[OMACL release #4]

                          CONFESSIO AMANTIS

                                 or

                   TALES OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS

                    By John Gower, 1330-1408 A.D.


The following electronic text is based on that edition published
in THE WORKS OF JOHN GOWER, ed. Prof. G.C. Macauley (Oxford,
1901).

This electronic text was edited and proofed by Douglas B.
Killings (DeTroyes@AOL.COM), September 1994, based upon a
previous e-text of unknown origin.  Additional assistance
provided by Diane M. Brendan.

*****************************************************************

Prologus


Torpor, ebes sensus, scola parua labor minimusque
     Causant quo minimus ipse minora canam:
Qua tamen Engisti lingua canit Insula Bruti
     Anglica Carmente metra iuuante loquar.
Ossibus ergo carens que conterit ossa loquelis
     Absit, et interpres stet procul oro malus.


1      Of hem that writen ous tofore
2      The bokes duelle, and we therfore
3      Ben tawht of that was write tho:
4      Forthi good is that we also
5      In oure tyme among ous hiere
6      Do wryte of newe som matiere,
7      Essampled of these olde wyse
8      So that it myhte in such a wyse,
9      Whan we ben dede and elleswhere,
10     Beleve to the worldes eere
11     In tyme comende after this.
12     Bot for men sein, and soth it is,
13     That who that al of wisdom writ
14     It dulleth ofte a mannes wit
15     To him that schal it aldai rede,
16     For thilke cause, if that ye rede,
17     I wolde go the middel weie
18     And wryte a bok betwen the tweie,
19     Somwhat of lust, somewhat of lore,
20     That of the lasse or of the more
21     Som man mai lyke of that I wryte:
22     And for that fewe men endite
23     In oure englissh, I thenke make
24     A bok for Engelondes sake,
25     The yer sextenthe of kyng Richard.
26     What schal befalle hierafterward
27     God wot, for now upon this tyde
28     Men se the world on every syde
29     In sondry wyse so diversed,
30     That it welnyh stant al reversed,
31     As forto speke of tyme ago.
32     The cause whi it changeth so
33     It needeth nought to specifie,
34     The thing so open is at ije
35     That every man it mai beholde:
36     And natheles be daies olde,
37     Whan that the bokes weren levere,
38     Wrytinge was beloved evere
39     Of hem that weren vertuous;
40     For hier in erthe amonges ous,
41     If noman write hou that it stode,
42     The pris of hem that weren goode
43     Scholde, as who seith, a gret partie
44     Be lost: so for to magnifie
45     The worthi princes that tho were,
46     The bokes schewen hiere and there,
47     Wherof the world ensampled is;
48     And tho that deden thanne amis
49     Thurgh tirannie and crualte,
50     Right as thei stoden in degre,
51     So was the wrytinge of here werk.
52     Thus I, which am a burel clerk,
53     Purpose forto wryte a bok
54     After the world that whilom tok
55     Long tyme in olde daies passed:
56     Bot for men sein it is now lassed,
57     In worse plit than it was tho,
58     I thenke forto touche also
59     The world which neweth every dai,
60     So as I can, so as I mai.
61     Thogh I seknesse have upon honde
62     And longe have had, yit woll I fonde
63     To wryte and do my bisinesse,
64     That in som part, so as I gesse,
65     The wyse man mai ben avised.
66     For this prologe is so assised
67     That it to wisdom al belongeth:
68     What wysman that it underfongeth,
69     He schal drawe into remembrance
70     The fortune of this worldes chance,
71     The which noman in his persone
72     Mai knowe, bot the god al one.
73     Whan the prologe is so despended,
74     This bok schal afterward ben ended
75     Of love, which doth many a wonder
76     And many a wys man hath put under.
77     And in this wyse I thenke trete
78     Towardes hem that now be grete,
79     Betwen the vertu and the vice
80     Which longeth unto this office.
81     Bot for my wittes ben to smale
82     To tellen every man his tale,
83     This bok, upon amendment
84     To stonde at his commandement,
85     With whom myn herte is of accord,
86     I sende unto myn oghne lord,
87     Which of Lancastre is Henri named:
88     The hyhe god him hath proclamed
89     Ful of knyhthode and alle grace.
90     So woll I now this werk embrace
91     With hol trust and with hol believe;
92     God grante I mot it wel achieve.
93     If I schal drawe in to my mynde
94     The tyme passed, thanne I fynde
95     The world stod thanne in al his welthe:
96     Tho was the lif of man in helthe,
97     Tho was plente, tho was richesse,
98     Tho was the fortune of prouesse,
99     Tho was knyhthode in pris be name,
100    Wherof the wyde worldes fame
101    Write in Cronique is yit withholde;
102    Justice of lawe tho was holde,
103    The privilege of regalie
104    Was sauf, and al the baronie
105    Worschiped was in his astat;
106    The citees knewen no debat,
107    The poeple stod in obeissance
108    Under the reule of governance,
109    And pes, which ryhtwisnesse keste,
110    With charite tho stod in reste:
111    Of mannes herte the corage
112    Was schewed thanne in the visage;
113    The word was lich to the conceite
114    Withoute semblant of deceite:
115    Tho was ther unenvied love,
116    Tho was the vertu sett above
117    And vice was put under fote.
118    Now stant the crop under the rote,
119    The world is changed overal,
120    And therof most in special
121    That love is falle into discord.
122    And that I take to record
123    Of every lond for his partie
124    The comun vois, which mai noght lie;
125    Noght upon on, bot upon alle
126    It is that men now clepe and calle,
127    And sein the regnes ben divided,
128    In stede of love is hate guided,
129    The werre wol no pes purchace,
130    And lawe hath take hire double face,
131    So that justice out of the weie
132    With ryhtwisnesse is gon aweie:
133    And thus to loke on every halve,
134    Men sen the sor withoute salve,
135    Which al the world hath overtake.
136    Ther is no regne of alle outtake,
137    For every climat hath his diel
138    After the tornynge of the whiel,
139    Which blinde fortune overthroweth;
140    Wherof the certain noman knoweth:
141    The hevene wot what is to done,
142    Bot we that duelle under the mone
143    Stonde in this world upon a weer,
144    And namely bot the pouer
145    Of hem that ben the worldes guides
146    With good consail on alle sides
147    Be kept upriht in such a wyse,
148    That hate breke noght thassise
149    Of love, which is al the chief
150    To kepe a regne out of meschief.
151    For alle resoun wolde this,
152    That unto him which the heved is
153    The membres buxom scholden bowe,
154    And he scholde ek her trowthe allowe,
155    With al his herte and make hem chiere,
156    For good consail is good to hiere.
157    Althogh a man be wys himselve,
158    Yit is the wisdom more of tuelve;
159    And if thei stoden bothe in on,
160    To hope it were thanne anon
161    That god his grace wolde sende
162    To make of thilke werre an ende,
163    Which every day now groweth newe:
164    And that is gretly forto rewe
165    In special for Cristes sake,
166    Which wolde his oghne lif forsake
167    Among the men to yeve pes.
168    But now men tellen natheles
169    That love is fro the world departed,
170    So stant the pes unevene parted
171    With hem that liven now adaies.
172    Bot forto loke at alle assaies,
173    To him that wolde resoun seche
174    After the comun worldes speche
175    It is to wondre of thilke werre,
176    In which non wot who hath the werre;
177    For every lond himself deceyveth
178    And of desese his part receyveth,
179    And yet ne take men no kepe.
180    Bot thilke lord which al may kepe,
181    To whom no consail may ben hid,
182    Upon the world which is betid,
183    Amende that wherof men pleigne
184    With trewe hertes and with pleine,
185    And reconcile love ayeyn,
186    As he which is king sovereign
187    Of al the worldes governaunce,
188    And of his hyhe porveaunce
189    Afferme pes betwen the londes
190    And take her cause into hise hondes,
191    So that the world may stonde apppesed
192    And his godhede also be plesed.
193    To thenke upon the daies olde,
194    The lif of clerkes to beholde,
195    Men sein how that thei weren tho
196    Ensample and reule of alle tho
197    Whiche of wisdom the vertu soughten.
198    Unto the god ferst thei besoughten
199    As to the substaunce of her Scole,
200    That thei ne scholden noght befole
201    Her wit upon none erthly werkes,
202    Which were ayein thestat of clerkes,
203    And that thei myhten fle the vice
204    Which Simon hath in his office,
205    Wherof he takth the gold in honde.
206    For thilke tyme I understonde
207    The Lumbard made non eschange
208    The bisschopriches forto change,
209    Ne yet a lettre for to sende
210    For dignite ne for Provende,
211    Or cured or withoute cure.
212    The cherche keye in aventure
213    Of armes and of brygantaille
214    Stod nothing thanne upon bataille;
215    To fyhte or for to make cheste
216    It thoghte hem thanne noght honeste;
217    Bot of simplesce and pacience
218    Thei maden thanne no defence:
219    The Court of worldly regalie
220    To hem was thanne no baillie;
221    The vein honour was noght desired,
222    Which hath the proude herte fyred;
223    Humilite was tho withholde,
224    And Pride was a vice holde.
225    Of holy cherche the largesse
226    Yaf thanne and dede gret almesse
227    To povere men that hadden nede:
228    Thei were ek chaste in word and dede,
229    Wherof the poeple ensample tok;
230    Her lust was al upon the bok,
231    Or forto preche or forto preie,
232    To wisse men the ryhte weie
233    Of suche as stode of trowthe unliered.
234    Lo, thus was Petres barge stiered
235    Of hem that thilke tyme were,
236    And thus cam ferst to mannes Ere
237    The feith of Crist and alle goode
238    Thurgh hem that thanne weren goode
239    And sobre and chaste and large and wyse.
240    Bot now men sein is otherwise,
241    Simon the cause hath undertake,
242    The worldes swerd on honde is take;
243    And that is wonder natheles,
244    Whan Crist him self hath bode pes
245    And set it in his testament,
246    How now that holy cherche is went,
247    Of that here lawe positif
248    Hath set to make werre and strif
249    For worldes good, which may noght laste.
250    God wot the cause to the laste
251    Of every right and wrong also;
252    But whil the lawe is reuled so
253    That clerkes to the werre entende,
254    I not how that thei scholde amende
255    The woful world in othre thinges,
256    To make pes betwen the kynges
257    After the lawe of charite,
258    Which is the propre duete
259    Belongende unto the presthode.
260    Bot as it thenkth to the manhode,
261    The hevene is ferr, the world is nyh,
262    And veine gloire is ek so slyh,
263    Which coveitise hath now withholde,
264    That thei non other thing beholde,
265    Bot only that thei myhten winne.
266    And thus the werres thei beginne,
267    Wherof the holi cherche is taxed,
268    That in the point as it is axed
269    The disme goth to the bataille,
270    As thogh Crist myhte noght availe
271    To don hem riht be other weie.
272    In to the swerd the cherche keie
273    Is torned, and the holy bede
274    Into cursinge, and every stede
275    Which scholde stonde upon the feith
276    And to this cause an Ere leyth,
277    Astoned is of the querele.
278    That scholde be the worldes hele
279    Is now, men sein, the pestilence
280    Which hath exiled pacience
281    Fro the clergie in special:
282    And that is schewed overal,
283    In eny thing whan thei ben grieved.
284    Bot if Gregoire be believed,
285    As it is in the bokes write,
286    He doth ous somdel forto wite
287    The cause of thilke prelacie,
288    Wher god is noght of compaignie:
289    For every werk as it is founded
290    Schal stonde or elles be confounded;
291    Who that only for Cristes sake
292    Desireth cure forto take,
293    And noght for pride of thilke astat,
294    To bere a name of a prelat,
295    He schal be resoun do profit
296    In holy cherche upon the plit
297    That he hath set his conscience;
298    Bot in the worldes reverence
299    Ther ben of suche manie glade,
300    Whan thei to thilke astat ben made,
301    Noght for the merite of the charge,
302    Bot for thei wolde hemself descharge
303    Of poverte and become grete;
304    And thus for Pompe and for beyete
305    The Scribe and ek the Pharisee
306    Of Moises upon the See
307    In the chaiere on hyh ben set;
308    Wherof the feith is ofte let,
309    Which is betaken hem to kepe.
310    In Cristes cause alday thei slepe,
311    Bot of the world is noght foryete;
312    For wel is him that now may gete
313    Office in Court to ben honoured.
314    The stronge coffre hath al devoured
315    Under the keye of avarice
316    The tresor of the benefice,
317    Wherof the povere schulden clothe
318    And ete and drinke and house bothe;
319    The charite goth al unknowe,
320    For thei no grein of Pite sowe:
321    And slouthe kepeth the libraire
322    Which longeth to the Saintuaire;
323    To studie upon the worldes lore
324    Sufficeth now withoute more;
325    Delicacie his swete toth
326    Hath fostred so that it fordoth
327    Of abstinence al that ther is.
328    And forto loken over this,
329    If Ethna brenne in the clergie,
330    Al openly to mannes ije
331    At Avynoun thexperience
332    Therof hath yove an evidence,
333    Of that men sen hem so divided.
334    And yit the cause is noght decided;
335    Bot it is seid and evere schal,
336    Betwen tuo Stoles lyth the fal,
337    Whan that men wenen best to sitte:
338    In holy cherche of such a slitte
339    Is for to rewe un to ous alle;
340    God grante it mote wel befalle
341    Towardes him which hath the trowthe.
342    Bot ofte is sen that mochel slowthe,
343    Whan men ben drunken of the cuppe,
344    Doth mochel harm, whan fyr is uppe,
345    Bot if somwho the flamme stanche;
346    And so to speke upon this branche,
347    Which proud Envie hath mad to springe,
348    Of Scisme, causeth forto bringe
349    This newe Secte of Lollardie,
350    And also many an heresie
351    Among the clerkes in hemselve.
352    It were betre dike and delve
353    And stonde upon the ryhte feith,
354    Than knowe al that the bible seith
355    And erre as somme clerkes do.
356    Upon the hond to were a Schoo
357    And sette upon the fot a Glove
358    Acordeth noght to the behove
359    Of resonable mannes us:
360    If men behielden the vertus
361    That Crist in Erthe taghte here,
362    Thei scholden noght in such manere,
363    Among hem that ben holden wise,
364    The Papacie so desguise
365    Upon diverse eleccioun,
366    Which stant after thaffeccioun
367    Of sondry londes al aboute:
368    Bot whan god wole, it schal were oute,
369    For trowthe mot stonde ate laste.
370    Bot yet thei argumenten faste
371    Upon the Pope and his astat,
372    Wherof thei falle in gret debat;
373    This clerk seith yee, that other nay,
374    And thus thei dryve forth the day,
375    And ech of hem himself amendeth
376    Of worldes good, bot non entendeth
377    To that which comun profit were.
378    Thei sein that god is myhti there,
379    And schal ordeine what he wile,
380    Ther make thei non other skile
381    Where is the peril of the feith,
382    Bot every clerk his herte leith
383    To kepe his world in special,
384    And of the cause general,
385    Which unto holy cherche longeth,
386    Is non of hem that underfongeth
387    To schapen eny resistence:
388    And thus the riht hath no defence,
389    Bot ther I love, ther I holde.
390    Lo, thus tobroke is Cristes folde,
391    Wherof the flock withoute guide
392    Devoured is on every side,
393    In lacke of hem that ben unware
394    Schepherdes, whiche her wit beware
395    Upon the world in other halve.
396    The scharpe pricke in stede of salve
397    Thei usen now, wherof the hele
398    Thei hurte of that thei scholden hele;
399    And what Schep that is full of wulle
400    Upon his back, thei toose and pulle,
401    Whil ther is eny thing to pile:
402    And thogh ther be non other skile
403    Bot only for thei wolden wynne,
404    Thei leve noght, whan thei begynne,
405    Upon her acte to procede,
406    Which is no good schepherdes dede.
407    And upon this also men sein,
408    That fro the leese which is plein
409    Into the breres thei forcacche
410    Her Orf, for that thei wolden lacche
411    With such duresce, and so bereve
412    That schal upon the thornes leve
413    Of wulle, which the brere hath tore;
414    Wherof the Schep ben al totore
415    Of that the hierdes make hem lese.
416    Lo, how thei feignen chalk for chese,
417    For though thei speke and teche wel,
418    Thei don hemself therof no del:
419    For if the wolf come in the weie,
420    Her gostly Staf is thanne aweie,
421    Wherof thei scholde her flock defende;
422    Bot if the povere Schep offende
423    In eny thing, thogh it be lyte,
424    They ben al redy forto smyte;
425    And thus, how evere that thei tale,
426    The strokes falle upon the smale,
427    And upon othre that ben grete
428    Hem lacketh herte forto bete.
429    So that under the clerkes lawe
430    Men sen the Merel al mysdrawe,
431    I wol noght seie in general,
432    For ther ben somme in special
433    In whom that alle vertu duelleth,
434    And tho ben, as thapostel telleth,
435    That god of his eleccioun
436    Hath cleped to perfeccioun
437    In the manere as Aaron was:
438    Thei ben nothing in thilke cas
439    Of Simon, which the foldes gate
440    Hath lete, and goth in othergate,
441    Bot thei gon in the rihte weie.
442    Ther ben also somme, as men seie,
443    That folwen Simon ate hieles,
444    Whos carte goth upon the whieles
445    Of coveitise and worldes Pride,
446    And holy cherche goth beside,
447    Which scheweth outward a visage
448    Of that is noght in the corage.
449    For if men loke in holy cherche,
450    Betwen the word and that thei werche
451    Ther is a full gret difference:
452    Thei prechen ous in audience
453    That noman schal his soule empeire,
454    For al is bot a chirie feire
455    This worldes good, so as thei telle;
456    Also thei sein ther is an helle,
457    Which unto mannes sinne is due,
458    And bidden ous therfore eschue
459    That wikkid is, and do the goode.
460    Who that here wordes understode,
461    It thenkth thei wolden do the same;
462    Bot yet betwen ernest and game
463    Ful ofte it torneth other wise.
464    With holy tales thei devise
465    How meritoire is thilke dede
466    Of charite, to clothe and fede
467    The povere folk and forto parte
468    The worldes good, bot thei departe
469    Ne thenken noght fro that thei have.
470    Also thei sein, good is to save
471    With penance and with abstinence
472    Of chastite the continence;
473    Bot pleinly forto speke of that,
474    I not how thilke body fat,
475    Which thei with deynte metes kepe
476    And leyn it softe forto slepe,
477    Whan it hath elles al his wille,
478    With chastite schal stonde stille:
479    And natheles I can noght seie,
480    In aunter if that I misseye.
481    Touchende of this, how evere it stonde,
482    I here and wol noght understonde,
483    For therof have I noght to done:
484    Bot he that made ferst the Mone,
485    The hyhe god, of his goodnesse,
486    If ther be cause, he it redresce.
487    Bot what as eny man accuse,
488    This mai reson of trowthe excuse;
489    The vice of hem that ben ungoode
490    Is no reproef unto the goode:
491    For every man hise oghne werkes
492    Schal bere, and thus as of the clerkes
493    The goode men ben to comende,
494    And alle these othre god amende:
495    For thei ben to the worldes ije
496    The Mirour of ensamplerie,
497    To reulen and to taken hiede
498    Betwen the men and the godhiede.
499    Now forto speke of the comune,
500    It is to drede of that fortune
501    Which hath befalle in sondri londes:
502    Bot often for defalte of bondes
503    Al sodeinliche, er it be wist,
504    A Tonne, whanne his lye arist,
505    Tobrekth and renneth al aboute,
506    Which elles scholde noght gon oute;
507    And ek fulofte a litel Skar
508    Upon a Banke, er men be war,
509    Let in the Strem, which with gret peine,
510    If evere man it schal restreigne.
511    Wher lawe lacketh, errour groweth,
512    He is noght wys who that ne troweth,
513    For it hath proeved ofte er this;
514    And thus the comun clamour is
515    In every lond wher poeple dwelleth,
516    And eche in his compleignte telleth
517    How that the world is al miswent,
518    And ther upon his jugement
519    Yifth every man in sondry wise.
520    Bot what man wolde himself avise,
521    His conscience and noght misuse,
522    He may wel ate ferste excuse
523    His god, which evere stant in on:
524    In him ther is defalte non,
525    So moste it stonde upon ousselve
526    Nought only upon ten ne twelve,
527    Bot plenerliche upon ous alle,
528    For man is cause of that schal falle.
529    And natheles yet som men wryte
530    And sein that fortune is to wyte,
531    And som men holde oppinion
532    That it is constellacion,
533    Which causeth al that a man doth:
534    God wot of bothe which is soth.
535    The world as of his propre kynde
536    Was evere untrewe, and as the blynde
537    Improprelich he demeth fame,
538    He blameth that is noght to blame
539    And preiseth that is noght to preise:
540    Thus whan he schal the thinges peise,
541    Ther is deceipte in his balance,
542    And al is that the variance
543    Of ous, that scholde ous betre avise;
544    For after that we falle and rise,
545    The world arist and falth withal,
546    So that the man is overal
547    His oghne cause of wel and wo.
548    That we fortune clepe so
549    Out of the man himself it groweth;
550    And who that other wise troweth,
551    Behold the poeple of Irael:
552    For evere whil thei deden wel,
553    Fortune was hem debonaire,
554    And whan thei deden the contraire,
555    Fortune was contrariende.
556    So that it proeveth wel at ende
557    Why that the world is wonderfull
558    And may no while stonde full,
559    Though that it seme wel besein;
560    For every worldes thing is vein,
561    And evere goth the whiel aboute,
562    And evere stant a man in doute,
563    Fortune stant no while stille,
564    So hath ther noman al his wille.
565    Als fer as evere a man may knowe,
566    Ther lasteth nothing bot a throwe;
567    The world stant evere upon debat,
568    So may be seker non astat,
569    Now hier now ther, now to now fro,
570    Now up now down, this world goth so,
571    And evere hath don and evere schal:
572    Wherof I finde in special
573    A tale writen in the Bible,
574    Which moste nedes be credible;
575    And that as in conclusioun
576    Seith that upon divisioun
577    Stant, why no worldes thing mai laste,
578    Til it be drive to the laste.
579    And fro the ferste regne of alle
580    Into this day, hou so befalle,
581    Of that the regnes be muable
582    The man himself hath be coupable,
583    Which of his propre governance
584    Fortuneth al the worldes chance.
585    The hyhe almyhti pourveance,
586    In whos eterne remembrance
587    Fro ferst was every thing present,
588    He hath his prophecie sent,
589    In such a wise as thou schalt hiere,
590    To Daniel of this matiere,
591    Hou that this world schal torne and wende,
592    Till it be falle to his ende;
593    Wherof the tale telle I schal,
594    In which it is betokned al.
595    As Nabugodonosor slepte,
596    A swevene him tok, the which he kepte
597    Til on the morwe he was arise,
598    For he therof was sore agrise.
599    To Daniel his drem he tolde,
600    And preide him faire that he wolde
601    Arede what it tokne may;
602    And seide: "Abedde wher I lay,
603    Me thoghte I syh upon a Stage
604    Wher stod a wonder strange ymage.
605    His hed with al the necke also
606    Thei were of fin gold bothe tuo;
607    His brest, his schuldres and his armes
608    Were al of selver, bot the tharmes,
609    The wombe and al doun to the kne,
610    Of bras thei were upon to se;
611    The legges were al mad of Stiel,
612    So were his feet also somdiel,
613    And somdiel part to hem was take
614    Of Erthe which men Pottes make;
615    The fieble meynd was with the stronge,
616    So myhte it wel noght stonde longe.
617    And tho me thoghte that I sih
618    A gret ston from an hull on hyh
619    Fel doun of sodein aventure
620    Upon the feet of this figure,
621    With which Ston al tobroke was
622    Gold, Selver, Erthe, Stiel and Bras,
623    That al was in to pouldre broght,
624    And so forth torned into noght."
625    This was the swevene which he hadde,
626    That Daniel anon aradde,
627    And seide him that figure strange
628    Betokneth how the world schal change
629    And waxe lasse worth and lasse,
630    Til it to noght al overpasse.
631    The necke and hed, that weren golde,
632    He seide how that betokne scholde
633    A worthi world, a noble, a riche,
634    To which non after schal be liche.
635    Of Selver that was overforth
636    Schal ben a world of lasse worth;
637    And after that the wombe of Bras
638    Tokne of a werse world it was.
639    The Stiel which he syh afterward
640    A world betokneth more hard:
641    Bot yet the werste of everydel
642    Is last, whan that of Erthe and Stiel
643    He syh the feet departed so,
644    For that betokneth mochel wo.
645    Whan that the world divided is,
646    It moste algate fare amis,
647    For Erthe which is meynd with Stiel
648    Togedre may noght laste wiel,
649    Bot if that on that other waste;
650    So mot it nedes faile in haste.
651    The Ston, which fro the hully Stage
652    He syh doun falle on that ymage,
653    And hath it into pouldre broke,
654    That swevene hath Daniel unloke,
655    And seide how that is goddes myht,
656    Which whan men wene most upryht
657    To stonde, schal hem overcaste.
658    And that is of this world the laste,
659    And thanne a newe schal beginne,
660    Fro which a man schal nevere twinne;
661    Or al to peine or al to pes
662    That world schal lasten endeles.
663    Lo thus expondeth Daniel
664    The kynges swevene faire and wel
665    In Babiloyne the Cite,
666    Wher that the wiseste of Caldee
667    Ne cowthen wite what it mente;
668    Bot he tolde al the hol entente,
669    As in partie it is befalle.
670    Of gold the ferste regne of alle
671    Was in that kinges time tho,
672    And laste manye daies so,
673    Therwhiles that the Monarchie
674    Of al the world in that partie
675    To Babiloyne was soubgit;
676    And hield him stille in such a plit,
677    Til that the world began diverse:
678    And that was whan the king of Perse,
679    Which Cirus hyhte, ayein the pes
680    Forth with his Sone Cambises
681    Of Babiloine al that Empire,
682    Ryht as thei wolde hemself desire,
683    Put under in subjeccioun
684    And tok it in possessioun,
685    And slayn was Baltazar the king,
686    Which loste his regne and al his thing.
687    And thus whan thei it hadde wonne,
688    The world of Selver was begonne
689    And that of gold was passed oute:
690    And in this wise it goth aboute
691    In to the Regne of Darius;
692    And thanne it fell to Perse thus,
693    That Alisaundre put hem under,
694    Which wroghte of armes many a wonder,
695    So that the Monarchie lefte
696    With Grecs, and here astat uplefte,
697    And Persiens gon under fote,
698    So soffre thei that nedes mote.
699    And tho the world began of Bras,
700    And that of selver ended was;
701    Bot for the time thus it laste,
702    Til it befell that ate laste
703    This king, whan that his day was come,
704    With strengthe of deth was overcome.
705    And natheles yet er he dyde,
706    He schop his Regnes to divide
707    To knyhtes whiche him hadde served,
708    And after that thei have deserved
709    Yaf the conquestes that he wan;
710    Wherof gret werre tho began
711    Among hem that the Regnes hadde,
712    Thurgh proud Envie which hem ladde,
713    Til it befell ayein hem thus:
714    The noble Cesar Julius,
715    Which tho was king of Rome lond,
716    With gret bataille and with strong hond
717    Al Grece, Perse and ek Caldee
718    Wan and put under, so that he
719    Noght al only of thorient
720    Bot al the Marche of thoccident
721    Governeth under his empire,
722    As he that was hol lord and Sire,
723    And hield thurgh his chivalerie
724    Of al this world the Monarchie,
725    And was the ferste of that honour
726    Which tok the name of Emperour.
727    Wher Rome thanne wolde assaille,
728    Ther myhte nothing contrevaille,
729    Bot every contre moste obeie:
730    Tho goth the Regne of Bras aweie,
731    And comen is the world of Stiel,
732    And stod above upon the whiel.
733    As Stiel is hardest in his kynde
734    Above alle othre that men finde
735    Of Metals, such was Rome tho
736    The myhtieste, and laste so
737    Long time amonges the Romeins
738    Til thei become so vileins,
739    That the fals Emperour Leo
740    With Constantin his Sone also
741    The patrimoine and the richesse,
742    Which to Silvestre in pure almesse
743    The ferste Constantinus lefte,
744    Fro holy cherche thei berefte.
745    Bot Adrian, which Pope was,
746    And syh the meschief of this cas,
747    Goth in to France forto pleigne,
748    And preith the grete Charlemeine,
749    For Cristes sake and Soule hele
750    That he wol take the querele
751    Of holy cherche in his defence.
752    And Charles for the reverence
753    Of god the cause hath undertake,
754    And with his host the weie take
755    Over the Montz of Lombardie;
756    Of Rome and al the tirandie
757    With blodi swerd he overcom,
758    And the Cite with strengthe nom;
759    In such a wise and there he wroghte,
760    That holy cherche ayein he broghte
761    Into franchise, and doth restore
762    The Popes lost, and yaf him more:
763    And thus whan he his god hath served,
764    He tok, as he wel hath deserved,
765    The Diademe and was coroned.
766    Of Rome and thus was abandoned
767    Thempire, which cam nevere ayein
768    Into the hond of no Romein;
769    Bot a long time it stod so stille
770    Under the Frensche kynges wille,
771    Til that fortune hir whiel so ladde,
772    That afterward Lombardz it hadde,
773    Noght be the swerd, bot be soffrance
774    Of him that tho was kyng of France,
775    Which Karle Calvus cleped was;
776    And he resigneth in this cas
777    Thempire of Rome unto Lowis
778    His Cousin, which a Lombard is.
779    And so hit laste into the yeer
780    Of Albert and of Berenger;
781    Bot thanne upon dissencioun
782    Thei felle, and in divisioun
783    Among hemself that were grete,
784    So that thei loste the beyete
785    Of worschipe and of worldes pes.
786    Bot in proverbe natheles
787    Men sein, ful selden is that welthe
788    Can soffre his oghne astat in helthe;
789    And that was on the Lombardz sene,
790    Such comun strif was hem betwene
791    Thurgh coveitise and thurgh Envie,
792    That every man drowh his partie,
793    Which myhte leden eny route,
794    Withinne Burgh and ek withoute:
795    The comun ryht hath no felawe,
796    So that the governance of lawe
797    Was lost, and for necessite,
798    Of that thei stode in such degre
799    Al only thurgh divisioun,
800    Hem nedeth in conclusioun
801    Of strange londes help beside.
802    And thus for thei hemself divide
803    And stonden out of reule unevene,
804    Of Alemaine Princes sevene
805    Thei chose in this condicioun,
806    That upon here eleccioun
807    Thempire of Rome scholde stonde.
808    And thus thei lefte it out of honde
809    For lacke of grace, and it forsoke,
810    That Alemans upon hem toke:
811    And to confermen here astat,
812    Of that thei founden in debat
813    Thei token the possessioun
814    After the composicioun
815    Among hemself, and therupon
816    Thei made an Emperour anon,
817    Whos name as the Cronique telleth
818    Was Othes; and so forth it duelleth,
819    Fro thilke day yit unto this
820    Thempire of Rome hath ben and is
821    To thalemans. And in this wise,
822    As ye tofore have herd divise
823    How Daniel the swevene expondeth
824    Of that ymage, on whom he foundeth
825    The world which after scholde falle,
826    Come is the laste tokne of alle;
827    Upon the feet of Erthe and Stiel
828    So stant this world now everydiel
829    Departed; which began riht tho,
830    Whan Rome was divided so:
831    And that is forto rewe sore,
832    For alway siththe more and more
833    The world empeireth every day.
834    Wherof the sothe schewe may,
835    At Rome ferst if we beginne:
836    The wall and al the Cit withinne
837    Stant in ruine and in decas,
838    The feld is wher the Paleis was,
839    The toun is wast; and overthat,
840    If we beholde thilke astat
841    Which whilom was of the Romeins,
842    Of knyhthode and of Citezeins,
843    To peise now with that beforn,
844    The chaf is take for the corn,
845    As forto speke of Romes myht:
846    Unethes stant ther oght upryht
847    Of worschipe or of worldes good,
848    As it before tyme stod.
849    And why the worschipe is aweie,
850    If that a man the sothe seie,
851    The cause hath ben divisioun,
852    Which moder of confusioun
853    Is wher sche cometh overal,
854    Noght only of the temporal
855    Bot of the spirital also.
856    The dede proeveth it is so,
857    And hath do many day er this,
858    Thurgh venym which that medled is
859    In holy cherche of erthly thing:
860    For Crist himself makth knowleching
861    That noman may togedre serve
862    God and the world, bot if he swerve
863    Froward that on and stonde unstable;
864    And Cristes word may noght be fable.
865    The thing so open is at ije,
866    It nedeth noght to specefie
867    Or speke oght more in this matiere;
868    Bot in this wise a man mai lere
869    Hou that the world is gon aboute,
870    The which welnyh is wered oute,
871    After the forme of that figure
872    Which Daniel in his scripture
873    Expondeth, as tofore is told.
874    Of Bras, of Selver and of Gold
875    The world is passed and agon,
876    And now upon his olde ton
877    It stant of brutel Erthe and Stiel,
878    The whiche acorden nevere a diel;
879    So mot it nedes swerve aside
880    As thing the which men sen divide.
881    Thapostel writ unto ous alle
882    And seith that upon ous is falle
883    Thende of the world; so may we knowe,
884    This ymage is nyh overthrowe,
885    Be which this world was signified,
886    That whilom was so magnefied,
887    And now is old and fieble and vil,
888    Full of meschief and of peril,
889    And stant divided ek also
890    Lich to the feet that were so,
891    As I tolde of the Statue above.
892    And this men sen, thurgh lacke of love
893    Where as the lond divided is,
894    It mot algate fare amis:
895    And now to loke on every side,
896    A man may se the world divide,
897    The werres ben so general
898    Among the cristene overal,
899    That every man now secheth wreche,
900    And yet these clerkes alday preche
901    And sein, good dede may non be
902    Which stant noght upon charite:
903    I not hou charite may stonde,
904    Wher dedly werre is take on honde.
905    Bot al this wo is cause of man,
906    The which that wit and reson can,
907    And that in tokne and in witnesse
908    That ilke ymage bar liknesse
909    Of man and of non other beste.
910    For ferst unto the mannes heste
911    Was every creature ordeined,
912    Bot afterward it was restreigned:
913    Whan that he fell, thei fellen eke,
914    Whan he wax sek, thei woxen seke;
915    For as the man hath passioun
916    Of seknesse, in comparisoun
917    So soffren othre creatures.
918    Lo, ferst the hevenly figures,
919    The Sonne and Mone eclipsen bothe,
920    And ben with mannes senne wrothe;
921    The purest Eir for Senne alofte
922    Hath ben and is corrupt fulofte,
923    Right now the hyhe wyndes blowe,
924    And anon after thei ben lowe,
925    Now clowdy and now clier it is:
926    So may it proeven wel be this,
927    A mannes Senne is forto hate,
928    Which makth the welkne to debate.
929    And forto se the proprete
930    Of every thyng in his degree,
931    Benethe forth among ous hiere
932    Al stant aliche in this matiere:
933    The See now ebbeth, now it floweth,
934    The lond now welketh, now it groweth,
935    Now be the Trees with leves grene,
936    Now thei be bare and nothing sene,
937    Now be the lusti somer floures,
938    Now be the stormy wynter shoures,
939    Now be the daies, now the nyhtes,
940    So stant ther nothing al upryhtes,
941    Now it is lyht, now it is derk;
942    And thus stant al the worldes werk
943    After the disposicioun
944    Of man and his condicioun.
945    Forthi Gregoire in his Moral
946    Seith that a man in special
947    The lasse world is properly:
948    And that he proeveth redely;
949    For man of Soule resonable
950    Is to an Angel resemblable,
951    And lich to beste he hath fielinge,
952    And lich to Trees he hath growinge;
953    The Stones ben and so is he:
954    Thus of his propre qualite
955    The man, as telleth the clergie,
956    Is as a world in his partie,
957    And whan this litel world mistorneth,
958    The grete world al overtorneth.
959    The Lond, the See, the firmament,
960    Thei axen alle jugement
961    Ayein the man and make him werre:
962    Therwhile himself stant out of herre,
963    The remenant wol noght acorde:
964    And in this wise, as I recorde,
965    The man is cause of alle wo,
966    Why this world is divided so.
967    Division, the gospell seith,
968    On hous upon another leith,
969    Til that the Regne al overthrowe:
970    And thus may every man wel knowe,
971    Division aboven alle
972    Is thing which makth the world to falle,
973    And evere hath do sith it began.
974    It may ferst proeve upon a man;
975    The which, for his complexioun
976    Is mad upon divisioun
977    Of cold, of hot, of moist, of drye,
978    He mot be verray kynde dye:
979    For the contraire of his astat
980    Stant evermore in such debat,
981    Til that o part be overcome,
982    Ther may no final pes be nome.
983    Bot other wise, if a man were
984    Mad al togedre of o matiere
985    Withouten interrupcioun,
986    Ther scholde no corrupcioun
987    Engendre upon that unite:
988    Bot for ther is diversite
989    Withinne himself, he may noght laste,
990    That he ne deieth ate laste.
991    Bot in a man yit over this
992    Full gret divisioun ther is,
993    Thurgh which that he is evere in strif,
994    Whil that him lasteth eny lif:
995    The bodi and the Soule also
996    Among hem ben divided so,
997    That what thing that the body hateth
998    The soule loveth and debateth;
999    Bot natheles fulofte is sene
1000   Of werre which is hem betwene
1001   The fieble hath wonne the victoire.
1002   And who so drawth into memoire
1003   What hath befalle of old and newe,
1004   He may that werre sore rewe,
1005   Which ferst began in Paradis:
1006   For ther was proeved what it is,
1007   And what desese there it wroghte;
1008   For thilke werre tho forth broghte
1009   The vice of alle dedly Sinne,
1010   Thurgh which division cam inne
1011   Among the men in erthe hiere,
1012   And was the cause and the matiere
1013   Why god the grete flodes sende,
1014   Of al the world and made an ende
1015   Bot Noe5 with his felaschipe,
1016   Which only weren saulf be Schipe.
1017   And over that thurgh Senne it com
1018   That Nembrot such emprise nom,
1019   Whan he the Tour Babel on heihte
1020   Let make, as he that wolde feihte
1021   Ayein the hihe goddes myht,
1022   Wherof divided anon ryht
1023   Was the langage in such entente,
1024   Ther wiste non what other mente,
1025   So that thei myhten noght procede.
1026   And thus it stant of every dede,
1027   Wher Senne takth the cause on honde,
1028   It may upriht noght longe stonde;
1029   For Senne of his condicioun
1030   Is moder of divisioun
1031   And tokne whan the world schal faile.
1032   For so seith Crist withoute faile,
1033   That nyh upon the worldes ende
1034   Pes and acord awey schol wende
1035   And alle charite schal cesse,
1036   Among the men and hate encresce;
1037   And whan these toknes ben befalle,
1038   Al sodeinly the Ston schal falle,
1039   As Daniel it hath beknowe,
1040   Which al this world schal overthrowe,
1041   And every man schal thanne arise
1042   To Joie or elles to Juise,
1043   Wher that he schal for evere dwelle,
1044   Or straght to hevene or straght to helle.
1045   In hevene is pes and al acord,
1046   Bot helle is full of such descord
1047   That ther may be no loveday:
1048   Forthi good is, whil a man may,
1049   Echon to sette pes with other
1050   And loven as his oghne brother;
1051   So may he winne worldes welthe
1052   And afterward his soule helthe.
1053   Bot wolde god that now were on
1054   An other such as Arion,
1055   Which hadde an harpe of such temprure,
1056   And therto of so good mesure
1057   He song, that he the bestes wilde
1058   Made of his note tame and milde,
1059   The Hinde in pes with the Leoun,
1060   The Wolf in pes with the Moltoun,
1061   The Hare in pees stod with the Hound;
1062   And every man upon this ground
1063   Which Arion that time herde,
1064   Als wel the lord as the schepherde,
1065   He broghte hem alle in good acord;
1066   So that the comun with the lord,
1067   And lord with the comun also,
1068   He sette in love bothe tuo
1069   And putte awey malencolie.
1070   That was a lusti melodie,
1071   Whan every man with other low;
1072   And if ther were such on now,
1073   Which cowthe harpe as he tho dede,
1074   He myhte availe in many a stede
1075   To make pes wher now is hate;
1076   For whan men thenken to debate,
1077   I not what other thing is good.
1078   Bot wher that wisdom waxeth wod,
1079   And reson torneth into rage,
1080   So that mesure upon oultrage
1081   Hath set his world, it is to drede;
1082   For that bringth in the comun drede,
1083   Which stant at every mannes Dore:
1084   Bot whan the scharpnesse of the spore
1085   The horse side smit to sore,
1086   It grieveth ofte. And now nomore,
1087   As forto speke of this matiere,
1088   Which non bot only god may stiere.

Explicit Prologus


Incipit Liber Primus


Naturatus amor nature legibus orbem
     Subdit, et vnanimes concitat esse feras:
Huius enim mundi Princeps amor esse videtur,
     Cuius eget diues, pauper et omnis ope.
Sunt in agone pares amor et fortuna, que cecas
     Plebis ad insidias vertit vterque rotas.
Est amor egra salus, vexata quies, pius error,
     Bellica pax, vulnus dulce, suaue malum.



