The Harleian ms. 7334 of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall. Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400.778 600dpi TIFF G4 page imagesUniversity of Michigan LibraryAnn Arbor, Michigan2006AGZ8246.0001.001828 C5O ser.1 no.73

The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials in furtherance of its educational and research mission. This work has been identified as being in the public domain, free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights. You may copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. If you have questions about the collection, please contact Digital Content and Collections (mec-info@umich.edu). If you have concerns about the inclusion of an item in this collection, please contact Library Information Technology (LibraryIT-info@umich.edu).

Chaucer Society. [Publications] First series, 73Publications (Chaucer Society) ; Ser. 1, [no.] 73The Harleian ms. 7334 of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall. Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400.Furnivall, Frederick James, ed. 1825-1910.xii, 696 p., 2 l. 32 pl. 23 cm. London,Pub. for the Chaucer society by N. Trübner & co.,1885.

Header created with script mrcb2teiutf.xsl on 2006-02-22.

This electronic text file was created by Optical Character Recognition (OCR). No corrections have been made to the OCR-ed text and no editing has been done to the content of the original document. Encoding has been done using the recommendations for Level 1 of the TEI in Libraries Guidelines. Digital page images are linked to the text file.

 eng

THE Harleian MS 7334 OF Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

EDITED BY FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL.

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

TO The Lovers of Chaucer, PAST, PRESENT, AND TO COME.

First Series, LXXIII.

