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


8.1: The myhti god, which unbegunne
8.2: Stant of himself and hath begunne
8.3: Alle othre thinges at his wille,
8.4: The hevene him liste to fulfille
8.5: Of alle joie, where as he
8.6: Sit inthronized in his See,
8.7: And hath hise Angles him to serve,
8.8: Suche as him liketh to preserve,
8.9: So that thei mowe noght forsueie:
8.10: Bot Lucifer he putte aweie,
8.11: With al the route apostazied
8.12: Of hem that ben to him allied,
8.13: Whiche out of hevene into the helle
8.14: From Angles into fendes felle;
8.15: Wher that ther is no joie of lyht,
8.16: Bot more derk than eny nyht
8.17: The peine schal ben endeles;
8.18: And yit of fyres natheles
8.19: Ther is plente, bot thei ben blake,
8.20: Wherof no syhte mai be take.
8.21: Thus whan the thinges ben befalle,
8.22: That Luciferes court was falle
8.23: Wher dedly Pride hem hath conveied,
8.24: Anon forthwith it was pourveied
8.25: Thurgh him which alle thinges may;


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8.26: He made Adam the sexte day
8.27: In Paradis, and to his make
8.28: Him liketh Eve also to make,
8.29: And bad hem cresce and multiplie.
8.30: For of the mannes Progenie,
8.31: Which of the womman schal be bore,
8.32: The nombre of Angles which was lore,
8.33: Whan thei out fro the blisse felle,
8.34: He thoghte to restore, and felle
8.35: In hevene thilke holy place
8.36: Which stod tho voide upon his grace.
8.37: Bot as it is wel wiste and knowe,
8.38: Adam and Eve bot a throwe,
8.39: So as it scholde of hem betyde,
8.40: In Paradis at thilke tyde
8.41: Ne duelten, and the cause why,
8.42: Write in the bok of Genesi,
8.43: As who seith, alle men have herd,
8.44: Hou Raphael the fyri swerd
8.45: In honde tok and drof hem oute,
8.46: To gete here lyves fode aboute
8.47: Upon this wofull Erthe hiere.
8.48: Metodre seith to this matiere,
8.49: As he be revelacion
8.50: It hadde upon avision,
8.51: Hou that Adam and Eve also
8.52: Virgines comen bothe tuo
8.53: Into the world and were aschamed,
8.54: Til that nature hem hath reclamed
8.55: To love, and tauht hem thilke lore,
8.56: That ferst thei keste, and overmore
8.57: Thei don that is to kinde due,
8.58: Wherof thei hadden fair issue.
8.59: A Sone was the ferste of alle,
8.60: And Chain be name thei him calle;
8.61: Abel was after the secounde,
8.62: And in the geste as it is founde,
8.63: Nature so the cause ladde,


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8.64: Tuo douhtres ek Dame Eve hadde,
8.65: The ferste cleped Calmana
8.66: Was, and that other Delbora.
8.67: Thus was mankinde to beginne;
8.68: Forthi that time it was no Sinne
8.69: The Soster forto take hire brother,
8.70: Whan that ther was of chois non other:
8.71: To Chain was Calmana betake,
8.72: And Delboram hath Abel take,
8.73: In whom was gete natheles
8.74: Of worldes folk the ferste encres.
8.75: Men sein that nede hath no lawe,
8.76: And so it was be thilke dawe
8.77: And laste into the Secounde Age,
8.78: Til that the grete water rage,
8.79: Of Noeµ which was seid the flod,
8.80: The world, which thanne in Senne stod,
8.81: Hath dreint, outake lyves Eyhte.
8.82: Tho was mankinde of litel weyhte;
8.83: Sem, Cham, Japhet, of these thre,
8.84: That ben the Sones of Noeµ,
8.85: The world of mannes nacion
8.86: Into multiplicacion
8.87: Was tho restored newe ayein
8.88: So ferforth, as the bokes sein,
8.89: That of hem thre and here issue
8.90: Ther was so large a retenue,
8.91: Of naciouns seventy and tuo;
8.92: In sondri place ech on of tho
8.93: The wyde world have enhabited.
8.94: Bot as nature hem hath excited,
8.95: Thei token thanne litel hiede,
8.96: The brother of the Sosterhiede
8.97: To wedde wyves, til it cam
8.98: Into the time of Habraham.
8.99: Whan the thridde Age was begunne,
8.100: The nede tho was overrunne,


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8.101: For ther was poeple ynouh in londe:
8.102: Thanne ate ferste it cam to honde,
8.103: That Sosterhode of mariage
8.104: Was torned into cousinage,
8.105: So that after the rihte lyne
8.106: The Cousin weddeth the cousine.
8.107: For Habraham, er that he deide,
8.108: This charge upon his servant leide,
8.109: To him and in this wise spak,
8.110: That he his Sone Isaaµc
8.111: Do wedde for no worldes good,
8.112: Bot only to his oghne blod:
8.113: Wherof this Servant, as he bad,
8.114: Whan he was ded, his Sone hath lad
8.115: To Bathuel, wher he Rebecke
8.116: Hath wedded with the whyte necke;
8.117: For sche, he wiste wel and syh,
8.118: Was to the child cousine nyh.
8.119: And thus as Habraham hath tawht,
8.120: Whan Isaaµc was god betawht,
8.121: His Sone Jacob dede also,
8.122: And of Laban the dowhtres tuo,
8.123: Which was his Em, he tok to wyve,
8.124: And gat upon hem in his lyve,
8.125: Of hire ferst which hihte Lie,
8.126: Sex Sones of his Progenie,
8.127: And of Rachel tuo Sones eke:
8.128: The remenant was forto seke,
8.129: That is to sein of foure mo,
8.130: Wherof he gat on Bala tuo,
8.131: And of Zelpha he hadde ek tweie.
8.132: And these tuelve, as I thee seie,
8.133: Thurgh providence of god himselve
8.134: Ben seid the Patriarkes tuelve;
8.135: Of whom, as afterward befell,
8.136: The tribes tuelve of Irahel
8.137: Engendred were, and ben the same
8.138: That of Hebreus tho hadden name,
8.139: Which of Sibrede in alliance


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8.140: For evere kepten thilke usance
8.141: Most comunly, til Crist was bore.
8.142: Bot afterward it was forbore
8.143: Amonges ous that ben baptized;
8.144: For of the lawe canonized
8.145: The Pope hath bede to the men,
8.146: That non schal wedden of his ken
8.147: Ne the seconde ne the thridde.
8.148: Bot thogh that holy cherche it bidde,
8.149: So to restreigne Mariage,
8.150: Ther ben yit upon loves Rage
8.151: Full manye of suche nou aday
8.152: That taken wher thei take may.
8.153: For love, which is unbesein
8.154: Of alle reson, as men sein,
8.155: Thurgh sotie and thurgh nycete,
8.156: Of his voluptuosite
8.157: He spareth no condicion
8.158: Of ken ne yit religion,
8.159: Bot as a cock among the Hennes,
8.160: Or as a Stalon in the Fennes,
8.161: Which goth amonges al the Stod,
8.162: Riht so can he nomore good,
8.163: Bot takth what thing comth next to honde.
8.164: Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde,
8.165: That such delit is forto blame.
8.166: Forthi if thou hast be the same
8.167: To love in eny such manere,
8.168: Tell forth therof and schrif thee hiere.
8.169: Mi fader, nay, god wot the sothe,
8.170: Mi feire is noght of such a bothe,
8.171: So wylde a man yit was I nevere,
8.172: That of mi ken or lief or levere
8.173: Me liste love in such a wise:
8.174: And ek I not for what emprise
8.175: I scholde assote upon a Nonne,
8.176: For thogh I hadde hir love wonne,
8.177: It myhte into no pris amonte,


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8.178: So therof sette I non acompte.
8.179: Ye mai wel axe of this and that,
8.180: Bot sothli forto telle plat,
8.181: In al this world ther is bot on
8.182: The which myn herte hath overgon;
8.183: I am toward alle othre fre.
8.184: Full wel, mi Sone, nou I see
8.185: Thi word stant evere upon o place,
8.186: Bot yit therof thou hast a grace,
8.187: That thou thee myht so wel excuse
8.188: Of love such as som men use,
8.189: So as I spak of now tofore.
8.190: For al such time of love is lore,
8.191: And lich unto the bitterswete;
8.192: For thogh it thenke a man ferst swete,
8.193: He schal wel fielen ate laste
8.194: That it is sour and may noght laste.
8.195: For as a morsell envenimed,
8.196: So hath such love his lust mistimed,
8.197: And grete ensamples manyon
8.198: A man mai finde therupon.
8.199: At Rome ferst if we beginne,
8.200: Ther schal I finde hou of this sinne
8.201: An Emperour was forto blame,
8.202: Gayus Caligula be name,
8.203: Which of his oghne Sostres thre
8.204: Berefte the virginite:
8.205: And whanne he hadde hem so forlein,
8.206: As he the which was al vilein,
8.207: He dede hem out of londe exile.
8.208: Bot afterward withinne a while
8.209: God hath beraft him in his ire
8.210: His lif and ek his large empire:
8.211: And thus for likinge of a throwe
8.212: For evere his lust was overthrowe.
8.213: Of this sotie also I finde,


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8.214: Amon his Soster ayein kinde,
8.215: Which hihte Thamar, he forlay;
8.216: Bot he that lust an other day
8.217: Aboghte, whan that Absolon
8.218: His oghne brother therupon,
8.219: Of that he hadde his Soster schent,
8.220: Tok of that Senne vengement
8.221: And slowh him with his oghne hond:
8.222: And thus thunkinde unkinde fond.
8.223: And forto se more of this thing,
8.224: The bible makth a knowleching,
8.225: Wherof thou miht take evidence
8.226: Upon the sothe experience.
8.227: Whan Lothes wif was overgon
8.228: And schape into the salte Ston,
8.229: As it is spoke into this day,
8.230: Be bothe hise dowhtres thanne he lay,
8.231: With childe and made hem bothe grete,
8.232: Til that nature hem wolde lete,
8.233: And so the cause aboute ladde
8.234: That ech of hem a Sone hadde,
8.235: Moab the ferste, and the seconde
8.236: Amon, of whiche, as it is founde,
8.237: Cam afterward to gret encres
8.238: Tuo nacions: and natheles,
8.239: For that the stockes were ungoode,
8.240: The branches mihten noght be goode;
8.241: For of the false Moabites
8.242: Forth with the strengthe of Amonites,
8.243: Of that thei weren ferst misgete,
8.244: The poeple of god was ofte upsete
8.245: In Irahel and in Judee,
8.246: As in the bible a man mai se.
8.247: Lo thus, my Sone, as I thee seie,
8.248: Thou miht thiselve be beseie
8.249: Of that thou hast of othre herd:


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8.250: For evere yit it hath so ferd,
8.251: Of loves lust if so befalle
8.252: That it in other place falle
8.253: Than it is of the lawe set,
8.254: He which his love hath so beset
8.255: Mote afterward repente him sore.
8.256: And every man is othres lore;
8.257: Of that befell in time er this
8.258: The present time which now is
8.259: May ben enformed hou it stod,
8.260: And take that him thenketh good,
8.261: And leve that which is noght so.
8.262: Bot forto loke of time go,
8.263: Hou lust of love excedeth lawe,
8.264: It oghte forto be withdrawe;
8.265: For every man it scholde drede,
8.266: And nameliche in his Sibrede,
8.267: Which torneth ofte to vengance:
8.268: Wherof a tale in remembrance,
8.269: Which is a long process to hiere,
8.270: I thenke forto tellen hiere.
8.271: Of a Cronique in daies gon,
8.272: The which is cleped Pantheon,
8.273: In loves cause I rede thus,
8.274: Hou that the grete Antiochus,
8.275: Of whom that Antioche tok
8.276: His ferste name, as seith the bok,
8.277: Was coupled to a noble queene,
8.278: And hadde a dowhter hem betwene:
8.279: Bot such fortune cam to honde,
8.280: That deth, which no king mai withstonde,
8.281: Bot every lif it mote obeie,
8.282: This worthi queene tok aweie.


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8.283: The king, which made mochel mone,
8.284: Tho stod, as who seith, al him one
8.285: Withoute wif, bot natheles
8.286: His doghter, which was piereles
8.287: Of beaute, duelte aboute him stille.
8.288: Bot whanne a man hath welthe at wille,
8.289: The fleissh is frele and falleth ofte,
8.290: And that this maide tendre and softe,
8.291: Which in hire fadres chambres duelte,
8.292: Withinne a time wiste and felte:
8.293: For likinge and concupiscence
8.294: Withoute insihte of conscience
8.295: The fader so with lustes blente,
8.296: That he caste al his hole entente
8.297: His oghne doghter forto spille.
8.298: This king hath leisir at his wille
8.299: With strengthe, and whanne he time sih,
8.300: This yonge maiden he forlih:
8.301: And sche was tendre and full of drede,
8.302: Sche couthe noght hir Maidenhede
8.303: Defende, and thus sche hath forlore
8.304: The flour which she hath longe bore.
8.305: It helpeth noght althogh sche wepe,
8.306: For thei that scholde hir bodi kepe
8.307: Of wommen were absent as thanne;
8.308: And thus this maiden goth to manne,
8.309: The wylde fader thus devoureth
8.310: His oghne fleissh, which non socoureth,
8.311: And that was cause of mochel care.
8.312: Bot after this unkinde fare
8.313: Out of the chambre goth the king,
8.314: And sche lay stille, and of this thing,
8.315: Withinne hirself such sorghe made,
8.316: Ther was no wiht that mihte hir glade,
8.317: For feere of thilke horrible vice.
8.318: With that cam inne the Norrice
8.319: Which fro childhode hire hadde kept,


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8.320: And axeth if sche hadde slept,
8.321: And why hire chiere was unglad.
8.322: Bot sche, which hath ben overlad
8.323: Of that sche myhte noght be wreke,
8.324: For schame couthe unethes speke;
8.325: And natheles mercy sche preide
8.326: With wepende yhe and thus sche seide:
8.327: "Helas, mi Soster, waileway,
8.328: That evere I sih this ilke day!
8.329: Thing which mi bodi ferst begat
8.330: Into this world, onliche that
8.331: Mi worldes worschipe hath bereft."
8.332: With that sche swouneth now and eft,
8.333: And evere wissheth after deth,
8.334: So that welnyh hire lacketh breth.
8.335: That other, which hire wordes herde,
8.336: In confortinge of hire ansuerde,
8.337: To lette hire fadres fol desir
8.338: Sche wiste no recoverir:
8.339: Whan thing is do, ther is no bote,
8.340: So suffren thei that suffre mote;
8.341: Ther was non other which it wiste.
8.342: Thus hath this king al that him liste
8.343: Of his likinge and his plesance,
8.344: And laste in such continuance,
8.345: And such delit he tok therinne,
8.346: Him thoghte that it was no Sinne;
8.347: And sche dorste him nothing withseie.
8.348: Bot fame, which goth every weie,
8.349: To sondry regnes al aboute
8.350: The grete beaute telleth oute
8.351: Of such a maide of hih parage:
8.352: So that for love of mariage
8.353: The worthi Princes come and sende,
8.354: As thei the whiche al honour wende,
8.355: And knewe nothing hou it stod.
8.356: The fader, whanne he understod,
8.357: That thei his dowhter thus besoghte,


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8.358: With al his wit he caste and thoghte
8.359: Hou that he myhte finde a lette;
8.360: And such a Statut thanne he sette,
8.361: And in this wise his lawe he taxeth,
8.362: That what man that his doghter axeth,
8.363: Bot if he couthe his question
8.364: Assoile upon suggestion
8.365: Of certein thinges that befelle,
8.366: The whiche he wolde unto him telle,
8.367: He scholde in certein lese his hed.
8.368: And thus ther weren manye ded,
8.369: Here hevedes stondende on the gate,
8.370: Till ate laste longe and late,
8.371: For lacke of ansuere in the wise,
8.372: The remenant that weren wise
8.373: Eschuieden to make assay.
8.374: Til it befell upon a day
8.375: Appolinus the Prince of Tyr,
8.376: Which hath to love a gret desir,
8.377: As he which in his hihe mod
8.378: Was likende of his hote blod,
8.379: A yong, a freissh, a lusti knyht,
8.380: As he lai musende on a nyht
8.381: Of the tidinges whiche he herde,
8.382: He thoghte assaie hou that it ferde.
8.383: He was with worthi compainie
8.384: Arraied, and with good navie
8.385: To schipe he goth, the wynd him dryveth,
8.386: And seileth, til that he arryveth:
8.387: Sauf in the port of Antioche
8.388: He londeth, and goth to aproche
8.389: The kinges Court and his presence.
8.390: Of every naturel science,
8.391: Which eny clerk him couthe teche,
8.392: He couthe ynowh, and in his speche
8.393: Of wordes he was eloquent;
8.394: And whanne he sih the king present,
8.395: He preith he moste his dowhter have.