1      I may noght strecche up to the hevene  
2      Min hand, ne setten al in evene  
3      This world, which evere is in balance: 
4      It stant noght in my sufficance  
5      So grete thinges to compasse, 
6      Bot I mot lete it overpasse
7      And treten upon othre thinges.
8      Forthi the Stile of my writinges 
9      Fro this day forth I thenke change  
10     And speke of thing is noght so strange, 
11     Which every kinde hath upon honde,
12     And wherupon the world mot stonde,
13     And hath don sithen it began,  
14     And schal whil ther is any man;  
15     And that is love, of which I mene
16     To trete, as after schal be sene.
17     In which ther can noman him reule,
18     For loves lawe is out of reule,
19     That of tomoche or of tolite  
20     Welnyh is every man to wyte,
21     And natheles ther is noman 
22     In al this world so wys, that can
23     Of love tempre the mesure,  
24     Bot as it falth in aventure:  
25     For wit ne strengthe may noght helpe,
26     And he which elles wolde him yelpe  
27     Is rathest throwen under fote, 
28     Ther can no wiht therof do bote. 
29     For yet was nevere such covine,
30     That couthe ordeine a medicine
31     To thing which god in lawe of kinde 
32     Hath set, for ther may noman finde  
33     The rihte salve of such a Sor.
34     It hath and schal ben everemor
35     That love is maister wher he wile,
36     Ther can no lif make other skile;
37     For wher as evere him lest to sette, 
38     Ther is no myht which him may lette.
39     Bot what schal fallen ate laste,  
40     The sothe can no wisdom caste, 
41     Bot as it falleth upon chance;
42     For if ther evere was balance 
43     Which of fortune stant governed,  
44     I may wel lieve as I am lerned
45     That love hath that balance on honde,
46     Which wol no reson understonde.  
47     For love is blind and may noght se,  
48     Forthi may no certeinete
49     Be set upon his jugement,
50     Bot as the whiel aboute went  
51     He yifth his graces undeserved,
52     And fro that man which hath him served 
53     Fulofte he takth aweye his fees,  
54     As he that pleieth ate Dees,
55     And therupon what schal befalle  
56     He not, til that the chance falle,
57     Wher he schal lese or he schal winne.  
58     And thus fulofte men beginne,  
59     That if thei wisten what it mente,
60     Thei wolde change al here entente.  
61     And forto proven it is so,  
62     I am miselven on of tho, 
63     Which to this Scole am underfonge.  
64     For it is siththe go noght longe, 
65     As forto speke of this matiere,
66     I may you telle, if ye woll hiere,
67     A wonder hap which me befell,  
68     That was to me bothe hard and fell,  
69     Touchende of love and his fortune,
70     The which me liketh to comune 
71     And pleinly forto telle it oute. 
72     To hem that ben lovers aboute 
73     Fro point to point I wol declare 
74     And wryten of my woful care,
75     Mi wofull day, my wofull chance,  
76     That men mowe take remembrance
77     Of that thei schall hierafter rede: 
78     For in good feith this wolde I rede, 
79     That every man ensample take  
80     Of wisdom which him is betake, 
81     And that he wot of good aprise
82     To teche it forth, for such emprise 
83     Is forto preise; and therfore I  
84     Woll wryte and schewe al openly  
85     How love and I togedre mette,  
86     Wherof the world ensample fette  
87     Mai after this, whan I am go,  
88     Of thilke unsely jolif wo,  
89     Whos reule stant out of the weie, 
90     Nou glad and nou gladnesse aweie, 
91     And yet it may noght be withstonde  
92     For oght that men may understonde.    
93     Upon the point that is befalle
94     Of love, in which that I am falle,
95     I thenke telle my matiere: 
96     Now herkne, who that wol it hiere,
97     Of my fortune how that it ferde. 
98     This enderday, as I forthferde
99     To walke, as I yow telle may,-
100    And that was in the Monthe of Maii,  
101    Whan every brid hath chose his make 
102    And thenkth his merthes forto make  
103    Of love that he hath achieved;
104    Bot so was I nothing relieved, 
105    For I was further fro my love 
106    Than Erthe is fro the hevene above,  
107    As forto speke of eny sped:
108    So wiste I me non other red,
109    Bot as it were a man forfare  
110    Unto the wode I gan to fare,
111    Noght forto singe with the briddes,  
112    For whanne I was the wode amiddes,
113    I fond a swote grene pleine,
114    And ther I gan my wo compleigne  
115    Wisshinge and wepinge al myn one, 
116    For other merthes made I none.
117    So hard me was that ilke throwe,  
118    That ofte sithes overthrowe
119    To grounde I was withoute breth; 
120    And evere I wisshide after deth,  
121    Whanne I out of my peine awok,   
122    And caste up many a pitous lok
123    Unto the hevene, and seide thus: 
124    "O thou Cupide, O thou Venus,  
125    Thou god of love and thou goddesse,  
126    Wher is pite? wher is meknesse?  
127    Now doth me pleinly live or dye,  
128    For certes such a maladie  
129    As I now have and longe have hadd,
130    It myhte make a wisman madd,
131    If that it scholde longe endure. 
132    O Venus, queene of loves cure, 
133    Thou lif, thou lust, thou mannes hele,  
134    Behold my cause and my querele,
135    And yif me som part of thi grace, 
136    So that I may finde in this place
137    If thou be gracious or non."  
138    And with that word I sawh anon
139    The kyng of love and qweene bothe;  
140    Bot he that kyng with yhen wrothe
141    His chiere aweiward fro me caste, 
142    And forth he passede ate laste.  
143    Bot natheles er he forth wente
144    A firy Dart me thoghte he hente  
145    And threw it thurgh myn herte rote: 
146    In him fond I non other bote,  
147    For lenger list him noght to duelle.
148    Bot sche that is the Source and Welle  
149    Of wel or wo, that schal betide  
150    To hem that loven, at that tide  
151    Abod, bot forto tellen hiere  
152    Sche cast on me no goodly chiere:
153    Thus natheles to me sche seide,
154    "What art thou, Sone?" and I abreide
155    Riht as a man doth out of slep,
156    And therof tok sche riht good kep
157    And bad me nothing ben adrad: 
158    Bot for al that I was noght glad, 
159    For I ne sawh no cause why.
160    And eft scheo asketh, what was I:
161    I seide, "A Caitif that lith hiere: 
162    What wolde ye, my Ladi diere? 
163    Schal I ben hol or elles dye?"
164    Sche seide, "Tell thi maladie:
165    What is thi Sor of which thou pleignest?  
166    Ne hyd it noght, for if thou feignest,  
167    I can do the no medicine." 
168    "Ma dame, I am a man of thyne, 
169    That in thi Court have longe served, 
170    And aske that I have deserved, 
171    Some wele after my longe wo." 
172    And sche began to loure tho,
173    And seide, "Ther is manye of yow 
174    Faitours, and so may be that thow
175    Art riht such on, and be feintise
176    Seist that thou hast me do servise."
177    And natheles sche wiste wel,
178    Mi world stod on an other whiel  
179    Withouten eny faiterie: 
180    Bot algate of my maladie
181    Sche bad me telle and seie hir trowthe.
182    "Ma dame, if ye wolde have rowthe," 
183    Quod I, "than wolde I telle yow."
184    "Sey forth," quod sche, "and tell me how; 
185    Schew me thi seknesse everydiel."
186    "Ma dame, that can I do wel,
187    Be so my lif therto wol laste."  
188    With that hir lok on me sche caste,  
189    And seide: "In aunter if thou live,  
190    Mi will is ferst that thou be schrive; 
191    And natheles how that it is
192    I wot miself, bot for al this 
193    Unto my prest, which comth anon,  
194    I woll thou telle it on and on,
195    Bothe all thi thoght and al thi werk.    
196    O Genius myn oghne Clerk,
197    Com forth and hier this mannes schrifte," 
198    Quod Venus tho; and I uplifte 
199    Min hefd with that, and gan beholde 
200    The selve Prest, which as sche wolde
201    Was redy there and sette him doun
202    To hiere my confessioun.
203    This worthi Prest, this holy man 
204    To me spekende thus began,  
205    And seide: "Benedicite,  
206    Mi Sone, of the felicite
207    Of love and ek of all the wo  
208    Thou schalt thee schrive of bothe tuo. 
209    What thou er this for loves sake 
210    Hast felt, let nothing be forsake,
211    Tell pleinliche as it is befalle."  
212    And with that word I gan doun falle 
213    On knees, and with devocioun  
214    And with full gret contricioun
215    I seide thanne: "Dominus,
216    Min holi fader Genius,
217    So as thou hast experience 
218    Of love, for whos reverence
219    Thou schalt me schriven at this time,
220    I prai the let me noght mistime  
221    Mi schrifte, for I am destourbed 
222    In al myn herte, and so contourbed,  
223    That I ne may my wittes gete,  
224    So schal I moche thing foryete:  
225    Bot if thou wolt my schrifte oppose 
226    Fro point to point, thanne I suppose,
227    Ther schal nothing be left behinde. 
228    Bot now my wittes ben so blinde,  
229    That I ne can miselven teche."  
230    Tho he began anon to preche,
231    And with his wordes debonaire 
232    He seide tome softe and faire:
233    "Thi schrifte to oppose and hiere,
234    My Sone, I am assigned hiere  
235    Be Venus the godesse above, 
236    Whos Prest I am touchende of love.  
237    Bot natheles for certein skile
238    I mot algate and nedes wile
239    Noght only make my spekynges  
240    Of love, bot of othre thinges, 
241    That touchen to the cause of vice.  
242    For that belongeth to thoffice
243    Of Prest, whos ordre that I bere, 
244    So that I wol nothing forbere, 
245    That I the vices on and on 
246    Ne schal thee schewen everychon; 
247    Wherof thou myht take evidence
248    To reule with thi conscience. 
249    Bot of conclusion final 
250    Conclude I wol in special  
251    For love, whos servant I am,
252    And why the cause is that I cam. 
253    So thenke I to don bothe tuo,  
254    Ferst that myn ordre longeth to,  
255    The vices forto telle arewe,
256    Bot next above alle othre schewe 
257    Of love I wol the propretes,
258    How that thei stonde be degrees  
259    After the disposicioun  
260    Of Venus, whos condicioun  
261    I moste folwe, as I am holde. 
262    For I with love am al withholde,  
263    So that the lasse I am to wyte,
264    Thogh I ne conne bot a lyte
265    Of othre thinges that ben wise:  
266    I am noght tawht in such a wise; 
267    For it is noght my comun us
268    To speke of vices and vertus,  
269    Bot al of love and of his lore,
270    For Venus bokes of nomore  
271    Me techen nowther text ne glose. 
272    Bot for als moche as I suppose
273    It sit a prest to be wel thewed,  
274    And schame it is if he be lewed,  
275    Of my Presthode after the forme  
276    I wol thi schrifte so enforme, 
277    That ate leste thou schalt hiere 
278    The vices, and to thi matiere 
279    Of love I schal hem so remene, 
280    That thou schalt knowe what thei mene. 
281    For what a man schal axe or sein 
282    Touchende of schrifte, it mot be plein, 
283    It nedeth noght to make it queinte,  
284    For trowthe hise wordes wol noght peinte: 
285    That I wole axe of the forthi, 
286    My Sone, it schal be so pleinly,  
287    That thou schalt knowe and understonde 
288    The pointz of schrifte how that thei stonde."
289    Betwen the lif and deth I herde  
290    This Prestes tale er I answerde,  
291    And thanne I preide him forto seie  
292    His will, and I it wolde obeie
293    After the forme of his apprise.  
294    Tho spak he tome in such a wise,  
295    And bad me that I scholde schrive    
296    As touchende of my wittes fyve,
297    And schape that thei were amended
298    Of that I hadde hem misdispended.
299    For tho be proprely the gates, 
300    Thurgh whiche as to the herte algates  
301    Comth alle thing unto the feire,  
302    Which may the mannes Soule empeire. 
303    And now this matiere is broght inne, 
304    Mi Sone, I thenke ferst beginne  
305    To wite how that thin yhe hath stonde,  
306    The which is, as I understonde,
307    The moste principal of alle,
308    Thurgh whom that peril mai befalle. 
309    And forto speke in loves kinde,
310    Ful manye suche a man mai finde,  
311    Whiche evere caste aboute here yhe,  
312    To loke if that thei myhte aspie 
313    Fulofte thing which hem ne toucheth, 
314    Bot only that here herte soucheth
315    In hindringe of an other wiht;
316    And thus ful many a worthi knyht 
317    And many a lusti lady bothe
318    Have be fulofte sythe wrothe. 
319    So that an yhe is as a thief  
320    To love, and doth ful gret meschief;
321    And also for his oghne part
322    Fulofte thilke firy Dart
323    Of love, which that evere brenneth,  
324    Thurgh him into the herte renneth:  
325    And thus a mannes yhe ferst
326    Himselve grieveth alther werst,
327    And many a time that he knoweth  
328    Unto his oghne harm it groweth.  
329    Mi Sone, herkne now forthi 
330    A tale, to be war therby
331    Thin yhe forto kepe and warde, 
332    So that it passe noght his warde.  
333    Ovide telleth in his bok
334    Ensample touchende of mislok,  
335    And seith hou whilom ther was on, 
336    A worthi lord, which Acteon
337    Was hote, and he was cousin nyh  
338    To him that Thebes ferst on hyh  
339    Up sette, which king Cadme hyhte.
340    This Acteon, as he wel myhte,  
341    Above alle othre caste his chiere,
342    And used it fro yer to yere,
343    With Houndes and with grete Hornes  
344    Among the wodes and the thornes  
345    To make his hunting and his chace:  
346    Where him best thoghte in every place  
347    To finde gamen in his weie, 
348    Ther rod he forto hunte and pleie.  
349    So him befell upon a tide  
350    On his hunting as he cam ride, 
351    In a Forest al one he was: 
352    He syh upon the grene gras 
353    The faire freisshe floures springe,  
354    He herde among the leves singe
355    The Throstle with the nyhtingale:
356    Thus er he wiste into a Dale  
357    He cam, wher was a litel plein,
358    All round aboute wel besein
359    With buisshes grene and Cedres hyhe;
360    And ther withinne he caste his yhe. 
361    Amidd the plein he syh a welle,
362    So fair ther myhte noman telle,
363    In which Diana naked stod  
364    To bathe and pleie hire in the flod 
365    With many a Nimphe, which hire serveth.
366    Bot he his yhe awey ne swerveth  
367    Fro hire, which was naked al,    
368    And sche was wonder wroth withal, 
369    And him, as sche which was godesse,  
370    Forschop anon, and the liknesse  
371    Sche made him taken of an Hert,
372    Which was tofore hise houndes stert, 
373    That ronne besiliche aboute
374    With many an horn and many a route,  
375    That maden mochel noise and cry: 
376    And ate laste unhappely 
377    This Hert his oghne houndes slowhe  
378    And him for vengance al todrowhe.
379    Lo now, my Sone, what it is
380    A man to caste his yhe amis,
381    Which Acteon hath dere aboght;
382    Be war forthi and do it noght.
383    For ofte, who that hiede toke, 
384    Betre is to winke than to loke.  
385    And forto proven it is so,  
386    Ovide the Poete also 
387    A tale which to this matiere  
388    Acordeth seith, as thou schalt hiere.  
389    In Metamor it telleth thus, 
390    How that a lord which Phorces  
391    Was hote, hadde dowhtres thre.
392    Bot upon here nativite  
393    Such was the constellacion, 
394    That out of mannes nacion  
395    Fro kynde thei be so miswent,  
396    That to the liknesse of Serpent  
397    Thei were bore, and so that on
398    Of hem was cleped Stellibon,
399    That other soster Suriale,  
400    The thridde, as telleth in the tale, 
401    Medusa hihte, and natheles 
402    Of comun name Gorgones    
403    In every contre ther aboute,
404    As Monstres whiche that men doute,
405    Men clepen hem; and bot on yhe
406    Among hem thre in pourpartie  
407    Thei hadde, of which thei myhte se,  
408    Now hath it this, now hath it sche; 
409    After that cause and nede it ladde,  
410    Be throwes ech of hem it hadde.  
411    A wonder thing yet more amis  
412    Ther was, wherof I telle al this:
413    What man on hem his chiere caste 
414    And hem behield, he was als faste
415    Out of a man into a Ston
416    Forschape, and thus ful manyon
417    Deceived were, of that thei wolde
418    Misloke, wher that thei ne scholde. 
419    Bot Perses that worthi knyht,
420    Whom Pallas of hir grete myht 
421    Halp, and tok him a Schield therto,  
422    And ek the god Mercurie also  
423    Lente him a swerd, he, as it fell,
424    Beyende Athlans the hihe hell 
425    These Monstres soghte, and there he fond  
426    Diverse men of thilke lond 
427    Thurgh sihte of hem mistorned were,  
428    Stondende as Stones hiere and there.
429    Bot he, which wisdom and prouesse
430    Hadde of the god and the godesse, 
431    The Schield of Pallas gan enbrace,
432    With which he covereth sauf his face,
433    Mercuries Swerd and out he drowh, 
434    And so he bar him that he slowh  
435    These dredful Monstres alle thre.
436    Lo now, my Sone, avise the, 
437    That thou thi sihte noght misuse:
438    Cast noght thin yhe upon Meduse,  
439    That thou be torned into Ston:
440    For so wys man was nevere non,   
441    Bot if he wel his yhe kepe 
442    And take of fol delit no kepe, 
443    That he with lust nys ofte nome,  
444    Thurgh strengthe of love and overcome. 
445    Of mislokynge how it hath ferd,
446    As I have told, now hast thou herd,  
447    My goode Sone, and tak good hiede.  
448    And overthis yet I thee rede  
449    That thou be war of thin heringe, 
450    Which to the Herte the tidinge
451    Of many a vanite hath broght,  
452    To tarie with a mannes thoght.
453    And natheles good is to hiere 
454    Such thing wherof a man may lere 
455    That to vertu is acordant,  
456    And toward al the remenant 
457    Good is to torne his Ere fro; 
458    For elles, bot a man do so, 
459    Him may fulofte mysbefalle.
460    I rede ensample amonges alle,  
461    Wherof to kepe wel an Ere  
462    It oghte pute a man in fere.  
463    A Serpent, which that Aspidis 
464    Is cleped, of his kynde hath this,
465    That he the Ston noblest of alle, 
466    The which that men Carbuncle calle,  
467    Berth in his hed above on heihte.
468    For which whan that a man be sleyhte,
469    The Ston to winne and him to daunte, 
470    With his carecte him wolde enchaunte,
471    Anon as he perceiveth that, 
472    He leith doun his on Ere al plat 
473    Unto the ground, and halt it faste,  
474    And ek that other Ere als faste  
475    He stoppeth with his tail so sore,
476    That he the wordes lasse or more   
477    Of his enchantement ne hiereth;  
478    And in this wise himself he skiereth,
479    So that he hath the wordes weyved
480    And thurgh his Ere is noght deceived.  
481    An othre thing, who that recordeth,  
482    Lich unto this ensample acordeth, 
483    Which in the tale of Troie I finde. 
484    Sirenes of a wonder kynde  
485    Ben Monstres, as the bokes tellen,
486    And in the grete Se thei duellen:
487    Of body bothe and of visage
488    Lik unto wommen of yong age
489    Up fro the Navele on hih thei be, 
490    And doun benethe, as men mai se,  
491    Thei bere of fisshes the figure. 
492    And overthis of such nature
493    Thei ben, that with so swete a stevene 
494    Lik to the melodie of hevene  
495    In wommanysshe vois thei singe,
496    With notes of so gret likinge, 
497    Of such mesure, of such musike,
498    Wherof the Schipes thei beswike  
499    That passen be the costes there. 
500    For whan the Schipmen leie an Ere
501    Unto the vois, in here avys
502    Thei wene it be a Paradys,  
503    Which after is to hem an helle.  
504    For reson may noght with hem duelle, 
505    Whan thei tho grete lustes hiere;
506    Thei conne noght here Schipes stiere,
507    So besiliche upon the note 
508    Thei herkne, and in such wise assote,
509    That thei here rihte cours and weie 
510    Foryete, and to here Ere obeie,
511    And seilen til it so befalle  
512    That thei into the peril falle,  
513    Where as the Schipes be todrawe,  
514    And thei ben with the Monstres slawe.  
515    Bot fro this peril natheles
516    With his wisdom king Uluxes
517    Ascapeth and it overpasseth;  
518    For he tofor the hond compasseth 
519    That noman of his compaignie  
520    Hath pouer unto that folie 
521    His Ere for no lust to caste; 
522    For he hem stoppede alle faste,
523    That non of hem mai hiere hem singe.
524    So whan they comen forth seilinge,
525    Ther was such governance on honde,
526    That thei the Monstres have withstonde 
527    And slain of hem a gret partie.  
528    Thus was he sauf with his navie,  
529    This wise king, thurgh governance.  
530    Wherof, my Sone, in remembrance  
531    Thou myht ensample taken hiere,
532    As I have told, and what thou hiere 
533    Be wel war, and yif no credence,  
534    Bot if thou se more evidence. 
535    For if thou woldest take kepe 
536    And wisly cowthest warde and kepe
537    Thin yhe and Ere, as I have spoke,
538    Than haddest thou the gates stoke
539    Fro such Sotie as comth to winne 
540    Thin hertes wit, which is withinne,  
541    Wherof that now thi love excedeth
542    Mesure, and many a peine bredeth.
543    Bot if thou cowthest sette in reule 
544    Tho tuo, the thre were eth to reule:
545    Forthi as of thi wittes five  
546    I wole as now nomore schryve,  
547    Bot only of these ilke tuo.
548    Tell me therfore if it be so,  
549    Hast thou thin yhen oght misthrowe? 
550    Mi fader, ye, I am beknowe,   
551    I have hem cast upon Meduse,
552    Therof I may me noght excuse: 
553    Min herte is growen into Ston, 
554    So that my lady therupon
555    Hath such a priente of love grave,
556    That I can noght miselve save.
557    What seist thou, Sone, as of thin Ere? 
558    Mi fader, I am gultyf there;  
559    For whanne I may my lady hiere,
560    Mi wit with that hath lost his Stiere: 
561    I do noght as Uluxes dede,  
562    Bot falle anon upon the stede, 
563    Wher as I se my lady stonde;  
564    And there, I do yow understonde,  
565    I am topulled in my thoght, 
566    So that of reson leveth noght, 
567    Wherof that I me mai defende. 
568    My goode Sone, god thamende:  
569    For as me thenketh be thi speche 
570    Thi wittes ben riht feer to seche.  
571    As of thin Ere and of thin yhe
572    I woll nomore specefie,  
573    Bot I woll axen overthis
574    Of othre thing how that it is.
575    Mi Sone, as I thee schal enforme, 
576    Ther ben yet of an other forme
577    Of dedly vices sevene applied, 
578    Wherof the herte is ofte plied
579    To thing which after schal him grieve. 
580    The ferste of hem thou schalt believe    
581    Is Pride, which is principal,  
582    And hath with him in special  
583    Ministres five ful diverse, 
584    Of whiche, as I the schal reherse,
585    The ferste is seid Ypocrisie. 
586    If thou art of his compaignie, 
587    Tell forth, my Sone, and schrif the clene.
588    I wot noght, fader, what ye mene:
589    Bot this I wolde you beseche,  
590    That ye me be som weie teche  
591    What is to ben an ypocrite;
592    And thanne if I be forto wyte, 
593    I wol beknowen, as it is.  
594    Mi Sone, an ypocrite is this,-
595    A man which feigneth conscience,  
596    As thogh it were al innocence, 
597    Withoute, and is noght so withinne; 
598    And doth so for he wolde winne
599    Of his desir the vein astat.  
600    And whanne he comth anon therat,  
601    He scheweth thanne what he was,
602    The corn is torned into gras,  
603    That was a Rose is thanne a thorn,
604    And he that was a Lomb beforn 
605    Is thanne a Wolf, and thus malice
606    Under the colour of justice
607    Is hid; and as the poeple telleth,
608    These ordres witen where he duelleth,
609    As he that of here conseil is, 
610    And thilke world which thei er this 
611    Forsoken, he drawth in ayein: 
612    He clotheth richesse, as men sein,
613    Under the simplesce of poverte,
614    And doth to seme of gret decerte 
615    Thing which is litel worth withinne:
616    He seith in open, fy! to Sinne,
617    And in secre ther is no vice    
618    Of which that he nis a Norrice:  
619    And evere his chiere is sobre and softe,
620    And where he goth he blesseth ofte,  
621    Wherof the blinde world he dreccheth.  
622    Bot yet al only he ne streccheth 
623    His reule upon religioun,
624    Bot next to that condicioun
625    In suche as clepe hem holy cherche  
626    It scheweth ek how he can werche 
627    Among tho wyde furred hodes,
628    To geten hem the worldes goodes. 
629    And thei hemself ben thilke same 
630    That setten most the world in blame, 
631    Bot yet in contraire of her lore 
632    Ther is nothing thei loven more; 
633    So that semende of liht thei werke  
634    The dedes whiche are inward derke.  
635    And thus this double Ypocrisie
636    With his devolte apparantie
637    A viser set upon his face,  
638    Wherof toward this worldes grace 
639    He semeth to be riht wel thewed,  
640    And yit his herte is al beschrewed. 
641    Bot natheles he stant believed,
642    And hath his pourpos ofte achieved  
643    Of worschipe and of worldes welthe,  
644    And takth it, as who seith, be stelthe 
645    Thurgh coverture of his fallas.  
646    And riht so in semblable cas  
647    This vice hath ek his officers
648    Among these othre seculers 
649    Of grete men, for of the smale
650    As for tacompte he set no tale,
651    Bot thei that passen the comune  
652    With suche him liketh to comune,  
653    And where he seith he wol socoure
654    The poeple, there he woll devoure;  
655    For now aday is manyon      
656    Which spekth of Peter and of John
657    And thenketh Judas in his herte. 
658    Ther schal no worldes good asterte  
659    His hond, and yit he yifth almesse  
660    And fasteth ofte and hiereth Messe: 
661    With mea culpa, which he seith,
662    Upon his brest fullofte he leith 
663    His hond, and cast upward his yhe,
664    As thogh he Cristes face syhe;
665    So that it seemeth ate syhte,  
666    As he al one alle othre myhte 
667    Rescoue with his holy bede.
668    Bot yet his herte in other stede 
669    Among hise bedes most devoute 
670    Goth in the worldes cause aboute, 
671    How that he myhte his warisoun
672    Encresce.  And in comparisoun 
673    Ther ben lovers of such a sort,
674    That feignen hem an humble port,  
675    And al is bot Ypocrisie, 
676    Which with deceipte and flaterie 
677    Hath many a worthi wif beguiled. 
678    For whanne he hath his tunge affiled,
679    With softe speche and with lesinge,  
680    Forth with his fals pitous lokynge,  
681    He wolde make a womman wene
682    To gon upon the faire grene,
683    Whan that sche falleth in the Mir.  
684    For if he may have his desir,  
685    How so falle of the remenant,  
686    He halt no word of covenant;  
687    Bot er the time that he spede, 
688    Ther is no sleihte at thilke nede,
689    Which eny loves faitour mai,
690    That he ne put it in assai, 
691    As him belongeth forto done.  
692    The colour of the reyni Mone  
693    With medicine upon his face
694    He set, and thanne he axeth grace,
695    As he which hath sieknesse feigned. 
696    Whan his visage is so desteigned, 
697    With yhe upcast on hire he siketh,
698    And many a contenance he piketh,  
699    To bringen hire in to believe 
700    Of thing which that he wolde achieve,
701    Wherof he berth the pale hewe;
702    And for he wolde seme trewe,
703    He makth him siek, whan he is heil. 
704    Bot whanne he berth lowest the Seil, 
705    Thanne is he swiftest to beguile 
706    The womman, which that ilke while
707    Set upon him feith or credence.  
708    Mi Sone, if thou thi conscience  
709    Entamed hast in such a wise,
710    In schrifte thou thee myht avise 
711    And telle it me, if it be so. 
712    Min holy fader, certes no. 
713    As forto feigne such sieknesse
714    It nedeth noght, for this witnesse  
715    I take of god, that my corage 
716    Hath ben mor siek than my visage.
717    And ek this mai I wel avowe,
718    So lowe cowthe I nevere bowe  
719    To feigne humilite withoute,
720    That me ne leste betre loute  
721    With alle the thoghtes of myn herte;
722    For that thing schal me nevere asterte, 
723    I speke as to my lady diere,
724    To make hire eny feigned chiere. 
725    God wot wel there I lye noght, 
726    Mi chiere hath be such as my thoght;
727    For in good feith, this lieveth wel, 
728    Mi will was betre a thousendel
729    Than eny chiere that I cowthe.
730    Bot, Sire, if I have in my yowthe
731    Don other wise in other place, 
732    I put me therof in your grace:
733    For this excusen I ne schal,
734    That I have elles overal
735    To love and to his compaignie 
736    Be plein withoute Ypocrisie;  
737    Bot ther is on the which I serve, 
738    Althogh I may no thonk deserve,
739    To whom yet nevere into this day 
740    I seide onlyche or ye or nay,  
741    Bot if it so were in my thoght.  
742    As touchende othre seie I noght  
743    That I nam somdel forto wyte  
744    Of that ye clepe an ypocrite. 
745    Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht
746    To kepe his word in trowthe upryht  
747    Towardes love in alle wise.
748    For who that wolde him wel avise 
749    What hath befalle in this matiere,
750    He scholde noght with feigned chiere
751    Deceive Love in no degre.  
752    To love is every herte fre, 
753    Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest  
754    And therupon thi lust atteignest, 
755    That thow hast wonne with thi wyle,  
756    Thogh it thee like for a whyle,
757    Thou schalt it afterward repente.
758    And forto prove myn entente,
759    I finde ensample in a Croniqe 
760    Of hem that love so beswike.  
761    It fell be olde daies thus, 
762    Whil themperour Tiberius
763    The Monarchie of Rome ladde,
764    Ther was a worthi Romein hadde
765    A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, 
766    Which was to every mannes sihte  
767    Of al the Cite the faireste,
768    And as men seiden, ek the beste. 
769    It is and hath ben evere yit,  
770    That so strong is no mannes wit,  
771    Which thurgh beaute ne mai be drawe 
772    To love, and stonde under the lawe  
773    Of thilke bore frele kinde, 
774    Which makth the hertes yhen blinde,  
775    Wher no reson mai be comuned: 
776    And in this wise stod fortuned
777    This tale, of which I wolde mene;
778    This wif, which in hire lustes grene
779    Was fair and freissh and tendre of age, 
780    Sche may noght lette the corage  
781    Of him that wole on hire assote. 
782    Ther was a Duck, and he was hote 
783    Mundus, which hadde in his baillie  
784    To lede the chivalerie  
785    Of Rome, and was a worthi knyht; 
786    Bot yet he was noght of such myht
787    The strengthe of love to withstonde, 
788    That he ne was so broght to honde,
789    That malgre wher he wole or no,
790    This yonge wif he loveth so,
791    That he hath put al his assay 
792    To wynne thing which he ne may
793    Gete of hire graunt in no manere, 
794    Be yifte of gold ne be preiere.  
795    And whanne he syh that be no mede
796    Toward hir love he myhte spede,
797    Be sleyhte feigned thanne he wroghte;  
798    And therupon he him bethoghte 
799    How that ther was in the Cite 
800    A temple of such auctorite, 
801    To which with gret Devocioun  
802    The noble wommen of the toun  
803    Most comunliche a pelrinage
804    Gon forto preie thilke ymage  
805    Which the godesse of childinge is,
806    And cleped was be name Ysis:  
807    And in hire temple thanne were,
808    To reule and to ministre there
809    After the lawe which was tho,  
810    Above alle othre Prestes tuo. 
811    This Duck, which thoghte his love gete, 
812    Upon a day hem tuo to mete 
813    Hath bede, and thei come at his heste; 
814    Wher that thei hadde a riche feste,  
815    And after mete in prive place 
816    This lord, which wolde his thonk pourchace,
817    To ech of hem yaf thanne a yifte, 
818    And spak so that be weie of schrifte
819    He drowh hem unto his covine,  
820    To helpe and schape how he Pauline  
821    After his lust deceive myhte. 
822    And thei here trowthes bothe plyhte, 
823    That thei be nyhte hire scholden wynne 
824    Into the temple, and he therinne 
825    Schal have of hire al his entente:  
826    And thus acorded forth thei wente.  
827    Now lest thurgh which ypocrisie  
828    Ordeigned was the tricherie,
829    Wherof this ladi was deceived.
830    These Prestes hadden wel conceived  
831    That sche was of gret holinesse; 
832    And with a contrefet simplesse,
833    Which hid was in a fals corage,
834    Feignende an hevenely message 
835    Thei come and seide unto hir thus:  
836    "Pauline, the god Anubus
837    Hath sent ous bothe Prestes hiere,
838    And seith he woll to thee appiere
839    Be nyhtes time himself alone,  
840    For love he hath to thi persone: 
841    And therupon he hath ous bede, 
842    That we in Ysis temple a stede
843    Honestely for thee pourveie,
844    Wher thou be nyhte, as we thee seie, 
845    Of him schalt take avisioun.  
846    For upon thi condicioun, 
847    The which is chaste and ful of feith,
848    Such pris, as he ous tolde, he leith,
849    That he wol stonde of thin acord;
850    And forto bere hierof record  
851    He sende ous hider bothe tuo."
852    Glad was hire innocence tho
853    Of suche wordes as sche herde, 
854    With humble chiere and thus answerde,
855    And seide that the goddes wille  
856    Sche was al redy to fulfille,  
857    That be hire housebondes leve 
858    Sche wolde in Ysis temple at eve 
859    Upon hire goddes grace abide,  
860    To serven him the nyhtes tide.
861    The Prestes tho gon hom ayein, 
862    And sche goth to hire sovereign,  
863    Of goddes wille and as it was 
864    Sche tolde him al the pleine cas, 
865    Wherof he was deceived eke, 
866    And bad that sche hire scholde meke 
867    Al hol unto the goddes heste. 
868    And thus sche, which was al honeste 
869    To godward after hire entente, 
870    At nyht unto the temple wente, 
871    Wher that the false Prestes were;
872    And thei receiven hire there  
873    With such a tokne of holinesse,
874    As thogh thei syhen a godesse, 
875    And al withinne in prive place
876    A softe bedd of large space
877    Thei hadde mad and encourtined,
878    Wher sche was afterward engined. 
879    Bot sche, which al honour supposeth, 
880    The false Prestes thanne opposeth,
881    And axeth be what observance  
882    Sche myhte most to the plesance  
883    Of godd that nyhtes reule kepe:  
884    And thei hire bidden forto slepe 
885    Liggende upon the bedd alofte, 
886    For so, thei seide, al stille and softe
887    God Anubus hire wolde awake.  
888    The conseil in this wise take, 
889    The Prestes fro this lady gon;
890    And sche, that wiste of guile non,
891    In the manere as it was seid  
892    To slepe upon the bedd is leid,
893    In hope that sche scholde achieve
894    Thing which stod thanne upon bilieve,
895    Fulfild of alle holinesse. 
896    Bot sche hath failed, as I gesse, 
897    For in a closet faste by
898    The Duck was hid so prively
899    That sche him myhte noght perceive; 
900    And he, that thoghte to deceive,  
901    Hath such arrai upon him nome, 
902    That whanne he wolde unto hir come,  
903    It scholde semen at hire yhe  
904    As thogh sche verrailiche syhe
905    God Anubus, and in such wise  
906    This ypocrite of his queintise
907    Awaiteth evere til sche slepte.  
908    And thanne out of his place he crepte  
909    So stille that sche nothing herde,
910    And to the bedd stalkende he ferde,  
911    And sodeinly, er sche it wiste,
912    Beclipt in armes he hire kiste:  
913    Wherof in wommanysshe drede
914    Sche wok and nyste what to rede; 
915    Bot he with softe wordes milde
916    Conforteth hire and seith, with childe 
917    He wolde hire make in such a kynde  
918    That al the world schal have in mynde  
919    The worschipe of that ilke Sone; 
920    For he schal with the goddes wone,
921    And ben himself a godd also.  
922    With suche wordes and with mo, 
923    The whiche he feigneth in his speche,
924    This lady wit was al to seche, 
925    As sche which alle trowthe weneth:  
926    Bot he, that alle untrowthe meneth,  
927    With blinde tales so hire ladde,  
928    That all his wille of hire he hadde.
929    And whan him thoghte it was ynowh,
930    Ayein the day he him withdrowh
931    So prively that sche ne wiste 
932    Wher he becom, bot as him liste  
933    Out of the temple he goth his weie. 
934    And sche began to bidde and preie
935    Upon the bare ground knelende, 
936    And after that made hire offrende,
937    And to the Prestes yiftes grete  
938    Sche yaf, and homward be the Strete.
939    The Duck hire mette and seide thus: 
940    "The myhti godd which Anubus  
941    Is hote, he save the, Pauline, 
942    For thou art of his discipline
943    So holy, that no mannes myht  
944    Mai do that he hath do to nyht
945    Of thing which thou hast evere eschuied.  
946    Bot I his grace have so poursuied,
947    That I was mad his lieutenant:
948    Forthi be weie of covenant 
949    Fro this day forth I am al thin,  
950    And if thee like to be myn, 
951    That stant upon thin oghne wille."  
952    Sche herde his tale and bar it stille,  
953    And hom sche wente, as it befell, 
954    Into hir chambre, and ther sche fell
955    Upon hire bedd to wepe and crie,  
956    And seide: "O derke ypocrisie, 
957    Thurgh whos dissimilacion  
958    Of fals ymaginacion  
959    I am thus wickedly deceived!  
960    Bot that I have it aperceived 
961    I thonke unto the goddes alle;
962    For thogh it ones be befalle,  
963    It schal nevere eft whil that I live,
964    And thilke avou to godd I yive." 
965    And thus wepende sche compleigneth,  
966    Hire faire face and al desteigneth  
967    With wofull teres of hire ije, 
968    So that upon this agonie
969    Hire housebonde is inne come,  
970    And syh how sche was overcome 
971    With sorwe, and axeth what hire eileth.
972    And sche with that hirself beweileth
973    Welmore than sche dede afore,  
974    And seide, "Helas, wifhode is lore  
975    In me, which whilom was honeste,  
976    I am non other than a beste,
977    Now I defouled am of tuo." 
978    And as sche myhte speke tho,
979    Aschamed with a pitous onde
980    Sche tolde unto hir housebonde
981    The sothe of al the hole tale, 
982    And in hire speche ded and pale  
983    Sche swouneth welnyh to the laste.  
984    And he hire in hise armes faste  
985    Uphield, and ofte swor his oth
986    That he with hire is nothing wroth,  
987    For wel he wot sche may ther noght: 
988    Bot natheles withinne his thoght 
989    His herte stod in sori plit,
990    And seide he wolde of that despit
991    Be venged, how so evere it falle, 
992    And sende unto hise frendes alle.
993    And whan thei weren come in fere, 
994    He tolde hem upon this matiere,
995    And axeth hem what was to done:  
996    And thei avised were sone,  
997    And seide it thoghte hem for the beste 
998    To sette ferst his wif in reste,  
999    And after pleigne to the king 
1000   Upon the matiere of this thing.  
1001   Tho was this wofull wif conforted
1002   Be alle weies and desported,
1003   Til that sche was somdiel amended;  
1004   And thus a day or tuo despended,  
1005   The thridde day sche goth to pleigne
1006   With many a worthi Citezeine,  
1007   And he with many a Citezein.  
1008   Whan themperour it herde sein, 
1009   And knew the falshed of the vice, 
1010   He seide he wolde do justice: 
1011   And ferst he let the Prestes take,
1012   And for thei scholde it noght forsake,  
1013   He put hem into questioun; 
1014   Bot thei of the suggestioun
1015   Ne couthen noght a word refuse,
1016   Bot for thei wolde hemself excuse,
1017   The blame upon the Duck thei leide. 
1018   Bot therayein the conseil seide  
1019   That thei be noght excused so, 
1020   For he is on and thei ben tuo, 
1021   And tuo han more wit then on,  
1022   So thilke excusement was non. 
1023   And over that was seid hem eke,
1024   That whan men wolden vertu seke,  
1025   Men scholde it in the Prestes finde;
1026   Here ordre is of so hyh a kinde,  
1027   That thei be Duistres of the weie:  
1028   Forthi, if eny man forsueie
1029   Thurgh hem, thei be noght excusable.
1030   And thus be lawe resonable 
1031   Among the wise jugges there
1032   The Prestes bothe dampned were,
1033   So that the prive tricherie
1034   Hid under fals Ipocrisie
1035   Was thanne al openliche schewed,  
1036   That many a man hem hath beschrewed.
1037   And whan the Prestes weren dede,  
1038   The temple of thilke horrible dede  
1039   Thei thoghten purge, and thilke ymage,  
1040   Whos cause was the pelrinage,  
1041   Thei drowen out and als so faste 
1042   Fer into Tibre thei it caste,  
1043   Wher the Rivere it hath defied:  
1044   And thus the temple purified  
1045   Thei have of thilke horrible Sinne,  
1046   Which was that time do therinne. 
1047   Of this point such was the juise, 
1048   Bot of the Duck was other wise:  
1049   For he with love was bestad,
1050   His dom was noght so harde lad;  
1051   For Love put reson aweie
1052   And can noght se the rihte weie. 
1053   And be this cause he was respited,
1054   So that the deth him was acquited,
1055   Bot for al that he was exiled, 
1056   For he his love hath so beguiled, 
1057   That he schal nevere come ayein: 
1058   For who that is to trowthe unplein,  
1059   He may noght failen of vengance. 
1060   And ek to take remembrance 
1061   Of that Ypocrisie hath wroght 
1062   On other half, men scholde noght 
1063   To lihtly lieve al that thei hiere,  
1064   Bot thanne scholde a wisman stiere  
1065   The Schip, whan suche wyndes blowe: 
1066   For ferst thogh thei beginne lowe,
1067   At ende thei be noght menable, 
1068   Bot al tobreken Mast and Cable,
1069   So that the Schip with sodein blast, 
1070   Whan men lest wene, is overcast; 
1071   As now fulofte a man mai se:  
1072   And of old time how it hath be
1073   I finde a gret experience,  
1074   Wherof to take an evidence 
1075   Good is, and to be war also
1076   Of the peril, er him be wo.
1077   Of hem that ben so derk withinne, 
1078   At Troie also if we beginne,
1079   Ipocrisie it hath betraied:
1080   For whan the Greks hadde al assaied, 
1081   And founde that be no bataille
1082   Ne be no Siege it myhte availe
1083   The toun to winne thurgh prouesse,
1084   This vice feigned of simplesce
1085   Thurgh sleyhte of Calcas and of Crise  
1086   It wan be such a maner wise.  
1087   An Hors of Bras thei let do forge
1088   Of such entaile, of such a forge, 
1089   That in this world was nevere man
1090   That such an other werk began.
1091   The crafti werkman Epius
1092   It made, and forto telle thus, 
1093   The Greks, that thoghten to beguile 
1094   The kyng of Troie, in thilke while  
1095   With Anthenor and with Enee,
1096   That were bothe of the Cite
1097   And of the conseil the wiseste,
1098   The richeste and the myhtieste,
1099   In prive place so thei trete  
1100   With fair beheste and yiftes grete  
1101   Of gold, that thei hem have engined;
1102   Togedre and whan thei be covined, 
1103   Thei feignen forto make a pes, 
1104   And under that yit natheles
1105   Thei schopen the destruccioun 
1106   Bothe of the kyng and of the toun.  
1107   And thus the false pees was take 
1108   Of hem of Grece and undertake, 
1109   And therupon thei founde a weie,  
1110   Wher strengthe myhte noght aweie, 
1111   That sleihte scholde helpe thanne;  
1112   And of an ynche a large spanne
1113   Be colour of the pees thei made,  
1114   And tolden how thei weren glade  
1115   Of that thei stoden in acord; 
1116   And for it schal ben of record,
1117   Unto the kyng the Gregois seiden, 
1118   Be weie of love and this thei preiden,  
1119   As thei that wolde his thonk deserve,
1120   A Sacrifice unto Minerve,
1121   The pes to kepe in good entente,  
1122   Thei mosten offre er that thei wente.  
1123   The kyng conseiled in this cas
1124   Be Anthenor and Eneas
1125   Therto hath yoven his assent: 
1126   So was the pleine trowthe blent  
1127   Thurgh contrefet Ipocrisie 
1128   Of that thei scholden sacrifie.  
1129   The Greks under the holinesse 
1130   Anon with alle besinesse
1131   Here Hors of Bras let faire dihte,
1132   Which was to sen a wonder sihte; 
1133   For it was trapped of himselve,
1134   And hadde of smale whieles twelve,
1135   Upon the whiche men ynowe  
1136   With craft toward the toun it drowe, 
1137   And goth glistrende ayein the Sunne.
1138   Tho was ther joie ynowh begunne,  
1139   For Troie in gret devocioun
1140   Cam also with processioun  
1141   Ayein this noble Sacrifise 
1142   With gret honour, and in this wise  
1143   Unto the gates thei it broghte.  
1144   Bot of here entre whan thei soghte,  
1145   The gates weren al to smale;  
1146   And therupon was many a tale,  
1147   Bot for the worschipe of Minerve, 
1148   To whom thei comen forto serve,
1149   Thei of the toun, whiche understode 
1150   That al this thing was do for goode, 
1151   For pes, wherof that thei ben glade, 
1152   The gates that Neptunus made  
1153   A thousend wynter ther tofore, 
1154   Thei have anon tobroke and tore; 
1155   The stronge walles doun thei bete,
1156   So that in to the large strete
1157   This Hors with gret solempnite
1158   Was broght withinne the Cite,  
1159   And offred with gret reverence,
1160   Which was to Troie an evidence
1161   Of love and pes for everemo.  
1162   The Gregois token leve tho 
1163   With al the hole felaschipe,
1164   And forth thei wenten into Schipe
1165   And crossen seil and made hem yare,  
1166   Anon as thogh thei wolden fare:  
1167   Bot whan the blake wynter nyht
1168   Withoute Mone or Sterre lyht  
1169   Bederked hath the water Stronde,  
1170   Al prively thei gon to londe  
1171   Ful armed out of the navie.
1172   Synon, which mad was here aspie  
1173   Withinne Troie, as was conspired, 
1174   Whan time was a tokne hath fired;
1175   And thei with that here weie holden, 
1176   And comen in riht as thei wolden, 
1177   Ther as the gate was tobroke. 
1178   The pourpos was full take and spoke:
1179   Er eny man may take kepe,
1180   Whil that the Cite was aslepe, 
1181   Thei slowen al that was withinne, 
1182   And token what thei myhten wynne 
1183   Of such good as was sufficant, 
1184   And brenden up the remenant.  
1185   And thus cam out the tricherie,
1186   Which under fals Ypocrisie 
1187   Was hid, and thei that wende pees
1188   Tho myhten finde no reles  
1189   Of thilke swerd which al devoureth. 
1190   Fulofte and thus the swete soureth,  
1191   Whan it is knowe to the tast: 
1192   He spilleth many a word in wast  
1193   That schal with such a poeple trete;
1194   For whan he weneth most beyete,
1195   Thanne is he schape most to lese.
1196   And riht so if a womman chese 
1197   Upon the wordes that sche hiereth
1198   Som man, whan he most trewe appiereth,  
1199   Thanne is he forthest fro the trowthe: 
1200   Bot yit fulofte, and that is rowthe, 
1201   Thei speden that ben most untrewe
1202   And loven every day a newe, 
1203   Wherof the lief is after loth 
1204   And love hath cause to be wroth. 
1205   Bot what man that his lust desireth 
1206   Of love, and therupon conspireth 
1207   With wordes feigned to deceive,
1208   He schal noght faile to receive  
1209   His peine, as it is ofte sene.
1210   Forthi, my Sone, as I thee mene,  
1211   It sit the wel to taken hiede 
1212   That thou eschuie of thi manhiede
1213   Ipocrisie and his semblant, 
1214   That thou ne be noght deceivant,  
1215   To make a womman to believe
1216   Thing which is noght in thi bilieve:
1217   For in such feint Ipocrisie
1218   Of love is al the tricherie,
1219   Thurgh which love is deceived ofte; 
1220   For feigned semblant is so softe, 
1221   Unethes love may be war.
1222   Forthi, my Sone, as I wel dar, 
1223   I charge thee to fle that vice,
1224   That many a womman hath mad nice;
1225   Bot lok thou dele noght withal.  
1226   Iwiss, fader, nomor I schal.  
1227   Now, Sone, kep that thou hast swore:
1228   For this that thou hast herd before 
1229   Is seid the ferste point of Pride:  
1230   And next upon that other side, 
1231   To schryve and speken overthis
1232   Touchende of Pride, yit ther is  
1233   The point seconde, I thee behote, 
1234   Which Inobedience is hote. 
1235   This vice of Inobedience
1236   Ayein the reule of conscience 
1237   Al that is humble he desalloweth, 
1238   That he toward his god ne boweth 
1239   After the lawes of his heste. 
1240   Noght as a man bot as a beste, 
1241   Which goth upon his lustes wilde, 
1242   So goth this proude vice unmylde, 
1243   That he desdeigneth alle lawe:
1244   He not what is to be felawe,
1245   And serve may he noght for pride;
1246   So is he badde on every side,  
1247   And is that selve of whom men speke, 
1248   Which wol noght bowe er that he breke. 
1249   I not if love him myhte plie,  
1250   For elles forto justefie
1251   His herte, I not what mihte availe. 
1252   Forthi, my Sone, of such entaile 
1253   If that thin herte be disposed,
1254   Tell out and let it noght be glosed:
1255   For if that thou unbuxom be
1256   To love, I not in what degree 
1257   Thou schalt thi goode world achieve.
1258   Mi fader, ye schul wel believe,
1259   The yonge whelp which is affaited
1260   Hath noght his Maister betre awaited,
1261   To couche, whan he seith "Go lowe," 
1262   That I, anon as I may knowe
1263   Mi ladi will, ne bowe more.
1264   Bot other while I grucche sore
1265   Of some thinges that sche doth,
1266   Wherof that I woll telle soth:
1267   For of tuo pointz I am bethoght,  
1268   That, thogh I wolde, I myhte noght  
1269   Obeie unto my ladi heste;  
1270   Bot I dar make this beheste,
1271   Save only of that ilke tuo 
1272   I am unbuxom of no mo.  
1273   Whan ben tho tuo? tell on, quod he. 
1274   Mi fader, this is on, that sche  
1275   Comandeth me my mowth to close,
1276   And that I scholde hir noght oppose 
1277   In love, of which I ofte preche,  
1278   Bot plenerliche of such a speche 
1279   Forbere, and soffren hire in pes.
1280   Bot that ne myhte I natheles  
1281   For al this world obeie ywiss;
1282   For whanne I am ther as sche is,  
1283   Though sche my tales noght alowe, 
1284   Ayein hir will yit mot I bowe, 
1285   To seche if that I myhte have grace:
1286   Bot that thing may I noght enbrace  
1287   For ought that I can speke or do;
1288   And yit fulofte I speke so, 
1289   That sche is wroth and seith, "Be stille."
1290   If I that heste schal fulfille
1291   And therto ben obedient, 
1292   Thanne is my cause fully schent,  
1293   For specheles may noman spede.
1294   So wot I noght what is to rede;  
1295   Bot certes I may noght obeie,  
1296   That I ne mot algate seie  
1297   Somwhat of that I wolde mene; 
1298   For evere it is aliche grene,  
1299   The grete love which I have,
1300   Wherof I can noght bothe save 
1301   My speche and this obedience: 
1302   And thus fulofte my silence
1303   I breke, and is the ferste point 
1304   Wherof that I am out of point 
1305   In this, and yit it is no pride. 
1306   Now thanne upon that other side  
1307   To telle my desobeissance,  
1308   Ful sore it stant to my grevance 
1309   And may noght sinke into my wit; 
1310   For ofte time sche me bit  
1311   To leven hire and chese a newe,
1312   And seith, if I the sothe knewe  
1313   How ferr I stonde from hir grace, 
1314   I scholde love in other place.
1315   Bot therof woll I desobeie;
1316   For also wel sche myhte seie,  
1317   "Go tak the Mone ther it sit,"
1318   As bringe that into my wit:
1319   For ther was nevere rooted tre,
1320   That stod so faste in his degre,  
1321   That I ne stonde more faste
1322   Upon hire love, and mai noght caste 
1323   Min herte awey, althogh I wolde. 
1324   For god wot, thogh I nevere scholde 
1325   Sen hir with yhe after this day,  
1326   Yit stant it so that I ne may 
1327   Hir love out of my brest remue.  
1328   This is a wonder retenue,
1329   That malgre wher sche wole or non
1330   Min herte is everemore in on,  
1331   So that I can non other chese, 
1332   Bot whether that I winne or lese, 
1333   I moste hire loven til I deie;
1334   And thus I breke as be that weie 
1335   Hire hestes and hir comandinges,  
1336   Bot trewliche in non othre thinges. 
1337   Forthi, my fader, what is more
1338   Touchende to this ilke lore
1339   I you beseche, after the forme
1340   That ye pleinly me wolde enforme, 
1341   So that I may myn herte reule 
1342   In loves cause after the reule.  
1343   Toward this vice of which we trete  
1344   Ther ben yit tweie of thilke estrete,
1345   Here name is Murmur and Compleignte:
1346   Ther can noman here chiere peinte,
1347   To sette a glad semblant therinne,
1348   For thogh fortune make hem wynne, 
1349   Yit grucchen thei, and if thei lese, 
1350   Ther is no weie forto chese,
1351   Wherof thei myhten stonde appesed.  
1352   So ben thei comunly desesed;  
1353   Ther may no welthe ne poverte 
1354   Attempren hem to the decerte  
1355   Of buxomnesse be no wise:  
1356   For ofte time thei despise 
1357   The goode fortune as the badde,
1358   As thei no mannes reson hadde, 
1359   Thurgh pride, wherof thei be blinde.
1360   And ryht of such a maner kinde
1361   Ther be lovers, that thogh thei have
1362   Of love al that thei wolde crave, 
1363   Yit wol thei grucche be som weie, 
1364   That thei wol noght to love obeie
1365   Upon the trowthe, as thei do scholde;  
1366   And if hem lacketh that thei wolde,  
1367   Anon thei falle in such a peine,  
1368   That evere unbuxomly thei pleigne
1369   Upon fortune, and curse and crie, 
1370   That thei wol noght here hertes plie
1371   To soffre til it betre falle. 
1372   Forthi if thou amonges alle
1373   Hast used this condicioun,  
1374   Mi Sone, in thi Confessioun
1375   Now tell me pleinly what thou art.  
1376   Mi fader, I beknowe a part, 
1377   So as ye tolden hier above 
1378   Of Murmur and Compleignte of love,
1379   That for I se no sped comende, 
1380   Ayein fortune compleignende
1381   I am, as who seith, everemo:  
1382   And ek fulofte tyme also,
1383   Whan so is that I se and hiere
1384   Or hevy word or hevy chiere
1385   Of my lady, I grucche anon;
1386   Bot wordes dar I speke non, 
1387   Wherof sche myhte be desplesed,
1388   Bot in myn herte I am desesed:
1389   With many a Murmur, god it wot,
1390   Thus drinke I in myn oghne swot,  
1391   And thogh I make no semblant,  
1392   Min herte is al desobeissant; 
1393   And in this wise I me confesse
1394   Of that ye clepe unbuxomnesse.
1395   Now telleth what youre conseil is.  
1396   Mi Sone, and I thee rede this, 
1397   What so befalle of other weie, 
1398   That thou to loves heste obeie
1399   Als ferr as thou it myht suffise:
1400   For ofte sithe in such a wise 
1401   Obedience in love availeth, 
1402   Wher al a mannes strengthe faileth; 
1403   Wherof, if that the list to wite 
1404   In a Cronique as it is write,  
1405   A gret ensample thou myht fynde,  
1406   Which now is come to my mynde.
1407   Ther was whilom be daies olde 
1408   A worthi knyht, and as men tolde 
1409   He was Nevoeu to themperour
1410   And of his Court a Courteour: 
1411   Wifles he was, Florent he hihte,  
1412   He was a man that mochel myhte,
1413   Of armes he was desirous,
1414   Chivalerous and amorous, 
1415   And for the fame of worldes speche,  
1416   Strange aventures forto seche, 
1417   He rod the Marches al aboute. 
1418   And fell a time, as he was oute,  
1419   Fortune, which may every thred
1420   Tobreke and knette of mannes sped,
1421   Schop, as this knyht rod in a pas,
1422   That he be strengthe take was, 
1423   And to a Castell thei him ladde,  
1424   Wher that he fewe frendes hadde: 
1425   For so it fell that ilke stounde 
1426   That he hath with a dedly wounde 
1427   Feihtende his oghne hondes slain 
1428   Branchus, which to the Capitain  
1429   Was Sone and Heir, wherof ben wrothe
1430   The fader and the moder bothe.
1431   That knyht Branchus was of his hond 
1432   The worthieste of al his lond, 
1433   And fain thei wolden do vengance 
1434   Upon Florent, bot remembrance 
1435   That thei toke of his worthinesse
1436   Of knyhthod and of gentilesse, 
1437   And how he stod of cousinage  
1438   To themperour, made hem assuage,  
1439   And dorsten noght slen him for fere:
1440   In gret desputeisoun thei were
1441   Among hemself, what was the beste.  
1442   Ther was a lady, the slyheste 
1443   Of alle that men knewe tho, 
1444   So old sche myhte unethes go,  
1445   And was grantdame unto the dede: 
1446   And sche with that began to rede, 
1447   And seide how sche wol bringe him inne, 
1448   That sche schal him to dethe winne  
1449   Al only of his oghne grant, 
1450   Thurgh strengthe of verray covenant 
1451   Withoute blame of eny wiht.
1452   Anon sche sende for this kniht,
1453   And of hire Sone sche alleide 
1454   The deth, and thus to him sche seide:  
1455   "Florent, how so thou be to wyte 
1456   Of Branchus deth, men schal respite 
1457   As now to take vengement,
1458   Be so thou stonde in juggement
1459   Upon certein condicioun, 
1460   That thou unto a questioun 
1461   Which I schal axe schalt ansuere;
1462   And over this thou schalt ek swere,  
1463   That if thou of the sothe faile,  
1464   Ther schal non other thing availe,
1465   That thou ne schalt thi deth receive.  
1466   And for men schal thee noght deceive,
1467   That thou therof myht ben avised, 
1468   Thou schalt have day and tyme assised  
1469   And leve saufly forto wende,
1470   Be so that at thi daies ende  
1471   Thou come ayein with thin avys.  
1472   This knyht, which worthi was and wys,
1473   This lady preith that he may wite,
1474   And have it under Seales write,
1475   What questioun it scholde be  
1476   For which he schal in that degree
1477   Stonde of his lif in jeupartie.  
1478   With that sche feigneth compaignie,  
1479   And seith: "Florent, on love it hongeth
1480   Al that to myn axinge longeth:
1481   What alle wommen most desire  
1482   This wole I axe, and in thempire 
1483   Wher as thou hast most knowlechinge 
1484   Tak conseil upon this axinge."
1485   Florent this thing hath undertake,
1486   The day was set, the time take,
1487   Under his seal he wrot his oth,
1488   In such a wise and forth he goth 
1489   Hom to his Emes court ayein;  
1490   To whom his aventure plein 
1491   He tolde, of that him is befalle.
1492   And upon that thei weren alle 
1493   The wiseste of the lond asent, 
1494   Bot natheles of on assent  
1495   Thei myhte noght acorde plat,  
1496   On seide this, an othre that. 
1497   After the disposicioun  
1498   Of naturel complexioun  
1499   To som womman it is plesance,  
1500   That to an other is grevance; 
1501   Bot such a thing in special,
1502   Which to hem alle in general  
1503   Is most plesant, and most desired
1504   Above alle othre and most conspired, 
1505   Such o thing conne thei noght finde 
1506   Be Constellacion ne kinde: 
1507   And thus Florent withoute cure
1508   Mot stonde upon his aventure,  
1509   And is al schape unto the lere,
1510   As in defalte of his answere. 
1511   This knyht hath levere forto dye 
1512   Than breke his trowthe and forto lye
1513   In place ther as he was swore, 
1514   And schapth him gon ayein therfore. 
1515   Whan time cam he tok his leve, 
1516   That lengere wolde he noght beleve,  
1517   And preith his Em he be noght wroth, 
1518   For that is a point of his oth,
1519   He seith, that noman schal him wreke,
1520   Thogh afterward men hiere speke  
1521   That he par aventure deie. 
1522   And thus he wente forth his weie 
1523   Alone as knyht aventurous,  
1524   And in his thoght was curious 
1525   To wite what was best to do:  
1526   And as he rod al one so, 
1527   And cam nyh ther he wolde be,  
1528   In a forest under a tre 
1529   He syh wher sat a creature, 
1530   A lothly wommannysch figure,
1531   That forto speke of fleisch and bon 
1532   So foul yit syh he nevere non.
1533   This knyht behield hir redely, 
1534   And as he wolde have passed by,
1535   Sche cleped him and bad abide;
1536   And he his horse heved aside  
1537   Tho torneth, and to hire he rod,  
1538   And there he hoveth and abod,  
1539   To wite what sche wolde mene. 
1540   And sche began him to bemene,  
1541   And seide: "Florent be thi name,  
1542   Thou hast on honde such a game,
1543   That bot thou be the betre avised,
1544   Thi deth is schapen and devised,  
1545   That al the world ne mai the save,
1546   Bot if that thou my conseil have."  
1547   Florent, whan he this tale herde, 
1548   Unto this olde wyht answerde  
1549   And of hir conseil he hir preide.
1550   And sche ayein to him thus seide:
1551   "Florent, if I for the so schape, 
1552   That thou thurgh me thi deth ascape 
1553   And take worschipe of thi dede,
1554   What schal I have to my mede?"
1555   "What thing," quod he, "that thou wolt axe." 
1556   "I bidde nevere a betre taxe,"
1557   Quod sche, "bot ferst, er thou be sped, 
1558   Thou schalt me leve such a wedd,  
1559   That I wol have thi trowthe in honde
1560   That thou schalt be myn housebonde."
1561   "Nay," seith Florent, "that may noght be."
1562   "Ryd thanne forth thi wey," quod sche,  
1563   "And if thou go withoute red,  
1564   Thou schalt be sekerliche ded."  
1565   Florent behihte hire good ynowh  
1566   Of lond, of rente, of park, of plowh,
1567   Bot al that compteth sche at noght. 
1568   Tho fell this knyht in mochel thoght,
1569   Now goth he forth, now comth ayein,  
1570   He wot noght what is best to sein,
1571   And thoghte, as he rod to and fro,
1572   That chese he mot on of the tuo,  
1573   Or forto take hire to his wif 
1574   Or elles forto lese his lif.  
1575   And thanne he caste his avantage, 
1576   That sche was of so gret an age,  
1577   That sche mai live bot a while,
1578   And thoghte put hire in an Ile,
1579   Wher that noman hire scholde knowe,  
1580   Til sche with deth were overthrowe. 
1581   And thus this yonge lusti knyht  
1582   Unto this olde lothly wiht 
1583   Tho seide: "If that non other chance
1584   Mai make my deliverance, 
1585   Bot only thilke same speche
1586   Which, as thou seist, thou schalt me teche,
1587   Have hier myn hond, I schal thee wedde."  
1588   And thus his trowthe he leith to wedde.
1589   With that sche frounceth up the browe: 
1590   "This covenant I wol allowe," 
1591   Sche seith: "if eny other thing  
1592   Bot that thou hast of my techyng 
1593   Fro deth thi body mai respite, 
1594   I woll thee of thi trowthe acquite,  
1595   And elles be non other weie.  
1596   Now herkne me what I schal seie. 
1597   Whan thou art come into the place,
1598   Wher now thei maken gret manace  
1599   And upon thi comynge abyde, 
1600   Thei wole anon the same tide  
1601   Oppose thee of thin answere.  
1602   I wot thou wolt nothing forbere  
1603   Of that thou wenest be thi beste, 
1604   And if thou myht so finde reste,  
1605   Wel is, for thanne is ther nomore.  
1606   And elles this schal be my lore,  
1607   That thou schalt seie, upon this Molde 
1608   That alle wommen lievest wolde
1609   Be soverein of mannes love:
1610   For what womman is so above,
1611   Sche hath, as who seith, al hire wille;
1612   And elles may sche noght fulfille
1613   What thing hir were lievest have.
1614   With this answere thou schalt save  
1615   Thiself, and other wise noght.
1616   And whan thou hast thin ende wroght, 
1617   Com hier ayein, thou schalt me finde,
1618   And let nothing out of thi minde."  
1619   He goth him forth with hevy chiere,  
1620   As he that not in what manere 
1621   He mai this worldes joie atteigne:  
1622   For if he deie, he hath a peine,  
1623   And if he live, he mot him binde 
1624   To such on which of alle kinde
1625   Of wommen is thunsemlieste:
1626   Thus wot he noght what is the beste:
1627   Bot be him lief or be him loth,
1628   Unto the Castell forth he goth
1629   His full answere forto yive,
1630   Or forto deie or forto live.  
1631   Forth with his conseil cam the lord, 
1632   The thinges stoden of record,  
1633   He sende up for the lady sone, 
1634   And forth sche cam, that olde Mone. 
1635   In presence of the remenant
1636   The strengthe of al the covenant 
1637   Tho was reherced openly, 
1638   And to Florent sche bad forthi
1639   That he schal tellen his avis, 
1640   As he that woot what is the pris.
1641   Florent seith al that evere he couthe,  
1642   Bot such word cam ther non to mowthe,
1643   That he for yifte or for beheste 
1644   Mihte eny wise his deth areste.  
1645   And thus he tarieth longe and late,  
1646   Til that this lady bad algate 
1647   That he schal for the dom final  
1648   Yive his answere in special
1649   Of that sche hadde him ferst opposed:  
1650   And thanne he hath trewly supposed  
1651   That he him may of nothing yelpe, 
1652   Bot if so be tho wordes helpe, 
1653   Whiche as the womman hath him tawht;
1654   Wherof he hath an hope cawht  
1655   That he schal ben excused so,  
1656   And tolde out plein his wille tho.  
1657   And whan that this Matrone herde 
1658   The manere how this knyht ansuerde,  
1659   Sche seide: "Ha treson, wo thee be,  
1660   That hast thus told the privite,  
1661   Which alle wommen most desire!
1662   I wolde that thou were afire."
1663   Bot natheles in such a plit
1664   Florent of his answere is quit:  
1665   And tho began his sorwe newe,  
1666   For he mot gon, or ben untrewe,
1667   To hire which his trowthe hadde. 
1668   Bot he, which alle schame dradde, 
1669   Goth forth in stede of his penance,  
1670   And takth the fortune of his chance, 
1671   As he that was with trowthe affaited.  
1672   This olde wyht him hath awaited  
1673   In place wher as he hire lefte:  
1674   Florent his wofull heved uplefte 
1675   And syh this vecke wher sche sat, 
1676   Which was the lothlieste what 
1677   That evere man caste on his yhe: 
1678   Hire Nase bass, hire browes hyhe, 
1679   Hire yhen smale and depe set,  
1680   Hire chekes ben with teres wet,
1681   And rivelen as an emty skyn
1682   Hangende doun unto the chin,
1683   Hire Lippes schrunken ben for age,
1684   Ther was no grace in the visage,  
1685   Hir front was nargh, hir lockes hore,
1686   Sche loketh forth as doth a More, 
1687   Hire Necke is schort, hir schuldres courbe,
1688   That myhte a mannes lust destourbe,  
1689   Hire body gret and nothing smal,  
1690   And schortly to descrive hire al, 
1691   Sche hath no lith withoute a lak;
1692   Bot lich unto the wollesak 
1693   Sche proferth hire unto this knyht,  
1694   And bad him, as he hath behyht,
1695   So as sche hath ben his warant,
1696   That he hire holde covenant,
1697   And be the bridel sche him seseth.  
1698   Bot godd wot how that sche him pleseth 
1699   Of suche wordes as sche spekth:  
1700   Him thenkth welnyh his herte brekth 
1701   For sorwe that he may noght fle,  
1702   Bot if he wolde untrewe be.
1703   Loke, how a sek man for his hele 
1704   Takth baldemoine with Canele,  
1705   And with the Mirre takth the Sucre,  
1706   Ryht upon such a maner lucre  
1707   Stant Florent, as in this diete: 
1708   He drinkth the bitre with the swete, 
1709   He medleth sorwe with likynge, 
1710   And liveth, as who seith, deyinge;  
1711   His youthe schal be cast aweie
1712   Upon such on which as the weie
1713   Is old and lothly overal.  
1714   Bot nede he mot that nede schal: 
1715   He wolde algate his trowthe holde,
1716   As every knyht therto is holde,
1717   What happ so evere him is befalle:  
1718   Thogh sche be the fouleste of alle,  
1719   Yet to thonour of wommanhiede 
1720   Him thoghte he scholde taken hiede; 
1721   So that for pure gentilesse,
1722   As he hire couthe best adresce,
1723   In ragges, as sche was totore, 
1724   He set hire on his hors tofore
1725   And forth he takth his weie softe;  
1726   No wonder thogh he siketh ofte.  
1727   Bot as an oule fleth be nyhte 
1728   Out of alle othre briddes syhte,  
1729   Riht so this knyht on daies brode
1730   In clos him hield, and schop his rode  
1731   On nyhtes time, til the tyde  
1732   That he cam there he wolde abide;
1733   And prively withoute noise 
1734   He bringth this foule grete Coise
1735   To his Castell in such a wise 
1736   That noman myhte hire schappe avise, 
1737   Til sche into the chambre cam:
1738   Wher he his prive conseil nam 
1739   Of suche men as he most troste,
1740   And tolde hem that he nedes moste
1741   This beste wedde to his wif,
1742   For elles hadde he lost his lif. 
1743   The prive wommen were asent,
1744   That scholden ben of his assent: 
1745   Hire ragges thei anon of drawe,
1746   And, as it was that time lawe, 
1747   She hadde bath, sche hadde reste, 
1748   And was arraied to the beste. 
1749   Bot with no craft of combes brode
1750   Thei myhte hire hore lockes schode,  
1751   And sche ne wolde noght be schore
1752   For no conseil, and thei therfore,
1753   With such atyr as tho was used,
1754   Ordeinen that it was excused,  
1755   And hid so crafteliche aboute, 
1756   That noman myhte sen hem oute.
1757   Bot when sche was fulliche arraied  
1758   And hire atyr was al assaied,  
1759   Tho was sche foulere on to se:
1760   Bot yit it may non other be,
1761   Thei were wedded in the nyht; 
1762   So wo begon was nevere knyht  
1763   As he was thanne of mariage.  
1764   And sche began to pleie and rage, 
1765   As who seith, I am wel ynowh; 
1766   Bot he therof nothing ne lowh, 
1767   For sche tok thanne chiere on honde 
1768   And clepeth him hire housebonde,  
1769   And seith, "My lord, go we to bedde, 
1770   For I to that entente wedde,
1771   That thou schalt be my worldes blisse:"
1772   And profreth him with that to kisse, 
1773   As sche a lusti Lady were. 
1774   His body myhte wel be there,
1775   Bot as of thoght and of memoire  
1776   His herte was in purgatoire.  
1777   Bot yit for strengthe of matrimoine 
1778   He myhte make non essoine,  
1779   That he ne mot algates plie
1780   To gon to bedde of compaignie:
1781   And whan thei were abedde naked,  
1782   Withoute slep he was awaked;  
1783   He torneth on that other side, 
1784   For that he wolde hise yhen hyde 
1785   Fro lokynge on that foule wyht.  
1786   The chambre was al full of lyht,  
1787   The courtins were of cendal thinne,  
1788   This newe bryd which lay withinne,
1789   Thogh it be noght with his acord, 
1790   In armes sche beclipte hire lord, 
1791   And preide, as he was torned fro, 
1792   He wolde him torne ayeinward tho;
1793   "For now," sche seith, "we ben bothe on." 
1794   And he lay stille as eny ston, 
1795   Bot evere in on sche spak and preide,
1796   And bad him thenke on that he seide, 
1797   Whan that he tok hire be the hond.  
1798   He herde and understod the bond,  
1799   How he was set to his penance, 
1800   And as it were a man in trance
1801   He torneth him al sodeinly, 
1802   And syh a lady lay him by  
1803   Of eyhtetiene wynter age,
1804   Which was the faireste of visage 
1805   That evere in al this world he syh: 
1806   And as he wolde have take hire nyh,  
1807   Sche put hire hand and be his leve  
1808   Besoghte him that he wolde leve,  
1809   And seith that forto wynne or lese  
1810   He mot on of tuo thinges chese,
1811   Wher he wol have hire such on nyht,  
1812   Or elles upon daies lyht,
1813   For he schal noght have bothe tuo.  
1814   And he began to sorwe tho,  
1815   In many a wise and caste his thoght, 
1816   Bot for al that yit cowthe he noght 
1817   Devise himself which was the beste. 
1818   And sche, that wolde his hertes reste,  
1819   Preith that he scholde chese algate, 
1820   Til ate laste longe and late  
1821   He seide: "O ye, my lyves hele,
1822   Sey what you list in my querele,  
1823   I not what ansuere I schal yive: 
1824   Bot evere whil that I may live,
1825   I wol that ye be my maistresse,
1826   For I can noght miselve gesse 
1827   Which is the beste unto my chois.
1828   Thus grante I yow myn hole vois,  
1829   Ches for ous bothen, I you preie;
1830   And what as evere that ye seie,
1831   Riht as ye wole so wol I." 
1832   "Mi lord," sche seide, " grant merci,
1833   For of this word that ye now sein,
1834   That ye have mad me soverein,  
1835   Mi destine is overpassed,
1836   That nevere hierafter schal be lassed  
1837   Mi beaute, which that I now have, 
1838   Til I be take into my grave;  
1839   Bot nyht and day as I am now  
1840   I schal alwey be such to yow. 
1841   The kinges dowhter of Cizile  
1842   I am, and fell bot siththe awhile,
1843   As I was with my fader late,
1844   That my Stepmoder for an hate, 
1845   Which toward me sche hath begonne,
1846   Forschop me, til I hadde wonne
1847   The love and sovereinete
1848   Of what knyht that in his degre  
1849   Alle othre passeth of good name: 
1850   And, as men sein, ye ben the same,
1851   The dede proeveth it is so;
1852   Thus am I youres evermo."  
1853   Tho was plesance and joye ynowh,  
1854   Echon with other pleide and lowh;
1855   Thei live longe and wel thei ferde,  
1856   And clerkes that this chance herde  
1857   Thei writen it in evidence, 
1858   To teche how that obedience
1859   Mai wel fortune a man to love 
1860   And sette him in his lust above,  
1861   As it befell unto this knyht. 
1862   Forthi, my Sone, if thou do ryht, 
1863   Thou schalt unto thi love obeie,  
1864   And folwe hir will be alle weie. 
1865   Min holy fader, so I wile: 
1866   For ye have told me such a skile 
1867   Of this ensample now tofore,
1868   That I schal evermo therfore  
1869   Hierafterward myn observance  
1870   To love and to his obeissance 
1871   The betre kepe: and over this 
1872   Of pride if ther oght elles is,
1873   Wherof that I me schryve schal,
1874   What thing it is in special,
1875   Mi fader, axeth, I you preie. 
1876   Now lest, my Sone, and I schal seie:
1877   For yit ther is Surquiderie,
1878   Which stant with Pride of compaignie;  
1879   Wherof that thou schalt hiere anon,  
1880   To knowe if thou have gult or non
1881   Upon the forme as thou schalt hiere:
1882   Now understond wel the matiere.  
1883   Surquiderie is thilke vice 
1884   Of Pride, which the thridde office  
1885   Hath in his Court, and wol noght knowe 
1886   The trowthe til it overthrowe.
1887   Upon his fortune and his grace
1888   Comth "Hadde I wist" fulofte aplace;
1889   For he doth al his thing be gesse,
1890   And voideth alle sikernesse.  
1891   Non other conseil good him siemeth  
1892   Bot such as he himselve diemeth; 
1893   For in such wise as he compasseth,
1894   His wit al one alle othre passeth;  
1895   And is with pride so thurghsoght, 
1896   That he alle othre set at noght,  
1897   And weneth of himselven so, 
1898   That such as he ther be nomo,  
1899   So fair, so semly, ne so wis; 
1900   And thus he wolde bere a pris 
1901   Above alle othre, and noght forthi  
1902   He seith noght ones "grant mercy"
1903   To godd, which alle grace sendeth,
1904   So that his wittes he despendeth 
1905   Upon himself, as thogh ther were 
1906   No godd which myhte availe there:
1907   Bot al upon his oghne witt 
1908   He stant, til he falle in the pitt  
1909   So ferr that he mai noght arise. 
1910   And riht thus in the same wise
1911   This vice upon the cause of love 
1912   So proudly set the herte above,
1913   And doth him pleinly forto wene  
1914   That he to loven eny qwene 
1915   Hath worthinesse and sufficance; 
1916   And so withoute pourveance 
1917   Fulofte he heweth up so hihe,  
1918   That chippes fallen in his yhe;  
1919   And ek ful ofte he weneth this,
1920   Ther as he noght beloved is,
1921   To be beloved alther best. 
1922   Now, Sone, tell what so thee lest
1923   Of this that I have told thee hier. 
1924   Ha, fader, be noght in a wer: 
1925   I trowe ther be noman lesse,
1926   Of eny maner worthinesse,
1927   That halt him lasse worth thanne I  
1928   To be beloved; and noght forthi  
1929   I seie in excusinge of me,  
1930   To alle men that love is fre. 
1931   And certes that mai noman werne; 
1932   For love is of himself so derne,  
1933   It luteth in a mannes herte:  
1934   Bot that ne schal me noght asterte,  
1935   To wene forto be worthi 
1936   To loven, bot in hir mercy.
1937   Bot, Sire, of that ye wolden mene,
1938   That I scholde otherwise wene 
1939   To be beloved thanne I was, 
1940   I am beknowe as in that cas.  
1941   Mi goode Sone, tell me how.
1942   Now lest, and I wol telle yow, 
1943   Mi goode fader, how it is. 
1944   Fulofte it hath befalle or this  
1945   Thurgh hope that was noght certein,  
1946   Mi wenynge hath be set in vein
1947   To triste in thing that halp me noght,  
1948   Bot onliche of myn oughne thoght.
1949   For as it semeth that a belle 
1950   Lik to the wordes that men telle 
1951   Answerth, riht so ne mor ne lesse,
1952   To yow, my fader, I confesse,  
1953   Such will my wit hath overset, 
1954   That what so hope me behet, 
1955   Ful many a time I wene it soth,
1956   Bot finali no spied it doth.  
1957   Thus may I tellen, as I can,
1958   Wenyng beguileth many a man;  
1959   So hath it me, riht wel I wot:
1960   For if a man wole in a Bot 
1961   Which is withoute botme rowe,  
1962   He moste nedes overthrowe. 
1963   Riht so wenyng hath ferd be me:  
1964   For whanne I wende next have be,  
1965   As I be my wenynge caste,
1966   Thanne was I furthest ate laste,  
1967   And as a foll my bowe unbende, 
1968   Whan al was failed that I wende. 
1969   Forthi, my fader, as of this,  
1970   That my wenynge hath gon amis 
1971   Touchende to Surquiderie,
1972   Yif me my penance er I die.
1973   Bot if ye wolde in eny forme  
1974   Of this matiere a tale enforme,
1975   Which were ayein this vice set,
1976   I scholde fare wel the bet.
1977   Mi Sone, in alle maner wise
1978   Surquiderie is to despise,  
1979   Wherof I finde write thus. 
1980   The proude knyht Capanes 
1981   He was of such Surquiderie, 
1982   That he thurgh his chivalerie 
1983   Upon himself so mochel triste, 
1984   That to the goddes him ne liste  
1985   In no querele to beseche,
1986   Bot seide it was an ydel speche,  
1987   Which caused was of pure drede,
1988   For lack of herte and for no nede.  
1989   And upon such presumpcioun 
1990   He hield this proude opinioun, 
1991   Til ate laste upon a dai,
1992   Aboute Thebes wher he lay,  
1993   Whan it of Siege was belein,
1994   This knyht, as the Croniqes sein, 
1995   In alle mennes sihte there, 
1996   Whan he was proudest in his gere, 
1997   And thoghte how nothing myhte him dere, 
1998   Ful armed with his schield and spere
1999   As he the Cite wolde assaile,  
2000   Godd tok himselve the bataille
2001   Ayein his Pride, and fro the sky 
2002   A firy thonder sodeinly 
2003   He sende, and him to pouldre smot.  
2004   And thus the Pride which was hot, 
2005   Whan he most in his strengthe wende, 
2006   Was brent and lost withouten ende:  
2007   So that it proeveth wel therfore, 
2008   The strengthe of man is sone lore,
2009   Bot if that he it wel governe.
2010   And over this a man mai lerne 
2011   That ek fulofte time it grieveth, 
2012   Whan that a man himself believeth,
2013   As thogh it scholde him wel beseme  
2014   That he alle othre men can deme,  
2015   And hath foryete his oghne vice. 
2016   A tale of hem that ben so nyce,
2017   And feigne hemself to be so wise, 
2018   I schal thee telle in such a wise,
2019   Wherof thou schalt ensample take 
2020   That thou no such thing undertake.  
2021   I finde upon Surquiderie,
2022   How that whilom of Hungarie
2023   Be olde daies was a King
2024   Wys and honeste in alle thing:
2025   And so befell upon a dai,
2026   And that was in the Monthe of Maii,  
2027   As thilke time it was usance,  
2028   This kyng with noble pourveance  
2029   Hath for himself his Charr araied,
2030   Wher inne he wolde ride amaied
2031   Out of the Cite forto pleie,
2032   With lordes and with gret nobleie
2033   Of lusti folk that were yonge:
2034   Wher some pleide and some songe,  
2035   And some gon and some ryde, 
2036   And some prike here hors aside
2037   And bridlen hem now in now oute. 
2038   The kyng his yhe caste aboute, 
2039   Til he was ate laste war
2040   And syh comende ayein his char
2041   Two pilegrins of so gret age,  
2042   That lich unto a dreie ymage  
2043   Thei weren pale and fade hewed,
2044   And as a bussh which is besnewed, 
2045   Here berdes weren hore and whyte;
2046   Ther was of kinde bot a lite,  
2047   That thei ne semen fulli dede.
2048   Thei comen to the kyng and bede  
2049   Som of his good par charite;  
2050   And he with gret humilite  
2051   Out of his Char to grounde lepte, 
2052   And hem in bothe hise armes kepte
2053   And keste hem bothe fot and hond 
2054   Before the lordes of his lond, 
2055   And yaf hem of his good therto:  
2056   And whanne he hath this dede do,  
2057   He goth into his char ayein.  
2058   Tho was Murmur, tho was desdeign, 
2059   Tho was compleignte on every side,
2060   Thei seiden of here oghne Pride  
2061   Eche until othre: "What is this? 
2062   Oure king hath do this thing amis,
2063   So to abesse his realte 
2064   That every man it myhte se, 
2065   And humbled him in such a wise
2066   To hem that were of non emprise."
2067   Thus was it spoken to and fro 
2068   Of hem that were with him tho 
2069   Al prively behinde his bak;
2070   Bot to himselven noman spak.  
2071   The kinges brother in presence
2072   Was thilke time, and gret offence
2073   He tok therof, and was the same  
2074   Above alle othre which most blame
2075   Upon his liege lord hath leid, 
2076   And hath unto the lordes seid, 
2077   Anon as he mai time finde,  
2078   Ther schal nothing be left behinde,  
2079   That he wol speke unto the king. 
2080   Now lest what fell upon this thing. 
2081   The day was merie and fair ynowh, 
2082   Echon with othre pleide and lowh, 
2083   And fellen into tales newe, 
2084   How that the freisshe floures grewe, 
2085   And how the grene leves spronge,  
2086   And how that love among the yonge
2087   Began the hertes thanne awake, 
2088   And every bridd hath chose hire make:  
2089   And thus the Maies day to thende 
2090   Thei lede, and hom ayein thei wende.
2091   The king was noght so sone come,  
2092   That whanne he hadde his chambre nome,  
2093   His brother ne was redi there, 
2094   And broghte a tale unto his Ere  
2095   Of that he dede such a schame 
2096   In hindringe of his oghne name,
2097   Whan he himself so wolde drecche, 
2098   That to so vil a povere wrecche  
2099   Him deigneth schewe such simplesce  
2100   Ayein thastat of his noblesce:
2101   And seith he schal it nomor use,  
2102   And that he mot himself excuse
2103   Toward hise lordes everychon. 
2104   The king stod stille as eny ston, 
2105   And to his tale an Ere he leide,  
2106   And thoghte more than he seide:  
2107   Bot natheles to that he herde 
2108   Wel cortaisly the king answerde,  
2109   And tolde it scholde be amended. 
2110   And thus whan that her tale is ended,
2111   Al redy was the bord and cloth,
2112   The king unto his Souper goth 
2113   Among the lordes to the halle;
2114   And whan thei hadden souped alle, 
2115   Thei token leve and forth thei go.  
2116   The king bethoghte himselve tho  
2117   How he his brother mai chastie,
2118   That he thurgh his Surquiderie
2119   Tok upon honde to despreise
2120   Humilite, which is to preise,  
2121   And therupon yaf such conseil 
2122   Toward his king that was noght heil;
2123   Wherof to be the betre lered,  
2124   He thenkth to maken him afered.  
2125   It fell so that in thilke dawe
2126   Ther was ordeined be the lawe 
2127   A trompe with a sterne breth,  
2128   Which cleped was the Trompe of deth:
2129   And in the Court wher the king was  
2130   A certein man this Trompe of bras
2131   Hath in kepinge, and therof serveth, 
2132   That whan a lord his deth deserveth, 
2133   He schal this dredful trompe blowe  
2134   Tofore his gate, and make it knowe  
2135   How that the jugement is yove 
2136   Of deth, which schal noght be foryove. 
2137   The king, whan it was nyht, anon 
2138   This man asente and bad him gon  
2139   To trompen at his brother gate;  
2140   And he, which mot so don algate,  
2141   Goth forth and doth the kynges heste.  
2142   This lord, which herde of this tempeste
2143   That he tofore his gate blew,  
2144   Tho wiste he be the lawe and knew
2145   That he was sikerliche ded:
2146   And as of help he wot no red,  
2147   Bot sende for hise frendes alle  
2148   And tolde hem how it is befalle. 
2149   And thei him axe cause why;
2150   Bot he the sothe noght forthi 
2151   Ne wiste, and ther was sorwe tho:
2152   For it stod thilke tyme so, 
2153   This trompe was of such sentence, 
2154   That therayein no resistence  
2155   Thei couthe ordeine be no weie,
2156   That he ne mot algate deie, 
2157   Bot if so that he may pourchace  
2158   To gete his liege lordes grace.  
2159   Here wittes therupon thei caste,  
2160   And ben apointed ate laste.
2161   This lord a worthi ladi hadde 
2162   Unto his wif, which also dradde  
2163   Hire lordes deth, and children five 
2164   Betwen hem two thei hadde alyve,  
2165   That weren yonge and tendre of age,  
2166   And of stature and of visage  
2167   Riht faire and lusty on to se.
2168   Tho casten thei that he and sche 
2169   Forth with here children on the morwe,  
2170   As thei that were full of sorwe,  
2171   Al naked bot of smok and scherte, 
2172   To tendre with the kynges herte,  
2173   His grace scholden go to seche
2174   And pardoun of the deth beseche. 
2175   Thus passen thei that wofull nyht,
2176   And erly, whan thei sihe it lyht, 
2177   Thei gon hem forth in such a wise
2178   As thou tofore hast herd devise,  
2179   Al naked bot here schortes one.  
2180   Thei wepte and made mochel mone,  
2181   Here Her hangende aboute here Eres; 
2182   With sobbinge and with sory teres
2183   This lord goth thanne an humble pas, 
2184   That whilom proud and noble was; 
2185   Wherof the Cite sore afflyhte, 
2186   Of hem that sihen thilke syhte:  
2187   And natheless al openly 
2188   With such wepinge and with such cri 
2189   Forth with hise children and his wif
2190   He goth to preie for his lif. 
2191   Unto the court whan thei be come, 
2192   And men therinne have hiede nome, 
2193   Ther was no wiht, if he hem syhe, 
2194   Fro water mihte kepe his yhe  
2195   For sorwe which thei maden tho.  
2196   The king supposeth of this wo, 
2197   And feigneth as he noght ne wiste;  
2198   Bot natheles at his upriste
2199   Men tolden him how that it ferde:
2200   And whan that he this wonder herde,  
2201   In haste he goth into the halle,  
2202   And alle at ones doun thei falle, 
2203   If eny pite may be founde. 
2204   The king, which seth hem go to grounde, 
2205   Hath axed hem what is the fere,
2206   Why thei be so despuiled there.  
2207   His brother seide: "Ha lord, mercy! 
2208   I wot non other cause why,  
2209   Bot only that this nyht ful late 
2210   The trompe of deth was at my gate
2211   In tokne that I scholde deie; 
2212   Thus be we come forto preie
2213   That ye mi worldes deth respite."
2214   "Ha fol, how thou art forto wyte,"  
2215   The king unto his brother seith,  
2216   "That thou art of so litel feith, 
2217   That only for a trompes soun  
2218   Hast gon despuiled thurgh the toun,  
2219   Thou and thi wif in such manere  
2220   Forth with thi children that ben here,  
2221   In sihte of alle men aboute,
2222   For that thou seist thou art in doute  
2223   Of deth, which stant under the lawe 
2224   Of man, and man it mai withdrawe, 
2225   So that it mai par chance faile. 
2226   Now schalt thou noght forthi mervaile  
2227   That I doun fro my Charr alihte,  
2228   Whanne I behield tofore my sihte 
2229   In hem that were of so grete age 
2230   Min oghne deth thurgh here ymage, 
2231   Which god hath set be lawe of kynde, 
2232   Wherof I mai no bote finde:
2233   For wel I wot, such as thei be,
2234   Riht such am I in my degree,
2235   Of fleissh and blod, and so schal deie.
2236   And thus, thogh I that lawe obeie
2237   Of which the kinges ben put under,
2238   It oghte ben wel lasse wonder 
2239   Than thou, which art withoute nede  
2240   For lawe of londe in such a drede,
2241   Which for tacompte is bot a jape, 
2242   As thing which thou miht overscape. 
2243   Forthi, mi brother, after this
2244   I rede, sithen that so is  
2245   That thou canst drede a man so sore, 
2246   Dred god with al thin herte more:
2247   For al schal deie and al schal passe,
2248   Als wel a Leoun as an asse, 
2249   Als wel a beggere as a lord,
2250   Towardes deth in on acord  
2251   Thei schullen stonde." And in this wise
2252   The king hath with hise wordes wise 
2253   His brother tawht and al foryive.
2254   Forthi, mi Sone, if thou wolt live  
2255   In vertu, thou most vice eschuie, 
2256   And with low herte humblesce suie,
2257   So that thou be noght surquidous.
2258   Mi fader, I am amorous,  
2259   Wherof I wolde you beseche 
2260   That ye me som ensample teche, 
2261   Which mihte in loves cause stonde.  
2262   Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde, 
2263   In love and othre thinges alle
2264   If that Surquiderie falle,  
2265   It may to him noght wel betide
2266   Which useth thilke vice of Pride, 
2267   Which torneth wisdom to wenynge  
2268   And Sothfastnesse into lesynge
2269   Thurgh fol ymaginacion. 
2270   And for thin enformacion,
2271   That thou this vice as I the rede
2272   Eschuie schalt, a tale I rede, 
2273   Which fell whilom be daies olde,  
2274   So as the clerk Ovide tolde.  
2275   Ther was whilom a lordes Sone, 
2276   Which of his Pride a nyce wone
2277   Hath cawht, that worthi to his liche,
2278   To sechen al the worldes riche,
2279   Ther was no womman forto love.
2280   So hihe he sette himselve above  
2281   Of stature and of beaute bothe,
2282   That him thoghte alle wommen lothe: 
2283   So was ther no comparisoun 
2284   As toward his condicioun.  
2285   This yonge lord Narcizus hihte:  
2286   No strengthe of love bowe mihte  
2287   His herte, which is unaffiled;
2288   Bot ate laste he was beguiled:
2289   For of the goddes pourveance  
2290   It fell him on a dai par chance,  
2291   That he in all his proude fare
2292   Unto the forest gan to fare,
2293   Amonges othre that ther were  
2294   To hunte and to desporte him there. 
2295   And whanne he cam into the place 
2296   Wher that he wolde make his chace,
2297   The houndes weren in a throwe 
2298   Uncoupled and the hornes blowe:  
2299   The grete hert anon was founde,
2300   Which swifte feet sette upon grounde,
2301   And he with spore in horse side  
2302   Him hasteth faste forto ride,  
2303   Til alle men be left behinde. 
2304   And as he rod, under a linde  
2305   Beside a roche, as I thee telle,  
2306   He syh wher sprong a lusty welle:
2307   The day was wonder hot withalle,  
2308   And such a thurst was on him falle,  
2309   That he moste owther deie or drinke;
2310   And doun he lihte and be the brinke 
2311   He teide his Hors unto a braunche,
2312   And leide him lowe forto staunche
2313   His thurst: and as he caste his lok 
2314   Into the welle and hiede tok,  
2315   He sih the like of his visage, 
2316   And wende ther were an ymage  
2317   Of such a Nimphe as tho was faie, 
2318   Wherof that love his herte assaie
2319   Began, as it was after sene,
2320   Of his sotie and made him wene
2321   It were a womman that he syh. 
2322   The more he cam the welle nyh, 
2323   The nerr cam sche to him ayein;  
2324   So wiste he nevere what to sein; 
2325   For whanne he wepte, he sih hire wepe,  
2326   And whanne he cride, he tok good kepe,  
2327   The same word sche cride also:
2328   And thus began the newe wo, 
2329   That whilom was to him so strange;  
2330   Tho made him love an hard eschange,  
2331   To sette his herte and to beginne
2332   Thing which he mihte nevere winne.  
2333   And evere among he gan to loute,  
2334   And preith that sche to him come oute; 
2335   And otherwhile he goth a ferr, 
2336   And otherwhile he draweth nerr,
2337   And evere he fond hire in o place.  
2338   He wepth, he crith, he axeth grace,  
2339   There as he mihte gete non;
2340   So that ayein a Roche of Ston, 
2341   As he that knew non other red, 
2342   He smot himself til he was ded.  
2343   Wherof the Nimphes of the welles, 
2344   And othre that ther weren elles  
2345   Unto the wodes belongende,  
2346   The body, which was ded ligende,  
2347   For pure pite that thei have  
2348   Under the grene thei begrave. 
2349   And thanne out of his sepulture  
2350   Ther sprong anon par aventure 
2351   Of floures such a wonder syhte,
2352   That men ensample take myhte  
2353   Upon the dedes whiche he dede, 
2354   As tho was sene in thilke stede; 
2355   For in the wynter freysshe and faire
2356   The floures ben, which is contraire 
2357   To kynde, and so was the folie
2358   Which fell of his Surquiderie.
2359   Thus he, which love hadde in desdeign,  
2360   Worste of all othre was besein,
2361   And as he sette his pris most hyhe,  
2362   He was lest worth in loves yhe
2363   And most bejaped in his wit:  
2364   Wherof the remembrance is yit, 
2365   So that thou myht ensample take,  
2366   And ek alle othre for his sake.  
2367   Mi fader, as touchende of me,  
2368   This vice I thenke forto fle,  
2369   Which of his wenynge overtroweth;
2370   And nameliche of thing which groweth
2371   In loves cause or wel or wo
2372   Yit pryded I me nevere so. 
2373   Bot wolde god that grace sende,
2374   That toward me my lady wende  
2375   As I towardes hire wene!
2376   Mi love scholde so be sene, 
2377   Ther scholde go no pride a place.
2378   Bot I am ferr fro thilke grace,
2379   As forto speke of tyme now;
2380   So mot I soffre, and preie yow
2381   That ye wole axe on other side
2382   If ther be eny point of Pride, 
2383   Wherof it nedeth to be schrive.  
2384   Mi Sone, godd it thee foryive, 
2385   If thou have eny thing misdo  
2386   Touchende of this, bot overmo 
2387   Ther is an other yit of Pride, 
2388   Which nevere cowthe hise wordes hide,
2389   That he ne wole himself avaunte; 
2390   Ther mai nothing his tunge daunte,
2391   That he ne clappeth as a Belle:  
2392   Wherof if thou wolt that I telle, 
2393   It is behovely forto hiere, 
2394   So that thou myht thi tunge stiere,  
2395   Toward the world and stonde in grace,
2396   Which lacketh ofte in many place 
2397   To him that can noght sitte stille,  
2398   Which elles scholde have al his wille. 
2399   The vice cleped Avantance  
2400   With Pride hath take his aqueintance,
2401   So that his oghne pris he lasseth,
2402   When he such mesure overpasseth  
2403   That he his oghne Herald is.  
2404   That ferst was wel is thanne mis, 
2405   That was thankworth is thanne blame, 
2406   And thus the worschipe of his name  
2407   Thurgh pride of his avantarie 
2408   He torneth into vilenie.
2409   I rede how that this proude vice 
2410   Hath thilke wynd in his office,
2411   Which thurgh the blastes that he bloweth  
2412   The mannes fame he overthroweth  
2413   Of vertu, which scholde elles springe  
2414   Into the worldes knowlechinge;
2415   Bot he fordoth it alto sore.  
2416   And riht of such a maner lore 
2417   Ther ben lovers: forthi if thow  
2418   Art on of hem, tell and sei how. 
2419   Whan thou hast taken eny thing
2420   Of loves yifte, or Nouche or ring,
2421   Or tok upon thee for the cold 
2422   Som goodly word that thee was told,  
2423   Or frendly chiere or tokne or lettre,
2424   Wherof thin herte was the bettre, 
2425   Or that sche sende the grietinge, 
2426   Hast thou for Pride of thi likinge  
2427   Mad thin avant wher as the liste?
2428   I wolde, fader, that ye wiste, 
2429   Mi conscience lith noght hiere:  
2430   Yit hadde I nevere such matiere,  
2431   Wherof min herte myhte amende, 
2432   Noght of so mochel that sche sende  
2433   Be mowthe and seide, "Griet him wel:"  
2434   And thus for that ther is no diel
2435   Wherof to make myn avant,
2436   It is to reson acordant 
2437   That I mai nevere, bot I lye,  
2438   Of love make avanterie. 
2439   I wot noght what I scholde have do,  
2440   If that I hadde encheson so,
2441   As ye have seid hier manyon;  
2442   Bot I fond cause nevere non:  
2443   Bot daunger, which welnyh me slowh,  
2444   Therof I cowthe telle ynowh,
2445   And of non other Avantance:
2446   Thus nedeth me no repentance. 
2447   Now axeth furthere of my lif,  
2448   For hierof am I noght gultif. 
2449   Mi Sone, I am wel paid withal;
2450   For wite it wel in special 
2451   That love of his verrai justice  
2452   Above alle othre ayein this vice 
2453   At alle times most debateth,
2454   With al his herte and most it hateth.  
2455   And ek in alle maner wise  
2456   Avantarie is to despise, 
2457   As be ensample thou myht wite, 
2458   Which I finde in the bokes write.
2459   Of hem that we Lombars now calle 
2460   Albinus was the ferste of alle
2461   Which bar corone of Lombardie, 
2462   And was of gret chivalerie 
2463   In werre ayein diverse kinges.
2464   So fell amonges othre thinges, 
2465   That he that time a werre hadde  
2466   With Gurmond, which the Geptes ladde,
2467   And was a myhti kyng also: 
2468   Bot natheles it fell him so,
2469   Albinus slowh him in the feld, 
2470   Ther halp him nowther swerd ne scheld,  
2471   That he ne smot his hed of thanne,
2472   Wherof he tok awey the Panne,  
2473   Of which he seide he wolde make  
2474   A Cuppe for Gurmoundes sake,
2475   To kepe and drawe into memoire
2476   Of his bataille the victoire. 
2477   And thus whan he the feld hath wonne,
2478   The lond anon was overronne
2479   And sesed in his oghne hond,
2480   Wher he Gurmondes dowhter fond,
2481   Which Maide Rosemounde hihte,  
2482   And was in every mannes sihte 
2483   A fair, a freissh, a lusti on.
2484   His herte fell to hire anon,
2485   And such a love on hire he caste, 
2486   That he hire weddeth ate laste;  
2487   And after that long time in reste
2488   With hire he duelte, and to the beste  
2489   Thei love ech other wonder wel.  
2490   Bot sche which kepth the blinde whel,
2491   Venus, whan thei be most above,
2492   In al the hoteste of here love,
2493   Hire whiel sche torneth, and thei felle
2494   In the manere as I schal telle.  
2495   This king, which stod in al his welthe 
2496   Of pes, of worschipe and of helthe,  
2497   And felte him on no side grieved, 
2498   As he that hath his world achieved,  
2499   Tho thoghte he wolde a feste make;  
2500   And that was for his wyves sake,  
2501   That sche the lordes ate feste,
2502   That were obeissant to his heste, 
2503   Mai knowe: and so forth therupon 
2504   He let ordeine, and sende anon
2505   Be lettres and be messagiers,  
2506   And warnede alle hise officiers  
2507   That every thing be wel arraied: 
2508   The grete Stiedes were assaied
2509   For joustinge and for tornement,  
2510   And many a perled garnement
2511   Embroudred was ayein the dai. 
2512   The lordes in here beste arrai
2513   Be comen ate time set,
2514   On jousteth wel, an other bet, 
2515   And otherwhile thei torneie,
2516   And thus thei casten care aweie  
2517   And token lustes upon honde.  
2518   And after, thou schalt understonde,  
2519   To mete into the kinges halle 
2520   Thei come, as thei be beden alle:
2521   And whan thei were set and served,
2522   Thanne after, as it was deserved, 
2523   To hem that worthi knyhtes were,  
2524   So as thei seten hiere and there, 
2525   The pris was yove and spoken oute
2526   Among the heraldz al aboute.  
2527   And thus benethe and ek above 
2528   Al was of armes and of love,
2529   Wherof abouten ate bordes  
2530   Men hadde manye sondri wordes, 
2531   That of the merthe which thei made  
2532   The king himself began to glade  
2533   Withinne his herte and tok a pride,  
2534   And sih the Cuppe stonde aside,
2535   Which mad was of Gurmoundes hed,  
2536   As ye have herd, whan he was ded, 
2537   And was with gold and riche Stones  
2538   Beset and bounde for the nones,
2539   And stod upon a fot on heihte 
2540   Of burned gold, and with gret sleihte  
2541   Of werkmanschipe it was begrave  
2542   Of such werk as it scholde have,  
2543   And was policed ek so clene
2544   That no signe of the Skulle is sene, 
2545   Bot as it were a Gripes Ey.
2546   The king bad bere his Cuppe awey, 
2547   Which stod tofore him on the bord,
2548   And fette thilke. Upon his word  
2549   This Skulle is fet and wyn therinne, 
2550   Wherof he bad his wif beginne:
2551   "Drink with thi fader, Dame," he seide.
2552   And sche to his biddinge obeide,  
2553   And tok the Skulle, and what hire liste
2554   Sche drank, as sche which nothing wiste
2555   What Cuppe it was: and thanne al oute  
2556   The kyng in audience aboute
2557   Hath told it was hire fader Skulle,  
2558   So that the lordes knowe schulle 
2559   Of his bataille a soth witnesse,  
2560   And made avant thurgh what prouesse 
2561   He hath his wyves love wonne,  
2562   Which of the Skulle hath so begonne.
2563   Tho was ther mochel Pride alofte, 
2564   Thei speken alle, and sche was softe,
2565   Thenkende on thilke unkynde Pride,
2566   Of that hire lord so nyh hire side  
2567   Avanteth him that he hath slain  
2568   And piked out hire fader brain,
2569   And of the Skulle had mad a Cuppe.  
2570   Sche soffreth al til thei were uppe, 
2571   And tho sche hath seknesse feigned,  
2572   And goth to chambre and hath compleigned  
2573   Unto a Maide which sche triste,
2574   So that non other wyht it wiste. 
2575   This Mayde Glodeside is hote,  
2576   To whom this lady hath behote 
2577   Of ladischipe al that sche can,
2578   To vengen hire upon this man,  
2579   Which dede hire drinke in such a plit  
2580   Among hem alle for despit  
2581   Of hire and of hire fader bothe; 
2582   Wherof hire thoghtes ben so wrothe,  
2583   Sche seith, that sche schal noght be glad, 
2584   Til that sche se him so bestad
2585   That he nomore make avant. 
2586   And thus thei felle in covenant,  
2587   That thei acorden ate laste,
2588   With suche wiles as thei caste
2589   That thei wol gete of here acord 
2590   Som orped knyht to sle this lord:
2591   And with this sleihte thei beginne,  
2592   How thei Helmege myhten winne, 
2593   Which was the kinges Boteler,  
2594   A proud a lusti Bacheler,
2595   And Glodeside he loveth hote. 
2596   And sche, to make him more assote,
2597   Hire love granteth, and be nyhte 
2598   Thei schape how thei togedre myhte  
2599   Abedde meete: and don it was  
2600   This same nyht; and in this cas  
2601   The qwene hirself the nyht secounde 
2602   Wente in hire stede, and there hath founde
2603   A chambre derk withoute liht,  
2604   And goth to bedde to this knyht. 
2605   And he, to kepe his observance,
2606   To love doth his obeissance,
2607   And weneth it be Glodeside;
2608   And sche thanne after lay aside,  
2609   And axeth him what he hath do, 
2610   And who sche was sche tolde him tho, 
2611   And seide: "Helmege, I am thi qwene, 
2612   Now schal thi love wel be sene
2613   Of that thou hast thi wille wroght: 
2614   Or it schal sore ben aboght,
2615   Or thou schalt worche as I thee seie.  
2616   And if thou wolt be such a weie  
2617   Do my plesance and holde it stille,  
2618   For evere I schal ben at thi wille,  
2619   Bothe I and al myn heritage." 
2620   Anon the wylde loves rage,  
2621   In which noman him can governe,
2622   Hath mad him that he can noght werne,
2623   Bot fell al hol to hire assent:  
2624   And thus the whiel is al miswent, 
2625   The which fortune hath upon honde;  
2626   For how that evere it after stonde,  
2627   Thei schope among hem such a wyle,
2628   The king was ded withinne a whyle.  
2629   So slihly cam it noght aboute 
2630   That thei ne ben descoevered oute,
2631   So that it thoghte hem for the beste
2632   To fle, for there was no reste:  
2633   And thus the tresor of the king  
2634   Thei trusse and mochel other thing,  
2635   And with a certein felaschipe 
2636   Thei fledde and wente awey be schipe,
2637   And hielde here rihte cours fro thenne, 
2638   Til that thei come to Ravenne, 
2639   Wher thei the Dukes helpe soghte.
2640   And he, so as thei him besoghte,  
2641   A place granteth forto duelle;
2642   Bot after, whan he herde telle
2643   Of the manere how thei have do,
2644   This Duk let schape for hem so,
2645   That of a puison which thei drunke  
2646   Thei hadden that thei have beswunke.
2647   And al this made avant of Pride: 
2648   Good is therfore a man to hide
2649   His oghne pris, for if he speke,  
2650   He mai lihtliche his thonk tobreke. 
2651   In armes lith non avantance
2652   To him which thenkth his name avance
2653   And be renomed of his dede:
2654   And also who that thenkth to spede  
2655   Of love, he mai him noght avaunte;  
2656   For what man thilke vice haunte,  
2657   His pourpos schal fulofte faile. 
2658   In armes he that wol travaile 
2659   Or elles loves grace atteigne, 
2660   His lose tunge he mot restreigne, 
2661   Which berth of his honour the keie. 
2662   Forthi, my Sone, in alle weie 
2663   Tak riht good hiede of this matiere.
2664   I thonke you, my fader diere,  
2665   This scole is of a gentil lore;  
2666   And if ther be oght elles more
2667   Of Pride, which I schal eschuie,  
2668   Now axeth forth, and I wol suie  
2669   What thing that ye me wole enforme. 
2670   Mi Sone, yit in other forme
2671   Ther is a vice of Prides lore, 
2672   Which lich an hauk whan he wol sore, 
2673   Fleith upon heihte in his delices
2674   After the likynge of his vices,
2675   And wol no mannes resoun knowe,
2676   Till he doun falle and overthrowe.  
2677   This vice veine gloire is hote,
2678   Wherof, my Sone, I thee behote
2679   To trete and speke in such a wise,
2680   That thou thee myht the betre avise.
2681   The proude vice of veine gloire  
2682   Remembreth noght of purgatoire,
2683   Hise worldes joyes ben so grete,  
2684   Him thenkth of hevene no beyete; 
2685   This lives Pompe is al his pes:  
2686   Yit schal he deie natheles, 
2687   And therof thenkth he bot a lite, 
2688   For al his lust is to delite  
2689   In newe thinges, proude and veine,
2690   Als ferforth as he mai atteigne. 
2691   I trowe, if that he myhte make
2692   His body newe, he wolde take  
2693   A newe forme and leve his olde:  
2694   For what thing that he mai beholde,  
2695   The which to comun us is strange, 
2696   Anon his olde guise change 
2697   He wole and falle therupon, 
2698   Lich unto the Camelion,  
2699   Which upon every sondri hewe  
2700   That he beholt he moste newe  
2701   His colour, and thus unavised 
2702   Fulofte time he stant desguised. 
2703   Mor jolif than the brid in Maii  
2704   He makth him evere freissh and gay,  
2705   And doth al his array desguise,
2706   So that of him the newe guise 
2707   Of lusti folk alle othre take;
2708   And ek he can carolles make,
2709   Rondeal, balade and virelai.  
2710   And with al this, if that he may 
2711   Of love gete him avantage,  
2712   Anon he wext of his corage 
2713   So overglad, that of his ende 
2714   Him thenkth ther is no deth comende:
2715   For he hath thanne at alle tide  
2716   Of love such a maner pride, 
2717   Him thenkth his joie is endeles. 
2718   Now schrif thee, Sone, in godes pes, 
2719   And of thi love tell me plein 
2720   If that thi gloire hath be so vein. 
2721   Mi fader, as touchinge of al  
2722   I may noght wel ne noght ne schal
2723   Of veine gloire excuse me,  
2724   That I ne have for love be 
2725   The betre adresced and arraied;  
2726   And also I have ofte assaied  
2727   Rondeal, balade and virelai
2728   For hire on whom myn herte lai
2729   To make, and also forto peinte
2730   Caroles with my wordes qweinte,
2731   To sette my pourpos alofte;
2732   And thus I sang hem forth fulofte
2733   In halle and ek in chambre aboute,
2734   And made merie among the route,
2735   Bot yit ne ferde I noght the bet.
2736   Thus was my gloire in vein beset 
2737   Of al the joie that I made;
2738   For whanne I wolde with hire glade,  
2739   And of hire love songes make,  
2740   Sche saide it was noght for hir sake,
2741   And liste noght my songes hiere  
2742   Ne witen what the wordes were.
2743   So forto speke of myn arrai,
2744   Yit couthe I nevere be so gay 
2745   Ne so wel make a songe of love,
2746   Wherof I myhte ben above
2747   And have encheson to be glad; 
2748   Bot rathere I am ofte adrad
2749   For sorwe that sche seith me nay.
2750   And natheles I wol noght say,  
2751   That I nam glad on other side;
2752   For fame, that can nothing hide,  
2753   Alday wol bringe unto myn Ere 
2754   Of that men speken hier and there,
2755   How that my ladi berth the pris,  
2756   How sche is fair, how sche is wis,
2757   How sche is wommanlich of chiere;
2758   Of al this thing whanne I mai hiere, 
2759   What wonder is thogh I be fain?  
2760   And ek whanne I may hiere sain
2761   Tidinges of my ladi hele,
2762   Althogh I may noght with hir dele,
2763   Yit am I wonder glad of that; 
2764   For whanne I wot hire good astat, 
2765   As for that time I dar wel swere, 
2766   Non other sorwe mai me dere,
2767   Thus am I gladed in this wise.
2768   Bot, fader, of youre lores wise,  
2769   Of whiche ye be fully tawht,
2770   Now tell me if yow thenketh awht 
2771   That I therof am forto wyte.  
2772   Of that ther is I thee acquite,
2773   Mi sone, he seide, and for thi goode
2774   I wolde that thou understode: 
2775   For I thenke upon this matiere
2776   To telle a tale, as thou schalt hiere,  
2777   How that ayein this proude vice  
2778   The hihe god of his justice
2779   Is wroth and gret vengance doth. 
2780   Now herkne a tale that is soth:  
2781   Thogh it be noght of loves kinde, 
2782   A gret ensample thou schalt finde
2783   This veine gloire forto fle,
2784   Which is so full of vanite.
2785   Ther was a king that mochel myhte,
2786   Which Nabugodonosor hihte,  
2787   Of whom that I spak hier tofore. 
2788   Yit in the bible his name is bore,
2789   For al the world in Orient 
2790   Was hol at his comandement:
2791   As thanne of kinges to his liche 
2792   Was non so myhty ne so riche; 
2793   To his Empire and to his lawes,
2794   As who seith, alle in thilke dawes  
2795   Were obeissant and tribut bere,
2796   As thogh he godd of Erthe were.  
2797   With strengthe he putte kinges under,
2798   And wroghte of Pride many a wonder; 
2799   He was so full of veine gloire,
2800   That he ne hadde no memoire
2801   That ther was eny good bot he, 
2802   For pride of his prosperite;  
2803   Til that the hihe king of kinges, 
2804   Which seth and knoweth alle thinges, 
2805   Whos yhe mai nothing asterte,-
2806   The privetes of mannes herte  
2807   Thei speke and sounen in his Ere 
2808   As thogh thei lowde wyndes were,-
2809   He tok vengance upon this pride. 
2810   Bot for he wolde awhile abide 
2811   To loke if he him wolde amende,
2812   To him a foretokne he sende,
2813   And that was in his slep be nyhte.  
2814   This proude kyng a wonder syhte  
2815   Hadde in his swevene, ther he lay:  
2816   Him thoghte, upon a merie day 
2817   As he behield the world aboute,
2818   A tree fulgrowe he syh theroute,  
2819   Which stod the world amiddes evene,  
2820   Whos heihte straghte up to the hevene; 
2821   The leves weren faire and large,  
2822   Of fruit it bar so ripe a charge, 
2823   That alle men it myhte fede:  
2824   He sih also the bowes spriede 
2825   Above al Erthe, in whiche were
2826   The kinde of alle briddes there; 
2827   And eke him thoghte he syh also  
2828   The kinde of alle bestes go
2829   Under this tre aboute round
2830   And fedden hem upon the ground.  
2831   As he this wonder stod and syh,
2832   Him thoghte he herde a vois on hih  
2833   Criende, and seide aboven alle:  
2834   "Hew doun this tree and lett it falle,  
2835   The leves let defoule in haste
2836   And do the fruit destruie and waste, 
2837   And let of schreden every braunche,  
2838   Bot ate Rote let it staunche. 
2839   Whan al his Pride is cast to grounde,
2840   The rote schal be faste bounde,
2841   And schal no mannes herte bere,
2842   Bot every lust he schal forbere  
2843   Of man, and lich an Oxe his mete 
2844   Of gras he schal pourchace and ete,  
2845   Til that the water of the hevene 
2846   Have waisshen him be times sevene,
2847   So that he be thurghknowe ariht  
2848   What is the heveneliche myht,  
2849   And be mad humble to the wille
2850   Of him which al mai save and spille."  
2851   This king out of his swefne abreide, 
2852   And he upon the morwe it seide
2853   Unto the clerkes whiche he hadde:
2854   Bot non of hem the sothe aradde,  
2855   Was non his swevene cowthe undo. 
2856   And it stod thilke time so, 
2857   This king hadde in subjeccioun
2858   Judee, and of affeccioun
2859   Above alle othre on Daniel 
2860   He loveth, for he cowthe wel  
2861   Divine that non other cowthe: 
2862   To him were alle thinges cowthe,  
2863   As he it hadde of goddes grace.  
2864   He was before the kinges face 
2865   Asent, and bode that he scholde  
2866   Upon the point the king of tolde 
2867   The fortune of his swevene expounde, 
2868   As it scholde afterward be founde.  
2869   Whan Daniel this swevene herde,
2870   He stod long time er he ansuerde, 
2871   And made a wonder hevy chiere.
2872   The king tok hiede of his manere, 
2873   And bad him telle that he wiste,  
2874   As he to whom he mochel triste,
2875   And seide he wolde noght be wroth.  
2876   Bot Daniel was wonder loth, 
2877   And seide: "Upon thi fomen alle,  
2878   Sire king, thi swevene mote falle;  
2879   And natheles touchende of this
2880   I wol the tellen how it is, 
2881   And what desese is to thee schape:  
2882   God wot if thou it schalt ascape.
2883   The hihe tree, which thou hast sein 
2884   With lef and fruit so wel besein, 
2885   The which stod in the world amiddes, 
2886   So that the bestes and the briddes  
2887   Governed were of him al one,
2888   Sire king, betokneth thi persone, 
2889   Which stant above all erthli thinges.  
2890   Thus regnen under the the kinges, 
2891   And al the poeple unto thee louteth, 
2892   And al the world thi pouer doubteth, 
2893   So that with vein honour deceived
2894   Thou hast the reverence weyved
2895   Fro him which is thi king above,  
2896   That thou for drede ne for love  
2897   Wolt nothing knowen of thi godd; 
2898   Which now for thee hath mad a rodd,  
2899   Thi veine gloire and thi folie
2900   With grete peines to chastie. 
2901   And of the vois thou herdest speke,  
2902   Which bad the bowes forto breke  
2903   And hewe and felle doun the tree, 
2904   That word belongeth unto thee;
2905   Thi regne schal ben overthrowe,
2906   And thou despuiled for a throwe: 
2907   Bot that the Rote scholde stonde, 
2908   Be that thou schalt wel understonde, 
2909   Ther schal abyden of thi regne
2910   A time ayein whan thou schalt regne.
2911   And ek of that thou herdest seie, 
2912   To take a mannes herte aweie  
2913   And sette there a bestial,  
2914   So that he lich an Oxe schal  
2915   Pasture, and that he be bereined 
2916   Be times sefne and sore peined,
2917   Til that he knowe his goddes mihtes, 
2918   Than scholde he stonde ayein uprihtes,-
2919   Al this betokneth thin astat,  
2920   Which now with god is in debat:  
2921   Thi mannes forme schal be lassed, 
2922   Til sevene yer ben overpassed, 
2923   And in the liknesse of a beste
2924   Of gras schal be thi real feste,  
2925   The weder schal upon thee reine. 
2926   And understond that al this peine,
2927   Which thou schalt soffre thilke tide,
2928   Is schape al only for thi pride  
2929   Of veine gloire, and of the sinne
2930   Which thou hast longe stonden inne. 
2931   So upon this condicioun 
2932   Thi swevene hath exposicioun. 
2933   Bot er this thing befalle in dede,
2934   Amende thee, this wolde I rede:  
2935   Yif and departe thin almesse,  
2936   Do mercy forth with rihtwisnesse, 
2937   Besech and prei the hihe grace,
2938   For so thou myht thi pes pourchace  
2939   With godd, and stonde in good acord."  
2940   Bot Pride is loth to leve his lord,  
2941   And wol noght soffre humilite 
2942   With him to stonde in no degree; 
2943   And whan a schip hath lost his stiere,  
2944   Is non so wys that mai him stiere
2945   Ayein the wawes in a rage. 
2946   This proude king in his corage
2947   Humilite hath so forlore,
2948   That for no swevene he sih tofore,
2949   Ne yit for al that Daniel  
2950   Him hath conseiled everydel,
2951   He let it passe out of his mynde, 
2952   Thurgh veine gloire, and as the blinde, 
2953   He seth no weie, er him be wo.
2954   And fell withinne a time so,
2955   As he in Babiloine wente,
2956   The vanite of Pride him hente;
2957   His herte aros of veine gloire,
2958   So that he drowh into memoire 
2959   His lordschipe and his regalie
2960   With wordes of Surquiderie.
2961   And whan that he him most avaunteth, 
2962   That lord which veine gloire daunteth,  
2963   Al sodeinliche, as who seith treis,  
2964   Wher that he stod in his Paleis,  
2965   He tok him fro the mennes sihte: 
2966   Was non of hem so war that mihte 
2967   Sette yhe wher that he becom. 
2968   And thus was he from his kingdom 
2969   Into the wilde Forest drawe,
2970   Wher that the myhti goddes lawe  
2971   Thurgh his pouer dede him transforme
2972   Fro man into a bestes forme;  
2973   And lich an Oxe under the fot 
2974   He graseth, as he nedes mot,
2975   To geten him his lives fode.  
2976   Tho thoghte him colde grases goode,  
2977   That whilom eet the hote spices,  
2978   Thus was he torned fro delices:  
2979   The wyn which he was wont to drinke 
2980   He tok thanne of the welles brinke  
2981   Or of the pet or of the slowh, 
2982   It thoghte him thanne good ynowh:
2983   In stede of chambres wel arraied 
2984   He was thanne of a buissh wel paied, 
2985   The harde ground he lay upon,  
2986   For othre pilwes hath he non; 
2987   The stormes and the Reines falle, 
2988   The wyndes blowe upon him alle,
2989   He was tormented day and nyht, 
2990   Such was the hihe goddes myht, 
2991   Til sevene yer an ende toke.  
2992   Upon himself tho gan he loke; 
2993   In stede of mete gras and stres,  
2994   In stede of handes longe cles, 
2995   In stede of man a bestes lyke 
2996   He syh; and thanne he gan to syke
2997   For cloth of gold and for perrie, 
2998   Which him was wont to magnefie.  
2999   Whan he behield his Cote of heres,
3000   He wepte and with fulwoful teres 
3001   Up to the hevene he caste his chiere
3002   Wepende, and thoghte in this manere;
3003   Thogh he no wordes myhte winne,
3004   Thus seide his herte and spak withinne:
3005   "O mihti godd, that al hast wroght  
3006   And al myht bringe ayein to noght,
3007   Now knowe I wel, bot al of thee,  
3008   This world hath no prosperite:
3009   In thin aspect ben alle liche, 
3010   The povere man and ek the riche,  
3011   Withoute thee ther mai no wight,  
3012   And thou above alle othre miht.  
3013   O mihti lord, toward my vice  
3014   Thi merci medle with justice; 
3015   And I woll make a covenant, 
3016   That of my lif the remenant
3017   I schal it be thi grace amende,
3018   And in thi lawe so despende
3019   That veine gloire I schal eschuie,
3020   And bowe unto thin heste and suie
3021   Humilite, and that I vowe."
3022   And so thenkende he gan doun bowe,
3023   And thogh him lacke vois and speche, 
3024   He gan up with his feet areche,
3025   And wailende in his bestly stevene  
3026   He made his pleignte unto the hevene.  
3027   He kneleth in his wise and braieth,  
3028   To seche merci and assaieth
3029   His god, which made him nothing strange,
3030   Whan that he sih his pride change.  
3031   Anon as he was humble and tame,
3032   He fond toward his god the same,  
3033   And in a twinklinge of a lok  
3034   His mannes forme ayein he tok, 
3035   And was reformed to the regne 
3036   In which that he was wont to regne; 
3037   So that the Pride of veine gloire
3038   Evere afterward out of memoire
3039   He let it passe. And thus is schewed
3040   What is to ben of Pride unthewed 
3041   Ayein the hihe goddes lawe, 
3042   To whom noman mai be felawe.  
3043   Forthi, my Sone, tak good hiede  
3044   So forto lede thi manhiede, 
3045   That thou ne be noght lich a beste. 
3046   Bot if thi lif schal ben honeste, 
3047   Thou most humblesce take on honde,
3048   For thanne myht thou siker stonde:  
3049   And forto speke it otherwise,  
3050   A proud man can no love assise;  
3051   For thogh a womman wolde him plese,  
3052   His Pride can noght ben at ese.  
3053   Ther mai noman to mochel blame
3054   A vice which is forto blame;  
3055   Forthi men scholde nothing hide  
3056   That mihte falle in blame of Pride,  
3057   Which is the werste vice of alle:
3058   Wherof, so as it was befalle,  
3059   The tale I thenke of a Cronique  
3060   To telle, if that it mai thee like,  
3061   So that thou myht humblesce suie 
3062   And ek the vice of Pride eschuie, 
3063   Wherof the gloire is fals and vein; 
3064   Which god himself hath in desdeign,  
3065   That thogh it mounte for a throwe,
3066   It schal doun falle and overthrowe. 
3067   A king whilom was yong and wys,
3068   The which sette of his wit gret pris.  
3069   Of depe ymaginaciouns
3070   And strange interpretaciouns,  
3071   Problemes and demandes eke, 
3072   His wisdom was to finde and seke;
3073   Wherof he wolde in sondri wise
3074   Opposen hem that weren wise.  
3075   Bot non of hem it myhte bere  
3076   Upon his word to yeve answere, 
3077   Outaken on, which was a knyht;
3078   To him was every thing so liht,
3079   That also sone as he hem herde,
3080   The kinges wordes he answerde;
3081   What thing the king him axe wolde,
3082   Therof anon the trowthe he tolde.
3083   The king somdiel hadde an Envie,  
3084   And thoghte he wolde his wittes plie
3085   To sette som conclusioun,
3086   Which scholde be confusioun
3087   Unto this knyht, so that the name
3088   And of wisdom the hihe fame
3089   Toward himself he wolde winne.
3090   And thus of al his wit withinne  
3091   This king began to studie and muse,  
3092   What strange matiere he myhte use
3093   The knyhtes wittes to confounde; 
3094   And ate laste he hath it founde,  
3095   And for the knyht anon he sente,  
3096   That he schal telle what he mente.  
3097   Upon thre pointz stod the matiere
3098   Of questions, as thou schalt hiere. 
3099   The ferste point of alle thre 
3100   Was this: "What thing in his degre  
3101   Of al this world hath nede lest,  
3102   And yet men helpe it althermest?"
3103   The secounde is: "What most is worth,
3104   And of costage is lest put forth?"  
3105   The thridde is: "Which is of most cost, 
3106   And lest is worth and goth to lost?"
3107   The king thes thre demandes axeth,
3108   And to the knyht this lawe he taxeth,
3109   That he schal gon and come ayein 
3110   The thridde weke, and telle him plein  
3111   To every point, what it amonteth.
3112   And if so be that he misconteth,  
3113   To make in his answere a faile,
3114   Ther schal non other thing availe,
3115   The king seith, bot he schal be ded 
3116   And lese hise goodes and his hed.
3117   The knyht was sori of this thing 
3118   And wolde excuse him to the king, 
3119   Bot he ne wolde him noght forbere,
3120   And thus the knyht of his ansuere
3121   Goth hom to take avisement:
3122   Bot after his entendement  
3123   The more he caste his wit aboute, 
3124   The more he stant therof in doute.  
3125   Tho wiste he wel the kinges herte,
3126   That he the deth ne scholde asterte, 
3127   And such a sorwe hath to him take,
3128   That gladschipe he hath al forsake. 
3129   He thoghte ferst upon his lif, 
3130   And after that upon his wif,
3131   Upon his children ek also,  
3132   Of whiche he hadde dowhtres tuo; 
3133   The yongest of hem hadde of age  
3134   Fourtiene yer, and of visage  
3135   Sche was riht fair, and of stature  
3136   Lich to an hevenely figure, 
3137   And of manere and goodli speche,  
3138   Thogh men wolde alle Londes seche,
3139   Thei scholden noght have founde hir like. 
3140   Sche sih hire fader sorwe and sike,  
3141   And wiste noght the cause why;
3142   So cam sche to him prively, 
3143   And that was where he made his mone 
3144   Withinne a Gardin al him one; 
3145   Upon hire knes sche gan doun falle  
3146   With humble herte and to him calle,  
3147   And seide: "O goode fader diere,  
3148   Why make ye thus hevy chiere,  
3149   And I wot nothing how it is?  
3150   And wel ye knowen, fader, this,
3151   What aventure that you felle  
3152   Ye myhte it saufly to me telle,
3153   For I have ofte herd you seid, 
3154   That ye such trust have on me leid,  
3155   That to my soster ne my brother,  
3156   In al this world ne to non other, 
3157   Ye dorste telle a privite  
3158   So wel, my fader, as to me.
3159   Forthi, my fader, I you preie, 
3160   Ne casteth noght that herte aweie,
3161   For I am sche that wolde kepe 
3162   Youre honour." And with that to wepe
3163   Hire yhe mai noght be forbore, 
3164   Sche wissheth forto ben unbore,
3165   Er that hire fader so mistriste  
3166   To tellen hire of that he wiste: 
3167   And evere among merci sche cride, 
3168   That he ne scholde his conseil hide 
3169   From hire that so wolde him good 
3170   And was so nyh his fleissh and blod.
3171   So that with wepinge ate laste
3172   His chiere upon his child he caste,  
3173   And sorwfulli to that sche preide
3174   He tolde his tale and thus he seide:
3175   "The sorwe, dowhter, which I make
3176   Is noght al only for my sake,  
3177   Bot for thee bothe and for you alle:
3178   For such a chance is me befalle,  
3179   That I schal er this thridde day 
3180   Lese al that evere I lese may, 
3181   Mi lif and al my good therto: 
3182   Therfore it is I sorwe so."
3183   "What is the cause, helas!" quod sche,  
3184   "Mi fader, that ye scholden be
3185   Ded and destruid in such a wise?"
3186   And he began the pointz devise,
3187   Whiche as the king told him be mowthe,  
3188   And seid hir pleinly that he cowthe 
3189   Ansuere unto no point of this.
3190   And sche, that hiereth how it is, 
3191   Hire conseil yaf and seide tho:  
3192   "Mi fader, sithen it is so, 
3193   That ye can se non other weie, 
3194   Bot that ye moste nedes deie,  
3195   I wolde preie of you a thing: 
3196   Let me go with you to the king,
3197   And ye schull make him understonde  
3198   How ye, my wittes forto fonde, 
3199   Have leid your ansuere upon me;  
3200   And telleth him, in such degre
3201   Upon my word ye wole abide 
3202   To lif or deth, what so betide.  
3203   For yit par chaunce I may pourchace 
3204   With som good word the kinges grace, 
3205   Your lif and ek your good to save;  
3206   For ofte schal a womman have  
3207   Thing which a man mai noght areche."
3208   The fader herde his dowhter speche,  
3209   And thoghte ther was resoun inne, 
3210   And sih his oghne lif to winne
3211   He cowthe don himself no cure;
3212   So betre him thoghte in aventure 
3213   To put his lif and al his good,
3214   Than in the maner as it stod  
3215   His lif in certein forto lese.
3216   And thus thenkende he gan to chese  
3217   To do the conseil of this Maide,  
3218   And tok the pourpos which sche saide.  
3219   The dai was come and forth thei gon, 
3220   Unto the Court thei come anon, 
3221   Wher as the king in juggement 
3222   Was set and hath this knyht assent. 
3223   Arraied in hire beste wise 
3224   This Maiden with hire wordes wise
3225   Hire fader ladde be the hond  
3226   Into the place, wher he fond  
3227   The king with othre whiche he wolde, 
3228   And to the king knelende he tolde
3229   As he enformed was tofore,  
3230   And preith the king that he therfore
3231   His dowhtres wordes wolde take,
3232   And seith that he wol undertake  
3233   Upon hire wordes forto stonde.
3234   Tho was ther gret merveile on honde, 
3235   That he, which was so wys a knyht,
3236   His lif upon so yong a wyht
3237   Besette wolde in jeupartie, 
3238   And manye it hielden for folie:  
3239   Bot ate laste natheles  
3240   The king comandeth ben in pes, 
3241   And to this Maide he caste his chiere,  
3242   And seide he wolde hire tale hiere,  
3243   He bad hire speke, and sche began:  
3244   "Mi liege lord, so as I can," 
3245   Quod sche, "the pointz of whiche I herde,  
3246   Thei schul of reson ben ansuerde.
3247   The ferste I understonde is this, 
3248   What thing of al the world it is, 
3249   Which men most helpe and hath lest nede.  
3250   Mi liege lord, this wolde I rede:
3251   The Erthe it is, which everemo
3252   With mannes labour is bego;
3253   Als wel in wynter as in Maii  
3254   The mannes hond doth what he mai 
3255   To helpe it forth and make it riche, 
3256   And forthi men it delve and dyche
3257   And eren it with strengthe of plowh, 
3258   Wher it hath of himself ynowh, 
3259   So that his nede is ate leste.
3260   For every man and bridd and beste,
3261   And flour and gras and rote and rinde,  
3262   And every thing be weie of kynde 
3263   Schal sterve, and Erthe it schal become;  
3264   As it was out of Erthe nome,
3265   It schal to therthe torne ayein: 
3266   And thus I mai be resoun sein 
3267   That Erthe is the most nedeles,
3268   And most men helpe it natheles.  
3269   So that, my lord, touchende of this 
3270   I have ansuerd hou that it is.
3271   That other point I understod,  
3272   Which most is worth and most is good,
3273   And costeth lest a man to kepe:  
3274   Mi lord, if ye woll take kepe, 
3275   I seie it is Humilite,
3276   Thurgh which the hihe trinite 
3277   As for decerte of pure love
3278   Unto Marie from above,
3279   Of that he knew hire humble entente, 
3280   His oghne Sone adoun he sente, 
3281   Above alle othre and hire he ches
3282   For that vertu which bodeth pes: 
3283   So that I may be resoun calle 
3284   Humilite most worth of alle.  
3285   And lest it costeth to maintiene, 
3286   In al the world as it is sene;
3287   For who that hath humblesce on honde,
3288   He bringth no werres into londe,  
3289   For he desireth for the beste 
3290   To setten every man in reste. 
3291   Thus with your hihe reverence 
3292   Me thenketh that this evidence
3293   As to this point is sufficant.
3294   And touchende of the remenant, 
3295   Which is the thridde of youre axinges,  
3296   What leste is worth of alle thinges, 
3297   And costeth most, I telle it, Pride;
3298   Which mai noght in the hevene abide, 
3299   For Lucifer with hem that felle  
3300   Bar Pride with him into helle.
3301   Ther was Pride of to gret a cost, 
3302   Whan he for Pride hath hevene lost; 
3303   And after that in Paradis  
3304   Adam for Pride loste his pris:
3305   In Midelerthe and ek also  
3306   Pride is the cause of alle wo, 
3307   That al the world ne may suffise 
3308   To stanche of Pride the reprise: 
3309   Pride is the heved of alle Sinne, 
3310   Which wasteth al and mai noght winne;  
3311   Pride is of every mis the pricke, 
3312   Pride is the werste of alle wicke,
3313   And costneth most and lest is worth 
3314   In place where he hath his forth.
3315   Thus have I seid that I wol seie 
3316   Of myn answere, and to you preie, 
3317   Mi liege lord, of youre office
3318   That ye such grace and such justice 
3319   Ordeigne for mi fader hiere,
3320   That after this, whan men it hiere,  
3321   The world therof mai speke good."
3322   The king, which reson understod  
3323   And hath al herd how sche hath said, 
3324   Was inly glad and so wel paid 
3325   That al his wraththe is overgo:  
3326   And he began to loke tho
3327   Upon this Maiden in the face,  
3328   In which he fond so mochel grace, 
3329   That al his pris on hire he leide,
3330   In audience and thus he seide:
3331   "Mi faire Maide, wel thee be! 
3332   Of thin ansuere and ek of thee
3333   Me liketh wel, and as thou wilt,  
3334   Foryive be thi fader gilt. 
3335   And if thou were of such lignage, 
3336   That thou to me were of parage,
3337   And that thi fader were a Pier,
3338   As he is now a Bachilier,
3339   So seker as I have a lif,
3340   Thou scholdest thanne be my wif. 
3341   Bot this I seie natheles,
3342   That I wol schape thin encress;  
3343   What worldes good that thou wolt crave, 
3344   Axe of my yifte and thou schalt have." 
3345   And sche the king with wordes wise  
3346   Knelende thonketh in this wise:  
3347   "Mi liege lord, god mot you quite!  
3348   Mi fader hier hath bot a lite 
3349   Of warison, and that he wende 
3350   Hadde al be lost; bot now amende 
3351   He mai wel thurgh your noble grace."
3352   With that the king riht in his place
3353   Anon forth in that freisshe hete 
3354   An  Erldom, which thanne of eschete 
3355   Was late falle into his hond,  
3356   Unto this knyht with rente and lond 
3357   Hath yove and with his chartre sesed;  
3358   And thus was all the noise appesed. 
3359   This Maiden, which sat on hire knes 
3360   Tofore the king, hise charitees  
3361   Comendeth, and seide overmore:
3362   "Mi liege lord, riht now tofore  
3363   Ye seide, as it is of record,  
3364   That if my fader were a lord  
3365   And Pier unto these othre grete,  
3366   Ye wolden for noght elles lete,
3367   That I ne scholde be your wif;
3368   And this wot every worthi lif, 
3369   A kinges word it mot ben holde.  
3370   Forthi, my lord, if that ye wolde
3371   So gret a charite fulfille, 
3372   God wot it were wel my wille: 
3373   For he which was a Bacheler,
3374   Mi fader, is now mad a Pier;  
3375   So whenne as evere that I cam, 
3376   An Erles dowhter now I am."
3377   This yonge king, which peised al, 
3378   Hire beaute and hir wit withal,
3379   As he that was with love hent, 
3380   Anon therto yaf his assent.
3381   He myhte noght the maide asterte, 
3382   That sche nis ladi of his herte; 
3383   So that he tok hire to his wif,
3384   To holde whyl that he hath lif:  
3385   And thus the king toward his knyht  
3386   Acordeth him, as it is riht.  
3387   And over this good is to wite, 
3388   In the Cronique as it is write,
3389   This noble king of whom I tolde  
3390   Of Spaine be tho daies olde
3391   The kingdom hadde in governance,  
3392   And as the bok makth remembrance, 
3393   Alphonse was his propre name: 
3394   The knyht also, if I schal name,  
3395   Danz Petro hihte, and as men telle,  
3396   His dowhter wyse Peronelle 
3397   Was cleped, which was full of grace:
3398   And that was sene in thilke place,
3399   Wher sche hir fader out of teene 
3400   Hath broght and mad hirself a qweene,
3401   Of that sche hath so wel desclosed  
3402   The pointz wherof sche was opposed. 
3403   Lo now, my Sone, as thou myht hiere, 
3404   Of al this thing to my matiere
3405   Bot on I take, and that is Pride, 
3406   To whom no grace mai betide:  
3407   In hevene he fell out of his stede,  
3408   And Paradis him was forbede,
3409   The goode men in Erthe him hate,  
3410   So that to helle he mot algate,
3411   Where every vertu schal be weyved
3412   And every vice be received.
3413   Bot Humblesce is al otherwise, 
3414   Which most is worth, and no reprise 
3415   It takth ayein, bot softe and faire, 
3416   If eny thing stond in contraire,  
3417   With humble speche it is redresced: 
3418   Thus was this yonge Maiden blessed,  
3419   The which I spak of now tofore,
3420   Hire fader lif sche gat therfore, 
3421   And wan with al the kinges love. 
3422   Forthi, my Sone, if thou wolt love,  
3423   It sit thee wel to leve Pride 
3424   And take Humblesce upon thi side;
3425   The more of grace thou schalt gete. 
3426   Mi fader, I woll noght foryete
3427   Of this that ye have told me hiere,  
3428   And if that eny such manere
3429   Of humble port mai love appaie,
3430   Hierafterward I thenke assaie:
3431   Bot now forth over I beseche  
3432   That ye more of my schrifte seche.  
3433   Mi goode Sone, it schal be do:
3434   Now herkne and ley an Ere to; 
3435   For as touchende of Prides fare,  
3436   Als ferforth as I can declare 
3437   In cause of vice, in cause of love,  
3438   That hast thou pleinly herd above,
3439   So that ther is nomor to seie 
3440   Touchende of that; bot other weie
3441   Touchende Envie I thenke telle,
3442   Which hath the propre kinde of helle,
3443   Withoute cause to misdo 
3444   Toward himself and othre also, 
3445   Hierafterward as understonde  
3446   Thou schalt the spieces, as thei stonde.  

