Gower, John, 1325?-1408. Confessio amantis
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Liber VII


7.1: I GENIUS the prest of love,
7.2: Mi Sone, as thou hast preid above
7.3: That I the Scole schal declare
7.4: Of Aristotle and ek the fare
7.5: Of Alisandre, hou he was tauht,
7.6: I am somdel therof destrauht;
7.7: For it is noght to the matiere
7.8: Of love, why we sitten hiere
7.9: To schryve, so as Venus bad.
7.10: Bot natheles, for it is glad,
7.11: So as thou seist, for thin aprise
7.12: To hiere of suche thinges wise,
7.13: Wherof thou myht the time lisse,
7.14: So as I can, I schal the wisse:
7.15: For wisdom is at every throwe
7.16: Above alle other thing to knowe
7.17: In loves cause and elleswhere.
7.18: Forthi, my Sone, unto thin Ere,
7.19: Though it be noght in the registre
7.20: Of Venus, yit of that Calistre
7.21: And Aristotle whylom write
7.22: To Alisandre, thou schalt wite.
7.23: Bot for the lores ben diverse,


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7.24: I thenke ferst to the reherce
7.25: The nature of Philosophie,
7.26: Which Aristotle of his clergie,
7.27: Wys and expert in the sciences,
7.28: Declareth thilke intelligences,
7.29: As of thre pointz in principal.
7.30: Wherof the ferste in special
7.31: Is Theorique, which is grounded
7.32: On him which al the world hath founded,
7.33: Which comprehendeth al the lore.
7.34: And forto loken overmore,
7.35: Next of sciences the seconde
7.36: Is Rethorique, whos faconde
7.37: Above alle othre is eloquent:
7.38: To telle a tale in juggement
7.39: So wel can noman speke as he.
7.40: The laste science of the thre
7.41: It is Practique, whos office
7.42: The vertu tryeth fro the vice,
7.43: And techeth upon goode thewes
7.44: To fle the compaignie of schrewes,
7.45: Which stant in disposicion
7.46: Of mannes free eleccion.
7.47: Practique enformeth ek the reule,
7.48: Hou that a worthi king schal reule
7.49: His Realme bothe in werre and pes.
7.50: Lo, thus danz Aristotiles
7.51: These thre sciences hath divided
7.52: And the nature also decided,
7.53: Wherof that ech of hem schal serve.
7.54: The ferste, which is the conserve
7.55: And kepere of the remnant,
7.56: As that which is most sufficant
7.57: And chief of the Philosophie,
7.58: If I therof schal specefie
7.59: So as the Philosophre tolde,
7.60: Nou herkne, and kep that thou it holde.


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7.61: Of Theorique principal
7.62: The Philosophre in special
7.63: The propretees hath determined,
7.64: As thilke which is enlumined
7.65: Of wisdom and of hih prudence
7.66: Above alle othre in his science:
7.67: And stant departed upon thre,
7.68: The ferste of which in his degre
7.69: Is cleped in Philosophie
7.70: The science of Theologie,
7.71: That other named is Phisique,
7.72: The thridde is seid Mathematique.
7.73: Theologie is that science
7.74: Which unto man yifth evidence
7.75: Of thing which is noght bodely,
7.76: Wherof men knowe redely
7.77: The hihe almyhti Trinite,
7.78: Which is o god in unite
7.79: Withouten ende and beginnynge
7.80: And creatour of alle thinge,
7.81: Of hevene, of erthe and ek of helle.
7.82: Wherof, as olde bokes telle,
7.83: The Philosophre in his resoun
7.84: Wrot upon this conclusioun,
7.85: And of his wrytinge in a clause
7.86: He clepeth god the ferste cause,
7.87: Which of himself is thilke good,
7.88: Withoute whom nothing is good,
7.89: Of which that every creature
7.90: Hath his beinge and his nature.
7.91: After the beinge of the thinges
7.92: Ther ben thre formes of beinges:
7.93: Thing which began and ende schal,


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7.94: That thing is cleped temporal;
7.95: Ther is also be other weie
7.96: Thing which began and schal noght deie.
7.97: As Soules, that ben spiritiel,
7.98: Here beinge is perpetuel:
7.99: Bot ther is on above the Sonne,
7.100: Whos time nevere was begonne,
7.101: And endeles schal evere be;
7.102: That is the god, whos mageste
7.103: Alle othre thinges schal governe,
7.104: And his beinge is sempiterne.
7.105: The god, to whom that al honour
7.106: Belongeth, he is creatour,
7.107: And othre ben hise creatures:
7.108: The god commandeth the natures
7.109: That thei to him obeien alle;
7.110: Withouten him, what so befalle,
7.111: Her myht is non, and he mai al:
7.112: The god was evere and evere schal,
7.113: And thei begonne of his assent;
7.114: The times alle be present
7.115: To god, to hem and alle unknowe,
7.116: Bot what him liketh that thei knowe:
7.117: Thus bothe an angel and a man,
7.118: The whiche of al that god began
7.119: Be chief, obeien goddes myht,
7.120: And he stant endeles upriht.
7.121: To this science ben prive
7.122: The clerkes of divinite,
7.123: The whiche unto the poeple prechen
7.124: The feith of holi cherche and techen,
7.125: Which in som cas upon believe
7.126: Stant more than thei conne prieve
7.127: Be weie of Argument sensible:
7.128: Bot natheles it is credible,
7.129: And doth a man gret meede have,
7.130: To him that thenkth himself to save.
7.131: Theologie in such a wise


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7.132: Of hih science and hih aprise
7.133: Above alle othre stant unlike,
7.134: And is the ferste of Theorique.
7.135: Phisique is after the secounde,
7.136: Thurgh which the Philosophre hath founde
7.137: To techen sondri knowlechinges
7.138: Upon the bodiliche thinges.
7.139: Of man, of beste, of herbe, of ston,
7.140: Of fissch, of foughl, of everychon
7.141: That ben of bodely substance,
7.142: The nature and the circumstance
7.143: Thurgh this science it is ful soght,
7.144: Which vaileth and which vaileth noght.
7.145: The thridde point of Theorique,
7.146: Which cleped is Mathematique,
7.147: Devided is in sondri wise
7.148: And stant upon diverse aprise.
7.149: The ferste of whiche is Arsmetique,
7.150: And the secounde is seid Musique,
7.151: The thridde is ek Geometrie,
7.152: Also the ferthe Astronomie.
7.153: Of Arsmetique the matiere
7.154: Is that of which a man mai liere
7.155: What Algorisme in nombre amonteth,
7.156: Whan that the wise man acompteth
7.157: After the formel proprete
7.158: Of Algorismes Abece:
7.159: Be which multiplicacioun
7.160: Is mad and diminucioun
7.161: Of sommes be thexperience
7.162: Of this Art and of this science.
7.163: The seconde of Mathematique,
7.164: Which is the science of Musique,
7.165: That techeth upon Armonie
7.166: A man to make melodie
7.167: Be vois and soun of instrument
7.168: Thurgh notes of acordement,
7.169: The whiche men pronounce alofte,
7.170: Nou scharpe notes and nou softe,


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7.171: Nou hihe notes and nou lowe,
7.172: As be the gamme a man mai knowe,
7.173: Which techeth the prolacion
7.174: Of note and the condicion.
7.175: Mathematique of his science
7.176: Hath yit the thridde intelligence
7.177: Full of wisdom and of clergie
7.178: And cleped is Geometrie,
7.179: Thurgh which a man hath thilke sleyhte,
7.180: Of lengthe, of brede, of depthe, of heyhte
7.181: To knowe the proporcion
7.182: Be verrai calculacion
7.183: Of this science: and in this wise
7.184: These olde Philosophres wise,
7.185: Of al this worldes erthe round,
7.186: Hou large, hou thikke was the ground,
7.187: Controeveden thexperience;
7.188: The cercle and the circumference
7.189: Of every thing unto the hevene
7.190: Thei setten point and mesure evene.
7.191: Mathematique above therthe
7.192: Of hyh science hath yit the ferthe,
7.193: Which spekth upon Astronomie
7.194: And techeth of the sterres hihe,
7.195: Beginnynge upward fro the mone.
7.196: Bot ferst, as it was forto done,
7.197: This Aristotle in other thing
7.198: Unto this worthi yonge king
7.199: The kinde of every element
7.200: Which stant under the firmament,
7.201: Hou it is mad and in what wise,
7.202: Fro point to point he gan devise.
7.203: Tofore the creacion
7.204: Of eny worldes stacion,


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7.205: Of hevene, of erthe, or eke of helle,
7.206: So as these olde bokes telle,
7.207: As soun tofore the song is set
7.208: And yit thei ben togedre knet,
7.209: Riht so the hihe pourveance
7.210: Tho hadde under his ordinance
7.211: A gret substance, a gret matiere,
7.212: Of which he wolde in his manere
7.213: These othre thinges make and forme.
7.214: For yit withouten eny forme
7.215: Was that matiere universal,
7.216: Which hihte Ylem in special.
7.217: Of Ylem, as I am enformed,
7.218: These elementz ben mad and formed,
7.219: Of Ylem elementz they hote
7.220: After the Scole of Aristote,
7.221: Of whiche if more I schal reherce,
7.222: Foure elementz ther ben diverse.
7.223: The ferste of hem men erthe calle,
7.224: Which is the lowest of hem alle,
7.225: And in his forme is schape round,
7.226: Substancial, strong, sadd and sound,
7.227: As that which mad is sufficant
7.228: To bere up al the remenant.
7.229: For as the point in a compas
7.230: Stant evene amiddes, riht so was
7.231: This erthe set and schal abyde,
7.232: That it may swerve to no side,
7.233: And hath his centre after the lawe
7.234: Of kinde, and to that centre drawe
7.235: Desireth every worldes thing,
7.236: If ther ne were no lettyng.
7.237: Above therthe kepth his bounde
7.238: The water, which is the secounde
7.239: Of elementz, and al withoute
7.240: It environeth therthe aboute.
7.241: Bot as it scheweth, noght forthi
7.242: This soubtil water myhtely,


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7.243: Thogh it be of himselve softe,
7.244: The strengthe of therthe perceth ofte;
7.245: For riht as veines ben of blod
7.246: In man, riht so the water flod
7.247: Therthe of his cours makth ful of veines,
7.248: Als wel the helles as the pleines.
7.249: And that a man may sen at yµe,
7.250: For wher the hulles ben most hyhe,
7.251: Ther mai men welle stremes finde:
7.252: So proveth it be weie of kinde
7.253: The water heyher than the lond.
7.254: And over this nou understond,
7.255: Air is the thridde of elementz,
7.256: Of whos kinde his aspirementz
7.257: Takth every lifissh creature,
7.258: The which schal upon erthe endure:
7.259: For as the fissh, if it be dreie,
7.260: Mot in defaute of water deie,
7.261: Riht so withouten Air on lyve
7.262: No man ne beste myhte thryve,
7.263: The which is mad of fleissh and bon;
7.264: There is outake of alle non.
7.265: This Air in Periferies thre
7.266: Divided is of such degre,
7.267: Benethe is on and on amidde,
7.268: To whiche above is set the thridde:
7.269: And upon the divisions
7.270: There ben diverse impressions
7.271: Of moist and ek of drye also,
7.272: Whiche of the Sonne bothe tuo
7.273: Ben drawe and haled upon hy,
7.274: And maken cloudes in the Sky,
7.275: As schewed is at mannes sihte;
7.276: Wherof be day and ek be nyhte
7.277: After the times of the yer
7.278: Among ous upon Erthe her
7.279: In sondri wise thinges falle.
7.280: The ferste Periferie of alle


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7.281: Engendreth Myst and overmore
7.282: The dewes and the Frostes hore,
7.283: After thilke intersticion
7.284: In which thei take impression.
7.285: Fro the seconde, as bokes sein,
7.286: The moiste dropes of the reyn
7.287: Descenden into Middilerthe,
7.288: And tempreth it to sed and Erthe,
7.289: And doth to springe grass and flour.
7.290: And ofte also the grete schour
7.291: Out of such place it mai be take,
7.292: That it the forme schal forsake
7.293: Of reyn, and into snow be torned;
7.294: And ek it mai be so sojorned
7.295: In sondri places up alofte,
7.296: That into hail it torneth ofte.
7.297: The thridde of thair after the lawe
7.298: Thurgh such matiere as up is drawe
7.299: Of dreie thing, as it is ofte,
7.300: Among the cloudes upon lofte,
7.301: And is so clos, it may noght oute,-
7.302: Thanne is it chased sore aboute,
7.303: Til it to fyr and leyt be falle,
7.304: And thanne it brekth the cloudes alle,
7.305: The whiche of so gret noyse craken,
7.306: That thei the feerful thonder maken.
7.307: The thonderstrok smit er it leyte,
7.308: And yit men sen the fyr and leyte,
7.309: The thonderstrok er that men hiere:
7.310: So mai it wel be proeved hiere
7.311: In thing which schewed is fro feer,
7.312: A mannes yhe is there nerr
7.313: Thanne is the soun to mannes Ere.
7.314: And natheles it is gret feere
7.315: Bothe of the strok and of the fyr,
7.316: Of which is no recoverir
7.317: In place wher that thei descende,
7.318: Bot if god wolde his grace sende.


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7.319: And forto speken over this,
7.320: In this partie of thair it is
7.321: That men fulofte sen be nyhte
7.322: The fyr in sondri forme alyhte.
7.323: Somtime the fyrdrake it semeth,
7.324: And so the lewed poeple it demeth;
7.325: Somtime it semeth as it were
7.326: A Sterre, which that glydeth there:
7.327: Bot it is nouther of the tuo,
7.328: The Philosophre telleth so,
7.329: And seith that of impressions
7.330: Thurgh diverse exalacions
7.331: Upon the cause and the matiere
7.332: Men sen diverse forme appiere
7.333: Of fyr, the which hath sondri name.
7.334: Assub, he seith, is thilke same,
7.335: The which in sondry place is founde,
7.336: Whanne it is falle doun to grounde,
7.337: So as the fyr it hath aneled,
7.338: Lich unto slym which is congeled.
7.339: Of exalacion I finde
7.340: Fyr kinled of the fame kinde,
7.341: Bot it is of an other forme;
7.342: Wherof, if that I schal conforme
7.343: The figure unto that it is,
7.344: These olde clerkes tellen this,
7.345: That it is lik a Got skippende,
7.346: And for that it is such semende,
7.347: It hatte Capra saliens.
7.348: And ek these Astronomiens
7.349: An other fyr also, be nyhte
7.350: Which scheweth him to mannes syhte,
7.351: Thei clepen Eges, the which brenneth
7.352: Lik to the corrant fyr that renneth
7.353: Upon a corde, as thou hast sein,


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7.354: Whan it with poudre is so besein
7.355: Of Sulphre and othre thinges mo.
7.356: Ther is an other fyr also,
7.357: Which semeth to a mannes yhe
7.358: Be nyhtes time as thogh ther flyhe
7.359: A dragon brennende in the Sky,
7.360: And that is cleped proprely
7.361: Daaly, wherof men sein fulofte,
7.362: "Lo, wher the fyri drake alofte
7.363: Fleth up in thair!" and so thei demen.
7.364: Bot why the fyres suche semen
7.365: Of sondri formes to beholde,
7.366: The wise Philosophre tolde,
7.367: So as tofore it hath ben herd.
7.368: Lo thus, my Sone, hou it hath ferd:
7.369: Of Air the due proprete
7.370: In sondri wise thou myht se,
7.371: And hou under the firmament
7.372: It is ek the thridde element,
7.373: Which environeth bothe tuo,
7.374: The water and the lond also.
7.375: And forto tellen overthis
7.376: Of elementz which the ferthe is,
7.377: That is the fyr in his degre,
7.378: Which environeth thother thre
7.379: And is withoute moist al drye.
7.380: Bot lest nou what seith the clergie;
7.381: For upon hem that I have seid
7.382: The creatour hath set and leid
7.383: The kinde and the complexion
7.384: Of alle mennes nacion.
7.385: Foure elementz sondri ther be,
7.386: Lich unto whiche of that degre
7.387: Among the men ther ben also
7.388: Complexions foure and nomo,
7.389: Wherof the Philosophre treteth,
7.390: That he nothing behinde leteth,
7.391: And seith hou that thei ben diverse,


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7.392: So as I schal to thee reherse.
7.393: He which natureth every kinde,
7.394: The myhti god, so as I finde,
7.395: Of man, which is his creature,
7.396: Hath so devided the nature,
7.397: That non til other wel acordeth:
7.398: And be the cause it so discordeth,
7.399: The lif which fieleth the seknesse
7.400: Mai stonde upon no sekernesse.
7.401: Of therthe, which is cold and drye,
7.402: The kinde of man Malencolie
7.403: Is cleped, and that is the ferste,
7.404: The most ungoodlich and the werste;
7.405: For unto loves werk on nyht
7.406: Him lacketh bothe will and myht:
7.407: No wonder is, in lusty place
7.408: Of love though he lese grace.
7.409: What man hath that complexion,
7.410: Full of ymaginacion
7.411: Of dredes and of wrathful thoghtes,
7.412: He fret himselven al to noghtes.
7.413: The water, which is moyste and cold,
7.414: Makth fleume, which is manyfold
7.415: Foryetel, slou and wery sone
7.416: Of every thing which is to done:
7.417: He is of kinde sufficant
7.418: To holde love his covenant,
7.419: Bot that him lacketh appetit,
7.420: Which longeth unto such delit.
7.421: What man that takth his kinde of thair,
7.422: He schal be lyht, he schal be fair,
7.423: For his complexion is blood.
7.424: Of alle ther is non so good,
7.425: For he hath bothe will and myht
7.426: To plese and paie love his riht:
7.427: Wher as he hath love undertake,
7.428: Wrong is if that he be forsake.
7.429: The fyr of his condicion


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7.430: Appropreth the complexion
7.431: Which in a man is Colre hote,
7.432: Whos propretes ben dreie and hote:
7.433: It makth a man ben enginous
7.434: And swift of fote and ek irous;
7.435: Of contek and folhastifnesse
7.436: He hath a riht gret besinesse,
7.437: To thenke of love and litel may:
7.438: Though he behote wel a day,
7.439: On nyht whan that he wole assaie,
7.440: He may ful evele his dette paie.
7.441: After the kinde of thelement,
7.442: Thus stant a mannes kinde went,
7.443: As touchende his complexion,
7.444: Upon sondri division
7.445: Of dreie, of moiste, of chele, of hete,
7.446: And ech of hem his oghne sete
7.447: Appropred hath withinne a man.
7.448: And ferst to telle as I began,
7.449: The Splen is to Malencolie
7.450: Assigned for herbergerie:
7.451: The moiste fleume with his cold
7.452: Hath in the lunges for his hold
7.453: Ordeined him a propre stede,
7.454: To duelle ther as he is bede:
7.455: To the Sanguin complexion
7.456: Nature of hire inspeccion
7.457: A propre hous hath in the livere
7.458: For his duellinge mad delivere:
7.459: The dreie Colre with his hete
7.460: Be weie of kinde his propre sete
7.461: Hath in the galle, wher he duelleth,
7.462: So as the Philosophre telleth.
7.463: Nou over this is forto wite,
7.464: As it is in Phisique write
7.465: Of livere, of lunge, of galle, of splen,


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7.466: Thei alle unto the herte ben
7.467: Servantz, and ech in his office
7.468: Entendeth to don him service,
7.469: As he which is chief lord above.
7.470: The livere makth him forto love,
7.471: The lunge yifth him weie of speche,
7.472: The galle serveth to do wreche,
7.473: The Splen doth him to lawhe and pleie,
7.474: Whan al unclennesse is aweie:
7.475: Lo, thus hath ech of hem his dede.
7.476: And to sustienen hem and fede
7.477: In time of recreacion,
7.478: Nature hath in creacion
7.479: The Stomach for a comun Coc
7.480: Ordeined, so as seith the boc.
7.481: The Stomach coc is for the halle,
7.482: And builleth mete for hem alle,
7.483: To make hem myghty forto serve
7.484: The herte, that he schal noght sterve:
7.485: For as a king in his Empire
7.486: Above alle othre is lord and Sire,
7.487: So is the herte principal,
7.488: To whom reson in special
7.489: Is yove as for the governance.
7.490: And thus nature his pourveance
7.491: Hath mad for man to liven hiere;
7.492: Bot god, which hath the Soule diere,
7.493: Hath formed it in other wise.
7.494: That can noman pleinli devise;
7.495: Bot as the clerkes ous enforme,
7.496: That lich to god it hath a forme,
7.497: Thurgh which figure and which liknesse
7.498: The Soule hath many an hyh noblesse
7.499: Appropred to his oghne kinde.
7.500: Bot ofte hir wittes be mad blinde
7.501: Al onliche of this ilke point,
7.502: That hir abydinge is conjoint


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7.503: Forth with the bodi forto duelle:
7.504: That on desireth toward helle,
7.505: That other upward to the hevene;
7.506: So schul thei nevere stonde in evene,
7.507: Bot if the fleissh be overcome
7.508: And that the Soule have holi nome
7.509: The governance, and that is selde,
7.510: Whil that the fleissh him mai bewelde.
7.511: Al erthli thing which god began
7.512: Was only mad to serve man;
7.513: Bot he the Soule al only made
7.514: Himselven forto serve and glade.
7.515: Alle othre bestes that men finde
7.516: Thei serve unto here oghne kinde,
7.517: Bot to reson the Soule serveth;
7.518: Wherof the man his thonk deserveth
7.519: And get him with hise werkes goode
7.520: The perdurable lyves foode.
7.521: Of what matiere it schal be told,
7.522: A tale lyketh manyfold
7.523: The betre, if it be spoke plein:
7.524: Thus thinke I forto torne ayein
7.525: And telle plenerly therfore
7.526: Of therthe, wherof nou tofore
7.527: I spak, and of the water eke,
7.528: So as these olde clerkes spieke,
7.529: And sette proprely the bounde
7.530: After the forme of Mappemounde,
7.531: Thurgh which the ground be pourparties
7.532: Departed is in thre parties,
7.533: That is Asie, Aufrique, Europe,
7.534: The whiche under the hevene cope,
7.535: Als ferr as streccheth eny ground,
7.536: Begripeth al this Erthe round.
7.537: Bot after that the hihe wrieche
7.538: The water weies let out seche


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7.539: And overgo the helles hye,
7.540: Which every kinde made dye
7.541: That upon Middelerthe stod,
7.542: Outake Noeµ and his blod,
7.543: His Sones and his doughtres thre,
7.544: Thei were sauf and so was he;-
7.545: Here names who that rede rihte,
7.546: Sem, Cam, Japhet the brethren hihte;-
7.547: And whanne thilke almyhty hond
7.548: Withdrouh the water fro the lond,
7.549: And al the rage was aweie,
7.550: And Erthe was the mannes weie,
7.551: The Sones thre, of whiche I tolde,
7.552: Riht after that hemselve wolde,
7.553: This world departe thei begonne.
7.554: Asie, which lay to the Sonne
7.555: Upon the Marche of orient,
7.556: Was graunted be comun assent
7.557: To Sem, which was the Sone eldeste;
7.558: For that partie was the beste
7.559: And double as moche as othre tuo.
7.560: And was that time bounded so;
7.561: Wher as the flod which men Nil calleth
7.562: Departeth fro his cours and falleth
7.563: Into the See Alexandrine,
7.564: Ther takth Asie ferst seisine
7.565: Toward the West, and over this
7.566: Of Canahim wher the flod is
7.567: Into the grete See rennende,
7.568: Fro that into the worldes ende
7.569: Estward, Asie it is algates,
7.570: Til that men come unto the gates
7.571: Of Paradis, and there ho.
7.572: And schortly for to speke it so,
7.573: Of Orient in general
7.574: Withinne his bounde Asie hath al.
7.575: And thanne upon that other syde


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7.576: Westward, as it fell thilke tyde,
7.577: The brother which was hote Cham
7.578: Upon his part Aufrique nam.
7.579: Japhet Europe tho tok he,
7.580: Thus parten thei the world on thre.
7.581: Bot yit ther ben of londes fele
7.582: In occident as for the chele,
7.583: In orient as for the hete,
7.584: Which of the poeple be forlete
7.585: As lond desert that is unable,
7.586: For it mai noght ben habitable.
7.587: The water eke hath sondri bounde,
7.588: After the lond wher it is founde,
7.589: And takth his name of thilke londes
7.590: Wher that it renneth on the strondes:
7.591: Bot thilke See which hath no wane
7.592: Is cleped the gret Occeane,
7.593: Out of the which arise and come
7.594: The hyhe flodes alle and some;
7.595: Is non so litel welle spring,
7.596: Which ther ne takth his beginnyng,
7.597: And lich a man that haleth breth
7.598: Be weie of kinde, so it geth
7.599: Out of the See and in ayein,
7.600: The water, as the bokes sein.
7.601: Of Elementz the propretes
7.602: Hou that they stonden be degres,
7.603: As I have told, nou myht thou hiere,
7.604: Mi goode Sone, al the matiere
7.605: Of Erthe, of water, Air and fyr.
7.606: And for thou saist that thi desir
7.607: Is forto witen overmore
7.608: The forme of Aristotles lore,
7.609: He seith in his entendement,
7.610: That yit ther is an Element
7.611: Above the foure, and is the fifte,
7.612: Set of the hihe goddes yifte,
7.613: The which that Orbis cleped is.


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7.614: And therupon he telleth this,
7.615: That as the schelle hol and sound
7.616: Encloseth al aboute round
7.617: What thing withinne an Ey belongeth,
7.618: Riht so this Orbis underfongeth
7.619: These elementz alle everychon,
7.620: Which I have spoke of on and on.
7.621: Bot overthis nou tak good hiede,
7.622: Mi Sone, for I wol procede
7.623: To speke upon Mathematique,
7.624: Which grounded is on Theorique.
7.625: The science of Astronomie
7.626: I thinke forto specefie,
7.627: Withoute which, to telle plein,
7.628: Alle othre science is in vein
7.629: Toward the scole of erthli thinges:
7.630: For as an Egle with his winges
7.631: Fleth above alle that men finde,
7.632: So doth this science in his kinde.
7.633: Benethe upon this Erthe hiere
7.634: Of alle thinges the matiere,
7.635: As tellen ous thei that ben lerned,
7.636: Of thing above it stant governed,
7.637: That is to sein of the Planetes.
7.638: The cheles bothe and ek the hetes,
7.639: The chances of the world also,
7.640: That we fortune clepen so,
7.641: Among the mennes nacion
7.642: Al is thurgh constellacion,
7.643: Wherof that som man hath the wele,
7.644: And som man hath deseses fele
7.645: In love als wel as othre thinges;


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7.646: The stat of realmes and of kinges
7.647: In time of pes, in time of werre
7.648: It is conceived of the Sterre:
7.649: And thus seith the naturien
7.650: Which is an Astronomien.
7.651: Bot the divin seith otherwise,
7.652: That if men weren goode and wise
7.653: And plesant unto the godhede,
7.654: Thei scholden noght the sterres drede;
7.655: For o man, if him wel befalle,
7.656: Is more worth than ben thei alle
7.657: Towardes him that weldeth al.
7.658: Bot yit the lawe original,
7.659: Which he hath set in the natures,
7.660: Mot worchen in the creatures,
7.661: That therof mai be non obstacle,
7.662: Bot if it stonde upon miracle
7.663: Thurgh preiere of som holy man.
7.664: And forthi, so as I began
7.665: To speke upon Astronomie,
7.666: As it is write in the clergie,
7.667: To telle hou the planetes fare,
7.668: Som part I thenke to declare,
7.669: Mi Sone, unto thin Audience.
7.670: Astronomie is the science
7.671: Of wisdom and of hih connynge,
7.672: Which makth a man have knowlechinge
7.673: Of Sterres in the firmament,
7.674: Figure, cercle and moevement
7.675: Of ech of hem in sondri place,
7.676: And what betwen hem is of space,
7.677: Hou so thei moeve or stonde faste,
7.678: Al this it telleth to the laste.
7.679: Assembled with Astronomie
7.680: Is ek that ilke Astrologie
7.681: The which in juggementz acompteth
7.682: Theffect, what every sterre amonteth,
7.683: And hou thei causen many a wonder
7.684: To tho climatz that stonde hem under.