R. Clay and Sons, Bungay, Suffolk,

GROUP A. FRAGMENT I. § 1. GENERAL PROLOGUE. HARLEIAN MS. 7334 (British Museum). WHan that aprille with his schowres swoote The drought of Marche haþ perced to þe roote And bathud euery veyne in swich licour Of which vertue engendred is þe flour whan ȝephirus eek with his swete breeth Enspirud hath in euery holte and heeth The tendre croppes and þe ȝonge sonne hath in the Ram his halfe cours I-ronne And smale fowles maken melodie That slepen al þe night wiþ open yhe So prikeþ hem nature in here corages Thanne longen folk to gon on pilgrimages And palmers for to seeken straunge strondes To ferne halwes kouthe in sondry londes And specially from euery schires ende Of Engelond to Canturbury þey wende The holy blisful martir for to seeke That hem haþ holpen whan þat þey were seeke Byfel þat in þat sesoun on a day In Southwerk at þe Tabbard as I lay Redy to wenden on my pilgrimage To Canturbury with ful deuout/ corage At night was come in to þat hostelrie Wel nyne and twenty in a companye Of sondry folk by auenture I-falle In felaschipe and pilgryms were þei alle That toward Canturbury wolden ryde The Chambres and þe stables weren wyde And wel we weren esud atte beste And schortly whan þe sonne was to reste So hadde I spoken with hem euerychon That I was of here felawschipe anon And made forward erly to a Ryse To take oure weye ther as I ȝow deuyse But natheles whiles I haue tyme and space Or þat I ferþere in þis tale pace Me þinkeþ it acordant to resoun To telle ȝow alle þe condicioun Of eche of hem so as it semed me And which þey weren and of what degre And eek in what array þat þey were Inne And at a knight than wol I first bygynne A Knight þer was and þat a worþy man That from þe tyme þat he ferst bigan To ryden out he louede Chyualrye Trouthe and honour fredom and curtesie Ful worthi was he in his lordes werre And þerto hadde he riden noman ferre As wel in Cristendom as hethenesse And euere honoured for his worþinesse At Alisandre he was whan it was wonne Ful ofte tyme he hadde þe bord bygonne / Abouen alle naciouns in pruce In lettowe hadde Reyced and in Ruce No cristen man so ofte of his degre In Gernade atte siege hadde he be At Algesir and riden in Belmarie At lieys was he and at Satalie At many a noble ariue hadde he be whan þey were wonne and in þe greete see At mortal batailles hadde he ben fiftene And foughten for oure feith at Tramassene In lystes þries and ay slayn his foo This ilke worþi knight hadde ben also Somtyme with þe lord of Palatye Ageyn anoþer hethene in Turkye And eueremore he hadde a souereyn prys And þough he was worþy he was wys And of his port as meke as a mayde he neuer ȝit no vilonye ne sayde In al his lyf vnto no maner wight he was a verray perfiȝt gentil knight But for to telle ȝou of his array his hors was good but he ne was nouȝt gay Of fustyan he wered a Gepoun Al by smoterud with his haburgeoun For he was late comen from his viage And wente for to doon his pilgrimage With him þer was his sone a ȝong squyer A louyer and a lusty bacheler With lokkes crulle as þey were layde in presse Of twenty ȝeer he was of age I gesse Of his stature he was of euene lengthe And wondurly delyuer and gret of strengthe And he hadde ben som tyme in Chiuachie In Flaundres in Artoys and in Picardie And born him wel as in so litel space In hope to stonden in his lady grace / Embrowdid was he as it were a mede / Al ful of fresshe floures white and reede Syngynge he was or flowtynge al þe day he was as fressh as is the moneth of may Schort was his goune with sleeues long and wyde wel cowde he sitte on hors and wel cowde he ryde he cowde songes wel make and endite Iustne and eek daunce and wel purtray and write So hote he louede þat by nightertale he sleep nomore þan doþ a nightyngale Curteys he was lowly and seruysable And carf byforn his fadur at þe table / A ȝeman had he / and seruantes nomoo At þat tyme for him lust ryde soo And he was clad in coote and hood of grene A shef of pocok arwes bright and kene vnder his belte he bar ful þriftily wel cowde he dresse his takel ȝomanly His arwes drowpud nouȝt wiþ fetheres lowe And in his hond he bar a mighty bowe A not heed hadde he wiþ a broun visage Of woode craft cowde he wel al þe vsage vpon his arme he bar a gay bracer And by his side a swerd and a bokeler And on þat oþer side a gay daggere harneysed wel and scharp as poynt of spere A cristofre on his brest of siluer schene An horn he bar þe bawdrik was of grene A forster was he sothely as I gesse Ther was also a Nonne a prioresse That of hire smylyng was ful symple and coy hire grettest ooth nas but by seynt loy And sche was clept/ madame Englentyne Ful wel sche sang þe seruise deuyne Entuned in hire nose ful semyly And frensch sche spak ful faire and fetysly Aftur þe scole of Stratford atte Bowe For frensch of Parys was to hire vnknowe At mete wel I-taught was sche with alle Sche leet no morsel from hire lippes falle Ne wette hire fyngres in hire sauce deepe wel cowde sche carie a morsel and wel keepe That no drope fil vppon hire brest In Curtesie was sett al hire lest hire ouerlippe wypud sche so clene That in hire Cuppe was no ferþing sene Of grees whan sche dronken hadde hire draught Ful semely aftur hir mete sche raught And sikurly sche was of gret disport And ful plesant/ and amyable of port And peyned hire to counterfete cheere Of court and ben estatlich of manere And to ben holden digne of Reuerence But for to speken of hire conscience Sche was so charitable and so pitous Sche wolde weepe if þat sche sawe a Mous Caught in a trappe if it were deed or bledde Of smale houndes hadde sche þat sche fedde With rostud fleissh and mylk and wastel breed But sore wepte sche if oon of hem were deed Or if men smot it wiþ a ȝerde smerte And al was conscience and tendre herte Ful semely hire wymple I-pynched was Hire nose streight hire eyen grey as glas Hire mouth ful smal and þerto softe and reed But sikurly sche hadde a fair forheed It was almost a spanne brood I trowe For hardily sche was not vndurgrowe Ful fetys was hire cloke as I was waar Of smal coral aboute hire arme sche baar A peire of bedes gaudid al with grene And þer on heng a broch of gold ful schene On which was first I-writen a crowned A. And after þat Amor vincit omnia. Anothur Nonne with hire hadde sche That was hire Chapelleyn and prestes þre A Monk þer was a fair for the maistrie An out Rydere þat loved venerye A manly man to ben an abbot able Ful many a deynte hors hadde he in stable And whan he rood men might his bridel heere Gyngle in a whistlyng wynd so cleere And eek as lowde as doþ þe chapel belle Ther as þe lord was keper of þe selle The Reule of seynt maure or of seint Beneyt By cause þat it was old and somdel streyt This ilke monk leet forby hem pace And helde aftur þe newe world þe space he ȝaf nat of þat text a pulled hen That seiþ þat hunters been noon holy men Ne þat a monk whan he is Cloysterles Is likned to a fissche þat is watirles This is to seyn a monk out of his cloystre But þilke text hild he not worþ an oystre / And I seide his opinioun was good what schulde he studie and make himseluen wood Vppon a book in Cloystre alway to powre Or swynke with his handes and laboure As Austyn byt // how schal þe world be serued lat austyn haue his swynk to him reserued Therfore he was a pricasour aright Greyhoundes he hadde as swifte as fowel in flight Of prikyng and of huntyng for þe hare was al his lust for no cost wolde he spare I saugh his sleues purfiled atte hond wiþ grys and that þe fynest of a lond And for to festne his hood vndur his chyn he hadde of gold y-wrought a curious pyn A loue knotte in þe gretter ende þer was His heed was ballid and schon as eny glas And eek his face as he hadde be anoynt he was a lord ful fat and in good poynt his eyen steep and rollyng in his heed That stemed as a forneys of a leed His bootes souple his hors in gret estat Now certeinly he was a fair prelat he was not pale as a for-pyned goost A fat swan loued he best of eny roost His palfray was as broun as eny berye A Frere þer was a wantoun and a merye A lymytour a ful solempne man In alle the ordres foure is noon þat can So moche of daliaunce and fair langage He hadde I-made many a fair mariage Of ȝonge wymmen at his owne cost vnto his ordre he was a noble post Ful wel biloued and famulier was he with Frankeleyns ouer al in his cuntre And eek with worþi wommen of þe toun For he hadde power of confessioun As seyde himself more þan a curat For of his ordre he was licenciat/ Ful sweetly herde he confessioun And plesaunt was his absolucioun He was an esy man to ȝeue penance Ther as he wiste han a good pitance For vnto a poure ordre for to ȝeue Is signe þat a man is wel I-schreue For if he ȝaf he dorste make auaunt He wiste þat a man was repentaunt For many a man so hard is of his herte He may not wepe þough him sore smerte Therfore in stede of wepyng and prayeres Men mooten ȝiuen siluer to þe pore freres His typet was ay farsud ful of knyfes And pynnes for to ȝiue faire wyfes And certayn he hadde a mery noote wel couthe he synge and pleye on a Rote Of ȝeddynges he bar vtturly þe prys his nekke whit was as þe flour delys Ther to he strong was as a Champioun He knew wel þe tauernes in euery toun And euery Ostiller or gay tapstere Bet þan a laȝer or a beggere For vnto such a worþi man as he Acorded not as by his faculte To haue with sike laȝars aqueyntaunce It is not honest it may not avaunce For to delen with such poraile But al with riche and sellers of vitaille And ouer al þer eny profyt schulde arise Curteys he was. and lowe of seruyse Ther was no man no wher so vertuous He was þe beste begger in al his hous . . . . .no gap in the MS. For þough a widewe hadde but oo schoo So plesaunt was his In principio ȝet wolde he haue a ferthing or he wente his purchace was bettur þan his rente And rage he couþe and pleye as a whelpe In loue-dayes ther couthe he mochil helpe For þer was he not like a cloysterer With a thred-bare cope as a pore scoler But he was like a maister or a pope Of double worstede was his semy cope / That rounded was as a belle out of presse Somwhat he lipsede for wantounesse / To make his Englissch swete vpon his tunge And in his harpyng whan þat he hadde sunge His eyȝen twynkeled in his heed aright As don þe sterres in þe frosty night This worthi lymytour was called huberd A Marchaunt was þer wiþ a forked berd In motteleye high on horse he sat vppon his heed a Flaundrisch beuer hat/ His botus clapsud faire and fetously His resons he spak ful solempnely Swownynge alway the encres of his wynnyng He wolde þe see were kepud for eny þing Bitwixe Middulburgh and Orewelle / wel couþe he in eschange scheeldes selle / This worþi man ful wel his witte bisette Ther wiste no man that he was in dette So estately was he of gouernaunce with his bargayns and with his cheuysaunce For sothe he was a worþi man with alle Bot soth to say I not what men him calle / A Clerk þer was of Oxenford also That vnto logik hadde longe I-go Al so lene was his hors as is a rake And he was not right fat I vndertake But lokede holwe and þerto soburly Ful thredbare was his ouerest courtepy For he hadde nouȝt geten hym ȝit a benefice Ne was not worþy to hauen an office For him was leuer haue at his beddes heed Twenty bookes cloþed in blak and reed Of Aristotil and of his philosophie Then Robus Riche or fithul or Sawtrie But al þough he were a philosophre Ȝet hadde he but litul gold in cofre But al þat he might gete and his frendes sende On bookes and his lernyng he it spende And busily gan for þe soules pray Of hem þat ȝaf him wherwith to scolay Of studie tooke he most cure and heede Not oo word spak he more þan was neede Al þat he spak it was of heye prudence And schort and quyk and ful of gret sentence Sownynge in moral manere was his speche / And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche A Sergeant of lawe war and wys That often hadde ben atte paruys Ther was also ful riche of excellence Discret/ he was and of gret Reuerence He semed such his wordes were so wise Iustice he was fuloften in assise By patent and by pleyn comissioun For his science and for his heih renoun Of fees and Robes had he many oon So gret a purchasour was þer no wher noon Al was fee symple to him in effecte his purchasyng might nought ben to hī m suspecte No wher so besy a man as he þer nas / And ȝit he semed besier þan he was In termes hadde caas and domes alle That fro þe tyme þat kyng were falle Ther to he couþe endite and make a þing Ther couþe no man pynche at his writyng And euery statute couthe he pleyn by roote He rood but hoomly in a medled coote Gird with a seynt of silk wiþ barres smale Of his array telle I no lenger tale A Frankeleyn þer was in his companye / whit was his berde as þe dayesye Of his complexioun he was sangwyn wel loued he in þe morn a sop of wyn To lyue in delite was al his wone For he was Epicurius owne sone That heeld opynyoun þat pleyn delyt was verraily felicite perfyt An houshaldere and þat a gret was he Seynt Iulian he was in his countre his breed his ale was alway after oon A bettre envyned man was no wher noon. wiþoute bake mete was neuer his hous Of fleissch and fissch and þat so plentyuous Hit snewed in his hous of mete and drynk Of alle deyntees þat men cowde þynk Aftur þe sondry sesouns of þe ȝeer He chaunged hem at mete and at soper Ful many a fat partrich had he in mewe And many a brem and many a luce in stewe Woo was his Cook but if his sauce were Poynant and scharp and redy al his gere His table dormant in his halle alway· Stood redy couered al þe longe day At sessions þer was he lord and sire Ful ofte tyme he was knight of þe schire An Anlas and a gipser al of silk heng at his gerdul whit as morne mylk A schirreue hadde he ben and a counter was nowher such a worthi vauaser AN haburdassher and a Carpenter A webbe a deyer and a Tapicer weren with vss eeke clothed in oo lyuere Of a solempne and gret fraternite Ful freissh and newe his gere piked was Here knyfes were I-chapud nat with bras But al with siluer wrought ful clene and wel here gurdles and here pouches euery del wel semed eche of hem a fair burgeys To sitten in a ȝeldehalle on þe deys Euery man for þe wisdom þat he can was schaply for to ben an aldurman · For Catel hadde þey Inough and rente / And eek here wyfes wolde it wel assente / And elles certeyn hadde þei ben to blame It is right fair for to be clept Ma Dame And for to go to vigilies al byfore And han a mantel rially I-bore A Cook þei hadde with hem for þe nones To boyle chiknes and þe mary bones And poudre marchaunt / tart and galyngale wel cowde he knowe a drauȝt of londoun ale He cowde roste sethe boille and frie Make mortreux and wel bake a pye But gret harm was it as it semede me That on his schyne a mormal hadde he For blankmanger he made with þe beste A Schipman was þer wonyng fer by weste For ought I woot he was of Dertemouthe He rood vpon a rouncy as he couþe In a gowne of faldyng to þe kne A dagger hangyng on a laas hadde he Aboute his nekke vnder his arm a doun The hoote somer had maad his hew al broun And certeinly he was a good felawe Ful many a draught of wyn had he drawe From Burdeuxward, whil þat þe chapman sleep Of nyce conscience took he no keep If þat he foughte and hadde þe heiȝer hand By water he sente hem hoom to euery land But of his craft to rikne wel þe tydes his stremes and his dangers him bisides His herbergh and his mone his lodemenage Ther was non such from hulle to Cartage Hardy he was and wys to vndertake with many a tempest hath his berd ben schake He knew wel alle þe hauenes as þei were From Scotlond to the cape of fynestere And euery Cryk in Bretayne and in Spayne His Barge y-clepud was the Magdelayne Ther was also a Doctour of phisik In al þis world ne was þer non him lyk To speke of phisik and of Surgerye For he was groundud in astronomye he kepte his pacient wondurly wel In houres by his magik naturel wel cowde he fortune the ascendent Of his ymages for his pacient He knew þe cause of euery maladye were it of cold or hete or moyst or drye And where þei engendrid and of what humour he was a verrey parfight practisour The cause I-knowe and of his harm þe roote Anon he ȝaf þe syke man his boote Ful redy hadde he his apotecaries To sende him dragges and his letuaries For eche of hem made oþur to wynne Here frendschipe nas not newe to begynne wel knew he þe olde Esculapius And deiscorides. and eeke Rusus Old ypocras. haly and Galien Serapyon. Razis and Auycen Auerrois damascen and Constantyn Bernad and Gatisden and Gilbertyn Of his diete mesurable was he For it was of no superfluite But of gret norisching and digestible His studie was but litel on þe bible In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al Lyned with taffata and with Sendal And ȝit he was but esy in dispence He kepte þat he wan in pestilence For gold in phisik is a cordial Ther fore he louede gold in special A Good wif was þer of byside bathe But sche was somdel deef and þat was skaþe Of cloth makyng sche hadde such an haunt Sche passed hem of ypris and of Gaunt In al þe parisshe wyf ne was ther noon That to þe offryng byforn hire schulde goon And if þer dide certeyn so wroth was sche That sche was þanne out of alle charite hire keuerchefs weren ful fyne of grounde I durste swere þey weyȝede ten pounde That on a sonday were vpon hire heed hire hosen were of fyn scarlett reed Ful streyte y-teyed and schoos ful moyste and newe Bold was hir face and fair and reed of heewe Sche was a worþy womman al hire lyfe Housbondes atte chirche dore hadde sche fyfe withouten oþur companye in ȝouthe But therof needeth nouȝt to speke as nouthe And þries hadde sche ben at Ierusalem Sche hadde passud many a straunge streem At Rome sche hadde ben and at Boloyne In Galice at seynt Iame and at Coloyne Sche cowde moche of wandryng by þe weye Gattothud was sche soþly for to seye vppon an amblere esely sche sat wymplid ful wel and on hire heed an hat As brood as is a bocler or a Targe A foot mantel aboute hire hupes large And on hire feet a paire of spores scharpe In felawschipe wel cowde lawghe and carpe Of Remedyes of loue sche knew par chaunce For of þat art sche knew þe olde daunce A Good man was ther of Religioun And was a pore persoun of a toun But riche he was of holy þought and werk He was also a lerned man a Clerk That cristes gospel gladly wolde preche His parischens deuoutly wold he teche Benigne he was and wondur diligent And in aduersite ful pacient And such he was I-proued ofte sithes Ful loth were him to curse for his tythes But raþer wolde he ȝeuen out of dowte vnto his pore parisschens aboute Of his offrynge and eek of his substaunce he cowde in litel þing han suffisance wyd was his parisch and houses fer asondur But he ne lafte not for reyn ne þondur In siknesse ne in meschief to visite The ferrest in his parissche moche and lite Vppon his feet and in his hond a staf This noble ensample vnto his scheep he ȝaf That ferst he wroughte and after þat he taughte Out of þe gospel he þo wordes caughte / And þis figure he addid ȝit þerto That if gold ruste what schulde yren doo? For if a prest be foul on whom we truste No wondur is a lewid man to ruste; And schame it is if a prest take kepe A schiten schepperd and a clene schepe wel oughte a prest ensample for to ȝiue By his clennesse how þat his scheep schulde lyue he sette not his benefice to huyre And lefte his scheep encombred in þe myre And ran to londoun vnto seynte poules To seeken him a chaunterie for soules Or with a brethurhede be wiþ-holde But dwelte at hoom and kepte wel his folde / So þat þe wolf ne made it not myscarye He was a schepparde and no mercenarie And þough he holy were and vertuous he was to senful man nought dispitous Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne But in his teching discret and benigne To drawe folk to heuen by clennesse By good ensample was his busynesse But it were eny parsone obstinat what so he were of high or lowe estat him wolde he snybbe scharply for þe nones A bettre preest I trowe ther nowher non is he waytud after no pompe ne reuerence Ne maked him a spiced conscience / But cristes lore and his apostles twelue he taught. and ferst he folwed it himselue With hem þer was a plough man his broþur That hadde I-lad of dong ful many a foþur A trewe swynker and a good was hee Lyuynge in pees and parfiȝt charitee God loued he best al his trewe herte At alle tymes þough him gamed or smerte And þanne his neighebour right as himselue He wolde threisshe and þerto dyke and delue For cristes sake with euery pore wight wiþouten huyre if it laye in his might His tythes payede he ful faire and wel Bathe of his owne swynk and his catel In a tabbard Rood vpon a mere Ther was also a Reeue and a mellere A sompnour and a pardoner also A maunciple and my self þer was no mo THe mellere was a stout carl for þe nones Full big he was of braun and eek of boones / That preuede wel for ouer al þer he cam At wrastlynge he wolde bere awey þe Ram He was schort schuldred broode a þikke knarre Ther was no dore þat he nolde heue of harre Or breke it with a rennyng with his heed his berd as ony sowe or fox was reed And þerto brood as þough it were a spade vpon þe cop right of his nose he hade A werte and þer on stood a tuft of heres Reede as þe berstles of a souwes eeres his nose-þurles blake were and wyde A swerd and a bocler baar he by his side His mouth as wyde was as a gret forneys he was a Iangler and a golyardeys And þat was most of synne and harlotries wel cowde he stele corn and tollen þries And ȝet he hadde a þombe of golde parde A whiȝt cote and blewe hood wered he A bagge pipe. cowde he blowe and sowne And þerwiþ al he brought vs out of towne A Gentil maunciple was ther of a temple Of which achatours mighten take exemple For to be wys in beyyng of vitaille For wheþur þat he payde or took by taille Algate he wayted so in his acate That he was ay biforn and in good state Now is not þat of god a ful fair grace That such a lewed mannes wit schal pace The wisdom of an heep of lernede men Of maystres hadde moo þan þries ten That were of lawe expert and curious Of which þer were a doseyn in an hous worthi to be stiwardȝ of Rente and lond Of any lord þat is in Engelond To make him lyue by his propre good In honour detteles but if he were wood Of lyue as scarsly as he can desire And able for to helpen al a schire In any caas þat mighte falle or happe And ȝit this maunciple sette here aller cappe The Reeue was a sklendre colerik man his berd was schaue as neigh as euer he can his heer was by his Eres neigh I-schorn his top was dockud lyk a preest biforn Ful longe wern his leggus and ful lene Al like a staff ther was no calf y-sene wel cowde he kepe a gerner and a bynne Ther was non auditour cowde on him wynne wel wiste he by the drought and by þe Reyn The ȝeeldyng of his seed and of his greyn his lordes scheep his neet his dayerie his swyn his hors his stoor and his pultrie was holly in this Reeues gouernynge And by his couenaunt ȝaf þe Rekenynge Syn þat his lord was .xx..ti ȝeer of age Ther couthe noman bringe him in arrerage Ther nas baillif ne herde ne oþer hyne That þey ne knewe his sleight and his couyne They were adrad of him as of þe deth his wonyng was ful fair vpon an heth wiþ grene trees I-schadewed was his place he cowde bettre þan his lord purchace Ful riche he was I-stored priuely His lord wel couthe he plese subtilly To ȝeue him and lene him of his owne good And haue a þank a cote and eek an hood In ȝouþe he lerned hadde a good mester he was a wel good wright a carpenter This Reeue sat vpon a wel good stot That was a pomely gray and highte Scot A long surcote of blew vppon he hadde And by his side he bar a Rusty bladde Of Northfolk was þis Reeue of which I telle Byside a toun men callen Baldeswelle Tukkud he was as is a frere aboute And euer he rood the hynderest of þe route A Sompnour was þer with vs in þat place That hadde a fyr-reed Cherubyns face For sawceflem he was with eyȝen narwe As hoot he was and leccherous as a sparwe Wiþ skalled browes blak and piled berd Of his visage children weren aferd Ther nas quyk siluer litarge ne bremston Boras Ceruce ne oille of Tartre noon Ne oynement þat wolde clense and byte That him might helpen of his whelkes white Ne of þe knobbes sittyng on his cheekes wel loued he garleek oynouns and ek leekes And for to drinke strong wyn reed as blood Thanne wolde he speke and crye as he were wood And whan that he wel dronken hadde þe wyn Than wolde he speke no word but latyn A fewe termes hadde he tuo or þre That he hadde lerned out of som decree No wondur is he herde it al þe day And eek ȝe knowe wel how þat a Iay Can clepe watte as wel as can þe pope But who-so wolde in oþur þing him grope Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophie Ay questio quid Iuris wolde he crye He was a gentil harlot and a kynde A bettre felaw schulde men nowher fynde He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn A good felawe han his concubyn A .xij. moneth. and excuse him atte fulle And pryuely a Fynch eek cowde he pulle And if he fond owher a good felawe he wolde teche him for to haue non awe In such a caas of þe archedeknes curs But if a mannes soule were in his purs For in his purs he scholde punyssched be Purs is the Ercedeknes helle quod he But wel I woot he lyeth right in dede Of cursyng oweth ech gulty man to drede For curs wol slee. right as assoillyng saueth And also ware him of a Significauit In daunger he hadde at his owne assise The ȝonge gurles of the Diocise And knew here counseil and was al here red A garland had he set vpon his heed As gret as it were for an ale stake A bokeler had he maad him of a cake With him þer rood a gentil Pardoner Of Rounciual his frend and his comper That streyt was comen from þe court of Rome Ful lowde he sang com hider loue tome The sompnour bar to him a stif burdoun was neuere trompe of half so gret a soun This pardoner hadde heer as ȝelwe as wex But smothe it heng. as doth a strike of Flex By vnces hynge his lokkes þat he hadde And þerwith he his schuldres ouerspradde Ful thenne it lay by culpons on and oon And hood for Iolitee ne wered he noon For it was trussud vp in his walet Him þought he rood al of þe newe get Discheuele sauf his cappe he rood al bare Suche glaryng eyȝen hadde he as an hare A vernicle hadde he sowed on his cappe His walet lay byforn him in his lappe Bret ful of pardoun come from Rome al hoot A voys he hadde as smal as eny goot No berd ne hadde he ne neuer scholde haue As smothe it was as it ware late I-schaue / I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare But of his craft fro Berwyk vnto ware Ne was þer such another pardoner For in his male he hadde a pilwebeer which þat he saide was oure lady veyl he seide he hadde a gobet of þe seyl That seynt Petur hadde whan he wente Vppon þe see til ihū crist him hente he hadde a cros of latoun ful of stones And in a glas he hadde pigges bones But with þise reliqes whanne þat he fand A pore parsoun dwellyng vppon land vpon a day he gat him more moneye Than þat þe parsoun gat in monthes tweye And þus with feyned flaterie and Iapes he made þe parsoun and þe poeple his apes But trewely to tellen atte laste He was in churche a noble ecclesiaste wel cowde he rede a lessoun or a storye But altherbest he sang an offertorie For wel[later wyst at side] he whan þat song was songe he moste preche and wel affyle his tunge To wynne siluer as he right wel cowde Therefore he sang ful meriely and lowde NOw haue I told ȝou schortly in a clause Thestat þarray þe nombre and eek þe cause why þat assembled was þis companye In Southwerk at þis gentil Ostelrie That highte þe Tabbard faste by þe belle But now is tyme to ȝow for to telle how þat we bare vs in þat ilke night whan we were in that Ostelrie alight And aftur wol I telle of oure viage And al þe remenaunt of oure pilgrimage But ferst I pray ȝou of ȝour curtesie That ȝe ne rette it nat my vilanye Though þat I speke al pleyn in þis matere And telle ȝou here wordes and here cheere Ne though I speke here wordes propurly For þis ȝe knowen also wel as I who-so schal telle a tale aftur a man He moste reherce as neigh as euer he can Euery word if it be in his charge Al speke he neuer so Rudely ne large Or elles he moot telle his tale vntrewe Or feyne þing or fynde his wordes newe He may not spare þough he were his broþur He moste as wel sey oo word as anoþur Crist spak himself ful broode in holy writ And wel ȝe woot no vilanye is it Eke Plato seith who-so þat can him rede The wordes mot be cosyn to þe dede Also I pray ȝou to forȝeue it me Al haue I folk nat set in here degre Here in þis tale as þat þei schulde stonde My witt is thynne. ȝe may wel vndurstonde GReet cheere made oure ost vs euerichon And to þe souper sette he vs anon He serued vs with vitaille atte beste Strong was þe wyn and wel to drynke vs leste A semely man oure Ooste was wiþ alle For to han been a Marchal in an halle A large man was he with eyȝen stepe A fairere burgeys is þer noon in chepe Bold of his speche and wys and wel I-taught And of manhede lakkede he right naught Eke þerto he was right a mery man And after soper playen he bygan And spak of myrthe. among oþur þinges whan þat we hadde maad our rekenynges And sayde þus. Lo lordynges trewely Ȝe ben to me right welcome hertily For by my trouthe if þat I schal not lye I ne saugh þis ȝeer so mery a companye At oones in this herbergh as is now Fayn wold I do ȝow merthe wiste I how And of a merthe I am right now bythought To doon ȝou eese and it schal coste nought Ȝe goon to Caunturbury god ȝou speede The blisful martir quyte ȝou ȝoure meede And wel I woot/ as ȝe gon by þe weye Ȝe schapen ȝow to talken and to pleye For trewely comfort ne merthe is noon To Ryde by þe weye domb as a stoon And þerfore wol I make ȝou disport / As I seyde erst and do ȝou som confort And if ȝow liketh alle by oon assent Now for to standen at my Iuggement And for to werken as I schal ȝou seye To morwe whan ȝe riden by þe weye Now by my fadres soule þat is deed But ȝe be merye smyteþ of myn heed hold vp ȝoure hond with-oute more speche Oure counseil was not longe for to seche vs þoughte it nas nat worþ to make it wys And graunted him wiþoute more avys And bad him seie his verdite as him leste LOrdynges quoþ he now herkeneþ for þe beste But taketh not I pray ȝou in disdayn This is þe poynt to speken schort and playn That ech of ȝow to schorte with ȝoure weie / In þis viage schal telle tales tweye To Caunturburiward I mene it so And homward he schal tellen oþur tuo Of auentures þat þer han bifalle And which of ȝow þat bereþ him best of alle That is to seye þat telleþ in þis caas Tales of best sentence and of solas Schal han a soper at ȝour alþer cost Here in þis place sittynge by þis post whan þat we comen ageyn from Canturbery And for to make ȝou þe more mery I wol my seluen gladly with ȝou ryde Right at myn owen cost and be ȝoure gyde And who-so wole my Iuggement withseie Schal paye for al we spenden by þe weye And if ȝe vouche sauf þat it be so Telle me anoon wiþouten wordes moo And I wole erely schappe me þerfore This þing was graunted and oure othus swore with ful glad herte and prayden him also That he would vouche sauf for to doon so And þat he wolde ben oure gouernour And of our tales Iugge and reportour And sette a souper at a certeyn prys And we wolde rewled be at his deuys In heygh and lowe. and þus by oon assent We been acorded to his Iuggement And þer-vpon þe wyn was fet anoon we dronken and to reste wente echoon. wiþouten eny lengere taryinge A morwe whan þat þe day bigan to sprynge vp roos oure Ost and was oure althur cok And gaderud vs to-gidur alle in a flok And forth we riden a litel more þan paas vnto þe waterynge of seint Thomas And þere oure Ost bigan his hors areste And seyde lordus herkeneþ if ȝow leste Ȝe woot ȝoure forward and I it ȝou recorde If euesong and morwesong acorde Lat se now who schal telle ferst a tale As euere I moote drinke wyn or ale who-so be rebel to my Iuggement Schal paye for al þat by the weye is spent Now draweth Cut/ er þat we forther twynne which þat hath þe schortest schal bygynne Sire knight quoþ he maister and my lord Now draweth Cut. for þat is myn acord Cometh ner quod he my lady prioresse And ȝe sir Clerk lat be ȝour schamfastnesse Ne studieth nat ley hand to euery man Anon to drawen euery wight bigan And schortly for to tellen as it was were it by auenture or sort or cas The soth is þis the Cut fil to the knight Of which ful glad and bliþe was euery wight And telle he moste his tale as was resoun By forward and by composicioun As ȝe han herd what needeþ wordes moo And whan þis goode man seigh þat it was so As he that wys was and obedient To kepe his forward by his fre assent He seyde syn I schal bygynne the game what welcome be þou cut. a goddus name Now lat vs ryde and herkneþ what I seye And with þat word we riden forþ oure weye And he bigan with right a merie chere; His tale. and seide right in þis manere.[break of one line in the MS.] WHilom as olde stories tellen vson leaf12 Ther was a Duk þat highte Theseus Of Athenes he was. lord and gouernour And in his tyme swich a conquerour That gretter was ther non vnder þe sonne Ful many a Riche Contre hadde he wonne That with his wisdam and his chiualrie He conquered al the regne of Femynye That whilom was I-cleped Cithea And weddede the queen Ipolita And brought hire hoom with him in his Contre with moche glorie and gret solempnite And eek hire ȝonge suster Emelye And þus with victorie and with melodye Lete I þis noble duk to Athenes ryde / And al his Ost in armes him biside At certes if it nere to long to heere I wolde han told ȝow fully þe manere How wonnen was the regne of Femenye By Theseus and by his Chiualrye And of þe grete bataille for þe nones By-twix athenes. and amazones And how asegid was ypolita The faire hardy Quyen of Cithea And of þe feste that was at hire weddynge And of þe tempest at hire hoom comynge But al þat þing I most as now forbere I haue god wot a large feeld to Ere And wayke ben þe Oxen in my plough The remenaunt of the tale is long I-nough I wol not lette eek. non of al þis rowte lat euery felawe telle his tale aboute And lat see now who schal þe soper wynne And ther I lafte I wolde agayn begynne[break of one line in the MS.] This Duk of whom I make mencioun whan he was comen almost vnto þe toun In al his wele and in his moste pryde he was war as he cast his eyȝe aside wher þat ther kneled in þe hye weye A companye of ladies tweye and tweye Ech after other clad in cloþes blake But such a cry and such a woo þey make That in þis world nys creature lyuynge Ther herde such anoþer weymentynge And of þat cry ne wolde þey neuer stenten Til þey þe Reynes of his bridel henten what folk be ȝe þat at myn hom comynge Partourben so my feste with cryenge Quod Theseus. haue ȝe so gret enuye Of myn honour þat þus compleyne and crie Or who hath ȝow mysboden or offendid And telleþ me if it may ben amendid. And why þat ȝe ben clad þus al in blak The oldest lady of hem alle spak whan sche had swowned with a dedly chere That it was routhe for to seen or heere And seyde lord to whom fortune haþ ȝeuen victorie and as a conquerour to luyen Nought greueth vs ȝoure glorie and honour But we beseken mercy and socour Haue mercy on oure woo and oure distresse Som drope of pitee thurgh ȝoure gentilnesse Vppon vs wrecchede wommen lat þou falle For certus lord. ther nys noon of vs alle That sche nath ben a duchesse or a queene Now be we Caytifs as it is wel seene Thanked be fortune. and hire false wheel That noon estat assureth to ben weel And certus lord to abiden ȝoure presence [a later 'here' in margin]Ther in þe temple of þe goddesse Clemence we han ben waytynge al þis fourtenight Now helpe vs lord syn it is in þy might I wrecche which þat wepe and waylle þus was whilom wyf to kyng Capaneus That starf at Thebes. cursed be þat day And alle we þat ben in þis array And maken alle þis lamentacioun we leften alle oure housbondes at þe toun whil þat þe sege. þer aboute lay And ȝet þe olde Creon welaway That lord is now of thebes þe citee Fulfilde of Ire and of Iniquite He for despyt and for his Tyrannye To do þe deede bodyes vilonye Of alle oure lordes which þat ben I-slawe Haþ alle þe bodies on an heep y-drawe And wol not suffren hem by noon assent Nother to ben y-buried nor I-brent But makeþ houndes ete hem in despite And with þat word withoute more respite They fillen gruf and criden pitously haue on vs wrecched wommen som mercy And lat oure sorwe synken in thyn herte This gentil duke doun from his courser sterte/ with herte pitous whan he herde hem speke him þoughte þat his herte wolde breke whan he seyh hem so pitous and so maat That whilom weren of so gret estat And in his armes he hem alle vp hente And hem conforteþ in ful good entente And swor his oth as he was trewe knight he wolde do so ferforþly his might vpon þe tyraunt Creon hem to wreke That al þe poeple of grece scholde speke how Creon was of Theseus y-serued As he þat haþ his deth right wel deserued And right anoon wiþoute eny abood his baner he desplayeþ and forþ rood To Thebes-ward. and al his oost bysyde No ner athenes wolde he go ne ryde Ne take his eese fully half a day But onward on his way þat nyght he lay And sente anoon ypolita þe queene And Emelye hir ȝonge suster schene vnto the toun of athenes to dwelle And forth he ryt þer is no more to telle The reede statue of mars with spere and targe So schyneþ in his white baner large That alle þe feeldes gliteren vp and doun And by his baner was born his pynoun Of gold ful riche in which þer was I-bete The Minatour which þat he slough in Crete Thus ryt þis Duk þus ryt þis Conquerour And in his oost of Cheualrie þe flour Til þat he cam to Thebes and alighte Faire in a feeld wher as he þoughte to fighte / But schortly for to speken of þis þing with Creon which þat was of Thebes kyng He faught and slough him manly as a knight / In pleyn bataille and putte his folk to flight/ And by assaut he wan þe Cite aftur And rente doun boþe wal and sparre and raftur And to þe ladies he restored agayn The bones of here housbondes þat were slayn To do exequies as was þo þe gyse But it were al to long for to deuyse The grete clamour and þe waymentynge which þat þe ladies made at þe brennynge Of þe bodyes and þe grete honour That Theseus the noble conquerour Doth to þe ladyes whan þey from him wente But schortly for to telle is myn entente whan þat þis worthy Duk þis Theseus hath Creon slayn and Thebes wonne þus Stille in þe feelde he took al night his reste And dide with al þe contre as him leste TO Ransake in þe cas of bodyes dede hem for to streepe of herneys and of wede / The pilours diden businesse and cure After þe bataile and discomfiture And so byfil þat in þe cas þei founde Thurgh girt with many a greuous blody wounde Two ȝonge knighte liggyng by and by Boþe in oon armes clad ful richely Of whiche two Arcite hight þat oon And þat oþur knight hight Palamon Nat fully quyk ne fully deed þey were But by here coote armure and by here gere Heraudes knewe hem wel in special As þey þat weren of the blood real Of Thebes and of Sistren tuo I-born Out of þe chaas þe pilours han hem torn And han hem caried softe vnto þe tente / Of Theseus and ful sone he hem sente Tathenes for to dwellen in prisoun Perpetuelly he wolde no Raunceoun And þis Duk whan he hadde þus I-doon he took his host and hom he ryt anoon with laurer crowned as a conquerour And þere he lyueþ in Ioye and in honour Terme of his lyf what wolle ȝe wordes moo And in a tour in angwische and in woo · This Palamon and his felawe arcite For euermo þer may no gold hem quyte This passeþ ȝeer by ȝeer and day by day Til it fel oones in a morwe of may That Emelie þat fairer was to seene Than is þe lilie on hire stalkes grene And fresscher þan the may with floures newe For with þe rose colour strof hire hewe I not which was þe fyner of hem two Er it was day as sche was wont to do Sche was arisen and al redy dight For may wole haue no sloggardye anyght The sesoun prikeþ euery gentil herte And makeþ him · out of his sleepe sterte And seith arys and do þin obseruance This maked Emelye han remembrance To do honour to May and for to ryse I-cloþed was sche fressh for to deuyse hire ȝolwe heer was browdid in a tresse Byhynde hire bak aȝerde long I gesse And in the gardyn at þe sonne vpriste Sche walkeþ vp and doun wher as hire liste Sche gadereþ floures party whyte and reede To make a certeyn gerland for hire heede And as an aungel heuenly sche song The grete tour þat was so þikke and strong which of þe castel was the cheef dongeoun Ther as þis knightes weren in prisoun Of which I tolde ȝow and telle schal was euene Ioynyng to þe gardeyn wal Ther as þis Emely hadde hire pleyynge Bright was þe sonne and cleer þat morwenynge And Palamon þis woful prisoner As was his wone by leue of his gayler was risen and romed in a Chambre on heigh In which he al þe noble cite seigh And eek þe gardeyn ful of braunches grene Ther as þe fresshe Emelye þe scheene was in hire walk/ and romed vp and doun This sorweful prisoner þis Palamon Gooth in þe chambre romyng to and fro And to himself compleynyng of his woo That he was born / ful ofte he seyd alas And so byfel by auenture or cas That þurgh a wyndow þikke and many a barre Of Iren greet and squar as eny sparre he cast his eyen vpon Emelya And þer with al he bleynte and cryed .A. As þat he stongen were vnto þe herte And with þat crye arcite anon vp sterte And seyde cosyn myn what eyleþ þe That art so pale and deedly for to see / why crydestow who haþ þe doon offence For goddes loue tak al in pacience Oure prisoun for it may non oþir be Fortune haþ ȝeuen vs þis aduersite Som wikke aspect / or disposicioun Of Saturne by sum constellacioun Hath ȝeuen vs þis alþough we hadde it sworn So stood þe heuen whan þat we were born we moste endure it þis is þe schort and pleyn This Palamon answered and seyde ageyn Cosyn for sothe of þis opynyoun Thou hast a veyn ymaginacioun This prisoun caused me not for to crye But I was hurt right now þurgh myn yhe Into myn herte þat wol my bane be The fairnesse of þe lady þat I see Ȝonde in þe gardyn rome to and fro Is cause of my cryyng and my wo I not wheþur sche be womman or goddesse / But Venus is it/ sothly as I gesse And þer with al on knees a doun he fil And seyde venus if it be ȝoure wil Ȝow in þis gardyn þus to transfigure Biforn me sorwful wrecched creature Out of þis prisoun help þat we may scape And if so be oure destyne be schape By eterne word to deyen in prisoun Of oure lynage haueth sum compassioun That is so lowe y-brought by Tyrannye And with þat word Arcite gan espye wher as this lady romed to and fro And with þat sight/ hire beaute hurt him so That if þat Palamon was wounded sore Arcite is hurt as moche as he or more And with a sigh. he seyde pitously The freissche beaute sleeth me sodeynly Of hir that rometh ȝonder in þe place And but I haue hir mercy and hir grace That I may see hir atte leste weye I nam but deed / ther nys no more to seye This Palamon whan he tho wordes herde Dispitously he loked and answerde whether seistow in ernest or in pley Nay quoþ Arcite in ernest in good fey God helpe me so me lust ful euele pleye This Palamon gan knytte his browes tweye Hit nere quod he to the no gret honour For to be fals ne for to be traytour To me that am thy cosyn and thy broþer I-swore ful deepe and ech of vs to oþer That neuer for to deyen in þe payne Til þat deeth departe schal vs twayne Neyþer of vs in lande to hynder other Ne in non other cas / my leeue broþer But þou schuldest trewly forþer me In euery caas and I schal forþer þe / This was þyn othe / and myn eek certayn I wot right wel þou darst/ it nat wiþsayn Thus art þou of my counseil out of doute And now thou woldest falsly ben aboute To loue my lady whom I loue and serue And euere schal vnto myn herte sterue Now certes fals arcite þou schal not so I loued hir first / and tolde the my woo As to my counseil / and to broþer sworn To forthere me as I haue told biforn For which thou art I-bounden as a knight To helpe me/ if it lay in þi might/ Or elles art þou fals I dar wel sayn This Arcite ful proudly spak agayn Thou schalt quoþ he be rather fals þan I But þou art fals / I telle þe vttirly For paramour I loued hir first þen þow what wolt þou sayn thou wost it not ȝit now wheþer sche be a womman or goddesse Thyn is affeccioun of holynesse And myn is loue as of a creature For which I tolde þe myn aduenture As to my cosyn / and my broþer sworn I pose þat þou louedest hire biforn wost þou nat wel the olde clerkes saw That who schal ȝeue a louer eny lawe loue is a grettere lawe by my pan Then may be ȝeue / to eny erþly man Therfore posityf lawe and such decre Is broke alway for love in ech degree A man moot needes loue maugre his heed he may nought fle it þough he schulde be deed Al be sche mayde or be sche widewe or wyf And þat is nat likly al þy lyf To stonden in hire grace no more schal I For wel þou wost þy seluen verrily That þou and I been dampned to prisoun Perpetuelly vs gayneth no Raunsoun We stryue as doth the houndes for the boon They foughte alday and ȝit here part was noon Ther com a kyte whil þat þey were wroþe That bar awey the boon bitwixe hem boþe And þerfore at the kynges court my broþer Eche man for himself þer is non other Loue if the list for I loue and ay schal And sothly leeue brother þis is al Eke in þis prisoun moote we endure And euery of vs take his auenture Gret was the stryf and long bytwixe hem tweye Ȝif þat I hadde leysir for to seye But to the effect it happed on a day To telle it ȝow as schortly as I may A worþy Duk þat highte Perotheus That felaw was to þe duk Theseus Syn þilke day þat þey were children lyte Was come to Athenes his felawe to visite And for to pley as he was wont to do For in þis world he loued noman so And he loued him as tendurly agayn So wel þey loued as olde bookes sayn That whan oon / was deed soþly to telle his felawe wente and sought him doun in helle But of þat story lyst me nought to write Duk Perotheus loued wel Arcite/ And hadde him knowe at Thebes ȝeer by ȝeer And fynally at requeste and prayer Of Perotheus withoute any raunsoun Duk Theseus him leet out of prisoun Frely to go wher him lust ouer al In such a gyse as I ȝou telle schal This was the forward playnly to endite Bitwixe Theseus and him Arcite That if so were þat Arcite were founde Euere in his lyf by daye night or stounde In eny contre of þis Theseus And he were caught it was acorded thus That with a swerd he scholde lese his heed Ther nas noon oþer remedy ne reed But took his leeue and homward he him spedde Lete him be war his nekke liþ to wedde HOw gret a sorwe suffreþ now Arcite The deþ he feleþ þorugh his herte smyte He weepeth weyleth cryeth pitously To slen himself he wayteþ pryuyly he seyde allas þe day þat I was born Now is my prisoun werse þan was biforn Now is me schape eternally to dwelle Nought in purgatorie but in helle Allas þat euer knewe I Perotheus For elles had I dweld with Theseus I-fetered in his prisoun for euere moo Than had I ben in blis and nat in woo Oonly þe sight of hir whom þat I serue Þough þat I hir grace may nat deserue wold han sufficed right ynough for me O dere Cosyn Palamon quod he Þyn is þe victoire of þis auenture Ful blisfully in prisoun to endure In prisoun nay certes but in paradys wel hath fortune y-torned þe dys That haþ þe sight of hir and I the absence For possible is / syn þou hast hir presence And art a knight a worþi and an able But by som cas syn fortune is chaungable Thou maist to þy desir somtyme atteyne But I that am exiled and bareyne Of alle grace / and in so gret despeir That þer nys water erthe fyr ne eyr Ne creature that of hem maked is That may me helpe ne comfort in þis wel ought I sterue in wanhope and distresse Far wel my lyf and al my Iolynesse Allas why playnen folk so in comune Of purueance of god or of fortune That ȝeueth him ful ofte in many a gyse wel better þan þei can hemself deuyse SOm man desireþ for to haue richesse That cause is of his morthre/ or gret seeknesse And som man wolde out of his prisoun fayn That in his hous is of his mayne slayn Infinite harmes ben in þis mateere we wote neuere what þing we preyen heere we faren as he þat dronke is as a mows A dronke man wot wel he haþ an hous But he not nat which þe righte wey is þider And to a dronke man þe wey is slider And certes in þis world so faren we we seeken faste after felicite But we gon wrong ful ofte trewely Thus may we seyen alle and namely I That wende haue had a gret opinioun That ȝif I mighte skape fro prisoun Than had I be in ioye and parfyt hele Ther now I am exiled fro my wele / Syn þat I may not se ȝow Emelye I nam but deed ther nys no remedye Vppon þat oþer syde Palomon whan he wiste þat arcite was agoon Such sorwe makeþ þat þe grete tour Resowneth of his grete ȝollyng and clamour The pure feteres of his schynes grete weren of his bitter salte teres wete Allas quod he arcita cosyn myn Of al oure strif god woot þe fruyt is þin Thow walkest now in Thebes at þi large/ And of my woo þou ȝeuest litel charge/ Thou maiste seen þou hast wysdom and manhede Assemble al þe folk of oure kynrede And make a werre so scharpe in þis Cite That by som auenture or by som trete Þou mayst/ hire wynne to lady and to wyf For whom þat I most nedes leese my lyf For as by wey of possibilite Syn þou art at þi large of prisoun free And art a lord gret is þin auantage More þan is myn þat sterue here in a kage For I moot weepe and weyle whil I lyue with al þe woo þat prisoun may me ȝyue And eek with peyne þat loue me ȝeueþ also And doubleþ al my peyne and al my wo Ther with þe fuyr of Ielousye vpsterte wiþinne his brest and hent him by þe herte So wodly / þat lik was he to by-holde The box tree or þe asschen deed and colde Tho seyde he O goddes cruel þat gouerne This world with byndyng & wiþ word eterne And writen in þe table of Athamaunte Ȝoure parlement and ȝoure eterne graunte what is mankynde more to ȝow holde Than is a scheep þat roukeþ in þe folde For slayn is man right as anoþer beste And dwelleþ eek in prisoun and arreste And haþ seknesse and greet aduersite And ofte tymes gilteles parde what gouernaunce is in ȝoure prescience That gilteles tormenteþ Innocence And ȝet encreceþ this al my penaunce That man is bounden to his obseruaunce For goddes sake to letten of his wille Ther as a beste may al his lust fulfille And whan a beste is deed he ne haþ no peyne But man after his deth moot wepe and pleyne þough in þis world he haue care and woo wiþouten doute it may stonde so The answer of þis I lete to diuinis But wel I woot þat in þis world gret pyne is Allas I se a serpent or a þeef That many a trewe man haþ doon mescheef Gon at his large and wher him lust/ may turne But I moste be in prisoun þurgh saturne And eek þorugh Iuno Ialous and eke wood That haþ destruyed wel neyh al þe blood Of Thebes wiþ his waste walles wyde / And venus sleeþ me on þat oþer syde / For Ielousye and fere of him Arcyte NOw wol I stynte of Palamon a lite And lete him stille in his prisoun dwelle And of arcita for þan wol I telle The somer passeþ and þe nightes longe Encrescen double wise the peynes stronge Bothe of þe lover and þe prisoner I noot which hath þe wofullere cheer For schortly for to sey þis Palomon Perpetuelly is dampned in prisoun In cheynes and in feteres to be deed And Arcite is exiled vpon his heed For eueremo as out of þat contre Ne neuere mo schal he his lady see Now louyeres / axe I þis question who haþ þe worse Arcite or Palomon. That on may se his lady day by day But in prisoun he moot dwelle alway That oþer may wher him lust ryde or go But seen his lady schal he neuer mo Now deemeth as ȝou luste ȝe þat can For I wol telle forþ as I bigan Whan þat arcite to Thebes come was Ful ofte a day he swelde and seyde alas For seen his lady schal he neuer mo And schortly to concluden al his wo So moche sorwe had neuer creature That is or schal whil þat þe world wol dure his sleep his mete his drynk is him by-raft That lene he wexe / and drye as eny schaft/ his eyen holwe / grisly to biholde his hewe falwe and pale as asschen colde And solitary he was and euer alone And dwellyng al þe night making his moone And if he herde song or Instrument/ Then wolde he wepe he mighte nought be stent So feble were his spirites and so lowe And chaunged so þat no man couþe knowe his speche noþer his vois þough men it herde And in his gir for al þe world he ferde Nought oonly lyke þe louers maladye Of hercos but raþer lik manye Engendrud of humour malencolyk Byforne in his selle fantastyk And schortly turned was al vp so doun Bothe abyt and eek disposicioun Of him þis woful louere daun arcite what schulde I alway of his wo endite whan he endured hadde a ȝeer or tuoo In þis cruel torment peyne and woo At Thebes in his contre as I seyde vpon a night in sleep as he him leyde him þought þat how þe venged god mercurie / Byforn him stood and bad him to be murye his slepy ȝerd in hond he bar vp right An hat he wered vpon his heres bright / Arrayed was þis god as he took/ keepe As he was whan þat Argous took his sleep And seyde to athenes schalt þou wende Ther is þe schapen of þy wo an ende And with þat word arcite wook and sterte Now trewely how sore þat me smerte Quod he to athenes riȝt now wol I fare Ne for þe drede of deth schal I not spare To see my lady þat I loue and serue In hire presence I recche nat to sterue / And with þat word he caught a gret myrour And saugh þat chaunged was al his colour And saugh his visage was in anoþer kynge And right anoon it ran him into mynde That seþþen his face was so disfigured Of maladie the which he haþ endured he mighte wel if þat he bar him lowe lyue in athenes eueremore vnknowe And see his lady wel neih day by day And right anon he chaunged his aray And cloþed him as a pore laborer And al alone saue oonly a squyer That knew his pryuyte and al his cas which was disgysed pourely as he was To athenes is he go þe nexte way And to þe court / he went vpon a day And at þe ȝate he profred his seruyse To drugge and drawe what so men wolde deuyse And schortly on þis matier for to seyn he fel in office with a Chambirleyn The which that dwellyng was with Emelye For he was wys and couthe sone aspye Of euery seruaunt which þat serued here wel couþe he hewe woode and water bere / For he was ȝonge and mighty for þe nones And þerto he was long and bygge of bones To doon þat eny wight can him deuyse A ȝeer or two he was in þis seruise Page of þe chambre of Emelye þe bright And Philostrate he seide þat he hight But half so wel byloued a man as he Ne was þer neuer in court of his degree he was so gentil of his condicioun That þoruh out al þe court was his renoun They seyde þat it were a charite That Theseus would enhaunsen his degree And putten him in worschipful seruyse Ther as he might his vertu excersise And þus wiþinne a while his name spronge Boþe of his dedes and of goode tonge That Theseus haþ taken him so neer That of his Chambre he made him squyer And ȝaf him gold to mayntene his degree And eek men brought him out of his countre From ȝeer to ȝer ful pryuyly his rente But honestly and sleighly he it spente That no man wondred how þat he it hadde And þre ȝeer in þis wise his lyf he ladde And bar him so in pees and eek in werre Ther nas no man þat Theseus haþ so derre And in þis blisse lete I now Arcite And speke I wole of Palomon alyte IN derknes and orrible and strong prisoun This seuen ȝeer haþ seten Palomoun Forpyned what for woo and for destresse Who feleþ double sorwe and heuynesse But Palamon þat loue destreyneþ so That wood out of his witt he goþ for wo And eek þerto he is a prisoner Perpetuelly nat oonly for a ȝeer Who couþe ryme in englissch propurly His martirdam for-soþe it am nat .I. Therfore I passe as lightly as I may hit fel þat in þe seuenþe ȝeer in May The þridde night as olde bookes seyn That al þis storie tellen more pleyn were it by auenture or destene As whan a þing is schapen it schal be That soone aftur þe mydnyght Palamoun By helpyng of a freend brak his prisoun And fleeth þe cite fast as he may goo For he had ȝiue drinke his gayler soo Of a clarre maad of certeyn wyn with nercotykes and opye of Thebes fyn That al þat night þough þat men wolde him schake The gayler sleep he mighte nouȝt/ awake And þus he fleeþ as fast as euer he may The night was schort and faste by þe day That needes cost he moste himseluen hyde And til a groue ther faste besyde with dredful foot þan stalkeþ Palomoun For schortly þis / was his opynyoun That in þat groue he wolde him hyde al day And in þe night þen wolde he take his way To Thebesward his frendes for to preye On Theseus to helpe him to werreye / And shortelich or he wolde lese his lyf Or wynnen Emelye vnto his wyf This is þeffect of his entente playn. Now wol I torne vnto Arcite agayn. That litel wiste how nyh þat was his care Til þat fortune haþ brought him in the snare The busy larke messager of May Salueþ in hire song þe morwe gray And fyry Phebus ryseþ vp so bright That þe orient laugheþ of þe light And wiþ his stremes dryeþ in þe greues The siluer dropes hongyng in þe leeues And arcite þat is in þe court ryal With Theseus his Squyer principal Is risen and loketh on þe mery day And for to doon his obseruance to May Remembryng of þe poynt of his desire he on his courser stertyng as þe fire Is riden in to feeldes him to pleye Out of þe court were it a myle or tweye And to þe groue of which þat I ȝow tolde By auenture his wey he gan to holde To make him a garland of þe greues were it of woodewynde or hawþorn leues And lowde he song aȝens þe sonne scheene May wiþ al þyn floures and þy greene welcome be þou wel faire freissche may In hope þat I som grene gete may And fro his courser wiþ a lusty herte Into þe groue ful lustily he sterte And in a pathe he romed vp and doun Ther by auenture þis Palamoun was in a busche þat no man might him see Ful sore afered of his deþ was he No þing ne knew he þat it was Arcite God wot he wolde haue trowed it ful lite But soþ is seyde goon ful many ȝeres That feld haþ eyen and þe woode haþ eeres It is ful fair a man to bere him euene For al day men meteþ atte vnset steuene Ful litel woot arcite of his felawe That was so neih to herken of his sawe For in þe busche he stynteþ now ful stille whan þat arcyte had romed al his fille / And songen al þe Roundel lustily In to a studie he fel sodeynly As doþ þes louers in here queynte geeres Now in þe croppe / now doun in þe breres Now vp now doun as boket in a welle Right as þe friday soþly for to telle / Now it schyneþ now it reyneþ faste Right so gan gery venus ouercaste The hertes of hire folk right as hir day Is grisful right so chaungeþ hire aray Selde is þe fryday al þe wyke I-like whan þat arcite hadde songe he gan to sike And sette him doun wiþouten eny more Alas quod he þat day þat I was bore how longe Iuno thurgh þy cruelte wiltow werreyen Thebes þe Citee Allas I-brought is to confusioun The blood royal of Cadme and Amphioun Of Cadynus / þe which was þe furst man That Thebes bulde or first þe toun bygan And of þat Cite first was crowned kyng Of his lynage / am I and his ofspring By verray line and of his stok ryal And now I am so caytyf and so þral That he þat is my mortal enemy I serue him as his squyer pourely And ȝet doth Iuno me wel more schame For I dar nought byknowe myn owne name But þer as I was wont to hote arcite Now hoote I Philostrate nouȝt worth a myte Allas þou felle mars allas Iuno Thus haþ ȝoure Ire owre lynage fordo Saue oonly me and wrecchid Palomoun That Theseus martyreþ in prisoun And ouer al this to slee me vtterly Loue haþ his fyry dart so brennyngly I stykid þorugh my trewe careful herte That schapen was my deth erst þan my scherte Ȝe slen me with ȝoure eyhen Emelye Ȝe ben þe cause wherfore þat I dye Of al þe remenant of al myn oþer care Ne sette I nouȝt þe mountaunce of a tare So þat I couþe do ought to ȝoure pleasaunce And with þat word he fel doun in a traunce A longe tyme and aftirward vpsterte This Palamon þat þouȝte þurgh his herte he felt a cold swerd sodeynliche glyde For Ire he quook/ he nolde no lenger abyde And whan þat he haþ herd arcites tale As he were wood wiþ face deed and pale he sterte him vp out of þe bussches þikke And seyd arcyte / false traitour wikke/ Now art þou hent/ þat louest my lady so. For whom þat I haue al þis peyne and wo. And art my blood and to my counseil sworn And I ful ofte haue told þe heere byforn And hast by-Iaped here þe duke Theseus And falsly chaunged hast þy name þus I wol be deed or elles þou schalt dye Þou schalt not loue my lady Emelye But I wil loue hire oonly and nomo For I am Palomon þy mortal fo And þough þat I no wepen haue in þis place But out of prisoun am y-stert by grace I drede not þat oþer þou schalt dye Or þou ne schalt not loue Emelye Chese which þou wilt for þou schalt not asterte This arcite with ful despitous herte whan he him knew and had his tale herde As fers as a lyoun pulleþ out a swerde And seide þus by god þat sitteþ aboue Nere it þat þou art sike and wood for loue And eek þat þou no wepne has in þis place But out of prisoun art y-stert by grace That þou ne schuldest deyen of myn hond For I defye þe seurte and þe bond which þat þou seyst I haue maad to þe For verray fool / þenk þat loue is fre And I wol loue hire mawgre al þy might But for þou art a gentil parfiȝt knight And wenest to dereyne hire by batayle haue heere my trouþe to morwe I nyl not fayle wiþouten wityng of eny oþer wight That heer I wol be founden as a knight And bryngen harneys right I-nough for þe And ches þe best and lef þe worst for me And mete and drynke/ þis night wil I bryng Inough for þe and cloþ for þy beddyng And if so be þat þou my lady wynne And sle me in þis wood þat/ I am Inne Thou maist wel haue þy lady as for me This Palomon answereþ I graunt it þe And þus þey ben departed til a morwe whan ech of hem had leyd his feith to borwe OCupide / out of al charite O regne þat wolt no felaw haue with þe Ful soþ is seyde / þat loue ne lordschipe wol not his þonkes haue no felaschipe wel fynden þat arcite and Palamoun Arcite is riden anon to þe toun And on þe morwe or it were day light Ful priuely two harneys haþ he dight Boþe sufficaunt and mete to darreyne The batayl in þe feeld betwix hem tweyne And on his hors alone as he was born he caryed al þis harneys him byforn And in þe groue at tyme and place I-sette This arcite and þis Palamon ben mette Tho chaungen gan here colour in here face Right as þe honterus in þe regne of Trace That stondeþ in þe gappe with a spere whan honted is þe lyoun or þe bere And hereþ him / comyng in þe greues And brekeþ boþe þe bowes and þe leues And þenkeþ here comeþ my mortel enemy wiþoute faile he mot be deed or I For eyþer I mot slen him at þe gappe Or he moot slee me if it me myshappe So ferden þey in chaungyng of here hew AS fer as eyþer of hem oþer knew Ther nas no good day ne no saluyng But streyt wiþouten wordes rehersyng Euery of hem helpeþ to armen oþer As frendly as he were his owen broþer And þanne wiþ / here scharpe speres stronge They foyneden ech at oþer longe Tho it semed þat þis Palomon In his fightyng were a wood lyoun And as a cruel tygre was arcite And as wilde boores gonne þey smyte That froþen white as fome froþe wood vp to þe ancle þey faught in here blood And in þis wise I lete hem fiȝtyng welle And forþere I wol of Theseus telle The destyne mynistre general That excused in þe world ouer al The purueans þat god haþ seye byforn So strong it is þat þey þe world had sworn The contrary of a þing by ȝe or nay Ȝet som tyme it schal falle vpon a day That falleþ nought eft in a þousend ȝeere For certeynly oure appetites heere Be it of pees oþer hate or loue Al is it reuled by þe sight aboue This mene I now by mighty Theseus That for to honte is so desirous And namely þe grete hert in May That in his bed þer daweth him no day That he nys clad and redy for to ryde with hont/ and horn and houndes him byside For in his hontyng haþ he such delyt That is his ioye and his appetyt To been him self þe grete hertes bane For after may he serueþ now Dyane Cleer was þe day as I haue told or þis And Theseus with alle Ioye and blys with his ypolita þe fayre queene And Emelye cloþed al in greene On hontyng be þay riden ryally And to þe groue þat stood þer faste by In which þer was an hert as men him tolde Duk Theseus þe streyte wey haþ holde And to þe launde he rydeþ him ful right There was þe hert y-wont to haue his flight And ouer a brook and so forþ in his weye This duk wol haue of him a cours or tweye wiþ houndes which as him lust to comaunde And whan þis Duk was come in to þe launde vnder þe sonne he lokeþ right anon he was war of arcite and Palomon That foughten breeme as it were boores tuo The brighte swerdes wente to and fro So hidously þat with þe leste strook It seemeþ as it wolde felle an Ook But what þey were noþing ȝit he woot This duk wiþ spores / his courser he smoot And at a stert he was bitwix hem tuoo And pullid out a swerd and cride hoo Nomore vp peyne / of leesyng of ȝour heed By mighty mars anon he schal be deed That smyteþ eny strook þat I may seen But telleþ me what mestir men ȝe been That ben so hardy for to fighten heere wiþoute Iugge or oþer officere As it were in a lyste really This Palamon answerde hastily And seyde sire what nedeþ wordes mo we han þe deþ deserued boþe tuo Tuo woful wrecches been we and kaytyues That ben encombred of oure owne lyues And as þou art a rightful lord and Iuge Ne ȝeue vs neyþer mercy ne refuge/ But sle me first for seynte Charite But sle my felaw eek as wel as me Or sle him first for þough þou knowe him lyte This is þy mortal fo þis is arcite Þat fro þy lond is banyscht/ on his heed For which he haþ I-serued to be deed For þis is he þat come to þi gate And seyde þat / he highte Philostrate Thus haþ he Iaped þe many a yer And þou hast maad of him þy cheef squyer And þis is he þat loueth Emelye For siþ þe day is come þat I schal dye I make pleynly my confessioun Þat I am / þe woful Palamoun That haþ þi prisoun broke wikkedly I am þy mortal foo and it am I That loueþ so hoote / Emely þe bright That I wol dye present in hire sight Therfore I aske deeþ and my Iuwyse But slee my felaw in þe same wyse For boþe we haue serued to be slayn This worthy duk answerde anon agayn And seide þis is / a schort conclusioun Ȝour owne mouþ by ȝour owne confessioun haþ dempned ȝou boþe / and I wil it recorde It needeþ nouȝt to pyne ȝow wiþ þe corde Ȝe schul be deed by mighty mars þe reede The queen anon for verray wommanhede Gan for to wepe and so dede Emelye And alle þe ladies in companye Great pite was it as it þought hem alle That euere such a chaunce schulde falle For gentil men þei were and of gret estate And noþing but for loue was þis debate And saw here bloody woundes wyde and sore And alle þey cryde lesse and þe more Haue mercy lord vpon vs wommen alle And on here bare knees anoon þey falle And wolde haue kissed his bare feet right as he stood Till atte laste aslaked was his mood For pite renneþ sone in gentil herte And þough he for Ire quok and sterte he haþ it al considered in a clause The trespas of hem boþe and here cause And al-þough his Ire here gylt accused Ȝet he in his resoun hem boþe excused And þus he þought þat euery maner man wol help himself in loue if þat he can And eek delyuer himself out of prisoun And eek in his hert/ had compassioun Of wommen for þey wepen euer in oon And in his gentil hert he þought anoon And soþly he to himself seyde fy. vpon a lord þat wol haue no mercy But be a lyoun boþe in word in dede To hem þat ben in repentaunce and drede As wel as to a proud dispitious man That wol maynteyne þat he first bigan That lord haþ litel of discrecioun That in such caas can no diuisioun But wayteþ pride and humblenesse after oon And schortly whan his Ire is ouer gon He gan to loke on hem with eyen blake and light And spak þese same wordes al in hight The god of loue a benedicite how mighty and how gret a lord is he Agayns his might þer gayneth non obstacle He may be cleped a god of his miracle For he can maken at his owen gyse Of euery herte / as him lust deuyse Lo her is arcite and Palomon That quytely / were out of my prisoun And might haue lyued in Thebes ryally And witen I am here mortal enemy And þat here deþ lith in my might also And ȝet haþ loue maugre here eyȝen tuo I-brought hem hider boþe for to dye Now lokeþ is nat þat an heih folye who may be a fole if þat he loue Byholde for goddes þaþ sitteþ aboue Se how þey blede be þey nought wel arrayed Thus haþ here lord þe god of loue hem payed here wages and here fees for here seruise And ȝet wenen they to ben wise / That seruen loue for ought þat may bifalle But þis is ȝette / þe beste game of alle That sche for whom þey haue þis Ielousye ¶ Can hem þerfore as moche þank as me Sche woot no more of al þis hoote fare By god þan wot a Cuckow or an hare But al moot ben assayed hoot or colde A man moot ben a fool oþer ȝong or olde I woot it by my self ful ȝore a-gon For in my tyme a seruant was I on And sythen þat I knewe of loues peyne And wot how sore it can a man destreyne As he þat haþ often ben caught in his lace I ȝou forȝeue holly þis trespace At þe request of þe queen þat kneleþ heere And eek of Emely my suster deere And ȝe schullen boþe anon vnto me swere That neuer ȝe schullen my corowne dere Ne make werre on me night ne day But be my freendes alle þat ȝe may I ȝou forȝeue þis trespas euery dele And þey him swore his axyng euery dele And him of lordschip and of mercy prayde And he hem graunted mercy and þus he sayde TO speke of real lynage and riches Though þat sche were a queen or a prynces Ilk of ȝow boþe is worþy douteles To wedde when tyme is but naþeles I speke as for my suster Emelye For whom ȝe haue þis stryf and Ielousye ȝe woot ȝoure self sche may not wedde two At oones þough ȝe faughten euer mo That oon of ȝow or be him loth or leef he may go pypen in an Iuy leef This is to say sche may nought haue boþe Al be ȝe neuer so Ielous ne so loþe For-þy I put ȝou bothe in þis degre That ilk of ȝou schal haue his destyne As him is schape / and herken in what wyse Lo here ȝour ende of þat I schal deuyse My wil is þis. for playn conclusioun wiþouten eny repplicacioun If þat ȝou liketh tak it for þe best That euery of ȝou schal go wher him lest Frely wiþouten raunsoun or daungeer And þis day fyfty wykes fer ne neer Euerich of ȝou schal bryng an hundred knightes Armed for lystes vp at alle rightes Al redy to derayne hir by batayle And þus byhote I ȝou wiþouten fayle vpon my trouthe and as I am a knight That wheþir of ȝow boþe þat haþ might This is to seyn that wheþir he or þou May wiþ his hundred as I spak of now Sle his contrary or out of lystes dryue Him schal I ȝeue Emelye to wyue To whom þat fortune ȝeueþ so fair a grace The lyste schal I make in þis place And god so wisly on my sowle rewe As I schal euen iuge ben and trewe ȝe schul non oþir ende wiþ me make That oon of ȝow schal be deed or take And if ȝou þinkeþ þis is wel I-sayde Say ȝoure avys and holdeþ ȝow a-payde This is ȝoure ende and ȝoure conclusioun who lokeþ lightly now but Palamoun who spryngeþ vp for ioye but arcite who couþe telle or who couþe endite The ioye þat is made in þis place whan Theseus haþ don so fair a grace But down on knees wente euery wight And þanked him with al here hertes might And namely þe thebanes ofte siþe And þus wiþ good hope and herte bliþe They taken here leue and hom-ward þey ryde To Thebes / wiþ olde walles wyde . . . . .no gap in the MS. ATrow men wolde / it deme necligence If I forȝete to telle þe dispence Of Theseus þat goþ so busily To maken vp þe lystes rially & such a noble theatre as it was I dar wel say þat in þis world þer nas The circuite þer was a myle aboute walled of stoon and dyched al wiþoute Round was þe schap in maner of compaas Ful of degre þe height of sixty paas That whan a man was set in o degre he letted nought his felaw for to se Estward þer stood a gate of marbul whit westward such anoþer in opposit/ And schortly to conclude such a place was non in erþe in so litel space In al þe lond þer nas no craftys man That geometry or arsmetrike can Ne purtreyour ne keruer of ymages That Theseus ne ȝaf hem mete and wages The theatre for to maken and deuyse And for to don his right and sacrifise he Estward haþ vpon þe gate aboue In worschip of venus goddes of loue Don make an auter and an oratory And westward in þe mynde and in memory Of mars he haþ I-maked such an oþer That coste largely of gold a foþer And northward in a toret on þe walle Of alabaster whit and reed coralle An oratory riche for to see In worschip of Dyane goddes of chastite hath Theseus I-wrought in noble wise But ȝit/ had I forgeten to deuyse / The nobil keruyng and þe purtretures The schap þe contynaunce of þe figures That weren in þe Oratories þre Furst in þe temple of venus þou may se wrought in þe wal ful pitous to byholde Thre broken slepes and þe sykes colde The sacred teeres and þe waymentyng The fuyry strokes and þe desiryng That loues servauntȝ in þis lyf enduren The othes þat by her couenantȝ assuren Plesance and hope desyr fool-hardynesse Beaute and ȝouþe baudery and richesse Charmes and sorcery lesynges and flatery Dispense busynes and Ielousy That werud of ȝolo guldes a gerland And a cukkow sittyng on hire hand Festes instrumentȝ carols and daunces Lust and array and al þe circumstaunces / Of loue which I rekned and reken schal Ech by oþer / were peynted on þe wal And mo þan I / can make of mencioun For sothly al þe mount of Setheroun Ther Venus hath hir principal dwellyng was schewed on þe wal here portrayng wiþ alle þe Gardyn and al þe lustynes Nought was forȝete þe porter ydelnes Ne Narcisus þe fayr of ȝore agon Ne ȝet þe foly of kyng Salomon Ne eek þe strengþe / of him hercules Thenchauntementȝ of Medea and Cerces Ne of turnus of which þe hard fuyry corage The riche Cresus caytif in seruage Thus may we see þat wisdom and riches Beaute ne sleight strengþe ne hardynes Ne may wiþ venus holde champartye For as sche lust þe world þan may sche gye lo al þis folk I-caught were in hire trace Til þay for wo fuloften sayde allas Sufficeþ þis ensample oon or tuo And þough I couþe reken a þousend mo The statu of venus glorious for to see was naked fletyng in þe large see And fro þe nauel doun al couered was with wawes grene as bright as eny glas A citole in hire right hond hadde sche And on hir heed ful semely on to see A rose garland ful swete and wel smellyng And abouen hire heed dowues fleyng Biforn hir stood hir sone Cupido vpon his schuldres were wynges two And blynd he was as it is often seene A bowe he bar and arwes fair and greene Why schuld I nouȝt as wel telle ȝou alle The portraiture þat was vpon þe walle wiþ in þe temple of mighty mars þe reede Al peynted was þe wal in lengþ and breede loke to þe Estres of þe grisly place That hight þe gret tempul of mars in trace In þat colde and in þat frosty regioun Ther as mars haþ his souereyn mancioun First on þe wal was peynted a foreste In which þer dwelled neyther man ne beste / wiþ knotty knarry bareyn trees olde Of stubbes scharpe and hidous to byholde In which þer ran as wymbul in a swough As it were a storme schuld berst euery bough And downward on an hil vnder a bent / Ther stood þe tempul of marcȝ armypotent / wrought al of burned steel of which þentre was long and streyt and gastly for to see And þer out/ came a rage of suche aprise That it maad al þe gates for to rise The norþen light in at þe dore schon For wyndow on þe walle was þer noon Thorugh þe which men might no light discerne The dores wer alle. ademauntȝ eterne I-clenched ouer thward and endelong/ with Iren tough / and for to make it strong Euery piler þe tempul to susteene was tonne greet of Iren bright and schene Ther saugh I furst þe derk ymaginyng Of felony and al the compassyng The cruel Ire as reed as eny gleede The pike-purs and eek þe pale drede The smyler wiþ þe knyf vnder his cloke The schipne brennyng with þe blake smoke The tresoun of þe murþeryng in þe bed The open werres wiþ woundes al bibled kuttud with bloody knyf and scharp manace Al ful of chirkyng was þat sory place The sleer of himself ȝet saugh I þere here herte blood haþ baþed al his here The nayl y-dryue in þe schode a-nyght The colde deþ with mouþ gapyng vpright A-myddes of þe tempul set/ meschaunce wiþ sory comfort and euel contynaunce I saugh woundes laughyng in here rage The hunt strangled with wilde bores corage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. The sowe freten þe child right in þe cradel The cook I-skalded for al his longe ladel Nought beþ forgeten þe infortune of mart The carter ouer-ryden wiþ his cart vnder þe whel ful lowe he lay a doun Ther were also of martȝ diuisioun The barbour and þe bowcher and þe smyth That forgeþ scharpe swerdes on his stith And al aboue depeynted in a tour Saw I conquest sittyng in gret honour with þe scharpe swerd ouer his heed hangynge by a sotil twyne threed Depeynted was þer þe slaught of Iulius Of grete Nero and of Anthonius Al be þat ilke tyme þey were vnborn Ȝet was here deth depeynted þer byforn By manasyng of marcȝ right by figure So was it schewed right in þe purtreture As is depeynted in sterres aboue who schal be slayn or elles deed for loue Sufficeþ oon ensample in stories olde [A break of one line in the MS.] The statue of mars vpon a carte stood Armed and loked grym as he were wood And ouer his heed þer schyneþ two figures Of sterres þat been cleped in scriptures That oon puella þat oþur Rubius This god of armes was arayed þus A wolf þer stood byforn him at his feet wiþ eyen reed and of a man he eet wiþ sotyl pencel depeynted was þis storie In redoutyng of mars and of his glorie NOw to þe temple of Dyane þe chaste As schortly as I can I wol me haste To telle ȝou al þe descripcioun Depeynted ben þe walles vp and doun Of huntyng and of schamefast chastite Ther saugh I how woful Calystope / whan þat Dyane was agreued with here was turned from a womman to a bere And after was sche maad þe loode-sterre Thus was it peynted I can say no ferre hire son is eek aftir as men may see Ther sawȝ I dyane turned in til a tree I mene nouȝt þe goddes Dyane But Peneus douȝter / þe whiche hight dane Ther saugh I atheon an hert I-maked For vengance þat he saugh Dyane al naked I saugh how þat his houndes han him caught And freten him for þat þey knew him naught Ȝit I-peynted was a litel forþer more how atthalaunce huntyd þe wilde bore And Melyagre / and many anoþer mo For which Dyane wrought him care and woo Ther saugh I eek many anoþer story The which me list not drawe in to memory This goddess son / an hert ful hy he seet with smale houndes at hire feet And vnder-neþe hir feet sche had þe moone wexyng it was and schulde wane soone In gaude greene hire statue cloþed was wiþ bowe in hande and arwes in a cas hir eyȝen caste sche ful lowe adoun Ther Pluto haþ his derke regioun A womman trauailyng was hire biforn But for hire child so longe was vnborn Ful pitously lucyna gan she calle And seyde help / for þou mayst best of alle / wel couþe he peynte lyfly þat it wrouȝt wiþ many a floren he þe hewes bought Now been þise listes maad and Theseus / That at his grete cost arayed þus The temples and þe Theatres euery del whan it was don it liked him right wel But stynt I wil of Theseus a lite And speke of Palomon and of Arcite THe day approcheþ of her attournyng That euery schuld an hundred kniȝtes bryng The batail to derreyne as I ȝou tolde And til athenes her couenant to holde hath euery of hem brought an .C. knightes wel armed for þe werre at alle rightes And sikerly þer trowed many a man That / neuer siþþen þat þis world bigan For to speke of knighthod of her hond As fer as god haþ maked see or lond Nas of so fewe so good a company For euery wight þat loueþ chyualry And wold his þankes haue a passant name he preyed þat he might be of þat game A wel was him þat þerto chosen was For if þer felle to morwe such a caas I knowe wel þat euery lusty knight/ That loueþ paramours and hath his might were it in Engelond or elles where / They wold here þankes wilne to be þere To fight for / a lady benedicite It were a lusty sighte for to see And right so ferden þey with Palomon wiþ him þer wente knyghtes many oon Some wol ben armed in an haburgoun In a bright brest plat and a gypoun And som wold haue a peyre plates large And som wold haue a prys scheld or a targe Som wol been armed on here legges weel And haue an ax and eek a mace of steel Ther nys no newe gyse þat it nas old Armed were þey as I haue told Euerich after his owen opinioun Ther maistow se comyng wiþ Palomoun ligurge himself þe grete kyng of Trace Blak was his berd and manly was his face The cercles of / his eyen in his heed They gloweden bytwixe ȝolw and reed And lik a griffoun loked he aboute with kempe heres on his browes stowte his lymes greet his brawnes hard and stronge his schuldres brood his armes rounde and longe And as þe gyse was in his contre Ful heye vpon a chare of gold stood he wiþ foure white boles in a trays In stede of cote armour in his harnays wiþ nayles ȝolwe and bright as eny gold he had a bere skyn cole-blak for old his lange heer y-kempt byhynd his bak As eny rauen fether it schon for blak A wreþe of gold arm-gret and huge of wight/ Vpon his heed set ful of stoones bright Of fyne rubeus and of fyn dyamauntȝ Aboute his chare wente with white alauntȝ Twenty and mo as grete as eny stere To hunt at þe lyoun or at þe bere And folwed him with mosel fast I-bounde Colerd of gold and torettȝ fyled rounde An hundred lordes had he in his route Armed ful wel wiþ hertes stern and stoute With arcita in stories as men fynde The gret Emetreus þe kyng of ynde Vppon a steede bay trapped in steel Couered wiþ cloþ and of gold dyapred wel Cam rydyng lyk / þe god of armes mars his coote armour was of a cloþ of Tars Cowched of perlys whyte round and grete his sadil was of brend gold newe bete A mantelet vpon his schuldre hangyng Bret-ful of Rubies reed and fir sparclyng His crispe her lik rynges was I-ronne And þat was ȝalwe and gliteryng as þe sonne his nose was heigh his eyen were cytryne His lippes rounde his colour was sangwyn A fewe freknes in his face y-spreynd Betwixe ȝolwe and somdel blak y-meynd And as a lyoun he his lokyng caste Of fyue and twenty ȝeer his age I caste his berd was wel bygonne for to sprynge His voys was as a trumpe thunderynge vpon his heed he wered a laurer grene A garlond freisch and lusty for to sene vpon his hond he bar for his delyt An Egle tame as eny lylie whyt An hundred lordes had he with him þer Al armed sauf here hedes in here ger Ful richely in alle maner þinges For trusteþ wel þat dukes Erles kynges were gadred in þis noble companye For loue and for encres of Chiualrye / Aboute þe kyng þer ran on euery part Ful many a tame lyoun and lepart And in þis wise þis lordes alle and some Been on the sonday to þe cite kome Aboute prime and in þe toun alight This Theseus þis duk þis worþy knight whan he had brought hem in to þis cite And ynned hem euerich at his degre he festeþ hem and doþ so gret labour To esen hem and do hem al honour That ȝit men wene þat no mannes wyt/ Of non estat þat cowde amenden it/ The mynstralcye þe seruyce at þe feste The grete ȝiftes to þe most and leste The riche aray of Thebes his paleys Ne who sat first ne last vpon þe deys what ladies fayrest ben or best daunsyng Or which of hem can daunce best or syng Ne who most felyngly spekeþ of loue what haukes sitten on þe perche aboue what houndes lyen in þe floor a-doun Of al þis make I now no mencioun But of þeffect þat þinkeþ me þe beste / Now comth þe poynt and herkneth if ȝou leste The sonday night or day bigan to springe when Palomon þe larke herde synge Al þough it were nought day by houres tuo ȝit sang þe larke and Palomon also / with holy herte and with an heih corage He roos to wenden on his pilgrymage Vnto þe blisful Cithera benigne I mene Venus honorable and digne And in here hour he walkeþ forþ a paas Vnto þe lystes þer hir temple was And doun he kneleþ and wiþ humble cheer And her sore and seide as ȝe schal heer FAirest O fairest / O lady myn Venus Doughter of Ioue and spouse to Vlcanus Thou glader of þe mount/ of Citheroun For þilke loue þou haddest to adeoun haue pite on my bitter teeres smerte And tak myn humble prayer to þin herte Allas I ne haue no langage for to telle Theffectes ne þe tormentȝ of myn helle Myn herte may myn harmes nat bewreye I am so confus þat I may not seye But mercy lady bright þat knowest wel My þought and felest what harm þat I fel Consider al þis and rew vpon my sore As wisly as I schal for euermore / Enforce my might þi trewe seruant to be And holde werre alday wiþ chastite That make I myn avow so ȝe me helpe I kepe nat of armes for to ȝelpe Ne nat I aske to morn to haue victorie Ne renoun in þis caas ne Veyne glorie Of pris of armes blowyng vp and doun But I wolde haue ful possessioun Of Emelye and dye in þi seruise Fynd þou þe maner how and in what wyse I recche nat but it may better be To haue victorie of him or he of me So þat I haue my lady in myn armes For þough so be þat mars be god of armes And ȝe be venus þe goddes of loue Ȝoure vertu is so gret in heuen aboue Thy temple wol I worschipe euermo And on þin auter wher I ryde or go I wol do sacrifice and fyres beete And if ȝe wol nat so my lady sweete Than pray I þe to morwe with a spere That arcita me þurgh the herte bere / Thanne rekke I nat whan I haue lost my lyf Though þat arcite haue hir to his wyf This is þeffect/ and ende of my prayeere Ȝif me my love my blisful lady deere whan thorisoun was doon of Palomon his sacrifice he dede and þat anoon Ful pitously with alle circumstances Al telle I nat as now his obseruances But at þe last þe statu of venus schook And made a signe wherby þat he took That his prayer accepted was þat day For þough þe signe schewed a delay Ȝet wist he wel þat graunted was his boone And wiþ glad herte he went him hom ful soone The þrid hour in equal þat Palomon Bigan to Venus temple for to goon vp roos þe sonne and vp roos Emelye And to þe temple of Dian gan sche hye Hir maydens þat sche wiþ hir þider ladde Ful redily wiþ hem þe fyr þey hadde Thencens / þe cloþes and þemenant al That to þe sacrifice longen schal The hornes ful of meth as is þe gyse / Ther lakkeþ nouȝt to do here sacrifise Smokyng þe temple ful of cloþes faire This Emelye wiþ herte debonaire Hir body wessch wiþ wtir of a welle But how sche dide I ne dar nat telle But it be eny þing in general And ȝet it were a game to here it al To him þat meneth wel it were no charge But it is good a man be at his large hir brighte her was kempt vntressed al A Corone of a grene Ok cerial vpon hir heed was set ful fair and meete Tuo fyres on þe auter gan sche beete And did hir þinges as men may biholde In state of Thebes and þe bokes olde whan kynled was þe fyre wiþ pitous cheere / vnto Dyan sche spak as ȝe may heere Ochaste goddes of þe woodes greene To whom boþe heuen and erþe and see is seene Queen of þe regne of pluto derk and lowe Goddes of maydenes þat myn hert has knowe Ful many a ȝeer / ȝe woot what I desire As keep me fro þe vengans of þilk yre That atheon aboughte trewely Chaste goddesse wel wost þou þat I Desire to ben a mayden al my lyf Ne neuer wol I be no loue ne wyf I am ȝit þou wost of þi company A mayden and loue huntyng and venery And for to walken in þe woodes wylde And nought to ben a wyf and be with chylde Nouȝt wol I knowe þe company of man Now helpe me lady syþnes ȝe may and kan For þe formes þat þou hast in þe And Palomon þat haþ such loue to me And eek arcite þat loueþ me so sore This grace I praye þe wiþouten more And sende loue and pees betwix hem two And fro me torne a wey here hertes so That al here hoote loue and here desire Al here besy torment and al here fyre Be queynt or turned in anoþer place And if so be þou wol do me no grace Or if my destyne be schapid so That I schal needes haue on of hem two So send me him þat most desireþ me Biholde goddes of clene chastite The bitter teeres þat on my cheekes falle Syn þou art mayde and keper of vs alle My maydenhode þou kepe and wel conserue And whil I lyue a mayde I wil þe serue / The fyres bren vpon þe auter cleer whil Emelye was in hire preyer But sodeinly sche saugh a sighte queynt For right anon on of þe fyres queynt And quyked agayn and after þat anon That oþer fyr was queynt and al a-gon And as it queynt it made a whistelyng As doþ a wete brond in his brennyng And at þe brondes end out ran anoon As it were bloody dropes many oon For which so sore agast was Emelye That sche wel neih mad was and gan to crie For sche ne wiste what it signifyed But oonely for feere þus sche cryed And wepte þat/ it was pite to heere And þer-wiþ-al Dyane gan appeere wiþ bow in hond right as a hunteresse And seyd a doughter stynt þyn heuynesse Among þe goddes hye it is affermed And by eterne word write & confermed Thou schalt be wedded vnto oon of þo That haue for þe so moche care and wo But vnto which of hem may I nat telle Far wel for I may her no lenger dwelle The fyres which þat on myn auter bren Schuln þe declare or þat þou go hen Thyn aduenture of loue and in þis caas And wiþ þat word þe arwes in þe caas Of þe goddesse clatren faste and rynge And forþ sche went and made a vanysschynge For which this Emelye astoneyd was And seide what amounteþ þis allas I put me vnder þy proteccioun Dyane and in þi disposicioun And hoom sche goþ anon þe nexte way This is þeffect/ þer nys no mor to say The nexte houre of mars folwynge þis Arcite to þe temple walkyd is / To fyry mars to doon his sacrifise / with al þe rightes of his payen wise with pitous herte and heih deuocioun Right thus to mars he sayd his orisoun O stronge god þat in þe reynes cold Of trace honoured and lord art þou hold And hast in euery regne and euery land Of armes al þe bridel in þy hand And hem fortunest as þe lust deuyse Accept/ of me my pitous sacrifise If so be þat my ȝouthe may deserue And þat my might be worþi to deserue Thy godhed þat/ I may be on of þine Then pray I þe / to rewe on my pyne For þilke peyne and þat hoote fuyre The which whilom þou brendest for desyre whan þat þou vsedest þe gret bewte Of faire freissche Venus þat is so free And haddest hir in armes at þy wille And þough þe ones on a tyme mysfille whan Vlcanus had caught þe in his laas And fand þe liggyng by his wyf allaas For þilke sorwe þat was in þin herte haue reuthe as wel vpon my peynes smerte I am ȝong and vnkonnyng as þou wost And as I trowe / wiþ loue offendid most / That euer was eny lyues creature / For sche þat doth me / al þis wo endure Ne rekkeþ neuer wheþer I synke or flete And wel I woot or sche me mercy heete I moot wiþ strengþe wyn hir in þe place And wel I wot/ wiþouten help or grace Of þe / ne may my strengthe nought auayle Then help me lord to morn in my batayle For þilke fyr that whilom brende þe As wel as þis fire now brenneþ me And do to morn þat I haue þe victorie Myn be þe trauail al þin be þe glorie Thy souerein tempul wol I most honouren Of any place / and al way most labouren In þy plesaunce / and þy craftes strong And in þy tempul I wol my baner hong And alle þe armes of my companye And euermore vnto þat day I dye Eterne fyr I wol bifore þe fynde And eek to þis / avow I wol me bynde My berd myn heer þat hangeth longe a doun That neuer ȝit ne felt offensioun Of rasour ne of schere I wol þe ȝiue And be þy trewe seruaunt whiles I lyue lord haue rowþe vppon my sorwes sore ȝif me þy victorie I aske no more The preyer stynt/ of Arcita þe strange The rynges on þe tempul dore þat hange And eek the dores clatereden ful fast Of which arcita som what was agast The fires brenden on þe auter bright That it gan al þe tempul for to light/ A swote smel anon þe ground vp ȝaf And arcita anon his hand vp haf And more encens in to þe fyr ȝet cast with oþir rightes and þan atte last The statu of mars bigan his hauberk ryng And with þat soun / he herd a murmuryng Ful lowe and dym / and sayde þis victorie For which he ȝaf to mars honour and glorie And þus with ioye and hope wel to fare Arcite anoon / vnto his Inne is fare / As fayn as foul is of þe brighte sonne And right anon such stryf is bygonne For þat grauntyng in þe heuen aboue Bitwix venus and þe goddes of loue And marcz þe sterne god armypotent That Iupiter was busy it to stent Til þat þe pale Saturnes þe colde That knew so many of auentures olde Fond in his experiens an art/ That he ful sone haþ plesyd euery part And soþ is sayd eelde haþ gret auantage In eelde is boþe wisdom and vsage Men may þe eelde at-ren but nat at-rede Saturne anon to stynte stryf and drede Al be it þat / it be agayns his kynde Of al þis stryf he can remedy fynde My deere douȝter venus quod Satourne My cours þat haþ so wyde for to tourne haþ more power þan woot eny man Myn is þe drenchyng in þe see so wan Myn is þe prisoun in þe derke cote Myn is þe stranglyng & hangyng by þe þrote The murmur and þe cherles rebellyng The groynyng and þe pryue enpoysonyng I do vengance and pleyn correctioun whiles I dwelle in þe signe of þe lyoun Myn is þe ruen of þe hihe halles The fallyng of þe toures and þe walles Vpon þe mynour or þe Carpenter I slowh Sampsoun in schakyng þe piler And myne ben þe maladies colde The derke tresoun and þe castes olde Myn lokyng is þe fadir of pestilens Now wepe nomore I schal do my diligence That Palomon þat is myn owen knight Schal haue his lady as þou him bihight þow marcz schal kepe his kniȝt ȝet neuerþeles Bitwixe ȝou þer moot som tyme be pees Al be ȝe nouȝt of oo complexioun That ilke day causeþ such diuisioun I am þi ayel redy at þy wille wepe þou no more I wol þi lust fulfille Now wol I stynt of þe goddes aboue Of mars and of venus goddes of loue And telle ȝou as pleinly as I can The grete effecte for þat I bigan . . . . .no gap in the MS. GRet was þe fest in Athenus þat day And eek þat lusty sesoun of þat may Made euery wiȝt to ben in such plesaunce / That al the monday iousten þey and daunce And spende hit in venus heigh seruise / But by þe cause þat þey schuln arise Erly a morwe for to see þat fight vnto þeir rest wente þey at nyght And on þe morwe whan þe day gan spryng Of hors and hernoys noyse and clateryng Ther was in þe oostes al aboute And to þe paleys rood þer many a route Of lordes vpon steede and on/palfreys Ther mayst þou see deuysyng of herneys So vncowþ and so riche wrought & wel Of goldsmithry of browdyng and of steel The scheldes bright / testers and trappures Gold-beten helmes / hauberks and cote armures lordes in paramentȝ on her coursers knightes of retenu and eek squyers Rayhyng þe speres and helmes bokelyng Girdyng of scheeldes wiþ layneres lasyng Ther as need is / þey were noþing ydel Ther fomen steedes on þe golden bridel; Gnawyng and faste / armurers also with fyle and hamer prikyng to and fro ȝemen on foote / and knaues many oon wiþ schorte staues as þikke as þey may goon Pypes trompes nakers and Clariounes þat in þe batail blewe bloody sownes / The paleys ful of pepul vp and doun heer þre / þer / ten / haldyng her questioun Dyuynyng of þis Thebans knightes two Som seyden þus / som seyd it schal be so Som heelde with him with þe blake berd Som wiþ þe ballyd som wiþ þikke hered Som sayd he loked grym as he wold fight he haþ a sparth of .xxti. pound of wight Thus was þe halle ful of deuynyng Lang after þat þe sonne gan to spryng The gret Theseus / þat of his sleep is awaked with menstralcy and noyse þat was maked held ȝit þe chambre of his paleys riche Til þat Thebanes knyȝtes boþe I-liche honoured weren and in to Paleys fet Duk Theseus was at a wyndow set Arayed right as he were god in trone The pepul preseth þider was ful sone him for to seen / and doon him reuerence And eek herken his hest and his sentence An herowd on a skaffold made a hoo Til al þe noyse of þe pepul was I-doo And whan he sawh þe pepul of noyse al stille Thus schewed he þe mighty dukes wille The lord haþ of his heih discrecioun Considered þat it were destruccioun To gentil blood to fighten in þis wise Of mortal batail now in þis Emprise were for to schapen þat þey schuld not dye he wol his firste purpos modifye No man þerfore vp peyne of los of lyf No maner schot/ ne pollax ne schort knyf In to þe lystes sende or þider bryng Ne schorte swerd for to stoke þe bytyng No man ne drawe ne bere by his side / Ne noman schal to his felawe ryde But oon cours with a scharpe spere Feyne if him lust on foote himself to were And he þat is at meschief schal be take / And nat slayn but be brought to þe stake That schal be ordeyned on eyþer syde But þider he schal by force and þer abyde / And if so falle a cheuenten be take On eyþer side or elles sle his make / No lenger schal þe turneynge laste God spede ȝou goþ forþ and ley on faste wiþ long swerd and wiþ mace fiȝt ȝour fille Goþ now ȝour way þis is þe lordes wille The voice of þe poepul touchiþ heuen So lowde cried þei with mylde steuen God saue such a lord þat is so good he wilneþ no destruccioun of blood vp goþ þe trompes and þe melodye And to þe lystes ryde þe companye / By ordynaunce þurgh þe cite large Hangyng wiþ cloþ of gold and not wiþ Sarge Ful lik a lord þis nobul Duk cam ryde These tuo Thebans on eyþer side And after rood þe queen and Emelye And after hem of ladyes anoþer companye And after hem of comunes after here degre And þus þey passeden þurgh þat cite And to þe lystes come þei by tyme It nas not of þe day ȝet fully pryme whan sette was Theseus riche and hye ypolita þe queen and Emelye And oþer ladyes in here degrees aboute vnto þe settes passeþ al þe route And westward þorugh þe ȝates of mart Arcite and eek þe hundred of his part with baners ys I-entred right anoon And þat selue moment Palomon Is vnder Venus Estward in þat place with baner whyt and hardy cheer of face IN al þe world to seeke vp and doun So euen wiþoute Variacioun Ther nere suche companyes tweye For ther nas noon so wys þat cowþe seye That any had of oþer auauntage Of worthines ne staat/ ne of visage So euene were þey chosen for to gesse And in two Renges faire þey hem dresse And whan he names I-rad were euerychon That in here nombre gile were þer noon Tho were þe gates schitt and cried lowde Dooþ now ȝour deuoir ȝonge knightes proude The heraldȝ laften here prikyng vp & doun Now ryngede þe tromp and Clarioun Ther is no more to say but Est and west In goþ þe speres in to þe Rest Ther seen men who can Iuste and who can ryde In goþ þe scharpe spere in to þe side Ther schyueren schaftes vpon schuldres þyk he feeleþ þurgh þe herte spon þe prik vp sprengen speres on twenty foot on hight Out goon þe swerdes as þe siluer bright The helmes þer to-hewen and to-schrede Out brast þe blood wiþ stoute stremes reede with mighty maces þe bones þay to-breste he þurgh þe þikkest of þe þrong gan þreste Ther stomblen steedes strong and doun can falle / he rolled vnder foot as doþ a balle he feyneþ on his foot wiþ his tronchoun And him hurteleþ with his hors a doun He þurgh þe body hurt is and siþþen take Maugre his heed and brouȝt vnto þe stake / As forward was right þer he most abyde / Anoþer lad is on þat oþer syde And som tyme doþ Theseus hem to rest hem to refreissche and drinke if hem lest Ful ofte a-day haue þis Thebans twoo Togider y-met and wrought his felaw woo vnhorsed haþ ech oþer of hem tweye Ther nas no Tygyr in þe vale of Galgopleye whan þat hir whelp is stole whan it is lite So cruel on þe hunt/ as is arcite For Ielous hert vpon þis Palomon Ne in Belmary þer is no fel lyoun That hunted is or for hunger wood Ne of his prey desireþ so þe blood As Palomon to sle his foo arcite This Ielous strokes on here helmes byte Out renneþ blood on boþe here sides reede Som tyme an ende þer is on euery dede For er þe sonne vnto þe reste went The strang kyng Emetreus gan hent This Palomon as he faught wiþ arcite And his swerd in his fleissch he did byte And by þe force of .xx.ti he is take Vnȝolden and I-drawe vnto þe stake And in þe Rescous of þis Palomon The stronge kyng · ligurgius is born a doun The kyng Emetreus for al his strengþe Is born out of his sadel his swerdes lengþe So hit him palamon er he were take But al for nought he was brought to þe stake / his hardy herte might him helpe nouȝt He most abyde whan þat he was caught By force and eek by composicioun who sorweþ now but Palomoun That moot no more gon agayn to fight And whan þat Theseus had seen þat sight he cryed hoo / nomore for it is doon Ne noon schal lenger vnto his felaw goon I wol be trewe Iuge and nouȝt partye Arcyte of Thebes schal haue Emelye That haþ by his fortune hire I-wonne Anoon þer is noyse bygonne For ioye of þis so lowde and heye with alle It semed þat þe listes wolde falle what can now fayre Venus doon aboue what seiþ sche now what doþ þis queen of loue / But wepeþ so for wantyng of hir wille Til þat hire teeres in þe lystes fille Sche sayde I am aschamed douteles Satournus seyde douȝter hold þy pees Mars haþ his wille his knight haþ his boone And by myn heed þou schalt be esed soone The trompes wiþ þe lowde mynstralcy The herawdes þat ful lowde ȝolle and cry Been in here ioye / for daun arcyte But herkneþ me and stynteþ but a lite which a miracle bifel anoon This arcyte fersly haþ don his helm a doun And on his courser for to schewe his face he priked endlange in þe large place lokyng vpward vpon his Emelye And sche agayn him cast a frendly yȝe For wommen as for to speke in comune Þay folwe alle þe fauour of fortune And was alle his cheer and in his hert Out of þe ground a fyr infernal stert From Pluto send at þe request of Saturne For which his hors for feere gan to turne And leep a syde and foundred as he leep And or þat arcyte may take keep he pight him on þe pomel of þe heed That in þat place he lay as he were deed his brest tobroken with his sadil bowe As blak he lay as eny col or crowe So was þe blood y-ronne in his face Anon he was y-born out of þe place with herte sore to Theseus paleys Tho was he coruen out of his harneys And in a bed y-brought ful fair and blyue For ȝit he was in memory and on lyue And alway cryeng after Emelye Duk Theseus and al his companye Is comen hom to Athenes his Cite with alle blys and gret solempnite Al be it þat þis auenture was falle he nolde nought discomfort hem alle / Men seyde eek þat arcita schuld nought dye he schal be helyd of his maladye And of anoþer þing þey were as fayn That of hem alle þer was noon y-slayn Al were þey sore hurt and namely oon That wiþ a spere was þirled his brest boon To oþer woundes and to broken armes Some hadde salue and some hadde charmes Fermacyes of herbes and eek saue They dronken for þey wolde here lyues haue For which þis noble duk as he wel can Comforteþ and honoureþ euery man And made reuel al þe lange night vnto the straunge lordes as it was right Ne þer was holden to discomfytyng But as a Iustes or as a turmentyng For soþly þer was no discomfiture For fallyng is but an aduenture Ne to be lad wiþ fors vnto þe stake Vnȝolden and wiþ twenty knightes take A person allone wiþouten moo And rent forþ by arme foot and too And eek his steede dryuen forþ wiþ staues wiþ foote men boþe ȝemen and knaues It was aretted him no vylonye Ne no maner man held it no cowardye FOr which Theseus lowd anon leet crie To stynten al rancour and al enuye The gree as wel on o syde as on oþer And euery side lik as oþeres broþer And ȝaf hem ȝiftes after here degre And fully heeld a feste dayes þre And conueyed þe knightes worþily Out of his toun a iournee largely And hom went euery man þe righte way Ther was no more but far wel haue good day Of þis batayl I wol no more endite But speke of Palomon and of arcyte Swelleþ þe brest of Arcyte and þe sore Encresceþ at his herte more and more The cloþred blood for eny lechecraft Corrumpith and in his bouk I-laft That noþer veyne blood ne ventusyng Ne drynk of herbes may ben his helpyng The vertu expulsik or animal For þilke vertu cleped natural Ne may þe venym voyde ne expelle The pypes of his lounges gan to swelle And euery lacerte in his brest adoun Is schent with venym and corrupcioun Him gayneþ noþer for to get his lyf Vomyt vp-ward ne dounward laxatif / Al is to-broken þilke regioun Nature haþ now no dominacioun And certeynly wher nature wil not wirche Far wel phisik go bere þe man to chirche This al and som þat arcyte moste dye For which he sendeþ after Emelye And Palomon þat was his cosyn deere Thanne seyd he þus as ȝe schul after heere Naught may þe woful spirit/ in myn herte Declare a poynt of my sorwes smerte To ȝou my lady þat I loue most But I byquethe þe seruice of my gost To ȝou abouen euery creature Syn þat my lyf may no lenger dure Allas þe woo allas þe peynes stronge That I for ȝou haue suffred and so longe Allas þe deþ allas myn Emelye Allas departyng of our companye Allas myn hertes queen allas my wyf Myn hertes lady ender of my lyf what is þis world what asken men to haue Now wiþ his loue now in his colde graue Allone wiþouten eny companye Far wel my swete far wel myn Emelye And softe take me in ȝour armes tweye For loue of god and herkneþ what I seye I haue heer with my cosyn Palomon had stryf and rancour many a day I-gon For loue of ȝow and eek for Ielousie / And Iupiter so wis my sowle gye To speken of a seruaunt proprely with alle circumstaunces trewely That is to seyn trouþe honour and knighthede wysdom humblesse astaat. and by kynrede Fredam and al þat longeþ to þat art So Iupiter haue of my soule part As in þis world right now ne know I non So worthy to be loued as Palomon That serueth ȝou and wol do al his lyf And if þat ȝe schul euer be a wyf Forȝet not Palomon þat gentil man And with þat word his speche faile gan For fro his herte vp to his brest was come The cold of deþ þat him had ouercome And ȝet more ouer in his armes twoo Þe vital strengþ is lost and al a-goo Only the intellect wiþouten more That dwelled in his herte sik and sore Gan fayle whan þe herte felte deth Duskyng his eyȝen two and fayled breth But on his lady ȝit he cast his ye his laste word was mercy Emelye / His spiryt chaunged was and wente þer As I cam neuer I can nat tellen wher Therefore I stynte I nam no dyuynistre / Of soules fynde I not in þis registre Ne me list nat thopynyouns to telle Of hem þough þat þei wyten wher þey dwelle Arcyte is cold ther mars his soule gye Now wol I speke forþ of Emelye / Shright Emely and howled Palomon And Theseus his sustir took anon Swownyng and bar hir fro þe corps a way what helpeþ it to tarye forþ þe day To telle how þat sche weep boþe eue & morwe For in swich caas wommen can haue such sorwe whan þat here housbonds ben from hem ago That for þe more part þey sorwen so Or elles fallen in such maladye That atte laste certeynly þey dye Infynyt been þe sorwes and þe teeres Of olde folk þat ben of tendre ȝeeres So gret a wepyng was þer noon certayn whan Ector was I-brought al freissh I-slayn As þat þer was for deþ of þis Theban For sorwe of him þer weepeþ boþe child and man At troye allas þe pite þat was þere Cracchyng of cheekes rendyng eek of here why woldist / þou be deed þis wommen crye And haddest gold ynowȝ.and Emelye No man mighte / glade Theseus / Sauyng his olde fader Egeus / That knew þis worldes transmutacioun As he hadde seen it torne vp and doun Ioye after woo and woo aftir gladnesse And schewed him ensample and likenesse Right as þer deyde neuer man quod he That he ne lyued in erþe in som degree Ȝit þer ne lyuede neuer man he seyde In al þis world þat som tyme he ne deyde This world nys but a þurghfare ful of woo And we ben pilgryms passyng to and froo Deþ is an ende of euery worldly sore And ouer al þis ȝit seide he mochil more To þis effect // ful wysly to enhorte The peple þat schulde him recomforte Duk Theseus with al his busy cure Cast busyly wher þat þe sepulture Of good arcyte may best y-maked be And eek most honurable in his degre And atte last he took conclusioun That ther as first Arcite and Palomon hadden for loue þe batail hem bytwene That in the selue groue soote and greene Ther as he hadde his amorous desires His compleynt and for loue his hoote fyres he wolde make a fyr in which thoffice Funeral he might al accomplice And leet comaunde anon to hakke and hewe / The Okes olde and lay hem on a rewe In culpouns wel arrayed for to brenne his officers wiþ swifte foot þey renne And ryde anon at his comaundement And after þis Theseus hath I-sent After a beer and it al ouer spradde wiþ cloþ of golde þe richest þat he hadde And of þe same sute he clad arcyte vpon his hondes were his gloues white Eke on his heed a croune of laurer grene / And in his hond a swerd ful bright and kene He leyde him bare þe visage on þe beere Ther wiþ he weep þat pite was to heere And for þe poeple schulde see him alle / whan it was day he brought hem to þe halle That roreth of þe cry and of þe soun Tho cam þis woful Theban Palomoun wiþ flotery berd and ruggy asshy heeres In cloþis blak y-dropped al wiþ teeres And passyng oþer of wepyng Emelye The rewfullest of al þe companye In as moche as þe seruice schulde be The more nobul and riche in his degre Duk Theseus leet forth þre steedes bryng That trapped were in steel al gliteryng And couered wiþ armes of dan arcyte Vpon þe steedes that weren grete & white Ther seeten folk / of which oon bar his scheeld Anoþer his spere vp in his hondes heeld The þridde bar with him his bowe turkeys Of brend gold was þe caas and eek þe herneys And riden forth a paas with sorwful chere Toward þe groue as ȝe schul after heere The noblest of þe grekes þat þer were vpon here schuldres carieden þe beere with slak paas and eyhen reed and wete Thurgh-out þe cite by þe maister streete That sprad was al with blak and wonder hye Right of þe same is al þe stret I-wrye vpon þe right hond went olde Egeus And on þat oþer syde duk Theseus with vessels in here hand with gold wel fyn As ful of hony mylk and blood and wyn Eke Palomon with a gret companye And after þat com woful Emelye with fyr in hond as was þat tyme þe gyse / To do þoffice of funeral seruise Heyȝ labour and ful gret apparailyng was at þe seruice and at þe fyr makyng That with his grene top þe heuen raughte And twenty fadme of brede tharme straughte / This is to seyn þe boowes were so brode Of stree first was þer leyd ful many a loode but how þe fyr was makyd vpon highte Ne eek þe names how þe trees highte As Ook · fyr · birch · asp · aldir · holm · popler · wilw. elm plane. assch. box. chesteyn lynde laurer. Mapul. thorn · beech · hasil · ew · wyppyltre how þey weren felde schal nouȝt be told for me Ne how þe goddes ronnen vp and doun Disheryt of here habitacioun In which þey whilom woned in rest/ and pees Nymphes. Faunes and Amadryes Ne how þe beestes and þe briddes alle Fledden for feere / whan þe woode was falle / Ne how þe ground agast was of þe light That was nought wont to see no sonne bright Ne how þe fyr was couchid first wiþ stree And þanne with drye stykkes clouen in three And þanne wiþ grene woode and spicerie And þanne wiþ cloth of gold and wiþ perrye And gerlandes hangyng with ful many a flour The myrre thensens wiþ also gret odour Ne how arcyte lay among al þis Ne what richesse / aboute his body is Ne how þat Emely as was þe gyse Putt in þe fyr of funeral seruise Ne how she swowned whan sche made þe fyre Ne what sche spak ne what was hire desire Ne what iewels men in þe fyr þo cast whan þat þe fyr was gret and brente fast And how sum caste hir scheeld and summe her spere And of here vestimentȝ which þat þey were And cuppes ful of wyn and mylk and blood Vnto þe fyr þat brent as it were wood Ne how þe gregoys wiþ an huge route Thre tymes ryden al þe fyr aboute vpon þe lefte hond with an heih schoutyng And þries wiþ here speres clateryng And þries how þe ladyes gan to crye Ne how þat lad was homeward Emelye Ne how arcyte is brent to aschen colde / . . . . .no gap in the MS. Al thilke night ne how þe grekes pleye / The wake pleyes kepe I nat to seye who wrastleþ best naked wiþ oyle enoynt Ne who þat bar him best in no disoynt I wol not telle eek how þat þey ben goon Hom til athenes whan þe pley is doon But schortly to þe poynt now wol I wende And maken of my longe tale an ende By proces and by lengþe of certeyn ȝeres Al styntyd is þe mornyng and þe teeres Of alle grekys by oon general assent Than semed me ther was a parlement At athenes on a certeyn poynt / and cas Among þe whiche poyntes spoken was To han wiþ certeyn contrees alliaunce / And haue fully of Thebans obeissance For which þis noble Theseus anon let senden after gentil Palomon Vnwist of him what was þe cause and why But in his blake cloþes sorwfully he cam at his comaundement in hye Tho sente Theseus for Emelye whan þey were sette and hussht was al þe place And Theseus abyden hadde a space Or eny word cam fro his wyse brest His eyen set he þer as was his lest And wiþ a sad visage he syked stille And after þat right þus he seide his wille The firste moeuere of þe cause aboue whan he first made þe fayre cheyne of loue Gret was theffect / and heigh was his entente / wel wist he why and what þerof he mente For which þat faire cheyne of loue he bond The fyr þe watir eyr and eek þe lond In certeyn boundes þat þey may not flee That same prynce and moeuere eek quod he / haþ stabled in þis wrecched world a doun Certeyn dayes and duracioun To alle þat er engendrid in þis place Ouer þe day þey may nat pace Al mowe they ȝit wel here dayes abregge Ther needeþ non auctorite tallegge For it is preued by experience But þat me lust declare my sentence Than may men wel by þis ordre discerne That þilke moeuere stabul is and eterne wel many men knewe but it be a fool That euery partye dyryueþ from his hool For nature haþ nat take his bygynnyng Of no partye ne cantel of a þing But of a þing þat parfyt is and stable / Descendyng so til it be corumpable And þerfore of his wyse purueaunce / He hath so wel biset his ordenaunce That spices of þinges and progressiouns Schullen endure by successiouns And nat eterne be wiþoute lye This maistow vnderstand and se at ye LO þe Ook þat haþ so long norisschyng Fro tyme þat it gynneþ first to spring And as so long a lyf as we may see Ȝet atte laste wasted is þe tree COnsidereþ eek how þat þe harde stoon vnder oure foot / on which we trede and goon Ȝit wasteth it as it liþ by þe weye The brode Ryuer som tyme wexeþ dreye The grete townes see we wane and wende Than may I see þat al þing haþ an ende OF man and womman se we wel also / That wendeþ in oon of þis termes two That is to seyn / in ȝouþe or elles in age he moot ben deed / þe kyng as schal a page / Sum in his bed som in þe deepe see Som in þe large feel as men may se / Ther helpeþ naught al goþ þilke weye Thanne may I see wel þat al þing schal deye what makeþ þis but Iubiter þe kyng The which is prynce and cuase of alle thing Conuertyng al vnto his propre wille From which he is dereyned soþ to telle / And here agayn no creature of lyue Of no degre auayleþ for to stryue Than is it wisdom as þenkeþ me To maken vertu of necessite And take it wel þat we may nat eschewe And namely þat þat to vs alle is dewe / And who-so gruccheþ aught he doþ folye And rebel is to him þat al may gye And certeynly a man haþ most honour To deyen in his excellence and flour whan he is siker of his goode name Than haþ he doon his freend ne him no schame And gladder ought his freend ben of his deþ whan with honour is ȝolden vp þe breth Thanne whan his name appeled is for age For al forgeten is his vasselage Thanne is it best as for a worþi fame To dye whan a man is best of name The contrary of al this is wilfulnesse why grucchen we why haue we heuynesse / That good arcyte of chyualry þe flour Departed is with worschip and honour Out of þis foule prisoun of þis lyf why gruccheþ heer his cosyn and his wyf Of his wel fare þat louen him so wel Can he hem thank / nay / god woot neuer a del That boþe his soule and eek hem self offende And ȝet þey may here lustes nat amende That may I conclude of þis longe serye But aftir wo I rede vs to be merye And þanke Iubiter al of his grace And or þat we departe fro þis place / I rede þat we make of sorwes two O parfyt ioye lastyng euer mo And lokeþ now wher most sorwe is her-Inne / Ther wol we first amenden and bygynne / Sustyr quod he þis is my ful assent wiþ al thauys heer of my parlement That gentil Palomon ȝour owne knight That serueþ ȝow with herte wil and might And euer haþ doon syn fyrst tyme ȝe him knewe That ȝe schul of ȝour grace vpon him rewe And take him for ȝour housbond and for lord Lene me ȝoure hand for þis is oure acord let see now of ȝour wommanly pite he is a kynges broþir sone pardee And þough he were a pore bachiller Syn he haþ serued ȝou so many a ȝeer And had for ȝou so gret aduersite hit moste be considered trusteþ me For gentil mercy aughte passe right Than seyde he þus to Palomon ful right I trowe þer needeþ litel sermonyng To make ȝou assente to þis þing Com neer and tak ȝour lady by þe hond Bitwix hem was I-maad anon þe bond That highte matrimoyn or mariage By alle þe counseil and þe baronage And thus with blys and eek wiþ melodye Haþ Palomon I-wedded Emelye And god þat al þis wyde world haþ wrought Send him his loue þat haþ it deere I-bought For now is Palomon in al his wele Lyuynge in blisse richesse and in hele And Emely him loueth so tendirly And he hir serueþ also gentilly That neuer wordes hem bitweene Of gelousy ne of non oþir teene / Thus endeþ Palomon and Emelye And god saue al þis fayre companye / Amen. HEre endeþ þe knightes tale ¶ And þus bygynneþ þe prologe of þe myllere[No break in the MS.] WHan þat þe knight had þus his tale I-told In al þe route nas þer ȝong ne old That he ne seyde it was a noble story And worþi to be drawen in memory And namely þe gentils euerich oon Oure host þo lowh and swoor so moot I goon This goþ right wel vnbokeled is þe male / Let se now who schal telle anoþer tale For trewely þis game is wel bygonne / Now telleþ now sir monk if þat ȝe konne Som what to quyte wiþ þe knightes tale / The Myller þat for drunken was al pale So þat vnnethe vpon his hors he sat he wold auale nowþer hood ne hat Ne abyde no man for his curtesye But in Pilates voys he gan to crye And swor by armes and by blood and bones I can a noble tale for þe noones with which I wol now quyte þe knightes tale Oure hoost saugh wel how dronke he was of ale And seyde Robyn abyde my leue broþer Som bettre man schal telle vs first anoþer Abyd and let vs worken þriftyly By goddes soule quod he þat wol nat I For I wol speke or elles go my way Oure host answed / tel on a deuel way Thou art a fool þy witt is ouercome / ¶ Now herkneþ quod þis myller al and some But first I make a protestacioun That I am dronke I knowe wel by my soun And þerfore if þat I mys speke or seye wyte it þe ale of Southwerk I ȝou preye For I wol telle a legende and a lyf Bothe of a Carpenter and of his wyf how þat þe clerk haþ set þe wriȝtes cappe / The reue answered and seyde stynt þi clappe / let be þy lewed drunken harlottrye It is a synne and eek a greet folye To apeyren eny man or him defame And eek to brynge wyues in ylle name Thou mayst ynowȝ of oþer þinges seyn This dronken Miller spak ful sone a-geyn And seyde leeue brother Osewold who hath no wyf he is no Cokewold But I seye not þerfore þat þou art oon Ther been ful goode wyues many oon And euer a þousand goode agayns oon badde That knowest þou wel þy self but if þou madde why art þou angry with my tale now / I haue a wyf par de as wel as thow Ȝit nolde I for the oxen in my plough Take vpon me more þan ynough Though þat þou deme þiself þat þou be oon I wol bileeue wel þat I am [a later n prefixt]oon An housbond schal not be inquisityf Of goddes pryuete ne of his wyf So þat he fynde goddes foysoun þere Of þe remenaunt needeþ nought enquere / what schuld I seye but þat þis proud Millere he nolde his wordes for no man forbere But tolde his cherlisch tale in his manere Me aþinkeþ þat I schal reherce it heere And þerfor euery gentil wight I preye. For goddes loue as deme nat þat I seye Of yuel entent but for I moot reherse here wordes alle ¶ al be þey better or werse Or elles falsen som of my mateere And þerfor who-so list it nat to heere Turne ouer þe leef and cheese anoþer tale For he schal fynde ynowe bothe gret and smale Of storial þing þat toucheþ gentilesse And eek more ryalte and holynesse Blameþ nat me If þat ȝe cheese amys The Miller is a cherl ȝe know wel þis So was þe reeue and oþir many mo And harlotry þey tolden boþe two Auyseþ ȝou and put me out / of blame And men schulde nat make ernest of game HEre endeþ þe prologe of þe Miller[No break in the MS.] ¶ And bygynneth his tale Whilom þer was dwellyng at Oxenford A riche gnof that gestes heeld to boorde And of his craft he was a Carpenter wiþ him þer was dwellyng a pore scoler had lerned art but al his fantasye was torned for to lerne astrologye An cowde a certeyn of conclusiouns To deme by interrogaciouns If þat men axed him in certeyn houres whan þat men schuld han drought or ellys schoures Or if men axed him what schulde bifalle Of euery þing I may nouȝt reken hem alle This clerk was cleped heende Nicholas Of derne loue he cowde and of solas And þer wiþ he was sleigh and ful priue And lik amayden meke for to se A chambir had he in his hostillerye Alone wiþouten eny compaignye Ful fetisly I-dight with herbes soote / And he himself as swete as is þe roote Of lokorys or eny Cetewale his almagest and bookes gret and smale his astrylabe longyng for his art his augrym stoones leyen faire a part On schelues couched at his beddes heed his presse I-couered wiþ a faldyng reed And al aboue þer lay a gay Sawtrye On which he made a nightes melodye So swetely þat al þe chambur rang And angelus ad virginem he sang And after þat he sang þe kynges note Ful often blissed was his mery þrote And þus þis sweete clerk his tyme spente After his frendes fyndyng and his rente This carpenter had weddid newe a wyf which þat he loved more þan his lyf Of eyȝteteene ȝeer sche was of age Gelous he was and heeld hir narwe in cage For sche was wilde & ȝong and he was old And demed himself be lik a Cokewold he knew nat Catoun for his wit was rude That bad man schulde wedde his similitude Men schulde wedde aftir here astaat For eelde and ȝouþe ben often at debaat But syn þat he was brouȝt in to þe snare He moste endure as oþere doon his care Fair was þe ȝonge wyf and þer wiþ al As eny wesil hir body gent and smal A seynt sche wered barred al of silk A barmcloþ eek as whit as morne mylk vpon hir lendes ful of many a gore whit was hir smok and browdid albyfore And eek byhynde on hir coler aboute Of coleblak silk wiþinne and eek wiþoute The tapes of hir white voluper weren of þe same sute of hire coler hir filet brood of silk y-set ful heye And certeynly sche hadd a licorous eyȝe Ful smal y-pulled weren hir browes two / And þo were bent as blak as a slo Sche was wel more blisful on to see Than is þe newe perionette tree And softer þan þe wol is of a weþir And by hir gurdil hyng a purs of leþir Tassid wiþ silk and perled wiþ latoun In al þis world to seken vp and doun Ther nys no man so wys þat couþe þenche / So gay a popillot or such a wenche / For brighter was þe smylyng of hir hewe Than in þe tour þe noble I-forged newe But of hir song it was as lowde and ȝerne As eny swalwe chiteryng on a berne Ther to sche cowde skippe and make game As eny kyde or calf folowyng his dame hir mouth was sweete as bragat is or meth Or hoord of apples layd in hay or heth wynsyng sche was as is a Ioly colt long as a mast / and vpright as a bolt / A broch sche bar vpon hir loue coleer As brod as is þe bos of a bocleer hir schos were laced / on hir legges heyȝe Sche was a primerole[a later & is put in here] a pigges neyȝe For eny lord haue liggyng in his bedde Or ȝet for eny good ȝeman to wedde Now sir and eft sir / so bifel þe cas That on a day þis heende Nicholas Fil wiþ þis ȝonge wyf to rage and pleye whil þat hir housbond was at Oseneye As clerkes ben ful sotil and ful queynte And pryuely he caught hir by þe queynte And seyde I-wis but if I haue my wille For derne loue of þe lemman I spille / And heeld hir harde by þe haunche boones And seyde lemman loue me al at ones Or I wol dye as wisly god me saue And sche sprang out / as doþ a colt/ in traue And wiþ hir heed sche wried fast awey I seyde I wol nat kisse þe by my fey why let be quod sche / lat be þou nicholas / Or I wol crye out harrow and allas Do wey ȝour handes for ȝour curtesye This nicholas gan mercy for to crye And spak so faire and profred him so faste/ That sche hir loue him graunted atte laste / And swor hir oth / by seynt thomas of kent That sche wol be at his comaundement whan þat sche may hir leysir wel aspye Myn housbond is so ful of Ielousie / That but ȝe wayten wel and be pryue I woot right wel I am but deed quod sche Ȝe mosten be ful derne as in þis caas Ther of ne care þe nought quod Nicholas A clerk haþ litherly byset his while But if he cowde a carpenter bygyle And þus þey ben acorded and I-sworn To wayte a tyme as I haue told biforn Whan Nicholas had doon þus euery del And thakked hire aboute þe lendys wel he kist hir sweet / and takeþ his sawtrye And pleyeþ fast and makeþ melodye Than fyl it þus / þat to þe parisch chirche / Cristes owen werkes for to wirche This goode wyf / went on an haly day Hir forheed schon as bright as eny day So was it waisschen whan sche leet hir werk NOw þer was of þat chirche a parisch clerk The which þat was I-cleped Absolon Crulle was his heer and as þe gold it schon And strowted as a fan right large and brood Ful streyt and euene lay his ioly schood his rode was reed his eyȝen gray as goos with Powles wyndowes coruen in his schoos In his hoses reed he went fetusly I-clad he was ful smal and propurly Al in a kirtel of a fyn wachet Schapen with goores in þe newe get And þer vpon he had a gay surplys As whyt as is þe blosme vpon þe rys A mery child he was so god me saue wel couþe he lete blood and clippe and schaue And make a chartre of lond and acquitaunce In twenty maners he coude skip and daunce After þe scole of Oxenforde þo And wiþ his legges casten to and fro And pleyen songes on a smal rubible Therto he sang som tyme a lowde quynyble And as wel coude he pleye on a giterne / In al þe toun nas brewhous ne tauerne That he ne visited with his solas Ther as any gaylard tapster was Bot soþ to say he was som del squaymous Of fartyng / and of speche daungerous This absolon þat ioly was and gay Goþ wiþ a senser on þe haly day Sensyng þe wyues of þe parisch fast And many a louely look on hem he cast And namely on þis Carpenteres wyf To loke on hire him þought a mery lyf Sche was so propre sweete and licorous I dar wel sayn if sche had ben a mous And he a cat he wold hir hent anoon This parisch clerk this Ioly Absolon Haþ in his herte such a loue longyng That of no wyf ne took he noon offryng / For curtesy he seyde he wolde noon The moone at night ful cleer and brighte schoon And absolon his giterne haþ I-take For paramours he seyde he wold awake / And for he goþ iolyf and amerous / Til he cam to þe Carpenteres hous A litel after þe cok had y-crowe / And dressed him vp by a schot wyndowe / That was vnder þe Carpenteres wal he syngeþ in his voys gentil and smal Now deere lady if þi wille be I praye ȝow þat ȝe wol rewe on me Ful wel acordyng to his gyternyng This carpenter awook and herde him syng And spak vnto his wyf and sayde anoon what alisoun herestow not absolon That chaunteþ þus vnder oure boure smal And sche answerd hir housbond þer wiþ al Ȝis God woot Iohn I heere it euery del This passeþ forth what wil ȝe bet þan wel Fro day to day þis Ioly Absolon So woweþ hire þat him is wo bigon he wakeþ al þe night and al þe day To kembe his lokkes brode and made him gay he wowith hire by mene and by brocage And swor he wolde ben hir owne page / he syngeþ crowyng as a nightyngale And sent hire pyment meth and spiced ale / And wafres pypyng hoot out of þe gleede For þat sche was of toune he profred meede For som folk wol be wonne for richesse And som for strokes som for gentillesse Som tyme to schewe his lightnes and maistrye he pleyeth herodȝ on a scaffold hye But what avayleþ him as in þis caas / Sche loueþ so þis heende Nicholas That absolon may blowe þe bukkes horn he ne had for al his labour but a skorn And þus sche makeþ absolon hir ape And al his ernest torneþ to a Iape Ful soþ is þis prouerbe it is no lye Men seyn right þus alway þe ney slye Makeþ þe ferre leef to be loþ For þough þat absolon be wood or wroth By cause þat he fer was from here sight This Nicholas haþ stonden in his light Now bere þe wel þou heende Nicholas For absolon may wayle and synge allas ¶ And so bifell it on a Satyrday This Carpenter was gon to Osenay And heende Nicholas and alisoun Acordid ben to þis conclusioun That Nicholas schal schapen hem a wyle This sely Ielous housbond to begyle / And if so were þis game wente aright Sche schulde slepe in his arm al night For þis was hire desir and his also And right anoon wiþouten wordes mo This Nicholas no lenger wold he tarye But doþ ful softe in to his Chambur carye Boþe mete and drynke for a day or tweye And to hir housbond bad hir for to seye If þat he axed after Nicholas Sche schulde seye sche wiste nat wher he was Of al þat day sche saw him nat with eye Sche trowed he were falle in som maladye For no cry þat hir mayden cowde him calle he nolde answere for nought þat may bifalle This passeþ forþ al þat ilke satyrday Tha Nicholas in his chambre lay And eet and drank and dede what/ him leste Til soneday þe sonne was gon to reste This sely carpenter haþ gret meruaile Of Nicholas or what þing may him ayle And seyde I am a-drad by seynt Thomas It stondeþ nat aright wiþ Nicholas God schilde þat he deyde sodeinly This world is now ful tykel sikerly I saugh to-day a corps y-born to chirche That now on monday last I saugh him wirche Go vp quod he vnto his knaue anoon Clepe at his dore and knokke wiþ a stoon Loke how it is and telle me boldely This knaue goþ him vp ful sturdily And at þe chambir dore whil he stood he cryed and knokked as þat he were wood what how what do ȝe mayster nicholay how may ȝe slepen al þis longe day But al for nought he herde nat o word An hole he fond right lowe vpon a boord Ther as þe cat was wont in for to creepe / And at þat hole he loked in ful deepe / And atte laste he hadde of him a sight This nicholas sat euer gapyng vpright As he had loked on þe newe moone Adoun he goþ and tolde his mayster soone In what aray he sawh þis ilke man This carpenter to blessen him bygan And seyde now help vs seynte Frideswyde A man woot litel what him schal betyde This man is falle with his astronomye In som woodnesse or in som agonye I thought ay wel how þat it schulde be Men schulde nought knowe of goddes pryuyte ¶ Ȝe blessed be alwey a lewed man That nat but oonly his bileeue can So ferde anoþer clerk with astronomye / he walked in the feeldes for to prye vpon þe sterres what þer schulde bifalle Til he was in a marle pit I-falle / he saugh nat þat but ȝet by seint Thomas / Me reweth sore for heende nicholas he schal be ratyd of his studyyng If þat I may by ihū heuen kyng Gete me a staf þat I may vnder spore whil þat þou Robyn heuest vp þe dore he schal out of his studyyng as I gesse And to þe chambir dore he gan him dresse / his knaue was a strong karl for þe noones And by þe hasp he haf it vp at oones And in þe floor þe dore fil doun anoon This nicholas sat stille as eny stoon And euer he capyd vpward to þe eyr This Carpenter wende he were in despeir And hent him by þe schuldres mightily And schook him harde and cryed spitously what Nicholas what how man loke a doun A-wake and þynk on cristes passioun I crowche þe from Elues and from wightes Ther-with þe night-spel seyde he anon rightes On þe foure halues of þe hous aboute / And of þe þreisshfold of þe dore wiþoute lord Ihū crist and seynte bendight Blesse þis hous from euery wikkede wight for nyghtes verray þe white pater-noster wher wonestow now, seynte petres soster And atte laste heende Nicholas Gan for to syke sore and seyde allas Schal al þe world be lost eft sones now This Carpenter answerde what seystow / what þenk on god as we doon men þat swynke This Nicholas answerde fette me drynke And after wol I speke in pryuyte Of certeyn þing þat toucheþ þe and me I wol telle it non oþer man certayn This Carpenter goþ forth and comþ agayn And brought of mighty ale a large quart/ whan ech of hem y-dronken had his part This Nicholas his dore gan to schitte And dede þis carpenter doun by him sitte And seide Iohan myn host ful leue and deere Thou schalt vpon þy trouþe swere me heere / That to no wight þou schalt þis counsel wreye For it is cristes counsel þat I seye And if þou telle it man þou art forlore For þis vengaunce þou schalt han þerfore That if þou wreye me þou schalt be wood Nay crist forbede it for his holy blood Quod þo þis sely man I am no labbe Though I it say I am nought leef to gabbe / Say what þou wolt I schal it neuer telle / To child ne wyf by him þat harwed helle Now Iohan quod nicholas I wol not lye I haue I-founde in myn astrologye As I haue loked in þe moone bright That now on monday next at quarter night Schal falle a reyn and þat so wilde and wood That half so gret was neuer Noes flood This worlde he seyde more þan an hour Schal ben I-dreynt so hidous is þe schour Thus schal mankynde drenche and leese his lyf This Carpenter answered allas my wyf And shal she drenche allas myn alisoun For sorwe of þis he fel almost adoun And seyde is þer no remedy in þis caas whe ȝis for gode quod heende Nicholas If þou wolt werken aftir lore and reed Thou maist nought worke after þin owen heed For þus seiþ Salomon þat was ful trewe werke by counseil / and þou schalt nat rewe And if þou worken wolt by good counsail I vndertake wiþouten mast and sail Ȝet schal I sauen hir and þe and me hastow nat herd / how saued was Noe whan þat our lord had warned him biforn That al þe world wiþ watir schulde be lorn Ȝis quod þis Carpenter ful ȝore ago hastow nought herd quod Nicholas also The sorwe of Noe wiþ his felaschipe That he hadde or he gat his wyf to schipe him hadde wel leuer I dar wel vndertake / At þilke tyme þan alle his weþeres blake That sche hadde a schip hir self allone And þerfore wostow what is best to doone / This axeþ hast and of an hasty þing Men may nought preche or make taryyng Anon go gete vs fast in to þis In A knedyng trowh or elles a kemelyn For ech of vs but loke þat þey be large In which þat we may rowe as in a barge And haue þer In vitaille suffisant But for o day, fy on þe remenant The water schal aslake and gon away Aboute prime vppon þe nexte day But Robyn may not wite of þis þy knaue Ne ek þy mayde Gille I may not saue Aske nought why for þough þou aske me I wol nat tellen goddes pryuete Sufficeth þe but if þat þy witt/ madde To haue as gret a grace as noe hadde / Thy wyf schal I wel sauen out of doute / Go now þy wey and speed þe heer aboute And whan þou hast for hir and þe and me / I-goten vs þis knedyng tubbes þre Than schalt þou hange hem in þe roof ful hie That no man of oure purueaunce aspye And whan þou þus hast doon as I haue seyd And hast our vitaille faire in hem I-leyd And eek an ax to smyte þe corde a-two whan þat þe water comeþ þat we may goo And breke an hole an hye vpon þe gable In to þe gardynward ouer þe stable / That we may frely passen forþ oure way whan þat þe grete schour is gon away Than schaltow swymme as mery I vndertake As doth þe white doke aftir hir drake Than wol I clepe how alisoun how Ion. [Beoth merye for the flood passeþ a-non][in a later hand] And þou wolt seye heyl maister nicholay Good morn I see þe wel for it is day And þan schul we be lordes al oure lyf Of al þe world as noe and his wyf But of oo þing I warne þe ful right Be wel auysed of þat ilke nyght That we ben entred in to schippes boord That not of vs ne speke not a word Ne clepe ne crye but be in his preyere For it is goddes owne heste deere Thy wyf and þou most hangen fer a-twynne For þat bitwixe ȝou schal be no synne No more in lokyng þan þer schal in dede / This ordynaunce is seyd, so god me speede / To morwe at night whan men ben a slepe / In to our knedyng tubbes wol we crepe / And sitte þer abydyng goddes grace / Go now þy way I haue no lenger space To make of þis no lenger sermonyng Men seyn þus / send þe wyse and sey no þing Thou art so wys it needeth nat þe teche Go saue oure lyf and þat I þe byseche / This seely carpenter goþ forþ his way Ful ofte he seyd allas and weylaway And to his wyf he told his pryuete And sche was war and knew it bet þan he / what al this wente cast was for to seye / But naþeles sche ferd as sche schuld deye And seyde allas go forth þy way anoon help vs to skape or we be ded echon I am þy verray trewe wedded wyf Go deere spouse and help to saue oure lyf lo which a gret þing is affeccioun A man may dye for ymaginacoun So deepe may impressioun be take This seely Carpenter bygynneth quake him þenkeþ verrayly þat he may se Noes flood come walkyng as þe see / To drenchen alisoun his hony deere he weepeþ wayleþ he maketh sory cheere he sikeþ with ful many a sory swough And goth and geteth him a knedyng trough And after þat a tubbe and a kymelyn And pryuely he sent hem to his In And heng hem in þe roof in pryuete His owne hond þan made laddres þre To clymben by þe ronges and þe stalkes vnto þe tubbes hangyng in þe balkes And hem vitayled boþe trough and tubbe with breed and cheese wiþ good ale in a Iubbe Suffisyng right ynough as for a day But or þat he had maad al þis array he sent his knaue and eek his wenche also vpon his neede to londoun for to go And on þe monday whan it drew to nyght he schette his dore wiþouten candel light And dressed al þis þing as it schuld be And schortly vp þey clumben alle þre They seten stille wel a forlong way Now pater noster clum quod Nicholay And Clum quod Ion and Clum . quod. Alisoun This Carpenter seyd his deuocioun And stille he sitt and byddeþ his prayere Ay waytyng on þe Reyn if he it heere The deede sleep for verray busynesse Fil on þis Carpenter right as I gesse / Abowten courfew tyme or litel more For trauail of his goost he groneþ sore And eft he routeþ for his heed myslay Doun of þe laddir stalkeþ Nicholay And alisoun ful softe a doun hir spedde wiþouten wordes mo þey goon to bedde Ther as þe Carpenter was wont to lye Ther was þe Reuel and þe melodye And þus lith alisoun and Nicholas In busynesse of myrþe and of solas Til þat þe belles of laudes gan to rynge And freres in þe Chauncel gan to synge This parissch clerk þis amerous absolon That is for loue so harde and woo bygon vpon þe Monday was at Osenay with company him to desporte and play And axed vpon caas a cloysterer Ful pryuely after þe carpenter And he drough him a part out of þe chirche And sayde nay I say him nat here wirche Syn satirday I trow þat he be went For tymber þer our abbot hath him sent/ For he is wont for tymber for to goo And dwellen at þe graunge a day or tuo Or elles he is at his hous certayn wher þat he be I can nat soþly sayn This absolon ful ioly was and light And thoughte now is tyme wake al night For sikerly I sawh him nought styryng Aboute his dore syn day bigan to spryng So mote I þryue I schal at Cokkes crowe Ful pryuely go knokke at his wyndowe That stant ful lowe vpon his bowres wal To alisoun þan wol I tellen al My loue-longyng for ȝet I schal not mysse That atte leste wey I schal hir kisse Som maner comfort schal I haue par fay My mouth haþ icched al þis longe day That is a signe of kissyng atte leste Al nyght I mette eek I was at a feste Ther fore I wol go slepe an hour or tweye And al þe night þan wol I wake and pleye whan þat þe firste cok haþ crowe anoon vp ryst þis Iolyf louer absolon And him arrayeþ gay at poynt deuys But first he cheweþ greyn and lycoris To smellen swete or he hadde kempt his heere vnder his tunge a trewe loue he beere / For þer by wende he to be gracious he romeþ to þe carpenteres hous And stille he stant vnd þe schot wyndowe / vnto his brest it raught/ it was so lowe / And softe he cowhiþ with a semy soun what do ȝe hony comb swete alisoun My fayre bryd my swete Cynamome Awake lemman myn and spekeþ tome wel litel þynke ȝe vpon my wo That for ȝoure loue I swelte þer I go No wonder is if þat I swelte and swete / I morne as doþ a lamb after þe tete I-wis lemman I haue such loue-longyng That like a turtil trewe is my moornyng I may not ete no more þan a mayde / ¶ Go fro þe wyndow Iakke fool sche sayde / As help me god it wol not be com paine I loue anoþer and elles were I to blame wel bet þan þe by Ihū absolon Go forþ þy wey or I wol cast a stoon And let me slepe a twenty deuelway Allas quod absolon and weylaway That trewe loue was euer so ylle bysett/ Þanne kisseth me syn it may be no bett For Iesus loue and for þe loue of me wilt þou þan go þy wey þer with quod sche Ȝe certes lemman quod þis absolon Than mak þe redy quod sche I come anon . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. This absolon doun sette him on his knees And seide I am a lord at alle degrees For after þis I hope þer comeþ more Lemman þy grace / and swete bryd þyn ore The wyndow sche vndyd and þat in hast haue doon quod sche com of and speed þe fast lest þat our neygheboures þe aspye This absolon gan wipe his mouþ ful drye Derk was þe night as picche or as a cole / Out atte wyndow putte sche hir hole / And absolon him fel no bet ne wers But wiþ his mouth he kist hir naked ers Ful sauorly, whan he was war of þis Abak he sterte and þought it was amys For wel he wist a womman haþ no berd he felt a þing al rough and long I-herd And seyde fy allas what haue I do Tehee quod sche / and clapt þe wyndow to And absolon goþ forþ a sory paas A berd a berd / quod heende Nicholas By goddes corps þis game goþ fair and wel This seely absolon herd euery del And on his lippe he gan for angir byte And to himself he seyde I schal þe quyte Who rubbiþ now who froteth now his lippes wiþ dust wiþ sand wiþ straw wiþ cloth wiþ chippes But absolon þat seith fulofte allas My soule bytake I vnto Sathanas But me were leuer þan alle þis toun quod he Of þis dispit awroken for to be Allas quod he allas I nadde bleynt his hoote loue was cold and al I-queynt For fro þat tyme þat he had kist hire ers Of paramours ne sette he nat a kers For he was helyd of his maledye Fulofte paramours he gan deffye And wept as doþ a child þat is I-bete A softe paas went he ouer þe strete / Vnto a smyth men clepith daun Gerueys That in his forge smythed plowh harneys He scharpeth schar and cultre bysily This absolon knokkeþ al esily And seyde vnto Geruays and þat anoon what who art thou; it am I Absolon what Absolon what[a later for is put here] cristes swete tree why ryse ȝe so rathe benedicite what eyleþ ȝou some gay gurl god it woot haþ brought ȝou þus vpon þe verytrot By seinte noet / ȝe wot wel what I mene This absolon ne roughte nat a bene Of al þis pley no word agayn he ȝaf For he hadde more tow on his distaf Than Gerueys knew and seyde freend so deere That hote cultre in þe Chymney heere As lene it me I haue þer wiþ to doone I wol it bring agayn to þe ful soone Gerueys answerde / certes were it gold Or in a poke nobles al vntold Ȝe schul him haue as I am trewe smyth Ey cristes fo[a later te is added] what wil ȝe do þer wiþ Ther of quod absolon be as be may I schal wel telle it þe to morwe day And caughte þe cultre by þe colde stele Ful soft out at þe dore he gan it stele / And wente vnto þe carpenteres wal he cowheþ first and knokkeþ þer wiþ al vpon the wyndow right as he dede er This alisoun answerde who is ther That knokkest so; I warant it a þeef why nay quod he god woot my sweete leef I am þyn absolon, O my derlyng Of gold quod he I haue þe brought a ryng My mooder ȝaf it me so god me saue Ful fyn it is and þerto wel I-graue This wol I ȝiue þe / if þou me kisse This Nicholas was rise for to pysse And þought he wold amenden al þe Iape he schulde kisse his ers or þat he skape And vp þe wyndow dyde he hastily And out his ers putteþ he pryuely Ouer þe buttok to haunche bon And þer wiþ spak þis clerk þis absolon Spek sweete bryd I wot nat wher þou art /. This Nicholas anon let flee a fart As gret as it had ben a thundir dent And with þat strook he was almost I-blent And he was redy with his yren hoot And Nicholas amyd þe ers he smoot Of goþ þe skyn an hande brede aboute The hoote cultre brente so his toute And for þe smert / he wende for to dye As he were wood anon he gan to crye help watir watir / help for goddes herte This Carpenter out of his slumber sterte And herd on crye watir as he were wood He þought allas for now comeþ Noes flood he sit him vp wiþoute wordes mo And wiþ his ax he smot þe corde a-two And doun he goþ he fond nowthir to selle / No bred ne ale til he com to þe selle/ Vpon þe floor and þer aswoun he lay vp styrt hir alisoun and Nicholay And cryden out and harrow in þe strete / The neyghebours boþe smal and grete / In ronnen for to gauren on þis man That a swowne lay boþe pale and wan For with þe fal he brosten had his arm But stond he muste to his owne harm For whan he spak he was anon born doun with heende Nicholas and alisoun They tolden euery man þat he was wood he was a gast and feerd of Noes flood Thurgh fantasie þat of his vanite / he hadde I-bought him knedyng tubbes þre / And hadde hem hanged in þe roof aboue / And þat he preyed hem for goddes loue / To sitten in þe roof par compaignye The folk gan lawhen at his fantasye / In to þe roof þey kyken and þey gape And torne al his harm in to a Iape For what so euer þe carpenter answerde Hit was for nought no man his resoun herde wiþ oþis greet he was so sworn a doun That he was holden wood in al þe toun For euery clerk anon right heeld wiþ oþir They seyde þe man was wood my leeue broþer And euery man gan lawhen at his stryf Thus swyued was þe Carpenteres wyf For al his kepyng and his gelousye And absolon haþ kist hir neþir ye And Nicholas is skaldid in his towte This tale is doon and god saue al þe route HEre endeth þe Millers tale[No break in the MS.] ¶ And bygynneþ þe prologe of þe Reeue Whan folk hadde lawhen of þis nyce caas Of Absolon and heende Nicholas Dyuerse folk dyuersely þey seyde But for þe moste part þey lowh and pleyde / Ne at þis tale I sawh no man him greue But it were oonly Osewald þe Reeue By cause he was of Carpentrye craft A litel Ire is in his herte is laft He gan to grucche and blamed it a lite So theek quod he ful wel coude I þe quyte with bleryng of a prowd mylleres ye If þat me luste speke of Ribaudye But yk am old me list not pley for age Gras tyme is doon my foddir is now forage My whyte top writeþ myn olde ȝeeres / Myn hert is al so moulyd as myn heeres / And ȝit I fare as doþ an open-ers That ilke fruyt is euer lenger þe wers Til it be rote in mullok or in stree we olde men I drede so fare we / Til we be roten can we nat be rype we hoppen alway whil þe world wol pype For in oure wil þer stikeþ euer a nayl To haue an hoor heed and a greene tayl As hath a leek for þough oure might be doon Oure wil desireþ folye euer in oon For whan we may nat do þan wol we speke / Ȝet in oure aisshen old is fyr I-reke / Foure gledys haue we which I schal deuyse Auantyng / lyyng / angur coueytise This foure sparkys longen vnto eelde / Oure olde lymes mowen be vnweelde / But wil ne schal nat fayle vs þat is soþ And ȝet I haue alwey a coltes toþ As many a ȝeer as it is passed henne Syn þat my tappe of lyf bygan to renne / For sikirlik whan I was born anon Deth drough þe tappe of lyf and leet it goon And now so longe / haþ þe tappe I-ronne Til þat almost al empty is þe tonne The streem of lyf now droppeth on þe chymbe The sely tonge may wel rynge and chimbe[? first clymbe] Of wrecchednes þat passed is ful ȝoore with olde folk / sauf dotage is no more Whan þat oure host had herd oure sermonyng he gan to speke as lordly as a kyng And seyde what amounteþ al þis wit what schul we speke alday of holy wryt The deuyl made a Reue for to preche Or of a sowter schipman or a leche / Sey forþ þi tale and tarye nat þe tyme Lo heer is Depford / and it is passed prime Lo Grenewich þer many a schrewe is Inne It were al tyme þi tale to bygynne NOw sires quod þis Osewold þe Reue I pray ȝow alle // þat noon of ȝou him greeue Though I answere and somwhat sette his howue For leeful is wiþ force force to showue This dronken myllere haþ I-told vs heer how þat bygiled was a Carpenter Parauenture in scorn for I am oon And by ȝour leue I schal him quyte anoon Right in his cherles termes wol I speke / I pray to God his nekke mot tobreke he can wel in myn eye see a stalke But in his owne he can nought seen a balke HEre endeþ þe prologe of þe Reue[No break in the MS.] And here bygynneþ his tale AT Trompyngtoun nat fer fro Cantebrigge Ther goth a brook and ouer þat a brigge Vpon þe whiche brook þer stant a melle And þis is verray soþ þat I ȝou telle / A meller was þer dwellyng many a day As eny Pecok he was prowd and gay Pipen he coude and fissh and nettys beete And turne cuppes wrastle wel and scheete Ay by his belt he bar a long panade And of a swerd ful trenchaunt was þe blade A Ioly popper bar he in his pouche Ther was no man for perel durst him touche / A Scheffeld thwitel bar he in his hose Round was his face and camois was his nose As pyled as an ape was his skulle/ he was a market beter at þe fulle Ther durste no wight hand vpon him legge That he ne swor anon he schuld abegge / A þeef he was for-soþ of corn and mele And þat a sleigh and vsyng for to stele / his name was hoote deynous Symekyn A wyf he hadde / come of noble kyn The parsoun of the toun hir fader was with hire he ȝaf ful many a panne of bras For þat Symkyn schuld in his blood allye Sche was I-fostryd in a Nonnerye For Symkyn wolde no wyf as he sayde But sche were wel I-norissched and a mayde / To sauen his estaat and ȝomanrye And sche was proud and pert/ as is a pye A ful fair sighte was þer on hem two / On haly dayes bifore hir wolde he go with his typet ybounde aboute his heed And sche cam aftir in a gyte of reed And Symkyn hadde hosen of þe same / Ther durste no wight clepe hir but ma dame / was noon so hardy walkyng by þe weye That with hir dorste rage or elles pleye But if he wold be slayn of Symekyn· wiþ panade or with knyf or boydekyn· For gelous folk ben perilous eueremo Algate þey wolde here wyues wende so And eek for sche was somdel smoterlich Sche was as deyne as water in a dich As ful of hokir and of bissemare hir thoughte ladyes oughten hir to spare / what for hir kynreed and hir nortelrye That sche had lerned in þe Nonnerye A douȝter hadden þey betwix hem two Of .xx.ti ȝeer wiþouten eny mo Sauyng a child that was of half ȝer age In cradil lay and was a proper page / This wenche þikke and wel I-growen was wiþ Camoys nose and eyȝen gray as glas / And buttokkes brode and brestes round and hye But right fair was hir heer I wol nat lye / The parsoun of þe toun for sche was feir In purpos was to maken hir his heir / Boþe of his catel / and his mesuage / And straunge made it of hir mariage his purpos was to bystow hir hye In to som worþy blood of ancetrye For holy chirche good moot be despendid On holy chirche blood þat is descendid Therfore he wolde his Ioly blood honoure / Though þat he schulde holy chirche deuoure GRet soken had þis meller oute of doute with whete and malt of al þe lond aboute And namely þer was a gret Collegge Men clepe it þe Soler hall of Cantebregge Ther was here whete and eek here malt I-grounde / And on a day it happed on a stounde / Syk lay þe mauncyple on a maledye Men wenden wisly þat he schulde dye For which þis meller stal both mele & corn A þousend part more þan byforn For þer biforn he stal but curteysly But now he is a þeef outrageously For which þe wardeyn chidde and made fare But ther of sette þe meller not a tare he crakked boost and swor it was nat so Thanne weren þere poore scoleres tuo That dwelten in þe halle of which I seye Testyf þey were and lusty for to pleye And oonly for here mirþe and reuelrye[the l is later] Vppon þe wardeyn bysily þey crye To ȝeue hem leue but a litel stounde / To go to melle and see here corn I-grounde And hardily þey dursten ley here nekke / The meller schuld nat stel hem half a pekke Of corn by sleighte ne by force hem reue And atte last þe wardeyn ȝaf hem leue Iohn hight þat oon and Alayn hight þat oþer Of o toun were þey born þat highte Strothir / Fer in þe north I can nat telle where / This aleyn makeþ redy al his gere And on an hors þe sak he cast anoon Forþ goþ aleyn þe clerk and also Ion wiþ good swerd and wiþ bocler by her side Iohn knew þe way þat hem needith no gyde / And at þe mylle þe sak a-doun he layth Alayn spak first al heil Symond in faith how fares þy faire doughter and þy wyf aleyn welcome quod Symond by my lyf And Iohn also how now what do ȝe heere By god quod Iohn, Symond, neede has na peere him falles serue himself þat has na swayn Or elles he is a fon as clerkes sayn Our mancyple as I hope wil be deed Swa werkes ay þe wanges in his heed And therfore I is come and eek aleyn To grynde oure corn and carie it / ham ageyn I prey ȝou speed vs in al þat ȝe may It schal be doon quod Symkyn by my fay what wol ȝe do whil þat it is in hande By god right by þe hoper wol I stande Quod Iohn and se how þat þe corn gas Inne Ȝet sawh I neuer by my fader kynne / how þat þe hoper waggis to and fra Aleyn answerde / Iohn and wiltow swa Than wol I be by-neþe by my croun And se how þat þe mele fallys doun In to þe trough þat schal be my desport / For Ion in faith I may be of ȝour sort I is as ille a meller as ere ȝe This mellere smyleth for here nycete And þought al þis is doon but for a wyle They wenen þat no man may hem bigile But by my þrift ȝet schal I blere here ye For al here sleight and al here philosophie / The more queynte knakkes þat þey make / The more wol I stele whan I take / In stede of mele ȝet wol I ȝeue hem bren The grettest clerkes beþ not wisest men As whilom to þe wolf þus spak þe mare Of al hert art ne counte I nat a tare Out at þe dore he goth ful pryuyly whan þat he saugh his tyme sotyly he lokeþ vp and doun til he hath founde The Clerkes hors þer as it stood I-bounde / Behynde þe mylle vnder a leuesel And to þe hors he goþ him faire and wel He strepeth of þe bridel right anoon And whan þe hors was loos he gan to goon Toward þe fen þere wilde mares renne For wiþ wihe / þurgh þikke and eek þurgh þenne This meller goth agayn and no word seyde But doth his note and wiþ þe clerkes pleyde / Til þat her corn was fair and wel I-grounde And whan þe mele was sakked and I-bounde / This Iohn goþ out and fynt his hors a-way And gan to crye harrow and weylaway Oure hors is lost aleyn for goddes banes Step on þy feet cum on man al at anes Aleyn ȝour wardeyn haþ his parfray lorn This aleyn al forgeteþ mele and corn Al was out of his mynd his housbondrye what wikked way is he gan gan he crye The wyf cam lepyng inward wiþ a ren Sche seyde allas ȝour hors goþ to þe fen wiþ wylde mares as fast as he may go / vnþank come on his heed þat band him so / And he þat bettir schuld han knyt þe Reyne Allas quod Iohan aleyn / for cristes peyne Leg doun þi swerd and I sal myn alswa / I is ful wight god wat as is a Ra By goddes hart/ he sal nat scape vs bathe why nad þou put þe capil in þe lathe Ilhail aleyn by god þou is a fon This sely clerkes speeden hem anoon Toward þe fen boþe aleyn and eek Ion And whan þe myller sawh þat þey were gon he half a busshel of þe flour haþ take And bad his wyf go knede it in a cake he seyde I trowe þe clerkes ben a ferd Ȝet can a Miller make a clerkes berd For al his art/ ȝe lat hem go here way lo wher þey goon // ȝe lat þe children play They get hym nat so lightly by my croun This seely clerkes ronnen vp and doun wiþ keep / keep. stand stand Iossa ware derere Ga wightly þou and I sal keep him heere / But schortly til þat it was verray night / They cowde nat þough þey did al here might here capil cacche it ran away so fast / Til in a diche þey caught / him atte last/ wery and wete as bestys in þe Reyn Comth sely Iohn and wiþ him comþ aleyn Allas quod Iohn þat day þat I was born Now are we dryue til heþing and to scorn Oure corn is stole men woln vs foles calle / Bathe þe wardeyn and eek our felaws alle / And namely þe myller weyloway Thus pleyneth Iohn as he goþ by þe way Toward þe mylle and bayard in his hand The myller sittyng by þe fyr he fand For it was night and forþer might þey nought But for þe loue of god þey him bisought As herberwh and of ese as for her peny Þe myller sayd agayn if þer be eny Swich as it is ȝit schul ȝe haue ȝour part Myn hous is streyt. / but ȝe han lerned art/ Ȝe conne by argumentes make a place A myle brood of twenty foote of space / let se now if þis place may suffyse Or make it rom wiþ speche as is ȝour gyse Now Symond seyde þis Iohn by seynt Cuthberd Ay is þou mery and þat is fair answerd I haue herd say men suld take of twa þinges Slik as he fynt / or tak slik as he bringes But specially I pray þe host ful deere Get vs som mete and drynk and mak vs cheere And we wol paye trewly at þe fulle wiþ empty hand men may na hawkes tulle Lo heer our siluer redy for to spende This meller in to toun his doughter sende For ale and breed and rosted hem a goos And band her hors he schold no more go loos And in his owne chambir hem made a bed with schetys and with chalouns fair I-spred Nat from his owen bed ten foot or twelue / his doughter had a bed al by hir selue Right in þe same chambre by and by Hit mighte be no bet and cause why / Ther was no rommer herberw in þe place They sowpen and þey speke hem to solace And dronken euer strong ale atte beste Aboute mydnyght wente þey to reste wel haþ þe myller vernysshed his heed Ful pale he was for dronken and nat reed he ȝoxeth and he spekeþ þurgh þe nose / As he were on þe quakke or on þe pose / To bed he goþ and wiþ him goþ his wyf As eny Iay sche light was and iolyf So was his ioly whistel wel y-wet The cradil at hire beddes feet is set To rokken and to ȝiue þe child to souke / And whan þat dronken was al in þe crouke To bedde went the douȝter right anon To bedde goþ aleyn and also Ion Ther nas no more him needed no dwale This meller haþ so wysly bibbed ale / That as an hors he snortith in his sleep Ne of his tayl bihynd took / he no keep his wyf burdoun a ful strong Men might her rowtyng heeren a forlong The wenche routeþ eek par companye Aleyn þe clerk þat herd þis melodye He pokyd Iohn / and seyde slepistow Herdistow euer slik a sang er now Lo slik a couplyng is betwix hem alle A wilde fyr vpon þair bodyes falle wha herkned euer swilk a ferly þing / Ȝe þei sul haue þe flour of ille endyng This lange night þer tydes me na rest But ȝet na fors al sal be for þe best For Iohn sayd he as euer mot I þryue If þat I may ȝone wenche sal I swyue Som esement haþ lawe schapen vs For Iohn þer is a lawe þat says þus That if a man in a poynt be agreued¶ Qui in vno grauatur in alio debet releuari That in anoþer he sal be releeued Oure corn is stoln soþly it is na nay And we haue had an ylle fitt to day And syn I sal haue nan amendement Agayn my los I wol haue esement / By godde sale it sal nan oþer be / This Iohn answerd / aleyn auyse þe The Miller is a parlous man he sayde And if þat he out of his sleep abrayde he mighte do vs boþe a vilonye Aleyn answerd I count it nat a flye And vp he roos and by þe wenche crepte This wenche lay vpright and faste slepte Til he so neih was or sche might aspye That it had ben to late for to crye And schortly for to seye þey weren at oon Now pley aleyn for I wol speke of Ion ¶ This Iohn lith stille a forlong whyle or two And to him self compleyned of his woo Allas quod he þis is a wikked Iape / Now may I say þat I am but an ape Ȝet haþ my felaw somwat for his harm he haþ þe myllers doughter in his arm he auntred him and has his needes sped And I lye as a draf sak in my bed And when þis Iape is tald anoþer day I sal be held a daf a cokenay vnhardy is vnsely as men saith I wol arise and auntre it in good faiþ And vp he ros and softely he wente / vnto þe cradil and in his hand it hente And bar it softe vnto his beddis feet Soone after þis þe wyf hir routyng leet / And gan awake and went hir for to pisse And cam agayn and gan hir cradel mysse And groped heer and þer but sche fond noon Allas quod sche / I had almost mys goon I had almost goon to þe clerkes bed Ey bendicite þan had I foule I-sped And forþ sche goþ til sche þe cradil fand Sche gropith alway forther with hir hand And fand þe bed and þoughte nat but good By cause þat þe cradil by hit stood Nat knowyng wher sche was for it was derk But fair and wel sche creep in to þe clerk And lith ful stille and wolde han caught a sleep wiþinne a while Iohn þe clerk vp leep And on this goode wyf leyþ on ful sore So mery a fytt/ ne hadd sche nat ful ȝore he prikeþ harde and deepe as he were mad This Ioly lyf han þis twey clerkes had Til þat þe þridde cok bygan to synge Aleyn wax wery in þe dawenynge For he had swonken al þe longe night/ And seyd far wel malyn my sweete wight The day is come I may no lenger byde / But euermo wher so I go or ryde I am þin owen clerk so haue I seel Now deere lemman quod sche go far wel But or þou go o thing I wol þe telle whan þat þou wendist homward by þe melle Right at þe entre of þe dore byhynde Thou schalt a cake of half a busshel fynde That was I-maked of þyn owen mele Which þat I hilp myn owen self to stele And goode lemman god þe saue and kepe And wiþ þat word almost sche gan to weepe Aleyn vprist and þought er þat it dawe I wol go crepen in by my felawe And fand þe cradil wiþ his hand anon By god þought he al wrong I haue I-goon My heed is toty of my swynk to nyght That / makes me þat I ga nouȝt aright I wot wel by þe cradel I haue mys go heer lith þe myller and his wyf also Forþ he goþ in twenty deuelway vnto þe bed þer as þe Miller lay he wende haue crope by his felaw Ion And by þe myller in he creep anon And caught him by þe nekke and soft he spak And seyde Ion þou swyneshed awak For cristes sowle and here a noble game For by þat lord þat cleped is seynt Iame As I haue þries in þis schorte night Swyued þe myllers douȝter bolt vpright whiles þou hast as a coward ben agast Ȝe false harlot quod þis mellere hast/ A false traitour false clerk quod he Thou schalt be deed by goddes dignite who durste be so bold to disparage My doughter þat is com of hih lynage / And by þe þrote-bolle he caught aleyn And he hent him dispitously ageyn And on þe nose he smot him with his fest Doun ran þe blody streem vpon his brest And in þe floor wiþ nose and mouþ to-broke They walweden as pigges in a poke And vpon þay goon and doun þey goon anon Til þat þe Millner stumbled at a ston And doun he felle / bakward on his wyf That wyste noþing of þis nyce stryf For sche was falle a sleepe a litel wight wiþ Ion þe Clerk þat waked al þe night And wiþ þe falle right out of slepe sche brayde help holy croys of Bromholme sche sayde In manus tuas lord to þe I calle / Awake Symond þe feend is in þin halle My hert is broken help I am but deed Ther lythe vpon my wombe and on myn heed Help Symkyn for þis false clerkes fight This Iohn stert vp as fast as euer he might And grasped by þe walles to and fro To fynde a staf & sche sturt vp also And knewe þe estres bet þan dede Ion And by þe wal sche took a staf anon And sawh a litel glymeryng of light For at an hool in schon þe moone light And by þat light she saugh hem boþe two But sikirly sche wiste nat who was who But sche saugh a whit þing in hir ye And whan sche gan þis white þing aspye Sche wend þe clerk had wered a volupeer And wiþ a staf sche drough hir neer and neer And wend haue hit þis Aleyn atte fulle And smot þis meller on þe piled sculle And doun he goþ and cryeþ harrow I dye This clerkes beeten him wel and leet him lye And greyth hem wel and take her hors anon And eek/ here mele and hoom anon þey goon And at the Millen dore þey tok here cake Of half a buisshel flour ful wel I-bake Thus is þe prowde Miller wel I-bete And haþ I-lost þe gryndyng of þe whete / And payed for þe soper euerydel Of aleyn and of Iohn þat beten him wel His wyf is swyued and his doughter als Lo such it is a Miller to be fals And þerto þis prouerbe is seyd ful soþ he þar nat weene wel þat euyl doþ A gylour schal him self bygiled be And god þat sittest in þy mageste Saue al þis compaignie gret and smale / Thus haue I quit þe Miller in his tale / ¶ her endeþ þe Reeues tale[Break of one line in the MS.] The Cook of londoun whil þe Reeue spak For Ioye he þought / he clawed him on þe bak ha ha quod he / for cristes passioun This meller haþ a scharp conclusioun / vpon his argument of herburgage wel seyde Salomon in his langage / Ne bryng nat euery man in to þyn hous For herburgage by night is perilous wel aught a man avised for to be whom þat he brought in to his pryuyte I pray to god so gyf my body care / Ȝif euer siþþe I highte hogge of ware herd I better myller set a werke / he hadde a Iape of malice in þe derke / And þerfore if ȝe fouche sauf to heere But god forbede þat we stynten heere / A tale of me þat am a pouer man I wol ȝow telle as wel as I kan A litel Iape þat fel in oure cite Oure host seyde I graunt it the Now telle on Roger & loke it be good For many a pastey hastow lete blood And many a Iakk of douer hastow sold That haþ be twyes hoot and twyes cold Of many a pilgrym hastow cristes curs For þy persly þey faren ȝet þe wors That they haue eten wiþ þe stubbil goos For in þy schoppe is many a flye loos Now goode / gentil Roger by þy name / But ȝit I pray þe be nought wroþ for game . . . . .No gap in the MS. Thow saist ful soþ quod Roger by my faith But soth play quad play as þe flemyng saith . . . . .No gap in the MS. Be thou nat wroþ or we departe her Though þat my tale be of an hostyler But naþeles I wol not telle it ȝit/ But or we departe it schal be quyt/ And þer wiþ al he lowh / and made chere And seyde his tale as ȝe schal after heere[No break in the MS.] A Prentys dwelled whilom in oure Citee, Of a craft of vitaillers was he Gaylard he was as goldfynch in þe schawe / Broun as a bery and a propre felawe wiþ lokkes blak and kempt ful fetously Dauncen he cowde wel and prately That he was cleped Perkyn reuellour he was ful of loue and paramour As is þe hony combe of hony swete wel were þe wenche þat mighte him meete . . . . . . . . . .No gap in the MS. FOr whan þer eny rydyng was in cheepe / Out of þe schoppe þider wolde he lepe / Tyl he hadde al þat sight I-seyn And daunced wel he nold nat come ageyn And gadred him a meyne of his sort To hoppe and synge and make such disport And þer þey setten steuene for to meete To pleyen atte dys in such a strete For in þe toun ne was þer no prentys That fairer cowde caste a peyre dys Than Perkyn couþe and þerto he was free / Of his dispence in place of pryuyte That fand his mayster wel in his chaffare For often tyme he fond his box ful bare For such a ioly prentys reuelour That haunteþ dys Reuel or paramour his maister schal it in his schoppe abye Al haue he no part of þe mynstralcye For þefte and ryot be conuertyble Al can þey pley on giterne and rubible Reuel and trouþe as in a lowe degre They ben ful wroþ al day as ȝe may see This Ioly Prentys with his mayster bood Til he was oute neyȝ of his prentys hood Al were he snybbyd boþe erly and late And som tyme lad with reuel in to Newgate But atte laste his mayster him bythought vpon a day whan he his papyr sought Of a prouerbe þat siþ þis same word wel bette is roten appul out of hord Than it rote al þe remenaunt/ So fareth it by a ryotous seruaunt hit is ful lasse harm to late him pa Than he schend al þe seruauntes in þe place Therfore his mayster ȝaf him acqueyntaunce And bad him go wiþ sorwe and wiþ meschaunce And þus þe ioly prentys had his leue // Now let hym ryot al þe night or leue.[Lines 4413, 4414 form the last line of the page in the MS.] APPENDIX TO GROUP A. [THE SPURIOUS TALE OF GAMELYN.] LItheth and lestneþ and herkneþ aright And ȝe schul heere a talkyng of a doughty knight Sire Iohn of Boundys was his right name he cowde of/ norture ynough & mochil of game Thre sones þe knight · þat with his body he wan The eldest was a moche schrewe / and sone he bygan his breþeren loued wel here fader / and of him were agast / The eldest deserued his fadres curs / and had it at þe last / The goode kniȝt his fader lyuede so ȝore That deth was comen him to and handled him ful sore The goode knight cared sore . sik þer he lay how his children scholde lyuen after his day he hadde ben wyde wher . but non housbond he was Al þe lond þat he had / it was verrey purchas Fayn he wold it were dressed / amonges hem alle That ech of hem had his part / as it might falle / Tho sent he in to cuntre after wise knightes To helpe delen his londes / and dressen hem to rightes he sent hem word by lettres / þey schulden hye blyue yf þey wolde speke with him whil he was on lyue / ¶ Tho þe knyghtes herden / sik þer he lay hadde þey no reste noþer night ne day Til þey comen to him þer he lay stille / On his deþ bedde . to abyde goddes wille Þan seyde þe goode knight syk þer he lay lordes I ȝou warne for soþ wiþoute nay I may no lengere lyuen heer in þis stounde For þurgh goddes wille deþ draweth me to grounde Ther nas non of hem alle . þat herd him aright Þat þey hadden reuþe of þat ilke knight And seyde sir for goddes loue ne dismay ȝou nought God may do bote of bale þat is now I-wrought ¶ Than spak þe goode knight sik þer he lay Boote of bale god may sende I wot it is no nay But I byseke ȝou kniȝtes for þe loue of me Goþ and dresseþ my lond among my sones þre And sires for þe loue of god deleþ hem nat amys And forgetiþ nat Gamelyn my ȝonge sone þat is Takeþ heed to þat on as wel as to þat oþer Selde ȝe see ony Eyr helpen his broþer ¶ þo leete þey þe knight lyen þat was nought in hele / And wenten in to counseil his londes for to dele / For to delen hem alle /. to oon þat was her þought And for Gamelyn was ȝongest / he schuld haue nouȝt Al þe lond þat þer was þey dalten it in two And leeten Gamelyn þe ȝonge wiþoute lond go And ech of hem seyde to oþer ful lowde His breþeren might ȝeue him lond whan he good cowde whan þey hadde deled þe lond at here wille þey come aȝein to þe knight þer he lay ful stille And tolden him anon-right / how þey hadden wrought And þe knight þere he lay liked it right nought Than seyde þe knight / by seynt Martyn For al þat ȝe haue y-doon ȝit is the lond myn For goddes loue neyhebours stondeþ alle stille And I wil dele my lond / after my wille Iohan myn eldeste sone / schal haue plowes fyue That was my fadres heritage whil he was on lyue And my myddeleste sone / fyf plowes of lond That I halp for to gete wiþ my right hond And al myn other purchas / of londes and leedes Þat I byqueþe gamelyn / and alle my goode steedes And I byseke ȝow goode men þat lawe conne of londe For Gamelynes loue þat my queste stonde Thus dalte þe knight his lond by his day Right on his deþ bed / sik þer he lay And sone aftirward he lay stoon stille / And deyde whan tyme com / as it was cristes wille And anon as he was deed and vnder gras I-graue / Sone þe elder broþer gyled þe ȝonge knaue He took in to his hond / his lond as his leede And Gamelyn himselfe / to clothen and to feede He clothed him and fed him yuel and eek wroþe And leet his londes forfare and his houses boþe his parkes and his woodes / and dede noþing wel And seþþen he it abought on his faire fel So longe was Gamelyn in his broþeres halle For þe strengest of good wil þey doutiden him alle / Þer was non þer Inne nowþer ȝong ne olde That wolde wraþþe Gamelyn were he neuer so bolde / Gamelyn stood on a day in his broþeres ȝerde And bygan wiþ his hond to handlen his berde he þought on his londes þat layen vnsawe And his faire Okes þat doun were I-drawe his parkes were I-broken / and his deer byreeued Of alle his goode steedes noon was him byleued his howses were vnhiled / and ful yuel dight Tho þoughte Gamelyn it wente nought aright Afterward cam his broþer walkynge þare And seyde to Gamelyn is our mete ȝare / Tho wraþþed him gamelyn and swor by goddes book Thou schalt go bake þi self / I wil nouȝt be þy cook how broþer Gamelyn / how answerest þou now / þou spake neuer such a word as þou dost now / By my faith seyde Gamelyn now me þinkeþ neede / Of alle þe harmes þat I haue I tok neuer ar heede My parkes ben tobroken and my deer byreued Of myn armure and my steedes nought is me bileued Al þat my fader me byquaþ al goþ to schame / And þerfor haue þou goddes curs broþer by þy name Than byspak his broþer þat rape was of rees / Stond stille gadelyng / and hold right þy pees / Thou schalt be fayn for to haue þy mete and þy wede / what spekest þou Gamelyn of lond oþer of leede Thanne seyde Gamelyn þe child þat was ying Cristes curs mot he haue þat clepeþ me gadelyng I am no worse gadelyng ne no worse wight But born of a lady and geten of a knight Ne durst he nat to Gamelyn ner a foote go But clepide to him his men and seyde to hem þo Goþ and beteþ þis boy and reueþ him his wyt / And lat him leren anoþer tyme to answere me bet Thanne seyde þe child ȝonge Gamelyn Cristes curs mot þou haue broþer art þou myn And if I schal algate be beten anon Cristes curs mot þou haue but þou be þat oon And anon his broþer in þag grete hete Made his men to fette staues Gamelyn to bete whan þat euerich of hem / a staf had I-nome Gamelyn was war anon þo he seigh hem come þo gamelyn seyh hem come / he loked ouer al And was war of a pestel stood vnder a wal Gamelyn was light of foot / and þider gan he lepe And drof alle his broþeres men right on an hepe he loked as a wilde lyoun and leyde on good woon Tho his broþer say þat he bigan to goon · he fley vp in til a loft and schette þe dore fast Thus Gamelyn wiþ þe pestel made hem alle agast Some for Gamelynes loue / and some for his eyȝe / Alle þey drowe by halues // þo he gan to pleyȝe / what how now seyde Gamelyn euel mot ȝe thee wil ȝe bygynne contek and so sone flee / Gamelyn sought his broþer / whider he was flowe And saugh wher he loked out / at a wyndowe / Broþer sayde Gamelyn com a litel ner And I wil teche þe a play atte bokeler his broþer him answerde and swor by seynt Rycher whil þe pestel is in þin hond I wil come no neer Broþer I wil make þy pees / I swere by cristes ore Cast away þe pestel and wraþþe þe nomore / I mot neede sayde Gamelyn wraþþe me at oones For thou wolde make þy men to breke myne boones Ne had I hadde mayn and might in myn armes To haue I-put hem fro me he wolde haue do me harmes Gamelyn sayde his broþer be þou nought wroþ For to seen þe haue harm it were me right loþ I ne dide it nouȝt broþer but for a fondyng For to loken or þou were strong and art so ying Com a doun þan to me and graunte me my bone Of þing I wil þe aske / and we schul saughte sone Doun þan cam his broþer þat fykil was and felle And was swiþe sore agast of þe pestelle he seyde broþer Gamelyn aske me þy boone And loke þou me blame but I graunte sone Thanne seyde Gamelyn broþer I-wys And we schulle ben at oon þou most me graunte þis Al þat my fader me byquath whil he was on lyue / Þou most do me it haue ȝif we schul nat stryue / That schalt þou haue Gamelyn I swere by cristes ore Al þat þi fader the byquaþ þough þou woldest haue more Thy lond þat lyþ laye ful wel it schal be sowe And þyn howses reysed vp þat ben leyd so lowe Thus seyde þe knight to Gamelyn wiþ mowthe / And þought eek of falsnes / as he wel couþe / The king þought on tresoun / and Gamelyn on noon And went and kist his broþer / and whan þey were at oon Allas ȝonge Gamelyn noþing he ne wiste / wiþ which a false tresoun his broþer him kiste / LIþeth and lestneþ and holdeþ ȝour tonge And ȝe schul heere talkyng of Gamelyn þe yonge Ther was þer bysiden cryed a wrastlyng And þerfor þer was sette vp a Ram and a Ryng And Gamelyn was in good wil/ to wende þerto / For to preuen his might what he cowþe do Broþer seyde Gamelyn by seynt Richer Thou most lene me to nyȝt // a litel Courser That is freisch to the spore on for to ryde I most on an Erande a litel her byside By god seyd his brother of steedes in my stalle Go and chese þe þe best and spare non of alle Of steedes or of course þat stonden hem bisyde And tel me goode broþer whider þou wolt ryde ¶ her byside broþer is cryed a wrastlyng And þerfor schal be set vp a Ram and a Ryng Moche worschip it were broþer to vs alle Might I þe Ram and þe Ryng bryng home to þis halle A steede þer was sadeled smertely and skeet Gamelyn did a paire spores fast on his feet he set his foot in styrop / þe steede he bystrood And toward þe wrastelyng þe ȝonge child rood Tho Gamelyn þe yonge was ride out at þe gate The fals kniȝt his broþer lokked it after þate And bysoughte ihū crist þat is heuen kyng he mighte breke his nekke in þat wrastlyng As sone as Gamelyn com þer þe place was / he lighte doun of his steede and stood on þe gras / And þer he herd a Frankeleyn wayloway syng And bigan bitterly his hondes for to wryng Goode man seyde Gamelyn why makestow þis fare Is þer no man þat may ȝou helpe out of þis care Allas seyde þis Frankeleyn þat euer was I bore For tweye stalworþe sones / I wene þat I haue lore A Champioun is in þe place / þat haþ I-wrought me sorwe For he haþ slayn my two sones / but if god hem borwe / I wold ȝeue ten pound by ihū crist and more wiþ þe nones I fand a man to handil him sore Goode man seyde Gamelyn wilt þou wel doon hold myn hors whil my man draweþ of my schoon · And help my man to kepe my cloþes and my steede / And I wil in to place go / to loke if I may speede / By god sayde þe Frankeleyn anon it schal be doon I wil my self be þy man / and drawen of þy schoon And wende þou in to þe place / ihū crist þe speede / And drede not of þy cloþes nor of þy goode steede / BArfoot and vngert . Gamelyn in cam Alle þat weren in þe place heede of him þey nam how he durst auntre him of him to doon his might That was so doughty champioun in wrastlyng and in fight vp sterte þe Champioun raply and anoon Toward ȝonge Gamelyn / he bigan to goon And sayde who is þy fader and who is þy sire For soþe þou art a gret fool þat þou come hire Gamelyn answerde þe champioun tho þou knewe wel my fader / whil he couþe go whiles he was on lyue / by seint martyn Sir Iohn of Boundys was his name and I gamelyn Felaw seyde þe champioun al so mot I þryue I knew wel þy fader whil he was on lyue And þiself Gamelyn I wil þat þou it heere whil þou were a ȝong boy a moche schrewe þou were þan seyde Gamelyn and swor by cristes ore Now I am older woxe þou schalt me fynd a more By god sayde þe Champioun welcome mote þou be Come þou ones in myn hond schalt þou neuer þe It was wel wiþinne þe night and þe moone schon whan Gamelyn and þe Champioun to-gider gon to goon The champioun caste tornes to Gamelyn þat was prest And Gamelyn stood stille and bad him doon his best Thanne seyde Gamelyn to þe Champioun Thou art fast aboute to brynge me a doun Now I haue I-proued many tornes of þyne Thow most he seyde prouen on or tuo of myne Gamelyn to þe Champioun ȝede smartly anon Of alle þe tornes þat he cowþe he schewed him but oon And kast him on þe left syde þat þre ribbes tobrak And þerto his oon arm þat ȝaf a gret crak Thanne seyde Gamelyn smertly anoon Schal it be holde for a cast or elles for noon. By god seyd þe Champioun wheþer þat it bee he þat comes ones in þin hand schal he neuer þee Than seyde þe Frankeleyn / þat had his sones þere Blessed be þou gamelyn þat euer þou bore were The Frankleyn seyd to þe Champioun of him stood him noon eye This is yonge Gamelyn þat taughte þe þis pleye Aȝein answerd the Champioun þat liked no þing well he is a liþer mayster and his pley is riȝt fell Siþ I wrastled first / it is I-go ful ȝore But I was neuere my lyf handled so sore Gamelyn stood in þe place allone wiþoute serk And seyd if þer be eny mo lat hem come to werk The Champioun þat peyned him to werke so sore It semeþ by his continaunce þat he wil nomore Gamelyn in þe place / stood as stille as stoon· For to abyde wrastelyng but þer com noon Ther was noon with Gamelyn wolde wrastle more / For he handled þe Champioun so wonderly sore / Two gentil men þer were þat yemede þe place Comen to Gamelyn god ȝeue him goode grace And sayde to him do on / þyn hosen and þy schoon For soþe at þis tyme þis feire is I-doon· And þan seyde Gamelyn so mot I wel fare / I haue nought ȝet haluendel sold vp my ware / Tho seyde þe Champioun so brouk I my sweere he is a fool þat þer of beyeþ / þou sellest it so deere Tho sayde þe Frankeleyn þat was in moche care Felaw he seyde / why lakkest þou his ware / By seynt Iame in Galys þat many man haþ sought Ȝet it is to good cheep þat þou hast I-bought Tho þat wardeynes were of þat wrastlyng Come and broughte Gamelyn þe Ram and þe Ryng And seyden haue Gamelyn þe Ryng and þe Ram For þe best wrasteler þat euer here cam· Thus wan Gamelyn þe Ram and þe Ryng And wente wiþ moche ioye home in þe mornyng His broþer seih wher he cam with þe grete rowte / And bad schitte þe gate and holde him wiþoute The porter of his lord was ful sore agast And stert anon to þe gate and lokked it fast NOw litheþ and lestneþ boþe ȝong and olde And ȝe schul heere gamen of Gamelyn þe bolde Gamelyn com þerto for to haue comen In. And þanne was it I-schet faste wiþ a pyn Than seyde Gamelyn porter vndo þe yate For many good mannes sone stondeþ þer-ate Than answerd þe porter and swor by goddes berd Thow ne schalt Gamelyn come in to þis ȝerde Thow lixt sayde Gamelyn so browke I my chyn he smot þe wyket wiþ his foot and brak awey þe pyn The porter seyh þo it might no better be He sette foot on erþe he bigan to flee By my faiþ seyde Gamelyn þat trauail is I-lore For I am of foot as light as þou þough þou haddest swore Gamelyn ouertook þe porter and his teene wrak And gert him in þe nekke þat þe bon tobrak And took him by þat oon arm and þrew him in a welle Seuen fadmen it was deep . as I haue herd telle / whan Gamelyn þe yonge þus hadde pleyd his play Alle þat in þe ȝerde were drewen hem a way Þey dredden him ful sore for werkes þat he wrouȝte And for þe faire company þat he þider broughte Gamelyn ȝede to þe gate / and leet it vp wyde he leet in alle maner men þat gon in wold or ryde And seyde ȝe be welcome wiþouten eny greeue / For we wiln be maistres heer / and aske no man leue / Ȝestirday I lefte / seyde ȝonge Gamelyn· In my broþer Seller .v. tonne of wyn I wil not þat þis compaignye parten a-twynne / And ȝe wil doon after me while eny sope is þrynne And if my broþer grucche or make foul cheere Oþer for spense of mete or drynk þat we spenden heere / I am oure catour / and bere oure aller purs / he schal haue for his grucchyng seint maries curs My broþer is a nyggoun / I swer by cristes ore And we wil spende largely þat he haþ spared ȝore / And who þat makeþ grucchyng / þat we here dwelle he schal to þe porter in to þe draw-welle vij. dayes and .vij. nyght Gamelyn held his feste with moche myrþ and solas / þat was þer and no cheste / In a litel toret his brother lay I-steke And sey hem wasten his good but durst he not speke Erly on a mornyng on þe viij.e day The gestes come to Gamelyn and wolde gon here way Lordes seyde Gamelyn / wil ȝe so hye Al þe wyn is not ȝet y-dronke so brouk I myn ye Gamelyn in his herte was he ful wo whan his gestes took her leue from him for to go he wold þey had lenger abide / and þey seyde nay But bitaughte Gamelyn god and good day Thus made Gamelyn his fest / and brought it wel to ende And after his gestys took leue to wende LItheþ and lestneþ and holdeþ ȝoure tonge And ȝe schul heere gamen of Gamelyn þe ȝonge / herkneþ lordynges and lesteneþ aright whan alle gestes were goon how Gamelyn was dight Al þe whil þat Gamelyn heeld his mangerye his broþer þought on him be wreke / wiþ his treccherie Tho Gamelyns gestes were riden and I-goon Gamelyn stood allone frendes had he noon Tho after ful soone wiþinne a litel stounde Gamelyn was I-take and ful hard I-bounde Forþ com þe fals knight out of þe selleer To Gamelyn his broþer he ȝede ful neer And sayde to Gamelyn who made þe so bold For to stroye my stoor of myn houshold Broþer seyde Gamelyn wraþþe þe right nouȝt For it is many day I-gon siþþen it was bouȝt For broþer þou hast I-had by seynt richer Of xv. plowes of lond þis .xvj. ȝer And of alle þe beestes þou hast forþ bred That my fader me biquath on his deth bed Of al þis xvj. ȝeer I ȝeue þe þe prow For þe mete and þe drynk þat we haue spended now / Thanne seyde þe fals knyȝt euel mot he the Herkne broþer Gamelyn what I wol ȝeue þe For of my body broþer geten heir haue I noon I wil make þe myn heir I swere by seint Iohn Par ma foy sayd Gamelyn and if it so be And þou þenke as þou seyst god ȝelde it þe No þing wiste Gamelyn of his broþeres gyle Therfore he him bigyled in a litel while Gamelyn seyde he o thing/ I þe telle Tho þou þrewe my porter in þe draw-welle I swor in þat wraþþe and in þat grete moot That þou schuldest be bounde boþe hand and foot Therfore I þe biseche brother Gamelyn Lat me nought be forsworn broþer art þou myn lat me bynde þe now boþe hand and feet For to holde myn avow as I þe biheet Broþer sayde Gamelyn also mot I þe Thou schalt not be forsworen for þe loue of me Tho made þey Gamelyn to sitte might he nat stonde Til þey had him bounde boþe foot and honde / The fals knight his broþer of Gamelyn was agast And sent aftir feteres to feteren him fast His broþer made lesynges on him þer he stood And told hem þat comen In þat Gamelyn was wood Gamelyn stood to a post bounden in þe halle / Tho þat comen in þer loked on him alle / Euer stood Gamelyn euen vpright But mete ne drynk had he non neiþer day ne night Than seyde Gamelyn broþer by myn hals Now I haue aspied þou art a party fals / had I wist þat tresoun þat þou haddest y-founde I wolde haue ȝeue þe strokes or I had be bounde / Gamelyn stood bounden stille as eny stoon· Two dayes and two nightes mete had he noon Thanne seyde Gamelyn þat stood y-bounde stronge / Adam Spencer me þinkþ I faste to longe Adam Spencer now I byseche þe For þe mochel loue my fader loued þe/ yf þou may come to þe keyes lese me out of bond And I wil parte wiþ þe of my free lond Thanne seyde adam þat was þe Spencer I haue serued þy broþer þis xvj. ȝeer If I leete þe goon out of his bour he wolde say afterward I were a traytour Adam sayde Gamelyn so brouk I myn hals þou schalt fynde my broþer atte laste fals Therfor broþer adam louse me out of bond And I wil parte wiþ þe of my free lond vp swich a forward seyde adam I-wys I wil do þerto al þat in me is Adam seyde Gamelyn al so mot I þe I wol hold þe couenaunt and þou wil me Anon as adames lord to bedde was I-goon Adam took þe keyes and leet gamelyn out anoon He vnlokked Gamelyn boþe hand and feet In hope of auauncement þat he him byheet Than seyde Gamelyn þanked be goddes sonde Now I am loosed boþe foot and honde / had I now eten and dronken aright Ther is noon in þis hous schulde bynde me þis night Adam took Gamelyn as stille as ony stoon And ladde him into spence rapely and anon And sette him to soper right in a priue stede he bad him do gladly and Gamelyn so dede Anon as gamelyn hadde eten wel & fyn And þerto y-dronke wel of þe rede wyn Adam seyde Gamelyn what is now þy reed wher I go to my broþer and girde of his heed Gamelyn seyde adam it schal not be so I can teche þe a reed þat is worþ þe two I wot wel for soþe þat þis is no nay we schul haue a mangery right on sonday Abbotes and priours many heer schal be And oþer men of holy chirche as I telle þe / Thow schalt stonde vp by þe post as þou were hond-fast/ And I schal leue hem vnloke awey þou may hem cast whan þat þey haue eten and waisschen here hondes Thou schalt biseke hem alle to bryng þe out of bondes And if þey wille borwe þe þat were good game Then were þou out of prisoun and I out of blame And if euerich of hem say vnto vs nay I schal do anoþer I swere by þis day Thou schalt haue a good staf and I wil haue anoþer And cristes curs haue þat oon þat faileþ þat oþer Ȝe for gode sayde Gamelyn I say it for me If I fayle on my syde yuel mot I þe If we schul algate assoile hem of here synne warne me broþer adam whan I schal bygynne Gamelyn seyde adam by seynte charite I wil warne þe byforn whan þat it schal be whan I twynk on þe loke for to goon And cast awey þe feteres and com to me anoon· Adam seide Gamelyn blessed be þy bones That is a good counseil ȝeuyng for þe nones If þey werne me þanne to brynge me out of bendes I wol sette goode strokes right on here lendes Tho þe sonday was I-come and folk to þe feste / Faire þey were welcomed boþe lest and meste And euer as þey atte halle/ dore comen In· They caste þeir eye on ȝonge Gamelyn The fals knight his broþer ful of trechery Alle þe gestes þat þer wer atte mangery Of Gamelyn his broþer he tolde hem with mouþe Al þe harm and þe schame þat he telle couþe Tho þey were serued Of messes tuo oþer þre Than seyde Gamelyn how serue ȝe me It is nouȝt wel serued by god þat al made That I sytte fastyng and oþer men make glade The fals knight his broþer þer þat he stood Tolde alle his gestes þat Gamelyn was wood And Gamelyn stood stille and answerde nought But adames wordes he held in his þought / Tho Gamelyn gan speke dolfully wiþ alle / To þe grete lordes þat saten in þe halle lordes he seyde for cristes passioun helpeþ brynge Gamelyn out of prisoun Than seyde an abbot sorwe on his cheeke he schal haue cristes curs and seynte maries eeke That þe out of prisoun beggeþ oþer borwe But euer worthe hem wel þat doþ þe moche sorwe After þat abbot þan spak anoþer I wold þin heed were of þough þou were my broþer Alle þat þe borwe / foule mot hem falle Thus þey seyde alle þat were in þe halle Than seyde a priour yuel mot he þryue It is moche skaþe boy þat þou art on lyue Ow . seyde Gamelyn so brouk I my bon Now I haue aspyed þat freendes haue I non Cursed mot he worþe boþe fleisch and blood That euer do Priour or abbot ony good Adam þe Spencer took vp þe cloþ And loked on Gamelyn and say þat he was wroth Adam on þe pantrye litel he þought / But tuo goode staues to hall dore he brouȝt Adam loked on Gamelyn and he was war anoon And cast awey þe feteres and he bigan to goon Tho he com to adam he took þat oo staf And bygan to worche and goode strokes ȝaf Gamelyn cam into þe halle and þe spencer boþe And loked hem aboute as þey had be wroþe Gamelyn sprengeþ holywater wiþ an Oken spire ./ That some þat stoode vpright fel in þe fire Ther was no lewede man þat in þe halle stood That wolde do Gamelyn eny þing but good But stood besyde and leet hem boþe werche For þey hadde no rewþe of men of holy cherche Abbot or priour monk or Chanoun That Gamelyn ouertok anon þey ȝeeden doun Ther was non of hem alle þat wiþ his staf mette That he made him ouerþrowe and quyt him his dette Gamelyn seyde adam for seynte charite Pay large lyuerey for þe loue of me And I wil kepe þe dore so euer here I masse / Er þey ben assoyled þere schan noon passe Dowt þe nought seyde Gamelyn whil we ben in feere kep þou wel þe dore / and I wol werche heere Stere þe good adam and lat þer noon flee And we schul telle largely how many þer be Gamelyn seyde adam do hem but good Þey ben men of holy chirche / draw of hem no blood Saue wel þe croune and do hem non harmes But brek boþe her legges and siþþen here armes Thus Gamelyn and adam wroughte right fast And pleyden wiþ þe monkes and made hem agast Thider þey come rydyng iolily wiþ swaynes And hom aȝen þey were I-lad in cartes and in waynes Tho þey hadden al y-don þan seyde a gray frere Allas sire abbot what dide we now heere Tho þat comen hider it was a cold reed vs hadde ben better at home wiþ water and breed Whil Gamelyn made ordres of monkes and frere / Euer stood his broþer and made foul chere / Gamelyn vp wiþ his staf þat he wel knew And gert/ him in þe nekke þat he ouerþrew Alitel aboue þe girdel þe Riggebon tobarst/ And sette him in þe feteres þer he sat arst Sitte þer broþer sayde Gamelyn· For to colyn þy blood as I dide myn As swiþe as þey hadde / I-wroken hem on here foon They askeden watir and wisschen anoon. what some for here loue and some for awe / Alle þe seruantȝ serued hem of þe beste lawe / The scherreue was þennes but a fyue myle And al was y-told him in a litel while How Gamelyn and adam had doon a sory rees Bounden and I-wounded men aȝein þe kinges pees Tho bigan sone strif for to wake / And þe scherref aboute Gamelyn for to take / NOw lytheþ and lestneþ so god ȝif ȝou goode fyn And ȝe schul heere good game of ȝonge Gamelyn Four and twenty ȝonge men þat heelden hem ful bolde Come to þe schirref and seyde þat þey wolde / Gamelyn and adam fetten away The scherref ȝaf hem leue soþ as I ȝou say They hyeden faste wold þey nought bylynne / Til þey come to þe ȝate þer Gamelyn was Inne They knokked on þe gate þe porter was ny And loked out at an hol as man þat was sly The porter hadde byholde hem a litel while / he loued wel Gamelyn and was adrad of gyle And leet þe wyket stonden y-steke ful stylle And asked hem wiþoute what was here wille For al þe grete company þanne spak but oon Vndo þe gate porter and lat vs in goon Than seyde þe porter so brouke I my chyn ȝe schul sey ȝour erand er ȝe comen In Sey to Gamelyn and adam if here wille be we wil speke wiþ hem wordes two or þre Felaw seyde þe porter stond þere stille And I wil wende to Gamelyn to witen his wille In went þe porter to Gamelyn anoon And seyde sir I warne ȝou her ben come ȝour foon The scherreues meyne ben atte gate / For to take ȝou boþe schul ȝe na skape / Porter seyde Gamelyn so moot I wel þe / I wil allowe þe þy wordes whan I my tyme se Go agayn to þe ȝate and dwel wiþ hem a while And þou schalt se right sone porter a gyle Adam sayde Gamelyn looke þe to goon we haue foomen atte gate and frendes neuer oon It ben þe schirrefes men þat hider ben I-come / They ben swore to-gidere þat we schul be nome / Gamelyn seyde adam hye þe right blyue / And if I faile þe þis day euel mot I þryue And we schul so welcome þe scherreues men That som of hem schul make here beddes in þe den Atte posterne gate Gamelyn out went / And a good cart staf in his hand he hente Adam hente sone anoþer gret staf For to helpe Gamelyn and goode strokes ȝaf Adam felde tweyne and Gamelyn felde þre The oþer setten feet on erþe and bygonne fle what seyde adam so euer here I masse I haue a draught of good wyn / drynk er ȝe passe / Nay by god sayde þay / þy drynk is not good It wolde make mannes brayn to lien in his hood Gamelyn stood stille and loked him aboute And seih þe scherreue come with a gret route / Adam seyde Gamelyn what be now þy reedes Here comþ þe scherreue and wil haue oure heedes Adam sayde Gamelyn my reed is now þis Abide we no lenger lest we fare amys I rede þat we to wode goon ar þat we be founde Better is vs þer loos þan in town y-bounde / Adam took by þe hond ȝonge Gamelyn And euerich of hem tuo drank a draught of wyn And after took her coursers and wenten her way Tho fond þe scherreue nest but non ay The scherreue lighte a-doun and went in to þe halle / And fond þe lord y-fetered faste wiþ alle/ The scherreue vnfetered him sone and þat anoon And sent after a leche to hele his rigge boon LEte we now þis fals knight . lyen in his care And talke we of Gamelyn and loke how he fare Gamelyn in to þe woode stalkede stille And adam þe Spenser liked ful ylle / Adam swor to Gamelyn by seynt Richer Now I see it is mery to be a Spencer That leuer me were / keyes for to bere / Than walken in þis wilde woode my clothes to tere / Adam seyde Gamelyn dismaye þe right nought Many good mannes child in care is I-brought And as þey stoode talkyng boþen in feere / Adam herd talkyng of men and neyh him þought þei were Tho Gamelyn vnder þe woode loked aright vij. score of ȝonge men he saugh wel a dight Alle satte atte mete compas aboute / Adam seyde Gamelyn now haue we no doute After bale comeþ boote þurgh grace of god almight Me þynkeþ of mete and drynk þat I haue a sight Adam lokede þo vnder woode bowȝ And whan he seyh mete he was glad ynough For he hopede to god for to haue his deel And he was sore alonged after a good meel As he seyde þat word þe mayster outlawe Saugh Gamelyn and adam vnder woode schawe / Ȝonge men seyde þe maister by þe goode roode I am war of gestes / god send vs non but goode Ȝonder ben tuo ȝonge men wonder wel adight And parauenture þer ben mo / who-so loked aright Ariseþ vp ȝe ȝonge men and fetteþ hem to me / It is good þat we witen what men þey bee / Vp þer sterten seuene / fro þe dyner And metten with Gamelyn and adam Spenser whan þey were neyh hem þan seyde þat oon Ȝeldeth vp ȝonge men ȝour bowes and ȝour floon · Thanne seyde Gamelyn þat yong was of elde Moche sorwe mot he haue þat to ȝou hem ȝelde / I curse non oþer but right my selue Þey ȝe fette to ȝow fyue þanne ȝe be twelue / Tho þey herde by his word þat might was in his arm Ther was non of hem alle / þat wolde do him harm. But sayd vnto gamelyn myldely and stille Com afore our maister and sey to him þy wille yonge men sayde Gamelyn by ȝour lewte what man is ȝour maister þat ȝe wiþ be Alle þey answerde wiþoute lesyng Oure maister is I-crouned of outlawes kyng Adam seyde Gamelyn gowe in cristes name / he may neyþer mete ne drynk werne vs for schame / If þat he be heende and come of gentil blood he wol ȝeue vs mete an drynk and doon vs som good By seynt Iame seyd adam / what harm þat I gete / I wil auntre to þe dore þat I hadde mete Gamelyn and adam wente forþ in feere And þey grette þe maister þat þey founde þere Than seide þe maister kyng of outlawes what seeke ȝe ȝonge men vnder woode schawes Gamelyn answerde þe kyng wiþ his croune / he moste needes walke in woode þat may not walke in towne / Sire we walke not heer noon harm for to do But if we meete wiþ a deer to scheete þerto / As men þat ben hungry and mow no mete fynde And ben harde bystad vnder woode lynde Of Gamelynes wordes þe maister hadde rouþe / And seyde ȝe schal haue ynough haue god my trouþe / he bad hem sitte þer adoun for to take reste / And bad hem [? MS. eite]ete and drynke and þat of þe beste / As þey sete and eeten and dronke wel and fyn · Than seyd þat oon to þat oþer / þis is Gamelyn. Tho was þe maister outlawe in to counseil nome And told how it was Gamelyn þat þider was I-come / Anon as he herde how it was bifalle he made him maister vnder him ouer hem alle / wiþin þe þridde wyke him com tydyng To þe maister outlawe þat þo was her kyng That he schulde come hom his pees was I-made And of þat goode tydyng he was þo ful glad Tho seyde he to his ȝonge men soþ for to telle / Me ben comen tydynges I may no lenger dwelle / Tho was Gamelyn anon wiþoute taryyng Made maister outlawe and crouned her kyng ¶ Tho was Gamelyn crouned kyng of outlawes And walked a while vnder woode schawes The fals knight his broþer was scherreue and sire And leet his broþer endite for hate and for Ire / Tho were his bonde-men sory and noþing glade whan Gamelyn her lord wolues-heed was cryed & made And sente out of his men wher þey might him fynde For to seke Gamelyn vnder woode lynde / To telle him tydynges how þe wynd was went And al his good reued and his men schent ¶ whan þey had him founde on knees þey hem sette / And a-doun wiþ here hood and here lord grette / Sire wraþþe ȝou nought for þe goode roode / For we haue brought ȝou tydynges but þey be nat goode Now is þy broþer scherreue and haþ þe baillye And he haþ endited þe and wolues-heed doþ þe crie ¶ Allas seyde Gamelyn þat euer I was so slak Þat I ne hadde broke his nekke þo his Rigge brak Goþ greteþ hem wel myn housbondes and wyf I wol ben atte nexte schire haue god my lyf Gamelyn came wel redy to þe nexte schire/ And þer was his broþer boþe lord and sire / Gamelyn com boldelych in to þe moot halle And put a doun his hood among þe lordes alle God saue ȝou alle lordynges þat now here be But Brokebak Scherreue euel mot þou þe / why hast þou do me þat schame and vilonye / For to late endite me and woluesheed me crye Tho þought þe fals knight for to ben awreke And leet take Gamelyn most he nomore speke Might þer be nomore grace but Gamelyn atte last was cast in to prisoun and fetered ful fast Gamelyn haþ a broþer þat highte sir Ote As good a knight and heende as mighte gon on foote Anon þer ȝede a messager to þat goode knight And told him altogidere how Gamelyn was dight Anon as sire Ote herde how Gamelyn was a dight he was wonder sory was he no þing light And leet sadle a steede and þe way he nam And to his tweyne breþeren anon right he cam Sire seyde sire Ote to þe scherreue þo / we ben but thre breþeren schul we neuer be mo And þou hast y-prisoned þe best of vs alle / Swich anoþer broþer yuel mot him bifalle Sire Ote seide þe fals knight lat be þi curs / By god for þy wordes he schal fare þe wurs To þe kynges prisoun anon he is y-nome And þer he schal abyde til þe Iustice come / Par de seyde sir Ote better it schal be I bidde him to maympris þat þou graunt him me Til þe nexte sittyng of delyueraunce And þanne lat Gamelyn stande to his chaunce Broþer in swich a forthward I take him to the / And by þi fader soule þat þe bygat and me But if he be redy whan þe Iustice sitte / Thou schalt bere þe Iuggement for al þi grete witte I graunte wel seide sir Ote þat it so be Let delyuer him anon and tak him to me / Tho was Gamelyn delyuered to sire Ote his broþer And þat night dwelleden þat on wiþ þat oþer On þe morn seyde Gamelyn to sir Ote þe heende Broþer he seide I moot / forsothe fro þe wende To loke how my ȝonge men leden here lyf whether þey lyuen in Ioie or elles in stryf By god seyde sire Ote / þat is a cold reed Now I see þat al þe cark schall fallen on myn heed For whan þe Iustice sitte and þou be nought I-founde I schal anon be take and in þy stede I-bounde / Broþer sayde Gamelyn dismaye þe nought For by seint Iame in gales þat many man haþ sought If þat god almighty hold my lyf and witt I wil be þer redy whan þe Iustice sitt Than seide sir Ote to Gamelyn god schilde þe fro schame Com whan þou seest tyme / and bring vs out of blame / LItheþ and lestneþ and holdeþ ȝou stille / And ȝe schul here how Gamelyn had al his wille / Gamelyn wente aȝein vnder woode Rys And fond þere pleying ȝonge men of prys Tho was ȝonge Gamelyn glad & bliþe ynough whan he fond his mery men vnder woode bough Gamelyn and his men talked in feere / And þey hadde good game here maister to heere They tolden him of auentures þat þey hadde founde / And Gamelyn hem tolde aȝein how he was fast I-bounde whil Gamelyn was outlawed had he no cors There was no man þat for him ferde þe wors But abbotes and priours monk and Chanoun On hem left he no þing whan he might hem nom whil Gamelyn and his men made merþes ryue The fals knight his broþer yuel mot he þryue / For he was fast about boþe day and oþer For to hyre þe quest to hangen his broþer Gamelyn stood on a day and as he biheeld The woodes and þe schawes in þe wilde feeld he þought on his broþer how he him beheet That he wolde be redy whan þe Iustice seet he þoughte wel þat he wolde wiþoute delay Come afore þe Iustice to kepen his day And seide to his ȝonge men dighteþ ȝou ȝare / For whan þe Iustice sitt we moote be þare / For I am vnder borwe til þat I come / And my broþer for me to prisoun schal be nome / By seint Iame seyde his ȝonge men and þou rede þerto Ordeyne how it schal be and it schal be do / whil Gamelyn was comyng þer þe Iustice sat/ The fals knight his broþer forȝat he nat þat To huyre þe men on his quest to hangen his broþer Though he hadde nought þat oon he wolde haue þat oþer Tho cam Gamelyn fro vnder woode Rys And broughte wiþ him / his ȝonge men of prys ¶ I se wel seyde Gamelyn þe Iustice is sette Go aforn adam and loke how it spette / Adam went in to þe halle and loked al aboute he seyh þere stonde lordes gret and stoute / And sir Ote his broþer fetered wel fast Þo went adam out of halle as he were agast Adam said to Gamelyn and to his felaws alle Sir Ote stant I-fetered in þe moot halle Ȝonge men seide Gamelyn þis ȝe heeren alle Sir Ote stant I-fetered in þe moot halle If God ȝif vs grace wel for to doo he schal it abegge þat broughte þertoo Thanne sayde adam þat lokkes hadde hore / Cristes curs most he haue þat him bond so sore And þou wilt Gamelyn do after my red Ther is noon in þe halle schal bere a-wey his heed Adam seyde Gamelyn we wilne nought don so / we wil slee þe giltyf and lat þe oþer go I wil in to þe halle /and wiþ þe Iustice speke / On hem þat ben gultyf I wil ben a-wreke lat non skape at þe dore take ȝonge men ȝeme / For I wil be Iustice þis day domes to deme God spede me þis day at my newe werk Adam com on with me / for þou schalt be my clerk His men answereden him and bad him doon his best And if þou to vs haue neede þou schalt fynde vs prest we wiln stande with þe whil þat we may dure And but we werke manly pay vs non hure / yonge men seyde Gamelyn so mot I wel þe As trusty a maister ȝe schal fynde of me / Right þere þe justice sat in þe halle In wente Gamelyn amonges hem alle ¶ Gamelyn leet/ vnfetere his broþer out of beende Thanne seyde sir Ote his broþer þat was heende Thou haddest almost Gamelyn dwelled to longe For þe quest is oute on me þat I schulde honge Broþer seyde Gamelyn so god ȝif me good rest This day þey schuln ben hanged þat ben on þy quest And þe Iustice boþe þat is Iugges man And þe scherreue boþe þurgh him it bigan Than seyde Gamelyn to þe Iustise Now is þy power y-don þou most nedes arise Thow hast ȝeuen domes þat ben yuel dight I wil sitten in þy sete an dressen hem aright The Iustice sat stille and roos nought anoon And Gamelyn cleuede his cheeke boon Gamelyn took him in his arm and no more spak But þrew him ouer þe barre and his arm tobrak Durste non to Gamelyn seye but good For fered of þe company þat wiþoute stood Gamelyn sette him doun in þe Iustices sete / And sire Ote his broþer by him / and adam at his feet whan Gamelyn was I-set in þe Iustices sete herkneþ of a bourde þat Gamelyn dede / he leet fetre þe Iustice and his fals broþer And dede hem come to þe barre þat oon wiþ þat oþer Tho Gamelyn hadde þus y-doon had he no rest Til he had enquered who was on þe quest For to deme his broþer sir Ote for to honge / Er he wiste which þey were he þoughte ful longe But as sone as Gamelyn wiste wher þey were he dede hem euerichone fetere in feere / And bringen hem to þe barre and sette hem in rewe / By my faiþ seyde þe Iustice þe Scherreue is a schrewe Than seyde Gamelyn to þe Iustise Thou hast y-ȝeue domes of þe wors assise And þe .xij. sisours þat weren of þe queste / They schul ben hanged þis day so haue I reste Thanne seide þe scherreue to ȝonge Gamelyn · Lord I crie þe mercy broþer art þou myn Therfore seyde Gamely haue þou cristes curs For and þou were maister ȝit I schulde haue wors For to make schort tale and nouȝt to tarie longe he ordeyned him a queste of his men so stronge The Iustice and þe scherreue boþe honged hye To weyuen wiþ ropes and wiþ þe wynd drye And þe .xij. sisours sorwe haue þat rekke Alle þey were hanged faste by þe nekke / Thus ended þe fals knight wiþ his treccherie That euer had I-lad his lyf in falsnes and folye He was hanged by þe nek and nouȝt by þe purs That was þe meede þat he had for his fadres curs Sir Ote was eldest and Gamelyn was ȝing þey wenten wiþ here freendes euen to þe kyng They made pees wiþ þe kyng of þe best assise The kyng loued wel sir Ote and made him Iustise And after þe kyng made Gamelyn boþe in Est and west Chef Iustice of al his fre forest Alle his wighte ȝonge men þe kyng forȝaf here gilt And sitthen in good office þe kyng hem hath I-pilt Thus wan Gamelyn his lond and his leede And wrak him of his enemys and quyt hem here meede And sire Ote his broþer made him his heir And siþþen wedded Gamelyn a wyf boþe good and feyr They lyueden to-gidere / whil þat crist wolde And siþen was Gamelyn grauen vnder molde And so schal we alle may þer no man fle God bryng vs to þe Ioye þat euer schal be / AMEN[The rest of the page, eleven lines, is blank in the MS.] GROUP B. (FRAGMENT II.) § 1. MAN OF LAW'S HEAD-LINK. HARLEIAN MS. 7334 (British Museum). Owre Hoste sawh þat þe brighte sonne The arke of his artificial day haþ I-ronne The fourþe part of half an hour and more / And þough he were nat depe in lore he wist it was þe þrettenþe day Of april þat is messanger to may And sawe wel þat þe schade of euery tree was in þe lengthe þe same quantite That was þe body erecte þat caused it And þerfore by þe schadwe he took his wit That Phebus which þat schoon so fair and bright Degrees was .xlv. clombe on hight And for þat day as in þat latitude Hit was ten of þe clokke he gan conclude / And sodeynly he plight his hors aboute LOrdynges quod he I warne ȝou al þe route The fourþe party of þis day is goon Now for þe loue of god and of seint Ion leseþ no tyme as forþe as ȝe may lordynges þe tyme passeþ night and day And steliþ fro vs what pryuely slepyng And what þurgh necligence in oure wakyng As doþ þe streem þat torneþ neuer agayn Descendyng fro þe mounteyn in to playn wel can senek and many philosopher Bywaylen tyme more þan gold in cofre For losse of catel may recouered be / But losse of tyme schendeth vs quod he It wil nat come agayn wiþoute drede Nomore þan wol malkyns maydenhede whan sche had lost it in hir wantownesse / let vs nat mowlen þus in ydelnesse SIr man of lawe quod he so haue ȝe blisse Telle vs a tale anon as forward ys Ȝe be submitted þurgh our fre assent/ To stonden in þis cas at my Iuggement Acquyteþ ȝow and holdeþ ȝoure byheste / Than haue ȝe doon ȝour deuour atte leste HOst quod he depardeux I assent To breke forward is nat myn entent/ Byheste is dette and I wol holde fayn Al my byhest I can no better sayn For such lawe as a man ȝeueth anoþer wight he schuld him selue vsen hit by right Thus wol oure text but naþeles certeyn I can right now non oþer tale seyn That Chaucer þey he can but lewedly On metres and on Rymyng certeynly Haþ seyd hem in such englisch as he can Of olde tyme as knoweþ many man And ȝif he haue nouȝt sayd hem leeue brother In O bok he haþ seyd hem in anoþer For he haþ told of louers vp and doun Moo þan Ovide made of mencioun In his Epistelles þat ben so olde what schuld I tellen hem syn þey be tolde / In ȝouþe he made of Coys and alcioun And siþþe haþ he spoke of euerychon These noble wyfes and þese louers eeke who-so wole his large volume seeke Cleped þe seintes legendes of Cupide Ther may he see þe large woundes wyde Of lucresse and of Babiloun Tysbee The sorwe of Dido for þe fals Enee The tree of philles for hir demephon The pleynt of Dyane and of Ermyon Of Adrian and of ysyphilee The barren yle stondyng in þe see / The dreynt leander for hir Erro The teeres of Eleyn and eek þe woo Of bryxseyde and of ledomia The cruelte of þe queen Medea The litel children hangyng by þe hals For þilke Iason þat was of loue so fals O ypermystre penollope and alceste / Ȝoure wyfhood he comendeth wiþ þe beste But certeynly no worde writeþ he Of þilke wikked ensample of Canace That loued hir owen broþer synfully On whiche corsed stories I seye fy Or elles of Tyro appoloneus how þat þe cursed kyng Anteochus Byreft his doughter of hir maydenhede That is so horrible a tale as man may reede whan he hir þrew vpon þe pament And þerfore he of ful auysement wolde neuer wryte in non of his sermouns Of such vnkynde abhominaciouns Ne I wol non reherse if þat I may But of my tale how schal I do þis day Me were loth to be lykned douteles / To muses þat men clepen Pyerides Methamorphoseos wot what I mene But naþeles I recche nat a bene They I come after him with hawe-bake / I speke in proseWas Melibe first meant for the Man of Law? and let him rymes make And wiþ þat word he wiþ a sobre cheere Bygan his tale as ȝe schal after heere¶ Explicit prologus[No break in the MS.] [The Proem] incipit fabula / O Hateful harm condicion of pouerton wiþ þurst wiþ cold wiþ honger so confoundyd To asken help it schameþ in þin hert If þou non aske wiþ neede so art þou woundyd That verray neede vnwrappeþ al þy woundes hyd Maugre þyn heed þou most for Indigence Or stele or begge or borwe þy dispence Thow blamest crist and seyst ful bitterly he mys departeþ riches temporal And þyn neyhebour þou wytes synfully And seyst þou hast to litel and he haþ al Parfay seystow som tyme he rekne schal whan þat his tayl schal brennen in þe gleede For he nought helpeþ þe needful in his neede HErkneþ what is þe sentens of þe wyse Bet is to dye þan haue indigence Thy selue neyghebour wol þe despyse If þou be pore far wel þy reuerence Ȝet of þe wyse man tak þis sentence Alle þe dayes of pore men be wikke / Be war þerfore or þou come to þat prikke / Ȝif þou be pore þy broþer hateþ þe And alle þy frendes fleeþ fro þe allas O Riche marchaundȝ ful of wele be ȝe O noble prudent folk as in þis cas Ȝoure bagges beþ nat fuld wiþ ambes aas But wiþ sys synk þat renneþ on ȝour chaunce At crystemasse wel mery may ȝe daunce Ȝe seeke land and see for ȝour wynnynges As wyse folk as ȝe knowe alle þastates Of regnes / ȝe be fadres of tydynges Of tales boþe of pees and of debates / I were right now of tales desolat Nere þat a marchaunt gon siþþen many a ȝere / Me taught a tale which ȝe schal after heere [The Tale] IN Surrie dwelled whilom a companyeon Of Chapmen riche and þerto sad and trewe That wyde where sent her spycere Cloþes of gold and satyn rich of hewe / her chaffar was so þrifty and so newe That euery wight had deynte to chaffare wiþ hem and eek to selle hem of here ware / Now fel it þat þe maystres of þat sort han schapen hem to Rome for to wende were it for chapmanhode or for disport Non oþer message nolde þey þider sende / But came hemself to Rome þis is þe ende And in such place / as þought hem auanntage For here entent þey tooke her herburgage Soiourned naue þese marchauntȝ in þe toun A certeyn tyme as fel to here plesaunce But so bifell þat þexcellent renoun Of þemperoures doughter dame Custaunce Reported was with euery circumstaunce vnto þese surrienȝ marchauntȝ in such wyse Fro day to day as I schal ȝou deuyse / This was þe comyn voys of euery man Oure emperour of Rome god him see A doughter haþ þat siþ þe world bygan To Rekne as wel hir goodnes as hir bewte / Nas neuer such anoþer as was sche I prey to god hir saue and susteene And wolde sche were of al Europe þe queene In hire is hye bewte wiþoute pryde Ȝowþe wiþoute grefhed or folye To alle here werkes vertu is hire gyde / humblesse haþ slayne in hir tyrrannye / Sche is myrour of alle curtesye / hir herte is verrey chambre of holynesse hir hond mynistre of fredom and almesse And al þis voys is soþ as god is trewe But now to purpos let vs turne aȝein These marchantȝ haue don fraught here schippes newe / And whan þey haue þis blisful mayde seyn · Home to Surrey be þey went aȝein / And doon here needes as þey haue don ȝore And lyuen in wele I can ȝou say no more / Now fel it þat þese marchauntȝ stooden in grace / Of him þat was þe Sowdan of Surrye For whan þey come fro eny straunge place / he wolde of his benigne curtesye Make hem good chere and busily aspye Tydynges of sondry regnes for to lere/ The wordes þat þey mighte seen and heere / Among oþer þinges specially These marchauntȝ him told of dame Constaunce So gret noblesse in ernest so ryally That þis Sowdan haþ caught so gret plesaunce To haue hir figure in his remembraunce And al his lust and al his besy cure was for to loue hir whiles his lyf may dure Par auenture in þilke large booke / which þat is cleped þe heuen I-write was wiþ sterres whan þat he his burþe took That he for loue schulde haue his deþ allas / For in þe sterres clerere þen is glas / Is wryten god woot who-so cowþe it rede The deþ of euery man wiþouten drede IN sterres many a wynter þer byfore was write þe deþ of Ector and Achilles / Of Pompe Iulius er þey were I-bore / The stryf of Thebes and of Ercules / Of Sampson Turnus and of Socrates The deþ but mennes wittes ben so dulle / That no wight can wel rede it at þe fulle This sowdan for his pryue counseil sent And schortly of þis mater for to pace / he haþ to hem declared his entent And seyd hem certeyn but he might haue grace / To haue Constance wiþinne a litel space he nas but deed and charged hem in hyȝe To schapen for his lyf som remedye Dyuerse men dyuers þinges seyde The argumentes casten vp and doun Many a subtyl resoun forþ þey leyden They spekyn of magike and of ambusioun But finally as in conclusioun They can nought seen in þat non auauntage Ne in non oþer wey saue in mariage Than sawgh þey þer in such difficulte By wey of resoun to speke it al playn · By cause þat þer was such dyuersite / Bitwen here boþe lawes as þey sayn They trowe þat no cristen prince wold fayn wedden his child vnder our lawe swete / That vs was taught by mahoun oure prophete / And he answerde raþer þan I lese Constance I wol be cristen douteles / I moot be heres I may non oþer cheese / I pray ȝou haldeth ȝour arguments in pees / Saueþ my lyf and beþ nat recheles / Goþ geteþ hire þat haþ my lyf in cure / For in þis wo I may no lenger dure / What needeþ gretter dilatacioun I say by tretys and ambassatrye And by þe popes mediacioun And al þe chirche and al þe chyualrye / That in destruccioun of mawmetrye And in encresse of cristes lawe deere / They ben acordid as ȝe schal after heere/ How þat þe Soudan and his baronage And alle his lieges schuld I-crystned be / And he schal haue Constance in mariage/ And certeyn gold I not what quantite And þerfore founden þey suffisant seurte This same acord was sworn on euery syde/ Now fair Constance almighty god þe guyde / Now wolde som men wayten as I gesse That I schulde tellen al þe puruyaunce / That þemperour of his gret noblesse / Haþ schapen for his doughter dame Constaunce / wel may men knowe þat so gret ordynaunce May no man telle in so litel a clause / As was arrayed for so high a cause / Bisschops ben schapen with hir for to wende lordes ladyes and knightes of renoun And oþer folk ynowe þis þis is þe ende And notefied is þurgh out þe toun That euery wight wiþ gret deuocioun Schulde preye crist þat he þis mariage Receyue in gree and spede þis viage The day is come of hire departyng I say þe woful day þat þan is come That þer may be no lenger tarryyng But forþeward þey dresse hem alle & some / Constance þat with sorwe is ouercome Ful pale arist and dresseþ hir to wende / For wel sche saugh þer nas non oþer ende Allas what wonder is it/ þough sche wepte That schal be sent to straunge nacioun Fro freendes þat so tenderly hir kepte / And to be bounde vndur subieccioun Of oon sche knew nat his condicioun Housbondes ben al goode and han be ȝore That knowen wyfes I dar say no more / Fader sche seid þy wrecched child Costaunce Thy ȝonge doughter fostred vp so softe / And ȝe my mooder my souerayn plesaunce Ouer al þing outaken crist on lofte / Constaunce ȝour child hir recomaundeth ofte Vnto ȝour grace / for I schal in to Surrye Ne schal I neuer see ȝou more wiþ ye Allas vnto þe barbre nacioun I most anoon / seþens it is ȝour wille But crist þat starf for our redempcioun So ȝeue me grace his hestes to fulfille / I wrecched womman no fors þey I spille / wommen ben born to þraldam and penaunce And to ben vnder mannes gouernaunce I trowe at Troye whan Pirrus brak þe wal Or yleon þat brend Thebes þe Citee Ne at Rome for þe harme þurgh hanibal That Romayns han venquysshed tymes þre Nas herd such tender wepyng for pite As in þe Chambur was for hir partyng But forþ sche moot wheþer sche weep or syng O firste meuyng cruel firmament with þi diurnal swough þat crowdest ay And hurlest al fro Est to Occident That naturelly wold hold anoþer way Thyn crowdyng sette þe heuen in such array At þe bygynnyng of þis fiers viage That cruel marcȝ haþ slayn þis marriage Infortunat ascendent tortuous Of which þe lordes helples falle allas Out of his angle in to þe derkest hous O . Mariȝ atteȝere as in þis caas O feble moone vnhappy been þi paas / Thou knettest þe þer þou art nat receyued Ther þou were wel fro þennes artow weyued Inprudent Emperour of Rome allas was þer no philosopher in al þy toun Is no tyme bet þan oþer in such caas Of viage is þer noon eleccioun Namly to folk of heigh condicioun Nought whan a roote is of a birthe I-knowe Allas we ben to lewed and eek to slowe / [[In a later hand.]To Shipe] is brought þis woful faire mayde / Solempnely with euery circumstaunce / Now Ihū crist so be wiþ ȝou sche sayde / Ther nys nomor but far wel fair Custaunce She peyneth hire to make good contienaunce And forþ I lete hire sayle in þis manere / And torne I wol aȝein to my matiere / The moder of þe Sawdan ful of vices Aspyed haþ hir sones playn entent/ how he wol lete his olde sacrifices And right anoon sche for hir counseil sent And þey ben come to knowe what sche ment And whan assembled was þis folk in fere Sche sette hir doun and sayd as ȝe schal heere / Lordes quod sche ȝe knowen euerichon how þat my sone in poynt is for to lete The holy lawes of our alkaron Ȝe ben goddes messangere makamete / But oon avow to grete god I hete The lyf schuld raþer out of my body stert Or makametes law go out of myn hert What schal vs tyden of þis newe lawe But þraldam to oure body and penaunce And afterward in helle to be drawe / For we reneyed mahound oure creaunce But lordes wol ȝe maken assuraunce As I schal say assentyng to my lore And I schal make vs sauf for euermore They sworen and assenten euery man To lyf wiþ hir and dye and by hir stonde And euerich in þe beste wise he can To strengþen hir schal al his frendes fonde And sche haþ Emperise take on honde which ȝe schul heere þat I schal deuyse / And to hem alle sche spak in þis wyse / We schul first feyne ous cristendom to take Cold watir schal nat greue vs but a lite / And I schal such a fest and Reuel make / That as I trow I schal þe Sowdan quyte For þough his wyf be cristned neuer so white Sche schal haue need to waissche away þe rede They sche a font of watir wiþ hir lede O Sowdones root of iniquite Virago þou Semyram þe secounde O serpent vnder feminite Lyk to þe serpent deep in helle I-bounde O feyned womman alle þat may confounde Vertu and Innocence þurgh þy malice / Is bred in þe as nest of euery vice O Satan enuyous syn þilke day That þou were chased fro oure heritage wel knewest þou to wommen þe olde way Thou madest Eue to bryng vs in seruage Thou wolt fordoon þis cristen mariage Thyn instrument so weylaway þe while Makestow of wommen whan þou wolt bygile This Sawdones whom I þus blame and wary let pryuely hir counseil gon his way what schuld I in þis tale lenger tary Sche rideþ to þe Soudan on a day And seyd him þat sche wold reney hir lay And cristendam of prestes handes fonge Repentyng hir sche hethen was so longe Bysechyng him to doon hir þat honour That sche most haue þe cristen men to feste / To plesen hem I wil do my labour The sawdan seith I wol do at ȝour heste And knelyng þankeþ hir of þat requeste So glad he was he nyst nat what to seye Sche kyst hir sone and hom sche goþ hir weye [PART II.] Arryued ben þe cristen folk to londe / In Surry with a gret solempne route And hastily þis soudan sent his sonde First to his moder and al þe regne aboute And seyd his wyf was comen out of doute And preyeþ hir for to ride aȝein þe queene The honour of his regne to susteene / Gret was þe prees and riche was tharray Of Surriens and Romayns mette in feere The moodur of þe Sowdan riche and gay Receyued hir with al so glad a cheere As eny modir might hir doughter deere And to þe nexte Citee þer bysyde A softe paas solempnely þay ryde Nought trow I þe triumphe of Iulius Of which þat lukan makeþ moche bost was ryaller ne more curious Than was thassemble of þis blisful oost But þis Scorpioun þis wikked goost This Sowdones for al hir flateryng Cast vnder þis ful mortally to styng The Sawdan comþ himself sone after þis So really þat wonder is to telle And welcomeþ hir wiþ ioy and blys And þus with myrth and ioy I let hem dwelle The fruyt of þis matier is þat I telle whan tyme com men þought it for þe best That reuel stynt and men goon to her rest The tyme com þe olde Sowdonesse Ordeyned haþ þis fest of which I told And to þe feste cristen folk hem dresse . . . . .no gap in the MS. Ther men may fest and realte byholde And deyntes mo / þan I can of deuyse But al to deere þey bought it ar þey ryse O sodeyn wo þat euer art successour ¶ To worldly blis spreynd is wiþ bitternesse / The ende of oure ioye of oure worldly labour wo occupieth þe fyn of oure gladnesse herken þis counseil for thyn sikernesse vpon þyn glade dayes haue in þi mynde The vnwar woo þat cometh ay bihynde For schortly for to tellen at o word The Sawdan and þe cristen euerichone Ben al to-hewe and stiked atte bord But it were Dame Constaunce allone This olde Sowdones þis cursed crone haþ wiþ hir frendes doon þis cursed dede For sche hir self wold al þe contre lede Ne þer was surrien noon / þat was conuerted That of þe counseil of þe Sawdon woot That he nas alto-hewe or he asterted And Constaunce haue þey take anon foot-hoot And in a schippe / steleres god it woot They haue hir set. and bad hir lerne to sayle Out of Surry aȝeinward to ytaile A certein tresour þat sche þider ladde And soþ to sayn vitaile gret plente They haue hir ȝeuen and cloþes eek sche hadde And forþ sche sayleþ to þe salte see O my Constaunce ful of benignite O Emperoures ȝonge doughter deere he þat is Lord of fortun be þi steere Sche blesseþ hir and with ful pitous voys Vnto þe croys of crist þan seyde sche O cler o welful auter holy croys Rood of þe lambes blood ful of pite That wissh þe world fro old iniquite Me fro þe feend and fro his clowes keepe That day þat I schal drenchen in þe deepe Victorious tre proteccioun of trewe That oonly were worthy for to bere That kyng of heuen with his woundes newe The white lamb þat hurt was with a spere Flemer of feendes out of him and here / On which þy lymes feithfully extenden Me kepe and ȝif me might my lyf to menden Ȝeres and dayes flette þis creature Thurghout þe see of Grece in to þe strayte Of Marrok as it was hir aduenture / O many a sory mele may sche bayte After hir deth ful / ofte may sche wayte Or þat þe wilde wawe wol hir dryue Vnto þe place þer as sche schal arryue Men mighten aske why sche was nouȝt slayn Ek at þe fest. who might hir body saue And I answered that demaunde agayn who saued Daniel / in thorrible Caue That euery wight sauf he mayster or knaue was wiþ þe lioun frete or he asterte No wight but god þat he bar in his herte God lust to schewe his wondurful miracle In hir for sche schuld seen his mighty werkes Crist which þat is to euery harm triacle By certeyn menes ofte as knowen clerkes Doth þing for certeyn ende þat ful derk is // To mannes witt / þat for our ignoraunce Ne can nought knowe his prudent puruyaunce Now sith sche was nat at þe fest I-slawe / who kepte hir fro drenching in þe see / who kepte Ionas in þe fisches mawe Til he was spouted vp at Niniue wel may men knowe it was no wight but he That kept þe pepul Ebrayk fro her drenchyng wiþ drye feet / þurghout þe see passyng Who hadde foure spiritȝ of tempest That power han to noyen land and see Boþe norþ and souþ and also west and Est Anoyeþ neyþer londe / see ne tree / Soþly þe comaunder of þat was he That fro þe tempest ay þis womman kepte As wel when sche awok as when sche slepte Wher might þis womman mete and drinke haue / Thre ȝer and more / how lasteþ hir vitaille who fedde þe Egipcien marie in þe Caue Or in desert no wight but crist saunȝ faile Fyf þousand folk / it was a gret meruaile/ wiþ loues fyf and fissches tuo to feede God sent his foysoun at her grete neede Sche dryueþ forþ in to oure Occean Thurghout oure wilde see til atte last vnder an holte þat men nempne can Fer in Northumberland þe wawe hir cast And in þe sand þe schip styked so fast That þennes wold it nouȝt in al a tyde The wille of crist was þat sche schold abyde The Constabil of / þe castel doun is fare / To se þis wrak / and al þe schip he sought And fond þis wery womman ful of care And fand also þe tresour þat sche brought In hir langage mercy sche bisought The lif out of her body for to wynne hir to delyuer of woo þat sche was Inne / A maner latyn corupt was hir speche But algates / þer by sche was vnderstonde The constabil whan him lust no lenger seche This woful womman broughte he to londe / Sche kneleþ doun and thanketh goddes sonde But what sche was sche wolde no man seye For foul ne faire / þough sche scholde deye Sche was sche seyd so mased in þe see That sche forgat hir mynde by hire trowþe / The constable had of hir so gret pitee And eek his wyf þey wepeden for routhe Sche was so diligent wiþouten slouþe / To serue and plese euer in þat place That alle hir louen þat loken on hir face The Constable and dame hermegyld his wyf To telle ȝou playne in peynes boþe were But hermegyld loued constance as hir lyf And Constance haþ so long herberwed þere In orisoun wiþ many a bitter teere / Til ihū haþ conuerted þurgh his grace Dame hermegyld þe Constables wif of þe place In al þe lond no cristen men durst route Al cristen men ben fled from þat contre Thurgh payens þat conquered al a-boute / The places of þe north by land and see To wales fled þe cristianite Of olde britouns dwellyng in þis yle / Ther was hir refut for þe mene while But/ ȝit nere cristen britouns so exiled That þer / nere some in here pryuite / honoured crist and heþen men bygiled And neigh þe Castel such þer dwellid þre That oon of hem was blynd and might nat se / But if it were wiþ eyen of his mynde wiþ which men seen after þat þey ben blynde Bright was þe sonne as in someres day For which þe constable and his wif also And Constaunce had take þe righte way Toward þe see a forlong wey or two To pleyen and to Romen to and fro And in þat/ walk the blynde men þey mette Croked and olde with eyen fast y-schette In name of crist / cryed þis old britoun Dame hermegyld ȝif me my sight aȝeyn This lady wax affrayed of þe soun lest þat hir houseband schortly to sayn wold hir for ihū cristes loue haue slayn Til Constaunce made hir bold and bad hir werche The wil of crist as douȝter of holy chirche The Constable wax abaisshed of þat sight And sayde what amounteþ al þis fare Constaunce answered / sir it is cristes might That helpeth folk out of þe feendes snare / And so ferforþ sche gan hir lay declare/ That sche þe Constable er þat it was Eue Conuerted and on crist made him bileue This Constable was no þing lord of þe place Of which I speke þer he Constance fond But kept it strongly many a wynter space vnder alla kyng of Northumberlond That was ful wys and worþy of his hond Aȝein þe scottes as men may wel heere But tourne aȝein I wil to my mateere Satan þat euer vs wayteþ to begile / Sawe of Constaunce þe persecucioun And cast anoon how he might quyt hir while / And made a ȝong knight þat dwelt in þe toun Loue hir so hoot of foul affeccioun That verrayly him þouȝt he schulde spille But he of hire / oones had his wille He wowith hir but it avayleþ nought Sche wolde do no synne by no weye And for despyt / he compassed in his þought To maken hir a schamful deþ to deye he wayteth whan þe Constable was aweye And pryuyly vpon a nyght he crepte In hermyngyldes chambre whil sche slepte / Wery forwaked in here Orisoun Slepeþ Constaunce and hermyngyld also This knight þurgh Satanas temptacioun Al softely is to þe bed y-go And kutte þe þrote of hermegild a two / And leyd þe bloody knyf/ by dame Constaunce And went his way þat god ȝeue him meschaunce Sone after comþ þis Constable hom agayn And eek alla þat was kyng of þat lond And say his wyf dispitously I-slayn For which ful oft / he wept and wrong his hond And in þe bed þe blody knyf he fond By Dame Custaunce allas what might he say For verray woo / hir witt was al a-way To king Alla was told al þis meschaunce And eek/þe tyme and wher and eek þe wyse That in a schip was founden þis Constaunce As here bifore ȝe haue herd me deuyse / The kinges hert of pite gan agrise whan he saugh so benigne a creature Falle in disese and in mysauenture For as þe lomb toward his deþ is brought / So stant þis Innocent bifore þe kyng This false knight þat haþ þis tresoun wrought Bereþ hir an hand þat sche hath don þis þing But neuer þe les þer was gret mornyng Among þe people and seyn þey can not gesse That sche had doon so gret a wikkednesse For þey han seyen hir so vertuous And louyng hermegyld right as hir lyf Of þis bar witnesse euerich in þat hous Saue he þat slowȝ hermegyld with his knyf This gentil kyng haþ caught a gret motyf Of his witnesse and þought/ he wold enquere Deppere in þis cas a trouþe to lere Allas Constaunce þou ne has no champioun Ne fighte canstow nat so welaway But he þat for oure redempcioun Bonde Sathan and ȝit liþ þer he lay So be þy stronge champioun þis day For but crist vpon þe miracle kythe withouten gilt þou schalt be slayn as swithe Sche set hir doun on knees and þan sche sayde Immortal god þat sauedest Susanne For false blame and þou mercyful mayde Mary I mene doughter of seint Anne Bifore whos child aungeles syng Osanne If I be gultles of þis felonye My socour be for elles schal I dye Haue ȝe not seye somtyme a pale face Among a prees of him þat haþ be lad Toward his deþ wher him geyneþ no grace / And such a colour in his face haþ had Men mighte knowe his face was so bystad Among alle þe faces in þat route So stant Constance and lokeþ hire aboute / O queenes lyuyng in prosperite Duchesses and ȝe ladies euerychon haueþ som reuþe on hir aduersite An emperoures doughter stond allon Sche nath no wight to whom to make hir moon O blod ryal þat stondest in þis drede / Ferre be þy frendes at þy grete neede / This Alla kyng haþ such compassioun As gentil hert/ is fulfild of pite That from his eyen ran þe water doun Now hastily do fech a book quod he / And if þis knight wil swere how þat sche / This womman slowȝ ȝet wol we us avyse whom þat we wille schal be oure iustise A britoun book I-write wiþ euaungiles was fette and on þis book/ he swor anoon Sche gultif was and in þe mene whiles An hond him smot vpon þe nekke boon That doun he fel anon right at a stoon And boþe his yen brast out of his face In sight of euery body in þat place A vois was herd in general audience And seist þou hast disclaundred gulteles The doughter of holy chirche in hire presence Thus hastow doon & ȝit I holde my pees Of þis meruaile agast was al þe prees As mased folk þey stooden euerychon For drede of wreche saue Custaunce allon Gret was þe drede and eek þe repentaunce Of hem þat hadden gret suspeccioun vpon þe sely Innocent Custaunce And for þis miracle in conclusioun And by Custaunces mediacioun The kyng and many oþer in þe place Conuerted was / thanked be cristes grace This false knight was slayn for his vntrouþe / By Iuggement of Alla hastyly And ȝit Custaunce haþ of his deþ gret rouþe And after þis ihus of his mercy Made alla wedde ful solempnely This holy mayde þat is bright and schene / And þus haþ crist I-maad Constance a queene But who was woful if I schal not lye / Of þis weddyng but Domegild and þo The kynges mooder ful of tyrannye hir þought hir cursed herte brast a-two Sche wolde nat hir sone had I-do so hir þought despyte / þat he schulde take So straunge a creature vnto his make Me lust not of þe caf ne of þe stree Make so long a tale as of þe corn what schuld I telle of þe realte Of mariage / or which cours goþ biforn who bloweth in a trompe or in an horn The fruyt of euery tale is for to seye They ete & drynk / and daunce / and synge & pleye They gon to bed as it was skile & right For þough þat wyfes ben ful holy þinges They moste take in pacience a night Such maner necessaries as ben plesynges To folk that han I-wedded hem wiþ rynges And haluendel her holynesse ley a side And for þe tyme it may non oþer betyde On hire he gat a knaue child anoon And to a bisschope & a Constable eeke he took his wyf to kepe whan he is goon To scotlondward his foomen for to seeke Now faire Custaunce þat is so humble & meeke So long is goon wiþ childe til þat stille Sche held hir chambre abidyng goddes wille The tyme is come a knaue child sche bere Maurius atte funstone men him calle This Constabil doþ come forþ a messager And wrot to his kyng þat cleped was Alle how þat þis blisful tydyng is bifalle And oþer þinges spedful for to seye he takeþ þe lettre and forþ he goþ his weye This messanger to doon his auauntage vnto þe kynges moder he goþ ful swiþe And salueth hire / fair in his langage Ma dame quod he ȝe may be glad and bliþe And þanke god an hundred þousand siþe My lady queen haþ child wiþouten doute To ioye and blis of al þe reame aboute Lo heer þe lettres sealed of þis þing That I mot bere with al þe hast I may If ȝe wole ought vnto ȝoure sone þe kyng I am ȝoure seruaunt boþe night and day Doungyld answerde as now þis tyme nay But here al nyght I wol þou take þy rest To morwen I wil say þe what me lest This messanger drank sadly ale and wyn And stolen were his lettres pryuely Out of his box whil he sleep as a swyn And countrefeet þey were subtily Anoþer sche him wroot ful synfully vnto þe kyng direct/ of þis matiere Fro his Constable as ȝe schul after heere The lettre spak þe queen delyuered was Of so orryble and feendly creature That in þe castel noon so hardy was That eny while dorste þerin endure / The mooder was an Elf by auenture Bycome by charmes or by sorcerie And euery man hatiþ hir companyne Wo was þis kyng whan he þis letter had sein But to no wight he told his sorwes sore But of his owen hand he wrot agayn. welcome þe sond of crist for eueremore To me þat am now lerned in his lore lord welcome be þy lust and þy pleasaunce My lust I putte al in þyn ordinaunce Kepeth þis child al be it foul or fair And eek my wyf vnto myn hom comyng Crist whan him lust may sende me an hair More agreable þan þis to my likyng The lettre he seleth pryuyly wepyng which to þe messager he took ful sone And forþ he goth þer nys no more to done O messager fulfild of dronkenesse Strong is þy breþ þy lymes faltren ay And þou bywreyest alle sykernesse Thy mynde is lorn þou ianglest as a Iay Thy face is torned al in a newe array Ther drunkenesse regneþ in eny route Ther is no counseil hid wiþouten doute O Domegyld I haue non englisch digne vnto þy malice and þy tyrannye And þerfor to þe feend I þe resigne let him endyten of þi treccherie Fy mannyssch fy .o. nay by god I lye Fy feendly spirit for I dar wel telle Though þou here walke þy spirit is in helle This messanger comþ fro þe kyng agayn And at þe kinges modres court he light And sche was of þis messenger ful fayn And pleseþ him in al þat euer sche might he drank and wel his gurdel vnderpight he slepeþ and he fareþ in his gyse Al nyght vnto þe sonne gan arise Eft were his lettres stolen euerichon And countrefeted lettres in þis wise The kyng comaundeþ his constable anon vp peyne of hangyng of an heiȝ Iustise That he schulde suffre in no maner wyse Constaunce in his regne for to abyde Thre dayes and a quarter of a tyde But in þe same schip as he hir fond hire and hir ȝonge sone and al hire gere he schulde putte and crowde fro þe londe And charge hire þat sche neuer eft come þere ·O. my Constaunce wel may þy goost haue fere And slepyng in þy drem ben in penaunce whan Domegyl cast al þis ordynaunce / This messanger a-morwe whan he awook vnto þe castel held þe nexte way And to þe constable he þe lettre took And whan þat he þe pitous lettre say Ful ofte he seyd allas and welaway Lord crist quod he how may þis world endure So ful of synne is many a creature O mighty god if þat it be þy wille Seþ þou art rightful iugge how may þis be / That þou wolt suffre Innocentȝ to spille / And wikked folk regne in prosperite ·O good Constance allas so wo is me That I moot be þy tormentour or deye On schamful deþ þer is non oþer weye Wepyng boþe ȝong & olde in al þat place whan þat þe kyng þis corsed lettre sent And Constance with a dedly pale face The fayre day toward hir schip sche went But neuerþeles sche takeþ in good entent The wil of crist / and knelyng on þe grounde Sche sayde lord ay welcome be þy sonde He þat me kepte fro þe false blame whil I was on þe lond amonges ȝou He can me kepe from harm & eek fro schame In þe see al þough I se nat how As strong as euer he was he is right now In him trust I. & in his mooder deere That is to me my sayl and eek my steere / Hir litel child lay wepyng in hir arm And knelyng pitously to him sche sayde / Pees litle sone I wol do þe noon harm wiþ þat hir kerchef of hir hed sche brayde And ouer his litel yȝen sche it layde And in hir arm sche lullith it wel faste And vnto heuen hir eyȝen vp sche caste Moder quod sche and mayde bright marie Soþ is þat þurgh wommannes eggement Mankynde was lorn and dampned ay to dye For which þy child was on a cros torent Thyn blisful eyȝen sawh al þis torment Then nys þer noon comparisoun bitwene Thy wo and any woo may nat sustene Thow saugh þy child I-slaw byfor þyn yen And ȝit now lyueþ my litel child par fay Now lady bright to whom alle woful cryen Thou glory of wommanhod þou faire may Thou heuen of refute brighte sterre of day Rewe on my child þat of þyn gentilnesse / Rewest on euery synful in destresse O litel child allas what is þi gilt That neuer wroughtest synne as ȝet par de why wil þyn harde fader han þe spilt O. mercy deere and Constable seyde sche And let my litel child here dwelle with þe And if þou darst not sauen him for blame / So kys him oones in his fadres name Ther wiþ sche loked bakward to þe lond And seyde far wel housbond rewþeles And vp sche rist and walkeþ doun þe stronde Toward þe schip hir folweþ al þe prees And euer sche preyeþ hir child to hold his pees And took hir leue and wiþ an holy entent Sche blesseþ hire and to þe schip sche went Vytailled was þe schip it is no drede Abundauntly for hire ful longe space And oþer necessaries þat schulde nede Sche had ynowȝ heryed be cristeȝ grace For wynd and water almighty god purchace And bryng hir hom I can no bettre say But in þe see sche dryueþ forþ hir way [PART III.] Alla þe kyng comþ hom soon after þis vnto þe Castel of þe which I tolde And askeþ wher his wyf and his child ys The Constable gan aboute his herte colde And playnly al þe maner he him tolde As ȝe han herd / I can telle it no better And schewed þe kynges seal and his letter And seyde lord as ȝe comaunded me vp peyne of deþ so haue I do certayn This messager tormented was til he Moste biknowe and telle it plat and playn · Fro nyght to night in what place he had layn · And þus by witt/ and subtil enqueryng ymagined was by wham þis gan to spryng The hand was knowen þat þe lettre wroot And al þe venym of þis cursed dede But in what wyse certeynly I noot Theffect is þis þat alla out of drede his moder slough as men may pleynly reede / For þat sche traytour was to hir ligeaunce Thus endeþ olde Domegild wiþ meschaunce The sorwe þat/ þis alla night and day Makþ for his wyf and for his child also Ther is no tonge þat it telle may But now I wol vnto Custaunce go That fleetetþ in þe see in peyne and wo .V. ȝeer and more as likeþ cristes sonde Er þat hir schip approched vnto londe Vnder an hethen castel atte last Of which þe name in my text nouȝt I fynde Constaunce and eek hir child þe see vpcast Almighty god þat saueth al mankynde / Haue on Constaunce and on hir child som mynde That fallen is in hethen hond eft sone In poynt to spille as I schal telle ȝou soone Doun fro þe Castel comþ þer many a wight To gawren on þis schip and on Constaunce But schortly fro þe castel on a night The lordes styward God ȝiue him meschaunce A þeef þat had reneyed oure creaunce Com in to schip alone and seyd he scholde hir lemman be wheþir sche wold or nolde Wo was þis wrecched womman þo bigoon hire childe crieþ and sche pytously But blisful mary hilp hir right anoon For wiþ hir strengþe wel and mightily The theef fel ouer boord al sodeinly And in þe see he drenched for vengaunce And þus haþ crist vnwemmed kept Constance O foule lust/ O luxurie lo þin ende / Nought oonly þat þou feyntest mannes mynde But verrayly þou wolt his body schende The ende of þyn werk or of þy lustes blynde his compleynyng how many may men fynde That nought for werk som tyme but/ for þentent To doon his synne ben eyþer slayn or schent / How may þis weyke womman han þe strengþe hir to defende aȝein þe renegat O Golias vnmesurable of lengþe how mighte dauid make þe so mate So ȝong and of armure so desolate how dorst he loke vpon þyn dredful face wel may men seyn it nas but goddes grace Who ȝaf Iudith corage or hardynesse / To slen him Olefernes in his tent And to delyueren out þe wrecchednes The peple of god I say in þis entent That right as good spiryte vigor sent To hem and saued hem out of meschaunce / So sent he might and vigor to Constaunce Forth goþ hir schip þurghout þe narwe mouth Of Iubalter and Septe dryuyng ay Somtyme west som tyme north and south And somtyme Est ful many a wery way Til cristes mooder blessed be sche ay haþ schapen þurgh hir endeles goodnesse To make an ende of hir heuynesse Now let vs stynt of Constance but a þrowe And speke we of / þe Romayn Emperour That out of Surrye haþ by lettres knowe The slaughter of cristen folk and deshonour Doon to his douȝter by a fals traytour I mene þe cursed and wikked sowdenesse That at þe fest leet slee boþe more and lesse For which þis Emperour haþ sent anoon his senatours with real ordynaunce And oþer lordes got wot many oon On surriens to take high vengaunce They brenne / sleen / and bringen hem to meschaunce Ful many a day but schortly þis is þende homward to Rome þey schapen hem to wende This Senatour repayreþ wiþ victorie To Romeward saylyng ful really And mette þe schip dryuyng as seiþ þe story In which Constance sitteþ ful pitously No þing ne knew he what sche was ne why Sche was in such aray / sche nolde seye Of hire astaat al þough sche scholde deye He bryngeþ hir to Rome and to his wyf he ȝaf hir and hir ȝonge sone also And wiþ þe Senatour lad sche hir lyf Thus can our lady. bryngen out of woo woful Constance and many anoþer moo And longe tyme dwelled sche in þat place In holy werkes. as euer was hir grace / The Senatoures wif hir aunte was But for al þat sche knew hir neuer more I wol no lenger taryen in þis cas But to kyng Alla which I spak of ȝore / That for his wyf wepeþ and sikeþ sore / I wol retorne / and lete I wol Constaunce vnder þe Senatoures gouernaunce Kyng alla which þat had his mooder slayn vpon a day fel in such repentaunce / That if I schortly telle schal and playn To Rome he comeþ to receyue his penaunce And putte him in þe popes ordynaunce In heigh and lowe and ihū crist bysought Forȝef his wikked werkes þat he wrought The fame anon þurgh Rome toun is born how alla kyng schal come in pilgrymage By herberiourȝ þat wenten him biforn For which þe Senatour as was vsage Rood him aȝein and many of his lynage As wel to schewen his magnificence As to doon eny kyng a reuerence Gret cheere doþ þis noble Senatour To kyng Alla and he to him also Euerich of hem doþ oþer gret honour And so bifel þat on a day or two This Senatour is to kyng Alla go To fest and schortly if I schal not lye Constances sone / went in his companye Som men wold seyn at request of Custaunce This Senatour haþ lad þis child to feste I may not telle euery circumstaunce Be as be may þer was he atte leste But soth it is right at his modres heste Byforn hem alle duryng þe metes space The child stood lokyng in þe kynges face This alla kyng haþ of þe child gret wonder And to þe Senatour he seyd anoon whos is þat faire child þat stondeþ ȝonder I not quod he by god and by seynt Ion A moder he haþ but fader haþ he non That I of woot and schortly in a stounde he told Alla how þat þis child was founde / But god woot quod þis senatour also So vertuous a lyuer in my lyf Ne saugh I neuer such as sche nomo Of worldly womman mayden or of wyf I dar wel say sche hadde leuer a knyf Thurghout hir brest þan ben a womman wikke Ther is no man can bryng hir to þat prikke Now was þis child as lik vnto Custaunce As possible is a creature to be This alla haþ þe face in remembraunce Of Dame Custaunce and þer on mused he If þat þe childes mooder were ought sche That is his wyf and pryuely he hight And sped him fro þe table þat he might Par fay þought he fantom is in myn heed I ought to deme of righful Iuggement That in þe salte see my wyf is deed And afterward he made þis argument what woot I wher crist haþ hider sent My wyf by see as wel as he hir sent To my contre fro þennes þat sche went And after noom home wiþ þe senatour Goth alla for to see þis wonder chaunce This Senatour doþ alla gret honour And hastely he sent after Custaunce But trusteþ wel hir luste nat to daunce / whan þat sche wiste wherfore was þat sonde vnnethes on hir feet/ sche mighte stonde / Whan alla saugh his wyf fayre he hir grette And wepte þat it was rewþe to se For at þe firste look he on hir sette he knew wel verrely þat it was sche And for sorwe as domb sche stant as tre So was hire herte schett in his distresse whan sche remembred his vnkyndenesse Twies sche swowned in his owen sight he wept and him excuseþ pitously Now god quod he and alle his halwes bright So wisly on my soule haue mercy That of ȝoure harm as gulteles am I As is maurice my sone so lyk ȝoure face Elles þe feend me fecche out of þis place / Long was þe sobbyng and þe bitter peyne Or þat here woful herte mighte cesse Gret was þe pite for to here hem pleyne Thurgh whiche playntȝ gan here wo encresse I pray ȝou alle my labour to relesse I may not telle al here sorwe vnto morwe I am so wery for to speke of þe sorwe / But fynally whan þat the soþ is wist That alla gilteles was of hir woo I trowe an hundred tymes þey ben kist And such a blys is þer bitwix hem tuo That saue þe ioye þat lasteþ eueremo Ther is noon lyk þat eny creature haþ seyn or schal. whil þat þe world may dure Tho prayde sche hir housbond meekely In þe relees of hir pytous pyne The he wold preye hir fader specially That of his maieste he wold enclyne To vouche sauf som tyme with him to dyne Sche preyeþ him eek he schulde by no weye Vnto hir fader no word of hir seye Som men wold seye þat hir child Maurice Doþ his message vnto þe Emperour But as I gesse alla was nat so nyce To him þat is so souerayn of honour As he þat is of cristes folk þe flour Sent eny child but it is best to deeme he went himsilf and so it may wel seme / This Emperour haþ graunted gentilly To come to dyner as he him bysought As wel rede I he loked besily vpon þe child and on his douȝter þought Alla goþ to his In and as him ought Arrayed for þis fest in euery wyse As ferforth as his connyng may suffise The morwe cam and alla gan him dresse And eek his wyf þe Emperour for to meete And for þey ryde in ioye and in gladnesse / And whan sche saugh hir fader in þe streete Sche light a doun and falleþ him to feete Fader quod sche ȝour ȝonge child Constance Is now ful clene ou of ȝour remembraunce I am ȝour doughter Custaunce quod sche That whilom ȝe haue sent vnto Surrye It am I fader þat in þe salte see was put alloon and dampned for to dye Now goode fader mercy I ȝou crye Send me no more vnto noon hethenesse But þanke my lord her of his kyndenesse Who can þe pytous Ioye telle al Bitwix hem þre siþ þey be þus I-mette But of my tale make an ende I schal The day goþ fast I wol no lenger lette This glade folk to dyner þey ben sette In ioye and blys at mete I let hem dwelle A þousand fold wel more þan I can telle. This child Maurice was siþþen Emperour I-maad by þe pope and lyued cristenly To cristes chirche dede he gret honour But I let al his story passen by Of Custaunce is my tale specially In olde Romayn gestes men may fynde Maurices lyf I bere it nought in mynde This kyng alla whan he his tyme say with his Constaunce his holy wyf so swete To Engelond þey com þe righte way wher as þey lyue in ioye and in quyete But litel whil it last I ȝou biheete; Ioy of þis world // for tyme wol not abyde Fro day to night it chaungeth as þe tyde Who lyued euer in such delyt a day That him ne meued eyþer his conscience Of Ire or talent / or som maner affray Enuy or pride or passioun or offence I ne say but for þis ende þis sentence But litel whil in ioye or in plesaunce lasteþ þe blis / of alla with Custaunce For deth þat takþ of heigh & low his rent whan passed was a ȝeere as I gesse / Out of þis worlde / kyng alla he hent For whom Custauns. haþ ful gret heuynesse / Now let vs pray. þat god his soule blesse / And dame Custaunce fynally to say Toward þe toun of Rome goþ hir way To Rome is come þis nobil creature And fynt hir freendes þer boþe hool & sound Now is sche skaped al hir auenture And whanne sche hir fader had I-founde Doun on hir knees falleþ sche to grounde wepyng for tendirnes in herte blithe Sche heried god an hundred þousand sithe In vertu and in holy almesdede They lyuen alle. and neuer a sondre wende Til deþ departe hem þis lyf þey lede And far now wel my tale is at an ende Now ihū crist þat of his might may sende / Ioy after wo gouerne vs in his grace / And keep ous alle. þat ben in þis place / Our Ost vppon his styrops stood anoon· And seyde good men herkneth euerychoon· This was a þrifty tale for þe noones Sir parissh prest quod he for goodes boones Tel out a tale / as was þy forward ȝore I see wel þat ȝe lered men in lore Can moche good by goddes dignete The parsoun him answerde ben dicite what eyleþ þe man so synfully to swere Our Ost answerd. O Iankyn be ȝe þere I smel a loller in þe wynd quod he Now good men quod our Oste / herkneþ me [A break of one line in the MS.] For we schul haue a predicacioun This loller wolde prechen vs heer som what / Nay by my fader soule þat schal he nat/ Sayde the sompnour he schal heer nauȝt preche he schal no gospel preche here ne teche we leuyn alle in þe grete god quod he He wolde schewen som difficulte Or springen cokkil in our clene corn And þerfor ost I warne þe byforn My ioly body schal a tale telle ¶ Here endith þe man of lawe his tale. GROUP D. FRAGMENT V. § 1. WIFE OF BATH'S PREAMBLE. ¶ Here bygynneth the prologe of the wyf of Bathe Experiens þough noon auctorite were in þis world. it were ynough for me To speke of wo þat is in mariage For lordyngs syns I twelf ȝer was of age I thank it god þat is eterne on lyue housbondes atte chirch dore. I haue had fyue For I so ofte might haue weddid be And alle were worþy men in here degre But me was taught nought longe tyme goon is That synnes crist went neuer but onys To weddyng in þe Cane of Galile That by þe same ensampul taught he me That I ne weddid schulde be but ones Herken such a scharp word for þe nones Biside a welle Ihc god and man. Spak in reproef of þe Samaritan Thou hast y-had fyue housbondes quod he And þat ilk man which þat now haþ þe Is nouȝt þin housbond þus he sayd certayn what þat he ment þer by I can not sayn But þat I axe why þe fyfte man was nought housbond to þe Samaritan How many might sche haue in mariage Ȝit herd I neuer tellen in myn age Vppon þis noumbre diffinicioun Men may diuine and glosen vp and doun But wel I wot wiþouten eny lye God bad vs for to. wax and multiplie That gentil tixt. can I wel vnderstonde Ek wel I wot he sayd myn housebonde Schuld lete fader and moder and folwe me But of no noumber mencioun made he Of Bygamye. or of Octogomye / why schuld men speken of þat vilonye / lo hier þe wise kyng Daun Salamon I trow he hadde wyfes mo þan oon. As wold god it were leful vnto me To be refreisshed half so oft as he which ȝift of god had he for alle his wyuys No man haþ such þat in þe world on lyue is God wot þis nobil king as to my wit The firste night had many a mery fit/ with ech of hem so wel was him on lyue I-blessid be god þat I haue weddid fyue welcome þe sixte whan þat euer he schal For sothe I nyl not kepe me chast in al whan myn housbond is fro þe world I-gon Som cristne man schal wedde me anoon For þan þapostil saith þat I am fre To wedde a goddis haf wher so it be he saith þat to be weddid is no synne Bet is to be weddid þan to brynne what recchith me what folk sayn viloyne Of schrewith lameth or of Bigamye / I wot wel abram was an holy man And Iacob eek as ferforth as I can And ech of hem had wyues mo than tuo And many another holy man also whan sawe ȝe in eny maner age That highe god defendid mariage By expres word I pray ȝow tellith me Or wher comaunded he virginite I wot as wel as ȝe it is no drede / Thapostil whan he spekþ of maydenhede he sayd þat precept þer of had he noon Men may counseil a womman to be oon But counselyng nys no comaundement He put it in our owne Iuggement / For hadde god comaundid maydenhede / Than had he dampnyd weddyng with þe dede And certes if þer were no seed I-sowe / Virginite · wher-on schuld it growe Poul ne dorst not comaunde atte lest A þing of which his maister ȝaf non hest The dart is set vpon virginite Cach who-so may who rennith best / let se But þis word is not taken of euery wight But þer as god list ȝiue it of his might/ I wot wel þat þapostil was a mayde But naþeles þough þat he wrot or sayde he wolde þat euery wight were such as he / Al nys but counseil vnto virginite And for to ben a wyf he ȝaf me leue Of indigence . so nys it to repreue to wedde me if þat my make deye withoute excepcioun of bigamye Al were it good to womman for to touche he mente in his bed or in his couche For peril is boþe fuyr an tow to assemble Ȝe knowe what þis ensample wold resemble This is al and som / he holdith virginite More parfit þan weddyng in frelte Frelte clepe I · but if þat he and sche wold leden al her lif in chastite I graunt it wel I haue noon enuye Though maidenhede preferre bygamye It likeþ hem to be clene in body and gost Of myn estate I nyl make no bost For wel ȝe wot a lord in his houshold He nath not euery vessel ful of gold Som ben of tre and don her lord seruise God clepeth folk to him in sondry wise And euery haþ of god a propre ȝifte Som þis som þat as him likith to schifte Virginite is gret perfeccioun And continens eek wiþ gret deuocioun But crist þat of perfeccioun is welle Bad nouȝt euery wight schuld go and selle Al þat he had and ȝiue it to þe pore And in such wise folwe him and his fore / he spak to hem þat wolde lyue parfytly But lordyngs by ȝour leue þat am not I I wol bystowe þe flour of myn age / In þe actes and in þe fruytes of mariage Tel me also to what conclusioun were membres maad of generacioun And in what wise was a wight y-wrouȝt Trustith right wel þay were nouȝt maad for nouȝt Glose who-so wol and say boþe vp and doun þat þay were made for purgacioun Oure boþe vryn and þinges smale / was eek to knowe a femel fro a male And for non oþer cause say ȝe no Thexperiens wot wel it is not so / So þat þese clerke ben not with me wroþe / I say þis þat þay makid ben for boþe Þat is to say for office and for ease Of engendrure þer we god nouȝt displease why schuld men ellis in her bokes sette That man schal ȝelde to his wif his dette Now wher-wiþ schuld he paye his payement If he ne vsed his sely instrument Than were þay maad vp a creature To purge vryn and eek for engendrure By I say not þat euery wight is holde That haþ such harneys as I to ȝow tolde To gon and vsen hem in engendrure Than schuld men take of chastite no cure Crist was a mayde and schapen as a man And many a seynt sin þat þe world bygan Ȝit lyued þay euer in parfyt charite I nyl enuye no virginite let hem be bred of pured whete seed And let vs wyues eten barly breed And ȝet wiþ barly bred men telle can Oure lord refreisschid many a man In such astaat as god haþ cleped ous I wil perseuer I am not precious In wyfhode I wil vse myn instrument Als frely as my maker haþ me it sent If I be daungerous god ȝiue me sorwe Myn housbond schal han it at eue and at morwe whan þat him list com forth and pay his dette An housbond wol I haue I wol not lette / which schal be boþe my dettour and my þral And haue his tribulacioun wiþ al vpon his fleissch whil þat I am his wyf I haue þe power duryng al my lif vpon his propre body and not he / Right þus þapostil told it vnto me / And bad oure housbondes for to loue vs wel Al þis sentence me likith euery del ¶ vp start þe pardoner and þat anoon Now dame quod he by god and by seint Iohn Ȝe ben a noble prechour in þis caas I was aboute to wedde a wif allaas what schal I buy it on my fleisch so deere Ȝit had I leuer wedde no wif to ȝere Abyd quod sche my tale is not bygonne / Nay þou schalt drinke of anoþer tonne Er þat I go schal sauere wors þan ale And whan þat I haue told þe forþ my tale Of tribulacioun in mariage I which I am expert/ in al myn age This is to say my self haþ ben þe whippe Than might þou chese wheþir þou wilt sippe Of þilke tonne þat I schal abroche Be war of it er þou to neigh approche For I schal telle ensamples mo þan ten who-so þat nyl be war by oþer men By him schal oþer men corrected be The same wordes writes protholome Rede in his almagest and tak it þere Dame I wold pray ȝow . if þat ȝoure wille were Sayde þis pardoner as ȝe bigan Tel forth ȝoure tale sparith for no man Teche vs ȝonge men of ȝoure practike Gladly quod sche syns it may ȝow like But þat I pray to al þis companye / If þat I speke after my fantasie As takeþ nouȝt agreef of þat I say For myn entente is nought but/ to play /¶ Narrat NOw sires now wol I telle forth my tale As euer mote I drinke wyn or ale I schal say soþ of housbondes þat I hadde As þre of hem were goode and tuo were badde Tuo of hem were goode riche and olde Vnnethes mighte þay þe statute holde In which þat þay were bounden vnto me Ȝe wot wel what I mene of þis par de As help me god I laugh whan þat I þinke how pitously on night I made hem swynke / But by my fay I told of it no stoor Thay had me ȝiue her lond and her tresor Me nedith not no lenger doon diligence To wynne her loue or doon hem reuerence Thay loued me so wel by god aboue That I tolde no deynte of her loue A wys womman wol bysi hir euer in oon To gete hir loue þere sche hath noon But synnes I had hem holly in myn hond And synnes þay had me ȝeuen al her lond what schuld I take keep hem for to please But it were for my profyt and myn ease / I sette hem so on werke by my fay That many a night þay songen weylaway The bacoun was nought fet for hem I trowe That som men fecche in Essex an donmowe I gouerned hem so wel after my lawe That ech of hem ful blisful was and fawe To bringe me gaye þinges fro þe faire Þay were ful glad whan I spak to hem faire For god it woot I chidde hem spitously Now herkeneþ how I bar me proprely Ȝe wise wyues þat can vnderstonde Þus scholde ȝe speke and bere hem wrong on honde For half so boldely can þer no man Swere and lye as can a womman I say not by wyues þat ben wise But if it be whan þay ben mysauise I-wis a wif if þat sche can hir good schal beren him on hond þe cow is wood And take witnes on hir oughne mayde / Of hire assent/. but herkeniþ how I sayde See olde Caynard is þis þin array why is my neghebores wif so gay Sche is honoured ouer al þer sche goth I sitte at hom I haue no thrifty cloth / what dostow at my neighebores hous Is sche so fair . what artow amorous what roune ȝe wiþ hir maydenes benedicite Sir olde lecchour let þi iapes be And if I haue a gossib or a frend wiþouten gilt þou chidest as a fend If þat I walk and play vnto his hous Þou comest hom as dronken as a mous And prechist on þy bench wiþ euel pree. Þou saist to me it is a gret meschief To wedde a pouer womman for costage / And if þat sche be riche and of parage Thanne saist þou it/ is a tormentrie To suffre hir pride and hir malencolie And if þat sche be fair þou verray knaue Þou saist þat euery holour wol hir haue Sche may no while in chastite abyde That is assayled þus on eche syde Þou saist þat som folk desire vs for riches Som for our schap and som for our fairnes And some for þat sche can synge and daunce And some for gentilesse or daliaunce Som for hir handes and hir armes smale / Thus goth al to þe deuel by þi tale Thou saist men may nought kepe a castel wal Hit may so be biseged ouer al And if sche be foul . þanne þou saist þat sche Coueitith euery man þat sche may se / For as a spaynel sche wol on him lepe Til þat sche fynde som man hire to chepe Ne noon so gray a goos goþ in þe lake / As sayest þou wol be wiþouten make / And saist it is an hard þing for to wolde Thing þat no man wol . his willes holde Thus seistow lorel whan þou gost to bedde And þat no wys man nedith for to wedde / Ne no man þat entendiþ vnto heuene wiþ wilde þunder dynt and fuyry leuene Mote þi wicked necke be tobroke / Þou saist þat droppyng hous and eek smoke / And chydyng wyues maken men to fle Out of here oughne hous a benedicite what eylith such an old man for to chyde / Þou seist we wyues woln oure vices hide / Til we ben weddid and þan we wil hem schewe wel may þat be a prouerbe of a schrewe Thou saist þat assen . oxen and houndes Þay ben assayed at diuers stoundes Basyns lauours eek er men hem bye Spones . stooles . and al such housbondrie Also pottes cloþes and array But folk of wyues maken non assay Til þay ben weddid olde dotard schrewe. And þanne saistow we woln oure vices schewe Þou saist also þat it displesith me But if þat þou wilt praysen my beaute And but þou pore alway in my face And clepe me faire dame in euery place And but þou make a fest on þilke day; Þat I was born and make me freisch and gay And but þou do my norice honoure And to my chamberer wiþinne þy boure And to my fadres folk and myn allies Thus saistow olde barel ful of lies And ȝit of oure apprentys Iankyn For his crisp her schynyng as gold so fyn And for he squiereþ me vp and doun Ȝet hastow caught a fals suspeccioun I nyl him nought þough þou were deed to morwe But tel me wher-for hydestow wiþ sorwe Thy keyes of þy chist a-way fro me It is my good as wel as þin par de ¶ what wenest þou make an ydiot of oure dame Now by þat lord þat cleped is seint Iame Thow schalt not bothe þough þou were wood Be maister of my body and of my good That oon þou schalt for-go maugre þin yen what helpeth it on me tenqueren or espien I trowe þou woldest lokke me in þy chest Thou scholdist say . wif go wher þe lest Take ȝoure disport I nyl lieue no talis I know ȝow for a trewe wif dame alis we loueþ no man þat takith keep or charge wher þat we goon . we loue to be at large ¶ Of alle men I-blessed most he be Þe wise astrologe daun protholome That saith þis prouerbe . in his almagest Of alle men his wisedom is highest Þat rekkith not who haþ þe world in honde By þis prouerbe . þou schalt vnderstonde / Have þou ynough what þar þe recch or care How merily þat oþer folkes fare For certes olde dotard wiþ ȝour leue Ȝe schul haue queynte right ynough at eue he is to gret a nygard þat wol werne¶ nota A man to light a candel at his lanterne he schal haue neuer þe lasse light par de Haue þou ynough þe thar not playne þe¶ nota Thou saist also þat if we make vs gay with cloþing and with precious array Þat it is peril of our chastite And ȝit wiþ sorwe þou most enforce þe And say þese wordes in thapostles name In abyt maad wiþ chastite and schame Ȝe wommen schuld apparayl ȝow quod he / And nought wiþ tressed her . and gay perre / As perles ne with golden cloþis riche After þy text ne after þin rubriche I wol nouȝt wirche as moche as a gnat Thow saist þus þat I was lik a cat But who-so wolde senge the cattes skyn Than wold þe catte . duellen in his In And if þe cattes skyn be slyk and gay Sche wol not duelle in house half a day But forth sche wil er eny day be dawet To schewe hir skyn and goon a caterwrawet This is to say if I be gay sir schrewe / I wol renne aboute my borel for to schewe Sir olde fool what helpith þe to aspien Þough þou praydest argus wiþ his hundrid yen To be my warde corps as he can best In faith he schuld not kepe me but if me lest Ȝit couþe I make his berd þough queynte he be Þou saydest eek þat þer ben þinges þre/ The whiche þinges troublen al þis erþe And þat no wight may endure þe ferþe O leue sire schrewe ihu schorte þy lif Ȝit prechestow and saist an hateful wif I-rekened is for oon of þese meschaunces Ben þer noon oþer of þy resemblaunces Þat ȝe may liken ȝoure parables vnto But if a cely wyf be oon of þo Thow likenest wommannes loue to helle To bareyn lond þer water may not duelle Thou likenest it/ also to wilde fuyr The more it brenneth þe more it haþ desir To consume euery þing þat brent wol be Thou saist right as wormes schenden a tre Right so a wif schendith hir housebonde This knowen þo þat ben to wyues bonde lordynges right þus as ȝe han vnderstonde Bar I styf myn housebondes on honde Þat þus þay sayde in her dronkenesse And al was fals but þat I took witnesse On Iankyn and vpon my nece also O lord þe peyne I dede hem and þe wo Ful gulteles by goddes swete pyne For as an hors I couþe boþe bite and whyne I couþe pleyne and ȝet I was in þe gilt Or elles I hadde often tyme be spilt who-so first comeþ to þe mylle first grynt I pleyned first so was oure werre stynt/ Thay were ful glad to excuse hem ful blyue Of þing þat þay neuer agilt in her lyue And wenches wold I beren hem on honde whan þat/ for seek þay might vnnethes stonde Ȝit tykeled I his herte for þat he wende I had of him so gret/ chierete I swor þat al my walkyng out a nyght was for to aspie wenches þat he dight vnder þat colour had I many a mirthe For al such witte is ȝeuen vs of birthe Deceipt wepyng . spynnyng . god haþ ȝiue To wymmen kyndely whil þay may lyue And þus of o thing I auaunte me / And þende I had þe bet in ech degre By sleight or fors or of som maner þing As by continuel murmur or chidyng Namly on bedde hadden þay meschaunce Ther wold I chide and do hem no plesaunce I wold no lenger in þe bed abyde / If þat I felt his arm ouer my syde Til he had maad his raunsoun vnto me Than wold I suffre him doon his nycete And þerfor euery man þis tale telle wynne who-so may for al is for to selle wiþ empty hond men may noon haukes lure For wynnyng wold I al his lust endure And make me a feyned appetyt/ And ȝit in bacoun had I neuer delyt That made me þat euer I wold hem chyde For þough þe pope had seten hem bisyde I nold not spare hem at her oughne bord For by my trouþe I quyt hem word for word Als help me verray god omnipotent / Þough I right now schuld make my testament I owe hem nought a word þat it nys quitte I brought it so aboute by my witte Þat þay most ȝeue it vp as for þe best Or ellis had we neuer ben in rest For þough he loked as a grym lyoun Ȝit schuld he fayle of his conclusioun Than wold I say . now goode leef tak keep how mekly lokith wilkyn oure scheep Com ner my spouse let me ba þy cheke Ȝe schulde be al pacient and meke And haue a swete spiced consciens Siþþen ȝe preche so of Iopes paciens Suffreth alway syns ȝe so wel can preche And but ȝe do certeyn we schul ȝow teche / That it is fair to haue a wyf in pees On of vs tuo mot bowe douteles And siþþen man is more resonable Than womman is . ȝe moste be suffrable what aylith ȝow . þus for to grucche and grone Is it for ȝe wold haue my queynt allone / why tak it al . lo haue it euery del Peter I schrewe ȝow but ȝe loue it wel For if I wolde selle my bele chose / I couþe walk as freisch as eny rose But I wol kepe it for ȝoure owne toth Ȝe ben to blame by god I say ȝow soth / Such maner wordes hadde we on honde Now wol I speke of my fourth housbonde / My fourþe housbond was a reuelour This is to say he had a paramour I was ȝong and ful of ragerie Stiborn and strong and ioly as a pye how couþe I daunce to an harpe smale And synge y-wys as eny nightyngale whan I had dronke a draught of swete wyn Metillius þe foule cherl þe swyn That with a staf byraft his wyf hir lyf For sche drank wyn þough I had ben his wif Ne schuld nouȝt haue daunted me fro drink And after wyn on venus most I þink For also siker as cold engendrith hayl A likorous mouth most haue a licorous tail In wymmen vinolent is no defens This knowen lecchours by experiens But lord crist whan þat it remembrith me vpon my ȝouthe and on my iolite It tikelith me aboute myn herte roote Vnto þis day it doþ myn herte boote That I haue had my world as in my tyme But age allas þat al wol enuenyme Haþ me bireft my beaute and my pith Let go far wel . þe deuyl go þer wiþ The flour is goon þer nis no more to telle The bran as I best can now mot I selle But ȝit to be mery wol I fonde / Now wol I telle of my fourt housbonde I say I had in herte gret despyt That he of eny oþer had delit But he was quit/ by god and by seint Ioce I made him of þe same woode a croce Nought of my body in no foul manere But certeynly I made folk such chere That in his owne grees I made him frie For anger and for ialousie By god in erþe I was his purgatory For which I hope his soule be in glory For god it wot . he sat ful stille and song whan þat his scho ful bitterly him wrong Ther was no wight sauf god and he þat wist/ In many wyse how sore I him twist I sayde whan I cam fro Ierusalem And lith I-graue vnder þe roode bem Al is his tombe nought so curious As was þe sepulcre of him Darius which þat appellus wrought so subtily It nys but wast to burie him preciously let him far wel god ȝiue his soule rest he is now in his graue and in his chest ¶ Now of my fifte housbond wol I telle / God let his soule neuer come in helle / And ȝit was he to me þe moste schrewe / That fele I on my ribbes alle on rewe / And euer schal vnto myn endyng day But in oure bed he was so freisch and gay And þer with al so wel he couþe me glose / whan þat he wolde haue my bele chose / That þough he had me bete on euery boon he couþe wynne my loue right anoon I trowe I loued him beste for þat he was of his loue daungerous to me we wymmen han if þat I schal nouȝt lye In þis matier a queynte fantasie wayte what þyng we may not lightly haue Ther after wol we sonnest crie and craue Forbeed vs þing and þat desire we Pres on vs fast and þanne wol we fle wiþ daunger outen alle we oure ware Greet pres at market makith deer chaffare And to greet chep is holden at litel pris This knowith euery womman þat is wys My fyfte housbond god his soule blesse which þat I took for loue and no richesse / he somtyme was a clerk of Oxenford And had left scole and went at hoom to borde wiþ my gossib duellyng in oure toun God haue hir soule. hir name was Alisoun Sche knew myn herte and my priuite Bet þan oure parisch prest so mot I the / To hir bywreyed I my counseil al For had myn housbond pissed on a wal Or don a þing þat schuld haue cost his lif To hir and to anoþer worþy wyf And to my neece which I loued wel I wold haue told his counseil euery del And so I did ful ofte god it woot That made his face ofte reed and hoot For verry schame. and blamyd himself þat he / had told to me so gret a priuete And so byfel þat oones in a lent So ofte tyme to my gossib I went For euer ȝit I loued to be gay And for to walk in march aueril and may From hous to here sondry talis Þat Iankyn Clerk and my gossib dame alis And I my self in to þe feldes went Myn housbond was at londone al þat lent I had þe bettir leysir for to pleye And for to see and eek for to be seye Of lusty folk. what wist I wher my grace was schapen for to be or in what place Therfore I made my visitaciouns To vigiles and to processiouns To prechings eek and to þis pilgrimages To pleyes miracles and mariages And wered vpon my scarlet gytes Þese wormes þese moughtes ne þese mytes Vpon my perel fretith hem neuer a deel And wostow why. for þay were vsed wel Now wol I telle forþ what happid me I say þat in þe feldes walkid we Til trewely we had such daliaunce This Clerk and I þat of my puruyaunce I spak to him and sayde how þat he If I were wydow schulde wedde me For certeynly I say for no bobaunce Ȝit was I neuer wiþouten purueyaunce Of mariage ne of no þinges eeke I hold a mouses hert not worþ a leek That haþ but oon hole to sterte to And if þat faile þan is al I-do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. But now sir let me se what I schal sayn A ha by god I haue my tale agayn ¶ whan þat my fourþe housbond was on bere I wept algate and made a sory cheere As wyues mooten for it is vsage And with my kerchief couered my visage But for þat I was purueyed of a make / I wept but smal and þat I vndertake To chirche was myn housbond brought on morwe with neighebors þat for him made sorwe And Iankyn oure clerk was oon of þo As help me god whan þat I saugh him go After þe beere me þought he had a paire Of legges and of feet so clene and faire That al myn hert I ȝaf vnto his hold He was I trowe twenty wynter old And I was fourty I schal say þe sothe But ȝit I had alway a Coltis toþe Gattothid I was and þat bycom me wel I had þe prynte of seynt Venus sel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. Myn ascent was taur. and mars þer Inne / Allas alas þat euer loue was synne I folwed ay myn inclinacioun By vertu of my constillacioun That made me þat I couþe nouȝt wiþdrawe / My chambre of venus from a good felawe / . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. what schuld I say but at þe monthis ende This ioly clerk Iankyn þat was so heende Haþ weddid me with gret solempnitee And to him ȝaf I al þe londe and fee That euer was me ȝiue þer bifore But aftirward repented me ful sore he nolde suffre noþing of my list By god he smot me oones wiþ his fist For I rent oones out of his book a lef That of þat strok myn eere wax al deef Styborn I was as is a leones And of my tonge a verray iangleres And walk I wold as I had don biforn Fro hous to hous al þough he had it sworn For which he ofte tyme wolde preche And me of olde Romayn gestes teche / How he Simplicius gallus left his wyf And hir forsok for terme of al his lyf Nought but for open heedid he hir say lokyng out at his dore vpon a day Anoþer Romayn told he me by name That for his wyf was at a somer game wiþout his wityng. he forsok hir eeke And þanne wold he vpon his book seeke That ilke prouerbe of Ecclesiaste wher he comaundith and forbedith faste Man schal not suffre. his wyf go roule aboute / Than wold he say right þus wiþouten doute ¶ Who þat buyldith his hous al of salwes And priketh his blynde hors ouer the falwes And suffrith his wyf. to go seken halwes Is worþy to ben honged on þe galwes But al for nought I sette nought an hawe Of his prouerbe. ne of his olde sawe Ne I wolde not of him corrected be I hate him þat my vices tellith me. And so doon mo. god it wot þan I. This made him wiþ me wood al outerly I nolde not forbere him in no cas Now wol I say ȝow soth by seint Nicholas why þat I rent out of þe book a leef For which he smot me þat I was al def he had a book þat gladly night and day For his desport he wolde rede alway he clepyd it Valelye and theofrast At which book he lough alway ful fast And eek þay say þer was som tyme at Rome A clerk a Cardynal þat heet seint Ierome That made a book aȝens Iouynyan In which book eeke þer was terculan Crisippus tortula and eek helewys That was abbas not fer fro paris And eek þe parablis of Salamon Ouydes art and bourdes many oon And alle þese were bounde in oo volume And euery night and day was his custume whan he had leysir and vacacioun From oþer worldes occupacioun To reden in þis book of wikked wyues he knew of hem mo legendes and lyues Þan ben of goode wyues in þe bible For trustith wel it is an inpossible That any clerk schal speke good of wyues But if it be of holy seintes lyues Ne of noon oþer wyfes neuer þe mo who peyntid þe leoun tel me who By god if wommen hadde writen stories As clerkes haue wiþinne her oratories Thay wold haue write of men more wickidnes Than al þe mark of Adam may redres These children of mercury and of venus Ben in her werkyng ful contrarius Mercury louith wisdom and science And venus loueth ryot and dispense And for her diuers disposicioun Ech fallith in oþeres exaltacioun And þus god wot mercury is desolate In pisses wher venus is exaltate And venus faylith wher Mercury is reysed Therfor no womman of clerkes is preised The clerk whan he is old and may nouȝt do Of venus werkis is not worþ a scho Than sit he doun and writ in his dotage That wommen can nought kepe here mariage But now to purpos why I tolde þe That I was beten for a leef par de vpon a night Iankyn þat was oure sire Rad on his book as he sat by þe fyre Of Eua first þat for hir wikkidnes was al mankynde brought to wrecchednes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. Tho rad he me how Sampson left his heris Slepyng his lemman kut it wiþ hir scheris Thurgh which tresoun lost he boþe his yen Tho rad he me if þat I schal not lyen Of Ercules and of his deianyre That caused him to sette himself on fuyre No þing forȝat he þe care and wo Þat Socrates had wiþ his wyues tuo How exantipa cast pisse vpon his heed Þis seely man sat stille as he were deed he wyped his heed no more durst he sayn But er þunder stynte þer comeþ rayn Of phasipha þat was þe queen Creete. For schrewednes him þought þe tale sweete. Fy spek no more it is a grisly þing For her horribil lust and her likyng Of Clydemystra for hir leccherie That falsly made hir housbond for to dye he rad it with ful good deuocioun he told me eek for what occasioun Amphiores at Thebes left his lif Myn housbond had a legend of his lyf Exiphilem þat for an ouche of gold haþ prively vnto þe Grekes told wher þat hir housbond hyd him in a place For which he had at thebes sory grace Of lyma told he me and of lucye Thay boþe made her housbondes for to dye / That oon for loue · þat oþer was for hate Lyma hir housbond on an euen late Empoysond hath . for þat sche was his fo Lucia licorous loued hir housbond so For þat he schuld alway vpon hir þink Sche ȝaf him such a maner loue-drink That he was deed er it was by þe morwe And þus algates housbondes had sorwe Than told he me how oon latumyus Compleigned vnto his felaw arrius That in his gardyn growed such a tre On which he sayde how þat his wyues þre / Honged hem selfe / for herte despitous O leue broþer . quod þis arrious Ȝif me a plont of þilke blessid tre And in my gardyn schal it plantid be Of latter date of wyues haþ he red That som han slayn her housbondes in her bed And let her lecchour dighten al þe night whil þat þe corps lay in þe flor vpright And som han dryuen nayles in her brayn whiles þay sleepe and þus þey han hem slayn Som haue hem ȝiue poysoun in her drink he spak more harm þan herte may byþynk And þer wiþ al he knew mo prouerbes Þan in þis world þer growen gres or herbes Better is quod he thyn habitacioun Be with a leoun or a foul dragoun Than with a womman vsyng for to chyde Better is quod he hihe in þe roof abyde Than wiþ a wikked womman doun in a hous Thay ben so wicked and so contrarious Þay haten þat her housbondes louen ay He sayd a womman cast hir schame away whan sche cast of hir smok . and forþer mo A fair womman but sche be chast also Is lyk a gold ryng in a sowes nose who wolde wene or who wolde suppose / The wo þat in myn herte was and pyne And whan I saugh he nolde neuer fyne To reden on þis cursed book al night And sodeinly þre leues haue I plight Out of þis booke þat he had and eeke I with my fist so took him on þe cheeke That in oure fuyr he fel bakward adoun· And he vpstert as doþ a wood leoun And wiþ his fist he smot me on þe hed That in þe floor I lay as I were deed And whan he saugh so stille þat I lay he was agast and wold haue fled away Til atte last out of my swown I brayde O hastow slayn me false þef I sayde And for my lond þus hastow mourdrid me Er I be deed ȝit wol I kisse þe And ner he cam and knelith faire a doun And sayde deere suster alisoun As help me god I schal þe neuer smyte That I haue doon it is þiself to wite / Forȝiue it me and þat I þe biseke And ȝet eft sones I hyt him on þe cheke And sayde þef þus mekil I me wreke Now wol I dye I may no lenger speke But atte last wiþ mochil care and wo we fyl accordid by our seluen tuo he ȝaf me al þe bridil in myn hand To haue þe gouernaunce of hous and land And of his tonge and of his hond also / And made him brenne his book anoon right þo And whan I hadde geten vnto me By maistry al þe souereynete And þat he sayde myn owne trewe wif Do as þe list in term of al þy lif kepe þyn honour and kep eek myn estat And after þat day we neuer had debat God help me so I was to him as kynde As eny wyf fro Denmark vnto Inde And also trewe was he vnto me I pray to god þat sitte in mageste So blesse his soule for his mercy deere Now wol I say my tale if ȝe wol heere[No gap in the MS.] [The Wrangle between the Summoner and Friar.] ¶ The Frere lough when he had herd al þis¶ Here makith þe frere an interpre|tacion of þe wyfes tale / Now dame quod he so haue I ioye or blis This is a long preambel[or parambel] of a tale And whan þe Sompnour herd þe frere gale Lo quod þe sompnour for goddes armes tuo A frer wol entremet him euermo lo goode men a flie and eek a frere woln falle in euery dissche and matiere what spekst þou of . perambulacioun what ambil . or trot . or pees or go sit doun Thou lettest oure disport in þis matere Ȝe woltow so sir sompnour quod þe frere Now by my fay I schal er þat I go Telle of a sompnour such a tale or tuo That alle þe folk/ schuln laughen in þis place / Now ellis frere I byschrew þy face Quod þis Sompnour and I byschrewe me But / if I telle tales tuo or þre Of freres er I come to Sydingborne Þat I schal make þin herte for to morne For wel I wot þy paciens is goon Oure hoste cride pees and þat anoon And sayde let þe womman telle hir tale / Ȝe fare as folkes þat dronken ben of ale Do dame tel forth ȝour tale and þat is best/ Al redy sir quod sche right as ȝou lest/ If I haue licence of þis worthy frere Ȝis dame quod he tel forþ and I schal heere[Break of two lines in the MS.] IN olde dayes of þe kyng arthour¶ Narrat Of which þat britouns speken gret honour Al was þis lond fulfilled of fayrie The elf queen wiþ hir ioly compaignye Daunced fuloft in many a grene mede This was þe old oppynyoun as I rede I speke of many hundrid ȝer ago But now can no man see noon elues mo For now þe grete charite and prayeres Of lymytours and oþer holy freres That sechen euery lond and euery streem As thik as motis in þe sonne beem Blessynge halles . chambres . kichenes . boures Citees . burghes . castels . hihe and toures . Thropes . bernes . schepnes . and dayeries That makith þat þer ben no fayeries For þer as wont was to walken an elf Ther walkith noon . but þe lymytour himself In vndermeles and in morwenynges And saith his matyns and his holy þinges As he goþ in his lymytacioun wommen may go saufly vp and doun In euery bussch or vnder euery tre Þer is non oþer incumbent but/ he / And ne wol but doon hem dishonour And so bifel it / þat þis king arthour had in his hous a lusty bacheler That on a day com rydyng fro ryuer And happed al alone as sche was born he saugh a mayde walkyng him byforn Of which mayden anoon maugre hir heed By verray fors byraft hir maydenhed For such oppressioun was such clamour And such pursuyte vnto kyng arthour That dampned was þe knight and schuld be ded By cours of lawe and schuld haue lost his heed Parauenture such was þe statut þo But þat þe queen and oþer ladys mo So longe preyeden þay þe kyng of grace Til he his lif haþ graunted in þe place And ȝaf him to þe queen al at hir wille To chese wethir sche wolde him saue or spille The queen thanked þe kyng wiþ al hir might And after þus sche spak vnto þe knight whan þat sche saugh hir tyme vpon a day Thow stondest ȝet quod he in such array Þat of þy lyf hastow no sewerte I graunte þy lif if þou canst telle me what þing is it þat wommen most desiren Be war and keep þy nek bon fro þe Iren And if þou canst not tellen it anoon Ȝet wol I ȝiue þe leue for to goon A twelf month and a day it for to lere An answar suffisaunt in þis matiere And seurte wol I haue er þat þou pace Thy body for to ȝelden in þis place wo was þis knight and sorwfully he siked But what. he may not doon al as him liked And atte last he ches him for to wende And cam aȝein right at þe ȝeres ende wiþ swich answer as god him wolde purueye And takith his leue and wendith forþ his weye He sekith euery hous and euery place wher-so he hopith for to fynde grace To lerne what þing wommen louen most But he ne couþe arryuen in no cost wher as he mighte fynde þis matiere To þese þinges accordyng in fere Somme sayden womme louen best richesse Somme sayde honour and some sayde iolynesse Somme sayde riche array some sayden lust on bedde And ofte tyme to be wydow and wedde Somme sayden oure herte is most I-eased whan we ben y-flaterid and y-pleased He goþ ful neigh þe soth I wil not lye A man schal wynne vs best wiþ flaterye And with attendaunce and busynesse Ben we y-limed boþe more and lesse / And somme sayen þat we louen best For to be fre and to doon as vs lest And þat no man repreue vs of oure vice But say þat we ben wys and no þing nyce For trewely þer is noon of vs alle If eny wight wold claw vs on þe galle / That we nyl like for he saith vs soþ Assay and he schal fynd it þat so doþ For be we neuer so vicious wiþinne we schuln be holde wys and clene of synne And somme sayn þat gret delit han we For to be holden stabil and secre / And in oon purpos stedfastly to duelle / And nought bywreye þing þat men vs telle / But þat tale is not . worth a rakes stele Par dy we wymmen . can right no þing hele witnes on myda wil ȝe here þe tale / Ouyd among his oþer þinges smale Sayde Myda had . vnder his lange heris Growyng vpon his heed tuo asses eeris The whiche vice he hid as he best might Ful subtilly fro euery mannes sight That saue his wyf þer wist of þat no mo he loued hir most . and trusted hir also / he prayed hir . þat to no creature sche schulde tellen . of his disfigure / Sche swor him nay for al þis world to wynne Sche nolde do þat vilony or synne To make hir housbond haue so foul a name Sche wold not tel it for hir oughne schame But natheles hir þoughte þat sche dyde That sche so long a counseil scholde hyde hir þought it swal . so sore about / hir hert That needely som word hir most astert And sins sche dorst not tel it vn-to man Doun to a marreys faste by sche ran Til sche cam þer hir herte was on fuyre And as a bytoure bumblith in þe myre Sche layd hir mouth vnto þe water doun Bywrey me not þou watir with þi soun Quod sche to þe I telle it and no mo Myn housbond haþ long asse eeris tuo Now is myn hert al hool now is it oute I might no lenger kepe it out of doute Her may ȝe se þeigh we a tyme abyde Ȝet out it moot we can no counseil hyde The remenaunt of þe tale if ȝe wil here / Redith ovid . and þer ȝe mow it leere ¶ This knight of which my tale is specially whan þat he saugh he might nouȝt come þerby This is to say what wommen louen most wiþinne his brest ful sorwful was þe gost/ But hom he goþ . he might no lenger soiourne The day was come þat homward most he torne And in his way it hapnyd him to ride In al his care vnder a forest side wher as he saugh vpon a daunce go Of ladys four and twenty and ȝit mo Toward þis ilke daunce I drough ful ȝerne / In hope þat som wisdom schuld I lerne / But certeynly er I com fully þere Vanysshid was þis daunce he nyste where / No creature saugh he þat bar lif Sauf on þe greene he saugh sittyng a wyf / A fouler wight þer may no man deuyse Aȝens þe knight þis olde wyf gan ryse And sayder sir knight heer forth lith no way Tel me what . ȝe seekyn by ȝour fay Par aduenture . it may þe better be / Thise olde folk can mochil þing quod sche My lieue modir quod þis knight certayn I am but ded but if þat I can sayn what þing is it . þat wommen most desire Couþe ȝe me wisse . I wold wel quyt ȝour huyre / Plight me þy trouth . her in myn hond quod sche The nexte þing þat I require þe Thou schalt it doo if it be in þy might And I wol telle it þe er it be night haue her my trouþe quod þe knight I graunte Thanne quod sche I dar me wel auaunte Þy lif is sauf for I wol stonde þer by vpon my lif þe queen wol say as I let se which is þe proudest of hem alle Þat werith on a couerchief or a calle Þat dar say nay of þing I schal þe teche let vs go forth wiþouten more speche Tho rowned sche a pistil in his eere And bad him to be glad and haue no fere whan þay ben comen to þe court þis knight Sayd he had holde . þat day þat he hight Al redy was his answer as he sayde Ful many a noble wyf and many a mayde And many a wydow for þat þay ben wyse The queen hirself sittyng as a Iustise Assemblid ben his answer for to hiere And afterward þis knight was bode appiere To euery wight comaundid was cilence And þat þe knight schuld telle in audience what þing þat worldly wommen louen best ¶ Þe knight ne stood not stille as doþ a best But to þe questioun anoon answerde wiþ manly voys þat al the court it herde My liege lady generally quod he wommen desiren to haue soueraynte As wel ouer hir housbond as ouer hir loue And for to be in maystry him aboue This is þe most desir þough ȝe me kille / Doþ as ȝow list I am heer at ȝour wille In al þe court ne was þer wyf ne mayde Ne wydow þat contraried þat he sayde But sayden he . was worþy haue his lif And wiþ þat word vp start þat olde wif which þat þe knight saugh sittyng on þe grene Mercy quod sche my soueraigne lady queene Er þat ȝour court departe doþ me right I taughte þis answer vnto þe knight For which he plighte me his trouþe there The firste þing þat I wold him requere he wold it do if it lay in his might Bifore þe court þen pray I þe sir knight Quod sche þat þou me take vnto þy wif For wel þou wost þat I haue kept þy lif If I say fals sey nay vpon þy fey This knight answerd allas and waylawey I wot right wel þat such was my byhest For goddes loue as chese a ne request Tak al my good and let my body go Nay quod sche þan I schrew vs boþe tuo For þough þat I be foule old and poure I nolde for al þe metal ne for þe oure That vnder erthe is graue or lith aboue But I þy wife . were and eek þy loue My loue quod he . nay nay . my dampnacioun Allas þat eny of my nacioun Schuld euer so foule disparagid be But/ al for nought . þe ende is þis þat he Constreigned was . he needes most hir wedde And takith his wyf and goþ wiþ hir to bedde ¶ Now wolden som men say par aduenture That for my necgligence I do no cure To telle ȝow þe ioye and tharray That at þat fest was maad þat ilke day To which þing schortly answeren I schal And say þer nas feste ne ioy at al Ther nas but heuynes and mochil sorwe For priuely he weddyd hir in a morwe And alday hudde him . as doþ an oule So wo was him his wyf loked so foule Gret was þe wo . þe knight had in his þought whan he was with his wyf on bedde brought He walwith and he torneth to and fro his olde wyf lay smylyng euer mo And sayd o deere housbond benedicite[MS. bndicite] Fareth euery knight wiþ his wyf as ȝe / Is þis þe lawe of king arthures hous Is euery knight of his þus daungerous I am ȝour oughne loue / and ȝour wyf I am sche þat hath sauyd ȝour lyf And certes ne dede I ȝow neuer vnright why fare ȝe þus with me þe firste night ȝe fare lik a man þat had left his wit/ what is my gult . for godes loue tel me it And it schal be amendid if þat I may Amendid quod þis knight allas nay nay It wol nought ben amendid neuer mo Thow art so loþly and so old also And þerto comen of so lowh a kynde That litil wonder is þough I walwe and wynde So wolde god myn herte wolde brest Is þis quod sche þe cause of ȝour vnrest; Ȝe certeynly quod he no wonder is Now sire quod sche I couþe amende al þis If þat me list er it were dayes þre / So wel ȝe mighte bere ȝow to me But for ȝe speken of such gentilesse As is descendit out of old richesse Therfor schuld ȝe . ben holden gentil men Such arrogaunce . is not worth an hen lok who þat is most vertuous alway Priue and pert and most entendiþ ay To do þe gentil dedes þat he can Tak him for þe grettest gentil man Crist wol we clayme of him oure gentilesse Nought of oure eldres for our gret richesse For þough þey ȝiue vs al her heritage For which we clayme to be of high parage Ȝit may þay not biqueþe for no þing To noon of vs so vertuous lyuyng That made hem gentil men y-callid be And bad vs folwe hem in such degre wel can þe wyse poet of Florence That hatte Daunt speke of þis sentence / Lo in such maner of rym is Dauntes tale Ful seeld vprisith by his braunchis smale / Prowes of man . for god of his prowesse wol þat we clayme of him our gentilesse For of our auncestres . we no þing clayme But temporal þing þat men may hurt and mayme Ek euery wight wot þis as wel as I If gentiles were plaunted naturelly Vnto a certayn lignage doun þe line Priue ne apert/. þay wolde neuer fine To don of gentilesce þe fair office Thay might nought doon no vileny or vice Tak fuyr and ber it in þe derkest hous Bitwixe þis . and þe mount Cankasous And let men schit . þe dores and go þenne Ȝit wol þe fuyr as fair and lighte brenne As twenty þousand men might it biholde his office naturel ay wol it holde vp peril on my lif til þat it dye her / may ȝe se wel how þat genterye Is nought annexid to possessioun Sithins folk ne doon her operacioun Alway as doth þe fuyr lo in his kynde For god it wot men may ful often fynde A lordes sone do schame and vilonye And he þat wol haue pris of his gentrie For he was boren of a gentil hous And had his eldres noble and vertuous And nyl himselue . doo no gentil dedis Ne folw his gentil aunceter þat deed is he is nought gentil be he duk or erl . For vileyn synful deedes makeþ a cherl . For gentilnesse nys but renome Of þin auncestres for her heigh bounte which is a straunge þing to þy persone Thy gentilesce comeþ fro god alloone Than comþ oure verray gentilesse of grace It was no þing biquethe vs wiþ oure place Thinkeþ how nobil as saith valerius was þilke tullius hostilius That out of pouert / ros to high noblesse Redith Senek/. and redith eek/ Boece . Ther schuln ȝe se expresse þat no dred is Þat he is gentil þat doþ gentil dedis And þerfor lieue housbond I conclude Al were it that myn auncetres wer rude Ȝit may þe highe god and so hope I Graunte me grace to lyue vertuously Than am I gentil whan þat I bygynne To lyue vertuously and weyuen synne And þer as ȝe of povert me repreue The heighe god on whom þat we bilieue In wilful pouert ches to lese his lif And certes euery man . mayden or wif May vnderstonde þat Ihc heuen king Ne wold not chese . a vicious lyuyng Glad pouert is an honest þing certayn This wol Senek and oþer clerkes sayn who þat holt him payd of his pouert I hold him riche . al had he nouȝt a schert he þat coueitith is a pore wight For he wold haue þat is not in his might But he þat nouȝt haþ . ne coueyteth nouȝt/ to haue Is riche al þough ȝe hold him but a knaue Verray pouert is synne proprely Iuuenal saith of pouert merily ¶ The pore man whan he goþ by þe way Bifore þe theues he may synge and play Pouert is hateful and as I gesse / A ful gret brynger out of busynesse / A gret amender eek of Sapiens To him þat takith it in paciens Pouert is þis al þough it seme elenge Possessioun þat no wight wil chalenge ∴ Pouert ful often whan a man is lowe Makith him his god and eek himself/ to knowe ∴ Pouert a spectacle is as þinkith me Þurgh which he may his verray frendes se And þerfor sir syth þat I ȝow nought greue Of my pouert no more ȝe me repreue // Now sir of elde ȝe repreue me And certes sir þough noon auctorite were in no book ȝe gentils of honour Sayn þat men schuld an old wight doon fauour And clepe him fader for ȝour gentilesse And certes I schal fynden as I gesse Than drede ȝou nought to ben a cokewold Now þer þat ȝe sayn I am foul and old For filthe and elde also mot I the Ben grete wardeyns vpon chastite / But natheles sith I knowe ȝour delyt I schal fulfille ȝoure worldly appetyt Chese now quod sche oon of þese þinges tweye To haue me foul and old til þat I deye And be to ȝow a trewe humble wyf And neuer ȝow displease in al my lyf Or elles ȝe wol haue me ȝong and fair And take ȝour auenture of þe repair Þat schal be to ȝour hous by cause of me Or in som oþer place may wel be Now chese ȝour seluen whethir þat ȝow likith This knight auysith him and sore sikith But atte last he sayd in þis manere My lady and my loue . and my wif so deere I putte me in ȝour wyse gouernaunce Chesith ȝour self which may be most pleasaunce And most honour to ȝow and me also I do no fors þe wheþer of þe tuo For as ȝow likith it suffisith me Than haue I gete of ȝow þe maystry quod sche / Sith I may gouern and chese as me list/ Ȝe certis wyf quod he I hold it best kys me quod sche we ben no lenger wroþe For by my trouþe . I wol be to ȝow boþe This is to say ȝe boþe fair and good I pray to god þat I mot sterue wood But/ I be to ȝow also good and trewe As euer was wyf siþþen þe world was newe And but/ I be to morow as fair to seen As eny lady emperesse or queen That is bitwixe thest and eek þe west Doth by my lyf . right euen as ȝow lest Cast vp þe cortyns and look what þis is And whan þe knyght saugh verrayly al þis That sche so fair was and so ȝong þer to For ioye he hent hir in hir armes tuo his herte bathid in a bath of blisse A thousand tyme on rowe he gan hir kisse And sche obeyed him in euery þing That mighte doon him pleisauns or likyng And þus þay lyue vnto her lyues end In parfyt ioye and ihū crist vs sende housbondes meke ȝonge and freissche on bedde And grace to ouerbyde hem þat we wedde And eek I pray to Ihū schort her lyues That wil nought be gouerned after her wyues And old and angry nygardes of despense God send hem sone verray pestilence / ¶ Here endith þe wif of Bathe hire tale[No break in the MS.] ¶ Here bygynneth þe prologe of þe Freres tale THis worthy lymytour þis noble Frere he made alway a lourynge cheere vpon the sompnour . but for honeste / No vileyns worde . ȝit to him spak he But atte last he sayd vnto þe wyf Dame quod he . god ȝiue ȝow good lyf Ȝe han her touchid al so mot I the In scole matier gret difficulte Ȝe han sayd mochel þing right wel I say But dame right as we ryden by þe way Vs needeþ nouȝt but for to speke of game · And lete auctorites in goddes name To preching and to scoles of clergie / But if it like to þis companye / I wil ȝow of a sompnour telle a game Par de ȝe may wel knowe by þe name That of a sompnour may no good be sayd I pray ȝow þat noon of ȝow be euel a-payd A Sompnour is a renner vp and doun wiþ maundementȝ for fornicacioun And is y-bete at euery tounes eende / Our oste spak / a sir ȝe schold been heende / And curteys as a man of ȝour estaat In company we wol haue no debaat Telleþ ȝour tale and let þe sompnour be Nay quoþ þe sompnour let him say to me what so him list whan it comeþ to my lot By god I schal him quyten euery grot I schal him telle which a gret honour Is to ben a fals flateryng lymytour[Lines 1307-8 follow wrongly here in the Six Texts.] And his offis I schal him telle I-wis Our host answerd and sayd þe sompnour þis And after þis he sayd vnto þe Frere Telleþ forþ ȝour tale my maister deere[No gap in the MS.]