Explicit Liber Primus



Incipit Liber Secundus


Inuidie culpa magis est attrita dolore,
     Nam sua mens nullo tempore leta manet:
Quo gaudent alii, dolet ille, nec vnus amicus
     Est, cui de puro comoda velle facit.
Proximitatis honor sua corda veretur, et omnis
     Est sibi leticia sic aliena dolor.
Hoc etenim vicium quam sepe repugnat amanti,
     Non sibi, set reliquis, dum fauet ipsa Venus.
Est amor ex proprio motu fantasticus, et que
     Gaudia fert alius, credit obesse sibi.


1     Now after Pride the secounde  
2     Ther is, which many a woful stounde 
3     Towardes othre berth aboute
4     Withinne himself and noght withoute;
5     For in his thoght he brenneth evere,
6     Whan that he wot an other levere 
7     Or more vertuous than he,  
8     Which passeth him in his degre;  
9     Therof he takth his maladie:  
10    That vice is cleped hot Envie.
11    Forthi, my Sone, if it be so  
12    Thou art or hast ben on of tho,  
13    As forto speke in loves cas,  
14    If evere yit thin herte was
15    Sek of an other mannes hele?  
16    So god avance my querele,  
17    Mi fader, ye, a thousend sithe:  
18    Whanne I have sen an other blithe
19    Of love, and hadde a goodly chiere,     
20    Ethna, which brenneth yer be yere,  
21    Was thanne noght so hot as I  
22    Of thilke Sor which prively
23    Min hertes thoght withinne brenneth.
24    The Schip which on the wawes renneth,  
25    And is forstormed and forblowe,  
26    Is noght more peined for a throwe
27    Than I am thanne, whanne I se 
28    An other which that passeth me
29    In that fortune of loves yifte.  
30    Bot, fader, this I telle in schrifte,  
31    That is nowher bot in o place;
32    For who that lese or finde grace 
33    In other stede, it mai noght grieve:
34    Bot this ye mai riht wel believe,
35    Toward mi ladi that I serve,  
36    Thogh that I wiste forto sterve, 
37    Min herte is full of such sotie, 
38    That I myself mai noght chastie. 
39    Whan I the Court se of Cupide 
40    Aproche unto my ladi side  
41    Of hem that lusti ben and freisshe,-
42    Thogh it availe hem noght a reisshe,
43    Bot only that thei ben in speche,-  
44    My sorwe is thanne noght to seche:  
45    Bot whan thei rounen in hire Ere,
46    Than groweth al my moste fere,
47    And namly whan thei talen longe; 
48    My sorwes thanne be so stronge
49    Of that I se hem wel at ese,  
50    I can noght telle my desese.  
51    Bot, Sire, as of my ladi selve,  
52    Thogh sche have wowers ten or twelve,  
53    For no mistrust I have of hire
54    Me grieveth noght, for certes, Sire,
55    I trowe, in al this world to seche, 
56    Nis womman that in dede and speche  
57    Woll betre avise hire what sche doth,      
58    Ne betre, forto seie a soth,  
59    Kepe hire honour ate alle tide,  
60    And yit get hire a thank beside. 
61    Bot natheles I am beknowe, 
62    That whanne I se at eny throwe,  
63    Or elles if I mai it hiere,
64    That sche make eny man good chiere, 
65    Thogh I therof have noght to done,  
66    Mi thought wol entermette him sone. 
67    For thogh I be miselve strange,  
68    Envie makth myn herte change, 
69    That I am sorghfully bestad
70    Of that I se an other glad 
71    With hire; bot of other alle, 
72    Of love what so mai befalle,  
73    Or that he faile or that he spede,  
74    Therof take I bot litel heede.
75    Now have I seid, my fader, al 
76    As of this point in special,  
77    Als ferforthli as I have wist.
78    Now axeth further what you list. 
79    Mi Sone, er I axe eny more,
80    I thenke somdiel for thi lore 
81    Telle an ensample of this matiere
82    Touchende Envie, as thou schalt hiere. 
83    Write in Civile this I finde: 
84    Thogh it be noght the houndes kinde 
85    To ete chaf, yit wol he werne 
86    An Oxe which comth to the berne, 
87    Therof to taken eny fode.  
88    And thus, who that it understode,
89    It stant of love in many place:  
90    Who that is out of loves grace
91    And mai himselven noght availe,  
92    He wolde an other scholde faile; 
93    And if he may put eny lette,  
94    He doth al that he mai to lette.     
95    Wherof I finde, as thou schalt wite,
96    To this pourpos a tale write. 
97    Ther ben of suche mo than twelve,
98    That ben noght able as of hemselve  
99    To gete love, and for Envie
100   Upon alle othre thei aspie;
101   And for hem lacketh that thei wolde,
102   Thei kepte that non other scholde
103   Touchende of love his cause spede:  
104   Wherof a gret ensample I rede,
105   Which unto this matiere acordeth,
106   As Ovide in his bok recordeth,
107   How Poliphemus whilom wroghte,
108   Whan that he Galathee besoghte
109   Of love, which he mai noght lacche. 
110   That made him forto waite and wacche
111   Be alle weies how it ferde,
112   Til ate laste he knew and herde  
113   How that an other hadde leve  
114   To love there as he mot leve, 
115   As forto speke of eny sped:
116   So that he knew non other red,
117   Bot forto wayten upon alle,
118   Til he may se the chance falle
119   That he hire love myhte grieve,  
120   Which he himself mai noght achieve. 
121   This Galathee, seith the Poete,  
122   Above alle othre was unmete
123   Of beaute, that men thanne knewe,
124   And hadde a lusti love and trewe,
125   A Bacheler in his degree,  
126   Riht such an other as was sche,  
127   On whom sche hath hire herte set,
128   So that it myhte noght be let 
129   For yifte ne for no beheste,  
130   That sche ne was al at his heste.    
131   This yonge knyht Acis was hote,  
132   Which hire ayeinward als so hote 
133   Al only loveth and nomo.
134   Hierof was Poliphemus wo
135   Thurgh pure Envie, and evere aspide,
136   And waiteth upon every side,  
137   Whan he togedre myhte se
138   This yonge Acis with Galathe. 
139   So longe he waiteth to and fro,  
140   Til ate laste he fond hem tuo,
141   In prive place wher thei stode
142   To speke and have here wordes goode.
143   The place wher as he hem syh, 
144   It was under a banke nyh
145   The grete See, and he above
146   Stod and behield the lusti love  
147   Which ech of hem to other made
148   With goodly chiere and wordes glade,
149   That al his herte hath set afyre 
150   Of pure Envie: and as a fyre  
151   Which fleth out of a myhti bowe, 
152   Aweie he fledde for a throwe, 
153   As he that was for love wod,  
154   Whan that he sih how that it stod.  
155   This Polipheme a Geant was;
156   And whan he sih the sothe cas,
157   How Galathee him hath forsake 
158   And Acis to hire love take,
159   His herte mai it noght forbere
160   That he ne roreth lich a Bere;
161   And as it were a wilde beste, 
162   The whom no reson mihte areste,  
163   He ran Ethna the hell aboute, 
164   Wher nevere yit the fyr was oute,
165   Fulfild of sorghe and gret desese,  
166   That he syh Acis wel at ese.      
167   Til ate laste he him bethoghte,  
168   As he which al Envie soghte,  
169   And torneth to the banke ayein,  
170   Wher he with Galathee hath seyn  
171   Acis, whom that he thoghte grieve,  
172   Thogh he himself mai noght relieve. 
173   This Geant with his ruide myht
174   Part of the banke he schof doun riht,  
175   The which evene upon Acis fell,  
176   So that with fallinge of this hell  
177   This Poliphemus Acis slowh,
178   Wherof sche made sorwe ynowh. 
179   And as sche fledde fro the londe,
180   Neptunus tok hire into honde  
181   And kept hire in so sauf a place 
182   Fro Polipheme and his manace, 
183   That he with al his false Envie  
184   Ne mihte atteigne hir compaignie.
185   This Galathee of whom I speke,
186   That of hirself mai noght be wreke, 
187   Withouten eny semblant feigned
188   Sche hath hire loves deth compleigned, 
189   And with hire sorwe and with hire wo
190   Sche hath the goddes moeved so,  
191   That thei of pite and of grace
192   Have Acis in the same place,  
193   Ther he lai ded, into a welle 
194   Transformed, as the bokes telle, 
195   With freisshe stremes and with cliere, 
196   As he whilom with lusti chiere
197   Was freissh his love forto qweme.
198   And with this ruide Polipheme 
199   For his Envie and for his hate
200   Thei were wrothe. And thus algate,  
201   Mi Sone, thou myht understonde,  
202   That if thou wolt in grace stonde
203   With love, thou most leve Envie: 
204   And as thou wolt for thi partie      
205   Toward thi love stonde fre,
206   So most thou soffre an other be, 
207   What so befalle upon the chaunce:
208   For it is an unwys vengance,  
209   Which to non other man is lief,  
210   And is unto himselve grief.
211   Mi fader, this ensample is good; 
212   Bot how so evere that it stod 
213   With Poliphemes love as tho,  
214   It schal noght stonde with me so,
215   To worchen eny felonie  
216   In love for no such Envie. 
217   Forthi if ther oght elles be, 
218   Now axeth forth, in what degre
219   It is, and I me schal confesse
220   With schrifte unto youre holinesse. 
221   Mi goode Sone, yit ther is 
222   A vice revers unto this,
223   Which envious takth his gladnesse
224   Of that he seth the hevinesse 
225   Of othre men: for his welfare 
226   Is whanne he wot an other care:  
227   Of that an other hath a fall, 
228   He thenkth himself arist withal. 
229   Such is the gladschipe of Envie  
230   In worldes thing, and in partie  
231   Fulofte times ek also
232   In loves cause it stant riht so.     
233   If thou, my Sone, hast joie had, 
234   Whan thou an other sihe unglad,  
235   Schrif the therof. Mi fader, yis:
236   I am beknowe unto you this.
237   Of these lovers that loven streyte, 
238   And for that point which thei coveite  
239   Ben poursuiantz fro yeer to yere 
240   In loves Court, whan I may hiere 
241   How that thei clymbe upon the whel, 
242   And whan thei wene al schal be wel, 
243   Thei ben doun throwen ate laste, 
244   Thanne am I fedd of that thei faste,
245   And lawhe of that I se hem loure;
246   And thus of that thei brewe soure
247   I drinke swete, and am wel esed  
248   Of that I wot thei ben desesed.  
249   Bot this which I you telle hiere 
250   Is only for my lady diere; 
251   That for non other that I knowe  
252   Me reccheth noght who overthrowe,
253   Ne who that stonde in love upriht:  
254   Bot be he squier, be he knyht,
255   Which to my ladiward poursuieth, 
256   The more he lest of that he suieth, 
257   The mor me thenketh that I winne,
258   And am the more glad withinne 
259   Of that I wot him sorwe endure.  
260   For evere upon such aventure  
261   It is a confort, as men sein, 
262   To him the which is wo besein 
263   To sen an other in his peine, 
264   So that thei bothe mai compleigne.  
265   Wher I miself mai noght availe
266   To sen an other man travaile, 
267   I am riht glad if he be let;  
268   And thogh I fare noght the bet,  
269   His sorwe is to myn herte a game:
270   Whan that I knowe it is the same 
271   Which to mi ladi stant enclined,     
272   And hath his love noght termined,
273   I am riht joifull in my thoght.  
274   If such Envie grieveth oght,  
275   As I beknowe me coupable,  
276   Ye that be wys and resonable, 
277   Mi fader, telleth youre avis. 
278   Mi Sone, Envie into no pris
279   Of such a forme, I understonde,  
280   Ne mihte be no resoun stonde  
281   For this Envie hath such a kinde,
282   That he wole sette himself behinde  
283   To hindre with an othre wyht, 
284   And gladly lese his oghne riht
285   To make an other lesen his.
286   And forto knowe how it so is, 
287   A tale lich to this matiere
288   I thenke telle, if thou wolt hiere, 
289   To schewe proprely the vice
290   Of this Envie and the malice. 
291   Of Jupiter this finde I write,
292   How whilom that he wolde wite 
293   Upon the pleigntes whiche he herde, 
294   Among the men how that it ferde, 
295   As of here wrong condicion 
296   To do justificacion: 
297   And for that cause doun he sente 
298   An Angel, which about wente,  
299   That he the sothe knowe mai.  
300   So it befell upon a dai 
301   This Angel, which him scholde enforme, 
302   Was clothed in a mannes forme,
303   And overtok, I understonde,
304   Tuo men that wenten over londe,  
305   Thurgh whiche he thoghte to aspie
306   His cause, and goth in compaignie.  
307   This Angel with hise wordes wise 
308   Opposeth hem in sondri wise,  
309   Now lowde wordes and now softe,      
310   That mad hem to desputen ofte,
311   And ech of hem his reson hadde.  
312   And thus with tales he hem ladde 
313   With good examinacioun, 
314   Til he knew the condicioun,
315   What men thei were bothe tuo; 
316   And sih wel ate laste tho, 
317   That on of hem was coveitous, 
318   And his fela was envious.  
319   And thus, whan he hath knowlechinge,
320   Anon he feigneth departinge,  
321   And seide he mot algate wende.
322   Bot herkne now what fell at ende:
323   For thanne he made hem understonde  
324   That he was there of goddes sonde,  
325   And seide hem, for the kindeschipe  
326   That thei have don him felaschipe,  
327   He wole hem do som grace ayein,  
328   And bad that on of hem schal sein
329   What thing him is lievest to crave, 
330   And he it schal of yifte have;
331   And over that ek forth withal 
332   He seith that other have schal
333   The double of that his felaw axeth; 
334   And thus to hem his grace he taxeth.
335   The coveitous was wonder glad,
336   And to that other man he bad  
337   And seith that he ferst axe scholde:
338   For he supposeth that he wolde
339   Make his axinge of worldes good; 
340   For thanne he knew wel how it stod, 
341   That he himself be double weyhte 
342   Schal after take, and thus be sleyhte, 
343   Be cause that he wolde winne, 
344   He bad his fela ferst beginne.
345   This Envious, thogh it be late,  
346   Whan that he syh he mot algate    
347   Make his axinge ferst, he thoghte,  
348   If he worschipe or profit soghte,
349   It schal be doubled to his fiere:
350   That wolde he chese in no manere.
351   Bot thanne he scheweth what he was  
352   Toward Envie, and in this cas 
353   Unto this Angel thus he seide 
354   And for his yifte this he preide,
355   To make him blind of his on yhe, 
356   So that his fela nothing syhe.
357   This word was noght so sone spoke,  
358   That his on yhe anon was loke,
359   And his felawh forthwith also 
360   Was blind of bothe his yhen tuo. 
361   Tho was that other glad ynowh,
362   That on wepte, and that other lowh, 
363   He sette his on yhe at no cost,  
364   Wherof that other two hath lost. 
365   Of thilke ensample which fell tho,  
366   Men tellen now fulofte so, 
367   The world empeireth comunly:  
368   And yit wot non the cause why;
369   For it acordeth noght to kinde
370   Min oghne harm to seche and finde
371   Of that I schal my brother grieve;  
372   It myhte nevere wel achieve.  
373   What seist thou, Sone, of this folie?  
374   Mi fader, bot I scholde lie,  
375   Upon the point which ye have seid
376   Yit was myn herte nevere leid,
377   Bot in the wise as I you tolde.  
378   Bot overmore, if that ye wolde
379   Oght elles to my schrifte seie
380   Touchende Envie, I wolde preie.  
381   Mi Sone, that schal wel be do:
382   Now herkne and ley thin Ere to.      
383   Touchende as of Envious brod  
384   I wot noght on of alle good;  
385   Bot natheles, suche as thei be,  
386   Yit is ther on, and that is he
387   Which cleped in Detraccioun.  
388   And to conferme his accioun,  
389   He hath withholde Malebouche, 
390   Whos tunge neither pyl ne crouche
391   Mai hyre, so that he pronounce
392   A plein good word withoute frounce  
393   Awher behinde a mannes bak.
394   For thogh he preise, he fint som lak,  
395   Which of his tale is ay the laste,  
396   That al the pris schal overcaste:
397   And thogh ther be no cause why,  
398   Yit wole he jangle noght forthi, 
399   As he which hath the heraldie 
400   Of hem that usen forto lye.
401   For as the Netle which up renneth
402   The freisshe rede Roses brenneth 
403   And makth hem fade and pale of hewe,
404   Riht so this fals Envious hewe,  
405   In every place wher he duelleth, 
406   With false wordes whiche he telleth 
407   He torneth preisinge into blame  
408   And worschipe into worldes schame.  
409   Of such lesinge as he compasseth,
410   Is non so good that he ne passeth
411   Betwen his teeth and is bacbited,
412   And thurgh his false tunge endited:     
413   Lich to the Scharnebudes kinde,  
414   Of whos nature this I finde,  
415   That in the hoteste of the dai,  
416   Whan comen is the merie Maii, 
417   He sprat his wynge and up he fleth: 
418   And under al aboute he seth
419   The faire lusti floures springe, 
420   Bot therof hath he no likinge;
421   Bot where he seth of eny beste
422   The felthe, ther he makth his feste,
423   And therupon he wole alyhte,  
424   Ther liketh him non other sihte. 
425   Riht so this janglere Envious,
426   Thogh he a man se vertuous 
427   And full of good condicioun,  
428   Therof makth he no mencioun:  
429   Bot elles, be it noght so lyte,  
430   Wherof that he mai sette a wyte, 
431   Ther renneth he with open mouth, 
432   Behinde a man and makth it couth.
433   Bot al the vertu which he can,
434   That wole he hide of every man,  
435   And openly the vice telle, 
436   As he which of the Scole of helle
437   Is tawht, and fostred with Envie 
438   Of houshold and of compaignie,
439   Wher that he hath his propre office 
440   To sette on every man a vice. 
441   How so his mouth be comely,
442   His word sit evermore awry 
443   And seith the worste that he may.
444   And in this wise now a day 
445   In loves Court a man mai hiere
446   Fulofte pleigne of this matiere, 
447   That many envious tale is stered,
448   Wher that it mai noght ben ansuered;
449   Bot yit fulofte it is believed,  
450   And many a worthi love is grieved
451   Thurgh bacbitinge of fals Envie. 
452   If thou have mad such janglerie      
453   In loves Court, mi Sone, er this,
454   Schrif thee therof. Mi fader, yis:  
455   Bot wite ye how? noght openly,
456   Bot otherwhile prively, 
457   Whan I my diere ladi mete, 
458   And thenke how that I am noght mete 
459   Unto hire hihe worthinesse,
460   And ek I se the besinesse  
461   Of al this yonge lusty route, 
462   Whiche alday pressen hire aboute,
463   And ech of hem his time awaiteth,
464   And ech of hem his tale affaiteth,  
465   Al to deceive an innocent, 
466   Which woll noght ben of here assent;
467   And for men sein unknowe unkest, 
468   Hire thombe sche holt in hire fest  
469   So clos withinne hire oghne hond,
470   That there winneth noman lond;
471   Sche lieveth noght al that sche hiereth,  
472   And thus fulofte hirself sche skiereth 
473   And is al war of "hadde I wist":-
474   Bot for al that myn herte arist, 
475   Whanne I thes comun lovers se,
476   That woll noght holden hem to thre, 
477   Bot welnyh loven overal,
478   Min herte is Envious withal,  
479   And evere I am adrad of guile,
480   In aunter if with eny wyle 
481   Thei mihte hire innocence enchaunte.
482   Forthi my wordes ofte I haunte
483   Behynden hem, so as I dar, 
484   Wherof my ladi may be war: 
485   I sai what evere comth to mowthe,
486   And worse I wolde, if that I cowthe;
487   For whanne I come unto hir speche,  
488   Al that I may enquere and seche          
489   Of such deceipte, I telle it al, 
490   And ay the werste in special. 
491   So fayn I wolde that sche wiste  
492   How litel thei ben forto triste, 
493   And what thei wolde and what thei mente,  
494   So as thei be of double entente: 
495   Thus toward hem that wicke mene  
496   My wicked word was evere grene.  
497   And natheles, the soth to telle, 
498   In certain if it so befelle
499   That althertrewest man ybore, 
500   To chese among a thousend score, 
501   Which were alfulli forto triste, 
502   Mi ladi lovede, and I it wiste,  
503   Yit rathere thanne he scholde spede,
504   I wolde swiche tales sprede
505   To my ladi, if that I myhte,  
506   That I scholde al his love unrihte, 
507   And therto wolde I do mi peine.  
508   For certes thogh I scholde feigne,  
509   And telle that was nevere thoght,
510   For al this world I myhte noght  
511   To soffre an othre fully winne,  
512   Ther as I am yit to beginne.  
513   For be thei goode, or be thei badde,
514   I wolde non my ladi hadde; 
515   And that me makth fulofte aspie  
516   And usen wordes of Envie,  
517   Al forto make hem bere a blame.  
518   And that is bot of thilke same,  
519   The whiche unto my ladi drawe,
520   For evere on hem I rounge and gknawe
521   And hindre hem al that evere I mai; 
522   And that is, sothly forto say,
523   Bot only to my lady selve: 
524   I telle it noght to ten ne tuelve,  
525   Therof I wol me wel avise, 
526   To speke or jangle in eny wise
527   That toucheth to my ladi name,    
528   The which in ernest and in game  
529   I wolde save into my deth; 
530   For me were levere lacke breth
531   Than speken of hire name amis.
532   Now have ye herd touchende of this, 
533   Mi fader, in confessioun:  
534   And therfor of Detraccioun 
535   In love, of that I have mispoke, 
536   Tel how ye wole it schal be wroke.  
537   I am al redy forto bere 
538   Mi peine, and also to forbere 
539   What thing that ye wol noght allowe;
540   For who is bounden, he mot bowe. 
541   So wol I bowe unto youre heste,  
542   For I dar make this beheste,  
543   That I to yow have nothing hid,  
544   Bot told riht as it is betid; 
545   And otherwise of no mispeche, 
546   Mi conscience forto seche, 
547   I can noght of Envie finde,
548   That I mispoke have oght behinde 
549   Wherof love owhte be mispaid. 
550   Now have ye herd and I have said;
551   What wol ye, fader, that I do?
552   Mi Sone, do nomore so,  
553   Bot evere kep thi tunge stille,  
554   Thou miht the more have of thi wille.  
555   For as thou saist thiselven here,
556   Thi ladi is of such manere,
557   So wys, so war in alle thinge,
558   It nedeth of no bakbitinge 
559   That thou thi ladi mis enforme:  
560   For whan sche knoweth al the forme, 
561   How that thiself art envious, 
562   Thou schalt noght be so gracious 
563   As thou peraunter scholdest elles.  
564   Ther wol noman drinke of tho welles 
565   Whiche as he wot is puyson inne; 
566   And ofte swich as men beginne     
567   Towardes othre, swich thei finde,
568   That set hem ofte fer behinde,
569   Whan that thei wene be before.
570   Mi goode Sone, and thou therfore 
571   Bewar and lef thi wicke speche,  
572   Wherof hath fallen ofte wreche
573   To many a man befor this time.
574   For who so wole his handes lime, 
575   Thei mosten be the more unclene; 
576   For many a mote schal be sene,
577   That wolde noght cleve elles there; 
578   And that schold every wys man fere: 
579   For who so wol an other blame,
580   He secheth ofte his oghne schame,
581   Which elles myhte be riht stille.
582   Forthi if that it be thi wille
583   To stonde upon amendement, 
584   A tale of gret entendement 
585   I thenke telle for thi sake,  
586   Wherof thou miht ensample take.  
587   A worthi kniht in Cristes lawe
588   Of grete Rome, as is the sawe,
589   The Sceptre hadde forto rihte;
590   Tiberie Constantin he hihte,  
591   Whos wif was cleped Ytalie:
592   Bot thei togedre of progenie  
593   No children hadde bot a Maide;
594   And sche the god so wel apaide,  
595   That al the wide worldes fame 
596   Spak worschipe of hire goode name.  
597   Constance, as the Cronique seith,
598   Sche hihte, and was so ful of feith,
599   That the greteste of Barbarie,
600   Of hem whiche usen marchandie,
601   Sche hath converted, as thei come
602   To hire upon a time in Rome,  
603   To schewen such thing as thei broghte; 
604   Whiche worthili of hem sche boghte,     
605   And over that in such a wise  
606   Sche hath hem with hire wordes wise 
607   Of Cristes feith so full enformed,  
608   That thei therto ben all conformed, 
609   So that baptesme thei receiven
610   And alle here false goddes weyven.  
611   Whan thei ben of the feith certein, 
612   Thei gon to Barbarie ayein,
613   And ther the Souldan for hem sente  
614   And axeth hem to what entente 
615   Thei have here ferste feith forsake.
616   And thei, whiche hadden undertake
617   The rihte feith to kepe and holde,  
618   The matiere of here tale tolde
619   With al the hole circumstance.
620   And whan the Souldan of Constance
621   Upon the point that thei ansuerde
622   The beaute and the grace herde,  
623   As he which thanne was to wedde, 
624   In alle haste his cause spedde
625   To sende for the mariage.  
626   And furthermor with good corage  
627   He seith, be so he mai hire have,
628   That Crist, which cam this world to save, 
629   He woll believe: and this recorded, 
630   Thei ben on either side acorded, 
631   And therupon to make an ende  
632   The Souldan hise hostages sende  
633   To Rome, of Princes Sones tuelve:
634   Wherof the fader in himselve  
635   Was glad, and with the Pope avised  
636   Tuo Cardinals he hath assissed
637   With othre lordes many mo, 
638   That with his doghter scholden go,  
639   To se the Souldan be converted.  
640   Bot that which nevere was wel herted,  
641   Envie, tho began travaile  
642   In destourbance of this spousaile
643   So prively that non was war.      
644   The Moder which this Souldan bar 
645   Was thanne alyve, and thoghte this  
646   Unto hirself: "If it so is 
647   Mi Sone him wedde in this manere,
648   Than have I lost my joies hiere, 
649   For myn astat schal so be lassed."  
650   Thenkende thus sche hath compassed  
651   Be sleihte how that sche may beguile
652   Hire Sone; and fell withinne a while,  
653   Betwen hem two whan that thei were, 
654   Sche feigneth wordes in his Ere, 
655   And in this wise gan to seie: 
656   "Mi Sone, I am be double weie 
657   With al myn herte glad and blithe,  
658   For that miself have ofte sithe  
659   Desired thou wolt, as men seith, 
660   Receive and take a newe feith,
661   Which schal be forthringe of thi lif:  
662   And ek so worschipful a wif,  
663   The doughter of an Emperour,  
664   To wedde it schal be gret honour.
665   Forthi, mi Sone, I you beseche
666   That I such grace mihte areche,  
667   Whan that my doughter come schal,
668   That I mai thanne in special, 
669   So as me thenkth it is honeste,  
670   Be thilke which the ferste feste 
671   Schal make unto hire welcominge."
672   The Souldan granteth hire axinge,
673   And sche therof was glad ynowh:  
674   For under that anon sche drowh
675   With false wordes that sche spak 
676   Covine of deth behinde his bak.  
677   And therupon hire ordinance
678   She made so, that whan Constance 
679   Was come forth with the Romeins, 
680   Of clerkes and of Citezeins,      
681   A riche feste sche hem made:  
682   And most whan that thei weren glade,
683   With fals covine which sche hadde
684   Hire clos Envie tho sche spradde,
685   And alle tho that hadden be
686   Or in apert or in prive 
687   Of conseil to the mariage, 
688   Sche slowh hem in a sodein rage  
689   Endlong the bord as thei be set, 
690   So that it myhte noght be let;
691   Hire oghne Sone was noght quit,  
692   Bot deide upon the same plit. 
693   Bot what the hihe god wol spare  
694   It mai for no peril misfare:  
695   This worthi Maiden which was there  
696   Stod thanne, as who seith, ded for feere, 
697   To se the feste how that it stod,
698   Which al was torned into blod:
699   The Dissh forthwith the Coppe and al
700   Bebled thei weren overal;  
701   Sche sih hem deie on every side; 
702   No wonder thogh sche wepte and cride
703   Makende many a wofull mone.
704   Whan al was slain bot sche al one,  
705   This olde fend, this Sarazine,
706   Let take anon this Constantine
707   With al the good sche thider broghte,  
708   And hath ordeined, as sche thoghte, 
709   A nakid Schip withoute stiere,
710   In which the good and hire in fiere,
711   Vitailed full for yeres fyve, 
712   Wher that the wynd it wolde dryve,  
713   Sche putte upon the wawes wilde. 
714   Bot he which alle thing mai schilde,
715   Thre yer, til that sche cam to londe,  
716   Hire Schip to stiere hath take in honde,  
717   And in Northumberlond aryveth;
718   And happeth thanne that sche dryveth
719   Under a Castel with the flod,     
720   Which upon Humber banke stod  
721   And was the kynges oghne also,
722   The which Allee was cleped tho,  
723   A Saxon and a worthi knyht,
724   Bot he believed noght ariht.  
725   Of this Castell was Chastellein  
726   Elda the kinges Chamberlein,  
727   A knyhtly man after his lawe; 
728   And whan he sih upon the wawe 
729   The Schip drivende al one so, 
730   He bad anon men scholden go
731   To se what it betokne mai. 
732   This was upon a Somer dai, 
733   The Schip was loked and sche founde;
734   Elda withinne a litel stounde 
735   It wiste, and with his wif anon  
736   Toward this yonge ladi gon,
737   Wher that thei founden gret richesse;  
738   Bot sche hire wolde noght confesse, 
739   Whan thei hire axen what sche was.  
740   And natheles upon the cas  
741   Out of the Schip with gret worschipe
742   Thei toke hire into felaschipe,  
743   As thei that weren of hir glade: 
744   Bot sche no maner joie made,  
745   Bot sorweth sore of that sche fond  
746   No cristendom in thilke lond; 
747   Bot elles sche hath al hire wille,  
748   And thus with hem sche duelleth stille.
749   Dame Hermyngheld, which was the wif 
750   Of Elda, lich hire oghne lif  
751   Constance loveth; and fell so,
752   Spekende alday betwen hem two,
753   Thurgh grace of goddes pourveance
754   This maiden tawhte the creance
755   Unto this wif so parfitly, 
756   Upon a dai that faste by
757   In presence of hire housebonde,  
758   Wher thei go walkende on the Stronde,      
759   A blind man, which cam there lad,
760   Unto this wif criende he bad, 
761   With bothe hise hondes up and preide
762   To hire, and in this wise he seide: 
763   "O Hermyngeld, which Cristes feith, 
764   Enformed as Constance seith,  
765   Received hast, yif me my sihte." 
766   Upon his word hire herte afflihte
767   Thenkende what was best to done, 
768   Bot natheles sche herde his bone 
769   And seide, "In trust of Cristes lawe,  
770   Which don was on the crois and slawe,  
771   Thou bysne man, behold and se."  
772   With that to god upon his kne 
773   Thonkende he tok his sihte anon, 
774   Wherof thei merveile everychon,  
775   Bot Elda wondreth most of alle:  
776   This open thing which is befalle 
777   Concludeth him be such a weie,
778   That he the feith mot nede obeie.
779   Now lest what fell upon this thing. 
780   This Elda forth unto the king 
781   A morwe tok his weie and rod, 
782   And Hermyngeld at home abod
783   Forth with Constance wel at ese. 
784   Elda, which thoghte his king to plese, 
785   As he that thanne unwedded was,  
786   Of Constance al the pleine cas
787   Als goodliche as he cowthe tolde.
788   The king was glad and seide he wolde
789   Come thider upon such a wise  
790   That he him mihte of hire avise, 
791   The time apointed forth withal.  
792   This Elda triste in special
793   Upon a knyht, whom fro childhode 
794   He hadde updrawe into manhode:
795   To him he tolde al that he thoghte, 
796   Wherof that after him forthoghte;
797   And natheles at thilke tide    
798   Unto his wif he bad him ride  
799   To make redi alle thing 
800   Ayein the cominge of the king,
801   And seith that he himself tofore 
802   Thenkth forto come, and bad therfore
803   That he him kepe, and told him whanne. 
804   This knyht rod forth his weie thanne;  
805   And soth was that of time passed 
806   He hadde in al his wit compassed 
807   How he Constance myhte winne; 
808   Bot he sih tho no sped therinne, 
809   Wherof his lust began tabate, 
810   And that was love is thanne hate;
811   Of hire honour he hadde Envie,
812   So that upon his tricherie 
813   A lesinge in his herte he caste. 
814   Til he cam home he hieth faste,  
815   And doth his ladi tunderstonde
816   The Message of hire housebonde:  
817   And therupon the longe dai 
818   Thei setten thinges in arrai, 
819   That al was as it scholde be  
820   Of every thing in his degree; 
821   And whan it cam into the nyht,
822   This wif hire hath to bedde dyht,
823   Wher that this Maiden with hire lay.
824   This false knyht upon delay
825   Hath taried til thei were aslepe,
826   As he that wolde his time kepe
827   His dedly werkes to fulfille; 
828   And to the bed he stalketh stille,  
829   Wher that he wiste was the wif,  
830   And in his hond a rasour knif 
831   He bar, with which hire throte he cutte,  
832   And prively the knif he putte 
833   Under that other beddes side,     
834   Wher that Constance lai beside.  
835   Elda cam hom the same nyht,
836   And stille with a prive lyht, 
837   As he that wolde noght awake  
838   His wif, he hath his weie take
839   Into the chambre, and ther liggende 
840   He fond his dede wif bledende,
841   Wher that Constance faste by  
842   Was falle aslepe; and sodeinly
843   He cride alowd, and sche awok,
844   And forth withal sche caste a lok
845   And sih this ladi blede there,
846   Wherof swoundende ded for fere
847   Sche was, and stille as eny Ston 
848   She lay, and Elda therupon 
849   Into the Castell clepeth oute,
850   And up sterte every man aboute,  
851   Into the chambre and forth thei wente. 
852   Bot he, which alle untrouthe mente, 
853   This false knyht, among hem alle 
854   Upon this thing which is befalle 
855   Seith that Constance hath don this dede;  
856   And to the bed with that he yede 
857   After the falshed of his speche, 
858   And made him there forto seche,  
859   And fond the knif, wher he it leide,
860   And thanne he cride and thanne he seide,  
861   "Lo, seth the knif al blody hiere!  
862   What nedeth more in this matiere 
863   To axe?" And thus hire innocence 
864   He sclaundreth there in audience 
865   With false wordes whiche he feigneth.  
866   Bot yit for al that evere he pleigneth,
867   Elda no full credence tok: 
868   And happeth that ther lay a bok, 
869   Upon the which, whan he it sih,  
870   This knyht hath swore and seid on hih, 
871   That alle men it mihte wite,      
872   "Now be this bok, which hier is write, 
873   Constance is gultif, wel I wot." 
874   With that the hond of hevene him smot  
875   In tokne of that he was forswore,
876   That he hath bothe hise yhen lore,  
877   Out of his hed the same stounde  
878   Thei sterte, and so thei weren founde. 
879   A vois was herd, whan that they felle, 
880   Which seide, "O dampned man to helle,  
881   Lo, thus hath god the sclaundre wroke  
882   That thou ayein Constance hast spoke:  
883   Beknow the sothe er that thou dye." 
884   And he told out his felonie,  
885   And starf forth with his tale anon. 
886   Into the ground, wher alle gon,  
887   This dede lady was begrave:
888   Elda, which thoghte his honour save,
889   Al that he mai restreigneth sorwe.  
890   For the seconde day a morwe
891   The king cam, as thei were acorded; 
892   And whan it was to him recorded  
893   What god hath wroght upon this chaunce,
894   He tok it into remembrance 
895   And thoghte more than he seide.  
896   For al his hole herte he leide
897   Upon Constance, and seide he scholde
898   For love of hire, if that sche wolde,  
899   Baptesme take and Cristes feith  
900   Believe, and over that he seith  
901   He wol hire wedde, and upon this 
902   Asseured ech til other is. 
903   And forto make schorte tales, 
904   Ther cam a Bisschop out of Wales 
905   Fro Bangor, and Lucie he hihte,  
906   Which thurgh the grace of god almihte  
907   The king with many an other mo
908   Hath cristned, and betwen hem tuo
909   He hath fulfild the mariage.  
910   Bot for no lust ne for no rage    
911   Sche tolde hem nevere what sche was;
912   And natheles upon the cas  
913   The king was glad, how so it stod,  
914   For wel he wiste and understod
915   Sche was a noble creature. 
916   The hihe makere of nature  
917   Hire hath visited in a throwe,
918   That it was openliche knowe
919   Sche was with childe be the king,
920   Wherof above al other thing
921   He thonketh god and was riht glad.  
922   And fell that time he was bestad 
923   Upon a werre and moste ride;  
924   And whil he scholde there abide, 
925   He lefte at hom to kepe his wif  
926   Suche as he knew of holi lif, 
927   Elda forth with the Bisschop eke;
928   And he with pouer goth to seke
929   Ayein the Scottes forto fonde 
930   The werre which he tok on honde. 
931   The time set of kinde is come,
932   This lady hath hire chambre nome,
933   And of a Sone bore full,
934   Wherof that sche was joiefull,
935   Sche was delivered sauf and sone.
936   The bisshop, as it was to done,  
937   Yaf him baptesme and Moris calleth; 
938   And therupon, as it befalleth,
939   With lettres writen of record 
940   Thei sende unto here liege lord, 
941   That kepers weren of the qweene: 
942   And he that scholde go betwene,  
943   The Messager, to Knaresburgh, 
944   Which toun he scholde passe thurgh, 
945   Ridende cam the ferste day.
946   The kinges Moder there lay,
947   Whos rihte name was Domilde,      
948   Which after al the cause spilde: 
949   For he, which thonk deserve wolde,  
950   Unto this ladi goth and tolde 
951   Of his Message al how it ferde.  
952   And sche with feigned joie it herde 
953   And yaf him yiftes largely,
954   Bot in the nyht al prively 
955   Sche tok the lettres whiche he hadde,  
956   Fro point to point and overradde,
957   As sche that was thurghout untrewe, 
958   And let do wryten othre newe  
959   In stede of hem, and thus thei spieke: 
960   "Oure liege lord, we thee beseke 
961   That thou with ous ne be noght wroth,  
962   Though we such thing as is thee loth
963   Upon oure trowthe certefie.
964   Thi wif, which is of faierie, 
965   Of such a child delivered is  
966   Fro kinde which stant al amis:
967   Bot for it scholde noght be seie,
968   We have it kept out of the weie  
969   For drede of pure worldes schame,
970   A povere child and in the name
971   Of thilke which is so misbore 
972   We toke, and therto we be swore, 
973   That non bot only thou and we 
974   Schal knowen of this privete: 
975   Moris it hatte, and thus men wene
976   That it was boren of the qweene  
977   And of thin oghne bodi gete.  
978   Bot this thing mai noght be foryete,
979   That thou ne sende ous word anon 
980   What is thi wille therupon."  
981   This lettre, as thou hast herd devise, 
982   Was contrefet in such a wise  
983   That noman scholde it aperceive: 
984   And sche, which thoghte to deceive, 
985   It leith wher sche that other tok.      
986   This Messager, whan he awok,  
987   And wiste nothing how it was, 
988   Aros and rod the grete pas 
989   And tok this lettre to the king. 
990   And whan he sih this wonder thing,  
991   He makth the Messager no chiere, 
992   Bot natheles in wys manere 
993   He wrote ayein, and yaf hem charge  
994   That thei ne soffre noght at large  
995   His wif to go, bot kepe hire stille,
996   Til thei have herd mor of his wille.
997   This Messager was yifteles,
998   Bot with this lettre natheles,
999   Or be him lief or be him loth,
1000  In alle haste ayein he goth
1001  Be Knaresburgh, and as he wente, 
1002  Unto the Moder his entente 
1003  Of that he fond toward the king  
1004  He tolde; and sche upon this thing  
1005  Seith that he scholde abide al nyht 
1006  And made him feste and chiere ariht,
1007  Feignende as thogh sche cowthe him thonk. 
1008  Bot he with strong wyn which he dronk  
1009  Forth with the travail of the day
1010  Was drunke, aslepe and while he lay,
1011  Sche hath hise lettres overseie  
1012  And formed in an other weie.  
1013  Ther was a newe lettre write, 
1014  Which seith: "I do you forto wite,  
1015  That thurgh the conseil of you tuo  
1016  I stonde in point to ben undo,
1017  As he which is a king deposed.
1018  For every man it hath supposed,  
1019  How that my wif Constance is faie;  
1020  And if that I, thei sein, delaie 
1021  To put hire out of compaignie,
1022  The worschipe of my Regalie    
1023  Is lore; and over this thei telle,  
1024  Hire child schal noght among hem duelle,  
1025  To cleymen eny heritage.
1026  So can I se non avantage,  
1027  Bot al is lost, if sche abide:
1028  Forthi to loke on every side  
1029  Toward the meschief as it is, 
1030  I charge you and bidde this,  
1031  That ye the same Schip vitaile,  
1032  In which that sche tok arivaile, 
1033  Therinne and putteth bothe tuo,  
1034  Hireself forthwith hire child also, 
1035  And so forth broght unto the depe
1036  Betaketh hire the See to kepe.
1037  Of foure daies time I sette,  
1038  That ye this thing no longer lette, 
1039  So that your lif be noght forsfet." 
1040  And thus this lettre contrefet
1041  The Messager, which was unwar,
1042  Upon the kingeshalve bar,  
1043  And where he scholde it hath betake.
1044  Bot whan that thei have hiede take, 
1045  And rad that writen is withinne, 
1046  So gret a sorwe thei beginne, 
1047  As thei here oghne Moder sihen
1048  Brent in a fyr before here yhen: 
1049  Ther was wepinge and ther was wo,
1050  Bot finaly the thing is do.
1051  Upon the See thei have hire broght, 
1052  Bot sche the cause wiste noght,  
1053  And thus upon the flod thei wone,
1054  This ladi with hire yonge Sone:  
1055  And thanne hire handes to the hevene
1056  Sche strawhte, and with a milde stevene
1057  Knelende upon hire bare kne
1058  Sche seide, "O hihe mageste,  
1059  Which sest the point of every trowthe, 
1060  Tak of thi wofull womman rowthe      
1061  And of this child that I schal kepe."  
1062  And with that word sche gan to wepe,
1063  Swounende as ded, and ther sche lay;
1064  Bot he which alle thinges may 
1065  Conforteth hire, and ate laste
1066  Sche loketh and hire yhen caste  
1067  Upon hire child and seide this:  
1068  "Of me no maner charge it is  
1069  What sorwe I soffre, bot of thee 
1070  Me thenkth it is a gret pite, 
1071  For if I sterve thou schalt deie:
1072  So mot I nedes be that weie
1073  For Moderhed and for tendresse
1074  With al myn hole besinesse 
1075  Ordeigne me for thilke office,
1076  As sche which schal be thi Norrice."
1077  Thus was sche strengthed forto stonde; 
1078  And tho sche tok hire child in honde
1079  And yaf it sowke, and evere among
1080  Sche wepte, and otherwhile song  
1081  To rocke with hire child aslepe: 
1082  And thus hire oghne child to kepe
1083  Sche hath under the goddes cure. 
1084  And so fell upon aventure, 
1085  Whan thilke yer hath mad his ende,  
1086  Hire Schip, so as it moste wende 
1087  Thurgh strengthe of wynd which god hath yive,
1088  Estward was into Spaigne drive
1089  Riht faste under a Castell wall, 
1090  Wher that an hethen Amirall
1091  Was lord, and he a Stieward hadde,  
1092  Oon Thelos, which al was badde,
1093  A fals knyht and a renegat.
1094  He goth to loke in what astat 
1095  The Schip was come, and there he fond  
1096  Forth with a child upon hire hond
1097  This lady, wher sche was al one.     
1098  He tok good hiede of the persone,
1099  And sih sche was a worthi wiht,  
1100  And thoghte he wolde upon the nyht  
1101  Demene hire at his oghne wille,  
1102  And let hire be therinne stille, 
1103  That mo men sih sche noght that dai.
1104  At goddes wille and thus sche lai,  
1105  Unknowe what hire schal betide;  
1106  And fell so that be nyhtes tide  
1107  This knyht withoute felaschipe
1108  Hath take a bot and cam to Schipe,  
1109  And thoghte of hire his lust to take,  
1110  And swor, if sche him daunger make, 
1111  That certeinly sche scholde deie.
1112  Sche sih ther was non other weie,
1113  And seide he scholde hire wel conforte,
1114  That he ferst loke out ate porte,
1115  That noman were nyh the stede,
1116  Which myhte knowe what thei dede,
1117  And thanne he mai do what he wolde. 
1118  He was riht glad that sche so tolde,
1119  And to the porte anon he ferde:  
1120  Sche preide god, and he hire herde, 
1121  And sodeinliche he was out throwe
1122  And dreynt, and tho began to blowe  
1123  A wynd menable fro the lond,  
1124  And thus the myhti goddes hond
1125  Hire hath conveied and defended. 
1126  And whan thre yer be full despended,
1127  Hire Schip was drive upon a dai, 
1128  Wher that a gret Navye lay 
1129  Of Schipes, al the world at ones:
1130  And as god wolde for the nones,  
1131  Hire Schip goth in among hem alle,      
1132  And stinte noght, er it be falle 
1133  And hath the vessell undergete,  
1134  Which Maister was of al the Flete,  
1135  Bot there it resteth and abod.
1136  This grete Schip on Anker rod;
1137  The Lord cam forth, and whan he sih 
1138  That other ligge abord so nyh,
1139  He wondreth what it myhte be, 
1140  And bad men to gon in and se. 
1141  This ladi tho was crope aside,
1142  As sche that wolde hireselven hide, 
1143  For sche ne wiste what thei were:
1144  Thei soghte aboute and founde hir there
1145  And broghten up hire child and hire;
1146  And therupon this lord to spire  
1147  Began, fro whenne that sche cam, 
1148  And what sche was. Quod sche, "I am 
1149  A womman wofully bestad.
1150  I hadde a lord, and thus he bad, 
1151  That I forth with my litel Sone  
1152  Upon the wawes scholden wone, 
1153  Bot why the cause was, I not: 
1154  Bot he which alle thinges wot 
1155  Yit hath, I thonke him, of his miht 
1156  Mi child and me so kept upriht,  
1157  That we be save bothe tuo."
1158  This lord hire axeth overmo
1159  How sche believeth, and sche seith, 
1160  "I lieve and triste in Cristes feith,  
1161  Which deide upon the Rode tree." 
1162  "What is thi name?" tho quod he. 
1163  "Mi name is Couste," sche him seide:
1164  Bot forthermor for noght he preide  
1165  Of hire astat to knowe plein, 
1166  Sche wolde him nothing elles sein
1167  Bot of hir name, which sche feigneth;  
1168  Alle othre thinges sche restreigneth,      
1169  That a word more sche ne tolde.  
1170  This lord thanne axeth if sche wolde
1171  With him abide in compaignie, 
1172  And seide he cam fro Barbarie 
1173  To Romeward, and hom he wente.
1174  Tho sche supposeth what it mente,
1175  And seith sche wolde with him wende 
1176  And duelle unto hire lyves ende, 
1177  Be so it be to his plesance.  
1178  And thus upon here aqueintance
1179  He tolde hire pleinly as it stod,
1180  Of Rome how that the gentil blod 
1181  In Barbarie was betraied,  
1182  And therupon he hath assaied  
1183  Be werre, and taken such vengance,  
1184  That non of al thilke alliance,  
1185  Be whom the tresoun was compassed,  
1186  Is from the swerd alyve passed;  
1187  Bot of Constance hou it was,  
1188  That cowthe he knowe be no cas,  
1189  Wher sche becam, so as he seide. 
1190  Hire Ere unto his word sche leide,  
1191  Bot forther made sche no chiere. 
1192  And natheles in this matiere  
1193  It happeth thilke time so: 
1194  This Lord, with whom sche scholde go,  
1195  Of Rome was the Senatour,  
1196  And of hir fader themperour
1197  His brother doughter hath to wyve,  
1198  Which hath hir fader ek alyve,
1199  And was Salustes cleped tho;  
1200  This wif Heleine hihte also,  
1201  To whom Constance was Cousine.
1202  Thus to the sike a medicine
1203  Hath god ordeined of his grace,  
1204  That forthwith in the same place     
1205  This Senatour his trowthe plihte,
1206  For evere, whil he live mihte,
1207  To kepe in worschipe and in welthe, 
1208  Be so that god wol yive hire helthe,
1209  This ladi, which fortune him sende. 
1210  And thus be Schipe forth sailende
1211  Hire and hir child to Rome he broghte, 
1212  And to his wif tho he besoghte
1213  To take hire into compaignie: 
1214  And sche, which cowthe of courtesie 
1215  Al that a good wif scholde konne,
1216  Was inly glad that sche hath wonne  
1217  The felaschip of so good on.  
1218  Til tuelve yeres were agon,
1219  This Emperoures dowhter Custe 
1220  Forth with the dowhter of Saluste
1221  Was kept, bot noman redily 
1222  Knew what sche was, and noght forthi
1223  Thei thoghten wel sche hadde be  
1224  In hire astat of hih degre,
1225  And every lif hire loveth wel.
1226  Now herke how thilke unstable whel, 
1227  Which evere torneth, wente aboute.  
1228  The king Allee, whil he was oute,
1229  As thou tofore hast herd this cas,  
1230  Deceived thurgh his Moder was:
1231  Bot whan that he cam hom ayein,  
1232  He axeth of his Chamberlein
1233  And of the Bisschop ek also,  
1234  Wher thei the qweene hadden do.  
1235  And thei answerde, there he bad, 
1236  And have him thilke lettre rad,  
1237  Which he hem sende for warant,
1238  And tolde him pleinli as it stant,  
1239  And sein, it thoghte hem gret pite  
1240  To se so worthi on as sche,
1241  With such a child as ther was bore, 
1242  So sodeinly to be forlore.     
1243  He axeth hem what child that were;  
1244  And thei him seiden, that naghere,  
1245  In al the world thogh men it soghte,
1246  Was nevere womman that forth broghte
1247  A fairer child than it was on.
1248  And thanne he axede hem anon, 
1249  Whi thei ne hadden write so:  
1250  Thei tolden, so thei hadden do.  
1251  He seide, "Nay." Thei seiden, "Yis."
1252  The lettre schewed rad it is, 
1253  Which thei forsoken everidel. 
1254  Tho was it understonde wel 
1255  That ther is tresoun in the thing:  
1256  The Messager tofore the king  
1257  Was broght and sodeinliche opposed; 
1258  And he, which nothing hath supposed 
1259  Bot alle wel, began to seie
1260  That he nagher upon the weie  
1261  Abod, bot only in a stede; 
1262  And cause why that he so dede 
1263  Was, as he wente to and fro,  
1264  At Knaresburgh be nyhtes tuo  
1265  The kinges Moder made him duelle.
1266  And whan the king it herde telle,
1267  Withinne his herte he wiste als faste  
1268  The treson which his Moder caste;
1269  And thoghte he wolde noght abide,
1270  Bot forth riht in the same tide  
1271  He tok his hors and rod anon. 
1272  With him ther riden manion,
1273  To Knaresburgh and forth thei wente,
1274  And lich the fyr which tunder hente,
1275  In such a rage, as seith the bok,
1276  His Moder sodeinliche he tok  
1277  And seide unto hir in this wise: 
1278  "O beste of helle, in what juise 
1279  Hast thou deserved forto deie,    
1280  That hast so falsly put aweie 
1281  With tresoun of thi bacbitinge
1282  The treweste at my knowlechinge  
1283  Of wyves and the most honeste?
1284  Bot I wol make this beheste,  
1285  I schal be venged er I go."
1286  And let a fyr do make tho, 
1287  And bad men forto caste hire inne:  
1288  Bot ferst sche tolde out al the sinne, 
1289  And dede hem alle forto wite  
1290  How sche the lettres hadde write,
1291  Fro point to point as it was wroght.
1292  And tho sche was to dethe broght 
1293  And brent tofore hire Sones yhe: 
1294  Wherof these othre, whiche it sihe  
1295  And herden how the cause stod,
1296  Sein that the juggement is good, 
1297  Of that hir Sone hire hath so served;  
1298  For sche it hadde wel deserved
1299  Thurgh tresoun of hire false tunge, 
1300  Which thurgh the lond was after sunge, 
1301  Constance and every wiht compleigneth. 
1302  Bot he, whom alle wo distreigneth,  
1303  This sorghfull king, was so bestad, 
1304  That he schal nevermor be glad,  
1305  He seith, eftsone forto wedde,
1306  Til that he wiste how that sche spedde,
1307  Which hadde ben his ferste wif:  
1308  And thus his yonge unlusti lif
1309  He dryveth forth so as he mai.
1310  Til it befell upon a dai,  
1311  Whan he hise werres hadde achieved, 
1312  And thoghte he wolde be relieved 
1313  Of Soule hele upon the feith  
1314  Which he hath take, thanne he seith 
1315  That he to Rome in pelrinage  
1316  Wol go, wher Pope was Pelage, 
1317  To take his absolucioun.    
1318  And upon this condicioun
1319  He made Edwyn his lieutenant, 
1320  Which heir to him was apparant,  
1321  That he the lond in his absence  
1322  Schal reule: and thus be providence 
1323  Of alle thinges wel begon  
1324  He tok his leve and forth is gon.
1325  Elda, which tho was with him there, 
1326  Er thei fulliche at Rome were,
1327  Was sent tofore to pourveie;  
1328  And he his guide upon the weie,  
1329  In help to ben his herbergour,
1330  Hath axed who was Senatour,
1331  That he his name myhte kenne. 
1332  Of Capadoce, he seide, Arcenne
1333  He hihte, and was a worthi kniht.
1334  To him goth Elda tho forth riht  
1335  And tolde him of his lord tidinge,  
1336  And preide that for his comynge  
1337  He wolde assigne him herbergage; 
1338  And he so dede of good corage.
1339  Whan al is do that was to done,  
1340  The king himself cam after sone. 
1341  This Senatour, whan that he com, 
1342  To Couste and to his wif at hom  
1343  Hath told how such a king Allee  
1344  Of gret array to the Citee 
1345  Was come, and Couste upon his tale  
1346  With herte clos and colour pale  
1347  Aswoune fell, and he merveileth  
1348  So sodeinly what thing hire eyleth, 
1349  And cawhte hire up, and whan sche wok, 
1350  Sche syketh with a pitous lok 
1351  And feigneth seknesse of the See;
1352  Bot it was for the king Allee,
1353  For joie which fell in hire thoght  
1354  That god him hath to toune broght.      
1355  This king hath spoke with the Pope  
1356  And told al that he cowthe agrope,  
1357  What grieveth in his conscience; 
1358  And thanne he thoghte in reverence  
1359  Of his astat, er that he wente,  
1360  To make a feste, and thus he sente  
1361  Unto the Senatour to come  
1362  Upon the morwe and othre some,
1363  To sitte with him at the mete.
1364  This tale hath Couste noght foryete,
1365  Bot to Moris hire Sone tolde  
1366  That he upon the morwe scholde
1367  In al that evere he cowthe and mihte
1368  Be present in the kinges sihte,  
1369  So that the king him ofte sihe.  
1370  Moris tofore the kinges yhe
1371  Upon the morwe, wher he sat,  
1372  Fulofte stod, and upon that
1373  The king his chiere upon him caste, 
1374  And in his face him thoghte als faste  
1375  He sih his oghne wif Constance;  
1376  For nature as in resemblance  
1377  Of face hem liketh so to clothe, 
1378  That thei were of a suite bothe. 
1379  The king was moeved in his thoght
1380  Of that he seth, and knoweth it noght; 
1381  This child he loveth kindely, 
1382  And yit he wot no cause why.  
1383  Bot wel he sih and understod  
1384  That he toward Arcenne stod,  
1385  And axeth him anon riht there,
1386  If that this child his Sone were.
1387  He seide, "Yee, so I him calle,  
1388  And wolde it were so befalle, 
1389  Bot it is al in other wise."  
1390  And tho began he to devise 
1391  How he the childes Moder fond 
1392  Upon the See from every lond      
1393  Withinne a Schip was stiereles,  
1394  And how this ladi helpeles 
1395  Forth with hir child he hath forthdrawe.  
1396  The king hath understonde his sawe, 
1397  The childes name and axeth tho,  
1398  And what the Moder hihte also 
1399  That he him wolde telle he preide.  
1400  "Moris this child is hote," he seide,  
1401  "His Moder hatte Couste, and this
1402  I not what maner name it is." 
1403  But Allee wiste wel ynowh, 
1404  Wherof somdiel smylende he lowh; 
1405  For Couste in Saxoun is to sein  
1406  Constance upon the word Romein.  
1407  Bot who that cowthe specefie  
1408  What tho fell in his fantasie,
1409  And how his wit aboute renneth
1410  Upon the love in which he brenneth, 
1411  It were a wonder forto hiere: 
1412  For he was nouther ther ne hiere,
1413  Bot clene out of himself aweie,  
1414  That he not what to thenke or seie, 
1415  So fain he wolde it were sche.
1416  Wherof his hertes privete  
1417  Began the werre of yee and nay,  
1418  The which in such balance lay,
1419  That contenance for a throwe  
1420  He loste, til he mihte knowe  
1421  The sothe: bot in his memoire 
1422  The man which lith in purgatoire 
1423  Desireth noght the hevene more,  
1424  That he ne longeth al so sore 
1425  To wite what him schal betide.
1426  And whan the bordes were aside
1427  And every man was rise aboute,
1428  The king hath weyved al the route,  
1429  And with the Senatour al one  
1430  He spak and preide him of a bone,
1431  To se this Couste, wher sche duelleth      
1432  At hom with him, so as he telleth.  
1433  The Senatour was wel appaied, 
1434  This thing no lengere is delaied,
1435  To se this Couste goth the king; 
1436  And sche was warned of the thing,
1437  And with Heleine forth sche cam  
1438  Ayein the king, and he tho nam
1439  Good hiede, and whan he sih his wif,
1440  Anon with al his hertes lif
1441  He cawhte hire in his arm and kiste.
1442  Was nevere wiht that sih ne wiste
1443  A man that more joie made, 
1444  Wherof thei weren alle glade  
1445  Whiche herde tellen of this chance. 
1446  This king tho with his wif Constance,  
1447  Which hadde a gret part of his wille,  
1448  In Rome for a time stille  
1449  Abod and made him wel at ese: 
1450  Bot so yit cowthe he nevere plese
1451  His wif, that sche him wolde sein
1452  Of hire astat the trowthe plein, 
1453  Of what contre that sche was bore,  
1454  Ne what sche was, and yit therfore  
1455  With al his wit he hath don sieke.  
1456  Thus as they lihe abedde and spieke,
1457  Sche preide him and conseileth bothe,  
1458  That for the worschipe of hem bothe,
1459  So as hire thoghte it were honeste, 
1460  He wolde an honourable feste  
1461  Make, er he wente, in the Cite,  
1462  Wher themperour himself schal be:
1463  He graunteth al that sche him preide.  
1464  Bot as men in that time seide,
1465  This Emperour fro thilke day  
1466  That ferst his dowhter wente away
1467  He was thanne after nevere glad;         
1468  Bot what that eny man him bad 
1469  Of grace for his dowhter sake,
1470  That grace wolde he noght forsake;  
1471  And thus ful gret almesse he dede,  
1472  Wherof sche hadde many a bede.
1473  This Emperour out of the toun 
1474  Withinne a ten mile enviroun, 
1475  Where as it thoghte him for the beste, 
1476  Hath sondry places forto reste;  
1477  And as fortune wolde tho,  
1478  He was duellende at on of tho.
1479  The king Allee forth with thassent  
1480  Of Couste his wif hath thider sent  
1481  Moris his Sone, as he was taght, 
1482  To themperour and he goth straght,  
1483  And in his fader half besoghte,  
1484  As he which his lordschipe soghte,  
1485  That of his hihe worthinesse  
1486  He wolde do so gret meknesse, 
1487  His oghne toun to come and se,
1488  And yive a time in the cite,  
1489  So that his fader mihte him gete 
1490  That he wolde ones with him ete. 
1491  This lord hath granted his requeste;
1492  And whan the dai was of the feste,  
1493  In worschipe of here Emperour 
1494  The king and ek the Senatour  
1495  Forth with here wyves bothe tuo, 
1496  With many a lord and lady mo, 
1497  On horse riden him ayein;  
1498  Til it befell, upon a plein
1499  Thei sihen wher he was comende.  
1500  With that Constance anon preiende
1501  Spak to hir lord that he abyde,  
1502  So that sche mai tofore ryde, 
1503  To ben upon his bienvenue      
1504  The ferste which schal him salue;
1505  And thus after hire lordes graunt
1506  Upon a Mule whyt amblaunt  
1507  Forth with a fewe rod this qweene.  
1508  Thei wondren what sche wolde mene,  
1509  And riden after softe pas; 
1510  Bot whan this ladi come was
1511  To themperour, in his presence
1512  Sche seide alowd in audience, 
1513  "Mi lord, mi fader, wel you be!  
1514  And of this time that I se 
1515  Youre honour and your goode hele,
1516  Which is the helpe of my querele,
1517  I thonke unto the goddes myht."  
1518  For joie his herte was affliht
1519  Of that sche tolde in remembrance;  
1520  And whanne he wiste it was Constance,  
1521  Was nevere fader half so blithe. 
1522  Wepende he keste hire ofte sithe,
1523  So was his herte al overcome; 
1524  For thogh his Moder were come 
1525  Fro deth to lyve out of the grave,  
1526  He mihte nomor wonder have 
1527  Than he hath whan that he hire sih. 
1528  With that hire oghne lord cam nyh
1529  And is to themperour obeied;  
1530  Bot whan the fortune is bewreied,
1531  How that Constance is come aboute,  
1532  So hard an herte was non oute,
1533  That he for pite tho ne wepte.
1534  Arcennus, which hire fond and kepte,
1535  Was thanne glad of that is falle,
1536  So that with joie among hem alle 
1537  Thei riden in at Rome gate.
1538  This Emperour thoghte al to late,
1539  Til that the Pope were come,  
1540  And of the lordes sende some  
1541  To preie him that he wolde haste:
1542  And he cam forth in alle haste,      
1543  And whan that he the tale herde, 
1544  How wonderly this chance ferde,  
1545  He thonketh god of his miracle,  
1546  To whos miht mai be non obstacle:
1547  The king a noble feste hem made, 
1548  And thus thei weren alle glade.  
1549  A parlement, er that thei wente, 
1550  Thei setten unto this entente,
1551  To puten Rome in full espeir  
1552  That Moris was apparant heir  
1553  And scholde abide with hem stille,  
1554  For such was al the londes wille.
1555  Whan every thing was fulli spoke,
1556  Of sorwe and queint was al the smoke,  
1557  Tho tok his leve Allee the king, 
1558  And with full many a riche thing,
1559  Which themperour him hadde yive, 
1560  He goth a glad lif forto live;
1561  For he Constance hath in his hond,  
1562  Which was the confort of his lond.  
1563  For whan that he cam hom ayein,  
1564  Ther is no tunge it mihte sein
1565  What joie was that ilke stounde  
1566  Of that he hath his qweene founde,  
1567  Which ferst was sent of goddes sonde,  
1568  Whan sche was drive upon the Stronde,  
1569  Be whom the misbelieve of Sinne  
1570  Was left, and Cristes feith cam inne
1571  To hem that whilom were blinde.  
1572  Bot he which hindreth every kinde
1573  And for no gold mai be forboght, 
1574  The deth comende er he be soght, 
1575  Tok with this king such aqueintance,
1576  That he with al his retenance 
1577  Ne mihte noght defende his lif;  
1578  And thus he parteth from his wif,
1579  Which thanne made sorwe ynowh.
1580  And therupon hire herte drowh     
1581  To leven Engelond for evere
1582  And go wher that sche hadde levere, 
1583  To Rome, whenne that sche cam:
1584  And thus of al the lond sche nam 
1585  Hir leve, and goth to Rome ayein.
1586  And after that the bokes sein,
1587  She was noght there bot a throwe,
1588  Whan deth of kinde hath overthrowe  
1589  Hir worthi fader, which men seide
1590  That he betwen hire armes deide. 
1591  And afterward the yer suiende 
1592  The god hath mad of hire an ende,
1593  And fro this worldes faierie  
1594  Hath take hire into compaignie.  
1595  Moris hir Sone was corouned,  
1596  Which so ferforth was abandouned 
1597  To Cristes feith, that men him calle
1598  Moris the cristeneste of alle.
1599  And thus the wel meninge of love 
1600  Was ate laste set above;
1601  And so as thou hast herd tofore, 
1602  The false tunges weren lore,  
1603  Whiche upon love wolden lie.  
1604  Forthi touchende of this Envie
1605  Which longeth unto bacbitinge,
1606  Be war thou make no lesinge
1607  In hindringe of an other wiht:
1608  And if thou wolt be tawht ariht  
1609  What meschief bakbitinge doth 
1610  Be other weie, a tale soth 
1611  Now miht thou hiere next suiende,
1612  Which to this vice is acordende. 
1613  In a Cronique, as thou schalt wite, 
1614  A gret ensample I finde write,
1615  Which I schal telle upon this thing.
1616  Philippe of Macedoyne kyng     
1617  Two Sones hadde be his wif,
1618  Whos fame is yit in Grece rif:
1619  Demetrius the ferste brother  
1620  Was hote, and Perses that other.  
1621  Demetrius men seiden tho
1622  The betre knyht was of the tuo,  
1623  To whom the lond was entendant,  
1624  As he which heir was apparant 
1625  To regne after his fader dai: 
1626  Bot that thing which no water mai
1627  Quenche in this world, bot evere brenneth,
1628  Into his brother herte it renneth,  
1629  The proude Envie of that he sih  
1630  His brother scholde clymbe on hih,  
1631  And he to him mot thanne obeie:  
1632  That may he soffre be no weie.
1633  With strengthe dorst he nothing fonde, 
1634  So tok he lesinge upon honde, 
1635  Whan he sih time and spak therto.
1636  For it befell that time so,
1637  His fader grete werres hadde  
1638  With Rome, whiche he streite ladde  
1639  Thurgh mihty hond of his manhode,
1640  As he which hath ynowh knihthode,
1641  And ofte hem hadde sore grieved. 
1642  Bot er the werre were achieved,  
1643  As he was upon ordinance
1644  At hom in Grece, it fell per chance,
1645  Demetrius, which ofte aboute  
1646  Ridende was, stod that time oute,
1647  So that this Perse in his absence,  
1648  Which bar the tunge of pestilence,  
1649  With false wordes whiche he feigneth
1650  Upon his oghne brother pleigneth 
1651  In privete behinde his bak,
1652  And to his fader thus he spak:
1653  "Mi diere fader, I am holde    
1654  Be weie of kinde, as resoun wolde,  
1655  That I fro yow schal nothing hide,  
1656  Which mihte torne in eny side 
1657  Of youre astat into grevance: 
1658  Forthi myn hertes obeissance  
1659  Towardes you I thenke kepe;
1660  For it is good ye take kepe
1661  Upon a thing which is me told.
1662  Mi brother hath ous alle sold 
1663  To hem of Rome, and you also; 
1664  For thanne they behote him so,
1665  That he with hem schal regne in pes.
1666  Thus hath he cast for his encress
1667  That youre astat schal go to noght; 
1668  And this to proeve schal be broght  
1669  So ferforth, that I undertake 
1670  It schal noght wel mow be forsake." 
1671  The king upon this tale ansuerde 
1672  And seide, if this thing which he herde
1673  Be soth and mai be broght to prove, 
1674  "It schal noght be to his behove,
1675  Which so hath schapen ous the werste,  
1676  For he himself schal be the ferste  
1677  That schal be ded, if that I mai."  
1678  Thus afterward upon a dai, 
1679  Whan that Demetrius was come, 
1680  Anon his fader hath him nome, 
1681  And bad unto his brother Perse
1682  That he his tale schal reherse
1683  Of thilke tresoun which he tolde.
1684  And he, which al untrowthe wolde,
1685  Conseileth that so hih a nede 
1686  Be treted wher as it mai spede,  
1687  In comun place of juggement.  
1688  The king therto yaf his assent,  
1689  Demetrius was put in hold, 
1690  Wherof that Perses was bold.    
1691  Thus stod the trowthe under the charge,
1692  And the falshede goth at large,  
1693  Which thurgh beheste hath overcome  
1694  The greteste of the lordes some, 
1695  That privelich of his acord
1696  Thei stonde as witnesse of record:  
1697  The jugge was mad favorable:  
1698  Thus was the lawe deceivable  
1699  So ferforth that the trowthe fond
1700  Rescousse non, and thus the lond 
1701  Forth with the king deceived were.  
1702  The gulteles was dampned there
1703  And deide upon accusement: 
1704  Bot such a fals conspirement, 
1705  Thogh it be prive for a throwe,  
1706  Godd wolde noght it were unknowe;
1707  And that was afterward wel proved
1708  In him which hath the deth controved.  
1709  Of that his brother was so slain 
1710  This Perses was wonder fain,
1711  As he that tho was apparant,  
1712  Upon the Regne and expectant; 
1713  Wherof he wax so proud and vein, 
1714  That he his fader in desdeign 
1715  Hath take and set of non acompte,
1716  As he which thoghte him to surmonte;
1717  That wher he was ferst debonaire,
1718  He was tho rebell and contraire, 
1719  And noght as heir bot as a king  
1720  He tok upon him alle thing 
1721  Of malice and of tirannie  
1722  In contempt of the Regalie,
1723  Livende his fader, and so wroghte,  
1724  That whan the fader him bethoghte
1725  And sih to whether side it drowh,
1726  Anon he wiste well ynowh
1727  How Perse after his false tunge      
1728  Hath so thenvious belle runge,
1729  That he hath slain his oghne brother.  
1730  Wherof as thanne he knew non other, 
1731  Bot sodeinly the jugge he nom,
1732  Which corrupt sat upon the dom,  
1733  In such a wise and hath him pressed,
1734  That he the sothe him hath confessed
1735  Of al that hath be spoke and do. 
1736  Mor sori than the king was tho
1737  Was nevere man upon this Molde,  
1738  And thoghte in certain that he wolde
1739  Vengance take upon this wrong.
1740  Bot thother parti was so strong, 
1741  That for the lawe of no statut
1742  Ther mai no riht ben execut;  
1743  And upon this division  
1744  The lond was torned up so doun:  
1745  Wherof his herte is so distraght,
1746  That he for pure sorwe hath caght
1747  The maladie of which nature
1748  Is queint in every creature.  
1749  And whan this king was passed thus, 
