in fische strete or in chep þis wyne of Spayne crepeþ Sotelly In oþer wynes groweinge fast by Of whiche þere riseþ suche fumosite þat whan a man haþ dronke drauhtes þre And weneþ þat he be att home in chepe He is in spayne riht atte þe toune of lepe Nouht att þe Rochel ne att Bordeux toune And þan wille þei seyn Sampsone Sampsone Bot herken lordeynges o worde .I. ȝow preie þat al þe souereigne attes dar .I. seie Of victories in þe olde testament þat þoruhe verrey god þat is omnipotent Weere done in abstinence and in preiere Loke þe bible and þere ȝe maie it leere. Loke Atthela þe grete conqueroure Deyed in his slepe wiþ schame and dishonoure Bledeynge aye att is nose in dronkenesse A Capeteigne schold leue in soburnesse And ouer al þis a-vise ȝow riht wele What was comand vn-to Lamuele Nouht Samuel bot Lamuel saie .I. Redeþe þe bible and findeþ it expresly Of wyne ȝifinge to hem þat han Iustice No mor of þis for it mai wele suffice A now þat .I. haue spoke of glotonye Nowe wil .I. defend ȝowe hasardye Hasard is verreye moder of lesinges And of deceyte Cursed forswereinges Blaspheme of criste and mansleinges also Of bataile oft time and of oþer mo It is repreue and contrarie to honoure ffor to be holde a commune hasardoure And euer þe hihere he his of state þe more yhalden is he dissolate If þat a prince vse hasardie In al gouernance and al policie He is as be commune opinion .I.-halde þe lasse in reputacion [Stilbon that was Ihalde a wis Embassetour Was sent into Corynthe with ful gret honour] ffro Calidonye to maken hem alleaunce And whan he cam him happed þis chaunce That al þe grettest þat were of þis lande Pleynge att þe Hasard he hem fande For whiche as sone as þat miht be He stale him home aȝeine to his contre And seide þere .I. wold nouht lese my name .I. wil nouht take on me so grete defame Ȝowe for to alleye to none hasardoures Sendeþ oþere wise embassadoures For be my trouþe me were leuer deye þan .I. to ȝowe hasadoures scholde alleye For ȝe þat bien so glorious in honoures Schall nouȝt alleye ȝowe wiþ asardoures As be my will ne as be my trete This wise philosophre þus seide to me Looke þou vse no pleie of dees in þin house Looke eke þat þe kinge demetrius Sent him a paire of dees of golde in scoren For he hadd vsed hasardry þer be-forne For whiche he held his glorie and renoune And no valewe of reputacione Lordes myhten finde oþere manere pleie Honest ynouhe to driue þe daie a-weie Now wole .I. speke of othes fals and grete A worde or tuo as oþere bookes trete Grete swereynge is a þinge abhominable And fals swereinge is more repreueable The hihe god for-bad swereinge att al Wittenesse of Mathewe bot in special Of swereinge seiþe holy Ieromye Thowe shalt swere soþe þine oþes and nouht lye And swere in dome and eke in rihtwisnesse Bot Idel swereinge is a cursedenesse Be-holde and see þat in þe first table Of hihe goddes hestes honurable How þat þe secunde hest of him is þis Take nouht my name in Idelnesse amys Lo raþer he for-bedes suche suereinge Or Omyside or any oþer Cursed þinge .I. seie as be order þus it standeþ [This knoweth ye that his hestes vnderstandeth] How þat þe secunde hest of god is þat And forþermore .I. wil þe tel al plat þat vengeance schal nouht parte fro his hous þat of his oþes is so outrageous Be goddes precious hert and his nayles And be his blode þat is in hayles Seuen is myn chaunce and þine is fyue and þre Be goddes armes if þou fals-ly pleie me This dagger schal þoruhe þine hert go This fruyte commeþ of þe becched bones tuo Forswereynge . Ire . falsenes . Omycide Now for þe loue of criste þat for vs deide Leueþ ȝoure oþes boþe grete and smale And wiþe good entent herkeneþ my tale Thes ryetoures þre of whiche .I. telle Longe ar prime ronge any belle Were sett hem in a tauerne to drinke And as þei satt þei herde a belle klynke Be-forne a cors was cariede to his graue þan one of hem gan cal vnto his knaue Go bette quod he and axe redelye What corps it is þat passeþ fast bye And loke þat þoue reporte his name wele Sir quod þis boye it nedeþ neuer a dele It was me tolde ar ȝe cam here tuo owres He was parde an olde felawe of ȝoures Al sodenly was he sleine to nyht For-dronke as he satt vp his benche vpriht Ther cam a priue þefe þat men clepen deþe That in his contre al þe peple sleþe And wiþ his spere he smot his hert a tuo And went is waie wiþ-outen wordes mo And Maister ar ȝe com in his presence He haþe a þousande sleine þis pestelence Me þinkeþ it were necessarie For to bue war of suche an aduersarie Beþ rede for to mete him euermore Thus tauht me my dame .I. seie no more Be seinte Marie seyde þis tauernere This childe seiþ soþe for he haþ sleine to ȝere Hennes ouere a Mile wiþ-inne a gret village Boþe man and womman childe and page I trowe his habitacione be þere To been avisede grete wisdome it weere Ere þat he dide a man dishonoure Ȝe goddes armes quod þis Rietoure Is it suche perile wiþ him for to mete .I. schal him seeke be waie and eke be strete .I. make . avowe be goddes deyne bones Herkeneþ felawes we þre been al ones Lat iche of vs holde vp his honde to oþere And iche of vs be-comme oþers broþere And we wil sle þis false traitur deþe He schal be sleyne he þat so mony sleþe Be goddes dignite ar it be nihte To-geder haue þes þre her hertes hihte To leue and deie ilke of hem wiþ oþere As þouhe he ware his owen sworne broþer And vpe þei stert al dronken in þis rage And forþe þei gone to-warde þat vilage Of whiche þe tauernere haþ spoken be-forne And mony a grisely oþe þen haue þei sworne And cristes blissed bodie þei to-rent Deþ schal be dede if þat we maie him hent Whan þei haue gone nouht fully a myle Riht as þe[i] wolde haue troden ouere a style An olde and a pouer man wiþ hem he mette This olde man ful mekely hem grette And seide þus nowe lordes god ȝowe see þe proudeste of þes ryetoures þre Anseward aȝeine what carle wiþ hard grace Whi art þou al for-wrapped saue þi face Whi leuest þou so longe in so grete age This olde man gan loke in his visage And seid þus; for .I. can nouȝt finde A man þouhe þat .I. walked vnto ynde Neyþer in Cite ne in village. That wil chaunge his ȝouþe for myne age And þerfore most .I. haue my age stille As longe time as it is goddes wille Ne deþe alas ne wil nouht haue my lyue þus walke .I. lyke a risteles chaitif And on þe grounde whyche is my moders gate .I. knok wiþ my staf erly and late And seye leue moder lete me inne Lo howe .I. wane boþe flesche blode and scynne Alas when schol my lones bien att rest Moder wiþ ȝowe wold .I. chaunge my chest Thatt in my chambre longe time haþ be Ȝe for an here cloute to wrappe me Bot ȝut to me sche wil nouȝt do þat grace For whiche ful pale and welked is my face Bot sires to ȝowe it is no curtesie To speken vnto an hold man vilanye Bot he trespas in worde eyþer in dede In holy write ȝe maie ȝoure self wele rede Aȝeines an old man hore vpon his hede Ȝe scholden arise wher-for .I. ȝif ȝowe rede Ne doþe nouht to an olde man none harme nowe Ne more þan ȝe wolde men dide to ȝow In age if þat . ȝe so longe abide And god be wiþe ȝowe wheþer ȝe go or ride .I. mote go þeder þer as .I. haue to go Nay olde cherle be god þou schalt nouht so Saide þis oþere hasardour anone Thou partes nouht so lyhtly be seint Iohn Thou spakkest riht nowe of þilke traitour deþe That in þis Countre al oure frendes sleþe Haue here my trouþe as þou ert his aspye Tel where he his or þou schalt abye Be god and be þe holi sacrament For soþely þou ert on of his assent To slene vs ȝonge folke þou fals þef Nowe sire if þat it be to ȝowe so lef To finde deþe torne vp þis croked weie For in þat . groue .I. laft him be my feye Vnder a tre and þere he wil abide Ne for ȝoure boste he wil him no þinge hide See ȝe þat ooke riht þere ȝe schulne him finde God saue ȝowe þat bouht ȝeine mankinde And ȝowe amend þus seide þis olde manne And euery of þes ryetours ranne Til þei came to þe tree and þere þei fonde Of flerens fyne of gold y-koyned rounde Wele nyhe a .vij. buschels as hem þouht No longere þan after deþe þei souht Bot iche of hem was so gladde of þe siht For þat þe floreyns so faire bien and briht Þat doune þei sett hem be þe precious horde The werst of hem þo spak þe first worde Breþerne quod he takeþ kepe whatt .I. seie My witte is grete þouhe þat .I. bourde and pleie This tresor haþe fortun to vs ȝeuen In merþe and Iolite oure lif to leuen And lihtly as it commeþ so wil we spende Ey goddes precious dignite who wende To daie þat we scholde haue so faire a grace Bot myht þis golde be caried fro þis place Home to my hous oþer elles vnto ȝoures þan myht we seie þat it were al oures þan were we in hihe felicite Bott trewly be daie it maie nouht be Men wold seie þat we were þeues stronge And for owre owen tresoure done vs honge This tresore most .ykaride be by nyht As wisely and as slely as it miht Where-for .I. rede lette loke amonge vs al Be drawe and latte see where þe cutt will fal And he þat haþe þe cutte wiþ hert bliþe Schal renne to þe toune and þat ful swyþe To bringe vs brede and wyne ful priuely And tuo of vs schal kepe ful subtelly þis tresoure wele and if he wil nouht tarien Whanne þat it is nyht we wollen þis tresor karien Be one assent where as vs lust beste An kuttes one of hem brouht in his fiste And badde hem drawe and loke on whome it wolde fall And it fell on þe ȝongest of hem all And forþe towarde þe toune he went anone And also sone as he was gone The tone of hem spake þus vnto þe toþere Thou wost wele þat þou ert myn owen sworne broþere Thin profite wil .I. tel þe anone Thou woste wele þat oure felawe is gone And here is golde and þat ful grete plente Þat it schal departed be amonges vs þre Bot naþeles if .I. can schape it so þat it departed weere a-monge vs tuo Hadd .I. nouȝt done a frendes torne to þe That oþere answerde .I. note howe þat myht be .I. wote þat þe golde is owre tuo What schol we seie what schold we do Schall it be counseile seide þe first schrewe And .I. schal tel in wordes fewe That we schal done and bringe it wele aboute .I. grant quod þat oþere oute of doute þat be my treuþe .I. will þe nouht be-wreye Now quod þe first þou woste wele we be tueye And tueyne of vs schal stronger bien þan one Looke whan he is sett and þat anone Arise as þou woldest wiþ him pleye And .I. schal renne him þoruhe þe sides tueye Whiles þat þou stroglest wiþ him in game And wiþ þi dagger loke þou do þe same And þanne schal al þis golde departed be My dere frende be-tuex me and þe Than maie we boþe oure lustes fulfille And pleie att dees riht att oure owen will And þus accorded bien þe schrewes tueye To sle þe þredde as ȝe herd me seie þis ȝongest whiche þat went to þe toune Ful oft in hert he rolleþ vpe and doune þe bewte of þes floreines newe and briht O lorde quod he if so were þat .I. myht Al þis tresore winne to my self alone þere is no man þat leueþ vnder þe throne Of god þat schold leue as mery as .I. And att þe last þe fende oure enemye Put in his þouht þat he scholde poyson bye With whiche he miht sleyne his felawes tueye For whi þe fend fonde him in suche leueynge That hadde leue him to sorwe bringe For þis was vtterly his entent To slene hem boþe and neuer to repent And forþe he goþe No longer wold he tarye In-to þe toune vn-to a potecarie And preide him þat he wold him sell sum poyson þat he myht his rattes qwell And eke þere was a polkat in his hawe þat as he seide his capons hadd y-slawe And seide he wold wreken him if he myht Of vermyn þat destruyed him be nyht The potecary anseward þou schalt haue A þinge þat als god my soule saue In al þis werlde þer nys no creature þat eten or drunke haþ of þis confecture Not bot þe mountance of a corne of whete þat he ne schal anone his lif for-lete Ȝe sterue he schal and þat in lesse while þan þou wolte gone bot a pace not bot a myle This poyson is so stronge and so violent This cursed man haþ in his hande yhente þis poysen in a box and seþen he ranne In-to þe next strete vnto a man And borwed him large botels þre And in þe tueyne þis poyson poured he þe þredde he keped clen for his drinke For al þe nyht he schop him to swynke In cariynge of þe golde out [of] þat place And whan þis ryetoure wiþ sory grace Hadde filled wiþ him his grete boteles þre To his felawes aȝeine repaireþ he What nedeþ it to sermon þer-of more For riht as þei had kast his deþe to-fore Riht so þei haue him sleyne and þat anone And whan þat þis was done þan spak þe tone Nowe lat vs drinke and sitte and make vs merye And afterward we wollen his body berye And efteward it happed him percas To take þe botel þer-in þe poyson was And drange and ȝaue his felawe drinke also For whiche anone þei storuen boþe tuo Bott certes .I. suppose þat Aucyenne Wrote neuer in no canon ne in no fenne No wonder sorwes of enpoysonynge. Thus hadde þes wriches tuo here endeinge Thus ended buen þes homicides tuo. And eke þe false empoysonere also O cursede sinne ful of cursednesse O traitoures homicideres o wikkednesse O . glotony . o luxurye o hasardye Þou blasphemer of crist wiþ velanye And oþes grete of vsage and of pride Alas mankinde howe may it betide Thereto þine Creatour whiche þat þe wrouht And wiþ his precious blode þe bouhte Thowe ert so fals and so vnkinde alas Nowe good men god for-ȝeue ȝowe ȝoure trespas And war ȝowe fro þe sinne of Auarice Myne holy pardon may ȝow al warissche So þat ȝe ofer nobles oþer sterlinges Oþere elles siluer spones broches or ringes Boweþ ȝowre heued vnder þis holy bulles Commeþ vpe ȝe wives and offer ȝoure wolles Ȝoure name .I. entre here in my rolle anone In-to þe blisse of heuen schole ȝe gone .I. ȝowe assoile be myne hihe pouere Ȝe þat wollen offere as clene and eke as clere As ȝe weer borne and sires lo þus .I. preche And ihesu crist þat is oure sowles leche So graunt ȝowe his pardon to receyve For þat is best .I. wil ȝowe nouht deceyve Bot sires o worde for-gat .I. in my tale .I. haue Reliques and pardon in my male As faire as any man of yngelonde Whiche were me yȝeue be þe popes honde If any of ȝow wil of deuocione Offerne and haue myne absolucione Commeþ for anone and kneleþ adowne here And ȝe schal haue my pardon þat is dere Or elles takeþ pardon as ȝe wende All newe and frishe att euery tounes ende So þat ȝe offren alwei newe and newe Nobles and pens whiche þat bien good and trewe It is an honur to eueryche þat is here þat ȝe maye haue a suffisaunt pardonere To assoile ȝow in contre as .I. ride For aventures whiche þat mai be-tide For paraduenture þere maie fal on or tuo Doune of his hors and breke his nekke a two Looke whiche a surte it is to ȝowe al Þat .I. am in ȝoure felischipe yfal Þat maie assoile ȝowe boþe more and lasse Whan þat þe soule fro þe body passe .I. rede þat oure oste schal beginne For he is most envolupte in sinne Commeþ forþe sire oste and offer first anone And þou schalt kisse re relikes euerychone Ȝe for a grote vnbokel anone þi purce Nay nay . haue .I. þan quod he cristes curce Lat be quod he it schal not be so þeiche þou woldests make me kisse þine olde breche And swere it were a relike of a seint Þouhe it were wiþ þi foundement depeint Bot be cros þat seint Elyne fonde .I. wold .I. had þi coylons in myne honde In stede of relikes oþer of seyntuarie Let cutt hem of .I. wil þe helpe hem carie Thei scholl be schryned in an hogges torde This pardoner answerd nouht a worde So wroþe he was he nold no worde seie Nowe quod oure oste .I. wil no longer pleie Wiþ þe no wiþ none oþer angre man Bott riht anone þe worþi knyht be-gan Whan þat he sawhe þat al þe peple louhe No more of þis for it is riht y-nouhe Sire pardoner be meri and glad of chere And ȝe sire oste þat bene to me so dere I pray ȝowe þat ȝe kisse þe pardonere And pardoner .I. praie þe þat þou drau þe nere And as we dide now late vs lauhe and pleie Anone þei kisse and reden forþe þeire weye Explicit fabula questoris; Incipit prologuson leaf 180, back BOt þan spak oure Oste vnto Maister schipman Maister quod he to vs summe tale tel ȝe can Where-withe ȝe myht glad al þis company If it were ȝoure pleseinge .I. wote wele sekurlye Sertes quod þis Schipman a tale .I. can tell And þe[r]-fore herkeneþ hyderward how þat .I. wil spell Explicit prologus. GROUP B. (β. FRAGMENT III.) § 4. THE SHIPMAN'S TALE. Incipit fabula Naute A Marchant whilom dwelled att sein Denys That riche was for whiche men helde him wys. A wif he hadde of excellent beaute. And compinable and reuerent was sche Whiche is a þinge þat causeþ more dispence Then worþe is al þe chier and reuerence. That men haue done att festes or at daunces Suche Salutacions and countenaunces Passeþ as doþe þe schadowe on a wall Bot woo is him þat paie most for all The Cely husbonde algates he must paye He moste vs cloþe and vs araie Al for his owen wo[r]schip richelye In whiche araie we dauncen Iolylye And if þat he nouht maie paraduenture Or elles luste no suche to endure Bot þenkeþ it is waste and yloste þat mot anoþere payen for owre coste Or leue vs golde and þat is parilous This noble marchant helde a noble hous ffor whiche he had al daye grete repaire ffor his largenesse and for his wif was faire That wonder is? bot herkeneþ to my tale Amonges al his gestes grete and smale Ther was a monke a faire man and a bolde .I. trowe . a þerte wynter he was of olde That euere in one was draweinge to þe place This ȝonge monke þat was so faire of face Aqweynted was so wiþ þis goodman Seþen þatt her first knowleche began That in his hous as famylier was he As it is possible any frende to be And for als muchel as þe good manne. And eke þis monke of whiche þat .I. be-ganne. Were boþe tuo borne in o vilage þe monke him clayme as for cosinage And he aȝeine he seiþ nouht ones naye Bot was as glad þere-of as foule of daye ffor to his herte it was a grete plesaunce Thus bene þei knytt wiþ eterne alliaunce And ilke of hem gan oþer to assure Of broþerhed whiles þat þeire lyue maie endure. ffre was dan Iohn and namely of dispense As in þat hous and ful of diligence To do plasance and also grete Costage He nouht forȝate to ȝeue þe lest page In al þat hous bot after here degre He ȝaf þe lorde and seþen al þe meyne Whan þat he cam sum maner honest þinge ffor whiche þei were al gladd of his comynge As foule is feine whan sonne vpriseþ No more of þis as now for it suffiseþ Bot so be-fel þis marchant vpon a daie Schope him to make rede his araie Towarde þe toune of Brugges for to fare To byen þere a porcion of ware ffor whiche he haþe to parische sent anone A messagier and preide haþe dan Iohn Thas he scholde come to seinte Denys and pleye Wiþ him and wiþ his wif a dai or tweye Are he to brugges wente in al wise þis noble Monke of whiche .I. ȝowe deuise Haþ of his Abbot as him lust lycenc Be-cause he was a man of hihe prudence And eke an Oficere oute for to ride To se here graunges and her bernes wide And vnto Seint Denys he comeþ anone Who was so welcom as my lorde dan Iohne Oure dere Cosyn ful of Curtasye With him brouht a Iubbe of Maluese And eke anoþer ful of goode vernage And volatile as aie was his vsage And þus .I. lete hem ete and dringe and pleie þis marchant and his monke a daie or tweie The þred daie þis Marchant vp he riseþ And on his nedes sadly him a-viseþ And vp in-to his counte hous goþe he To reken wiþ him-self wel maie be Of þilke ȝere howe þat wiþ him stode And howe þat he despended had his goode And if þat he encresed were or none His bokes and his bagges many one He leyþe be-for him on his counteingborde fful riche was his tresore and his horde ffor whiche ful fast his counterhous dore he schette And eke he nolde no man schold him lette Of his accomptes for þe mene time And þus he sitte til it was passed prime Dan Iohn was resen in þe morne also And in gardyn wakkeþ to and fro And haþe his þinges seide deuoutly This good wif cam walkinge priuely In-to þe Gardeine þer he walkeþ soft And him Salueþ as sche haþ done oft A maiden childe cam in hire compaignie Whiche att hir lust maie gouerne and gye ffor ȝit vnder þe ȝerde was þe maide O dere Cosyn myne dan Iohn sche saide What eyleyþe ȝowe so raþe to rise Nece quod he hit ouht ynouhe suffise .V. houres to slepe on a nyht Bot it were for an olde palled knyht As ben þes wedded men þat ly and dare As in a forme sitt alweie an hare Were al for-strauht wiþ houndes grete and smale Bot dere nece whi be ȝe so pale .I. trowe certes þat oure good man Haþe ȝowe labourde seþen þe niht be-gan That ȝowe were nede to resten hastelye And wiþ þat worde he louhe ful merelye And of owen þouht he wex rede Þis faire wif gan to sake hire hede And seide þus? ȝe god wote al quod sche Nay cosyne myne it stant nouht so wiþ me ffor be þat god þat ȝaf me soule and life In al þe reme of fraunce is þere no wif þat lesse lust haþe to þat sori pleie ffor .I. maie singe alace and weilewaie þat .I. was borne bot to no whight quod sche Dare .I. nouht tell howe it stant wiþ me Wherefore .I. þenke oute of þis londe to wende Or elles of my-selfe to make an ende So fol am .I. of drede and of care This monke be-gan vpon þis wif to stare And seide alace my nece god for-bede That ȝe for any sorwe or for any drede ffor-do ȝowre self. bot telleþ forþe ȝoure greffe Paraduenture .I. maie in ȝoure meschieffe Counsel or helpe and þer-fore telleþ me All ȝowre annoyȝe for it schall be secre ffor on my portos .I. make an oothe þatt neuer in my lif for leue ne lothe Ne schal .I. of no counsel ȝowe be-wreye The same aȝeine to ȝowe .I. seye Be god and be þis portos .I. swere Þouhe men wolde me al to peces tere Ne schal .I. neuere for to go in-to hell Be-wreye a worde of þinge þat me tell Not for no Cosinage ne alliance Bot verreyly for loue and affiance Thus bue þe sworne and here vpon kist And ekke of hem tolde oþere what hem lust Cosine quod sche if .I. had a space As .I. haue none and namely in þis place þan wolde .I. tel a legent of my lyue What I haue sufferd seþen .I. was a wive Wiþe myne husbande alþeihe he be ȝoure cosine Nay quod þis monke be god and be seint Martine He nys no more cosine vn-to me Than is þe leue þat hangeþ on þis tre .I. clepe him so be seinte denise in fraunce To haue þe mor cause of acqueyntance Of ȝowe whiche .I. haue loued specialye Abouen al wemmen sekurlye This swere .I. nowe on my professioun Telleþ ȝoure greue lest þat he come a-doun And hasteþ ȝowe and go ȝoure weie anone My dere loue quod sche o Doun Iohn fful leue me were þis counsel to hide Bot out it mot it maie longer abide Myne husband is to me þe werst man Þat euer was seþen þe werlde began Bot seþen .I. am a wif it sitte nouht me To telle no wyght of oure priuete Neyþer a bedde ne in none oþer place God schelde .I. scholde tel it for his grace A wif ne schal nouȝt seine of hire husbande Bot all honoure as .I. kan vnder-stonde. Saue vn-to ȝowe þus muche tel .I. schall As helpe me god he ne is nouht worþe att all In no degre þe value of a flie Bot ȝit me greueþ most his Nygardrye And wele ȝe wote þat wemmen naturellye Desiren þinges seven as wel as .I. Þey wolden þat husbondes scholden be Hardy. and wyse. riche. and þer-to fre And buxum to his wif and fresche a bedde Bot be þat ilke lorde þat for vs bledde ffor his honour miself to araie A sonday next .I. must paye And hundreþ frankes or elles .I. am lorne Ȝit were me leuer þat .I. were vnborne The me were done a sclander or velanye And if myn husbonde eke myht a-spye .I. were bot lost and þerefore .I. ȝowe preye Lene me þis somme and elles mot .I. deye Dan Iohn .I. seie lene me þis hundreþ frankes Parde .I. wil nouht fail þe my þonkes If þat ȝow lust to do þat .I. ȝowe preye ffor att a certeyne daye .I. wil ȝowe peye And do to ȝowe what plesance and seruise Þat .I. maie do riht as ȝowe lost deuise And bot .I. do god take on me vengeaunce As foule as hadde Genylon of fraunce This gentil monke ansewerd in þis manere Nowe trewly myne owen ladi dere .I. haue quod he on ȝowe so grete a rowþe Þat .I. ȝowe swere and pliht ȝowe my trouþe Þat whan ȝoure husbond is to flaundres fare .I. wil deliuer ȝowe owet of þis werldes care ffor .I. wil bringen ȝowe an hundreþ frankes And wiþ þat he cauht hire be þe schankes And here enbraced harde and kissed ofte Goþe nowe ȝoure weie quod he al stil and soft And latt us deyne as sone as euer we maie ffor be my chilinder it is prime of þe daie Goþe nowe and be as trewe as .I. schal be Nowe elles god for-bede sir quod sche And forþe sche goþe as gelous as a pye And badde þe cokes þat þei scholde hem hihe So þat men myht dyne and þat anone Vp to hir husbond is þis wif gone And knokkeþ att his Counter boldely Que la quod he peter it am .I. Quod sche whatte howe longe wil ȝe fast Howe longe time wil ȝe reken and kast Ȝoure sommes ȝoure bokes and ȝoure þinges The deuel haue part on al suche rekenynges Ȝe haue y-nowhe parde of goddes sonde Comme doune to daie and latte ȝoure bagge stonde Ne be ȝe nouht aschamed þa[t] dan Iohn Schal fastinge al þis daye Elenge gone What latt vs here Masse go we dyne Wif quod þis man litel canstowe deuyne The Corious besines þat we haue ffor of vs chapmen so god me saue And be þat lorde þat called is seinte Ive Scarsely amonges tuelue tweyne schollen þriue Continuly lasteynge vnto oure age We maye wele make chiere and good visag And driue forþe þe werld as it maie be And kepen oure estate in priuete Til we be dede or elles þat we pleie On pilgrenage or gone out of þe weye And þere-fore haue .I. grete necessite Vpon þis qweinte werlde to avise me ffor euer more we must stonde in drede Of happe and fortune in myne chapmanhede To flandres wil .I. go to morwe att daye And Come aȝeine as sone as euer y maye ffor whiche my dere wif .I. þe be-seke As be to euery wyht buxum and meke And for to kepe oure goode be curiouse And honestly gouerne wele oure house Þou hast ynouhe in euery manere wyse Þat to a þrefte husbonde may . suffise Þe lakkeþ none array . ne no vitaile Of siluer in þi purce þou maist nouȝht faile And wiþ þat worde his counter dore he schett . . . . .no gap in the MS. And hastely a messe was þere seide And spedely þe tables wer ylaide And to þe dener fast þei hem spedde And richely þis monke þis chapman fedde And after dener Dan Iohn Soburlye This chapman tok aparte al priuely He seide him þus Cosyn it standeþ so Þat wele .I. se to brugges wil ȝe go God and seinte Austine spede ȝowe and guyde .I. praie ȝowe Cosin wisly þat ȝe ride Gouerneþ ȝowe also of ȝowre dyette And temparaly. and namely in þis hete Be-tuex vx tuo nedeþ no strange fare ffare wel cosin god schilde ȝowe fro care If any þinge þere be be daye or be nyht If it lye in my power and my myht þat ȝe me wil command in any wyse It shal be done riht as ȝe wil devise O þinge er þat ȝe go if þat it maie be .I. wolde praie ȝow for to lene me An .C. frankes for a weke or tweyne ffor certeine bestes þat .I. most bye To store wiþ a palas þat is owres God helpe me so .I. wolde þat it were ȝoures .I. schal nouȝht fail surely of my daie Note for .a .M. frankes a myle waye Bot lat þis þinge be secre .I. ȝowe preie . . . . .no gap in the MS. And fare nowe wele myne owen Cosine dere Graunt Mercy of ȝoure cost and of ȝoure chere This noble Marchant gentilli anone Ansewarde and seide o kosine Dan Iohne. Nowe sekerly þis is a small request Mi golde is ȝoures whan þat ȝou lest And Nouht onely my golde bot my Chaffare Takeþ what ȝowe lest god scheld þat ȝe spare Bot o þinge is ȝe knowe it wele y-nowhe Of chappemen þat her mony is hir plouhe We may creance whiles we haue a name Bott goldelesse for to be is no game Payeþe it aȝeine whan it liþe in ȝoure ese After my myht ful feine wod .I. ȝow plese Þes .C. frankes he fette forþ anone And priuely he toke it to dan Iohn No wyght of al þis werlde ne wiste of þis lone Saueynge þis Marchant and dan Iohn alone. Thei dranken and Romen[or Roiuen] and pleye Til þat Dan Iohn Rideþ to his Abbei The morwe cam and forþe þis marchant Rideþ To flanders-ward his prentis wele him gydeþ Til he cam in-to brugge merily. Now go-þe þis marchant fast and besily Aboute his nedes and biþe and creaunceþ He neyþer pleyþe att þe dyes ne daunceþ Bot as a Marchant schortly for to tell He leteþ his lyf and þere .I. late him duell The sonday next þis marschant was agone To seinte Denys y-commen was Dan Ione Whiche crowe and berde fresche and newe schaue In al þe house þer nas so litel a knaue Ne no wyght elles þat he nas feyne ffor my lorde Dan Iohne was comen aȝeine And schortly to her pointe for to gone Þis faire wif accordeþ to dan Iohn And for þis .C. frankes he scholde al nyht Haue hire in his armes bolte vpriht And þis accorde parformed was in dede In merþe al nyht a besi lif þei lede Til it was daie þat Dan Iohn went his weie And badde þe menyȝe fare wele and haue good daie ffor none of heme no wight in þe toune Haþe of dan Iohn riht none suspecione And forþe he rideþ home to his abbeie Or wher him list no more of him .I. seye This Marchant whan þat ended was þe faire To seint Denyse he gan to repaire And wiþ his wif he makeþ fest and chere And telleþ hire þat chaffer is so dere Þat nedes most he maake a cheuesance ffor he was bounden in a requenysance To paye .xx. M. schildes anone ffor whiche þis marchant is wont to gone To borwe of certeine frendes þat he hadde A certeine and somme wiþ him he ladde And whan þat he was comen into þe toune ffor grete chere and grete affeccione Vn-to Dan Iohn him first goþe to pleie Nouht for to borwe of him no moneye Bot for [to] wite and see of his welfare And for to tellen him of his chaffare As frendes done whan þei be mette in fere Dan Iohn. him Makeþ fest and mery chiere And him tolde aȝeine ful specially Howe he hadde bouht ful wele and graciously Thonked he god al hole his Marchandise Saue þat he must in al maner wise Maken a cheuesans as for his best And þan he scholde be in Ioye and rest Dan. Anseward certes .I. am feyne Þat ȝe in hele be comme home aȝeine And if þat .I. were riche as haue .I. blisse Off .xx. M. scheldes schold ȝe nouht mysse ffor. ȝe so kindely þis oþere daie Lent me gold and as .I. kan. and maie .I. þonke ȝowe be god and be seint Iame Bot. naþeles .I. toke vn-to owre dame Ȝoure wif att home þe same golde aȝeine Vpon ȝoure benche sche woote. it wele certeine Be certeyne tokenes þat .I. can hire tell Nowe be ȝoure leue .I. maie no longer duell Oure Abbote will oute of þis toune anone And on his company most .I. gone Grete wele oure dame myne owen nece swete And faire wele dere cosine til we mete This Marchant wiþ þat was ful war and wise Creanced haþe and eke paide in parisshe To certeyne lombardes rede in hire hande The summe of golde and gatte of hem þe bande And home he goþe mery as a papenioye ffor wele he knewe he stode in suche araie þat nedes most he winne in suche a viage A .M. frankes aboue al his costage It wif ful rede mett him att þe gate As sche was wonte of olde vsage algate And al þat nyht in merþe þei be sette ffor he was riche and clerely oute of dette Whane it was daye þis Marchant gan embrace His wife al newe and kist hir on hire face And vpe he goþe and makeþe it wonder touhe No more quod sche be god ȝe haue ynowhe. And wantonly aȝeine wiþ him sche pleide Til att þe last þis Marchant seide Be god quod he .I. am a litel wroþe Wiþ ȝowe my wif al-þouhe it be me loþe And wote ȝe whye be god as þat .I. gesse ffor ȝe haue maade a maner strangenesse Be-twex me and my Cosyne Dan Iohn Ȝe scholde haue warned me ar .I. hadde gone That he had ȝowe an .C. frankes payede Be rede token and he him helde yuel apaide ffor þat .I. to him spake of cheuesaunce Me semed soo as be his countenaunce Bot naþeles be god heuen kinge .I. þouht nouht to axe of him no þinge .I. praie þe wif ne do no more soo Til me alweie are þat .I. fro þe goo If any dettour haþe in myne absence Ypayde þe lest þoruhe þi necligence I myht him axe a þinge þat he haþe paide This wif was nouht aferde ne affraide But boldely sche seide and þat anone Mary. y dify þat fals monke dan Ione .I. kepe nouht of his tokenes neuer a dele He toke me certeine golde þis wote .I. wele Þat ivel þedom on his monkes snowte ffor god it wote .I. wende wiþ-outen doute Þat he it had yȝeue me be cause of ȝowe To do þere-wiþe myn honure and my prowe ffor Cosinage eke and for bele chere Þat he haþ hadde ful often time here Bot seþen .I. see .I. stonde in suche disioynte .I. wil answere ȝoue to þe poynte Ȝe haue mo slakker dettores þan am .I. ffor .I. wil paie ȝowe wele and redelye ffro daye to day and if so be. þat .I. faile .I. am ȝoure wif score it on my taile And .I. schal paie as sone as euer y maie ffor be my trouþe .I. haue on myne araye And nouht on waste bestouede euerydele And for .I. haue bestowed it so wele To ȝoure honoure for goddes sake .I. saie As be nouht wroþe bot lat vs hauhe and pleye. Ȝe schollen my. Ioly body haue to wedde Be godde .I. wil nouht paie ȝowe bot in bedde ffor-ȝeue it me myne owen spouse dere Turneþe hider-warde and makeþ better chiere This Marchant seyhe þer was no better remedye And for to chide it nere bot folye Seþen þat þe þinge maie nouht amended be Nowe wif he seide and .I. for-ȝeue it þe Bot be þi life ne be no more so large Kepe bette my goode þis ȝeue .I. þe in charge Thus endeþ nowe my tale and god vs sende Toyleynge ynouhe vnto oure lyues ende Explicit fabula Naute. Incipit prologus Priorisseon leaf 186 Wele saide be corpus dampnus seide oure Oste Nowe longe mot þou seile be þis coste Sire gentil Maister gentil marinere God ȝeue þe monke a .M. last quade ȝere A ha felaus beþe war of suche a Iape The monke put in þe mannes hode an ape And in his wives eke be seint Austine Draueþ no monkes more vnto ȝoure inne Bot nowe passe ouere & lat vs seke aboute Who schal nowe telle first of al þis route Anoþer tale and wiþ þat worde he seide As curteysly as it hadde bue a maide My lady Prioresse be ȝoure leue So þat .I. wist .I. scholde ȝow not greue .I. wolde deme þat ȝe telle scholde A tale next if so were þat ȝe wolde Now wil ȝe vouche-saue my lady dere Gladly quod sche and seide in þis manere Incipit Priorisse ffabula[No breaks in the MS between the stanzas.] [The Prologue.] Olorde oure lorde þi name howe mervelouse Is in þis large werlde y-spredde quod sche ffor nouȝt onely þi loude preciouse Parformed is be men of dignite Bot be þe mouþe of childern þi bounte Parformed is for on oure breste soukeinge Some time schewen þei þine heriinge Where-fore in loude as .I. kan beste or maie Of þe and of þe white lylye floure Whiche þat þe bare and is a maide alweie To tel a storye .I. wil do my labour Nouhte þat .I. maie encrese hir honour ffor sche hir self is honour and þer-to Rote Of bounte next hire sonne of soules bote ¶ O moder maide o maide moder fre O busche vnbernde bernynge in Moyses siht Þat rauisched doune fro þe deite Þoruhe þine humblesse þe gost þat in þe aliht Of whos verteu whan he in þine hert aliht Conceyued was þe faders Sapiens Helpe me to tel it in þi reuerence ¶ Lady þine bounte and þine Magnificence Þine vertue and þi grete humilite Þere maie no tunge expresse in no science ffor sum time ladi ar men preye to þe Thou gost be-forne of þine benyngnyte And getest vs þe liht þoruhe þi praiere To guyden vs vnto þi son so clere ¶ My konnynge is to wayke o blisful qweene ffor to declare þi grete worþinesse Þat .I. ne may þe weyht nouht sustene Bot as a childe of twelmoþe age or lesse Þat can vnneþ any worde expresse Riht so fare .I. and þerefore .I. ȝowe preye Gydeþ my songe þat .I. schal of ȝowe seye [THE TALE.] Ther was a Ce in a grete Cite Amonge cristen folk and Iewre Su[s]teynde be a lorde of þat contre ffor foule vser and locre of velany Hatteful to criste and to his compaignye And þoruhe þe strete men miht ride or wende ffor it was and open at euere ende ¶ A litel folke of cristen folke þere stode Doune att þe ferþer ende in whiche þere were Childern an hepe commen of cristes blode þat in þat scole ȝere be ȝere Lerned þe doctrine as men vsed þere þis is to seie to singen and to rede As smale childern done in here childehede ¶ Amonge þes childern was a wedow sonne A litel clergeon vj. ȝere of age Þat daye be daie to scole was his wonne And eke also where he sawe þe ymage Of cristes modere had he in vsage As him was tauht to knele adoune and saie His Aue marie as he goþe be þe weie ¶ Thus haþe þis wedowe hire lytel childe tauht Oure blisfol lady cristes modere dere To worschipe aie and he for-ȝat it nouht ffe Cely childe wil al daie sone lere Bot aie whan .y. remembre me on þis Matere Seint Nicholas stant euer in my presence ffor he so ȝonge to criste dide reuerence ¶ This childe is·litel booke lerenynge As he satt in þe scole att his primere He alma redemptoris herd singe As childern lerned hir Antiphanere And as he durste he drouhe him nere and nere And erkened aye þe wordes and þe note Til he þe first vers couþ al be rote ¶ Nouht wyste he what þe latine was to seie ffor he so ȝonge and tender was of age Bott on a daie his felawe he gan preie To expounen þis songe in his langage Or tellen whi þis songe was in vsage This preide he him to constrewe and declare fful oft time vpon his knees bare ¶ His felawe whiche þat elder was þan he Ansewarde his þus þis songe .I. haue herd seie Was maked of oure blissed ladi fre Hir to salue and eke hir to preie To bene oure helpe and socour whane we deye .I. can no more expounde in þis matiere .I. leren songe .I. can bott small gramere ¶ And is þis songe maad in reuerence Of cristes moder seide þis Innocent Nowe certes .I. wil do my diligence To konne it ar cristenmes be went Þouhe þat .I. for my primer schal be schent And schal be beten þries in an oure .I. will. it conne oure lady for to honoure ¶ His felawe tauht him homward priuely fro day to day til he couþe it be rote. And þanne he songe it wele and boldely ffro warde to warde accordeinge to þe note Þreys on a daye it passed þoruhe his þrote To scoleward and homwarde when he went On cristes moder sette was his entent ¶ As I haue seide þoruhe oute þe Iewrye This litel Childe as he cam to and fro fful merily þan wolde singe and crye On alma redemptoris euer mo The swettnesse haþe his herte perced so Of cristes moder þat to hire to preie He can nouht stinte of singinge be þe waie ¶ Owre ferst foo þe serpent Satanas Þat haþe in Iewes his waspes neste Vp swal and seide O Ebrayke peple alas Is þis a þinge to ȝowe þat is honest Þat suche a boye schal walken as him lest In ȝoure and singen of suche sentence Whiche is aȝeines ȝoure lawes reuerence. ¶ ffro þens forþ þe Iewes han conspirede This Innocent of þis werlde to chace In homicide haunt þei þere-to huyrede one That in a leye hadde a priue place And as þe childe gan forby for to pace This cursed Iewe him hente and helde fast And kutte his þrote and in a pute him cast ¶ I sey þat in a wardrope þei him drewe Where as þis Iewes purgen entraile O cursed folke o herodes al newe What may ȝoure yuel tent ȝoue availe Morder wil oute certein. it wil nouht faile And namely þere honure of god schold sprede The blode oute crieþ on ȝoure cursed dede ¶ O martire soundede to virginite Now maiste þou singe folowinge euer in on The white lombe Celestial quod he Of whiche þe grete euaungelist seint Iohn In Pathmos wrote whiche seiþe þei þat gone Be-forne his lombe and singe a songe of new Thet neuere flexly wemmen þei knewe This pouer wedowe wayteþ al þat nyht Affter þis litel Childe bot home cam he nouht for whome alsoune as it was daies liht Wiþ face pale for drede and besy þouht Sche haþe att scole and elles where him souht Til finally sche gan so fer asspye Þat he was seyȝen last in þe Iewrye ¶ Wiþ moders pyte in hir breste enclosede Sche goþe as sche were halue oute of mynde To euery place where sche haþ supposed Be liklyhed hire childe to finde And euer on cr[i]stes moder meke and kinde Sche cried and att þe last þus sche wrouht Amonge þe cursed Iewes sche him souht ¶ Sche freyneþ and sche preiþe pitously To euery Iewe þat duelled in þilk place . . . . .no gap in the MS. Thei saiden naie bot ihesus of his grace Ȝaue in her þouht in wiþ a litel space þat in þat place after her sonne sche cried Thare he was cast in a putte be side ¶ O grete god þat parfourmed þin laude Be mouþe of Innocence Lo here þi myht This gemme of chastite þis emeraude And eke of Marterdom þe ruby briht Þere he wiþ þrote ycorue leie vpriht He Alma redemptoris gan to singe So longe þat al þe place gan to ringe ¶ The cristen folke þat þoruhe þe strete wente In Camyne to wonderne of þis þinge And hastely þei for þe prouost sente He cam anone wiþ-outen any taryinge And herieþ crist þat is heuen kinge And eke his moder honoure of mankinde And after þe Iewes lete he binde ¶ This childe wiþ pitous lamentacioune Vp taken singeinge his songe al weye And wiþ honoure of grete processioune Thei Carien him to þe next Abbeye His modere swoneynge be þe bere laye Vnneþ myhte þe peple þat was þere This newe rachel bringe fro his bere ¶ Wiþ torment and wiþ schamful deþe ilkone This prouost doþe þes Iewes for to sterue That of þis morder wist and þat anane He nolde none suche cursednesse obsirue. Euel schal haue þat yuel wil deserue There-fore wiþ wilde hors he did him drawe And after þat he hinge him be þe lawe ¶ Vpon þis bere ay lyeþ þis Innocent Be-forne þe chief autter whiles Masse last And after þat þe Abbot wiþ his Couent Hadde spedde hem for to burye him fast And whan þei haly water on him cast And ȝit spakke þe childe whan spreynt was þe holy water And songe O alma redemptoris mater ¶ This Abbot whiche þat was an holy man As monkes be or elles ouhten to bee Þis ȝonge childe to coniure he gan And seide o dere childe .I. hailese þe Be vertue of þe holy Trinite Tel me what is þi cause for to singe Sethen þi þrote is kette att myn semeinge ¶ My þrot is cutte vnto my nekke bone Saide þis childe and as be waie of kinde .I. scholde haue deyed longe time agone Bott ihesu criste as ȝe in bokes finde Wil þat his glori last and bue in mynde And for worschipe of his moder dere Ȝette may .I. singe O Alma loude and cle[re] ¶ This wel of Mercie cristes moder swete .I. loued alweie as after my coninge And whan þat .I. my lif scholde lete To me sche camme and badd me for to singe Þis Antime verrely in my mynde deynge As ȝe haue herd and whan þat .I. had songe Me þouht sche laide a greyne vpon my tonge ¶ Wher-for .I. saie and singe most certeigne In honour of cristes moder fre Til of my tonge of taken is þe greyne And after þat seide sche þus to me My litel childe nowe wil .I. feche þe Whan þat þe greine. is fro þi tonge ytake Be nouht agast .I. wil þe nouht for-saake ¶ This Holy monke þis Abbot him mene .I. His tonge oute cauht and toke awey þe greyne And he ȝaf vpe þe gost ful softly And whan þe Abbotte hadde þis wondere seyne His salte teres strikled doune as reyne And gruffe he fel al platte to þe grounde And still he laie as he had bene ybounde The [Couent] Eke ley vpon þe pament Wepeinge and heriinge Cristes moder dere And after þei rise and forþe been went And toke aweie þis marter fro his bere And in a tombe of Marble stones clere Enclosen þei his lytel body swete There he is nowe god lene vs for to mete O ȝonge hewe of Lincolne sleyne also Wiþ cursed Iewes as it is notable ffor it nys bot a litel while a-goo Preye eke for vs we sinful folke vnstable Þat of his Mercie god so merciable On vs his grete mercie multiplye ffor reuerence of his moder Marye Explicit fabula priorisse. Incipit prologus de Thopas.[No breaks in the MS between the stanzas.] Whan seide was þis tale euery man As sober was þat wonder was to se Ti þat oure Oste Iape beganne And þan att erst he loked vpon me..id est. Chaucer And seide þus what man ert þou quod he Thou lokest as þou woldest finde an hare ffor euer vpon þe grounde .I. se þe stare Appr[o]che nere and loke merely Nowe ware ȝowe sires and latt þis man haue place He in þe waste is schapen as wele as .I. This were a popet in armes to enbrace ffor any womman smal and faire of face He semeþe eluysche be his countenance . . . . .no gap in the MS. Say nowe sumwhat seþen oþere folke haþe seide Tel vs a tale of merþe and þat anone Oste quod .I. ne be nouht yuel apaide ffor oþer tale certes can I. none Bot of a rime .I. lerned longe agone Ȝe þat is good quod he shal we here Summe deynteþ þinge me þenkeþ be his chiere Explicit prologus. Incipit fabula.[No breaks in the MS between the stanzas.] [Fitte I.] LEsteneþe lordes in goo[d] entent And .I. wil tel verraiment Of Miracle and of solace. Al of a knyht was faire and gent In Bataile and in turnament His name was. sir Thopas .I.-borne he was in fer contre In flaundre al beȝonde þe see Att Poperinge in þe place. His fader was a man ful fre And lord he was of þat cuntre As it was goddes grace Sir Thopas was douhty swayne White was his face as a peyndemayne His lippes reede as roose His rode is like scarlet in greyne And .I. ȝowe tell in goode certeyne He hadde a semely nose. His here his berde was lyke safroun Þat to his gerdel rauht a doune His schone of cordeweyne Of brugges was his hosen broune His roob was of Ciclatoune Þat cost mony a Iayne He couþe hunt att wilde dere And ride on haukeinge for þe reuer Wiþ grey goshauke on honde Therto he was a good archere To werstelynge was þer none his pere Þere any man scholde stonde fful mony a maide briht in boure Þei morne for his paramoure whane þei were bette to slepe Bot he was chast and no lichoure As swete as is þe brembel floure Þat bereþe þe rede hipe And so befel vpon a daie ffor soþe as .I. ȝowe telle maie Sir Thopas wolde oute ride He worþe hup on his stede grey And his honde a laucegaie A longe swerde be his side He prikeþ þoruhe a faire fore[st] Ther inn is mony a wilde best Ȝe boþe bukke and hare. And as he prikeþ Norþe and est I telle ȝowe him hadde almest Betidde a sori care. Ther springen erbes grete and smale The lycoris and þe Setuale And mony clowe gilofre And Notmuges to putte in ale Wheþer it be moiste or stale Ore for to ley in Cofre The Birdes singen it is nouht naye The sparhauke and þe popeniaye þat ioye it was to here þe þrostelkoke maade eke his laye þe wode dowfe vppon þe spraye Sche songe ful loude and clere Sire Thopas fell in louelongeinge An[d] whanne he herde þe þrostell singe And priked as he ware woode His faire stede in his prikeinge So swette þat men myht him wringe His sides were al blode Sire Thopas eke so wery was ffor prekinge on þe soft gras So fers was his corage þat doune he laide him in þat place To maken his stede sum solace ffor he was so sauage A seynte Mary benedicite What eyleþ þis loue att me To bynde me so sore Me dremed al þis nyht parde Ane Elfe qvene schal my lemman be And slepe vnder my gore Ane Elfe queene wil .I. loue .y-wisse ffor in þis world no womman is Worþi to be my maake in toune Al oþer wemmen .I. forsake And to an Elfe queen .y. me betake Be dale and eke be doune In-to his sadel he cam anone And prikeþ ouere stile and stone Ane Elfe qwene for to aspye. Tyll he so longe haþe ryden and gone That he fonde in a priue wone The Cuntre of faire. So wilde ffor in þat Contre was þere none . . . .no gap in the MS. Neyþer wife ne childe Til him þer came a Ioly geante His name was cleped sir Olyfaunte A parlous man of dede He saide childe be termagaunt Bot if þou wilte prike oute of myne haunte Anone .I. slee þi steede wiþ mace Here is þe queen of faire Wiþ harpe and pipe and simphene Dwellinge in þis place. The childe so most .I. þe To morne wil .I. mete þe When .I. haue myne armor And ȝit .I. hope par ma feie That þat þou schalt wiþ þis launce leie Abine it ful sore. Thoruhe þin mawe Schal .I. perce .If .I. maie Or it be fulle prime of daie ffor here þou schall be slawe Sir Thopas drowhe a bak ful fast This Geant att him stones cast Owte of a fell staf slynge Bot a faire ascapeþ childe Thopas And all it was þoruhe goddes gras And þoruhe his faire beringe Ȝit listeneþ lordes to my tale Meryer þan þe nyhteyngegale ffor nowe .I. wil ȝow rowne Howe sir Thopas wiþ sides smale Prekeinge ouer doune and dale Is come aȝeine to toune His mery men comanded he To make him boþe game and gle ffor nedes most he fiht wiþ .o. Geant wiþ hedes þree ffor paramoure and Iolyte Of one þat schote ful briht Done come he seide myne mynstrals An gestours for to tel vs tales Anone in myne armeinge Of Romans þat bene Roials Of Popes and of Cardinals And eke of loue longeinge Thei fet him first þe swete wyne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. And lykhirhers and eke Comyne Wiþ sugre þat is trye He dide next his white lire Of Cloþe of lake fyne and clire A breche and eke a schart And next is schert an Akton And ouer þat an haberioun ffor perceynge of his herte And ouere þat a fine hauberke Was al y-wrouht of Iewes werke fful stronge it was of plate And ouer þat is cote Armour As white as is a lely floure In whiche he wole debate. His schelde was al of gold so rede And þere in was a bores hede A Charbokel be side And þere he suore on ale and brede That þe Gyant schulde be dede By-tide whatt be-tide His Iambes were of quereboly His swerde scheþe of Ivory His helme of Latoun briht His Sadell was of Ruel bone His Bridell as þe sonne schone Or as þe mone so liht His spere was of fine Cypres Þat bedeþ werre and noþinge pes Thede ful scharpe y-grounde His sted was al dappel greye Hite enamble by þe weye fful softly and rounde. In londe Lo lordes myne here a fitte If ȝe wil any more of it To tel it wil .I. fonde [Fitte II.] Nowe haldeþ ȝoure mouþe par Charite Boþe knyke and lady free And herkeneþ to my spelle. Of Bataile and of Cheualry And of ladys loue drery. Anone .I. wil ȝowe tell Men speke of Romans of prise Of horne Childe and of Ipose Of Beuys and sir Guy Of sir Libeus and plendamour Bot sir Thopas he bereþ þe floure Of Roial Chiualry His goode steede al he be-strode And forþe vpon his weye he glode As sparkeles oute of þe bronde Vpon his creste he bare a toure And þer-in stiked a lyly floure God schelde his corps fro schonde And for he was a knyht aunterous He wolde slepen in none hous Bot lygen in his hode His briht helme was his wangere And by him baiteþ his dextrere Of erbes fine and good . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. ¶ Incipit prologus NO mor of þis for goddes digniteon leaf 191, back quod oure ost foure þou makest me So wery of þi lewdenes Þat also wissely god me blis Myn eres ake of þine darsti speche Nowe suche a rime þe deuel .y. beteche. This mai be wele ryme dogerel whie so quod .I. whie wilt þou lette me More of my tale þan a noþer man Seþen it is þe best rime .I. can By god . quod he pleinly .I. þe seie Thou schalt no langer rime here to daie Thou doste nouht elles bot dispendes time Sire att o worde þou schalt no longer rime Late see wheþer þou canste tell ouht in geste Or tell in prose sumwhat att þe lest In whiche þer be sume merþe & some doctrine Gladle quod .I. be goddes swete pine .I. wil ȝowe tell a litel þinge in prose þat auht lyke ȝowe as .I. suppose Or elles certes ȝe be to daungerous It is a morale tale vertuouse Al be it tolde sum tyme in sundre wise Of sundre folke as .I. schal ȝowe deuise As þus ȝe wote euery euaungelist That telleþ vs of ihesu crist Ne saiþe nouht al þinge as his felawe doþe Bot Naþeles her sentence is al soþe And al. accorden att here sentence Al be þare in her tellinge difference ffor somme of hemme seine more & somme seine lesse Whan þei his pitous passion expresse .I. mene of Mark. Matheu. luke. & Iohn Bot doutles her sentence is al one There-for lordeynges al .I. ȝowe be-seche If þat ȝe þinke .I. varye in my speche As þus. If þat .I. telle sum what more Of prouerbes þan ȝe haue herde to fore Comprehendit in þis litel tretis here To enforce wiþ þe effect of Mi Matiere And þouhe .I. nade þe same wordes saye As ȝe haue herde ȝitt to al ȝowe .I. preie Blameþ me nouht for as my sentence Ȝe schol nouht finde muche difference ffro the sentens of þe tretys leuyte After þe whiche þis Mery tale .y. write And Herken whatt .I. schal seye And lett me tale .I. preye Hic incipit fabula de Mellybeo per Chaucer.