¶ Narrat.

Whilom þer was duellyng in my countre An erchedeken a man of gret degre That boldely did execucioun In punyschyng of fornicacioun Of wicchecraft and eek of Bauderye Of diffamacioun and auoutrie / Of chirchereues and of testamentes Of contractes and of lak of sacraments And eek of many anoþer cryme[These 2 lines are misplaced, as 1295-6, in the Six Texts.] which nediþ not to reherse at þis tyme Of vsur and of Symony also But certes lecchours did he grettest woo . Thay schulde synge if þay were hent And smale tyþers þay were fouly schent If eny persoun wold vpon hem pleyne Ther might astert/ him no pecunial peyne For smale tyþes and for smal offrynge he made þe poeple pitously to synge For er þe bisschop caught him in his hook Þay weren in þe archedeknes book And hadde þurgh his iurediccioun Power to haue of hem correccioun he had a sompnour redy to his hond A slyer boy was noon in Engelond Ful priuely he had his espiaile That taughte him wher he might auayle he couþe spare of lecchours oon or tuo And techen him to four and twenty mo For þough þis sompnour wood were as an hare To telle his harlottry I wol not spare For we ben out of here correccioun Thay haue of vs no iurediccioun Ne neuer schul to terme of alle her lyues Peter so been þe wommen of þe styues Thay beþ I-put out of oure cures Pees with meschaunce and wiþ mesauentures Þus sayd our host and let him telle his tale / Now telleþ forþ al þough þe sompnour gale Ne spareþ nought myn owne maister deere Þis false þeef þe sompnour quoþ þe frere ./ Had alway bawdes redy to his hond As eny hauk to lure in engelond Þat told him al þe secre þat þay knewe For here acqueintaunce was not come of newe Þay were his approwours priuely He took himself a gret profyt þer by His maister knew nat alway what he wan wiþoute maundement/ a lewed man He couþe sompne vp peyne of cristes curs And þay were glad to fille wel his purs ./ And make him grete festis atte nale / And right as Iudas hadde purses smale / And was a theef. right such a þeef was he his maister had not half his duete he was if I schal ȝiue him his laude . A þeef a sompnour and eek a baude . And he had wenches at his retenue That wheþir þat sir Robert or sir hughe Or Iak or Rauf or who-so þat it were That lay by hem þay told it in his eere Thus was þe wenche and he of oon assent And he wold fecche a feyned maundement And sompne hem to chapitre boþe tuo And pyle þe man and let þe wenche go Than wold he sayn I schal frend for þy sake Don strike þe out of oure lettres blake The þar no more as in þis cas trauayle I am þy frend þer I þe may avayle Certeynly he knew of bribours mo Than possible is to telle in ȝeres tuo For in þis world nys dogge for þe bowe Þat can an hurt deer from an hol y-knowe Bet þan þis sompnour knew a leccheour Or auoutier or ellis a paramour And for þat was þe fruyt of al his rent Therfore þer on he set al his entent And so bifel þat oones on a day This sompnour euer wayting on his pray Rod forth to sompne a widew and old ribibe Feynyng a cause for he wolde bribe And happed þat he say bifore him ryde A gay ȝeman vnder a forest syde A bow he bar and arwes bright and kene He had vpon a courtepy of grene An hat vpon his heed wiþ frenges blake Sir quod þis sompnour heyl and wel ouertake welcome quod he and euery good felawe whider ridestow vnder þis grene schawe Sayde þis ȝiman wiltow fer to day This sompnour answerd and sayde nay Her faste by quod he is myn entent To ryden for to reysen vp a rent That longith to my lordes duete Artow þan a bayely quod he / He durste not for verray filth and schame Sayn þat he was a sompnour for þe name De par dieux quod þe ȝeman lieue broþer Thou art a bayly . and I am another I am vnknowen as in þis contre Of þin acqueintance I wol praye þe And eek of broþerheed it ȝow lest I haue gold and siluer in my chest If that þe happe come in to oure schire Al schal be þin right as þou wolt desire Graunt mercy quod þis sompnour by my faith / Euerich in otheres hond his trouthe laith For to be sworne breþeren til þay deyen In daliaunce forþ þay ride and pleyen This Sompnour which þat was as ful of iangles As ful of venym ben þese wery-angles And euer enquering vpon euery þing Broþer quod he wher now is ȝour dwellyng Anoþer day if þat I schuld ȝow seeche This ȝiman him answerd in softe speche Broþer quod he fer in þe norþ contre wher as I hope somtyme I schal þe se Er we depart I schal þe so wel wisse That of myn hous ne schaltow neuer misse Now broþer quod þis sompnour I ȝow pray Teche me whil þat we ryden by þe way Syn þat ȝe ben a baily as am I Som subtilte as tel me faithfully In myn office . how þat I may wynne. And spare not for consciens or for synne / But as my broþer tel me how do ȝe Now by my trouthe brothir myn sayd he / As I schal telle þe a faithful tale My wages ben ful streyt and eek ful smale My lord to me is streyt and daungerous And myn office is ful laborous And þerfor by extorciouns I lyue For soþ I take al þat men wil me ȝiue Algate by sleighte or by violence Fro ȝer to ȝer I wynne my despence I can no better telle faithfully Now certes quod þis sompnour so fare I I spare not to take god it woot But if it be to heuy or to hoot what I may gete . in counseil priuely No more consciens of þat haue I Nere myn extorcions I might not lyuen Ne of such iapes I wil not be schriuen Stomak ne conscience . know I noon I schrew þes schriftefadres euerychoon wel be we met by god and by seint Iame But leue broþer telle me þy name Quod þis sompnour in þis mene while This ȝeman gan a litel for to smyle Broþir quod he woltow þat I þe telle I am a feend my dwellyng is in helle And her I ryde about my purchasyng To wite wher men wol ȝiue me eny þing My purchas is þeffect of al my rent loke how þou ridest for þe same entent/ To wynne good þou rekkist neuer how Right so fare I for ryde I wolde now vnto þe worldes ende for a pray A quod þe sompnour benedicite what ȝe say I wende ȝe were a ȝeman trewely ȝe han a mannes schap as wel as I haue ȝe a figure . þan determinate In helle þer ȝe ben in ȝour estate / Nay certeynly quod he þer haue we non But whan vs likith we can make vs on Or ellis make ȝow seme þat we ben schape Som tyme like a man or like an ape Or lik aungel can I ryde or go It is no wonder þing þough it be so A lousy iogelour can decyue þe And parfay ȝit / can I more craft þan he ¶ why quod þis sompnour ryde ȝe þan or goon In sondry wyse and nouȝt alway in oon For quod he we wol vs in such forme make As most abil is . oure pray to take / what makith ȝow to haue al þis labour Ful many a cause lieue sir sompnour Sayde þis feend . but al þing hath a tyme Þe day is schort and it is passed prime And ȝit ne wan I no þing in þis day I wol entent to wynnyng if I may And not entende oure þinges to declare / For broþer myn þy wit is al to bare To vnderstond al þough I told hem þe For but þou axid . whi laboure we / For som tyme we ben goddis instrumentes And menes to don his comaundementes whan þat him list vpon his creatures In diuers act . and in diuers figures wiþouten him we haue no might certeyn If þat him liste . stonde þer ageyn And som tyme at our prayer haue we leeue Only þe body and not þe soule greue / witnes on Iope whom we dide ful wo And somtyme haue we might of boþe tuo This is to say of body and soule eeke And som tyme be we suffred for to seeke vpon a man and doon his soule vnrest/ And not his body and al is for þe best whan he wiþstondith oure temptacioun It is a cause of his sauacioun Al be it so . it was nought oure entent he schuld be sauf . but þat we wold him hent And som tyme we · ben seruaunt vnto man As to therchebisschope seynt Dunstan And to thapostolis seruaunt was I Ȝit tel me quod þe sompnour faithfully Make ȝe ȝow . newe bodies alway Of elementȝ . þe fend answerde nay Som tyme we feyne . and somtyme we ryse wiþ dede bodies . in ful wonder wyse And speke renably . and as fair and wel As to þe Phitonissa dede Samuel And ȝit wol somme say . it was not he I do no fors . of ȝour diuinite But oon þing warne I þe I wol not iape. Þou wilt algates wite how we ben schape. Thow schalt her afterward my broþer deere Com wher þe nedith no þing for to leere For thou schalt by þin oughn experience Conne in a chayer reden of þis sentence Bet þan virgile whils he was on lyue / Or Daunt also / now let vs ryde blyue For I wol holde company with þe Til it be so þat þou forsake me Nay quod þe sompnour þat schal nought betyde I am a ȝiman þat knowen is ful wyde My trouþe wol I hold as in þis caas For þough þou be þe deuyl Sathanas My trouþe wol I holde . to þe my broþer As I am swore . and ech of vs to oþer For to be trewe breþeren in þis caas For boþe we goon abouten oure purchas Tak þou þi part and þat men wil þe ȝyuen And I schal myn þus may we boþe lyuen And if eny of us . haue more þan oþer Let him be trewe . and part it wiþ his broþer I graunte quod þe deuel by my fay / And wiþ þat word þay riden forth her way And right at þentryng of a townes ende / To which þis sompnour schope him for to wende Thay seigh a cart that chargid was with hay which þat a carter drof forþ in his way / Deep was þe way for which þe carte stood This carter smoot and cryde as he wer wood hayt . brok . hayt . scot . / what spare ȝe for þe stoones Þe fend quod he . ȝow fech body and bones As ferforthly as euer wer ȝe folid So moche wo as I haue with ȝow tholid The deuyl haue al boþe cart . and hors and hay This sompnour sayde her schal we se play And ner þe feend he drough as nouȝt ne were Ful priuely and rouned in his eere herke my broþer herke by þi faith Ne herest nought þou . what þe carter saith hent it anoon · for he haþ ȝiuen it þe boþe hay and caples and eek his cart parde ¶ Nay quod þe deuyl god wot neuer a del It is nought his entente trustith wel Ask it þiself if þou not trowist me Or ellis stint a while and þou schalt se This carter thakketh his hors vpon the croupe And þay bygon to drawen and to stowpe hayt now quod he ther . Ihu crist ȝow blesse And al his hondwerk boþe more and lesse That was wel twight myn oughne lyard boy I pray god saue þy body and seint loy Now is my cart out of þe sloo par de Lo broþer quod þo feend what told I þe Her may ȝe seen . myn owne deere broþer The carter spak oon þing . and þought anoþer Let vs go forth . abouten our viage hier wynne I noþing vpon cariage whan þat þay comen som what out of toune This sompnour to his broþir gan to roune Brothir quod he . her wonyth an old rebekke That had almost . as lief to leese hir necke / As for to ȝiue a peny of hir good I wolf pens þough þat sche go wood Or I wol somone hir to oure office And ȝit god wot I know of hir no vice But for þou canst not as in þis contre wynne þy cost tak/ her ensample of me This sompnour clapped at þe widowes gate Com out quod he þou olde viritrate I trowe þou hast som frere or prest wiþ þe who clappith þer sayd þis widow benedicite God saue ȝow sir . what is ȝour swete wille I haue quod he . a somonaunce of a bille vp payne of cursyng loke þat þou be To morwe biforn our erchedeknes kne To answer to þe court of certeyn þinges Now quod sche Ihū crist and king of kinges So wisly helpe me as I ne may I haue ben seek and þat ful many a day I may not goon so fer quod sche ne ryde But I be deed so prikith it in my syde May I nat aske a lybel sir Sompnour And answer þer . by my procuratour To suche þing as . men wol oppose me Ȝis quod þis sompnour . pay anoon let se Twelf pens to me and I þe wil acquite I schal no profyt haue þer-by but lite My mayster hath þe profyt and not I Com of and let me ryden hastily Ȝif me my twelf pens I may no lenger tary Twelf pens quod sche . now lady seinte mary So wisly help me . out of care and synne Þis wyde world . þough þat I schulde wynne Ne haue I not · xij · pens wiþinne myn hold Ȝe knowen wel þat I am pore and old kithe ȝoure almes on me pore wrecche Nay þan quod he . þe foule fend me fecche If I þexcuse þough þou schalt be spilt Allas quod sche god wot I haue no gilt Pay me quod he . or by þe swet seint Anne As I wol bere away þy newe panne For dette which þou owest me of old whan þat þou madest þin housbond cokewold I payd at hom for þi correccioun Thou lixt quod sche by my sauacioun Ne was I neuer er now wydow ne wyf Somound vnto ȝour court/ in al my lyf Ne neuer I was but of my body trewe vnto þe deuel rough and blak of hiewe Ȝiue I þy body and þe panne also And whan þe deuyl herd hir curse so vpon his knees he sayd in þis manere Now mabely myn owne modir deere Is þis ȝour wil in ernest þat/ ȝe seye Þe deuel quod he fecche him er he deye And panne and al but he wol him repente Nay olde stot þat is not/ myn entente / Quod þis sompnour to repente me For eny þing þat I haue had of þe I wold I had þy smok and euery cloth Now broþir quod þe deuyl be not wroþ Thy body and þis panne is myn by right Thou schalt wiþ me to helle ȝit to night wher þou schalt knowen of our priuete More þan a maister of diuinite And wiþ þat word þe foule fend him hente Body and soule he wiþ þe deuyl wente wher as þe sompnours han her heritage And god þat maked after his ymage Mankynde saue and gyde vs alle and some And leene þis sompnour good man to bycome lordyngs I couþ han . told ȝow quod þe frere had I had leysir for þis sompnour here After þe text of crist powel and Ion And of oþer doctours many oon Such peynes þat our herte might agrise Al be it so no tonge may deuyse / Though þat I might a þousand wynter telle The peyn of þilke cursed hous of helle But for to kepe vs fro þat cursed place wakiþ and prayeth ihu for his grace So kepe vs fro þe temptour Sathanas herknith þis word . beþ war as in þis cas The lyoun syt in his awayt alway To slen þe Innocent if þat he may Disposith ȝoure hertes to wiþstonde The fend þat wolde make ȝow þral and bonde / He may not tempte ȝow ouer ȝour might For crist wol be ȝour champioun and knight And prayeth þat oure sompnour him repente Of his mys dede . er þat þe fend him hente. ¶ Here endith þe frere his tale[No break in the MS.] ¶ And here begynneth þe sompnour his prologe This sompnour in his styrop vp he stood vpon þe Frere his herte was so wood That lyk an aspen leef/ he quok for Ire lordyngs quod he . but oon þing I desire I ȝow biseke þat of ȝour curtesye Syn ȝe han herd þis false frere lye As suffrith me I may my tale telle This frere bosteth þat he knowith helle And god it wot . þat is litil wonder Freres and feendes been but litel asonder For pardy ȝe han often tyme herd telle / how þat a frere rauyscht was to helle In spirit ones by a visioun And as an aungel . lad him vp and doun To schewen him þe peynes þat þer were In al þe place saugh he not a frere Of oþer folk he saugh ynowe in wo vnto þis aungel spak þis frere þo Now sire quod he han freres such a grace That noon of hem schal comen in þis place Ȝis quod þis aungil many a mylioun And vnto Sathanas he lad him doun And now haþ sathanas saith he a tayl Broder þan of a Carrik is þe sayl hold vp þy tayl þou Sathanas quod he Schew forth þyn ars and let þe frere se wher is þe nest of freres in þis place And er þan half a forlong way of space Right so as bees swarmen out of an hyue Out of þe deueles ers þay gonne dryue Twenty þousand freres on a route And þorugh out helle swarmed al aboute And comen as fast as þay may goon And in his ers þay crepen euerich oon · he clappid his tayl agayn and lay ful stille This frere whan he loked had his fille Vpon þe torment of þis sory place his spirit god restored of his grace vnto his body agayn and he awook But naþeles for fere ȝit he quook So was þe deueles ers ȝit in his mynde That is his heritage of verray kynde/ God saue ȝow alle saue þis cursed frere My proloug wol I ende in þis manere[No break in the MS.]

¶ Narrat

LOrdyngs þer is . in Engelond I gesse A mersschly lond called holdernesse In which þer went a lymytour aboute To preche and eek to begge it is no doubte And so bifel it . on a day þis frere had preched at a chirch in his manere And specially abouen euery þing Excited he þe poepul in his preching To trentals and to ȝiue for goddis sake wher that men mighten holy soules make Ther as diuine seruys is honoured Nought þer as it is wasted and deuoured Neither it needeþ not for to be ȝiue As to possessioneres þat mow lyue Thanked be god in wele and abundaunce Trentals sayd he delyuereth fro penaunce her frendes soules as wel eld as ȝonge Ȝe whanne þat þay hastily ben songe Nought for to hold a prest iolif and gay he syngith not but oon masse in a day Delyuerith out quod he þe soules Ful hard it is wiþ fleischhok or with oules To ben y-clawed . or brend or I-bake Now speed ȝow hastily for cristes sake And whan þis frere had sayd al his entent with Qui cum patre . forþ he went whan folk in chirch had ȝiue him what hem lest he went his way no lenger wold he rest with scrip and pyked staf y-touked hye In euery hous and gan to pore and prye And beggyd mele or chese or ellis corn his felaw had a staf typped with horn A payr of tablis al of yuory And a poyntel y-polischt fetisly And wroot þe names alway as he stood Of alle folk that ȝaf him eny good Ascaunce þat he wolde for hem preye Ȝif vs a busshel . whet or malt or reye A goddes kichil or a trip of chese Or elles what ȝow list we may not chese A goddes halpeny or a masse peny Or ȝif vs of ȝoure braune if ȝe haue eny A dagoun of ȝour blanket leeue dame Oure suster deer . lo her I write ȝour name Bacoun or beef or such þing as we fynde A stourdy harlot ay went hem by hynde That was her hostis man and bar a sak And what men ȝaf hem layd it on his bak And whan þat he was out atte dore anoon he planed out þe names euerychoon That he biforn had writen in his tablis He serued hem wiþ nyfles and wiþ fablis Nay þer þou lixt þou sompnour sayd þe frere Pees quod our host for cristes moder deere Tel forþ þy tale and spare it not at al So thriue I quod þe sompnour so I schal So long he wente hous by hous til he Cam til an hous þer he was wont to be Refresshid mor þan in an hundrid placis . Syk lay þe housbond man whos þat þe place is . Bedred vpon a couche lowe he lay Deus hic quod he O thomas frend good day Sayde þis frere al curteysly and softe / O. Thomas god ȝeld it ȝow ful ofte haue I vpon þis bench I-fare ful wel her haue I eten many a mery mel And fro þe bench he drof away þe cat And layd a-doun his potent and his hat And eek his scrip and set him soft a-doun his felaw was go walkid in þe toun Forth with his knaue to þe ostelrye / wher as he schop him þilke night to lye O deere maister quod þe seeke man how haue ȝe fare siþþe march bygan I saygh ȝow nouȝt þis fourtenight or more God wot quod he labord haue I ful sore And specially for þy saluacioun haue I sayd many a precious orisoun And for myn oþer frendes god hem blesse / I haue to day ben at your chirche at messe And sayd a sermoun after my simple wit Nought al after þe text of holy wryt For it is hard for ȝow as I suppose And þerfor wil I teche ȝow ay þe glose Glosyng is a ful glorious þing certayn For letter sleþ so as we clerkes sayn Þer haue I taught hem to be chariteable And spend her good . þer it is resonable And þer I seigh our dame wher is sche / Ȝond in þe ȝerd I trowe þat sche be Sayde þis man . and sche wil come anoon ¶ Ey mayster welcome be ȝe by seint Iohn Sayde þis wyf how fare ȝe hertily Þe frere ariseþ vp ful curteysly And hir embracith in his armes narwe And kist hir swete . and chirkith as a sparwe; with his lippes dame quod he right wel . As he þat is ȝour seruaunt euery del Thankyd be god þat ȝow ȝaf soule and lif Ȝit saugh I not þis day so fair a wyf In al þe chirche god so saue me . Ȝe God amend defautes sir quod sche / Algates welcome be ȝe by my fay Graunt mercy dame þis haue I found alway But of ȝour grete goodnes by ȝoure leue I wolde pray ȝow þat ȝe ȝow not greeue I wil wiþ Thomas speke a litel þrowe These curates ben ful negligent and slowe To grope tendurly a conscience In schrift and preching is my diligence Study in petres wordes and in poules And walk and fissche cristen mennes soules To ȝelde Ihu crist his propre rent To spreden his word is al myn entent Now by ȝour leue o deere sire quod sche Chyd him right wel for seinte trinite he is as angry as a pissemyre Though þat he haue al þat he can desire Though I him wrye on night and make him warm And ouer him lay my leg oþer myn arm he groneth lik our boor that lith in sty . Othir disport of him right noon haue I I may please him in no maner caas . O Thomas Ieo vous dy Thomas Thomas . This makþ þe feend . þis moste ben amendid Ire is a þing þat highe god defendid And þer of wold I speke a word or tuo Now maister quod þe wyf er þat I go / what wil ȝe dyne . I wil go þer aboute Now dame quod he Ieo vous dy saunȝ doute haue I not of a capoun but þe lyuere And of ȝour softe brede but a schiuere And after þat a rostyd pigges heed But þat I wold for me no best were deed Than had I wiþ ȝow homly suffisaunce I am a man of litel sustinaunce My spirit haþ his fostryng on þe bible / Þe body is ay so redy and penyble To wake þat my stomak is destroyed I pray ȝow dame þat ȝe be not anoyed For I so frendly ȝow my counseil schewe By I nold not telle it but a fewe / Now sir quod sche but o word er I go My child is deed wiþinne þise wykes tuo Soon after þat ȝe went out of þis toun his deth saugh I by reuelacioun Sayde þis frere at hoom in oure dortour I dar wel sayn er þat half an hour After his deth . I seigh him born to blisse In myn auysioun so god me wisse . So did our sextein . and our fermerere That han ben trewe freres many a ȝere Þay may now god be thanked of his lone Maken her Iubile . and walk alloone But vp I roos and al our couent eeke With many a teere trilling on my cheeke · Te deum was our song and no þing ellis wiþouten noys or clateryng of bellis Saue þat to crist I sayd an orisoun Thankyng him of my reuelacioun For sire and dame trustith me right wel Our orisouns ben more effectuel And more we se of goddis secre þinges Than borel folk alþough þat þay ben kinges we lyue in pouert and in abstinence And borel folk in riches and dispence Of mete and drink and in her ful delyt we han al þis worldes delit in despyt lazar and Diues lyueden diuersely And diuers guerdoun hadde þay þerby who-so wol praye . faste . and be clene . And fatte his soule and make his body lene we faren as saith þapostil cloþ and foode Sufficeþ vs . þough þay ben not goode The clennes and þe fastyng of vs freres Makith þat crist acceptith oure prayeres lo moyses fourty dayes and fourty night Fasted er þat þe highe god of might Spak wiþ him in . þe mount of Synay with empty wombe fastyng many a day Receyued he þe lawe þat was writen with goddis fynger and holy wel ȝe w In mount oreb or he had eny speche with highe god þat is oure lyues leche He fastid and was in contemplacioun Aron þat had þe temple in gouernacioun And eek þe oþer prestes euerychoon In to þe temple whan þay schulden goon To preye for þe poeple and doon seruise Thay nolden drinken · in no maner wise / No drynke which þat dronke might hem make / But þer in abstinence prey and wake lest þat þay dedin . tak heed what I say But þay ben sobre þat for þe pepul pray war þat I say no mor . for it suffisith Oure lord Ihu as oure lore deuysith Ȝaf vs ensampil of fastyng and prayeres Þerfore we mendinauntȝ we cely freres Ben wedded to pouert and to continence To charite · humblesse and abstinence To persecucioun for rightwisnesse To wepyng misericord and clennesse And þerfor may ȝe seen þat oure prayeres I speke of vs we mendeaunts . we freres Ben to þe hihe god mor acceptable Than ȝoures with ȝour festis at ȝour table Fro paradis first if I schal not lye was man out chaced for his glotonye And chast was man in paradis certeyn But now herk/ thomas . what I schal þe seyn I ne haue no tixt of it as I suppose / But I schal fynd it in a maner glose / That specially our swete lord ihc Spak þis by freres whan he sayde þus Blessed be þay þat pouer in spirit ben And so forþ in þe gospel ȝe may seen wheþer it be likir oure professioun Or heris þat swymmen in possessioun Fy on her pomp and on her glotenye And on her lewydnesse I hem defye Me þinkith þay ben lik Iouynian Fat as a whal and walken as a swan Al vinolent as botel in þe spence her prayer is of ful gret reuerence whan þay for soules sayn þe psalm of dauid lo boef þay say . Cor meum eructauit who folwith cristes gospel and his fore But we þat humble ben and chast and pore werkers of goddes word and auditours Ther-for right as an hauk vpon a sours vpspringeth in to þaer right so prayeres Of charitabil and chaste busy freres Maken her sours to goddis eeres tuo Thomas thomas so mote I ryde or go And by þat lord þat clepid is seint Iue Ner þou oure broþer schuldestow neuer þriue In oure chapitre pray we day and night To crist þat he þe sende hele and might Thy body for to welden hastily God wot quod he þer-of nought feele I . As help me crist as I in fewe ȝeeres haue spendid vpon many diuers freres Ful many a pound ȝit fare I neuer þe bet Certeyn my good haue I almost byset/ Far wel my gold for it is almost a go The frere answerd // O thomas dostow so what needith ȝow dyuerse freres seche what needith him þat haþ a parfyt leche / To sechen oþir leches in þe toun Ȝoure inconstance is ȝoure confusioun holde ȝe þan me or oure couent To praye for ȝow insufficient Thomas þat iape is not worth a myte Ȝoure malady is for we haue to lite ¶ A ȝiue þat couent half a quarter otes A ȝiue þat couent four and twenty grotes A ȝiue þat frere a peny and let him go . Nay nay thomas. it may nought be so what is a ferthing worth depart in tuelue lo ech þing þat is ooned in himselue Is more strong þan whan it is to-skatrid Thomas of me þou schalt not ben y-flatrid Thow woldist haue our labour al for nought The hihe god þat al this world hath wrought Saith þat a werkman is worþy his hyre Thomas nouȝt of ȝour tresor I desire For my self. but for that oure couent/ To pray for ȝow is ay so diligent And for to buylden cristes holy chirche Thomas if ȝe wil lerne for to wirche / Of buyldyng vp on chirches may ȝe fynde If it be good in thomas lyf of ynde Ȝe lye her ful. of anger and of Ire wiþ which þe deuel set ȝour hert on fuyre And chyden her þe holy Innocent Ȝour wyf þat is. so meke and pacient / And þerfor trow me thomas if þou list Ne stryue nought wiþ þy wif as for þi best And ber þis word away now by þy faith Touchinge such þing lo þe wise man saith ¶ wiþinne þin hous be þou no lyoun To þy subiects. do noon oppressioun Ne make þyn acqueyntis fro þe fle And ȝit thomas eftsons I charge þe / Be war for hir þat in þy bosom slepith war for þe serpent þat so priuely crepith vnder þe gras and styngith priuely Be war my sone and werk paciently For twenty þousend men han lost her lyues For stryuyng wiþ her lemmans and her wyues. Now syns ȝe han so holy and meeke a wif what nedith ȝow thomas to make strif Ther nys I-wis no serpent so cruel when men trede on his tail ne half so fel As womman is when sche haþ caught an Ire Vengeans is þanne . al þat þay desire Schortly may no man by rym and vers[Spurious] Tellen her thoughtes þay ben so dyuers[Spurious] Ire is a þing oon þe grete of seuene Abhominable to þe god of heuene And to himself it is destruccioun This euery lewed vicory or parsoun Can say how Ire engendrith homicide Ire is in soth executour of pride I couþe of Ire seyn so moche sorwe My tale schulde laste til to morwe Ire is þe grate of synne as saith þe wise[Spurious] To fle þer fro ech man schuld him deuyse[Spurious] And þer-for pray I god boþe day and night An Irous man god send him litil might It is greet harm. and also gret pite To set an Irous man in high degre ¶ whilom þer was an Irous potestate As seith senek þat duryng his estaat / vpon a day out/ riden knightes tuo And as fortune wolde right as it were so That oon of hem cam home þat oþer nouȝt Anoon þe knight bifore the iuge is brouȝt That sayde þus. þou hast þy felaw slayn For which I deme þe to deth certayn And to anothir knight comaundid he / Go lede him to þe deth I charge þe / And happed as þay wente by þe weye Toward þe place þer he schulde deye The knight com which. men wend hadde be deed Than þoughten þay it were þe beste reed To lede hem boþe to þe iuge agayn Thay sayden lord þe knight haþ not slayn his felaw lo. heer he stont hool on lyue Ȝe schal be deed quod he so mote I þriue That is to sayn boþe oon. tuo. and þre And to þe firste knyȝt right þus spak he I deme þe þou most algate be deed Than þoughte þay it were þe beste rede[Spurious] To lede him forþ in to a fair mede[Spurious] And quod þe iuge also þou most lese þin heed For þou art cause why þy felaw deyth And to þe þridde felaw þus he seith Thou hast nought doon þat I comaundid þe And þus he let don sle hem alle þre Irous Cambises was eek dronkelewe And ay delited him to ben a schrewe And so bifel a lord of his meigne That loued vertues and eek/ moralite Sayd on a day bitwix hem tuo right þus A lord is lost if he be vicious An Irous man is lik a frentik best[Spurious] In which þer is of wisdom noon arrest[Spurious] And dronkenes is eek a foul record Of any man and namly of a lord Ther is ful many eyȝe and many an eere Awaytand on a lord and he not where For goddes loue drynk more attemperelly wyn makith man to lese wrecchedly his mynde and eek. his lymes euerichoon The reuers schaltow seen quod he anoon And proue it by þin owne experience That wyn ne doþ to folk non such offence Ther is no wyn. byreueth me my wit Of hond of foot ne of myn eyȝe sight And for despyt he dronke moche more An hundrid part þan he had doon byfore And right anoon þis irous cursid wrecche / Let þis knightes sone anoon biforn him fecche Comaundyng hem þay schuld biforn him stonde And sodeinly he took his bowe on honde And vp þe streng he pulled to his eere And wiþ an arwe he slough þe child right þere Now wheþir haue I a sikur hond or noon Quod he is al my mynde and might agoon hath wyn byreuyd me myn eye sight what schuld I telle þe answer of þe knight his sone was slayn þer is no more to say Be war þerfor. wiþ lordes how ȝe play Syngith placebo. and I schal if I can But if it be. vnto a pore man To a pore man men schuld his vices telle But not to a lord þey he schuld go to helle lo Irous Cirus þilke Percien how he destruyed þe ryuer of Gysen For þat an hors of his was dreynt þer Inne. whan þat he wente Babiloyne to wynne he made þat þe ryuer was so smal Þat wommen mighte wade it ouer al lo what sayde he þat so wel teche can Ne be no felaw . to an irous man Ne with no wood man walke by þe way lest þe repent I wol no lenger say Now thomas leue broþer leue þin Ire Thow schalt me fynde as iust as is a squire Thyn anger doth þe al to sore smerte hald not þe deueles knyf alway at þyn herte But schewe to me al þy confessioun Nay quod þis syke man by seynt symoun I haue ben schriuen þis day of my curate I haue him told holly al myn estate/ Nedith no more to speken of it saith he / But if me list of myn humilite. Ȝif me þan of þy good to make our cloyster Quod he for many a muscle and many an oyster haþ ben oure foode our Cloyster to arreyse whan oþer men han ben ful wel at eyse And ȝit god wot vnnethe þe foundement Parformed is ne of oure pauyment Is nought a tyle ȝit wiþinne our wones By god we owe ȝit fourty pound for stones Now help Thomas for him þat harewed helle Or elles moote we oure bookes selle And ȝif ȝow lakke oure predicacioun Thanne goþ þe world al to destruccioun For who-so wold vs fro þe world byreue So god me saue Thomas by ȝoure leue he wolde byreue out of þis world þe sonne For who can teche. and werken as we conne And þis is not of litel tyme quod he But siþþen Elye was her or ele han freres ben fynde I of record In charite I-þanked be oure lord Now Thomas help for seynte charite A-doun he sette him anoon on his kne This sike man wex welneigh wood for Ire he wolde þat þe frere had ben on fuyre with his fals dissimulacioun Such þing as is in my possessioun Quod he þat may I ȝeue ȝow and noon oþer Ȝe sayn me þus how þat I am ȝour broþer Ȝe certes quod þe frere trusteth wel I took our dame þe letter vnder oure sel Now wel quod he and som what schal I ȝiue Vnto ȝour holy couent whils þat I lyue And in þyn hond þou schalt it haue anoon On þis condicioun and oþer noon That þou depart it so my deere broþer That euery frere haue as moche as oþer Thy schaltow swere on þy professioun wiþouten fraude or cauillacioun I swere it quod þis frere vpon my faith And þer-with his hond in his he laith lo her myn hond in me schal be no lak Now þanne put þyn hond doun at my bak Sayde þis man and grope wel byhynde Bynethe my buttok þere schaltow fynde A þing þat I haue hud in priuete A þought þis frere þat schal go with me / And doun his hond he launched to þe clifte In hope for to fynde þer a ȝifte And whan þis syke man felte þis frere Aboute his tuel grope þer and heere Amyd his hond he leet þe freere a fart Ther is no capul drawyng in a cart That might haue let a fart of such a soun The frere vpstart as doth a wood lyoun A false cherl quod he for goddes bones This hastow in despit don for þe noones Thou schalt abye þis fart if þat I may his meyne which þat herd of þis affray Com lepand In and chased out þe frere And forth he goþ wiþ a foul angry cheere And fat his felaw þere lay his stoor he lokid as it were a wylde boor And grynte with his teeþ so was he wroth A stordy paas doun to þe court he goth wher as þer wonyd a man of gret honour To whom þat he was alway confessour This worþy man was lord of þat / village This frere com as he were in a rage wher þat þis lord sat etyng at his bord Vnneþe might þe frere speke a word Til atte last he sayde god ȝow se This lord gan loke and sayde benedicite What frere Iohn what maner world is þis / I se wel. þat som þing is amys Ȝe loke as þough þe woode were ful of þeuys Sit doun anoon and tel me what ȝour gref is And it schal ben amendit if þat I may I haue quod he had a despit to day God ȝelde ȝow a-doun in ȝoure vilage That in þis world is noon so pore a page/ That he nold haue abhominacioun Of þat I haue receyued in ȝoure toun And ȝet ne greuith me no þing so sore As þat þis elde cherl wiþ lokkes hore Blasphemed haþ our holy couent eeke Now maister quod þis lord I ȝow biseke No maister sir quod he but seruitour Þough I haue had in scole such honour God likith not þat Raby men vs calle Neither in market neyther in ȝour large halle No fors quod he tellith me al ȝour greef Þis frere sayd sire an odious meschief This day bytid is to myn ordre and to me And so par consequens to ech degre Of holy chirche god amend it soone Sir quod þe lord ȝe wot what is to doone Distempre ȝow nought ȝe ben my confessour Ȝe ben þe salt of þerþe and sauyour For goddes loue ȝoure pacience ȝe holde Tel me ȝour greef and he anoon him tolde As ȝe han herd bifore ȝe wot wel what The lady of þat hous ay stille sat Til sche had herd what þe frere sayde Ey goddes moodir quod she blisful mayde Is þer ought elles tel me faithfully Ma dame quod he how þynke ȝow þerby how þat me þynkith quod sche so god me speede I say a cherl haþ doon a cherles deede what schuld I say god let him neuer þe His syke heed is full of vanyte I hold him in a maner frenesye / Ma dame quod he I-wis I schal not lye But I in oþir wise may be wreke I schal defame him ouer al wher I speke The false blasfememour þat chargid me To parten þat wil not departed be To euery man yliche wiþ meschaunce The lord sat stille as he were in a traunce And in his hert he rollid vp and doun How had þis cherl ymaginacioun So schewe such a probleme to þe frere Neuer eft er now herd I of such matiere I trowe þe deuel put it in his mynde In ars metrik / schal þer no man fynde Biforn þis day of such a questioun who schulde make a demonstracioun That euery man schuld haue a lyk his part As of a soun or of a sauour of a fart O nyce proude cherl I schrew his face lo sires quod þe lord wiþ harde grace who euer herde of such a þing er now To euery man y-like tel me how It is impossible it may not be Ey nyce cherl god let him neuer þe The romblyng of a fart and euery soun Nis but an aier reuerberacioun And euer it wastith lyte and lyt away Ther nys no man can deme by my fay / If þat it were departed equally what lo my cherl what lo how schrewedly vnto my confessour to day he spak I hold him certeinly demoniak Now etith ȝour mete and let þe cherl go play / Let him go honge himself on deuel way /[The Solution of the "Probleme" by the Lord's Sguire. No break in the MS.] Now stood þe lordes squier at þe bord That carf his mete and herde word by word Of al þis þing which þat I of haue sayd My lord quod he be ȝe nouȝt euel payd I couþe telle for a gowne cloth To ȝow sir frere so þat ȝe be not wroth How þat þis fart euen / departed schuld be Among ȝour couent if I comaunded be Tel quod þe lord and þou schalt haue anoon A goune cloþ by god and by seint Iohn My lord quod he whan þat þe wedir is fair wiþoute wynd or pertourbyng of ayr let bring a large whel in to þis halle But þat it haue his spokes alle Twelf spokes hath a cart whel comunly And bring me . xij . freres wit ȝe why For þrettene is a couent as I gesse / Ȝour noble confessour her god him blesse Schal parfourn vp þe nombre of þis couent Thanne schal þay knele doun by oon assent And to euery spokes ende in þis manere Ful sadly lay his nose schal a frere Ȝour noble confessour þer god him saue Schal hold his nose vpright vnder þe naue Than schal þis churl with bely stif and tought As eny tabor hider ben y-brought And sette him on þe whele of þis cart vpon þe naue and make him lete a fart And ȝe schul seen vp peril of my lif By verray proef þat is demonstratif That equally þe soun of it wol wende / And eek þe stynk vnto þe spokes ende Saue þat þis worþy man ȝour confessour By cause he is a man of gret honour Schal haue þe firste fruyt as resoun is The noble vsage of freres is þis The worthy men of hem first schal be serued As certeynly he haþ it wel deserued he hath to day taught vs so mochil good with preching in þe pulpit þer he stood That I may vouche sauf I say for me He hadde þe firste smel of fartes þre And so wold al his couent hardily he berith him so fair and holily The lord þe lady and ech man sauf þe frere Sayde þan Iankyn spak in þis matiere As wel as euclide or elles protholome Touchand þe clerk þay sayd þat subtilte An high wyt made him speken as he spak he nas no fool ne no demoniak / And Iankyn haþ I-wonne a newe goune My tale is don. we ben almost at toune. ¶ Here endith the sompnours tale[No break in the MS.] GROUP E. FRAGMENT VI. § 1. THE CLERK'S HEAD-LINK. HARLEIAN MS. 7334 (British Museum). ¶ And here bygynneth þe Clerk of Oxenford prologe SIr clerk of Oxenford our hoste sayde Ȝe ryde as stille and coy as doþ a mayde / were newe spoused sittyng at a bord This day ne herd I of ȝour mouth a word I trowe ȝe study aboute som sophime But Salomon saith euery þing hath tyme For goddis sake as beth of better cheere It is no tyme for to stody hiere Tel vs som mery tale by ȝour fay For what man is entred vnto play he moot nedes vnto þat play assent But prechith not as freres doon in lent To make vs for our olde synnes wepe Ne þat þy tale [þy scratcht out] tale make vs for to slepe Tel vs som mery þing of aduentures Ȝoure termes ȝour colours and ȝour figures keep hem in stoor til so be þat ȝe endite high style as whan þat men to kynges write Spekith so playn at þis tyme we ȝow pray That we may vnderstonde þat ȝe say / This worþy clerk benignely answerde / Sir host quod he I am vnder ȝour ȝerde Ȝe haue of vs as now þe gouernaunce / And þerfor wol I do ȝow obeissaunce Als fer as resoun askith hardily I wil ȝow telle a tale which þat I lerned at Padowe of a worþy clerk As prouyd by his wordes and his werk he is now deed and nayled in his chest Now god ȝiue his soule wel good rest Fraunces petrark þe laureat poete highte þis clerk/. whos rethorique swete Enlumynd al ytail of poetrie As linian did of philosophie Or lawue or other art particulere But deth þat wol not suffre vs duellen heere But as it were a twyncling of an ye hem boþe haþ slayn and alle schul dye But forth to telle of this worþy man That taughte me þis tale as I first bigan I say þat he first with heigh stile enditith Er he þe body of his tale writith A proheme in the which descriuith he The mounde and of Saluces þe contre And spekith of appenyne þe hulles hye That ben þe boundes of al west lombardye And of mount vesulus in special wher as þe poo out of a welle smal Takith his firste springyng and his sours That estward ay encresceth in his cours To Emyl-ward · to ferard and to venise The which a long þing were to deuyse And trewely as to my Iuggement Me thinkith it a þing Impertinent Saue þat he wold conueyen his matiere But þis is þe tale which þat ȝe schuln heere ¶ Explicit prohemium[No break in the MS. here, or between the Stanzas following.] ¶ Incipit narrare Ther is at þe west / ende of ytaile Doun at þe root of vesulus þe colde A lusty playn abundaunt of vitaile wher many a tour and toun þou maist byholde. That foundid were in tyme of fadres olde. And many anothir delitable sight And Saluces þis noble contray hight A marquys whilom duellid in þat lond As were his worþy eldris him bifore And obeisaunt ay redy to his hond were alle his liegis bothe lesse and more Thus in delyt he lyueth and hath don ȝore Biloued and drad þurgh fauour and fortune Boþe of his lordes and of his comune Ther with he was as to speke of lynage The gentileste born of lumbardye A fair persone . and strong and ȝong of age And ful of honour and of curtesie Discret ynough his contre for to gye Sauynge in som þing he was to blame And wautier was þis ȝonge lordes name I blame him thus that he considered nought In tyme comyng what mighte bityde But on his lust present was al his þought As for to hauke and hunte on euery syde wel neigh al oþir cures let he slyde And eek he nolde þat was [þe was erased] þe worst of al wedde no wyf for no þing þat might bifal Only þat poynt his poeple bar so sore That flokmel on a day to him þay went And oon of hem that wisest was of lore Or elles þat þe lord wolde best assent That he schuld telle him what his poeple ment Or ellis couþe he schewe wel such matiere he to þe marquys sayd as ȝe schuln hiere O noble marquys . ȝoure humanite Assureth vs and ȝiueth vs hardynesse As ofte as tyme is of necessite That we to ȝow may telle oure heuynesse Acceptith lord now . of ȝour necessite That we with pitous hert vnto ȝow playne And let ȝoure eeris my vois not disdeyne And haue I nought to doon in þis matere More þan anoþer man haþ in þis place / Ȝit for as moche as ȝe my lord so deere han alway schewed me fauour and grace I dar þe better ask of ȝow a space / And audience to asken oure request/ And ȝe my lord to doon right as ȝow lest For certes lord so wel vs likith ȝow And al ȝour werk and euer han doon þat we Ne couþen not deuysen how we mighte lyue more in felicite Saue oon þing lord if þat ȝour wille be That for to be a weddid man ȝow list/ Than were ȝour peple in souereign hertes rest / Bowith ȝour neck . vndir þat blisful ȝok Of souereignete . nought of seruise which þat men clepe spousail or wedlok And thenkith lord among ȝour þoughtes wise / how þat our dayes passe in sondry wyse For þough we slepe or wake or rome aboute Ay fleth þe tyme it wil no man abyde. And though ȝour grene ȝouþe floure as ȝit In crepith age alway as stille as stoon And deth manasith euery age and smyt In ech estat for þer ascapith noon And as certeyn as as we knowe euerychon That we schuln deye as vncerteyn we alle Ben of þat day þat deþ schal on vs falle Acceptith thanne of vs þe trewe entent That neuer ȝit/ refusid ȝoure hest And we wil lord if þat ȝe wil assent Chese ȝow a wyf in schort tyme atte lest Born of þe gentilest and þe heighest Of al þis lond so þat it oughte seme honour to god . and ȝow as we can deme Deliuer vs out of al þis busy drede And tak a wyf fo hihe goddes sake / For if it so bifel as god forbede That þurgh ȝour deþ ȝour lygnage schuld aslake And þat a straunge successour schuld take Ȝour heritage . O . wo were vs on lyue wherfor we pray ȝow hastily to wyue Her meeke prayer . and her pitous chere Made þe marquys for to han pite Ȝe wolde quod he . myn owne poeple deere To þat I neuer erst þought constreigne me. I me reioysid of my liberte That selden tyme is founde in mariage Ther I was fre I mot ben in seruage But natheles I se of ȝou þe trewe entent And trust vpon ȝour witt and haue doon ay wherfor of my fre wil I wil assent/ To wedde me as soon as euer I may But þer as ȝe haue profred me to day To chese me a wyf I wol relese That choys and pray ȝow of þat/ profre cesse / For god it woot þat childer ofte been vnlik her worthy eldris hem bifore Bounte comeþ al of god nought of þe streen Of which thay ben engendrid and I-bore I trust in goddis bounte and þerfore My mariage and myn estat and rest I him bytake . he may doon as him lest Let me aloon . in chesyng of my wif That charge vpon my bak I wil endure But I ȝow pray and charge vpon ȝour lyf That wyf þat I take ȝe me assure / To worschip / whil . þat hir lif may endure In word and werk . boþe heer and euery where / As sche an Emperoures doughter were And forthermor þus schul ȝe swer þat ȝe Aȝeins my chois schuln neuer grucche ne stryue For sins I schal forgo my liberte At ȝour request as euer mot I þriue Ther as myn hert is set þer wil I wyue And but ȝe wil assent in such manere I pray spek no more of þis matiere With hertly wil . þay sworen and assentyn To al þis þing þer sayde no wight nay Bysechyng him of grace er þat þay wentyn That he wol graunten hem a certeyn day Of his spousail as soone as euer he may For ȝit alway þe peple som what dredde lest that the marquys wolde no wyf wedde He graunted hem a day such as him lest On which he wolde be weddid sicurly And sayd he dede al þis at her requeste And þay with humble hert ful buxomly knelyng vpon her knees ful reuerently him þanken alle and þus þay haue an ende Of her entent . and hom aȝein þay wende And her vpon he to his officeris Comaundith for the feste to purueye And to his priue knightes and squyeres which charge ȝaf as him list on hem leye And thay to his comaundement obeye / And ech of hem doth his diligence To doon vnto þe feste reuerence ¶ Explicit prima pars.[No more break in the MS.] NOught fer fro þilke place honurable wher as this marquys schop his mariage Ther stood a thrope of sighte delitable In which þat pore folk of þat vilage hadden her bestes and her herburgage / And after her labour took her sustienaunce After the erthe ȝaf hem abundaunce Among this pore folk there duelt a man which þat was holden porest of hem alle But heighe god som tyme sende can his grace vnto a litel oxe stalle Ianicula men of þat throop him calle / A doughter had he fair y-nough to sight And Crisildes þis ȝonge doughter hight But for to speke of hir vertuous beaute Than was sche oon þe fayrest vnder sonne For porely I-fostered vp was sche No licorous lust was in his body ronne wel ofter of þe welle þan of þe tonne She dronk and for sche wolde vertu please Sche knew wel labour but noon ydel ease But þough þis mayden tender were of age Ȝet in þe brest of her virginite Ther was enclosed rype and sad corrage And in gret reuerence and charite Hir olde pore fader fostred sche / A fewe scheep spynnyng on þe feld sche kept Sche nolde not ben ydel til sche slept And whan sche com hom sche wolde brynge wortis or oþer herbis tymes ofte The which sche schred and seth for hir lyuyng And made hir bed ful hard and no þing softe And ay sche kept hir fadres lif on lofte with euery obeissance and diligence That child may do to fadres reuerence Vpon Grisildes þe pore creature Ful ofte sithes þis marquys set his ye As he on huntyng rood par auenture And whan it fel he mighte hir espye he not with wantoun lokyng of folye his eyȝen cast vpon hir but in sad wyse vpon hir cheer he wold him oft avise Comendyng in his hert hir wommanhede And eek hir vertu passyng any oþer wight Of so ȝong age as wel in cheer as dede For þough þe poeple haue no gret insight In vertu he considereth aright Hir bounte and desposed þat he wolde wedde hir oonly if euer he wedde scholde The day of weddyng cam but no wight can Telle what womman it schulde be / For which meruayle wondrith many a man And sayden whan þay were in priuete wol nought our lord ȝit leue his vanite wol he not wedde allas allas þe while why wol he þus himself and vs bigyle But natheles þis marquys haþ doon make Of gemmes set in gold and in asure Broches and rynges for Grisildes sake / And of hir clothing took he þe mesure By a mayde y-lik to hir of stature And eek of oþer ornamentes alle / That vnto such a weddyng schulde falle / The tyme of vndern of þe same day Approchith þat þis weddyng schulde be / And al þe palys put was in array Boþe halle an chambur . ylik here degre houses of office stuffid with plente Ther maystow se of deynteuous vitayle That may be founde as fer as lastith Itaile / This real marquys really arrayd lordes and ladyes in his compaignye he which vnto þe feste were prayed And of his retenu þe bachelerie with many a soun of sondry melodye vnto þe vilage of which I tolde In þis array þe right way han þay holde Grysild of þis god wot ful Innocent / That for hir schapen was al þis array / To fecche water at a welle is went/ And cometh hom as soone as sche may For wel sche had herd sayd þat ilke day The marquys schulde wedde and if sche might Sche wold haue seyen som what of þat sight Sche sayd I wol with oþer maydenes stonde / That ben my felawes . in oure dore and see / The marquys and þerfore wol I fonde / To don at hom as soone as it may be The labour which þat longeth vnto me And þanne may I at leysir hir byholde And sche þe way in to þe castel holde / And as sche wold ouer þe þreisshfold goon The marquys cam and gan hir for to calle And sche set doun her water-pot anoon Bisides þe þreischfold of þis oxe stalle / And doun vpon hir/ knees . sche gan falle And with sad countenaunce knelith stille Til sche had herd what was þe lordes wille This þoughtful marquys spak vnto þis mayde Ful soberly and sayd in þis manere wher is ȝour fader Grisildes he sayde And sche with reuerence and humble cheere Sayde lord he is al redy heere / And in sche goth wiþouten lenger let And to þe marquys sche hir fader fet He by þe hond þan takith þis olde man And sayde þus . whan he him had on syde / Ianicula I neither may ne can lenger þe plesauns of myn herte hyde If þat ȝe vouche sauf what so betyde / Thy doughter wil I take er þat I wende As for my wyf vnto hir lyues ende / Thow louest me I wot it wel certeyn And art my faithful liege man I-bore / And al þat likith me I dar wel sayn It likith þe . and specially þerfore Tel me þat poynt . as ȝe haue herd bifore If þat þow wolt vnto þat purpos drawe / To take me as for þy · sone in lawe The sodeyn caas þe man astoneyd þo That reed he wax abaischt and al quakyng he stood vnneþe sayd he wordes mo But oonly þis . lord quod he my willyng Is as ȝe wol aȝenst ȝoure likyng I wol no þing ȝe be my lord so deere Right as ȝow list gouernith þis matiere Ȝit wol I quod þis markys softely That in þy chambre I and þou and sche / haue a collacioun and wostow why For I wol aske if it hir wille be To be my wyf and reule hir after me And al þis schal ben doon in þy presence I wol nought speke out of þyn audience And in þe chamber whil þay were aboute her tretys which as ȝe schul after hiere The poeple cam vnto þe hous wiþoute And wondrid hem in how honest manere And tendurly sche kept hir fader deere But outerly grisildes wonder might For neuer erst ne saugh sche such a sight No wonder is þough þat sche were astoned To seen so gret a gest come in to þat place / Sche neuer was to suche gestes woned For which sche loked with ful pale face / But schortly þis matiere forth to chace These arn þe wordes þat þe marquys sayde / To this benigne verray faithful mayde Grisyld he sayde ȝe schul wel vnderstonde / It liketh to ȝour fader and to me That I ȝow wedde and eek it may so stonde As I suppose ȝe wil þat it so be / But þese demaundes aske I first quod he / That sith it schal be doon in hasty wyse wol ȝe assent or elles ȝow auyse / I say þis be ȝe redy with good hert/ To al my lust and þat I frely may As me best liste . do ȝow laughe or smert And neuer ȝe to gruch it night ne day And eek whan I say ȝe ȝe say not nay Neyther by word ne frownyng contenaunce Swer þis and here swer I oure alliaunce Wondryng vpon þis word quakyng for drede Sche sayde lord vndigne and vnworthy I am to thilk honour . þat ȝe me bede But as ȝe wil ȝour self right so wol I And here I swere þat neuer wityngly In werk ne thought I nyl ȝow disobeye For to be deed þough me were loth to deye This is ynough Grisilde myn quod he / And forth goth he wiþ a ful sobre chere Out at þe dore and after þat cam sche And to þe pepul he sayd in þis manere · This is my wyf quod he þat stondith heere honoureth hir and loueth hir I ȝow pray who so me loueth þer is no more to say And for þat no þing of hir olde gere Sche schulde brynge vnto his hous he bad That wommen schuld despoilen hir right þere Of which þese ladyes were nought ful glad To handle hir cloþes wher-in sche was clad But natheles þis mayde bright of hew Fro foot to heed þay schredde han al newe Hir heeres han þay kempt þat lay vntressed Ful rudely and with hir fyngres smale A coroun on hir heed þay han I-dressed And set hir ful of nowches gret and smale Of hir array what schuld I make a tale / Vnnethe þe poeple hir knew for hir fairnesse / whan sche translated was in such richesse / This marquis haþ hir spoused with a ryng Brought for þe same cause and þan hir sette vpon an hors snow-whyt and wel amblyng And to his palys er he lenger lette with ioyful poeple þat hir ladde and mette Conueyed hire and þus þe day þay spende In reuel til þe sonne gan descende And schortly þis tale for to chace I say þat to þis newe marquisesse God hath schewed fauour and sent hir of his grace That it semyd not by liklynesse That sche was born and fed in rudenesse As in a cote or in an Oxe stalle But norischt in an emperoures halle To euery wight sche waxen is so deere And worschipful þat folk þer sche was born And from hir burthe knew hir ȝer by ȝere Vnneth trowed þay but dorst han sworn That to Ianicle of which I spak biforn Sche doughter were . for as by coniecture Hem þought sche was anoþer creature For þough þat euer vertuous was sche Sche was encresed in such excellence Of thewes goode i-set in high bounte And so discret and fair of eloquence So benigne and so digne of reuerence And couþe so þe poeples hert embrace That ech hir loueþ þat lokith in hir face Nought oonly of Saluce in þe toun Puplissched was þe bounte of hir name But eek byside in many a regioun If oon sayd wel anoþer sayd þe same So sprad of hire heigh bounte þe fame / That men and wommen as wel ȝong as olde Gon to Saluce vpon hir to byholde This walter louly . nay but really weddid with fortunat honestete In goddes pees lyueth ful esily At home and outward grace ynough haþ he And for he saugh þat vnder low degre was ofte vertu y-hid þe poeple him helde A prudent man and þat is seint ful selde Nought oonly þis Grisildes þurgh hit witte Couthe al þe feet of wifly humblesse / But eek whan þat þe tyme required it The comun profyt couthe sche redresse Ther nas discord rancour ne heuynesse / In al þat lond þat sche ne couþe appese / And wisly bryng hem alle in rest and ese Though þat hir housbond absent were anoon If gentil men or oþer of hir contre were wroth sche wolde brynge hem at oon So wyse and rype wordes hadde sche And Iuggement of so gret equite That sche from heuen sent was as men wende / Poeple to saue and euery wrong to amende Nought longe tyme after þat þis Grisilde was wedded sche a douȝter haþ I-bore Al had hir leuer han had a knaue childe Glad was þis marquis and þe folk þerfore For though a mayden child come al byfore / Sche may vnto a knaue child atteigne By liklihed and sche nys not bareigne[No break in the MS.] ¶ Incipit Tercia pars. Ther fel as fallith many tymes mo whan þat þis child haþ souked but a þrowe This marquys in his herte longith so Tempte his wyf . hir sadnesse for to knowe That he ne might out of his herte þrowe This meruaylous desir his wyf tassaye Now god wot he þought hir to affraye He had assayed hir ynough bifore And fond hir euer good what needith it/ hire to tempte . and alway more and more Though som men prayse it for a subtil wit But as for me I say that euel it sit Tassay a wyf whan þat it is no neede And putte hir in anguysch and in dreede For which þis marquis wrouȝt in þis manere he com aloone a night þer as sche lay / wiþ sterne face and with ful trouble cheere And sayde þus Grisild quod he þat day / Þat I ȝow took out of ȝour pore array / And putte ȝow in estat of heigh noblesse Ȝe haue not þat . forgeten as I gesse / I say Grisild þis present dignite In which þat I haue put ȝow as I trowe Makith ȝow not . forȝetful for to be Þat I ȝow took in pore estat ful lowe For eny wele ȝe moot ȝour selue knowe / Tak heed of euery word þat/ I ȝow say / Ther is no wight þat herith it but we tway / Ȝe wot ȝour self . how ȝe comen heere In to þis hous it is nought long ago And þough to me þat ȝe be leef and deere vnto my gentils ȝe be no þing so Thay seyn to hem it is gret schame and wo For to ben subiect/ . and ben in seruage / To the þat born art of a smal village And namely syn þy doughter was I-bore These wordes han þay spoken douteles But I desire as I haue doon byfore To lyue my lif with hem in rest and pees I may not in þis caas be reccheles I moot do with þy doughter for þe best/ Not as I wolde but as my pepul lest And ȝit god wot þis is ful loth to me But naþeles wiþoute ȝoure witynge wol I not doon . but þis wold I quod he / That ȝe to me assent as in þis þing / Schew now ȝour paciens in ȝour wirching Þat þou me hightest and swor in ȝon village That day þat maked was oure mariage Whan sche had herd al þis sche nouȝt ameeuyd Neyþer in word in cheer or countenaunce For as it semed sche was nought agreeued She sayde lord al lith in ȝour plesaunce My child and I with hertly obeisaunce Ben ȝoures al . and ȝe may saue or spille Ȝour oughne þing . werkiþ after ȝour wille / Ther may no þing so god my soule saue liken to ȝow þat may displesen me Ne I desire no þing for to haue Ne drede for to lese saue oonly ȝe This wil is in myn hert and ay schal be No length of tyme or deþ may þis deface / Ne chaunge my corrage to oþer place / Glad was this marquis of hir answeryng But ȝit he feyned as he were not so Al dreery was his cheer and his lokyng whan þat he schold out of þe Chambre go Soon after þis a forlong way or tuo he priuely haþ told al his entent vnto aman . and vnto his wyf him sent A maner Sergeant was þis priue man The which þat faithful oft he founden hadde In þinges grete . and eek such folk wel can Don execucioun in þinges badde The lord knew wel þat he him loued and dradde And whan þis sergeant wist his lordes wille In to þe chamber he stalked him ful stille. Ma dame he sayd ȝe most forȝiue it me Though I do þing . to which I am constreynit. Ȝe ben so wys þat ful wel knowe ȝe Þat lordes hestes mow not ben I-feynit Thay mowe wel biwayl it or compleyn it/ But men moot neede vnto her lust obeye And so wol I þer is no more to seye This child I am comaundid for to take / And spak no more. but out þe child he hent Dispitously and gan a chiere make As þough he wold han slayn it er he went Grisild moot al suffer and al consent And as a lamb sche sitteth meeke and stille / And let þis cruel sergeant doon his wille Suspecious was þe defame of þis man Suspect his face. suspect his word also / Suspect þe tyme. in which he þis bigan Allas hir doughter þat she loued so Sche wend he wold han slayen it right þo But naþeles sche neyþer weep ne siked Conformyng hir to þat þe marquis liked But atte last speke sche bigan And mekely sche to þe sergeant preyde So as he was a worþy gentil man That she most kisse hir child er þat it deyde And on hir arm þis litel child sche leyde wiþ ful sad face. and gan þe child to blesse And lullyd it and after gan it kesse / And þus sche sayd in hir benigne vois Far wel my child I schal þe neuer see / But sith I þe haue marked wiþ þe croys / Of þilke fader blessed mot þou be That for vs deyde vpon a cros of tre Thy soule litel child. I him bytake For þis night schaltow deyen for my sake / I trowe þat to a norice in þis caas It had ben hard þis rewthe for to see wel might a moder þan haue cryed allas But naþeles so sad stedefast was sche Þat she endured al aduersite And to þe sergeant mekely sche sayde / Haue her agayn ȝour litel ȝonge mayde Goth now quod sche and doþ my lordes heste But o þing wil I pray ȝow of ȝour grace Þat but my lord forbede ȝow atte leste Burieth þis litel body in som place That bestes ne no briddes it to-race / But he no word wil to þe purpos say / But took þe child and went vpon his way This sergeant com vnto þis lord agayn And of Grisildes wordes and hir cheere He tolde poynt for poynt in schort and playn And him presentith with his douȝter deere Som what þis lord hath rewthe in his manere But naþeles his purpos huld he stille / As lordes doon whan þay woln haue her wille And bad þe sergeaunt þat he priuely Scholde þis childe softe wynde and wrappe / with alle circumstaunces tendurly And cary it in a cofre or in his lappe Vpon peyne his heed of for to swappe That no man schulde knowe of þis entent Ne whens he com. ne whider þat he went But at Boloyne to his suster deere That þilke tyme of panik was Countesse He schuld it take and schewe hir þis matiere Byseching her to doon hir busynesse This child to fostre in alle gentilesse And whos child þat it was he bad hir hyde From euery wight for ought þat mighte bytyde The sergeant goþ and haþ fulfild þis þing But to þis marquys now retourne we For now goþ he ful fast ymaginyng If by his wyues cher he mighte se Or by hir word apparceyue þat sche were chaunged. but he hir neuer couþe fynde But euer in oon y-like sad and kynde / As glad as humble as busy in seruise / And eek in loue as sche was wont to be was sche to him in euery maner wyse / Ne of hir doughter nouȝt o word spak sche Non accident/ for noon aduersite was seyn in hir ne neuer hir doughter name Ne nempnyd sche. in ernest ne in game[No break in the MS.] ¶ Incipit. Quarta pars. IN þis estaat þer passed ben foure ȝer Er sche wiþ childe was. but as god wolde A knaue child sche bar by þis waltier Ful gracious and fair for to biholde And whan þat folk it/ to his fader tolde Nouȝt oonly he. but al his contre merye was for þis child and god þay þank and herie When it was tuo ȝer old and fro þe brest Departed fro his noris vpon a day This markys caughte ȝit another lest To tempt his wif ȝit after if he may O needles was sche tempted in assay But weddid men ne knowen no mesure whan þat þay fynde. a pacient creature Wyf quod þis marquys ȝe han herd er þis My peple sekly berith oure mariage And namly syn. my sone y-boren is Now is it wors þan euer in al our age The murmur sleþ myn hert and my corrage For to myn eeris comeþ þe vois so smerte Þat it wel neigh destroyed haþ myn herte. Now say þay þus whan wauter is a goon Than schal þe blood of Ianicula succede And ben our lord for oþer haue we noon· Suche wordes saith my poeple out/ of drede / wel ought I of such murmur taken heede For certeynly I drede such sentence Þough þay not pleynly speke in myn audience / I wolde lyue in pees if þat I might wher for I am disposid outrely As I his suster seruede by night Right so þynk I to serue him priuely This warn I ȝou þat ȝe not sodeinly Out of ȝour self for no þing schuld outraye Beþ pacient and þer of I ȝow pray I haue quod sche sayd þus and euer schal I wol no þing ne nil no þing certayn But as ȝow list. nought greueth me at al Though þat my doughter and my sone be slayn. At ȝour comaundement þis is to sayne I haue no had no part of children twayne But first syknes and after wo and payne / Ȝe ben oure lord doth with ȝour owne þing Right as ȝow list axith no red of me For as I left at hom al my cloþing whan I first com to ȝow right so quod sche Left I my wille and my liberte / And took ȝour cloþing. wher for I ȝow preye Doþ ȝoure plesaunce. I wil ȝoure lust obeye And certes if I hadde prescience Ȝour wil to knowe. er ȝe ȝoure lust me tolde I wold it doon wiþoute negligence But now I wot ȝour lust and what ȝe wolde Al ȝour plesaunce ferm and stable I holde For wist I þat my deth wold don ȝow ease Right gladly wold I deye ȝow to please Deth may make no comparisoun vnto ȝour loue and whan þis marquys say The constance of his wyf he cast a doun His eyȝen tuo and wondrith þat sche may In pacience suffre al þis array And forth he goþ with drery countenaunce But to his hert it was ful gret plesaunce This Igly sergeaunt in þe same wise That he hir doughter fette. right so he Or worse if men worse can deuyse hath hent hir sone þat ful was of beaute And euer in oon so pacient was sche That sche no cheere made of heuynesse But kist hir sone. and after gan him blesse Saue þis sche prayed him if þat he mighte her litel sone he wold in eorþe graue His tendre lymes delicate to sight From foules and from bestes him to saue But sche noon answer of him mighte haue he went his way as him no þing ne rought But to Boloyne he tenderly it brought This marquis wondreth euer þe lenger þe more vpon hir pacience. and if þat he Ne hadde soþly knowen þer bifore Þat parfytly hir children loued sche he wold haue wend þat of som subtilte And malice or of cruel corrage That sche had suffred þis wiþ sad visage But wel he knew þat next himself certayn Sche loued hir children best in euery wise But now of wommen wold I aske fayn If þese assayes mighten not suffice what couþe a stourdy housebonde more deuyse To prove hir wyfhode and her stedefastnesse / And he contynuyng euer in stourdynesse But þer ben folk of such condicioun That whan þay haue a certeyn purpos take Thay can nought stynt of her entencioun But right as þay were bounden to a stake / Þay wil not of her firste purpos slake Right so þis marquys fullich haþ purposed To tempt his wyf as he was first disposed He wayteth if by word or countenaunce That sche to him was chaunged of corage But neuer couþe he fynde variaunce Sche was ay oon in hert and in visage And ay þe ferþer þat sche was in age / The more trewe if þat it were possible / Sche was to him and more penyble. For which it semyd þis þat of hem tuo Þer nas but oo wil for as walter lest/ The same plesaunce was hir lust also And god by thanked al fel for þe best/ Sche schewed wel. for no worldly vnrest A wyf as of hir self no þing ne scholde wylne in effect. but as hir housbond wolde The sclaunder of walter ofte and wyde spradde That of a cruel hert he wikkedly For he a pore womman weddid hadde hath morthrid boþe his children priuely Such murmur was among hem comunly No wonder is for to þe peples eere Ther com no word. but þat þay mortherid were / For which wher as his peple þer byfore had loued him wel þe sclaunder of his diffame Made hem þat þay him hatede þerfore To ben a mordrer. is an hateful name But naþeles for ernest or for game he of his cruel purpos nolde stente To tempt his wyf was set al his entente Whan þat his doughter twelf ȝer was of age he to þe court of Rome in suche wise Enformed of his wille sent his message Comaundyng hem. such bulles to deuyse As to his cruel purpos may suffise how þat þe pope as for his peples reste Bad him to wedde anoþer if him leste I say he bad þay schulde countrefete The popes bulles makyng mencioun That he haþ leue his firste wyf to lete As by þe popes dispensacioun To stynte rancour and discencioun Bitwix his peple and him þus sayd þe bulle The which þay han publisshid atte fulle / The rude poepel as it no wonder is wende ful wel þat it had be right so But whan þese tydynges come to Grisildis I deeme þat hir herte was ful wo But sche y-like sad for euermo Disposid was þis humble creature Thaduersite of fortun al tendure Abydyng euer his lust and his plesaunce To whom þat sche was ȝiue hert and al As to hir verray worldly suffisaunce But schortly if I þis story telle schal This marquys writen haþ in special A letter in which he schewith his entent And secrely he to Boloyne it sent / To therl of panyk/ which þat hadde þo weddid his suster prayd he specially To brynge hom aȝein his children tuo In honurable estaat al openly But oon þing he him prayde outerly That he to no wight þough men wold enquere Schuld not tellen. whos children þay were But say þe mayde. schuld I-weddid be vnto þe markys of Saluce anoon And as þis eorl was prayd so dede he For at day set. he on his way is goon Toward Saluce and lordes many oon In riche array þis mayden for to guyde hir ȝonge broþer rydyng by hir syde Arrayed was toward hir mariage This freisshe may al ful of gemmes clere hir broþer which þat. seuen ȝer was of age Arrayed eek. ful freissh in his manere / And thus in gret noblesse and with glad chere Toward Saluces schapyng her iournay Fro day to day þay ryden in her way[No break in the MS.] ¶ Incipit pars Quinta. AMong al þis after his wikked vsage This marquis ȝit his wif to tempte more To þe vttrest proef of hir corrage Fully to han experiens and lore If þat sche were as stedefast as byfore He on a day in open audience Ful boystously haþ sayd hir þis sentence Certes Grisildes I had ynough plesaunce To haue ȝow to my wif for ȝour goodnesse And for ȝoure trouþe and for ȝour obeissaunce Nought for ȝour lignage ne for ȝour richesse But now know I in verray sothfastnesse / That in gret lordschip if I wel auyse / Ther is gret seruise in sondry wyse / I may not do as euery plough man may My poeple me constreignith for to take Anoþer wyf and certeyn day by day And eek þe popes rancour for to slake Consentith it þat dar I vndertake And trewely þus moche I wol ȝow say My newe wif is comyng by þe way Be strong of hert and voyde anoon hir place And þilke dower þat ȝe broughten me Tak it agayn I graunt it of my grace Retourneth to ȝour fadres hous quod he No man may alway haue prosperite with euen hert I rede ȝow endure The strok of fortune or of aduenture And sche agayn answerd in pacience My lord quod sche I wot and wist/ alway how þat bitwixe ȝour magnificence And my pouerte no wight can ne may Make comparisoun it is no nay ¶ I. ne held me neuer digne in no manere To ben ȝour wyf ne ȝit ȝour Chamberere And in þis hous þer ȝe me lady made / The highe god take I for my witnesse And al so wisly he my soule glade I neuer huld me lady ne maistresse / But humble seruaunt to ȝour worthinesse And euer schal whil þat/ my lyf may dure Abouen euery worldly creature That ȝe so longe of ȝour benignite han holden me in honour and nobleye wher as I was not worthy for to be That þonk I god and ȝow to whom I preye Forȝeld it ȝow þer is more to seye vnto my fader gladly wil I wende And with him duelle vnto my lyues ende / Ther I was fostred as a child ful smal Til I be deed my lyf ther wil I lede A widow clene in body hert and al For sith I ȝaf to ȝow my maydenhede And am ȝour trewe wyf it is no drede God schilde such a lordes wyf to take Anoþer man to housbond or to make And of ȝour newe wif. god of his grace So graunte ȝow. wele and prosperite For I wol gladly ȝelden hir my place I which þat I was blisful wont to be For sith it liketh ȝow my lord quod sche That whilom were al myn hertes reste That I schal gon. I wil go whan ȝow leste But þer as ȝe profre me such dowayre / As I ferst brought. it is wel in my mynde It were my wrecchid cloþes no þing faire Þe whiche to me were hard now for to fynde O goode god. how gentil and how kynde Ȝe semed by ȝour speche and ȝour visage That day þat maked was our mariage But soþ is sayd algate I fynd it trewe / For in effect. it/ proued is on me loue is nought old. as whan þat it is newe/ But certes lord for noon aduersite / To deyen in þe caas it schal not be / Þat euer in word or werk I schal repente That I ȝow ȝaf myn hert in hol entente My lord ȝe wot þat in my fadres place Ȝe dede me strippe out of my pore wede And richely me cladden of ȝour grace To ȝow brought I nought elles out of drede But faith and mekenes and maydenhede / And her agayn my cloþyng I restore And eek my weddyng ryng for euermore The remenant of ȝour jewels redy be / wiþin ȝour chambur dore dar I saufly sayn Naked out of my fadres hous quod sche / I com and naked moot I torne agayn Al ȝour pleisauns. wold I fulfille fayn But ȝit I hope it be not ȝoure entent That I smocles out of ȝour chambre went Ȝe couþe not doon so dishonest a þing Þat þilke wombe in which ȝour children leye Schulde byforn þe poeple in my walkyng Be seye al bare wher-fore I ȝow pray let me not lik a worm go by þe way / Remembre ȝow myn oughne lord so deere / I was ȝour wyf. þough I vnworþy were Wherfor in guerdoun of my maydenhede which þat I brought and nought agayn I bere As voucheth sauf. as ȝeue me to my meede Such a smok as I was wont to were That I þer with may wrye þe wombe of here / Þat was ȝour wif and here take I my leue Of ȝow myn oughne lord. lest I ȝow greue The smok quod he þat þou hast on þy bak let it be stille and ber it forþ wiþ þe But wel vnnethes þilke word he spak But went his way for routhe and for pite Byforn þe folk hir seluen strippith sche / And in hir smok. wiþ heed and foot al bare Toward hir fader house forth is sche fare The folk hir folwen wepyng in hir weye And fortune ay þay cursen as þay goon But/ sche fro wepyng kept hir eyen dreye Ne in þis tyme word ne spak sche noon hir fader þat þis tyding herd anoon Cursed þe day and tyme þat nature Schoop him to ben a lyues creature For out of doute þis olde þore man was euer in suspect of hir mariage For euer he deemed sith þat it bigan That whan þe lord fulfilled had his corrage him wolde þinke þat it were disparage To his estate . so lowe for to light And voyden hire as sone as euer he might Agayns his doughter hastily quod he For he by noyse of folk knew hir comyng And wiþ hir olde cote as it might be / he couered hir ful sorwfully wepynge But on hir body might he it nouȝt bringe For rude was þe cloth . and sche mor of age By deyes fele . þan hir mariage Thus with hir fader for a certeyn space Dwellith þis flour of wifly pacience That neyther by her wordes ne by hir face Byforn þe folk nor eek in her absence Ne schewed sche that hir was doon offence Ne of hir highe astaat no remembraunce Ne hadde sche . as by hir countenaunce No wonder is for in hir gret estate hir gost was euer in playn humilite Ne tender mouth noon herte delicate Ne pompe . ne semblant of realte But ful of pacient benignite Discrete and prideles ay honurable / And to hir housbond euer meke · and stable Men speke of Iob . and most for his humblesse /· As clerkes whan hem lust can wel endite Namely of men . but as in sothfastnesse Þough clerkes prayse wommen but a lite Þer can no man in humblesse him acquyte As wommen can . ne can be half so trewe As wommen ben . but it be falle of newe[No break in the MS.] Fro boloyne is þis erl of panik y-come Of which þe fame vp sprong to more and lasse And to þe poeples eeres alle and some was couth eek þat a newe marquisesse he wiþ him brought in such pomp and richesse That neuer was þer seyn with mannes ye So noble array in al west lombardye The marquys which þat schoop and knew al þis Er þat þis erl was come sent his message / After þilk cely pore Grisildis And sche wiþ humble hert and good visage Not with so swollen hert in hir corrage Cam at his hest . and on hir knees hir sette And reuerently and wyfly sche him grette Grisild quod he . my wil is outrely This mayden þat schal weddid be to me Receyued be to morwe as really As it possible is in myn hous to be And eek þat euery wight in his degre haue his estaat in sittyng and seruyse In high plesaunce as I can deuyse I haue no womman suffisant certeyne The chambres for tarray in ordinance After my lust and þerfor wold I feyne / That þin were al such maner gouernaunce Thow knowest/ eek of al my plesaunce Though þyn array be badde and ille byseye Do þou þy deuer atte leste weye Nought oonly lord þat I am glad quod sche / To don ȝour lust . but I desire also / Ȝow for to serue and plese in my degre wiþoute feynyng and schal euer mo Ne neuer for no wele ne for no wo Ne schal þe gost wiþinne myn herte stente / To loue ȝow best wiþ al my trewe entent And wiþ þat word sche gan þe hous to dight And tables for to sette and beddes make And peyned hir to doon al þat sche might Preying þe chamberers for goddes sake To hasten hem and faste swepe and schake And sche þe moste seruisable of alle / haþ euery chamber arrayed and his halle / Abouten vndern gan þis lord alight Þat with him brought þese noble children tweye For which þe peple ran to se þat sight Of her array so richely biseye And þan at erst amonges hem þay seye That walter was no forþ þough that him lest To chaunge his wyf . for it was for þe best / For sche is fairer . as þay demen alle / Than is Grisild and more tender of age And fairer fruyt bitwen hem schulde falle And more plesaunt for hir high lynage hir broþer eek . so fair was of visage That hem to seen þe peple haþ caught plesaunce Comending now þe marquys gouernaunce O stormy poeple . vnsad and euer vntrewe And vndiscret and chaungyng as a fane Desyryng euer in rombel þat is newe For lik þe moone ay wax ȝe and wane Ay ful of clappyng dere ynough a Iane ȝoure doom is fals ȝour constaunce yuel preuith A ful gret fool is he that on ȝow leeuith Thus sayde saad folk in þat Citee whan þat þe poeple gased vp and doun For þay were glad right of þe nouelte To han a newe lady of her toun No more of þis now make I mencioun But to Grisildes agayn wol I me dresse And telle hir constance and hir busynesse / Ful busy was grisild in euery þing That to þe feste was appertinent Right nought was sche abaissht of hir cloþing Though it were ruyde . and som del eek torent But wiþ glad cheer to þe ȝate is sche went with oþer folk to griete þe marquisesse And after þat doth forth hir busynesse / With so glad chier his gestes sche receyueth And so connyngly euerich in his degre / That no defaute no man aparceyueth But ay þay wondren what sche mighte be That in so pouer array was for to se And couþe such honour and reuerence And worthily þay prayse hir prudence In al þis mene while sche ne stent This mayde and eek hir brother to comende with al hir hert . in ful buxom entent So wel þat no man couþe hir pris amende But atte last whan þat þese lordes wende To sitte doun to mete he gan to calle / Grisild as sche was busy in his halle Grisyld quod he as it were in his play how likith þe my wif and hir beaute Right wel my lord quod sche for in good fay A fairer saugh I neuer noon þan sche I pray to god ȝiue hir prosperite And so hope I . þat he wol to ȝow sende Plesaunce ynough vnto ȝour lyues ende / On þing warn I ȝow and biseke also / That ȝe ne prike wiþ no tormentynge Þis tendre mayden as ȝe haue do mo For sche is fostrid in hir norischinge More tendrely and to my supposynge / Sche couþe not aduersite endure As couþe a pore fostrid creature And whan þis walter saugh hir pacience hir glade cheer and no malice at al And he so oft had doon to hir offence And sche ay sad . and constant as a wal Continuyng euer hir Innocence oueral This sturdy marquys gan his herte dresse To Rewen vpon hir wyfly stedefastnesse / This is ynough Grisilde myn quod he Be now no more agast ne yuel apayed I haue thy faith and þy benignite As wel as euer womman was assayed In gret estate and propreliche arrayed Now knowe I dere wyf þy stedefastnesse And hir in armes took and gan hir kesse And sche for wonder took of it no keepe Sche herde not what þing he to hir sayde Sche ferd as sche had stert out of a sleepe Til sche out of hir masidnesse abrayde Grisild quod he by god þat for vs deyde Thou art my wyf ne noon oþer I haue Ne neuer had as god my soule saue This is my doughter which þou hast supposed To be my wif þat oþer faithfully Schal be myn heir as I haue ay purposed Thow bar hem in þy body trewely At Boloyne haue I kept hem priuely Tak hem agayn for now maistow not seye That þou hast lorn noon of þy children tweye And folk þat oþer weyes han seyd of me I warn hem wel þat I haue doon þis deede For no malice ne for no cruelte But for tassaye in þe þy wommanhede And not to slen my children god forbede But for to kepe hem priuely and stille Til I þy purpos knowe and al þy wille Whan sche þis herd a swoned doun sche fallith For pitous ioy . and after her swownyng Sche bothe hir ȝonge children to hir callith And in hir armes pitously wepyng Embraseth hem and tenderly kissyng Ful lik a moder with hir salte teris Sche bathis boþe hir visage and hir eeris O such a pitous þing it was to see[This line is repeated in the MS., but has been scratcht out.] hir swownyng and hir humble vois to heere Graunt mercy lord . god thank it ȝow quod sche That ȝe han kept my children so deere Now rek I neuer to be deed right heere Sith I stond in ȝour loue and in ȝour grace No fors of deth ne whan my spirit pace O tender deere . ȝonge children myne Ȝoure woful moder wende stedefastly That cruel houndes or som foul vermyne had eten ȝow but god of his mercy And ȝour benigne fader tenderly hath doon ȝow kept and in þat same stounde Al sodeinly sche swapped doun to grounde / And in hir swough so sadly holdith sche hir children tuo . whan sche gan hem tembrace That with gret sleight and gret difficulte The children from her am þay gonne arace O many a teer . o many a pitous face. Doun ran of hem þat stooden hir bisyde Vnnethe aboute hir mighte þay abyde Waltier hir gladith and hir sorwe slakith Sche rysith vp abaisshed from hir traunce And euery wight hir ioy and feste makith Til sche hath caught agayn hir continaunce wauter hir doth so faithfully plesaunce That it was daynte for to see þe cheere Bitwix hem tuo . now þay be met in feere These ladys whan þat þay her tyme say han taken hir and in to chambre goon And strippen hir . out of hir rude array And in a cloth of gold þat brighte schon with a coroun of many a riche stoon vpon hir heed þay in to halle hir brought And þer sche was honoured as hir ought Thus hath þis pitous day a blisful ende For euery man and womman doth his might This day in mirth and revel to despende Til on þe welken schon þe sterres bright For more solempne in euery mannes sight This feste was and gretter of costage Than was þe reuel of hir mariage / Ful many a ȝer in heigh prosperite lyuen þese tuo in concord and in rest And richeliche his doughter maried he vnto a lord on of þe worthiest Of al ytaile and þanne in pees and rest His wyues fader in his court he kepith Til þat þe soule out of his body crepith His sone succedith in his heritage In rest and pees . after his fader day And fortunat . was eek in mariage Al put he not his wyf in gret assay This world is not so strong it is no nay As it haþ ben in olde tymes ȝore And herknith what þis auctor saith þerfore This story is sayd nat for þat wyues scholde Folwe Grisild . as in humilite For it were importable þough þay wolde But for þat euery wight in his degre Schulde be constant . in aduersite As was Grisild . therfore Petrark writeth This story which wiþ high stile he enditeth For swich a womman was so pacient vnto a mortal man wel more vs oughte Receyuen al in gre þat god vs sent For gret skil is he proue þat he wroughte But he ne temptith no man þat he boughte As saith seint Iame if he his pistil rede he prouith folk al day it is no drede And suffrith vs as for our exercise wiþ scharpe scourges of aduersite Ful ofte to be bete in sondry wise Nought for to knowe oure wille for certes he Er we were born . knew al our frelte And for oure best is al his gouernaunce Leet vs þanne lyue in vertuous suffraunce But oo word lordes herkneth er I go It were ful hard to fynde now a dayes As Grisildes in al a toun þre or tuo For if þat þay were put to such assayes The gold of hem haþ now so badde alayes with bras þat þough þe coyn be fair at ye hit wolde raþer brest in tuo þan plye For which heer for þe wyues loue of bathe whos lyf and alle of hir secte god meyntene In high maistry and elles were it scathe I wil with lusty herte freisch and grene Say ȝow a song to glade . ȝow I wene And lat vs stynt of ernestful matiere herknith my song . þat saith in þis manere /[No break in the MS.] ¶ Lenvoye . de Chaucer. GRisild is deed and eek hir pacience And bothe at oones buried in Itayle For whiche I crye in open audience / No weddid man so hardy be to assayle his wyues pacience in hope to fynde Grisildes for in certeyn he schal fayl O noble wyues ful of heigh prudence / let noon humilite ȝour tonges nayle Ne lat no clerk haue cause or diligence To write of ȝow a story of such meruayle / As of Grisildes pacience and kynde Lest Chichiuache ȝow swolwe in hir entraile Folwith Ecco þat holdith no silence But euer answereth at þe countretayle Beþ nouȝt bydaffed for ȝour Innocence But scharply tak on ȝow þe gouernayle Empryntith wel þis lessoun in ȝour mynde For comun profyt sith it may auayle Ȝe archewyues stondith at defens Syn ȝe ben strong as is a greet/ Chamayle Ne suffre not þat men ȝow don offens And sclendre wydewes felle as in batayle Beth egre as is a Tyger ȝond in Inde Ay clappith as a mylle I ȝow counsaile Ne drede hem not . do hem no reuerence For þough þin housbond armed be in mayle The arwes of þy crabbid eloquence Schal perse his brest and eek his aduentayle / In gelousy I rede eek þou him bynde And þou schalt make him couche as doth a quayle If þou be fair þer folk ben in presence Schew þou þy visage and þin apparaile If þou be foul be fre of þy despense To gete þe frendes do ay þy trauayle / Be ay of chier as light as lef on lynde / And let hem care and wepe and wryng and wayleExplicit. ¶ here bygynneth þe prologe of þe marchaundis tale. WEpyng and wailyng care and oþer sorwe I knowe ynough boþe on euen & on morwe Quod þe marchaund . and so doon oþer mo That weddid ben I trowe þat it be so For wel I woot it fareth so with me I haue a wyf . þe worste þat may be For þough þe feend to hir y-coupled were Sche wold him ouer macche I dar wel swere what schuld I ȝow reherse in special hir high malice . sche is a schrewe at al Ther is a long and a large difference Betwix Grisildes grete pacience And of my wyf þe passyng cruelte were I vnbounden also mot I the I wolde neuer eft come in þe snare we weddid men lyue in sorwe and care Assay who-so wil and he schal fynde / That I say soth by seint Thomas of Inde As for þe more part . I say not alle God schilde þat it scholde so byfalle / A good sir host . I haue y-weddid be Thise monthes tuo and more not par de And ȝit I trowe he þat al his lyue wyfles haþ ben þough þat men wold him riue vnto þe hert ne couþe in no manere / Tellen so moche sorwe as I now heere Couþe telle of my wyfes cursednesse / No quod our ost; marchaunt so god ȝow blesse Sin ȝe so moche knowen of þat art Ful hertily tellith vs a part Gladly quod he of myn oughne sore For sory hert I telle may na more[No gap in the MS.]

