Gower, John, 1325?-1408. Confessio amantis
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library

| Table of Contents for this work |
| All on-line databases | Etext Center Homepage |

Liber V


5.1: Ferst whan the hyhe god began
5.2: This world, and that the kinde of man
5.3: Was falle into no gret encress,
5.4: For worldes good tho was no press,
5.5: Bot al was set to the comune.
5.6: Thei spieken thanne of no fortune
5.7: Or forto lese or forto winne,
5.8: Til Avarice broghte it inne;
5.9: And that was whan the world was woxe
5.10: Of man, of hors, of Schep, of Oxe,
5.11: And that men knewen the moneie.
5.12: Tho wente pes out of the weie
5.13: And werre cam on every side,
5.14: Which alle love leide aside
5.15: And of comun his propre made,
5.16: So that in stede of schovele and spade
5.17: The scharpe swerd was take on honde;
5.18: And in this wise it cam to londe,
5.19: Wherof men maden dyches depe
5.20: And hyhe walles forto kepe
5.21: The gold which Avarice encloseth.
5.22: Bot al to lytel him supposeth,
5.23: Thogh he mihte al the world pourchace;


-1.403-



5.24: For what thing that he may embrace
5.25: Of gold, of catel or of lond,
5.26: He let it nevere out of his hond,
5.27: Bot get him more and halt it faste,
5.28: As thogh the world scholde evere laste.
5.29: So is he lych unto the helle;
5.30: For as these olde bokes telle,
5.31: What comth therinne, lasse or more,
5.32: It schal departe neveremore:
5.33: Thus whanne he hath his cofre loken,
5.34: It schal noght after ben unstoken,
5.35: Bot whanne him list to have a syhte
5.36: Of gold, hou that it schyneth brihte,
5.37: That he ther on mai loke and muse;
5.38: For otherwise he dar noght use
5.39: To take his part, or lasse or more.
5.40: So is he povere, and everemore
5.41: Him lacketh that he hath ynowh:
5.42: An Oxe draweth in the plowh,
5.43: Of that himself hath no profit;
5.44: A Schep riht in the same plit
5.45: His wolle berth, bot on a day
5.46: An other takth the flees away:
5.47: Thus hath he, that he noght ne hath,
5.48: For he therof his part ne tath.
5.49: To seie hou such a man hath good,
5.50: Who so that reson understod,
5.51: It is impropreliche seid,
5.52: For good hath him and halt him teid,
5.53: That he ne gladeth noght withal,
5.54: Bot is unto his good a thral,
5.55: And as soubgit thus serveth he,
5.56: Wher that he scholde maister be:
5.57: Such is the kinde of thaverous.
5.58: Mi Sone, as thou art amerous,


-1.404-



5.59: Tell if thou farst of love so.
5.60: Mi fader, as it semeth, no;
5.61: That averous yit nevere I was,
5.62: So as ye setten me the cas:
5.63: For as ye tolden here above,
5.64: In full possession of love
5.65: Yit was I nevere hier tofore,
5.66: So that me thenketh wel therfore,
5.67: I mai excuse wel my dede.
5.68: Bot of mi will withoute drede,
5.69: If I that tresor mihte gete,
5.70: It scholde nevere be foryete,
5.71: That I ne wolde it faste holde,
5.72: Til god of love himselve wolde
5.73: That deth ous scholde part atuo.
5.74: For lieveth wel, I love hire so,
5.75: That evene with min oghne lif,
5.76: If I that swete lusti wif
5.77: Mihte ones welden at my wille,
5.78: For evere I wolde hire holde stille:
5.79: And in this wise, taketh kepe,
5.80: If I hire hadde, I wolde hire kepe,
5.81: And yit no friday wolde I faste,
5.82: Thogh I hire kepte and hielde faste.
5.83: Fy on the bagges in the kiste!
5.84: I hadde ynogh, if I hire kiste.
5.85: For certes, if sche were myn,
5.86: I hadde hir levere than a Myn
5.87: Of Gold; for al this worldesriche
5.88: Ne mihte make me so riche
5.89: As sche, that is so inly good.
5.90: I sette noght of other good;
5.91: For mihte I gete such a thing,
5.92: I hadde a tresor for a king;
5.93: And thogh I wolde it faste holde,
5.94: I were thanne wel beholde.
5.95: Bot I mot pipe nou with lasse,


-1.405-



5.96: And suffre that it overpasse,
5.97: Noght with mi will, for thus I wolde
5.98: Ben averous, if that I scholde.
5.99: Bot, fader, I you herde seie
5.100: Hou thaverous hath yit som weie,
5.101: Wherof he mai be glad; for he
5.102: Mai whanne him list his tresor se,
5.103: And grope and fiele it al aboute,
5.104: Bot I fulofte am schet theroute,
5.105: Ther as my worthi tresor is.
5.106: So is mi lif lich unto this,
5.107: That ye me tolden hier tofore,
5.108: Hou that an Oxe his yock hath bore
5.109: For thing that scholde him noght availe:
5.110: And in this wise I me travaile;
5.111: For who that evere hath the welfare,
5.112: I wot wel that I have the care,
5.113: For I am hadd and noght ne have,
5.114: And am, as who seith, loves knave.
5.115: Nou demeth in youre oghne thoght,
5.116: If this be Avarice or noght.
5.117: Mi Sone, I have of thee no wonder,
5.118: Thogh thou to serve be put under
5.119: With love, which to kinde acordeth:
5.120: Bot, so as every bok recordeth,
5.121: It is to kinde no plesance
5.122: That man above his sustienance
5.123: Unto the gold schal serve and bowe,
5.124: For that mai no reson avowe.
5.125: Bot Avarice natheles,
5.126: If he mai geten his encress
5.127: Of gold, that wole he serve and kepe,
5.128: For he takth of noght elles kepe,
5.129: Bot forto fille hise bagges large;
5.130: And al is to him bot a charge,
5.131: For he ne parteth noght withal,
5.132: Bot kepth it, as a servant schal:


-1.406-



5.133: And thus, thogh that he multeplie
5.134: His gold, withoute tresorie
5.135: He is, for man is noght amended
5.136: With gold, bot if it be despended
5.137: To mannes us; wherof I rede
5.138: A tale, and tak therof good hiede,
5.139: Of that befell be olde tyde,
5.140: As telleth ous the clerk Ovide.
5.141: Bachus, which is the god of wyn,
5.142: Acordant unto his divin
5.143: A Prest, the which Cillenus hihte,
5.144: He hadde, and fell so that be nyhte
5.145: This Prest was drunke and goth astraied,
5.146: Wherof the men were evele apaied
5.147: In Frigelond, where as he wente.
5.148: Bot ate laste a cherl him hente
5.149: With strengthe of other felaschipe,
5.150: So that upon his drunkeschipe
5.151: Thei bounden him with chenes faste,
5.152: And forth thei ladde him als so faste
5.153: Unto the king, which hihte Myde.
5.154: Bot he, that wolde his vice hyde,
5.155: This courteis king, tok of him hiede,
5.156: And bad that men him scholde lede
5.157: Into a chambre forto kepe,
5.158: Til he of leisir hadde slepe.
5.159: And tho this Prest was sone unbounde,
5.160: And up a couche fro the grounde
5.161: To slepe he was leid softe ynowh;
5.162: And whanne he wok, the king him drowh
5.163: To his presence and dede him chiere,
5.164: So that this Prest in such manere,
5.165: Whil that him liketh, there he duelleth:
5.166: And al this he to Bachus telleth,
5.167: Whan that he cam to him ayein.
5.168: And whan that Bachus herde sein


-1.407-



5.169: How Mide hath don his courtesie,
5.170: Him thenkth it were a vilenie,
5.171: Bot he rewarde him for his dede,
5.172: So as he mihte of his godhiede.
5.173: Unto this king this god appiereth
5.174: And clepeth, and that other hiereth:
5.175: This god to Mide thonketh faire
5.176: Of that he was so debonaire
5.177: Toward his Prest, and bad him seie:
5.178: What thing it were he wolde preie,
5.179: He scholde it have, of worldes good.
5.180: This king was glad, and stille stod,
5.181: And was of his axinge in doute,
5.182: And al the world he caste aboute,
5.183: What thing was best for his astat,
5.184: And with himself stod in debat
5.185: Upon thre pointz, the whiche I finde
5.186: Ben lievest unto mannes kinde.
5.187: The ferste of hem it is delit,
5.188: The tuo ben worschipe and profit.
5.189: And thanne he thoghte, "If that I crave
5.190: Delit, thogh I delit mai have,
5.191: Delit schal passen in myn age:
5.192: That is no siker avantage,
5.193: For every joie bodily
5.194: Schal ende in wo: delit forthi
5.195: Wol I noght chese. And if worschipe
5.196: I axe and of the world lordschipe,
5.197: That is an occupacion
5.198: Of proud ymaginacion,
5.199: Which makth an herte vein withinne;
5.200: Ther is no certain forto winne,
5.201: For lord and knave al is o weie,
5.202: Whan thei be bore and whan thei deie.
5.203: And if I profit axe wolde,
5.204: I not in what manere I scholde
5.205: Of worldes good have sikernesse;


-1.408-



5.206: For every thief upon richesse
5.207: Awaiteth forto robbe and stele:
5.208: Such good is cause of harmes fele.
5.209: And also, thogh a man at ones
5.210: Of al the world withinne his wones
5.211: The tresor myhte have everydel,
5.212: Yit hadde he bot o mannes del
5.213: Toward himself, so as I thinke,
5.214: Of clothinge and of mete and drinke,
5.215: For more, outake vanite,
5.216: Ther hath no lord in his degre."
5.217: And thus upon the pointz diverse
5.218: Diverseliche he gan reherce
5.219: What point him thoghte for the beste;
5.220: Bot pleinly forto gete him reste
5.221: He can so siker weie caste.
5.222: And natheles yit ate laste
5.223: He fell upon the coveitise
5.224: Of gold; and thanne in sondri wise
5.225: He thoghte, as I have seid tofore,
5.226: Hou tresor mai be sone lore,
5.227: And hadde an inly gret desir
5.228: Touchende of such recoverir,
5.229: Hou that he mihte his cause availe
5.230: To gete him gold withoute faile.
5.231: Withinne his herte and thus he preiseth
5.232: The gold, and seith hou that it peiseth
5.233: Above al other metall most:
5.234: "The gold," he seith, "may lede an host
5.235: To make werre ayein a King;
5.236: The gold put under alle thing,
5.237: And set it whan him list above;
5.238: The gold can make of hate love
5.239: And werre of pes and ryht of wrong,
5.240: And long to schort and schort to long;
5.241: Withoute gold mai be no feste,
5.242: Gold is the lord of man and beste,


-1.409-



5.243: And mai hem bothe beie and selle;
5.244: So that a man mai sothly telle
5.245: That al the world to gold obeieth."
5.246: Forthi this king to Bachus preieth
5.247: To grante him gold, bot he excedeth
5.248: Mesure more than him nedeth.
5.249: Men tellen that the maladie
5.250: Which cleped is ydropesie
5.251: Resembled is unto this vice
5.252: Be weie of kinde of Avarice:
5.253: The more ydropesie drinketh,
5.254: The more him thursteth, for him thinketh
5.255: That he mai nevere drinke his fille;
5.256: So that ther mai nothing fulfille
5.257: The lustes of his appetit:
5.258: And riht in such a maner plit
5.259: Stant Avarice and evere stod;
5.260: The more he hath of worldes good,
5.261: The more he wolde it kepe streyte,
5.262: And evere mor and mor coveite.
5.263: And riht in such condicioun
5.264: Withoute good discrecioun
5.265: This king with avarice is smite,
5.266: That al the world it myhte wite:
5.267: For he to Bachus thanne preide,
5.268: That wherupon his hond he leide,
5.269: It scholde thurgh his touche anon
5.270: Become gold, and therupon
5.271: This god him granteth as he bad.
5.272: Tho was this king of Frige glad,
5.273: And forto put it in assai
5.274: With al the haste that he mai,
5.275: He toucheth that, he toucheth this,
5.276: And in his hond al gold it is,
5.277: The Ston, the Tree, the Lef, the gras,
5.278: The flour, the fruit, al gold it was.


-1.410-



5.279: Thus toucheth he, whil he mai laste
5.280: To go, bot hunger ate laste
5.281: Him tok, so that he moste nede
5.282: Be weie of kinde his hunger fede.
5.283: The cloth was leid, the bord was set,
5.284: And al was forth tofore him fet,
5.285: His disch, his coppe, his drinke, his mete;
5.286: Bot whanne he wolde or drinke or ete,
5.287: Anon as it his mouth cam nyh,
5.288: It was al gold, and thanne he syh
5.289: Of Avarice the folie.
5.290: And he with that began to crie,
5.291: And preide Bachus to foryive
5.292: His gilt, and soffre him forto live
5.293: And be such as he was tofore,
5.294: So that he were not forlore.
5.295: This god, which herde of his grevance,
5.296: Tok rowthe upon his repentance,
5.297: And bad him go forth redily
5.298: Unto a flod was faste by,
5.299: Which Paceole thanne hyhte,
5.300: In which as clene as evere he myhte
5.301: He scholde him waisshen overal,
5.302: And seide him thanne that he schal
5.303: Recovere his ferste astat ayein.
5.304: This king, riht as he herde sein,
5.305: Into the flod goth fro the lond,
5.306: And wissh him bothe fot and hond,
5.307: And so forth al the remenant,
5.308: As him was set in covenant:
5.309: And thanne he syh merveilles strange,
5.310: The flod his colour gan to change,
5.311: The gravel with the smale Stones
5.312: To gold thei torne bothe at ones,
5.313: And he was quit of that he hadde,
5.314: And thus fortune his chance ladde.
5.315: And whan he sih his touche aweie,


-1.411-



5.316: He goth him hom the rihte weie
5.317: And liveth forth as he dede er,
5.318: And putte al Avarice afer,
5.319: And the richesse of gold despiseth,
5.320: And seith that mete and cloth sufficeth.
5.321: Thus hath this king experience
5.322: Hou foles don the reverence
5.323: To gold, which of his oghne kinde
5.324: Is lasse worth than is the rinde
5.325: To sustienance of mannes fode;
5.326: And thanne he made lawes goode
5.327: And al his thing sette upon skile:
5.328: He bad his poeple forto tile
5.329: Here lond, and live under the lawe,
5.330: And that thei scholde also forthdrawe
5.331: Bestaile, and seche non encress
5.332: Of gold, which is the breche of pes.
5.333: For this a man mai finde write,
5.334: Tofor the time, er gold was smite
5.335: In Coign, that men the florin knewe,
5.336: Ther was welnyh noman untrewe;
5.337: Tho was ther nouther schield ne spere
5.338: Ne dedly wepne forto bere;
5.339: Tho was the toun withoute wal,
5.340: Which nou is closed overal;
5.341: Tho was ther no brocage in londe,
5.342: Which nou takth every cause on honde:
5.343: So mai men knowe, hou the florin
5.344: Was moder ferst of malengin
5.345: And bringere inne of alle werre,
5.346: Wherof this world stant out of herre
5.347: Thurgh the conseil of Avarice,
5.348: Which of his oghne propre vice
5.349: Is as the helle wonderfull;
5.350: For it mai neveremor be full,
5.351: That what as evere comth therinne,
5.352: Awey ne may it nevere winne.
5.353: Bot Sone myn, do thou noght so,


-1.412-



5.354: Let al such Avarice go,
5.355: And tak thi part of that thou hast:
5.356: I bidde noght that thou do wast,
5.357: Bot hold largesce in his mesure;
5.358: And if thou se a creature,
5.359: Which thurgh poverte is falle in nede,
5.360: Yif him som good, for this I rede
5.361: To him that wol noght yiven here,
5.362: What peine he schal have elleswhere.
5.363: Ther is a peine amonges alle
5.364: Benethe in helle, which men calle
5.365: The wofull peine of Tantaly,
5.366: Of which I schal thee redely
5.367: Devise hou men therinne stonde.
5.368: In helle, thou schalt understonde,
5.369: Ther is a flod of thilke office,
5.370: Which serveth al for Avarice:
5.371: What man that stonde schal therinne,
5.372: He stant up evene unto the chinne;
5.373: Above his hed also ther hongeth
5.374: A fruyt, which to that peine longeth,
5.375: And that fruit toucheth evere in on
5.376: His overlippe: and therupon
5.377: Swich thurst and hunger him assaileth,
5.378: That nevere his appetit ne faileth.
5.379: Bot whanne he wolde his hunger fede,
5.380: The fruit withdrawth him ate nede,
5.381: And thogh he heve his hed on hyh,
5.382: The fruit is evere aliche nyh,
5.383: So is the hunger wel the more:
5.384: And also, thogh him thurste sore
5.385: And to the water bowe a doun,
5.386: The flod in such condicioun
5.387: Avaleth, that his drinke areche
5.388: He mai noght. Lo nou, which a wreche,
5.389: That mete and drinke is him so couth,


-1.413-



5.390: And yit ther comth non in his mouth!
5.391: Lich to the peines of this flod
5.392: Stant Avarice in worldes good:
5.393: He hath ynowh and yit him nedeth,
5.394: For his skarsnesse it him forbiedeth,
5.395: And evere his hunger after more
5.396: Travaileth him aliche sore,
5.397: So is he peined overal.
5.398: Forthi thi goodes forth withal,
5.399: Mi Sone, loke thou despende,
5.400: Wherof thou myht thiself amende
5.401: Bothe hier and ek in other place.
5.402: And also if thou wolt pourchace
5.403: To be beloved, thou most use
5.404: Largesce, for if thou refuse
5.405: To yive for thi loves sake,
5.406: It is no reson that thou take
5.407: Of love that thou woldest crave.
5.408: Forthi, if thou wolt grace have,
5.409: Be gracious and do largesse,
5.410: Of Avarice and the seknesse
5.411: Eschuie above alle other thing,
5.412: And tak ensample of Mide king
5.413: And of the flod of helle also,
5.414: Where is ynowh of alle wo.
5.415: And thogh ther were no matiere
5.416: Bot only that we finden hiere,
5.417: Men oghten Avarice eschuie;
5.418: For what man thilke vice suie,
5.419: He get himself bot litel reste.
5.420: For hou so that the body reste,
5.421: The herte upon the gold travaileth,
5.422: Whom many a nyhtes drede assaileth;
5.423: For thogh he ligge abedde naked,
5.424: His herte is everemore awaked,
5.425: And dremeth, as he lith to slepe,
5.426: How besi that he is to kepe


-1.414-



5.427: His tresor, that no thief it stele.
5.428: Thus hath he bot a woful wele.
5.429: And riht so in the same wise,
5.430: If thou thiself wolt wel avise,
5.431: Ther be lovers of suche ynowe,
5.432: That wole unto no reson bowe.
5.433: If so be that thei come above,
5.434: Whan thei ben maistres of here love,
5.435: And that thei scholden be most glad,
5.436: With love thei ben most bestad,
5.437: So fain thei wolde it holden al.
5.438: Here herte, here yhe is overal,
5.439: And wenen every man be thief,
5.440: To stele awey that hem is lief;
5.441: Thus thurgh here oghne fantasie
5.442: Thei fallen into Jelousie.
5.443: Thanne hath the Schip tobroke his cable,
5.444: With every wynd and is muable.
5.445: Mi fader, for that ye nou telle,
5.446: I have herd ofte time telle
5.447: Of Jelousie, bot what it is
5.448: Yit understod I nevere er this:
5.449: Wherfore I wolde you beseche,
5.450: That ye me wolde enforme and teche
5.451: What maner thing it mihte be.
5.452: Mi Sone, that is hard to me:
5.453: Bot natheles, as I have herd,
5.454: Now herkne and thou schalt ben ansuerd.
5.455: Among the men lacke of manhode
5.456: In Mariage upon wifhode
5.457: Makth that a man himself deceiveth,
5.458: Wherof it is that he conceiveth
5.459: That ilke unsely maladie,
5.460: The which is cleped Jelousie:
5.461: Of which if I the proprete
5.462: Schal telle after the nycete,


-1.415-



5.463: So as it worcheth on a man,
5.464: A Fievere it is cotidian,
5.465: Which every day wol come aboute,
5.466: Wher so a man be inne or oute.
5.467: At hom if that a man wol wone,
5.468: This Fievere is thanne of comun wone
5.469: Most grevous in a mannes yhe:
5.470: For thanne he makth him tote and pryhe,
5.471: Wher so as evere his love go;
5.472: Sche schal noght with hir litel too
5.473: Misteppe, bot he se it al.
5.474: His yhe is walkende overal;
5.475: Wher that sche singe or that sche dance,
5.476: He seth the leste contienance,
5.477: If sche loke on a man aside
5.478: Or with him roune at eny tyde,
5.479: Or that sche lawghe, or that sche loure,
5.480: His yhe is ther at every houre.
5.481: And whanne it draweth to the nyht,
5.482: If sche thanne is withoute lyht,
5.483: Anon is al the game schent;
5.484: For thanne he set his parlement
5.485: To speke it whan he comth to bedde,
5.486: And seith, "If I were now to wedde,
5.487: I wolde neveremore have wif."
5.488: And so he torneth into strif
5.489: The lust of loves duete,
5.490: And al upon diversete.
5.491: If sche be freissh and wel araied,
5.492: He seith hir baner is displaied
5.493: To clepe in gestes fro the weie:
5.494: And if sche be noght wel beseie,
5.495: And that hir list noght to be gladd,
5.496: He berth an hond that sche is madd
5.497: And loveth noght hire housebonde;
5.498: He seith he mai wel understonde,
5.499: That if sche wolde his compaignie,


-1.416-



5.500: Sche scholde thanne afore his yµe
5.501: Schewe al the plesir that sche mihte.
5.502: So that be daie ne be nyhte
5.503: Sche not what thing is for the beste,
5.504: Bot liveth out of alle reste;
5.505: For what as evere him liste sein,
5.506: Sche dar noght speke a word ayein,
5.507: Bot wepth and holt hire lippes clos.
5.508: Sche mai wel wryte, "Sanz repos,"
5.509: The wif which is to such on maried.
5.510: Of alle wommen be he waried,
5.511: For with this Fievere of Jalousie
5.512: His echedaies fantasie
5.513: Of sorghe is evere aliche grene,
5.514: So that ther is no love sene,
5.515: Whil that him list at hom abyde.
5.516: And whan so is he wol out ryde,
5.517: Thanne hath he redi his aspie
5.518: Abidinge in hir compaignie,
5.519: A janglere, an evel mouthed oon,
5.520: That sche ne mai nowhider gon,
5.521: Ne speke a word, ne ones loke,
5.522: That he ne wol it wende and croke
5.523: And torne after his oghne entente,
5.524: Thogh sche nothing bot honour mente.
5.525: Whan that the lord comth hom ayein,
5.526: The janglere moste somwhat sein;
5.527: So what withoute and what withinne,
5.528: This Fievere is evere to beginne,
5.529: For where he comth he can noght ende,
5.530: Til deth of him have mad an ende.
5.531: For thogh so be that he ne hiere
5.532: Ne se ne wite in no manere
5.533: Bot al honour and wommanhiede,
5.534: Therof the Jelous takth non hiede,
5.535: Bot as a man to love unkinde,
5.536: He cast his staf, as doth the blinde,
5.537: And fint defaulte where is non;


-1.417-



5.538: As who so dremeth on a Ston
5.539: Hou he is leid, and groneth ofte,
5.540: Whan he lith on his pilwes softe.
5.541: So is ther noght bot strif and cheste;
5.542: Whan love scholde make his feste,
5.543: It is gret thing if he hir kisse:
5.544: Thus hath sche lost the nyhtes blisse,
5.545: For at such time he gruccheth evere
5.546: And berth on hond ther is a levere,
5.547: And that sche wolde an other were
5.548: In stede of him abedde there;
5.549: And with tho wordes and with mo
5.550: Of Jelousie, he torneth fro
5.551: And lith upon his other side,
5.552: And sche with that drawth hire aside,
5.553: And ther sche wepeth al the nyht.
5.554: Ha, to what peine sche is dyht,
5.555: That in hire youthe hath so beset
5.556: The bond which mai noght ben unknet!
5.557: I wot the time is ofte cursed,
5.558: That evere was the gold unpursed,
5.559: The which was leid upon the bok,
5.560: Whan that alle othre sche forsok
5.561: For love of him; bot al to late
5.562: Sche pleigneth, for as thanne algate
5.563: Sche mot forbere and to him bowe,
5.564: Thogh he ne wole it noght allowe.
5.565: For man is lord of thilke feire,
5.566: So mai the womman bot empeire,
5.567: If sche speke oght ayein his wille;
5.568: And thus sche berth hir peine stille.
5.569: Bot if this Fievere a womman take,
5.570: Sche schal be wel mor harde schake;
5.571: For thogh sche bothe se and hiere,
5.572: And finde that ther is matiere,
5.573: Sche dar bot to hirselve pleine,
5.574: And thus sche suffreth double peine.
5.575: Lo thus, mi Sone, as I have write,
5.576: Thou miht of Jelousie wite


-1.418-



5.577: His fievere and his condicion,
5.578: Which is full of suspecion.
5.579: Bot wherof that this fievere groweth,
5.580: Who so these olde bokes troweth,
5.581: Ther mai he finden hou it is:
5.582: For thei ous teche and telle this,
5.583: Hou that this fievere of Jelousie
5.584: Somdel it groweth of sotie
5.585: Of love, and somdiel of untrust.
5.586: For as a sek man lest his lust,
5.587: And whan he may no savour gete,
5.588: He hateth thanne his oughne mete,
5.589: Riht so this fieverous maladie,
5.590: Which caused is of fantasie,
5.591: Makth the Jelous in fieble plit
5.592: To lese of love his appetit
5.593: Thurgh feigned enformacion
5.594: Of his ymaginacion.
5.595: Bot finali to taken hiede,
5.596: Men mai wel make a liklihiede
5.597: Betwen him which is averous
5.598: Of gold and him that is jelous
5.599: Of love, for in on degre
5.600: Thei stonde bothe, as semeth me.
5.601: That oon wolde have his bagges stille,
5.602: And noght departen with his wille,
5.603: And dar noght for the thieves slepe,
5.604: So fain he wolde his tresor kepe;
5.605: That other mai noght wel be glad,
5.606: For he is evere more adrad
5.607: Of these lovers that gon aboute,
5.608: In aunter if thei putte him oute.
5.609: So have thei bothe litel joye
5.610: As wel of love as of monoie.
5.611: Now hast thou, Sone, at my techinge
5.612: Of Jelousie a knowlechinge,
5.613: That thou myht understonde this,
5.614: Fro whenne he comth and what he is,


-1.419-



5.615: And ek to whom that he is lik.
5.616: Be war forthi thou be noght sik
5.617: Of thilke fievere as I have spoke,
5.618: For it wol in himself be wroke.
5.619: For love hateth nothing more,
5.620: As men mai finde be the lore
5.621: Of hem that whilom were wise,
5.622: Hou that thei spieke in many wise.
5.623: Mi fader, soth is that ye sein.
5.624: Bot forto loke therayein,
5.625: Befor this time hou it is falle,
5.626: Wherof ther mihte ensample falle
5.627: To suche men as be jelous
5.628: In what manere it is grevous,
5.629: Riht fain I wolde ensample hiere.
5.630: My goode Sone, at thi preiere
5.631: Of suche ensamples as I finde,
5.632: So as thei comen nou to mynde
5.633: Upon this point, of time gon
5.634: I thenke forto tellen on.
5.635: Ovide wrot of manye thinges,
5.636: Among the whiche in his wrytinges
5.637: He tolde a tale in Poesie,
5.638: Which toucheth unto Jelousie,
5.639: Upon a certein cas of love.
5.640: Among the goddes alle above
5.641: It fell at thilke time thus:
5.642: The god of fyr, which Vulcanus
5.643: Is hote, and hath a craft forthwith
5.644: Assigned, forto be the Smith
5.645: Of Jupiter, and his figure
5.646: Bothe of visage and of stature
5.647: Is lothly and malgracious,
5.648: Bot yit he hath withinne his hous
5.649: As for the likynge of his lif
5.650: The faire Venus to his wif.
5.651: Bot Mars, which of batailles is
5.652: The god, an yhe hadde unto this:


-1.420-



5.653: As he which was chivalerous,
5.654: It fell him to ben amerous,
5.655: And thoghte it was a gret pite
5.656: To se so lusti on as sche
5.657: Be coupled with so lourde a wiht:
5.658: So that his peine day and nyht
5.659: He dede, if he hire winne myhte;
5.660: And sche, which hadde a good insihte
5.661: Toward so noble a knyhtli lord,
5.662: In love fell of his acord.
5.663: Ther lacketh noght bot time and place,
5.664: That he nys siker of hire grace:
5.665: Bot whan tuo hertes falle in on,
5.666: So wys await was nevere non,
5.667: That at som time thei ne mete;
5.668: And thus this faire lusti swete
5.669: With Mars hath ofte compaignie.
5.670: Bot thilke unkynde Jelousie,
5.671: Which everemor the herte opposeth,
5.672: Makth Vulcanus that he supposeth
5.673: That it is noght wel overal,
5.674: And to himself he seide, he schal
5.675: Aspie betre, if that he may;
5.676: And so it fell upon a day,
5.677: That he this thing so slyhli ledde,
5.678: He fond hem bothe tuo abedde
5.679: Al warm, echon with other naked.
5.680: And he with craft al redy maked
5.681: Of stronge chenes hath hem bounde,
5.682: As he togedre hem hadde founde,
5.683: And lefte hem bothe ligge so,
5.684: And gan to clepe and crie tho
5.685: Unto the goddes al aboute;
5.686: And thei assembled in a route
5.687: Come alle at ones forto se.
5.688: Bot none amendes hadde he,
5.689: Bot was rebuked hiere and there


-1.421-



5.690: Of hem that loves frendes were;
5.691: And seiden that he was to blame,
5.692: For if ther fell him eny schame,
5.693: It was thurgh his misgovernance:
5.694: And thus he loste contienance,
5.695: This god, and let his cause falle;
5.696: And thei to skorne him lowhen alle,
5.697: And losen Mars out of hise bondes.
5.698: Wherof these erthli housebondes
5.699: For evere myhte ensample take,
5.700: If such a chaunce hem overtake:
5.701: For Vulcanus his wif bewreide,
5.702: The blame upon himself he leide,
5.703: Wherof his schame was the more;
5.704: Which oghte forto ben a lore
5.705: For every man that liveth hiere,
5.706: To reulen him in this matiere.
5.707: Thogh such an happ of love asterte,
5.708: Yit scholde he noght apointe his herte
5.709: With Jelousie of that is wroght,
5.710: Bot feigne, as thogh he wiste it noght:
5.711: For if he lete it overpasse,
5.712: The sclaundre schal be wel the lasse,
5.713: And he the more in ese stonde.
5.714: For this thou myht wel understonde,
5.715: That where a man schal nedes lese,
5.716: The leste harm is forto chese.
5.717: Bot Jelousie of his untrist
5.718: Makth that full many an harm arist,
5.719: Which elles scholde noght arise;
5.720: And if a man him wolde avise
5.721: Of that befell to Vulcanus,
5.722: Him oghte of reson thenke thus,
5.723: That sithe a god therof was schamed,
5.724: Wel scholde an erthli man be blamed
5.725: To take upon him such a vice.
5.726: Forthi, my Sone, in thin office
5.727: Be war that thou be noght jelous,


-1.422-



5.728: Which ofte time hath schent the hous.
5.729: Mi fader, this ensample is hard,
5.730: Hou such thing to the heveneward
5.731: Among the goddes myhte falle:
5.732: For ther is bot o god of alle,
5.733: Which is the lord of hevene and helle.
5.734: Bot if it like you to telle
5.735: Hou suche goddes come aplace,
5.736: Ye mihten mochel thonk pourchace,
5.737: For I schal be wel tawht withal.
5.738: Mi Sone, it is thus overal
5.739: With hem that stonden misbelieved,
5.740: That suche goddes ben believed:
5.741: In sondri place sondri wise
5.742: Amonges hem whiche are unwise
5.743: Ther is betaken of credence;
5.744: Wherof that I the difference
5.745: In the manere as it is write
5.746: Schal do the pleinly forto wite.
5.747: Er Crist was bore among ous hiere,
5.748: Of the believes that tho were
5.749: In foure formes thus it was.
5.750: Thei of Caldee as in this cas
5.751: Hadde a believe be hemselve,
5.752: Which stod upon the signes tuelve,
5.753: Forth ek with the Planetes sevene,
5.754: Whiche as thei sihe upon the hevene.
5.755: Of sondri constellacion
5.756: In here ymaginacion
5.757: With sondri kerf and pourtreture
5.758: Thei made of goddes the figure.
5.759: In thelementz and ek also
5.760: Thei hadden a believe tho;


-1.423-



5.761: And al was that unresonable:
5.762: For thelementz ben servicable
5.763: To man, and ofte of Accidence,
5.764: As men mai se thexperience,
5.765: Thei ben corrupt be sondri weie;
5.766: So mai no mannes reson seie
5.767: That thei ben god in eny wise.
5.768: And ek, if men hem wel avise,
5.769: The Sonne and Mone eclipse bothe,
5.770: That be hem lieve or be hem lothe,
5.771: Thei soffre; and what thing is passible
5.772: To ben a god is impossible.
5.773: These elementz ben creatures,
5.774: So ben these hevenly figures,
5.775: Wherof mai wel be justefied
5.776: That thei mai noght be deified:
5.777: And who that takth awey thonour
5.778: Which due is to the creatour,
5.779: And yifth it to the creature,
5.780: He doth to gret a forsfaiture.
5.781: Bot of Caldee natheles
5.782: Upon this feith, thogh it be les,
5.783: Thei holde affermed the creance;
5.784: So that of helle the penance,
5.785: As folk which stant out of believe,
5.786: They schull receive, as we believe.
5.787: Of the Caldeus lo in this wise
5.788: Stant the believe out of assisse:
5.789: Bot in Egipte worst of alle
5.790: The feith is fals, hou so it falle;
5.791: For thei diverse bestes there
5.792: Honoure, as thogh thei goddes were:
5.793: And natheles yit forth withal
5.794: Thre goddes most in special
5.795: Thei have, forth with a goddesse,


-1.424-



5.796: In whom is al here sikernesse.
5.797: Tho goddes be yit cleped thus,
5.798: Orus, Typhon and Isirus:
5.799: Thei were brethren alle thre,
5.800: And the goddesse in hir degre
5.801: Here Soster was and Ysis hyhte,
5.802: Whom Isirus forlai be nyhte
5.803: And hield hire after as his wif.
5.804: So it befell that upon strif
5.805: Typhon hath Isre his brother slain,
5.806: Which hadde a child to Sone Orayn,
5.807: And he his fader deth to herte
5.808: So tok, that it mai noght asterte
5.809: That he Typhon after ne slowh,
5.810: Whan he was ripe of age ynowh.
5.811: Bot yit thegipcienes trowe
5.812: For al this errour, which thei knowe,
5.813: That these brethren ben of myht
5.814: To sette and kepe Egipte upriht,
5.815: And overthrowe, if that hem like.
5.816: Bot Ysis, as seith the Cronique,
5.817: Fro Grece into Egipte cam,
5.818: And sche thanne upon honde nam
5.819: To teche hem forto sowe and eere,
5.820: Which noman knew tofore there.
5.821: And whan thegipcienes syhe
5.822: The fieldes fulle afore here yhe,
5.823: And that the lond began to greine,
5.824: Which whilom hadde be bareigne,-
5.825: For therthe bar after the kinde
5.826: His due charge,-this I finde,
5.827: That sche of berthe the goddesse
5.828: Is cleped, so that in destresse
5.829: The wommen there upon childinge
5.830: To hire clepe, and here offringe
5.831: Thei beren, whan that thei ben lyhte.
5.832: Lo, hou Egipte al out of syhte


-1.425-



5.833: Fro resoun stant in misbelieve
5.834: For lacke of lore, as I believe.
5.835: Among the Greks, out of the weie
5.836: As thei that reson putte aweie,
5.837: Ther was, as the Cronique seith,
5.838: Of misbelieve an other feith,
5.839: That thei here goddes and goddesses,
5.840: As who seith, token al to gesses
5.841: Of suche as weren full of vice,
5.842: To whom thei made here sacrifice.
5.843: The hihe god, so as thei seide,
5.844: To whom thei most worschipe leide,
5.845: Saturnus hihte, and king of Crete
5.846: He hadde be; bot of his sete
5.847: He was put doun, as he which stod
5.848: In frenesie, and was so wod,
5.849: That fro his wif, which Rea hihte,
5.850: Hise oghne children he to plihte,
5.851: And eet hem of his comun wone.
5.852: Bot Jupiter, which was his Sone
5.853: And of full age, his fader bond
5.854: And kutte of with his oghne hond
5.855: Hise genitals, whiche als so faste
5.856: Into the depe See he caste;
5.857: Wherof the Greks afferme and seie,
5.858: Thus whan thei were caste aweie,
5.859: Cam Venus forth be weie of kinde.
5.860: And of Saturne also I finde
5.861: How afterward into an yle
5.862: This Jupiter him dede exile,
5.863: Wher that he stod in gret meschief.
5.864: Lo, which a god thei maden chief!
5.865: And sithen that such on was he,
5.866: Which stod most hihe in his degre
5.867: Among the goddes, thou miht knowe,


-1.426-



5.868: These othre, that ben more lowe,
5.869: Ben litel worth, as it is founde.
5.870: For Jupiter was the secounde,
5.871: Which Juno hadde unto his wif;
5.872: And yit a lechour al his lif
5.873: He was, and in avouterie
5.874: He wroghte many a tricherie;
5.875: And for he was so full of vices,
5.876: Thei cleped him god of delices:
5.877: Of whom, if thou wolt more wite,
5.878: Ovide the Poete hath write.
5.879: Bot yit here Sterres bothe tuo,
5.880: Saturne and Jupiter also,
5.881: Thei have, althogh thei be to blame,
5.882: Attitled to here oghne name.
5.883: Mars was an other in that lawe,
5.884: The which in Dace was forthdrawe,
5.885: Of whom the clerk Vegecius
5.886: Wrot in his bok, and tolde thus,
5.887: Hou he into Ytaile cam,
5.888: And such fortune ther he nam
5.889: That he a Maiden hath oppressed,
5.890: Which in hire ordre was professed,
5.891: As sche which was the Prioresse
5.892: In Vestes temple the goddesse,
5.893: So was sche wel the mor to blame.
5.894: Dame Ylia this ladi name
5.895: Men clepe, and ek sche was also
5.896: The kinges dowhter that was tho,
5.897: Which Mynitor be name hihte.
5.898: So that ayein the lawes ryhte
5.899: Mars thilke time upon hire that
5.900: Remus and Romulus begat,
5.901: Whiche after, whan thei come in Age,
5.902: Of knihthode and of vassellage
5.903: Ytaile al hol thei overcome
5.904: And foundeden the grete Rome;
5.905: In Armes and of such emprise
5.906: Thei weren, that in thilke wise


-1.427-



5.907: Here fader Mars for the mervaile
5.908: The god was cleped of bataille.
5.909: Thei were his children bothe tuo,
5.910: Thurgh hem he tok his name so,
5.911: Ther was non other cause why:
5.912: And yit a Sterre upon the Sky
5.913: He hath unto his name applied,
5.914: In which that he is signified.
5.915: An other god thei hadden eke,
5.916: To whom for conseil thei beseke,
5.917: The which was brother to Venus,
5.918: Appollo men him clepe thus.
5.919: He was an Hunte upon the helles,
5.920: Ther was with him no vertu elles,
5.921: Wherof that enye bokes karpe,
5.922: Bot only that he couthe harpe;
5.923: Which whanne he walked over londe,
5.924: Fulofte time he tok on honde,
5.925: To gete him with his sustienance,
5.926: For lacke of other pourveance.
5.927: And otherwhile of his falshede
5.928: He feignede him to conne arede
5.929: Of thing which after scholde falle;
5.930: Wherof among hise sleyhtes alle
5.931: He hath the lewed folk deceived,
5.932: So that the betre he was received.
5.933: Lo now, thurgh what creacion
5.934: He hath deificacion,
5.935: And cleped is the god of wit
5.936: To suche as be the foles yit.
5.937: An other god, to whom thei soghte,
5.938: Mercurie hihte, and him ne roghte
5.939: What thing he stal, ne whom he slowh.
5.940: Of Sorcerie he couthe ynowh,
5.941: That whanne he wolde himself transforme,


-1.428-



5.942: Fulofte time he tok the forme
5.943: Of womman and his oghne lefte;
5.944: So dede he wel the more thefte.
5.945: A gret spekere in alle thinges
5.946: He was also, and of lesinges
5.947: An Auctour, that men wiste non
5.948: An other such as he was on.
5.949: And yit thei maden of this thief
5.950: A god, which was unto hem lief,
5.951: And clepede him in tho believes
5.952: The god of Marchantz and of thieves.
5.953: Bot yit a sterre upon the hevene
5.954: He hath of the planetes sevene.
5.955: But Vulcanus, of whom I spak,
5.956: He hadde a courbe upon the bak,
5.957: And therto he was hepehalt:
5.958: Of whom thou understonde schalt,
5.959: He was a schrewe in al his youthe,
5.960: And he non other vertu couthe
5.961: Of craft to helpe himselve with,
5.962: Bot only that he was a Smith
5.963: With Jupiter, which in his forge
5.964: Diverse thinges made him forge;
5.965: So wot I noght for what desir
5.966: Thei clepen him the god of fyr.
5.967: King of Cizile Ypolitus
5.968: A Sone hadde, and Eolus
5.969: He hihte, and of his fader grant
5.970: He hield be weie of covenant
5.971: The governance of every yle
5.972: Which was longende unto Cizile,
5.973: Of hem that fro the lond forein
5.974: Leie open to the wynd al plein.
5.975: And fro thilke iles to the londe
5.976: Fulofte cam the wynd to honde:
5.977: After the name of him forthi
5.978: The wyndes cleped Eoli
5.979: Tho were, and he the god of wynd.