[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.]

[Lansdowne MS 851, on leaf 192.]

[2157] A ȝonge man whilom called Mellibe. Mihte. & riche be-gate vpon his wyf. þat called was. Prudence. a douhter which was cleped Sapience.//

[2158] vpon a daie fel þat he for his disporte is went in to þe feldes him to pley; [2159] His wife & eke his douhter haþe he laft wiþ-in his hous. of whiche þe dores were fast yschett. [2160] Foure of his olde foos haue it aspied. And setten ledders to þe walles of his hous. & be þe wyndows entred [2161] & beten his wif & wounded his douhter with .v. mortale woundes in .v. sundre places [2162] ¶ This is to seye. in here fete in hire hondes in hire eres & in hire nose & in hire mouþe. And laften hir for dede & wenten here wey.

[2163] ¶ Whan. Mellibeus returned was aȝein in to his hous. & sauhe al þis meschief ¶ He ylike a mad man rentynge his cloþes gan to wepe & crye.

[2164] Prudens his. ¶ Prudence his wif as ferforþ as sche dorst. be-souht him of his wepeinge for to stinte [2165] ¶ Bot not for-þi he gan to wepe & crie. euer þe lengeer þe more.

[2166] þis noble wif prudence remembreþ her on þe sentence of Ouide. In his boke þat cleped is þe remedie of loue. where he seiþe. [2167] He is a. foole þat distorbleþ þe modere for to wepe in þe deþe of hir childe. til sche haue wepped hire fil as for certeine time. [2168] Than schal a man done his diligence wiþ amyable wordes. hir to recomford. & to preier her of here wepeinge for to stinte [2169] ¶ For whiche resone þis noble prudence suffurd hir husbond for to wepe & crie for a certeine space. [2170] ¶ And whan sche sauhe hire time sche seide him in þis wyse /./ Alas my. lorde quod sche. whie maake ȝoure self for to be like a fole. [2171] ¶ For sothe it aperteigneþ not to a wiseman. To maak suche a sorwe [2172] ¶ Ȝoure douhter wiþ þe grace of god schal be warissched & ascape ‖ [2173] And al were it so riht nowe sche were dede. ȝe ouht not as for hire deþe ȝoure self to destruye. [2174] ¶ Senec.¶ Senec. seiþe. þe wiseman schal nouht tak to grete discomford for þe deþe of his childer. [2175] bot certe he scholde suffere it in pacience. As wele as he Abideþ þe deþ of his owen propre person.

[2176] ¶ Þis Millibeus ansewarde a-none & seide ¶ What man quod he scholde of his wepeinge stinte þat haþe so grete a cause for to wepe. [2177] Ihesu criste owre lorde him self wepped for þe deþ of Lazarus his frende [2178] ¶ Prudence anseward; certez wele .I. wote atempre wepeinge is nouht defended vnto him þat sorwful is a-monge folk of sorwe. Bot it is raþer graunted him to wepe [2179] ¶ þe Apostle paule vn to þe Romaynes writeþ. // Man schal reioyse wiþ hem þat hem þat maken ioye; & wepe wiþ suche folke as wepen. [2180] ¶ Bot þouhe atempre wepeinge be graunted; Outrageous wepeinge certes is defended. [2181] ¶ Mesurable wepeinge schold be considered after þe lore þat techeþ vs Senec [2182] ¶ Whan þat þi frende is ded lat nouht þine yen to moiste bien of teres; ne to muche drye ¶ Al þouhe þe teres commen of þine yen. lat hem nouht fallen [2183] ¶ And whan. þou hast for-gone þi frende .I. rede þou do þi diligence to gette þe a nother. And þis is more wysere þan to wepe for þi frende þe whiche þat þou hast lorne; For þer inne is no boote [2184] ¶ And þerfore if þe lust to gouerne þe be Sapience Putte awaie sorwe fro ȝoure hert. [2185] Remembreþ ȝowe þat. Ihesu Sirak. saiþe; A man þat is ioyus & gladde in hert; it him con|serueþ florischeinge in his Age. Bot soþely Sorweful hert Makeþ his bones drye [2186] ¶ He seiþe eke þus; þat sorwe in hert. sleeþe mony a man. [2187] Sa|lamon seiþe þat riht as mouhtes in þe schepes fles anoyeþ to þe cloþes An þe smale wermes on þe tres vn to þe fruyte; Riht so anoyþe sorwe vnto þe hert /./ [2188] Wherfore we ouht as wele in þe deþe of oure childerne; as in þe losse of oure godes temperel; ¶ Haue pacience.

[2189] Remembre ȝowe vpōn þe pacient ¶ Iob. whan he hadde lost his children & his temperel sub|stance. And in his bodi endured & suffred mony a greuous temptacionz; Ȝit seid he þus. [2190] ¶ Owre lorde quod he ȝaue it me. oure lorde haþ be-raft it me. Riht so as oure lorde haþe wolde; riht so be it done. y|blissed be þe name of oure lorde [2191] ¶ To þis afor þinges Melibius ansewerd to his wif Dame prudence. Al þi wordes quod he bien soþe & þer-to pro|fitable. Bot trewely Min hert is trobled wiþ þis sorwe so greuously þat .I. note what to done. [2192] ¶ Late cal quod prudence þine trewe frendes al; & þin lignage whiche þat bien wise; telle hem þin caas & herken what þei seine in conseilinge; And ȝowe gouerne þere after here sentence /./ [2193] Salomon seiþe ¶ worche al þi þinge be counsel; & þou schal neuer repent.

[2194] Than be þe conseil of his wif dame Prudence. Melibeus lete callen a grete congregacione of folke [2195] . . . . .no gap olde & ȝonge. And somme of his olde ennemys reconsiled as be her semblant in to his loue & in to his grace. [2196] And þer-wiþ-al cam somme of his neihbours þat dide him reuerence more for drede þan for loue as it happeþ oft [2197] ¶ þare commeth also ful mony a subtile flatreres and wise aduocates lerned in þe lawe.

[2198] And whan þis folk togeder assembled were This Mellibeus in sorwful wise schewde hem þis cas. [2199] And by þe manere of speche he bare in his herte a cruel ire rede to do venge|ance vpon his foos; // And sodanly desired þat werre schold / beginne [2200] ¶ Bot naþeles ȝit axed he counseile vpon þis mate[re] [2201] ¶ A Surgeane / be licence / & assent of suche as were wise vp rose vn to Melibeus & seide as ȝe maie here.

[2202] Sir quod he as to vs surgeans apperteyneþ to euery whight þe best þat we can where as we be wiþ - holde & to oure pacience þat we do no damage. [2203] Ther-for it happeþ mony time & oft. þat whan tuo men haþe eueryche wounded oþere one same surgean heleþ hem boþe. [2204] Wherefor vnto oure arte it is nouht pertinent; to norische werre ne parties to supporte [2205] Bot certes as to þe warissheinge of ȝoure douhtere be it so þat sche is perilously. wounded. we shold done so entenfully be signes fro daie to nyht þat wiþ þe grace of god sche schal be sounde & hole as sone as it is possible [2206] ¶ Al men in þe same wise ansewarden &. þe Phesiciens. saue þei seiden a fewe wordes more [2207] ¶ That riht as Maladise bene heled be hire contraries /./ Riht so schal men warisshe werre be vengeance [2208] his neyh|bour ful of envye; // His feyned frendes þat semed reconsiled. his flatrers [2209] maden semblant of wepeinge empaired & engreged muche of his matiere in preiseinge gretely /./ Melibeus of myht of pouere of riches & of frende. Dispiseinge þe powere of his aduersaries. [2210] & seiden outerly þat he anone scholde wreken him on his ennemys & be-ginne werre

[2211] Vp rose þan an Aduocate þat was wise & seide be leue & be counseile of oþer þat were wise. & seide. [2212] Lordeinges þe nedes for whiche we bene assembled in þis place is a ful heuy þinge. & an hihe matiere [2213] because of þe wronge & of þe wikkenesse þat haþe be done. And eke be reson of þe grete. damage in time comynge. bien possible to fal for þis same cause. [2214] & eke be reson of þe grete richesse & power of þe parties boþe. [2215] For whiche resouns it were a grete perile for to erren in þis matiere [2216] ¶ Where-fore Milebeus þis is oure sentence; We counsel ȝowe a-boue al þinges þat riht anone þou do þi diligence in kepeinge of þi propre persone in suche [a wise] þat þou ne wante none aspie. ne to wache þine bodie for to saue. [2217] ¶ And after þat we counseile þat þou setten in þine hous sufficeant garnyson so þat þei maie þi body also wele as þine hous defende. [2218] ¶ Botte certes for to meve werre ne sodanly to done vengeance we maie nouht deme in so litel time þat it were profit|able. [2219] wherefore we Axen leyser & space to haue deliberacion in þis caas to deme [2220] ¶ For þe comune prouerbe seiþ þus ¶ He þat sone demeþ sone schal repent [2221] ¶ And eke men seine þus ¶ That ilke Iugge is wise þat sone vnderstondeþ a matier; & Iugeþe b[y] leyser [2222] ¶ For al-be-it so; þat a tariinge be a-noyeful. Algates it is not to reproue in ȝeueinge of Iuggement ne in vengeance takeinge. whan it is suffisant & resonable; [2223] ¶ And þat schwde oure lorde ihesu criste be en|sample. For whan þat womman was taken in aduoutre & was browhte in his presence to knowe what schal be done wiþ hire persone ¶ Albeit so þat he wist wele him selfe what þat he wold onsewere. ȝete ne wolde he ansewere sodanly bot he wold haue deliberacione. And in þe grounde he wrote twyes. [2224] And be þis cause we axen deliberacione. And we schal þan by þe grace of god counseile þe þo þinges þat schallen be profitable

[2225] vp stert þan þe ȝonge folke att ones And þe most partie of þat compaignie haþe scorned þis olde wise man. & begonnen to maken noyce & seiden [2226] riht so ¶ Al þe while þat Iren is hote men schold smyte. Riht so men scholde wreken here wronges whiles þat þei bne frische & newe ¶ And wiþ loude voice þei criden. werre. werre.

[2227] Vprose one of þe olde wise. & wiþ his honde he maade a countenance þat þei schold holde hem stil; and ȝeuen hem audience [2228] ¶ lordeinge quod he þere is ful mony a man þat crieþ werre. werre. þat woote ful lytel what þat werre amounteþ // [2229] Werre att his beginynge haþ so grete an entringe & so large; þat euery wight maie entren whan him likeþ And lyhtly finde werre. [2230] Bot certes to whatt ende þat schal þere-of be-fal; it is note lyhtly to knowe [2231] ¶ Whan þat werre is ones begonne. þer is ful mony a childe vnborne of his moder þat schal sterue ȝonge be cause of þilke werre. Oþere elles leue in sorwe & deye in wrechednesse, [2232] ¶ And þere-fore or þat any werre be-ginne men most haue grete conseile & goode deliberacion. [2233] ¶ And whan þis olde man wende to enforcen his tale be resoun. welnyhe al att ones bygonne for to rise to breken his tale. & biden him ful oft of his wordes to abrigge //. [2234] For soþely he þat precheþ to hem þat lust nouht his wordes ne his sermon hem he anoyeþ. [2235] For ihesus Sirak seiþe. That Musike in wepeinge is anoyus þinge. Thus muche it is to seine As much anoyeþ to spek to-forne folke to wiche his speche annoyeþ as it is for to singen be-forne him þat wepeþ. [2236] ¶ And whan þis wiseman sawhe þat him wanted audience al schamfast he sett him doune a-ȝeine [2237] For Salomon seiþe þere as þu mai haue none audience enforce þe nouht to speke. [2238] I. see wele quod þis wiseman þat þe comen prouerbe is soþe; þat good counseile wanteþ whan it is most nede.

[2239] ¶ Ȝitte hadde þis Melebeus in his conseile many folke þat . . . no gap conseilled him priue þinge. An counseld him þe contrarie in general audience.

[2240] Whan mellibeus hadde herde þe grettest partie of his counseile were accorded þat he schold make werre. A-none he consentid to here counselynge. And full affermed to he[re] sentence [2241] ¶ Than dame Prudence sauhe howe þat hire hosband schope hime for to wreke him on his foos; & to be-ginne werre Sche in full humble wise whan sche sauhe hire time Saide him in þis wordes [2242] ¶ Mi lorde quod sche .I. ȝowe beseche as hertly as .I. dar & can / ne haste ȝowe nouht to fast And Afore al guerdouns ȝeuef me audience. [2243] For Pers Amphons saiþe .O. who so doþe þe goode oþer harme haste þe nouht to qwyten it. For in þis wise þi frende wil abide And þine ennemy schal þe langere leue in drede; [2244] The prouerbe seiþe þat he hasteþe him wele þatte wele can abide. And in wikked hast is no profite.

[2245] This Melibe ansewerd to his wyf prudence; I. purpos nouht quod he to wirke be þi counseile ffor mony causes & resons; For certes euery wight wold hold me þan a foole; [2246] ¶ This is for soothe. If .y. for þin counsellynge wolde chaunge þinges þat buen ordeined & affermed be so mony a wyse; [2247] Sec|undly .I. saie þat al wemmen bien þikke & none goode of hem alle. ffor of a. þousand men as seiþe Salomon¶ Salomon .I. fonde o good man bot certes of alle wemmen fonde .I. neuere good womman [2248] ¶ And Also certes if .I. gouerned me be þi counseile it schold seme þat .I. hadde .y.-ȝif to þe ouer me þe maistre. And god forbede þat it so were [2249] ¶ For Ihesus Sirake. seiþe. If þe wif haþe þe maistre sche is contrarius to hir husbonde. [2250] ¶ And Salomon. seiþe. neuere in þi lif. to þi wif ne to þi childe ne to þi frende ne ȝeue none powere ouer. þine selfe; For better it were þat þine childern asken of þine persone þinges þat hem nedeþ. þan þou þi self in þe handes of þine childerne. [2251] And also if .I. wil worche be þi conseillynge. Certes my conseil most som time be secre til it wer time þat it must be knowe; And þis ne may nouht be do; [2252. For it is written, 'þe Ianglerye of wemmen can hide [only] þinges þat þei wote nought' [2253] Furthermore, the philo|sopher saith, 'in wiked counsel, wemmen venquyseþ men;' and for these reasons I ought not to make use of thy counsel. (See Prudence's answers to Reasons 4 & 5, below.)]

[2254] ¶ Whan dam pruden ful debonarly & [with] al pacience hadde herd al þat hire husbond lyked for to seye./ Than axe sche of him licence for to speke. And seide in þis wise. [2255] Mi lorde quod sche; as to ȝoure first reson it maie lyhtly bne ansewerd. ffor .I. seie. it ne is folye to chaunge counseil. whan þe þinge is chaungede or elles whan þe þinge semeþ oþerewise þan it semed a-forne [2256] And more ouere .I. saie. þeihe þat ȝe haue sworne & behiȝt to performe ȝoure emprise. [and natheless ye weyve to performe that same emprise] Be Iuste cause men schold nouht seine þerefore þat ȝe were a lyere ne for-sworne [2257] ¶ ffor þe booke seiþe þat þe wise man makeþ no leseinge when he torneþ his corage to þe bettere [2258] ¶ An if it so be þat ȝoure emprise be establisshet & ordeined be grete multitude of folke ȝit þarre þe nouht accomplise þilke ordinance bot ȝowe likeþ; [2259] ¶ For þe treuþe of þinges & þe profit bene rather y-founde in fewe folke þat bien wise and ful of resoune þan be grete multitude of folke þere euery man crieþ & clatereþ what hem likeþ; Suche multitude is nouht honest. [2260] And as to þe secund reson. Where as ȝe seine þat al wemmen bene wikke. saue ȝoure grace; for certes ȝe dispisen al wemmen in þis wise. And he þat all despiseþ. all þinge him despiseþ as seiþe þe boke.// [2261] And Seneca. seiþe who þat woll haue sapience schall no man despise. Bot he schal gladly teche þe science þat .I. kan. wiþ-oute presumpcion or pride. [2262] And suche þinges as nouȝ can he schal not be ascamed to leren hem; & to enqueren of lesse folke þan of him self; [2263] And sire þat þare haþ bue many a goode womman maie lihtly be proued [2264] ¶ Certes sire oure lorde ihesu crist nold neuere haue descended to be borne of womman if al wemmen hadde be wikke. [2265] And after þat for þe grete bounte þat is in wemmen oure lorde ihesus whan he was resen fro deþe to lyf; he appered raþer to wemmen þan he dide to his aposteles [2266] And þouhe þat Salomon seiþ. he ne fonde neuer womman goode. It fouloweþ nouht þere-fore þat al wemmen be wikke [2267] ¶ For þouhe þat he no fonde no good womman. Certes mony a noþer man haþ founden many a womman ful goode & trewe. [2268] Or elles perauenture þe entente of Salomon was þus; That as in souereine bounte he fonde no womman [2269] ¶ þis is to seie þat þere is no wight þat haþe parfite bounte saue god alone; as he him self recordeþ in his euaun|geliste; [2270] ffor þere ne is no creture þat him ne wanteþ sumwhat of þe perfeccion of god þat is his maker [2271] ¶ The þred reson is þis ¶ ȝe seie þat if ȝe gouern ȝoue be my counsel; it scholde seme þat ȝe hadde ȝeue to me þe maistre. & þe lordeschipe of ȝoure persone; [2272] Sire; saue ȝoure grace it is nouht so ¶ For if so were þat noman scholde be conseiled bot only of hem þat hadd lordeschip & Meistre of his person. Men nold nouȝt be counceilled so oft. [2273] For soþely þilke man þat axeþ counsel of a purpos; ȝit haþe frewill weþer he wil do after þat counseil or no; [2274] ¶ And as to ȝoure ferþe reson. þere as ȝe seine þat þe Ianglerye of wemmen can hide þinges þat þei wote nouht. As who seiþe; þat a womman kan nouht hide þat sche wote; [2275] sire þes wordes buen vnder|stonde of wemmen þat bien Ianglers & wikked; [2276] of whiche wemmen Men seine þat þre þinges driueþ a man oute of his house ¶ þat is to seie. Smoke. dropeinge of Reine? & wikked wyues. [2277] ¶ And of suche wemmen seiþe Salomon . þat him were better duelle in desert. þan wiþ a womman þat is reyetous. [2278] And sire be ȝoure leue þat am nouht .I. [2279] For ȝe haue ful oft assaide my grete silence & my grete pacience. And eke howe wele þat .I. can hide. & hele þinges þat men ouhten sekerly to hiden; [2280] ¶ And forþe as to ȝoure fift resone; wher as ȝe seie þat in wiked coun|sel wemmen venquyseþ men; Gode wote þilke reson stondeþ here in no stede; [2281] ¶ For vnder-stondeþ nowe ȝe ax conseil for to do wikkednesse. [2282] And if ȝe wil wirke wikkenesse; & ȝoure wife restreyneþ þilke wikked purpos; And ouere-comme ȝowe be reson & be goode counsel. [2283] Certes ȝowe wif ouht raþer to be preised þan to be blamed. [2284] This schold ȝe vnder|stande þe Philosofre þat saiþe. In wikked conseile wemmen venquisched her husbondes. [2285] And þere as ȝe blame al wemmen & here resons .I. schal schew ȝoue be monye ensamples þat mony wemmen han bien ful goode & ȝut buen. ¶ An here consel holsome & profitable [2286] eke: Sommen haue seid þat counselinge of wemmen es eiþer to dere or elles to lite of prise [2287] ¶ Bot al be it so þat ful mony a womman is badde. & hire consel vile & not worþe. ȝit haþe men founden mony a goode womman. & ful discrete & wise in counselinge. [2288] ¶ Lo Iacob þoruhe þe good counsel of his moder Rebec /./ whan he hadde. þe benyson of his fader. & þe lordschip ouere al his breþer. [2289] ¶ Iudiþe þoruhe hire goode counsel deliuerd þe Cite of Buþhilie in whiche sche duelte oute of þe hande of Olifernce þat hit beseged; & wolde haue al destruyed it. [2290] ¶ Abegayle deliuer Nabal hire husbonde fro dauid þe kinge þat wold haue sleyne him & apesed þe ire of þe kinge be hire witte & be hire good counseil|inge. [2291] Ester be hire counseile enchauncede gretlye þe peple of god in þe reigne of Assur [2292] ¶ And þe same bounte in goode conselinge of mony wemmen mai men tell [2293] ¶ And forþere more whan þat owre lorde hadde created Adam oure forme fadere. he seide in þis wise [2294] it is nouht good to bue a man alone Maake we an helpere semblable to him self; [2295] Here maie ȝe see þat if þat wemmen were nouht goode & here counseile goode & profitable; [2296] oure lorde god of heuen ne wold neyþer haue wrouht hem ne called hem þe helper of man. [. . . . .] [2297] ¶ And þere seide ones a clerk in tuo vers. What is better þan golde. Iasper; what is better þan Iasper. wisdome. [2298] And what is better þan wisdome Womman /./ And whatt is bester þan womman. þat is a good womman. noþinge. [2299] ¶ And sire be monye of oþere resons may ȝe seen þat mony wemmen ben goode. & eke here conseile goode & profitable also [2300] ¶ And þerfor sire if ȝe wil trust vnto mi counsel .I. schal restore ȝoure douhter hole & sounde. [2301] and eke þat .I. wil done to ȝowe so muche þat ȝe schal haue honoure in þis caas

[2302] ¶ whan Melibe hadde herde þe wordes of his wif Prudence. he seide þus; [2303] That þe wordes of salomon is soþe; for he seiþe þat þe wordes þat buen spoken discretelye be ordinance bien honye combes; For þei ȝeue swetnesse to þe soule & holesomenesse to þe bodye; [2304] And wif be cause of þi swete wordes & eke for .I. haue prouede & assaide þi grete sapience & þi grete trewþe .I. wil gouerne me be þi consel in al þinge

[2305] ¶ Nowe. sire quod Dam Prudence & seþen ȝe vouche sauf to be gouernde be my counsel .I. wil en|forme ȝowe how þat ȝe schal gouerne ȝoure selue In cheseinge of ȝoure counselours. [2306] ¶ Ȝe schol first forme al ȝoure werkes mekely. besecheinge to þe hihe gode þat he wolde be ȝoure. consellour. [2307] And schapeþ ȝowe to suche entent þat he ȝeue ȝowe consel & comforte as tauht Thobe to his son [2308] Att all times þou schalt blisse god & prei him to dressen þine weies. And loke also þat þi counsele ben in him for euermore. [2309] ¶ Seint Iame seiþe if any of ȝowe haue nede of sapiens aske it of god [2310] ¶ And afterward þan scholne ȝe take counsel in ȝoure self And examine wele ȝoure owen wittes of suche þinges as ȝowe þenkeþ þat is beste for ȝoure profit [2311] ¶ And þan schal ȝe driue fro ȝoure hert þenges þat bene contrarious to good consell. [2312] þat is to so seie. Ire. couetise. & hastenesse.

[2313] ¶ First he þat askeþ counsel of him self certes he most be wiþ-outen ire . . . . .[2314] . . . . .no gap in the MS. & wrathe in him-self; He weneþ al waie þat he maie do þinge þat he maie nouht do; [2315] And secundly he þat is yrous & wroþe he may nouht wel . . . [2316] . . . . .no gap in the MS. counsel [2317] ¶ þe þredde is þis; þat he þat is Irous & wroþe as seiþe Senec ne maie nouȝt speke bot blame-ful þinges. [2318] And wiþ þilke vicious wordes; he stireþ oþere folke to angur. & to Ire. [2319] ¶ And eke sir ȝowe most drede couetise & put it oute of ȝoure hert. [2320] ¶ For þe Apostel seiþe; þat Couetise is þe rote of al harmes [2321] ¶ And trusteþ riht wele þat a couetouse man can nouȝt deme ne þinke bot only to fulfil þe ende of his couetise; [2322] And certes þat mai neuer be acomplised ¶ For euer þe mo abundance þat he haþe of riches þe more he desireþ. [2323] ¶ And sir ȝoue most also driue oute of ȝoure herte hastifnesse [2324] For certes ȝe maie not deme for ȝe best A sodan þouht þat falleþ in ȝoure herte Bot ȝow mot avise on it ful oft. [2325] For as ȝe haue herde here-be-forne; þe commune prouerbe is þis. That he þat son deme sone repenteþ.

[2326] ¶ Sire ȝe be not alweie in like disposicione. [2327] For certes some þinge þat some time semeþ to ȝowe goode for to do; Anoþer time it semeþ to ȝowe þe contrarie[A great bit is now omitted in Lansdowne.]

[2328] [Whan ye han taken counseil vnto youre self and han demed bi goode deliberacioun suche thyng as yow semyth best [2329] than rede I yow that ye kepe it secre [2330] bewry youre counseil to no persone. but if so be that ye wene sikerly that thurgh yowre be-wreyeng your condicion shalbe to youre more profitable [2331] ffor Ihesus Syrak seyth neyther to thy foo ne to thy friend discouere nat thi secree ne thi folye [2332] for they wil yeve the audience and lokyng and supportacioun in thi presence and scorn in thy absence [2333] Another clerk seyth that scarsly thow shalt fynde any persone that may kepe thy counsaile secretly [2334] The booke seyth while that thow kepest thy coun|seil in thyn hert thow kepist it in thy prison [2335] and when thow bewryest thy counseil to any wight he holdith the in his snare [2336] And therfor yow is better to hide youre counseile in yowre hert than pray hym to whom ye have bewreyed youre counseil that he wil kepe it close and stille [2337] ffor Senek seyth if so be that thow ne mayst thyn owne counseil hide / how darstow pray any other wight thy counseil secretely to kepe / [2338] But natheles if thow wene sikerly that thy bewreyeng of thi counseil to a persone wil make thy condicion to stande in the better plite than shalt thow telle hym thy counseyl in this wise [2339] ffirst thow shalt make no semblaunt whether the were leuere pes than werre or this or that ne shewe hym nat thy wil and thyn entent. [2340] for trust wele that comunely thise counsellours bien flaterers [2341] namely the counseillours of grete lordes [2342] for they enforcen hem alwey rather to speke plesaunt wordis enclyneng to the lord his lust. than wordis that bien trewe or profitable [2343] and therfor men seyn that the riche man hath sielde goode coun|seil. but if he have it of hym self [2344] and after that thow shalt considre thy friendis and thyn enemyes [2345] And as towchyng thy friendis thow shalt con|sidre whiche of hem bien most feythful and most[MS Reg.] wise and most eldest and most appreved in counseillyng [2346] and of hem shalt thow axe thi counseil as the caas requirith

[2347] I sey that first ye shul clepe to yowre coun|seil yowre friendis that bien triewe [2348] ffor Salamon saith for right as the hert of man delitith in savour that is swete right so the counseil of thy friendis yevith swetnesse to the soule [2349] he seyth also ther may nothyng be lykned to the true friende [2350] ffor certes gold ne siluer be nat so moche worth as the goode wille of a triewe friend [2351] And he seyth that a triewe friend is a stronge defence who so that it fyndith certis he fyndith a grete tresour [2352] than shul ye eke considre if that yowre triewe friendis bien discrete and wise for the booke seyth aske alwey thy counseil of hem that bien wise [2353] And be this same reason ye mow clepe to youre counseil of yowre friendis that bien of age [qui assez ont veu] and bien expert in many thynges and han ben appreved in counseillynges [2354] ffor the booke seyth in old men is al the sapience and in long tyme the prudence [2355] As Tullius seyth that grete thynges ne be nat acompliced bi strength ne be delyuer|nesse of body. but by goode counseile and bi auctorite of persones and bi science The whiche .iij. thynges ne be nat fiebled bi age but certes they enforcen and en|cresen day bi day [2356] And than shul ye kepe this for a general rewle ffirst ye shul clepe to your counseil a fewe of youre friendis that bien especial [2357] ffor Salamon saith many friendis have thow. but among a M1. chese the oon in especial to be thy coun|seillour [2358] for albe it so that thow first ne telle thy counseill but to a fewe thow mayst after-warde tel it to mo folk if it be nede [2359] but loke alwey that thy counseillours have thylk .iij. condicions that I have seyde before. that is to sey that they be triewe wise and old experience [2360] and werk nat alwey in euery nede be oo counseillour alone for somtyme behovith it to be counseiled be many [2361] ffor Salamon seyth saluacion of thynges is where as there bien many counseillours[MS Reg. extract ends]]

[2362] ¶ Now haue .I. tolde ȝowe of whiche folkeLansdowne MS, on leaf 195, back ȝe scholde be counseled Nowe wil .I. teche ȝowe whiche counsell ȝe owe to eschewe [2363] ¶ ffirst ȝe scholne eschewe þe counseillinge of foles. Salomon seiþe; Takeþ no coun|sell of no foole for he wil counsel bot after his owen lust and his affeccions; [2364] ¶ The booke seiþe þat þe properte of a foole is þis. He troueþ lyhtly harme of euery whight; & lyhtly troueþ a bounte in him self [2365] ¶ Thou schalt eke eschewe þe counseileinge of al flaterers whiche enforcen hem raþer to preysen ȝoure persone by flatry þan for to tel ȝow þe soþe|fastnesse of þe þinge.

[2366] Wherefore tullius. seiþe Amonge al þe pestelence þat ben in frenschip þe grettest is flaterie; And þer-fore is it more nede þat þoue eschewe & drede flatrers þan any oþer peple. [2367] The boke seiþe þou schalt raþer [drede and] fle fro þe swete wordes of flateringe & preiseinge þat from þe egre wordes of þine frende þat seiþe þe þi soþes; [2368] Salomon. seiþe; The wordes of a flaterer is a snare to cache innocence. [2369] ¶ He seiþe also; He þat spekeþ to his frendes wordes of swettnesse; & al plesance; setteþ a nette to for his fete to cache him; [2370] And þerefor tullius seiþe Enclyne nouȝt þine eres to flatere[r]s ne take no counsel of wordes of flaterye; [2371] And Caton· Avise þe wele & eschewe þe wordes of swetenesse & of plesance; [2372] ¶ And eke þou schalt eschewe þe counsellinge of þine olde enmys þat be reconsiled [2373] ¶ The boke seiþe þat no whiht retorneþ safly in to þe grace of his olde enmye. [2374] And. Isope. seiþe. Ne trust nouht to hem to whiche some time þou hast hadd werre or enemete; ne tell hem nouht þine counsell. [2375] ¶ And Senec telleþ þe cause whi; It maie nouht be seiþ he þat where longe time fire haþe endured þat þere dwelleþ som tyme vapoure of hete; [2376] ¶ And þerefor seiþ Salomon. In þine olde foo truste þou neuere. [2377] ffor sekerly þouhe þine enmye be reconsilede & makeþ þe þere of humylite & louteþ to þe wiþ his hede ne trust him neuere. [2378] ffor certes he makeþ þilke feyned humylite more for his profit þan for any humylite. or for any loue of þin persone . . . . .no gap be suche feyned countenance. The whiche victorie. he myht haue be strif of werre. [2379] ¶ And Peter alfons seiþe Maake no felaweschepe wiþ þine olde enmys; ffor if þou done hem bounte þei willen peruerten it to wikkednesse; [2380] ¶ And eke þou most eschiewe þe counselinge of þine seruantȝ þat beren þe grete reuerence; ffor parauenture þei seine it more for drede þan for loue [2381] And þerfore seiþe a philosofer in þis wise. Ther is no wyght parfitly trewe to hime þat he to sore dredeþ; [2382] And Tullius seiþe There is no wight so grete of any emperoureȝ þat longe maie endure bot if he haue loue of þe peple & drede [2383] ¶ þou schalt eschewe also þe counselinge of folke þat bien dronkenlewe for þei ne can no counsell hide. [2384] Salomon. seiþe. þere nys no priuete þere as regneþ drunkennesse [2385] ¶ ȝe scholne haue also in suspecte to þe counselinge of suche folke as counsel ȝowe a þinge priuely & counsel ȝowe a thinge þat is contrarye openly [2386] ¶ ffor Cassidorie. seiþe þat it is a maner sleihte to hindren his enmye whan he scheweþ to done a þinge openlye & wirkeþ priuely þe contrarie. [2387] ¶ þou schalt haue also in þi suspecte þe counselinge of wikked folke . . . . .no gap þat is alweie ful of fraude; [2388] And Dauid seiþe þat blisful is þe man þat haþe nouht foulowed þe counse[l] of schrewes. [2389] ¶ Tho schalt also eschewe þe counselinge of ȝonge folke; ffor here counselinge is nouht ripe as Salomon seiþe

[2390] ¶ Nowe sire seþens .I. haue schewde ȝoue of whiche folke ȝe scholne take counseile & of whiche folke ȝe schollen folowe þe counsell [2391] ¶ Now wil .I. techeche howe ȝe scholne examyne ȝoure counsele after þe doctrine of tullius [2392] ¶ In þe examenynge þan of ȝoure conseloure ȝe scholne considere many þinges [2393] Alþere first þou schalt considere þilke þinge þat þou purposed; and vpon what þinge þou wolte haue counsel þat verrey treuþe be seide & conseruede. þis to seie; Tel treuly þin tale. [2394] For he þat seiþe fals maye wele be counseled in þat caas; . . . . .] [2395] ¶ And after þat þou schalt consideren þe þinges þat accorden to þat þou purposest for to be by þine counsel|loures if reson accordeþ þere to /./ [2396] And eke if þi myht maie atteigne þere to; ¶ And if þe more part & þe bettere parte of ȝoure counsellours accorden þer-to or no [2397] þenne schal þou considere whatt þinge schal folowe of hire counselinge. As hate pees. werre. grace profit oþer Damage or many oþir þinges; [2398] And in al þinges þou schalt schese þe best and. And weife al oþere þinges [2399] ¶ Than schalt þou considered of what rote it is engenderd þe matier of þine counsel & what fruyte it maie conceive & engendre. [2400] þou schalt eke considerer al þes causes for whiche þei bue spronge; [2401] ¶ And whan ȝe haue examyne ȝoure counsel as .I. haue seide and whiche partye is better & more profitable; & hast approued it be mony wise folke & olde; [2402] þan schalt þou considere. if þou maist performe it & make a good ende. [2403] For certes reson wil nouht þat any man schall beginne a þinge bot if he myht performe it as him ouht; [2404] Ne no wight schol taken vpon him so heuy a charge þat he ne myht bere it. [2405] ¶ For þe prouerbe seiþ; He þat to muche enbracet distreyneþ litul. [2406] And Caton seiþe Asseie suche þinge as þou hast pouere to done lest þe charge oppresse þe to sore; þat þe be-houeþ to weyve þinge þat þou hast begonne [2407] ¶ And if so be þou be in doute wheþe þou maiste performe a þinge or none; chese raþer for to suffur þan for to beginne [2408] ¶ And Peter Alphon seyþe. If þou hast myht to done a þinge of whiche þou most repent. . . . .[2409] . . . . .no gap It is better to hold þine tonge still; þan for to speke [2410] ¶ Then may .I. vnder-stonde be stronger resones þat if þou hast power to performe a werke of whiche þou schalt repent þe. Than is it better þat þou suffur þan begynne; [2411] wele seyne þei þat defenden euery whight to assaie a thinge of whiche he is in doute where he mai performe it or none; [2412] And after whan ȝe haue examined ȝoure counsell; as .I. haue seide be-forne; And knoweþe wele þat ȝe maie per|forme ȝoure emprise conferme it þan sadly til it be att an ende.

[2413] ¶ Nowe is it reson & time þat .I. schewe ȝowe whenne & where; for þat ȝe maie chaunge ȝoure counsel|lours wiþ-outen ȝoure reproue [2414] ¶ Soþely a man maie chaunge his purpos & his counsel if þe cause seseþ; or whan a newe caas be-tideþ; [2415] ffor þe lawe seiþ vpon þinges þat newly be-tyden be-houeþ new counsel; [2416] And senec saiþe. If þi counsell come to þe heres of þine ennemys chaunge þi counsel. [2417] . . . . .] if so be þat þou finde þat be errour or be any oþere cause harme or damage may betide [2418] ¶ Also if þi counsel be dishoneste. or elles come of dishonest cause change þine counsel. [2419] For þe lawe seiþe þat al behestes þat bene dishonest ne biene of no valew; [2420] ¶ And eke if it so be þat it be impossible or maie noȝt gladly be perfourmed or kepet

[2421] ¶ And take þis for a general rewle. That euery counsel þat is enformed so strongely þat it maie not be chaunged for no condicion þat maie be tide; I. saie þat ilke counsel is wykked;

[2422] ¶ Mellibeus whan he hadde herde þe doctrine of his wif Dame Prudence. he anseward in þis wise. [2423] Dame quod he as ȝit vnto þis time ȝe haue wele tauht me as in general howe .I. schal gouerne me. & in þe cheseinge. & in wiþholdeinge of my counsellours. [2424] ¶ Bott nowe wolde .I. faine þat ȝe wolde condescende in speciale; [2425] and telleþ me howe þat likeþ ȝowe or howe þat semeþ ȝow be owre coun|sellours þat we haue chose in þis present nede

[2426] ¶ Mi lorde quod sche .I. beseche ȝowe in al hum|blesse þat ȝo wold nouht wilfully reprouen aȝeine myn resouns ne distemper ȝoure herte þeihe .I. speke þinge þat ȝowe displese [2427] ¶ ffor god wote as in myne entent .I. speke it as for þe best; for ȝoure honoure & for ȝoure profit eke; [2428] And soþely .I. hope þat ȝoure be|nignite wil tak it in pacience // [2429] And trusteþ to me wele þat ȝoure consel in þis ne schold nouȝt as to speke properly be called a counsellinge; bot A mocion or ameueinge of folye. [2430] ¶ In whiche counsel ȝe haue herde in mony a sondre wyse;

[2431] first & forwarde ȝe haue herde in þe assem|blinge of ȝoure counsellours; [2432] ffor first ȝe schold haue cleped a fewe folk to ȝoure counsell. ¶ And after þat ȝe myht haue schewde it to mo folke if it hadd be nede; // [2433] Bot certes sodanly ȝe haue cleped to ȝoure coun|sel a grete multitude of peple ful chargeaunt & ful annoyus for to here; [2434] ¶ And also ȝe haue herde for|þer as ȝe scholde onely haue cleped to ȝoure counsel ȝoure trewe frendes olde & wise; [2435] ¶ ȝe haue cleped also strange folk ȝonge folke false flateres & ennemys reconsiled. And folke þat do ȝowe reuerence wiþe outen loue [2436] And eke also ȝe haue herde for ȝe haue brouht wiþ ȝou to ȝoure counsell. Ire. couetise./ & hastinesse./ [2437] ¶ þe whiche þre þinges be con|trarie to euery good consell & honest. & profitable; [2438] The whiche þre þinge ȝe haue nouht anentisched oþer de|struyde hem ney þere in ȝoure self ne in ȝoure counsellours as ȝowe auht [2439] ¶ ȝe haue herde also for ȝe haue schewde to ȝoure consellours ȝoure talent. ȝour affeccion anone for to do vengeance; [2440] And þei haue aspide be ȝoure wordes to what þinge ȝe be enclyned; [2441] And þere fore haue þei raþer counseld ȝowere talent; þan to ȝoure profitte.// [2442] ȝe haue herd also for ȝowe semeþ it sufficeþ to haue be coun|seld be þis counsellours onely & be lytil avise; [2443] where as in so grete & in so hihe a nede it hadde bue necessarie mo counsellours & mo delib[er]aciones to performe ȝoure emprise. [2444] ¶ Also ȝe haue nouȝt herde ȝoure counsell in þe forseid manere ne in dieu manere as þe caas requireþ. [2445] ¶ ȝe haue herde also for ȝe haue maade no diuision be tuex . . . . .no gap ȝoure trewe frendes & ȝoure feyned counselloures [2446] Ne ȝe haue nouht knowe þe will of ȝoure trew frendes olde & wise. [2447] Bot ȝe haue cast al here wordes in an hoche poche & enclyned ȝoure hert to þe more part and to þe gretter nombre [and there be ye condescended [2448] Et tu scez bien que les fols sont tousjours en plus grant nombre que les sages,] of foles þan of wise men; [2449] And þare for þe counsellinge þat ben at congregacioun & mul|titude of folk; þere as men tak more rewarde to þe nombre þan to þe Sapience. of persones. [2450] ¶ ȝe se wele þat in suche consellinge þe foles haue þe maistre. [2451] ¶ Mellibe anseward & seide aȝeine .I. graunt wele þat .I. haue herde [2452] Bot þere as þou hast tolde me here beforne. That he nys nouht to blame to chaunge his con|sellours for certeine caas & for certeine & iust cause; [2453] .I. am al rede to chaunge my consellours riht as þou woldest deuise.// [2454] for þe prouerbe seiþe ffor to do synne is manysshe Bot certes for to perseuere longe þere in is werkes of þe deuel.

[2455] ¶ To þis sentence anseward anone dame Pru|dence & seide [2456] examyneþ quod sche ȝoure coun|sel. & lat vs see whiche of hem haþ spoken most resonablelye; & tauht ȝoue best consell. [2457] ¶ And for als muche þat examinacions is necessarie Lat vs beginne att surgiens & att phiciens þat first spaken of þis matiere [2458] ¶ .I. seie þat Phesiciens & sirurgiens haue seide ȝowe in ȝoure counsel discretely as hem ouht [2459] in here speche & ful wisely; As to þe office of hem apparteneþ to done to euery whiht honour & profit & nouht for to annoye [2460] And after her craft to done grete diligence vn to þe cure of hem whiche þat haue in here gouern|ance [2461] ¶ And sir riht as þei haue anseward wisely & discretly. [2462] riht so rede .I. þat þei ben hihelye & souereingly guerdount for here noble speche. [2463] & eke for þei scholne more do þe ententif bisenesse in þe curacione of þine douhter dere; [2464] ffor albe-it so þat þei be ȝoure frendes þere for schal ȝe nouht suffre þat þei serue ȝoue for nouht; [2465] bot ȝe auht þere after guerdon hem & payen hem here largesse [2466] ¶ And as toucheinge þe proporcion whiche þat þe phecisiens encresseden in þis caas. ¶ This is to seine [2467] þat in maladies is þat a contrarie is waressched be anoþer contrarie [2468] ¶ I. wolde faine k[n]owe howe ȝe vnderstode þilke text & what is ȝoure sentence [2469] ¶ Certes quod Millibeus .I. vnderstonde it in þis wise; [2470] Riht as þei haue done to me a contrarie. So scholde .I. do hem anoþere; [2471] ffor riht as þei haue venged hem vpon me & done me wronge; Riht so wil .I. venge me vpon hem & done hem wronge; [2472] & þan haue .I. cured a contrary wiþ anoþer contrarie

[2473] ¶ Lo lo quod dame Prudence. howe lihtly is euery man enclined to his owen desire & to his plesance. [2474] Certes quod sche þe wordes of þe Phisiciens ne schold nouht be vnderstande in þat wise. [2475] ¶ ffor certes wykkednesse is not contrarie to wikkedenesse. ne ve[n]gaunce is nouht contrari to veng|aunce. ne wronge to wronge; [mais sont semblables [2476] Et pour ce, vengence par vengence, ne injure par injure n'est pas curé] [2477] bote euery of hem encreseþ & gregeþ oþere [2478] Bot certes þe wordes of phesiciens scholde be vnderstonde in þis wise; [2479] ffor goode & wykked|nesse bene tuo contraries; & pes & werre. venge|ance & suffrance. discord & accord. & mony oþere þinges [2480] ¶ Bot certes wikkednesse schal be warisched be goodenesse. discorde be acorde. werre. be pes. & so forþ & oþere þinges. [2481] ¶ And here to þe Apostel sein Paule in mony place; [2482] He seiþe ne ȝeldeþ nouht harm for harme ne wikked speche. [pour maudit] [2483] Bot do wele to hem þat done þe harme. & blesse hem þat seiþ to þe harme. [2484] ¶ And in monye oþere places he amonesteþ pees & accorde [2485] ¶ Bot now wil .I. speke of þe coun|sel whiche was yȝeue to ȝowe be men of lawe þe wyse folke & þe olde folke [2486] þat seiden al be one accorde as ȝe herde beforne. [2487] ¶ That ouer al þinges ȝe scholne do ȝoure diligence to kepe ȝoure persone & to warnyssche ȝoure hous [2488] ¶ And þei seiden also þat in þis caas ȝowe ouhten to wirchen ful aviselie & with grete deliberacione. [2489] ¶ And sir. as to þe first pointe þat toucheþ vn to þe kepeinge of ȝoure persone [2490] ¶ ȝe schul vnderstonde þat he þat haþe werre schal euermore deuoutly & mekely preyen befor al þinges [2491] þat ihesus crist of his merci wil haue him in protectione & bien his souereigne helpeinge at his nede; [2492] ffor certes in þis werlde þere nys no wiht þat mai be counseld ne kepped sufficiantly with|outen þe kepeinge of oure lor[d] ihesu crist; [2493] To þis sentence accordeþ þe profet dauid þat seiþe. [2494] If god ne kepe þe Citee. in Idel wakeþ he þat it kepeþ [2495] ¶ Now sir þan scholne ȝe qwite þe kepeinge of ȝoure person to ȝoure trewe frendes þat bene aproued & yknowe; [2496] & of hem schol ȝe axen helpe ȝoure persone for to kepe ¶ For Caton seiþe if þou hast nede of helpe ax it of þi frendes. [2497] For þere is none so good a fesicien as is þi trew frende [2498] ¶ And after þis schal ȝe kepe ȝowe frome al strange folke & fro lyers; And alweye haue in suspect here companye [2499] ¶ For Pers Alphon seiþe Ne take no company beþe were of a straunge man bot it so be þou haue knowe him of longer time; [2500] And if it so be þat he fal into þi compaigne per|aduenture wiþ-outen þine assent; [2501] enquere þan as sotelly as þou canste of his conuersacion & of his lif be-fore; & feyneinge þine weie seyinge þou woldest go þeder as þou woldest not go; [2502] If he bere a spere hold þe on þe riht side of him. & if he bere a swerde holde on þe left side of him. [2503] & þan schal ȝe kepe ȝowe wislye fro al suche manere of peple as .I. haue seide ȝowe here be-fore. & hem & here coun|sell eschewe. [2504] And after þis þan schal ȝe kepe ȝowe in suche manere [2505] þat for any presumpcion of ȝoure bodely strengeþ þat ȝe dispise nouht ne acompteþ nouȝt þe miht of ȝoure aduersarie so lit þat ȝe lette þe kepeinge of ȝoure person for ȝoure presumpcion. [2506] For euery wiseman dredeþ his enemye; [2507] ¶ And Salomon seiþe. welfull is he þat of al haþe drede [2508] For certes he þat haþ þoruhe hardenesse of his herte; and þoruhe þe hardinesse of him self haþ so grete presumpcion him schal yuel betide; [2509] And þan schal ȝe euer more enconterewaite en-buschementez and al espyaile [2510] ¶ ffor as seiþe þe wiseman. . . . .no gap. [2511] he ne falleþ in no perile þat perilousnes escheweþ [2512] ¶ And al be it so þat þou seme þat þou be in secrete place ȝit schalt þou alweie done þi diligence in þe kepeinge of þi per|son; [2513] þis is to seie be nouht necligent to kepe þi person Nouht onely fro þi grettest enemye bot only fro þi leste enmye. [2514] Senec. seiþe. A man þat is wele a-vised he dredeþ his lest enemye; [2515] Ouide. seiþ. þat þe litel wesel wil sle þe grete bull & þe wilde hert. [2516] And þe prouerbe seiþe a litel þorne mai greue a kinge ful sore & a lite hunde wil holde þe wilde bore [2517] bot naþelesse .I. seie nouht þou schal nouht be so grete a cowarde þat þou doute where as is no drede [2518] ¶ The book seiþe: þat somme men haue grete lust to deceyue; Bot þei dred to be de|ceyued; [2519] [Après, tu te dois garder de venin] And kepe þe from þe company of scoreners; [2520] for þe boke seiþe þat scorners makeþ no company. bot fle here word as venum.

[2521] ¶ Nowe as to þe secunde point. þere as ȝoure counsellours consell ȝow to warnystor ȝoure houses with grete diligence.// [2522] I. wold fein knowe howe þat ȝe vnderstonde þilke wordes & what is ȝoure sentence

[2523] ¶ Millebeus ansewarde & seide; certes .I. vnder|stonde in þis wise þat .I. schal warnstore myne house wiþ toures suche as haþe casteles & oþere manere edifices; & armour & archers [2524] be whiche þinge. If .I. maie my person & my hous so kepe. & defende þat myne enemys schal be in drede my hous to aproche

[2525] ¶ To þis sentence anseward a-none dame Prudens warnyscheinge quod sche of hihe toures & of hihe edifices apparteined som time to pride; [2526] And eke men make hihe toures. [et les edifices a grant traueil et a grans despens / Et quant elles sont faites elles ne valent rien se elles ne sont deffendues par saiges et par loyaulz amiz & grans missions] [2527] And vnderstand wele þat þe grettest & þe strangest garison þat a riche man maie haue. As wele to kepen his person & his goodes is [2528] þat he be byloued wiþ his subiectes & wiþ his neiȝbours // [2529] ffor þus seiþ Tullius; Thet þere is a manere Garnyson þat man maie venquysschen ne discomfite And þat is [2530] a lord to be loued of his Citeȝeines And of his peple

[2531] ¶ Nowe sir as to þe þred pointe; Where as ȝoure olde & wise counsellours seiden; þat ȝow nouht not sodenly ne hastely proceden in þis nede; [2532] Bot þat ȝowe ouhten purveye & apparel ȝowe in þis caas; wiþ grete diligence & grete deliberacion; [2533] Trewly .I. trowe þat þei seiden riht wisly & riht soþe; [2534] ¶ ffor. Tullius; seiþe; In euery nede er þou be-ginne it; apparel þe with grete diligence. [2535] Than seie .I. þat in vengeance takeinge in werre. in Bataile & in warnestoringe. [2536] er þou beginne .I. reede þat þou appareile þe þere to; and do it wiþ gode deliberacion [2537] ¶ ffor Tullius seiþe; þe longe apparaileinge beforne þe Bataile Makeþ schort victorie. [2538] And Cassidorus seiþe; The garnyson is strongere whan it is longe time avisede.

[2539] ¶ Bot nowe lat vs speke of þe counsel þat was acorded be oure neihbours suche as done ȝowe reuerence wiþ-outen loue [2540] ȝoure olde enemyes recon|silede; ¶ Ȝoure flaterers [2541] þat counseiled ȝowe cer|teine þinges priuely; & openlye counseled ȝowe þe contrarie; [2542] ¶ The ȝonge folke also þat counseld ȝowe to do vengeance and to make werre anone; [2543] ¶ And certe sir as .I. haue seide be-forne ȝe haue gretly erred to haue cleped suche manere of folke to ȝoure counsell; [2544] wiche counsellours buene ynowhe repreuede be þe resons a-forne seide [2545] ¶ Bot naþeles late vs nowe descende to þe speciale; ¶ Ȝe schollen first procede after þe doctrine. of Tullius. [2546] Certes þe treuþe of þis Matier eiþere of þis counsell nedeþ nouht diligently enquiren; [2547] For it is wele wist whiche þei bien; þat haue do ȝow þis trispas & velany; [2548] & howe many trespassours & in what manere þei haue done to ȝowe al þis wronge & all þis velanye [2549] ¶ And after þis; þan schal ȝe examyne þe secunde condicion; þe whiche þat Tullius haddeþ in þis matiere. [2550] ¶ For tullius. putteþ a þinge whiche att he clepeþ consentynge; þis is to seie; [2551] who buen þei & whiche buen þei & houe mony þat consenten to þi counsell in þi wilfulnes to done hasti vengeance; // [2552] And lat vs consider also who bien þei. & how mony bien þei [et quelz (MS Reg. 19 C xi, lf 58, col. 4)] þat þat consenten to ȝoure aduersaries [2553] ¶ And certes as to þe first pointe it is wele knowen whiche be þei þat consentine to ȝoure hastif wilful|nes; [2554] For treuly al þo þat counsel ȝoue to maken sodein werre ne bien nouȝt ȝoure frendes [2555] ¶ Lete se nowe whiche bien þei þat ȝe holde so gretely ȝoure frendes as to ȝoure person; [2556] For al be it so þat ȝe bene myhte & riche; certes ȝe bue bot alone. [2557] ffor certes ȝe haue no childe bot a douhtere; [2558] ne ȝe haue no breþern ne cosins germayns ne none oþere nyhe kinred; [2559] where-for ȝoure enmys scholden stint to plete wiþ ȝowe ne to destruyen ȝoure person; [2560] ¶ Ȝe knowen also þat ȝoure riches most be dispended in diuerse parties; [2561] And what þat euery whight haþ his parte þei wolne tak litel rewarde to vengen þi deþ [2562] ¶ Bot þine enemys bien þre; & þei haue many childerne. breþern; cosins; & oþere nyhe kinrede [2563] ¶ And þouhe so were þat þou haddest sleine of hem tuo or þre; Ȝit dwellen þere y-nowe to awreken here deþe; & to sle þine persone [2564] & þeihe so be þat ȝoure kinred be more sikere & stedfast þan þe kinrede of ȝoure aduersarie; [2565] ȝit neuer þe les ȝoure kinred is bot after kinrede þat bien bot litil sibbe to ȝowe [2566] ¶ And þe kine of ȝoure ennemys bue nyhe sibbe to hem; And certes as in þat her condicion is better þat is ȝoures [2567] ¶ Than latt vs consideren also of þe counsellinge of hem þat counseleden ȝow to taken sodein vengeance; weþere it accordeþ to reson or none; [2568] And certes ȝe knowen wele naye; [2569] ¶ For as be riht & reson þere maie no man take vengeance of no wyht bot þe Iuge þat haþe Iurdiction of it [2570] whan it is graunted him to take þilke vengeance hastelye or at|temperellye as þe lawe requireþ [2571] ¶ And ȝit more ouere of þilke worde þat Tullius clepeþ consentinge; [2572] þou schalt consent if þi myht & þi power maie consent; And sufficeþ to þi wilfulnesse & to þine counsellours; [2573] And certes þou maist wele seie þat naie; [2574] For sekerly as for to speken propurlye we maie do no þinge bot onely suche þinge as we may done rihtfully [2575] ¶ And certes rihtfully ne maie ȝe take no vengeance as of ȝoure propre Auctorite; [2576] ¶ þan maie ȝe seen þat ȝoue pouer ne consenteþ nouȝt ne accordeþ nouȝt wiþ ȝoure wilfulnesse. [2577] ¶ Nowe latte vs examyne þe þrede pointe þat tullius clepeþ þe consequent; [2578] ¶ þou schalt vnderstonde þat þe vengeance þat þou purposest for to take his conse|quent; [2579] And þer-for falleþ anoþere vegeance. Perill. werre. & oþere damage wiþ-outen nombre of whiche be nouht war as att þis time; [2580] And as toucheinge þe ferþe pointe; þat Tullius clepeþ en|genderinge [2581] ¶ Thou schalt consider þat þis wronge whiche þat is done to þe; is engenderd of þe hate of þine enmys; [2582] And of þe vengeance takeing; And vpon þat wolde engender anoþer vengance & muchel sorwe & wastinge of richesse as .I. seide ere

[2583] Now sir as toucheinge þe pointe þat tullius clepeþ causes. whiche. þat is þe last pointe. [2584] ¶ þou schalt vnderstonde þat þe wronge þat þu hast receyued haþ certeine causes [2585] whiche þat clerkes clepen. Oriens & officiens & causa longinqua & causa propinqua. þis to seine þe ferre cause [et la proch|aine [2586] La longtaine est dieu qui est cause de toutes choses / [2587] La prochaine sont ces iij. ennemiz [2588] La cause (Reg. 19 C xi)] Accidentale. was hate. [2589] The causes Material bene þe .v. wondes of þine douhter; [2590] The cause formale is þe manere of here wercheinge þat brouht ledders And clomben in att þine wyndows. [2591] þe cause finale was for to sle þi douhter. It lakked nouht in as muche as in hem was [2592] ¶ Bot for to speken of þe ferre cause as to what ende þeie scholne come; or what schal be-tiden of hem in þis caas ne can .I. nouht deme bot be coniectinge & be supposeinge; [2593] ¶ For we scholne supp[os]e [que Ilz en vendront] to a wikked ende; [2594] Be cause þe booke of decrees seiþe ¶ Seldome or wiþ grete peine bene causes / brouhte to an hende whan þei bene badly be-gonne.