1750  This false tunged Perses 
1751  The regiment hath underfonge. 
1752  Bot ther mai nothing stonde longe
1753  Which is noght upon trowthe grounded;  
1754  For god, which alle thing hath bounded 
1755  And sih the falshod of his guile,
1756  Hath set him bot a litel while,  
1757  That he schal regne upon depos;  
1758  For sodeinliche as he aros 
1759  So sodeinliche doun he fell.  
1760  In thilke time it so befell,  
1761  This newe king of newe Pride  
1762  With strengthe schop him forto ride,
1763  And seide he wolde Rome waste,
1764  Wherof he made a besi haste,      
1765  And hath assembled him an host
1766  In al that evere he mihte most:  
1767  What man that mihte wepne bere
1768  Of alle he wolde non forbere; 
1769  So that it mihte noght be nombred,  
1770  The folk which after was encombred  
1771  Thurgh him, that god wolde overthrowe. 
1772  Anon it was at Rome knowe, 
1773  The pompe which that Perse ladde;
1774  And the Romeins that time hadde  
1775  A Consul, which was cleped thus  
1776  Be name, Paul Emilius,  
1777  A noble, a worthi kniht withalle;
1778  And he, which chief was of hem alle,
1779  This werre on honde hath undertake. 
1780  And whanne he scholde his leve take 
1781  Of a yong dowhter which was his, 
1782  Sche wepte, and he what cause it is 
1783  Hire axeth, and sche him ansuerde
1784  That Perse is ded; and he it herde, 
1785  And wondreth what sche meene wolde: 
1786  And sche upon childhode him tolde
1787  That Perse hir litel hound is ded.  
1788  With that he pulleth up his hed  
1789  And made riht a glad visage,  
1790  And seide how that was a presage 
1791  Touchende unto that other Perse, 
1792  Of that fortune him scholde adverse,
1793  He seith, for such a prenostik
1794  Most of an hound was to him lik: 
1795  For as it is an houndes kinde 
1796  To berke upon a man behinde,  
1797  Riht so behinde his brother bak  
1798  With false wordes whiche he spak 
1799  He hath do slain, and that is rowthe.  
1800  "Bot he which hateth alle untrowthe,
1801  The hihe god, it schal redresse; 
1802  For so my dowhter prophetesse     
1803  Forth with hir litel houndes deth
1804  Betokneth." And thus forth he geth  
1805  Conforted of this evidence,
1806  With the Romeins in his defence  
1807  Ayein the Greks that ben comende.
1808  This Perses, as noght seende
1809  This meschief which that him abod,  
1810  With al his multitude rod, 
1811  And prided him upon the thing,
1812  Of that he was become a king, 
1813  And how he hadde his regne gete; 
1814  Bot he hath al the riht foryete  
1815  Which longeth unto governance.
1816  Wherof thurgh goddes ordinance
1817  It fell, upon the wynter tide 
1818  That with his host he scholde ride  
1819  Over Danubie thilke flod,  
1820  Which al befrose thanne stod  
1821  So harde, that he wende wel
1822  To passe: bot the blinde whiel,  
1823  Which torneth ofte er men be war,
1824  Thilke ys which that the horsmen bar
1825  Tobrak, so that a gret partie 
1826  Was dreint; of the chivalerie 
1827  The rerewarde it tok aweie,
1828  Cam non of hem to londe dreie.
1829  Paulus the worthi kniht Romein
1830  Be his aspie it herde sein,
1831  And hasteth him al that he may,  
1832  So that upon that other day
1833  He cam wher he this host beheld, 
1834  And that was in a large feld, 
1835  Wher the Baneres ben desplaied.  
1836  He hath anon hise men arraied,
1837  And whan that he was embatailled,
1838  He goth and hath the feld assailed, 
1839  And slowh and tok al that he fond;  
1840  Wherof the Macedoyne lond,     
1841  Which thurgh king Alisandre honoured
1842  Long time stod, was tho devoured.
1843  To Perse and al that infortune
1844  Thei wyte, so that the comune 
1845  Of al the lond his heir exile;
1846  And he despeired for the while
1847  Desguised in a povere wede 
1848  To Rome goth, and ther for nede  
1849  The craft which thilke time was, 
1850  To worche in latoun and in bras, 
1851  He lerneth for his sustienance.  
1852  Such was the Sones pourveance,
1853  And of his fader it is seid,  
1854  In strong prisoun that he was leid  
1855  In Albe, wher that he was ded 
1856  For hunger and defalte of bred.  
1857  The hound was tokne and prophecie
1858  That lich an hound he scholde die,  
1859  Which lich was of condicioun, 
1860  Whan he with his detraccioun  
1861  Bark on his brother so behinde.  
1862  Lo, what profit a man mai finde, 
1863  Which hindre wole an other wiht. 
1864  Forthi with al thin hole miht,
1865  Mi Sone, eschuie thilke vice. 
1866  Mi fader, elles were I nyce:  
1867  For ye therof so wel have spoke, 
1868  That it is in myn herte loke  
1869  And evere schal: bot of Envie,
1870  If ther be more in his baillie
1871  Towardes love, sai me what.
1872  Mi Sone, as guile under the hat  
1873  With sleyhtes of a tregetour  
1874  Is hidd, Envie of such colour 
1875  Hath yit the ferthe deceivant,
1876  The which is cleped Falssemblant,
1877  Wherof the matiere and the forme 
1878  Now herkne and I thee schal enforme.    
1879  Of Falssemblant if I schal telle,
1880  Above alle othre it is the welle 
1881  Out of the which deceipte floweth.  
1882  Ther is noman so wys that knoweth
1883  Of thilke flod which is the tyde,
1884  Ne how he scholde himselven guide
1885  To take sauf passage there.
1886  And yit the wynd to mannes Ere
1887  Is softe, and as it semeth oute  
1888  It makth clier weder al aboute;  
1889  Bot thogh it seme, it is noght so.  
1890  For Falssemblant hath everemo 
1891  Of his conseil in compaignie  
1892  The derke untrewe Ypocrisie,  
1893  Whos word descordeth to his thoght: 
1894  Forthi thei ben togedre broght
1895  Of o covine, of on houshold,  
1896  As it schal after this be told.  
1897  Of Falssemblant it nedeth noght  
1898  To telle of olde ensamples oght; 
1899  For al dai in experience
1900  A man mai se thilke evidence  
1901  Of faire wordes whiche he hiereth;  
1902  Bot yit the barge Envie stiereth 
1903  And halt it evere fro the londe, 
1904  Wher Falssemblant with Ore on honde 
1905  It roweth, and wol noght arive,  
1906  Bot let it on the wawes dryve     
1907  In gret tempeste and gret debat, 
1908  Wherof that love and his astat
1909  Empeireth. And therfore I rede,  
1910  Mi Sone, that thou fle and drede 
1911  This vice, and what that othre sein,
1912  Let thi Semblant be trewe and plein.
1913  For Falssemblant is thilke vice, 
1914  Which nevere was withoute office:
1915  Wher that Envie thenkth to guile,
1916  He schal be for that ilke while  
1917  Of prive conseil Messagier.
1918  For whan his semblant is most clier,
1919  Thanne is he most derk in his thoght,  
1920  Thogh men him se, thei knowe him noght;
1921  Bot as it scheweth in the glas
1922  Thing which therinne nevere was, 
1923  So scheweth it in his visage  
1924  That nevere was in his corage:
1925  Thus doth he al his thing with sleyhte.
1926  Now ley thi conscience in weyhte,
1927  Mi goode Sone, and schrif the hier, 
1928  If thou were evere Custummer  
1929  To Falssemblant in eny wise.  
1930  For ought I can me yit avise, 
1931  Mi goode fader, certes no. 
1932  If I for love have oght do so,
1933  Now asketh, I wol praie yow:  
1934  For elles I wot nevere how 
1935  Of Falssemblant that I have gilt.
1936  Mi Sone, and sithen that thou wilt  
1937  That I schal axe, gabbe noght,
1938  Bot tell if evere was thi thoght 
1939  With Falssemblant and coverture  
1940  To wite of eny creature 
1941  How that he was with love lad;
1942  So were he sori, were he glad,
1943  Whan that thou wistest how it were, 
1944  Al that he rounede in thin Ere    
1945  Thou toldest forth in other place,  
1946  To setten him fro loves grace 
1947  Of what womman that thee beste liste,  
1948  Ther as noman his conseil wiste  
1949  Bot thou, be whom he was deceived
1950  Of love, and from his pourpos weyved;  
1951  And thoghtest that his destourbance 
1952  Thin oghne cause scholde avance, 
1953  As who saith, "I am so celee, 
1954  Ther mai no mannes privete 
1955  Be heled half so wel as myn." 
1956  Art thou, mi Sone, of such engin?
1957  Tell on. Mi goode fader, nay  
1958  As for the more part I say;
1959  Bot of somdiel I am beknowe,  
1960  That I mai stonde in thilke rowe 
1961  Amonges hem that Saundres use.
1962  I wol me noght therof excuse, 
1963  That I with such colour ne steyne,  
1964  Whan I my beste Semblant feigne  
1965  To my felawh, til that I wot  
1966  Al his conseil bothe cold and hot:  
1967  For be that cause I make him chiere,
1968  Til I his love knowe and hiere;  
1969  And if so be myn herte soucheth  
1970  That oght unto my ladi toucheth  
1971  Of love that he wol me telle, 
1972  Anon I renne unto the welle
1973  And caste water in the fyr,
1974  So that his carte amidd the Myr, 
1975  Be that I have his conseil knowe,
1976  Fulofte sithe I overthrowe,
1977  Whan that he weneth best to stonde. 
1978  Bot this I do you understonde,
1979  If that a man love elles where,  
1980  So that my ladi be noght there,  
1981  And he me telle, I wole it hide, 
1982  Ther schal no word ascape aside,     
1983  For with deceipte of no semblant 
1984  To him breke I no covenant;
1985  Me liketh noght in other place
1986  To lette noman of his grace,  
1987  Ne forto ben inquisitif 
1988  To knowe an other mannes lif: 
1989  Wher that he love or love noght, 
1990  That toucheth nothing to my thoght, 
1991  Bot al it passeth thurgh myn Ere 
1992  Riht as a thing that nevere were,
1993  And is foryete and leid beside.  
1994  Bot if it touche on eny side  
1995  Mi ladi, as I have er spoken, 
1996  Myn Eres ben noght thanne loken; 
1997  For certes, whanne that betitt,  
1998  My will, myn herte and al my witt
1999  Ben fully set to herkne and spire
2000  What eny man wol speke of hire.  
2001  Thus have I feigned compaignie
2002  Fulofte, for I wolde aspie 
2003  What thing it is that eny man 
2004  Telle of mi worthi lady can:  
2005  And for tuo causes I do this, 
2006  The ferste cause wherof is,-  
2007  If that I myhte ofherkne and seke
2008  That eny man of hire mispeke, 
2009  I wolde excuse hire so fully, 
2010  That whan sche wist in inderly,  
2011  Min hope scholde be the more  
2012  To have hir thank for everemore. 
2013  That other cause, I you assure,  
2014  Is, why that I be coverture
2015  Have feigned semblant ofte time  
2016  To hem that passen alday byme 
2017  And ben lovers als wel as I,  
2018  For this I weene trewely,  
2019  That ther is of hem alle non, 
2020  That thei ne loven everich on     
2021  Mi ladi: for sothliche I lieve
2022  And durste setten it in prieve,  
2023  Is non so wys that scholde asterte, 
2024  Bot he were lustles in his herte,
2025  Forwhy and he my ladi sihe,
2026  Hir visage and hir goodlych yhe, 
2027  Bot he hire lovede, er he wente. 
2028  And for that such is myn entente,
2029  That is the cause of myn aspie,  
2030  Why that I feigne compaignie  
2031  And make felawe overal; 
2032  For gladly wolde I knowen al  
2033  And holde me covert alway, 
2034  That I fulofte ye or nay
2035  Ne liste ansuere in eny wise, 
2036  Bot feigne semblant as the wise  
2037  And herkne tales, til I knowe 
2038  Mi ladi lovers al arowe.
2039  And whanne I hiere how thei have wroght,  
2040  I fare as thogh I herde it noght 
2041  And as I no word understode;  
2042  Bot that is nothing for here goode: 
2043  For lieveth wel, the sothe is this, 
2044  That whanne I knowe al how it is,
2045  I wol bot forthren hem a lite,
2046  Bot al the worste I can endite
2047  I telle it to my ladi plat 
2048  In forthringe of myn oghne astat,
2049  And hindre hem al that evere I may. 
2050  Bot for al that yit dar I say,
2051  I finde unto miself no bote,  
2052  Althogh myn herte nedes mote  
2053  Thurgh strengthe of love al that I hiere  
2054  Discovere unto my ladi diere: 
2055  For in good feith I have no miht 
2056  To hele fro that swete wiht,  
2057  If that it touche hire eny thing.
2058  Bot this wot wel the hevene king,
2059  That sithen ferst this world began,     
2060  Unto non other strange man 
2061  Ne feigned I semblant ne chiere, 
2062  To wite or axe of his matiere,
2063  Thogh that he lovede ten or tuelve, 
2064  Whanne it was noght my ladi selve:  
2065  Bot if he wolde axe eny red
2066  Al onlich of his oghne hed,
2067  How he with other love ferde, 
2068  His tales with myn Ere I herde,  
2069  Bot to myn herte cam it noght 
2070  Ne sank no deppere in my thoght, 
2071  Bot hield conseil, as I was bede,
2072  And tolde it nevere in other stede, 
2073  Bot let it passen as it com.  
2074  Now, fader, say what is thi dom, 
2075  And hou thou wolt that I be peined  
2076  For such Semblant as I have feigned.
2077  Mi Sone, if reson be wel peised, 
2078  Ther mai no vertu ben unpreised  
2079  Ne vice non be set in pris.
2080  Forthi, my Sone, if thou be wys, 
2081  Do no viser upon thi face, 
2082  Which as wol noght thin herte embrace: 
2083  For if thou do, withinne a throwe
2084  To othre men it schal be knowe,  
2085  So miht thou lihtli falle in blame  
2086  And lese a gret part of thi name.
2087  And natheles in this degree
2088  Fulofte time thou myht se  
2089  Of suche men that now aday 
2090  This vice setten in a say: 
2091  I speke it for no mannes blame,  
2092  Bot forto warne thee the same.
2093  Mi Sone, as I mai hiere talke 
2094  In every place where I walke, 
2095  I not if it be so or non,  
2096  Bot it is manye daies gon  
2097  That I ferst herde telle this,    
2098  How Falssemblant hath ben and is 
2099  Most comunly fro yer to yere  
2100  With hem that duelle among ous here,
2101  Of suche as we Lombardes calle.  
2102  For thei ben the slyeste of alle,
2103  So as men sein in toune aboute,  
2104  To feigne and schewe thing withoute 
2105  Which is revers to that withinne:
2106  Wherof that thei fulofte winne,  
2107  Whan thei be reson scholden lese;
2108  Thei ben the laste and yit thei chese, 
2109  And we the ferste, and yit behinde  
2110  We gon, there as we scholden finde  
2111  The profit of oure oghne lond:
2112  Thus gon thei fre withoute bond  
2113  To don her profit al at large,
2114  And othre men bere al the charge.
2115  Of Lombardz unto this covine, 
2116  Whiche alle londes conne engine, 
2117  Mai Falssemblant in special
2118  Be likned, for thei overal,
2119  Wher as they thenken forto duelle,  
2120  Among hemself, so as thei telle, 
2121  Ferst ben enformed forto lere 
2122  A craft which cleped is Fa crere:
2123  For if Fa crere come aboute,  
2124  Thanne afterward hem stant no doute 
2125  To voide with a soubtil hond  
2126  The beste goodes of the lond  
2127  And bringe chaf and take corn.
2128  Where as Fa crere goth toforn,
2129  In all his weie he fynt no lette;
2130  That Dore can non huissher schette  
2131  In which him list to take entre: 
2132  And thus the conseil most secre  
2133  Of every thing Fa crere knoweth, 
2134  Which into strange place he bloweth,
2135  Where as he wot it mai most grieve.     
2136  And thus Fa crere makth believe, 
2137  So that fulofte he hath deceived,
2138  Er that he mai ben aperceived.
2139  Thus is this vice forto drede;
2140  For who these olde bokes rede 
2141  Of suche ensamples as were ar,
2142  Him oghte be the more war  
2143  Of alle tho that feigne chiere,  
2144  Wherof thou schalt a tale hiere. 
2145  Of Falssemblant which is believed
2146  Ful many a worthi wiht is grieved,  
2147  And was long time er we wer bore.
2148  To thee, my Sone, I wol therfore 
2149  A tale telle of Falssemblant, 
2150  Which falseth many a covenant,
2151  And many a fraude of fals conseil
2152  Ther ben hangende upon his Seil: 
2153  And that aboghten gulteles 
2154  Bothe Deianire and Hercules,  
2155  The whiche in gret desese felle  
2156  Thurgh Falssemblant, as I schal telle. 
2157  Whan Hercules withinne a throwe  
2158  Al only hath his herte throwe 
2159  Upon this faire Deianire,  
2160  It fell him on a dai desire,  
2161  Upon a Rivere as he stod,  
2162  That passe he wolde over the flod
2163  Withoute bot, and with him lede  
2164  His love, bot he was in drede 
2165  For tendresce of that swete wiht,
2166  For he knew noght the forde ariht.  
2167  Ther was a Geant thanne nyh,  
2168  Which Nessus hihte, and whanne he sih  
2169  This Hercules and Deianyre,
2170  Withinne his herte he gan conspire, 
2171  As he which thurgh his tricherie 
2172  Hath Hercules in gret envie,      
2173  Which he bar in his herte loke,  
2174  And thanne he thoghte it schal be wroke.  
2175  Bot he ne dorste natheles  
2176  Ayein this worthi Hercules 
2177  Falle in debat as forto feihte;  
2178  Bot feigneth Semblant al be sleihte 
2179  Of frendschipe and of alle goode,
2180  And comth where as thei bothe stode,
2181  And makth hem al the chiere he can, 
2182  And seith that as here oghne man 
2183  He is al redy forto do  
2184  What thing he mai; and it fell so
2185  That thei upon his Semblant triste, 
2186  And axen him if that he wiste 
2187  What thing hem were best to done,
2188  So that thei mihten sauf and sone
2189  The water passe, he and sche. 
2190  And whan Nessus the privete
2191  Knew of here herte what it mente,
2192  As he that was of double entente,
2193  He made hem riht a glad visage;  
2194  And whanne he herde of the passage  
2195  Of him and hire, he thoghte guile,  
2196  And feigneth Semblant for a while
2197  To don hem plesance and servise, 
2198  Bot he thoghte al an other wise. 
2199  This Nessus with hise wordes slyhe  
2200  Yaf such conseil tofore here yhe 
2201  Which semeth outward profitable  
2202  And was withinne deceivable.  
2203  He bad hem of the Stremes depe
2204  That thei be war and take kepe,  
2205  So as thei knowe noght the pas;  
2206  Bot forto helpe in such a cas,
2207  He seith himself that for here ese  
2208  He wolde, if that it mihte hem plese,  
2209  The passage of the water take,
2210  And for this ladi undertake    
2211  To bere unto that other stronde  
2212  And sauf to sette hire up alonde,
2213  And Hercules may thanne also  
2214  The weie knowe how he schal go:  
2215  And herto thei acorden alle.  
2216  Bot what as after schal befalle, 
2217  Wel payd was Hercules of this,
2218  And this Geant also glad is,  
2219  And tok this ladi up alofte
2220  And set hire on his schuldre softe, 
2221  And in the flod began to wade,
2222  As he which no grucchinge made,  
2223  And bar hire over sauf and sound.
2224  Bot whanne he stod on dreie ground  
2225  And Hercules was fer behinde, 
2226  He sette his trowthe al out of mynde,  
2227  Who so therof be lief or loth,
2228  With Deianyre and forth he goth, 
2229  As he that thoghte to dissevere  
2230  The compaignie of hem for evere. 
2231  Whan Hercules therof tok hiede,  
2232  Als faste as evere he mihte him spiede 
2233  He hyeth after in a throwe;
2234  And hapneth that he hadde a bowe,
2235  The which in alle haste he bende,
2236  As he that wolde an Arwe sende,  
2237  Which he tofore hadde envenimed. 
2238  He hath so wel his schote timed, 
2239  That he him thurgh the bodi smette, 
2240  And thus the false wiht he lette.
2241  Bot lest now such a felonie:  
2242  Whan Nessus wiste he scholde die,
2243  He tok to Deianyre his scherte,  
2244  Which with the blod was of his herte
2245  Thurghout desteigned overal,  
2246  And tolde how sche it kepe schal 
2247  Al prively to this entente,    
2248  That if hire lord his herte wente
2249  To love in eny other place,
2250  The scherte, he seith, hath such a grace, 
2251  That if sche mai so mochel make  
2252  That he the scherte upon him take,  
2253  He schal alle othre lete in vein 
2254  And torne unto hire love ayein.  
2255  Who was tho glad bot Deianyre?
2256  Hire thoghte hire herte was afyre
2257  Til it was in hire cofre loke,
2258  So that no word therof was spoke.
2259  The daies gon, the yeres passe,  
2260  The hertes waxen lasse and lasse 
2261  Of hem that ben to love untrewe: 
2262  This Hercules with herte newe 
2263  His love hath set on Eolen,
2264  And therof spieken alle men.  
2265  This Eolen, this faire maide, 
2266  Was, as men thilke time saide,
2267  The kinges dowhter of Eurice; 
2268  And sche made Hercules so nyce
2269  Upon hir Love and so assote,  
2270  That he him clotheth in hire cote,  
2271  And sche in his was clothed ofte;
2272  And thus fieblesce is set alofte,
2273  And strengthe was put under fote,
2274  Ther can noman therof do bote.
2275  Whan Deianyre hath herd this speche,
2276  Ther was no sorwe forto seche:
2277  Of other helpe wot sche non,  
2278  Bot goth unto hire cofre anon;
2279  With wepende yhe and woful herte 
2280  Sche tok out thilke unhappi scherte,
2281  As sche that wende wel to do, 
2282  And broghte hire werk aboute so  
2283  That Hercules this scherte on dede, 
2284  To such entente as she was bede      
2285  Of Nessus, so as I seide er.  
2286  Bot therof was sche noght the ner,  
2287  As no fortune may be weyved;  
2288  With Falssemblant sche was deceived,
2289  That whan sche wende best have wonne,  
2290  Sche lost al that sche hath begonne.
2291  For thilke scherte unto the bon  
2292  His body sette afyre anon, 
2293  And cleveth so, it mai noght twinne,
2294  For the venym that was therinne. 
2295  And he thanne as a wilde man  
2296  Unto the hihe wode he ran, 
2297  And as the Clerk Ovide telleth,  
2298  The grete tres to grounde he felleth
2299  With strengthe al of his oghne myght,  
2300  And made an huge fyr upriht,  
2301  And lepte himself therinne at ones  
2302  And brende him bothe fleissh and bones.
2303  Which thing cam al thurgh Falssemblant,
2304  That false Nessus the Geant
2305  Made unto him and to his wif; 
2306  Wherof that he hath lost his lif,
2307  And sche sori for everemo. 
2308  Forthi, my Sone, er thee be wo,  
2309  I rede, be wel war therfore;  
2310  For whan so gret a man was lore, 
2311  It oghte yive a gret conceipte
2312  To warne alle othre of such deceipte.  
2313  Grant mercy, fader, I am war  
2314  So fer that I nomore dar
2315  Of Falssemblant take aqueintance;
2316  Bot rathere I wol do penance  
2317  That I have feigned chiere er this. 
2318  Now axeth forth, what so ther is 
2319  Of that belongeth to my schrifte.
2320  Mi Sone, yit ther is the fifte
2321  Which is conceived of Envie,  
2322  And cleped is Supplantarie,
2323  Thurgh whos compassement and guile      
2324  Ful many a man hath lost his while  
2325  In love als wel as otherwise, 
2326  Hierafter as I schal devise.  
2327  The vice of Supplantacioun 
2328  With many a fals collacioun,  
2329  Which he conspireth al unknowe,  
2330  Full ofte time hath overthrowe
2331  The worschipe of an other man.
2332  So wel no lif awayte can
2333  Ayein his sleyhte forto caste,
2334  That he his pourpos ate laste 
2335  Ne hath, er that it be withset.  
2336  Bot most of alle his herte is set
2337  In court upon these grete Offices
2338  Of dignitees and benefices:
2339  Thus goth he with his sleyhte aboute
2340  To hindre and schowve an other oute 
2341  And stonden with his slyh compas 
2342  In stede there an other was;  
2343  And so to sette himselven inne,  
2344  He reccheth noght, be so he winne,  
2345  Of that an other man schal lese, 
2346  And thus fulofte chalk for chese 
2347  He changeth with ful litel cost, 
2348  Wherof an other hath the lost 
2349  And he the profit schal receive. 
2350  For his fortune is to deceive 
2351  And forto change upon the whel
2352  His wo with othre mennes wel:     
2353  Of that an other man avaleth, 
2354  His oghne astat thus up he haleth,  
2355  And takth the bridd to his beyete,  
2356  Wher othre men the buisshes bete.
2357  Mi Sone, and in the same wise 
2358  Ther ben lovers of such emprise, 
2359  That schapen hem to be relieved  
2360  Where it is wrong to ben achieved:  
2361  For it is other mannes riht,  
2362  Which he hath taken dai and niht 
2363  To kepe for his oghne Stor 
2364  Toward himself for everemor,  
2365  And is his propre be the lawe,
2366  Which thing that axeth no felawe,
2367  If love holde his covenant.
2368  Bot thei that worchen be supplaunt, 
2369  Yit wolden thei a man supplaunte,
2370  And take a part of thilke plaunte
2371  Which he hath for himselve set:  
2372  And so fulofte is al unknet,  
2373  That som man weneth be riht fast.
2374  For Supplant with his slyhe cast 
2375  Fulofte happneth forto mowe
2376  Thing which an other man hath sowe, 
2377  And makth comun of proprete
2378  With sleihte and with soubtilite,
2379  As men mai se fro yer to yere.
2380  Thus cleymeth he the bot to stiere, 
2381  Of which an other maister is. 
2382  Forthi, my Sone, if thou er this 
2383  Hast ben of such professioun, 
2384  Discovere thi confessioun: 
2385  Hast thou supplanted eny man? 
2386  For oght that I you telle can,
2387  Min holi fader, as of the dede
2388  I am withouten eny drede    
2389  Al gulteles; bot of my thoght 
2390  Mi conscience excuse I noght. 
2391  For were it wrong or were it riht,  
2392  Me lakketh nothing bote myht, 
2393  That I ne wolde longe er this 
2394  Of other mannes love ywiss 
2395  Be weie of Supplantacioun  
2396  Have mad apropriacioun  
2397  And holde that I nevere boghte,  
2398  Thogh it an other man forthoghte.
2399  And al this speke I bot of on,
2400  For whom I lete alle othre gon;  
2401  Bot hire I mai noght overpasse,  
2402  That I ne mot alwey compasse, 
2403  Me roghte noght be what queintise,  
2404  So that I mihte in eny wise
2405  Fro suche that mi ladi serve  
2406  Hire herte make forto swerve  
2407  Withouten eny part of love.
2408  For be the goddes alle above  
2409  I wolde it mihte so befalle,  
2410  That I al one scholde hem alle
2411  Supplante, and welde hire at mi wille. 
2412  And that thing mai I noght fulfille,
2413  Bot if I scholde strengthe make; 
2414  And that I dar noght undertake,  
2415  Thogh I were as was Alisaundre,  
2416  For therof mihte arise sklaundre;
2417  And certes that schal I do nevere,  
2418  For in good feith yit hadde I levere
2419  In my simplesce forto die, 
2420  Than worche such Supplantarie.
2421  Of otherwise I wol noght seie 
2422  That if I founde a seker weie,
2423  I wolde as for conclusioun 
2424  Worche after Supplantacioun,  
2425  So hihe a love forto winne.    
2426  Now, fader, if that this be Sinne,  
2427  I am al redy to redresce
2428  The gilt of which I me confesse. 
2429  Mi goode Sone, as of Supplant 
2430  Thee thar noght drede tant ne quant,
2431  As for nothing that I have herd, 
2432  Bot only that thou hast misferd  
2433  Thenkende, and that me liketh noght,
2434  For godd beholt a mannes thoght. 
2435  And if thou understode in soth
2436  In loves cause what it doth,  
2437  A man to ben a Supplantour,
2438  Thou woldest for thin oghne honour  
2439  Be double weie take kepe:  
2440  Ferst for thin oghne astat to kepe, 
2441  To be thiself so wel bethoght 
2442  That thou supplanted were noght, 
2443  And ek for worschipe of thi name 
2444  Towardes othre do the same,
2445  And soffren every man have his.  
2446  Bot natheles it was and is,
2447  That in a wayt at alle assaies
2448  Supplant of love in oure daies
2449  The lief fulofte for the levere  
2450  Forsakth, and so it hath don evere. 
2451  Ensample I finde therupon, 
2452  At Troie how that Agamenon 
2453  Supplantede the worthi knyht  
2454  Achilles of that swete wiht,  
2455  Which named was Brexei5da; 
2456  And also of Crisei5da,  
2457  Whom Troilus to love ches, 
2458  Supplanted hath Diomedes.  
2459  Of Geta and Amphitrion, 
2460  That whilom weren bothe as on 
2461  Of frendschipe and of compaignie,
2462  I rede how that Supplantarie      
2463  In love, as it betidde tho,
2464  Beguiled hath on of hem tuo.  
2465  For this Geta that I of meene,
2466  To whom the lusti faire Almeene  
2467  Assured was be weie of love,  
2468  Whan he best wende have ben above
2469  And sikerest of that he hadde,
2470  Cupido so the cause ladde, 
2471  That whil he was out of the weie,
2472  Amphitrion hire love aweie 
2473  Hath take, and in this forme he wroghte.  
2474  Be nyhte unto the chambre he soghte,
2475  Wher that sche lay, and with a wyle 
2476  He contrefeteth for the whyle 
2477  The vois of Gete in such a wise, 
2478  That made hire of hire bedd arise,  
2479  Wenende that it were he,
2480  And let him in, and whan thei be 
2481  Togedre abedde in armes faste,
2482  This Geta cam thanne ate laste
2483  Unto the Dore and seide, "Undo." 
2484  And sche ansuerde and bad him go,
2485  And seide how that abedde al warm
2486  Hir lief lay naked in hir arm;
2487  Sche wende that it were soth. 
2488  Lo, what Supplant of love doth:  
2489  This Geta forth bejaped wente,
2490  And yit ne wiste he what it mente;  
2491  Amphitrion him hath supplanted
2492  With sleyhte of love and hire enchaunted: 
2493  And thus put every man out other,
2494  The Schip of love hath lost his Rother,
2495  So that he can no reson stiere.  
2496  And forto speke of this matiere  
2497  Touchende love and his Supplant, 
2498  A tale which is acordant
2499  Unto thin Ere I thenke enforme.      
2500  Now herkne, for this is the forme.  
2501  Of thilke Cite chief of alle  
2502  Which men the noble Rome calle,  
2503  Er it was set to Cristes feith,  
2504  Ther was, as the Cronique seith, 
2505  An Emperour, the which it ladde  
2506  In pes, that he no werres hadde: 
2507  Ther was nothing desobeissant 
2508  Which was to Rome appourtenant,  
2509  Bot al was torned into reste. 
2510  To some it thoghte for the beste,
2511  To some it thoghte nothing so,
2512  And that was only unto tho 
2513  Whos herte stod upon knyhthode:  
2514  Bot most of alle of his manhode  
2515  The worthi Sone of themperour,
2516  Which wolde ben a werreiour,  
2517  As he that was chivalerous 
2518  Of worldes fame and desirous, 
2519  Began his fadre to beseche 
2520  That he the werres mihte seche,  
2521  In strange Marches forto ride.
2522  His fader seide he scholde abide,
2523  And wolde granten him no leve:
2524  Bot he, which wolde noght beleve,
2525  A kniht of his to whom he triste,
2526  So that his fader nothing wiste, 
2527  He tok and tolde him his corage, 
2528  That he pourposeth a viage.
2529  If that fortune with him stonde, 
2530  He seide how that he wolde fonde 
2531  The grete See to passe unknowe,  
2532  And there abyde for a throwe  
2533  Upon the werres to travaile.  
2534  And to this point withoute faile 
2535  This kniht, whan he hath herd his lord,
2536  Is swore, and stant of his acord,    
2537  As thei that bothe yonge were;
2538  So that in prive conseil there
2539  Thei ben assented forto wende.
2540  And therupon to make an ende, 
2541  Tresor ynowh with hem thei token,
2542  And whan the time is best thei loken,  
2543  That sodeinliche in a Galeie  
2544  Fro Romelond thei wente here weie
2545  And londe upon that other side.  
2546  The world fell so that ilke tide,
2547  Which evere hise happes hath diverse,  
2548  The grete Soldan thanne of Perse 
2549  Ayein the Caliphe of Egipte
2550  A werre, which that him beclipte,
2551  Hath in a Marche costeiant.
2552  And he, which was a poursuiant
2553  Worschipe of armes to atteigne,  
2554  This Romein, let anon ordeigne,  
2555  That he was redi everydel: 
2556  And whan he was arraied wel
2557  Of every thing which him belongeth, 
2558  Straght unto Kaire his weie he fongeth,
2559  Wher he the Soldan thanne fond,  
2560  And axeth that withinne his lond 
2561  He mihte him for the werre serve,
2562  As he which wolde his thonk deserve.
2563  The Soldan was riht glad with al,
2564  And wel the more in special
2565  Whan that he wiste he was Romein;
2566  Bot what was elles in certein,
2567  That mihte he wite be no weie.
2568  And thus the kniht of whom I seie
2569  Toward the Soldan is beleft,  
2570  And in the Marches now and eft,  
2571  Wher that the dedli werres were, 
2572  He wroghte such knihthode there, 
2573  That every man spak of him good. 
2574  And thilke time so it stod,
2575  This mihti Soldan be his wif  
2576  A Dowhter hath, that in this lif 
2577  Men seiden ther was non so fair. 
2578  Sche scholde ben hir fader hair, 
2579  And was of yeres ripe ynowh:  
2580  Hire beaute many an herte drowh  
2581  To bowe unto that ilke lawe
2582  Fro which no lif mai be withdrawe,  
2583  And that is love, whos nature 
2584  Set lif and deth in aventure  
2585  Of hem that knyhthode undertake. 
2586  This lusti peine hath overtake
2587  The herte of this Romein so sore,
2588  That to knihthode more and more  
2589  Prouesce avanceth his corage. 
2590  Lich to the Leoun in his rage,
2591  Fro whom that alle bestes fle,
2592  Such was the knyht in his degre: 
2593  Wher he was armed in the feld,
2594  Ther dorste non abide his scheld;
2595  Gret pris upon the werre he hadde.  
2596  Bot sche which al the chance ladde, 
2597  Fortune, schop the Marches so,
2598  That be thassent of bothe tuo,
2599  The Soldan and the Caliphe eke,  
2600  Bataille upon a dai thei seke,
2601  Which was in such a wise set  
2602  That lengere scholde it noght be let.  
2603  Thei made hem stronge on every side,
2604  And whan it drowh toward the tide
2605  That the bataille scholde be, 
2606  The Soldan in gret privete 
2607  A goldring of his dowhter tok,
2608  And made hire swere upon a bok
2609  And ek upon the goddes alle,  
2610  That if fortune so befalle 
2611  In the bataille that he deie,     
2612  That sche schal thilke man obeie 
2613  And take him to hire housebonde, 
2614  Which thilke same Ring to honde  
2615  Hire scholde bringe after his deth. 
2616  This hath sche swore, and forth he geth
2617  With al the pouer of his lond 
2618  Unto the Marche, where he fond
2619  His enemy full embatailled.
2620  The Soldan hath the feld assailed:  
2621  Thei that ben hardy sone assemblen, 
2622  Wherof the dredfull hertes tremblen:
2623  That on sleth, and that other sterveth,
2624  Bot above all his pris deserveth 
2625  This knihtly Romein; where he rod,  
2626  His dedly swerd noman abod,
2627  Ayein the which was no defence;  
2628  Egipte fledde in his presence,
2629  And thei of Perse upon the chace 
2630  Poursuien: bot I not what grace  
2631  Befell, an Arwe out of a bowe 
2632  Al sodeinly that ilke throwe  
2633  The Soldan smot, and ther he lay:
2634  The chace is left for thilke day,
2635  And he was bore into a tente. 
2636  The Soldan sih how that it wente,
2637  And that he scholde algate die;  
2638  And to this knyht of Romanie, 
2639  As unto him whom he most triste, 
2640  His Dowhter Ring, that non it wiste,
2641  He tok, and tolde him al the cas,
2642  Upon hire oth what tokne it was  
2643  Of that sche scholde ben his wif.
2644  Whan this was seid, the hertes lif  
2645  Of this Soldan departeth sone;
2646  And therupon, as was to done, 
2647  The dede body wel and faire
2648  Thei carie til thei come at Kaire,  
2649  Wher he was worthily begrave. 
2650  The lordes, whiche as wolden save    
2651  The Regne which was desolat,  
2652  To bringe it into good astat  
2653  A parlement thei sette anon.  
2654  Now herkne what fell therupon:
2655  This yonge lord, this worthi kniht  
2656  Of Rome, upon the same niht
2657  That thei amorwe trete scholde,  
2658  Unto his Bacheler he tolde 
2659  His conseil, and the Ring with al
2660  He scheweth, thurgh which that he schal,  
2661  He seith, the kinges Dowhter wedde, 
2662  For so the Ring was leid to wedde,  
2663  He tolde, into hir fader hond,
2664  That with what man that sche it fond
2665  Sche scholde him take to hire lord. 
2666  And this, he seith, stant of record,
2667  Bot noman wot who hath this Ring.
2668  This Bacheler upon this thing 
2669  His Ere and his entente leide,
2670  And thoghte more thanne he seide,
2671  And feigneth with a fals visage  
2672  That he was glad, bot his corage 
2673  Was al set in an other wise.  
2674  These olde Philosophres wise  
2675  Thei writen upon thilke while,
2676  That he mai best a man beguile
2677  In whom the man hath most credence; 
2678  And this befell in evidence
2679  Toward this yonge lord of Rome.  
2680  His Bacheler, which hadde tome,  
2681  Whan that his lord be nihte slepte, 
2682  This Ring, the which his maister kepte,
2683  Out of his Pours awey he dede,
2684  And putte an other in the stede. 
2685  Amorwe, whan the Court is set,
2686  The yonge ladi was forth fet, 
2687  To whom the lordes don homage,    
2688  And after that of Mariage  
2689  Thei trete and axen of hir wille.
2690  Bot sche, which thoghte to fulfille 
2691  Hire fader heste in this matiere,
2692  Seide openly, that men mai hiere,
2693  The charge which hire fader bad. 
2694  Tho was this Lord of Rome glad
2695  And drowh toward his Pours anon, 
2696  Bot al for noght, it was agon:
2697  His Bacheler it hath forthdrawe, 
2698  And axeth ther upon the lawe  
2699  That sche him holde covenant. 
2700  The tokne was so sufficant 
2701  That it ne mihte be forsake,  
2702  And natheles his lord hath take  
2703  Querelle ayein his oghne man; 
2704  Bot for nothing that evere he can
2705  He mihte as thanne noght ben herd,  
2706  So that his cleym is unansuerd,  
2707  And he hath of his pourpos failed.  
2708  This Bacheler was tho consailed  
2709  And wedded, and of thilke Empire 
2710  He was coroned Lord and Sire, 
2711  And al the lond him hath received;  
2712  Wherof his lord, which was deceived,
2713  A seknesse er the thridde morwe  
2714  Conceived hath of dedly sorwe:
2715  And as he lay upon his deth,  
2716  Therwhile him lasteth speche and breth,
2717  He sende for the worthieste
2718  Of al the lond and ek the beste, 
2719  And tolde hem al the sothe tho,  
2720  That he was Sone and Heir also
2721  Of themperour of grete Rome,  
2722  And how that thei togedre come,  
2723  This kniht and he; riht as it was,  
2724  He tolde hem al the pleine cas,  
2725  And for that he his conseil tolde,      
2726  That other hath al that he wolde,
2727  And he hath failed of his mede:  
2728  As for the good he takth non hiede, 
2729  He seith, bot only of the love,  
2730  Of which he wende have ben above.
2731  And therupon be lettre write  
2732  He doth his fader forto wite  
2733  Of al this matiere as it stod;
2734  And thanne with an hertly mod 
2735  Unto the lordes he besoghte
2736  To telle his ladi how he boghte  
2737  Hire love, of which an other gladeth;  
2738  And with that word his hewe fadeth, 
2739  And seide, "A dieu, my ladi swete." 
2740  The lif hath lost his kindly hete,  
2741  And he lay ded as eny ston;
2742  Wherof was sory manyon, 
2743  Bot non of alle so as sche.
2744  This false knyht in his degree
2745  Arested was and put in hold:  
2746  For openly whan it was told
2747  Of the tresoun which is befalle, 
2748  Thurghout the lond thei seiden alle,
2749  If it be soth that men suppose,  
2750  His oghne untrowthe him schal depose.  
2751  And forto seche an evidence,  
2752  With honour and gret reverence,  
2753  Wherof they mihten knowe an ende,
2754  To themperour anon thei sende 
2755  The lettre which his Sone wrot.  
2756  And whan that he the sothe wot,  
2757  To telle his sorwe is endeles,
2758  Bot yit in haste natheles  
2759  Upon the tale which he herde  
2760  His Stieward into Perse ferde 
2761  With many a worthi Romein eke,
2762  His liege tretour forto seke; 
2763  And whan thei thider come were,      
2764  This kniht him hath confessed there 
2765  How falsly that he hath him bore,
2766  Wherof his worthi lord was lore. 
2767  Tho seiden some he scholde deie, 
2768  Bot yit thei founden such a weie 
2769  That he schal noght be ded in Perse;
2770  And thus the skiles ben diverse. 
2771  Be cause that he was coroned, 
2772  And that the lond was abandoned  
2773  To him, althogh it were unriht,  
2774  Ther is no peine for him diht;
2775  Bot to this point and to this ende  
2776  Thei granten wel that he schal wende
2777  With the Romeins to Rome ayein.  
2778  And thus acorded ful and plein,  
2779  The qwike body with the dede  
2780  With leve take forth thei lede,  
2781  Wher that Supplant hath his juise.  
2782  Wherof that thou thee miht avise 
2783  Upon this enformacioun  
2784  Touchende of Supplantacioun,  
2785  That thou, my Sone, do noght so: 
2786  And forto take hiede also  
2787  What Supplant doth in other halve,  
2788  Ther is noman can finde a salve  
2789  Pleinly to helen such a Sor;  
2790  It hath and schal ben everemor,  
2791  Whan Pride is with Envie joint,  
2792  He soffreth noman in good point, 
2793  Wher that he mai his honour lette.  
2794  And therupon if I schal sette 
2795  Ensample, in holy cherche I finde
2796  How that Supplant is noght behinde; 
2797  God wot if that it now be so: 
2798  For in Cronique of time ago
2799  I finde a tale concordable 
2800  Of Supplant, which that is no fable,
2801  In the manere as I schal telle,  
2802  So as whilom the thinges felle.      
2803  At Rome, as it hath ofte falle,  
2804  The vicair general of alle 
2805  Of hem that lieven Cristes feith 
2806  His laste day, which non withseith, 
2807  Hath schet as to the worldes ije,
2808  Whos name if I schal specefie,
2809  He hihte Pope Nicolas.  
2810  And thus whan that he passed was,
2811  The Cardinals, that wolden save  
2812  The forme of lawe, in the conclave  
2813  Gon forto chese a newe Pope,  
2814  And after that thei cowthe agrope
2815  Hath ech of hem seid his entente:
2816  Til ate laste thei assente 
2817  Upon an holy clerk reclus, 
2818  Which full was of gostli vertus; 
2819  His pacience and his simplesse
2820  Hath set him into hih noblesse.  
2821  Thus was he Pope canonized,
2822  With gret honour and intronized, 
2823  And upon chance as it is falle,  
2824  His name Celestin men calle;  
2825  Which notefied was be bulle
2826  To holi cherche and to the fulle 
2827  In alle londes magnified.  
2828  Bot every worschipe is envied,
2829  And that was thilke time sene:
2830  For whan this Pope of whom I meene  
2831  Was chose, and othre set beside, 
2832  A Cardinal was thilke tide 
2833  Which the papat longe hath desired  
2834  And therupon gretli conspired;
2835  Bot whan he sih fortune is failed,  
2836  For which long time he hath travailed, 
2837  That ilke fyr which Ethna brenneth  
2838  Thurghout his wofull herte renneth,     
2839  Which is resembled to Envie,  
2840  Wherof Supplant and tricherie 
2841  Engendred is; and natheles 
2842  He feigneth love, he feigneth pes,  
2843  Outward he doth the reverence,
2844  Bot al withinne his conscience
2845  Thurgh fals ymaginacioun
2846  He thoghte Supplantacioun. 
2847  And therupon a wonder wyle 
2848  He wroghte: for at thilke whyle  
2849  It fell so that of his lignage
2850  He hadde a clergoun of yong age, 
2851  Whom he hath in his chambre affaited.  
2852  This Cardinal his time hath waited, 
2853  And with his wordes slyhe and queinte, 
2854  The whiche he cowthe wysly peinte,  
2855  He schop this clerk of which I telle
2856  Toward the Pope forto duelle, 
2857  So that withinne his chambre anyht  
2858  He lai, and was a prive wyht  
2859  Toward the Pope on nyhtes tide.  
2860  Mai noman fle that schal betide. 
2861  This Cardinal, which thoghte guile, 
2862  Upon a day whan he hath while 
2863  This yonge clerc unto him tok,
2864  And made him swere upon a bok,
2865  And told him what his wille was. 
2866  And forth withal a Trompe of bras
2867  He hath him take, and bad him this: 
2868  "Thou schalt," he seide, "whan time is 
2869  Awaite, and take riht good kepe, 
2870  Whan that the Pope is fast aslepe
2871  And that non other man by nyh;
2872  And thanne that thou be so slyh  
2873  Thurghout the Trompe into his Ere,  
2874  Fro hevene as thogh a vois it were, 
2875  To soune of such prolacioun
2876  That he his meditacioun     
2877  Therof mai take and understonde, 
2878  As thogh it were of goddes sonde.
2879  And in this wise thou schalt seie,  
2880  That he do thilke astat aweie 
2881  Of Pope, in which he stant honoured,
2882  So schal his Soule be socoured
2883  Of thilke worschipe ate laste 
2884  In hevene which schal evere laste." 
2885  This clerc, whan he hath herd the forme
2886  How he the Pope scholde enforme, 
2887  Tok of the Cardinal his leve, 
2888  And goth him hom, til it was Eve,
2889  And prively the trompe he hedde, 
2890  Til that the Pope was abedde. 
2891  And at the Midnyht, whan he knewh
2892  The Pope slepte, thanne he blewh 
2893  Withinne his trompe thurgh the wal, 
2894  And tolde in what manere he schal
2895  His Papacie leve, and take 
2896  His ferste astat: and thus awake 
2897  This holi Pope he made thries,
2898  Wherof diverse fantasies
2899  Upon his grete holinesse
2900  Withinne his herte he gan impresse. 
2901  The Pope ful of innocence  
2902  Conceiveth in his conscience  
2903  That it is goddes wille he cesse;
2904  Bot in what wise he may relesse  
2905  His hihe astat, that wot he noght.  
2906  And thus withinne himself bethoght, 
2907  He bar it stille in his memoire, 
2908  Til he cam to the Consistoire;
2909  And there in presence of hem alle
2910  He axeth, if it so befalle 
2911  That eny Pope cesse wolde, 
2912  How that the lawe it soffre scholde.
2913  Thei seten alle stille and herde,
2914  Was non which to the point ansuerde,    
2915  For to what pourpos that it mente
2916  Ther was noman knew his entente, 
2917  Bot only he which schop the guile.  
2918  This Cardinal the same while  
2919  Al openly with wordes pleine  
2920  Seith, if the Pope wolde ordeigne
2921  That ther be such a lawe wroght, 
2922  Than mihte he cesse, and elles noght.  
2923  And as he seide, don it was;  
2924  The Pope anon upon the cas 
2925  Of his Papal Autorite
2926  Hath mad and yove the decre:  
2927  And whan that lawe was confermed 
2928  In due forme and al affermed, 
2929  This innocent, which was deceived,  
2930  His Papacie anon hath weyved, 
2931  Renounced and resigned eke.
2932  That other was nothing to seke,  
2933  Bot undernethe such a jape 
2934  He hath so for himselve schape,  
2935  That how as evere it him beseme, 
2936  The Mitre with the Diademe 
2937  He hath thurgh Supplantacion: 
2938  And in his confirmacion 
2939  Upon the fortune of his grace 
2940  His name is cleped Boneface.  
2941  Under the viser of Envie,  
2942  Lo, thus was hid the tricherie,  
2943  Which hath beguiled manyon.
2944  Bot such conseil ther mai be non,
2945  With treson whan it is conspired,
2946  That it nys lich the Sparke fyred
2947  Up in the Rof, which for a throwe
2948  Lith hidd, til whan the wyndes blowe
2949  It blaseth out on every side. 
2950  This Bonefas, which can noght hyde  
2951  The tricherie of his Supplant,
2952  Hath openly mad his avant  
2953  How he the Papacie hath wonne.
2954  Bot thing which is with wrong begonne      
2955  Mai nevere stonde wel at ende;
2956  Wher Pride schal the bowe bende, 
2957  He schet fulofte out of the weie:
2958  And thus the Pope of whom I seie,
2959  Whan that he stod on hih the whiel, 
2960  He can noght soffre himself be wel. 
2961  Envie, which is loveles,
2962  And Pride, which is laweles,  
2963  With such tempeste made him erre,
2964  That charite goth out of herre:  
2965  So that upon misgovernance 
2966  Ayein Lowyz the king of France
2967  He tok querelle of his oultrage, 
2968  And seide he scholde don hommage 
2969  Unto the cherche bodily.
2970  Bot he, that wiste nothing why
2971  He scholde do so gret servise 
2972  After the world in such a wise,  
2973  Withstod the wrong of that demande; 
2974  For noght the Pope mai comande
2975  The king wol noght the Pope obeie.  
2976  This Pope tho be alle weie 
2977  That he mai worche of violence
2978  Hath sent the bulle of his sentence 
2979  With cursinge and with enterdit. 
2980  The king upon this wrongful plyt,
2981  To kepe his regne fro servage,
2982  Conseiled was of his Barnage  
2983  That miht with miht schal be withstonde.  
2984  Thus was the cause take on honde,
2985  And seiden that the Papacie
2986  Thei wolde honoure and magnefie  
2987  In al that evere is spirital; 
2988  Bot thilke Pride temporal  
2989  Of Boneface in his persone,
2990  Ayein that ilke wrong al one  
2991  Thei wolde stonden in debat:  
2992  And thus the man and noght the stat     
2993  The Frensche schopen be her miht 
2994  To grieve. And fell ther was a kniht,  
2995  Sire Guilliam de Langharet,
2996  Which was upon this cause set;
2997  And therupon he tok a route
2998  Of men of Armes and rod oute, 
2999  So longe and in a wayt he lay,
3000  That he aspide upon a day  
3001  The Pope was at Avinoun,
3002  And scholde ryde out of the toun 
3003  Unto Pontsorge, the which is  
3004  A Castell in Provence of his. 
3005  Upon the weie and as he rod,  
3006  This kniht, which hoved and abod 
3007  Embuisshed upon horse bak, 
3008  Al sodeinliche upon him brak  
3009  And hath him be the bridel sesed,
3010  And seide: "O thou, which hast desesed 
3011  The Court of France be thi wrong,
3012  Now schalt thou singe an other song:
3013  Thin enterdit and thi sentence
3014  Ayein thin oghne conscience
3015  Hierafter thou schalt fiele and grope. 
3016  We pleigne noght ayein the Pope, 
3017  For thilke name is honourable,
3018  Bot thou, which hast be deceivable  
3019  And tricherous in al thi werk,
3020  Thou Bonefas, thou proude clerk, 
3021  Misledere of the Papacie,  
3022  Thi false bodi schal abye  
3023  And soffre that it hath deserved."  
3024  Lo, thus the Supplantour was served;
3025  For thei him ladden into France  
3026  And setten him to his penance 
3027  Withinne a tour in harde bondes, 
3028  Wher he for hunger bothe hise hondes
3029  Eet of and deide, god wot how:    
3030  Of whom the wrytinge is yit now  
3031  Registred, as a man mai hiere,
3032  Which spekth and seith in this manere: 
3033  Thin entre lich the fox was slyh,
3034  Thi regne also with pride on hih 
3035  Was lich the Leon in his rage;
3036  Bot ate laste of thi passage  
3037  Thi deth was to the houndes like.
3038  Such is the lettre of his Cronique  
3039  Proclamed in the Court of Rome,  
3040  Wherof the wise ensample nome.
3041  And yit, als ferforth as I dar,  
3042  I rede alle othre men be war, 
3043  And that thei loke wel algate 
3044  That non his oghne astat translate  
3045  Of holi cherche in no degree  
3046  Be fraude ne soubtilite:
3047  For thilke honour which Aaron tok
3048  Schal non receive, as seith the bok,
3049  Bot he be cleped as he was.
3050  What I schal thenken in this cas 
3051  Of that I hiere now aday,  
3052  I not: bot he which can and may, 
3053  Be reson bothe and be nature  
3054  The help of every mannes cure,
3055  He kepe Simon fro the folde.  
3056  For Joachim thilke Abbot tolde
3057  How suche daies scholden falle,  
3058  That comunliche in places alle
3059  The Chapmen of such mercerie  
3060  With fraude and with Supplantarie
3061  So manye scholden beie and selle,
3062  That he ne may for schame telle  
3063  So foul a Senne in mannes Ere.
3064  Bot god forbiede that it were 
3065  In oure daies that he seith:  
3066  For if the Clerc beware his feith
3067  In chapmanhod at such a feire,
3068  The remenant mot nede empeire 
3069  Of al that to the world belongeth;  
3070  For whan that holi cherche wrongeth,
3071  I not what other thing schal rihte. 
3072  And natheles at mannes sihte  
3073  Envie forto be preferred
3074  Hath conscience so differred, 
3075  That noman loketh to the vice 
3076  Which is the Moder of malice, 
3077  And that is thilke false Envie,  
3078  Which causeth many a tricherie;  
3079  For wher he may an other se
3080  That is mor gracious than he, 
3081  It schal noght stonden in his miht  
3082  Bot if he hindre such a wiht: 
3083  And that is welnyh overal, 
3084  This vice is now so general.  
3085  Envie thilke unhapp indrowh,  
3086  Whan Joab be deceipte slowh
3087  Abner, for drede he scholde be
3088  With king David such as was he.  
3089  And thurgh Envie also it fell 
3090  Of thilke false Achitofell,
3091  For his conseil was noght achieved, 
3092  Bot that he sih Cusy believed 
3093  With Absolon and him forsake, 
3094  He heng himself upon a stake. 
3095  Senec witnesseth openly 
3096  How that Envie proprely 
3097  Is of the Court the comun wenche,
3098  And halt taverne forto schenche  
3099  That drink which makth the herte brenne,  
3100  And doth the wit aboute renne,
3101  Be every weie to compasse  
3102  How that he mihte alle othre passe, 
3103  As he which thurgh unkindeschipe 
3104  Envieth every felaschipe;  
3105  So that thou miht wel knowe and se,     
3106  Ther is no vice such as he,
3107  Ferst toward godd abhominable,
3108  And to mankinde unprofitable: 
3109  And that be wordes bot a fewe 
3110  I schal be reson prove and schewe.  
3111  Envie if that I schal descrive,  
3112  He is noght schaply forto wyve
3113  In Erthe among the wommen hiere; 
3114  For ther is in him no matiere 
3115  Wherof he mihte do plesance.  
3116  Ferst for his hevy continance 
3117  Of that he semeth evere unglad,  
3118  He is noght able to ben had;  
3119  And ek he brenneth so withinne,  
3120  That kinde mai no profit winne,  
3121  Wherof he scholde his love plese:
3122  For thilke blod which scholde have ese 
3123  To regne among the moiste veines,
3124  Is drye of thilke unkendeli peines  
3125  Thurgh whiche Envie is fyred ay. 
3126  And thus be reson prove I may 
3127  That toward love Envie is noght; 
3128  And otherwise if it be soght, 
3129  Upon what side as evere it falle,
3130  It is the werste vice of alle,
3131  Which of himself hath most malice.  
3132  For understond that every vice
3133  Som cause hath, wherof it groweth,  
3134  Bot of Envie noman knoweth 
3135  Fro whenne he cam bot out of helle. 
3136  For thus the wise clerkes telle, 
3137  That no spirit bot of malice      
3138  Be weie of kinde upon a vice  
3139  Is tempted, and be such a weie
3140  Envie hath kinde put aweie 
3141  And of malice hath his steringe, 
3142  Wherof he makth his bakbitinge,  
3143  And is himself therof desesed.
3144  So mai ther be no kinde plesed;  
3145  For ay the mor that he envieth,  
3146  The more ayein himself he plieth.
3147  Thus stant Envie in good espeir  
3148  To ben himself the develes heir, 
3149  As he which is his nexte liche
3150  And forthest fro the heveneriche,
3151  For there mai he nevere wone. 
3152  Forthi, my goode diere Sone,  
3153  If thou wolt finde a siker weie  
3154  To love, put Envie aweie.  
3155  Min holy fader, reson wolde
3156  That I this vice eschuie scholde:
3157  Bot yit to strengthe mi corage,  
3158  If that ye wolde in avantage  
3159  Therof sette a recoverir,  
3160  It were tome a gret desir, 
3161  That I this vice mihte flee.  
3162  Nou understond, my Sone, and se, 
3163  Ther is phisique for the seke,
3164  And vertus for the vices eke. 
3165  Who that the vices wolde eschuie,
3166  He mot be resoun thanne suie  
3167  The vertus; for be thilke weie
3168  He mai the vices don aweie,
3169  For thei togedre mai noght duelle:  
3170  For as the water of a welle
3171  Of fyr abateth the malice, 
3172  Riht so vertu fordoth the vice.  
3173  Ayein Envie is Charite, 
3174  Which is the Moder of Pite,
3175  That makth a mannes herte tendre,    
3176  That it mai no malice engendre
3177  In him that is enclin therto. 
3178  For his corage is tempred so, 
3179  That thogh he mihte himself relieve,
3180  Yit wolde he noght an other grieve, 
3181  Bot rather forto do plesance  
3182  He berth himselven the grevance, 
3183  So fain he wolde an other ese.
3184  Wherof, mi Sone, for thin ese 
3185  Now herkne a tale which I rede,  
3186  And understond it wel, I rede.
3187  Among the bokes of latin
3188  I finde write of Constantin
3189  The worthi Emperour of Rome,  
3190  Suche infortunes to him come, 
3191  Whan he was in his lusti age, 
3192  The lepre cawhte in his visage
3193  And so forth overal aboute,
3194  That he ne mihte ryden oute:  
3195  So lefte he bothe Schield and spere,
3196  As he that mihte him noght bestere, 
3197  And hield him in his chambre clos.  
3198  Thurgh al the world the fame aros,  
3199  The grete clerkes ben asent
3200  And come at his comandement
3201  To trete upon this lordes hele.  
3202  So longe thei togedre dele,
3203  That thei upon this medicine  
3204  Apointen hem, and determine
3205  That in the maner as it stod  
3206  Thei wolde him bathe in childes blod
3207  Withinne sevene wynter age:
3208  For, as thei sein, that scholde assuage
3209  The lepre and al the violence,
3210  Which that thei knewe of Accidence  
3211  And noght be weie of kinde is falle.
3212  And therto thei acorden alle      
3213  As for final conclusioun,  
3214  And tolden here opinioun
3215  To themperour: and he anon 
3216  His conseil tok, and therupon 
3217  With lettres and with seales oute
3218  Thei sende in every lond aboute  
3219  The yonge children forto seche,  
3220  Whos blod, thei seiden, schal be leche 
3221  For themperoures maladie.  
3222  Ther was ynowh to wepe and crie  
3223  Among the Modres, whan thei herde
3224  Hou wofully this cause ferde, 
3225  Bot natheles thei moten bowe; 
3226  And thus wommen ther come ynowhe 
3227  With children soukende on the Tete. 
3228  Tho was ther manye teres lete,
3229  Bot were hem lieve or were hem lothe,  
3230  The wommen and the children bothe
3231  Into the Paleis forth be broght  
3232  With many a sory hertes thoght
3233  Of hem whiche of here bodi bore  
3234  The children hadde, and so forlore  
3235  Withinne a while scholden se. 
3236  The Modres wepe in here degre,
3237  And manye of hem aswoune falle,  
3238  The yonge babes criden alle:  
3239  This noyse aros, the lord it herde, 
3240  And loked out, and how it ferde  
3241  He sih, and as who seith abreide 
3242  Out of his slep, and thus he seide: 
3243  "O thou divine pourveance, 
3244  Which every man in the balance
3245  Of kinde hast formed to be liche,
3246  The povere is bore as is the riche  
3247  And deieth in the same wise,  
3248  Upon the fol, upon the wise
3249  Siknesse and hele entrecomune;
3250  Mai non eschuie that fortune      
3251  Which kinde hath in hire lawe set;  
3252  Hire strengthe and beaute ben beset 
3253  To every man aliche fre,
3254  That sche preferreth no degre 
3255  As in the disposicioun  
3256  Of bodili complexioun:  
3257  And ek of Soule resonable  
3258  The povere child is bore als able
3259  To vertu as the kinges Sone;  
3260  For every man his oghne wone  
3261  After the lust of his assay
3262  The vice or vertu chese may.  
3263  Thus stonden alle men franchised,
3264  Bot in astat thei ben divised;
3265  To some worschipe and richesse,  
3266  To some poverte and distresse,
3267  On lordeth and an other serveth; 
3268  Bot yit as every man deserveth
3269  The world yifth noght his yiftes hiere.
3270  Bot certes he hath gret matiere  
3271  To ben of good condicioun, 
3272  Which hath in his subjeccioun 
3273  The men that ben of his semblance." 
3274  And ek he tok a remembrance
3275  How he that made lawe of kinde
3276  Wolde every man to lawe binde,
3277  And bad a man, such as he wolde  
3278  Toward himself, riht such he scholde
3279  Toward an other don also.  
3280  And thus this worthi lord as tho 
3281  Sette in balance his oghne astat 
3282  And with himself stod in debat,  
3283  And thoghte hou that it was noght good 
3284  To se so mochel mannes blod
3285  Be spilt for cause of him alone. 
3286  He sih also the grete mone,
3287  Of that the Modres were unglade, 
3288  And of the wo the children made,     
3289  Wherof that al his herte tendreth,  
3290  And such pite withinne engendreth,  
3291  That him was levere forto chese  
3292  His oghne bodi forto lese, 
3293  Than se so gret a moerdre wroght 
3294  Upon the blod which gulteth noght.  
3295  Thus for the pite which he tok
3296  Alle othre leches he forsok,  
3297  And put him out of aventure
3298  Al only into goddes cure;  
3299  And seith, "Who that woll maister be,  
3300  He mot be servant to pite."
3301  So ferforth he was overcome
3302  With charite, that he hath nome  
3303  His conseil and hise officers,
3304  And bad unto hise tresorers
3305  That thei his tresour al aboute  
3306  Departe among the povere route
3307  Of wommen and of children bothe, 
3308  Wherof thei mihte hem fede and clothe  
3309  And saufli tornen hom ayein
3310  Withoute lost of eny grein.
3311  Thurgh charite thus he despendeth
3312  His good, wherof that he amendeth
3313  The povere poeple, and contrevaileth
3314  The harm, that he hem so travaileth:
3315  And thus the woful nyhtes sorwe  
3316  To joie is torned on the morwe;  
3317  Al was thonkinge, al was blessinge, 
3318  Which erst was wepinge and cursinge;
3319  Thes wommen gon hom glade ynowh, 
3320  Echon for joie on other lowh, 
3321  And preiden for this lordes hele,
3322  Which hath relessed the querele, 
3323  And hath his oghne will forsake  
3324  In charite for goddes sake.
3325  Bot now hierafter thou schalt hiere 
3326  What god hath wroght in this matiere,      
3327  As he which doth al equite.
3328  To him that wroghte charite
3329  He was ayeinward charitous,
3330  And to pite he was pitous: 
3331  For it was nevere knowe yit
3332  That charite goth unaquit. 
3333  The nyht, whan he was leid to slepe,
3334  The hihe god, which wolde him kepe, 
3335  Seint Peter and seint Poul him sende,  
3336  Be whom he wolde his lepre amende.  
3337  Thei tuo to him slepende appiere 
3338  Fro god, and seide in this manere:  
3339  "O Constantin, for thou hast served 
3340  Pite, thou hast pite deserved:
3341  Forthi thou schalt such pite have
3342  That god thurgh pite woll thee save.
3343  So schalt thou double hele finde,
3344  Ferst for thi bodiliche kinde,
3345  And for thi wofull Soule also,
3346  Thou schalt ben hol of bothe tuo.
3347  And for thou schalt thee noght despeire,  
3348  Thi lepre schal nomore empeire
3349  Til thou wolt sende therupon  
3350  Unto the Mont of Celion,
3351  Wher that Silvestre and his clergie 
3352  Togedre duelle in compaignie  
3353  For drede of thee, which many day
3354  Hast ben a fo to Cristes lay, 
3355  And hast destruid to mochel schame  
3356  The prechours of his holy name.  
3357  Bot now thou hast somdiel appesed
3358  Thi god, and with good dede plesed, 
3359  That thou thi pite hast bewared  
3360  Upon the blod which thou hast spared.  
3361  Forthi to thi salvacion 
3362  Thou schalt have enformacioun,
3363  Such as Silvestre schal the teche:  
3364  The nedeth of non other leche."  
3365  This Emperour, which al this herde, 
3366  "Grant merci lordes," he ansuerde,      
3367  "I wol do so as ye me seie.
3368  Bot of o thing I wolde preie: 
3369  What schal I telle unto Silvestre
3370  Or of youre name or of youre estre?"
3371  And thei him tolden what thei hihte,
3372  And forth withal out of his sihte
3373  Thei passen up into the hevene.  
3374  And he awok out of his swevene,  
3375  And clepeth, and men come anon:  
3376  He tolde his drem, and therupon  
3377  In such a wise as he hem telleth 
3378  The Mont wher that Silvestre duelleth  
3379  Thei have in alle haste soght,
3380  And founde he was and with hem broght  
3381  To themperour, which to him tolde
3382  His swevene and elles what he wolde.
3383  And whan Silvestre hath herd the king, 
3384  He was riht joiful of this thing,
3385  And him began with al his wit 
3386  To techen upon holi writ
3387  Ferst how mankinde was forlore,  
3388  And how the hihe god therfore 
3389  His Sone sende from above, 
3390  Which bore was for mannes love,  
3391  And after of his oghne chois  
3392  He tok his deth upon the crois;  
3393  And how in grave he was beloke,  
3394  And how that he hath helle broke,
3395  And tok hem out that were him lieve;
3396  And forto make ous full believe  
3397  That he was verrai goddes Sone,  
3398  Ayein the kinde of mannes wone
3399  Fro dethe he ros the thridde day,
3400  And whanne he wolde, as he wel may, 
3401  He styh up to his fader evene 
3402  With fleissh and blod into the hevene; 
3403  And riht so in the same forme 
3404  In fleissh and blod he schal reforme,  
3405  Whan time comth, the qwike and dede     
3406  At thilke woful dai of drede, 
3407  Where every man schal take his dom, 
3408  Als wel the Maister as the grom. 
3409  The mihti kinges retenue
3410  That dai may stonde of no value  
3411  With worldes strengthe to defende;  
3412  For every man mot thanne entende 
3413  To stonde upon his oghne dedes
3414  And leve alle othre mennes nedes.
3415  That dai mai no consail availe,  
3416  The pledour and the plee schal faile,  
3417  The sentence of that ilke day 
3418  Mai non appell sette in delay;
3419  Ther mai no gold the Jugge plie, 
3420  That he ne schal the sothe trie  
3421  And setten every man upriht,  
3422  Als wel the plowman as the kniht:
3423  The lewed man, the grete clerk
3424  Schal stonde upon his oghne werk,
3425  And such as he is founde tho, 
3426  Such schal he be for everemo. 
3427  Ther mai no peine be relessed,
3428  Ther mai no joie ben encressed,  
3429  Bot endeles, as thei have do, 
3430  He schal receive on of the tuo.  
3431  And thus Silvestre with his sawe 
3432  The ground of al the newe lawe
3433  With gret devocion he precheth,  
3434  Fro point to point and pleinly techeth 
3435  Unto this hethen Emperour; 
3436  And seith, the hihe creatour  
3437  Hath underfonge his charite,  
3438  Of that he wroghte such pite, 
3439  Whan he the children hadde on honde.
3440  Thus whan this lord hath understonde
3441  Of al this thing how that it ferde, 
3442  Unto Silvestre he thanne ansuerde,  
3443  With al his hole herte and seith     
3444  That he is redi to the feith. 
3445  And so the vessel which for blod 
3446  Was mad, Silvestre, ther it stod,
3447  With clene water of the welle 
3448  In alle haste he let do felle,
3449  And sette Constantin therinne 
3450  Al naked up unto the chinne.  
3451  And in the while it was begunne, 
3452  A liht, as thogh it were a Sunne,
3453  Fro hevene into the place com 
3454  Wher that he tok his cristendom; 
3455  And evere among the holi tales
3456  Lich as thei weren fisshes skales
3457  Ther fellen from him now and eft,
3458  Til that ther was nothing beleft 
3459  Of al his grete maladie.
3460  For he that wolde him purefie,
3461  The hihe god hath mad him clene, 
3462  So that ther lefte nothing sene; 
3463  He hath him clensed bothe tuo,
3464  The bodi and the Soule also.  
3465  Tho knew this Emperour in dede
3466  That Cristes feith was forto drede, 
3467  And sende anon hise lettres oute 
3468  And let do crien al aboute,
3469  Up peine of deth that noman weyve
3470  That he baptesme ne receive:  
3471  After his Moder qweene Heleine
3472  He sende, and so betwen hem tweine  
3473  Thei treten, that the Cite all
3474  Was cristned, and sche forth withall.  
3475  This Emperour, which hele hath founde, 
3476  Withinne Rome anon let founde 
3477  Tuo cherches, which he dede make 
3478  For Peter and for Poules sake,
3479  Of whom he hadde avisioun; 
3480  And yaf therto possessioun 
3481  Of lordschipe and of worldes good.      
3482  Bot how so that his will was good
3483  Toward the Pope and his Franchise,  
3484  Yit hath it proved other wise,
3485  To se the worchinge of the dede: 
3486  For in Cronique this I rede;  
3487  Anon as he hath mad the yifte,
3488  A vois was herd on hih the lifte,
3489  Of which al Rome was adrad,
3490  And seith: "To day is venym schad
3491  In holi cherche of temporal,  
3492  Which medleth with the spirital."
3493  And hou it stant of that degree  
3494  Yit mai a man the sothe se:
3495  God mai amende it, whan he wile, 
3496  I can ther to non other skile.
3497  Bot forto go ther I began, 
3498  How charite mai helpe a man
3499  To bothe worldes, I have seid:
3500  And if thou have an Ere leid, 
3501  Mi Sone, thou miht understonde,  
3502  If charite be take on honde,  
3503  Ther folweth after mochel grace. 
3504  Forthi, if that thou wolt pourchace 
3505  How that thou miht Envie flee,
3506  Aqueinte thee with charite,
3507  Which is the vertu sovereine. 
3508  Mi fader, I schal do my peine:
3509  For this ensample which ye tolde 
3510  With al myn herte I have withholde, 
3511  So that I schal for everemore 
3512  Eschuie Envie wel the more:
3513  And that I have er this misdo,
3514  Yif me my penance er I go. 
3515  And over that to mi matiere
3516  Of schrifte, why we sitten hiere 
3517  In privete betwen ous tweie,  
3518  Now axeth what ther is, I preie. 
3519  Mi goode Sone, and for thi lore      
3520  I woll thee telle what is more,  
3521  So that thou schalt the vices knowe:
3522  For whan thei be to thee full knowe,
3523  Thou miht hem wel the betre eschuie.
3524  And for this cause I thenke suie 
3525  The forme bothe and the matiere, 
3526  As now suiende thou schalt hiere 
3527  Which vice stant next after this:
3528  And whan thou wost how that it is,  
3529  As thou schalt hiere me devise,  
3530  Thow miht thiself the betre avise. 