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8.396: The king ayein began to crave,
8.397: And tolde him the condicion,
8.398: Hou ferst unto his question
8.399: He mote ansuere and faile noght,
8.400: Or with his heved it schal be boght:
8.401: And he him axeth what it was.
8.402: The king declareth him the cas
8.403: With sturne lok and sturdi chiere,
8.404: To him and seide in this manere:
8.405: "With felonie I am upbore,
8.406: I ete and have it noght forbore
8.407: Mi modres fleissh, whos housebonde
8.408: Mi fader forto seche I fonde,
8.409: Which is the Sone ek of my wif.
8.410: Hierof I am inquisitif;
8.411: And who that can mi tale save,
8.412: Al quyt he schal my doghter have;
8.413: Of his ansuere and if he faile,
8.414: He schal be ded withoute faile.
8.415: Forthi my Sone," quod the king,
8.416: "Be wel avised of this thing,
8.417: Which hath thi lif in jeupartie."
8.418: Appolinus for his partie,
8.419: Whan he this question hath herd,
8.420: Unto the king he hath ansuerd
8.421: And hath rehersed on and on
8.422: The pointz, and seide therupon:
8.423: "The question which thou hast spoke,
8.424: If thou wolt that it be unloke,
8.425: It toucheth al the privete
8.426: Betwen thin oghne child and thee,
8.427: And stant al hol upon you tuo."
8.428: The king was wonder sory tho,
8.429: And thoghte, if that he seide it oute,
8.430: Than were he schamed al aboute.
8.431: With slihe wordes and with felle
8.432: He seith, "Mi Sone, I schal thee telle,


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8.433: Though that thou be of litel wit,
8.434: It is no gret merveile as yit,
8.435: Thin age mai it noght suffise:
8.436: Bot loke wel thou noght despise
8.437: Thin oghne lif, for of my grace
8.438: Of thretty daies fulle a space
8.439: I grante thee, to ben avised."
8.440: And thus with leve and time assised
8.441: This yonge Prince forth he wente,
8.442: And understod wel what it mente,
8.443: Withinne his herte as he was lered,
8.444: That forto maken him afered
8.445: The king his time hath so deslaied.
8.446: Wherof he dradde and was esmaied,
8.447: Of treson that he deie scholde,
8.448: For he the king his sothe tolde;
8.449: And sodeinly the nyhtes tyde,
8.450: That more wolde he noght abide,
8.451: Al prively his barge he hente
8.452: And hom ayein to Tyr he wente:
8.453: And in his oghne wit he seide
8.454: For drede, if he the king bewreide,
8.455: He knew so wel the kinges herte,
8.456: That deth ne scholde he noght asterte,
8.457: The king him wolde so poursuie.
8.458: Bot he, that wolde his deth eschuie,
8.459: And knew al this tofor the hond,
8.460: Forsake he thoghte his oghne lond,
8.461: That there wolde he noght abyde;
8.462: For wel he knew that on som syde
8.463: This tirant of his felonie
8.464: Be som manere of tricherie
8.465: To grieve his bodi wol noght leve.
8.466: Forthi withoute take leve,
8.467: Als priveliche as evere he myhte,
8.468: He goth him to the See be nyhte
8.469: In Schipes that be whete laden:


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8.470: Here takel redy tho thei maden
8.471: And hale up Seil and forth thei fare.
8.472: Bot forto tellen of the care
8.473: That thei of Tyr begonne tho,
8.474: Whan that thei wiste he was ago,
8.475: It is a Pite forto hiere.
8.476: They losten lust, they losten chiere,
8.477: Thei toke upon hem such penaunce,
8.478: Ther was no song, ther was no daunce,
8.479: Bot every merthe and melodie
8.480: To hem was thanne a maladie;
8.481: For unlust of that aventure
8.482: Ther was noman which tok tonsure,
8.483: In doelful clothes thei hem clothe,
8.484: The bathes and the Stwes bothe
8.485: Thei schetten in be every weie;
8.486: There was no lif which leste pleie
8.487: Ne take of eny joie kepe,
8.488: Bot for here liege lord to wepe;
8.489: And every wyht seide as he couthe,
8.490: "Helas, the lusti flour of youthe,
8.491: Our Prince, oure heved, our governour,
8.492: Thurgh whom we stoden in honour,
8.493: Withoute the comun assent
8.494: Thus sodeinliche is fro ous went!"
8.495: Such was the clamour of hem alle.
8.496: Bot se we now what is befalle
8.497: Upon the ferste tale plein,
8.498: And torne we therto ayein.
8.499: Antiochus the grete Sire,
8.500: Which full of rancour and of ire
8.501: His herte berth, so as ye herde,
8.502: Of that this Prince of Tyr ansuerde,
8.503: He hadde a feloun bacheler,
8.504: Which was his prive consailer,
8.505: And Taliart be name he hihte:


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8.506: The king a strong puison him dihte
8.507: Withinne a buiste and gold therto,
8.508: In alle haste and bad him go
8.509: Strawht unto Tyr, and for no cost
8.510: Ne spare he, til he hadde lost
8.511: The Prince which he wolde spille.
8.512: And whan the king hath seid his wille,
8.513: This Taliart in a Galeie
8.514: With alle haste he tok his weie:
8.515: The wynd was good, he saileth blyve,
8.516: Til he tok lond upon the ryve
8.517: Of Tyr, and forth with al anon
8.518: Into the Burgh he gan to gon,
8.519: And tok his In and bod a throwe.
8.520: Bot for he wolde noght be knowe,
8.521: Desguised thanne he goth him oute;
8.522: He sih the wepinge al aboute,
8.523: And axeth what the cause was,
8.524: And thei him tolden al the cas,
8.525: How sodeinli the Prince is go.
8.526: And whan he sih that it was so,
8.527: And that his labour was in vein,
8.528: Anon he torneth hom ayein,
8.529: And to the king, whan he cam nyh,
8.530: He tolde of that he herde and syh,
8.531: Hou that the Prince of Tyr is fled,
8.532: So was he come ayein unsped.
8.533: The king was sori for a while,
8.534: Bot whan he sih that with no wyle
8.535: He myhte achieve his crualte,
8.536: He stinte his wraththe and let him be.
8.537: Bot over this now forto telle
8.538: Of aventures that befelle
8.539: Unto this Prince of whom I tolde,
8.540: He hath his rihte cours forth holde
8.541: Be Ston and nedle, til he cam
8.542: To Tharse, and there his lond he nam.
8.543: A Burgeis riche of gold and fee


-2.401-



8.544: Was thilke time in that cite,
8.545: Which cleped was Strangulio,
8.546: His wif was Dionise also:
8.547: This yonge Prince, as seith the bok,
8.548: With hem his herbergage tok;
8.549: And it befell that Cite so
8.550: Before time and thanne also,
8.551: Thurgh strong famyne which hem ladde
8.552: Was non that eny whete hadde.
8.553: Appolinus, whan that he herde
8.554: The meschief, hou the cite ferde,
8.555: Al freliche of his oghne yifte
8.556: His whete, among hem forto schifte,
8.557: The which be Schipe he hadde broght,
8.558: He yaf, and tok of hem riht noght.
8.559: Bot sithen ferst this world began,
8.560: Was nevere yit to such a man
8.561: Mor joie mad than thei him made:
8.562: For thei were alle of him so glade,
8.563: That thei for evere in remembrance
8.564: Made a figure in resemblance
8.565: Of him, and in the comun place
8.566: Thei sette him up, so that his face
8.567: Mihte every maner man beholde,
8.568: So as the cite was beholde;
8.569: It was of latoun overgilt:
8.570: Thus hath he noght his yifte spilt.
8.571: Upon a time with his route
8.572: This lord to pleie goth him oute,
8.573: And in his weie of Tyr he mette
8.574: A man, the which on knees him grette,
8.575: And Hellican be name he hihte,
8.576: Which preide his lord to have insihte
8.577: Upon himself, and seide him thus,
8.578: Hou that the grete Antiochus


-2.402-



8.579: Awaiteth if he mihte him spille.
8.580: That other thoghte and hield him stille,
8.581: And thonked him of his warnynge,
8.582: And bad him telle no tidinge,
8.583: Whan he to Tyr cam hom ayein,
8.584: That he in Tharse him hadde sein.
8.585: Fortune hath evere be muable
8.586: And mai no while stonde stable:
8.587: For now it hiheth, now it loweth,
8.588: Now stant upriht, now overthroweth,
8.589: Now full of blisse and now of bale,
8.590: As in the tellinge of mi tale
8.591: Hierafterward a man mai liere,
8.592: Which is gret routhe forto hiere.
8.593: This lord, which wolde don his beste,
8.594: Withinne himself hath litel reste,
8.595: And thoghte he wolde his place change
8.596: And seche a contre more strange.
8.597: Of Tharsiens his leve anon
8.598: He tok, and is to Schipe gon:
8.599: His cours he nam with Seil updrawe,
8.600: Where as fortune doth the lawe,
8.601: And scheweth, as I schal reherse,
8.602: How sche was to this lord diverse,
8.603: The which upon the See sche ferketh.
8.604: The wynd aros, the weder derketh,
8.605: It blew and made such tempeste,
8.606: Non ancher mai the schip areste,
8.607: Which hath tobroken al his gere;
8.608: The Schipmen stode in such a feere,
8.609: Was non that myhte himself bestere,
8.610: Bot evere awaite upon the lere,
8.611: Whan that thei scholde drenche at ones.
8.612: Ther was ynowh withinne wones
8.613: Of wepinge and of sorghe tho;
8.614: This yonge king makth mochel wo
8.615: So forto se the Schip travaile:
8.616: Bot al that myhte him noght availe;


-2.403-



8.617: The mast tobrak, the Seil torof,
8.618: The Schip upon the wawes drof,
8.619: Til that thei sihe a londes cooste.
8.620: Tho made avou the leste and moste,
8.621: Be so thei myhten come alonde;
8.622: Bot he which hath the See on honde,
8.623: Neptunus, wolde noght acorde,
8.624: Bot altobroke cable and corde,
8.625: Er thei to londe myhte aproche,
8.626: The Schip toclef upon a roche,
8.627: And al goth doun into the depe.
8.628: Bot he that alle thing mai kepe
8.629: Unto this lord was merciable,
8.630: And broghte him sauf upon a table,
8.631: Which to the lond him hath upbore;
8.632: The remenant was al forlore,
8.633: Wherof he made mochel mone.
8.634: Thus was this yonge lord him one,
8.635: Al naked in a povere plit:
8.636: His colour, which whilom was whyt,
8.637: Was thanne of water fade and pale,
8.638: And ek he was so sore acale
8.639: That he wiste of himself no bote,
8.640: It halp him nothing forto mote
8.641: To gete ayein that he hath lore.
8.642: Bot sche which hath his deth forbore,
8.643: Fortune, thogh sche wol noght yelpe,
8.644: Al sodeinly hath sent him helpe,
8.645: Whanne him thoghte alle grace aweie;
8.646: Ther cam a Fisshere in the weie,
8.647: And sih a man ther naked stonde,
8.648: And whan that he hath understonde
8.649: The cause, he hath of him gret routhe,
8.650: And onliche of his povere trouthe
8.651: Of suche clothes as he hadde
8.652: With gret Pite this lord he cladde.


-2.404-



8.653: And he him thonketh as he scholde,
8.654: And seith him that it schal be yolde,
8.655: If evere he gete his stat ayein,
8.656: And preide that he wolde him sein
8.657: If nyh were eny toun for him.
8.658: He seide, "Yee, Pentapolim,
8.659: Wher bothe king and queene duellen."
8.660: Whanne he this tale herde tellen,
8.661: He gladeth him and gan beseche
8.662: That he the weie him wolde teche:
8.663: And he him taghte; and forth he wente
8.664: And preide god with good entente
8.665: To sende him joie after his sorwe.
8.666: It was noght passed yit Midmorwe,
8.667: Whan thiderward his weie he nam,
8.668: Wher sone upon the Non he cam.
8.669: He eet such as he myhte gete,
8.670: And forth anon, whan he hadde ete,
8.671: He goth to se the toun aboute,
8.672: And cam ther as he fond a route
8.673: Of yonge lusti men withalle;
8.674: And as it scholde tho befalle,
8.675: That day was set of such assisse,
8.676: That thei scholde in the londes guise,
8.677: As he herde of the poeple seie,
8.678: Here comun game thanne pleie;
8.679: And crid was that thei scholden come
8.680: Unto the gamen alle and some
8.681: Of hem that ben delivere and wyhte,
8.682: To do such maistrie as thei myhte.
8.683: Thei made hem naked as thei scholde,
8.684: For so that ilke game wolde,
8.685: As it was tho custume and us,
8.686: Amonges hem was no refus:
8.687: The flour of al the toun was there
8.688: And of the court also ther were,
8.689: And that was in a large place


-2.405-



8.690: Riht evene afore the kinges face,
8.691: Which Artestrathes thanne hihte.
8.692: The pley was pleid riht in his sihte,
8.693: And who most worthi was of dede
8.694: Receive he scholde a certein mede
8.695: And in the cite bere a pris.
8.696: Appolinus, which war and wys
8.697: Of every game couthe an ende,
8.698: He thoghte assaie, hou so it wende,
8.699: And fell among hem into game:
8.700: And there he wan him such a name,
8.701: So as the king himself acompteth
8.702: That he alle othre men surmonteth,
8.703: And bar the pris above hem alle.
8.704: The king bad that into his halle
8.705: At Souper time he schal be broght;
8.706: And he cam thanne and lefte it noght,
8.707: Withoute compaignie al one:
8.708: Was non so semlich of persone,
8.709: Of visage and of limes bothe,
8.710: If that he hadde what to clothe.
8.711: At Soupertime natheles
8.712: The king amiddes al the pres
8.713: Let clepe him up among hem alle,
8.714: And bad his Mareschall of halle
8.715: To setten him in such degre
8.716: That he upon him myhte se.
8.717: The king was sone set and served,
8.718: And he, which hath his pris deserved
8.719: After the kinges oghne word,
8.720: Was mad beginne a Middel bord,
8.721: That bothe king and queene him sihe.
8.722: He sat and caste aboute his yhe
8.723: And sih the lordes in astat,
8.724: And with himself wax in debat
8.725: Thenkende what he hadde lore,


-2.406-



8.726: And such a sorwe he tok therfore,
8.727: That he sat evere stille and thoghte,
8.728: As he which of no mete roghte.
8.729: The king behield his hevynesse,
8.730: And of his grete gentillesse
8.731: His doghter, which was fair and good
8.732: And ate bord before him stod,
8.733: As it was thilke time usage,
8.734: He bad to gon on his message
8.735: And fonde forto make him glad.
8.736: And sche dede as hire fader bad,
8.737: And goth to him the softe pas
8.738: And axeth whenne and what he was,
8.739: And preith he scholde his thoghtes leve.
8.740: He seith, "Ma Dame, be your leve
8.741: Mi name is hote Appolinus,
8.742: And of mi richesse it is thus,
8.743: Upon the See I have it lore.
8.744: The contre wher as I was bore,
8.745: Wher that my lond is and mi rente,
8.746: I lefte at Tyr, whan that I wente:
8.747: The worschipe of this worldes aghte,
8.748: Unto the god ther I betaghte."
8.749: And thus togedre as thei tuo speeke,
8.750: The teres runne be his cheeke.
8.751: The king, which therof tok good kepe,
8.752: Hath gret Pite to sen him wepe,
8.753: And for his doghter sende ayein,
8.754: And preide hir faire and gan to sein
8.755: That sche no lengere wolde drecche,
8.756: Bot that sche wolde anon forth fecche
8.757: Hire harpe and don al that sche can
8.758: To glade with that sory man.
8.759: And sche to don hir fader heste
8.760: Hir harpe fette, and in the feste
8.761: Upon a Chaier which thei fette
8.762: Hirself next to this man sche sette:


-2.407-



8.763: With harpe bothe and ek with mouthe
8.764: To him sche dede al that sche couthe
8.765: To make him chiere, and evere he siketh,
8.766: And sche him axeth hou him liketh.
8.767: "Ma dame, certes wel," he seide,
8.768: "Bot if ye the mesure pleide
8.769: Which, if you list, I schal you liere,
8.770: It were a glad thing forto hiere."
8.771: "Ha, lieve sire," tho quod sche,
8.772: "Now tak the harpe and let me se
8.773: Of what mesure that ye mene."
8.774: Tho preith the king, tho preith the queene,
8.775: Forth with the lordes alle arewe,
8.776: That he som merthe wolde schewe;
8.777: He takth the Harpe and in his wise
8.778: He tempreth, and of such assise
8.779: Singende he harpeth forth withal,
8.780: That as a vois celestial
8.781: Hem thoghte it souneth in here Ere,
8.782: As thogh that he an Angel were.
8.783: Thei gladen of his melodie,
8.784: Bot most of alle the compainie
8.785: The kinges doghter, which it herde,
8.786: And thoghte ek hou that he ansuerde,
8.787: Whan that he was of hire opposed,
8.788: Withinne hir herte hath wel supposed
8.789: That he is of gret gentilesse.
8.790: Hise dedes ben therof witnesse
8.791: Forth with the wisdom of his lore;
8.792: It nedeth noght to seche more,
8.793: He myhte noght have such manere,
8.794: Of gentil blod bot if he were.
8.795: Whanne he hath harped al his fille,
8.796: The kinges heste to fulfille,
8.797: Awey goth dissh, awey goth cuppe,
8.798: Doun goth the bord, the cloth was uppe,
8.799: Thei risen and gon out of halle.