¶ Narrat

Whilom þer was duellyng in lombardy A worþy knight þat born was of pauy In which he lyued in gret prosperite And fourty ȝer . a wifles man was he And folwed ay his bodily delyt On wommen . ther was his appetyt As doon þese fooles þat/ ben seculere And whan þat he was passed fourty ȝere were it for holyness or for dotage I can not say . but such a gret corrage hadde þis knight . to ben a weddid man That day and night . he doþ al þat he can Taspye wher þat he mighte weddid be Praying our lord to graunte him þat he Might oones knowen of þat blisful lif Þat is bitwix an housbond and his wyf And for to lyue vnder þat holy bond with which god first . man to womman bond Noon oþer lif said he is worth a bene For wedlok is so holy and so clene That in þis world it is a paradis Thus sayd þis olde knight þat was so wys And certeinly as soth as god is king To take a wyf . is a glorious þing/ And namely whan a man is old and hoor Than is a wyf þe fruyt of his tresor Than schuld he take a ȝong wif and a fair On which he might engendre him an hair And lede his lyf in mirthe and in solace wher as þese bachileres synge allas whan þay fynde eny aduersite In loue which is but childes vanite And trewely it sit wel to be so That bachilers haue ofte peyne and wo On brutil ground þay bulde brutelnesse / Þay fynde whan þay wene sikernesse Thay lyue but as a brid oþer as a best In liberte and vnder noon arrest Ther as a weddid man in his estate lyuith his lif busily and ordinate vnder þe ȝok of mariage I-bounde wel may his herte in ioye and blisse abounde / For who can be so buxom as a wyf / who is so trewe and eek so ententyf To kepe him seek and hool as is his make For wele or woo sche wol him not forsake / Sche is not wery him to loue and serue Theigh þat he lay bedred. til þat he sterue And ȝet som clerkes seyn it is not so Of whiche theofrast/ is oon of þo what fors þough theofrast. liste lye Ne take no wif quod he for housbondrye As for to spare in houshold þy dispense A trewe seruaunt doth more diligence Þy good to kepe þan þin oughne wif / For sche wol clayme half part in al hir lif And if þat þou be seek so god me saue Þyne verray frendes or a trewe knaue wol kepe þe bet· þan sche þat waytith ay After þy good and hath doon many day And if þat þou take a wif be war Of oon peril. which declare I ne dar. This entent and an hundrid siþe wors writith þis Mas ther god his bones curs But take no keep of al such vanite Deffy theofrast and herkne me A wyf is goddes ȝifte verrayly Al oþer maner ȝiftes hardily As landes rentes pasture or comune Or oþer moeblis ben ȝiftes of fortune That passen as a schadow on a wal But dred not/ if I playnly telle schal A wyf wil last and in þin hous endure wel lenger þan þe lust/ par aduenture Mariage is a ful gret sacrament he which haþ no wif I hold him schent he lyueth helples. and is al desolate I speke of folk/ in seculer estate And herken why I say not þis for nought The womman is for mannes help I-wrought The heighe god whan he had adam maked And saugh him aloone body naked God of his grete goodnes sayde þanne Let vs now make an helpe to þis manne lyk to himself/. and þan he made Eue her may ȝe see. and here may ȝe preue That wyf is mannes help and his comfort his paradis terrestre and his desport So buxom and so vertuous is sche / Thay mosten neede lyue in vnite. O fleisch þay ben. and on blood as I gesse haue but oon hert. in wele and in distresse / ∴ A wyf; a seinte mary benedicite how might a man haue eny aduersite That haþ a wyf. certes I can not say The ioye þat is betwixen hem tway Ther may no tonge telle ne herte þink If he be pore sche helpith him to swynk Sche kepith his good and wastith neuer a del And al þat her housbond list. sche likith it wel Sche saith nought oones nay whan he saith ȝe Do þis saith he. al redy sir saith sche O blisful ordre o wedlok precious Thou art so mery and ek so vertuous And so comendid and approued eek That euery man þat holt him worth a leek vpon his bare knees ought al his lyf Thanken his god þat him haþ sent a wif Or pray to god oon him for to sende To be with him vnto his lyues ende / For þan his lyf is set in sikernesse / he may not be deceyued as I gesse / So þat he worche after his wyfes red Þan may be boldely bere vp his heed Thay ben so trewe and also so wyse For whiche if þou wolt do as þe wyse Do alway so þe womman wol þe rede lo how þat Iacob as þe clerkes rede By good counseil of his moder Rebecke Band þe kydes skyn about his sones nekke For which his fader benesoun he wan Lo Iudith as þe story telle can By wys counseil sche goddes poepel kept And slough him oliphernus whil he slept Lo abygaille by good counseil how sche / Sauyd hir housbond Nacab whan þat he / Schold han ben slayn And loke after also By good counseil deliuered out of wo; Þe poeple of god. and made him mandoche Of Assure enhaunsed for to be Ther nys no þing / in gre superlatif As saith Senec aboue an humble wyf Suffre þy wyues tonge as Catoun byt She schal comaunde and þou schalt suffre it And ȝit sche wil obeye of curtesye A wif is keper of þin housbondrye wel may þe sike man wayle and wepe Ther as þer is no wyf þe hous to kepe I warne þe if wisly þou wilt wirche loue wel þy wyf as crist doth his chirche If þou louest þiself þou louest þy wyf / No man hatith his fleissch but in his lif / he fostrith it and þerfore warne I þe Cherissh þy wif. or þou schalt neuer the housbond & wif what men iape or pleye Of worldly folk holden þe righte weye Thay ben so knyt þer may noon harm bytyde And nameliche vpon þe wyues syde For which þis Ianuary of which I tolde Considered hath Inwith his dayes olde / The lusty lif the vertuous quiete That is in mariage hony-swete ¶ And for his frendes on a day he sent To tellen hem theffect of his entent wiþ face sad. he haþ hem this tale told he sayde frendes I am hoor and old And almost god woot at my pittes brinke vpon my soule som what most I þynke I haue my body folily dispendid Blessed be god that I schal be amendid For I wil be certeyn a weddid man And þat anoon in al þe hast I can vnto som mayde fair and tender of age / I pray ȝow helpith for my mariage Al sodeynly. for I wil not abyde I wil fonde tespien on my syde To whom I may be weddid hastily But for als moche as ȝe ben mo than I. Ȝe schul rather such a þing aspien Þan I and wher me lust best to allien But oo þing warne I ȝow my frendes deere / I wil noon old wyf haue in no manere / Sche schal not passe · sixtene ȝer certayn Old fleisch and ȝong fleisch þat wold I haue ful fayn Bet is quod he a pyk þan a pikerell And bet þan olde boef is tendre vel I wil no womman twenty ȝer of age It nys but bene straw and gret forage And eek þese olde wydewes god it woot Thay can so moche craft of wades boot So moche broken harm whan þat hem list That wiþ hem schuld I neuer lyuen in rest For sondry scolis maken subtil clerkes womman of many a skile half a clerk is But certeyn a ȝong þing may men gye Right as men may warm wax with hondes plye wher for I say ȝow plenerly in a clause I wil noon old wyf han right for þat cause For if so were I hadde so meschaunce Þat I in hir couþe haue no plesaunce Than schuld I lede my lyf in aduoutrie And go streight to þe deuel whan I dye. Ne children schuld I noon vpon hir geten Ȝet were me leuer houndes had me eten Þan þat myn heritage schulde falle In straunge hond and þus I telle ȝow alle I doute not. I wot þe cause why Men scholde wedde. and forþermor woot I Ther spekith many man of mariage That wot nomore of it þan wot my page For whiche causes. man schuld take a wyf If he ne may not chast be by his lif Take him a wif with gret deuocioun By cause of lawful procreacioun Of children to þonour of god aboue And not oonly for paramour and for loue. And for þay schulde leccherye eschiewe And ȝeld oure dettes whan þat it is due Or for þat ilk man schulde helpen oþer In meschief as suster schal to þe broþer And lyue in chastite ful heuenly But sires by ȝour leue þat am not I For by þanked I dar make auaunt I fele my lemys stark and suffisaunt To doon al þat a man bilongeth vnto I wot my selue best what I may do ¶ Though I be hoor I fare as doþ a treeNota That blossemith er þat þe fruyt I-waxe be A blossemy tre is neither drye ne deed I fele me no-wher hoor but on myn heed Myn herte and my lymes ben as greene. As laurer þurgh þe ȝeer is for to seene And synnes ȝe han herd al myn entent I pray ȝow to my wille ȝe assent Diuerse men diuersly him tolde Of mariage many ensamples olde Some blamed him some praised it certayn But atte laste schortly for to sayn As alday fallith altercacioun Bitwixe frendes in despitesoun Ther fel a strif bitwen his bretheren tuoNota Of which þat oon was clepid Placebo Iustinus soþly cleped was þat oþer Placebo sayde .o. Ianuary broþer Ful litel need had ȝe my lord so deere Counseil to axe of eny þat is heere But þat ȝe ben so ful of sapience That ȝow ne likith for ȝour heigh prudence / To wayue fro þe word of Salamon This word said he vnto vs euerychoon werk/ al þing by counsail þus sayd he / And þanne schaltow nought repente þe But þough þat Salamon speke such a word Myn owne deere broþer and my lord So wisly god bring my soule at ese and rest I holde ȝour oughne counseil is þe best/ For broþer myn of me tak þis motif I haue now ben a court man al my lyf And god wot þough. þat I vnworþy be I haue standen in ful gret degre Abouten lordes in ful gret estat Ȝit had I neuer with noon of hem debaat I neuer hem contraried trewely I wot wel þat my lord can more þan I what þat he saith I hold it ferm and stable I say þe same or elles þing semblable A ful gret fool is eny counselournota Þat seruith any lord of high honour Þat dar presume or oones þenken it / That his counseil schuld passe his lordes wit Nay lordes ben no fooles by my fay Ȝe haue ȝour self y-spoken heer to day So heigh sentens so holly and so wel Þat I consente and conferme euery del Ȝour wordes alle. and ȝoure oppinioun By god þer is no man in al þis toun Ne in ytaile couþe better haue sayd Crist holdith him of þis ful wel a-payd And trewely it is an heigh corrage Of any man þat stopen is in age / To take a ȝong wyf by my fader kyn Ȝour herte hongith on a ioly pyn Doth now in þis matier right as ȝow lest For fynally I hold it for þe best Iustinus þat ay stille sat and herde / Right in þis wise he to placebo answerde / Now brother myn be pacient I ȝow pray Syns ȝe haue sayd. and herknith what I say Senec amonges oþer wordes wyse Saith þat a man aught him wel auyse To whom he ȝiueth his lond or his catel And syns I aught auyse me right wel To whom I ȝiue my good away fro me wel more I aught avised for to be To whom I ȝiue my body for alwey I warn ȝow wel. it is no childes pley To take a wyf wiþoute avisement Men most enquere þis is myn assent wher sche be wys or sobre or dronkelewe Or proud or oþer way a schrewe A chyder or a wastour of þy good Or riche or pore or elles man is wood Al be it so þat no man fynde schal Noon in þis world þat trottith hool in al Neyther man ne best such as man can deuyse But natheles it aught ynough suffise wiþ any wyf if so were þat sche hadde Mo goode thewes þan hir vices badde And al þis askith leyser to enquere For god woot I. haue weped many a tere Ful priuely syns I haue had a wyf Prayse who so wil a weddid mannes lif Certes I fynd in it but cost and care And obseruaunce of alle blisses bare And ȝit god woot myn neighebours aboute And namely of wommen many a route Sayn þat I haue þe moste stedefast wyf / And eek þe meekest oon þat berith lyf But I woot best wher wryngith me my schonota Ȝe may for me right as ȝow liste do Auysith ȝow ȝe ben a man of age how þat ȝe entren in to mariage And namly with a ȝong wif and a fair By him þat made water eorþe and air The ȝongest man þat is in al þis route Is busy ynough to bring it wel aboute To haue his wif alloone trustith me Ȝe schul not please hir fully ȝeres þre This is to say to doon hir ful plesaunce A wyf axith ful many an obseruaunce I pray ȝow þat ȝe be not euel apayd wel quod þis Ianuary and hastow sayd Straw for þy senec and for þy prouerbis I coueyte nought a panyer ful of herbes Of scole termes wiser men þan þow / As I haue sayd assenten her right now Vnto my purpose. placebo what say ȝe I say it is a cursed man quod he / That lettith matrimoigne sicurly And with þat word þay rysen vp sodeinly And ben assented fully þat he scholde Be weddid whan him lust. and wher he wolde The fantasy. and þe curious busynesse Fro day to day. gan in þe soule impresse Of Ianuary aboute his mariage Many a fair schap and many a fair visage Ther passith þorugh his herte night by night As who so took a mirrour polissched bright And set it in a comun market place Than schuld he se. many a figure pace By his mirour and in þe same wise Gan Ianuary in his þought deuyse Of maydens which þat duellid him bisyde he wist not where þat he might abyde For þough þat oon haue a beaute in hir face Anoþer stant so in þe poeples grace For hir sadnesse and hir benignite That of þe poeple grettest vois had sche And som were riche and hadde badde name But naþeles bitwix ernest and game he atte last/ appoynted him anoon And let al oþer fro his herte goon And ches hir of his oughne auctorite For loue is blynd al day and may not se/. And whan he was in to bedde brought He purtrayed in his hert and in his þought Hir freische beaute and hir age tendre Hir myddel smal hir armes long and sclendre Hir wise gouernaunce hir gentilesse / Hir wommanly beryng and hir sadnesse And whan þat he on hir was condescendid him þought his chois mighte nought ben amendid For whan þat he himself concludid hadde Him þough ech oþer mannes wyf so badde That impossible it were to repplie Agayn his choys þis was his fantasie his frendes sent he to at his instaunce And prayed hem to doon him þat plesaunce That hastily þay wolde to him come he wold abrigge her labour alle and some Nedith no more for him to gon ne ryde he was appoynted þer he wold abyde / Placebo cam and eek his frendes soone / And althirfirst. he bad hem alle a boone That noon of hem noon argumentis make / Agayn þe purpos. which þat he had take which purpos was plesaunt to god sayd he / And verray ground of his prosperite He sayd þer was a mayden in þe toun which þat of beaute hadde gret renoun Al were it so sche were of smal degre / Suffisith him hir trouth and hir beaute / which mayde he sayd he wold haue to his wyf To lede in ease and holinesse his lyf And þanked god þat he might haue hir al That no wight his blisse parten schal And preyed hem to laboure in þis neede And schapen þat he faile not to speede For þan he sayd his spirit was at ease Than is quod he no þing may me displease / Saue oon þing prikkith in my conscience / The which I wil reherse in ȝour presence I haue herd sayd quod he ful ȝore ago Ther may no man haue parfyt blisses tuo This is to say in erthe and eek in heuene For þough he kepe him fro þe synnes seuene / And eek from ylk a braunche of þilke tre Ȝit is þer so parfy felicite And so gret ease and lust in mariage That euer I am agast now in myn age That I schal lede now so mery a lyf So delicat wiþoute wo and stryf That I schal haue myn heuen in erthe heere For sith þat verrey heuen is bought so deere with tribulacioun and gret penaunce how schuld I þanne þat liue in such plesaunce As alle wedded men doon with her wyues Come to blisse ther crist eterne on lyue is This is my drede and ȝe my breþeren tweye Assoilith me þis questioun I ȝow preye Iustinus which þat hated his folye Answerd anoon right in his iaperie And for he wold his longe tale abrigge he wolde noon auctorite alegge But sayde sir. so ther be noon obstacle Oþer þan þis god of his high miracle And of his mercy may so for ȝow wirche That er ȝe haue ȝour rightes of holy chirche Ȝe may repente of weddid mannes lyf In which ȝe sayn þer is no wo ne stryf And elles god forbede but he sente A weddid man grace him to repente wel ofte rather þan a sengle man And þerfor sire þe beste reed I can Dispaire ȝow nought but haue in ȝoure memorie Paraduenture she may be ȝour purgatorie Sche may be goddes mene and goddes whippenota Than schal ȝour soule vp to heuen skippe Swyfter þan doþ an arwe out of a bowe I hope to god her after ȝe shuln knowe That þer nys noon so gret felicite In mariage ne neuermor schal be Þat ȝou schal lette of ȝour sauacioun So þat ȝe use as skile is and resoun The lustes of ȝour wyf attemperely And þat ȝe please hir not to amorously And þat ȝe kepe ȝow eek from oþer synne My tale is doon. for my witt is þynne Beþ not agast her of my broþer deere / But let vs waden out of þis matiere The wif of Bathe if ȝe han vnderstonde Of mariage which ȝe han now on honde Declared hath ful wel in litel space Fareth now wel god haue ȝow in his grace And with þat word þis Iustinus and his broþer Han tak her leue and ech of hem of oþer And whan þay saugh þat i most needis be Thay wroughten so by sleight and wys trete That sche þis mayden which þat/ Mayus hight As hastily as euer sche might Schal weddid be vnto þis Ianuarie I trow it were to longe ȝow to tarie If I ȝow tolde of euery scrit and bond By which þat sche was feoffed in his lond Or for to herken of hir riche array But finally y-comen is þat day That to þe chirche boþe ben þay went For to receyue þe holy sacrement Forth comth þe preost with stoole about his necke And bad hir be lik Sarra and Rebecke In wisdom and in trouth of mariage And sayd his orisouns as is vsage / And crouched hem and bad god schuld hem blesse / And made al secur ynowgh with holinesse Thus ben þay weddid wiþ Solempnite And atte fest sittith he and sche with othir worþy folk vpon the deys Al ful of ioy and blis is that paleys And of Instrumentz and of vitaile The moste deinteuous of ytaile Biforn hem stood such Instruments of soun That Orpheus ne of Thebes Amphioun Ne maden neuer such a melodye At euery cours ther cam loud menstralcye That neuer tromped Ioab for to heere Ne he Theodomas ȝit half so cleere / And Thebes whan the cite was in doute Bachus þe wyn hem schenchith al aboute And venus laughith vpon euery wight For Ianuary was bycome hir knight/ And wolde bothe assayen his corrage / In liberte and eek/ in mariage And with hir fuyrbrond in hir hond aboute Daunceth bifore þe bryde and al þe route And certeynly I dar right wel say þis Imeneus þat god of weddyng is Seigh neuer his lif so mery a weddid man holde þy pees thow poete marcian That writest vs. þat ilke weddyng merye Of hir philologie and he mercurie And of þe songes that the muses songe To smal is boþe þy penne and eek þy tonge For to descriue of þis mariage whan tender ȝouthe haþ weddid stoupyng age Ther is such mirthe. þat it may not be write Assaieth it ȝour self þan may ȝe wyte If þat I lye or noon in þis mateere Mayus þat sit with so benigne a cheere / Hir to bihold it / semed fayerye / Queen ester loked neuer with such an ye On assure so meke a look haþ sche I may not ȝow deuyse al hir beaute But thus moche of hir beaute telle I may That sche was lyk þe brighte morw of may Fulfild of alle beaute and plesaunce This Ianuary is rauyscht in a traunce At euery tyme he lokith on hir face But in his hert he gan hir to manace That he þat night in armes wold hir streyne Harder þan euer paris did Eleyne But natheles ȝit had he gret pite That þilke night offenden hir most he / And þought allas .o. tendre creature Now wolde god ȝe mighte wel endure Al my corrage. it is so scharp and keene I am agast ȝe schul it not susteene For god forbede þat I dede al my might Now wolde god þat it were woxe night And þat þe night wold stonden euermo I wold þat al þis poeple were a go And fynally he doth al his labour As he best mighte sauyng his honour To hast hem from þe mete in subtil wise The tyme cam þat resoun was to ryse And after þat men daunce and drynke fast And spices about þe hous þay cast And ful of ioy. and blis is euery man Al but a squier that hight Damyan which karf tofor þe knight ful many a day he was so rauyssht on his lady may That for þe verray peyne he was nigh wood Almost he swelt and swowned as he stood So sore haþ venus hurt him wiþ hir brond As þat sche bar it daunsyng in hir hond And to his bed he went him hastily No more of him as at þis tyme telle I But þer I lete him now his wo compleyne Til freisshe may wol rewen on his peyne / O perilous fuyr þat in þe bed-straw bredithAuctor O famuler fo þat his seruice bedith O seruaunt traitour false homly hewe lyk to þe nedder in bosom vntrewe / God schild vs alle from ȝour acqueintance / O Ianuary dronken in plesaunce Of mariage se how þy damyan Thyn oughne squier and þy borne man Entendith for to do þe vilonye / God graunte þe þin homly fo espye For in þis world nys worse pestilence / Than homly foo. alday in þy presence Parfourmed haþ þe sonne his ark diourne No lenger may þe body of him soiourne On thorisonte. as in latitude Night with his mantel þat is derk and rude Gan ouersprede themesperie aboute For which departed is þe route Fro Ianuary with þank on euery side / hoom to her hous lustily þay ryde wher as þay doon her þinges as hem leste And whan þay seigh her tyme þay goon to reste / Soone after þat. þis hasty Ianuarie wold go to bed. he wold no lenger tarie he drinkith ypocras clarre and vernage / Of spices hote to encre his corrage And many a letuary had he ful fyn Such as þe cursed monk daun Constantin Hath writen in his book de coitu To ete hem alle he nas no þing eschieu And to his priue frendes þus sayd he For goddes loue as soon as it may be let voyden al þis hous in curteys wise And þay han doon right as he wold deuyse Men drinken and þe trauers drawe anoon The bruyd was brought abedde as stille as stoon And whan þe bed was with þe prest I-blessid Out of þe chambre haþ euery wight him dressed And Ianuary haþ fast/ in armes take/ His freisshe may / his paradys his make He lullith hir he kissith hir ful ofte with þikke bristlis on his berd vnsofte lik to þe skyn of houndfisch scharp as brere For he was schaue al newe in his manere He rubbith hir about hir tendre face And sayde þus allas I mot trespace To ȝow my spouse. and ȝow gretly offende / Er tyme come þat I wol doun descende But naþeles considerith þis quod he Ther nys no werkman what so euer he be Þat may boþe werke wel and hastily This wol be doon at leysir parfitly It is no fors how longe þat we pleye In trewe wedlock coupled be we tweye And blessed be þe ȝok þat we ben Inn For in actes we mow do no synne A man may do no synne with his wif Ne hurt himseluen wiþ his oughne knyf For we han leue to play vs by þe lawe Thus laborith he til þat þe day gan dawe And þan he takith a sop in fyn clarre And vpright in his bed þan sittith he And after þat he song ful lowd and clere And kissed his wyf and made wantoun cheere he was al coltissch ful of ragerye And ful of iargoun as a flekked pye The slakke skyn about his nekke slakeþ whil þat he song. so chaunteþ he and craketh But god wot what þat may þought in hir hert / whan sche him saugh vp sittyng in his schert In his night cappe and with his nekke lene Sche praysith nought his pleying worth a bene Than sayd he þus my reste wol I take Now day is come I may no lenger wake And doun he layd his heed and sleep til prime And afterward whan þat he saugh his tyme Vp riseth Ianuary but freissche may Holdith hir chamber vnto þe fourþe day As vsage is of wyues for þe best For euery labour som tyme moot haue rest Or elles longe may he not endure This is to say. no lyues creature Be it. fissch or brid. or best or man Now wol I speke of woful damyan That languyssh for loue as ȝe schuln here Therfore I speke to him in þis manere ¶ I say. O sely damyan allasAuctor Answere to my demaunde as in þis caas how schaltow to þy lady freissche may Telle þy woo. sche wol alway say nay Eek if þou speke sche wol þy woo bywreye God be þin help I can no better seye This seke damyan in venus fuyr So brennith þat he deyeth for desir For which he put his lyf in aduenture No lenger might he in þis wo endure But priuely a penner gan he borwe And in a letter wrot he al his sorwe In maner of a compleynt or of a lay vnto his faire freissche lady may And in a purs of silk heng on his schert he haþ it put and layd it at his hert ¶ The moone þat anoon was þilke day That Ianuary had weddid freische may In tuo of taure was in to Cancre gliden So long hath mayus in hir chambre abiden As custom is vnto þese nobles alle A bryde schal not eten in þe halle Til dayes foure. or þre dayes atte lest I-passed ben. þan let hir go to þe fest The fourthe day complet fro noon to noon whan þat þe heighe masse was I-doon In halle sitte. þis Ianuary and may. As freissch as is þe brighte someres day And so bifelle þat þis goode man Remembrid him vpon þis Damyan And sayde seinte mary how may þis be That Damyan entendith not to me Is he ay seek or how may þis bityde his squiers which þat stoode þer bisyde. Excusid him by cause of his syknesse which letted him to doon his busynesse Noon oþer cause mighte make him tarie That me forthinkith quod þis Ianuarie he is a gentil squyer by my trouþe If þat he deyde it were harm and routhe he is as wys discret and eek secre As any man I wot of his degre And þerto manerly and seruysable And for to be a thrifty man right able But after mete as soon as euer I may I wol myself visit him and eek may To doom him al þe comfort þat I can And for þat word him blessed euery man That of his bounte and his gentilesse he wolde so comfort in seekenesse his squyer. for it was a gentil deede Dame quod þis Ianuary tak good heede At after-mete ȝe wiþ ȝour wommen alle / whan ȝe han ben in chambre out of þis halle That alle ȝe goo to se þis Damyan Doth him desport. he is a gentil man And tellith him þat I wil him visite Haue I no þing. but rested me a lyte / And spedith ȝow faste for I wol abyde Til þat ȝe slepe faste by my syde And with þat word. he gan vnto him calle A squier þat was marchal of his halle And told him certeyn þinges what he wolde This freissche may hath streight hir wey I-holde wiþ alle hir wommen vnto Damyan Doun by þe beddes syde sat sche þan Comfortyng him as goodly as sche may This damyan whan þat his tyme he say In secre wise his purs and eek his bille / In which þat he. I-writen had his wille Haþ put in to hir hond wiþouten more Saue þat he siketh wonder deepe and sore And softely to hir right þus sayd he / Mercy and þat ȝe not discouer me For I am deed if þat þis þing discouered be Þis purs in hir bosom hud had sche And went hir way ȝe gete no more of me But vnto Ianuary comen is sche Þat on his beddes syde sit ful softe / And takith hir and kissith hir ful ofte / And layd him doun to slepe and þat anoon Sche feyned hir as þat sche moste goon · Ther as ȝe woot þat euery wight moot/ neede And whan sche of þis bille haþ taken heede / Sche rent i al to cloutes atte laste And in to þe priuy softely it cast/ who studieth now but faire freissche may A-doun by olde Ianuary sche lay That slepith til þat. þe coughe haþ him awaked Anoon he prayde stripen hir al naked he wold of hir he sayd haue som plesaunce hir clothis dede him he sayde som grevaunce And sche obeieth be hir lief or loth But lest that precious folk be with me wroth how þat he wroughte. I dar not telle Or wheþir it semed him paradys or helle But here I lete hem werken in her wise Til euensong rong and þan þay most arise wheþir it be by desteny or aduenture were it by influence or by nature Or by constellacioun þat in such estate The heuen stood þat tyme fortunate As for to putte a bulle of venus werkis For alle þing hath tyme as seyn þese clerkis To eny womman for to gete hir loue I can not say but grete god aboue / Þat knowith þat noon acte is causeles He deme of al. for I wil holde my pees But soth is þis how þat þis freisshe may hath take such impressioun þat day Of pite of þis sike damyan That from hir herte sche ne dryue can The remembraunce for to doon him ease / Certeyn þought sche. whom þat þis þing displease I rekke not for her I him assure To loue him best of eny creature / Though he no more hadde þan his scherte Lo pite renneth soone in gentil herte heer may ȝe see how excellent fraunchise In womman is. whan þay narow hem auyse Som tyraunt is as þer ben many oon That haþ an hert as hard as is a stoon which wold han lete steruen in þe place wel rather þan han graunted him her grace And hem reioysen in her cruel pride And rekken nouȝt to ben an homicide ¶ This gentil may fulfillid of pite Right of hir hond a letter maked sche / In which sche grauntith him hir verray grace Ther lakkid nought but oonly day and place wher þat sche might vnto his lust suffise For it schal be right as he wol deuyse And whan sche saugh hir tyme vpon a day To visite þis damyan goþ May And subtilly þis lettre doun sche thruste Vnder his pylow. rede it if him luste Sche takith him by þe hond and hard him twiste So secrely þat no wight of hit wiste And bad him be al hool and forþ sche wente To Ianuary whan þat he for hir sente vp ryseth Damyan þe nexte morwe Al passed was his siknes and his sorwe / He kembith him. he pruneth him and pyketh he doth al þat vnto his lady likith And eek to Ianuary he goth as lowe / As euer did a dogge for þe bowe / He is so plesaunt vnto euery man For craft is al. who so þat do it can That euery wight is fayn to speke him good And fully in his lady grace he stood Thus lete I damyan about his neede And in my tale forth I wol procede Some clerkes holden þat felicite Stant in delit and þerfor certeyn he This noble Ianuary with al his might In honest wise as longith to a knight Schop him to lyue ful deliciously his housyng his array as honestly To his degre was maked as a kynges Amonges oþer of his honest þinges he made a gardyn walled al wiþ stoon So fair a Gardyn wot I no wher noon For out of doute I verrely suppose That he þat wroot þe romauns of þe Rose Ne couþe of hit þe beaute wel deuyse Ne Pirapus ne might not wel suffise Though he be god of gardyns for to telle / The beaute of þe gardyn and þe welle That stood vnder a laurer alway greene Ful ofte tyme he pluto and his queene Preserpina and al þe fayerie Desporten hem and maken melodye Aboute þat welle and daunced as men tolde This noble knight þis Ianuary þe olde Such deynte haþ in it to walk and pleye That he wold no wight suffre bere þe keye Saue he himself for of þe smale wyket he bar alway of siluer a smal cliket wiþ which whan þat him list he it vnschette And whan he wolde pay his wyf hir dette / In somer sesoun þider wold he go And may his wyf and no wight but þay tuo And þinges which. þat weren not doon in bedde he in þe gardyn parformed hem and spedde And in þis wise many a mery day lyued þis Ianuary and freische may But worldly ioye may not alway endure To Ianuary ne to no creature ¶ O sodeyn hap. O þou fortune vnstablenota bene lyk to þe scorpioun so desceyuable Þat flaterest with þin heed whan þou wilt stynge Thy tayl is deþ þurgh þin enuenymynge O. britel ioye. o sweete venym queynte O monster þat so subtily canst peynte Thyn ȝiftes vnder hiew of stedfastnesse That þou desceyuest boþe more and lesse / why hastow Ianuary þus deceyued That haddist him for þy fulle frend receyued And now þou hast byreft him boþe his yen For sorw of which desireth he to dyen Allas þis noble Ianuary fre Amyd his lust and his prosperite Is woxe blynd and þat al sodeynly he wepith and he weyleth pitously And þer with al þe fuyr of Ialousye lest þat his wif schuld falle in som folye So brent his herte. þat he wolde fayn That som man boþe hir and him had slayn For neyþer after his deth nor in his lyf Ne wold he þat sche were loue ne wyf But euer lyue as wydow in clothes blake / Soul as þe turtil þat lost haþ hir make But atte last after a moneth or tweye his sorwe gan aswage soþ to seye For whan he wist it may noon oþer be / he paciently took his aduersite Saue out of doute he may not forgoon That he nas Ialous euermore in oon which Ialousie it was so outrageous That neyþer in halle. ne in noon oþer hous Ne in noon oþer place neuer þe mo he nolde suffre hir to ryde or go But if þat he had hond on hir alway For which ful ofte wepeth freische may That loueth Damyan so benignely That sche moot outher deyen sodeinly Or elles sche moot han him as hir lest She waytith whan hir herte wolde brest vpon þat oþer syde Damyan Bicomen is þe sorwfulleste man That euer was for neyther night ne day Ne might he speke a word wiþ fressche may As to his purpos of no such matiere But if þat Ianuary most it heere That had an hond vpon hir euermo But naþeles by writyng to and fro And priue signes wist he what sche ment/ And sche knew eek þe fyn of his entent ¶ O Ianuary what might it þe auaile If þou might see. as fer as schippes saile For as good is. blynd deceyued be / As to be deceyued whan a man may see Lo argus which þat had an hundred eyen For al þat euer he couþe poure or prien Ȝet was he blent as god wot so ben moo That weneth wisly þat it be nought so Passe ouer is an ease I say no more This freissche may þat I spak of so ȝore In warm wex hath emprynted þe cliket That Ianuary bar of þe smale wiket/ with which in to his gardyn ofte he went And damyan þat knew al his entent The cliket counterfeted priuely Ther nys no more to say but hastily Som wonder by þis cliket schal betyde which ȝe schal heeren if ȝe wol abyde ¶ O noble Ouyde wel soth saistow god woot what sleight is it/ þough it be long & hoot That he nyl fynd it out in som manere By Piramus and Thesbe may men leere Though þay were kept ful longe streyt ouer al Thay ben accorded rownyng þurgh a wal Ther no wight couþe han found out swich a sleight But now to purpos er þat dayes eyght; were passid. er þe moneth of Iuyl bifille That Ianuary haþ caught so gret a wille Thorugh eggyng of his wyf him for to pleye In his gardyn and no wight but we tweye That in a morwe vnto þis may saith he / Rys vp my wif . my loue . my lady fre / The turtlis vois . is herd my douue swete The wynter is goon . with his raynes wete Come forth now with . þin eyȝen columbine how fairer ben þy brestes þan is þe wyne The gardyn is enclosed al aboute Com forth my swete spouse out of doute Thow hast me wounded in myn hert .o. wyf No spot of þe knew I in al my lif / Com forth and let vs / take oure desport / I ches þe for my wyf and my comfort Such olde lewed wordes vsed he / On damyan a signe made sche That he schuld go . biforn with his cliket This damyan þan haþ opened þe wiket And in he stert and þat in such manere / That no wight . it mighte see nor heere And stille he seet vnder a bussch anoon This Ianuary is blynd as is a stoon with Mayus in his hond and no wight mo In to his freische gardyn is ago And clappid to þe wiket sodeinly Now wyf quod he her nys but ȝe and I þat art þe creature þat I best loue For by þat lord þat sit in heuen aboue leuer ich had to dyen on a knyf Than þe offende deere trewe wyf For goddes sake þenk how I þe chees Nought for no coueytise douteles But oonly for þe loue I had to þe And þough þat I be old and may not se Beeth trewe to me and I wol telle ȝow why Thre þinges certes schul ȝe wynne þer by First loue of crist and to ȝour self honour And al myn heritage toun and tour I ȝiue it ȝow makith chartres as ȝow leste This schal ben doon to morw er sonne reste So wisly god my soule bringe in blisse I pray ȝow first in couenaunt ȝe me kisse And þough þat I be ialous wyt me nought Ȝe ben so deep emprinted in my þought Þat whan þat I considre ȝour beaute And þer wiþ al þe vnlikly eelde of me I may nought certes þough I schulde dye Forbere to ben out of ȝour companye For verray loue þis is wiþouten doute Now kisse me wyf and let vs Rome aboute This freissche may whan sche his worde herde Benignely to Ianuary answerde / But first and forward sche bigan to wepe I haue quod sche a soule for to kepe As wel as ȝe and also myn honour And of my wifhod þilke tendre flour which þat I haue ensured in ȝour hond whan þat þe prest to ȝow my body bond wherfor I wil answer in þis manere By þe leue of ȝow my lord so deere I pray to god þat neuer dawe þe day That I ne sterue as foule as womman may If euer I do to my kyn þat schame Or elles I empaire so my name That I be fals and if I do þat lak Doth strepe me and put me in a sak And in þe nexte ryuer do me drenche I am a gentil womman and no wenche why speke ȝe thus . but men ben euer vntrewe And wommen han reproef of ȝow euer newe Ȝe haue noon oþer contenaunce I leue / But speke to vs of vntrust and repreue And with þat word sche saugh wher damyan Sat in þe buissh and coughen sche bigan And wiþ hir fyngres signes made sche That damyan schuld clymb vpon a trenota That charged was with fruyt/ and vp he went/ For verrayly he knew al hir entent And euery signe þat sche couthe make wel bet þan Ianuary hir oughne make For in a letter sche had told him al Of þis matier how he worche shal And þus I lete him sitte vpon þe pirie And Ianuary and may romynge mirye ¶ Bright was þe day and bliew þe firmament Phebus haþ of gold his stremes doun I-sent To gladen euery flour with his warmnesse he was þat tyme in gemmes as I gesse But litel fro his declinacioun Of Caker . Ioues exaltacioun And so bifel þat brighte morwen tyde That in þat gardyn in þe ferther syde / Pluto that is kyng of fayerye And many a lady in his compaignie Folwyng his wif þe queene preserpine Ech after oþer . as right as a lyne whil þat sche gadred floures in þe mede In claudian ȝe may þe story rede how in þis grisly carte he hir fette This king of fayry þan adoun him sette / vpon a bench of turues freissh and greene And right anoon þus sayd he to his queene / ¶ My wyf quod he þer may no wight say nay Thexperiens so preueth euery day The tresoun which þat womman doth to man Ten hundrid þousand . tellen I can Notable of ȝour vntrouth and brutelnesse O . Salamon wys and richest of richesse / Fulfild of Sapiens . and of worldly glorie / Ful worþy ben þy wordes to memorie To euery wight þat wit and resoun can Thus praysith he ȝit þe bounte of man Among a þousand men ȝit fond I oon But of wommen alle fond I noon Thus saith þe king þat knoweth ȝour wikkednesse And Ihc filius Sirac / as I gesse / Ne spekith of ȝow but selde reuerence A. wilde fuyr and corrupt pestilence So falle vpon ȝour bodies ȝit to night Ne se ȝe not þis honurable knight By cause allas þat he is blynd and old his owne man schal make him cokewold loo wher he sitt . þe lecchour in þe tre Now wol I graunten of my maieste / Unto þis olde blinde worþy knight Þat he schal haue aȝein his eyȝen sight whan þat his wyf wol do him vilonye Than schal he knowe al her harlotrye Boþe in reproef of her and oþer mo Ȝe schal quod preserpine and wol ȝe so Now by my modres sires soule I swere That I schal ȝiue hir suffisaunt answere / And alle wommen after for hir sake That þough þay be in any gult I-take with face bold þay schul hemself excuse And bere hem doun þat wolde hem accuse For lak/ of answer noon of hem schal dyen Al had a man seyn a þing wiþ boþe his yen Ȝit schul we wymmen visage it hardily And wepe and swere and chide subtilly So þat ȝe men schul ben as lewed as gees what rekkith me of/ ȝour auctoritees I wot wel þat þis Iew þis Salamon Fond of vs wommen fooles many oon But þough he ne fond no good womman Ȝet haþ þer founde many anoþer man wommen ful trewe . ful good and vertuous witnesse on hem þat duelle in cristes hous with martirdom þay proued her constaunce The romayn gestes eek make remembraunce Of many a verray trewe wyf also · But sire be nought wrath al be it so Though þat he sayd he fond no good womman I pray ȝow tak þe sentens of þe man he mente þus þat in souereign bounte Nis noon but god þat sit in trinite Ey for verrey god þat nys but oon what make ȝe so moche of Salamon what þough he made a temple goddes hous what þough he were riche and glorious So made he eek a temple of fals godis How might he do a þing þat more forbod is Par de als fair as ȝe his name emplastre he was a lecchour and an ydolastre And in his eelde he verraily god forsook And if god ne had as saiþ þe book I-spared him for his fadres sake he scholde Haue left his regne raþer þan he wolde I sette right nought of þe vilonye That ȝe of wommen write a boterflie I am a womman needes most I speke Or elles swelle til myn herte breke For syn sche sayd þat we ben iangleresses As euer hool I moote brouke my tresses I schal not spare for no curtesye / To speke him harm þat wold vs vilonye Dame quod þis pluto be no lenger wroth I ȝiue it vp but/ sith I swere myn oth That I wil graunte him his sight agein My word schal stonde I warne ȝow certeyn I am a kyng it sit me nought to lye And I quod sche a queen of faierie hir answer schal sche haue I vndertake Let vs no mo wordes her-of make For soth I wol no lenger ȝow contrarie ∵ Now let vs turne agayn to Ianuarye That in þis gardyn with þis faire may Syngeþ ful merier þan þe papiniay Ȝow loue I best and schal and oþer noon So long about þe aleys is he goon Til he was come agaynes þilke pirie wher as þis damyan sittith ful mirye On heigh among þe freische leeuys greene This freissche may þat is so bright and scheene Gan for to syke and sayd allas my syde Now sir quod sche for ought þat may bityde I most han of þe peres þat I see Or I moot dye so sore longith me To eten of þe smale peris greene Help for hir loue þat is of heuen queene I telle ȝow wel a womman in my plyt May haue to fruyt so gret an appetyt Þat sche may deyen . but sche it haue Allas quod he þat I nad heer a knaue That couthe clymbe allas allas quod he For I am blynd . ȝe sire no fors quod sche But wolde ȝe vouche sauf for goddes sake The piry inwith ȝour armes for to take For wel I woot þat ȝe mys-truste me Than schold I clymbe wel y-nough quod sche So I my foot might set vpon ȝour bak Certes quod he þer on schal be no lak Might I ȝow helpe wiþ myn herte blood he stoupith doun and on his bak sche stood And caught hir by a twist and vp sche goth ladys I pray ȝow þat ȝe be not wroþ I can not glose I am a rude man And sodeinly anoon þis damyan Gan pullen vp þe smok and in he throng And whan þat pluto /saugh þis grete wrong To Ianuary he ȝaf his sight agayn . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. Ne was þer neuer man of þing so fayn But on his wif his þought was euermo Vp to þe tree he kest his eyȝen tuo / And seigh þat damyan his wyf had dressid In which maner it may not ben expressid But if I wolde speke vncurteisly And vp he ȝaf a roryng and a cry As doth þe moder whan þe child schal dye Out. help. allas. harrow. he gan to crie O stronge lady stoure what dos þow And sche answerith sire what eylith ȝow haue paciens and resoun in ȝour mynde I haue ȝow holpen on boþe ȝour eyen blynde vp peril of my soule I schal not lyen As me was taught to hele with ȝour yen was noþing bet. for to make ȝow see Than stroggle wiþ a man vpon a tree God woot I dede it in ful good entent Stroggle quod he; ȝe algat in it went God ȝiue ȝow boþe on schames deth to dyen He swyued þe. I saugh it wiþ myn yen And elles be I honged by þe hals Than is quod sche medicine fals For certeynly if þat ȝe mighten see Ȝe wold not say tho wordes vnto me Ȝe han som glymsyng and no parfyt sight I se quod he as wel as euer I might Thankid be god wiþ boþe myn yen tuo And by my trouth me þought he did þe so Ȝe. mase. mase. goode sire quod sche This þank haue I for I haue maad ȝow see Allas quod sche þat euer I was so kynde Now dame quod he let al passe out of mynde Com doun my leef and if I haue myssayd God help me so as I am euel appayd But by my fader soule I wende haue seyn how þat þis damyan had by þe leyn And þat þy smok had layn vpon þy brest Ȝe sire quod sche ȝe may wene as ȝow lest/ But sire a man þat wakith out of his slep He may not sodeynly wel take keep vpon a þing ne seen it parfytly Til þat he be adawed verrayly Right so a man þat long haþ blynd I-be Ne may not sodeynly so wel I-se First whan þe sight is newe comen agayn As he þat haþ a day or tuo I-sayn Til þat ȝour sight y-stablid be a while Þer may ful many a sighte ȝow bigile Beþ war I pray ȝow for by heuen king Ful many man wenith for to se a þing And it is al anoþer þan it/ semeth he þat mys conceyueth he mys demeth And wiþ þat word sche leep doun fro þe tre This Ianuary who is glad but he he kissith hir and clippith hir ful ofte And on hir wombe he strokith hir ful ofte And to his paleys hom he hath hir lad Now goode men I pray ȝow to be glad Thus endith her my tale of Ianuarye God blesse vs and his moder seinte marie / AmeN. ¶ Here endith the marchauntes tale[Small break in MS.] Ey goddes mercy sayd our hoste þo Now such a wyf I pray god keep me fro lo whiche sleightes and subtilitees In wommen ben for ay as busy as bees Ben þay vs seely men for to desceyue And from a soth. euer wol þay weyue By this marchaundes tale it proueth wel But douteles as trewe as eny steel I haue a wyf þough þat sche pore be But of hir tonge a labbyng schrewe is sche And ȝit sche hath an heep of vices mo Ther-of no fors let alle such þinges go But wite ȝe what in counseil be it seyd Me rewith sore I am vnto hir teyd And if I scholde reken euery vice which þat sche hath I-wis I were to nyce And cause why. it schuld reported be And told to hir of som of þis meyne Of whom it needith not for to declare Syn wommen connen oute such chaffare And eek my witte suffisith nought þerto To tellen al wherfor my tale is do[No gap in the MS.] GROUP F. FRAGMENT VII. § 1. THE SQUIRE'S HEAD-LINK. HARLEIAN MS. 7334 (British Museum). ¶ Sir Squier com forþ . if þat ȝour wille be And say vs a tale for certes ȝe Connen þer-on as moche as ony man ¶ Nay sire quod he . but I wil say as I can wiþ herty wil . for I wil not rebelle Against ȝour wille . a tale wil I telle Haue me excused if þat I speke amys My wil is good . and þerto my tale is this. ¶ Her endith þe prologe[No break in the MS.] ¶ And her bygynneth þe Squyeres tale AT Sarray in þe lond of Tartary Ther dwelled a kyng þat werryed russy Thurgh which þer deyed many a doughty man This nobil kyng was cleped Cambynskan which in his tyme was of so gret renoun That þer nas nowher in no regioun So excellent a lord in alle þing / Him lakked nought þat longed to a kyng As of þe secte of which þat he was born he kept his lawe . to which he was sworn And þerto he was hardy wys and riche / And pitous and Iust alway yliche Soth of his word benign and honurable Of his corage as eny centre stable Ȝong freisch and strong in armes desirous As eny bachiler of al his hous A fair person he was and fortunat And kepte so wel his real astat That þer was no wher such a ryal man This noble kyng þis tartre þis Cambynskan hadde tuo sones by Elcheta his wyf Of which þe eldest/ highte Algaryf That oþer was I-cleped Samballo A doughter had þis worthi king also That ȝongest was and highte Canace But for to telle ȝou al hir beaute It lith not on my tong ne my connyng I dar nouȝt vndertake so heigh a þing Myn englissh eek is insufficient he moste be a Rethor excellent That couþ his colours longyng for þat art If he schold hir discryue in eny part I am non such I mot speke as I can And so bifel it þat þis Cambynskan haþ twenty wynter born his dyademe As he was wont fro ȝer to ȝer I deme he leet þe fest of his natiuite: Don cryen þurgh Sarray his Cite The last Idus of march after þe ȝeer Phebus þe sonne was Ioly and cleer For he was neigh his exaltacioun In marcȝ face and in his mansioun In aries þe colerik þe hote signe Ful lusty was the wedir and benigne For which þe foules aȝein þe sonne scheene what for þe sesoun & for þe ȝonge greene Ful lowde song in here affecciouns hem semed haue geten hem protecciouns Aȝens þe swerd of wynter kene and cold This Cambynskan of which I haue told In royal vesture sittyng on his deys with dyadem ful heigh in his paleys And held his fest . solempne and so riche That in þis worlde was þer noon it liche Of which if I schal tellen al þarray Than wold it occupie a someres day And eek it neediþ nouȝt for to deuyse At euery cours þe ordre and þe seruyse I wol nat tellen of her straunge sewes Ne of her swannes ne here heroun-sewes Ek in þat lond as tellen knightes olde Ther is som mete þat is ful deynte holde That in þis lond men recch of it but smal Ther is no man it may reporten al I wol not tarien ȝou for it is pryme And for it is no fruyt but los of tyme vnto my purpos. I wol haue my recours That so bifelle after þe þridde cours whil þat þe kyng sit þus in his nobleye herkyng his mynstrales her þinges pleye Byforn him atte boord deliciously In atte halle dore al sodeynly Ther com a knight vpon a steed of bras And in his hond a brod myrour of glas Vpon his thomb he had of gold a ryng And by his side a naked swerd hangyng And vp he rideth to þe heyghe bord In al þe halle ne was þer spoke a word For meruayl of þis knight him to byholde Ful besily þey wayten ȝong and olde This straunge knight þat cam þus sodeynly Al armed sauf his heed ful richely; Salued the kyng and queen and lordes alle By ordre as þey seten in to halle / with so heigh reuerens and obseruaunce As wel in speche as in contynaunce / That Ewen with his olde curtesye They he come aȝein out of fayrye Ne couþe him nouȝt amende wiþ no word And after þis biforn þe highe bord he with a manly vois sayd his message After þe forme vsed in his langage wiþouten vice of sillabil or letter And for his tale schulde seme þe better Accordaunt to his wordes was his cheere As techeth art of speche hem þat it leere Al be it þat I can nat sowne his style Ne can nat clymben ouer so heigh a style / Ȝit say I þis as to comun entent Thus moche amounteth al þat euer he ment If it so be þat I haue it in mynde / ¶ he sayd þe kyng of Arraby and yynde My liege lord on þis solempne day Saluteth ȝou as he best can or may he sendeth ȝou in honour of ȝour feste By me þat am redy at al his heste This steede of bras þat esily and wel That can in the space of o day naturel This is to say in four an twenty houres wher-so ȝou lust / in droughþe or in schoures Beren ȝour body in to euery place To which ȝour herte wilneþ for to pace wiþouten wem of ȝou þurgh foul and fair Or if ȝou lust to flee as heiȝ in þair As doþ an egle whan him list to sore This same steede schal bere ȝou euermore / wiþoute harm til ȝe be þer ȝou leste Though þat ȝe slepen on his bak or reste And torne aȝein with wryþing of a pyn he þat it wrought cowþe ful many a gyn he wayted many a constellacioun Er he had do þis operacioun And knew ful many a seal and many a bond ¶ This mirour eek þat I haue in myn hond haþ such a mighte / þat men may in it see when þer schal falle eny aduersite Vnto ȝour regne vnto ȝour self also And openly who is ȝour frend or fo And ouer al þis if eny lady bright hath set hir hert on eny maner wight If he be fals sche schal his tresoun see his newe loue and his subtilite So openly þat þer schal noþing hyde wherfor aȝeins þis lusty somer tyde This mirour and þis ryng þat ȝe may see he haþ send to my lady Canacee Ȝour excellente doughter þat is heere ¶ The vertu of þis ryng and ȝe wol heere; Is þis / þat who . so lust it for to were vpon hir thomb / or in hir purs to bere Ther is no foul / þat fleeth vnder þe heuen That schal vnderstonden his steuen. And know his menyng openly and pleyn and answer him in his langage aȝeyn And euery gras . þat groweþ vpon roote Sche schal eek know / to whom it wol do boote Al be his woundes neuer so deep and wyde ¶ This naked swerd þat hangeþ by my syde Such vertu hath þat what man þat it smyte Thurghout his armur it wol kerue and byte were it as þikke as a braunched ook And what man is I-wounded with þe strook Schal neuer be hool / til þat ȝou lust of grace To strok him wiþ þe plat in þilke place; Ther he is hurt . þis is as moche to seyn Ȝe moote with þe platte swerd aȝein Stroke him in þe wound and it wol close / This is þe verray soth wiþouten glose / It failleth nought whil it is in ȝour hold And whan þis knight þus had his tale told he rit out of þe halle and doun he light his steede which þat schon as sonne bright Stant in þe court as stille as eny stoon This knight is to his chambre lad anoon he is vnarmed and to mete I-sett This presentȝ ben ful richely I-fett This is to sayn, the swerd and the myrrour And born anon vnto þe highe tour with certein officers ordeynd þerfore And vnto Canace þe ryng is bore; Solempnely ther sche syt atte table But sikerly wiþouten eny fable The hors of bras þat may nat be remewed It stant as it were to the ground I-glewed Ther may no man out of þe place it dryue For noon engyn of wyndyng or polyue· And cause why for þey can nouȝt þe craft And þerfor in the place þei haue it laft Til þat þe knight haþ taught hem þe manere To voyden him as ȝe schul after heere Greet was þe pres þat swarmed to and fro To gauren on þis hors þat stondeth so For it so wyd was and so brod and long So wel proporcioned to be strong Right as it were a steed of lumbardye Ther-to so horsly and so quyk of ye As it a gentil poyleys courser were For certes fro his tayl vnto his eere Nature ne art ne couþe him nouȝt amende In no degre as al þe poeple wende But euermore her moste wonder was How þat it couþe goon and was of bras It was of fayry as þe poeple semed Diuerse peple . diuersly þey demed As many hedes as many wittes been They murmured as doþ a swarm of been And made skiles after her fantasies Rehersyng of þe olde poetries And seyden it was I-like þe pagase .i. equus pegaseus The hors þat hadde wynges for to fle / Or elles it was þe grekissch hors Synon That broughte troye to destruccioun As men may in þe olde gestes rede / Myn hert quod oon is euermor in drede I trow som men of armes ben þerinne That schapen hem þis cite for to wynne It were good / þat such þing were knowe / Anoþer rowned to his felaw lowe / And sayde it lyth for it is raþer lik An apparence maad by som magik As Iogelours pleyen at þis festes grete Of sondry þoughtes þus þey Iangle and trete As lewed peple demeth comunly Of þinges þat ben maad more subtily Than þey can in her lewednes comprehende They deemen gladly to the badder ende And som of hem wondred of þe mirrour That born was vp in to þe maister tour How men might in hit suche þinges se Anoþer answerd and sayd it might wel be Naturelly by composiciouns Of angels and of heigh reflexiouns And sayde þat in Rome was such oon They speeke of al-ceyt and Vitilyon Of aristotle / þat writen in her lyues Of queynte myrrours and prospectyues As knowen þey þat han her bokes herd And oþer folk haue wondred on þe swerd That wolde passe þorughout euery þing And fel in speche of Thelophus þe kyng And of achilles for his queynte spere For he couþe with hit boþe hele and dere Right in such wyse as men may wiþ þe swerd Of which right now ȝe haue ȝour seluen herd They speeken of sondry hardyng of metal And speken of medicines þer wiþ al And how and whan it schulde harded be / which is vnknowe / algat vnto me / Tho speeken þey of Canacees ryng And seyden alle / þat such a wonder þing Of craft of rynges herd þey neuer noon Sauf þat he moyses and kyng Salamon Had a name of connyng in such art Thus seyen þe peple on euery part But naþeles som seiden þat it was / wonder þing to make of ferne glas / And ȝit is glas nouȝt like aisschen of ferne But for þey han I-knowen it so ferne Therfor cesseth her ianglyng and her wonder And sore wondred som of cause of þonder On ebbe and flood on gossomer and on myst And on alle þing til þat þe cause is wist Thus Ianglen þey and demen and deuyse Til þat þe kyng gan fro his bord arise Phebus hath lost þe angel merydyonal And ȝit/ ascendyng was a best roial The gentil lyoun wiþ his adryan whan þat þis gentil kyng þis Cambynskan Ros fro his bord þer as he sat ful hye Biforn him goth ful lowde menstralcye Til he cam to his chambre of Parementȝ Ther as þer were diuers instrumentȝ That is y-like an heuen for to heere ¶ Now dauncen lusty Venus children deere For in þe fissch. her lady sat ful heyȝe And lokeþ on hem with a frendly eyȝe / This noble kyng is set vpon his trone / This straunge knight is fet to him ful sone And in the daunce he gan with Canace / her is þe reuel and þe iolyte That is not able a dul man to deuyse he most haue knowe loue and his seruise / And ben a festly man as freisch as may That schulde ȝou deuyse such array who couthe telle ȝou þe forme of daunce; So vncouth and such a freisch countinaunce Such subtil lokyng of dissimilynges For drede of Ialous folk apparceyuynges No man but launcelet and he is deed Therfore I passe ouer al þis lustyheed A say no more but in þis Iolynesse / I lete hem til men to soper hem dresse The styward byt þe spices for to hye And eek þe wyn in al þis melodye Thes vsschers and þes squyers ben agon The spices and þe wyn is come anoon They eet and drank and whan þis had an ende / vnto þe temple as resoun was þey wende / The seruise doon þey and soupen al by day what needeth ȝou to rehersen her array Ech man wot wel þat a kynges feste hath plente to þe lest and to the meste And deyntees mo þan ben in my knowyng And after souper goþ þis noble kyng To see þis hors of bras wiþ al his route Of lordes and of ladyes al aboute / Swich wondryng was þer on þis hors of bras That seth þis grete siege of troye was / Ther as men wondred on an hors also Ne was þer such a wondryng as was þo But fynally þe kyng asked þe knight The vertu of þis courser and þe might And prayd him tellen of his gouernaunce The hors anoon gan for to trippe and daunce whan þe knight leyd hand vpon his rayne And sayde sir þer is nomore to sayne But whan ȝou lust to ryde any where / ȝe moote trille a pyn stant in his ere which I schal telle ȝou bitwen vs two ȝe moste nempne him to what place also Or what countre ȝou luste for to ryde And whan ȝe come þer ȝou lust abyde Bid him descende and trille anoþer pynne For þer in lith þe fet of al þe gynne / And he wol doun descend and do ȝour wille And in þat place he wol abyde stille Though al þe world had þe contrary swore he schal nat thennes be I-þrowe ne bore Or if ȝou lust to bid him þennes goon Trille þis pyn and he wol vanyssh anoon Out of þe sight of euery maner wight And come aȝein . be it by day or night whan þat ȝou lust to clepen him aȝayn In such a gyse as I schal ȝow sayn Bitwixe ȝou and me and þerfor soone Byd whan ȝou lust þer nys nomor to doone Enformed when þe kyng was of þe knight And had conceyued in his wit aright The maner of þe forme and al þis þing Ful glad and blith þis noble doughty kyng Repeyryng to his reuel as biforn The bridel is vnto þe tour I-born And kept among his Iewels leef and deere The hors vanyscht I not in what manere Out of her sight ȝe get nomore of me But þus I lete him in his iolite This Cambinskan his lordes festeyng Til wel neigh þe day bigan to spryng Explicit prima pars //[No break in the MS.] Incipit secunda pars The norice of digestioun þe sleep Gan to him wynk and bad of him take keep That merthe and labour wol haue his reste with a galpyng mouth he him keste And sayd þat it was tyme to lye doun For blood was in his dominacioun Cherischeþ natures þanne quod he They þankyn him galpyng by two and þre And euery wight gan drawe him to his rest As sleep hem bad þey took it for þe best/ here dremes schul not now be told for me Ful were here heedes of fumosite That causeþ drem of which þer is no charge / They slepen til it was prime large / The moste part but it were Canace Sche was ful mesurable as wommen be For of hir fader haþ sche take hir leue To go to reste soon after it was eue / hir luste not appalled for to be Ne on þe morwe vnfestly for to se / And kept hir firste sleep and þan awook For such a Ioye sche in herte took Boþe of hir queynte ryng and hir myrrour That twenty tyme chaunged hire colour And in hire sleep right for impressioun Of hir myrrour sche had a visioun wher-for er þat þe sonne vp gan glyde / Sche cleped vpon her maistresse beside / And sayde þat hire luste for to ryse These olde wommen þat ben gladly wise As is here maystresse answered hir anoon And sayd madame whider wold ȝe goon Thus erly for folk ben alle in reste / I wil quod sche aryse for me leste No lenger for to slepe and walke aboute hir maistres clepeth wommen a gret route / And vp þey risen a ten oþer a twelue vp ryseþ fresshe Canace hir selue As rody and bright as is þe ȝonge sonne That in þe Ram is ten degrees I-ronne Non heiher was he[first, 'sche'] whan sche redy was And forth sche walked esily a pas Arayed after þe lusty sesoun soote lightly for to play and walke on foote Nought but wiþ fyue or six of hir meyne And a trench fer in þe park goþ sche / The vapour which þat of þe erthe glod Makeþ þe sonne seme rody and sot But naþeles it was so fair a sight That it made alle here hertes for to light what for þe sesoun what for þe mornyng And for þe foules þat sche herde syng For right anoon sche wiste what þey ment Right by here song and knew al here entent / ¶ The knotte why þat euery tale is told If that it be taryed til lust be cold Of hem þat han hit after herkned ȝore The sauour passeth euer lenger þe more For fulsomnes of þe prolixite And by þis same resoun thinketh me I schulde to þe knotte condescende / And make of hir walkynge sone an ende· A-myddes a tree for-druye as whit as chalk As Canace was pleyyng in hir walk There sat a faukoun ouer hir heed ful hye Þat with a pitous vois bigan to crye I-beten hadde sche hir self so pitously That al the woode resowned of hire cry wiþ boþe hir wynges to þe reede blood Ran endelong þe tree þer as sche stood And euer in oon sche cried and schryght And wiþ hir bek hir selue so sche pight That þer nys tigre non ne cruel beste That dwelleþ eyþer in wood or in foreste That nold han wept if þat he cowde For sorw of hir sche schright alwey so lowde For þer nas neuer ȝit no man on lyue If that he couþe a faukoun discriue That herd of such anoþer of fairnesse As wel of plumage as of gentillesse Of schap of al þat might I-rekened be A faukoun peregryn þan semed sche Of fremde lond and euer as sche stood Sche swowned now and now for lak of blood Til wel neigh sche falleþ fro þe tre This faire kynges doughter Canace That on hir fynger bar þe queynte ryng Thurgh which sche vnderstood wel euery þing That eny foul may in his lydne sayn And couþe answer him in his lydne agayn haþ vnderstonde what þe faukoun seyde And wel neigh almost for rewthe sche deyde And to þe tree sche goth ful hastily And on þis faukoun lokeþ pitously And held hir lappe a-brod for wel sche wist The faukoun moste falle fro þe twist whan þat it swowned next for lak of blood A long while to wayten hir sche stood Til atte last sche spak in þis manere Vnto þe hauk as ȝe schul after heere ¶ what is þe cause if it be for to telle That ȝe ben in þat furyall peyne of helle Quod Canace vnto þis hauk aboue Is þis for sorwe of deth or elles loue For as I trowe þis ben causes tuo That causen most a gentil herte wo Of oþer harm it needeþ nouȝt to speke For ȝe ȝour self vpon ȝour self awreke which þat preueþ wel þat either Ire or drede Mote ben enchesoun of ȝour cruel dede Sith þat I see noon oþer wight ȝou chace For loue of god so doþ ȝour selue grace Or what ben ȝour helpe for west ner Este Ne saugh I neuer er now no bryd ne beste That ferde with himself so pitously Ȝe sle me with ȝour sorwe so verrily I haue of ȝou so gret compassioun For goddes loue com fro þe tree a doun And as I am a kynges doughter trewe If þat I verrayly þe cause knewe Of ȝour disese if it lay in my might I wold amenden it if þat I might Als wisly help me grete god of kynde And herbes schal I right ynowe fynde To helen with ȝour hurtes hastyly Tho schright þis faukoun more pitously Than euer sche did and fil to ground anoon And lay a-swowne deed as eny stoon Til Canace hath in hir lap y-take vnto þat tyme sche gan of swowne slake / And after þat sche gan of swown abreyde Right in hir haukes lydne thus sche seyde That pite renneth sone in gentil hert Felyng his similitude in peynes smerte Is proued alday as men may see As wel by werk as by auctorite For gentil herte kepeth gentillesse / I see wel þat ȝe haue on my distresse Compassioun my faire Canace Of verray wommanly benignite / That nature in ȝour principles haþ set But noon hope for to fare þe bet But for to obeye vnto ȝour herte fre And for to make othere war by me As by þe whelp chastised is þe lyoun And for þat cause and þat conclusioun whiles þat I haue a leyser and a space Myn harm I wil confessen er I pace And whil sche euer of hir sorwe tolde That oþer wept as sche to water wolde / Til þat þe faucoun bad hir to be stille / And with a sighhe / þus sche sayd hir tille ¶ Ther I was allas þat ilke day And fostred in a Roch of marble gray So tendrely that noþing eyled me / I wiste not / what was aduersite Til I couþe flee ful heigh vnder þe sky Tho dwelled a tercelet me faste by That semed welle of alle gentillesse Al were he ful of tresoun and falsnesse It was I-wrapped vnder humble cheere And vnder heewe of trouþe in such manere Vnder plesaunce and vnder besy peyne That no wight wende þat he couþe feyne So deep in greyn he deyed his colours Right as a serpent hut him vnder floures Til he may see his tyme for to byte Right so þis god of loue, þis ypocrite Doþ so his sermonys and his obseruaunce/ vnder subtil colour and aqueyntaunce That sowneth vnto gentilesse of loue As in a thombe is al þe faire aboue And vnder is þe corps whiche þat ȝe wot Such as was þis Ipocrite boþe cold and hot And in this wise he serued his entent That sauf þe feend noon wiste what he ment Til he so long had weped and compleyned And many a ȝeer his seruice to me feyned Til þat myn hert to pitous and to nyce Al Innocent of his crouned malice For-fered of his deth as þoughte me vpon his othes and his sewerte Graunted him loue vpon þis condicioun That euermo myn honour and my renoun were saued boþe pryuy and apert This is to sayn þat after his desert I ȝaf him al myn hert and al my þought god woot and he þat oþer weye nought And took his hert in chaunge of myn for ay But soþ is sayd go siþens many a day A trew wight and a theef þenketh nouȝt oon And when he saugh þe þyng so fer I-goon That I graunted him fully my loue / In such a wyse as I haue sayd aboue / And ȝeuen him my trewe hert as fre As he swor he ȝaf his herte to me / Anon þis Tigre ful of doublenesse Fil on his knees with so gret deuoutenesse wiþ high reuerence and as by his chere So lyk a gentil louer of manere So rauysched as it semede for Ioye That neuer Iason ne Parys of Troye Iason certes ne noon oþer man Siþ lameth was þat alþer first bygan To louen two as writen folk biforn Ne neuer siþ þe firste man was born Ne couþe man by twenty þousand part Contrefete þe sophemes of his art Ne were worþy to vnbokel his galoche Ther doublenes of feynyng schold approche Ne so couþe þankyn a knight as he did me His maner was an heuen for to see To eny womman were sche neuer so wys So peynteth he and kembeth poynt deuys As wel his wordes as his continaunce And I so loued him for his obeisaunce And for þe trouthe I demed in his herte That if so were þat eny þing him smerte And were it neuer so litel and I it wist Me þought I felte deth at myn hert twist And schortly so ferforth þis þing went That my wil was his willes instrument This is to say my wille obeied his wille In alle þing as fer as resoun fille kepyng þe boundes of my worschip euer Ne neuer had I þing so leef ne leuer As him god woot ne neuer schal nomo This laste lenger þan a ȝeer or two That I supposed of him nought but good But fynally atte laste þus it stood That fortune wolde þat he moste twynne Out of þe place which þat I was Inne wher me was wo it is no questioun / I can nat make of it descripcioun For o þing dar I telle boldely I know what is þe peyne of deth þerby which harm I felt for he ne mighte byleue So on a day of me he took his leue So sorwful eek þat I went verrayly That he had feled als moche as I whan þat I herd him speke and saugh his hewe But naþeles I þought he was vntrewe And eek þat he schulde repeire aȝeyn wiþinne a litel while soþ to seyn And resoun wold eek þat he moste go: for his honour Wher-for I wold not ben ayein his honour[spurious] Than I made vertu of necessite And took it wel seþens it moste be As I best might I had for him my sorwe And took him by þe hand seint Iohn to borwe And sayde þus / lo I am ȝour al Beþ such as I haue be to ȝou and schal what he answerd it needeþ nat to reherse who can best say þan he, who can do werse // whan he haþ al wel sayd þan haþ he doon Therfor bihoueþ him a ful long spoon That schal ete wiþ a feend þus herd I say So atte last he moste forþ his way And forth he fleeth til he cam þer him leste whan it cam him to purpos for to reste I trow he hadde þilke text in mynde That alle þing repeyryng to his kynde Gladeþ himself þus sey men as I gesse Men louen of kynde newefangilnesse As briddes doon þat men in cage feede For þeigh þou night and day take of hem heede And straw her cage faire and soft as silk And ȝeue hem sugre hony breed and mylk Ȝet right anoon as his dore is vppe he with his feet wil sporne doun his cuppe And to þe wode[Eight leaves are here missing from the MS.]