-1.429-



5.980: Lo nou, hou this believe is blynd!
5.981: The king of Crete Jupiter,
5.982: The same which I spak of er,
5.983: Unto his brother, which Neptune
5.984: Was hote, it list him to comune
5.985: Part of his good, so that be Schipe
5.986: He mad him strong of the lordschipe
5.987: Of al the See in tho parties;
5.988: Wher that he wroghte his tyrannyes,
5.989: And the strange yles al aboute
5.990: He wan, that every man hath doute
5.991: Upon his marche forto saile;
5.992: For he anon hem wolde assaile
5.993: And robbe what thing that thei ladden,
5.994: His sauf conduit bot if thei hadden.
5.995: Wherof the comun vois aros
5.996: In every lond, that such a los
5.997: He cawhte, al nere it worth a stre,
5.998: That he was cleped of the See
5.999: The god be name, and yit he is
5.1000: With hem that so believe amis.
5.1001: This Neptune ek was thilke also,
5.1002: Which was the ferste foundour tho
5.1003: Of noble Troie, and he forthi
5.1004: Was wel the more lete by.
5.1005: The loresman of the Schepherdes,
5.1006: And ek of hem that ben netherdes,
5.1007: Was of Archade and hihte Pan:
5.1008: Of whom hath spoke many a man;
5.1009: For in the wode of Nonarcigne,
5.1010: Enclosed with the tres of Pigne,
5.1011: And on the Mont of Parasie
5.1012: He hadde of bestes the baillie,
5.1013: And ek benethe in the valleie,


-1.430-



5.1014: Wher thilke rivere, as men seie,
5.1015: Which Ladon hihte, made his cours,
5.1016: He was the chief of governours
5.1017: Of hem that kepten tame bestes,
5.1018: Wherof thei maken yit the festes
5.1019: In the Cite Stinfalides.
5.1020: And forth withal yit natheles
5.1021: He tawhte men the forthdrawinge
5.1022: Of bestaile, and ek the makinge
5.1023: Of Oxen, and of hors the same,
5.1024: Hou men hem scholde ryde and tame:
5.1025: Of foules ek, so as we finde,
5.1026: Ful many a soubtiel craft of kinde
5.1027: He fond, which noman knew tofore.
5.1028: Men dede him worschipe ek therfore,
5.1029: That he the ferste in thilke lond
5.1030: Was which the melodie fond
5.1031: Of Riedes, whan thei weren ripe,
5.1032: With double pipes forto pipe;
5.1033: Therof he yaf the ferste lore,
5.1034: Til afterward men couthe more.
5.1035: To every craft for mannes helpe
5.1036: He hadde a redi wit to helpe
5.1037: Thurgh naturel experience:
5.1038: And thus the nyce reverence
5.1039: Of foles, whan that he was ded,
5.1040: The fot hath torned to the hed,
5.1041: And clepen him god of nature,
5.1042: For so thei maden his figure.
5.1043: An other god, so as thei fiele,
5.1044: Which Jupiter upon Samele
5.1045: Begat in his avouterie,
5.1046: Whom, forto hide his lecherie,
5.1047: That non therof schal take kepe,
5.1048: In a Montaigne forto kepe,
5.1049: Which Dyon hihte and was in Ynde,
5.1050: He sende, in bokes as I finde:
5.1051: And he be name Bachus hihte,
5.1052: Which afterward, whan that he mihte,


-1.431-



5.1053: A wastour was, and al his rente
5.1054: In wyn and bordel he despente.
5.1055: Bot yit, al were he wonder badde,
5.1056: Among the Greks a name he hadde;
5.1057: Thei cleped him the god of wyn,
5.1058: And thus a glotoun was dyvyn.
5.1059: Ther was yit Esculapius
5.1060: A godd in thilke time as thus.
5.1061: His craft stod upon Surgerie,
5.1062: Bot for the lust of lecherie,
5.1063: That he to Daires dowhter drowh,
5.1064: It felle that Jupiter him slowh:
5.1065: And yit thei made him noght forthi
5.1066: A god, and was no cause why.
5.1067: In Rome he was long time also
5.1068: A god among the Romeins tho;
5.1069: For, as he seide, of his presence
5.1070: Ther was destruid a pestilence,
5.1071: Whan thei to thyle of Delphos wente,
5.1072: And that Appollo with hem sente
5.1073: This Esculapius his Sone,
5.1074: Among the Romeins forto wone.
5.1075: And there he duelte for a while,
5.1076: Til afterward into that yle,
5.1077: Fro whenne he cam, ayein he torneth,
5.1078: Where al his lyf that he sojorneth
5.1079: Among the Greks, til that he deide.
5.1080: And thei upon him thanne leide
5.1081: His name, and god of medicine
5.1082: He hatte after that ilke line.
5.1083: An other god of Hercules
5.1084: Thei made, which was natheles
5.1085: A man, bot that he was so strong,
5.1086: In al this world that brod and long
5.1087: So myhti was noman as he.
5.1088: Merveiles tuelve in his degre,
5.1089: As it was couth in sondri londes,


-1.432-



5.1090: He dede with hise oghne hondes
5.1091: Ayein geantz and Monstres bothe,
5.1092: The whiche horrible were and lothe,
5.1093: Bot he with strengthe hem overcam:
5.1094: Wherof so gret a pris he nam,
5.1095: That thei him clepe amonges alle
5.1096: The god of strengthe, and to him calle.
5.1097: And yit ther is no reson inne,
5.1098: For he a man was full of sinne,
5.1099: Which proved was upon his ende,
5.1100: For in a rage himself he brende;
5.1101: And such a cruel mannes dede
5.1102: Acordeth nothing with godhede.
5.1103: Thei hadde of goddes yit an other,
5.1104: Which Pluto hihte, and was the brother
5.1105: Of Jupiter, and he fro youthe
5.1106: With every word which cam to mouthe,
5.1107: Of eny thing whan he was wroth,
5.1108: He wolde swere his commun oth,
5.1109: Be Lethen and be Flegeton,
5.1110: Be Cochitum and Acheron,
5.1111: The whiche, after the bokes telle,
5.1112: Ben the chief flodes of the helle:
5.1113: Be Segne and Stige he swor also,
5.1114: That ben the depe Pettes tuo
5.1115: Of helle the most principal.
5.1116: Pluto these othes overal
5.1117: Swor of his commun custummance,
5.1118: Til it befell upon a chance,
5.1119: That he for Jupiteres sake
5.1120: Unto the goddes let do make
5.1121: A sacrifice, and for that dede
5.1122: On of the pettes for his mede
5.1123: In helle, of which I spak of er,
5.1124: Was granted him; and thus he ther


-1.433-



5.1125: Upon the fortune of this thing
5.1126: The name tok of helle king.
5.1127: Lo, these goddes and wel mo
5.1128: Among the Greks thei hadden tho,
5.1129: And of goddesses manyon,
5.1130: Whos names thou schalt hiere anon,
5.1131: And in what wise thei deceiven
5.1132: The foles whiche here feith receiven.
5.1133: So as Saturne is soverein
5.1134: Of false goddes, as thei sein,
5.1135: So is Sibeles of goddesses
5.1136: The Moder, whom withoute gesses
5.1137: The folk Payene honoure and serve,
5.1138: As thei the whiche hire lawe observe.
5.1139: Bot forto knowen upon this
5.1140: Fro when sche cam and what sche is,
5.1141: Bethincia the contre hihte,
5.1142: Wher sche cam ferst to mannes sihte;
5.1143: And after was Saturnes wif,
5.1144: Be whom thre children in hire lif
5.1145: Sche bar, and thei were cleped tho
5.1146: Juno, Neptunus and Pluto,
5.1147: The whiche of nyce fantasie
5.1148: The poeple wolde deifie.
5.1149: And for hire children were so,
5.1150: Sibeles thanne was also
5.1151: Mad a goddesse, and thei hire calle
5.1152: The moder of the goddes alle.
5.1153: So was that name bore forth,
5.1154: And yit the cause is litel worth.
5.1155: A vois unto Saturne tolde
5.1156: Hou that his oghne Sone him scholde
5.1157: Out of his regne putte aweie;
5.1158: And he be cause of thilke weie,
5.1159: That him was schape such a fate,
5.1160: Sibele his wif began to hate


-1.434-



5.1161: And ek hire progenie bothe.
5.1162: And thus, whil that thei were wrothe,
5.1163: Be Philerem upon a dai
5.1164: In his avouterie he lai,
5.1165: On whom he Jupiter begat;
5.1166: And thilke child was after that
5.1167: Which wroghte al that was prophecied,
5.1168: As it tofore is specefied:
5.1169: So that whan Jupiter of Crete
5.1170: Was king, a wif unto him mete
5.1171: The Dowhter of Sibele he tok,
5.1172: And that was Juno, seith the bok.
5.1173: Of his deificacion
5.1174: After the false oppinion,
5.1175: That have I told, so as thei meene;
5.1176: And for this Juno was the queene
5.1177: Of Jupiter and Soster eke,
5.1178: The foles unto hire sieke,
5.1179: And sein that sche is the goddesse
5.1180: Of Regnes bothe and of richesse:
5.1181: And ek sche, as thei understonde,
5.1182: The water Nimphes hath in honde
5.1183: To leden at hire oghne heste;
5.1184: And whan hir list the Sky tempeste,
5.1185: The reinbowe is hir Messager.
5.1186: Lo, which a misbelieve is hier!
5.1187: That sche goddesse is of the Sky
5.1188: I wot non other cause why.
5.1189: An other goddesse is Minerve,
5.1190: To whom the Greks obeie and serve:
5.1191: And sche was nyh the grete lay
5.1192: Of Triton founde, wher sche lay
5.1193: A child forcast, bot what sche was
5.1194: Ther knew noman the sothe cas.
5.1195: Bot in Aufrique sche was leid
5.1196: In the manere as I have seid,
5.1197: And caried fro that ilke place
5.1198: Into an Yle fer in Trace,


-1.435-



5.1199: The which Palene thanne hihte,
5.1200: Wher a Norrice hir kepte and dihte.
5.1201: And after, for sche was so wys
5.1202: That sche fond ferst in hire avis
5.1203: The cloth makinge of wolle and lyn,
5.1204: Men seiden that sche was divin,
5.1205: And the goddesse of Sapience
5.1206: Thei clepen hire in that credence.
5.1207: Of the goddesse which Pallas
5.1208: Is cleped sondri speche was.
5.1209: On seith hire fader was Pallant,
5.1210: Which in his time was geant,
5.1211: A cruel man, a bataillous:
5.1212: An other seith hou in his hous
5.1213: Sche was the cause why he deide.
5.1214: And of this Pallas some ek seide
5.1215: That sche was Martes wif; and so
5.1216: Among the men that weren tho
5.1217: Of misbelieve in the riote
5.1218: The goddesse of batailles hote
5.1219: She was, and yit sche berth the name.
5.1220: Now loke, hou they be forto blame.
5.1221: Saturnus after his exil
5.1222: Fro Crete cam in gret peril
5.1223: Into the londes of Ytaile,
5.1224: And ther he dede gret mervaile,
5.1225: Wherof his name duelleth yit.
5.1226: For he fond of his oghne wit
5.1227: The ferste craft of plowh tilinge,
5.1228: Of Eringe and of corn sowinge,
5.1229: And how men scholden sette vines
5.1230: And of the grapes make wynes;
5.1231: Al this he tawhte, and it fell so,
5.1232: His wif, the which cam with him tho,
5.1233: Was cleped Cereres be name,
5.1234: And for sche tawhte also the same,


-1.436-



5.1235: And was his wif that ilke throwe,
5.1236: As it was to the poeple knowe,
5.1237: Thei made of Ceres a goddesse,
5.1238: In whom here tilthe yit thei blesse,
5.1239: And sein that Tricolonius
5.1240: Hire Sone goth amonges ous
5.1241: And makth the corn good chep or dere,
5.1242: Riht as hire list fro yer to yeere;
5.1243: So that this wif be cause of this
5.1244: Goddesse of Cornes cleped is.
5.1245: King Jupiter, which his likinge
5.1246: Whilom fulfelde in alle thinge,
5.1247: So priveliche aboute he ladde
5.1248: His lust, that he his wille hadde
5.1249: Of Latona, and on hire that
5.1250: Diane his dowhter he begat
5.1251: Unknowen of his wif Juno.
5.1252: And afterward sche knew it so,
5.1253: That Latona for drede fledde
5.1254: Into an Ile, wher sche hedde
5.1255: Hire wombe, which of childe aros.
5.1256: Thilke yle cleped was Delos;
5.1257: In which Diana was forthbroght,
5.1258: And kept so that hire lacketh noght.
5.1259: And after, whan sche was of Age,
5.1260: Sche tok non hiede of mariage,
5.1261: Bot out of mannes compaignie
5.1262: Sche tok hire al to venerie
5.1263: In forest and in wildernesse
5.1264: For ther was al hire besinesse
5.1265: Be daie and ek be nyhtes tyde
5.1266: With arwes brode under the side
5.1267: And bowe in honde, of which sche slowh
5.1268: And tok al that hir liste ynowh
5.1269: Of bestes whiche ben chacable:
5.1270: Wherof the Cronique of this fable
5.1271: Seith that the gentils most of alle


-1.437-



5.1272: Worschipen hire and to hire calle,
5.1273: And the goddesse of hihe helles,
5.1274: Of grene trees, of freisshe welles,
5.1275: They clepen hire in that believe,
5.1276: Which that no reson mai achieve.
5.1277: Proserpina, which dowhter was
5.1278: Of Cereres, befell this cas:
5.1279: Whil sche was duellinge in Cizile,
5.1280: Hire moder in that ilke while
5.1281: Upon hire blessinge and hire heste
5.1282: Bad that sche scholde ben honeste,
5.1283: And lerne forto weve and spinne,
5.1284: And duelle at hom and kepe hire inne.
5.1285: Bot sche caste al that lore aweie,
5.1286: And as sche wente hir out to pleie,
5.1287: To gadre floures in a pleine,
5.1288: And that was under the monteine
5.1289: Of Ethna, fell the same tyde
5.1290: That Pluto cam that weie ryde,
5.1291: And sodeinly, er sche was war,
5.1292: He tok hire up into his char.
5.1293: And as thei riden in the field,
5.1294: Hire grete beaute he behield,
5.1295: Which was so plesant in his yµe,
5.1296: That forto holde in compainie
5.1297: He weddeth hire and hield hire so
5.1298: To ben his wif for everemo.
5.1299: And as thou hast tofore herd telle
5.1300: Hou he was cleped god of helle,
5.1301: So is sche cleped the goddesse
5.1302: Be cause of him, ne mor ne lesse.
5.1303: Lo, thus, mi Sone, as I thee tolde,
5.1304: The Greks whilom be daies olde
5.1305: Here goddes hadde in sondri wise,
5.1306: And thurgh the lore of here aprise
5.1307: The Romeins hielden ek the same.


-1.438-



5.1308: And in the worschipe of here name
5.1309: To every godd in special
5.1310: Thei made a temple forth withal,
5.1311: And ech of hem his yeeres dai
5.1312: Attitled hadde; and of arai
5.1313: The temples weren thanne ordeigned,
5.1314: And ek the poeple was constreigned
5.1315: To come and don here sacrifice;
5.1316: The Prestes ek in here office
5.1317: Solempne maden thilke festes.
5.1318: And thus the Greks lich to the bestes
5.1319: The men in stede of god honoure,
5.1320: Whiche mihten noght hemself socoure,
5.1321: Whil that thei were alyve hiere.
5.1322: And over this, as thou schalt hiere,
5.1323: The Greks fulfild of fantasie
5.1324: Sein ek that of the helles hihe
5.1325: The goddes ben in special,
5.1326: Bot of here name in general
5.1327: Thei hoten alle Satiri.
5.1328: Ther ben of Nimphes proprely
5.1329: In the believe of hem also:
5.1330: Oreades thei seiden tho
5.1331: Attitled ben to the monteines;
5.1332: And for the wodes in demeynes
5.1333: To kepe, tho ben Driades;
5.1334: Of freisshe welles Naiades;
5.1335: And of the Nimphes of the See
5.1336: I finde a tale in proprete,
5.1337: Hou Dorus whilom king of Grece,
5.1338: Which hadde of infortune a piece,-
5.1339: His wif forth with hire dowhtres alle,
5.1340: So as the happes scholden falle,
5.1341: With many a gentil womman there
5.1342: Dreint in the salte See thei were:
5.1343: Wherof the Greks that time seiden,
5.1344: And such a name upon hem leiden,


-1.439-



5.1345: Nereiµdes that thei ben hote,
5.1346: The Nimphes whiche that thei note
5.1347: To regne upon the stremes salte.
5.1348: Lo now, if this believe halte!
5.1349: Bot of the Nimphes as thei telle,
5.1350: In every place wher thei duelle
5.1351: Thei ben al redi obeissant
5.1352: As damoiselles entendant
5.1353: To the goddesses, whos servise
5.1354: Thei mote obeie in alle wise;
5.1355: Wherof the Greks to hem beseke
5.1356: With tho that ben goddesses eke,
5.1357: And have in hem a gret credence.
5.1358: And yit withoute experience
5.1359: Salve only of illusion,
5.1360: Which was to hem dampnacion,
5.1361: For men also that were dede
5.1362: Thei hadden goddes, as I rede,
5.1363: And tho be name Manes hihten,
5.1364: To whom ful gret honour thei dihten,
5.1365: So as the Grekes lawe seith,
5.1366: Which was ayein the rihte feith.
5.1367: Thus have I told a gret partie;
5.1368: Bot al the hole progenie
5.1369: Of goddes in that ilke time
5.1370: To long it were forto rime.
5.1371: Bot yit of that which thou hast herd,
5.1372: Of misbelieve hou it hath ferd,
5.1373: Ther is a gret diversite.
5.1374: Mi fader, riht so thenketh me.
5.1375: Bot yit o thing I you beseche,
5.1376: Which stant in alle mennes speche,
5.1377: The godd and the goddesse of love,
5.1378: Of whom ye nothing hier above
5.1379: Have told, ne spoken of her fare,
5.1380: That ye me wolden now declare
5.1381: Hou thei ferst comen to that name.


-1.440-



5.1382: Mi Sone, I have it left for schame,
5.1383: Be cause I am here oghne Prest;
5.1384: Bot for thei stonden nyh thi brest
5.1385: Upon the schrifte of thi matiere,
5.1386: Thou schalt of hem the sothe hiere:
5.1387: And understond nou wel the cas.
5.1388: Venus Saturnes dowhter was,
5.1389: Which alle danger putte aweie
5.1390: Of love, and fond to lust a weie;
5.1391: So that of hire in sondri place
5.1392: Diverse men felle into grace,
5.1393: And such a lusti lif sche ladde,
5.1394: That sche diverse children hadde,
5.1395: Nou on be this, nou on be that.
5.1396: Of hire it was that Mars beyat
5.1397: A child, which cleped was Armene;
5.1398: Of hire also cam Andragene,
5.1399: To whom Mercurie fader was:
5.1400: Anchises begat Eneas
5.1401: Of hire also, and Ericon
5.1402: Biten begat, and therupon,
5.1403: Whan that sche sih ther was non other,
5.1404: Be Jupiter hire oghne brother
5.1405: Sche lay, and he begat Cupide.
5.1406: And thilke Sone upon a tyde,
5.1407: Whan he was come unto his Age,
5.1408: He hadde a wonder fair visage,
5.1409: And fond his Moder amourous,
5.1410: And he was also lecherous:
5.1411: So whan thei weren bothe al one,
5.1412: As he which yhen hadde none
5.1413: To se reson, his Moder kiste;
5.1414: And sche also, that nothing wiste
5.1415: Bot that which unto lust belongeth,
5.1416: To ben hire love him underfongeth.
5.1417: Thus was he blind, and sche unwys:
5.1418: Bot natheles this cause it is,


-1.441-



5.1419: Why Cupide is the god of love,
5.1420: For he his moder dorste love.
5.1421: And sche, which thoghte hire lustes fonde,
5.1422: Diverse loves tok in honde,
5.1423: Wel mo thanne I the tolde hiere:
5.1424: And for sche wolde hirselve skiere,
5.1425: Sche made comun that desport,
5.1426: And sette a lawe of such a port,
5.1427: That every womman mihte take
5.1428: What man hire liste, and noght forsake
5.1429: To ben als comun as sche wolde.
5.1430: Sche was the ferste also which tolde
5.1431: That wommen scholde here bodi selle;
5.1432: Semiramis, so as men telle,
5.1433: Of Venus kepte thilke aprise,
5.1434: And so dede in the same wise
5.1435: Of Rome faire Neabole,
5.1436: Which liste hire bodi to rigole;
5.1437: Sche was to every man felawe,
5.1438: And hild the lust of thilke lawe,
5.1439: Which Venus of hirself began;
5.1440: Wherof that sche the name wan,
5.1441: Why men hire clepen the goddesse
5.1442: Of love and ek of gentilesse,
5.1443: Of worldes lust and of plesance.
5.1444: Se nou the foule mescreance
5.1445: Of Greks in thilke time tho,
5.1446: Whan Venus tok hire name so.
5.1447: Ther was no cause under the Mone
5.1448: Of which thei hadden tho to done,
5.1449: Of wel or wo wher so it was,
5.1450: That thei ne token in that cas
5.1451: A god to helpe or a goddesse.
5.1452: Wherof, to take mi witnesse,
5.1453: The king of Bragmans Dindimus
5.1454: Wrot unto Alisandre thus:
5.1455: In blaminge of the Grekes feith


-1.442-



5.1456: And of the misbelieve, he seith
5.1457: How thei for every membre hadden
5.1458: A sondri god, to whom thei spradden
5.1459: Here armes, and of help besoghten.
5.1460: Minerve for the hed thei soghten,
5.1461: For sche was wys, and of a man
5.1462: The wit and reson which he can
5.1463: Is in the celles of the brayn,
5.1464: Wherof thei made hire soverain.
5.1465: Mercurie, which was in his dawes
5.1466: A gret spekere of false lawes,
5.1467: On him the kepinge of the tunge
5.1468: Thei leide, whan thei spieke or sunge.
5.1469: For Bachus was a glotoun eke,
5.1470: Him for the throte thei beseke,
5.1471: That he it wolde waisshen ofte
5.1472: With swote drinkes and with softe.
5.1473: The god of schuldres and of armes
5.1474: Was Hercules; for he in armes
5.1475: The myhtieste was to fihte,
5.1476: To him tho Limes they behihte.
5.1477: The god whom that thei clepen Mart
5.1478: The brest to kepe hath for his part,
5.1479: Forth with the herte, in his ymage
5.1480: That he adresce the corage.
5.1481: And of the galle the goddesse,
5.1482: For sche was full of hastifesse
5.1483: Of wraththe and liht to grieve also,
5.1484: Thei made and seide it was Juno.
5.1485: Cupide, which the brond afyre
5.1486: Bar in his hond, he was the Sire
5.1487: Of the Stomak, which builleth evere,
5.1488: Wherof the lustes ben the levere.
5.1489: To the goddesse Cereres,
5.1490: Which of the corn yaf hire encress
5.1491: Upon the feith that tho was take,


-1.443-



5.1492: The wombes cure was betake;
5.1493: And Venus thurgh the Lecherie,
5.1494: For which that thei hire deifie,
5.1495: Sche kept al doun the remenant
5.1496: To thilke office appourtenant.
5.1497: Thus was dispers in sondri wise
5.1498: The misbelieve, as I devise,
5.1499: With many an ymage of entaile,
5.1500: Of suche as myhte hem noght availe;
5.1501: For thei withoute lyves chiere
5.1502: Unmyhti ben to se or hiere
5.1503: Or speke or do or elles fiele;
5.1504: And yit the foles to hem knele,
5.1505: Which is here oghne handes werk.
5.1506: Ha lord, hou this believe is derk,
5.1507: And fer fro resonable wit!
5.1508: And natheles thei don it yit:
5.1509: That was to day a ragged tre,
5.1510: To morwe upon his majeste
5.1511: Stant in the temple wel besein.
5.1512: How myhte a mannes resoun sein
5.1513: That such a Stock mai helpe or grieve?
5.1514: Bot thei that ben of such believe
5.1515: And unto suche goddes calle,
5.1516: It schal to hem riht so befalle,
5.1517: And failen ate moste nede.
5.1518: Bot if thee list to taken hiede
5.1519: And of the ferste ymage wite,
5.1520: Petornius therof hath write
5.1521: And ek Nigargorus also;
5.1522: And thei afferme and write so,
5.1523: That Promotheuµs was tofore
5.1524: And fond the ferste craft therfore,
5.1525: And Cirophanes, as thei telle,
5.1526: Thurgh conseil which was take in helle,
5.1527: In remembrance of his lignage
5.1528: Let setten up the ferste ymage.


-1.444-



5.1529: Of Cirophanes seith the bok,
5.1530: That he for sorwe, which he tok
5.1531: Of that he sih his Sone ded,
5.1532: Of confort knew non other red,
5.1533: Bot let do make in remembrance
5.1534: A faire ymage of his semblance
5.1535: And sette it in the market place,
5.1536: Which openly tofore his face
5.1537: Stod every dai to don him ese.
5.1538: And thei that thanne wolden plese
5.1539: The fader, scholden it obeie,
5.1540: Whan that they comen thilke weie.
5.1541: And of Ninus king of Assire
5.1542: I rede hou that in his empire
5.1543: He was next after the secounde
5.1544: Of hem that ferst ymages founde.
5.1545: For he riht in semblable cas
5.1546: Of Belus, which his fader was
5.1547: Fro Nembroth in the rihte line,
5.1548: Let make of gold and Stones fine
5.1549: A precious ymage riche
5.1550: After his fader evene liche;
5.1551: And therupon a lawe he sette,
5.1552: That every man of pure dette
5.1553: With sacrifice and with truage
5.1554: Honoure scholde thilke ymage:
5.1555: So that withinne time it fell,
5.1556: Of Belus cam the name of Bel,
5.1557: Of Bel cam Belzebub, and so
5.1558: The misbelieve wente tho.
5.1559: The thridde ymage next to this
5.1560: Was, whan the king of Grece Apis
5.1561: Was ded, thei maden a figure
5.1562: In resemblance of his stature.
5.1563: Of this king Apis seith the bok
5.1564: That Serapis his name tok,
5.1565: In whom thurgh long continuance
5.1566: Of misbelieve a gret creance
5.1567: Thei hadden, and the reverence


-1.445-



5.1568: Of Sacrifice and of encence
5.1569: To him thei made: and as thei telle,
5.1570: Among the wondres that befelle,
5.1571: Whan Alisandre fro Candace
5.1572: Cam ridende, in a wilde place
5.1573: Undur an hull a Cave he fond;
5.1574: And Candalus, which in that lond
5.1575: Was bore, and was Candaces Sone,
5.1576: Him tolde hou that of commun wone
5.1577: The goddes were in thilke cave.
5.1578: And he, that wolde assaie and have
5.1579: A knowlechinge if it be soth,
5.1580: Liht of his hors and in he goth,
5.1581: And fond therinne that he soghte:
5.1582: For thurgh the fendes sleihte him thoghte,
5.1583: Amonges othre goddes mo
5.1584: That Serapis spak to him tho,
5.1585: Whom he sih there in gret arrai.
5.1586: And thus the fend fro dai to dai
5.1587: The worschipe of ydolatrie
5.1588: Drowh forth upon the fantasie
5.1589: Of hem that weren thanne blinde
5.1590: And couthen noght the trouthe finde.
5.1591: Thus hast thou herd in what degre
5.1592: Of Grece, Egipte and of Caldee
5.1593: The misbelieves whilom stode;
5.1594: And hou so that thei be noght goode
5.1595: Ne trewe, yit thei sprungen oute,
5.1596: Wherof the wyde world aboute
5.1597: His part of misbelieve tok.
5.1598: Til so befell, as seith the bok,
5.1599: That god a poeple for himselve
5.1600: Hath chose of the lignages tuelve,
5.1601: Wherof the sothe redely,
5.1602: As it is write in Genesi,
5.1603: I thenke telle in such a wise
5.1604: That it schal be to thin apprise.


-1.446-



5.1605: After the flod, fro which Noeµ
5.1606: Was sauf, the world in his degre
5.1607: Was mad, as who seith, newe ayein,
5.1608: Of flour, of fruit, of gras, of grein,
5.1609: Of beste, of bridd and of mankinde,
5.1610: Which evere hath be to god unkinde:
5.1611: For noght withstondende al the fare,
5.1612: Of that this world was mad so bare
5.1613: And afterward it was restored,
5.1614: Among the men was nothing mored
5.1615: Towardes god of good lyvynge,
5.1616: Bot al was torned to likinge
5.1617: After the fleissh, so that foryete
5.1618: Was he which yaf hem lif and mete,
5.1619: Of hevene and Erthe creatour.
5.1620: And thus cam forth the grete errour,
5.1621: That thei the hihe god ne knewe,
5.1622: Bot maden othre goddes newe,
5.1623: As thou hast herd me seid tofore:
5.1624: Ther was noman that time bore,
5.1625: That he ne hadde after his chois
5.1626: A god, to whom he yaf his vois.
5.1627: Wherof the misbelieve cam
5.1628: Into the time of Habraham:
5.1629: Bot he fond out the rihte weie,
5.1630: Hou only that men scholde obeie
5.1631: The hihe god, which weldeth al,
5.1632: And evere hath don and evere schal,
5.1633: In hevene, in Erthe and ek in helle;
5.1634: Ther is no tunge his miht mai telle.
5.1635: This Patriarch to his lignage
5.1636: Forbad, that thei to non ymage
5.1637: Encline scholde in none wise,
5.1638: Bot here offrende and sacrifise
5.1639: With al the hole hertes love
5.1640: Unto the mihti god above
5.1641: Thei scholden yive and to no mo:
5.1642: And thus in thilke time tho


-1.447-



5.1643: Began the Secte upon this Erthe,
5.1644: Which of believes was the ferthe.
5.1645: Of rihtwisnesse it was conceived,
5.1646: So moste it nedes be received
5.1647: Of him that alle riht is inne,
5.1648: The hihe god, which wolde winne
5.1649: A poeple unto his oghne feith.
5.1650: On Habraham the ground he leith,
5.1651: And made him forto multeplie
5.1652: Into so gret a progenie,
5.1653: That thei Egipte al overspradde.
5.1654: Bot Pharao with wrong hem ladde
5.1655: In servitute ayein the pes,
5.1656: Til god let sende Moiµses
5.1657: To make the deliverance;
5.1658: And for his poeple gret vengance
5.1659: He tok, which is to hiere a wonder.
5.1660: The king was slain, the lond put under,
5.1661: God bad the rede See divide,
5.1662: Which stod upriht on either side
5.1663: And yaf unto his poeple a weie,
5.1664: That thei on fote it passe dreie
5.1665: And gon so forth into desert:
5.1666: Wher forto kepe hem in covert,
5.1667: The daies, whan the Sonne brente,
5.1668: A large cloude hem overwente,
5.1669: And forto wissen hem be nyhte,
5.1670: A firy Piler hem alyhte.
5.1671: And whan that thei for hunger pleigne,
5.1672: The myhti god began to reyne
5.1673: Manna fro hevene doun to grounde,
5.1674: Wherof that ech of hem hath founde
5.1675: His fode, such riht as him liste;
5.1676: And for thei scholde upon him triste,
5.1677: Riht as who sette a tonne abroche,


-1.448-



5.1678: He percede the harde roche,
5.1679: And sprong out water al at wille,
5.1680: That man and beste hath drunke his fille:
5.1681: And afterward he yaf the lawe
5.1682: To Moiµses, that hem withdrawe
5.1683: Thei scholden noght fro that he bad.
5.1684: And in this wise thei be lad,
5.1685: Til thei toke in possession
5.1686: The londes of promission,
5.1687: Wher that Caleph and Josueµ
5.1688: The Marches upon such degre
5.1689: Departen, after the lignage
5.1690: That ech of hem as Heritage
5.1691: His porpartie hath underfonge.
5.1692: And thus stod this believe longe,
5.1693: Which of prophetes was governed;
5.1694: And thei hadde ek the poeple lerned
5.1695: Of gret honour that scholde hem falle;
5.1696: Bot ate moste nede of alle
5.1697: Thei faileden, whan Crist was bore.
5.1698: Bot hou that thei here feith have bore,
5.1699: It nedeth noght to tellen al,
5.1700: The matiere is so general:
5.1701: Whan Lucifer was best in hevene
5.1702: And oghte moste have stonde in evene,
5.1703: Towardes god he tok debat;
5.1704: And for that he was obstinat,
5.1705: And wolde noght to trouthe encline,
5.1706: He fell for evere into ruine:
5.1707: And Adam ek in Paradis,
5.1708: Whan he stod most in al his pris
5.1709: After thastat of Innocence,
5.1710: Ayein the god brak his defence
5.1711: And fell out of his place aweie:
5.1712: And riht be such a maner weie
5.1713: The Jwes in here beste plit,
5.1714: Whan that thei scholden most parfit


-1.449-



5.1715: Have stonde upon the prophecie,
5.1716: Tho fellen thei to most folie,
5.1717: And him which was fro hevene come,
5.1718: And of a Maide his fleissh hath nome,
5.1719: And was among hem bore and fedd,
5.1720: As men that wolden noght be spedd
5.1721: Of goddes Sone, with o vois
5.1722: Thei hinge and slowhe upon the crois.
5.1723: Wherof the parfit of here lawe
5.1724: Fro thanne forth hem was withdrawe,
5.1725: So that thei stonde of no merit,
5.1726: Bot in truage as folk soubgit
5.1727: Withoute proprete of place
5.1728: Thei liven out of goddes grace,
5.1729: Dispers in alle londes oute.
5.1730: And thus the feith is come aboute,
5.1731: That whilom in the Jewes stod,
5.1732: Which is noght parfihtliche good.
5.1733: To speke as it is nou befalle,
5.1734: Ther is a feith aboven alle,
5.1735: In which the trouthe is comprehended,
5.1736: Wherof that we ben alle amended.
5.1737: The hihe almyhti majeste,
5.1738: Of rihtwisnesse and of pite,
5.1739: The Sinne which that Adam wroghte,
5.1740: Whan he sih time, ayein he boghte,
5.1741: And sende his Sone fro the hevene
5.1742: To sette mannes Soule in evene,
5.1743: Which thanne was so sore falle
5.1744: Upon the point which was befalle,
5.1745: That he ne mihte himself arise.
5.1746: Gregoire seith in his aprise,


-1.450-



5.1747: It helpeth noght a man be bore,
5.1748: If goddes Sone were unbore;
5.1749: For thanne thurgh the ferste Sinne,
5.1750: Which Adam whilom broghte ous inne,
5.1751: Ther scholden alle men be lost;
5.1752: Bot Crist restoreth thilke lost,
5.1753: And boghte it with his fleissh and blod.
5.1754: And if we thenken hou it stod
5.1755: Of thilke rancoun which he payde,
5.1756: As seint Gregoire it wrot and sayde,
5.1757: Al was behovely to the man:
5.1758: For that wherof his wo began
5.1759: Was after cause of al his welthe,
5.1760: Whan he which is the welle of helthe,
5.1761: The hihe creatour of lif,
5.1762: Upon the nede of such a strif
5.1763: So wolde for his creature
5.1764: Take on himself the forsfaiture
5.1765: And soffre for the mannes sake.
5.1766: Thus mai no reson wel forsake
5.1767: That thilke Senne original
5.1768: Ne was the cause in special
5.1769: Of mannes worschipe ate laste,
5.1770: Which schal withouten ende laste.
5.1771: For be that cause the godhede
5.1772: Assembled was to the manhede
5.1773: In the virgine, where he nom
5.1774: Oure fleissh and verai man becom
5.1775: Of bodely fraternite;
5.1776: Wherof the man in his degre
5.1777: Stant more worth, as I have told,
5.1778: Than he stod erst be manyfold,
5.1779: Thurgh baptesme of the newe lawe,
5.1780: Of which Crist lord is and felawe.
5.1781: And thus the hihe goddes myht,
5.1782: Which was in the virgine alyht,


-1.451-



5.1783: The mannes Soule hath reconsiled,
5.1784: Which hadde longe ben exiled.
5.1785: So stant the feith upon believe,
5.1786: Withoute which mai non achieve
5.1787: To gete him Paradis ayein:
5.1788: Bot this believe is so certein,
5.1789: So full of grace and of vertu,
5.1790: That what man clepeth to Jhesu
5.1791: In clene lif forthwith good dede,
5.1792: He mai noght faile of hevene mede,
5.1793: Which taken hath the rihte feith;
5.1794: For elles, as the gospel seith,
5.1795: Salvacion ther mai be non.
5.1796: And forto preche therupon
5.1797: Crist bad to hise Apostles alle,
5.1798: The whos pouer as nou is falle
5.1799: On ous that ben of holi cherche,
5.1800: If we the goode dedes werche;
5.1801: For feith only sufficeth noght,
5.1802: Bot if good dede also be wroght.
5.1803: Now were it good that thou forthi,
5.1804: Which thurgh baptesme proprely
5.1805: Art unto Cristes feith professed,
5.1806: Be war that thou be noght oppressed
5.1807: With Anticristes lollardie.
5.1808: For as the Jwes prophecie


-1.452-



5.1809: Was set of god for avantage,
5.1810: Riht so this newe tapinage
5.1811: Of lollardie goth aboute
5.1812: To sette Cristes feith in doute.
5.1813: The seintz that weren ous tofore,
5.1814: Be whom the feith was ferst upbore,
5.1815: That holi cherche stod relieved,
5.1816: Thei oghten betre be believed
5.1817: Than these, whiche that men knowe
5.1818: Noght holy, thogh thei feigne and blowe
5.1819: Here lollardie in mennes Ere.
5.1820: Bot if thou wolt live out of fere,
5.1821: Such newe lore, I rede, eschuie,
5.1822: And hold forth riht the weie and suie,
5.1823: As thine Ancestres dede er this:
5.1824: So schalt thou noght believe amis.
5.1825: Crist wroghte ferst and after tawhte,
5.1826: So that the dede his word arawhte;
5.1827: He yaf ensample in his persone,
5.1828: And we the wordes have al one,
5.1829: Lich to the Tree with leves grene,
5.1830: Upon the which no fruit is sene.
5.1831: The Priest Thoas, which of Minerve
5.1832: The temple hadde forto serve,
5.1833: And the Palladion of Troie
5.1834: Kepte under keie, for monoie,
5.1835: Of Anthenor which he hath nome,
5.1836: Hath soffred Anthenor to come
5.1837: And the Palladion to stele,
5.1838: Wherof the worschipe and the wele
5.1839: Of the Troiens was overthrowe.
5.1840: Bot Thoas at the same throwe,
5.1841: Whan Anthenor this Juel tok,
5.1842: Wynkende caste awei his lok
5.1843: For a deceipte and for a wyle:
5.1844: As he that scholde himself beguile,
5.1845: He hidde his yhen fro the sihte,
5.1846: And wende wel that he so mihte


-1.453-



5.1847: Excuse his false conscience.
5.1848: I wot noght if thilke evidence
5.1849: Nou at this time in here estatz
5.1850: Excuse mihte the Prelatz,
5.1851: Knowende hou that the feith discresceth
5.1852: And alle moral vertu cesseth,
5.1853: Wherof that thei the keies bere,
5.1854: Bot yit hem liketh noght to stere
5.1855: Here gostliche yhe forto se
5.1856: The world in his adversite;
5.1857: Thei wol no labour undertake
5.1858: To kepe that hem is betake.
5.1859: Crist deide himselve for the feith,
5.1860: Bot nou our feerfull prelat seith,
5.1861: "The lif is suete," and that he kepeth,
5.1862: So that the feith unholpe slepeth,
5.1863: And thei unto here ese entenden
5.1864: And in here lust her lif despenden,
5.1865: And every man do what him list.
5.1866: Thus stant this world fulfild of Mist,
5.1867: That noman seth the rihte weie:
5.1868: The wardes of the cherche keie
5.1869: Thurgh mishandlinge ben myswreynt,
5.1870: The worldes wawe hath welnyh dreynt
5.1871: The Schip which Peter hath to stiere,
5.1872: The forme is kept, bot the matiere
5.1873: Transformed is in other wise.
5.1874: Bot if thei weren gostli wise,
5.1875: And that the Prelatz weren goode,
5.1876: As thei be olde daies stode,
5.1877: It were thanne litel nede
5.1878: Among the men to taken hiede
5.1879: Of that thei hieren Pseudo telle,
5.1880: Which nou is come forto duelle,
5.1881: To sowe cokkel with the corn,
5.1882: So that the tilthe is nyh forlorn,
5.1883: Which Crist sew ferst his oghne hond.


-1.454-



5.1884: Nou stant the cockel in the lond,
5.1885: Wher stod whilom the goode grein,
5.1886: For the Prelatz nou, as men sein,
5.1887: Forslowthen that thei scholden tile.
5.1888: And that I trowe be the skile,
5.1889: Whan ther is lacke in hem above,
5.1890: The poeple is stranged to the love
5.1891: Of trouthe, in cause of ignorance;
5.1892: For wher ther is no pourveance
5.1893: Of liht, men erren in the derke.
5.1894: Bot if the Prelatz wolden werke
5.1895: Upon the feith which thei ous teche,
5.1896: Men scholden noght here weie seche
5.1897: Withoute liht, as now is used:
5.1898: Men se the charge aldai refused,
5.1899: Which holi cherche hath undertake.
5.1900: Bot who that wolde ensample take,
5.1901: Gregoire upon his Omelie
5.1902: Ayein the Slouthe of Prelacie
5.1903: Compleigneth him, and thus he seith:
5.1904: "Whan Peter, fader of the feith,
5.1905: At domesdai schal with him bringe
5.1906: Judeam, which thurgh his prechinge
5.1907: He wan, and Andrew with Achaie
5.1908: Schal come his dette forto paie,
5.1909: And Thomas ek with his beyete
5.1910: Of Ynde, and Poul the routes grete
5.1911: Of sondri londes schal presente,
5.1912: And we fulfild of lond and rente,
5.1913: Which of this world we holden hiere,
5.1914: With voide handes schul appiere,
5.1915: Touchende oure cure spirital,
5.1916: Which is our charge in special,
5.1917: I not what thing it mai amonte
5.1918: Upon thilke ende of oure accompte,
5.1919: Wher Crist himself is Auditour,


-1.455-



5.1920: Which takth non hiede of vein honour."
5.1921: Thoffice of the Chancellerie
5.1922: Or of the kinges Tresorie
5.1923: Ne for the writ ne for the taille
5.1924: To warant mai noght thanne availe;
5.1925: The world, which nou so wel we trowe,
5.1926: Schal make ous thanne bot a mowe:
5.1927: So passe we withoute mede,
5.1928: That we non otherwise spede,
5.1929: Bot as we rede that he spedde,
5.1930: The which his lordes besant hedde
5.1931: And therupon gat non encress.
5.1932: Bot at this time natheles,
5.1933: What other man his thonk deserve,
5.1934: The world so lusti is to serve,
5.1935: That we with him ben all acorded,
5.1936: And that is wist and wel recorded
5.1937: Thurghout this Erthe in alle londes
5.1938: Let knyhtes winne with here hondes,
5.1939: For oure tunge schal be stille
5.1940: And stonde upon the fleisshes wille.
5.1941: It were a travail forto preche
5.1942: The feith of Crist, as forto teche
5.1943: The folk Paiene, it wol noght be;
5.1944: Bot every Prelat holde his See
5.1945: With al such ese as he mai gete
5.1946: Of lusti drinke and lusti mete,
5.1947: Wherof the bodi fat and full
5.1948: Is unto gostli labour dull
5.1949: And slowh to handle thilke plowh.
5.1950: Bot elles we ben swifte ynowh
5.1951: Toward the worldes Avarice;
5.1952: And that is as a sacrifice,
5.1953: Which, after that thapostel seith,
5.1954: Is openly ayein the feith
5.1955: Unto thidoles yove and granted:


-1.456-



5.1956: Bot natheles it is nou haunted,
5.1957: And vertu changed into vice,
5.1958: So that largesce is Avarice,
5.1959: In whos chapitre now we trete.
5.1960: Mi fader, this matiere is bete
5.1961: So fer, that evere whil I live
5.1962: I schal the betre hede yive
5.1963: Unto miself be many weie:
5.1964: Bot over this nou wolde I preie
5.1965: To wite what the branches are
5.1966: Of Avarice, and hou thei fare
5.1967: Als wel in love as otherwise.
5.1968: Mi Sone, and I thee schal devise
5.1969: In such a manere as thei stonde,
5.1970: So that thou schalt hem understonde.