[2595] ¶ Nowe sir if men axed me; whi þat ȝe suffer men to done ȝowe þis velanye; certes .I. can not wele ansewer as for no soþfastnesse [2596] ¶ For þe Apostele seiþe þat þe science & þe Iuggement of oure lorde god bene myhty & depe; [2597] þere maie no man comprehende ne serche ham sufficeantly; [2598] Nareþeles be serteine presumpciouns & coniettinges .I. holde & beleue [2599] þat god þat is ful of Iustice & rihtwisnes Haþ suffred þis be-tide be Iust cause resonable;

[2600] ¶ þi name is Melibe. þis is to seie a man þat drinkeþ honye; [2601] Thow hast ydronken so muche hony of þi swete temperal riches & delices & hon|ours of þis werlde [2602] þat þou art dronken; & hast forȝeten oure lorde ihesu criste þi creatour; [2603] þou hast noȝt done to him suche honour as þe ouhte; [2604] ne þou hast nouht wele take hede to þe wordes of Ovide þat seide; [2605] vnder þe hony of þe goodes of þi bodi; is hidde þe venym þat sleþ þi soule; [2606] And Salomon seiþe; If þou hast found Hony; ete of it what sufficiþe; [2607] For if þou ete of it oute of mesure; Þou schalt spewe & be nedy & pouere; [2608] And peraduenture criste haþe in despite & haþ torne awaie fro þe his face; & his heres of Misericorde; [2609] And also he haþe suffred þat þou haste biene ypunysched in þe maner þat þou hast trespast [2610] ¶ Thou hast done sinne aȝeines oure lorde ihesu criste; [2611] for certes þe þre enemys of mankinde þat is to seie. þe flesche. þe fende. & þe werlde. [2612] Thou hast suffurde hem entre in to þine [soule] wilfully be þe windowes of þi bodye [2613] And hast nouht defended þe sufficiantly aȝeines here defautes & temptaciouns; So þat þei haue wounded þi soule in .v. place; [2614] þis is to seine. ¶ þe dedely sinnes þat biene entred in to þine hert be þi .v. wittes. [2615] And in þe same manere oure lorde ihesu crist; haþe suffred þat þine þree enemys be entrede in to þine house be þe windowes; [2616] And han wounde þi douhter in þe same manere;

[2617] ¶ Certes quod Mellibe .I. see þat ȝe en|force ȝowe mechel be wordes to ouer-come me. In suche manere þat schal nouȝt avenge me of myne enmye [2618] scheweinge me þe perils & þe yueles þat myhten fal of þis vengeance [2619] ¶ Bot [who]so wolde consider in al vengeance þe perils & þe yuels þat miht sewe of vengancez takeinge [2620] a man wold neuere take veniance; And þat were harme; [2621] for be þe venge|ance takeinge buen þe wikked men deseuerd fro þe good men; [2622] ¶ And þo þat han wil to done wikked|nesse; restreyne here wikked purpos; Whan þei seen þe punyssheinge and þe chastesinge of trespassours

[2623] [And to this answered dame Prudence: 'Certes,' said she, 'I grant you that from vengeance come many benefits as well as many evils; [2624] yet vengeance be|longeth not to "a singulere person," but only to the judges, and to those who have jurisdiction over evil-doers.'] [2625] ¶ An ȝite saie .I. more; þat riht as a singulere person sinneþe In takeinge vengeance of anoþer manne. [2626] Riht so sinneþ þe Iugge if he take no vengeance of hem þat hit haue deseruede; [2627] ffor Senec seiþe. That maistere is good þat reproueþ schrewes; [2628] And as Cassidorye seiþe A man dredeþ to done outrages whan he wote & knoeþ þat it displese þe Iuge & þe souereyngnes; [2629] ¶ And anoþere. The Iuge þat dredeþ to done riht Makeþ schrewes. [2630] And seinte Poule þe Appostle seiþe in his epistle whan he writeþ vn-to þe Romayns; That þe Iuge beren nouht þe spere wiþ-owten cause [2631] bot þei beren it to punysshen þe schrewes & þe mysdoers & to defende þe goode men; [2632] If ȝe wilne þan take vengeance of ȝoure enemys ȝe schol retourne or haue ȝoure recours to þe Iuge þat haþ þe Iurdiccioun vpon hem. [2633] & he schal punysshe hem as þe lawe axeþ & requireþ;

[2634] ¶ A quod Mellibe; þis vengeance lykeþ me no þinge; [2635] I be-þinke me nowe howe fortone haþe norisched me fro my childhode And haþ holpen me to passe mony a strange place; [2636] Now .I. will assayene here troweinge wiþ goddes grace & helpe þat ȝe schal helpe me my schame for to venge

[2637] ¶ Certes quod prudence if ȝe wolne wirche be my counseil; ȝe schol nouht assaye fortune be no weye [2638] ¶ Ne ȝe schol nouht lene or borwe vnto here after þe worde of Senec. [2639] For þinges þat bene folylye done & þat biene in hope of fortune schal neuer come a good ende [2640] And as þe same Senec seiþe; The more clere & þe more and þe more schineinge þat fortune is; þe more brutel & þe sonner ybroke sche is; [2641] Tristeþ nouht in hire for sche is neyþere stedfast ne stable; [2642] ¶ For whan þou trowest to be most sekere or sure of hire helpe; Sche wil Faile þe & deceyve þe; [2643] ¶ And where as ȝe seine þat fortone haþ norissched ȝow fro ȝoure child-hode; [2644] I. saie ȝoue þat in so muche schal ȝe þe lasse trust in hire & in hire witte; [2645] ¶ For Senec seiþe. þat what man is norisched be fortune sche makeþ him a grete foole; [2646] ¶ Nowe seþen ȝe desire & axen vengeance; And þe vengeance þat is done after þe lawe & be-forne þe Iuge ne likeþ ȝowe nouȝt; [2647] And vengeance þat is done in hope of forton is peril|ous & vncerteine; [2648] Than haue ȝe none oþer remedye; bot for to haue ȝoure recours vnto þe souereyne Iuge þat vengeþ al velanyes & wronges [2649] And he schal venge ȝoue after þat þi self witnesseþ; . . . .no gap [2650] Leueþ þe vengeance to me & .I. schal done it;

[2651] Mellibe anseward; I. ne venge me nouht of þe wronge þat men han done to me [2652] .I. schal somne or werne hem þat haue done þis velany to me And al oþere to done me anoþere velanye [2653] ¶ For it is wreten if þou take no vengeance of an olde velanye; þou somp|nest þine aduersarie to done þe a newe velanye; [2654] [Et ainsi par mon serement en souffrant len me fera tant de villenie de toutes pars (Reg. 19 C xi, lf 60, col. 2)] þat .I. myht neyþe ber it ne susteinge; [2655] And. so schold .I. be oueresett And halden ouere lowe; [2656] For men seine in muchel suffringe schold mony þinges falle. vn-to þe whiche .I. schal nouht suffre

[2657] ¶ Certes quod prudence .I. graunte þat ouer muchel suffrance is nouht good; [2658] ¶ Bot ȝit ne fouloweþ it nouȝt þere-of; þat euery person to whom men doone velanye take of hit vengeance; [2659] For þat appar|teneþ & longeþ al only to þe Iuge. For þei schal vengen þe vilenys & þe inIuryes [2660] And þerfore þo tuo Auctoritees þat ȝe haue seide aboue ben only vnderstonden in þe Iugges [2661] ¶ For whan þei suffren ouere mechel þe wronges & velanys be done with-owten punyschinge; [2662] þei sompne not a man onely for to do newe wronges; bot þe commaunde it [2663] ¶ Also a wise man seiþe; þat þe Iuge þat cor|recteþ nouht þe sinner; commandeþe & biddeþ him to do sinne [2664] ¶ And þe souereignes & þe Iuges myhten in her londe so muche suffure of þe schrewees & þe mysdoers; [2665] þat þei scholden be suffrance be processe of time wexen of suche powere & myht; þat þei scholde put oute þe Iuges & þe souereignes fro here places; [2666] & att þe last maken hem lesen here lordeschippes;

[2667] Bot lat vs nowe put þat ȝe haue leue to vengen ȝowe; [2668] If ȝe be nouht of myht & powere as nowe to vengen ȝowe; [2669] ¶ For if ȝe willen maake comparison vn-to þe myht of ȝoure aduersaries; ye scholne finde in many þinges þat .I. haue schewde ȝowe aforne þis; þat here condicion is better þan ȝoures; [2670] ¶ And þerefore seie .I. þat it is good as nowe þat ȝe suffre & be pacient

[2671] ¶ Forþere more ȝe knowe. þat after þe comune sawe it is a wodenesse a man to striue aȝeines a stronger oþere a more myhty man þan him self [2672] ¶ And for striue wiþ a man of euen strenkeþ; þat is to seie wiþ a strange man as he is it is a perile. [2673] And for to striue wiþ a weyker man it is foly; [2674] And þer-for scholde a man flyȝe striueinge as muche as he miht; [2675] as Salomon seiþe; It is a grete worschipe a man to kepe him fro noyse & strif [2676] ¶ And if it so be-falle or happe þat a man of gretter myht & strengeþ þan þou ert do þe greuance [2677] Stodye & besye þe raþere to stille þe same greuance þan for to venge þe [2678] For Senec seiþe. þat he putteþ him in grete perile þat striveþ wiþ a gretter man þan he him self is [2679] ¶ And Caton seiþe if a man of hiher astate or degre or more myhte þan þou do þe anoye or greuance suffre hime. [2680] For he þat ones haþe greued þe maie a-noþere time releue þe & helpe þe; [2681] ¶ Ȝitt sett .I. caas þat ȝe haue boþ myht & licence to venge ȝowe; [2682] I. seie þat þere bue mony þinges þat schold reteyne ȝowe. of vengeance takeinge [2683] And maake ȝow for to encline & for to suffre And for to haue paciens in þe wronges þat han be done to ȝowe; [2684] first & forwarde yf ȝe wolne considere þe defautes þat bene in ȝoure owen person; [2685] ffor whiche defautes god haþ suffred ȝowe to haue þis tribulacione as .I. haue seide ȝowe here before; [2686] ffor þe poet seiþe; That we ouhten pacientlye take þe tribu|lacions þat comeþ to vs whan we þinken & consideren þat we haue deserued to haue hem. [2687] ¶ And seint Gregorie seiþ whan a man considereþ wele þe nombre of his defautes & of his sinnes [2688] þe peynes & þe tribulacions þat he suffreþ semen þe lasse vn-to hime [2689] ¶ And alsomuche as him þink|eþ his sinnes þe more heuy & greuous. [2690] In so muche semeþ his peine. þe lihter & þe esier vn-to him; [2691] ¶ Also ȝe owen to enclyne & to bowen ȝoure herte to taken þe pacience of oure [lord] ihesu crist. As seiþe seint Peter in his Epistles; [2692] ¶ Ihesu crist he seiþ haþe suffred for vs & ȝeuen ensample vn-to euery man for to folowe & to sewe him; [2693] ffor he dide neuer sinne. ne neuere ne came a veleyns worde out of his mouþe; [2694] ¶ Whan men cursed him · he cursed hem nouht. And whan men betene him he manessed hem nouht [2695] ¶ Also þe grete paciens whiche þe seintez þat bien in paradise haue hadde in tribulacions þat þei haue sufferd wiþ-outen her desert or gilt [2696] ouht muche to stire. Ȝowe to pacience; [2697] [Aprez moult te dois encliner a pacience ce] [2698] consideringe þat þe tribulacions of þis werlde bot litel while endureþ; & sone passed biene & gone; [2699] And þe Ioye þat man sekeþ to haue by pacience in tribulacione is perdurable After þat þe Apostele seiþe in þis epistle [2700] ¶ The Ioye of god he seiþe is perdurable þat is to seie euer lasteinge /;/ [2701] Also troweþ & beleueþ stedfastlye þat is nouht wele y-norisched ne wele y-tauht þat can nouht haue pacience. . . . .no gap [2702] ¶ For Salomon. seiþe; þat þe doctrine of þe witte of man it knowen be pacience; [2703] And in anoþere place he seiþe. He þat is pacient gouerneþ him be grete prudence; [2704] And ȝut Salomon seiþe. þe Angry & þe wuþful man makeþ noys; and þe pacient man attempreþ him & stille him [2705] ¶ He seiþe also it is more worþe to be riht pacient þat to be riht stronge; [2706] And he þat may haue þe lorschip of his owen hert is more to preise; þan he þat be his force & strengeþ takeþ grete Citees [2707] ¶ And þerfor seiþ seint Iame in his apistle þat pacience is a grete vertue of perfeccione.

[2708] ¶ Certes quod Mellibe .I. graunte ȝowe dame prudence. þat pacience is a grete vertue of Perfeccione. [2709] Bot euery man maie not haue þe perfeccion þat ȝe sechen [2710] ¶ Ne .I. ne am not of þe nombre of riht per|fite me[n]. [2711] ffor myne herte may neuer bue in pees vnto þe time it be venged .// [2712] And al be it so þat it was grete perile to myne enemys to done a velany in takeinge vengeance vpon me. [2713] ȝit token þei none hede of þe perile bot fulfilden here wikked wil & here corage [2714] ¶ And þere-fore me þenkeþ þat men ouht not to reproue me þeihe .I. putte me in-to a litel perile for to avenge me; [2715] And þouhe .I. do a grete excesse; þat is to saie; þat .I. do a vengeance outrage be a-noþer;

[2716] ¶ A quod Dame prudence ȝe seyne ȝoure wil & as ȝoue likeþ [2717] ¶ Bot in no caas of þe werlde a man schold nouht done outrage ne excesse for to avengen him [2718] ¶ For Cassidori seiþe; That as yuel doþe he þat avengeþ him be outrage; As he þat doþe þe outrage; [2719] And þere-fore ȝe schollen venge ȝow after þe order of riht; þat is to seine be þe lawe; nouht be excesse ne be outrage; [2720] Also If ȝe wil venge ȝow of þe outrage of ȝoure aduersaries in oþere manere þan riht commandeþ ȝe synnen; [2721] ¶ Therefore seiþe Senec That a man schal neuere venge schrewnesse by schrewdnesse; [2722] a[n]d if he seie þat riht axeþ to defende violence be violence; An feihtinge be feyhtinge; [2723] Certes ȝe seie soþe whan þe defence is done riht anone wiþ-outen interualle or with-owten tarynge or delaye [2724] for to defenden him & nouht for to vengen him; [2725] And it be-houeþ þat a man putte suche temperance in his defense [2726] þat men haue no cause ne Matire to reproue him þat defendeþ him of excesse & outrage. [Car au|trement Ce seroit contre droit et contre raison (Reg. 19 C xi)] [2727] ¶ Parde ȝe wote wele þat ȝe maake no defense as nowe for to defende ȝowe. bot for to venge ȝowe [2728] ¶ And so seweþ it þat ȝe haue no wil to ȝoure dede attemperally; [2729] And þere-for me þinkeþ þat pacience is goode ¶ For Salomon seiþe; he þat is nouht pacient schal haue grete harme

[2730] ¶ Certes quod Mellibe .I. graunt wele þat whan a man is vnpacient & wroþe of þat þat toucheþ him nouht & þat at apperteigneþ nouht to him; þouht it harme him it is no wondere [2731] for þe lawe seiþe; he þat is coupable; þat entre-meteþ him or medeleþ him wiþ suche þinges as perteigneþ nouht to him; [2732] ¶ And Salomon seiþe. That he þat entermeteþ him of þe noyse & þe strif of a-noþere man is like to hime þat takeþ an hunde be þe eres; [2733] ffor riht as he þat take a strange honde be þe eres is oþere while beten wiþ þe honde; [2734] riht in þe same wise it þe resoun þat he haue harme. þat by his inpacience medeleþ him of þe noyce of anoþere man; wher as it apperteineþ nouht vnto him [2735] ¶ Bot ȝe knowen wele þat þis dede; þat is to seie my greue & my disese toucheþ me riht nyhe. [2736] ¶ And þere-for þeih .I. be wroþe & im|pacient; it is no merveile [2737] ¶ And saueinge ȝoure grace .I. can nouȝt see þat it myht gretly harme þeih. .I. take vengeance [2738] ffor .I. am more Richer & myhte þan myne enemys biene [2739] ¶ And wele knowe ȝe þat be mony & he haueinge grete posses|sions bien al þinge of þis werld gouernede; [2740] And Salomon seiþ All þinges obeyne to money;

[2741] ¶ Whan prudence had herd hir husbonde to avaunten him of his riches & of his monye; & dispreyse|inge of þe pouer of his aduersaries; Sche spak & seide on þis wise [2742] [Certes treschier sires] .I. graunte þat ȝe be riht riche & myhty; [2743] & þat þe risches bien goode to hem þat haue wele geten hem. & þat wele can vsen hem [2744] ¶ For riht as þe body of man maie noȝt leue withouten soule; ne more may it leue wiþ-outen temperale godes [2745] ¶ And be rich|es may a man geten him grace; [2746] ¶ And þer-for seiþe Pamphilles; If any goddes douhter he seiþe be riche; sche maie chese he seiþe of a þousand men. [lequel quelle veult pour mary [2747] Et de mil] one wil not for-saken hur ne refuysen hire. [2748] ¶ And þis Pamphiles seiþe al so if þou be riht happe; þat is to seie if þou be riht riche þou schalt finde a grete nombre of frendes & felawes [2749] ¶ And if þi fortun chauncheþ þat if þou wex pore; ffare wele frenchipp & phelauschipe; [2750] ffor þou schalt be alone wiþ-outen any company. bot if be þe compaigne of good folke [2751] ¶ And ȝitte seiþe þis Pamphiles more ouere; þat þei þat bien þralle & bonde of lignage scholne be maade worþe & noble be richesse; [2752] And riht so as be ryches þere comen mony godes; Riht so be pouert comeþ mony harmes & yuels; [2753] ffor grete pouerte con|streyneþ a man to done mony yuels [2754] ¶ And þere|for clepeþ Cassidor. pouert. þe moder of ruyen. [2755] þat is to seie þe moder of ouere þroweinge. or fallinge doune. [2756] And þerfor seiþ Pers Alphons. One of þe grettest aduersarie of þis werlde is; [2757] whan a fre be kinde or of birþe is constreyned be pouert to eten þe almes of his enemye; [2758] ¶ And þe same seiþ. Innocent In one of his bokes seiþ þat þe sorwe Ful & þe mys happe is þe condicion of a pouer beggere. [2759] ffor if He axeþ nouht his mete he deyeþ for hungere; [2760] And if he ax he deyeþ for schame; And algates necessite constreineþ him to axe. [2761] And þer-for seiþ Salomon; þat better is to deie þan to haue suche pouert; [2762] ȝut seiþ Salo|mon; þat better is to deie of bitter deþe þan for to leue in suche wise; [2763] Be þes resouns þat .I. haue seide vnto ȝowe; and be mony oþere resons þat .I couþe sei; [2764] I graunt ȝowe wele þat riches bene good to hem þat geten hem wele; & to hem þat wele vsen hem. [2765] And þer-fore wil .I. schewe ȝowe howe ȝe schall haue ȝowe; [en amassant les richesses et en vsant de celles (MS Reg. 19 C xi, lf 61, back, col. 2.)]

2766] ¶ First ȝe schol geten hem with-oute grete desire be goode leyser so-keingly & nouht ouere Hastely; [2767] ffor a man þat is to desireinge to gette riches; aboundeneþ him first to þeft; & to all oþere yuels; [2768] And þere-fore seiþ Salomon. He þat hasteþ him ouere besilye to wax riche schal be none Innocent; [2769] He seiþe also þat þe richesse þat hastely commeþ to a man. Sone & lyhtly goþe & passeþ fro a man; [2770] ¶ But þat richesse þat commeþ litell & lytel wexiþ alweie & multiplieþ; [2771] ¶ And sire ȝe schal gete richesse ynouhe be ȝowre witte & be ȝoure trauaile vnto ȝoure profite [2772] And þat wiþ-owten wronge or harme; doinge to any oþere person; [2773] ¶ For þe lawe seiþe þere makeþ no man him self riche if he do harme to anoþere wyght; [2774] [Car la loy dit que droit et nature deffent que nulz ne se face riche au dommaige dautruy (MS Reg. 19 C xi, lf 62, col. 1)] [2775] ¶ And Tullius seiþe þat no sorwe ne no drede of deþe ne no þinge þat maie fall to a man [2776] is so muche aȝeines nature; As a man to encrese his owen profite to þe harme of anoþere man; [2777] And þouhe þe grete men & þe riche men geten richesse More lihtly þan þou; [2778] ȝit schalt þou nouht bien ydel ne slowe to done þi profitt; ffor þou schalt in al wise fliȝe ydelnesse; [2779] ¶ For Salomon. seiþe þat Idelnesse techeþ a man to done many yuels; [2780] And eke he seiþ þat he þat trauaileþ & bysiþ him to tilien his londe schal eten brede [2781] Bot þat is Idel & casteþ him nouht to do no besines ne occupacioun schal fall in-to pouert & deye for hunger; [2782] And he þat is ydel & slowhe ne can neuer finde couenable time For to done his profite [2783] ¶ For þere is a versifiour þat seiþe þe ydel man excuseþ him in winter because of þe grete colde; and in somer be cause of þe grete hete; [2784] ffor þes causez seiþe Caton; Wakeþ & enclyneþ ȝow nouȝt ouere mechel for to slepe For ouere muche rust causeþ & norischeþ mony vices [2785] ¶ And þerefore seiþe seinte Ierome Doþe some goode dedes þat þe deuel whiche is oure enmye ne finde ȝowe vn-occupied; [2786] ¶ For þe deuel ne takeþ nouȝt lihtly vn-to his worche|inge suche as he findeþ yoccupied in good werkes;

[2787] ¶ Than þus in geteinge riches ȝe mot fliȝe ydelnesse; [2788] & afterward ȝe scholne vse þe richesse þe whiche ȝe haue getten be ȝoure witte & be ȝoure trauayle [2789] In suche a maner þat men halden ȝowe nouht scarce ne to spareinge ne to foole large; þat is to seie ouere large a spender; [2790] For riht as men blam an auarous man be cause of his scarste; & þinkeinge [2791] in same wise; he is to blame þat spendeþ ouer largely. [2792] ¶ An þer-for seyþe catōn; Vse þe richesse þat þou hast goten [2793] in suche maner þat men haue no matier ne cause to clepe þe wreche ne chinche [2794] For it is grete schame to a man to haue a pouer hert & a riche purce [2795] ¶ He seiþe also þe goodes þat þou haste goten vse hem be Mesure; þat is to seine spend mesurablye; [2796] for þei þat folely wasten & dispenden þe goodes þat þei haue [2797] whan þei haue no more propre of hire owen; þei schapen hem to tak þe goodes of a-noþere man; [2798] I seie þan þat he schal ffle auarice [2799] vseinge ȝoure riches in suche manere þat men seie nouht þat ȝoure richesse bue ybered; [2800] Bot þat ȝe haue hem in ȝoure miht & in ȝoure weldeinge [2801] ¶ ffor a wiseman reproueþ þe auerouce man; And seiþe þus in in tuo vers; [2802] Wher-to & Whi beriþ a man his goodes be his auarice And knoweþe wele þat nedes most he deye; [2803] ffor [deþ] is þe ende offe euery man as in þis present lif; [2804] and for þat cause & enchesoune Ioyneþ he him or knytteþ he him so fast vn-to his goodes; [2805] þat al his wittes mowe nouht deseuern him or departe him fro his goodes; [2806] And knoweþe wele or ouht to knowe þat whan he is dede he schal not bere it oute of þe werlde wiþ him; [2807] And þere-for seiþ sein Austine þat þe Auerouce man is likkened vn-to hell; [2808] þat þe more it desireþ; þe more it sweloweþ & deuoureþ; [2809] ¶ And also wele as ȝe wolde eschewe to ben ycleped an averous man or a chinche [2810] As wele scholde ȝe gouerne ȝowe & kepe ȝowe in suche a wise þat men clepe ȝow nouht to large [2811] ¶ þer-fore Tullius seiþe; The goodes he seiþe of þine house scholde not be hidde ne kepped in close bot þat þei myht ben opende wiþ pite. & wiþ debonarte; [2812] ¶ þat is to sei ȝef hem parte þat haþ grete nede [2813] Ne þi goodes schal nouȝt be so open to ben euery mannes goodes. [2814] Afterwarde in geteinge of ȝoure richesse & in vseinge hem ȝe scholne alweie haue þrei þinges in ȝoure herte; [2815] [Cest assauoir dieu conscience et bonne fame [2816] Tu dois donques auoir dieu eu ton ceur (MS Reg. 19 C xi, lf 62, bk, col. 1)] [2817] And for no richesse ȝe scholne do no þinge þat maie displesaunce to god [ton createur] [2818] ¶ For after þe worde of Salomon. It is better to haue a litel goode wiþ þe loue of god; [2819] þan to haue muche goode & tresor & lese þe loue of his lorde god; [2820] And þe prophit seiþe; þat better it is to be a good man & haue litel goode & tresour; [2821] þan to be holden a schrewe & to haue grete richesse [2822] ¶ Ȝit seye .I. forþer more; þat ȝe scal done ȝoure bisines to geten ȝowe rechesse [2823] so þat ȝe geten hem wiþ good conscience [2824] ¶ And þe Apostle seiþe þat þere is no þinge in þis werlde of whiche we scholne haue so grete Ioye as when oure concience bereþ vs good wittenesse; [2825] And þe wise man seiþe; The substance of a man is ful good whan sinne is nouht in mannes conscience; [2826] ¶ Afterwarde in gettinge of ȝoure richesse; And in vsinge of hem [2827] ȝow must haue grete besinesse & grete diligence þat ȝoure good name be al weie kepped & conserued [2828] ¶ For Salo|mon seiþe; þat better it is & more aveileþ a man to haue goode name þan to haue grete richesse; [2829] And þerfore he seiþe in anoþere place; Doþ grete diligence seiþe Salomon; in kepeinge of þi frende & of þi goode name [2830] for it schal longer abide wiþ þe [þan] any tresor be it neuere so precious; [2831] And certes he scholde not be cleped a gentil man þat after god & good conscience al þinges left þat ne doþe his besines ne diligence to kepen his goode name [2832] ¶ And Cassidorie seiþe þat it is signe of a goode hert whan a man loueþ & desireþ to haue a goode name; [2833] An þerfore seiþ seiþ seint Austine þat þere beene tuo þinges þat bien necessarie & nedefull. [2834] And þat is good conscience [2835] to þine owen person inwarde; & good loos of þin neihbour outewarde [2836] And he þat trustuþ him so muchel in his goode conscience [2837] þat he dispiseþ his good name or loos and rekkeþ nouȝt to kepe his goode name; nys bot a cruel cherlle

[2838] ¶ Sire nowe haue .I. schewde ȝow howe ȝe schol done in geteinge of richesse & howe ȝe scholne vsen hem; [2839] And .I. se wele þat for þe trust þat ye haue in rechesse ȝe wol men Bataile & werre; [2840] ¶ I counsell ȝowe þat ȝe be-gynne no werre in trust of ȝoure richesse. For þei sufficen nouht werres to main|tene [2841] ¶ And þerfore seiþ a Philosofre That a man desireþ & wil algates haue werre: schal neuer haue sufficeance. [2842] For þe richer þat he is þe gretter dispence mote he make; If he will haue wor|schippe & victorie; [2843] And Salomon seiþe; þat þe gretter richesse þat a man haþe; þe more despendoures he haþe; [2844] ¶ And dere sir al be it so; þat for ȝoure richesse ȝe mai haue muche folke; [2845] ȝutte behoueþ it nouht ne it is nouȝt goode to beginne werre; where as ȝe maie in oþere manere haue pees vnto ȝoure worschip & prophite; [2846] For þe victories of batailles þat bien in þis werlde lyþe nouȝt in grete nombre of multitude of peple in þe vertue of man. [2847] Bot it liþe in þe will & in þe hande of oure lorde ihesu crist; [2848] ¶ And þere-fore Iudas Machabeus whiche was goddes knyht; [2849] Whan he schold feyhten aȝeines his aduersaries þat hadd a gretter nombre; & a gretter mul|titude of folke; & stronger þan was þe peple of Macha|be; [2850] ȝit he comford his litel compaigne & seide riht in þis wise; [2851] ¶ As lihtly quod he may oure lorde god almyhty ȝeue victori to fewe folke; as to mony folke [2852] ffor þe victorie of Bataile commeþ nouht be grete nombre of peple; [2853] Bot it commeþ fro oure lorde of heuen; [2854] And dere sire for also muchel as þere is noman certeine; if it be worþi þat god ȝif him victorie [neant plus se Il est certain se Il est digne de lamour de dieu] or nouȝt; After þat Salomon seiþ; [2855] Therfor euery man schold gretely drede werres to be-ginne [2856] ¶ And be-cause þat in Batailes scholne fallen mony periles; [2857] And happeþe oþere while; þat as sone is þe grete man sleyne; as þe lytel man; [2858] ¶ And as it [is] wreten in þe secunde boke of kinges; The dedes of Bataile been aduenterous & vncertein; [2859] ffor as lyhtly as one is hurte wiþ a spere as a-noþer; [2860] And þere-fore it is grete perile in werre ¶ Ther-fore scholde men flee & eschewe werre in as muchel as a man maie goodly; [2861] ¶ For Salomon seiþe he þat loueþ perile; schal fal in perile

[2862] ¶ After þat dame Prudence had spoken in þis manere Mellibe anseward & seide; [2863] ¶ I. see wele dame Prudence þat be ȝowre faire wordes & be ȝoure resouns þat [vous mettez auant que] þe werre likeþ ȝow no þinge; [2864] Bot .I. haue nouht ȝit herde ȝoure wise counsele how .I. schal do in þis nede;

[2865] ¶ Certes quod sche .I. counseile ȝowe to accorde with ȝoure aduersaries & þat ȝe haue pees wiþ hem; [2866] ¶ For Seneques,, MS Reg. 19 C xi, lf 63, col. 2 seinte Iames seiþe [en ses epistre] þat be concorde & pees þat smale Richesse waxen grete [2867] And be debate & discorde grete riches fallen doune; [2868] And ȝe knowen þat of þe grettest & most souereine þinge þat is in þis werlde is vnite & pees; [2869] ¶ And þerfore seide oure lorde ihesu crist to his Apostles in þis wise [2870] ¶ Wel happy & blissed be þei þat louen & purchasen pees; For þei bien cleped þe childerne of god; [2871] ¶ A quod Mellibe; Nowe .I. se wele ȝe loue nouht my honour ne my worschippe. [2872] Ȝe knowen wele þat myne aduersaries haue begon þis debate. [et la brigue par leur oultraige] [2873] And ȝe seen wele þat þei neuer queren ne preyne me nouht of pees; ne þei axe me nouht to be recon|siled; [2874] Wil ȝe þan þat .I. go meke me & obeye me to hem & crye hem Mercye; [2875] ffor soþe þat were not my worschipe; [2876] ffor riht as men seine þat ouer grete humblesse engenderþ despisinge. So fareþe it be to grete humilite & mekenesse

[2877] ¶ Þan by-gan dam prudence to make sem|blante of wraþþe; & seide [2878] certes sire saue ȝoure grace; I loue ȝoure honour & ȝoure profite as .I. do myn owen. & euer haue done [2879] ne ȝe ne none oþere sawe neuer þe contrarye; [2880] ¶ And. ȝit if .I. hadde seide ȝe scholde haue purchased þe pees & þe reconsiliacion; I. hadde nouht mechel mestaken me ne .I. saide amys; [2881] ffor þe wise man seiþe. The dis|cencion be-ginneþ be anoþere man; & þe reconsileinge be-ginneþ be þi self [2882] ¶ An þe profet seiþe; fflye schrewdenesse & do goodnesse; [2883] Seche pees & folowe it in al so muche as in þe is; [2884] Ȝit seiþ he nouht ȝe schollen þe raþer pursewe to ȝoure aduersarie þan þei schollen to ȝowe [2885] ¶ for .I. knowe wele ȝe bene so harde y-herted þat ȝe wil do no þinge for me. [2886] ¶ And Salomon. seiþe; þat he þat haþe ouer harde an hert; atte þe last he schal myshapp & mystide;

[2887] Whan Mellibe had herde dame produce maake semblant of wraþþe he seide in þis wise. [2888] Dame .I. preie ȝowe þat ȝe be nouht displesed of þinges þat .I. seie ȝowe [2889] ¶ For ȝe knowe wele þat .I. [am] angry & wroþe & þat is no wonder [2890] And þo þat been wroþe weten nouht wele what þei done; ne what þei seine; [2891] Where-fore þe prophete seiþe; þat troubled eyen haue none clere siht [2892] Bot sitteþe & counseleþ me riht as ȝe list; For; I am redy to done riht as ȝe wol desire [2893] ¶ And if ȝe reproue me of my folye .I. am more holden to loue ȝowe & to preise ȝowe. [2894] For Salomon seiþe he þat reproueþ him þat doþ folye [2895] he schal finde gretter grace þan he þat disceyueþ him be wordes.

[2896] Than seide dame Prudence .I. make no sembland of wraþþe ne of anger bot for ȝoure owen profit. [2897] For Salomon seiþe ¶ He is more worþe þat re|proueþ or chideþ a foole for his foly scheweinge him semblant of wraþþe; [2898] þan he þat supporteþ him & preiseþ him in his mys-doinge & lauheþ att his folye [2899] ¶ And þis salomon seiþ affterwarde; þat by þe sorweful visage of man; þat is to seye; be þe sory & þe heuy countenance of a man [2900] þe foole correcteþ & amende him selfe

[2901] ¶ Than seide Mellibe; ¶ I schal nouht kon An|sewere vn-to so mony resons as ȝe putteþ to me & scheweþ; [2902] seiþe schortly ȝoure will & ȝoure con|seile And .I. am redy . to ffulfille & performe

[2903] ¶ Than Dame Prudence discouerd all hire will vn-to him & seide; [2904] I counsel ȝowe quod sche abouen all þinge; þat ȝe maken pes be-twene god & ȝowe; [2905] & beþe reconsilede vn-to him & to his grace [2906] For as .I. haue seide ȝowe here be-forne; God haþe suffred ȝowe to haue þis tribulacione & disese . for ȝoure sinnes; [2907] And if ȝe done as .I. seie ȝowe god will sende ȝowre aduersaries vnto ȝowe; [2908] & maaken hem to fallen att ȝoure fete rede to done ȝoure will & youre com|mandement [2909] ¶ For Salomon seiþe whan þe con|dicione is plesant & likeande vnto god; [2910] He chaungeþ þe hertes of mannes aduersaries; & con|streyneþ hem to besechen him of pees & of grace; [2911] & .I. praye ȝowe lete me speke wiþ ȝoure aduersaries in priue place; [2912] for þei schol not knowe þat it be ȝoure will or ȝoure assent; [2913] And þan whan .I. knowe her wil and here assent; I. may counsel ȝoue more surely;

[2914] ¶ Dame quod Mellibe; doþe ȝoure will & ȝoure likeinge . [2915] For .I. putte me holy in ȝoure disposicione & ordinance.

[2916] ¶ Than dame prudence whan sche sawe þe good wil of of hire husbonde; Sche delyuerly toke a-vise in her self [2917] þinkinge howe sche myht bringe þis neede vnto a good conclusione & to a good ende; [2918] And whan sche sawe hire time; sche sente for þe aduersaries to come to hire into A priue place; [2919] And schewde wisely vnto hem þe grete goodenesse þat commeþ of Pees; [2920] And þe grete harmes & perils þat bene in werre; [2921] And seiden to hem in goodely manere howe þat hem auȝten to haue grete re|pentance [2922] of þe iniury & þe wronge þat þei hadden done to Mellibe here lorde an vnto hire & vnto hire douhtere;

[2923] And whan þei herden þe good wordes of dame prudence; [2924] þei weren so supprised & rauysshed & hadden so grete Ioye of hire þat wonder was to tell; [2925] ¶ A lady quod þei ȝe haue schewde vn-to vs þe blisse of swettnesse after þe sawe of dauid þe profette; [2926] For þe reconsileinge whiche þat we ne be not worþi to haue in no manere; [2927] ¶ Bot we ouhten to require it wiþe grete contricione & humilite; [2928] ȝe of ȝoure grete goodnesse haue presented vnto vs; [2929] ¶ Nowe see we wele þat þe conscience & þe conynge of Salomon is ful trewe . [2930] For he seiþe þat swette wordes multiplien & encresen frendes; And maken schrewes to be debonaire & meke;

[2931] ¶ Certe quod þei we putte oure dede & al oure matier & cause & holy in-to ȝowre good wille; [2932] & bene redy to obeye to þe speche of þe commande|ment of my lorde Mellebe; [2933] ¶ And þerfore dere & benyngne lady; we preyne ȝowe & be-sechen ȝowe as we kon & mowen [2934] þat þat it like vn-to ȝoure grete goodnesse to ful-fille in dede ȝoure goode wordes [2935] ¶ For we considern & knoweleche þat we haue offended & greued my lorde Mellibe oute of reson & mesure [2936] so fer forþe þat we be nouht of pouere to maken him amendes; [2937] And þere-fore we oblige vs & oure frendes for to done al his wille & commandement [2938] Bot peraduenture he haþe suche heuynesse & suche wraþþe to vs warde because of oure offense; [2939] þat [he] wil enioyne vs suche peyne as we maie nouht bere ne susteine. [2940] ¶ And þer-fore noble lady; we be-sechen ȝoure wommanly pyte [2941] to take suche avisemen in þis nede; þat we ne oure frendes be nouht disherited [et perdus] þorwhe oure folye

[2942] ¶ Certes quod Prudence it is it is an harde þinge & riht perilous [2943] þat a man putte him in þe arbitracione & Iugement al vtterly; & in þe myht & pouere of his ennemys; [2944] For Salamon seiþe; Leueþ me & ȝif credence to þat .I. schal seine; .I. saie [tout peuple et toutes gens et gouuerneurs de gloire (Reg. 19 C xi)] [2945] Ne ȝeue neuere þi sonne ne þi wif. þi frende ne þi self [2946] vn-to þe hondes ne myht of þine ennemye; [2947] And Naþeles .I. counsel ȝowe [Se il a doncques deffendu que on ne donne [puissance] sur soy a frere ne a amy] [2948] By a stronger resone he defendeþ & forbedeþe a man to ȝeue him selfe vn-to his ennemye; [2949] ¶ And naþeles .I counsel ȝowe þat ȝe mistrust nouht my lorde; [2950] for .I. wote wele & knowe wele þat he is debonaire & meke large & curteise [2951] & no þinge desirous of good ne Couytous to haue richesse; [2952] ffor þere is no þinge in þis werlde þat he desireþ saue worschipe & honour; [2953] Forþermore .I. knowe wele & .I. am riht sure þat He schal no þinge do in þis nede; wiþ-oute myne counsel; [2954] And .I. schal so werchen in þis cause be þe grace of oure lorde god þat ȝe scholne be reconsiled vnto vs/:/

[2955] Then seiden þei wiþ o voyce; ¶ Worschipful lady we putten vs & oure good al fully in ȝoure wille & disposicioun [2956] & bene redy to comme whan it likeþ vnto ȝoure noblesse; to lemete vs or to assigne vs [2957] for maken oure obligacion; & bynde vs as stronge as it lykeþ vn-to ȝoure goodnesse [2958] þat we maie fulfille þe wil of ȝoue & of my lorde Mellybe.

[2959] ¶ Whan dame Prudence had herde þe on|sewers of þes men Ȝe badde hem gone aȝeine priuely; [2960] & sche retourned a-ȝeine to hire lorde Mellibe · And tolde him howe sche fande his aduersaries repentaunt [2961] And knowlecheinge ful reuerently · & lowly her sinnes & tres|pas; & howe þei were redy to suffur al peine; [2962] Re|quireinge him & preyinge him of Mercy & pytee

[2963] ¶ Then seide Mellibe he is wele worþi to haue pardone & for-ȝeuenesse [qui nexcuse point son pechie [2964] mais recognoist et sen repent et demande indulgence [2965] Car seneque dist la est remission (MS Reg. 19 C xi, lf 64, bk)] wher as confession is; [2966] For confession is neyhbour to Innocence [2967] ¶ And þe wiseman seiþe in anoþer place; he þat haþ schame of his sinne & knowleche it is worþi haue mercy /./ And þere-fore .I. assent & conferme to haue pees [2968] ¶ Bot it is good þat we do it nouht wiþ-outen þe wil & assent of oure frendes;

[2969] ¶ þan was Prudence riht gladde & ioyful & seide; [2970] Certes sir quod sche ȝe haue goodely & wele ansewarde [2971] ¶ For riht as be counsel. assent & helpeinge of ȝoure frendes ȝe haue be stired to venge ȝowe & maake werre [2972] Riht so wiþ|outen hire counsel schol ȝe nouht accor; þowhe ȝe ne haue pees wiþ ȝoure aduersa ries; [2973] ffor þe lawe seyþe; Ther is no þinge so good be waie of kinde As þinge to bene vnbounden by him þat it was y-boundende;

[2974] And þan dame Prudence wiþe-outen delaye or taryinge sent anone Messageres for here kinne & for hire olde frendes þat were trewe & wise [2975] And tolde hem be order in þe presence of Mellebe al þe Matier as it was abouen expressed & declared; [2976] And preyden hem þat þe wolde ȝeuen hire a wise coun|seile what best were to done in þis matiere; [2977] ¶ And whan Millebes counsel hadd taken hire a-vise & goode deliber|acione of þe forseide matier; [2978] And hadde examyned it be grete besines & grete diligence; [2979] þei ȝauen ful counseile for to haue pees & rest. [2980] And þat Mellibe schold receyue it with goode herte of his aduersaries to for-ȝeuenesse & mercye;

[2981] And whan dame Prudence hadd herde þe assent of hire lorde Mellibe. And þe counsel of here frendes [2982] accorded wiþ her wil & entencion [2983] sche was wonderly glad in hert & seide. [2984] ¶ There is an olde prouerbe quod sche seiþe; þat þe godnesse þat þou maist do þis daie do it [2985] & abide it nouht ne delaye it nouht til to morwe [2986] ¶ And þerfore .I. counsel þat ȝe send ȝoure messagiers wiche þat ben discrete & wyse [2987] vn-to ȝoure aduersaries tellynge hem on ȝoure be-halue [2988] if þei wil trete of pes & of accorde; [2989] þat þei schapen hem with-outen de-laie or tariinge to come to vs /./ [2990] whiche þinge performed was indede [2991] ¶ And whan þes trespassours & repentinge folke of here folyes; þat is to seie þe aduersaries of Mellibe. [2992] had herde what þes messagiers seiden vn-to hem [2993] þe were ful gladde. & ioyful & anseward ful mekely & beningly; [2994] ȝeldeinge graces & þonkes to her lord Mellibe. & to al his compaigne; [2995] And schopen wiþ-outen delay to gone wiþ þe messagiers; & obey to þe commandement of here lord Mellibe

[2996] ¶ And riht anone þe token her weie to Mellibe [2997] & toke þe somme of here trewe wordes & frendes to maken feiþ for hem; and for to bien her borwes [2998] ¶ And whan þei camen to þe presence of Mellibe he seide hem þes wordes; [2999] It standeþ þus quod Mellibe; & soþe it is þat ȝe [3000] causels and wiþ-oute skil & resoun [3001] haue done grete Iniuries & wronges to me & to my wif Dame Prudence; & to my douhter also; [3002] ¶ For ȝe haue entred in-to myne howse be violence [3003] & haue done suche outrage; þat all men knowe wele þat ȝe haue deserued þe deþe [3004] ¶ And þere-fore wil .I. knowen & witen of ȝowe [3005] weþer þat ȝe wil putte þe punysshement & þe chasteysinge & þe vengeance of þis outrage in þe wil of me & of my wif dame Prudence or ȝe wil nouht;

[3006] Than þe wysest of hem þre answarde for hem al. & seide. [3007] ¶ Sire quod he we knowen wele þat we bien vnworþi to comme to ȝoure courte of so grete a lorde & so worþe as ȝe bien; [3008] And for we haue so gretely mys-taken vs & haue offended & agilte in suche a wise aȝeines ȝoure hihe lord-schippe [3009] þat trewlye we haue deseruede þe deþ; [3010] Bot ȝit for þe grete goodnesse & debonarte þat al þe werlde wittenesseþ of ȝoure persoun [3011] We submitte vs vn-to þe hihe excellence & benignite of ȝoure gracious lorschip [3012] and bien rede to obeie vn-to al ȝoure commandementes [3013] Besecheinge ȝowe þat of ȝoure merciable pitee to wylne consider oure grete repentance & lowe submissione; [3014] And to grante vs for-ȝefnesse of owre owtrageous trespas & offense; [3015] For wel we knowe þat ȝoure liberale grace & mercye strecchen ferþer in-to goode|nesse þan done owre outrageous giltes & trespasses in-to wikkednesse; [3016] albeit þat cursedly & damp|nablye we haue gilte aȝeines ȝowre hihe lordschippe;

[3017] Than Mellibe toke him vpe fro þe grounde ful benyngly [3018] & receyued here obligacions & here landes by hire oþes vppon here plegges & her borwes [3019] & assigned hem a certein daie to retorne vn-to his courtes; [3020] for to accepte & receyve þe sentence & Iuggement þat Mellibe wold comande to be done on hem be þe causes aforne seide; [3021] whiche þinge ordeint; euery man retourned to his hous /;/

[3022] And whan þat Dam prudence sawhe her time sche f[r]eyned & axed her lord Mellibe; [3023] Whatte vengeance he þouht to take on his aduersaris

[3024] ¶ To whiche Mellibe anseward & seide; Certes quod [he]; I. þenke & purpos fully [3025] to dis|herit hem of al þat þei haue; & for to putten hem in exile for euer more

[3026] Certes quod Dame Prudence þis were a cruel sentence & mechel aȝeines resoun; [3027] For ȝe be riche ynowe & haueþ no nede of oþere mennes goode; [3028] and ȝe myht lyhtly geten ȝow a couetouse name. [3029] whiche is a vicious þinge & ouhte be eschewed of euery man; [3030] ffor after þe sawe of þe Apostle Couetise is rote of al harmes; [3031] ¶ And þere-fore it were better to lese so muchel goode of ȝoure owen; þan for to tak of here goode in þis manere. [3032] ¶ For better it is to lese goode wiþ worschippe þan it is goode to wynne worschippe wiþ velanye and schame [3033] ¶ And euery man ouhte to done his besinesse to geten him a goode name; [3034] And ȝitte schal he nouht onely keppen him in kepinge of his good name; [3055] Bott he schal also enforcen him alweie to done some þinge be whiche he may renouelle his goode name [3036] For it is y-writte; þat þe olde good lose or goode name of a man is sone gone & passed; whan it is nouht newed ne re|nouelled /;/ [3037] And as toucheinge þat ȝe seyne þat ȝe wol exile ȝoure aduersaries; [3038] þat þenkeþ me muchel aȝeines reson & out of mesure; [3039] Con|sider þe power þat þei haue ȝouen ȝowe vpon hem selfe; [3040] And it is wreten þat he is worþe to lesen his priuelege þat mysvseþe þe myht & þe pouere þat is ȝouen him; [3041] ¶ And .I. sette caas þat ȝe myht annoye hem þat peyne be riht & lawe. [3042] whiche .I. trowe ȝe may not do; [3043] I. seye ne myht not put it to excution; paraduenture [3044] & þan were it likly to retorne to þe werre as it was be-forne; [3045] ¶ And þer-fore if ȝe will þat men do ȝowe obseruance & obeysaunce; ȝe most deme more curteisly; [3046] þis is to seine ȝe most ȝeue mor esi sentence & Iuggementz; [3047] for it is wreten þat he þat most curtesly commandeþ; to him. men most obeyen [3048] ¶ And þer|fore .I. praye ȝowe þat in þis necessite; & in þis nede ȝe casten þere-fore to ouere-come ȝoure hert; [3049] ¶ For Senec seiþe he þat ones ouere-commeþ his hert ouer-commeþ twyes; [3050] ¶ And Tullius seiþe; þer is noþinge so commendable in a grete lorde · [3051] as whan he is debon|aire & meke & appeseþ him mekely; [3052] ¶ And .I. preie ȝowe þat ȝe wil for-bere nowe to do vengeance [3053] in suche maner þat ȝoure goode name may be kepped & conserued; [3054] and þat men maie haue cause & matiere to preyse ȝowe of pite & of mercye; [3055] And þat ȝe haue no cause to repente ȝowe of þinge þat ȝe done; [3056] ¶ For Senec seiþe; he repenteþ him in yuel manere þat repenteþ him of his victorie [3057] where|fore .I. preie ȝowe; lete. Mercy be in ȝoure herte; [3058] to þeffecte & þentente þat god al myhty haue Mercy vpon ȝowe in his last Iugement; [3059] [Car saint Iaques dit en lepistre Iugement (19 C xi.)] wiþ outen mercy schal be to him þat haþe no mercye of anoþere wyht;

[3060] ¶ Whan Mellibe hadde herd þe grete skils & resons of dame Prudence; and of hire wise informacions & techeinges [3061] his hert gan encline to þe will of his wif consideringe to þe trewe entent [3062] con|formed him a-nane; & assented ffully to worchen after hire conseile; [3063] & þongede god of whome procedeþ al godenesse þat him sent a wif of so [grete] discrecione; [3064] ¶ And whan þe daie cam þat his aduer|saries schold appere in his presence. [3065] He spak to hem ful goodly And seide to hem in þis wise; [3066] Al be it soo; þat of ȝoure pride & be presumcion & foly . & of ȝoure necligence & vnkunynge [3067] ȝe haue misborne ȝowe & trespassed to me; [3068] ȝitt for al so muche as .I. see & beholde ȝoure gre[te] humilite; [3069] & þat ȝe bene sori & repentant of ȝoure giltes [3070] it constreyne me to do ȝowe grace & mercye; [3071] wherefore .I. receyve ȝowe to my grace; [3072] & for-ȝeue ȝowe vtterly al þoffences Iniuries & wronges þat ȝe haue done aȝeines me & myne [3073] to þis affecte & to þis ende þat god of his endeles mercy [3074] wole att þe time of oure deyeinge forȝeuen oure gelte þat we haue trespased vn-to him in þis wrecched werld; [3075] ¶ For doubtelesse · if we bien sory & repentant of þe sinnes & giltes þe whiche we haue trespasede in þe siht of oure lorde gode; [3076] He is so fre & so merci|ful [3077] þat he wil for-ȝeuen vs ower giltes [3078] & bringe vs vnto þilke blisse þat neuere haþ ende; To whiche blisse he vs bringe þat blod on crosse for vs spreynde. Qui cum patre &c.

