Gower, John, 1325?-1408. Confessio amantis
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Liber VI
6.1: The grete Senne original,
6.2: Which every man in general
6.3: Upon his berthe hath envenymed,
6.4: In Paradis it was mystymed:
6.5: Whan Adam of thilke Appel bot,
6.6: His swete morscel was to hot,
6.7: Which dedly made the mankinde.
6.8: And in the bokes as I finde,
6.9: This vice, which so out of rule
6.10: Hath sette ous alle, is cleped Gule;
6.11: Of which the branches ben so grete,
6.12: That of hem alle I wol noght trete,
6.13: Bot only as touchende of tuo
6.14: I thenke speke and of no mo;
6.15: Wherof the ferste is Dronkeschipe,
6.16: Which berth the cuppe felaschipe.
6.17: Ful many a wonder doth this vice,
6.18: He can make of a wisman nyce,
6.19: And of a fool, that him schal seme
6.20: That he can al the lawe deme,
6.21: And yiven every juggement
6.22: Which longeth to the firmament
6.23: Bothe of the sterre and of the mone;
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6.24: And thus he makth a gret clerk sone
6.25: Of him that is a lewed man.
6.26: Ther is nothing which he ne can,
6.27: Whil he hath Dronkeschipe on honde,
6.28: He knowth the See, he knowth the stronde,
6.29: He is a noble man of armes,
6.30: And yit no strengthe is in his armes:
6.31: Ther he was strong ynouh tofore,
6.32: With Dronkeschipe it is forlore,
6.33: And al is changed his astat,
6.34: And wext anon so fieble and mat,
6.35: That he mai nouther go ne come,
6.36: Bot al togedre him is benome
6.37: The pouer bothe of hond and fot,
6.38: So that algate abide he mot.
6.39: And alle hise wittes he foryet,
6.40: The which is to him such a let,
6.41: That he wot nevere what he doth,
6.42: Ne which is fals, ne which is soth,
6.43: Ne which is dai, ne which is nyht,
6.44: And for the time he knowth no wyht,
6.45: That he ne wot so moche as this,
6.46: What maner thing himselven is,
6.47: Or he be man, or he be beste.
6.48: That holde I riht a sori feste,
6.49: Whan he that reson understod
6.50: So soudeinliche is woxe wod,
6.51: Or elles lich the dede man,
6.52: Which nouther go ne speke can.
6.53: Thus ofte he is to bedde broght,
6.54: Bot where he lith yit wot he noght,
6.55: Til he arise upon the morwe;
6.56: And thanne he seith, "O, which a sorwe
6.57: It is a man be drinkeles!"
6.58: So that halfdrunke in such a res
6.59: With dreie mouth he sterte him uppe,
6.60: And seith, "Nou baillez ça the cuppe."
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6.61: That made him lese his wit at eve
6.62: Is thanne a morwe al his beleve;
6.63: The cuppe is al that evere him pleseth,
6.64: And also that him most deseseth;
6.65: It is the cuppe whom he serveth,
6.66: Which alle cares fro him kerveth
6.67: And alle bales to him bringeth:
6.68: In joie he wepth, in sorwe he singeth,
6.69: For Dronkeschipe is so divers,
6.70: It may no whyle stonde in vers.
6.71: He drinkth the wyn, bot ate laste
6.72: The wyn drynkth him and bint him faste,
6.73: And leith him drunke be the wal,
6.74: As him which is his bonde thral
6.75: And al in his subjeccion.
6.76: And lich to such condicion,
6.77: As forto speke it other wise,
6.78: It falleth that the moste wise
6.79: Ben otherwhile of love adoted,
6.80: And so bewhaped and assoted,
6.81: Of drunke men that nevere yit
6.82: Was non, which half so loste his wit
6.83: Of drinke, as thei of such thing do
6.84: Which cleped is the jolif wo;
6.85: And waxen of here oghne thoght
6.86: So drunke, that thei knowe noght
6.87: What reson is, or more or lesse.
6.88: Such is the kinde of that sieknesse,
6.89: And that is noght for lacke of brain,
6.90: Bot love is of so gret a main,
6.91: That where he takth an herte on honde,
6.92: Ther mai nothing his miht withstonde:
6.93: The wise Salomon was nome,
6.94: And stronge Sampson overcome,
6.95: The knihtli David him ne mihte
6.96: Rescoue, that he with the sihte
6.97: Of Bersabee ne was bestad,
6.98: Virgile also was overlad,
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6.99: And Aristotle was put under.
6.100: Forthi, mi Sone, it is no wonder
6.101: If thou be drunke of love among,
6.102: Which is above alle othre strong:
6.103: And if so is that thou so be,
6.104: Tell me thi Schrifte in privite;
6.105: It is no schame of such a thew
6.106: A yong man to be dronkelew.
6.107: Of such Phisique I can a part,
6.108: And as me semeth be that art,
6.109: Thou scholdest be Phisonomie
6.110: Be schapen to that maladie
6.111: Of lovedrunke, and that is routhe.
6.112: Ha, holi fader, al is trouthe
6.113: That ye me telle: I am beknowe
6.114: That I with love am so bethrowe,
6.115: And al myn herte is so thurgh sunke,
6.116: That I am verrailiche drunke,
6.117: And yit I mai bothe speke and go.
6.118: Bot I am overcome so,
6.119: And torned fro miself so clene,
6.120: That ofte I wot noght what I mene;
6.121: So that excusen I ne mai
6.122: Min herte, fro the ferste day
6.123: That I cam to mi ladi kiththe,
6.124: I was yit sobre nevere siththe.
6.125: Wher I hire se or se hire noght,
6.126: With musinge of min oghne thoght,
6.127: Of love, which min herte assaileth,
6.128: So drunke I am, that mi wit faileth
6.129: And al mi brain is overtorned,
6.130: And mi manere so mistorned,
6.131: That I foryete al that I can
6.132: And stonde lich a mased man;
6.133: That ofte, whanne I scholde pleie,
6.134: It makth me drawe out of the weie
6.135: In soulein place be miselve,
6.136: As doth a labourer to delve,
6.137: Which can no gentil mannes chere;
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6.138: Or elles as a lewed Frere,
6.139: Whan he is put to his penance,
6.140: Riht so lese I mi contienance.
6.141: And if it nedes to betyde,
6.142: That I in compainie abyde,
6.143: Wher as I moste daunce and singe
6.144: The hovedance and carolinge,
6.145: Or forto go the newefot,
6.146: I mai noght wel heve up mi fot,
6.147: If that sche be noght in the weie;
6.148: For thanne is al mi merthe aweie,
6.149: And waxe anon of thoght so full,
6.150: Wherof mi limes ben so dull,
6.151: I mai unethes gon the pas.
6.152: For thus it is and evere was,
6.153: Whanne I on suche thoghtes muse,
6.154: The lust and merthe that men use,
6.155: Whan I se noght mi ladi byme,
6.156: Al is foryete for the time
6.157: So ferforth that mi wittes changen
6.158: And alle lustes fro me strangen,
6.159: That thei seie alle trewely,
6.160: And swere, that it am noght I.
6.161: For as the man which ofte drinketh,
6.162: With win that in his stomac sinketh
6.163: Wext drunke and witles for a throwe,
6.164: Riht so mi lust is overthrowe,
6.165: And of myn oghne thoght so mat
6.166: I wexe, that to myn astat
6.167: Ther is no lime wol me serve,
6.168: Bot as a drunke man I swerve,
6.169: And suffre such a Passion,
6.170: That men have gret compassion,
6.171: And everich be himself merveilleth
6.172: What thing it is that me so eilleth.
6.173: Such is the manere of mi wo
6.174: Which time that I am hire fro,
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6.175: Til eft ayein that I hire se.
6.176: Bot thanne it were a nycete
6.177: To telle you hou that I fare:
6.178: For whanne I mai upon hire stare,
6.179: Hire wommanhede, hire gentilesse,
6.180: Myn herte is full of such gladnesse,
6.181: That overpasseth so mi wit,
6.182: That I wot nevere where it sit,
6.183: Bot am so drunken of that sihte,
6.184: Me thenkth that for the time I mihte
6.185: Riht sterte thurgh the hole wall;
6.186: And thanne I mai wel, if I schal,
6.187: Bothe singe and daunce and lepe aboute,
6.188: And holde forth the lusti route.
6.189: Bot natheles it falleth so
6.190: Fulofte, that I fro hire go
6.191: Ne mai, bot as it were a stake,
6.192: I stonde avisement to take
6.193: And loke upon hire faire face;
6.194: That for the while out of the place
6.195: For al the world ne myhte I wende.
6.196: Such lust comth thanne unto mi mende,
6.197: So that withoute mete or drinke,
6.198: Of lusti thoughtes whiche I thinke
6.199: Me thenkth I mihte stonden evere;
6.200: And so it were to me levere
6.201: Than such a sihte forto leve,
6.202: If that sche wolde yif me leve
6.203: To have so mochel of mi wille.
6.204: And thus thenkende I stonde stille
6.205: Withoute blenchinge of myn yhe,
6.206: Riht as me thoghte that I syhe
6.207: Of Paradis the moste joie:
6.208: And so therwhile I me rejoie,
6.209: Into myn herte a gret desir,
6.210: The which is hotere than the fyr,
6.211: Al soudeinliche upon me renneth,
6.212: That al mi thoght withinne brenneth,
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6.213: And am so ferforth overcome,
6.214: That I not where I am become;
6.215: So that among the hetes stronge
6.216: In stede of drinke I underfonge
6.217: A thoght so swete in mi corage,
6.218: That nevere Pyment ne vernage
6.219: Was half so swete forto drinke.
6.220: For as I wolde, thanne I thinke
6.221: As thogh I were at myn above,
6.222: For so thurgh drunke I am of love,
6.223: That al that mi sotye demeth
6.224: Is soth, as thanne it to me semeth.
6.225: And whyle I mai tho thoghtes kepe,
6.226: Me thenkth as thogh I were aslepe
6.227: And that I were in goddes barm;
6.228: Bot whanne I se myn oghne harm,
6.229: And that I soudeinliche awake
6.230: Out of my thought, and hiede take
6.231: Hou that the sothe stant in dede,
6.232: Thanne is mi sekernesse in drede
6.233: And joie torned into wo,
6.234: So that the hete is al ago
6.235: Of such sotie as I was inne.
6.236: And thanne ayeinward I beginne
6.237: To take of love a newe thorst,
6.238: The which me grieveth altherworst,
6.239: For thanne comth the blanche fievere,
6.240: With chele and makth me so to chievere,
6.241: And so it coldeth at myn herte,
6.242: That wonder is hou I asterte,
6.243: In such a point that I ne deie:
6.244: For certes ther was nevere keie
6.245: Ne frosen ys upon the wal
6.246: More inly cold that I am al.
6.247: And thus soffre I the hote chele,
6.248: Which passeth othre peines fele;
6.249: In cold I brenne and frese in hete:
6.250: And thanne I drinke a biter swete
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6.251: With dreie lippe and yhen wete.
6.252: Lo, thus I tempre mi diete,
6.253: And take a drauhte of such reles,
6.254: That al mi wit is herteles,
6.255: And al myn herte, ther it sit,
6.256: Is, as who seith, withoute wit;
6.257: So that to prove it be reson
6.258: In makinge of comparison
6.259: Ther mai no difference be
6.260: Betwen a drunke man and me.
6.261: Bot al the worste of everychon
6.262: Is evere that I thurste in on;
6.263: The more that myn herte drinketh,
6.264: The more I may; so that me thinketh,
6.265: My thurst schal nevere ben aqueint.
6.266: God schilde that I be noght dreint
6.267: Of such a superfluite:
6.268: For wel I fiele in mi degre
6.269: That al mi wit is overcast,
6.270: Wherof I am the more agast,
6.271: That in defaulte of ladischipe
6.272: Per chance in such a drunkeschipe
6.273: I mai be ded er I be war.
6.274: For certes, fader, this I dar
6.275: Beknowe and in mi schrifte telle:
6.276: Bot I a drauhte have of that welle,
6.277: In which mi deth is and mi lif,
6.278: Mi joie is torned into strif,
6.279: That sobre schal I nevere worthe,
6.280: Bot as a drunke man forworthe;
6.281: So that in londe where I fare
6.282: The lust is lore of mi welfare,
6.283: As he that mai no bote finde.
6.284: Bot this me thenkth a wonder kinde,
6.285: As I am drunke of that I drinke,
6.286: So am I ek for falte of drinke;
6.287: Of which I finde no reles:
6.288: Bot if I myhte natheles
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6.289: Of such a drinke as I coveite,
6.290: So as me liste, have o receite,
6.291: I scholde assobre and fare wel.
6.292: Bot so fortune upon hire whiel
6.293: On hih me deigneth noght to sette,
6.294: For everemore I finde a lette:
6.295: The boteler is noght mi frend,
6.296: Which hath the keie be the bend;
6.297: I mai wel wisshe and that is wast,
6.298: For wel I wot, so freissh a tast,
6.299: Bot if mi grace be the more,
6.300: I schal assaie neveremore.
6.301: Thus am I drunke of that I se,
6.302: For tastinge is defended me,
6.303: And I can noght miselven stanche:
6.304: So that, mi fader, of this branche
6.305: I am gultif, to telle trouthe.
6.306: Mi Sone, that me thenketh routhe;
6.307: For lovedrunke is the meschief
6.308: Above alle othre the most chief,
6.309: If he no lusti thoght assaie,
6.310: Which mai his sori thurst allaie:
6.311: As for the time yit it lisseth
6.312: To him which other joie misseth.