Explicit Liber Secundus



Incipit Liber Tercius


Ira suis paribus est par furiis Acherontis,
     Quo furor ad tempus nil pietatis habet.
Ira malencolicos animos perturbat, vt equo
     Iure sui pondus nulla statera tenet.
Omnibus in causis grauat Ira, set inter amantes,
     Illa magis facili sorte grauamen agit:
Est vbi vir discors leuiterque repugnat amori,
     Sepe loco ludi fletus ad ora venit.


1      If thou the vices lest to knowe, 
2      Mi Sone, it hath noght ben unknowe, 
3      Fro ferst that men the swerdes grounde,
4      That ther nis on upon this grounde, 
5      A vice forein fro the lawe,
6      Wherof that many a good felawe
7      Hath be distraght be sodein chance; 
8      And yit to kinde no plesance  
9      It doth, bot wher he most achieveth 
10     His pourpos, most to kinde he grieveth,
11     As he which out of conscience 
12     Is enemy to pacience:
13     And is be name on of the Sevene, 
14     Which ofte hath set this world unevene,
15     And cleped is the cruel Ire,  
16     Whos herte is everemore on fyre  
17     To speke amis and to do bothe,
18     For his servantz ben evere wrothe.  
19     Mi goode fader, tell me this: 
20     What thing is Ire? Sone, it is
21     That in oure englissh Wrathe is hote,      
22     Which hath hise wordes ay so hote,  
23     That all a mannes pacience 
24     Is fyred of the violence.  
25     For he with him hath evere fyve  
26     Servantz that helpen him to stryve: 
27     The ferst of hem Malencolie
28     Is cleped, which in compaignie
29     An hundred times in an houre  
30     Wol as an angri beste loure,  
31     And noman wot the cause why.  
32     Mi Sone, schrif thee now forthi: 
33     Hast thou be Malencolien?  
34     Ye, fader, be seint Julien,
35     Bot I untrewe wordes use,  
36     I mai me noght therof excuse: 
37     And al makth love, wel I wot, 
38     Of which myn herte is evere hot, 
39     So that I brenne as doth a glede 
40     For Wrathe that I mai noght spede.  
41     And thus fulofte a day for noght 
42     Save onlich of myn oghne thoght  
43     I am so with miselven wroth,  
44     That how so that the game goth
45     With othre men, I am noght glad; 
46     Bot I am wel the more unglad, 
47     For that is othre mennes game 
48     It torneth me to pure grame.  
49     Thus am I with miself oppressed  
50     Of thoght, the which I have impressed, 
51     That al wakende I dreme and meete
52     That I with hire al one meete 
53     And preie hire of som good ansuere: 
54     Bot for sche wol noght gladly swere,
55     Sche seith me nay withouten oth; 
56     And thus wexe I withinne wroth,  
57     That outward I am al affraied,
58     And so distempred and esmaied.
59     A thousand times on a day  
60     Ther souneth in myn Eres nay,     
61     The which sche seide me tofore:  
62     Thus be my wittes as forlore; 
63     And namely whan I beginne  
64     To rekne with miself withinne 
65     How many yeres ben agon,
66     Siththe I have trewly loved on
67     And nevere tok of other hede, 
68     And evere aliche fer to spede 
69     I am, the more I with hir dele,  
70     So that myn happ and al myn hele 
71     Me thenkth is ay the leng the ferre,
72     That bringth my gladschip out of herre,
73     Wherof my wittes ben empeired,
74     And I, as who seith, al despeired.  
75     For finaly, whan that I muse  
76     And thenke how sche me wol refuse,  
77     I am with anger so bestad, 
78     For al this world mihte I be glad:  
79     And for the while that it lasteth
80     Al up so doun my joie it casteth,
81     And ay the furthere that I be,
82     Whan I ne may my ladi se,  
83     The more I am redy to wraththe,  
84     That for the touchinge of a laththe 
85     Or for the torninge of a stree
86     I wode as doth the wylde Se,  
87     And am so malencolious, 
88     That ther nys servant in myn hous
89     Ne non of tho that ben aboute,
90     That ech of hem ne stant in doute,  
91     And wenen that I scholde rave 
92     For Anger that thei se me have;  
93     And so thei wondre more and lasse,  
94     Til that thei sen it overpasse.  
95     Bot, fader, if it so betide,  
96     That I aproche at eny tide 
97     The place wher my ladi is, 
98     And thanne that hire like ywiss      
99     To speke a goodli word untome,
100    For al the gold that is in Rome  
101    Ne cowthe I after that be wroth, 
102    Bot al myn Anger overgoth; 
103    So glad I am of the presence  
104    Of hire, that I all offence
105    Foryete, as thogh it were noght, 
106    So overgladed is my thoght.
107    And natheles, the soth to telle, 
108    Ayeinward if it so befelle 
109    That I at thilke time sihe 
110    On me that sche miscaste hire yhe,  
111    Or that sche liste noght to loke,
112    And I therof good hiede toke, 
113    Anon into my ferste astat  
114    I torne, and am with al so mat,  
115    That evere it is aliche wicke.
116    And thus myn hand ayein the pricke  
117    I hurte and have do many day, 
118    And go so forth as I go may,  
119    Fulofte bitinge on my lippe,  
120    And make unto miself a whippe.
121    With which in many a chele and hete 
122    Mi wofull herte is so tobete, 
123    That all my wittes ben unsofte
124    And I am wroth, I not how ofte;  
125    And al it is Malencolie,
126    Which groweth of the fantasie 
127    Of love, that me wol noght loute:
128    So bere I forth an angri snoute  
129    Ful manye times in a yer.  
130    Bot, fader, now ye sitten hier
131    In loves stede, I yow beseche,
132    That som ensample ye me teche,
133    Wherof I mai miself appese.
134    Mi Sone, for thin hertes ese  
135    I schal fulfille thi preiere, 
136    So that thou miht the betre lere 
137    What mischief that this vice stereth,      
138    Which in his Anger noght forbereth, 
139    Wherof that after him forthenketh,  
140    Whan he is sobre and that he thenketh  
141    Upon the folie of his dede;
142    And of this point a tale I rede. 
143    Ther was a king which Eolus
144    Was hote, and it befell him thus,
145    That he tuo children hadde faire,
146    The Sone cleped was Machaire, 
147    The dowhter ek Canace hihte.  
148    Be daie bothe and ek be nyhte,
149    Whil thei be yonge, of comun wone
150    In chambre thei togedre wone, 
151    And as thei scholden pleide hem ofte,  
152    Til thei be growen up alofte  
153    Into the youthe of lusti age, 
154    Whan kinde assaileth the corage  
155    With love and doth him forto bowe,  
156    That he no reson can allowe,  
157    Bot halt the lawes of nature: 
158    For whom that love hath under cure, 
159    As he is blind himself, riht so  
160    He makth his client blind also.  
161    In such manere as I you telle 
162    As thei al day togedre duelle,
163    This brother mihte it noght asterte 
164    That he with al his hole herte
165    His love upon his Soster caste:  
166    And so it fell hem ate laste, 
167    That this Machaire with Canace
168    Whan thei were in a prive place, 
169    Cupide bad hem ferst to kesse,
170    And after sche which is Maistresse  
171    In kinde and techeth every lif
172    Withoute lawe positif,  
173    Of which sche takth nomaner charge,     
174    Bot kepth hire lawes al at large,
175    Nature, tok hem into lore  
176    And tawht hem so, that overmore  
177    Sche hath hem in such wise daunted, 
178    That thei were, as who seith, enchaunted. 
179    And as the blinde an other ledeth
180    And til thei falle nothing dredeth, 
181    Riht so thei hadde non insihte;  
182    Bot as the bridd which wole alihte  
183    And seth the mete and noght the net,
184    Which in deceipte of him is set, 
185    This yonge folk no peril sihe,
186    Bot that was likinge in here yhe,
187    So that thei felle upon the chance  
188    Where witt hath lore his remembrance.  
189    So longe thei togedre assemble,  
190    The wombe aros, and sche gan tremble,  
191    And hield hire in hire chambre clos 
192    For drede it scholde be disclos  
193    And come to hire fader Ere:
194    Wherof the Sone hadde also fere, 
195    And feigneth cause forto ryde;
196    For longe dorste he noght abyde, 
197    In aunter if men wolde sein
198    That he his Soster hath forlein: 
199    For yit sche hadde it noght beknowe 
200    Whos was the child at thilke throwe.
201    Machaire goth, Canace abit,
202    The which was noght delivered yit,  
203    Bot riht sone after that sche was.  
204    Now lest and herkne a woful cas. 
205    The sothe, which mai noght ben hid, 
206    Was ate laste knowe and kid
207    Unto the king, how that it stod. 
208    And whan that he it understod,
209    Anon into Malencolie,
210    As thogh it were a frenesie,      
211    He fell, as he which nothing cowthe 
212    How maistrefull love is in yowthe:  
213    And for he was to love strange,  
214    He wolde noght his herte change  
215    To be benigne and favorable
216    To love, bot unmerciable
217    Betwen the wawe of wod and wroth 
218    Into his dowhtres chambre he goth,  
219    And sih the child was late bore, 
220    Wherof he hath hise othes swore  
221    That sche it schal ful sore abye.
222    And sche began merci to crie, 
223    Upon hire bare knes and preide,  
224    And to hire fader thus sche seide:  
225    "Ha mercy! fader, thenk I am  
226    Thi child, and of thi blod I cam.
227    That I misdede yowthe it made,
228    And in the flodes bad me wade,
229    Wher that I sih no peril tho: 
230    Bot now it is befalle so,  
231    Merci, my fader, do no wreche!"  
232    And with that word sche loste speche
233    And fell doun swounende at his fot, 
234    As sche for sorwe nedes mot.  
235    Bot his horrible crualte
236    Ther mihte attempre no pite:  
237    Out of hire chambre forth he wente  
238    Al full of wraththe in his entente, 
239    And tok the conseil in his herte 
240    That sche schal noght the deth asterte,
241    As he which Malencolien 
242    Of pacience hath no lien,  
243    Wherof the wraththe he mai restreigne. 
244    And in this wilde wode peine, 
245    Whanne al his resoun was untame, 
246    A kniht he clepeth be his name,  
247    And tok him as be weie of sonde  
248    A naked swerd to bere on honde,  
249    And seide him that he scholde go 
250    And telle unto his dowhter so     
251    In the manere as he him bad,  
252    How sche that scharpe swerdes blad  
253    Receive scholde and do withal 
254    So as sche wot wherto it schal.  
255    Forth in message goth this kniht 
256    Unto this wofull yonge wiht,  
257    This scharpe swerd to hire he tok:  
258    Wherof that al hire bodi qwok,
259    For wel sche wiste what it mente,
260    And that it was to thilke entente
261    That sche hireselven scholde slee.  
262    And to the kniht sche seide: "Yee,  
263    Now that I wot my fadres wille,  
264    That I schal in this wise spille,
265    I wole obeie me therto, 
266    And as he wole it schal be do.
267    Bot now this thing mai be non other,
268    I wole a lettre unto mi brother, 
269    So as my fieble hand may wryte,  
270    With al my wofull herte endite." 
271    Sche tok a Penne on honde tho,
272    Fro point to point and al the wo,
273    Als ferforth as hireself it wot, 
274    Unto hire dedly frend sche wrot, 
275    And tolde how that hire fader grace 
276    Sche mihte for nothing pourchace;
277    And overthat, as thou schalt hiere, 
278    Sche wrot and seide in this manere: 
279    "O thou my sorwe and my gladnesse,  
280    O thou myn hele and my siknesse, 
281    O my wanhope and al my trust, 
282    O my desese and al my lust,
283    O thou my wele, o thou my wo, 
284    O thou my frend, o thou my fo,
285    O thou my love, o thou myn hate, 
286    For thee mot I be ded algate. 
287    Thilke ende may I noght asterte, 
288    And yit with al myn hole herte,  
289    Whil that me lasteth eny breth,      
290    I wol the love into my deth.  
291    Bot of o thing I schal thee preie,  
292    If that my litel Sone deie,
293    Let him be beried in my grave 
294    Beside me, so schalt thou have
295    Upon ous bothe remembrance.
296    For thus it stant of my grevance;
297    Now at this time, as thou schalt wite, 
298    With teres and with enke write
299    This lettre I have in cares colde:  
300    In my riht hond my Penne I holde,
301    And in my left the swerd I kepe, 
302    And in my barm ther lith to wepe 
303    Thi child and myn, which sobbeth faste.
304    Now am I come unto my laste:  
305    Fare wel, for I schal sone deie, 
306    And thenk how I thi love abeie." 
307    The pomel of the swerd to grounde
308    Sche sette, and with the point a wounde
309    Thurghout hire herte anon sche made,
310    And forth with that al pale and fade
311    Sche fell doun ded fro ther sche stod. 
312    The child lay bathende in hire blod 
313    Out rolled fro the moder barm,
314    And for the blod was hot and warm,  
315    He basketh him aboute thrinne.
316    Ther was no bote forto winne, 
317    For he, which can no pite knowe, 
318    The king cam in the same throwe, 
319    And sih how that his dowhter dieth  
320    And how this Babe al blody crieth;  
321    Bot al that mihte him noght suffise,
322    That he ne bad to do juise 
323    Upon the child, and bere him oute,  
324    And seche in the Forest aboute
325    Som wilde place, what it were,
326    To caste him out of honde there, 
327    So that som best him mai devoure,    
328    Where as noman him schal socoure.
329    Al that he bad was don in dede:  
330    Ha, who herde evere singe or rede
331    Of such a thing as that was do?  
332    Bot he which ladde his wraththe so  
333    Hath knowe of love bot a lite;
334    Bot for al that he was to wyte,  
335    Thurgh his sodein Malencolie  
336    To do so gret a felonie.
337    Forthi, my Sone, how so it stonde,  
338    Be this cas thou miht understonde
339    That if thou evere in cause of love 
340    Schalt deme, and thou be so above
341    That thou miht lede it at thi wille,
342    Let nevere thurgh thi Wraththe spille  
343    Which every kinde scholde save.  
344    For it sit every man to have  
345    Reward to love and to his miht,  
346    Ayein whos strengthe mai no wiht:
347    And siththe an herte is so constreigned,  
348    The reddour oghte be restreigned 
349    To him that mai no bet aweie, 
350    Whan he mot to nature obeie.  
351    For it is seid thus overal,
352    That nedes mot that nede schal
353    Of that a lif doth after kinde,  
354    Wherof he mai no bote finde.  
355    What nature hath set in hir lawe 
356    Ther mai no mannes miht withdrawe,  
357    And who that worcheth therayein, 
358    Fulofte time it hath be sein, 
359    Ther hath befalle gret vengance, 
360    Wherof I finde a remembrance. 
361    Ovide after the time tho
362    Tolde an ensample and seide so,  
363    How that whilom Tiresias,  
364    As he walkende goth per cas,      
365    Upon an hih Montaine he sih
366    Tuo Serpentz in his weie nyh, 
367    And thei, so as nature hem tawhte,  
368    Assembled  were, and he tho cawhte  
369    A yerde which he bar on honde,
370    And thoghte that he wolde fonde  
371    To letten hem, and smot hem bothe:  
372    Wherof the goddes weren wrothe;  
373    And for he hath destourbed kinde 
374    And was so to nature unkinde, 
375    Unkindeliche he was transformed, 
376    That he which erst a man was formed 
377    Into a womman was forschape.  
378    That was to him an angri jape;
379    Bot for that he with Angre wroghte, 
380    Hise Angres angreliche he boghte.
381    Lo thus, my Sone, Ovide hath write, 
382    Wherof thou miht be reson wite,  
383    More is a man than such a beste: 
384    So mihte it nevere ben honeste
385    A man to wraththen him to sore
386    Of that an other doth the lore
387    Of kinde, in which is no malice, 
388    Bot only that it is a vice:
389    And thogh a man be resonable, 
390    Yit after kinde he is menable 
391    To love, wher he wole or non. 
392    Thenk thou, my Sone, therupon 
393    And do Malencolie aweie;
394    For love hath evere his lust to pleie, 
395    As he which wolde no lif grieve. 
396    Mi fader, that I mai wel lieve;  
397    Al that ye tellen it is skile:
398    Let every man love as he wile,
399    Be so it be noght my ladi, 
400    For I schal noght be wroth therby.  
401    Bot that I wraththe and fare amis,      
402    Al one upon miself it is,  
403    That I with bothe love and kinde 
404    Am so bestad, that I can finde
405    No weie how I it mai asterte: 
406    Which stant upon myn oghne herte 
407    And toucheth to non other lif,
408    Save only to that swete wif
409    For whom, bot if it be amended,  
410    Mi glade daies ben despended, 
411    That I miself schal noght forbere
412    The Wraththe which that I now bere, 
413    For therof is non other leche.
414    Now axeth forth, I yow beseche,  
415    Of Wraththe if ther oght elles is,  
416    Wherof to schryve. Sone, yis. 
417    Of Wraththe the secounde is Cheste, 
418    Which hath the wyndes of tempeste
419    To kepe, and many a sodein blast 
420    He bloweth, wherof ben agast  
421    Thei that desiren pes and reste. 
422    He is that ilke ungoodlieste  
423    Which many a lusti love hath twinned;  
424    For he berth evere his mowth unpinned, 
425    So that his lippes ben unloke 
426    And his corage is al tobroke, 
427    That every thing which he can telle,
428    It springeth up as doth a welle, 
429    Which mai non of his stremes hyde,  
430    Bot renneth out on every syde.
431    So buillen up the foule sawes     
432    That Cheste wot of his felawes:  
433    For as a Sive kepeth Ale,  
434    Riht so can Cheste kepe a tale;  
435    Al that he wot he wol desclose,  
436    And speke er eny man oppose.  
437    As a Cite withoute wal, 
438    Wher men mai gon out overal
439    Withouten eny resistence,  
440    So with his croked eloquence  
441    He spekth al that he wot withinne:  
442    Wherof men lese mor than winne,  
443    For ofte time of his chidinge 
444    He bringth to house such tidinge,
445    That makth werre ate beddeshed.  
446    He is the levein of the bred, 
447    Which soureth al the past aboute:
448    Men oghte wel such on to doute,  
449    For evere his bowe is redi bent, 
450    And whom he hit I telle him schent, 
451    If he mai perce him with his tunge. 
452    And ek so lowde his belle is runge, 
453    That of the noise and of the soun
454    Men feeren hem in al the toun 
455    Welmore than thei don of thonder.
456    For that is cause of more wonder;
457    For with the wyndes whiche he bloweth  
458    Fulofte sythe he overthroweth 
459    The Cites and the policie, 
460    That I have herd the poeple crie,
461    And echon seide in his degre, 
462    "Ha wicke tunge, wo thee be!" 
463    For men sein that the harde bon, 
464    Althogh himselven have non,
465    A tunge brekth it al to pieces.  
466    He hath so manye sondri spieces  
467    Of vice, that I mai noght wel 
468    Descrive hem be a thousendel: 
469    Bot whan that he to Cheste falleth,     
470    Ful many a wonder thing befalleth,  
471    For he ne can nothing forbere.
472    Now tell me, Sone, thin ansuere, 
473    If it hath evere so betidd,
474    That thou at eny time hast chidd 
475    Toward thi love. Fader, nay:  
476    Such Cheste yit unto this day 
477    Ne made I nevere, god forbede:
478    For er I sunge such a crede,  
479    I hadde levere to be lewed;
480    For thanne were I al beschrewed  
481    And worthi to be put abak  
482    With al the sorwe upon my bak 
483    That eny man ordeigne cowthe. 
484    Bot I spak nevere yit be mowthe  
485    That unto Cheste mihte touche,
486    And that I durste riht wel vouche
487    Upon hirself as for witnesse; 
488    For I wot, of hir gentilesse  
489    That sche me wolde wel excuse,
490    That I no suche thinges use.  
491    And if it scholde so betide
492    That I algates moste chide,
493    It myhte noght be to my love: 
494    For so yit was I nevere above,
495    For al this wyde world to winne  
496    That I dorste eny word beginne,  
497    Be which sche mihte have ben amoeved
498    And I of Cheste also reproeved.  
499    Bot rathere, if it mihte hir like,  
500    The beste wordes wolde I pike 
501    Whiche I cowthe in myn herte chese, 
502    And serve hem forth in stede of chese, 
503    For that is helplich to defie;
504    And so wolde I my wordes plie,
505    That mihten Wraththe and Cheste avale      
506    With tellinge of my softe tale.  
507    Thus dar I make a foreward,
508    That nevere unto my ladiward  
509    Yit spak I word in such a wise,  
510    Wherof that Cheste scholde arise.
511    This seie I noght, that I fulofte
512    Ne have, whanne I spak most softe,  
513    Per cas seid more thanne ynowh;  
514    Bot so wel halt noman the plowh  
515    That he ne balketh otherwhile,
516    Ne so wel can noman affile 
517    His tunge, that som time in rape 
518    Him mai som liht word overscape, 
519    And yit ne meneth he no Cheste.  
520    Bot that I have ayein hir heste  
521    Fulofte spoke, I am beknowe;  
522    And how my will is, that ye knowe:  
523    For whan my time comth aboute,
524    That I dar speke and seie al oute
525    Mi longe love, of which sche wot 
526    That evere in on aliche hot
527    Me grieveth, thanne al my desese 
528    I telle, and though it hir desplese,
529    I speke it forth and noght ne leve: 
530    And thogh it be beside hire leve,
531    I hope and trowe natheles  
532    That I do noght ayein the pes;
533    For thogh I telle hire al my thoght,
534    Sche wot wel that I chyde noght. 
535    Men mai the hihe god beseche, 
536    And he wol hiere a mannes speche 
537    And be noght wroth of that he seith;
538    So yifth it me the more feith 
539    And makth me hardi, soth to seie,
540    That I dar wel the betre preie
541    Mi ladi, which a womman is.
542    For thogh I telle hire that or this 
543    Of love, which me grieveth sore,     
544    Hire oghte noght be wroth the more, 
545    For I withoute noise or cri
546    Mi pleignte make al buxomly
547    To puten alle wraththe away.  
548    Thus dar I seie unto this day 
549    Of Cheste in ernest or in game
550    Mi ladi schal me nothing blame.  
551    Bot ofte time it hath betidd  
552    That with miselven I have chidd, 
553    That noman couthe betre chide:
554    And that hath ben at every tide, 
555    Whanne I cam to miself al one;
556    For thanne I made a prive mone,  
557    And every tale by and by,  
558    Which as I spak to my ladi,
559    I thenke and peise in my balance 
560    And drawe into my remembrance;
561    And thanne, if that I finde a lak
562    Of eny word that I mispak, 
563    Which was to moche in eny wise,  
564    Anon my wittes I despise
565    And make a chidinge in myn herte,
566    That eny word me scholde asterte 
567    Which as I scholde have holden inne.
568    And so forth after I beginne  
569    And loke if ther was elles oght  
570    To speke, and I ne spak it noght:
571    And thanne, if I mai seche and finde
572    That eny word be left behinde,
573    Which as I scholde more have spoke, 
574    I wolde upon miself be wroke, 
575    And chyde with miselven so 
576    That al my wit is overgo.  
577    For noman mai his time lore
578    Recovere, and thus I am therfore 
579    So overwroth in al my thoght, 
580    That I myself chide al to noght: 
581    Thus for to moche or for to lite 
582    Fulofte I am miself to wyte.      
583    Bot al that mai me noght availe, 
584    With cheste thogh I me travaile: 
585    Bot Oule on Stock and Stock on Oule;
586    The more that a man defoule,  
587    Men witen wel which hath the werse; 
588    And so to me nys worth a kerse,  
589    Bot torneth on myn oghne hed, 
590    Thogh I, til that I were ded, 
591    Wolde evere chyde in such a wise 
592    Of love as I to you devise.
593    Bot, fader, now ye have al herd  
594    In this manere how I have ferd
595    Of Cheste and of dissencioun, 
596    Yif me youre absolucioun.  
597    Mi Sone, if that thou wistest al,
598    What Cheste doth in special
599    To love and to his welwillinge,  
600    Thou woldest flen his knowlechinge  
601    And lerne to be debonaire. 
602    For who that most can speke faire
603    Is most acordende unto love:  
604    Fair speche hath ofte brought above 
605    Ful many a man, as it is knowe,  
606    Which elles scholde have be riht lowe  
607    And failed mochel of his wille.  
608    Forthi hold thou thi tunge stille
609    And let thi witt thi wille areste,  
610    So that thou falle noght in Cheste, 
611    Which is the source of gret destance:  
612    And tak into thi remembrance  
613    If thou miht gete pacience,
614    Which is the leche of alle offence, 
615    As tellen ous these olde wise:
616    For whan noght elles mai suffise 
617    Be strengthe ne be mannes wit,
618    Than pacience it oversit
619    And overcomth it ate laste;
620    Bot he mai nevere longe laste,    
621    Which wol noght bowe er that he breke. 
622    Tak hiede, Sone, of that I speke.
623    Mi fader, of your goodli speche  
624    And of the witt which ye me teche
625    I thonke you with al myn herte:  
626    For that world schal me nevere asterte,
627    That I ne schal your wordes holde,  
628    Of Pacience as ye me tolde,
629    Als ferforth as myn herte thenketh; 
630    And of my wraththe it me forthenketh.  
631    Bot, fader, if ye forth withal
632    Som good ensample in special  
633    Me wolden telle of som Cronique, 
634    It scholde wel myn herte like 
635    Of pacience forto hiere,
636    So that I mihte in mi matiere 
637    The more unto my love obeie
638    And puten mi desese aweie. 
639    Mi Sone, a man to beie him pes
640    Behoveth soffre as Socrates
641    Ensample lefte, which is write:  
642    And for thou schalt the sothe wite, 
643    Of this ensample what I mene, 
644    Althogh it be now litel sene  
645    Among the men thilke evidence,
646    Yit he was upon pacience
647    So sett, that he himself assaie  
648    In thing which mihte him most mispaie  
649    Desireth, and a wickid wif 
650    He weddeth, which in sorwe and strif
651    Ayein his ese was contraire.  
652    Bot he spak evere softe and faire,  
653    Til it befell, as it is told, 
654    In wynter, whan the dai is cold, 
655    This wif was fro the welle come, 
656    Wher that a pot with water nome      
657    Sche hath, and broghte it into house,  
658    And sih how that hire seli spouse
659    Was sett and loked on a bok
660    Nyh to the fyr, as he which tok  
661    His ese for a man of age.  
662    And sche began the wode rage, 
663    And axeth him what devel he thoghte,
664    And bar on hond that him ne roghte  
665    What labour that sche toke on honde,
666    And seith that such an Housebonde
667    Was to a wif noght worth a Stre. 
668    He seide nowther nay ne ye,
669    Bot hield him stille and let hire chyde;  
670    And sche, which mai hirself noght hyde,
671    Began withinne forto swelle,  
672    And that sche broghte in fro the welle,
673    The waterpot sche hente alofte
674    And bad him speke, and he al softe  
675    Sat stille and noght a word ansuerde;  
676    And sche was wroth that he so ferde,
677    And axeth him if he be ded;
678    And al the water on his hed
679    Sche pourede oute and bad awake. 
680    Bot he, which wolde noght forsake
681    His Pacience, thanne spak, 
682    And seide how that he fond no lak
683    In nothing which sche hadde do:  
684    For it was wynter time tho,
685    And wynter, as be weie of kinde  
686    Which stormy is, as men it finde,
687    Ferst makth the wyndes forto blowe, 
688    And after that withinne a throwe 
689    He reyneth and the watergates 
690    Undoth; "and thus my wif algates,
691    Which is with reson wel besein,  
692    Hath mad me bothe wynd and rein  
693    After the Sesoun of the yer." 
694    And thanne he sette him nerr the fer,      
695    And as he mihte hise clothes dreide,
696    That he nomore o word ne seide;  
697    Wherof he gat him somdel reste,  
698    For that him thoghte was the beste. 
699    I not if thilke ensample yit  
700    Acordeth with a mannes wit,
701    To soffre as Socrates tho dede:  
702    And if it falle in eny stede  
703    A man to lese so his galle,
704    Him oghte among the wommen alle  
705    In loves Court be juggement
706    The name bere of Pacient,  
707    To yive ensample to the goode 
708    Of pacience how that it stode,
709    That othre men it mihte knowe.
710    And, Sone, if thou at eny throwe 
711    Be tempted ayein Pacience, 
712    Tak hiede upon this evidence; 
713    It schal per cas the lasse grieve.  
714    Mi fader, so as I believe, 
715    Of that schal be no maner nede,  
716    For I wol take so good hiede, 
717    That er I falle in such assai,
718    I thenke eschuie it, if I mai.
719    Bot if ther be oght elles more
720    Wherof I mihte take lore,  
721    I preie you, so as I dar,  
722    Now telleth, that I mai be war,  
723    Som other tale in this matiere.  
724    Sone, it is evere good to lere,  
725    Wherof thou miht thi word restreigne,  
726    Er that thou falle in eny peine. 
727    For who that can no conseil hyde,
728    He mai noght faile of wo beside, 
729    Which schal befalle er he it wite,  
730    As I finde in the bokes write.
731    Yit cam ther nevere good of strif,  
732    To seche in all a mannes lif:     
733    Thogh it beginne on pure game,
734    Fulofte it torneth into grame 
735    And doth grevance upon som side. 
736    Wherof the grete Clerk Ovide  
737    After the lawe which was tho  
738    Of Jupiter and of Juno  
739    Makth in his bokes mencioun
740    How thei felle at dissencioun 
741    In manere as it were a borde, 
742    As thei begunne forto worde
743    Among hemself in privete:  
744    And that was upon this degree,
745    Which of the tuo more amorous is,
746    Or man or wif. And upon this  
747    Thei mihten noght acorde in on,  
748    And toke a jugge therupon, 
749    Which cleped is Tiresias,  
750    And bede him demen in the cas;
751    And he withoute avisement  
752    Ayein Juno yaf juggement.  
753    This goddesse upon his ansuere
754    Was wroth and wolde noght forbere,  
755    Bot tok awey for everemo
756    The liht fro bothe hise yhen tuo.
757    Whan Jupiter this harm hath sein,
758    An other bienfait therayein
759    He yaf, and such a grace him doth,  
760    That for he wiste he seide soth, 
761    A Sothseiere he was for evere:
762    Bot yit that other were levere,  
763    Have had the lokinge of his yhe, 
764    Than of his word the prophecie;  
765    Bot how so that the sothe wente, 
766    Strif was the cause of that he hente
767    So gret a peine bodily. 
768    Mi Sone, be thou war ther by,
769    And hold thi tunge stille clos:  
770    For who that hath his word desclos  
771    Er that he wite what he mene, 
772    He is fulofte nyh his tene 
773    And lest ful many time grace, 
774    Wher that he wolde his thonk pourchace.
775    And over this, my Sone diere, 
776    Of othre men, if thou miht hiere 
777    In privete what thei have wroght,
778    Hold conseil and descoevere it noght,  
779    For Cheste can no conseil hele,  
780    Or be it wo or be it wele: 
781    And tak a tale into thi mynde,
782    The which of olde ensample I finde. 
783    Phebus, which makth the daies lihte,
784    A love he hadde, which tho hihte 
785    Cornide, whom aboven alle  
786    He pleseth: bot what schal befalle  
787    Of love ther is noman knoweth,
788    Bot as fortune hire happes throweth.
789    So it befell upon a chaunce,  
790    A yong kniht tok hire aqueintance
791    And hadde of hire al that he wolde: 
792    Bot a fals bridd, which sche hath holde
793    And kept in chambre of pure yowthe, 
794    Discoevereth all that evere he cowthe. 
795    This briddes name was as tho  
796    Corvus, the which was thanne also
797    Welmore whyt than eny Swan,
798    And he that schrewe al that he can  
799    Of his ladi to Phebus seide;  
800    And he for wraththe his swerd outbreide,  
801    With which Cornide anon he slowh.
802    Bot after him was wo ynowh,
803    And tok a full gret repentance,  
804    Wherof in tokne and remembrance      
805    Of hem whiche usen wicke speche, 
806    Upon this bridd he tok this wreche, 
807    That ther he was snow whyt tofore,  
808    Evere afterward colblak therfore 
809    He was transformed, as it scheweth, 
810    And many a man yit him beschreweth, 
811    And clepen him into this day  
812    A Raven, be whom yit men mai  
813    Take evidence, whan he crieth,
814    That som mishapp it signefieth.  
815    Be war therfore and sei the beste,  
816    If thou wolt be thiself in reste,
817    Mi goode Sone, as I the rede. 
818    For in an other place I rede  
819    Of thilke Nimphe which Laar hihte:  
820    For sche the privete be nyhte,
821    How Jupiter lay be Jutorne,
822    Hath told, god made hire overtorne: 
823    Hire tunge he kutte, and into helle 
824    For evere he sende hir forto duelle,
825    As sche that was noght worthi hiere 
826    To ben of love a Chamberere,  
827    For sche no conseil cowthe hele. 
828    And suche adaies be now fele  
829    In loves Court, as it is seid,
830    That lete here tunges gon unteid.
831    Mi Sone, be thou non of tho,  
832    To jangle and telle tales so, 
833    And namely that thou ne chyde,
834    For Cheste can no conseil hide,  
835    For Wraththe seide nevere wel.
836    Mi fader, soth is everydel 
837    That ye me teche, and I wol holde
838    The reule to which I am holde,
839    To fle the Cheste, as ye me bidde,  
840    For wel is him that nevere chidde.      
841    Now tell me forth if ther be more
842    As touchende unto Wraththes lore.
843    Of Wraththe yit ther is an other,
844    Which is to Cheste his oghne brother,  
845    And is be name cleped Hate,
846    That soffreth noght withinne his gate  
847    That ther come owther love or pes,  
848    For he wol make no reles
849    Of no debat which is befalle. 
850    Now spek, if thou art on of alle,
851    That with this vice hast ben withholde.
852    As yit for oght that ye me tolde,
853    Mi fader, I not what it is.
854    In good feith, Sone, I trowe yis.
855    Mi fader, nay, bot ye me lere.
856    Now lest, my Sone, and thou schalt here.  
857    Hate is a wraththe noght schewende, 
858    Bot of long time gaderende,
859    And duelleth in the herte loken, 
860    Til he se time to be wroken;  
861    And thanne he scheweth his tempeste 
862    Mor sodein than the wilde beste, 
863    Which wot nothing what merci is. 
864    Mi Sone, art thou knowende of this? 
865    My goode fader, as I wene, 
866    Now wot I somdel what ye mene;
867    Bot I dar saufly make an oth, 
868    Mi ladi was me nevere loth.
869    I wol noght swere natheles 
870    That I of hate am gulteles;
871    For whanne I to my ladi plie  
872    Fro dai to dai and merci crie,
873    And sche no merci on me leith 
874    Bot schorte wordes to me seith,  
875    Thogh I my ladi love algate,          
876    Tho wordes moste I nedes hate;
877    And wolde thei were al despent,  
878    Or so ferr oute of londe went 
879    That I nevere after scholde hem hiere; 
880    And yit love I my ladi diere. 
881    Thus is ther Hate, as ye mai se, 
882    Betwen mi ladi word and me;
883    The word I hate and hire I love, 
884    What so me schal betide of love. 
885    Bot forthere mor I wol me schryve,  
886    That I have hated al my lyve  
887    These janglers, whiche of here Envie
888    Ben evere redi forto lie;  
889    For with here fals compassement  
890    Fuloften thei have mad me schent 
891    And hindred me fulofte time,  
892    Whan thei no cause wisten bime,  
893    Bot onliche of here oghne thoght:
894    And thus fuloften have I boght
895    The lie, and drank noght of the wyn.
896    I wolde here happ were such as myn: 
897    For how so that I be now schrive,
898    To hem ne mai I noght foryive,
899    Til that I se hem at debat 
900    With love, and thanne myn astat  
901    Thei mihten be here oghne deme,  
902    And loke how wel it scholde hem qweme  
903    To hindre a man that loveth sore.
904    And thus I hate hem everemore,
905    Til love on hem wol don his wreche: 
906    For that schal I alway beseche
907    Unto the mihti Cupido,  
908    That he so mochel wolde do,
909    So as he is of love a godd,
910    To smyte hem with the same rodd  
911    With which I am of love smite;
912    So that thei mihten knowe and wite  
913    How hindringe is a wofull peine      
914    To him that love wolde atteigne. 
915    Thus evere on hem I wayte and hope, 
916    Til I mai sen hem lepe a lope,
917    And halten on the same Sor 
918    Which I do now: for overmor
919    I wolde thanne do my myht  
920    So forto stonden in here lyht,
921    That thei ne scholden finde a weie  
922    To that thei wolde, bot aweie 
923    I wolde hem putte out of the stede  
924    Fro love, riht as thei me dede
925    With that thei speke of me be mowthe.  
926    So wolde I do, if that I cowthe, 
927    Of hem, and this, so god me save,
928    Is al the hate that I have,
929    Toward these janglers everydiel; 
930    I wolde alle othre ferde wel. 
931    Thus have I, fader, said mi wille;  
932    Say ye now forth, for I am stille.  
933    Mi Sone, of that thou hast me said  
934    I holde me noght fulli paid:  
935    That thou wolt haten eny man, 
936    To that acorden I ne can,  
937    Thogh he have hindred thee tofore.  
938    Bot this I telle thee therfore,  
939    Thou miht upon my beneicoun
940    Wel haten the condicioun
941    Of tho janglers, as thou me toldest,
942    Bot furthermor, of that thou woldest
943    Hem hindre in eny other wise, 
944    Such Hate is evere to despise.
945    Forthi, mi Sone, I wol thee rede,
946    That thou drawe in be frendlihede
947    That thou ne miht noght do be hate; 
948    So miht thou gete love algate 
949    And sette thee, my Sone, in reste,  
950    For thou schalt finde it for the beste.    
951    And over this, so as I dar,
952    I rede that thou be riht war  
953    Of othre mennes hate aboute,  
954    Which every wysman scholde doute:
955    For Hate is evere upon await, 
956    And as the fisshere on his bait  
957    Sleth, whan he seth the fisshes faste, 
958    So, whan he seth time ate laste, 
959    That he mai worche an other wo,  
960    Schal noman tornen him therfro,  
961    That Hate nyle his felonie 
962    Fulfille and feigne compaignie
963    Yit natheles, for fals Semblant  
964    Is toward him of covenant  
965    Withholde, so that under bothe
966    The prive wraththe can him clothe,  
967    That he schal seme of gret believe. 
968    Bot war thee wel that thou ne lieve 
969    Al that thou sest tofore thin yhe,  
970    So as the Gregois whilom syhe:
971    The bok of Troie who so rede, 
972    Ther mai he finde ensample in dede. 
973    Sone after the destruccioun,  
974    Whan Troie was al bete doun
975    And slain was Priamus the king,  
976    The Gregois, whiche of al this thing
977    Ben cause, tornen hom ayein.  
978    Ther mai noman his happ withsein;
979    It hath be sen and felt fulofte, 
980    The harde time after the softe:  
981    Be See as thei forth homward wente, 
982    A rage of gret tempeste hem hente;  
983    Juno let bende hire parti bowe,  
984    The Sky wax derk, the wynd gan blowe,  
985    The firy welkne gan to thondre,  
986    As thogh the world scholde al to sondre;      
987    Fro hevene out of the watergates 
988    The reyni Storm fell doun algates
989    And al here takel made unwelde,  
990    That noman mihte himself bewelde.
991    Ther mai men hiere Schipmen crie,
992    That stode in aunter forto die:  
993    He that behinde sat to stiere 
994    Mai noght the forestempne hiere; 
995    The Schip aros ayein the wawes,  
996    The lodesman hath lost his lawes,
997    The See bet in on every side: 
998    Thei nysten what fortune abide,  
999    Bot sette hem al in goddes wille,
1000   Wher he hem wolde save or spille.
1001   And it fell thilke time thus: 
1002   Ther was a king, the which Namplus  
1003   Was hote, and he a Sone hadde,
1004   At Troie which the Gregois ladde,
1005   As he that was mad Prince of alle,  
1006   Til that fortune let him falle:  
1007   His name was Palamades. 
1008   Bot thurgh an hate natheles
1009   Of some of hem his deth was cast 
1010   And he be tresoun overcast.
1011   His fader, whan he herde it telle,  
1012   He swor, if evere his time felle,
1013   He wolde him venge, if that he mihte,  
1014   And therto his avou behihte:  
1015   And thus this king thurgh prive hate
1016   Abod upon await algate, 
1017   For he was noght of such emprise 
1018   To vengen him in open wise.
1019   The fame, which goth wyde where, 
1020   Makth knowe how that the Gregois were  
1021   Homward with al the felaschipe
1022   Fro Troie upon the See be Schipe.
1023   Namplus, whan he this understod, 
1024   And knew the tydes of the flod,
1025   And sih the wynd blew to the lond,  
1026   A gret deceipte anon he fond  
1027   Of prive hate, as thou schalt hiere,
1028   Wherof I telle al this matiere.  
1029   This king the weder gan beholde, 
1030   And wiste wel thei moten holde
1031   Here cours endlong his marche riht, 
1032   And made upon the derke nyht  
1033   Of grete Schydes and of blockes  
1034   Gret fyr ayein the grete rockes, 
1035   To schewe upon the helles hihe,  
1036   So that the Flete of Grece it sihe. 
1037   And so it fell riht as he thoghte:  
1038   This Flete, which an havene soghte, 
1039   The bryghte fyres sih a ferr, 
1040   And thei hem drowen nerr and nerr,  
1041   And wende wel and understode  
1042   How al that fyr was made for goode, 
1043   To schewe wher men scholde aryve,
1044   And thiderward thei hasten blyve.
1045   In Semblant, as men sein, is guile, 
1046   And that was proved thilke while;
1047   The Schip, which wende his helpe acroche, 
1048   Drof al to pieces on the roche,  
1049   And so ther deden ten or twelve; 
1050   Ther mihte noman helpe himselve, 
1051   For ther thei wenden deth ascape,
1052   Withouten help here deth was schape.
1053   Thus thei that comen ferst tofore
1054   Upon the Rockes be forlore,
1055   Bot thurgh the noise and thurgh the cri
1056   These othre were al war therby;  
1057   And whan the dai began to rowe,  
1058   Tho mihten thei the sothe knowe, 
1059   That wher they wenden frendes finde,
1060   Thei founden frenschipe al behinde. 
1061   The lond was thanne sone weyved,     
1062   Wher that thei hadden be deceived,  
1063   And toke hem to the hihe See; 
1064   Therto thei seiden alle yee,  
1065   Fro that dai forth and war thei were
1066   Of that thei hadde assaied there.
1067   Mi Sone, hierof thou miht avise  
1068   How fraude stant in many wise 
1069   Amonges hem that guile thenke;
1070   Ther is no Scrivein with his enke
1071   Which half the fraude wryte can  
1072   That stant in such a maner man:  
1073   Forthi the wise men ne demen  
1074   The thinges after that thei semen,  
1075   Bot after that thei knowe and finde.
1076   The Mirour scheweth in his kinde 
1077   As he hadde al the world withinne,  
1078   And is in soth nothing therinne; 
1079   And so farth Hate for a throwe:  
1080   Til he a man hath overthrowe, 
1081   Schal noman knowe be his chere
1082   Which is avant, ne which arere.  
1083   Forthi, mi Sone, thenke on this. 
1084   Mi fader, so I wole ywiss; 
1085   And if ther more of Wraththe be, 
1086   Now axeth forth per charite,  
1087   As ye be youre bokes knowe,
1088   And I the sothe schal beknowe.
1089   Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde 
1090   That yit towardes Wraththe stonde
1091   Of dedly vices othre tuo:      
1092   And forto telle here names so,
1093   It is Contek and Homicide, 
1094   That ben to drede on every side. 
1095   Contek, so as the bokes sein, 
1096   Folhast hath to his Chamberlein, 
1097   Be whos conseil al unavised
1098   Is Pacience most despised, 
1099   Til Homicide with hem meete.  
1100   Fro merci thei ben al unmeete,
1101   And thus ben thei the worste of alle
1102   Of hem whiche unto wraththe falle,  
1103   In dede bothe and ek in thoght:  
1104   For thei acompte here wraththe at noght,  
1105   Bot if ther be schedinge of blod;
1106   And thus lich to a beste wod  
1107   Thei knowe noght the god of lif. 
1108   Be so thei have or swerd or knif 
1109   Here dedly wraththe forto wreke, 
1110   Of Pite list hem noght to speke; 
1111   Non other reson thei ne fonge,
1112   Bot that thei ben of mihtes stronge.
1113   Bot war hem wel in other place,  
1114   Where every man behoveth grace,  
1115   Bot ther I trowe it schal hem faile,
1116   To whom no merci mihte availe,
1117   Bot wroghten upon tiraundie,  
1118   That no pite ne mihte hem plie.  
1119   Now tell, my Sone. Fader, what?  
1120   If thou hast be coupable of that.
1121   Mi fader, nay, Crist me forbiede:
1122   I speke onliche as of the dede,  
1123   Of which I nevere was coupable
1124   Withoute cause resonable.  
1125   Bot this is noght to mi matiere  
1126   Of schrifte, why we sitten hiere;    
1127   For we ben sett to schryve of love, 
1128   As we begunne ferst above: 
1129   And natheles I am beknowe  
1130   That as touchende of loves throwe,  
1131   Whan I my wittes overwende,
1132   Min hertes contek hath non ende, 
1133   Bot evere it stant upon debat 
1134   To gret desese of myn astat
1135   As for the time that it lasteth. 
1136   For whan mi fortune overcasteth  
1137   Hire whiel and is to me so strange, 
1138   And that I se sche wol noght change,
1139   Than caste I al the world aboute,
1140   And thenke hou I at home and oute
1141   Have al my time in vein despended,  
1142   And se noght how to ben amended, 
1143   Bot rathere forto be empeired,
1144   As he that is welnyh despeired:  
1145   For I ne mai no thonk deserve,
1146   And evere I love and evere I serve, 
1147   And evere I am aliche nerr.
1148   Thus, for I stonde in such a wer,
1149   I am, as who seith, out of herre;
1150   And thus upon miself the werre
1151   I bringe, and putte out alle pes,
1152   That I fulofte in such a res  
1153   Am wery of myn oghne lif.  
1154   So that of Contek and of strif
1155   I am beknowe and have ansuerd,
1156   As ye, my fader, now have herd.  
1157   Min herte is wonderly begon
1158   With conseil, wherof witt is on, 
1159   Which hath resoun in compaignie; 
1160   Ayein the whiche stant partie 
1161   Will, which hath hope of his acord, 
1162   And thus thei bringen up descord.
1163   Witt and resoun conseilen ofte
1164   That I myn herte scholde softe,  
1165   And that I scholde will remue     
1166   And put him out of retenue,
1167   Or elles holde him under fote:
1168   For as thei sein, if that he mote
1169   His oghne rewle have upon honde, 
1170   Ther schal no witt ben understonde. 
1171   Of hope also thei tellen this,
1172   That overal, wher that he is, 
1173   He set the herte in jeupartie 
1174   With wihssinge and with fantasie,
1175   And is noght trewe of that he seith,
1176   So that in him ther is no feith: 
1177   Thus with reson and wit avised
1178   Is will and hope aldai despised. 
1179   Reson seith that I scholde leve  
1180   To love, wher ther is no leve 
1181   To spede, and will seith therayein  
1182   That such an herte is to vilein, 
1183   Which dar noght love and til he spede, 
1184   Let hope serve at such a nede:
1185   He seith ek, where an herte sit  
1186   Al hol governed upon wit,  
1187   He hath this lyves lust forlore. 
1188   And thus myn herte is al totore  
1189   Of such a Contek as thei make:
1190   Bot yit I mai noght will forsake,
1191   That he nys Maister of my thoght,
1192   Or that I spede, or spede noght. 
1193   Thou dost, my Sone, ayein the riht; 
1194   Bot love is of so gret a miht,
1195   His lawe mai noman refuse, 
1196   So miht thou thee the betre excuse. 
1197   And natheles thou schalt be lerned  
1198   That will scholde evere be governed 
1199   Of reson more than of kinde,  
1200   Wherof a tale write I finde.  
1201   A Philosophre of which men tolde     
1202   Ther was whilom be daies olde,
1203   And Diogenes thanne he hihte. 
1204   So old he was that he ne mihte
1205   The world travaile, and for the beste  
1206   He schop him forto take his reste,  
1207   And duelte at hom in such a wise,
1208   That nyh his hous he let devise  
1209   Endlong upon an Axeltre 
1210   To sette a tonne in such degre,  
1211   That he it mihte torne aboute;
1212   Wherof on hed was taken oute, 
1213   For he therinne sitte scholde 
1214   And torne himself so as he wolde,
1215   To take their and se the hevene  
1216   And deme of the planetes sevene, 
1217   As he which cowthe mochel what.  
1218   And thus fulofte there he sat 
1219   To muse in his philosophie 
1220   Solein withoute compaignie:
1221   So that upon a morwetyde,  
1222   As thing which scholde so betyde,
1223   Whan he was set ther as him liste
1224   To loke upon the Sonne ariste,
1225   Wherof the propretes he sih,  
1226   It fell ther cam ridende nyh  
1227   King Alisandre with a route;  
1228   And as he caste his yhe aboute,  
1229   He sih this Tonne, and what it mente
1230   He wolde wite, and thider sente  
1231   A knyht, be whom he mihte it knowe, 
1232   And he himself that ilke throwe  
1233   Abod, and hoveth there stille.
1234   This kniht after the kinges wille
1235   With spore made his hors to gon  
1236   And to the tonne he cam anon, 
1237   Wher that he fond a man of Age,  
1238   And he him tolde the message, 
1239   Such as the king him hadde bede,     
1240   And axeth why in thilke stede 
1241   The Tonne stod, and what it was. 
1242   And he, which understod the cas, 
1243   Sat stille and spak no word ayein.  
1244   The kniht bad speke and seith, "Vilein,
1245   Thou schalt me telle, er that I go; 
1246   It is thi king which axeth so."  
1247   "Mi king," quod he, "that were unriht."
1248   "What is he thanne?" seith the kniht,  
1249   "Is he thi man?" "That seie I noght,"  
1250   Quod he, "bot this I am bethoght,
1251   Mi mannes man hou that he is."
1252   "Thou lyest, false cherl, ywiss,"
1253   The kniht him seith, and was riht wroth,  
1254   And to the king ayein he goth 
1255   And tolde him how this man ansuerde.
1256   The king, whan he this tale herde,  
1257   Bad that thei scholden alle abyde,  
1258   For he himself wol thider ryde.  
1259   And whan he cam tofore the tonne,
1260   He hath his tale thus begonne:
1261   "Alheil," he seith, "what man art thou?"  
1262   Quod he, "Such on as thou sest now."
1263   The king, which hadde wordes wise,  
1264   His age wolde noght despise,  
1265   Bot seith, "Mi fader, I thee preie  
1266   That thou me wolt the cause seie,
1267   How that I am thi mannes man."
1268   "Sire king," quod he, "and that I can, 
1269   If that thou wolt." "Yis," seith the king.
1270   Quod he, "This is the sothe thing:  
1271   Sith I ferst resoun understod,
1272   And knew what thing was evel and good, 
1273   The will which of my bodi moeveth,  
1274   Whos werkes that the god reproeveth,
1275   I have restreigned everemore, 
1276   As him which stant under the lore
1277   Of reson, whos soubgit he is,     
1278   So that he mai noght don amis:
1279   And thus be weie of covenant  
1280   Will is my man and my servant,
1281   And evere hath ben and evere schal. 
1282   And thi will is thi principal,
1283   And hath the lordschipe of thi witt,
1284   So that thou cowthest nevere yit 
1285   Take o dai reste of thi labour;  
1286   Bot forto ben a conquerour 
1287   Of worldes good, which mai noght laste,
1288   Thou hiest evere aliche faste,
1289   Wher thou no reson hast to winne:
1290   And thus thi will is cause of Sinne,
1291   And is thi lord, to whom thou servest, 
1292   Wherof thou litel thonk deservest." 
1293   The king of that he thus answerde
1294   Was nothing wroth, bot whanne he herde 
1295   The hihe wisdom which he seide,  
1296   With goodly wordes this he preide,  
1297   That he him wolde telle his name.
1298   "I am," quod he, "that ilke same,
1299   The which men Diogenes calle."
1300   Tho was the king riht glad withalle,
1301   For he hadde often herd tofore
1302   What man he was, so that therfore
1303   He seide, "O wise Diogene, 
1304   Now schal thi grete witt be sene;
1305   For thou schalt of my yifte have 
1306   What worldes thing that thou wolt crave." 
1307   Quod he, "Thanne hove out of mi Sonne, 
1308   And let it schyne into mi Tonne; 
1309   For thou benymst me thilke yifte,
1310   Which lith noght in thi miht to schifte:  
1311   Non other good of thee me nedeth."  
1312   This king, whom every contre dredeth,  
1313   Lo, thus he was enformed there:  
1314   Wherof, my Sone, thou miht lere  
1315   How that thi will schal noght be lieved,      
1316   Where it is noght of wit relieved.  
1317   And thou hast seid thiself er this  
1318   How that thi will thi maister is;
1319   Thurgh which thin hertes thoght withinne  
1320   Is evere of Contek to beginne,
1321   So that it is gretli to drede 
1322   That it non homicide brede.
1323   For love is of a wonder kinde,
1324   And hath hise wittes ofte blinde,
1325   That thei fro mannes reson falle;
1326   Bot whan that it is so befalle
1327   That will schal the corage lede, 
1328   In loves cause it is to drede:
1329   Wherof I finde ensample write,
1330   Which is behovely forto wite. 
1331   I rede a tale, and telleth this: 
1332   The Cite which Semiramis
1333   Enclosed hath with wall aboute,  
1334   Of worthi folk with many a route 
1335   Was enhabited here and there; 
1336   Among the whiche tuo ther were
1337   Above alle othre noble and grete,
1338   Dwellende tho withinne a Strete  
1339   So nyh togedre, as it was sene,  
1340   That ther was nothing hem betwene,  
1341   Bot wow to wow and wall to wall. 
1342   This o lord hadde in special  
1343   A Sone, a lusti Bacheler,  
1344   In al the toun was non his pier: 
1345   That other hadde a dowhter eke,  
1346   In al the lond that forto seke
1347   Men wisten non so faire as sche. 
1348   And fell so, as it scholde be,
1349   This faire dowhter nyh this Sone 
1350   As thei togedre thanne wone,  
1351   Cupide hath so the thinges schape,  
1352   That thei ne mihte his hand ascape,     
1353   That he his fyr on hem ne caste: 
1354   Wherof her herte he overcaste 
1355   To folwe thilke lore and suie 
1356   Which nevere man yit miht eschuie;  
1357   And that was love, as it is happed, 
1358   Which hath here hertes so betrapped,
1359   That thei be alle weies seche 
1360   How that thei mihten winne a speche,
1361   Here wofull peine forto lisse.
1362   Who loveth wel, it mai noght misse, 
1363   And namely whan ther be tuo
1364   Of on acord, how so it go, 
1365   Bot if that thei som weie finde; 
1366   For love is evere of such a kinde
1367   And hath his folk so wel affaited,  
1368   That howso that it be awaited,
1369   Ther mai noman the pourpos lette:
1370   And thus betwen hem tuo thei sette  
1371   And hole upon a wall to make, 
1372   Thurgh which thei have her conseil take
1373   At alle times, whan thei myhte.  
1374   This faire Maiden Tisbee hihte,  
1375   And he whom that sche loveth hote
1376   Was Piramus be name hote.  
1377   So longe here lecoun thei recorden, 
1378   Til ate laste thei acorden 
1379   Be nihtes time forto wende 
1380   Al one out fro the tounes ende,  
1381   Wher was a welle under a Tree;
1382   And who cam ferst, or sche or he,
1383   He scholde stille there abide.
1384   So it befell the nyhtes tide  
1385   This maiden, which desguised was,
1386   Al prively the softe pas
1387   Goth thurgh the large toun unknowe, 
1388   Til that sche cam withinne a throwe 
1389   Wher that sche liketh forto duelle, 
1390   At thilke unhappi freisshe welle,
1391   Which was also the Forest nyh.    
1392   Wher sche comende a Leoun syh 
1393   Into the feld to take his preie, 
1394   In haste and sche tho fledde aweie, 
1395   So as fortune scholde falle,  
1396   For feere and let hire wympel falle 
1397   Nyh to the welle upon therbage.  
1398   This Leoun in his wilde rage  
1399   A beste, which that he fond oute,
1400   Hath slain, and with his blodi snoute, 
1401   Whan he hath eten what he wolde, 
1402   To drynke of thilke stremes colde
1403   Cam to the welle, where he fond  
1404   The wympel, which out of hire hond  
1405   Was falle, and he it hath todrawe,  
1406   Bebled aboute and al forgnawe;
1407   And thanne he strawhte him forto drinke
1408   Upon the freisshe welles brinke, 
1409   And after that out of the plein  
1410   He torneth to the wode ayein. 
1411   And Tisbee dorste noght remue,
1412   Bot as a bridd which were in Mue 
1413   Withinne a buissh sche kepte hire clos 
1414   So stille that sche noght aros;  
1415   Unto hirself and pleigneth ay.
1416   And fell, whil that sche there lay, 
1417   This Piramus cam after sone
1418   Unto the welle, and be the Mone  
1419   He fond hire wimpel blodi there. 
1420   Cam nevere yit to mannes Ere  
1421   Tidinge, ne to mannes sihte
1422   Merveile, which so sore aflihte  
1423   A mannes herte, as it tho dede
1424   To him, which in the same stede  
1425   With many a wofull compleignynge 
1426   Began his handes forto wringe,
1427   As he which demeth sikerly 
1428   That sche be ded: and sodeinly    
1429   His swerd al nakid out he breide 
1430   In his folhaste, and thus he seide: 
1431   "I am cause of this felonie,  
1432   So it is resoun that I die,
1433   As sche is ded be cause of me."  
1434   And with that word upon his kne  
1435   He fell, and to the goddes alle  
1436   Up to the hevene he gan to calle,
1437   And preide, sithen it was so  
1438   That he may noght his love as tho
1439   Have in this world, that of her grace  
1440   He miht hire have in other place,
1441   For hiere wolde he noght abide,  
1442   He seith: bot as it schal betide,
1443   The Pomel of his swerd to grounde
1444   He sette, and thurgh his herte a wounde
1445   He made up to the bare hilte: 
1446   And in this wise himself he spilte  
1447   With his folhaste and deth he nam;  
1448   For sche withinne a while cam,
1449   Wher he lai ded upon his knif.
1450   So wofull yit was nevere lif  
1451   As Tisbee was, whan sche him sih:
1452   Sche mihte noght o word on hih
1453   Speke oute, for hire herte schette, 
1454   That of hir lif no pris sche sette, 
1455   Bot ded swounende doun sche fell.
1456   Til after, whanne it so befell
1457   That sche out of hire traunce awok, 
1458   With many a wofull pitous lok 
1459   Hire yhe alwei among sche caste  
1460   Upon hir love, and ate laste  
1461   Sche cawhte breth and seide thus:
1462   "O thou which cleped art Venus,  
1463   Goddesse of love, and thou, Cupide, 
1464   Which loves cause hast forto guide, 
1465   I wot now wel that ye be blinde,     
1466   Of thilke unhapp which I now finde  
1467   Only betwen my love and me.
1468   This Piramus, which hiere I se
1469   Bledende, what hath he deserved? 
1470   For he youre heste hath kept and served,  
1471   And was yong and I bothe also:
1472   Helas, why do ye with ous so? 
1473   Ye sette oure herte bothe afyre, 
1474   And maden ous such thing desire  
1475   Wherof that we no skile cowthe;  
1476   Bot thus oure freisshe lusti yowthe 
1477   Withoute joie is al despended,
1478   Which thing mai nevere ben amended: 
1479   For as of me this wol I seie, 
1480   That me is levere forto deie  
1481   Than live after this sorghful day." 
1482   And with this word, where as he lay,
1483   Hire love in armes sche embraseth,  
1484   Hire oghne deth and so pourchaseth  
1485   That now sche wepte and nou sche kiste,
1486   Til ate laste, er sche it wiste, 
1487   So gret a sorwe is to hire falle,
1488   Which overgoth hire wittes alle. 
1489   As sche which mihte it noght asterte,  
1490   The swerdes point ayein hire herte  
1491   Sche sette, and fell doun therupon, 
1492   Wherof that sche was ded anon:
1493   And thus bothe on o swerd bledende  
1494   Thei weren founde ded liggende.  
1495   Now thou, mi Sone, hast herd this tale,
1496   Bewar that of thin oghne bale 
1497   Thou be noght cause in thi folhaste,
1498   And kep that thou thi witt ne waste 
1499   Upon thi thoght in aventure,  
1500   Wherof thi lyves forfeture 
1501   Mai falle: and if thou have so thoght  
1502   Er this, tell on and hyde it noght.     
1503   Mi fader, upon loves side  
1504   Mi conscience I woll noght hyde, 
1505   How that for love of pure wo  
1506   I have ben ofte moeved so, 
1507   That with my wisshes if I myhte, 
1508   A thousand times, I yow plyhte,  
1509   I hadde storven in a day;  
1510   And therof I me schryve may,  
1511   Though love fully me ne slowh,
1512   Mi will to deie was ynowh, 
1513   So am I of my will coupable:  
1514   And yit is sche noght merciable, 
1515   Which mai me yive lif and hele.  
1516   Bot that hir list noght with me dele,  
1517   I wot be whos conseil it is,  
1518   And him wolde I long time er this,  
1519   And yit I wolde and evere schal, 
1520   Slen and destruie in special. 
1521   The gold of nyne kinges londes
1522   Ne scholde him save fro myn hondes, 
1523   In my pouer if that he were;  
1524   Bot yit him stant of me no fere  
1525   For noght that evere I can manace.  
1526   He is the hindrere of mi grace,  
1527   Til he be ded I mai noght spede; 
1528   So mot I nedes taken hiede 
1529   And schape how that he were aweie,  
1530   If I therto mai finde a weie. 
1531   Mi Sone, tell me now forthi,  
1532   Which is that mortiel enemy
1533   That thou manacest to be ded. 
1534   Mi fader, it is such a qwed,  
1535   That wher I come, he is tofore,  
1536   And doth so, that mi cause is lore. 
1537   What is his name? It is Daunger, 
1538   Which is mi ladi consailer:
1539   For I was nevere yit so slyh, 
1540   To come in eny place nyh    
1541   Wher as sche was be nyht or day, 
1542   That Danger ne was redy ay,
1543   With whom for speche ne for mede 
1544   Yit mihte I nevere of love spede;
1545   For evere this I finde soth,  
1546   Al that my ladi seith or doth 
1547   To me, Daunger schal make an ende,  
1548   And that makth al mi world miswende:
1549   And evere I axe his help, bot he 
1550   Mai wel be cleped sanz pite;  
1551   For ay the more I to him bowe,
1552   The lasse he wol my tale alowe.  
1553   He hath mi ladi so englued,
1554   Sche wol noght that he be remued;
1555   For evere he hangeth on hire Seil,  
1556   And is so prive of conseil,
1557   That evere whanne I have oght bede, 
1558   I finde Danger in hire stede  
1559   And myn ansuere of him I have;
1560   Bot for no merci that I crave,
1561   Of merci nevere a point I hadde. 
1562   I finde his ansuere ay so badde, 
1563   That werse mihte it nevere be:
1564   And thus betwen Danger and me 
1565   Is evere werre til he dye. 
1566   Bot mihte I ben of such maistrie,
1567   That I Danger hadde overcome, 
1568   With that were al my joie come.  
1569   Thus wolde I wonde for no Sinne, 
1570   Ne yit for al this world to winne;  
1571   If that I mihte finde a sleyhte, 
1572   To leie al myn astat in weyhte,  
1573   I wolde him fro the Court dissevere,
1574   So that he come ayeinward nevere.
1575   Therfore I wisshe and wolde fain 
1576   That he were in som wise slain;  
1577   For while he stant in thilke place, 
1578   Ne gete I noght my ladi grace.    
1579   Thus hate I dedly thilke vice,
1580   And wolde he stode in non office 
1581   In place wher mi ladi is;  
1582   For if he do, I wot wel this, 
1583   That owther schal he deie or I
1584   Withinne a while; and noght forthi  
1585   On my ladi fulofte I muse, 
1586   How that sche mai hirself excuse,
1587   If that I deie in such a plit.
1588   Me thenkth sche mihte noght be qwyt 
1589   That sche ne were an homicide:
1590   And if it scholde so betide,  
1591   As god forbiede it scholde be,
1592   Be double weie it is pite. 
1593   For I, which al my will and witt 
1594   Have yove and served evere yit,  
1595   And thanne I scholde in such a wise 
1596   In rewardinge of my servise
1597   Be ded, me thenkth it were a rowthe:
1598   And furthermor, to telle trowthe,
1599   Sche, that hath evere be wel named, 
1600   Were worthi thanne to be blamed  
1601   And of reson to ben appeled,  
1602   Whan with o word sche mihte have heled 
1603   A man, and soffreth him so deie. 
1604   Ha, who sawh evere such a weie?  
1605   Ha, who sawh evere such destresse?  
1606   Withoute pite gentilesse,  
1607   Withoute mercy wommanhede, 
1608   That wol so quyte a man his mede,
1609   Which evere hath be to love trewe.  
1610   Mi goode fader, if ye rewe 
1611   Upon mi tale, tell me now, 
1612   And I wol stinte and herkne yow. 
1613   Mi Sone, attempre thi corage  
1614   Fro Wraththe, and let thin herte assuage: 
1615   For who so wole him underfonge,      
1616   He mai his grace abide longe, 
1617   Er he of love be received; 
1618   And ek also, bot it be weyved,
1619   Ther mihte mochel thing befalle, 
1620   That scholde make a man to falle 
1621   Fro love, that nevere afterward  
1622   Ne durste he loke thiderward. 
1623   In harde weies men gon softe, 
1624   And er thei clymbe avise hem ofte:  
1625   Men sen alday that rape reweth;  
1626   And who so wicked Ale breweth,
1627   Fulofte he mot the werse drinke: 
1628   Betre is to flete than to sincke;
1629   Betre is upon the bridel chiewe  
1630   Thanne if he felle and overthrewe,  
1631   The hors and stikede in the Myr: 
1632   To caste water in the fyr  
1633   Betre is than brenne up al the hous:
1634   The man which is malicious 
1635   And folhastif, fulofte he falleth,  
1636   And selden is whan love him calleth.
1637   Forthi betre is to soffre a throwe  
1638   Than be to wilde and overthrowe; 
1639   Suffrance hath evere be the beste
1640   To wissen him that secheth reste:
1641   And thus, if thou wolt love and spede, 
1642   Mi Sone, soffre, as I the rede.  
1643   What mai the Mous ayein the Cat? 
1644   And for this cause I axe that,
1645   Who mai to love make a werre, 
1646   That he ne hath himself the werre?  
1647   Love axeth pes and evere schal,  
1648   And who that fihteth most withal 
1649   Schal lest conquere of his emprise: 
1650   For this thei tellen that ben wise, 
1651   Wicke is to stryve and have the werse; 
1652   To hasten is noght worth a kerse;
1653   Thing that a man mai noght achieve,     
1654   That mai noght wel be don at Eve,
1655   It mot abide til the morwe.
1656   Ne haste noght thin oghne sorwe, 
1657   Mi Sone, and tak this in thi witt,  
1658   He hath noght lost that wel abitt.  
1659   Ensample that it falleth thus,
1660   Thou miht wel take of Piramus,
1661   Whan he in haste his swerd outdrowh 
1662   And on the point himselve slowh  
1663   For love of Tisbee pitously,  
1664   For he hire wympel fond blody 
1665   And wende a beste hire hadde slain; 
1666   Wher as him oghte have be riht fain,
1667   For sche was there al sauf beside:  
1668   Bot for he wolde noght abide, 
1669   This meschief fell. Forthi be war,  
1670   Mi Sone, as I the warne dar,  
1671   Do thou nothing in such a res,
1672   For suffrance is the welle of Pes.  
1673   Thogh thou to loves Court poursuie, 
1674   Yit sit it wel that thou eschuie 
1675   That thou the Court noght overhaste,
1676   For so miht thou thi time waste; 
1677   Bot if thin happ therto be schape,  
1678   It mai noght helpe forto rape.
1679   Therfore attempre thi corage; 
1680   Folhaste doth non avantage,
1681   Bot ofte it set a man behinde 
1682   In cause of love, and that I finde  
1683   Be olde ensample, as thou schalt hiere,
1684   Touchende of love in this matiere.  
1685   A Maiden whilom ther was on,  
1686   Which Daphne hihte, and such was non
1687   Of beaute thanne, as it was seid.
1688   Phebus his love hath on hire leid,  
1689   And therupon to hire he soghte
1690   In his folhaste, and so besoghte,    
1691   That sche with him no reste hadde;  
1692   For evere upon hire love he gradde, 
1693   And sche seide evere unto him nay.  
1694   So it befell upon a dai,
1695   Cupide, which hath every chance  
1696   Of love under his governance, 
1697   Syh Phebus hasten him so sore:
1698   And for he scholde him haste more,  
1699   And yit noght speden ate laste,  
1700   A dart thurghout his herte he caste,
1701   Which was of gold and al afyre,  
1702   That made him manyfold desire 
1703   Of love more thanne he dede.  
1704   To Daphne ek in the same stede
1705   A dart of Led he caste and smot, 
1706   Which was al cold and nothing hot.  
1707   And thus Phebus in love brenneth,
1708   And in his haste aboute renneth, 
1709   To loke if that he mihte winne;  
1710   Bot he was evere to beginne,  
1711   For evere awei fro him sche fledde, 
1712   So that he nevere his love spedde.  
1713   And forto make him full believe  
1714   That no Folhaste mihte achieve
1715   To gete love in such degree,  
1716   This Daphne into a lorer tre  
1717   Was torned, which is evere grene,
1718   In tokne, as yit it mai be sene, 
1719   That sche schal duelle a maiden stille,
1720   And Phebus failen of his wille.  
1721   Be suche ensamples, as thei stonde, 
1722   Mi Sone, thou miht understonde,  
1723   To hasten love is thing in vein, 
1724   Whan that fortune is therayein.  
1725   To take where a man hath leve 
1726   Good is, and elles he mot leve;  
1727   For whan a mannes happes failen, 
1728   Ther is non haste mai availen.
1729   Mi fader, grant merci of this:    
1730   Bot while I se mi ladi is  
1731   No tre, but halt hire oghne forme,  
1732   Ther mai me noman so enforme, 
1733   To whether part fortune wende,
1734   That I unto mi lyves ende  
1735   Ne wol hire serven everemo.
1736   Mi Sone, sithen it is so,  
1737   I seie nomor; bot in this cas 
1738   Bewar how it with Phebus was. 
1739   Noght only upon loves chance, 
1740   Bot upon every governance  
1741   Which falleth unto mannes dede,  
1742   Folhaste is evere forto drede,
1743   And that a man good consail take,
1744   Er he his pourpos undertake,  
1745   For consail put Folhaste aweie.  
1746   Now goode fader, I you preie, 
1747   That forto wisse me the more, 
1748   Som good ensample upon this lore 
1749   Ye wolden telle of that is write,
1750   That I the betre mihte wite
1751   How I Folhaste scholde eschuie,  
1752   And the wisdom of conseil suie.  
1753   Mi Sone, that thou miht enforme  
1754   Thi pacience upon the forme
1755   Of old essamples, as thei felle, 
1756   Now understond what I schal telle.  
1757   Whan noble Troie was belein
1758   And overcome, and hom ayein
1759   The Gregois torned fro the siege,
1760   The kinges founde here oghne liege  
1761   In manye places, as men seide,
1762   That hem forsoke and desobeide.  
1763   Among the whiche fell this cas
1764   To Demephon and Athemas,
1765   That weren kinges bothe tuo,  
1766   And bothe weren served so:         
1767   Here lieges wolde hem noght receive,
1768   So that thei mote algates weyve  
1769   To seche lond in other place, 
1770   For there founde thei no grace.  
1771   Wherof they token hem to rede,
1772   And soghten frendes ate nede, 
1773   And ech of hem asseureth other
1774   To helpe as to his oghne brother,
1775   To vengen hem of thilke oultrage 
1776   And winne ayein here heritage.
1777   And thus thei ryde aboute faste  
1778   To gete hem help, and ate laste  
1779   Thei hadden pouer sufficant,  
1780   And maden thanne a covenant,  
1781   That thei ne scholden no lif save,  
1782   Ne prest, ne clerc, ne lord, ne knave, 
1783   Ne wif, ne child, of that thei finde,  
1784   Which berth visage of mannes kinde, 
1785   So that no lif schal be socoured,
1786   Bot with the dedly swerd devoured:  
1787   In such Folhaste here ordinance  
1788   Thei schapen forto do vengance.  
1789   Whan this pourpos was wist and knowe
1790   Among here host, tho was ther blowe 
1791   Of wordes many a speche aboute:  
1792   Of yonge men the lusti route  
1793   Were of this tale glad ynowh, 
1794   Ther was no care for the plowh;  
1795   As thei that weren Folhastif, 
1796   Thei ben acorded to the strif,
1797   And sein it mai noght be to gret 
1798   To vengen hem of such forfet: 
1799   Thus seith the wilde unwise tonge
1800   Of hem that there weren yonge.
1801   Bot Nestor, which was old and hor,  
1802   The salve sih tofore the sor, 
1803   As he that was of conseil wys:
1804   So that anon be his avis    
1805   Ther was a prive conseil nome.
1806   The lordes ben togedre come;  
1807   This Demephon and Athemas  
1808   Here pourpos tolden, as it was;  
1809   Thei sieten alle stille and herde,  
1810   Was non bot Nestor hem ansuerde. 
1811   He bad hem, if thei wolde winne, 
1812   They scholden se, er thei beginne,  
1813   Here ende, and sette here ferste entente, 
1814   That thei hem after ne repente:  
1815   And axeth hem this questioun, 
1816   To what final conclusioun  
1817   Thei wolde regne Kinges there,
1818   If that no poeple in londe were; 
1819   And seith, it were a wonder wierde  
1820   To sen a king become an hierde,  
1821   Wher no lif is bot only beste 
1822   Under the liegance of his heste; 
1823   For who that is of man no king,  
1824   The remenant is as no thing.  
1825   He seith ek, if the pourpos holde
1826   To sle the poeple, as thei tuo wolde,  
1827   Whan thei it mihte noght restore,
1828   Al Grece it scholde abegge sore, 
1829   To se the wilde beste wone 
1830   Wher whilom duelte a mannes Sone:
1831   And for that cause he bad hem trete,
1832   And stinte of the manaces grete. 
1833   Betre is to winne be fair speche,
1834   He seith, than such vengance seche; 
1835   For whanne a man is most above,  
1836   Him nedeth most to gete him love.
1837   Whan Nestor hath his tale seid,  
1838   Ayein him was no word withseid;  
1839   It thoghte hem alle he seide wel:
1840   And thus fortune hire dedly whiel
1841   Fro werre torneth into pes.
1842   Bot forth thei wenten natheles;      
1843   And whan the Contres herde sein  
1844   How that here kinges be besein
1845   Of such a pouer as thei ladde,
1846   Was non so bold that hem ne dradde, 
1847   And forto seche pes and grith 
1848   Thei sende and preide anon forthwith,  
1849   So that the kinges ben appesed,  
1850   And every mannes herte is esed;  
1851   Al was foryete and noght recorded.  
1852   And thus thei ben togedre acorded;  
1853   The kinges were ayein received,  
1854   And pes was take and wraththe weived,  
1855   And al thurgh conseil which was good
1856   Of him that reson understod.  
1857   Be this ensample, Sone, attempre 
1858   Thin herte and let no will distempre
1859   Thi wit, and do nothing be myht  
1860   Which mai be do be love and riht.
1861   Folhaste is cause of mochel wo;  
1862   Forthi, mi Sone, do noght so. 
1863   And as touchende of Homicide  
1864   Which toucheth unto loves side,  
1865   Fulofte it falleth unavised
1866   Thurgh will, which is noght wel assised,  
1867   Whan wit and reson ben aweie  
1868   And that Folhaste is in the weie,
1869   Wherof hath falle gret vengance. 
1870   Forthi tak into remembrance
1871   To love in such a maner wise  
1872   That thou deserve no juise:
1873   For wel I wot, thou miht noght lette,  
1874   That thou ne schalt thin herte sette
1875   To love, wher thou wolt or non;  
1876   Bot if thi wit be overgon, 
1877   So that it torne into malice, 
1878   Ther wot noman of thilke vice,
1879   What peril that ther mai befalle:
1880   Wherof a tale amonges alle,
1881   Which is gret pite forto hiere,      
1882   I thenke forto tellen hiere,  
1883   That thou such moerdre miht withstonde,
1884   Whan thou the tale hast understonde.
1885   Of Troie at thilke noble toun,
1886   Whos fame stant yit of renoun 
1887   And evere schal to mannes Ere,
1888   The Siege laste longe there,  
1889   Er that the Greks it mihten winne,  
1890   Whil Priamus was king therinne;  
1891   Bot of the Greks that lyhe aboute
1892   Agamenon ladde al the route.  
1893   This thing is knowen overal,  
1894   Bot yit I thenke in special
1895   To my matiere therupon  
1896   Telle in what wise Agamenon,  
1897   Thurgh chance which mai noght be weived,  
1898   Of love untrewe was deceived. 
1899   An old sawe is, "Who that is slyh
1900   In place where he mai be nyh, 
1901   He makth the ferre Lieve loth":  
1902   Of love and thus fulofte it goth.
1903   Ther while Agamenon batailleth
1904   To winne Troie, and it assailleth,  
1905   Fro home and was long time ferr, 
1906   Egistus drowh his qweene nerr,
1907   And with the leiser which he hadde  
1908   This ladi at his wille he ladde: 
1909   Climestre was hire rihte name,
1910   Sche was therof gretli to blame, 
1911   To love there it mai noght laste.
1912   Bot fell to meschief ate laste;  
1913   For whan this noble worthi kniht 
1914   Fro Troie cam, the ferste nyht
1915   That he at home abedde lay,
1916   Egistus, longe er it was day,     
1917   As this Climestre him hadde asent,  
1918   And weren bothe of on assent, 
1919   Be treson slowh him in his bedd. 
1920   Bot moerdre, which mai noght ben hedd, 
1921   Sprong out to every mannes Ere,  
1922   Wherof the lond was full of fere.
1923   Agamenon hath be this qweene  
1924   A Sone, and that was after sene; 
1925   Bot yit as thanne he was of yowthe, 
1926   A babe, which no reson cowthe,
1927   And as godd wolde, it fell him thus.
1928   A worthi kniht Taltabius
1929   This yonge child hath in kepinge,
1930   And whan he herde of this tidinge,  
1931   Of this treson, of this misdede, 
1932   He gan withinne himself to drede,
1933   In aunter if this false Egiste
1934   Upon him come, er he it wiste,
1935   To take and moerdre of his malice
1936   This child, which he hath to norrice:  
1937   And for that cause in alle haste 
1938   Out of the lond he gan him haste 
1939   And to the king of Crete he strawhte
1940   And him this yonge lord betawhte,
1941   And preide him for his fader sake
1942   That he this child wolde undertake  
1943   And kepe him til he be of Age,
1944   So as he was of his lignage;  
1945   And tolde him over al the cas,
1946   How that his fadre moerdred was, 
1947   And hou Egistus, as men seide,
1948   Was king, to whom the lond obeide.  
1949   And whanne Ydomeneux the king 
1950   Hath understondinge of this thing,  
1951   Which that this kniht him hadde told,  
1952   He made sorwe manyfold, 
1953   And tok this child into his warde,  
1954   And seide he wolde him kepe and warde,     
1955   Til that he were of such a myht  
1956   To handle a swerd and ben a knyht,  
1957   To venge him at his oghne wille. 
1958   And thus Horestes duelleth stille,  
1959   Such was the childes rihte name, 
1960   Which after wroghte mochel schame
1961   In vengance of his fader deth.
1962   The time of yeres overgeth,
1963   That he was man of brede and lengthe,  
1964   Of wit, of manhod and of strengthe, 
1965   A fair persone amonges alle.  
1966   And he began to clepe and calle, 
1967   As he which come was to manne,
1968   Unto the King of Crete thanne,
1969   Preiende that he wolde him make  
1970   A kniht and pouer with him take, 
1971   For lengere wolde he noght beleve,  
1972   He seith, bot preith the king of leve  
1973   To gon and cleyme his heritage
1974   And vengen him of thilke oultrage
1975   Which was unto his fader do.  
1976   The king assenteth wel therto,
1977   With gret honour and knyht him makth,  
1978   And gret pouer to him betakth,
1979   And gan his journe forto caste:  
1980   So that Horestes ate laste 
1981   His leve tok and forth he goth.  
1982   As he that was in herte wroth,
1983   His ferste pleinte to bemene, 
1984   Unto the Cite of Athene 
1985   He goth him forth and was received, 
1986   So there was he noght deceived.  
1987   The Duc and tho that weren wise  
1988   Thei profren hem to his servise; 
1989   And he hem thonketh of here profre  
1990   And seith himself he wol gon offre  
1991   Unto the goddes for his sped,     
1992   As alle men him yeven red. 
1993   So goth he to the temple forth:  
1994   Of yiftes that be mochel worth
1995   His sacrifice and his offringe
1996   He made; and after his axinge 
1997   He was ansuerd, if that he wolde 
1998   His stat recovere, thanne he scholde
1999   Upon his Moder do vengance 
2000   So cruel, that the remembrance
2001   Therof mihte everemore abide, 
2002   As sche that was an homicide  
2003   And of hire oghne lord Moerdrice.
2004   Horestes, which of thilke office 
2005   Was nothing glad, as thanne he preide  
2006   Unto the goddes there and seide  
2007   That thei the juggement devise,  
2008   How sche schal take the juise.
2009   And therupon he hadde ansuere,
2010   That he hire Pappes scholde of tere 
2011   Out of hire brest his oghne hondes, 
2012   And for ensample of alle londes  
2013   With hors sche scholde be todrawe,  
2014   Til houndes hadde hire bones gnawe  
2015   Withouten eny sepulture:
2016   This was a wofull aventure.
2017   And whan Horestes hath al herd,  
2018   How that the goddes have ansuerd,
2019   Forth with the strengthe which he ladde
2020   The Duc and his pouer he hadde,  
2021   And to a Cite forth thei gon, 
2022   The which was cleped Cropheon,
2023   Where as Phoieus was lord and Sire, 
2024   Which profreth him withouten hyre
2025   His help and al that he mai do,  
2026   As he that was riht glad therto, 
2027   To grieve his mortiel enemy:  
2028   And tolde hem certein cause why, 
2029   How that Egiste in Mariage     
2030   His dowhter whilom of full Age
2031   Forlai, and afterward forsok, 
2032   Whan he Horestes Moder tok.
2033   Men sein, "Old Senne newe schame":  
2034   Thus more and more aros the blame
2035   Ayein Egiste on every side.
2036   Horestes with his host to ride
2037   Began, and Phoieus with hem wente;  
2038   I trowe Egiste him schal repente.
2039   Thei riden forth unto Micene, 
2040   Wher lay Climestre thilke qweene,
2041   The which Horestes moder is:  
2042   And whan sche herde telle of this,  
2043   The gates weren faste schet,  
2044   And thei were of here entre let. 
2045   Anon this Cite was withoute
2046   Belein and sieged al aboute,  
2047   And evere among thei it assaile, 
2048   Fro day to nyht and so travaile, 
2049   Til ate laste thei it wonne;  
2050   Tho was ther sorwe ynowh begonne.
2051   Horestes dede his moder calle 
2052   Anon tofore the lordes alle
2053   And ek tofor the poeple also, 
2054   To hire and tolde his tale tho,  
2055   And seide, "O cruel beste unkinde,  
2056   How mihtest thou thin herte finde,  
2057   For eny lust of loves drawhte,
2058   That thou acordest to the slawhte
2059   Of him which was thin oghne lord?
2060   Thi treson stant of such record, 
2061   Thou miht thi werkes noght forsake; 
2062   So mot I for mi fader sake 
2063   Vengance upon thi bodi do, 
2064   As I comanded am therto.
2065   Unkindely for thou hast wroght,  
2066   Unkindeliche it schal be boght,      
2067   The Sone schal the Moder sle, 
2068   For that whilom thou seidest yee 
2069   To that thou scholdest nay have seid." 
2070   And he with that his hond hath leid 
2071   Upon his Moder brest anon, 
2072   And rente out fro the bare bon
2073   Hire Pappes bothe and caste aweie
2074   Amiddes in the carte weie, 
2075   And after tok the dede cors
2076   And let it drawe awey with hors  
2077   Unto the hound and to the raven; 
2078   Sche was non other wise graven.  
2079   Egistus, which was elles where,  
2080   Tidinges comen to his Ere  
2081   How that Micenes was belein,  
2082   Bot what was more herd he noght sein;  
2083   With gret manace and mochel bost 
2084   He drowh pouer and made an host  
2085   And cam in rescousse of the toun.
2086   Bot al the sleyhte of his tresoun
2087   Horestes wiste it be aspie,
2088   And of his men a gret partie  
2089   He made in buisshement abide, 
2090   To waite on him in such a tide
2091   That he ne mihte here hond ascape:  
2092   And in this wise as he hath schape  
2093   The thing befell, so that Egiste 
2094   Was take, er he himself it wiste,
2095   And was forth broght hise hondes bounde,  
2096   As whan men han a tretour founde.
2097   And tho that weren with him take,
2098   Whiche of tresoun were overtake, 
2099   Togedre in o sentence falle;  
2100   Bot false Egiste above hem alle  
2101   Was demed to diverse peine,
2102   The worste that men cowthe ordeigne,
2103   And so forth after be the lawe
2104   He was unto the gibet drawe,      
2105   Where he above alle othre hongeth,  
2106   As to a tretour it belongeth. 
2107   Tho fame with hire swifte wynges 
2108   Aboute flyh and bar tidinges, 
2109   And made it cowth in alle londes 
2110   How that Horestes with hise hondes  
2111   Climestre his oghne Moder slowh. 
2112   Some sein he dede wel ynowh,  
2113   And som men sein he dede amis,
2114   Diverse opinion ther is:
2115   That sche is ded thei speken alle,  
2116   Bot pleinli hou it is befalle,
2117   The matiere in so litel throwe
2118   In soth ther mihte noman knowe
2119   Bot thei that weren ate dede: 
2120   And comunliche in every nede  
2121   The worste speche is rathest herd
2122   And lieved, til it be ansuerd.
2123   The kinges and the lordes grete  
2124   Begonne Horestes forto threte 
2125   To puten him out of his regne:
2126   "He is noght worthi forto regne, 
2127   The child which slowh his moder so,"
2128   Thei saide; and therupon also 
2129   The lordes of comun assent 
2130   A time sette of parlement, 
2131   And to Athenes king and lord  
2132   Togedre come of on accord, 
2133   To knowe hou that the sothe was: 
2134   So that Horestes in this cas  
2135   Thei senden after, and he com.
2136   King Menelay the wordes nom
2137   And axeth him of this matiere:
2138   And he, that alle it mihten hiere,  
2139   Ansuerde and tolde his tale alarge, 
2140   And hou the goddes in his charge 
2141   Comanded him in such a wise
2142   His oghne hond to do juise.    
2143   And with this tale a Duc aros,
2144   Which was a worthi kniht of los, 
2145   His name was Menestes,
2146   And seide unto the lordes thus:  
2147   "The wreeche which Horeste dede, 
2148   It was thing of the goddes bede, 
2149   And nothing of his crualte;
2150   And if ther were of mi degree 
2151   In al this place such a kniht 
2152   That wolde sein it was no riht,  
2153   I wole it with my bodi prove."
2154   And therupon he caste his glove, 
2155   And ek this noble Duc alleide 
2156   Ful many an other skile, and seide  
2157   Sche hadde wel deserved wreche,  
2158   Ferst for the cause of Spousebreche,
2159   And after wroghte in such a wise 
2160   That al the world it oghte agrise,  
2161   Whan that sche for so foul a vice
2162   Was of hire oghne lord moerdrice.
2163   Thei seten alle stille and herde,
2164   Bot therto was noman ansuerde,
2165   It thoghte hem alle he seide skile, 
2166   Ther is noman withseie it wile;  
2167   Whan thei upon the reson musen,  
2168   Horestes alle thei excusen:
2169   So that with gret solempnete  
2170   He was unto his dignete 
2171   Received, and coroned king.
2172   And tho befell a wonder thing:
2173   Egiona, whan sche this wiste, 
2174   Which was the dowhter of Egiste  
2175   And Soster on the moder side  
2176   To this Horeste, at thilke tide, 
2177   Whan sche herde how hir brother spedde,
2178   For pure sorwe, which hire ledde,
2179   That he ne hadde ben exiled,      
2180   Sche hath hire oghne lif beguiled
2181   Anon and hyng hireselve tho.  
2182   It hath and schal ben everemo,
2183   To moerdre who that wole assente,
2184   He mai noght faille to repente:  
2185   This false Egiona was on,  
2186   Which forto moerdre Agamenon  
2187   Yaf hire acord and hire assent,  
2188   So that be goddes juggement,  
2189   Thogh that non other man it wolde,  
2190   Sche tok hire juise as sche scholde;
2191   And as sche to an other wroghte, 
2192   Vengance upon hireself sche soghte, 
2193   And hath of hire unhappi wit  
2194   A moerdre with a moerdre quit.
2195   Such is of moerdre the vengance. 
2196   Forthi, mi Sone, in remembrance  
2197   Of this ensample tak good hiede: 
2198   For who that thenkth his love spiede
2199   With moerdre, he schal with worldes schame
2200   Himself and ek his love schame.  
2201   Mi fader, of this aventure 
2202   Which ye have told, I you assure 
2203   Min herte is sory forto hiere,
2204   Bot only for I wolde lere  
2205   What is to done, and what to leve.  
2206   And over this now be your leve,  
2207   That ye me wolden telle I preie, 
2208   If ther be lieffull eny weie  
2209   Withoute Senne a man to sle.  
2210   Mi Sone, in sondri wise ye.
2211   What man that is of traiterie,
2212   Of moerdre or elles robberie  
2213   Atteint, the jugge schal noght lette,  
2214   Bot he schal slen of pure dette, 
2215   And doth gret Senne, if that he wonde. 
2216   For who that lawe hath upon honde,      
2217   And spareth forto do justice  
2218   For merci, doth noght his office,
2219   That he his mercy so bewareth,
2220   Whan for o schrewe which he spareth 
2221   A thousand goode men he grieveth:
2222   With such merci who that believeth  
2223   To plese god, he is deceived, 
2224   Or elles resoun mot be weyved.
2225   The lawe stod er we were bore,
2226   How that a kinges swerd is bore  
2227   In signe that he schal defende
2228   His trewe poeple and make an ende
2229   Of suche as wolden hem devoure.  
2230   Lo thus, my Sone, to socoure  
2231   The lawe and comun riht to winne,
2232   A man mai sle withoute Sinne, 
2233   And do therof a gret almesse, 
2234   So forto kepe rihtwisnesse.
2235   And over this for his contre  
2236   In time of werre a man is fre 
2237   Himself, his hous and ek his lond
2238   Defende with his oghne hond,  
2239   And slen, if that he mai no bet, 
2240   After the lawe which is set.  
2241   Now, fader, thanne I you beseche 
2242   Of hem that dedly werres seche
2243   In worldes cause and scheden blod,  
2244   If such an homicide is good.  
2245   Mi Sone, upon thi question 
2246   The trowthe of myn opinion,
2247   Als ferforth as my wit arecheth  
2248   And as the pleine lawe techeth,  
2249   I woll thee telle in evidence,
2250   To rewle with thi conscience.     
2251   The hihe god of his justice
2252   That ilke foule horrible vice 
2253   Of homicide he hath forbede,  
2254   Be Moi5ses as it was bede. 
2255   Whan goddes Sone also was bore,  
2256   He sende hise anglis doun therfore, 
2257   Whom the Schepherdes herden singe,  
2258   Pes to the men of welwillinge 
2259   In erthe be among ous here.
2260   So forto speke in this matiere
2261   After the lawe of charite, 
2262   Ther schal no dedly werre be: 
2263   And ek nature it hath defended
2264   And in hir lawe pes comended, 
2265   Which is the chief of mannes welthe,
2266   Of mannes lif, of mannes helthe. 
2267   Bot dedly werre hath his covine  
2268   Of pestilence and of famine,  
2269   Of poverte and of alle wo, 
2270   Wherof this world we blamen so,  
2271   Which now the werre hath under fote,
2272   Til god himself therof do bote.  
2273   For alle thing which god hath wroght
2274   In Erthe, werre it bringth to noght:
2275   The cherche is brent, the priest is slain,
2276   The wif, the maide is ek forlain,
2277   The lawe is lore and god unserved:  
2278   I not what mede he hath deserved 
2279   That suche werres ledeth inne.
2280   If that he do it forto winne, 
2281   Ferst to acompte his grete cost  
2282   Forth with the folk that he hath lost, 
2283   As to the wordes rekeninge     
2284   Ther schal he finde no winnynge; 
2285   And if he do it to pourchace  
2286   The hevene mede, of such a grace 
2287   I can noght speke, and natheles  
2288   Crist hath comanded love and pes,
2289   And who that worcheth the revers,
2290   I trowe his mede is ful divers.  
2291   And sithen thanne that we finde  
2292   That werres in here oghne kinde  
2293   Ben toward god of no decerte, 
2294   And ek thei bringen in poverte
2295   Of worldes good, it is merveile  
2296   Among the men what it mai eyle,  
2297   That thei a pes ne conne sette.  
2298   I trowe Senne be the lette,
2299   And every mede of Senne is deth; 
2300   So wot I nevere hou that it geth:
2301   Bot we that ben of o believe  
2302   Among ousself, this wolde I lieve,  
2303   That betre it were pes to chese, 
2304   Than so be double weie lese.  
2305   I not if that it now so stonde,  
2306   Bot this a man mai understonde,  
2307   Who that these olde bokes redeth,
2308   That coveitise is on which ledeth,  
2309   And broghte ferst the werres inne.  
2310   At Grece if that I schal beginne,
2311   Ther was it proved hou it stod:  
2312   To Perce, which was ful of good, 
2313   Thei maden werre in special,  
2314   And so thei deden overal,  
2315   Wher gret richesse was in londe, 
2316   So that thei leften nothing stonde  
2317   Unwerred, bot onliche Archade.
2318   For there thei no werres made,
2319   Be cause it was bareigne and povere,
2320   Wherof thei mihten noght recovere;  
2321   And thus poverte was forbore,     
2322   He that noght hadde noght hath lore.
2323   Bot yit it is a wonder thing, 
2324   Whan that a riche worthi king,
2325   Or other lord, what so he be, 
2326   Wol axe and cleyme proprete
2327   In thing to which he hath no riht,  
2328   Bot onliche of his grete miht:
2329   For this mai every man wel wite, 
2330   That bothe kinde and lawe write  
2331   Expressly stonden therayein.  
2332   Bot he mot nedes somwhat sein,
2333   Althogh ther be no reson inne,
2334   Which secheth cause forto winne: 
2335   For wit that is with will oppressed,
2336   Whan coveitise him hath adressed,
2337   And alle resoun put aweie, 
2338   He can wel finde such a weie  
2339   To werre, where as evere him liketh,
2340   Wherof that he the world entriketh, 
2341   That many a man of him compleigneth:
2342   Bot yit alwei som cause he feigneth,
2343   And of his wrongful herte he demeth 
2344   That al is wel, what evere him semeth, 
2345   Be so that he mai winne ynowh.
2346   For as the trew man to the plowh 
2347   Only to the gaignage entendeth,  
2348   Riht so the werreiour despendeth 
2349   His time and hath no conscience. 
2350   And in this point for evidence
2351   Of hem that suche werres make,
2352   Thou miht a gret ensample take,  
2353   How thei her tirannie excusen 
2354   Of that thei wrongfull werres usen, 
2355   And how thei stonde of on acord, 
2356   The Souldeour forth with the lord,  
2357   The povere man forth with the riche,
2358   As of corage thei ben liche,  
2359   To make werres and to pile     
2360   For lucre and for non other skyle:  
2361   Wherof a propre tale I rede,  
2362   As it whilom befell in dede.  
2363   Of him whom al this Erthe dradde,
2364   Whan he the world so overladde
2365   Thurgh werre, as it fortuned is, 
2366   King Alisandre, I rede this;  
2367   How in a Marche, where he lay,
2368   It fell per chance upon a day 
2369   A Rovere of the See was nome, 
2370   Which many a man hadde overcome  
2371   And slain and take here good aweie: 
2372   This Pilour, as the bokes seie,  
2373   A famous man in sondri stede  
2374   Was of the werkes whiche he dede.
2375   This Prisoner tofor the king  
2376   Was broght, and there upon this thing  
2377   In audience he was accused:
2378   And he his dede hath noght excused, 
2379   Bot preith the king to don him riht,
2380   And seith, "Sire, if I were of miht,
2381   I have an herte lich to thin; 
2382   For if the pouer were myn, 
2383   Mi will is most in special 
2384   To rifle and geten overal  
2385   The large worldes good aboute.
2386   Bot for I lede a povere route 
2387   And am, as who seith, at meschief,  
2388   The name of Pilour and of thief  
2389   I bere; and thou, which routes grete
2390   Miht lede and take thi beyete,
2391   And dost riht as I wolde do,  
2392   Thi name is nothing cleped so,
2393   Bot thou art named Emperour.  
2394   Oure dedes ben of o colour 
2395   And in effect of o decerte,
2396   Bot thi richesse and my poverte  
2397   Tho ben noght taken evene liche.     
2398   And natheles he that is riche 
2399   This dai, tomorwe he mai be povere; 
2400   And in contraire also recovere
2401   A povere man to gret richesse 
2402   Men sen: forthi let rihtwisnesse 
2403   Be peised evene in the balance.  
2404   The king his hardi contienance
2405   Behield, and herde hise wordes wise,
2406   And seide unto him in this wise: 
2407   "Thin ansuere I have understonde,
2408   Wherof my will is, that thou stonde 
2409   In mi service and stille abide." 
2410   And forth withal the same tide
2411   He hath him terme of lif withholde, 
2412   The mor and for he schal ben holde, 
2413   He made him kniht and yaf him lond, 
2414   Which afterward was of his hond  
2415   And orped kniht in many a stede, 
2416   And gret prouesce of armes dede, 
2417   As the Croniqes it recorden.  
2418   And in this wise thei acorden,
2419   The whiche of o condicioun 
2420   Be set upon destruccioun:  
2421   Such Capitein such retenue.
2422   Bot forto se to what issue 
2423   The thing befalleth ate laste,
2424   It is gret wonder that men caste 
2425   Here herte upon such wrong to winne,
2426   Wher no beyete mai ben inne,  
2427   And doth desese on every side:
2428   Bot whan reson is put aside
2429   And will governeth the corage,
2430   The faucon which that fleth ramage  
2431   And soeffreth nothing in the weie,  
2432   Wherof that he mai take his preie,  
2433   Is noght mor set upon ravine, 
2434   Than thilke man which his covine 
2435   Hath set in such a maner wise:
2436   For al the world ne mai suffise  
2437   To will which is noght resonable.
2438   Wherof ensample concordable
2439   Lich to this point of which I meene,
2440   Was upon Alisandre sene,
2441   Which hadde set al his entente,  
2442   So as fortune with him wente, 
2443   That reson mihte him non governe,
2444   Bot of his will he was so sterne,
2445   That al the world he overran  
2446   And what him list he tok and wan.
2447   In Ynde the superiour
2448   Whan that he was ful conquerour, 
2449   And hadde his wilful pourpos wonne  
2450   Of al this Erthe under the Sonne,
2451   This king homward to Macedoine,  
2452   Whan that he cam to Babiloine,
2453   And wende most in his Empire, 
2454   As he which was hol lord and Sire,  
2455   In honour forto be received,  
2456   Most sodeinliche he was deceived,
2457   And with strong puison envenimed.
2458   And as he hath the world mistimed
2459   Noght as he scholde with his wit,
2460   Noght as he wolde it was aquit.  
2461   Thus was he slain that whilom slowh,
2462   And he which riche was ynowh  
2463   This dai, tomorwe he hadde noght:
2464   And in such wise as he hath wroght  
2465   In destorbance of worldes pes,
2466   His werre he fond thanne endeles,
2467   In which for evere desconfit  
2468   He was. Lo now, for what profit  
2469   Of werre it helpeth forto ryde,  
2470   For coveitise and worldes pride  
2471   To sle the worldes men aboute,    
2472   As bestes whiche gon theroute.
2473   For every lif which reson can 
2474   Oghth wel to knowe that a man 
2475   Ne scholde thurgh no tirannie 
2476   Lich to these othre bestes die,  
2477   Til kinde wolde for him sende.
2478   I not hou he it mihte amende, 
2479   Which takth awei for everemore
2480   The lif that he mai noght restore.  
2481   Forthi, mi Sone, in alle weie 
2482   Be wel avised, I thee preie,  
2483   Of slawhte er that thou be coupable 
2484   Withoute cause resonable.  
2485   Mi fader, understonde it is,  
2486   That ye have seid; bot over this 
2487   I prei you tell me nay or yee,
2488   To passe over the grete See
2489   To werre and sle the Sarazin, 
2490   Is that the lawe? Sone myn,
2491   To preche and soffre for the feith, 
2492   That have I herd the gospell seith; 
2493   Bot forto slee, that hiere I noght. 
2494   Crist with his oghne deth hath boght
2495   Alle othre men, and made hem fre,
2496   In tokne of parfit charite;
2497   And after that he tawhte himselve,  
2498   Whan he was ded, these othre tuelve 
2499   Of hise Apostles wente aboute 
2500   The holi feith to prechen oute,  
2501   Wherof the deth in sondri place  
2502   Thei soffre, and so god of his grace
2503   The feith of Crist hath mad aryse:  
2504   Bot if thei wolde in other wise  
2505   Be werre have broght in the creance,    
2506   It hadde yit stonde in balance.  
2507   And that mai proven in the dede; 
2508   For what man the Croniqes rede,  
2509   Fro ferst that holi cherche hath weyved
2510   To preche, and hath the swerd received,
2511   Wherof the werres ben begonne,
2512   A gret partie of that was wonne  
2513   To Cristes feith stant now miswent: 
2514   Godd do therof amendement, 
2515   So as he wot what is the beste.  
2516   Bot, Sone, if thou wolt live in reste  
2517   Of conscience wel assised, 
2518   Er that thou sle, be wel avised: 
2519   For man, as tellen ous the clerkes, 
2520   Hath god above alle ertheli werkes  
2521   Ordeined to be principal,  
2522   And ek of Soule in special 
2523   He is mad lich to the godhiede.  
2524   So sit it wel to taken hiede  
2525   And forto loke on every side, 
2526   Er that thou falle in homicide,  
2527   Which Senne is now so general,
2528   That it welnyh stant overal,  
2529   In holi cherche and elles where. 
2530   Bot al the while it stant so there, 
2531   The world mot nede fare amis: 
2532   For whan the welle of pite is 
2533   Thurgh coveitise of worldes good 
2534   Defouled with schedinge of blod, 
2535   The remenant of folk aboute
2536   Unethe stonden eny doute
2537   To werre ech other and to slee.  
2538   So is it all noght worth a Stree,
2539   The charite wherof we prechen,
2540   For we do nothing as we techen:  
2541   And thus the blinde conscience
2542   Of pes hath lost thilke evidence 
2543   Which Crist upon this Erthe tawhte. 
2544   Now mai men se moerdre and manslawhte      
2545   Lich as it was be daies olde, 
2546   Whan men the Sennes boghte and solde.  
2547   In Grece afore Cristes feith, 
2548   I rede, as the Cronique seith,
2549   Touchende of this matiere thus,  
2550   In thilke time hou Peles 
2551   His oghne brother Phocus slowh;  
2552   Bot for he hadde gold ynowh
2553   To yive, his Senne was despensed 
2554   With gold, wherof it was compensed: 
2555   Achastus, which with Venus was
2556   Hire Priest, assoilede in that cas, 
2557   Al were ther no repentance.
2558   And as the bok makth remembrance,
2559   It telleth of Medee also;  
2560   Of that sche slowh her Sones tuo,
2561   Eges in the same plit 
2562   Hath mad hire of hire Senne quit.
2563   The Sone ek of Amphioras,  
2564   Whos rihte name Almes was,  
2565   His Moder slowh, Eriphile; 
2566   Bot Achilo the Priest and he, 
2567   So as the bokes it recorden,  
2568   For certein Somme of gold acorden
2569   That thilke horrible sinfull dede
2570   Assoiled was. And thus for mede  
2571   Of worldes good it falleth ofte  
2572   That homicide is set alofte
2573   Hiere in this lif;  bot after this  
2574   Ther schal be knowe how that it is  
2575   Of hem that suche thinges werche,
2576   And hou also that holi cherche
2577   Let suche Sennes passe quyte, 
2578   And how thei wole hemself aquite 
2579   Of dedly werres that thei make.  
2580   For who that wolde ensample take,
2581   The lawe which is naturel  
2582   Be weie of kinde scheweth wel     
2583   That homicide in no degree,
2584   Which werreth ayein charite,  
2585   Among the men ne scholde duelle. 
2586   For after that the bokes telle,  
2587   To seche in al this worldesriche,
2588   Men schal noght finde upon his liche
2589   A beste forto take his preie: 
2590   And sithen kinde hath such a weie,  
2591   Thanne is it wonder of a man, 
2592   Which kynde hath and resoun can, 
2593   That he wol owther more or lasse 
2594   His kinde and resoun overpasse,  
2595   And sle that is to him semblable.
2596   So is the man noght resonable 
2597   Ne kinde, and that is noght honeste,
2598   Whan he is worse than a beste.
2599   Among the bokes whiche I finde
2600   Solyns spekth of a wonder kinde, 
2601   And seith of fowhles ther is on, 
2602   Which hath a face of blod and bon
2603   Lich to a man in resemblance. 
2604   And if it falle him so per chance,  
2605   As he which is a fowhl of preie, 
2606   That he a man finde in his weie, 
2607   He wol him slen, if that he mai: 
2608   Bot afterward the same dai,
2609   Whan he hath eten al his felle,  
2610   And that schal be beside a welle,
2611   In which whan he wol drinke take,
2612   Of his visage and seth the make  
2613   That he hath slain, anon he thenketh
2614   Of his misdede, and it forthenketh  
2615   So gretly, that for pure sorwe
2616   He liveth noght til on the morwe.
2617   Be this ensample it mai well suie
2618   That man schal homicide eschuie, 
2619   For evere is merci good to take, 
2620   Bot if the lawe it hath forsake  
2621   And that justice is therayein.    
2622   For ofte time I have herd sein
2623   Amonges hem that werres hadden,  
2624   That thei som while here cause ladden  
2625   Be merci, whan thei mihte have slain,  
2626   Wherof that thei were after fain:
2627   And, Sone, if that thou wolt recorde
2628   The vertu of Misericorde,  
2629   Thou sihe nevere thilke place,
2630   Where it was used, lacke grace.  
2631   For every lawe and every kinde
2632   The mannes wit to merci binde;
2633   And namely the worthi knihtes,
2634   Whan that thei stonden most uprihtes
2635   And ben most mihti forto grieve, 
2636   Thei scholden thanne most relieve
2637   Him whom thei mihten overthrowe, 
2638   As be ensample a man mai knowe.  
2639   He mai noght failen of his mede  
2640   That hath merci: for this I rede,
2641   In a Cronique and finde thus. 
2642   Whan Achilles with Telaphus
2643   His Sone toward Troie were,
2644   It fell hem, er thei comen there,
2645   Ayein Theucer the king of Mese
2646   To make werre and forto sese  
2647   His lond, as thei that wolden regne 
2648   And Theucer pute out of his regne.  
2649   And thus the Marches thei assaile,  
2650   Bot Theucer yaf to hem bataille; 
2651   Thei foghte on bothe sides faste,
2652   Bot so it hapneth ate laste,  
2653   This worthi Grek, this Achilles, 
2654   The king among alle othre ches:  
2655   As he that was cruel and fell,
2656   With swerd in honde on him he fell, 
2657   And smot him with a dethes wounde,  
2658   That he unhorsed fell to grounde.    
2659   Achilles upon him alyhte,  
2660   And wolde anon, as he wel mihte, 
2661   Have slain him fullich in the place;
2662   Bot Thelaphus his fader grace 
2663   For him besoghte, and for pite
2664   Preith that he wolde lete him be,
2665   And caste his Schield betwen hem tuo.  
2666   Achilles axeth him why so, 
2667   And Thelaphus his cause tolde,
2668   And seith that he is mochel holde,  
2669   For whilom Theucer in a stede 
2670   Gret grace and socour to him dede,  
2671   And seith that he him wolde aquite, 
2672   And preith his fader to respite. 
2673   Achilles tho withdrowh his hond; 
2674   Bot al the pouer of the lond, 
2675   Whan that thei sihe here king thus take,  
2676   Thei fledde and han the feld forsake:  
2677   The Grecs unto the chace falle,  
2678   And for the moste part of alle
2679   Of that contre the lordes grete  
2680   Thei toke, and wonne a gret beyete. 
2681   And anon after this victoire  
2682   The king, which hadde good memoire, 
2683   Upon the grete merci thoghte, 
2684   Which Telaphus toward him wroghte,  
2685   And in presence of al the lond
2686   He tok him faire be the hond, 
2687   And in this wise he gan to seie: 
2688   "Mi Sone, I mot be double weie
2689   Love and desire thin encress; 
2690   Ferst for thi fader Achilles  
2691   Whilom ful many dai er this,  
2692   Whan that I scholde have fare amis, 
2693   Rescousse dede in mi querele  
2694   And kepte al myn astat in hele:  
2695   How so ther falle now distance
2696   Amonges ous, yit remembrance      
2697   I have of merci which he dede 
2698   As thanne: and thou now in this stede  
2699   Of gentilesce and of franchise
2700   Hast do mercy the same wise.  
2701   So wol I noght that eny time  
2702   Be lost of that thou hast do byme;  
2703   For hou so this fortune falle,
2704   Yit stant mi trust aboven alle,  
2705   For the mercy which I now finde, 
2706   That thou wolt after this be kinde: 
2707   And for that such is myn espeir, 
2708   As for my Sone and for myn Eir
2709   I thee receive, and al my lond
2710   I yive and sese into thin hond." 
2711   And in this wise thei acorde, 
2712   The cause was Misericorde: 
2713   The lordes dede here obeissance  
2714   To Thelaphus, and pourveance  
2715   Was mad so that he was coroned:  
2716   And thus was merci reguerdoned,  
2717   Which he to Theucer dede afore.  
2718   Lo, this ensample is mad therfore,  
2719   That thou miht take remembrance, 
2720   Mi Sone; and whan thou sest a chaunce, 
2721   Of other mennes passioun
2722   Tak pite and compassioun,  
2723   And let nothing to thee be lief, 
2724   Which to an other man is grief.  
2725   And after this if thou desire 
2726   To stonde ayein the vice of Ire, 
2727   Consaile thee with Pacience,  
2728   And tak into thi conscience
2729   Merci to be thi governour. 
2730   So schalt thou fiele no rancour, 
2731   Wherof thin herte schal debate
2732   With homicide ne with hate 
2733   For Cheste or for Malencolie: 
2734   Thou schalt be soft in compaignie
2735   Withoute Contek or Folhaste:  
2736   For elles miht thou longe waste      
2737   Thi time, er that thou have thi wille  
2738   Of love; for the weder stille 
2739   Men preise, and blame the tempestes.
2740   Mi fader, I wol do youre hestes, 
2741   And of this point ye have me tawht, 
2742   Toward miself the betre sawht 
2743   I thenke be, whil that I live.
2744   Bot for als moche as I am schrive
2745   Of Wraththe and al his circumstance,
2746   Yif what you list to my penance, 
2747   And asketh forthere of my lif,
2748   If otherwise I be gultif
2749   Of eny thing that toucheth Sinne.
2750   Mi Sone, er we departe atwinne,  
2751   I schal behinde nothing leve. 
2752   Mi goode fader, be your leve  
2753   Thanne axeth forth what so you list,
2754   For I have in you such a trist,  
2755   As ye that be my Soule hele,  
2756   That ye fro me wol nothing hele, 
2757   For I schal telle you the trowthe.  
2758   Mi Sone, art thou coupable of Slowthe  
2759   In eny point which to him longeth?  
2760   My fader, of tho pointz me longeth  
2761   To wite pleinly what thei meene, 
2762   So that I mai me schrive cleene. 
2763   Now herkne, I schal the pointz devise; 
2764   And understond wel myn aprise:
2765   For schrifte stant of no value
2766   To him that wol him noght vertue 
2767   To leve of vice the folie:
2768   For word is wynd, bot the maistrie
2769   Is that a man himself defende
2770   Of thing which is noght to comende,
2771   Wherof ben fewe now aday.  
2772   And natheles, so as I may  
2773   Make unto thi memoire knowe,  
2774   The pointz of Slowthe thou schalt knowe. 