[Brit. Mus. Harl. 7334 begins again, leaf 157.]

 lasse þan a þousand pound he wolde nought haue Ne gladly for þat somme he wolde not goon Aurilius wiþ blisful hert anoon Answerde þus. fy on a þousand pound This wyde world which þat men say is round I wold it ȝiue if I were lord of it/ This bargeyn is ful dryue for we ben knyt Ȝe schal be payed trewly by my trouþe / But lokeþ now for necligence or slouþe Ȝe tarie vs heer no lenger þan to morwe / Nay quod þis clerk haue her my faith to borwe To bed is goon aurilius whan him leste And wel neigh al night he had his reste what for his labour and his hope of blisse His woful hert of penaunce had a lisse / vpon þe morwe whan þat it was day To breteigne take þei þe righte way Aurilius and þis magicien bisyde And ben descendid þer þay wol abyde And þis was as þese bookes me remembre The colde frosty seisoun of Decembre Phebus wax old and hewed lyk latoun That in his hoote declinacioun Schon as þe burned gold with stremes bright But now in Capricorn a-doun he light wher as he schon ful pale I dar wel sayn The bitter frostes with þe sleet and rayn Destroyed haþ þe grene in euery ȝerd Ianus sit by þe fuyr wiþ double berd And drynkeþ of his bugle horn þe wyn Biforn him stont þe braun of toskid swyn And Nowel crieþ euery lusty man Aurilius in al þat euer he can Doþ to his maister chier and reuerence And peyneþ him to doon his diligence To bringen him out of his peynes smerte Or wiþ a swerd þat he wold slytte his herte This subtil clerk such rouþe had of þis man That night and day he spedeþ him þat he can To wayte a tyme of his conclusioun This is to say to make Illusioun By such an apparence of iogelrie I can no termes of astrologie That sche and euery wight schold wene and saye That of Breteygn þe rokkes were a waye Or elles þey sonken were vnder þe grounde So atte last he haþ a tyme I-founde To make his iapes and his wrecchednesse / Of such a supersticious cursednesse / His tables tollitanes forþ he brought Ful wel corrected ne þer lakked nought Neiþer his collect ne his expans yeeres Ne his rootes ne his oþer geeres / As ben his centris & his argumentis And his proporcionels conuenientis For her equaciouns in euery þing / And by his þre speeres in his worching he knew ful wel how fer alluath was schoue For þe heed of þilk fixe aries aboue That in þe fourþe speere considred is Ful subtilly he calkild al þis whan he had founde his firste mancioun He knew þe remenaunt by proporcioun And knew þe arisyng of þis moone wel And in whos face and terme and euery del And knew ful wel þe moones mancioun Acordaunt to his operacioun And knew also his other obseruaunces For suche illusiouns and suche meschaunces As hethen folk vsed in þilke dayes For which no lenger maked he delayes But þurgh his magik for a wike or tweye It semed þat þe rokkes were aweye Aurilius which ȝet dispayred is wher he schal haue his loue or fare amys Awayteþ night and day on þis miracle And whan he knew þat þer was noon obstacle That voyded were þese rokkes euerich oon Doun to his maistres feet he fel anoon And sayd I wrecched woful aurilius Thanke ȝou lord and my lady Venus That me han holpe fro my cares colde / And to þe temple his way forþ he haþ holde wher as he knew he schold his lady se And whan he saugh his tyme anoon right he with dredful hert and with ful humble cheere Salued haþ his owne lady deere My souerayn lady quod þis woful man whom I most drede and loue as I can And loþest were of al þis world displese / Nere it þat I for ȝou haue such desese / That I most deye her at ȝoure foot anoon Nought wold I telle how me is wo bygoon But certes ouþer most I dye or pleyne Ȝe sleen me gulteles for verrey peyne But of my deþ þough þat ȝe haue no rouþe Auyseth ȝow or þat ȝe breke ȝour trouþe Repenteþ ȝow for þilke god aboue Ȝe me sleen by cause þat I ȝou loue For madame wel ȝe woot what/ ȝe han hight Nat þat I chalenge eny þing of right Of ȝow my souerayn lady but ȝoure grace But in a gardyn ȝonde at such a place Ȝe wot right wel what ȝe byhighte me And in myn hond ȝour trouþe plighte ȝe To loue me best god woot/ ȝe sayde so Al be þat I vnworthy am þerto Ma dame I speke it for thonour of ȝow More þan to saue myn hertes lif right now I haue do so as ȝe comaunded me And if ȝe vouche sauf ȝe may go se Doþ as ȝou list haue ȝoure byheste in mynde For quyk or deed right þer ȝe schul me fynde In ȝow liþ al to do me lyue or deye But wel I wot þe rokkes ben aweye he takeþ his leue and he astoned stood In alle hir face nas oon drop of blood Sche wend neuer haue be in such a trappe Allas quod sche þat euer þis schulde happe For wend I neuer by possibilite That such a monstre or merueyl mighte be / It is agayns þe proces of nature And hom sche goþ a sorwful creature For verray fere vnneþe may sche go Sche wepeþ wayleþ al a day or tuo And swowneþ þat it rouþe was to see But why it was to no wight tolde sche For out of toune was goon aruegarius But to hir self sche spak/ and sayde þus wiþ face pale and with ful sorwful chiere In hir compleignt as ȝe schul after hiere ¶ Allas quod sche on þe fortune I pleyne That vnwar, wrapped me hast, in þy cheyne Fro which tescape woot I no socour Saue oonly deþ or elles dishonour Oon of þese tuo bihoueth me to chese / But naþeles ȝet haue I leuer leese My lif þan of my body to haue schame Or knowe my-selue fals or lese my name / And with my deþ I may be quyt I-wys Hath þer not many a noble wyf er þis / And many a mayden slayn hir-self allas Raþer þan with her body doon trespas / Ȝis certeynly lo stories beren witnes whan þritty tirauntȝ ful of cursednes hadde slayn phidon in athenes atte fest Thay comaunded his doughtres to arest And bryngen hem biforn hem in despit And naked to fulfille her foule delyt In her fadres blood þey made hem daunce vpon þe pauyment god ȝeue hem meschaunce For which þese woful maydens ful of drede Raþer þan þey wolde lese her maydenhede They priuely ben stert in to a welle / And drenched hemselfen as þe bookes telle ¶ They of mecene leet enquere and seeke / Of lacidomye fifty maydenes eeke / On which þay wolden doon her leccherie But was þer noon of al þat companye was slayn and wiþ a good entente Ches raþer for to deye þan to assente To ben oppressed of hir maydenhede why schuld I þan to deyen ben in drede ¶ Lo eek þe Tyraunt/ aristoclides That loued a mayden heet Stimphalides whan þat hir father slayn was on a night vnto dyanes temple goþ sche right And hent þe ymage in hir hondes tuo Fro which ymage wold sche neuer go No wight might of hit/ hir hondes race Til sche was slayn right in þe selue place Now siþ þat maydens hadde such despit To ben defouled with mannes foul delit wel aught a wif rather hirself to sle Than be defouled as it thenkeþ me ¶ what schal I seyn of hasdrubaldes wyf That at Cartage byraft hir-self þe lyf For whan sche saugh þat Romayns wan þe toun Sche took hir children alle and skipte a doun In to þe fuyr and ches raþer to deye Than eny romayn dide hir vilonye ¶ Haþ nought lucresse slayn hirself allas At Rome whanne sche oppressid was Of tarquyn for hir þought it was a schame / To lyuen whan sche hadde lost hir name ¶ The seuen maydens of milifie also han slayn hemself for verray drede and wo Raþer þan folk of Gawle hem schulde oppresse Mo þan a thousand stories as I gesse Couþe I now telle as touching þis matiere ¶ whan habradace was slayn his wif so deere hir-seluen slough and leet hir blood to glyde / In habradaces woundes deepe and wyde / And seyde my body atte leste way Ther schal no wight defoulen if I may what schold I mo ensamples her of sayn Seþþen so many han hemseluen slayn wel raþer þan þey wolde defouled be / I wol conclude þat it is best for me To slen myself þan be defouled þus I wol be trewe vnto aruegarius Or rather sle myself in som manere As dede Democionis douȝter deere By cause sche wolde nought defouled be / O cedasus it is ful gret pite To reden how þy doughteren dyed allas That slowe hemself for suche maner caas As gret a pite was it or wel more The theban mayden þat for nichonore hir-seluen slough right for such maner wo Anoþer Theban mayden dede right so For oon of macidone had hir oppressed Sche with hire deþ maydenhede redressed what schal I sayn of Niceratis wif That for such caas biraft hir self hir lyf how trewe eek was cito alcebiades his loue. þat rather to dyen ches Than for to suffre his body vnburied be Lo which a wif was alceste quod sche what saiþ omer of good penolope Al grece knoweþ of hir chastite Par di of laodomya is writen þus That whan out of Troye was Protheselaus No lenger wol sche lyue after his day The same of noble porcia telle I may wiþoute brutes kynde sche myȝt not lyue To whom sche had al hool hir herte ȝyue The parfyt wyfhod of artemesye honoured is þurgh al þe Barbarie O thena queen þy wifly chastite To alle wyues may a mirour be . . . no gap in the MS.: these lines are . . . . known only in the Ellesmere MS. Thus playned Dorigen a day or tweye Purposyng euer þat sche wolde deye But naþeles vpon þe thridde night hom cam arueragus þis worþy knight And asked hir why þat sche wept so sore / And sche gan wepe euer lenger þe more Allas quod sche þat euer was I born Thus haue I sayd quod sche þus haue I sworn And told him al as ȝe han herd biforn It nedeþ nought reherse it you no more ¶ This housbond wiþ glad chiere in good wise Answerd and sayde as I schal ȝou deuyse Is þer aught elles Dorigen but þis Nay nay quod sche god me so rede & wis This is to moche and it were goddes wille Ȝe wyf quod he let slepe þat may be stille It may be wel peraunter ȝet to day Ȝe schal ȝour trouþe holden by my fay For god so wisly haue mercy on me I hadde wel leuer I-stekid for to be For verray loue which I to ȝou haue / But if ȝe scholde ȝour trouþe kepe and saue Trouþe is þe heighest þing þat men may kepe But wiþ þat word he gan anoon to wepe And sayde I ȝow forbede vp peyne of deþ That neuer whil þe lasteth lyf or breth To no wight telle þou of þis auenture As I may best I wil my woo endure Ne make no contenaunce of heuynesse Þat folk of ȝou may deme harm or gesse And for he cleped a squyer and a mayde Goþ forþ anoon wiþ Dorigen he sayde And bryngeþ hir to such a place anoon Thay take her leue and on her wey þey gon But þay ne wiste why sche þider went He nolde no wight tellen his entent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . no gap in the MS.: these lines are . . . . known only in the Ellesmere MS. This squyer which þat hight aurelius On dorigen þat was so amerous Of aduenture happed hire to mete Amyd þe toun right in þe quyke strete As sche was boun to goon þe wey forþ-right Toward þe Gardyn þer as sche had hight And he was to þe gardynward also / For wel he spyed whan sche wolde go Out of hir hous to eny maner place But þus þay mette of aduenture or grace And he salueth hir with glad entent And askith hire whiderward sche went/ And sche answered half as sche were mad vnto þe gardyn as myn housbond bad My trouþe for to holde allas allas Aurilius gan wondren on þis caas And in his hert had gret compassioun Of hire and of hir lamentacioun And of Arueragus þe worþy knight That bad hir hold al þat sche hadde hight So loþ him was his wif schuld breke hir trouþe And in his hert he caught of this gret rouþe Consideryng þe best on euery syde That fro his lust ȝet were him leuer abyde Than doon so high a cheerlissch wrecchednesse Agayns fraunchis of alle gentilesce For which in fewe wordes sayd he þus Madame saith to ȝour lord arueragus That siþ I se his grete gentilesse To ȝou. and eek I se wel ȝour distresse That him were leuer haue schame and þat were rouþe / Than ȝe to me schulde breke ȝoure trouþe I haue wel leuer euer to suffre woo Than I departe þe loue bytwix ȝow tuo I ȝow relesse madame in to ȝour hond Quyt euery seurement and euery bond That ȝe han maad to me as her biforn Sith þilke tyme which þat ȝe were born My trouþe I plight I schal ȝow neuer repreue Of no byhest and her I take my leue As of þe trewest and þe beste wif That euer ȝit I knew in al my lyf But euery wyf be war of hir byhest On Dorigen remembreþ atte lest Thus can a squyer doon a gentil dede As wel as can a knyght wiþouten drede Sche þankeþ him vpon hir knees al bare / And hoom vnto hir housbond is sche fare / And told him al as ȝe han herd me sayd And be ȝe siker he was so wel a-payd That it were impossible me to write what schuld I lenger of þis caas endite Arueragus and Dorigen his wif In souereyn blisse leden forþ here lyf Neuer eft ne was þer anger hem bytwen he cherisscheþ hir as þough sche were a queen And sche was to him trewe for euermore / Of þese tuo folk ȝe gete for me nomore / ¶ Aurilius þat his cost haþ al forlorn Curseþ þe tyme þat euer he was born Allas quod he allas þat I byhight Of pured gold a thousand pound of wight vnto þis philosophre how schal I doo I se no more but þat I am for-doo Myn heritage moot I needes selle / And ben a begger her may I not duelle And schamen al my kynrede in þis place But I of him may gete better grace But naþeles I wol of him assay At certeyn dayes ȝeer by ȝer to pay And þanke him of his grete curtesye My trouþe wol I kepe I wol nouȝt lye with herte soor he goþ vn to his cofre And broughte gold vnto þis philosophre The value of fyf hundred pound I gesse And him bysecheth of his gentilesce To graunte him dayes of þe remenaunt And sayde maister I dar wel make auaunt I fayled neuer of my trouþe as ȝit For sikerly my dettes schal be quyt Towardes ȝow how þat euer I fare To goon a begge in my kurtil bare But wolde ȝe vouche sauf vpon seurte Tuo ȝer or þre for to respite me Than were I wel for elles most I selle Myn heritage þer is nomore to telle ¶ Þis philosophre sobrely answerde / And seyde þus whan he þese wordes herde Haue I not holden couenaunt vnto þe; Ȝis certes wel and trewely quod he / Hastow nouȝt had þy lady as þe liketh No no quod he and sorwfully he sikeþ what was þe cause tel me if þou can Aurilius his tale anoon bygan And told him al as ȝe han herd bifore It needeþ nat to ȝou reherse it more he sayde arueragus of gentilesse had leuer dye in sorwe and in distresse Than þat his wyf were of hir trouþe fals The sorwe of Dorigen he tolde him als how loþ hir was to ben a wikked wikked wyf And þat sche leuer had han lost hir lyf And þat hir trouþe sche swor þurgh Innocence Sche neuer erst hadde herd speke of apparence That made me han of hir so gret pyte By cause hir housebond sente hir to me And right as frely sent I hir to him agayn Þis is al and som þer is no more to sayn The philosopher answerde leue broþer Euerich of ȝow dede gentilly to oþer Thow art a squyer and he is a knight But god forbede for his blisful might But if a clerk couþe doon as gentil dede As wel as eny of ȝou it is no drede Sire I relesse þe þy þousond pound As þou right now were crope out of þe ground Ne neuer er now ne haddest knowen me For sire I wol not take a peny of þe For al my craft ne nought for my trauayle / Thou hast y-payed wel for my vitayle / It is ynough and far wel haue good day And took his hors and forþ he goþ his way ¶ Lordynges þis questioun wolde I axe now / which was þe moste free as þinketh ȝow Now telleþ me or þat I ferþer wende / I can no more my tale is at an ende / ¶ Here endeth þe Frankeleynes tale[No break in the MS.] ¶ And here bygynneth þe Secounde Nounes tale /[No gap in the MS.] [THE PROEM.] (1) THe minister and þe norice vnto vices which þat men clepe in englisch ydelnesse / The porter at þe gates is of delicis To eschiewe and by her contrary hire oppresse That is to say by leful besynesse / wel oughte we to do al oure entente Lest þat þe fend þurgh ydelnesse vs hente / (2) For he þat wiþ his þousand cordes slye / Continuelly vs wayteth to byclappe/ whan he may man in ydelnes espye / He can so lightly cacche him in his trappe / Til þat a man be hent right by þe lappe / He is nouȝt war þe fend haþ him in honde / wel oughte we wirche and ydelnes wiþstonde / (3) And þough men dredde neuer for to deye Ȝet seen men wel by resoun douteles That ydelnes is roten sloggardye Of which þer comeþ neuer good encres And sin þat slouþ her holdeþ in a lees Oonly to sleep and for to ete and drynke And to deuoure al þat oþer swynke (4) And for to put vs from such ydelne That cause is of so gret confusioun I haue her doon my faithful busynes After þe legende in translacioun Right of þis glorious lif and passioun Thou with þi garlond wrought wiþ rose and lylye The mene I mayde and martir cecilie (5) And þou þat flour of virgines art alle /Inuocacio ad marium Of whom þat Bernard lust so wel to write / To þe at my bygynnyng first I calle Thou comfort of vs wrecches do me endite Thy maydenes deþ þat whan þurgh hire merite Theternal lif and of þe feend victorie As man may after reden in hir storie (6) Thou mayde and moder doughter of þi sone / Thow welle of mercy synful soules cure In whom þat god of bountes chees to wone Thou humble and heyh ouer euery creature Thow nobelest so ferforþ oure nature That no disdeyn þe maker had of kynde / his sone in blood and fleissh to cloþe and wynde / (7) Wiþinne þe cloyster of þi blisful sydes Took mannes schap þe eternal loue and pees That of þe trine compas lord and guyde is whom erþe and see and heuen out of relees Ay herien and þou virgine wemmeles Bar of þy body and dwellest mayden pure The creatour of euery creature / (8) Assembled is in þy magnificence with mercy goodnes and with such pitee That þou þat art þe soune of excellence But oonly helpist hem þat prayen þe But often tyme of þy benignite Ful frely er þat men þin help biseche Thou gost biforn and art her lyfes leche / (9) Now help þou meke and blisful faire mayde / Me flemed wrecche in þis desert of galle Thenk on þe womman canace þat sayde That whelpes ete some of þe crommes alle That from her lordes table ben I-falle / And þough þat I vnworthy sone of Eue Be synful / ȝett accepte my bileue (10) And for þat faith is deth wiþouten werkis So for to werken ȝiue me witt and space / That I be quit fro þennes þat most derk is O þou þat art so fair and ful of grace / Be myn aduocat in þat hihe place / Ther as wiþouten ende is songe Osanne Thou cristes moder douȝter deere of Anne (11) And of þi light my soule in prisoun light That troubled is by þe contagioun Of my body and also by þe wight Of euerich lust and fals affeccioun O heuen of refuyt O sauacioun Of hem þat ben in sorwe and in destresse / Now help for to my werk I wil me dresse / (12) Ȝet pray I ȝou þat reden þat I write / Forȝeue me þat I doo no diligence This ilke story subtilly to endite For boþe haue I þe wordes and sentence Of him þat at þe seintes reuerence The story wroot and folwen hir legende / And pray ȝow þat ȝe wol my werk amende / (13) [THE TALE.] First wol I ȝow þe name of seint Cecile Expoune as men may in hir story se / It is to say on englisch heuenes lilie For pure chastenesse of virginite Or for sche witnesse hadde of honeste And grene of conscience and of good fame / The soote sauour lilie was her name (14) Or cecile is to say þe way of blynde / For sche ensample was by way of techynge Or elles Cecily as I writen fynde Is ioyned by a maner of conioynynge Of heuen and lya and here in figurynge The heuen is sette for þought of holynesse / And lya for hir lastyng besynesse / (15) Cecili may eek be seyd in þis manere / wantyng of blyndnes for hir grete light Of sapience and of þilke þewes cleere / Or elles lo þis maydenes name bright Of heuen and loos comes of which by right Men might hir wel þe heuen of peple calle / Ensample of goode and wise werkes alle (16) For leos peple in englissh is to say And righ as men may in þe heuen see The sonne and moone and sterres euery way Right so men gostly in þis mayden free Seen of faiþ þe magnanimite / And eek þe clernes hool of sapience And sondry werkes bright of excellence (17) And right so as þese philosofres wryte That heuen is swyft and round and eek brennynge Right so was faire Cecily þe whyte Ful swyft and besy euer in good werkynge / And round and hool in good perseuerynge And brennyng euer in charite ful bright Now haue I ȝow declared what sche hight (18) This mayden bright Cecilie as hir lyf saiþ was comen of Romayns and of noble kynde / And from hir cradel vp fostred in þe faiþ Of crist and bar his gospel in hir mynde Sche neuer cessed as I writen fynde Of hire prayer and god to loue and drede Byseching him to kepe hir maydenhede (19) And whan þis mayde schuld vnto a man Y-wedded be. þat was ful ȝong of age which þat I-cleped was walirian And day was comen of hir mariage Sche ful deuout and humble in hir currage vnder hir robe of gold þat sat ful faire Hadde next hir fleissh I-clad hir in an heire (20) And whil þe organs made melodie / To god alloon in herte þus sang sche / O lord my soule and eek my body gye Vnwemmed. lest þat I confounded be / And for his loue þat deyde vpon a tre Euery secound or þridde day sche faste Ay biddyng in hire orisouns ful faste / (21) The nyght cam and to bedde most sche goon with hir housbond as oft is þe manere And priuely to him sche sayde anoon O swete and wel biloued spouse deere / Ther is a counseil and ȝe wold it heere / which þat right fayn I wold vnto ȝou saye So that ȝe swere ȝe schul it not bywraye (22) Valirian gan fast/ vnto hir swere That for no caas ne þing þat mighte be he scholde neuer mo bywreye hire And þanne at erst þus sayde sche I haue an aungel which þat loueþ me That wiþ gret loue wher so I wake or slepe Is redy ay my body for to kepe (23) . . . . .No gap in the MS. Iff ȝe me touche or loue in vilonye he right anoon wil sle ȝou wiþ þe dede And in ȝoure ȝouþe þus schulde ȝe dye And if þat ȝe in clene loue me gye he wol ȝow loue as me for ȝour clennesse / And schewe to ȝou his ioye and his brightnesse/ (24) Valirian corrected as god wolde / Answerde agayn if I schal truste þe / Let me þat aungel se and him biholde And if þat it a verray aungel be / Than wol I doon as þou hast prayed me And if þou loue anoþer man forsoþe Right wiþ þis swerd þan wol I slee ȝou boþe / (25) Cecilie answerd anoon right in þis wise If þat ȝow list þe aungel schul ȝe see So that ȝe trowe on crist and ȝou baptise Goþ forþ to Via apia quod sche / That fro þis toun ne stant but myles þre And to þe pore folkes þat þer duelle Saith hem right þus. as þat I schal ȝou telle / (26) Telle hem I cecilie. ȝow vnto hem sent To schewen ȝow þe good vrban þe olde / For secre needes and for good entente / And whan þat ȝe seint vrban han byholde / Tel him þe wordes which þat I to ȝow tolde / And whan þat he haþ purged ȝou fro synne Than schul ȝe se þat aungel er ȝe twynne / (27) Valirian is to þe place y-goon And right as him was taught by his lernynge He fond þis holy old vrban anoon Among þe seyntes buriels lotynge And he anoon wiþoute taryinge Did his message and whan þat he it tolde vrban for ioye his handes gan vp holde (28) The teres from his eyȝen let he falle Almyȝty lord O. ihū crist quod he / Sower of chaste counseil herde of vs alle The fruyt of þilke seed of chastite That þou hast sowe to Cecilie tak to þe loo lik a busy bee wiþouten gyle / The serueþ ay þin owne þral Cecile (29) For þilke spouse þat sche took right now Ful lyk a fers lyoun sche sendeþ here As meek as euer was eny lamb to ȝow And wiþ þat word anoon þer gan appere / An old man clad in white cloþes clere That had a book wiþ lettres of gold in honde / And gan to-forn Valirian to stonde / (30) Valirian as deed fyl doun for drede whan he him say / and he him vp hente þo And on his book right þus he gan to rede / O lord. o feith oon god wiþouten mo On cristendom and oon fader of alle also Abouen alle and ouer alle euery where . . . . . (31) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. And pope vrban him cristened right þere (32) Valirian goþ home and fint Cecilie wiþinne his chambre with an aungel stonde / This aungel had of Roses and of lilie Corounes tuo þe which he bar in honde And first to Cecilie as I vnderstonde he ȝaf þat oon and after can he take / That oþer to valerian hir make (33) Wiþ body clene and wiþ vnwemmed þought kepeþ ay wel þese corounes þre Fro paradys to ȝou I haue hem brought Ne neuer moo ne schul þey roten be Ne leese here soote sauour trusteþ me Ne neuer wight schal seen hem wiþ his ye But/ he be chast and hate vilonye (34) And þou valirian for þou so soone Assentedist to good counseil also Say what þe list and þou schalt haue þi boone I haue a broþer quod Valirian þo That in þis world I loue no man so I pray ȝow þat my broþer may haue grace To knowe þe trouþe as I doo in þis place (35) The aungel sayde god liketh þy request And boþe with þe palme of martirdom Ȝe schullen come vnto his blisful feste / And with þat word tiburce his broþer com And whan þat he þe sauour vndernom which þat þe roses and þe lilies cast wiþinne hir hert/ he gan to wondre fast / (36) And sayde I wondre þis tyme of þe ȝer whennes þat soote sauour comeþ so Of Rose and lilies þat I smelle her For þough I had hem in myn hondes tuo The sauour might in me no depper go The swete smel þat in myn hert I fynde Hath chaunged me al in anoþer kynde (37) Valirian sayd tuo corouns haue we Snow whyt and rose reed þat schinen cleere / whiche þat þine eyȝen han no might to see / And þou smellest hem þurgh my prayere So schalt þou seen hem my lieue broþere deere If so be þou wilt wiþouten slouþe Bilieuen aright and knowen verray trouthe / (38) Tyburce answerde says þou þus to me In soþenes or in drem I herkne þis In dremes quod valirian han we be Vnto þis tyme broþer myn I-wys As now at erst in trouþe oure duellyng is how wost þou þis quod tyburce and in what wise Quod valirian þat schal I þe deuyse (39) The aungel of god haþ me trouþe y-taught which þou schalt seen if þat þou wilt reneye The ydols and be clene and elles nouȝt And of þe miracles of þese corones tweye Seynt ambrose in his prefas list to seye Solempnely þis noble doctour deere Comendeþ it and saiþ in þis maneere (40) The palme of martirdom for to receyue / Seynt Cecilie fulfilled of goddes ȝifte The world and eek hir chamber gan sche weyue / witnes tyburces and Cecilies schrifte To whiche god of his bounte wolde schifte Corounes tuo of floures wel smellynge And made his aungel home þe croune brynge (41) The mayde haþ brought þis men to blisse aboue / The world haþ wist what it is worþ certeyn Deuocioun of chastite to loue Tho schewed him Cecilie al open and pleyn That alle ydoles nys but þing in veyn For þay ben doumbe and þerto þey ben deue And chargeþ him his ydoles for to leue (42) Who so troweþ not þis a best he is Quod tyburce if þat I schal not lye And sche gan kisse his brest þat/ herde þis And was ful glad he couþe trouþe espye This day I take þe for myn allye Sayde þis blisful faire mayde deere / And after þat sche sayde as ȝe may heere (43) Lo right so as þe loue of crist/ quod sche Made me þy brotheres wyf right in þat wyse Anoon for myn allye heer take I þe / Sin þat þou wilt thyne ydoles despise Go with þi broþer now and þe baptise And make þe clene so þat þou mowe biholde The aungeles face of which þy broþer tolde (44) Tyburce answerde and sayde broþer dere/ First tel me whider I schal and to what man To whom quod he / com forth with good cheere / I wol þe lede vnto þe pope vrban Til vrban broþer myn quod valirian Quod tyburce wilt þou me þider lede / Me þenkeþ þat it were a wonder dede / (45) Ne menist þou nat vrban quod he þo That is so ofte dampned to be deed And woneþ in halkes alway to and fro And dar nouȝt oones putte forþ his heed Men schold him brenne in a fuyr so reed If he were founde or if men might him spye And we also to bere him companye (46) And whil we seken þilke diuinite That is I-hyd in heuen priuely Algate I-brent in þis world schal we be To whom Cecilie answerde bodyly Men mighten wel and skilfully This lyf to lese myn oughne dere brother If þis were lyuyng oonly and noon oþer (47) But þer is better lif in oþer place That neuer schal be lost drede þe nouȝt which goddes sone vs tolde þurgh his grace The fadres sone þat alle þing hath wrought And al þat wrought is wiþ a skilful þought The gost þat fro þe fader gan procede haþ sowled hem wiþouten eny drede (48) By word and miracle hihe goddes sone whan he was in þis world declared heere / That þer was oþer lyf þer men may wone / To whom answerde Tyburce of suster deere Ne seydest þou right now in þis manere Ther nys but oo god. o .lord. in soþfastnesse And now of þre how maystow bere witnesse (49) That schal I telle quod sche er þat I go Right as a man haþ sapiences þre Memorie eyen and intellect also So in oo being in diuinite Thre persones may þer right wel be Tho gan sche him ful besily to preche / Of cristes come and of his peynes teche / (50) And many pointes of his passioun how goddes sone in þis world was wiþholde To doon mankynde pleyn remissioun That was I-bounde in synne and cares colde / Al þis þing sche vnto Tyburce tolde / And after þis thiburce in good entente wiþ valirian to pope vrban he wente / (51) That þanked god and wiþ glad hert and light he cristened him and made him in þat place / Parfyt in his lernynge goddes knyght And after þis thiburce gat such grace / That euery day he say in tyme and space / The aungel of god and euery maner boone / That he god asked / it were sped ful soone (52) IT were ful hard by ordre for to sayne how many wondres Ihc for hem wroughte But atte last to tellen schort and playne · The sergeantȝ of þe toun of Rome hem soughte And hem byforn almache þe prefect broughte which hem apposed and knew alle here entente And to þe ymage of Iubiter hem sente (53) And saide who-so wil not sacrifise Swope of his heued þis my sentence heere Anoon þese martires þat I ȝou deuyse Oon maximus þat was an officere / Of þe prefectes and his counceilere / hem hent . and whan he forþ þe seyntes ladde him self he wept for pite þat he hadde / (54) Whan maximus had herd þe seintes lore he gat him of his tormentoures leue And bad hem to his hous wiþouten more And with her preching er þat it were eue Thay gonne fro þe tormentoures to reue And fro maxime and fro his folk echoone The false faith to trowe in god alloone (55) Cecilie cam whan it was waxen night with prestis þat hem cristenid alle in feere / And afterward whan day was waxen light Cecilie hem sayde with a ful stedefast chere / Now cristes owne knyȝtes leef and deere Cast al away þe werkes of derknes And armith ȝou in armur of brightnes (56) Ȝe han forsoþe y-doon a greet batayle / Ȝoure cours is doon ȝoure faith han ȝe conserued Goþ to þe coroun of lyf þat may not fayle / The rightful iugge which þat ȝe han serued Schal ȝeue it ȝow as ȝe han it deserued And whan þis þing was sayd as I deuyse Men ladde hem forþ to doon þe sacrifise / (57) But/ whan þey were to þe place y-brouȝt To telle schortly þe conclusioun They nolde encense ne sacrifice right nought But on her knees þey setten hem adoun wiþ humble hert and sad deuocioun And leften boþe her heedes in þe place here soules wenten to þe king of grace / (58) This maximus þat say þis king betyde / wiþ pitous teeres tolde it anoon right That he here soules saugh to heuen glyde with aungels ful of clernes and of light And with his word conuerted many a wight For which almachius dede him so bete with whippes of leed til he his lif gan lete / (59) Cecilie him took and buried him anoon By Thiburce and valirian softely wiþinne hire berieng place vnder þe stoon And after þis almachius hastily Bad his ministres fecchen openly Cecilie. so þat sche might in his presence Doon sacrifice and Iubiter encense / (60) But þey conuerted at hir wise lore wepten ful sore and ȝauen ful credence Vnto hir word and cryden more and more Crist goddes sone wiþouten difference Is verray god þis is al oure sentence / That haþ so good a seruaunt him to serue This with oon vois we trowen þough we sterue (61) Almachius þat herd of þis doynge Bad fecchen Cecilie þat he might hir se And alþer first lo þis was his axinge what maner womman art þou quod he I am a gentil womman born quod sche I axe þe quod he though þe it greue Of þi religioun and of þi byleue / (62) Ȝe han bygonne ȝour questioun folily Quod sche þat wolden tuo answers conclude / In oo demaunde ȝe axen lewedly Almache answerde to þat similitude Of whens comeþ þin answering so rude Of whens quod sche whan sche was I-freyned Of conscience and good faith vnfeyned (63) Almachius sayde takest þou noon heede / Of my power and sche answerde him þis / Ȝoure might quod sche ful litel is to drede / For euery mortal mannes power nys But lyk a bladder ful of wynd I-wis For with a nedeles poynt what it is blowe / May al þe bost of it be layd ful lowe / (64) Ful wrongfully bygan þou quod he / And ȝet in wrong is þy perseueraunce wostow nough how oure mighty princes fre han þus comaunded and maad ordinaunce That euery cristen wight schal haue penaunce / But if þat he his cristendom wiþseye And goon al quyt if he wil it reneye / (65) ¶ Ȝoure princes erre as ȝoure nobleye doþ Quoþ þo Cecilie and with a wood sentence / Ȝe make vs gulty and it is nouȝt soþ For ȝe þat knowen wel oure Innocence For as moche as we doon reuerence / To crist and for we bere a cristen name ȝe putten on vs a crym and eek a blame / (66) But we þat knowen þilke name so For vertuous we may it not wiþseye Almache sayde cheese oon of þese tuo Do sacrifice and cristendom reneye þat þou mow now eschapen by þat weye At which þe holy blisful faire mayde / Gan for to laughe and to þe Iugge sayde / (67) O Iugge confus in þis nycete wilt þou þat I refuse Innocence To make me a wikked wight quod sche / lo he dissimuleþ heer in audience he starith and woodith in his aduertence To whom almachius sayde vnsely wrecche / Ne wostow nought how fer my might may strecche (68) Han nought our mighty princes to me y-ȝiuen Ȝe bothe power and eek auctorite To make folk to deyen or to lyuen why spekestow so proudly þan to me I speke not but stedefastly quod sche Nought proudly for I say as for my syde / we haten deedly þilke vice of pryde (69) And if þou drede nouȝt a soþ to heere Than wol I schewe al openly by right That þou hast maad a ful greet lesyng heere Thou saist þy princes han I-ȝiue þe might Boþe for to sleen and eek to quike a wight Thou þat ne maist but oonly lif byreue Thou hast noon oþer power ne no leue (70) But þou maist sayn þi princes han þe maked Minister of deþ for if þou speke of moo Thow liest for þy power is ful naked Do way þy lewednes sayd almachius þo And do sacrifice to oure goddes er þou go I recche nought what wrong þat þou me profre / For I can suffre it as a philosophre (71) But þilke wronges may I not endure That þou spekis of oure goddis her quod he Cecilie answered. O nice creature Thou saydest no word sins þou spak to me / That I ne knew þer-wiþ þy nicete / And þat þou were in euery maner wise / A lewed officer a vein Iustise/ (72) Ther lakketh no þing to þin outer eyen That þou art blynd for þing þat we seen alle That it is stoon þat men may wel aspien / That ilke stoon a god þou wilt it calle / I rede þe let þin hond vpon it falle / And tast it wel and stoon þou schalt it fynde Siþ þat þou seest / not wiþ þin eyȝen blynde (73) IT is a schame þat þe poeple schal So scorne þe and laughe at þi folye / For comunly men woot it wel ouer al That mighty god is in his heuen hye And þese ymages wel þou mayst espie To þe ne to hemself may nought profyte For in effect. þey ben nouȝt worþ a myte (74) Thise wordes and such oþer sayde sche And he wax wroþ and bad men schold hir lede hom to hir hous / and in hir hous quod he / Brenne hir right in a bath of flammes rede / And as he bad right so was doon þe dede / For in a bath þay gonne hir faste schetten And nyght and day great fuyr þey vnder betten (75) The longe night and eek a day also For al þe fuyr and eek þe baþes hete Sche sat al cold and felte of no woo Hit made hir not. oon drope for to swete But in þat bath hir lif sche moste lete For he almachius with ful wikke entente To sleen hir in þe baþ his sondes sente (76) Thre strokes in þe nek he smot hir þo The tormentour but for no maner chaunce / he might nouȝt smyte hir faire necke a-tuo / And for þer was þat tyme an ordinaunce That no man scholde do man such penaunce The ferþe strok to smyten softe or sore / This tormentour ne dorste do no more / (77) But half deed with hir nekke coruen there he laft hir lye and on his way he went The cristen folk which þat about hir were / wiþ scheetes han þe body ful faire y-hent þre dayes lyued sche in þis torment And neuer cessed hem þe faith to teche / That sche had suffred hem sche gan to preche (78) And hem sche ȝaf hir moebles and hir þing And to þe pope Vrban bytook hem þo / And sayd I axe þis of heuen kyng To haue respit þre dayes and no mo To recomende to ȝow er þat I go These soules lo and þat I mighte do wirche heer of myn hous perpetuelly a chirche (79) Seynt vrban wiþ his Dekenes priuely The body fette and buried it by nighte / Among his oþer seyntes honestely hir hous þe chirch of seynt Cecily ȝit highte Seynt vrban halwed it as he wel mighte In which in to þis day in noble wyse Men doon to crist and to his seint seruise / Here endeth þe secounde Nonne hir tale of þe lif of seint Cecilie[No break in the MS.] And here bygynneth þe tale of þe Chanouns ȝeman¶ prologus Whan ended was þe lif/ of seynt Cecile Er we fully had riden fyue myle At/ Boughtoun vnder blee vs gan atake A man þat cloþed was in cloþes blake And vnder þat he had a whit surplice his hakeney þat was a pomely grice So swete þat it wonder was to se It semed he hadde priked myles þre / The hors eek þat his ȝyman rood vpon So swette þat vnneþes might he goon Aboute þe peytrel stood þe foom ful hye he was of foom as flekked as a pye A male tweyfold on his croper lay It semed þat he caried litel array And light for somer rood þis worþy man And in myn herte wondren I bigan what þat he was til þat I vnderstood how þat his cloke was sowed vnto his hood For which whan I long had auysed me / I demed him som chanoun for to be his hat heng at his bak doun by a laas For he had riden more þan trot or paas / He had I-pryked lik as he were wood A cloote leef he had vnder his hood For swoot and for to kepe his heed from hete But it was ioye for to se him swete His forhed dropped as a stillatorie were ful of plantayn and of peritorie And whanne þat he was com he gan to crie God saue quod he þis ioly compaignye/ Fast haue I priked quod he for ȝour sake / By cause þat I wolde ȝou atake To ryden in þis mery companye / his ȝeman eek was ful of curtesye / He seid sires now in þe morwe tyde / Out of ȝour ostelry I saugh ȝou ryde / And warned heer my lord and my souerayn which þat to ryden with ȝow is ful fayn For his desport/ he loueth daliaunce Frend for þy warnyng god ȝeue þe good chaunce Sayde oure host for certes it wolde seme Thy lord were wys and so I may wel deme he is ful iocound also dar I leye Can he ought telle a mery tale or tweye with which he glade may þis companye who sire my lord / ȝe ȝe / wiþoute lye / He can of merthe and eek of Iolite Not but ynough also sir trusteþ me And ȝe him knewe / as wel as do I ȝe wolde wonder how wel and þriftily he couþe werke and þat in sondry wise he haþ take on him many sondry emprise / which were ful hard for eny þat is heere To bringe aboute but þay of him it leere / As homely as he ryt amonges ȝow If ȝe him knewe it wolde be ȝoure prow Ȝe nolde nought forgon his aqueyntaunce For moche good I dar lay in balaunce Al þat haue in my possessioun he is a man of heigh discressioun I warne ȝow wel he is a passyng man ¶ wel quod our oost/ I pray þe tel me þan Is he a clerk / or noon tel what he is Nay he is gretter þan a clerk I-wis; Sayde þe ȝyman and in wordes fewe / Ost and of his craft somwhat I wil ȝou schewe I say my lord can such subtilite But al his craft ȝe may nought wite of me / And somwhat helpe I ȝit to his worchynge That al þis ground on which we ben ridynge Til þat we comen ro Caunterbury toun he couþe al clene turnen vp so doun And paue it al of siluer and of gold And whan þis ȝeman hadde þus I-told vnto oure oost / he seyde benedicite This is wonder merueylous to me Syn þat þis lord is of so heigh prudence By cause of which men schuld him reuerence / That of his worchip rekkeþ he so lite his ouer slop it is not worþ a myte As in effect/ to him so mot / I go It is al bawdy and to-tore also why is þi lord so slottisch I þe preye And is of power better cloþis to beye / If þat his dede accorde with þy speehe / Telle me þat and þat I þe biseche / ¶ why quod þis ȝyman / wher-to axe ȝe me God help me so for he schal neuer þe But I wol nought avowe þat I say And þerfor kep it secre I ȝou pray he is to wys in faith as I bileue That at is ouer-don it wil nouȝt preue / a right. as clerkes sein it is a vice wherfore in þat I holde him lewed and nyce For whan a man haþ ouer greet a witte Ful ofte him happeth to mysvsen itte So doth my lord and þat me greueþ sore God it amende I can say now nomore Ther-of no fors good ȝeman quod oure Ost Syn of þe connyng of þi lord þou wost Tel how he doþ I pray þe hertily Sin þat he is so crafty and so sly wher duellen ȝe if it to telle be In þe subarbes of a toun quod he / lurking in hirnes and in lanes blynde wher as þese robbours and þeues by kynde / holden here prive ferful residence As þay þat dor nouȝt schewen her presence / So faren we if I schal say þe soþe Now quod oure ost ȝit let me talke toþe why artow discoloured on þy face Peter quod he god ȝiue it harde grace I am so vsed in þe fuyr to blowe That it haþ chaunged my colour I trowe I am not wont in no mirour to prie But swynke sore and lerne to multiplie we blondren euer and pouren in þe fuyr And for al þat we faile of oure desir For euer we lacken oure conclusioun To moche folk we ben illusioun And borwe gold be it a pound or tuo Or ten or twelue or many sommes mo And make hem wenen atte leste weye That of a pound we conne make tweye Ȝit is it fals and ay we han good hope It for to doon and after it we grope / But þat science is so fer vs biforn we mowen nouȝt al þough we had it sworn It ouertake it slyt away so fast It wol vs make beggers atte last Whil þis ȝeman was þus in his talkyng This chanoun drough him ner and herd al þing which þat þis ȝiman spak for suspeccioun Of mennes speche euer hadde þis chanoun For Catoun saiþ þat he þat gulty is Demeþ al þing be spoke of him I-wis By cause of þat / he gan so neigh to drawe his ȝeman þat he herde al his sawe / And þus he sayd vnto his ȝeman þo Hold now þi pees and spek no wordes mo For if þou do þou schalt it deere abye Thow sclaundrest me here in þis companye And eek discouerest þat þou schuldest hide Ȝe quod oure ost tel on what so bytyde Of alle þis thretyng recche þe nought a myte In faiþ quod he no more do I but lite And whan þis chanoun seih it wold not be But his ȝeman wold telle his priuete He fledde a way for verray sorwe and schame A quod þis ȝeman her schal arise game Al þat I can anoon now wol I telle Sin he is goon þe foule feend him quelle For neuer her after wol I wiþ him meete For peny ne for pound I wol byheete he þat me broughte first vnto þat game Er þat he deye sorwe haue he and schame For it is ernest to me by my fayth That fele I wel what so eny man saith And ȝet for al my smert and al my greef For al my sorwe and labour and mescheef I couþe neuer leue it in no wise Now wolde god my wyt mighte suffise To tellen al þat longeþ to þat art/ But naþeles ȝet wil I telle ȝou part Sin þat my lord is goon I wol nought spare Such þing al þat I knowe I wol declare[No break in the MS.] [THE PREAMBLE.]¶ Narrat WIth þis Chanoun I duelled haue seuen ȝer And of his science am I neuer þe ner Al þat I hadde I haue lost þer by And god wot/ so haþ many mo þan I / Ther I was wont to be right freisch and gay Of cloþing and of oþer good array / Now may I were an hose vpon myn heed And where my colour was boþe freissch and reed Now it is wan and of a leden hewe who-so it vseþ sore schal he rewe And of my swynk ȝet blended is myn ye Lo such auauntage it is to multiplie That slydynge science had me made so bare / That I haue no good wher þat euer I fare And ȝit I am endetted so þer by Of gold I haue borwed trewely That whil I lyue I schal it quite neuer lat euery man be war by me for euer what maner man þat casteþ him þerto If he continue I holde his þrift I-do For so help me god þer by schal he not wynne But empte his purs and make his wittes þynne And whan he þurgh his madnes and folye / Haþ lost his owne good in ieupardie / Than he exciteþ oþer men þer-to To leese her good as he himself haþ do For vnto schrewes ioye it is and ese / To haue here felawes in peyne and desese / Thus was I oones lerned of a clerk / Of þat no charge I wol speke of oure werk whan we ben þer as we schul exercise Oure eluyssh craft we seme wonder wyse Oure termes ben so clergeal and queynte / I blowe þe fuyr til þat/ myn herte feynte / what schulde I telle ech proporcioun Of þinges which þat we werke vp and doun As an fyue or six ounces may wel be / Of siluer or som oþer quantite And besy me to telle ȝow þe names Of Orpiment brent bones yren squames That in to poudre grounden ben ful smal And in an erthen pot/ how þat put is al And salt y-put in and also paupere Biforn these poudres þat I speke of heere And wel I-couered wiþ a lamp of glas / And of moche oþer þing what þat þer was And of þe pot . and glas enlutyng That of þe aier mighte passe no þing And of þe esy fuyr and smert also which þat was maad and of þe care and wo That we hadde in oure matiers sublymynge And amalgamynge and calcenynge Of quyksiluer y-clept mercury crude / For alle oure sleightes we can nought conclude / Oure orpiment and sublyment mercurie Oure grounde litarge / eek on þe porfurye Of ech of þese of ounces a certayn Nat helpeþ vs oure labour is in vayn Ne eek oure spirites ascencioun Ne eek our matiers þat lyn al fix a doun Mowe in oure werkyng vs no þing auayle For lost is al oure labour and trauayle And al þe cost on twenty deuelway Is lost also which we vpon it lay Ther is also ful many anoþer þing That is to oure craft appertenyng Though I by ordre hem here reherse ne can By cause þat I am a lewed man Ȝet wil I telle hem as þey come to mynde / Though I ne conne nought sette hem in her kynde / As bol armoniak verdegres boras And sondry vessels maad of erþe and glas Oure vrinals and oure descensories Viols Croslets. and sublimatories Concurbites and alembikes eeke And oþere suche deere ynough a leeke Nat needith it to rehersen hem alle watres rubisyng and boles galle Arsnek Sal armoniak and brimstoon And herbes couþe I telle eek many oon As Egrimoigne Valirian and lunarie, And oþer suche if þat me list to tarie / Oure lampes brennyng boþe night and day To bringe aboute oure craft if þat we may Oure fournies[or fourmes] eek of Calcinacioun And of watres albificacioun Vnslekked lym salt and glayre of an ey Poudres dyuers aissches dong pisse and cley Cered poketts. Sal petre vitriole And dyuers fuyres maad of woode and cole / Salt tartre. alcaly and salt preparat And combust matieres. and coagulat Cley maad wiþ hors or mannes her and oyle Of tartre alym. glas. berm wort and argoyle Resalgar and oure matiers enbibing And eek of oure matiers encorporing And siluer citrinacioun Oure cementynge and fermentacioun Oure yngottes testes and many mo I wol ȝou telle as was me taught also The foure spiritȝ and þe bodies seuen By ordre as ofte herd I my lord neuen The firste spirit quyksiluer called is The secound orpiment þe þridde I-wis Sal armoniac. and þe ferþe bremstoon The bodies seuen eek lo hem heer anoon Sol gold is and luna siluer we þrepe Mars yren. Mercurie quyksiluer we clepe Saturnus leed and Iubiter is tyn And Venus coper by my fader kyn This cursed craft who so wol excercise he schal no good han þat may him suffise / For al þe good he spendeþ þer aboute he lese schal þer of haue I no doute / who-so þat list/ outen his folye let him come forþ and lerne multiplie And euery man that haþ ought in his cofre Let him appiere and wexe a philosofre Ascauns þat craft is so light to lere / Nay nay god wot al be he monk or frere Prest Chanoun or eny oþer wight Though he sit at his book boþe day and night In lernyng of þis eluysch nice lore Al is in vayn and parde moche more Is to lerne a lewed man þis subtilte Fy spek not þerof. for it it wil not be Al couþe he letterure or couþe he noon As in effect he schal fynd it al oon For boþe tuo by my sauacioun Concluden in multiplicacioun I-liche wel whan þay han al y-do / This is to sayn þay fayle boþe tuo Ȝet forȝat I to moche rehersayle Of watres corosif and of lymayle And of bodyes mollificacioun And also of here enduracioun Oyles ablucioun and metal fusible / To tellen al wold passen eny bible That owher is wherfore as for þe best Of alle þese names now wil I me rest/ For as I trowe I haue ȝow told ynowe To reyse a feend al loke he neuer so rowe / A nay let be þy philosophre stoon Elixir clept . we sechen fast echoon For had we him þan were we syker ynough But vnto god of heuen I make avow For al oure craft whan we han al y-do And al oure sleight he wol not come vs to He haþ I-made vs spende moche good For sorwe of which almost we wexen wood But þat good hope crepeþ in oure hert Supposing euer þough we sore smerte / To ben relieued by him afterward Supposing and hope is scharp and hard I warne ȝou wel it is to seken euer That future temps haþ made men disseuere In trust þerof from al þat euer þey hadde / Ȝet of þat art þay conne nouȝt wexe sadde / For vnto hem it is a bitter swete So semeþ it for nad þay but a scheete which þay mighte wrappe hem in a night And a bak to walke Inne by day light They wolde hem selle and spenden on þis craft Thay can nought stinte til no þing be laft And euermore wher þat euer þey goon Men may hem knowe by smel of bremston For al þe world þay stynken as a goot her sauour is so rammyssch and so hoot That þough a man fro hem a myle be / The sauour wol infecte him trusteþ me Lo þus by smellyng and by þredbare array If þat men list þis folk þey knowe may / And if a man wol aske hem priuely why þay ben cloþed so vnþriftily Right anoon þay rounen in his eere / And say if þat þay espied were Men wold hem slee by cause of here science Lo þus þis folk bytrayen Innocence Passe ouer þis I go my tale vnto Er þan þe pot be on þe fuyr y-do Of metals with a certeyn quantite My lord hem tempreþ and no man but he Now he is goon I dar say boldely For as men sayn he can doon craftily Algate I wot wel he haþ such a name And ȝet ful ofte he renneþ in blame ¶ And wite ȝe how ful ofte it happeþ so The pot tobrekeþ and far wel al is goo These metals been of so gret violence / Oure walles may not make hem resistence But if þay were wrought of lym and stoon Thay percen so and þurgh þe wal þay goon And some of hem synken in to þe grounde/ Thus haue we lost by tymes many a pounde And some are skatered al þe floor aboute Some lepe in to þe roof wiþouten doute Though þat þe feend nought in oure sight him schewe / I trowe þat he wiþ vs be þat schrewe / In helle wher þat he is lord and sire Nis þer no more woo ne anger ne Ire / whan þat oure pot is broke as I haue sayd Euery man chyt and halt him euel a payd Som sayd it was long on þe fuyr-makyng Some sayde nay it was on þe blowyng Than was I ferd for þat was myn office / Straw quod þe þridde / ȝe been lewed and nyce It was nouȝt tempred as it oughte be / Nay quod þe ferþe stynt and herkne me / By cause oure fuyr was nought y-maad of Beech That is þe cause and oþer noon so þeech I can not telle wher-on it was long But wel I woot gret stryf is vs among What quod my lord þer is no more to doone / Of þese periles I wol be war eft soone / I am right siker þat þe pot was crased Be as be may be ȝe no þing amased As vsage is let swoope þe floor as swiþe Pluk vp ȝour hertes and beþ glad and bliþe The mullok on an heep I-swoped was And on þe floor y-cast a caneuas And al þis mulloc in a syue I-þrowe / And sifted and y-plukked many a þrowe Par de quod oon somwhat of oure metal Ȝet is þer heer þough þat we haue nought al And þough þis þing myshapped haþ a now Anoþer tyme it may be wel ynow Vs moste putte oure good in aduenture A marchaun / par de may not ay endure Trusteþ me wel in his prosperite Somtyme his good is drowned in þe see / And som tyme comeþ it sauf vn-to þe londe / Pees quod my lord þe nexte tyme I wol fonde / To bringe oure craft al in anoþer plyte And but I do sire let me haue þe wyte Ther was defaute in som what wel I woot Anoþer sayde þe fuyr was ouer hoot But be it hoot or cold I dar say þis That we concluden euermor amys we faile of þat which þat we wolden haue And in oure madnesse euermore we raue And whan we ben togideres euerichon Eueriche man semeþ a Salamon But al þing which þat schineþ as þe gold / Is nought gold as þat I haue herd told Ne euery appel þat is fair at ye Ne is not good what so men clappe or crye Right so lo fareth it amonges vs He þat semeþ wisest by Iesus Is most fool whan it/ comeþ to þe preef And he þat semeth trewest is a þeef That schul ȝe knowe er þa I fro ȝow wende / By þat I of my tale haue maad an ende /[No break in the MS.] [THE TALE.] Ther is a chanoun of religioun Amonges vs wold infecte al a toun Though it as gret were as was Niniue Rome alisaundre troye and oþer þre / his sleight and his infinite falsnesse / Ther couþe no man writen as I gesse Though þat he mighte lyuen a þousand ȝeer Of al þis world of falsheed nys his peer For in his termes he wol him so wynde And speke his wordes in so sleygh a kynde whan he comune schal wiþ eny wight That he wil make him dote anoon right But it a feend be as himseluen is Ful many a man hath he bygiled er this And wol if þat/ he lyue may a while / And ȝet men ryde and goon ful many a myle / Him for to seeke and haue his aqueintaunce / Nought knowyng of his false gouernaunce And if ȝow list to ȝeue me audience I wol it telle here in ȝoure presence But worschipful chanouns religious Ne demeþ nought þat I sclaundre ȝoure hous Al þough my tale of a chanoun be / Of euery ordre som schrewe is par dee / And god forbede þat al a companye Schulde rewe a singuler mannes folye To sclaundre ȝow is no þing myn entent/ But to correcten þat is mys I-ment This tale was not oonly told for ȝow But eek for oþer moo ȝe woot wel how That among criste apostles twelue / Ther was no traytour but Iudas himselue Than why schulde þe remenaunt haue a blame That gulteles were by ȝow I say þe same Saue oonly þis if ye wol herkene me If any Iudas in ȝoure couent be Remewe him by tyme I ȝow rede / If schame or los may causen eny drede / And beþ no þing displesed I ȝou pray But in þis caas herkeneþ what I say¶ Narrat IN londoun was a prest an annueler That þer In duelled hadde many a ȝer which was so plesaunt and so seruisable / Vnto þe wyf wher as he was at table That sche wolde suffre him no þing for to pay For bord ne cloþing went he neuer so gay And spendyng siluer had he right ynough Ther-of no force I wol procede as now And telle forþ my tale of þe chanoun That brought þis prest to confusioun This false chanoun cam vpon a day Vnto þe prestes chambre wher he lay Biseching him to lene him a certeyn Of gold and he wold quyt hit him ageyn Lene me a mark quod he but dayes þre / And at my day I wil it quyte þe / And if so be þat þou fynde me fals Anoþer day hong/ me vp by þe hals This prest him took a mark and þat as swithe And þis Chanoun him þankid ofte siþe And took his leue and wente forþ his wey And atte þridde day brought his money / And to þe prest he took þis gold agayn wher-of þis prest was wonder glad and fayn Certes quod he no þing annoyeþ me To lene a man a noble or tuo or þre/ Or what þing/ were in my possessioun whan he so trewe is of condicioun That in no wise he breke wol his day To such a man I can neuer say nay what quod þis chanoun schold I be vntrewe; Nay þat were þing I-fallen of þe newe / Trouþe is a þing þat I wol euer kepe / Vnto þat day in which þat I schal crepe In to my graue and elles god forbede / Bilieueth þis as siker as ȝour crede / God þank I and in good tyme be it sayd That þer was neuer man ȝet euel a-payd For gold ne siluer þat he to me lent Ne neuer falshed in myn hert I ment And sire quod he now of my priuete Syn ȝe so goodlich haue be vnto me And kyþed to me so gret gentilesce Som-what to quyte wiþ ȝoure kyndenesse I wil ȝow schewe and if ȝow lust/ to lere [1I wil ȝow teche pleynly the manere1[1_1 In a later hand.]] how I kan werken in philosophie Takith good heed. ȝe schul seen wel at ye That I wol doon a maystry er I go Ȝe quod þe prest . ȝe sire and wol ȝe so Mary þer of I pray ȝow hertily At ȝoure comaundement sire trewely Quod þe chanoun and elles god forbede Lo how þis þeef couþe his seruise beede / Ful soth it is þat such profred seruise Stynkeþ as witnessen þese olde wise And þat ful soone I wol it verefye / In þis chanoun roote of al treccherie That euermor delit haþ and gladnesse / Such feendly þoughtes in his hert empresse How cristes poeple he may to meschief bringe God kepe vs from his fals dissimilynge / what wiste þis prest/ wiþ whom þat he delte Ne of his harm comyng he no þing felte O seely prest . o sely Innocent / wiþ coueytise anoon þou schalt be blent/ O graceles ful blynd is þy conceyt No þing art þou war of þe deceyt which þat þis fox I-schapen haþ to þe his wily wrenches y-wis þou maist not fle wherfor to go to þe conclusioun That referreth to þy confusioun Vnhappy man anoon I wil me hie / To tellen þin vnwitte and þy folye / And eek þe falsnesse of þat oþer wrecche / Als ferforþ as my connyng wol strecche / This Chanoun was my lord ȝe wolde weene Sire ost in faith and by þe heuen queene / It was anoþer chanoun and not he That can an hundred fold more subtilte he hath bitrayed folkes many tyme / Of his falnes it dullith me to ryme Euer when I speke of his falshede / For schame of him my cheekes wexen reede/ Algates þay bygynne for to glowe / For reednes haue I noon riȝt/ wel I knowe / In my visage for fumes diuerse Of metals which ȝe han me herd reherse Consumed and wasted han my reednesse Now tak heed of þis chanouns cursednesse / Sir quod he to þe prest let ȝour man goon For quyk siluer þat/ we it hadde anoon And let him bringe ounces tuo or thre / And whan he comeþ as faste schul ȝe see / A wonder þing which ȝe saugh neuer er þis Sire quod þe prest it schal be doon I-wis He bad his seruaunt fecche him his þinges And he al redy wax at his biddynges And went him forth and com anoon agayn wiþ þis quyk siluer schortly for to sayn / And took þese ounces þre to þe chanoun And he it layde faire and wel a doun And bad þe seruaunt coles for to bringe That/ he anoon might go to his werkynge The coles right anoon weren I-fett And þis chanoun took out a croselett Out of his bosom and schewed it þe prest This instrument quod he which þat þou sest Tak in þin hond and put þiself þer Inne / Of þis quyksiluer an vnce and her bygynne In þe name of crist to wax a philosophre / Ther ben ful fewe whiche þat I wol profre To schewe hem þus moche of my science For ȝe schul seen heer by experience That þis quiksiluer I wol mortifye Right in ȝoure sight anoon wiþouten lye / And make it as good siluer and as fyn As þer is any in ȝoure purs or myn Or elles wher and make it malleable / And elles holdeth . me fals and vnable / Amonges folk for euer to appeere / I haue a pouder heer þat cost me deere Schal make al good for it is cause of al My connyng which þat I ȝou schewe schal Voydith ȝoure man and let him be þer oute And schet þe dore whils we ben aboute Oure priuetee þat no man vs aspye / whiles we werken in þis philosophie / Al as he bad fulfilled was in dede / This ilke seruaunt anoon right out ȝede / And his maister schitte þe dore anoon And to here labour speedily þai goon This prest/ at þis cursed chanouns biddyng Vppon þe fuyr anoon sette þis þing And blew þe fuyr and busied him ful fast/ And þis chanoun in to þe croslet cast A pouder noot I wher-of þat it was I-maad ouþer of chalk ouþer of glas Or som what elles was nouȝt worþ a flye To blynde wiþ þis prest and bad him hye These coles for to couchen al aboue; The croislet/. for in tokenyng I þe loue Quod þis chanoun þin oughne handes tuo Schal wirche al þing which þat schal be do Graunt mercy quod þe prest and was ful glad And couchede coles as þe chanoun bad And whil he besy was. þis feendly wrecche This false chanoun þe foule feend him fecche Out of his bosom took a bechen cole In which ful subtilly was maad an hole / And þer-In put was of siluer lymayle / And vnce and stopped was wiþoute fayle This hole with wex to kepe þe lymail In / And vnderstondith þat þis false gyn was not maad þer but it was maad bifore And oþer þinges I schal telle more / Her afterward which þat he with him brought Er he com þere to bigyle him he þought / And so he dede er þay wente atwynne Til he had torned him couþe he nought blynne / It dulleþ me whan þat I of him speke / On his falshede fayn wold I me wreke / If I wist how but he is heer and þere he is so variant he byt no where / But takeþ heed now sires for goddes loue He took his cole of which I spak aboue / And in his hond he bar it priuely And whiles þe preste couched bysily The coles as I tolde ȝow er þis This chanoun sayde freend ȝe doon amys This is not couched as it oughte be But soone I schal amenden it quod he / Now let me melle þer with but a while / For of ȝow haue I pitee by seint Gile Ȝe been right hoot / I se wel how ȝe swete haue heer a cloþ and wype a-way þe wete And whiles þat þis prest him wyped haas This chanoun took his cole I schrewe his faas And layd it abouen on þe mydward Of þe croslet/ and blew wel afterward Til þat þe coles gonne faste brenne Now ȝeue vs drinke quod þe chanoun þenne / Als swiþe al schal be wel I vndertake Sitte we doun and let vs mery make / And whan þe chanouns bechene cole / was brent al þe lymail out of þe hole In to þe crosselet anoon fel a doun And so it moste needes by resoun Sins it so euen aboue couched was But þer of wist þe prest no þing allas He demed alle þe colis I-liche goode For of þe sleight he no þing vnderstood And whan þis alcamister saugh his tyme Rys vp sire prest quod he and stonde byme And fo I wot wel Ingot haue ȝe noon Goth walkith forth and brynge a chalkstoon For I wol make it of þe same schap That is an Ingold if I may haue hap / And bringe with ȝou a bolle or a panne Ful of water and ȝe schul wel se þanne / how þat oure besynes schal happe and preue And ȝit for ȝe schul haue no mysbileeue Ne wrong conceyt of me in ȝoure absence I ne wol nought ben out of ȝoure presence / But go with ȝou and come wiþ ȝou agayn The chambur dore schortly for to sayn Thay opened and schette and wente forþ here weye And forth with hem þey caryed þe keye / And comen agayn wiþouten eny delay / what schuld I tary al þe longe day he took þe chalk/ and schop it in þe wise / Of an Ingot as I schal ȝow deuyse / I say he took out of his oughne sleeue A teyne of siluer euel mot he cheeue which þat was but an vnce of wight And takeþ heed now of his cursed slight he schop his Ingot/ in lengþe and in brede / Of þis teyne wiþouten eny drede So sleighly þat þe prest it nought aspyde And in his sleeue agayn he gan it hyde / And fro þe fuyr he took vp his mateere / And in to þe Ingot put it with mery cheere / And in to þe watir vessel he it cast whan þat him list and bad þis prest as fast Loke what þer is put in þin hond and grope Thou fynde þer siluer schalt as I hope / what deuel of helle schold it elles be / Schauyng of siluer siluer is par de He putte in his hond and tok vp a teyne Of siluer fyn and glad in euery veyne; was þis prest whan he saugh it was so Goddes blessyng and his modres also And alle halwes haue ȝe sire chanoun Seyde þe prest and I her malisoun But and ȝe vouche sauf to teche me This nobil craft and þis subtilite I wil be ȝoure in al þat euer I may Quod þis chanoun ȝet wol I make assay The secound tyme þat ȝe mow taken heede And ben expert of þis and in ȝour neede Anoþer day ȝour self in myn absence This discipline and þis crafty science Let take another vnce quod he þo Of quyksiluer wiþouten wordes mo And do þer with as ȝe haue doon er þis wiþ þat oþer which now siluer is The prest him busyeth in al þat he can To doon as þis chanoun þis cursed man Comaunded him and faste blew þe fuyr For to come to theffect of his desyr And þis chanoun right in þe mene while Al redy was þis prest eft to bygile And for a countenaunce in his hond bar An holow stikke tak keep and be war In þende of which an vnce and no more Of siluer lymail put was as bifore was in his cole and stopped wiþ wex wel For to kepe in his limail euery del And whil þe prest/ was in his besynesse This chanoun with his stikke gan him dresse / To him anoon and his pouder cast In As he dede er þe deuel out of his skyn him torne I pray to god for his falshede For he was euer fals in oth and deede And wiþ þis stikke alone þe croslet That was ordeyned wiþ þat false get He styred þe coles til relente gan The wex agayn þe fuyr as euery man But/ it a fool be woot wel it moot nede / And al þat in þe hole was out ȝede / And in to þe creslet hastily it fel [1Now good sires what wol ȝe bet þen wel; whan þat þis prest thus was begiled a-gayn,1[1_1 In a later hand.]] Supposyng not but trouþe soþ to sayn he was so glad þat I can nought/ expresse / In no maner his myrþe and his gladnesse And to þe chanoun he profred eft soone Body and good ȝe quod þe chanoun soone / Though pore I be crafty þou schalt me fynde / I warne þe ȝet is þer more byhynde Is þer any coper her Inne quod he ȝe sir quod þis prest I trowe þer be Elles go bye som and þat as swithe Now goode sire go forth þy way and hythe he went/ his way and with þis coper cam And þis chanoun it in his hondes nam And of that coper weyed out but an ounce Al to simple is my tongue to pronounce The minister and of his witt þe doublenesse / Of þis chanoun roote of cursednesse he semed frendly to hem þat knew him nought But he was fendly boþe in werk and þought It werieþ me to telle of his falsnesse / And naþeles ȝit wol I it expresse To þat entent men may be war þer by And for noon oþer cause trewely / he put þis vnce of coper in þe croslet And on þe fuyr als swithe he haþ it set And cast in pouder and made þe prest/ to blowe And in his worching for to stoupe lowe As he dede er and al nas but a iape Right as him list þe prest he made his ape / And afterward in þe Ingot he it cast And in þe panne putte it atte last/ Of water and in he put his owne hond And in his sleeue as ȝe byforenhond herde me telle he had a siluer teyne he sleyghly took it out þis cursed heyne Vnwitynge þis prest of his false craft/ And in þe pannes botme he haþ it laft And in þe water rumbleþ to and fro And wonder priuely took vp also The coper teyne nought knowyng þis prest And hidde it and hent him by þe brest/ And to him spak and þus sayde in his game Stoupeth a-doun by god ȝe ben to blame helpeþ me now as I dede ȝow whil er Put in ȝour hond and loke what is þer This prest took vp þis siluer teyne anoon And þanne sayde þe chanoun let vs goon wiþ þese þre teynes whiche þat we han wrought To som goldsmyth and wite if it be ought For by my faith I nolde for myn hood But if þey were siluer fyn and good And þat as swiþe proued schal it be Vnto þe goldsmith wiþ þese teynes þre Thay went and putte þese teynes in assay To fuyr and hamer might no man say nay But þay were as hem oughte be This sotted prest who was gladder þan he // was neuer brid gladder agayn þe day Ne nightyngale in þe sesoun of may was neuer noon þat liste better to synge / Ne lady lustier in carolynge And for to speke of loue and wommanhede Ne knyght in armes doon an hardy deede/ To stonde in grace of his lady deere Than hadde þis prest þis craft for to lere And to þe chanoun thus he spak and seyde For þe loue of god þat for vs deyde And as I may deserue it vnto ȝow what schal þis receyt coste telleþ now By oure lady quod þe chanoun it is deere I warne ȝow wel for sire I and a freere In Engelond þer can man it make / No fors quoþ he now sire for goddes sake / what schal I paye telleþ me I pray I-wis quod he it is ful dere I say Sire at a word if þat ȝe lust it haue Ȝe schul pay fourty pound so god me saue / And nere þe frendschipe þat ȝe dede er þis To me. ȝe schulde paye more I-wys This prest þe somme of fourty pound anoon Of nobles fette and took hem euerychoon To þis chanoun for þis ilk receyt Al his werkyng nas but fraude and deceyt/ Sire prest he seyde I kepe haue no loos Of my craft for I wold it kept were cloos And as ȝe loueth me kepeþ it secre For and men knewe / al my sotilte By god men wolden haue so gret enuye To me by cause of my philosophie I schulde be deed þer were noon oþer weye God it forbede quoþ þe prest what seye ȝet had I leuer spenden al þe good which þat I haue and elles wax I wood Than þat ȝe schulde falle in such meschief For ȝour good wil sir haue ȝe right good preef Quoþ þe chanoun· and far wel graunt mercy he went his way and neuer þe prest him sey After þis day and whan þat þis prest scholde / Maken assay at such tyme as he wolde / Of þis receyt far wel it wold not be / lo þus byiaped and bygilt was he Thus makeþ he his introductioun To bringe folk to here destruccioun Considereth sires how þat in ech astaat Bitwixe men and gold þer is debaat So ferforth þat vnneþe þer is noon This multiplying blent so many oon That in good faith I trowe þat it be / The cause grettest of which skarsete Philosophres speken so mistyly In þis craft þat men conne not come þer by For any witt þat men han now on dayes They may wel chiteren as doon þese iayes And in here termes sette lust and peyne But to her purpos schul þay neuer atteyne A man may lightly lerne if he haue ought To multiplie and bringe his good to nought Lo such a lucre is in þis lusty game/ A mannes mirþe it wol torne in to grame / And empte also grete and heuy purses And make folk to purchace curses Of hem þat han her good þer-to I-lent O fy for schame þay þat haue be brent Allas can þay not fle þe fuyres hete ȝe þat it vsen I rede ȝe it lete lest ȝe lesen al for bet þan neuer is late Neuer to þriue were to long a date / Though ȝe prolle ay ȝe schul it neuer fynde Ȝe ben as bolde as is bayard þe blynde That blundreþ forþ and peril casteth noon he is as bold to renne a-gayn a stoon As for to go bysides in þe wey / So fare ȝe þat multiplie I sey If þat ȝoure yȝen can nought seen aright loke þat ȝoure mynde lakke nought his sight For þough ȝe loke neuer so brode and stare / Ȝe schul nought wynne vpon þat chaffare / But wasten al þat þay may rape and renne wiþdrawe þe fuyr lest it so faste brenne Medleþ no more wiþ þat art I mene / For ȝif ȝe doon ȝoure þrift is goon ful clene And right as swithe I wol ȝow telle heere what þat þe philosophres sein in þis mateere / ¶ lo þus saiþ arnold of þe newe toun As his Rosarie maketh mencioun He saith right þus wiþouten eny lye Ther may no man mercury mortifye But hit be with his broþer knowleching how þat he which þat first sayd þis þing Of philosophres fader was hermes he saiþ how þe dragoun douteles he dyeþ nought but if þat he be slayn wiþ his broþer and þat is for to sayn By þe dragoun mercury and noon oþer he vnderstood and brimstoon be his broþer That out of sol and luna were I-drawe And þerfore sayde he take heed to my sawe / Let no man besy him þis art to seche / But þat he thentencioun and speche / Of philosophres vnderstonde can And if he do he is a lewed man For þis sciens and þis connyng quod he Is of þe secre of secretȝ par de Also þer was a disciple of plato That on a tyme sayde his maister to As his book somer wil bere witnesse And þis was his demaunde in sothfastnesse / Tel me þe name of þe priue stoon And plato answered vnto him anoon Take þe stoon þat titanos men name / which is þat quod he magnasia is þe same Sayde plato ȝe sire and is it þus This ignotus per ignotius what is magnasia good sir I ȝou pray It is a water þat is maad I say Of elementes foure quod plato Telle me þe rooche good sire quod he þo Of þat water if it be ȝour wille Nay nay quod plato certeyn þat I nylle The philosophres sworn were euerich oon That thay scholde discouere it vnto man noon Ne in no book it write in no manere / For vnto crist it is so leef and deere That he wil not þat it discouered be / But wher it likeþ to his deite / Man to enspire and eek for to defende whom þat him likeþ lo þis is þe ende Than conclude I þus syn god of heuene / Ne wol not þat þe philosophres neuene / how þat a man schal come vnto þis stoon I rede as for þe beste let it goon For who-so makeþ god his aduersarie As for to werke eny þing in contrarie Vnto his wil certes neuer schal he þriue Though þat he multiplie terme of al his lyue And þer a poynt for ended is my tale God send euery trewe man boote of his bale / ¶ Here endeth þe chanouns ȝeman his tale[No break in the MS.] GROUP C. FRAGMENT IV. § 1. THE DOCTOR'S TALE. HARLEIAN MS. 7334 (British Museum). ¶ And here bygynneth þe tale of þe Doctor of of phisik Ther was as telleþ Thitus lyuius A knight þat cleped was virginieus Fulfild of honours and of worþines And strong of frendes and of gret riches A doughter he hadde by his wyf And neuer ne hadde he mo in al his lyf Fair was þis mayde in excellent beaute Aboue euery wight that men may se For nature haþ wiþ souereyn diligence I-formed hir in so gret excellence As þough sche wolde say lo I nature þus can I forme and peynte a creature whan þat/ me lust who can me counterfete Pigmalion nouȝt þough he alwey forge and bete / Or graue or peynte for I dar wel sayn appollus ȝepherus schulde wirche in vayn To graue or paynte or forge & bete If þay presumed me to counterfete For he þat is þe former principal haþ maad me his viker general To forme and peynte erþely creature Right as me lust al þing is in my cure Vnder þe moone þat may wane and waxe And for my werke noþing wol I axe My lord and I ben fully at accord I made hir to þe worschip of my lord So do I alle myn oþer creatures what colour þat þay been or what figures / Thus semeþ me þat nature wolde say This mayde was of age twelf ȝer and tway In which þat nature haþ suche delite For right as sche can peynte a lili white And rody a rose right with such peynture Sche peynted haþ þis noble creature Er sche was born vpon her limes fre were als bright as such colour schulde be And phebus deyed hadde hire tresses grete I-lyk to þe stremes of his borned hete And if þat excellent was hir beaute A þousand fold more vertuous was sche And hire ne lakkeþ no condicioun That is to preyse as by discrecioun As wel in body as goost chaste was sche For which sche floured in virginite with alle humilite and abstinence with alle attemperaunce and pacience with mesure eek and beryng of array Discret sche was in answeryng alway Though sche were wis pallas dar I sayn hir facound eek ful wommanly and playn Noon countrefeted termes hadde sche To seme wys but after hir degre Sche spak and alle hire wordes more and lesse Sovnyng in vertu and in gentilesse Schamefast sche was in maydenes schamfastnesse Constant in hert. and euer in besynesse To dryue hire out of hir slogardye Bachus had of hir mouþ no maistrye For wille and þought doon venus encrece As men in fuyr wil caste oyle or grece And of hir oughne vertu vnconstreigned Sche haþ ful ofte tyme hire seek y-feyned For þat sche wolde fleen þe companye wher likly was to treten of folye As is at festes reueles and at daunces That ben occasiouns of daliaunces Such þinges maken children for to be / To soone rype and bold . as men may se / which is ful perilous and haþ ben ȝore For al to soone may sche lerne lore Of boldenesse whan sche is a wyf And ȝe maystresses in ȝoure olde lyf That lordes doughtres han in gouernaunce Ne takeþ of my word no displesaunce / Thinges þat ben set in gouernynges Of lordes douȝtres oonly for tuo þinges / Ouþer for ȝe han kept ȝour honeste Oþer elles for ȝe han falle in frelete And knowe wel y-nough þe olde daunce And conne forsake fully meschaunce For euermo þerfore for cristes sake / kepeþ wel þo þat ȝe vndertake A þeof of venesoun þat haþ forlaft his licorousnesse and al his theues craft Can kepe a forest best of eny man Now kepe hir wel for and ȝe wil ȝe can loke wel to no vice ȝe assent lest ȝe be dampned for ȝour wikked entent For who-so doþ a traytour is certayn And takeþ keep of þat þat sche schal sayn Of al tresoun souereyn pestilence Is whan a wight bytrayeth Innocence Ȝe fadres and ȝe modres eek also Though ȝe han children be it oon or mo Ȝoure is þe charge of al her sufferaunce whiles þay be vnder ȝour gouernaunce / Beth war þat by ensample of ȝoure lyuynge Ouþer by necgligence in chastisynge That þay ne perische for I dar wel seye If þat þay doon ȝe schul ful sore abeye vnder a schepherd softe and necligent The wolf haþ many a schep and lamb torent Sufficeþ oon ensample now as here For I moot turne aȝein to my matiere This mayde of which I telle my tale expresse So kept hir self hir neded no maystresse For in hir lyuyng maydens mighte rede As in a book euery good word and dede / That longeþ vnto a mayden vertuous Sche was so prudent and so bounteous For þe which out sprong on euery syde / Boþe of hir beaute and bounte wyde That þurgh þe lond þay praysed hir ilkoone / That louede vertu saue enuye alloone / That sory is of oþer mennes wele / And glad is of his sorwe and vnhele The doctor made þis descripcioun This mayde wente vpon a day in to þe toun Toward þe temple with hir moder deere As is of ȝonge maydenes þe manere Now was þer a Iustice in þe toun That gouernour was of þat Regioun And so bifel þis Iuge his eyȝen cast Vpon þis mayde auysing hir ful fast As sche cam forby þer þe Iuge stood Anoon his herte chaunged and his mood So was he caught wiþ beaute of þis mayde And to himself ful priuely he sayde This mayde schal be myn for any man Anoon þe feend in to his herte ran And taughte him sodeinly by what slighte This mayde to his purpos wynne he mighte / For certes by no fors ne by no meede him þought he was not able for to speede / For sche was strong of frendes and eek sche Conformed was in such souerayn bounte That wel he wist he might hir neuer wynne As for to make hir with hir body synne For which wiþ gret deliberacioun he sent after a clerk was in þe toun The which he knew for subtil and for bold This Iuge vnto þe clerk his tale haþ told In secre wyse and made him to assure He schulde telle it to no creature And if he dede he schulde lese his heed whan þat assented was þis cursed reed Glad was the Iuge and made glad cheere / And ȝaf him ȝiftes precious and deere / whan schapen was al þis conspiracye / Fro poynt to poynt how þat his lecherie Parformed scholde be ful subtilly As ȝe schul here afterward openly / hom goþ þis clerk þat highte Claudius This false Iuge þat highte apius So was his name for it is no fable But knowen for a storial þing notable The sentence of hit soþ is out of doute This false iugge goþ now fast aboute / To hasten his delit al þat he may / And so bifel soone after on a day This false Iuge as telleþ vs þe story As he was wont sat in his consistory And ȝaf his domes vpon sondry caas This false clerk com forth a ful good paas And saide lord if þat it be ȝour wille As doþ me right vpon þis pitous bille In which I pleyne vpon virgilius And if he wile seyn it is nouȝt þus I wil proue hit and fynde good witnesse That soþ is þat my bulle wol expresse / The Iuge answerd of þis in his absence I may not ȝiue diffinityf sentence let do him calle and I wol gladly hiere Thou schalt haue alle right and no wrong heere Virginius com to wite þe Iugges wille / And right anoon was red þis cursed bille The sentence of hit was as ȝe schul heere ¶ To ȝow my lord sire apius so deere Scheweþ ȝoure pore seruaunt Claudius how þat a knight called Virginius Aȝeins þe lawe aȝens alle equyte / holdeth expresse aȝeinst þe wille of me My seruaunt which þat my thral is by right which fro myn hous was stolen on a night whiles sche was ful ȝong þat wol I preue By witnesse lord so þat ȝe ȝow not greue Sche is nought his douȝter what so he say wherfore to ȝow my lord þe Iugge I pray Ȝelde me my þrall if þat it be ȝour wille lo þis was al þe sentence of þe bille Virgineus gan vpon þe clerk byholde But hastily er he his tale tolde he wolde haue proued it as schold a knight And eek by witnessyng of many a wight That al was fals þat sayde his aduersarie This cursed Iuge wold no lenger tarye / Ne heere a word more of virgineus But ȝaf his Iugement and saide þus I deme anoon þis clerk his seruaunt haue Thou schalt no lenger in þin hous hir haue Go bringe hir forþ and put hir in oure warde This clerk schal haue his thral thus I a-warde And whan þis worþy knight virgineus Thurgh þassent of þis Iuge apius Moste by force his deere douȝter ȝiuen Vnto þe Iuge in lecchery to lyuen he goþ him hom and sette him in his halle / And leet anoon his deere douȝter calle / And wiþ a face deed as aisshen colde vpon hir humble face he gan byholde with fadres pite stiking þorugh his herte Al wolde he from his purpos not conuerte / Doughter quod he virginea by þy name Ther ben tuo weyes eyþer deþ or schame That þou most suffre allas þat I was bore For neuer þou deseruedest wherfore To deyen with a swerd or with a knyf O deere doughter ender of my lif which I haue fostred vp with such plesaunce· That þou nere oute of my remembraunce O doughter which . þat art my laste wo And in þis lif my laste ioye also O gemme of chastite in pacience Tak þou þy deth for þis is my sentence For loue and not for hate þou most be deed My pitous hond mot smyten of þin heed Allas þat euer apius þe say Thus haþ he falsly iugged þe to day And told hir al þe caas as ȝe bifore han herd . it nedeth nought to telle it more Mercy deere fader quod þis mayde And with þat word sche boþe hir armes layde / Aboute his nekke as sche was wont to doo The teeres brast out of hir eyȝen tuo And sayde goode fader schal I dye Is ther no grace is þer no remedye No certeyn deere doughter myn quod he / Than ȝeue me leue fader myn quod sche / My deþ for to compleyne a litel space / For par dy Ieffa ȝaf his douȝter grace For to compleyne er he hir slough allas And God it woot no þing was hir trespas But þat sche ran hir fader first/ to se To welcome him with gret solempnite And with þat word a swoun sche fel anoon / And after whan hir swownyng was agoon Sche riseþ vp and to hir fader sayde / Blessed be god þat I schal deye a mayde / Ȝeue me my deth er þat I haue a schame Do with ȝour child ȝour wille a goddes name And with þat word sche prayed him ful ofte That wiþ his swerd he schulde smyte hir softe And wiþ þat word on swoune doun sche fel hir fader with ful sorwful hert and fel hir heed of smoot and by þe top it hente And to þe Iuge bigan it to presente As he sat in his doom in concistory whan the Iuge it say as saiþ the story he bad take him and honge him faste But right anoon alle þe poeple in þraste / To saue þe knight for rouþe and for pite For knowen was þe fals iniquite / The poeple anoon had suspect in þis þing By moner of þis clerkes chalengyng That it was by thassent of apius That wiste wel þat he was leccherous For which vnto þis Apius þay goon And casten him in prisoun right anoon wher as he slough himself and Claudius That servaunt was vnto þis Apius was demed for to honge vpon a tree But virgineus of his grete pite Prayde for him þat he was exiled And elles certes he had ben bigiled The remenaunt were anhanged more and lesse / That were consented to þis cursednesse / Her may men se how synne hath his merite Be war for no man woot how god wol smyte / In no degre ne in which maner wise The worm of conscience wol arise Of wicked lyf þough it so pryue be That no man woot of it but god and he wher þat he be lewed man or lered He not how soone þat he may be afered Therfore I rede ȝow this counseil take Forsakith synne / er synne yow forsake ¶ Here endeth þe Doctor of phisique his tale[No break in the MS.] ¶ And here bygynneth þe prologe of the Pardoner / Owre ost gan swere as he were wood harrow quod he by nayles and by blood This was a cursed þef a fals Iustice As schendful deþ as herte can deuise So falle vpon his body and his boones The deuel I bykenne him al at oones Allas to deere boughte sche hir beaute wherfore I say þat alle men may se That ȝiftes of fortune or of nature / Ben cause of deth of many a creature / hir beaute was hir deþ I dar wel sayn Allas so pitously as he was slayn . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. But trewely myn owne maister deere This was a pitous tale for to heere But naþeles pas ouer þis is no fors I pray to god to saue þi gentil corps . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. And euery boist ful of þi letuarie God blesse hem and oure lady seinte marie / So mot I þen þou art a propre man And y-lik a prelat by seint Runyan Sayde I wel can I not speke in terme But wel I woot þou dost myn herte erme I haue almost y-caught a cardiacle By corpus boones but I haue triacle Oþer elles a draught of moyst and corny ale Oþer but/ I hiere anoon a mery tale Myn hert is brost. for pite of þat mayde Thow pardoner þou belamy he sayde / Tel vs a tale for þou canst many oon It schal be doon quod he and þat anoon But first quod he her at þis ale stake / I wil first drynke and byt on a cake But right anoon þe gentils gan to crie Nay let him tellen vs no ribaudye Tel vs som moral þing þat we may leere / Gladly quod he and sayde as ȝe schal heere But in þe cuppe wil I me beþinke vpon some honest tale whil I drinke /[No break in the MS.] LOrdyngs quod he in chirche whan I preche¶ Narrat I peyne me to haue an hauteyn speche / And ryng it out as lowd as doþ a belle For I can al by rote þat I telle My teeme is alway oon and euer was Radix omnium malorum est Cupiditas First I pronounce whennes þat I come And þanne my bulles schewe I alle and some Oure liege lordes seal vpon my patent That schewe I first my body to warent/ That no man be so hardy prest ne clerk Me to destourbe of cristes holy werk And after þat þan tel I forth my tales Bulles of popes and of Cardynales / Of patriarkes and of bisshops I schewe And in latyn speke I wordes fewe / To sauore with my predicacioun And for to stere hem to deuocioun Thanne schewe I forth my longe cristal stoones I-crammed ful of cloutes and of boones Reliks þay ben as wene þei echoon Than haue I in latoun a schulder boon which þat was of an holy Iewes scheep Good men say I tak of my wordes keep If þat þis boon be waische in eny welle / If cow or calf or scheep or oxe swelle That eny worm haþ ete or worm I-stonge Tak water of þat welle and waisch his tonge And it is hool anoon and forþer-more Of pokkes and of scabbe and euery sore / Schal euery scheep be hool þat of þis welle That drynketh a draught tak heed eek what I telle If þat þe goode man þat þe beest oweþ wol euery wike er þat þe cok him croweþ Fastynge drynke / of þis welle a draught As þilke holy Iew oure eldres taught His beestes and his stoor schal multiplie And sires also it kelith Ialousie For þough a man be ful in ialous rage let make wiþ þis water his potage And neuer schal he more his wyf mys trist þough he þe soþ of hir defaute wist Al hadde sche take prestes tuo or þre her is a meteyn eek þat ȝe may see he þat his honde put in þis metayn he schal haue multiplying of grayn whan he haþ sowen. be it whete or otes So þat ȝe offre pans or elles grootes And men and wommen oon þing warne I ȝow If eny wight be in þis chirche now That haþ doon synne orrible þat he Dar nought for schame of it schryuen be Or ony womman be sche ȝong or old That hath y-maad hir housbond cokewold which folk schal haue no power ne grace To offre to my relikes in þis place And who so fint him out of suche blame Thay wol come vp and offre in goddes name And I assoile hem by þe auctorite which þat by bulle. was I-graunted me By þis gaude haue I wonne euery ȝeer An hundred mark syn I was pardoner I stonde lik a clerk in my pulpit And whan þe lewed poeple is doun I-set I preche so as ȝe haue herd bifore And telle hem an hondred Iapes more Than peyne I me to strecche forþ my necke And est and west vpon þe poeple I bekke As doþ a dowfe syttyng on a berne Myn hondes and my tonge goon so ȝerne That it is ioye to se my busynesse Of auarice and of such cursednesse Is al my preching for to make hem fre To ȝeue here pans and namely vnto me For myn entent is nought but for to wynne And no þing for correccioun of synne I rekke neuer. when þay ben I-beryed Though þat here soules gone a blakeberyed For certes many a predicacioun Comeþ ofte tyme of euel entencioun Som for plesauns of folk and flaterie To ben auaunced by ypocrisie And som for veine gloir and som for hate For whan I dar not oþer weys debate Than wil I stynge him with my tonge smerte In preching so þat he schal not astert To be diffamed falsly if þat he haþ trespast to my breþeren or to me For þough I telle not his propre name Men schal wel knowe þat it is þe same / By signes and by oþer circumstaunces Thus quyt I folk þat doon vs displesaunces Thus put I out my venym vnder hiewe Of holynes. to seme holy and trewe / But schortly myn entent I wol deuyse I preche no þing but of coueityse Therfor my teem is ȝit and euer was Radix omnium. malorum est Cupiditas Thus can I preche agayn þe same vice which þat I vse and þat is auarice But though my self be gulty in þe synne Ȝit can I make oþer folk to twynne / From auarice and soone to repent But þat/ is not my principal entent I preche no þing but for coueitise Of þis matier it ought Inough suffise Than telle I hem ensamples many oon Of olde þinges longe tyme agoon For lewed poeple louen tales olde which þinges can þay wel report and holde / what trowe ȝe whiles I may preche And wynne gold and siluer for I teche That I wil lyue in pouert wilfully Nay nay I þought it/ neuer trewly For I wol preche and begge in sondry londes I wil do no labour wiþ myn hondes Ne make basketis and lyue þer by By cause I wil nought begge ydelly I wol noon of thapostles counterfete I wol haue money. wolle chese and whete / Al were it ȝeuen of þe prestes page Or of þe porest wydow in a village And schold hir children sterue for famyn Nay I wol drinke licour of þe wyn And haue a ioly wenche in euery toun But herkneþ lordynges my conclusioun Ȝoure likyng is. þat I schal telle a tale Now haue I dronk a draught of corny ale / By god I hope I schal telle ȝow a þing That schal by resoun be at ȝour liking For þough myself be a ful vicious man A moral tale ȝit I ȝow telle can which I am wont to preche for to wynne Now hold ȝour pees my tale I wol byginne[Partial break of one line in the MS.] IN Flaundres whilom was a companye /¶ Narrat Of ȝonge folkes þat haunted folye As ryot hasard stywes and tauernes wher as wiþ lutes harpes and gyternes Thay daunce and play at dees boþe day & night And ete also and drynk ouer her might Thurgh which þay doon þe deuyl sacrifise wiþinne þe deueles temple in cursed wise By superfluite abhominable her othes been so greet and so dampnable That it is grisly for to hiere hem swere Our blisful lordes body þay totere hem þoughte Iewes rent him nouȝt y-nough And ech of hem at oþeres synne lough And right anoon þer come tombesteris . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. Whiche þat ben verray þe deueles officeres To kyndle and blowe þe fuyr of leccherie Þat is anexid vnto glotonye The holy wryt take I to my witnesse¶ nolite inebriare vino in quo &c. That luxury is in wyn and dronkenesse lo how þat dronken loth vnkyndely lay by his doughtres tuo vnwityngly So dronk he was he niste what he wrought herodes who-so wel þe story sought . . . . .no spurious lines in this MS. whan he of wyn was repleet at his fest Right at his oughne table ȝaf his hest To sle þe baptist Iohn ful gilteles Seneca seiþ a good word douteles he saiþ he can no difference fynde Bituyx a man þat is out of his mynde And a man þe which is dronkelewe But þat woodnes fallen in a schrewe Perseuereth lenger þan doth dronkennesse O glutonye ful of corsidnesse O cause first of oure confusioun O origiual of oure dampnacioun Til crist had bought out wiþ his blood agayn lo how dere schortly for to sayn Abought was first/ þis cursed felonye Corupt was al þis world for glotonye Adam our fader and his wyf also Fro paradys to labour and to woQuam diu ieiunauit adam in paradyso fuit comedit et eiectus est statim duxit vxorem &c. were dryuen for þat vice it is no drede For whils þat adam fasted as I rede he was in paradis and whan þat he Eet of þe fruyt defendit of a tre he was out cast to wo and in-to peyne O. glotony. wel ought vs on þe pleyne O. wist a man how many maladyes Folwith of excesse and of glotonyes he wolde be þe more mesurable Of his diete sittyng at his table Allas þe schorte þrote þe tendre mouþ Makeþ þat Est. West. north and south In erþe in watir in ayer man to swynke To gete a sely glotoun mete and drynke. Of þis matier o poul wel canstow trete Mete vnto wombe and wombe vnto meteEsca ventris & venter escis deus autem hunc & illam destruet &c. Schal god destroyen boþe as powel saiþ Allas a foul þing is it by my faiþ To say þis word / and fouler is þe dede whan men so drynke / of þe whyt and redeAd philipenses capitulo 3o That of his þrote he makiþ his priue Thurgh þilke cursed superfluite Thapostil wepyng saiþ ful pitously Ther walkith many of which ȝou told haue I I say it now wepyng wiþ pitous vois Thay are enemys of cristes croys / Of which þe ende is deth wombe is her god O wombe / o bely. o stynkyng is þi cod Fulfild of dong / and of corrupcioun At eyþer ende of þe foul is þe soun how gret cost / and labour is þe to fynde / These cokes how þey stamp and streyn and grynde / And torne substaunce in to accident To fulfille / þy licorous talent Out of þe harde boones gete þay The mary for þay caste nouȝt away That may go þurgh þe golet softe and soote Of spicery and leuys bark and roote Schal ben his sauce maad to his delyt/ To make him haue a newe appetit But certes he þat haunteþ suche delices Is deed þer whiles þat he lyueþ in vices A licorous þing is wyn and dronkenesse Is ful of stryuyng and of wrecchednesse O dronke man disfigured is þi face Sour is þi breþ foul artow to embrace And þurgh þi dronkenesse sowneþ þe soun As þough þou seydest ay Sampsoun Sampsoun And ȝit god wot sampson drank neuer wyn Thou fallist as it were a stiked swyn Thy tonge is lost and al þin honest cure For dronkenes is verray sepulture Of mannes witt and his discrecioun In whom þat drynk haþ dominacioun He can no counseil kepe it is no drede Ne keep ȝow from þe white and from þe rede Namely fro þe white wyn of leepe That is to selle in Fleetstreet or in Chepe This wyn of Spayne crepith subtily In oþer wynes growyng faste by Of which þer riseth such fumosite / That whan a man hath dronke draughtes þre / And weneth þat he be at hom in Chepe He is in Spayne right.at þe toun of lepe / Nought at þe Rochel ne at Burdeaux toun And þanne wol þai say Sampsoun Sampsoun. But herken lordyngs o word I ȝou pray / That alle þe souerayn actes dar I say Of victories in þe olde testament That þorugh þe verray god omnipotent were doon in abstinence and in prayere / Lokith þe bible and þer ȝe may it hiere Loke atthila þe grete conquerour Deyd in his sleep with schame and dishonour Bleedyng ay at his nose in dronkenesse / A captayn schuld ay lyue in sobrenesse And ouer al this aryse ȝow right wel what was comaunded vnto lamuel Nought samuel but lamuel say I Redith þe bible and fyndeþ expresly Of wyn ȝeuyng / to hem þat han Iustice No more of þis for it may wel suffice And now I haue I-spoke of glotonye / Now wil I ȝow defende hasardrye ¶ Hasard is verray moder of lesynges And of deceipt of cursed forsweringes Blaspheme of crist manslaught and wast also /; Of catel and of tyme. forther mo. It is reproef and contrair to honour For to be halde a comun hasardour And euer þe heyer he is of astaat The more is he holden desolaat If þat a prince vse hasardrie In alle gouernance and policie He is as by comun opinioun Holde þe lasse in reputacioun Stilbon þat was I-holde a wis embasitour was sent in to Corinthe with gret honour Fro lacidome to make hir alliaunce And whan him cam him happede par chaunce / That alle þe grettest þat were of þat lond / Playing atte hasard he hem fond For which as soone as it mighte be He stal him hoom aȝein to his contre And saide ther I nyl nouȝt lese my name I nyl not take on me so gret diffame Ȝow for to allie vnto noon hasardoures / Sendeth oþerwise embasitoures For by my trouþe me were leuer dye Than I ȝow scholde / to hasardours allye / For ȝe þat ben so glorious in honoures Schal not allie ȝow with hasardoures As by my wil / ne as by my trete This wise philosophre þus sayd he lo eek þat þe king Demetrius The king of Parthes as þe saith vs Sent him a paire dees of gold in scorn For he had vsed tauern þer toforn For which he hield his gloir and his renoun At no valieu or reputacioun Lordes may fynde oþer maner play Honest ynough to dryue away þe day Now wol I speke of oþes fals and grete / A word or tuo as oþer bookes entrete Gret swering is a þing abhominable And fals swering is more reprouable The hyhe god forbad sweryng at al / witnes on Mathew but in special Of sweryng saith þe holy Ieremye Thou schalt say soth þin oþes and not lye And swere in doom and eek in rightwisnes But ydel sweryng is a cursednes Bihold and se þer in þe firste table Of hihe goddes heste honurable / How þat þe secounde heste is this Tak not in ydel ne his name amys Lo he rather forbedith such sweryng Than homicide or many a corsed þing I say as by order þus it stondith This knoweth he þat þe hestes vnderstondeth how þat þe second hest of god is that And forþermore I wol þe telle a plat The vegance schal not parte fro his hous That of his othes is outrageous By goddes precious hert and by his nayles And by þe blood of crist þat/ is in hayles Seuen is my chaunce and also cink and tray By goddis armes and þou falsly play This daggere schal þurgh þin herte goo This fruyt comeþ of þe bicchid boones tuo Forswering Ire / falsnes homicide / Now for þe loue of crist þat for vs dyde leueth ȝoure othis boþe gret and smale But sires now wol I telle forþ my tale These riottours þre / of which I ȝou telle longe erst þan prime rong eny belle were set hem in a tauern for to drynke And as þay sat þay herd a belle clinke Biforn a corps was caried to þe graue That oon of hem gan calle vnto his knaue Go bet quoþ he and axe redily what corps is þat passeth her forþ by And loke þou report his name wel Sire quod he but þat nedeþ neuer a del It was me told er ȝe com heer tuo houres He was par dy an old felaw of ȝoures And sodeinly he was I-slayn to night Fordronk as he sat on his bench vpright Ther com a priue thef men clepen deth That in þis contre al þe peple sleth And with his spere he smot his hert a tuo And went his way wiþoute wordes mo he haþ a þousand slayn þis pestilence And maister er ȝe come in his presence / Me þinkeþ þat it is ful necessarie / For to be war of such an aduersarie Beþ redy for to meete him euermore Thus taughte me my dame I say nomore By seinte mary sayde þe tauerner The child saiþ soþ for he haþ slayn þis ȝeer Hens ouer a myle wiþinne a gret village Boþe man and womman. child and page I trowe his habitacioun be þere To ben auysed gret wisdom it were Er þat he dede a man þat dishonour ȝe goddis armes quod þis ryottour Is it such peril with him for to meete / I schal him seeke by way and eek by strete I make avow to goddis digne boones Herkneþ felaws we þre ben al oones let ech of vs hold vp his hond to other And ech of vs bycome oþeres broþer And we wil slee þis false traitour deth He schal be slayne/ that so many sleeth By goddis dignete er it be night Togideres han þese þre here trouþes plight To lyue and deye ech of he wiþ oþer As þough he were his oughne sworne broþer And vp þai startyn al dronke in þis rage / And forþ þai goon towardes þat village Of which þe tauerner haþ spoke biforn And many a grisly oth þan han þay sworn And cristes blessed body þay torent Deth schal be deed if þat þay may him hent Right as þay wolde haue torned ouer a style whan þai han goon nought fully a myle An old man and a pore with hem mette This olde man ful mekely hem grette / And saide þus lordynges god ȝow se The proudest of þe ryotoures þre Answerd aȝein. what carle wiþ meschaunce[A blank line is in MS after l. 717 and 718.] why artow al forwrapped saue þi face whi lyuest þou in so gret an age This olde man gan loke on his visage And saide þus for þat I can not fynde / A man þough þat I walke in to Inde Neiþer in Cite noon ne in village That wol chaunge his ȝouþe for myn age And þerfore moot I haue myn age stille / As longe tyme as it is goddes wille And deth allas ne wil not haue my lif Thus walk I lik a resteles caytif And on þe ground which is my modres gate I knokke with my staf erly and late And saye leeue moder let me In Lo how I wane fleisch. and blood and skyn Allas whan schuln my boones ben at rest Moder with ȝow wil I chaunge my chest/ That in my chamber. longe tyme haþ be Ȝe for an haire clout/ to wrap in me But ȝet to me sche wil not do þat grace For which ful pale and welkid is my face But sires to ȝow. it is no curtesye To speke vnto an old man vilonye But he trespas in word or elles dede In holy writ ȝe may ȝour self wel rede Aȝens an old man hoor vpon his hede Ȝe schold arise wherefor I ȝow rede / Ne doth vnto an old man more harm now Na more þan ȝe wolde men dede to ȝow; In age . if þat ȝe may so long abyde And god be with ȝou / wher so ȝe go or ryde I moot go þider as I haue to goo Nay olde cherl by god thou schalt not so Sayde þat oþer hasardour anoon Thou partist nouȝt so lightly by seint Iohn Thou spak right now of þat traytour deþ That in þis contre alle oure frendes sleþ Haue her my trouth as þou art his aspye / Tel wher he is or elles þou schalt dye / By god and by þat holy sacrament/ For soþly þou art oon of his assent To schewe vs ȝonge folk þe false theef Now sires þan if þat ȝow be so leef To fynde deþ torn vp þis croked way For in þat groue I laft him by my fay Vnder a tree and þer he wil abyde Ne for ȝour bost he nyl him no þing hyde Se ȝe þat ook right þer ȝe schuln him fynde God saue ȝow þat bought aȝein mankynde And ȝow amend þus sayde þis olde man And euerich of þese riotoures ran Til þay come to the tre and ther þay founde Of florins fyn of gold y-coyned rounde wel neygh a seuen busshels as me thought No lenger þanne after deþ þay sought But ech of hem so glad was of þat sight For þat þe florens so faire were and bright That doun þai sette hem by þat precious hord The ȝongest of hem spak/ þe firste word Breþeren takeþ keep what I schal say My witte is gret þough þat I bourde and play This tresour haþ fortune to vs ȝiuen In mirth and iolyte our lif to lyuen And lightly as it comth so wil we spende Ey goddis precious dignite who wende To day þat we schuld haue so fair a grace But might þis gold be caried fro þis place Hom to myn hous or ellis vnto ȝoures For wel I wot þat þis gold is nouȝt oures Than were we . in heyh felicite But trewely by day it may not be Men wolde say þat we were þeues stronge / And for oure tresour doon vs for to honge This tresour moste caried be by night As wysly and as slely as it might wherfore I rede þat cut among vs alle Be drawe and let se wher þe cut wil falle He þat haþ þe cut wiþ herte bliþe/ Schal renne to þe toun and þat ful swithe To bring vs bred and wyn ful priuely And tuo of vs schal kepe subtilly This tresour wel and if he wil not tarie whan it is night we wol þis tresour carie By oon assent þer as vs likeþ best/ That oon of hem þe cut/ brought in his fest/ And bad hem drawe and loke wher it wil falle And it fel on þe ȝongest of hem alle / And forþ toward þe toun he went anoon And al so soone as he was agoon That oon of hem . spak vnto þat oþer Thow wost/ wel þat þou art my sworne broþer Thy profyt wol I . telle þe anoon Thow wost wel þat our felaw is a-goon And her is gold and þat ful gret plente That schal departed be among vs þre / But naþeles if I can schape it so That it departed were bitwix vs tuo had I not doon a frendes torn to þe / That oþer answerd I not how þat may be/ he wot wel þat þe gold is wiþ vs tway what schulde we þan do what schuld we say Schal it be counsail sayde þe ferste schrewe And I schal telle þe in wordes fewe / what we schul doon and bringe it wel aboute I graunte quod þat other wiþoute doute That by my trouþe I wil þe nought bywray Now quod þe first þou wost wel we ben tway And two of vs schuln strenger be þan oon lok whanne he is sett and þat anoon Arys as þou woldest with him pleye And I schal ryf him thurgh þe sydes tweye whils þou strogelest wiþ him as in game And with þi dagger loke þou do þe same And þan schal al þe gold departed be My dere frend bitwixe þe and me Than may we oure lustes fulfille And play at dees right at our owne wille And þus accorded ben þese schrewes twayn To sle þe þridde . as ȝe herd me sayn This ȝongest/ which þat wente to þe toun Ful fast in hert/ he rollith vp and doun The beaute of þe florins newe and bright O lord quod he if so were þat I might Haue al þis gold vnto my self alloone Ther is no man þat lyueth vnder þe troone Of gold þat schulde lyue so mery as I And atte last þe feend oure enemy Put in his þought þat he schuld poysoun beye wiþ which he mighte sle his felaws tweye For-why þe feend fond him in such lyuynge That he had leue to sorwe him to brynge For þis witterly . was his entent To slen hem boþe and neuer to repent/ And forth he goþ no lenger wold he tary In to þe toun vnto a potecary / And prayde him þat he him wolde selle Som poysoun þat he might his rattis quelle And eek þer was a polkat in his hawe / As he sayde his capouns had I-slawe / And said he wold him wreke if þat he might On vermyn þat destroyed him by night Thapotecary answerd and þou schalt haue A þing þat also god my soule saue In al þis world þer nys no creature That ete or dronk had of þis confecture Nought but þe mountaunce of a corn of whete That he ne schuld his lif anoon forlete / Ȝe sterue he schal and þat in lasse while Than þou wilt goon a paas not but a myle / The poysoun is so strong and violent This cursed man haþ in his hond I-hent This poysoun in a box & sins he ran In to þe nexte stret vnto a man And borwed him large botels þre And in þe two his poysoun poured he The þrid he keped clene for his drynke For al þe night he schop him for to swynke In carying the gold out of þat place And whan þis riotour with sory grace had fillid with wyn his botels þre To his felaws aȝein repaireth he what nedith it to sermoun it more For right as þay had cast/ his deth bifore Right so þay han him slayn and þat anoon And whan þis was I-doon þan spak þat oon Now let vs drynk and sitte and make vs mery And siþþen we wil his body bery And afterward it happed hem par cas To take þe botel þer þe poysoun was And drank and ȝaf his felaw drink also For which þay sterued boþe tuo But certes I suppose þat amycen wrot neuer in Canoun ne in non fen Mo wonder sorwes of empoisonyng Thus hadde þese wrecches tuo here endyng Thus endid been þese homicides tuo And eek þe fals empoysoner also / O cursed synne ful of cursednesse O traytorous homicidy o wikkednesse O glotony luxurie and hasardrye / Thou blasphemour of crist with vilanye And oþes grete of vsage and of pride Allas mankynde how may it bytyde Ther to þy creatour which þat þe wrought And wiþ his precious herte blood þe bought Thou art so fals and so vnkynde allas Now good men god forȝeue ȝow ȝour trespas And ware ȝow fro þe synne of auarice Myn holy pardoun may ȝou alle warice So þat ȝe offren noblis or starlinges Or elles siluer spones broches or rynges Bowiþ ȝour hedes vnder þis holy bulle Comeþ forþ ȝe wyues and offreþ ȝour wolle Ȝour names I entre her in my rolle anoon In to þe blis of heuen schul ȝe goon I ȝow assoile by myn heyh power If ȝe woln offre as clene and eek als cler As ȝe were born . and sires lo þus I preche / And Ihū crist þat is oure soules leche So graunte ȝow his pardoun to receyue For þat is best I wil not ȝow disceyue But sires o word forȝat I in my tale / I haue reliks and pardoun in my male / As fair as eny man in Engelond which were me I-ȝeue by popes hond If eny of ȝow wol of deuocioun Offren and haue myn absolucioun Cometh forth anon knelith her a-doun And ȝe schul haue here my pardoun Or elles takith pardoun as ȝe wende Al newe and freissch at euery townes ende So þat ȝe offren alway new and newe / Nobles and pens which þat ben good and trewe / It is an honur to euery þat is heer That may haue a suffisaunt pardoner Tassoile ȝow in contre as ȝe ryde For auentures which þat may bytyde For paraunter· þer may falle oon or tuo Doun of his hors and breke his nekke a-tuo loke such a seurete is to ȝou alle That I am in ȝour felaschip I-falle That may assoyle ȝou boþe more and lasse whan þat þe soule schal fro þe body passe I rede þat oure hoste schal bygynne For he is most enuoliped in synne Com forþ sire ost and offer first anoon And þou schalt kisse þe reliquis euerichoon Ȝe for a grote vnbocle þi purs Nay nay quod he þan haue I cristes curs let be quod he it schal not be so theech Thou woldest make me kisse þin olde breech And swere it were a relik of a seynt Though it were wiþ þi foundement depeynt But by þe cros which þat seynt heleyn fond I wold I had þy coylons in myn hond In stede of reliks or of seintuary / let cut hem of I wol help hem to cary Thay schul be schryned in an hogges tord This pardoner answerde nat o word So wroþ he was he wolde no word say Now quod oure host I wol no lenger play wiþ þe ne with noon oþer angry man But right anoon þis worthy knight bygan whan þat he saugh þat al þe peple lough No more of þis for it is right ynough Sir pardoner be glad and mery of cheere And ȝe sir host þat ben to me so deere I pray ȝow þat ȝe kisse þe pardoner And pardoner I pray ȝow draweþ ȝow ner And as we dede let vs laugh and play Anoon þay kisse and riden forþ her way / ¶ Here endeth þe pardoneres tale[No break in the MS.] GROUP B. (β. FRAGMENT III.) § 4. THE SHIPMAN'S TALE. ¶ Here bygynneth þe Schipman his tale/ A Marchaunt whilom dwelled at seint Denys That riche was for which men hild him wys A wyf he had of excellent beaute And companable and reuerent was sche which is a þing þat causeth more despence Than worth is al þe cher and reuerence That men doon hem at festes or at daunces Such salutaciouns and continaunces Passeth as doþ þe schadow on a wal But wo is him þat paye moot for al The sely housbond algat moste pay He most vs cloþe . in ful good array Al for his oughne worschip richely In which array we daunce iolily And if þat he may not parauenture Or elles wil not/ such dispens endure But þynkeþ it is wasted and I-lost Than moot anoþer paye for oure cost Or lene vs gold and þat is perilous The worþy marchaunt huld a noble hous/ For which he hadde alday gret repair For his largesce and for his wyf was fair what wonder is but herkneþ to my tale Amonges al þese gestes gret and smale / Ther was a monk a fair man and a bold I trowe þritty wynter he was old That euer in oon was drawyng to þat place / This ȝonge monk þat was so fair of face Aqueynted was so wiþ þe goode man Siþ þat her firste knowleche bygan That in his hous as familier was he / As it possibil is a frend to be And for as mochil as þis goode man And eek þis monk of which þat I bygan were boþe tuo I-born in oon village / The monk him claymeth as for cosynage And he aȝein he saith nat oones nay But was as glad þer of as foul of day For to his hert it was a gret plesaunce / Thus ben þay knyt wiþ eterne alliaunce And ilk of hem gan oþer to assure / Of broþerhed whil þat her lif may dure Fre was daun Iohn and manly of despence / As in þat hous and ful of diligence To do plesaunce and also gret costage He nought forȝat to ȝeue þe leste page In al þat hous but after her degre / He ȝaf þe lord and siþþen þe meyne / whan þat he com som maner honest þing For which þay were as glad of his comyng As foul is fayn . whan þat þe sonne vpriseþ No mor of þis as now for it suffiseþ But so bifel þis marchaunt on a day / Schop him to make redy his array / Toward þe toun of Bruges for to fare / To byen þer a porcioun of ware For which he hath to paris sent anoon A messanger and prayed had dan Iohn That he schuld come to seint Denys and play with him and wiþ his wyf a day or tway Er he to brigges went . in alle wise This nobil monk/ of which I ȝow deuyse Haþ of his abbot as him list licence By cause he was a man of heih prudence And eek an officer out/ for to ryde / To se her graunges and her bernes wyde / And vnto seint denys he comeþ anoon who was so welcome as my lord dan Iohn Oure deere cosyn ful of curtesie / with him brought he a Iubbe of maluesie And eek/ anoþer ful of wyn vernage And volantyn as ay was his vsage And þus I lete hem ete and drynk and play This marchaunt and þis monk a day or tway The þridde day þis marchaund vp he riseth And on his needes sadly him auyseth And vp in to his countour hous goþ he To rekyn wiþ himself as wel may be / Of þilke ȝer how þat it with him stood And how þat he dispended had his good And if þat he encresced were or noon His bookes and his bagges many oon He haþ byforn him on his counter bord For riche was his tresor and his hord For which ful fast his countour dore he schette And eek he wolde no man schold him lette Of his accomptes for þe mene tyme / And þus he sat til it was passed prime Dan Iohn was risen in þe morn also And in the gardyn walkith to and fro And haþ his þinges said ful curteisly This good wyf com walkyng ful priuely In to a gardyn þer he walkeþ softe And him salueþ as sche haþ doon ful ofte A mayde child com in hir compaignie which as hir list sche may gouerne and gye For ȝit vnder þe ȝerde was þe mayde O dere cosyn myn dan Iohn sche sayde what ayleþ ȝow so raþe to arise Nece quod he it aught ynough suffise Fyue houres for to slepe a night But it were for eny old palled wight As ben þese weddid men þat lye and dare As in a forme liþ a wery hare were al forstraught with houndes gret and smale But dere nece why be ȝe so pale / I trowe certis þat oure goode man hath on ȝow laborid sith þe night bygan That ȝow were nede to resten hastiliche And with þat word he lowgh ful meriliche And of his owne þought he was al reed This faire wyf bygan to schake hir heed And sayde þus ȝe god wot al quod sche / Nay cosyn myn it stant not so wiþ me For by þat god þat ȝaf me soule and lif In al þe reme of Fraunce is þer no wif That lasse lust haþ to þat sory play For I may synge / allas and waylaway That I was born but to no wight quod sche Dar I not telle how it stont wiþ me Wherfor I þink out of þis lond to wende Or elles of my self to make an ende So ful am I of drede and eek of care This monk bygan vpon þis wif to stare And sayd allas my nece god forbede That ȝe for eny sorw or eny drede / Fordo ȝour self but telleþ me ȝour greef Parauenture I may in ȝoure mescheef Councel or help and þerfor telleþ me Al ȝour annoy for it schal be secre For on my portos I make an oth That neuer in my lif for lief ne loþ Schal I of no counseil ȝou bywray The same aȝein quod sche to ȝow I say By god and by þis portos wil I swere Though men me wolde al in peces tere Ne schal I neuer for to go to helle / Bywreye word . of þing þat ȝe me telle Not for no cosynage ne alliaunce But verrayly for loue and affiaunce Thus ben þay sworn and her-vpon I-kist And ilk of hem told oþer what hem list Cosyn quod sche if þat I had a space / As I haue noon and namly in þis place Then wold I telle a legend of my lyf what I haue suffred siþ I was a wyf wiþ myn housbond þough he be ȝour cosyn Nay quod þis monk by god and seint martyn He is no more cosyn vnto me Than is þis leef þat hongeþ on þe tre I clepid him so by seint Denis of Fraunce To haue þe more cause of acqueyntaunce Of ȝow which I haue loued specially Abouen alle wommen sikerly This swere I ȝow on my professioun Tellith ȝoure greef lest þat he come a doun And hasteth ȝow and goþ ȝour way anoon My deere loue quod sche . O dan Iohn Ful leef me were þis counseil to hyde But out it moot it may no more abyde Myn housbond is to me þe worste man That euer was siþþe þe world bigan But siþ I am a wif it sit nought me To telle eny wight of oure priuete . . . . .no gap in the MS. God schilde I scholde telle it for his grace / A wyf ne schal not say of hir housbonde But al honour as I can vnderstonde Saue vnto ȝow þus moche telle I schal As help me god he is not worþ at al In no degre þe valieu of a flie But ȝit me greueth most his nigardye And wel ȝe wot þat wymmen naturelly Desiren sixe þinges as wel as I They wolde þat here housbondes scholde be hardy and wys and riche and fre / And buxom to his wyf and freisch on bedde But by þe lord þat for vs alle bledde For his honour my seluen to array A sonday next comyng ȝit most I pay An hundred frank or elles I am lorn Ȝit were me leuer þat I were vnborn Than me were doon a sclaunder or vilenye · And if myn housbond eek might it espie I ner but lost and þerfor I ȝow pray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. For a certein day I wol ȝow pay And do to ȝow what pleasaunce and seruise That I may do right as ȝou list deuyse And but I do god take on me vengeaunce As foul as hadde Geneloun of Fraunce This gentil monk answard in þis manere Now trewely myn owne lady deere / I haue on ȝow so gret pite and reuthe / That I ȝow swere and plighte ȝow my treuþe That whan ȝour housbond is to Flaundres fare I schal deliuer ȝow out of ȝoure care For I wol bringe ȝow an hundred frankes / And with þat word he caught hir by þe schankes And hir embraced hard and kist hir ofte Goth now ȝour way quod he al stille and softe / And let vs dyne as sone as ȝe may For by my chilindre it is prime of day Goth now and beth as trew as I schal be / Now elles god forbede sire quod sche / And forþ sche goth as ioly as a pye / And bad þe cookes þat þai schold hem hye / So þat men myghte dyne and þat anoon vp to hir housbond þis wif is goon And knokkeþ at / his dore boldely Qy la quod he. peter it am I Quod sche how longe sire wol ȝe fast how longe tyme wol ȝe reken and cast ȝour sommes and ȝour bokes and ȝour þinges / The deuel haue part of alle such rekenynges ȝe haue I-nough par dy of goddes sonde / Com doun to day and let ȝour bagges stonde Ne be ȝe not aschamed that Daun Iohn Schal al day fastyng þus elenge goon what let vs hiere masse and gowe dyne wif quod þis man litel canstow diuine The curious besynesse þat we haue For of vs chapmen so god me saue And by þat lord that cleped is seint Iue Scarsly among twelue two schuln þriue Continuelly lastyng in to her age we may wel make cheer and good visage And dryue forth þe world as it may be And kepen our estat in priuete Til we be deed or elles þat we play A pilgrimage or goon out of þe way And þerfor haue I / gret necessite Vpon þis queynte world to auyse me For euermor we moste stond in drede Of hap and fortun / in our chapmanhede To Flaundres to morw at day And come agayn as soone as I may For which my deere wif I þe byseeke And be to euery wight buxom and meeke And for to kepe oure good be curious And honestly gouerne wel our hous Thou hast ynough in euery maner wise That to a thrifty housbond may suffise The lakkeþ noon array ne no vitaile Of siluer in þy purs þou mayst not faile And with þat word his contour dore he schitte And doun he goþ no lenger wold he lette And hastily a masse was þer sayd And spedily þe tables were I-layd And to þe dyner faste þay hem spedde / And rychely þis Chapman þe monk fedde / And after dyner daun Iohn sobrely This chapman took on part and priuely / Sayd him þus. cosyn it stondeth so That wel I se to brigges wol ȝe go / God and seint austyn spede ȝou and gyde / I pray ȝow cosyn wisly þat ȝe ryde Gouerneth ȝow also of ȝour diete Al temperelly and namely in þis hete Bitwix vs tuo nedeth no straunge fare Far wel cosyn . god schilde ȝou fro care If eny þing þer be by day or night If it lay in my power and my might That ȝe wil me comaunde in eny wise It schal be doon right as ȝe wol deuyse / O thing er þat ȝe goon if it might be / I wolde pray ȝow for to lene me An hundred frankes for a wyke or tweye For certeyn bestis þat I moste beye / To store with a place þat is oures God help me so I wolde it were ȝoures I schal not faile seurly of my day Nought for a þousand frankes a myle way But let þis þing be secre I ȝow pray / For for þe bestis þis night most I pay And fare now wel myn owne cosyn deere Graunt mercy of ȝour cost and of ȝour cheere This noble marchaunt gentilly anoon Answerd and sayde. O cosyn daun Iohn Now sikerly þis is a smal request My gold is ȝoures whanne þat ȝow lest/ And nought oonly gold but my chaffare / Tak what ȝow liste / god schilde ȝe spare But oon þing is ȝe know it wel ynough Of chapmen þat her money is here plough we may creaunce whils we haue a name But goldles for to be it is no game Pay it agayn whan it liþ in ȝour ese / After my might ful fayn wold I ȝow plese / This hundred frankes he fet forth anoon And priuely he took hem to daun Iohn No wight in al þis world wist of þis loone Sauyng þe marchaund and dan Iohn alloone Thay drynke & speke and rome a while and play Til þat dan Iohn rydeþ to his abbay The morwe cam and forth þe marchaund rideth To Flaundres-ward his prentis wel him gydeth Til þat/ he cam to Brigges merily Now goth þis marchaund faste and busily Aboute his neede and bieth and creaunceth He neither pleyeth atte dys ne daunceþ But as a marchaund schortly for to telle he lad his lyf / and þer I let him duelle The sonday next þe marchaund is agoon To seint denys I-come is daun Iohn with croune and berd al freisch and newe I-schaue In al þe hous þer nas so litel a knaue Ne no wight elles þat he nas ful fayn For þat my lord dan Iohn was come agayn And schortly to þe poynte for to gon This faire wif acordith with dan Iohn That for þese hundred frank he schuld al night Haue hir in his armes bolt/ vpright And þis acord parformed was in dede / In mirth al night a bisy lif þay lede / Til it was day þat dan Iohn went his way And bad þe meigne far wel haue good day For noon of hem ne no wight in þe toun Hath of dan Iohn right noon suspeccioun And forth he rideth hom to his abbay Or wher him list/ no more of him I say / ¶ This marchaund whan þat endid was þe faire To seynt denys. he gan to repeire / And with his wif he makeþ fest and cheere And tellith hir þat chaffar is so deere That needes most he make a cheuisaunce For he was. bounde in a reconisaunce To paye twenty þousand scheldes anoon For which þis marchaund is to paris goon To borwe of certeyn frendes þat he hadde / A certein frankes and some with him he ladde / And whan þat he was come in to þe toun For gret chiertee and gret affeccioun Vnto Dan Iohn he first goth him to play Nought for to borwe of him no kyn monay But for to wite and se of his wel fare And for to telle him of his chaffare As frendes doon whan þay ben met in fere Dan Iohn him maketh fest and mery cheere And he him told agayn ful specially How he had bought right wel and graciously Thanked be god / al his marchaundise Saue þat he most in alle maner wise / Maken a cheuyssauns as for his best And þan he schulde be in ioye and rest Dan Iohn answerde certis I am fayn That ȝe in hele are comen hom agayn And if þat I were riche as haue I blisse Of twenty þousand scheld schuld ȝe not mysse For ȝe so kyndely þis oþer day lente me gold and as I can and may I þanke ȝow by god and by seint Iame / But naþeles I took it to oure dame ȝoure wif þe same gold aȝein vpon ȝour bench . sche wot it wel certeyn By certein toknes þat I can hir telle Now by ȝour leue I may no lenger duelle Oure abbot wol out of toun anoon And in his compaignye moot I goon Grete wel oure dame my nece swete And far wel dere cosyn til þat we meete This marchaund which þat was boþe war and wys / Creaunced haþ and payed eek in parys/ To certeyn lombardes redy in her hond This somme of gold and took of hem his bond And hom he goþ a mery as a popin iay For wel he knew he stood in such array That needes most he wynne in such viage A þousand frankes aboue al his costage His wyf redy mette him at þe gate As sche was wont of old usage algate And al þat night in mirþe þay ben sette For he was riche and clerly out of dette whan it was day þis marchaund gan embrace his wyf al newe and kist hir on hir face And vp he goth and maked it ful tough No more quod sche by god ȝe haue ynough And wantounly with him sche lay and playde Till atte laste þus þis marchaund sayde By god quod he I am a litel wroþ with ȝow my wyf alþough it be me loth And wite ȝe why by god as þat I gesse ȝe han I-maad a maner straungenesse / Bitwixe me and my cosyn dan Iohn ȝe schold haue warned me er I had goon That he ȝow had an hundred frankes payd By redy tokne and huld him euel appayd For þat I to him spak of cheuysaunce Me semed so as by his countenaunce But naþeles by god of heuen king I þoughe nought to axe him no þing I pray þe wif do no more so Tel me alway er þat I fro þe go If eny dettour haue in myn absence I-payed þe lest in þy necgligence I may him axe a þing þat he haþ payed This wyf was not affered ne affrayed But holly sche sayde and þat anoon Mary I diffy þat false monk dan Iohn I kepe not of his tokenes neuer a del he took me a certeyn gold/ þat wot I wel what euel thedom on his monkes snowte/ For god it wot I wende wiþoute doute That he had ȝeue it me by cause of ȝow To do þer with myn honour and my prow For cosynage and eek for bele cheer That he haþ had ful ofte tyme heer But synnes þat I stonde in þis disioynt I wol answer ȝow schortly to þe poynt Ȝe han mo slakke dettours þan am I For I wol pay ȝow wel and redily Fro day to day and if so be I faile I am ȝour wif score it vpon my taile And I schal paye it as soone as I may For by my trouþe I haue on myn array And nought on wast bistowed it euery del And for I haue bistowed it so wel To ȝoure honour for goddes sake I say As beþ nought wroþ but let vs laugh and play / Ȝe schul my ioly body haue to wedde/ By god I wol not pay ȝow but on bedde / Forȝeue it me myn owne spouse deere / Turne hiderward and make better cheere This marchaund saugh noon oþer remedy And for to chide. it nas but foly Siþ þat þe þing may not amendid be / wif he sayde / and I forȝiue it þe But by þi lif ne be no more so large keep better my good þis ȝiue I þe in charge Thus endeþ now my tale and god vs sende Talyng ynough vnto our lyues ende / Amen /[Foot of page. No other break in the MS.] WEl sayd by corpus boones quod oure host Now longe mot þou sayle by þe cost Sir gentil maister gentil mariner God ȝiue þe monk a þousand last quadeȝer haha felaws be war for such a iape The monk put in þe mannes hood an ape And in his wyues eek by seint austyn Draweþ no monkes more vnto ȝour In But now pasouer and let vs loke aboute who schal telle first of al þis route / Anoþer tale / and wiþ þat wiþ þat word he sayde / As curteisly as it had ben a mayde / My lady prioresse by ȝour 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 wol ȝe vouche sauf my lady deere / Gladly quod sche / and sayd in þis manere[Break of one line in the MS.] [THE PROEM.] O Lord oure lord þy name how merueylous¶ Domine domi|nus noster. Is in þis large world I-sprad quod sche For nought oonly þy laude precious Parformed is by men of heih degre But by mouthes of children þy bounte¶ Ex ore infancium Parformed is on oure brest soukynge Som tyme schewe þay þin heriynge[No stanza-breaks in the MS.] Wherfore in laude as I best can or may Of þe and of þy white lily flour which þat þe bar and is a mayde alway To telle a story I wil do my labour Nought þat I may encresce ȝoure honour For sche hir silf / is honour and roote Of bounte next hir sone and soules boote/ O modir mayde. O mayde mooder fre / O bussh vnbrent/ brennyng in Moises sight/ That rauysshedest / doun fro þe deite Thurgh þin humblesse þe gost þat in þe alight Of whos vertu he in þin herte pigh Conceyued was þe fadres sapience help me to telle it in þy reuerence Lady þi bounte and þy magnificence Thy vertu and þi gret humilite Ther may no tonge expres in no science For som tyme lady er men pray to þe / Thow gost biforn of þy benignite And getist vs þe light þurgh þy prayere / To gyden vs þe way to þy sone sone so deere/ My connyng is to weyk o blisful queene For to declare þy grete worþinesse That I may not þis in my wyt susteene But as a child of twelf month old or lesse Than can vnnethes eny word expresse Right so fare I and þerfor I ȝou pray Endith my song þat I schal of ȝow say[A break of one line in the MS.] [THE TALE.] THer was in acy in a greet Citee Amonges cristen folk a Iewerye Susteyned by a lord of þat contre For foul vsure and lucre of felonye / Hateful to crist and to his compaignye / And þurgh þe strete men might ride and wende / For it was fre and open at euerich ende A litel scole of cristen folk þer stood Doun at þe forþer ende in which þer were Children an heep ycomen of cristes blood That lered in þat scole ȝer by ȝere Such maner doctrine as men vsed þere This is to say to synge and to rede As smale childer doon in her childhede / Among þese children was a widow sone A litel clergeoun þat seue ȝer was of age That day by day to scole was his wone And eek also wher-so he saugh þymage Of cristes moder had he in vsage As him was taught to knele a doun and say / His Aue maria as he goþ by þe way Thus haþ þis widow hir litel child I-taught Oure blisful lady cristes moder deere To worschip ay and he forȝat it nought For cely child wil alway soone leere But ay whan I remembre of þis matiere Seint Nicholas stont euer in my presence For he so ȝong to crist dede reuerence This litil child his litel book lernynge As he sat in þe scole at his primere He O alma redemptoris herde synge/ As children lerned her antiphonere And as he durst he drough hem ner and neere And herkned euer þe wordes and þe note Til he þe firste vers couþe al by rote Nought wist he what þis latyn was to say / For he so ȝong and tender was of age But on a day his felaw gan he pray / To expoune him þe song in his langage/ Or telle him what þis song was in vsage / This prayd he him to construe and declare Ful often tyme vpon his knees bare / His felaw which þat elder was þan he Answerd him þus. þis song I. haue herd seye was maked of our blisful lady fre Hire to saluen and eek hire to preye To ben our help and socour whan we deye I can no more expoune in this matere I lerne song I can no more gramer And is þis song I-maad in reuerence Of cristes moder sayde þis Innocent Now certes I wol do my diligence To conne it al er cristemasse be went Though þat I for my primer schal be schent / And schal be betyn þries in an hour I wol it conne oure lady to honoure His felaw taught him homward priuely From day by day til he couþe it by rote And þan he song it wel and boldely Twyes on þe day it passed þurgh his þrote From word to word accordyng to þe note To scoleward and homward whan he went On cristes moder was set al his entent As I haue sayd þurghout þe Iewrye This litel child as he cam to and fro Ful merily þan wold he synge and crie / O alma Redemptoris euer mo The swetnes haþ his herte persed so Of cristes moder that to hir to pray he can not stynt of syngyng by þe way / Oure firste foo þe serpent Sathanas That hath in Iewes hert his waspis nest Vpswal and sayde / o ebreik peple allas Is þis a þing to ȝow þat is honest That such a boy schal walken as him lest In ȝoure despyt and synge of such sentence which is aȝens ȝour lawes reuerence Fro þennes forth þe Iewes han conspired This Innocent out of þis world to enchace An homicide þer to han ȝe þay hired That in an aley had a priue place And as þe childe gan forþ by to pace This false iewe him hent and huld ful faste / And kut his þrote and þrewe him in atte laste I say in a wardrobe þay him þrew wher as the Iewes purgen her entraile O cursed folk O herodes al newe what may ȝour euyl entente ȝou auaile Morther wol out certeyn it wil nought faile And namly þer þonour of god schuld sprede The blood out crieþ on ȝour cursed dede / O martir soudit to Virginite Now maystow synge folowyng euer in oon The white lomb celestial quod sche / Of which þe grete euaungelist seint Iohn In pathmos wroot which seith þat þay goon Bifore þe lamb and synge a song al newe That neuer fleischly wommen þay knewe This pore widowe wayteþ al þis night After þis litel child but he cometh nought For which as soone as it was dayes light with face pale in drede and busy þought Sche haþ at scole and elles-wher him sought Til fynally sche gan of hem aspye That he was last/ seyn in þe Iewerie With moodres pite in hir brest enclosed Sche goþ as sche were half out of hir mynde To euery place wher sche haþ supposed By liklihede hir child for to fynde And euer on cristes mooder meke and kynde Sche cried and atte laste þus sche wrought Among þe cursed Iewes sche him sought Sche freyned and sche prayed pitously To euery Iew þat dwelled in þat place To telle hir if hir child wente þer by Thay sayden nay but Ihū of his grace Ȝaf in hir þought wiþinne a litel space That in þat place after hir sone sche cryde wher as he was cast in a put besyde / O grete god þat parformedist þin laude by mouth of Innocentȝ lo here þy might This gemme of chastite þis emeraude And eek of martirdom þe ruby bright Ther he with þrote I-kut lay vpright He . Alma redemptoris gan to synge So lowde þat al þe place bigan to rynge The cristen folk þat þurgh þe strete went/ In comen for to wonder vpon þis þing And hastily for the prouost þay sent He cam anoon wiþoute tarying And heriede crist þat is of heuen kyng And eek his moder honour of mankynde And after þat þe Iewes let he bynde This child with pitous lamentacioun vp taken was syngyng his song alway And with honour of gret processioun Thay caried him vnto þe next abbay His modir swownyng by þe beere lay Vnneþe might þe poeple þat was þere This newe Rachel bringe fro þe beere With torment and with schamful deth echon This prouost doþ þese Iewes for to sterue That of þis moerder wist and þat anoon he wolde no such cursednesse obserue Euel schal haue þat euyl wol deserue Therfore with wilde hors he dede hem drawe And after þat he heng hem by þe lawe Vpon his beere ay lith þis Innocent Biforn þe chief auter whiles þe masse last And after þat þabbot with his couent Haþ sped him for to burie him ful fast And whan þay halywater on him cast Ȝet spak þis child. whan spreynde was þe water And song O alma redemptoris mater This abbot which þat was an holy man As monkes ben or elles oughte be This ȝonge child to coniure he bigan And sayd O deere child I halse þe In vertu of þe holy trinite Tel me what is þy cause for to synge Sith þat þy throte is kit at my semynge My þrote is kit vnto my nekke boon Sayde þis child and as by way of kynde I schulde han ben deed long tyme a goon But Ihū crist as ȝe in bookes fynde wol þat his glorie laste and be in mynde And for þe worschip of his moder deere Ȝet may I synge. O alma lowde and cleere This welle of mercy cristes moder swete I loued alway as after my connynge And whan þat I my lyf schulde leete To me sche cam and bad me for to synge This antym verraily in my deyinge As ȝe haue herd and whan þat I had songe Me þought sche layde a grayn vnder my tonge Wherfor I synge and synge moot certeyne In honour of þat blisful mayden fre Til fro my tonge taken is þe greyne And after þat þus saide sche to me My litil child now wil I fecche þe whan þat þe grayn is fro þi tonge I-take Be nought agast I wol þe nought forsake This holy monk this abbot him mene I His tonge out caught and took awey þe greyn And he ȝaf vp þe gost ful softely And whan þe abbot hath þis wonder seyn His salte teres striken doun as reyn And gruf he fel a doun vnto þe grounde And stille he lay as he had ben y-bounde The couent eek lay on þe pauyment wepyng and herying cristes moder deere And after þat þay rise and forþ þay went And took away þis martir fro his beere / In a tombe of marble stoones cleere Enclosed þay þis litil body sweete Ther he is now god leue vs for to meete O ȝonge hughe of lyncoln slayn also wiþ cursed iewes as it is notable / For it nys but a litel while ago Pray eek for vs we synful folk vnstable That of his mercy god so merciable On vs his grete mercy multiplie For reuerence of his modir marie Amen[No break in the MS.] Whan sayd was þis miracle euery man As sober was þat wonder was to se Til þat oure host to iape bigan And þan at erst/ he loked vpon me And sayde þus what man art þou quod he Thou lokest as þou woldest fynde an hare For euer vpon þe ground I se þe stare / Approche ner and loke merily Now ware ȝou sires and let þis man haue space He in þe wast is schape as wel as I This were a popet in an arm to embrace For any womman smal and fair of face / He semeth eluisch by his countenaunce For vnto no wight doth he daliaunce Say now som what sins other folk han said Telle vs a tale and þat of mirthe anoon host quod I ne beþ nought euel apayd For other tale certes can I noon But of a rym I lerned ȝore agoon Ȝe þat is good quod he now schul we heere Som deynte þing me þinketh by his cheere[Break of 1 line in the MS.] [The First Fit.][No stanza-gaps are in the MS., and no lines are inset.] LEsteneþ lordyngs . in good entent And I wol telle verrayment Of myrthe and solas Of a knyght was fair and gent In batail and in tornament His name was sir Thopas I-bore he was in fer conntre In Flaundres al byȝonde þe se At Poperyng in þe place His fader was a man ful fre And lord he was of þat contre As it was goddes grace Sir Thopas wax a doughty swayn whyt was his face as payndemayn His lippes reed as Rose / His rode is lik / scarlet en grayn And I ȝow telle in good certayn He had a semly nose His heer his berd was lik/ safroun That to his girdil raught a doun His schoon of Cordewane Of Brigges were his hosen broun His robe was of Sicladoun That coste many a Iane He couþe hunt at wilde deer And ride on haukyng for ryuer with gray goshauk on honde Therto he was a good archeer Of wrastelyng was noon his peer Ther eny Ram schal stonde / Ful many mayde bright in bour Þay mourne for him paramour whan hem were bet to slepe But he was chast and no lecchour And sweet as is þe brembre flour That bereþ þe reede heepe / And so it fel vpon a day For soþ as I ȝow telle may / Sir Thopas wold out ryde he worth vpon his steede gray And in his hond a launcegay A long sword by his syde he priketh þurgh a fair forest/ Ther In is many a wilde best/ Ȝe boþe buk / and hare And as he prikeþ north and Est I tel it ȝow hym had almest Bityd a sory care Ther springen herbes greet and smale The licorys and þe Cetewale / And many a clow gilofre And notemuge to put in ale wheþir it be moist or stale Or for to lay in cofre The briddes synge it is no nay The sperhauk and þe popiniay That ioye it was to heere The þrostilcok maad eek his lay The woode dowue vpon þe spray So song ful lowde and cleere Sir Thopas fel in loue-longing whan that he herde þe briddes synge And priked as he were wood His faire steede in his prikynge So swette þat men might him wrynge His sydes were al blood Sir Thopas eek so wery was For priking on þe softe gras So feers was his corrage That doun he layd him in þe place To make his steede som solace And ȝaf him good forage O seinte Mary benedicite what eylith þis loue at me To bynde me so sore My dremed al this night par de An elf queen schal my lemman be And slepe vnder my gore An Elf queen wol I haue I-wis For in this world no womman is worthy to be my make In toune[as part of l. 1982] Alle oþir wommen I forsake And to an Elf queen I me take By dale and eek by doune In to his sadil he clomb anoon And priked ouer stile and stoon An elf queen for to spye Til he so longe haþ ryden and goon That he fond in a priue woon The contre of fairye ¶ So wylde[as part of l. 1992] For in þat contre was þer noon; . . . . .no gap in the MS. Neither wif ne childe[as part of l. 1994] Til þat þer cam a greet geaunt/ his name was sir Olifaunt A perilous man of dede he swar child by Termagaunt For if þou prike out of myn haunt Anoon I slee þe with my mace[as part of l. 2002] heer is þe queen of fayerie with harp. and lute and Symphonye dwellyng in þis place[as part of l. 2005] The child sayd also mote I the To morwe wil I meete with þe whan I haue myn armure And ȝit I hope par ma fay That þou schalt with þis launcegay Abyen it ful soure ¶ þy mawe[as part of l. 2012] Schal I persyn if þat I may Er it be fully prime of day For heer schalt þou be slawe Sir thopas drough on bak ful fast This geaunt at him stoones cast / Out of a fell staf slynge But faire eschapeþ child thopas And al it was þurgh goddis gras And þurgh his berynge / Ȝet lesteneth lordynges to my tale / Merier þan þe nightyngale / I wol ȝow roune how sir thopas wiþ sides smale / Prikynge ouer hul and dale Is come ageyn to toune his mery men comaunded he To make him boþe game and gle For needes most he fight with a geaunt with heedes þre For paramours and iolite Of oon þat schon ful bright Do come he sayde my mynstrales And gestours for to telle tales Anoon in myn armynge Of Romaunces þat ben reales Of popes and of Cardinales And eek of loue likynge Thay fet him first þe swete wyn And made him eek in a maselyn A real spicerye Of gyngebred þat was so fyn And licorys and eek comyn with sugre þat is trye / He dede next his white leere Of cloth of lake whyt and cleere A brech and eek a schert And next his schert an aketoun And ouer þat an haberioun For persyng of his hert And ouer þat a fyn hauberk was al I-wrought of Iewes werk Ful strong it was of plate And ouer þat his cote-armour As whyt as is a lily flour In which he wold debate his scheld was al of gold so red And þer Inne was a bores heed A charbocle by his syde / And ther he swor on ale and bred How þat þe geaunt schal be deed Bytyde what bytyde / His iambeux were of quirboily His swerdes schethe of yuory His helm of latoun bright His sadel was of rowel boon His bridel as þe sonne schon Or as þe moone light his spere was of Cipres That bodeth werre and no þing pees The heed ful scharp I-grounde / His steede was al dappul gray Hit goth an ambel in þe way / Ful softely and rounde ¶ In londe[In line 2076] lo lordes heer is a fyt If ȝe wil eny more of it To telle it wol I fonde[No break in the MS.] [The Second Fit.] NOw hold ȝour mouth for charite Boþe knight and lady fre And herkneþ to my spelle Of batail and of chiualry And of ladys loue drewery Anoon I wol ȝow telle / Men speken of Romauns of pris Of horn child and of ypotis Of Beuys and sir Gy Of sir libeaux and pleyn damour But sir thopas bereþ þe flour Of real Chiualry His goode steede he bistrood And forth vpon his way he glood As spark out of þe bronde Vpon his crest he bar a tour And þer In stiked a lily flour God schilde his corps fro schonde And for he was a knyȝt auntrous He nolde slepen in noon hous But liggen in his hood his brighte helm was his wonger And by him baytith his destrer Of herbes fyne and goode/ Himself drank water of þe welle As dede þe knight of pertinelle / So worthy vnder wede . . . . .no gap in the MS. NO mor of þis for goddes dignite Quod our hoste / for þou makest me So wery of þy verrey lewednesse That al so wisly god my soule blesse / Myn eeres aken for þy drasty speche Now such a rym þe deuel I byteche This may wel be rym dogerel quoþ he why so quod I why wilt þou lette me More of my tale þan anoþer man Syn þat it is þe beste rym þat I can By god quod he for pleinly at o word Þy drasty rymyng is not worth a tord Þou dost nought elles but despendist tyme Sir at o word þou schalt no lenger ryme let se wher þou canst tellen ought in gest Or telle in prose som what atte lest In which þer be so merthe or doctrine Gladly quod I by goddes swete pyne / I wol ȝow telle a litel þing in prose That oughte like ȝow as I suppose / Or elles certes ȝe be to daungerous It is a moral tale vertuous Al be it told som tyme in sondry wise Of sondry folk as I schal ȝow deuyse / As thus. ȝe woot þat euery euaungelist Þat telleþ vs þe peyne of Ihū crist Ne saith alle þing as his felawes doþ But naþeles here sentence is al soþ And alle accorden as in here sentence Al be þer in her tellyng difference / For some of hem sayn more and some lesse / whan þay his pitous passioun expresse / I mene of mark mathew luk and Iohn But douteles her sentence is al oon Therfor lordynges alle I ȝow biseche If ȝow þink þat I varye as in my speche As þus þough þat I telle som what more Of prouerbes þan I haue herd bifore Comprehended in þis litel tretys here / To enforcen with þeffect of my matiere And þough I not þe same wordes say As ȝe haue herd / ȝit to ȝow alle I pray Blameþ me nought for in my sentence Schul ȝe no wher fynde difference Fro þe sentence of þis tretys lite After þe which þis litil tale I wryte And þerfor herkeneþ what I schal say And let me tellen al my tale I pray[Break of 5 lines in the MS.]