-2.408-



8.800: The king his chamberlein let calle,
8.801: And bad that he be alle weie
8.802: A chambre for this man pourveie,
8.803: Which nyh his oghne chambre be.
8.804: "It schal be do, mi lord," quod he.
8.805: Appolinus of whom I mene
8.806: Tho tok his leve of king and queene
8.807: And of the worthi Maide also,
8.808: Which preide unto hir fader tho,
8.809: That sche myhte of that yonge man
8.810: Of tho sciences whiche he can
8.811: His lore have; and in this wise
8.812: The king hir granteth his aprise,
8.813: So that himself therto assente.
8.814: Thus was acorded er thei wente,
8.815: That he with al that evere he may
8.816: This yonge faire freisshe May
8.817: Of that he couthe scholde enforme;
8.818: And full assented in this forme
8.819: Thei token leve as for that nyht.
8.820: And whanne it was amorwe lyht,
8.821: Unto this yonge man of Tyr
8.822: Of clothes and of good atir
8.823: With gold and Selver to despende
8.824: This worthi yonge lady sende:
8.825: And thus sche made him wel at ese,
8.826: And he with al that he can plese
8.827: Hire serveth wel and faire ayein.
8.828: He tawhte hir til sche was certein
8.829: Of Harpe, of Citole and of Rote,
8.830: With many a tun and many a note
8.831: Upon Musique, upon mesure,
8.832: And of hire Harpe the temprure
8.833: He tawhte hire ek, as he wel couthe.
8.834: Bot as men sein that frele is youthe,
8.835: With leisir and continuance
8.836: This Mayde fell upon a chance,


-2.409-



8.837: That love hath mad him a querele
8.838: Ayein hire youthe freissh and frele,
8.839: That malgre wher sche wole or noght,
8.840: Sche mot with al hire hertes thoght
8.841: To love and to his lawe obeie;
8.842: And that sche schal ful sore abeie.
8.843: For sche wot nevere what it is,
8.844: Bot evere among sche fieleth this:
8.845: Thenkende upon this man of Tyr,
8.846: Hire herte is hot as eny fyr,
8.847: And otherwhile it is acale;
8.848: Now is sche red, nou is sche pale
8.849: Riht after the condicion
8.850: Of hire ymaginacion;
8.851: Bot evere among hire thoghtes alle,
8.852: Sche thoghte, what so mai befalle,
8.853: Or that sche lawhe, or that sche wepe,
8.854: Sche wolde hire goode name kepe
8.855: For feere of wommanysshe schame.
8.856: Bot what in ernest and in game,
8.857: Sche stant for love in such a plit,
8.858: That sche hath lost al appetit
8.859: Of mete, of drinke, of nyhtes reste,
8.860: As sche that not what is the beste;
8.861: Bot forto thenken al hir fille
8.862: Sche hield hire ofte times stille
8.863: Withinne hir chambre, and goth noght oute:
8.864: The king was of hire lif in doute,
8.865: Which wiste nothing what it mente.
8.866: Bot fell a time, as he out wente
8.867: To walke, of Princes Sones thre
8.868: Ther come and felle to his kne;
8.869: And ech of hem in sondri wise
8.870: Besoghte and profreth his servise,
8.871: So that he myhte his doghter have.
8.872: The king, which wolde his honour save,


-2.410-



8.873: Seith sche is siek, and of that speche
8.874: Tho was no time to beseche;
8.875: Bot ech of hem do make a bille
8.876: He bad, and wryte his oghne wille,
8.877: His name, his fader and his good;
8.878: And whan sche wiste hou that it stod,
8.879: And hadde here billes oversein,
8.880: Thei scholden have ansuere ayein.
8.881: Of this conseil thei weren glad,
8.882: And writen as the king hem bad,
8.883: And every man his oghne bok
8.884: Into the kinges hond betok,
8.885: And he it to his dowhter sende,
8.886: And preide hir forto make an ende
8.887: And wryte ayein hire oghne hond,
8.888: Riht as sche in hire herte fond.
8.889: The billes weren wel received,
8.890: Bot sche hath alle here loves weyved,
8.891: And thoghte tho was time and space
8.892: To put hire in hir fader grace,
8.893: And wrot ayein and thus sche saide:
8.894: "The schame which is in a Maide
8.895: With speche dar noght ben unloke,
8.896: Bot in writinge it mai be spoke;
8.897: So wryte I to you, fader, thus:
8.898: Bot if I have Appolinus,
8.899: Of al this world, what so betyde,
8.900: I wol non other man abide.
8.901: And certes if I of him faile,
8.902: I wot riht wel withoute faile
8.903: Ye schull for me be dowhterles."
8.904: This lettre cam, and ther was press
8.905: Tofore the king, ther as he stod;
8.906: And whan that he it understod,
8.907: He yaf hem ansuer by and by,
8.908: Bot that was do so prively,
8.909: That non of othres conseil wiste.
8.910: Thei toke her leve, and wher hem liste
8.911: Thei wente forth upon here weie.


-2.411-



8.912: The king ne wolde noght bewreie
8.913: The conseil for no maner hihe,
8.914: Bot soffreth til he time sihe:
8.915: And whan that he to chambre is come,
8.916: He hath unto his conseil nome
8.917: This man of Tyr, and let him se
8.918: The lettre and al the privete,
8.919: The which his dowhter to him sente:
8.920: And he his kne to grounde bente
8.921: And thonketh him and hire also,
8.922: And er thei wenten thanne atuo,
8.923: With good herte and with good corage
8.924: Of full Love and full mariage
8.925: The king and he ben hol acorded.
8.926: And after, whanne it was recorded
8.927: Unto the dowhter hou it stod,
8.928: The yifte of al this worldes good
8.929: Ne scholde have mad hir half so blythe:
8.930: And forth withal the king als swithe,
8.931: For he wol have hire good assent,
8.932: Hath for the queene hir moder sent.
8.933: The queene is come, and whan sche herde
8.934: Of this matiere hou that it ferde,
8.935: Sche syh debat, sche syh desese,
8.936: Bot if sche wolde hir dowhter plese,
8.937: And is therto assented full.
8.938: Which is a dede wonderfull,
8.939: For noman knew the sothe cas
8.940: Bot he himself, what man he was;
8.941: And natheles, so as hem thoghte,
8.942: Hise dedes to the sothe wroghte
8.943: That he was come of gentil blod:
8.944: Him lacketh noght bot worldes good,
8.945: And as therof is no despeir,
8.946: For sche schal ben hire fader heir,
8.947: And he was able to governe.
8.948: Thus wol thei noght the love werne
8.949: Of him and hire in none wise,


-2.412-



8.950: Bot ther acorded thei divise
8.951: The day and time of Mariage.
8.952: Wher love is lord of the corage,
8.953: Him thenketh longe er that he spede;
8.954: Bot ate laste unto the dede
8.955: The time is come, and in her wise
8.956: With gret offrende and sacrifise
8.957: Thei wedde and make a riche feste,
8.958: And every thing which was honeste
8.959: Withinnen house and ek withoute
8.960: It was so don, that al aboute
8.961: Of gret worschipe, of gret noblesse
8.962: Ther cride many a man largesse
8.963: Unto the lordes hihe and loude;
8.964: The knyhtes that ben yonge and proude,
8.965: Thei jouste ferst and after daunce.
8.966: The day is go, the nyhtes chaunce
8.967: Hath derked al the bryhte Sonne;
8.968: This lord, which hath his love wonne,
8.969: Is go to bedde with his wif,
8.970: Wher as thei ladde a lusti lif,
8.971: And that was after somdel sene,
8.972: For as thei pleiden hem betwene,
8.973: Thei gete a child betwen hem tuo,
8.974: To whom fell after mochel wo.
8.975: Now have I told of the spousailes.
8.976: Bot forto speke of the mervailes
8.977: Whiche afterward to hem befelle,
8.978: It is a wonder forto telle.
8.979: It fell adai thei riden oute,
8.980: The king and queene and al the route,
8.981: To pleien hem upon the stronde,
8.982: Wher as thei sen toward the londe
8.983: A Schip sailende of gret array.
8.984: To knowe what it mene may,


-2.413-



8.985: Til it be come thei abide;
8.986: Than sen thei stonde on every side,
8.987: Endlong the schipes bord to schewe,
8.988: Of Penonceals a riche rewe.
8.989: Thei axen when the ship is come:
8.990: Fro Tyr, anon ansuerde some,
8.991: And over this thei seiden more
8.992: The cause why thei comen fore
8.993: Was forto seche and forto finde
8.994: Appolinus, which was of kinde
8.995: Her liege lord: and he appiereth,
8.996: And of the tale which he hiereth
8.997: He was riht glad; for thei him tolde,
8.998: That for vengance, as god it wolde,
8.999: Antiochus, as men mai wite,
8.1000: With thondre and lyhthnynge is forsmite;
8.1001: His doghter hath the same chaunce,
8.1002: So be thei bothe in o balance.
8.1003: "Forthi, oure liege lord, we seie
8.1004: In name of al the lond, and preie,
8.1005: That left al other thing to done,
8.1006: It like you to come sone
8.1007: And se youre oghne liege men
8.1008: With othre that ben of youre ken,
8.1009: That live in longinge and desir
8.1010: Til ye be come ayein to Tyr."
8.1011: This tale after the king it hadde
8.1012: Pentapolim al overspradde,
8.1013: Ther was no joie forto seche;
8.1014: For every man it hadde in speche
8.1015: And seiden alle of on acord,
8.1016: "A worthi king schal ben oure lord:
8.1017: That thoghte ous ferst an hevinesse
8.1018: Is schape ous now to gret gladnesse."
8.1019: Thus goth the tidinge overal.
8.1020: Bot nede he mot, that nede schal:
8.1021: Appolinus his leve tok,
8.1022: To god and al the lond betok


-2.414-



8.1023: With al the poeple long and brod,
8.1024: That he no lenger there abod.
8.1025: The king and queene sorwe made,
8.1026: Bot yit somdiel thei weren glade
8.1027: Of such thing as thei herden tho:
8.1028: And thus betwen the wel and wo
8.1029: To schip he goth, his wif with childe,
8.1030: The which was evere meke and mylde
8.1031: And wolde noght departe him fro,
8.1032: Such love was betwen hem tuo.
8.1033: Lichorida for hire office
8.1034: Was take, which was a Norrice,
8.1035: To wende with this yonge wif,
8.1036: To whom was schape a woful lif.
8.1037: Withinne a time, as it betidde,
8.1038: Whan thei were in the See amidde,
8.1039: Out of the North they sihe a cloude;
8.1040: The storm aros, the wyndes loude
8.1041: Thei blewen many a dredful blast,
8.1042: The welkne was al overcast,
8.1043: The derke nyht the Sonne hath under,
8.1044: Ther was a gret tempeste of thunder:
8.1045: The Mone and ek the Sterres bothe
8.1046: In blake cloudes thei hem clothe,
8.1047: Wherof here brihte lok thei hyde.
8.1048: This yonge ladi wepte and cride,
8.1049: To whom no confort myhte availe;
8.1050: Of childe sche began travaile,
8.1051: Wher sche lay in a Caban clos:
8.1052: Hire woful lord fro hire aros,
8.1053: And that was longe er eny morwe,
8.1054: So that in anguisse and in sorwe
8.1055: Sche was delivered al be nyhte
8.1056: And ded in every mannes syhte;
8.1057: Bot natheles for al this wo
8.1058: A maide child was bore tho.
8.1059: Appolinus whan he this knew,
8.1060: For sorwe a swoune he overthrew,


-2.415-



8.1061: That noman wiste in him no lif.
8.1062: And whanne he wok, he seide, "Ha, wif,
8.1063: Mi lust, mi joie, my desir,
8.1064: Mi welthe and my recoverir,
8.1065: Why schal I live, and thou schalt dye?
8.1066: Ha, thou fortune, I thee deffie,
8.1067: Nou hast thou do to me thi werste.
8.1068: Ha, herte, why ne wolt thou berste,
8.1069: That forth with hire I myhte passe?
8.1070: Mi peines weren wel the lasse."
8.1071: In such wepinge and in such cry
8.1072: His dede wif, which lay him by,
8.1073: A thousend sithes he hire kiste;
8.1074: Was nevere man that sih ne wiste
8.1075: A sorwe unto his sorwe lich;
8.1076: For evere among upon the lich
8.1077: He fell swounende, as he that soghte
8.1078: His oghne deth, which he besoghte
8.1079: Unto the goddes alle above
8.1080: With many a pitous word of love;
8.1081: Bot suche wordes as tho were
8.1082: Yit herde nevere mannes Ere,
8.1083: Bot only thilke whiche he seide.
8.1084: The Maister Schipman cam and preide
8.1085: With othre suche as be therinne,
8.1086: And sein that he mai nothing winne
8.1087: Ayein the deth, bot thei him rede,
8.1088: He be wel war and tak hiede,
8.1089: The See be weie of his nature
8.1090: Receive mai no creature
8.1091: Withinne himself as forto holde,
8.1092: The which is ded: forthi thei wolde,
8.1093: As thei conseilen al aboute,
8.1094: The dede body casten oute.
8.1095: For betre it is, thei seiden alle,
8.1096: That it of hire so befalle,
8.1097: Than if thei scholden alle spille.


-2.416-



8.1098: The king, which understod here wille
8.1099: And knew here conseil that was trewe,
8.1100: Began ayein his sorwe newe
8.1101: With pitous herte, and thus to seie:
8.1102: "It is al reson that ye preie.
8.1103: I am," quod he, "bot on al one,
8.1104: So wolde I noght for mi persone
8.1105: Ther felle such adversite.
8.1106: Bot whan it mai no betre be,
8.1107: Doth thanne thus upon my word,
8.1108: Let make a cofre strong of bord,
8.1109: That it be ferm with led and pich."
8.1110: Anon was mad a cofre sich,
8.1111: Al redy broght unto his hond;
8.1112: And whanne he sih and redy fond
8.1113: This cofre mad and wel enclowed,
8.1114: The dede bodi was besowed
8.1115: In cloth of gold and leid therinne.
8.1116: And for he wolde unto hire winne
8.1117: Upon som cooste a Sepulture,
8.1118: Under hire heved in aventure
8.1119: Of gold he leide Sommes grete
8.1120: And of jeueals a strong beyete
8.1121: Forth with a lettre, and seide thus:
8.1122: "I, king of Tyr Appollinus,
8.1123: Do alle maner men to wite,
8.1124: That hiere and se this lettre write,
8.1125: That helpeles withoute red
8.1126: Hier lith a kinges doghter ded:
8.1127: And who that happeth hir to finde,
8.1128: For charite tak in his mynde,
8.1129: And do so that sche be begrave
8.1130: With this tresor, which he schal have."
8.1131: Thus whan the lettre was full spoke,
8.1132: Thei haue anon the cofre stoke,


-2.417-



8.1133: And bounden it with yren faste,
8.1134: That it may with the wawes laste,
8.1135: And stoppen it be such a weie,
8.1136: That it schal be withinne dreie,
8.1137: So that no water myhte it grieve.
8.1138: And thus in hope and good believe
8.1139: Of that the corps schal wel aryve,
8.1140: Thei caste it over bord als blyve.
8.1141: The Schip forth on the wawes wente;
8.1142: The prince hath changed his entente,
8.1143: And seith he wol noght come at Tyr
8.1144: As thanne, bot al his desir
8.1145: Is ferst to seilen unto Tharse.
8.1146: The wyndy Storm began to skarse,
8.1147: The Sonne arist, the weder cliereth,
8.1148: The Schipman which behinde stiereth,
8.1149: Whan that he sih the wyndes saghte,
8.1150: Towardes Tharse his cours he straghte.
8.1151: Bot now to mi matiere ayein,
8.1152: To telle as olde bokes sein,
8.1153: This dede corps of which ye knowe
8.1154: With wynd and water was forthrowe
8.1155: Now hier, now ther, til ate laste
8.1156: At Ephesim the See upcaste
8.1157: The cofre and al that was therinne.
8.1158: Of gret merveile now beginne
8.1159: Mai hiere who that sitteth stille;
8.1160: That god wol save mai noght spille.
8.1161: Riht as the corps was throwe alonde,
8.1162: Ther cam walkende upon the stronde
8.1163: A worthi clerc, a Surgien,
8.1164: And ek a gret Phisicien,
8.1165: Of al that lond the wisest on,
8.1166: Which hihte Maister Cerymon;
8.1167: Ther were of his disciples some.
8.1168: This Maister to the Cofre is come,
8.1169: He peiseth ther was somwhat in,
8.1170: And bad hem bere it to his In,


-2.418-



8.1171: And goth himselve forth withal.
8.1172: Al that schal falle, falle schal;
8.1173: Thei comen hom and tarie noght;
8.1174: This Cofre is into chambre broght,
8.1175: Which that thei finde faste stoke,
8.1176: Bot thei with craft it have unloke.
8.1177: Thei loken in, where as thei founde
8.1178: A bodi ded, which was bewounde
8.1179: In cloth of gold, as I seide er,
8.1180: The tresor ek thei founden ther
8.1181: Forth with the lettre, which thei rede.
8.1182: And tho thei token betre hiede;
8.1183: Unsowed was the bodi sone,
8.1184: And he, which knew what is to done,
8.1185: This noble clerk, with alle haste
8.1186: Began the veines forto taste,
8.1187: And sih hire Age was of youthe,
8.1188: And with the craftes whiche he couthe
8.1189: He soghte and fond a signe of lif.
8.1190: With that this worthi kinges wif
8.1191: Honestely thei token oute,
8.1192: And maden fyres al aboute;
8.1193: Thei leide hire on a couche softe,
8.1194: And with a scheete warmed ofte
8.1195: Hire colde brest began to hete,
8.1196: Hire herte also to flacke and bete.
8.1197: This Maister hath hire every joignt
8.1198: With certein oile and balsme enoignt,
8.1199: And putte a liquour in hire mouth,
8.1200: Which is to fewe clerkes couth,
8.1201: So that sche coevereth ate laste;
8.1202: And ferst hire yhen up sche caste,
8.1203: And whan sche more of strengthe cawhte,
8.1204: Hire Armes bothe forth sche strawhte,
8.1205: Hield up hire hond and pitously
8.1206: Sche spak and seide, "Ha, wher am I?
8.1207: Where is my lord, what world is this?"