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7.685: And forto telle it more plein,
7.686: These olde philosphres sein
7.687: That Orbis, which I spak of err,
7.688: Is that which we fro therthe a ferr
7.689: Beholde, and firmament it calle,
7.690: In which the sterres stonden alle,
7.691: Among the whiche in special
7.692: Planetes sefne principal
7.693: Ther ben, that mannes sihte demeth,
7.694: Bot thorizonte, as to ous semeth.
7.695: And also ther ben signes tuelve,
7.696: Whiche have her cercles be hemselve
7.697: Compassed in the zodiaque,
7.698: In which thei have here places take.
7.699: And as thei stonden in degre,
7.700: Here cercles more or lasse be,
7.701: Mad after the proporcion
7.702: Of therthe, whos condicion
7.703: Is set to be the foundement
7.704: To sustiene up the firmament.
7.705: And be this skile a man mai knowe,
7.706: The more that thei stonden lowe,
7.707: The more ben the cercles lasse;
7.708: That causeth why that some passe
7.709: Here due cours tofore an other.
7.710: Bot nou, mi lieve dere brother,
7.711: As thou desirest forto wite
7.712: What I finde in the bokes write,
7.713: To telle of the planetes sevene,
7.714: Hou that thei stonde upon the hevene
7.715: And in what point that thei ben inne,
7.716: Tak hiede, for I wol beginne,
7.717: So as the Philosophre tauhte
7.718: To Alisandre and it betauhte,
7.719: Wherof that he was fulli tawht
7.720: Of wisdom, which was him betawht.
7.721: Benethe alle othre stant the Mone,


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7.722: The which hath with the See to done:
7.723: Of flodes hihe and ebbes lowe
7.724: Upon his change it schal be knowe;
7.725: And every fissh which hath a schelle
7.726: Mot in his governance duelle,
7.727: To wexe and wane in his degre,
7.728: As be the Mone a man mai se;
7.729: And al that stant upon the grounde
7.730: Of his moisture it mot be founde.
7.731: Alle othre sterres, as men finde,
7.732: Be schynende of here oghne kinde
7.733: Outake only the monelyht,
7.734: Which is noght of himselve bright,
7.735: Bot as he takth it of the Sonne.
7.736: And yit he hath noght al fulwonne
7.737: His lyht, that he nys somdiel derk;
7.738: Bot what the lette is of that werk
7.739: In Almageste it telleth this:
7.740: The Mones cercle so lowe is,
7.741: Wherof the Sonne out of his stage
7.742: Ne seth him noght with full visage,
7.743: For he is with the ground beschaded,
7.744: So that the Mone is somdiel faded
7.745: And may noght fully schyne cler.
7.746: Bot what man under his pouer
7.747: Is bore, he schal his places change
7.748: And seche manye londes strange:
7.749: And as of this condicion
7.750: The Mones disposicion
7.751: Upon the lond of Alemaigne
7.752: Is set, and ek upon Bretaigne,
7.753: Which nou is cleped Engelond;
7.754: For thei travaile in every lond.
7.755: Of the Planetes the secounde
7.756: Above the Mone hath take his bounde,
7.757: Mercurie, and his nature is this,
7.758: That under him who that bore is,
7.759: In boke he schal be studious
7.760: And in wrytinge curious,


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7.761: And slouh and lustles to travaile
7.762: In thing which elles myhte availe:
7.763: He loveth ese, he loveth reste,
7.764: So is he noght the worthieste;
7.765: Bot yit with somdiel besinesse
7.766: His herte is set upon richesse.
7.767: And as in this condicion,
7.768: Theffect and disposicion
7.769: Of this Planete and of his chance
7.770: Is most in Burgoigne and in France.
7.771: Next to Mercurie, as wol befalle,
7.772: Stant that Planete which men calle
7.773: Venus, whos constellacion
7.774: Governeth al the nacion
7.775: Of lovers, wher thei spiede or non,
7.776: Of whiche I trowe thou be on:
7.777: Bot whiderward thin happes wende,
7.778: Schal this planete schewe at ende,
7.779: As it hath do to many mo,
7.780: To some wel, to some wo.
7.781: And natheles of this Planete
7.782: The moste part is softe and swete;
7.783: For who that therof takth his berthe,
7.784: He schal desire joie and merthe,
7.785: Gentil, courteis and debonaire,
7.786: To speke his wordes softe and faire,
7.787: Such schal he be be weie of kinde,
7.788: And overal wher he may finde
7.789: Plesance of love, his herte boweth
7.790: With al his myht and there he woweth.
7.791: He is so ferforth Amourous,
7.792: He not what thing is vicious
7.793: Touchende love, for that lawe
7.794: Ther mai no maner man withdrawe,
7.795: The which venerien is bore
7.796: Be weie of kinde, and therefore
7.797: Venus of love the goddesse
7.798: Is cleped: bot of wantounesse


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7.799: The climat of hir lecherie
7.800: Is most commun in Lombardie.
7.801: Next unto this Planete of love
7.802: The brighte Sonne stant above,
7.803: Which is the hindrere of the nyht
7.804: And forthrere of the daies lyht,
7.805: As he which is the worldes yµe,
7.806: Thurgh whom the lusti compaignie
7.807: Of foules be the morwe singe,
7.808: The freisshe floures sprede and springe,
7.809: The hihe tre the ground beschadeth,
7.810: And every mannes herte gladeth.
7.811: And for it is the hed Planete,
7.812: Hou that he sitteth in his sete,
7.813: Of what richesse, of what nobleie,
7.814: These bokes telle, and thus thei seie.
7.815: Of gold glistrende Spoke and whiel
7.816: The Sonne his carte hath faire and wiel,
7.817: In which he sitt, and is coroned
7.818: With brighte stones environed;
7.819: Of whiche if that I speke schal,
7.820: Ther be tofore in special
7.821: Set in the front of his corone
7.822: Thre Stones, whiche no persone
7.823: Hath upon Erthe, and the ferste is
7.824: Be name cleped Licuchis;
7.825: That othre tuo be cleped thus,
7.826: Astrices and Ceramius.
7.827: In his corone also behinde,
7.828: Be olde bokes as I finde,
7.829: Ther ben of worthi Stones thre
7.830: Set ech of hem in his degre:
7.831: Wherof a Cristall is that on,
7.832: Which that corone is set upon;
7.833: The seconde is an Adamant;
7.834: The thridde is noble and avenant,
7.835: Which cleped is Ydriades.
7.836: And over this yit natheles
7.837: Upon the sydes of the werk,


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7.838: After the wrytinge of the clerk,
7.839: Ther sitten fyve Stones mo:
7.840: The smaragdine is on of tho,
7.841: Jaspis and Elitropius
7.842: And Dendides and Jacinctus.
7.843: Lo, thus the corone is beset,
7.844: Wherof it schyneth wel the bet;
7.845: And in such wise his liht to sprede
7.846: Sit with his Diademe on hede
7.847: The Sonne schynende in his carte.
7.848: And forto lede him swithe and smarte
7.849: After the bryhte daies lawe,
7.850: Ther ben ordeined forto drawe
7.851: Foure hors his Char and him withal,
7.852: Wherof the names telle I schal:
7.853: Eritheuµs the ferste is hote,
7.854: The which is red and schyneth hote,
7.855: The seconde Acteos the bryhte,
7.856: Lampes the thridde coursier hihte,
7.857: And Philogeuµs is the ferthe,
7.858: That bringen lyht unto this erthe,
7.859: And gon so swift upon the hevene,
7.860: In foure and twenty houres evene
7.861: The carte with the bryhte Sonne
7.862: Thei drawe, so that overronne
7.863: Thei have under the cercles hihe
7.864: Al Middelerthe in such an hye.
7.865: And thus the Sonne is overal
7.866: The chief Planete imperial,
7.867: Above him and benethe him thre:
7.868: And thus betwen hem regneth he,
7.869: As he that hath the middel place
7.870: Among the Sevene, and of his face
7.871: Be glade alle erthly creatures,
7.872: And taken after the natures
7.873: Here ese and recreacion.
7.874: And in his constellacion
7.875: Who that is bore in special,
7.876: Of good will and of liberal
7.877: He schal be founde in alle place,


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7.878: And also stonde in mochel grace
7.879: Toward the lordes forto serve
7.880: And gret profit and thonk deserve.
7.881: And over that it causeth yit
7.882: A man to be soubtil of wit
7.883: To worche in gold, and to be wys
7.884: In every thing which is of pris.
7.885: Bot forto speken in what cost
7.886: Of al this erthe he regneth most
7.887: As for wisdom, it is in Grece,
7.888: Wher is apropred thilke spiece.
7.889: Mars the Planete bataillous
7.890: Next to the Sonne glorious
7.891: Above stant, and doth mervailes
7.892: Upon the fortune of batailes.
7.893: The conquerours be daies olde
7.894: Were unto this planete holde:
7.895: Bot who that his nativite
7.896: Hath take upon the proprete
7.897: Of Martes disposicioun
7.898: Be weie of constellacioun,
7.899: He schal be fiers and folhastif
7.900: And desirous of werre and strif.
7.901: Bot forto telle redely
7.902: In what climat most comunly
7.903: That this planete hath his effect,
7.904: Seid is that he hath his aspect
7.905: Upon the holi lond so cast,
7.906: That there is no pes stedefast.
7.907: Above Mars upon the hevene,
7.908: The sexte Planete of the sevene,
7.909: Stant Jupiter the delicat,
7.910: Which causeth pes and no debat.
7.911: For he is cleped that Planete
7.912: Which of his kinde softe and swete
7.913: Attempreth al that to him longeth;
7.914: And whom this planete underfongeth
7.915: To stonde upon his regiment,
7.916: He schal be meke and pacient


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7.917: And fortunat to Marchandie
7.918: And lusti to delicacie
7.919: In every thing which he schal do.
7.920: This Jupiter is cause also
7.921: Of the science of lyhte werkes,
7.922: And in this wise tellen clerkes
7.923: He is the Planete of delices.
7.924: Bot in Egipte of his offices
7.925: He regneth most in special:
7.926: For ther be lustes overal
7.927: Of al that to this lif befalleth;
7.928: For ther no stormy weder falleth,
7.929: Which myhte grieve man or beste,
7.930: And ek the lond is so honeste
7.931: That it is plentevous and plein,
7.932: Ther is non ydel ground in vein;
7.933: And upon such felicite
7.934: Stant Jupiter in his degre.
7.935: The heyeste and aboven alle
7.936: Stant that planete which men calle
7.937: Saturnus, whos complexion
7.938: Is cold, and his condicion
7.939: Causeth malice and crualte
7.940: To him the whos nativite
7.941: Is set under his governance.
7.942: For alle hise werkes ben grevance
7.943: And enemy to mannes hele,
7.944: In what degre that he schal dele.
7.945: His climat is in Orient,
7.946: Wher that he is most violent.
7.947: Of the Planetes by and by,
7.948: Hou that thei stonde upon the Sky,
7.949: Fro point to point as thou myht hiere,
7.950: Was Alisandre mad to liere.
7.951: Bot overthis touchende his lore,
7.952: Of thing that thei him tawhte more
7.953: Upon the scoles of clergie
7.954: Now herkne the Philosophie.


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7.955: He which departeth dai fro nyht,
7.956: That on derk and that other lyht,
7.957: Of sevene daies made a weke,
7.958: A Monthe of foure wekes eke
7.959: He hath ordeigned in his lawe,
7.960: Of Monthes tuelve and ek forthdrawe
7.961: He hath also the longe yeer.
7.962: And as he sette of his pouer
7.963: Acordant to the daies sevene
7.964: Planetes Sevene upon the hevene,
7.965: As thou tofore hast herd devise,
7.966: To speke riht in such a wise,
7.967: To every Monthe be himselve
7.968: Upon the hevene of Signes tuelve
7.969: He hath after his Ordinal
7.970: Assigned on in special,
7.971: Wherof, so as I schal rehersen,
7.972: The tydes of the yer diversen.
7.973: Bot pleinly forto make it knowe
7.974: Hou that the Signes sitte arowe,
7.975: Ech after other be degre
7.976: In substance and in proprete
7.977: The zodiaque comprehendeth
7.978: Withinne his cercle, as it appendeth.
7.979: The ferste of whiche natheles
7.980: Be name is cleped Aries,
7.981: Which lich a wether of stature
7.982: Resembled is in his figure.
7.983: And as it seith in Almageste,
7.984: Of Sterres tuelve upon this beste
7.985: Ben set, wherof in his degre
7.986: The wombe hath tuo, the heved hath thre,
7.987: The Tail hath sevene, and in this wise,
7.988: As thou myht hiere me divise,
7.989: Stant Aries, which hot and drye
7.990: Is of himself, and in partie


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7.991: He is the receipte and the hous
7.992: Of myhty Mars the bataillous.
7.993: And overmore ek, as I finde,
7.994: The creatour of alle kinde
7.995: Upon this Signe ferst began
7.996: The world, whan that he made man.
7.997: And of this constellacioun
7.998: The verray operacioun
7.999: Availeth, if a man therinne
7.1000: The pourpos of his werk beginne;
7.1001: For thanne he hath of proprete
7.1002: Good sped and gret felicite.
7.1003: The tuelve Monthes of the yeer
7.1004: Attitled under the pouer
7.1005: Of these tuelve Signes stonde;
7.1006: Wherof that thou schalt understonde
7.1007: This Aries on of the tuelve
7.1008: Hath March attitled for himselve,
7.1009: Whan every bridd schal chese his make,
7.1010: And every neddre and every Snake
7.1011: And every Reptil which mai moeve,
7.1012: His myht assaieth forto proeve,
7.1013: To crepen out ayein the Sonne,
7.1014: Whan Ver his Seson hath begonne.
7.1015: Taurus the seconde after this
7.1016: Of Signes, which figured is
7.1017: Unto a Bole, is dreie and cold;
7.1018: And as it is in bokes told,
7.1019: He is the hous appourtienant
7.1020: To Venus, somdiel descordant.
7.1021: This Bole is ek with sterres set,
7.1022: Thurgh whiche he hath hise hornes knet
7.1023: Unto the tail of Aries,
7.1024: So is he noght ther sterreles.
7.1025: Upon his brest ek eyhtetiene
7.1026: He hath, and ek, as it is sene,
7.1027: Upon his tail stonde othre tuo.


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7.1028: His Monthe assigned ek also
7.1029: Is Averil, which of his schoures
7.1030: Ministreth weie unto the floures.
7.1031: The thridde signe is Gemini,
7.1032: Which is figured redely
7.1033: Lich to tuo twinnes of mankinde,
7.1034: That naked stonde; and as I finde,
7.1035: Thei be with Sterres wel bego:
7.1036: The heved hath part of thilke tuo
7.1037: That schyne upon the boles tail,
7.1038: So be thei bothe of o parail;
7.1039: But on the wombe of Gemini
7.1040: Ben fyve sterres noght forthi,
7.1041: And ek upon the feet be tweie,
7.1042: So as these olde bokes seie,
7.1043: That wise Tholomeuµs wrot.
7.1044: His propre Monthe wel I wot
7.1045: Assigned is the lusti Maii,
7.1046: Whanne every brid upon his lay
7.1047: Among the griene leves singeth,
7.1048: And love of his pointure stingeth
7.1049: After the lawes of nature
7.1050: The youthe of every creature.
7.1051: Cancer after the reule and space
7.1052: Of Signes halt the ferthe place.
7.1053: Like to the crabbe he hath semblance,
7.1054: And hath unto his retienance
7.1055: Sextiene sterres, wherof ten,
7.1056: So as these olde wise men
7.1057: Descrive, he berth on him tofore,
7.1058: And in the middel tuo be bore,
7.1059: And foure he hath upon his ende.
7.1060: Thus goth he sterred in his kende,
7.1061: And of himself is moiste and cold,
7.1062: And is the propre hous and hold
7.1063: Which appartieneth to the Mone,


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7.1064: And doth what longeth him to done.
7.1065: The Monthe of Juin unto this Signe
7.1066: Thou schalt after the reule assigne.
7.1067: The fifte Signe is Leo hote,
7.1068: Whos kinde is schape dreie and hote,
7.1069: In whom the Sonne hath herbergage.
7.1070: And the semblance of his ymage
7.1071: Is a leoun, which in baillie
7.1072: Of sterres hath his pourpartie:
7.1073: The foure, which as Cancer hath
7.1074: Upon his ende, Leo tath
7.1075: Upon his heved, and thanne nest
7.1076: He hath ek foure upon his brest,
7.1077: And on upon his tail behinde,
7.1078: In olde bokes as we finde.
7.1079: His propre Monthe is Juyl be name,
7.1080: In which men pleien many a game.
7.1081: After Leo Virgo the nexte
7.1082: Of Signes cleped is the sexte,
7.1083: Wherof the figure is a Maide;
7.1084: And as the Philosophre saide,
7.1085: Sche is the welthe and the risinge,
7.1086: The lust, the joie and the likinge
7.1087: Unto Mercurie: and soth to seie
7.1088: Sche is with sterres wel beseie,
7.1089: Wherof Leo hath lent hire on,
7.1090: Which sit on hih hir heved upon,
7.1091: Hire wombe hath fyve, hir feet also
7.1092: Have other fyve: and overmo
7.1093: Touchende as of complexion,
7.1094: Be kindly disposicion
7.1095: Of dreie and cold this Maiden is.
7.1096: And forto tellen over this
7.1097: Hir Monthe, thou schalt understonde,
7.1098: Whan every feld hath corn in honde
7.1099: And many a man his bak hath plied,


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7.1100: Unto this Signe is Augst applied.
7.1101: After Virgo to reknen evene
7.1102: Libra sit in the nombre of sevene,
7.1103: Which hath figure and resemblance
7.1104: Unto a man which a balance
7.1105: Berth in his hond as forto weie:
7.1106: In boke and as it mai be seie,
7.1107: Diverse sterres to him longeth,
7.1108: Wherof on hevede he underfongeth
7.1109: Ferst thre, and ek his wombe hath tuo,
7.1110: And doun benethe eighte othre mo.
7.1111: This Signe is hot and moiste bothe,
7.1112: The whiche thinges be noght lothe
7.1113: Unto Venus, so that alofte
7.1114: Sche resteth in his hous fulofte,
7.1115: And ek Saturnus often hyed
7.1116: Is in this Signe and magnefied.
7.1117: His propre Monthe is seid Septembre,
7.1118: Which yifth men cause to remembre,
7.1119: If eny Sor be left behinde
7.1120: Of thing which grieve mai to kinde.
7.1121: Among the Signes upon heighte
7.1122: The Signe which is nombred eighte
7.1123: Is Scorpio, which as feloun
7.1124: Figured is a Scorpioun.
7.1125: Bot for al that yit natheles
7.1126: Is Scorpio noght sterreles;
7.1127: For Libra granteth him his ende
7.1128: Of eighte sterres, wher he wende,
7.1129: The whiche upon his heved assised
7.1130: He berth, and ek ther ben divised
7.1131: Upon his wombe sterres thre,
7.1132: And eighte upon his tail hath he.
7.1133: Which of his kinde is moiste and cold
7.1134: And unbehovely manyfold;
7.1135: He harmeth Venus and empeireth,
7.1136: Bot Mars unto his hous repeireth,
7.1137: Bot war whan thei togedre duellen.


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7.1138: His propre Monthe is, as men tellen,
7.1139: Octobre, which bringth the kalende
7.1140: Of wynter, that comth next suiende.
7.1141: The nynthe Signe in nombre also,
7.1142: Which folweth after Scorpio,
7.1143: Is cleped Sagittarius,
7.1144: The whos figure is marked thus,
7.1145: A Monstre with a bowe on honde:
7.1146: On whom that sondri sterres stonde,
7.1147: Thilke eighte of whiche I spak tofore,
7.1148: The whiche upon the tail ben bore
7.1149: Of Scorpio, the heved al faire
7.1150: Bespreden of the Sagittaire;
7.1151: And eighte of othre stonden evene
7.1152: Upon his wombe, and othre sevene
7.1153: Ther stonde upon his tail behinde.
7.1154: And he is hot and dreie of kinde:
7.1155: To Jupiter his hous is fre,
7.1156: Bot to Mercurie in his degre,
7.1157: For thei ben noght of on assent,
7.1158: He worcheth gret empeirement.
7.1159: This Signe hath of his proprete
7.1160: A Monthe, which of duete
7.1161: After the sesoun that befalleth
7.1162: The Plowed Oxe in wynter stalleth;
7.1163: And fyr into the halle he bringeth,
7.1164: And thilke drinke of which men singeth,
7.1165: He torneth must into the wyn;
7.1166: Thanne is the larder of the swyn;
7.1167: That is Novembre which I meene,
7.1168: Whan that the lef hath lost his greene.
7.1169: The tenthe Signe dreie and cold,
7.1170: The which is Capricornus told,
7.1171: Unto a Got hath resemblance:
7.1172: For whos love and whos aqueintance
7.1173: Withinne hise houses to sojorne
7.1174: It liketh wel unto Satorne,
7.1175: Bot to the Mone it liketh noght,


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7.1176: For no profit is there wroght.
7.1177: This Signe as of his proprete
7.1178: Upon his heved hath sterres thre,
7.1179: And ek upon his wombe tuo,
7.1180: And tweie upon his tail also.
7.1181: Decembre after the yeeres forme,
7.1182: So as the bokes ous enforme,
7.1183: With daies schorte and nyhtes longe
7.1184: This ilke Signe hath underfonge.
7.1185: Of tho that sitte upon the hevene
7.1186: Of Signes in the nombre ellevene
7.1187: Aquarius hath take his place,
7.1188: And stant wel in Satornes grace,
7.1189: Which duelleth in his herbergage,
7.1190: Bot to the Sonne he doth oultrage.
7.1191: This Signe is verraily resembled
7.1192: Lich to a man which halt assembled
7.1193: In eyther hand a water spoute,
7.1194: Wherof the stremes rennen oute.
7.1195: He is of kinde moiste and hot,
7.1196: And he that of the sterres wot
7.1197: Seith that he hath of sterres tuo
7.1198: Upon his heved, and ben of tho
7.1199: That Capricorn hath on his ende;
7.1200: And as the bokes maken mende,
7.1201: That Tholomeuµs made himselve,
7.1202: He hath ek on his wombe tuelve,
7.1203: And tweie upon his ende stonde.
7.1204: Thou schalt also this understonde,
7.1205: The frosti colde Janever,
7.1206: Whan comen is the newe yeer,
7.1207: That Janus with his double face
7.1208: In his chaiere hath take his place
7.1209: And loketh upon bothe sides,
7.1210: Somdiel toward the wynter tydes,
7.1211: Somdiel toward the yeer suiende,
7.1212: That is the Monthe belongende
7.1213: Unto this Signe, and of his dole


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7.1214: He yifth the ferste Primerole.
7.1215: The tuelfthe, which is last of alle
7.1216: Of Signes, Piscis men it calle,
7.1217: The which, as telleth the scripture,
7.1218: Berth of tuo fisshes the figure.
7.1219: So is he cold and moiste of kinde,
7.1220: And ek with sterres, as I finde,
7.1221: Beset in sondri wise, as thus:
7.1222: Tuo of his ende Aquarius
7.1223: Hath lent unto his heved, and tuo
7.1224: This Signe hath of his oghne also
7.1225: Upon his wombe, and over this
7.1226: Upon his ende also ther is
7.1227: A nombre of twenty sterres bryghte,
7.1228: Which is to sen a wonder sighte.
7.1229: Toward this Signe into his hous
7.1230: Comth Jupiter the glorious,
7.1231: And Venus ek with him acordeth
7.1232: To duellen, as the bok recordeth.
7.1233: The Monthe unto this Signe ordeined
7.1234: Is Februer, which is bereined,
7.1235: And with londflodes in his rage
7.1236: At Fordes letteth the passage.
7.1237: Nou hast thou herd the proprete
7.1238: Of Signes, bot in his degre
7.1239: Albumazar yit over this
7.1240: Seith, so as therthe parted is
7.1241: In foure, riht so ben divised
7.1242: The Signes tuelve and stonde assised,
7.1243: That ech of hem for his partie
7.1244: Hath his climat to justefie.
7.1245: Wherof the ferste regiment
7.1246: Toward the part of Orient
7.1247: From Antioche and that contre
7.1248: Governed is of Signes thre,
7.1249: That is Cancer, Virgo, Leo:
7.1250: And toward Occident also
7.1251: From Armenie, as I am lerned,


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7.1252: Of Capricorn it stant governed,
7.1253: Of Pisces and Aquarius:
7.1254: And after hem I finde thus,
7.1255: Southward from Alisandre forth
7.1256: Tho Signes whiche most ben worth
7.1257: In governance of that doaire,
7.1258: Libra thei ben and Sagittaire
7.1259: With Scorpio, which is conjoint
7.1260: With hem to stonde upon that point:
7.1261: Constantinople the Cite,
7.1262: So as the bokes tellen me,
7.1263: The laste of this division
7.1264: Stant untoward Septemtrion,
7.1265: Wher as be weie of pourveance
7.1266: Hath Aries the governance
7.1267: Forth with Taurus and Gemini.
7.1268: Thus ben the Signes propreli
7.1269: Divided, as it is reherced,
7.1270: Wherof the londes ben diversed.
7.1271: Lo thus, mi Sone, as thou myht hiere,
7.1272: Was Alisandre mad to liere
7.1273: Of hem that weren for his lore.
7.1274: But nou to loken overmore,
7.1275: Of othre sterres hou thei fare
7.1276: I thenke hierafter to declare,
7.1277: So as king Alisandre in youthe
7.1278: Of him that suche thinges couthe
7.1279: Enformed was tofore his yhe
7.1280: Be nyhte upon the sterres hihe.
7.1281: Upon sondri creacion
7.1282: Stant sondri operacion,
7.1283: Som worcheth this, som worcheth that;
7.1284: The fyr is hot in his astat
7.1285: And brenneth what he mai atteigne,
7.1286: The water mai the fyr restreigne,
7.1287: The which is cold and moist also.
7.1288: Of other thing it farth riht so


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7.1289: Upon this erthe among ous here;
7.1290: And forto speke in this manere,
7.1291: Upon the hevene, as men mai finde,
7.1292: The sterres ben of sondri kinde
7.1293: And worchen manye sondri thinges
7.1294: To ous, that ben here underlinges.
7.1295: Among the whiche forth withal
7.1296: Nectanabus in special,
7.1297: Which was an Astronomien
7.1298: And ek a gret Magicien,
7.1299: And undertake hath thilke emprise
7.1300: To Alisandre in his aprise
7.1301: As of Magique naturel
7.1302: To knowe, enformeth him somdel
7.1303: Of certein sterres what thei mene;
7.1304: Of whiche, he seith, ther ben fiftene,
7.1305: And sondrily to everich on
7.1306: A gras belongeth and a Ston,
7.1307: Wherof men worchen many a wonder
7.1308: To sette thing bothe up and under.
7.1309: To telle riht as he began,
7.1310: The ferste sterre Aldeboran,
7.1311: The cliereste and the moste of alle,
7.1312: Be rihte name men it calle;
7.1313: Which lich is of condicion
7.1314: To Mars, and of complexion
7.1315: To Venus, and hath therupon
7.1316: Carbunculum his propre Ston:
7.1317: His herbe is Anabulla named,
7.1318: Which is of gret vertu proclamed.
7.1319: The seconde is noght vertules;
7.1320: Clota or elles Pliades
7.1321: It hatte, and of the mones kinde
7.1322: He is, and also this I finde,
7.1323: He takth of Mars complexion:
7.1324: And lich to such condicion
7.1325: His Ston appropred is Cristall,
7.1326: And ek his herbe in special
7.1327: The vertuous Fenele it is.


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7.1328: The thridde, which comth after this,
7.1329: Is hote Algol the clere rede,
7.1330: Which of Satorne, as I may rede,
7.1331: His kinde takth, and ek of Jove
7.1332: Complexion to his behove.
7.1333: His propre Ston is Dyamant,
7.1334: Which is to him most acordant;
7.1335: His herbe, which is him betake,
7.1336: Is hote Eleborum the blake.
7.1337: So as it falleth upon lot,
7.1338: The ferthe sterre is Alhaiot,
7.1339: Which in the wise as I seide er
7.1340: Of Satorne and of Jupiter
7.1341: Hath take his kinde; and therupon
7.1342: The Saphir is his propre Ston,
7.1343: Marrubium his herbe also,
7.1344: The whiche acorden bothe tuo.
7.1345: And Canis maior in his like
7.1346: The fifte sterre is of Magique,
7.1347: The whos kinde is venerien,
7.1348: As seith this Astronomien.
7.1349: His propre Ston is seid Berille,
7.1350: Bot forto worche and to fulfille
7.1351: Thing which to this science falleth,
7.1352: Ther is an herbe which men calleth
7.1353: Saveine, and that behoveth nede
7.1354: To him that wole his pourpos spede.
7.1355: The sexte suiende after this
7.1356: Be name Canis minor is;
7.1357: The which sterre is Mercurial
7.1358: Be weie of kinde, and forth withal,
7.1359: As it is writen in the carte,
7.1360: Complexion he takth of Marte.
7.1361: His Ston and herbe, as seith the Scole,
7.1362: Ben Achates and Primerole.
7.1363: The sefnthe sterre in special
7.1364: Of this science is Arial,
7.1365: Which sondri nature underfongeth.


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7.1366: The Ston which propre unto him longeth,
7.1367: Gorgonza proprely it hihte:
7.1368: His herbe also, which he schal rihte
7.1369: Upon the worchinge as I mene,
7.1370: Is Celidoine freissh and grene.
7.1371: Sterre Ala Corvi upon heihte
7.1372: Hath take his place in nombre of eighte,
7.1373: Which of his kinde mot parforne
7.1374: The will of Marte and of Satorne:
7.1375: To whom Lapacia the grete
7.1376: Is herbe, bot of no beyete;
7.1377: His Ston is Honochinus hote,
7.1378: Thurgh which men worchen gret riote.
7.1379: The nynthe sterre faire and wel
7.1380: Be name is hote Alaezel,
7.1381: Which takth his propre kinde thus
7.1382: Bothe of Mercurie and of Venus.
7.1383: His Ston is the grene Amyraude,
7.1384: To whom is yoven many a laude:
7.1385: Salge is his herbe appourtenant
7.1386: Aboven al the rememant.
7.1387: The tenthe sterre is Almareth,
7.1388: Which upon lif and upon deth
7.1389: Thurgh kinde of Jupiter and Mart
7.1390: He doth what longeth to his part.
7.1391: His Ston is Jaspe, and of Planteine
7.1392: He hath his herbe sovereine.
7.1393: The sterre ellefthe is Venenas,
7.1394: The whos nature is as it was
7.1395: Take of Venus and of the Mone,
7.1396: In thing which he hath forto done.
7.1397: Of Adamant is that perrie
7.1398: In which he worcheth his maistrie;
7.1399: Thilke herbe also which him befalleth,
7.1400: Cicorea the bok it calleth.
7.1401: Alpheta in the nombre sit,
7.1402: And is the twelfthe sterre yit;


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7.1403: Of Scorpio which is governed,
7.1404: And takth his kinde, as I am lerned;
7.1405: And hath his vertu in the Ston
7.1406: Which cleped is Topazion:
7.1407: His herbe propre is Rosmarine,
7.1408: Which schapen is for his covine.
7.1409: Of these sterres, whiche I mene,
7.1410: Cor Scorpionis is thritiene;
7.1411: The whos nature Mart and Jove
7.1412: Have yoven unto his behove.
7.1413: His herbe is Aristologie,
7.1414: Which folweth his Astronomie:
7.1415: The Ston which that this sterre alloweth,
7.1416: Is Sardis, which unto him boweth.
7.1417: The sterre which stant next the laste,
7.1418: Nature on him this name caste
7.1419: And clepeth him Botercadent;
7.1420: Which of his kinde obedient
7.1421: Is to Mercurie and to Venus.
7.1422: His Ston is seid Crisolitus,
7.1423: His herbe is cleped Satureie,
7.1424: So as these olde bokes seie.
7.1425: Bot nou the laste sterre of alle
7.1426: The tail of Scorpio men calle,
7.1427: Which to Mercurie and to Satorne
7.1428: Be weie of kinde mot retorne
7.1429: After the preparacion
7.1430: Of due constellacion.
7.1431: The Calcedoine unto him longeth,
7.1432: Which for his Ston he underfongeth;
7.1433: Of Majorane his herbe is grounded.
7.1434: Thus have I seid hou thei be founded,
7.1435: Of every sterre in special,
7.1436: Which hath his herbe and Ston withal,
7.1437: As Hermes in his bokes olde
7.1438: Witnesse berth of that I tolde.