[There are no line-numbers or paragraph-breaks in the MS. Tyrwhitt's breaks are kept here, as they were in the Six-Text, to prevent slight differences in the Texts throwing out many lines.]

[2157] A ȝong man called Melibeus mighty and riche bygat vpon his wif þat called was prudens. a doughter; which þat called was Sophie //

[2158] Vpon a day byfel þat for his desport he is went in to þe feldes him to / play. [2159] his wif and his douȝter eek haþ he laft in-with his hous of which þe dores were fast I-schitte. [2160] þre of his olde foos han it espyed. and setten laddres to þe walles of his hous and by þe wyndowes ben entred [2161] and beetyn his wyf and woundid his douȝter wiþ fyue mortal woundes in fyue sondry places [2162] þat is to sayn in here feet in here hondes in here eeres in here nose and in here mouth and lafte her for deed and went away

[2163] ¶ whan Melibeus retourned was in to his hous and seigh al þis meschief he lik a man mad rendyng his cloþes gan wepe and crie.

[2164] Prudens his wyf as ferforth as sche dorste bisouȝt him of his wepyng to stynte / [2165] But not for þi he gan to crie euer lenger þe more

[2166] ¶ this noble wyf prudence remembred hire vpon þe sentens of Ovide in his book that cleped is þe remedy of loue / wher as he seiþ [2167] ¶ he is a fool¶ Ouidius de remedio amoris þat destourbeþ þe moder to wepe in þe deth of hir childe til sche haue I-wept hir fille as for a certeyn tyme [2168] and þan schal man doon his diligence as with amyable wordes hire to recomforte and praye hire of hire wepyng to stinte [2169] ¶ For which resoun þis noble wif prudens suffred hir housbonde for to wepe and crie / as for a certeyn space. [2170] and whan sche seigh hir tyme; sche sayd him in þis wise ¶ Allas my lord quod sche why make ȝe ȝoure self for to be lik a fool. [2171] For soþe it apperteyneþ not to a wys man to make such sorwe. [2172] Ȝoure douȝter wiþ þe grace of god schal warischt be and eschape. [2173] and al were it so þat sche right now were deed; ȝe ne oughte nouȝt as for hir deþ ȝoure silf destroye [2174] ¶ Senec saiþ. þe wise man schal not take to gret discomfort for þe deth of his children; [2175] but certes he schulde suffren it in pacience as wel as he abydeþ þe deþ of his owne persone

[2176] ¶ This melibeus answerde anoon & sayde ¶ what man quod he schuld of his wepynge stynte þat haþ a cause for to wepe [2177] ¶ Ihū crist¶ Qualiter ihe christus fleuit propter mortem lazari oure lord himself wepte for þe deth of laȝarus his frend [2178] ¶ Prudens answerde Certes wel I wot/ attemperel wepyng is no þing defended to him þat sorwful is. amonges folk in sorwe. But it is raþer graunted him to wepe / [2179] þe apostel poule vnto þeApostolus ad romanos Romayns writeþ. A man schal reioyce with hem þat maken ioye / And wepe with such folk as wepen [2180] ¶ But þough attemperel wepyng be graunted; Outrageous wepynge certes is defended // [2181] Mesure of wepynge be conserued. after þe lore of crist þat techeþ vs senec [2182] ¶ whan þat þi frend is deed quod he; let nought þin yen to moyste ben of teres ne to moche drye ¶ Al þough the teeres come out of þine eyȝen; let he not falle [2183] ¶ And whan þou hast forgon þy frend; do dili|gence to gete anoþer frende ¶ And þis is more wisedom þan to wepe for þy frend which þat þou hast lorn. For þer in is no boote [2184] ¶ And þerfore if ȝe gouerne ȝow by sapience put away sorwe out of ȝoure hert [2185] ¶ Remembreth ȝow þat Ihc Sirac saiþ ¶ A man þat is ioyous and glad in herte; it him con|serveth florischinge in his age ¶ But soþly sorweful herte makeþ his boones drye [2186] ¶ he saiþ eek þus. þat sorwe in herte sleþ ful many a man [2187] ¶ Sa|lamon saiþ þat right as motthes in schepes flees annoyeth þe clothes. and þe smale wormes to þe tre; Right / so annoyeþ sorwe to þe herte [2188] ¶ wherfore vs oughte as wel in þe deþ of oure children as in þe losse of oure goodes temporales haue pacience

[2189] ¶ Remembreth ȝow vpon þe pacien Iop ¶ whan he hadde lost his children and his temporal sub|stance and in his body endured and receyued ful many a greuous tribulacioun; ȝit sayde he þus [2190] ¶ Oure lord it/ sent/ vnto me Oure lord it haþ raft fro me. Right so as oure lord wil; riȝt so be it doon ¶ I-blessed be þe name of oure lord [2191] To þese forsayde þinges answerith Melibeus vnto his wif Prudens Alle þine wordes ben soþ quod he and þerto pro|fytable ¶ But soþly myn herte is so troubled wiþ þis sorwe; þat I noot/ what to doone [2192] ¶ Let calle quod prudence þy trewe frendes alle and þy linage whiche þat ben trewe & wise. telleth hem ȝoure greuaunce and herken what þay say in counseilynge. and ȝow gouerne after here sentence. [2193] ¶ Salomon saith ¶ werke al þi þing by counseil and þe þar neuer rewe

[2194] ¶ Þan by þe counseil of his wyf prudens this melibeus let calle a gret congregacioun of peple [2195] as Surgiens. phisiciens olde and ȝonge and some of his olde enemyes recounsiled as by her semblaunt to his loue and to his grace. [2196] and þer wiþ al þer come some of his neighebours þat deden him reuerence more for drede þan for loue as happeþ ofte [2197] ¶ Ther comen also ful many subtil flaterers and wise aduoketes lerned in þe lawe

[2198] ¶ And whan þese folk togidere assemblid were; This melibeus in sorwful wyse schewed hem his caas. [2199] and by þe maner of his speche; it semed þat in herte he bar a cruel Ire redy to do venge|ance vpon his foos. and sodeynly desirede þat þe werre schulde bygynne. [2200] but natheles ȝit axed he her counseil in þis matier. [2201] ¶ A Sirurgien by licens and assent of suche as were wyse vp ros and to melibeus sayde as ȝe may hiere

[2202] ¶ Sire quod he as to vs Sirurgiens appertieneth þat we do to euery wight þe beste þat we can wher as we ben withholde and to oure pacient þat we do no damage [2203] ¶ wherfore it happeþ many tyme and ofte þat whan tweye han euerich wounded oþer; oo. same surgien heleþ hem boþe. [2204] where vnto oure art it is not perteyned to norische werre ne parties to supporte; [2205] but certes as to warisching of ȝoure douȝter al be it so þat sche perilously be woundid; we schullen do so tentyf besynes fro day to night þat with þe grace of god sche schal be hool and sound als soone as it is possible [2206] ¶ Almost right in þe same wise þe phisiciens answerden; saue þat þay sayden a fewe wordes more [2207] ¶ That ryght as maladies ben cured by her contraries; Right so schal men warissch werre by vengeaunce [2208] ¶ His neyhe|boures ful of enuye his feyned freendes þat semede recounsiled his flatereres [2209] maden semblaunt of wepyng and appaired and aggregged moche of þis matiere in preisyng gretly melibe of might. of power of Riches. and of frendes despisinge þe power of his aduersaries [2210] and sayden outerly þat he anoon schulde wreke him on his aduersaries be bygynnynge of werre

[2211] vp roos þanne an aduocate þat was wys. by leue and by counseil of oþere þat were wise and sayde / [2212] ¶ Lordynges. þe needes for whiche we ben assemblit in þis place is ful heuy þing and an heigh matier [2213] by cause of þe wrong & of þe wikkednes þat haþ ben doon and eek of þe grete damages þat in tyme comyng ben possible to falle for þe same [2214] and eek by cause of þe grete richesse and power of þe partes bothe [2215] for þe whiche resouns it were a ful gret peril to erren in these materes [2216] ¶ wherfore melibeus þis is oure sentence ¶ we counseile ȝow abouen alle þinges þat riȝt anoon þou do diligence in kepyng of þy body in such a wyse þat þou ne wante noon espye ne wacche þy body for to saue [2217] ¶ And after þat we counseile þat in þin hous þou sette sufficaunt garnisoun So þat þay may as wel þy body as þin hous defende [2218] ¶ But certes for to moeue werre ne sodeynly for to do vengeance; we may not deme in so litel tyme þat it were profit|able [2219] ¶ wherfore we axen leysir and a space [. . . .] in þis caas to demen [2220] ¶ For þe comune prouerbe saiþ þis ¶ he þat soone demeþ soone schal repente [2221] ¶ And eek men sayn þat þilke Iuge is wys þat soone vnderstondeþ a matier and Iuggeþ by leysir. [2222] ¶ For al be it so þat / alle taryinge is anoyful; algates it is no reproef in ȝeuynge of Iuggement. ne of ve[n]gaunce takyng whan it is suffisaunt and resonable [2223] and þat schewed oure lord ihū crist by en|sample ¶ For whan þat þe womman þat was I-take in aduoutrie was brouȝt in his presence to knowen what schulde be doon of hir persone Al be it þat he wist him self what þat he wolde answere; ȝit wolde he not answere sodeynly. but he wolde haue deliberacioun and in þe ground hem wrot twyes. [2224] and by þese causes we axe deliberacioun. and we schul þanne by þe grace of god counseile þe þing þat schal be profytable

[2225] ¶ Vpstarten þenne þe ȝonge folkes anoon at oones; and þe moste part of þat companye han skorned þese olde wise men and bygonne to make noyse and sayden [2226] ¶ Right so as whil þat/ Iren is hoot men scholden smyte; Right so schulde men wreke here wronges whil þat þay ben freische and newe ¶ And with lowde vois þay cryde. werre. werre.

[2227] ¶ Vproos þo oon of þese olde wise and with his hond made countenaunce þat men schulde holde hem stille and ȝiuen him audience [2228] ¶ lordyngs quod he ther is ful many a man þat crieth werre werre wot ful litel what werre amounteth. [2229] werre at his bygynnyng haþ so greet and entre and so large þat euery wight may entre whan him likeþ and lightly fynde werre [2230] ¶ But certes what ende schal falle þerof; it is not lightly to knowe [2231] For soþly whan þat werre is oones bygonne; þer is ful many a child vnbore of his mooder þat schal sterue ȝong by cause of þilke werre or elles lyue in sorwe and deye in wrecchidnes [2232] ¶ & þerfore er þat eny werre be bygonne. men moste haue gret counseil and gret deliberacioun. [2233] ¶ And whan þis olde man wende to enforce his tale by resouns wel neigh alle at oones bygonne þay to rise for to breke his tale and beden him fulofte his wordes to abrigge. [2234] For soþly he þat precheþ to hem that liste not to heere his wordes his sermoun hem anoyeth [2235] ¶ For Ihesus Sirac saith þat wepyng in musik is a noyous þing. þis is to say ¶ As moche auayleþ to speke tofore folk/ to whiche his speche annoyeþ; as it is to synge byfore hem whiche þat wepith [2236] ¶ And whan þis wise man saugh him wanted audience; al schamefast he sette him doun agayn [2237] ¶ For Salamon saith. ther as þou may haue noon audience; enforce þe not to speke [2238] ¶ I se wel quod þis wise man þat þe comune prouerbe is soþ ¶ That good counseil wantith whan it is most neede

[2239] ¶ Ȝit hadde þis melibeus in his counseil many folk þat priuely in his eere han counseled him certein þinges and counseled him þe contrarie in general audience

[2240] ¶ whan melibeus hadde herd ȝet þe grettest party of his counseil were accorded þat he schulde make werre. Anoon he consented to here counseilyng and fully affermed here sentence [2241] ¶ Thanne dame Prudence whan þat sche saugh þat hir housbonde schop him to wreke him of his enemyes and to gynne werre; / Sche in ful humble wise whan sche saugh hire tyme sayde him þese wordes [2242] ¶ My lord quod sche I ȝow biseche as hertily as I dar and kan ne haste ȝow nought to faste and for alle guerdouns as ȝeue me audience [2243] ¶ For Peres Alfons saith ¶ who þat doþ to þe ouþer good or harm; haste þe nought to quyten him. For in þis wise þy freend wil abyde; and þin enemy schal þe lenger lyue in drede [2244] ¶ The prouerbe saiþ ¶ he hastith wel þat wisly can abyde and in wikked haste is no profyt

[2245] ¶ This melibeus answerde vn to his wyf prudens ¶ I purpose not quod he to werke by þy counseil for many causes and resouns ¶ For certes euery wight wolde holde me þanne a fool [2246] ¶ þis is to sayn ¶ If I for þy counseil wolde chaunge þinges þat affermed ben by so many wise; [2247] I say þat alle wommen be wikked and noon good of hem alle ¶ For of a þousand men saiþ Salomon I fond oon good man; But certes of alle wommen good womman fond I neuer noon [2248] ¶ And also certes if I gouernede me by þy counseil it schulde seme that I hadde ȝiuen to þe ouer me þe maistry and god forbeede er it so were [2249] ¶ For Ihc Syrac saiþ þat if a wif haue maistrie sche is contrarious to hir housbond [2250] ¶ and Salomon saith ¶ Neuer in þy lif to þy wyf ne to þy child ne to þy freend ne ȝeue no power ouer þiself ¶ For better it were þat þy children axen of þy persone þinges þat been needful to hem þan þou se þiself in þe hondes of þy children [2251] ¶ And also if I wolde werke by þy counselynge certes it most som tyme be secre til it were tyme þat it moste be knowe and þis ne may not be [2252] . . . . .[2253] . . . . .no gap in the MS.

[2254] whan dame Prudence ful debonerly and with gret pacience hadde herd al þat hir housbonde liked for to seye ¶ Than axed sche of him licence for to speke and sayde in þis wise [2255] ¶ My lord quod sche as to ȝoure firste resoun certes it may lightly be answered. For I say it is no foly to chaunge counsel whan þe þing/ is chaungid. For elles whan þe þing semeþ oþerwise þan it was biforn [2256] And moreouer I say þough þat ȝe han sworn and I-hight to parforme ȝoure emprise And naþeles ȝe wayue to parforme þilke same emprise by iuste cause men schulde not say þerfore þat/ ȝe were a lyere ne forsworn [2257] For þe book/ seiþ þat þe wise man makeþ no lesyng whan he torneth his corrage to þe better [2258] ¶ And al be it so þat ȝoure emprise be establid and ordeyned by gret multitude of poeple; ȝit thar ȝe not accomplise þilke same ordinaunce but ȝou like / [2259] For þe trouþe of þing and þe profyt ben rather founde in fewe folk þat ben wise and ful of resoun þan by gret multitude of folk þat euery man crieth and clatereþ what þat him likeþ soþely such multitude is not honest [2260] ¶ An to þe secounde resoun wher as ȝe sayn þat alle wommen ben wikke; Saue ȝoure grace. Certis ȝe despise alle wommen in þis wise and þat alle despysith saiþ þe book / [2261] And senec saith who-so wil haue Sapi|ence schal no man desprayse but he schal gladly teche þe science þat he can wiþoute presumpcioun of pryde [2262] and suche þinges as he nought can he schal not ben aschamed to lerne hem and enquere of lasse folk þan himself [2263] ¶ And sire þer haþ be ful many a good womman . . . . .[2264] . . . . .if alle wommen hadde ben wikke [2265] after þat for þe grete bounte þat is in wommen; Oure lord ihu crist/ whan he was risen fro deþ to lyue apperede raþer to a womman þan to his apostles. [2266] ¶ And þough þat Salamon say he fond neuer good womman It folwith nouȝt þerfore þat alle wommen ben wikke. [2267] For þough þat he fonde noone goode wommen certes many a noþer man haþ founden many a womman ful goode and trewe [2268] ¶ Or elles parauenture þentent of Salamon was þis as in souereyn bounte. he fond no womman [2269] þis is to say þat þer is no wight þat haþ souerein bounte saue god aloone as he himself recordeþ in his euaun|gelie. [2270] For þer nys no creature so good þat him wantith som-what of þe perfeccioun of god þat is his makere [2271] ¶ Ȝoure þridde resoun is þis. ȝe seyn. þat if ȝe gouerned ȝow by counsel of me it schulde seme þat ȝe hadde yeue me the maystry and þe lordschipe ouer ȝoure persone. [2272] sire saue ȝoure grace it is not so. For if so were þat no man schulde be counseiled but by hem þat hadde maystrie and lordschipe of his persone; men wolde nought be counseiled so ofte [2273] ¶ For soþly þilke man þat axeth counseil of a purpos. ȝet haþ he fre chois wheþer he wil werke by þat purpos or noon [2274] ¶ And so to ȝoure ferþe resoun þer ȝe sayn þat the ianglerie of wommen can hyde þinges þat þey wot not of as who saith þat a womman can nought hyde þat at sche woot; [2275] Sire þese wordes ben vnder|stonde of wommen þat ben iangelers and wikke. [2276] of whiche wommen men sayn þat þre þinges dryuen a man out of his oughne hous þat is to say. smoke. droppyng of reyn and wikked wyfes. [2277] of suche wommen saiþ salomon þat it were better to a man to dwelle in desert þan with a womman þat is riotous [2278] and sire by ȝoure leue þat am not I [2279] ¶ For ȝe han ful ofte assayed my grete scilence and my grete pacience and eek how wel þat I can hyde and hele þinges þat ben secrely to hyde [2280] ¶ And soþly as to ȝoure fyfte resoun wher as ȝe sayn þat in wikkede coun|seil wommen venquisscheth men. god wot þilke resoun stont here in no stede / [2281] For vnderstondith now ȝe aȝein counseil to do wickidnes [2282] and if ȝe wil wirke wickidnes and ȝoure wyf restreyne þilke wicked purpos and ouercome ȝou by resoun and by good counseil; [2283] Certes ȝoure wyf oweth raþer be preised than y-blamed / [2284] ¶ Thus schulde ȝe vnder|stonde þe philosopher þat seiþ in wicked counseil wommen venquyschen her housbondes [2285] ¶ And þer as ȝe blame alle wymmen and here resouns; I schal schewe by many resouns and ensamples þat many a womman hath ben ful good and ȝit been and here counseiles ful holsome and profitable [2286] ¶ Eke some men han sayd þat þe counseilyng of wommen is ouþer to dere or to litel of pris [2287] But al be it so þat ful many a womman is badde and hir counseil vile and not worþ; ȝet han men founde many a ful good womman and ful discret and wys in counseilyng [2288] ¶ lo Iacob by counseil of his moder Rebecca wan þe blessyng of his fader ysaak and þe lordschipe of alle his breþeren [2289] ¶ Iudith by hire goode counseil delyuered þe Citee of Bethulie in which sche dwellid out of þe hous of Olophernus þat had it byseged and wolde it al destroye [2290] ¶ Abigayl deliuered Nabal hir housbond fro Dauid þe king þat wolde haue I-slayn him and appesed þe Ire of þe kyng by hir witte and by hir good counseil|ynge [2291] ¶ Hester by good counseil enhaunsed gretly þe poeple of god In þe regne of assuerus þe kyng [2292] and þe same bounte in good counseilyng of many a good womman may men rede and telle [2293] And more ouer whan oure lord had creat adam oure forme fader; he sayde in þis wise [2294] ¶ Hit is not goode to be a man aloone. make we to him an help semblable to him self [2295] ¶ here may ȝe se þat if þat a womman were not good and hir counseil good and profytable; [2296] oure lord god of heuen wolde neither haue wrouȝt hem ne called hem help of man but raþer confusioun to man [2297] ¶ And þer sayde oones a clerk in tuo versus ¶ what is better than gold. Iasper. And what is better þan Iasper; wisedom. [2298] and what is better than wisedom; womman. and what is better than good womman; No þing [2299] ¶ And sire by many oþer resouns may ȝe se þat many wommen ben goode and . . .no gap in MS. profitable [2300] and þerfore if ȝe wil truste to my counseil; I schal restore ȝou ȝoure douȝter hool and sound [2301] ¶ and eek I wil doon ȝou so moche þat ȝe schul haue honour in þis cause

[2302] ¶ whan Melibe had herd þese wordes of his wif prudens; he seide þus. [2303] ¶ I se wel þat þe word of Salomon is soþ ¶ he seith þat þe wordes þat ben spoken discretly by ordinaunce been hony combes. For þay ȝeuen swetnes to þe soule. and holmes to þe body [2304] ¶ And wyf bycause of þy swete wordes and eek for I haue assayed and proued þi grete sapiens & þi grete trouþe; I wil gouerne me by þy counseil in alle þinges

[2305] ¶ Now sire quod dame prudens and syn ȝe vouchen sauf to be gouerned by my counseilyng; I wil enforme ȝou how ȝe schul gouerne ȝoure self in chesyng of ȝoure counseil [2306] ¶ ȝe schul first/ in alle ȝoure werkes mekely biseche to þe hihe god þat he wol be ȝour counseilour [2307] & schape ȝou to þat entent þat he ȝiue ȝou counseil and confort as taughte Toby his sone [2308] ¶ At alle tymes þou schalt blesse god and pray him to dresse þy wayes. and loke þat alle þi counseiles be in him for euermore [2309] ¶ Seint Iame eek saith ¶ If eny of ȝow haue neede of sapiens axe it of god. [2310] and aftirward þanne schul ȝe take counseil in ȝoure self. and examine wel ȝoure þouȝtes of suche þinges as ȝou þinkiþ þat is best for ȝoure profyt [2311] and þanne schul ȝe dryue fro ȝoure hertes þo þat ben contrarie to good counseil. [2312] þat is to say . Ire . coueytise . and hastynes

[2313] ¶ First he þat axeþ counseil of himself . certes he moste be wiþoute Ire . for many cause [2314] ¶ The first is þis ¶ He þat haþ gret Ire and wraþþe in himself . he weneth alwey he may do þing þat he may not doo [2315] ¶ And secoundly he þat is Irous and wroþ . he may not wel deme [2316] ¶ and he þat may not wel deme; may nought wel counseile [2317] ¶ The þridde is þis . þat he þa is Irous and wroth as saiþ Senec may not speke but blameful þinges [2318] and with his vicious wordes he stireþ oþer folk to anger and to Ire [2319] ¶ And eek sire ȝe moste dryue coueitise out of ȝoure herte / [2320] ¶ For þapostil saith þat coueytise is roote of alle harmes. [2321] And trusteth wel þat a coueitous man ne can not deme ne þinke but oonly to fulfille þe ende of his coueitise [2322] ¶ And certes þat may neuer ben accomplised ¶ For euer þe more abundaunce þat he hath of riches . þe more he desireth [2323] And sire ȝe moste also dryue out of ȝour herte hastynes . [2324] For certes ȝe may nought deme for þe beste a sodein þouȝt þat falleþ in ȝoure herte ¶ But ȝe moste auyse ȝou on it ful ofte [2325] ¶ For as ȝe herde here biforn þe comune prouerbe is þis; þat he þat soone demeth soone repentith;

[2326] ¶ Sire ȝe ben not alway in lik disposicioun [2327] For certis som þing þat som tyme semeþ to ȝow þat it is good for to doo; anoþer tyme it semeþ to ȝou þe contrarie

[2328] whan ȝe han taken counseil in ȝoure seluen . and han demed by good deliberacioun such þing as ȝow semeþ best [2329] ¶ þanne rede I ȝou þat ȝe kepe it secre . [2330] Bywreye nought ȝoure counseil to no persone but it so be þat ȝe wene sicurly that þurgh ȝoure bywreyinge ȝoure condicioun schal be to ȝow þe more profytable [2331] ¶ For Ihc Syrac saiþ ¶ Neiþer to þi foo ne to þi freend discouere not þy secre ne þy foly [2332] ¶ For þey wil ȝiue ȝou audience and lokyng and supportacioun in þi presence and scorn in thin absence [2333] ¶ anoþer clerk saiþ þat skarsly schalt þou fynde eny persone þat may kepe counseil secreely [2334] ¶ The book saith ¶ whil þou kepist þi counsail in þin herte þou kepest it in þi prisoun [2335] ¶ and whan þou bywreyest þi counseil to any wight; he holdeþ þe in his snare [2336] ¶ And þerfore ȝow is better hyde ȝoure counseil in ȝoure herte þan prayen him to whom ȝe haue bywryed ȝoure counseil þat he wol kepe it clos and stille [2337] ¶ For Seneca seith ¶ If so be þat þou ne maist not þin owne counsel hyde; how darst þou preven any oþer wight þi counseil secreely to kepe; [2338] ¶ But naþeles if þou wene securly þat þy bywreying of þy counsel to a persone wol make þy condicioun stonde in þe better plite; þanne schalt þou telle him þy counsel in þis wise [2339] ¶ First þou shalt make no semblaunt wher þe were leuer werre or pees . or þis or þat . ne schewe him not þi wille and þin entent . [2340] For truste wel þat comunly þese counseilours ben flaterers [2341] and namely þe counselours of grete lordes [2342] ¶ For þay enforcen hem alway raþer to speke plesaunt wordes enclynyng to þe lordes lust þan wordes þat been trewe and profitable [2343] ¶ And þerfore men say þat þe riche man haþ selden good coun|seil. but if he haue it of him self [2344] ¶ And after þat þou schalt consider þy frendes and þine enemyes . [2345] And as touching þy frendes; þou schalt con|sidere which of hem beþ most faithful and most wise and eldest and most approuyd in counsaylinge [2346] ¶ And of hem schalt þou axe þy counsail as þe caas requireth

[2347] ¶ I say þat first ȝe schul clepe to ȝour coun|seil ȝoure frendes that ben trewe [2348] ¶ For Salomon saiþ For right as þe hert of a man delitith in sauour þat is soote; Right so . þe counseil of trewe frendes ȝeueþ swetnes to þe soule [2349] ¶ he saith also ther may no þing be likened to þe trewe freend [2350] ¶ For certes gold ne siluer beþ nought so moche worþ as þe goode wil of a trewe freend . [2351] ¶ And eek he sayde þat a trewe frend is a strong defens who þat it fyndeþ certes he fyndeþ a gret tresour [2352] ¶ þanne schul ȝe eek considere if þat ȝoure trewe frendes ben discrete and wyse For þe book saith . axe þi counseil alwey of hem þat ben wyse . [2353] and by þis same resoun shul ȝe clepe to ȝoure counseil of ȝoure frendes þat ben of age suche as haue I-seye sightes and ben expert in many þinges and ben approuyd in counseylinges [2354] ¶ For þe book saith þat in olde men is þe sapience and in longe tyme þe prudence [2355] ¶ And tullius saiþ þat grete þinges ben not ay accompliced by strengþe ne by delyuernes of body; but by good counseil by auctorite of persones and by science . the whiche þre þinges ne been not feble by age; but certis þay enforsen and en|cresen day by day [2356] and thanne schul ȝe kepe þis for a general reule ¶ First schul ȝe clepe to ȝoure counseil a fewe of ȝoure frendes þat ben especial [2357] For Salomon saiþ ¶ Many frendes haue þou but among a þousand chese þe oon to be þy counseil|our . [2358] For al be it so þat þou first ne telle þy counseil but to a fewe; þou mayst afterward telle it to mo folk if it be neede [2359] But loke alwey þat þy counseilours haue þilke þre condiciouns þat I haue sayd bifore þat is to say þat þay ben trewe and olde and of wys experiens [2360] ¶ And werke nouȝt alwey in euery neede by oon counseilour alloone ¶ For som tyme byhoueþ it be counseiled by many [2361] ¶ For Salomon saith ¶ Saluacioun of þinges is wher as þere beþ many counseilours.

[2362] Now siþ þat I haue told ȝow of which folk ȝe schul be counseled ¶ Now wil I telle ȝow which counseil ȝe ought eschiewe. [2363] First ȝe schal espie þe counseil of fooles ¶ For Salomon seiþ take no coun|seil of a fool For he ne can not counseile but after his oughne lust and his affeccioun [2364] ¶ The book seiþ þat þe proprete of a fool is þis he troweþ lightly harm of euery wight & lightly troweþ alle bounte in himself [2365] ¶ Thow schalt eschiewe eek þe counseil of alle flaterers suche as enforcen hem raþere to prayse ȝoure persone by flaterie þan for to telle ȝow þe soþ|fastnesse of þinges

[2366] ¶ wherfore Tullius saith Amonges alle pestilences þat ben in frendschipe þat is þe grettest flaterie. ¶ And þerfore is it more neede þat þou eschiewe and drede flaterers more þan eny oþer peple [2367] ¶ The book saiþ. Þou schalt raþer drede and flee fro þe swete wordes of flaterers. þen fro þe egre wordes of þy frend þat saiþ þe þi soþes [2368] ¶ Salamon saiþ þat þe wordes of a flaterer is a snare to cacche in Innocentȝ [2369] ¶ He saiþ also. he þat spekeþ to his frend wordes of swetnesse and of plesaunce setteþ a nette byfore his feet to cacchen him [2370] and þerfore saiþ Tullius ¶ Encline not þin eeres to flaterers ne tak no confort of þe wordes of flaterers [2371] ¶ And Catoun saiþ Auyse the wel and eschiewe wordes of swetnes and of plesaunce [2372] and eek þou schalt eschiewe þe counselyng of þin olde enemyes þat ben recounsiled. [2373] Þe book saiþ. that wight retorneth soone in to þe grace of his olde enemyes [2374] ¶ And ysope saith. Ne truste not to hem wiþ which þou hast had som tyme werre or enmyte. ne telle not hem þy counseil [2375] And Seneca telleþ þe cause why it may not be saith he þat wher as a greet fuyr haþ longe tyme endured; þat þere ne leueþ som vapour of hete [2376] ¶ And þerfore saith Salomon ¶ In þin olde enemy truste þou neuere [2377] ¶ For sicurly þough þin enemy be reconsiled and make þe cheer of humilite and lowteþ to þe his heed; ne trist him neuer [2378] For certes he makiþ þilke feyned humilite more for his profyt þan for eny loue of þi persone by cause he dem|yth to haue victorie ouer þi persone ¶ By such feyned countynaunce the whiche victorie he might nouȝt haue by stryf and werre [2379] ¶ And Petir Alfons saiþ ¶ Make no felaschipe with þine olde enemyes. for if þou do hem bounte; þey wil peruerten it in to wikkednes [2380] & eek þou most eschiewe þe counseilynge of hem þat ben þy seruauntȝ and beren þe gret reuerence. For par auenture þai say it more for drede þan for loue [2381] And þerfore saith a philosophre in þis wise ¶ Ther is no wight parfytly trewe to him þat he to sore dredeth [2382] ¶ And Tullius saith ¶ þer is no wight so gret of eny emperour þat onge may endure but if he haue more loue of þe peple than drede [2383] ¶ Thow also eschiewe þe counseil of folk þat ben dronkelewe For þay ne can no counsel hyde [2384] ¶ For Salomon saith ¶ Ther regneþ no priuete þer as is dronkenesse [2385] ¶ ȝe schul also haue in suspect þe counseil of such folk as counseileþ ȝou oon þing priuely and counseile ȝow þe contrarie openly [2386] ¶ For Cassiodorie saith it is a maner sleighte to hindre whan he schewiþ to doon oon þing openly and werkith priuely þe contrarie. [2387] ¶ þou schalt also eschiewe þe counseil of wikked folkes ¶ For þe book saith. ¶ The counselyng of wikked folk is alway ful of fraude [2388] ¶ and Dauid saith ¶ Blisful is þat man þat haþ not folwed þe counseilyng of wikked men or schrewes [2389] ¶ Thow schalt also eschiewe þe counseilynge of ȝonge folkes for here counseil is nought/ rype

[2390] ¶ Now sire syn I haue schewed ȝou of what folk ȝe schul take ȝoure counsail and of whiche folk ȝe schullen folwe þe counseil [2391] ¶ Now schal I teche ȝow how ȝe schul examyne ȝoure counseil after þe doctrine of tullius [2392] ¶ In the examynyng of ȝoure counseiloures; ȝe schul considre many þinges [2393] ¶ Al-thir first ȝe schul considre þat in þilke þing that þou proposist and vp what þing þou wilt haue counseil that verray trouthe be sayd and considerid. þis is to sayn. telle trewely þy tale [2394] ¶ For he þat saith fals may not wel be counseled in þat cas of which he lyeth [2395] ¶ And after þis þou schalt considere the þinges þat accorden to þat purpos. for to do by þy counseil if resoun accorde þer to [2396] ¶ and eek if þy might may accorde þer to. and if þe more part and þe better part of þy counseilours accorde þer-to or noon [2397] ¶ Thanne schalt þou considere what þing schal folwe of þat counsailynge. as hate. pees. werre. grace. profyt/. or damage and many oþer þinges [2398] ¶ And in alle þese þinges þou schalt chese þe beste and weyue alle oþer þinges [2399] Þanne schalt þou considre of what roote engendred is þy matier of þy counseil and what fruyt may conserue and engendre / [2400] ¶ Thow schalt also consider alle þese causes from whens þai ben spronge. / [2401] And whan ȝe haue examined ȝoure counseil as I haue said and which party is þe better and more profitable and han approued by many wise folkes and olde; [2402] Than schalt thow considre if þou maist performe it and make of it a good ende [2403] ¶ For resoun wol nought þat any man schuld bygynne a thing; but if he mighte parforme it and make þer-of a good ende. [2404] ne no wight schulde take vpon him so heuy a charge þat he mighte not bere it [2405] ¶ For þe prouerbe seiþ ¶ He þat moche embrasith destroyeþ litel [2406] ¶ And Catoun seiþ Assay to do such þing as þou hast power to doon. lest þat þy charge oppresse þe so sore. þat þe bihoue to wayue þing þat þou hast bygonne [2407] ¶ And if so be þat þou be in doubte wher þou maist parforme a þing or noon chese rather to suffre þan bygynne [2408] ¶ And petre alfons saith If þou hast might to doon a þing of which þou most repente it is better nay þan ȝee / [2409] þis is to sayn þat þe is better holde þy tongue stille þan to speke [2410] ¶ Than may ȝe vnderstonde by strenger resouns. þat if þou hast power to parforme a werk of which þou schalt repente; þanne is it better þat þou suffre þan bigynne. [2411] wel seyn þay þat defenden euery wight to assaie þing of which he is in doute wheþir he may parforme it or noon [2412] ¶ And after whan ȝe han examyned ȝoure counseil as I haue sayd biforn and knowen wel ȝe may par|forme ȝoure emprise; conferme it þanne sadly til it be at an ende

[2413] ¶ Now is it tyme and resoun þat I schewe ȝow whanne and wherfore þat ȝe may chaunge ȝoure coun|seil wiþouten reproef / [2414] ¶ Sothly a man may chaunge his purpos and his counseil if þe cause cesseþ or whan a newe cause bytydeþ [2415] ¶ For þe lawe seith ¶ vpon þinges þat newely bitydeþ bihoueþ newe counseil. [2416] and Seneca seith ¶ If þy counseil be comen to þe eeres of þin enemy; chaunge þy counsail [2417] ¶ Thow maist/ also chaunge þy counseil if so be þat þou fynde þat by errour or by oþer processe harm or damage may bytyde [2418] ¶ Also þou chaunge þy counseil if þay be dishonest or elles comuneth of dishoneste. [2419] For þe lawes sayn ¶ That alle þe hestes þat ben dishoneste ben of no valieu [2420] and eek if it so be þat it be impossible. or may not goodly be parformed or kept

[2421] and take þis for a general reule ¶ That euery counseil þat is affermed or strengþed so strongly þat it may not be chaunged for no condicioun þat may bitide ¶ I say þat þilke counseil is wikked

[2422] ¶ þis melibeus whan he had herd þe doctrine of his wyf dame prudens answerde in þis wise [2423] ¶ Dame quod he ȝit as in to þis tyme ȝe han wel and couenably taught me as in general how I schal gouerne me in chesynge and in wiþholdynge of my counseiloures [2424] ¶ But now wold I fayn ȝe wolde condescende as in especial [2425] & telleþ me what semeþ or how likeþ ȝow by oure counseiloures þat we han chosen in oure present neede

[2426] ¶ My lord quod sche I byseke ȝow in al hum|blesce þat ȝe wil not wilfully repplye aȝeinst my resouns ne distempre ȝoure herte þough I say or speke þing þat ȝow displesith [2427] ¶ For god woot þat as in myn entent I speke it for ȝoure beste. for ȝoure honour. and for ȝour profyt eek [2428] ¶ And soþly I hope þat ȝour be|nignite wol take it in to pacience [2429] ¶ For trusteþ me wel quod sche þat ȝoure counseil as in þis caas ne schulde not as for to speke propurly be called a counseilyng; but / a mocioun or a moeuynge of foly [2430] in which counseil ȝe han erred in many a sondry wise

[2431] ¶ First and forward ȝe han erred in þe gader|yng of ȝoure counseilours [2432] For ȝe schulde first han cleped a fewe folkes . . . . .no gap in the MS. if it hadde be neede [2433] ¶ But certes ȝe han sodeinly cleped to ȝour coun|seil a gret multitude of poeple ful cha[r]geous and ful anoyous for to hiere [2434] ¶ Also ȝe han erred for þer as ȝe schulde oonly haue clepid to ȝoure counseil ȝoure trewe frendes olde and wise; [2435] ȝe haue I-cleped straunge folk ȝonge folk. false flatereres and enemyes reconsiled and folk þat doon ȝow reuerence wiþoute loue [2436] ¶ Eke also ȝe han erred; For ȝe han brouȝt with ȝow to ȝoure counseil. Ire. Coueitise and Hastynes. [2437] þe whiche þre þinges ben contra|rious to euery counsail honest and profitable [2438] ¶ The whiche þre þinges ȝe haue nought annentissched or destroyed neyþer in ȝoure self ne in ȝoure counseiloures as ȝe oughte [2439] ¶ Also ȝe haue erred. For ȝe haue schewed to ȝoure counseilours ȝoure talent and ȝoure affeccioun to make werre and for to doon vengeaunce anoon [2440] ¶ þay han espyed by ȝoure wordes to what þinge ȝe ben enclined [2441] and þerfore haue þay counseiled ȝow rather to ȝoure talent þan to ȝoure profyt [2442] ¶ Ȝe haue erred also; For it semeþ þat ȝow sufficeþ to haue been coun|seiled by þese counseilours only and wiþ litel auys [2443] wher-as in so gret and so heigh a neede it hadde be necessarious mo counseilours and more deliberacioun to parforme ȝoure emprise [2444] ȝe have erred also ¶ For . . . . .[2445] . . . . .no gap ȝe haue maked no diuisioun bytwixe ȝoure counsailours þis is to seyn bitwix ȝoure frendes and ȝoure feyned counseilours. [2446] ne ȝe ne haue nought I-knowe þe wille of ȝoure frendes olde and wise. [2447] But ȝe haue cast alle here wordes in an hochepoche / and enclyned ȝoure herte to þe more part and to þe gretter nombre and þere be ȝe condescendid [2448] ¶ And syn ȝe wot wel men schal alway fynde a gretter nombre of fooles þan of wyse men; [2449] and þerfore þe counsailes þat ben at congregaciouns and mul|titudes of folk. þer as men taken more reward to þe nombre þan to þe sapience of persones. [2450] ȝe se wel þat in suche counseilynges fooles haue maystrie [2451] ¶ Melibeus answerde agayn and sayde ¶ I graunte wel þat I haue erred; [2452] But þere as þou hast told me toforn þat he is nought to blame þat chaungeþ his coun|seilours in certeyn caas and for certeyn iuste causes [2453] ¶ I am al redy to chaunge my counseilours right as þou wilt deuyse [2454] ¶ The prouerbe saith þat for to do synne is mannysch. But/ certes for to perseuere longe in synne is werk of þe deuyl

[2455] ¶ To þis sentence anoon answerde dame pru|dens and saide [2456] ¶ Examineth quod sche ȝoure coun|sail and let vs se which of hem haþ spoke most resonably and taught ȝou best counsail [2457] And for as moche as þe examinacioun is necessarie; let vs byginne at þe Surgiens and at þe phisiciens þat first speken in þis matiere [2458] ¶ I say ȝou þat þe surgiens and þe physiciens han sayd ȝow in ȝoure counseil discretly as hem ought [2459] and in here speche sayden ful wisely þat to þe office of hem appendith to doon to euery wight honour and profyt. and no wiȝt to annoye [2460] and after here craft to do gret diligence vn to þe cure of hem which þat þay haue in here gouern|aunce [2461] And sire right as þay answerde wisely and discretly; [2462] Right so rede I þat þay be heihly and soueraignly guerdoned for here noble speche / [2463] and eek for þey schullen do þe more ententyf besynes in þe curyng of ȝoure douȝter dere [2464] ¶ For al be it so þat þai be ȝoure frendes; þerfore schul ȝe nought suffre þat þay schul serue ȝow for nouȝt / [2465] But ȝe oughte þe raþere to guerdoune hem and schewe hem ȝoure largesse [2466] ¶ & as touchynge þe proposiciouns whiche þe phisiciens han schewed ȝou in þis caas þis is to sayn [2467] þat in maladyes oon contrarie is warisshed by anoþer contrarie. [2468] I wolde fayn knowe þilke text and how þay vnderstonde it and what is ȝoure entente [2469] ¶ Certes quod Melibeus vnderstonden it is in þis wise [2470] þat right as þay han do me a contrarie; right so schold I do hem anoþer [2471] ¶ For right as þai han venged hem on me and doon me wrong; Right so schal I venge me vp on hem and doon hem wrong [2472] and þanne haue I cured oon contrarie by anoþer

[2473] ¶ lo lo quod Dame prudence how lightly is euery man enclyned to his oughne plesaunce and to his oughne desir [2474] ¶ Certes quod sche þe wordes of þe phisiciens ne schulde nouȝt haue ben vnderstonde sone in þat wise [2475] ¶ For certes wikkednesse is no contrarie to wickednesse. ne vengauns to vengeaunce. ne wrong to wrong; but þai ben semblable [2476] And þer|fore on vengeaunce is nouȝt warisshed by anoþer venge|aunce. ne oon wrong by anoþer wrong. [2477] but euerych of hem encreseth and engreggith oþer [2478] ¶ But certes þe wordes of þe phisiciens schul ben vnderstonde in þis wise. [2479] For good and wikked|nesse ben tuo contraries. and pees and werre. venge|aunce & sufferaunce. Discord and accord and many oþer þinges [2480] ¶ but certes wikkednes schal be warrisshed by goodnesse. Discord by accord. werre by pees and so forth of oþer þinges [2481] ¶ And her-to accordith seint paul þe apostil in many places [2482] ¶ He saith . ne ȝeldith nouȝt harm for harm. ne wikked speche for wikked speche [2483] ¶ But do wel to him þat doþ þe harm and blesse him that doþ þe harm [2484] and in many oþer places he amonesteth pees and accord [2485] ¶ But now wil I speke to ȝow of þe coun|seil which was ȝiue to ȝow by þe men of lawe & þe wise folkes [2486] þat sayde alle by oon accord as ȝe haue herd byfore [2487] That ouer alle þinges ȝe schal do ȝoure diligence to kepe ȝoure persone and to warmstore ȝoure hous. [2488] and seyden also þat in þis ȝow aughte for to wirche ful auysily and with gret deliberacioun. [2489] ¶ And sire as to þe firste poynt þat touched to þe kepinge of ȝoure persone; [2490] ȝe schul vnderstonde. þat he þat haþ werre; schal euermore deuoutly and mekely prayen biforn alle þinges [2491] þat Ihū crist wil of his mercy haue him in his proteccioun and ben his souerayn helpyng at his neede / [2492] ¶ For certes in þis world þer nys no wight þat may be counseiled or kept sufficaun[t]ly wiþ|oute þe kepinge of oure lord ihū crist [2493] ¶ To þis sentence accordeþ þe prophete Dauid þat seith [2494] ¶ If god ne kepe not þe citee. in ydel wakith he þat kepith hit [2495] ¶ Now sire þanne schul ȝe committe þe keping of ȝoure persone to ȝoure trewe frendes þat ben approued and y-knowe [2496] and of hem schul ȝe axen help ȝoure persone to kepe ¶ For Catoun saith ¶ If þou haue neede of help; axe it of þy freendes. [2497] For þer is noon so good a phisicien at neede; as is a trewe frend. [2498] ¶ And after þis; þan schal ȝe kepe ȝou fro alle straunge folkes and fro lyeres and haue alway in suspect/ here compaignye [2499] ¶ For Pieres alfons saith ¶ Ne take no compaignie by theway of a straunge man. but/ so be þat þou knowe him of a lenger tyme [2500] And if so be he falle in to þy compaignye par auenture wiþouten þin assent; [2501] enquere þanne as subtilly as þou maist of his conuersacioun and of his lyf bifore and feyne þy way and say þat þou wilt go þider as þou wolt nought goon [2502] ¶ And if he bere a spere ¶ hold þe on the right syde ¶ And if he bere a swerd; holde þe on þe lyft syde. [2503] and so after þis. þanne schul ȝe kepe ȝou wisely from al such peple as I haue sayd bifore / and hem and here counseil eschiewe [2504] ¶ And after þis. þanne schul ȝe kepe ȝow in such manere [2505] þat for eny presumpcioun of ȝoure strengþe þat ȝe despise not þe might of ȝoure aduersarie so lite þat ȝe lete þe kepinge of ȝoure persone for ȝoure presumpcioun. [2506] For eny wis man dredeþ his enemy [2507] ¶ And Salomon saith ¶ weleful is he þat of alle haþ drede. [2508] For certes he þat þurgh hardynes of his herte and þurgh þe hardinesse of himself. haþ to gret presumpcioun; him schal euyl bitide [2509] ¶ þanne schal ȝe euermore counterwayte enbusshementȝ and alle espiaille [2510] ¶ For Senec saith þat þe wise man þat drediþ harmes / eschiewith harmes. [2511] ne he ne falliþ in to noone perils þat perils eschieweþ [2512] ¶ And al be it so þat þe seme þat þou art in sikur place; ȝit schaltow alway do þy diligence in kepyng of þy persone [2513] ¶ This is to say ¶ Be not necgligent to kepe þy persone nought oonly for þy gretteste enemyes; but fro þy lest enemyes [2514] ¶ Senec saith ¶ A man þat is wel auysed; he drediþ his lest enemy [2515] ¶ Ovide seiþ þat þe litel wesil wol sle þe grete bole and þe wilde hert. [2516] ¶ And þe book saiþ. a litel þorn wol prikke a þing ful sore. ¶ And an hound wol holde þe wilde boore [2517] ¶ But naþeles I say not þat ȝe schul be so moche a coward þat ȝe doute where is no neede or drede [2518] ¶ þe book saiþ þat som folk haue gret lust to disceyue ¶ but ȝit þay dreden hem to be de|ceyued [2519] ¶ Ȝet schal ȝe drede to ben empoisoned ¶ And kepe þe fro þe companye of scorners [2520] For þe book saith with scorners make no compaignye but flee hem and here wordes as venym

[2521] ¶ Now as to þe secounde poynt where as ȝoure wise counseilours warnede ȝow to warmstore ȝoure hous with gret diligence; [2522] I wolde fayn wite how þat ȝe vnderstoode þilke wordes what is ȝoure sentence

[2523] ¶ Melibeus answerde and saide ¶ Certes I vnder|stonde it in þis wise þat I schal warmstore myn hous with toures suche as han castiles and oþer maner edifices and armure and artilries [2524] by suche þinges I may my persone & myn hous so kepen and edifien and defenden þat myn enemyes schul be in drede myn hous to approche

[2525] ¶ To þis sentence answerde dame prudence ¶ warmstorynge quod sche of heihe toures and grete edifices . . . . .[2526] . . . . .no gap wiþ grete costages and gret trauaile and whan þat þay ben accomplised ȝit beþ þay nouȝt worth a straw but if þey be defended by trewe frendes þat beþ olde and wise [2527] ¶ And vnderstondeþ þat þe grettest strength or garnisoun that þe riche man may haue as wel to kepe his persone as his goodes is [2528] þat he be biloued wiþ his subgites and wiþ his neighebours [2529] ¶ For þus saith tullius ¶ That þer is a maner garnisoun þat no man may venquisshe ne discomfite and þat is [2530] a lord to be biloued with his citeȝeins and of his peple

[2531] ¶ Now þanne as to ȝoure þridde poynt where as ȝoure olde and wyse counseillours sayde. ȝe oughte nought sodeinly ne hastily procede in þis neede. [2532] but þat ȝe oughte purueyen ȝow and apparaile ȝow in þis caas wiþ greet diligence and gret deliberacioun; [2533] trewely I trowe þat þay sayden soþ and right wisely [2534] ¶ For Tullius saith ¶ In euery nede er þou bigynne it/ apparaile þe wiþ gret diligence [2535] ¶ Thanne say I þat in vengeance takinge in werre in bataile and in warmstoringe of þin hous [2536] er þou bygynne I rede þat þou apparaille þe þerto and do it with gret deliberacioun. [2537] For tullius saith ¶ That long apparaylyng byfore þe bataille; makeþ schort victorie [2538] ¶ And Cassidorus saiþ ¶ The garnisoun is strenger whan it is long tyme auysed

[2539] ¶ But now let vs speke of þe counseil þat was accorded by ȝoure neighebours suche as doon ȝou reuerence wiþoute loue. [2540] ¶ Ȝoure olde enemyes recoun|siled [2541] þat counseile ȝow cer|teyn þinges pryuely and openly counseile ȝow þe contrarie [2542] ¶ Þe ȝonge also þat counsaile ȝow to make werre and venge ȝow anoon [2543] ¶ And certes sire as I haue sayd byforn ȝe haue gretly erred to haue cle ped such maner folk to ȝoure counseil [2544] whiche be now repreued by þe resouns byfore sayd [2545] ¶ But naþeles let vs now descende to þe purpose special ¶ Ȝe schul first procede after þe doctrine of Tullius [2546] ¶ Certes þe trouþe of þis or þis counseil nedeþ nought diligently enquere [2547] For it is wel wist whiche it ben þat doon to ȝow þis trespas and vilonye [2548] & how many trespasoures and in what maner þay han to ȝow doon al þis wrong and al þis vilonye [2549] ¶ And after þat schul ȝe examyne þe secounde condicioun which Tullius addiþ þer to in þis matier [2550] ¶ Tullius put a þing which þat he clepeth couetynge. þis is to sayn [2551] who ben þay and whiche ben þay and how many þat consentid to þis matiere and to þy counsail in þy wilfulnesse to do hasty vengeaunces [2552] & let vs considere also who ben þo and how many ben þo . . . . .no gap þat ben counseilours to ȝoure aduersaries. [2553] and certes as to þe first poynt it is wel knowen whiche folk ben þay þat consentid to ȝoure first/ wilful|nes. [2554] For trewly alle þo þat counsailled ȝow to make sodeyn werre beþ nouȝt ȝoure frendes [2555] ¶ let vs considre whiche ben þo þat ȝe holde so gretly ȝoure frendes as to ȝoure persone [2556] ¶ For al be it so þat ȝe be mighty and riche; certes ȝe been alloone. [2557] for certes ȝe haue no childe but a douȝter. [2558] ne ȝe haue no breþeren ne cosins germayns ne noon oþer neigh kynrede / [2559] wherfore þat ȝoure enemyes for drede schulden stynte for to plede wiþ ȝou and stryue ȝoure persone [2560] ¶ Ȝe knowe also þat ȝoure richesses mooten in diuers parties be departed. [2561] and whan euery wight haþ his part; þay wol take but litel reward to venge þy deth [2562] ¶ But þyne enemyes ben þre and haue many children breþeren. cosynes and oþere neigh kynrede. [2563] and þough it so were ȝe hadde slayn of hem tuo or thre; ȝet dwellen þere ynowe to wreke here deth and sle þi persone [2564] ¶ And þough so were þat ȝoure kynrede were more sekir and stedefast þan þe kynrede of ȝoure aduersaries; [2565] ȝit naþeles ȝoure kynrede nis but litel kinrede and litel sib to ȝow [2566] and þe kyn of ȝoure enemyes ben neigh sibbe to hem. and certes as in þat here condicioun is bet þan ȝoures [2567] ¶ Þanne let vs considere also if þe counseilynge of hem þat counseiled ȝow to take sodein vengeance wheþir it accorde to resoun [2568] & certes ȝe knowe wel nay [2569] ¶ For as by right and resoun þer may no man take vengeaunce vpon no wight but þe Iugge þat/ haþ iurediccioun of it [2570] whan it is y-graunted him to take þilke vengeaunce hastily or at|temperelly as þe lawe requireth. [2571] and ȝit more|ouer of þilke word þat Tullius clepith consentynge [2572] þou schalt considre if þy might and þy power may consente and suffice to þy wilfulnes and to þy counseilours. [2573] and certes þou maist/ wel say þat nay / [2574] For sicurly as for to speke properly we may doo no þing but oonly oon þing/ which we may do rightfully [2575] ¶ And certes rightfully may ȝe take no vengeance as of ȝoure owne auctorite [2576] ¶ Than may ȝe se þat ȝoure power consentith not ne accordith not wiþ ȝoure wilfulnesse [2577] ¶ let vs now examyne þe þridde poynt þat Tullius clepeþ consequente. [2578] þou schalt vnderstonde þat þe vengeance þat þou purposiddest for to take is conse|quent. [2579] and þer of folweþ anoþer vengeaunce. peril and werre and oþer damages wiþoute nombre of whiche we be not war as at þis tyme [2580] ¶ And as touching þe fourþe poynt that tullius clepeþ en|gendrynge; [2581] þou schalt considre þat þis wrong which þat is doon to þe is engendred of þe hate of þin enemyes [2582] and of þe vengeaunce takinge vp þat wolde engendre anoþer vengeaunce & moche sorwe and wastyng of riches as I sayde

[2583] ¶ Now sire as to þe poynt þat Tullius clepith causes whiche þat þe laste poynt [2584] þou schalt vnderstonde þat þe wrong þat þou hast receyued haþ certeyn causes [2585] whiche þat clerkes calle Orience and Officience. and causa longinqua. and causa propinqua. þis is to say. þe fer cause. and þe neigh cause. [2586] for þe fer cause is almighty god þat is cause of alle þinges. [2587] þe nere cause is þe þre enemyes. [2588] þe cause accidental was hate. [2589] þe causes materiales been þe fyue woundes of þy doughter. [2590] the cause formal is þe maner of here werkyng þat brought in laddres and clombe in at þin wyndowes. [2591] þe cause final was for to sle þy doughter hit letted nouȝt in as moche as was in hem [2592] ¶ But for to speke of þe fer cause as to what ende þay schal come or what schal finally betyde of hem in þis cause. can I not deme but by comittyng and by supposyng. [2593] For we schul suppose þat þay schul come to a wikked ende [2594] by cause þat þe book of degrees saith ¶ Seelden or wiþ gret peyne ben causes I-brought to a good ende. whan þay ben euyl bygonne

[2595] Now sire if men wolde axe me why þat ȝe suffrede men to do ȝow þis wrong and vilonye; Certes I can not wel answere as for no soþfastnes [2596] For þe apostil saith. þat þe sciences and þe Iuggements of oure lord god almyghty ben ful deepe [2597] ¶ Ther may no man comprehende ne serchen hem sufficiauntly [2598] ¶ Natheles by certeyn presumpciouns and coniectinges I holde and bilieue [2599] þat god which þat is ful of iustice and of rightwisnesse haþ suffred þis to betyde by iuste cause resonable

[2600] ¶ Thy name Melibe is to say a man þat drynkeþ hony. [2601] þou hast y-dronke so moche hony of sweete temperel richesses and delices and hon|ours of þis world [2602] þat þou art dronke and hast forȝete Ihū crist þy creatour. [2603] þou hast not doon him such honour and reuerence as þe oughte to doone. [2604] ne þou hast nouȝt wel taken keep to þe wordes of Ovide þat saith [2605] ¶ vnder þe hony of þy goodes of þy body is hid þe venym þat sleeþ þi soule [2606] ¶ And Salomon saith ¶ If þou haue fouunde hony. ete of it þat sufficeþ. [2607] For if þou ete of it out of mesure; þou schalt spewe and be nedy and pouere. [2608] and perauenture crist haþ þe in despit. and hath torned away fro þe his face and his eeres of misericorde [2609] ¶ And also he haþ suffred þat þou hast ben punysshed in þe maner þat þou hast I-trespassed [2610] ¶ Thou hast doon synne aȝeinst oure lord crist. [2611] for certes þi þre enemyes of man|kinde þat is to say þy flessch þe feend and þe world. [2612] þou hast y-suffred hem to entre in to þin herte wilfully by þe wyndow of þy body [2613] and hast nouȝt defended þiself sufficiently agayns here asceutis and here temptaciouns So þat þay haue woundid þi soule in fyue places [2614] This is to sayn þe dedly synnes þat ben entred in to þin herte by þy fyue wyndowes [2615] ¶ And in þe same maner oure lord crist hath wolde and suffred þat þy þre enemyes ben entred in to þin hous by þo wyndowes [2616] and haue I-woundid þi doughter in þe forsayde maner

[2617] ¶ Certes quod Melibeus I se wel þat ȝe en|force ȝow moche by wordes to ouercome me. in such manere þat I schal not venge me on myn enemyes [2618] schewynge me þe perils and þe yueles þat mighten falle of þis vengeaunce [2619] ¶ But who-so wolde considre in alle vegeaunces þe periles and þe yueles þat mighten folwe of vengeaunces takynge. [2620] a man wolde neuer take vengeaunce and þat were harm. [2621] For by venge|aunce takynge be wikked men destruyed and disseuered fro þe goode men. [2622] and þay þat haue wille to wikked|nes restreignen here wikked purpos whan þay seen þe punysshyng and þe chastisyng of trespasours [2623] . . . . . [2624] . . . . .no gap in the MS. [2625] ¶ And ȝit say I more þat right so as a sengle persone synneþ in taking of vengeaunce; [2626] Right so þe Iugge synneþ if he doo no vengeaunce on him þat it haþ deserued [2627] ¶ For Senec saith þus ¶ he þat maister is he saith good to reproue schrewes [2628] And as Cassoder saith ¶ A man dredeþ to doon outrage whan he woot and knoweþ þat it displeseþ to þe Iugges and þe soueraynes. [2629] and anoþer saith ¶ The Iugge þat dredeþ to demen right makeþ schrewes // [2630] And seint poul þappostoil saith in his epistil whan he writeþ to þe romayns ¶ The Iugges bere not þe spere wiþoute cause. [2631] but þay beren it to punysshe þe schrewes and mys doers and for to defende wiþ þe goode men. [2632] If ȝe wol take vengeaunce on ȝoure enemyes ȝe schul retourne or haue recours to þe Iugges þat haue iurediccioun vpon hem [2633] and he schal pun[i]ssche hem as þe law axeþ and requireþ

[2634] ¶ A quod melibeus þis vengeaunce likeþ me no þing [2635] I byþenke me now and take heed how fortune haþ norissched me fro my childhode and haþ holpe me to passen many a strayt passage [2636] ¶ Now wol I aske her þat sche schal wiþ goddes help helpe me my schame for to venge

[2637] ¶ Certes quod prudence if ȝe wil wirche by my counseil. ȝe schul not assaye fortune by no maner way [2638] ne schul not lene ne bowe vnto hire after þe word of Senec [2639] ¶ For þinges þat beþ folye and þat beþ in hope of fortune schul neuer come to good ende [2640] ¶ And as þe same Senek saiþ ¶ The more cleer· and þe more schynynge þat fortune is þe more brutil and þe sonner brekeþ sche. [2641] so trusteþ nought in hire For sche is nouȝt stedefast ne stable [2642] ¶ For whan þou wenest or trowest to be most seur of hir help. sche wol fayle þe and deceyue þe. [2643] And wher as ȝe say þat fortune haþ norisshed ȝow fro ȝoure childhode [2644] I say þat in so mochel ȝe schul þe lasse truste in hire and in hire witte [2645] ¶ For Senek saith ¶ what man þat is norissched by fortune; sche makeþ him to gret a fool [2646] ¶ Now siþþe ȝe desire and axe vengeaunce and þe vengeaunce þat is doon . . . . .[2647] . . . . .no gap in hope of fortune is peril|ous and vncerteyn [2648] þanne haueþ noon oþer remedye but for to haue recours vnto þe soueraigne Iugge þat vengith alle vilonies and wronges [2649] and he schal venge ȝow after þat himself witnesseþ where as he saith [2650] ¶ leueþ þe ve[n]geaunce to me and I schal ȝelde it

[2651] ¶ Melibeus answerd. If I ne venge me nouȝt of þe vilonye þat men haue doon vnto me. [2652] I schal sounere warne hem þat han doon to me þat vilonye and alle oþere to doo me anoþer vilonye [2653] For it is writen ¶ Tak no vengeaunce of an old vilonye þou suf|frest þin aduersarie do þe a newe vilonye. [2654] and also for my suffraunce men wolde do me so moche vilonye þat I mighte neither bere it ne sus|teyne it. [2655] and so schulde I be put over lowe [2656] For men say In moche sufferynge schal many þinges falle vnto whiche þou schal nouȝt mowe suffre

[2657] ¶ Certes quod prudence I graunte ȝow wel þat ouer mochil suffraunce is nouȝt good; [2658] but ȝit folwiþ it nought þerof þat euery persone to whom men doon vilonye take of it vengeaunce. [2659] For it apper|tieneþ and longeþ al oonly to þe Iugges. For þay schul venge þe vilonyes and þe iniuries. [2660] and þerfore þe auctoritees þat ȝe haue sayd aboue been oonly vnderstonden in þe Iugges [2661] ¶ For whan þay suffre to mochil þe wronges and þe vilonyes that ben doon wiþoute punysshyng [2662] þay somne not a man oonly to doo newe wronges; but þay comaunde hit. [2663] also þe wise man saith ¶ The Iugge þat correct|eþ not þe synnere comaundith him and byddith him doon anoþer synne [2664] ¶ And þe Iugges and souereignes mighten in here lond so mochil suffren of þe schrewes and mys-doeres [2665] þat þay schulde by such suffraunce by proces of tyme wexen of such power and might þat þay schulde put out þe Iugges and þe souereignes from here places [2666] & atte laste do hem lese here lordschipes

[2667] But lete vs now putte þat ȝe han leue to venge ȝow. [2668] I say ȝe ben nouȝt of might ne power as now to venge ȝou [2669] ¶ For if he wolde make comparisoun as to þe might ¶ Of ȝoure aduersaries ȝe schulde fynde in many þinges þat I haue I-schewed ȝow er þis þat here condicioun is bettre þan ȝoures [2670] And þerfore say I þat it is good as now þat ȝe suffre and be pacient

[2671] ¶ Forþermore ȝe knowe þat after þe comune sawe it is a woodnesse a man to stryue with a strenger or a more mighty man þan him-seluen is [2672] And for to stryue wiþ a man of euene strengþe þat is to say with as strong a man as he is. it is peril. [2673] and for to stryue with a weykere it is folye [2674] and þerfore schulde a man fle stryuynge as moche as he mighte [2675] ¶ For Salomon seith ¶ It is a gret worschipe a man to kepe him fro noyse and stryf [2676] ¶ And if it so bifalle or happe þat a man of gretter might and strengthe þan þou art do þe greuaunce [2677] stude and busye þe raþer to stille þe same greuaunce þan for to venge þe [2678] ¶ For Senec saith. he putteþ him in a gret peril þat stryueth wiþ a gretter man þan he himseluen is [2679] ¶ And Catoun saith ¶ If a man of heiher estat or degre or more mighty þen þou do þe anoþer grieuaunce; Suffre him. [2680] For he þat haþ oones don þe a grieuaunce may anoþer tyme relieue þe and helpe þe. [2681] Ȝit sette I a caas ȝe haue bothe might and licence to venge ȝow; [2682] I say þer ben ful many þinges þat schulde restreinge ȝow of vengeaunce takynge [2683] and make ȝow to encline to suffre and to haue pacience of þe wronges þat han ben doon to ȝow. [2684] First and forward ȝe wol considre þe defautes þat been in ȝoure owne persone. [2685] for whiche defautes god haþ suffred ȝow to haue þis tribulacioun as I haue sayd ȝow her byfore [2686] ¶ For þe poete saith // we oughten paciently to suffre þe tribu|lacioun þat cometh to vs whan þat we þenken and consideren þat we han deserued to haue hem [2687] ¶ And seint poul saith þat whan a man considereþ wel þe nombre of his defautes and of his synnes: [2688] þe peynes and þe tribulaciouns þat he suffereþ semen þe lasse vnto him [2689] ¶ and in as moche as him þenk|ith his synnes þe more heuy and greuous; [2690] in so moche his peyne is þe lighter and þe more esier vn-to him [2691] ¶ Also ȝe oughten to encline and bowe ȝoure herte to take þe pacience of oure lord ihū crist. as seiþ seint peter in his epistles [2692] ¶ Ihū crist he seiþ haþ suffred for vs and ȝiuen ensample vnto euery man to folwe and sewe him. [2693] For he dede neuer synne ne neuer cam vileyns worde out of his mouþ [2694] whan men cursed him; he cursed hem not ¶ And whan men beete him; he manased hem not. [2695] ¶ Also þe grete pacience which þat seintes þat been in paradys han had in tribulaciouns þat þay haue had and suffred withoute desert/ or gult [2696] oughte moche stire ȝow to pacience [2697] ¶ Forþer|more ȝe schul enforce ȝow to haue pacience [2698] consideringe þat þe tribulaciouns of þis world but litel while enduren & soone passed ben and goon [2699] ¶ And þe ioye þat a man secheþ to haue by pacience in tribulaciouns is perdurable after þat þe apostil seiþ in his epistil [2700] ¶ The ioye of god he saiþ is perdurable þat is to say euer-more lastynge [2701] ¶ Also troweth and bilieueþ stedefastly þat he is not wel norisched and taught þat can nought haue pacience or wil nouȝt receyue pacience [2702] ¶ For Salomon saith þat þe doctrine and þe witte of a man is I-knowe by pacience [2703 ¶ And in anoþer place he seiþ ¶ he þat hath pacience; gouerneþ him by gret prudence [2704] ¶ And þe same salamon seiþ. þat þe wraþful and þe angry man makeþ noyses. and þe pacient man attempereth and stilleþ him. [2705] he seiþ also ¶ It is more worth to be pacient þan for to be right strong. [2706] And And he þat may haue his lordschipe of his oughne herte; is more worþ and more to preise þan he þat by his force & by his strengthe takeþ grete citees [2707] ¶ And þerfore saith seint Iame in his epistil þat pacience is a gret vertu of perfeccioun.

[2708] . . . . .no gap [2709] but euery man may not haue þe perfeccioun þat ȝe seekyn [2710] ne I am not of þe nombre of right par|fyte men; [2711] For myn herte may neuer be in pees vnto þe tyme it be venged [2712] ¶ And al be it/ so that it was a gret peril to myne enemyes to don me a vilonye in takinge vengeaunce vpon me; [2713] ȝit tooken þay noon heede of þe peril but filden here wikked desir and her corrage. [2714] and þerfore me þenkith men oughten nought repreue me þough I putte me in a litel peril for to venge me [2715] ¶ And þough I do a gret excesse þat is to say þat I venge oon outrage by anoþer

[2716] ¶ A quod dame prudence ȝe say ȝoure wille and as ȝow likith. [2717] but in noon caas in þe world a man ne schulde nouȝt doon outrage ne excesse for to venge him. [2718] ¶ For Cassidore saiþ. as euel doþ he þat auengith him by outrage as he þat doth þe outrage / [2719] and þerfore ȝe schul venge ȝow after þe ordre of right þat is to sayn by þe lawe and nouȝt by excesse ne by outrage [2720] ¶ And also if ȝe wil venge ȝow of þe outrage of ȝoure aduersaries in oþer maner þan right comaundeþ; ȝe synnen [2721] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Senec / that a man schal neuer venge schrewednes by schrewednes. [2722] ¶ And if ȝe say þat axeþ a man to defende violence by vyolence. and fightyng by fightynge [2723] ¶ Certes ȝe say soþ whan þe defence is doon anoon wiþouten interualle or wiþouten taryinge or dilay [2724] for to defenden him and nought for to venge him [2725] ¶ And it bihoueþ a man putte such attemperance in his defence; [2726] þat men haue no cause ne matiere to repreuen him that defendith him of excesse and outrage . . . . .no gap [2727] ¶ Parde ȝe knowe wel þat ȝe make no defence as now for to defende ȝow but for to venge ȝow [2728] and so semeþ it / þat ȝe haue no wille to do ȝoure wille attemperelly [2729] & þerfore me þenkiþ þat pacience is good ¶ For Salamon saith þat he þat is not pacient schal haue gret harm.

[2730] ¶ Certes quod melibeus I graunte ȝou wel þat whan a man is inpacient and wroth. . . . .no gap [2731] for þe lawe saith þat he is coupable þat entremettith him or mellith him with such þing as aperteyneþ not vnto him [2732] ¶ Dan Salamon saiþ. he þat entremetteþ him of þe noyse or stryf of anoþer man. is lik him þat takith þe hound by þe eeres. [2733] For right as he þat takiþ þe strong hound by þe eeres is oþer while biten with þe hound; [2734] riȝt in þe same wise it is resoun þat he haue harm þat by his impacience melleþ him of þe noise of anoþer man where it aperteyneþ not to him [2735] ¶ But/ ȝe schul knowe wel þat þis dede þat is to sayn myn disease and my grief toucheþ me right neigh. [2736] and þerfore þough I be wroþ; it is no meruayle. [2737] and sauynge ȝour grace I can not see þat it mighte gretly harme me þough I toke vengeaunce. [2738] For I am richer and more mighty þan myne enemyes been / [2739] And wel knowe ȝe þat by money and by hauynge of grete posses|siouns ben alle þe þinges of þis world gouernede [2740] ¶ And Salamon saith þat alle þinges obeyen to moneye / dispraisynge þe power of his aduersaries

[2741] . . . . .no gap ¶ Tho sche spak and sayde in þis wyse [2742] ¶ Certes deere sire I graunte ȝow þat ȝe ben riche and mighty [2743] and þat richesse is good to hem þat wel haue geten it/ and þat wel conne vse it [2744] For right as þe body of a man may not be wiþoute þe soule; no more may a man lyue wiþoute temperel goodes [2745] and by rich|esse may a man gete him greet frendschipe / [2746] ¶ And þerfore saith Pamphilles. If a neet-hurdes douȝter he saiþ be riche; sche may cheese of a þousand men which she wol take to hir housbonde [2747] ¶ For of a þousand men oon wil not forsake hir ne refuse hire [2748] ¶ And þis pamphilles seiþ also ¶ If þou be right happy þat is to sayn if þou be right riche; þanne schalt þou fynde a gret nombre of felawes and frendes [2749] ¶ And if þy fortune chaunge þat þou wax pore; fare wel frendschipe. [2750] For þou schalt ben aloone wiþouten eny companye but if it be þe compaignye of pore folk // [2751] And ȝit saith þis pamphillus more ouer ¶ That þey þat/ ben þral and bonde of linage schullen ben maad worþy and noble by richesse [2752] ¶ And right so as by richesse þer come many goodes; Right so by pouert comen þer many harmes.[. . . .] [2753] . . . . . . . . . .no gap [2754] And þer|fore clepeþ Cassidore pouert. . . . .] ruyne. [2755] þat is to sayn þe moder of ouerþrowyng or fallynge doun [2756] ¶ & þerfore Pieres alphons oon of þe grettest aduersites of þis world is; [2757] whan a free man by kyn or burthe is constreigned by pouert to eten þe almes of his enemyes [2758] ¶ And þe same seiþ Innocent in oon of his bookes ¶ þat sorweful & vnhappy is þe condicioun of a pouere begger. [2759] for if he axe nouȝt his mete; he deyeth for hungir; [2760] and if he axe; he deyeþ for schame. And algates þe necessite constreigneþ hym to axe. [2761] And þerfore saiþ Salamon þat bettre it is to deye þan to haue such pouert [2762] And as þe same Sala|mon saith Bettir is to deye on bitter deth þan for to lyue in such a wyse [2763] ¶ By þese resouns þat I haue sayd vnto ȝow and by many anoþer resoun þat I knowe and couþe say [2764] I graunte ȝow þat richesses ben goode to hem þat gete hem wel. & to hem þat hem wel vsen [2765] ¶ And þerfore wol I schewe ȝow how ȝe schulde bere ȝow in getyng of riches and in what maner ȝe schulde vse hem

[2766] ¶ First ȝe schulde gete hem wiþoute gret desir by good leysir sokyngly and nought ouer hastily [2767] ¶ For a man þat is to desirynge for to gete riches abandoneth him first to þefte and to alle oþere yueles [2768] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Salamon ¶ he þat hastith him to bisyly to waxe riche; schal ben noon Innocent [2769] ¶ He saiþ also þat þe riches þat hastily comeþ to a man; soone & lightly goth and passeth fro a man [2770] ¶ But þat richesse þat comeþ alway litel and litel waxeþ alway and multiplieþ [2771] ¶ And sire ȝe schal gete richesse by ȝoure witte and by ȝoure trauayle vnto ȝoure profyt [2772] and þat wiþoute wrong or harm doynge to eny oþer persone [2773] ¶ For þe lawe saith þat no man makeþ himself riche þat doþ harm to anoþer wight. [2774] þis is to say. þat nature defendeþ and forbedith by right þat no man make himself riche vnto þe harm of anoþer persone. [2775] Tullius saith. þat no sorwe ne drede of deth. ne thought þat may falle to a man [2776] is so moche aȝeinst nature as a man to encresce his oughne profyt to þe harm of anoþer man [2777] ¶ And þough þe grete men and þe riche men gete richesse more lightly þan þou; [2778] ȝit schalt þou not be ydil ne slowe to þy profyt/ For þou schalt in alle wise flee ydil|nes. [2779] For Salamon saith þat ydelnesse techiþ a man to do many yueles [2780] ¶ And þe same salamon saiþ þat he þat trauaileth and besieþ him to tilye þe lond schal ete þe breed. [2781] But he þat is ydil and casteþ him to no busynesse ne occupacioun schal falle in to pouert and deye for hunger [2782] ¶ And he þat is ydel and slough can neuer fynde him tyme for to do his profyt [2783] ¶ For þer is a versifiour saith; þe ydel man excuseþ him in wynter by cause of þe grete colde. And in somer by enchesoun of þe grete hete. [2784] ¶ For þese causes saith Catoun ¶ waketh and enclineþ ȝow nouȝt ouer moche for to slepe. For ouermoche reste norischeþ and causeþ many vices [2785] ¶ And þerfore saith seint Ierom; Doþ some goode deedes þat þe deuel which þat is oure enemy ne fynde ȝow vnoccupied [2786] ¶ For þe deuel ne takiþ not lightly vnto his werkes suche as he fyndeth occupied in goode werkes

[2787] ¶ þanne þus in getynge of riches ȝe moot flee ydelnesse / [2788] ¶ and afterward ȝe schul vse þe richesses þe whiche ȝe han geten by ȝoure witte and by ȝoure trauaile [2789] in such a maner þat men holde ȝow not skarce / ne to sparynge ne to fool large þat is to say ouer large a spender [2790] For right as men blamen an auerous man by cause of his skarsete and chyncherie [2791] in þe same manere is he to blame þat spendeth ouer largely [2792] ¶ And þerfore saith Catoun ¶ Vse he saith þi richesses þat þou hast y-geten [2793] in such a manere þat þay haue no matier ne cause to calle þe neiþer wrecche ne chynche [2794] ¶ For it is gret schame to a man to haue a pouer herte and a riche purse [2795] ¶ He saith also þe goodes þat þou hast I-geten vse hem by mesure þat is to say spende hem mesurably [2796] For þay þat folily wasten and spenden þe goodes þat þay haue; [2797] whan þay haue no more propre of here oughne; þay schape hem to take þe goodes of anoþer man [2798] ¶ I say thanne ȝe schul flee auarice [2799] vsynge ȝour richesse in such manere þat . . .no gap ȝoure [. . . .] be buried. [2800] but þat ȝe haue þanne in ȝoure might and in ȝoure weldynge. [2801] For þe wise man reproueþ þe auerous man and saith þus in tuo versus [2802] ¶ wher-to and why burieth a man his goodes by his auarice and knowiþ wel þat needes most he deye. [2803] for deth is þe ende of euery man as in this present lif. [2804] And for what cause or enchesoun ioyneþ he him or knetteþ him so fast vnto his goodes [2805] þat alle his wittes mowe nought disseuer him or departe him fro his goodes [2806] & knowiþ wel or oughte knowe wel þat whan he is deed he schal no þing bere with him out of þis world. [2807] ¶ And þerfore seiþ seint/ Austyn þat þe auerous man is likned vnto helle. [2808] þat þe more þat it swolwith þe more it desireþ to swolwe and deuoure [2809] ¶ And as wel as ȝe wolde eschewe to be cleped an auerous man or chinche; [2810] as wel schulde ȝe kepe ȝow and gouerne ȝow in such a wise þat men cleped ȝow nouȝt fool large [2811] ¶ Therfore saiþ Tullius ¶ The goodes he saiþ of þin hous schulde nought ben hidde ne kepte so clos; but þat þay might ben opened by pite and by bonairete [2812] þat is to sayn to ȝiue hem part þat han gret neede. [2813] ne þy goodes schul not be so open to be euery mannes goodes [2814] ¶ Aftirward in getynge of ȝoure richesses and in vsynge hem ȝe schul alway haue þre þinges in ȝoure herte [2815] þat is to say Oure lord god. Conscience. and good name. [2816] First ȝe schul haue god in ȝoure herte [2817] and for no riches ȝe schul in no manere doo no þing which might displese god þat is ȝour creatour and ȝoure maker. [2818] For after þe word of Salamon. It is better to haue litil good wiþ loue of god. [2819] þan to haue mochil good and tresor and lese þe loue of his lord god. [2820] And þe prophete saith. Better is to ben a good man and haue litel good þan tresore [2821] þe to ben holden a schrewe and haue gret riches [2822] ¶ And ȝit say I forþer more þat ȝe schuln alway doon ȝoure businesse to gete ȝow riches. [2823] so þat ȝe gete hem with good conscience [2824] ¶ And þe apostil seith. ther nys þing in þis world of which we schuln haue so gret ioye as whan oure conscience bereþ vs good witnes [2825] ¶ And þe wise man saith substaunce of a man is ful good whan synne is not in his conscience. [2826] Afterward in getynge of ȝoure richesses and in vsynge of hem [2827] þou most haue gret busynesse & gret diligence þat ȝoure good name be alway kept and conserued [2828] ¶ For Sala|mon saiþ. better it is and more abelith a man for to haue a good name þan for to haue gret riches [2829] and þerfore he saith in anoþer place. Do gret diligence saiþ Salamon in kepyng of þy frend and of þy good name. [2830] For it schal lenger abyde wiþ þe þan eny tresor be it neuer so precious [2831] ¶ And certes he schulde nouȝt be cleped a gentil man þat after god and good conscience alle þinges left ne doþ his diligence and busynesse to kepe his good name. [2832] And Cassidore saith þat it is signe of a good man & a gentil or of a gentil herte whan a man loueþ or desireþ to haue a good name . [2833] and þerfore saith seint augustyn þat þer ben tuo þinges þat ben necessarie and needful [2834] and þat is good conscience and good loos [2835] þat is to sayn. good conscience in þin oughne persone inward. and good loos of þin neghebor outward. [2836] and he þat trusteþ him so moche in his good conscience [2837] þat he displeseþ and settiþ at nought his good name or loos and rekkeþ nought þough he kepe not his good name; nys but a cruel churl

[2838] ¶ Sire now haue I schewed ȝow how ȝe schulde doon in getyng of good and riches and how ȝe schuld vse hem [2839] I see wel þat for þe trust þat ȝe haue in ȝoure riches; ȝe wolde meue werre and bataile [2840] ¶ I counseile ȝow þat ȝe bygynne no werre in trust of ȝoure riches. for thanne suffisen not werres to mayn|tene [2841] ¶ And þerfore saith a philosophre ¶ That man þat desireþ and wol algate haue werre; schal neuer haue sufficeaunce. [2842] For þe richere þat he is; þe gretter dispense most he make if he wol haue wor|schipe or victorie [2843] ¶ And Salamon saith. þe gretter riches þat a man haþ; þe moo despendours he haþ. [2844] And deere sire al be it so þat for ȝoure riches ȝe mowe haue moche folk; [2845] ȝit byhoueþ it not ne it is not good to bygynne werre þer as ȝe may in oþer maner haue pees vnto ȝoure worschipe and profyt. [2846] For þe victorie of batailles þat ben in þis world lith not in gret nombre or multitude of poeple ne in vertu of man; [2847] but it lith in þe wille & in þe hond of oure lord god almighty [2848] And Iudas machabeus which was goddes knight [2849] whan he schulde fighte aȝeinst his aduersaries þat hadde a gretter nombre & a gretter mul|titude of folk and strengere þan was þe poeple of þis macha|be. [2850] ȝit he reconforted his litel poeple / and sayde ryȝt in þis wise [2851] ¶ As lightly quod he may oure lord god almighty ȝiue victory to fewe folk. . .no gap [2852] For þe victorie of batailles comeþ nouȝt by þe grete nombre of poeple; [2853] but it comeþ fro oure lord god of heuen [2854] ¶ And dere sire for as moche as þer is no man certeyn if it be worþi þat god ȝiue him victorie . . . . .no gap or nouȝt after þat þat Salamon saiþ. [2855] þerfore euery man schulde gretly drede werres to bygynne . [2856] And by cause þat in batailles falle many meruayles and periles [2857] and happeþ oþer while þat as soone is þe grete man slayn as þe litel man . [2858] and as it is writen in þe secounde book of kynges þe deedes of batayles be auenturous and no thing certeyn [2859] For as lightly is oon hurt with a spere as anoþer. [2860] and þerfore is gret peril in werre . þerfore schulde a man flee and eschewe werre in as moche as a man may goodly [2861] ¶ For Salamon saith . ¶ he þat loueth peril schal falle in peril

[2862] ¶ After þat dame prudens hadde spoke in þis maner; Mellibe answerde and sayde [2863] ¶ I se wel dame þat by ȝoure faire wordes and by ȝoure resouns þat ȝe haue schewed me þat þe werre likeþ ȝow no þing . [2864] but/ I haue not/ ȝit/ herd ȝoure coun|seil how I schal doo in þis neede

[2865] ¶ Certes quod sche I counseile ȝow þat ȝe accorde wiþ ȝoure aduersaries and þat ȝe haue pees with hem [2866] ¶ For seint Iame saiþ in his epistles þat by concord and pees þe smale ryches wexen grete . [2867] and by debaat and discord þe gret richesses fallen doun [2868] ¶ And ȝe knowe wel þat oon of þe moste grettest and soueraign þinges þat is in þis world is vnite & pees [2869] ¶ And þerfore saith oure lord ihū crist to his aposteles in þis wise [2870] ¶ wol happy and blessed be þay þat louen and purchacen pees . for þay ben called children of crist [2871] ¶ A quod Melibe. Now se I wel þat ȝe louen not myn honour ne my worschipe [2872] and knoweþ wel þat myne aduersaries han bygonne þis debate and brige by here outrage [2873] And ȝe see wel þat þay require ne praye me not of pees. ne þay askyn nouȝt to be recounseild; [2874] wol ȝe þanne þat I goo & meke me vnto hem and crie hem mercy . [2875] for soþe þat were not my worschipe [2876] ¶ For right as men seyn þat ouer gret pryde engendreþ despisyng. so fareþ it by to gret humblete or mekenesse

[2877] ¶ Thanne bygan dame prudence to make sem|blant of wraþþe and sayde. [2878] Certes sire saue ȝoure grace. I loue ȝoure honour and ȝoure profyt as I doo myn owne and euer haue doon [2879] ȝe ne mowe noon oþer seyn [2880] ¶ And ȝit if I hadde sayd ȝe scholde haue purchaced pees and þe reconsiliacioun. I ne hadde not moche mys-take me ne seyd amys; [2881] For þe wise man saith. þe dis|cencioun bigynneþ by anoþer man and þe reconsilynge bygynneþ by þyself [2882] ¶ And þe prophete saith ¶ Flee schame and schrewednesse and doo goodnesse. [2883] Seeke pees and folwe it as moche as in þe is. [2884] Ȝet seiþ he not þat ȝe schul raþer pursewe to ȝoure aduersaries for pees þan þei schul to ȝow. [2885] For I knowe wel þat ȝe be so hard-herted þat ȝe wil doo no þing for me [2886] ¶ And salamon saith . he þat is ouer hard herted atte laste he schal mys happe and my[s]-tyde

[2887] ¶ whan melibe had seyn dame prudence make semblaunce of wraþþe; he sayde in þis wise . [2888] dame I pray ȝow þat ȝe be not displesed of þinges þat I say [2889] For ȝe knoweth wel þat I am angry and wroþ and þat is no wonder. [2890] and þay þat ben wroþ wot not wel what þay doon ne what þay say [2891] þerfore þe prophete saiþ þat troublit eyen haue no cleer sight [2892] ¶ But sayeth and counsaileþ me forþ as ȝow likeþ For I am redy to doo right as ȝe wol desire. [2893] and if ȝe reproue me of my folye; I am þe more holde to loue ȝow and to prayse ȝow [2894] ¶ For Salamon saiþ þat he þat repreueþ him þat doth folie; [2895] he schal fynde gretter grace þan he þat deceyueth him by swete wordes

[2896] ¶ Thanne sayde dame prudence I make no semblant of wraþþe ne of anger but for ȝoure grete profyt [2897] ¶ For Salamon saith . he is more worth þat re|proueþ or chydeþ a fool for his folie schewynge him semblant of wraþþe [2898] þan he þat supporteþ him and prayseþ him in his mysdoyng . and laugheþ at his folie [2899] ¶ And þis same Salomon saiþ afterward þat by þe sorweful visage of a man þat is to sayn by sory and heuy countenaunce of a man [2900] þe fool correcteþ himself and amendeþ

[2901] ¶ þanne sayde Melibeus. I schal not conne an|swere to so many resouns as ȝe putten to me and schewen. [2902] sayeth schortly ȝoure wille and ȝourecoun|seil. and I am al redy to fulfille and parfourme it

[2903] ¶ Thanne dame prudence discouered al here coun|sail and hire wille vn-to him and sayde [2904] ¶ I counseile ȝow quod sche aboue alle þinges þat ȝe make pees bitwen god and ȝow [2905] and beþ reconsiled vnto him and to his grace. [2906] for I haue sayd ȝow her biforn. God hath suffred ȝow haue þis . . . no gap disease for ȝoure synnes [2907] and if ȝe do as I say ȝow god wol sende ȝoure aduersaries vnto ȝow [2908] and make hem falle at ȝoure feet al redy to doo ȝoure wille and ȝoure co|maundement [2909] ¶ For Salamon saith. whan þe con|dicioun of man is plesant and likyng to god; [2910] he chaungeþ þe hertes of þe mannes aduersaries and con|streigneþ hem to biseke him of pees & of grace. [2911] and I pray ȝow let me speke wiþ ȝoure aduersaries in priue place [2912] for þay schul not knowe it by ȝoure wille or ȝoure assent [2913] ¶ And þanne whan I knowe here wille and here assent; I may counseile ȝow þe more seurly

[2914] ¶ Dame quod Melibeus doþ ȝoure wille and ȝoure likyng [2915] For I putte me holly in ȝoure disposicioun and ordinaunce

[2916] ¶ Thanne Dame prudence whan sche seih þe good wille of hir housbond . sche deliuered and took a vis by hir self [2917] þenkynge how sche mighte bringe þis neede vnto a good conclusioun and to a good ende [2918] ¶ And whan sche saugh hire tyme; sche sente for þese aduersaries to come vnto hire in to a priue place [2919] and schewed wysly vnto hem þe grete goddes þat comen of pees [2920] and þe grete harmes and perils þat ben in werre [2921] and sayde to hem in goodly manere how þat hem aughte to haue gret re|pentaunce [2922] of þe iniurie & wrong þat þay hadde doon to Melibe hire lord and vnto hire and hire douȝter.

[2923] and whan þay herden þe goodly wordes of dame prudence [2924] þey were þo surprised and rauyssched and hadden so gret ioye of hire þat wonder was to telle [2925] ¶ A lady quod thay . ȝe haue schewed vnto vs þe blessyng of swetnes after þe sawe of Dauid þe prophete [2926] for þe recounsilyng which we be nouȝt worþy to haue in no manere. [2927] But we oughten require it wiþ gret contricioun and humilite. [2928] ȝe of ȝoure grete goodnes haue presented vnto vs [2929] ¶ Now we se wel þat þe science of Salamon is ful trewe [2930] he saith þat swete wordes multiplien and encrescen frendes and maken schrewes to ben debonaire and meke.

[2931] certes quod þay we putten oure deede and al oure matier and cause al holly in ȝoure good wille [2932] and ben redy to obeye to þe speche and to þe comaundement of my lord Melibe. [2933] and þerfore deere & benigne lady we pray ȝow and byseke ȝow as meekely as we conne and may [2934] þat it like to ȝowre grete goodnes to fulfille in deede ȝoure good|liche wordes. [2935] For we considere and knowleche wel þat we haue offended and greued my lord Melibe out of resoun and out of mesure [2936] so ferforth þat we ben nouȝt/ of power to make his amendes. [2937] and þerfore we oblie vs and bynde vs and oure frendes for to doo al his wille and his comaundementȝ. [2938] But perauenture he haþ such heuynes & such wraþþe to vs ward by cause of oure offence; [2939] þat he wol enioyne vs such peyne as we mow not bere ne susteyne [2940] ¶ and þerfore noble lady we biseke to ȝoure wommanly pite [2941] to take such auysement in þis neede þat we ne oure frendes ben not disherited and destroyed þurgh oure folye

[2942] ¶ Certes quod dame prudence it is an hard þing and right a perilous [2943] þat a man put him al outrely in þe arbitracioun and Iuggement and þe might and power of his enemyes [2944] ¶ For Salamon saiþ leeueþ and ȝiueth credence to þat þat I schal say. I say quod he ȝeue poeple and gouernours of holy chirche [2945] to þy sone to þi wyf/. and to þy frend ne to þy brother [2946] ne ȝeue þou neuer might ne maystry of þy body whil þou lyuest [2947] ¶ Now sith he defendith a man schulde not ȝiue to his broþer ne to his frend þe might of his body. [2948] by a strenger resoun he defendeþ and forbedith a man to ȝiue his body to his enemye. [2949] but naþe|les I counseile ȝow þat ȝe mystruste nouȝt my lord. [2950] For I wot wel and knowe verraily þat he is debonaire and meke. large curteys [2951] and no þing desirous ne coueytous of good ne richesse. [2952] For þer nys no þing in þis world þat he desireth saue oonly worschipe and honour. [2953] Forþermore I knowe and am right seure þat he wol no þing doo in þis neede wiþoute counsail of me [2954] and I schal so worche in this cause þat by þe grace of oure lord god ȝe schul be recounsiled vnto vs

[2955] ¶ Thanne sayde þay with oon voys worschipful lady we putte vs and oure goodes al fully in ȝoure wille and disposicioun [2956] and ben redy to come what day þat it like ȝow and vnto ȝoure noblesse / to limite vs or assigne vs [2957] for to make oure obligacioun and bond as strong as it likeþ to ȝoure goodnes [2958] þat we mowe fulfille þe wille of ȝow and of my lord Melibe

[2959] ¶ whan dame prudence had herd þe an|sweres of þise men. sche bad hem go agayn pryuely [2960] and sche retourned to hir lord Melibe and tolde him how sche fond his aduersaries ful repentant [2961] knowlechinge ful lowely here synnes and trespasses and how þay were redy to suffre alle peyne [2962] requiring and praying him of mercy and pite

[2963] ¶ þanne saide Melibeus. he is wel worþy to haue pardoun and forȝeuenes of his synne þat excusith not his synne [2964] but knowlecheþ and repentith him axinge indulgence. [2965] For Senek saith. þere is þe remissioun and forȝeuenesse wher as þe confessioun is [2966] ¶ For confessioun is neighebor to Innocence [2967] And he saith in anoþer place. he þat hath schame of his synne knowlechith it/ . . . . .no gap and þerfore I assente and conferme me to haue pees. [2968] but it is good þat we doo it nouȝt wiþoute assent & þe wille of oure frendes

[2969] ¶ Thanne was prudence right glad & iolyf and sayde. [2970] Certes sire quod sche ȝe ben wel and goodly auysed. [2971] for right as by þe counsail and assent and help of ȝoure frendes ȝe haue be stired to venge ȝow & make werre; [2972] Right so wiþ|oute here counseil schul ȝe nought acorde ȝow ne haue pees wiþ ȝoure aduersaries. [2973] For þe lawe saith. Ther nys no þing so good by way of kinde as þing to be vnbounde by him þat it was bounde

[2974] And þanne dame prudence wiþoute delay or taryinge sente anoon messageres for here kyn and for here olde frendes whiche þat were trewe and wyse [2975] and tolde hem by ordre in þe presence of Melibe of þis matier as it is aboue expressed and declared [2976] and praide hem þat þay wolde ȝiue here avys and coun|seil what best were to doon in þis matiere [2977] ¶ And whan melibeus frendes hadde take here auys and deliber|acioun of þe forsayde matier [2978] and hadden examyned it by greet besynes and gret diligence [2979] þey ȝafe him ful counsail to haue pees and reste. [2980] and þat Melibeus schulde wiþ good hert resceyue his aduersaries to forȝiuenes and mercy

[2981] ¶ And whan dame prudence had herd thassent of hir lord Melibeus and counseil of his frendes [2982] accorde wiþ hire wille & hire entencioun; [2983] sche was wonderly glad in herte and sayde [2984] ¶ Ther is a noble prouerbe þat saith ¶ The goodnesse þat þou maist do þis day; [2985] abyde not ne delaye it nouȝt/ vnto to morwe. [2986] and þerfore I counseile ȝow ȝe sende ȝoure messageres whiche þat ben discrete and wise [2987] vnto ȝoure aduersaries tellynge hem on ȝoure bihalue [2988] þat if þay wol trete of pees and of accord [2989] þat þay schape hem wiþoute dilay or taryinge to come vnto vs. [2990] which þing was parformed in dede [2991] and whan þese trespasours and repentynge folk/ of here folies þat is to sayn þe aduersaries of Melibe [2992] hadden herd what þe messangeres sayden vnto hem; [2993] þay were right glad and iolif and answerden ful mekely and benignely [2994] ȝeldynge graces & þankinges to here lord Melibe and to al his compaignye [2995] and schope hem wiþout delay to go wiþ þe messangeres and obeye hem to þe comaundement of here lord Melibe

[2996] ¶ And right anoon þay token here way to þe court of Melibe / [2997] and token wiþ hem some of here trewe frendes to make faith for hem and for to ben here borwes [2998] ¶ And whan þay were comen to þe presence of Melibeus he seyde hem þise wordes [2999] ¶ It stondith þus quod Melibeus and soþ it is þat ȝe [3000] causeles and wiþouten skile and resoun [3001] haue doon gret iniuries and wronges to me and to my wyf prudence and to my douȝter also. [3002] For ȝe haue entred in to myn hous by violence [3003] and haue doon such outrage þat alle men knowe wel þat ȝe haue deserued þe deth. [3004] And þerfore wil I knowe and wite of ȝow [3005] wheþer ȝe wol putte þe punyschment and þe chastisement and þe vengeaunce/ of þis outrage in þe wille of me and of my wif dame prudence or ȝe wil not

[3006] ¶ Þanne þe wisest of hem þre answerde for hem alle & sayde [3007] ¶ Sire quod he we knowe wel þat we be vnworþy to come to þe court of so gret a lord and so worþy as ȝe be [3008] ¶ For we han so gretly mystake vs and haue offendid and giltid in such a wise ageins ȝoure heighe lordschipe [3009] þat trewely we haue deserued þe deþ [3010] ¶ But ȝit/ for þe greete goodnes and debonairete þat al þe world witnesseþ of ȝoure persone; [3011] we submitten vs to þin excellence and benignite of ȝoure gracious lordschipe [3012] and ben redy to obeye to alle ȝoure comaundementȝ [3013] bisekynge ȝow þat of ȝoure merciable pite ȝe wol considre oure grete repentaunce and lowe submissioun [3014] and graunte vs forȝiuenes of oure outrage trespas and offence. [3015] For wel ȝe knowen þat ȝoure liberal grace and mercy strechen forþere in to good|nesse þan doþ oure outrage gilt and trespas in to wikkednes [3016] al be it þat cursedly & damp|nably we haue agilt aȝeinst ȝoure highe lordschipe

[3017] ¶ Thanne Melibe took hem vp fro þe ground ful benignely [3018] and resceyued here obligaciouns and here londes by here oþes vpon here plegges & borwes [3019] and assigned hem a certeyn day to retourne vnto his court [3020] for to accepte and receyue þe sentence and iuggement þat Melibe wolde comaunde to be doon on hem by þese causes aforn sayde. [3021] which þing ordeyned; euery man retourned home to his hous

[3022] ¶ And whan þat Dame prudence saugh hire tyme; sche feyned and axed hire lord Melibe [3023] what vengeance he þoughte to take vpon his aduersaries.