6.313: Forthi, mi Sone, aboven alle
6.314: Thenk wel, hou so it the befalle,
6.315: And kep thi wittes that thou hast,
6.316: And let hem noght be drunke in wast:
6.317: Bot natheles ther is no wyht
6.318: That mai withstonde loves miht.
6.319: Bot why the cause is, as I finde,
6.320: Of that ther is diverse kinde
6.321: Of lovedrunke, why men pleigneth
6.322: After the court which al ordeigneth,
6.323: I wol the tellen the manere;
6.324: Nou lest, mi Sone, and thou schalt hiere.
6.325: For the fortune of every chance
6.326: After the goddes pourveance
6.327: To man it groweth from above,
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6.328: So that the sped of every love
6.329: Is schape there, er it befalle.
6.330: For Jupiter aboven alle,
6.331: Which is of goddes soverein,
6.332: Hath in his celier, as men sein,
6.333: Tuo tonnes fulle of love drinke,
6.334: That maken many an herte sinke
6.335: And many an herte also to flete,
6.336: Or of the soure or of the swete.
6.337: That on is full of such piment,
6.338: Which passeth all entendement
6.339: Of mannes witt, if he it taste,
6.340: And makth a jolif herte in haste:
6.341: That other biter as the galle,
6.342: Which makth a mannes herte palle,
6.343: Whos drunkeschipe is a sieknesse
6.344: Thurgh fielinge of the biternesse.
6.345: Cupide is boteler of bothe,
6.346: Which to the lieve and to the lothe
6.347: Yifth of the swete and of the soure,
6.348: That some lawhe, and some loure.
6.349: Bot for so moche as he blind is,
6.350: Fulofte time he goth amis
6.351: And takth the badde for the goode,
6.352: Which hindreth many a mannes fode
6.353: Withoute cause, and forthreth eke.
6.354: So be ther some of love seke,
6.355: Whiche oghte of reson to ben hole,
6.356: And some comen to the dole
6.357: In happ and as hemselve leste
6.358: Drinke undeserved of the beste.
6.359: And thus this blinde Boteler
6.360: Yifth of the trouble in stede of cler
6.361: And ek the cler in stede of trouble:
6.362: Lo, hou he can the hertes trouble,
6.363: And makth men drunke al upon chaunce
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6.364: Withoute lawe of governance.
6.365: If he drawe of the swete tonne,
6.366: Thanne is the sorwe al overronne
6.367: Of lovedrunke, and schalt noght greven
6.368: So to be drunken every even,
6.369: For al is thanne bot a game.
6.370: Bot whanne it is noght of the same,
6.371: And he the biter tonne draweth,
6.372: Such drunkeschipe an herte gnaweth
6.373: And fiebleth al a mannes thoght,
6.374: That betre him were have drunke noght
6.375: And al his bred have eten dreie;
6.376: For thanne he lest his lusti weie
6.377: With drunkeschipe, and wot noght whider
6.378: To go, the weies ben so slider,
6.379: In which he mai per cas so falle,
6.380: That he schal breke his wittes alle.
6.381: And in this wise men be drunke
6.382: After the drink that thei have drunke:
6.383: Bot alle drinken noght alike,
6.384: For som schal singe and som schal syke,
6.385: So that it me nothing merveilleth,
6.386: Mi Sone, of love that thee eilleth;
6.387: For wel I knowe be thi tale,
6.388: That thou hast drunken of the duale,
6.389: Which biter is, til god the sende
6.390: Such grace that thou miht amende.
6.391: Bot, Sone, thou schalt bidde and preie
6.392: In such a wise as I schal seie,
6.393: That thou the lusti welle atteigne
6.394: Thi wofull thurstes to restreigne
6.395: Of love, and taste the swetnesse;
6.396: As Bachus dede in his distresse,
6.397: Whan bodiliche thurst him hente
6.398: In strange londes where he wente.
6.399: This Bachus Sone of Jupiter
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6.400: Was hote, and as he wente fer
6.401: Be his fadres assignement
6.402: To make a werre in Orient,
6.403: And gret pouer with him he ladde,
6.404: So that the heiere hond he hadde
6.405: And victoire of his enemys,
6.406: And torneth homward with his pris,
6.407: In such a contre which was dreie
6.408: A meschief fell upon the weie.
6.409: As he rod with his compainie
6.410: Nyh to the strondes of Lubie,
6.411: Ther myhte thei no drinke finde
6.412: Of water nor of other kinde,
6.413: So that himself and al his host
6.414: Were of defalte of drinke almost
6.415: Destruid, and thanne Bachus preide
6.416: To Jupiter, and thus he seide:
6.417: "O hihe fader, that sest al,
6.418: To whom is reson that I schal
6.419: Beseche and preie in every nede,
6.420: Behold, mi fader, and tak hiede
6.421: This wofull thurst that we ben inne
6.422: To staunche, and grante ous forto winne,
6.423: And sauf unto the contre fare,
6.424: Wher that oure lusti loves are
6.425: Waitende upon oure hom cominge."
6.426: And with the vois of his preiynge,
6.427: Which herd was to the goddes hihe,
6.428: He syh anon tofore his yhe
6.429: A wether, which the ground hath sporned;
6.430: And wher he hath it overtorned,
6.431: Ther sprang a welle freissh and cler,
6.432: Wherof his oghne boteler
6.433: After the lustes of his wille
6.434: Was every man to drinke his fille.
6.435: And for this ilke grete grace
6.436: Bachus upon the same place
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6.437: A riche temple let arere,
6.438: Which evere scholde stonde there
6.439: To thursti men in remembrance.
6.440: Forthi, mi Sone, after this chance
6.441: It sit thee wel to taken hiede
6.442: So forto preie upon thi nede,
6.443: As Bachus preide for the welle;
6.444: And thenk, as thou hast herd me telle,
6.445: Hou grace he gradde and grace he hadde.
6.446: He was no fol that ferst so radde,
6.447: For selden get a domb man lond:
6.448: Tak that proverbe, and understond
6.449: That wordes ben of vertu grete.
6.450: Forthi to speke thou ne lete,
6.451: And axe and prei erli and late
6.452: Thi thurst to quenche, and thenk algate,
6.453: The boteler which berth the keie
6.454: Is blind, as thou hast herd me seie;
6.455: And if it mihte so betyde,
6.456: That he upon the blinde side
6.457: Per cas the swete tonne arauhte,
6.458: Than schalt thou have a lusti drauhte
6.459: And waxe of lovedrunke sobre.
6.460: And thus I rede thou assobre
6.461: Thin herte in hope of such a grace;
6.462: For drunkeschipe in every place,
6.463: To whether side that it torne,
6.464: Doth harm and makth a man to sporne
6.465: And ofte falle in such a wise,
6.466: Wher he per cas mai noght arise.
6.467: And forto loke in evidence
6.468: Upon the sothe experience,
6.469: So as it hath befalle er this,
6.470: In every mannes mouth it is
6.471: Hou Tristram was of love drunke
6.472: With Bele Ysolde, whan thei drunke
6.473: The drink which Brangwein hem betok,
6.474: Er that king Marc his Eem hire tok
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6.475: To wyve, as it was after knowe.
6.476: And ek, mi Sone, if thou wolt knowe,
6.477: As it hath fallen overmore
6.478: In loves cause, and what is more
6.479: Of drunkeschipe forto drede,
6.480: As it whilom befell in dede,
6.481: Wherof thou miht the betre eschuie
6.482: Of drunke men that thou ne suie
6.483: The compaignie in no manere,
6.484: A gret ensample thou schalt hiere.
6.485: This finde I write in Poesie
6.486: Of thilke faire Ipotacie,
6.487: Of whos beaute ther as sche was
6.488: Spak every man,-and fell per cas,
6.489: That Pirotouµs so him spedde,
6.490: That he to wyve hire scholde wedde,
6.491: Wherof that he gret joie made.
6.492: And for he wolde his love glade,
6.493: Ayein the day of mariage
6.494: Be mouthe bothe and be message
6.495: Hise frendes to the feste he preide,
6.496: With gret worschipe and, as men seide,
6.497: He hath this yonge ladi spoused.
6.498: And whan that thei were alle housed,
6.499: And set and served ate mete,
6.500: Ther was no wyn which mai be gete,
6.501: That ther ne was plente ynouh:
6.502: Bot Bachus thilke tonne drouh,
6.503: Wherof be weie of drunkeschipe
6.504: The greteste of the felaschipe
6.505: Were oute of reson overtake;
6.506: And Venus, which hath also take
6.507: The cause most in special,
6.508: Hath yove hem drinke forth withal
6.509: Of thilke cuppe which exciteth
6.510: The lust wherinne a man deliteth:
-2.181-
6.511: And thus be double weie drunke,
6.512: Of lust that ilke fyri funke
6.513: Hath mad hem, as who seith, halfwode,
6.514: That thei no reson understode,
6.515: Ne to non other thing thei syhen,
6.516: Bot hire, which tofore here yhen
6.517: Was wedded thilke same day,
6.518: That freisshe wif, that lusti May,
6.519: On hire it was al that thei thoghten.
6.520: And so ferforth here lustes soghten,
6.521: That thei the whiche named were
6.522: Centauri, ate feste there
6.523: Of on assent, of an acord
6.524: This yonge wif malgre hire lord
6.525: In such a rage awei forth ladden,
6.526: As thei whiche non insihte hadden
6.527: Bot only to her drunke fare,
6.528: Which many a man hath mad misfare
6.529: In love als wel as other weie.
6.530: Wherof, if I schal more seie
6.531: Upon the nature of the vice,
6.532: Of custume and of exercice
6.533: The mannes grace hou it fordoth,
6.534: A tale, which was whilom soth,
6.535: Of fooles that so drunken were,
6.536: I schal reherce unto thine Ere.
6.537: I rede in a Cronique thus
6.538: Of Galba and of Vitellus,
6.539: The whiche of Spaigne bothe were
6.540: The greteste of alle othre there,
6.541: And bothe of o condicion
6.542: After the disposicion
6.543: Of glotonie and drunkeschipe.
6.544: That was a sori felaschipe:
6.545: For this thou miht wel understonde,
6.546: That man mai wel noght longe stonde
6.547: Which is wyndrunke of comun us;
-2.182-
6.548: For he hath lore the vertus,
6.549: Wherof reson him scholde clothe;
6.550: And that was seene upon hem bothe.
6.551: Men sein ther is non evidence,
6.552: Wherof to knowe a difference
6.553: Betwen the drunken and the wode,
6.554: For thei be nevere nouther goode;
6.555: For wher that wyn doth wit aweie,
6.556: Wisdom hath lost the rihte weie,
6.557: That he no maner vice dredeth;
6.558: Nomore than a blind man thredeth
6.559: His nedle be the Sonnes lyht,
6.560: Nomore is reson thanne of myht,
6.561: Whan he with drunkeschipe is blent.
6.562: And in this point thei weren schent,
6.563: This Galba bothe and ek Vitelle,
6.564: Upon the cause as I schal telle,
6.565: Wherof good is to taken hiede.
6.566: For thei tuo thurgh her drunkenhiede
6.567: Of witles excitacioun
6.568: Oppressede al the nacion
6.569: Of Spaigne; for of fool usance,
6.570: Which don was of continuance
6.571: Of hem, whiche alday drunken were,
6.572: Ther was no wif ne maiden there,
6.573: What so thei were, or faire or foule,
6.574: Whom thei ne token to defoule,
6.575: Wherof the lond was often wo:
6.576: And ek in othre thinges mo
6.577: Thei wroghten many a sondri wrong.
6.578: Bot hou so that the dai be long,
6.579: The derke nyht comth ate laste:
6.580: God wolde noght thei scholden laste,
6.581: And schop the lawe in such a wise,
6.582: That thei thurgh dom to the juise
6.583: Be dampned forto be forlore.
-2.183-
6.584: Bot thei, that hadden ben tofore
6.585: Enclin to alle drunkenesse,-
6.586: Here ende thanne bar witnesse;
6.587: For thei in hope to assuage
6.588: The peine of deth, upon the rage
6.589: That thei the lasse scholden fiele,
6.590: Of wyn let fille full a Miele,
6.591: And dronken til so was befalle
6.592: That thei her strengthes losten alle
6.593: Withouten wit of eny brain;
6.594: And thus thei ben halfdede slain,
6.595: That hem ne grieveth bot a lyte.
6.596: Mi Sone, if thou be forto wyte
6.597: In eny point which I have seid,
6.598: Wherof thi wittes ben unteid,
6.599: I rede clepe hem hom ayein.
6.600: I schal do, fader, as ye sein,
6.601: Als ferforth as I mai suffise:
6.602: Bot wel I wot that in no wise
6.603: The drunkeschipe of love aweie
6.604: I mai remue be no weie,
6.605: It stant noght upon my fortune.
6.606: Bot if you liste to comune
6.607: Of the seconde Glotonie,
6.608: Which cleped is Delicacie,
6.609: Wherof ye spieken hier tofore,
6.610: Beseche I wolde you therfore.
6.611: Mi Sone, as of that ilke vice,
6.612: Which of alle othre is the Norrice,
6.613: And stant upon the retenue
6.614: Of Venus, so as it is due,
6.615: The proprete hou that it fareth
6.616: The bok hierafter nou declareth.
-2.184-
6.617: Of this chapitre in which we trete
6.618: There is yit on of such diete,
6.619: To which no povere mai atteigne;
6.620: For al is Past of paindemeine
6.621: And sondri wyn and sondri drinke,
6.622: Wherof that he wole ete and drinke:
6.623: Hise cokes ben for him affaited,
6.624: So that his body is awaited,
6.625: That him schal lacke no delit,
6.626: Als ferforth as his appetit
6.627: Sufficeth to the metes hote.