-2.419-



8.1208: As sche that wot noght hou it is.
8.1209: Bot Cerymon the worthi leche
8.1210: Ansuerde anon upon hire speche
8.1211: And seith, "Ma dame, yee ben hiere,
8.1212: Where yee be sauf, as yee schal hiere
8.1213: Hierafterward; forthi as nou
8.1214: Mi conseil is, conforteth you:
8.1215: For trusteth wel withoute faile,
8.1216: Ther is nothing which schal you faile,
8.1217: That oghte of reson to be do."
8.1218: Thus passen thei a day or tuo;
8.1219: Thei speke of noght as for an ende,
8.1220: Til sche began somdiel amende,
8.1221: And wiste hireselven what sche mente.
8.1222: Tho forto knowe hire hol entente,
8.1223: This Maister axeth al the cas,
8.1224: Hou sche cam there and what sche was.
8.1225: "Hou I cam hiere wot I noght,"
8.1226: Quod sche, "bot wel I am bethoght
8.1227: Of othre thinges al aboute":
8.1228: Fro point to point and tolde him oute
8.1229: Als ferforthli as sche it wiste.
8.1230: And he hire tolde hou in a kiste
8.1231: The See hire threw upon the lond,
8.1232: And what tresor with hire he fond,
8.1233: Which was al redy at hire wille,
8.1234: As he that schop him to fulfille
8.1235: With al his myht what thing he scholde.
8.1236: Sche thonketh him that he so wolde,
8.1237: And al hire herte sche discloseth,
8.1238: And seith him wel that sche supposeth
8.1239: Hire lord be dreint, hir child also;
8.1240: So sih sche noght bot alle wo.
8.1241: Wherof as to the world nomore
8.1242: Ne wol sche torne, and preith therfore
8.1243: That in som temple of the Cite,
8.1244: To kepe and holde hir chastete,
8.1245: Sche mihte among the wommen duelle.


-2.420-



8.1246: Whan he this tale hir herde telle,
8.1247: He was riht glad, and made hire knowen
8.1248: That he a dowhter of his owen
8.1249: Hath, which he wol unto hir yive
8.1250: To serve, whil thei bothe live,
8.1251: In stede of that which sche hath lost;
8.1252: Al only at his oghne cost
8.1253: Sche schal be rendred forth with hire.
8.1254: She seith, "Grant mercy, lieve sire,
8.1255: God quite it you, ther I ne may."
8.1256: And thus thei drive forth the day,
8.1257: Til time com that sche was hol;
8.1258: And tho thei take her conseil hol,
8.1259: To schape upon good ordinance
8.1260: And make a worthi pourveance
8.1261: Ayein the day whan thei be veiled.
8.1262: And thus, whan that thei be conseiled,
8.1263: In blake clothes thei hem clothe,
8.1264: This lady and the dowhter bothe,
8.1265: And yolde hem to religion.
8.1266: The feste and the profession
8.1267: After the reule of that degre
8.1268: Was mad with gret solempnete,
8.1269: Where as Diane is seintefied;
8.1270: Thus stant this lady justefied
8.1271: In ordre wher sche thenkth to duelle.
8.1272: Bot now ayeinward forto telle
8.1273: In what plit that hire lord stod inne:
8.1274: He seileth, til that he may winne
8.1275: The havene of Tharse, as I seide er;
8.1276: And whanne he was aryved ther,
8.1277: And it was thurgh the Cite knowe,
8.1278: Men myhte se withinne a throwe,
8.1279: As who seith, al the toun at ones,
8.1280: That come ayein him for the nones,
8.1281: To yiven him the reverence,
8.1282: So glad thei were of his presence:


-2.421-



8.1283: And thogh he were in his corage
8.1284: Desesed, yit with glad visage
8.1285: He made hem chiere, and to his In,
8.1286: Wher he whilom sojourned in,
8.1287: He goth him straght and was resceived.
8.1288: And whan the presse of poeple is weived,
8.1289: He takth his hoste unto him tho,
8.1290: And seith, "Mi frend Strangulio,
8.1291: Lo, thus and thus it is befalle,
8.1292: And thou thiself art on of alle,
8.1293: Forth with thi wif, whiche I most triste.
8.1294: Forthi, if it you bothe liste,
8.1295: My doghter Thaise be youre leve
8.1296: I thenke schal with you beleve
8.1297: As for a time; and thus I preie,
8.1298: That sche be kept be alle weie,
8.1299: And whan sche hath of age more,
8.1300: That sche be set to bokes lore.
8.1301: And this avou to god I make,
8.1302: That I schal nevere for hir sake
8.1303: Mi berd for no likinge schave,
8.1304: Til it befalle that I have
8.1305: In covenable time of age
8.1306: Beset hire unto mariage."
8.1307: Thus thei acorde, and al is wel,
8.1308: And forto resten him somdel,
8.1309: As for a while he ther sojorneth,
8.1310: And thanne he takth his leve and torneth
8.1311: To Schipe, and goth him hom to Tyr,
8.1312: Wher every man with gret desir
8.1313: Awaiteth upon his comynge.
8.1314: Bot whan the Schip com in seilinge,
8.1315: And thei perceiven it is he,
8.1316: Was nevere yit in no cite
8.1317: Such joie mad as thei tho made;
8.1318: His herte also began to glade
8.1319: Of that he sih the poeple glad.
8.1320: Lo, thus fortune his hap hath lad;


-2.422-



8.1321: In sondri wise he was travailed,
8.1322: Bot hou so evere he be assailed,
8.1323: His latere ende schal be good.
8.1324: And forto speke hou that it stod
8.1325: Of Thaise his doghter, wher sche duelleth,
8.1326: In Tharse, as the Cronique telleth,
8.1327: Sche was wel kept, sche was wel loked,
8.1328: Sche was wel tawht, sche was wel boked,
8.1329: So wel sche spedde hir in hire youthe
8.1330: That sche of every wisdom couthe,
8.1331: That forto seche in every lond
8.1332: So wys an other noman fond,
8.1333: Ne so wel tawht at mannes yhe.
8.1334: Bot wo worthe evere fals envie!
8.1335: For it befell that time so,
8.1336: A dowhter hath Strangulio,
8.1337: The which was cleped Philotenne:
8.1338: Bot fame, which wole evere renne,
8.1339: Cam al day to hir moder Ere,
8.1340: And seith, wher evere hir doghter were
8.1341: With Thayse set in eny place,
8.1342: The comun vois, the comun grace
8.1343: Was al upon that other Maide,
8.1344: And of hir doghter noman saide.
8.1345: Who wroth but Dionise thanne?
8.1346: Hire thoghte a thousend yer til whanne
8.1347: Sche myhte ben of Thaise wreke
8.1348: Of that sche herde folk so speke.
8.1349: And fell that ilke same tyde,
8.1350: That ded was trewe Lychoride,
8.1351: Which hadde be servant to Thaise,
8.1352: So that sche was the worse at aise,
8.1353: For sche hath thanne no servise
8.1354: Bot only thurgh this Dionise,
8.1355: Which was hire dedlich Anemie
8.1356: Thurgh pure treson and envie.
8.1357: Sche, that of alle sorwe can,
8.1358: Tho spak unto hire bondeman,
8.1359: Which cleped was Theophilus,


-2.423-



8.1360: And made him swere in conseil thus,
8.1361: That he such time as sche him sette
8.1362: Schal come Thaise forto fette,
8.1363: And lede hire oute of alle sihte,
8.1364: Wher as noman hire helpe myhte,
8.1365: Upon the Stronde nyh the See,
8.1366: And there he schal this maiden sle.
8.1367: This cherles herte is in a traunce,
8.1368: As he which drad him of vengance
8.1369: Whan time comth an other day;
8.1370: Bot yit dorste he noght seie nay,
8.1371: Bot swor and seide he schal fulfille
8.1372: Hire hestes at hire oghne wille.
8.1373: The treson and the time is schape,
8.1374: So fell it that this cherles knape
8.1375: Hath lad this maiden ther he wolde
8.1376: Upon the Stronde, and what sche scholde
8.1377: Sche was adrad; and he out breide
8.1378: A rusti swerd and to hir seide,
8.1379: "Thou schalt be ded." "Helas!" quod sche,
8.1380: "Why schal I so?" "Lo thus," quod he,
8.1381: "Mi ladi Dionise hath bede,
8.1382: Thou schalt be moerdred in this stede."
8.1383: This Maiden tho for feere schryhte,
8.1384: And for the love of god almyhte
8.1385: Sche preith that for a litel stounde
8.1386: Sche myhte knele upon the grounde,
8.1387: Toward the hevene forto crave,
8.1388: Hire wofull Soule if sche mai save:
8.1389: And with this noise and with this cry,
8.1390: Out of a barge faste by,
8.1391: Which hidd was ther on Scomerfare,
8.1392: Men sterten out and weren ware
8.1393: Of this feloun,and he to go,
8.1394: And sche began to crie tho,


-2.424-



8.1395: "Ha, mercy, help for goddes sake!
8.1396: Into the barge thei hire take,
8.1397: As thieves scholde, and forth thei wente.
8.1398: Upon the See the wynd hem hente,
8.1399: And malgre wher thei wolde or non,
8.1400: Tofor the weder forth thei gon,
8.1401: Ther halp no Seil, ther halp non Ore,
8.1402: Forstormed and forblowen sore
8.1403: In gret peril so forth thei dryve,
8.1404: Til ate laste thei aryve
8.1405: At Mitelene the Cite.
8.1406: In havene sauf and whan thei be,
8.1407: The Maister Schipman made him boun,
8.1408: And goth him out into the toun,
8.1409: And profreth Thaise forto selle.
8.1410: On Leonin it herde telle,
8.1411: Which Maister of the bordel was,
8.1412: And bad him gon a redy pas
8.1413: To fetten hire, and forth he wente,
8.1414: And Thaise out of his barge he hente,
8.1415: And to this bordeller hir solde.
8.1416: And he, that be hire body wolde
8.1417: Take avantage, let do crye,
8.1418: That what man wolde his lecherie
8.1419: Attempte upon hire maidenhede,
8.1420: Lei doun the gold and he schal spede.
8.1421: And thus whan he hath crid it oute
8.1422: In syhte of al the poeple aboute,
8.1423: He ladde hire to the bordel tho.
8.1424: No wonder is thogh sche be wo:
8.1425: Clos in a chambre be hireselve,
8.1426: Ech after other ten or tuelve
8.1427: Of yonge men to hire in wente;
8.1428: Bot such a grace god hire sente,
8.1429: That for the sorwe which sche made
8.1430: Was non of hem which pouer hade


-2.425-



8.1431: To don hire eny vileinie.
8.1432: This Leonin let evere aspie,
8.1433: And waiteth after gret beyete;
8.1434: Bot al for noght, sche was forlete,
8.1435: That mo men wolde ther noght come.
8.1436: Whan he therof hath hiede nome,
8.1437: And knew that sche was yit a maide,
8.1438: Unto his oghne man he saide,
8.1439: That he with strengthe ayein hire leve
8.1440: Tho scholde hir maidenhod bereve.
8.1441: This man goth in, bot so it ferde,
8.1442: Whan he hire wofull pleintes herde
8.1443: And he therof hath take kepe,
8.1444: Him liste betre forto wepe
8.1445: Than don oght elles to the game.
8.1446: And thus sche kepte hirself fro schame,
8.1447: And kneleth doun to therthe and preide
8.1448: Unto this man, and thus sche seide:
8.1449: "If so be that thi maister wolde
8.1450: That I his gold encresce scholde,
8.1451: It mai noght falle be this weie:
8.1452: Bot soffre me to go mi weie
8.1453: Out of this hous wher I am inne,
8.1454: And I schal make him forto winne
8.1455: In som place elles of the toun,
8.1456: Be so it be religioun,
8.1457: Wher that honeste wommen duelle.
8.1458: And thus thou myht thi maister telle,
8.1459: That whanne I have a chambre there,
8.1460: Let him do crie ay wyde where,
8.1461: What lord that hath his doghter diere,
8.1462: And is in will that sche schal liere
8.1463: Of such a Scole that is trewe,
8.1464: I schal hire teche of thinges newe,
8.1465: Which as non other womman can
8.1466: In al this lond." And tho this man


-2.426-



8.1467: Hire tale hath herd, he goth ayein,
8.1468: And tolde unto his maister plein
8.1469: That sche hath seid; and therupon,
8.1470: Whan than he sih beyete non
8.1471: At the bordel be cause of hire,
8.1472: He bad his man to gon and spire
8.1473: A place wher sche myhte abyde,
8.1474: That he mai winne upon som side
8.1475: Be that sche can: bot ate leste
8.1476: Thus was sche sauf fro this tempeste.
8.1477: He hath hire fro the bordel take,
8.1478: Bot that was noght for goddes sake,
8.1479: Bot for the lucre, as sche him tolde.
8.1480: Now comen tho that comen wolde
8.1481: Of wommen in her lusty youthe,
8.1482: To hiere and se what thing sche couthe:
8.1483: Sche can the wisdom of a clerk,
8.1484: Sche can of every lusti werk
8.1485: Which to a gentil womman longeth,
8.1486: And some of hem sche underfongeth
8.1487: To the Citole and to the Harpe,
8.1488: And whom it liketh forto carpe
8.1489: Proverbes and demandes slyhe,
8.1490: An other such thei nevere syhe,
8.1491: Which that science so wel tawhte:
8.1492: Wherof sche grete yiftes cawhte,
8.1493: That sche to Leonin hath wonne;
8.1494: And thus hire name is so begonne
8.1495: Of sondri thinges that sche techeth,
8.1496: That al the lond unto hir secheth
8.1497: Of yonge wommen forto liere.
8.1498: Nou lete we this maiden hiere,
8.1499: And speke of Dionise ayein
8.1500: And of Theophile the vilein,
8.1501: Of whiche I spak of nou tofore.
8.1502: Whan Thaise scholde have be forlore,
8.1503: This false cherl to his lady
8.1504: Whan he cam hom, al prively


-2.427-



8.1505: He seith, "Ma Dame, slain I have
8.1506: This maide Thaise, and is begrave
8.1507: In prive place, as ye me biede.
8.1508: Forthi, ma dame, taketh hiede
8.1509: And kep conseil, hou so it stonde."
8.1510: This fend, which this hath understonde,
8.1511: Was glad, and weneth it be soth:
8.1512: Now herkne, hierafter hou sche doth.
8.1513: Sche wepth, sche sorweth, sche compleigneth,
8.1514: And of sieknesse which sche feigneth
8.1515: Sche seith that Taise sodeinly
8.1516: Be nyhte is ded, "as sche and I
8.1517: Togedre lyhen nyh my lord."
8.1518: Sche was a womman of record,
8.1519: And al is lieved that sche seith;
8.1520: And forto yive a more feith,
8.1521: Hire housebonde and ek sche bothe
8.1522: In blake clothes thei hem clothe,
8.1523: And made a gret enterrement;
8.1524: And for the poeple schal be blent,
8.1525: Of Thaise as for the remembrance,
8.1526: After the real olde usance
8.1527: A tumbe of latoun noble and riche
8.1528: With an ymage unto hir liche
8.1529: Liggende above therupon
8.1530: Thei made and sette it up anon.
8.1531: Hire Epitaffe of good assisse
8.1532: Was write aboute, and in this wise
8.1533: It spak: "O yee that this beholde,
8.1534: Lo, hier lith sche, the which was holde
8.1535: The faireste and the flour of alle,
8.1536: Whos name Thaiµsis men calle.
8.1537: The king of Tyr Appolinus
8.1538: Hire fader was: now lith sche thus.
8.1539: Fourtiene yer sche was of Age,
8.1540: Whan deth hir tok to his viage."
8.1541: Thus was this false treson hidd,


-2.428-



8.1542: Which afterward was wyde kidd,
8.1543: As be the tale a man schal hiere.
8.1544: Bot forto clare mi matiere,
8.1545: To Tyr I thenke torne ayein,
8.1546: And telle as the Croniqes sein.
8.1547: Whan that the king was comen hom,
8.1548: And hath left in the salte fom
8.1549: His wif, which he mai noght foryete,
8.1550: For he som confort wolde gete,
8.1551: He let somoune a parlement,
8.1552: To which the lordes were asent;
8.1553: And of the time he hath ben oute,
8.1554: He seth the thinges al aboute,
8.1555: And told hem ek hou he hath fare,
8.1556: Whil he was out of londe fare;
8.1557: And preide hem alle to abyde,
8.1558: For he wolde at the same tyde
8.1559: Do schape for his wyves mynde,
8.1560: As he that wol noght ben unkinde.
8.1561: Solempne was that ilke office,
8.1562: And riche was the sacrifice,
8.1563: The feste reali was holde:
8.1564: And therto was he wel beholde;
8.1565: For such a wif as he hadde on
8.1566: In thilke daies was ther non.
8.1567: Whan this was do, thanne he him thoghte
8.1568: Upon his doghter, and besoghte
8.1569: Suche of his lordes as he wolde,
8.1570: That thei with him to Tharse scholde,
8.1571: To fette his doghter Taise there:
8.1572: And thei anon al redy were,
8.1573: To schip they gon and forth thei wente,
8.1574: Til thei the havene of Tharse hente.
8.1575: They londe and faile of that thei seche
8.1576: Be coverture and sleyhte of speche:
8.1577: This false man Strangulio,
8.1578: And Dionise his wif also,
8.1579: That he the betre trowe myhte,


-2.429-



8.1580: Thei ladden him to have a sihte
8.1581: Wher that hir tombe was arraied.
8.1582: The lasse yit he was mispaied,
8.1583: And natheles, so as he dorste,
8.1584: He curseth and seith al the worste
8.1585: Unto fortune, as to the blinde,
8.1586: Which can no seker weie finde;
8.1587: For sche him neweth evere among,
8.1588: And medleth sorwe with his song.
8.1589: Bot sithe it mai no betre be,
8.1590: He thonketh god and forth goth he
8.1591: Seilende toward Tyr ayein.
8.1592: Bot sodeinly the wynd and reyn
8.1593: Begonne upon the See debate,
8.1594: So that he soffre mot algate
8.1595: The lawe which Neptune ordeigneth;
8.1596: Wherof fulofte time he pleigneth,
8.1597: And hield him wel the more esmaied
8.1598: Of that he hath tofore assaied.
8.1599: So that for pure sorwe and care,
8.1600: Of that he seth his world so fare,
8.1601: The reste he lefte of his Caban,
8.1602: That for the conseil of noman
8.1603: Ayein therinne he nolde come,
8.1604: Bot hath benethe his place nome,
8.1605: Wher he wepende al one lay,
8.1606: Ther as he sih no lyht of day.
8.1607: And thus tofor the wynd thei dryve,
8.1608: Til longe and late thei aryve
8.1609: With gret distresce, as it was sene,
8.1610: Upon this toun of Mitelene,
8.1611: Which was a noble cite tho.
8.1612: And hapneth thilke time so,
8.1613: The lordes bothe and the comune
8.1614: The hihe festes of Neptune
8.1615: Upon the stronde at the rivage,
8.1616: As it was custumme and usage,
8.1617: Sollempneliche thei besihe.