[3024] to which Melibeus answerd and saide. Certes quod he I þenke and purpose me fully [3025] to dis|herite hem of al þat euer þay haue and for to putte hem in exil for euermore

[3026] Certes quod dame prudence þis were a cruel sentence and mochil aȝeinst resoun [3027] For ȝe ben riche ynough & haue noon neede of oþer mennes good [3028] and ȝe mighte lightly gete ȝow a coueitous name [3029] which is vicious þing and oughte to ben eschewed of euery man [3030] for after þe sawe of þe word of þapostil; Couetise is roote of alle harmes. [3031] And þerfore it were bettre for ȝow to lese so moche good of ȝoure oughne þan for to take of here good in þis manere. [3032] For bettir it is to lese good wiþ worschipe þan it is to wynne good with vilonye and schame. [3033] and euer a man oughte to do his diligence and his busynesse to gete him a good name. [3034] . . . . .no gap [3035] but he schulde enforce him alway to do som þing by which he may renouele his good name. [3036] for it is writen þat þe olde goode loos of a man is soone doon or goon and passed whan it is not newed ne re|noueled. [3037] And as touchinge þat ȝe sayn þat ȝe wol exile ȝoure aduersaries; [3038] þat þinketh me mochil aȝeinst resoun and out of mesure [3039] con|sideriþ þe power þat þay han ȝyue to ȝow vpon here body and on hemself [3040] ¶ And it is writen þat he is worþy to lese his priuelege þat mys vseth þe might and þe power þat is ȝeue to him [3041] ¶ And ȝit I sette þe caas ȝe mighte en|ioyne hem þat peyne by right and lawe [3042] which I trowe ȝe mow nouȝt do [3043] I say ȝe mighte nouȝt putte it to execucioun perauenture [3044] and þanne were it likly to torne to þe werre as it was biforn [3045] And þerfore if ȝe wol þat men do ȝow obeis|saunce; ȝe moste deme more curteisly [3046] þis is to sayn. ȝe moste ȝiue more esyere sentence & iuggement [3047] ¶ For it is writen. he þat most curteysly comaundeth to him men most obeyen. [3048] and þer|fore I pray ȝow þat in þis necessite and in þis neede ȝe caste ȝow to ouercome ȝoure herte [3049] ¶ For Senek saiþ. he þat ouercomeþ his herte ouercomeþ twyes [3050] ¶ And thullius saith. þer is no þing so comendable in a gret lord [3051] as whan he is debon|aire and meeke and appesith him liȝtly [3052] ¶ And I pray ȝow þat ȝe wol forbere now to do vengeaunce [3053] in such a manere þat ȝoure goode name may be kept/ & conserued. [3054] and þat men mowe haue cause / and matiere to prayse ȝow of pite and of mercy [3055] and þat ȝe haue noon cause to repente ȝow of þing þat ȝe doon [3056] ¶ For senec saith ¶ he ouercomeþ in an euel manere þat repenteþ him of his victorie [3057] ¶ wher|fore I pray ȝow let mercy be in ȝoure herte [3058] to theffect and thentent þat god almighty haue mercy and pite vpon ȝow in his laste iuggement [3059] ¶ For seint Iame saith in his Epistil; Iuggement wiþ oute mercy schal be doon to him þat haþ no mercy vpon another wight

[3060] whan Melibe had herd þe grete skiles and resouns of dame prudens and wys informacioun and techynge; [3061] his herte gan enclyne to þe wille of his wyf consideryng hir trewe entent; [3062] con|fermed him anoon and consented fully to werke after hir reed and counseil [3063] ¶ And þankid god of whom pro|cedeth al goodnes þat him sente a wif of so gret discrecioun [3064] ¶ And whan þe day cam þat his aduer|saries schulden appere in his presence; [3065] he spak ful goodly and sayde in þis wise. [3066] ¶ Al be it so þat of ȝoure pryde and heigh presumpcioun and folye and of ȝoure negligence/ and vnconnynge [3067] ȝe haue mys-bore ȝow and trespassed vnto me; [3068] ȝit/ for as moche as I se and biholde ȝoure humilite [3069] þat ȝe ben sory and repentaunt of ȝoure giltes; [3070] hit constreigneth me to do ȝow grace. and mercy. [3071] wherfore I receyue ȝow to my grace [3072] and forȝeue ȝow outerly alle þe offenses iniuries and wronges þat ȝe haue don to me and agayns me and myne / [3073] this is þeffect & to þis ende þat god of his endeles mercy [3074] wole at þe tyme of oure deyinge forȝiue vs oure giltes þat we haue trespased to him in þis wrecched world. [3075] for douteles & we ben sory & repentaunt of þe synnes & giltes whiche we haue trespassed Inne in þe sight of oure lord god; [3076] he is so free and so merci|able [3077] þat he wil forȝiue vs oure gultes [3078] and bringe vs to þe blisse þat neuer haþ ende AmeN

¶ Here endith Chaucer his tale of Melibe ¶ And here bygynneþ þe prologe of þe monkes tale /[Break of one line in the MS.] Whan ended was my tale of Melibe And of prudence and hire benignite Oure hoste sayde as I am faithful man And by þe precious corpus Madryan I hadde leuer þan a barel ale That godeleef my wyf had herd þis tale For sche is no þing of such pacience As was þis melibeus wyf dame prudence By goddes boones whan I bete my knaues Sche bringeth me forth þe grete clobbet staues And crieþ slee þe dogges euerychon And breke of hem boþe bak and bon And if þat eny neghebour of myne wol nought to my wyf in chirche enclyne Or be so hardy to hir to trespace whan sche comþ hom sche rampeth in my face And crieþ false coward wreke þy wyf By Corpes bones I wil haue þy knyf And þou schalt/ haue my distaf and go spynne Fro day to night þus sche wil bygynne / Allas sche saith þat euer I was I-schape To wedde a mylk-sop or a coward ape That wil be ouer-lad wiþ euery wight þou darst nought stonde by þy wyues right This is my lif but if þat I wil fight And out atte dore anoon I most me dight / And ellis I am lost / but if þat I Be lik a wilde leoun fool-hardy I wot wel sche wol do me sle som day Som neighebor and þanne renne away For I am perilous with knyf in honde Al be it þat I dar not hir wiþ-stonde For sche is big in armes by my faith That schal he fynde þat hire mys doth or saith But let vs passe a way fro þis matiere My lord þe monk quod he be mery of chere / For ȝe schul telle a tale trewely Lo Rowchestre stant heer faste by Ryde forþ myn oughne lord brek nouȝt oure game But by my trouþe I can not ȝoure name whether schal I calle ȝow my lord dan Iohn Or daūn Thomas or elles dan albon Of what hous be ȝe by ȝour fader kyn I vow to god þou hast a ful fair skyn It is a gentil pasture þer þou gost Thow art not lik a penaunt or a goost vpon my faith þou art an officer Som worþy sexteyn or som Celerer For by my fader soule as to my doome Thou art an officer whan þou art at hoom No pouer cloysterer ne non nouys But a gouernour wily and wys And þer wiþ al of brawne and of bones A wel faryng persone for þe noones I praye god ȝiue him confusioun Þat first/ þe brouȝte to religioun Thow woldist han be a tredefoul aright haddist þou as gret a leue as might To parforme al þi wil in engendrure Thow haddist bigeten many a creature Allas why werest þou so wyd a cope God ȝif me sorwe and I were a pope Nought only þou but euery mighty man Though he were schore brode vpon his pan Schuld han a wif for al þis world is lorn Religioun hath take vp al þe corn Of tredyng and we burel men ben schrympes Of feble trees þer comeþ feble ympes This makiþ þat oure heires ben so sclender And feble þat þay may not wel engender This makeþ þat our wyfes wol assaye Religious folk for þay may bettre paye Of venus payementes þan may we God woot no lusscheburghes paye ȝe / beþ nouȝt wroþ my lorde þough I play For oft in game a soth I haue herd say This worþy monk took al in pacience / And saide I wol doon al my diligence Als fer as souneþ in to honeste / To telle ȝow a tale or tuo or þre And if ȝow lust to herken hiderward I wil ȝow say þe lif of seint Edward Or elles first tredis wil I ȝow telle / Of which I haue an hundred in my celle / Tregedis is to sayn a certeyn storie As olde bookes maken vs memorie Of hem þat stood in greet prosperite And is fallen out of heigh degre In to miserie and endith wrecchedly And þay ben versifyed comunly Of six feet which men clepe exametron In prose ben eek endited many oon And in metre eek and in sondry wise Lo þis declaryng ought ynough suffise / Now herkneþ if ȝow likith for to heere But first I ȝow biseche in þis matiere / þough I by ordre telle not þise þinges Be it of popes emperours or kynges After her age as men may write fynde But telle hem som bifore. and som byhynde / As it comeþ now / to my remembraunce haueþ me excused of myn ignoraunce[Break of one line in the MS.] Iwol bywaile in maner of tregedye The harm of hem þat stood in heigh degre And fallen so þe is no remedye To bring hem out of her aduersite For certeynly whan fortune lust to flee Ther may no man þe cours of hir whiel holde let no man truste in blynd prosperite Beþ war by þese ensamples trewe and olde /[No stanza-breaks in the MS.] [Lucifer.] AT lucifer þough he an aungil were¶ Lucifer And no man at/ him wil I bygynne For þough fortune may non aungel dere From heigh degre ȝit/ fel he for his synne Doun in to helle. wher he ȝet is Inne O lucifer brightest of aungels alle Now art þou Sathanas þat maist nouȝt twynne Out of miserie in which þou art falle [Adam.] Lo adam in þe feld of Damassene¶ Adam wiþ goddes oughne fynger wrought was he / And nought bigeten of mannes sperma vnclene And welt al paradys sauyng oon tre had neuer worldly man suche degre As adam til he for mys gouernance was dryuen out of heigh prosperite To labour and to helle and to meschaunce [Sampson.] Lo Sampson . þat was annunciate¶ Sampson By þangel long er his natiuite / And was to god almighty consecrate And stood in nobles whil þat he might se was neuer such anoþer as was he To speke of strengþ . and þerto hardynesse But to his wyfes tolde he his secre Thurgh which he slough himself for wrecchidnesse / . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. Thre hundred foxis . tok Sampson for Ire And alle her tayles he togider bond And sette þe foxes tailes alle on fuyre For he in euery tail hath knyt a brond And þay brent alle þe cornes of þat lond And alle her Olyuers . and vynes eeke A þousand men he slough eek wiþ his hond And hadde no wepen but an asses cheeke Whan þay were slayn so þursted him þat he was wel ner lorn for which he gan to preye That god wolde of his peyne haue som pite And send him drynk and elles most he deye And out of his asses cheke þat was so dreye Out of a woung toþ sprong anon a welle Of which he dronk ynough schortly to seye Thus halp him god as Iudicum can telle By verray fors of algason on a night Maugre þe philistiens of þat cite The gates of þe toun he haþ vp plight/ And on his bak caried hem haþ he / heigh vpon an hil wher men might hem se / O noble almighty Sampson leef and deere haddest þou nought to wommen told þy secre In al þe world ne hadde be þy peere This sampson neyther siser dronk ne wyn / Ne on his heed com rasour noon ne schere By precept of þe messager diuyn For alle his strengþes in his heres were And fully twenty wynter ȝer by ȝere/ he hadde of Ierusalem þe gouernaunce But soone he schal wepe many a teere For wymmen schuln him bringe to meschaunce Vn-to his lemman Dalida he tolde That in his heres al his strengþe lay And falsly to his foomen sche him solde And slepyng in hir barm vpon a day Sche made to clippe or schere his heres away And made his foomen al his craft espien And whan þay fond him in þis array Thay bound him fast and put out boþe his yen But er his heer clipped was or I-schaue Ther was no bond wiþ which men might him bynde But now is he in prisoun in a caue Ther as þay made him at þe querne grynde O noble Sampson strengest of al man kynde O whilom iugge in glory and in richesse / Now maystow wepe wiþ þine eyȝen blynde Sith þou fro wele art falle to wrecchednesse Thend of þis caytif was as I schal say his foomen made a fest vpon a day And made him as here fool biforn hem play And þis was in a temple of gret array But/ atte last he made a foul affray For he two pilers schook and made hem falle And doun fel temple and al and þer it lay And slough himsilf and eek his fomen alle This is to sayn þe princes euer ichon And eek þre þousand bodies were þer slayn with fallyng of þe grete temple of stoon Of Sampson wil I no more sayn Be war by þese ensamples olde and playn That no man telle his counseil to his wyf Of such þing as he wold haue secre fayn If/ þat/ it touche his lymes or his lif [Hercules.] Of Ercules þe souereyn conquerour¶ De Ercule Singing his werkes laude and heigh renoun For in his tyme of strength he bar þe flour he slough and rafte þe skyn fro þe leoun he of Centaures layde þe bost a doun he arpies slough þe cruel briddes felle The gold appul he raft fro þe dragoun he drof out cerbures þe fend of helle He slough þe cruel tyrant bupherus And made his hors to frete him fleisch and boon he slough þe verray serpent venencus Of Adiloyus tuo hornes he raft oon he slough Catus in a caue of stoon he slough þe geaunt adeus þe stronge he slough þe grisly leoun and þat anoon And bar þe heed vpon his necke longe Was neuer wight / siþþen þe world bigan That slough so many monstres as dede he Thurgh-out þe wide world his name ran what for his strengþe and for his bounte And euery roialme went he for to se he was so strong þer might no man him lette At boþe þe worldes endes as saith trophe In stede of boundes he a piler sette A lemman hadde þis noble campioun That highte Deianire freissh as may And as þese clerkes maken mencioun Sche haþ him sent a schurte fresch and gay Alas þis schirt allas and wailaway Enuenymed was soþly with alle That er he hadde wered it half a day It made his fleisch al fro his bones falle / But natheles som clerkes hir excusen By oon þat highte Nessus þat it makyd Be as be may I wil nouȝt hir accusyn But on his bak/ he wered þis schirt al naked Til þat his fleisch was for þe venym blaked And whan he saugh noon oþer remedye In hote colis he haþ himself I-raked For no venym deyned him to dye Thus starf þis mighty and worthy Ercules lo who may truste fortune eny þrowe For him þat folweþ al þis world of pres Er he be war is oft y-layd ful lowe / Ful wys is he þat/ can himseluen knowe / Be war for whan þat fortune lust to glose / Than waytith sche hir man to ouerþrowe / By suche way as he wolde lest suppose [Nebuchadnezzar.] The mighty trone þe precious tresor¶ De rege Nabugodonosor The glorious ceptre and real mageste That had þe king Nabugodonosore wiþ tonge vnnethes may descryued be he twyes wan ierusalem þat Cite The vessel out of þe temple he wiþ him ladde /¶ Danielis 4to regum &c At Babiloyne was his souereyn see In which his glorie and his delyt he ladde / The fairest children of þe blood roial Of Israel he dede gelde anoon And made ylk of hem to ben his þral Amonges oþre Daniel was oon That was þe wisest/ child of euerychoon For he þe dremes of þe king expouned Ther as in Caldeyn was þer clerkes noon That wiste to what fyn his dremes souned This proude king let make a statu of gold Sixty cubites long and seuen in brede To which ymage boþe ȝonge and olde / Comaunded he to loue and haue in drede Or in a fornays ful of flames rede he schulde be brent þat wolde not obeye / But neuer wolde assente to þat dede Danyel ne his felawes tweye This king of kinges preu was elate he wende god þat sit in mageste Ne might him nought / bireue of his estate But sodeynly he left/ his dignite I-lik a best him semed for to be And eet hay as an oxe and lay þer-oute / In rayn with wilde bestes walkyd he. [til certein tyme was i-come aboute[In margin, in a later hand.]] And lik/ an Eglis fetheres were his heres his hondes like a briddes clowes were Til god relessed him a certeyn ȝeres And ȝaf him witte and þanne with many a tere he þanked god and euer he is afere To doon amys or more to trespace And er þat tyme he layd was on bere he knew wel god was ful of might and grace His sone which þat highte Balthaȝar That huld þe regne after his fader day he by his fader couþe nought be war For proud he was of hert/ and of array And eek an ydolaster was he ay his heigh astate assured him in pryde But fortune cast him doun and þer he lay And sodeynly his regne gan diuide A fest he made vnto his lordes alle vpon a tyme he made hem bliþe be And þan his officeres gan he calle Goþ bringeth forth þe vessealx quod he The which my fader in his prosperite Out of þe temple of ierusalem byraft And to oure hihe goddis þanke we/ Of honours þat oure eldres with vs laft His wif his lordes and his concubines Ay dronken whiles her arriont last Out of þis noble vesseals sondry wynes And on a wal þis king his yhen cast / And saugh an hond armles þat wroot fast / For fere of which he quook and siked sore þis hond þat balthaȝar so sore agast wrot. mane. techel. phares. and no more / In al þe lond magicien was noon That couþe expounde what þis lettre ment But Daniel expoundiþ it anoon And sayde king god þy fader sent Glori and honour. regne tresor and rent And he was proud and no þing god ne dredde And þerfor god gret wreche vpon him sent And him biraft þe regne þat he hadde / He was out cast of mannes compaignye with asses was his habitacioun And eete hay in wet and eek in drye Til þat he knew by grace and by resoun That god of heuen had dominacioun Ouer euery regne and euery creature And þan had god of him compassioun And him restored to his regne and his figure Eke þou þat art his sone art proud also And knowest al þis þing so verrayly And art rebel to god and art his fo þou dronk eek of his vessel bodily Thy wyf eek and þy wenche sinfully Dronke of þe same vessel sondry wynes And heriest false goddes cursedly Therfore to þe schapen ful gret pyne es This hond was send fro god þat on þe wal wrot. mane. techel. phares truste me Thy regne is doon þou weist nouȝt at al Diuidid is þy regne and it schal be To meedes and to perses ȝeuen quod he And þilke same night þe king was slawe And Darius occupied his degre þough þerto neyþer had he right ne lawe / Lordyngs ensample her-by may ȝe take how þat in lordschip is no sikernesse For whan fortune wil a man forsake Sche bereþ a-way his regne and his richesse / And eek his frendes boþe more and lesse / And what man hath of frendes þe fortune Mishap wil make hem enemyes I gesse [þis prouerbe is ful soth & ful comune[In a later hand in the margin.]][No break in the MS.] Cenobia of palmire þe queene As writen parciens of hir noblesse So worþy was in armes and so keene That no wight passed hir in hardynesse Ne in lynage ne in oþer gentilesse / Of þe kinges blood / of pers sche is descendid I say þat sche had not most/ fairnesse But of hir schap sche might not ben amendid Fro hir childhod / I fynde þat sche fledde Office of wommen and to woode sche went And many a wilde hertes blood sche schedde with arwes brode þat sche to hem sent / Sche was so swyft þat sche anoon hem hent And whan þat sche was elder sche wolde kille Leouns / lebardes / and beres alto-rent And in hir armes weld hem at hir wille Sche dorste wilde bestes dennes seke/ And renne in þe mounteyns al þe night And slepe vnder a bussh and sche couþe eeke wrastil by verray fors and verray might wiþ eny ȝong man were he neuer so wight Ther mighte no þing in hir armes stonde She kept hir maydenhed from euery wight To no man deyned hire to be bonde But atte last hir frendes han hir maried To Odenake a prince of þat Citee Al were it so þat sche him longe taried And ȝe schul vnderstonde how þat he had suche fantasies as hadde sche / But naþeles whan þay were knyt in fere Thay lyued in ioye and in felicite For ech of hem had oþer leef and deere Saue oon þing sche wolde neuer assent By no way þat he schulde by hir lye But oones for it was hir playn entent To haue a child þe world to multiplie And also soone as she might aspye / That sche was not wiþ childe ȝit in dede / Than wold sche suffre him doon his fantasie Eft sones and nought but oones out of drede / And if sche were wiþ child at þilke cast No more schuld he playe þilke game Til fully fourty dayes were y-past Than wold sche suffre him to do þe same Al were þis Odenake wilde or tame he gat no more of hir for þus sche sayde hit nas but wyues lecchery and schame / In oþer caas if þat/ men with hem playde / Tuo sones by þis Odenak had sche The which sche kept/ in vertu and lettrure But now vnto our purpos torne we I say so worschipful a creature And wys. worþy. and large with mesure So penyble in þe werre and curteys eeke Ne more labour might in werre endure / was no wher noon in al þis world to seeke Hir riche array if it might be told As wel in vessel as in hir cloþing Sche was al cloþed in perre and gold And eek sche lafte nought for hir huntyng To haue of sondry tonges ful knowing whan sche had leyser // and might þerto entent To lerne bookes was al hir likyng How sche in vertu might hir lif despent And schortly of þis story for to trete So doughty was hir housbond and eek sche That þay conquered many regnes grete In thorient with many a fair citee Appurtienant vnto that mageste / Of Rome. and with strong hond hulden hem fast Ne neuer might her fomen doon hem fle Ay while Odenakes dayes last/ Her batails who / so lust hem for to rede Agayn Sapor þe king and oþer mo And how þat þis processe fel in dede why sche conquered and what title had þerto And after of hir meschief and hir woo / how þat sche was deceyued and I-take / let hem vnto my mayster perark go That writeth of þis ynough I vndertake / Whan Odenake was deed sche mightily The regnes huld and wiþ hir propre hond Aȝeins hir foos sche faught ful trewely That þer nas king ne prince in þat lond That he nas glad if he þat grace fond That sche ne wold vpon his lond werraye with hir þay made alliaunce by bond To ben in pees and let hir ryde and play The emperour of Rome Claudius Ne him biforn þe romayn· Galiene Ne dorste neuer be so corrageous Ne noon ermine ne Egipciene No Surrien ne noon arrabiene wiþinne þe feld þat durste with hir fight Lest þat sche wold hem wiþ her hondes sleen Or wiþ hir meyne putten hem to flight In kinges abyt went hir sones tuo As heires of her fadres regnes alle And hermanno and Themaleo here names were and Parciens men hem calle / But ay fortune hath in hir hony galle This mighty queene may no while endure Fortune out of hir regne made hir falle To wrecchednesse and to mys aduenture Aurilian whan þat þe gouernaunce Of Rome cam in-to his hondes tway / he schop him of þis queen to do vengeaunce / And with his legiouns he took þe way Toward Cenoby and schortly to say he made hir flee and atte last hir hent And feterid hir and eek hir children tweye And wan þe lond and home to Rome he went Amonges oþer þinges þat he wan hir chaar þat was wiþ gold wrouȝt and perre This grete Romayn þis aurilian hath with him lad for þat men schulde se Bifore þis triumphe walkith sche / And gilte cheynes in hir necke hongynge Coroun sche was as aftir hir degre [and ful of perre chargid here clothynge[In a later hand in the margin.]] Allas fortune. sche that whilom was Dredful to kinges and to Emperoures Now gaulith al þe pepul on hir alas And sche þat helmyd was in starke stoures / And wan bifore tounes stronge and toures Schal on heed now were a wyntermyte And sche þat bar þe cepter ful of floures Schal bere a distaf hir self for to quyte[No break in the MS.] O noble petro. þe glori of Spayne /¶ De petro his|pannie rege whom fortune held so heigh in mageste wel oughte men þy pitous deþ complayne Thy bastard broþer made þe to fle And after / at a sege by subtilte þow were bytrayed and lad to his tent wher / as he with his oughne hond slough þe Succedyng in þy lond and in þy rent The feld of snow with thegle of blak þer-Inne Caught wiþ þe leoun reed coloured as is þe gleede he brewede þe cursednesse and synne The wikked nest werker of þis neede Nought Oliuer ne Charles þat ay took heede Of trouthe and honour but/ of armoryk Geniloun oliuer corruptid for nede Broughte þis worþy king in such a bryk[No break in the MS.] O worþy petro king of Cipres also¶ De petro Cipre rege That alisaunder wan by heigh maistrye / Ful many an hethen wroughtest þou ful wo Of which þin oughne lieges had enuye And for no þing but for þy chiualrie þay in thy bed han slayn þe by þe morwe Thus can fortune þe whel gouerne and gye And out of ioye bringe men in to sorwe[No break in the MS.] Of Melayn grete Barnabo viscount¶ De Barnabo Co|mite Mediolano God of delyt and strength of lumbardye why schuld þyn infortune I nought accounte Syn in astaat þou clombe were so hye Thy broþer sone þat was þy double allie For he þy neuew was and sone in lawe wiþinne his prisoun made þe to dye But why ne how not I þat þou were slawe /[No break in the MS.] Of erl hugilin of pise þe langour¶ De hugilino Comite Pise Ther may no tonge telle þe pite But litel out of pise stant a tour In whiche tour / in prisoun put was he / And with him been his litil children þre Theldest skarsly fyf ȝer was of age / Allas fortune it was gret cruelte Suche briddes to put in such a cage Dampnyd he was to deye in þat prisoun For Roger which þat bisschop was of pise Had on him maad a fals suggestioun Thurgh which þe peple gan on him arise And putte him in prisoun in such wise As ȝe han herd and mete and drynk he hadde So smal þat wel vnneþe it may suffise And þer wiþ al it was ful pore and badde And on a day bifel þat in þat hour whan þat his mete was wont to be brought The gayler schet þe dores of þat tour He herd it wel but he saugh it nought And in his hert anoon þer fel a þought þat þay for hungir wolde doon him dyen Alas quod he allas þat I was wrought Ther-wiþ þe teeres felle fro his eyen His ȝongest sone þat þre ȝer was of age Vnto him sayde fader why do ye wepe whan wil þe gayler bringen oure potage Is þer no morsel bred þat ȝe doon kepe I am so hongry þat I may not sleepe Now wolde god þat I might slepe euer Than schuld not hunger in my wombe crepe Ther is no þing saue bred þat me were leuer Thus day by day þis child bigan to crie Til in his fadres barm a-doun he lay And sayde far wel fader I moot dye And kist his fader and dyde þe same day And whan þe woful fader deed it say For wo his armes tuo he gan to byte And sayde fortune alas and waylaway Thin false querel al my woo I wyte His childer wende þat it for hongir was That he his armes gnew and nought for wo And sayden fader do nought so allas But rather et þe fleisch vpon vs tuo Oure fleisch þou ȝaue vs / oure fleisch þou take vs fro And ete ynough right þus þay to him seyde And after þat wiþinne a day or tuo Thay layde hem in his lappe a-doun and deyde Himself despeired eek for honger starf Thus ended is þis mighty eorl of pise For his estate fortune fro him carf Of þis tegrede it ought ynough suffise / who-so wil it hiere in lenger wise Rede þe gret poet of Itaile That highte Daunt for he can it deuise Fro poynt to poynt nouȝt oon word wil he fayle[No break in the MS.] Al þough Nero were als vicious¶ De Nerone As any fend that lith ful lowe adoun Ȝit as tellith vs Swethoneus This wyde world had in subieccioun Boþe Est and west and Septemtrioun Of rubies. safers. and of perles white were alle his cloþes embroudid vp and doun For he in gemmis / gretly gan delite More delyt. more pomp of array Mor proud was neuer Emperour þan he That ylke cloth þat he had wered a day After þat tyme he nolde it neuer se Nettis of gold þred. had he gret plente To fissche in tyber whan him lust to pleye his willes were as lawe in his degre For fortune as his frend wold him obeye He Rome brent for his delicacie The senatours he slough vpon a day To here how men wolde wepe and crye And slough his broþer . and by his suster lay his modir made he in pitous array For hir wombe slyt he to byholde wher he conceyued so waylaway / þat he so litel of his moodir tolde No teer out of his eyen for þat sight/ Ne cam but sayde a fair womman was sche Gret wonder is þat he couþe or might Be domesman on hir beaute The wyn to bringen him comaundid he And drank anoon noon oþer wo he made whan might is torned vnto cruelte Allas to deepe wil þe venym wade / IN ȝouþe a maister had þis emperour To teche him letterure and curtesye For of moralite he was þe flour And in his tyme but if þe book lye And whil his maister had of him maistrie he made him so connyng and so souple / That long tyme it was or tyrranye Or ony vice dorst on him vncouple / This Seneca of which þat I deuyse¶ Seneca By cause Nero had of him such drede For fro vices he wolde him chastise Discretly by word and nouȝt by dede / Sir wold he sayn an emperour mot neede / Be vertuous and hate tyrannye For which he in a bath made him to bleede On boþe his armes til he moste dye The nero hadde eek a custumance / No ȝouþe aȝein his maister for to ryse / which afterward him þought a gret greuaunce Therfore he made him deye in þis wise But naþeles þis Seneca þe wise Ches in bath to deye in þis manere / Raþer þan to haue anoþer tyrannye And þus haþ Nero slayn his maister deere / Now fel it so þat fortune lust no lenger The highe pride of Nero to cherice For þough he were strong ȝit was sche strenger Sche þoughte þus by god I am to nyce To set a man þat is ful sad of vice In high degre and emperour him calle / By god out of his cite I wil him trice whan he lest weneþ sonnest schal byfalle The poeple ros on him vpon a night For heigh defaute and whan he it aspyed Out of his dores anoon he haþ him dight Aloone and þer he wende haue ben allyed he knokked fast and ay þe more he cried The faster schette þay þe doores alle/ Than wist he wel he had himself mysgyed And went his way no lenger durst he calle The peple cried and rumbled vp and doun That with his eris herd he how þay sayde Wher is þis fals traitour þis neroun For fere almost out of his witte he brayde / And to his goddes pitously he prayde / For socour but it mighte nought betyde / For drede of þis him þoughte þat he dyde And ran in to a gardyn hym to hyde And in þis gardyn fond he cherlis twaye Sittyng by a fuyr ful greet and reed And to þese che[r]les tuo he gan to pray To sleen him and to girden of his heed That to his body whan he were deed were despyt y-doon for his defame himself he slough he couþe no better reed Of which fortune þai lough and hadde game /[No break in the MS.] Was neuer Capitaigne vnder a king /¶ De Olipherno Thas regnes mo put in subieccioun Ne strenger was in feld of alle þing As in his tyme ne gretter of renoun Ne more pompous in heih presumpcioun Than Oliphern . which þat fortune ay kist So licorously . and ladde him vp and doun Til that his heed was of er he it wist Nought oonly þat þe world had of him awe / For lesyng of riches and liberte But made euery man reneye his lawe / Nabugodonosor was lord sayde he / Noon oþer god schuld honoured be Aȝeinst his heste dar no wight trespace¶ Et fecerunt filij israel secundum quod constituit eis dominus sacerdos Elyachym Saue in Betholia a strond cite wher Eliachim a prest of þat place But tak keep of þat day of Olipherne Amyd his ost/ he dronke lay on night wiþinne his tente large as is a berne And ȝit for al his pomp and al his might Iudith a womman as he lay vpright Slepyng his heed of smot and fro his tent Ful priuely sche stal from euery wight And with his heed vnto hir toun sche went[No break in the MS.] What needith it of king antiochius¶ De Rege Anti|ochie illustri. To telle his heye real mageste / his heyhe pride his werke venemous For such anoþer was þer noon as he Redeþ which þat he was in machabe And redith þe proude wordes þat he sayde And why he fel fro his prosperite And in an hil . how wrecchidly he deyde Fortune him haþ enhaunced so in pryde That verraily he wend he might han teyned Vnto þe sterris vpon euery syde / And in a balaunce weyen what ech mounteyned And alle þe floodes of þe see restreyne And goddes peple had he most in hate hem wold he slee in torment and in peyne wenyng þat god ne might his pride abate And for þat Nichosor and Thimothe / with Iewes were venquist/ mightily Vn to þe Iewes such an hate had he / That he bad graithe his chaar hastily And swor and sayde ful despitously Vnto Ierusalem he wold eft soone To wreke his Ire on it ful cruelly But of his purpos he was let ful soone God for his manace him so sore smoot wiþ inuisible wounde. incurable That in his guttes carf so and bot That his peynes were importable And certeynly þe wreche was resonable For on many a man. dede he peyne But fro his purpos cursed and dampnable / For al his smert he nolde him nought restreyne / But bad anoon apparailen his host And sodeynly er he was of it ware God dampned al his pride and al his bost For he so sore fel out of his chare That his lymes and his skyn to-tare / So þat he no more might go ne ryde / But in a chare men aboute him bare / Al forbrosed boþe bak and syde / The wreche of god him smot so cruely That in his body wicked wormes crept And þer with al he stonk/ so orribly That noon of his meyne þat him kep[t]e wheþer þat he wook or elles slepte Ne mighte nought þe stynk of him endure In þis meschief he weyled and eek wepte / And knew god lord of euery creature To al his host and to himself also Ful wlatsom was þe stynk and þe carayne No man might him bere to ne fro And in stynk/ and orrible payne he starf ful wrecchedly in a mountayne Thus haþ þis robbour and þis homicide / That many a man made wepe and playne / Swich guerdoun is þat longeþ vnto pryde[No break in the MS.] The story of alisaunder is so comune¶ De alexandro magno philip|pi regis mace|donie filio &c / That every wight þat haþ discrecioun haþ herd som what or al of this fortune Thys wyde world as in conclusioun he wan by strengþe or for his heigh renoun Thay were glad for pees vnto him sende The pride of man and bost he layd a doun Wher-so he cam. vnto þe worldes ende / Comparisoun ȝit mighte neuer be maked Bitwen him and noon oþer conquerour For al þis world for drede of him haþ quaked he was of knyghthod and of fredam flour Fortune him made þe heir of hir honour Saue wyn and wymmen no þing might aswage his heigh entent in armes and labour So was he ful of lumyne corage What pite were it to him þough I ȝow tolde Of Darius and an hundred þousand mo Of kynges princes Dukes and eorles bolde / which he conquered and brouȝt/ vnto wo I say as fer as men may ryde or go The world was his what schold I more deuyse / . . . . .no gap in the MS. Of his knighthood it mighte nouȝt suffise / Twelf ȝer he regned as saith machabe Philippes son of Macedon he was That first was king in Crece þat contre O worþy gentil alisaundre alas That euer schulde falle such a caas Empoysoned of þin oughne folk þou were Thyn fortune is torned in to an aas And right for þe ne wepte sche neuer a teere Who schal me ȝiue teeres to compleigne The deþ of gentiles and of fraunchise That al þe worlde had in his demeigne And ȝit him þought it mighte nouȝt suffice So ful was his corage of high emprise / Allas who schal helpe me to endite/ Fals infortune and poysoun to deuyse The whiche two al þis wo I wyte[No break in the MS.] By wisedom manhod and gret labour Fro humble bed to royal mageste / Vp roos he Iulius þe conquerour That wan al thoccident by land and see By strengþe of hond or elles by trete / And vnto Rome made hem contributarie And siþþe of Rome þemperour was he Til þat fortune wax his aduersarie / O mighty Cesar þat in Thessalie Agains pompious fader þin in lawe That of þe orient had al þe chiualrie Als fer as þat þe day bigynnes to dawe Thorugh þi knighthod þou hast him take and slawe Saue fewe folk þat with pompeus fledde Þurgh which þou puttist al þorient in awe Thanke fortune þat so wel þe spedde But now a litel while I wil bywaile This pompeus þe noble gouernour Of Rome which þat flowe fro þis bataile Alas I say oon of his men a fals traitour his heed of smoot to wynne his fauour Of Iulius and him þe heed he brouȝt Alas pomp of þe orient conquerour That fortune to such a fyn þe brought To Rome agayn repaireþ Iulius wiþ his triumphe laurial ful hye But on a tyme brutus Cassius That euer had to his estat enuye / Ful priuely haþ made conspiracie / Agains þis Iulius in subtil wise / Cast the place . in which he schulde dye with boydekyns as I schal ȝow deuyse / This Iulius to þe Capitoile went vpon a day as he was wont to goon And in þe Capitoil anoon him hent This false brutus and his oþer foon And stiked him wiþ boydekyns anoon with many a wounde and þus þay let him lye But neuer gront he at no strook but oon Or elles at tuo but if þe storie lye So manly was þis Iulius of hert/ And so wel loued estatly honeste That þough his deedly woundes sore smert his mantil ouer his hipes caste he For no man schulde seen his priuete And as he lay deyinge in a traunce And wiste wel þat verrayly deed was he Of honeste ȝet had he remembraunce / Lucan to þe þis story I recomende And to Swetoun and to Valirien also That al þe story writen word and ende / how to þese grete conqueroures tuo Fortune was first frend and siþþen fo No man trust vpon hir favour longe / But haue hir in awayt for euermo witnesse on alle þise conqueroures stronge[No break in the MS.] Off riche gresus whilom king of lyde¶ Gresus leuit|ici capitulo .ijo de spiritu phitonisse ha|bendo octos' iiijo libro Re|gum capitulo primo Of which gresus . Cirus him sore dradde / Ȝet was he caught amyddes al his pride And to þe fuyr to brenne him men him ladde But such a rayn doun fro þe heuen schadde That slough þe fuyr and made him to eschape But to be war ȝet grace noon he hadde / Til fortune on þe galwes made him gape Whan he was eschaped he couþe nouȝt/ stent For to bygynne a newe werre agayn he wende wel for þat fortune him sent Such hap þat he eschaped þurgh þe rayn That of his foos he mighte not be slayn And eek a sweuen vpon a night he mette Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn That in vengeaunce he al his herte sette / Vpon a tree he was set as him þouȝt wher Iubiter him wissch boþe bak and side And phebus eek a fair towail him brouȝt To drye him with and þerfore wax his pride And to his douȝter þat stood him biside which þat he knew in heigh science abounde / And bad hire telle what it signifyde And sche his dreem right þus gan expounde / The tree quod sche þe galwes is to mene And Iubiter likenith snow and rayn And phebus with his towail so clene Tho ben þe sonne stremes soþ to sayn Thow schalt enhangid ben fader certayn Rayn schal þe wasch and sonne schal þe drye Thus warned sche him ful plat and ek ful playn his doughter which þat called was phanie And hanged was Gresus þis proude king his real tour might him not auaile / Tegredis ne noon oþer maner þing Ne can in I synge crie ny biwayle But for þat fortune wil alway assayle wiþ vnwar strook þe regnes þat ben proude For whan men trusteth hir than wil sche faile And couer hir brighte face with a clowde ¶ Here endeþ þe monk his tale[No break in the MS.] ¶ & here bygynne þe prologe of þe Nonne prestes tale . of þe kok and þe hen. HO sire quod the knight no more of þis That ȝe han said is right ynough y-wys And mochil mor . for litel heuynesse Is right I-nough for moche folk I gesse I say for me it is a gret disease wher as men han ben in gret welþe and ease To hieren of her sodeyn fal allas And þe contraire is ioye and gret solas As whan a man haþ ben in pore estate And clymbith vp and wexeþ fortunate And þer abydeþ in prosperite Such þing is gladsom as þinkith me And of such þing were goodly for to telle ȝe quod our host by seinte paules belle ȝe say right soþ þis monk haþ clappid lowde he spak how fortune was clipped with a clowde I not neuer what and als of tregedie Right now ȝe herd and pardy no remedye It is for to bywayle or compleyne That þat is doon and also it is a peyne As ȝe han said to hiere of heuynesse / Sire monk no more of þis . so god ȝour soule blesse Ȝour tale anoyeth al þis compaignie Such a tale is nouȝt worth a boterflye For þer Inne is noon disport ne game wherfor sir monk . damp Pieres by ȝour name I pray ȝow hertly tel vs som what ellis For sicurly ner gingling of þe bellis Þat on ȝour bridil hong on euery syde By heuen king þat for vs alle dyde I schold er þis han falle doun for sleep Al þough þe slough had neuer ben so deep Than had ȝour tale . haue be told in vayn For certeynly as þese clerkes sayn wher as a man may haue noon audience Nought helpith it to tellen his sentence And wel I wot þe substance is in me If eny þing schal wel reported be Sir say som what of huntyng I ȝow pray Nay quod þe monk I haue no lust to play Now let another telle as I haue told // Than spak our ost wiþ rude speche and bold // And said vnto the nonnes prest anoon // Come ner þou prest . come ner þou sir Iohn // Tel vs such þing as may our hertes glade Be bliþe al þough þou ryde vpon a iade // what þough þin hors be boþe foul and lene // If he wil serue þe rek not a bene // lok þat þin hert be mery euer mo // Ȝis sire ȝis hoste . also mot I go // But I be mery I-wis I wol be blamed // And right anoon he haþ his tale tamyd // And þus he sayd vnto vs euerich oon // This sweete prest this goodly man sir Iohn ¶ Explicit prologus[No break in the MS.] ¶ Here bygynneth the Nonne prest his tale APore wydow . som del stope in age was whilom duellyng in a pore cotage Bisyde a groue stondyng in a dale This wydow of which I telle ȝow my tale Syn þilke day þat sche was last a wif / In paciens ladde . a ful symple lyf For litel was hir catel and hir rent By housbondry . of such as god hir sent Sche fond hir self and eek hir doughtres tuo Thre large sowes had sche and no mo Thre kyn . and eek a scheep þat highte malle. Ful sooty was hir bour and eek hir halle In which she eet ful many a sclender meel Of poynaunt saws hir needid neuer a deel Noon deynteth morsel passid þorugh hir þrote Hir dyete was accordant to hir cote Repleccioun ne made hir neuer sik Attempre dyete was al hir phisik And exercise and hertes suffisaunce The goute lette hir no þing for to daunce Ne poplexie schente not hir heed No wyn ne drank he noþer whit ne reed Hir bord seruyd boþe with whit and blak Milk and broun bred in which sche fond no lak Saynd bacoun and som tyme an ey or tweye For sche was as it were a maner deye A ȝerd sche had enclosed al aboute wiþ stikkes and a drye dich wiþoute In which she had a Cok þat hight Chaunteclere In al þe lond of crowyng was noon his peere His vois was merier þan þe mery Orgon On masse dayes þat in þe chirche goon wel sikerer was his crowyng in his logge þan is a Clok or an abbay Orologge By nature knew he ech ascensioun Of equinoxial in þilke toun For whan degrees fyftene were ascendid Thanne crew he it might not ben amendid His comb was redder þan þe fyn coral And batayld as it were a castel wal his bile was blak and as þe geet it schon lik asur were . his legges and his ton His nayles whitter þan þe lily flour And lik þe burnischt gold was his colour This gentil cok had in his gouernaunce Seuen hennes for to do al his plesaunce whiche were his sustres and his paramoures And wonder lik to him as of coloures Of whiche þe fairest hiewed on hir þrote was cleped fayre damysel pertilote Curteys sche was discret and debonaire And companable and bar hir self ful faire Syn þilke day þat sche was seuen ȝer old That sche haþ trewely þe hert in hold Of chaunteclere loken in euery lith He loued hir so þat wel him was þer-with But such a ioye was it to here him synge whan þat þe brighte sonne gan to springe In swete accord my lief is faren on londe Fro þilke tyme as I haue vnderstonde Bestis and briddes cowde speke and synge And so byfel þat in a dawenynge As Chaunteclere among his wyues alle / Sat on his perche þat was in his halle And next him sat þis faire pertelote This Chauntecler gan gronen in his þrote As man þat in his dreem is drecched sore / And whan þat Pertelot þus herd him rore Sche was agast and sayde herte deere what eylith ȝow to grone in þis manere Ȝe ben a verray sleper fy for schame And he answerd and sayde þus ma dame I pray ȝow þat ȝe take it nouȝt agreef By god me mette I was in such meschief Right now þat ȝit myn hert/ is sore afright Now god quod he my sweuen rede aright And keep my body out of foul prisoun Me mette how þat I romed vp and doun wiþinne oure ȝerd wher as I saugh a beest/ was lik an hound and wold haue maad arrest/ Vpon my body and wold han had me deed His colour was bitwixe ȝolow and reed And tipped was his tail and boþe his eeres with blak/. vnlik þe remenaunt of his heres His snowt was smal with glowynge yen tweye Ȝet of his look/ for fer almost I deye This caused me my gronyng douteles A way quod sche. fy on ȝow herteles Allas quod sche for by þat god aboue Now haue ȝe lost myn hert and al my loue I can nought loue a coward by my feith For certis what so eny womman seith we alle desiren if it mighte be To haue housbondes hardy riche and fre And secre and no nygard ne no fool Ne him þat is agast of euery tool Ne noon auaunter by þat god aboue How dorst ȝe sayn for schame vnto ȝour loue That any þing might make ȝow afferd haue ȝe no mannes hert and han a berd Allas and can ȝe ben agast of sweuenys Nought god wot / but vanite in sweuen is Sweuens engendrid ben of replecciouns And often of fume and of complexiouns whan humours ben to abundaunt in a wight Certes þis dreem which ȝe han met to-night Comeþ of þe grete superfluite Of ȝoure reede Colera parde which causeth folk to dremen in here dremes Of arwes and of fuyr with reede beemes Of rede bestis þat þai wil him byte / Of Contek and of whelpis greet and lite Right as þe humour of malencolie Causeþ in sleep ful many a man to crye For fere of beres or of boles blake Or elles blake deueles wol hem take Of oþer humours couþe I telle also That wirken many a man in slep ful woo But I wol passe as light[l]y as I can lo Catoun which þat was so wis a man Sayde he nouȝt þus ne do no force of dremes Now sire quod sche whan we fle fro þise beemes For goddis loue as tak som laxatyf Vp peril of my soule and of my lyf I counsel ȝow þe best I wol not lye . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. Though in þis toun is noon apotecarie I schal my-self tuo herbes techyn ȝow That schal be for ȝour hele and for ȝoure prow And in oure ȝerd þo herbes schal I fynde The whiche han of her proprete by kynde To purgen ȝow byneþe and eek aboue Forget not þis for goddis oughne loue ȝe ben ful colerik of complexioun ware þe sonne in his ascencioun Ne fynd ȝow not/ replet in humours hote And if it do I dar wel lay a grote That ȝe schul haue a feuer terciane Or an agu þat may be ȝoure bane A day or tuo ȝe schul haue digestiues Of wormes er ȝe take ȝour laxatiues Of lauriol Century and fumytere Or elles of Elder bery þat growith þere / Of Catapus or of gaytre berijs Of erbe yue groweþ in our ȝerd þer mery is Pike hem vpright as þay growe and et hem In · Be mery housbond for ȝour fader kyn Drediþ non dremes I can say no more Ma dame quod he graunt mercy of ȝour lore But naþeles as touching daun Catoun That hath of wisdom such a gret renoun Though þat he bad no dremes for to drede By god men may in olde bookes rede Of many a man more of auctorite That euer catoun was so mot I the That al þe reuers sayn of his sentence And han wel founden by experience That dremes ben significaciouns As wel of ioye as of tribulaciouns That folk enduren in þis lif present Ther nedeth make of þis noon argument The verray preue schewith it in dede Oon of þe grettest auctorite þat men rede Saith þus · þat whilom tway felawes wente On pylgrimage in a ful good entente / And happed so þay com in to a toun wher as þer was such congregacioun Of people and eek so streyt of herbergage þat þay fond nouȝt as moche as oon cotage / In which þat þay might boþe I-logged be wherfor þay mosten of necessite As for þat night depart her compaignye And ech of hem goþ to his hostelrye And took his loggyng as it wolde falle That oon of hem was loggid in a stalle Fer in a ȝerd with oxen of þe plough That oþer man was logged wel ynough As was his aduenture or fortune That vs gouernith alle in comune And so bifel þat long er it were day This oon met in his bed þer as he lay how þat his felaw gan vpon him calle And sayd allas for in an oxe stalle / This night I schal be murdrid þer I lye Now help me deere broþer or I dye In alle cum to me he sayde This man out of his slep for fer abrayde But whan þat he was waked out of his sleep he torned him and took of þis no keep him þought him dreem nas but a vanite / Thus twies in his sleepe dremed he And at/ þe þridde tyme ȝet his felawe Com as him þought and sayd I am now slawe Bihold my bloody woundes deep and wyde Arise vp erly in þe morwe tyde / And at the west gate of þe toun quod he / A cart of donge þere schalt þou see In which my body is hyd priuely Do þilke cart arresten boldely My gold caused my mourdre soþ to sayn And told him euery poynt how he was slayn with a ful pitous face pale of hewe And truste wel his dreem he fond ful trewe / For on þe morwe as sone as it was day To his felawes In he took þe way And whan þat he cam to þis oxe stalle After his felaw he bigan to calle / The hostiller answered him anoon And sayde sire ȝour felaw is agoon Als soone as day he went/ out of þe toun This man gan falle in a suspeccioun Remembring on his dremes þat he mette / And forth he goth no lenger wold he lette Vnto þe west gate of þe toun and fond A dong cart went as it were to donge lond That was arrayed in þe same wise As ȝe han herd þe deede man deuise / And with an hardy hert he gan to crie Vengeaunce and iustice of þis felonye My felaw mordrid is þis same night And in þis carte . he lith heer vpright I crye out on þe ministres quod he / That schulde kepe and reule þis Cite harrow allas her lith my felaw slayn what schold I more vnto þis tale sayn The peple vpstert and caste þe carte to grounde / And in þe myddes of þe dong þay founde The dede man þat mordred was al newe / O blisful god þou art ful iust and trewe Lo how þow bywreyest mordre al day Mordre wil out certes it is no nay Morder is so wlatsom and abhominable To god that is so iust and resonable That he ne wold nouȝt suffre it hiled be Though it abyde a ȝeer or tuo or þre Morder wil out þis is my conclusioun And right anoon þe mynistres of þat toun Han hent þe carter and so sore him pyned And eek the hostiller so sore engyned That þay biknew her wikkednes anoon And were anhonged by þe nekke boon Here may men se þat dremys ben to drede And Certes in þe same book I rede Right in þe nexte Chapitre after þis I gabbe nought so haue I ioye or bliss Tuo men þat wolde haue passed ouer see / For certeyn causes in-to fer cuntre If þat þe wynd ne hadde ben contrarie That/ made hem in a Cite for to tarie That stood ful mery vpon an hauen syde / But on a day agayn þe euen tyde The wynd gan chaunge and [blew] right as him list Iolyf and glad þey wenten vnto rest And casten hem ful erly for to sayle But herkneþ to þat oon man fel a gret meruayle That oon of hem in his slepyng as he lay him met a wonder drem a-gayn þe day him þought a man stood by his beddes syd And him comaunded þat he schuld abyde And sayd him þus if þou to morwe wende Thow schalt be dreynt my tale is at an ende ¶ He wook and told his felaw what he mette And prayde him his viage to lette As for þat day he prayd him to abyde his felaw þat lay by his beddis syde Gan to lawgh and scorned him ful fast No dreem quod he may so myn herte gaste / That I wil lette for to do my þinges I sette not a straw by þy dremynges For sweuens been but vanitees and iapes Men dreme al day of owles and of apes And eke of many a mase þer with al Men dreme of þinges þat neuer be schal But sith I see þat þou wilt her abyde / And þus forslouthe wilfully þy tyde God wot it reweth me and haue good day And þus he took his leue and went his way But er he hadde half his cours I-sayled Noot I nouȝt why. ne what meschaunce it ayled But casuelly þe schippes bothom rent And schip and man vnder þe watir went In sight of oþer schippes þer byside That with him sailed at þe same tyde And þerfore faire pertelot so deere By such ensamples olde maistow leere That no man scholde be to recheles Of dremes for I say þe douteles That many a dreem ful sore is for to drede Lo in þe lif of seint/ kenelm I rede That was kenulphus sone þat noble king Of mertinrike how kenilm mette a þing A lutil he was mordred vpon a day His mordre in his auysioun he say His norice him expouned euerydel His sweuen and bad him for to kepe him wel For traisoun for he nas but seuen ȝer old And þerfore litel tale haþ he told Of eny drem so holy was his hert By god I hadde leuer þan my schert þat ȝe had rad his legend as haue I Dame pertelot I say ȝow trewely Macrobius þat writ þe avisioun In auffrik of þe worþy Cipioun Affermeþ dremes and saith þat þay been Warnyng of þinges þat men after seen And forþermore I pray ȝow lokeþ wel In þe olde testament of Daniel If he huld dremes eny vanyte / Rede eek of Ioseph and þer schal ȝe see / wheþir dremes ben som tyme I say nought alle warnyng of þinges þat schul after falle Lok of Egipt þe king daun pharao his baker and his botiler also whethir þay felte noon effect in dremis who-so wol seke actes of sondry remys May rede of dremes many a sondry þing Lo Cresus which þat was of lydes king Mette þat he sat vpon a tre which signified he schuld hanged be / Lo hir andromachia Ectors wif That day þat Ector schulde lese his lif Sche dremed on þe same night byforn how þat þe lif of Ector schulde be lorn If þilke day he wente to batayle / Sche warned him but it might nouȝt auaile / He wente forþ to fighte naþeles But he was slayn anoon of achilles But þilke tale is al to long to telle/ And eek/ it is neigh day I may not duelle Schortly I say as for conclusioun That I schal haue of þis auisioun Aduersite and I say forþermore That I ne telle of laxatifs no store For þay ben venemous I wot it wel I hem defye I loue hem neuer a del Now let vs speke of mirthe and lete al þis Madame pertilot so haue I blis Of o þing god haþ me sent large grace For whan I see þe beaute of ȝour face Ȝe ben so scarlet hiew about ȝour eyȝen hit makith al my drede for to deyȝen For als siker as In principio Mulier est hominis confusio Madame þe sentence of þis latyn is womman is mannes ioye and mannes blis For when I fiele a-night ȝour softe syde / Al be it þat I may not on ȝou ryde For þat ȝour perche is mad so narrow allas / I am so ful of ioye and solas That I defye boþ sweuen and drem And with þat word he fleigh doun fro þe beem For it was day and eek his hennes alle with a chuk. he gan hem for to calle / For he had found a corn lay in þe ȝerd Real he was he was nomore aferd he fetherid pertelote. twenty tyme And trad as ofte er þat it was prime he lokith as it were a grim lioun And on his toon he romeþ vp and doun him deyneth not to set his foot to grounde And chukkiþ whan he haþ a corn I-founde And to him rennen þan his wifes alle Thus real as a prince is in his halle ¶ Leue I þis Chauntecler in his pasture And after wol I telle his aduenture whan þat þe moneth in which þe world bigan That highte march whan god maked first man was complet and passed were also Syn march bygan tway monþes and dayes tuo Byfell þat Chauntecler in al his pride His seuen wyues walkyng by his syde Cast vp his eyȝen to þe brighte sonne That in þe signe of Taurus had I-ronne Twenty degrees and oon and som what more And knew by kynde and by noon oþer lore þat it was prime and crew with blisful steuen The sonne he sayde. is clomben vpon heuen Twenty degrees and oon and som what more I-wis Ma dame pertelot my worldes blis Herknith þese blisful briddes how þay synge / And seth þese freissche floures how þay springe Ful is myn hert of reuel and solaas But sodeinly him fel a sorwful caas For euer þe latter end of ioye is wo God wot þat worldly ioye is soone ago And if [a] Rethor couþe faire endite hem a Cronique saufly might he write As for a souerayn notabilite¶ Petrus comestor Now euery wys man let him herkne me This story is also trewe I vndertake As þe book is of Launcelot þe lake That womman huld in ful gret reuerence Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence A Colefox ful / sleigh of iniquite That in þe groue had woned ȝeres þre By heigh ymaginacioun forncast The same nighte þurgh þe hegge brast In to þe ȝerd þer Chaunteclere þe faire was went and eek his wyues to repaire And in a bed of wortes stille he lay Til it was passed vndern of þe day waytyng his tyme on Chaunteclere to falle / As gladly doon þese homicides alle That in awayte lyn to morther men O false mordrer lurkyng in þy den O newe Scariot newe Genilon Fals dissimilour. greke Synon That broughtest troye al outrely to sorwe O Chauntecler. O cursed be þe morwe That þou in to þe ȝerd flough fro þe bemys Thow were ful wel I-warned by þy dremys That þilke day was perilous to þe But what þat god forwot most needes be / After þe opynyoun of certeyn clerkis witnesse on him þat eny clerk is That in scole is gret altercacioun In þis matier and gret desputesoun And hath ben of an hundred þousend men But ȝit I can not. bult it to þe bren As can þe holy doctor augustyn Or boece. or þe bisshop Bradwardyn Wheþer þat goddis worþy forwetyng Streigneth me needely for to do a þing Needely clepe I simple necessite Or elles. if fre choys be graunted me To do þat same þing or to do it nouȝt Though god forwot it er þat it was wrought Or of his wityng streyneþ neuer a deel But by necessite condicionel I wol not haue to do of such matiere My tale is of a Cok as ȝe schal hiere That took his counseil of his wyf with sorwe / To walken in þe ȝerd vpon þe morwe That he had met þe dreme þat I tolde wymmens counseiles ben fulofte colde wommannes counseil brouȝt vs first to woo And made adam fro paradys to go Ther as he was ful mery and wel at ease But for I not to him it might displease If I counseil of womman wolde blame Pas ouer for I sayd it in my game Red auctours wher þay trete of such matiere And what þay sayn of wommen ȝe may heere These ben þe cokkes wordes and not myne I can / noon harme / of wommen diuine / Faire in þe sond to baþe hir merily lith pertelot and alle hir sustres by Agayn þe sonne and Chaunteclere so free Sang merier þan þe meremayd in þe see For phisiologus seith sicurly how þat þay syngen wel and merily And so byfel þat as he cast his ye Among þe wortes on a boterflye he was war of þis fox þat lay ful lowe No þing ne list him þanne for to crowe But cryde anoon. cok. cok/. and vp he stert As man þat was affrayed in his hert For naturelly a beest desireth flee Fro his contrarie if / he may it see þough he neuer er had sayn it with his ye þis Chaunteclere whan he gan it aspye he wold han fled but þat þe fox anon Said gentil sire / allas why wol ȝe goon Be ȝe affrayd of me þat am ȝoure frend Certes I were worse þan any feend If I to ȝow wold harm or vilonye I am nouȝt come ȝour counsail to espye . . . . . . . . . .no gap in the MS. But trewely ȝe haue als mery a steuen As eny aungel hath þat is in heuen Ther wiþ ȝe han in musik more felynge Than had Boece or eny þat can synge My lord ȝour fader god his soule blesse / And ȝoure moder of her gentilesse han in myn hous I-been to my gret ease And Certes sire ful fayn wold I ȝow please But for men speke of syngyng I wol say So mot I brouke wel myn yen tway Saue ȝe I herde neuer man so synge As dede ȝour fadir in þe morwenynge Certes it was of hert al þat he song And for to make his vois þe more strong he wold so peynen him þat wiþ boþe his yen he moste wynke so lowde he wolde crien And stonden on his typtoon þer wiþ al And streche forth his necke long and smal And eek/ he was of such discressioun That þer nas no man in no regioun That him in song or wisdom mighte passe I haue wel rad in Daun Burnel thasse Among his verses how þer was a Cok For a prestes sone ȝaf him a knok vpon his leg whil he was ȝong and nyce He made him for to lese his benefice But certeyn þer is no comparisoun Bitwix þe wisdom and discressioun Of ȝoure fader and of his subtilte Now syngeþ sire for seinte charite let se can ȝe ȝour fader countrefete This Chanteclere his wynges gan to bete As man that couþe his tresoun nought espye So was he rauyssht wiþ his flaterie Allas lordynges many a fals flatour Is in ȝour hous and many a losengour That pleasen ȝow wel more by my faith Than he þat soþfastnesse vnto ȝow saith Rediþ Ecclesiast of flaterie Beþ war ȝe lordes of her treccherie / This Chaunteclere stood heihe vpon his toos Strecching his necke and his yhen cloos And gan to crowe lowde for þe noones/ And daun Russel þe fox stert vp at oones And by þe garget hente Chaunteclere And on his bak toward þe woode him bere For ȝit was þere / no man þat him sewed O desteny þat maist not ben eschiewed Allas þat Chaunteclere fleigh fro þe bemis Allas his wif roughte nought of dremis And on a friday fel al þis meschaunce O venus þat art god of pleasaunce Syn þat þy seruant was þis Chaunteclere And in þy seruice did al his powere More for delit þan þe world to multiplie why woldest þou suffre him on þy day to dye O gaufred dere mayster souerayn That whan þe worþy king Richard was slayn with schot compleynedist/ his deþ so sore why ne had I nouȝt þy sentence and þy lore þe friday for to chiden as dede ȝe For on a fryday soþly slayn was he Than wold I schewe how þat I couþe pleyne / For Chauntecleres drede and for his peyne Certis such cry ne lamentacioun was neuer of ladies maad whan Ilioun was wonne and pirrus with his strit swerd whan he hente kyng priam by þe berd And slough him as saith vs Eneydos As maden alle þe hennes in þe clos whan þay had sayn of Chauntecler þe sight Nought soueraignly . dam pertelote schright Ful lowder þan did hasdrubaldes wyf whan þat hir housebond had lost/ his lyf And þat þe Romayns had I-brent Cartage Sche was so ful of torment and of rage / That wilfully vnto þe fuyr sche stert And brend hir seluen with a stedfast hert O woful hennes right so cride ȝe As whan þat Nero brente þe cite Of Rome criden þe senatoures wyues For þat her housbondes losten alle here lyues wiþouten gult þis nero hath hem slayn Now wol I torne to my matier agayn ¶ The sely wydow and hir doughtres tuo herden þese hennys crie and maken wo And out at dores starte þay anoon And sayden þe fox toward þe woode is goon And bar vpon his bak þe cok away And criden out harrow and wayleway ha . ha . þe fox and after him þay ran And eek with staues many anoþer man Ran Colle our dogge and talbot and Garlond And Malkyn wiþ a distaf in hir hond Ran cow and calf and þe verray hoggoes So were þey fered for berkyng of dogges And schowtyng of þe men and wymmen eke Þay ronne þat þay þought her herte breke Thay ȝelleden as feeldes doon in helle The dokes criden as men wold hem quelle The gees for fere flowen ouer þe trees Out of þe hyues cam þe swarm of bees So hidous was þe noyse a benedicite Certes þough Iakke straw and his meyne Ne maden schoutes neuer half so schrille whan þat þay wolden eny flemyng kille / As þilke day was maad vpon þe fox Of bras þay brough hornes and of box Of horn of boon in which þay blew and powped And þer with al thay schryked and þay howped It semed as þat heuen schulde falle Now goode men I pray herkneþ alle / lo how fortune torneþ sodeinly The hope and pride eek of her enuy This Cok þat lay vpon þis foxes bak In al his drede vnto the fox he spak And saide sire if þat I were as ȝe Ȝet schuld I sayn as wis god helpe me Turneþ aȝein ȝe proude cherles alle A verray pestilens vpon ȝow falle / Now am I come vnto þis woodes syde / Maugre ȝoure heed þe Cok/ schal heer abyde I wol him ete in faith and þat anoon The Fox answerd in faith it schal be doon And whil he spak þat word al sodeinly This Cok brak from his mouth delyuerly And heigh vpon a tree he fleigh anoon And whan þe fox seigh þat he was I-goon Allas quod he o. Chaunteclere allas I haue to ȝow quod he y-don trespas In as moche as I makid ȝow aferd whan I ȝow hent and brouȝt out of þe ȝerd But sire I dede it in no wicked entent Com doun and I schal telle ȝow what I ment I schal say soþ to ȝow god help me so Nay þan quod he I schrew vs boþe tuo And first I schrew my self boþe blood and boones If þou bigile me. any ofter þan oones Thou schalt no more þurgh þy flaterye Do me to synge and wynke with myn ye For he þat wynkith whan he scholde se Al wilfully god let him neuer the Nay quod þe Fox but god ȝiue him meschaunce / þat is so vndiscret of gouernaunce / þat iangleth whan he scholde holde his pees Lo such it is for to be recheles And necligent and trust on flaterie / But ȝe þat holde / þis tale a folye / As of a Fox. or of a cok or of an hen Takith þe moralite goode men For seint poul saiþ þat al þat writen is To oure doctrine it is I-write I-wys Takith þe fruyt and let þe chaf be stille Now goode god. if þat it be þy wille As saith my lor so make vs alle good men And bring vs alle. to his blisse ameN ¶ Here endeþ þe tale of Chaunteclere and pertelote[No break in the MS.] ¶ Here bygynneþ þe prologe of þe maunciples tale WOt ȝe not wher þer stont a litel toun which þat cleped is Bob vp and doun vnder þe Ble in Caunterbury way Ther gan our hoste for to iape and play And sayde sires what dun is in þe myre Is þer no man for prayer ne for hyre Thal wol awake our felawes al by-hynde A theef mighte ful lightly robbe and bynde Se how he nappith se for goddes boones That he wol falle fro his hors at ones Is þat a Cook of londoun wiþ meschaunce / Do him come forth he knoweth his penaunce / For he schal telle a tale by my fay Al þough it be nouȝt worþ a botel hay Awake þou Cook sit vp god ȝif þe sorwe what eyleþ þe to slepe by þe morwe / Hast þou had fleen al night or artow dronke Or hastow with some quen al night I-swonke So þat þou maist not holden vp þyn heed This cook þat was pale and no þing reed Sayd to our host so god my soule blesse / As þer is falle on me such heuynesse Not I nouȝt why þat me were leuer slepe / Than þe beste galoun wyn in Chepe / ¶ wel quod þe maunciple if þat I may doon ease / To þe sir Cook and to no wiȝt displease / which þat her rydeþ in þis compaignye And our host wolde of his curteisie I wol as now excuse þe of þy tale For in good faith þi visage is ful pale þyn eyen daswen eek. also me þinkith And wel I woot þy breth ful foule stynkith That scheweþ eek þou art nought wel disposid Of me certeyn þou schalt nouȝt ben I-glosed Se how he ganith. lo þis dronken wight As þough he wolde swolwe vs anoon right hold clos þy mouth by þy fader kynne The deuel of helle sette his foot þer Inne Thy cursed breth effecte wil vs alle Fy stynkyng swyne foule mot þe falle A. takiþ heed sires of þis lusty man Now swete sir. wol ȝe ioust atte fan Therto me þinkþ. ȝe beþ right wel I-schape I trowe þa ȝe dronken han wyn ape And þat whan men playen with a straw And with his speche þe cook wax angry & wraw And on þe maunciple bygan he nodde fast For lak of speche. and doun þe hors him cast wher as he lay til þat men him up took This was a fair Chiuache of a cook Allas þat he nad hold him by his ladil And er þat he agayn were in his sadil Ther was gret schowuyng boþe to and fro To lift him vp and moche care and wo So vnwelde was þis sory pallid gost And to þe maunciple þanne spak oure host By cause drink hath dominacioun Vpon þis man by my sauacioun I trow he lewedly tel wol his tale For were it wyn or old moysty ale þat he haþ dronk. he spekiþ in his nose / And fnesith fast. and eek he haþ þe pose he also to do more þan ynough To kepe him and his Capil out of þe slough And if he falle fro his capil eft sone; þan schal we alle haue ynough to doone In liftyng vp his heuy dronken cors Tel on thy tale of him make I no fors But ȝit maunciple in faith þou art to nyce Thus openly reproeue him of his vice Anoþer day he wil par aduenture Reclayme þe and bringe þe to lure I mene he speke wol of smale þinges As for to pynchyn at þy rekenynges That were not honest if it cam to pref Quod þe maunciple þat were a gret meschief So might he lightly bringe me in þe snare Ȝit had I leuer payen for þe mare which he ryt on. þan he schulde with me stryue I wil not wrath him al so mot I þriue That at I spak I sayd it in my bourde And wite ȝe what I haue heer in a gourde A draught of wyn. is of a ripe grape / And right anoon ȝe schal se a good iape þis Cook schal drinke þer-of if I may vp peyn of deth he wol nouȝt say me nay And certeinly to tellen as it was / Of þis vessel þe cook dronk fast allas what needid it. he drank ynough biforn And whan he hadde pouped in his horn To þe maunciple he took þe gourd agayn And of þat draught þe cook was wonder fayn And þanked him in such wise as he couþe / Than gan our host to laughe wonder louthe / And sayd I se wel it is necessarie wher þat we go good drynk wiþ vs to carie For þat wol torne rancour and desese To accord and loue and many racour pese / O þou bacus I-blessid be þin name That so canst torne ernest in to game worschip and þonke. be to þy deite Of þat matier ȝe get no more of me Tel on þi tale mauncipel I þe pray wel sir quod he. now herkyn what I say¶ Narrat[No break in the MS.] Whan phebus duelt her in þis erþe a doun As olde bookes maken mencioun He was þe moste lusty bachiler Of al þis world and eek þe best archer He slough phiton þe serpent as he lay Slepyng agayn þe sonne vpon a day And many another noble worþy dede He with his bowe wrought as men may rede / Pleyen he couþe on euery mynstralcye And syngen þat it was a melodye To heren of his cleere vois þe soun Certes þe kyng of Thebes amphioun That with his singyng wallid þat citee Couþe neuer synge half so wel as he / Ther-to he was þe semlieste man That is or was siþþen þe world bigan what nediþ it his fortune to descriue For in þis worlde is noon such on lyue he was þer with fulfild of gentilesce Of honour and of parfyt worþinesse This phebus þat was flour of bachilerie Als wel in fredom as in chiualrie For to disport in signe of victorie Of phiton so as telleþ vs þe storie was wont to bere in his hond a bowe Now had þis phebus in his hous a crowe which in a cage he fostred many a day And taught it speken as men doon a iay whit was þis crowe as is a snow-whyt swan And countrefete the speche of euery man he couþe whan he schulde telle a tale Ther is wiþinne þis world no nightingale Ne couþe by an hundred þousend del Singe so wonder merily and wel Now had þis phebus in his hous a wyf which þat he loued. more þan his lif And night and day. did euermor diligence / hir for to please. and doon hir reuerence Sauf oonly if þe soþ þat I schal sayn Ialous he was and wold haue kept hir fayn For him were loth biiaped for to be / And so is euery wight in such degre But al for nought for it auaileth nouȝt A good wyf þat is clene of werk and thought Schuld not be kept in noon awayt certayn And trewely þe labour is in vayn To kepe a schrewe for it wil nought be This hold I for a verray nycete To spille labour for to kepe wyues Thus olde clerkes writen in her lyues But now to purpos as I first bigan This worþi phebus doþ al þat he can To pleasen hir wenyng by such plesaunce / And for his manhod and his gouernaunce That no man schuld han put him fro hir grace But god it woot. þer may no man embrace As to destroy a þing. þe which nature haþ naturelly. set in a creature Tak any brid and put him in a cage And do al þin entent and þy corrage To foster it tenderly wiþ mete and drynk And wiþ alle þe deyntees þou canst þink And keep it al so kyndly as þou may Al þough his cage of gold be neuer so gay Ȝit haþ þis brid by twenty þousand fold Leuer to be. in forest wyd and cold Gon ete wormes and such wrecchidnes For euer þis brid wil doon his busynes To scape out of his cage whan he may his liberte þe brid desireth ay let take a cat and foster him wel wiþ mylk/ And tender fleisch and mak his bed of silk/ And let him see a mous go by þe wal Anoon he wayueth mylk and fleisch and al And euery deynte which is in þat hous Such appetit haþ he to ete þe mous lo heer haþ lust his dominacioun And appetit. flemeth discr[e]scioun Also a sche wolf haþ a vilayns kynde / The lewidest. wolf þat sche may fynde Or lest of reputacioun him wol sche take In tyme whan hir lust/ to haue a make/ Alle þis ensamples. tel I by þis men That ben vntrewe and no þing by wommen For men han euer a licorous appetit On lower þing to parforme her delit Than on her wyues ben þay neuer so faire Ne neuer so trewe ne so debonaire Fleissch is so newfangil with meschaunce That we can in no þinge haue plesaunce That souneþ in to vertu eny while This phebus which þat þought vpon no gile Deceyued was for al his iolite For vnder him anoþer hadde sche/ A man of litil reputacioun Nought worþ to phebus in comparisoun Mor harm it is it happeth ofte so Of which þer comeþ boþe harm and woo And so bifel whan phebus was absent His wif anoon hath for hir lemman sent hir lemman certes. þis is a knauisch speche Forȝiueþ it me and þat I ȝow biseche The wise plato saith as ȝe may rede þe word mot neede accorde wiþ þe dede If men schal telle propurly a þing The word mot corde wiþ þe þing werkyng I am a boystous [man] right thus say I There is no difference trewely Bytwix a wyf þat is of heigh degre / If of hir body dishonest sche be And a pore wenche oþer þen þis If so be þay werke boþe amys But the gentil in estat aboue Sche schal be cleped his lady as in loue And for þat oþer is a pore womman Sche schal be cleped his wenche and his lemman And god it wot my goode lieue broþer Men layn þat oon as lowe as þat oþer Right so betwixe atticles tirant And an outlawe or a þef erraunt The same I say þer is no difference To alisaunder told was þis sentence þat for þe tiraunt is of gretter might Bi force of meyne for to sle doun right And brenne hous and home and make al playn Lo þerfor is he cleped a Captayn And for an outlawe haþ so smal meyne And may not doon so gret an harm as he Ne bringe a contre to so gret meschief / Men clepen him an outlawe or a þeef But for I am a man not texted wel I wil not telle of textes neuer a del I wol go to my tale as I bigan whan phebus wyf had sent for hir lemman Anon þay wrouȝten al her wil volage This white crow / þat heng alway in cage Bihild her werk and sayde neuer a word And whan þat hom was come phebus þe lord This Crowe song. Cuckow. Cockow. Cuckow what bird quod phebus what song syngistow Ne were þou wont so merily to synge That to myn hert it was a reioysynge To here þi vois. allas what song is þis By god quod he I synge not amys Phebus quod he for al þy worþynes For al þy beaute and þy gentiles For alle þy songes and þy menstralcie / For al þy waytyng blered is þin ye / with oon of litel reputacioun Nought worth to þe as in comparisoun The mountauns of a gnat so mot I þriue For on þy bed þy wif I saugh him swyue what wol ȝe more þe crowe anoon him tolde / By sadde toknes and by wordes bolde how þat his wyf had doon hir leccherie him to gret schame and to gret vilonye And told him oft/ he saugh it wiþ his yen This phebus gan awayward for to wryen him þought his sorwful herte brast on tuo his bowe he bent and sett þer-In a flo And in his ire he haþ his wif I-slayn þis is þeffect þer is no more to sayn For sorw of which he brak his menstralcye Boþe harp. gitern. and sauterie And eek he brak his arwes and his bowe And after þat þus spak he to þe crowe Traytour quod he wiþ tunge of scorpioun Thow hast me brought to my confusioun Allas þat I was born why nere I deed O dere wyf O gemme of lustyhed That were to me so sad and eek so trewe Now list þou deed with face pale of hewe Ful gulteles þat dorst I swere I-wis O racle hond to do so foule amys O trouble wit O Ire recheles That vnauysed smytest gulteles O wantrust ful of fals suspeccioun wher was þy wit and þy discrecioun O euery man be war of raclenesse Ne trowe no þing wiþoute gret witnesse Smyt nouȝt to soone. er þat þou wite why / And be auysed wel and sobrely Er ȝe doon eny execucioun Vpon ȝour Ire for suspeccioun Allas a þousand folk haþ racle Ire Fordoon. or dun hath brouȝt hem in þe myre Allas for sorw / I wil my seluen sle And to þe crowe o false þeef sayd he I wyl þe quyt anoon þy false tale / Thow songe whilom as any nightyngale / Now schaltow false þef þy song forgoon And eek þy white fetheres euerich oon Ne neuer in al þy lyf ne schaltow speke Thus schal men on a fals þeef ben a-wreke Thou and þin o[f]spring euer schuln be blake Ne neuer sweete noyse schul ȝe make But euer crye agayn tempest and rayn In tokenyng þat þurgh þe my wyf was slayn And to þe crowe he stert and þat anoon And puld his white feþeres euerychoon And made him blak and raft him al his song And eek his speche and out at dore him slong vnto þe deuel which I him bytake And for þis cause ben alle crowes blake Lordyngs by þis ensample I ȝow pray Beth war and takeþ kepe what ȝe say / Ne tellith neuer man in al ȝoure lif how þat anoþer man haþ dight his wyf he wol ȝou hatin mortelly certeyn Daun Salamon as wise clerkes seyn Techeþ a man to kepe his tonge wel But as I sayd. I am nought tixted wel But/ naþeles þus taughte me my dame My sone thenk on þe crowe in goddes name My son keep wel þy tonge and kep þy frend A wicked tonge. is worse þan a feend My sone fro a feend men may hem blesse My sone god of his endeles goodnesse wallid a tonge wiþ teeþ and lippes eek For man schal him auyse what he speek My sone ful ofte for to mochil speche / haþ many a man be spilt as clerkes teche But for a litil speche auisily Is no man schent to speke generally My sone þy tonge scholdest þou restreigne At alle tyme but whan þou dost þy peyne / To speke of god in honour and prayere The firste vertu sone if þou wilt lere Is to restreigne and kepe wel þy tonge Thus lerne clerkes whan þat þay ben ȝonge My sone of mochil speking euel auised Ther lasse speking had ynough suffised Comeþ mochil harm þus was me told and taught In mochel speche synne wantiþ nought wost wher of a racle tonge serueþ Right a swerd for-kutteþ and kerueþ An arm a tuo my dere sone right so A tonge cutteth frendschip al a tuo A iangler is to god abhominable Red Salamon so wys and honurable Red Dauid in his psalmes reed Senek My sone spek not. but wiþ þy heed þu bek Dissimul as þou were deed if þat þou heere A iangler speke of perilous mateere The flemyng saiþ and lere it if þe lest / That litil iangling causeþ mochil rest My sone if þou no wikked word hast sayd The thar not drede for to be bywrayd But he þat haþ mys sayd I dar wel sayn he may by no way clepe his word agayn Thing þat is sayd. is sayd. and forþ it goþ Though him repent or be him neuer so loþ He is his þral to whom þat/ he haþ sayd A tale of which he is now yuel a payd My sone be war and be noon auctour newe / Of tydyngs wheþer þay ben fals or trewe / wher-so þou comest amonges heih or lowe / kep wel þy tonge / and thenk vpon þe crowe ¶ Here endith þe tale of þe crowe[No break in the MS.] GROUP I. FRAGMENT X. § 1. THE BLANK-PARSON LINK. ¶ And here begynneth the prologe of þe Persouns tale By þat þe maunciple had had his tale endid The sonne fro þe south line is descendid So lowe þat it nas nouȝt to my sight Degrees [nyne and twenty as in hight[In a later hand.]] Ten on þe Clokke it was as I gesse / For enleuen foote or litil more or lesse / My schadow was at þilk tyme of þe ȝere Of which feet as my lengþe parted were / In [sixe[In a later hand.]] feet equal of proporcioun Ther-with þe mones exaltacioun In mena libra alway gan ascende As we were entryng at a townes ende For which our host as he was wont to gye As in þis caas our ioly compaignye Sayd in þis wise lordings euerich oon Now lakkeþ vs no moo tales þan oon Fulfilled is my sentens and my decre I trowe þat we han herd of ech degre Almost fulfilled is myn ordynaunce I pray to god so ȝeue him right good chaunce That tellith to vs his tale lustily Sire prest quod he artow a vicory Or artow a persoun say soþ by þy fay Be what þou be breke nought oure play For euery man saue þou hath told his tale vnbocle and schew vs what is in þy male For trewely me þinkeþ by þy chier Þou scholdist wel knyt vp a gret matier Tel vs a tale anoon for cokkes boones This persoun answerde al at oones / Thow getist fable noon I-told for me For poul þat writes vnto thimothe Repreueþ hem þat weyueþ sothfastnesse And tellen fables and such wrecchednesse / why schuld I sowen draf out of my fest/ whan I may sowe whete if þat me lest/ For which I say if þat ȝow lust to hiere Moralite and vertuous matiere And þanne þat ȝe wil ȝiue me audience I wol ful fayn at cristis reuerence Do ȝow plesaunce leful as I can But trusteþ wel I am a suthern man I can not geste. rum raf. ruf by letter Ne god wot rym hold I but litel better And þerfor if ȝow lust I wol not glose I wol ȝow telle a mery tale in prose / To knyt vp al this fest and make an ende And Ihū for his grace wit me sende To schewe ȝow þe way in þis viage Of þilke parfyt glorious pilgrimage That hatte Ierusalem celestial And if ȝe vouche sauf anoon I schal Bygynne my tale for which I ȝow pray Telle ȝour avis I can no better say But naþeles þis meditacioun I put it ay vnder correctioun Of clerkes for I am not textuel I take but þe sentens trustiþ wel Therfor I make protestacioun That I wol stonde to correccioun Vpon þis word we han assented soone For as it semed it was for to done To enden in som vertuous sentence And for to ȝeue him space and audience And bad oure host he schulde to him say That alle we to telle his tale him pray Our host hadde þe wordes for vs alle Sir prest quod he now faire ȝow bifalle Say what ȝow lust and we wil gladly hiere And wiþ þat word he said in þis manere Telleþ quod he ȝour meditacioun But hasteth ȝow þe sonne wol a doun Beþ fructuous and þat / in litil space And to do wel; God sende ȝow grace /[No break in the MS.]

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

¶ Ier. 6o.State super vias & videte et interrogate de semitis antiquis que sit via bona et ambulate in ea et inuenietis ¶ refrigerium animabus vestris, &c.

[75] Owre swete lord god of heuen þat no man wil perische but wol þat we comen alle to þe knowleche of him and to þe blisful lif þat is perdurable / [76] ammonestith vs by þe prophet Ieremye þat saith in þis wise [77] ¶ Stondeth vpon þe weyes and seeþ & axeþ of olde pathes þat is to sayn of old sentence which is þe good way. [78] . . .no gap in the MS. and ȝe schul fynde refresshyng for ȝoure soules &c. [79] ¶ Many ben þe wayes espirituels þat leden folk to oure lord Ihū crist/. and to þe regne of glorie. [80] Of whiche weyes þer is a ful noble way and ful couenable which may not faile to man ne to womman þat þorugh synne haþ mysgon fro þe right way of Ierusalem celestial [81] and þis wey is cleped penitence ¶ Of which men schulden gladly herken and enquere wiþ al here herte [82] to wyte what is penitence and whens it is cleped penitence and in what maner and in how many maners been þe acciones or workynges of pe|naunce [83] and how many spieces ben of penitences & whiche þinges apperteynen and byhouen to penitence. and whiche þinges destourben penitence

[84] ¶ Seint ambrose saiþ. þat penitence is þe pleynyng of man for þe gult þat he haþ doon. and no more to do ony þing for which him oughte to pleigne [85] ¶ And som doctour saith. penitence is wayment|ynyge of man þat sorweþ for his synne and peyneþ himself for he haþ mysdoon [86] ¶ Penitence wiþ certeyn circumstaunces; is verray repentaunce of man þat holt himself in sorwe and in woo for his giltes [87] ¶ And for he schal be verray penitent; he schal first/ bywaile þe synnes þat he haþ do and stedfastly purposen in his hert to hauen schrifte of mouth. and to doon satisfaccioun [88] and neuer to do þing for which him oughte more to bywayle or to complayne. and to con|tinue in goode werkes or elles his repentaunce may nouȝt auayle [89] For as saith seint Isidre ¶ he is a iapere and a gabbere and no verray repentaunt þat eft soone doþ þing for which him oughte to repente; [90] wepynge. and nouȝt for to stynte to doon synne may nouȝt auayle [91] ¶ But naþeles men schal hope þat at euery tyme þat men fallith. be it neuer so ofte; þat he may arise þorugh peni|tence if he haue grace ¶ But certeyn it is a gret doute. [92] For as saith seint Gregory. Vnneþe arist he out of his synne þat is charged wiþ þe charge of yuel vsage [93] ¶ And þerfore repentaunt folk þat stinte for to synne and forlete synne er þat synne forlete hem. holy chirche holt hem siker of her sauacioun. [94] And he þat synneth and verraily repentith him in his last ende; holy chirche ȝit hopeþ his sauacioun by þe grete mercy of oure lord ihū crist/ for his repentaunce. but take þe siker way

[95] ¶ And now siþ þat I haue declared ȝow what þing is penitence. now schul ȝe vnderstonde þat þer ben þre acciouns of penitence [96] ¶ The first is þat if a man be baptiȝed after þat he haþ synned. [97] Seint augustyn saith but if he be penitent for his olde synful lif; he may not bygynne þe newe clene lif [98] ¶ For certes if he be baptiȝed wiþoute penitence of his olde gilt. he receyueth þe mark of baptisme; but nouȝt þe grace ne þe remissioun of his synnes til he haue repentaunce verray [99] ¶ Anoþer defaute is þis þat men doon deedly synne after þat þay haue receyued baptisme [100] ¶ þe þridde defaute is þat men fallen in to venial synne after here baptisme fro day to day. [101] þer of saiþ seint austyn ¶ That penitence of goode men and of humble folk is þe penitens of euery day

[102] ¶ The spices of penitence ben thre ¶ That oon of hem is solempne ¶ Anoþer is comune ¶ And þe þridde is pryue [103] ¶ Thilke penaunce þat is so|lempne is in tuo maners as is to be put out of holy chirche in lente for slauȝtre of childre and such maner þing [104] ¶ Anoþer is whan a man haþ synned openly. of which synne þe fame is openly spoken in þe contre. and þanne holy chirche by iugge|ment streyneth him to doon open penaunce [105] ¶ Comune penaunce is þat prestes enioynen men comunly in certeyn caas. as for to goon per aduenture naked in pilgrimage or barfot [106] ¶ Priue penaunce is þilk þat men doon alday for priue synnes of whiche we schryue vs priuely and receyuen priue penaunce

[107] ¶ Now schalt þou vnderstonde what bihoueth and is necessarie to verray parfyt penitence. and þis stondith in þre þinges [108] ¶ Contricioun of hert ¶ Con|fessioun of mouth ¶ And satisfaccion. [109] ¶ For whiche saith seint Iohan Crisostom ¶ penitence distreyneth a man to accepte benignely euery peyne þat him is enioyned with contricioun of herte and schrift of mouth with satis|faccioun and in werking of alle maner humblete [110] and þis is fruytful penitence. agayn þre þinges in whiche we wraþþe our lord ihū crist/. [111] þis is to sayn by delit in þinking ¶ By rechelesnes in speking ¶ By wicked synful werkyng [112] ¶ Again þese þre wickid gultes is penitence þat may be likned vnto a tre

[113] ¶ The roote of þis tre is contricioun þat hydiþ him in þe hert/ of him þat is verray repentaunt ¶ Right as þe roote of a tree hideþ him in þe eorþe. [114] of þe roote of contricioun springeth a stalk þat bereth braunches and leeues of confessioun and fruyt of satisfaccioun [115] ¶ For whiche crist saith in his gospel ¶ Doth digne fruyt of penitence. For by þis fruyt may men knowe þis tree and nouȝt by þe roote þat is hyd in þe hert of a man ne by þe braunches ne the leuys of confessioun [116] ¶ And þerfore oure lord ihū crist saiþ þus ¶ By þe fruyt of hem schul ȝe knowe hem [117] ¶ Of þis roote eek springeþ a seed of grace. þe which seed is mooder of sikurnes ¶ And þis seed is egre and hoot [118] ¶ The grace of þis seed springeth of god þorugh re|membraunce of þe day of doom and of þe peynes of helle [119] ¶ Of þis matier saith Salomon þat in þe drede of god man forleteth his synne [120] ¶ The hete of þis seed is þe loue of god & þe desiring of þe ioye perdurable [121] ¶ Þis hete draweth þe hert of man to god and doþ him hate his synne [122] ¶ For soþe þer is no þing þat serueþ so wel to a child as þe mylk of his norice ¶ Ne no þing is to him more abhom|inable þan þe milk whan it is melled mete. [123] ¶ Right so þe synful man þat/ loueþ his synne. him semeth it is to him most swete of eny þing [124] ¶ But fro þat tyme he loueþ sadly oure lord ihū crist and desireþ þe lif perdurable. þer nys to him no þing more abhominable / [125] for soþly þe lawe of god is þe loue of god ¶ For whichDilexi legem tuam &c. Dauyd saith ¶ I haue loued þy lawe and hated wikkednesse and hate ¶ he þat loueþ god kepeth his lawe and his word [126] ¶ This tree saugh the prophete daniel in spirit vpon þe auysioun of Nabugodonosor whan he coun|seiled him to do penaunce. [127] ¶ Penaunce is tre of lif to hem þat it receyuen and þat holdeth him in verray penitence is blessed after þe sentence of Salomon

[128] In þis penitence or contricioun; men schal vn|derstonde foure þinges that is to sayn what is contricioun and whiche ben þe causes þat moeuen men to con|tricioun and how he schulde be contrit and what con|tricioun auaileth to þe soule [129] ¶ Þanne it is þus þat contricioun is þe verray sorwe þat a man receyueþ in his herte for his synnes wiþ sad purpos to schryue him and to doo penaunce and neuer more to don synne. [130] ¶ And þis sorwe schal be in þis maner as saith seint Bernad ¶ It schal ben heuy and greuous and ful scharp and poynaunt in herte [131] ¶ First for man haþ agilted his lord and his creatour and more scharp and poynaunt. For he haþ agiltid his fader celestial. [132] and ȝit more scharp and poynaunt for he haþ wratthed and agilt him þat bouȝt him wiþ his precious blood and haþ delyuered vs fro þe bondes of synne and fro þe cruelte of þe deuel and fro þe peynes of helle //

[133] ¶ þe causes þat oughten to moeue a man to con|tricioun¶ Sex sunt cause que mouent homineȝ ad con|tricionem ben .vj. ¶ First a man schal remembre him of his synnes. [134] but loke þat þilke remem|brance be to no delyt of him by no way but gret schame and sorwe for his gilt. For Iob. saith þat synful men doon werkes worþy of confessioun [135] and þerfor saith Eȝechiel ¶ I wol remembre alle þe ȝeres of my lyf in bitternesse of myn hert. [136] and god saith in thapocalips. Remembre ȝow from whens þat ȝe ben falle. For biforn þat tyme þat ȝe synned. ȝe were þe children of god . . . . .no gap [137] ¶ But for ȝoure synne ȝe be woxe þral and foul and membres of þe feend. hate of aungels. sclaunder of holy chirche & foode of þe fals serpent. perpetual matier of þe fuyr of helle [138] ¶ and ȝet more foule and abhom|inable For ȝe trespassen so ofte tyme as doþ þe hound þat torneþ to ete his spewyng. [139] & ȝet ȝe ben fouler for ȝoure longe continuyng in synne and ȝoure synful vsage. for whiche ȝe ben roten in ȝoure synne as a beest in his donge [140] ¶ Suche maner of þoughtes make a man haue schame of his synne and no delit. and god saiþ by þe prophete Iȝechiel [141] ¶ Ȝe schul remembre ȝow of ȝoure weyes. & þay schal displese ȝow soþly ¶ Synnes ben þe way þat leden folk to helle

[142] ¶ The secounde cause þat oughte make a man to haue desdeyn of his synne is þis. þat as seiþ seint petre / ¶ who so doth synne is þral of synne. and synne put a man in gret þraldom. [143] and þer|fore saith þe prophete. Eȝechiel. I wente sorwful in desdeyn of myself ¶ Certes wel oughte a man haue desdeyn of synne and wiþdrawe him fro þat þraldom and vilonye. [144] and lo what saiþ Seneca. in þis matiere. he saiþ þus ¶ Though I wiste þat god nere god. man schulde neuer knowe it: ȝit wold I haue disdeyn for to do synne [145] and þe same Seneca also saith ¶ I am born to gretter þinges þan to be þral to my body or þan for to make of my body a þral [146] ¶ Ne a fouler þral may no man ne womman make of his body þan ȝiue his body to synne [147] ¶ And were it þe foulest cherl or þe foulest womman þat lyueþ and lest of value; ȝet is þanne synne more foul and more in seruitute [148] Euer fro þe heigher dege þat man falliþ þe more he is þral and more to god vile and abhomin|able [149] ¶ O goode god wel oughte a man haue gret disdayn o such a þing þat þorugh synne þer he was free now is he maked bonde. [150] an þerfore saiþ seint austyn ¶ If þou hast disdayn . . .no gap þat þou þiself schuldest doon synne; haue þou þanne desdeyn þat þou þiself schuldist do synne. [151] tak reward of þy value þat þou be nouȝt to foul in þiself [152] Allas wel oughte men haue disdeyn to be seruauntes & þralles to synne. & sore ben aschamed of hemself [153] þat god of his endeles goodnes haþ set hem in heigh estate or ȝeuen hem witte. strengþ of body. hele. beaute. prosperite. [154] and bought hem fro þe deþ wiþ his herte blood þat þay so vnkyndely aȝeinst his gentilesce quyten so vileynsly to slauȝter of her oughne soules [155] ¶ O goode god ȝe wommen þat ben of so gret beaute remembreþ ȝow of þe prouerbe of Salamon þat saith. [156] he likeneth a fair womman þat is a fool of hir body. to a ryng of gold þat were in þe groyn of a sowe [157] ¶ For right as a sowe wroteþ in euerich ordure; so wrootith sche hir beaute in stynkyng ordure of synne

[158] ¶ The þridde cause þat ouȝte moeue a man to contricioun is drede of þe day of doome. & of þe orrible peynes of helle [159] ¶ For as seint Ierom saith. At euery tyme þat I remembre of þe day of doom; I quake [160] ¶ For whan I ete or drinke or what so þat I doo euer semeth me þat þe trompe sowneþ in myn eere. [161] Riseth ȝe vp þat ben deede / and comeþ to þe Iuggement [162] ¶ O goode god. mochil ought a man to drede such a iuggement. þer as we schul be alle as seiþ seint poul Biforn þe sete of our lord ihū crist [163] wher as he schal make a general con|gregacioun wher as no man may ben absent. [164] for certes þer auayleþ non essoyne ne excusacioun [165] ¶ And nouȝt oonly þat oure defaute schal be . . . . .no gap openly knowen. [166] and as seint Bernard saiþ ¶ Ther schal no pleynyng auayle ne no sleight ¶ we schuln ȝiue rekenyng of euery ydel word [167] ¶ Ther schulle we haue a Iuge þat may nouȝt be disceyued ne corupt. and why; For certes alle oure þoughtes ben descouered as to him ne for prayer ne for meede he nyl not / be corupt [168] ¶ And þerfor saiþ Salamon ¶ The wraþþe of god ne wol not be corrupt ¶ And þerfor saiþ Salomon ¶ The wraþ of god ne wol nouȝt spare no wight for praier ne for ȝifte ¶ And þerfore at þe day of doome þer is noon hope to eshcape [169] wherfor as seint anselm seiþ ¶ Ful greet anguisch schuln þe synful folk haue at þat tyme [170] ¶ þere schal þe sterne and þe wroþ Iugge sitte aboue and vnder him þe horrible put of helle open to de|stroye him þat mot byknowe his synnes which synnes openly ben schewed byforn god and biforn euery creature [171] ¶ and on þe lift syde mo deuelis þan herte may þynke for to hary and to drawe þe synful to pyne of helle [172] ¶ And wiþ|inne þe hertes of folk schal be þe bytyng conscience and wiþoute forþ schal be þe world al brennyng [173] ¶ whider schal þanne þe wrecche synful man. Flee to hyden him; Certes he may not hyde him. he moot come forþ and schewe him [174] ¶ For certes as seith seynt Ierom ¶ The erþe schal caste him out/ of him and þe see also and þe aer also þat schal be ful of þunder-clappes and lightnynges [175] ¶ Now soþly who-so wel remembrith him of þese tydynges; I gesse his synne schal not torne him to delit but/ to gret sorw for drede of þe peyne of helle. [176] and þer|fore saiþ Iob. to god ¶ Suffre lord þat I may a while biwayle and wepe or I go wiþ oute retournynge to þe derk lond couered wiþ derknes of deþ [177] to þe lond of mysese and of derknesse wher as is þe schadow of deth. wher as is noon order [ne] ordinaunce but grislich drede þat euer schal last [178] ¶ loo her may ȝe see þat Iob prayde respit a while to wepe and biwayle his trespas ¶ For forsoþe oon day of respit is bettre þan al þe tresor in þis world. [179] and for as moche as a man may aquyte himself byforn god by penaunce in þis world and not by tresor; þerfore schuld he praye to god ȝiue him respit a while to wepe and to waile his trespas. [180] for certes al . . . . .no gap þe world nys but a litel þing at regard of þe sorwe of helle [181] ¶ The cause why þat Iob. calleþ helle þe lond of derknes; [182] vnderstondith þat he clepith it lond or eorþe for it is stable and neuer schal fayle. derk; for he þat is in helle hat defaut/ of light material. [183] for certes þe derke light þat schal come out of þe fuyr þat euer schal brenne / schal torne him to peyne þat is in helle for it schewiþ him to þorrible deueles þat him tormenten [184] couered wiþ the derknes of deth þat is to sayn þat he þat is in helle schal haue defaute of þe sight of god ¶ For certes þe sight of god is þe lif perdurable. [185] þe derk|nes of deth ben þe synnes þat þe wrecchid man haþ doon whiche þat stourben him to see þe face of god right as a derk cloude doþ bitwixe vs and þe sonne [186] ¶ lond of myseyse; By cause þat þere ben þre maner of defautes agains þre þinges þat folk of þis world han in þis present lif þat is to sayn. honures. delices. and richesses [187] ¶ Agayns honours. han þey in helle / schame and confusioun. [188] For wel ȝe witen þat men clepyn honure þe reuerence þat men doon to þe man. but in helle is noon honour ne reuerence. for certes no more reuerence schal ben doon to a kyng þan to a knaue [189] ¶ For which god saiþ by þe prophete Ieremie ¶ Thilke folk / þat me displesen schul be despit [190] ¶ Honour is eke cleped gret lord|schipe. þere schal no wight seruen oþir but of harm and of torment ¶ honour eek is cleped gret dignite and heigh|nes; but in helle schulle þay be al fortrode of deueles [191] ¶ And god saith. thorrible deueles schuln goon and comen vpon þe heedes of dampned folk. And þis is for als moche as þe heyher þat þay were in þis present lif; þe more schuln þay ben abatid and defouled in helle [192] ¶ Agayns riches of þis world schuln þay han mysese of pouert. A þis pouert schal be in .iiij. þinges [193] In defaut of tresor of which as dauid saith ¶ The riche folk þat embraseden and onedin in al here herte þe tresor of þis world. schuln slepen in þe slepyng of deth and no þing schuln þay fynde in her hondes of al her tresor [194] ¶ & more-ouer þe mysease of helle schal be in þe defaut of mete and drink. [195] For god saith þus by moyses ¶ Thay schul be wasted by hunger and þe briddes of helle schuln deuoure hem wiþ bittir teeth and þe galle of þe dragoun schal be her drink & þe venym of þe dragoun here morsels [196] ¶ And forþer more ouer her misease schal be in defaut of cloþing/ for þay schul be naked in body as of cloþing ¶ For þay schuln be nakid of body saue of fuyr in which þay brenne and oþer filþis. [197] and naked schuln þay be of soule. of alle maner vertues which þat is cloþing of soule ¶ wher ben þanne þe gaye robes. and þe softe scheetis and þe smale schirtes. [198] lo what saiþ of hem þe prophete Isaye ¶ vnder hem schuln be strawed motthis and here couertours schuln ben of wormes of helle [199] ¶ And forþer mor ouer here disease schal be in defaute of frendes. for he is not pouere that haþ goode frendes. but here is no frend. [200] For neyþer god ne no creature schal be frend vnto hem. and euerich of hem schal hate oþer wiþ dedly hate [201] ¶ The sones and the douȝtres schuln rebellen agayns þe fader and þe mooder and kynrede agayns kynrede and chiden and despisen euerich of hem oþer boþe day and night. as god saith by þe prophete Michias [202] ¶ And þe louyng children þat whilom loueden so fleisschliche euerych oþer; wolden euerych of hem eten oþer if þay miȝten [203] for how schulden þay louen hem togider in þe peyne of helle; whan þay hated euerych of hem oþer in þe prosperite of þis lif. [204] For trustith wel her fleisshly loue was dedly hate as saiþ þe prophete dauid. who-so þat loueth wickid|nes hateþ his soule. [205] And who-so hatiþ his oughne soule. certis he may loue noon oþer wight in no manere [206] ¶ And þerfore in helle is no solace ne frendschipe. but euer þe more flesshly kynredes þat ben in helle; þe more cursynges þe more chyd|ynges and þe more deedly hate þer is among hem [207] And forþer ouer þay schul haue defaute of alle manere delices ¶ For certis delices ben þe appetites of þy fyue wittes as sight hieryng. smellyng. sauor|ing and touching [208] ¶ But in helle here sight schal be ful of derknesse / and of smoke and þerfore ful of teeris. and her hieryng ful of waymentynge and of gruntynge of teeth as saiþ ihū crist // [209] ¶ here nose þurles schuln ben ful of stynkyng stynk. and as saith ysaye þe prophete ¶ here sauoringe schal be ful of bitter galle. [210] and touchyng of al here body y-couered with fuyr þat neuer schal quenche / and wiþ wormes þat neuer schuln deyen / as god saiþ by þe mouþ of ysaie [211] ¶ And for al so moche as þay schuln nouȝt/ wene/ þat þay may deyen for peyne / and by here deth fle fro peyne. þat may þay vnderstonde in þe word of Iob / þat saiþ ¶ Ther as is þe schadow of deth [212] ¶ Certes a schadow haþ þe liknesse of the þing of which it is a schadow. . . . .no gap [213] Right so fareth þe peyne of helle. it is lik deþ. for þe horrible anguisshe. And why; for it peyneþ hem euer as though men scholden deye anon. But certes þay schul not deye. [214] For as saith Seint GreGory ¶ To wrecchid caytifs shal be ȝiue deth wiþoute deth and ende wiþouten ende / and defaute withouten faylinge. [215] For here deth schal alway lyuen. and here ende schal euermore bygynne. and here defaute schal not fayle [216] ¶ And þerfor saiþ seint Iohan þe euaungelist ¶ þay schul folwe deþ. and þay schuln nouȝt fynde him. and þay schul desire to deyen And deth schal flee fro hem. [217] ¶ and eek Iob. saiþ. þat in helle is noon ordre of rule [218] ¶ And al be it þat god haþ creat al þing in right ordre and no þing wiþ|oute ordre. but alle þinges ben ordeyned and noum|bred; ȝit naþeles þay þat ben dampned been nouȝt in ordre ne holden non ordre [219] For þe eorþe schal bere hem no fruyt [220] ¶ For as þe prophete dauid saiþ. God schal destroye þe fruyt of þe eorþe as for hem. ne watir schal ȝiue hem no moysture ne þe aier non refreisching. ne fuyr no light. [221] For as seiþ seint Basile ¶ The brennyng of þe fuyr of þis world schal god ȝiue in helle to hem þat ben dampnyd. [222] But þe light and þe clernesse / schal be ȝeue to heuene to his children. Right as þe goode man ȝeue fleisch to his children and bones to his houndes / [223] ¶ And for þay schul haue noon hope to eschape. saiþ seint Iob. atte laste þat þer schal horrour and grisly drede duelle wiþouten ende [224] ¶ horrour is alway drede of harm þat is to come. and þis drede schal euer duelle in þe hertes of hem þat ben dampnyd. And þerfore han þay lorn al here hope for vij. causes [225] ¶ First / for god þat is here Iugge schal be wiþoute mercy to hem ne þay may not please him ne noon of his halwes Ne þey may ȝiue no þing for here raunsoun / [226] ne þay haue no voice to speke to him. ne þay may not fle fro peyne. ne þay haue no goodnes in hem. þat þay may schewe to deliuere hem fro peyne [227] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Salomon / The wikked man deyeth. and whan he is deed; he schal haue noon hope to eschape fro peyne [228] ¶ who-so wolde þanne wel vn|derstonde þese peynes and bythynk him wel þat he haþ deserued þilke peynes for his synnes ¶ Certes he schulde haue more talent to sikyn and to wepe þan for to synge or pleye [229] ¶ For as þat Salamon saiþ ¶ who-so þat þe science to knowe þe peynes þat ben establid and ordeynt for synne; he wolde make sorwe [230] ¶ Thilke science as saiþ seint austyn makeþ a man to wayment in his herte

[231] ¶ The fourþe poynt þat oughte make a man haue contricioun is þe sorwful remembraunce of þe good þat he hath left to doon heer in eorþe. and eek þe good þat he haþ lorn [232] ¶ Soþly þe goode werkes þat he hath left; eyþer þay been þe goode werkes þat he wrought er he fel in to deedly synne; or elles þai ben þe goode werkes þat he . . . . .[233] . . . . .no gap in the MS. dede er he fel into synne ben amortised. and astoneyed and dullid by ofte synnynge. [234] þat oþere goode werkes that he wrouȝte whil he lay in dedly synne been outrely deede as to þe lif perdurable in heuen. [235] þanne þilke goode werkes þat ben mortified by ofte synnyng whiche goode werkes he dede whiles he was in charite ne mowe neuer quyken agayn withouten verray penitence. [236] And þerof saith god by þe mouth of Eȝechiel ¶ That if þe rightful man re|tourne agayn fro his rightwisnesse and werke wikked|nesse. schal he liue; [237] nay. For alle þe goode werkes þat he haþ wrought ne schuln neuer be in remembrance for he schal dye in his synne. [238] And vpon þilke chapitre saith seint Gregory þus. þat we schuln vnder|stonde þis principally. [239] That whan we doon dedly synne it is for nouȝt þanne to reherse or to drawe in to memorie þe goode werkes þat we han wrought biforn. [240] For certis in þe werkyng of þe dedly synne þer is no trust to no good werkes that we han don biforne þis tyme. þat is to say as for to haue þerby þe lif per|durable in heuen. [241] But naþeles þe goode werkes quiken agayn and comen again and helpen and auailen to haue þe lif perdurable in heuen whan we han contricioun [242] ¶ But soþly þe goode werkes þat men doon whil þat þai ben in deedly synne. for as moche as þay were doon in dedly synne; þay may neuer quyken . . [243] . . . . .no gap in the MS. ¶ And al be it þat þay auailen not to haue þe lif perdurable; ȝit auaylen þay to abbrigging of þe peyne of helle or elles to gete temporal riches. [244] Or elles þat god wol þe raþer enlumyne and lightene þe hert of þe synful man to haue repentaunce. [245] and eek þey auailen for to vsen a man to do goode werkes þat þe feend haue þe lasse power of his soule. [246] ¶ And þus þe curteys lord ihū crist ne wolde nouȝt no good werk be lost. For in som what it schal auaile. [247] But for als moche as þe goode werkes þat men don whil þay ben in good lif ben amortised by synne folwyng and eek sith þat alle the goode werkes þat men doon whil þay ben in dedly synne been outrely deede as for to haue þe lif perdurable; [248] wel may þat man þat no goode werkes werkiþ synge þilke newe freisch song. Iay tout perdu moun temps et moun labour [249] For certis synne byreueth a man boþe goodnes of nature and eek þe goodnes of grace [250] ¶ For soþly þe grace of þe holy gost fareþ lik fyre þat may not ben ydel. For fuyr as it forletiþ his werk|yng it faileth anoon ¶ And right so whan þe grace faileþ; [251] þan lesith þe synful man þe goodnes of glorie þat oonly is byhight to goode men þat labouren and werken [252] ¶ wel may he be sory þanne þat oweth al his lif to god as longe as he haþ lyued and eek as longe as he schal lyue. þat no goodnes ne hath to paye wiþ his dette to god to whom he oweth al his lyf. [253] For trusteþ wel he schal ȝiue accompt as saiþ seint Bernard of alle þe goodes þat han be ȝeuen him in þis present lif. & how he hath hem dispendid. [254] nat so moche þat þer ne schal not perische an heer of his heed ne a moment of an hour ne schal not perische of his tyme þat he ne schal ȝiue of it a rekenyng.

[255] ¶ The .vte. maner of contricioun þat moeueþ a man þerto is þe remembraunce of þe passioun þat oure lord ihū crist suffred for. vs and for our synnes [256] ¶ For as seiþ seint Bernard whil þat I lyue I schal haue remem|braunce of þe passioun þat oure lord ihū crist suffred for vs in preching. [257] his werynesse in trauayling his tempt|acioun whan he fastid. his longe wakinges whan he prayde his teeres whan he wepte for pite of good peple [258] þe wo and þe schame and þe filthe þat men saide to him ofte foul spittyng þat men spitten on his face. Of þe buffettis þat men ȝaf him of þe foule mowes and of þe re|proues þat men to him saiden [259] of þe nayles with whiche he was nayled to þe cros and of al þe remenaunt of his passioun þat he suffred for my synnes and no þing for his gilt [260] ¶ And ȝe schal vnder|stonde þat in mannes synne is euery maner ordre of ordinaunce turned vpso-doun. [261] ¶ For it is soþ þat god & resoun and sensualite and þe body of man be so ordeyned that euerich of þese .iiij. schulde haue lordschipe ouer . . [262] . . . . .no gap in the MS. resoun and resoun ouer sensualite. and sensualite ouer þe body of man. [263] ¶ But soþly whan man synneþ al þis ordre or ordinaunce is torned vpso-doun [264] and þanne for as moche as þe resoun of a man ne wol not be subiect ne obeissant to god þat is his lord by right; þer|fore lesith it þe lordschipe þat it schulde haue in sensualite and eek ouer þe body of man. [265] And why; For sensualite rebellith þanne agayns resoun. And by þat way lesith resoun þe lordschipe ouer sensualite and ouer þe body. [266] For right as resoun is rebel to god; Right so is boþe sensualite rebel to resoun and þe body also [267] And certis þis disordynaunce and þis rebellioun oure lord ihū crist bought vpon his precious body ful deere ¶ And herkeneth in which wise [268] ¶ For as moche as resoun is rebel to god; þer|fore is man worþy to haue sorwe and to be deed. [269] þis suffred oure lord ihū crist for man and after þat he was bytraysed of his disciple and destreyned and bounde so þat þe blood brast out at euery nayl of his hondes as saith seint austyn [270] ¶ And forþer ouer for as mochil as resoun of man wol nought daunte sensu|alite whan it may þerfore is man worþy to haue schame ¶ And þis suffred oure lord ihū crist for man whan þay spitten in his face [271] And forþer ouer þanne for as moche as þe caytif body of man is rebelle boþe to resoun and to sensualite. þerfore it is worþy þe deth [272] ¶ And þis suffred oure lord ihū crist for vs vpon þe croys wher as þer was no part of his body fre wiþoute gret peyne and bitter passioun [273] ¶ And al þis suffred ihū crist þat neuer forfeted. . . . .no gap in the MS. So mochil am I streyned for þe þinges þat I neuer deseruyd and to moche defouled for schendschip þat man is worthy to haue [274] And þer|fore may þe synful man wel saye as saith sent Bernard ¶ Acursed be þe bitternesse. . . . .no gap in the MS. [275] For certis after þe dyuers discordaunces of oure wickednes was þe passioun of oure lord ihū crist/ ordeyned in diuers þinges [276] ¶ As þus. Certis sinful mannes soule is bytraysid of þe deuel by coueitise of temporal prosperite and scorned by disceyt whan he cheseþ fleischly delytes and ȝit is it tormentid by impacience of aduersite and byspit by seruage and subieccioun of synne. and atte last it is slayn finally [277] ¶ For þis discordaunce of synful man was Ihū crist first bytraised and after was he bounde that com for to vnbynden vs fro synne and of peyne [278] ¶ Than was he scorned; þat oonly schulde be honoured in alle þing of alle þinges. [279] ¶ Than was his visage þat oughte be desired to be say of al man-kynde. In which visage aungels desiren to loke vileynsly byspit. [280] Thanne was he scorned þat no þing had agilt. and fynally þanne was he crucified and slayn [281] Thanne was accomplised þe word of ysaye ¶ He was woundid for oure mysdede and defouled by oure felonyes [282] ¶ Now sith ihū crist tok vpon him þilke peyne of alle oure wikkednes; Mochil oughte synful men wepe and bywayle þat for his synnes schulde goddes sone of heuene al þis endure [283] ¶ The .vjte. þing þat ouȝte to moeue a man to contricioun is þe hope of þre þinges. þat is to sayn. forȝeuenes of synne and þe ȝifte of grace wel for to do. and þe glorie of heuen wiþ which god schal guerdoun man for his goode deedis [284] ¶ And for als moche as ihū crist ȝeueth vs þese ȝiftes of his largesse and of his souerayn bounte; þerfore is he cleped. Ihc naȝarenus rex Iudeorum [285] ¶ Ihū is for to say saueour or sa|uacioun of whom me schal hope to haue forȝeuenes of synnes which þat is proprely sauacioun of synnes [286] ¶ And þerfore seyde þe aungel to Ioseph ¶ Thow clepe his name Ihc þat schal saue his poeple of here synnes [287] ¶ And her of saith Seint petir ¶ Ther is noon oþer name vnder heuen þat is ȝeue to any man by which a man may be sauyd. but oonly Ihc [288] naȝarenus is as moche to say as florisching in which a man schal hope þat he þat ȝeueth him remissioun of synnes schal ȝiue him grace wel wel to doo ¶ For in þe flour is hope of fruyt / in tyme comynge. And in forȝiuenes hope of grace wel to do [289] ¶ I was at þe dore of þin herte saiþ Ihc and cleped for to entre. he þat openith to me. schal haue forȝeuenes of synne. [290] I wol entre into him by my grace and soupe with him by þe goode workes þat he schal doon whiche werkes ben þe foode of god ¶ And he schal soupe wiþ me by þe grete ioye þat I schal ȝiue him [291] ¶ Thus schal man hope þat for his werkis of penaunce god schal ȝiue him his regne as he bihetith him in þe gospel

[292] Now schal man vnderstonde in what maner schal be his contricioun ¶ I say it schal be vniuersal and total ¶ þis is to say. a man schal be verray repentaunt for alle his synnes þat he haþ doon in delyt of his þought for delit is ful perilous [293] ¶ For þer ben tuo maners of consentynge . . . . .no gap of affeccioun whan a man is moeued to synne & delitith him longe for to þinke on þat synne. [294] and his resoun aparceyueth wel þat it is synne agayns þe lawe of god. & ȝit his resoun refreyneþ not his foule delit or talent þough he seth wel apertly þat it is aȝenst/ þe reuerence of god al þough his resoun consente not to do þe synne in dede; [295] ȝit sayn some doctours delyt þat duellith longe it is ful perilous al be it neuer so lite [296] ¶ And also a man schulde sorwe namely for al þat he haþ desired agayn þe lawe of god wiþ parfyt consentynge of his hert and of his resoun ¶ For þerof is no doute þat it is dedly synne [297] . . . . .no gap þat it nas first in mannes þought. & after þat in his delit/ and so forþ in to consentyng and in to dede [298] ¶ wherfore say I þat many men repente hem neuer of suche þoughtes and delitis. ne neuer schriue hem of hit. but oonly of þe dede of grete synnes outward [299] ¶ wherfore I say þat suche wickid delitis and wickid þouȝtes ben subtile bigilours of hem þat schuln be dampned [300] ¶ More ouer man oughte to sorwe for his wicked wordes as wel as his wikked dedes. For certis þe repentaunce of a singuler synne & nouȝt repente of alle his oþer synnes . . . . .no gap may nouȝt auaile [301] ¶ For certis god almighty is al good and þerfore he forȝeueth al or elles right nouȝt [302] ¶ And here-of seiþ seint augustin ¶ I wot certeynly þat god is enemy to euery synnere [303] ¶ And how þanne he þat obseruith oon synne schal he haue remissioun of þe remenant of his oþer synnes; Nay. [304] And forþer ouer contricioun schulde be woundes sorwful and an|guisschous and þerfore ȝiueth him god pleinly his mercy ¶ And þerfore whan my soule was anguissheous wiþinne me; I hadde remembraunce of god þat my prayer mighte come to him [305] ¶ And forþer ouer. contricioun moste be continuelly and þat a man haue stede|fast purpos to schryue him and for to amende him of his lyf [306] ¶ For soþly whil contricioun lastith man may euer hope of forȝeuenes and of þis comeþ hate of synne þat destroyeth synne boþe in himself and eek in oþer folk at his power [307] ¶ And þerfore saith dauid. ȝe þat louen god; hatith wikkidnesse. For trustiþ wel for to loue god. is for to loue þat he loueþ. and hate þat he hatiþ

[308] ¶ The laste þing þat a man schuld vnderstonde in contricioun is þis. wher of auailith contricioun ¶ I say þat som tyme contricioun deliuereþ man fro synne [309] of which þat dauid saith ¶ I say quod dauid. þat is to say. I purposid fermely to schryue me and þou lord relesedist my synne [310] ¶ And right so as contricioun auailith nat wiþoute sad purpos of schrift if man haue oportunite; Right so. litil worth is shrifte or satisfaccioun wiþoute contricioun [311] ¶ And more ouer contricioun destruyeþ þe prisoun of helle and makiþ wayk and feble þe strengthes of þe deueles and restorith þe ȝift of þe holy gost/ and of alle vertues [312] and it clensith þe soule of synnes and deliuereþ þe soule fro þe peynes of helle and fro þe companye of þe deuel and fro þe seruage of synne and restorith to alle goode espiritueles in to þe companye & communioun of holy chirche [313] ¶ And forþer ouer it makith him þat som tyme was sone of Ire; sone of grace ¶ And alle þese þinges he prouith by holy writte. [314] And þerfore he þat wil sette his herte to þese þinges; he were ful wys ¶ For soþe he scholde not þanne in al his lyf haue corrage to synne. but ȝiuen his body and al his herte to þe seruice of Ihū crist and þerof do him homage [315] ¶ For certis oure swete lord ihū crist haþ sparid vs so debonerly in oure folyes. þat if he ne hadde pite of mannes soule; sory songe mighte we alle synge.

¶ Explicit prima pars Incipit secunda pars eiusdem[No break in the MS.]

[316]

THe secounde partye of penitence is confessioun. þat is signe of contricioun [317] ¶ Now schul ȝe vnderstonde what is confessioun and wheþir it oughte needes be doon or noon. A whiche ben conuenable to verray confessioun

[318] ¶ First schalt þou vnderstonde þat confessioun is verrey schewyng of synnes to þe prest [319] þis is to sayn verray. For he moot schewe him of alle þe condiciouns þat ben longynge to his synne as ferforth as he can [320] al mot be sayd and nouȝt excused ne hyd ne forwrappid and nouȝt auaunte him of his goode werkis [321] ¶ And forþermore it is necessary to vnder|stonde whens þat synnes springe and how þay exersen. and whiche þer ben

[322] of þe springing of synnes as seint poul saiþ in þis wise ¶ That right as by a man synne entred first in to þis world. and þorugh þat synne deth; Right so þilke deth entred in to alle men þat synneden. [323] and þis man was adam by whom þat synne entred in to þis world whan he brak þe comaundement of god. [324] And þerfore he þat first was so mighty þat he schulde not haue deyed bicam siþþe on þat he moste needis deye wheþir he wolde or noon and al his progenie þat is in þis world þat in þilke manner synneden [325] ¶ loke þat in þe / . testate of Innocence whan adam and Eue makid were in paradys and no þing schame ne hadden of her nakidnesse. [326] how þat þe serpent þat was most wyly of alle oþer bestis þat god hadde makid sayde to þe womman ¶ why comaundid god to ȝow ȝe schulde nouȝt ete of euery tree in paradys [327] ¶ The womman answerde ¶ Of þe fruyt quod sche of þe trees in paradys we feede vs ¶ But soþly of þe fruyt of þe tre þat is in þe myddil of paradis. god forbad vs for to eten ne not touche it lest perauenture we schulde deye [328] ¶ The serpent sayde to þe womman. Nay nay. ȝe schal not drede of deth for soþe god wot þat what day ȝe ete þerof ȝoure eyen schal open and ȝe schul ben as goddis knowing good and harm [329] ¶ The womman saugh þe tree was good to feedyng. and fair to eyen and delitable to sight. She tok of þe fruyt of þe tree and eet it and ȝaf it to hir housbond And he eet it ¶ And anoon þe eyen of hem boþe openeden [330] And whan þat þay knewe þat þay were naked; þay sowede of fige leues in maner of breches to hiden here membris [331] ¶ here may ȝe see þat dedly synne haþ first suggestioun of þe feend as scheweþ here by þe neddir. and aftirward þe delit of þe fleisch as scheweth here by eua. and after þat þe consentyng of resoun as schewith by adam [332] ¶ For trustiþ wel þough so were þat þe feend temptid oon. þat is to sayn þe fleissch hadde delit in þe beaute of þe fruyt defendid. ȝit certes til þat resoun þat is to say adam con|sentid to þe etyng of þe fruyt/ . ȝit stood he in þastaat of Innocence [333] ¶ Of þilk adam took we þilke synne original. for of him flesschly descendit be we alle. and engendrit of vile and corrupt m[a]tiere [334] ¶ And whan þe soule is put in oure body right anoon is con|tract original synne. . . . .no gap [335] and þerfore be we alle I-born sones of wraþþe and of dampnacioun perdurable if it nere baptisme þat we resceyuen which bynymeþ vs þe culpe ¶ But for|soþe þe peyne duelliþ wiþ vs as to temptacioun which peyne highte concupiscence [336] ¶ And þis concupiscence whan it is wrongfully disposed or ordeyned in man; hit makith him to coueyte couetise of fleisschly synne by sight of his eyȝen as to erþely þinges. and eek coueityse of heigh|nesse as by pride of herte

[337] Now as to speke of þe firste coueitise þat is concupiscence after þe lawe of oure membris þat is . . . . .[338] . . . . .no gap nouȝt obeissant to god þat is lord þerfore is fleissch to him disobeisant þurgh concupiscence which þat ȝit is clepid norisshing of synne . . . . .no gap [339] ¶ Therfore al þe while þat a man haþ in him þe peyne of concupiscence it is impossible but he be tempted som tyme and moeued in his fleisch to synne /. [340] ¶ And þis may not faile as longe as he lyueþ ¶ hit may wel wexe feble and faille by vertu of baptisme and by þe grace of god þorugh penitence. [341] but fully schal it neuer quenche þat he schal som tyme be moeued in himself but if he were al refreydit by siknes or by malice of sorserye or colde drinkes [342] ¶ For what saiþ seint poul ¶ The fleissh coueitith agayn þe spirit. and þe spirit agayn þe fleisch þay ben so contrarie and so stryuen þat a man may nouȝt alwey do as he wolde [343] ¶ The same seint poul after his penaunce in watir and in lond. in watir by night and by day in gret peril and in gret peyne in lond and in famyne. and in þurst and colde. and cloþles oones almost stoned al to þe deth [344] ¶ ȝit saide he allas I caytif man. who schal delyuere me fro þe prisoun of my caytif body [345] And seint Ierom. whan he long tyme had woned in desert here wher as he hadde no compaignye but of wilde bestes wher as he hadde no mete but herbes & water to his drink. ne non bed but þe nakid erþe. For which his fleisch was as blak as an Ethiopen for hete and neigh destroyed for cold [346] ¶ ȝit sayde he þat þe brennyng of lecchery boylid in al his body [347] ¶ wherfore I wot wel sicurly þat þay be desceyued þat say þay ben not temptid in here body. [348] ¶ witnesse on seint Iame thapostil þat saith. þat euery wight is tempted in his oughne con|cupiscence þat is to sayn þat euerych of vs hath matere and occasioun to be tempted of þe norischyng of synne þat is in his body [349] ¶ And þerfore seint Iohan þe Euaungelist saith ¶ If þat we sayn we be wiþoute synne; we deceyue oure silf and trouþe is nought in vs

[350] ¶ Now schal ȝe vnderstonde in what maner þat synne waxiþ and encresceth in a man ¶ The firste þing is þilke norisching of synne of which I spak byforn þilke concupiscence. [351] And after þat cometh þe Subieccioun of þe deuel. þis is to sayn þe deueles bely with which he bloweþ in man þe fuyr of fleisschly concupiscence [352] And after þat a man by|think him wheþir he wol don it/ or non. þilke þing to which he is tempted. [353] ¶ and þanne if þat a man wiþstonde and wayue þe firste entisynges of his fleisshe and of þe feend it is no synne. and if so be he do not so; þanne fleeth he anoon a flame of delit/ [354] and þanne it is good to be war and kepe him wel or ellis he wil falle anoon in to consentyng of synne / and þanne wol he do it if he may haue tyme and space and place [355] ¶ And of þis matere saith Moyses by þe deuel in þis manere ¶ þe feend saith. // I wol chace and pursewe þe man by wickid suggestiouns and I wil hent him by moeuyng or steryng of synne and I wil parte my prise or my pray by de|liberacioun and my lust schal be accomplisit in delit. I wil drawe my sword in consentynge [356] ¶ For certes right as a swerd departiþ a þing in tuo parties right so consentynge departeþ god fro man and þanne wol I sle him with my hond in dede of synne. þus saith þe feend. [357] For certis þanne is a man al deed in soule and þus is synne accomsid by tempt|acioun by delit and by consentyng and þanne is þe synne cleped actuel

[358] ¶ For soþe synne is in two maneres. ouþer it is venial or dedly synne. Sothly whan man louith any creature more þan ihū crist/ oure creatour; þanne it is dedly synne. And venial synne is. if a man loue ihū crist lasse þan him oughte [359] ¶ For soþe þe dede of þis venial synne is ful perilous. For it amenisith þe loue þat men schulde haue to god more and more [360] ¶ And þerfore if a man charge more himself with many suche venial synnes. Certes but if so be þat he som tyme discharge him of hem by schrifte; þay may ful lightly amenise in him al þe loue þat he hath to ihū crist [361] and in þis wise skippith venial in to dedly synne. ¶ For certes þe more þat a man chargith his soule wiþ venial synnes; þe more is he enclyned to falle in deedly synne [362] ¶ And þerfore let vs nouȝt be negligent to descharge vs of venial synnes ¶ For the prouerbe saith. þat many smale makith a gret [363] ¶ And herken þis ensample ¶ A greet wawe of þe see comeþ som tyme wiþ so gret a violence þat it drenchith þe schip. and þe same harm doon som tyme smale droppis of water þat entrith þurgh a litil creues in to þe thurrok and in to þe bothum of a schip if men be so neggligent þat þay descharge it nought by tyme [364] ¶ And þerfore al þough þer be differrence bitueen þese tuo causes of drenching. algates the schip is dreynt [365] ¶ Right so farith it som tyme of deedly synne and of anoyous venial synnes whan þay multiplien in a man so gretly þat þilke worldly þynges þat he loueth þurgh which he sinneth venially is as gret in his herte as þe loue of god or more [366] ¶ And þerfore þe loue of euery þing þere is not byset in god ne doon principally for goddes sake / al þough a man loue it lasse þan god. ȝit is it venial synne [367] And deedly synne whan þe loue of eny þing weyeth in þe hert of a man as moche as þe loue of god or more [368] ¶ Dedly synne is as saith seint austyn. whan man torneth his hert from god which þat is verray souerayn bounte þat may not chaunge and flitte. and ȝiue his herte to a þing þat may chaunge and flitte. [369] and certes þat is euery þing saue god of heuen ¶ For soþe if þat a man ȝiue his loue þe which that he owiþ to god wiþ al his herte vnto a creature. certes as moche of loue as he ȝiueth to þilke creature; so moche he reueth fro god. [370] and þer|fore doth he synne. ¶ For he þat is dettour to god and ȝeldeth not his dette þat is to sayn al þe loue of his hert

[371] ¶ Now siþþe man vnderstondith generally which is venial synne; þanne is it couenable to telle specially of synnes whiche þat many man perauenture ne demith hem no synnes and schryueth him not of þe same þinges and ȝit naþeles þay ben synnes [372] ¶ And soþly as clerkes writen þis is to say. at euery tyme þat man etith or drinkith more þan suffiseþ to þe sustienaunce of his body in certeyn he doþ synne; [373] and eek whan he spekith more þan it needith he doþ synne. and eek whan he herkeneth nouȝt be|nignely þe pleynt of þe pore [374] eek whan he is in hele of body and wil not faste whan oþer folk fasten wiþouten cause resonable. / eek whan he slepith more þan needith or whan he comeþ by þilk enchesoun to late to holy chirche or to oþer werkes of charite [375] Eke whan he vseþ his wyf wiþoute souerayn desir of engendrure to thonour of god and for þentent to ȝelde to his wyf þe dette of his body. [376] eek whan he wil not visite þe sike and þe prisoner if he may ¶ eek if he loue wyf or child or oþer worldly þing more þan resoun requireth. eek if he flatere or blaundisshe more þan him oughte for eny necessite [377] ek if a man menuse or wiþdrawe þe almesse of þe pouere eek if he apparaylith his body more deliciously þan it nedith or ete it to hastily by licoures|nes. [378] eek if he talke of vanitees at chirche or at goddis seruice. or þat he be a talkere of ydil wordes of vanite or of vilonye / for he schal ȝelde of hem acount at þe day of doome. [379] eek whan he heetith or assureth to do þinges þat he may nouȝt performe. eek whan þat by lightnes or foly he myssaith or scorneþ his neighebor. [380] eek whan he haþ any wicked suspeccioun of þing þat he wot of it no soth|fastnesse. [381] þese þinges and mo wiþoute nombre ben synnes as saith seint austyn

[382] ¶ Now schal men vnderstonde þat al be it so þat noon erþely man may eschiewe alle venial synnes; ȝit may he refreyne hem by þe brennyng loue þat he haþ to oure lord ihū crist and by prayeres and by confessioun and oþer goode werkes. so þat it schal but litil greue [383] ¶ For as saith seint austyn ¶ ȝif a man loue god in such a maner þat al þat euer he doth is in þe loue of god or for þe loue of god verraily for he brenneþ in þe loue of god [384] ¶ loke how moche þat a drope of watir þat fallith in a furneys ful of fuyr annoyeth of greueth; So moche annoyeþ a venial synne vnto a man þat is perfyt in þe loue of ihū crist [385] ¶ Men may also refreyne venial synne vnto a man by resceyuyng of þe precious body of ihū crist/ [386] by receyuyng eek of holy water. by almes dede. by general confessioun of Confiteor at masse and at complyn and blessing of bisschops and of prestes and by other goode werkis[No break in the MS.]

[387] ¶ Now it is bihouely þing to telle whiche ben dedly synnes þat is to sayn chiueteyns of synnes. alle þay renne in oon loos. but in diuers maners now ben þay cleped chiueteyns. For als moche as þay ben chief and springers of alle oþere synnes [388] ¶ Of þe roote of þese seuen synnes; þanne is pride þe general synne and roote of alle harmes ¶ For of þis roote springen general braunches. As Ire. Enuye. accidie or sleuthe. auarice or coueitise. to commune vnderstondynge. glotonye and leccherie [389] ¶ And euerich of þese synnes hath his braunches and his twigges as schal be declarid in here chapitres folwinge.[No break in the MS.]