-2.1-



5.1971: Dame Avarice is noght soleine,
5.1972: Which is of gold the Capiteine;
5.1973: Bot of hir Court in sondri wise
5.1974: After the Scole of hire aprise
5.1975: Sche hath of Servantz manyon,
5.1976: Wherof that Covoitise is on;
5.1977: Which goth the large world aboute,
5.1978: To seche thavantages oute,
5.1979: Wher that he mai the profit winne
5.1980: To Avarice, and bringth it inne.
5.1981: That on hald and that other draweth,
5.1982: Ther is no day which hem bedaweth,
5.1983: No mor the Sonne than the Mone,
5.1984: Whan ther is eny thing to done,
5.1985: And namely with Covoitise;
5.1986: For he stant out of al assisse
5.1987: Of resonable mannes fare.
5.1988: Wher he pourposeth him to fare


-2.2-



5.1989: Upon his lucre and his beyete,
5.1990: The smale path, the large Strete,
5.1991: The furlong and the longe Mile,
5.1992: Al is bot on for thilke while:
5.1993: And for that he is such on holde,
5.1994: Dame Avarice him hath withholde,
5.1995: As he which is the principal
5.1996: Outward, for he is overal
5.1997: A pourveour and an aspie.
5.1998: For riht as of an hungri Pie
5.1999: The storve bestes ben awaited,
5.2000: Riht so is Covoitise afaited
5.2001: To loke where he mai pourchace,
5.2002: For be his wille he wolde embrace
5.2003: Al that this wyde world beclippeth;
5.2004: Bot evere he somwhat overhippeth,
5.2005: That he ne mai noght al fulfille
5.2006: The lustes of his gredi wille.
5.2007: Bot where it falleth in a lond,
5.2008: That Covoitise in myhti hond
5.2009: Is set, it is ful hard to fiede;
5.2010: For thanne he takth non other hiede,
5.2011: Bot that he mai pourchace and gete,
5.2012: His conscience hath al foryete,
5.2013: And not what thing it mai amonte
5.2014: That he schal afterward acompte.
5.2015: Bote as the Luce in his degre
5.2016: Of tho that lasse ben than he
5.2017: The fisshes griedeli devoureth,
5.2018: So that no water hem socoureth,
5.2019: Riht so no lawe mai rescowe
5.2020: Fro him that wol no riht allowe;
5.2021: For wher that such on is of myht,
5.2022: His will schal stonde in stede of riht.
5.2023: Thus be the men destruid fulofte,
5.2024: Til that the grete god alofte
5.2025: Ayein so gret a covoitise
5.2026: Redresce it in his oghne wise:


-2.3-



5.2027: And in ensample of alle tho
5.2028: I finde a tale write so,
5.2029: The which, for it is good to liere,
5.2030: Hierafterward thou schalt it hiere.
5.2031: Whan Rome stod in noble plit,
5.2032: Virgile, which was tho parfit,
5.2033: A Mirour made of his clergie
5.2034: And sette it in the tounes yµe
5.2035: Of marbre on a piler withoute;
5.2036: That thei be thritty Mile aboute
5.2037: Be daie and ek also be nyhte
5.2038: In that Mirour beholde myhte
5.2039: Here enemys, if eny were,
5.2040: With al here ordinance there,
5.2041: Which thei ayein the Cite caste:
5.2042: So that, whil thilke Mirour laste,
5.2043: Ther was no lond which mihte achieve
5.2044: With werre Rome forto grieve;
5.2045: Wherof was gret envie tho.
5.2046: And fell that ilke time so,
5.2047: That Rome hadde werres stronge
5.2048: Ayein Cartage, and stoden longe
5.2049: The tuo Cites upon debat.
5.2050: Cartage sih the stronge astat
5.2051: Of Rome in thilke Mirour stonde,
5.2052: And thoghte al prively to fonde
5.2053: To overthrowe it be som wyle.
5.2054: And Hanybal was thilke while
5.2055: The Prince and ledere of Cartage,
5.2056: Which hadde set al his corage
5.2057: Upon knihthod in such a wise,
5.2058: That he be worthi and be wise
5.2059: And be non othre was conseiled,
5.2060: Wherof the world is yit merveiled
5.2061: Of the maistries that he wroghte
5.2062: Upon the marches whiche he soghte.


-2.4-



5.2063: And fell in thilke time also,
5.2064: The king of Puile, which was tho,
5.2065: Thoghte ayein Rome to rebelle,
5.2066: And thus was take the querele,
5.2067: Hou to destruie this Mirour.
5.2068: Of Rome tho was Emperour
5.2069: Crassus, which was so coveitous,
5.2070: That he was evere desirous
5.2071: Of gold to gete the pilage;
5.2072: Wherof that Puile and ek Cartage
5.2073: With Philosophres wise and grete
5.2074: Begunne of this matiere trete,
5.2075: And ate laste in this degre
5.2076: Ther weren Philosophres thre,
5.2077: To do this thing whiche undertoke,
5.2078: And therupon thei with hem toke
5.2079: A gret tresor of gold in cophres,
5.2080: To Rome and thus these philisophres
5.2081: Togedre in compainie wente,
5.2082: Bot noman wiste what thei mente.
5.2083: Whan thei to Rome come were,
5.2084: So prively thei duelte there,
5.2085: As thei that thoghten to deceive:
5.2086: Was non that mihte of hem perceive,
5.2087: Til thei in sondri stedes have
5.2088: Here gold under the ground begrave
5.2089: In tuo tresors, that to beholde
5.2090: Thei scholden seme as thei were olde.
5.2091: And so forth thanne upon a day
5.2092: Al openly in good arai
5.2093: To themperour thei hem presente,
5.2094: And tolden it was here entente
5.2095: To duellen under his servise.
5.2096: And he hem axeth in what wise;
5.2097: And thei him tolde in such a plit,
5.2098: That ech of hem hadde a spirit,
5.2099: The which slepende a nyht appiereth


-2.5-



5.2100: And hem be sondri dremes lereth
5.2101: After the world that hath betid.
5.2102: Under the ground if oght be hid
5.2103: Of old tresor at eny throwe,
5.2104: They schull it in here swevenes knowe;
5.2105: And upon this condicioun,
5.2106: Thei sein, what gold under the toun
5.2107: Of Rome is hid, thei wole it finde,
5.2108: Ther scholde noght be left behinde,
5.2109: Be so that he the halvendel
5.2110: Hem grante, and he assenteth wel;
5.2111: And thus cam sleighte forto duelle
5.2112: With Covoitise, as I thee telle.
5.2113: This Emperour bad redily
5.2114: That thei be logged faste by
5.2115: Where he his oghne body lay;
5.2116: And whan it was amorwe day,
5.2117: That on of hem seith that he mette
5.2118: Wher he a goldhord scholde fette:
5.2119: Wherof this Emperour was glad,
5.2120: And therupon anon he bad
5.2121: His Mynours forto go and myne,
5.2122: And he himself of that covine
5.2123: Goth forth withal, and at his hond
5.2124: The tresor redi there he fond,
5.2125: Where as thei seide it scholde be;
5.2126: And who was thanne glad bot he?
5.2127: Upon that other dai secounde
5.2128: Thei have an other goldhord founde,
5.2129: Which the seconde maister tok
5.2130: Upon his swevene and undertok.
5.2131: And thus the sothe experience
5.2132: To themperour yaf such credence,
5.2133: That al his trist and al his feith
5.2134: So sikerliche on hem he leith,
5.2135: Of that he fond him so relieved,
5.2136: That thei ben parfitli believed,
5.2137: As thogh thei were goddes thre.
5.2138: Nou herkne the soutilete.


-2.6-



5.2139: The thridde maister scholde mete,
5.2140: Which, as thei seiden, was unmete
5.2141: Above hem alle, and couthe most;
5.2142: And he withoute noise or bost
5.2143: Al priveli, so as he wolde,
5.2144: Upon the morwe his swevene tolde
5.2145: To themperour riht in his Ere,
5.2146: And seide him that he wiste where
5.2147: A tresor was so plentivous
5.2148: Of gold and ek so precious
5.2149: Of jeueals and of riche stones,
5.2150: That unto alle hise hors at ones
5.2151: It were a charge sufficant.
5.2152: This lord upon this covenant
5.2153: Was glad, and axeth where it was.
5.2154: The maister seide, under the glas,
5.2155: And tolde him eke, as for the Myn
5.2156: He wolde ordeigne such engin,
5.2157: That thei the werk schull undersette
5.2158: With Tymber, that withoute lette
5.2159: Men mai the tresor saufli delve,
5.2160: So that the Mirour be himselve
5.2161: Withoute empeirement schal stonde:
5.2162: And this the maister upon honde
5.2163: Hath undertake in alle weie.
5.2164: This lord, which hadde his wit aweie
5.2165: And was with Covoitise blent,
5.2166: Anon therto yaf his assent;
5.2167: And thus they myne forth withal,
5.2168: The timber set up overal,
5.2169: Wherof the Piler stod upriht;
5.2170: Til it befell upon a nyht
5.2171: These clerkes, whan thei were war
5.2172: Hou that the timber only bar
5.2173: The Piler, wher the Mirour stod,-
5.2174: Here sleihte noman understod,-
5.2175: Thei go be nyhte unto the Myne


-2.7-



5.2176: With pich, with soulphre and with rosine,
5.2177: And whan the Cite was a slepe,
5.2178: A wylde fyr into the depe
5.2179: They caste among the timberwerk,
5.2180: And so forth, whil the nyht was derk,
5.2181: Desguised in a povere arai
5.2182: Thei passeden the toun er dai.
5.2183: And whan thei come upon an hell,
5.2184: Thei sihen how the Mirour fell,
5.2185: Wherof thei maden joie ynowh,
5.2186: And ech of hem with other lowh,
5.2187: And seiden, "Lo, what coveitise
5.2188: Mai do with hem that be noght wise!"
5.2189: And that was proved afterward,
5.2190: For every lond, to Romeward
5.2191: Which hadde be soubgit tofore,
5.2192: Whan this Mirour was so forlore
5.2193: And thei the wonder herde seie,
5.2194: Anon begunne desobeie
5.2195: With werres upon every side;
5.2196: And thus hath Rome lost his pride
5.2197: And was defouled overal.
5.2198: For this I finde of Hanybal,
5.2199: That he of Romeins in a dai,
5.2200: Whan he hem fond out of arai,
5.2201: So gret a multitude slowh,
5.2202: That of goldringes, whiche he drowh
5.2203: Of gentil handes that ben dede,
5.2204: Buisshelles fulle thre, I rede,
5.2205: He felde, and made a bregge also,
5.2206: That he mihte over Tibre go
5.2207: Upon the corps that dede were
5.2208: Of the Romeins, whiche he slowh there.
5.2209: Bot now to speke of the juise,
5.2210: The which after the covoitise
5.2211: Was take upon this Emperour,
5.2212: For he destruide the Mirour;


-2.8-



5.2213: It is a wonder forto hiere.
5.2214: The Romeins maden a chaiere
5.2215: And sette here Emperour therinne,
5.2216: And seiden, for he wolde winne
5.2217: Of gold the superfluite,
5.2218: Of gold he scholde such plente
5.2219: Receive, til he seide Ho:
5.2220: And with gold, which thei hadden tho
5.2221: Buillende hot withinne a panne,
5.2222: Into his Mouth thei poure thanne.
5.2223: And thus the thurst of gold was queynt,
5.2224: With gold which hadde ben atteignt.
5.2225: Wherof, mi Sone, thou miht hiere,
5.2226: Whan Covoitise hath lost the stiere
5.2227: Of resonable governance,
5.2228: Ther falleth ofte gret vengance.
5.2229: For ther mai be no worse thing
5.2230: Than Covoitise aboute a king:
5.2231: If it in his persone be,
5.2232: It doth the more adversite;
5.2233: And if it in his conseil stonde,
5.2234: It bringth alday meschief to honde
5.2235: Of commun harm; and if it growe
5.2236: Withinne his court, it wol be knowe,
5.2237: For thanne schal the king be piled.
5.2238: The man which hath hise londes tiled,
5.2239: Awaiteth noght more redily
5.2240: The Hervest, than thei gredily
5.2241: Ne maken thanne warde and wacche,
5.2242: Wher thei the profit mihten cacche:
5.2243: And yit fulofte it falleth so,
5.2244: As men mai sen among hem tho,
5.2245: That he which most coveiteth faste
5.2246: Hath lest avantage ate laste.
5.2247: For whan fortune is therayein,
5.2248: Thogh he coveite, it is in vein;
5.2249: The happes be noght alle liche,
5.2250: On is mad povere, an other riche,
5.2251: The court to some doth profit,


-2.9-



5.2252: And some ben evere in o plit;
5.2253: And yit thei bothe aliche sore
5.2254: Coveite, bot fortune is more
5.2255: Unto that o part favorable.
5.2256: And thogh it be noght resonable,
5.2257: This thing a man mai sen alday,
5.2258: Wherof that I thee telle may
5.2259: A fair ensample in remembrance,
5.2260: Hou every man mot take his chance
5.2261: Or of richesse or of poverte.
5.2262: Hou so it stonde of the decerte,
5.2263: Hier is noght every thing aquit,
5.2264: For ofte a man mai se this yit,
5.2265: That who best doth, lest thonk schal have;
5.2266: It helpeth noght the world to crave,
5.2267: Which out of reule and of mesure
5.2268: Hath evere stonde in aventure
5.2269: Als wel in Court as elles where:
5.2270: And hou in olde daies there
5.2271: It stod, so as the thinges felle,
5.2272: I thenke a tale forto telle.
5.2273: In a Cronique this I rede.
5.2274: Aboute a king, as moste nede,
5.2275: Ther was of knyhtes and squiers
5.2276: Gret route, and ek of Officers:
5.2277: Some of long time him hadden served,
5.2278: And thoghten that thei have deserved
5.2279: Avancement, and gon withoute;
5.2280: And some also ben of the route
5.2281: That comen bot a while agon,
5.2282: And thei avanced were anon.
5.2283: These olde men upon this thing,
5.2284: So as thei dorste, ayein the king
5.2285: Among hemself compleignen ofte:
5.2286: Bot ther is nothing seid so softe,
5.2287: That it ne comth out ate laste;
5.2288: The king it wiste, and als so faste,


-2.10-



5.2289: As he which was of hih Prudence,
5.2290: He schop therfore an evidence
5.2291: Of hem that pleignen in that cas,
5.2292: To knowe in whos defalte it was.
5.2293: And al withinne his oghne entente,
5.2294: That noman wiste what it mente,
5.2295: Anon he let tuo cofres make
5.2296: Of o semblance and of o make,
5.2297: So lich that no lif thilke throwe
5.2298: That on mai fro that other knowe:
5.2299: Thei were into his chambre broght,
5.2300: Bot noman wot why thei be wroght,
5.2301: And natheles the king hath bede
5.2302: That thei be set in prive stede.
5.2303: As he that was of wisdom slih,
5.2304: Whan he therto his time sih,
5.2305: Al prively, that non it wiste,
5.2306: Hise oghne hondes that o kiste
5.2307: Of fin gold and of fin perrie,
5.2308: The which out of his tresorie
5.2309: Was take, anon he felde full;
5.2310: That other cofre of straw and mull
5.2311: With Stones meind he felde also.
5.2312: Thus be thei fulle bothe tuo,
5.2313: So that erliche upon a day
5.2314: He bad withinne, ther he lay,
5.2315: Ther scholde be tofore his bed
5.2316: A bord upset and faire spred;
5.2317: And thanne he let the cofres fette,
5.2318: Upon the bord and dede hem sette.
5.2319: He knew the names wel of tho,
5.2320: The whiche ayein him grucche so,
5.2321: Bothe of his chambre and of his halle,
5.2322: Anon and sende for hem alle,
5.2323: And seide to hem in this wise:
5.2324: "Ther schal noman his happ despise;
5.2325: I wot wel ye have longe served,
5.2326: And god wot what ye have deserved:
5.2327: Bot if it is along on me


-2.11-



5.2328: Of that ye unavanced be,
5.2329: Or elles it be long on you,
5.2330: The sothe schal be proved nou,
5.2331: To stoppe with youre evele word.
5.2332: Lo hier tuo cofres on the bord:
5.2333: Ches which you list of bothe tuo;
5.2334: And witeth wel that on of tho
5.2335: Is with tresor so full begon,
5.2336: That if ye happe therupon,
5.2337: Ye schull be riche men for evere.
5.2338: Now ches and tak which you is levere:
5.2339: Bot be wel war, er that ye take;
5.2340: For of that on I undertake
5.2341: Ther is no maner good therinne,
5.2342: Wherof ye mihten profit winne.
5.2343: Now goth togedre of on assent
5.2344: And taketh youre avisement,
5.2345: For bot I you this dai avance,
5.2346: It stant upon youre oghne chance
5.2347: Al only in defalte of grace:
5.2348: So schal be schewed in this place
5.2349: Upon you alle wel afyn,
5.2350: That no defalte schal be myn."
5.2351: Thei knelen alle and with o vois
5.2352: The king thei thonken of this chois:
5.2353: And after that thei up arise,
5.2354: And gon aside and hem avise,
5.2355: And ate laste thei acorde;
5.2356: Wherof her tale to recorde,
5.2357: To what issue thei be falle,
5.2358: A kniht schal speke for hem alle.
5.2359: He kneleth doun unto the king,
5.2360: And seith that thei upon this thing,
5.2361: Or forto winne or forto lese,
5.2362: Ben alle avised forto chese.
5.2363: Tho tok this kniht a yerde on honde,
5.2364: And goth there as the cofres stonde,
5.2365: And with assent of everichon


-2.12-



5.2366: He leith his yerde upon that on,
5.2367: And seith the king hou thilke same
5.2368: Thei chese in reguerdoun be name,
5.2369: And preith him that thei mote it have.
5.2370: The king, which wolde his honour save,
5.2371: Whan he hath herd the commun vois,
5.2372: Hath granted hem here oghne chois
5.2373: And tok hem therupon the keie.
5.2374: Bot for he wolde it were seie
5.2375: What good thei have, as thei suppose,
5.2376: He bad anon the cofre unclose,
5.2377: Which was fulfild with straw and stones:
5.2378: Thus be thei served al at ones.
5.2379: This king thanne in the same stede
5.2380: Anon that other cofre undede,
5.2381: Where as thei sihen gret richesse,
5.2382: Wel more than thei couthen gesse.
5.2383: "Lo," seith the king, "nou mai ye se
5.2384: That ther is no defalte in me;
5.2385: Forthi miself I wole aquyte,
5.2386: And bereth ye youre oghne wyte
5.2387: Of that fortune hath you refused."
5.2388: Thus was this wise king excused,
5.2389: And thei lefte of here evele speche
5.2390: And mercy of here king beseche.
5.2391: Somdiel to this matiere lik
5.2392: I finde a tale, hou Frederik,
5.2393: Of Rome that time Emperour,
5.2394: Herde, as he wente, a gret clamour
5.2395: Of tuo beggers upon the weie.
5.2396: That on of hem began to seie,
5.2397: "Ha lord, wel mai the man be riche
5.2398: Whom that a king list forto riche."
5.2399: That other saide nothing so,
5.2400: Bot, "He is riche and wel bego,
5.2401: To whom that god wole sende wele."
5.2402: And thus thei maden wordes fele,
5.2403: Wherof this lord hath hiede nome,
5.2404: And dede hem bothe forto come


-2.13-



5.2405: To the Paleis, wher he schal ete,
5.2406: And bad ordeine for here mete
5.2407: Tuo Pastes, whiche he let do make.
5.2408: A capoun in that on was bake,
5.2409: And in that other forto winne
5.2410: Of florins al that mai withinne
5.2411: He let do pute a gret richesse;
5.2412: And evene aliche, as man mai gesse,
5.2413: Outward thei were bothe tuo.
5.2414: This begger was comanded tho,
5.2415: He that which hield him to the king,
5.2416: That he ferst chese upon this thing:
5.2417: He sih hem, bot he felte hem noght,
5.2418: So that upon his oghne thoght
5.2419: He ches the Capoun and forsok
5.2420: That other, which his fela tok.
5.2421: Bot whanne he wiste hou that it ferde,
5.2422: He seide alowd, that men it herde,
5.2423: "Nou have I certeinly conceived
5.2424: That he mai lihtly be deceived,
5.2425: That tristeth unto mannes helpe;
5.2426: Bot wel is him whom god wol helpe,
5.2427: For he stant on the siker side,
5.2428: Which elles scholde go beside:
5.2429: I se my fela wel recovere,
5.2430: And I mot duelle stille povere."
5.2431: Thus spak this begger his entente,
5.2432: And povere he cam and povere he wente;
5.2433: Of that he hath richesse soght,
5.2434: His infortune it wolde noght.
5.2435: So mai it schewe in sondri wise,
5.2436: Betwen fortune and covoitise
5.2437: The chance is cast upon a Dee;
5.2438: Bot yit fulofte a man mai se
5.2439: Ynowe of suche natheles,
5.2440: Whiche evere pute hemself in press
5.2441: To gete hem good, and yit thei faile.


-2.14-



5.2442: And forto speke of this entaile
5.2443: Touchende of love in thi matiere,
5.2444: Mi goode Sone, as thou miht hiere,
5.2445: That riht as it with tho men stod
5.2446: Of infortune of worldes good,
5.2447: As thou hast herd me telle above,
5.2448: Riht so fulofte it stant be love:
5.2449: Thogh thou coveite it everemore,
5.2450: Thou schalt noght have o diel the more,
5.2451: Bot only that which thee is schape,
5.2452: The remenant is bot a jape.
5.2453: And natheles ynowe of tho
5.2454: Ther ben, that nou coveiten so,
5.2455: That where as thei a womman se,
5.2456: Ye ten or tuelve thogh ther be,
5.2457: The love is nou so unavised,
5.2458: That wher the beaute stant assised,
5.2459: The mannes herte anon is there,
5.2460: And rouneth tales in hire Ere,
5.2461: And seith hou that he loveth streite,
5.2462: And thus he set him to coveite,
5.2463: An hundred thogh he sihe aday.
5.2464: So wolde he more thanne he may;
5.2465: Bot for the grete covoitise
5.2466: Of sotie and of fol emprise
5.2467: In ech of hem he fint somwhat
5.2468: That pleseth him, or this or that;
5.2469: Som on, for sche is whit of skin,
5.2470: Som on, for sche is noble of kin,
5.2471: Som on, for sche hath rodi chieke,
5.2472: Som on, for that sche semeth mieke,
5.2473: Som on, for sche hath yhen greie,
5.2474: Som on, for sche can lawhe and pleie,
5.2475: Som on, for sche is long and smal,
5.2476: Som on, for sche is lyte and tall,
5.2477: Som on, for sche is pale and bleche,
5.2478: Som on, for sche is softe of speche,
5.2479: Som on, for that sche is camused,
5.2480: Som on, for sche hath noght ben used,


-2.15-



5.2481: Som on, for sche can daunce and singe;
5.2482: So that som thing to his likinge
5.2483: He fint, and thogh nomore he fiele,
5.2484: Bot that sche hath a litel hiele,
5.2485: It is ynow that he therfore
5.2486: Hire love, and thus an hundred score,
5.2487: Whil thei be newe, he wolde he hadde;
5.2488: Whom he forsakth, sche schal be badde.
5.2489: The blinde man no colour demeth,
5.2490: But al is on, riht as him semeth;
5.2491: So hath his lust no juggement,
5.2492: Whom covoitise of love blent.
5.2493: Him thenkth that to his covoitise
5.2494: Hou al the world ne mai suffise,
5.2495: For be his wille he wolde have alle,
5.2496: If that it mihte so befalle:
5.2497: Thus is he commun as the Strete,
5.2498: I sette noght of his beyete.
5.2499: Mi Sone, hast thou such covoitise?
5.2500: Nai, fader, such love I despise,
5.2501: And whil I live schal don evere,
5.2502: For in good feith yit hadde I levere,
5.2503: Than to coveite in such a weie,
5.2504: To ben for evere til I deie
5.2505: As povere as Job, and loveles,
5.2506: Outaken on, for haveles
5.2507: His thonkes is noman alyve.
5.2508: For that a man scholde al unthryve
5.2509: Ther oghte no wisman coveite,
5.2510: The lawe was noght set so streite:
5.2511: Forthi miself withal to save,
5.2512: Such on ther is I wolde have,
5.2513: And non of al these othre mo.
5.2514: Mi Sone, of that thou woldest so,
5.2515: I am noght wroth, bot over this
5.2516: I wol thee tellen hou it is.
5.2517: For ther be men, whiche otherwise,


-2.16-



5.2518: Riht only for the covoitise
5.2519: Of that thei sen a womman riche,
5.2520: Ther wol thei al here love affiche;
5.2521: Noght for the beaute of hire face,
5.2522: Ne yit for vertu ne for grace,
5.2523: Which sche hath elles riht ynowh,
5.2524: Bot for the Park and for the plowh,
5.2525: And other thing which therto longeth:
5.2526: For in non other wise hem longeth
5.2527: To love, bot thei profit finde;
5.2528: And if the profit be behinde,
5.2529: Here love is evere lesse and lesse,
5.2530: For after that sche hath richesse,
5.2531: Her love is of proporcion.
5.2532: If thou hast such condicion,
5.2533: Mi Sone, tell riht as it is.
5.2534: Min holi fader, nay ywiss,
5.2535: Condicion such have I non.
5.2536: For trewli, fader, I love oon
5.2537: So wel with al myn hertes thoght,
5.2538: That certes, thogh sche hadde noght,
5.2539: And were as povere as Medea,
5.2540: Which was exiled for Creusa,
5.2541: I wolde hir noght the lasse love;
5.2542: Ne thogh sche were at hire above,
5.2543: As was the riche qwen Candace,
5.2544: Which to deserve love and grace
5.2545: To Alisandre, that was king,
5.2546: Yaf many a worthi riche thing,
5.2547: Or elles as Pantasilee,
5.2548: Which was the quen of Feminee,
5.2549: And gret richesse with hir nam,
5.2550: Whan sche for love of Hector cam
5.2551: To Troie in rescousse of the toun,-
5.2552: I am of such condicion,
5.2553: That thogh mi ladi of hirselve
5.2554: Were also riche as suche tuelve,


-2.17-



5.2555: I couthe noght, thogh it wer so,
5.2556: No betre love hir than I do.
5.2557: For I love in so plein a wise,
5.2558: That forto speke of coveitise,
5.2559: As for poverte or for richesse
5.2560: Mi love is nouther mor ne lesse.
5.2561: For in good feith I trowe this,
5.2562: So coveitous noman ther is,
5.2563: Forwhy and he mi ladi sihe,
5.2564: That he thurgh lokinge of his yhe
5.2565: Ne scholde have such a strok withinne,
5.2566: That for no gold he mihte winne
5.2567: He scholde noght hire love asterte,
5.2568: Bot if he lefte there his herte;
5.2569: Be so it were such a man,
5.2570: That couthe Skile of a womman.
5.2571: For ther be men so ruide some,
5.2572: Whan thei among the wommen come,
5.2573: Thei gon under proteccioun,
5.2574: That love and his affeccioun
5.2575: Ne schal noght take hem be the slieve;
5.2576: For thei ben out of that believe,
5.2577: Hem lusteth of no ladi chiere,
5.2578: Bot evere thenken there and hiere
5.2579: Wher that here gold is in the cofre,
5.2580: And wol non other love profre:
5.2581: Bot who so wot what love amounteth
5.2582: And be resoun trewliche acompteth,
5.2583: Than mai he knowe and taken hiede
5.2584: That al the lust of wommanhiede,
5.2585: Which mai ben in a ladi face,
5.2586: Mi ladi hath, and ek of grace
5.2587: If men schull yiven hire a pris,
5.2588: Thei mai wel seie hou sche is wys
5.2589: And sobre and simple of contenance,


-2.18-



5.2590: And al that to good governance
5.2591: Belongeth of a worthi wiht
5.2592: Sche hath pleinli: for thilke nyht
5.2593: That sche was bore, as for the nones
5.2594: Nature sette in hire at ones
5.2595: Beaute with bounte so besein,
5.2596: That I mai wel afferme and sein,
5.2597: I sawh yit nevere creature
5.2598: Of comlihied and of feture
5.2599: In eny kinges regioun
5.2600: Be lich hire in comparisoun:
5.2601: And therto, as I have you told,
5.2602: Yit hath sche more a thousendfold
5.2603: Of bounte, and schortli to telle,
5.2604: Sche is the pure hed and welle
5.2605: And Mirour and ensample of goode.
5.2606: Who so hir vertus understode,
5.2607: Me thenkth it oughte ynow suffise
5.2608: Withouten other covoitise
5.2609: To love such on and to serve,
5.2610: Which with hire chiere can deserve
5.2611: To be beloved betre ywiss
5.2612: Than sche per cas that richest is
5.2613: And hath of gold a Milion.
5.2614: Such hath be myn opinion
5.2615: And evere schal: bot natheles
5.2616: I seie noght sche is haveles,
5.2617: That sche nys riche and wel at ese,
5.2618: And hath ynow wherwith to plese
5.2619: Of worldes good whom that hire liste;
5.2620: Bot o thing wolde I wel ye wiste,
5.2621: That nevere for no worldes good
5.2622: Min herte untoward hire stod,
5.2623: Bot only riht for pure love;
5.2624: That wot the hihe god above.
5.2625: Nou, fader, what seie ye therto?
5.2626: Mi Sone, I seie it is wel do.
5.2627: For tak of this riht good believe,


-2.19-



5.2628: What man that wole himself relieve
5.2629: To love in eny other wise,
5.2630: He schal wel finde his coveitise
5.2631: Schal sore grieve him ate laste,
5.2632: For such a love mai noght laste.
5.2633: Bot nou, men sein, in oure daies
5.2634: Men maken bot a fewe assaies,
5.2635: Bot if the cause be richesse;
5.2636: Forthi the love is wel the lesse.
5.2637: And who that wolde ensamples telle,
5.2638: Be olde daies as thei felle,
5.2639: Than mihte a man wel understonde
5.2640: Such love mai noght longe stonde.
5.2641: Now herkne, Sone, and thou schalt hiere
5.2642: A gret ensample of this matiere.
5.2643: To trete upon the cas of love,
5.2644: So as we tolden hiere above,
5.2645: I finde write a wonder thing.
5.2646: Of Puile whilom was a king,
5.2647: A man of hih complexioun
5.2648: And yong, bot his affeccioun
5.2649: After the nature of his age
5.2650: Was yit noght falle in his corage
5.2651: The lust of wommen forto knowe.
5.2652: So it betidde upon a throwe
5.2653: This lord fell into gret seknesse:
5.2654: Phisique hath don the besinesse
5.2655: Of sondri cures manyon
5.2656: To make him hol; and therupon
5.2657: A worthi maister which ther was
5.2658: Yaf him conseil upon this cas,
5.2659: That if he wolde have parfit hele,
5.2660: He scholde with a womman dele,
5.2661: A freissh, a yong, a lusti wiht,
5.2662: To don him compaignie a nyht:
5.2663: For thanne he seide him redily,
5.2664: That he schal be al hol therby,


-2.20-



5.2665: And otherwise he kneu no cure.
5.2666: This king, which stod in aventure
5.2667: Of lif and deth, for medicine
5.2668: Assented was, and of covine
5.2669: His Steward, whom he tristeth wel,
5.2670: He tok, and tolde him everydel,
5.2671: Hou that this maister hadde seid:
5.2672: And therupon he hath him preid
5.2673: And charged upon his ligance,
5.2674: That he do make porveance
5.2675: Of such on as be covenable
5.2676: For his plesance and delitable;
5.2677: And bad him, hou that evere it stod,
5.2678: That he schal spare for no good,
5.2679: For his will is riht wel to paie.
5.2680: The Steward seide he wolde assaie:
5.2681: Bot nou hierafter thou schalt wite,
5.2682: As I finde in the bokes write,
5.2683: What coveitise in love doth.
5.2684: This Steward, forto telle soth,
5.2685: Amonges al the men alyve
5.2686: A lusti ladi hath to wyve,
5.2687: Which natheles for gold he tok
5.2688: And noght for love, as seith the bok.
5.2689: A riche Marchant of the lond
5.2690: Hir fader was, and hire fond
5.2691: So worthily, and such richesse
5.2692: Of worldes good and such largesse
5.2693: With hire he yaf in mariage,
5.2694: That only for thilke avantage
5.2695: Of good this Steward hath hire take,
5.2696: For lucre and noght for loves sake,
5.2697: And that was afterward wel seene;
5.2698: Nou herkne what it wolde meene.
5.2699: This Steward in his oghne herte


-2.21-



5.2700: Sih that his lord mai noght asterte
5.2701: His maladie, bot he have
5.2702: A lusti womman him to save,
5.2703: And thoghte he wolde yive ynowh
5.2704: Of his tresor; wherof he drowh
5.2705: Gret coveitise into his mynde,
5.2706: And sette his honour fer behynde.
5.2707: Thus he, whom gold hath overset,
5.2708: Was trapped in his oghne net;
5.2709: The gold hath mad hise wittes lame,
5.2710: So that sechende his oghne schame
5.2711: He rouneth in the kinges Ere,
5.2712: And seide him that he wiste where
5.2713: A gentile and a lusti on
5.2714: Tho was, and thider wolde he gon:
5.2715: Bot he mot yive yiftes grete;
5.2716: For bot it be thurgh grete beyete
5.2717: Of gold, he seith, he schal noght spede.
5.2718: The king him bad upon the nede
5.2719: That take an hundred pound he scholde,
5.2720: And yive it where that he wolde,
5.2721: Be so it were in worthi place:
5.2722: And thus to stonde in loves grace
5.2723: This king his gold hath abandouned.
5.2724: And whan this tale was full rouned,
5.2725: The Steward tok the gold and wente,
5.2726: Withinne his herte and many a wente
5.2727: Of coveitise thanne he caste,
5.2728: Wherof a pourpos ate laste
5.2729: Ayein love and ayein his riht
5.2730: He tok, and seide hou thilke nyht
5.2731: His wif schal ligge be the king;
5.2732: And goth thenkende upon this thing
5.2733: Toward his In, til he cam hom
5.2734: Into the chambre, and thanne he nom
5.2735: His wif, and tolde hire al the cas.
5.2736: And sche, which red for schame was,
5.2737: With bothe hire handes hath him preid


-2.22-



5.2738: Knelende and in this wise seid,
5.2739: That sche to reson and to skile
5.2740: In what thing that he bidde wile
5.2741: Is redy forto don his heste,
5.2742: Bot this thing were noght honeste,
5.2743: That he for gold hire scholde selle.
5.2744: And he tho with hise wordes felle
5.2745: Forth with his gastly contienance
5.2746: Seith that sche schal don obeissance
5.2747: And folwe his will in every place;
5.2748: And thus thurgh strengthe of his manace
5.2749: Hir innocence is overlad,
5.2750: Wherof sche was so sore adrad
5.2751: That sche his will mot nede obeie.
5.2752: And therupon was schape a weie,
5.2753: That he his oghne wif be nyhte
5.2754: Hath out of alle mennes sihte
5.2755: So prively that non it wiste
5.2756: Broght to the king, which as him liste
5.2757: Mai do with hire what he wolde.
5.2758: For whan sche was ther as sche scholde,
5.2759: With him abedde under the cloth,
5.2760: The Steward tok his leve and goth
5.2761: Into a chambre faste by;
5.2762: Bot hou he slep, that wot noght I,
5.2763: For he sih cause of jelousie.
5.2764: Bot he, which hath the compainie
5.2765: Of such a lusti on as sche,
5.2766: Him thoghte that of his degre
5.2767: Ther was noman so wel at ese:
5.2768: Sche doth al that sche mai to plese,
5.2769: So that his herte al hol sche hadde;
5.2770: And thus this king his joie ladde,
5.2771: Til it was nyh upon the day.
5.2772: The Steward thanne wher sche lay
5.2773: Cam to the bedd, and in his wise
5.2774: Hath bede that sche scholde arise.


-2.23-



5.2775: The king seith, "Nay, sche schal noght go."
5.2776: His Steward seide ayein, "Noght so;
5.2777: For sche mot gon er it be knowe,
5.2778: And so I swor at thilke throwe,
5.2779: Whan I hire fette to you hiere."
5.2780: The king his tale wol noght hiere,
5.2781: And seith hou that he hath hire boght,
5.2782: Forthi sche schal departe noght,
5.2783: Til he the brighte dai beholde.
5.2784: And cawhte hire in hise armes folde,
5.2785: As he which liste forto pleie,
5.2786: And bad his Steward gon his weie,
5.2787: And so he dede ayein his wille.
5.2788: And thus his wif abedde stille
5.2789: Lay with the king the longe nyht,
5.2790: Til that it was hih Sonne lyht;
5.2791: Bot who sche was he knew nothing.
5.2792: Tho cam the Steward to the king
5.2793: And preide him that withoute schame
5.2794: In savinge of hire goode name
5.2795: He myhte leden hom ayein
5.2796: This lady, and hath told him plein
5.2797: Hou that it was his oghne wif.
5.2798: The king his Ere unto this strif
5.2799: Hath leid, and whan that he it herde,
5.2800: Welnyh out of his wit he ferde,
5.2801: And seide, "Ha, caitif most of alle,
5.2802: Wher was it evere er this befalle,
5.2803: That eny cokard in this wise
5.2804: Betok his wif for coveitise?
5.2805: Thou hast bothe hire and me beguiled
5.2806: And ek thin oghne astat reviled,
5.2807: Wherof that buxom unto thee
5.2808: Hierafter schal sche nevere be.
5.2809: For this avou to god I make,
5.2810: After this day if I thee take,
5.2811: Thou schalt ben honged and todrawe.


-2.24-



5.2812: Nou loke anon thou be withdrawe,
5.2813: So that I se thee neveremore."
5.2814: This Steward thanne dradde him sore,
5.2815: With al the haste that he mai
5.2816: And fledde awei that same dai,
5.2817: And was exiled out of londe.
5.2818: Lo, there a nyce housebonde,
5.2819: Which thus hath lost his wif for evere!
5.2820: Bot natheles sche hadde a levere;
5.2821: The king hire weddeth and honoureth,
5.2822: Wherof hire name sche socoureth,
5.2823: Which erst was lost thurgh coveitise
5.2824: Of him, that ladde hire other wise,
5.2825: And hath himself also forlore.
5.2826: Mi Sone, be thou war therfore,
5.2827: Wher thou schalt love in eny place,
5.2828: That thou no covoitise embrace,
5.2829: The which is noght of loves kinde.
5.2830: Bot for al that a man mai finde
5.2831: Nou in this time of thilke rage
5.2832: Ful gret desese in mariage,
5.2833: Whan venym melleth with the Sucre
5.2834: And mariage is mad for lucre,
5.2835: Or for the lust or for the hele:
5.2836: What man that schal with outher dele,
5.2837: He mai noght faile to repente.
5.2838: Mi fader, such is myn entente:
5.2839: Bot natheles good is to have,
5.2840: For good mai ofte time save
5.2841: The love which scholde elles spille.
5.2842: Bot god, which wot myn hertes wille,
5.2843: I dar wel take to witnesse,
5.2844: Yit was I nevere for richesse
5.2845: Beset with mariage non;
5.2846: For al myn herte is upon on
5.2847: So frely, that in the persone
5.2848: Stant al my worldes joie al one:
5.2849: I axe nouther Park ne Plowh,


-2.25-



5.2850: If I hire hadde, it were ynowh,
5.2851: Hir love scholde me suffise
5.2852: Withouten other coveitise.
5.2853: Lo now, mi fader, as of this,
5.2854: Touchende of me riht as it is,
5.2855: Mi schrifte I am beknowe plein;
5.2856: And if ye wole oght elles sein,
5.2857: Of covoitise if ther be more
5.2858: In love, agropeth out the sore.
5.2859: Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde
5.2860: Hou Coveitise hath yit on honde
5.2861: In special tuo conseilours,
5.2862: That ben also hise procurours.
5.2863: The ferst of hem is Falswitnesse,
5.2864: Which evere is redi to witnesse
5.2865: What thing his maister wol him hote:
5.2866: Perjurie is the secounde hote,
5.2867: Which spareth noght to swere an oth,
5.2868: Thogh it be fals and god be wroth.
5.2869: That on schal falswitnesse bere,
5.2870: That other schal the thing forswere,
5.2871: Whan he is charged on the bok.
5.2872: So what with hepe and what with crok
5.2873: Thei make here maister ofte winne
5.2874: And wol noght knowe what is sinne


-2.26-



5.2875: For coveitise, and thus, men sain,
5.2876: Thei maken many a fals bargain.
5.2877: Ther mai no trewe querele arise
5.2878: In thilke queste and thilke assise,
5.2879: Where as thei tuo the poeple enforme;
5.2880: For thei kepe evere o maner forme,
5.2881: That upon gold here conscience
5.2882: Thei founde, and take here evidence;
5.2883: And thus with falswitnesse and othes
5.2884: Thei winne hem mete and drinke and clothes.
5.2885: Riht so ther be, who that hem knewe,
5.2886: Of thes lovers ful many untrewe:
5.2887: Nou mai a womman finde ynowe,
5.2888: That ech of hem, whan he schal wowe,
5.2889: Anon he wole his hand doun lein
5.2890: Upon a bok, and swere and sein
5.2891: That he wole feith and trouthe bere;
5.2892: And thus he profreth him to swere
5.2893: To serven evere til he die,
5.2894: And al is verai tricherie.
5.2895: For whan the sothe himselven trieth,
5.2896: The more he swerth, the more he lieth;
5.2897: Whan he his feith makth althermest,
5.2898: Than mai a womman truste him lest;
5.2899: For til he mai his will achieve,
5.2900: He is no lengere forto lieve.
5.2901: Thus is the trouthe of love exiled,
5.2902: And many a good womman beguiled.
5.2903: And ek to speke of Falswitnesse,
5.2904: There be nou many suche, I gesse,
5.2905: That lich unto the provisours
5.2906: Thei make here prive procurours,
5.2907: To telle hou ther is such a man,
5.2908: Which is worthi to love and can
5.2909: Al that a good man scholde kunne;
5.2910: So that with lesinge is begunne
5.2911: The cause in which thei wole procede,
5.2912: And also siker as the crede


-2.27-



5.2913: Thei make of that thei knowen fals.
5.2914: And thus fulofte aboute the hals
5.2915: Love is of false men embraced;
5.2916: Bot love which is so pourchaced
5.2917: Comth afterward to litel pris.
5.2918: Forthi, mi Sone, if thou be wis,
5.2919: Nou thou hast herd this evidence,
5.2920: Thou miht thin oghne conscience
5.2921: Oppose, if thou hast ben such on.
5.2922: Nai, god wot, fader I am non,
5.2923: Ne nevere was; for as men seith,
5.2924: Whan that a man schal make his feith,
5.2925: His herte and tunge moste acorde;
5.2926: For if so be that thei discorde,
5.2927: Thanne is he fals and elles noght:
5.2928: And I dar seie, as of my thoght,
5.2929: In love it is noght descordable
5.2930: Unto mi word, bot acordable.
5.2931: And in this wise, fader, I
5.2932: Mai riht wel swere and salvely,
5.2933: That I mi ladi love wel,
5.2934: For that acordeth everydel.
5.2935: It nedeth noght to mi sothsawe
5.2936: That I witnesse scholde drawe,
5.2937: Into this dai for nevere yit
5.2938: Ne mihte it sinke into mi wit,
5.2939: That I my conseil scholde seie
5.2940: To eny wiht, or me bewreie
5.2941: To sechen help in such manere,
5.2942: Bot only of mi ladi diere.
5.2943: And thogh a thousend men it wiste,
5.2944: That I hire love, and thanne hem liste
5.2945: With me to swere and to witnesse,
5.2946: Yit were that no falswitnesse;
5.2947: For I dar on this trouthe duelle,
5.2948: I love hire mor than I can telle.
5.2949: Thus am I, fader, gulteles,


-2.28-



5.2950: As ye have herd, and natheles
5.2951: In youre dom I put it al.
5.2952: Mi Sone, wite in special,
5.2953: It schal noght comunliche faile,
5.2954: Al thogh it for a time availe
5.2955: That Falswitnesse his cause spede,
5.2956: Upon the point of his falshiede
5.2957: It schal wel afterward be kid;
5.2958: Wherof, so as it is betid,
5.2959: Ensample of suche thinges blinde
5.2960: In a Cronique write I finde.
5.2961: The Goddesse of the See Thetis,
5.2962: Sche hadde a Sone, and his name is
5.2963: Achilles, whom to kepe and warde,
5.2964: Whil he was yong, as into warde
5.2965: Sche thoghte him salfly to betake,
5.2966: As sche which dradde for his sake
5.2967: Of that was seid in prophecie,
5.2968: That he at Troie scholde die,
5.2969: Whan that the Cite was belein.
5.2970: Forthi, so as the bokes sein,
5.2971: Sche caste hire wit in sondri wise,
5.2972: Hou sche him mihte so desguise
5.2973: That noman scholde his bodi knowe:
5.2974: And so befell that ilke throwe,
5.2975: Whil that sche thoghte upon this dede,
5.2976: Ther was a king, which Lichomede
5.2977: Was hote, and he was wel begon
5.2978: With faire dowhtres manyon,
5.2979: And duelte fer out in an yle.
5.2980: Nou schalt thou hiere a wonder wyle:
5.2981: This queene, which the moder was
5.2982: Of Achilles, upon this cas
5.2983: Hire Sone, as he a Maiden were,
5.2984: Let clothen in the same gere
5.2985: Which longeth unto wommanhiede:
5.2986: And he was yong and tok non hiede,


-2.29-



5.2987: Bot soffreth al that sche him dede.
5.2988: Wherof sche hath hire wommen bede
5.2989: And charged be here othes alle,
5.2990: Hou so it afterward befalle,
5.2991: That thei discovere noght this thing,
5.2992: Bot feigne and make a knowleching,
5.2993: Upon the conseil which was nome,
5.2994: In every place wher thei come
5.2995: To telle and to witnesse this,
5.2996: Hou he here ladi dowhter is.
5.2997: And riht in such a maner wise
5.2998: Sche bad thei scholde hire don servise,
5.2999: So that Achilles underfongeth
5.3000: As to a yong ladi belongeth
5.3001: Honour, servise and reverence.
5.3002: For Thetis with gret diligence
5.3003: Him hath so tawht and so afaited,
5.3004: That, hou so that it were awaited,
5.3005: With sobre and goodli contenance
5.3006: He scholde his wommanhiede avance,
5.3007: That non the sothe knowe myhte,
5.3008: Bot that in every mannes syhte
5.3009: He scholde seme a pure Maide.
5.3010: And in such wise as sche him saide,
5.3011: Achilles, which that ilke while
5.3012: Was yong, upon himself to smyle
5.3013: Began, whan he was so besein.
5.3014: And thus, after the bokes sein,
5.3015: With frette of Perle upon his hed,
5.3016: Al freissh betwen the whyt and red,
5.3017: As he which tho was tendre of Age,
5.3018: Stod the colour in his visage,
5.3019: That forto loke upon his cheke
5.3020: And sen his childly manere eke,
5.3021: He was a womman to beholde.
5.3022: And thanne his moder to him tolde,
5.3023: That sche him hadde so begon
5.3024: Be cause that sche thoghte gon
5.3025: To Lichomede at thilke tyde,


-2.30-



5.3026: Wher that sche seide he scholde abyde
5.3027: Among hise dowhtres forto duelle.
5.3028: Achilles herde his moder telle,
5.3029: And wiste noght the cause why;
5.3030: And natheles ful buxomly
5.3031: He was redy to that sche bad,
5.3032: Wherof his moder was riht glad,
5.3033: To Lichomede and forth thei wente.
5.3034: And whan the king knew hire entente,
5.3035: And sih this yonge dowhter there,
5.3036: And that it cam unto his Ere
5.3037: Of such record, of such witnesse,
5.3038: He hadde riht a gret gladnesse
5.3039: Of that he bothe syh and herde,
5.3040: As he that wot noght hou it ferde
5.3041: Upon the conseil of the nede.
5.3042: Bot for al that king Lichomede
5.3043: Hath toward him this dowhter take,
5.3044: And for Thetis his moder sake
5.3045: He put hire into compainie
5.3046: To duelle with Deiµdamie,
5.3047: His oghne dowhter, the eldeste,
5.3048: The faireste and the comelieste
5.3049: Of alle hise doghtres whiche he hadde.
5.3050: Lo, thus Thetis the cause ladde,
5.3051: And lefte there Achilles feigned,
5.3052: As he which hath himself restreigned
5.3053: In al that evere he mai and can
5.3054: Out of the manere of a man,
5.3055: And tok his wommannysshe chiere,
5.3056: Wherof unto his beddefere
5.3057: Deiµdamie he hath be nyhte.
5.3058: Wher kinde wole himselve rihte,
5.3059: After the Philosophres sein,
5.3060: Ther mai no wiht be therayein:
5.3061: And that was thilke time seene.