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7.1439: The science of Astronomie,
7.1440: Which principal is of clergie
7.1441: To dieme betwen wo and wel
7.1442: In thinges that be naturel,
7.1443: Thei hadde a gret travail on honde
7.1444: That made it ferst ben understonde;
7.1445: And thei also which overmore
7.1446: Here studie sette upon this lore,
7.1447: Thei weren gracious and wys
7.1448: And worthi forto bere a pris.
7.1449: And whom it liketh forto wite
7.1450: Of hem that this science write,
7.1451: On of the ferste which it wrot
7.1452: After Noeµ, it was Nembrot,
7.1453: To his disciple Ychonithon
7.1454: And made a bok forth therupon
7.1455: The which Megaster cleped was.
7.1456: An other Auctor in this cas
7.1457: Is Arachel, the which men note;
7.1458: His bok is Abbategnyh hote.
7.1459: Danz Tholome is noght the leste,
7.1460: Which makth the bok of Almageste;
7.1461: And Alfraganus doth the same,
7.1462: Whos bok is Chatemuz be name.
7.1463: Gebuz and Alpetragus eke
7.1464: Of Planisperie, which men seke,
7.1465: The bokes made: and over this
7.1466: Ful many a worthi clerc ther is,
7.1467: That writen upon this clergie
7.1468: The bokes of Altemetrie,
7.1469: Planemetrie and ek also,
7.1470: Whiche as belongen bothe tuo,
7.1471: So as thei ben naturiens,
7.1472: Unto these Astronomiens.
7.1473: Men sein that Habraham was on;
7.1474: Bot whether that he wrot or non,
7.1475: That finde I noght; and Moiµses
7.1476: Ek was an other: bot Hermes


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7.1477: Above alle othre in this science
7.1478: He hadde a gret experience;
7.1479: Thurgh him was many a sterre assised,
7.1480: Whos bokes yit ben auctorized.
7.1481: I mai noght knowen alle tho
7.1482: That writen in the time tho
7.1483: Of this science; bot I finde,
7.1484: Of jugement be weie of kinde
7.1485: That in o point thei alle acorden:
7.1486: Of sterres whiche thei recorden
7.1487: That men mai sen upon the hevene,
7.1488: Ther ben a thousend sterres evene
7.1489: And tuo and twenty, to the syhte
7.1490: Whiche aren of hemself so bryhte,
7.1491: That men mai dieme what thei be,
7.1492: The nature and the proprete.
7.1493: Nou hast thou herd, in which a wise
7.1494: These noble Philosophres wise
7.1495: Enformeden this yonge king,
7.1496: And made him have a knowleching
7.1497: Of thing which ferst to the partie
7.1498: Belongeth of Philosophie,
7.1499: Which Theorique cleped is,
7.1500: As thou tofore hast herd er this.
7.1501: Bot nou to speke of the secounde,
7.1502: Which Aristotle hath also founde,
7.1503: And techeth hou to speke faire,
7.1504: Which is a thing full necessaire
7.1505: To contrepeise the balance,
7.1506: Wher lacketh other sufficance.
7.1507: Above alle erthli creatures
7.1508: The hihe makere of natures


-2.274-



7.1509: The word to man hath yove alone,
7.1510: So that the speche of his persone,
7.1511: Or forto lese or forto winne,
7.1512: The hertes thoght which is withinne
7.1513: Mai schewe, what it wolde mene;
7.1514: And that is noghwhere elles sene
7.1515: Of kinde with non other beste.
7.1516: So scholde he be the more honeste,
7.1517: To whom god yaf so gret a yifte,
7.1518: And loke wel that he ne schifte
7.1519: Hise wordes to no wicked us;
7.1520: For word the techer of vertus
7.1521: Is cleped in Philosophie.
7.1522: Wherof touchende this partie,
7.1523: Is Rethorique the science
7.1524: Appropred to the reverence
7.1525: Of wordes that ben resonable:
7.1526: And for this art schal be vailable
7.1527: With goodli wordes forto like,
7.1528: It hath Gramaire, it hath Logiqe,
7.1529: That serven bothe unto the speche.
7.1530: Gramaire ferste hath forto teche
7.1531: To speke upon congruite:
7.1532: Logique hath eke in his degre
7.1533: Betwen the trouthe and the falshode
7.1534: The pleine wordes forto schode,
7.1535: So that nothing schal go beside,
7.1536: That he the riht ne schal decide.
7.1537: Wherof full many a gret debat
7.1538: Reformed is to good astat,
7.1539: And pes sustiened up alofte
7.1540: With esy wordes and with softe,
7.1541: Wher strengthe scholde lete it falle.
7.1542: The Philosophre amonges alle
7.1543: Forthi commendeth this science,
7.1544: Which hath the reule of eloquence.
7.1545: In Ston and gras vertu ther is,
7.1546: Bot yit the bokes tellen this,


-2.275-



7.1547: That word above alle erthli thinges
7.1548: Is vertuous in his doinges,
7.1549: Wher so it be to evele or goode.
7.1550: For if the wordes semen goode
7.1551: And ben wel spoke at mannes Ere,
7.1552: Whan that ther is no trouthe there,
7.1553: Thei don fulofte gret deceipte;
7.1554: For whan the word to the conceipte
7.1555: Descordeth in so double a wise,
7.1556: Such Rethorique is to despise
7.1557: In every place, and forto drede.
7.1558: For of Uluxes thus I rede,
7.1559: As in the bok of Troie is founde,
7.1560: His eloquence and his facounde
7.1561: Of goodly wordes whiche he tolde,
7.1562: Hath mad that Anthenor him solde
7.1563: The toun, which he with tresoun wan.
7.1564: Word hath beguiled many a man;
7.1565: With word the wilde beste is daunted,
7.1566: With word the Serpent is enchaunted,
7.1567: Of word among the men of Armes
7.1568: Ben woundes heeled with the charmes,
7.1569: Wher lacketh other medicine;
7.1570: Word hath under his discipline
7.1571: Of Sorcerie the karectes.
7.1572: The wordes ben of sondri sectes,
7.1573: Of evele and eke of goode also;
7.1574: The wordes maken frend of fo,
7.1575: And fo of frend, and pes of werre,
7.1576: And werre of pes, and out of herre
7.1577: The word this worldes cause entriketh,
7.1578: And reconsileth whan him liketh.
7.1579: The word under the coupe of hevene
7.1580: Set every thing or odde or evene;
7.1581: With word the hihe god is plesed,
7.1582: With word the wordes ben appesed,
7.1583: The softe word the loude stilleth;
7.1584: Wher lacketh good, the word fulfilleth,
7.1585: To make amendes for the wrong;


-2.276-



7.1586: Whan wordes medlen with the song,
7.1587: It doth plesance wel the more.
7.1588: Bot forto loke upon the lore
7.1589: Hou Tullius his Rethorique
7.1590: Componeth, ther a man mai pike
7.1591: Hou that he schal hise wordes sette,
7.1592: Hou he schal lose, hou he schal knette,
7.1593: And in what wise he schal pronounce
7.1594: His tale plein withoute frounce.
7.1595: Wherof ensample if thou wolt seche,
7.1596: Tak hiede and red whilom the speche
7.1597: Of Julius and Cithero,
7.1598: Which consul was of Rome tho,
7.1599: Of Catoun eke and of Cillene,
7.1600: Behold the wordes hem betwene,
7.1601: Whan the tresoun of Cateline
7.1602: Descoevered was, and the covine
7.1603: Of hem that were of his assent
7.1604: Was knowe and spoke in parlement,
7.1605: And axed hou and in what wise
7.1606: Men scholde don hem to juise.
7.1607: Cillenus ferst his tale tolde,
7.1608: To trouthe and as he was beholde,
7.1609: The comun profit forto save,
7.1610: He seide hou tresoun scholde have
7.1611: A cruel deth; and thus thei spieke,
7.1612: The Consul bothe and Catoun eke,
7.1613: And seiden that for such a wrong
7.1614: Ther mai no peine be to strong.
7.1615: Bot Julius with wordes wise
7.1616: His tale tolde al otherwise,
7.1617: As he which wolde her deth respite,
7.1618: And fondeth hou he mihte excite
7.1619: The jugges thurgh his eloquence
7.1620: Fro deth to torne the sentence
7.1621: And sette here hertes to pite.
7.1622: Nou tolden thei, nou tolde he;


-2.277-



7.1623: Thei spieken plein after the lawe,
7.1624: Bot he the wordes of his sawe
7.1625: Coloureth in an other weie
7.1626: Spekende, and thus betwen the tweie,
7.1627: To trete upon this juggement,
7.1628: Made ech of hem his Argument.
7.1629: Wherof the tales forto hiere,
7.1630: Ther mai a man the Scole liere
7.1631: Of Rethoriqes eloquences,
7.1632: Which is the secounde of sciences
7.1633: Touchende to Philosophie;
7.1634: Wherof a man schal justifie
7.1635: Hise wordes in disputeisoun,
7.1636: And knette upon conclusioun
7.1637: His Argument in such a forme,
7.1638: Which mai the pleine trouthe enforme
7.1639: And the soubtil cautele abate,
7.1640: Which every trewman schal debate.
7.1641: The ferste, which is Theorique,
7.1642: And the secounde Rethorique,
7.1643: Sciences of Philosophie,
7.1644: I have hem told as in partie,
7.1645: So as the Philosophre it tolde
7.1646: To Alisandre: and nou I wolde
7.1647: Telle of the thridde what it is,
7.1648: The which Practique cleped is.
7.1649: Practique stant upon thre thinges
7.1650: Toward the governance of kinges;
7.1651: Wherof the ferst Etique is named,
7.1652: The whos science stant proclamed
7.1653: To teche of vertu thilke reule,


-2.278-



7.1654: Hou that a king himself schal reule
7.1655: Of his moral condicion
7.1656: With worthi disposicion
7.1657: Of good livinge in his persone,
7.1658: Which is the chief of his corone.
7.1659: It makth a king also to lerne
7.1660: Hou he his bodi schal governe,
7.1661: Hou he schal wake, hou he schal slepe,
7.1662: Hou that he schal his hele kepe
7.1663: In mete, in drinke, in clothinge eke:
7.1664: Ther is no wisdom forto seke
7.1665: As for the reule of his persone,
7.1666: The which that this science al one
7.1667: Ne techeth as be weie of kinde,
7.1668: That ther is nothing left behinde.
7.1669: That other point which to Practique
7.1670: Belongeth is Iconomique,
7.1671: Which techeth thilke honestete
7.1672: Thurgh which a king in his degre
7.1673: His wif and child schal reule and guie,
7.1674: So forth with al the companie
7.1675: Which in his houshold schal abyde,
7.1676: And his astat on every syde
7.1677: In such manere forto lede,
7.1678: That he his houshold ne mislede.
7.1679: Practique hath yit the thridde aprise,
7.1680: Which techeth hou and in what wise
7.1681: Thurgh hih pourveied ordinance
7.1682: A king schal sette in governance
7.1683: His Realme, and that is Policie,
7.1684: Which longeth unto Regalie
7.1685: In time of werre, in time of pes,
7.1686: To worschipe and to good encress
7.1687: Of clerk, of kniht and of Marchant,
7.1688: And so forth of the remenant
7.1689: Of al the comun poeple aboute,
7.1690: Withinne Burgh and ek withoute,


-2.279-



7.1691: Of hem that ben Artificiers,
7.1692: Whiche usen craftes and mestiers,
7.1693: Whos Art is cleped Mechanique.
7.1694: And though thei ben noght alle like,
7.1695: Yit natheles, hou so it falle,
7.1696: O lawe mot governe hem alle,
7.1697: Or that thei lese or that thei winne,
7.1698: After thastat that thei ben inne.
7.1699: Lo, thus this worthi yonge king
7.1700: Was fulli tauht of every thing,
7.1701: Which mihte yive entendement
7.1702: Of good reule and good regiment
7.1703: To such a worthi Prince as he.
7.1704: Bot of verray necessite
7.1705: The Philosophre him hath betake
7.1706: Fyf pointz, whiche he hath undertake
7.1707: To kepe and holde in observance,
7.1708: As for the worthi governance
7.1709: Which longeth to his Regalie,
7.1710: After the reule of Policie.
7.1711: To every man behoveth lore,
7.1712: Bot to noman belongeth more
7.1713: Than to a king, which hath to lede
7.1714: The poeple; for of his kinghede
7.1715: He mai hem bothe save and spille.
7.1716: And for it stant upon his wille,
7.1717: It sit him wel to ben avised,
7.1718: And the vertus whiche are assissed
7.1719: Unto a kinges Regiment,
7.1720: To take in his entendement:
7.1721: Wherof to tellen, as thei stonde,
7.1722: Hierafterward nou woll I fonde.


-2.280-



7.1723: Among the vertus on is chief,
7.1724: And that is trouthe, which is lief
7.1725: To god and ek to man also.
7.1726: And for it hath ben evere so,
7.1727: Tawhte Aristotle, as he wel couthe,
7.1728: To Alisandre, hou in his youthe
7.1729: He scholde of trouthe thilke grace
7.1730: With al his hole herte embrace,
7.1731: So that his word be trewe and plein,
7.1732: Toward the world and so certein
7.1733: That in him be no double speche:
7.1734: For if men scholde trouthe seche
7.1735: And founde it noght withinne a king,
7.1736: It were an unsittende thing.
7.1737: The word is tokne of that withinne,
7.1738: Ther schal a worthi king beginne
7.1739: To kepe his tunge and to be trewe,
7.1740: So schal his pris ben evere newe.
7.1741: Avise him every man tofore,
7.1742: And be wel war, er he be swore,
7.1743: For afterward it is to late,
7.1744: If that he wole his word debate.
7.1745: For as a king in special
7.1746: Above alle othre is principal
7.1747: Of his pouer, so scholde he be
7.1748: Most vertuous in his degre;
7.1749: And that mai wel be signefied
7.1750: Be his corone and specified.
7.1751: The gold betokneth excellence,
7.1752: That men schull don him reverence
7.1753: As to here liege soverein.
7.1754: The Stones, as the bokes sein,
7.1755: Commended ben in treble wise:
7.1756: Ferst thei ben harde, and thilke assisse
7.1757: Betokneth in a king Constance,
7.1758: So that ther schal no variance
7.1759: Be founde in his condicion;
7.1760: And also be descripcion


-2.281-



7.1761: The vertu which is in the stones
7.1762: A verrai Signe is for the nones
7.1763: Of that a king schal ben honeste
7.1764: And holde trewly his beheste
7.1765: Of thing which longeth to kinghede:
7.1766: The bryhte colour, as I rede,
7.1767: Which in the stones is schynende,
7.1768: Is in figure betoknende
7.1769: The Cronique of this worldes fame,
7.1770: Which stant upon his goode name.
7.1771: The cercle which is round aboute
7.1772: Is tokne of al the lond withoute,
7.1773: Which stant under his Gerarchie,
7.1774: That he it schal wel kepe and guye.
7.1775: And for that trouthe, hou so it falle,
7.1776: Is the vertu soverein of alle,
7.1777: That longeth unto regiment,
7.1778: A tale, which is evident
7.1779: Of trouthe in comendacioun,
7.1780: Toward thin enformacion,
7.1781: Mi Sone, hierafter thou schalt hiere
7.1782: Of a Cronique in this matiere.
7.1783: As the Cronique it doth reherce,
7.1784: A Soldan whilom was of Perce,
7.1785: Which Daires hihte, and Ytaspis
7.1786: His fader was; and soth it is
7.1787: That thurgh wisdom and hih prudence
7.1788: Mor than for eny reverence
7.1789: Of his lignage as be descente
7.1790: The regne of thilke empire he hente:
7.1791: And as he was himselve wys,
7.1792: The wisemen he hield in pris
7.1793: And soghte hem oute on every side,
7.1794: That toward him thei scholde abide.
7.1795: Among the whiche thre ther were
7.1796: That most service unto him bere,


-2.282-



7.1797: As thei which in his chambre lyhen
7.1798: And al his conseil herde and syhen.
7.1799: Here names ben of strange note,
7.1800: Arpaghes was the ferste hote,
7.1801: And Manachaz was the secounde,
7.1802: Zorobabel, as it is founde
7.1803: In the Cronique, was the thridde.
7.1804: This Soldan, what so him betidde,
7.1805: To hem he triste most of alle,
7.1806: Wherof the cas is so befalle:
7.1807: This lord, which hath conceiptes depe,
7.1808: Upon a nyht whan he hath slepe,
7.1809: As he which hath his wit desposed,
7.1810: Touchende a point hem hath opposed.
7.1811: The kinges question was this;
7.1812: Of thinges thre which strengest is,
7.1813: The wyn, the womman or the king:
7.1814: And that thei scholde upon this thing
7.1815: Of here ansuere avised be,
7.1816: He yaf hem fulli daies thre,
7.1817: And hath behote hem be his feith
7.1818: That who the beste reson seith,
7.1819: He schal receive a worthi mede.
7.1820: Upon this thing thei token hiede
7.1821: And stoden in desputeison,
7.1822: That be diverse opinion
7.1823: Of Argumentz that thei have holde
7.1824: Arpaghes ferst his tale tolde,
7.1825: And seide hou that the strengthe of kinges
7.1826: Is myhtiest of alle thinges.
7.1827: For king hath pouer over man,
7.1828: And man is he which reson can,
7.1829: As he which is of his nature
7.1830: The moste noble creature
7.1831: Of alle tho that god hath wroght:
7.1832: And be that skile it semeth noght,
7.1833: He seith, that eny erthly thing


-2.283-



7.1834: Mai be so myhty as a king.
7.1835: A king mai spille, a king mai save,
7.1836: A king mai make of lord a knave
7.1837: And of a knave a lord also:
7.1838: The pouer of a king stant so,
7.1839: That he the lawes overpasseth;
7.1840: What he wol make lasse, he lasseth,
7.1841: What he wol make more, he moreth;
7.1842: And as the gentil faucon soreth,
7.1843: He fleth, that noman him reclameth;
7.1844: Bot he al one alle othre tameth,
7.1845: And stant himself of lawe fre.
7.1846: Lo, thus a kinges myht, seith he,
7.1847: So as his reson can argue,
7.1848: Is strengest and of most value.
7.1849: Bot Manachaz seide otherwise,
7.1850: That wyn is of the more emprise;
7.1851: And that he scheweth be this weie.
7.1852: The wyn fulofte takth aweie
7.1853: The reson fro the mannes herte;
7.1854: The wyn can make a krepel sterte,
7.1855: And a delivere man unwelde;
7.1856: It makth a blind man to behelde,
7.1857: And a bryht yhed seme derk;
7.1858: It makth a lewed man a clerk,
7.1859: And fro the clerkes the clergie
7.1860: It takth aweie, and couardie
7.1861: It torneth into hardiesse;
7.1862: Of Avarice it makth largesse.
7.1863: The wyn makth ek the goode blod,
7.1864: In which the Soule which is good
7.1865: Hath chosen hire a resting place,
7.1866: Whil that the lif hir wole embrace.
7.1867: And be this skile Manachas
7.1868: Ansuered hath upon this cas,
7.1869: And seith that wyn be weie of kinde
7.1870: Is thing which mai the hertes binde
7.1871: Wel more than the regalie.
7.1872: Zorobabel for his partie


-2.284-



7.1873: Seide, as him thoghte for the beste,
7.1874: That wommen ben the myhtieste.
7.1875: The king and the vinour also
7.1876: Of wommen comen bothe tuo;
7.1877: And ek he seide hou that manhede
7.1878: Thurgh strengthe unto the wommanhede
7.1879: Of love, wher he wole or non,
7.1880: Obeie schal; and therupon,
7.1881: To schewe of wommen the maistrie,
7.1882: A tale which he syh with yhe
7.1883: As for ensample he tolde this,-
7.1884: Hou Apemen, of Besazis
7.1885: Which dowhter was, in the paleis
7.1886: Sittende upon his hihe deis,
7.1887: Whan he was hotest in his ire
7.1888: Toward the grete of his empire,
7.1889: Cirus the king tirant sche tok,
7.1890: And only with hire goodly lok
7.1891: Sche made him debonaire and meke,
7.1892: And be the chyn and be the cheke
7.1893: Sche luggeth him riht as hir liste,
7.1894: That nou sche japeth, nou sche kiste,
7.1895: And doth with him what evere hir liketh;
7.1896: Whan that sche loureth, thanne he siketh,
7.1897: And whan sche gladeth, he is glad:
7.1898: And thus this king was overlad
7.1899: With hire which his lemman was.
7.1900: Among the men is no solas,
7.1901: If that ther be no womman there;
7.1902: For bot if that the wommen were,
7.1903: This worldes joie were aweie:
7.1904: Thurgh hem men finden out the weie
7.1905: To knihthode and to worldes fame;
7.1906: Thei make a man to drede schame,
7.1907: And honour forto be desired:
7.1908: Thurgh the beaute of hem is fyred
7.1909: The Dart of which Cupide throweth,
7.1910: Wherof the jolif peine groweth,


-2.285-



7.1911: Which al the world hath under fote.
7.1912: A womman is the mannes bote,
7.1913: His lif, his deth, his wo, his wel;
7.1914: And this thing mai be schewed wel,
7.1915: Hou that wommen ben goode and kinde,
7.1916: For in ensample this I finde.
7.1917: Whan that the duk Ametus lay
7.1918: Sek in his bedd, that every day
7.1919: Men waiten whan he scholde deie,
7.1920: Alceste his wif goth forto preie,
7.1921: As sche which wolde thonk deserve,
7.1922: With Sacrifice unto Minerve,
7.1923: To wite ansuere of the goddesse
7.1924: Hou that hir lord of his seknesse,
7.1925: Wherof he was so wo besein,
7.1926: Recovere myhte his hele ayein.
7.1927: Lo, thus sche cride and thus sche preide,
7.1928: Til ate laste a vois hir seide,
7.1929: That if sche wolde for his sake
7.1930: The maladie soffre and take,
7.1931: And deie hirself, he scholde live.
7.1932: Of this ansuere Alceste hath yive
7.1933: Unto Minerve gret thonkinge,
7.1934: So that hir deth and his livinge
7.1935: Sche ches with al hire hole entente,
7.1936: And thus acorded hom sche wente.
7.1937: Into the chambre and whan sche cam,
7.1938: Hire housebonde anon sche nam
7.1939: In bothe hire Armes and him kiste,
7.1940: And spak unto him what hire liste;
7.1941: And therupon withinne a throwe
7.1942: This goode wif was overthrowe
7.1943: And deide, and he was hool in haste.
7.1944: So mai a man be reson taste,
7.1945: Hou next after the god above
7.1946: The trouthe of wommen and the love,
7.1947: In whom that alle grace is founde,
7.1948: Is myhtiest upon this grounde
7.1949: And most behovely manyfold.


-2.286-



7.1950: Lo, thus Zorobabel hath told
7.1951: The tale of his opinion:
7.1952: Bot for final conclusion
7.1953: What strengest is of erthli thinges,
7.1954: The wyn, the wommen or the kinges,
7.1955: He seith that trouthe above hem alle
7.1956: Is myhtiest, hou evere it falle.
7.1957: The trouthe, hou so it evere come,
7.1958: Mai for nothing ben overcome;
7.1959: It mai wel soffre for a throwe,
7.1960: Bot ate laste it schal be knowe.
7.1961: The proverbe is, who that is trewe,
7.1962: Him schal his while nevere rewe:
7.1963: For hou so that the cause wende,
7.1964: The trouthe is schameles ate ende,
7.1965: Bot what thing that is troutheles,
7.1966: It mai noght wel be schameles,
7.1967: And schame hindreth every wyht:
7.1968: So proveth it, ther is no myht
7.1969: Withoute trouthe in no degre.
7.1970: And thus for trouthe of his decre
7.1971: Zorobabel was most commended,
7.1972: Wherof the question was ended,
7.1973: And he resceived hath his mede
7.1974: For trouthe, which to mannes nede
7.1975: Is most behoveliche overal.
7.1976: Forthi was trouthe in special
7.1977: The ferste point in observance
7.1978: Betake unto the governance
7.1979: Of Alisandre, as it is seid:
7.1980: For therupon the ground is leid
7.1981: Of every kinges regiment,
7.1982: As thing which most convenient
7.1983: Is forto sette a king in evene
7.1984: Bothe in this world and ek in hevene.


-2.287-



7.1985: Next after trouthe the secounde,
7.1986: In Policie as it is founde,
7.1987: Which serveth to the worldes fame
7.1988: In worschipe of a kinges name,
7.1989: Largesse it is, whos privilegge
7.1990: Ther mai non Avarice abregge.
7.1991: The worldes good was ferst comune,
7.1992: Bot afterward upon fortune
7.1993: Was thilke comun profit cessed:
7.1994: For whan the poeple stod encresced
7.1995: And the lignages woxen grete,
7.1996: Anon for singulier beyete
7.1997: Drouh every man to his partie;
7.1998: Wherof cam in the ferste envie
7.1999: With gret debat and werres stronge,
7.2000: And laste among the men so longe,
7.2001: Til noman wiste who was who,
7.2002: Ne which was frend ne which was fo.
7.2003: Til ate laste in every lond
7.2004: Withinne hemself the poeple fond
7.2005: That it was good to make a king,
7.2006: Which mihte appesen al this thing
7.2007: And yive riht to the lignages
7.2008: In partinge of here heritages
7.2009: And ek of al here other good;
7.2010: And thus above hem alle stod
7.2011: The king upon his Regalie,
7.2012: As he which hath to justifie
7.2013: The worldes good fro covoitise.
7.2014: So sit it wel in alle wise
7.2015: A king betwen the more and lesse
7.2016: To sette his herte upon largesse
7.2017: Toward himself and ek also
7.2018: Toward his poeple; and if noght so,
7.2019: That is to sein, if that he be


-2.288-



7.2020: Toward himselven large and fre
7.2021: And of his poeple take and pile,
7.2022: Largesse be no weie of skile
7.2023: It mai be seid, bot Avarice,
7.2024: Which in a king is a gret vice.
7.2025: A king behoveth ek to fle
7.2026: The vice of Prodegalite,
7.2027: That he mesure in his expence
7.2028: So kepe, that of indigence
7.2029: He mai be sauf: for who that nedeth,
7.2030: In al his werk the worse he spedeth.
7.2031: As Aristotle upon Chaldee
7.2032: Ensample of gret Auctorite
7.2033: Unto king Alisandre tauhte
7.2034: Of thilke folk that were unsauhte
7.2035: Toward here king for his pilage:
7.2036: Wherof he bad, in his corage
7.2037: That he unto thre pointz entende,
7.2038: Wher that he wolde his good despende.
7.2039: Ferst scholde he loke, hou that it stod,
7.2040: That al were of his oghne good
7.2041: The yiftes whiche he wolde yive;
7.2042: So myhte he wel the betre live:
7.2043: And ek he moste taken hiede
7.2044: If ther be cause of eny nede,
7.2045: Which oghte forto be defended,
7.2046: Er that his goodes be despended:
7.2047: He mot ek, as it is befalle,
7.2048: Amonges othre thinges alle
7.2049: Se the decertes of his men;
7.2050: And after that thei ben of ken
7.2051: And of astat and of merite,
7.2052: He schal hem largeliche aquite,
7.2053: Or for the werre, or for the pes,
7.2054: That non honour falle in descres,
7.2055: Which mihte torne into defame,
7.2056: Bot that he kepe his goode name,
7.2057: So that he be noght holde unkinde.
7.2058: For in Cronique a tale I finde,


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7.2059: Which spekth somdiel of this matiere,
7.2060: Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere.
7.2061: In Rome, to poursuie his riht,
7.2062: Ther was a worthi povere kniht,
7.2063: Which cam al one forto sein
7.2064: His cause, when the court was plein,
7.2065: Wher Julius was in presence.
7.2066: And for him lacketh of despence,
7.2067: Ther was with him non advocat
7.2068: To make ple for his astat.
7.2069: Bot thogh him lacke forto plede,
7.2070: Him lacketh nothing of manhede;
7.2071: He wiste wel his pours was povere,
7.2072: Bot yit he thoghte his riht recovere,
7.2073: And openly poverte alleide,
7.2074: To themperour and thus he seide:
7.2075: "O Julius, lord of the lawe,
7.2076: Behold, mi conseil is withdrawe
7.2077: For lacke of gold: do thin office
7.2078: After the lawes of justice:
7.2079: Help that I hadde conseil hiere
7.2080: Upon the trouthe of mi matiere."
7.2081: And Julius with that anon
7.2082: Assigned him a worthi on,
7.2083: Bot he himself no word ne spak.
7.2084: This kniht was wroth and fond a lak
7.2085: In themperour, and seide thus:
7.2086: "O thou unkinde Julius,
7.2087: Whan thou in thi bataille were
7.2088: Up in Aufrique, and I was there,
7.2089: Mi myht for thi rescousse I dede
7.2090: And putte noman in my stede,
7.2091: Thou wost what woundes ther I hadde:
7.2092: Bot hier I finde thee so badde,
7.2093: That thee ne liste speke o word
7.2094: Thin oghne mouth, nor of thin hord