-2.430-



8.1618: Whan thei this strange vessel syhe
8.1619: Come in, and hath his Seil avaled,
8.1620: The toun therof hath spoke and taled.
8.1621: The lord which of the cite was,
8.1622: Whos name is Athenagoras,
8.1623: Was there, and seide he wolde se
8.1624: What Schip it is, and who thei be
8.1625: That ben therinne: and after sone,
8.1626: Whan that he sih it was to done,
8.1627: His barge was for him arraied,
8.1628: And he goth forth and hath assaied.
8.1629: He fond the Schip of gret Array,
8.1630: Bot what thing it amonte may,
8.1631: He seth thei maden hevy chiere,
8.1632: Bot wel him thenkth be the manere
8.1633: That thei be worthi men of blod,
8.1634: And axeth of hem hou it stod;
8.1635: And thei him tellen al the cas,
8.1636: Hou that here lord fordrive was,
8.1637: And what a sorwe that he made,
8.1638: Of which ther mai noman him glade.
8.1639: He preith that he here lord mai se,
8.1640: Bot thei him tolde it mai noght be,
8.1641: For he lith in so derk a place,
8.1642: That ther may no wiht sen his face:
8.1643: Bot for al that, thogh hem be loth,
8.1644: He fond the ladre and doun he goth,
8.1645: And to him spak, bot non ansuere
8.1646: Ayein of him ne mihte he bere
8.1647: For oght that he can don or sein;
8.1648: And thus he goth him up ayein.
8.1649: Tho was ther spoke in many wise
8.1650: Amonges hem that weren wise,
8.1651: Now this, now that, bot ate laste
8.1652: The wisdom of the toun this caste,
8.1653: That yonge Taise were asent.
8.1654: For if ther be amendement


-2.431-



8.1655: To glade with this woful king,
8.1656: Sche can so moche of every thing,
8.1657: That sche schal gladen him anon.
8.1658: A Messager for hire is gon,
8.1659: And sche cam with hire Harpe on honde,
8.1660: And seide hem that sche wolde fonde
8.1661: Be alle weies that sche can,
8.1662: To glade with this sory man.
8.1663: Bot what he was sche wiste noght,
8.1664: Bot al the Schip hire hath besoght
8.1665: That sche hire wit on him despende,
8.1666: In aunter if he myhte amende,
8.1667: And sein it schal be wel aquit.
8.1668: Whan sche hath understonden it,
8.1669: Sche goth hir doun, ther as he lay,
8.1670: Wher that sche harpeth many a lay
8.1671: And lich an Angel sang withal;
8.1672: Bot he nomore than the wal
8.1673: Tok hiede of eny thing he herde.
8.1674: And whan sche sih that he so ferde,
8.1675: Sche falleth with him into wordes,
8.1676: And telleth him of sondri bordes,
8.1677: And axeth him demandes strange,
8.1678: Wherof sche made his herte change,
8.1679: And to hire speche his Ere he leide
8.1680: And hath merveile of that sche seide.
8.1681: For in proverbe and in probleme
8.1682: Sche spak, and bad he scholde deme
8.1683: In many soubtil question:
8.1684: Bot he for no suggestioun
8.1685: Which toward him sche couthe stere,
8.1686: He wolde noght o word ansuere,
8.1687: Bot as a madd man ate laste
8.1688: His heved wepende awey he caste,
8.1689: And half in wraththe he bad hire go.
8.1690: Bot yit sche wolde noght do so,
8.1691: And in the derke forth sche goth,
8.1692: Til sche him toucheth, and he wroth,


-2.432-



8.1693: And after hire with his hond
8.1694: He smot: and thus whan sche him fond
8.1695: Desesed, courtaisly sche saide,
8.1696: "Avoi, mi lord, I am a Maide;
8.1697: And if ye wiste what I am,
8.1698: And out of what lignage I cam,
8.1699: Ye wolde noght be so salvage."
8.1700: With that he sobreth his corage
8.1701: And put awey his hevy chiere.
8.1702: Bot of hem tuo a man mai liere
8.1703: What is to be so sibb of blod:
8.1704: Non wiste of other hou it stod,
8.1705: And yit the fader ate laste
8.1706: His herte upon this maide caste,
8.1707: That he hire loveth kindely,
8.1708: And yit he wiste nevere why.
8.1709: Bot al was knowe er that thei wente;
8.1710: For god, which wot here hol entente,
8.1711: Here hertes bothe anon descloseth.
8.1712: This king unto this maide opposeth,
8.1713: And axeth ferst what was hire name,
8.1714: And wher sche lerned al this game,
8.1715: And of what ken that sche was come.
8.1716: And sche, that hath hise wordes nome,
8.1717: Ansuerth and seith, "My name is Thaise,
8.1718: That was som time wel at aise:
8.1719: In Tharse I was forthdrawe and fed,
8.1720: Ther lerned I, til I was sped,
8.1721: Of that I can. Mi fader eke
8.1722: I not wher that I scholde him seke;
8.1723: He was a king, men tolde me:
8.1724: Mi Moder dreint was in the See."
8.1725: Fro point to point al sche him tolde,
8.1726: That sche hath longe in herte holde,
8.1727: And nevere dorste make hir mone
8.1728: Bot only to this lord al one,
8.1729: To whom hire herte can noght hele,
8.1730: Torne it to wo, torne it to wele,


-2.433-



8.1731: Torne it to good, torne it to harm.
8.1732: And he tho toke hire in his arm,
8.1733: Bot such a joie as he tho made
8.1734: Was nevere sen; thus be thei glade,
8.1735: That sory hadden be toforn.
8.1736: Fro this day forth fortune hath sworn
8.1737: To sette him upward on the whiel;
8.1738: So goth the world, now wo, now wel:
8.1739: This king hath founde newe grace,
8.1740: So that out of his derke place
8.1741: He goth him up into the liht,
8.1742: And with him cam that swete wiht,
8.1743: His doghter Thaise, and forth anon
8.1744: Thei bothe into the Caban gon
8.1745: Which was ordeigned for the king,
8.1746: And ther he dede of al his thing,
8.1747: And was arraied realy.
8.1748: And out he cam al openly,
8.1749: Wher Athenagoras he fond,
8.1750: The which was lord of al the lond:
8.1751: He preith the king to come and se
8.1752: His castell bothe and his cite,
8.1753: And thus thei gon forth alle in fiere,
8.1754: This king, this lord, this maiden diere.
8.1755: This lord tho made hem riche feste
8.1756: With every thing which was honeste,
8.1757: To plese with this worthi king,
8.1758: Ther lacketh him no maner thing:
8.1759: Bot yit for al his noble array
8.1760: Wifles he was into that day,
8.1761: As he that yit was of yong Age;
8.1762: So fell ther into his corage
8.1763: The lusti wo, the glade peine
8.1764: Of love, which noman restreigne
8.1765: Yit nevere myhte as nou tofore.
8.1766: This lord thenkth al his world forlore,
8.1767: Bot if the king wol don him grace;


-2.434-



8.1768: He waiteth time, he waiteth place,
8.1769: Him thoghte his herte wol tobreke,
8.1770: Til he mai to this maide speke
8.1771: And to hir fader ek also
8.1772: For mariage: and it fell so,
8.1773: That al was do riht as he thoghte,
8.1774: His pourpos to an ende he broghte,
8.1775: Sche weddeth him as for hire lord;
8.1776: Thus be thei alle of on acord.
8.1777: Whan al was do riht as thei wolde,
8.1778: The king unto his Sone tolde
8.1779: Of Tharse thilke traiterie,
8.1780: And seide hou in his compaignie
8.1781: His doghter and himselven eke
8.1782: Schull go vengance forto seke.
8.1783: The Schipes were redy sone,
8.1784: And whan thei sihe it was to done,
8.1785: Withoute lette of eny wente
8.1786: With Seil updrawe forth thei wente
8.1787: Towardes Tharse upon the tyde.
8.1788: Bot he that wot what schal betide,
8.1789: The hihe god, which wolde him kepe,
8.1790: Whan that this king was faste aslepe,
8.1791: Be nyhtes time he hath him bede
8.1792: To seile into an other stede:
8.1793: To Ephesim he bad him drawe,
8.1794: And as it was that time lawe,
8.1795: He schal do there his sacrifise;
8.1796: And ek he bad in alle wise
8.1797: That in the temple amonges alle
8.1798: His fortune, as it is befalle,
8.1799: Touchende his doghter and his wif
8.1800: He schal beknowe upon his lif.
8.1801: The king of this Avisioun
8.1802: Hath gret ymaginacioun,
8.1803: What thing it signefie may;
8.1804: And natheles, whan it was day,
8.1805: He bad caste Ancher and abod;
8.1806: And whil that he on Ancher rod,


-2.435-



8.1807: The wynd, which was tofore strange,
8.1808: Upon the point began to change,
8.1809: And torneth thider as it scholde.
8.1810: Tho knew he wel that god it wolde,
8.1811: And bad the Maister make him yare,
8.1812: Tofor the wynd for he wol fare
8.1813: To Ephesim, and so he dede.
8.1814: And whanne he cam unto the stede
8.1815: Where as he scholde londe, he londeth
8.1816: With al the haste he may, and fondeth
8.1817: To schapen him be such a wise,
8.1818: That he may be the morwe arise
8.1819: And don after the mandement
8.1820: Of him which hath him thider sent.
8.1821: And in the wise that he thoghte,
8.1822: Upon the morwe so he wroghte;
8.1823: His doghter and his Sone he nom,
8.1824: And forth unto the temple he com
8.1825: With a gret route in compaignie,
8.1826: Hise yiftes forto sacrifie.
8.1827: The citezeins tho herden seie
8.1828: Of such a king that cam to preie
8.1829: Unto Diane the godesse,
8.1830: And left al other besinesse,
8.1831: Thei comen thider forto se
8.1832: The king and the solempnete.
8.1833: With worthi knyhtes environed
8.1834: The king himself hath abandoned
8.1835: Into the temple in good entente.
8.1836: The dore is up, and he in wente,
8.1837: Wher as with gret devocioun
8.1838: Of holi contemplacioun
8.1839: Withinne his herte he made his schrifte;
8.1840: And after that a riche yifte
8.1841: He offreth with gret reverence,
8.1842: And there in open Audience
8.1843: Of hem that stoden thanne aboute,
8.1844: He tolde hem and declareth oute


-2.436-



8.1845: His hap, such as him is befalle,
8.1846: Ther was nothing foryete of alle.
8.1847: His wif, as it was goddes grace,
8.1848: Which was professed in the place,
8.1849: As sche that was Abbesse there,
8.1850: Unto his tale hath leid hire Ere:
8.1851: Sche knew the vois and the visage,
8.1852: For pure joie as in a rage
8.1853: Sche strawhte unto him al at ones,
8.1854: And fell aswoune upon the stones,
8.1855: Wherof the temple flor was paved.
8.1856: Sche was anon with water laved,
8.1857: Til sche cam to hirself ayein,
8.1858: And thanne sche began to sein:
8.1859: "Ha, blessed be the hihe sonde,
8.1860: That I mai se myn housebonde,
8.1861: That whilom he and I were on!"
8.1862: The king with that knew hire anon,
8.1863: And tok hire in his Arm and kiste;
8.1864: And al the toun thus sone it wiste.
8.1865: Tho was ther joie manyfold,
8.1866: For every man this tale hath told
8.1867: As for miracle, and were glade,
8.1868: Bot nevere man such joie made
8.1869: As doth the king, which hath his wif.
8.1870: And whan men herde hou that hir lif
8.1871: Was saved, and be whom it was,
8.1872: Thei wondren alle of such a cas:
8.1873: Thurgh al the Lond aros the speche
8.1874: Of Maister Cerymon the leche
8.1875: And of the cure which he dede.
8.1876: The king himself tho hath him bede,
8.1877: And ek this queene forth with him,
8.1878: That he the toun of Ephesim
8.1879: Wol leve and go wher as thei be,
8.1880: For nevere man of his degre
8.1881: Hath do to hem so mochel good;
8.1882: And he his profit understod,


-2.437-



8.1883: And granteth with hem forto wende.
8.1884: And thus thei maden there an ende,
8.1885: And token leve and gon to Schipe
8.1886: With al the hole felaschipe.
8.1887: This king, which nou hath his desir,
8.1888: Seith he wol holde his cours to Tyr.
8.1889: Thei hadden wynd at wille tho,
8.1890: With topseilcole and forth they go,
8.1891: And striken nevere, til thei come
8.1892: To Tyr, where as thei havene nome,
8.1893: And londen hem with mochel blisse.
8.1894: Tho was ther many a mowth to kisse,
8.1895: Echon welcometh other hom,
8.1896: Bot whan the queen to londe com,
8.1897: And Thaise hir doghter be hir side,
8.1898: The joie which was thilke tyde
8.1899: Ther mai no mannes tunge telle:
8.1900: Thei seiden alle, "Hier comth the welle
8.1901: Of alle wommannysshe grace."
8.1902: The king hath take his real place,
8.1903: The queene is into chambre go:
8.1904: Ther was gret feste arraied tho;
8.1905: Whan time was, thei gon to mete,
8.1906: Alle olde sorwes ben foryete,
8.1907: And gladen hem with joies newe:
8.1908: The descoloured pale hewe
8.1909: Is now become a rody cheke,
8.1910: Ther was no merthe forto seke,
8.1911: Bot every man hath that he wolde.
8.1912: The king, as he wel couthe and scholde,
8.1913: Makth to his poeple riht good chiere;
8.1914: And after sone, as thou schalt hiere,
8.1915: A parlement he hath sommoned,
8.1916: Wher he his doghter hath coroned
8.1917: Forth with the lord of Mitelene,
8.1918: That on is king, that other queene:
8.1919: And thus the fadres ordinance


-2.438-



8.1920: This lond hath set in governance,
8.1921: And seide thanne he wolde wende
8.1922: To Tharse, forto make an ende
8.1923: Of that his doghter was betraied.
8.1924: Therof were alle men wel paied,
8.1925: And seide hou it was forto done:
8.1926: The Schipes weren redi sone,
8.1927: And strong pouer with him he tok;
8.1928: Up to the Sky he caste his lok,
8.1929: And syh the wynd was covenable.
8.1930: Thei hale up Ancher with the cable,
8.1931: The Seil on hih, the Stiere in honde,
8.1932: And seilen, til thei come alonde
8.1933: At Tharse nyh to the cite;
8.1934: And whan thei wisten it was he,
8.1935: The toun hath don him reverence.
8.1936: He telleth hem the violence,
8.1937: Which the tretour Strangulio
8.1938: And Dionise him hadde do
8.1939: Touchende his dowhter, as yee herde;
8.1940: And whan thei wiste hou that it ferde,
8.1941: As he which pes and love soghte,
8.1942: Unto the toun this he besoghte,
8.1943: To don him riht in juggement.
8.1944: Anon thei were bothe asent
8.1945: With strengthe of men, and comen sone,
8.1946: And as hem thoghte it was to done,
8.1947: Atteint thei were be the lawe
8.1948: And diemed forto honge and drawe,
8.1949: And brent and with the wynd toblowe,
8.1950: That al the world it myhte knowe:
8.1951: And upon this condicion
8.1952: The dom in execucion
8.1953: Was put anon withoute faile.
8.1954: And every man hath gret mervaile,


-2.439-



8.1955: Which herde tellen of this chance,
8.1956: And thonketh goddes pourveance,
8.1957: Which doth mercy forth with justice.
8.1958: Slain is the moerdrer and moerdrice
8.1959: Thurgh verray trowthe of rihtwisnesse,
8.1960: And thurgh mercy sauf is simplesse
8.1961: Of hire whom mercy preserveth;
8.1962: Thus hath he wel that wel deserveth.
8.1963: Whan al this thing is don and ended,
8.1964: This king, which loved was and frended,
8.1965: A lettre hath, which cam to him
8.1966: Be Schipe fro Pentapolim,
8.1967: Be which the lond hath to him write,
8.1968: That he wolde understonde and wite
8.1969: Hou in good mynde and in good pes
8.1970: Ded is the king Artestrates,
8.1971: Wherof thei alle of on acord
8.1972: Him preiden, as here liege lord,
8.1973: That he the lettre wel conceive
8.1974: And come his regne to receive,
8.1975: Which god hath yove him and fortune;
8.1976: And thus besoghte the commune
8.1977: Forth with the grete lordes alle.
8.1978: This king sih how it was befalle,
8.1979: Fro Tharse and in prosperite
8.1980: He tok his leve of that Cite
8.1981: And goth him into Schipe ayein:
8.1982: The wynd was good, the See was plein,
8.1983: Hem nedeth noght a Riff to slake,
8.1984: Til thei Pentapolim have take.
8.1985: The lond, which herde of that tidinge,
8.1986: Was wonder glad of his cominge;
8.1987: He resteth him a day or tuo
8.1988: And tok his conseil to him tho,
8.1989: And sette a time of Parlement,
8.1990: Wher al the lond of on assent
8.1991: Forth with his wif hath him corouned,