-2.31-



5.3062: The longe nyhtes hem betuene
5.3063: Nature, which mai noght forbere,
5.3064: Hath mad hem bothe forto stere:
5.3065: Thei kessen ferst, and overmore
5.3066: The hihe weie of loves lore
5.3067: Thei gon, and al was don in dede,
5.3068: Wherof lost is the maydenhede;
5.3069: And that was afterward wel knowe.
5.3070: For it befell that ilke throwe
5.3071: At Troie, wher the Siege lay
5.3072: Upon the cause of Menelay
5.3073: And of his queene dame Heleine,
5.3074: The Gregois hadden mochel peine
5.3075: Alday to fihte and to assaile.
5.3076: Bot for thei mihten noght availe
5.3077: So noble a Cite forto winne,
5.3078: A prive conseil thei beginne,
5.3079: In sondri wise wher thei trete;
5.3080: And ate laste among the grete
5.3081: Thei fellen unto this acord,
5.3082: That Protheuµs, of his record
5.3083: Which was an Astronomien
5.3084: And ek a gret Magicien,
5.3085: Scholde of his calculacion
5.3086: Seche after constellacion,
5.3087: Hou thei the Cite mihten gete:
5.3088: And he, which hadde noght foryete
5.3089: Of that belongeth to a clerk,
5.3090: His studie sette upon this werk.
5.3091: So longe his wit aboute he caste,
5.3092: Til that he fond out ate laste,
5.3093: Bot if they hadden Achilles
5.3094: Here werre schal ben endeles.
5.3095: And over that he tolde hem plein
5.3096: In what manere he was besein,
5.3097: And in what place he schal be founde;
5.3098: So that withinne a litel stounde
5.3099: Ulixes forth with Diomede
5.3100: Upon this point to Lichomede


-2.32-



5.3101: Agamenon togedre sente.
5.3102: Bot Ulixes, er he forth wente,
5.3103: Which was on of the moste wise,
5.3104: Ordeigned hath in such a wise,
5.3105: That he the moste riche aray,
5.3106: Wherof a womman mai be gay,
5.3107: With him hath take manyfold,
5.3108: And overmore, as it is told,
5.3109: An harneis for a lusti kniht,
5.3110: Which burned was as Selver bryht,
5.3111: Of swerd, of plate and ek of maile,
5.3112: As thogh he scholde to bataille,
5.3113: He tok also with him be Schipe.
5.3114: And thus togedre in felaschipe
5.3115: Forth gon this Diomede and he
5.3116: In hope til thei mihten se
5.3117: The place where Achilles is.
5.3118: The wynd stod thanne noght amis,
5.3119: Bot evene topseilcole it blew,
5.3120: Til Ulixes the Marche knew,
5.3121: Wher Lichomede his Regne hadde.
5.3122: The Stieresman so wel hem ladde,
5.3123: That thei ben comen sauf to londe,
5.3124: Wher thei gon out upon the stronde
5.3125: Into the Burgh, wher that thei founde
5.3126: The king, and he which hath facounde,
5.3127: Ulixes, dede the message.
5.3128: Bot the conseil of his corage,
5.3129: Why that he cam, he tolde noght,
5.3130: Bot undernethe he was bethoght
5.3131: In what manere he mihte aspie
5.3132: Achilles fro Deiµdamie
5.3133: And fro these othre that ther were,
5.3134: Full many a lusti ladi there.
5.3135: Thei pleide hem there a day or tuo,
5.3136: And as it was fortuned so,


-2.33-



5.3137: It fell that time in such a wise,
5.3138: To Bachus that a sacrifise
5.3139: Thes yonge ladys scholden make;
5.3140: And for the strange mennes sake,
5.3141: That comen fro the Siege of Troie,
5.3142: Thei maden wel the more joie.
5.3143: Ther was Revel, ther was daunsinge,
5.3144: And every lif which coude singe
5.3145: Of lusti wommen in the route
5.3146: A freissh carole hath sunge aboute;
5.3147: Bot for al this yit natheles
5.3148: The Greks unknowe of Achilles
5.3149: So weren, that in no degre
5.3150: Thei couden wite which was he,
5.3151: Ne be his vois, ne be his pas.
5.3152: Ulixes thanne upon this cas
5.3153: A thing of hih Prudence hath wroght:
5.3154: For thilke aray, which he hath broght
5.3155: To yive among the wommen there,
5.3156: He let do fetten al the gere
5.3157: Forth with a knihtes harneis eke,-
5.3158: In al a contre forto seke
5.3159: Men scholden noght a fairer se,-
5.3160: And every thing in his degre
5.3161: Endlong upon a bord he leide.
5.3162: To Lichomede and thanne he preide
5.3163: That every ladi chese scholde
5.3164: What thing of alle that sche wolde,
5.3165: And take it as be weie of yifte;
5.3166: For thei hemself it scholde schifte,
5.3167: He seide, after here oghne wille.
5.3168: Achilles thanne stod noght stille:
5.3169: Whan he the bryhte helm behield,
5.3170: The swerd, the hauberk and the Schield,
5.3171: His herte fell therto anon;
5.3172: Of all that othre wolde he non,
5.3173: The knihtes gere he underfongeth,


-2.34-



5.3174: And thilke aray which that belongeth
5.3175: Unto the wommen he forsok.
5.3176: And in this wise, as seith the bok,
5.3177: Thei knowen thanne which he was:
5.3178: For he goth forth the grete pas
5.3179: Into the chambre where he lay;
5.3180: Anon, and made no delay,
5.3181: He armeth him in knyhtli wise,
5.3182: That bettre can noman devise,
5.3183: And as fortune scholde falle,
5.3184: He cam so forth tofore hem alle,
5.3185: As he which tho was glad ynowh.
5.3186: But Lichomede nothing lowh,
5.3187: Whan that he syh hou that it ferde,
5.3188: For thanne he wiste wel and herde,
5.3189: His dowhter hadde be forlein;
5.3190: Bot that he was so oversein,
5.3191: The wonder overgoth his wit.
5.3192: For in Cronique is write yit
5.3193: Thing which schal nevere be foryete,
5.3194: Hou that Achilles hath begete
5.3195: Pirrus upon Deiµdamie,
5.3196: Wherof cam out the tricherie
5.3197: Of Falswitnesse, whan thei saide
5.3198: Hou that Achilles was a Maide.
5.3199: Bot that was nothing sene tho,
5.3200: For he is to the Siege go
5.3201: Forth with Ulixe and Diomede.
5.3202: Lo, thus was proved in the dede
5.3203: And fulli spoke at thilke while:
5.3204: If o womman an other guile,
5.3205: Wher is ther eny sikernesse?
5.3206: Whan Thetis, which was the goddesse,
5.3207: Deiµdamie hath so bejaped,
5.3208: I not hou it schal ben ascaped
5.3209: With tho wommen whos innocence
5.3210: Is nou alday thurgh such credence
5.3211: Deceived ofte, as it is seene,


-2.35-



5.3212: With men that such untrouthe meene.
5.3213: For thei ben slyhe in such a wise,
5.3214: That thei be sleihte and be queintise
5.3215: Of Falswitnesse bringen inne
5.3216: That doth hem ofte forto winne,
5.3217: Wher thei ben noght worthi therto.
5.3218: Forthi, my Sone, do noght so.
5.3219: Mi fader, as of Falswitnesse
5.3220: The trouthe and the matiere expresse,
5.3221: Touchende of love hou it hath ferd,
5.3222: As ye have told, I have wel herd.
5.3223: Bot for ye seiden otherwise,
5.3224: Hou thilke vice of Covoitise
5.3225: Hath yit Perjurie of his acord,
5.3226: If that you list of som record
5.3227: To telle an other tale also
5.3228: In loves cause of time ago,
5.3229: What thing it is to be forswore,
5.3230: I wolde preie you therfore,
5.3231: Wherof I mihte ensample take.
5.3232: Mi goode Sone, and for thi sake
5.3233: Touchende of this I schall fulfille
5.3234: Thin axinge at thin oghne wille,
5.3235: And the matiere I schal declare,
5.3236: Hou the wommen deceived are,
5.3237: Whan thei so tendre herte bere,
5.3238: Of that thei hieren men so swere;
5.3239: Bot whan it comth unto thassay,
5.3240: Thei finde it fals an other day:
5.3241: As Jason dede to Medee,
5.3242: Which stant yet of Auctorite
5.3243: In tokne and in memorial;
5.3244: Wherof the tale in special
5.3245: Is in the bok of Troie write,
5.3246: Which I schal do thee forto wite.
5.3247: In Grece whilom was a king,
5.3248: Of whom the fame and knowleching


-2.36-



5.3249: Beleveth yit, and Peleuµs
5.3250: He hihte; bot it fell him thus,
5.3251: That his fortune hir whiel so ladde
5.3252: That he no child his oghne hadde
5.3253: To regnen after his decess.
5.3254: He hadde a brother natheles,
5.3255: Whos rihte name was Eson,
5.3256: And he the worthi kniht Jason
5.3257: Begat, the which in every lond
5.3258: Alle othre passede of his hond
5.3259: In Armes, so that he the beste
5.3260: Was named and the worthieste,
5.3261: He soghte worschipe overal.
5.3262: Nou herkne, and I thee telle schal
5.3263: An aventure that he soghte,
5.3264: Which afterward ful dere he boghte.
5.3265: Ther was an yle, which Colchos
5.3266: Was cleped, and therof aros
5.3267: Gret speche in every lond aboute,
5.3268: That such merveile was non oute
5.3269: In al the wyde world nawhere,
5.3270: As tho was in that yle there.
5.3271: Ther was a Schiep, as it was told,
5.3272: The which his flees bar al of gold,
5.3273: And so the goddes hadde it set,
5.3274: That it ne mihte awei be fet
5.3275: Be pouer of no worldes wiht:
5.3276: And yit ful many a worthi kniht
5.3277: It hadde assaied, as thei dorste,
5.3278: And evere it fell hem to the worste.
5.3279: Bot he, that wolde it noght forsake,
5.3280: Bot of his knyhthod undertake
5.3281: To do what thing therto belongeth,
5.3282: This worthi Jason, sore alongeth
5.3283: To se the strange regiouns
5.3284: And knowe the condiciouns
5.3285: Of othre Marches, where he wente;
5.3286: And for that cause his hole entente


-2.37-



5.3287: He sette Colchos forto seche,
5.3288: And therupon he made a speche
5.3289: To Peleuµs his Em the king.
5.3290: And he wel paid was of that thing;
5.3291: And schop anon for his passage,
5.3292: And suche as were of his lignage,
5.3293: With othre knihtes whiche he ches,
5.3294: With him he tok, and Hercules,
5.3295: Which full was of chivalerie,
5.3296: With Jason wente in compaignie;
5.3297: And that was in the Monthe of Maii,
5.3298: Whan colde stormes were away.
5.3299: The wynd was good, the Schip was yare,
5.3300: Thei tok here leve, and forth thei fare
5.3301: Toward Colchos: bot on the weie
5.3302: What hem befell is long to seie;
5.3303: Hou Lamedon the king of Troie,
5.3304: Which oghte wel have mad hem joie.
5.3305: Whan thei to reste a while him preide,
5.3306: Out of his lond he hem congeide;
5.3307: And so fell the dissencion,
5.3308: Which after was destruccion
5.3309: Of that Cite, as men mai hiere:
5.3310: Bot that is noght to mi matiere.
5.3311: Bot thus this worthi folk Gregeis
5.3312: Fro that king, which was noght curteis,
5.3313: And fro his lond with Sail updrawe
5.3314: Thei wente hem forth, and many a sawe
5.3315: Thei made and many a gret manace,
5.3316: Til ate laste into that place
5.3317: Which as thei soghte thei aryve,
5.3318: And striken Sail, and forth as blyve
5.3319: Thei sente unto the king and tolden
5.3320: Who weren ther and what thei wolden.
5.3321: Oeµtes, which was thanne king,


-2.38-



5.3322: Whan that he herde this tyding
5.3323: Of Jason, which was comen there,
5.3324: And of these othre, what thei were,
5.3325: He thoghte don hem gret worschipe:
5.3326: For thei anon come out of Schipe,
5.3327: And strawht unto the king thei wente,
5.3328: And be the hond Jason he hente,
5.3329: And that was ate paleis gate,
5.3330: So fer the king cam on his gate
5.3331: Toward Jason to don him chiere;
5.3332: And he, whom lacketh no manere,
5.3333: Whan he the king sih in presence,
5.3334: Yaf him ayein such reverence
5.3335: As to a kinges stat belongeth.
5.3336: And thus the king him underfongeth,
5.3337: And Jason in his arm he cawhte,
5.3338: And forth into the halle he strawhte,
5.3339: And ther they siete and spieke of thinges,
5.3340: And Jason tolde him tho tidinges,
5.3341: Why he was come, and faire him preide
5.3342: To haste his time, and the kyng seide,
5.3343: "Jason, thou art a worthi kniht,
5.3344: Bot it lith in no mannes myht
5.3345: To don that thou art come fore:
5.3346: Ther hath be many a kniht forlore
5.3347: Of that thei wolden it assaie."
5.3348: Bot Jason wolde him noght esmaie,
5.3349: And seide, "Of every worldes cure
5.3350: Fortune stant in aventure,
5.3351: Per aunter wel, per aunter wo:
5.3352: Bot hou as evere that it go,
5.3353: It schal be with myn hond assaied."
5.3354: The king tho hield him noght wel paied,
5.3355: For he the Grekes sore dredde,
5.3356: In aunter, if Jason ne spedde,
5.3357: He mihte therof bere a blame;
5.3358: For tho was al the worldes fame
5.3359: In Grece, as forto speke of Armes.
5.3360: Forthi he dredde him of his harmes,


-2.39-



5.3361: And gan to preche him and to preie;
5.3362: Bot Jason wolde noght obeie,
5.3363: Bot seide he wolde his porpos holde
5.3364: For ought that eny man him tolde.
5.3365: The king, whan he thes wordes herde,
5.3366: And sih hou that this kniht ansuerde,
5.3367: Yit for he wolde make him glad,
5.3368: After Medea gon he bad,
5.3369: Which was his dowhter, and sche cam.
5.3370: And Jason, which good hiede nam,
5.3371: Whan he hire sih, ayein hire goth;
5.3372: And sche, which was him nothing loth,
5.3373: Welcomede him into that lond,
5.3374: And softe tok him be the hond,
5.3375: And doun thei seten bothe same.
5.3376: Sche hadde herd spoke of his name
5.3377: And of his grete worthinesse;
5.3378: Forthi sche gan hir yhe impresse
5.3379: Upon his face and his stature,
5.3380: And thoghte hou nevere creature
5.3381: Was so wel farende as was he.
5.3382: And Jason riht in such degre
5.3383: Ne mihte noght withholde his lok,
5.3384: Bot so good hiede on hire he tok,
5.3385: That him ne thoghte under the hevene
5.3386: Of beaute sawh he nevere hir evene,
5.3387: With al that fell to wommanhiede.
5.3388: Thus ech of other token hiede,
5.3389: Thogh ther no word was of record;
5.3390: Here hertes bothe of on acord
5.3391: Ben set to love, bot as tho
5.3392: Ther mihten be no wordes mo.
5.3393: The king made him gret joie and feste,
5.3394: To alle his men he yaf an heste,
5.3395: So as thei wolde his thonk deserve,
5.3396: That thei scholde alle Jason serve,
5.3397: Whil that he wolde there duelle.
5.3398: And thus the dai, schortly to telle,


-2.40-



5.3399: With manye merthes thei despente,
5.3400: Til nyht was come, and tho thei wente,
5.3401: Echon of other tok his leve,
5.3402: Whan thei no lengere myhten leve.
5.3403: I not hou Jason that nyht slep,
5.3404: Bot wel I wot that of the Schep,
5.3405: For which he cam into that yle,
5.3406: He thoghte bot a litel whyle;
5.3407: Al was Medea that he thoghte,
5.3408: So that in many a wise he soghte
5.3409: His witt wakende er it was day,
5.3410: Som time yee, som time nay,
5.3411: Som time thus, som time so,
5.3412: As he was stered to and fro
5.3413: Of love, and ek of his conqueste
5.3414: As he was holde of his beheste.
5.3415: And thus he ros up be the morwe
5.3416: And tok himself seint John to borwe,
5.3417: And seide he wolde ferst beginne
5.3418: At love, and after forto winne
5.3419: The flees of gold, for which he com,
5.3420: And thus to him good herte he nom.
5.3421: Medea riht the same wise,
5.3422: Til dai cam that sche moste arise,
5.3423: Lay and bethoughte hire al the nyht,
5.3424: Hou sche that noble worthi kniht
5.3425: Be eny weie mihte wedde:
5.3426: And wel sche wiste, if he ne spedde
5.3427: Of thing which he hadde undertake,
5.3428: Sche mihte hirself no porpos take;
5.3429: For if he deide of his bataile,
5.3430: Sche moste thanne algate faile
5.3431: To geten him, whan he were ded.
5.3432: Thus sche began to sette red
5.3433: And torne aboute hir wittes alle,
5.3434: To loke hou that it mihte falle
5.3435: That sche with him hadde a leisir
5.3436: To speke and telle of hir desir.
5.3437: And so it fell that same day


-2.41-



5.3438: That Jason with that suete may
5.3439: Togedre sete and hadden space
5.3440: To speke, and he besoughte hir grace.
5.3441: And sche his tale goodli herde,
5.3442: And afterward sche him ansuerde
5.3443: And seide, "Jason, as thou wilt,
5.3444: Thou miht be sauf, thou miht be spilt;
5.3445: For wite wel that nevere man,
5.3446: Bot if he couthe that I can,
5.3447: Ne mihte that fortune achieve
5.3448: For which thou comst: bot as I lieve,
5.3449: If thou wolt holde covenant
5.3450: To love, of al the remenant
5.3451: I schal thi lif and honour save,
5.3452: That thou the flees of gold schalt have."
5.3453: He seide, "Al at youre oghne wille,
5.3454: Ma dame, I schal treuly fulfille
5.3455: Youre heste, whil mi lif mai laste."
5.3456: Thus longe he preide, and ate laste
5.3457: Sche granteth, and behihte him this,
5.3458: That whan nyht comth and it time is,
5.3459: Sche wolde him sende certeinly
5.3460: Such on that scholde him prively
5.3461: Al one into hire chambre bringe.
5.3462: He thonketh hire of that tidinge,
5.3463: For of that grace him is begonne
5.3464: Him thenkth alle othre thinges wonne.
5.3465: The dai made ende and lost his lyht,
5.3466: And comen was the derke nyht,
5.3467: Which al the daies yhe blente.
5.3468: Jason tok leve and forth he wente,
5.3469: And whan he cam out of the pres,
5.3470: He tok to conseil Hercules,
5.3471: And tolde him hou it was betid,
5.3472: And preide it scholde wel ben hid,
5.3473: And that he wolde loke aboute,
5.3474: Therwhiles that he schal ben oute.
5.3475: Thus as he stod and hiede nam,


-2.42-



5.3476: A Mayden fro Medea cam
5.3477: And to hir chambre Jason ledde,
5.3478: Wher that he fond redi to bedde
5.3479: The faireste and the wiseste eke;
5.3480: And sche with simple chiere and meke,
5.3481: Whan sche him sih, wax al aschamed.
5.3482: Tho was here tale newe entamed;
5.3483: For sikernesse of Mariage
5.3484: Sche fette forth a riche ymage,
5.3485: Which was figure of Jupiter,
5.3486: And Jason swor and seide ther,
5.3487: That also wiss god scholde him helpe,
5.3488: That if Medea dede him helpe,
5.3489: That he his pourpos myhte winne,
5.3490: Thei scholde nevere parte atwinne,
5.3491: Bot evere whil him lasteth lif,
5.3492: He wolde hire holde for his wif.
5.3493: And with that word thei kisten bothe;
5.3494: And for thei scholden hem unclothe,
5.3495: Ther cam a Maide, and in hir wise
5.3496: Sche dede hem bothe full servise,
5.3497: Til that thei were in bedde naked:
5.3498: I wot that nyht was wel bewaked,
5.3499: Thei hadden bothe what thei wolde.
5.3500: And thanne of leisir sche him tolde,
5.3501: And gan fro point to point enforme
5.3502: Of his bataile and al the forme,
5.3503: Which as he scholde finde there,
5.3504: Whan he to thyle come were.
5.3505: Sche seide, at entre of the pas
5.3506: Hou Mars, which god of Armes was,
5.3507: Hath set tuo Oxen sterne and stoute,
5.3508: That caste fyr and flamme aboute
5.3509: Bothe at the mouth and ate nase,
5.3510: So that thei setten al on blase
5.3511: What thing that passeth hem betwene:
5.3512: And forthermore upon the grene
5.3513: Ther goth the flees of gold to kepe


-2.43-



5.3514: A Serpent, which mai nevere slepe.
5.3515: Thus who that evere scholde it winne,
5.3516: The fyr to stoppe he mot beginne,
5.3517: Which that the fierce bestes caste,
5.3518: And daunte he mot hem ate laste,
5.3519: So that he mai hem yoke and dryve;
5.3520: And therupon he mot as blyve
5.3521: The Serpent with such strengthe assaile,
5.3522: That he mai slen him be bataile;
5.3523: Of which he mot the teth outdrawe,
5.3524: As it belongeth to that lawe,
5.3525: And thanne he mot tho Oxen yoke,
5.3526: Til thei have with a plowh tobroke
5.3527: A furgh of lond, in which arowe
5.3528: The teth of thaddre he moste sowe,
5.3529: And therof schule arise knihtes
5.3530: Wel armed up at alle rihtes.
5.3531: Of hem is noght to taken hiede,
5.3532: For ech of hem in hastihiede
5.3533: Schal other slen with dethes wounde:
5.3534: And thus whan thei ben leid to grounde,
5.3535: Than mot he to the goddes preie,
5.3536: And go so forth and take his preie.
5.3537: Bot if he faile in eny wise
5.3538: Of that ye hiere me devise,
5.3539: Ther mai be set non other weie,
5.3540: That he ne moste algates deie.
5.3541: "Nou have I told the peril al:
5.3542: I woll you tellen forth withal,"
5.3543: Quod Medea to Jason tho,
5.3544: "That ye schul knowen er ye go,
5.3545: Ayein the venym and the fyr
5.3546: What schal ben the recoverir.
5.3547: Bot, Sire, for it is nyh day,
5.3548: Ariseth up, so that I may
5.3549: Delivere you what thing I have,
5.3550: That mai youre lif and honour save."
5.3551: Thei weren bothe loth to rise,


-2.44-



5.3552: Bot for thei weren bothe wise,
5.3553: Up thei arisen ate laste:
5.3554: Jason his clothes on him caste
5.3555: And made him redi riht anon,
5.3556: And sche hir scherte dede upon
5.3557: And caste on hire a mantel clos,
5.3558: Withoute more and thanne aros.
5.3559: Tho tok sche forth a riche Tye
5.3560: Mad al of gold and of Perrie,
5.3561: Out of the which sche nam a Ring,
5.3562: The Ston was worth al other thing.
5.3563: Sche seide, whil he wolde it were,
5.3564: Ther myhte no peril him dere,
5.3565: In water mai it noght be dreynt,
5.3566: Wher as it comth the fyr is queynt,
5.3567: It daunteth ek the cruel beste,
5.3568: Ther may no qued that man areste,
5.3569: Wher so he be on See or lond,
5.3570: Which hath that ring upon his hond:
5.3571: And over that sche gan to sein,
5.3572: That if a man wol ben unsein,
5.3573: Withinne his hond hold clos the Ston,
5.3574: And he mai invisible gon.
5.3575: The Ring to Jason sche betauhte,
5.3576: And so forth after sche him tauhte
5.3577: What sacrifise he scholde make;
5.3578: And gan out of hire cofre take
5.3579: Him thoughte an hevenely figure,
5.3580: Which al be charme and be conjure
5.3581: Was wroght, and ek it was thurgh write
5.3582: With names, which he scholde wite,
5.3583: As sche him tauhte tho to rede;
5.3584: And bad him, as he wolde spede,
5.3585: Withoute reste of eny while,
5.3586: Whan he were londed in that yle,
5.3587: He scholde make his sacrifise
5.3588: And rede his carecte in the wise
5.3589: As sche him tauhte, on knes doun bent,
5.3590: Thre sithes toward orient;


-2.45-



5.3591: For so scholde he the goddes plese
5.3592: And winne himselven mochel ese.
5.3593: And whanne he hadde it thries rad,
5.3594: To opne a buiste sche him bad,
5.3595: Which sche ther tok him in present,
5.3596: And was full of such oignement,
5.3597: That ther was fyr ne venym non
5.3598: That scholde fastnen him upon,
5.3599: Whan that he were enoynt withal.
5.3600: Forthi sche tauhte him hou he schal
5.3601: Enoignte his armes al aboute,
5.3602: And for he scholde nothing doute,
5.3603: Sche tok him thanne a maner glu,
5.3604: The which was of so gret vertu,
5.3605: That where a man it wolde caste,
5.3606: It scholde binde anon so faste
5.3607: That noman mihte it don aweie.
5.3608: And that sche bad be alle weie
5.3609: He scholde into the mouthes throwen
5.3610: Of tho tweie Oxen that fyr blowen,
5.3611: Therof to stoppen the malice;
5.3612: The glu schal serve of that office.
5.3613: And over that hir oignement,
5.3614: Hir Ring and hir enchantement
5.3615: Ayein the Serpent scholde him were,
5.3616: Til he him sle with swerd or spere:
5.3617: And thanne he may saufliche ynowh
5.3618: His Oxen yoke into the plowh
5.3619: And the teth sowe in such a wise,
5.3620: Til he the knyhtes se arise,
5.3621: And ech of other doun be leid
5.3622: In such manere as I have seid.
5.3623: Lo, thus Medea for Jason
5.3624: Ordeigneth, and preith therupon
5.3625: That he nothing foryete scholde,
5.3626: And ek sche preith him that he wolde,
5.3627: Whan he hath alle his Armes don,
5.3628: To grounde knele and thonke anon


-2.46-



5.3629: The goddes, and so forth be ese
5.3630: The flees of gold he scholde sese.
5.3631: And whanne he hadde it sesed so,
5.3632: That thanne he were sone ago
5.3633: Withouten eny tariynge.
5.3634: Whan this was seid, into wepinge
5.3635: Sche fell, as sche that was thurgh nome
5.3636: With love, and so fer overcome,
5.3637: That al hir world on him sche sette.
5.3638: Bot whan sche sih ther was no lette,
5.3639: That he mot nedes parte hire fro,
5.3640: Sche tok him in hire armes tuo,
5.3641: An hundred time and gan him kisse,
5.3642: And seide, "O, al mi worldes blisse,
5.3643: Mi trust, mi lust, mi lif, min hele,
5.3644: To be thin helpe in this querele
5.3645: I preie unto the goddes alle."
5.3646: And with that word sche gan doun falle
5.3647: On swoune, and he hire uppe nam,
5.3648: And forth with that the Maiden cam,
5.3649: And thei to bedde anon hir broghte,
5.3650: And thanne Jason hire besoghte,
5.3651: And to hire seide in this manere:
5.3652: "Mi worthi lusti ladi dere,
5.3653: Conforteth you, for be my trouthe
5.3654: It schal noght fallen in mi slouthe
5.3655: That I ne wol thurghout fulfille
5.3656: Youre hestes at youre oghne wille.
5.3657: And yit I hope to you bringe
5.3658: Withinne a while such tidinge,
5.3659: The which schal make ous bothe game."
5.3660: Bot for he wolde kepe hir name,
5.3661: Whan that he wiste it was nyh dai,
5.3662: He seide, "A dieu, mi swete mai."
5.3663: And forth with him he nam his gere,
5.3664: Which as sche hadde take him there,
5.3665: And strauht unto his chambre he wente,
5.3666: And goth to bedde and slep him hente,


-2.47-



5.3667: And lay, that noman him awok,
5.3668: For Hercules hiede of him tok,
5.3669: Til it was undren hih and more.
5.3670: And thanne he gan to sighe sore
5.3671: And sodeinliche abreide of slep;
5.3672: And thei that token of him kep,
5.3673: His chamberleins, be sone there,
5.3674: And maden redi al his gere,
5.3675: And he aros and to the king
5.3676: He wente, and seide hou to that thing
5.3677: For which he cam he wolde go.
5.3678: The king therof was wonder wo,
5.3679: And for he wolde him fain withdrawe,
5.3680: He tolde him many a dredful sawe,
5.3681: Bot Jason wolde it noght recorde,
5.3682: And ate laste thei acorde.
5.3683: Whan that he wolde noght abide,
5.3684: A Bot was redy ate tyde,
5.3685: In which this worthi kniht of Grece
5.3686: Ful armed up at every piece,
5.3687: To his bataile which belongeth,
5.3688: Tok ore on honde and sore him longeth,
5.3689: Til he the water passed were.
5.3690: Whan he cam to that yle there,
5.3691: He set him on his knes doun strauht,
5.3692: And his carecte, as he was tawht,
5.3693: He radde, and made his sacrifise,
5.3694: And siththe enoignte him in that wise,
5.3695: As Medea him hadde bede;
5.3696: And thanne aros up fro that stede,
5.3697: And with the glu the fyr he queynte,
5.3698: And anon after he atteinte
5.3699: The grete Serpent and him slowh.
5.3700: Bot erst he hadde sorwe ynowh,
5.3701: For that Serpent made him travaile


-2.48-



5.3702: So harde and sore of his bataile,
5.3703: That nou he stod and nou he fell:
5.3704: For longe time it so befell,
5.3705: That with his swerd ne with his spere
5.3706: He mihte noght that Serpent dere.
5.3707: He was so scherded al aboute,
5.3708: It hield all eggetol withoute,
5.3709: He was so ruide and hard of skin,
5.3710: Ther mihte nothing go therin;
5.3711: Venym and fyr togedre he caste,
5.3712: That he Jason so sore ablaste,
5.3713: That if ne were his oignement,
5.3714: His Ring and his enchantement,
5.3715: Which Medea tok him tofore,
5.3716: He hadde with that worm be lore;
5.3717: Bot of vertu which therof cam
5.3718: Jason the Dragon overcam.
5.3719: And he anon the teth outdrouh,
5.3720: And sette his Oxen in a plouh,
5.3721: With which he brak a piece of lond
5.3722: And sieu hem with his oghne hond.
5.3723: Tho mihte he gret merveile se:
5.3724: Of every toth in his degre
5.3725: Sprong up a kniht with spere and schield,
5.3726: Of whiche anon riht in the field
5.3727: Echon slow other; and with that
5.3728: Jason Medea noght foryat,
5.3729: On bothe his knes he gan doun falle,
5.3730: And yaf thonk to the goddes alle.
5.3731: The Flees he tok and goth to Bote,
5.3732: The Sonne schyneth bryhte and hote,
5.3733: The Flees of gold schon forth withal,
5.3734: The water glistreth overal.
5.3735: Medea wepte and sigheth ofte,
5.3736: And stod upon a Tour alofte:
5.3737: Al prively withinne hirselve,
5.3738: Ther herde it nouther ten ne tuelve,
5.3739: Sche preide, and seide, "O, god him spede,


-2.49-



5.3740: The kniht which hath mi maidenhiede!"
5.3741: And ay sche loketh toward thyle.
5.3742: Bot whan sche sih withinne a while
5.3743: The Flees glistrende ayein the Sonne,
5.3744: Sche saide, "Ha, lord, now al is wonne,
5.3745: Mi kniht the field hath overcome:
5.3746: Nou wolde god he were come;
5.3747: Ha lord, that he ne were alonde!"
5.3748: Bot I dar take this on honde,
5.3749: If that sche hadde wynges tuo,
5.3750: Sche wolde have flowe unto him tho
5.3751: Strawht ther he was into the Bot.
5.3752: The dai was clier, the Sonne hot,
5.3753: The Gregeis weren in gret doute,
5.3754: The whyle that here lord was oute:
5.3755: Thei wisten noght what scholde tyde,
5.3756: Bot waiten evere upon the tyde,
5.3757: To se what ende scholde falle.
5.3758: Ther stoden ek the nobles alle
5.3759: Forth with the comun of the toun;
5.3760: And as thei loken up and doun,
5.3761: Thei weren war withinne a throwe,
5.3762: Wher cam the bot, which thei wel knowe,
5.3763: And sihe hou Jason broghte his preie.
5.3764: And tho thei gonnen alle seie,
5.3765: And criden alle with o stevene,
5.3766: "Ha, wher was evere under the hevene
5.3767: So noble a knyht as Jason is?"
5.3768: And welnyh alle seiden this,
5.3769: That Jason was a faie kniht,
5.3770: For it was nevere of mannes miht
5.3771: The Flees of gold so forto winne;
5.3772: And thus to talen thei beginne.
5.3773: With that the king com forth anon,
5.3774: And sih the Flees, hou that it schon;


-2.50-



5.3775: And whan Jason cam to the lond,
5.3776: The king himselve tok his hond
5.3777: And kist him, and gret joie him made.
5.3778: The Gregeis weren wonder glade,
5.3779: And of that thing riht merie hem thoghte,
5.3780: And forth with hem the Flees thei broghte,
5.3781: And ech on other gan to leyhe;
5.3782: Bot wel was him that mihte neyhe,
5.3783: To se therof the proprete.
5.3784: And thus thei passen the cite
5.3785: And gon unto the Paleis straght.
5.3786: Medea, which foryat him naght,
5.3787: Was redy there, and seide anon,
5.3788: "Welcome, O worthi kniht Jason."
5.3789: Sche wolde have kist him wonder fayn,
5.3790: Bot schame tornede hire agayn;
5.3791: It was noght the manere as tho,
5.3792: Forthi sche dorste noght do so.
5.3793: Sche tok hire leve, and Jason wente
5.3794: Into his chambre, and sche him sente
5.3795: Hire Maide to sen hou he ferde;
5.3796: The which whan that sche sih and herde,
5.3797: Hou that he hadde faren oute
5.3798: And that it stod wel al aboute,
5.3799: Sche tolde hire ladi what sche wiste,
5.3800: And sche for joie hire Maide kiste.
5.3801: The bathes weren thanne araied,
5.3802: With herbes tempred and assaied,
5.3803: And Jason was unarmed sone
5.3804: And dede as it befell to done:
5.3805: Into his bath he wente anon
5.3806: And wyssh him clene as eny bon;
5.3807: He tok a sopp, and oute he cam,
5.3808: And on his beste aray he nam,
5.3809: And kempde his hed, whan he was clad,
5.3810: And goth him forth al merie and glad
5.3811: Riht strawht into the kinges halle.
5.3812: The king cam with his knihtes alle


-2.51-



5.3813: And maden him glad welcominge;
5.3814: And he hem tolde the tidinge
5.3815: Of this and that, hou it befell,
5.3816: Whan that he wan the schepes fell.
5.3817: Medea, whan sche was asent,
5.3818: Com sone to that parlement,
5.3819: And whan sche mihte Jason se,
5.3820: Was non so glad of alle as sche.
5.3821: Ther was no joie forto seche,
5.3822: Of him mad every man a speche,
5.3823: Som man seide on, som man seide other;
5.3824: Bot thogh he were goddes brother
5.3825: And mihte make fyr and thonder,
5.3826: Ther mihte be nomore wonder
5.3827: Than was of him in that cite.
5.3828: Echon tauhte other, "This is he,
5.3829: Which hath in his pouer withinne
5.3830: That al the world ne mihte winne:
5.3831: Lo, hier the beste of alle goode."
5.3832: Thus saiden thei that there stode,
5.3833: And ek that walkede up and doun,
5.3834: Bothe of the Court and of the toun.
5.3835: The time of Souper cam anon,
5.3836: Thei wisshen and therto thei gon,
5.3837: Medea was with Jason set:
5.3838: Tho was ther many a deynte fet
5.3839: And set tofore hem on the bord,
5.3840: Bot non so likinge as the word
5.3841: Which was ther spoke among hem tuo,
5.3842: So as thei dorste speke tho.
5.3843: Bot thogh thei hadden litel space,
5.3844: Yit thei acorden in that place
5.3845: Hou Jason scholde come at nyht,
5.3846: Whan every torche and every liht
5.3847: Were oute, and thanne of other thinges
5.3848: Thei spieke aloud for supposinges
5.3849: Of hem that stoden there aboute:


-2.52-



5.3850: For love is everemore in doute,
5.3851: If that it be wisly governed
5.3852: Of hem that ben of love lerned.
5.3853: Whan al was don, that dissh and cuppe
5.3854: And cloth and bord and al was uppe,
5.3855: Thei waken whil hem lest to wake,
5.3856: And after that thei leve take
5.3857: And gon to bedde forto reste.
5.3858: And whan him thoghte for the beste,
5.3859: That every man was faste aslepe,
5.3860: Jason, that wolde his time kepe,
5.3861: Goth forth stalkende al prively
5.3862: Unto the chambre, and redely
5.3863: Ther was a Maide, which him kepte.
5.3864: Medea wok and nothing slepte,
5.3865: Bot natheles sche was abedde,
5.3866: And he with alle haste him spedde
5.3867: And made him naked and al warm.
5.3868: Anon he tok hire in his arm:
5.3869: What nede is forto speke of ese?
5.3870: Hem list ech other forto plese,
5.3871: So that thei hadden joie ynow:
5.3872: And tho thei setten whanne and how
5.3873: That sche with him awey schal stele.
5.3874: With wordes suche and othre fele
5.3875: Whan al was treted to an ende,
5.3876: Jason tok leve and gan forth wende
5.3877: Unto his oughne chambre in pes;
5.3878: Ther wiste it non bot Hercules.
5.3879: He slepte and ros whan it was time,
5.3880: And whanne it fell towardes prime,
5.3881: He tok to him suche as he triste
5.3882: In secre, that non other wiste,
5.3883: And told hem of his conseil there,
5.3884: And seide that his wille were
5.3885: That thei to Schipe hadde alle thinge
5.3886: So priveliche in thevenynge,
5.3887: That noman mihte here dede aspie


-2.53-



5.3888: Bot tho that were of compaignie:
5.3889: For he woll go withoute leve,
5.3890: And lengere woll he noght beleve;
5.3891: Bot he ne wolde at thilke throwe
5.3892: The king or queene scholde it knowe.
5.3893: Thei saide, "Al this schal wel be do:"
5.3894: And Jason truste wel therto.
5.3895: Medea in the mene while,
5.3896: Which thoghte hir fader to beguile,
5.3897: The Tresor which hir fader hadde
5.3898: With hire al priveli sche ladde,
5.3899: And with Jason at time set
5.3900: Awey sche stal and fond no let,
5.3901: And straght sche goth hire unto schipe
5.3902: Of Grece with that felaschipe,
5.3903: And thei anon drowe up the Seil.
5.3904: And al that nyht this was conseil,
5.3905: Bot erly, whan the Sonne schon,
5.3906: Men syhe hou that thei were agon,
5.3907: And come unto the king and tolde:
5.3908: And he the sothe knowe wolde,
5.3909: And axeth where his dowhter was.
5.3910: Ther was no word bot Out, Allas!
5.3911: Sche was ago. The moder wepte,
5.3912: The fader as a wod man lepte,
5.3913: And gan the time forto warie,
5.3914: And swor his oth he wol noght tarie,
5.3915: That with Caliphe and with galeie
5.3916: The same cours, the same weie,
5.3917: Which Jason tok, he wolde take,
5.3918: If that he mihte him overtake.
5.3919: To this thei seiden alle yee:
5.3920: Anon thei weren ate See,
5.3921: And alle, as who seith, at a word
5.3922: Thei gon withinne schipes bord,
5.3923: The Sail goth up, and forth thei strauhte.
5.3924: Bot non espleit therof thei cauhte,
5.3925: And so thei tornen hom ayein,


-2.54-



5.3926: For al that labour was in vein.
5.3927: Jason to Grece with his preie
5.3928: Goth thurgh the See the rihte weie:
5.3929: Whan he ther com and men it tolde,
5.3930: Thei maden joie yonge and olde.
5.3931: Eson, whan that he wiste of this,
5.3932: Hou that his Sone comen is,
5.3933: And hath achieved that he soughte
5.3934: And hom with him Medea broughte,
5.3935: In al the wyde world was non
5.3936: So glad a man as he was on.
5.3937: Togedre ben these lovers tho,
5.3938: Til that thei hadden sones tuo,
5.3939: Wherof thei weren bothe glade,
5.3940: And olde Eson gret joie made
5.3941: To sen thencress of his lignage;
5.3942: For he was of so gret an Age,
5.3943: That men awaiten every day,
5.3944: Whan that he scholde gon away.
5.3945: Jason, which sih his fader old,
5.3946: Upon Medea made him bold,
5.3947: Of art magique, which sche couthe,
5.3948: And preith hire that his fader youthe
5.3949: Sche wolde make ayeinward newe:
5.3950: And sche, that was toward him trewe,
5.3951: Behihte him that sche wolde it do,
5.3952: Whan that sche time sawh therto.
5.3953: Bot what sche dede in that matiere
5.3954: It is a wonder thing to hiere,
5.3955: Bot yit for the novellerie
5.3956: I thenke tellen a partie.
5.3957: Thus it befell upon a nyht,
5.3958: Whan ther was noght bot sterreliht,
5.3959: Sche was vanyssht riht as hir liste,
5.3960: That no wyht bot hirself it wiste,
5.3961: And that was ate mydnyht tyde.
5.3962: The world was stille on every side;