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7.2095: To yive a florin me to helpe.
7.2096: Hou scholde I thanne me beyelpe
7.2097: Fro this dai forth of thi largesse,
7.2098: Whan such a gret unkindenesse
7.2099: Is founde in such a lord as thou?"
7.2100: This Julius knew wel ynou
7.2101: That al was soth which he him tolde;
7.2102: And for he wolde noght ben holde
7.2103: Unkinde, he tok his cause on honde,
7.2104: And as it were of goddes sonde,
7.2105: He yaf him good ynouh to spende
7.2106: For evere into his lives ende.
7.2107: And thus scholde every worthi king
7.2108: Take of his knihtes knowleching,
7.2109: Whan that he syh thei hadden nede,
7.2110: For every service axeth mede:
7.2111: Bot othre, which have noght deserved
7.2112: Thurgh vertu, bot of japes served,
7.2113: A king schal noght deserve grace,
7.2114: Thogh he be large in such a place.
7.2115: It sit wel every king to have
7.2116: Discrecion, whan men him crave,
7.2117: So that he mai his yifte wite:
7.2118: Wherof I finde a tale write,
7.2119: Hou Cinichus a povere kniht
7.2120: A Somme which was over myht
7.2121: Preide of his king Antigonus.
7.2122: The king ansuerde to him thus,
7.2123: And seide hou such a yifte passeth
7.2124: His povere astat: and thanne he lasseth,
7.2125: And axeth bot a litel peny,
7.2126: If that the king wol yive him eny.
7.2127: The king ansuerde, it was to smal
7.2128: For him, which was a lord real;
7.2129: To yive a man so litel thing
7.2130: It were unworschipe in a king.
7.2131: Be this ensample a king mai lere


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7.2132: That forto yive is in manere:
7.2133: For if a king his tresor lasseth
7.2134: Withoute honour and thonkles passeth,
7.2135: Whan he himself wol so beguile,
7.2136: I not who schal compleigne his while,
7.2137: Ne who be rihte him schal relieve.
7.2138: Bot natheles this I believe,
7.2139: To helpe with his oghne lond
7.2140: Behoveth every man his hond
7.2141: To sette upon necessite;
7.2142: And ek his kinges realte
7.2143: Mot every liege man conforte,
7.2144: With good and bodi to supporte,
7.2145: Whan thei se cause resonable:
7.2146: For who that is noght entendable
7.2147: To holde upriht his kinges name,
7.2148: Him oghte forto be to blame.
7.2149: Of Policie and overmore
7.2150: To speke in this matiere more,
7.2151: So as the Philosophre tolde,
7.2152: A king after the reule is holde
7.2153: To modifie and to adresce
7.2154: Hise yiftes upon such largesce
7.2155: That he mesure noght excede:
7.2156: For if a king falle into nede,
7.2157: It causeth ofte sondri thinges
7.2158: Whiche are ungoodly to the kinges.
7.2159: What man wol noght himself mesure,
7.2160: Men sen fulofte that mesure
7.2161: Him hath forsake: and so doth he
7.2162: That useth Prodegalite,
7.2163: Which is the moder of poverte,
7.2164: Wherof the londes ben deserte;
7.2165: And namely whan thilke vice
7.2166: Aboute a king stant in office
7.2167: And hath withholde of his partie
7.2168: The covoitouse flaterie,


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7.2169: Which many a worthi king deceiveth,
7.2170: Er he the fallas aperceiveth
7.2171: Of hem that serven to the glose.
7.2172: For thei that cunnen plese and glose,
7.2173: Ben, as men tellen, the norrices
7.2174: Unto the fostringe of the vices,
7.2175: Wherof fulofte natheles
7.2176: A king is blamed gulteles.
7.2177: A Philosophre, as thou schalt hiere,
7.2178: Spak to a king of this matiere,
7.2179: And seide him wel hou that flatours
7.2180: Coupable were of thre errours.
7.2181: On was toward the goddes hihe,
7.2182: That weren wrothe of that thei sihe
7.2183: The meschief which befalle scholde
7.2184: Of that the false flatour tolde.
7.2185: Toward the king an other was,
7.2186: Whan thei be sleihte and be fallas
7.2187: Of feigned wordes make him wene
7.2188: That blak is whyt and blew is grene
7.2189: Touchende of his condicion:
7.2190: For whanne he doth extorcion
7.2191: With manye an other vice mo,
7.2192: Men schal noght finden on of tho
7.2193: To groucche or speke therayein,
7.2194: Bot holden up his oil and sein
7.2195: That al is wel, what evere he doth;
7.2196: And thus of fals thei maken soth,
7.2197: So that here kinges yhe is blent
7.2198: And wot not hou the world is went.
7.2199: The thridde errour is harm comune,
7.2200: With which the poeple mot commune
7.2201: Of wronges that thei bringen inne:
7.2202: And thus thei worchen treble sinne,
7.2203: That ben flatours aboute a king.
7.2204: Ther myhte be no worse thing
7.2205: Aboute a kinges regalie,
7.2206: Thanne is the vice of flaterie.


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7.2207: And natheles it hath ben used,
7.2208: That it was nevere yit refused
7.2209: As forto speke in court real;
7.2210: For there it is most special,
7.2211: And mai noght longe be forbore.
7.2212: Bot whan this vice of hem is bore,
7.2213: That scholden the vertus forthbringe,
7.2214: And trouthe is torned to lesinge,
7.2215: It is, as who seith, ayein kinde,
7.2216: Wherof an old ensample I finde.
7.2217: Among these othre tales wise
7.2218: Of Philosophres, in this wise
7.2219: I rede, how whilom tuo ther were,
7.2220: And to the Scole forto lere
7.2221: Unto Athenes fro Cartage
7.2222: Here frendes, whan thei were of Age,
7.2223: Hem sende; and ther thei stoden longe,
7.2224: Til thei such lore have underfonge,
7.2225: That in here time thei surmonte
7.2226: Alle othre men, that to acompte
7.2227: Of hem was tho the grete fame.
7.2228: The ferste of hem his rihte name
7.2229: Was Diogenes thanne hote,
7.2230: In whom was founde no riote:
7.2231: His felaw Arisippus hyhte,
7.2232: Which mochel couthe and mochel myhte.
7.2233: Bot ate laste, soth to sein,
7.2234: Thei bothe tornen hom ayein
7.2235: Unto Cartage and scole lete.
7.2236: This Diogenes no beyete


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7.2237: Of worldes good or lasse or more
7.2238: Ne soghte for his longe lore,
7.2239: Bot tok him only forto duelle
7.2240: At hom; and as the bokes telle,
7.2241: His hous was nyh to the rivere
7.2242: Besyde a bregge, as thou schalt hiere.
7.2243: Ther duelleth he to take his reste,
7.2244: So as it thoghte him for the beste,
7.2245: To studie in his Philosophie,
7.2246: As he which wolde so defie
7.2247: The worldes pompe on every syde.
7.2248: Bot Arisippe his bok aside
7.2249: Hath leid, and to the court he wente,
7.2250: Wher many a wyle and many a wente
7.2251: With flaterie and wordes softe
7.2252: He caste, and hath compassed ofte
7.2253: Hou he his Prince myhte plese;
7.2254: And in this wise he gat him ese
7.2255: Of vein honour and worldes good.
7.2256: The londes reule upon him stod,
7.2257: The king of him was wonder glad,
7.2258: And all was do, what thing he bad,
7.2259: Bothe in the court and ek withoute.
7.2260: With flaterie he broghte aboute
7.2261: His pourpos of the worldes werk,
7.2262: Which was ayein the stat of clerk,
7.2263: So that Philosophie he lefte
7.2264: And to richesse himself uplefte:
7.2265: Lo, thus hadde Arisippe his wille.
7.2266: Bot Diogenes duelte stille
7.2267: A home and loked on his bok:
7.2268: He soghte noght the worldes crok
7.2269: For vein honour ne for richesse,
7.2270: Bot all his hertes besinesse
7.2271: He sette to be vertuous;
7.2272: And thus withinne his oghne hous
7.2273: He liveth to the sufficance
7.2274: Of his havinge. And fell per chance,


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7.2275: This Diogene upon a day,
7.2276: And that was in the Monthe of May,
7.2277: Whan that these herbes ben holsome,
7.2278: He walketh forto gadre some
7.2279: In his gardin, of whiche his joutes
7.2280: He thoghte have, and thus aboutes
7.2281: Whanne he hath gadred what him liketh,
7.2282: He satte him thanne doun and pyketh,
7.2283: And wyssh his herbes in the flod
7.2284: Upon the which his gardin stod,
7.2285: Nyh to the bregge, as I tolde er.
7.2286: And hapneth, whil he sitteth ther,
7.2287: Cam Arisippes be the strete
7.2288: With manye hors and routes grete,
7.2289: And straght unto the bregge he rod.
7.2290: Wher that he hoved and abod;
7.2291: For as he caste his yhe nyh,
7.2292: His felaw Diogene he syh,
7.2293: And what he dede he syh also,
7.2294: Wherof he seide to him so:
7.2295: "O Diogene, god thee spede.
7.2296: It were certes litel nede
7.2297: To sitte there and wortes pyke,
7.2298: If thou thi Prince couthest lyke,
7.2299: So as I can in my degre."
7.2300: "O Arisippe," ayein quod he,
7.2301: "If that thou couthist, so as I,
7.2302: Thi wortes pyke, trewely
7.2303: It were als litel nede or lasse,
7.2304: That thou so worldly wolt compasse
7.2305: With flaterie forto serve,
7.2306: Wherof thou thenkest to deserve
7.2307: Thi princes thonk, and to pourchace
7.2308: Hou thou myht stonden in his grace,
7.2309: For getinge of a litel good.
7.2310: If thou wolt take into thi mod
7.2311: Reson, thou myht be reson deeme
7.2312: That so thi prince forto queeme


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7.2313: Is noght to reson acordant,
7.2314: Bot it is gretly descordant
7.2315: Unto the Scoles of Athene."
7.2316: Lo, thus ansuerde Diogene
7.2317: Ayein the clerkes flaterie.
7.2318: Bot yit men sen thessamplerie
7.2319: Of Arisippe is wel received,
7.2320: And thilke of Diogene is weyved.
7.2321: Office in court and gold in cofre
7.2322: Is nou, men sein, the philosophre
7.2323: Which hath the worschipe in the halle;
7.2324: Bot flaterie passeth alle
7.2325: In chambre, whom the court avanceth;
7.2326: For upon thilke lot it chanceth
7.2327: To be beloved nou aday.
7.2328: I not if it be ye or nay,
7.2329: Bot as the comun vois it telleth;
7.2330: Bot wher that flaterie duelleth
7.2331: In eny lond under the Sonne,
7.2332: Ther is ful many a thing begonne


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7.2333: Which were betre to be left;
7.2334: That hath be schewed nou and eft.
7.2335: Bot if a Prince wolde him reule
7.2336: Of the Romeins after the reule,
7.2337: In thilke time as it was used,
7.2338: This vice scholde be refused,
7.2339: Wherof the Princes ben assoted.
7.2340: Bot wher the pleine trouthe is noted,
7.2341: Ther may a Prince wel conceive,
7.2342: That he schal noght himself deceive,
7.2343: Of that he hiereth wordes pleine;
7.2344: For him thar noght be reson pleigne,
7.2345: That warned is er him be wo.
7.2346: And that was fully proeved tho,
7.2347: Whan Rome was the worldes chief,
7.2348: The Sothseiere tho was lief,
7.2349: Which wolde noght the trouthe spare,
7.2350: Bot with hise wordes pleine and bare
7.2351: To Themperour hise sothes tolde,
7.2352: As in Cronique is yit withholde,
7.2353: Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere
7.2354: Acordende unto this matiere.
7.2355: To se this olde ensamplerie,
7.2356: That whilom was no flaterie
7.2357: Toward the Princes wel I finde;
7.2358: Wherof so as it comth to mynde,
7.2359: Mi Sone, a tale unto thin Ere,
7.2360: Whil that the worthi princes were
7.2361: At Rome, I thenke forto tellen.
7.2362: For whan the chances so befellen


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7.2363: That eny Emperour as tho
7.2364: Victoire hadde upon his fo,
7.2365: And so forth cam to Rome ayein,
7.2366: Of treble honour he was certein,
7.2367: Wherof that he was magnefied.
7.2368: The ferste, as it is specefied,
7.2369: Was, whan he cam at thilke tyde,
7.2370: The Charr in which he scholde ryde
7.2371: Foure whyte Stiedes scholden drawe;
7.2372: Of Jupiter be thilke lawe
7.2373: The Cote he scholde were also;
7.2374: Hise prisoners ek scholden go
7.2375: Endlong the Charr on eyther hond,
7.2376: And alle the nobles of the lond
7.2377: Tofore and after with him come
7.2378: Ridende and broghten him to Rome,
7.2379: In thonk of his chivalerie
7.2380: And for non other flaterie.
7.2381: And that was schewed forth withal;
7.2382: Wher he sat in his Charr real,
7.2383: Beside him was a Ribald set,
7.2384: Which hadde hise wordes so beset,
7.2385: To themperour in al his gloire
7.2386: He seide, "Tak into memoire,
7.2387: For al this pompe and al this pride
7.2388: Let no justice gon aside,
7.2389: Bot know thiself, what so befalle.
7.2390: For men sen ofte time falle
7.2391: Thing which men wende siker stonde:
7.2392: Thogh thou victoire have nou on honde,
7.2393: Fortune mai noght stonde alway;
7.2394: The whiel per chance an other day
7.2395: Mai torne, and thou myht overthrowe;
7.2396: Ther lasteth nothing bot a throwe."
7.2397: With these wordes and with mo
7.2398: This Ribald, which sat with him tho,
7.2399: To Themperour his tale tolde:


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7.2400: And overmor what evere he wolde,
7.2401: Or were it evel or were it good,
7.2402: So pleinly as the trouthe stod,
7.2403: He spareth noght, bot spekth it oute;
7.2404: And so myhte every man aboute
7.2405: The day of that solempnete
7.2406: His tale telle als wel as he
7.2407: To Themperour al openly.
7.2408: And al was this the cause why;
7.2409: That whil he stod in that noblesse,
7.2410: He scholde his vanite represse
7.2411: With suche wordes as he herde.
7.2412: Lo nou, hou thilke time it ferde
7.2413: Toward so hih a worthi lord:
7.2414: For this I finde ek of record,
7.2415: Which the Cronique hath auctorized.
7.2416: What Emperour was entronized,
7.2417: The ferste day of his corone,
7.2418: Wher he was in his real Throne
7.2419: And hield his feste in the paleis
7.2420: Sittende upon his hihe deis
7.2421: With al the lust that mai be gete,
7.2422: Whan he was gladdest at his mete,
7.2423: And every menstral hadde pleid,
7.2424: And every Disour hadde seid
7.2425: What most was plesant to his Ere,
7.2426: Than ate laste comen there
7.2427: Hise Macons, for thei scholden crave
7.2428: Wher that he wolde be begrave,
7.2429: And of what Ston his sepulture
7.2430: Thei scholden make, and what sculpture
7.2431: He wolde ordeine therupon.
7.2432: Tho was ther flaterie non


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7.2433: The worthi princes to bejape;
7.2434: The thing was other wise schape
7.2435: With good conseil; and otherwise
7.2436: Thei were hemselven thanne wise,
7.2437: And understoden wel and knewen.
7.2438: Whan suche softe wyndes blewen
7.2439: Of flaterie into here Ere,
7.2440: Thei setten noght here hertes there;
7.2441: Bot whan thei herden wordes feigned,
7.2442: The pleine trouthe it hath desdeigned
7.2443: Of hem that weren so discrete.
7.2444: So tok the flatour no beyete
7.2445: Of him that was his prince tho:
7.2446: And forto proven it is so,
7.2447: A tale which befell in dede
7.2448: In a Cronique of Rome I rede.
7.2449: Cesar upon his real throne
7.2450: Wher that he sat in his persone
7.2451: And was hyest in al his pris,
7.2452: A man, which wolde make him wys,
7.2453: Fell doun knelende in his presence,
7.2454: And dede him such a reverence,
7.2455: As thogh the hihe god it were:
7.2456: Men hadden gret mervaille there
7.2457: Of the worschipe which he dede.
7.2458: This man aros fro thilke stede,
7.2459: And forth with al the same tyde
7.2460: He goth him up and be his side
7.2461: He set him doun as pier and pier,
7.2462: And seide, "If thou that sittest hier
7.2463: Art god, which alle thinges myht,
7.2464: Thanne have I do worshipe ariht
7.2465: As to the god; and other wise,
7.2466: If thou be noght of thilke assisse,
7.2467: Bot art a man such as am I,
7.2468: Than mai I sitte faste by,


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7.2469: For we be bothen of o kinde."
7.2470: Cesar ansuerde and seide, "O blinde,
7.2471: Thou art a fol, it is wel sene
7.2472: Upon thiself: for if thou wene
7.2473: I be a god, thou dost amys
7.2474: To sitte wher thou sest god is;
7.2475: And if I be a man, also
7.2476: Thou hast a gret folie do,
7.2477: Whan thou to such on as schal deie
7.2478: The worschipe of thi god aweie
7.2479: Hast yoven so unworthely.
7.2480: Thus mai I prove redely,
7.2481: Thou art noght wys." And thei that herde
7.2482: Hou wysly that the king ansuerde,
7.2483: It was to hem a newe lore;
7.2484: Wherof thei dradden him the more,
7.2485: And broghten nothing to his Ere,
7.2486: Bot if it trouthe and reson were.
7.2487: So be ther manye, in such a wise
7.2488: That feignen wordes to be wise,
7.2489: And al is verray flaterie
7.2490: To him which can it wel aspie.
7.2491: The kinde flatour can noght love
7.2492: Bot forto bringe himself above;
7.2493: For hou that evere his maister fare,
7.2494: So that himself stonde out of care,
7.2495: Him reccheth noght: and thus fulofte
7.2496: Deceived ben with wordes softe
7.2497: The kinges that ben innocent.
7.2498: Wherof as for chastiement
7.2499: The wise Philosophre seide,
7.2500: What king that so his tresor leide
7.2501: Upon such folk, he hath the lesse,
7.2502: And yit ne doth he no largesse,
7.2503: Bot harmeth with his oghne hond
7.2504: Himself and ek his oghne lond,
7.2505: And that be many a sondri weie.
7.2506: Wherof if that a man schal seie,
7.2507: As forto speke in general,


-2.302-



7.2508: Wher such thing falleth overal
7.2509: That eny king himself misreule,
7.2510: The Philosophre upon his reule
7.2511: In special a cause sette,
7.2512: Which is and evere hath be the lette
7.2513: In governance aboute a king
7.2514: Upon the meschief of the thing,
7.2515: And that, he seith, is Flaterie.
7.2516: Wherof tofore as in partie
7.2517: What vice it is I have declared;
7.2518: For who that hath his wit bewared
7.2519: Upon a flatour to believe,
7.2520: Whan that he weneth best achieve
7.2521: His goode world, it is most fro.
7.2522: And forto proeven it is so
7.2523: Ensamples ther ben manyon,
7.2524: Of whiche if thou wolt knowen on,
7.2525: It is behovely forto hiere
7.2526: What whilom fell in this matiere.
7.2527: Among the kinges in the bible
7.2528: I finde a tale, and is credible,
7.2529: Of him that whilom Achab hihte,
7.2530: Which hadde al Irahel to rihte;
7.2531: Bot who that couthe glose softe
7.2532: And flatre, suche he sette alofte
7.2533: In gret astat and made hem riche;
7.2534: Bot thei that spieken wordes liche
7.2535: To trouthe and wolde it noght forbere,
7.2536: For hem was non astat to bere,
7.2537: The court of suche tok non hiede.
7.2538: Til ate laste upon a nede,
7.2539: That Benedab king of Surie
7.2540: Of Irahel a gret partie,
7.2541: Which Ramoth Galaath was hote,
7.2542: Hath sesed; and of that riote
7.2543: He tok conseil in sondri wise,
7.2544: Bot noght of hem that weren wise.


-2.303-



7.2545: And natheles upon this cas
7.2546: To strengthen him, for Josaphas,
7.2547: Which thanne was king of Judee,
7.2548: He sende forto come, as he
7.2549: Which thurgh frendschipe and alliance
7.2550: Was next to him of aqueintance;
7.2551: For Joram Sone of Josaphath
7.2552: Achabbes dowhter wedded hath,
7.2553: Which hihte faire Godelie.
7.2554: And thus cam into Samarie
7.2555: King Josaphat, and he fond there
7.2556: The king Achab: and whan thei were
7.2557: Togedre spekende of this thing,
7.2558: This Josaphat seith to the king,
7.2559: Hou that he wolde gladly hiere
7.2560: Som trew prophete in this matiere,
7.2561: That he his conseil myhte yive
7.2562: To what point that it schal be drive.
7.2563: And in that time so befell,
7.2564: Ther was such on in Irahel,
7.2565: Which sette him al to flaterie,
7.2566: And he was cleped Sedechie;
7.2567: And after him Achab hath sent:
7.2568: And he at his comandement
7.2569: Tofore him cam, and be a sleyhte
7.2570: He hath upon his heved on heyhte
7.2571: Tuo large hornes set of bras,
7.2572: As he which al a flatour was,
7.2573: And goth rampende as a leoun
7.2574: And caste hise hornes up and doun,
7.2575: And bad men ben of good espeir,
7.2576: For as the hornes percen their,
7.2577: He seith, withoute resistence,
7.2578: So wiste he wel of his science
7.2579: That Benedab is desconfit.
7.2580: Whan Sedechie upon this plit
7.2581: Hath told this tale to his lord,
7.2582: Anon ther were of his acord
7.2583: Prophetes false manye mo


-2.304-



7.2584: To bere up oil, and alle tho
7.2585: Affermen that which he hath told,
7.2586: Wherof the king Achab was bold
7.2587: And yaf hem yiftes al aboute.
7.2588: But Josaphat was in gret doute,
7.2589: And hield fantosme al that he herde,
7.2590: Preiende Achab, hou so it ferde,
7.2591: If ther were eny other man,
7.2592: The which of prophecie can,
7.2593: To hiere him speke er that thei gon.
7.2594: Quod Achab thanne, "Ther is on,
7.2595: A brothell, which Micheas hihte;
7.2596: Bot he ne comth noght in my sihte,
7.2597: For he hath longe in prison lein.
7.2598: Him liketh nevere yit to sein
7.2599: A goodly word to mi plesance;
7.2600: And natheles at thin instance
7.2601: He schal come oute, and thanne he may
7.2602: Seie as he seide many day;
7.2603: For yit he seide nevere wel."
7.2604: Tho Josaphat began somdel
7.2605: To gladen him in hope of trouthe,
7.2606: And bad withouten eny slouthe
7.2607: That men him scholden fette anon.
7.2608: And thei that weren for him gon,
7.2609: Whan that thei comen wher he was,
7.2610: Thei tolden unto Micheas
7.2611: The manere hou that Sedechie
7.2612: Declared hath his prophecie;
7.2613: And therupon thei preie him faire
7.2614: That he wol seie no contraire,
7.2615: Wherof the king mai be desplesed,
7.2616: For so schal every man ben esed,
7.2617: And he mai helpe himselve also.
7.2618: Micheas upon trouthe tho
7.2619: His herte sette, and to hem seith,
7.2620: Al that belongeth to his feith
7.2621: And of non other feigned thing,


-2.305-



7.2622: That wol he telle unto his king,
7.2623: Als fer as god hath yove him grace.
7.2624: Thus cam this prophete into place
7.2625: Wher he the kinges wille herde;
7.2626: And he therto anon ansuerde,
7.2627: And seide unto him in this wise:
7.2628: "Mi liege lord, for mi servise,
7.2629: Which trewe hath stonden evere yit,
7.2630: Thou hast me with prisone aquit;
7.2631: Bot for al that I schal noght glose
7.2632: Of trouthe als fer as I suppose;
7.2633: And as touchende of this bataille,
7.2634: Thou schalt noght of the sothe faile.
7.2635: For if it like thee to hiere,
7.2636: As I am tauht in that matiere,
7.2637: Thou miht it understonde sone;
7.2638: Bot what is afterward to done
7.2639: Avise thee, for this I sih.
7.2640: I was tofor the throne on hih,
7.2641: Wher al the world me thoghte stod,
7.2642: And there I herde and understod
7.2643: The vois of god with wordes cliere
7.2644: Axende, and seide in this manere:
7.2645: "In what thing mai I best beguile
7.2646: The king Achab?" And for a while
7.2647: Upon this point thei spieken faste.
7.2648: Tho seide a spirit ate laste,
7.2649: "I undertake this emprise."
7.2650: And god him axeth in what wise.
7.2651: "I schal," quod he, "deceive and lye
7.2652: With flaterende prophecie
7.2653: In suche mouthes as he lieveth."
7.2654: And he which alle thing achieveth
7.2655: Bad him go forth and don riht so.
7.2656: And over this I sih also
7.2657: The noble peple of Irahel
7.2658: Dispers as Schep upon an hell,


-2.306-



7.2659: Withoute a kepere unarraied:
7.2660: And as thei wente aboute astraied,
7.2661: I herde a vois unto hem sein,
7.2662: "Goth hom into your hous ayein,
7.2663: Til I for you have betre ordeigned."
7.2664: Quod Sedechie, "Thou hast feigned
7.2665: This tale in angringe of the king."
7.2666: And in a wraththe upon this thing
7.2667: He smot Michee upon the cheke;
7.2668: The king him hath rebuked eke,
7.2669: And every man upon him cride:
7.2670: Thus was he schent on every side,
7.2671: Ayein and into prison lad,
7.2672: For so the king himselve bad.
7.2673: The trouthe myhte noght ben herd;
7.2674: Bot afterward as it hath ferd,
7.2675: The dede proveth his entente:
7.2676: Achab to the bataille wente,
7.2677: Wher Benedab for al his Scheld
7.2678: Him slouh, so that upon the feld
7.2679: His poeple goth aboute astray.
7.2680: Bot god, which alle thinges may,
7.2681: So doth that thei no meschief have;
7.2682: Here king was ded and thei ben save,
7.2683: And hom ayein in goddes pes
7.2684: Thei wente, and al was founde les
7.2685: That Sedechie hath seid tofore.
7.2686: So sit it wel a king therfore
7.2687: To loven hem that trouthe mene;
7.2688: For ate laste it wol be sene
7.2689: That flaterie is nothing worth.
7.2690: Bot nou to mi matiere forth,
7.2691: As forto speken overmore
7.2692: After the Philosophres lore,
7.2693: The thridde point of Policie
7.2694: I thenke forto specifie.