Explicit Liber Tercius



Incipit Liber Quartus


Dicunt accidiam fore nutricem viciorum,
     Torpet et in cunctis tarda que lenta bonis:
Que fieri possent hodie transfert piger in cras,
     Furatoque prius ostia claudit equo.
Poscenti tardo negat emolumenta Cupido,
     Set Venus in celeri ludit amore viri.


1      Upon the vices to procede  
2      After the cause of mannes dede,  
3      The ferste point of Slowthe I calle 
4      Lachesce, and is the chief of alle, 
5      And hath this propreliche of kinde, 
6      To leven alle thing behinde.  
7      Of that he mihte do now hier  
8      He tarieth al the longe yer,  
9      And everemore he seith, "Tomorwe";  
10     And so he wol his time borwe, 
11     And wissheth after "God me sende,"  
12     That whan he weneth have an ende,
13     Thanne is he ferthest to beginne.
14     Thus bringth he many a meschief inne
15     Unwar, til that he be meschieved,
16     And may noght thanne be relieved.
17     And riht so nowther mor ne lesse 
18     It stant of love and of lachesce:
19     Som time he slowtheth in a day
20     That he nevere after gete mai.
21     Now, Sone, as of this ilke thing,
22     If thou have eny knowleching, 
23     That thou to love hast don er this, 
24     Tell on. Mi goode fader, yis.   
25     As of lachesce I am beknowe
26     That I mai stonde upon his rowe, 
27     As I that am clad of his suite:  
28     For whanne I thoghte mi poursuite
29     To make, and therto sette a day  
30     To speke unto the swete May,  
31     Lachesce bad abide yit, 
32     And bar on hond it was no wit 
33     Ne time forto speke as tho.
34     Thus with his tales to and fro
35     Mi time in tariinge he drowh: 
36     Whan ther was time good ynowh,
37     He seide, "An other time is bettre; 
38     Thou schalt mowe senden hire a lettre, 
39     And per cas wryte more plein  
40     Than thou be Mowthe durstest sein." 
41     Thus have I lete time slyde
42     For Slowthe, and kepte noght my tide,  
43     So that lachesce with his vice
44     Fulofte hath mad my wit so nyce, 
45     That what I thoghte speke or do  
46     With tariinge he hield me so, 
47     Til whanne I wolde and mihte noght. 
48     I not what thing was in my thoght,  
49     Or it was drede, or it was schame;  
50     Bot evere in ernest and in game  
51     I wot ther is long time passed.  
52     Bot yit is noght the love lassed,
53     Which I unto mi ladi have; 
54     For thogh my tunge is slowh to crave
55     At alle time, as I have bede, 
56     Min herte stant evere in o stede 
57     And axeth besiliche grace, 
58     The which I mai noght yit embrace.  
59     And god wot that is malgre myn;  
60     For this I wot riht wel a fin,
61     Mi grace comth so selde aboute,  
62     That is the Slowthe of which I doute  
63     Mor than of al the remenant
64     Which is to love appourtenant.
65     And thus as touchende of lachesce,  
66     As I have told, I me confesse 
67     To you, mi fader, and beseche 
68     That furthermor ye wol me teche; 
69     And if ther be to this matiere
70     Som goodly tale forto liere
71     How I mai do lachesce aweie,  
72     That ye it wolden telle I preie. 
73     To wisse thee, my Sone, and rede,
74     Among the tales whiche I rede,
75     An old ensample therupon
76     Now herkne, and I wol tellen on. 
77     Ayein Lachesce in loves cas
78     I finde how whilom Eneas,  
79     Whom Anchises to Sone hadde,  
80     With gret navie, which he ladde  
81     Fro Troie, aryveth at Cartage,
82     Wher for a while his herbergage  
83     He tok; and it betidde so, 
84     With hire which was qweene tho
85     Of the Cite his aqueintance
86     He wan, whos name in remembrance 
87     Is yit, and Dido sche was hote;  
88     Which loveth Eneas so hote 
89     Upon the wordes whiche he seide, 
90     That al hire herte on him sche leide
91     And dede al holi what he wolde.  
92     Bot after that, as it be scholde,
93     Fro thenne he goth toward Ytaile 
94     Be Schipe, and there his arivaile
95     Hath take, and schop him forto ryde.
96     Bot sche, which mai noght longe abide  
97     The hote peine of loves throwe,  
98     Anon withinne a litel throwe  
99     A lettre unto hir kniht hath write, 
100    And dede him pleinly forto wite,   
101    If he made eny tariinge,
102    To drecche of his ayeincomynge,  
103    That sche ne mihte him fiele and se,
104    Sche scholde stonde in such degre
105    As whilom stod a Swan tofore, 
106    Of that sche hadde hire make lore;  
107    For sorwe a fethere into hire brain 
108    Sche schof and hath hireselve slain;
109    As king Menander in a lay  
110    The sothe hath founde, wher sche lay
111    Sprantlende with hire wynges tweie, 
112    As sche which scholde thanne deie
113    For love of him which was hire make.
114    "And so schal I do for thi sake,"
115    This qweene seide, "wel I wot."  
116    Lo, to Enee thus sche wrot 
117    With many an other word of pleinte: 
118    Bot he, which hadde hise thoghtes feinte  
119    Towardes love and full of Slowthe,  
120    His time lette, and that was rowthe:
121    For sche, which loveth him tofore,  
122    Desireth evere more and more, 
123    And whan sche sih him tarie so,  
124    Hire herte was so full of wo, 
125    That compleignende manyfold
126    Sche hath hire oghne tale told,  
127    Unto hirself and thus sche spak: 
128    "Ha, who fond evere such a lak
129    Of Slowthe in eny worthi kniht?  
130    Now wot I wel my deth is diht 
131    Thurgh him which scholde have be mi lif." 
132    Bot forto stinten al this strif, 
133    Thus whan sche sih non other bote,  
134    Riht evene unto hire herte rote  
135    A naked swerd anon sche threste, 
136    And thus sche gat hireselve reste
137    In remembrance of alle slowe. 
138    Wherof, my Sone, thou miht knowe   
139    How tariinge upon the nede 
140    In loves cause is forto drede;
141    And that hath Dido sore aboght,  
142    Whos deth schal evere be bethoght.  
143    And overmore if I schal seche 
144    In this matiere an other spieche,
145    In a Cronique I finde write
146    A tale which is good to wite. 
147    At Troie whan king Ulixes  
148    Upon the Siege among the pres 
149    Of hem that worthi knihtes were  
150    Abod long time stille there,  
151    In thilke time a man mai se
152    How goodli that Penolope,  
153    Which was to him his trewe wif,  
154    Of his lachesce was pleintif; 
155    Wherof to Troie sche him sende
156    Hire will be lettre, thus spekende: 
157    "Mi worthi love and lord also,
158    It is and hath ben evere so,  
159    That wher a womman is al one, 
160    It makth a man in his persone 
161    The more hardi forto wowe, 
162    In hope that sche wolde bowe  
163    To such thing as his wille were, 
164    Whil that hire lord were elleswhere.
165    And of miself I telle this;
166    For it so longe passed is, 
167    Sithe ferst than ye fro home wente, 
168    That welnyh every man his wente  
169    To there I am, whil ye ben oute, 
170    Hath mad, and ech of hem aboute, 
171    Which love can, my love secheth, 
172    With gret preiere and me besecheth: 
173    And some maken gret manace,
174    That if thei mihten come in place,  
175    Wher that thei mihte here wille have,    
176    Ther is nothing me scholde save, 
177    That thei ne wolde werche thinges;  
178    And some tellen me tidynges
179    That ye ben ded, and some sein
180    That certeinly ye ben besein  
181    To love a newe and leve me.
182    Bot hou as evere that it be,  
183    I thonke unto the goddes alle,
184    As yit for oght that is befalle  
185    Mai noman do my chekes rede:  
186    Bot natheles it is to drede,  
187    That Lachesse in continuance  
188    Fortune mihte such a chance,  
189    Which noman after scholde amende."  
190    Lo, thus this ladi compleignende 
191    A lettre unto hire lord hath write, 
192    And preyde him that he wolde wite
193    And thenke hou that sche was al his,
194    And that he tarie noght in this, 
195    Bot that he wolde his love aquite,  
196    To hire ayeinward and noght wryte,  
197    Bot come himself in alle haste,  
198    That he non other paper waste;
199    So that he kepe and holde his trowthe  
200    Withoute lette of eny Slowthe.
201    Unto hire lord and love liege 
202    To Troie, wher the grete Siege
203    Was leid, this lettre was conveied. 
204    And he, which wisdom hath pourveied 
205    Of al that to reson belongeth,
206    With gentil herte it underfongeth:  
207    And whan he hath it overrad,  
208    In part he was riht inly glad,
209    And ek in part he was desesed:
210    Bot love his herte hath so thorghsesed 
211    With pure ymaginacioun,   
212    That for non occupacioun
213    Which he can take on other side, 
214    He mai noght flitt his herte aside  
215    Fro that his wif him hadde enformed;
216    Wherof he hath himself conformed 
217    With al the wille of his corage  
218    To schape and take the viage  
219    Homward, what time that he mai:  
220    So that him thenketh of a day 
221    A thousand yer, til he mai se 
222    The visage of Penolope, 
223    Which he desireth most of alle.  
224    And whan the time is so befalle  
225    That Troie was destruid and brent,  
226    He made non delaiement, 
227    Bot goth him home in alle hihe,  
228    Wher that he fond tofore his yhe 
229    His worthi wif in good astat: 
230    And thus was cessed the debat 
231    Of love, and Slowthe was excused,
232    Which doth gret harm, where it is used,
233    And hindreth many a cause honeste.  
234    For of the grete Clerc Grossteste
235    I rede how besy that he was
236    Upon clergie an Hed of bras
237    To forge, and make it forto telle
238    Of suche thinges as befelle.  
239    And sevene yeres besinesse 
240    He leyde, bot for the lachesse
241    Of half a Minut of an houre,  
242    Fro ferst that he began laboure  
243    He loste all that he hadde do.
244    And otherwhile it fareth so,  
245    In loves cause who is slow,
246    That he withoute under the wow
247    Be nyhte stant fulofte acold, 
248    Which mihte, if that he hadde wold
249    His time kept, have be withinne. 
250    Bot Slowthe mai no profit winne, 
251    Bot he mai singe in his karole
252    How Latewar cam to the Dole,  
253    Wher he no good receive mihte.
254    And that was proved wel be nyhte 
255    Whilom of the Maidenes fyve,  
256    Whan thilke lord cam forto wyve: 
257    For that here oyle was aweie  
258    To lihte here lampes in his weie,
259    Here Slowthe broghte it so aboute,  
260    Fro him that thei ben schet withoute.  
261    Wherof, my Sone, be thou war, 
262    Als ferforth as I telle dar.  
263    For love moste ben awaited:
264    And if thou be noght wel affaited
265    In love to eschuie Slowthe,
266    Mi Sone, forto telle trowthe, 
267    Thou miht noght of thiself ben able 
268    To winne love or make it stable, 
269    All thogh thou mihtest love achieve.
270    Mi fader, that I mai wel lieve.  
271    Bot me was nevere assigned place,
272    Wher yit to geten eny grace,  
273    Ne me was non such time apointed;
274    For thanne I wolde I were unjoynted 
275    Of every lime that I have, 
276    If I ne scholde kepe and save 
277    Min houre bothe and ek my stede, 
278    If my ladi it hadde bede.  
279    Bot sche is otherwise avised  
280    Than grante such a time assised; 
281    And natheles of mi lachesse
282    Ther hath be no defalte I gesse  
283    Of time lost, if that I mihte:
284    Bot yit hire liketh noght alyhte
285    Upon no lure which I caste;
286    For ay the more I crie faste, 
287    The lasse hire liketh forto hiere.  
288    So forto speke of this matiere,  
289    I seche that I mai noght finde,  
290    I haste and evere I am behinde,  
291    And wot noght what it mai amounte.  
292    Bot, fader, upon myn acompte, 
293    Which ye be sett to examine
294    Of Schrifte after the discipline,
295    Sey what your beste conseil is.  
296    Mi Sone, my conseil is this:  
297    Hou so it stonde of time go,  
298    Do forth thi besinesse so, 
299    That no Lachesce in the be founde:  
300    For Slowthe is mihti to confounde
301    The spied of every mannes werk.  
302    For many a vice, as seith the clerk,
303    Ther hongen upon Slowthes lappe  
304    Of suche as make a man mishappe, 
305    To pleigne and telle of hadde I wist.  
306    And therupon if that thee list
307    To knowe of Slowthes cause more, 
308    In special yit overmore 
309    Ther is a vice full grevable  
310    To him which is therof coupable, 
311    And stant of alle vertu bare, 
312    Hierafter as I schal declare. 
313    Touchende of Slowthe in his degre,  
314    Ther is yit Pusillamite,
315    Which is to seie in this langage,
316    He that hath litel of corage  
317    And dar no mannes werk beginne:
318    So mai he noght be resoun winne; 
319    For who that noght dar undertake,
320    Be riht he schal no profit take. 
321    Bot of this vice the nature
322    Dar nothing sette in aventure,
323    Him lacketh bothe word and dede, 
324    Wherof he scholde his cause spede:  
325    He woll no manhed understonde,
326    For evere he hath drede upon honde: 
327    Al is peril that he schal seie,  
328    Him thenkth the wolf is in the weie,
329    And of ymaginacioun  
330    He makth his excusacioun
331    And feigneth cause of pure drede,
332    And evere he faileth ate nede,
333    Til al be spilt that he with deleth.
334    He hath the sor which noman heleth, 
335    The which is cleped lack of herte;  
336    Thogh every grace aboute him sterte,
337    He wol noght ones stere his fot; 
338    So that be resoun lese he mot,
339    That wol noght auntre forto winne.  
340    And so forth, Sone, if we beginne
341    To speke of love and his servise,
342    Ther ben truantz in such a wise, 
343    That lacken herte, whan best were
344    To speke of love, and riht for fere 
345    Thei wexen doumb and dar noght telle,  
346    Withoute soun as doth the belle, 
347    Which hath no claper forto chyme;
348    And riht so thei as for the tyme 
349    Ben herteles withoute speche  
350    Of love, and dar nothing beseche;
351    And thus thei lese and winne noght. 
352    Forthi, my Sone, if thou art oght
353    Coupable as touchende of this Slowthe, 
354    Schrif thee therof and tell me trowthe.
355    Mi fader, I am al beknowe    
356    That I have ben on of tho slowe, 
357    As forto telle in loves cas.  
358    Min herte is yit and evere was,  
359    As thogh the world scholde al tobreke, 
360    So ferful, that I dar noght speke
361    Of what pourpos that I have nome,
362    Whan I toward mi ladi come,
363    Bot let it passe and overgo.  
364    Mi Sone, do nomore so:  
365    For after that a man poursuieth  
366    To love, so fortune suieth,
367    Fulofte and yifth hire happi chance 
368    To him which makth continuance
369    To preie love and to beseche; 
370    As be ensample I schal thee teche.  
371    I finde hou whilom ther was on,  
372    Whos name was Pymaleon, 
373    Which was a lusti man of yowthe: 
374    The werkes of entaile he cowthe  
375    Above alle othre men as tho;  
376    And thurgh fortune it fell him so,  
377    As he whom love schal travaile,  
378    He made an ymage of entaile
379    Lich to a womman in semblance 
380    Of feture and of contienance, 
381    So fair yit nevere was figure.
382    Riht as a lyves creature
383    Sche semeth, for of yvor whyt 
384    He hath hire wroght of such delit,  
385    That sche was rody on the cheke  
386    And red on bothe hire lippes eke;
387    Wherof that he himself beguileth.
388    For with a goodly lok sche smyleth, 
389    So that thurgh pure impression
390    Of his ymaginacion
391    With al the herte of his corage    
392    His love upon this faire ymage
393    He sette, and hire of love preide;  
394    Bot sche no word ayeinward seide.
395    The longe day, what thing he dede,  
396    This ymage in the same stede  
397    Was evere bi, that ate mete
398    He wolde hire serve and preide hire ete,  
399    And putte unto hire mowth the cuppe;
400    And whan the bord was taken uppe,
401    He hath hire into chambre nome,  
402    And after, whan the nyht was come,  
403    He leide hire in his bed al nakid.  
404    He was forwept, he was forwakid, 
405    He keste hire colde lippes ofte, 
406    And wissheth that thei weren softe, 
407    And ofte he rouneth in hire Ere, 
408    And ofte his arm now hier now there 
409    He leide, as he hir wolde embrace,  
410    And evere among he axeth grace,  
411    As thogh sche wiste what he mente:  
412    And thus himself he gan tormente 
413    With such desese of loves peine, 
414    That noman mihte him more peine. 
415    Bot how it were, of his penance  
416    He made such continuance
417    Fro dai to nyht, and preith so longe,  
418    That his preiere is underfonge,  
419    Which Venus of hire grace herde; 
420    Be nyhte and whan that he worst ferde, 
421    And it lay in his nakede arm, 
422    The colde ymage he fieleth warm  
423    Of fleissh and bon and full of lif. 
424    Lo, thus he wan a lusti wif,  
425    Which obeissant was at his wille;
426    And if he wolde have holde him stille  
427    And nothing spoke, he scholde have failed:
428    Bot for he hath his word travailed  
429    And dorste speke, his love he spedde,    
430    And hadde al that he wolde abedde.  
431    For er thei wente thanne atwo,
432    A knave child betwen hem two  
433    Thei gete, which was after hote  
434    Paphus, of whom yit hath the note
435    A certein yle, which Paphos
436    Men clepe, and of his name it ros.  
437    Be this ensample thou miht finde 
438    That word mai worche above kinde.
439    Forthi, my Sone, if that thou spare 
440    To speke, lost is al thi fare,
441    For Slowthe bringth in alle wo.  
442    And over this to loke also,
443    The god of love is favorable  
444    To hem that ben of love stable,  
445    And many a wonder hath befalle:  
446    Wherof to speke amonges alle, 
447    If that thee list to taken hede, 
448    Therof a solein tale I rede,  
449    Which I schal telle in remembraunce 
450    Upon the sort of loves chaunce.  
451    The king Ligdus upon a strif  
452    Spak unto Thelacuse his wif,  
453    Which thanne was with childe grete; 
454    He swor it scholde noght be lete,
455    That if sche have a dowhter bore,
456    That it ne scholde be forlore 
457    And slain, wherof sche sory was. 
458    So it befell upon this cas,
459    Whan sche delivered scholde be,  
460    Isis be nyhte in privete,  
461    Which of childinge is the goddesse, 
462    Cam forto helpe in that destresse,  
463    Til that this lady was al smal,  
464    And hadde a dowhter forth withal;
465    Which the goddesse in alle weie  
466    Bad kepe, and that thei scholden seie    
467    It were a Sone: and thus Iphis
468    Thei namede him, and upon this
469    The fader was mad so to wene. 
470    And thus in chambre with the qweene 
471    This Iphis was forthdrawe tho,
472    And clothed and arraied so 
473    Riht as a kinges Sone scholde.
474    Til after, as fortune it wolde,  
475    Whan it was of a ten yer age, 
476    Him was betake in mariage  
477    A Duckes dowhter forto wedde, 
478    Which Iante hihte, and ofte abedde  
479    These children leien, sche and sche,
480    Whiche of on age bothe be. 
481    So that withinne time of yeeres, 
482    Togedre as thei ben pleiefieres, 
483    Liggende abedde upon a nyht,  
484    Nature, which doth every wiht 
485    Upon hire lawe forto muse, 
486    Constreigneth hem, so that thei use 
487    Thing which to hem was al unknowe;  
488    Wherof Cupide thilke throwe
489    Tok pite for the grete love,  
490    And let do sette kinde above, 
491    So that hir lawe mai ben used,
492    And thei upon here lust excused. 
493    For love hateth nothing more  
494    Than thing which stant ayein the lore  
495    Of that nature in kinde hath sett:  
496    Forthi Cupide hath so besett  
497    His grace upon this aventure, 
498    That he acordant to nature,
499    Whan that he syh the time best,  
500    That ech of hem hath other kest, 
501    Transformeth Iphe into a man, 
502    Wherof the kinde love he wan  
503    Of lusti yonge Iante his wif;   
504    And tho thei ladde a merie lif,  
505    Which was to kinde non offence.  
506    And thus to take an evidence, 
507    It semeth love is welwillende 
508    To hem that ben continuende
509    With besy herte to poursuie
510    Thing which that is to love due. 
511    Wherof, my Sone, in this matiere 
512    Thou miht ensample taken hiere,  
513    That with thi grete besinesse 
514    Thou miht atteigne the richesse  
515    Of love, if that ther be no Slowthe.
516    I dar wel seie be mi trowthe, 
517    Als fer as I my witt can seche,  
518    Mi fader, as for lacke of speche,
519    Bot so as I me schrof tofore, 
520    Ther is non other time lore,  
521    Wherof ther mihte ben obstacle
522    To lette love of his miracle, 
523    Which I beseche day and nyht. 
524    Bot, fader, so as it is riht  
525    In forme of schrifte to beknowe  
526    What thing belongeth to the slowe,  
527    Your faderhode I wolde preie, 
528    If ther be forthere eny weie  
529    Touchende unto this ilke vice.
530    Mi Sone, ye, of this office
531    Ther serveth on in special,
532    Which lost hath his memorial, 
533    So that he can no wit withholde  
534    In thing which he to kepe is holde, 
535    Wherof fulofte himself he grieveth: 
536    And who that most upon him lieveth, 
537    Whan that hise wittes ben so weyved,
538    He mai full lihtly be deceived.    
539    To serve Accidie in his office,  
540    Ther is of Slowthe an other vice,
541    Which cleped is Foryetelnesse;
542    That noght mai in his herte impresse
543    Of vertu which reson hath sett,  
544    So clene his wittes he foryet.
545    For in the tellinge of his tale  
546    Nomore his herte thanne his male 
547    Hath remembrance of thilke forme,
548    Wherof he scholde his wit enforme
549    As thanne, and yit ne wot he why.
550    Thus is his pourpos noght forthi 
551    Forlore of that he wolde bidde,  
552    And skarsly if he seith the thridde 
553    To love of that he hadde ment:
554    Thus many a lovere hath be schent.  
555    Tell on therfore, hast thou be oon  
556    Of hem that Slowthe hath so begon?  
557    Ye, fader, ofte it hath be so,
558    That whanne I am mi ladi fro  
559    And thenke untoward hire drawe,  
560    Than cast I many a newe lawe  
561    And al the world torne up so doun,  
562    And so recorde I mi lecoun 
563    And wryte in my memorial
564    What I to hire telle schal,
565    Riht al the matiere of mi tale:  
566    Bot al nys worth a note schale;  
567    For whanne I come ther sche is,  
568    I have it al foryete ywiss;
569    Of that I thoghte forto telle 
570    I can noght thanne unethes spelle
571    That I wende altherbest have rad,  
572    So sore I am of hire adrad.
573    For as a man that sodeinli 
574    A gost behelde, so fare I; 
575    So that for feere I can noght gete  
576    Mi witt, bot I miself foryete,
577    That I wot nevere what I am,  
578    Ne whider I schal, ne whenne I cam, 
579    Bot muse as he that were amased. 
580    Lich to the bok in which is rased
581    The lettre, and mai nothing be rad, 
582    So ben my wittes overlad,  
583    That what as evere I thoghte have spoken, 
584    It is out fro myn herte stoken,  
585    And stonde, as who seith, doumb and def,  
586    That all nys worth an yvy lef,
587    Of that I wende wel have seid.
588    And ate laste I make abreid,  
589    Caste up myn hed and loke aboute,
590    Riht as a man that were in doute 
591    And wot noght wher he schal become. 
592    Thus am I ofte al overcome,
593    Ther as I wende best to stonde:  
594    Bot after, whanne I understonde, 
595    And am in other place al one, 
596    I make many a wofull mone  
597    Unto miself, and speke so: 
598    "Ha fol, wher was thin herte tho,
599    Whan thou thi worthi ladi syhe?  
600    Were thou afered of hire yhe? 
601    For of hire hand ther is no drede:  
602    So wel I knowe hir wommanhede,
603    That in hire is nomore oultrage  
604    Than in a child of thre yeer age.
605    Whi hast thou drede of so good on,  
606    Whom alle vertu hath begon,
607    That in hire is no violence
608    Bot goodlihiede and innocence 
609    Withouten spot of eny blame?    
610    Ha, nyce herte, fy for schame]
611    Ha, couard herte of love unlered,
612    Wherof art thou so sore afered,  
613    That thou thi tunge soffrest frese, 
614    And wolt thi goode wordes lese,  
615    Whan thou hast founde time and space?  
616    How scholdest thou deserve grace,
617    Whan thou thiself darst axe non, 
618    Bot al thou hast foryete anon?"  
619    And thus despute I loves lore,
620    Bot help ne finde I noght the more, 
621    Bot stomble upon myn oghne treine
622    And make an ekinge of my peine.  
623    For evere whan I thenke among 
624    How al is on miself along, 
625    I seie, "O fol of alle foles, 
626    Thou farst as he betwen tuo stoles  
627    That wolde sitte and goth to grounde.  
628    It was ne nevere schal be founde,
629    Betwen foryetelnesse and drede
630    That man scholde any cause spede."  
631    And thus, myn holi fader diere,  
632    Toward miself, as ye mai hiere,  
633    I pleigne of my foryetelnesse;
634    Bot elles al the besinesse,
635    That mai be take of mannes thoght,  
636    Min herte takth, and is thorghsoght 
637    To thenken evere upon that swete 
638    Withoute Slowthe, I you behete.  
639    For what so falle, or wel or wo, 
640    That thoght foryete I neveremo,  
641    Wher so I lawhe or so I loure:
642    Noght half the Minut of an houre 
643    Ne mihte I lete out of my mende, 
644    Bot if I thoghte upon that hende.
645    Therof me schal no Slowthe lette,
646    Til deth out of this world me fette,  
647    Althogh I hadde on such a Ring,  
648    As Moises thurgh his enchanting  
649    Som time in Ethiope made,  
650    Whan that he Tharbis weddid hade.
651    Which Ring bar of Oblivion 
652    The name, and that was be resoun 
653    That where it on a finger sat,
654    Anon his love he so foryat,
655    As thogh he hadde it nevere knowe:  
656    And so it fell that ilke throwe, 
657    Whan Tharbis hadde it on hire hond, 
658    No knowlechinge of him sche fond,
659    Bot al was clene out of memoire, 
660    As men mai rede in his histoire; 
661    And thus he wente quit away,  
662    That nevere after that ilke day  
663    Sche thoghte that ther was such on; 
664    Al was foryete and overgon.
665    Bot in good feith so mai noght I:
666    For sche is evere faste by,
667    So nyh that sche myn herte toucheth,
668    That for nothing that Slowthe voucheth 
669    I mai foryete hire, lief ne loth;
670    For overal, where as sche goth,  
671    Min herte folwith hire aboute.
672    Thus mai I seie withoute doute,  
673    For bet, for wers, for oght, for noght,
674    Sche passeth nevere fro my thoght;  
675    Bot whanne I am ther as sche is, 
676    Min herte, as I you saide er this,  
677    Som time of hire is sore adrad,  
678    And som time it is overglad,  
679    Al out of reule and out of space.
680    For whan I se hir goodli face 
681    And thenke upon hire hihe pris,  
682    As thogh I were in Paradis,
683    I am so ravisht of the syhte, 
684    That speke unto hire I ne myhte
685    As for the time, thogh I wolde:  
686    For I ne mai my wit unfolde
687    To finde o word of that I mene,  
688    Bot al it is foryete clene;
689    And thogh I stonde there a myle, 
690    Al is foryete for the while,  
691    A tunge I have and wordes none.  
692    And thus I stonde and thenke al one 
693    Of thing that helpeth ofte noght;
694    Bot what I hadde afore thoght 
695    To speke, whanne I come there,
696    It is foryete, as noght ne were, 
697    And stonde amased and assoted,
698    That of nothing which I have noted  
699    I can noght thanne a note singe, 
700    Bot al is out of knowlechinge:
701    Thus, what for joie and what for drede,
702    Al is foryeten ate nede.
703    So that, mi fader, of this Slowthe  
704    I have you said the pleine trowthe; 
705    Ye mai it as you list redresce:  
706    For thus stant my foryetelnesse  
707    And ek my pusillamite.  
708    Sey now forth what you list to me,  
709    For I wol only do be you.  
710    Mi Sone, I have wel herd how thou
711    Hast seid, and that thou most amende:  
712    For love his grace wol noght sende  
713    To that man which dar axe non.
714    For this we knowen everichon, 
715    A mannes thoght withoute speche  
716    God wot, and yit that men beseche
717    His will is; for withoute bedes  
718    He doth his grace in fewe stedes:
719    And what man that foryet himselve,  
720    Among a thousand be noght tuelve,
721    That wol him take in remembraunce,  
722    Bot lete him falle and take his chaunce.    
723    Forthi pull up a besi herte,  
724    Mi Sone, and let nothing asterte 
725    Of love fro thi besinesse: 
726    For touchinge of foryetelnesse,  
727    Which many a love hath set behinde, 
728    A tale of gret ensample I finde, 
729    Wherof it is pite to wite  
730    In the manere as it is write. 
731    King Demephon, whan he be Schipe 
732    To Troieward with felaschipe  
733    Sailende goth, upon his weie  
734    It hapneth him at Rodopeie,
735    As Eolus him hadde blowe,  
736    To londe, and rested for a throwe.  
737    And fell that ilke time thus, 
738    The dowhter of Ligurgius,  
739    Which qweene was of the contre,  
740    Was sojournende in that Cite  
741    Withinne a Castell nyh the stronde, 
742    Wher Demephon cam up to londe.
743    Phillis sche hihte, and of yong age 
744    And of stature and of visage  
745    Sche hadde al that hire best besemeth. 
746    Of Demephon riht wel hire qwemeth,  
747    Whan he was come, and made him chiere; 
748    And he, that was of his manere
749    A lusti knyht, ne myhte asterte  
750    That he ne sette on hire his herte; 
751    So that withinne a day or tuo 
752    He thoghte, how evere that it go,
753    He wolde assaie the fortune,  
754    And gan his herte to commune  
755    With goodly wordes in hire Ere;  
756    And forto put hire out of fere,  
757    He swor and hath his trowthe pliht  
758    To be for evere hire oghne knyht.
759    And thus with hire he stille abod,  
760    Ther while his Schip on Anker rod,
761    And hadde ynowh of time and space
762    To speke of love and seche grace.
763    This ladi herde al that he seide,
764    And hou he swor and hou he preide,  
765    Which was as an enchantement  
766    To hire, that was innocent:
767    As thogh it were trowthe and feith, 
768    Sche lieveth al that evere he seith,
769    And as hire infortune scholde,
770    Sche granteth him al that he wolde. 
771    Thus was he for the time in joie,
772    Til that he scholde go to Troie; 
773    Bot tho sche made mochel sorwe,  
774    And he his trowthe leith to borwe
775    To come, if that he live may, 
776    Ayein withinne a Monthe day,  
777    And therupon thei kisten bothe:  
778    Bot were hem lieve or were hem lothe,  
779    To Schipe he goth and forth he wente
780    To Troie, as was his ferste entente.
781    The daies gon, the Monthe passeth,  
782    Hire love encresceth and his lasseth,  
783    For him sche lefte slep and mete,
784    And he his time hath al foryete; 
785    So that this wofull yonge qweene,
786    Which wot noght what it mihte meene,
787    A lettre sende and preide him come, 
788    And seith how sche is overcome
789    With strengthe of love in such a wise, 
790    That sche noght longe mai suffise
791    To liven out of his presence; 
792    And putte upon his conscience 
793    The trowthe which he hath behote,
794    Wherof sche loveth him so hote,  
795    Sche seith, that if he lengere lette
796    Of such a day as sche him sette, 
797    Sche scholde sterven in his Slowthe,    
798    Which were a schame unto his trowthe.  
799    This lettre is forth upon hire sonde,  
800    Wherof somdiel confort on honde  
801    Sche tok, as she that wolde abide
802    And waite upon that ilke tyde 
803    Which sche hath in hire lettre write.  
804    Bot now is pite forto wite,
805    As he dede erst, so he foryat 
806    His time eftsone and oversat. 
807    Bot sche, which mihte noght do so,  
808    The tyde awayteth everemo, 
809    And caste hire yhe upon the See: 
810    Somtime nay, somtime yee,  
811    Somtime he cam, somtime noght,
812    Thus sche desputeth in hire thoght  
813    And wot noght what sche thenke mai; 
814    Bot fastende al the longe day 
815    Sche was into the derke nyht, 
816    And tho sche hath do set up lyht 
817    In a lanterne on hih alofte
818    Upon a Tour, wher sche goth ofte,
819    In hope that in his cominge
820    He scholde se the liht brenninge,
821    Wherof he mihte his weies rihte  
822    To come wher sche was be nyhte.  
823    Bot al for noght, sche was deceived,
824    For Venus hath hire hope weyved, 
825    And schewede hire upon the Sky
826    How that the day was faste by,
827    So that withinne a litel throwe  
828    The daies lyht sche mihte knowe. 
829    Tho sche behield the See at large;  
830    And whan sche sih ther was no barge 
831    Ne Schip, als ferr as sche may kenne,  
832    Doun fro the Tour sche gan to renne 
833    Into an Herber all hire one,  
834    Wher many a wonder woful mone 
835    Sche made, that no lif it wiste, 
836    As sche which all hire joie miste,  
837    That now sche swouneth, now sche pleigneth,        
838    And al hire face sche desteigneth
839    With teres, whiche, as of a welle
840    The stremes, from hire yhen felle;  
841    So as sche mihte and evere in on 
842    Sche clepede upon Demephon,
843    And seide, "Helas, thou slowe wiht, 
844    Wher was ther evere such a knyht,
845    That so thurgh his ungentilesce  
846    Of Slowthe and of foryetelnesse  
847    Ayein his trowthe brak his stevene?"
848    And tho hire yhe up to the hevene
849    Sche caste, and seide, "O thou unkinde,
850    Hier schalt thou thurgh thi Slowthe finde,
851    If that thee list to come and se,
852    A ladi ded for love of thee,  
853    So as I schal myselve spille; 
854    Whom, if it hadde be thi wille,  
855    Thou mihtest save wel ynowh." 
856    With that upon a grene bowh
857    A Ceinte of Selk, which sche ther hadde,  
858    Sche knette, and so hireself sche ladde,  
859    That sche aboute hire whyte swere
860    It dede, and hyng hirselven there.  
861    Wherof the goddes were amoeved,  
862    And Demephon was so reproeved,
863    That of the goddes providence 
864    Was schape such an evidence
865    Evere afterward ayein the slowe, 
866    That Phillis in the same throwe  
867    Was schape into a Notetre, 
868    That alle men it mihte se, 
869    And after Phillis Philliberd  
870    This tre was cleped in the yerd, 
871    And yit for Demephon to schame
872    Into this dai it berth the name. 
873    This wofull chance how that it ferde
874    Anon as Demephon it herde, 
875    And every man it hadde in speche,
876    His sorwe was noght tho to seche;
877    He gan his Slowthe forto banne,      
878    Bot it was al to late thanne. 
879    Lo thus, my Sone, miht thou wite 
880    Ayein this vice how it is write; 
881    For noman mai the harmes gesse,  
882    That fallen thurgh foryetelnesse,
883    Wherof that I thi schrifte have herd.  
884    Bot yit of Slowthe hou it hath ferd 
885    In other wise I thenke oppose,
886    If thou have gult, as I suppose. 
887    Fulfild of Slowthes essamplaire  
888    Ther is yit on, his Secretaire,  
889    And he is cleped Negligence:  
890    Which wol noght loke his evidence,  
891    Wherof he mai be war tofore;  
892    Bot whanne he hath his cause lore,  
893    Thanne is he wys after the hond: 
894    Whanne helpe may no maner bond,  
895    Thanne ate ferste wolde he binde:
896    Thus everemore he stant behinde. 
897    Whanne he the thing mai noght amende,  
898    Thanne is he war, and seith at ende,
899    "Ha, wolde god I hadde knowe]"
900    Wherof bejaped with a mowe 
901    He goth, for whan the grete Stiede  
902    Is stole, thanne he taketh hiede,
903    And makth the stable dore fast:  
904    Thus evere he pleith an aftercast
905    Of al that he schal seie or do.  
906    He hath a manere eke also, 
907    Him list noght lerne to be wys,  
908    For he set of no vertu pris
909    Bot as him liketh for the while; 
910    So fieleth he fulofte guile,  
911    Whan that he weneth siker stonde.    
912    And thus thou miht wel understonde, 
913    Mi Sone, if thou art such in love,  
914    Thou miht noght come at thin above  
915    Of that thou woldest wel achieve.
916    Mi holi fader, as I lieve, 
917    I mai wel with sauf conscience
918    Excuse me of necgligence
919    Towardes love in alle wise:
920    For thogh I be non of the wise,  
921    I am so trewly amerous, 
922    That I am evere curious 
923    Of hem that conne best enforme
924    To knowe and witen al the forme, 
925    What falleth unto loves craft.
926    Bot yit ne fond I noght the haft,
927    Which mihte unto that bladd acorde; 
928    For nevere herde I man recorde
929    What thing it is that myhte availe  
930    To winne love withoute faile. 
931    Yit so fer cowthe I nevere finde 
932    Man that be resoun ne be kinde
933    Me cowthe teche such an art,  
934    That he ne failede of a part; 
935    And as toward myn oghne wit,  
936    Controeve cowthe I nevere yit 
937    To finden eny sikernesse,  
938    That me myhte outher more or lesse  
939    Of love make forto spede:  
940    For lieveth wel withoute drede,  
941    If that ther were such a weie,
942    As certeinliche as I schal deie  
943    I hadde it lerned longe ago.  
944    Bot I wot wel ther is non so: 
945    And natheles it may wel be,
946    I am so rude in my degree  
947    And ek mi wittes ben so dulle,
948    That I ne mai noght to the fulle 
949    Atteigne to so hih a lore. 
950    Bot this I dar seie overmore,     
951    Althogh mi wit ne be noght strong,  
952    It is noght on mi will along, 
953    For that is besi nyht and day 
954    To lerne al that he lerne may,
955    How that I mihte love winne:  
956    Bot yit I am as to beginne 
957    Of that I wolde make an ende, 
958    And for I not how it schal wende,
959    That is to me mi moste sorwe. 
960    Bot I dar take god to borwe,  
961    As after min entendement,  
962    Non other wise necgligent  
963    Thanne I yow seie have I noght be:  
964    Forthi per seinte charite  
965    Tell me, mi fader, what you semeth. 
966    In good feith, Sone, wel me qwemeth,
967    That thou thiself hast thus aquit
968    Toward this vice, in which no wit
969    Abide mai, for in an houre 
970    He lest al that he mai laboure
971    The longe yer, so that men sein, 
972    What evere he doth it is in vein.
973    For thurgh the Slowthe of Negligence
974    Ther was yit nevere such science 
975    Ne vertu, which was bodely,
976    That nys destruid and lost therby.  
977    Ensample that it hath be so
978    In boke I finde write also.
979    Phebus, which is the Sonne hote, 
980    That schyneth upon Erthe hote 
981    And causeth every lyves helthe,  
982    He hadde a Sone in al his welthe,
983    Which Pheton hihte, and he desireth 
984    And with his Moder he conspireth,
985    The which was cleped Clemenee,
986    For help and conseil, so that he     
987    His fader carte lede myhte 
988    Upon the faire daies brihte.  
989    And for this thing thei bothe preide
990    Unto the fader, and he seide  
991    He wolde wel, bot forth withal
992    Thre pointz he bad in special 
993    Unto his Sone in alle wise,
994    That he him scholde wel avise 
995    And take it as be weie of lore.  
996    Ferst was, that he his hors to sore 
997    Ne prike, and over that he tolde 
998    That he the renes faste holde;
999    And also that he be riht war  
1000   In what manere he lede his charr,
1001   That he mistake noght his gate,  
1002   Bot up avisement algate 
1003   He scholde bere a siker yhe,  
1004   That he to lowe ne to hyhe 
1005   His carte dryve at eny throwe,
1006   Wherof that he mihte overthrowe. 
1007   And thus be Phebus ordinance  
1008   Tok Pheton into governance 
1009   The Sonnes carte, which he ladde:
1010   Bot he such veine gloire hadde
1011   Of that he was set upon hyh,  
1012   That he his oghne astat ne syh
1013   Thurgh negligence and tok non hiede;
1014   So mihte he wel noght longe spede.  
1015   For he the hors withoute lawe 
1016   The carte let aboute drawe 
1017   Wher as hem liketh wantounly, 
1018   That ate laste sodeinly,
1019   For he no reson wolde knowe,  
1020   This fyri carte he drof to lowe, 
1021   And fyreth al the world aboute;  
1022   Wherof thei weren alle in doubte,
1023   And to the god for helpe criden      
1024   Of suche unhappes as betyden. 
1025   Phebus, which syh the necgligence,  
1026   How Pheton ayein his defence  
1027   His charr hath drive out of the weie,  
1028   Ordeigneth that he fell aweie 
1029   Out of the carte into a flod  
1030   And dreynte. Lo now, hou it stod 
1031   With him that was so necgligent, 
1032   That fro the hyhe firmament,  
1033   For that he wolde go to lowe, 
1034   He was anon doun overthrowe.  
1035   In hih astat it is a vice  
1036   To go to lowe, and in service 
1037   It grieveth forto go to hye,  
1038   Wherof a tale in poesie 
1039   I finde, how whilom Dedalus,  
1040   Which hadde a Sone, and Icharus  
1041   He hihte, and thogh hem thoghte lothe, 
1042   In such prison thei weren bothe  
1043   With Minotaurus, that aboute  
1044   Thei mihten nawher wenden oute;  
1045   So thei begonne forto schape  
1046   How thei the prison mihte ascape.
1047   This Dedalus, which fro his yowthe  
1048   Was tawht and manye craftes cowthe, 
1049   Of fetheres and of othre thinges 
1050   Hath mad to fle diverse wynges
1051   For him and for his Sone also;
1052   To whom he yaf in charge tho  
1053   And bad him thenke therupon,  
1054   How that his wynges ben set on
1055   With wex, and if he toke his flyhte 
1056   To hyhe, al sodeinliche he mihte 
1057   Make it to melte with the Sonne. 
1058   And thus thei have her flyht begonne
1059   Out of the prison faire and softe;  
1060   And whan thei weren bothe alofte,
1061   This Icharus began to monte,      
1062   And of the conseil non accompte  
1063   He sette, which his fader tawhte,
1064   Til that the Sonne his wynges cawhte,  
1065   Wherof it malt, and fro the heihte  
1066   Withouten help of eny sleihte 
1067   He fell to his destruccion.
1068   And lich to that condicion 
1069   Ther fallen ofte times fele
1070   For lacke of governance in wele, 
1071   Als wel in love as other weie.
1072   Now goode fader, I you preie, 
1073   If ther be more in the matiere
1074   Of Slowthe, that I mihte it hiere.  
1075   Mi Sone, and for thi diligence,  
1076   Which every mannes conscience 
1077   Be resoun scholde reule and kepe,
1078   If that thee list to taken kepe, 
1079   I wol thee telle, aboven alle 
1080   In whom no vertu mai befalle, 
1081   Which yifth unto the vices reste 
1082   And is of slowe the sloweste. 
1083   Among these othre of Slowthes kinde,
1084   Which alle labour set behinde,
1085   And hateth alle besinesse, 
1086   Ther is yit on, which Ydelnesse  
1087   Is cleped, and is the Norrice 
1088   In mannes kinde of every vice,
1089   Which secheth eases manyfold. 
1090   In Wynter doth he noght for cold,
1091   In Somer mai he noght for hete;  
1092   So whether that he frese or swete,      
1093   Or he be inne, or he be oute, 
1094   He wol ben ydel al aboute, 
1095   Bot if he pleie oght ate Dees.
1096   For who as evere take fees 
1097   And thenkth worschipe to deserve,
1098   Ther is no lord whom he wol serve,  
1099   As forto duelle in his servise,  
1100   Bot if it were in such a wise,
1101   Of that he seth per aventure  
1102   That be lordschipe and coverture 
1103   He mai the more stonde stille,
1104   And use his ydelnesse at wille.  
1105   For he ne wol no travail take 
1106   To ryde for his ladi sake, 
1107   Bot liveth al upon his wisshes;  
1108   And as a cat wolde ete fisshes
1109   Withoute wetinge of his cles, 
1110   So wolde he do, bot natheles  
1111   He faileth ofte of that he wolde.
1112   Mi Sone, if thou of such a molde 
1113   Art mad, now tell me plein thi schrifte.  
1114   Nay, fader, god I yive a yifte.  
1115   That toward love, as be mi wit,  
1116   Al ydel was I nevere yit,  
1117   Ne nevere schal, whil I mai go.  
1118   Now, Sone, tell me thanne so, 
1119   What hast thou don of besischipe 
1120   To love and to the ladischipe 
1121   Of hire which thi ladi is? 
1122   Mi fader, evere yit er this
1123   In every place, in every stede,  
1124   What so mi lady hath me bede, 
1125   With al myn herte obedient 
1126   I have therto be diligent. 
1127   And if so is sche bidde noght,
1128   What thing that thanne into my thoght  
1129   Comth ferst of that I mai suffise,  
1130   I bowe and profre my servise, 
1131   Somtime in chambre, somtime in halle,      
1132   Riht as I se the times falle. 
1133   And whan sche goth to hiere masse,  
1134   That time schal noght overpasse, 
1135   That I naproche hir ladihede, 
1136   In aunter if I mai hire lede  
1137   Unto the chapelle and ayein.  
1138   Thanne is noght al mi weie in vein, 
1139   Somdiel I mai the betre fare, 
1140   Whan I, that mai noght fiele hir bare, 
1141   Mai lede hire clothed in myn arm:
1142   Bot afterward it doth me harm 
1143   Of pure ymaginacioun;
1144   For thanne this collacioun 
1145   I make unto miselven ofte, 
1146   And seie, "Ha lord, hou sche is softe, 
1147   How sche is round, hou sche is smal]
1148   Now wolde god I hadde hire al 
1149   Withoute danger at mi wille]" 
1150   And thanne I sike and sitte stille, 
1151   Of that I se mi besi thoght
1152   Is torned ydel into noght. 
1153   Bot for al that lete I ne mai,
1154   Whanne I se time an other dai,
1155   That I ne do my besinesse  
1156   Unto mi ladi worthinesse.  
1157   For I therto mi wit afaite 
1158   To se the times and awaite 
1159   What is to done and what to leve:
1160   And so, whan time is, be hir leve,  
1161   What thing sche bit me don, I do,
1162   And wher sche bidt me gon, I go, 
1163   And whanne hir list to clepe, I come.  
1164   Thus hath sche fulliche overcome 
1165   Min ydelnesse til I sterve,
1166   So that I mot hire nedes serve,  
1167   For as men sein, nede hath no lawe. 
1168   Thus mot I nedly to hire drawe,      
1169   I serve, I bowe, I loke, I loute,
1170   Min yhe folweth hire aboute,  
1171   What so sche wole so wol I,
1172   Whan sche wol sitte, I knele by, 
1173   And whan sche stant, than wol I stonde:
1174   Bot whan sche takth hir werk on honde  
1175   Of wevinge or enbrouderie, 
1176   Than can I noght bot muse and prie  
1177   Upon hir fingres longe and smale,
1178   And now I thenke, and now I tale,
1179   And now I singe, and now I sike, 
1180   And thus mi contienance I pike.  
1181   And if it falle, as for a time
1182   Hir liketh noght abide bime,  
1183   Bot besien hire on other thinges,
1184   Than make I othre tariinges
1185   To dreche forth the longe dai,
1186   For me is loth departe away.  
1187   And thanne I am so simple of port,  
1188   That forto feigne som desport 
1189   I pleie with hire litel hound 
1190   Now on the bedd, now on the ground, 
1191   Now with hir briddes in the cage;
1192   For ther is non so litel page,
1193   Ne yit so simple a chamberere,
1194   That I ne make hem alle chere,
1195   Al for thei scholde speke wel:
1196   Thus mow ye sen mi besi whiel,
1197   That goth noght ydeliche aboute. 
1198   And if hir list to riden oute 
1199   On pelrinage or other stede,  
1200   I come, thogh I be noght bede,
1201   And take hire in min arm alofte  
1202   And sette hire in hire sadel softe, 
1203   And so forth lede hire be the bridel,  
1204   For that I wolde noght ben ydel. 
1205   And if hire list to ride in Char,
1206   And thanne I mai therof be war,      
1207   Anon I schape me to ryde
1208   Riht evene be the Chares side;
1209   And as I mai, I speke among,  
1210   And otherwhile I singe a song,
1211   Which Ovide in his bokes made,
1212   And seide, "O whiche sorwes glade,  
1213   O which wofull prosperite  
1214   Belongeth to the proprete  
1215   Of love, who so wole him serve]  
1216   And yit therfro mai noman swerve,
1217   That he ne mot his lawe obeie."  
1218   And thus I ryde forth mi weie,
1219   And am riht besi overal 
1220   With herte and with mi body al,  
1221   As I have said you hier tofore.  
1222   My goode fader, tell therfore,
1223   Of Ydelnesse if I have gilt.  
1224   Mi Sone, bot thou telle wilt  
1225   Oght elles than I mai now hiere, 
1226   Thou schalt have no penance hiere.  
1227   And natheles a man mai se, 
1228   How now adayes that ther be
1229   Ful manye of suche hertes slowe, 
1230   That wol noght besien hem to knowe  
1231   What thing love is, til ate laste,  
1232   That he with strengthe hem overcaste,  
1233   That malgre hem thei mote obeie  
1234   And don al ydelschipe aweie,  
1235   To serve wel and besiliche.
1236   Bot, Sone, thou art non of swiche,  
1237   For love schal the wel excuse:
1238   Bot otherwise, if thou refuse 
1239   To love, thou miht so per cas 
1240   Ben ydel, as somtime was
1241   A kinges dowhter unavised, 
1242   Til that Cupide hire hath chastised:
1243   Wherof thou schalt a tale hiere  
1244   Acordant unto this matiere.    
1245   Of Armenye, I rede thus,
1246   Ther was a king, which Herupus
1247   Was hote, and he a lusti Maide
1248   To dowhter hadde, and as men saide  
1249   Hire name was Rosiphelee;  
1250   Which tho was of gret renomee,
1251   For sche was bothe wys and fair  
1252   And scholde ben hire fader hair. 
1253   Bot sche hadde o defalte of Slowthe 
1254   Towardes love, and that was rowthe; 
1255   For so wel cowde noman seie,  
1256   Which mihte sette hire in the weie  
1257   Of loves occupacion  
1258   Thurgh non ymaginacion; 
1259   That scole wolde sche noght knowe.  
1260   And thus sche was on of the slowe
1261   As of such hertes besinesse,  
1262   Til whanne Venus the goddesse,
1263   Which loves court hath forto reule, 
1264   Hath broght hire into betre reule,  
1265   Forth with Cupide and with his miht:
1266   For thei merveille how such a wiht, 
1267   Which tho was in hir lusti age,  
1268   Desireth nother Mariage 
1269   Ne yit the love of paramours, 
1270   Which evere hath be the comun cours 
1271   Amonges hem that lusti were.  
1272   So was it schewed after there:
1273   For he that hihe hertes loweth
1274   With fyri Dartes whiche he throweth,
1275   Cupide, which of love is godd,
1276   In chastisinge hath mad a rodd
1277   To dryve awei hir wantounesse;
1278   So that withinne a while, I gesse,  
1279   Sche hadde on such a chance sporned,
1280   That al hire mod was overtorned, 
1281   Which ferst sche hadde of slow manere:
1282   For thus it fell, as thou schalt hiere.
1283   Whan come was the Monthe of Maii,
1284   Sche wolde walke upon a dai,  
1285   And that was er the Sonne Ariste;
1286   Of wommen bot a fewe it wiste,
1287   And forth sche wente prively  
1288   Unto the Park was faste by,
1289   Al softe walkende on the gras,
1290   Til sche cam ther the Launde was,
1291   Thurgh which ther ran a gret rivere.
1292   It thoghte hir fair, and seide, "Here  
1293   I wole abide under the schawe":  
1294   And bad hire wommen to withdrawe,
1295   And ther sche stod al one stille,
1296   To thenke what was in hir wille. 
1297   Sche sih the swote floures springe, 
1298   Sche herde glade foules singe,
1299   Sche sih the bestes in her kinde,
1300   The buck, the do, the hert, the hinde, 
1301   The madle go with the femele; 
1302   And so began ther a querele
1303   Betwen love and hir oghne herte, 
1304   Fro which sche couthe noght asterte.
1305   And as sche caste hire yhe aboute,  
1306   Sche syh clad in o suite a route 
1307   Of ladis, wher thei comen ryde
1308   Along under the wodes syde:
1309   On faire amblende hors thei sete,
1310   That were al whyte, fatte and grete,
1311   And everichon thei ride on side. 
1312   The Sadles were of such a Pride, 
1313   With Perle and gold so wel begon,
1314   So riche syh sche nevere non; 
1315   In kertles and in Copes riche 
1316   Thei weren clothed, alle liche,  
1317   Departed evene of whyt and blew; 
1318   With alle lustes that sche knew  
1319   Thei were enbrouded overal.
1320   Here bodies weren long and smal,     
1321   The beaute faye upon her face 
1322   Non erthly thing it may desface; 
1323   Corones on here hed thei beere,  
1324   As ech of hem a qweene weere, 
1325   That al the gold of Cresus halle 
1326   The leste coronal of alle  
1327   Ne mihte have boght after the worth:
1328   Thus come thei ridende forth. 
1329   The kinges dowhter, which this syh, 
1330   For pure abaissht drowh hire adryh  
1331   And hield hire clos under the bowh, 
1332   And let hem passen stille ynowh; 
1333   For as hire thoghte in hire avis,
1334   To hem that were of such a pris  
1335   Sche was noght worthi axen there,
1336   Fro when they come or what thei were:  
1337   Bot levere than this worldes good
1338   Sche wolde have wist hou that it stod, 
1339   And putte hire hed alitel oute;  
1340   And as sche lokede hire aboute,  
1341   Sche syh comende under the linde 
1342   A womman up an hors behinde.  
1343   The hors on which sche rod was blak,
1344   Al lene and galled on the back,  
1345   And haltede, as he were encluyed,
1346   Wherof the womman was annuied;
1347   Thus was the hors in sori plit,  
1348   Bot for al that a sterre whit 
1349   Amiddes in the front he hadde.
1350   Hir Sadel ek was wonder badde,
1351   In which the wofull womman sat,      
1352   And natheles ther was with that  
1353   A riche bridel for the nones  
1354   Of gold and preciouse Stones. 
1355   Hire cote was somdiel totore; 
1356   Aboute hir middel twenty score
1357   Of horse haltres and wel mo
1358   Ther hyngen ate time tho.  
1359   Thus whan sche cam the ladi nyh, 
1360   Than tok sche betre hiede and syh
1361   This womman fair was of visage,  
1362   Freyssh, lusti, yong and of tendre age;
1363   And so this ladi, ther sche stod,
1364   Bethoghte hire wel and understod 
1365   That this, which com ridende tho,
1366   Tidinges couthe telle of tho, 
1367   Which as sche sih tofore ryde,
1368   And putte hir forth and preide abide,  
1369   And seide, "Ha, Suster, let me hiere,  
1370   What ben thei, that now riden hiere,
1371   And ben so richeliche arraied?"  
1372   This womman, which com so esmaied,  
1373   Ansuerde with ful softe speche,  
1374   And seith, "Ma Dame, I schal you teche.
1375   These ar of tho that whilom were 
1376   Servantz to love, and trowthe beere,
1377   Ther as thei hadde here herte set.  
1378   Fare wel, for I mai noght be let:
1379   Ma Dame, I go to mi servise,  
1380   So moste I haste in alle wise;
1381   Forthi, ma Dame, yif me leve, 
1382   I mai noght longe with you leve."
1383   "Ha, goode Soster, yit I preie,  
1384   Tell me whi ye ben so beseie  
1385   And with these haltres thus begon." 
1386   "Ma Dame, whilom I was on      
1387   That to mi fader hadde a king;
1388   Bot I was slow, and for no thing 
1389   Me liste noght to love obeie, 
1390   And that I now ful sore abeie.
1391   For I whilom no love hadde,
1392   Min hors is now so fieble and badde,
1393   And al totore is myn arai, 
1394   And every yeer this freisshe Maii
1395   These lusti ladis ryde aboute,
1396   And I mot nedes suie here route  
1397   In this manere as ye now se,  
1398   And trusse here haltres forth with me, 
1399   And am bot as here horse knave.  
1400   Non other office I ne have,
1401   Hem thenkth I am worthi nomore,  
1402   For I was slow in loves lore, 
1403   Whan I was able forto lere,
1404   And wolde noght the tales hiere  
1405   Of hem that couthen love teche." 
1406   "Now tell me thanne, I you beseche, 
1407   Wherof that riche bridel serveth."  
1408   With that hire chere awei sche swerveth,  
1409   And gan to wepe, and thus sche tolde:  
1410   "This bridel, which ye nou beholde  
1411   So riche upon myn horse hed,- 
1412   Ma Dame, afore, er I was ded, 
1413   Whan I was in mi lusti lif,
1414   Ther fel into myn herte a strif  
1415   Of love, which me overcom, 
1416   So that therafter hiede I nom 
1417   And thoghte I wolde love a kniht:
1418   That laste wel a fourtenyht,  
1419   For it no lengere mihte laste,
1420   So nyh my lif was ate laste.  
1421   Bot now, allas, to late war
1422   That I ne hadde him loved ar: 
1423   For deth cam so in haste bime,
1424   Er I therto hadde eny time,    
1425   That it ne mihte ben achieved.
1426   Bot for al that I am relieved,
1427   Of that mi will was good therto, 
1428   That love soffreth it be so
1429   That I schal swiche a bridel were.  
1430   Now have ye herd al myn ansuere: 
1431   To godd, ma Dame, I you betake,  
1432   And warneth alle for mi sake, 
1433   Of love that thei ben noght ydel,
1434   And bidd hem thenke upon mi brydel."
1435   And with that word al sodeinly
1436   Sche passeth, as it were a Sky,  
1437   Al clene out of this ladi sihte: 
1438   And tho for fere hire herte afflihte,  
1439   And seide to hirself, "Helas] 
1440   I am riht in the same cas. 
1441   Bot if I live after this day, 
1442   I schal amende it, if I may." 
1443   And thus homward this lady wente,
1444   And changede al hire ferste entente,
1445   Withinne hire herte and gan to swere
1446   That sche none haltres wolde bere.  
1447   Lo, Sone, hier miht thou taken hiede,  
1448   How ydelnesse is forto drede, 
1449   Namliche of love, as I have write.  
1450   For thou miht understonde and wite, 
1451   Among the gentil nacion 
1452   Love is an occupacion,  
1453   Which forto kepe hise lustes save
1454   Scholde every gentil herte have: 
1455   For as the ladi was chastised,
1456   Riht so the knyht mai ben avised,
1457   Which ydel is and wol noght serve
1458   To love, he mai per cas deserve  
1459   A grettere peine than sche hadde,
1460   Whan sche aboute with hire ladde 
1461   The horse haltres; and forthi 
1462   Good is to be wel war therbi. 
1463   Bot forto loke aboven alle,    
1464   These Maidens, hou so that it falle,
1465   Thei scholden take ensample of this 
1466   Which I have told, for soth it is.  
1467   Mi ladi Venus, whom I serve,  
1468   What womman wole hire thonk deserve,
1469   Sche mai noght thilke love eschuie  
1470   Of paramours, bot sche mot suie  
1471   Cupides lawe; and natheles 
1472   Men sen such love sielde in pes, 
1473   That it nys evere upon aspie  
1474   Of janglinge and of fals Envie,  
1475   Fulofte medlid with disese:
1476   Bot thilke love is wel at ese,
1477   Which set is upon mariage; 
1478   For that dar schewen the visage  
1479   In alle places openly.  
1480   A gret mervaile it is forthi, 
1481   How that a Maiden wolde lette,
1482   That sche hir time ne besette 
1483   To haste unto that ilke feste,
1484   Wherof the love is al honeste.
1485   Men mai recovere lost of good,
1486   Bot so wys man yit nevere stod,  
1487   Which mai recovere time lore: 
1488   So mai a Maiden wel therfore  
1489   Ensample take, of that sche strangeth  
1490   Hir love, and longe er that sche changeth 
1491   Hir herte upon hir lustes greene 
1492   To mariage, as it is seene.
1493   For thus a yer or tuo or thre 
1494   Sche lest, er that sche wedded be,  
1495   Whyl sche the charge myhte bere  
1496   Of children, whiche the world forbere  
1497   Ne mai, bot if it scholde faile. 
1498   Bot what Maiden hire esposaile
1499   Wol tarie, whan sche take mai,
1500   Sche schal per chance an other dai  
1501   Be let, whan that hire lievest were.
1502   Wherof a tale unto hire Ere,      
1503   Which is coupable upon this dede,
1504   I thenke telle of that I rede.
1505   Among the Jewes, as men tolde,
1506   Ther was whilom be daies olde 
1507   A noble Duck, which Jepte hihte. 
1508   And fell, he scholde go to fyhte 
1509   Ayein Amon the cruel king: 
1510   And forto speke upon this thing, 
1511   Withinne his herte he made avou  
1512   To god and seide, "Ha lord, if thou 
1513   Wolt grante unto thi man victoire,  
1514   I schal in tokne of thi memoire  
1515   The ferste lif that I mai se, 
1516   Of man or womman wher it be,  
1517   Anon as I come hom ayein,  
1518   To thee, which art god sovereign,
1519   Slen in thi name and sacrifie."  
1520   And thus with his chivalerie  
1521   He goth him forth, wher that he scholde,  
1522   And wan al that he winne wolde
1523   And overcam his fomen alle.
1524   Mai noman lette that schal falle.
1525   This Duc a lusti dowhter hadde,  
1526   And fame, which the wordes spradde, 
1527   Hath broght unto this ladi Ere
1528   How that hire fader hath do there.  
1529   Sche waiteth upon his cominge 
1530   With dansinge and with carolinge,
1531   As sche that wolde be tofore  
1532   Al othre, and so sche was therfore  
1533   In Masphat at hir fader gate  
1534   The ferste; and whan he com therate,
1535   And sih his douhter, he tobreide 
1536   Hise clothes and wepende he seide:  
1537   "O mihti god among ous hiere, 
1538   Nou wot I that in no manere    
1539   This worldes joie mai be plein.  
1540   I hadde al that I coude sein  
1541   Ayein mi fomen be thi grace,  
1542   So whan I cam toward this place  
1543   Ther was non gladdere man than I:
1544   But now, mi lord, al sodeinli 
1545   Mi joie is torned into sorwe, 
1546   For I mi dowhter schal tomorwe
1547   Tohewe and brenne in thi servise 
1548   To loenge of thi sacrifise 
1549   Thurgh min avou, so as it is."
1550   The Maiden, whan sche wiste of this,
1551   And sih the sorwe hir fader made,
1552   So as sche mai with wordes glade 
1553   Conforteth him, and bad him holde
1554   The covenant which he is holde
1555   Towardes god, as he behihte.  
1556   Bot natheles hire herte aflihte  
1557   Of that sche sih hire deth comende; 
1558   And thanne unto the ground knelende 
1559   Tofore hir fader sche is falle,  
1560   And seith, so as it is befalle
1561   Upon this point that sche schal deie,  
1562   Of o thing ferst sche wolde him preie, 
1563   That fourty daies of respit
1564   He wolde hir grante upon this plit, 
1565   That sche the whyle mai bewepe
1566   Hir maidenhod, which sche to kepe
1567   So longe hath had and noght beset;  
1568   Wherof her lusti youthe is let,  
1569   That sche no children hath forthdrawe  
1570   In Mariage after the lawe, 
1571   So that the poeple is noght encressed. 
1572   Bot that it mihte be relessed,
1573   That sche hir time hath lore so, 
1574   Sche wolde be his leve go  
1575   With othre Maidens to compleigne,
1576   And afterward unto the peine      
1577   Of deth sche wolde come ayein.
1578   The fader herde his douhter sein,
1579   And therupon of on assent  
1580   The Maidens were anon asent,  
1581   That scholden with this Maiden wende.  
1582   So forto speke unto this ende,
1583   Thei gon the dounes and the dales
1584   With wepinge and with wofull tales, 
1585   And every wyht hire maidenhiede  
1586   Compleigneth upon thilke nede,
1587   That sche no children hadde bore,
1588   Wherof sche hath hir youthe lore,
1589   Which nevere sche recovere mai:  
1590   For so fell that hir laste dai
1591   Was come, in which sche scholde take
1592   Hir deth, which sche may noght forsake.
1593   Lo, thus sche deiede a wofull Maide 
1594   For thilke cause which I saide,  
1595   As thou hast understonde above.  
1596   Mi fader, as toward the Love  
1597   Of Maidens forto telle trowthe,  
1598   Ye have thilke vice of Slowthe,  
1599   Me thenkth, riht wonder wel declared,  
1600   That ye the wommen have noght spared
1601   Of hem that tarien so behinde.
1602   Bot yit it falleth in my minde,  
1603   Toward the men hou that ye spieke
1604   Of hem that wole no travail sieke
1605   In cause of love upon decerte:
1606   To speke in wordes so coverte,
1607   I not what travaill that ye mente.  
1608   Mi Sone, and after min entente
1609   I woll thee telle what I thoghte,
1610   Hou whilom men here loves boghte 
1611   Thurgh gret travaill in strange londes,
1612   Wher that thei wroghten with here hondes  
1613   Of armes many a worthi dede,  
1614   In sondri place as men mai rede.     
1615   That every love of pure kinde 
1616   Is ferst forthdrawe, wel I finde:
1617   Bot natheles yit overthis  
1618   Decerte doth so that it is 
1619   The rather had in mani place. 
1620   Forthi who secheth loves grace,  
1621   Wher that these worthi wommen are,  
1622   He mai noght thanne himselve spare  
1623   Upon his travail forto serve, 
1624   Wherof that he mai thonk deserve,
1625   There as these men of Armes be,  
1626   Somtime over the grete Se: 
1627   So that be londe and ek be Schipe
1628   He mot travaile for worschipe 
1629   And make manye hastyf rodes,  
1630   Somtime in Prus, somtime in Rodes,  
1631   And somtime into Tartarie; 
1632   So that these heraldz on him crie,  
1633   "Vailant, vailant, lo, wher he goth]"  
1634   And thanne he yifth hem gold and cloth,
1635   So that his fame mihte springe,  
1636   And to his ladi Ere bringe 
1637   Som tidinge of his worthinesse;  
1638   So that sche mihte of his prouesce  
1639   Of that sche herde men recorde,  
1640   The betre unto his love acorde
1641   And danger pute out of hire mod, 
1642   Whanne alle men recorden good,
1643   And that sche wot wel, for hir sake 
1644   That he no travail wol forsake.  
1645   Mi Sone, of this travail I meene:
1646   Nou schrif thee, for it schal be sene  
1647   If thou art ydel in this cas. 
1648   My fader ye, and evere was:    
1649   For as me thenketh trewely 
1650   That every man doth mor than I
1651   As of this point, and if so is
1652   That I have oght so don er this, 
1653   It is so litel of acompte, 
1654   As who seith, it mai noght amonte
1655   To winne of love his lusti yifte.
1656   For this I telle you in schrifte,
1657   That me were levere hir love winne  
1658   Than Kaire and al that is ther inne:
1659   And forto slen the hethen alle,  
1660   I not what good ther mihte falle,
1661   So mochel blod thogh ther be schad. 
1662   This finde I writen, hou Crist bad  
1663   That noman other scholde sle. 
1664   What scholde I winne over the Se,
1665   If I mi ladi loste at hom? 
1666   Bot passe thei the salte fom, 
1667   To whom Crist bad thei scholden preche 
1668   To al the world and his feith teche:
1669   Bot now thei rucken in here nest 
1670   And resten as hem liketh best 
1671   In all the swetnesse of delices. 
1672   Thus thei defenden ous the vices,
1673   And sitte hemselven al amidde;
1674   To slen and feihten thei ous bidde  
1675   Hem whom thei scholde, as the bok seith,  
1676   Converten unto Cristes feith. 
1677   Bot hierof have I gret mervaile, 
1678   Hou thei wol bidde me travaile:  
1679   A Sarazin if I sle schal,  
1680   I sle the Soule forth withal, 
1681   And that was nevere Cristes lore.
1682   Bot nou ho ther, I seie nomore.  
1683   Bot I wol speke upon mi schrifte;
1684   And to Cupide I make a yifte, 
1685   That who as evere pris deserve
1686   Of armes, I wol love serve;
1687   And thogh I scholde hem bothe kepe,     
1688   Als wel yit wolde I take kepe 
1689   Whan it were time to abide,
1690   As forto travaile and to ryde:
1691   For how as evere a man laboure,  
1692   Cupide appointed hath his houre. 
1693   For I have herd it telle also,
1694   Achilles lefte hise armes so  
1695   Bothe of himself and of his men  
1696   At Troie for Polixenen, 
1697   Upon hire love whanne he fell,
1698   That for no chance that befell
1699   Among the Grecs or up or doun,
1700   He wolde noght ayein the toun 
1701   Ben armed, for the love of hire. 
1702   And so me thenketh, lieve Sire,  
1703   A man of armes mai him reste  
1704   Somtime in hope for the beste,
1705   If he mai finde a weie nerr.  
1706   What scholde I thanne go so ferr 
1707   In strange londes many a mile 
1708   To ryde, and lese at hom therwhile  
1709   Mi love? It were a schort beyete 
1710   To winne chaf and lese whete. 
1711   Bot if mi ladi bidde wolde,
1712   That I for hire love scholde  
1713   Travaile, me thenkth trewely  
1714   I mihte fle thurghout the Sky,
1715   And go thurghout the depe Se, 
1716   For al ne sette I at a stre
1717   What thonk that I mihte elles gete. 
1718   What helpeth it a man have mete, 
1719   Wher drinke lacketh on the bord? 
1720   What helpeth eny mannes word  
1721   To seie hou I travaile faste, 
1722   Wher as me faileth ate laste  
1723   That thing which I travaile fore?    
1724   O in good time were he bore,  
1725   That mihte atteigne such a mede. 
1726   Bot certes if I mihte spede
1727   With eny maner besinesse
1728   Of worldes travail, thanne I gesse, 
1729   Ther scholde me non ydelschipe
1730   Departen fro hir ladischipe.  
1731   Bot this I se, on daies nou
1732   The blinde god, I wot noght hou, 
1733   Cupido, which of love is lord,
1734   He set the thinges in discord,
1735   That thei that lest to love entende 
1736   Fulofte he wole hem yive and sende  
1737   Most of his grace; and thus I finde 
1738   That he that scholde go behinde, 
1739   Goth many a time ferr tofore: 
1740   So wot I noght riht wel therfore,
1741   On whether bord that I schal seile. 
1742   Thus can I noght miself conseile,
1743   Bot al I sette on aventure,
1744   And am, as who seith, out of cure
1745   For ought that I can seie or do: 
1746   For everemore I finde it so,  
1747   The more besinesse I leie, 
1748   The more that I knele and preie  
1749   With goode wordes and with softe,
1750   The more I am refused ofte,
1751   With besinesse and mai noght winne. 
1752   And in good feith that is gret Sinne;  
1753   For I mai seie, of dede and thoght  
1754   That ydel man have I be noght;
1755   For hou as evere I be deslaied,  
1756   Yit evermore I have assaied.  
1757   Bot thogh my besinesse laste, 
1758   Al is bot ydel ate laste,  
1759   For whan theffect is ydelnesse,  
1760   I not what thing is besinesse.
1761   Sei, what availeth al the dede,      
1762   Which nothing helpeth ate nede?  
1763   For the fortune of every fame 
1764   Schal of his ende bere a name.
1765   And thus for oght is yit befalle,
1766   An ydel man I wol me calle 
1767   As after myn entendement:  
1768   Bot upon youre amendement, 
1769   Min holi fader, as you semeth,
1770   Mi reson and my cause demeth. 
1771   Mi Sone, I have herd thi matiere,
1772   Of that thou hast thee schriven hiere: 
1773   And forto speke of ydel fare, 
1774   Me semeth that thou tharst noght care, 
1775   Bot only that thou miht noght spede.
1776   And therof, Sone, I wol thee rede,  
1777   Abyd, and haste noght to faste;  
1778   Thi dees ben every dai to caste, 
1779   Thou nost what chance schal betyde. 
1780   Betre is to wayte upon the tyde  
1781   Than rowe ayein the stremes stronge:
1782   For thogh so be thee thenketh longe,
1783   Per cas the revolucion  
1784   Of hevene and thi condicion
1785   Ne be noght yit of on acord.  
1786   Bot I dar make this record 
1787   To Venus, whos Prest that I am,  
1788   That sithen that I hidir cam  
1789   To hiere, as sche me bad, thi lif,  
1790   Wherof thou elles be gultif,  
1791   Thou miht hierof thi conscience  
1792   Excuse, and of gret diligence,
1793   Which thou to love hast so despended,  
1794   Thou oghtest wel to be comended. 
1795   Bot if so be that ther oght faile,  
1796   Of that thou slowthest to travaile  
1797   In armes forto ben absent, 
1798   And for thou makst an argument
1799   Of that thou seidest hiere above,
1800   Hou Achilles thurgh strengthe of love      
1801   Hise armes lefte for a throwe,
1802   Thou schalt an other tale knowe, 
1803   Which is contraire, as thou schalt wite.  
1804   For this a man mai finde write,  
1805   Whan that knyhthode schal be werred,
1806   Lust mai noght thanne be preferred; 
1807   The bedd mot thanne be forsake
1808   And Schield and spere on honde take,
1809   Which thing schal make hem after glade,
1810   Whan thei ben worthi knihtes made.  
1811   Wherof, so as it comth to honde, 
1812   A tale thou schalt understonde,  
1813   Hou that a kniht schal armes suie,  
1814   And for the while his ese eschuie.  
1815   Upon knyhthode I rede thus,
1816   How whilom whan the king Nauplus,
1817   The fader of Palamades, 
1818   Cam forto preien Ulixes 
1819   With othre Gregois ek also,
1820   That he with hem to Troie go, 
1821   Wher that the Siege scholde be,  
1822   Anon upon Penolope
1823   His wif, whom that he loveth hote,  
1824   Thenkende, wolde hem noght behote.  
1825   Bot he schop thanne a wonder wyle,  
1826   How that he scholde hem best beguile,  
1827   So that he mihte duelle stille
1828   At home and welde his love at wille:
1829   Wherof erli the morwe day  
1830   Out of his bedd, wher that he lay,  
1831   Whan he was uppe, he gan to fare 
1832   Into the field and loke and stare,  
1833   As he which feigneth to be wod:  
1834   He tok a plowh, wher that it stod,  
1835   Wherinne anon in stede of Oxes
1836   He let do yoken grete foxes,  
1837   And with gret salt the lond he siew.
1838   But Nauplus, which the cause kniew,     
1839   Ayein the sleihte which he feigneth 
1840   An other sleihte anon ordeigneth.
1841   And fell that time Ulixes hadde  
1842   A chyld to Sone, and Nauplus radde  
1843   How men that Sone taken scholde, 
1844   And setten him upon the Molde,
1845   Wher that his fader hield the plowh,