-2.55-



5.3963: With open hed and fot al bare,
5.3964: Hir her tosprad sche gan to fare,
5.3965: Upon hir clothes gert sche was,
5.3966: Al specheles and on the gras
5.3967: Sche glod forth as an Addre doth:
5.3968: Non otherwise sche ne goth,
5.3969: Til sche cam to the freisshe flod,
5.3970: And there a while sche withstod.
5.3971: Thries sche torned hire aboute,
5.3972: And thries ek sche gan doun loute
5.3973: And in the flod sche wette hir her,
5.3974: And thries on the water ther
5.3975: Sche gaspeth with a drecchinge onde,
5.3976: And tho sche tok hir speche on honde.
5.3977: Ferst sche began to clepe and calle
5.3978: Upward unto the sterres alle,
5.3979: To Wynd, to Air, to See, to lond
5.3980: Sche preide, and ek hield up hir hond
5.3981: To Echates, and gan to crie,
5.3982: Which is goddesse of Sorcerie.
5.3983: Sche seide, "Helpeth at this nede,
5.3984: And as ye maden me to spede,
5.3985: Whan Jason cam the Flees to seche,
5.3986: So help me nou, I you beseche."
5.3987: With that sche loketh and was war,
5.3988: Doun fro the Sky ther cam a char,
5.3989: The which Dragouns aboute drowe:
5.3990: And tho sche gan hir hed doun bowe,
5.3991: And up sche styh, and faire and wel
5.3992: Sche drof forth bothe char and whel
5.3993: Above in thair among the Skyes.
5.3994: The lond of Crete and tho parties
5.3995: Sche soughte, and faste gan hire hye,
5.3996: And there upon the hulles hyhe
5.3997: Of Othrin and Olimpe also,
5.3998: And ek of othre hulles mo,


-2.56-



5.3999: Sche fond and gadreth herbes suote,
5.4000: Sche pulleth up som be the rote,
5.4001: And manye with a knyf sche scherth,
5.4002: And alle into hir char sche berth.
5.4003: Thus whan sche hath the hulles sought,
5.4004: The flodes ther foryat sche nought,
5.4005: Eridian and Amphrisos,
5.4006: Peneie and ek Spercheiµdos,
5.4007: To hem sche wente and ther sche nom
5.4008: Bothe of the water and the fom,
5.4009: The sond and ek the smale stones,
5.4010: Whiche as sche ches out for the nones,
5.4011: And of the rede See a part,
5.4012: That was behovelich to hire art,
5.4013: Sche tok, and after that aboute
5.4014: Sche soughte sondri sedes oute
5.4015: In feldes and in many greves,
5.4016: And ek a part sche tok of leves:
5.4017: Bot thing which mihte hire most availe
5.4018: Sche fond in Crete and in Thessaile.
5.4019: In daies and in nyhtes Nyne,
5.4020: With gret travaile and with gret pyne,
5.4021: Sche was pourveid of every piece,
5.4022: And torneth homward into Grece.
5.4023: Before the gates of Eson
5.4024: Hir char sche let awai to gon,
5.4025: And tok out ferst that was therinne;
5.4026: For tho sche thoghte to beginne
5.4027: Such thing as semeth impossible,
5.4028: And made hirselven invisible,
5.4029: As sche that was with Air enclosed
5.4030: And mihte of noman be desclosed.
5.4031: Sche tok up turves of the lond
5.4032: Withoute helpe of mannes hond,
5.4033: Al heled with the grene gras,
5.4034: Of which an Alter mad ther was


-2.57-



5.4035: Unto Echates the goddesse
5.4036: Of art magique and the maistresse,
5.4037: And eft an other to Juvente,
5.4038: As sche which dede hir hole entente.
5.4039: Tho tok sche fieldwode and verveyne,
5.4040: Of herbes ben noght betre tueine,
5.4041: Of which anon withoute let
5.4042: These alters ben aboute set:
5.4043: Tuo sondri puttes faste by
5.4044: Sche made, and with that hastely
5.4045: A wether which was blak sche slouh,
5.4046: And out therof the blod sche drouh
5.4047: And dede into the pettes tuo;
5.4048: Warm melk sche putte also therto
5.4049: With hony meynd: and in such wise
5.4050: Sche gan to make hir sacrifice,
5.4051: And cride and preide forth withal
5.4052: To Pluto the god infernal,
5.4053: And to the queene Proserpine.
5.4054: And so sche soghte out al the line
5.4055: Of hem that longen to that craft,
5.4056: Behinde was no name laft,
5.4057: And preide hem alle, as sche wel couthe,
5.4058: To grante Eson his ferste youthe.
5.4059: This olde Eson broght forth was tho,
5.4060: Awei sche bad alle othre go
5.4061: Upon peril that mihte falle;
5.4062: And with that word thei wenten alle,
5.4063: And leften there hem tuo al one.
5.4064: And tho sche gan to gaspe and gone,
5.4065: And made signes manyon,
5.4066: And seide hir wordes therupon;
5.4067: So that with spellinge of hir charmes
5.4068: Sche tok Eson in bothe hire armes,
5.4069: And made him forto slepe faste,
5.4070: And him upon hire herbes caste.
5.4071: The blake wether tho sche tok,


-2.58-



5.4072: And hiewh the fleissh, as doth a cok;
5.4073: On either alter part sche leide,
5.4074: And with the charmes that sche seide
5.4075: A fyr doun fro the Sky alyhte
5.4076: And made it forto brenne lyhte.
5.4077: Bot whan Medea sawh it brenne,
5.4078: Anon sche gan to sterte and renne
5.4079: The fyri aulters al aboute:
5.4080: Ther was no beste which goth oute
5.4081: More wylde than sche semeth ther:
5.4082: Aboute hir schuldres hyng hir her,
5.4083: As thogh sche were oute of hir mynde
5.4084: And torned in an other kynde.
5.4085: Tho lay ther certein wode cleft,
5.4086: Of which the pieces nou and eft
5.4087: Sche made hem in the pettes wete,
5.4088: And put hem in the fyri hete,
5.4089: And tok the brond with al the blase,
5.4090: And thries sche began to rase
5.4091: Aboute Eson, ther as he slepte;
5.4092: And eft with water, which sche kepte,
5.4093: Sche made a cercle aboute him thries,
5.4094: And eft with fyr of sulphre twyes:
5.4095: Ful many an other thing sche dede,
5.4096: Which is noght writen in this stede.
5.4097: Bot tho sche ran so up and doun,
5.4098: Sche made many a wonder soun,
5.4099: Somtime lich unto the cock,
5.4100: Somtime unto the Laverock,
5.4101: Somtime kacleth as a Hen,
5.4102: Somtime spekth as don the men:
5.4103: And riht so as hir jargoun strangeth,
5.4104: In sondri wise hir forme changeth,
5.4105: Sche semeth faie and no womman;
5.4106: For with the craftes that sche can
5.4107: Sche was, as who seith, a goddesse,
5.4108: And what hir liste, more or lesse,
5.4109: Sche dede, in bokes as we finde,


-2.59-



5.4110: That passeth over manneskinde.
5.4111: Bot who that wole of wondres hiere,
5.4112: What thing sche wroghte in this matiere,
5.4113: To make an ende of that sche gan,
5.4114: Such merveile herde nevere man.
5.4115: Apointed in the newe Mone,
5.4116: Whan it was time forto done,
5.4117: Sche sette a caldron on the fyr,
5.4118: In which was al the hole atir,
5.4119: Wheron the medicine stod,
5.4120: Of jus, of water and of blod,
5.4121: And let it buile in such a plit,
5.4122: Til that sche sawh the spume whyt;
5.4123: And tho sche caste in rynde and rote,
5.4124: And sed and flour that was for bote,
5.4125: With many an herbe and many a ston,
5.4126: Wherof sche hath ther many on:
5.4127: And ek Cimpheius the Serpent
5.4128: To hire hath alle his scales lent,
5.4129: Chelidre hire yaf his addres skin,
5.4130: And sche to builen caste hem in;
5.4131: A part ek of the horned Oule,
5.4132: The which men hiere on nyhtes houle;
5.4133: And of a Raven, which was told
5.4134: Of nyne hundred wynter old,
5.4135: Sche tok the hed with al the bile;
5.4136: And as the medicine it wile,
5.4137: Sche tok therafter the bouele
5.4138: Of the Seewolf, and for the hele
5.4139: Of Eson, with a thousand mo
5.4140: Of thinges that sche hadde tho,
5.4141: In that Caldroun togedre as blyve
5.4142: Sche putte, and tok thanne of Olyve
5.4143: A drie branche hem with to stere,
5.4144: The which anon gan floure and bere
5.4145: And waxe al freissh and grene ayein.


-2.60-



5.4146: Whan sche this vertu hadde sein,
5.4147: Sche let the leste drope of alle
5.4148: Upon the bare flor doun falle;
5.4149: Anon ther sprong up flour and gras,
5.4150: Where as the drope falle was,
5.4151: And wox anon al medwe grene,
5.4152: So that it mihte wel be sene.
5.4153: Medea thanne knew and wiste
5.4154: Hir medicine is forto triste,
5.4155: And goth to Eson ther he lay,
5.4156: And tok a swerd was of assay,
5.4157: With which a wounde upon his side
5.4158: Sche made, that therout mai slyde
5.4159: The blod withinne, which was old
5.4160: And sek and trouble and fieble and cold.
5.4161: And tho sche tok unto his us
5.4162: Of herbes al the beste jus,
5.4163: And poured it into his wounde;
5.4164: That made his veynes fulle and sounde:
5.4165: And tho sche made his wounde clos,
5.4166: And tok his hond, and up he ros;
5.4167: And tho sche yaf him drinke a drauhte,
5.4168: Of which his youthe ayein he cauhte,
5.4169: His hed, his herte and his visage
5.4170: Lich unto twenty wynter Age;
5.4171: Hise hore heres were away,
5.4172: And lich unto the freisshe Maii,
5.4173: Whan passed ben the colde shoures,
5.4174: Riht so recovereth he his floures.
5.4175: Lo, what mihte eny man devise,
5.4176: A womman schewe in eny wise
5.4177: Mor hertly love in every stede,
5.4178: Than Medea to Jason dede?
5.4179: Ferst sche made him the flees to winne,
5.4180: And after that fro kiththe and kinne
5.4181: With gret tresor with him sche stal,
5.4182: And to his fader forth withal


-2.61-



5.4183: His Elde hath torned into youthe,
5.4184: Which thing non other womman couthe:
5.4185: Bot hou it was to hire aquit,
5.4186: The remembrance duelleth yit.
5.4187: King Peleuµs his Em was ded,
5.4188: Jason bar corone on his hed,
5.4189: Medea hath fulfild his wille:
5.4190: Bot whanne he scholde of riht fulfille
5.4191: The trouthe, which to hire afore
5.4192: He hadde in thyle of Colchos swore,
5.4193: Tho was Medea most deceived.
5.4194: For he an other hath received,
5.4195: Which dowhter was to king Creon,
5.4196: Creusa sche hihte, and thus Jason,
5.4197: As he that was to love untrewe,
5.4198: Medea lefte and tok a newe.
5.4199: Bot that was after sone aboght:
5.4200: Medea with hire art hath wroght
5.4201: Of cloth of gold a mantel riche,
5.4202: Which semeth worth a kingesriche,
5.4203: And that was unto Creusa sent
5.4204: In name of yifte and of present,
5.4205: For Sosterhode hem was betuene;
5.4206: And whan that yonge freisshe queene
5.4207: That mantel lappeth hire aboute,
5.4208: Anon therof the fyr sprong oute
5.4209: And brente hir bothe fleissh and bon.
5.4210: Tho cam Medea to Jason
5.4211: With bothe his Sones on hire hond,
5.4212: And seide, "O thou of every lond
5.4213: The moste untrewe creature,
5.4214: Lo, this schal be thi forfeture."
5.4215: With that sche bothe his Sones slouh
5.4216: Before his yhe, and he outdrouh
5.4217: His swerd and wold have slayn hir tho,
5.4218: Bot farewel, sche was ago
5.4219: Unto Pallas the Court above,
5.4220: Wher as sche pleigneth upon love,
5.4221: As sche that was with that goddesse,


-2.62-



5.4222: And he was left in gret destresse.
5.4223: Thus miht thou se what sorwe it doth
5.4224: To swere an oth which is noght soth,
5.4225: In loves cause namely.
5.4226: Mi Sone, be wel war forthi,
5.4227: And kep that thou be noght forswore:
5.4228: For this, which I have told tofore,
5.4229: Ovide telleth everydel.
5.4230: Mi fader, I may lieve it wel,
5.4231: For I have herde it ofte seie
5.4232: Hou Jason tok the flees aweie
5.4233: Fro Colchos, bot yit herde I noght
5.4234: Be whom it was ferst thider broght.
5.4235: And for it were good to hiere,
5.4236: If that you liste at mi preiere
5.4237: To telle, I wolde you beseche.
5.4238: Mi Sone, who that wole it seche,
5.4239: In bokes he mai finde it write;
5.4240: And natheles, if thou wolt wite,
5.4241: In the manere as thou hast preid
5.4242: I schal the telle hou it is seid.
5.4243: The fame of thilke schepes fell,
5.4244: Which in Colchos, as it befell,
5.4245: Was al of gold, schal nevere deie;
5.4246: Wherof I thenke for to seie
5.4247: Hou it cam ferst into that yle.
5.4248: Ther was a king in thilke whyle
5.4249: Towardes Grece, and Athemas
5.4250: The Cronique of his name was;
5.4251: And hadde a wif, which Philen hihte,
5.4252: Be whom, so as fortune it dihte,
5.4253: He hadde of children yonge tuo.
5.4254: Frixus the ferste was of tho,
5.4255: A knave child, riht fair withalle;
5.4256: A dowhter ek, the which men calle
5.4257: Hellen, he hadde be this wif.
5.4258: Bot for ther mai no mannes lif


-2.63-



5.4259: Endure upon this Erthe hiere,
5.4260: This worthi queene, as thou miht hiere,
5.4261: Er that the children were of age,
5.4262: Tok of hire ende the passage,
5.4263: With gret worschipe and was begrave.
5.4264: What thing it liketh god to have
5.4265: It is gret reson to ben his;
5.4266: Forthi this king, so as it is,
5.4267: With gret suffrance it underfongeth:
5.4268: And afterward, as him belongeth,
5.4269: Whan it was time forto wedde,
5.4270: A newe wif he tok to bedde,
5.4271: Which Yno hihte and was a Mayde,
5.4272: And ek the dowhter, as men saide,
5.4273: Of Cadme, which a king also
5.4274: Was holde in thilke daies tho.
5.4275: Whan Yno was the kinges make,
5.4276: Sche caste hou that sche mihte make
5.4277: These children to here fader lothe,
5.4278: And schope a wyle ayein hem bothe,
5.4279: Which to the king was al unknowe.
5.4280: A yeer or tuo sche let do sowe
5.4281: The lond with sode whete aboute,
5.4282: Wherof no corn mai springen oute;
5.4283: And thus be sleyhte and be covine
5.4284: Aros the derthe and the famine
5.4285: Thurghout the lond in such a wise,
5.4286: So that the king a sacrifise
5.4287: Upon the point of this destresse
5.4288: To Ceres, which is the goddesse
5.4289: Of corn, hath schape him forto yive,
5.4290: To loke if it mai be foryive,
5.4291: The meschief which was in his lond.
5.4292: Bot sche, which knew tofor the hond
5.4293: The circumstance of al this thing,
5.4294: Ayein the cominge of the king
5.4295: Into the temple, hath schape so,


-2.64-



5.4296: Of hire acord that alle tho
5.4297: Whiche of the temple prestes were
5.4298: Have seid and full declared there
5.4299: Unto the king, bot if so be
5.4300: That he delivere the contre
5.4301: Of Frixus and of Hellen bothe,
5.4302: With whom the goddes ben so wrothe,
5.4303: That whil tho children ben therinne,
5.4304: Such tilthe schal noman beginne,
5.4305: Wherof to gete him eny corn.
5.4306: Thus was it seid, thus was it sworn
5.4307: Of all the Prestes that ther are;
5.4308: And sche which causeth al this fare
5.4309: Seid ek therto what that sche wolde,
5.4310: And every man thanne after tolde
5.4311: So as the queene hem hadde preid.
5.4312: The king, which hath his Ere leid,
5.4313: And lieveth al that evere he herde,
5.4314: Unto here tale thus ansuerde,
5.4315: And seith that levere him is to chese
5.4316: Hise children bothe forto lese,
5.4317: Than him and al the remenant
5.4318: Of hem whiche are aportenant
5.4319: Unto the lond which he schal kepe:
5.4320: And bad his wif to take kepe
5.4321: In what manere is best to done,
5.4322: That thei delivered weren sone
5.4323: Out of this world. And sche anon
5.4324: Tuo men ordeigneth forto gon;
5.4325: Bot ferst sche made hem forto swere
5.4326: That thei the children scholden bere
5.4327: Unto the See, that non it knowe,
5.4328: And hem therinne bothe throwe.
5.4329: The children to the See ben lad,
5.4330: Wher in the wise as Yno bad
5.4331: These men be redy forto do.
5.4332: Bot the goddesse which Juno


-2.65-



5.4333: Is hote, appiereth in the stede,
5.4334: And hath unto the men forbede
5.4335: That thei the children noght ne sle;
5.4336: Bot bad hem loke into the See
5.4337: And taken hiede of that thei sihen.
5.4338: Ther swam a Schep tofore here yhen,
5.4339: Whos flees of burned gold was al;
5.4340: And this goddesse forth withal
5.4341: Comandeth that withoute lette
5.4342: Thei scholde anon these children sette
5.4343: Above upon this Schepes bak;
5.4344: And al was do, riht as sche spak,
5.4345: Wherof the men gon hom ayein.
5.4346: And fell so, as the bokes sein,
5.4347: Hellen the yonge Mayden tho,
5.4348: Which of the See was wo bego,
5.4349: For pure drede hire herte hath lore,
5.4350: That fro the Schep, which hath hire bore,
5.4351: As sche that was swounende feint,
5.4352: Sche fell, and hath hirselve dreint;
5.4353: With Frixus and this Schep forth swam,
5.4354: Til he to thyle of Colchos cam,
5.4355: Where Juno the goddesse he fond,
5.4356: Which tok the Schep unto the lond,
5.4357: And sette it there in such a wise
5.4358: As thou tofore hast herd devise,
5.4359: Wherof cam after al the wo,
5.4360: Why Jason was forswore so
5.4361: Unto Medee, as it is spoke.
5.4362: Mi fader, who that hath tobroke
5.4363: His trouthe, as ye have told above,
5.4364: He is noght worthi forto love
5.4365: Ne be beloved, as me semeth:
5.4366: Bot every newe love quemeth
5.4367: To him which newefongel is.
5.4368: And natheles nou after this,


-2.66-



5.4369: If that you list to taken hiede
5.4370: Upon mi Schrifte to procede,
5.4371: In loves cause ayein the vice
5.4372: Of covoitise and Avarice
5.4373: What ther is more I wolde wite.
5.4374: Mi Sone, this I finde write,
5.4375: Ther is yit on of thilke brood,
5.4376: Which only for the worldes good,
5.4377: To make a Tresor of Moneie,
5.4378: Put alle conscience aweie:
5.4379: Wherof in thi confession
5.4380: The name and the condicion
5.4381: I schal hierafterward declare,
5.4382: Which makth on riche, an other bare.
5.4383: Upon the bench sittende on hih
5.4384: With Avarice Usure I sih,
5.4385: Full clothed of his oghne suite,
5.4386: Which after gold makth chace and suite
5.4387: With his brocours, that renne aboute
5.4388: Lich unto racches in a route.
5.4389: Such lucre is non above grounde,
5.4390: Which is noght of tho racches founde;
5.4391: For wher thei se beyete sterte,
5.4392: That schal hem in no wise asterte,
5.4393: Bot thei it dryve into the net
5.4394: Of lucre, which Usure hath set.
5.4395: Usure with the riche duelleth,
5.4396: To al that evere he beith and selleth
5.4397: He hath ordeined of his sleyhte
5.4398: Mesure double and double weyhte:
5.4399: Outward he selleth be the lasse,
5.4400: And with the more he makth his tasse,
5.4401: Wherof his hous is full withinne.


-2.67-



5.4402: He reccheth noght, be so he winne,
5.4403: Though that ther lese ten or tuelve:
5.4404: His love is al toward himselve
5.4405: And to non other, bot he se
5.4406: That he mai winne suche thre;
5.4407: For wher he schal oght yive or lene,
5.4408: He wol ayeinward take a bene,
5.4409: Ther he hath lent the smale pese.
5.4410: And riht so ther ben manye of these
5.4411: Lovers, that thogh thei love a lyte,
5.4412: That scarsly wolde it weie a myte,
5.4413: Yit wolde thei have a pound again,
5.4414: As doth Usure in his bargain.
5.4415: Bot certes such usure unliche,
5.4416: It falleth more unto the riche,
5.4417: Als wel of love as of beyete,
5.4418: Than unto hem that be noght grete,
5.4419: And, as who seith, ben simple and povere;
5.4420: For sielden is whan thei recovere,
5.4421: Bot if it be thurgh gret decerte.
5.4422: And natheles men se poverte
5.4423: With porsuite and continuance
5.4424: Fulofte make a gret chevance
5.4425: And take of love his avantage,
5.4426: Forth with the help of his brocage,
5.4427: That maken seme wher is noght.
5.4428: And thus fulofte is love boght
5.4429: For litel what, and mochel take,
5.4430: With false weyhtes that thei make.
5.4431: Nou, Sone, of that I seide above
5.4432: Thou wost what Usure is of love:
5.4433: Tell me forthi what so thou wilt,
5.4434: If thou therof hast eny gilt.
5.4435: Mi fader, nay, for ought I hiere.
5.4436: For of tho pointz ye tolden hiere
5.4437: I wol you be mi trouthe assure,


-2.68-



5.4438: Mi weyhte of love and mi mesure
5.4439: Hath be mor large and mor certein
5.4440: Than evere I tok of love ayein:
5.4441: For so yit couthe I nevere of sleyhte,
5.4442: To take ayein be double weyhte
5.4443: Of love mor than I have yive.
5.4444: For als so wiss mot I be schrive
5.4445: And have remission of Sinne,
5.4446: As so yit couthe I nevere winne,
5.4447: Ne yit so mochel, soth to sein,
5.4448: That evere I mihte have half ayein
5.4449: Of so full love as I have lent:
5.4450: And if myn happ were so wel went,
5.4451: That for the hole I mihte have half,
5.4452: Me thenkth I were a goddeshalf.
5.4453: For where Usure wole have double,
5.4454: Mi conscience is noght so trouble,
5.4455: I biede nevere as to my del
5.4456: Bot of the hole an halvendel;
5.4457: That is non excess, as me thenketh.
5.4458: Bot natheles it me forthenketh;
5.4459: For wel I wot that wol noght be,
5.4460: For every day the betre I se
5.4461: That hou so evere I yive or lene
5.4462: Mi love in place ther I mene,
5.4463: For oght that evere I axe or crave,
5.4464: I can nothing ayeinward have.
5.4465: Bot yit for that I wol noght lete,
5.4466: What so befalle of mi beyete,
5.4467: That I ne schal hire yive and lene
5.4468: Mi love and al mi thoght so clene,
5.4469: That toward me schal noght beleve.
5.4470: And if sche of hire goode leve
5.4471: Rewarde wol me noght again,
5.4472: I wot the laste of my bargain
5.4473: Schal stonde upon so gret a lost,
5.4474: That I mai neveremor the cost
5.4475: Recovere in this world til I die.


-2.69-



5.4476: So that touchende of this partie
5.4477: I mai me wel excuse and schal;
5.4478: And forto speke forth withal,
5.4479: If eny brocour for me wente,
5.4480: That point cam nevere in myn entente:
5.4481: So that the more me merveilleth,
5.4482: What thing it is mi ladi eilleth,
5.4483: That al myn herte and al my time
5.4484: Sche hath, and doth no betre bime.
5.4485: I have herd seid that thoght is fre,
5.4486: And natheles in privete
5.4487: To you, mi fader, that ben hiere
5.4488: Min hole schrifte forto hiere,
5.4489: I dar min herte wel desclose.
5.4490: Touchende usure, as I suppose,
5.4491: Which as ye telle in love is used,
5.4492: Mi ladi mai noght ben excused;
5.4493: That for o lokinge of hire yeµ
5.4494: Min hole herte til I dye
5.4495: With al that evere I may and can
5.4496: Sche hath me wonne to hire man:
5.4497: Wherof, me thenkth, good reson wolde
5.4498: That sche somdel rewarde scholde,
5.4499: And yive a part, ther sche hath al.
5.4500: I not what falle hierafter schal,
5.4501: Bot into nou yit dar I sein,
5.4502: Hire liste nevere yive ayein
5.4503: A goodli word in such a wise,
5.4504: Wherof min hope mihte arise,
5.4505: Mi grete love to compense.
5.4506: I not hou sche hire conscience
5.4507: Excuse wole of this usure;
5.4508: Be large weyhte and gret mesure
5.4509: Sche hath mi love, and I have noght
5.4510: Of that which I have diere boght,
5.4511: And with myn herte I have it paid;
5.4512: Bot al that is asyde laid,
5.4513: And I go loveles aboute.


-2.70-



5.4514: Hire oghte stonde if ful gret doute,
5.4515: Til sche redresce such a sinne,
5.4516: That sche wole al mi love winne
5.4517: And yifth me noght to live by:
5.4518: Noght als so moche as "grant mercy"
5.4519: Hir list to seie, of which I mihte
5.4520: Som of mi grete peine allyhte.
5.4521: Bot of this point, lo, thus I fare
5.4522: As he that paith for his chaffare,
5.4523: And beith it diere, and yit hath non,
5.4524: So mot he nedes povere gon:
5.4525: Thus beie I diere and have no love,
5.4526: That I ne mai noght come above
5.4527: To winne of love non encress.
5.4528: Bot I me wole natheles
5.4529: Touchende usure of love aquite;
5.4530: And if mi ladi be to wyte,
5.4531: I preie to god such grace hir sende
5.4532: That sche be time it mot amende.
5.4533: Mi Sone, of that thou hast ansuerd
5.4534: Touchende Usure I have al herd,
5.4535: Hou thou of love hast wonne smale:
5.4536: Bot that thou tellest in thi tale
5.4537: And thi ladi therof accusest,
5.4538: Me thenkth tho wordes thou misusest.
5.4539: For be thin oghne knowlechinge
5.4540: Thou seist hou sche for o lokinge
5.4541: Thin hole herte fro the tok:
5.4542: Sche mai be such, that hire o lok
5.4543: Is worth thin herte manyfold;
5.4544: So hast thou wel thin herte sold,
5.4545: Whan thou hast that is more worth.
5.4546: And ek of that thou tellest forth,
5.4547: Hou that hire weyhte of love unevene
5.4548: Is unto thin, under the hevene
5.4549: Stod nevere in evene that balance
5.4550: Which stant in loves governance.
5.4551: Such is the statut of his lawe,


-2.71-



5.4552: That thogh thi love more drawe
5.4553: And peise in the balance more,
5.4554: Thou miht noght axe ayein therfore
5.4555: Of duete, bot al of grace.
5.4556: For love is lord in every place,
5.4557: Ther mai no lawe him justefie
5.4558: Be reddour ne be compaignie,
5.4559: That he ne wole after his wille
5.4560: Whom that him liketh spede or spille.
5.4561: To love a man mai wel beginne,
5.4562: Bot whether he schal lese or winne,
5.4563: That wot noman til ate laste:
5.4564: Forthi coveite noght to faste,
5.4565: Mi Sone, bot abyd thin ende,
5.4566: Per cas al mai to goode wende.
5.4567: Bot that thou hast me told and said,
5.4568: Of o thing I am riht wel paid,
5.4569: That thou be sleyhte ne be guile
5.4570: Of no brocour hast otherwhile
5.4571: Engined love, for such dede
5.4572: Is sore venged, as I rede.
5.4573: Brocours of love that deceiven,
5.4574: No wonder is thogh thei receiven
5.4575: After the wrong that thei decerven;
5.4576: For whom as evere that thei serven
5.4577: And do plesance for a whyle,
5.4578: Yit ate laste here oghne guile
5.4579: Upon here oghne hed descendeth,
5.4580: Which god of his vengance sendeth,
5.4581: As be ensample of time go
5.4582: A man mai finde it hath be so.
5.4583: It fell somtime, as it was sene,
5.4584: The hihe goddesse and the queene
5.4585: Juno tho hadde in compainie
5.4586: A Maiden full of tricherie;
5.4587: For sche was evere in on acord


-2.72-



5.4588: With Jupiter, that was hire lord,
5.4589: To gete him othre loves newe,
5.4590: Thurgh such brocage and was untrewe
5.4591: Al otherwise than him nedeth.
5.4592: Bot sche, which of no schame dredeth,
5.4593: With queinte wordes and with slyhe
5.4594: Blente in such wise hir lady yhe,
5.4595: As sche to whom that Juno triste,
5.4596: So that therof sche nothing wiste.
5.4597: Bot so prive mai be nothing,
5.4598: That it ne comth to knowleching;
5.4599: Thing don upon the derke nyht
5.4600: Is after knowe on daies liht:
5.4601: So it befell, that ate laste
5.4602: Al that this slyhe maiden caste
5.4603: Was overcast and overthrowe.
5.4604: For as the sothe mot be knowe,
5.4605: To Juno was don understonde
5.4606: In what manere hir housebonde
5.4607: With fals brocage hath take usure
5.4608: Of love mor than his mesure,
5.4609: Whan he tok othre than his wif,
5.4610: Wherof this mayden was gultif,
5.4611: Which hadde ben of his assent.
5.4612: And thus was al the game schent;
5.4613: She soffreth him, as sche mot nede,
5.4614: Bot the brocour of his misdede,
5.4615: Sche which hir conseil yaf therto,
5.4616: On hire is the vengance do:
5.4617: For Juno with hire wordes hote,
5.4618: This Maiden, which Eccho was hote,
5.4619: Reproveth and seith in this wise:
5.4620: "O traiteresse, of which servise
5.4621: Hast thou thin oghne ladi served!
5.4622: Thou hast gret peine wel deserved,
5.4623: That thou canst maken it so queinte,
5.4624: Thi slyhe wordes forto peinte
5.4625: Towardes me, that am thi queene,
5.4626: Wherof thou madest me to wene


-2.73-



5.4627: That myn housbonde trewe were,
5.4628: Whan that he loveth elleswhere,
5.4629: Al be it so him nedeth noght.
5.4630: Bot upon thee it schal be boght,
5.4631: Which art prive to tho doinges,
5.4632: And me fulofte of thi lesinges
5.4633: Deceived hast: nou is the day
5.4634: That I thi while aquite may;
5.4635: And for thou hast to me conceled
5.4636: That my lord hath with othre deled,
5.4637: I schal thee sette in such a kende,
5.4638: That evere unto the worldes ende
5.4639: Al that thou hierest thou schalt telle,
5.4640: And clappe it out as doth a belle."
5.4641: And with that word sche was forschape,
5.4642: Ther may no vois hire mouth ascape,
5.4643: What man that in the wodes crieth,
5.4644: Withoute faile Eccho replieth,
5.4645: And what word that him list to sein,
5.4646: The same word sche seith ayein.
5.4647: Thus sche, which whilom hadde leve
5.4648: To duelle in chambre, mot beleve
5.4649: In wodes and on helles bothe,
5.4650: For such brocage as wyves lothe,
5.4651: Which doth here lordes hertes change
5.4652: And love in other place strange.
5.4653: Forthi, if evere it so befalle,
5.4654: That thou, mi Sone, amonges alle
5.4655: Be wedded man, hold that thou hast,
5.4656: For thanne al other love is wast.
5.4657: O wif schal wel to thee suffise,
5.4658: And thanne, if thou for covoitise
5.4659: Of love woldest axe more,
5.4660: Thou scholdest don ayein the lore
5.4661: Of alle hem that trewe be.
5.4662: Mi fader, as in this degre
5.4663: My conscience is noght accused;


-2.74-



5.4664: For I no such brocage have used,
5.4665: Wherof that lust of love is wonne.
5.4666: Forthi spek forth, as ye begonne,
5.4667: Of Avarice upon mi schrifte.
5.4668: Mi Sone, I schal the branches schifte
5.4669: Be ordre so as thei ben set,
5.4670: On whom no good is wel beset.
5.4671: Blinde Avarice of his lignage
5.4672: For conseil and for cousinage,
5.4673: To be withholde ayein largesse,
5.4674: Hath on, whos name is seid Skarsnesse,
5.4675: The which is kepere of his hous,
5.4676: And is so thurghout averous,
5.4677: That he no good let out of honde;
5.4678: Thogh god himself it wolde fonde,
5.4679: Of yifte scholde he nothing have;
5.4680: And if a man it wolde crave,
5.4681: He moste thanne faile nede,
5.4682: Wher god himselve mai noght spede.
5.4683: And thus Skarsnesse in every place
5.4684: Be reson mai no thonk porchace,
5.4685: And natheles in his degree
5.4686: Above all othre most prive
5.4687: With Avarice stant he this.
5.4688: For he governeth that ther is
5.4689: In ech astat of his office
5.4690: After the reule of thilke vice;
5.4691: He takth, he kepth, he halt, he bint,
5.4692: That lihtere is to fle the flint
5.4693: Than gete of him in hard or neisshe
5.4694: Only the value of a reysshe
5.4695: Of good in helpinge of an other,
5.4696: Noght thogh it were his oghne brother.


-2.75-



5.4697: For in the cas of yifte and lone
5.4698: Stant every man for him al one,
5.4699: Him thenkth of his unkindeschipe
5.4700: That him nedeth no felaschipe:
5.4701: Be so the bagge and he acorden,
5.4702: Him reccheth noght what men recorden
5.4703: Of him, or it be evel or good.
5.4704: For al his trust is on his good,
5.4705: So that al one he falleth ofte,
5.4706: Whan he best weneth stonde alofte,
5.4707: Als wel in love as other wise;
5.4708: For love is evere of som reprise
5.4709: To him that wole his love holde.
5.4710: Forthi, mi Sone, as thou art holde,
5.4711: Touchende of this tell me thi schrifte:
5.4712: Hast thou be scars or large of yifte
5.4713: Unto thi love, whom thou servest?
5.4714: For after that thou wel deservest
5.4715: Of yifte, thou miht be the bet;
5.4716: For that good holde I wel beset,
5.4717: For why thou miht the betre fare;
5.4718: Thanne is no wisdom forto spare.
5.4719: For thus men sein, in every nede
5.4720: He was wys that ferst made mede;
5.4721: For where as mede mai noght spede,
5.4722: I not what helpeth other dede:
5.4723: Fulofte he faileth of his game
5.4724: That wol with ydel hand reclame
5.4725: His hauk, as many a nyce doth.
5.4726: Forthi, mi Sone, tell me soth
5.4727: And sei the trouthe, if thou hast be
5.4728: Unto thy love or skars or fre.
5.4729: Mi fader, it hath stonde thus,
5.4730: That if the tresor of Cresus
5.4731: And al the gold Octovien,
5.4732: Forth with the richesse Yndien
5.4733: Of Perles and of riche stones,
5.4734: Were al togedre myn at ones,


-2.76-



5.4735: I sette it at nomore acompte
5.4736: Than wolde a bare straw amonte,
5.4737: To yive it hire al in a day,
5.4738: Be so that to that suete may
5.4739: I myhte like or more or lesse.
5.4740: And thus be cause of my scarsnesse
5.4741: Ye mai wel understonde and lieve
5.4742: That I schal noght the worse achieve
5.4743: The pourpos which is in my thoght.
5.4744: Bot yit I yaf hir nevere noght,
5.4745: Ne therto dorste a profre make;
5.4746: For wel I wot sche wol noght take,
5.4747: And yive wol sche noght also,
5.4748: Sche is eschu of bothe tuo.
5.4749: And this I trowe be the skile
5.4750: Towardes me, for sche ne wile
5.4751: That I have eny cause of hope,
5.4752: Noght also mochel as a drope.
5.4753: Bot toward othre, as I mai se,
5.4754: Sche takth and yifth in such degre,
5.4755: That as be weie of frendlihiede
5.4756: Sche can so kepe hir wommanhiede,
5.4757: That every man spekth of hir wel.
5.4758: Bot sche wole take of me no del,
5.4759: And yit sche wot wel that I wolde
5.4760: Yive and do bothe what I scholde
5.4761: To plesen hire in al my myht:
5.4762: Be reson this wot every wyht,
5.4763: For that mai be no weie asterte,
5.4764: Ther sche is maister of the herte,
5.4765: Sche mot be maister of the good.
5.4766: For god wot wel that al my mod
5.4767: And al min herte and al mi thoght
5.4768: And al mi good, whil I have oght,
5.4769: Als freliche as god hath it yive,
5.4770: It schal ben hires, while I live,
5.4771: Riht as hir list hirself commande.
5.4772: So that it nedeth no demande,


-2.77-



5.4773: To axe of me if I be scars
5.4774: To love, for as to tho pars
5.4775: I wole ansuere and seie no.
5.4776: Mi Sone, that is riht wel do.
5.4777: For often times of scarsnesse
5.4778: It hath be sen, that for the lesse
5.4779: Is lost the more, as thou schalt hiere
5.4780: A tale lich to this matiere.
5.4781: Skarsnesse and love acorden nevere,
5.4782: For every thing is wel the levere,
5.4783: Whan that a man hath boght it diere:
5.4784: And forto speke in this matiere,
5.4785: For sparinge of a litel cost
5.4786: Fulofte time a man hath lost
5.4787: The large cote for the hod.
5.4788: What man that scars is of his good
5.4789: And wol noght yive, he schal noght take:
5.4790: With yifte a man mai undertake
5.4791: The hihe god to plese and queme,
5.4792: With yifte a man the world mai deme;
5.4793: For every creature bore,
5.4794: If thou him yive, is glad therfore,
5.4795: And every gladschipe, as I finde,
5.4796: Is confort unto loves kinde
5.4797: And causeth ofte a man to spede.
5.4798: So was he wys that ferst yaf mede,
5.4799: For mede kepeth love in house;
5.4800: Bot wher the men ben coveitouse
5.4801: And sparen forto yive a part,
5.4802: Thei knowe noght Cupides art:
5.4803: For his fortune and his aprise
5.4804: Desdeigneth alle coveitise
5.4805: And hateth alle nygardie.
5.4806: And forto loke of this partie,
5.4807: A soth ensample, hou it is so,
5.4808: I finde write of Babio;
5.4809: Which hadde a love at his menage,


-2.78-



5.4810: Ther was non fairere of hire age,
5.4811: And hihte Viola be name;
5.4812: Which full of youthe and ful of game
5.4813: Was of hirself, and large and fre,
5.4814: Bot such an other chinche as he
5.4815: Men wisten noght in al the lond,
5.4816: And hadde affaited to his hond
5.4817: His servant, the which Spodius
5.4818: Was hote. And in this wise thus
5.4819: The worldes good of sufficance
5.4820: Was had, bot likinge and plesance,
5.4821: Of that belongeth to richesse
5.4822: Of love, stod in gret destresse;
5.4823: So that this yonge lusty wyht
5.4824: Of thing which fell to loves riht
5.4825: Was evele served overal,
5.4826: That sche was wo bego withal,
5.4827: Til that Cupide and Venus eke
5.4828: A medicine for the seke
5.4829: Ordeigne wolden in this cas.
5.4830: So as fortune thanne was,
5.4831: Of love upon the destine
5.4832: It fell, riht as it scholde be,
5.4833: A freissh, a fre, a frendly man
5.4834: That noght of Avarice can,
5.4835: Which Croceus be name hihte,
5.4836: Toward this swete caste his sihte,
5.4837: And ther sche was cam in presence.
5.4838: Sche sih him large of his despence,
5.4839: And amorous and glad of chiere,
5.4840: So that hir liketh wel to hiere
5.4841: The goodly wordes whiche he seide;
5.4842: And therupon of love he preide,
5.4843: Of love was al that he mente,
5.4844: To love and for sche scholde assente,
5.4845: He yaf hire yiftes evere among.
5.4846: Bot for men sein that mede is strong,
5.4847: It was wel seene at thilke tyde;


-2.79-



5.4848: For as it scholde of ryht betyde,
5.4849: This Viola largesce hath take
5.4850: And the nygard sche hath forsake:
5.4851: Of Babio sche wol no more,
5.4852: For he was grucchende everemore,
5.4853: Ther was with him non other fare
5.4854: Bot forto prinche and forto spare,
5.4855: Of worldes muk to gete encress.
5.4856: So goth the wrecche loveles,
5.4857: Bejaped for his Skarcete,
5.4858: And he that large was and fre
5.4859: And sette his herte to despende,
5.4860: This Croceus, the bowe bende,
5.4861: Which Venus tok him forto holde,
5.4862: And schotte als ofte as evere he wolde.
5.4863: Lo, thus departeth love his lawe,
5.4864: That what man wol noght be felawe
5.4865: To yive and spende, as I thee telle,
5.4866: He is noght worthi forto duelle
5.4867: In loves court to be relieved.
5.4868: Forthi, my Sone, if I be lieved,
5.4869: Thou schalt be large of thi despence.
5.4870: Mi fader, in mi conscience
5.4871: If ther be eny thing amis,
5.4872: I wol amende it after this,
5.4873: Toward mi love namely.
5.4874: Mi Sone, wel and redely
5.4875: Thou seist, so that wel paid withal
5.4876: I am, and forthere if I schal
5.4877: Unto thi schrifte specefie
5.4878: Of Avarices progenie
5.4879: What vice suieth after this,
5.4880: Thou schalt have wonder hou it is,
5.4881: Among the folk in eny regne
5.4882: That such a vice myhte regne,
5.4883: Which is comun at alle assaies,
5.4884: As men mai finde nou adaies.