[390] and þough so be þat no man can telle vtterly þe nombre of þe twigges and of þe harm þat comeþ of pride; ȝit wol I schewe a party of hem as ȝe schul vnderstonde [391] ¶ Ther is Inobedience. auauntyng. ypocrisye. despit. arragaunce. Imprudence. Swellyng of hert. Insolence. Elacioun. . . . .no gap in the MS. pertinacie. veinglorie. and many anoþer twigge þat I can not telle ne declare [392] Ino|bedient is he þat disobeieth for despyt to þe comaunde|mentȝ of god and to his souereigns. and to his gostly fader. [393] Auauntour is he þat bosteth of þe harm or of þe bounte þat he haþ don [394] ¶ ypocrisy is þat hydeth to schewe him such as he is and scheweþ him such as he not is [395] ¶ Despitous is he þat haþ desdayn of his neighebour þat is to say of his euen cristen or haþ despit to doon þat him ought to doon [396] ¶ Arragaunt is he þat þinkeþ þat he hath þilke bountees in him þat he haþ not or weneth þat he schulde haue hem by desert/. or elles he demeth þat he is þat he is not. [397] ¶ Im|pudent is he þat for his pride hath no schame of his synne. [398] ¶ Swellyng of hert is whan a man reioysith him of harm þat he haþ don [399] ¶ Inso|lent is he þat dispisith in his iuggement alle oþer folk as to regard of his valieu and of his connyng & of his spekyng and of his beryng [400] ¶ Elacioun is whan he may neuer suffre to haue maister ne felawe [401] ¶ Impacient is he; þat wil not ben I-taught ne vnder|nome of his vices and by stryf werreþ trouþe witynge and defendeþ his folie [402] ¶ Contimax is he þat þorugh his indignacioun and agains euerych auctorite or power of hem þat been his souerayns [403] ¶ Pre|sumpcioun is whan a man vndertakith and emprisith þat him oughte not to do. or elles þat he may not doo. and þat is cleped surquidrye ¶ Irreuerence is. whan men doon not honour þer as hem ought to doon. and wayteth to be reuerenced [404] ¶ Pertinacie is. whan man defendith his folye and trusteþ to moche to his owne witte [405] ¶ Vayn glorie is. for to haue pomp and delit in temporal heighnes and glorifie him in worldly estaat [406] ¶ Iangelyng is whan a man spekith to moche biforn folk & clappith as a mille and takeþ no keep what he saiþ

[407] and ȝit is þer a priue spice of pride þat wayteth first/ to be saluet er he saliewe al be he lasse worth þan þat oþer is par aduenture. and eek wayteþ or desireþ to sitte aboue him or to go aboue him in þe way. or kisse pax. or ben encensed or gon to þe offringe biforn his neighebore [408] and haþ such . . . . .no gap in the MS. a proud desir to be magnified and honoured toforn þe poeple

[409] ¶ now ben tuo maners of pride. þat oon is heighnes wiþinne þe hert/ of a man and þat oþer is wiþoute. [410] of which soþly þese for|sayde þinges and mo þan I haue said aperteynen to pride þat is in þe hert of a man. and þat oþer spices of pride ben wiþoute [411] ¶ But natheles þat oon of þise spices of pride is signe of þat oþer. Right as gay leuesselle at þe tauerne is signe of wyn þat is in þe celer. [412] and þis is in many þinges as in speche and countienaunce and in outrageous array of cloþing [413] ¶ For certis if þer hadde be no synne in cloþing; crist wolde not so soone haue notid and spoke of þe cloþing of þilke riche man in þe gospel. [414] And saith seint Gregorie þat precious cloþing is cou|pable for derthe of it and for his schortnes. and for his straungenes and disgisines. and for þe super|fluite. or for þe inordinat skantnes of it/ [415] Allas many man may sen as in oure dayes þe synful costlewe array of cloþing . . . . .

[416] . . . . .no gap which þat makid is so dere to harm of þe poeple. [417] not oonly þe cost of embrowdyng þe guyse endentyng of barryng. / Swandyng. palyng. or bendyng. and semblable wast of cloþ in vanite [418] ¶ But þer is also costlewe furring in here gownes so mochil pounsyng of chiseles to make holes so moche daggyng of scheris. [419] for with þe superfluite in lengþe of the forsaide gownes trayl|inge in þe donge and in þe myre on hors and eek on foote as wel of man as of womman þat al þilke traylyng is verray as in effect/ wasted consumed þred|bare and rotyn with donge raþer þan it is ȝeuen to þe pore to gret damage of þe forsaide pore folk. [420] and þat in sondry wise. þis is to sain þat þe more þat cloþ is wastid þe more most it/ coste to þe poeple for þe scarsenes [421] and forþermore if it so be þat þay wolde ȝiue suche pounsed and daggid cloþing to þe pore folk. it is not conuenient to were to the pore folk ne suffisaunt to beete here necessite to kepe hem fro þe desperance of þe firmament [422] ¶ vpon þat oþer syde to speke of þe horrible disordinat scantnes of cloþing. as ben þese cuttid sloppis or Anslets þat þurgh her schortnes ne couereth not þe schamful membre of man to wickid entent [423] Alas som men of hem schewen þe schap and þe boce of the horrible swollen membres þat semeth like to þe maledies of hirnia in þe wrapping of here hose / [424] and eek þe buttokes of hem þat faren as it were þe hinder part of a sche ape in þe fulle of þe moone [425] ¶ And more ouer þe wrecchid swollen membres þat þay schewe þurgh desgysyng in departyng of here hoses in whyt and reed seemith þat half þe schame|ful priue membres were flayn. [426] And if it so be þat þay departe here hosen in oþer colours. as it whit and bliew. or whit and blak and reed and so forth; [427] þanne semith it as by variaunce of colour þat half þe party of his priuy membris ben corrupt by þe fuyr of seint antony or by cancre or by other such meschaunce [428] ¶ And ȝit of þe hynder partye of here buttokes it is ful horrible for to see. For certis in þat partie of here body þer as þay purgen her stynkyng ordure [429] þat foule party schewe þay to þe poeple proudly in despyt of honeste which honeste þat ihū crist and his frendes obserueden to schewen in his lif [430] ¶ Now as of þe outrageous array of wommen. God wot. þat þough þe visage of some of hem seme ful chaste and debonaire; ȝit notifye þay in here array of attyre licorousnesse and pride [431] I say not þat honeste in cloþing of man or womman is vncouen|able ¶ But certis þe superfluite or disordinat skantnes of cloþing is repreuable [432] ¶ Also þe synne of here ornament or of apparaile as in þinges þat aperteynen to rydyng as in to many delicat horses þat ben hold|en for delyt þat þay ben so faire fat and costlewe [433] and also many a vicious knaue mayntened by cause of hem and in to curious harnoys as in sadelis and bridlis cropours and peytrelle couered with precious cloþing and riche barres and plates of gold and of siluer [434] For whiche god saithe by ȝacharie þe prophete ¶ I wol confounde þe ryders of such horsis [435] ¶ These folk take litil reward of þe ryding of goddes sone of heuen and of his harneys whan he rode vpon an asse. and hadde noon oþer harneys but þe cloþing of his disciples newe. ¶ Ne rede I not þat euer he rode on oþer beest [436] ¶ I speke þis for þe synne of superfluite and nouȝt for resonable honeste whan resoun it requirith [437] ¶ And forþer ouer certes pride is gretly notified in holdyng of gret meyne whan þay ben of litil profyt or of right no profyt. [438] and namely whan þat meyne is felenous and daun|gerous to þe poeple by hardynesse of lordschipe or by way of offices [439] Fo[r] certes suche lordes selle þanne here lordschipe to þe deuel of helle whan þay susteyne þe wickidnes of here meyne [440] or elles whan þese folk of lowe degre as is þilke þat holden hostilries and susteyne þe þefte of here hostilers and þat is in many maneres of disceytes. [441] þilke maner of folk ben þe flyes þat folwen þe hony or elles þe houndes þat folwen þe carayn. suche forsayde folk / strangelen spirituelly here lordschipes [442] for whiche þus saith dauid þe prophete ¶ wikked deth moot come vpon such lordschipes. & god ȝeue þat þay moot descende in to helle a doun. For in here houses ben iniquites and schrewednesses and not god of heuen. [443] and certes but þay do amende|ment. right so as god ȝaf his benisoun to pharao by þe seruice of Iacob and to balan þe seruice of Ioseph. Right so god wil ȝeue his malisoun to such lordschipes as susteynen þe wikkednes of her seruauntes but þay come to amendement [444] ¶ Pride of þe table apperith ful ofte. for certes riche men ben cleped to feste and pore folk ben put away and rebuked [445] ¶ Also in excesse of diuers metis and drinkis and namely of suche maner of bake metis brennyng of wilde fuyr and peynted and castelid wiþ papire and semblable wast. / so þat it is abusioun for to þinke [446] and eek in greet preciousnes of vessel & in curiousnesse of vessel and of mynstralcye by þe whiche a man is stired þe more to delitis of luxurie [447] if so be that þay sette her herte þe lasse vpon oure lord ihū crist ¶ Certeyn it is a synne. and certeinly þe delites mighte be so grete in þe caas þat men mighte lightly falle by hem in to dedly synne [448] ¶ þe espices þat sourdren of pride soþely whan þay sourdren of malice ymagined and auised. aforn cast or elles of vsage ben dedly synnes it is no doute. [449] and whan þay sourden by frelte vn|auysed sodeinly and sodeinly wiþdrawe agayn al be þay greuous synnes I gesse þay ben not dedly [450] Now mighte men axe wher-of pride sourdeth and springeth ¶ I say som tyme it springith of þe goodes of nature / and som tyme of þe goodes of . . . . .no gap grace. [451] certes goodes of nature stonden ouþer in goodes of body or goodes of soule [452] ¶ Certis þe goodes of body ben hele of body. strengþe. deliuerance. beaute. gentrie. fraunchises. [453] ¶ Goodes of nature of þe soule. ben goodes with scharp vnderstondyng subtil engyn vertu naturel. good memorie [454] ¶ Goodes of fortune been richesses. highe degrees of lordschipes preisyng of þe poeple [455] ¶ Goodes of grace been science. power to suffre spirituel trauaile. benignite. vertuous contemplacioun. wiþstondyng of temptacioun and semblable þinges. [456] of whiche forsayde goodes certe it is a ful gret foly a man to pryden him in any of hem alle [457] ¶ Now as for to speke of goodes of nature; god wot þat som tyme we haue hem in nature as moche as to oure damage as to oure profit [458] ¶ As for to speke of hele of body. certes it passith ful lightly. and eek it is ful ofte enchesoun of þe siknesse of þe soule . . . . .no gap in the MS. ¶ And þerfore þe more þat oure body is hool þe more be we in peril to falle [459] ¶ Eke for to pride him in his strengþe of body it is a foly. for certes þe fleisch coueytith again þe spirit. and ay þe more strong þat þe fleisch is þe sorier may þe soule be / [460] and ouer al þis strengþe of body and worldly hardynes causeþ ful ofte many man to peril and meschaunce [461] Eek for to pride him of his gentrie is ful gret folye; For often tyme þe gentrie of þe body bynymeth þe gentery of þe soule ¶ And we ben alle of oon fader and of oon moder & alle we ben of oon nature roten and corrupt riche and pore [462] ¶ For soþe oon maner gentry is for to prayse þat apparailleþ mannes corrage with vertues and moralitees and makith him cristes child [463] ¶ For trustiþ wel ouer what man þat synne haþ maistry; he is verray cherl to synne

[464] ¶ Now ben þer general synnes of gentilesce as schewyng of vice & rybaudrie and seruage of synne. in word in werk and contenaunce [465] ¶ And vsinge vertu curtesie and clennes / and to be liberal þat is to sayn large by mesure. for þilke þat passith mesure is foly and synne [466] ¶ And anoþer is to remembre him of bounte þat he of oþer folk haþ resceyued [467] ¶ Another is to be benigne to his goode subiectis ¶ wherfore as saiþ senek. ¶ Ther is no þing more couenable to a man of heigh estate þan debonairte and pite [468] ¶ And þerfore þise flies þat men clepen bees whan þay make here king; þay chesen oon þat haþ no pricke wher wiþ he may stynge [469] ¶ Anoþer is. a man to haue a noble herte & a diligent to atteigne to hihe vertuous þinges [470] ¶ Certis also who þat prideth him in þe deedes of grace; is eek an outrageous fool ¶ For þilke ȝiftes of grace þat schulde haue I-torned him to goodnes and medicyne; torneth him to venym and to confusioun as saiþ seint gregory [471] ¶ Certis also. who-so pridith him in þe goodes of fortune. he is a ful gret fool ¶ For som tyme is a man a gret lord by þe morwe þat is a caytif and a wrecche er it be night./ [472] ¶ And som tyme þe riches of a man is cause of his deth. / ¶ Som tyme þe delice is cause of his greuous maledye þurgh which he deieth [473] ¶ Certis þe commendacioun of þe poeple is som|tyme ful fals and ful brutil for to truste. þis day þay prayse; to morwe þay blame [474] ¶ God woot desir to haue commendacioun of þe poeple haþ causid deth of many a busy man [475] ¶ Now sith so is. þat ȝe han herd and vnderstonde what is pride. And whiche ben þe spices of it / and whens pride sourdeth and springeþ;[No gap in the MS.]

[476] Now schul ȝe vnderstonde. which is þe remedy agayns pride ¶ And þat is humilite or meekenes [477] þat is a vertue þurgh which a man haþ verray knowleche of himself and holdith of him|self no pride ne pris ne deynte as in regard of his desertes considering euermore his frelte. [478] ¶ Now ben þer þre maners of humilite. As humilite in hert/ anoþer is humilite in his mouth. þe þridde in his workes // [479] ¶ þe humilite in his herte. is in foure maners; þat oon is whan a man holdith him self not worth biforn god of heuen. anoþer is whan he despiseþ no man [480] ¶ The þrid is. whan he ne rekkiþ nought þough a man holde him nouȝt worth ¶ The ferþe is whan he holdeþ him nought sory of his humiliacioun [481] ¶ Also þe humilite of mouth is in foure þinges. In attempre speche. and in humbles of speche. and he byknowith wiþ his owne mouth þat he is such as him þenkith þat he is in herte. Anoþer is whan he praisith þe bounte of anoþer man and no þing þerof amenusith [482] ¶ Humilite eek in werk is in foure maneres ¶ The first is whan he puttith oþer men toforn him ¶ þe secounde is to chese þe lewedest place ouer al ¶ þe þrid is gladly to assente to good counseil [483] ¶ þe ferþe is gladly to stonde to thaward of his souereyns or of him þat is in heigher degre. certeyn þis is a gret werk of humilite[No break in the MS.]

 ¶ De Inuidia.[in margin]

[484]

AFter pride now wol I speke of þe foule synne of Envye which þat is as by þe word of þe philosophre. sorwe of other mennes prosperite ¶ And after þe word of seint austyn. is it sorwe of oþer mennes wele & ioye of oþer mennes harm [485] ¶ This foule synne is platly agayns þe holy gost. al be it so þat euery synne is agayn the holy gost; ȝit natheles for as moche as bounte aperteyneth proprely to þe holy gost. and enuye proprely is malice; þer|fore is it proprely agayns þe bounte of þe holy gost [486] ¶ Now haþ malice tuo spices . þat is to sayn hardnes of hert in wickednes or ellis þe fleisch of man is blynd þat he considereth not þat he is in synne . . . . .no gap which is þe hardnes of the deuyl [487] ¶ That oþer spice of enuye is . whan a man warieth trouþe and wot þat it is trouþe. and eek whan he warieth þe grace þat god haþ ȝeue to his neighebor and al þis is by enuye [488] ¶ Certes þan is enuye þe worste synne þat is ¶ For sothely alle oþer synnes ben somtyme oonly agains oon special vertu [489] ¶ But certes enuye is agayns alle vertues and agayns al goodnes. for it is sory of alle þe bountees of his neighebor ¶ And in þis maner it is diuers from alle þe synnes. [490] ¶ For wel vnneþe is þer any synne þat he ne hath som delit in himself sauf oonly enuye þat euer hath in it self anguisch and sorwe [491] ¶ The spices of enuye ben þese ¶ Ther is first sorwe of oþer mennes goodnes and of her pros|perite. and prosperite is kyndely matier of ioye. þanne is enuye a synne agayns kynde [492] ¶ The secounde spice of enuye. is ioye of oþer mennes harm. and þat is proprely lik to the deuyl þat euer reioyeth him of mennes harm [493] ¶ Of þese tuo spices comeþ bacbityng. and þis synne of bakbytyng or detraccioun hath certein spices as þus ¶ Som man praiseth his neighebor by a wickid entent. [494] For he makith alway a wickid knotte atte last ende. alway he makith a but. at þe last ende þat is þing of more blame þan worth is al þe praysing [495] ¶ The secounde spice is þat if a man be good and doth or saiþ a þing to good entent; þe bacbiter wol torne al þilke goodnes vpso-doun to his schrewed entent. [496] Þe þridde is to amenuse þe bounte of his neighe|bor. [497] þe ferþe spiece of bakbytyng is þis. þat if men speke goodnes of a man; þan wil þe bakbiter seyn . par fay ȝit such a man is bet þan he in dispraysynge of him þat men praise. [498] þe fifte spice is þis for to consente gladly and herken gladly to þe harm þat men speke of oþer folk . þis synne is ful gret and ay encresith after thentent of þe bakbiter [499] ¶ After bakbytyng comeþ grucching or murmuracioun. And som tyme it springith of Insapiens agayns god. and somtyme agains man. [500] agayns god is it. whan a man grucchith agayn pyne of helle or agayns pouerte. or of losse of catel. or agayn reyn or tempest or elles grucchiþ þat schrewes han prosperite or ellis þat goode men han ad|uersite. [501] and alle þese þinges schulde men suffre paciently. for þay come by rightful iuggement and ordinaunce of god [502] ¶ Som tyme cometh grucching of auarice as Iudas grucched aȝens þe Maudeleyn whan sche anoynted þe hed of oure lord ihū crist with hir precious oynement. [503] þis maner murmur is swich as man grucchith of goodnes þat himself doþ or þat oþer folk doon of here owne catel [504] ¶ Som tyme comeþ murmur of pride. as whan Symon þe pharise grucchid agayn þe maudeleyn whan sche approchid to ihū crist and wepte at his feet for hir synnes. [505] And somtyme it sourdith of enuye whan men discoueren a mannes harm þat was priue or bereþ him on hond þing þat is fals [506] ¶ Murmuryng eek is ofte among seruauntȝ þat grucchen whan here souerayns bidden hem to doon leeful þinges. [507] and for as moche as þay dar nouȝt openly wiþstonde the comaundementȝ of here souerayns; ȝit wol thay sayn harm and grucche and murmure priuely for verray despit / [508] whiche wordes men clepe þe deueles pater noster. þough so be þat þe deuel hadde neuer pater noster but þat lewed men calle it so [509] ¶ Som tyme it comeþ of Ire of priue hate þat norischeth rancour in herte as I schal declare. [510] þanne comeþ eek bitternes of herte. þorugh which bitternesse euery good deede of his neighebore semeþ to him bitter and vnsauery [511] ¶ But þanne comeþ discord þat vnbyndeth alle maner of frendschipe. þanne comeþ scornynge. of . . . . .no gap his neighe|bor al do he neuer so wel. [512] þanne comeþ accusyng. as whan man seketh occasioun to annoyen his neighebore which þat is lik þe craft of þe deuel þat waytith boþe night and day to accuse vs alle [513] ¶ Þanne comeþ malignite þurgh which a man annoyeth his neighebor priuely if he may. [514] And if he not may algate his wikkid while schal nought wante as for to brenne his hous priuely or empoysone or sleen his bestis priuely and semblable þinges[No break in the MS.]

 ¶ Remedium contra Inuidiam. [from the margin]

[515]

NOw wol I speke of þe remedies agayns þise foule þinges and þis foule synne of enuye ¶ First is þe loue of god principal and louynge of his neighebor as himself. ¶ Soþely þat oon ne may nought ben wiþoute þat oþer [516] ¶ And truste wel þat in þe name of þy neighebour þou schalt vnderstonde þe name of þy broþer. For alle we haue oon fader fleisschly and oon mooder þat is to sain adam and eua and eek oon fader spirituel & þat is god of heuen. [517] Þy neghhebor artow holden for to loue. . . . .no gap þat is to sayn boþe to sauacioun of lif and of soule [518] and more ouer. þou schalt loue hym in word and in benigne amonestyng and chastising & conforte him in his annoyes and praye for him with al þin herte [519] ¶ & in dede þou schalt loue him in such wise þat þou schalt do to him charite as þou woldist it were doon to þin oughne persone [520] and þerfore þou schalt doon him noon harme in wikked word ne damage him in his body ne in his catel ne in his soule by wicked entising of ensample [521] ¶ þou schalt nouȝt desiren his wif/ ne noone of his þinges ¶ vnderstonde eek þat in the name of þy neighebor is com|prehendid his enemy [522] ¶ Certes man schal loue his enemy by þe comaundement of god. and soþly þy frend schalt þou loue in god [523] ¶ I sayde þin enemy schaltow loue for goddes sake by his comaunde|ment for if it were resoun that man schulde hate his enemy For-soþe god nolde nouȝt receyue vs to his loue þat ben his enemys [524] ¶ Agains þre maner of wronges þat his enemy doþ to him he schal do þre þinges as þus. [525] agayns hate and rancour of herte he schal loue him in herte. Agayns chydyng and wicked wordes he schal pray for his enemye. agains wikked dede of his enemy he schal doon him bounte [526] ¶ For crist saith loueþ ȝoure enemyes and prayeþ for hem þat ȝow chacen and pursewen. and doþ bounte to hem þat ȝow haten. . . . .no gap. [527] For sothely nature driueþ vs to loue oure frendes / and par fay oure enemyes han more neede to loue þan oure frendes ¶ For sothely to hem þat more neede haue certis to hem schul men do good|nes. [528] And certis in þilke dede haue we by remem|braunce of þe loue of ihū crist þat dyed for his enemys [529] ¶ And in als moche as þilke loue is more greuous to parforme; so moche is þe more gret remedye & meryt ¶ And þerfore þe louyng of oure enemy haþ confoundid the venym of þe deuel. [530] For right as þe deuel is confoundid by humilite; Right so is he woundid to þe deth by loue of oure enemy [531] ¶ Certes þanne is loue þe medicine þat castith out þe venym of enuye fro mannes hert. [532] the spices of þis part schuln be more largely declared in here chapitres folwynge[No break in the MS.]

 ¶ De Ira.[from the margin]

[533]

AFter enuye wol I descryuen þe synne of Ire. For soþely who so haþ enuye vpon his neighebor; anoon he wol comunly fynde him a matiere of wraþþe in word or in dede agayns him to whom he haþ envie. [534] and as wel comeþ Ire of pride as of enuye ¶ For soþly he þat is proud or enuyous is lightly wroth.

[535] þis synne of Ire after þe descryuyng of seint austyn is wikked wille to ben auengid by word or by dede [536] ¶ Ire afte þe philosofer is þe feruent blood of man I-quiked in his hert þurgh which he wolde harm to him þat him hatiþ [537] ¶ For certes þe hert of man by eschawfyng and mornyng of his blood waxith so trouble / þat he is out of alle Iuggements of resoun [538] ¶ But ȝe schal vnder-stonde þat ire is in tuo maneres. þat oon of hem is good. þat oþer is wikke [539] ¶ The good Ire is by ialousy of goodnesse þurgh which a man is wroþ wiþ wikkidnes. and . . . . .no gap þer|fore saith a wise man þat ire is bet þan play. [540] This Ire is with deboneirete. and it is wroþ wiþ|oute bitternes. not wroth with þe man; but wroþ wiþ þe mys dedes of þe man as saiþ þe prophet dauid ¶ Irascimini & nolite peccare. &c [541] ¶ Now vnderstonde þat wikked Ire is in tuo maners þat is to sayn sodeyn Ire or hastif Ire wiþoute auysement and consenting of resoun. [542] the menynge and þe sentence of þis is þat þe resoun of a man ne con|sentith not to þilke sodein Ire. And þanne is it venial [543] ¶ anoþer Ire is ful wicked þat comeþ of felony of herte auysed & cast biforn with wickid wille to do vengeaunce and þerto his resoun consentith. and sothely þis is deedly synne. [544] þis ire is so dis|plesaunt to god þat it troublith his hous and chaceth þe holy gost out of mannes soule and wastith and de|stroyeth þe liknes of god . þat is to say þe vertu þat is in mannes soule [545] and put in him þe like|nes of þe deuel and bynymeth þe man fro god þat is his rightful lord [546] ¶ This Ire is a ful greet plesaunce to þe deuel. for it is þe deueles fornays þat is eschaufid wiþ þe fuyr of helle [547] ¶ For certes right so as fuyr is more mighty to destroye erþely þinges þan eny oþer element; Right so Ire is mighty to destroye alle spirituel þinges [548] ¶ loke how þat fuyr of smale gledis þat ben almost dede vnder asshen wolden quiken agayn whan þay ben touched . . . . .no gap in the MS. by pride þat is couered in mannes herte [549] ¶ For certes fuyr may nouȝt come out of no þing . . . . .no gap naturelly as fuyr is drawe out of flintes with steel [550] ¶ Right so as pride is often tyme mater of Ire; Right so is Rancour norice and keper of Ire [551] ¶ Ther is a maner tree as saiþ seint Isydre . þat whan men maken fuyr of þilke tree and couer þe colis wiþ asshen; soþly þe fuyr of it wol lasten al a ȝer or more. [552] And right so fareþ it of rancour whan it oones is conceyued in þe hertis of som men; certein it wol lasten fro oon estren day vntil anoþer ester day and more. [553] but certis þilke man is ful fer fro þe mercy of god al þilke while

[554] ¶ In þis forsaide deueles fornays þer forgen þre schrewes. pride þat/ ay blowith & encresith þe fuyr by chidyng and wickid wordis [555] ¶ þanne stont enuye and blowith þe hoote Iren vpon þe hert/ of man wiþ a paire of longe tonges of rancour [556] and þanne þe sinne of contumelie or strif and cheste and baterith and forgeth by vileyns repreuynges [557] ¶ Certes þis cursed synne annoyeth boþe to þe man himsilf and eek to his neighebor ¶ For soþely almost al þe harm þat eny man doth to his neighebour comeþ þurgh wraþþe [558] ¶ For certis outrageous wraþþe doþ al þat euer þe deuyl him comaundeth. For he ne spareþ neyþer crist ne his moodir. [559] and in his out|rage anger and Ire. allas ful many oon at þat tyme felith in his herte ful wikkedly boþe of crist and eek of alle his halwes. [560] Is nat þis a cursed vice; yis certis. it bynymeth fro man his witte and his resoun and al his deboneire lyf spirituel þat scholde kepen his soule [561] ¶ Certes it bynymeþ eek goddis dewe lordschipe and þat is mannes soule. and þe loue of his neighebor. hit stryueþ eek alday agayns trouþe ¶ It reueth him eek þe quiete of his hert and subuertith his herte and his soule

[562] ¶ Of ire comeþ þese stynkynge engendrures ¶ First hate þat is old wraþþe discord þurgh which a man forsakiþ his olde frend þat he haþ loued ful longe. [563] and þanne comeþ werre and euery maner of wronge þat man doth to his neighebor in body or catel [564] ¶ Of þis cursed synne of Ire comeþ eek manslaughter. And vnderstonde wel þat homicidie þat is man-slaughter is in diuers wise. ¶ Som maner of homicidie is spirituel and som is bodily. [565] Spirituel manslaughter is in sixe þinges ¶ First by hate as saith seint Iohan ¶ he þat hateþ his broþer is an homicide. [566] homicide is eek by bak-bytyng of whiche bakbiters saith Salamon þat þay haue twaye swerdes with whiche þay slen here neighebors. For soþely as wikke is to bynyme his good name as his lif. [567] homicidy is eek in ȝeuyng of wikkid counseil by fraude as for to ȝeue counseil to areyse wicked and wrongful custumes and taliages [568] of whiche saiþ Salomon ¶ leoun roryng and bere hungry ben like to þe cruel lordschipes in wiþholdyng or abbrigging of þe schipe or the hyre or þe wages of seruauntes or ellis in vsure or in withdrawyng of almes of pore folk [569] For whiche þe pore man saith ¶ Feedith him þat almost dyeth for hunger. for soþely but if þou feede him; þou slest him and eek þese ben dedly synnes. [570] bodily manslaughter is. whan þou sleest him wiþ þy tonge in oþer manere as whan þou comaundist to slen a man or elles ȝiuest counseil to slee a man [571] ¶ Manslauȝter in dede is in foure maneres ¶ That oon is by lawe. Right as a Iustice dampnith him þat is coupable to þe deth. But let þe Iustice be war þat he do it rightfully and þat he do it nought for delit to spille blood; but for keping of rightwis|nes [572] ¶ Anoþer homicidy is doon for necessite. as whan a man sleþ anoþer him defendaunt. and þat he may noon oþer wise eschape fro his deth. [573] but certeynly if he may escape wiþ|oute slaughter of his aduersarie and sleth him he doth synne and he schal bere penaunce as for dedly synne. [574] ¶ Ek if a man by caas or aduenture schete an arwe or cast a stoon wiþ which he sleþ a man; he is an homicide. [575] Eke if a womman by negligence ouerlye hir child in hir sleping it is homicide and deedly synne [576] ¶ Eke whan man distourbith con|cepcioun of a child and makith a womman ouþer bareyn by drinke of venenous herbis þurgh whiche sche may nouȝt conceyue or sleth a child by drynkes. or elles putteþ certeyn material þinges in secre place to slee þe child. [577] or elles doþ vnkyndely synne by which man or womman schedith here nature in ma[n] or in place þer as þe child may nought be con|ceyued. or ellis if a womma[n] haue conceyued and hurt hirself and sleth þe child ȝit is it homycidie [578] ¶ What say we eek of wommen þat mordren here children for drede of worldly schame. Certes an horrible homicidy. [579] homicidy is eek if a man ap|proche to a womman by desir of lecchery þurgh þe which þe child is perischt or elles smitith a womman wytyngly þurgh which sche sleeth hir child. alle þese ben homi|cides . . . . .no gap [580] ¶ Ȝit cometh þer of Ire many mo synnes as wel in word as in werk & þought. As he þat arettith vpon god and blamith god of þing of which he is himself gulty or despisith god and alle his halwes as doon þese cursed hasardours in diuers cuntrees. [581] þis cursed synne don þay whan þay felen in here herte ful wickidly of god and his halwes [582] ¶ also whan þay treten vnreuerently þe sacrament of þe auter. þilke synne is so gret þat vnneþe may it be relessed but þat þe mercy of god passith alle his werkes. and is so gret and so benigne [583] ¶ Thanne comeþ of Ire attry anger whan a man is scharply amonested in his schrifte to for|lete synne; [584] þanne wol he be angry and answere hokerly and angrily and defenden or excusen his synne by vnstedefastnesse of his fleisch. or elles he dede it to holde companye with his felawes. or ellis he saith þe fend entised him. [585] or elles he dide it for his ȝouthe. or ellis his complexioun is so corrageous þat he may not forbere. or ellis it is desteny. as he saith. . . . .no gap it comeþ him of gentilesce of his auncetrie and semblable þinges [586] ¶ Alle þese maner of folk so wrappen hem in here synnes þat þay wol nouȝt deliuer hemself ¶ For soþely no wight þat excuseth him wilfully of his synne may nought / be deliuered of his synne til þat he mekely biknoweþ his synne. [587] ¶ After þis þanne . . . . .no gap þat is expres agayns þe comaundementȝ of god & þis bifallith often of angir and of Ire [588] ¶ God saith. þou schalt not take þe name of þy lord god in vayn or in ydil. ¶ Also oure lord ihū crist saith by þe word of seint. Mathew . . . . .no gap in the MS. [589] ¶ Ne wol ȝe not swere in alle manere. neither by heuen for it is goddes trone. ne by þe eorþe for it is þe benche of his feet. ne by ierusalem; for it is þe cite of a gret king. ne by þin heed; þou may nought make an her whit ne blak. [590] but sayeth by ȝoure word ȝe. ȝe. and nay. nay. and what it is more; it / is of euel. þus saith ihū crist [591] ¶ For cristes sake swereþ not so synfully in dismembring of crist. for cristes sake. bi soule. herte. boones and body. For certes it semeþ þat ȝe þenke þat cursed Iewes ne dismembrit nought ynough· þe precious persone of crist. but ȝe dismembre him more. [592] and if so be þat þe lawe com|pelle ȝow to swere. þanne reule ȝow after þe lawe of god in ȝoure swering as saiþ. Ieremie capitulo .iiijto . . . . .no gap in the MS. ¶ Thou schalt kepe þre condiciouns. þou schalt swere in trouþe in doom and in rightwisnes [593] þis is to sayn. þou schalt swere soth. For euery lesyng is agayns crist. for crist is verray trouþe and þink wel þis þat euery gret swerer not compellid lawfully to swere þe wonder schal not departe fro his hous whil he vseth such vnleful sweringe [594] ¶ þou schalt eek swere in doom whan þou art constreigned by þy domes|man to witnesse þe trouþe. [595] eek þou schalt not swere for enuye ne for fauour ne for meede but / for rightwisnesse for declaring of it to worschip of god and helping of þin euen|cristen [596] and þerfore euery man þat takiþ goddes name in ydil or falsly sweriþ with his mouth or elles takiþ on him þe name of crist and callith himself a cristen man and lyueth agayn cristes lyuyng and his teching alle þay take cristes name in ydel [597] ¶ loke eek what saith seint peter Actuum cao. iiijto ¶ Non est aliud nomen sub celo &c ¶ Ther is noon oþer name saith seint peter vnder heuen ne ȝeuen to noon men in which þay mowe be saued þat is to sayn but in þe name of ihū crist [598] ¶ Tak heede eek how þe precious name of crist as saith seint poule ad philippenses .ijo. In nomine ihū &c ¶ That in þe name of ihū euery kne of heuenly creatures or erþely or of helle schulde bowe and . . . . .no gap in the MS. tremble to heeren it nempned. [599] ¶ Thanne semeþ it þat men þat sweren so horribly by his blessed name þat þay despise it more bodyly þan dede þe cursed Iewes or elles þe deuel þat tremblith whan he heerith his name

[600] ¶ Now certis sith þat swering but it be lawfully doon is so heihly defendid; moche wors is forswering falsly and ȝit needeles

[601] what say we eek of hem þat deliten hem in swering and holden it a gentery or manly dede / to swere grete othis. and what of hem þat of verray vsage / ne cessen nouȝt to swere grete oþis al be not þe cause worþ a strawe; certes þis is horrible synne [602] ¶ Sweryng sodeynly wiþout auysement is eek a synne [603] ¶ But let vs now go to þilke horrible sweryng of adiuracioun and coniuraciouns as doon þese false en|chauntours or nigromanciens in bacines ful or in a bright swerd in a churche or in a fuyr or in þe schulder bon of a scheep [604] ¶ I can not sayn but þat þay doon cursedly and dampnably agains þe faith of holy chirche

[605] what say we of hem þat bilieuen on diuinailes as by flight or by nois of briddes or of bestes or by sort by geomancie. by dremes. by chirkyng of dores or crakking of howses. by gnawyng of rattis and such maner wrecchidnes [606] ¶ Certes al þis þing is defended by god and holy chirche for whiche þay ben accursed til þay come to amendement þat on such filthe bisetten here bileeue. [607] Charmes for woundes or malady of men or of bestes if þay take eny effect. it may be paraduenture þat god suffreþ hit for folk schulde ȝeue þe more faiþ and reuerence to his name

[608] ¶ Now wol I speke of lesynge whiche gener|ally is fals signifiaunce of word in entent to desceyuen his euencristen [609] Som lesyng is of whiche þer cometh noon auauntage to noon wight and som lesyng torneþ to þe ease or profit of som man. and to damage of an oþer man [610] ¶ Anoþer lesyng for to saue his lif or his catel . . . . .no gap comeþ of delit/ for to lye. in which delit þay wol forge a long tale and paynte it with alle circumstaunces wher as þe ground of þe tale is fals [611] ¶ Som lesyng comeþ. For he wolde susteyne his word ¶ Som lesyng cometh of rechelesnes wiþoute auisement and sem|blable þinges

[612] ¶ lat vs now touche þe vice of flaterie which cometh not gladly but for drede or for coueitise [613] ¶ Flaterie is generally wrongful preysing. Flater|ers ben þe deueles norices þat norisshen his children wiþ mylk of þe losingerie. [614] forsoþe Salamon saith þat flaterie is worse þan detraccioun. for som tyme de|traccioun makith an hawteyn man be þe more humble for he dredith detraccioun ¶ But certes flaterie makith a man to enhaunsen his hert/ and his countenaunce [615] ¶ Flaterers ben þe deueles enchauntours. For þay maken man to wene of himself þat he is like to þat he is nouȝt like. [616] Þay ben like Iudas þat bitraised . . . . .no gap to selle him to his enemy þat is þe deuel [617] ¶ Flaterers ben þe deueles chapeleyns þat singen ay. placebo. [618] I rekene flaterers in þe vices of Ire. For ofte tyme if oon man be wroþ wiþ anoþer. þanne wol he flatere som man to mayntene him in his querel

[619] Speke we now of such cursyng as comeþ of Irous hert malisoun generally may be said euery maner power of harm. such cursyng bireueþ man fro þe regne of god as saiþ seint poule [620] ¶ And ofte tyme such cursyng wrongfully retourneþ agayn to hym þat curseth as þat retourneþ agayn to his owne nest. [621] and ouer alle þinges men oughten eschewe to cursen here oughne children and ȝiue to þe deuel here engendrure as ferforth as in hem is Certis it is gret peril and gret synne

[622] ¶ let vs þanne speke of chydynge and reproche whiche þat ben ful grete woundes in mannes hert . . . . .no gap in the MS. [623] ¶ For certis vnneþe may a man plainly ben accordid with him þat him openly reuyled and reproued and disclaundrid. þis is a ful grisly synne as crist saith in þe gospel. [624] and takith keep now þat he þat reproueþ his neighebor. ouþer he reproueþ him by som harm of peyne. . . . .[625]. . . . .no gap in the MS. þanne tornith þe reproef to ihū crist. For peyne is sent by þe rightwis sonde of god and by his suffraunce be it meselrie or many oþer maladies. [626] and if he repreue him vncharitably as þou holour þou dronk|elewe harlot and so forth þanne aperteyneth þat to þe reioysing of þe deuel þat euer haþ ioye þat men doon synne. [627] And certis chidyng may nought come but out of a vileins herte ¶ For after þe abundaunce of þe herte spekeþ þe mouth ful ofte. [628] and ȝe schal vnderstonde þat loke by any way whan any man schal chastise anoþer þat he be war fro chyding or repreuyng. For trewely but he be war; he may ful lightly quiken þe fuyr of anger and of wraþþe which þat he schulde quenchen: and par auenture sleþ þat he mighte chaste with benig|nite. [629] for as saiþ salamon ¶ The amiable tonge is þe tree of lif þat is to sayn of lif espirituel. and soþely dislaue tonge sleþ þe spirit of him . . . . .no gap þat is repreued [630] ¶ lo what saith seint augustyn ¶ Ther is no þing so lik þe fendes child as he þat ofte chideþ ¶ Seint poule seiþ eek I seruaunt of god bihoueth nouȝt to chide. [631] and þough þat chidyng be a vileins þing bitwixe alle maner folk/; ȝit is it certes more vncouenable bitwix a man and his wif. For þer is neuer rest And þerfore saith Salamon ¶ An hous þat is vncouered & droppyng and a chidyng wyf ben like [632] a man þat is in dropping hous in many partes þough he eschewe þe dropping in oon place; it droppeþ on him in anoþer place ¶ So farith it by a chydinge wyf; But sche chide him in oon place; sche wol chide him in anoþer [633] ¶ And þerfore better is a morsel of bred with ioye þan an hous ful of delices with chyding seiþ Salamon [634] ¶ Seint poul saith ¶ O ȝe wommen be ȝe sugettis to ȝoure housbondes as bihoueþ in god. And ȝe men loueth ȝoure wyues ad Colocenses iijo.

[635] ¶ Afterward speke we of scornyng which is a wikked þing and sinful and namely whan he scornith a man for his goode workes [636] ¶ For certes suche scornes faren lik þe foule toode þat may nought endure þe soote smel of þe vine roote whan it florischith. [637] þese scorners ben partyng felawes wiþ þe deuel. For þay han ioye whan þe deuel wynneth and sorwe whan he leseth [638] ¶ Thay ben aduersaries of Ihū crist. for þay haten þat he loueth þat is to saye sauacioun of soule

[639] Speke we now of wikked counseil ¶ For he þat wickid counseil ȝiueth. he is a traytour. for he deceyueþ him þat trusteþ in him ¶ vt achitofel ad absolonem ¶ But naþeles ȝet is his wikkid counseil first aȝens him|self [640] ¶ For as saith the wise man ¶ Euery fals lyuyng haþ þis proprete in him self. þat he þat wil annoye anoþer man; he annoyeth first himself. [641] ¶ and men schul vnderstonde þat men schulde nought take his counseil of fals folk ne of angry folk/ . . . . .] ne of folk þat louen specially to moche her oughne profyt ne in to moche worldly. folk. namely in coun|selyng of soules

[642] Now comeþ þe synne of hem þat sowen and maken discord amonges folk which is a synne þat/ crist hateþ outrely . and no wonder is. for god died for to make concord. [643] and more schame do þay to crist þan dede þay þat him crucifiede ¶ For god loueth bettre þat frendschipe be amonges folk ¶ þanne he dide his owne body which þat/ he ȝaf for vnite. þerfore ben þay likned to þe deuel þat euer ben aboute to make discord

[644] ¶ Now comith þe sinne of double tonge. suche as speken faire biforn folk and wikkedly bihynde or elles þay make semblaunt as þough þay speke of good entencioun or ellis in game & play and ȝit þay speke in wikked entent

[645] ¶ Now comeþ þe wreying of counseil þurgh which a man is famed ¶ Certes vnnethe may he restore þat damage

[646] ¶ Now comeþ manace þat is an open foly. For he þat ofte man[a]ceth he threttith more þan he may parfourme ful ofte tyme

[647] ¶ Now comeþ Idel wordes þat is wiþoute profyt of him þat spekith þo wordes and eek of him þat herkeneþ þo wordes. or elles ydel wordes ben þo þat ben needeles or wiþouten entent of naturel profyt [648] and al be it þat ydil wordes ben som tyme venial synne; ȝit schulde men doute hem. For we schuln ȝiue rekenynge of hem bifore god

[649] ¶ Now comith iangeling þat/ may nouȝt be wiþ|oute synne as saith Salamon ¶ It is a signe of apert folie [650] and þerfore a philosophre whan men askid him how men schulde plese þe poeple and he answerde ¶ Do many goode werkes. and spek/ fewe iangeles

[651] ¶ After þis comeþ þe synne of iapers þat ben þe deueles apes For þay maken folk to laughen at here iapes or iaperie as folk doon at/ þe gaudes of an ape / Suche iapes defendith seint poule [652] ¶ Loke how þat vertuous and holy wordes conforten hem þat trauailen in þe seruice of crist; Right so conforten þe violent wordes and knakkis and iaperies hem þat trauayle in þe seruice of þe deuyl [653] ¶ These ben þe synnes þat/ comeþ of . . . . .no gap Ire and of oþer synnes[No break in the MS.]

 ¶ Remedium contra Iram

[654]

REmedye agayns ire is a vertue þat men clepe mansuetude. þat is deboneirte. And eek anoþer vertue þat men clepe pacience or sufferaunce.

[655] debonairete wiþdrawith and restreigneþ þe stiringes and þe moeuynges of mannys corrage in his herte in such manere þat þai ne skip not out by anger ne by Ire [656] ¶ Suffraunce suffrith swetely al þe annoyaunce and þe wronges þat men doon to man outward [657] ¶ Seint Ierom saiþ þus of debonairte. þat it doþ noon harm to no wight ne saith ne for noon harm þat men doon ne sayn. he ne eschaufith nought agayns his resoun [658] ¶ This vertu comiþ som tyme of nature ¶ For as saith þe philosopher man is a quik þing by nature and tretable to goodnesse ¶ But whan debonairete is enformed of grace; þan is it þe more worþ

[659] ¶ Pacience þat is anoþer remedie. agains Ire is a vertu þat suffreth swetely euery mannes goodnes as is not wroþ for noon harm þat is doon to him. [660] þe philosopher saith þat pacience is þilke vertue þat suffrith deboneirly alle þe outrages of aduersite and euery wickid word [661] ¶ This vertue makiþ a man lik to god and makith him goddes oughne dere child as saiþ crist ¶ þis vertu destroyeþ þin enemy and þerfore saith þe wise man ¶ If þou wolt venquisch þin enemy lerne to suffre [662] ¶ And þou schalt vnderstonde þat man suffrith foure maners of greuaunces in outward þinges. agains whiche he moot haue foure maners of pacience

[663] ¶ The firste greuaunce is of wicked wordes. þilke suffred Ihū crist wiþoute grucching ful paciently whan þe iewes despised him and reproued him ful ofte. [664] suffre þou þerfore paciently ¶ For þe wise man saiþ ¶ If þou striue with a fool. þough þe fool be wroþ or þough he laughhe algate þou schalt haue no rest [665] ¶ That oþer greuaunce outward is to haue damage of þi catel; þer agayn suffred crist ful paciently whan he was despoylid of al þat he had in his lif and þat nas but his cloþis [666] ¶ The þridde greuaunce is. a man to haue harm in his body. þat suffred crist/ ful paciently in al his passioun [667] ¶ The ferþe greuaunce is in outrageous labour in werkis wherfore I say þat folk þat maken here seruauntȝ to trauaile to greuously or out of tyme as on haly dayes. soþely þay doon greet synne [668] ¶ Here against suffred crist ful paciently and taughte vs pacience whan he bar vpon his blisful schulder þe croys vpon which he schulde suffre despitous deth. [669] here may men lerne to be pacient. For certes nought oonly cristen ben pacient for þe loue of ihū crist and for guerdoun of þe blisful life þat is perdurable But þe olde paynymes þat neuer were cristen comaundedin and vseden þe vertu of pacience

[670] ¶ A philosopher vpon a tyme þat wolde haue bete his disciple for his grete trespas. For which he was gretly amoeued and brought a ȝerde to scoure þe child. [671] & whan þe child saugh þe ȝerde; he sayde to his maister ¶ what þenke ȝe to do ¶ I wolde bete þe quod þe maister for þi correccioun [672] Forsoþe quod þe child. ȝe oughte first correcte ȝoure silf þat han left al ȝoure pacience for þe gilt of a child [673] ¶ For soþe quod þe maister al wepyng. þou saist soth. haue þou þe ȝerde my deere sone and correcte me for myn impacience. [674] Of pacience comeþ obedience. þurgh which a man is obedient to crist/ and to alle hem to which him oughte to be obedient in crist. [675] and vnderstonde wel þat obedience is parfyt. whan a man doþ gladly & hastily with good herte outrely al þat he scholde do [676] ¶ Obedience is generally to parforme þe doctrine of god and of his soueraignes to whiche him oughte to ben obeissant in alle rightwisnes.[No break in the MS.]

[677]

AFter þe synne of enuye and Ire. now wol I speke of . . . no gap accidie. For enuye blendith þe hert of a man and Ire troublith a man and accidie makith him heuy. þoughtful. and wrawe [678] ¶ Enuye and Ire maken bitternes in herte. which bitternesse is mooder of accidie and bynimith þe loue of alle goodnes. þanne is accidie þe anguische of trouble hert and seint augustyn saith . . . . .no gap [679] ¶ Certes þis is a dampnable synne. For it doþ wrong to Ihū crist in as moche as it bynymeþ þe seruice þat we ought to do to crist wiþ alle diligence as saiþ Salomon [680] ¶ But accidie doþ noon such diligence. he doþ alle þing wiþ anoy and with drawenes. slaknes and excusacioun. and with ydelnes & vnlust for which þe book saith ¶ Accursed be he þat doþ þe seruice of god necligently [681] . . . . .no gap enemy to euery astaat of man ¶ For certes þestat of . . . . .[682] . . . no gap in the MS. Innocence. as was þastate of adam biforn þat he fel in to synne in which estate he is holden to worche as in herying and honouryng of god [683] ¶ Anoþer astat is þe state of sinful man. in which estate. men ben holden to labore in praying to god for amendement of her synnes. and þat he wolde graunte hem to rise of here synnes [684] ¶ Anoþer estaat is þestate of which he is holde to werkis of penitence and certes to alle þese þinges is accidie enuye con|trarie for it loueþ no busynes at al [685] ¶ Now certis þis foule synne accidie is eek a ful gret enemy to þe liflode of þe body For it hath no purueaunce aȝens temperel necessite. for it forslowthith and for|sluggith and destroyeth alle goodes temporels by rechelesnes

[686] ¶ The ferþe þing is þat accidie is like hem þat ben in þe peyne of helle by cause of her slouþe and of her heuynes For þay þat ben dampned ben so bounde þat þay may nought wel do ne wel þenke [687] ¶ Of accidie cometh first þat a man is annoyed and encombrid for to do eny goodnes. and makith that god haþ abhominacioun of such accidie as saith seint Iohan.

[688] ¶ Now comeþ slouþe þat wol suffre noon hardnes ne no penaunce For soþely slouþe is so tendre and so delicat as saith Salomon þat he wol suffre noon hardnes ne penaunce. and þerfore he schendeth al þat he doth [689] ¶ Agayns þis roten hertid synne of accidie and of slouthe schulden men exercise hemself to do goode werkes and manly and vertuously cacchin corrage wel to doo. þink|ing þat oure lord ihū crist quiteþ euery good dede be it neuer so lyte. [690] ¶ Vsage of labour is a ful greet þing. for it makith as saiþ seint Bernard þe laborer to haue stronge armes and harde synewes ¶ And slouthe maketh hem feble and tendre [691] ¶ Thanne comeþ drede to bygynne to werke eny goode deedes; For certes what þat is enclined to don synne him þinkith it is so gret emprise for to vndertake to doon werkes of goodnes [692] / as . . . . . . . . . .no gap saiþ seynt gregory

[693] ¶ Now comeþ wanhope þat is despair of þe mercy of god þat comeþ som tyme of to moche out|rageous sorwe and som tyme of to moche drede ymagyn|ynge þat he haþ do so moche synne þat it wil not auaile him þough he wolde repent him and forsake synne. [694] þurgh which despeir or drede he abundith al his herte to alle maner synne as seith seint augustin. [695] whiche dampnable synne if þat it continue vnto his lyues ende it is cleped synnyng of þe holy gost. [696] This horrible synne is so perilous. þat he þat is despaired þer is no felonye ne no synne þat he doutith for to do. as schewed wel by Iudas. [697] Certes aboue alle synnes. þan is þis synne most displesant to crist and most aduersarie [698] sothely he þat despisith him is like þe coward campioun recreaunt þat seith recreaunt wiþoute neede. allas allas needeles is he recreaunt and needeles despaired [699] ¶ Certes þe mercy of god is euer redy to þe penitent and is aboue alle his werkes. [700] allas can not a man byþenk him on þe gospel of seint luk/ wher as crist saith þat as wel schal þer be ioye in heuen vpon a synful man þat doþ penitence as vpon nynety and nyne þat ben rightful men þat . . . . .no gap needen no penitence [701] ¶ loke forþer in þe same gospel þe ioye and þe fest of þe goode man þat had lost his sone. whan þe sone with repentaunce was torned to his fader [702] ¶ Can not þay remembre eek þat as saiþ seint luk xxiijo. how þat þe þef þat was hangid biside ihū crist sayde ¶ lord remembre of me whan þou comest in to þy regne [703] ¶ Forsoþe saith crist. to day þou schalt be wiþ me in paradis [704] ¶ Certis þer is noon so horrible synne of man þat it may in his lif be destroyed with penitence þorugh vertu of passioun of þe deth of crist [705] ¶ Allas what needith it man þanne to be despaired sith þat his mercy is so redy and large. aske and haue [706] ¶ Thanne comeþ sompnolent þat is sluggy slumbring which makiþ a man ben heuy and dul in body and in soule. and þis synne comeþ of slouþe [707] and certes þe tyme þat by way of resoun man schulde nouȝt slepe þat is by þe morwe but if þer were cause resonable [708] For soþely þe morwe tyde is most/ couenable to a man to say his prayers and for to þenk vpon his god and to honoure god and to ȝeue almes to þe pore þat first comeþ in þe name of crist [709] ¶ lo what saith Salamon. ¶ who-so wol by þe morwe arise and seeke me schal fynde [710] ¶ þan comeþ negligence that/ rekkith of no þing and how þat ignoraunce be moder of alle harm; Certis necgligence is þe norice [711] ¶ Necligence doþ no force whan he schal doon a þing whethir he doo it wel or baddely

[712] ¶ Of þe remedy of þese tuo synnes as saith þe wise man ¶ That he þat dredith god he sparith nouȝt to do þat him ought to don. [713] and he þat loueth god wol do diligence to plese god by his werkis and abounde himself with alle his mightes wel for to doon [714] ¶ Thanne comith ydelnes þat is þe ȝate of alle¶ Omnium ma|lorum mater est negligencia harmes. and ydil man is like an hous þat/ haþ noone walles. þe deueles may entre on euery syde or schete at him at discouert/ by temptaciouns on euery syde [715] ¶ This ydelnes is þe thurrok/ of alle wickid vileyns þoughtes and of alle iangles tryfles and of alle ordure [716] ¶ Certes þe heuen is ȝeuen to hem þat wol laboure and nouȝt to ydil folk ¶ Eke dauid saith That / þay ne ben not in þe labour of men ne þay schul not be wiped with men þat is to sain in purgatorie [717] ¶ Certes þanne semeth it þat þay schal be tormentid wiþ þe deuel in helle but if þay don penitence

[718] ¶ þanne comith þe synne þat men clepe tarditas. as whan a man is so latrede or tarying er he wil torne to god. and certis þat is a gret foly. he is like him þat fallith in to þe diche and wol not arise / [719] And þis vice cometh of a fals hope þat he þinkith he schal lyue longe. but þat hope fayleþ ful ofte

[720] ¶ þanne comith laches. þat is he when he bigynneth any good werk anoon he wol forlete it and stynte as doon þay þat/ han eny wight to gouerne. and ne take of hem no more keep anoon as þay fynde eny contrarie or eny anoy [721] ¶ þese ben þe newe schepherdes þat leten her schep wityngely go renne to þe wolf þat is in þe breres or don no force of her oughne gouernaunce. [722] Of þis comeþ pouert and destruccioun boþe of spirituel and of temperel þinges ¶ Thanne comeþ a maner of coldenesse þat freseþ al þe hert of man [723] þanne cometh vndeuocioun þurgh which a man is so blunt & as saiþ seint Bernard he haþ such a langour in soule þat he may neyþeir rede ne synge in holy chirche ne heere ne þinke on deuocioun in holy chirche ne trauayle with his hondes in no good werk þat nys þo him vnsauory and al [724] þanne waxith he slow and slombry and soone wol he be wroþ and soone is enclined to hate and to enuye [725] ¶ þanne comith þe synne of worldly sorwe such as is clepid tristicia þat sleth man as saith seint poule [726] ¶ For certis such sorwe werkith to þe deth of þe soule. & of þe body also. For þer of cometh þat a man is anoyed of his oughne lif. [727] which sorwe schorteþ ful ofte þe lif of a man or þat his tyme is come by way of kynde[No break in the MS.]

[728] ¶ Agains þis horrible synne of accidie and þe braunches of þe same þer is a vertu þat is cleped fortitudo or strengþe þat is affeccioun þurgh which a man despiseth alle noyous þinges [729] ¶ This vertu is so mighty & so vigurous þat it dar wiþstonde mighty and wisely kepe himself from perils þat ben wicked and wrastil agains þe assautes of þe deuel. [730] For it enhaunsith and enforceþ þe soule. Right as accidie abateth it and makith it feble. For þis fortitudo may endure by long sufferaunce þe trauailes þat ben conuenables

[731] ¶ This vertu haþ many spices. þe first is cleped magnanimite þat is to sayn gret corrage. For certis þer bihoueþ gret corrage agains accidie lest þat it ne swolwe not þe soule by þe synne of sorwe or destroye it by wanhope [732] ¶ This vertu makith folk vndertake harde þinges and greuous þinges by his owne wille willfuly and resonably. [733] and for als moche as þe deuel fighteth agaynst a man more by queyntise and by sleight þan by strengþe; þerfore many a man schal aȝeinstonde him by witte. and by resoun and by dis|crecioun. [734] Thanne is þer þe vertu of faith and hope in god and in his seintes to eschew. and to acomplice þe goode werkes in þe whiche he purposith fermely to continue. [735] thanne comeþ seurte or sikernes and þat is whan a man doutith no trauaile in tyme comyng of good werk þat a man haþ bygonne [736] ¶ þanne comeþ magnificence þat is to say whan a man doth and parformith grete werkes of goodnesse þat he hath bygonne. and þat is þende why þat men schulden do goode werkes. for in þe accomplising of grete goode werkes liþ þe grete guerdoun. [737] þanne is þer constaunce þat is stablenes of corrage and þis schulde ben in herte by stedefast faiþ. and in mouthe. and in beryng. and in cheer and in deede. [738] eek þer ben mo special remedies agayns accidie, in dyuers werkis and in consideracioun of þe peyne of helle and of þe ioye of heuen and in þe trust of þe hyhe grace of þe holy gost. þat wil ȝeue him might to parforme his good entent.[No break in the MS.]

 De Auaricia[from margin]

[739]

AFter accidie; I wil speke of auarice and of coueytise. Of whiche synnes For sothely whan saith sein poule þat þe roote of alle eueles & harmes is coueytise/ [740] and þat þe hert of man is confoundid in it self and troublid and þat þe soule haþ lost þe comfort of god. þanne seekith he an ydel solas of worldly þinges.

[741] ¶ Auarice after þe descripcioun of seint austyn. is a likerousnes in hert to haue erþely þinges [742] ¶ Some oþer folk sayn þat auarice is for to purchace many erþely þinges and no þing ȝeue to hem þat han neede [743] ¶ And vnderstonde þat auarice ne stont not oonly in lond ne in catel; But som tyme in science and in glorie and eny maner outrageous þinges is auarice [744] ¶ And þe difference bytwixe auarice and coueytise is þis. Coueitise is for to coueyte suche þinges as þou hast not . . . . .no gap in the MS. [745] ¶ And auarice is a synne þat is ful dampnable. For al holy writ curseth it and spekith agayn þat vice. for it doþ wrong to Ihū crist. [746] For it bireueth him þe loue þat men to him owen and turnith it bakward agains al resoun. [747] and makith þat þe auarous man hath more hope in his catel þan in ihū crist. and . . . . .no gap in the MS. [748] þerfore saith seint poule ad Ephesios. þat an auerous man is þe þraldom of ydolatrie

[749] ¶ what difference is þer bitwen an ydolaster and an auarous man. but þat an ydolaster per aduenture hadde but a mawmet/ . . . . .no gap [750] ¶ and certes þe synne of mawmetrie is þe firste þing þat god defendith in þe ten comaunde|mentȝ as beriþ witnes in exodo capitulo [751] þou schalt/ haue noone false goddes biforn me. ne þou schalt make to the no graue þing. thus is he an auerous man þat loueth his tresor toforn god ¶ And an ydolaster [752] þurgh his cursed synne of auarice and coueytise comen þese harde lordschipes þurgh whiche thay ben distreyned by talliages custumes and cariages more þan here duete of resoun is. and elles take þay of here bonde men amercimentes whiche mighte more resonably ben callid extorciouns þan mercymentis. [753] of whiche mersyments and raunsonyng of bonde men some lordes stywardes seyn þat it is rightful. For as moche as a cherl haþ no temperel þing þat it nys his lordes as þay sayn [754] ¶ But certes þise lordschipes doon wrong þat bireuen here bonde men þinges þat þay neuer ȝaue hem. Augustine . . . blank in MS. [755] soth is þe condicioun of þraldom and þe firste cause of þraldom is sinne Genesis

[756] ¶ Thus may ȝe seen þat þe gilt deserued þraldom but not nature [757] ¶ wherfore þese lordschipes schulden nouȝt moche glorifie in here lordschipes sith þat by naturel condicioun þay ben nouȝt lordes ouer þalles. but for þraldom com first by þe desert of synne [758] ¶ And forther-ouer þer as þe lawe sayth þat temporel goodes of bonde folkes been þe goodes of her lordschipes; ȝe þat is to vnderstonde. þe goodes of þe emperour to defende in here right. but not to robbe hem ne to reue hem. [759] and þerfore seiþ Seneca. ¶ Thi prudence schulde liue benignely wiþ þi þrallis [760] þilke þat þay clepe thralles ben goddes poeple. For humble folk ben cristes frendes þay ben contubernially wiþ þe lord

[761] ¶ Thenk eek as of such seed as cherles springen. of such seed springe lordes. as wel may þe cherl be saued as þe lord. [762] The same deth þat takith þe cherl . . . . .no gap in the MS. as þou woldist þi lord dide wiþ þe if þou were in his plyt. [763] Euery sinful man is a cherl as to synne ¶ I rede þe certes þat þou lord werke in such a wise wiþ þy cherles þat þay raþer loue þe þan drede þe. [764] I wot wel þer is degre aboue degre as resoun is and skil þat men don her deuoir þer as it is dewe. ¶ But certes extorciouns and despit of oure vndirlinges is dampnable

[765] ¶ And forþermore vnderstonde wel þat conquerours or tyrauntes maken ful ofte þralles of hem þat born ben of als royal blood as ben þay þat hem conqueren. [766] þis name of cherldom was neuer erst couth til noe sayde þat his sone chanaan schulde be þral of his breþeren for his synne [767] ¶ what say we þanne of hem þat pylen and doon extorciouns to holy chirche ¶ Certis the swerdes þat men ȝeuen first to a knight whan he is newe dubbyd signifieth faith and þat he schulde defende holy chirche . . . . .no gap [768] and as seith seint austin. Thay ben þe deueles wolues þat stranglen þe scheep of ihū crist. and doon wors þan wolues. [769] for soþely whan þe wulf haþ ful his wombe; he stintith to strangle scheep. but soþly þe pilours and þe destroy|ers of þe goodes of holy chirche ne doon nouȝt so; For þai stynte neuer to pile. [770] ¶ Now as I haue sayd. sith so is. þat synne was first cause of þraldom; þanne is it þus. þat ilke tyme þat al þis world was in synne. þanne was al þis world in þraldom and in subieccioun [771] But certis sith þe tyme of grace com; God ordeyned þat somme folk schulde be more heigh in estaate and in degre and somme folkes more lowe and þat euerich schulde be serued in here estate and in degree [772] ¶ And þerfore in somme contrees þere þay ben thralles whan þay han turned hem to þe faith; þay make here þralles free out of thraldom ¶ And þerfor certis þe lord oweth to his man þat þe man owith to þe lord. [773] ¶ The pope callith himself seruaunt of seruaunts of god ¶ But for as moche as þe staat/ of holy chirche . . . . .no gap to þe commune profit might nought haue ben kepte ne pees ne reste in erthe. but if god had ordeyned som man of heiher degre and some men of lower; [774] þerfore was soueraignte ordeyned to kepe and to mayntene and de|fende her vnderlynges or her subiectis in resoun as fer|forth as it lith in her power and not to destroye ne confounde hem [775] ¶ wherfore I say þat þilke lordes þat be like wolues þat deuouren þe possessioun of þe catel of pore folk wrongfully wiþoute mercy or mesure; [776] þay schul receyue by þe same mesure þat þay han mesured to pouer folk þe mercy of ihū crist but if it be amendid [777] ¶ Now comeþ deceipt bitwixe marchaunt and marchaunt. and þou schalt vnder|stonde þat marchaundise is in many maneres. þat oon is bodily. and þat oþer is gostly. þat oon is honest and leful. and þat oþer is dishonest & vnleful [778] ¶ Of þilke bodily marchaundise þat is honest and leful is þis. þat þer as god haþ ordeyned þat a regne or a cuntre is suffisaunt/ to himself. þanne is it honest/ and leful þat of þe abundaunce of þis contre þe men helpe anoþer cuntre þat is more needy [779] ¶ And þerfore þer moote be marchauntȝ to bringe fro þat oon cuntre to þat oþer her march|aundise [780] ¶ That oþer marchaundise þat men hauntyn with fraude and treccherie and deceipt/ with lesynges and fals othis is cursed and dampnable [781] ¶ Espirituel marchaundiȝe is proprely symonie þat is ententyf desire to beye þing/ espirituel þat is þing þat apperteyneth to þe seintuarie of god and to þe cure of þe soule [782] þis desir is if so be þat a man do his diligence to parforme it. al be it þat his desir take noon effect. ȝit is it/ to him a dedly synne. and if he be ordrid he is irreguler [783] ¶ Certis Symonye is cleped of Symon Magus þat wolde han bought for temporel catel þe ȝifte þat god had ȝiuen by þe holy gost to seint petir and to þapostlis [784] ¶ And þerfor vnderstonde þat boþe he þat sellith and he þat bieth þinges espiritueles ben cleped Symonials be it by catel be it by procurement or by fleisshly prayere of his frendes eiþer flesshly frendes or spirituel frendes [785] ¶ Fleisshly in tuo maneres as by kynrede or oþer frendes ¶ Sothely if þay pray for him. it is not worth . . . . .no gap if he take þe benefice it is Symonie. and if he be worthy & able. it is non [786] ¶ That oþer is whan man or womman prayen for folk to avaunce hem oonly for wikkid fleisshly affeccioun þat þay haue vnto þe persone and þat is ful Symonye. [787] but certis in seruice . . . . .no gap moot he be honest and ellis not. and eek þat it be withoute bargaynynge and þat þe persone be able [788] ¶ For as saith seint Damase ¶ Alle þe synnes of þis world at þe reward of þis synne is a þing of nought. For it is þe gretteste synne þat may be after þe synne of lucifer and antecrist [789] ¶ For by þis synne god forlesith þe chirche and þe soule þat he bouȝt wiþ his precious blood by hem þat ȝeuen chirches to hem þat ben not digne [790] ¶ For þay putten in þeues þat stelen þe soules of ihū crist and destroyen patri|moygne. [791] by suche vndigne prestis and curates. han lewed men þe lasse reuerence of þe sacrament/ of holy chirche and suche ȝeueres of chirches putten out þe children of crist. and putten in to þe chirche þe deueles oughne sone. [792] þay sellen soules þat lambes schulde kepe to þe wolf þat stranglith hem. And þerfore schul þay neuer haue part of þe pasture of lambes þat is þe blisse of heuen [793] ¶ Now comeþ hasardrie wiþ his appur|tenaunce. as tables. and rafles. of whiche comeþ deceipt. fals othis. chidynges and alle raueynes. blasphemyng. and reneying of god and hate of his neighebors. wast of goodes out of tyme. and som tyme man|slaughter. [794] ¶ Certes hasardours ne mowe not be wiþoute gret synne whil þay haunte þat craft [795] ¶ Of auarice comeþ eek lesynges. þefte and fals witnesse and fals oþes ¶ And ȝe schul vndirstonde þat þese ben grete synnes and expresce agains þe comaundementȝ of god as I haue sayd [796] ¶ Fals witnesse is in word and eek in dede. In word; as for to bireue þin neighebor his good name by þy witnessinge. or bireue him his catel or his heritage by þy fals witnesse. whan þou for Ire or for meede. or for envie berest witnes or accusist him or excusist him by þy fals witnes. or ellis ex|cusist þiself falsly. [797] ware ȝow questemongers and notaries ¶ Certis for fals witnessynge was Susanna in ful gret sorwe and peyne and many anoþer mo [798] ¶ The synne of thefte is eek expresse agayns goddes hestis & þat in tuo maners corporel and spirituel. [799] Corporel; as for to take þy neighebours catel agayns his wille. be it by force or by sleight. be it by mette. or by mesure. [800] by stelynge eeke of fals enditements vpon him and in borwyng of þin neghebores catelle in entent neuer to paye/ and in semblable þinges. [801] Es|pirituel þefte. is sacrilege þat is to sayn hurt|ynge of holy þinges. or of þing sacred of crist ¶ Sacrilege is in tuo maneres þat oon is by resoun of holy place as chirches or chirchehawes. [802] For whiche euery vileins synne þat men doon in suche places may be clepid sacrilege or euery violence in semblable place ¶ þat oþer maner is. as þo þat wiþdrawen falsly þe rightes þat longen to holy chirche [803] ¶ . . . no gap and generally sacrilege is to reue holy þing fro holy place. and vnholy þing out of holy place. or holy thing out of holy place[No break in the MS.]

 ¶ Remedium contra Auariciam[from margin]

[804]

NOw schul ȝe vnderstonde þat þe releuynge of auarice is misericorde and pite largely taken. And men might axen why þat misericord and pite is relieuyng of auarice. [805] ¶ Certes þe auaricious man schewith no pite ne misericorde to þe needeful man. For he delitith him in kepyng of his tresor and nouȝt in þe rescowyng ne relieuyng of his euen|cristen. & þerfore speke I first of misericord [806] ¶ Thanne is misericord as saith þe philosopher a vertu. by which þe corrage of a man is stired by þe myseise of him þat is myseysed. [807] vpon which misericorde folwith in parformynge of chariteable werkis of misericord. [808] ¶ And certes þese moeuen men to þe misericord of ihū crist þat ȝaf himself for oure gult. and suffred deþ for misericord and forȝaf vs oure original synne [809] and þer by relessid vs fro peyne of helle and amenusid þe peynes of purgatorie by penitence and ȝeueth grace wel to do and at þe laste þe ioye of heuen [810] ¶ The spices of misericorde ben for to loue and for to ȝiue. and eek for to forȝiue and for to relesse and for to haue pite in herte and compassioun of þe meschief of his euencristen and eek chastiȝe þe as neede is [811] ¶ Anoþer maner of remedye agayns auarice is resonable largesse but sothely here bihouith þe con|sideracioun of þe grace of ihū crist and of his temporel goodes and eek of his goodes perdurable þat crist ȝaf vs. [812] and eek to haue remembrance of þe deþ þat/ he schal resceyue he noot not whanne . . . no gap and eke he schal forgon al þat he hath saue oonly þat he haþ dispendid in goode werkes

[813] ¶ But for als moche as some folk ben vnreson|able men oughte to eschiewe foly largesse þam clepen wast/ [814] Certes he þat is fool-large ne ȝiueþ nouȝt his catel. . . . .no gap Sothely what þing þat he ȝiueth for vayn glorie as to mynstrals and to folk for to bere his renoun in þe world; he haþ synne and noon almes [815] ¶ Certes he lesith foule his goodes þat sekith wiþ þe ȝift of his good no þing but synne. [816] he is like to an hors þat sekith raþer to drynke drouy watir and trouble þan for to drinke watir of þe welle þat is cleer. [817] And for as moche as þay ȝiue þer as þay schuld not ȝiue; to hem appendith þilke malisoun þat crist schal ȝiue at þe day of doom to hem þat schal be dampned.[No break in the MS.]

 ¶ De Gula[from margin]

[818]

AFter auarice comeþ Glotenye which is expresse eke agayns þe comaundement of god. Glotenye is vnresonable and desordeyned coueytise to ete and to drynke. . . . .no gap [819] þis synne cor|ruptid al þis world as is wel schewed in þe synne of adam. and of Eua ¶ loke eek what saith seint poul of glotouns [820] ¶ Many saith seint/ poul gon of whiche I haue ofte said to ȝow and now I say it wepyng ¶ That thenemyes of þe cros of crist of whiche þende is deth and of whiche here wombe is here god and here glorie in confusioun þat so saueren erþely þinges [821] ¶ he þat is vsant . . . . .no gap in the MS. [822] to þis synne hath many spices ¶ The firste is dronkenes þat is thorrible sepulture of mannes resoun. And whan man is dronken he hath lost/ his resoun and þis is dedly synne [823] ¶ But schortly whan þat a man is not wont to strong drinke and par auenture ne knowiþ not þe strengþe of þe drynk or hath feblesse in his heed or haþ trauayled þurgh whiche he drynkith þe more and be sodeynly caught wiþ drynke it is no dedly synne but venial [824] ¶ The secounde spice of dedly synne is. whan þe spirit of a man wexith al trouble for drunkenesse. and bireueþ him his witte and his discres|sioun [825] ¶ The þridde spice of glotouns is whan a man deuoureth his mete and haþ no rightful maner of etyng [826] ¶ þe ferþe is whan þurgh þe grete abund|aunce of his mete þe humours of his body been dis|temprid [827] ¶ þe fifte is þe Idilnes by to moche drinking. For which a man som tyme forgetith by þe morwe what he dide at eue or on þe night bifore

[828] In oþer maner ben distinct þe spices of glotonye after seint Gregory ¶ The firste is for to ete or drynke byfore tyme to ete ¶ The secound is. whan man ȝiueth him to delicate mete or drinke [829] ¶ The þridde is. whanne man takith to moche þerof ouer mesure ¶ The ferthe is curiosite with gret entent to make and apparayle his mete ¶ The fifte is. For to ete to gredely [830] ¶ These ben þe fyue fyngres of þe deueles hand. by whiche he drawith folk to synne. /

[831]

AGayns Glotonye is þe remedie abstinence as saiþ Galien. But þat holde I nouȝt meritorie. If he do it oonly for þe hele of his body ¶ Seint austyn wol þat abstinence be don for vertu and wiþ pacience. [832] Abstinence he saith is litil worth but if a man haue good wille þerto and but it be enforced by pacience. and by charite. and þat men doon it for goddes sake and in hope to haue þe blisse of heuen

[833] ¶ The felawes of abstinence ben attemper|aunce þat holdith þe mene in alle þinges. eek schame þat eschiewith al dishoneste. Suffisaunce þat seeketh noone riche metes ne drynkes ne doþ no force of to outrageous apparaillyng of mete [834] ¶ Mesure also þat restreyneþ by resoun the dislaue appetit of etyng. Sobernes also restreyneþ . . . . .[835] . . . .] þe delicat wille to ete and þe lasse leysir . . . . .no gap in the MS.[No break in the MS.]

 ¶ De luxuria

[836]

AFter Glotonye þanne cometh leccherie. For þese two synnes ben so neih cosyns þat ofte tyme þay wol not departe. [837] Vnde paulus ad Ephesios ¶ Nolite inebriari vino &c. God wot þis synne is ful displesaunt þing to god. vino in quo est luxuria. For he sayde him|self. Do no leccherie. and þerfore he putte gret peyne agayn þis synne / in þe olde lawe. [838] If a wom|man þral were take in þis synne. sche scholde be beten with stoones to þe deth. and if sche were a gentil womman; sche schulde be slayn wiþ stoones./ and if sche were a bisschoppis douȝter; sche schulde be brent by goddis comaundement. [839] ¶ Forther ouer by þe synne of leccherie; god dreinte al þe world at þe diluue ¶ And after þat he dreynte fyue citees with thonder layt and sonk hem in to helle

[840] ¶ Now let vs thanne speke of þilke stynkyng synne of leccherie þat men clepen aduoutry of weddid folk þat is to sayn if þat oon of hem be weddid or elles boþe [841] ¶ Seint Iohan saith þat aduoutris schuln be in helle in watir brennyng of fuyr and of brimston. In fuyr for þe leccherie. In brimston For þe stynk or her ordure. [842] ¶ Certis þe brekyng of þis sacrament is an horrible þing. hit was makid of god himself in paradis Confermed of ihū crist as witnesseth seint Mathew ¶ A man schal lete fader and mooder and take him to his wif and þay schul ben two in oon fleisch [843] ¶ This sacrament bitok|eneþ þe knyttyng togider of crist and of holy chirche [844] nat oonly þat god forbad aduotrie in dede; but eek he comaunded þat þou scholdest not coueyte þy neyhebors wif [845] ¶ In þis heste seiþ seint austyn is forboden al maner coueytise to do leccherie ¶ lo what seiþ seint mathew in þe gospel. that who-so seth a womman to coueytise of his lust; he haþ doon lecchery wiþ hir in his herte. [846] ¶ here may ȝe se þat nouȝt oonly þe dede of þis synne is forboden; but eek þe desir to do þat synne [847] ¶ This cursed synne annoyeth greuosly hem þat it haunten and first to here soule. for he obligith it to synne and to pyne of þe deþ þat is pardurable [848] ¶ vnto þe body annoyeþ it greuously. also for it dreyeþ him and wastith him & schent him. and of his blood he makith sacrifice to þe deuel of helle ¶ It wastith eek his catel and his substaunce. [849] and certes if þat it be a foul þing a man to waste his catel on wommen; ȝit is it a fouler þing whan þat for such ordure wommen dispende vpon men here catel and here substaunce [850] ¶ This synne as saith þe prophete byreueth man and womman her good fame and al here honour. and it is ful pleasaunt to þe deuel. For þer by wynneth he þe moste pray of þis world [851] ¶ And right as a marchaunt deliteþ him most in chaffare þat he haþ most auauntage of; Right so delitith þe feend in þis ordure

[852] ¶ This is þe oþer hond of þe deuel with fyue fyngres to cacche þe poeple to his vilonye [853] ¶ Þe firste fynger is þe foule lokyng of þe foule womman and of þe foule man þat sleth right as a basiliskoc sleþ folk by þe venym of his sight. For þe coueytise of eyen folwiþ þe coueytise of þe herte [854] ¶ The secounde fynger is the vileynes touchinge in wikkid manere. and þerfore saith salamon þat who-so touchith and handelith a womman; he farith lik him þat handelith þe scorpioun þat styngith and sodeinly sleeth þurgh his enuenemynge as who so touchith warm picche. it schent his fyngres [855] ¶ The þridde is foule wordes þat farith lik fuyr þat right anoon brenneþ þe herte [856] ¶ The ferþe is þe kissyng. and trewely he were a greet fool þat wolde kisse þe mouth of a brennyng ouen or of a forneys: [857] and more fooles ben þay þat kyssen in vilonye. For þat mouth is þe mouþ of helle. and namely þise olde dotard fooles holours. ȝit wol þay kisse þough þay may nought do & smater hem. [858] ¶ Certis þay ben like to houndes. For an hound whan he comeþ to a roser or by oþer beautes. þough he may nouȝt pisse; ȝet wil he heue vp his leg and make a coun|tenaunce to pisse. [859] and for þat many man weneth he may not synne for licorousnes þat he doth with his wif; Certis þat oppinioun is fals. God wot a man may sle himself wiþ his owne knyf and mak himself dronke of his oughne tonne [860] ¶ Certis be it/ wif or child or eny worldly þing þat he louyth biforn god it is his maumet and he is an ydolastre /. [861] man schulde loue his wyf by discrescioun paciently and attemperelly. and þanne is sche as it were his suster [862] ¶ The fyfte fynger of the deueles hond is þe stynkynge dede of leccherie [863] ¶ Certes þe fyue fyngres of glotonye þe deuel put in þe wombe of a man. & his fyue fyngres of lecchery bygripeth hym by þe reynes for to þrowe him in to þe fourneys of helle. [864] þere as þey schuln haue þe fuyr. and þe wormes þat euer schal lasten. and wepyng and wayling scharp hunger and þurst. and grislines of deueles þat schul alto-tere hem wiþoute respit/ and wiþ|outen ende [865] ¶ Of leccherie as I sayde sourdren diuers spices of fornicacion þat is bitwen man and womman þat ben nouȝt maried and þis is dedly synne and against nature [866] al þat is enemy and destruccioun to nature. [867] par fay þe resoun of a man telliþ him wel þat it is dedly synne For als moche as god forbad leccherie and seint poule ȝeuith hem þat regne þat is due to no wight but hem þat doon synne dedly [868] Anoþer synne of lecchery is for to bireue a mayden of hir maydenhede / for he þat so doþ; Certes he casteth maydenhede out of the heighest degre þat is in þe present lif [869] and bireuith hir þilke precious fruyt þat þe book clepith þe hundrid fruyt. I can ȝeue it noon oþer name in englisch. but in latyn it is I-cleped Centesimus fructus secundum Ieronimum contra Iouinianum [870] ¶ Certes he þat so doth is cause of many harmes and vilenyes mo þan eny man can rekene. Right as he som tyme is cause of alle þe damages þat bestis doon in þe feeld þat brekith þe hegge or þe closure þurgh which he destroyeþ þat may not be restored; [871] for certes no more may maydenhode be re|stored þan an arm þat is smyten fro þe body retourne agayn to waxe. [872] sche may haue mercy þis wot I wel if sche do penitence but neuer schal it be þat sche nas corrupt [873] ¶ And al be it so þat I haue spoke som what of aduoutre; ȝit is it good to speke of mo perils þat longen to aduoutre for to eschiewe þat foule synne [874] ¶ Aduoutrie in latyn is for to sayn approching of oþer mannes bed þorugh þe which þat whilom were oon fleisch abounden here bodyes to oþer persones [875] ¶ Of þis synne as saiþ þe wise man many harmes cometh þer-of ¶ First brekyng of faith ¶ And certes faith is þe keye of cristendom. [876] and whan þat faith is broke & lorn; soþely cristendom stont veyn and wiþouten fruyt [877] ¶ This synne is eek a þeef. For þefte is generally to speke to reue a wight his þing agayns his wille [878] ¶ Certis þis is þe foulest thefte þat may be whan a womman stelith hir body from hire housbounde and ȝiueth it to hire holour to defoule hire & stelith hir soule fro crist/ and ȝeuith it to þe deuel [879] ¶ This is a fouler þefte þan for to breke a chirche and stele chalises. For þese aduouteres breke þe temple of god spirituelly and stelen þe vessel of grace þat is þe body and þe soule ¶ For Ihū crist schal destroyen hem as saith seint poule [880] ¶ Sothely þis þefte doutyd gretly Ioseph whan þat his lordes wyf prayde him of vilonye whan he saide. lo my lady how my lord haþ take to me vnder my warde al þat he haþ in þis world. ne no þing of his power is oute of my power but oonly ȝe þat ben his wyf. [881] and how schuld I do þanne þis wikkidnes and synne so horribly agayns god and my lord. God it forbede ¶ Alas al to litel is suche trouþe now I-founde [882] ¶ The þridde harm is þe filthe þurgh which þay breken þe comaundement of god and defoule þe auctour of here matrimonye þat is crist. [883] For certis in so moche as þe sacrament of mariage is so noble and so digne; So moche is it þe gretter synne for to breke it. for god makid mariage in paradis in þestat of Innocence to multiplie man kynde to þe seruice of god [884] and þerfore is þe brekyng þe more greuous. Of which breking comeþ fals heires ofte tymes þat wrongfully occupien mennes heritage. and þerfore wolde crist putte hem out of þe regne of heuen þat is heritage to goode folk. [885] Of þis breking comeþ ek ofte tyme þat folk vnwar wedden or synnen wiþ her kynrede and namely þese harlottis þat haunten bordels of þese foule wommen þat mowe be likened to a comune gonge where as men purgen here entrayles of her ordure [886] ¶ what say we ek of putours þat lyuen by þe orrible synne of putrie & constreyne wymmen ȝe som tyme his oughne wyf or his child as don þese baudes to ȝelde hem a certeyn rente of here bodily putrie ¶ Certes þese ben cursede synnes [887] ¶ Vnderstonde eek that avoutrie is set gladly in þe ten comaundements bituixe man|slauȝter and thefte. For it is grettest thefte þat may be. for it is thefte of body and soule / [888] and it is lik homicidie For it kerueth a-tuo hem þat first were makid oon fleisch. and þerfore by þe olde lawe of god þay scholde be slayn [889] ¶ But naþeles by þe lawe of Ihū crist þat is lawe of pite whan he sayde to þe womman þat was founde in aduoutri and schulde haue ben slayn with stoones aftir þe wille of þe Iewes as was her lawe. Go quod ihū crist and haue no more wille to synne. or wilne no more to do synne. [890] ¶ Sothely þe vengeance of avouterye is awardid to . . . . .no gap helle / but it be destourbed by penitence [891] ¶ Ȝit ben þer mo spices of þis cursed synne. as whan þat oon of hem is religious or ellis bothe or for folk þat ben entred in to ordre as subdekin or dekin or prest or hospitalers and euer þe higher þat he be. þe gretter is þe synne. [892] þe þinges þat gretly aggreggith her synne is þe brekyng of here avow of chastite whan þay resceyued ordre. [893] and forþer ouer is soþ þat holy ordre is chef of alle þe tresor of god and his especial signe and mark of chastite to schewe þat þay ben ioyned to chastite which þat is þe moste precious lif þat is [894] ¶ And eek þese ordred folk ben specially tytled to god and of þe special meyne of god of whiche whan þay don dedly synne þay ben þe special traytours of god and of his poeple. . . . .no gap in the MS. and whil þay ben suche traytours; here prayer auayleþ not to þe poeple [895] ¶ Prestis ben aungels as by þe dignite of here misterie ¶ But forsoþe seint poul saith þat Sathanas transformeth him in aungel of light. [896] Soþely þe prest þat hauntith dedly synne; he may be likened to þe aungel of light. . . . .no gap & he semeth aungel of light: but for soþe he is aungil of derknes [897] whiche ben þe sones of belie as schewith in þe book of kinges þat þay were þe sones of belial þat is þe deuel. [898] belial is to say wiþoute Iuge and so faren þay þay þynke hem fre and han no Iuge no more þan hath a fre bole þat takith which cow þat him likeþ in þe toun [899] so faren þay by wommen For right as a fre bole is y-nough for al a toun; / Right so is a wikked prest corrupcioun ynough for al a parisch or for al a contray [900] ¶ These prestes as saiþ þe book ne conne not þe mistery of presthode. þe poeple ne god ne knowe þay not. þay holde hem nought apayed as saith þe book of soden fleissh þat was to hem offred; but þay tooke by force þe fleissch þat is raw; [901] Certes so þese schrewes holde hem not appayed with rosted fleissh and sode fleissh wiþ whiche þe poeple feeden hem in gret reuerence. But þay wil haue raw fleisch of folkes wyues and here douȝtres [902] ¶ And certes þese wommen þat consenten to here harlotrie don gret wrong to crist and to holy chirche and alle halwes / and to alle soules for þay bireuen alle þese hem þat schulde worschipe crist and holy chirche and praye for cristen soules [903] ¶ And þerfore han suche prestis & here lemmans eeke þat consenten to here leccherie þe malisoun of al þe court cristian til þay come to amendement [904] ¶ The þridde spice of aduoutry is som tyme bitwix a man and his wif and þat is whan þay take noon reward in her assembling but only to þe fleischly delit as saith seint Ierom. [905] and ne rekke of no þing but þat þay be assemblid by cause þat þay ben maried. al is good ynough as þinkith hem. [906] But in suche folk haþ þe deuel power as saith þe aungel Raphael to Thoby in here assemblyng þay putten ihū crist out of her herte. and ȝiuen hemself to alle ordure [907] ¶ The ferthe spice is þe assemble of hem þat ben of here kynrede or of hem þat ben of oon affinite or elles wiþ hem wiþ whiche here fadres or here kynrede han delitid in þe synne of leccherie. þis synne makith hem like houndes þat taken noon heede of kynrede [908] and certes parenteal is in tuo maneres eyþer gostly or fleisshly. gostly as for to dele wiþ her gossib. [909] For riȝt / so as he þat engendrith a child is his fleisshly fader; Riȝt so is his godfader his fader espirituel. for which a womman may in no lasse synne assemble wiþ hir gossib þan wiþ hire oughne fleischly fader or broþer [910] ¶ The fifte spice of þilke abhominable synne of which þat no man unneþe oughte to speke ne write. naþeles it is openly rehersed in holy wryt/. [911] . . . . .no gap in the MS. but þough þat holy writ speke of horrible synne; Certes holy writ may not be defouled no more þan þe sonne þat schyneth on a dongehul [912] ¶ Anoþer synne appertenith to lecchery þat comeþ in sleping. & þis synne comeþ ofte to hem þat ben maydenes and eek to hem þat ben corrupte and þis synne men clepen pollucioun þat cometh in .iiij. maners [913] ¶ Som tyme of languisschynge of body for þe humours ben to ranke and to abundaunt in þe body of man. somtyme of infirmite for þe feblenesse of þe vertu retentyf as phisik makeþ mencioun. And som tyme for surfete of mete and drynke. [914] som tyme of vileins þoughtes þat ben enclosed in mannes mynde whan he . . . . .no gap in the MS. kepe him wisely or elles may men synne greuously[No break in the MS.]

[915] ¶ Now cometh þe remedye aȝens lecchery and þat is generally chastite of wikkedhede and continence þat re|streyneþ alle þe desordeigne moeuynges þat comen of fleischly talentes. [916] and euer þe gretter meryt schal he han þat most restreyneth eschau|fynges of ordure of þis synne. and þis is in þre maneres. þat is to sayn chastite of mariage / chastite of/ wickedhede [917] ¶ Now schalt þou vnderstonde þat matrimoigne is leful assemblynge of man and womman þat resceyuen by vertu of þe sacrement þe bond þurgh which þay may not be departid in al here lif þat is to say whil þay lyuen boþe. [918] þis as saith þe boke is a ful gret sacrement God makid it / as I haue said in paradis and wolde him|self be born in mariage [919] and for to holden mariage. he was at þe weddyng wher as he turnede watir in to wyn which was þe firste miracle þat he wrought in erþe biforn his disciples [920] trewe effect of mariage clensith fornicacioun and replenischith holy chirche of good lynage. for þat is þe ende of mariage and it chaungith dedly synne in to venyal bituixe hem þat ben weddid . . . . .no gap in the MS. as wel as þe bodyes [921] ¶ þis is verray mariage þat was first blessed by god er þat þe synne bigan whan naturel lawe was in his first poynt in paradis. and it was ordeyned þat/ oo man schulde haue but oon womman. and oon womman but oon man as saith seint augustyn by many resouns

[922] ¶ First for mariage is figured bitwixe crist and holy chirche ¶ Anoþer is for a man is heed of a womman algate by ordinaunce it/ schulde be so [923] ¶ For if a womman had mo men þan oon; þanne schulde sche haue mo hedes þan oon & þat were an horrible þing biforn god. And eek a womman. myȝte nouȝt please to many folk al at oones. and also þer ne schulde neuer be pees & rest among hem. For euerich wolde aske his oughne þing. [924] and forþer-ouer no man schulde knowe his oughne en|gendrure ne who schulde haue his heritage and þe womman scholde be þe lasse loued fro þe tyme þat sche were ioyned to many men

[925] ¶ Now comeþ how þat a man schulde bere him wiþ his wif and namely in tuo þinges þat is to sayn in sufferaunce and in reuerence and þat schewed crist whan he made first womman. [926] For he ne made hire not of þe heed of adam. for sche schulde not to gret lordschipe haue / [927] þer as þe womman haþ þe maistry sche makith to moche disaray. þer nedith noon ensample of þis. þe experience of þis of day by day oughte suffice [928] ¶ Also certes god ne made nouȝt womman of þe foot of adam. For sche ne scholde nouȝt be holden to lowe for sche can not/ paciently suffre ¶ But god made womman of þe ribbe of adam For womman schulde be felawe vnto man [929] Man schulde bere him to his wif. in faith in trouþe and in loue as saiþ seint poule. aman schulde loue his wif as crist loued holy chirche . . . . .no gap þat deyed for it. so schulde a man for his wyf if/ it were neede

[930] ¶ Now how þat a womman schulde be subiect to hir housbonde þat tellith seint peter. iijo. co. first in obedi|ence [931] and eek/ as saiþ þe decre. A womman þat is a wif as longe as sche is a wif sche haþ noon auctorite to swere ne to bere witnesse wiþoute leue of hir housbonde þat is hir lord. algate he schulde be so by resoun. [932] sche schulde eek serue him in al honeste and ben attempre of hir array / I wot wel þat þay schulde sette here entent to please her house|bondes but nought by here queyntise of array [933] ¶ Seint Ierom saith þat wyues þat ben arrayed in silk and in purpre ne mowe nouȝt cloþe hem in ihū crist ¶ loke what saith saint Iohn eek in þe same matier [934] ¶ Seint gregori saith eek þat no wight sekith precious cloþing ne array but oonly for veyn glorie to ben honoured þe more biforn þe poeple [935] ¶ It is a gret foly a womman to haue fair array outward and hirsilf to ben foul inward [936] ¶ A wyf schulde eek be mesurable in lokyng and in beryng and in laugheing and discrete in alle hir wordes. [937] and aboue alle worldly þinges sche schulde loue hir housebonde/ with al hire herte and to him to be trewe of hir body. [938] so scholde an housebonde eeke ben to his wif. For sith þat al þe body is þe housebondes. so schulde here herte ben. or ellis þer is bitwixe hem tuo as in þat no parfyt mariage [939] ¶ Thanne schal men vnder|stonde; þat for þre þinges a man and his wyf mowe fleischly assemble ¶ The firste is in entent/ of engen|drure of children to the seruice of god. for certis þat is þe cause fynal of matrimoyne [940] ¶ The secounde cause is to ȝelden euerych of hem his dette vn to oþer of his body ¶ For euerych of hem haþ power of his oughne body ¶ The þridde is for to eschiewe leccherie and vilenye. þe ferþe forsoþe is dedly synne. [941] as to þe firste it/ is meritory. The secounde also for as saiþ þe decre þat sche haþ merit of chastite þat ȝeldith to hir housebonde þe dette of hir body. ȝe þough it/ be agayn hir likyng and þe lust of hir hert [942] ¶ The þridde maner is venial synne. and trewly scarsly may eny of þese be wiþoute venial synne for þe corrupcioun and for þe delit. [943] The ferþe maner is for to vnderstonde as if þay assemble oonly for amorous loue and for noon of þe forsayde causes. but for to accomplise þilke brennynge delyt þay rekke neuer how ofte. soþely it is dedly synne and ȝit wiþ sorwe some folk wole more peyne hem for to doon þan to her appetit suffiseþ.

[944] the secounde maner of chastite is to ben a clene wydewe and to eschiew þe embrasynges of men and desiren þe enbrasynges of ihū crist [945] þese ben þo þat han ben wyues and han forgon here hous|bondes and eek wommen þat han doon leccherie and be relieued by penitence / [946] and certis if þat a wyf couþe kepe hir al chast by licence of hir housebonde so þat sche ȝeue non occasioun þat he agilt it were to hir a gret merit [947] ¶ Thise maner wymmen þat obseruen chastite moste be clene in herte as wel as in body and in þought and mesurable in cloþing & in countenaunce. abstinent in etyng and drynkyng in speche and in dede. and þanne is sche þe vessel or þe boyst of the blessed Magdaleyne þat fulfillith holy chirche ful of good odour. [948] ¶ The þridde maner of chastite is virginite. and it/ bihoueþ þat sche be holy in herte and clene of body. and þanne is sche spouse of ihū crist and sche is þe lif of aungels. [949] sche is þe preysyng of þis world. and sche is as þese martires in egalite. sche haþ in hir þat tonge þat tonge may nouȝt telle. [950] virginite bar oure lord ihū crist and virgine was himselue

[951] ¶ Anoþer remedy agayns leccherie is specially to wiþdrawe suche þinges as ȝiuen occasioun to þilke vilonye as is ease and etyng and drynkyng For certes whan þe pot boylith strongely. þe beste remedye is to wiþ|drawe þe fuyr [952] sleping eek in gret quiete is eek a greet/ norice vnto leccherie

[953] ¶ Anoþer remedy agayns leccherie is þat a man or a womman eschiewe þe companye of hem by whiche he doutith to be tempted. for al be it so þat þe dede be wiþstonde; ȝit is þer gret temptacioun [954] sothely a whit wal al þough it brenne not fully by stikyng of a candel ȝet is þe wal blak of stiking of a candel ful ofte tyme. [955] I rede þat no man truste in his oughne perfeccioun but he be strenger þan Sampson or holiere þan Dauyd. and wiser þan salamon

[956] ¶ Now after þat I haue declared ȝow þe seuen dedly synnes as I can & some of here braunches and here remedyes; soþely if I couþe I wolde telle ȝow þe ten comaundementes. [957] but so heigh a doctrine I leue to diuines. but/ naþeles I hope to god þay ben touchid in þis litil tretys eue¶rich of hem alle

 De secunda parte penitencie[in margin]

[958]

NOw for as moche as þe secounde part of penitence stant in confessioun of mouth as I bigan in þe chapitre I say seint austyn saith. [959] Synne is euery word and euery dede / and al þat men coueyten agayn þe lawe of ihū crist. and þis is for to synne in herte in mouthe and in dede by þy fyue wittis þat been. sight heeryng smellyng tastyng or sauoryng or felyng [960] ¶ Now it is good to vnder|stonden þe circumstaunces þat aggreggen moche to euery synne. [961] þou schalt considre what þou art þat dost þe synne wheþir þat þou be mal or femal. old oþer ȝong gentil or þral. free or seruaunt hool or seek. weddid or sengle. ordrid. or vnordred wys or fool clerk or seculer [962] if sche of þy kyn bodily or gostly or noon. if eny of þy kynrede haue synned wiþ hire or noon and many mo þinges

[963] ¶ That oþer circumstaunce is wheþer it be don in fornicacioun or in aduoutry or incest or noon or mayden or noon in maner of homicide or non horrible grete synnes or smale and how longe þou hast continued in synne [964] ¶ The þridde circumstaunce is þe place wher þou hast don synne wheþer in oþer mennes houses or in þin owne in feld or in chirche or in chirchehawe. in chirche dedicate or noon. [965] For if . . . . .no gap in the MS. it be dedicate it is enterdited til it be reconsiled by þe bischop [966] and þe prest scholde be enterdyted þat dede such a vilonye to terme of al his lyf & scholde no more synge no masse and if he dede he schulde do dedly synne at euery tyme þat he song masse [967] ¶ The ferthe circumstaunce is by which media|tours as by which messagers or for entysement or for consentement to bere companye with felawes For many a wrecche for to bere companye wol go to þe deuel of helle. [968] for þay þat eggyn or con|sentyn to þe synne ben parteneres of þe synne and of þe dampnacioun of þe synnere

[969] ¶ The fyfte is how many tymes þat he haþ synned if it be in his mynde / and how ofte þat he haþ falle. [970] For he þat ofte fallith in synne. despiseþ þe mercy of god and encresceth his synne and is vnkynde to crist and he waxith þe more feble to wiþstonde synne and synneþ þe more lightly [971] and þe latter arrisith and is þe more eschiewe to schriue him. and namely to him þat haþ ben his con|fessour. [972] For whiche þat folk whan þay falle agayn in here olde folies eyther þay forletin her confessours al vtterly or ellis þay departen here schrifte in diuers places. but soþely such departed schrifte haþ no mercy of god of his synnes [973] ¶ The sixte circum|staunce is why þat a man synneþ as by which temptacioun . . . . .no gap or by ex|cityng of oþer folk or if he synne wiþ a womman by force or by hir owne assent. [974] or if þe womman maugre hir heed haþ ben enforced or noon. þis schal sche telle. or for coueytise or for pouerte & if it was hire procuryng or noon and alle such maner harneys [975] ¶ The .vij. circumstaunce is in what maner he haþ don his synne or how þat sche haþ suffred þat folk han doon to hire. [976] þe same schal þe man telle pleynly alle þe circumstaunces. and wheþer he haue synned wiþ commune bordeal womman or noon. [977] or doon his synne in holy tyme or noon. in fast|yng tyme or noon. or biforn his schrifte of after his latter schrifte [978] And haþ par aduenture broken his penaunce enioyned þerfore. by whos help or by whos counseil by sorcery or by oþer craft al moste be told [979] ¶ Alle þese þinges after þay be grete or smale engreggen þe consciens of a man and eek þe prest þat is þe iugge may þe better ben auysed of his iugement in ȝiuyng of þy penaunce / and þat is after þy contricioun. [980] For vnderstonde wel þat after þe tyme þat a man haþ defouled his baptisme by synne if he wol come to sauacioun þer is noon oþer wey but penitence and schrifte of mouthe and by satisfaccioun [981] and namely by þo tuo. if þer be a confessour to which he may schryue him. and þe þridde if ȝe haue lif to parforme it.

[982] þanne schal men loke it and considre þat if he wol make a trewe and a profitable confessioun þer moste be foure condiciouns [983] ¶ First it moste ben in sorweful bitternesse of herte as sayde þe king Eȝechiel to god ¶ I wol remembre me alle þe ȝeres of my lif in bitternes of myn hert. [984] Þis condicioun of bitter|nes haþ fyue signes. The first is þat confessioun moste be schamefast not for to couere ne hyde his synne but for he haþ agultid his god and defoulid his soule [985] ¶ And herof saith seint augustyn. The herte tremblith for schame of his synne. and for he hath gret schamefastnes. he is digne to haue gret mercy of god. [986] Such was þe confessioun of þe publican þat wolde nouȝt heue vp his eyȝen to heuen. For he had offendid god of heuen For which schamefastnes; he had anon þe mercy of god [987] ¶ And þere seith seint augustyn þat such schamefast folk ben next forȝeuenes of remissioun [988] ¶ The secounde signe is humilite of confessioun ¶ Of which saiþ seint petre humblith ȝow vnder þe might of god. þe hond of god is myȝty in confessioun For þer-by god forȝiueth þe synnes he alone haþ þe power. [989] and þis humilite schal ben in herte and in signe outward. For right as he haþ humilite to god in his herte; right so schulde he humble his body outward to þe prest þat sittith in goddes place [990] For which in no manere sith þat crist is souerayn and þe prest is his mene and mediatour bi|twix crist and þe synnere and þe synner is þe lasse as by way of resoun; [991] þanne schulde nouȝt þe confessour sitte as lowe as þe synnere but þe synnere schulde knele biforn him or at his feet but if maladye destourbid it for he schal take no keep who sittith þere but in whos place þat he sitteth. [992] a man þat haþ trespassed to a lord and cometh for to axe him of mercy and to maken his accord / and settith him doun anoon by þe lord. men wolde holde him outrageous and not worþy so soone for to haue mercy ne remissioun [993] ¶ The þridde signe is þat þy schrifte schulde be ful of teeris if men may wepe. and if he may not wepe wiþ his bodily eyen let him wepe wiþ his herte. [994] Such was þe confessioun of seint peter. For after he hadde forsake ihū crist. he wente out and wepte ful bitterly [995] ¶ The ferthe signe is þat he lette nouȝt for schame to schewen his confessioun. [996] Such was þe confessioun of þe magdaleyn þat spared for no schame of hem þat were at þe feste to go to oure lord ihū crist and byknowe to him hire synne [997] ¶ The fifte signe is þat a man or a womman be obeisaunt/ to resceyue þe penaunce þat him is enioyned. For certis ihū crist for þe gultes of oon man was obedient to his deth

[998] ¶ The oþer condicioun of verray confessioun is þat it hastily be doon. For certes if a man had a dedly wounde. euer þe lenger þat he taried to warisch himself; þe more wolde it corrupte and haste him to his deþ and eek þe wounde wolde be þe worse to hele [999] ¶ and right so fareþ synne þat long time is in a man vnschewed [1000] Certes a man oughte soone schewe his synne for many causes as for drede of deth þat comeþ sodeinly and not certeyn what tyme it schal come or ben in what place. and eek þe drecchyng of oon synne draweþ anoþer [1001] and eek þe lenger he tarieþ þe ferþer is he from crist and if he abyde vnto his laste day skarsly may he schriue him or re|membre him of his synnes or repente for þe greuous malady of his deth [1002] ¶ And for as moche as he haþ not in his lif herkened Ihū crist whan he haþ spoken; he schal crien to ihū crist at his laste day. and scarsly wol he herken him. [1003] And vnderstonde þat þis condicioun moste haue foure þinges þy schrifte moste ben purueyed byforn and auysed. For wikked haste doþ no profyt and þat a man can schryue him of his synnes. be it of pride or of enuye and so forþ alle þe spices and þe circumstaunces [1004] and þat he haue comprehendid in his mynde the nombre and þe gretnes of his synne . . . . .no gap [1005] and eek þat he be contrit of his sinnes and in stedefast purpos by þe grace of god neuer eft to falle in synne and eek þat he drede and countrewayte himself and þat he flee þe occasiouns of synne to whiche he is enclyned [1006] ¶ Also þat þou schalt schriue þe of alle þin synnes to oon man. and nat a parcel to oon man and a parcel to anoþer man þat is vnderstonde in entent to parte þy confessioun as for schame or drede. for it nys but strangelyng of þy soule [1007] For certes ihū crist is enterely al good. in him is noon imperfeccioun. and þerfore ouþer he forȝiueth al parfitely or elles neuer a del. [1008] I say nought if þer be assigned to þy penitencere for certein synne þat þou art bounde to schewe him al þe remenaunt of þy synnes of whiche þou hast ben schryuen of þy curate but if it like þe of þin humilite. þis is no departyng of schrifte [1009] ne I ne say not þere as I speke of diuisioun of confes|sioun þat if þou haue licence to schryue þe to a discret and to an honest prest wher þe likith and eek by þe licence of þy curate þat þou ne maist wel schriue þe to him of alle þyn synnes. [1010] but let no synne be byhinde vntold as fer as þou hast remem|braunce. [1011] and whan þou schalt þe schriue to þi curate; telle him eeke al þy synne þat þou hast doo sith þou were last I-schryue. Þis is no wikkid entent of diuisioun of schrifte

[1012] ¶ Also þy verrey schrifte askith certeyn con|diciouns. First þat þou schriue þe by þy fre wille nouȝt constreyned ne for schame of folk ne for maladye or such þing. for is resoun þat he þat trespassith wiþ his fre wille . . .no gap in the MS. confesse his trespas. [1013] noon oþer man schal telle his synne but himself. ne he schal not nayte or denye his synne ne wraþþe him with þe prest for his amonestynge to lete synne [1014] ¶ The secounde condicioun is þat þy schrifte be laweful þat is to sayn þat þou þat schriuest þe and eek þe prest þat herith þy confessioun ben verrayly in þe feith of holy chirche [1015] and þat a man be nought despaired of þe mercy of Ihū crist/ as caym or Iudas. [1016] and eek a man moot accuse himself of his owne trespas and not another; but he schal blame and wite himself and his oughne malice of his synne / and noon other [1017] ¶ But naþeless if þat anoþer man by occasioun or ellis enticer of his synne or þat þe estate of a persone be such þurgh which his synne aggreggith or elles þat he may not playnly schryue hym but he telle þe persone wiþ which he haþ synned þanne may he telle it [1018] so þat his entent be nouȝt to bakbyte þe persone; but oonly to declare his con|fessioun

[1019] Thow schalt nouȝt eke make no lesyng in þy confessioun for humilite . . .no gap to sayn þat þou hast don synnes of whiche þou were neuer gulty [1020] as seint augustyn saiþ ¶ If þou by cause of humilite makest lesynges on þiself. þough þou were not in synne biforn ȝit art þou þanne in synne þurgh þy lesynges [1021] ¶ Thou most schewe þy synne by þyn oughne propre mouth but þou woxe dombe. and not by no lettre. for þou þat hast don þe synne þou schalt haue þe schame. [1022] þou schalt nouȝt peynte þy confessioun by faire subtil wordes to couer þe more þy synne for þanne bigilist þou þiself and not þe prest. þou most telle it platly be it neuer so foul ne so horrible. [1023] þou schalt eek/ schriue þe to a prest þat is discrete to counsaile þe ¶ And þou schalt nouȝt schryue þe for veinneglorie ne for ypocrisie. . . . .no gap in the MS. [1024] ¶ þou schalt not eek renne to þe prest sodeinly to telle him lightly þy synne as who-so tellith a tale or a iape. but auysily and wiþ gret deuocioun; [1025] and generally schriue þe ofte. if þou ofte falle; ofte þou aryse by confessioun [1026] ¶ And þough þou schryue þe ofter þan oones of synne of which þou hast ben schriuen; it is þe more merite and as saith seint augustyn ¶ Thou schalt haue þe more lightly relessyng and grace of god bothe of synne and of payne. [1027] and certes oones a ȝer atte atte lest/ way it is laweful to be houselyd. For sothely oones a ȝer alle þinges renouelen[No break in the MS.]

[1028] ¶ Now haue I told of verray confessioun þat is the secounde partye of penitence

¶ De tercia parte penitencie

[1029]

The þridde partye of penitence is Satisfaccioun and þat stondith generally in almes dede and bodily peyne [1030] ¶ Now ben þer [. . . .] of almes dede ¶ Contricioun of herte where a man offereþ himself to god ¶ The secounde is. to haue pite of þe defaute of his neighebor ¶ The þridde is. in good counseil and comfort gostly and bodily where men han neede and namely in sustenaunce of mennes foode. [1031] and take keep þat a man haþ neede of . . . . .no gap in the MS. cloþing and herberwe. he haþ [. . . . .] charitable counseil and visityng in prisoun and malady. and sepulture of his dede body [1032] ¶ And if þou may not visite þe needeful wiþ þy persone; visite by þy message and by þy ȝiftes. [1033] þese ben general almesses or werkes of charite of hem þat han temporal riches or discrecioun in counselynge. Of þese werkes schalt þou hieren at þe day of doom

[1034] þis almes schalt þou doon of þin oughne propur þinges and hastily and priuely if þou maist. [1035] But naþeles if þou maist not do priuely; þou schalt nouȝt forbere to do almes þough men se it / so þat it be nouȝt don for þank of þe world but oonly for þonk of ihū crist [1036] ¶ For as witnessith seint Mathewe .vto. ¶ A cite may not ben hid þat is set on a mountayn ne non light not a lanterne and put it vnder a buisschel but men sette it on a candel stikke to lighte þe men in þe hous. [1037] Right so schal ȝoure light lighten biforn men þat men may se ȝoure goode werkes and glorifien ȝoure fader þat is in heuen

[1038] ¶ Now as to speke of bodily peyne. it is in prayere in wakinges in fastynges. in vertuous techinges of orisouns. [1039] ȝe schul vnderstonde þat orisouns or prayeres is for to seyn a pitous wil of herte þat redresseþ in god and expressith it by word outward to remembre harmes and to haue þinges espirituel & durable and som tyme temporel þinges of whiche orisouns of þe orisoun of þe pater noster haþ oure lord ihū crist enclosed most þinges [1040] ¶ Certis it is priuileged of þre þinges in his dignite . . . . .no gap þan any oþer prayer. For ihū crist himself maked it. [1041] and it is schort for it schulde be coud þe more lightly. and forto wiþholde it þe more esily in herte and helpe himselfe þe oftere with þe orisoun [1042] and for a man schulde be þe lasse wery to say it. and for a man may not excuse him to lerne it. it is so schort and so easy and for it comprehendith in it self alle goode prayeres [1043] ¶ The exposicioun of þis holy praier þat is so excellent and so digne. I bitake to þese maystres of theology. saue þus moche wol I sayn whan þou prayest/ þat god schulde forȝiue þe þy gultes as þou forȝiuest hem þat þey gulten to þe; be ful wel war. þat þou be not out of charite. [1044] þis holy orisoun amenisith eek venial synne. and þerfore it appendith specially to penitence.

[1045] þis praier moste be trewely sayd and in verray faith. and þat men pray to god ordinatly and dis|cretly & deuoutly and alway a man schulde putte his wille to be subiect/ to þe wille of god [1046] ¶ þis orisoun moste eek be sayd wiþ greet humblesse and ful pure honestly and nouȝt to þe annoyaunce of eny man or womman ¶ It most eek be continued with þe werkis of charite. [1047] hit auaylith agayns þe vices of þe soule / as seiþ seint Ierom ¶ By fastyng ben saued þe vices of þe soule.

[1048] ¶ After þis þou schalt vnderstonde þat bodily peyne stant in wakyng. for ihū crist saith ¶ wakith and prayeth þat ȝe ne entre not/ in to temptacioun. [1049] ȝe schul vnderstonde þat fast|ynge stont in þre þinges ¶ In forbering of bodily mete and drink. and in forberyng of worldly iolite. and in for|bering of worldly synne. þis is to sayn þat a man schal kepe him fro dedly synne in al þat he may

[1050] ¶ And þou schalt vnderstonde eek þat god ordeyned fastyng. and to fastyng appurteynen foure þinges [1051] ¶ largesce to pouer folk. gladnes of hert espirituel. not to ben angry ne annoyed ne grucche for he fastith. and also resonable hour for to ete. ete by mesure þat is to sayn a man schulde not ete in vntyme ne sitte þe lenger at his mete for he fastith

[1052] ¶ Thanne schal þou vnderstonde þat bodily peyne stant in discipline or teching by word or by writyng or by ensample. Also in heires weryng or of stamyn or of habeiouns on her naked fleisch for cristes sake and suche maner penaunce [1053] ¶ But ware þe wel þat such maner penaunce of þyn fleissh make nouȝt þin herte bitter or angry or anoyed of þiself. for better is to cast away þin hayre þan for to caste away þe swet|nes of ihū crist. [1054] and þerfor seiþ seint poule ¶ Clothe ȝow as þay þat ben chosen of god in herte of misericorde debonairete. sufferaunce and such maner of cloþing. of þe which ihū crist is more appayed þan of haires or of hauberkis

[1055] ¶ þan is eek in knokkyng on þe brest. in scourgyng wiþ ȝerdes. in knelynges. in tribulaciouns [1056] in suffring paciently wronges þat ben doon to him/ and eek in pacient sufferaunce of maledies or lesyng of worldly catel or of wif. or of child or of oþir frendes

[1057] ¶ Thanne schalt þou vnderstonde whiche þinges destourben penaunce / and þis is in foure þinges. þat is. drede. schame. hope. and wanhope. þat is desperacioun [1058] ¶ And for to speke first/ of drede for which he weneth þat he may suffre no penaunce. [1059] þer agayns is remedye for to þinke þat bodily penaunce is but schort and litel at þe regard of þe peyne of helle þat is cruel and so long þat it/ lastith wiþouten ende

[1060] ¶ Now agains þe schame þat a man haþ to schryue him and namely þese ypocrites þat wolde be holde so parfyt þat þay haue no meede to schriue hem. [1061] agayns þat schame schulde a man þinke þat by way of resoun þat he hath not ben aschamed to do foule þinges. Certis him oughte not ben aschamed to doon faire þinges & goode þinges and þat is confessioun [1062] ¶ And man scholde eek þinke þat god seeth alle þy þoughtes and þy werkes to him may no þing be hyd ne couered [1063] men schulde eek remembre hem of þe schame þat is to come at/ þe day of doom to hem þat ben nought penitent and schriuen in þis present lif. [1064] For alle þe creatures in heuen ne in erthe and in helle schuln seen apertly al þat he hydith in þis world

[1065] ¶ Now for to speke of hem þat ben so negligent and slowe to schryue hem stant in tuo maneres [1066] ¶ þat oon is. þat he hopith for to lyue longe and for to purchace moche riches for his delyt. and þanne he wol schriue him. and as he saith he may as him semith tymely ynough come to schrifte [1067] ¶ Another is of þe Surquidie þat he haþ in cristes mercy [1068] ¶ Agains þe firste vice he schal þinke þat oure lif is in no sikernesse. and eek þat al þe riches in þis world ben in aduenture and passen as a schadowe on þe wal [1069] and as saith seint Gregory þat it apperteyneth to þe grete rightwisnes of god þat neuer schal þe peyne stynte of hem þat neuer wolde wiþdrawe hem fro synne her þankes. but ay continue in synne for þilke perpetuel wille to doon synne. schul þay haue perpetuel peyne

[1070] ¶ wanhope in tuo maneres is. þe firste wan|hope is in þe mercy of crist ¶ That oþer is þat þay þinke þay mighte nought longe perseuer in good|nesse [1071] ¶ The firste wanhope comeþ of þat he demyth þat he synned so highly and so ofte and so longe layn in synne þat he schal not be saued [1072] ¶ Certis aȝens þat cursed wanhope schulde he þenke þat þe passioun of Ihū crist is more strong for to vnbynde þan synne is strong for to bynde [1073] ¶ Agains þe secounde wanhope he schal þinke þat als ofte as he fallith; he may arise agayn by penitence / And þough he neuer so longe haue leyn in synne; þe mercy of crist is alway redy to resceyue him to mercy [1074] ¶ Agains þe wanhope þat he demeth þat he þinkith he schulde not longe perseuere in goodnesse. he schal þinke þat þe febles of þe deuel may no þing doon but men wol suffre him. [1075] And eek he schal haue strengþe of þe help of god and of al holy chirche and of þe proteccioun of aungels if him list

[1076] ¶ Thanne schal men vnderstonde what is þe fruyt of penaunce And after þe word of ihū crist ¶ hit is þe endeles blisse of heuen [1077] þer ioye haþ no contrariete of wo ne of penaunce ne greuaunce. þer alle harmes ben passed of þis present lif. ther as is þe sikernesse fro þe peyne of helle. . . . .[1078] . . . . .no gap in the MS. þere as is þe body of man þat whilom was seek. frel and feble and is immortal. and so strong and so hool þat þer may no þing empeire it. [1079] þer nys neyþer honger þurst ne colde. but euery soule replenisched wiþ þe sight and þe parfyt knowyng of god [1080] ¶ This blisful regne may men purchace by pouerte espirituel and þe glorie by lowe|nes. þe plente of ioye by hunger and þurst and reste by trauaile and þe lif by deth and mortificacioun of synne.[Small break in the MS.]

 ¶ Preces de Chauceres./

[1081]

NOw pray I to ȝow alle þat heren þis litel tretis or reden þat if þer be any þing þat likes hem þat þer-of þay þanke oure lord ihū crist of whom procedith alle witte and al goodnes [1082] ¶ And if þer be eny þing þat displesith hem I pray hem þat þay arette it to þe defaute of myn vnconnyng and not to my wille þat wolde fayn haue sayd better if I hadde connyng [1083] ¶ For þe book saiþ. al þat is writen. for oure doctrine is writen . . . . .no gap [1084] For I biseke ȝow mekely for þe mercy of god þat ȝe pray for me þat god haue mercy on me and forȝeue me my giltes [1085] and nameliche my translaciouns and of endit|yng/ in worldly vanitees. whiche I reuoke in my re|tracciouns [1086] as is þe book of troyles. þe book also of fame. þe book of .29. ladies þe book of þe duchesses. þe book of seint valentines day and of þe parliment of briddes. þe Tales of Cauntur|bury alle þilke þat sounen in to synne [1087] þe book Many of þe leo. and oþer bokes if þay were in my mynde / or remembraunce and many a song and many a leccherous lay. Of þe whiche crist for his grete mercy forȝiue me þe synnes [1088] ¶ But of þe translacioun of boce de consolacione and oþer bokes of consolacioun and of legend of lyues of seintes and omelies and moralitees and of deuocioun. [1089] that þanke I oure lord ihū crist and his moder and alle þe seintes in heuen [1090] bisekyng hem þat þay fro hennysforth vn-to my lyues ende sende me grace to biwayle my gultes and to studien to þe sauacioun of my soule and graunte me grace and space of verray repentaunce. penitence. confessioun. and satisfaccioun. to don in þis present lif [1091] þurgh þe benigne grace of him þat is king of kynges and prest of alle prestis þat bought vs wiþ his precious blood of his hert; [1092] So þat I moote be oon of hem at þe day of doom that schal be sauyd Qui cum patre