1846   In thilke furgh which he tho drowh. 
1847   For in such wise he thoghte assaie, 
1848   Hou it Ulixes scholde paie,
1849   If that he were wod or non.
1850   The knihtes for this child forthgon;
1851   Thelamacus anon was fett,  
1852   Tofore the plowh and evene sett, 
1853   Wher that his fader scholde dryve.  
1854   Bot whan he sih his child, als blyve
1855   He drof the plowh out of the weie,  
1856   And Nauplus tho began to seie,
1857   And hath half in a jape cryd: 
1858   "O Ulixes, thou art aspyd: 
1859   What is al this thou woldest meene? 
1860   For openliche it is now seene 
1861   That thou hast feigned al this thing,  
1862   Which is gret schame to a king,  
1863   Whan that for lust of eny slowthe
1864   Thou wolt in a querele of trowthe
1865   Of armes thilke honour forsake,  
1866   And duelle at hom for loves sake:
1867   For betre it were honour to winne
1868   Than love, which likinge is inne.
1869   Forthi tak worschipe upon honde, 
1870   And elles thou schalt understonde
1871   These othre worthi kinges alle
1872   Of Grece, which unto thee calle, 
1873   Towardes thee wol be riht wrothe,
1874   And grieve thee per chance bothe:
1875   Which schal be tothe double schame          
1876   Most for the hindrynge of thi name, 
1877   That thou for Slouthe of eny love
1878   Schalt so thi lustes sette above 
1879   And leve of armes the knyhthode, 
1880   Which is the pris of thi manhode 
1881   And oghte ferst to be desired."  
1882   Bot he, which hadde his herte fyred 
1883   Upon his wif, whan he this herde,
1884   Noght o word therayein ansuerde, 
1885   Bot torneth hom halvinge aschamed,  
1886   And hath withinne himself so tamed  
1887   His herte, that al the sotie  
1888   Of love for chivalerie  
1889   He lefte, and be him lief or loth,  
1890   To Troie forth with hem he goth, 
1891   That he him mihte noght excuse.  
1892   Thus stant it, if a knyht refuse 
1893   The lust of armes to travaile,
1894   Ther mai no worldes ese availe,  
1895   Bot if worschipe be with al.  
1896   And that hath schewed overal; 
1897   For it sit wel in alle wise
1898   A kniht to ben of hih emprise 
1899   And puten alle drede aweie;
1900   For in this wise, I have herd seie, 
1901   The worthi king Protheselai
1902   On his passage wher he lai 
1903   Towardes Troie thilke Siege,  
1904   Sche which was al his oghne liege,  
1905   Laodomie his lusti wif, 
1906   Which for his love was pensif,
1907   As he which al hire herte hadde, 
1908   Upon a thing wherof sche dradde  
1909   A lettre, forto make him duelle  
1910   Fro Troie, sende him, thus to telle,
1911   Hou sche hath axed of the wyse
1912   Touchende of him in such a wise, 
1913   That thei have don hire understonde,    
1914   Towardes othre hou so it stonde, 
1915   The destine it hath so schape 
1916   That he schal noght the deth ascape 
1917   In cas that he arryve at Troie.  
1918   Forthi as to hir worldes joie 
1919   With al hire herte sche him preide, 
1920   And many an other cause alleide, 
1921   That he with hire at home abide. 
1922   Bot he hath cast hir lettre aside,  
1923   As he which tho no maner hiede
1924   Tok of hire wommannysshe drede;  
1925   And forth he goth, as noght ne were,
1926   To Troie, and was the ferste there  
1927   Which londeth, and tok arryvaile:
1928   For him was levere in the bataille, 
1929   He seith, to deien as a knyht,
1930   Than forto lyve in al his myht
1931   And be reproeved of his name. 
1932   Lo, thus upon the worldes fame
1933   Knyhthode hath evere yit be set, 
1934   Which with no couardie is let.
1935   Of king Sal also I finde,
1936   Whan Samuel out of his kinde, 
1937   Thurgh that the Phitonesse hath lered, 
1938   In Samarie was arered
1939   Long time after that he was ded, 
1940   The king Sal him axeth red, 
1941   If that he schal go fyhte or non.
1942   And Samuel him seide anon, 
1943   "The ferste day of the bataille  
1944   Thou schalt be slain withoute faile 
1945   And Jonathas thi Sone also."  
1946   Bot hou as evere it felle so, 
1947   This worthi kniht of his corage  
1948   Hath undertake the viage,  
1949   And wol noght his knyhthode lette
1950   For no peril he couthe sette;     
1951   Wherof that bothe his Sone and he
1952   Upon the Montz of Gelboe5  
1953   Assemblen with here enemys:
1954   For thei knyhthode of such a pris
1955   Be olde daies thanne hielden, 
1956   That thei non other thing behielden.
1957   And thus the fader for worschipe 
1958   Forth with his Sone of felaschipe
1959   Thurgh lust of armes weren dede, 
1960   As men mai in the bible rede; 
1961   The whos knyhthode is yit in mende, 
1962   And schal be to the worldes ende.
1963   And forto loken overmore,  
1964   It hath and schal ben evermore
1965   That of knihthode the prouesse
1966   Is grounded upon hardinesse
1967   Of him that dar wel undertake.
1968   And who that wolde ensample take 
1969   Upon the forme of knyhtes lawe,  
1970   How that Achilles was forthdrawe 
1971   With Chiro, which Centaurus hihte,  
1972   Of many a wondre hiere he mihte. 
1973   For it stod thilke time thus, 
1974   That this Chiro, this Centaurus, 
1975   Withinne a large wildernesse, 
1976   Wher was Leon and Leonesse,
1977   The Lepard and the Tigre also,
1978   With Hert and Hynde, and buck and doo, 
1979   Hadde his duellinge, as tho befell, 
1980   Of Pileon upon the hel, 
1981   Wherof was thanne mochel speche. 
1982   Ther hath Chiro this Chyld to teche,
1983   What time he was of tuelve yer age; 
1984   Wher forto maken his corage
1985   The more hardi be other weie, 
1986   In the forest to hunte and pleie 
1987   Whan that Achilles walke wolde,      
1988   Centaurus bad that he ne scholde 
1989   After no beste make his chace,
1990   Which wolde flen out of his place,  
1991   As buck and doo and hert and hynde, 
1992   With whiche he mai no werre finde;  
1993   Bot tho that wolden him withstonde, 
1994   Ther scholde he with his Dart on honde 
1995   Upon the Tigre and the Leon
1996   Pourchace and take his veneison, 
1997   As to a kniht is acordant. 
1998   And therupon a covenant 
1999   This Chiro with Achilles sette,  
2000   That every day withoute lette 
2001   He scholde such a cruel beste 
2002   Or slen or wounden ate leste, 
2003   So that he mihte a tokne bringe  
2004   Of blod upon his hom cominge. 
2005   And thus of that Chiro him tawhte
2006   Achilles such an herte cawhte,
2007   That he nomore a Leon dradde, 
2008   Whan he his Dart on honde hadde, 
2009   Thanne if a Leon were an asse:
2010   And that hath mad him forto passe
2011   Alle othre knihtes of his dede,  
2012   Whan it cam to the grete nede,
2013   As it was afterward wel knowe.
2014   Lo, thus, my Sone, thou miht knowe  
2015   That the corage of hardiesce  
2016   Is of knyhthode the prouesce, 
2017   Which is to love sufficant 
2018   Aboven al the remenant  
2019   That unto loves court poursuie.  
2020   Bot who that wol no Slowthe eschuie,
2021   Upon knihthode and noght travaile,  
2022   I not what love him scholde availe; 
2023   Bot every labour axeth why 
2024   Of som reward, wherof that I      
2025   Ensamples couthe telle ynowe  
2026   Of hem that toward love drowe 
2027   Be olde daies, as thei scholde.  
2028   Mi fader, therof hiere I wolde.  
2029   Mi Sone, it is wel resonable, 
2030   In place which is honorable
2031   If that a man his herte sette,
2032   That thanne he for no Slowthe lette 
2033   To do what longeth to manhede.
2034   For if thou wolt the bokes rede  
2035   Of Lancelot and othre mo,  
2036   Ther miht thou sen hou it was tho
2037   Of armes, for thei wolde atteigne
2038   To love, which withoute peine 
2039   Mai noght be gete of ydelnesse.  
2040   And that I take to witnesse
2041   An old Cronique in special,
2042   The which into memorial 
2043   Is write, for his loves sake  
2044   Hou that a kniht schal undertake.
2045   Ther was a king, which Oe5nes 
2046   Was hote, and he under his pes
2047   Hield Calidoyne in his Empire,
2048   And hadde a dowhter Deianire. 
2049   Men wiste in thilke time non  
2050   So fair a wiht as sche was on;
2051   And as sche was a lusti wiht, 
2052   Riht so was thanne a noble kniht,
2053   To whom Mercurie fader was.
2054   This kniht the tuo pilers of bras,  
2055   The whiche yit a man mai finde,  
2056   Sette up in the desert of Ynde;  
2057   That was the worthi Hercules, 
2058   Whos name schal ben endeles
2059   For the merveilles whiche he wroghte.  
2060   This Hercules the love soghte     
2061   Of Deianire, and of this thing
2062   Unto hir fader, which was king,  
2063   He spak touchende of Mariage. 
2064   The king knowende his hih lignage,  
2065   And dradde also hise mihtes sterne, 
2066   To him ne dorste his dowhter werne; 
2067   And natheles this he him seide,  
2068   How Achelons er he ferst preide  
2069   To wedden hire, and in accord 
2070   Thei stode, as it was of record: 
2071   Bot for al that this he him granteth,  
2072   That which of hem that other daunteth  
2073   In armes, him sche scholde take, 
2074   And that the king hath undertake.
2075   This Achelons was a Geant, 
2076   A soubtil man, a deceivant,
2077   Which thurgh magique and sorcerie
2078   Couthe al the world of tricherie:
2079   And whan that he this tale herde,
2080   Hou upon that the king ansuerde  
2081   With Hercules he moste feighte,  
2082   He tristeth noght upon his sleighte 
2083   Al only, whan it comth to nede,  
2084   Bot that  which voydeth alle drede  
2085   And every noble herte stereth,
2086   The love, that no lif forbereth, 
2087   For his ladi, whom he desireth,  
2088   With hardiesse his herte fyreth, 
2089   And sende him word withoute faile
2090   That he wol take the bataille.
2091   Thei setten day, they chosen field, 
2092   The knihtes coevered under Schield  
2093   Togedre come at time set,  
2094   And echon is with other met.  
2095   It fell thei foghten bothe afote,
2096   Ther was no ston, ther was no rote, 
2097   Which mihte letten hem the weie, 
2098   But al was voide and take aweie.     
2099   Thei smyten strokes bot a fewe,  
2100   For Hercules, which wolde schewe 
2101   His grete strengthe as for the nones,  
2102   He sterte upon him al at ones 
2103   And cawhte him in hise armes stronge.  
2104   This Geant wot he mai noght longe
2105   Endure under so harde bondes, 
2106   And thoghte he wolde out of hise hondes
2107   Be sleyhte in som manere ascape. 
2108   And as he couthe himself forschape, 
2109   In liknesse of an Eddre he slipte
2110   Out of his hond, and forth he skipte;  
2111   And efte, as he that feighte wole,  
2112   He torneth him into a Bole,
2113   And gan to belwe of such a soun, 
2114   As thogh the world scholde al go doun: 
2115   The ground he sporneth and he tranceth,
2116   Hise large hornes he avanceth 
2117   And caste hem here and there aboute.
2118   Bot he, which stant of him no doute,
2119   Awaiteth wel whan that he cam,
2120   And him be bothe hornes nam
2121   And al at ones he him caste
2122   Unto the ground, and hield him faste,  
2123   That he ne mihte with no sleighte
2124   Out of his hond gete upon heighte,  
2125   Til he was overcome and yolde,
2126   And Hercules hath what he wolde. 
2127   The king him granteth to fulfille
2128   His axinge at his oghne wille,
2129   And sche for whom he hadde served,  
2130   Hire thoghte he hath hire wel deserved.
2131   And thus with gret decerte of Armes 
2132   He wan him forto ligge in armes, 
2133   As he which hath it dere aboght, 
2134   For otherwise scholde he noght.  
2135   And overthis if thou wolt hiere  
2136   Upon knihthode of this matiere,      
2137   Hou love and armes ben aqueinted,
2138   A man mai se bothe write and peinted
2139   So ferforth that Pantasilee,  
2140   Which was the queene of Feminee, 
2141   The love of Hector forto sieke
2142   And for thonour of armes eke, 
2143   To Troie cam with Spere and Schield,
2144   And rod hirself into the field
2145   With Maidens armed al a route 
2146   In rescouss of the toun aboute,  
2147   Which with the Gregois was belein.  
2148   Fro Pafagoine and as men sein,
2149   Which stant upon the worldes ende,  
2150   That time it likede ek to wende  
2151   To Philemenis, which was king,
2152   To Troie, and come upon this thing  
2153   In helpe of thilke noble toun;
2154   And al was that for the renoun
2155   Of worschipe and of worldes fame,
2156   Of which he wolde bere a name:
2157   And so he dede, and forth withal 
2158   He wan of love in special  
2159   A fair tribut for everemo. 
2160   For it fell thilke time so;
2161   Pirrus the Sone of Achilles
2162   This worthi queene among the press  
2163   With dedli swerd soghte out and fond,  
2164   And slowh hire with his oghne hond; 
2165   Wherof this king of Pafagoine 
2166   Pantasilee of Amazoine, 
2167   Wher sche was queene, with him ladde,  
2168   With suche Maidens as sche hadde 
2169   Of hem that were left alyve,  
2170   Forth in his Schip, til thei aryve; 
2171   Wher that the body was begrave
2172   With worschipe, and the wommen save.
2173   And for the goodschipe of this dede 
2174   Thei granten him a lusti mede,    
2175   That every yeer as for truage 
2176   To him and to his heritage 
2177   Of Maidens faire he schal have thre.
2178   And in this wise spedde he,
2179   Which the fortune of armes soghte,  
2180   With his travail his ese he boghte; 
2181   For otherwise he scholde have failed,  
2182   If that he hadde noght travailed.
2183   Eneas ek withinne Ytaile,  
2184   Ne hadde he wonne the bataille
2185   And don his miht so besily 
2186   Ayein king Turne his enemy,
2187   He hadde noght Lavine wonne;  
2188   Bot for he hath him overronne 
2189   And gete his pris, he gat hire love.
2190   Be these ensamples here above,
2191   Lo, now, mi Sone, as I have told,
2192   Thou miht wel se, who that is bold  
2193   And dar travaile and undertake
2194   The cause of love, he schal be take 
2195   The rathere unto loves grace; 
2196   For comunliche in worthi place
2197   The wommen loven worthinesse  
2198   Of manhode and of gentilesse, 
2199   For the gentils ben most desired.
2200   Mi fader, bot I were enspired 
2201   Thurgh lore of you, I wot no weie
2202   What gentilesce is forto seie,
2203   Wherof to telle I you beseche.
2204   The ground, Mi Sone, forto seche 
2205   Upon this diffinicion,  
2206   The worldes constitucion
2207   Hath set the name of gentilesse  
2208   Upon the fortune of richesse  
2209   Which of long time is falle in age. 
2210   Thanne is a man of hih lignage
2211   After the forme, as thou miht hiere,    
2212   Bot nothing after the matiere.
2213   For who that resoun understonde, 
2214   Upon richesse it mai noght stonde,  
2215   For that is thing which faileth ofte:  
2216   For he that stant to day alofte  
2217   And al the world hath in hise wones,
2218   Tomorwe he falleth al at ones 
2219   Out of richesse into poverte, 
2220   So that therof is no decerte, 
2221   Which gentilesce makth abide. 
2222   And forto loke on other side  
2223   Hou that a gentil man is bore,
2224   Adam, which alle was tofore
2225   With Eve his wif, as of hem tuo, 
2226   Al was aliche gentil tho;  
2227   So that of generacion
2228   To make declaracion, 
2229   Ther mai no gentilesce be. 
2230   For to the reson if we se, 
2231   Of mannes berthe the mesure,  
2232   It is so comun to nature,  
2233   That it yifth every man aliche,  
2234   Als wel to povere as to the riche;  
2235   For naked thei ben bore bothe,
2236   The lord nomore hath forto clothe
2237   As of himself that ilke throwe,  
2238   Than hath the povereste of the rowe.
2239   And whan thei schulle both passe,
2240   I not of hem which hath the lasse
2241   Of worldes good, bot as of charge
2242   The lord is more forto charge,
2243   Whan god schal his accompte hiere,  
2244   For he hath had hise lustes hiere.  
2245   Bot of the bodi, which schal deie,  
2246   Althogh ther be diverse weie  
2247   To deth, yit is ther bot on ende,    
2248   To which that every man schal wende,
2249   Als wel the beggere as the lord, 
2250   Of o nature, of on acord:  
2251   Sche which oure Eldemoder is, 
2252   The Erthe, bothe that and this
2253   Receiveth and alich devoureth,
2254   That sche to nouther part favoureth.
2255   So wot I nothing after kinde  
2256   Where I mai gentilesse finde. 
2257   For lacke of vertu lacketh grace,
2258   Wherof richesse in many place,
2259   Whan men best wene forto stonde, 
2260   Al sodeinly goth out of honde:
2261   Bot vertu set in the corage,  
2262   Ther mai no world be so salvage, 
2263   Which mihte it take and don aweie,  
2264   Til whanne that the bodi deie;
2265   And thanne he schal be riched so,
2266   That it mai faile neveremo;
2267   So mai that wel be gentilesse,
2268   Which yifth so gret a sikernesse.
2269   For after the condicion 
2270   Of resonable entencion, 
2271   The which out of the Soule groweth  
2272   And the vertu fro vice knoweth,  
2273   Wherof a man the vice eschuieth, 
2274   Withoute Slowthe and vertu suieth,  
2275   That is a verrai gentil man,  
2276   And nothing elles which he can,  
2277   Ne which he hath, ne which he mai.  
2278   Bot for al that yit nou aday, 
2279   In loves court to taken hiede,
2280   The povere vertu schal noght spiede,
2281   Wher that the riche vice woweth; 
2282   For sielde it is that love alloweth 
2283   The gentil man withoute good,     
2284   Thogh his condicion be good.  
2285   Bot if a man of bothe tuo  
2286   Be riche and vertuous also,
2287   Thanne is he wel the more worth: 
2288   Bot yit to putte himselve forth  
2289   He moste don his besinesse,
2290   For nowther good ne gentilesse
2291   Mai helpen him whiche ydel be.
2292   Bot who that wole in his degre
2293   Travaile so as it belongeth,  
2294   It happeth ofte that he fongeth  
2295   Worschipe and ese bothe tuo.  
2296   For evere yit it hath be so,  
2297   That love honeste in sondri weie 
2298   Profiteth, for it doth aweie  
2299   The vice, and as the bokes sein, 
2300   It makth curteis of the vilein,  
2301   And to the couard hardiesce
2302   It yifth, so that verrai prouesse
2303   Is caused upon loves reule 
2304   To him that can manhode reule;
2305   And ek toward the wommanhiede,
2306   Who that therof wol taken hiede, 
2307   For thei the betre affaited be
2308   In every thing, as men may se.
2309   For love hath evere hise lustes grene  
2310   In gentil folk, as it is sene,
2311   Which thing ther mai no kinde areste:  
2312   I trowe that ther is no beste,
2313   If he with love scholde aqueinte,
2314   That he ne wolde make it queinte 
2315   As for the while that it laste.  
2316   And thus I conclude ate laste,
2317   That thei ben ydel, as me semeth,
2318   Whiche unto thing that love demeth  
2319   Forslowthen that thei scholden do.  
2320   And overthis, mi Sone, also
2321   After the vertu moral eke      
2322   To speke of love if I schal seke,
2323   Among the holi bokes wise  
2324   I finde write in such a wise, 
2325   "Who loveth noght is hier as ded";  
2326   For love above alle othre is hed,
2327   Which hath the vertus forto lede,
2328   Of al that unto mannes dede
2329   Belongeth: for of ydelschipe  
2330   He hateth all the felaschipe. 
2331   For Slowthe is evere to despise, 
2332   Which in desdeign hath al apprise,  
2333   And that acordeth noght to man:  
2334   For he that wit and reson kan,
2335   It sit him wel that he travaile  
2336   Upon som thing which mihte availe,  
2337   For ydelschipe is noght comended,
2338   Bot every lawe it hath defended. 
2339   And in ensample therupon
2340   The noble wise Salomon, 
2341   Which hadde of every thing insihte, 
2342   Seith, "As the briddes to the flihte
2343   Ben made, so the man is bore  
2344   To labour," which is noght forbore  
2345   To hem that thenken forto thryve.
2346   For we, whiche are now alyve, 
2347   Of hem that besi whylom were, 
2348   Als wel in Scole as elleswhere,  
2349   Mowe every day ensample take, 
2350   That if it were now to make
2351   Thing which that thei ferst founden oute, 
2352   It scholde noght be broght aboute.  
2353   Here lyves thanne were longe, 
2354   Here wittes grete, here mihtes stronge,
2355   Here hertes ful of besinesse, 
2356   Wherof the worldes redinesse  
2357   In bodi bothe and in corage
2358   Stant evere upon his avantage.
2359   And forto drawe into memoire  
2360   Here names bothe and here histoire, 
2361   Upon the vertu of her dede 
2362   In sondri bokes thou miht rede.  
2363   Of every wisdom the parfit 
2364   The hyhe god of his spirit 
2365   Yaf to the men in Erthe hiere 
2366   Upon the forme and the matiere
2367   Of that he wolde make hem wise:  
2368   And thus cam in the ferste apprise  
2369   Of bokes and of alle goode 
2370   Thurgh hem that whilom understode
2371   The lore which to hem was yive,  
2372   Wherof these othre, that now live,  
2373   Ben every day to lerne newe.  
2374   Bot er the time that men siewe,  
2375   And that the labour forth it broghte,  
2376   Ther was no corn, thogh men it soghte, 
2377   In non of al the fieldes oute;
2378   And er the wisdom cam aboute  
2379   Of hem that ferst the bokes write,  
2380   This mai wel every wys man wite, 
2381   Ther was gret labour ek also. 
2382   Thus was non ydel of the tuo, 
2383   That on the plogh hath undertake 
2384   With labour which the hond hath take,  
2385   That other tok to studie and muse,  
2386   As he which wolde noght refuse
2387   The labour of hise wittes alle.  
2388   And in this wise it is befalle,  
2389   Of labour which that thei begunne
2390   We be now tawht of that we kunne:
2391   Here besinesse is yit so seene,      
2392   That it stant evere alyche greene;  
2393   Al be it so the bodi deie, 
2394   The name of hem schal nevere aweie. 
2395   In the Croniqes as I finde,
2396   Cham, whos labour is yit in minde,  
2397   Was he which ferst the lettres fond 
2398   And wrot in Hebreu with his hond:
2399   Of naturel Philosophie  
2400   He fond ferst also the clergie.  
2401   Cadmus the lettres of Gregois 
2402   Ferst made upon his oghne chois. 
2403   Theges of thing which schal befalle,
2404   He was the ferste Augurre of alle:  
2405   And Philemon be the visage 
2406   Fond to descrive the corage.  
2407   Cladyns, Esdras and Sulpices, 
2408   Termegis, Pandulf, Frigidilles,  
2409   Menander, Ephiloquorus, 
2410   Solins, Pandas and Josephus
2411   The ferste were of Enditours, 
2412   Of old Cronique and ek auctours: 
2413   And Heredot in his science 
2414   Of metre, of rime and of cadence 
2415   The ferste was of which men note.
2416   And of Musique also the note  
2417   In mannes vois or softe or scharpe, 
2418   That fond Jubal; and of the harpe
2419   The merie soun, which is to like,
2420   That fond Poulins forth with phisique. 
2421   Zenzis fond ferst the pourtreture,  
2422   And Promothes the Sculpture;
2423   After what forme that hem thoghte,  
2424   The resemblance anon thei wroghte.  
2425   Tubal in Iren and in Stel  
2426   Fond ferst the forge and wroghte it wel:  
2427   And Jadahel, as seith the bok,
2428   Ferst made Net and fisshes tok:  
2429   Of huntynge ek he fond the chace,    
2430   Which now is knowe in many place:
2431   A tente of cloth with corde and stake  
2432   He sette up ferst and dede it make. 
2433   Verconius of cokerie 
2434   Ferst made the delicacie.  
2435   The craft Minerve of wolle fond  
2436   And made cloth hire oghne hond;  
2437   And Delbora made it of lyn:
2438   Tho wommen were of great engyn.  
2439   Bot thing which yifth ous mete and drinke 
2440   And doth the labourer to swinke  
2441   To tile lond and sette vines, 
2442   Wherof the cornes and the wynes  
2443   Ben sustenance to mankinde,
2444   In olde bokes as I finde,  
2445   Saturnus of his oghne wit  
2446   Hath founde ferst, and more yit  
2447   Of Chapmanhode he fond the weie, 
2448   And ek to coigne the moneie
2449   Of sondri metall, as it is,
2450   He was the ferste man of this.
2451   Bot hou that metall cam a place  
2452   Thurgh mannes wit and goddes grace  
2453   The route of Philosophres wise
2454   Controeveden be sondri wise,  
2455   Ferst forto gete it out of Myne, 
2456   And after forto trie and fyne.
2457   And also with gret diligence  
2458   Thei founden thilke experience,  
2459   Which cleped is Alconomie, 
2460   Wherof the Selver multeplie
2461   Thei made and ek the gold also.  
2462   And forto telle hou it is so, 
2463   Of bodies sevene in special
2464   With foure spiritz joynt withal  
2465   Stant the substance of this matiere.
2466   The bodies whiche I speke of hiere  
2467   Of the Planetes ben begonne:  
2468   The gold is titled to the Sonne,     
2469   The mone of Selver hath his part,
2470   And Iren that stant upon Mart,
2471   The Led after Satorne groweth,
2472   And Jupiter the Bras bestoweth,  
2473   The Coper set is to Venus, 
2474   And to his part Mercurius  
2475   Hath the quikselver, as it falleth, 
2476   The which, after the bok it calleth,
2477   Is ferst of thilke fowre named
2478   Of Spiritz, whiche ben proclamed;
2479   And the spirit which is secounde 
2480   In Sal Armoniak is founde: 
2481   The thridde spirit Sulphur is;
2482   The ferthe suiende after this 
2483   Arcennicum be name is hote.
2484   With blowinge and with fyres hote
2485   In these thinges, whiche I seie, 
2486   Thei worchen be diverse weie. 
2487   For as the philosophre tolde  
2488   Of gold and selver, thei ben holde  
2489   Tuo principal extremites,  
2490   To whiche alle othre be degres
2491   Of the metalls ben acordant,  
2492   And so thurgh kinde resemblant,  
2493   That what man couthe aweie take  
2494   The rust, of which thei waxen blake,
2495   And the savour and the hardnesse,
2496   Thei scholden take the liknesse  
2497   Of gold or Selver parfitly.
2498   Bot forto worche it sikirly,  
2499   Betwen the corps and the spirit, 
2500   Er that the metall be parfit, 
2501   In sevene formes it is set;
2502   Of alle and if that on be let,
2503   The remenant mai noght availe,
2504   Bot otherwise it mai noght faile.
2505   For thei be whom this art was founde
2506   To every point a certain bounde  
2507   Ordeignen, that a man mai finde      
2508   This craft is wroght be weie of kinde, 
2509   So that ther is no fallas inne.  
2510   Bot what man that this werk beginne,
2511   He mot awaite at every tyde,  
2512   So that nothing be left aside,
2513   Ferst of the distillacion, 
2514   Forth with the congelacion,
2515   Solucion, descencion,
2516   And kepe in his entencion  
2517   The point of sublimacion,  
2518   And forth with calcinacion 
2519   Of veray approbacion 
2520   Do that ther be fixacion
2521   With tempred hetes of the fyr,
2522   Til he the parfit Elixir
2523   Of thilke philosophres Ston
2524   Mai gete, of which that many on  
2525   Of Philosophres whilom write. 
2526   And if thou wolt the names wite  
2527   Of thilke Ston with othre tuo,
2528   Whiche as the clerkes maden tho, 
2529   So as the bokes it recorden,  
2530   The kinde of hem I schal recorden.  
2531   These olde Philosophres wyse  
2532   Be weie of kinde in sondri wise  
2533   Thre Stones maden thurgh clergie.
2534   The ferste, if I schal specefie, 
2535   Was lapis vegetabilis,  
2536   Of which the propre vertu is  
2537   To mannes hele forto serve,
2538   As forto kepe and to preserve 
2539   The bodi fro siknesses alle,  
2540   Til deth of kinde upon him falle.
2541   The Ston seconde I thee behote
2542   Is lapis animalis hote, 
2543   The whos vertu is propre and cowth      
2544   For Ere and yhe and nase and mouth, 
2545   Wherof a man mai hiere and se 
2546   And smelle and taste in his degre,  
2547   And forto fiele and forto go  
2548   It helpeth man of bothe tuo:  
2549   The wittes fyve he underfongeth  
2550   To kepe, as it to him belongeth. 
2551   The thridde Ston in special
2552   Be name is cleped Minerall,
2553   Which the metalls of every Mine  
2554   Attempreth, til that thei ben fyne, 
2555   And pureth hem be such a weie,
2556   That al the vice goth aweie
2557   Of rust, of stink and of hardnesse: 
2558   And whan thei ben of such clennesse,
2559   This Mineral, so as I finde,  
2560   Transformeth al the ferste kynde 
2561   And makth hem able to conceive
2562   Thurgh his vertu, and to receive 
2563   Bothe in substance and in figure 
2564   Of gold and selver the nature.
2565   For thei tuo ben thextremetes,
2566   To whiche after the propretes 
2567   Hath every metal his desir,
2568   With help and confort of the fyr 
2569   Forth with this Ston, as it is seid,
2570   Which to the Sonne and Mone is leid;
2571   For to the rede and to the whyte 
2572   This Ston hath pouer to profite. 
2573   It makth mulptiplicacioun  
2574   Of gold, and the fixacioun 
2575   It causeth, and of his habit  
2576   He doth the werk to be parfit 
2577   Of thilke Elixer which men calle 
2578   Alconomie, as is befalle
2579   To hem that whilom weren wise.    
2580   Bot now it stant al otherwise;
2581   Thei speken faste of thilke Ston,
2582   Bot hou to make it, nou wot non  
2583   After the sothe experience.
2584   And natheles gret diligence
2585   Thei setten upon thilke dede, 
2586   And spille more than thei spede; 
2587   For allewey thei finde a lette,  
2588   Which bringeth in poverte and dette 
2589   To hem that riche were afore: 
2590   The lost is had, the lucre is lore, 
2591   To gete a pound thei spenden fyve;  
2592   I not hou such a craft schal thryve 
2593   In the manere as it is used:  
2594   It were betre be refused
2595   Than forto worchen upon weene 
2596   In thing which stant noght as thei weene. 
2597   Bot noght forthi, who that it knewe,
2598   The science of himself is trewe  
2599   Upon the forme as it was founded,
2600   Wherof the names yit ben grounded
2601   Of hem that ferste it founden oute; 
2602   And thus the fame goth aboute 
2603   To suche as soghten besinesse 
2604   Of vertu and of worthinesse.  
2605   Of whom if I the names calle, 
2606   Hermes was on the ferste of alle,
2607   To whom this art is most applied;
2608   Geber therof was magnefied,
2609   And Ortolan and Morien, 
2610   Among the whiche is Avicen,
2611   Which fond and wrot a gret partie
2612   The practique of Alconomie;
2613   Whos bokes, pleinli as thei stonde  
2614   Upon this craft, fewe understonde;  
2615   Bot yit to put hem in assai
2616   Ther ben full manye now aday, 
2617   That knowen litel what thei meene.      
2618   It is noght on to wite and weene;
2619   In forme of wordes thei it trete,
2620   Bot yit they failen of beyete,
2621   For of tomoche or of tolyte
2622   Ther is algate founde a wyte, 
2623   So that thei folwe noght the lyne
2624   Of the parfite medicine,
2625   Which grounded is upon nature.
2626   Bot thei that writen the scripture  
2627   Of Grek, Arabe and of Caldee, 
2628   Thei were of such Auctorite
2629   That thei ferst founden out the weie
2630   Of al that thou hast herd me seie;  
2631   Wherof the Cronique of her lore  
2632   Schal stonde in pris for everemore. 
2633   Bot toward oure Marches hiere,
2634   Of the Latins if thou wolt hiere,
2635   Of hem that whilom vertuous
2636   Were and therto laborious, 
2637   Carmente made of hire engin
2638   The ferste lettres of Latin,  
2639   Of which the tunge Romein cam,
2640   Wherof that Aristarchus nam
2641   Forth with Donat and Dindimus 
2642   The ferste reule of Scole, as thus, 
2643   How that Latin schal be componed 
2644   And in what wise it schal be soned, 
2645   That every word in his degre  
2646   Schal stonde upon congruite.  
2647   And thilke time at Rome also  
2648   Was Tullius with Cithero,  
2649   That writen upon Rethorike,
2650   Hou that men schal the wordes pike  
2651   After the forme of eloquence, 
2652   Which is, men sein, a gret prudence:    
2653   And after that out of Hebreu  
2654   Jerom, which the langage kneu,
2655   The Bible, in which the lawe is closed,
2656   Into Latin he hath transposed;
2657   And many an other writere ek  
2658   Out of Caldee, Arabe and Grek 
2659   With gret labour the bokes wise  
2660   Translateden. And otherwise
2661   The Latins of hemself also 
2662   Here studie at thilke time so 
2663   With gret travaile of Scole toke 
2664   In sondri forme forto boke,
2665   That we mai take here evidences  
2666   Upon the lore of the Sciences,
2667   Of craftes bothe and of clergie; 
2668   Among the whiche in Poesie 
2669   To the lovers Ovide wrot
2670   And tawhte, if love be to hot,
2671   In what manere it scholde akiele.
2672   Forthi, mi Sone, if that thou fiele 
2673   That love wringe thee to sore,
2674   Behold Ovide and take his lore.  
2675   My fader, if thei mihte spede 
2676   Mi love, I wolde his bokes rede; 
2677   And if thei techen to restreigne 
2678   Mi love, it were an ydel peine
2679   To lerne a thing which mai noght be.
2680   For lich unto the greene tree,
2681   If that men toke his rote aweie, 
2682   Riht so myn herte scholde deie,  
2683   If that mi love be withdrawe. 
2684   Wherof touchende unto this sawe  
2685   There is bot only to poursuie 
2686   Mi love, and ydelschipe eschuie. 
2687   Mi goode Sone, soth to seie,  
2688   If ther be siker eny weie  
2689   To love, thou hast seid the beste:      
2690   For who that wolde have al his reste
2691   And do no travail at the nede,
2692   It is no resoun that he spede 
2693   In loves cause forto winne;
2694   For he which dar nothing beginne,
2695   I not what thing he scholde achieve.
2696   Bot overthis thou schalt believe,
2697   So as it sit thee wel to knowe,  
2698   That ther ben othre vices slowe, 
2699   Whiche unto love don gret lette, 
2700   If thou thin herte upon hem sette.  
2701   Toward the Slowe progenie  
2702   Ther is yit on of compaignie, 
2703   And he is cleped Sompnolence, 
2704   Which doth to Slouthe his reverence,
2705   As he which is his Chamberlein,  
2706   That many an hundrid time hath lein 
2707   To slepe, whan he scholde wake.  
2708   He hath with love trewes take,
2709   That wake who so wake wile,
2710   If he mai couche a doun his bile,
2711   He hath al wowed what him list;  
2712   That ofte he goth to bedde unkist,  
2713   And seith that for no Druerie 
2714   He wol noght leve his sluggardie.
2715   For thogh noman it wole allowe,  
2716   To slepe levere than to wowe  
2717   Is his manere, and thus on nyhtes,  
2718   Whan that he seth the lusti knyhtes 
2719   Revelen, wher these wommen are,  
2720   Awey he skulketh as an hare,  
2721   And goth to bedde and leith him softe,     
2722   And of his Slouthe he dremeth ofte  
2723   Hou that he stiketh in the Myr,  
2724   And hou he sitteth be the fyr 
2725   And claweth on his bare schanckes,  
2726   And hou he clymbeth up the banckes  
2727   And falleth into Slades depe. 
2728   Bot thanne who so toke kepe,  
2729   Whanne he is falle in such a drem,  
2730   Riht as a Schip ayein the Strem, 
2731   He routeth with a slepi noise,
2732   And brustleth as a monkes froise,
2733   Whanne it is throwe into the Panne. 
2734   And otherwhile sielde whanne  
2735   That he mai dreme a lusti swevene,  
2736   Him thenkth as thogh he were in hevene 
2737   And as the world were holi his:  
2738   And thanne he spekth of that and this, 
2739   And makth his exposicion
2740   After the disposicion
2741   Of that he wolde, and in such wise  
2742   He doth to love all his service; 
2743   I not what thonk he schal deserve.  
2744   Bot, Sone, if thou wolt love serve, 
2745   I rede that thou do noght so. 
2746   Ha, goode fader, certes no.
2747   I hadde levere be mi trowthe, 
2748   Er I were set on such a slouthe  
2749   And beere such a slepi snoute,
2750   Bothe yhen of myn hed were oute. 
2751   For me were betre fulli die,  
2752   Thanne I of such a slugardie  
2753   Hadde eny name, god me schilde;  
2754   For whan mi moder was with childe,  
2755   And I lay in hire wombe clos, 
2756   I wolde rathere Atropos,
2757   Which is goddesse of alle deth,  
2758   Anon as I hadde eny breth, 
2759   Me hadde fro mi Moder cast.
2760   Bot now I am nothing agast,        
2761   I thonke godd; for Lachesis,  
2762   Ne Cloto, which hire felawe is,  
2763   Me schopen no such destine,
2764   Whan thei at mi nativite
2765   My weerdes setten as thei wolde; 
2766   Bot thei me schopen that I scholde  
2767   Eschuie of slep the truandise,
2768   So that I hope in such a wise 
2769   To love forto ben excused, 
2770   That I no Sompnolence have used. 
2771   For certes, fader Genius,  
2772   Yit into nou it hath be thus, 
2773   At alle time if it befelle 
2774   So that I mihte come and duelle  
2775   In place ther my ladi were,
2776   I was noght slow ne slepi there: 
2777   For thanne I dar wel undertake,  
2778   That whanne hir list on nyhtes wake 
2779   In chambre as to carole and daunce, 
2780   Me thenkth I mai me more avaunce,
2781   If I mai gon upon hir hond,
2782   Thanne if I wonne a kinges lond. 
2783   For whanne I mai hire hand beclippe,
2784   With such gladnesse I daunce and skippe,  
2785   Me thenkth I touche noght the flor; 
2786   The Ro, which renneth on the Mor,
2787   Is thanne noght so lyht as I: 
2788   So mow ye witen wel forthi,
2789   That for the time slep I hate.
2790   And whanne it falleth othergate, 
2791   So that hire like noght to daunce,  
2792   Bot on the Dees to caste chaunce 
2793   Or axe of love som demande,
2794   Or elles that hir list comaunde  
2795   To rede and here of Troilus,  
2796   Riht as sche wole or so or thus, 
2797   I am al redi to consente.  
2798   And if so is that I mai hente     
2799   Somtime among a good leisir,  
2800   So as I dar of mi desir 
2801   I telle a part; bot whanne I preie, 
2802   Anon sche bidt me go mi weie  
2803   And seith it is ferr in the nyht;
2804   And I swere it is even liht.  
2805   Bot as it falleth ate laste,  
2806   Ther mai no worldes joie laste,  
2807   So mot I nedes fro hire wende 
2808   And of my wachche make an ende:  
2809   And if sche thanne hiede toke,
2810   Hou pitousliche on hire I loke,  
2811   Whan that I schal my leve take,  
2812   Hire oghte of mercy forto slake  
2813   Hire daunger, which seith evere nay.
2814   Bot he seith often, "Have good day,"
2815   That loth is forto take his leve:
2816   Therfore, while I mai beleve, 
2817   I tarie forth the nyht along, 
2818   For it is noght on me along
2819   To slep that I so sone go, 
2820   Til that I mot algate so;  
2821   And thanne I bidde godd hire se, 
2822   And so doun knelende on mi kne
2823   I take leve, and if I schal,  
2824   I kisse hire, and go forth withal.  
2825   And otherwhile, if that I dore,  
2826   Er I come fulli to the Dore,  
2827   I torne ayein and feigne a thing,
2828   As thogh I hadde lost a Ring  
2829   Or somwhat elles, for I wolde 
2830   Kisse hire eftsones, if I scholde,  
2831   Bot selden is that I so spede.
2832   And whanne I se that I mot nede  
2833   Departen, I departe, and thanne  
2834   With al myn herte I curse and banne 
2835   That evere slep was mad for yhe; 
2836   For, as me thenkth, I mihte dryhe    
2837   Withoute slep to waken evere, 
2838   So that I scholde noght dissevere
2839   Fro hire, in whom is al my liht: 
2840   And thanne I curse also the nyht 
2841   With al the will of mi corage,
2842   And seie, "Awey, thou blake ymage,  
2843   Which of thi derke cloudy face
2844   Makst al the worldes lyht deface,
2845   And causest unto slep a weie, 
2846   Be which I mot nou gon aweie  
2847   Out of mi ladi compaignie. 
2848   O slepi nyht, I thee defie,
2849   And wolde that thou leye in presse  
2850   With Proserpine the goddesse  
2851   And with Pluto the helle king:
2852   For til I se the daies spring,
2853   I sette slep noght at a risshe." 
2854   And with that word I sike and wisshe,  
2855   And seie, "Ha, whi ne were it day?  
2856   For yit mi ladi thanne I may  
2857   Beholde, thogh I do nomore."  
2858   And efte I thenke forthermore,
2859   To som man hou the niht doth ese,
2860   Whan he hath thing that mai him plese  
2861   The longe nyhtes be his side, 
2862   Where as I faile and go beside.  
2863   Bot slep, I not wherof it serveth,  
2864   Of which noman his thonk deserveth  
2865   To gete him love in eny place,
2866   Bot is an hindrere of his grace  
2867   And makth him ded as for a throwe,  
2868   Riht as a Stok were overthrowe.  
2869   And so, mi fader, in this wise
2870   The slepi nyhtes I despise,
2871   And evere amiddes of mi tale  
2872   I thenke upon the nyhtingale, 
2873   Which slepeth noght be weie of kinde
2874   For love, in bokes as I finde.    
2875   Thus ate laste I go to bedde, 
2876   And yit min herte lith to wedde  
2877   With hire, wher as I cam fro; 
2878   Thogh I departe, he wol noght so,
2879   Ther is no lock mai schette him oute,  
2880   Him nedeth noght to gon aboute,  
2881   That perce mai the harde wall;
2882   Thus is he with hire overall, 
2883   That be hire lief, or be hire loth, 
2884   Into hire bedd myn herte goth,
2885   And softly takth hire in his arm 
2886   And fieleth hou that sche is warm,  
2887   And wissheth that his body were  
2888   To fiele that he fieleth there.  
2889   And thus miselven I tormente, 
2890   Til that the dede slep me hente: 
2891   Bot thanne be a thousand score
2892   Welmore than I was tofore  
2893   I am tormented in mi slep, 
2894   Bot that I dreme is noght of schep; 
2895   For I ne thenke noght on wulle,  
2896   Bot I am drecched to the fulle
2897   Of love, that I have to kepe, 
2898   That nou I lawhe and nou I wepe, 
2899   And nou I lese and nou I winne,  
2900   And nou I ende and nou beginne.  
2901   And otherwhile I dreme and mete  
2902   That I al one with hire mete  
2903   And that Danger is left behinde; 
2904   And thanne in slep such joie I finde,  
2905   That I ne bede nevere awake.  
2906   Bot after, whanne I hiede take,  
2907   And schal arise upon the morwe,  
2908   Thanne is al torned into sorwe,  
2909   Noght for the cause I schal arise,  
2910   Bot for I mette in such a wise,  
2911   And ate laste I am bethoght
2912   That al is vein and helpeth noght:  
2913   Bot yit me thenketh be my wille  
2914   I wolde have leie and slepe stille,     
2915   To meten evere of such a swevene,
2916   For thanne I hadde a slepi hevene.  
2917   Mi Sone, and for thou tellest so,
2918   A man mai finde of time ago
2919   That many a swevene hath be certein,
2920   Al be it so, that som men sein
2921   That swevenes ben of no credence.
2922   Bot forto schewe in evidence  
2923   That thei fulofte sothe thinges  
2924   Betokne, I thenke in my wrytinges
2925   To telle a tale therupon,  
2926   Which fell be olde daies gon. 
2927   This finde I write in Poesie: 
2928   Cei5x the king of Trocinie 
2929   Hadde Alceone to his wif,  
2930   Which as hire oghne hertes lif
2931   Him loveth; and he hadde also 
2932   A brother, which was cleped tho  
2933   Dedalion, and he per cas
2934   Fro kinde of man forschape was
2935   Into a Goshauk of liknesse;
2936   Wherof the king gret hevynesse
2937   Hath take, and thoghte in his corage
2938   To gon upon a pelrinage 
2939   Into a strange regioun, 
2940   Wher he hath his devocioun 
2941   To don his sacrifice and preie,  
2942   If that he mihte in eny weie  
2943   Toward the goddes finde grace 
2944   His brother hele to pourchace,
2945   So that he mihte be reformed  
2946   Of that he hadde be transformed. 
2947   To this pourpos and to this ende 
2948   This king is redy forto wende,
2949   As he which wolde go be Schipe;  
2950   And forto don him felaschipe  
2951   His wif unto the See him broghte,    
2952   With al hire herte and him besoghte,
2953   That he the time hire wolde sein,
2954   Whan that he thoghte come ayein: 
2955   "Withinne," he seith, "tuo Monthe day."
2956   And thus in al the haste he may  
2957   He tok his leve, and forth he seileth  
2958   Wepende, and sche hirself beweileth,
2959   And torneth hom, ther sche cam fro. 
2960   Bot whan the Monthes were ago,
2961   The whiche he sette of his comynge, 
2962   And that sche herde no tydinge,  
2963   Ther was no care forto seche: 
2964   Wherof the goddes to beseche  
2965   Tho sche began in many wise,  
2966   And to Juno hire sacrifise 
2967   Above alle othre most sche dede, 
2968   And for hir lord sche hath so bede  
2969   To wite and knowe hou that he ferde,
2970   That Juno the goddesse hire herde,  
2971   Anon and upon this matiere 
2972   Sche bad Yris hir Messagere
2973   To Slepes hous that sche schal wende,  
2974   And bidde him that he make an ende  
2975   Be swevene and schewen al the cas
2976   Unto this ladi, hou it was.
2977   This Yris, fro the hihe stage 
2978   Which undertake hath the Message,
2979   Hire reyny Cope dede upon, 
2980   The which was wonderli begon  
2981   With colours of diverse hewe, 
2982   An hundred mo than men it knewe; 
2983   The hevene lich into a bowe
2984   Sche bende, and so she cam doun lowe,  
2985   The god of Slep wher that sche fond.
2986   And that was in a strange lond,  
2987   Which marcheth upon Chymerie: 
2988   For ther, as seith the Poesie,    
2989   The god of Slep hath mad his hous,  
2990   Which of entaille is merveilous. 
2991   Under an hell ther is a Cave, 
2992   Which of the Sonne mai noght have,  
2993   So that noman mai knowe ariht 
2994   The point betwen the dai and nyht:  
2995   Ther is no fyr, ther is no sparke,  
2996   Ther is no dore, which mai charke,  
2997   Wherof an yhe scholde unschette, 
2998   So that inward ther is no lette. 
2999   And forto speke of that withoute,
3000   Ther stant no gret Tree nyh aboute  
3001   Wher on ther myhte crowe or pie  
3002   Alihte, forto clepe or crie:  
3003   Ther is no cok to crowe day,  
3004   Ne beste non which noise may  
3005   The hell, bot al aboute round 
3006   Ther is growende upon the ground 
3007   Popi, which berth the sed of slep,  
3008   With othre herbes suche an hep.  
3009   A stille water for the nones  
3010   Rennende upon the smale stones,  
3011   Which hihte of Lethes the rivere,
3012   Under that hell in such manere
3013   Ther is, which yifth gret appetit
3014   To slepe. And thus full of delit 
3015   Slep hath his hous; and of his couche  
3016   Withinne his chambre if I schal touche,
3017   Of hebenus that slepi Tree 
3018   The bordes al aboute be,
3019   And for he scholde slepe softe,  
3020   Upon a fethrebed alofte 
3021   He lith with many a pilwe of doun:  
3022   The chambre is strowed up and doun  
3023   With swevenes many thousendfold. 
3024   Thus cam Yris into this hold, 
3025   And to the bedd, which is al blak,      
3026   Sche goth, and ther with Slep sche spak,  
3027   And in the wise as sche was bede 
3028   The Message of Juno sche dede.
3029   Fulofte hir wordes sche reherceth,  
3030   Er sche his slepi Eres perceth;  
3031   With mochel wo bot ate laste  
3032   His slombrende yhen he upcaste
3033   And seide hir that it schal be do.  
3034   Wherof among a thousend tho,  
3035   Withinne his hous that slepi were,  
3036   In special he ches out there  
3037   Thre, whiche scholden do this dede: 
3038   The ferste of hem, so as I rede, 
3039   Was Morphes, the whos nature
3040   Is forto take the figure
3041   Of what persone that him liketh, 
3042   Wherof that he fulofte entriketh 
3043   The lif which slepe schal be nyhte; 
3044   And Ithecus that other hihte, 
3045   Which hath the vois of every soun,  
3046   The chiere and the condicioun 
3047   Of every lif, what so it is:  
3048   The thridde suiende after this
3049   Is Panthasas, which may transforme  
3050   Of every thing the rihte forme,  
3051   And change it in an other kinde. 
3052   Upon hem thre, so as I finde, 
3053   Of swevenes stant al thapparence,
3054   Which otherwhile is evidence  
3055   And otherwhile bot a jape. 
3056   Bot natheles it is so schape, 
3057   That Morphes be nyht al one 
3058   Appiereth until Alceone 
3059   In liknesse of hir housebonde 
3060   Al naked ded upon the stronde,
3061   And hou he dreynte in special 
3062   These othre tuo it schewen al.
3063   The tempeste of the blake cloude,    
3064   The wode See, the wyndes loude,  
3065   Al this sche mette, and sih him dyen;  
3066   Wherof that sche began to crien, 
3067   Slepende abedde ther sche lay,
3068   And with that noise of hire affray  
3069   Hir wommen sterten up aboute, 
3070   Whiche of here ladi were in doute,  
3071   And axen hire hou that sche ferde;  
3072   And sche, riht as sche syh and herde,  
3073   Hir swevene hath told hem everydel. 
3074   And thei it halsen alle wel
3075   And sein it is a tokne of goode; 
3076   Bot til sche wiste hou that it stode,  
3077   Sche hath no confort in hire herte, 
3078   Upon the morwe and up sche sterte,  
3079   And to the See, wher that sche mette
3080   The bodi lay, withoute lette  
3081   Sche drowh, and whan that sche cam nyh,
3082   Stark ded, hise harmes sprad, sche syh 
3083   Hire lord flietende upon the wawe.  
3084   Wherof hire wittes ben withdrawe,
3085   And sche, which tok of deth no kepe,
3086   Anon forth lepte into the depe
3087   And wolde have cawht him in hire arm.  
3088   This infortune of double harm 
3089   The goddes fro the hevene above  
3090   Behielde, and for the trowthe of love, 
3091   Which in this worthi ladi stod,  
3092   Thei have upon the salte flod 
3093   Hire dreinte lord and hire also  
3094   Fro deth to lyve torned so,
3095   That thei ben schapen into briddes  
3096   Swimmende upon the wawe amiddes. 
3097   And whan sche sih hire lord livende 
3098   In liknesse of a bridd swimmende,
3099   And sche was of the same sort,
3100   So as sche mihte do desport,  
3101   Upon the joie which sche hadde    
3102   Hire wynges bothe abrod sche spradde,  
3103   And him, so as sche mai suffise, 
3104   Beclipte and keste in such a wise,  
3105   As sche was whilom wont to do:
3106   Hire wynges for hire armes tuo
3107   Sche tok, and for hire lippes softe 
3108   Hire harde bile, and so fulofte  
3109   Sche fondeth in hire briddes forme, 
3110   If that sche mihte hirself conforme 
3111   To do the plesance of a wif,  
3112   As sche dede in that other lif:  
3113   For thogh sche hadde hir pouer lore,
3114   Hir will stod as it was tofore,  
3115   And serveth him so as sche mai.  
3116   Wherof into this ilke day  
3117   Togedre upon the See thei wone,  
3118   Wher many a dowhter and a Sone
3119   Thei bringen forth of briddes kinde;
3120   And for men scholden take in mynde  
3121   This Alceoun the trewe queene,
3122   Hire briddes yit, as it is seene,
3123   Of Alceoun the name bere.  
3124   Lo thus, mi Sone, it mai thee stere 
3125   Of swevenes forto take kepe,  
3126   For ofte time a man aslepe 
3127   Mai se what after schal betide.  
3128   Forthi it helpeth at som tyde 
3129   A man to slepe, as it belongeth, 
3130   Bot slowthe no lif underfongeth  
3131   Which is to love appourtenant.
3132   Mi fader, upon covenant 
3133   I dar wel make this avou,  
3134   Of all mi lif that into nou,  
3135   Als fer as I can understonde, 
3136   Yit tok I nevere Slep on honde,  
3137   Whan it was time forto wake;  
3138   For thogh myn yhe it wolde take, 
3139   Min herte is evere therayein.     
3140   Bot natheles to speke it plein,  
3141   Al this that I have seid you hiere  
3142   Of my wakinge, as ye mai hiere,  
3143   It toucheth to mi lady swete; 
3144   For otherwise, I you behiete, 
3145   In strange place whanne I go, 
3146   Me list nothing to wake so.
3147   For whan the wommen listen pleie,
3148   And I hir se noght in the weie,  
3149   Of whom I scholde merthe take,
3150   Me list noght longe forto wake,  
3151   Bot if it be for pure schame, 
3152   Of that I wolde eschuie a name,  
3153   That thei ne scholde have cause non 
3154   To seie, "Ha, lo, wher goth such on,
3155   That hath forlore his contenaunce]" 
3156   And thus among I singe and daunce,  
3157   And feigne lust ther as non is.  
3158   For ofte sithe I fiele this;  
3159   Of thoght, which in mi herte falleth
3160   Whanne it is nyht, myn hed appalleth,  
3161   And that is for I se hire noght, 
3162   Which is the wakere of mi thoght:
3163   And thus as tymliche as I may,
3164   Fulofte whanne it is brod day,
3165   I take of all these othre leve
3166   And go my weie, and thei beleve, 
3167   That sen per cas here loves there;  
3168   And I go forth as noght ne were  
3169   Unto mi bedd, so that al one  
3170   I mai ther ligge and sighe and grone
3171   And wisshen al the longe nyht,
3172   Til that I se the daies lyht. 
3173   I not if that be Sompnolence, 
3174   Bot upon youre conscience, 
3175   Min holi fader, demeth ye. 
3176   My Sone, I am wel paid with thee,    
3177   Of Slep that thou the Sluggardie 
3178   Be nyhte in loves compaignie  
3179   Eschuied hast, and do thi peine  
3180   So that thi love thar noght pleine: 
3181   For love upon his lust wakende
3182   Is evere, and wolde that non ende
3183   Were of the longe nyhtes set. 
3184   Wherof that thou be war the bet, 
3185   To telle a tale I am bethoght,
3186   Hou love and Slep acorden noght. 
3187   For love who that list to wake
3188   Be nyhte, he mai ensample take
3189   Of Cephalus, whan that  he lay
3190   With Aurora that swete may 
3191   In armes all the longe nyht.  
3192   Bot whanne it drogh toward the liht,
3193   That he withinne his herte sih
3194   The dai which was amorwe nyh, 
3195   Anon unto the Sonne he preide 
3196   For lust of love, and thus he seide:
3197   "O Phebus, which the daies liht  
3198   Governest, til that it be nyht,  
3199   And gladest every creature 
3200   After the lawe of thi nature,-
3201   Bot natheles ther is a thing, 
3202   Which onli to the knouleching 
3203   Belongeth as in privete 
3204   To love and to his duete,  
3205   Which asketh noght to ben apert, 
3206   Bot in cilence and in covert  
3207   Desireth forto be beschaded:  
3208   And thus whan that thi liht is faded
3209   And Vesper scheweth him alofte,  
3210   And that the nyht is long and softe,
3211   Under the cloudes derke and stille  
3212   Thanne hath this thing most of his wille. 
3213   Forthi unto thi myhtes hyhe,      
3214   As thou which art the daies yhe, 
3215   Of love and myht no conseil hyde,
3216   Upon this derke nyhtes tyde
3217   With al myn herte I thee beseche 
3218   That I plesance myhte seche
3219   With hire which lith in min armes.  
3220   Withdrawgh the Banere of thin Armes,
3221   And let thi lyhtes ben unborn,
3222   And in the Signe of Capricorn,
3223   The hous appropred to Satorne,
3224   I preie that thou wolt sojorne,  
3225   Wher ben the nihtes derke and longe:
3226   For I mi love have underfonge,
3227   Which lith hier be mi syde naked,
3228   As sche which wolde ben awaked,  
3229   And me lest nothing forto slepe. 
3230   So were it good to take kepe  
3231   Nou at this nede of mi preiere,  
3232   And that the like forto stiere
3233   Thi fyri Carte, and so ordeigne, 
3234   That thou thi swifte hors restreigne
3235   Lowe under Erthe in Occident, 
3236   That thei towardes Orient  
3237   Be Cercle go the longe weie.  
3238   And ek to thee, Diane, I preie,  
3239   Which cleped art of thi noblesse 
3240   The nyhtes Mone and the goddesse,
3241   That thou to me be gracious:  
3242   And in Cancro thin oghne hous 
3243   Ayein Phebus in opposit 
3244   Stond al this time, and of delit 
3245   Behold Venus with a glad yhe. 
3246   For thanne upon Astronomie 
3247   Of due constellacion 
3248   Thou makst prolificacion,  
3249   And dost that children ben begete:  
3250   Which grace if that I mihte gete,    
3251   With al myn herte I wolde serve  
3252   Be nyhte, and thi vigile observe."  
3253   Lo, thus this lusti Cephalus  
3254   Preide unto Phebe and to Phebus  
3255   The nyht in lengthe forto drawe, 
3256   So that he mihte do the lawe  
3257   In thilke point of loves heste,  
3258   Which cleped is the nyhtes feste,
3259   Withoute Slep of sluggardie;  
3260   Which Venus out of compaignie 
3261   Hath put awey, as thilke same,
3262   Which lustles ferr from alle game
3263   In chambre doth fulofte wo 
3264   Abedde, whanne it falleth so  
3265   That love scholde ben awaited.
3266   But Slowthe, which is evele affaited,  
3267   With Slep hath mad his retenue,  
3268   That what thing is to love due,  
3269   Of all his dette he paieth non:  
3270   He wot noght how the nyht is gon 
3271   Ne hou the day is come aboute,
3272   Bot onli forto slepe and route
3273   Til hyh midday, that he arise.
3274   Bot Cephalus dede otherwise,  
3275   As thou, my Sone, hast herd above.  
3276   Mi fader, who that hath his love 
3277   Abedde naked be his syde,  
3278   And wolde thanne hise yhen hyde  
3279   With Slep, I not what man is he: 
3280   Bot certes as touchende of me,
3281   That fell me nevere yit er this. 
3282   Bot otherwhile, whan so is 
3283   That I mai cacche Slep on honde  
3284   Liggende al one, thanne I fonde  
3285   To dreme a merie swevene er day; 
3286   And if so falle that I may 
3287   Mi thought with such a swevene plese,      
3288   Me thenkth I am somdiel in ese,  
3289   For I non other confort have. 
3290   So nedeth noght that I schal crave  
3291   The Sonnes Carte forto tarie, 
3292   Ne yit the Mone, that sche carie 
3293   Hire cours along upon the hevene,
3294   For I am noght the more in evene 
3295   Towardes love in no degree:
3296   Bot in mi slep yit thanne I se
3297   Somwhat in swevene of that me liketh,  
3298   Which afterward min herte entriketh,
3299   Whan that I finde it otherwise.  
3300   So wot I noght of what servise
3301   That Slep to mannes ese doth. 
3302   Mi Sone, certes thou seist soth, 
3303   Bot only that it helpeth kinde
3304   Somtyme, in Phisique as I finde, 
3305   Whan it is take be mesure: 
3306   Bot he which can no Slep mesure  
3307   Upon the reule as it belongeth,  
3308   Fulofte of sodein chance he fongeth 
3309   Such infortune that him grieveth.
3310   Bot who these olde bokes lieveth,
3311   Of Sompnolence hou it is write,  
3312   Ther may a man the sothe wite,
3313   If that he wolde ensample take,  
3314   That otherwhile is good to wake: 
3315   Wherof a tale in Poesie 
3316   I thenke forto specefie.
3317   Ovide telleth in his sawes,
3318   How Jupiter be olde dawes  
3319   Lay be a Mayde, which Yo
3320   Was cleped, wherof that Juno  
3321   His wif was wroth, and the goddesse 
3322   Of Yo torneth the liknesse 
3323   Into a cow, to gon theroute
3324   The large fieldes al aboute    
3325   And gete hire mete upon the griene. 
3326   And therupon this hyhe queene 
3327   Betok hire Argus forto kepe,  
3328   For he was selden wont to slepe, 
3329   And yit he hadde an hundred yhen,
3330   And alle alyche wel thei syhen.  
3331   Now herkne hou that he was beguiled.
3332   Mercurie, which was al affiled
3333   This Cow to stele, he cam desguised,
3334   And hadde a Pipe wel devised  
3335   Upon the notes of Musiqe,  
3336   Wherof he mihte hise Eres like.  
3337   And over that he hadde affaited  
3338   Hise lusti tales, and awaited 
3339   His time; and thus into the field
3340   He cam, where Argus he behield
3341   With Yo, which beside him wente. 
3342   With that his Pype on honde he hente,  
3343   And gan to pipe in his manere 
3344   Thing which was slepi forto hiere;  
3345   And in his pipinge evere among
3346   He tolde him such a lusti song,  
3347   That he the fol hath broght aslepe. 
3348   Ther was non yhe mihte kepe
3349   His hed, the which Mercurie of smot,
3350   And forth withal anon fot hot 
3351   He stal the Cow which Argus kepte,  
3352   And al this fell for that he slepte.
3353   Ensample it was to manye mo,  
3354   That mochel Slep doth ofte wo,
3355   Whan it is time forto wake:
3356   For if a man this vice take,  
3357   In Sompnolence and him delite,
3358   Men scholde upon his Dore wryte  
3359   His epitaphe, as on his grave;
3360   For he to spille and noght to save  
3361   Is schape, as thogh he were ded.     
3362   Forthi, mi Sone, hold up thin hed,  
3363   And let no Slep thin yhe englue, 
3364   Bot whanne it is to resoun due.  
3365   Mi fader, as touchende of this,  
3366   Riht so as I you tolde it is, 
3367   That ofte abedde, whanne I scholde, 
3368   I mai noght slepe, thogh I wolde;
3369   For love is evere faste byme, 
3370   Which takth no hiede of due time.
3371   For whanne I schal myn yhen close,  
3372   Anon min herte he wole oppose 
3373   And holde his Scole in such a wise, 
3374   Til it be day that I arise,
3375   That selde it is whan that I slepe. 
3376   And thus fro Sompnolence I kepe  
3377   Min yhe: and forthi if ther be
3378   Oght elles more in this degre,
3379   Now axeth forth. Mi Sone, yis:
3380   For Slowthe, which as Moder is
3381   The forthdrawere and the Norrice 
3382   To man of many a dredful vice,
3383   Hath yit an other laste of alle, 
3384   Which many a man hath mad to falle, 
3385   Wher that he mihte nevere arise; 
3386   Wherof for thou thee schalt avise,  
3387   Er thou so with thiself misfare, 
3388   What vice it is I wol declare.
3389   Whan Slowthe hath don al that he may
3390   To dryve forth the longe day, 
3391   Til it be come to the nede,
3392   Thanne ate laste upon the dede
3393   He loketh hou his time is lore,      
3394   And is so wo begon therfore,  
3395   That he withinne his thoght conceiveth 
3396   Tristesce, and so himself deceiveth,
3397   That he wanhope bringeth inne,
3398   Wher is no confort to beginne,
3399   Bot every joie him is deslaied:  
3400   So that withinne his herte affraied 
3401   A thousend time with o breth  
3402   Wepende he wissheth after deth,  
3403   Whan he fortune fint adverse. 
3404   For thanne he wole his hap reherce, 
3405   As thogh his world were al forlore, 
3406   And seith, "Helas, that I was bore] 
3407   Hou schal I live? hou schal I do?
3408   For nou fortune is thus mi fo,
3409   I wot wel god me wol noght helpe.
3410   What scholde I thanne of joies yelpe,  
3411   Whan ther no bote is of mi care? 
3412   So overcast is my welfare, 
3413   That I am schapen al to strif.
3414   Helas, that I nere of this lif,  
3415   Er I be fulliche overtake]"
3416   And thus he wol his sorwe make,  
3417   As god him mihte noght availe:
3418   Bot yit ne wol he noght travaile 
3419   To helpe himself at such a nede, 
3420   Bot slowtheth under such a drede,
3421   Which is affermed in his herte,  
3422   Riht as he mihte noght asterte
3423   The worldes wo which he is inne. 
3424   Also whan he is falle in Sinne,  
3425   Him thenkth he is so ferr coupable, 
3426   That god wol noght be merciable  
3427   So gret a Sinne to foryive;
3428   And thus he leeveth to be schrive.  
3429   And if a man in thilke throwe 
3430   Wolde him consaile, he wol noght knowe 
3431   The sothe, thogh a man it finde:     
3432   For Tristesce is of such a kinde,
3433   That forto meintiene his folie,  
3434   He hath with him Obstinacie,  
3435   Which is withinne of such a Slouthe,
3436   That he forsaketh alle trouthe,  
3437   And wole unto no reson bowe;  
3438   And yit ne can he noght avowe 
3439   His oghne skile bot of hed:
3440   Thus dwyneth he, til he be ded,  
3441   In hindringe of his oghne astat. 
3442   For where a man is obstinat,  
3443   Wanhope folweth ate laste, 
3444   Which mai noght after longe laste,  
3445   Till Slouthe make of him an ende.
3446   Bot god wot whider he schal wende.  
3447   Mi Sone, and riht in such manere 
3448   Ther be lovers of hevy chiere,
3449   That sorwen mor than it is ned,  
3450   Whan thei be taried of here sped 
3451   And conne noght hemselven rede,  
3452   Bot lesen hope forto spede 
3453   And stinten love to poursewe; 
3454   And thus thei faden hyde and hewe,  
3455   And lustles in here hertes waxe. 
3456   Hierof it is that I wolde axe,
3457   If thou, mi Sone, art on of tho. 
3458   Ha, goode fader, it is so, 
3459   Outake a point, I am beknowe; 
3460   For elles I am overthrowe  
3461   In al that evere ye have seid.
3462   Mi sorwe is everemore unteid, 
3463   And secheth overal my veines; 
3464   Bot forto conseile of mi peines, 
3465   I can no bote do therto;
3466   And thus withouten hope I go, 
3467   So that mi wittes ben empeired,  
3468   And I, as who seith, am despeired    
3469   To winne love of thilke swete,
3470   Withoute whom, I you behiete, 
3471   Min herte, that is so bestad, 
3472   Riht inly nevere mai be glad. 
3473   For be my trouthe I schal noght lie,
3474   Of pure sorwe, which I drye
3475   For that sche seith sche wol me noght, 
3476   With drecchinge of myn oghne thoght 
3477   In such a wanhope I am falle, 
3478   That I ne can unethes calle,  
3479   As forto speke of eny grace,  
3480   Mi ladi merci to pourchace.
3481   Bot yit I seie noght for this 
3482   That al in mi defalte it is;  
3483   For I cam nevere yit in stede,
3484   Whan time was, that I my bede 
3485   Ne seide, and as I dorste tolde: 
3486   Bot nevere fond I that sche wolde,  
3487   For oght sche knew of min entente,  
3488   To speke a goodly word assente.  
3489   And natheles this dar I seie, 
3490   That if a sinful wolde preie  
3491   To god of his foryivenesse 
3492   With half so gret a besinesse 
3493   As I have do to my ladi,
3494   In lacke of askinge of merci  
3495   He scholde nevere come in Helle. 
3496   And thus I mai you sothli telle, 
3497   Save only that I crie and bidde, 
3498   I am in Tristesce al amidde
3499   And fulfild of Desesperance:  
3500   And therof yif me mi penance, 
3501   Min holi fader, as you liketh.
3502   Mi Sone, of that thin herte siketh  
3503   With sorwe, miht thou noght amende, 
3504   Til love his grace wol thee sende,  
3505   For thou thin oghne cause empeirest 
3506   What time as thou thiself despeirest.      
3507   I not what other thing availeth, 
3508   Of hope whan the herte faileth,  
3509   For such a Sor is incurable,  
3510   And ek the goddes ben vengable:  
3511   And that a man mai riht wel frede,  
3512   These olde bokes who so rede, 
3513   Of thing which hath befalle er this:
3514   Now hier of what ensample it is. 
3515   Whilom be olde daies fer
3516   Of Mese was the king Theucer, 
3517   Which hadde a kniht to Sone, Iphis: 
3518   Of love and he so maistred is,
3519   That he hath set al his corage,  
3520   As to reguard of his lignage, 
3521   Upon a Maide of lou astat. 
3522   Bot thogh he were a potestat
3523   Of worldes good, he was soubgit
3524   To love, and put in such a plit,
3525   That he excedeth the mesure
3526   Of reson, that himself assure
3527   He can noght; for the more he preide,
3528   The lass love on him sche leide.
3529   He was with love unwys constreigned,
3530   And sche with resoun was restreigned:
3531   The lustes of his herte he suieth,
3532   And sche for dred schame eschuieth,
3533   And as sche scholde, tok good hiede
3534   To save and kepe hir wommanhiede.
3535   And thus the thing stod in debat
3536   Betwen his lust and hire astat:
3537   He yaf, he sende, he spak be mouthe,
3538   Bot yit for oght that evere he couthe
3539   Unto his sped he fond no weie,
3540   So that he caste his hope aweie,
3541   Withinne his herte and gan despeire
3542   Fro dai to dai, and so empeire,
3543   That he hath lost al his delit
3544   Of lust, of Slep, of Appetit,
3545   That he thurgh strengthe of love lasseth
3546   His wit, and resoun overpasseth.
3547   As he which of his lif ne rowhte,
3548   His deth upon himself he sowhte,
3549   So that be nyhte his weie he nam,
3550   Ther wiste non wher he becam;
3551   The nyht was derk, ther schon no Mone,
3552   Tofore the gates he cam sone,
3553   Wher that this yonge Maiden was
3554   And with this wofull word, "Helas!"
3555   Hise dedli pleintes he began
3556   So stille that ther was noman
3557   It herde, and thanne he seide thus:
3558   "O thou Cupide, o thou Venus,
3559   Fortuned be whos ordinaunce
3560   Of love is every mannes chaunce,
3561   Ye knowen al min hole herte,
3562   That I ne mai your hond asterte;
3563   On you is evere that I crie,
3564   And yit you deigneth noght to plie,
3565   Ne toward me youre Ere encline.
3566   Thus for I se no medicine
3567   To make an ende of mi querele,
3568   My deth schal be in stede of hele.
3569     Ha, thou mi wofull ladi diere,
3570   Which duellest with thi fader hiere
3571   And slepest in thi bedd at ese,
3572   Thou wost nothing of my desese.
3573   Hou thou and I be now unmete.
3574   Ha lord, what swevene schalt thou mete,
3575   What dremes hast thou nou on honde?
3576   Thou slepest there, and I hier stonde.
3577   Thogh I no deth to the deserve,
3578   Hier schal I for thi love sterve,
3579   Hier schal a kinges Sone dye
3580   For love and for no felonie;
3581   Wher thou therof have joie or sorwe,
3582   Hier schalt thou se me ded tomorwe.
3583   O herte hard aboven alle,
3584   This deth, which schal to me befalle
3585   For that thou wolt noght do me grace,
3586   Yit schal be told in many a place,
3587   Hou I am ded for love and trouthe
3588   In thi defalte and in thi slouthe:
3589   Thi Daunger schal to manye mo
3590   Ensample be for everemo,
3591   Whan thei my wofull deth recorde."
3592   And with that word he tok a Corde,
3593   With which upon the gate tre
3594   He hyng himself, that was pite.
3595     The morwe cam, the nyht is gon,
3596   Men comen out and syhe anon
3597   Wher that this yonge lord was ded:
3598   Ther was an hous withoute red,
3599   For noman knew the cause why;
3600   Ther was wepinge and ther was cry.
3601   This Maiden, whan that sche it herde,
3602   And sih this thing hou it misferde,
3603   Anon sche wiste what it mente,
3604   And al the cause hou it wente
3605   To al the world sche tolde it oute,
3606   And preith to hem that were aboute
3607   To take of hire the vengance,
3608   For sche was cause of thilke chaunce,
3609   Why that this kinges Sone is split.
3610   Sche takth upon hirself the gilt,
3611   And is al redi to the peine
3612   Which eny man hir wole ordeigne:
3613   And bot if eny other wolde,
3614   Sche seith that sche hirselve scholde
3615   Do wreche with hire oghne hond,
3616   Thurghout the world in every lond
3617   That every lif therof schal speke,
3618   Hou sche hirself i scholde wreke.
3619   Sche wepth, sche crith, sche swouneth ofte,
3620   Sche caste hire yhen up alofte
3621   And seide among ful pitously:
3622   "A godd, thou wost wel it am I,
3623   For whom Iphis is thus besein:
3624   Ordeine so, that men mai sein
3625   A thousend wynter after this,
3626   Hou such a Maiden dede amis,
3627   And as I dede, do to me:
3628   For I ne dede no pite
3629   To him, which for mi love is lore,
3630   Do no pite to me therfore."
3631   And with this word sche fell to grounde
3632   Aswoune, and ther sche lay a stounde.
3633   The goddes, whiche hir pleigntes herde
3634   And syhe hou wofully sche ferde,
3635   Hire lif thei toke awey anon,
3636   And schopen hire into a Ston
3637   After the forme of hire ymage
3638   Of bodi bothe and of visage.
3639   And for the merveile of this thing
3640   Unto the place cam the king
3641   And ek the queene and manye mo;
3642   And whan thei wisten it was so,
3643   As I have told it heir above,
3644   Hou that Iphis was ded for love,
3645   Of that he hadde be refused,
3646   Thei hielden alle men excused
3647   And wondren upon the vengance.
3648   And forto kepe in remembrance,
3649   This faire ymage mayden liche
3650   With compaignie noble and riche
3651   With torche and gret sollempnite.
3652   To Salamyne the Cite
3653   Thei lede, and carie forth withal
3654   The dede corps, and sein it schal
3655   Beside thilke ymage have
3656   His sepulture and be begrave:
3657   This corps and this ymage thus
3658   Into the Cite to Venus,
3659   Wher that goddesse hire temple hadde,
3660   Togedre bothe tuo thei ladde.
3661   This ilke ymage as for miracle
3662   Was set upon an hyh pinacle,
3663   That alle men it mihte knowe,
3664   And under tht thei maden lowe
3665   A tumbe riche for the nones
3666   Of marbre and ek of jaspre stones,
3667   Wherin this Iphis was beloken,
3668   That evermor it schal be spoken.
3669   And for men schal the sothe wite,
3670   Thei have here epitaphe write,
3671   As thing which scholde abide stable:
3672   The lettres graven in a table
3673   Of marbre were and seiden this:
3674   "Hier lith, which slowh himself, Iphis,
3675   For love of Araxarathen:
3676   And in ensample of tho wommen,
3677   That soffren men to deie so,
3678   Hire forme a man mai sen also,
3679   Hou it is torned fleissh and bon
3680   Into the figure of a Ston:
3681   He was to neysshe and sche to hard.
3682   Be war forthi hierafterward;
3683   Ye men and wommen bothe tuo,
3684   Ensampleth you of that was tho:
3685     Lo thus, mi Sone, as I thee seie,
3686   It grieveth be diverse weie
3687   In desepeir a man to falle,
3688   Which is the laste branche of alle
3689   Of Slouthe, as thou hast herd devise.
3690   Wherof that thou thiself avise
3691   Good is, er that thou be deceived,
3692   Wher that the grace of hope is weyved.
3693     Mi fader, hou so that it stonde,
3694   Now have I pleinly understonde
3695   Of Slouthes court the proprete,
3696   Wherof touchende in my degre
3697   For evere I thenke to be war.
3698   Bot overthis, so as I dar,
3699   With al min herte I you beseche,
3700   That ye me wolde enforme and teche
3701   What ther is more of youre aprise
3702   In love als wel as otherwise,
3703   So that I mai me clene schryve.
3704     Mi Sone, whyl thou art alyve
3705   And hast also thi fulle mynde,
3706   Among the vices whiche I finde
3707   Ther is yit on such of the sevene,
3708   Which al this world hath set unevene
3709   And causeth manye thinges wronge,
3710   Where he the cause hath underfonge:
3711   Wherof hierafter thou schalt hiere
3712   The forme bothe and the matiere.