-2.440-



8.1992: Wher alle goode him was fuisouned.
8.1993: Lo, what it is to be wel grounded:
8.1994: For he hath ferst his love founded
8.1995: Honesteliche as forto wedde,
8.1996: Honesteliche his love he spedde
8.1997: And hadde children with his wif,
8.1998: And as him liste he ladde his lif;
8.1999: And in ensample his lif was write,
8.2000: That alle lovers myhten wite
8.2001: How ate laste it schal be sene
8.2002: Of love what thei wolden mene.
8.2003: For se now on that other side,
8.2004: Antiochus with al his Pride,
8.2005: Which sette his love unkindely,
8.2006: His ende he hadde al sodeinly,
8.2007: Set ayein kinde upon vengance,
8.2008: And for his lust hath his penance.
8.2009: Lo thus, mi Sone, myht thou liere
8.2010: What is to love in good manere,
8.2011: And what to love in other wise:
8.2012: The mede arist of the servise;
8.2013: Fortune, thogh sche be noght stable,
8.2014: Yit at som time is favorable
8.2015: To hem that ben of love trewe.
8.2016: Bot certes it is forto rewe
8.2017: To se love ayein kinde falle,
8.2018: For that makth sore a man to falle,
8.2019: As thou myht of tofore rede.
8.2020: Forthi, my Sone, I wolde rede
8.2021: To lete al other love aweie,
8.2022: Bot if it be thurgh such a weie
8.2023: As love and reson wolde acorde.
8.2024: For elles, if that thou descorde,
8.2025: And take lust as doth a beste,
8.2026: Thi love mai noght ben honeste;
8.2027: For be no skile that I finde


-2.441-



8.2028: Such lust is noght of loves kinde.
8.2029: Mi fader, hou so that it stonde,
8.2030: Youre tale is herd and understonde,
8.2031: As thing which worthi is to hiere,
8.2032: Of gret ensample and gret matiere,
8.2033: Wherof, my fader, god you quyte.
8.2034: Bot in this point miself aquite
8.2035: I mai riht wel, that nevere yit
8.2036: I was assoted in my wit,
8.2037: Bot only in that worthi place
8.2038: Wher alle lust and alle grace
8.2039: Is set, if that danger ne were.
8.2040: Bot that is al my moste fere:
8.2041: I not what ye fortune acompte,
8.2042: Bot what thing danger mai amonte
8.2043: I wot wel, for I have assaied;
8.2044: For whan myn herte is best arraied
8.2045: And I have al my wit thurghsoght
8.2046: Of love to beseche hire oght,
8.2047: For al that evere I skile may,
8.2048: I am concluded with a nay:
8.2049: That o sillable hath overthrowe
8.2050: A thousend wordes on a rowe
8.2051: Of suche as I best speke can;
8.2052: Thus am I bot a lewed man.
8.2053: Bot, fader, for ye ben a clerk
8.2054: Of love, and this matiere is derk,
8.2055: And I can evere leng the lasse,
8.2056: Bot yit I mai noght let it passe,
8.2057: Youre hole conseil I beseche,
8.2058: That ye me be som weie teche
8.2059: What is my beste, as for an ende.
8.2060: Mi Sone, unto the trouthe wende
8.2061: Now wol I for the love of thee,
8.2062: And lete alle othre truffles be.
8.2063: The more that the nede is hyh,
8.2064: The more it nedeth to be slyh


-2.442-



8.2065: To him which hath the nede on honde.
8.2066: I have wel herd and understonde,
8.2067: Mi Sone, al that thou hast me seid,
8.2068: And ek of that thou hast me preid,
8.2069: Nou at this time that I schal
8.2070: As for conclusioun final
8.2071: Conseile upon thi nede sette:
8.2072: So thenke I finaly to knette
8.2073: This cause, where it is tobroke,
8.2074: And make an ende of that is spoke.
8.2075: For I behihte thee that yifte
8.2076: Ferst whan thou come under my schrifte,
8.2077: That thogh I toward Venus were,
8.2078: Yit spak I suche wordes there,
8.2079: That for the Presthod which I have,
8.2080: Min ordre and min astat to save,
8.2081: I seide I wolde of myn office
8.2082: To vertu more than to vice
8.2083: Encline, and teche thee mi lore.
8.2084: Forthi to speken overmore
8.2085: Of love, which thee mai availe,
8.2086: Tak love where it mai noght faile:
8.2087: For as of this which thou art inne,
8.2088: Be that thou seist it is a Sinne,
8.2089: And Sinne mai no pris deserve,
8.2090: Withoute pris and who schal serve,
8.2091: I not what profit myhte availe.
8.2092: Thus folweth it, if thou travaile,
8.2093: Wher thou no profit hast ne pris,
8.2094: Thou art toward thiself unwis:
8.2095: And sett thou myhtest lust atteigne,
8.2096: Of every lust thende is a peine,
8.2097: And every peine is good to fle;
8.2098: So it is wonder thing to se,
8.2099: Why such a thing schal be desired.


-2.443-



8.2100: The more that a Stock is fyred,
8.2101: The rathere into Aisshe it torneth;
8.2102: The fot which in the weie sporneth
8.2103: Fulofte his heved hath overthrowe;
8.2104: Thus love is blind and can noght knowe
8.2105: Wher that he goth, til he be falle:
8.2106: Forthi, bot if it so befalle
8.2107: With good conseil that he be lad,
8.2108: Him oghte forto ben adrad.
8.2109: For conseil passeth alle thing
8.2110: To him which thenkth to ben a king;
8.2111: And every man for his partie
8.2112: A kingdom hath to justefie,
8.2113: That is to sein his oghne dom.
8.2114: If he misreule that kingdom,
8.2115: He lest himself, and that is more
8.2116: Than if he loste Schip and Ore
8.2117: And al the worldes good withal:
8.2118: For what man that in special
8.2119: Hath noght himself, he hath noght elles,
8.2120: Nomor the perles than the schelles;
8.2121: Al is to him of o value:
8.2122: Thogh he hadde at his retenue
8.2123: The wyde world ryht as he wolde,
8.2124: Whan he his herte hath noght withholde
8.2125: Toward himself, al is in vein.
8.2126: And thus, my Sone, I wolde sein,
8.2127: As I seide er, that thou aryse,
8.2128: Er that thou falle in such a wise
8.2129: That thou ne myht thiself rekevere;
8.2130: For love, which that blind was evere,
8.2131: Makth alle his servantz blinde also.
8.2132: My Sone, and if thou have be so,
8.2133: Yit is it time to withdrawe,
8.2134: And set thin herte under that lawe,
8.2135: The which of reson is governed
8.2136: And noght of will. And to be lerned,
8.2137: Ensamples thou hast many on


-2.444-



8.2138: Of now and ek of time gon,
8.2139: That every lust is bot a while;
8.2140: And who that wole himself beguile,
8.2141: He may the rathere be deceived.
8.2142: Mi Sone, now thou hast conceived
8.2143: Somwhat of that I wolde mene;
8.2144: Hierafterward it schal be sene
8.2145: If that thou lieve upon mi lore;
8.2146: For I can do to thee nomore
8.2147: Bot teche thee the rihte weie:
8.2148: Now ches if thou wolt live or deie.
8.2149: Mi fader, so as I have herd
8.2150: Your tale, bot it were ansuerd,
8.2151: I were mochel forto blame.
8.2152: Mi wo to you is bot a game,
8.2153: That fielen noght of that I fiele;
8.2154: The fielinge of a mannes Hiele
8.2155: Mai noght be likned to the Herte:
8.2156: I mai noght, thogh I wolde, asterte,
8.2157: And ye be fre from al the peine
8.2158: Of love, wherof I me pleigne.
8.2159: It is riht esi to comaunde;
8.2160: The hert which fre goth on the launde
8.2161: Not of an Oxe what him eileth;
8.2162: It falleth ofte a man merveileth
8.2163: Of that he seth an other fare,
8.2164: Bot if he knewe himself the fare,
8.2165: And felt it as it is in soth,
8.2166: He scholde don riht as he doth,
8.2167: Or elles werse in his degre:
8.2168: For wel I wot, and so do ye,
8.2169: That love hath evere yit ben used,
8.2170: So mot I nedes ben excused.
8.2171: Bot, fader, if ye wolde thus
8.2172: Unto Cupide and to Venus
8.2173: Be frendlich toward mi querele,
8.2174: So that myn herte were in hele


-2.445-



8.2175: Of love which is in mi briest,
8.2176: I wot wel thanne a betre Prest
8.2177: Was nevere mad to my behove.
8.2178: Bot al the whiles that I hove
8.2179: In noncertein betwen the tuo,
8.2180: And not if I to wel or wo
8.2181: Schal torne, that is al my drede,
8.2182: So that I not what is to rede.
8.2183: Bot for final conclusion
8.2184: I thenke a Supplicacion
8.2185: With pleine wordes and expresse
8.2186: Wryte unto Venus the goddesse,
8.2187: The which I preie you to bere
8.2188: And bringe ayein a good ansuere.
8.2189: Tho was betwen mi Prest and me
8.2190: Debat and gret perplexete:
8.2191: Mi resoun understod him wel,
8.2192: And knew it was sothe everydel
8.2193: That he hath seid, bot noght forthi
8.2194: Mi will hath nothing set therby.
8.2195: For techinge of so wis a port
8.2196: Is unto love of no desport;
8.2197: Yit myhte nevere man beholde
8.2198: Reson, wher love was withholde,
8.2199: Thei be noght of o governance.
8.2200: And thus we fellen in distance,
8.2201: Mi Prest and I, bot I spak faire,
8.2202: And thurgh mi wordes debonaire
8.2203: Thanne ate laste we acorden,
8.2204: So that he seith he wol recorden
8.2205: To speke and stonde upon mi syde
8.2206: To Venus bothe and to Cupide;
8.2207: And bad me wryte what I wolde,
8.2208: And seith me trewly that he scholde
8.2209: Mi lettre bere unto the queene.
8.2210: And I sat doun upon the grene


-2.446-



8.2211: Fulfilt of loves fantasie,
8.2212: And with the teres of myn yµe
8.2213: In stede of enke I gan to wryte
8.2214: The wordes whiche I wolde endite
8.2215: Unto Cupide and to Venus,
8.2216: And in mi lettre I seide thus.
8.2217: The wofull peine of loves maladie,
8.2218: Ayein the which mai no phisique availe,
8.2219: Min herte hath so bewhaped with sotie,
8.2220: That wher so that I reste or I travaile,
8.2221: I finde it evere redy to assaile
8.2222: Mi resoun, which that can him noght defende:
8.2223: Thus seche I help, wherof I mihte amende.
8.2224: Ferst to Nature if that I me compleigne,
8.2225: Ther finde I hou that every creature
8.2226: Som time ayer hath love in his demeine,
8.2227: So that the litel wrenne in his mesure
8.2228: Hath yit of kinde a love under his cure;
8.2229: And I bot on desire, of which I misse:
8.2230: And thus, bot I, hath every kinde his blisse.
8.2231: The resoun of my wit it overpasseth,
8.2232: Of that Nature techeth me the weie
8.2233: To love, and yit no certein sche compasseth
8.2234: Hou I schal spede, and thus betwen the tweie
8.2235: I stonde, and not if I schal live or deie.
8.2236: For thogh reson ayein my will debate,
8.2237: I mai noght fle, that I ne love algate.
8.2238: Upon miself is thilke tale come,
8.2239: Hou whilom Pan, which is the god of kinde,
8.2240: With love wrastlede and was overcome:
8.2241: For evere I wrastle and evere I am behinde,
8.2242: That I no strengthe in al min herte finde,
8.2243: Wherof that I mai stonden eny throwe;
8.2244: So fer mi wit with love is overthrowe.


-2.447-



8.2245: Whom nedeth help, he mot his helpe crave,
8.2246: Or helpeles he schal his nede spille:
8.2247: Pleinly thurghsoght my wittes alle I have,
8.2248: Bot non of hem can helpe after mi wille;
8.2249: And als so wel I mihte sitte stille,
8.2250: As preie unto mi lady eny helpe:
8.2251: Thus wot I noght wherof miself to helpe.
8.2252: Unto the grete Jove and if I bidde,
8.2253: To do me grace of thilke swete tunne,
8.2254: Which under keie in his celier amidde
8.2255: Lith couched, that fortune is overrunne,
8.2256: Bot of the bitter cuppe I have begunne,
8.2257: I not hou ofte, and thus finde I no game;
8.2258: For evere I axe and evere it is the same.
8.2259: I se the world stonde evere upon eschange,
8.2260: Nou wyndes loude, and nou the weder softe;
8.2261: I mai sen ek the grete mone change,
8.2262: And thing which nou is lowe is eft alofte;
8.2263: The dredfull werres into pes fulofte
8.2264: Thei torne; and evere is Danger in o place,
8.2265: Which wol noght change his will to do me grace.
8.2266: Bot upon this the grete clerc Ovide,
8.2267: Of love whan he makth his remembrance,
8.2268: He seith ther is the blinde god Cupide,
8.2269: The which hath love under his governance,
8.2270: And in his hond with many a fyri lance
8.2271: He woundeth ofte, ther he wol noght hele;
8.2272: And that somdiel is cause of mi querele.
8.2273: Ovide ek seith that love to parforne
8.2274: Stant in the hond of Venus the goddesse,
8.2275: Bot whan sche takth hir conseil with Satorne,
8.2276: Ther is no grace, and in that time, I gesse,
8.2277: Began mi love, of which myn hevynesse
8.2278: Is now and evere schal, bot if I spede:
8.2279: So wot I noght miself what is to rede.


-2.448-



8.2280: Forthi to you, Cupide and Venus bothe,
8.2281: With al myn hertes obeissance I preie,
8.2282: If ye were ate ferste time wrothe,
8.2283: Whan I began to love, as I you seie,
8.2284: Nou stynt, and do thilke infortune aweie,
8.2285: So that Danger, which stant of retenue
8.2286: With my ladi, his place mai remue.
8.2287: O thou Cupide, god of loves lawe,
8.2288: That with thi Dart brennende hast set afyre
8.2289: Min herte, do that wounde be withdrawe,
8.2290: Or yif me Salve such as I desire:
8.2291: For Service in thi Court withouten hyre
8.2292: To me, which evere yit have kept thin heste,
8.2293: Mai nevere be to loves lawe honeste.
8.2294: O thou, gentile Venus, loves queene,
8.2295: Withoute gult thou dost on me thi wreche;
8.2296: Thou wost my peine is evere aliche grene
8.2297: For love, and yit I mai it noght areche:
8.2298: This wold I for my laste word beseche,
8.2299: That thou mi love aquite as I deserve,
8.2300: Or elles do me pleinly forto sterve.
8.2301: Whanne I this Supplicacioun
8.2302: With good deliberacioun,
8.2303: In such a wise as ye nou wite,
8.2304: Hadde after min entente write
8.2305: Unto Cupide and to Venus,
8.2306: This Prest which hihte Genius
8.2307: It tok on honde to presente,
8.2308: On my message and forth he wente
8.2309: To Venus, forto wite hire wille.
8.2310: And I bod in the place stille,
8.2311: And was there bot a litel while,
8.2312: Noght full the montance of a Mile,
8.2313: Whan I behield and sodeinly
8.2314: I sih wher Venus stod me by.
8.2315: So as I myhte, under a tre


-2.449-



8.2316: To grounde I fell upon mi kne,
8.2317: And preide hire forto do me grace:
8.2318: Sche caste hire chiere upon mi face,
8.2319: And as it were halvinge a game
8.2320: Sche axeth me what is mi name.
8.2321: "Ma dame," I seide, "John Gower."
8.2322: "Now John," quod sche, "in my pouer
8.2323: Thou most as of thi love stonde;
8.2324: For I thi bille have understonde,
8.2325: In which to Cupide and to me
8.2326: Somdiel thou hast compleigned thee,
8.2327: And somdiel to Nature also.
8.2328: Bot that schal stonde among you tuo,
8.2329: For therof have I noght to done;
8.2330: For Nature is under the Mone
8.2331: Maistresse of every lives kinde,
8.2332: Bot if so be that sche mai finde
8.2333: Som holy man that wol withdrawe
8.2334: His kindly lust ayein hir lawe;
8.2335: Bot sielde whanne it falleth so,
8.2336: For fewe men ther ben of tho,
8.2337: Bot of these othre ynowe be,
8.2338: Whiche of here oghne nycete
8.2339: Ayein Nature and hire office
8.2340: Deliten hem in sondri vice,
8.2341: Wherof that sche fulofte hath pleigned,
8.2342: And ek my Court it hath desdeigned
8.2343: And evere schal; for it receiveth
8.2344: Non such that kinde so deceiveth.
8.2345: For al onliche of gentil love
8.2346: Mi court stant alle courtz above
8.2347: And takth noght into retenue
8.2348: Bot thing which is to kinde due,
8.2349: For elles it schal be refused.
8.2350: Wherof I holde thee excused,
8.2351: For it is manye daies gon,


-2.450-



8.2352: That thou amonges hem were on
8.2353: Which of my court hast ben withholde;
8.2354: So that the more I am beholde
8.2355: Of thi desese to commune,
8.2356: And to remue that fortune,
8.2357: Which manye daies hath the grieved.
8.2358: Bot if my conseil mai be lieved,
8.2359: Thou schalt ben esed er thou go
8.2360: Of thilke unsely jolif wo,
8.2361: Wherof thou seist thin herte is fyred:
8.2362: Bot as of that thou hast desired
8.2363: After the sentence of thi bille,
8.2364: Thou most therof don at my wille,
8.2365: And I therof me wole avise.
8.2366: For be thou hol, it schal suffise:
8.2367: Mi medicine is noght to sieke
8.2368: For thee and for suche olde sieke,
8.2369: Noght al per chance as ye it wolden,
8.2370: Bot so as ye be reson scholden,
8.2371: Acordant unto loves kinde.
8.2372: For in the plit which I thee finde,
8.2373: So as mi court it hath awarded,
8.2374: Thou schalt be duely rewarded;
8.2375: And if thou woldest more crave,
8.2376: It is no riht that thou it have."