Explicit Fabula Galfridi Chaucer/ de Mellibeo . Milite Incipit Prologus de Monacho.on leaf 206 Whan endede was þe tale of Mellibe And of Prudence & of hire benygnite Oure Oste seide as .I. am ffeiþful man And be þe precious corpus madrian I had leuere þan a barel ale That goo l lef my wif hadde herde þis tale For sche nys no þinge of suche pacience As was þis Mellebes wif Prudence Be goddes bones whan .I. bete my knaues Sche bringeþ me þe grete clobbed staues And crieþ slee[or sleo] þe dogges euerychone And brekeþ boþe bak & bone And if þat any neigheboruhe of myne Wil nouht in cherche to my wif encline Or be so hardy to hire to trespas Whan sche commeþ home sche rumpeþ in my face And crieþ false cowarde wreke þine wife By corpus bones; I. wil haue þi knyf And þou schalt haue myn distaf & go spynne Fro day to nyht riht þus wil sche be-ginne Alas sche seiþe þat euer y was schape To wedde a mylkesoppe or a coward ape Þat wil be ouere ladde wiþ euery wight þou darst nouȝt stonde be þi wif ariht þis is my lyf bot þat .I. wold fiht And oute att þe dore anone .I. mot me diht Or elles .I. am lost bot if þat .I. Bue like a wilde lione foole hardye .I. wote wele sche wil do me sle sum daie Some neihbour; & þan go my waie For .I. am perilous with knyf on honde Albeit þat .I. dar hir nouȝt wiþ-stonde For sche is bigge in armes be my feiþe Þat schal he finde þat hire misdoþe or seiþe Bot lat vs passe a-weie fro þis matiere My lorde sir monke he seiþe beþe merye of chere For ȝe schal tel a tale trewly Lo Rouchester stant here fast by Ride forþe myne owen lorde breke nouht oure game Bot be my trouþe .I. knowe nouȝt ȝoure name Wheþer .I. schal cal ȝowe my lorde Doune Iohn Or dan Thomas or dan Albon Oþere of whatt house be ȝe be ȝoure fader kinne .I. vowe to good þou hast a ful faire skynne It is a gentil pasture þere þou goste þou ert nouht like a penant or a goste Vpon my feiþ þou ert sum officiere Somme worþe sexteyne eyþere sum celerere Fo[r] be my fader soule as to my dome þou ert a maister whan þou ert att home No pouer cloistrer ne no pouer novise Bot a gouernoure a wilye & wise And þere-wiþ-al of braunes & of bones A wele faringe persone for þe nones .I. preie to god gif him confusione þat firste þe brouȝt in-to religione Þou woldest haue be a tredefoule ariht Haddest þou as grete leue as þou hast myht To performe al þi luste in gendrure þou hadest be-geten mony a creature Alas whi weres þou so wide a cope God ȝeue þe sorwe and .I. were a pope Nowht onely þou bot euery myhty man Theihe he were schore hihe vpon his panne Schol haue a wif for al þis werlde is lorne Religion haþ tak vp al þe corne Of tredeinge & we burel men bene schrimpes Of feble tres þere comme feble impes þis makeþ þat oure heires bene so sklender And febel þat þei maie nouht wele engender This makeþ þat oure wifes wil assaie Religious folke for þei maie better paie Of venus Payment þan may we God woot no lusshbourues paie ȝe. Bot be nouȝt wroþe my lord þouhe þat .I. pleie Fol in game a soþe .I. haue herd seie This worþi monke toke al pacience And seid .I. wil do al my diligence As fere as souneþ vnto honeste To telle ȝoue a tale or tuo or þre And if ȝowe lust herken hiderwarde .I. wil ȝowe seie þe lif of seint Edwarde Or elles Tregedise furst. wil .I. tell Of whiche .I. haue an hundreþ in my sell Tregedie is for to tel a certeine storie As olde bokes maken memorie Of hem þat stode in grete prosperite And is yfall oute of hihe degre In-to myserie & endeþ wricchedlye And þei bien vesified comunly Of sex fete wiche þat men clep exametrone In prose eke bien endited mony one And eke in metric in mony a sondre wise Lo þis ouht ȝowe .I.-nouhe suffise Nowe herkeneþ if ȝou luste for to here Bot first .I. ȝoue be-seche in þis matiere. Þouhe .I. be order tel nouht þes þinges Be it of popes Emperoure or kynges And affter her age as me wreten finde Bot tel hem some be-fore some be-hinde And it commeþ nowe to my remembrance Have me excused of myne ignorānce. Explicit Prologus. Incipit fabula de Casibus virorum.on leaf 207, back Y[The illumin|ated Y goes down to line 3203, in the MS.] wil be-weile in maner of tregedrie þe maner of him þat standeþ in hihe degre And felle so þat þer was no remedye To bringe hem out of her aduersite For certeyne whan þat fortune luste to flye Þere maie no man of hire þe course wiþ-holde . . . . .no gap in the MS. Beþe war By þis ensample ȝonge & olde Primo de Lucifero At Lucifer þouhe he an angele were And nouht a man att him .I. wil beginne For þeihe fortōn maie none angel dere Frome hihe degre ȝit fell he fro his sinne Doune in-to hell where as he ȝitte is inne O lucifer brihtest of aungeles all Nowe ert þou Sathanas þat maist not twynne Owte of misery in whiche þou ert fall De Adame . primo homine . Lo Adam in þe felde of Damasene Wiþ goddes owen fingere wrouht was he And nouht begeten of mannes sperme vnclene And welde al Paradise saueinge o tre Hadd neuer werldly man so hihe degre As Adam til he for his gouernance Was dreven oute of his hihe prosperite To labure & to hell & to muschance. De Sampsone Lo Sampson whiche was annunciate Be þe Angel longe ar his natiuite And was god almyhty consecrate And stode in noblesse whiles he myht see Was neuer suche anoþer as was he To speke of strenkeþ & þer-to hardinesse Bott to his wif told he his secre. þoruhe whiche he slouhe him self þoruh wrechednesse ¶ Sampson þis nobble & myhty champion Wiþ-outen wepe saue his hondes tueye He slowhe and al to-rent þe lyon To-ward his weddynge walkinge be þe waie He false wif couþe him plese & preie Til sche his counseile knewe & sche vntrewe Vn-to his foos his consel gan be-wreye And him for-soke & toke a noþer newe ¶ An .C. foxes to Sampson for ire And al her tailes he to-geder bonde And sette þe fox tailes al on fire For he in euery taile hadde putt a bronde And þei brente al þe cornes in þat lande And al here Oliues & here vines eke A þousand men eke he slowhe wiþ his honde And hadde ne wepen bot an asse cheke ¶ When þei were sleine so þersted him þat he Was nyhe lorne for whiche he gan to preie þat god wolde of his peine sum pite And send him drinke or elles most he dye And of þis asse cheke þat was so drye oute of a wange toþe spron anone a welle Of whiche he dranke . ynouhe schortly to seie Thus help him god as Iudicum can telle ¶ Be verrei force att Gasan in a nyhte Maugre þe felistiens of þat Cite The gates of þe toune he haþe vp pliht And on his bakke; y-karid hem haþ he Hihe on hulle wher as men miht se O noble almyhty sampson leue & dere þat stronge & noble haþ bue In al þis werlde ne was þere neuer þi pere ¶ This Samson neuer siþer dranke ne wyne Ne on hi[s] hede cam rasure none ne schere Be precepte of þe Messagier diuine For al his strenkeþ was in his here And fully tuenty ȝere be ȝere He hadde of Israel þe gouernance Bot after sone schal he wepe mony a tere For womman schal bringe him to meschaunce ¶ Vnto his lemman Dalida he tolde þat in his heres al his strenkeþ laye And falsly to his fomen sche him solde And slepeinge vpon hir berme vpon a daie Sche maade to clippe or schere his here a-waie And maade his fomen al his craft to spyen And whan þei him fonde in suche araie Þei bonde him fast & put oute his eyȝen Bot er his here was clepped or y-schaue þere was no bonde þat myht him bynde Bott now is he in prisone put in a kaue Where as þei maden him att þe queren grinde O noble Sampson stronkest of mankinde O whilom Iuge in glorie & richesse Now maist þou wepe with þine yne blinde Seþen þou ert fro welþe fal in-to wrechednesse ¶ The ende of þis caitifs was as .I. schal seie His fomen maade a feste vpon a daie And maden him as her fole to-forne him pleie And þis was [in] a temple of a grete araie Bot att þe last he maade a foul affraie For he tuo postes schoke & maade hem fall And doune fell þe temple & al þer it laie And slowe him selfe & eke his fomen all ¶ This is to seie þe princes euerychon And eke a þousand bodis was þere sleyne Wyþ fallinge of þe grete temple of stone Of Sampson ne wil .I. no more seyne Be ware of þis ensample olde & pleyne þat no man tel her counsel til he[r] wyues Of suche þinge as þe wolde haue secre feyne If þat it touche her lymes or her lyues De Ercule. ¶ Of Ercule þe souereine conqueroure Syngen his werkes lewde & hihe renonone For in his time of strengeþ he bare þe floure He slowhe & raft þe scynne fro þe lyone. He of Centaurus leide þe bost a doune[ It repeats ¶ He slouhe & raft þe skynne fro þe lyon] He arpies slowhe þe cruel birdes fell He golden apelles raft þe dragoune He drouhe oute Serberous þe hounde of hell ¶ He slowhe þe cruel tyrant Buserus And maade his hors to frete him flesche & bone He slouhe þe verrey serpent venemous Of Achilles tuo hornes brak he one And he slowhe Cacus in a kaue of stone He slowhe þe Gyant Anteus þe stronge He slowhe þe Grisely bore & þat anone And bare þe hede vpon his neke longe Was neuere whihite sen þe werlde be-gan That slouhe so mony monstres as did he þoruhe-oute þis wide werlde his name ranne What for his streynkeþ & his bounte And euerye . Realme went he for to see He was so stronge þat noman miht him lette A-boue þe werldes ende seiþe trophe In stede of bondes he a piler sette ¶ A lemman hadd þis noble champion þat hiht Dianier frische as maie And as þe clerkes maade mencione Sche haþ him sent a schert frische & gaie Alas þis scherte & walawaie envenymed was subtily wiþ all Or þat he had werde it hafe a daie It maad his flesche fro þe bone fall ¶ Bo naþelesse sōme clerkes hir excusen Be one þat hiht nescius þat it Maked Be as be maye .I. wil hir nouht accusen Bon on his bake þis schert he weres al naked Til þat his flesche was for þe venym blakede And whan he sauhe none oþer remedye In hote coles he haþ him self rakede For wiþ no venym deynede he to deye ¶ Thus starfe þis worþe myhte ercules Lo who maie trust on fortune any þrowe For him þat foloweþ al þis werlde of pres Er he bewarre is oft y-laide ful lowe Ful wyse es he þat him self knowe Be war for whan þat fortune lust to glose Than weyteþ sche hir man downe to þroue Bu suche a weie as he wolde lest suppose De Rege Nabugodonosor ¶ The myhty trone þe precious tresoure þe glorious septre & Roial Maieste þat hadde þe kinge Nabugodonosore Wiþ tunge vnneþ maie descriued be He twyes name iherusalem þe Cite The vessel of þe temple he wiþ him ladde Att Babiloyne was his souereigne see In whiche his glorie & his delyte he had ¶ þe fairest childern of þe blode Roial Of iherusalem he dide do gelde anone And maade eche of hem to bu his clerke Amonge al oþere Danyel was one þat was þe wisest childe of euerychone For he þe dremes of þe kenge expounded Where as in Caldeie clerk was þere none þat wist to what fyne his dremes sounded ¶ This proude kinge lete make a stature of golde Sexty Cubetes longe & .vij. in brede To whiche ymage boþe ȝonge & olde Commanded he to loute & haue in drede Or in a forneys ful of flammes rede He scholde be bernt þat wold not obeie Bot neuer wolde assent to þat dede Danyel ne his ȝonge felawes tweye ¶ This kenge of kinges proude & elate He wende god þat sitteþ in Mageste Ne myht him nouht be-reue of þat estate Bot sodanly he lost his dignite And like a beste him semed for to be And ete haye as an oxe & leye þere oute. In reyne wiþ wilde bestes walked he Til certein time was comme aboute And ylike an egle fethers was his heres His nayles like birdes clowes were God releued him a certein ȝeres And ȝaf him witte & þan wiþ mony a tere He þonked god; and euer his lif in fere Was; he to done amys or more trespas And or þat time leide was on his bere He knewe wele þat god was ful of myht & grace De Baltazar dicti Regis Nabugodonosor filio. His sone which þat hiht Baltazar That helde þe regne after his fader daie He be his fader couþe nouht be war For proude he was of herte & of araye And eke an ydolatre was he aye His hihe astate assured him in pride Bot fortune kest adoune & þere he laye And sodanly his regne gan deuide A feste he maade vn-to his lordes al vpon a time he maad hem bliþe be And þan his officers gan he call Goþe bringeþ forþe þe vesseles quod he Whiche þat my fader in his prosperite Owte of þe temple of iherusalem be-rafte And to oure hihe goddes þonke we Of honour þat oure helders wiþ vs lafte His wif his lordes & his concubines Ay dranken whiles þeire appetite laste Oute of þis noble vessels sondre wynes And on a wal þis kinge his yȝe kaste And sauhe an hand armelesse þat wrote ful fast For fere of whiche he qwoke & sikked sore This hand þat baltazar maade so sore agast Wrote Mane techel phares; & no more In al þat londe Magecien was þere none þat couþe expoune what þis lettre meant Bot Daniel expound it anone And seide kynge god to þi fader sent Glory & Honour Regne tresoure & rent And he was proude & no þinge god ne dradde And þere-fore god grete wreche vpon him sent And him be-raft þe Regne þat he hadde. He was oute cast of Mannes compaignye With asses was his habitacione And ete hey as a beste in wete & druye Til þat he knowe be grace & be resone That god of heuen haþ domynaciōn Ouere euery Regne & euery creture And þan hadd god of him compassiōn And him restored his Regne & his figure Eke þou þat ert his son is proude also And knowest al þis þinges priuely And ert Rebel to god & ert his foo Thowe dranke eke of his vessels boldely þi wif eke & þi wenches synfully Dranke of þe same vessels sondre wynes And heried fals goddes curssely Therefor to þe schapen grete peine is This honde was sent fro god þat on the wall þat wrote Mane techel phares trust me Thyne Reygne is done þou weyest nouht att all Dyuided is þi regne and it schal be To medes & to perses ȝeuen quod he And þilke same nyht þe kinge was slawe And Darius occupieþ his degre þeyhe he þere-to na hadde neiþere riht ne lawe Lordinges here-by ensamples maie ȝe take Howe þat in lordeschippe is no sekernesse For whan fortune wil a man forsake He bereþ awaye his regne & his Rechesse And eke his frendes boþ more & lesse And whan a man haþe frende þoruhe fortune Mishappe wil make hem ennemys .I. gesse This prouerbe is ful soþe & ful comune. De Cenobia Palmere Regina. CEnobia of Palimere þe quene As writen Persiens of hire noblesse So worþi was in aremes & so kene That no wight passed hire in hardinesse Ne in lignage ne in oþere gentillesse Of þe kinges blode of perce is sche descended I seie þat sche mad nouht most fairnesse Bot of hire schappe sche myht bue amended Fro hire childhede .I. finde þat sche fledde Office of wemmen & to wode sche wente And mony a wilde hertes blode sche schedde Wiþ arwes brode þat sche to hem sente Sche was so sweft þat sche a-none hem hente And whan sche was elder sche wolde kill Lyons liberdes and beres altorente And in hire armes wilde hem att hire will Sche dorst wilde bestes dennes seeke And rinne in þe mountain al þe niht And slepe vnder a busche & sche couþe eke Wrastelen be verrey force & verrey myht Wiþ any ȝonge man were he neuere so whight Ther myht no þinge in hir armes stonde Sche kepped hire Maidenhede fro euery whight To no man deyned hire to be bonde ¶ Bo att þe last here frendes haue hire maried To Odenake a prince of þat Cite Al were it so þat sche hem longe taried And ȝe scholne vnderstande how þat he Hadde suche fantasies as hadd sche Bot naþeles whan þei were knytte in fere Thei leueden in Ioie & in felicite For vche of hem had oþere leef & dere ¶ Saue on þinge þat sche nolde neuer assent By no weye þat by hire scholde he lye Bot ones for it was hire pleyne entent To haue a childe þe werlde to multeplye And also sone as sche miht a-spye þat sche was not wiþ childe wiþ þat dede Than wolde sche suffre him done his fantasy Eft sone and nouht but ones oute of drede[No breaks henceforth between the stanzas of each Tragedy.] ¶ And if sche ware wiþ childe at þilke cast No more scholde he pleie þilke game Til fully fou[r]te dayes were past Than wolde sche ones do suffre him þe same All were þis Odenake wilde ore tame He gatt no more of hire for þus sche saide It was to wives lechery & schame In oþere caas if þat men wiþ hem pleide ¶ Tuo sonne be þis Edenok hadde sche The whiche sche kepped in vertewe & in lettrure Bot nowe vnto oure tale torne we .I. say þat worschipful creature And wise þerwiþ & large wiþ mesure So penyble in þe werre & korteyse eke Ne more laboure miht in werre endure Was none þeihe al þis werlde men schold seche ¶ Here riche araye miht nouht be tolde As wele in vessel as in cloþinge Sche was al cladde in perre & in golde And eke sche left for none hunteynge To haue of sundre tonges folk knoweynge Whan þat sche leyser hadde to entende To leren bokes was al hire lykeynge Howe sche in vertue myht hire lif dispende ¶ And schortly of þis storie for to entrete So douhte was hir husbonde as sche Þat þei conquered mony regnes grete In þe Orient wiþ mony a faire Cete Apartenaunte vnto þe Maieste Of Rome & wiþ stronge honde helde hem fast Ne neuere myht hire fomen done hem flye Aye wile þat Odenake dayes last ¶ Her batailles who so lust hem for to rede Aȝeine Sapore þe kinge & oþere moo And howe þat al þis processe fel in dede And whie sche conquerde & what title hadd þere too And aftere of hire meschief & hire woo Ho þat sche was be-seged & y-take Late him vnto mi maister Petrak go þat writeþ ynouhe of þis .I. vndertake ¶ When Odenak was dede sche myhtyly The regnes helde & wiþ hire propre hande Aȝeine hir foos sche fauht trewly þat þere nas kinge ne prince in al þat lande That he nas gladde if he þat grace fande That sche ne wolde vpōn his lande werrey Wiþ hire þei maad alliance be bande To biene in pees & latt hir ride & pleie ¶ The Emperour of Rome Claudius Ne him be-forne þe Romeyne Galiene Ne dorste neuere be so Coragius Ne none Ermyne ne none egipcie[ne] Ne Surrien; ne none arrabiene Withe-in þe felde þat dost wiþ hir fiht Lest þat sche wolde hem wiþ her handes sleyne Or wiþ hire meyne to putten hem to fliht ¶ In Kinges abite went here sones two As eyres of here Regnes all And ermanno; and Thimalao Here name were as perciens hem call Botte ffortune haþe ay in here hony gall This myhty qwene maie no while endure Fortune oute of her Regne maade hire fall To wrichednesse & to mysaduenture ¶ Aurelyon whan þat þe gouernance Of Rome camme in-to his hondes tweye He schope vpon þis qwene to do vengeance And wiþ his legions he toke his weie Toward Cenoby & schortly for to seie He maade hire flee & att þe last hire hent And fetterd hire & eke her children tweye And wann þe londe & home to Rome þei went ¶ Amange þis oþer þinge þat he wanne Here Chare þat was wiþ gold wrouht & perre Þis grete Romaine þis Aureliane Haþ wiþ him ladde for þat men scholde see Be-forne his triumphe walkeþ sche With gilt cheynes on hire nek hangeinge Corounde sche was as after her degre And ful of perre charged hir cloþinge ¶ Alas fortune sche þat whilom was Dredeful to kinges & to emperoures. Now gaureþ al þe peple on hire alace And sche þat elmed was in stark stoures And wanne be fors tounes stronge & toures Schal on here nowe were a fitermyte And sche þat bare þe Septer ful of floures Schal bere a distaf here cost for to qwyte De Petro Hispanye Rege. ¶ O noble o worþi Petre of spayne Whome fortune helde so hihe in maieste Wele ouhte men þi pitous deþ compleine Thi bastard broþer maade þe to fle And after att a sege be soubtilite Thowe were betraide & ladde to his tent Where as he wiþ his owen hand slouhe þe Succedinge in þi Regne & in þi Rent Betelmewe Claykeynne[Bertrand du Guesclin.]. Oliuer Mawnye ¶ The felde of snowe wiþ þe egle blak þere-inne Cauht wiþ þe lime Rodde colours as þe glede He brewe þis cursednesse and al þe sinne The wykked nest was wirkir of þis nede Nouht Charles & Olyuer þat ay toke goode hede Of trouþe & honour bot of Armorekke Genyloun Olyuer corrupt for mede Brouhtest þis worþi kinge in suche brekke. De Petro Rege Cipri ¶ Worþe Petre kinge of Cipre also That Alisander wanne be hihe maistrye Ful mony an eyþen wrouhtest þou ful wo Of whiche þine owen leges hadde enuye And for no þinge bot for þi chiualrye Thei in þi bedde han sleyne þe be þe morwe Thus gan fortune gouerne & guye And out of Ioye bringe men in to sorwe De Barnabo vicecomite Mediolano. ¶ Of Milane grete Barnabo viscounte God of delice & scowrge of Lombardie Whi scholde nouht .I. þine fortune a-counte Sethen in estate þou clome were so hihe Thine Broþer sone þat was þine double allie For he þi nevow was & sone in lawe Wiþ-in his prisoun maade þe to deye Bot whie ne howe woote .I. þat þou wer slawe ¶ De Hugiline Comyte Pisano. Of þe Erle Hugylyne of Pise þe Langoure There maie no tunge tel for pite Bot litel oute of Pise stant a toure In wiche toure in prisone put was he And wiþ him ben his litel childern þre þe eldest scarsly .v. ȝere was of age Alas fortune it was grete cruelte Suche burdes to putte in suche a cage ¶ Dampned he was to deye in þat prisone For Roger þat bischop was of Pise Hadde on him maade a fals suggestione Thorwhe þe peple gan on him a-rise And putten him to prison in suche wise As ȝe haue herde & mete & drinke he hadde . . . . .no gap in the MS. And þere-wiþ-all it was ful pore & badde. ¶ And one a daie be-fell þat inne þat oure Whan þat his mete was wonte to be brouht The gayler schette þe dores of þe toure He herde it wele bot he sawe it nouht And in his hert anone þere fell a þouht þat þei for hunger wolde done him deyen Alas quod he alas þat .I. was wrouht þer-wiþe þe teres fel fro hyȝen ¶ His ȝonge son þat þrei ȝere was of age vnto him seide fader whi do ȝe wepe Whan wil þe Gayloure bringen oure potage Is þere no morsel brede þat ȝe do kepe .I. am so hungry þat .I. maie nouht [slepe] Now wolde god þat .I. myht slepe euer þan scholde none hunger in my wombe crepe þare nys noþinge saue brede þat me were leuere ¶ þus daie be daye þis childe gan to crie Til in his fader berme adoune it leye And seide fader Fare wele .I. mote deye And kissed his fader & deyed þe same daye And whan þe woful fader dede him seye For woo his arme tuo he gan to bite And seid alas fortune; & walaweye Þine fals whele my woo .I. al wite ¶ His childern wende þat it for hungere was þat he his arme gnowhe & nout for woo And seid fader do nouht so alas Bot raþer ete þe flesche vpon vs tuo Oure flesche þou ȝaf vs tak oure flesche vs fro And ete ynouhe riht þus to him þei seide And efter þat wiþ-inne a daie or tuo þei leide hem doune in his lappe & deyed ¶ Him self dispeired eke for hunger starf Þus endede is þe mihte Erle of Pise Fro hihe a state fortune fro him carf Of þis tregedrie it ouht .I.-nouhe suffise Who so wile here it in a longer wise Reede þe grete Poete of Itaile That hiht Daunte for he can it deuise Fro pointe to poynte nouht o worde wil he faile De Nero Imperatore. ¶ Alþouhe þat Nero were as vicious As fende þat liþe ful lowe adoune Ȝitte he as telleþ vs swytheneus þis wide werlde hadde in subieccione Boþe est & west & septemtrione Of Rebees safers & of Pereles white Were al his cloþes brouded vp & doune For he in Gemmis grete gan delite ¶ More delicate more Pompus of araie More proude was neuere Emperoure þan he þat ilke cloþe þat he hadde wered a daie After þat time he nold it neuere se Nettes of gold þrede hadde he grete plente To fysshe in tybre whan him luste to pleie His lustes were as lawe in his degre For fortune as his frende wolde him obeye; ¶ He Rome brent for his delicacie The Senatours he slowhe vpon a daye To howe þat men wolde wepe & crye And slowhe his broþer & by his suster laye His moder Maade he in pytous araie For he hir wombe slitte to be-holde Where he conceyved was so walawaye Þat he so litel of his moder tolde ¶ No tere oute of his eyen for þat siht Ne came Bot seide a faire womman was sche Grete wonder is þat he couþe or miht Be domeseman of hire dede bewte The wyne to bringe commaunde he And dranke anone none oþere woo he maade Whan myht is Ioyned vnto cruelte Alas to depe wil þe venym wade ¶ In ȝouþe a maister hadde þis Emperoure To teche him letrure & cur[t]esye For of Moralite he was þe floure As in his time bott if bokes lye And whiles his maister hadde of him þe maystre He maade him so konnynge & so souple þat longe time was or tirannye Or any vice dorst in him vncouple ¶ This Seneka of whiche .I. devise Be-cause Nero had of him suche drede For he for vices wold him chastise Discretely as be worde & nouht be drede Sire wolde he saie an Emperoure mot nede Be vertuouse & hate tyrantrye For whiche he him in baþe maad to blede On boþe his armes til he most deye ¶ This Nero hadde eke of a continuance In ȝouþe aȝeine his maister for to rise Whiche afterward him þouht a grete grevance There-fore he maade him deye in þis wyse Bot naþeles þis Senec þe wise Chese in a baþþe to deye in þis manere Raþere þan haue a noþer tormentrie And þus haþe Nero sleyne his maister dere ¶ Now fel it so þat fortune lust no longere The hihe pride of Nero to cherische ffor þouhe he were stronge ȝitte were sche strenger Sche þouht þus be god .I. am to nyce To sette a man þat is fulfilled of vice In hihe degre & Emperour him call Be god oute of his sete .I. wil him trise When he leste weneþe sonest schal he fall ¶ Þe Peple rose vpon him vpon a nyht For his defaute & whan he hadd it aspiede Oute of his dore anone he haþe him dyht Alone & þere he wende haue bue alyede He knokked fast & ay þe more he cryed The faster schetten þei þe dores all Tho wist he wele he had him self be-gilede And wente his weie no longere dorst he call ¶ The peple cried & Rombled vpe & doune That wiþ his eres herde he howe þei seide Where is fals terant þis Neroune For fere al-moste out of his witte braide And to his goddes pitously he seide For socoure for it myht nouht be-tide For drede of þis him þouht þat he deide And ranne in-to a gardeyne him to hide ¶ And in þis cardyne fonde he cherles tueye And fatten be a fire ful grete & rede And to þe cherles tuey he gan to preye To slene him & to girde of his hede þat to his body whan þat he ware dede Were no despite ydo for his defame Him selfe he slouhe he couþe no better rede Of whiche fortune louhe & had a game De Oliferno principe. ¶ Was Neuere capitaigne vnder a kinge That Regnes mo putte in subieccione Ne strenger was in felde of al þinge As in his time none gretter in renoune Ne more Pompose in hihe presumsione Than Oliferne whiche fortune ay kyste So lykerously & ledde him vpe & doune Til þat he heded was er þat he wiste ¶ Nouht onely þat þis werlde hadde of him awe For leseinge of Richesse & lyberte Bot he maade euery man Reny his lawe Nabugodonosor was lord he seide None oþere god scholde honoured be Aȝeines his hest no whight dar trespas Saue in Bethulia a stronge cite Where Eleachim a preste was of þat place ¶ Bot take kepe of þe deþe of Oliferne Amydde his oste he drunke laye a nyht Wiþ-inne his tent large as is a berne And ȝit for al his pompe & al his myhte Iudithe a womman as he laie vp riht slepeinge his hede of smote & fro his tente Ful Priuely sche stale fro euery wyght . . . . .no gap in the MS. De Antiochio illustri. ¶ What nedeþ it of kynge Antiocheus To tel his hihe & Roial Maieste His hihe pride his werke venymmous For suche anoþere was neuere none as he Redeþ whiche þat he was in Macabe And redeþ þe proude wordes þat he seide And whie he fel fro his prosperite And in an hulle howe wrychedly he deyed ¶ Fortune had him enhaunsed so in pride þat verraylye he wende he myhte atteygne vnto þe sterres vpon euery sidde And in a balance to weye iche mounteyne And al þe floodes of þe see restreyne And goddes peple hadde he moste in hate Hem wolde he sle in torment & peyne Weneynge þat god myht nouht his pride abate ¶ And for þat Nichamoure & Timothee Wiþ Iewes were venqwiste mihtile vnto þe Iewes suche an hatte hadde he That he hadde greyþed his chare ful hastelye An swore & seide ful dispitouslye Vnto Ierusalem wolde he eft sone To wreke hire on it ful crouellye Bot of his purpose he was lette ful sone ¶ God for his manasse him so sore smote Wiþ inne-visible wounde aye vncurable þat in his guttes karf so & bote þat his peynes weren importable And certeinly þe wreche was resonable For mony mannes guttes dede he peine Bot fro his purpos cursed & dampnable For al his smert he nold him nouht restreine ¶ Bot Badde anone apparellen his Oste And sodanly or he was of it warre God daunted al his pride & al his boste For he so sore fel oute of his chare þat hurte his limes & his scynne to-tare So þat he ne myht go ne Ride Bot in a chayere men aboute him bare Al for-brused boþe bakke & side ¶ The wreche of god him smote so crudelye þat in his bode wyked wermes creped And þer-wiþ-all he stanke so orribily þat none of al his meyne þat him kepped Wheþere so þat he woke or elles sleped Ne myht nouht þe stink of him endure In þis Meschef he weiled & eke wepped And knowe god lorde of euery creature. ¶ To al his oste & to him self also Ful wlatesome was þe stinke of þis caren No man miht him bere to ne fro And in his stinke & in his orrible peyne He starf ful wrecchedly in a mownteyne Thus haþ þis Robboure & þis homicide That mony a man maade to wepe & pleyne Suche guerdone as belongeþ vnto pride De Alexandro Magno Philippi Regis Macidonie filio The storie of Alexander is so comune That euery wight þat haþe discrecione Haþe herd sum-whate or al of his fortune Þis wilde werlde as in conclusione He wān be strenkeþ or for his hihe renoune Thei weren gladde for pes vnto him sende The pride of man & beste he laide adoune Wher-so he came vn-to þe werldes ende ¶ Comparison myht ȝite neuere be makede Be-tuex him & anoþer conqueroure For al þis werlde for drede of him haþe qwaked He was of kny[ht]hede and of fredome floure Fortune him maade þe heire of owre honour Saue wyne & wemmen no þinge miht aswage His hihe atente in armes & laboure So was he of loueinge corage ¶ What pite were it to him þouhe .I. ȝowe tolde Of .Darius & an. C. M. mo Of Princes kinges Erles bolde Whiche he conquered & brouht hem in-to woo As fer .I. saie as man mai ride or goo þe werlde was his Whatt schold .I. more deuise For þouhe .I. write or tolde ȝowe euermo Of his knyhthode he miht not suffise ¶ Twelue ȝere he regned as seiþe Machabe Philippus þe sonne of Macedo he was That first was kynge of grece þe Contre O worþi gentil Alisander Alas þat euer schold falle suche a cas Enpoysonde of þi folke þou were Þin suster fortune haþe torne in-to an as And ȝit for þe ne wepped sche neuer a tere ¶ How schal men ȝeue teres to compleyne The deþe of gentillesse & of frauncheys Þat al þe werlde weldede in his demeygne And ȝit him þouht it myht nouht suffise So ful was his Corage of hihe emprise Alace who schal me helpe to endite Fals fortune & poyson to despise The whiche tuo of al þes wo .I. wite De Iulio Cesare ¶ By wisdom manhede & be labour Fro humblehede & fro Roial Maieste Vp rose he Iulius þe conquerour That al þe Occident be lande & see Be strenkeþe of hande or elles be trete And vnto Rome maade hem tributarye And seþþen of Rome þan Emperoure was he Til þat fortune wex his aduersarie ¶ O myht Cesar þat in Thessalye Aȝeines Pompeus fader þin in lawe Of þat þe orient hadde al þe cheualrie As fer as þe daie beginneþ to dawe Theime þoruhe þi knyhthode hast hem take & slawe Saue fewe folke þat wiþ pompeus fledde þorwhe whiche þou puttest al þe orient in awe þonke fortune þat so wele þe spedde ¶ Bot nowe a litel while .I. wil beweile þis Pompeus þis noble gouernoure Of Rome whiche þat flyeþ att þis Batayle .I. saye one of his men a fals traiture His hedde of fmote to wynne him fauoure Of Iulius & him þe hede brouht Alas Pompey of þe Orient conqueroure That fortune vnto suche a deþe brouht ¶ To Rome aȝeine Repaireþ Iulius Wiþ his tryumphe laureate ful hihe Bot on a time Brutus Cassius þat euere hadde of his hihe astate envie Ful priuely had maad conspiracye Aȝeynes þis Iulius in subtilite wise And kest þe place in whiche he scholde deye Wiþ Bodekynnes as .I. schal ȝowe devise ¶ This Iulius to þe Capitoile went vpon a daie as he was wont to goone And in þe Capitoile anone him hente This falce Brutus on of his foule fone And stikked him wiþ Bodekinnes anone Wiþ mony a wound & þus þe lete him lye Bot neuere gronte he att no stroke bott one Or elles att tuo bot if his story lye ¶ So manly was þis Iulius of hert And so wele loued estately honeste þat þouht his dedely woundes so sore smert His Mantil ouere his hippes cast he For no man schol se his priuetee And as he lay in deynge in a trance And wist verraily þat dede was he Of honeste ȝit hadde he Remembrance ¶ Lucan to þis story .I. recommende And to Sweton & to Valerius also þat of þis storie writeþ worde & ende How þat þes grete Conquerous two Fortune was first frende & siþen foo No man ne trust vpon his fauour longe Bot haue hire in awaite for euer mo Wittnesse on all þes conqueroures stronge De Creso Rege. ¶ This Riche Cresus whilom kinge of Lyde Of whiche Cresus Ciquus sore him dradde Ȝette was he cauht amydes al his pride And to be brent men to þe fire him ladde Bot suche a Raine doune fro þe walkyn schadde Þat slouhe þe fire & maade him to eskape Bot to be warre ȝitte no grace he hadde Til fortune on þe galoues maade him gape ¶ Whan he ascaped was he can nouht stinte For to be-ginne a newe Reyne aȝeine He wende wele þat fortune him sente Suche happe þat he ascaped þoruhe þe Reine þat of his foos he myht nouht be sleine And suche a sweuen vpon a nyht he mette Of whiche he was proude & eke feine þat in vengeance he al his hert sette ¶ Vpon a tre he was as þat him þouhte There Iubiter him wessche boþe halse & side And phebus eke a faire towel him brouht To drye him wiþ & þerto wex his pride And to his douhter þat stode him be-side Whiche þat he knowe in hihe science abounde He badd him tel hir what it signified And sche his dreme began riht þus expounde ¶ The tre quod sche þe galouse is to mene And Iubiter be-tokeneþ snowe & reyne And Phebus wiþ his towele so clene Is þe sonne stremes for to seyne Thou schalt an honged be fader certeine Reyne schal þe wassche & sonne schal þe drye Thus warned sche him ful platte & pleine His douhter þat called was Phayne ¶ An honged was Cresus þe proude kynge His Roial throne myht him nouht availe Tregedrye in none oþere maner þinge Ne cann in sinynge · crie ne be-weyle Bot þat fortune al wei wil assaile Wiþ vnwar stroke þe Reignes þat bien proude For whan men trusteþ hir þan wil sche faile And couere hire briht face wiþ a cloude Explicit fabula. Incipit prologuson leaf 217 Hoo quod þe knyht good sir no more of þis þat ȝe haue saide it is y-nowhe y-wis And muchel more for litel heuynesse Is riht ynouhe to muche folke as .I. gest .I. seie for me it is a grete disese Where as men haþ buen in gre welþe & ese To heren of here sodan fal alas And þe contrarie is Ioye & grete solace As whan haþe bue in pouere astate And climbeþ vp & waxeþ fortunate And þare abideþ in prosperite Suche þinge is glad-some as it þenkeþ me. And þouhe suche were goodely for to telle Ȝe quod oure Ost be seint poules belle Ȝe seie riht soþe þis monke he clappeþ loude He spake howe fortune couerd was wiþ a cloude .I. note neuer what & also of a tregedrye Riht nowe ȝe herde & parde no Remedye It is to be-weile ne to compleyne That þat is done and als it is a peine As ȝe haue seide to hire of heuenesse Sir monke no more of þis so god ȝow blysse Ȝoure tale anoyeþ al þis Compaignye Suche talkeinge is nouht worþe a botter flye For þere-inne is no sporte ne game Where-fore sir Monke Dan Piers be ȝoure name I praie hertely tel vs sumwhatt elles For seker ner clynkenge of ȝoure belles þat on ȝoure bridel hongeþ on euery side Be heven kinge þat for vs al deide I schal for þis fal doune for slepe Al-þouhe þe slouhe hadde neuere be so depe Than hadde ȝoure tale be tolde in veyne For certeynly as þes clerkes seyne Where as a man maye haue none audience Nowht he[l]peþ to tellen his sentence And wele .I. woote þe substance is in me If any þinge schal wele Reported bee Sire sey sum whatt of hunteinge .I. ȝowe preie Naye quod þe monke .I. haue no luste to pleie Nowe latte a noþere tel as .I. haue tolde Than spak oure Oste wiþ rude speche & bolde And seide vnto þe Nones preste anone Com nere sir prest come hider sir Iohn Tel vs suche þinge as may oure hertes glaade Be merye þouhe þou ride vpon a Iade þat þouhe þine hors be foule or lene If he wil serue þe rekke þe nouht a bene Looke þat þine herte be mere euermo Ȝis oste quod he so mot .I. ride or go Bot .I. be mery .I.-wisse .I. wil be blamede And riht anone he haþe his tale tamede And þus he seide to vs euerychon This swete preste þis goodman sir Iohn Þe Preste [head-line] A Pouer wedowe sumdel stoupe in age was whilom dwellynge in a narwe cotage Be sides a groue standinge in a dale þis wedow whiche .I. tolde ȝowe of my tale Seþþen þilke daie sche was last a wif In pacience ledde a ful simple lif For litel was hire catel & hire rent Be husbandry suche as god hire sent Sche fant her self & eke her douhtern tuo Þe large sewes hadde sche & no mo Þre kyne & eke a schepe þat hiht mal Ful soty was hir boure & eke hire hal In whiche sche ete mony a sklender mele Of poynant sauce her neded neuer a dele No deynte morsel passed hire þrote Hire Dyaut was accordant to hire cote Replecioun maad hir neuer seke Atempre diete was all hire phesike And exercise & hertes sufficiaunce The goute lettid hire no þinge to daunce þe Poplexie ne shent nouht hire hede Ne wyne dranke sche neyþere white ne rede Hire borde was serued most wiþ white & blakke Melke & broune brede in whiche sche fande no lakke Seyned bakon & somtyme a neye or tweye For sche was as it were a manere deye A gardeyne sche hadde closed al aboute Wiþ stikkes & a drye diche wiþ oute In whiche sche hadde a kok þat hiht chauntrell In al þe land of croweinge was his pere His voice was merier þan þe meri organe On mesdaies þat in þe cherche gone Wele sukere was his croweinge in his loge Than is a kloke or any abbeie orlege Be nature he knewe iche ascencioune Of þe equinoxiale of þilk toune For whanne degrese .xv. were descended Þan knewe he þat it myh not bue a-mended His kombe was redder þan þe fine coralle Enbateled as it were a castel wall Ilyke aȝure was his legges & his tone His bille was blakke & as þe gete it schone. His nailes whitter þan þe lyly floure And ylike burnesshed gold was his colour This gentil kok hadd in his gouernance .Vij. hennes to done him plesance Whiche weren his susters & his paramours And wondere ylike to him as of Coloures Of wiche þe faire hewe on hire þrote Was cleped faire damysel pertelote Corteys sche was discrete & debonaire And companable & bare hire self so faire Seþens þilke daie sche was sevenyht olde That trewly sche haþe þe hert in holde Of chaunteclere loken in euery lyþþe He loued hire so þat wele was him þere wiþ Bot suche a ioye it was to here hem singe Whan þat þe briht sone be-gan to springe In swete accorde . My leue is fare in londe For þilke time as .I. have vnderstonde Bestes & birdes kouþe speke & singe And so befel at in a dawenynge As chaunteclere amonge his wives all Satt on his perche þat was in þe hall And next him satt his faire pertelote This chaunteclere gan gronen in his þrote As a man þat in his dreme is drecched sore And whan þat Pertilote þus herde him Rore Sche was agast & seide hert dere What eyleþ ȝowe to grone in þis manere Ȝe bue a verrey sleper fye for schame And he anseward & seide þus madame .I. pray ȝow þat ȝe take it to no greue Be god me mette þat .I. was in suche mischeue Riht nowe þat ȝit myne hert is sore afliht Nowe quod he My sweven rede ariht And kepe my body oute of foule prisone Me mette þat .I. Romed vpe & doune Wiþ-inne oure ȝerd where as .I. sawe a beste Was like an hunde & wolde haue maad areste Vpon My body & wolde haue hadde me dede His colour was be-twixe white & Rede And tipped was his taile & boþ his eres Wiþ blak vnlyke þe remenant of his heres. His snowte smal wiþ gloweinge eyen tweye Ȝit of his loke almoste for fere .I. deye þis caused me my groneinge douteles Avoye quod sche Fy on ȝowe herteles Alas quod sche for be þat god aboue Now haue ȝe lost my hert & my loue .I. kan nouht loue a coward be my feiþe For certes what so any womman seyþe Wil al desiren if it myht be To haue husbandes harde wise & fre And secre ne no nygard ne none fole Ne him þat is agast of euery tole Ne none avauntour be þat god aboue How dorst ȝe seye for schame vnto ȝoure loue þat any þinge myht maake ȝowe aferde Haue ȝe none mannes herte & han berde Alas & kan ȝe be agast of sweue[n]sse [No thyng god woot/ but vanyte/ in sweuyn is/.] Sweuens engendur of repleciones [And ofte of/ fame & of complexions/.] Whan humours bien to aboundant in a whight Certes þis dreme whiche ȝe haue herd to nyht Comeþ of þe grete superfluyte Of ȝoure rede coloure parde Whiche causeþ folk to dreme hire dremes Of Arwes and of fire wiþ rede lemes Of Rede bestes þat willen hem bite Of contek & of whelpes grete & lite Riht as þe humore malancolye Causeþ many a man in slepe to crye For fere of beres & boles blake Or elles blake deueles wi him tak Of oþere humerous couþ .I. tel also þat werken mony a man in slepe ful wo Bot .I. wil passe as lihtly as .I. kan Lo Caton whiche þat was so wise a man Seide he not þus ne do no force of dremes Now sir quod sche whan we flye fro þe bemes For goddes loue as take sum laxatif Vpon perile of my soule & of my lyf .I. counsel ȝowe þe best .I. wil nouȝt lye þat boþe of coloure & of Malancolye ȝe pure ȝowe; & for ȝe scholne nouht tary þouhe þat in þis toune is no potecarye .I. schal my self to erbes techen ȝowe þat schal biene ȝoure hele & ȝoure prowe And in þe gardine þo erbes schal .I. finde þe whiche haue of here prop[er]te be kinde To purgen ȝowe be-neþe & eke aboue For-ȝetteþ nouht þis for goddes owen loue Ȝe bien ful colerik of complexioune Were þe sonne in his ascencioune Ne fynde ȝoue replite of ȝoure humers hote And if it do; I. dare wele leie a grote þat ȝe schal haue a feuere terciane Or an Agwe þat maie be ȝoure bane A daye or tuo ȝe schal haue digestiues Of wermes ar ȝe take ȝoure laxatiues Of Laureole; Centaure & of fymyter Or elles of elobore þat groweþ þere Of Catapuce or of gaitres buryes Of herbe yve groinge in owre gardine þat merery is Peke hem vp riht as þei growe & ete hem inne Be mery husbande for ȝoure faders kinne Dredeþ no dreme .I. can sei ȝowe no more Madame quod he gremercy of ȝoure lore Bot naþeles as toucheinge dan Catoune That haþ of wisdom suche grete renoune Be god men maie in olde bokes reede One of þe grettest Auctor oute of drede And mony a man more of auctorite Than euer Caton was so mott .I. þe That al þe [re]uerese seine of here sentence And haue wele founden be experience þat dremes be significacions As wele of Ioye as of tribulacions þat folke enduren in þis lif present The nedeþ nouht to make of þis none argument Þe verei preue scheweþ it in dede One of þe grettest auctor þat men rede seiþ þus þat whilom tuo felawes ȝede On pilgrenage in a ful grete nede And happed so þei cam in to a toune Where as þere was suche congregacione Of peple and eke of streite herbigage þat þei [ne] fande as meche as a cotage. In whiche þei boþe myht y-loged be Wherfor þei myhten of necessite As for þat nyht departen of compaignye And iche of hem goþe vntil his ostelerye And toke his logeinge as it wolde fal þat one of hem was loged in a stal Ferre in a ȝerde wiþ oxen of þe plouhe þe toþere man was loged wele y-nowhe As was his aduentur or his fortune That vs gouerneþ all as in comune And so be-fel longe ar it were daie þis man mette in his bedde þere he leye Howe þat his felawe gan on him calle And seid alas for in an oxe stalle This nyht .I. schal be mordred þere .I. lye Nowe helpe me dere broþere ar .I. deye; In al haste come to me he seide. This man oute of his slepe for fere abraide. Bot whan þat he wakened out of his slepe He turned him & toke of þis no kepe Him þouht his drem was nouht bot a vanite Thus twyes in his slepe dremed he And att þe þredde time ȝit his felawe Cam as him þouht .I. am nowe .I.-slawe Be-holde my blode wounde depe & wide Aryse vp erly in þe morne tyde And att þe west gate of þe toune quod he A cart ful of donge þere schalt þou see In whiche my body is hidde ful priuelye Do þilke cart areste boldelye My golde caused my morder soþe to seyne And tolde hym euery poynte howe was sleyne Wiþ a ful pytous face pale of hewe And trust wele his drem he fonde ful trewe For on þe morne as sone as it was daie To his felawes inne he toke þe riht waie And whan he cam to þis oxe stall Affeter his felawe he began to call The Osteler answerd him anone And seide sir ȝoure felawe is gone As sone as dei he went oute of toune This man gan fal in grete suspeccion Remembreinge on his dremes þat he mete And forþe he goþe no longere wolde he let Vnto þe west gate of þe toune & fonde A donge cart as he went to donge þe londe þat was araide in þe same wyse As ȝe haue herde þe dede man deuise And wiþ an hardy hert he gan to crie Vengeance & Iustice of þis felonye Myne felawe murdre is þe same nyht And in þis carte he lieþ gapeinge vpriht [I cry out on the mynistres quod heNot in MS Reg. 18 C ii (nor are l. 4112, 4114); not in Harl. 1758.] That shulden kepe. and rule this citee Harrow allas. hire lith my felaw slayne What shuld I more. vnto this tale sayne The peple vp stert. and cast the cart to ground And in the myddil of the dung. ther they found][MS Reg. ex|tract ends] The de[de] man þat murded was al newe O blisful god þat art so iust & trewe Lo howe þou be-wryest morder al weie Mordre wil oute þat se we daie be daie Mordre is so wlatesome & abomynable To god þat is so Iuste & resonable þat he ne wil nouht suffre it heled be þei it abide a ȝere or two or þre Mordre wil oute þis es myne conclusioune And riht anone Ministres of þe same toune And hente þe carter & sore him pynede And eke the hostelere so ferre engynede þat þei be-knewe here wykkednesse anone And weren hanged be þe nekke bone Here maie menne see þat dremes bien to drede And certes in [the] same book .I. rede Riht in þe next chapetre .I. rede of þis .I. gabbe nouht so haue .I. Ioye & blis [Two men that wold. han passed the see] For certeyne cause into a fer Contre If þat þe wynde ne hadde bue contrarie þat maade hem in a Cite for to tarye þat stode ful merie vpon an hauen side Bot on a daie aȝeines þe euen tide The wynde gan chaunge & blew as him lest Iolif & gladde þei wenten vnto rest And kesten hem ful erly vnto seile Bot herken þat o man fel in grete pereile The tone of hem in slepeinge as he leye Him mett a wonder dreme aȝeines þe daye Him þouht a man stode be his side And him commanded þat he schold abide And seid him þus if þou to morne wende þou schalt be dreynte my tale is att an ende He awoke & told his felawes what he mette. And praide him his viage for to lete As for þat daie he praide him to abide His felawe þat laye be his beddes side Gan for to lauhe & scorned him ful fast No dreme quod he maie myne herte agaste þat .I. wil lette for to do my þinges .I. sett nouht a strawe be dremeinges For swevens bien bot vanytees & Iapes Menne dreme alweie of owles & of apes And of mony a mase þere wiþ all Men dremen of þinge þat neuer was ne schall Bott seþen .I. see þat þou wilte here abide And þus for-slewþen willfully þe tide God wote it reweþ me & haue good daie And þus he toke his leue & went his waie And er þat he hadde halfe his cours ysailed .I. note whie ne whatt meschaunce it eylede Bot Casuelly þe schip bothome to-rentte And schip & man vnder þe water wente In siht of oþere schippes hem beside þat wiþ him sailed att þe same tide And þerfore he seide pertelote so dere Bu suche ensamples olde maist þou lere þat noman schold bue to recheles Of dremes for .I. saie þe doubteles þat mony a dreme ful sore is for to drede ¶ Lo in þe lif of seint kenelme .I. rede þat was kenulphes son þe noble kinge Of Mercenrike howe Kenelme mette a þinge A litel ar he was murdred on a daie His murdre in his avisione he seyhe His norice him expounded euery dele His sweuen & bad him for to kep him wele For traison bot he was .vij. ȝere olde And þere-fore litel tale haþe he tolde Of ony dreme so holy was myn herte Be god .I. hadde leuer þan my scherte þat ȝe hadde his legende as haue .I. Dame pertelote .I. saie ȝow trewlye Macrobeus þat write þe avisioun In Aff[r]ike of þe worþe Cyprioun Affermeþ dremes & seiþ þat þere biene Warneynge of þinges þat men after seen · And forþermore .I. praie ȝowe lokeþ wele The olde testament of Danyele If he helde dremes of any vanyte Rede eke of Ioseph & þan schal ȝe see Wheþer dremes bien sumtyme .I. seye nouht all Warneynge of þinges þat schal after fall ¶ Loke of Egipte þe kinge dan Pharaho His Baker & his Boteler also Where þei ne felte none effect in dremes Who so wolle se[r]che þe actes of sundre Realmes Maie rede of dremes mony a worder þinge Loo cresus whiche þat was of Lidde kinge Met he nouht þat he sat vpon a tre Whiche signified he scholde an hanged bue Lo here Adromacha Ectores wyfe þat daie þat Ector schold lese his lif Sche dremed on þe same nyht be-forne Howe þat þe lif of Ector schold be lorne If þilke daye he wente in-to Bataile Sche warned him bot it myht not availe He went for to feyhten neuere þe lese Bot he was sleyne of Achilles Bot þilke tale is al to longe to tell And eke it is nyhe daie .I. may. duell Schortly .I. seie as for conclusione þat .I. schal ha of þis avisione Of aduersitees & .I. saie forþere more þat .I. wil tell of laxatifs no store For þei biene venemous .I. wote riht wele .I. hem defy .I. loue hem neuere a dele Now lat vs speke of merþe & stinte al þis Madame Pertelot so haue .I. blisse Of o þinge god haþe me sent large grace For whan .I. se þe beaute of ȝoure face Ȝe bien so scarlete rede aboute ȝoure eyȝen It makeþe al my; drede for to deyen For as so seker as in principio Mulier est hominis confusio Madame þe sentence of þis latine is Womman is mannes Ioye & al his blisse For whan .I. fele a nyht ȝoure soft side Al be it þat [I] maie nouht on ȝoure ride For þat oure perche is maade so narwe alas I am so ful of Ioye & solace þat .I. defy boþe sweuen & dreme And wiþ þat worde he flieþ doune fro þe beme For it was daie & eke his hennes all And wiþ a chokke he gan hem for to call For he had fonden a corne laie in þe ȝerde Royal he was no more aferde He feþerde pertelode tuente time And trade hire as oft ar it were prime He lokeþ as it were a grime lyone And on his toos he Romed vp & doune Him deynede noȝt to sett his feet on grounde Aie chokked he whan he hadde a corne yfounde And to him þan ran his wyves all Thus Roial as a prince in his halle Leue .I. þis chaunteclere in his pasture And after. wil .I. tel of his aduenture ¶ Whan þe moneþ in whiche þe werlde be-ganne þat hiht Marche whan god first maad manne Was complete & passed where also Seþen .Marche be-gan .xxx. daies & tuo Be-fel þat Chaunteclere in his pride His .vij. wives walkinge be his side Kest vp his hiȝen to þe briht sone þat in þe signe of taurus was yrone· þrette degrees & one & sumwhat more He knewe be kinde & be none oþere lore þat it was prime & krewe wiþ blisful steuen þe sonne he seide is clombon vp on heuen .xl. degres & .I. & more y-wisse Madame pertelote Mi werldes blisse Herken howe þes blisful birdes sînge And see þe frische flowres how þei springe Ful is myne herte of reuel & solas Bott sodanly him fel a sorweful cas For euere þe later ende of Ioye is sone ago And comunly oft time it falleþ so And if a Rethor couþe faire endite He in a cronikle myht sauely write As for a souereyne notabilite. Nowe euerey wiseman herken me This storie is as trewe .I. vnder-take As is þe booke of lancelote þe lake That wemmen helde in ful grete Reuerence Nowe wil .I. turne aȝeine to my sentence A kole fox ful of sleihte & iniquite þat in þe groue had woned ȝeres þre Be hihe ymaginacion aforne y-kast The same niht þorwhe-oute þe hegges brast In-to þe ȝerde þer chaunteclere þe faire Was wonte & eke his wif to repaire And in a bedde of wortes stil he laye Til it was passed vndern of þe daye Wayteinge his time on chaunteclere to fall As gladly done þes homicides all Þat in awaite ligge to murdre men O fals Mordroure roukeinge in þi den O newe Scariot & newe Genyloun Fals dissimylour o greke Synoun That brouhtest troye al vtterly to sorwe O chaunteclere acursed be þat morwe þat þou in þe ȝerde fleihe from þe bemes þou were wele y-warned be þi dremes þat þilke daie was perilouse to þe Bot þat at god a-for wote it mote nedes be After opinione of certeine clerkes Witnesse on him þat any clerke es þat in scole grete altercacioun In þis matier & grete disputacioun And haþe bue of an hundreþ þousand men But .I. ne can bult it to þe branne As kan þe holy doctur Austine Or Boice or þe Bischoppe Bradwardine Weþere þat goddes will afore weteinge Streyneþ me nedely for to done a þinge Nedely clepe .I. Simple necessite Of elles if þe fre choyce be graunted me To do þat same þinge or to do it nouȝt þouhe god for-wote it ar it was wrouht Or of his weteinge streyneþ neuere a dele Bot be necessite condicionele .I. wil nowht haue to done of suche Matier Mi tale is of a koke as ȝe maie here That toke his counsel of his wif with sorwe To walken in þe ȝerde vpon þe morwe þat he hadde mette þe dreme as .I. ȝowe tolde Wemmen counsel bien ful often colde Wemmen counsel brouht vs first to woo And maade Adam fro paradise to go þere as he was ful mery & wele att ese Bot for .I. note whome .I. miht . it displese If .I. counsel of wemmen wolde blame Passe ouere for .I. said it in my game Rede Auctors where þei trete of suche matier And what þei seine of wemmen hier þese biene þe kokkes wordes & nouht myne .I. kan no harme of no womman devine Faire in þe sande to baþe hire merilye Lyþe pertelote & hire susters bye Aȝeine þe sunne & chaunteclere so fre Sange merier þat þe meri mere-maide in þe see For Phisiologus seiþe witterly How þat þei singen wele & merely And so be-fell as he kest his yȝe Amonges þe wortes vpon a butterflye He was ware of þis fox þat ley ful lowe Noþinge lust him þan to crowe Bot cride anone kok kok & vp he sterte As a man was affraide in his herte For naturaly a beste desireþ to flee Fro his contrarie whan he maie it see Þeihe he neuere hadde seen it erst wiþ his ye The chaunteclere when he gan him a-spye He walde haue fledde Bot þat þe fox anone Sayde gentil sire alas what will ȝe done Bene ȝe affraide of me þat am ȝoure frende Certes sire þat bien ȝe vn-hende If .I. to ȝowe wolde harme or velanye .I. am nouht comme ȝoure consel to aspye Bot trewly þe cause of my comynge was onely to herken howe þat .I. singe For trewly . ȝe haue as mery a steuene As an Angel haþe þat is in heuene þer-wiþ ȝe haue in fysik more feleynge þan hadde Boys or any þat kan singe Min lorde ȝoure fader god his soule blisse And eke ȝoure moder of his gentillese Haue in myne house bien to ȝoure grete ese And certes sir ful feine wold I ȝowe plese Bot for men spekeþ of singeinge [I woll seie. So mote I broke myn yen tweie. Sauf ye I ne herd/ neuyr/ man so syng.] As dide ȝoure fader in þe morneinge Certes it was of hert al þat he sange And for to make his voice þe more strange He wolde so peyne him þat wiþ boþ his yȝen He nost wynke so loude he dide criene And stond on his tiptos þere wiþ al And strecche forþe his nekke longe & smal And eke he was of suche discrecione þat þer was no man in no region þat him in sange or wisdome myht passe .I. haue wele redde Dan Burnel þe asse Amonge his vers þere was a kok For a prestes sonne ȝaue him a knoke Vpon his legges whan he was ȝonge & nyce He maade him for to lese his benefice Bot certeine þere is no comparisoun Be-tuyx þe wisdome & discresioun Of ȝoure fader & his subtilite Nowe singeþ sire for seint charite Lete se con ȝe ȝoure fader counterfet This Chaunteclere his wynges gan to bete As man þat couþe his treson nouht aspie So was he Rauysched wiþ his flaterie Alas ȝe lordes mony a fals flaterer Is in ȝoure courte & mony a losengier þat plesen ȝowe more be my feiþe þan he þat soþefastnesse vnto ȝowe seiþ Redeþ Ecclesiastre of flatre Be war ȝe lordes of here trecherie This Chaunteclere stode hihe vpon his toos Strecheinge his nekke & held his yen cloos And gan to crowe loude for þe nones And Dan Russell stert vp al at ones And by þe gorge hente chaunteclere And on his bak to-warde þe woode him bere [leaf 224. It re|peats And on his bakke to-ward þe wode him bare]For ȝitt was þere noman him sewed O destanye þat maiste not bu enchewed Alas þat chaunteclere fel þo fro þe beme Alas his wif ne rouht nouht of dremes And on a fridaye fel al þis meschaunce O venus þat is goddes of plesaunce Seþes þat þi seruant was þus chaunteclere And [in] þi seruice dide al his powere More for delite þan þe werlde to multiplie Whi woldest þou suffur on þi daye to deye O gaufride dere maister souereigne Than whan þi worþi kinge Richard was sleyne Wiþ schotte compleigned his deþ so sore Whi ne hadd .I. nowe þi sentence & þi lore Þe fryday for to chide as deden ȝe For on a fryday schortly sleyne was he þan wolde .I. schewe ȝowe howe þat .I. couþe pleyne For chaunteclere & for his peyne Certes suche crie ne lamentacione Was of ladies maade whan þat Elyone Was wonne & pirrus wiþ his streiht swerde Whan he hente kinge Prian be þe berde And sleyne him as seide Eneydos As maaden all þe hennes in þe close Whan þei hadd seye of Chaunteclere þe siht Botte souereignely dame Pertelot schriht Ful ludde þan dide Esdrubaldes wif Whan þat hir husbonde hadde lost hir lif And þat þe Romeynes hadde bernt Cartage Sche was so ful of tourment & of rage þat wilfully in-to þe fire sche stert And bernede her self wiþ a stedfast hert O . woful hennes riht so cride ȝe As whan þat nero berned þe Cite Of Rome Criden þe Senatours wifes For þat her husbondes scholde lese here lyves Wiþ-outen gulte Nero haþe hem sleyne Now wil .I. turne to my tale a-ȝeine This cely wedowe & here dowhters tuo Herden þe hennes crie & maden wo And oute att þe dore stert þei a none And sawe þe fox to-warde þe groue gone And bare vpon his bakke þe koke awaie And Criden oute harrowe & walaweie A ha þe fox & After hem þei Ranne And ek wiþ staues mony anoþer manne Ranne Colle oure dogge talbot & Garland And Malkin wiþ here distaf in hire hand Rann þe cowe & þe calf & eke þe verrey hogges Sore aferde for berkeinge of þe dogges And schowteinge of men & of wemmen eke þei rann so her hert þei þouht to breke The Dokes criden as men wold hem qwelle þei ȝelden as fendes done in helle Oute of þe hyves cam þe swrame of bees The gees for fere flowe ouer þe trees So hydous was þe noyce a benedicite Sertes he Iac strawe & his Meyneȝe Ne maade neuere schowte halfe so schill Whan þat þei wolde any flemmynge kill As þat ilke daie was maade on þe fox Of brasse þei brouht bemes & of box Of horne & bone in whiche þei poped þere-wiþ-āl þei schriked & schowted It semed howe þat heuen schold fal Nowe good men .I. preie ȝowe herkeneþ al Lo how fortune torneþ sodanly The hope & eke þe pride of her envye This kok þat lei vpon þis fox bak In al his drede vn-to þe fox spak And seide sire . If .I. were as ȝe ȝit schold .I. saie as wis god help me Turneþ aȝeine ȝe proude clerkes all A verrey pestelence vpon ȝow fall Nowe am .I. comme vnto þis wode side Mawgre ȝoure hede þe koke schal her abide .I. wil him ete in feiþ & þat anone The fox anseward in feiþe it schal be done And [as] he spak þat worde al sodanly þis koke brak fro his mouþe delyuerlye And hihe vpon a tree he flyȝe anone And þe fox sawe þat he was goone Alas quod he o chaunteclere alas .I. haue quod he done ȝowe a trespas In also muche as .I. maade ȝowe aferd Whene .I. ȝow hente & brouht oute of þe ȝer[d]e Bot sire .I. did it nouht in no wikked entente Comeþ doune & .I. schal tel ȝowe whatt .I. mente .I. schal seie soþ god helpe me so Naye þan quod he .I. schrewe vs boþe tuo And first .I. schrewe my self boþe blode & bones If þou be-gile me ofter þan ones Thou schalt no more wiþ þi flatery Do me to singe & wynke wiþ myne eyȝe For he þat winkeþ whan he schold see As wysly god let him neuer þe Nay quod þe fox god ȝeue him meschaunce Þat is so vndiscrete of gouernaunce þat Iangeleþ whan he schold haue pees Lo suche it is to bue recheles And necligent and trusteþ on flaterye Bot ȝe þat halde þis tale a folye As of a fox .&. a kok. & of an hen Takeþ þe moralite goode men For seinte Poule seiþ all þat wreten is To oure doctrine it is wreten y-wys Takeþ þe fruyte & leteþ þe chaf be still Now good god if þat it be þine will As seiþe my lorde so makeþ vs al good men And bringe vs al to his hihe blisse Amen. Explicit fabula Capellani. GROUP H. FRAGMENT IX. § 1. THE MANCIPLE'S HEAD-LINK. LANSDOWNE MS. on leaf 225 Incipit prologus Mancipij. WEte ȝe nouht where þere stant a litel toune Whiche þat cleped is Bobe vp & doune Vnder þe blene in Canterbury weye Ther gan oure Oste for to Iape & pleye And seid sires ywisse done is in þe myre Is þere no man for prayer ne for hire þat wil awake oure felawe be-hinde A þef myht him lyhtly Robbe & bynde Se howe he nappeþ for kokes bones As he wald fal fro his hors att ones Is þat a koce of London wiþ meschaunce Do him com ford he knoweþ his penaunce For he schall tel a tale be my feye Al þouhe it be not worþ a botel heye Awake þou koce quod he quod ȝif þe sorowe What eyleþ þe to slepe so be þe morwe Hast þou had flene al nyht or ert þou dronke Or hast þou wiþ sum qwene al nyht y-swonke So þat þou maist nouht holde vp þine hede This koe þat was ful pale & no þinge rede Saide oure oste so god my soule blisse As þere is fal on me suche an heuynesse .I. note whi me were leuer slepe þat þe best galon wyne in chepe Wele quod þe Manciple if it maie done ese To þe sire koke; & to no wight displese Whicho þat here rideþ in þis compaignye And þat oure Oste wil of his curtesye .I. wil as nowe excuse þe of þin tale For in good feiþe þi vesage is ful pale þin eyȝen dasoweþe soþely as me þenkeþ And wele .I. wote þi breþe foule stinkeþ þat scheweþ wele þou ert nouht wele disposed Of me certeyne þou schalt not bene yglosed See howe goþe þis dronken wight As þouhe he wold vs swelowe anone riht Halde close þi mouþe man be þi fader kinne The deuel of hel sett his fote þere inne This cursede breþe wil enfect us al Fy stynkinge swyne fy foule motte þe fall Takeþ hede sire of þis lusty manne Now swete sire wil ȝe iust att þe fanne Ther-to me þinkeþ ȝe be wel yschape I trowe þat ȝe haue dronken wyne ape And þat is whan men pley wiþ a strawe And wiþ þis speke þe koce wex al wrawe And on þe Manciple gan he nodde fast For lak of speche & doune þe hors him cast Where as he laye til men him vp toke This was þe faire cheuache of a coke Alas he ne hadd hold him be his ladel And er þat he aȝeine were in his sadel þere was grete schoueinge to & fro To lift him vp & muche care & woo So vnwelde was þi cely palled gost And to þe Mancyple þan spak oure Ost Be cause þat drinke haþe dominacione Vpon þis man be my saluacione .I. trowe fill lewdly he wolde tel his tale For were it wyne or olde or moyste ale That he haþ dronke he spekeþ so in his nose And fneseþ fast & eke he haþe þe pose He also to done more þan .I.-nouhe To kepen him & his capel oute of þe slowhe And if he fal fro his Capel eft sone Þān schal we al haue . ynouhe to done In liftynge vp his hevy dronken cors Tel on þi tale . of him maake .I. no force Bot ȝitte Maunciple in feiþe þou ert to nyce Thus openly to reproue him of his vice Anoþere daie he wil peraduenture Recleyme þe & bringe þe to luyre .I. mene he speke will of smale þinges And for to speke att þine rekenynges þat were nouht honest þouhe it cam to preue No quod þe Manciple þat were a grete meschef So myht he bringe me in to þe snare Ȝit hadde I leuer pay . for þe Mare Whiche he rideþ on þan he schold wiþ me strive .I. wil nouht wreþþe him so mot .I. þriue þat att .I. spak .I. saide it in my bourde And wyte ȝe wele þat .I. haue here in a gourde A drauht of wyne . ȝe of a rype grape And riht anone ȝe scholne se a good Iape This koce schal drink þer-of if .I. maye Vpon peine of my lif he wil not sey neye And certanly to tellen as it was Of þis vessel þe koce drank fast alas Whate nedeþ it he dranke . ynowhe aforne And whan he had poped in his horne And to þe manciple he toke þe gourde aȝeine And of þat drink þe koc was wonder feyne And þonked him in suche wise as he couþe þan gan oure oste waxen wonder louþe And seide .I. see wele it is necessarie Wher þat we gone drinke wiþ vs to carye For þat wil torne Rankoure & disese To accord & loue & mony worde to pese? O. Bachus blissed be þin name þat so can turne ernest in to game Worschipe & þonke be to þi deite Of þat Matier gete ȝe no more of me Tel on þou Manciple .I. þe preie Sires quod he nowe herkeneþ what .I. seye Explicit prologus. Incipit fabula Mancipij. WHan phebus dwelled here in þis erþe adoune As olde bokes makeþ mencioune He was þe most lusti bacheller Of al þis werlde & eke þe best archer He slowe phiton þe serpent as he leye Slepeinge a-ȝeine sonne vpon a daie And mony anoþere worþe noble dede He wiþ his bowe brouht as men mowe rede Pleynge he couþe of euery mynstralcye And singen þat it was a melodye To heren of his clere voice þe soune Certes þe kinge of Thebes amphione þat wiþ his singeinge walled þat Cite Couþe neuer singen half so wele as he Therto he was þe semelest man þat is or was seþþe þe werlde be-ganne Whatt nedeþ it his fetures for to discryue For in þis werld was none so faire on lyue He was þer-wiþ fulfilled of gentillesse Of honour & of parfite worþinesse þis Phebus þat was floure ob Bachellarie As wele in fredam as in Cheualrye For disport in signe eke of victorie Of Pheton so as telleþ vs þe storie Was worþi to beren in his honde a bowe Now hadde þis Phebus in his hous a crowe Whiche in cage he fostred moni a daie And tauht it speke as men techeþ a iaie White was þis crowe as is a snowe white swanne And counterfede þe speche of euery manne He couþe whān he schold tel a tale þere wiþ in al þis werlde no nyhtinggale Ne couþe be an hundreþ þousand dele Singen so wonderli mery & wele Nowe hadde þis Phebus in his hous a wif Whiche þat he loued more þan his owen lif And nyht & daie dide euer his diligence Hire for to plese & done hire reuerence Saue onely if þe soþe þat .I. schal seye Ielowse he was & wolde haue kepped hire feyne For him were loþe Iaped for to be And so euery whiht in suche degre Bot al for nouht for it a-vaileþ nouht A good wif þat is clene of werke & þouht Schold not be kepped in none awaite certeine And trewly þe labour is in veyne To kepe a schrewe for it wil nouht be þis holde .I. for a verraie nycete To spill a labour for to kepe wives Thus writen olde clerkes in her lyues Bot nowe to purpos as .I. first began þis worþi phebus doþ al þat he can To plesen hire weneinge be suche plesance And for his manhode & his gouernance þat noman schold haue put him fro hire grace Bot god it wote þer maie noman enbrace As to discryue a þinge whiche þat nature Haþe naturelly sette in a creature Tak any birde & put it in a kage And do al þine entente & þi Corage To foster it tendurli wiþ mete & drinke Of al Deynteþes þou canst be-þinke And kepe it as clenly as þou maie Al-þou-he his cage of golde be neuere so gaie Ȝit haþ þis berde be twenti þousande folde Leuer in a forest þat is wilde & colde gone ete wermes & suche wrechednesse For euer þis birde wil done his besinesse To ascape oute of his cage whan he maie His liberte þe birde desireþ aie Lat take a katte & foster him wele wiþ melke And tendre flessche & make his couche of selke And late him sene a mouse go by þe wall And anone he weyueþ melke flesche & all And euery deynte þat is in þat house Suche appetite haþ he to ete a mouse Lo he[re] haþ lust his dampnacione And appetite flemeþ discrecione As þe wolfe haþe also a veleyns kinde þe lewdest wolf þat sche maie finde Or lewedest of Reputacione þat will sche take In time whan hir list to haue a maake Al þes ensamples speke .I. be þis men þat bien vntrewe & no þinge be wemmen For men haue euere a lykerous appetite On lower þink to performe her delite þan on here wives bien þei neuer so faire Ne neuere so trewe ne so debonaire Flesche is so new fangul wiþ meschance That we ne kunne in noþinge haue plesaunce þat sownet in to vertew any while This Phebus whiche þat þouht vpon no gile Deceyved was for al his Iolyte For under him a noþere hadde sche A man of litel Reputacione Not worþe to Phebus in comparaciōne þe more harme is it happeþe oft soo Of whiche þere commeþ muche harme & wo. And so be-fel whan Phebus was absent His wif anone haþ for hire lemman sent Here lemman sertes þis is a knauysche speche Forȝeuen it me & þat .I. ȝow beseche The wise plauto seiþ as ȝe maie rede The worde mot nede accorde wiþ þe dede If men schal tel properly a þinge The worde mot Cosine be to þe worcheinge .I. am a bustuse man riht þus seie .I. There is no difference treuly Be-twex a wif þat is of hihe degre If of hir body dishonest sche be And a pouerer wenche oþere þan þis If it so be þei werken boþe amys Botte þat þe gentil is in astate aboue Sche schal be cleped his ladi as in loue And for þat toþer is a p[o]uere womman Sche schal be cleped his wenche or his lemman And god it woote myne owen dere broþere Men leyþe þe tone as lowe as lyþe þat oþere Riht so be-twyx a titles tirānt And an owtelawe & a þefe errant þe sam .I. seie þere is no difference To Alisander was tolde þis sentence þat for þe terant is of gretter myht Be fors of meyne to sle doune riht And birne hous & home and maken al pleyne Lo þerefore he is clepe a Capiteigne And for þe outelawe haþe bot smal menȝe And may nouht do so grete an harme as he Ne bringe a contre to so grete meschefe Men klepen him an outelawe or elles an þef Bot for .I. am a man not texed wele .I. wil note tel of titus neuer a dele .I. wil go to my tale as .I. beganne Whan Phebus wif hadde sent for hir lemman Anone þei wrouht al her lust volage þis white crowe þat honge aye in þe cage Be-helde her werke & seide neuere a worde And whan þat home was commen phebus þe lorde This Crowe sange kokkow kokkowe cokkowe What birde quod Phebus what songe singes þou Ne were þow wonte so merilye to singe þat to myne herte it was a reioysinge To here þi voice alace what songe is þis Be god quod he .I. singe nouht amys Phebus quod he for al þi worþinesse For al þi beute and þi gentillesse For al þi songe & al þi Minstralcye For al þi wayteinge blered is þine eye Wiþ one of luytel reputacion Nouht worþ to þe as in comparison The mountance of a gnate so mot [I] priue For on þi bedde þi wif .I. sawe him swyue What wile ȝe more þe crowe anone him tolde Be sadde tokenes & be wordes bolde Howe þat his wif hadde done her lycherie Him to grete schame & to grete velanye And tolde him oft he sawe it wiþ his eyȝen This Phebus gan awaiwarde for to wrien Him þouht his sorweful herte a brast in tuo His bowe he bente & sette þerinne a floo And in his .Ire þan haþe he his wif sleyne This es þe effecte þere is nomore to seine For sorwe of whiche he brak his mynstralcy Bothe harpe & Lute getern & sautrie And eke he brak his arwes & his bowe And after þat þus spake he to þe crowe Traytour quod he wiþ tonge of scorpione þou hast me brouht to my confusione Alas þat .I. was wrouht whi nere .I. dede O dere wif o Iemme of lustihede That were to me so sadde & eke so trewe Nowe liest þou dede wiþ face pale of hewe Ful giltles þat dorst [I] swere .I.-wys O rachel hounde to done so foule amys O trouble witte o yre recheles þat vnavised smytest giltles O wanne trust ful of fals suspeccion Where was þi witte and þi discrecione Of euery mair be war of rechelnesse Ne trowe no þinge wiþ outen stronge wittenesse Smyte nouhte to sone ar þat þou wyt why Ande be auisede wele & soburlye Or ȝe do any execucion Vpon ȝoure ire for suspecciōn Alas a þousand folke haue Rachel ire Fully for-done or brouht hem in þe myre Alas for sorwe .I. wil my self sle And to þe crowe o fals þef seide he .I. wil þe qwite anone þi fals tale þow songe whilom like a nyht gale Nowe schalt þou fals þef þi songe for-gone Eke þine white feþers euerychon Ne neuer in al þi lif schal þu speke þus schal men on a traitur buen y-wreke þou & þin hofspringe euere schal be blake Ne neuere swete noise schal ȝe maake Bot euere Crie a-ȝeine tempest & reyne In tokeneynge þat þoruhe þe my wif is sleyne And to þe crowe he sterte & þat anone And pullede his white feþers euerychone And maad him blake & raft him al his songe And eke his speche & oute at þe dore him slonge Vn-to þe deuel whiche .I. him be-take And for þis cas bene al crowes blake Lordeinges be þis ensample .I. ȝowe preye Beþe ware & takeþ kepe what þat ȝe seye Ne telleþ neuere no man in ȝoure lif Howe þat anoþere man haþ swyved his wif He wil ȝowe hate mortally certeyne Daun Salomon as wise clerkes seyne Techeþ a man to kepe his tunge wele Bot as .I. seide .I. am nouht text wele Bot naþeles þus tauht me my dame My sonne þinke on þe crowe a goddes name My sonne kepe wele þi tonge & kepe þi frende A wikked tonge is wers þan a fende My sonne frome a fende men may hem blisse My sonne god of his endles goodenesse Walled a tonge wiþ teþe & lippes eke For man schold him a-vise what he speke Mi sonne ful oft for to mechel speche Haþe mony a man be spilt as clerkes teche Bot for litel speche avisily Is no man schent to spek generaly My sonne þi tonge scholdest þou restreine Att alle time bot whan þou dost þi peine To speke of god in honour & preyere The first vertue sonne if þou wilt lere Is to restreyne & kepe wel þi tonge þus leren childern whan þe be ȝonge My sonne of Mechel spekeinge yuel avisede þere lasse spekeinge had .I.-nowhe suffised Comeþ mochel harme þus was me tolde & tauht In muchel specheþ sinne wanteþ nouht Wostowe where-of a rachel tonge serueþ Riht as swerde for-kotteþ & for-kerueþ And arm a tuo . my dere sone riht so A tunge kutteþ frenschep al a two A Iangler is to god abhominable Rede Salomon so wyse & honurable Rede dauid & his psalmys rede seneke My sone speke nouht bot wiþ þine hede þu bekke Dissimule as þou were def if þat þou here A Iangelere spekeþ of perilous matere The flemynge seiþe & lerne ȝif þe lest Þat litel Iangelinge causeþ mechel rest My sone if þou no wykked worde hast seide Þe þar nouht drede for to be bewreide Bot he þat haþ my-saide .I. dare wele seine He may be no weye clepe his worde aȝeine þinge þat is seide is seide & forþ it goþe þouhe him repent or be him neuer so loþe He is his þral to whome þat he haþ seide A tale of whiche he is nowe yuel apaide My sone be war & be none auctor newe Of Tyþinges wheþere þei be fals or trewe Where so þou comme amonges hihe or lowe Kepe wele þi tonge & þinke vpon þe crowe Explicit ffabula Mancipij. GROUP I. FRAGMENT X. § 1. THE BLANK-PARSON LINK. LANSDOWNE MS. Incipit prologus Rectoris.