-2.307-



7.2695: What is a lond wher men ben none?
7.2696: What ben the men whiche are al one
7.2697: Withoute a kinges governance?
7.2698: What is a king in his ligance,
7.2699: Wher that ther is no lawe in londe?
7.2700: What is to take lawe on honde,
7.2701: Bot if the jugges weren trewe?
7.2702: These olde worldes with the newe
7.2703: Who that wol take in evidence,
7.2704: Ther mai he se thexperience,
7.2705: What thing it is to kepe lawe,
7.2706: Thurgh which the wronges ben withdrawe
7.2707: And rihtwisnesse stant commended,
7.2708: Wherof the regnes ben amended.
7.2709: For wher the lawe mai comune
7.2710: The lordes forth with the commune,
7.2711: Ech hath his propre duete;
7.2712: And ek the kinges realte
7.2713: Of bothe his worschipe underfongeth,
7.2714: To his astat as it belongeth,
7.2715: Which of his hihe worthinesse
7.2716: Hath to governe rihtwisnesse,
7.2717: As he which schal the lawe guide.
7.2718: And natheles upon som side
7.2719: His pouer stant above the lawe,
7.2720: To yive bothe and to withdrawe
7.2721: The forfet of a mannes lif;
7.2722: But thinges whiche are excessif
7.2723: Ayein the lawe, he schal noght do
7.2724: For love ne for hate also.
7.2725: The myhtes of a king ben grete,
7.2726: Bot yit a worthi king schal lete
7.2727: Of wrong to don, al that he myhte;
7.2728: For he which schal the poeple ryhte,
7.2729: It sit wel to his regalie
7.2730: That he himself ferst justefie


-2.308-



7.2731: Towardes god in his degre:
7.2732: For his astat is elles fre
7.2733: Toward alle othre in his persone,
7.2734: Save only to the god al one,
7.2735: Which wol himself a king chastise,
7.2736: Wher that non other mai suffise.
7.2737: So were it good to taken hiede
7.2738: That ferst a king his oghne dede
7.2739: Betwen the vertu and the vice
7.2740: Redresce, and thanne of his justice
7.2741: So sette in evene the balance
7.2742: Towardes othre in governance,
7.2743: That to the povere and to the riche
7.2744: Hise lawes myhten stonde liche,
7.2745: He schal excepte no persone.
7.2746: Bot for he mai noght al him one
7.2747: In sondri places do justice,
7.2748: He schal of his real office
7.2749: With wys consideracion
7.2750: Ordeigne his deputacion
7.2751: Of suche jugges as ben lerned,
7.2752: So that his poeple be governed
7.2753: Be hem that trewe ben and wise.
7.2754: For if the lawe of covoitise
7.2755: Be set upon a jugges hond,
7.2756: Wo is the poeple of thilke lond,
7.2757: For wrong mai noght himselven hyde:
7.2758: Bot elles on that other side,
7.2759: If lawe stonde with the riht,
7.2760: The poeple is glad and stant upriht.
7.2761: Wher as the lawe is resonable,
7.2762: The comun poeple stant menable,
7.2763: And if the lawe torne amis,
7.2764: The poeple also mistorned is.
7.2765: And in ensample of this matiere
7.2766: Of Maximin a man mai hiere,
7.2767: Of Rome which was Emperour,


-2.309-



7.2768: That whanne he made a governour
7.2769: Be weie of substitucion
7.2770: Of Province or of region,
7.2771: He wolde ferst enquere his name,
7.2772: And let it openly proclame
7.2773: What man he were, or evel or good.
7.2774: And upon that his name stod
7.2775: Enclin to vertu or to vice,
7.2776: So wolde he sette him in office,
7.2777: Or elles putte him al aweie.
7.2778: Thus hield the lawe his rihte weie,
7.2779: Which fond no let of covoitise:
7.2780: The world stod than upon the wise,
7.2781: As be ensample thou myht rede;
7.2782: And hold it in thi mynde, I rede.
7.2783: In a Cronique I finde thus,
7.2784: Hou that Gayus Fabricius,
7.2785: Which whilom was Consul of Rome,
7.2786: Be whom the lawes yede and come,
7.2787: Whan the Sampnites to him broghte
7.2788: A somme of gold, and him besoghte
7.2789: To don hem favour in the lawe,
7.2790: Toward the gold he gan him drawe,
7.2791: Wherof in alle mennes lok
7.2792: A part up in his hond he tok,
7.2793: Which to his mouth in alle haste
7.2794: He putte, it forto smelle and taste,
7.2795: And to his yhe and to his Ere,
7.2796: Bot he ne fond no confort there:
7.2797: And thanne he gan it to despise,
7.2798: And tolde unto hem in this wise:
7.2799: "I not what is with gold to thryve,
7.2800: Whan non of all my wittes fyve
7.2801: Fynt savour ne delit therinne.
7.2802: So is it bot a nyce Sinne
7.2803: Of gold to ben to covoitous;
7.2804: Bot he is riche and glorious,


-2.310-



7.2805: Which hath in his subjeccion
7.2806: Tho men whiche in possession
7.2807: Ben riche of gold, and be this skile;
7.2808: For he mai aldai whan he wile,
7.2809: Or be hem lieve or be hem lothe,
7.2810: Justice don upon hem bothe."
7.2811: Lo, thus he seide, and with that word
7.2812: He threw tofore hem on the bord
7.2813: The gold out of his hond anon,
7.2814: And seide hem that he wolde non:
7.2815: So that he kepte his liberte
7.2816: To do justice and equite,
7.2817: Withoute lucre of such richesse.
7.2818: Ther be nou fewe of suche, I gesse;
7.2819: For it was thilke times used,
7.2820: That every jugge was refused
7.2821: Which was noght frend to comun riht;
7.2822: Bot thei that wolden stonde upriht
7.2823: For trouthe only to do justice
7.2824: Preferred were in thilke office
7.2825: To deme and jugge commun lawe:
7.2826: Which nou, men sein, is al withdrawe.
7.2827: To sette a lawe and kepe it noght
7.2828: Ther is no comun profit soght;
7.2829: Bot above alle natheles
7.2830: The lawe, which is mad for pes,
7.2831: Is good to kepe for the beste,
7.2832: For that set alle men in reste.
7.2833: The rihtful Emperour Conrade
7.2834: To kepe pes such lawe made,
7.2835: That non withinne the cite
7.2836: In destorbance of unite
7.2837: Dorste ones moeven a matiere.
7.2838: For in his time, as thou myht hiere,
7.2839: What point that was for lawe set
7.2840: It scholde for no gold be let,
7.2841: To what persone that it were.


-2.311-



7.2842: And this broghte in the comun fere,
7.2843: Why every man the lawe dradde,
7.2844: For ther was non which favour hadde.
7.2845: So as these olde bokes sein,
7.2846: I finde write hou a Romein,
7.2847: Which Consul was of the Pretoire,
7.2848: Whos name was Carmidotoire,
7.2849: He sette a lawe for the pes,
7.2850: That non, bot he be wepneles,
7.2851: Schal come into the conseil hous,
7.2852: And elles as malicious
7.2853: He schal ben of the lawe ded.
7.2854: To that statut and to that red
7.2855: Acorden alle it schal be so,
7.2856: For certein cause which was tho:
7.2857: Nou lest what fell therafter sone.
7.2858: This Consul hadde forto done,
7.2859: And was into the feldes ride;
7.2860: And thei him hadden longe abide,
7.2861: That lordes of the conseil were,
7.2862: And for him sende, and he cam there
7.2863: With swerd begert, and hath foryete,
7.2864: Til he was in the conseil sete.
7.2865: Was non of hem that made speche,
7.2866: Til he himself it wolde seche,
7.2867: And fond out the defalte himselve;
7.2868: And thanne he seide unto the tuelve,
7.2869: Whiche of the Senat weren wise,
7.2870: "I have deserved the juise,
7.2871: In haste that it were do."
7.2872: And thei him seiden alle no;
7.2873: For wel thei wiste it was no vice,
7.2874: Whan he ne thoghte no malice,
7.2875: Bot onliche of a litel slouthe:
7.2876: And thus thei leften as for routhe


-2.312-



7.2877: To do justice upon his gilt,
7.2878: For that he scholde noght be spilt.
7.2879: And whanne he sih the maner hou
7.2880: Thei wolde him save, he made avou
7.2881: With manfull herte, and thus he seide,
7.2882: That Rome scholde nevere abreide
7.2883: His heires, whan he were of dawe,
7.2884: That here Ancestre brak the lawe.
7.2885: Forthi, er that thei weren war,
7.2886: Forth with the same swerd he bar
7.2887: The statut of his lawe he kepte,
7.2888: So that al Rome his deth bewepte.
7.2889: In other place also I rede,
7.2890: Wher that a jugge his oghne dede
7.2891: Ne wol noght venge of lawe broke,
7.2892: The king it hath himselven wroke.
7.2893: The grete king which Cambises
7.2894: Was hote, a jugge laweles
7.2895: He fond, and into remembrance
7.2896: He dede upon him such vengance:
7.2897: Out of his skyn he was beflain
7.2898: Al quyk, and in that wise slain,
7.2899: So that his skyn was schape al meete,
7.2900: And nayled on the same seete
7.2901: Wher that his Sone scholde sitte.
7.2902: Avise him, if he wolde flitte
7.2903: The lawe for the coveitise,
7.2904: Ther sih he redi his juise.
7.2905: Thus in defalte of other jugge
7.2906: The king mot otherwhile jugge,
7.2907: To holden up the rihte lawe.
7.2908: And forto speke of tholde dawe,
7.2909: To take ensample of that was tho,
7.2910: I finde a tale write also,
7.2911: Hou that a worthi prince is holde
7.2912: The lawes of his lond to holde,
7.2913: Ferst for the hihe goddes sake,
7.2914: And ek for that him is betake


-2.313-



7.2915: The poeple forto guide and lede,
7.2916: Which is the charge of his kinghede.
7.2917: In a Cronique I rede thus
7.2918: Of the rihtful Ligurgius,
7.2919: Which of Athenis Prince was,
7.2920: Hou he the lawe in every cas,
7.2921: Wherof he scholde his poeple reule,
7.2922: Hath set upon so good a reule,
7.2923: In al this world that cite non
7.2924: Of lawe was so wel begon
7.2925: Forth with the trouthe of governance.
7.2926: Ther was among hem no distance,
7.2927: Bot every man hath his encress;
7.2928: Ther was withoute werre pes,
7.2929: Withoute envie love stod;
7.2930: Richesse upon the comun good
7.2931: And noght upon the singuler
7.2932: Ordeigned was, and the pouer
7.2933: Of hem that weren in astat
7.2934: Was sauf: wherof upon debat
7.2935: Ther stod nothing, so that in reste
7.2936: Mihte every man his herte reste.
7.2937: And whan this noble rihtful king
7.2938: Sih hou it ferde of al this thing,
7.2939: Wherof the poeple stod in ese,
7.2940: He, which for evere wolde plese
7.2941: The hihe god, whos thonk he soghte,
7.2942: A wonder thing thanne him bethoghte,
7.2943: And schop if that it myhte be,
7.2944: Hou that his lawe in the cite
7.2945: Mihte afterward for evere laste.
7.2946: And therupon his wit he caste
7.2947: What thing him were best to feigne,
7.2948: That he his pourpos myhte atteigne.
7.2949: A Parlement and thus he sette,
7.2950: His wisdom wher that he besette
7.2951: In audience of grete and smale,


-2.314-



7.2952: And in this wise he tolde his tale:
7.2953: "God wot, and so ye witen alle,
7.2954: Hierafterward hou so it falle,
7.2955: Yit into now my will hath be
7.2956: To do justice and equite
7.2957: In forthringe of comun profit;
7.2958: Such hath ben evere my delit.
7.2959: Bot of o thing I am beknowe,
7.2960: The which mi will is that ye knowe:
7.2961: The lawe which I tok on honde,
7.2962: Was altogedre of goddes sonde
7.2963: And nothing of myn oghne wit;
7.2964: So mot it nede endure yit,
7.2965: And schal do lengere, if ye wile.
7.2966: For I wol telle you the skile;
7.2967: The god Mercurius and no man
7.2968: He hath me tawht al that I can
7.2969: Of suche lawes as I made,
7.2970: Wherof that ye ben alle glade;
7.2971: It was the god and nothing I,
7.2972: Which dede al this, and nou forthi
7.2973: He hath comanded of his grace
7.2974: That I schal come into a place
7.2975: Which is forein out in an yle,
7.2976: Wher I mot tarie for a while,
7.2977: With him to speke, as he hath bede.
7.2978: For as he seith, in thilke stede
7.2979: He schal me suche thinges telle,
7.2980: That evere, whyl the world schal duelle,
7.2981: Athenis schal the betre fare.
7.2982: Bot ferst, er that I thider fare,
7.2983: For that I wolde that mi lawe
7.2984: Amonges you ne be withdrawe
7.2985: Ther whyles that I schal ben oute,
7.2986: Forthi to setten out of doute
7.2987: Bothe you and me, this wol I preie,
7.2988: That ye me wolde assure and seie
7.2989: With such an oth as I wol take,


-2.315-



7.2990: That ech of you schal undertake
7.2991: Mi lawes forto kepe and holde."
7.2992: Thei seiden alle that thei wolde,
7.2993: And therupon thei swore here oth,
7.2994: That fro the time that he goth,
7.2995: Til he to hem be come ayein,
7.2996: Thei scholde hise lawes wel and plein
7.2997: In every point kepe and fulfille.
7.2998: Thus hath Ligurgius his wille,
7.2999: And tok his leve and forth he wente.
7.3000: Bot lest nou wel to what entente
7.3001: Of rihtwisnesse he dede so:
7.3002: For after that he was ago,
7.3003: He schop him nevere to be founde;
7.3004: So that Athenis, which was bounde,
7.3005: Nevere after scholde be relessed,
7.3006: Ne thilke goode lawe cessed,
7.3007: Which was for comun profit set.
7.3008: And in this wise he hath it knet;
7.3009: He, which the comun profit soghte,
7.3010: The king, his oghne astat ne roghte;
7.3011: To do profit to the comune,
7.3012: He tok of exil the fortune,
7.3013: And lefte of Prince thilke office
7.3014: Only for love and for justice,
7.3015: Thurgh which he thoghte, if that he myhte,
7.3016: For evere after his deth to rihte
7.3017: The cite which was him betake.
7.3018: Wherof men oghte ensample take
7.3019: The goode lawes to avance
7.3020: With hem which under governance
7.3021: The lawes have forto kepe;
7.3022: For who that wolde take kepe
7.3023: Of hem that ferst the lawes founde,
7.3024: Als fer as lasteth eny bounde
7.3025: Of lond, here names yit ben knowe:
7.3026: And if it like thee to knowe


-2.316-



7.3027: Some of here names hou thei stonde,
7.3028: Nou herkne and thou schalt understonde.
7.3029: Of every bienfet the merite
7.3030: The god himself it wol aquite;
7.3031: And ek fulofte it falleth so,
7.3032: The world it wole aquite also,
7.3033: Bot that mai noght ben evene liche:
7.3034: The god he yifth the heveneriche,
7.3035: The world yifth only bot a name,
7.3036: Which stant upon the goode fame
7.3037: Of hem that don the goode dede.
7.3038: And in this wise double mede
7.3039: Resceiven thei that don wel hiere;
7.3040: Wherof if that thee list to hiere
7.3041: After the fame as it is blowe,
7.3042: Ther myht thou wel the sothe knowe,
7.3043: Hou thilke honeste besinesse
7.3044: Of hem that ferst for rihtwisnesse
7.3045: Among the men the lawes made,
7.3046: Mai nevere upon this erthe fade.
7.3047: For evere, whil ther is a tunge,
7.3048: Here name schal be rad and sunge
7.3049: And holde in the Cronique write;
7.3050: So that the men it scholden wite,
7.3051: To speke good, as thei wel oghten,
7.3052: Of hem that ferst the lawes soghten
7.3053: In forthringe of the worldes pes.
7.3054: Unto thebreus was Moiµses
7.3055: The ferste, and to thegipciens
7.3056: Mercurius, and to Troiens
7.3057: Ferst was Neuma Pompilius,
7.3058: To Athenes Ligurgius
7.3059: Yaf ferst the lawe, and to Gregois
7.3060: Foroneuµs hath thilke vois,
7.3061: And Romulus to the Romeins.
7.3062: For suche men that ben vileins
7.3063: The lawe in such a wise ordeigneth,
7.3064: That what man to the lawe pleigneth,


-2.317-



7.3065: Be so the jugge stonde upriht,
7.3066: He schal be served of his riht.
7.3067: And so ferforth it is befalle
7.3068: That lawe is come among ous alle:
7.3069: God lieve it mote wel ben holde,
7.3070: As every king therto is holde;
7.3071: For thing which is of kinges set,
7.3072: With kinges oghte it noght be let.
7.3073: What king of lawe takth no kepe,
7.3074: Be lawe he mai no regne kepe.
7.3075: Do lawe awey, what is a king?
7.3076: Wher is the riht of eny thing,
7.3077: If that ther be no lawe in londe?
7.3078: This oghte a king wel understonde,
7.3079: As he which is to lawe swore,
7.3080: That if the lawe be forbore
7.3081: Withouten execucioun,
7.3082: If makth a lond torne up so doun,
7.3083: Which is unto the king a sclandre.
7.3084: Forthi unto king Alisandre
7.3085: The wise Philosophre bad,
7.3086: That he himselve ferst be lad
7.3087: Of lawe, and forth thanne overal
7.3088: So do justice in general,
7.3089: That al the wyde lond aboute
7.3090: The justice of his lawe doute,
7.3091: And thanne schal he stonde in reste.
7.3092: For therto lawe is on the beste
7.3093: Above alle other erthly thing,
7.3094: To make a liege drede his king.
7.3095: Bot hou a king schal gete him love
7.3096: Toward the hihe god above,
7.3097: And ek among the men in erthe,
7.3098: This nexte point, which is the ferthe
7.3099: Of Aristotles lore, it techeth:
7.3100: Wherof who that the Scole secheth,
7.3101: What Policie that it is
7.3102: The bok reherceth after this.


-2.318-



7.3103: It nedeth noght that I delate
7.3104: The pris which preised is algate,
7.3105: And hath ben evere and evere schal,
7.3106: Wherof to speke in special,
7.3107: It is the vertu of Pite,
7.3108: Thurgh which the hihe mageste
7.3109: Was stered, whan his Sone alyhte,
7.3110: And in pite the world to rihte
7.3111: Tok of the Maide fleissh and blod.
7.3112: Pite was cause of thilke good,
7.3113: Wherof that we ben alle save:
7.3114: Wel oghte a man Pite to have
7.3115: And the vertu to sette in pris,
7.3116: Whan he himself which is al wys
7.3117: Hath schewed why it schal be preised.
7.3118: Pite may noght be conterpeised
7.3119: Of tirannie with no peis;
7.3120: For Pite makth a king courteis
7.3121: Bothe in his word and in his dede.
7.3122: It sit wel every liege drede
7.3123: His king and to his heste obeie,
7.3124: And riht so be the same weie
7.3125: It sit a king to be pitous
7.3126: Toward his poeple and gracious
7.3127: Upon the reule of governance,
7.3128: So that he worche no vengance,
7.3129: Which mai be cleped crualte.
7.3130: Justice which doth equite
7.3131: Is dredfull, for he noman spareth;
7.3132: Bot in the lond wher Pite fareth
7.3133: The king mai nevere faile of love,
7.3134: For Pite thurgh the grace above,
7.3135: So as the Philosphre affermeth,


-2.319-



7.3136: His regne in good astat confermeth.
7.3137: Thus seide whilom Constantin:
7.3138: "What Emperour that is enclin


-2.320-



7.3139: To Pite forto be servant,
7.3140: Of al the worldes remenant
7.3141: He is worthi to ben a lord."
7.3142: In olde bokes of record
7.3143: This finde I write of essamplaire:
7.3144: Troian the worthi debonaire,
7.3145: Be whom that Rome stod governed,
7.3146: Upon a time as he was lerned
7.3147: Of that he was to familier,
7.3148: He seide unto that conseiller,
7.3149: That forto ben an Emperour
7.3150: His will was noght for vein honour,
7.3151: Ne yit for reddour of justice;
7.3152: Bot if he myhte in his office
7.3153: Hise lordes and his poeple plese,
7.3154: Him thoghte it were a grettere ese
7.3155: With love here hertes to him drawe,
7.3156: Than with the drede of eny lawe.
7.3157: For whan a thing is do for doute,
7.3158: Fulofte it comth the worse aboute;
7.3159: Bot wher a king is Pietous,
7.3160: He is the more gracious,
7.3161: That mochel thrift him schal betyde,
7.3162: Which elles scholde torne aside.
7.3163: Of Pite forto speke plein,
7.3164: Which is with mercy wel besein,


-2.321-



7.3165: Fulofte he wole himselve peine
7.3166: To kepe an other fro the peine:
7.3167: For Charite the moder is
7.3168: Of Pite, which nothing amis
7.3169: Can soffre, if he it mai amende.


-2.322-



7.3170: It sit to every man livende
7.3171: To be Pitous, bot non so wel
7.3172: As to a king, which on the whiel
7.3173: Fortune hath set aboven alle:
7.3174: For in a king, if so befalle
7.3175: That his Pite be ferme and stable,
7.3176: To al the lond it is vailable


-2.323-



7.3177: Only thurgh grace of his persone;
7.3178: For the Pite of him al one
7.3179: Mai al the large realme save.
7.3180: So sit it wel a king to have
7.3181: Pite; for this Valeire tolde,
7.3182: And seide hou that be daies olde
7.3183: Codrus, which was in his degre


-2.324-



7.3184: King of Athenis the cite,
7.3185: A werre he hadde ayein Dorrence:
7.3186: And forto take his evidence
7.3187: What schal befalle of the bataille,
7.3188: He thoghte he wolde him ferst consaille
7.3189: With Appollo, in whom he triste;
7.3190: Thurgh whos ansuere this he wiste,


-2.325-



7.3191: Of tuo pointz that he myhte chese,
7.3192: Or that he wolde his body lese
7.3193: And in bataille himselve deie,
7.3194: Or elles the seconde weie,
7.3195: To sen his poeple desconfit.
7.3196: Bot he, which Pite hath parfit
7.3197: Upon the point of his believe,


-2.326-



7.3198: The poeple thoghte to relieve,
7.3199: And ches himselve to be ded.
7.3200: Wher is nou such an other hed,
7.3201: Which wolde for the lemes dye?
7.3202: And natheles in som partie
7.3203: It oghte a kinges herte stere,
7.3204: That he hise liege men forbere.
7.3205: And ek toward hise enemis
7.3206: Fulofte he may deserve pris,
7.3207: To take of Pite remembrance,
7.3208: Wher that he myhte do vengance:
7.3209: For whanne a king hath the victoire,
7.3210: And thanne he drawe into memoire
7.3211: To do Pite in stede of wreche,
7.3212: He mai noght faile of thilke speche
7.3213: Wherof arist the worldes fame,
7.3214: To yive a Prince a worthi name.
7.3215: I rede hou whilom that Pompeie,
7.3216: To whom that Rome moste obeie,
7.3217: A werre hadde in jeupartie
7.3218: Ayein the king of Ermenie,
7.3219: Which of long time him hadde grieved.
7.3220: Bot ate laste it was achieved
7.3221: That he this king desconfit hadde,
7.3222: And forth with him to Rome ladde
7.3223: As Prisoner, wher many a day
7.3224: In sori plit and povere he lay,
7.3225: The corone of his heved deposed,
7.3226: Withinne walles faste enclosed;
7.3227: And with ful gret humilite
7.3228: He soffreth his adversite.
7.3229: Pompeie sih his pacience
7.3230: And tok pite with conscience,
7.3231: So that upon his hihe deis
7.3232: Tofore al Rome in his Paleis,
7.3233: As he that wolde upon him rewe,
7.3234: Let yive him his corone newe


-2.327-



7.3235: And his astat al full and plein
7.3236: Restoreth of his regne ayein,
7.3237: And seide it was more goodly thing
7.3238: To make than undon a king,
7.3239: To him which pouer hadde of bothe.
7.3240: Thus thei, that weren longe wrothe,
7.3241: Acorden hem to final pes;
7.3242: And yit justice natheles
7.3243: Was kept and in nothing offended;
7.3244: Wherof Pompeie was comended.
7.3245: Ther mai no king himself excuse,
7.3246: Bot if justice he kepe and use,
7.3247: Which for teschuie crualte
7.3248: He mot attempre with Pite.
7.3249: Of crualte the felonie
7.3250: Engendred is of tirannie,
7.3251: Ayein the whos condicion
7.3252: God is himself the champion,
7.3253: Whos strengthe mai noman withstonde.
7.3254: For evere yit it hath so stonde,
7.3255: That god a tirant overladde;
7.3256: Bot wher Pite the regne ladde,
7.3257: Ther mihte no fortune laste
7.3258: Which was grevous, bot ate laste
7.3259: The god himself it hath redresced.
7.3260: Pite is thilke vertu blessed
7.3261: Which nevere let his Maister falle;
7.3262: Bot crualte, thogh it so falle
7.3263: That it mai regne for a throwe,
7.3264: God wole it schal ben overthrowe:
7.3265: Wherof ensamples ben ynowhe
7.3266: Of hem that thilke merel drowhe.
7.3267: Of crualte I rede thus:
7.3268: Whan the tirant Leoncius
7.3269: Was to thempire of Rome arrived,
7.3270: Fro which he hath with strengthe prived
7.3271: The pietous Justinian,


-2.328-



7.3272: As he which was a cruel man,
7.3273: His nase of and his lippes bothe
7.3274: He kutte, for he wolde him lothe
7.3275: Unto the poeple and make unable.
7.3276: Bot he which is al merciable,
7.3277: The hihe god, ordeigneth so,
7.3278: That he withinne a time also,
7.3279: Whan he was strengest in his ire,
7.3280: Was schoven out of his empire.
7.3281: Tiberius the pouer hadde,
7.3282: And Rome after his will he ladde,
7.3283: And for Leonce in such a wise
7.3284: Ordeigneth, that he tok juise
7.3285: Of nase and lippes bothe tuo,
7.3286: For that he dede an other so,
7.3287: Which more worthi was than he.
7.3288: Lo, which a fall hath crualte,
7.3289: And Pite was set up ayein:
7.3290: For after that the bokes sein,
7.3291: Therbellis king of Bulgarie
7.3292: With helpe of his chivalerie
7.3293: Justinian hath unprisoned
7.3294: And to thempire ayein coroned.
7.3295: In a Cronique I finde also
7.3296: Of Siculus, which was ek so
7.3297: A cruel king lich the tempeste,
7.3298: The whom no Pite myhte areste,-
7.3299: He was the ferste, as bokes seie,
7.3300: Upon the See which fond Galeie
7.3301: And let hem make for the werre,-
7.3302: As he which al was out of herre
7.3303: Fro Pite and misericorde;
7.3304: For therto couthe he noght acorde,
7.3305: Bot whom he myhte slen, he slouh,
7.3306: And therof was he glad ynouh.


-2.329-



7.3307: He hadde of conseil manyon,
7.3308: Among the whiche ther was on,
7.3309: Be name which Berillus hihte;
7.3310: And he bethoghte him hou he myhte
7.3311: Unto the tirant do likinge,
7.3312: And of his oghne ymaginynge
7.3313: Let forge and make a Bole of bras,
7.3314: And on the side cast ther was
7.3315: A Dore, wher a man mai inne,
7.3316: Whan he his peine schal beginne
7.3317: Thurgh fyr, which that men putten under.
7.3318: And al this dede he for a wonder,
7.3319: That whanne a man for peine cride,
7.3320: The Bole of bras, which gapeth wyde,
7.3321: It scholde seme as thogh it were
7.3322: A belwinge in a mannes Ere,
7.3323: And noght the criinge of a man.
7.3324: Bot he which alle sleihtes can,
7.3325: The devel, that lith in helle fast,
7.3326: Him that this caste hath overcast,
7.3327: That for a trespas which he dede
7.3328: He was putt in the same stede,
7.3329: And was himself the ferste of alle
7.3330: Which was into that peine falle
7.3331: That he for othre men ordeigneth;
7.3332: Ther was noman which him compleigneth.
7.3333: Of tirannie and crualte
7.3334: Be this ensample a king mai se,
7.3335: Himself and ek his conseil bothe,
7.3336: Hou thei ben to mankinde lothe
7.3337: And to the god abhominable.
7.3338: Ensamples that ben concordable
7.3339: I finde of othre Princes mo,
7.3340: As thou schalt hiere, of time go.
7.3341: The grete tirant Dionys,
7.3342: Which mannes lif sette of no pris,


-2.330-



7.3343: Unto his hors fulofte he yaf
7.3344: The men in stede of corn and chaf,
7.3345: So that the hors of thilke stod
7.3346: Devoureden the mennes blod;
7.3347: Til fortune ate laste cam,
7.3348: That Hercules him overcam,
7.3349: And he riht in the same wise
7.3350: Of this tirant tok the juise:
7.3351: As he til othre men hath do,
7.3352: The same deth he deide also,
7.3353: That no Pite him hath socoured,
7.3354: Til he was of hise hors devoured.
7.3355: Of Lichaon also I finde
7.3356: Hou he ayein the lawe of kinde
7.3357: Hise hostes slouh, and into mete
7.3358: He made her bodies to ben ete
7.3359: With othre men withinne his hous.
7.3360: Bot Jupiter the glorious,
7.3361: Which was commoeved of this thing,
7.3362: Vengance upon this cruel king
7.3363: So tok, that he fro mannes forme
7.3364: Into a wolf him let transforme:
7.3365: And thus the crualte was kidd,
7.3366: Which of long time he hadde hidd;
7.3367: A wolf he was thanne openly,
7.3368: The whos nature prively
7.3369: He hadde in his condicion.
7.3370: And unto this conclusioun,
7.3371: That tirannie is to despise,
7.3372: I finde ensample in sondri wise,
7.3373: And nameliche of hem fulofte,
7.3374: The whom fortune hath set alofte
7.3375: Upon the werres forto winne.
7.3376: Bot hou so that the wrong beginne
7.3377: Of tirannie, it mai noght laste,
7.3378: Bot such as thei don ate laste
7.3379: To othre men, such on hem falleth;
7.3380: For ayein suche Pite calleth


-2.331-



7.3381: Vengance to the god above.
7.3382: For who that hath no tender love
7.3383: In savinge of a mannes lif,
7.3384: He schal be founde so gultif,
7.3385: That whanne he wolde mercy crave
7.3386: In time of nede, he schal non have.
7.3387: Of the natures this I finde,
7.3388: The fierce Leon in his kinde,
7.3389: Which goth rampende after his preie,
7.3390: If he a man finde in his weie,
7.3391: He wole him slen, if he withstonde.
7.3392: Bot if the man coude understonde
7.3393: To falle anon before his face
7.3394: In signe of mercy and of grace,
7.3395: The Leon schal of his nature
7.3396: Restreigne his ire in such mesure,
7.3397: As thogh it were a beste tamed,
7.3398: And torne awey halfvinge aschamed,
7.3399: That he the man schal nothing grieve.
7.3400: Hou scholde than a Prince achieve
7.3401: The worldes grace, if that he wolde
7.3402: Destruie a man whanne he is yolde
7.3403: And stant upon his mercy al?
7.3404: Bot forto speke in special,
7.3405: Ther have be suche and yit ther be
7.3406: Tirantz, whos hertes no pite
7.3407: Mai to no point of mercy plie,
7.3408: That thei upon her tirannie
7.3409: Ne gladen hem the men to sle;
7.3410: And as the rages of the See
7.3411: Ben unpitous in the tempeste,
7.3412: Riht so mai no Pite areste
7.3413: Of crualte the gret oultrage,
7.3414: Which the tirant in his corage
7.3415: Engendred hath: wherof I finde
7.3416: A tale, which comth nou to mynde.
7.3417: I rede in olde bokes thus:


-2.332-



7.3418: Ther was a Duk, which Spertachus
7.3419: Men clepe, and was a werreiour,
7.3420: A cruel man, a conquerour
7.3421: With strong pouer the which he ladde.
7.3422: For this condicion he hadde,
7.3423: That where him hapneth the victoire,
7.3424: His lust and al his moste gloire
7.3425: Was forto sle and noght to save:
7.3426: Of rancoun wolde he no good have
7.3427: For savinge of a mannes lif,
7.3428: Bot al goth to the swerd and knyf,
7.3429: So lief him was the mannes blod.
7.3430: And natheles yit thus it stod,
7.3431: So as fortune aboute wente,
7.3432: He fell riht heir as be descente
7.3433: To Perse, and was coroned king.
7.3434: And whan the worschipe of this thing
7.3435: Was falle, and he was king of Perse,
7.3436: If that thei weren ferst diverse,
7.3437: The tirannies whiche he wroghte,
7.3438: A thousendfold welmore he soghte
7.3439: Thanne afterward to do malice.
7.3440: The god vengance ayein the vice
7.3441: Hath schape: for upon a tyde,
7.3442: Whan he was heihest in his Pride,
7.3443: In his rancour and in his hete
7.3444: Ayein the queene of Marsagete,
7.3445: Which Thameris that time hihte,
7.3446: He made werre al that he myhte:
7.3447: And sche, which wolde hir lond defende,
7.3448: Hir oghne Sone ayein him sende,
7.3449: Which the defence hath undertake.
7.3450: Bot he desconfit was and take;
7.3451: And whan this king him hadde in honde,
7.3452: He wol no mercy understonde,
7.3453: Bot dede him slen in his presence.