6.628: Wherof this lusti vice is hote
6.629: Of Gule the Delicacie,
6.630: Which al the hole progenie
6.631: Of lusti folk hath undertake
6.632: To feede, whil that he mai take
6.633: Richesses wherof to be founde:
6.634: Of Abstinence he wot no bounde,
6.635: To what profit it scholde serve.
6.636: And yit phisique of his conserve
6.637: Makth many a restauracioun
6.638: Unto his recreacioun,
6.639: Which wolde be to Venus lief.
6.640: Thus for the point of his relief
6.641: The coc which schal his mete arraie,
6.642: Bot he the betre his mouth assaie,
6.643: His lordes thonk schal ofte lese,
6.644: Er he be served to the chese:
6.645: For ther mai lacke noght so lyte,
6.646: That he ne fint anon a wyte;
6.647: For bot his lust be fully served,
6.648: Ther hath no wiht his thonk deserved.
6.649: And yit for mannes sustenance,
6.650: To kepe and holde in governance,
-2.185-
6.651: To him that wole his hele gete
6.652: Is non so good as comun mete:
6.653: For who that loketh on the bokes,
6.654: It seith, confeccion of cokes,
6.655: A man him scholde wel avise
6.656: Hou he it toke and in what wise.
6.657: For who that useth that he knoweth,
6.658: Ful selden seknesse on him groweth,
6.659: And who that useth metes strange,
6.660: Though his nature empeire and change
6.661: It is no wonder, lieve Sone,
6.662: Whan that he doth ayein his wone;
6.663: For in Phisique this I finde,
6.664: Usage is the seconde kinde.
6.665: And riht so changeth his astat
6.666: He that of love is delicat:
6.667: For though he hadde to his hond
6.668: The beste wif of al the lond,
6.669: Or the faireste love of alle,
6.670: Yit wolde his herte on othre falle
6.671: And thenke hem mor delicious
6.672: Than he hath in his oghne hous:
6.673: Men sein it is nou ofte so;
6.674: Avise hem wel, thei that so do.
6.675: And forto speke in other weie,
6.676: Fulofte time I have herd seie,
6.677: That he which hath no love achieved,
6.678: Him thenkth that he is noght relieved,
6.679: Thogh that his ladi make him chiere,
6.680: So as sche mai in good manere
6.681: Hir honour and hir name save,
6.682: Bot he the surplus mihte have.
6.683: Nothing withstondende hire astat,
6.684: Of love more delicat
6.685: He set hire chiere at no delit,
-2.186-
6.686: Bot he have al his appetit.
6.687: Mi Sone, if it be with thee so,
6.688: Tell me. Myn holi fader, no:
6.689: For delicat in such a wise
6.690: Of love, as ye to me devise,
6.691: Ne was I nevere yit gultif;
6.692: For if I hadde such a wif
6.693: As ye speke of, what scholde I more?
6.694: For thanne I wolde neveremore
6.695: For lust of eny wommanhiede
6.696: Myn herte upon non other fiede:
6.697: And if I dede, it were a wast.
6.698: Bot al withoute such repast
6.699: Of lust, as ye me tolde above,
6.700: Of wif, or yit of other love,
6.701: I faste, and mai no fode gete;
6.702: So that for lacke of deinte mete,
6.703: Of which an herte mai be fedd,
6.704: I go fastende to my bedd.
6.705: Bot myhte I geten, as ye tolde,
6.706: So mochel that mi ladi wolde
6.707: Me fede with hir glad semblant,
6.708: Though me lacke al the remenant,
6.709: Yit scholde I somdel ben abeched
6.710: And for the time wel refreched.
6.711: Bot certes, fader, sche ne doth;
6.712: For in good feith, to telle soth,
6.713: I trowe, thogh I scholde sterve,
6.714: Sche wolde noght hire yhe swerve,
6.715: Min herte with o goodly lok
6.716: To fede, and thus for such a cok
6.717: I mai go fastinge everemo:
6.718: Bot if so is that eny wo
6.719: Mai fede a mannes herte wel,
6.720: Therof I have at every meel
6.721: Of plente more than ynowh;
6.722: Bot that is of himself so towh,
-2.187-
6.723: Mi stomac mai it noght defie.
6.724: Lo, such is the delicacie
6.725: Of love, which myn herte fedeth;
6.726: Thus have I lacke of that me nedeth.
6.727: Bot for al this yit natheles
6.728: I seie noght I am gylteles,
6.729: That I somdel am delicat:
6.730: For elles were I fulli mat,
6.731: Bot if that I som lusti stounde
6.732: Of confort and of ese founde,
6.733: To take of love som repast;
6.734: For thogh I with the fulle tast
6.735: The lust of love mai noght fiele,
6.736: Min hunger otherwise I kiele
6.737: Of smale lustes whiche I pike,
6.738: And for a time yit thei like;
6.739: If that ye wisten what I mene.
6.740: Nou, goode Sone, schrif thee clene
6.741: Of suche deyntes as ben goode,
6.742: Wherof thou takst thin hertes fode.
6.743: Mi fader, I you schal reherce,
6.744: Hou that mi fodes ben diverse,
6.745: So as thei fallen in degre.
6.746: O fiedinge is of that I se,
6.747: An other is of that I here,
6.748: The thridde, as I schal tellen here,
6.749: It groweth of min oghne thoght:
6.750: And elles scholde I live noght;
6.751: For whom that failleth fode of herte,
6.752: He mai noght wel the deth asterte.
6.753: Of sihte is al mi ferste fode,
6.754: Thurgh which myn yhe of alle goode
6.755: Hath that to him is acordant,
6.756: A lusti fode sufficant.
6.757: Whan that I go toward the place
6.758: Wher I schal se my ladi face,
6.759: Min yhe, which is loth to faste,
6.760: Beginth to hungre anon so faste,
-2.188-
6.761: That him thenkth of on houre thre,
6.762: Til I ther come and he hire se:
6.763: And thanne after his appetit
6.764: He takth a fode of such delit,
6.765: That him non other deynte nedeth.
6.766: Of sondri sihtes he him fedeth:
6.767: He seth hire face of such colour,
6.768: That freisshere is than eny flour,
6.769: He seth hire front is large and plein
6.770: Withoute fronce of eny grein,
6.771: He seth hire yhen lich an hevene,
6.772: He seth hire nase strauht and evene,
6.773: He seth hire rode upon the cheke,
6.774: He seth hire rede lippes eke,
6.775: Hire chyn acordeth to the face,
6.776: Al that he seth is full of grace,
6.777: He seth hire necke round and clene,
6.778: Therinne mai no bon be sene,
6.779: He seth hire handes faire and whyte;
6.780: For al this thing withoute wyte
6.781: He mai se naked ate leste,
6.782: So is it wel the more feste
6.783: And wel the mor Delicacie
6.784: Unto the fiedinge of myn yhe.
6.785: He seth hire schapthe forth withal,
6.786: Hire bodi round, hire middel smal,
6.787: So wel begon with good array,
6.788: Which passeth al the lust of Maii,
6.789: Whan he is most with softe schoures
6.790: Ful clothed in his lusti floures.
6.791: With suche sihtes by and by
6.792: Min yhe is fed; bot finaly,
6.793: Whan he the port and the manere
6.794: Seth of hire wommanysshe chere,
6.795: Than hath he such delice on honde,
6.796: Him thenkth he mihte stille stonde,
6.797: And that he hath ful sufficance
6.798: Of liflode and of sustienance
-2.189-
6.799: As to his part for everemo.
6.800: And if it thoghte alle othre so,
6.801: Fro thenne wolde he nevere wende,
6.802: Bot there unto the worldes ende
6.803: He wolde abyde, if that he mihte,
6.804: And fieden him upon the syhte.
6.805: For thogh I mihte stonden ay
6.806: Into the time of domesday
6.807: And loke upon hire evere in on,
6.808: Yit whanne I scholde fro hire gon,
6.809: Min yhe wolde, as thogh he faste,
6.810: Ben hungerstorven al so faste,
6.811: Til efte ayein that he hire syhe.
6.812: Such is the nature of myn yhe:
6.813: Ther is no lust so deintefull,
6.814: Of which a man schal noght be full,
6.815: Of that the stomac underfongeth,
6.816: Bot evere in on myn yhe longeth:
6.817: For loke hou that a goshauk tireth,
6.818: Riht so doth he, whan that he pireth
6.819: And toteth on hire wommanhiede;
6.820: For he mai nevere fulli fiede
6.821: His lust, bot evere aliche sore
6.822: Him hungreth, so that he the more
6.823: Desireth to be fed algate:
6.824: And thus myn yhe is mad the gate,
6.825: Thurgh which the deyntes of my thoght
6.826: Of lust ben to myn herte broght.
6.827: Riht as myn yhe with his lok
6.828: Is to myn herte a lusti coc
6.829: Of loves fode delicat,
6.830: Riht so myn Ere in his astat,
6.831: Wher as myn yhe mai noght serve,
6.832: Can wel myn hertes thonk deserve
6.833: And fieden him fro day to day
6.834: With suche deyntes as he may.
6.835: For thus it is, that overal,
6.836: Wher as I come in special,
6.837: I mai hiere of mi ladi pris;
-2.190-
6.838: I hiere on seith that sche is wys,
6.839: An other seith that sche is good,
6.840: And som men sein, of worthi blod
6.841: That sche is come, and is also
6.842: So fair, that nawher is non so;
6.843: And som men preise hire goodli chiere:
6.844: Thus every thing that I mai hiere,
6.845: Which souneth to mi ladi goode,
6.846: Is to myn Ere a lusti foode.
6.847: And ek min Ere hath over this
6.848: A deynte feste, whan so is
6.849: That I mai hiere hirselve speke;
6.850: For thanne anon mi faste I breke
6.851: On suche wordes as sche seith,
6.852: That full of trouthe and full of feith
6.853: Thei ben, and of so good desport,
6.854: That to myn Ere gret confort
6.855: Thei don, as thei that ben delices.
6.856: For al the metes and the spices,
6.857: That eny Lombard couthe make,
6.858: Ne be so lusti forto take
6.859: Ne so ferforth restauratif,
6.860: I seie as for myn oghne lif,
6.861: As ben the wordes of hire mouth:
6.862: For as the wyndes of the South
6.863: Ben most of alle debonaire,
6.864: So whan hir list to speke faire,
6.865: The vertu of hire goodly speche
6.866: Is verraily myn hertes leche.
6.867: And if it so befalle among,
6.868: That sche carole upon a song,
6.869: Whan I it hiere I am so fedd,
6.870: That I am fro miself so ledd,
6.871: As thogh I were in paradis;
6.872: For certes, as to myn avis,
6.873: Whan I here of hir vois the stevene,
6.874: Me thenkth it is a blisse of hevene.
6.875: And ek in other wise also
-2.191-
6.876: Fulofte time it falleth so,
6.877: Min Ere with a good pitance
6.878: Is fedd of redinge of romance
6.879: Of Ydoine and of Amadas,
6.880: That whilom weren in mi cas,
6.881: And eke of othre many a score,
6.882: That loveden longe er I was bore.
6.883: For whan I of here loves rede,
6.884: Min Ere with the tale I fede;
6.885: And with the lust of here histoire
6.886: Somtime I drawe into memoire
6.887: Hou sorwe mai noght evere laste;
6.888: And so comth hope in ate laste,
6.889: Whan I non other fode knowe.
6.890: And that endureth bot a throwe,
6.891: Riht as it were a cherie feste;
6.892: Bot forto compten ate leste,
6.893: As for the while yit it eseth
6.894: And somdel of myn herte appeseth:
6.895: For what thing to myn Ere spreedeth,
6.896: Which is plesant, somdel it feedeth
6.897: With wordes suche as he mai gete
6.898: Mi lust, in stede of other mete.
6.899: Lo thus, mi fader, as I seie,
6.900: Of lust the which myn yhe hath seie,
6.901: And ek of that myn Ere hath herd,
6.902: Fulofte I have the betre ferd.
6.903: And tho tuo bringen in the thridde,
6.904: The which hath in myn herte amidde
6.905: His place take, to arraie
6.906: The lusti fode, which assaie
6.907: I mot; and nameliche on nyhtes,
6.908: Whan that me lacketh alle sihtes,
6.909: And that myn heringe is aweie,
6.910: Thanne is he redy in the weie
6.911: Mi reresouper forto make,
6.912: Of which myn hertes fode I take.
6.913: This lusti cokes name is hote
-2.192-
6.914: Thoght, which hath evere hise pottes hote
6.915: Of love buillende on the fyr
6.916: With fantasie and with desir,
6.917: Of whiche er this fulofte he fedde
6.918: Min herte, whanne I was abedde;
6.919: And thanne he set upon my bord
6.920: Bothe every syhte and every word
6.921: Of lust, which I have herd or sein.
6.922: Bot yit is noght mi feste al plein,
6.923: Bot al of woldes and of wisshes,
6.924: Therof have I my fulle disshes,
6.925: Bot as of fielinge and of tast,
6.926: Yit mihte I nevere have o repast.
6.927: And thus, as I have seid aforn,
6.928: I licke hony on the thorn,
6.929: And as who seith, upon the bridel
6.930: I chiewe, so that al is ydel
6.931: As in effect the fode I have.
6.932: Bot as a man that wolde him save,
6.933: Whan he is seck, be medicine,
6.934: Riht so of love the famine
6.935: I fonde in al that evere I mai
6.936: To fiede and dryve forth the day,
6.937: Til I mai have the grete feste,
6.938: Which al myn hunger myhte areste.