-2.80-



5.4885: The vice lik unto the fend,
5.4886: Which nevere yit was mannes frend,
5.4887: And cleped is Unkindeschipe,
5.4888: Of covine and of felaschipe
5.4889: With Avarice he is withholde.
5.4890: Him thenkth he scholde noght ben holde
5.4891: Unto the moder which him bar;
5.4892: Of him mai nevere man be war,
5.4893: He wol noght knowe the merite,
5.4894: For that he wolde it noght aquite;
5.4895: Which in this world is mochel used,
5.4896: And fewe ben therof excused.
5.4897: To telle of him is endeles,
5.4898: Bot this I seie natheles,
5.4899: Wher as this vice comth to londe,
5.4900: Ther takth noman his thonk on honde;
5.4901: Thogh he with alle his myhtes serve,
5.4902: He schal of him no thonk deserve.
5.4903: He takth what eny man wol yive,
5.4904: Bot whil he hath o day to live,
5.4905: He wol nothing rewarde ayein;
5.4906: He gruccheth forto yive o grein,
5.4907: Wher he hath take a berne full.
5.4908: That makth a kinde herte dull,
5.4909: To sette his trust in such frendschipe,
5.4910: Ther as he fint no kindeschipe;
5.4911: And forto speke wordes pleine,
5.4912: Thus hiere I many a man compleigne,
5.4913: That nou on daies thou schalt finde
5.4914: At nede fewe frendes kinde;
5.4915: What thou hast don for hem tofore,
5.4916: It is foryete, as it were lore.
5.4917: The bokes speken of this vice,
5.4918: And telle hou god of his justice,


-2.81-



5.4919: Be weie of kinde and ek nature
5.4920: And every lifissh creature,
5.4921: The lawe also, who that it kan,
5.4922: Thei dampnen an unkinde man.
5.4923: It is al on to seie unkinde
5.4924: As thing which don is ayein kinde,
5.4925: For it with kinde nevere stod
5.4926: A man to yelden evel for good.
5.4927: For who that wolde taken hede,
5.4928: A beste is glad of a good dede,
5.4929: And loveth thilke creature
5.4930: After the lawe of his nature
5.4931: Which doth him ese. And forto se
5.4932: Of this matiere Auctorite,
5.4933: Fulofte time it hath befalle;
5.4934: Wherof a tale amonges alle,
5.4935: Which is of olde ensamplerie,
5.4936: I thenke forto specefie.
5.4937: To speke of an unkinde man,
5.4938: I finde hou whilom Adrian,
5.4939: Of Rome which a gret lord was,
5.4940: Upon a day as he per cas
5.4941: To wode in his huntinge wente,
5.4942: It hapneth at a soudein wente,
5.4943: After his chace as he poursuieth,
5.4944: Thurgh happ, the which noman eschuieth,
5.4945: He fell unwar into a pet,
5.4946: Wher that it mihte noght be let.
5.4947: The pet was dep and he fell lowe,
5.4948: That of his men non myhte knowe
5.4949: Wher he becam, for non was nyh,
5.4950: Which of his fall the meschief syh.
5.4951: And thus al one ther he lay
5.4952: Clepende and criende al the day
5.4953: For socour and deliverance,


-2.82-



5.4954: Til ayein Eve it fell per chance,
5.4955: A while er it began to nyhte,
5.4956: A povere man, which Bardus hihte,
5.4957: Cam forth walkende with his asse,
5.4958: And hadde gadred him a tasse
5.4959: Of grene stickes and of dreie
5.4960: To selle, who that wolde hem beie,
5.4961: As he which hadde no liflode,
5.4962: Bot whanne he myhte such a lode
5.4963: To toune with his Asse carie.
5.4964: And as it fell him forto tarie
5.4965: That ilke time nyh the pet,
5.4966: And hath the trusse faste knet,
5.4967: He herde a vois, which cride dimme,
5.4968: And he his Ere to the brimme
5.4969: Hath leid, and herde it was a man,
5.4970: Which seide, "Ha, help hier Adrian,
5.4971: And I wol yiven half mi good."
5.4972: The povere man this understod,
5.4973: As he that wolde gladly winne,
5.4974: And to this lord which was withinne
5.4975: He spak and seide, "If I thee save,
5.4976: What sikernesse schal I have
5.4977: Of covenant, that afterward
5.4978: Thou wolt me yive such reward
5.4979: As thou behihtest nou tofore?"
5.4980: That other hath his othes swore
5.4981: Be hevene and be the goddes alle,
5.4982: If that it myhte so befalle
5.4983: That he out of the pet him broghte,
5.4984: Of all the goodes whiche he oghte
5.4985: He schal have evene halvendel.
5.4986: This Bardus seide he wolde wel;
5.4987: And with this word his Asse anon
5.4988: He let untrusse, and therupon
5.4989: Doun goth the corde into the pet,
5.4990: To which he hath at ende knet


-2.83-



5.4991: A staf, wherby, he seide, he wolde
5.4992: That Adrian him scholde holde.
5.4993: Bot it was tho per chance falle,
5.4994: Into that pet was also falle
5.4995: An Ape, which at thilke throwe,
5.4996: Whan that the corde cam doun lowe,
5.4997: Al sodeinli therto he skipte
5.4998: And it in bothe hise armes clipte.
5.4999: And Bardus with his Asse anon
5.5000: Him hath updrawe, and he is gon.
5.5001: But whan he sih it was an Ape,
5.5002: He wende al hadde ben a jape
5.5003: Of faierie, and sore him dradde:
5.5004: And Adrian eftsone gradde
5.5005: For help, and cride and preide faste,
5.5006: And he eftsone his corde caste;
5.5007: Bot whan it cam unto the grounde,
5.5008: A gret Serpent it hath bewounde,
5.5009: The which Bardus anon up drouh.
5.5010: And thanne him thoghte wel ynouh,
5.5011: It was fantosme, bot yit he herde
5.5012: The vois, and he therto ansuerde,
5.5013: "What wiht art thou in goddes name?"
5.5014: "I am," quod Adrian, "the same,
5.5015: Whos good thou schalt have evene half."
5.5016: Quod Bardus, "Thanne a goddes half
5.5017: The thridde time assaie I schal":
5.5018: And caste his corde forth withal
5.5019: Into the pet, and whan it cam
5.5020: To him, this lord of Rome it nam,
5.5021: And therupon him hath adresced,
5.5022: And with his hand fulofte blessed,
5.5023: And thanne he bad to Bardus hale.
5.5024: And he, which understod his tale,
5.5025: Betwen him and his Asse al softe
5.5026: Hath drawe and set him up alofte


-2.84-



5.5027: Withouten harm al esely.
5.5028: He seith noght ones "grant merci,"
5.5029: Bot strauhte him forth to the cite,
5.5030: And let this povere Bardus be.
5.5031: And natheles this simple man
5.5032: His covenant, so as he can,
5.5033: Hath axed; and that other seide,
5.5034: If so be that he him umbreide
5.5035: Of oght that hath be speke or do,
5.5036: It schal ben venged on him so,
5.5037: That him were betre to be ded.
5.5038: And he can tho non other red,
5.5039: But on his asse ayein he caste
5.5040: His trusse, and hieth homward faste:
5.5041: And whan that he cam hom to bedde,
5.5042: He tolde his wif hou that he spedde.
5.5043: Bot finaly to speke oght more
5.5044: Unto this lord he dradde him sore,
5.5045: So that a word ne dorste he sein:
5.5046: And thus upon the morwe ayein,
5.5047: In the manere as I recorde,
5.5048: Forth with his Asse and with his corde
5.5049: To gadre wode, as he dede er,
5.5050: He goth; and whan that he cam ner
5.5051: Unto the place where he wolde,
5.5052: He hath his Ape anon beholde,
5.5053: Which hadde gadred al aboute
5.5054: Of stickes hiere and there a route,
5.5055: And leide hem redy to his hond,
5.5056: Wherof he made his trosse and bond;
5.5057: Fro dai to dai and in this wise
5.5058: This Ape profreth his servise,
5.5059: So that he hadde of wode ynouh.
5.5060: Upon a time and as he drouh
5.5061: Toward the wode, he sih besyde
5.5062: The grete gastli Serpent glyde,
5.5063: Til that sche cam in his presence,


-2.85-



5.5064: And in hir kinde a reverence
5.5065: Sche hath him do, and forth withal
5.5066: A Ston mor briht than a cristall
5.5067: Out of hir mouth tofore his weie
5.5068: Sche let doun falle, and wente aweie,
5.5069: For that he schal noght ben adrad.
5.5070: Tho was this povere Bardus glad,
5.5071: Thonkende god, and to the Ston
5.5072: He goth an takth it up anon,
5.5073: And hath gret wonder in his wit
5.5074: Hou that the beste him hath aquit,
5.5075: Wher that the mannes Sone hath failed,
5.5076: For whom he hadde most travailed.
5.5077: Bot al he putte in goddes hond,
5.5078: And torneth hom, and what he fond
5.5079: Unto his wif he hath it schewed;
5.5080: And thei, that weren bothe lewed,
5.5081: Acorden that he scholde it selle.
5.5082: And he no lengere wolde duelle,
5.5083: Bot forth anon upon the tale
5.5084: The Ston he profreth to the sale;
5.5085: And riht as he himself it sette,
5.5086: The jueler anon forth fette
5.5087: The gold and made his paiement,
5.5088: Therof was no delaiement.
5.5089: Thus whan this Ston was boght and sold,
5.5090: Homward with joie manyfold
5.5091: This Bardus goth; and whan he cam
5.5092: Hom to his hous and that he nam
5.5093: His gold out of his Purs, withinne
5.5094: He fond his Ston also therinne,
5.5095: Wherof for joie his herte pleide,
5.5096: Unto his wif and thus he seide,
5.5097: "Lo, hier my gold, lo, hier mi Ston!"
5.5098: His wif hath wonder therupon,
5.5099: And axeth him hou that mai be.
5.5100: "Nou be mi trouthe I not," quod he,
5.5101: "Bot I dar swere upon a bok,


-2.86-



5.5102: That to my Marchant I it tok,
5.5103: And he it hadde whan I wente:
5.5104: So knowe I noght to what entente
5.5105: It is nou hier, bot it be grace.
5.5106: Forthi tomorwe in other place
5.5107: I wole it fonde forto selle,
5.5108: And if it wol noght with him duelle,
5.5109: Bot crepe into mi purs ayein,
5.5110: Than dar I saufly swere and sein,
5.5111: It is the vertu of the Ston."
5.5112: The morwe cam, and he is gon
5.5113: To seche aboute in other stede
5.5114: His Ston to selle, and he so dede,
5.5115: And lefte it with his chapman there.
5.5116: Bot whan that he cam elleswhere,
5.5117: In presence of his wif at hom,
5.5118: Out of his Purs and that he nom
5.5119: His gold, he fond his Ston withal:
5.5120: And thus it fell him overal,
5.5121: Where he it solde in sondri place,
5.5122: Such was the fortune and the grace.
5.5123: Bot so wel may nothing ben hidd,
5.5124: That it nys ate laste kidd:
5.5125: This fame goth aboute Rome
5.5126: So ferforth, that the wordes come
5.5127: To themperour Justinian;
5.5128: And he let sende for the man,
5.5129: And axede him hou that it was.
5.5130: And Bardus tolde him al the cas,
5.5131: Hou that the worm and ek the beste,
5.5132: Althogh thei maden no beheste,
5.5133: His travail hadden wel aquit;
5.5134: Bot he which hadde a mannes wit,
5.5135: And made his covenant be mouthe
5.5136: And swor therto al that he couthe
5.5137: To parte and yiven half his good,


-2.87-



5.5138: Hath nou foryete hou that it stod,
5.5139: As he which wol no trouthe holde.
5.5140: This Emperour al that he tolde
5.5141: Hath herd, and thilke unkindenesse
5.5142: He seide he wolde himself redresse.
5.5143: And thus in court of juggement
5.5144: This Adrian was thanne assent,
5.5145: And the querele in audience
5.5146: Declared was in the presence
5.5147: Of themperour and many mo;
5.5148: Wherof was mochel speche tho
5.5149: And gret wondringe among the press.
5.5150: Bot ate laste natheles
5.5151: For the partie which hath pleigned
5.5152: The lawe hath diemed and ordeigned
5.5153: Be hem that were avised wel,
5.5154: That he schal have the halvendel
5.5155: Thurghout of Adrianes good.
5.5156: And thus of thilke unkinde blod
5.5157: Stant the memoire into this day,
5.5158: Wherof that every wysman may
5.5159: Ensamplen him, and take in mynde
5.5160: What schame it is to ben unkinde;
5.5161: Ayein the which reson debateth,
5.5162: And every creature it hateth.
5.5163: Forthi, mi Sone, in thin office
5.5164: I rede fle that ilke vice.
5.5165: For riht as the Cronique seith
5.5166: Of Adrian, hou he his feith
5.5167: Foryat for worldes covoitise,
5.5168: Fulofte in such a maner wise
5.5169: Of lovers nou a man mai se
5.5170: Full manye that unkinde be:
5.5171: For wel behote and evele laste
5.5172: That is here lif; for ate laste,
5.5173: Whan that thei have here wille do,
5.5174: Here love is after sone ago.
5.5175: What seist thou, Sone, to this cas?


-2.88-



5.5176: Mi fader, I wol seie Helas,
5.5177: That evere such a man was bore,
5.5178: Which whan he hath his trouthe suore
5.5179: And hath of love what he wolde,
5.5180: That he at eny time scholde
5.5181: Evere after in his herte finde
5.5182: To falsen and to ben unkinde.
5.5183: Bot, fader, as touchende of me,
5.5184: I mai noght stonde in that degre;
5.5185: For I tok nevere of love why,
5.5186: That I ne mai wel go therby
5.5187: And do my profit elles where,
5.5188: For eny sped I finde there.
5.5189: I dar wel thenken al aboute,
5.5190: Bot I ne dar noght speke it oute;
5.5191: And if I dorste, I wolde pleigne,
5.5192: That sche for whom I soffre peine
5.5193: And love hir evere aliche hote,
5.5194: That nouther yive ne behote
5.5195: In rewardinge of mi servise
5.5196: It list hire in no maner wise.
5.5197: I wol noght say that sche is kinde,
5.5198: And forto sai sche is unkinde,
5.5199: That dar I noght; bot god above,
5.5200: Which demeth every herte of love,
5.5201: He wot that on myn oghne side
5.5202: Schal non unkindeschipe abide:
5.5203: If it schal with mi ladi duelle,
5.5204: Therof dar I nomore telle.
5.5205: Nou, goode fader, as it is,
5.5206: Tell me what thenketh you of this.
5.5207: Mi Sone, of that unkindeschipe,
5.5208: The which toward thi ladischipe
5.5209: Thou pleignest, for sche wol thee noght,
5.5210: Thou art to blamen of that thoght.
5.5211: For it mai be that thi desir,
5.5212: Thogh it brenne evere as doth the fyr,
5.5213: Per cas to hire honour missit,


-2.89-



5.5214: Or elles time com noght yit,
5.5215: Which standt upon thi destine:
5.5216: Forthi, mi Sone, I rede thee,
5.5217: Thenk wel, what evere the befalle;
5.5218: For noman hath his lustes alle.
5.5219: Bot as thou toldest me before
5.5220: That thou to love art noght forswore,
5.5221: And hast don non unkindenesse,
5.5222: Thou miht therof thi grace blesse:
5.5223: And lef noght that continuance;
5.5224: For ther mai be no such grevance
5.5225: To love, as is unkindeschipe.
5.5226: Wherof to kepe thi worschipe,
5.5227: So as these olde bokes tale,
5.5228: I schal thee telle a redi tale:
5.5229: Nou herkne and be wel war therby,
5.5230: For I wol telle it openly.
5.5231: Mynos, as telleth the Poete,
5.5232: The which whilom was king of Crete,
5.5233: A Sone hadde and Androchee
5.5234: He hihte: and so befell that he
5.5235: Unto Athenes forto lere
5.5236: Was send, and so he bar him there,
5.5237: For that he was of hih lignage,
5.5238: Such pride he tok in his corage,
5.5239: That he foryeten hath the Scoles,
5.5240: And in riote among the foles
5.5241: He dede manye thinges wronge;
5.5242: And useth thilke lif so longe,
5.5243: Til ate laste of that he wroghte
5.5244: He fond the meschief which he soghte,
5.5245: Wherof it fell that he was slain.
5.5246: His fader, which it herde sain,
5.5247: Was wroth, and al that evere he mihte,
5.5248: Of men of Armes he him dighte
5.5249: A strong pouer, and forth he wente


-2.90-



5.5250: Unto Athenys, where he brente
5.5251: The pleine contre al aboute:
5.5252: The Cites stode of him in doute,
5.5253: As thei that no defence hadde
5.5254: Ayein the pouer which he ladde.
5.5255: Egeuµs, which was there king,
5.5256: His conseil tok upon this thing,
5.5257: For he was thanne in the Cite:
5.5258: So that of pes into tretee
5.5259: Betwen Mynos and Egeuµs
5.5260: Thei felle, and ben acorded thus;
5.5261: That king Mynos fro yer to yeere
5.5262: Receive schal, as thou schalt here,
5.5263: Out of Athenys for truage
5.5264: Of men that were of myhti Age
5.5265: Persones nyne, of whiche he schal
5.5266: His wille don in special
5.5267: For vengance of his Sones deth.
5.5268: Non other grace ther ne geth,
5.5269: Bot forto take the juise;
5.5270: And that was don in such a wise,
5.5271: Which stod upon a wonder cas.
5.5272: For thilke time so it was,
5.5273: Wherof that men yit rede and singe,
5.5274: King Mynos hadde in his kepinge
5.5275: A cruel Monstre, as seith the geste:
5.5276: For he was half man and half beste,
5.5277: And Minotaurus he was hote,
5.5278: Which was begete in a riote
5.5279: Upon Pasiphe, his oghne wif,
5.5280: Whil he was oute upon the strif
5.5281: Of thilke grete Siege at Troie.
5.5282: Bot sche, which lost hath alle joie,
5.5283: Whan that sche syh this Monstre bore,
5.5284: Bad men ordeigne anon therfore:
5.5285: And fell that ilke time thus,
5.5286: Ther was a Clerk, on Dedalus,
5.5287: Which hadde ben of hire assent


-2.91-



5.5288: Of that hir world was so miswent;
5.5289: And he made of his oghne wit,
5.5290: Wherof the remembrance is yit,
5.5291: For Minotaure such an hous,
5.5292: Which was so strange and merveilous,
5.5293: That what man that withinne wente,
5.5294: Ther was so many a sondri wente,
5.5295: That he ne scholde noght come oute,
5.5296: But gon amased al aboute.
5.5297: And in this hous to loke and warde
5.5298: Was Minotaurus put in warde,
5.5299: That what lif that therinne cam,
5.5300: Or man or beste, he overcam
5.5301: And slow, and fedde him therupon;
5.5302: And in this wise many on
5.5303: Out of Athenys for truage
5.5304: Devoured weren in that rage.
5.5305: For every yeer thei schope hem so,
5.5306: Thei of Athenys, er thei go
5.5307: Toward that ilke wofull chance,
5.5308: As it was set in ordinance,
5.5309: Upon fortune here lot thei caste;
5.5310: Til that Theseuµs ate laste,
5.5311: Which was the kinges Sone there,
5.5312: Amonges othre that ther were
5.5313: In thilke yeer, as it befell,
5.5314: The lot upon his chance fell.
5.5315: He was a worthi kniht withalle;
5.5316: And whan he sih this chance falle,
5.5317: He ferde as thogh he tok non hiede,
5.5318: Bot al that evere he mihte spiede,
5.5319: With him and with his felaschipe
5.5320: Forth into Crete he goth be Schipe;
5.5321: Wher that the king Mynos he soghte,
5.5322: And profreth all that he him oghte
5.5323: Upon the point of here acord.


-2.92-



5.5324: This sterne king, this cruel lord
5.5325: Tok every day on of the Nyne,
5.5326: And put him to the discipline
5.5327: Of Minotaure, to be devoured;
5.5328: Bot Theseuµs was so favoured,
5.5329: That he was kept til ate laste.
5.5330: And in the meene while he caste
5.5331: What thing him were best to do:
5.5332: And fell that Adriagne tho,
5.5333: Which was the dowhter of Mynos,
5.5334: And hadde herd the worthi los
5.5335: Of Theseuµs and of his myht,
5.5336: And syh he was a lusti kniht,
5.5337: Hire hole herte on him sche leide,
5.5338: And he also of love hir preide,
5.5339: So ferforth that thei were al on.
5.5340: And sche ordeigneth thanne anon
5.5341: In what manere he scholde him save,
5.5342: And schop so that sche dede him have
5.5343: A clue of thred, of which withinne
5.5344: Ferst ate dore he schal beginne
5.5345: With him to take that on ende,
5.5346: That whan he wolde ayeinward wende,
5.5347: He mihte go the same weie.
5.5348: And over this, so as I seie,
5.5349: Of pich sche tok him a pelote,
5.5350: The which he scholde into the throte
5.5351: Of Minotaure caste rihte:
5.5352: Such wepne also for him sche dighte,
5.5353: That he be reson mai noght faile
5.5354: To make an ende of his bataile;
5.5355: For sche him tawhte in sondri wise,
5.5356: Til he was knowe of thilke emprise,
5.5357: Hou he this beste schulde quelle.
5.5358: And thus, schort tale forto telle,
5.5359: So as this Maide him hadde tawht,


-2.93-



5.5360: Theseuµs with this Monstre fawht,
5.5361: Smot of his hed, the which he nam,
5.5362: And be the thred, so as he cam,
5.5363: He goth ayein, til he were oute.
5.5364: Tho was gret wonder al aboute:
5.5365: Mynos the tribut hath relessed,
5.5366: And so was al the werre cessed
5.5367: Betwen Athene and hem of Crete.
5.5368: Bot now to speke of thilke suete,
5.5369: Whos beaute was withoute wane,
5.5370: This faire Maiden Adriane,
5.5371: Whan that sche sih Theseuµs sound,
5.5372: Was nevere yit upon the ground
5.5373: A gladder wyht that sche was tho.
5.5374: Theseuµs duelte a dai or tuo
5.5375: Wher that Mynos gret chiere him dede:
5.5376: Theseuµs in a prive stede
5.5377: Hath with this Maiden spoke and rouned,
5.5378: That sche to him was abandouned
5.5379: In al that evere that sche couthe,
5.5380: So that of thilke lusty youthe
5.5381: Al prively betwen hem tweie
5.5382: The ferste flour he tok aweie.
5.5383: For he so faire tho behihte
5.5384: That evere, whil he live mihte,
5.5385: He scholde hire take for his wif,
5.5386: And as his oghne hertes lif
5.5387: He scholde hire love and trouthe bere;
5.5388: And sche, which mihte noght forbere,
5.5389: So sore loveth him ayein,
5.5390: That what as evere he wolde sein
5.5391: With al hire herte sche believeth.
5.5392: And thus his pourpos he achieveth,
5.5393: So that assured of his trouthe
5.5394: With him sche wente, and that was routhe.
5.5395: Fedra hire yonger Soster eke,
5.5396: A lusti Maide, a sobre, a meke,
5.5397: Fulfild of alle curtesie,


-2.94-



5.5398: For Sosterhode and compainie
5.5399: Of love, which was hem betuene,
5.5400: To sen hire Soster mad a queene,
5.5401: Hire fader lefte and forth sche wente
5.5402: With him, which al his ferste entente
5.5403: Foryat withinne a litel throwe,
5.5404: So that it was al overthrowe,
5.5405: Whan sche best wende it scholde stonde.
5.5406: The Schip was blowe fro the londe,
5.5407: Wherin that thei seilende were;
5.5408: This Adriagne hath mochel fere
5.5409: Of that the wynd so loude bleu,
5.5410: As sche which of the See ne kneu,
5.5411: And preide forto reste a whyle.
5.5412: And so fell that upon an yle,
5.5413: Which Chyo hihte, thei ben drive,
5.5414: Where he to hire his leve hath yive
5.5415: That sche schal londe and take hire reste.
5.5416: Bot that was nothing for the beste:
5.5417: For whan sche was to londe broght,
5.5418: Sche, which that time thoghte noght
5.5419: Bot alle trouthe, and tok no kepe,
5.5420: Hath leid hire softe forto slepe,
5.5421: As sche which longe hath ben forwacched;
5.5422: Bot certes sche was evele macched
5.5423: And fer from alle loves kinde;
5.5424: For more than the beste unkinde
5.5425: Theseuµs, which no trouthe kepte,
5.5426: Whil that this yonge ladi slepte,
5.5427: Fulfild of his unkindeschipe
5.5428: Hath al foryete the goodschipe
5.5429: Which Adriane him hadde do,
5.5430: And bad unto the Schipmen tho
5.5431: Hale up the seil and noght abyde,
5.5432: And forth he goth the same tyde
5.5433: Toward Athene, and hire alonde
5.5434: He lefte, which lay nyh the stronde


-2.95-



5.5435: Slepende, til that sche awok.
5.5436: Bot whan that sche cast up hire lok
5.5437: Toward the stronde and sih no wyht,
5.5438: Hire herte was so sore aflyht,
5.5439: That sche ne wiste what to thinke,
5.5440: Bot drouh hire to the water brinke,
5.5441: Wher sche behield the See at large.
5.5442: Sche sih no Schip, sche sih no barge
5.5443: Als ferforth as sche mihte kenne:
5.5444: "Ha lord," sche seide, "which a Senne,
5.5445: As al the world schal after hiere,
5.5446: Upon this woful womman hiere
5.5447: This worthi kniht hath don and wroght!
5.5448: I wende I hadde his love boght,
5.5449: And so deserved ate nede,
5.5450: Whan that he stod upon his drede,
5.5451: And ek the love he me behihte.
5.5452: It is gret wonder hou he mihte
5.5453: Towardes me nou ben unkinde,
5.5454: And so to lete out of his mynde
5.5455: Thing which he seide his oghne mouth.
5.5456: Bot after this whan it is couth
5.5457: And drawe into the worldes fame,
5.5458: It schal ben hindringe of his name:
5.5459: For wel he wot and so wot I,
5.5460: He yaf his trouthe bodily,
5.5461: That he myn honour scholde kepe."
5.5462: And with that word sche gan to wepe,
5.5463: And sorweth more than ynouh:
5.5464: Hire faire tresces sche todrouh,
5.5465: And with hirself tok such a strif,
5.5466: That sche betwen the deth and lif
5.5467: Swounende lay fulofte among.
5.5468: And al was this on him along,
5.5469: Which was to love unkinde so,
5.5470: Wherof the wrong schal everemo


-2.96-



5.5471: Stonde in Cronique of remembrance.
5.5472: And ek it asketh a vengance
5.5473: To ben unkinde in loves cas,
5.5474: So as Theseuµs thanne was,
5.5475: Al thogh he were a noble kniht;
5.5476: For he the lawe of loves riht
5.5477: Forfeted hath in alle weie,
5.5478: That Adriagne he putte aweie,
5.5479: Which was a gret unkinde dede:
5.5480: And after this, so as I rede,
5.5481: Fedra, the which hir Soster is,
5.5482: He tok in stede of hire, and this
5.5483: Fel afterward to mochel teene.
5.5484: For thilke vice of which I meene,
5.5485: Unkindeschipe, where it falleth,
5.5486: The trouthe of mannes herte it palleth,
5.5487: That he can no good dede aquite:
5.5488: So mai he stonde of no merite
5.5489: Towardes god, and ek also
5.5490: Men clepen him the worldes fo;
5.5491: For he nomore than the fend
5.5492: Unto non other man is frend,
5.5493: Bot al toward himself al one.
5.5494: Forthi, mi Sone, in thi persone
5.5495: This vice above all othre fle.
5.5496: Mi fader, as ye techen me,
5.5497: I thenke don in this matiere.
5.5498: Bot over this nou wolde I hiere,
5.5499: Wherof I schal me schryve more.
5.5500: Mi goode Sone, and for thi lore,
5.5501: After the reule of coveitise
5.5502: I schal the proprete devise
5.5503: Of every vice by and by.
5.5504: Nou herkne and be wel war therby.
5.5505: In the lignage of Avarice,
5.5506: Mi Sone, yit ther is a vice,


-2.97-



5.5507: His rihte name it is Ravine,
5.5508: Which hath a route of his covine.
5.5509: Ravine among the maistres duelleth,
5.5510: And with his servantz, as men telleth,
5.5511: Extorcion is nou withholde:
5.5512: Ravine of othre mennes folde
5.5513: Makth his larder and paieth noght;
5.5514: For wher as evere it mai be soght,
5.5515: In his hous ther schal nothing lacke,
5.5516: And that fulofte abyth the packe
5.5517: Of povere men that duelle aboute.
5.5518: Thus stant the comun poeple in doute,
5.5519: Which can do non amendement;
5.5520: For whanne him faileth paiement,
5.5521: Ravine makth non other skile,
5.5522: Bot takth be strengthe what he wile.
5.5523: So ben ther in the same wise
5.5524: Lovers, as I thee schal devise,
5.5525: That whan noght elles mai availe,
5.5526: Anon with strengthe thei assaile
5.5527: And gete of love the sesine,
5.5528: Whan thei se time, be Ravine.
5.5529: Forthi, mi Sone, schrif thee hier,
5.5530: If thou hast ben a Raviner
5.5531: Of love. Certes, fader, no:
5.5532: For I mi ladi love so,
5.5533: That thogh I were as was Pompeie,
5.5534: That al the world me wolde obeie,
5.5535: Or elles such as Alisandre,
5.5536: I wolde noght do such a sklaundre;
5.5537: It is no good man, which so doth.
5.5538: In good feith, Sone, thou seist soth:
5.5539: For he that wole of pourveance
5.5540: Be such a weie his lust avance,


-2.98-



5.5541: He schal it after sore abie,
5.5542: Bot if these olde ensamples lie.
5.5543: Nou, goode fader, tell me on,
5.5544: So as ye cunne manyon,
5.5545: Touchende of love in this matiere.
5.5546: Nou list, mi Sone, and thou schalt hiere,
5.5547: So as it hath befalle er this,
5.5548: In loves cause hou that it is
5.5549: A man to take be Ravine
5.5550: The preie which is femeline.
5.5551: Ther was a real noble king,
5.5552: And riche of alle worldes thing,
5.5553: Which of his propre enheritance
5.5554: Athenes hadde in governance,
5.5555: And who so thenke therupon,
5.5556: His name was king Pandion.
5.5557: Tuo douhtres hadde he be his wif,
5.5558: The whiche he lovede as his lif;
5.5559: The ferste douhter Progne hihte,
5.5560: And the secounde, as sche wel mihte,
5.5561: Was cleped faire Philomene,
5.5562: To whom fell after mochel tene.
5.5563: The fader of his pourveance
5.5564: His doughter Progne wolde avance,
5.5565: And yaf hire unto mariage
5.5566: A worthi king of hih lignage,
5.5567: A noble kniht eke of his hond,
5.5568: So was he kid in every lond,
5.5569: Of Trace he hihte Tereuµs;
5.5570: The clerk Ovide telleth thus.
5.5571: This Tereuµs his wif hom ladde,
5.5572: A lusti lif with hire he hadde;
5.5573: Til it befell upon a tyde,
5.5574: This Progne, as sche lay him besyde,
5.5575: Bethoughte hir hou it mihte be
5.5576: That sche hir Soster myhte se,


-2.99-



5.5577: And to hir lord hir will sche seide,
5.5578: With goodly wordes and him preide
5.5579: That sche to hire mihte go:
5.5580: And if it liked him noght so,
5.5581: That thanne he wolde himselve wende,
5.5582: Or elles be som other sende,
5.5583: Which mihte hire diere Soster griete,
5.5584: And schape hou that thei mihten miete.
5.5585: Hir lord anon to that he herde
5.5586: Yaf his acord, and thus ansuerde:
5.5587: "I wole," he seide, "for thi sake
5.5588: The weie after thi Soster take
5.5589: Miself, and bringe hire, if I may."
5.5590: And sche with that, there as he lay,
5.5591: Began him in hire armes clippe,
5.5592: And kist him with hir softe lippe,
5.5593: And seide, "Sire, grant mercy."
5.5594: And he sone after was redy,
5.5595: And tok his leve forto go;
5.5596: In sori time dede he so.
5.5597: This Tereuµs goth forth to Schipe
5.5598: With him and with his felaschipe;
5.5599: Be See the rihte cours he nam,
5.5600: Into the contre til he cam,
5.5601: Wher Philomene was duellinge,
5.5602: And of hir Soster the tidinge
5.5603: He tolde, and tho thei weren glade,
5.5604: And mochel joie of him thei made.
5.5605: The fader and the moder bothe
5.5606: To leve here douhter weren lothe,
5.5607: Bot if thei weren in presence;
5.5608: And natheles at reverence
5.5609: Of him, that wolde himself travaile,
5.5610: Thei wolden noght he scholde faile
5.5611: Of that he preide, and yive hire leve:
5.5612: And sche, that wolde noght beleve,


-2.100-



5.5613: In alle haste made hire yare
5.5614: Toward hir Soster forto fare,
5.5615: With Tereuµs and forth sche wente.
5.5616: And he with al his hole entente,
5.5617: Whan sche was fro hir frendes go,
5.5618: Assoteth of hire love so,
5.5619: His yhe myhte he noght withholde,
5.5620: That he ne moste on hir beholde;
5.5621: And with the sihte he gan desire,
5.5622: And sette his oghne herte on fyre;
5.5623: And fyr, whan it to tow aprocheth,
5.5624: To him anon the strengthe acrocheth,
5.5625: Til with his hete it be devoured,
5.5626: The tow ne mai noght be socoured.
5.5627: And so that tirant raviner,
5.5628: Whan that sche was in his pouer,
5.5629: And he therto sawh time and place,
5.5630: As he that lost hath alle grace,
5.5631: Foryat he was a wedded man,
5.5632: And in a rage on hire he ran,
5.5633: Riht as a wolf which takth his preie.
5.5634: And sche began to crie and preie,
5.5635: "O fader, o mi moder diere,
5.5636: Nou help!" Bot thei ne mihte it hiere,
5.5637: And sche was of to litel myht
5.5638: Defense ayein so ruide a knyht
5.5639: To make, whanne he was so wod
5.5640: That he no reson understod,
5.5641: Bot hield hire under in such wise,
5.5642: That sche ne myhte noght arise,
5.5643: Bot lay oppressed and desesed,
5.5644: As if a goshauk hadde sesed
5.5645: A brid, which dorste noght for fere
5.5646: Remue: and thus this tirant there
5.5647: Beraft hire such thing as men sein
5.5648: Mai neveremor be yolde ayein,
5.5649: And that was the virginite:
5.5650: Of such Ravine it was pite.


-2.101-



5.5651: Bot whan sche to hirselven com,
5.5652: And of hir meschief hiede nom,
5.5653: And knew hou that sche was no maide,
5.5654: With wofull herte thus sche saide,
5.5655: "O thou of alle men the worste,
5.5656: Wher was ther evere man that dorste
5.5657: Do such a dede as thou hast do?
5.5658: That dai schal falle, I hope so,
5.5659: That I schal telle out al mi fille,
5.5660: And with mi speche I schal fulfille
5.5661: The wyde world in brede and lengthe.
5.5662: That thou hast do to me be strengthe,
5.5663: If I among the poeple duelle,
5.5664: Unto the poeple I schal it telle;
5.5665: And if I be withinne wall
5.5666: Of Stones closed, thanne I schal
5.5667: Unto the Stones clepe and crie,
5.5668: And tellen hem thi felonie;
5.5669: And if I to the wodes wende,
5.5670: Ther schal I tellen tale and ende,
5.5671: And crie it to the briddes oute,
5.5672: That thei schul hiere it al aboute.
5.5673: For I so loude it schal reherce,
5.5674: That my vois schal the hevene perce,
5.5675: That it schal soune in goddes Ere.
5.5676: Ha, false man, where is thi fere?
5.5677: O mor cruel than eny beste,
5.5678: Hou hast thou holden thi beheste
5.5679: Which thou unto my Soster madest?
5.5680: O thou, which alle love ungladest,
5.5681: And art ensample of alle untrewe,
5.5682: Nou wolde god mi Soster knewe,
5.5683: Of thin untrouthe, hou that it stod!"
5.5684: And he than as a Lyon wod
5.5685: With hise unhappi handes stronge


-2.102-



5.5686: Hire cauhte be the tresses longe,
5.5687: With whiche he bond ther bothe hire armes,
5.5688: That was a fieble dede of armes,
5.5689: And to the grounde anon hire caste,
5.5690: And out he clippeth also faste
5.5691: Hire tunge with a peire scheres.
5.5692: So what with blod and what with teres
5.5693: Out of hire yhe and of hir mouth,
5.5694: He made hire faire face uncouth:
5.5695: Sche lay swounende unto the deth,
5.5696: Ther was unethes eny breth;
5.5697: Bot yit whan he hire tunge refte,
5.5698: A litel part therof belefte,
5.5699: Bot sche with al no word mai soune,
5.5700: Bot chitre and as a brid jargoune.
5.5701: And natheles that wode hound
5.5702: Hir bodi hent up fro the ground,
5.5703: And sente hir there as be his wille
5.5704: Sche scholde abyde in prison stille
5.5705: For everemo: bot nou tak hiede
5.5706: What after fell of this misdede.
5.5707: Whanne al this meschief was befalle,
5.5708: This Tereuµs, that foule him falle,
5.5709: Unto his contre hom he tyh;
5.5710: And whan he com his paleis nyh,
5.5711: His wif al redi there him kepte.
5.5712: Whan he hir sih, anon he wepte,
5.5713: And that he dede for deceite,
5.5714: For sche began to axe him streite,
5.5715: "Wher is mi Soster?" And he seide
5.5716: That sche was ded; and Progne abreide,
5.5717: As sche that was a wofull wif,
5.5718: And stod betuen hire deth and lif,
5.5719: Of that sche herde such tidinge:
5.5720: Bot for sche sih hire lord wepinge,
5.5721: She wende noght bot alle trouthe,
5.5722: And hadde wel the more routhe.
5.5723: The Perles weren tho forsake
5.5724: To hire, and blake clothes take;


-2.103-



5.5725: As sche that was gentil and kinde,
5.5726: In worschipe of hir Sostres mynde
5.5727: Sche made a riche enterement,
5.5728: For sche fond non amendement
5.5729: To syghen or to sobbe more:
5.5730: So was ther guile under the gore.
5.5731: Nou leve we this king and queene,
5.5732: And torne ayein to Philomene,
5.5733: As I began to tellen erst.
5.5734: Whan sche cam into prison ferst,
5.5735: It thoghte a kinges douhter strange
5.5736: To maken so soudein a change
5.5737: Fro welthe unto so grete a wo;
5.5738: And sche began to thenke tho,
5.5739: Thogh sche be mouthe nothing preide,
5.5740: Withinne hir herte thus sche seide:
5.5741: "O thou, almyhty Jupiter,
5.5742: That hihe sist and lokest fer,
5.5743: Thou soffrest many a wrong doinge,
5.5744: And yit it is noght thi willinge.
5.5745: To thee ther mai nothing ben hid,
5.5746: Thou wost hou it is me betid:
5.5747: I wolde I hadde noght be bore,
5.5748: For thanne I hadde noght forlore
5.5749: Mi speche and mi virginite.
5.5750: Bot, goode lord, al is in thee,
5.5751: Whan thou therof wolt do vengance
5.5752: And schape mi deliverance."
5.5753: And evere among this ladi wepte,
5.5754: And thoghte that sche nevere kepte
5.5755: To ben a worldes womman more,
5.5756: And that sche wissheth everemore.
5.5757: Bot ofte unto hir Soster diere
5.5758: Hire herte spekth in this manere,
5.5759: And seide, "Ha, Soster, if ye knewe
5.5760: Of myn astat, ye wolde rewe,
5.5761: I trowe, and my deliverance


-2.104-



5.5762: Ye wolde schape, and do vengance
5.5763: On him that is so fals a man:
5.5764: And natheles, so as I can,
5.5765: I wol you sende som tokninge,
5.5766: Wherof ye schul have knowlechinge
5.5767: Of thing I wot, that schal you lothe,
5.5768: The which you toucheth and me bothe."
5.5769: And tho withinne a whyle als tyt
5.5770: Sche waf a cloth of Selk al whyt
5.5771: With lettres and ymagerie,
5.5772: In which was al the felonie,
5.5773: Which Tereuµs to hire hath do;
5.5774: And lappede it togedre tho
5.5775: And sette hir signet therupon
5.5776: And sende it unto Progne anon.
5.5777: The messager which forth it bar,
5.5778: What it amonteth is noght war;
5.5779: And natheles to Progne he goth
5.5780: And prively takth hire the cloth,
5.5781: And wente ayein riht as he cam,
5.5782: The court of him non hiede nam.
5.5783: Whan Progne of Philomene herde,
5.5784: Sche wolde knowe hou that it ferde,
5.5785: And opneth that the man hath broght,
5.5786: And wot therby what hath be wroght
5.5787: And what meschief ther is befalle.
5.5788: In swoune tho sche gan doun falle,
5.5789: And efte aros and gan to stonde,
5.5790: And eft sche takth the cloth on honde,
5.5791: Behield the lettres and thymages;
5.5792: Bot ate laste, "Of suche oultrages,"
5.5793: Sche seith, "wepinge is noght the bote:"
5.5794: And swerth, if that sche live mote,
5.5795: It schal be venged otherwise.
5.5796: And with that sche gan hire avise
5.5797: Hou ferst sche mihte unto hire winne
5.5798: Hir Soster, that noman withinne,
5.5799: Bot only thei that were suore,


-2.105-



5.5800: It scholde knowe, and schop therfore
5.5801: That Tereuµs nothing it wiste;
5.5802: And yit riht as hirselven liste,
5.5803: Hir Soster was delivered sone
5.5804: Out of prison, and be the mone
5.5805: To Progne sche was broght be nyhte.
5.5806: Whan ech of other hadde a sihte,
5.5807: In chambre, ther thei were al one,
5.5808: Thei maden many a pitous mone;
5.5809: Bot Progne most of sorwe made,
5.5810: Which sihe hir Soster pale and fade
5.5811: And specheles and deshonoured,
5.5812: Of that sche hadde be defloured;
5.5813: And ek upon hir lord sche thoghte,
5.5814: Of that he so untreuly wroghte
5.5815: And hadde his espousaile broke.
5.5816: Sche makth a vou it schal be wroke,
5.5817: And with that word sche kneleth doun
5.5818: Wepinge in gret devocioun:
5.5819: Unto Cupide and to Venus
5.5820: Sche preide, and seide thanne thus:
5.5821: "O ye, to whom nothing asterte
5.5822: Of love mai, for every herte
5.5823: Ye knowe, as ye that ben above
5.5824: The god and the goddesse of love;
5.5825: Ye witen wel that evere yit
5.5826: With al mi will and al my wit,
5.5827: Sith ferst ye schopen me to wedde,
5.5828: That I lay with mi lord abedde,
5.5829: I have be trewe in mi degre,
5.5830: And evere thoghte forto be,
5.5831: And nevere love in other place,
5.5832: Bot al only the king of Trace,
5.5833: Which is mi lord and I his wif.
5.5834: Bot nou allas this wofull strif!
5.5835: That I him thus ayeinward finde
5.5836: The most untrewe and most unkinde


-2.106-



5.5837: That evere in ladi armes lay.
5.5838: And wel I wot that he ne may
5.5839: Amende his wrong, it is so gret;
5.5840: For he to lytel of me let,
5.5841: Whan he myn oughne Soster tok,
5.5842: And me that am his wif forsok."
5.5843: Lo, thus to Venus and Cupide
5.5844: Sche preide, and furthermor sche cride
5.5845: Unto Appollo the hiheste,
5.5846: And seide, "O myghti god of reste,
5.5847: Thou do vengance of this debat.
5.5848: Mi Soster and al hire astat
5.5849: Thou wost, and hou sche hath forlore
5.5850: Hir maidenhod, and I therfore
5.5851: In al the world schal bere a blame
5.5852: Of that mi Soster hath a schame,
5.5853: That Tereuµs to hire I sente:
5.5854: And wel thou wost that myn entente
5.5855: Was al for worschipe and for goode.
5.5856: O lord, that yifst the lives fode
5.5857: To every wyht, I prei thee hiere
5.5858: Thes wofull Sostres that ben hiere,
5.5859: And let ous noght to the ben lothe;
5.5860: We ben thin oghne wommen bothe."
5.5861: Thus pleigneth Progne and axeth wreche,
5.5862: And thogh hire Soster lacke speche,
5.5863: To him that alle thinges wot
5.5864: Hire sorwe is noght the lasse hot:
5.5865: Bot he that thanne had herd hem tuo,
5.5866: Him oughte have sorwed everemo
5.5867: For sorwe which was hem betuene.
5.5868: With signes pleigneth Philomene,
5.5869: And Progne seith, "It schal be wreke,
5.5870: That al the world therof schal speke."
5.5871: And Progne tho seknesse feigneth,
5.5872: Wherof unto hir lord sche pleigneth,
5.5873: And preith sche moste hire chambres kepe,
5.5874: And as hir liketh wake and slepe.