-2.333-



7.3454: The tidinge of this violence
7.3455: Whan it cam to the moder Ere,
7.3456: Sche sende anon ay wydewhere
7.3457: To suche frendes as sche hadde,
7.3458: A gret pouer til that sche ladde.
7.3459: In sondri wise and tho sche caste
7.3460: Hou sche this king mai overcaste;
7.3461: And ate laste acorded was,
7.3462: That in the danger of a pass,
7.3463: Thurgh which this tirant scholde passe,
7.3464: Sche schop his pouer to compasse
7.3465: With strengthe of men be such a weie
7.3466: That he schal noght eschape aweie.
7.3467: And whan sche hadde thus ordeigned,
7.3468: Sche hath hir oghne bodi feigned,
7.3469: For feere as thogh sche wolde flee
7.3470: Out of hir lond: and whan that he
7.3471: Hath herd hou that this ladi fledde,
7.3472: So faste after the chace he spedde,
7.3473: That he was founde out of array.
7.3474: For it betidde upon a day,
7.3475: Into the pas whanne he was falle,
7.3476: Thembuisschementz tobrieken alle
7.3477: And him beclipte on every side,
7.3478: That fle ne myhte he noght aside:
7.3479: So that ther weren dede and take
7.3480: Tuo hundred thousend for his sake,
7.3481: That weren with him of his host.
7.3482: And thus was leid the grete bost
7.3483: Of him and of his tirannie:
7.3484: It halp no mercy forto crie
7.3485: To him which whilom dede non;
7.3486: For he unto the queene anon
7.3487: Was broght, and whan that sche him sih,
7.3488: This word sche spak and seide on hih:
7.3489: "O man, which out of mannes kinde


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7.3490: Reson of man hast left behinde
7.3491: And lived worse than a beste,
7.3492: Whom Pite myhte noght areste,
7.3493: The mannes blod to schede and spille
7.3494: Thou haddest nevere yit thi fille.
7.3495: Bot nou the laste time is come,
7.3496: That thi malice is overcome:
7.3497: As thou til othre men hast do,
7.3498: Nou schal be do to thee riht so."
7.3499: Tho bad this ladi that men scholde
7.3500: A vessel bringe, in which sche wolde
7.3501: Se the vengance of his juise,
7.3502: Which sche began anon devise;
7.3503: And tok the Princes whiche he ladde,
7.3504: Be whom his chief conseil he hadde,
7.3505: And whil hem lasteth eny breth,
7.3506: Sche made hem blede to the deth
7.3507: Into the vessel wher it stod:
7.3508: And whan it was fulfild of blod,
7.3509: Sche caste this tirant therinne,
7.3510: And seide him, "Lo, thus myht thou wynne
7.3511: The lustes of thin appetit.
7.3512: In blod was whilom thi delit,
7.3513: Nou schalt thou drinken al thi fille."
7.3514: And thus onliche of goddes wille,
7.3515: He which that wolde himselve strange
7.3516: To Pite, fond mercy so strange,
7.3517: That he withoute grace is lore.
7.3518: So may it schewe wel therfore
7.3519: That crualte hath no good ende;
7.3520: Bot Pite, hou so that it wende,
7.3521: Makth that the god is merciable,
7.3522: If ther be cause resonable
7.3523: Why that a king schal be pitous.
7.3524: Bot elles, if he be doubtous
7.3525: To slen in cause of rihtwisnesse,
7.3526: It mai be said no Pitousnesse,
7.3527: Bot it is Pusillamite,


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7.3528: Which every Prince scholde flee.
7.3529: For if Pite mesure excede,
7.3530: Kinghode may noght wel procede
7.3531: To do justice upon the riht:
7.3532: For it belongeth to a knyht
7.3533: Als gladly forto fihte as reste,
7.3534: To sette his liege poeple in reste,
7.3535: Whan that the werre upon hem falleth;
7.3536: For thanne he mote, as it befalleth,
7.3537: Of his knyhthode as a Leon
7.3538: Be to the poeple a champioun
7.3539: Withouten eny Pite feigned.
7.3540: For if manhode be restreigned,
7.3541: Or be it pes or be it werre,
7.3542: Justice goth al out of herre,
7.3543: So that knyhthode is set behinde.
7.3544: Of Aristotles lore I finde,
7.3545: A king schal make good visage,
7.3546: That noman knowe of his corage
7.3547: Bot al honour and worthinesse:
7.3548: For if a king schal upon gesse
7.3549: Withoute verrai cause drede,
7.3550: He mai be lich to that I rede;
7.3551: And thogh that it be lich a fable,
7.3552: Thensample is good and resonable.
7.3553: As it be olde daies fell,
7.3554: I rede whilom that an hell
7.3555: Up in the londes of Archade
7.3556: A wonder dredful noise made;
7.3557: For so it fell that ilke day,
7.3558: This hell on his childinge lay,
7.3559: And whan the throwes on him come,
7.3560: His noise lich the day of dome
7.3561: Was ferfull in a mannes thoght
7.3562: Of thing which that thei sihe noght,
7.3563: Bot wel thei herden al aboute
7.3564: The noise, of which thei were in doute,


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7.3565: As thei that wenden to be lore
7.3566: Of thing which thanne was unbore.
7.3567: The nerr this hell was upon chance
7.3568: To taken his deliverance,
7.3569: The more unbuxomliche he cride;
7.3570: And every man was fledd aside,
7.3571: For drede and lefte his oghne hous:
7.3572: And ate laste it was a Mous,
7.3573: The which was bore and to norrice
7.3574: Betake; and tho thei hield hem nyce,
7.3575: For thei withoute cause dradde.
7.3576: Thus if a king his herte ladde
7.3577: With every thing that he schal hiere,
7.3578: Fulofte he scholde change his chiere
7.3579: And upon fantasie drede,
7.3580: Whan that ther is no cause of drede.
7.3581: Orace to his Prince tolde,
7.3582: That him were levere that he wolde
7.3583: Upon knihthode Achillem suie
7.3584: In time of werre, thanne eschuie,
7.3585: So as Tersites dede at Troie.
7.3586: Achilles al his hole joie
7.3587: Sette upon Armes forto fihte;
7.3588: Tersites soghte al that he myhte
7.3589: Unarmed forto stonde in reste:
7.3590: Bot of the tuo it was the beste
7.3591: That Achilles upon the nede
7.3592: Hath do, wherof his knyhtlihiede
7.3593: Is yit comended overal.
7.3594: King Salomon in special
7.3595: Seith, as ther is a time of pes,
7.3596: So is a time natheles
7.3597: Of werre, in which a Prince algate
7.3598: Schal for the comun riht debate
7.3599: And for his oghne worschipe eke.
7.3600: Bot it behoveth noght to seke


-2.337-



7.3601: Only the werre for worschipe,
7.3602: Bot to the riht of his lordschipe,
7.3603: Which he is holde to defende,
7.3604: Mote every worthi Prince entende.
7.3605: Betwen the simplesce of Pite
7.3606: And the folhaste of crualte,
7.3607: Wher stant the verray hardiesce,
7.3608: Ther mote a king his herte adresce,
7.3609: Whanne it is time to forsake,
7.3610: And whan time is also to take
7.3611: The dedly werres upon honde,
7.3612: That he schal for no drede wonde,
7.3613: If rihtwisnesse be withal.
7.3614: For god is myhty overal
7.3615: To forthren every mannes trowthe,
7.3616: Bot it be thurgh his oghne slowthe;
7.3617: And namely the kinges nede
7.3618: It mai noght faile forto spede,
7.3619: For he stant one for hem alle;
7.3620: So mote it wel the betre falle
7.3621: And wel the more god favoureth,
7.3622: Whan he the comun riht socoureth.
7.3623: And forto se the sothe in dede,
7.3624: Behold the bible and thou myht rede
7.3625: Of grete ensamples manyon,
7.3626: Wherof that I wol tellen on.
7.3627: Upon a time as it befell,
7.3628: Ayein Judee and Irahel
7.3629: Whan sondri kinges come were
7.3630: In pourpos to destruie there
7.3631: The poeple which god kepte tho,-
7.3632: And stod in thilke daies so,
7.3633: That Gedeon, which scholde lede
7.3634: The goddes folk, tok him to rede,
7.3635: And sende in al the lond aboute,
7.3636: Til he assembled hath a route
7.3637: With thritti thousend of defence,


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7.3638: To fihte and make resistence
7.3639: Ayein the whiche hem wolde assaille:
7.3640: And natheles that o bataille
7.3641: Of thre that weren enemys
7.3642: Was double mor than was al his;
7.3643: Wherof that Gedeon him dradde,
7.3644: That he so litel poeple hadde.
7.3645: Bot he which alle thing mai helpe,
7.3646: Wher that ther lacketh mannes helpe,
7.3647: To Gedeon his Angel sente,
7.3648: And bad, er that he forther wente,
7.3649: Al openly that he do crie
7.3650: That every man in his partie
7.3651: Which wolde after his oghne wille
7.3652: In his delice abide stille
7.3653: At hom in eny maner wise,
7.3654: For pourchas or for covoitise,
7.3655: For lust of love or lacke of herte,
7.3656: He scholde noght aboute sterte,
7.3657: Bot holde him stille at hom in pes:
7.3658: Wherof upon the morwe he les
7.3659: Wel twenty thousend men and mo,
7.3660: The whiche after the cri ben go.
7.3661: Thus was with him bot only left
7.3662: The thridde part, and yit god eft
7.3663: His Angel sende and seide this
7.3664: To Gedeon: "If it so is
7.3665: That I thin help schal undertake,
7.3666: Thou schalt yit lasse poeple take,
7.3667: Be whom mi will is that thou spede.
7.3668: Forthi tomorwe tak good hiede,
7.3669: Unto the flod whan ye be come,
7.3670: What man that hath the water nome
7.3671: Up in his hond and lapeth so,
7.3672: To thi part ches out alle tho;
7.3673: And him which wery is to swinke,
7.3674: Upon his wombe and lith to drinke,


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7.3675: Forsak and put hem alle aweie.
7.3676: For I am myhti alle weie,
7.3677: Wher as me list myn help to schewe
7.3678: In goode men, thogh thei ben fewe."
7.3679: This Gedeon awaiteth wel,
7.3680: Upon the morwe and everydel,
7.3681: As god him bad, riht so he dede.
7.3682: And thus ther leften in that stede
7.3683: With him thre hundred and nomo,
7.3684: The remenant was al ago:
7.3685: Wherof that Gedeon merveileth,
7.3686: And therupon with god conseileth,
7.3687: Pleignende as ferforth as he dar.
7.3688: And god, which wolde he were war
7.3689: That he schal spede upon his riht,
7.3690: Hath bede him go the same nyht
7.3691: And take a man with him, to hiere
7.3692: What schal be spoke in his matere
7.3693: Among the hethen enemis;
7.3694: So mai he be the more wys,
7.3695: What afterward him schal befalle.
7.3696: This Gedeon amonges alle
7.3697: Phara, to whom he triste most,
7.3698: Be nyhte tok toward thilke host,
7.3699: Which logged was in a valleie,
7.3700: To hiere what thei wolden seie;
7.3701: Upon his fot and as he ferde,
7.3702: Tuo Sarazins spekende he herde.
7.3703: Quod on, "Ared mi swevene ariht,
7.3704: Which I mette in mi slep to nyht.
7.3705: Me thoghte I sih a barli cake,
7.3706: Which fro the Hull his weie hath take,
7.3707: And cam rollende doun at ones;
7.3708: And as it were for the nones,
7.3709: Forth in his cours so as it ran,
7.3710: The kinges tente of Madian,


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7.3711: Of Amalech, of Amoreie,
7.3712: Of Amon and of Jebuseie,
7.3713: And many an other tente mo
7.3714: With gret noise, as me thoghte tho,
7.3715: It threw to grounde and overcaste,
7.3716: And al this host so sore agaste
7.3717: That I awok for pure drede."
7.3718: "This swevene can I wel arede,"
7.3719: Quod thother Sarazin anon:
7.3720: "The barli cake is Gedeon,
7.3721: Which fro the hell doun sodeinly
7.3722: Schal come and sette such ascry
7.3723: Upon the kinges and ous bothe,
7.3724: That it schal to ous alle lothe:
7.3725: For in such drede he schal ous bringe,
7.3726: That if we hadden flyht of wynge,
7.3727: The weie on fote in desespeir
7.3728: We scholden leve and flen in their,
7.3729: For ther schal nothing him withstonde."
7.3730: Whan Gedeon hath understonde
7.3731: This tale, he thonketh god of al,
7.3732: And priveliche ayein he stal,
7.3733: So that no lif him hath perceived.
7.3734: And thanne he hath fulli conceived
7.3735: That he schal spede; and therupon
7.3736: The nyht suiende he schop to gon
7.3737: This multitude to assaile.
7.3738: Nou schalt thou hiere a gret mervaile,
7.3739: With what voisdie that he wroghte.
7.3740: The litel poeple which he broghte,
7.3741: Was non of hem that he ne hath
7.3742: A pot of erthe, in which he tath
7.3743: A lyht brennende in a kressette,
7.3744: And ech of hem ek a trompette
7.3745: Bar in his other hond beside;
7.3746: And thus upon the nyhtes tyde
7.3747: Duk Gedeon, whan it was derk,
7.3748: Ordeineth him unto his werk,


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7.3749: And parteth thanne his folk in thre,
7.3750: And chargeth hem that thei ne fle,
7.3751: And tawhte hem hou they scholde ascrie
7.3752: Alle in o vois per compaignie,
7.3753: And what word ek thei scholden speke,
7.3754: And hou thei scholde here pottes breke
7.3755: Echon with other, whan thei herde
7.3756: That he himselve ferst so ferde;
7.3757: For whan thei come into the stede,
7.3758: He bad hem do riht as he dede.
7.3759: And thus stalkende forth a pas
7.3760: This noble Duk, whan time was,
7.3761: His pot tobrak and loude ascride,
7.3762: And tho thei breke on every side.
7.3763: The trompe was noght forto seke;
7.3764: He blew, and so thei blewen eke
7.3765: With such a noise among hem alle,
7.3766: As thogh the hevene scholde falle.
7.3767: The hull unto here vois ansuerde,
7.3768: This host in the valleie it herde,
7.3769: And sih hou that the hell alyhte;
7.3770: So what of hieringe and of sihte,
7.3771: Thei cawhten such a sodein feere,
7.3772: That non of hem belefte there:
7.3773: The tentes hole thei forsoke,
7.3774: That thei non other good ne toke,
7.3775: Bot only with here bodi bare
7.3776: Thei fledde, as doth the wylde Hare.
7.3777: And evere upon the hull thei blewe,
7.3778: Til that thei sihe time, and knewe
7.3779: That thei be fled upon the rage;
7.3780: And whan thei wiste here avantage,
7.3781: Thei felle anon unto the chace.
7.3782: Thus myht thou sen hou goddes grace
7.3783: Unto the goode men availeth;
7.3784: But elles ofte time it faileth
7.3785: To suche as be noght wel disposed.
7.3786: This tale nedeth noght be glosed,


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7.3787: For it is openliche schewed
7.3788: That god to hem that ben wel thewed
7.3789: Hath yove and granted the victoire:
7.3790: So that thensample of this histoire
7.3791: Is good for every king to holde;
7.3792: Ferst in himself that he beholde
7.3793: If he be good of his livinge,
7.3794: And that the folk which he schal bringe
7.3795: Be good also, for thanne he may
7.3796: Be glad of many a merie day,
7.3797: In what as evere he hath to done.
7.3798: For he which sit above the Mone
7.3799: And alle thing mai spille and spede,
7.3800: In every cause, in every nede
7.3801: His goode king so wel adresceth,
7.3802: That alle his fomen he represseth,
7.3803: So that ther mai noman him dere;
7.3804: And als so wel he can forbere,
7.3805: And soffre a wickid king to falle
7.3806: In hondes of his fomen alle.
7.3807: Nou forthermore if I schal sein
7.3808: Of my matiere, and torne ayein
7.3809: To speke of justice and Pite
7.3810: After the reule of realte,
7.3811: This mai a king wel understonde,
7.3812: Knihthode mot ben take on honde,
7.3813: Whan that it stant upon the nede:
7.3814: He schal no rihtful cause drede,
7.3815: Nomore of werre thanne of pes,
7.3816: If he wol stonde blameles;
7.3817: For such a cause a king mai have
7.3818: That betre him is to sle than save,
7.3819: Wherof thou myht ensample finde.
7.3820: The hihe makere of mankinde
7.3821: Be Samuel to Sauµl bad,
7.3822: That he schal nothing ben adrad
7.3823: Ayein king Agag forto fihte;


-2.343-



7.3824: For this the godhede him behihte,
7.3825: That Agag schal ben overcome:
7.3826: And whan it is so ferforth come,
7.3827: That Sauµl hath him desconfit,
7.3828: The god bad make no respit,
7.3829: That he ne scholde him slen anon.
7.3830: Bot Sauµl let it overgon
7.3831: And dede noght the goddes heste:
7.3832: For Agag made gret beheste
7.3833: Of rancoun which he wolde yive,
7.3834: King Sauµl soffreth him to live
7.3835: And feigneth pite forth withal.
7.3836: Bot he which seth and knoweth al,
7.3837: The hihe god, of that he feigneth
7.3838: To Samuel upon him pleigneth,
7.3839: And sende him word, for that he lefte
7.3840: Of Agag that he ne berefte
7.3841: The lif, he schal noght only dye
7.3842: Himself, bot fro his regalie
7.3843: He schal be put for everemo,
7.3844: Noght he, bot ek his heir also,
7.3845: That it schal nevere come ayein.
7.3846: Thus myht thou se the sothe plein,
7.3847: That of tomoche and of tolyte
7.3848: Upon the Princes stant the wyte.
7.3849: Bot evere it was a kinges riht
7.3850: To do the dedes of a knyht;
7.3851: For in the handes of a king
7.3852: The deth and lif is al o thing
7.3853: After the lawes of justice.
7.3854: To slen it is a dedly vice,
7.3855: Bot if a man the deth deserve;
7.3856: And if a king the lif preserve
7.3857: Of him which oghte forto dye,
7.3858: He suieth noght thensamplerie
7.3859: Which in the bible is evident:
7.3860: Hou David in his testament,
7.3861: Whan he no lengere myhte live,
7.3862: Unto his Sone in charge hath yive


-2.344-



7.3863: That he Joab schal slen algate;
7.3864: And whan David was gon his gate,
7.3865: The yonge wise Salomon
7.3866: His fader heste dede anon,
7.3867: And slouh Joab in such a wise,
7.3868: That thei that herden the juise
7.3869: Evere after dradden him the more,
7.3870: And god was ek wel paid therfore,
7.3871: That he so wolde his herte plye
7.3872: The lawes forto justefie.
7.3873: And yit he kepte forth withal
7.3874: Pite, so as a Prince schal,
7.3875: That he no tirannie wroghte;
7.3876: He fond the wisdom which he soghte,
7.3877: And was so rihtful natheles,
7.3878: That al his lif he stod in pes,
7.3879: That he no dedly werres hadde,
7.3880: For every man his wisdom dradde.
7.3881: And as he was himselve wys,
7.3882: Riht so the worthi men of pris
7.3883: He hath of his conseil withholde;
7.3884: For that is every Prince holde,
7.3885: To make of suche his retenue
7.3886: Whiche wise ben, and to remue
7.3887: The foles: for ther is nothing
7.3888: Which mai be betre aboute a king,
7.3889: Than conseil, which is the substance
7.3890: Of all a kinges governance.
7.3891: In Salomon a man mai see
7.3892: What thing of most necessite
7.3893: Unto a worthi king belongeth.
7.3894: Whan he his kingdom underfongeth,
7.3895: God bad him chese what he wolde,
7.3896: And seide him that he have scholde
7.3897: What he wolde axe, as of o thing.
7.3898: And he, which was a newe king,
7.3899: Forth therupon his bone preide
7.3900: To god, and in this wise he seide:
7.3901: "O king, be whom that I schal regne,


-2.345-



7.3902: Yif me wisdom, that I my regne,
7.3903: Forth with thi poeple which I have,
7.3904: To thin honour mai kepe and save."
7.3905: Whan Salomon his bone hath taxed,
7.3906: The god of that which he hath axed
7.3907: Was riht wel paid, and granteth sone
7.3908: Noght al only that he his bone
7.3909: Schal have of that, bot of richesse,
7.3910: Of hele, of pes, of hih noblesse,
7.3911: Forth with wisdom at his axinges,
7.3912: Which stant above alle othre thinges.
7.3913: Bot what king wole his regne save,
7.3914: Ferst him behoveth forto have
7.3915: After the god and his believe
7.3916: Such conseil which is to believe,
7.3917: Fulfild of trouthe and rihtwisnesse:
7.3918: Bot above alle in his noblesse
7.3919: Betwen the reddour and pite
7.3920: A king schal do such equite
7.3921: And sette the balance in evene,
7.3922: So that the hihe god in hevene
7.3923: And al the poeple of his nobleie
7.3924: Loange unto his name seie.
7.3925: For most above all erthli good,
7.3926: Wher that a king himself is good
7.3927: It helpeth, for in other weie
7.3928: If so be that a king forsueie,
7.3929: Fulofte er this it hath be sein,
7.3930: The comun poeple is overlein
7.3931: And hath the kinges Senne aboght,
7.3932: Al thogh the poeple agulte noght.
7.3933: Of that the king his god misserveth,
7.3934: The poeple takth that he descerveth
7.3935: Hier in this world, bot elleswhere
7.3936: I not hou it schal stonde there.
7.3937: Forthi good is a king to triste
7.3938: Ferst to himself, as he ne wiste
7.3939: Non other help bot god alone;


-2.346-



7.3940: So schal the reule of his persone
7.3941: Withinne himself thurgh providence
7.3942: Ben of the betre conscience.
7.3943: And forto finde ensample of this,
7.3944: A tale I rede, and soth it is.
7.3945: In a Cronique it telleth thus:
7.3946: The king of Rome Lucius
7.3947: Withinne his chambre upon a nyht
7.3948: The Steward of his hous, a knyht,
7.3949: Forth with his Chamberlein also,
7.3950: To conseil hadde bothe tuo,
7.3951: And stoden be the Chiminee
7.3952: Togedre spekende alle thre.
7.3953: And happeth that the kinges fol
7.3954: Sat be the fyr upon a stol,
7.3955: As he that with his babil pleide,
7.3956: Bot yit he herde al that thei seide,
7.3957: And therof token thei non hiede.
7.3958: The king hem axeth what to rede
7.3959: Of such matiere as cam to mouthe,
7.3960: And thei him tolden as thei couthe.
7.3961: Whan al was spoke of that thei mente,
7.3962: The king with al his hole entente
7.3963: Thanne ate laste hem axeth this,
7.3964: What king men tellen that he is:
7.3965: Among the folk touchende his name,
7.3966: Or be it pris, or be it blame,
7.3967: Riht after that thei herden sein,
7.3968: He bad hem forto telle it plein,
7.3969: That thei no point of soth forbere,
7.3970: Be thilke feith that thei him bere.
7.3971: The Steward ferst upon this thing
7.3972: Yaf his ansuere unto the king
7.3973: And thoghte glose in this matiere,
7.3974: And seide, als fer as he can hiere,
7.3975: His name is good and honourable:
7.3976: Thus was the Stieward favorable,
7.3977: That he the trouthe plein ne tolde.
7.3978: The king thanne axeth, as he scholde,


-2.347-



7.3979: The Chamberlein of his avis.
7.3980: And he, that was soubtil and wys,
7.3981: And somdiel thoghte upon his feith,
7.3982: Him tolde hou al the poeple seith
7.3983: That if his conseil were trewe,
7.3984: Thei wiste thanne wel and knewe
7.3985: That of himself he scholde be
7.3986: A worthi king in his degre:
7.3987: And thus the conseil he accuseth
7.3988: In partie, and the king excuseth.
7.3989: The fol, which herde of al the cas
7.3990: That time, as goddes wille was,
7.3991: Sih that thei seiden noght ynowh,
7.3992: And hem to skorne bothe lowh,
7.3993: And to the king he seide tho:
7.3994: "Sire king, if that it were so,
7.3995: Of wisdom in thin oghne mod
7.3996: That thou thiselven were good,
7.3997: Thi conseil scholde noght be badde."
7.3998: The king therof merveille hadde,
7.3999: Whan that a fol so wisly spak,
7.4000: And of himself fond out the lack
7.4001: Withinne his oghne conscience:
7.4002: And thus the foles evidence,
7.4003: Which was of goddes grace enspired,
7.4004: Makth that good conseil was desired.
7.4005: He putte awey the vicious
7.4006: And tok to him the vertuous;
7.4007: The wrongful lawes ben amended,
7.4008: The londes good is wel despended,
7.4009: The poeple was nomore oppressed,
7.4010: And thus stod every thing redressed.
7.4011: For where a king is propre wys,
7.4012: And hath suche as himselven is
7.4013: Of his conseil, it mai noght faile
7.4014: That every thing ne schal availe:
7.4015: The vices thanne gon aweie,
7.4016: And every vertu holt his weie;


-2.348-



7.4017: Wherof the hihe god is plesed,
7.4018: And al the londes folk is esed.
7.4019: For if the comun poeple crie,
7.4020: And thanne a king list noght to plie
7.4021: To hiere what the clamour wolde,
7.4022: And otherwise thanne he scholde
7.4023: Desdeigneth forto don hem grace,
7.4024: It hath be sen in many place,
7.4025: Ther hath befalle gret contraire;
7.4026: And that I finde of ensamplaire.
7.4027: After the deth of Salomon,
7.4028: Whan thilke wise king was gon,
7.4029: And Roboas in his persone
7.4030: Receive scholde the corone,
7.4031: The poeple upon a Parlement
7.4032: Avised were of on assent,
7.4033: And alle unto the king thei preiden,
7.4034: With comun vois and thus thei seiden:
7.4035: "Oure liege lord, we thee beseche
7.4036: That thou receive oure humble speche
7.4037: And grante ous that which reson wile,
7.4038: Or of thi grace or of thi skile.
7.4039: Thi fader, whil he was alyve
7.4040: And myhte bothe grante and pryve,
7.4041: Upon the werkes whiche he hadde
7.4042: The comun poeple streite ladde:
7.4043: Whan he the temple made newe,
7.4044: Thing which men nevere afore knewe
7.4045: He broghte up thanne of his taillage,
7.4046: And al was under the visage
7.4047: Of werkes whiche he made tho.
7.4048: Bot nou it is befalle so,
7.4049: That al is mad, riht as he seide,
7.4050: And he was riche whan he deide;
7.4051: So that it is no maner nede,
7.4052: If thou therof wolt taken hiede,


-2.349-



7.4053: To pilen of the poeple more,
7.4054: Which long time hath be grieved sore.
7.4055: And in this wise as we thee seie,
7.4056: With tendre herte we thee preie
7.4057: That thou relesse thilke dette,
7.4058: Which upon ous thi fader sette.
7.4059: And if thee like to don so,
7.4060: We ben thi men for everemo,
7.4061: To gon and comen at thin heste."
7.4062: The king, which herde this requeste,
7.4063: Seith that he wole ben avised,
7.4064: And hath therof a time assised;
7.4065: And in the while as he him thoghte
7.4066: Upon this thing, conseil he soghte.
7.4067: And ferst the wise knyhtes olde,
7.4068: To whom that he his tale tolde,
7.4069: Conseilen him in this manere;
7.4070: That he with love and with glad chiere
7.4071: Foryive and grante al that is axed
7.4072: Of that his fader hadde taxed;
7.4073: For so he mai his regne achieve
7.4074: With thing which schal him litel grieve.
7.4075: The king hem herde and overpasseth,
7.4076: And with these othre his wit compasseth,
7.4077: That yonge were and nothing wise.
7.4078: And thei these olde men despise,
7.4079: And seiden: "Sire, it schal be schame
7.4080: For evere unto thi worthi name,
7.4081: If thou ne kepe noght the riht,
7.4082: Whil thou art in thi yonge myht,
7.4083: Which that thin olde fader gat.
7.4084: Bot seie unto the poeple plat,
7.4085: That whil thou livest in thi lond,
7.4086: The leste finger of thin hond
7.4087: It schal be strengere overal
7.4088: Than was thi fadres bodi al.
7.4089: And this also schal be thi tale,
7.4090: If he hem smot with roddes smale,
7.4091: With Scorpions thou schalt hem smyte;


-2.350-



7.4092: And wher thi fader tok a lyte,
7.4093: Thou thenkst to take mochel more.
7.4094: Thus schalt thou make hem drede sore
7.4095: The grete herte of thi corage,
7.4096: So forto holde hem in servage.
7.4097: This yonge king him hath conformed
7.4098: To don as he was last enformed,
7.4099: Which was to him his undoinge:
7.4100: For whan it cam to the spekinge,
7.4101: He hath the yonge conseil holde,
7.4102: That he the same wordes tolde
7.4103: Of al the poeple in audience;
7.4104: And whan thei herden the sentence
7.4105: Of his malice and the manace,
7.4106: Anon tofore his oghne face
7.4107: Thei have him oultreli refused
7.4108: And with ful gret reproef accused.
7.4109: So thei begunne forto rave,
7.4110: That he was fain himself to save;
7.4111: For as the wilde wode rage
7.4112: Of wyndes makth the See salvage,
7.4113: And that was calm bringth into wawe,
7.4114: So for defalte of grace and lawe
7.4115: This poeple is stered al at ones
7.4116: And forth thei gon out of hise wones;
7.4117: So that of the lignages tuelve
7.4118: Tuo tribes only be hemselve
7.4119: With him abiden and nomo:
7.4120: So were thei for everemo
7.4121: Of no retorn withoute espeir
7.4122: Departed fro the rihtfull heir.
7.4123: Al Irahel with comun vois
7.4124: A king upon here oghne chois
7.4125: Among hemself anon thei make,
7.4126: And have here yonge lord forsake;
7.4127: A povere knyht Jeroboas
7.4128: Thei toke, and lefte Roboas,


-2.351-



7.4129: Which rihtfull heir was be descente.
7.4130: Lo, thus the yonge cause wente:
7.4131: For that the conseil was noght good,
7.4132: The regne fro the rihtfull blod
7.4133: Evere afterward divided was.
7.4134: So mai it proven be this cas
7.4135: That yong conseil, which is to warm,
7.4136: Er men be war doth ofte harm.
7.4137: Old age for the conseil serveth,
7.4138: And lusti youthe his thonk deserveth
7.4139: Upon the travail which he doth;
7.4140: And bothe, forto seie a soth,
7.4141: Be sondri cause forto have,
7.4142: If that he wole his regne save,
7.4143: A king behoveth every day.
7.4144: That on can and that other mai,
7.4145: Be so the king hem bothe reule,
7.4146: For elles al goth out of reule.
7.4147: And upon this matiere also
7.4148: A question betwen the tuo
7.4149: Thus writen in a bok I fond;
7.4150: Wher it be betre for the lond
7.4151: A king himselve to be wys,
7.4152: And so to bere his oghne pris,
7.4153: And that his consail be noght good,
7.4154: Or other wise if it so stod,
7.4155: A king if he be vicious
7.4156: And his conseil be vertuous.
7.4157: It is ansuerd in such a wise,
7.4158: That betre it is that thei be wise
7.4159: Be whom that the conseil schal gon,
7.4160: For thei be manye, and he is on;
7.4161: And rathere schal an one man
7.4162: With fals conseil, for oght he can,
7.4163: From his wisdom be mad to falle,
7.4164: Thanne he al one scholde hem alle
7.4165: Fro vices into vertu change,
7.4166: For that is wel the more strange.