6.939: Lo suche ben mi lustes thre;
6.940: Of that I thenke and hiere and se
6.941: I take of love my fiedinge
6.942: Withoute tastinge or fielinge:
6.943: And as the Plover doth of Eir
6.944: I live, and am in good espeir
6.945: That for no such delicacie
6.946: I trowe I do no glotonie.
6.947: And natheles to youre avis,
6.948: Min holi fader, that be wis,
6.949: I recomande myn astat
6.950: Of that I have be delicat.
6.951: Mi Sone, I understonde wel
-2.193-
6.952: That thou hast told hier everydel,
6.953: And as me thenketh be thi tale,
6.954: It ben delices wonder smale,
6.955: Wherof thou takst thi loves fode.
6.956: Bot, Sone, if that thou understode
6.957: What is to ben delicious,
6.958: Thou woldest noght be curious
6.959: Upon the lust of thin astat
6.960: To ben to sore delicat,
6.961: Wherof that thou reson excede:
6.962: For in the bokes thou myht rede,
6.963: If mannes wisdom schal be suied,
6.964: It oghte wel to ben eschuied
6.965: In love als wel as other weie;
6.966: For, as these holi bokes seie,
6.967: The bodely delices alle
6.968: In every point, hou so thei falle,
6.969: Unto the Soule don grievance.
6.970: And forto take in remembrance,
6.971: A tale acordant unto this,
6.972: Which of gret understondinge is
6.973: To mannes soule resonable,
6.974: I thenke telle, and is no fable.
6.975: Of Cristes word, who wole it rede,
6.976: Hou that this vice is forto drede
6.977: In thevangile it telleth plein,
6.978: Which mot algate be certein,
6.979: For Crist himself it berth witnesse.
6.980: And thogh the clerk and the clergesse
6.981: In latin tunge it rede and singe,
6.982: Yit for the more knoulechinge
6.983: Of trouthe, which is good to wite,
6.984: I schal declare as it is write
6.985: In Engleissh, for thus it began.
6.986: Crist seith: "Ther was a riche man,
6.987: A mihti lord of gret astat,
6.988: And he was ek so delicat
-2.194-
6.989: Of his clothing, that everyday
6.990: Of pourpre and bisse he made him gay,
6.991: And eet and drank therto his fille
6.992: After the lustes of his wille,
6.993: As he which al stod in delice
6.994: And tok non hiede of thilke vice.
6.995: And as it scholde so betyde,
6.996: A povere lazre upon a tyde
6.997: Cam to the gate and axed mete:
6.998: Bot there mihte he nothing gete
6.999: His dedly hunger forto stanche;
6.1000: For he, which hadde his fulle panche
6.1001: Of alle lustes ate bord,
6.1002: Ne deigneth noght to speke a word,
6.1003: Onliche a Crumme forto yive,
6.1004: Wherof the povere myhte live
6.1005: Upon the yifte of his almesse.
6.1006: Thus lai this povere in gret destresse
6.1007: Acold and hungred ate gate,
6.1008: Fro which he mihte go no gate,
6.1009: So was he wofulli besein.
6.1010: And as these holi bokes sein,
6.1011: The houndes comen fro the halle,
6.1012: Wher that this sike man was falle,
6.1013: And as he lay ther forto die,
6.1014: The woundes of his maladie
6.1015: Thei licken forto don him ese.
6.1016: Bot he was full of such desese,
6.1017: That he mai noght the deth eschape;
6.1018: Bot as it was that time schape,
6.1019: The Soule fro the bodi passeth,
6.1020: And he whom nothing overpasseth,
6.1021: The hihe god, up to the hevene
6.1022: Him tok, wher he hath set him evene
6.1023: In Habrahammes barm on hyh,
6.1024: Wher he the hevene joie syh
-2.195-
6.1025: And hadde al that he have wolde.
6.1026: And fell, as it befalle scholde,
6.1027: This riche man the same throwe
6.1028: With soudein deth was overthrowe,
6.1029: And forth withouten eny wente
6.1030: Into the helle straght he wente;
6.1031: The fend into the fyr him drouh,
6.1032: Wher that he hadde peine ynouh
6.1033: Of flamme which that evere brenneth.
6.1034: And as his yhe aboute renneth,
6.1035: Toward the hevene he cast his lok,
6.1036: Wher that he syh and hiede tok
6.1037: Hou Lazar set was in his Se
6.1038: Als ferr as evere he mihte se
6.1039: With Habraham; and thanne he preide
6.1040: Unto the Patriarch and seide:
6.1041: "Send Lazar doun fro thilke Sete,
6.1042: And do that he his finger wete
6.1043: In water, so that he mai droppe
6.1044: Upon my tunge, forto stoppe
6.1045: The grete hete in which I brenne."
6.1046: Bot Habraham answerde thenne
6.1047: And seide to him in this wise:
6.1048: "Mi Sone, thou thee miht avise
6.1049: And take into thi remembrance,
6.1050: Hou Lazar hadde gret penance,
6.1051: Whyl he was in that other lif,
6.1052: Bot thou in al thi lust jolif
6.1053: The bodily delices soghtest:
6.1054: Forthi, so as thou thanne wroghtest,
6.1055: Nou schalt thou take thi reward
6.1056: Of dedly peine hierafterward
6.1057: In helle, which schal evere laste;
6.1058: And this Lazar nou ate laste
6.1059: The worldes peine is overronne,
6.1060: In hevene and hath his lif begonne
6.1061: Of joie, which is endeles.
-2.196-
6.1062: Bot that thou preidest natheles,
6.1063: That I schal Lazar to the sende
6.1064: With water on his finger ende,
6.1065: Thin hote tunge forto kiele,
6.1066: Thou schalt no such graces fiele;
6.1067: For to that foule place of Sinne,
6.1068: For evere in which thou schalt ben inne,
6.1069: Comth non out of this place thider,
6.1070: Ne non of you mai comen hider;
6.1071: Thus be yee parted nou atuo."
6.1072: The riche ayeinward cride tho:
6.1073: "O Habraham, sithe it so is,
6.1074: That Lazar mai noght do me this
6.1075: Which I have axed in this place,
6.1076: I wolde preie an other grace.
6.1077: For I have yit of brethren fyve,
6.1078: That with mi fader ben alyve
6.1079: Togedre duellende in on hous;
6.1080: To whom, as thou art gracious,
6.1081: I preie that thou woldest sende
6.1082: Lazar, so that he mihte wende
6.1083: To warne hem hou the world is went,
6.1084: That afterward thei be noght schent
6.1085: Of suche peines as I drye.
6.1086: Lo, this I preie and this I crie,
6.1087: Now I may noght miself amende."
6.1088: The Patriarch anon suiende
6.1089: To his preiere ansuerde nay;
6.1090: And seide him hou that everyday
6.1091: His brethren mihten knowe and hiere
6.1092: Of Moiµses on Erthe hiere
6.1093: And of prophetes othre mo,
6.1094: What hem was best. And he seith no;
6.1095: Bot if ther mihte a man aryse
6.1096: Fro deth to lyve in such a wise,
6.1097: To tellen hem hou that it were,
6.1098: He seide hou thanne of pure fere
6.1099: Thei scholden wel be war therby.
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6.1100: Quod Habraham: "Nay sikerly;
6.1101: For if thei nou wol noght obeie
6.1102: To suche as techen hem the weie,
6.1103: And alday preche and alday telle
6.1104: Hou that it stant of hevene and helle,
6.1105: Thei wol noght thanne taken hiede,
6.1106: Thogh it befelle so in dede
6.1107: That eny ded man were arered,
6.1108: To ben of him no betre lered
6.1109: Than of an other man alyve."
6.1110: If thou, mi Sone, canst descryve
6.1111: This tale, as Crist himself it tolde,
6.1112: Thou schalt have cause to beholde,
6.1113: To se so gret an evidence,
6.1114: Wherof the sothe experience
6.1115: Hath schewed openliche at yµe,
6.1116: That bodili delicacie
6.1117: Of him which yeveth non almesse
6.1118: Schal after falle in gret destresse.
6.1119: And that was sene upon the riche:
6.1120: For he ne wolde unto his liche
6.1121: A Crumme yiven of his bred,
6.1122: Thanne afterward, whan he was ded,
6.1123: A drope of water him was werned.
6.1124: Thus mai a mannes wit be lerned
6.1125: Of hem that so delices taken;
6.1126: Whan thei with deth ben overtaken,
6.1127: That erst was swete is thanne sour.
6.1128: Bot he that is a governour
6.1129: Of worldes good, if he be wys,
6.1130: Withinne his herte he set no pris
6.1131: Of al the world, and yit he useth
6.1132: The good, that he nothing refuseth,
6.1133: As he which lord is of the thinges.
6.1134: The Nouches and the riche ringes,
6.1135: The cloth of gold and the Perrie
6.1136: He takth, and yit delicacie
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6.1137: He leveth, thogh he were al this.
6.1138: The beste mete that ther is
6.1139: He ett, and drinkth the beste drinke;
6.1140: Bot hou that evere he ete or drinke,
6.1141: Delicacie he put aweie,
6.1142: As he which goth the rihte weie
6.1143: Noght only forto fiede and clothe
6.1144: His bodi, bot his soule bothe.
6.1145: Bot thei that taken otherwise
6.1146: Here lustes, ben none of the wise;
6.1147: And that whilom was schewed eke,
6.1148: If thou these olde bokes seke,
6.1149: Als wel be reson as be kinde,
6.1150: Of olde ensample as men mai finde.
6.1151: What man that wolde him wel avise,
6.1152: Delicacie is to despise,
6.1153: Whan kinde acordeth noght withal;
6.1154: Wherof ensample in special
6.1155: Of Nero whilom mai be told,
6.1156: Which ayein kinde manyfold
6.1157: Hise lustes tok, til ate laste
6.1158: That god him wolde al overcaste;
6.1159: Of whom the Cronique is so plein,
6.1160: Me list nomore of him to sein.
6.1161: And natheles for glotonie
6.1162: Of bodili Delicacie,
6.1163: To knowe his stomak hou it ferde,
6.1164: Of that noman tofore herde,
6.1165: Which he withinne himself bethoghte,
6.1166: A wonder soubtil thing he wroghte.
6.1167: Thre men upon eleccioun
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6.1168: Of age and of complexioun
6.1169: Lich to himself be alle weie
6.1170: He tok towardes him to pleie,
6.1171: And ete and drinke als wel as he.
6.1172: Therof was no diversite;
6.1173: For every day whan that thei eete,
6.1174: Tofore his oghne bord thei seete,
6.1175: And of such mete as he was served,
6.1176: Althogh thei hadde it noght deserved,
6.1177: Thei token service of the same.
6.1178: Bot afterward al thilke game
6.1179: Was into wofull ernest torned;
6.1180: For whan thei weren thus sojorned,
6.1181: Withinne a time at after mete
6.1182: Nero, which hadde noght foryete
6.1183: The lustes of his frele astat,
6.1184: As he which al was delicat,
6.1185: To knowe thilke experience,
6.1186: The men let come in his presence:
6.1187: And to that on the same tyde,
6.1188: A courser that he scholde ryde
6.1189: Into the feld, anon he bad;
6.1190: Wherof this man was wonder glad,
6.1191: And goth to prike and prance aboute.
6.1192: That other, whil that he was oute,
6.1193: He leide upon his bedd to slepe:
6.1194: The thridde, which he wolde kepe
6.1195: Withinne his chambre, faire and softe
6.1196: He goth now doun nou up fulofte,
6.1197: Walkende a pass, that he ne slepte,
6.1198: Til he which on the courser lepte
6.1199: Was come fro the field ayein.
6.1200: Nero thanne, as the bokes sein,
6.1201: These men doth taken alle thre
6.1202: And slouh hem, for he wolde se
6.1203: The whos stomak was best defied:
6.1204: And whanne he hath the sothe tryed,
6.1205: He fond that he which goth the pass
6.1206: Defyed best of alle was,
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6.1207: Which afterward he usede ay.
6.1208: And thus what thing unto his pay
6.1209: Was most plesant, he lefte non:
6.1210: With every lust he was begon,
6.1211: Wherof the bodi myhte glade,
6.1212: For he non abstinence made;
6.1213: Bot most above alle erthli thinges
6.1214: Of wommen unto the likinges
6.1215: Nero sette al his hole herte,
6.1216: For that lust scholde him noght asterte.
6.1217: Whan that the thurst of love him cawhte,
6.1218: Wher that him list he tok a drauhte,
6.1219: He spareth nouther wif ne maide,
6.1220: That such an other, as men saide,
6.1221: In al this world was nevere yit.
6.1222: He was so drunke in al his wit
6.1223: Thurgh sondri lustes whiche he tok,
6.1224: That evere, whil ther is a bok,
6.1225: Of Nero men schul rede and singe
6.1226: Unto the worldes knowlechinge,
6.1227: Mi goode Sone, as thou hast herd.
6.1228: For evere yit it hath so ferd,
6.1229: Delicacie in loves cas
6.1230: Withoute reson is and was;
6.1231: For wher that love his herte set,
6.1232: Him thenkth it myhte be no bet;
6.1233: And thogh it be noght fulli mete,
6.1234: The lust of love is evere swete.
6.1235: Lo, thus togedre of felaschipe
6.1236: Delicacie and drunkeschipe,
6.1237: Wherof reson stant out of herre,
6.1238: Have mad full many a wisman erre
6.1239: In loves cause most of alle:
6.1240: For thanne hou so that evere it falle,
6.1241: Wit can no reson understonde,
6.1242: Bot let the governance stonde
6.1243: To Will, which thanne wext so wylde,
6.1244: That he can noght himselve schylde
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6.1245: Fro no peril, bot out of feere
6.1246: The weie he secheth hiere and there,
6.1247: Him recheth noght upon what syde:
6.1248: For oftetime he goth beside,
6.1249: And doth such thing withoute drede,
6.1250: Wherof him oghte wel to drede.