-2.107-



5.5875: And he hire granteth to be so;
5.5876: And thus togedre ben thei tuo,
5.5877: That wolde him bot a litel good.
5.5878: Nou herk hierafter hou it stod
5.5879: Of wofull auntres that befelle:
5.5880: Thes Sostres, that ben bothe felle,-
5.5881: And that was noght on hem along,
5.5882: Bot onliche on the grete wrong
5.5883: Which Tereuµs hem hadde do,-
5.5884: Thei schopen forto venge hem tho.
5.5885: This Tereuµs be Progne his wif
5.5886: A Sone hath, which as his lif
5.5887: He loveth, and Ithis he hihte:
5.5888: His moder wiste wel sche mihte
5.5889: Do Tereuµs no more grief
5.5890: Than sle this child, which was so lief.
5.5891: Thus sche, that was, as who seith, mad
5.5892: Of wo, which hath hir overlad,
5.5893: Withoute insihte of moderhede
5.5894: Foryat pite and loste drede,
5.5895: And in hir chambre prively
5.5896: This child withouten noise or cry
5.5897: Sche slou, and hieu him al to pieces:
5.5898: And after with diverse spieces
5.5899: The fleissh, whan it was so toheewe,
5.5900: Sche takth, and makth therof a sewe,
5.5901: With which the fader at his mete
5.5902: Was served, til he hadde him ete;
5.5903: That he ne wiste hou that it stod,
5.5904: Bot thus his oughne fleissh and blod
5.5905: Himself devoureth ayein kinde,
5.5906: As he that was tofore unkinde.
5.5907: And thanne, er that he were arise,
5.5908: For that he scholde ben agrise,
5.5909: To schewen him the child was ded,
5.5910: This Philomene tok the hed
5.5911: Betwen tuo disshes, and al wrothe


-2.108-



5.5912: Tho comen forth the Sostres bothe,
5.5913: And setten it upon the bord.
5.5914: And Progne tho began the word,
5.5915: And seide, "O werste of alle wicke,
5.5916: Of conscience whom no pricke
5.5917: Mai stere, lo, what thou hast do!
5.5918: Lo, hier ben nou we Sostres tuo;
5.5919: O Raviner, lo hier thi preie,
5.5920: With whom so falsliche on the weie
5.5921: Thou hast thi tirannye wroght.
5.5922: Lo, nou it is somdel aboght,
5.5923: And bet it schal, for of thi dede
5.5924: The world schal evere singe and rede
5.5925: In remembrance of thi defame:
5.5926: For thou to love hast do such schame,
5.5927: That it schal nevere be foryete."
5.5928: With that he sterte up fro the mete,
5.5929: And schof the bord unto the flor,
5.5930: And cauhte a swerd anon and suor
5.5931: That thei scholde of his handes dye.
5.5932: And thei unto the goddes crie
5.5933: Begunne with so loude a stevene,
5.5934: That thei were herd unto the hevene;
5.5935: And in a twinclinge of an yhe
5.5936: The goddes, that the meschief syhe,
5.5937: Here formes changen alle thre.
5.5938: Echon of hem in his degre
5.5939: Was torned into briddes kinde;
5.5940: Diverseliche, as men mai finde,
5.5941: After thastat that thei were inne,
5.5942: Here formes were set atwinne.
5.5943: And as it telleth in the tale,
5.5944: The ferst into a nyhtingale
5.5945: Was schape, and that was Philomene,
5.5946: Which in the wynter is noght sene,
5.5947: For thanne ben the leves falle


-2.109-



5.5948: And naked ben the buisshes alle.
5.5949: For after that sche was a brid,
5.5950: Hir will was evere to ben hid,
5.5951: And forto duelle in prive place,
5.5952: That noman scholde sen hir face
5.5953: For schame, which mai noght be lassed,
5.5954: Of thing that was tofore passed,
5.5955: Whan that sche loste hir maidenhiede:
5.5956: For evere upon hir wommanhiede,
5.5957: Thogh that the goddes wolde hire change,
5.5958: Sche thenkth, and is the more strange,
5.5959: And halt hir clos the wyntres day.
5.5960: Bot whan the wynter goth away,
5.5961: And that Nature the goddesse
5.5962: Wole of hir oughne fre largesse
5.5963: With herbes and with floures bothe
5.5964: The feldes and the medwes clothe,
5.5965: And ek the wodes and the greves
5.5966: Ben heled al with grene leves,
5.5967: So that a brid hire hyde mai,
5.5968: Betwen Averil and March and Maii,
5.5969: Sche that the wynter hield hir clos,
5.5970: For pure schame and noght aros,
5.5971: Whan that sche seth the bowes thikke,
5.5972: And that ther is no bare sticke,
5.5973: Bot al is hid with leves grene,
5.5974: To wode comth this Philomene
5.5975: And makth hir ferste yeres flyht;
5.5976: Wher as sche singeth day and nyht,
5.5977: And in hir song al openly
5.5978: Sche makth hir pleignte and seith, "O why,
5.5979: O why ne were I yit a maide?"
5.5980: For so these olde wise saide,
5.5981: Which understoden what sche mente,
5.5982: Hire notes ben of such entente.


-2.110-



5.5983: And ek thei seide hou in hir song
5.5984: Sche makth gret joie and merthe among,
5.5985: And seith, "Ha, nou I am a brid,
5.5986: Ha, nou mi face mai ben hid:
5.5987: Thogh I have lost mi Maidenhede,
5.5988: Schal noman se my chekes rede."
5.5989: Thus medleth sche with joie wo
5.5990: And with hir sorwe merthe also,
5.5991: So that of loves maladie
5.5992: Sche makth diverse melodie,
5.5993: And seith love is a wofull blisse,
5.5994: A wisdom which can noman wisse,
5.5995: A lusti fievere, a wounde softe:
5.5996: This note sche reherceth ofte
5.5997: To hem whiche understonde hir tale.
5.5998: Nou have I of this nyhtingale,
5.5999: Which erst was cleped Philomene,
5.6000: Told al that evere I wolde mene,
5.6001: Bothe of hir forme and of hir note,
5.6002: Wherof men mai the storie note.
5.6003: And of hir Soster Progne I finde,
5.6004: Hou sche was torned out of kinde
5.6005: Into a Swalwe swift of winge,
5.6006: Which ek in wynter lith swounynge,
5.6007: Ther as sche mai nothing be sene:
5.6008: Bot whan the world is woxe grene
5.6009: And comen is the Somertide,
5.6010: Than fleth sche forth and ginth to chide,
5.6011: And chitreth out in hir langage
5.6012: What falshod is in mariage,
5.6013: And telleth in a maner speche
5.6014: Of Tereuµs the Spousebreche.
5.6015: Sche wol noght in the wodes duelle,
5.6016: For sche wolde openliche telle;
5.6017: And ek for that sche was a spouse,
5.6018: Among the folk sche comth to house,
5.6019: To do thes wyves understonde


-2.111-



5.6020: The falshod of hire housebonde,
5.6021: That thei of hem be war also,
5.6022: For ther ben manye untrewe of tho.
5.6023: Thus ben the Sostres briddes bothe,
5.6024: And ben toward the men so lothe,
5.6025: That thei ne wole of pure schame
5.6026: Unto no mannes hand be tame;
5.6027: For evere it duelleth in here mynde
5.6028: Of that thei founde a man unkinde,
5.6029: And that was false Tereuµs.
5.6030: If such on be amonges ous
5.6031: I not, bot his condicion
5.6032: Men sein in every region
5.6033: Withinne toune and ek withoute
5.6034: Nou regneth comunliche aboute.
5.6035: And natheles in remembrance
5.6036: I wol declare what vengance
5.6037: The goddes hadden him ordeined,
5.6038: Of that the Sostres hadden pleigned:
5.6039: For anon after he was changed
5.6040: And from his oghne kinde stranged,
5.6041: A lappewincke mad he was,
5.6042: And thus he hoppeth on the gras,
5.6043: And on his hed ther stant upriht
5.6044: A creste in tokne he was a kniht;
5.6045: And yit unto this dai men seith,
5.6046: A lappewincke hath lore his feith
5.6047: And is the brid falseste of alle.
5.6048: Bewar, mi Sone, er thee so falle;
5.6049: For if thou be of such covine,
5.6050: To gete of love be Ravine
5.6051: Thi lust, it mai thee falle thus,
5.6052: As it befell of Tereuµs.
5.6053: Mi fader, goddes forebode!


-2.112-



5.6054: Me were levere be fortrode
5.6055: With wilde hors and be todrawe,
5.6056: Er I ayein love and his lawe
5.6057: Dede eny thing or loude or stille,
5.6058: Which were noght mi ladi wille.
5.6059: Men sein that every love hath drede;
5.6060: So folweth it that I hire drede,
5.6061: For I hire love, and who so dredeth,
5.6062: To plese his love and serve him nedeth.
5.6063: Thus mai ye knowen be this skile
5.6064: That no Ravine don I wile
5.6065: Ayein hir will be such a weie;
5.6066: Bot while I live, I wol obeie
5.6067: Abidinge on hire courtesie,
5.6068: If eny merci wolde hir plie.
5.6069: Forthi, mi fader, as of this
5.6070: I wot noght I have don amis:
5.6071: Bot furthermore I you beseche,
5.6072: Som other point that ye me teche,
5.6073: And axeth forth, if ther be auht,
5.6074: That I mai be the betre tauht.
5.6075: Whan Covoitise in povere astat
5.6076: Stant with himself upon debat
5.6077: Thurgh lacke of his misgovernance,
5.6078: That he unto his sustienance
5.6079: Ne can non other weie finde
5.6080: To gete him good, thanne as the blinde,
5.6081: Which seth noght what schal after falle,
5.6082: That ilke vice which men calle
5.6083: Of Robberie, he takth on honde;
5.6084: Wherof be water and be londe
5.6085: Of thing which othre men beswinke


-2.113-



5.6086: He get him cloth and mete and drinke.
5.6087: Him reccheth noght what he beginne,
5.6088: Thurgh thefte so that he mai winne:
5.6089: Forthi to maken his pourchas
5.6090: He lith awaitende on the pas,
5.6091: And what thing that he seth ther passe,
5.6092: He takth his part, or more or lasse,
5.6093: If it be worthi to be take.
5.6094: He can the packes wel ransake,
5.6095: So prively berth non aboute
5.6096: His gold, that he ne fint it oute,
5.6097: Or other juel, what it be;
5.6098: He takth it as his proprete.
5.6099: In wodes and in feldes eke
5.6100: Thus Robberie goth to seke,
5.6101: Wher as he mai his pourpos finde.
5.6102: And riht so in the same kinde,
5.6103: My goode Sone, as thou miht hiere,
5.6104: To speke of love in the matiere
5.6105: And make a verrai resemblance,
5.6106: Riht as a thief makth his chevance
5.6107: And robbeth mennes good aboute
5.6108: In wode and field, wher he goth oute,
5.6109: So be ther of these lovers some,
5.6110: In wylde stedes wher thei come
5.6111: And finden there a womman able,
5.6112: And therto place covenable,
5.6113: Withoute leve, er that thei fare,
5.6114: Thei take a part of that chaffare:
5.6115: Yee, though sche were a Scheperdesse,
5.6116: Yit wol the lord of wantounesse
5.6117: Assaie, althogh sche be unmete,
5.6118: For other mennes good is swete.
5.6119: Bot therof wot nothing the wif
5.6120: At hom, which loveth as hir lif
5.6121: Hir lord, and sitt alday wisshinge
5.6122: After hir lordes hom comynge:
5.6123: Bot whan that he comth hom at eve,


-2.114-



5.6124: Anon he makth his wif beleve,
5.6125: For sche noght elles scholde knowe:
5.6126: He telth hire hou his hunte hath blowe,
5.6127: And hou his houndes have wel runne,
5.6128: And hou ther schon a merye Sunne,
5.6129: And hou his haukes flowen wel;
5.6130: Bot he wol telle her nevere a diel
5.6131: Hou he to love untrewe was,
5.6132: Of that he robbede in the pas,
5.6133: And tok his lust under the schawe
5.6134: Ayein love and ayein his lawe.
5.6135: Which thing, mi Sone, I thee forbede,
5.6136: For it is an ungoodly dede.
5.6137: For who that takth be Robberie
5.6138: His love, he mai noght justefie
5.6139: His cause, and so fulofte sithe
5.6140: For ones that he hath be blithe
5.6141: He schal ben after sory thries.
5.6142: Ensample of suche Robberies
5.6143: I finde write, as thou schalt hiere,
5.6144: Acordende unto this matiere.
5.6145: I rede hou whilom was a Maide,
5.6146: The faireste, as Ovide saide,
5.6147: Which was in hire time tho;
5.6148: And sche was of the chambre also
5.6149: Of Pallas, which is the goddesse
5.6150: And wif to Marte, of whom prouesse
5.6151: Is yove to these worthi knihtes.
5.6152: For he is of so grete mihtes,
5.6153: That he governeth the bataille;
5.6154: Withouten him may noght availe
5.6155: The stronge hond, bot he it helpe;
5.6156: Ther mai no knyht of armes yelpe,
5.6157: Bot he feihte under his banere.
5.6158: Bot nou to speke of mi matiere,
5.6159: This faire, freisshe, lusti mai,
5.6160: Al one as sche wente on a dai
5.6161: Upon the stronde forto pleie,


-2.115-



5.6162: Ther cam Neptunus in the weie,
5.6163: Which hath the See in governance;
5.6164: And in his herte such plesance
5.6165: He tok, whan he this Maide sih,
5.6166: That al his herte aros on hih,
5.6167: For he so sodeinliche unwar
5.6168: Behield the beaute that sche bar.
5.6169: And caste anon withinne his herte
5.6170: That sche him schal no weie asterte,
5.6171: Bot if he take in avantage
5.6172: Fro thilke maide som pilage,
5.6173: Noght of the broches ne the Ringes,
5.6174: Bot of some othre smale thinges
5.6175: He thoghte parte, er that sche wente;
5.6176: And hire in bothe hise armes hente,
5.6177: And putte his hond toward the cofre,
5.6178: Wher forto robbe he made a profre,
5.6179: That lusti tresor forto stele,
5.6180: Which passeth othre goodes fele
5.6181: And cleped is the maidenhede,
5.6182: Which is the flour of wommanhede.
5.6183: This Maiden, which Cornix be name
5.6184: Was hote, dredende alle schame,
5.6185: Sih that sche mihte noght debate,
5.6186: And wel sche wiste he wolde algate
5.6187: Fulfille his lust of Robberie,
5.6188: Anon began to wepe and crie,
5.6189: And seide, "O Pallas, noble queene,
5.6190: Scheu nou thi myht and let be sene,
5.6191: To kepe and save myn honour:
5.6192: Help, that I lese noght mi flour,
5.6193: Which nou under thi keie is loke."
5.6194: That word was noght so sone spoke,
5.6195: Whan Pallas schop recoverir
5.6196: After the will and the desir
5.6197: Of hire, which a Maiden was,
5.6198: And sodeinliche upon this cas


-2.116-



5.6199: Out of hire wommanisshe kinde
5.6200: Into a briddes like I finde
5.6201: Sche was transformed forth withal,
5.6202: So that Neptunus nothing stal
5.6203: Of such thing as he wolde have stole.
5.6204: With fetheres blake as eny cole
5.6205: Out of hise armes in a throwe
5.6206: Sche flih before his yhe a Crowe;
5.6207: Which was to hire a more delit,
5.6208: To kepe hire maidenhede whit
5.6209: Under the wede of fethers blake,
5.6210: In Perles whyte than forsake
5.6211: That no lif mai restore ayein.
5.6212: Bot thus Neptune his herte in vein
5.6213: Hath upon Robberie sett;
5.6214: The bridd is flowe and he was let,
5.6215: The faire Maide him hath ascaped,
5.6216: Wherof for evere he was bejaped
5.6217: And scorned of that he hath lore.
5.6218: Mi Sone, be thou war therfore
5.6219: That thou no maidenhode stele,
5.6220: Wherof men sen deseses fele
5.6221: Aldai befalle in sondri wise;
5.6222: So as I schal thee yit devise
5.6223: An other tale therupon,
5.6224: Which fell be olde daies gon.
5.6225: King Lichaon upon his wif
5.6226: A dowhter hadde, a goodly lif,
5.6227: A clene Maide of worthi fame,
5.6228: Calistona whos rihte name
5.6229: Was cleped, and of many a lord
5.6230: Sche was besoght, bot hire acord
5.6231: To love myhte noman winne,
5.6232: As sche which hath no lust therinne;
5.6233: Bot swor withinne hir herte and saide
5.6234: That sche wolde evere ben a Maide.
5.6235: Wherof to kepe hireself in pes,


-2.117-



5.6236: With suche as Amadriades
5.6237: Were cleped, wodemaydes, tho,
5.6238: And with the Nimphes ek also
5.6239: Upon the spring of freisshe welles
5.6240: Sche schop to duelle and nagher elles.
5.6241: And thus cam this Calistona
5.6242: Into the wode of Tegea,
5.6243: Wher sche virginite behihte
5.6244: Unto Diane, and therto plihte
5.6245: Her trouthe upon the bowes grene,
5.6246: To kepe hir maidenhode clene.
5.6247: Which afterward upon a day
5.6248: Was priveliche stole away;
5.6249: For Jupiter thurgh his queintise
5.6250: From hire it tok in such a wise,
5.6251: That sodeinliche forth withal
5.6252: Hire wombe aros and sche toswal,
5.6253: So that it mihte noght ben hidd.
5.6254: And therupon it is betidd,
5.6255: Diane, which it herde telle,
5.6256: In prive place unto a welle
5.6257: With Nimphes al a compainie
5.6258: Was come, and in a ragerie
5.6259: Sche seide that sche bathe wolde,
5.6260: And bad that every maide scholde
5.6261: With hire al naked bathe also.
5.6262: And tho began the prive wo,
5.6263: Calistona wax red for schame;
5.6264: Bot thei that knewe noght the game,
5.6265: To whom no such thing was befalle,
5.6266: Anon thei made hem naked alle,
5.6267: As thei that nothing wolden hyde:
5.6268: Bot sche withdrouh hire evere asyde,
5.6269: And natheles into the flod,
5.6270: Wher that Diane hirselve stod,
5.6271: Sche thoghte come unaperceived.
5.6272: Bot therof sche was al deceived;
5.6273: For whan sche cam a litel nyh,


-2.118-



5.6274: And that Diane hire wombe syh,
5.6275: Sche seide, "Awey, thou foule beste,
5.6276: For thin astat is noght honeste
5.6277: This chaste water forto touche;
5.6278: For thou hast take such a touche,
5.6279: Which nevere mai ben hol ayein."
5.6280: And thus goth sche which was forlein
5.6281: With schame, and fro the Nimphes fledde,
5.6282: Til whanne that nature hire spedde,
5.6283: That of a Sone, which Archas
5.6284: Was named, sche delivered was.
5.6285: And tho Juno, which was the wif
5.6286: Of Jupiter, wroth and hastif,
5.6287: In pourpos forto do vengance
5.6288: Cam forth upon this ilke chance,
5.6289: And to Calistona sche spak,
5.6290: And sette upon hir many a lak,
5.6291: And seide, "Ha, nou thou art atake,
5.6292: That thou thi werk myht noght forsake.
5.6293: Ha, thou ungoodlich ypocrite,
5.6294: Hou thou art gretly forto wyte!
5.6295: Bot nou thou schalt ful sore abie
5.6296: That ilke stelthe and micherie,
5.6297: Which thou hast bothe take and do;
5.6298: Wherof thi fader Lichao
5.6299: Schal noght be glad, whan he it wot,
5.6300: Of that his dowhter was so hot,
5.6301: That sche hath broke hire chaste avou.
5.6302: Bot I thee schal chastise nou;
5.6303: Thi grete beaute schal be torned,
5.6304: Thurgh which that thou hast be mistorned,
5.6305: Thi large frount, thin yhen greie,
5.6306: I schal hem change in other weie,
5.6307: And al the feture of thi face
5.6308: In such a wise I schal deface,
5.6309: That every man thee schal forbere."
5.6310: With that the liknesse of a bere
5.6311: Sche tok and was forschape anon.


-2.119-



5.6312: Withinne a time and therupon
5.6313: Befell that with a bowe on honde,
5.6314: To hunte and gamen forto fonde,
5.6315: Into that wode goth to pleie
5.6316: Hir Sone Archas, and in his weie
5.6317: It hapneth that this bere cam.
5.6318: And whan that sche good hiede nam,
5.6319: Wher that he stod under the bowh,
5.6320: Sche kneu him wel and to him drouh;
5.6321: For thogh sche hadde hire forme lore,
5.6322: The love was noght lost therfore
5.6323: Which kinde hath set under his lawe.
5.6324: Whan sche under the wodesschawe
5.6325: Hire child behield, sche was so glad,
5.6326: That sche with bothe hire armes sprad,
5.6327: As thogh sche were in wommanhiede,
5.6328: Toward him cam, and tok non hiede
5.6329: Of that he bar a bowe bent.
5.6330: And he with that an Arwe hath hent
5.6331: And gan to teise it in his bowe,
5.6332: As he that can non other knowe,
5.6333: Bot that it was a beste wylde.
5.6334: Bot Jupiter, which wolde schylde
5.6335: The Moder and the Sone also,
5.6336: Ordeineth for hem bothe so,
5.6337: That thei for evere were save.
5.6338: Bot thus, mi Sone, thou myht have
5.6339: Ensample, hou that it is to fle
5.6340: To robbe the virginite
5.6341: Of a yong innocent aweie:
5.6342: And overthis be other weie,
5.6343: In olde bokes as I rede,
5.6344: Such Robberie is forto drede,
5.6345: And nameliche of thilke good
5.6346: Which every womman that is good
5.6347: Desireth forto kepe and holde,


-2.120-



5.6348: As whilom was be daies olde.
5.6349: For if thou se mi tale wel
5.6350: Of that was tho, thou miht somdiel
5.6351: Of old ensample taken hiede,
5.6352: Hou that the flour of maidenhiede
5.6353: Was thilke time holde in pris.
5.6354: And so it was, and so it is,
5.6355: And so it schal for evere stonde:
5.6356: And for thou schalt it understonde,
5.6357: Nou herkne a tale next suiende,
5.6358: Hou maidenhod is to commende.
5.6359: Of Rome among the gestes olde
5.6360: I finde hou that Valerie tolde
5.6361: That what man tho was Emperour
5.6362: Of Rome, he scholde don honour
5.6363: To the virgine, and in the weie,
5.6364: Wher he hire mette, he scholde obeie
5.6365: In worschipe of virginite,
5.6366: Which tho was of gret dignite.
5.6367: Noght onliche of the wommen tho,
5.6368: Bot of the chaste men also
5.6369: It was commended overal:
5.6370: And forto speke in special
5.6371: Touchende of men, ensample I finde,
5.6372: Phyryns, which was of mannes kinde
5.6373: Above alle othre the faireste
5.6374: Of Rome and ek the comelieste,
5.6375: That wel was hire which him mihte
5.6376: Beholde and have of him a sihte.
5.6377: Thus was he tempted ofte sore;


-2.121-



5.6378: Bot for he wolde be nomore
5.6379: Among the wommen so coveited,
5.6380: The beaute of his face streited
5.6381: He hath, and threste out bothe hise yhen,
5.6382: That alle wommen whiche him syhen
5.6383: Thanne afterward, of him ne roghte:
5.6384: And thus his maidehiede he boghte.
5.6385: So mai I prove wel forthi,
5.6386: Above alle othre under the Sky,
5.6387: Who that the vertus wolde peise,
5.6388: Virginite is forto preise,
5.6389: Which, as thapocalips recordeth,
5.6390: To Crist in hevene best acordeth.
5.6391: So mai it schewe wel therfore,
5.6392: As I have told it hier tofore,
5.6393: In hevene and ek in Erthe also
5.6394: It is accept to bothe tuo.
5.6395: And if I schal more over this
5.6396: Declare what this vertu is,
5.6397: I finde write upon this thing


-2.122-



5.6398: Of Valentinian the king
5.6399: And Emperour be thilke daies,
5.6400: A worthi knyht at alle assaies,
5.6401: Hou he withoute Mariage
5.6402: Was of an hundred wynter Age,


-2.123-



5.6403: And hadde ben a worthi kniht
5.6404: Bothe of his lawe and of his myht.
5.6405: Bot whan men wolde his dedes peise
5.6406: And his knyhthode of Armes preise,
5.6407: Of that he dede with his hondes,
5.6408: Whan he the kinges and the londes
5.6409: To his subjeccion put under,
5.6410: Of al that pris hath he no wonder,
5.6411: For he it sette of non acompte,
5.6412: And seide al that may noght amonte
5.6413: Ayeins o point which he hath nome,
5.6414: That he his fleissh hath overcome:
5.6415: He was a virgine, as he seide;
5.6416: On that bataille his pris he leide.
5.6417: Lo nou, my Sone, avise thee.
5.6418: Yee, fader, al this wel mai be,
5.6419: Bot if alle othre dede so,
5.6420: The world of men were sone go:
5.6421: And in the lawe a man mai finde,
5.6422: Hou god to man be weie of kinde
5.6423: Hath set the world to multeplie;
5.6424: And who that wol him justefie,
5.6425: It is ynouh to do the lawe.
5.6426: And natheles youre goode sawe
5.6427: Is good to kepe, who so may,
5.6428: I wol noght therayein seie nay.
5.6429: Mi Sone, take it as I seie;
5.6430: If maidenhod be take aweie
5.6431: Withoute lawes ordinance,


-2.124-



5.6432: It mai noght failen of vengance.
5.6433: And if thou wolt the sothe wite,
5.6434: Behold a tale which is write,
5.6435: Hou that the King Agamenon,
5.6436: Whan he the Cite of Lesbon
5.6437: Hath wonne, a Maiden ther he fond,
5.6438: Which was the faireste of the Lond
5.6439: In thilke time that men wiste.
5.6440: He tok of hire what him liste
5.6441: Of thing which was most precious,
5.6442: Wherof that sche was dangerous.
5.6443: This faire Maiden cleped is
5.6444: Criseide, douhter of Crisis,
5.6445: Which was that time in special
5.6446: Of thilke temple principal,
5.6447: Wher Phebus hadde his sacrifice,
5.6448: So was it wel the more vice.
5.6449: Agamenon was thanne in weie
5.6450: To Troieward, and tok aweie
5.6451: This Maiden, which he with him ladde,
5.6452: So grete a lust in hire he hadde.
5.6453: Bot Phebus, which hath gret desdeign
5.6454: Of that his Maiden was forlein,
5.6455: Anon as he to Troie cam,
5.6456: Vengance upon this dede he nam
5.6457: And sende a comun pestilence.
5.6458: Thei soghten thanne here evidence
5.6459: And maden calculacion,
5.6460: To knowe in what condicion
5.6461: This deth cam in so sodeinly;
5.6462: And ate laste redyly
5.6463: The cause and ek the man thei founde:
5.6464: And forth withal the same stounde
5.6465: Agamenon opposed was,
5.6466: Which hath beknowen al the cas
5.6467: Of the folie which he wroghte.


-2.125-



5.6468: And therupon mercy thei soghte
5.6469: Toward the god in sondri wise
5.6470: With preiere and with sacrifise,
5.6471: The Maide and hom ayein thei sende,
5.6472: And yive hire good ynouh to spende
5.6473: For evere whil sche scholde live:
5.6474: And thus the Senne was foryive
5.6475: And al the pestilence cessed.
5.6476: Lo, what it is to ben encressed
5.6477: Of love which is evele wonne.
5.6478: It were betre noght begonne
5.6479: Than take a thing withoute leve,
5.6480: Which thou most after nedes leve,
5.6481: And yit have malgre forth withal.
5.6482: Forthi to robben overal
5.6483: In loves cause if thou beginne,
5.6484: I not what ese thou schalt winne.
5.6485: Mi Sone, be wel war of this,
5.6486: For thus of Robberie it is.
5.6487: Mi fader, youre ensamplerie
5.6488: In loves cause of Robberie
5.6489: I have it riht wel understonde.
5.6490: Bot overthis, hou so it stonde,
5.6491: Yit wolde I wite of youre aprise
5.6492: What thing is more of Covoitise.
5.6493: With Covoitise yit I finde
5.6494: A Servant of the same kinde,
5.6495: Which Stelthe is hote, and Mecherie
5.6496: With him is evere in compainie.


-2.126-



5.6497: Of whom if I schal telle soth,
5.6498: He stalketh as a Pocok doth,
5.6499: And takth his preie so covert,
5.6500: That noman wot it in apert.
5.6501: For whan he wot the lord from home,
5.6502: Than wol he stalke aboute and rome;
5.6503: And what thing he fint in his weie,
5.6504: Whan that he seth the men aweie,
5.6505: He stelth it and goth forth withal,
5.6506: That therof noman knowe schal.
5.6507: And ek fulofte he goth a nyht
5.6508: Withoute Mone or sterreliht,
5.6509: And with his craft the dore unpiketh,
5.6510: And takth therinne what him liketh:
5.6511: And if the dore be so schet,
5.6512: That he be of his entre let,
5.6513: He wole in ate wyndou crepe,
5.6514: And whil the lord is faste aslepe,
5.6515: He stelth what thing as him best list,
5.6516: And goth his weie er it be wist.
5.6517: Fulofte also be lyhte of day
5.6518: Yit wole he stele and make assay;
5.6519: Under the cote his hond he put,
5.6520: Til he the mannes Purs have cut,
5.6521: And rifleth that he fint therinne.
5.6522: And thus he auntreth him to winne,
5.6523: And berth an horn and noght ne bloweth,
5.6524: For noman of his conseil knoweth;
5.6525: What he mai gete of his Michinge,
5.6526: It is al bile under the winge.
5.6527: And as an hound that goth to folde
5.6528: And hath ther taken what he wolde,
5.6529: His mouth upon the gras he wypeth,
5.6530: And so with feigned chiere him slypeth,
5.6531: That what as evere of schep he strangle,
5.6532: Ther is noman therof schal jangle,
5.6533: As forto knowen who it dede;
5.6534: Riht so doth Stelthe in every stede,


-2.127-



5.6535: Where as him list his preie take.
5.6536: He can so wel his cause make
5.6537: And so wel feigne and so wel glose,
5.6538: That ther ne schal noman suppose,
5.6539: Bot that he were an innocent,
5.6540: And thus a mannes yhe he blent:
5.6541: So that this craft I mai remene
5.6542: Withouten help of eny mene.
5.6543: Ther be lovers of that degre,
5.6544: Which al here lust in privete,
5.6545: As who seith, geten al be Stelthe,
5.6546: And ofte atteignen to gret welthe
5.6547: As for the time that it lasteth.
5.6548: For love awaiteth evere and casteth
5.6549: Hou he mai stele and cacche his preie,
5.6550: Whan he therto mai finde a weie:
5.6551: For be it nyht or be it day,
5.6552: He takth his part, whan that he may,
5.6553: And if he mai nomore do,
5.6554: Yit wol he stele a cuss or tuo.
5.6555: Mi Sone, what seist thou therto?
5.6556: Tell if thou dedest evere so.
5.6557: Mi fader, hou? Mi Sone, thus,-
5.6558: If thou hast stolen eny cuss
5.6559: Or other thing which therto longeth,
5.6560: For noman suche thieves hongeth:
5.6561: Tell on forthi and sei the trouthe.
5.6562: Mi fader, nay, and that is routhe,
5.6563: For be mi will I am a thief;
5.6564: Bot sche that is to me most lief,
5.6565: Yit dorste I nevere in privete
5.6566: Noght ones take hire be the kne,
5.6567: To stele of hire or this or that,
5.6568: And if I dorste, I wot wel what:
5.6569: And natheles, bot if I lie,
5.6570: Be Stelthe ne be Robberie
5.6571: Of love, which fell in mi thoght,
5.6572: To hire dede I nevere noght.


-2.128-



5.6573: Bot as men sein, wher herte is failed,
5.6574: Ther schal no castell ben assailed;
5.6575: Bot thogh I hadde hertes ten,
5.6576: And were als strong as alle men,
5.6577: If I be noght myn oghne man
5.6578: And dar noght usen that I can,
5.6579: I mai miselve noght recovere.
5.6580: Thogh I be nevere man so povere,
5.6581: I bere an herte and hire it is,
5.6582: So that me faileth wit in this,
5.6583: Hou that I scholde of myn acord
5.6584: The servant lede ayein the lord:
5.6585: For if mi fot wolde awher go,
5.6586: Or that min hand wolde elles do,
5.6587: Whan that myn herte is therayein,
5.6588: The remenant is al in vein.
5.6589: And thus me lacketh alle wele,
5.6590: And yit ne dar I nothing stele
5.6591: Of thing which longeth unto love:
5.6592: And ek it is so hyh above,
5.6593: I mai noght wel therto areche,
5.6594: Bot if so be at time of speche,
5.6595: Ful selde if thanne I stele may
5.6596: A word or tuo and go my way.
5.6597: Betwen hire hih astat and me
5.6598: Comparison ther mai non be,
5.6599: So that I fiele and wel I wot,
5.6600: Al is to hevy and to hot
5.6601: To sette on hond withoute leve:
5.6602: And thus I mot algate leve
5.6603: To stele that I mai noght take,
5.6604: And in this wise I mot forsake
5.6605: To ben a thief ayein mi wille
5.6606: Of thing which I mai noght fulfille.
5.6607: For that Serpent which nevere slepte
5.6608: The flees of gold so wel ne kepte
5.6609: In Colchos, as the tale is told,
5.6610: That mi ladi a thousendfold
5.6611: Nys betre yemed and bewaked,


-2.129-



5.6612: Wher sche be clothed or be naked.
5.6613: To kepe hir bodi nyht and day,
5.6614: Sche hath a wardein redi ay,
5.6615: Which is so wonderful a wyht,
5.6616: That him ne mai no mannes myht
5.6617: With swerd ne with no wepne daunte,
5.6618: Ne with no sleihte of charme enchaunte,
5.6619: Wherof he mihte be mad tame,
5.6620: And Danger is his rihte name;
5.6621: Which under lock and under keie,
5.6622: That noman mai it stele aweie,
5.6623: Hath al the Tresor underfonge
5.6624: That unto love mai belonge.
5.6625: The leste lokinge of hire yhe
5.6626: Mai noght be stole, if he it syhe;
5.6627: And who so gruccheth for so lyte,
5.6628: He wolde sone sette a wyte
5.6629: On him that wolde stele more.
5.6630: And that me grieveth wonder sore,
5.6631: For this proverbe is evere newe,
5.6632: That stronge lokes maken trewe
5.6633: Of hem that wolden stele and pyke:
5.6634: For so wel can ther noman slyke
5.6635: Be him ne be non other mene,
5.6636: To whom Danger wol yive or lene
5.6637: Of that tresor he hath to kepe.
5.6638: So thogh I wolde stalke and crepe,
5.6639: And wayte on eve and ek on morwe,
5.6640: Of Danger schal I nothing borwe,
5.6641: And stele I wot wel may I noght:
5.6642: And thus I am riht wel bethoght,
5.6643: Whil Danger stant in his office,
5.6644: Of Stelthe, which ye clepe a vice,
5.6645: I schal be gultif neveremo.
5.6646: Therfore I wolde he were ago
5.6647: So fer that I nevere of him herde,
5.6648: Hou so that afterward it ferde:


-2.130-



5.6649: For thanne I mihte yit per cas
5.6650: Of love make som pourchas
5.6651: Be Stelthe or be som other weie,
5.6652: That nou fro me stant fer aweie.
5.6653: Bot, fader, as ye tolde above,
5.6654: Hou Stelthe goth a nyht for love,
5.6655: I mai noght wel that point forsake,
5.6656: That ofte times I ne wake
5.6657: On nyhtes, whan that othre slepe;
5.6658: Bot hou, I prei you taketh kepe.
5.6659: Whan I am loged in such wise
5.6660: That I be nyhte mai arise,
5.6661: At som wyndowe and loken oute
5.6662: And se the housinge al aboute,
5.6663: So that I mai the chambre knowe
5.6664: In which mi ladi, as I trowe,
5.6665: Lyth in hir bed and slepeth softe,
5.6666: Thanne is myn herte a thief fulofte:
5.6667: For there I stonde to beholde
5.6668: The longe nyhtes that ben colde,
5.6669: And thenke on hire that lyth there.
5.6670: And thanne I wisshe that I were
5.6671: Als wys as was Nectanabus
5.6672: Or elles as was Protheuµs,
5.6673: That couthen bothe of nigromaunce
5.6674: In what liknesse, in what semblaunce,
5.6675: Riht as hem liste, hemself transforme:
5.6676: For if I were of such a forme,
5.6677: I seie thanne I wolde fle
5.6678: Into the chambre forto se
5.6679: If eny grace wolde falle,
5.6680: So that I mihte under the palle
5.6681: Som thing of love pyke and stele.
5.6682: And thus I thenke thoghtes fele,
5.6683: And thogh therof nothing be soth,
5.6684: Yit ese as for a time it doth:
5.6685: Bot ate laste whanne I finde
5.6686: That I am falle into my mynde,


-2.131-



5.6687: And se that I have stonde longe
5.6688: And have no profit underfonge,
5.6689: Than stalke I to mi bedd withinne.
5.6690: And this is al that evere I winne
5.6691: Of love, whanne I walke on nyht:
5.6692: Mi will is good, bot of mi myht
5.6693: Me lacketh bothe and of mi grace;
5.6694: For what so that mi thoght embrace,
5.6695: Yit have I noght the betre ferd.
5.6696: Mi fader, lo, nou have ye herd
5.6697: What I be Stelthe of love have do,
5.6698: And hou mi will hath be therto:
5.6699: If I be worthi to penance
5.6700: I put it on your ordinance.
5.6701: Mi Sone, of Stelthe I the behiete,
5.6702: Thogh it be for a time swete,
5.6703: At ende it doth bot litel good,
5.6704: As be ensample hou that it stod
5.6705: Whilom, I mai thee telle nou.
5.6706: I preie you, fader, sei me hou.
5.6707: Mi Sone, of him which goth be daie
5.6708: Be weie of Stelthe to assaie,
5.6709: In loves cause and takth his preie,
5.6710: Ovide seide as I schal seie,
5.6711: And in his Methamor he tolde
5.6712: A tale, which is good to holde.
5.6713: The Poete upon this matiere
5.6714: Of Stelthe wrot in this manere.
5.6715: Venus, which hath this lawe in honde
5.6716: Of thing which mai noght be withstonde,
5.6717: As sche which the tresor to warde
5.6718: Of love hath withinne hir warde,
5.6719: Phebum to love hath so constreigned,
5.6720: That he withoute reste is peined
5.6721: With al his herte to coveite


-2.132-



5.6722: A Maiden, which was warded streyte
5.6723: Withinne chambre and kept so clos,
5.6724: That selden was whan sche desclos
5.6725: Goth with hir moder forto pleie.
5.6726: Leuchotoe, so as men seie,
5.6727: This Maiden hihte, and Orchamus
5.6728: Hir fader was; and befell thus.
5.6729: This doughter, that was kept so deere,
5.6730: And hadde be fro yer to yeere
5.6731: Under hir moder discipline
5.6732: A clene Maide and a Virgine,
5.6733: Upon the whos nativite
5.6734: Of comelihiede and of beaute
5.6735: Nature hath set al that sche may,
5.6736: That lich unto the fresshe Maii,
5.6737: Which othre monthes of the yeer
5.6738: Surmonteth, so withoute pier
5.6739: Was of this Maiden the feture.
5.6740: Wherof Phebus out of mesure
5.6741: Hire loveth, and on every syde
5.6742: Awaiteth, if so mai betyde,
5.6743: That he thurgh eny sleihte myhte
5.6744: Hire lusti maidenhod unrihte,
5.6745: The which were al his worldes welthe.
5.6746: And thus lurkende upon his stelthe
5.6747: In his await so longe he lai,
5.6748: Til it befell upon a dai,
5.6749: That he thurghout hir chambre wall
5.6750: Cam in al sodeinliche, and stall
5.6751: That thing which was to him so lief.
5.6752: Bot wo the while, he was a thief!
5.6753: For Venus, which was enemie
5.6754: Of thilke loves micherie,
5.6755: Discovereth al the pleine cas
5.6756: To Clymene, which thanne was


-2.133-



5.6757: Toward Phebus his concubine.
5.6758: And sche to lette the covine
5.6759: Of thilke love, dedli wroth
5.6760: To pleigne upon this Maide goth,
5.6761: And tolde hire fader hou it stod;
5.6762: Wherof for sorwe welnyh wod
5.6763: Unto hire moder thus he saide:
5.6764: "Lo, what it is to kepe a Maide!
5.6765: To Phebus dar I nothing speke,
5.6766: Bot upon hire I schal be wreke,
5.6767: So that these Maidens after this
5.6768: Mow take ensample, what it is
5.6769: To soffre her maidenhed be stole,
5.6770: Wherof that sche the deth schal thole."
5.6771: And bad with that do make a pet,
5.6772: Wherinne he hath his douhter set,
5.6773: As he that wol no pite have,
5.6774: So that sche was al quik begrave
5.6775: And deide anon in his presence.
5.6776: Bot Phebus, for the reverence
5.6777: Of that sche hadde be his love,
5.6778: Hath wroght thurgh his pouer above,
5.6779: That sche sprong up out of the molde
5.6780: Into a flour was named golde,
5.6781: Which stant governed of the Sonne.
5.6782: And thus whan love is evele wonne,
5.6783: Fulofte it comth to repentaile.
5.6784: Mi fader, that is no mervaile,
5.6785: Whan that the conseil is bewreid.
5.6786: Bot ofte time love hath pleid
5.6787: And stole many a prive game,
5.6788: Which nevere yit cam into blame,
5.6789: Whan that the thinges weren hidde.
5.6790: Bot in youre tale, as it betidde,
5.6791: Venus discoverede al the cas,
5.6792: And ek also brod dai it was,
5.6793: Whan Phebus such a Stelthe wroghte,


-2.134-



5.6794: Wherof the Maide in blame he broghte,
5.6795: That afterward sche was so lore.
5.6796: Bot for ye seiden nou tofore
5.6797: Hou stelthe of love goth be nyhte,
5.6798: And doth hise thinges out of syhte,
5.6799: Therof me liste also to hiere
5.6800: A tale lich to the matiere,
5.6801: Wherof I myhte ensample take.
5.6802: Mi goode Sone, and for thi sake,
5.6803: So as it fell be daies olde,
5.6804: And so as the Poete it tolde,
5.6805: Upon the nyhtes micherie
5.6806: Nou herkne a tale of Poesie.
5.6807: The myhtieste of alle men
5.6808: Whan Hercules with Eolen,
5.6809: Which was the love of his corage,
5.6810: Togedre upon a Pelrinage
5.6811: Towardes Rome scholden go,
5.6812: It fell hem be the weie so,
5.6813: That thei upon a dai a Cave
5.6814: Withinne a roche founden have,
5.6815: Which was real and glorious
5.6816: And of Entaile curious,
5.6817: Be name and Thophis it was hote.
5.6818: The Sonne schon tho wonder hote,
5.6819: As it was in the Somer tyde;
5.6820: This Hercules, which be his syde
5.6821: Hath Eolen his love there,
5.6822: Whan thei at thilke cave were,
5.6823: He seide it thoghte him for the beste
5.6824: That sche hire for the hete reste
5.6825: Al thilke day and thilke nyht;
5.6826: And sche, that was a lusti wyht,
5.6827: It liketh hire al that he seide:
5.6828: And thus thei duelle there and pleide
5.6829: The longe dai. And so befell,


-2.135-



5.6830: This Cave was under the hell
5.6831: Of Tymolus, which was begrowe
5.6832: With vines, and at thilke throwe
5.6833: Faunus with Saba the goddesse,
5.6834: Be whom the large wildernesse
5.6835: In thilke time stod governed,
5.6836: Weere in a place, as I am lerned,
5.6837: Nyh by, which Bachus wode hihte.
5.6838: This Faunus tok a gret insihte
5.6839: Of Eolen, that was so nyh;
5.6840: For whan that he hire beaute syh,
5.6841: Out of his wit he was assoted,
5.6842: And in his herte it hath so noted,
5.6843: That he forsok the Nimphes alle,
5.6844: And seide he wolde, hou so it falle,
5.6845: Assaie an other forto winne;
5.6846: So that his hertes thoght withinne
5.6847: He sette and caste hou that he myhte
5.6848: Of love pyke awey be nyhte
5.6849: That he be daie in other wise
5.6850: To stele mihte noght suffise:
5.6851: And therupon his time he waiteth.
5.6852: Nou tak good hiede hou love afaiteth
5.6853: Him which withal is overcome.
5.6854: Faire Eolen, whan sche was come
5.6855: With Hercules into the Cave,
5.6856: Sche seide him that sche wolde have
5.6857: Hise clothes of and hires bothe,
5.6858: That ech of hem scholde other clothe.
5.6859: And al was do riht as sche bad,
5.6860: He hath hire in hise clothes clad