-2.451-



8.2377: Venus, which stant withoute lawe
8.2378: In noncertein, bot as men drawe
8.2379: Of Rageman upon the chance,
8.2380: Sche leith no peis in the balance,
8.2381: Bot as hir lyketh forto weie;
8.2382: The trewe man fulofte aweie
8.2383: Sche put, which hath hir grace bede,
8.2384: And set an untrewe in his stede.
8.2385: Lo, thus blindly the world sche diemeth
8.2386: In loves cause, as tome siemeth:
8.2387: I not what othre men wol sein,
8.2388: Bot I algate am so besein,
8.2389: And stonde as on amonges alle
8.2390: Which am out of hir grace falle:
8.2391: It nedeth take no witnesse,
8.2392: For sche which seid is the goddesse,
8.2393: To whether part of love it wende,
8.2394: Hath sett me for a final ende
8.2395: The point wherto that I schal holde.
8.2396: For whan sche hath me wel beholde,
8.2397: Halvynge of scorn, sche seide thus:
8.2398: "Thou wost wel that I am Venus,
8.2399: Which al only my lustes seche;
8.2400: And wel I wot, thogh thou beseche
8.2401: Mi love, lustes ben ther none,
8.2402: Whiche I mai take in thi persone;
8.2403: For loves lust and lockes hore
8.2404: In chambre acorden neveremore,
8.2405: And thogh thou feigne a yong corage,
8.2406: It scheweth wel be the visage
8.2407: That olde grisel is no fole:
8.2408: There ben fulmanye yeres stole
8.2409: With thee and with suche othre mo,
8.2410: That outward feignen youthe so


-2.452-



8.2411: And ben withinne of pore assay.
8.2412: Min herte wolde and I ne may
8.2413: Is noght beloved nou adayes;
8.2414: Er thou make eny suche assaies
8.2415: To love, and faile upon the fet,
8.2416: Betre is to make a beau retret;
8.2417: For thogh thou myhtest love atteigne,
8.2418: Yit were it bot an ydel peine,
8.2419: Whan that thou art noght sufficant
8.2420: To holde love his covenant.
8.2421: Forthi tak hom thin herte ayein,
8.2422: That thou travaile noght in vein,
8.2423: Wherof my Court may be deceived.
8.2424: I wot and have it wel conceived,
8.2425: Hou that thi will is good ynowh;
8.2426: Bot mor behoveth to the plowh,
8.2427: Wherof the lacketh, as I trowe:
8.2428: So sitte it wel that thou beknowe
8.2429: Thi fieble astat, er thou beginne
8.2430: Thing wher thou miht non ende winne.
8.2431: What bargain scholde a man assaie,
8.2432: Whan that him lacketh forto paie?
8.2433: Mi Sone, if thou be wel bethoght,
8.2434: This toucheth thee; foryet it noght:
8.2435: The thing is torned into was;
8.2436: That which was whilom grene gras,
8.2437: Is welked hey at time now.
8.2438: Forthi mi conseil is that thou
8.2439: Remembre wel hou thou art old."
8.2440: Whan Venus hath hir tale told,
8.2441: And I bethoght was al aboute,
8.2442: Tho wiste I wel withoute doute,
8.2443: That ther was no recoverir;
8.2444: And as a man the blase of fyr
8.2445: With water quencheth, so ferd I;


-2.453-



8.2446: A cold me cawhte sodeinly,
8.2447: For sorwe that myn herte made
8.2448: Mi dedly face pale and fade
8.2449: Becam, and swoune I fell to grounde.
8.2450: And as I lay the same stounde,
8.2451: Ne fully quik ne fully ded,
8.2452: Me thoghte I sih tofor myn hed
8.2453: Cupide with his bowe bent,
8.2454: And lich unto a Parlement,
8.2455: Which were ordeigned for the nones,
8.2456: With him cam al the world at ones
8.2457: Of gentil folk that whilom were
8.2458: Lovers, I sih hem alle there
8.2459: Forth with Cupide in sondri routes.
8.2460: Min yhe and as I caste aboutes,
8.2461: To knowe among hem who was who,
8.2462: I sih wher lusty Youthe tho,
8.2463: As he which was a Capitein,
8.2464: Tofore alle othre upon the plein
8.2465: Stod with his route wel begon,
8.2466: Here hevedes kempt, and therupon
8.2467: Garlandes noght of o colour,
8.2468: Some of the lef, some of the flour,
8.2469: And some of grete Perles were;
8.2470: The newe guise of Beawme there,
8.2471: With sondri thinges wel devised,
8.2472: I sih, wherof thei ben queintised.
8.2473: It was al lust that thei with ferde,
8.2474: Ther was no song that I ne herde,
8.2475: Which unto love was touchende;
8.2476: Of Pan and al that was likende
8.2477: As in Pipinge of melodie
8.2478: Was herd in thilke compaignie
8.2479: So lowde, that on every side
8.2480: It thoghte as al the hevene cride
8.2481: In such acord and such a soun
8.2482: Of bombard and of clarion
8.2483: With Cornemuse and Schallemele,


-2.454-



8.2484: That it was half a mannes hele
8.2485: So glad a noise forto hiere.
8.2486: And as me thoghte, in this manere
8.2487: Al freissh I syh hem springe and dance,
8.2488: And do to love her entendance
8.2489: After the lust of youthes heste.
8.2490: Ther was ynowh of joie and feste,
8.2491: For evere among thei laghe and pleie,
8.2492: And putten care out of the weie,
8.2493: That he with hem ne sat ne stod.
8.2494: And overthis I understod,
8.2495: So as myn Ere it myhte areche,
8.2496: The moste matiere of her speche
8.2497: Was al of knyhthod and of Armes,
8.2498: And what it is to ligge in armes
8.2499: With love, whanne it is achieved.
8.2500: Ther was Tristram, which was believed
8.2501: With bele Ysolde, and Lancelot
8.2502: Stod with Gunnore, and Galahot
8.2503: With his ladi, and as me thoghte,
8.2504: I syh wher Jason with him broghte
8.2505: His love, which that Creusa hihte,
8.2506: And Hercules, which mochel myhte,
8.2507: Was ther berende his grete Mace,
8.2508: And most of alle in thilke place
8.2509: He peyneth him to make chiere
8.2510: With Eolen, which was him diere.
8.2511: Theseuµs, thogh he were untrewe
8.2512: To love, as alle wommen knewe,
8.2513: Yit was he there natheles
8.2514: With Phedra, whom to love he ches:
8.2515: Of Grece ek ther was Thelamon,
8.2516: Which fro the king Lamenedon
8.2517: At Troie his doghter refte aweie,
8.2518: Eseonen, as for his preie,
8.2519: Which take was whan Jason cam
8.2520: Fro Colchos, and the Cite nam
8.2521: In vengance of the ferste hate;
8.2522: That made hem after to debate,


-2.455-



8.2523: Whan Priamus the newe toun
8.2524: Hath mad. And in avisioun
8.2525: Me thoghte that I sih also
8.2526: Ector forth with his brethren tuo;
8.2527: Himself stod with Pantaselee,
8.2528: And next to him I myhte se,
8.2529: Wher Paris stod with faire Eleine,
8.2530: Which was his joie sovereine;
8.2531: And Troilus stod with Criseide,
8.2532: Bot evere among, althogh he pleide,
8.2533: Be semblant he was hevy chiered,
8.2534: For Diomede, as him was liered,
8.2535: Cleymeth to ben his parconner.
8.2536: And thus full many a bacheler,
8.2537: A thousend mo than I can sein,
8.2538: With Yowthe I sih ther wel besein
8.2539: Forth with here loves glade and blithe.
8.2540: And some I sih whiche ofte sithe
8.2541: Compleignen hem in other wise;
8.2542: Among the whiche I syh Narcise
8.2543: And Piramus, that sory were.
8.2544: The worthy Grek also was there,
8.2545: Achilles, which for love deide:
8.2546: Agamenon ek, as men seide,
8.2547: And Menelay the king also
8.2548: I syh, with many an other mo,
8.2549: Which hadden be fortuned sore
8.2550: In loves cause. And overmore
8.2551: Of wommen in the same cas,
8.2552: With hem I sih wher Dido was,
8.2553: Forsake which was with Enee;
8.2554: And Phillis ek I myhte see,
8.2555: Whom Demephon deceived hadde;
8.2556: And Adriagne hir sorwe ladde,
8.2557: For Theseuµs hir Soster tok
8.2558: And hire unkindely forsok.
8.2559: I sih ther ek among the press
8.2560: Compleignende upon Hercules


-2.456-



8.2561: His ferste love Deyanire,
8.2562: Which sette him afterward afyre:
8.2563: Medea was there ek and pleigneth
8.2564: Upon Jason, for that he feigneth,
8.2565: Withoute cause and tok a newe;
8.2566: Sche seide, "Fy on alle untrewe!"
8.2567: I sih there ek Deyµdamie,
8.2568: Which hadde lost the compaignie
8.2569: Of Achilles, whan Diomede
8.2570: To Troie him fette upon the nede.
8.2571: Among these othre upon the grene
8.2572: I syh also the wofull queene
8.2573: Cleopatras, which in a Cave
8.2574: With Serpentz hath hirself begrave
8.2575: Alquik, and so sche was totore,
8.2576: For sorwe of that sche hadde lore
8.2577: Antonye, which hir love hath be:
8.2578: And forth with hire I sih Tisbee,
8.2579: Which on the scharpe swerdes point
8.2580: For love deide in sory point;
8.2581: And as myn Ere it myhte knowe,
8.2582: Sche seide, "Wo worthe alle slowe!"
8.2583: The pleignte of Progne and Philomene
8.2584: Ther herde I what it wolde mene,
8.2585: How Tereuµs of his untrouthe
8.2586: Undede hem bothe, and that was routhe;
8.2587: And next to hem I sih Canace,
8.2588: Which for Machaire hir fader grace
8.2589: Hath lost, and deide in wofull plit.
8.2590: And as I sih in my spirit,
8.2591: Me thoghte amonges othre thus
8.2592: The doghter of king Priamus,
8.2593: Polixena, whom Pirrus slowh,
8.2594: Was there and made sorwe ynowh,
8.2595: As sche which deide gulteles
8.2596: For love, and yit was loveles.
8.2597: And forto take the desport,
8.2598: I sih there some of other port,


-2.457-



8.2599: And that was Circes and Calipse,
8.2600: That cowthen do the Mone eclipse,
8.2601: Of men and change the liknesses,
8.2602: Of Artmagique Sorceresses;
8.2603: Thei hielde in honde manyon,
8.2604: To love wher thei wolde or non.
8.2605: Bot above alle that ther were
8.2606: Of wommen I sih foure there,
8.2607: Whos name I herde most comended:
8.2608: Be hem the Court stod al amended;
8.2609: For wher thei comen in presence,
8.2610: Men deden hem the reverence,
8.2611: As thogh they hadden be goddesses,
8.2612: Of al this world or Emperesses.
8.2613: And as me thoghte, an Ere I leide,
8.2614: And herde hou that these othre seide,
8.2615: "Lo, these ben the foure wyves,
8.2616: Whos feith was proeved in her lyves:
8.2617: For in essample of alle goode
8.2618: With Mariage so thei stode,
8.2619: That fame, which no gret thing hydeth,
8.2620: Yit in Cronique of hem abydeth."
8.2621: Penolope that on was hote,
8.2622: Whom many a knyht hath loved hote,
8.2623: Whil that hire lord Ulixes lay
8.2624: Full many a yer and many a day
8.2625: Upon the grete Siege of Troie:
8.2626: Bot sche, which hath no worldes joie
8.2627: Bot only of hire housebonde,
8.2628: Whil that hir lord was out of londe,
8.2629: So wel hath kept hir wommanhiede,
8.2630: That al the world therof tok hiede,
8.2631: And nameliche of hem in Grece.
8.2632: That other womman was Lucrece,
8.2633: Wif to the Romain Collatin;
8.2634: And sche constreigned of Tarquin
8.2635: To thing which was ayein hir wille,
8.2636: Sche wolde noght hirselven stille,
8.2637: Bot deide only for drede of schame


-2.458-



8.2638: In keping of hire goode name,
8.2639: As sche which was on of the beste.
8.2640: The thridde wif was hote Alceste,
8.2641: Which whanne Ametus scholde dye
8.2642: Upon his grete maladye,
8.2643: Sche preide unto the goddes so,
8.2644: That sche receyveth al the wo
8.2645: And deide hirself to yive him lif:
8.2646: Lo, if this were a noble wif.
8.2647: The ferthe wif which I ther sih,
8.2648: I herde of hem that were nyh
8.2649: Hou sche was cleped Alcione,
8.2650: Which to Seyix hir lord al one
8.2651: And to nomo hire body kepte;
8.2652: And whan sche sih him dreynt, sche lepte
8.2653: Into the wawes where he swam,
8.2654: And there a Sefoul sche becam,
8.2655: And with hire wenges him bespradde
8.2656: For love which to him sche hadde.
8.2657: Lo, these foure were tho
8.2658: Whiche I sih, as me thoghte tho,
8.2659: Among the grete compaignie
8.2660: Which Love hadde forto guye:
8.2661: Bot Youthe, which in special
8.2662: Of Loves Court was Mareschal,
8.2663: So besy was upon his lay,
8.2664: That he non hiede where I lay
8.2665: Hath take. And thanne, as I behield,
8.2666: Me thoghte I sih upon the field,
8.2667: Where Elde cam a softe pas
8.2668: Toward Venus, ther as sche was.
8.2669: With him gret compaignie he ladde,
8.2670: Bot noght so manye as Youthe hadde:
8.2671: The moste part were of gret Age,
8.2672: And that was sene in the visage,


-2.459-



8.2673: And noght forthi, so as thei myhte,
8.2674: Thei made hem yongly to the sihte:
8.2675: Bot yit herde I no pipe there
8.2676: To make noise in mannes Ere,
8.2677: Bot the Musette I myhte knowe,
8.2678: For olde men which souneth lowe,
8.2679: With Harpe and Lute and with Citole.
8.2680: The hovedance and the Carole,
8.2681: In such a wise as love hath bede,
8.2682: A softe pas thei dance and trede;
8.2683: And with the wommen otherwhile
8.2684: With sobre chier among thei smyle,
8.2685: For laghtre was ther non on hyh.
8.2686: And natheles full wel I syh
8.2687: That thei the more queinte it made
8.2688: For love, in whom thei weren glade.
8.2689: And there me thoghte I myhte se
8.2690: The king David with Bersabee,
8.2691: And Salomon was noght withoute;
8.2692: Passende an hundred on a route
8.2693: Of wyves and of Concubines,
8.2694: Juesses bothe and Sarazines,
8.2695: To him I sih alle entendant:
8.2696: I not if he was sufficant,
8.2697: Bot natheles for al his wit
8.2698: He was attached with that writ
8.2699: Which love with his hond enseleth,
8.2700: Fro whom non erthly man appeleth.
8.2701: And overthis, as for a wonder,
8.2702: With his leon which he put under,
8.2703: With Dalida Sampson I knew,
8.2704: Whos love his strengthe al overthrew.
8.2705: I syh there Aristotle also,
8.2706: Whom that the queene of Grece so
8.2707: Hath bridled, that in thilke time


-2.460-



8.2708: Sche made him such a Silogime,
8.2709: That he foryat al his logique;
8.2710: Ther was non art of his Practique,
8.2711: Thurgh which it mihte ben excluded
8.2712: That he ne was fully concluded
8.2713: To love, and dede his obeissance.
8.2714: And ek Virgile of aqueintance
8.2715: I sih, wher he the Maiden preide,
8.2716: Which was the doghter, as men seide,
8.2717: Of themperour whilom of Rome;
8.2718: Sortes and Plato with him come,
8.2719: So dede Ovide the Poete.
8.2720: I thoghte thanne how love is swete,
8.2721: Which hath so wise men reclamed,
8.2722: And was miself the lasse aschamed,
8.2723: Or forto lese or forto winne
8.2724: In the meschief that I was inne:
8.2725: And thus I lay in hope of grace.
8.2726: And whan thei comen to the place
8.2727: Wher Venus stod and I was falle,
8.2728: These olde men with o vois alle
8.2729: To Venus preiden for my sake.
8.2730: And sche, that myhte noght forsake
8.2731: So gret a clamour as was there,
8.2732: Let Pite come into hire Ere;
8.2733: And forth withal unto Cupide
8.2734: Sche preith that he upon his side
8.2735: Me wolde thurgh his grace sende
8.2736: Som confort, that I myhte amende,
8.2737: Upon the cas which is befalle.
8.2738: And thus for me thei preiden alle
8.2739: Of hem that weren olde aboute,
8.2740: And ek some of the yonge route,
8.2741: Of gentilesse and pure trouthe
8.2742: I herde hem telle it was gret routhe,
8.2743: That I withouten help so ferde.
8.2744: And thus me thoghte I lay and herde.
8.2745: Cupido, which may hurte and hele
8.2746: In loves cause, as for myn hele


-2.461-



8.2747: Upon the point which him was preid
8.2748: Cam with Venus, wher I was leid
8.2749: Swounende upon the grene gras.
8.2750: And, as me thoghte , anon ther was
8.2751: On every side so gret presse,
8.2752: That every lif began to presse,
8.2753: I wot noght wel hou many score,
8.2754: Suche as I spak of now tofore,
8.2755: Lovers, that comen to beholde,
8.2756: Bot most of hem that weren olde:
8.2757: Thei stoden there at thilke tyde,
8.2758: To se what ende schal betyde
8.2759: Upon the cure of my sotie.
8.2760: Tho myhte I hiere gret partie
8.2761: Spekende, and ech his oghne avis
8.2762: Hath told, on that, an other this:
8.2763: Bot among alle this I herde,
8.2764: Thei weren wo that I so ferde,
8.2765: And seiden that for no riote
8.2766: An old man scholde noght assote;
8.2767: For as thei tolden redely,
8.2768: Ther is in him no cause why,
8.2769: Bot if he wolde himself benyce;
8.2770: So were he wel the more nyce.
8.2771: And thus desputen some of tho,
8.2772: And some seiden nothing so,
8.2773: Bot that the wylde loves rage
8.2774: In mannes lif forberth non Age;
8.2775: Whil ther is oyle forto fyre,
8.2776: The lampe is lyhtly set afyre,
8.2777: And is fulhard er it be queynt,
8.2778: Bot only if it be som seint,
8.2779: Which god preserveth of his grace.
8.2780: And thus me thoghte, in sondri place
8.2781: Of hem that walken up and doun
8.2782: Ther was diverse opinioun:
8.2783: And for a while so it laste,
8.2784: Til that Cupide to the laste,