6.1251: Bot whan that love assoteth sore,
6.1252: It passeth alle mennes lore;
6.1253: What lust it is that he ordeigneth,
6.1254: Ther is no mannes miht restreigneth,
6.1255: And of the godd takth he non hiede:
6.1256: Bot laweles withoute drede,
6.1257: His pourpos for he wolde achieve
6.1258: Ayeins the pointz of the believe,
6.1259: He tempteth hevene and erthe and helle,
6.1260: Hierafterward as I schall telle.
6.1261: Who dar do thing which love ne dar?
6.1262: To love is every lawe unwar,
6.1263: Bot to the lawes of his heste
6.1264: The fissch, the foul, the man, the beste
6.1265: Of al the worldes kinde louteth.
6.1266: For love is he which nothing douteth:
6.1267: In mannes herte where he sit,
6.1268: He compteth noght toward his wit
6.1269: The wo nomore than the wele,
6.1270: No mor the hete than the chele,
6.1271: No mor the wete than the dreie,
6.1272: No mor to live than to deie,
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6.1273: So that tofore ne behinde
6.1274: He seth nothing, bot as the blinde
6.1275: Withoute insyhte of his corage
6.1276: He doth merveilles in his rage.
6.1277: To what thing that he wole him drawe,
6.1278: Ther is no god, ther is no lawe,
6.1279: Of whom that he takth eny hiede;
6.1280: Bot as Baiard the blinde stede,
6.1281: Til he falle in the dich amidde,
6.1282: He goth ther noman wole him bidde;
6.1283: He stant so ferforth out of reule,
6.1284: Ther is no wit that mai him reule.
6.1285: And thus to telle of him in soth,
6.1286: Ful many a wonder thing he doth,
6.1287: That were betre to be laft,
6.1288: Among the whiche is wicchecraft,
6.1289: That som men clepen Sorcerie,
6.1290: Which forto winne his druerie
6.1291: With many a circumstance he useth,
6.1292: Ther is no point which he refuseth.
6.1293: The craft which that Saturnus fond,
6.1294: To make prickes in the Sond,
6.1295: That Geomance cleped is,
6.1296: Fulofte he useth it amis;
6.1297: And of the flod his Ydromance,
6.1298: And of the fyr the Piromance,
6.1299: With questions echon of tho
6.1300: He tempteth ofte, and ek also
6.1301: Aeµremance in juggement
6.1302: To love he bringth of his assent:
6.1303: For these craftes, as I finde,
6.1304: A man mai do be weie of kinde,
6.1305: Be so it be to good entente.
6.1306: Bot he goth al an other wente;
6.1307: For rathere er he scholde faile,
6.1308: With Nigromance he wole assaile
6.1309: To make his incantacioun
6.1310: With hot subfumigacioun.
-2.203-
6.1311: Thilke art which Spatula is hote,
6.1312: And used is of comun rote
6.1313: Among Paiens, with that craft ek
6.1314: Of which is Auctor Thosz the Grek,
6.1315: He worcheth on and on be rowe:
6.1316: Razel is noght to him unknowe,
6.1317: Ne Salomones Candarie,
6.1318: His Ydeac, his Eutonye;
6.1319: The figure and the bok withal
6.1320: Of Balamuz, and of Ghenbal
6.1321: The Seal, and therupon thymage
6.1322: Of Thebith, for his avantage
6.1323: He takth, and somwhat of Gibiere,
6.1324: Which helplich is to this matiere.
6.1325: Babilla with hire Sones sevene,
6.1326: Which hath renonced to the hevene,
6.1327: With Cernes bothe square and rounde,
6.1328: He traceth ofte upon the grounde,
6.1329: Makende his invocacioun;
6.1330: And for full enformacioun
6.1331: The Scole which Honorius
6.1332: Wrot, he poursuieth: and lo, thus
6.1333: Magique he useth forto winne
6.1334: His love, and spareth for no Sinne.
6.1335: And over that of his Sotie,
6.1336: Riht as he secheth Sorcerie
6.1337: Of hem that ben Magiciens,
6.1338: Riht so of the Naturiens
6.1339: Upon the Sterres from above
6.1340: His weie he secheth unto love,
6.1341: Als fer as he hem understondeth.
6.1342: In many a sondry wise he fondeth:
6.1343: He makth ymage, he makth sculpture,
6.1344: He makth writinge, he makth figure,
6.1345: He makth his calculacions,
6.1346: He makth his demonstracions;
6.1347: His houres of Astronomie
6.1348: He kepeth as for that partie
-2.204-
6.1349: Which longeth to thinspeccion
6.1350: Of love and his affeccion;
6.1351: He wolde into the helle seche
6.1352: The devel himselve to beseche,
6.1353: If that he wiste forto spede,
6.1354: To gete of love his lusti mede:
6.1355: Wher that he hath his herte set,
6.1356: He bede nevere fare bet
6.1357: Ne wite of other hevene more.
6.1358: Mi Sone, if thou of such a lore
6.1359: Hast ben er this, I red thee leve.
6.1360: Min holi fader, be youre leve
6.1361: Of al that ye have spoken hiere
6.1362: Which toucheth unto this matiere,
6.1363: To telle soth riht as I wene,
6.1364: I wot noght o word what ye mene.
6.1365: I wol noght seie, if that I couthe,
6.1366: That I nolde in mi lusti youthe
6.1367: Benethe in helle and ek above
6.1368: To winne with mi ladi love
6.1369: Don al that evere that I mihte;
6.1370: For therof have I non insihte
6.1371: Wher afterward that I become,
6.1372: To that I wonne and overcome
6.1373: Hire love, which I most coveite.
6.1374: Mi Sone, that goth wonder streite:
6.1375: For this I mai wel telle soth,
6.1376: Ther is noman the which so doth,
6.1377: For al the craft that he can caste,
6.1378: That he nabeith it ate laste.
6.1379: For often he that wol beguile
6.1380: Is guiled with the same guile,
6.1381: And thus the guilour is beguiled;
6.1382: As I finde in a bok compiled
6.1383: To this matiere an old histoire,
6.1384: The which comth nou to mi memoire,
6.1385: And is of gret essamplerie
6.1386: Ayein the vice of Sorcerie,
6.1387: Wherof non ende mai be good.
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6.1388: Bot hou whilom therof it stod,
6.1389: A tale which is good to knowe
6.1390: To thee, mi Sone, I schal beknowe.
6.1391: Among hem whiche at Troie were,
6.1392: Uluxes ate Siege there
6.1393: Was on be name in special;
6.1394: Of whom yit the memorial
6.1395: Abit, for whyl ther is a mouth,
6.1396: For evere his name schal be couth.
6.1397: He was a worthi knyht and king
6.1398: And clerk knowende of every thing;
6.1399: He was a gret rethorien,
6.1400: He was a gret magicien;
6.1401: Of Tullius the rethorique,
6.1402: Of king Zorastes the magique,
6.1403: Of Tholome thastronomie,
6.1404: Of Plato the Philosophie,
6.1405: Of Daniel the slepi dremes,
6.1406: Of Neptune ek the water stremes,
6.1407: Of Salomon and the proverbes,
6.1408: Of Macer al the strengthe of herbes,
6.1409: And the Phisique of Ypocras,
6.1410: And lich unto Pictagoras
6.1411: Of Surgerie he knew the cures.
6.1412: Bot somwhat of his aventures,
6.1413: Which schal to mi matiere acorde,
6.1414: To thee, mi Sone, I wol recorde.
6.1415: This king, of which thou hast herd sein,
6.1416: Fro Troie as he goth hom ayein
6.1417: Be Schipe, he fond the See divers,
6.1418: With many a wyndi storm revers.
6.1419: Bot he thurgh wisdom that he schapeth
6.1420: Ful many a gret peril ascapeth,
6.1421: Of whiche I thenke tellen on,
6.1422: Hou that malgre the nedle and ston
6.1423: Wynddrive he was al soudeinly
6.1424: Upon the strondes of Cilly,
-2.206-
6.1425: Wher that he moste abyde a whyle.
6.1426: Tuo queenes weren in that yle
6.1427: Calipsa named and Circes;
6.1428: And whan they herde hou Uluxes
6.1429: Is londed ther upon the ryve,
6.1430: For him thei senden als so blive.
6.1431: With him suche as he wolde he nam
6.1432: And to the court to hem he cam.
6.1433: Thes queenes were as tuo goddesses
6.1434: Of Art magique Sorceresses,
6.1435: That what lord comth to that rivage,
6.1436: Thei make him love in such a rage
6.1437: And upon hem assote so,
6.1438: That thei wol have, er that he go,
6.1439: Al that he hath of worldes good.
6.1440: Uluxes wel this understod,
6.1441: Thei couthe moche, he couthe more;
6.1442: Thei schape and caste ayein him sore
6.1443: And wroghte many a soutil wyle,
6.1444: Bot yit thei mihte him noght beguile.
6.1445: Bot of the men of his navie
6.1446: Thei tuo forschope a gret partie,
6.1447: Mai non of hem withstonde here hestes;
6.1448: Som part thei schopen into bestes,
6.1449: Som part thei schopen into foules,
6.1450: To beres, tigres, Apes, oules,
6.1451: Or elles be som other weie;
6.1452: Ther myhte hem nothing desobeie,
6.1453: Such craft thei hadde above kinde.
6.1454: Bot that Art couthe thei noght finde,
6.1455: Of which Uluxes was deceived,
6.1456: That he ne hath hem alle weyved,
6.1457: And broght hem into such a rote,
6.1458: That upon him thei bothe assote;
6.1459: And thurgh the science of his art
6.1460: He tok of hem so wel his part,
6.1461: That he begat Circes with childe.
6.1462: He kepte him sobre and made hem wilde,
-2.207-
6.1463: He sette himselve so above,
6.1464: That with here good and with here love,
6.1465: Who that therof be lief or loth,
6.1466: Al quit into his Schip he goth.
6.1467: Circes toswolle bothe sides
6.1468: He lefte, and waiteth on the tydes,
6.1469: And straght thurghout the salte fom
6.1470: He takth his cours and comth him hom,
6.1471: Where as he fond Penolope;
6.1472: A betre wif ther mai non be,
6.1473: And yit ther ben ynowhe of goode.
6.1474: Bot who hir goodschipe understode
6.1475: Fro ferst that sche wifhode tok,
6.1476: Hou many loves sche forsok
6.1477: And hou sche bar hire al aboute,
6.1478: Ther whiles that hire lord was oute,
6.1479: He mihte make a gret avant
6.1480: Amonges al the remenant
6.1481: That sche was on of al the beste.
6.1482: Wel myhte he sette his herte in reste,
6.1483: This king, whan he hir fond in hele;
6.1484: For as he couthe in wisdom dele,
6.1485: So couthe sche in wommanhiede:
6.1486: And whan sche syh withoute drede
6.1487: Hire lord upon his oghne ground,
6.1488: That he was come sauf and sound,
6.1489: In al this world ne mihte be
6.1490: A gladdere womman than was sche.
6.1491: The fame, which mai noght ben hidd,
6.1492: Thurghout the lond is sone kidd,
6.1493: Here king is come hom ayein:
6.1494: Ther mai noman the fulle sein,
6.1495: Hou that thei weren alle glade,
6.1496: So mochel joie of him thei made.
6.1497: The presens every day be newed,
6.1498: He was with yiftes al besnewed;
6.1499: The poeple was of him so glad,
6.1500: That thogh non other man hem bad,
-2.208-
6.1501: Taillage upon hemself thei sette,
6.1502: And as it were of pure dette
6.1503: Thei yeve here goodes to the king:
6.1504: This was a glad hom welcomyng.
6.1505: Thus hath Uluxes what he wolde,
6.1506: His wif was such as sche be scholde,
6.1507: His poeple was to him sougit,
6.1508: Him lacketh nothing of delit.
6.1509: Bot fortune is of such a sleyhte,
6.1510: That whan a man is most on heyhte,
6.1511: Sche makth him rathest forto falle:
6.1512: Ther wot noman what schal befalle,
6.1513: The happes over mannes hed
6.1514: Ben honged with a tendre thred.
6.1515: That proved was on Uluxes;
6.1516: For whan he was most in his pes,
6.1517: Fortune gan to make him werre
6.1518: And sette his welthe al out of herre.
6.1519: Upon a dai as he was merie,
6.1520: As thogh ther mihte him nothing derie,
6.1521: Whan nyht was come, he goth to bedde,
6.1522: With slep and bothe his yhen fedde.
6.1523: And while he slepte, he mette a swevene:
6.1524: Him thoghte he syh a stature evene,
6.1525: Which brihtere than the sonne schon;
6.1526: A man it semeth was it non,
6.1527: Bot yit it was as in figure
6.1528: Most lich to mannyssh creature,
6.1529: Bot as of beaute hevenelich
6.1530: It was most to an Angel lich:
6.1531: And thus betwen angel and man
6.1532: Beholden it this king began,
6.1533: And such a lust tok of the sihte,
6.1534: That fain he wolde, if that he mihte,
6.1535: The forme of that figure embrace;
6.1536: And goth him forth toward the place,
6.1537: Wher he sih that ymage tho,
-2.209-
6.1538: And takth it in his Armes tuo,
6.1539: And it embraceth him ayein
6.1540: And to the king thus gan it sein:
6.1541: "Uluxes, understond wel this,
6.1542: The tokne of oure aqueintance is
6.1543: Hierafterward to mochel tene:
6.1544: The love that is ous betuene,
6.1545: Of that we nou such joie make,
6.1546: That on of ous the deth schal take,
6.1547: Whan time comth of destine;
6.1548: It may non other wise be."