[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.]

 BE þat þe manciple hadde his tale endede The sonne fro þe souþe side is descendede So lowe þat he was nouht to my siht Degrees nyne & twente as of heiht Than of þe clokke it was so as .I. gesse For a .xj. fote a lite more or lesse My schadowe was at þilke time as þere Of fusche fete as myn lengeþ partide were In sex foote equale of proporocione þere-wiþe þe mones exaltacione .I. mene libra alweye gan ascende As we were entrynge att þe þropes ende For wiþ oure oste as he was wonte to guye As in þis caas oure Ioly compaignye Seide in þis wise lordeinges euerychone Now lakkeþ vs no tale more þan one Fulfilled is my sentence & my degre Who wil nowe tel a tale latt see Almost ffulfilled is myne ordenaunce .I. praie to god . so ȝif him riht good chaunce þat Telliþ þis tale to vs lustely. Sir prist quod he ert þou a vicarie Or ert þou a person sei soþe be þi feye Be what þowe be ne breke þou nouht oure pleye For euery man saue þoue haþe told his tale vnbukel and schewe vs what is in þi male For treuly me þinkeþ be þi chere Thow scholdest knyht vpe wele a grete matier Tel vs a fable anone for kokkes bones þis persone ansewerd al att ones þou getest fable none ytolde for me For Poule þat writeþ vn-to Timothe Repreueþ hem þat veyfen soþefastnesse And tellen fabels & suche wrechednesse Whi shold .I. schewen draf out of my fest Whan .I. may schewe whete if þat me lest For whiche .I. saie if þat þe lust to here Moralite & vertuous Matiere And þan þat ȝe wil ȝef me audience .I. wil ful feyne att cristes Reuerence Done ȝowe plesance lefful as .I. canne Bot trusteþ wele .I. am a soþerne manne .I. can nouht geste. Rom Ram . Ruf be my lettre Ne god wote Rime holde .I. bot litel better And þerefor if ȝowe luste .I. wil not glose .I. wil ȝowe tel a mere tale in prose To knyte vp al þis fest & maake an ende An ihesu for his grace witte me sende To schew ȝow þe waye in þis viage Of þilke parfite gloriouse pilgrenage Þat hiht Ierusalem Celestiall And if ȝe vouche saue a-none ȝe schall Beginne vpon my tale for whiche .I. preye Tell ȝoure avise .I. can no better seye Bot naþeles þis Meditacione .I. put it alweie in correctione Of clerkes for .I. am nouht text wele I take bot þe sentence trusteþ wele Thare-fore .I. maake a prodestacione þat .I. wil stant to correctione Vpon þis worde we haue assented sone For as it semed it was for to done To enden in som vertuous sentence And for to ȝeue him space & audience And badde oure Oste he scholde to him seye þat al we to telle his tale we preye Oure Oste hadde þe wordes for vs all Sire preste quod he faire mote ȝow fall Saye what ȝowe lust & we schal gladly here And wiþ þat worde he seide in þis manere. Telleþ quod he ȝoure Meditacione Bot hasteþ ȝowe þe sonne wil adoune Beþ fructuous & þat in litel space And to do wele god send ȝowe his grace Explicit prohemium.

Incipit sermo.

[Lansdowne 851, on leaf 230, back.]

[There are no paragraph-breaks in the MS, but Tyrwhitt's are kept in the print for convenience sake.]

Ieremie vjto.State super vias. & videte & interrogate de semitis antiquis que sit via bona; & ambulate in ea & inuenietis refrigerium animabus vestris.

[75] Owre. swete lord god of heuen; þat no man wil perisshe; but wil þat we comme al to þe knowleche of him; & to þe blisful lyf þat is perdurable; [76] amonesteþ vs be þe prophet Ioromie þat seiþe in þis wise; [77] Standeþ vpon þe weyes & seeþe & axeþ of olde paþes. þat is to seie of olde sentences; whiche is þe goode weie; [78] & walkeþ in þat weie; & ȝe schal finde refrisscheinge for ȝoure soules; &c [79] ¶ Many buen þe weyes spirituele. þat leden folk to to oure lorde ihesu criste & to þe regne of glorie [80] ¶ Of whiche weyes þere is a ful noble weie and ful couenable weie; whiche maye not faile to man ne to womman þat þoruhe sinne haþ mys gone fro þe riht weie of Ierusalem celestial. [81] And þis weie is cleped Penitence; of whiche men scholde gladly herken & enquere wiþ al his he [82] to wit what is pen|ance; & whan it is cleped penanc. & in howe many manere bene þe accionce of worchinge of penance; [83] And howe mony spices þere biene of penytence And whiche þinges appartenen; & be-houen to penitence; & whiche þinges distourben penitence

[84] ¶ Seint Ambrose seiþe þat penitence is þe pleyneinge of man for þe gilt þat he haþ done; and no more to do any þinge for whiche we ouhte to pleyne; [85] And sōm doctour seiþe; Penitence is þe weyment|ynge of man þat sorweþ for his sinne; an peyneþ him selft for he haþe mys done; [86] Penytence wiþ certeyne circumstance is verrey repentance of men þat halt him self in sorwe; And oþere peyne for his giltes [87] For he schal be verreye penitent; he schall first beweilen þe sinne þat he haþe done; And stedfastly purposen in his herte to haue schrift of mouþe And to done satisfaccione; [88] And neuer to do þinge. ffor whiche him ouht to beweile or to complene & to con|tinue in goode werkes; or elles his repentance mai nouht availe [89] ¶ For as seint Isider seiþe. He is a Iaper & a gabbere & no verrei repentant; þat eft sone doþ þinge ffor whiche him ouht to repent [90] wepeinge; & nouht for to stinte to do sinne Maie not availe; [91] Bot naþeles men schol hope; þat at euery time þat man falleþ be it neuere so of; þat he may rise þorwhe peni|tence if he haue grace ¶ Bot certeinly. it is grete doute [92] for as seiþe seinte gregori. vnneþes ariseþ he oute of his sinne þat is charged wiþ þe charde of yuel vsage; [93] & þer fore repentant folke þat stinte for to sinne & for-lete sinne. er sinne for-lete him. Holy cherche holte hem seker of her sauacione; [94] And he þat sinneþ & verraly repenteþ him in his last ende; Holy cherche ȝit hopeþ his saluacion be þe grete mercy of our lorde ihesu for his repentance; ¶ Bot takeþ þe seker weye þat is certeine;

[95] ¶ And nowe seþen .I. haue declared ȝowe what þinge is penitence ¶ Now scholne ȝe vnderstonde þat þere bue þre accions of Penytence; [96] The first is if a man be baptized after þat he haþe sinned [97] ¶ Seint Austine seiþe bot he be penitence for his olde sinful lif; he maie not be-ginne þe newe clene lif; [98] For certes if he be baptist with oute penitence of his olde gilte; he receyueþ þe merke of baptime. bot not þe grace ne þe remission of his sinnes til he haue repentance verreye. [99] ¶ Anoþere defaut is þis; that men done dedely sinne after þat þei haue receyued Baptisme [100] ¶ Þe þredde defaute is; þat men fallen in venial sinnes after her baptisme; fro daie to daie [101] ¶ Ther of seiþ seint Austine; þat penitence of goode & humble folke is þe penitence of euery daie;

[102] ¶ The spices of penance bien þre; þat on of hem is solempne; anoþere is comune. .&. þe þred is priue [103] ¶ þilke penance þat is so|lempne; is in tuo maners. As is to be put oute of holy cherche in lente for slauhter of childerne & suche maner þinge; [104] Anoþer is whan man haþ sinned openly; of whiche sinne þe fame is openly spoken in þe contre; ¶ And þan holy cherche be iuge|ment Distreyneþ him for to do penance open. [105] ¶ Somme penance is þat prestes enioynen men comunly in certeine caas as for to gone peraduentur naked in pilgrenage or barfote. [106] ¶ Priue penaunce is þilk þat men done al daie ffor priue sinnes of whiche we schryuen vs priuely & receyuen priue penance.

[107] ¶ Nowe schalt þou vnderstande whas behoueþ; & is necessarie to verrei perfit penitence; An þes standen on þre þinges [108] ¶ Contricio of hert. Con|fession of mouþe; & satisfaccione [109] ¶ For whiche seiþ Iohannes Grisostemus. Penytence Distreyneþ man to accepte benyngly euery peine þat is him enioyned with contricione of hert; & schrift of mouþe & satis|facione & in wercheinge al manere humylite; [110] ¶ And þis is fruyteful penitence aȝein þre þinges in which. we wreþþen our lorde ihesu crist; [111] þis is to seine; be delite in þinkinge; be reclischenesse in spekeinge; be wykked sinful wyrcheinge; [112] ¶ And aȝeines þes wikked giltes is penitence; þat maie be likned vnto a tre.

[113] ¶ þe rote of þis tree is contricione þat hideþ him in þe hert of him þat is verraie repentant Riht as þe rote of a tre hideþ him in þe erþe; [114] ¶ Of þe rote of contricione springeþ a stalk þat bereþ braunches & leues of confessis & fruyte of satisfaccione. [115] For whiche crist seiþe in þe gospel. Doþe digne fruyte of penite. For be þis fruyte men maye knowe þis tre; & nouht be rote þat is hide in þe herte of man; be þe braunche ne be þe leues of confessione; [116] And þere for oure lorde ihesu crist seiþ þus; Be þe fruyte of hem schal ȝe knowe hem [117] ¶ Of þis rote springeþ a seede of grace; þe whiche sede is þe mode of sekernesse; And þis seed is egre & hote; [118] þe grace of þis seed springeþ of god þoruhe þe re|membrance of þe daie of dome & one þe peines of helle. [119] ¶ Of þis Matier seiþe Salomon. That in þe drede of god man for leteþ his sinne. [120] ¶ þe hete of þis seede is þe loue of god. & þe desire of þe Ioye perdurable; [121] þis hete draueþ þe hert of man to god; & doþe him hate his sinne; [122] ¶ For soþely þere is no þinge þat sauereþ so wele to a childe as þe myke of his norice; Ne no þinge is to him more abhom|inable þat þilke melk whan it is menged wiþ oþere mete. [123] Riht so þe sinnful man þat loueþ his sinne it semeþ þat it is to him moste swete Of any þinge; [124] ¶ Bot fro þat time þat he loueþ sadly oure lorde ihesu criste & desireþ þe lif perdurable; þere nys to hime more abhominable; [125] ¶ For soþe þe lawe of god is þe loue of god; For whiche dauid þe prophete seiþe; I. haue loued þi lawe & hated wikkednesse; & haten; He þat loueþ god kepeþ his lawe & his worde; [126] ¶ This tre sawe þe prophet .Danyel. in spirit vpon þe auysion of nobugodonosor whan he coun|seled him to do penitence. [127] ¶ Penance is þe tre of lif to hem þat it receyven; And he þat holdeþ him verrey penytence is blissed after þe verrey sentence of Salomon.

[128] ¶ In þis penitence or contricion man schal vn|derstonden .iiij. þinges; þat is to seine What is contricione; & whiche bien þe causes þat meuen a man to con|tricione & howe he schold be contrite; & what con|tricioun availed to þe soule; [129] þan is it þus; þat contricion is þe verrei sowe þat a man receyueþ in his hert for his sinnes with sadde purpos to schriuen him & to do penance And to do neuer more sinne; [130] ¶ And þis sorwe schal bien in þis manere As seiþe seinte Bernard. It schal be greuous & heuy & ful scharpe & poynant in herte; [131] ffirst for a man haþ gult his lord & his makere; & mor scharp & poynant; for he haþ agilte his fader celestial; [132] & ȝit more scharp & poynant; For he haþe a-wreþþed & agilte him þat bouht him; þat withe his precious blode haþ deliuerd vs fro þe bandes of sinne And fro þe cruelte of þe deuel. And fro þe peynes of hell;

[133] ¶ The causes þat ouhte to meue a man to con|tricion bien .vj. ¶ First a man schal remembre him of his sinnes; [134] bot loke þat þat remem|brance be to him no delite be no weye bot grette schame; & sorwe For his gilte. For Iob seiþe. Sinfulmen doþ werkes worþi of confession [135] ¶ And þere for seiþe Ezechiele .I. wil remembre me al þe ȝeres of my lif in bitternesse of myn herte; [136] And god seiþe in þe Apocolips. Remembre ȝo fro wemmes þat bue fall; For be forne þat time þat ȝe sinned ȝe weren þe childern of god. & lyme of þe Regne of god; [137] ¶ Bot for ȝoure sinne ȝe bien wax þral & foule & membres of þe fende; hate of Angeles Sclaundre of holy cherche. And foode of þe fals serpent perpetuel matiere of þe fire of hell. [138] And þat more foule & abom|inable for ȝe trespasen so oft time; as doþe þe hounde þat torneþ to eten his spewynge; [139] And ȝit bien ȝe fouler for ȝoure longe continuinge in sinne; & ȝoure sinful vsage; For whiche ȝe be roten in ȝoure sinne as a beste in his donge [140] ¶ Suche manere of þouhtes maken a man to haue schame for his sinne & no delite; As god seiþe be þe prophete Ezechiele. [141] ȝe schol remembre ȝowe of ȝoure weies; & þei schol displesen ȝowe soþely; ¶ Sinnes bien þe weies þat leden folk to hell;

[142] ¶ þe secunde cause þat auhte to make a man to haue disdeyne of sinne is þis; ¶ þat as seiþe seint Petre; Who so doþe sinne is þrall of sinne; ¶ And sinne putteþ a man in grete þraldome; [143] And þere for seiþe þe prophete Ezechiele; I. went sorweful in disdeine of my selfe; ¶ Certes wele ouht a man to haue disdeine of synne & wiþ-drawe him fro þat þraldome & velanie; [144] And lo whatte seiþe Seneea in þis matiere; þouhe .I. wiste þat god neyþere man ne scholde neuer knowe it; Ȝit wolde .I. haue disdeine for to do sinne. [145] ¶ The same Seneca. seiþe .I. am borne to gretter þinges þan to be þrall to me bodye. . . . .no gap in MS. . . . . [146] More a þralle may no man ne womman make of his bodi þan ȝiue his body to sinne; [147] A were it þe foulest cherle or þe foulest womman þat leueþ & leste of value ȝite is he chaunged & moste foule & more in seruitute; [148] Euer fro þe hiere degre þat a man falleþ þe more he is þrall; And more vnto god & to þe werlde vile & abomin|able; [149] ¶ O good god wele ouht men haue disdeyne of sinne; seþen þat þoruhe sinne þere he was fre now is he maked bonde [150] ¶ And þere for seiþe seinte Austine. If þou haue disdeine of þi seruant if he a gilte or synne; Haue þou þan disdeine þat þou þi self scholdest do synne; [151] Take rewarde of þine value þat þou ne be to foule to þine value ne to þi self [152] ¶ Alas wele ouhten þei þan to be seruant & þrall to sinne & sore biene aschamed of hem self; [153] þat god of his enles goodenesse haþ sette hem in hihe astate or ȝeuen hem wiþ strenkeþ of body. hele beaute. prosperite; [154] & bouht hem fro deþ with his hert blode; þat þei so vnkindely aȝeines his gentillesse whiten him so velenslye to slauhter of here owen sowles [155] ¶ O goode god. ȝe wemmen þat bien of so grete beaute; remembreþ ȝowe of þe prouerbe of Salomon. he seiþe [156] A faire womman þat is a fole of hir body; is like to a ringe of golde þat wereþ in þe groyne of a sowe [157] ¶ For riht as a sowe wroteþ in euery ordure; So wroteþ sche hir beaute in stinkeinge ordur of sinne

[158] ¶ The þred cause þat ouht to meue a max to contricione is þe drede of þe daie of dome & of þe orribles peynes of hell for as seint Ierom seiþe. Att euery time þat me remembreþ of þe daie of dome .I. quake; [160] For whan .I. ete or drink or do what so .I. do euer semeþ me þat þe trompe souneþ in myne ere; [161] Riseþ vpe þat bien dede & commeþ to þe Iugement [162] of god; ¶ Muche ouht iche man to drede suche a Iugement þere as we scholne bue all as seiþ seint Poule Be forne þe strete of oure lorde ihesu crist. [163] Where as ȝe schal maake a general con|gregacioun; Wher as noman mai be absent; [164] For certes þere ne availeþ none assoyene ne excusacion; [165] And not onely þat oure fautes schal bu Iuged; bot eke þat al oure werkes schal openli be knowe; [166] And as seiþe seint Bernarde. There ne schal no pledynge availe ne no sleiht; we scholne ȝeuen Rekenynge of euery Idel worde [167] ¶ There schal we haue a Iuge. þat maie nouht be deceyued ne corruppte; And whi for al oure þouhtes biene discouerde as to him; ne for preier ne for meede he wil not be corrupte; [168] And þerefor seiþe Salomon. þe wraþþe of god wol nouȝt bue corrupte; And þerfor seiþ Salomon; The wreche of god ne wil nouht spare no wight for praier ne for ȝeft; And þere fore att þe daie of dome þere is none hope to escape; [169] wherefore as seiþe Anselme ¶ Ful grete anguysche Scholne þe sinful folke have att þat time; [170] ¶ Þere schal be þe steren & þe wroþe Iuge; site aboue; And vnder him þe orrible putte of hell open to de|strey him þat mot be knowe his . . . no gap in the MS. sinnes openly be schewde be forne god & be for euery creature; [171] And one þe left side mo deueles þan hert maie þink for to harye; & to drawe þe sinful sowles to þe peine of hell; [172] and with inne þe hertes of folke schal be þe byteinge conscience; And wiþ oute forþ schal be þe werld al berneynge [173] ¶ Wheder schal þan þe wriched sinful soule flee to hide hime. Certes he maie nouȝt hide him; he most com forþe & schewe him [174] For certes as seiþ seint Ierom. The erþe schal cast him oute of him; & þe see also & þe eyre also þat schal be ful of þonder clappes & lyhtnynges; [175] Nowe soþely who so wil remembre of þis þinges .I. gesse þat his sinnes schal nouht turne him into delite; bote to grete sorwe for drede of peyne of hell; [176] And þere for seiþ Iob to god; ¶ Suffur lorde þat .I. maie a while be waile & wepe ar .I. go; & wepe withe outen retorneinge to þe derke lande. couered with þe derkenesse of deþe [177] to þe londe of Misese & of derkenesse where as is schadowe of deþe; where as is none oþer or|dinance bot grisly drede þat euer schal last [178] ¶ lo here may ȝe seen þat Iob preide respite a while to be-wepe & weile his trespas. For soþely o daie of Respite is better þan al þe tresoure of þis werlde. [179] ¶ And for alsomuche as a man mai aquite him self beforne god be penitence in þis werlde & nouht be tresour; þere fore scholde he preye to god to ȝeue him respite a while to be wepen & be weilen his trespas; [180] ffor certes al þe sorwe þat a man myht make fro þe begynynge of þe werld is bot a luytel þinge. att þe regarde of þe sorwe of hell [181] ¶ The cause whi þat Iob calleþ hell þe londe of derknesse; [182] vnderstondeþ þat he clepeþ it þe londe of erþe for it is stable & neuer schal faile dereknesse; ffor he þat is in hell haþe defaute of liht material; [183] ffor certes þe derk liht þat schal come oute of þe fire þat euer schal berne schal torne him al to peine þat is in hell; ffor it scheweþ him to þe orrible deueles þat him torment. [184] Couerd wiþ þe derkenesse of deþe . . . . .[185] . . . . .no gap in the MS. bien þe sinnes; þat þe wrecched man haþe do; Whiche þat distourben him to see þe face of god; riht a derke cloude be twex vs & þe sonne; [186] londe of mysese; because þat þere bue þre manere of defautes aȝeynes. þre þinges; þat folke in þis werlde haue in þis present lif; þat is to seie; Honours. delices. & Riches. [187] ¶ Aȝeines honour haue þei in hell schame; & confusione; [188] ffor wele ȝe weten þat men clepen honour þe reuerence þat men don to man; Bot in hell is none honour ne reuerence; ffor certes no more reuerence schal be do to a kinge þan to a knaue; [189] ¶ For whiche go[d] seiþe be þe prophet Ieremye. Thilke folke þat me dispisen schal bue in dispite [190] ¶ Honour is eke cleped grete lod|schipe; Thare schal no wight seruen oþere bot of harme & turment; Honour is eke cleped grete dignite & hihe|nesse bot in hel schal þei be al for-troden of deuels; [191] As god seiþe; Orrible deuels schal comen & gone vpon þe heuedes of dampned folk; And þis is for also muche. þe hiher þat þei were in þis present lif; þe more schal þei buen abated & defouled in hell; [192] ¶ Aȝeine þe riches of þis werld schal þe haue mysese of pouerte; And þis pouert schal be foure þinges. [193] in defaute of tresour of whiche dauid seiþe þe riche folke þat enbrasen & coueten in all herte þe tresoure of þis werlde; scholne slepe in þe slepeinge of deþe As no þinge schal þei finden in al hir handes of hire tresour [194] ¶ And more ouere þe Misese of hell schall ben in defaute of mete & drinke; [195] ffor god seiþ þus be moyses; Thei scholne be wastede wiþ hunger & þe berdes of hell schal deuouren him wiþ bitter deþ An þe gal of þe dragon . . . . .no gap in the MS. hir morsel; [196] And ferþer ouere hire mysese schal buen in defaute of cloþeinge; for þei schal be nake in body as in cloþinge; saue þe fire in whiche þei birne; & oþere felþes [197] & naked schal þei bien in soule of al manere of vertues; whiche þat is þe cloþeinge of soule; // Wher bue þan þe gaie Robes & þe soft schetes & þe smale schertes; [198] Lo what seiþe god of hem be þe prophet Ysaye; þat vnder hem schal be strewed mouhtes; & here couertours schal be of þe wermes of hell. [199] And ferþer ouere hire mysese schalbe in defaute of frendes; For he is nouȝt pouer þat haþe goode frendes bott þere is no frende; [200] ffor neyþere god ne creature schall be frende to hem; And euery of hem schal haten oþere wiþ dedeli hate; [201] þe sonnes of þe douhtern schal rebellen aȝeines fader & moder & kinrede aȝeines kinrede; & chiden and dispisen iche of hem oþere boþe daie & nyght; ¶ As god seiþe be þe prophete Mechias [202] And þe loueynge childern þat whilom loued so fleschely eueryche oþere wolden eueryche of hem eten oþere if þei myht; [203] ffor howe schold þei louen hem to geder in þe peine of hell whan þei hateden eueryche of hem oþere Eyþerin þe prosperite of þis lif [204] ¶ For truste wele here fleschely loue was dedely hate as seiþe þe prophete dauid. ¶ Wo so þat loueþ wikked|nesse; he hateþ his soule; [205] And who þat hateþ his owen soule; certes he may loue none oþer wight in no manere; [206] And þerfor in hell is no frenschippe Bot euer þe more fflessly kinred þat buen in hell; þe more curseinge & þe more chide|inge þe more dedely hate þere is ymonge hem; [207] And ferþere ouere þei scholen haue defaut of al manere delices; For whi þe delites bene þe Appetites of þe five wittes; as siht; hereynge; Sauereinge; Smel|inge; & toucheinge; [208] Bot in hell here siht schal be ful of derknesse & smoke; & ful of teres; And here hereinge ful of waymentynge & of grontinge of teþe As seiþ ihesu crist. [209] Her nose|þrelles schal be ful of stinkinge stinke; And as seiþe ysayas þe prophete. Here Sauereinge schal be ful of bitter gall; [210] And toucheinge of hire body couerd wiþ fire. þat neuer schal be quenched; and wiþ wormes þat neuer schall diȝen. As god seide be þo mouþe of Isaye; [211] And for alsomuche as þei schol not wene þat þei mei deyen for peyne. & be hire deþ flie fro peyne; þat maie vnder-stonde be þe worde of Iobe; þat seiþ þere as is þe schadow of deþe; [212] Certes a schadowe haþe likenesse of þe þinge of whiche it is schadow; Bot þe schadowe is nouht þe same þinge of whiche it is schadowe [213] Riht so fareþ þe peyne of hell; It is like deþe for þe angwysshe orrible And whie; ffor it peyneþ hem euere as þouhe men schold dyen anone; Bot certes þei schol not deye [214] ¶ For as seiþe seint Gregorie to wrecched kaytifes schal be deþe with owten deþ; And ende wiþ outen ende; And defaute with oute faileinge; [215] ffor here deþ schal alwey lyfe; And here ende schal euermore be ginne; And here defaute schal nouht faile [216] ¶ And þere fore seiþ seint Iohn þe Euaungeliste; Thei schal folowen deþ & þei schal nouht finden him; And þei desiren to deye; And deþ schal flye fro hem; [217] And Eke Iob seiþ; þat in hell is none order of Reule; [218] ¶ And all be it so þat god haþe created al þinge in riht ordre & noþinge with outen order; Bot al þinges bene ordeyned & nom|bred; ȝete naþeles þei þat bue dampned bien no þinge in ordre ne holde no þinge in ordre. [219] ffor þe erþe schal bere hem no fruyte. [220] For as þe prophet seiþe dauid; God schal destruye þe fruyte of þe erþe as fro hem; ne water schal ȝeue hem no moystur. ne þe eyer no refrissheinge; ne fire no lyht; [221] For as seiþe seint Basile; The birneinge of þe fire of þis werlde schal god gif in hell to hem þat bu dampned; [222] Bot þe liht & þe clerenesse. schal be ȝouen in to heuen to his childerne; Riht as þe good man giffeþ flesshe to his childerne and bones to his hondes; [223] And for þei schol haue none hope to escape seiþe Iobe; Att þe laste; þat þere schold orroure & grisely drede dwel wiþ outen ende; [224] Orrour is alwei drede of harme þat is to comme; And þis drede schal euer dwell in þe hertes of hem þat bu dampned ¶ And for þat haueþ þei lorne al here hope for vij. causes; [225] ffirst for god þat is hire Iuge schal bue wiþ outen mercy to hem. Ne þei may not plese him ne none of his halowes ne þei maie ȝeue no þinge for hire Raunson; [226] Ne þei haue no voice to speke to him; ne þei maie not fliȝe fro peine ne þei haue no goodenesse in hem þat þei maie schew to deliuer hem fro peine; [227] ¶ And þerefore seiþe Salomon þe wykked man deyeþ; And whan he is dede he schal haue no hope to ascape fro peyne [228] ¶ Who so schame will wele vn|derstonde þes peynes & be þinke him wele þat he haþe deserued þilke peynes for his sinnes; Certes he schold haue more talent to sike & to wepe; þan for to singen & to pley; [229] ¶ For as seiþ Salomon. Who so þat hadde þe science for to knowe; þe peynes þat buen þat ystablisshed for sinne; he wold maake sorwe; [230] ¶ þilke science as seiþe seinte Austine. Makeþ a man to weyment in his herte;

[231] ¶ þe ferþe point þat ouhte maake a man haue contricion is þe sorweful remembrance of þe goode þat he haþ lost to done here in erþe; And eke good þat he haþ lorne; [232] Soþely þe goode werkes þat he haþ loste; eyþere þei bien þe goode werkes þat he haþ wrouht er he fell in to dedely sinne. or elles þe goode werkes þat he wrouht while he laie in sinne. [233] Soþely þe gode werkes þat he dide beforne þat he fell in sinne bien al mortified & astoned; & dullede be þe oft sinynge [234] ¶ þe toþer goode werke þat he wrouht whiles he ley in sinne; þei bien vtterly dede as to þe lif perdurable in heuen [235] ¶ þan þelke goode werke þat bien mortified be oft sinynge; Whiche good werkes he dide whiles he was in charite; ne mowen neuere quyken aȝeine withouten parfite penitence [236] And þerfore seiþe god be þe mouþe of ezechiel; That is þe rihtfulman re|torne aȝeine from his rihtwisnesse & to worche wikked|nesse schal he leue [237] naye ffor al þe goode werkes þat haþ wrouht ne scholne neuer bue in remembraunce; ffor he schal deye in sinne [238] ¶ And vpon þilke chapeter seiþ seint Gregorie þus þat we scholde vnder|stonde þis principaly. [239] That whanne we do dedely sinne; it is for nouht þan to reherse or to drawe in to memorie þe good werkes þat we haue wrouht beforne; [240] ¶ For certes in þe worcheinge of dedely sinne; þere is no truste to no good werke þat we han done to fore; þat is to seine As for to haue þere bye; þe lif per|durable in heuen; [241] . . . . .no gap in the MS. whan we haue contricione; [242] Bott soþely þe goode werkes þat men done whiles þei bien in dedely synne; ffor as muche as þei weren done in dedely sinne þei may neuere whiken aȝeine; [243] ffor certes þinge þat neuer hadde lif; may neuer qwykyne; ¶ And naþeles; Albeit þat þei aveile nouht to haue þe lif perdurable; ȝit aveilen þei to a-brigge þe peyne of hell; or elles to geten temporel richesse; [244] or elles þat god wol þe raþer elumyne & lyhten þe hert of þe sinful|man. to have repentance; [245] And eke þei aveilen to vsen a man to done goode werkes þat þe fende haue þe lesse powere of his soule [246] ¶ And þus þe curteise lorde ihesu crist wol þat no goode werke be lost; ffor in somwhat it schal availe [247] ¶ Bot for also muche þe goode werke þat men done whiles þei bien in goode lif bien al mortified be sinne folowynge; ¶ And eke seþen þat al þe goode werkes . . no gap in MS. whiles þei bue in dedely sinne bien vtterly dede as for to haue þe lif perdurable; [248] wele may þat man þat no goode werke doþe singe þilke newe fresshe songe; Iay tout perduz mon temps & mon labour [249] ¶ For certes sinne bereueþ a man goodnesse of nature; & eke þe goodnesse of grace; [250] ¶ For soþe þe grace of þe holy gost fareþ like fire þat may not bu ydel; ffor fire faileþ anone as it fo[r]leseþ his worche|inge; . . . . .no gap in the MS. [251] So leseþ þe sinfulman þe goodnesse of glorie þat only is behiht to good men þat labouren & wirken; [252] wele maie he bu sorie þan þat oweþ al his lif to god as longe as he leueþ; haþe leued; And eke also longe as he schal leue; þat no goodenesse ne haþe to paye with his dett to god to whome he oweþ al his lif [253] ¶ For tresteþ wele he schal ȝeue acomptes as seiþ sein Bernard. of al þe goodes þat haue bu ȝouen him in þis present lif & howe he haþe hem dispended [254] nouht so muche þat þer schal nouht perische an here of his hede ne a moment of an houre ne schal nouht perische of his time þat he ne schal ȝeue of it a rekenynge;