-2.352-



7.4167: Forthi the lond mai wel be glad,
7.4168: Whos king with good conseil is lad,
7.4169: Which set him unto rihtwisnesse,
7.4170: So that his hihe worthinesse
7.4171: Betwen the reddour and Pite
7.4172: Doth mercy forth with equite.
7.4173: A king is holden overal
7.4174: To Pite, bot in special
7.4175: To hem wher he is most beholde;
7.4176: Thei scholde his Pite most beholde
7.4177: That ben the Lieges of his lond,
7.4178: For thei ben evere under his hond
7.4179: After the goddes ordinaunce
7.4180: To stonde upon his governance.
7.4181: Of themperour Anthonius
7.4182: I finde hou that he seide thus,
7.4183: That levere him were forto save
7.4184: Oon of his lieges than to have
7.4185: Of enemis a thousend dede.
7.4186: And this he lernede, as I rede,
7.4187: Of Cipio, which hadde be
7.4188: Consul of Rome. And thus to se
7.4189: Diverse ensamples hou thei stonde,
7.4190: A king which hath the charge on honde
7.4191: The comun poeple to governe,
7.4192: If that he wole, he mai wel lerne.
7.4193: Is non so good to the plesance
7.4194: Of god, as is good governance;
7.4195: And every governance is due
7.4196: To Pite: thus I mai argue
7.4197: That Pite is the foundement
7.4198: Of every kinges regiment,
7.4199: If it be medled with justice.
7.4200: Thei tuo remuen alle vice,
7.4201: And ben of vertu most vailable
7.4202: To make a kinges regne stable.
7.4203: Lo, thus the foure pointz tofore,
7.4204: In governance as thei ben bore,


-2.353-



7.4205: Of trouthe ferst and of largesse,
7.4206: Of Pite forth with rihtwisnesse,
7.4207: I have hem told; and over this
7.4208: The fifte point, so as it is
7.4209: Set of the reule of Policie,
7.4210: Wherof a king schal modefie
7.4211: The fleisschly lustes of nature,
7.4212: Nou thenk I telle of such mesure,
7.4213: That bothe kinde schal be served
7.4214: And ek the lawe of god observed.
7.4215: The Madle is mad for the the femele,
7.4216: Bot where as on desireth fele,
7.4217: That nedeth noght be weie of kinde:
7.4218: For whan a man mai redy finde
7.4219: His oghne wif, what scholde he seche
7.4220: In strange places to beseche
7.4221: To borwe an other mannes plouh,
7.4222: Whan he hath geere good ynouh
7.4223: Affaited at his oghne heste,
7.4224: And is to him wel more honeste
7.4225: Than other thing which is unknowe?
7.4226: Forthi scholde every good man knowe
7.4227: And thenke, hou that in mariage
7.4228: His trouthe pliht lith in morgage,
7.4229: Which if he breke, it is falshode,
7.4230: And that descordeth to manhode,
7.4231: And namely toward the grete,
7.4232: Wherof the bokes alle trete;
7.4233: So as the Philosophre techeth
7.4234: To Alisandre, and him betecheth
7.4235: The lore hou that he schal mesure
7.4236: His bodi, so that no mesure
7.4237: Of fleisshly lust he scholde excede.


-2.354-



7.4238: And thus forth if I schal procede,
7.4239: The fifte point, as I seide er,
7.4240: Is chastete, which sielde wher
7.4241: Comth nou adaies into place;
7.4242: And natheles, bot it be grace
7.4243: Above alle othre in special,
7.4244: Is non that chaste mai ben all.
7.4245: Bot yit a kinges hihe astat,
7.4246: Which of his ordre as a prelat
7.4247: Schal ben enoignt and seintefied,
7.4248: He mot be more magnefied
7.4249: For dignete of his corone,
7.4250: Than scholde an other low persone,
7.4251: Which is noght of so hih emprise.
7.4252: Therfore a Prince him scholde avise,
7.4253: Er that he felle in such riote,
7.4254: And namely that he nassote
7.4255: To change for the wommanhede
7.4256: The worthinesse of his manhede.
7.4257: Of Aristotle I have wel rad,
7.4258: Hou he to Alisandre bad,
7.4259: That forto gladen his corage
7.4260: He schal beholde the visage
7.4261: Of wommen, whan that thei ben faire.
7.4262: Bot yit he set an essamplaire,
7.4263: His bodi so to guide and reule,
7.4264: That he ne passe noght the reule,
7.4265: Wherof that he himself beguile.
7.4266: For in the womman is no guile
7.4267: Of that a man himself bewhapeth;
7.4268: Whan he his oghne wit bejapeth,
7.4269: I can the wommen wel excuse:
7.4270: Bot what man wole upon hem muse
7.4271: After the fool impression
7.4272: Of his ymaginacioun,
7.4273: Withinne himself the fyr he bloweth,
7.4274: Wherof the womman nothing knoweth,


-2.355-



7.4275: So mai sche nothing be to wyte.
7.4276: For if a man himself excite
7.4277: To drenche, and wol it noght forbere,
7.4278: The water schal no blame bere.
7.4279: What mai the gold, thogh men coveite?
7.4280: If that a man wol love streite,
7.4281: The womman hath him nothing bounde;
7.4282: If he his oghne herte wounde,
7.4283: Sche mai noght lette the folie;
7.4284: And thogh so felle of compainie
7.4285: That he myht eny thing pourchace,
7.4286: Yit makth a man the ferste chace,
7.4287: The womman fleth and he poursuieth:
7.4288: So that be weie of skile it suieth,
7.4289: The man is cause, hou so befalle,
7.4290: That he fulofte sithe is falle
7.4291: Wher that he mai noght wel aryse.
7.4292: And natheles ful manye wise
7.4293: Befoled have hemself er this,
7.4294: As nou adaies yit it is
7.4295: Among the men and evere was,
7.4296: The stronge is fieblest in this cas.
7.4297: It sit a man be weie of kinde
7.4298: To love, bot it is noght kinde
7.4299: A man for love his wit to lese:
7.4300: For if the Monthe of Juil schal frese
7.4301: And that Decembre schal ben hot,
7.4302: The yeer mistorneth, wel I wot.
7.4303: To sen a man fro his astat
7.4304: Thurgh his sotie effeminat,
7.4305: And leve that a man schal do,
7.4306: It is as Hose above the Scho,
7.4307: To man which oghte noght ben used.
7.4308: Bot yit the world hath ofte accused
7.4309: Ful grete Princes of this dede,
7.4310: Hou thei for love hemself mislede,
7.4311: Wherof manhode stod behinde,
7.4312: Of olde ensamples as I finde.


-2.356-



7.4313: These olde gestes tellen thus,
7.4314: That whilom Sardana Pallus,
7.4315: Which hield al hol in his empire
7.4316: The grete kingdom of Assire,
7.4317: Was thurgh the slouthe of his corage
7.4318: Falle into thilke fyri rage
7.4319: Of love, which the men assoteth,
7.4320: Wherof himself he so rioteth,
7.4321: And wax so ferforth wommannyssh,
7.4322: That ayein kinde, as if a fissh
7.4323: Abide wolde upon the lond,
7.4324: In wommen such a lust he fond,
7.4325: That he duelte evere in chambre stille,
7.4326: And only wroghte after the wille
7.4327: Of wommen, so as he was bede,
7.4328: That selden whanne in other stede
7.4329: If that he wolde wenden oute,
7.4330: To sen hou that it stod aboute.
7.4331: Bot ther he keste and there he pleide,
7.4332: Thei tawhten him a Las to breide,
7.4333: And weve a Pours, and to enfile
7.4334: A Perle: and fell that ilke while,
7.4335: On Barbarus the Prince of Mede
7.4336: Sih hou this king in wommanhede
7.4337: Was falle fro chivalerie,
7.4338: And gat him help and compaignie,
7.4339: And wroghte so, that ate laste
7.4340: This king out of his regne he caste,
7.4341: Which was undon for everemo:
7.4342: And yit men speken of him so,
7.4343: That it is schame forto hiere.
7.4344: Forthi to love is in manere.
7.4345: King David hadde many a love,
7.4346: Bot natheles alwey above
7.4347: Knyhthode he kepte in such a wise,
7.4348: That for no fleisshli covoitise


-2.357-



7.4349: Of lust to ligge in ladi armes
7.4350: He lefte noght the lust of armes.
7.4351: For where a Prince hise lustes suieth,
7.4352: That he the werre noght poursuieth,
7.4353: Whan it is time to ben armed,
7.4354: His contre stant fulofte harmed,
7.4355: Whan thenemis ben woxe bolde,
7.4356: That thei defence non beholde.
7.4357: Ful many a lond hath so be lore,
7.4358: As men mai rede of time afore
7.4359: Of hem that so here eses soghten,
7.4360: Which after thei full diere aboghten.
7.4361: To mochel ese is nothing worth,
7.4362: For that set every vice forth
7.4363: And every vertu put abak,
7.4364: Wherof priss torneth into lak,
7.4365: As in Cronique I mai reherse:
7.4366: Which telleth hou the king of Perse,
7.4367: That Cirus hihte, a werre hadde
7.4368: Ayein a poeple which he dradde,
7.4369: Of a contre which Liddos hihte;
7.4370: Bot yit for oght that he do mihte
7.4371: As in bataille upon the werre,
7.4372: He hadde of hem alwey the werre.
7.4373: And whan he sih and wiste it wel,
7.4374: That he be strengthe wan no del,
7.4375: Thanne ate laste he caste a wyle
7.4376: This worthi poeple to beguile,
7.4377: And tok with hem a feigned pes,
7.4378: Which scholde lasten endeles,
7.4379: So as he seide in wordes wise,
7.4380: Bot he thoghte al in other wise.
7.4381: For it betidd upon the cas,
7.4382: Whan that this poeple in reste was,
7.4383: Thei token eses manyfold;
7.4384: And worldes ese, as it is told,


-2.358-



7.4385: Be weie of kinde is the norrice
7.4386: Of every lust which toucheth vice.
7.4387: Thus whan thei were in lustes falle,
7.4388: The werres ben foryeten alle;
7.4389: Was non which wolde the worschipe
7.4390: Of Armes, bot in idelschipe
7.4391: Thei putten besinesse aweie
7.4392: And token hem to daunce and pleie;
7.4393: Bot most above alle othre thinges
7.4394: Thei token hem to the likinges
7.4395: Of fleysshly lust, that chastete
7.4396: Received was in no degre,
7.4397: Bot every man doth what him liste.
7.4398: And whan the king of Perse it wiste,
7.4399: That thei unto folie entenden,
7.4400: With his pouer, whan thei lest wenden,
7.4401: Mor sodeinly than doth the thunder
7.4402: He cam, for evere and put hem under.
7.4403: And thus hath lecherie lore
7.4404: The lond, which hadde be tofore
7.4405: The beste of hem that were tho.
7.4406: And in the bible I finde also
7.4407: A tale lich unto this thing,
7.4408: Hou Amalech the paien king,
7.4409: Whan that he myhte be no weie
7.4410: Defende his lond and putte aweie
7.4411: The worthi poeple of Irael,
7.4412: This Sarazin, as it befell,
7.4413: Thurgh the conseil of Balaam
7.4414: A route of faire wommen nam,
7.4415: That lusti were and yonge of Age,
7.4416: And bad hem gon to the lignage
7.4417: Of these Hebreus: and forth thei wente
7.4418: With yhen greye and browes bente
7.4419: And wel arraied everych on;
7.4420: And whan thei come were anon


-2.359-



7.4421: Among thebreus, was non insihte,
7.4422: Bot cacche who that cacche myhte,
7.4423: And ech of hem hise lustes soghte,
7.4424: Whiche after thei full diere boghte.
7.4425: For grace anon began to faile,
7.4426: That whan thei comen to bataille
7.4427: Thanne afterward, in sori plit
7.4428: Thei were take and disconfit,
7.4429: So that withinne a litel throwe
7.4430: The myht of hem was overthrowe,
7.4431: That whilom were wont to stonde.
7.4432: Til Phinees the cause on honde
7.4433: Hath take, this vengance laste,
7.4434: Bot thanne it cessede ate laste,
7.4435: For god was paid of that he dede:
7.4436: For wher he fond upon a stede
7.4437: A couple which misferde so,
7.4438: Thurghout he smot hem bothe tuo,
7.4439: And let hem ligge in mennes yhe;
7.4440: Wherof alle othre whiche hem sihe
7.4441: Ensamplede hem upon the dede,
7.4442: And preiden unto the godhiede
7.4443: Here olde Sennes to amende:
7.4444: And he, which wolde his mercy sende,
7.4445: Restorede hem to newe grace.
7.4446: Thus mai it schewe in sondri place,
7.4447: Of chastete hou the clennesse
7.4448: Acordeth to the worthinesse
7.4449: Of men of Armes overal;
7.4450: Bot most of alle in special
7.4451: This vertu to a king belongeth,
7.4452: For upon his fortune it hongeth
7.4453: Of that his lond schal spede or spille.
7.4454: Forthi bot if a king his wille
7.4455: Fro lustes of his fleissh restreigne,
7.4456: Ayein himself he makth a treigne,
7.4457: Into the which if that he slyde,
7.4458: Him were betre go besyde.
7.4459: For every man mai understonde,


-2.360-



7.4460: Hou for a time that it stonde,
7.4461: It is a sori lust to lyke,
7.4462: Whos ende makth a man to syke
7.4463: And torneth joies into sorwe.
7.4464: The brihte Sonne be the morwe
7.4465: Beschyneth noght the derke nyht,
7.4466: The lusti youthe of mannes myht,
7.4467: In Age bot it stonde wel,
7.4468: Mistorneth al the laste whiel.
7.4469: That every worthi Prince is holde
7.4470: Withinne himself himself beholde,
7.4471: To se the stat of his persone,
7.4472: And thenke hou ther be joies none
7.4473: Upon this Erthe mad to laste,
7.4474: And hou the fleissh schal ate laste
7.4475: The lustes of this lif forsake,
7.4476: Him oghte a gret ensample take
7.4477: Of Salomon, whos appetit
7.4478: Was holy set upon delit,
7.4479: To take of wommen the plesance:
7.4480: So that upon his ignorance
7.4481: The wyde world merveileth yit,
7.4482: That he, which alle mennes wit
7.4483: In thilke time hath overpassed,
7.4484: With fleisshly lustes was so tassed,
7.4485: That he which ladde under the lawe
7.4486: The poeple of god, himself withdrawe
7.4487: He hath fro god in such a wise,
7.4488: That he worschipe and sacrifise
7.4489: For sondri love in sondri stede
7.4490: Unto the false goddes dede.
7.4491: This was the wise ecclesiaste,
7.4492: The fame of whom schal evere laste,
7.4493: That he the myhti god forsok,
7.4494: Ayein the lawe whanne he tok
7.4495: His wyves and his concubines
7.4496: Of hem that weren Sarazines,
7.4497: For whiche he dede ydolatrie.


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7.4498: For this I rede of his sotie:
7.4499: Sche of Sidoyne so him ladde,
7.4500: That he knelende his armes spradde
7.4501: To Astrathen with gret humblesse,
7.4502: Which of hire lond was the goddesse:
7.4503: And sche that was a Moabite
7.4504: So ferforth made him to delite
7.4505: Thurgh lust, which al his wit devoureth,
7.4506: That he Chamos hire god honoureth.
7.4507: An other Amonyte also
7.4508: With love him hath assoted so,
7.4509: Hire god Moloch that with encense
7.4510: He sacreth, and doth reverence
7.4511: In such a wise as sche him bad.
7.4512: Thus was the wiseste overlad
7.4513: With blinde lustes whiche he soghte;
7.4514: Bot he it afterward aboghte.
7.4515: For Achias Selonites,
7.4516: Which was prophete, er his decess,
7.4517: Whil he was in hise lustes alle,
7.4518: Betokneth what schal after falle.
7.4519: For on a day, whan that he mette
7.4520: Jeroboam the knyht, he grette
7.4521: And bad him that he scholde abyde,
7.4522: To hiere what him schal betyde.
7.4523: And forth withal Achias caste
7.4524: His mantell of, and also faste
7.4525: He kut it into pieces twelve,
7.4526: Wherof tuo partz toward himselve
7.4527: He kepte, and al the remenant,
7.4528: As god hath set his covenant,
7.4529: He tok unto Jeroboas,
7.4530: Of Nabal which the Sone was,
7.4531: And of the kinges court a knyht:
7.4532: And seide him, "Such is goddes myht,
7.4533: As thou hast sen departed hiere
7.4534: Mi mantell, riht in such manere
7.4535: After the deth of Salomon
7.4536: God hath ordeigned therupon,


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7.4537: This regne thanne he schal divide:
7.4538: Which time thou schalt ek abide,
7.4539: And upon that division
7.4540: The regne as in proporcion
7.4541: As thou hast of mi mantell take,
7.4542: Thou schalt receive, I undertake.
7.4543: And thus the Sone schal abie
7.4544: The lustes and the lecherie
7.4545: Of him which nou his fader is."
7.4546: So forto taken hiede of this,
7.4547: It sit a king wel to be chaste,
7.4548: For elles he mai lihtly waste
7.4549: Himself and ek his regne bothe,
7.4550: And that oghte every king to lothe.
7.4551: O, which a Senne violent,
7.4552: Wherof so wys a king was schent,
7.4553: That the vengance in his persone
7.4554: Was noght ynouh to take al one,
7.4555: Bot afterward, whan he was passed,
7.4556: It hath his heritage lassed,
7.4557: As I more openli tofore
7.4558: The tale tolde. And thus therfore
7.4559: The Philosophre upon this thing
7.4560: Writ and conseileth to a king,
7.4561: That he the surfet of luxure
7.4562: Schal tempre and reule of such mesure,
7.4563: Which be to kinde sufficant
7.4564: And ek to reson acordant,
7.4565: So that the lustes ignorance
7.4566: Be cause of no misgovernance,
7.4567: Thurgh which that he be overthrowe,
7.4568: As he that wol no reson knowe.
7.4569: For bot a mannes wit be swerved,
7.4570: Whan kinde is dueliche served,
7.4571: It oghte of reson to suffise;
7.4572: For if it falle him otherwise,
7.4573: He mai tho lustes sore drede.


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7.4574: For of Anthonie thus I rede,
7.4575: Which of Severus was the Sone,
7.4576: That he his lif of comun wone
7.4577: Yaf holy unto thilke vice,
7.4578: And ofte time he was so nyce,
7.4579: Wherof nature hire hath compleigned
7.4580: Unto the god, which hath desdeigned
7.4581: The werkes whiche Antonie wroghte
7.4582: Of lust, whiche he ful sore aboghte:
7.4583: For god his forfet hath so wroke
7.4584: That in Cronique it is yit spoke.
7.4585: Bot forto take remembrance
7.4586: Of special misgovernance
7.4587: Thurgh covoitise and injustice
7.4588: Forth with the remenant of vice,
7.4589: And nameliche of lecherie,
7.4590: I finde write a gret partie
7.4591: Withinne a tale, as thou schalt hiere,
7.4592: Which is thensample of this matiere.
7.4593: So as these olde gestes sein,
7.4594: The proude tirannyssh Romein
7.4595: Tarquinus, which was thanne king
7.4596: And wroghte many a wrongful thing,
7.4597: Of Sones hadde manyon,
7.4598: Among the whiche Arrons was on,
7.4599: Lich to his fader of maneres;
7.4600: So that withinne a fewe yeres
7.4601: With tresoun and with tirannie
7.4602: Thei wonne of lond a gret partie,
7.4603: And token hiede of no justice,
7.4604: Which due was to here office
7.4605: Upon the reule of governance;
7.4606: Bot al that evere was plesance
7.4607: Unto the fleisshes lust thei toke.
7.4608: And fell so, that thei undertoke
7.4609: A werre, which was noght achieved,


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7.4610: Bot ofte time it hadde hem grieved,
7.4611: Ayein a folk which thanne hihte
7.4612: The Gabiens: and al be nyhte
7.4613: This Arrons, whan he was at hom
7.4614: In Rome, a prive place he nom
7.4615: Withinne a chambre, and bet himselve
7.4616: And made him woundes ten or tuelve
7.4617: Upon the bak, as it was sene;
7.4618: And so forth with hise hurtes grene
7.4619: In al the haste that he may
7.4620: He rod, and cam that other day
7.4621: Unto Gabie the Cite,
7.4622: And in he wente: and whan that he
7.4623: Was knowe, anon the gates schette,
7.4624: The lordes alle upon him sette
7.4625: With drawe swerdes upon honde.
7.4626: This Arrons wolde hem noght withstonde,
7.4627: Bot seide, "I am hier at your wille,
7.4628: Als lief it is that ye me spille,
7.4629: As if myn oghne fader dede."
7.4630: And forthwith in the same stede
7.4631: He preide hem that thei wolde se,
7.4632: And schewede hem in what degre
7.4633: His fader and hise brethren bothe,
7.4634: Whiche, as he seide, weren wrothe,
7.4635: Him hadde beten and reviled,
7.4636: For evere and out of Rome exiled.
7.4637: And thus he made hem to believe,
7.4638: And seide, if that he myhte achieve
7.4639: His pourpos, it schal wel be yolde,
7.4640: Be so that thei him helpe wolde.
7.4641: Whan that the lordes hadde sein
7.4642: Hou wofully he was besein,
7.4643: Thei token Pite of his grief;
7.4644: Bot yit it was hem wonder lief
7.4645: That Rome him hadde exiled so.
7.4646: These Gabiens be conseil tho
7.4647: Upon the goddes made him swere,


-2.365-



7.4648: That he to hem schal trouthe bere
7.4649: And strengthen hem with al his myht;
7.4650: And thei also him have behiht
7.4651: To helpen him in his querele.
7.4652: Thei schopen thanne for his hele
7.4653: That he was bathed and enoignt,
7.4654: Til that he was in lusti point;
7.4655: And what he wolde thanne he hadde,
7.4656: That he al hol the cite ladde
7.4657: Riht as he wolde himself divise.
7.4658: And thanne he thoghte him in what wise
7.4659: He myhte his tirannie schewe;
7.4660: And to his conseil tok a schrewe,
7.4661: Whom to his fader forth he sente
7.4662: In his message, and he tho wente,
7.4663: And preide his fader forto seie
7.4664: Be his avis, and finde a weie,
7.4665: Hou they the cite myhten winne,
7.4666: Whil that he stod so wel therinne.
7.4667: And whan the messager was come
7.4668: To Rome, and hath in conseil nome
7.4669: The king, it fell per chance so
7.4670: That thei were in a gardin tho,
7.4671: This messager forth with the king.
7.4672: And whanne he hadde told the thing
7.4673: In what manere that it stod,
7.4674: And that Tarquinus understod
7.4675: Be the message hou that it ferde,
7.4676: Anon he tok in honde a yerde,
7.4677: And in the gardin as thei gon,
7.4678: The lilie croppes on and on,
7.4679: Wher that thei weren sprongen oute,
7.4680: He smot of, as thei stode aboute,
7.4681: And seide unto the messager:
7.4682: "Lo, this thing, which I do nou hier,
7.4683: Schal ben in stede of thin ansuere;
7.4684: And in this wise as I me bere,
7.4685: Thou schalt unto mi Sone telle."
7.4686: And he no lengere wolde duelle,


-2.366-



7.4687: Bot tok his leve and goth withal
7.4688: Unto his lord, and told him al,
7.4689: Hou that his fader hadde do.
7.4690: Whan Arrons herde him telle so,
7.4691: Anon he wiste what it mente,
7.4692: And therto sette al his entente,
7.4693: Til he thurgh fraude and tricherie
7.4694: The Princes hefdes of Gabie
7.4695: Hath smiten of, and al was wonne:
7.4696: His fader cam tofore the Sonne
7.4697: Into the toun with the Romeins,
7.4698: And tok and slowh the citezeins
7.4699: Withoute reson or pite,
7.4700: That he ne spareth no degre.
7.4701: And for the sped of this conqueste
7.4702: He let do make a riche feste
7.4703: With a sollempne Sacrifise
7.4704: In Phebus temple; and in this wise
7.4705: Whan the Romeins assembled were,
7.4706: In presence of hem alle there,
7.4707: Upon thalter whan al was diht
7.4708: And that the fyres were alyht,
7.4709: From under thalter sodeinly
7.4710: An hidous Serpent openly
7.4711: Cam out and hath devoured al
7.4712: The Sacrifice, and ek withal
7.4713: The fyres queynt, and forth anon,
7.4714: So as he cam, so is he gon
7.4715: Into the depe ground ayein.
7.4716: And every man began to sein,
7.4717: "Ha lord, what mai this signefie?"
7.4718: And therupon thei preie and crie
7.4719: To Phebus, that thei mihten knowe
7.4720: The cause: and he the same throwe
7.4721: With gastly vois, that alle it herde,
7.4722: The Romeins in this wise ansuerde,
7.4723: And seide hou for the wikkidnesse
7.4724: Of Pride and of unrihtwisnesse,
7.4725: That Tarquin and his Sone hath do,


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7.4726: The Sacrifice is wasted so,
7.4727: Which myhte noght ben acceptable
7.4728: Upon such Senne abhominable.
7.4729: And over that yit he hem wisseth,
7.4730: And seith that which of hem ferst kisseth
7.4731: His moder, he schal take wrieche
7.4732: Upon the wrong: and of that speche
7.4733: Thei ben withinne here hertes glade,
7.4734: Thogh thei outward no semblant made.
7.4735: Ther was a knyht which Brutus hihte,
7.4736: And he with al the haste he myhte
7.4737: To grounde fell and therthe kiste,
7.4738: Bot non of hem the cause wiste,
7.4739: Bot wenden that he hadde sporned
7.4740: Per chance, and so was overtorned.
7.4741: Bot Brutus al an other mente;
7.4742: For he knew wel in his entente
7.4743: Hou therthe of every mannes kinde
7.4744: Is Moder: bot thei weren blinde,
7.4745: And sihen noght so fer as he.
7.4746: Bot whan thei leften the Cite
7.4747: And comen hom to Rome ayein,
7.4748: Thanne every man which was Romein
7.4749: And moder hath, to hire he bende
7.4750: And keste, and ech of hem thus wende
7.4751: To be the ferste upon the chance,
7.4752: Of Tarquin forto do vengance,
7.4753: So as thei herden Phebus sein.
7.4754: Bot every time hath his certein,
7.4755: So moste it nedes thanne abide,
7.4756: Til afterward upon a tyde
7.4757: Tarquinus made unskilfully
7.4758: A werre, which was fasteby
7.4759: Ayein a toun with walles stronge
7.4760: Which Ardea was cleped longe,
7.4761: And caste a Siege theraboute,
7.4762: That ther mai noman passen oute.