6.1549: Uluxes tho began to preie
6.1550: That this figure wolde him seie
6.1551: What wyht he is that seith him so.
6.1552: This wyht upon a spere tho
6.1553: A pensel which was wel begon,
6.1554: Embrouded, scheweth him anon:
6.1555: Thre fisshes alle of o colour
6.1556: In manere as it were a tour
6.1557: Upon the pensel were wroght.
6.1558: Uluxes kneu this tokne noght,
6.1559: And preith to wite in som partie
6.1560: What thing it myhte signefie,
6.1561: "A signe it is," the wyht ansuerde,
6.1562: "Of an Empire:" and forth he ferde
6.1563: Al sodeinly, whan he that seide.
6.1564: Uluxes out of slep abreide,
6.1565: And that was riht ayein the day,
6.1566: That lengere slepen he ne may.
6.1567: Men sein, a man hath knowleching
6.1568: Save of himself of alle thing;
6.1569: His oghne chance noman knoweth,
6.1570: Bot as fortune it on him throweth:
6.1571: Was nevere yit so wys a clerk,
6.1572: Which mihte knowe al goddes werk,
6.1573: Ne the secret which god hath set
6.1574: Ayein a man mai noght be let.
6.1575: Uluxes, thogh that he be wys,
-2.210-
6.1576: With al his wit in his avis,
6.1577: The mor that he his swevene acompteth,
6.1578: The lasse he wot what it amonteth:
6.1579: For al his calculacion,
6.1580: He seth no demonstracion
6.1581: Al pleinly forto knowe an ende;
6.1582: Bot natheles hou so it wende,
6.1583: He dradde him of his oghne Sone.
6.1584: That makth him wel the more astone,
6.1585: And schop therfore anon withal,
6.1586: So that withinne castel wall
6.1587: Thelamachum his Sone he schette,
6.1588: And upon him strong warde he sette.
6.1589: The sothe furthere he ne knew,
6.1590: Til that fortune him overthreu;
6.1591: Bot natheles for sikernesse,
6.1592: Wher that he mihte wite and gesse
6.1593: A place strengest in his lond,
6.1594: Ther let he make of lym and sond
6.1595: A strengthe where he wolde duelle;
6.1596: Was nevere man yit herde telle
6.1597: Of such an other as it was.
6.1598: And forto strengthe him in that cas,
6.1599: Of al his lond the sekereste
6.1600: Of servantz and the worthieste,
6.1601: To kepen him withinne warde,
6.1602: He sette his bodi forto warde;
6.1603: And made such an ordinance,
6.1604: For love ne for aqueintance,
6.1605: That were it erly, were it late,
6.1606: Thei scholde lete in ate gate
6.1607: No maner man, what so betydde,
6.1608: Bot if so were himself it bidde.
6.1609: Bot al that myhte him noght availe,
6.1610: For whom fortune wole assaile,
6.1611: Ther mai be non such resistence,
6.1612: Which mihte make a man defence;
-2.211-
6.1613: Al that schal be mot falle algate.
6.1614: This Circes, which I spak of late,
6.1615: On whom Uluxes hath begete
6.1616: A child, thogh he it have foryete,
6.1617: Whan time com, as it was wone,
6.1618: Sche was delivered of a Sone,
6.1619: Which cleped is Thelogonus.
6.1620: This child, whan he was bore thus,
6.1621: Aboute his moder to ful age,
6.1622: That he can reson and langage,
6.1623: In good astat was drawe forth:
6.1624: And whan he was so mochel worth
6.1625: To stonden in a mannes stede,
6.1626: Circes his moder hath him bede
6.1627: That he schal to his fader go,
6.1628: And tolde him al togedre tho
6.1629: What man he was that him begat.
6.1630: And whan Thelogonus of that
6.1631: Was war and hath ful knowleching
6.1632: Hou that his fader was a king,
6.1633: He preith his moder faire this,
6.1634: To go wher that his fader is;
6.1635: And sche him granteth that he schal,
6.1636: And made him redi forth withal.
6.1637: It was that time such usance,
6.1638: That every man the conoiscance
6.1639: Of his contre bar in his hond,
6.1640: Whan he wente into strange lond;
6.1641: And thus was every man therfore
6.1642: Wel knowe, wher that he was bore:
6.1643: For espiaile and mistrowinges
6.1644: They dede thanne suche thinges,
6.1645: That every man mai other knowe.
6.1646: So it befell that ilke throwe
6.1647: Thelogonus as in this cas;
6.1648: Of his contre the signe was
6.1649: Thre fisshes, whiche he scholde bere
6.1650: Upon the penon of a spere:
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6.1651: And whan that he was thus arraied
6.1652: And hath his harneis al assaied,
6.1653: That he was redy everydel,
6.1654: His moder bad him farewel,
6.1655: And seide him that he scholde swithe
6.1656: His fader griete a thousand sithe.
6.1657: Thelogonus his moder kiste
6.1658: And tok his leve, and wher he wiste
6.1659: His fader was, the weie nam,
6.1660: Til he unto Nachaie cam,
6.1661: Which of that lond the chief Cite
6.1662: Was cleped, and ther axeth he
6.1663: Wher was the king and hou he ferde.
6.1664: And whan that he the sothe herde,
6.1665: Wher that the king Uluxes was,
6.1666: Al one upon his hors gret pas
6.1667: He rod him forth, and in his hond
6.1668: He bar the signal of his lond
6.1669: With fisshes thre, as I have told;
6.1670: And thus he wente unto that hold,
6.1671: Wher that his oghne fader duelleth.
6.1672: The cause why he comth he telleth
6.1673: Unto the kepers of the gate,
6.1674: And wolde have comen in therate,
6.1675: Bot schortli thei him seide nay:
6.1676: And he als faire as evere he may
6.1677: Besoghte and tolde hem ofte this,
6.1678: Hou that the king his fader is;
6.1679: Bot they with proude wordes grete
6.1680: Begunne to manace and threte,
6.1681: Bot he go fro the gate faste,
6.1682: Thei wolde him take and sette faste.
6.1683: Fro wordes unto strokes thus
6.1684: Thei felle, and so Thelogonus
6.1685: Was sore hurt and welnyh ded;
6.1686: Bot with his scharpe speres hed
6.1687: He makth defence, hou so it falle,
6.1688: And wan the gate upon hem alle,
6.1689: And hath slain of the beste fyve;
-2.213-
6.1690: And thei ascriden als so blyve
6.1691: Thurghout the castell al aboute.
6.1692: On every syde men come oute,
6.1693: Wherof the kinges herte afflihte,
6.1694: And he with al the haste he mihte
6.1695: A spere cauhte and out he goth,
6.1696: As he that was nyh wod for wroth.
6.1697: He sih the gates ful of blod,
6.1698: Thelogonus and wher he stod
6.1699: He sih also, bot he ne knew
6.1700: What man it was, and to him threw
6.1701: His Spere, and he sterte out asyde.
6.1702: Bot destine, which schal betide,
6.1703: Befell that ilke time so,
6.1704: Thelogonus knew nothing tho
6.1705: What man it was that to him caste,
6.1706: And while his oghne spere laste,
6.1707: With al the signe therupon
6.1708: He caste unto the king anon,
6.1709: And smot him with a dedly wounde.
6.1710: Uluxes fell anon to grounde;
6.1711: Tho every man, "The king! the king!"
6.1712: Began to crie, and of this thing
6.1713: Thelogonus, which sih the cas,
6.1714: On knes he fell and seide, "Helas!
6.1715: I have min oghne fader slain:
6.1716: Nou wolde I deie wonder fain,
6.1717: Nou sle me who that evere wile,
6.1718: For certes it is right good skile."
6.1719: He crith, he wepth, he seith therfore,
6.1720: "Helas, that evere was I bore,
6.1721: That this unhappi destine
6.1722: So wofulli comth in be me!"
6.1723: This king, which yit hath lif ynouh,
6.1724: His herte ayein to him he drouh,
6.1725: And to that vois an Ere he leide
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6.1726: And understod al that he seide,
6.1727: And gan to speke, and seide on hih,
6.1728: "Bring me this man." And whan he sih
6.1729: Thelogonus, his thoght he sette
6.1730: Upon the swevene which he mette,
6.1731: And axeth that he myhte se
6.1732: His spere, on which the fisshes thre
6.1733: He sih upon a pensel wroght.
6.1734: Tho wiste he wel it faileth noght,
6.1735: And badd him that he telle scholde
6.1736: Fro whenne he cam and what he wolde.
6.1737: Thelogonus in sorghe and wo
6.1738: So as he mihte tolde tho
6.1739: Unto Uluxes al the cas,
6.1740: Hou that Circes his moder was,
6.1741: And so forth seide him everydel,
6.1742: Hou that his moder gret him wel,
6.1743: And in what wise sche him sente.
6.1744: Tho wiste Uluxes what it mente,
6.1745: And tok him in hise Armes softe,
6.1746: And al bledende he kest him ofte,
6.1747: And seide, "Sone, whil I live,
6.1748: This infortune I thee foryive."
6.1749: After his other Sone in haste
6.1750: He sende, and he began him haste
6.1751: And cam unto his fader tyt.
6.1752: Bot whan he sih him in such plit,
6.1753: He wolde have ronne upon that other
6.1754: Anon, and slain his oghne brother,
6.1755: Ne hadde be that Uluxes
6.1756: Betwen hem made acord and pes,
6.1757: And to his heir Thelamachus
6.1758: He bad that he Thelogonus
6.1759: With al his pouer scholde kepe,
6.1760: Til he were of his woundes depe
6.1761: Al hol, and thanne he scholde him yive
6.1762: Lond wher upon he mihte live.
6.1763: Thelamachus, whan he this herde,
-2.215-
6.1764: Unto his fader he ansuerde
6.1765: And seide he wolde don his wille.
6.1766: So duelle thei togedre stille,
6.1767: These brethren, and the fader sterveth.
6.1768: Lo, wherof Sorcerie serveth.
6.1769: Thurgh Sorcerie his lust he wan,
6.1770: Thurgh Sorcerie his wo began,
6.1771: Thurgh Sorcerie his love he ches,
6.1772: Thurgh Sorcerie his lif he les;
6.1773: The child was gete in Sorcerie,
6.1774: The which dede al this felonie:
6.1775: Thing which was ayein kynde wroght
6.1776: Unkindeliche it was aboght;
6.1777: The child his oghne fader slowh,
6.1778: That was unkindeschipe ynowh.
6.1779: Forthi tak hiede hou that it is,
6.1780: So forto winne love amis,
6.1781: Which endeth al his joie in wo:
6.1782: For of this Art I finde also,
6.1783: That hath be do for loves sake,
6.1784: Wherof thou miht ensample take,
6.1785: A gret Cronique imperial,
6.1786: Which evere into memorial
6.1787: Among the men, hou so it wende,
6.1788: Schal duelle to the worldes ende.
6.1789: The hihe creatour of thinges,
6.1790: Which is the king of alle kinges,
6.1791: Ful many a wonder worldes chance
6.1792: Let slyden under his suffrance;
6.1793: Ther wot noman the cause why,
6.1794: Bot he the which is almyhty.
6.1795: And that was proved whilom thus,
6.1796: Whan that the king Nectanabus,
6.1797: Which hadde Egipte forto lede,-
6.1798: Bot for he sih tofor the dede
6.1799: Thurgh magique of his Sorcerie,
6.1800: Wherof he couthe a gret partie,
-2.216-
6.1801: Hise enemys to him comende,
6.1802: Fro whom he mihte him noght defende,
6.1803: Out of his oghne lond he fledde;
6.1804: And in the wise as he him dredde
6.1805: It fell, for al his wicchecraft,
6.1806: So that Egipte him was beraft,
6.1807: And he desguised fledde aweie
6.1808: Be schipe, and hield the rihte weie
6.1809: To Macedoine, wher that he
6.1810: Aryveth ate chief Cite.
6.1811: Thre yomen of his chambre there
6.1812: Al only forto serve him were,
6.1813: The whiche he trusteth wonder wel,
6.1814: For thei were trewe as eny stiel;
6.1815: And hapneth that thei with him ladde
6.1816: Part of the beste good he hadde.
6.1817: Thei take logginge in the toun
6.1818: After the disposicion
6.1819: Wher as him thoghte best to duelle:
6.1820: He axeth thanne and herde telle
6.1821: Hou that the king was oute go.
6.1822: Upon a werre he hadde tho;
6.1823: But in that Cite thanne was
6.1824: The queene, which Olimpias
6.1825: Was hote, and with sollempnete
6.1826: The feste of hir nativite,
6.1827: As it befell, was thanne holde;
6.1828: And for hire list to be beholde
6.1829: And preised of the poeple aboute,
6.1830: Sche schop hir forto riden oute
6.1831: At after mete al openly.
6.1832: Anon were alle men redy,
6.1833: And that was in the monthe of Maii,
6.1834: This lusti queene in good arrai
6.1835: Was set upon a Mule whyt:
6.1836: To sen it was a gret delit
6.1837: The joie that the cite made;
6.1838: With freisshe thinges and with glade
-2.217-
6.1839: The noble toun was al behonged,
6.1840: And every wiht was sore alonged
6.1841: To se this lusti ladi ryde.