-2.136-



5.6861: And caste on hire his gulion,
5.6862: Which of the Skyn of a Leoun
5.6863: Was mad, as he upon the weie
5.6864: It slouh, and overthis to pleie
5.6865: Sche tok his grete Mace also
5.6866: And knet it at hir gerdil tho.
5.6867: So was sche lich the man arraied,
5.6868: And Hercules thanne hath assaied
5.6869: To clothen him in hire array:
5.6870: And thus thei jape forth the dai,
5.6871: Til that her Souper redy were.
5.6872: And whan thei hadden souped there,
5.6873: Thei schopen hem to gon to reste;
5.6874: And as it thoghte hem for the beste,
5.6875: Thei bede, as for that ilke nyht,
5.6876: Tuo sondri beddes to be dyht,
5.6877: For thei togedre ligge nolde,
5.6878: Be cause that thei offre wolde
5.6879: Upon the morwe here sacrifice.
5.6880: The servantz deden here office
5.6881: And sondri beddes made anon,
5.6882: Wherin that thei to reste gon
5.6883: Ech be himself in sondri place.
5.6884: Faire Eole hath set the Mace
5.6885: Beside hire beddes hed above,
5.6886: And with the clothes of hire love
5.6887: Sche helede al hire bed aboute;
5.6888: And he, which hadde of nothing doute,
5.6889: Hire wympel wond aboute his cheke,
5.6890: Hire kertell and hire mantel eke
5.6891: Abrod upon his bed he spredde.
5.6892: And thus thei slepen bothe abedde;
5.6893: And what of travail, what of wyn,
5.6894: The servantz lich to drunke Swyn
5.6895: Begunne forto route faste.
5.6896: This Faunus, which his Stelthe caste,
5.6897: Was thanne come to the Cave,
5.6898: And fond thei weren alle save


-2.137-



5.6899: Withoute noise, and in he wente.
5.6900: The derke nyht his sihte blente,
5.6901: And yit it happeth him to go
5.6902: Where Eolen abedde tho
5.6903: Was leid al one for to slepe;
5.6904: Bot for he wolde take kepe
5.6905: Whos bed it was, he made assai,
5.6906: And of the Leoun, where it lay,
5.6907: The Cote he fond, and ek he fieleth
5.6908: The Mace, and thanne his herte kieleth,
5.6909: That there dorste he noght abyde,
5.6910: Bot stalketh upon every side
5.6911: And soghte aboute with his hond,
5.6912: That other bedd til that he fond,
5.6913: Wher lai bewympled a visage.
5.6914: Tho was he glad in his corage,
5.6915: For he hir kertell fond also
5.6916: And ek hir mantell bothe tuo
5.6917: Bespred upon the bed alofte.
5.6918: He made him naked thanne, and softe
5.6919: Into the bedd unwar he crepte,
5.6920: Wher Hercules that time slepte,
5.6921: And wende wel it were sche;
5.6922: And thus in stede of Eole
5.6923: Anon he profreth him to love.
5.6924: But he, which felte a man above,
5.6925: This Hercules, him threw to grounde
5.6926: So sore, that thei have him founde
5.6927: Liggende there upon the morwe;
5.6928: And tho was noght a litel sorwe,
5.6929: That Faunus of himselve made,
5.6930: Bot elles thei were alle glade
5.6931: And lowhen him to scorne aboute:
5.6932: Saba with Nimphis al a route
5.6933: Cam doun to loke hou that he ferde,
5.6934: And whan that thei the sothe herde,
5.6935: He was bejaped overal.
5.6936: Mi Sone, be thou war withal


-2.138-



5.6937: To seche suche mecheries,
5.6938: Bot if thou have the betre aspies,
5.6939: In aunter if the so betyde
5.6940: As Faunus dede thilke tyde,
5.6941: Wherof thou miht be schamed so.
5.6942: Min holi fader, certes no.
5.6943: Bot if I hadde riht good leve,
5.6944: Such mecherie I thenke leve:
5.6945: Mi feinte herte wol noght serve;
5.6946: For malgre wolde I noght deserve
5.6947: In thilke place wher I love.
5.6948: Bot for ye tolden hier above
5.6949: Of Covoitise and his pilage,
5.6950: If ther be more of that lignage,
5.6951: Which toucheth to mi schrifte, I preie
5.6952: That ye therof me wolde seie,
5.6953: So that I mai the vice eschuie.
5.6954: Mi Sone, if I be order suie
5.6955: The vices, as thei stonde arowe,
5.6956: Of Covoitise thou schalt knowe
5.6957: Ther is yit on, which is the laste;
5.6958: In whom ther mai no vertu laste,
5.6959: For he with god himself debateth,
5.6960: Wherof that al the hevene him hateth.
5.6961: The hihe god, which alle goode
5.6962: Pourveied hath for mannes fode
5.6963: Of clothes and of mete and drinke,
5.6964: Bad Adam that he scholde swinke
5.6965: To geten him his sustienance:
5.6966: And ek he sette an ordinance
5.6967: Upon the lawe of Moiµses,
5.6968: That though a man be haveles,
5.6969: Yit schal he noght be thefte stele.
5.6970: Bot nou adaies ther ben fele,


-2.139-



5.6971: That wol no labour undertake,
5.6972: Bot what thei mai be Stelthe take
5.6973: Thei holde it sikerliche wonne.
5.6974: And thus the lawe is overronne,
5.6975: Which god hath set, and namely
5.6976: With hem that so untrewely
5.6977: The goodes robbe of holi cherche.
5.6978: The thefte which thei thanne werche
5.6979: Be name is cleped Sacrilegge,
5.6980: Ayein the whom I thenke alegge.
5.6981: Of his condicion to telle,
5.6982: Which rifleth bothe bok and belle,
5.6983: So forth with al the remenant


-2.140-



5.6984: To goddes hous appourtenant,
5.6985: Wher that he scholde bidde his bede,
5.6986: He doth his thefte in holi stede,
5.6987: And takth what thing he fint therinne:
5.6988: For whan he seth that he mai winne,
5.6989: He wondeth for no cursednesse,
5.6990: That he ne brekth the holinesse
5.6991: And doth to god no reverence;
5.6992: For he hath lost his conscience,
5.6993: That though the Prest therfore curse,
5.6994: He seith he fareth noght the wurse.
5.6995: And forto speke it otherwise,
5.6996: What man that lasseth the franchise
5.6997: And takth of holi cherche his preie,
5.6998: I not what bedes he schal preie.
5.6999: Whan he fro god, which hath yive al,
5.7000: The Pourpartie in special,
5.7001: Which unto Crist himself is due,
5.7002: Benymth, he mai noght wel eschue
5.7003: The peine comende afterward;
5.7004: For he hath mad his foreward
5.7005: With Sacrilegge forto duelle,
5.7006: Which hath his heritage in helle.
5.7007: And if we rede of tholde lawe,
5.7008: I finde write, in thilke dawe
5.7009: Of Princes hou ther weren thre
5.7010: Coupable sore in this degre.
5.7011: That on of hem was cleped thus,
5.7012: The proude king Antiochus;
5.7013: That other Nabuzardan hihte,
5.7014: Which of his crualte behyhte
5.7015: The temple to destruie and waste,
5.7016: And so he dede in alle haste;
5.7017: The thridde, which was after schamed,
5.7018: Was Nabugodonosor named,


-2.141-



5.7019: And he Jerusalem putte under,
5.7020: Of Sacrilegge and many a wonder
5.7021: There in the holi temple he wroghte,
5.7022: Which Baltazar his heir aboghte,
5.7023: Whan Mane, Techel, Phares write
5.7024: Was on the wal, as thou miht wite,
5.7025: So as the bible it hath declared.
5.7026: Bot for al that it is noght spared
5.7027: Yit nou aday, that men ne pile,
5.7028: And maken argument and skile
5.7029: To Sacrilegge as it belongeth,
5.7030: For what man that ther after longeth,
5.7031: He takth non hiede what he doth.
5.7032: And riht so, forto telle soth,
5.7033: In loves cause if I schal trete,


-2.142-



5.7034: Ther ben of suche smale and grete:
5.7035: If thei no leisir fynden elles,
5.7036: Thei wol noght wonden for the belles,


-2.143-



5.7037: Ne thogh thei sen the Prest at masse;
5.7038: That wol thei leten overpasse.
5.7039: If that thei finde here love there,


-2.144-



5.7040: Thei stonde and tellen in hire Ere,
5.7041: And axe of god non other grace,
5.7042: Whyl thei ben in that holi place;


-2.145-



5.7043: Bot er thei gon som avantage
5.7044: Ther wol thei have, and som pilage
5.7045: Of goodli word or of beheste,
5.7046: Or elles thei take ate leste
5.7047: Out of hir hand or ring or glove,
5.7048: So nyh the weder thei wol love,
5.7049: As who seith sche schal noght foryete,
5.7050: Nou I this tokne of hire have gete:
5.7051: Thus halwe thei the hihe feste.
5.7052: Such thefte mai no cherche areste,
5.7053: For al is leveful that hem liketh,
5.7054: To whom that elles it misliketh.
5.7055: And ek riht in the selve kinde
5.7056: In grete Cites men mai finde
5.7057: This lusti folk, that make it gay,
5.7058: And waite upon the haliday:
5.7059: In cherches and in Menstres eke
5.7060: Thei gon the wommen forto seke,
5.7061: And wher that such on goth aboute,
5.7062: Tofore the faireste of the route,
5.7063: Wher as thei sitten alle arewe,
5.7064: Ther wol he most his bodi schewe,
5.7065: His croket kembd and theron set
5.7066: A Nouche with a chapelet,
5.7067: Or elles on of grene leves,
5.7068: Which late com out of the greves,
5.7069: Al for he scholde seme freissh.
5.7070: And thus he loketh on the fleissh,


-2.146-



5.7071: Riht as an hauk which hath a sihte
5.7072: Upon the foul, ther he schal lihte;
5.7073: And as he were of faierie,
5.7074: He scheweth him tofore here yhe
5.7075: In holi place wher thei sitte,
5.7076: Al forto make here hertes flitte.
5.7077: His yhe nawher wole abyde,
5.7078: Bot loke and prie on every syde
5.7079: On hire and hire, as him best lyketh:
5.7080: And otherwhile among he syketh;
5.7081: Thenkth on of hem, "That was for me,"
5.7082: And so ther thenken tuo or thre,
5.7083: And yit he loveth non of alle,
5.7084: Bot wher as evere his chance falle.
5.7085: And natheles to seie a soth,
5.7086: The cause why that he so doth
5.7087: Is forto stele an herte or tuo,
5.7088: Out of the cherche er that he go:
5.7089: And as I seide it hier above,
5.7090: Al is that Sacrilege of love;
5.7091: For wel mai be he stelth away
5.7092: That he nevere after yelde may.
5.7093: Tell me forthi, my Sone, anon,
5.7094: Hast thou do Sacrilege, or non,
5.7095: As I have said in this manere?
5.7096: Mi fader, as of this matiere
5.7097: I wole you tellen redely
5.7098: What I have do; bot trewely
5.7099: I mai excuse min entente,
5.7100: That nevere I yit to cherche wente
5.7101: In such manere as ye me schryve,
5.7102: For no womman that is on lyve.
5.7103: The cause why I have it laft
5.7104: Mai be for I unto that craft
5.7105: Am nothing able so to stele,
5.7106: Thogh ther be wommen noght so fele.
5.7107: Bot yit wol I noght seie this,
5.7108: Whan I am ther mi ladi is,


-2.147-



5.7109: In whom lith holly mi querele,
5.7110: And sche to cherche or to chapele
5.7111: Wol go to matins or to messe,-
5.7112: That time I waite wel and gesse,
5.7113: To cherche I come and there I stonde,
5.7114: And thogh I take a bok on honde,
5.7115: Mi contienance is on the bok,
5.7116: Bot toward hire is al my lok;
5.7117: And if so falle that I preie
5.7118: Unto mi god, and somwhat seie
5.7119: Of Paternoster or of Crede,
5.7120: Al is for that I wolde spede,
5.7121: So that mi bede in holi cherche
5.7122: Ther mihte som miracle werche
5.7123: Mi ladi herte forto chaunge,
5.7124: Which evere hath be to me so strange.
5.7125: So that al mi devocion
5.7126: And al mi contemplacion
5.7127: With al min herte and mi corage
5.7128: Is only set on hire ymage;
5.7129: And evere I waite upon the tyde.
5.7130: If sche loke eny thing asyde,
5.7131: That I me mai of hire avise,
5.7132: Anon I am with covoitise
5.7133: So smite, that me were lief
5.7134: To ben in holi cherche a thief;
5.7135: Bot noght to stele a vestement,
5.7136: For that is nothing mi talent,
5.7137: Bot I wold stele, if that I mihte,
5.7138: A glad word or a goodly syhte;
5.7139: And evere mi service I profre,
5.7140: And namly whan sche wol gon offre,
5.7141: For thanne I lede hire, if I may,
5.7142: For somwhat wolde I stele away.
5.7143: Whan I beclippe hire on the wast,
5.7144: Yit ate leste I stele a tast,
5.7145: And otherwhile "grant mercy"
5.7146: Sche seith, and so winne I therby


-2.148-



5.7147: A lusti touch, a good word eke,
5.7148: Bot al the remenant to seke
5.7149: Is fro mi pourpos wonder ferr.
5.7150: So mai I seie, as I seide er,
5.7151: In holy cherche if that I wowe,
5.7152: My conscience it wolde allowe,
5.7153: Be so that up amendement
5.7154: I mihte gete assignement
5.7155: Wher forto spede in other place:
5.7156: Such Sacrilege I holde a grace.
5.7157: And thus, mi fader, soth to seie,
5.7158: In cherche riht as in the weie,
5.7159: If I mihte oght of love take,
5.7160: Such hansell have I noght forsake.
5.7161: Bot finali I me confesse,
5.7162: Ther is in me non holinesse,
5.7163: Whil I hire se in eny stede;
5.7164: And yit, for oght that evere I dede,
5.7165: No Sacrilege of hire I tok,
5.7166: Bot if it were of word or lok,
5.7167: Or elles if that I hir fredde,
5.7168: Whan I toward offringe hir ledde,
5.7169: Take therof what I take may,
5.7170: For elles bere I noght away:
5.7171: For thogh I wolde oght elles have,
5.7172: Alle othre thinges ben so save
5.7173: And kept with such a privilege,
5.7174: That I mai do no Sacrilege.
5.7175: God wot mi wille natheles,
5.7176: Thogh I mot nedes kepe pes
5.7177: And malgre myn so let it passe,
5.7178: Mi will therto is noght the lasse,
5.7179: If I mihte other wise aweie.
5.7180: Forthi, mi fader, I you preie,
5.7181: Tell what you thenketh therupon,
5.7182: If I therof have gult or non.


-2.149-



5.7183: Thi will, mi Sone, is forto blame,
5.7184: The remenant is bot a game,
5.7185: That I have herd the telle as yit.
5.7186: Bot tak this lore into thi wit,
5.7187: That alle thing hath time and stede,
5.7188: The cherche serveth for the bede,
5.7189: The chambre is of an other speche.
5.7190: Bot if thou wistest of the wreche,
5.7191: Hou Sacrilege it hath aboght,
5.7192: Thou woldest betre ben bethoght;
5.7193: And for thou schalt the more amende,
5.7194: A tale I wole on the despende.
5.7195: To alle men, as who seith, knowe
5.7196: It is, and in the world thurgh blowe,
5.7197: Hou that of Troie Lamedon
5.7198: To Hercules and to Jasoun,
5.7199: Whan toward Colchos out of Grece
5.7200: Be See sailende upon a piece
5.7201: Of lond of Troie reste preide,-
5.7202: Bot he hem wrathfulli congeide:
5.7203: And for thei founde him so vilein,
5.7204: Whan thei come into Grece ayein,
5.7205: With pouer that thei gete myhte
5.7206: Towardes Troie thei hem dyhte,
5.7207: And ther thei token such vengance,
5.7208: Wherof stant yit the remembrance;
5.7209: For thei destruide king and al,
5.7210: And leften bot the brente wal.
5.7211: The Grecs of Troiens many slowe
5.7212: And prisoners thei toke ynowe,
5.7213: Among the whiche ther was on,
5.7214: The kinges doughter Lamedon,
5.7215: Esiona, that faire thing,
5.7216: Which unto Thelamon the king
5.7217: Be Hercules and be thassent
5.7218: Of al the hole parlement


-2.150-



5.7219: Was at his wille yove and granted.
5.7220: And thus hath Grece Troie danted,
5.7221: And hom thei torne in such manere:
5.7222: Bot after this nou schalt thou hiere
5.7223: The cause why this tale I telle,
5.7224: Upon the chances that befelle.
5.7225: King Lamedon, which deide thus,
5.7226: He hadde a Sone, on Priamus,
5.7227: Which was noght thilke time at hom:
5.7228: Bot whan he herde of this, he com,
5.7229: And fond hou the Cite was falle,
5.7230: Which he began anon to walle
5.7231: And made ther a cite newe,
5.7232: That thei whiche othre londes knewe
5.7233: Tho seiden, that of lym and Ston
5.7234: In al the world so fair was non.
5.7235: And on that o side of the toun
5.7236: The king let maken Ylioun,
5.7237: That hihe Tour, that stronge place,
5.7238: Which was adrad of no manace
5.7239: Of quarel nor of non engin;
5.7240: And thogh men wolde make a Myn,
5.7241: No mannes craft it mihte aproche,
5.7242: For it was sett upon a roche.
5.7243: The walles of the toun aboute,
5.7244: Hem stod of al the world no doute,
5.7245: And after the proporcion
5.7246: Sex gates weren of the toun
5.7247: Of such a forme, of such entaile,
5.7248: That hem to se was gret mervaile:
5.7249: The diches weren brode and depe,
5.7250: A fewe men it mihte kepe
5.7251: From al the world, as semeth tho,
5.7252: Bot if the goddes weren fo.
5.7253: Gret presse unto that cite drouh,
5.7254: So that ther was of poeple ynouh,
5.7255: Of Burgeis that therinne duellen;
5.7256: Ther mai no mannes tunge tellen


-2.151-



5.7257: Hou that cite was riche of good.
5.7258: Whan al was mad and al wel stod,
5.7259: King Priamus tho him bethoghte
5.7260: What thei of Grece whilom wroghte,
5.7261: And what was of her swerd devoured,
5.7262: And hou his Soster deshonoured
5.7263: With Thelamon awey was lad:
5.7264: And so thenkende he wax unglad,
5.7265: And sette anon a parlement,
5.7266: To which the lordes were assent.
5.7267: In many a wise ther was spoke,
5.7268: Hou that thei mihten ben awroke,
5.7269: Bot ate laste natheles
5.7270: Thei seiden alle, "Acord and pes."
5.7271: To setten either part in reste
5.7272: It thoghte hem thanne for the beste
5.7273: With resonable amendement;
5.7274: And thus was Anthenor forth sent
5.7275: To axe Esionam ayein
5.7276: And witen what thei wolden sein.
5.7277: So passeth he the See be barge
5.7278: To Grece forto seie his charge,
5.7279: The which he seide redely
5.7280: Unto the lordes by and by:
5.7281: Bot where he spak in Grece aboute,
5.7282: He herde noght bot wordes stoute,
5.7283: And nameliche of Thelamon;
5.7284: The maiden wolde he noght forgon,
5.7285: He seide, for no maner thing,
5.7286: And bad him gon hom to his king,
5.7287: For there gat he non amende
5.7288: For oght he couthe do or sende.
5.7289: This Anthenor ayein goth hom
5.7290: Unto his king, and whan he com,
5.7291: He tolde in Grece of that he herde,
5.7292: And hou that Thelamon ansuerde,


-2.152-



5.7293: And hou thei were at here above,
5.7294: That thei wol nouther pes ne love,
5.7295: Bot every man schal don his beste.
5.7296: Bot for men sein that nyht hath reste,
5.7297: The king bethoghte him al that nyht,
5.7298: And erli, whan the dai was lyht,
5.7299: He tok conseil of this matiere;
5.7300: And thei acorde in this manere,
5.7301: That he withouten eny lette
5.7302: A certein time scholde sette
5.7303: Of Parlement to ben avised:
5.7304: And in the wise it was devised,
5.7305: Of parlement he sette a day,
5.7306: And that was in the Monthe of Maii.
5.7307: This Priamus hadde in his yhte
5.7308: A wif, and Hecuba sche hyhte,
5.7309: Be whom that time ek hadde he
5.7310: Of Sones fyve, and douhtres thre
5.7311: Besiden hem, and thritty mo,
5.7312: And weren knyhtes alle tho,
5.7313: Bot noght upon his wif begete,
5.7314: Bot elles where he myhte hem gete
5.7315: Of wommen whiche he hadde knowe;
5.7316: Such was the world at thilke throwe:
5.7317: So that he was of children riche,
5.7318: As therof was noman his liche.
5.7319: Of Parlement the dai was come,
5.7320: Ther ben the lordes alle and some;
5.7321: Tho was pronounced and pourposed,
5.7322: And al the cause hem was desclosed,
5.7323: Hou Anthenor in Grece ferde.
5.7324: Thei seten alle stille and herde,
5.7325: And tho spak every man aboute:
5.7326: Ther was alegged many a doute,
5.7327: And many a proud word spoke also;
5.7328: Bot for the moste part as tho


-2.153-



5.7329: Thei wisten noght what was the beste,
5.7330: Or forto werre or forto reste.
5.7331: Bot he that was withoute fere,
5.7332: Hector, among the lordes there
5.7333: His tale tolde in such a wise,
5.7334: And seide, "Lordes, ye ben wise,
5.7335: Ye knowen this als wel as I,
5.7336: Above all othre most worthi
5.7337: Stant nou in Grece the manhode
5.7338: Of worthinesse and of knihthode;
5.7339: For who so wole it wel agrope,
5.7340: To hem belongeth al Europe,
5.7341: Which is the thridde parti evene
5.7342: Of al the world under the hevene;
5.7343: And we be bot of folk a fewe.
5.7344: So were it reson forto schewe
5.7345: The peril, er we falle thrinne:
5.7346: Betre is to leve, than beginne
5.7347: Thing which as mai noght ben achieved;
5.7348: He is noght wys that fint him grieved,
5.7349: And doth so that his grief be more;
5.7350: For who that loketh al tofore
5.7351: And wol noght se what is behinde,
5.7352: He mai fulofte hise harmes finde:
5.7353: Wicke is to stryve and have the worse.
5.7354: We have encheson forto corse,
5.7355: This wot I wel, and forto hate
5.7356: The Greks; bot er that we debate
5.7357: With hem that ben of such a myht,
5.7358: It is ful good that every wiht
5.7359: Be of himself riht wel bethoght.
5.7360: Bot as for me this seie I noght;
5.7361: For while that mi lif wol stonde,
5.7362: If that ye taken werre on honde,
5.7363: Falle it to beste or to the werste,
5.7364: I schal miselven be the ferste
5.7365: To grieven hem, what evere I may.


-2.154-



5.7366: I wol noght ones seie nay
5.7367: To thing which that youre conseil demeth,
5.7368: For unto me wel more it quemeth
5.7369: The werre certes than the pes;
5.7370: Bot this I seie natheles,
5.7371: As me belongeth forto seie.
5.7372: Nou schape ye the beste weie."
5.7373: Whan Hector hath seid his avis,
5.7374: Next after him tho spak Paris,
5.7375: Which was his brother, and alleide
5.7376: What him best thoghte, and thus he seide:
5.7377: "Strong thing it is to soffre wrong,
5.7378: And suffre schame is more strong,
5.7379: Bot we have suffred bothe tuo;
5.7380: And for al that yit have we do
5.7381: What so we mihte to reforme
5.7382: The pes, whan we in such a forme
5.7383: Sente Anthenor, as ye wel knowe.
5.7384: And thei here grete wordes blowe
5.7385: Upon her wrongful dedes eke;
5.7386: And who that wole himself noght meke
5.7387: To pes, and list no reson take,
5.7388: Men sein reson him wol forsake:
5.7389: For in the multitude of men
5.7390: Is noght the strengthe, for with ten
5.7391: It hath be sen in trew querele
5.7392: Ayein an hundred false dele,
5.7393: And had the betre of goddes grace.
5.7394: This hath befalle in many place;
5.7395: And if it like unto you alle,
5.7396: I wolde assaie, hou so it falle,
5.7397: Oure enemis if I mai grieve;
5.7398: For I have cawht a gret believe
5.7399: Upon a point I wol declare.
5.7400: This ender day, as I gan fare
5.7401: To hunte unto the grete hert,
5.7402: Which was tofore myn houndes stert,


-2.155-



5.7403: And every man went on his syde
5.7404: Him to poursuie, and I to ryde
5.7405: Began the chace, and soth to seie,
5.7406: Withinne a while out of mi weie
5.7407: I rod, and nyste where I was.
5.7408: And slep me cauhte, and on the gras
5.7409: Beside a welle I lay me doun
5.7410: To slepe, and in a visioun
5.7411: To me the god Mercurie cam;
5.7412: Goddesses thre with him he nam,
5.7413: Minerve, Venus and Juno,
5.7414: And in his hond an Appel tho
5.7415: He hield of gold with lettres write:
5.7416: And this he dede me to wite,
5.7417: Hou that thei putt hem upon me,
5.7418: That to the faireste of hem thre
5.7419: Of gold that Appel scholde I yive.
5.7420: With ech of hem tho was I schrive,
5.7421: And echon faire me behihte;
5.7422: Bot Venus seide, if that sche mihte
5.7423: That Appel of mi yifte gete,
5.7424: Sche wolde it neveremor foryete,
5.7425: And seide hou that in Grece lond
5.7426: Sche wolde bringe unto myn hond
5.7427: Of al this Erthe the faireste;
5.7428: So that me thoghte it for the beste,
5.7429: To hire and yaf that Appel tho.
5.7430: Thus hope I wel, if that I go,
5.7431: That sche for me wol so ordeine,
5.7432: That thei matiere forto pleigne
5.7433: Schul have, er that I come ayein.
5.7434: Nou have ye herd that I wol sein:
5.7435: Sey ye what stant in youre avis."
5.7436: And every man tho seide his,
5.7437: And sundri causes thei recorde,
5.7438: Bot ate laste thei acorde
5.7439: That Paris schal to Grece wende,


-2.156-



5.7440: And thus the parlement tok ende.
5.7441: Cassandra, whan sche herde of this,
5.7442: The which to Paris Soster is,
5.7443: Anon sche gan to wepe and weile,
5.7444: And seide, "Allas, what mai ous eile?
5.7445: Fortune with hire blinde whiel
5.7446: Ne wol noght lete ous stonde wel:
5.7447: For this I dar wel undertake,
5.7448: That if Paris his weie take,
5.7449: As it is seid that he schal do,
5.7450: We ben for evere thanne undo."
5.7451: This, which Cassandre thanne hihte,
5.7452: In al the world as it berth sihte,
5.7453: In bokes as men finde write,
5.7454: Is that Sibille of whom ye wite,
5.7455: That alle men yit clepen sage.
5.7456: Whan that sche wiste of this viage,
5.7457: Hou Paris schal to Grece fare,
5.7458: No womman mihte worse fare
5.7459: Ne sorwe more than sche dede;
5.7460: And riht so in the same stede
5.7461: Ferde Helenus, which was hir brother,
5.7462: Of prophecie and such an other:
5.7463: And al was holde bot a jape,
5.7464: So that the pourpos which was schape,
5.7465: Or were hem lief or were hem loth,
5.7466: Was holde, and into Grece goth
5.7467: This Paris with his retenance.
5.7468: And as it fell upon his chance,
5.7469: Of Grece he londeth in an yle,
5.7470: And him was told the same whyle
5.7471: Of folk which he began to freyne,
5.7472: Tho was in thyle queene Heleyne,
5.7473: And ek of contres there aboute
5.7474: Of ladis many a lusti route,
5.7475: With mochel worthi poeple also.
5.7476: And why thei comen theder tho,
5.7477: The cause stod in such a wise,-


-2.157-



5.7478: For worschipe and for sacrifise
5.7479: That thei to Venus wolden make,
5.7480: As thei tofore hadde undertake,
5.7481: Some of good will, some of beheste,
5.7482: For thanne was hire hihe feste
5.7483: Withinne a temple which was there.
5.7484: Whan Paris wiste what thei were,
5.7485: Anon he schop his ordinance
5.7486: To gon and don his obeissance
5.7487: To Venus on hire holi day,
5.7488: And dede upon his beste aray.
5.7489: With gret richesse he him behongeth,
5.7490: As it to such a lord belongeth,
5.7491: He was noght armed natheles,
5.7492: Bot as it were in lond of pes,
5.7493: And thus he goth forth out of Schipe
5.7494: And takth with him his felaschipe:
5.7495: In such manere as I you seie
5.7496: Unto the temple he hield his weie.
5.7497: Tydinge, which goth overal
5.7498: To grete and smale, forth withal
5.7499: Com to the queenes Ere and tolde
5.7500: Hou Paris com, and that he wolde
5.7501: Do sacrifise to Venus:
5.7502: And whan sche herde telle thus,
5.7503: Sche thoghte, hou that it evere be,
5.7504: That sche wole him abyde and se.
5.7505: Forth comth Paris with glad visage
5.7506: Into the temple on pelrinage,
5.7507: Wher unto Venus the goddesse
5.7508: He yifth and offreth gret richesse,
5.7509: And preith hir that he preie wolde.
5.7510: And thanne aside he gan beholde,
5.7511: And sih wher that this ladi stod;
5.7512: And he forth in his freisshe mod
5.7513: Goth ther sche was and made her chiere,
5.7514: As he wel couthe in his manere,
5.7515: That of his wordes such plesance
5.7516: Sche tok, that al hire aqueintance,


-2.158-



5.7517: Als ferforth as the herte lay,
5.7518: He stal er that he wente away.
5.7519: So goth he forth and tok his leve,
5.7520: And thoghte, anon as it was eve,
5.7521: He wolde don his Sacrilegge,
5.7522: That many a man it scholde abegge.
5.7523: Whan he to Schipe ayein was come,
5.7524: To him he hath his conseil nome,
5.7525: And al devised the matiere
5.7526: In such a wise as thou schalt hiere.
5.7527: Withinne nyht al prively
5.7528: His men he warneth by and by,
5.7529: That thei be redy armed sone
5.7530: For certein thing which was to done:
5.7531: And thei anon ben redi alle,
5.7532: And ech on other gan to calle,
5.7533: And went hem out upon the stronde
5.7534: And tok a pourpos ther alonde
5.7535: Of what thing that thei wolden do,
5.7536: Toward the temple and forth thei go.
5.7537: So fell it, of devocion
5.7538: Heleine in contemplacion
5.7539: With many an other worthi wiht
5.7540: Was in the temple and wok al nyht,
5.7541: To bidde and preie unto thymage
5.7542: Of Venus, as was thanne usage;
5.7543: So that Paris riht as him liste
5.7544: Into the temple, er thei it wiste,
5.7545: Com with his men al sodeinly,
5.7546: And alle at ones sette ascry
5.7547: In hem whiche in the temple were,
5.7548: For tho was mochel poeple there;
5.7549: Bot of defense was no bote,
5.7550: So soffren thei that soffre mote.
5.7551: Paris unto the queene wente,
5.7552: And hire in bothe hise armes hente
5.7553: With him and with his felaschipe,
5.7554: And forth thei bere hire unto Schipe.


-2.159-



5.7555: Up goth the Seil and forth thei wente,
5.7556: And such a wynd fortune hem sente,
5.7557: Til thei the havene of Troie cauhte;
5.7558: Where out of Schipe anon thei strauhte
5.7559: And gon hem forth toward the toun,
5.7560: The which cam with processioun
5.7561: Ayein Paris to sen his preie.
5.7562: And every man began to seie
5.7563: To Paris and his felaschipe
5.7564: Al that thei couthen of worschipe;
5.7565: Was non so litel man in Troie,
5.7566: That he ne made merthe and joie
5.7567: Of that Paris hath wonne Heleine.
5.7568: Bot al that merthe is sorwe and peine
5.7569: To Helenus and to Cassaundre;
5.7570: For thei it token schame and sklaundre
5.7571: And lost of al the comun grace,
5.7572: That Paris out of holi place
5.7573: Be Stelthe hath take a mannes wif,
5.7574: Wherof that he schal lese his lif
5.7575: And many a worthi man therto,
5.7576: And al the Cite be fordo,
5.7577: Which nevere schal be mad ayein.
5.7578: And so it fell, riht as thei sein,
5.7579: The Sacrilege which he wroghte
5.7580: Was cause why the Gregois soughte
5.7581: Unto the toun and it beleie,
5.7582: And wolden nevere parte aweie,
5.7583: Til what be sleihte and what be strengthe
5.7584: Thei hadde it wonne in brede and lengthe,
5.7585: And brent and slayn that was withinne.
5.7586: Now se, mi Sone, which a sinne
5.7587: Is Sacrilege in holy stede:
5.7588: Be war therfore and bidd thi bede,
5.7589: And do nothing in holy cherche,
5.7590: Bot that thou miht be reson werche.
5.7591: And ek tak hiede of Achilles,
5.7592: Whan he unto his love ches
5.7593: Polixena, that was also


-2.160-



5.7594: In holi temple of Appollo,
5.7595: Which was the cause why he dyde
5.7596: And al his lust was leyd asyde.
5.7597: And Troilus upon Criseide
5.7598: Also his ferste love leide
5.7599: In holi place, and hou it ferde,
5.7600: As who seith, al the world it herde;
5.7601: Forsake he was for Diomede,
5.7602: Such was of love his laste mede.
5.7603: Forthi, mi Sone, I wolde rede,
5.7604: Be this ensample as thou myht rede,
5.7605: Sech elles, wher thou wolt, thi grace,
5.7606: And war the wel in holi place
5.7607: What thou to love do or speke,
5.7608: In aunter if it so be wreke
5.7609: As thou hast herd me told before.
5.7610: And tak good hiede also therfore
5.7611: Upon what forme, of Avarice
5.7612: Mor than of eny other vice,
5.7613: I have divided in parties
5.7614: The branches, whiche of compainies
5.7615: Thurghout the world in general
5.7616: Ben nou the leders overal,
5.7617: Of Covoitise and of Perjure,
5.7618: Of fals brocage and of Usure,
5.7619: Of Skarsnesse and Unkindeschipe,
5.7620: Which nevere drouh to felaschipe,
5.7621: Of Robberie and privi Stelthe,
5.7622: Which don is for the worldes welthe,
5.7623: Of Ravine and of Sacrilegge,
5.7624: Which makth the conscience agregge;
5.7625: Althogh it mai richesse atteigne,
5.7626: It floureth, bot it schal noght greine
5.7627: Unto the fruit of rihtwisnesse.
5.7628: Bot who that wolde do largesse
5.7629: Upon the reule as it is yive,
5.7630: So myhte a man in trouthe live


-2.161-



5.7631: Toward his god, and ek also
5.7632: Toward the world, for bothe tuo
5.7633: Largesse awaiteth as belongeth,
5.7634: To neither part that he ne wrongeth;
5.7635: He kepth himself, he kepth his frendes,
5.7636: So stant he sauf to bothe hise endes,
5.7637: That he excedeth no mesure,
5.7638: So wel he can himself mesure:
5.7639: Wherof, mi Sone, thou schalt wite,
5.7640: So as the Philosophre hath write.
5.7641: Betwen the tuo extremites
5.7642: Of vice stant the propretes
5.7643: Of vertu, and to prove it so
5.7644: Tak Avarice and tak also
5.7645: The vice of Prodegalite;
5.7646: Betwen hem Liberalite,
5.7647: Which is the vertu of Largesse,
5.7648: Stant and governeth his noblesse.
5.7649: For tho tuo vices in discord
5.7650: Stonde evere, as I finde of record;
5.7651: So that betwen here tuo debat
5.7652: Largesse reuleth his astat.
5.7653: For in such wise as Avarice,
5.7654: As I tofore have told the vice,
5.7655: Thurgh streit holdinge and thurgh skarsnesse
5.7656: Stant in contraire to Largesse,
5.7657: Riht so stant Prodegalite
5.7658: Revers, bot noght in such degre.
5.7659: For so as Avarice spareth,
5.7660: And forto kepe his tresor careth,
5.7661: That other al his oghne and more
5.7662: Ayein the wise mannes lore
5.7663: Yifth and despendeth hiere and there,
5.7664: So that him reccheth nevere where.
5.7665: While he mai borwe, he wol despende,


-2.162-



5.7666: Til ate laste he seith, "I wende";
5.7667: Bot that is spoken al to late,
5.7668: For thanne is poverte ate gate
5.7669: And takth him evene be the slieve,
5.7670: For erst wol he no wisdom lieve.
5.7671: And riht as Avarice is Sinne,
5.7672: That wolde his tresor kepe and winne,
5.7673: Riht so is Prodegalite:
5.7674: Bot of Largesse in his degre,
5.7675: Which evene stant betwen the tuo,
5.7676: The hihe god and man also
5.7677: The vertu ech of hem commendeth.
5.7678: For he himselven ferst amendeth,
5.7679: That overal his name spredeth,
5.7680: And to alle othre, where it nedeth,
5.7681: He yifth his good in such a wise,
5.7682: That he makth many a man arise,
5.7683: Which elles scholde falle lowe.
5.7684: Largesce mai noght ben unknowe;
5.7685: For what lond that he regneth inne,
5.7686: It mai noght faile forto winne
5.7687: Thurgh his decerte love and grace,
5.7688: Wher it schal faile in other place.
5.7689: And thus betwen tomoche and lyte
5.7690: Largesce, which is noght to wyte,
5.7691: Halt evere forth the middel weie:
5.7692: Bot who that torne wole aweie
5.7693: Fro that to Prodegalite,
5.7694: Anon he lest the proprete
5.7695: Of vertu and goth to the vice;
5.7696: For in such wise as Avarice
5.7697: Lest for scarsnesse his goode name,
5.7698: Riht so that other is to blame,
5.7699: Which thurgh his wast mesure excedeth,
5.7700: For noman wot what harm that bredeth.
5.7701: Bot mochel joie ther betydeth,


-2.163-



5.7702: Wher that largesse an herte guydeth:
5.7703: For his mesure is so governed,
5.7704: That he to bothe partz is lerned,
5.7705: To god and to the world also,
5.7706: He doth reson to bothe tuo.
5.7707: The povere folk of his almesse
5.7708: Relieved ben in the destresse
5.7709: Of thurst, of hunger and of cold;
5.7710: The yifte of him was nevere sold,
5.7711: Bot frely yive, and natheles
5.7712: The myhti god of his encress
5.7713: Rewardeth him of double grace;
5.7714: The hevene he doth him to pourchace
5.7715: And yifth him ek the worldes good:
5.7716: And thus the Cote for the hod
5.7717: Largesse takth, and yit no Sinne
5.7718: He doth, hou so that evere he winne.
5.7719: What man hath hors men yive him hors,
5.7720: And who non hath of him no fors,
5.7721: For he mai thanne on fote go;
5.7722: The world hath evere stonde so.
5.7723: Bot forto loken of the tweie,
5.7724: A man to go the siker weie,
5.7725: Betre is to yive than to take:
5.7726: With yifte a man mai frendes make,
5.7727: Bot who that takth or gret or smal,
5.7728: He takth a charge forth withal,
5.7729: And stant noght fre til it be quit.
5.7730: So forto deme in mannes wit,
5.7731: It helpeth more a man to have
5.7732: His oghne good, than forto crave
5.7733: Of othre men and make him bounde,
5.7734: Wher elles he mai stonde unbounde.
5.7735: Senec conseileth in this wise,
5.7736: And seith, "Bot, if thi good suffise
5.7737: Unto the liking of thi wille,
5.7738: Withdrawh thi lust and hold the stille,
5.7739: And be to thi good sufficant."


-2.164-



5.7740: For that thing is appourtenant
5.7741: To trouthe and causeth to be fre
5.7742: After the reule of charite,
5.7743: Which ferst beginneth of himselve.
5.7744: For if thou richest othre tuelve,
5.7745: Wherof thou schalt thiself be povere,
5.7746: I not what thonk thou miht recovere.
5.7747: Whil that a man hath good to yive,
5.7748: With grete routes he mai live
5.7749: And hath his frendes overal,
5.7750: And everich of him telle schal.
5.7751: Therwhile he hath his fulle packe,
5.7752: Thei seie, "A good felawe is Jacke";
5.7753: Bot whanne it faileth ate laste,
5.7754: Anon his pris thei overcaste,
5.7755: For thanne is ther non other lawe
5.7756: Bot, "Jacke was a good felawe."
5.7757: Whan thei him povere and nedy se,
5.7758: Thei lete him passe and farwel he;
5.7759: Al that he wende of compainie
5.7760: Is thanne torned to folie.
5.7761: Bot nou to speke in other kinde
5.7762: Of love, a man mai suche finde,
5.7763: That wher thei come in every route
5.7764: Thei caste and waste her love aboute,
5.7765: Til al here time is overgon,
5.7766: And thanne have thei love non:
5.7767: For who that loveth overal,
5.7768: It is no reson that he schal
5.7769: Of love have eny proprete.
5.7770: Forthi, mi Sone, avise thee
5.7771: If thou of love hast be to large,
5.7772: For such a man is noght to charge:
5.7773: And if it so be that thou hast
5.7774: Despended al thi time in wast
5.7775: And set thi love in sondri place,
5.7776: Though thou the substance of thi grace


-2.165-



5.7777: Lese ate laste, it is no wonder;
5.7778: For he that put himselven under,
5.7779: As who seith, comun overal,
5.7780: He lest the love special
5.7781: Of eny on, if sche be wys;
5.7782: For love schal noght bere his pris
5.7783: Be reson, whanne it passeth on.
5.7784: So have I sen ful many on,
5.7785: That were of love wel at ese,
5.7786: Whiche after felle in gret desese
5.7787: Thurgh wast of love, that thei spente
5.7788: In sondri places wher thei wente.
5.7789: Riht so, mi Sone, I axe of thee
5.7790: If thou with Prodegalite
5.7791: Hast hier and ther thi love wasted.
5.7792: Mi fader, nay; bot I have tasted
5.7793: In many a place as I have go,
5.7794: And yit love I nevere on of tho,
5.7795: Bot forto drive forth the dai.
5.7796: For lieveth wel, myn herte is ay
5.7797: Withoute mo for everemore
5.7798: Al upon on, for I nomore
5.7799: Desire bot hire love al one:
5.7800: So make I many a prive mone,
5.7801: For wel I fiele I have despended
5.7802: Mi longe love and noght amended
5.7803: Mi sped, for oght I finde yit.
5.7804: If this be wast to youre wit
5.7805: Of love, and Prodegalite,
5.7806: Nou, goode fader, demeth ye:
5.7807: Bot of o thing I wol me schryve,
5.7808: That I schal for no love thryve,
5.7809: Bot if hirself me wol relieve.
5.7810: Mi Sone, that I mai wel lieve:
5.7811: And natheles me semeth so,
5.7812: For oght that thou hast yit misdo
5.7813: Of time which thou hast despended,
5.7814: It mai with grace ben amended.


-2.166-



5.7815: For thing which mai be worth the cost
5.7816: Per chaunce is nouther wast ne lost;
5.7817: For what thing stant on aventure,
5.7818: That can no worldes creature
5.7819: Telle in certein hou it schal wende,
5.7820: Til he therof mai sen an ende.
5.7821: So that I not as yit therfore
5.7822: If thou, mi Sone, hast wonne or lore:
5.7823: For ofte time, as it is sene,
5.7824: Whan Somer hath lost al his grene
5.7825: And is with Wynter wast and bare,
5.7826: That him is left nothing to spare,
5.7827: Al is recovered in a throwe;
5.7828: The colde wyndes overblowe,
5.7829: And stille be the scharpe schoures,
5.7830: And soudeinliche ayein his floures
5.7831: The Somer hapneth and is riche:
5.7832: And so per cas thi graces liche,
5.7833: Mi Sone, thogh thou be nou povere
5.7834: Of love, yit thou miht recovere.
5.7835: Mi fader, certes grant merci:
5.7836: Ye have me tawht so redeli,
5.7837: That evere whil I live schal
5.7838: The betre I mai be war withal
5.7839: Of thing which ye have seid er this.
5.7840: Bot overmore hou that it is,
5.7841: Toward mi schrifte as it belongeth,
5.7842: To wite of othre pointz me longeth;
5.7843: Wherof that ye me wolden teche
5.7844: With al myn herte I you beseche


-2.167-