-2.368-



7.4763: So it befell upon a nyht,
7.4764: Arrons, which hadde his souper diht,
7.4765: A part of the chivalerie
7.4766: With him to soupe in compaignie
7.4767: Hath bede: and whan thei comen were
7.4768: And seten at the souper there,
7.4769: Among here othre wordes glade
7.4770: Arrons a gret spekinge made,
7.4771: Who hadde tho the beste wif
7.4772: Of Rome: and ther began a strif,
7.4773: For Arrons seith he hath the beste.
7.4774: So jangle thei withoute reste,
7.4775: Til ate laste on Collatin,
7.4776: A worthi knyht, and was cousin
7.4777: To Arrons, seide him in this wise:
7.4778: "It is," quod he, "of non emprise
7.4779: To speke a word, bot of the dede,
7.4780: Therof it is to taken hiede.
7.4781: Anon forthi this same tyde
7.4782: Lep on thin hors and let ous ryde:
7.4783: So mai we knowe bothe tuo
7.4784: Unwarli what oure wyves do,
7.4785: And that schal be a trewe assay."
7.4786: This Arrons seith noght ones nay:
7.4787: On horse bak anon thei lepte
7.4788: In such manere, and nothing slepte,
7.4789: Ridende forth til that thei come
7.4790: Al prively withinne Rome;
7.4791: In strange place and doun thei lihte,
7.4792: And take a chambre, and out of sihte
7.4793: Thei be desguised for a throwe,
7.4794: So that no lif hem scholde knowe.
7.4795: And to the paleis ferst thei soghte,
7.4796: To se what thing this ladi wroghte
7.4797: Of which Arrons made his avant:
7.4798: And thei hire sihe of glad semblant,
7.4799: Al full of merthes and of bordes;
7.4800: Bot among alle hire othre wordes


-2.369-



7.4801: Sche spak noght of hire housebonde.
7.4802: And whan thei hadde al understonde
7.4803: Of thilke place what hem liste,
7.4804: Thei gon hem forth, that non it wiste,
7.4805: Beside thilke gate of bras,
7.4806: Collacea which cleped was,
7.4807: Wher Collatin hath his duellinge.
7.4808: Ther founden thei at hom sittinge
7.4809: Lucrece his wif, al environed
7.4810: With wommen, whiche are abandoned
7.4811: To werche, and sche wroghte ek withal,
7.4812: And bad hem haste, and seith, "It schal
7.4813: Be for mi housebondes were,
7.4814: Which with his swerd and with his spere
7.4815: Lith at the Siege in gret desese.
7.4816: And if it scholde him noght displese,
7.4817: Nou wolde god I hadde him hiere;
7.4818: For certes til that I mai hiere
7.4819: Som good tidinge of his astat,
7.4820: Min herte is evere upon debat.
7.4821: For so as alle men witnesse,
7.4822: He is of such an hardiesse,
7.4823: That he can noght himselve spare,
7.4824: And that is al my moste care,
7.4825: Whan thei the walles schulle assaile.
7.4826: Bot if mi wisshes myhte availe,
7.4827: I wolde it were a groundles pet,
7.4828: Be so the Siege were unknet,
7.4829: And I myn housebonde sihe."
7.4830: With that the water in hire yhe
7.4831: Aros, that sche ne myhte it stoppe,
7.4832: And as men sen the dew bedroppe
7.4833: The leves and the floures eke,
7.4834: Riht so upon hire whyte cheke
7.4835: The wofull salte teres felle.
7.4836: Whan Collatin hath herd hire telle
7.4837: The menynge of hire trewe herte,


-2.370-



7.4838: Anon with that to hire he sterte,
7.4839: And seide, "Lo, mi goode diere,
7.4840: Nou is he come to you hiere,
7.4841: That ye most loven, as ye sein."
7.4842: And sche with goodly chiere ayein
7.4843: Beclipte him in hire armes smale,
7.4844: And the colour, which erst was pale,
7.4845: To Beaute thanne was restored,
7.4846: So that it myhte noght be mored.
7.4847: The kinges Sone, which was nyh,
7.4848: And of this lady herde and syh
7.4849: The thinges as thei ben befalle,
7.4850: The resoun of hise wittes alle
7.4851: Hath lost; for love upon his part
7.4852: Cam thanne, and of his fyri dart
7.4853: With such a wounde him hath thurghsmite,
7.4854: That he mot nedes fiele and wite
7.4855: Of thilke blinde maladie,
7.4856: To which no cure of Surgerie
7.4857: Can helpe. Bot yit natheles
7.4858: At thilke time he hield his pes,
7.4859: That he no contienance made,
7.4860: Bot openly with wordes glade,
7.4861: So as he couthe in his manere,
7.4862: He spak and made frendly chiere,
7.4863: Til it was time forto go.
7.4864: And Collatin with him also
7.4865: His leve tok, so that be nyhte
7.4866: With al the haste that thei myhte
7.4867: Thei riden to the Siege ayein.
7.4868: Bot Arrons was so wo besein
7.4869: With thoghtes whiche upon him runne,
7.4870: That he al be the brode Sunne
7.4871: To bedde goth, noght forto reste,
7.4872: Bot forto thenke upon the beste
7.4873: And the faireste forth withal,
7.4874: That evere he syh or evere schal,
7.4875: So as him thoghte in his corage,
7.4876: Where he pourtreieth hire ymage:
7.4877: Ferst the fetures of hir face,


-2.371-



7.4878: In which nature hadde alle grace
7.4879: Of wommanly beaute beset,
7.4880: So that it myhte noght be bet;
7.4881: And hou hir yelwe her was tresced
7.4882: And hire atir so wel adresced,
7.4883: And hou sche spak, and hou sche wroghte,
7.4884: And hou sche wepte, al this he thoghte,
7.4885: That he foryeten hath no del,
7.4886: Bot al it liketh him so wel,
7.4887: That in the word nor in the dede
7.4888: Hire lacketh noght of wommanhiede.
7.4889: And thus this tirannysshe knyht
7.4890: Was soupled, bot noght half ariht,
7.4891: For he non other hiede tok,
7.4892: Bot that he myhte be som crok,
7.4893: Althogh it were ayein hire wille,
7.4894: The lustes of his fleissh fulfille;
7.4895: Which love was noght resonable,
7.4896: For where honour is remuable,
7.4897: It oghte wel to ben avised.
7.4898: Bot he, which hath his lust assised
7.4899: With melled love and tirannie,
7.4900: Hath founde upon his tricherie
7.4901: A weie which he thenkth to holde,
7.4902: And seith, "Fortune unto the bolde
7.4903: Is favorable forto helpe."
7.4904: And thus withinne himself to yelpe,
7.4905: As he which was a wylde man,
7.4906: Upon his treson he began:
7.4907: And up he sterte, and forth he wente
7.4908: On horsebak, bot his entente
7.4909: Ther knew no wiht, and thus he nam
7.4910: The nexte weie, til he cam
7.4911: Unto Collacea the gate
7.4912: Of Rome, and it was somdiel late,
7.4913: Riht evene upon the Sonne set,
7.4914: As he which hadde schape his net
7.4915: Hire innocence to betrappe.


-2.372-



7.4916: And as it scholde tho mishappe,
7.4917: Als priveliche as evere he myhte
7.4918: He rod, and of his hors alyhte
7.4919: Tofore Collatines In,
7.4920: And al frendliche he goth him in,
7.4921: As he that was cousin of house.
7.4922: And sche, which is the goode spouse,
7.4923: Lucrece, whan that sche him sih,
7.4924: With goodli chiere drowh him nyh,
7.4925: As sche which al honour supposeth,
7.4926: And him, so as sche dar, opposeth
7.4927: Hou it stod of hire housebonde.
7.4928: And he tho dede hire understonde
7.4929: With tales feigned in his wise,
7.4930: Riht as he wolde himself devise,
7.4931: Wherof he myhte hire herte glade,
7.4932: That sche the betre chiere made,
7.4933: Whan sche the glade wordes herde,
7.4934: Hou that hire housebonde ferde.
7.4935: And thus the trouthe was deceived
7.4936: With slih tresoun, which was received
7.4937: To hire which mente alle goode;
7.4938: For as the festes thanne stode,
7.4939: His Souper was ryht wel arraied.
7.4940: Bot yit he hath no word assaied
7.4941: To speke of love in no degre;
7.4942: Bot with covert subtilite
7.4943: His frendly speches he affaiteth,
7.4944: And as the Tigre his time awaiteth
7.4945: In hope forto cacche his preie.
7.4946: Whan that the bordes were aweie
7.4947: And thei have souped in the halle,
7.4948: He seith that slep is on him falle,
7.4949: And preith he moste go to bedde;
7.4950: And sche with alle haste spedde,
7.4951: So as hire thoghte it was to done,
7.4952: That every thing was redi sone.
7.4953: Sche broghte him to his chambre tho


-2.373-



7.4954: And tok hire leve, and forth is go
7.4955: Into hire oghne chambre by,
7.4956: As sche that wende certeinly
7.4957: Have had a frend, and hadde a fo,
7.4958: Wherof fell after mochel wo.
7.4959: This tirant, thogh he lyhe softe,
7.4960: Out of his bed aros fulofte,
7.4961: And goth aboute, and leide his Ere
7.4962: To herkne, til that alle were
7.4963: To bedde gon and slepten faste.
7.4964: And thanne upon himself he caste
7.4965: A mantell, and his swerd al naked
7.4966: He tok in honde; and sche unwaked
7.4967: Abedde lay, but what sche mette,
7.4968: God wot; for he the Dore unschette
7.4969: So prively that non it herde,
7.4970: The softe pas and forth he ferde
7.4971: Unto the bed wher that sche slepte,
7.4972: Al sodeinliche and in he crepte,
7.4973: And hire in bothe his Armes tok.
7.4974: With that this worthi wif awok,
7.4975: Which thurgh tendresce of wommanhiede
7.4976: Hire vois hath lost for pure drede,
7.4977: That o word speke sche ne dar:
7.4978: And ek he bad hir to be war,
7.4979: For if sche made noise or cry,
7.4980: He seide, his swerd lay faste by
7.4981: To slen hire and hire folk aboute.
7.4982: And thus he broghte hire herte in doute,
7.4983: That lich a Lomb whanne it is sesed
7.4984: In wolves mouth, so was desesed
7.4985: Lucrece, which he naked fond:
7.4986: Wherof sche swounede in his hond,
7.4987: And, as who seith, lay ded oppressed.
7.4988: And he, which al him hadde adresced
7.4989: To lust, tok thanne what him liste,
7.4990: And goth his wey, that non it wiste,
7.4991: Into his oghne chambre ayein,
7.4992: And clepede up his chamberlein,


-2.374-



7.4993: And made him redi forto ryde.
7.4994: And thus this lecherouse pride
7.4995: To horse lepte and forth he rod;
7.4996: And sche, which in hire bed abod,
7.4997: Whan that sche wiste he was agon,
7.4998: Sche clepede after liht anon
7.4999: And up aros long er the day,
7.5000: And caste awey hire freissh aray,
7.5001: As sche which hath the world forsake,
7.5002: And tok upon the clothes blake:
7.5003: And evere upon continuinge,
7.5004: Riht as men sen a welle springe,
7.5005: With yhen fulle of wofull teres,
7.5006: Hire her hangende aboute hire Eres,
7.5007: Sche wepte, and noman wiste why.
7.5008: Bot yit among full pitously
7.5009: Sche preide that thei nolden drecche
7.5010: Hire housebonde forto fecche
7.5011: Forth with hire fader ek also.
7.5012: Thus be thei comen bothe tuo,
7.5013: And Brutus cam with Collatin,
7.5014: Which to Lucrece was cousin,
7.5015: And in thei wenten alle thre
7.5016: To chambre, wher thei myhten se
7.5017: The wofulleste upon this Molde,
7.5018: Which wepte as sche to water scholde.
7.5019: The chambre Dore anon was stoke,
7.5020: Er thei have oght unto hire spoke;
7.5021: Thei sihe hire clothes al desguised,
7.5022: And hou sche hath hirself despised,
7.5023: Hire her hangende unkemd aboute,
7.5024: Bot natheles sche gan to loute
7.5025: And knele unto hire housebonde;
7.5026: And he, which fain wolde understonde
7.5027: The cause why sche ferde so,
7.5028: With softe wordes axeth tho,
7.5029: "What mai you be, mi goode swete?"
7.5030: And sche, which thoghte hirself unmete
7.5031: And the lest worth of wommen alle,
7.5032: Hire wofull chiere let doun falle


-2.375-



7.5033: For schame and couthe unnethes loke.
7.5034: And thei therof good hiede toke,
7.5035: And preiden hire in alle weie
7.5036: That sche ne spare forto seie
7.5037: Unto hir frendes what hire eileth,
7.5038: Why sche so sore hirself beweileth,
7.5039: And what the sothe wolde mene.
7.5040: And sche, which hath hire sorwes grene,
7.5041: Hire wo to telle thanne assaieth,
7.5042: Bot tendre schame hire word delaieth,
7.5043: That sondri times as sche minte
7.5044: To speke, upon the point sche stinte.
7.5045: And thei hire bidden evere in on
7.5046: To telle forth, and therupon,
7.5047: Whan that sche sih sche moste nede,
7.5048: Hire tale betwen schame and drede
7.5049: Sche tolde, noght withoute peine.
7.5050: And he, which wolde hire wo restreigne,
7.5051: Hire housebonde, a sory man,
7.5052: Conforteth hire al that he can,
7.5053: And swor, and ek hire fader bothe,
7.5054: That thei with hire be noght wrothe
7.5055: Of that is don ayein hire wille;
7.5056: And preiden hire to be stille,
7.5057: For thei to hire have al foryive.
7.5058: Bot sche, which thoghte noght to live,
7.5059: Of hem wol no foryivenesse,
7.5060: And seide, of thilke wickednesse
7.5061: Which was unto hire bodi wroght,
7.5062: Al were it so sche myhte it noght,
7.5063: Nevere afterward the world ne schal
7.5064: Reproeven hire; and forth withal,
7.5065: Er eny man therof be war,
7.5066: A naked swerd, the which sche bar
7.5067: Withinne hire Mantel priveli,
7.5068: Betwen hire hondes sodeinly
7.5069: Sche tok, and thurgh hire herte it throng,
7.5070: And fell to grounde, and evere among,
7.5071: Whan that sche fell, so as sche myhte,


-2.376-



7.5072: Hire clothes with hire hand sche rihte,
7.5073: That noman dounward fro the kne
7.5074: Scholde eny thing of hire se:
7.5075: Thus lay this wif honestely,
7.5076: Althogh sche deide wofully.
7.5077: Tho was no sorwe forto seke:
7.5078: Hire housebonde, hire fader eke
7.5079: Aswoune upon the bodi felle;
7.5080: Ther mai no mannes tunge telle
7.5081: In which anguisshe that thei were.
7.5082: Bot Brutus, which was with hem there,
7.5083: Toward himself his herte kepte,
7.5084: And to Lucrece anon he lepte,
7.5085: The blodi swerd and pulleth oute,
7.5086: And swor the goddes al aboute
7.5087: That he therof schal do vengance.
7.5088: And sche tho made a contienance,
7.5089: Hire dedlich yhe and ate laste
7.5090: In thonkinge as it were up caste,
7.5091: And so behield him in the wise,
7.5092: Whil sche to loke mai suffise.
7.5093: And Brutus with a manlich herte
7.5094: Hire housebonde hath mad up sterte
7.5095: Forth with hire fader ek also
7.5096: In alle haste, and seide hem tho
7.5097: That thei anon withoute lette
7.5098: A Beere for the body fette;
7.5099: Lucrece and therupon bledende
7.5100: He leide, and so forth out criende
7.5101: He goth into the Market place
7.5102: Of Rome: and in a litel space
7.5103: Thurgh cry the cite was assembled,
7.5104: And every mannes herte is trembled,
7.5105: Whan thei the sothe herde of the cas.
7.5106: And therupon the conseil was
7.5107: Take of the grete and of the smale,
7.5108: And Brutus tolde hem al the tale;
7.5109: And thus cam into remembrance


-2.377-



7.5110: Of Senne the continuance,
7.5111: Which Arrons hadde do tofore,
7.5112: And ek, long time er he was bore,
7.5113: Of that his fadre hadde do
7.5114: The wrong cam into place tho;
7.5115: So that the comun clamour tolde
7.5116: The newe schame of Sennes olde.
7.5117: And al the toun began to crie,
7.5118: "Awey, awey the tirannie
7.5119: Of lecherie and covoitise!"
7.5120: And ate laste in such a wise
7.5121: The fader in the same while
7.5122: Forth with his Sone thei exile,
7.5123: And taken betre governance.
7.5124: Bot yit an other remembrance
7.5125: That rihtwisnesse and lecherie
7.5126: Acorden noght in compaignie
7.5127: With him that hath the lawe on honde,
7.5128: That mai a man wel understonde,
7.5129: As be a tale thou shalt wite,
7.5130: Of olde ensample as it is write.
7.5131: At Rome whan that Apius,
7.5132: Whos other name is Claudius,
7.5133: Was governour of the cite,
7.5134: Ther fell a wonder thing to se
7.5135: Touchende a gentil Maide, as thus,
7.5136: Whom Livius Virginius
7.5137: Begeten hadde upon his wif:
7.5138: Men seiden that so fair a lif
7.5139: As sche was noght in al the toun.
7.5140: This fame, which goth up and doun,
7.5141: To Claudius cam in his Ere,
7.5142: Wherof his thoght anon was there,
7.5143: Which al his herte hath set afyre,
7.5144: That he began the flour desire
7.5145: Which longeth unto maydenhede,


-2.378-



7.5146: And sende, if that he myhte spede
7.5147: The blinde lustes of his wille.
7.5148: Bot that thing mai he noght fulfille,
7.5149: For sche stod upon Mariage;
7.5150: A worthi kniht of gret lignage,
7.5151: Ilicius which thanne hihte,
7.5152: Acorded in hire fader sihte
7.5153: Was, that he scholde his douhter wedde.
7.5154: Bot er the cause fully spedde,
7.5155: Hire fader, which in Romanie
7.5156: The ledinge of chivalerie
7.5157: In governance hath undertake,
7.5158: Upon a werre which was take
7.5159: Goth out with al the strengthe he hadde
7.5160: Of men of Armes whiche he ladde:
7.5161: So was the mariage left,
7.5162: And stod upon acord til eft.
7.5163: The king, which herde telle of this,
7.5164: Hou that this Maide ordeigned is
7.5165: To Mariage, thoghte an other.
7.5166: And hadde thilke time a brother,
7.5167: Which Marchus Claudius was hote,
7.5168: And was a man of such riote
7.5169: Riht as the king himselve was:
7.5170: Thei tuo togedre upon this cas
7.5171: In conseil founden out this weie,
7.5172: That Marchus Claudius schal seie
7.5173: Hou sche be weie of covenant
7.5174: To his service appourtenant
7.5175: Was hol, and to non other man;
7.5176: And therupon he seith he can
7.5177: In every point witnesse take,
7.5178: So that sche schal it noght forsake.
7.5179: Whan that thei hadden schape so,
7.5180: After the lawe which was tho,
7.5181: Whil that hir fader was absent,
7.5182: Sche was somouned and assent
7.5183: To come in presence of the king


-2.379-



7.5184: And stonde in ansuere of this thing.
7.5185: Hire frendes wisten alle wel
7.5186: That it was falshed everydel,
7.5187: And comen to the king and seiden,
7.5188: Upon the comun lawe and preiden,
7.5189: So as this noble worthi knyht
7.5190: Hir fader for the comun riht
7.5191: In thilke time, as was befalle,
7.5192: Lai for the profit of hem alle
7.5193: Upon the wylde feldes armed,
7.5194: That he ne scholde noght ben harmed
7.5195: Ne schamed, whil that he were oute;
7.5196: And thus thei preiden al aboute.
7.5197: For al the clamour that he herde,
7.5198: The king upon his lust ansuerde,
7.5199: And yaf hem only daies tuo
7.5200: Of respit; for he wende tho,
7.5201: That in so schorte a time appiere
7.5202: Hire fader mihte in no manere.
7.5203: Bot as therof he was deceived;
7.5204: For Livius hadde al conceived
7.5205: The pourpos of the king tofore,
7.5206: So that to Rome ayein therfore
7.5207: In alle haste he cam ridende,
7.5208: And lefte upon the field liggende
7.5209: His host, til that he come ayein.
7.5210: And thus this worthi capitein
7.5211: Appiereth redi at his day,
7.5212: Wher al that evere reson may
7.5213: Be lawe in audience he doth,
7.5214: So that his dowhter upon soth
7.5215: Of that Marchus hire hadde accused
7.5216: He hath tofore the court excused.
7.5217: The king, which sih his pourpos faile,
7.5218: And that no sleihte mihte availe,
7.5219: Encombred of his lustes blinde
7.5220: The lawe torneth out of kinde,


-2.380-



7.5221: And half in wraththe as thogh it were,
7.5222: In presence of hem alle there
7.5223: Deceived of concupiscence
7.5224: Yaf for his brother the sentence,
7.5225: And bad him that he scholde sese
7.5226: This Maide and make him wel at ese;
7.5227: Bot al withinne his oghne entente
7.5228: He wiste hou that the cause wente,
7.5229: Of that his brother hath the wyte
7.5230: He was himselven forto wyte.
7.5231: Bot thus this maiden hadde wrong,
7.5232: Which was upon the king along,
7.5233: Bot ayein him was non Appel,
7.5234: And that the fader wiste wel:
7.5235: Wherof upon the tirannie,
7.5236: That for the lust of Lecherie
7.5237: His douhter scholde be deceived,
7.5238: And that Ilicius was weyved
7.5239: Untrewly fro the Mariage,
7.5240: Riht as a Leon in his rage,
7.5241: Which of no drede set acompte
7.5242: And not what pite scholde amounte,
7.5243: A naked swerd he pulleth oute,
7.5244: The which amonges al the route
7.5245: He threste thurgh his dowhter side,
7.5246: And al alowd this word he cride:
7.5247: "Lo, take hire ther, thou wrongfull king,
7.5248: For me is levere upon this thing
7.5249: To be the fader of a Maide,
7.5250: Thogh sche be ded, that if men saide
7.5251: That in hir lif sche were schamed
7.5252: And I therof were evele named."
7.5253: Tho bad the king men scholde areste
7.5254: His bodi, bot of thilke heste,
7.5255: Lich to the chaced wylde bor,
7.5256: The houndes whan he fieleth sor,
7.5257: Tothroweth and goth forth his weie,
7.5258: In such a wise forto seie


-2.381-



7.5259: This worthi kniht with swerd on honde
7.5260: His weie made, and thei him wonde,
7.5261: That non of hem his strokes kepte;
7.5262: And thus upon his hors he lepte,
7.5263: And with his swerd droppende of blod,
7.5264: The which withinne his douhter stod,
7.5265: He cam ther as the pouer was
7.5266: Of Rome, and tolde hem al the cas,
7.5267: And seide hem that thei myhten liere
7.5268: Upon the wrong of his matiere,
7.5269: That betre it were to redresce
7.5270: At hom the grete unrihtwisnesse,
7.5271: Than forto werre in strange place
7.5272: And lese at hom here oghne grace.
7.5273: For thus stant every mannes lif
7.5274: In jeupartie for his wif
7.5275: Or for his dowhter, if thei be
7.5276: Passende an other of beaute.
7.5277: Of this merveile which thei sihe
7.5278: So apparant tofore here yhe,
7.5279: Of that the king him hath misbore,
7.5280: Here othes thei have alle swore
7.5281: That thei wol stonde be the riht.
7.5282: And thus of on acord upriht
7.5283: To Rome at ones hom ayein
7.5284: Thei torne, and schortly forto sein,
7.5285: This tirannye cam to mouthe,
7.5286: And every man seith what he couthe,
7.5287: So that the prive tricherie,
7.5288: Which set was upon lecherie,
7.5289: Cam openly to mannes Ere;
7.5290: And that broghte in the comun feere,
7.5291: That every man the peril dradde
7.5292: Of him that so hem overladde.
7.5293: Forthi, er that it worse falle,
7.5294: Thurgh comun conseil of hem alle


-2.382-



7.5295: Thei have here wrongfull king deposed,
7.5296: And hem in whom it was supposed
7.5297: The conseil stod of his ledinge
7.5298: Be lawe unto the dom thei bringe,
7.5299: Wher thei receiven the penance
7.5300: That longeth to such governance.
7.5301: And thus thunchaste was chastised,
7.5302: Wherof thei myhte ben avised
7.5303: That scholden afterward governe,
7.5304: And be this evidence lerne,
7.5305: Hou it is good a king eschuie
7.5306: The lust of vice and vertu suie.
7.5307: To make an ende in this partie,
7.5308: Which toucheth to the Policie
7.5309: Of Chastite in special,
7.5310: As for conclusion final
7.5311: That every lust is to eschue
7.5312: Be gret ensample I mai argue:
7.5313: Hou in Rages a toun of Mede
7.5314: Ther was a Mayde, and as I rede,
7.5315: Sarra sche hihte, and Raguel
7.5316: Hir fader was; and so befell,
7.5317: Of bodi bothe and of visage
7.5318: Was non so fair of the lignage,
7.5319: To seche among hem alle, as sche;
7.5320: Wherof the riche of the cite,
7.5321: Of lusti folk that couden love,
7.5322: Assoted were upon hire love,
7.5323: And asken hire forto wedde.
7.5324: On was which ate laste spedde,
7.5325: Bot that was more for likinge,
7.5326: To have his lust, than for weddinge,
7.5327: As he withinne his herte caste,
7.5328: Which him repenteth ate laste.
7.5329: For so it fell the ferste nyht,
7.5330: That whanne he was to bedde dyht,
7.5331: As he which nothing god besecheth
7.5332: Bot al only hise lustes secheth,


-2.383-



7.5333: Abedde er he was fully warm
7.5334: And wolde have take hire in his Arm,
7.5335: Asmod, which was a fend of helle,
7.5336: And serveth, as the bokes telle,
7.5337: To tempte a man of such a wise,
7.5338: Was redy there, and thilke emprise,
7.5339: Which he hath set upon delit,
7.5340: He vengeth thanne in such a plit,
7.5341: That he his necke hathe writhe atuo.
7.5342: This yonge wif was sory tho,
7.5343: Which wiste nothing what it mente;
7.5344: And natheles yit thus it wente
7.5345: Noght only of this ferste man,
7.5346: Bot after, riht as he began,
7.5347: Sexe othre of hire housebondes
7.5348: Asmod hath take into hise bondes,
7.5349: So that thei alle abedde deiden,
7.5350: Whan thei her hand toward hir leiden,
7.5351: Noght for the lawe of Mariage,
7.5352: Bot for that ilke fyri rage
7.5353: In which that thei the lawe excede:
7.5354: For who that wolde taken hiede
7.5355: What after fell in this matiere,
7.5356: Ther mihte he wel the sothe hiere.
7.5357: Whan sche was wedded to Thobie,
7.5358: And Raphael in compainie
7.5359: Hath tawht him hou to ben honeste,
7.5360: Asmod wan noght at thilke feste,
7.5361: And yit Thobie his wille hadde;
7.5362: For he his lust so goodly ladde,
7.5363: That bothe lawe and kinde is served,
7.5364: Wherof he hath himself preserved,
7.5365: That he fell noght in the sentence.
7.5366: O which an open evidence
7.5367: Of this ensample a man mai se,
7.5368: That whan likinge in the degre


-2.384-



7.5369: Of Mariage mai forsueie,
7.5370: Wel oghte him thanne in other weie
7.5371: Of lust to be the betre avised.
7.5372: For god the lawes hath assissed
7.5373: Als wel to reson as to kinde,
7.5374: Bot he the bestes wolde binde
7.5375: Only to lawes of nature,
7.5376: Bot to the mannes creature
7.5377: God yaf him reson forth withal,
7.5378: Wherof that he nature schal
7.5379: Upon the causes modefie,
7.5380: That he schal do no lecherie,
7.5381: And yit he schal hise lustes have.
7.5382: So ben the lawes bothe save
7.5383: And every thing put out of sclandre;
7.5384: As whilom to king Alisandre
7.5385: The wise Philosophre tawhte,
7.5386: Whan he his ferste lore cawhte,
7.5387: Noght only upon chastete,
7.5388: Bot upon alle honestete;
7.5389: Wherof a king himself mai taste,
7.5390: Hou trewe, hou large, hou joust, hou chaste
7.5391: Him oghte of reson forto be,
7.5392: Forth with the vertu of Pite,
7.5393: Thurgh which he mai gret thonk deserve
7.5394: Toward his godd, that he preserve
7.5395: Him and his poeple in alle welthe
7.5396: Of pes, richesse, honour and helthe
7.5397: Hier in this world and elles eke.
7.5398: Mi Sone, as we tofore spieke
7.5399: In schrifte, so as thou me seidest,
7.5400: And for thin ese, as thou me preidest,
7.5401: Thi love throghes forto lisse,
7.5402: That I thee wolde telle and wisse
7.5403: The forme of Aristotles lore,
7.5404: I have it seid, and somdiel more
7.5405: Of othre ensamples, to assaie
7.5406: If I thi peines myhte allaie


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7.5407: Thurgh eny thing that I can seie.
7.5408: Do wey, mi fader, I you preie:
7.5409: Of that ye have unto me told
7.5410: I thonke you a thousendfold.
7.5411: The tales sounen in myn Ere,
7.5412: Bot yit min herte is elleswhere,
7.5413: I mai miselve noght restreigne,
7.5414: That I nam evere in loves peine:
7.5415: Such lore couthe I nevere gete,
7.5416: Which myhte make me foryete
7.5417: O point, bot if so were I slepte,
7.5418: That I my tydes ay ne kepte
7.5419: To thenke of love and of his lawe;
7.5420: That herte can I noght withdrawe.
7.5421: Forthi, my goode fader diere,
7.5422: Lef al and speke of my matiere
7.5423: Touchende of love, as we begonne:
7.5424: If that ther be oght overronne
7.5425: Or oght foryete or left behinde
7.5426: Which falleth unto loves kinde,
7.5427: Wherof it nedeth to be schrive,
7.5428: Nou axeth, so that whil I live
7.5429: I myhte amende that is mys.
7.5430: Mi goode diere Sone, yis.
7.5431: Thi schrifte forto make plein,
7.5432: Ther is yit more forto sein
7.5433: Of love which is unavised.
7.5434: Bot for thou schalt be wel avised
7.5435: Unto thi schrifte as it belongeth,
7.5436: A point which upon love hongeth
7.5437: And is the laste of alle tho,
7.5438: I wol thee telle, and thanne ho.


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