6.1842: Ther was gret merthe on alle syde;
6.1843: Wher as sche passeth be the strete,
6.1844: Ther was ful many a tymber bete
6.1845: And many a maide carolende:
6.1846: And thus thurghout the toun pleiende
6.1847: This queene unto a pleine rod,
6.1848: Wher that sche hoved and abod
6.1849: To se diverse game pleie,
6.1850: The lusti folk jouste and tourneie;
6.1851: And so forth every other man,
6.1852: Which pleie couthe, his pley began,
6.1853: To plese with this noble queene.
6.1854: Nectanabus cam to the grene
6.1855: Amonges othre and drouh him nyh.
6.1856: Bot whan that he this ladi sih
6.1857: And of hir beaute hiede tok,
6.1858: He couthe noght withdrawe his lok
6.1859: To se noght elles in the field,
6.1860: Bot stod and only hire behield.
6.1861: Of his clothinge and of his gere
6.1862: He was unlich alle othre there,
6.1863: So that it hapneth ate laste,
6.1864: The queene on him hire yhe caste,
6.1865: And knew that he was strange anon:
6.1866: Bot he behield hire evere in on
6.1867: Withoute blenchinge of his chere.
6.1868: Sche tok good hiede of his manere,
6.1869: And wondreth why he dede so,
6.1870: And bad men scholde for him go.
6.1871: He cam and dede hire reverence,
6.1872: And sche him axeth in cilence
6.1873: For whenne he cam and what he wolde.
6.1874: And he with sobre wordes tolde,
6.1875: And seith, "Ma dame, a clerk I am,
6.1876: To you and in message I cam,
6.1877: The which I mai noght tellen hiere;
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6.1878: Bot if it liketh you to hiere,
6.1879: It mot be seid al prively,
6.1880: Wher non schal be bot ye and I."
6.1881: Thus for the time he tok his leve.
6.1882: The dai goth forth til it was eve,
6.1883: That every man mot lete his werk;
6.1884: And sche thoghte evere upon this clerk,
6.1885: What thing it is he wolde mene:
6.1886: And in this wise abod the queene,
6.1887: And passeth over thilke nyht,
6.1888: Til it was on the morwe liht.
6.1889: Sche sende for him, and he com,
6.1890: With him his Astellabre he nom,
6.1891: Which was of fin gold precious
6.1892: With pointz and cercles merveilous;
6.1893: And ek the hevenely figures
6.1894: Wroght in a bok ful of peintures
6.1895: He tok this ladi forto schewe,
6.1896: And tolde of ech of hem be rewe
6.1897: The cours and the condicion.
6.1898: And sche with gret affeccion
6.1899: Sat stille and herde what he wolde:
6.1900: And thus whan he sih time, he tolde,
6.1901: And feigneth with hise wordes wise
6.1902: A tale, and seith in such a wise:
6.1903: "Ma dame, bot a while ago,
6.1904: Wher I was in Egipte tho,
6.1905: And radde in scole of this science,
6.1906: It fell into mi conscience
6.1907: That I unto the temple wente,
6.1908: And ther with al myn hole entente
6.1909: As I mi sacrifice dede,
6.1910: On of the goddes hath me bede
6.1911: That I you warne prively,
6.1912: So that ye make you redy,
6.1913: And that ye be nothing agast;
6.1914: For he such love hath to you cast,
6.1915: That ye schul ben his oghne diere,
-2.219-
6.1916: And he schal be your beddefiere,
6.1917: Til ye conceive and be with childe."
6.1918: And with that word sche wax al mylde,
6.1919: And somdel red becam for schame,
6.1920: And axeth him that goddes name,
6.1921: Which so wol don hire compainie.
6.1922: And he seide, "Amos of Lubie."
6.1923: And sche seith, "That mai I noght lieve,
6.1924: Bot if I sihe a betre prieve."
6.1925: "Ma dame," quod Nectanabus,
6.1926: "In tokne that it schal be thus,
6.1927: This nyht for enformacion
6.1928: Ye schul have an avision:
6.1929: That Amos schal to you appiere,
6.1930: To schewe and teche in what manere
6.1931: The thing schal afterward befalle.
6.1932: Ye oghten wel above alle
6.1933: To make joie of such a lord;
6.1934: For whan ye ben of on acord,
6.1935: He schal a Sone of you begete,
6.1936: Which with his swerd schal winne and gete
6.1937: The wyde world in lengthe and brede;
6.1938: Alle erthli kinges schull him drede,
6.1939: And in such wise, I you behote,
6.1940: The god of erthe he schal be hote."
6.1941: "If this be soth," tho quod the queene,
6.1942: "This nyht, thou seist, it schal be sene.
6.1943: And if it falle into mi grace,
6.1944: Of god Amos, that I pourchace
6.1945: To take of him so gret worschipe,
6.1946: I wol do thee such ladischipe,
6.1947: Wherof thou schalt for everemo
6.1948: Be riche." And he hir thonketh tho,
6.1949: And tok his leve and forth he wente.
6.1950: Sche wiste litel what he mente,
6.1951: For it was guile and Sorcerie,
6.1952: Al that sche tok for Prophecie.
6.1953: Nectanabus thurghout the day,
-2.220-
6.1954: Whan he cam hom wher as he lay,
6.1955: His chambre be himselve tok,
6.1956: And overtorneth many a bok,
6.1957: And thurgh the craft of Artemage
6.1958: Of wex he forgeth an ymage.
6.1959: He loketh his equacions
6.1960: And ek the constellacions,
6.1961: He loketh the conjunccions,
6.1962: He loketh the recepcions,
6.1963: His signe, his houre, his ascendent,
6.1964: And drawth fortune of his assent:
6.1965: The name of queene Olimpias
6.1966: In thilke ymage write was
6.1967: Amiddes in the front above.
6.1968: And thus to winne his lust of love
6.1969: Nectanabus this werk hath diht;
6.1970: And whan it cam withinne nyht,
6.1971: That every wyht is falle aslepe,
6.1972: He thoghte he wolde his time kepe,
6.1973: As he which hath his houre apointed.
6.1974: And thanne ferst he hath enoignted
6.1975: With sondri herbes that figure,
6.1976: And therupon he gan conjure,
6.1977: So that thurgh his enchantement
6.1978: This ladi, which was innocent
6.1979: And wiste nothing of this guile,
6.1980: Mette, as sche slepte thilke while,
6.1981: Hou fro the hevene cam a lyht,
6.1982: Which al hir chambre made lyht;
6.1983: And as sche loketh to and fro,
6.1984: Sche sih, hir thoghte, a dragoun tho,
6.1985: Whos scherdes schynen as the Sonne,
6.1986: And hath his softe pas begonne
6.1987: With al the chiere that he may
6.1988: Toward the bedd ther as sche lay,
6.1989: Til he cam to the beddes side.
6.1990: And sche lai stille and nothing cride,
6.1991: For he dede alle his thinges faire
6.1992: And was courteis and debonaire:
-2.221-
6.1993: And as he stod hire fasteby,
6.1994: His forme he changeth sodeinly,
6.1995: And the figure of man he nom,
6.1996: To hire and into bedde he com,
6.1997: And such thing there of love he wroghte,
6.1998: Wherof, so as hire thanne thoghte,
6.1999: Thurgh likinge of this god Amos
6.2000: With childe anon hire wombe aros,
6.2001: And sche was wonder glad withal.
6.2002: Nectanabus, which causeth al
6.2003: Of this metrede the substance,
6.2004: Whan he sih time, his nigromance
6.2005: He stinte and nothing more seide
6.2006: Of his carecte, and sche abreide
6.2007: Out of hir slep, and lieveth wel
6.2008: That it is soth thanne everydel
6.2009: Of that this clerk hire hadde told,
6.2010: And was the gladdere manyfold
6.2011: In hope of such a glad metrede,
6.2012: Which after schal befalle in dede.
6.2013: Sche longeth sore after the dai,
6.2014: That sche hir swevene telle mai
6.2015: To this guilour in privete,
6.2016: Which kneu it als so wel as sche:
6.2017: And natheles on morwe sone
6.2018: Sche lefte alle other thing to done,
6.2019: And for him sende, and al the cas
6.2020: Sche tolde him pleinly as it was,
6.2021: And seide hou thanne wel sche wiste
6.2022: That sche his wordes mihte triste,
6.2023: For sche fond hire Avisioun
6.2024: Riht after the condicion
6.2025: Which he hire hadde told tofore;
6.2026: And preide him hertely therfore
6.2027: That he hire holde covenant
6.2028: So forth of al the remenant,
6.2029: That sche may thurgh his ordinance
6.2030: Toward the god do such plesance,
-2.222-
6.2031: That sche wakende myhte him kepe
6.2032: In such wise as sche mette aslepe.
6.2033: And he, that couthe of guile ynouh,
6.2034: Whan he this herde, of joie he louh,
6.2035: And seith, "Ma dame, it schal be do.
6.2036: Bot this I warne you therto:
6.2037: This nyht, whan that he comth to pleie,
6.2038: That ther be no lif in the weie
6.2039: Bot I, that schal at his likinge
6.2040: Ordeine so for his cominge,
6.2041: That ye ne schull noght of him faile.
6.2042: For this, ma dame, I you consaile,
6.2043: That ye it kepe so prive,
6.2044: That no wiht elles bot we thre
6.2045: Have knowlechinge hou that it is;
6.2046: For elles mihte it fare amis,
6.2047: If ye dede oght that scholde him grieve."
6.2048: And thus he makth hire to believe,
6.2049: And feigneth under guile feith:
6.2050: Bot natheles al that he seith
6.2051: Sche troweth; and ayein the nyht
6.2052: Sche hath withinne hire chambre dyht,
6.2053: Wher as this guilour faste by
6.2054: Upon this god schal prively
6.2055: Awaite, as he makth hire to wene:
6.2056: And thus this noble gentil queene,
6.2057: Whan sche most trusteth, was deceived.
6.2058: The nyht com, and the chambre is weyved,
6.2059: Nectanabus hath take his place,
6.2060: And whan he sih the time and space,
6.2061: Thurgh the deceipte of his magique
6.2062: He putte him out of mannes like,
6.2063: And of a dragoun tok the forme,
6.2064: As he which wolde him al conforme
6.2065: To that sche sih in swevene er this;
-2.223-
6.2066: And thus to chambre come he is.
6.2067: The queene lay abedde and sih,
6.2068: And hopeth evere, as he com nyh,
6.2069: That he god of Lubye were,
6.2070: So hath sche wel the lasse fere.
6.2071: Bot for he wolde hire more assure,
6.2072: Yit eft he changeth his figure,
6.2073: And of a wether the liknesse
6.2074: He tok, in signe of his noblesse
6.2075: With large hornes for the nones:
6.2076: Of fin gold and of riche stones
6.2077: A corone on his hed he bar,
6.2078: And soudeinly, er sche was war,
6.2079: As he which alle guile can,
6.2080: His forme he torneth into man,
6.2081: And cam to bedde, and sche lai stille,
6.2082: Wher as sche soffreth al his wille,
6.2083: As sche which wende noght misdo.
6.2084: Bot natheles it hapneth so,
6.2085: Althogh sche were in part deceived,
6.2086: Yit for al that sche hath conceived
6.2087: The worthieste of alle kiththe,
6.2088: Which evere was tofore or siththe
6.2089: Of conqueste and chivalerie;
6.2090: So that thurgh guile and Sorcerie
6.2091: Ther was that noble knyht begunne,
6.2092: Which al the world hath after wunne.
6.2093: Thus fell the thing which falle scholde,
6.2094: Nectanabus hath that he wolde;
6.2095: With guile he hath his love sped,
6.2096: With guile he cam into the bed,
6.2097: With guile he goth him out ayein:
6.2098: He was a schrewed chamberlein,
6.2099: So to beguile a worthi queene,
6.2100: And that on him was after seene.
6.2101: Bot natheles the thing is do;
6.2102: This false god was sone go,
-2.224-
6.2103: With his deceipte and hield him clos,
6.2104: Til morwe cam, that he aros.
6.2105: And tho, whan time and leisir was,
6.2106: The queene tolde him al the cas,
6.2107: As sche that guile non supposeth;
6.2108: And of tuo pointz sche him opposeth.
6.2109: On was, if that this god nomore
6.2110: Wol come ayein, and overmore,
6.2111: Hou sche schal stonden in acord
6.2112: With king Philippe hire oghne lord,
6.2113: Whan he comth hom and seth hire grone.
6.2114: "Ma dame," he seith, "let me alone:
6.2115: As for the god I undertake
6.2116: That whan it liketh you to take
6.2117: His compaignie at eny throwe,
6.2118: If I a day tofore it knowe,
6.2119: He schal be with you on the nyht;
6.2120: And he is wel of such a myht
6.2121: To kepe you from alle blame.
6.2122: Forthi conforte you, ma dame,
6.2123: Ther schal non other cause be."
6.2124: Thus tok he leve and forth goth he,
6.2125: And tho began he forto muse
6.2126: Hou he the queene mihte excuse
6.2127: Toward the king of that is falle;
6.2128: And fond a craft amonges alle,
6.2129: Thurgh which he hath a See foul daunted,
6.2130: With his magique and so enchaunted,
6.2131: That he flyh forth, whan it was nyht,
6.2132: Unto the kinges tente riht,
6.2133: Wher that he lay amidde his host:
6.2134: And whanne he was aslepe most,
6.2135: With that the See foul to him broghte
6.2136: And othre charmes, whiche he wroghte
6.2137: At hom withinne his chambre stille,
6.2138: The king he torneth at his wille,
6.2139: And makth him forto dreme and se
6.2140: The dragoun and the privete
6.2141: Which was betuen him and the queene.