-2.462-



8.2785: Forth with his moder full avised,
8.2786: Hath determined and devised
8.2787: Unto what point he wol descende.
8.2788: And al this time I was liggende
8.2789: Upon the ground tofore his yhen,
8.2790: And thei that my desese syhen
8.2791: Supposen noght I scholde live;
8.2792: Bot he, which wolde thanne yive
8.2793: His grace, so as it mai be,
8.2794: This blinde god which mai noght se,
8.2795: Hath groped til that he me fond;
8.2796: And as he pitte forth his hond
8.2797: Upon my body, wher I lay,
8.2798: Me thoghte a fyri Lancegay,
8.2799: Which whilom thurgh myn herte he caste,
8.2800: He pulleth oute, and also faste
8.2801: As this was do, Cupide nam
8.2802: His weie, I not where he becam,
8.2803: And so dede al the remenant
8.2804: Which unto him was entendant,
8.2805: Of hem that in Avision
8.2806: I hadde a revelacion,
8.2807: So as I tolde now tofore.
8.2808: Bot Venus wente noght therfore,
8.2809: Ne Genius, whiche thilke time
8.2810: Abiden bothe faste byme.
8.2811: And sche which mai the hertes bynde
8.2812: In loves cause and ek unbinde,
8.2813: Er I out of mi trance aros,
8.2814: Venus, which hield a boiste clos,
8.2815: And wolde noght I scholde deie,
8.2816: Tok out mor cold than eny keie
8.2817: An oignement, and in such point
8.2818: Sche hath my wounded herte enoignt,
8.2819: My temples and my Reins also.
8.2820: And forth withal sche tok me tho
8.2821: A wonder Mirour forto holde,


-2.463-



8.2822: In which sche bad me to beholde
8.2823: And taken hiede of that I syhe;
8.2824: Wherinne anon myn hertes yhe
8.2825: I caste, and sih my colour fade,
8.2826: Myn yhen dymme and al unglade,
8.2827: Mi chiekes thinne, and al my face
8.2828: With Elde I myhte se deface,
8.2829: So riveled and so wo besein,
8.2830: That ther was nothing full ne plein,
8.2831: I syh also myn heres hore.
8.2832: Mi will was tho to se nomore
8.2833: Outwith, for ther was no plesance;
8.2834: And thanne into my remembrance
8.2835: I drowh myn olde daies passed,
8.2836: And as reson it hath compassed,
8.2837: I made a liknesse of miselve
8.2838: Unto the sondri Monthes twelve,
8.2839: Wherof the yeer in his astat
8.2840: Is mad, and stant upon debat,
8.2841: That lich til other non acordeth.
8.2842: For who the times wel recordeth,
8.2843: And thanne at Marche if he beginne,
8.2844: Whan that the lusti yeer comth inne,
8.2845: Til Augst be passed and Septembre,
8.2846: The myhty youthe he may remembre
8.2847: In which the yeer hath his deduit
8.2848: Of gras, of lef, of flour, of fruit,
8.2849: Of corn and of the wyny grape.
8.2850: And afterward the time is schape
8.2851: To frost, to Snow, to Wind, to Rein,
8.2852: Til eft that Mars be come ayein:
8.2853: The Wynter wol no Somer knowe,
8.2854: The grene lef is overthrowe,
8.2855: The clothed erthe is thanne bare,
8.2856: Despuiled is the Somerfare,


-2.464-



8.2857: That erst was hete is thanne chele.
8.2858: And thus thenkende thoghtes fele,
8.2859: I was out of mi swoune affraied,
8.2860: Wherof I sih my wittes straied,
8.2861: And gan to clepe hem hom ayein.
8.2862: And whan Resoun it herde sein
8.2863: That loves rage was aweie,
8.2864: He cam to me the rihte weie,
8.2865: And hath remued the sotie
8.2866: Of thilke unwise fantasie,
8.2867: Wherof that I was wont to pleigne,
8.2868: So that of thilke fyri peine
8.2869: I was mad sobre and hol ynowh.
8.2870: Venus behield me than and lowh,
8.2871: And axeth, as it were in game,
8.2872: What love was. And I for schame
8.2873: Ne wiste what I scholde ansuere;
8.2874: And natheles I gan to swere
8.2875: That be my trouthe I knew him noght;
8.2876: So ferr it was out of mi thoght,
8.2877: Riht as it hadde nevere be.
8.2878: "Mi goode Sone," tho quod sche,
8.2879: "Now at this time I lieve it wel,
8.2880: So goth the fortune of my whiel;
8.2881: Forthi mi conseil is thou leve."
8.2882: "Ma dame," I seide, "be your leve,
8.2883: Ye witen wel, and so wot I,
8.2884: That I am unbehovely
8.2885: Your Court fro this day forth to serve:
8.2886: And for I may no thonk deserve,
8.2887: And also for I am refused,
8.2888: I preie you to ben excused.
8.2889: And natheles as for the laste,
8.2890: Whil that my wittes with me laste,
8.2891: Touchende mi confession
8.2892: I axe an absolucion
8.2893: Of Genius, er that I go."


-2.465-



8.2894: The Prest anon was redy tho,
8.2895: And seide, "Sone, as of thi schrifte
8.2896: Thou hast ful pardoun and foryifte;
8.2897: Foryet it thou, and so wol I."
8.2898: "Min holi fader, grant mercy,"
8.2899: Quod I to him, and to the queene
8.2900: I fell on knes upon the grene,
8.2901: And tok my leve forto wende.
8.2902: Bot sche, that wolde make an ende,
8.2903: As therto which I was most able,
8.2904: A Peire of Bedes blak as Sable
8.2905: Sche tok and heng my necke aboute;
8.2906: Upon the gaudes al withoute
8.2907: Was write of gold, Por reposer.
8.2908: "Lo," thus sche seide, "John Gower,
8.2909: Now thou art ate laste cast,
8.2910: This have I for thin ese cast,
8.2911: That thou nomore of love sieche.
8.2912: Bot my will is that thou besieche
8.2913: And preie hierafter for the pes,
8.2914: And that thou make a plein reles
8.2915: To love, which takth litel hiede
8.2916: Of olde men upon the nede,
8.2917: Whan that the lustes ben aweie:
8.2918: Forthi to thee nys bot o weie,
8.2919: In which let reson be thi guide;
8.2920: For he may sone himself misguide,
8.2921: That seth noght the peril tofore.
8.2922: Mi Sone, be wel war therfore,
8.2923: And kep the sentence of my lore
8.2924: And tarie thou mi Court nomore,
8.2925: Bot go ther vertu moral duelleth,
8.2926: Wher ben thi bokes, as men telleth,
8.2927: Whiche of long time thou hast write.
8.2928: For this I do thee wel to wite,
8.2929: If thou thin hele wolt pourchace,
8.2930: Thou miht noght make suite and chace,


-2.466-



8.2931: Wher that the game is nought pernable;
8.2932: It were a thing unresonable,
8.2933: A man to be so overseie.
8.2934: Forthi tak hiede of that I seie;
8.2935: For in the lawe of my comune
8.2936: We be noght schape to comune,
8.2937: Thiself and I, nevere after this.
8.2938: Now have y seid al that ther is
8.2939: Of love as for thi final ende:
8.2940: Adieu, for y mot fro the wende."
8.2941: And with that word al sodeinly,


-2.467-



8.2942: Enclosid in a sterred sky,
8.2943: Venus, which is the qweene of love,
8.2944: Was take in to hire place above,
8.2945: More wiste y nought wher sche becam.
8.2946: And thus my leve of hire y nam,
8.2947: And forth with al the same tide
8.2948: Hire prest, which wolde nought abide,
8.2949: Or be me lief or be me loth,
8.2950: Out of my sighte forth he goth,
8.2951: And y was left with outen helpe.
8.2952: So wiste I nought wher of to yelpe,
8.2953: Bot only that y hadde lore
8.2954: My time, and was sori ther fore.
8.2955: And thus bewhapid in my thought,
8.2956: Whan al was turnyd in to nought,
8.2957: I stod amasid for a while,
8.2958: And in my self y gan to smyle
8.2959: Thenkende uppon the bedis blake,
8.2960: And how they weren me betake,
8.2961: For that y schulde bidde and preie.
8.2962: And whanne y sigh non othre weie
8.2963: Bot only that y was refusid,
8.2964: Unto the lif which y hadde usid
8.2965: I thoughte nevere torne ayein:
8.2966: And in this wise, soth to seyn,
8.2967: Homward a softe pas y wente,
8.2968: Wher that with al myn hol entente


-2.468-



8.2969: Uppon the point that y am schryve
8.2970: I thenke bidde whil y live.
8.2971: He which withinne daies sevene
8.2972: This large world forth with the hevene
8.2973: Of his eternal providence
8.2974: Hath mad, and thilke intelligence
8.2975: In mannys soule resonable
8.2976: Hath schape to be perdurable,
8.2977: Wherof the man of his feture
8.2978: Above alle erthli creature
8.2979: Aftir the soule is immortal,


-2.469-



8.2980: To thilke lord in special,
8.2981: As he which is of alle thinges
8.2982: The creatour, and of the kynges
8.2983: Hath the fortunes uppon honde,
8.2984: His grace and mercy forto fonde
8.2985: Uppon my bare knes y preie,
8.2986: That he this lond in siker weie
8.2987: Wol sette uppon good governance.
8.2988: For if men takyn remembrance
8.2989: What is to live in unite,
8.2990: Ther ys no staat in his degree
8.2991: That noughte to desire pes,
8.2992: With outen which, it is no les,
8.2993: To seche and loke in to the laste,
8.2994: Ther may no worldes joye laste.
8.2995: Ferst forto loke the Clergie,
8.2996: Hem oughte wel to justefie
8.2997: Thing which belongith to here cure,
8.2998: As forto praie and to procure
8.2999: Oure pes toward the hevene above,
8.3000: And ek to sette reste and love


-2.470-



8.3001: Among ous on this erthe hiere.
8.3002: For if they wroughte in this manere
8.3003: Aftir the reule of charite,
8.3004: I hope that men schuldyn se
8.3005: This lond amende. And ovyr this,
8.3006: To seche and loke how that it is
8.3007: Touchende of the chevalerie,
8.3008: Which forto loke, in som partie
8.3009: Is worthi forto be comendid,
8.3010: And in som part to ben amendid,
8.3011: That of here large retenue
8.3012: The lond is ful of maintenue,
8.3013: Which causith that the comune right
8.3014: In fewe contrees stant upright.
8.3015: Extorcioun, contekt, ravine
8.3016: Withholde ben of that covyne,
8.3017: Aldai men hierin gret compleignte
8.3018: Of the desease, of the constreignte,
8.3019: Wher of the poeple is sore oppressid:


-2.471-



8.3020: God graunte it mote be redressid.
8.3021: For of knyghthode thordre wolde
8.3022: That thei defende and kepe scholde
8.3023: The comun right and the fraunchise
8.3024: Of holy cherche in alle wise,
8.3025: So that no wikke man it dere,
8.3026: And ther fore servith scheld and spere:
8.3027: Bot for it goth now other weie,
8.3028: Oure grace goth the more aweie.
8.3029: And forto lokyn ovyrmore,
8.3030: Wher of the poeple pleigneth sore,
8.3031: Toward the lawis of oure lond,
8.3032: Men sein that trouthe hath broke his bond
8.3033: And with brocage is goon aweie,
8.3034: So that no man can se the weie
8.3035: Wher forto fynde rightwisnesse.
8.3036: And if men sechin sikernesse
8.3037: Uppon the lucre of marchandie,
8.3038: Compassement and tricherie
8.3039: Of singuler profit to wynne,
8.3040: Men seyn, is cause of mochil synne,
8.3041: And namely of divisioun,
8.3042: Which many a noble worthi toun


-2.472-



8.3043: Fro welthe and fro prosperite
8.3044: Hath brought to gret adversite.
8.3045: So were it good to ben al on,
8.3046: For mechil grace ther uppon
8.3047: Unto the Citees schulde falle,
8.3048: Which myghte availle to ous alle,
8.3049: If these astatz amendid were,
8.3050: So that the vertus stodyn there
8.3051: And that the vices were aweie:
8.3052: Me thenkth y dorste thanne seie,
8.3053: This londis grace schulde arise.
8.3054: Bot yit to loke in othre wise,
8.3055: Ther is a stat, as ye schul hiere,
8.3056: Above alle othre on erthe hiere,
8.3057: Which hath the lond in his balance:
8.3058: To him belongith the leiance
8.3059: Of Clerk, of knyght, of man of lawe;
8.3060: Undir his hond al is forth drawe
8.3061: The marchant and the laborer;
8.3062: So stant it al in his power
8.3063: Or forto spille or forto save.
8.3064: Bot though that he such power have,
8.3065: And that his myghtes ben so large,
8.3066: He hath hem nought withouten charge,
8.3067: To which that every kyng ys swore:
8.3068: So were it good that he ther fore


-2.473-



8.3069: First un to rightwisnesse entende,
8.3070: Wherof that he hym self amende
8.3071: Toward his god and leve vice,
8.3072: Which is the chief of his office;
8.3073: And aftir al the remenant
8.3074: He schal uppon his covenant
8.3075: Governe and lede in such a wise,
8.3076: So that ther be no tirandise,
8.3077: Wherof that he his poeple grieve,
8.3078: Or ellis may he nought achieve
8.3079: That longith to his regalie.
8.3080: For if a kyng wol justifie
8.3081: His lond and hem that beth withynne,
8.3082: First at hym self he mot begynne,
8.3083: To kepe and reule his owne astat,
8.3084: That in hym self be no debat
8.3085: Toward his god: for othre wise
8.3086: Ther may non erthly kyng suffise
8.3087: Of his kyngdom the folk to lede,
8.3088: Bot he the kyng of hevene drede.
8.3089: For what kyng sett hym uppon pride
8.3090: And takth his lust on every side
8.3091: And wil nought go the righte weie,
8.3092: Though god his grace caste aweie
8.3093: No wondir is, for ate laste
8.3094: He schal wel wite it mai nought laste,
8.3095: The pompe which he secheth here.


-2.474-



8.3096: Bot what kyng that with humble chere
8.3097: Aftir the lawe of god eschuieth
8.3098: The vices, and the vertus suieth,
8.3099: His grace schal be suffisant
8.3100: To governe al the remenant
8.3101: Which longith to his duite;
8.3102: So that in his prosperite
8.3103: The poeple schal nought ben oppressid,
8.3104: Wherof his name schal be blessid,
8.3105: For evere and be memorial.
8.3106: And now to speke as in final,
8.3107: Touchende that y undirtok
8.3108: In englesch forto make a book


-2.475-



8.3109: Which stant betwene ernest and game,
8.3110: I have it maad as thilke same
8.3111: Which axe forto ben excusid,
8.3112: And that my bok be nought refusid
8.3113: Of lered men, whan thei it se,
8.3114: For lak of curiosite:
8.3115: For thilke scole of eloquence
8.3116: Belongith nought to my science,
8.3117: Uppon the forme of rethoriqe
8.3118: My wordis forto peinte and pike,
8.3119: As Tullius som tyme wrot.
8.3120: Bot this y knowe and this y wot,
8.3121: That y have do my trewe peyne
8.3122: With rude wordis and with pleyne,
8.3123: In al that evere y couthe and myghte,
8.3124: This bok to write as y behighte,
8.3125: So as siknesse it soffre wolde;
8.3126: And also for my daies olde,


-2.476-



8.3127: That y am feble and impotent,
8.3128: I wot nought how the world ys went.
8.3129: So preye y to my lordis alle
8.3130: Now in myn age, how so befalle,
8.3131: That y mot stonden in here grace:
8.3132: For though me lacke to purchace
8.3133: Here worthi thonk as by decerte,
8.3134: Yit the symplesse of my poverte
8.3135: Desireth forto do plesance
8.3136: To hem undir whos governance
8.3137: I hope siker to abide.
8.3138: But now uppon my laste tide
8.3139: That y this book have maad and write,
8.3140: My muse doth me forto wite,
8.3141: And seith it schal be for my beste
8.3142: Fro this day forth to take reste,
8.3143: That y nomore of love make,


-2.477-



8.3144: Which many an herte hath overtake,
8.3145: And ovyrturnyd as the blynde
8.3146: Fro reson in to lawe of kynde;
8.3147: Wher as the wisdom goth aweie
8.3148: And can nought se the ryhte weie
8.3149: How to governe his oghne estat,
8.3150: Bot everydai stant in debat
8.3151: Withinne him self, and can nought leve.
8.3152: And thus forthy my final leve
8.3153: I take now for evere more,
8.3154: Withoute makynge any more,
8.3155: Of love and of his dedly hele,
8.3156: Which no phisicien can hele.
8.3157: For his nature is so divers,
8.3158: That it hath evere som travers
8.3159: Or of to moche or of to lite,
8.3160: That pleinly mai noman delite,
8.3161: Bot if him faile or that or this.
8.3162: Bot thilke love which that is
8.3163: Withinne a mannes herte affermed,
8.3164: And stant of charite confermed,


-2.478-



8.3165: Such love is goodly forto have,
8.3166: Such love mai the bodi save,
8.3167: Such love mai the soule amende,
8.3168: The hyhe god such love ous sende
8.3169: Forthwith the remenant of grace;
8.3170: So that above in thilke place
8.3171: Wher resteth love and alle pes,
8.3172: Oure joie mai ben endeles.