[255] ¶ þe fifte þinge þat ouht meue a man to contricioun; is remembrance of þe passion þat oure lord ihesu crist suffred for oure sinnes; [256] ffor as seiþ seint Bernard. While þat .I. leue .I. schal haue remem|brance of þe traveyles þat oure lorde ihesu crist suffred in precheinge; [257] his werenesse in travaileinge; his tempt|acions whan he fasted; his longe wakeinges whan he praide; his teres whan þat he wepte for pyte of goode peple; [258] þe wor & þe schame & þe filþe þat mem seiden to him oft; þe foule spitteinge; þat men spitten on his face; of þe buffetes þat men ȝaue him; of þe foule mouþes; & of þe re|proues þat men to him seyden; [259] of þe nayles with þe whiche he was nailed to þe crose and of al þe remenant of his passion þat he suffred for my sinnes And noþinge for his gilte; [260] And ȝe scholne vnder|stonde þat in man sinne is euery maner of order of ordinance turned vp so doune; [261] ffor it is soþe; þat god. & reson & sensualite & þe body of man; buen so ordeined; þat euer yche of þis foure þinges schold haue lordschipe ouer þat oþer [262] As þus; As þus God schold haue lordeschip ouer reson; & resone ouere sensualite; And sensualite ouere þe body of man; [263] But soþely whan man sinneþ al þe order of ordenance is turned vp so doune; [264] And þer fore þan for also muche as þe reson of man wil nouht be subiette ne obeisant to god þat is lord be riht; þere for leseþ he þe lordschip þat he scholde haue in sensualite; and eke ouere þe body of man; [265] And whie For sensualite rebelleþ aȝein reson; And þat waye leseþ reson his lordschip ouer sensualite & ouer þe body; [266] For riht as reson is rebelle to god; Riht so is boþe sensualite rebel to reson. & þe man also; [267] ¶ And certes þis ordinance & þis rebellion oure lorde ihesu crist bouht vpon his preciouse body ful dere And herkeneþ in whiche wyse; [268] ffor as muche þan is reson rebel to god; þare fore is man worþi to haue sorwe; & to be dede; [269] þis suffurd oure lorde ihesu for man after þat he had be bytrayede of his disciple And distreyned & bounde so þat þe blode braste oute att euery nayle of his handes as seiþe seint Austine [270] ¶ And forþermore for as muche þat reson of man wil nouȝt daunte sensu|alite whan it maie; þerefore is man worþi to haue schame; And þus suffred oure lorde ihesu criste; for man; whan þei spitten in his vesage // [271] And ferþere ouere for as muche þan þat þe kaytif body of man/ is rebel boþe to resoun / & sensualite; And þerefore is it worþi þe deþe; [272] And þis suffurde oure lorde ihesu criste for man vpon þe croys where as þere was no party of his body fre with owten grete pyne & bitter passion; [273] And al þis suffred oure lorde ihesu criste þat neuere for fete [·. . . . .no gap in the MS. ¶ To mechel am .I. peyned for þe same þinges þat .I. neuer deseruede And to muchel defouled for frendschipe þat man is worþi to haue; [274] And þere|fore maie þe sinnful man wele saie. as seiþe seint Bernard; Acursed be þe butternesse; . . . . .no gap in the MS. [275] ffor certes after þe diuerse discordance of oure wikkednesse was þe pas|sion of oure lorde ihesu criste. yordeinede in diuerse þinges [276] as þus; ¶ Certes sinnful mannes soule by-trasede of þe deuel be couetise of temperile prosperite and scorned be deceyte; Whan he cheseþ fleschely delites ¶ And ȝit is he tormented be impacience of aduersite; ¶ And be|spette be seruage in subieccione of sinne; and att þe last it is sleyne fynaly; [277] ffor þis disordinance of sinnful man. was ihesu crist first betrayde; And after þat was he bounde þat cam for to for to vnbynde vs of sinne & of peyne; [278] þan was he bescorned þat only scholde be honoured in al þinges be al þinges. & of al þinges; [279] ¶ Than was his þat ouht be desired to be seyne of al man kinde; In whiche Angeles desiren to loken vilansly be-spitte; [280] þan was he scowrged þat no þinge had gulte; & fynally þan was he crucified And sleyne [281] ¶ þan was he acompliced þe wordes of Ysaye; He was wounded for oure mesdedes & defouled be oure veleynyes; [282] Nowe seþen. þat ihesu criste toke vpon him selfe þe peyne of al oure wikkednesse; Muchel ouht sinful man be-wepe & be-weile þat for his sinne goddes sonne of heuen schold al þis peine endure [283] ¶ The sext þinge þat ouht to meue a man to contricione is þe hope of þe þre þinges; þat is to seine forȝeuenesse; And þe ȝeft of grace wele for to do; And þe glory of heuen with þe whiche god schal guerdon mān for his goode dedes; [284] ¶ And for as muche as ihesu crist; ȝifeþ vs þis ȝeftes of his largesse and of his souereyne bounte; þer for is he cleped Ihesus nazarenus rex iudeorum; [285] Ihesus ys to seyne saueour or sal|uation on whome men scholne hope to haue forȝeuenesse of sinnes whiche þat is properly saluacione of synnes; [286] And þerfor seide þe Angel to Ioseph; þou clepest his name ihesus þat schal saue his peple of her sinnes; [287] And here of seiþ seinte Peter; There nys none oþere name vnde heuen þat is ȝoue to any man bot only . . . . .no gap in the MS. Ihesus [288] nazarenus. Whiche is as moche to seine As florischeinge in whiche a man schal hope; þat he þat ȝeueþ him remissioun of sinnes; schal ȝeu also him grace wele to do; ¶ For in þe floure is þe hope of fruyte in tyme cominge And in forȝefnesse of sinnes hope of grace wele to do; [289] ¶ .I. was att þe dore of þine herte seiþ ihesus and cleped for to entre ¶ He þat openeþ to me schal haue for-ȝeuenesse of sinne; [290] I. wil entre in to him be my grace And soupe with him be þe good werkes þat he schal done; whiche werkes bene þe foode of god; & he schal soupe wiþ me; be þe gret Ioy þat schal be ȝoue to him; [291] Thus man hope for his werkes of penance god scholde ȝeue him his regne as he behoteþ him in þe gospel;

[292] ¶ Nowe schal man vnderstonde in whiche manere schal be his contricion; .I. say þat it schal bue vniuersale & totale; þis is to sei a man schal be verrey repentant for al his sinnes þat he haþ done in delite of his þouht; ffor delite is ful perilous; [293] ffor þer bien tuo maners of consentynges; þat one of hem is cleped consentynge of affeccioune whan a man is meved to do synne & deliteþ him longe for to þinke on þat sinne; [294] He haþe reson þat perteyneþ wele þat it is sinne aȝeines þe lawe of god; . . . . .no gap in the MS. Al þouhe his reson ne consent noȝt to do þe sinne in dede; [295] ȝut seine somme doctours þat suche delite þat dwelleþ longe is ful perilouse; al be it neuer so lite; [296] And also a man scholde sorwe for al þat; þat euer he haþ desired aȝeines þe lawe of god with perfite consentinge of resoun; ffor þere of is no doute þat it ne is dedely sinne; In þe consentynge [297] . . . . .no gap in the MS. & in to þe dede; [298] where for .I. seye þat many men ne repenten hem neuere of suche þouhtes & delices ne neuer schreuen hem of it bot onely of þe dede of grete sinnes vtwarde. [299] where for .y. saye þat suche wikked delites & wikked þouhtes bien subtile begillours of hem þat scholne be dampned; [300] More ouere man ouht to sorwen For his wikked wordes; as for his wikked dedes ¶ For certes þe repentance of a singuler sinne and nouhte repent of al his oþere sinnes; or elles repent him of al his oþere sinnes; & not of singulere sinne maye nouht aveile [301] ¶ For certes almyhti god; is al goode. And þerfor he for-ȝeueþ all; or elles riht nouht; [302] And here of seiþe seint Augustine.I. wote certeinly [303] þat god is enmy to euery sinner; And howe þan he þat obserueþ o synne schal he haue forȝeuenesse of þe remenant of his oþere sinnes; Nay; [304] ¶ And forþere ouer. contricion scholde be woundes sorwful; And Ang|uisschous; and þerfor ȝeueþ him god pleynly his mercy And þerfor whan Mi soule was anguysshous with in me .I. had remembrance of god þat my preyer myht com to him [305] ¶ Forþere ouere contricion must be continuel; and þat men haue sted|fast purpos to schriue him; & for to amend him of his lif [306] ¶ ffor soþely whiles contricion lasteþ man maie haue hope of forȝefnesse; And of þis comeþ hate of sinne þat destruyeþ sinne boþe in him selfe and eke in oþere folke as his power; [307] ffor whicheNota bene de qui sit amor dei seiþe dauid; ȝe þat louen god hateþ wikkednesse; For trustuþ wele to loue god; is. for to loue þat he loueþ & hate þat he hateþe

[308] ¶ The last þinge þat men schal vnderstond is þis; where of availeþ contricion; I. saie þat sumtim contricion deliuerþ a man fro sinne [309] of whiche þat dauid seiþe; I. saie quod dauid þat is to saie I purposed firmly to schryue me And þou lorde relesed my sinne; [310] ¶ And riht so as contricion ne veileþ nouȝt with oute sadd purpos of scrifte . . . . .no gap in the MS. or satisfaccione wiþoute contricione [311] ¶ And more contricion distreyeþ þe prison of hell & makeþ wayke; And febleþ þe strengeþes of þe deueles; And restoriþ þe ȝift of þe holy goste; And of al vertues [312] & interclenseþ þe soule of sinne; Ande deliuereþ þe soule fro þe peyne of hell & fro þe compaignie of þe deuel; And fro þe seruage of synne ¶ And restoreþ to al goodes espiritueles in to þe compaignie communyoun of holy kirke [313] ¶ And forþere ouere; it makeþ him þat was whilom son of Ire. to be þe son of grace; And al þis þinges he preueþ be holy writte; [314] And þerefor he þat wolde sett his entent to þese þinges he war ful wise; ffor soþe he scholde nouht þan in al his lif to haue corage to sinne ¶ Bot þan his body & al his herte to þe seruise of ihesu criste; And þere of done him homoge [315] ¶ ffor certes oure swete lorde ihesu criste haþ spare vs so debonerly in oure folyes; þat if he ne hadd pite of mannes soule a sori songe miht we al singe;

Explicit prima pars penitencie Incipit secunda pars. eiusdem.

[316] The secunde parte of penitence; is confession þat is signe of contricione; [317] Now scholne ȝe vnder-stande; what is confessioun; AndMS. repeats 1_2 And—noneAnd wheþer it ouhte nedes to be or none;2 And whiche þinges bene couenable; to verrey confession;

[318] ¶ ffirst schalt þou vnderstonde þat confessioun is verreye scheweinge of sinnes to þe preste; [319] þis is to seye verraly; þat he mote confessen him of all þe condicions þat be-longen to his sinne as ferforþ as he can; [320] Al mote be saide & noþinge excused; ne hidde ne awrapped And nouht auaunt him of his goode werkes [321] ¶ And forþere ouere it is necessarie to vnder|stande whense þat sinnes springen; and howe þei encresen; And whiche þere biene

[322] of springeinge of sinnes; As seiþe seint Poule on þis wise ¶ Þat rihte as be a man sinne entred first in to þis werlde & þoruht þat sinne deyede; Riht so þilke deþe entreþ in to al men þat sinneden; [323] And þis man was Adam be whome þat sinne entred into þis werlde whan þat he brakke þe commandement of god [324] ¶ And þere fore he þat first was so myhti þat he scholde not haue deied be-cam suche one þat him must nedes deie; wheþer he wolde or none; & al his progenie þat is in þis werlde þat in þilke manere synnen [325] ¶ Loke þat in þe state of innocence whan Adam & Eue nakede weren in paradise; And noþinge schame ne hadden of here nakednesse. [326] How þat þe serpent þat was most wyly of al oþere bestes þat god had maked seide to þe womman ¶ Commaunded god to ȝowe ȝe schold nouȝt of euery tre in paradise [327] The womman anseward; Of þe fruyte quod sche of þe trees in paradyse we feden vs bot soþely of þe fruyte of þe tre þat is in þe myddel of paradise; God for-bede vs for ete ne for to touche it lest parauentour we schold deyen; [328] þe serpent seid to þe womman Nay nay; ȝe schol nouȝt deye of deþe; for soþe god wote þat what daie ȝe eten þereof ȝoure eyȝen schal open And ȝe scholne bue as goddes knowynge goode & harme; [329] The womman sawhe þat þe tre was good to fedeinge & faire to þe yȝe & delitable to þe sihte Sche toke of þe fruyte of þe tree & ete of it; And ȝaf it to hir husbonde & he ete; And anone þe eyȝen of hem boþe opened; [330] And when þat þei knewe þat þei weren naked; þe sowde of fige leues in manere of breches to hiden hir membres; [331] ¶ Here maye ȝe see þat dedely sinne haþ furst suggestion of þe fende; As scheweþ here be Hadder; And afterward þe delite of þe flesche as scheweþe here by Eua; And after þat þe consentinge of þe resoun as scheweþ be adam; [332] For. trusteþ wele þouhe so were þat þe fende tempted one; þat is to saie þe flesshe And þe flesshe hadde delite in þe beaute of þe fruyte defended; ȝite certes til þat resoun; þat is to seie; Adam consen|tynge to þe eteynge of þe fruyte þat stode hihe in þe state of Innocence [333] ¶ Of þilke Adam toke we þilke sinne of originale for of him flesshely discended bu we all; and engenderd of vile & corrupte matier; [334] And whan þe soule is put in oure bodye riht anone is con|tracte originale sinne; And þat was erst bot onely peyne of concupiscence is afterewarde boþe peyne & sinne; [335] And þerefor be we al yborne sonnes of wraþe; And of dampnacion perdurable; if it nere Baptisme þat we receyuen; which be-nymmeþ vs þe culpe; Bot for soþe þe peyne duelleþ with vs as þe tempta cione; Whiche peine hiht concupiscence [336] And þis concupiscence whan it is wrongfully disposed. or ordeinte in man; it makeþ him coueyten þe couetise of flesshly sinne be siht of his eyȝen; As to erþely þinges ¶ And eke couetise of hihenesse Be pride of hert;/

[337] Now as for to speke of þe firste couetise þat is concupiscence after þe lawe of owre membres þat weren lawfulli maked and be rihtful Iugge|ment of god [338] .I. saie for alsomuche þat man is nouhte obeissant to god þat is lorde ¶ þare for is flesshe to him disobeisant þoruhe concupiscence; . . . . .[339] . . . . .no gap in the MS. It is impossible bot he be distempered sum time and noyde in his flesshe to sinne [340] And þis þinge maie nouht faile; as longe as þat leueþ; It maie wele wex feble & feile be vertu of Baptime & be þe grace of god þoruhe penitence; [341] Bot fully schal it neuere quenche; þat he ne schal som time be meued in himself; Bot he were al refreyned be sekenesse or be malafice of sorcerye or colde drinkes; [342] ¶ For whatte seiþ seinte poule; The flesshe couetiþe aȝeine þe spirite; And þe spirite aȝeine þe flesche. þei bien so contrarie; & so striuen þat a man mai nouȝt done alwei as he wolde; [343] The same seiþe seinte Poule; After his grete penance in water & in land; In water be nyht & be daye in grete perile And in grete peine in lande; & in famyne & in þurst; in colde & in cloþes want|ynge; And ones stormed almoste to þe deþe; [344] ȝitte seid he Alas .I. keytif man who schal deliuer me fro þe prison; of my caitif body; [345] ¶ And seint Ierom whan he longe time had woned in deserte; Where as he hadd no compaignie bot bestes; Where as he hadde no mete bot erbes; & water to his drink; ne no bedde bot þe naked erþe; For whiche his flesshe was blac as an Ethiopen for hete & nyhe destruyed for colde; [346] ȝete seyde he þe birneynge of lycheri boyled in al his body [347] ¶ Where-for .I. wote wele sekurly þat þei bu desceyuede þat seine þat þei ne bien nouȝt tempted in her body; [348] wittenesse of seint Iame þe Appostle þat seiþe þat euery whihte is tempted in his owen con|cupiscence; þat is to seye þat eueryche of vs haþe matier & occasion to be tempted of þe norissheinge of sinne þat is in his bodye [349] ¶ And þerfore seiþ seinte Iohn in þe euaungeliste; If þat we seine þat we be wiþ outen sinne we deceyuen oureself & treuþe is nouht in vs;

[350] ¶ Nowe scholn ȝe vnderstonde in what manere sinne waxeþ & encreseþ in man; The first þinge is þilke norischeinge of sinne of whiche .I. spak be forne þilke concupiscence; [351] And after þat commeþ þe suggestione of þe deuel; þis is to seie þe deueles belye þe whiche he bloweþ in man þe fire of concupiscence [352] ¶ And after þat a man be|þinkeþ him wheþere he wil do or none þilk þinge to whiche he is tempted; [353] And þan if þat a man wiþ-stande and weife þe firste entiseinge of his flesshe and of oþe fende; þan is it no sinne; And if so be þat he do not so þan feleþ he anone a flamme of delite; [354] and þan it is goode to be ware & to kepe him wele; or elles he wil fall anone in to consentynge of sinne; And þan wil he do it if he maye haue time & space; [355] And of þis matier seiþ Moyses be þe deuel in þis manere; The fende fende seiþe .I. wil chace & pursewe þe man be wikked suggestiones; and .I. wil hente him be moveinge or stereinge of sinne ¶ And .I. will departe my prise or my preye be de|liberacion & my lust schal bue complised in delice; I. wil drawe my swerde in consentinge; [356] ¶ For certes riht as as a swerde departeþ a þinge in two peces; Riht so consentinge departeþ god fro man. // And þan wil .I. sle him with myne honde in deþe of sinne; þus seiþe þe fende. [357] For certes þan is a man al dede in soule; And þus is sinne complised by tempt|acion be delite & be consentynge; And þan is sinne cleped; a[auū for actu]uūiel;

[358] ¶ For soþe sinne is in two maners; eyþere it is veniale sinne or dedely sinne Soþe whan men loveþ any creature more þan ihesu criste oure creatour þan is it dedely sinne; And venial sinne is if man loue ihesu crist lesse þan him ouht; [359] The dede for soþe of þis venial sinne is ful perilous. For it amenuseþ þe loue þat men schold haue to god more & more; [360] ¶ And þerfor if a man charge more him self wiþ suche mony venial sinnes certes bot if it so be þat he sum tym discharge him be schrift; þei maie ful lihtly amenuse in him al þe loue þat he haþ to ihesu criste; [361] And in þis scippeþe venial in to dedely sinne ¶ For certes þe more þat a man chargeþ his soule wiþ venial sinnes; þe more is he enclined to fal in dedely sinne; [362] And þerfore lat vs not be necligent to discharge vs of veniale sinnes; ffor þe prouerbe seiþe; þat mony a smale makeþ a grete; [363] An herken þis ensample; A grete wawe of þe see commeþ sum time wiþ so grete a violence; þat it drencheþ þe schippe ¶ And þe same harme done som tim þe smale dropes¶ Exemplum of water; þat entreþ þoruhe a luytel creuyse in to þe þurroke & in to þe bothom of þe schippe if men bu so necligent; þat men ne discharge hem nouht be time; [364] And þerfore al þouhe þere bue difference betuex þes tuo causes of drencheinge; Algate þe schipe is dreinte; [365] Riht so fareþ it somtyme of dedely sinne; & of anoyous venials sinnes whan þei multiplie in a man so gretely; þat þilke werldly þinges þat þoruhe whiche He sinneþ venyaly; ys as grete in his herte as þe loue of god or more [366] 1And þere-for þe loue of euery þinge þat is not be-sette in gode; ne done principale for goddes sake; Al þouhe a man loue it lasse þan god; ȝit is it venial sinne; [367] And dedely sinne whan þe loue of any þinge weyeþe in þe hert of a man as muche as þe loue of god ore1[1_1 repeated in MS. at ¶] more [368] ¶ more dedely sinne As seiþ seinte Austine; is whan man turneþ his herte fro god whiche þat is verrey souereyne bounte þat mai nouht chaunge; & ȝiveþ his herte to a þinge þat mai chaunge & flitte; [369] And certes þat is euery þinge saue onely god of heuene; For soþe is if þat a man ȝiueþ his loue whiche þat he oweþe al to god. with al his herte vnto a creature; Certes as muche of loue as he ȝeueth to whiche creature so muche bereueþ fro god; [370] And þer for doþe he sinne; For he þat is dettour to god ne ȝeldeþ nouȝ al his dette to god þat his to seye al þe loue of his herte

[371] ¶ Nowe seþ þat a man vnderstandeþ generaly. Whyche is venyale sinne Than is it couenable to tellen of special sinnes whiche þat a man peraduenture ne demeþ hem nouht sinnes ne schriueþ hem nouht of þe same þinges And ȝit naþeles þei bue sinnes; [372] ¶ As clerkes writen soþly þis is to seye þat euery time þat a man eteþ or drinkeþ more þan sufficeþ to þe sustinance of his body; in certeine he doþe sinn [373] And eke whane he spekeþ more þan it nede; it is sinne; Eke whan he herkeneþ nouht mekely þe compleinte of þe pore; [374] eke whan he is in hele of body & wol nouht fast whan oþere men fast wiþ outen cause resonable; Eke whenne he slepeþ more þan him nedeþ; or whan he commeþ be þilk encheson late to cherche or to oþere werkes of charite; [375] Eke whan he vseþ his wif wiþ oute souereine desire of engendrure to þe honour of god; or for þentent to ȝelde to his wif þe dette of his body; [376] Eke whan he wil not vesete þe seke; or prisoners whan he maie; eke if he loue wif or childe or any werldly þinge more þan reson requireþ; Eke if he flater or blandische more þan him ouht for any necessite; [377] Eke if he amenuseþ or wiþdraweþ þe almos of þe pore; Eke if he appareleþ his mete mor deliciouly þan nede is or ete it to hastely be lykurus|nesse; [378] eke if he tel vanitees att þe cherche or in goddes seruise; or þat he be a talker of ydel wordes of Folye or of velanye; ffor he schal ȝelde acomptes of it att þe daie of dome; [379] Eke whan he beheteþ or assureþ to done þinges þat he may not performe; Eke whan þat be lyhtenesse of foly mysvseþ or scorneþ his neyhboure [380] Eke whan he haþe any suspecione of þinge þere he ne wote of it no soþe|fastnesse; [381] Thes þinge & mo wiþ owten nombre buen sinnes as seiþ seinte Austine

[382] ¶ Now scholȝe vnderstonde þat albeit so þat none erþely man maye eschewe al veniale sinnes; ȝit maie he refreyne him be þe birneinge loue þat he haþe to oure lorde ihesu criste; And be preyers & be confession & oþere good werkes; so þat it schal bot litel greue; [383] ffor as seiþe seint austyne; If a man lof god in suche manere þat al þat euere he doþe is in þe loue of god or for þe loue of god verreyly; for he birneþ in þe loue of god; [384] Loke howe muche þat a drope of water falleþ in a fornayce & fol of fire anoyeþ or greueþe; so muche a venial sinne is vnto a man þat is parfite in þe loue of ihesu crist; [385] ¶ Men maye also refreine venial sinne; be þe receyueinge of þe preciouse body of ihesu crist; [386] be receyueinge eke of holy water; be almusdede/ be general confession of þe confiteor att þe masse; Att complyne; & be blissinge of bysschopes & be prestes & by oþer good werkes;

De .7. peccatis mortalibus De Superbia.[from the side]

[387]

NOWe is it be-houely þinges to tellen whiche buen. þe .vij. de[d]ly sinne; þat is to sey chaytifnesse of sinnes Bot al þei renne in Coles; Bot in diuerse manere nowe bue þei cleped kaytifs; for alsomuche as þe bu chef & springen of al oþere sinnes [388] of þe rote of þes frisynnes; . . . . .no gap in the MS. ffor if þis rote springen certeyne braunches as ire envie accidie. or sleuþe. auarice; or couetise; to comune vnder-stondeinge Glotony. & lychery; [389] And eueryche of þese cheue sinnes haþ his braunches & his þinges as schal be declared in here chapeter foloweynge;

 [Of the Twigs of Pride.]

[390] And þouhe so be þat noman can tell vtterly þe nomebre of þe þinges & of þe harmes þat comeþ of pride. ȝit wil .I. schewe a party of hem as ȝe schol vnder|stonde; [391] ¶ There is. Inobedience; Auaunteinge; Ipocrisye Despite. Arrogance. Impudence. Swelinge of hert; Insolence. Elacione; . . . . .no gap in the MS. Pertenacie; Veinglorie; And many a noþer þinge. þat; I. kan nouht declare;=[392] Ino|bedience is he þat disobeyeþ for despite to þe commaunde|ment of god and to his souereygnes & to his gostly fadere [393] ¶ Auantour is he þat bosteþ of þe harme or of þe bounte þat he haþ done; [394] Ypocrise is he þat hideþ him to schewe him suche as he is; & scheweþ him suche as he not is; [395] ¶ Dispitous is he þat haþ disdeine of his neyhbours; þat is to seine of his euencristen; or haþe despite to do þat him ouhte to do; [396] ¶ Arrogant. is he þat þinkeþ þat he haþe þilke bountes in him þat he haþe nouht; or weneþ þat he scholde haue hem be his desire; Or elles þat he demeþ þat he be þat he nys note [397] ¶ Im|pudent is he þat for his pride haþe no schame for his sinne; [398] Swellinge of hert is he whan a man reioyseþ him of harme þat he haþ done; [399] Inso|lent is he þat despiseþ in his Iuggement al oþere folke as to regarde of his value; & of his comuneinge. & of his spekeinge; And of his bereinge. [400] ¶ Elacione is whan þat he maie neyþer suffur to haue Maister ne felawe; [401] ¶ Impacient is he; þat wil nouht bue ytauht ne vnder|nome of his vice; & be strif werreþ trouþe witingly; & maynteneþ his folye; [402] ¶ Contumace is he þat þoruhe his indignacion is aȝeines eueryche auctorite or pouer of hem þat bien his souereignes [403] ¶ Pre|sumpcion is he whan a man takeþ an emprise þat him ouht not to do; or elles he maie it not do; & þat is called Surquidre; ¶ Irreuerence is whan men do nouht honoure; þere as hem ouhte to do; An wayteþ to be Reuerenset; [404] ¶ Pertinacy whan a man defendeþ his folye And truste to muche to his owen witte;=[405] veyne glorie is for to haue pompe & delite in temporile richesse; & glorifieþ hem in worldly estates; [406] Iangelynge; is whan a man spekeþe to muche to for folke An clappeþe as a mullen & takeþ no kepe what he seiþe;

[407] And ȝite is þere a priue spice of pride þat wayteþ furst to be halowed or he be salute al bue he lesse worþe þan þe toþere is peraduenture; And eke waiteþ or desireþe to site or to go aboue him in þe weie; or kisse pax or bue encensed or go to offringe to for his neyhboure [408] ¶ And suche . . . . .no gap in the MS. a proude desire to be magnified; & honoured be for þe peple;

[409] ¶ Nowe bene þere tuo maners of pride þat on of hem is wiþinne þe herte of man; And þat oþer is with owte; [410] Of whiche soþely þe for|seide þinges & mo þan .I. haue seide apartinent to pride; Þat is in þe hert of man; ¶ And þer to oþere spices of pride buen wiþ oute [411] Bot Naþelesse one of þe spices of pruyde is signe of þat oþere; Riht as þe gay leuesal att tauerners is signe of þe wyne þat is in þe seler; [412] And þis is in mony þinges as in speche & in countenances; and in outrageous araye of cloþeinge; [413] ffor Certes if it nadde be no sinne in cloþeinge; Crist wold nouht so sone haue noted & spoke of þe cloþeinge; of þilke riche man in þe gospell [414] ¶ And as seiþe seint Gregorie; þat precious cloþe is cou|pable for þe derþe of it; And for his soþenesse & for his strangenesse; & for his disgisinesse; and for þe super|fluite; Or for þe ino[r]dinance scantnesse; . . . [415] . . . . .no gap in the MS.

[416] ¶ As to þe firste sinne þat is in superfluyte of cloþeinge whiche þat makeþ it so dere to harme of þe pele [417] þat onely þe cost of enbrowdeinge; þe degise endentinge or barringe owndeynge paleinge or bendeinge; And sembla wast of cloþeinge in vanite [418] ¶ Bot þer is also costlewe furringe in hire gounes; so muche pounseinge of cheseles to make holes; so muchel dagynge off scheres [419] forþe wiþe þe superfluyte in lenkeþ of þe forsaid gownes; tray|lein in þe donge & in þe myre on hors & eke on fote as wele of man as of womman; þat al þilke trayleinge is verraly as in effecte wasted & consumed; þrede bare & roten wiþ donge; raþer þan it is ȝouen to þe pouer; to grete damage of þe forseide pouer folke; [420] & þat in sondre wyse ¶ þis is to seie þo more þat cloþe is wasted; þe more mot it cost to þe peple for þe scarsenesse [421] And; forþere ouer. if it so be þat þei wolde ȝeue suche pounsed & dagged cloþeinge to þe pore folke it is nouht conuenient to were for her astate; ne sufficeant to bete her necessite; to kepe hem fro þe desperacione of þe colde firmament; [422] ¶ On þat oþere side to speke of þe disordinate scantnesse of cloþinge; as bien þis cutted sloppes or hanslynes þat þoruh her schortnesse ne couern not þe schamful membres of a man to wykked entente; [423] Alas sum of hem; somme of hem shewen þe schappe & þe boce of þe orrible swollen membres þat semeþ ylyke to þe maladye of hyrnya in þe wrappeinge of her hoses; [424] And eke þe buttokkes of hem; þat fareþ as it war þe hinder parte of a sche ape in þe ful of þe mone; [425] And more ouer þe wreched swolne membres þat þei schewe þoruhe disgiseinge in departinge of her hoses white & rede semeþ þat halue him scham|ful priue membres; weren fleyne; [426] And so be þat þei departen her hoses in oþere colours as is white & blak; or white & blewe; or blakke & rede; & so forþe [427] ¶ þan ne semeþ it as be variance of colour þa halfe þe partie of his priue membres been corrupte be þe fire of seint Antonye; or be Cancre or be suche oþere meschaunces [428] ¶ Ȝit of þe hinder parte of her buttokes; it is ful orrible for to see; ffor certes in þat partie of hir bodye þer as þei purgen her stinkinge ordure [429] þat foule partie schewe þei proudely to þe peple in despite of honeste; Whiche honeste þat ihu criste & his frendes obserued to schew in his lyf. [430] ¶ Now as to owtrageous araye of wemmen; God woote þouhe þe visages of hem semen ful chaste & debonayre. ȝit notifien þei in here araye of atyre likerousnesse & pruyde [431] ¶ I say not þat honeste in cloþeinge of man; & womman is vncouen|able Bot certes þe superfluyte or þe disordinance scantid of cloþeinge is reproueable [432] Also þe sinne of a-ornement or appareile as in þinges þat appartenen to Rideinge; As in to mony delicate horses þat be holden for delite; þat þei bien so faire fatte & costlewe; [433] And also mony a viciouse knave ymayntende be cause of hem; And in to corious harneyse; as in sadels in cropreres. peytrelles; & bridelles couerd wiþ precious cloþe & riche Barres; & plates of gold. & of siluere; [434] For whiche god seiþe by Sacarie þe prophet; I. wil confounde þe riders of suche horses; [435] This folke taken litel rewardeinge of þe rideinge of goddes sonne of heuen and of his harneys . . . . .no gap in the MS. bot cloþes of his pouere disciples Ne we rede nouȝt þat euer he rode on oþere beste; [436] I speke þus of þe sinne of superfluyte; And nouht for þe resonable honeste; whan reson it requireþ; [437] ¶ And forþer ouere Certes pride is gretly notified in holdeinge of grete meigne; when þei bien of luytel profite or riht of no profite; [438] And namely whan þat meneȝe is felenous & damage|ous to þe people by hardynesse of hihe lordeschippe; or be way of office [439] ¶ For certes suche lordes; fullen þan her lorschipe to þe deuel of hell; whan þe susteigne þe wykkednesse of here menȝe; [440] Or elles whan þis folke of lowe degre; as þilke þat holden hosteleries; And þat is in mony maner of folke þat susteyne þeft for hire ostelers; And þat is in mony maner of disceytes: [441] þilke maner of folke bien þe flyes þat folowen þe hony. Or elle þe hundes þat þat folowen þe Careyne; Whiche for-seide folke stranglen spirituelye her lordschippes; [442] ffor whiche þus seiþ dauid þe prophette; Wikked deþ mot comme on þilke lordeschipes; And god ȝeue þat þei mote descende adoune in to helle; ffor in hire houses bien iniquitees; And schrewnessis & not god of heuen; [443] And certes bot if þei done amende|ment; Riht so as god ȝaf his blissinge to pharao be þ[e s]eruice of Iacob; And to laban be þe seruice of Ioseph; Riht so god wol ȝeue his malison to suche lordeschips And to susteine þe wikkednesse of her seruantes; but þei comme [444] proudly to þe table and appereþ eke ful oft; ffor certes riche men bu cleped to festes and pouere folke bien putte aweie; And rebuked [445] in excesse of diuerse metes & drinkes; And namely suche maner of Baken metes . . . . .no gap in the MS. & of semblable waste so þat it is abusion for to þinke; [446] And eke of grete preciousenesse of vessell; & curiosite of mynstralcie; By þe whiche a man is stered þe more to delices of luxurie; [447] If so be þat he sette his herte þe lasse on oure lorde ihesu criste; certeyne it is a sinne; And certeynly þe delices myht be so grete in þe case þat men myht lyhtly fa by hem in-to dedely sinne; [448] ¶ The espices þat sourden of pruyde; soþely whan þei sourden of malice ymagenyd and avised and aforne cast; Or elles of vsage bien dedely sinnes it is no doute [449] & whan þei sourden be frelte vn|avised sodanly & sodanly wiþ-drawe aȝeine al be þei greuous sinnes .I. gesse · þat þei bu nouht dedelye; [450] ¶ Nowe might men ax where-of þat pride sourdeþ and springeþ; And .I. sum time it springeþ of goodes of Nature; And somme time of þe goodes of fortune And sum tim of þe goodes of grace; [451] Certes þe godes of nature standen in þe goodes of bodye or goodes of soule; [452] Certes goodes of body bene hele of bodye; strenkeþ; diliuernesse; beaute; genterye; ffraunchises; [453] Godes of Nature of þe soule bien goode wiþ scharp vndestandinge subtile engyne; vertue naturell. goode memorie; [454] ¶ Goode of fortune bien richesse; hihe degrees of lordeschippes ¶ Preyseinges of þe peple [455] Goodes of grace biene sciences powere to suffur spyrituele; traveyle benyngnites; vertuous contemplacione withstondinge of temptacione; And semblable þinges; [456] of whiche forseide goodes certes it is a ful grete folye a man to pride him in any of hem all [457] ¶ Nowe as for to speke of goodes of nature; god wote þat sum tyme we haue hem in nature; Als muche to oure damage as to oure profite; [458] As for to speke of hele of body; Certes it passet ful lyhtlye; And eke it is ful ofte encheson of þe sekenesse of þe soule; ffor god woote þe flesche is a ful grete enmy to þe soule; And þerfore þe more þat A body is hole; þe more be we in peril to falle; [459] Eke for to pride him in þe strenkeþ of his bodie; it is an hyhe foly; For certes þe flesche coueyteþ aȝeine þe spirit; And ay þe more stronge þe flesche is; þe sorier maie þe soule be; [460] and ouere al þis strenkeþ of body; ad werldly hardinesse causeþ oft mony men to perile & meschaunce; [461] Eke for to pride him of his gentire; ys ful grete foly; ffor oftentime þe genterye of þe soule; and . . . . .no gap in the MS. eke we bene al of o fader and al of o moder; And al we be of o nature roten & corrupte riche & pore; [462] ffor soþe a manere a maner of gentirie is for to preyse þat appareleþ mannes corage wiþ vertuse of moralites & makeþ him cristes childe; [463] For trusteþe wele þat ouere what man þat sinne haþe maystre he is verrey cherle to synne

[464] ¶ Nowe bien þere general þinges of gentillesse. as eschewynge of vices; or rebaudry & seruage of sinne. In worde in werke & contenance. [465] and vsinge vertue Curtasye & clennesse & to be liberal þat is to seie large be mesure; for þilke þat passe mesure is foly & synne [466] ¶ Anoþer is to remembre him of bounte þat he of oþe folke haþe receyuede; [467] Anoþere is to be benygne of his sugettet Where fore; as seiþ senec þer is no þinge more couenable to a man of hihe astate þan debonarte & seite; [468] ¶ And þer for . . . . .no gap in the MS. bees whan þey chese hem a kinge; þei chesen him þat haþ no þinge wiþþe to stinge; [469] Anoþere is a man to haue a noble herte & a diligent to atteigne to hihe vertuous þinges; [470* see after 474 and Hengwrt and Petworth MSS. . . . .no gap in the MS. [471] Certes also who þat prideþ him in þe goodes of fortune he is a ful grete foole; ffor sometyme is a mān a ful grete lorde be þe morwe; þat is a wreche & a keytif ar it be nyht.[a leaf cut out of Lansd. MS.; here supplied from Reg. 18, C. 2, on lf 249, bk. ] [472] [And sumtyme þe . . . . .no gap in Reg. 18, C. 2 delytes of a man ben cause of þe greuous maladye þoruȝ whiche he deyeth [473] Certes þe Comendacion of þe peple is sum|tyme ful fals & ful brutel for to triste / þis day þey preise to morn þey blame // [474] God woot desire to haue comendacion eke of peple hath caused deth to many a besy man // [*470] Now certes a man to pruyde hym in godes of grace / is eke an outragous folye // for þilke ȝyftes of grace þat schulde haue turned hym to goodnesse & to medecyne turnyth hym to venym & to confusion as saiþ seint gregorie / [475] Now sethins þat so is þat ȝe haue vnderstanden what is pruyde and whiche ben þe spices of hit & wēines pride sourdeth and springeþ

 [The Remedy against Pride.]

[476] Now schul ȝe vndirstonde whiche is þe remedye aȝayns pruyde & þat is humylite or meknesse [477] þat is vertu þurgh whiche a man hath verray knowelache of hym self And haldeth of hym self no pris / ne deyntee as in regarde of his desertis considerynge euer his freelte / [478] Now ben þere iij maners of humylyte / As humylyte in herte anoþer . . . no gap in the MS. in mouth þe iij is in werkes / [479] þe humylyte in herte is in 4 maners þat on is when a man holdeth hym self as nouȝt worth by forn god of heuene / Anoþer is whenne he dispiseth non oþer man // [480] þe þridde is whenne he rekkeþ not þorwȝ men holde hym nouȝt worth // þe iiij is whenne he nys not sory of hys humilyacion [481] Also þe humylyte of mouth is in 4 þinges // In atemprure speche & in humble of speche And whenne he by-houyth wiþ his owen mouth þat he is suche as hym þenkiþ þat he is in his herte Anoþer is whenne he preisiþ þe bounte of anoþer man / And noþing þerof amenusiþ [482] humylyte // Eke in werk is in 4 maners / þe firste is whenne he puttiþ oþer men biforn hym / The secunde is to chese þe loweste place ouer all / The iij is gladly to assente to good counsel / [483] The 4 is gladly to stande to reward of Souerayn or of hym þat is heier in degre Certeyn þis is a gret werke of humylyte

 Inuidia.

[484]

After pruyde wol y speke of þe foule synne of Enuye whiche þat is as by þe worde of þe philozofre Sorwe of oþer mannes prosperite and aftir þe word of Seint Austyn Hit is sorwe of oþere mennes wele And ioye of oþer mannes harme // [485] þis foule synne is platly aȝayn þe holy gost Al be hit so þat euery synne is aȝayn þe holy goste // ȝet for asmoche as bounte appertyneth properly to þe holy gost . . . . .no gap in the MS. [486] ¶ Now haþ malice 2 spices þat is to seye hardnesse of herte And wickednesse or elles þe flesch of a man is so blynde þat he concidereþ not þat he is in synne . . . . .no gap in the MS. whiche is þe hardnesse of þe deuel // [487] That other spice of Enuye is whenne þat a man werreth trouthe when þat he woot þat hit is trowthe And eke when þat he werreieth þe grace of þat god hath ȝoue to his neighbore & al þis is by Enuye [488] Certes þenne is Enuye þe worste synne þat is // ffor soothly alle oþer synnes ben somtyme aȝayn o special vertu [489] ¶ But certez Enuye is aȝayns alle vertues & of alle goodnesses // ffor hit is sory of alle bountes of neighebore and in þis manere hit is dyuers from alle oþer synnes // [490] ffor wel vnnethis is þer any synne þat hit ne hath som delyte in hym self safe only enuye þat euer hath in hym self anguysch and sorwe [491] ¶ The spices of enuye ben þese þer is first sorwe of oþer mennes goodnes and of her pros|perite . . . no gap in the MS. is kyndly matere of ioye þēnne is enuye a synne aȝayns kynde. // [492] The 2e. spice is ioye of oþer mennes harme . . . . .no gap in the MS. [493] Of þis 2e. spice cometh bakbytyng . . . . no gap in the MS. or detraccion hath tweyn spices as þus / Som men preisiþ his neighboure by a wicked entent [494] for he makeþ alwey a wicked knotte at þe laste ende alwey he makeþ a butte at þe laste ende ¶ þat is digne & more blame þen worþ is alle þe plesynge // [495] The 2e spice is þat if a man be good & dooth & saith a þing to good entent / þe bacbyter wol turne alle þe goodnesse vp so doun to his schrewed entent / [496] ¶ þe .3e. is to amenuse þe bountee of his neyȝ|bore / [497] þe 4 spice of bakbytyng is þis þat if men speke goodnesse of a man wol þe bacbyter sayn parfay suche a man ȝet is bettere þen he in dispreisynge of hym þat men preise / [498] þe 5. spice is for to consente gladly herkne þe harme þat men speke of oþer folk þis synne is ful gret and ay encresit after þe wicked entent of þe bacbyter [499] ¶ After bakbytynge comeþ grucchynge or mormuraunce / and somtyme hit spryngeþ of inpacyence aȝayns god and somtyme aȝayns man // [500] Aȝayns [god] it is whenne a man grucchiþ aȝayn þe payne of helle or aȝayns pouert or losse of Catell or aȝayn reyne or tempest or elles gruccheþ þat schrewes han prosperite or elles þat good men han ad|uersyte [501] and alle þese þinges schulde men suffre paciently for þey comyn by þe riȝtful Iugement & ordinaunce of god // [502] Somtyme cometh grucchynge of auarice as Iudas grucchyd aȝayns þe magdelen when sche ennoynted þe heued of oure lord ihesu Crist wiþ here preciouse oignement [503] ¶ Þis manere of mormure is suche as when men grucchen of goodnesse & þat men selue doon Or þat oþer folk doon of her owen Catell [504] Somtyme comyth murmur of pruyde as when Symon þe Pharisee grucchid aȝayns Magdaleyn when sche approched to ihesu crist and wepte at his fete for her synnes / [505] And somtyme hit sourdeth of Enuye when men discoueren a mannes harome þat was prynce or berith him an hand þing þat is fals [506] ¶ Murmur is eke ofte amange seruauntz þat grucched when her soueraignes bidden hem to doon leefful þinges / [507] And for asmoche as þey dar noȝt openly wiþsaye þe commaundementes of her soueraigne ȝet woln þey saye harm & grucche & murmur pryuyly for verrey dispyte // [508] wiche wordes men clepe þe deuels pater noster þouȝ so be þat þe deuell had neuer pater noster but þat folke ȝeuen hit suche a name // [509] Somtyme hit comeþ of yre or of pryue hate þat norischeth rancour in herte / as afterward I schal declare / [510] þenne comeþ eke bitternesse of herte þurgh wiche bitternesse euery good dede of his neighbore semeþ to hym bitter and vnsauery / [511] Then comeþ discorde[Reg. 18, C 2, extract, leaf 251, ends]] [Lansdowne MS, 851, leaf 240 ]þat vnbyndeþ almaner of frindeschepe; þat commeþ scorenynge of . . . . .no gap in the MS. his neyhe|bore al do he neuer so wele; [512] þan commeþ accuseinge; as whan a man sekeþ occasione to anoyen his neyhboure; Whiche þat is like þe crafte of þe deuel; þat wayteþ boþ day & nyht to accusen vs all; [513] ¶ þan commeþ malignite þorwhe whiche a ma anoyeþ his neihbour priuely. if he maie; [514] And if he nouht ne may algates his wikked wil ne schal not wante; as for to birne his house priuely or openly; or slene his bestees; & semblable þinges;

 [The Remedy against Envy.]