-2.225-
6.2142: And over that he made him wene
6.2143: In swevene, hou that the god Amos,
6.2144: Whan he up fro the queene aros,
6.2145: Tok forth a ring, wherinne a ston
6.2146: Was set, and grave therupon
6.2147: A Sonne, in which, whan he cam nyh,
6.2148: A leoun with a swerd he sih;
6.2149: And with that priente, as he tho mette,
6.2150: Upon the queenes wombe he sette
6.2151: A Seal, and goth him forth his weie.
6.2152: With that the swevene wente aweie,
6.2153: And tho began the king awake
6.2154: And sigheth for his wyves sake,
6.2155: Wher as he lay withinne his tente,
6.2156: And hath gret wonder what it mente.
6.2157: With that he hasteth him to ryse
6.2158: Anon, and sende after the wise,
6.2159: Among the whiche ther was on,
6.2160: A clerc, his name is Amphion:
6.2161: Whan he the kinges swevene herde,
6.2162: What it betokneth he ansuerde,
6.2163: And seith, "So siker as the lif,
6.2164: A god hath leie be thi wif,
6.2165: And gete a Sone, which schal winne
6.2166: The world and al that is withinne.
6.2167: As leon is the king of bestes,
6.2168: So schal the world obeie his hestes,
6.2169: Which with his swerd schal al be wonne,
6.2170: Als ferr as schyneth eny Sonne."
6.2171: The king was doubtif of this dom;
6.2172: Bot natheles, whan that he com
6.2173: Ayein into his oghne lond,
6.2174: His wif with childe gret he fond.
6.2175: He mihte noght himselve stiere,
6.2176: That he ne made hire hevy chiere;
6.2177: Bot he which couthe of alle sorwe,
6.2178: Nectanabus, upon the morwe
6.2179: Thurgh the deceipte and nigromance
-2.226-
6.2180: Tok of a dragoun the semblance,
6.2181: And wher the king sat in his halle,
6.2182: Com in rampende among hem alle
6.2183: With such a noise and such a rore,
6.2184: That thei agast were also sore
6.2185: As thogh thei scholde deie anon.
6.2186: And natheles he grieveth non,
6.2187: Bot goth toward the deyss on hih;
6.2188: And whan he cam the queene nyh,
6.2189: He stinte his noise, and in his wise
6.2190: To hire he profreth his servise,
6.2191: And leith his hed upon hire barm;
6.2192: And sche with goodly chiere hire arm
6.2193: Aboute his necke ayeinward leide,
6.2194: And thus the queene with him pleide
6.2195: In sihte of alle men aboute.
6.2196: And ate laste he gan to loute
6.2197: And obeissance unto hire make,
6.2198: As he that wolde his leve take;
6.2199: And sodeinly his lothly forme
6.2200: Into an Egle he gan transforme,
6.2201: And flyh and sette him on a raile;
6.2202: Wherof the king hath gret mervaile,
6.2203: For there he pruneth him and piketh,
6.2204: As doth an hauk whan him wel liketh,
6.2205: And after that himself he schok,
6.2206: Wherof that al the halle quok,
6.2207: As it a terremote were;
6.2208: Thei seiden alle, god was there:
6.2209: In such a res and forth he flyh.
6.2210: The king, which al this wonder syh,
6.2211: Whan he cam to his chambre alone,
6.2212: Unto the queene he made his mone
6.2213: And of foryivenesse hir preide;
6.2214: For thanne he knew wel, as he seide,
6.2215: Sche was with childe with a godd.
6.2216: Thus was the king withoute rodd
6.2217: Chastised, and the queene excused
6.2218: Of that sche hadde ben accused.
-2.227-
6.2219: And for the gretere evidence,
6.2220: Yit after that in the presence
6.2221: Of king Philipp and othre mo,
6.2222: Whan thei ride in the fieldes tho,
6.2223: A Phesant cam before here yhe,
6.2224: The which anon as thei hire syhe,
6.2225: Fleende let an ey doun falle,
6.2226: And it tobrak tofore hem alle:
6.2227: And as thei token therof kepe,
6.2228: Thei syhe out of the schelle crepe
6.2229: A litel Serpent on the ground,
6.2230: Which rampeth al aboute round,
6.2231: And in ayein it wolde have wonne,
6.2232: Bot for the brennynge of the Sonne
6.2233: It mihte noght, and so it deide.
6.2234: And therupon the clerkes seide,
6.2235: "As the Serpent, whan it was oute,
6.2236: Went enviroun the schelle aboute
6.2237: And mihte noght torne in ayein,
6.2238: So schal it fallen in certein:
6.2239: This child the world schal environe,
6.2240: And above alle the corone
6.2241: Him schal befalle, and in yong Age
6.2242: He schal desire in his corage,
6.2243: Whan al the world is in his hond,
6.2244: To torn ayein into the lond
6.2245: Wher he was bore, and in his weie
6.2246: Homward he schal with puison deie."
6.2247: The king, which al this sih and herde,
6.2248: Fro that dai forth, hou so it ferde,
6.2249: His jalousie hath al foryete.
6.2250: Bot he which hath the child begete,
6.2251: Nectanabus, in privete
6.2252: The time of his nativite
6.2253: Upon the constellacioun
6.2254: Awaiteth, and relacion
6.2255: Makth to the queene hou sche schal do,
-2.228-
6.2256: And every houre apointeth so,
6.2257: That no mynut therof was lore.
6.2258: So that in due time is bore
6.2259: This child, and forth with therupon
6.2260: Ther felle wondres many on
6.2261: Of terremote universiel:
6.2262: The Sonne tok colour of stiel
6.2263: And loste his lyht, the wyndes blewe,
6.2264: And manye strengthes overthrewe;
6.2265: The See his propre kinde changeth,
6.2266: And al the world his forme strangeth;
6.2267: The thonder with his fyri levene
6.2268: So cruel was upon the hevene,
6.2269: That every erthli creature
6.2270: Tho thoghte his lif in aventure.
6.2271: The tempeste ate laste cesseth,
6.2272: The child is kept, his age encresseth,
6.2273: And Alisandre his name is hote,
6.2274: To whom Calistre and Aristote
6.2275: To techen him Philosophie
6.2276: Entenden, and Astronomie,
6.2277: With othre thinges whiche he couthe
6.2278: Also, to teche him in his youthe
6.2279: Nectanabus tok upon honde.
6.2280: Bot every man mai understonde,
6.2281: Of Sorcerie hou that it wende,
6.2282: It wole himselve prove at ende,
6.2283: And namely forto beguile
6.2284: A lady, which withoute guile
6.2285: Supposeth trouthe al that sche hiereth:
6.2286: Bot often he that evele stiereth
6.2287: His Schip is dreynt therinne amidde;
6.2288: And in this cas riht so betidde.
6.2289: Nectanabus upon a nyht,
6.2290: Whan it was fair and sterre lyht,
6.2291: This yonge lord ladde up on hih
6.2292: Above a tour, wher as he sih
6.2293: Thee sterres such as he acompteth,
6.2294: And seith what ech of hem amonteth,
-2.229-
6.2295: As thogh he knewe of alle thing;
6.2296: Bot yit hath he no knowleching
6.2297: What schal unto himself befalle.
6.2298: Whan he hath told his wordes alle,
6.2299: This yonge lord thanne him opposeth,
6.2300: And axeth if that he supposeth
6.2301: What deth he schal himselve deie.
6.2302: He seith, "Or fortune is aweie
6.2303: And every sterre hath lost his wone,
6.2304: Or elles of myn oghne Sone
6.2305: I schal be slain, I mai noght fle."
6.2306: Thoghte Alisandre in privete,
6.2307: "Hierof this olde dotard lieth":
6.2308: And er that other oght aspieth,
6.2309: Al sodeinliche his olde bones
6.2310: He schof over the wal at ones,
6.2311: And seith him, "Ly doun there apart:
6.2312: Wherof nou serveth al thin art?
6.2313: Thou knewe alle othre mennes chance
6.2314: And of thiself hast ignorance:
6.2315: That thou hast seid amonges alle
6.2316: Of thi persone, is noght befalle."
6.2317: Nectanabus, which hath his deth,
6.2318: Yit while him lasteth lif and breth,
6.2319: To Alisandre he spak and seide
6.2320: That he with wrong blame on him leide
6.2321: Fro point to point and al the cas
6.2322: He tolde, hou he his Sone was.
6.2323: Tho he, which sory was ynowh,
6.2324: Out of the dich his fader drouh,
6.2325: And tolde his moder hou it ferde
6.2326: In conseil; and whan sche it herde
6.2327: And kneu the toknes whiche he tolde,
6.2328: Sche nyste what sche seie scholde,
6.2329: Bot stod abayssht as for the while
6.2330: Of his magique and al the guile.
6.2331: Sche thoghte hou that sche was deceived,
-2.230-
6.2332: That sche hath of a man conceived,
6.2333: And wende a god it hadde be.
6.2334: Bot natheles in such degre,
6.2335: So as sche mihte hire honour save,
6.2336: Sche schop the body was begrave.
6.2337: And thus Nectanabus aboghte
6.2338: The Sorcerie which he wroghte:
6.2339: Thogh he upon the creatures
6.2340: Thurgh his carectes and figures
6.2341: The maistrie and the pouer hadde,
6.2342: His creatour to noght him ladde,
6.2343: Ayein whos lawe his craft he useth,
6.2344: Whan he for lust his god refuseth,
6.2345: And tok him to the dieules craft.
6.2346: Lo, what profit him is belaft:
6.2347: That thing thurgh which he wende have stonde,
6.2348: Ferst him exilede out of londe
6.2349: Which was his oghne, and from a king
6.2350: Made him to ben an underling;
6.2351: And siththen to deceive a queene,
6.2352: That torneth him to mochel teene;
6.2353: Thurgh lust of love he gat him hate,
6.2354: That ende couthe he noght abate.
6.2355: His olde sleyhtes whiche he caste,
6.2356: Yonge Alisaundre hem overcaste,
6.2357: His fader, which him misbegat,
6.2358: He slouh, a gret mishap was that;
6.2359: Bot for o mis an other mys
6.2360: Was yolde, and so fulofte it is;
6.2361: Nectanabus his craft miswente,
6.2362: So it misfell him er he wente.
6.2363: I not what helpeth that clergie
6.2364: Which makth a man to do folie,
6.2365: And nameliche of nigromance,
6.2366: Which stant upon the mescreance.
6.2367: And forto se more evidence,
6.2368: Zorastes, which thexperience
6.2369: Of Art magique ferst forth drouh,
-2.231-
6.2370: Anon as he was bore, he louh,
6.2371: Which tokne was of wo suinge:
6.2372: For of his oghne controvinge
6.2373: He fond magique and tauhte it forth;
6.2374: Bot al that was him litel worth,
6.2375: For of Surrie a worthi king
6.2376: Him slou, and that was his endyng.
6.2377: Bot yit thurgh him this craft is used,
6.2378: And he thurgh al the world accused,
6.2379: For it schal nevere wel achieve
6.2380: That stant noght riht with the believe:
6.2381: Bot lich to wolle is evele sponne,
6.2382: Who lest himself hath litel wonne,
6.2383: An ende proveth every thing.
6.2384: Sauµl, which was of Juys king,
6.2385: Up peine of deth forbad this art,
6.2386: And yit he tok therof his part.
6.2387: The Phitonesse in Samarie
6.2388: Yaf him conseil be Sorcerie,
6.2389: Which after fell to mochel sorwe,
6.2390: For he was slain upon the morwe.
6.2391: To conne moche thing it helpeth,
6.2392: Bot of to mochel noman yelpeth:
6.2393: So forto loke on every side,
6.2394: Magique mai noght wel betyde.
6.2395: Forthi, my Sone, I wolde rede
6.2396: That thou of these ensamples drede,
6.2397: That for no lust of erthli love
6.2398: Thou seche so to come above,
6.2399: Wherof as in the worldes wonder
6.2400: Thou schalt for evere be put under.
6.2401: Mi goode fader, grant mercy,
6.2402: For evere I schal be war therby:
6.2403: Of love what me so befalle,
6.2404: Such Sorcerie aboven alle
6.2405: Fro this dai forth I schal eschuie,
-2.232-
6.2406: That so ne wol I noght poursuie
6.2407: Mi lust of love forto seche.
6.2408: Bot this I wolde you beseche,
6.2409: Beside that me stant of love,
6.2410: As I you herde speke above
6.2411: Hou Alisandre was betawht
6.2412: To Aristotle, and so wel tawht
6.2413: Of al that to a king belongeth,
6.2414: Wherof min herte sore longeth
6.2415: To wite what it wolde mene.
6.2416: For be reson I wolde wene
6.2417: That if I herde of thinges strange,
6.2418: Yit for a time it scholde change
6.2419: Mi peine, and lisse me somdiel.
6.2420: Mi goode Sone, thou seist wel.
6.2421: For wisdom, hou that evere it stonde,
6.2422: To him that can it understonde
6.2423: Doth gret profit in sondri wise;
6.2424: Bot touchende of so hih aprise,
6.2425: Which is noght unto Venus knowe,
6.2426: I mai it noght miselve knowe,
6.2427: Which of hir court am al forthdrawe
6.2428: And can nothing bot of hir lawe.
6.2429: Bot natheles to knowe more
6.2430: Als wel as thou me longeth sore;
6.2431: And for it helpeth to comune,
6.2432: Al ben thei noght to me comune,
6.2433: The scoles of Philosophie,
6.2434: Yit thenke I forto specefie,
6.2435: In boke as it is comprehended,
6.2436: Wherof thou mihtest ben amended.
6.2437: For thogh I be noght al cunnynge
6.2438: Upon the forme of this wrytynge,
6.2439: Som part therof yit have I herd,
6.2440: In this matiere hou it hath ferd.
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