[515] ¶ Nowe wil .I. speke of þe remedye aȝeines þis foule sinne of Envie; ffirst is þe loue of god principal & loueinge of him selfe & of his neyhbour. ffor soþely þe tone maie not be withouten þe toþere. [516] And trusteþ wele þat in þe name of þi neyhboure þou schalt vnderstande þe name of þi broþere ffor certes al we haue o fader ffleschely & o moder; þat is to seye Adam & Eue; & eke o fader spirituele þat is to seie god of heuen; [517] þine neyhbour ert þou holden for to loue & wilne him al godenesse; And þerefor seiþe god loue þine neyhbour as þi self; þat is to saluacion boþ to lyue & to soule; [518] And more ouere þou schal loue him in worde & benygne ammonesscheynge; And chastiseinge; And comfort him in his anoyes; And praye for him wiþ al þine herte; [519] And in dede þou schalt loue him in suche wise þat þou schalte done to him in charite; As þou woldest were done to þine owen persone; [520] And þerfore þou schalte note done him no damage in wykked worde ne harme in his body ne in his catel ne in his soule be entiseinge of wykked ensample. [521] þou schalt nouht desire his wyf ne none of his þinges; vnderstande eke; þat in þe name of þi neyhbour is com|prehended his enmye [522] ¶ Certes a man schal loue his enemye for þe commandementz of god; And soþely þi frende schalt þou loue in god; [523] I. sei þin ennemye schalt þou loue for goddes saake by his commande|ment ; ffor if it were reson. þat man scholde hate his ennemye; for soþ god wol not receyue vs to his loue þat bien his enemyes [524] aȝeines þre manere of of wronges; þat his Ennemy doþe to him; He schal do þre þinges; As þus; [525] Aȝeines hate & rankour of hert; He schal loue him in Herte aȝeine chideinge & wikkede wordes. he schal praie for his Ennemy. ¶ Aȝeines þe wikked dede of his ennemye he schal done him bounte; [526] ¶ For Crist seiþe; loueþ ȝoure enemys And preieþ for hem þat spekeþ ȝowe harme /./ And eke for hem þat ȝowe chasen; & pursewen; And doþe bounte to hem þat ȝowe haten; =Lo þus commandeþ vs oure lorde ihesu criste to do to oure enemyes; [527] For soþely nature driues vs to loue oure frendes. And parfey oure enemys haue more nede to loue þan oure frendes; And þei þat mor nede had; to hem schal men do goode|nesse [528] ¶ And certes in þilke dede haue þe remem|brance of þe loue of ihesu criste þat deyed for his ennemys; [529] ¶ And in almuche þat þilke loue is þe more to performe; So muche is more þe gre merit; And þerefore þe loueinge of oure Enmi; Haþ confounde þe venime of þe deuyll; [530] ffor rih as þe deuel is discomfite be humilite Riht so is he woundede to to þe deþe be þe loue of oure Enmye; [531] Certes þan is loue þe medecyne þat cacheþ oute þe venym of Envye Fro mannes herte [532] ¶ þe spices of þis pas scholne bue more largely in here chapetles folowynge;

 de Ira [from the margin]

[533]

After Ennevie wil .I. declare þe sinne of Ire; For soþely who þat haþe envy vpon his neyhbour; anone comunly he wil finde him matier of wreþþe in worde or in dede aȝeines him to whome he haþ envie; [534] and as wele comeþ Ire of pride as of envie; for soþely he þat is proude or envious; is lyhtly wroþe

[535] ¶ Þis sinne of ire after þe discriueinge of seinte Austine; Is wikked will to bue avengede be worde or by dede; [536] ¶ Ire after þe Philosofre. Is þe feruent blode of man. ywhiked in his hert þorwhe whiche he wil harme to him þat he hateþ; [537] ¶ For certes þe hert of man be enchaufeinge & moueinge of his blode waxeþ so trouble þat he is out of al Iuggement of Reson; [538] Bot ȝe schal vnderstonde þat Ire is in two maners; þat on of hem is goode & þat oþere is wikked [539] ¶ The good Ire is be Ielowsy of goodnesse þoruhe þe whiche a man is wroþe with wikkednesse & aȝeines wykkednesse; And þere fore seiþe þe wise man; þat ire is bett þan pleye; [540] þis ire is wiþ debonarte; Ant it is wroþe wiþ outen bitternesse nouht wroþe aȝeines þe man bot wroþe wiþ þe mysdede of þe man as seiþe þe pro|phet dauid; Irascimini & nolite peccare [541] ¶ Nowe vnderstonde þat wykked yre is in tuo maners; þat is to seine sodeine Ire wiþe outen avisement & consentinge of his reson; [542] þe meneynge & þe sense of þis; is þat þe reson of a man con|senteþ nouht to þilke sodeine Ire; & þan is venial; [543] ¶ Anoþere Iire is ful wikked þat comeþ of velany of hert avised & cast before wiþ wikked will to do vengeance; And þerto his Resoun consenteþ; And so soþely þis is dedely synne; [544] This Ire is so dis|plesant to god þat it troubleþ his hous & chaseþe þe holy gost oute of mannes soule; . . . . .no gap in the MS. [545] & put in him þe lik|nes of þe deuel; & be-nymmeþ þe man fro god þat is rihtful lorde [546] ¶ This ire is a ful grete plesance to þe deuel; ffor it is þe deuel forneys þat is ychaufed with þe fire of hell [547] ffor certes as fuyre is more myhtye to distroye erþely þinges þan anoþere Element; Riht so is ire myhty to destreye al sprituel þinges; [548] Loke howe þat fuyre of smale gledys þat bien almost dede vnder asshen wyll qwyken aȝeine whan þei whan þei bue touched with brimstone; Riht so Ire will qwykene aȝeine whan it is touched be pruide þat is couerde in mannes herte; [549] ffor certes fire may not comme out of noþinge bot if were first in þe same þinge naturelly; As fire is drawen oute of flintes wiþ stele; [550] And riht so as pride is often matire of Ire; Riht so is Ran|cour norische & kepere of þe wraþþe in þe mannes hert; [551] ¶ Ther is a manere tree as seiþ seint Isodere; þat whān men makeþ fire of þilke tre And couereþ þe coles of it wiþ asshen; Soþely þe fire of it wil lasten al a ȝere or more; [552] And riht so fareþ it of Rankoure; Whan he is ones conseyued in þe hert of sinne man; Certeyne it wil last paraduenture Frōme one Hester day vnto anoþere esterdaie or more; [553] Bot certes þilke man is fer fro þe mercy of god al þilke while

[554] in þis forsaide deuels forneys where forgen .thre schrewes; Pride þat al blowþe & encreseþ þe fire be chideinge & wykked wordes; [555] þan standeþ envye & holdeþ þe hote yren vpon þe hertes of man wiþ a peire of longe tonges of longe Rankoure; [556] And þan stant þe sinne of contumely or strif & chest; & batereþ & forgeþ be veleynes reproueynges; [557] ¶ Certes þis cursed sinne anoyeþ boþe þe man him self & eke to his neyhbour; For soþely almost al þe harme þat any man doþe to his neyhbour; commeþ of wraþ; [558]. For certes outrageus wraþþe doþe al þat euer þe deuel him commandeþ; for he ne spareþ neyþere crist ne his swete moder; [559] And in his out|rageous Anger & Ire Alas Alas ful mony one feleþ in þat time ful wikkedly ¶ Boþe of criste & of al his halowes; [560] is nouht þis acursed vice . . . . .no gap in the MS. his debonaire lif espirituel þat schold kepen his soule; [561] ¶ Certes it be-nymmeþ eke goddes dieu lord schippe; & þat is mannes soule & þe loue of his neybores; ¶ It striueþ eke al day aȝeines trowþe; it reueþ him to quiete of his herte; And subuerteþ his soule;

[562] ¶ Of. Ire commeþ þes stinkinge engenderoures; ffirst hate þat is olde wraþþe; discorde; þoruhe whiche a man for-sakeþ his olde frende þat he haþ loued ful longe; [563] And þan commeþ werre; And euery maner of wronge þat man doþ to his neyhebour in body or in Catel; [564] Of þis cursed sinne of Ire commeþ manslawhter; And vnder stondeþ wele þat Omycide þat is man slauhter is in diuerse wyse; Somme manere of Omicide is spirituel; & somme is bodely; [565] Spirituel manneslauhtere is in vj þinges; ffirst be hate as seiþe seinte Iohn; þat he þat hateþ his broþer his Omycide; [566] whiche is be bakbiteinge; Of whiche bakbyters seiþ Salomon; þat þei haue tuo swerdes wiþþe whiche þei slene here neyhebours ¶ For soþely also wikked it is to be-nyme hime his goode name as his lif; [567] ¶ Homicide is eke in ȝeueinge of wikked counsel by fraude as for to ȝeue counsel to areyse wrongefully custumes & talliages [568] of whiche seiþe Salomon; Lyon Roreinge; Bere hungrye bien like to crewel lordschippes in wiþ-haldinge or abrugeinge of þe schipe or þe hire of wages; . . . . .no gap in the MS. Of þe almos of þe pouer folke; [569] ffor whiche þe wiseman seiþe; Fedeþ him þat almost deyeþ for hunger; ffor soþely bot þou feede him þou sleste him; And all þes bien dedely sinnes; [570] Bodely manslauhter is whan slest him with þi tunge ¶ In oþere manere as whan þou commandest to sle a man or elles ȝeuest him counsell to slene a mān. [571] ¶ Manslauhtere in dede is in .iiij. maners; þat on is be lawe; Riht as a Iustice dampneþ him þat is coupable to þe deþe; bot latte þe Iustice be warre þat he do it rihtfully; And þat he do it not for delite to spil blode bot for kepeinge of rihtwis|nesse; [572] ¶ Anoþere homycide is done for necessite; as whan a manne sleþe anoþere in his defendant; And þat he ne maye none oþere wise eschape fromme his owen deþ; [573] Bot certeynly if he maie eskape with|outen slauhter of his aduersarye & sleþ him he doþ sinne; & he schal bere penance as for dedely sinne; [574] Eke if a man be cas or aduenture schete an arwe or cast a stone; with þe whiche he sleþe a man it is homycide. [575] Eke if a womman be necligence ouerelyþe hir childe in slepeinge. itt is homicide & dedely sinne; [576] Eke whan a man distroubleþ þe con|cepcion of a childe or makeþ a womman barayne be drinkeinge of venemous herbes þoruhe whiche sche may nouht conceyue; or sleþe a childe be drinkes; or elles putteþ inne certein material þinges in hire secre places to sle þe childe [577] or elles doþe vnkinde sinne be whiche man or womman schediþ his nature in manere or in place þere as a childe maie nouht be con|ceyued; or elles if a womman haþe conceyued & hurteþ her self & sleeþe here childe; ȝit is it homycide; [578] Whatte seye we eke of wemmen þat mordren her childern; for drede of werldly schame certes an hor|rible homycide; [579] Homycide is eke if a manne aprocheþ to a womman be desire be desire of lychery; be þe whiche þe child is perisched; or elles smyteþ a womman wityngly þoruhe whiche sche leseþ his childe; Al þes ben homy|cides; and dedely orrible sinnes; [580] ¶ ȝutte commeþ þere of Ire mony mo sinnes; as wele in worde as in þouhte; and in dede; as he þat aretteþ vppon god or blameþ god of þinge of whiche he is him selfe gilty; or displeseþ god & al his halowes as done þes cursed hasadours in diuerse contres; [581] þis cursed sinne done þei; when þei felen in her hert ful wikkedly of god & his halowes. [582] ¶ Also whan þei treten vnreuerently þe sacrament of þe auter ¶ þilke sinnes bien. so grete þat vnneþ þei maie be relest; bot þat þe mercye of god passeþ his werkes it is so grete & so benigne; [583] ¶ þan comeþ of Ire attrye angur; whān a man scharpely amonesched in his schrift for to lete sinne; [584] þan wil he hangry And ansewere hokerlye & angerly; or defende & excuse his sinne be vnstedfastnesse of his flesche; or elles he dide it for to holde compaignye with wyse felawes; Or elles he seiþe þe fende entised hime; [585] or elles he dide it for his ȝouþe or elles his complexion is so corageous þat he mai nouht for bere; or elles it is his destanye as he seiþe vnto a certeine age; or elles; he seiþe it commeþ him of gentilles of his auncestres and semblable þinges [586] ¶ All þese maner of folke so wrappen hem in her sinnes þat þei ne wol nouht deliueren he self; ffore soþely no þat excuseþ him wilfully; of his sinne; may not be deliuered of his sinne til þat he mekely be-knoweþ his sinne. [587] ¶ After þat commeþ swereinge þat is expresse aȝeines þe commandement of god And þis befalleþ oft of anger & of ire; [588] God seiþe; þou schalt nouht take þe name of þine lorde god in veyne ne in ydel. Also oure lorde ihesu seiþ be þe worde of seint Mathewe . . . . .no gap in the MS. [589] Ne wil ȝe nouht swere in al manere Neyþere be heuen for it is goddes throne. Ne by erþe for it is þe bynche of his feete Ne by iherusalem; For it is þe Cite of a grete kynge; ne be þin hede; for þou maist nouȝt maake an her white ne blake; [590] Bot seiþe be ȝoure ȝe. ȝe. & nay. naye; And what þat is more it is yuel. þus seiþe criste; [591] ffor cristes saake ne swereþ nouht so sinfully in dismembringe of criste by soule. hert. bones. & body; ffor certes it semeþ þat ȝe þenkeþ þat þe cursed Iewes dismembred him noȝt ynowhe; . . . no gap in the MS. bot ȝe dismembren him more; [592] ¶ And if so be þat þe lawe com|pell ȝow to swere; þan rewleþ ȝowe after þe lawe of god in ȝoure swereinge as seiþe Ieremye in þe iiij. capitle. . . . .no gap in the MS. þou schalt kepe þre condicions; þou schalt swere in trouþe in dome & in rihtwisnesse; [593] þis to seine þou schalt swere soþe; for euery leseinge is aȝeines crist. For crist is verray trouþe; And þenke wele þis þat euery grete swerer nouht compelled lawfully to swere þe wounde schal not departe fro his house whiles he vseþ suche vnleful swereinge; [594] ¶ þou schalt swere eke in dome whan þou art constreynede by þi domes|man to wittnese þe trewþe; [595] Eke þou schalt nouht swere for envye ne for fauor ne for mede bot for rihtwisnesse for declareinge to worschipe of god; & to helpeinge of þine euen cristen; [596] And þerfore eueryman þat takeþ goddes name in ydel or falsely swereþ wiþ his mouþe or elles takeþ on him þe name of criste to be called a cristenman; And leueþ aȝeines cristes leueynge & his techeinge al þei take goddes name in ydel [597] ¶ Loke eke whate seiþe seint Peter Actuum .iiijto. Non est aliud nomen sub celo; þere is non oþere name seiþ seint Peter vnder heuen; yȝouen to men in whiche þei muste be saued; þat is to seye bot in þe name of ihesu criste [598] ¶ Tak kepe eke how þat þe precious name of ihesu criste as seiþ seinte Poule ad Philipenses; xijo. co. In nomine ihesu; &c. þat in þe name of ihesu euery kne of heuenly creatures or erþely or of hell scholde bowen; ffor it is so hihe & so worschipfull þat þe cursed fende in hell scholde tremblen to here it nemened;// [599] þan semeþ it þat men þat sweren so orrible by his blissed name þat þei dispisen it more boldely; þan diden þe cursed Iewes; or elles þe deuel þat trembleþ whan he hereþ his name;

[600] Now certez seþen þat swereynge bot it be do al lawfully; is so holy defendede meche wers is forswereinge falsly; And ȝutte nedeles

[601] what seie we eke of heme . . no gap in MS. in swereinge & holde it a genterye or a manly dede to swere grete oþes; ¶ and of hem þat of verrei vsage. ne cesen nouht to swere grete oþes; al þe cause nouht worþe a strawe; Certes þis is an orrible sinne; [602] Swerynge sodanly wiþ oute avisement is eke a sinne; [603] ¶ Nowe late vs go to þilke orrible & cursed sweringe of adiuracione & coniuracione as done þese fals en|chauntours & nygromansoures; In basins ful of water or in a briht swerde in a serkle; or in a fire or in a scholder|bone of a schepe; [604] I. kanne not seine bot þat þei done corsedly & dampnably aȝeines criste & al þe feiþe of holy chir chirche;=

[605] what seye we be hem þat leuen on deueneyles; as be flyht or be noyse of birdes or of bestes or of sorte by ygromansy; be dremes be chirkeinge of dores; be gnoweinge of rattes or crakkeynge of houses & suche maner of wrichednesse; [606] Certes al þis þinge is defended be god & holy cherche; ffor whiche þei bien acursed till þei come to amendement þat on suche fulþe setten hire beleue; [607] Charmes for woundes; & Maledies of men or of bestes if þei taken any effecte it may be peraduenture þat god suffureþ it þat folke scholde ȝiue þe more faiþe; and Reuerence to his name;

[608] ¶ Nowe wil .I. speke of leseinges whiche gener|aly is fals signifiant; of wordes en entent to deceyuen his heuen cristen; [609] Sum leseynge is of whiche þere commeþ none auauntage to no wight; And some lese|inge torneþ to þese or þe profite of a man & to damage of anoþere manere; [610] ¶ Anoþere leseinge for to . . . no gap in the MS. Anoþere leseinge commeþ of delite for to lye. In whiche delite þei wil forgen a longe tale & peynte it wiþ al circumstance; wher al þe grounde of þe tale is fals; [611] Somme leseinge commeþ for he wil susteyine his worde; And sum leseynge cometh of rechelnesse; wiþ outen avisement; & sem|blable þinges

[612] ¶ Lat vs now touche þe vice of flaterye whiche ne comeþ nouht gladly bot for drede or for Couetise; [613] Flatery is generally wrongeful preyseinge ¶ Flatrer|es bene þe deueles norices þat norischen his childerne wiþ melke of losengrye; [614] ffor soþe seiþe Salomon; þat flatery is wers þan detraccione; ffor sum tyme de|traccion makeþ an haunten mān þe more humble for he dredeþ detraccion; ¶ Bot certes flatery makeþ a man to enhante his herte and his countenance; [615] fflatery bien þe deuels enchauntour; ffor þei maake a man to wene of him self to be like þat he nys nouht lyke; [616] þei bien like to Iudas þat be-trayed . . . . .no gap in the MS. a man to sel him to his ennemye þat is to þe deuel [617] ¶ Flatereres bien þe deuel chapelleines þat singen euer placebo; [618] I. reken flatery in þe vices of ire; ¶ For oft time if a man be wroþe wiþ anoþere; þen wil he flatere sum wyght to susteine him in his qwerell;

[619] Speke we nowe of suche cursinge as commeþ oute of Irrous herte; Malyson may be seide generallye; euery man power of harme such cursynge bereueþ man fro þe Regne of god; As seiþe seint Poule; [620] þat suche cursinge wrongefully retourneþ oft tyme aȝeine to him þat curseþe As a birde retourneþ aȝeine vn to his owen neste; [621] And ouere alþinge men ouhte eschewe to curse her childern & ȝeue to þe deuel here engendorere as fer forþe as in hem is ¶ Certes it is a grete perile & a grete sinne;

[622] ¶ Lete vs þan speke of chideinge; And reproche whiche biene grete woundes in mannes herte; for þe vnsewe þe semes of frendschippe in mannes herte; [623] ffor certes vnneþes may a man bue pleynely accorded wiþ him þat haþ him openly revilede & reproued & disclaunderde; þis is a ful grysly sinne; as criste seiþe in þe gospell; [624] And take kepe nowe þat he þat reproueþ his neyhboure; oyþere he reproueþ him be som harme of peyne þat he haþe on his body; as mesel croked harlotte or be somme sinne þat he doþe; [625] Nowe if he reproue him be harme of peyne þan torneþ þe profete to ihesu criste; for peyne is sent be þe rihtwise sonde of gode; & be his suffrance; be it Meselrye or mayme; ore maladye; [626] And if he reproue him vncharitablye of synne; As þou holoure; þou dronken lewde harlote; and so forþ; þan apparteneþ þat to þe rejoyseinge of þe deuel þat euer haþe ioye þat men doon synne; [627] And certes chidynge may not come bot of velens herte; ffor after þe abundance of þe herte spekeþe þe mouþe ful oft; [628] And ȝe scholne vnderstonde . þat loke be any . waye whan any man schal chaste anoþere anoþer þat he be war fro chideinge or reproueinge ¶ ffor trewly bot he be war he may ful lyhtly queken þe fuyre of anger; and of wraþþe; whiche þat he schold qwenche & peraduentur sleþe him þat he myht chastise wiþ benyng|nite; [629] ffor as seiþe Salomon the amyable tonge; is þe tree of lif; þat is to seyne of lif espirituele and a dislaue tunge sleþe þe spirites of him þat repreueþ And eke of him þat is repreued; [630] Lo what seinte Austine seiþe; þere is noþinge ylyke þe deueles childe as he þat oft chideþ; Seint poule seiþe eke .I. seruant of god behoueþ nouht to chide [631] ¶ And howe þat chideinge is a veleyns þinge betwex al maner folke ȝit is it certes most vnkouenable be-twyx a man & his wyf; for þere is neuer reste; And þerfor seiþe salomon. An house þat is vnkouerde in reyne & dropinge; & a chideinge wif. bene ylike; [632] a man þat is in in a dropinge hous in many place; þeyhe he schewe þe dropinge in o place it droppeþ in anoþere in a noþere. So fareþe it be a chideinge wyf; bot sche chide him in o place sche wil chide him in anoþere; [633] And þerfor is better a morsel of brede with Ioye; þan an hous ful of delices wiþ chideinge seiþe Salomon; [634] Poule seiþe O ȝe wemmen be ȝe soubiettes to ȝoure husbondes as be-houeþe in god; And ȝe men louen ȝoure wyves Ad Clonicenses .iijo.

[635] ¶ Afterward speke we of scorenynge whiche is a wikked sinne; And namely whan he scoreneþ a man for his goode werkes; [636] ffor certe suche scorners faren y-like þe foule tode þat mai not endure to smel þe swete sauour of þe vine when it floureþ; ¶ [637] þes scorners bien partinge felawes with þe deuel; = for þei haue Ioy whan þe deuel wynneþ; & sorwe whan he leseþ; [638] þei bene aduersaries to oure lorde ihesu criste; ffor þei haten þat he loueþe þat is to sei. sauacion of soule;

[639] ¶ Speke we nowe of wikked counsel ¶ For he þat wikked counsel ȝeueþ is a traitour; for he distroyþe him þat trusteþ in him. vt achitofell de Absonē. But naþeles ȝit is it wikked counsel firste aȝeines him selfe [640] for as seiþe þe wiseman; Euery fals leueynge haþe þis properte in him selfe þat he þat wil anoye anoþere man first anoyeþ him self; [641] And men schal vndestande þat man schal nouht take his counsel of fals folke; ne of to angry folke or greuous folke; ne of folke þat a loueþ specialy to muche here owen profite; ne to muche werldly folke namely in conseleinge of soules;

[642] ¶ Nowe commeþ þe sinne of hem þat maken discorde amonges folke whiche is a sinne þat criste hateþ vtterly; And no wonder is; ffor he deyed for to maake concorde; [643] & mor schame done þei to criste; þan dide þei þat him crucified; ffor god loueþ better þat frenchepe be amonges folke; þan he dide his owen body; whiche he ȝaf for vnitees; þerfore beene þei likned to þe deuel þat euere is aboute to make discorde

[644] ¶ Nowe commeþ þe sinne of dowble tonge suche as speken faire befor folke; & wikkede be-hynde or elles þei maken sembland as þouhe þe spake of goode entencion or elles in game & pleye; And ȝit þe speke of wikked entente;

[645] ¶ Now commeþ be-wreynge of counseile þorwhe whiche a man is defamed; vneþes maye he restoreþ þe damages;

[646] Nowe commeþ manas þat is an hopen foly; ffor he þat manasseþ; he þreteþ more þan he maie do ful oft time;

[647] Nowe comeþ ydel wordes þat is wiþeouten profite of him þat spekeþ þo wordes & eke of him þat herkeneþ þe wordes; Or elle ydel wordes bien þo þat bien nedelesse or wiþouten entent of naturely profite; [648] And al be it þat Idel wordes som|time bien venial sinne ȝit schold men doute hem; ffor we scholne ȝeue rekenynge of hem be-for god;

[649] Nowe commeþ Iangelynge þat may noȝt come wiþe|owten sinne as seiþe Salomon; It is a signe of aperte folye; [650] And þerefore; a philosophre saide; Whan a man asked hyme howe men schold plese þe peple; And he answarde; Do goode werkes; & speke fewe Iangelinges;

[651] After þis comeþ þe sinne of Iapes þat bien deuels apes ffor þei maken folke to lawhe att her Iaperye as folkes done att þe gaudes of an hape; Suche Iapes defendeþ seint Poule; [652] Loke howe þat vertuouse wordes & holy; conuerten hem þat traueyle in þe seruice of crist; Riht so conuerten þe vilens worde & þe knakkes of þe Iapes hem þat traveylen in þe seruise of þe deuel. [653] ¶ þes bien þe sinne þat commeþ of þe tonge; þat commeþ of ire & of oþere sinnes;

 [The Remedies against Ire]

[654] The remedes aȝeines Ire is a vertue þat men clepen mansuetude þat is debonarte; And eke anoþere vertue þat men clepen pacience; . . . . .no gap in the MS.

[655] Debanarte wiþ - draweþ & refreyneþ þe stringes & þe meueynges of mannes corage in his herte; in suche maner þat þei scipe nouȝt oute be anger ne be ire; [656] Suffrance suffreþ swetly al þe anoyance þat & þe wronges þat men done to a man outewarde; [657] ¶ Seint Ierom . seiþ þus of debonarte; þat it doþe none harme to no wight ne seiþe for none harme þat men him done ne seine; He ne eschaungeþ nouȝt aȝeines his reson; [658] ¶ This vertue commeþ some time of Nature; ffor as seiþe þe Philosopher; A man is a whike þinge be nature; debonaire & tretable be goodnesse; Bot whan debonairete is enformed of grace. it is þe more worþe; //

[659] Pacience þat is anoþere remedy aȝeynes ire; it is a vertue þat suffreþ swetely euery mannes goodnesse; & is noȝt wroþe for none harme þat is done vnto her. // [660] The Philosopher seiþe þat paciens is þilke vertve þat sufferþ debonarly al þe outrage of aduersitee & euery wikked worde; [661] þis vertue makeþ a man ylyke to god; And makeþ him his owen der childe as seiþe crist; This vertue discomforþ þine Ennemye; and þerfore seiþe þe wise man. If þou wilte venqwys þin enemye. lerene to suffer; [662] And þou schalt vnder-stande þat a man sufferþ; iiij. manere of greuance in otward þinges; Aȝeines whiche foure he mot haue foure maner of pacience

[663] þe firste greuance is of wyked wordes; þilke gre|uance suffred oure lorde ihesu crist wiþ outen gruccheinge ful paciently; Whan þe Iewes dispised him & reproued him; ful oft [664] suffur þou þere fore paciently; for þe wiseman eke seiþe; If þou strif wiþ a fole þouhe þe fole be wroþe or þouhe he lawhe al gate; þou schalt haue no reste [665] ¶ þe toþere greuance outeward is to haue damage of þi catel; þere aȝein suffurd criste ful paciently; whan he was dispoilede of þat he hadde in þis life & þat nas nouht bot þe cloþes [666] ¶ þan greuance is to a man haue harme in his bodye; þat suffred criste ful paciently in al his passion [667] þe ferþe greuance is an outrageous laboure in werkes. Wherfor .I. seie þat folke þat maken here seruantes to traueyle to greuouslye or oute of time as on halidayes; soþely þei done grete sinne. / [668] Here aȝeine suffred criste ful paciently. And tauht vs pacience whan he bare vpon his blissed scholder þe cros vpon þe whiche he scholde suffur a spitous deþ; [669] ¶ Here maie men lerne to be pacient; for certes nouht onely cristen men bene pacient for þe loue of ihesu criste; & for guerdone of þe blisse of heuen. And of þe blisful lyf þat is perdurable; Bot certes þe olde peyneymes þat neuer were cristen com|menden & vsen þe vertue of pacience;

[670] A philosofre vpon a time þat wolde haue bet his disciple for his grete trespace for whiche he was gretely ameuede; & brouhte a ȝerde to scoure þe childe; [671] And whan þe childe sawe þe ȝerde He seide to his maister what wil ȝe do; I. wil bete quod þe Maister for þi correctione. [672] For soþe sire quod þe childe ȝowe ouhte firste corecte ȝoure of þat ȝe haue lost ȝoure pacience for þe gilte of a childe; [673] For soþe quod þe Maister al wepeinge þou seist soþe; Haue þou þe ȝerde my dere sone; & correcte me for myne impacience; [674] Of paciens commeþe obedience; of whiche a man is obedient to criste; & to all hem to wiche he ouhte be obedient in criste. [675] And vndestande wele þat obedience is perfite; whan men done gladly & hastely wiþ good herte enterely al þat he schold do; [676] Obedience generaly is to performe þe doctrine of god & of his sovreygnes to whiche him ouhte to be obeissant to al rihtwisnesse

 De Accidia.

[677]

After þe sinnes of Enevy . . . . no gap in the MS. .I. wil speke of þe sinnes of accide; For Enevy blindeþ þe herte of a man; And ire troubleþ aman; And Accide Makeþ him hevye þouhtful & wrawe; [678] Enevy & Ire makeþ bitternes in hert; whiche bitternes is moder of accidie. & benymeþ him þe loue of al goodnesse. þan is accide þe angwysche of a trowble hert; And seinte. Austeyne seiþe: It is anoye it is anoy of goodenesse; & anoye of harme; [679] sertes þis is a dampnable sinne; ffor it doþe wronge to ihesu criste; in alsomuche þat he nymmeþ þe seruice þat men ouhte to do to ihesu criste wiþ al diligence as seiþ Salomon; [680] Bot accide doþe none suche diligence; he doþe al þinge wiþ anoye; & wrawnesse slaknesse & excusacion & wiþ dulnes & vnlust; ffor whiche þe boke seiþe acursed be he þat doþe þat doþ þe seruice of god neclygently; [681] þen is Accide Enevye to eueryche astate of man; For certes þe estate of man is in þre maners; [682] Eyþere it is þe state of Innocence as was þe state of Adam be-fore he fel in to sinne; In whiche he was holden to worche as in an hereynge; & in adourynge of god; [683] Anoþere estate is þe state of sinfulmen; in whiche estate men bien holden to labour in preyinge to god for amendement of here . . . . .no gap in the MS. sinnes; [684] Anoþere estate es þe estate of grace; In whiche estate he is halden to do werkes of penitence; And certes to al þes þinges is accide Enemy & con|trarie. for he loueþ no besinesse att al; [685] ¶ Nowe certes þis foule sinne accide; is eke a ful grete enemye til þe liflode of þe body; ffor it haþe no purueance aȝeine temp[or]ele necessite; for it is for-slewþed & for sloggeþ & distruyeþ al goodes temperelles be rechilnesse;

[686] ¶ þe fourte þinge is þat Accide is like hem þat bien in þe peyne of hell because of her slouþe & of her hevinesse; ffor þei þat bien dampned bien so bounde þat þei ne maye wele do; ne wele þenke; [687] Of accide commeþ first þat a man is anoyed & encombred. to done any goodnesse; & makeþ þat god haþe Abomynacioun of suche as seiþ seinte Ioh.

[688] Now commeþ sleuþe þat wil not suffre none hardenesse ne none penance; For soþe slouþe is so tender & so delicate as seiþe Salomon; þat he wil not suffre none hardenesse ne penance ¶ And þerfor he schendeþ al þat he doþe [689] aȝeines his roten hercid sinne of Accide; And slouþe sholde men exercise hemself to done good werkes & manly & vertuouslye cachen corage wele to done thenk|inge þat oure lorde ihesu criste quyteþe euery goode dede be it neuere so lite; [690] vsage of laboure is grete a þinge; ffor it makeþ as seiþe seinte Bernard; The laborer to haue stronge harmes & hard synowes; & slowþe makeþ him febel & tendre; [691] ¶ þan commeþ drede to be-ginne for to wirke any goode werke; ¶ For certes he þat is enclined to sinne; him þinke it is so grete an emprise; for to vndertake to do werkes of goodnesse [692] . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. as seiþe seint Gregorie

[693] ¶ Nowe; commeþ wanhope þat is dispeire of þe mercie of god; þat commeþ sume time of to myche out|rageous sorwe ¶ And some time of muche drede ymagen|ynge; þat he haþ done so muche sinne þat it wil nouht aveile him þouhe he wold repent him; & for-saak & do goode; [694] þoruhe whiche dispeire or drede; he aboundeþ his hert to euery manere sinne; As seiþe seint Auguste; [695] whiche dampnable sinne if þat it continue vn to his ende; it is cleped sinnynge in þe holy gost; [696] þis orrible sinne is so perilous þat he þat is despeired; þere ne is no sinne þat he douteþ for to do as schewde wele be Iudas; [697] Certes þan a-bouen al sinnes þan is þis sinne most displesant to crist; & most aduersarie [698] to crist // Soþely he þat dispeyreþ him; is like þe cowarde champeoun recreant; & seiþe creant; al wiþoutene nede; Alas alas nedeles is he creant; & seiþe creant nedelesse despeired; // [699] for certes þe mercy of god is euer redy to þe penytence; it is aboue al his werkes [700] ¶ Alas can not a man be - þenke him of seint luke; 15o. where as criste seiþe þat as wele schal þere be; Ioye in heuen vpōn a sinful man þat doþe penitence; þan vpon 90 & .19. þat . . . .no gap in the MS. nedeþ no penitente [701] ¶ Loke ferþermore in þe gospel; þe Ioy & þe festes of þe good man þat hadde lost his sone; whan his sone wiþ repentance was retorned to his fader; [702] Can þei nouȝt remembre hem eke; þat as seiþe seinte luca 13o. co. how þat þe þef seiþe þat was hongede be-side ihesu cristes side; Lorde remembre on me whan þou commest vn to þi kingedome [703] ¶ For soþe seide crist; To daie þou schalt be with me in paradise; [704] Certes þer nys none so orrible sinne of man þat it ne maye in his lif be destreyde be penitence; þoruhe vertue of þe passion & þe deþ of criste; [705] ¶ Alas what nedeþe man to be despeired þan. seþen his mercy so redye is; An aske & haue; // [706] þan commeþ sompnolence þat is slogge slombre whiche makeþ a man heuy & dul in body; & in soule; And þis sinne commeþ of slewþe; [707] And certes þe time þat be wey of resone men schold nouȝt slepe by þe morwe bot if þere were cause resonable; [708] ffor soþely in þe morwe tide is most couenable a man to seie his preyers & for to þinken on god & for to honoure god; and to ȝeuen almos þatcommen to þe pore þat first comen in þe name of criste; [709] Lo what seiþe Salomon; who so wil be þe morne awake to seke me he schal finde [710] ¶ þan commeþ; necligence or rechelnesse þat rekkeþ of no þinge; & howe þat ignorance is þe moder of al harme; Certes necligens is þe norische to [711] necligentes ne doþe no force whan he schal done a þinge wheþer he do it wele or badly;

[712] Of þe remedy of þes two sinnes as seiþ þe wisman ¶ þat he þat dredeþ god spareþ nouht to done þat him ouht to done; [713] And he þat loueþ god wyl do diligence to plese god by his werkes & abounden him self wiþ al his myht wele for to done; [714] ¶ þan comme Idelnese þat is þe ȝate of al harmes; An; ydel man is lyke to a place þat haþe no walles; þe deuel may entre on euery side; or schote att him att discouert be tempacions on euery side; [715] þis ydelnes is þe þorrok of al wikked & veleynes þouhtes; & of al Iangles trufles & al ordure; [716] Certes þe heuen is ȝouen to him þat wil laboure & nouht to ydel folke; Eke dauid seiþe þat þei ne be not in þe laboure of men; ne þei ne scholn not be whipped wiþ men; þat is to seie in purgatorie; [717] Certes þan semeþ it þei schal be tormented wiþ þe deuel in hel; bot if þei done penytence;

[718] þan commeþ þe sinne þat men clepen tarditas; As whan a man is so latred & so tariinge ere he wil torne to god; And certes þat is a grete folye; He is like him þat falleþ in þe diche; And wil nouht arise; [719] And þis vice commeþe of fals hope; þat he þinkeþ þat he schal leue longe; bot þat hope faileþ ful oft;

[720] ¶ þan commeþ laches þat is he þat whan he beginneþ any goode werke; anone he wil for-lete it & stinte as done þei þat haue any wight to gouerne; & ne taken of him no more kepe; anone as þei finde any contrarie or anye anoye / [721] ¶ þes bene þe now scheperdes þat laten her schepe renne wyteingly to þe wolf; þat is in þe breres; or done no fors of her owen gouernance; [722] ¶ Of þis commeþ pouerte; & discripcion bot of spirituele & temporal þinges ¶ þan commeþ a manere of coldenesse; þat freseþ al þe herte of man; [723] ¶ þan commeþ vndeuocione þoruhe; whiche a man his so blonte ¶ And as seiþe seint Bernard. He haþe suche langour in soule þat he maie neyþere rede ne singe in holy cherche Ne here ne þinke of deuocion; ne traueyle wiþ his hondes in no goode werke; þat it nys to him vnsauerye; ¶ And al apalled; [724] þan waxeth he sore & slowe & slombre; & sone wil be wroþe; And sone is enclinede to hate & to envye // [725] þane commeþ þe sinne of werldly sorwe; whiche þat is clepide tristicia; þat sleþe a man as seiþe seint Poule; [726] ffor certes suche sorwe worcheþ to þe deþe of þe soule & of þe body also ¶ For þere of commeþ þat a man is anoyed of his owen lif; [727] Where-for suche sorwe; schorteþ ful oft þe lif of a man er þat his time comme;

[The Remedy against Accidie.]

[728] ¶ Aȝeynes þis orrible sinne of Accide & þe braunches of þe same; þere is a vertue þat is called fortitudo; or strenkeþ þat is an affeccioun þoruhe whiche a man dispiseþe al noyeus þinge; [729] ¶ þis vertue is so myhty; & so vigorouse þat it dar wiþ-stande myhtyly & wrestel aȝeines þe saule of the deuel; And wisely kepen him selfe frome periles þat bien wikked; [730] For it enchaunceþ & enforceþ þe soule Riht as accide abateþ it makeþ febel // for þis fortitude may longe endure be longe suffrance; þe traveile þat bien conuenable;

[731] þis vertue haþ mony spyces; ¶ þe first is cleped magnificence; þat is to seie grete Corage; ffor certes þer behoueþ grete corage aȝeines accidie; les þat swolowe þe sowle be þe sinne of sorwe; or destruye it be wanhope; [732] ¶ þis vertu makeþ folke to vndertake harde þinges & greuouse þinges be hire owen wyll wysely & resonably; [733] And for als muche as þe deuel fihteþ aȝeines man more be queyntise & be sleyht þan be strenkeþ; ¶ þerefore a man schal with-stonde him with witte & with reson & with dis|crecion // [734] þen bien þere þe vertues of feiþe & hope in god; & in his seintes to acheuen & accomplise þe goode werkes; in whiche he purpose fermely to continue; [735] þan commeþ suerte or sikernesse; & þat is whan a man . . . . .[736]. . . . .no gap in the MS. doþe; & performeþ grete werkes of goodenesse þat he haþe begonne; And þat is þe ende whi þat men schold do goode werkes; ¶ ffor in þe compliseinge of goode werkes liþe þe grete guerdone [737] ¶ þan is þere constance þat is stablenesse of Corage; And þis scholde be in herte be stedfast feiþe; & in mouþe & in bereinge; And in chere; & in dede [738] eke; ¶ þere bien mo special þinges & remedy aȝeines accide in diuerse werkes; & in consideracion of þe peyne of hell & of the Ioy of heuen; & in þe trust of þe grace of þe holy goste þat wil ȝiuen him myht to performe his entente

 De Auaricia.de avaricia

[739]

Affter Accidie wil .I. speke of avarice; & of Couetyse // Off whiche sinne seiþ seint Paule; þat þe rote of al sinnes is couetise; Ad Thimotheum 6o. [740] ¶ For soþely whan þe herte of a man is confounded in hit selfe & trouble & þat þe soule haþe loste þe comforte of god; þan sikeþ he ane ydel solace of werldely þinges;

[741] ¶ Auarice after þe scripcione of seint Austyne; is a lykerousnes in hert to haue erþely þinges; [742] Somme oþere folk seyne þat Auarice is for to purchase mony erþely þinges; & no þinge ȝiue to hem þat haue nede [743] ¶ And vnderstand þou wele; þat auarice nys nouht onelye in lande ne in catell; bot sum time in science and in glorye And in euery manere of outrageous þinges is aueryce; & couetyse; [744] ¶ And þe difference be-tuex Auarice & couetise is þis; Couetise is for to coueyte suche þinges as þou haste nouht; = And Auarice is to wiþ-holde & kepe suche þinges as þou hast wiþ outen rihtful nede [745] ¶ Soþely þis Auarice is a sinne þat is ful dampnable; ffor al holy writte curseþ it; & spekeþ aȝeines it; ffor it doþe wronge to ihesu criste; [746] for it be-reueþ him þe loue þat men to him owen. And turneþ it bakwarde aȝeines al reson; [747] & makeþ þat þe Auaricious man haþe more hope in his catel þan in ihesu criste; And . . . . .no gap in the MS. [748] þerefor seiþe seinte poule. Ephecios 5o. þat Auarous man is þral to ydolatrie;

[749] What difference is betuex an ydolastre & an Auarous man; Bot þat an ydolatre & an Auaricious man par|aduentur ne haþe bot one maumet; or tuo; And þe Auaricious man haþ monye; For certes euery floreine in his copher is a mawmet; [750] And certes þe sinne of Maumatrie is þat god in þe ten commandementes; As bereþ wittenesse in exodi .capitulo .20. [751] þou schalt haue none fals goddes beforne me; Ne þou schalt make to þe no graue þinge; þus þan is an Avaricious man þat loueþ his tresor a-forne god; And ydolatre [752] þoruhe his sinne of Auarice & of couetise; be whiche commen þis harde lordeschipes þoruhe whiche mene bien streyned be talyage costomes & Cariages More þan here dewte or reson is And elles take þei of her bonde|men amerciament; whiche myht more resonable be cleped extorcions þan mercymentes; [753] Of whiche mercimentes And raunsons of bonde men somme lorde stewardes sein þat it is rihtful; for also muche as a cherle haþe no temporele þinge þat ne is þe lordes as þei seine. [754] Bot certes þis lordeschipes done wronge þat bereueþ hir bondefolke þinges; þat þei ne ȝafe hem; Augustinus de Ciuitate dei .lio .9. [755] Soþe is þat þe condicion of þraldome & þe first cause of þraldom is for sinne. Genesis .5.

[756] þus maye ȝe seene þat þe gilt deserueþ þraldome Bot note nature; [757] Where-fore þes lordes schold nouȝt much glorifie hem in here lordeschipe seþþen þat bu naturel condicion þei bien lordes ouer her þralles; Bot for þat þat þraldom cam firste be desert of sinne; = [758] And ferþere ouer; þere as þe lawe seiþe; þat temporel goodes of bonde folke bien þe goodes of here lordeschipes: ȝe þat is for to vnderstande þe goodes of þe Emperour To defende hem in here riht; bot not to Robbe hem ne to Reue hem; [759] And þerfore seiþe Senec þi prudence schold leue benyngly with þi þrall ¶ [760] þilke þat þou clepest þi þrall bien cristes peple; For humble folke bien criste frendes; þei bien contuberniale with þe lorde

[761] ¶ þenke eke þat suche sede as cherles springen; of suche seede springen lordes; as wele may þe cherle be saued as þe lorde; [762] þe same deþe þat takeþ þe cherle; þe same deþ takeþe þe lorde; wherfore I rede do riht so wiþ þi cherle as þou woldest þi lorde dide with þe if þou were in his plite. [763] ¶ Euery sinful man is a cherle to sinne; ¶ I rede þe certes þat þou lorde þou wirche in suche wise; þat þine cherles raþer loue þe þan drede þe [764] ¶ I. wote wele þer is degre aboue degre as reson is; And scyll is þat men don here deuere þere as it is diewe; Bot certes extorcions & dispites of ȝoure vnderlinges is dampnable;

[765] ¶ And forþere ouere vnderstond wele; þat conquerours or tirantes maken ful often; þralles of hem þat bien borne of as Roial blode as ben þei þat hem conqueren; [766] This name of þraldom was neuere knowe erst til þat Noe seide of his sonne Canaan scholde be þrale to his breþerne for his sinne; [767] what sey we þan of hem þat pilen And done extorcions to holy chirche ¶ Certes þe swerde þat men ȝeuen first to a knyhte whan he is newe dubbid; signifieþ þat he scholde defende holy chirche; & nouht rob it; And who so doþe is a traitour to criste [768] as seiþ seinte Austine; þei buen deuels wolues þat stranglen þe schepe of ihesu criste; & done wers þan wolues; [769] ¶ ffor soþely whan þe wolfe haþ ful his wombe He stinteþ to strangel schepe; Bot soþely þe piloures & distrey|ours of goodes of holy chirche done not so; for þe stint neuer to pilen; [770] ¶ Now as .I. haue seide; Seþen so is þat sinn was first cause of þraldome; þan it is þus þat þilke time þat al þe werld was in sinne; þan was al þis werlde in þraldome And in subiectione; = [771] Bot certes Sethins þe time of grace Cam; god ordeynde þat somme folke scholde be more hihe in Estate; & hihe degree; And somme folke more lowe; & þat eueryche schold be serued in his estate & in his degre; [772] And þerfore in somme contrees þere þei be þrales; whan þei haue turned hem to þe feiþe; þei maken here þralles fre oute of þraldome; And þerfore certes þe lorde oweþ to his manne þat þe man oweþ to his lorde ¶ [773] þe Pope clepeþ him self seruant of þe seruantes of god ¶ Bot for as muche as þe state of holy chirche ne myht nouht haue be kepped; Ne þe commune profit miȝt haue be kepped; ne pese & rest in erþe; bot if god hadde ordeynde þat sommen haue hier degre & som men lowere; [774] þerfore was souereygnte ordeyned to kepe & mayntene; & de|fende here vnderlinges or her soubiectes in reson; as fer|forþ as it liþe in hir pouere; And nouht to destreye hem ne as ferforþe confounden; [775] Wher for .I. saye þat þilke lordes þat bien þilke wolves; þat deuoure þe possessions or þe catel of pore folke wrongefully wiþ outen Mercye or Mesore; [776] þei schollen receyuen bue þe same mesure þat þei haue mesured to pore folke þe mercy of ihesu criste bot it bue amended; [777] ¶ Nowe commeþ disceite b[e]tuex Marchant & marchant; ¶ And þou schalt vnder|stant þat Marchandise is in mony maners; þat one is bodely; & þe toþere is gostlye ¶ þat one is lefful & þe toþere is dishoneste & vnleful; [778] Of þilke bodely marchandise þat is leful & honest is þis; þat þere as god haþ ordeigned þat a regne or a contre is sufficeant him selfe þan is it honeste & lefull þat of þe abundance of þis contree; þat men helpe a noþere contree þat is more nedye; [779] And þere fore þere mote be marchantz to bringen fro þe to cuntre to þe toþere her march|andise; [780] þe toþere Merchandise þat men haunte wiþ fraude; & trecherye & disceyte wiþe lesinges & fals oþes; is cursed & dampnable [781] ¶ Espyrituel marchandise is properely Symony; þat is ententif desire to by þinge espirituele; þat is þinge þat apparteneþ to þe seintuarye of god; & to cure of þe soule; [782] This desire if so be þat a man do his diligence to performe it al be it þat his desire ne take none effecte ȝit is it to him dedely sinne; And if he be ordrede he is Irregulere; [783] ¶ Certes Symonye; is clepid of Simon Magus þat wolde haue bouht with þe temporele catell þe ȝeft þat god had ȝouen by þe holy goste to seinte Peter; & to þe Apostoles; [784] And þerfore vnderstandeþ; þat boþ he þat selleþ & he þat byeþ þinges espirituels bien cleped Symonyals ¶ be it Catel; be it be procureinge; Ore be fleschely preyere of his frendes or of spirituel frendes [785] ¶ Flesschely; in tuo maners; as by kinred; or as by oþere frendes or of spirituel frendes. ¶ Soþely if þei prey for him þat is not able & worþi; it is Symonye; If he take þe benefice; & if he be worþi & able; he nys none; [786] ¶ þe toþere maner is whan a man or a womman preyeþe; preye for folke to auaunce hem only for wikked fleschely affeccione; þat þei haue vn to þe persones; & þat is in foule Symony; [787] Bot certes in seruices for whiche men ȝeuen þinges espirituels vnto her seruantes; It mote bien vnderstonde þat þe seruice most be honeste & elles note; And eke þat it be wiþ outen Barganynge & þat þe persone be able; [788] ffor as seiþe seinte Damasye; Al þe sinnes of þe worlde att þe regarde of þis sinne biene as a þinge of nouht; For it is þe grestest sinne þat may be; after; þe sinne of lucifer & of antecriste; [789] ffor be þis sinne gor for-leseþ þe chirche & þe soule þat he bouhte wiþ his precious blode; by hem þat ȝeue cherches to hem þat biene nouht digne; [790] For þei putten inn þeues þat stelen þe soule of ihesu criste & destruyeþ his patri|moigne [791] ¶ Be. suche vndigne prestes; & Curates haue men þe lasse Reuerence of þe sacramentz of holychirche; ¶ And suche ȝeuers of chirches putten oute þe childerne of criste; & putten in to þe cherche þe deueles owen sone [792] þei sellen þe soules; þe lombe þei kepen to þe wolf þat strangelleþ hem; And þerefore schol þei neuer houe parte of þe pasture of þe lombes þat is in þe blisse of heuen; [793] ¶ Nowe commeþ hasardy with his apur|tenance as tables & rawfles of whiche commeþ deceyte & fals oþes chideinge; & al rauynges; blasphemyinge & reniinge of god & hate of his neybours; wasteinges of goodes myspendinge of time; And sumtyme man|slawhter [794] ¶ Certes hasardours nemaye nouht be wiþ oute grete sinne whiles þei haunte þat crafte [795] ¶ Of Auarice commeþe eke leseinges þeft & false wittenesse; Fals oþes; And ȝe schall vnderstonde; þat þes bien grete sinnes & expresse aȝeines þe commandementes of god as .I. haue seide; [796] ¶ Fals wittnesse is in worde & eke in dede. In worde as for to be-reve þi neyhbours good name By þine fals witnesinge. Or be-reue him his Catell; or his heritage be þine fals wyttenesinge; ¶ whan þou for Ire or for meede or for envy berest fals wittenesse or accusest him or excusest him by þine fals witnesse; or elles ex|cusest þi self falsly [797] ¶ Ware ȝoue qwestmongers & notories ¶ Certes for false witnesseinge was Susanna in grete sorwe; & peyne; & mony anoþer mo [798] ¶ The sinne of þeft is eke expresse aȝeines godes heste; & þat in tuo maners Corporele & spirituele [799] [Corporele] as for to take þine neyhbours Catel aȝeines his will be it be force or be sleyht; be it be mette; or be mesure; [800] By steleinge eke of fals enditementes vpon him; And in borwein of þin neyhbours Catell; in entent neuere to paye; & semblable þinges [801] ¶ Es|pirituel þeft is sacrilege þat is to seye vrt|ynge of holy þinges; or of þinges sacred to criste in tue maners by reson. of þe holy place as chirches or chirche hawes; [802] ffor euery. violence sinne þat men done in suche place may bue cleped Sacrilege; Or euery violence in þe semblable place; Also þei þat wiþ-drawen falsly þe rihtes þat longen to holy cherche; [803] And pleynely & generaly sacrilege is to ȝeue holy þinge fro holy place; or vnholy þinge oute of holy place; or holy þinge oute of vn|holy place;

 [The Remedy against Avarice.]

[804] Nowe scholne ȝe vnderstonde þat þe releuynge of Auarice is misericorde & pite largely taken ¶ And me myht axen whi þat mysericorde & pite is releueinge of Auarice; [805] Certes þe Auarice man scheweþ no pite ne misericorde to þe nedful man; ffor he deliteþ him in þre kepinges of his tresoure; & not in þe restoreinge ne releueinge of his euen|cristen; & þerfore spek .I. first of mysericorde; [806] ¶ þan is misericord as seiþe þe philosofre a vertue bue whiche þe Corage of man is stered be þe corage of him. þat is my[s]esede [807] vpon whiche misericorde foloweþ pytee in perfourmynge of charitable werkes of misericorde. [808] And certes þes meuen man to þe mysericord of ihesu criste þat him self for oure gilt suffred deþe for misericorde; & forȝaf vs oure originale sinnes; [809] & þere-by relessed vs fro þe peyne of hell; and amynuseþ þe peyne of purgatorie be penitence. And ȝeueþ grace well to do & att þe last þe ioye of heuen; [810] ¶ The spices of mysericorde bien as for to lene & for to ȝeue; & eke for to forȝeue & relese & haue pyte in herte & to haue compassione of þe meschef of þine euecristene; & eke chastice þere as nede is. [811] ¶ Anoþere manere of Remedie aȝeine avarice is resonable largesse; Bot soþely here be-houeþ þe con|sideracioun of þe grace of ihesu criste & of his temporil goodes . . .no gap in the MS. perdurables þat crist ȝaff vs [812] and eke to haue remembrance of þe deþ þat he schal receyue he note when; and eke þat he schal for-gone al þat he haþe; . . . .no gap in the MS.

[813] Bot for as muche as summe folke bien vnmesur|able men ouhten eschiewe foole largesse þat men clepen wast; [814] Certes he þat is foole large ne ȝeueþ nouht his catel bot he leseþ his catel; ¶ Soþely what þinge þat he ȝeueþ for veineglorie as to menstrals & to folke for to beren his renoune in þe werlde he haþe do synne & none almos [815] Certeȝ he leseþ foule his good; þat he ne sekeþ no þinge of his goode bot sinne [816] He is ylike to an hors þat sekeþ raþer to drinke drouy or trouble water þan of þe clere well; [817] And for as muche as þei ȝeue þere as þei schold not ȝeue to hem apparteneþ þilke malyson þat crist schal lyven att þe daye of dome to hem þat schal be dampned.

 ¶ De gula.

[818]

After Auarice commeþ glotonye whiche is expresse eke aȝeines þe commandement of god; Glotonye is vnmesurable appetit to ette or to drinke. or elles to done ynouhe to þe vnmesurable & discorde couetise to ete & to drinke; [819] ¶ þis sinne cor|rumpeþ al þis werlde as is wele schewde in þe sinne of Adam & of Eua ¶ lo eke what seiþe seint Poule of glotonye; [820] Mony folke of whiche .I. haue oft seide to ȝowe; & nowe .I. seye it wepeinge; þat þei bien ennemys of þe croyce of crist of whiche þende is deþe; & of whiche here wombes is hire god & hire glorie in confusione of hem þat so saueren erþely þinges; [821] ¶ He þat is vsant to þis sinne of glotonye he ne may no sinne wiþ-stande; He moste bue in seruage of al vices for it is þe deuels horde þere he hideþ him inne & resteþ; [822] ¶ This sinne haþ mony spyces; þe first is dronkennesse þat is þorrible sepulcre of mannes resoun; And þere|for whan þat a man is dronken he haþe lost his reson; & þis is dedely sinne [823] ¶ Bot certes whan a man is nouht wonte to straunge drinke; ne peraduenture ne knoweþ not þe strenkeþ of þe drinke; or haþe feblesse in his hede; or haþe trauailede þoruhe whiche he drinkeþ þe more Al be he so sodanly cauht wiþ drinke it is no dedely sinne bot veniale; [824] The secunde spice of glotonye is þat þe spirit of man waxeþ al trouble for dronkenesse bereueþ him discrecioun of his witte; [825] ¶ þe þred spice of glotony is; Whan a man devowreþ his mete & haþe no rihtful manere of etynge; [826] ¶ þe ferþe is whan þorwh grete abund|aunce of his mete þe homours of his body biene dis|temperd [827] ¶ þe .ve. is forȝetelnesse be to mechel drynkynge for whiche sumtyme aman summe time a man for|ȝeteþ be þe morwe what he dide att eue or att þe nyhte be-fore;

[828] In oþere manere bien distinket of Spices of glotony after seint gregorye. ¶ þe first is for to ete to fortime ¶ þe. secunde is whan a man geteþ him to delicate mete [829] ¶ þe. threde; is. whan a man takeþ to muchel ouere mesure ¶ þe ferþe. is þe coriouste wiþ grete entent to maken & apparell his mete. þe fifte. is to ete to gredely; [830] þes bien þe .v. fyngres of þe deueles honde be whiche he draweþ folk to sinne

[The Remedy against Gluttony.]

[831] ¶ Aȝeynes glotonye is remedy. þe abstinence of his bodi; as seiþe Galienus. Bot þat hold .I. not meritorie. if þat he onely it do for þe hele of his body; ¶ Seint Austine wil þat abstinence be done for vertwe; & wiþ paciens [832] abstinens he seiþ is litel worþi bot if a man haue goode wil þere to // And bot if it be enforced be pacience & charite; & þat men do it for goddes saake & in hope to haue þe blisse of heuen;

[833] ¶ þe felawes of abstynence bien attemper|ance þat haldeþ þe mene in all þinges; eke schame þat escheweþ al disoneste; sufficeance þat sekeþ no Riche mete ne drinkes ne doþe no force of no owtrage apparelynge of mete [834] ¶ Mesure also þat distreyneþ bue resoun þe delavy appetite of eteinge; Sobernesse also þat restreyneþ þe outrage of drinke. [835] Sparynge also þat restreyneþ þe delicate ese to sitte att his mete softly; where-for summe folke stonden of here owen will & to eten att þe lasse layser

 ¶ De luxuria.

[836]

After glotony. þan commeþ lycherye for þes two sinnes bien so nyhe cosines þat often tim þei wil not departe; = [837] god wote þis sinne is displesant to god; for he seiþ him selfe do no lychery;// & þere-fore he put grete peynes aȝeines þis sinne. in þe olde lawe [838] If a wom|man þrall were taken in þis sinne sche scholde be beten with stones to þe deþ; And if sche were a gentil womman sche scholde be sleyne with stones; And if sche wer a bischopes douhtere sche scholde be bernte be goddes commandement; [839] ¶ Forþermore be sinne of licherye god dreynte al þe werlde att þe diluve; & after he berned .v. Cytes with lyht & sanke hem in to hell

[840] ¶ Now latt vs spek of þilk foule stinkynge sinne of lichery; þat men clepen aduoutre of wedded folke; þat is to sey if þat one of hem be wedded or elles boþe; [841] Seint Iohn seiþe þat þat þe advowtrers schal bien in hell in a stinkinge birneinge fire of brimstone for licherye ¶ In brimstone for þe stinkeinge of hire ordure; [842] Certeȝ þe brinynge of þis sacrament is an horible þinge; It was maked of god him self in paradise & confermed be ihesu criste as seiþ seinte Mathewe in þe gospell; A man schal lete fader & moder & take him to his wif. And þe scholne haue be tuo in one flesche; [843] ¶ This sacrament be|tokeneþ þe knyttinge to-geder of criste & of holy chirche [844] ¶ And nouht onely þat god for-badde aduoutre in bedde; Bot eke he commanded þat þou scholdest nouht coueyte þine neyhebours wif [845] ¶ In þis hest seiþe seint Austine is forboden almanere Couetise to done lychery; Lo what seiþe seint Mathewe .v. co. in þe gospel þat who so seþe a womman to couetise of his luste he haþe done lycherye wiþ hire in his herte; [846] Here maye ȝe see þat not onelye þe dede of his sinne is forbode bot eke þe desire to done þat sinne [847] ¶ þis cursed sinne anoyeþ hem greuously þat it haunteþ; & first to here soule ffor he obligeþ it to sinne; & to þe peyne of þe deþe þat is perdurable [848] ¶ Vnto þe body anoyeþ it greuously also; ffor it drieþ him & wasteþ him; & of his blode he makeþ sacrifice vn-to þe fende of hell ¶ It wasteþ eke his catel & his substance; [849] & certes if it be a foule þinge a man to wast his catell one wemmen; ȝit is it a fouler þinge whan þat for whiche ordure wemmen dispenden vpon men here catel & here substance [850] ¶ þis sinne as seiþe þe prophite bereueþ man & womman her goode fame & al her honour; And it is ful plesant to þe deuel; & þerby he wynneþ þe moste party of þis werlde; [851] ¶ And riht as a marchant deliteþ him moste in chaffer þat he haþ most a-vantage of Riht so deliteþ þe fende þis ordure;//

[852] þis is þe toþere honde of þe deuel with .v. fingeres þat caccheþ þe peple to his velany; [853] þe first finger is þe foole lokeynge; of þe foole man; & of þe foole womman þat sleþe Riht as þe Basilicoc sleþe folke be þe venym of his syht; ffor couetise of þe eyȝen foloweþ þe couetyse of þe hert; [854] þe toþere finger his þe violence toucheinge in wykked manere; And þerfor seiþ Salomon. þat who so toucheþ & handeleþ a womman; he fareþ y-lyke him þat handeleþ þe scorpion þat stingeþe; And sodanly sleþe þoruhe his envenymynge; As who so towcheþ warme piche þat fouleþ his fingers [855] ¶ þe. þred is; foule wordes þat fareþ.y-lyke fire þat birneþ; þat riht anone birneþ þe herte; [856] ¶ þe ferþe is. kissinge; & trewly he were a grete foole þat wolde kisse þe mouþe of a birneinge houen; or of a forneys;? [857] And more fooles bien þei þat kissen in velanye; ffor þat mouþe is þe mouþe of hell; & namely þes holde dotardes hulours; ȝit wil þei kisse þouhe þei may nouȝt do & smater hem; [858] Certes þei bien ylyke to þe houndes. For an hounde whan he commeþ be þe roser or be oþere beautees þouhe he maie nouht pisse; ȝitte will he lift vp his legge & make coun|tenance to pisse. [859] ¶ And for þat; many weneþ þat þei maie nouȝt sinne for no likerous þat he doþe with his wif; Certeȝ þat opynioune is fals; God wote a man maie sle him self with his owen knyf; & maken him dronken with his owen tunne. [860] Certeȝ be it wif of childe or any oþer werldely þinge þat he loueþ be-for god; it is a maumet & he is an ydolastre; [861] ¶ Man scholde loue his wif be discrecione paciently & temporalye; & þan is sche as it were his sustere; [862] ¶ þe fift finger of þe deueles honde is þe stinkeinge dede of lycherye; [863] Certes þe .v. fingers of glotonye þe fende putteþ in þe wombe of a man; & with þes .v. fingers of lychery; he gripeþ him be þe reynes for to þrowe him into þe forneyse of hell [864] þere as þei scholne haue þe fuyre & þe wormes þat euer schal laste; & wepeinge & waileinge scharpe hunger & þurste griselynesse of deueles þat schal al to treden Hem wiþ-outen respite & with|outen ende [865] of lychery as .I. seide sourden diuerse spyces; as fornicacion. þat is be-tuex man & womman þat bien not maried; & þis is dedely sinne & aȝeines nature; [866] Al þat is enemy & destruccion to nature is aȝeines nature [867] parfeye ¶ þe resone of a man telleþ him eke wele þat it is dedely sinne for als muche as god forbad lycherye; = And seint Poule ȝeueþe him þe regne þat is dieu to no whight bot to hem þat done dedely sinne [868] ¶ Anoþere sinne of lycherye is; for to be-reven a mayden of hire maydenhade; ffor certes he þat so doþe he takeþ a maiden oute of þe hiest degre þat is in þis present lif; [869] & bereueþ hire þilke precious fruyte þat þe boke clepeþe þe hundreþ fruyte. I. can nouht seye it in none oþere weye in ynglische Bot in latine it hiht Centesimus fructus; [870] Certes he þat so doþe is cause of mony damage & velanyes mo þan any man kan reken ¶ Riht as he sūmtyme is cause of al þe damage þat bestes done in þe felde; þat brekeþ þe hegge of þe closur þoruhe whiche he distroyeþ þat may not be restored; [871] ffor certes no more maye maydenhede bue re|stored; þan an arme þat is smeten fro þe body maye retorne aȝeine to wex; [872] Sche maye haue mercye þis wote .I. wele if sche do penitence; Bot neuer schal it be þat sche nas corrupte; [873] ¶ And albeit so þat .I. haue spoken sumwhat of aduowtre it is goode to schewen mo periles þat longen to aduoutre ¶ For to eschewe þe foule sinne of [874] aduoutre; in latine is for to seye; Approcheinge to anoþere manes bedde; þoruhe whiche þo þat whilom were first o flesche; abawndon here body to oþere persones [875] ¶ Of þis sinne as seiþe þe wisman comeþ mony harmes; ffirste brekinge of feiþe; And certes faiþe. is kaye of cristendome; ¶ [876] And whan þat feiþe is broke & lorne; soþely cristendome stant wiþ outen fruyte; [877] ¶ þis sinne is eke a þefe; ffor þeft generaly to speke is for reue a wight his þinge aȝeines his will; [878] Certes þis is þe fouleste þeft þat maie bue; whan a womman steleþ hir body fro her husbonde; & ȝiueþ it to hire holoure to defoule here & steleþ hire soule fromme criste; & ȝeueþ it to þe deuel. [879] þis is foulere þeft; þan for to breke & stele þe chalys; ffor þes aduoutres breken þe temple of god spyrituelly & stelen þe vessel of grace; þat is þe bodye & þe soule; ¶ For whiche criste schal destroyen hem as seiþe seinte Poule. [880] Soþely of þis þeft douted gretely Iosephe whan þat his lordes wif preide him of velanye; whan he seide; Lo my lady howe my lorde haþe take to me vnder my warde al þat he haþe in þis werlde ne noþinge of his oute of my powere bot onely ȝe þat bien his wyf [881] ¶ And howe schold .I. þan do þis wikkednesse & sinne so orrible aȝeines god; god it for-bede ¶ Alas al to litel is suche treuþe no wey founde; [882] ¶ þe þredde harme is þe felþe þoruhe whiche þei breken þe commandement of god. & defoulen þe autere of here matrimoygne þat is criste; [883] ¶ For certes in so muche þat þe sacrament of Mariage is so noble & so digne So muche it is þe gretter sinne for to breke it; ¶ For god maad mariage in paradise; in þestate of Innocence to multeplie mankynde to þe seruice of god; [884] & þerfore is þe brekeinge þere-of greuous; Of whiche brekeynge commeþ fals heires often time þat wrongefully occupien oþer mennes heritage; And þere fore wil criste put hem oute of þe Regne of heven þat is þe herytage to good folke [885] Of þis brekeinge commeþe eke oft times þat folke vnware wedden or sinnen wiþ here owen kynred; & namely þil harlotes þat hanten bordels; Of þes foole wemmen þat maie bu likned to a comune gonge where as men purgen here ordur; [886] what saie we eke of poytours þat lyuen bi þe orrible sinne of puytrye And constreyned wemmen ȝe somme time his owen wif; or his childe as done þes baudes to ȝelden hem a serteine rente of her bodely putrye ¶ Certes þes bien cursed sinnes; [887] ¶ Vnderstandeþ eke þat aduoutre is sette gladly in þe ten commandementes; by-tuex þeft & man|slawhter For it is þe gretest þeft þat may be; For it is þe þefte of body & soule; [888] & it is ylike homicide for it kerueþe a tuo; & brekeþ atuo hem þat first weren ymaked o flesche And þere-fore by þe olde lawe þei scholde be sleyne; [889] ¶ Bot naþeles be þe lawe of ihesu crist þat is þe lawe of pite whan he seide to þe womman þat was fou[n]den in aduoutre; and scholde haue slawe with stones after þe will of þe Iewes as was her lawe; ¶ Go quod ihesu criste & haue no more will to do sinne; or willen no more to do sinne; [890] Soþely þe vengeance of advoutre is awarded to þe peyne of hell; bot it bue distroubled be penance. [891] ¶ ȝette bien þere mo spyces of þis cursed sinne as whan þat one of hem is religious or elles boþe; Or of folke þat bien entred vnto order as subdecane & deken; or preste or hospitaleres; And euer þe hyer þat he is in ordre þe gretter is þe sinne; [892] ¶ þe þinges þat gretely agregen his sinne is þe brekeinge of his avowe of chastite whan he receyueþ ordre [893] ¶ And forþere ouere soþe is þat holy holy ordere is chef of al þe tresoure of god; & his especial sinne & merke of chastite to schewe þat þei bien Ioyned to chastite; whiche þat is þe most precious lif þat is [894] ¶ And eke þes ordred folke bien specialy titlyd to god; = & of þe special meyne of god; = ffor whiche whan þei done dedely sinne þei bien þe special traytours of god & of his peple; for þe leven of þe peple to preie for þe peple; ¶ And while þere biene suche traitours Here preyerȝ availeþ nouht to þe peple [895] ¶ Pristes bien as aungels as by þe dignete of here mysterie; ffor soþe seint Poule seiþe; þat Sathanas transformeþe him in Angel of lihte; [896] ¶ Soþelye þe preste þat haunteþ sinne may bue lykned to þe angel of derkenesse transformed in þe Angel of lyht; ¶ He semeþ an Angel of liht; Bot for soþe he is an Angell of derknesse [897] ¶ Suche prestes bien þe sonnes of of Belye. As scheweþe in þe boke of Kynges þat þei weren þe sonnes of belial þat is þe deuel; [898] Belyall is to seyne withowten Iuge; & so faren þei hem þenken þei bien fre & han none Iuge no more þan haþe a fre boll þat takeþ whiche kowe þat him likeþ in þe toune; [899] so faren þei bue wymmen; ffor riht as a fre boll is ynouhe for al a toune Riht so is a wykked priste corruped ynowhe for al a parische or al a contre // [900] þes prestes as seine þe boke ne konne nouht mynisterye of prestehode to þe peple; ne god ne knoweþ hem nouht; þei ne halde hem not apaide as seiþe þe boke of soþen flesche þat was to hem offred; ¶ Bot þei toke be force þe flesche þat is rowe; [901] Certes riht so þes schrewes ne holden hem nouȝt apaiede of Roste flesche & soþen flesche wiþ þe whiche þe peple fedden hem in grete reuerence; Bot þei woll haue rowe flesche as mennes wyves & here douhtern; [902] And certes þes wemmen þat consenten to here harlotries done grete wronges to criste & to holy chirche & to all halowes & to al sowels; ffor þei be-reven al þes him þat schold worschipen criste & holy cherche & pray fo[r] all cristen sowles; [903] And þerfore haue suche prestes & here lemmans eke þat consenten to here lycherye þe malison of þe courte cristen til þei comme to amendement. [904] ¶ þe þred spice of aduoutre is sumtime betwene a man & his wif & þat is whan þei taken no rewarde in here assemblynge bot onely in his ffleschely delite as seiþ seinte Ierom; [905] & ne reken of noþinge bot att þei bien assembled be cause þei bien ymaride; al is good ynouhe as þinkeþ to hem; [906] Bot in suche folk haþe þe deuel pouere as seide þe Angel Raphael to thobie. = ffor in hire assemblynge þei puten oute iheus criste of here hert & ȝaff hem self to al ordour [907] ¶ þe ferþe spice is þe assemblynge of hem þat bien of her kinrede or of hem þat bien of one affinite or elles wiþ hem; with whiche hire fadres or here kinred haþe deled wyþþe inne þe sinne of licherie; þis sinne makeþ hem like houndes þat taken no kepe of kinred; [908] ¶ And certes Parentela is in tuo maners owþer gostely; oþere flesslye; Gostly as for to delen wiþ her gossebes. [909] For riht so as he . . . . .no gap in the MS. is his godfader; he is his fader spirituele; For whiche a womman maie in no lesse sinne assemble wiþ hire gossib þat with hire owen ffleschely broþere; [910] ¶ þe fifte spice is þilke abhomynable sinne of whiche þat no man vnneþes ouht write or speke; ¶ Neþeles it is openly rehersed in holy writte; [911] . . . . .no gap in the MS. to speke of orrible sinne; certes holy writte may not bue defoulede nomore þan þe sonne þat schineþ on a mexen. [912] ¶ Anoþere sinne þat pertineþ to licherye þat commeþ in slepeinge; & þis sinne commeþ oft to hem þat biene maydens; And eke to hem þat bien corrupt ¶ & þis sinne men clepen pollucione þat commeþ in .iiij. maners; [913] somme time of a languysseinge of bodye for þe humers bien to rank & abundant in þe body of a man; Sumtyme for þe infermete for þe feblenesse of þe vertue retentif as phisik makeþ mencion; Somtim for forfete of mete & drinke; [914] And sume time for violence þouhtes þat bien enclosed in mannes mynde whan he goþe to slepe whiche may not bue with outen sinne; For whiche he may noȝt kepe him wiselye; or elles maie men sinne ful greuously

 [The Remedy against Lechery.]

[915] ¶ Nowe comeþ remedy aȝeines lycherye & þat is generaly chastite & continence; þat re|freyneþ. al þe disordeine meueinges þat comen of flesscly talanteȝ; [916] And euere þ[e] grete merite shal he haue þat moste restreyneþ þe wykkede eschau|feinges of ordur of þis sinne; & þis is in tuo maners; þat is for to seyn; chastite of Mariage & chastite of wydewhede;// [917] Now schalt þou knowe þat matrimony is leful assemblynge of man & womman þat receyue be vertue of sacrament þe bande þoruhe whiche þei maie not bu departed al here lif; þat is to sey whiles þei leuen boþe; [918] ¶ þis is as seiþe þe boke a ful gret sacrament; God maked it as .I. haue seide in paradise; & wolde him self bu borne in mariage; [919] ¶ And for to halowen mariage he was at wedynge where as he torned water vnto wyne; whiche was þe firste miracle þat he wrouhte here in erþe befor his deciples; [920] trewe effecte of Mariage clenseþ fornicacion; & replenyscheþ holy chirche of good lignage; for as þe ende of Mariage & it chaungeþ dedly sinne in to veniale be-twex hem þat biene wedded; & makeþ þe hertes alone. . . . .no gap in the MS. [921] þis is þe verrey maryage þat is ystabist be god; ere þat sinne beganne; whan natural lawe was in his riht pointe in paradise ¶ And it ordeynede þat o mān schold haue bot o womman; & o womman bott o mān; as seiþ seint Austine be mony resones;

[922] first for þat Mariage is figured betuex man & holy chirche; And þat oþere is for aman is þe hede of þe womman algate be ordinance it scholde be so; [923] ¶ For if a womman had mo men þan one; þan schold sche haue mo hedes þan one; & þat were an orrible þinge to for god; ¶ An eke one womman ne myht nouht pleise to mony folke att ones; And also þere ne scholde neuer be pes ne rest amonges hem; ffor eueryche wold axe his owen þinge; [924] And forþer more no man schold knowe his owen en|gendrure ne who scholde haue his heritage; And þe womman scholde þe lasse be louede ffro þe time þat sche were comune to mony men;

[925] ¶ Nowe commeþ howe þat aman scholde bere him wiþ his wif; & namely in tuo þinges þat is to seye in suffrance & in reuerence; And þat schewd first criste whan he maade first womman; [926] ffor he maad hir nouht of þe hede of Adam for sche scholde nouȝt haue to grete lordschipe; [927] ffor þere as þe womman haþe þe maystre sche makeþ to mekel disaraye; þere nede none ensamples of þis ¶ Thexperience of þis day be day ouhte suffice [928] ¶ Also certes god ne maad noȝt womman of þe foote of Adam; ffor sche schold nouȝt be holden to lowe ffor sche cannot paciently suffur;= Bot god maad womman of þe ribbe of Adam. ffor womman scholde be felawe vnto man; [929] ¶ A man schold bere him to his wif in feiþe in trouþe & in loue; as seiþe seint Poule; þat aman schol loue his wif; As criste loueþ holy chirche þat loued it so wele þat he dyed for it; So schal aman for his wif If it were nede

[930] ¶ Nowe howe þat a womman schold be soubiette to her Husbonde þat telleþ seint Peter; . . .no gap in the MS. [931] And eke as seiþe þe decree. A womman as longe as sche is a wyf sche haþe non auctorite to swere ne to bere wittenesse wiþ outen leue of here husbonde þat is hire lorde it scholde be so by reson; [932] Sche scholde eke serue him in all honeste & ben atempre of here araye; I. wote wele þat þei scholden sette hire entente to plese her hus|bondes bot not by here qweyntise of araye; [933] ¶ Seint Ierom; seiþ; þat wyues þat bien appareled in silke ne mowen nouht cloþen hem in ihesu criste; . . . . .no gap in the MS. [934] Seint gregori seiþ eke þat no wight sekeþ precious araye bot onely veinglorie to be honoured þe more to for þe peple; [935] ¶ It is a grete foly a womman to haue a grete araye outewarde and her self bue foule inwarde; [936] A wif scholde eke be mesurable in lokeynge & in bereinge & in lawheinge; & discrete in al here wordes & here dedes; [937] and abouen al werldly þinges sche scholde loue her housbonde wiþ al her hert; & to him be trewe of hire bodye; [938] So schold an husbond eke be trewe vnto his wif; ffor seþine þat al þe body is þe hosbondes; so schold her hertes bien; Or elles þere is be tuex hem tuo; as in þat no parfit mariage [939] ¶ þan schal aman vnder|stonde þat for þre þinges aman & his wif aman & his wif mowen assemblen; ¶ þe first is in entente of engen|drure of children to þe seruice of god; ¶ For certes þat is þe cause fynal of Matrymoyne; [940] Anoþere is to ȝelde eueryche of hem to oþere þe dette of his bodye; ffor neyþere of hem haþ powere of his owen bodye; The þredde is to eschiew lichery & velanye; ¶ þe ferþe forsoþe is dedly sinne; [941] ¶ As to þe first it is meritorye; = þe secunde also; ffor as seiþe þe decree. ¶ þat chasiþ merite of chastite þat ȝeldeþ to her husbonde þe dette of hire bodye; ȝe þouhe it be aȝeine hir lykeinge & þe lust of here herte; [942] ¶ þe þred manere is veniale An trewly scarcely maye any of þes bue with outen venial sinne for þe corrupcion & for þe delite; [943] ¶ þe ferþe manere is for to vnderstonde; and if þe assemble onelye for amerous loue & for none of þe forseide causes bot for accomplice þilke birneinge delite; þei rekken neuer howe often soþely it is a dedely synne; ¶ And ȝitte with sorwe som folke will peynen hem more þan her appetite suffriþ;

[944] ¶ þe secunde Manere of chastie; is to be aclene wydowe & to eschewe þenbraseinge of man; & to desiren þenbrasinges of ihesu crist; [945] ¶ Thes bien þo þat haue bue wyves; & haue for gone here hus|bondes ¶ And eke wemmen þat haue done lycherye & bien releued by penance; [946] And certez if þat a wif couþe keper al chaste be lycence of hire husbonde so þat sche nere none occasion þat he a-gilte it were to hire a grete merite; [947] ¶ Thes manere of wemmen þat obseruen chastite moste bue clene in herte as wele as in body; & in þouht; & mesurable in cloþeinge & in countenance; Abstinent in etynge & drinkeinge in spekeinge // & in dede; & þan is sche þe vessel of þe boyste of þe blissed Magdalene þat fulfilleþ holy chirche ful of good odoure; [948] ¶ þe þredde maner chastite is virginite; ¶ And it be-houeþ þat sche be holy in herte & clene of body; þan is sche spouse to ihesu crist; ¶ And sche is þe lif of Angels; [949] sche is þe preiseinge of þis werld; And sche is as þes martires in Regalite; Sche haþe in hire þat tunge may not tell; [950] virginite bare oure lorde ihesu crist & virgine was him self;

[951] ¶ Anoþere remede aȝeines licherie is to wiþ draw suche þinges þat ȝeuen occacion to þilke velany; As ese. & eteynge & drinkeinge; ffor certez whan. þe potte boyleþ strongelye þe best remedye is to with|drawe þe fire; [952] Slepeinge lange in grete quiete is eke a grete norische to licherye;

[953] ¶ Anoþere remedye aȝeines lycherie is þat a womman or a man eschiewe compaignye of hem be wiche he douteþ to be tempted; ffor albeit so þat þe dede be with-stande ȝite is þere grete temptacione; [954] Soþely a white wall alþouhe it birne nouht ffully be stykynge of a candel; ȝit is þe wal blakke of þe leyte [955] ful oft time; ¶ .I. rede þat noman truste in his owen perfeccione; bot he be st[r]onger þan Sampson. Holiere þan Dauid. wiser þan Salomon

[956] ¶ Nowe after þat .I. haue declared ȝowe as .I. can of þe vij. dedely sinnes and sume of here braunches & her remedies; Soþe if; y. couþe .I. wolde tel ȝowe þe ten. commandementes; [957] Bot so hihe a dottrine .I. lete to devines; Naþeles .I. hope to god þei bien touched in þis tretise eueryche of hem all

 De .2a. part penitencie

[958]

NOw for as muche as þe secunde parte of penite; stant in confessioun of mouþe; as .I. began in þe chapetre; I. seye seint Austine seiþe; [959] Sinne is euery worde & euery dede & al þat men coueyten aȝeines þe lawe of ihesu criste; and þis for to sinne in herte in mouþe & in dede. be þine .v. wittes þat bien siht hereinge smelinge tasteinge or saueringe & feleinge. [960] ¶ Nowe is it goode to vnderstond þe circumstance þat aggregen muchel euery sinne [961] ¶ þou schalt consider what þou ert þat dost þe sinne wheþere þou be male or female. ȝonge or olde. gentil or þrall. free or seruant hole or seke; wedded or sengel. orderde or nouȝt wise or fool. Clerke or seculer; [962] if sche be of þi kinred bodely or gostely or none; If any of þi kinred haue sinned wiþ hire or none; & mony moo þinges;

[963] ¶ þe oþere circumstance is þis; wheþer it be done in fornicacione or none; Or in aduoutre; or inceste or none; Mayden or none; In manere of homicide or none orrible grete sinne or smal. An howe longe þou continued in sinne = [964] þe þred circumstance is þe place where þou haste done sinne; Wheþere in oþere mennes hous or in þine owen In felde or in cherche or in chirche hawe In chirche dedicate or none; [965] For if þe cherche were halowed and man or womman spilled his kinde in wiþ þat place be waye of sinne or be wykked temptacione þe chirche were enterdited; til it were reconsiled be þe Bischop; [966] And þe priste scholde be enterdited þat dide suche a velanye to terme of al his lif; he scholde no more singe masse; & if he dide he schold do dedely sinne; att euery time at euery time att he sange masse; [967] ¶ þe ferþe circumstance is be whiche mediat|ours as be messangeres or for enticement or for enticement or for consentment to bere compaigne wiþ felawschipe; ffor mony a wrecche for to bere compaigny wil go to þe deuel of hell [968] ¶ For þei þat eggen or con|senten to þe sinne bien partiners of þe sinne & of þe dampnacion of þe sinner

[969] ¶ þe .v. is; howe monye times þat he haþ sinned; & it be in his mynde; & howe oft þat he haþe fall; [970] ffor he þat oft falleþ in sinne dispiceþ þe mercie of god; And encreseþ his sinne & is vnkinde to god; & he wexeþ þe more feble to wiþstonde sinne; and sinneþ þe more lyhtlyer [971] and þe latter ariseþ; and is þe more eschewe to schriven him & namely to him þat haþe bue his Con|fessour;// [972] ffor whiche þat folke when þei fall aȝeine in here olde folyes oft þei for-leten here confessours al vtterlye or elles þei departen her scrift in diuers place; Bot soþely suche departed schrift deseueþ no mercy of god of his sinnes; [973] ¶ þe vje. Circum|stance is þis; whi þat a man sinneþ as be whiche temptacion; And if him self procure þilk temptacione or be ex|citinge of oþere folke or if þou sinne wiþ a womman be force or be hir owen assent [974] or if þe womman mawgre hire hede haþe bue enforced or none þis schal ȝe tell; ffor couetise or for pouerte; & if it was here procureinge or none & suche manere harneys [975] ¶ þe .vij. circumstance is in what manere he haþ done his sinne or none or howe þat he haþ suffryd howe folke han don to hire; [976] of þe same schal þe man tel pleynely al circumstance & where he haþ sinned; with commune bordel wymmen or none [977] or done his sinne in holy times or none; in fast|inge times or none or be-forne his schrift or aftere his latter schrift [978] & haþe par aduenture broken þere-fore his penance enioyned. by whos & whos consel. by sorcery or craft; al must be tolde [979] þes þinges after þat þei bien grete & smale Engregen þe conscience of man; & eke þe þreste þat is þi Iuge may þe better bue avised of his Iugement in ȝeueinge of þine penaunce; And þat is after þine contricione; [980] ¶ For vnderstandeþ wele þat after þe time þat aman haþe defouled his Baptime by sinne if he wil comme to saluacion; þere is none oþere weye bot be penytence & schrift & satisfactione. [981] And namely by þo tuo; if þere be a confessour to whiche he may schriue him ¶ And þe þred if he haue lif to performe it;

[982] þan schal man loke & consider if he wil make a trewe & profitable confessione þere moste bue foure condiciones; = [983] Firste it must be in sorwful bitternesse of hert ¶ As seiþe þe kinge ezechiel; = To god .I. wil remembre me al ȝe ȝeres of my lif in bitternesse of myne herte; [984] ¶ þis condicioun of bitter|nesse haþe .v. signes; þe first is þat confession most be schamefaste not for to kouerne ne to hiden his sinne; = bot for he haþ a-gilte his god & defouled his soule; [985] And here of seiþ seinte Austine; ¶ The hert travaileþ for schame of his sinne; & for he haþe grete schamfastnes he is digne to haue grete mercye; [986] whiche was þe confession of þe puplicane þat wolde not heue vp his eyȝen to heuen; ffor he hadde offended god of heuen; ffor whiche schamfastnesse he had anone þe mercy of god [987] ¶ And þerefore seiþ seint Austine. þat suche schamefast folke bien next for-ȝeuenesse & remission [988] ¶ þat oþere signe is humilite of confessione; of whiche seiþe seint Petre. Vmbleþ ȝow vnder þe miht of of god; ¶ þe honde of god is myhti in confession; For þereby god fo[r]ȝeueþ þe sinnes; for he alon haþ þe powere; [989] & þis humylite schal be in herte & in signe outewarde; For riht as he haþ humylite to god in his herte. Riht so schold he humblen his body outwarde to þe preste þat sitteþ in goddes place; [990] for whiche in no maner seþen þat crist is souereigne; & þe preste mene & mediatour be tuex criste & þe sinner; And þe sinner is þe last be weie of resoun; [991] þan scholde not þe sinner sitte also hihe as his confessour bot knele be-forne him or att his fete bot if malady distourbe it; for he schal not take kepe who sitteþ þere bot in wos place þat he sitteþ; [992] ¶ A man þat haþ trespassed to alorde & commeþe to axe mercye; & maken his accorde & sitte him doune anone by þe lorde; men wolde holde him outrageous & nouht worþi so sone to haue remissione ne mercye; [993] ¶ þe .iij. signe is þat þi schrift scholde be ful of teres if man may wepe; And if man maie not wepe wiþ his bodely eyȝen lat him wepe in his herte; [994] Suche was þe confessione of seinte Peter; ffor after þat he hadde for saake ihesu criste he went oute & weppet ful bitterly; [995] ¶ þe; iiij. signe is þat he let not for his schame to schewe his confessione. [996] Suche was þe confession of þe Magdaleyn for sche spared for no schame of hem þat weren att þe fest for to go to oure lorde ihesu criste; & be-knowe to him hire sinne [997] ¶ þe .v.te signe þat aman or womman be obeisant to receyue þe penance þat is him enioynede; ¶ For certes ihesu criste for þe giltes of o man was obediente to þe deþe

[998] ¶ þe secunde condicion of verreye confessi[on] is þat it be hastily done; For certes if aman had a dedly wounde euer þe langer þat he tarieþ to warische him self; þe more wolde it corrupte; and haste him to his deþe & eke þe wounde wolde be þe wers for to hele;// [999] And riht so fareþ sinne þat longe time is in a man vnschewde; [1000] Certes aman ouht hastely to schewe his sinne for mony cause as for drede of deþe þat commeþ oft sodanly; & is in no certeine what time it schal be ne in no place; and eke þe drecchinge of o sinne draweþ ine anoþere [1001] & eke þe longer þat he tarieþ þe ferþere is he fro criste; & if he abide vnto his last daye skarsly may he schriue him or amend him for his sinnes or repent him for þe greuous malady of his deþe; [1002] ¶ And for as muche as he haþ nouhte in his lif herkened ihesu criste whan he haþe spoken vn to him; he schal crien vnto oure lorde ihesu criste att his last daye; And scarsely wil he herken him [1003] ¶ Vnder stonde þat þis condicione most haue foure þinges; þi schrift moste bien purveide be-forne & avised; = for wykked haste doþe no prophete & þat aman con schriue him. of his sinnes be it of pride eyþere of envie; An so forþe wiþ þe spices & þe circumstaunces; [1004] And þat he haue comprehended in his mynde þe nombre & þe gretnesse of his sinnes; & howe longe þat he haþ leyne in sinne [1005] & eke þat he bue contrite of his sinnes; And in stedfast purpos by þe grace of god neuere efte to fal a-ȝeine in sinne; And eke þat he drede & contrewaite him self þat he flie þe occasione of sinne to whiche he is enclined. [1006] ¶ Also þat þou schal schriue þe of al þi sinnes to oman; & nouht parcel mele to oman & parcel mele to a noþere man; þat is to vnderstonde in entent to parten þine confessione as for schame or drede; for it is bot bot stranglinge of þine soule ¶ [1007] For certes ihesu criste is al goode; In him is none imperfeccione; & þerfore euer he for-ȝeueþ perfytlye or elles neuer a dele. [1008] ¶ I saye note if þou be assigned to þe penitancere of certeyne sinne þat þou ert bounden to schew him al þe remenant of þi sinnes of whiche þou hast bue schreuen att þi Curate; bot if it like þe of þine humylite ¶ þis is no depar[t]inge of schreft; = [1009] ne .I. saye not þere as .I. speke of diuision of confes|sione if þat þou haue lycence for to schriue þe to a discrete & an honeste preste; & where þe likeþe // & be þe licence eke of þine curate þat þou ne maiste wel schriue þe of al þi sinnes [1010] bot late no blot bue by-hinde; lete no sinne vntolde as fer as þou haste remem|brance; [1011] ¶ And whan þou schalte bu schriuen of þi Curate. Tel him eke of al þe sinnes þat þou hast done; seþþe þou were last y-schryuen; as þis is þe wikked entent of deuysion of schrift

[1012] ¶ Also þe verrey schrift axeþ certeyne con|diciones.= First þat þou schriue þe be þi fre wyl nouht constreyned ne for schame of folke ne for malady or suche þinges; ¶ For it is reson þat he þat trespas be his fre will . . . . no gap in the MS. confesse his trespace; [1013] None oþere man schatel his sinne bot he him self; ne schal noȝt nay it or denye his sinne; ne wreþþe hime aȝeines þe preste for his amonyscheynge to lete sinne [1014] ¶ þe condicion is þat þi schrift be lawful; þat is to sey þou þat schryueþ þe; & eke þe preste þat hereþ þi confession bien verrei in þe fayþe of holy cherche [1015] ¶ And þat aman be nouht despeirede of þe mercie of ihesu criste; as Kayme or Iudas [1016] ¶ And eke aman most accuse him of his owen trespas; & nouht a noþere; bot he schal blame & wyten him self of his owen malice of his sinne & none oþere [1017] Bot naþeles if anoþere man bue encheson or entyseþ of his sinnes; Or þat if þe state of a persone bu suche þoruhe whiche his sinne is agregede or elles þat he may not pleynely schriuen him bot he tel þe persone whiche he haþe sinned wiþ þen maye he tel it [1018] so þat is entent ne be not to bakbite þe person; bot onely to declare his con|fession;

[1019] þou schalt not eke make no lesinge in þi confessione; ffor humilite peraduenture to seie þat þou hast done sinnes of whiche þou were neuer gilte [1020] ¶ For seinte seiþe; If þou because of humylite makest lesinge of þi self þouhe þou ne were nouȝt in sinne a forne ȝit ert þou þan in sinne þoruhe þi lessinges [1021] ¶ þou muste eke schewe þi sinne by þi propre mouþe bot þou be wax domme; & nouht be no letter; ffor þou þat hast don sinne þou schalt haue þe same confesse [1022] ¶ þou schalt nouȝt eke peynte þi confession be faire & subtile wordes to keuer þe more þi sinne; ffor þan begiles þou þi self & not þe priste; þou most tel it platlye be it neuere so foule ne so orrible; [1023] þou schalt schriue þe eke to a priste þat is discrete to counseil þe; & eke þou schalt nouht schriue þe for veyne glorye ne for ypocrisye ne for no cause bott onely for þe deute of ihesu criste; & þe hele of þi soule; [1024] ¶ þou schalt not eke rinne to þe priste al sodenly to tel him þine sinne as who so telleþ a Iape or a tale; bo avysyly & wiþe grete deuocyon; [1025] & generaly schriue þe ofte. if often fall of arise be confessione; [1026] & if þou schriue þe ofter þan ones of sinne of whiche þou haste bue schryuen it is þe more merite & as seiþe seint Austine; þou schalte haue þe more lyhtly relesinge & þe grace of god boþe of sinne & of peyne; [1027] An certes ones a ȝere att þe lest weye it is lawful for to bue houselde; for soþely ones al þinges renouellen;

 De Satisfaccione

[1028]

NOw haue .I. tolde of verrey confession þat is þe secunde parte of penitence;

[1029] ¶ þe þredde parte of penitence is satisfaccione; & þat stant generaly in almes & in bodely peyne; [1030] Nowe bien þere. þrey manere of almes; contricion of hert þat a man openneþ him self to god; Anoþere; is to haue pete of þe defaute of his neyhbours; ¶ þe þred is in ȝeueinge good counsel & comfort gostly & bodelye where men haue nede; & namely in sustinance of mannes foode; [1031] & take kepe þat a man haþe nede of þes þinges generaly; he haþe nede of foode of cloþinge of herboruhe; he haþe nede of charitable conselyng & avisetinge in prison; & maladye; & sepulture of his dede bodye; [1032] & if þou maiste not viset þe nedefoll wiþ þi persone; viset him wiþ messages & þi ȝeftes;// [1033] þes bien þe general almes & werkes of charite of hem þat haþ Temperel riches or discrecion in counselinge; ¶ Of þes werkes schalt þou here of þe daie of dome;

[1034] þes almos schal þou done of þine owen propre þinges; And hastely & priuely if þou maiste [1035] ¶ Bot naþeles if þou maye nouht done hit priuelye þou schalt nouht for bere to done almos nere adel þouhe men it see; So þat it be nouht ydo for þe þonke of þe werlde; bot onely to haue þe þonke of oure lorde ihesu crist ¶ [1036] For as wittenesse seint Mathewe .5. A Cite maie not bue hidde þat is on a mowntan sette; Ne men lyhten not a lanterne; & put it vnder a buschell; bot men setteþ it on a candel|stik to lyhten þe men in þe house; [1037] Riht so schal ȝoure liht aforne men þat þei maie seene ȝoure good werkes; and glorifien ȝoure fader þat is in heuen

[1038] ¶ Nowe as to speke of bodely peine it stant in preyer. in wakeinges in fastinge & in vertuus techeinge of orisons [1039] ¶ Ȝe schol vnder stonde þat orisons or preyers is for to seye a pytous wil of hert þat redresseþ in god & expresseþ be worde outewarde to remowe harmes; & to haue þinges espirituel & durable; & somtyme temperal þinges of whiche orisones; certez in þe orsones of þe pater noster haþe ihesu criste enclosed most þinges; [1040] Certes it is priueleged of þrey þinges in his dignite For whiche it is more digne þan any oþere preyere; ffor þat ihesu crist him self maked it; [1041] & it is schorte for it scholde be konde more lihtlye & for to wiþe-holde it more esily in herte; & helpen hem self þoffter wiþ þorison; [1042] And for aman schold be þe lasse were to sey it; And for a man may nouht excusen him to leren it for it is so schort & so Esye & for it comprehendiþ in it selfe al goode preyers; [1043] ¶ þe exposicioun of þis holy preyer þat is so excellent & digne .I. be-take to þes Maystres of Theologie saue þus muche wil .I. seyne; þat whan þou preyest. þat god schold for ȝeuen þe þi giltes as þou forȝeuest ham[MS. ham] þat agilten þe be ful wil; war þat þou be not oute of charite; [1044] ¶ þis holy orison amenuseþ eke venyal sinne; And þerefor it apperteneþ specialy to penytence;

[1045] ¶ þis preyer most bu trewly seide in verray faiþe & þat men prey to god ordinately; dis|cretely & deuoutely; ¶ Alweye aman schal put his wille to be subiecte to þe wil of god; [1046] ¶ þis orison most eke be seide with grete humblesse & pure honestly. & nouht to anoyance of any man; or womman. ¶ It moste eke be continued with þe werkes of charite; = [1047] It avayleþ eke aȝeynes þe vices of þe soule; ¶ For as seiþe seint Ierom; Be fastinge bien saued þe vices of flesche; & be preiers þe vices of soule;

[1048] After þis þou schalt vnderstand þat bodely peyne stant in wakeynge; ¶ For ihesu criste seiþe; wakeþ & prayeþ þat ȝe ne enter in wikked temptacione. [1049] ȝe scholn vnder stand þat ffast|inge stant in þre þinges; = In for beringe of bodely mete & drinke; & in for beringe of werldly Iolytees; & in for|beringe of dedely sinne; þis is to seye þat aman schal kepe him fro dedely sinne; wiþ al his myht;

[1050] ¶ And þou schalt vnderstand eke þat god ordeyned fastinges; And to fastinges appartenen .iiij. þinges; [1051] largenesse to pouer folke; Gladnesse of hert espirituel: nouȝht to be angred ne to be anoyed; ne to grocche for he fasteþ; and also att resonable owre for to ete be mesure; þat is to saye þat aman schold nouht eten in vntyme ne sitte þe langer att his table for he fasteþ;

[1052] ¶ þan schalt þou vnderstand þat bodely peyne stant in discipline or techeinge be worde or be writeinge; or by ensample; Also in wereinge of heyres eyþere of Stamyne; eyþ[er]e of haberione on here naked flesshe for criste sake & suche manere penaunces; [1053] Bot ware þe wele þat suche manere penaunces make nouȝt þine herte bitter or angry anoyed of þine self ¶ For better is to kast awaie þine heire þan for to cast awey þe swettnes of oure lorde; ihesu criste [1054] ¶ And þerefore seiþe seinte poule; Cloþe ȝowe as þei þat bien chosen of god in hert of mysericorde debonarte; suffrance. And suche maner of cloþinge; of whiche ihesu criste is more appaied þan of heyre or of Aberion;

[1055] ¶ þan is discipline eke in knokynge on þi breste; in scouregeinge with ȝerdes in knelyinge in tribulacions; [1056] In suffringe paciently wronges þat bien done to him; & eke in pacient suffrance of Maledies or lesinge of werldly Catel; or wyf or childe or oþere frendes;

[1057] ¶ þan schal þou vnderstande wiche þinge distourben penance; & þis is in þre maners þat is drede schame hope; & wanhope; þat is desperacione; [1058] And for to speken firste of drede; for whiche he weneþ þat he may suffur no penaunce [1059] þere aȝeines is remedye for to þinke þat bodely penaunce is bot schort & lytel att þe regard of þe peyne of hell þat is cruel & so longe þat it lasteþ wiþ outen ende;

[1060] ¶ Now aȝeines þe schame þat aman haþe to schryuen him; . . . . .no gap in the MS. [1061] Aȝeines þe schame schal a man þinke þat by þe waye of resoun þat he þat haþe nouht bue aschamed to do foule þinges; Certes him ouhte not bue aschamed to do faire þinges & goode þinges; & þat is confessions; [1062] Aman schold þinke þat god seþe & wote al his þouhtes & his werkes; to him maie noþinge bu hudde ne couerde; [1063] Men scholde eke remembre hem of þe schame þat is to come att þe daie of dome to hem þat biene nouȝt penitence & lif in present lif; [1064] ¶ For al þe creatures in heuen in erþe & in hell scholne seen apertely al þat hiden in þis werlde;

[1065] Nowe for to speke of þe hope of hem þat bien so neclygent & slowe to schriuen ham it stant in tuo maners; [1066] þat on is; þat he hopeþ to leue longe; & for to purchase muchel riches for his delite & þan he wil schriue hime as he seiþe; he maie as him semeþ timely ynouhe comme to schrifte; [1067] ¶ Anoþere is of þe surquydrye þat he haþe in haþe in cristes mercye; [1068] And aȝeines þe first he schal þinke þat oure lif is in no sekernesse; & eke þat al þe reches in þe werlde bien in aduenture & passinge as a schadowe on a wal [1069] ¶ And as seiþe seinte Gregorie; þat it apparteneþ to þe grete rihtwisnesse of god; þat neuere schal þe peine stinte of hem þat neuere wolde withdrawe hem fro sinne here þankes bot euer continue in sinne; ¶ For þilke perpetuele wil to do sinne scholne þei haue perpetuel peyne;

[1070] ¶ Whanhope is in tuo maners ¶ þe first whan|hope is in þe mercye of criste; þat oþere is þat þei þenke þat þei myht nouht longe perseuerne in good|nesse; [1071] ¶ þe first wanhope commeþ of þat he demeþ þat he haþ sinned so gretely; so ofte & so longe lyggen in sinne þat he schal nouht be sauede; [1072] ¶ Certeȝ aȝeines þat cursed wanhope he schold þinke þat þe passion of ihesu criste is more stronge for to vnbynde; þan sinne is for to binde; [1073] ¶ And aȝeines þe secunde wanhope; he schal þinke þat as oft as he falleþe he schal arisen be penitence; And þouhe he neuer so longe haue lyen in sinne; þe mercye of criste is alwey redy to receyuen him to mercye; [1074] ¶ Aȝeynes þe wanhope þat he demeþ þat he schold nouht longe perseuere in goodnes; He schal þinke þat þe febelne of þe deuel may noþinge done bot men wil suffren him; [1075] ¶ And eke he schal haue streynkeþ of god & of al holy chirche & of þe proteccions of Angels if him luste;

[1076] ¶ þan schol men vndirstande what is þe fruyte of penaunce as after þe worde of ihesu criste; It is þe Endeles blisse of heuen [1077] þere Ioye haþe none contrariouste of woo ne greuance þere all harmes bien passed of þis present lif; = þere as is þe sekernesse fro þe peyne of hell; = þere as þe blisful compaignie þat reioysen hem euermore; Eueryche of oþeres Ioye; [1078] þere as þe body of man þat whilom was foule & derke; is more clere þan is þe sonne ¶ þere as whilom þe body was seeke & frele; & mortale is vnmortale; & so strange & so hole; þat þere maye no þinge empeyre it; [1079] þere as neyþere is hunger þurst ne colde; Bot euery soule replenyscheþ with þe siht of þe perfit knoweynge of god. [1080] ¶ þis blisfull Regne may man purchace be pouerte espirituell & þe glorie be lowe|nesse; þe plentee of Ioye be hunger & þerste; & þe reste be trauayle; & þe lyf be deþ; & mortificacione of sinne;

To þilke lif he vs bringe þat bouht vs wiþ his precious blode AmeN /

Explicit Fabula. Rectoris Composito huius libri hic capit licenciam. suam.

[1081]

NOw preye .I. to hem all þat herken þis litel tretis or rede; þat if þere bue any þinge in it þat likeþ hem; þat þere of þei þonken oure lorde ihesu criste of whome procedeþ al wite & al goodenesse. [1082] ¶ And if þere be any þinge þat displesen hem .I. preye hem also þat þei arette it to þe defaute of myne vnkonynge: & n[ot] to my will. þat wolde fulfeyne haue seide better. if .I. hadd konynge; [1083] For oure booke seyþe al þat is wreten is writen for oure doctrine & þat is myne entent [1084] ¶ Whare for .I. be seke ȝowe mekely att þe mercye of god; þat ȝe praye for me / þat criste haue mercie on me; & forȝeue me my gultes; [1085] And namely of my translaciones & endite|ynges of werldly vanytees ¶ þe whiche .I. reuoke in my re|tractions [1086] ¶ As is / þe booke of Troyles; ¶ The booke also of fame þe booke of xv ladyes ¶ þe booke of þe Duchesse; þe booke of seint valentynes day & of þe parlement of birdes ¶ þe tales of Cantur|bury þilke þat sounen in to sinne [1087] ¶ þe booke of þe lyon; And moni anoþere booke if þei were in myne remembraunce & mony a songe; & mony a lycherous laye; þat Criste for his grete Mercy forȝeue me þe sinne [1088] ¶ Bot of þe translacioune of Boyce de Consolacione; ¶ And oþere bokes of legendis of seintis; And omelyes & moralyte; & deuocions; [1089] þat þonke .I. oure lorde iesu criste & his blissed moder & al þe seintes of heuen; [1090] besecheinge hem ¶ þat þei from hennes forþe vnto my lyues ende sende me grace to beweyle my giltes; & to stody to saluacione of my soule; And graunt me grace of verrei penance con|fessione & satisfaccioun to done in þis present lif. [1091] þoruhe þe benigne grace of him þat is kinge of kynges. & priste of all pristes; þat bouht vs wiþ þe precious blode of his herte [1092] so þat .I. may bie one of hem att þe daye of dome þat schal be saued. to receyue þe blisse þat euere schal last wiþouten ende. Amen.

 Explicit APPENDIX (to Group B, p. 589). [Christ Church MS. 152.] [on leaf 173, back, sign. k 2, back] ¶ Sire Nonnes preest oure hoost seyde a none y-blessed be thy breth & euery stoone This was a mery tale of Chaunteclere But be my trouthe if thou were seculere Thow woldeste bene a tredefoul a right ffor if thow haue corage as thou haste myght The were nede of hennes as I wene Ye moo than .vij. tymes seventene See whiche braunnes hath this gentel preeste So grete a nekke & so large a breeste He loketh as a Sparhauke with his yen Hym nedeth nat his colour for to dyen[leaf 174 sign. k. 3] with Brasile ne with Greyne of Portyngale / Now sire faire falle yow for youre tale And aftir he with full mery chere Saide vnto a nother as ye shulle here Here is ended the Nonnes prestes tale And folowith the prologe of the Maunciples tale

1. [fforsothe I woll no lengir/ you contrarie. Now late vs turne a-geyne to Ianuarye. That in this gardyn with this faire Maye. Syngeth full merier/ than the Popyniaye. You loue I best/ and schall and other/ non. So longe a-boute the aleis is he gon. Till he was come ageyns thilke pirye. Wher/ as this Damyan sitteth full merye. On high among the fresche leues grene. This fresche May that is so bright and schene. Gan for to sike and seide allas my side. Now sir/ quod sche for ought that may be-tide. I moste haue of the peris that I se. Or I mote dye so sore longeth me. To etyn of the smale peris grene. Help for hir/ loue that is of heuene quene. I tell you well a woman in my plight. May haue to fruyt/ so gret an appetight That sche may dyen but/ sche it haue. Allas quod he that I ne had here a knaue. That couthe clymbe allas allas quod he. ffor I am blynde ye sir/ no fors quod sche. But wolde ye vouche saf/ for goddis sake. The piry in with your/ armes take. ffor well I wot that ye mestruste me. Than schulde I clymbe well y-nowȝ quod sche. So I my foot myght set/ vpon your/ bak. fforsothe seide he in me schall be no lak. Might I you helpe with myn herte blood. He stoupith doun and on his bak sche stood. And caught hir/ bi a twiste and vp sche goth. Ladies I pray you that ye be not wroth. I can not glose I am a rude man. And sodenly a-non this Damyan. Gan pullen vp the smok/ and yn he throng/. ¶ A gret tente he þrest yn and a long. Sche seide it was þe meriest fit. That euyr in hir lyue sche was at yit. Mi lordis tente sche seide serueþ me not þus. He foldith twifolde bi swete Ihesus. He maie not swyue worth a leke. And yet he is/ fulle gentille and fulle meke. This/ is leuyr to me than Euensong.[Harl. 1758] And whan that Pluto saugh this gret wrong. To Ianuarye he yaf his sight a-gayne. [And made hym seen as wel as euere he myghte And whan he thus had caght his sighte agayn] Ne was ther/ neuyr/ man of thyng so fayne. But on his wife his thought was euyr/ mo. Vp to the tre he kest his yȝen two. And sigh that Damyan his wife had dressed. In whiche maner/ it may not ben expressed. But if I wolde speke vncurteisly. And vp he yaf a roryng/ and a cry. As doth the modir/ when the childe schall dye. Out help allas harrow he gan crye.[2 spurious lines after l. 2366.]¶ ffor sorow almost he gan to dye. That his/ wif was/ swyued in þe perye. O strong/ lady stoure what dost thou. And sche answerith sir/ what eileth you. Haue paciens and reson in your/ mynde. I haue you holpen on bothe your/ yȝen blynde. Vp perill of my soule I schall not lyen. As me was taught to hele with your yȝen. Was no thyng/ bet/ for to make you se. Than strougle with a man vp on a tre. God woot I dide it in full good entente. Strogle quod he ye algate yn it wente.[4 spurious lines after l. 2376.][As] stif/ and rounde as/ ony belle. It was/ no wondir/ þouȝ hir beli swelle. The smok on his/ brest laie to seche. And euer me thought he poynted on þe breche. God yeue you bothe on schames deth to dien. He swyued the I saugh it with myn yen. And ellis be I hangid bi the hals. Than is quod sche the medicyn fals./ ffor certeynly if that ye myghtyn se. Ye wolde not say tho wordis. vn-to me. Ye han som glymsyng/ and no perfit/ sight. I se quod he as well as euyr/ I myght/. Thanked be god with bothe myn yȝen two. And be my trouthe me thought/ he dide the so. Ye mase mase good sir / quod sche. this thank / haue I for I haue made you se. Allas quod sche that euyr/ I was so kynde.[Harl. 1758] Now dame quod he let all passe out/ of mynde. Come doun my leef/ and if I haue myssaide. God helpe me so as I am euyll apaide. But be my fadir/ soule I wende haue seyne. How that this Damyan had bi the leyne. And that thi smok/ had leyne vp on thi brest. Ye sir/ quod sche ye may wene as you lest. But sir/ a man that waketh out/ of his slepe. He may not sodenly well take kepe. Vp on a thyng/ ne seen it parfitly. Till that he be a dawe verraily. Right so a man that long/ hath blynde be Ne may not sodenly so well se. ffirst whan the sight is newe comen a-geyne. As he that hath a day or two seyne. Till that your/ sight stablid be a while Ther/ may full many a sight/ you be-gile. Beth ware I pray you for bi heuen kyng ffull many a man weneth for to se a thyng. And it/ is all another/ than it semeth. He that mys conceyueth mys demeth. And with that word sche leep doun fro the tre. This Ianuarye who is glad but he. He kisseth hir/ and clippeth hir/ full ofte. And on hir/ wombe he strokith hir/ full softe. And to his paleis hoom he hath hir/ lad. Now good men I pray you to be glad. Thus endith here my tale of Ianuarye. God blisse vs and his modir/ seynt Marye. AmeN./[Harl. 1758 extract ends] Here endith the Marchauntis Tale.] 2. [ET Incipit prologus Armigeri [Brit. Mus. Addit. MS. 5140, on leaf 169.] Ey. goddis Mercy / said our oste tho. Nowe suche a wyf / y pray god kepe me fro loo suche sleyhtis / and sotiltees In wommen bene / for ay as besy as bees Ben they / vs secly men to disceyve And from the soth / evir wol they weyve By this Marchauntis tale / it preveth weell But doutles / as true as any steel I haue a wyf / though. she pore be But of hir tong / a labbyng shrewe is she And yit she hath / an heepe of vices mo Therof no fors / lat alle such thingis go. But wot ye what / in counsail be it said Me reweth soore / that y am to hir teyde ffor and y shulde rekne / euery vice Which that she hath / y-wys y were nyce And cause why / it sholde reported be And tolde to hir / of som of this menie[? MS mence] Of hom it nedith nat / for to declare Syn wommen / can vttir suche chaffare And eek my wyt / suffiseth nat therto To tellyn all / wherfor my tale is do] 3. [MS. Reg. 17 D 15, leaf 106.] [Wepenge waylenge Care & other sorrowe I knowe ynoughe boþe on evene & eke on morowe Quod the Marchaunte And So do other Moo That weddede bene I trowe þat itt bene so For wele I wotte itt Fareþe so by Me I haue A wyfe þe worste þat maye be For þoughe the Fende to her couplede were Sche wolde hym ouermacche I dare well swere Whatt schulde I you reherce inespecialle Her heyghe Malyce Sche is A schrewe atte all There is A longe & a large difference Bitwyxe Grisildes grete pacience And of my wyfe the passenge cruelte Were I vnbounden Allso Motte I thee I wolde neuer effte come in the Snare We weddede Men lyue in sorrowe & care Assaye who woll And he schall ffynde That I saye Sothe by saynte Thomas of ynde As for the more partye I saye notte all God schylde þat itt schall bifalle A gode Sir sayde Oste I haue weddede be These Moneþes two And nomore parde And yette I trowe he þat All his lyue Wyfelese haue bene þoughe þat Men wolde hym ryue Vnto the herte ne couþe in no Manere Tellen So moche sorrowe As I now here Couþe tellen of my vyues Cursydnesse Now quod ower Oste Marchaunte So god your Sowle blesse Synne ye somoche knowen of that Arte Fulle hartelye I praye you telle vs parte Gladely quod he of myne owne Sore For Sorye herte I telle Maye nomore][MS Reg. 17 D 15 extract ends] 4. THE SQUIRE'S HEAD-LINK. [Brit. Mus. Additional MS 5140, on leaf 169, back.] [Squyer come neer / yf it your wil be And sey somwhat of love / for certis ye Konne theron / as moche as any man Nay sir quod he / but suche thing as y can wyth hert y wyll / for y will nat be rebelle Ageyn your lust / a tale y wol you telle Haue me excused / yf y speke amys My wyll is good / and loo my tale is this /] 5. [& Incipit prologus de le ffrankelyn IN feith squyer / ye haue you wel y-quyt And gentylly / y preyse wel your wyt Quod the ffrankelyn / consideryng your youth So felyngly / ye speke / sir y a-lowgh As to my dome / ther is non that is her Of eloquence / that shalbe your peer Yf that ye lyve / god yeve you good chaunce And yn vertue / sende you contynuaunce ffor of your speche / y haue gret deynte I haue sene / and by the Trynyte I hadde levir / than xxli worth londe Thouh it ryht nowe / wer fallen in myn honde He wer a man / of suche discrecion As that ye ben / fy on possession But yf a man / be vertuous wythall / I haue my sone snybbed / and yit shall ffor he to vertue / lustyth nat to entende But for to pleye at Dyse / and spende And lese all that he hath / is his vsage And he had lever / talkyn with a page Than to comon / wyth any gentyl wyht Wher he myht lerne / gentylnesse aryht Strawe for gentylnesse / quod our ost what frankelyn parde / wel thou wost That eche of you / mot tellen at lest A tale or too / or brekyn his behest That know y wel / sir / quod the ffrankelyn I pray you / haueth me nat in disdeyne Thouh to this man / y spak a worde . or too Telle on thy tale / withoutyn wordys moo Gladly sir oost / quod he / y wol obeye Vnto your wyl / nowe herkeneth what y seye I wol you nat contrarye / in no wyse As fer as that my wyttes / wol suffyse I pray to god / that it may plesyn you Than wot y wel / that it is good y-now Explicit Prologus de le ffrankelyn]