Explicit Liber Quartus.



Incipit Liber Quintus


Obstat auaricia nature legibus, et que
     Largus amor poscit, striccius illa vetat.
Omne quod est nimium viciosum dicitur aurum,
     Vellera sicut oues, seruat auarus opes.
Non decet vt soli seruabitur es, set amori
     Debet homo solam solus habere suam.


1      Ferst whan the hyhe god began 
2      This world, and that the kinde of man  
3      Was falle into no gret encress,  
4      For worldes good tho was no press,  
5      Bot al was set to the comune. 
6      Thei spieken thanne of no fortune
7      Or forto lese or forto winne, 
8      Til Avarice broghte it inne;  
9      And that was whan the world was woxe
10     Of man, of hors, of Schep, of Oxe,  
11     And that men knewen the moneie.  
12     Tho wente pes out of the weie 
13     And werre cam on every side,  
14     Which alle love leide aside
15     And of comun his propre made, 
16     So that in stede of schovele and spade 
17     The scharpe swerd was take on honde;
18     And in this wise it cam to londe,
19     Wherof men maden dyches depe  
20     And hyhe walles forto kepe 
21     The gold which Avarice encloseth.
22     Bot al to lytel him supposeth,
23     Thogh he mihte al the world pourchace;     
24     For what thing that he may embrace  
25     Of gold, of catel or of lond, 
26     He let it nevere out of his hond,
27     Bot get him more and halt it faste, 
28     As thogh the world scholde evere laste.
29     So is he lych unto the helle; 
30     For as these olde bokes telle,
31     What comth therinne, lasse or more, 
32     It schal departe neveremore:  
33     Thus whanne he hath his cofre loken,
34     It schal noght after ben unstoken,  
35     Bot whanne him list to have a syhte 
36     Of gold, hou that it schyneth brihte,  
37     That he ther on mai loke and muse;  
38     For otherwise he dar noght use
39     To take his part, or lasse or more. 
40     So is he povere, and everemore
41     Him lacketh that he hath ynowh:  
42     An Oxe draweth in the plowh,  
43     Of that himself hath no profit;  
44     A Schep riht in the same plit 
45     His wolle berth, bot on a day 
46     An other takth the flees away:
47     Thus hath he, that he noght ne hath,
48     For he therof his part ne tath.  
49     To seie hou such a man hath good,
50     Who so that reson understod,  
51     It is impropreliche seid,  
52     For good hath him and halt him teid,
53     That he ne gladeth noght withal, 
54     Bot is unto his good a thral, 
55     And as soubgit thus serveth he,  
56     Wher that he scholde maister be: 
57     Such is the kinde of thaverous.  
58     Mi Sone, as thou art amerous,     
59     Tell if thou farst of love so.
60     Mi fader, as it semeth, no;
61     That averous yit nevere I was,
62     So as ye setten me the cas:
63     For as ye tolden here above,  
64     In full possession of love 
65     Yit was I nevere hier tofore, 
66     So that me thenketh wel therfore,
67     I mai excuse wel my dede.  
68     Bot of mi will withoute drede,
69     If I that tresor mihte gete,  
70     It scholde nevere be foryete, 
71     That I ne wolde it faste holde,  
72     Til god of love himselve wolde
73     That deth ous scholde part atuo. 
74     For lieveth wel, I love hire so, 
75     That evene with min oghne lif,
76     If I that swete lusti wif  
77     Mihte ones welden at my wille,
78     For evere I wolde hire holde stille:
79     And in this wise, taketh kepe,
80     If I hire hadde, I wolde hire kepe, 
81     And yit no friday wolde I faste, 
82     Thogh I hire kepte and hielde faste.
83     Fy on the bagges in the kiste!
84     I hadde ynogh, if I hire kiste.  
85     For certes, if sche were myn, 
86     I hadde hir levere than a Myn 
87     Of Gold; for al this worldesriche
88     Ne mihte make me so riche  
89     As sche, that is so inly good.
90     I sette noght of other good;  
91     For mihte I gete such a thing,
92     I hadde a tresor for a king;  
93     And thogh I wolde it faste holde,
94     I were thanne wel beholde. 
95     Bot I mot pipe nou with lasse,    
96     And suffre that it overpasse, 
97     Noght with mi will, for thus I wolde
98     Ben averous, if that I scholde.  
99     Bot, fader, I you herde seie  
100    Hou thaverous hath yit som weie, 
101    Wherof he mai be glad; for he 
102    Mai whanne him list his tresor se,  
103    And grope and fiele it al aboute,
104    Bot I fulofte am schet theroute, 
105    Ther as my worthi tresor is.  
106    So is mi lif lich unto this,  
107    That ye me tolden hier tofore,
108    Hou that an Oxe his yock hath bore  
109    For thing that scholde him noght availe:  
110    And in this wise I me travaile;  
111    For who that evere hath the welfare,
112    I wot wel that I have the care,  
113    For I am hadd and noght ne have, 
114    And am, as who seith, loves knave.  
115    Nou demeth in youre oghne thoght,
116    If this be Avarice or noght.  
117    Mi Sone, I have of thee no wonder,  
118    Thogh thou to serve be put under 
119    With love, which to kinde acordeth: 
120    Bot, so as every bok recordeth,  
121    It is to kinde no plesance 
122    That man above his sustienance
123    Unto the gold schal serve and bowe, 
124    For that mai no reson avowe.  
125    Bot Avarice natheles,
126    If he mai geten his encress
127    Of gold, that wole he serve and kepe,  
128    For he takth of noght elles kepe,
129    Bot forto fille hise bagges large;  
130    And al is to him bot a charge,
131    For he ne parteth noght withal,  
132    Bot kepth it, as a servant schal:    
133    And thus, thogh that he multeplie
134    His gold, withoute tresorie
135    He is, for man is noght amended  
136    With gold, bot if it be despended
137    To mannes us; wherof I rede
138    A tale, and tak therof good hiede,  
139    Of that befell be olde tyde,  
140    As telleth ous the clerk Ovide.  
141    Bachus, which is the god of wyn, 
142    Acordant unto his divin 
143    A Prest, the which Cillenus hihte,  
144    He hadde, and fell so that be nyhte 
145    This Prest was drunke and goth astraied,  
146    Wherof the men were evele apaied 
147    In Frigelond, where as he wente. 
148    Bot ate laste a cherl him hente  
149    With strengthe of other felaschipe, 
150    So that upon his drunkeschipe 
151    Thei bounden him with chenes faste, 
152    And forth thei ladde him als so faste  
153    Unto the king, which hihte Myde. 
154    Bot he, that wolde his vice hyde,
155    This courteis king, tok of him hiede,  
156    And bad that men him scholde lede
157    Into a chambre forto kepe, 
158    Til he of leisir hadde slepe. 
159    And tho this Prest was sone unbounde,  
160    And up a couche fro the grounde  
161    To slepe he was leid softe ynowh;
162    And whanne he wok, the king him drowh  
163    To his presence and dede him chiere,
164    So that this Prest in such manere,  
165    Whil that him liketh, there he duelleth:  
166    And al this he to Bachus telleth,
167    Whan that he cam to him ayein.
168    And whan that Bachus herde sein      
169    How Mide hath don his courtesie, 
170    Him thenkth it were a vilenie,
171    Bot he rewarde him for his dede, 
172    So as he mihte of his godhiede.  
173    Unto this king this god appiereth
174    And clepeth, and that other hiereth:
175    This god to Mide thonketh faire  
176    Of that he was so debonaire
177    Toward his Prest, and bad him seie: 
178    What thing it were he wolde preie,  
179    He scholde it have, of worldes good.
180    This king was glad, and stille stod,
181    And was of his axinge in doute,  
182    And al the world he caste aboute,
183    What thing was best for his astat,  
184    And with himself stod in debat
185    Upon thre pointz, the whiche I finde
186    Ben lievest unto mannes kinde.
187    The ferste of hem it is delit,
188    The tuo ben worschipe and profit.
189    And thanne he thoghte, "If that I crave
190    Delit, thogh I delit mai have,
191    Delit schal passen in myn age:
192    That is no siker avantage, 
193    For every joie bodily
194    Schal ende in wo: delit forthi
195    Wol I noght chese. And if worschipe 
196    I axe and of the world lordschipe,  
197    That is an occupacion
198    Of proud ymaginacion,
199    Which makth an herte vein withinne; 
200    Ther is no certain forto winne,  
201    For lord and knave al is o weie, 
202    Whan thei be bore and whan thei deie.  
203    And if I profit axe wolde, 
204    I not in what manere I scholde
205    Of worldes good have sikernesse;     
206    For every thief upon richesse 
207    Awaiteth forto robbe and stele:  
208    Such good is cause of harmes fele.  
209    And also, thogh a man at ones 
210    Of al the world withinne his wones  
211    The tresor myhte have everydel,  
212    Yit hadde he bot o mannes del 
213    Toward himself, so as I thinke,  
214    Of clothinge and of mete and drinke,
215    For more, outake vanite,
216    Ther hath no lord in his degre." 
217    And thus upon the pointz diverse 
218    Diverseliche he gan reherce
219    What point him thoghte for the beste;  
220    Bot pleinly forto gete him reste 
221    He can so siker weie caste.
222    And natheles yit ate laste 
223    He fell upon the coveitise 
224    Of gold; and thanne in sondri wise  
225    He thoghte, as I have seid tofore,  
226    Hou tresor mai be sone lore,  
227    And hadde an inly gret desir  
228    Touchende of such recoverir,  
229    Hou that he mihte his cause availe  
230    To gete him gold withoute faile. 
231    Withinne his herte and thus he preiseth
232    The gold, and seith hou that it peiseth
233    Above al other metall most:
234    "The gold," he seith, "may lede an host
235    To make werre ayein a King;
236    The gold put under alle thing,
237    And set it whan him list above;  
238    The gold can make of hate love
239    And werre of pes and ryht of wrong, 
240    And long to schort and schort to long; 
241    Withoute gold mai be no feste,
242    Gold is the lord of man and beste,      
243    And mai hem bothe beie and selle;
244    So that a man mai sothly telle
245    That al the world to gold obeieth." 
246    Forthi this king to Bachus preieth  
247    To grante him gold, bot he excedeth 
248    Mesure more than him nedeth.  
249    Men tellen that the maladie
250    Which cleped is ydropesie  
251    Resembled is unto this vice
252    Be weie of kinde of Avarice:  
253    The more ydropesie drinketh,  
254    The more him thursteth, for him thinketh  
255    That he mai nevere drinke his fille;
256    So that ther mai nothing fulfille
257    The lustes of his appetit: 
258    And riht in such a maner plit 
259    Stant Avarice and evere stod; 
260    The more he hath of worldes good,
261    The more he wolde it kepe streyte,  
262    And evere mor and mor coveite.
263    And riht in such condicioun
264    Withoute good discrecioun  
265    This king with avarice is smite, 
266    That al the world it myhte wite: 
267    For he to Bachus thanne preide,  
268    That wherupon his hond he leide, 
269    It scholde thurgh his touche anon
270    Become gold, and therupon  
271    This god him granteth as he bad. 
272    Tho was this king of Frige glad, 
273    And forto put it in assai  
274    With al the haste that he mai,
275    He toucheth that, he toucheth this, 
276    And in his hond al gold it is,
277    The Ston, the Tree, the Lef, the gras, 
278    The flour, the fruit, al gold it was.      
279    Thus toucheth he, whil he mai laste 
280    To go, bot hunger ate laste
281    Him tok, so that he moste nede
282    Be weie of kinde his hunger fede.
283    The cloth was leid, the bord was set,  
284    And al was forth tofore him fet, 
285    His disch, his coppe, his drinke, his mete;  
286    Bot whanne he wolde or drinke or ete,  
287    Anon as it his mouth cam nyh, 
288    It was al gold, and thanne he syh
289    Of Avarice the folie.
290    And he with that began to crie,  
291    And preide Bachus to foryive  
292    His gilt, and soffre him forto live 
293    And be such as he was tofore, 
294    So that he were not forlore.  
295    This god, which herde of his grevance, 
296    Tok rowthe upon his repentance,  
297    And bad him go forth redily
298    Unto a flod was faste by,  
299    Which Paceole thanne hyhte,
300    In which as clene as evere he myhte 
301    He scholde him waisshen overal,  
302    And seide him thanne that he schal  
303    Recovere his ferste astat ayein. 
304    This king, riht as he herde sein,
305    Into the flod goth fro the lond, 
306    And wissh him bothe fot and hond,
307    And so forth al the remenant, 
308    As him was set in covenant:
309    And thanne he syh merveilles strange,  
310    The flod his colour gan to change,  
311    The gravel with the smale Stones 
312    To gold thei torne bothe at ones,
313    And he was quit of that he hadde,
314    And thus fortune his chance ladde.  
315    And whan he sih his touche aweie,    
316    He goth him hom the rihte weie
317    And liveth forth as he dede er,  
318    And putte al Avarice afer, 
319    And the richesse of gold despiseth, 
320    And seith that mete and cloth sufficeth.  
321    Thus hath this king experience
322    Hou foles don the reverence
323    To gold, which of his oghne kinde
324    Is lasse worth than is the rinde 
325    To sustienance of mannes fode;
326    And thanne he made lawes goode
327    And al his thing sette upon skile:  
328    He bad his poeple forto tile  
329    Here lond, and live under the lawe, 
330    And that thei scholde also forthdrawe  
331    Bestaile, and seche non encress  
332    Of gold, which is the breche of pes.
333    For this a man mai finde write,  
334    Tofor the time, er gold was smite
335    In Coign, that men the florin knewe,
336    Ther was welnyh noman untrewe;
337    Tho was ther nouther schield ne spere  
338    Ne dedly wepne forto bere; 
339    Tho was the toun withoute wal,
340    Which nou is closed overal;
341    Tho was ther no brocage in londe,
342    Which nou takth every cause on honde:  
343    So mai men knowe, hou the florin 
344    Was moder ferst of malengin
345    And bringere inne of alle werre, 
346    Wherof this world stant out of herre
347    Thurgh the conseil of Avarice,
348    Which of his oghne propre vice
349    Is as the helle wonderfull;
350    For it mai neveremor be full, 
351    That what as evere comth therinne,  
352    Awey ne may it nevere winne.  
353    Bot Sone myn, do thou noght so,      
354    Let al such Avarice go, 
355    And tak thi part of that thou hast: 
356    I bidde noght that thou do wast, 
357    Bot hold largesce in his mesure; 
358    And if thou se a creature, 
359    Which thurgh poverte is falle in nede, 
360    Yif him som good, for this I rede
361    To him that wol noght yiven here,
362    What peine he schal have elleswhere.
363    Ther is a peine amonges alle  
364    Benethe in helle, which men calle
365    The wofull peine of Tantaly,  
366    Of which I schal thee redely  
367    Devise hou men therinne stonde.  
368    In helle, thou schalt understonde,  
369    Ther is a flod of thilke office, 
370    Which serveth al for Avarice: 
371    What man that stonde schal therinne,
372    He stant up evene unto the chinne;  
373    Above his hed also ther hongeth  
374    A fruyt, which to that peine longeth,  
375    And that fruit toucheth evere in on 
376    His overlippe: and therupon
377    Swich thurst and hunger him assaileth, 
378    That nevere his appetit ne faileth. 
379    Bot whanne he wolde his hunger fede,
380    The fruit withdrawth him ate nede,  
381    And thogh he heve his hed on hyh,
382    The fruit is evere aliche nyh,
383    So is the hunger wel the more:
384    And also, thogh him thurste sore 
385    And to the water bowe a doun, 
386    The flod in such condicioun
387    Avaleth, that his drinke areche  
388    He mai noght. Lo nou, which a wreche,  
389    That mete and drinke is him so couth,      
390    And yit ther comth non in his mouth!
391    Lich to the peines of this flod  
392    Stant Avarice in worldes good:
393    He hath ynowh and yit him nedeth,
394    For his skarsnesse it him forbiedeth,  
395    And evere his hunger after more  
396    Travaileth him aliche sore,
397    So is he peined overal. 
398    Forthi thi goodes forth withal,  
399    Mi Sone, loke thou despende,  
400    Wherof thou myht thiself amende  
401    Bothe hier and ek in other place.
402    And also if thou wolt pourchace  
403    To be beloved, thou most use  
404    Largesce, for if thou refuse  
405    To yive for thi loves sake,
406    It is no reson that thou take 
407    Of love that thou woldest crave. 
408    Forthi, if thou wolt grace have, 
409    Be gracious and do largesse,  
410    Of Avarice and the seknesse
411    Eschuie above alle other thing,  
412    And tak ensample of Mide king 
413    And of the flod of helle also,
414    Where is ynowh of alle wo. 
415    And thogh ther were no matiere
416    Bot only that we finden hiere,
417    Men oghten Avarice eschuie;
418    For what man thilke vice suie,
419    He get himself bot litel reste.  
420    For hou so that the body reste,  
421    The herte upon the gold travaileth, 
422    Whom many a nyhtes drede assaileth; 
423    For thogh he ligge abedde naked, 
424    His herte is everemore awaked,
425    And dremeth, as he lith to slepe,
426    How besi that he is to kepe    
427    His tresor, that no thief it stele. 
428    Thus hath he bot a woful wele.
429    And riht so in the same wise, 
430    If thou thiself wolt wel avise,  
431    Ther be lovers of suche ynowe,
432    That wole unto no reson bowe. 
433    If so be that thei come above,
434    Whan thei ben maistres of here love,
435    And that thei scholden be most glad,
436    With love thei ben most bestad,  
437    So fain thei wolde it holden al. 
438    Here herte, here yhe is overal,  
439    And wenen every man be thief, 
440    To stele awey that hem is lief;  
441    Thus thurgh here oghne fantasie  
442    Thei fallen into Jelousie. 
443    Thanne hath the Schip tobroke his cable,  
444    With every wynd and is muable.
445    Mi fader, for that ye nou telle, 
446    I have herd ofte time telle
447    Of Jelousie, bot what it is
448    Yit understod I nevere er this:  
449    Wherfore I wolde you beseche, 
450    That ye me wolde enforme and teche  
451    What maner thing it mihte be. 
452    Mi Sone, that is hard to me:  
453    Bot natheles, as I have herd, 
454    Now herkne and thou schalt ben ansuerd.
455    Among the men lacke of manhode
456    In Mariage upon wifhode 
457    Makth that a man himself deceiveth, 
458    Wherof it is that he conceiveth  
459    That ilke unsely maladie,  
460    The which is cleped Jelousie: 
461    Of which if I the proprete 
462    Schal telle after the nycete,     
463    So as it worcheth on a man,
464    A Fievere it is cotidian,  
465    Which every day wol come aboute, 
466    Wher so a man be inne or oute.
467    At hom if that a man wol wone,
468    This Fievere is thanne of comun wone
469    Most grevous in a mannes yhe: 
470    For thanne he makth him tote and pryhe,
471    Wher so as evere his love go; 
472    Sche schal noght with hir litel too 
473    Misteppe, bot he se it al. 
474    His yhe is walkende overal;
475    Wher that sche singe or that sche dance,  
476    He seth the leste contienance,
477    If sche loke on a man aside
478    Or with him roune at eny tyde,
479    Or that sche lawghe, or that sche loure,  
480    His yhe is ther at every houre.  
481    And whanne it draweth to the nyht,  
482    If sche thanne is withoute lyht, 
483    Anon is al the game schent;
484    For thanne he set his parlement  
485    To speke it whan he comth to bedde, 
486    And seith, "If I were now to wedde, 
487    I wolde neveremore have wif." 
488    And so he torneth into strif  
489    The lust of loves duete,
490    And al upon diversete.  
491    If sche be freissh and wel araied,  
492    He seith hir baner is displaied  
493    To clepe in gestes fro the weie: 
494    And if sche be noght wel beseie, 
495    And that hir list noght to be gladd,
496    He berth an hond that sche is madd  
497    And loveth noght hire housebonde;
498    He seith he mai wel understonde, 
499    That if sche wolde his compaignie,      
500    Sche scholde thanne afore his ije
501    Schewe al the plesir that sche mihte.  
502    So that be daie ne be nyhte
503    Sche not what thing is for the beste,  
504    Bot liveth out of alle reste; 
505    For what as evere him liste sein,
506    Sche dar noght speke a word ayein,  
507    Bot wepth and holt hire lippes clos.
508    Sche mai wel wryte, "Sanz repos,"
509    The wif which is to such on maried. 
510    Of alle wommen be he waried,  
511    For with this Fievere of Jalousie
512    His echedaies fantasie  
513    Of sorghe is evere aliche grene, 
514    So that ther is no love sene, 
515    Whil that him list at hom abyde. 
516    And whan so is he wol out ryde,  
517    Thanne hath he redi his aspie 
518    Abidinge in hir compaignie,
519    A janglere, an evel mouthed oon, 
520    That sche ne mai nowhider gon,
521    Ne speke a word, ne ones loke,
522    That he ne wol it wende and croke
523    And torne after his oghne entente,  
524    Thogh sche nothing bot honour mente.
525    Whan that the lord comth hom ayein, 
526    The janglere moste somwhat sein; 
527    So what withoute and what withinne, 
528    This Fievere is evere to beginne,
529    For where he comth he can noght ende,  
530    Til deth of him have mad an ende.
531    For thogh so be that he ne hiere 
532    Ne se ne wite in no manere 
533    Bot al honour and wommanhiede,
534    Therof the Jelous takth non hiede,  
535    Bot as a man to love unkinde, 
536    He cast his staf, as doth the blinde,  
537    And fint defaulte where is non;      
538    As who so dremeth on a Ston
539    Hou he is leid, and groneth ofte,
540    Whan he lith on his pilwes softe.
541    So is ther noght bot strif and cheste; 
542    Whan love scholde make his feste,
543    It is gret thing if he hir kisse:
544    Thus hath sche lost the nyhtes blisse, 
545    For at such time he gruccheth evere 
546    And berth on hond ther is a levere, 
547    And that sche wolde an other were
548    In stede of him abedde there; 
549    And with tho wordes and with mo  
550    Of Jelousie, he torneth fro
551    And lith upon his other side, 
552    And sche with that drawth hire aside,  
553    And ther sche wepeth al the nyht.
554    Ha, to what peine sche is dyht,  
555    That in hire youthe hath so beset
556    The bond which mai noght ben unknet!
557    I wot the time is ofte cursed,
558    That evere was the gold unpursed,
559    The which was leid upon the bok, 
560    Whan that alle othre sche forsok 
561    For love of him; bot al to late  
562    Sche pleigneth, for as thanne algate
563    Sche mot forbere and to him bowe,
564    Thogh he ne wole it noght allowe.
565    For man is lord of thilke feire, 
566    So mai the womman bot empeire,
567    If sche speke oght ayein his wille; 
568    And thus sche berth hir peine stille.  
569    Bot if this Fievere a womman take,  
570    Sche schal be wel mor harde schake; 
571    For thogh sche bothe se and hiere,  
572    And finde that ther is matiere,  
573    Sche dar bot to hirselve pleine, 
574    And thus sche suffreth double peine.
575    Lo thus, mi Sone, as I have write,  
576    Thou miht of Jelousie wite     
577    His fievere and his condicion,
578    Which is full of suspecion.
579    Bot wherof that this fievere groweth,  
580    Who so these olde bokes troweth, 
581    Ther mai he finden hou it is: 
582    For thei ous teche and telle this,  
583    Hou that this fievere of Jelousie
584    Somdel it groweth of sotie 
585    Of love, and somdiel of untrust. 
586    For as a sek man lest his lust,  
587    And whan he may no savour gete,  
588    He hateth thanne his oughne mete,
589    Riht so this fieverous maladie,  
590    Which caused is of fantasie,  
591    Makth the Jelous in fieble plit  
592    To lese of love his appetit
593    Thurgh feigned enformacion 
594    Of his ymaginacion.  
595    Bot finali to taken hiede, 
596    Men mai wel make a liklihiede 
597    Betwen him which is averous
598    Of gold and him that is jelous
599    Of love, for in on degre
600    Thei stonde bothe, as semeth me. 
601    That oon wolde have his bagges stille, 
602    And noght departen with his wille,  
603    And dar noght for the thieves slepe,
604    So fain he wolde his tresor kepe;
605    That other mai noght wel be glad,
606    For he is evere more adrad 
607    Of these lovers that gon aboute, 
608    In aunter if thei putte him oute.
609    So have thei bothe litel joye 
610    As wel of love as of monoie.  
611    Now hast thou, Sone, at my techinge 
612    Of Jelousie a knowlechinge,
613    That thou myht understonde this, 
614    Fro whenne he comth and what he is,     
615    And ek to whom that he is lik.
616    Be war forthi thou be noght sik  
617    Of thilke fievere as I have spoke,  
618    For it wol in himself be wroke.  
619    For love hateth nothing more, 
620    As men mai finde be the lore  
621    Of hem that whilom were wise, 
622    Hou that thei spieke in many wise.  
623    Mi fader, soth is that ye sein.  
624    Bot forto loke therayein,  
625    Befor this time hou it is falle, 
626    Wherof ther mihte ensample falle 
627    To suche men as be jelous  
628    In what manere it is grevous, 
629    Riht fain I wolde ensample hiere.
630    My goode Sone, at thi preiere 
631    Of suche ensamples as I finde,
632    So as thei comen nou to mynde 
633    Upon this point, of time gon  
634    I thenke forto tellen on.  
635    Ovide wrot of manye thinges,  
636    Among the whiche in his wrytinges
637    He tolde a tale in Poesie, 
638    Which toucheth unto Jelousie, 
639    Upon a certein cas of love.
640    Among the goddes alle above
641    It fell at thilke time thus:  
642    The god of fyr, which Vulcanus
643    Is hote, and hath a craft forthwith 
644    Assigned, forto be the Smith  
645    Of Jupiter, and his figure 
646    Bothe of visage and of stature
647    Is lothly and malgracious, 
648    Bot yit he hath withinne his hous
649    As for the likynge of his lif 
650    The faire Venus to his wif.
651    Bot Mars, which of batailles is  
652    The god, an yhe hadde unto this:     
653    As he which was chivalerous,  
654    It fell him to ben amerous,
655    And thoghte it was a gret pite
656    To se so lusti on as sche  
657    Be coupled with so lourde a wiht:
658    So that his peine day and nyht
659    He dede, if he hire winne myhte; 
660    And sche, which hadde a good insihte
661    Toward so noble a knyhtli lord,  
662    In love fell of his acord. 
663    Ther lacketh noght bot time and place, 
664    That he nys siker of hire grace: 
665    Bot whan tuo hertes falle in on, 
666    So wys await was nevere non,  
667    That at som time thei ne mete;
668    And thus this faire lusti swete  
669    With Mars hath ofte compaignie.  
670    Bot thilke unkynde Jelousie,  
671    Which everemor the herte opposeth,  
672    Makth Vulcanus that he supposeth 
673    That it is noght wel overal,  
674    And to himself he seide, he schal
675    Aspie betre, if that he may;  
676    And so it fell upon a day, 
677    That he this thing so slyhli ledde, 
678    He fond hem bothe tuo abedde  
679    Al warm, echon with other naked. 
680    And he with craft al redy maked  
681    Of stronge chenes hath hem bounde,  
682    As he togedre hem hadde founde,  
683    And lefte hem bothe ligge so, 
684    And gan to clepe and crie tho 
685    Unto the goddes al aboute; 
686    And thei assembled in a route 
687    Come alle at ones forto se.
688    Bot none amendes hadde he, 
689    Bot was rebuked hiere and there      
690    Of hem that loves frendes were;  
691    And seiden that he was to blame, 
692    For if ther fell him eny schame, 
693    It was thurgh his misgovernance: 
694    And thus he loste contienance,
695    This god, and let his cause falle;  
696    And thei to skorne him lowhen alle, 
697    And losen Mars out of hise bondes.  
698    Wherof these erthli housebondes  
699    For evere myhte ensample take,
700    If such a chaunce hem overtake:  
701    For Vulcanus his wif bewreide,
702    The blame upon himself he leide, 
703    Wherof his schame was the more;  
704    Which oghte forto ben a lore  
705    For every man that liveth hiere, 
706    To reulen him in this matiere.
707    Thogh such an happ of love asterte, 
708    Yit scholde he noght apointe his herte 
709    With Jelousie of that is wroght, 
710    Bot feigne, as thogh he wiste it noght:
711    For if he lete it overpasse,  
712    The sclaundre schal be wel the lasse,  
713    And he the more in ese stonde.
714    For this thou myht wel understonde, 
715    That where a man schal nedes lese,  
716    The leste harm is forto chese.
717    Bot Jelousie of his untrist
718    Makth that full many an harm arist, 
719    Which elles scholde noght arise; 
720    And if a man him wolde avise  
721    Of that befell to Vulcanus,
722    Him oghte of reson thenke thus,  
723    That sithe a god therof was schamed,
724    Wel scholde an erthli man be blamed 
725    To take upon him such a vice. 
726    Forthi, my Sone, in thin office  
727    Be war that thou be noght jelous,    
728    Which ofte time hath schent the hous.  
729    Mi fader, this ensample is hard, 
730    Hou such thing to the heveneward 
731    Among the goddes myhte falle: 
732    For ther is bot o god of alle,
733    Which is the lord of hevene and helle. 
734    Bot if it like you to telle
735    Hou suche goddes come aplace, 
736    Ye mihten mochel thonk pourchace,
737    For I schal be wel tawht withal. 
738    Mi Sone, it is thus overal 
739    With hem that stonden misbelieved,  
740    That suche goddes ben believed:  
741    In sondri place sondri wise
742    Amonges hem whiche are unwise 
743    Ther is betaken of credence;  
744    Wherof that I the difference  
745    In the manere as it is write  
746    Schal do the pleinly forto wite. 
747    Er Crist was bore among ous hiere,  
748    Of the believes that tho were 
749    In foure formes thus it was.  
750    Thei of Caldee as in this cas 
751    Hadde a believe be hemselve,  
752    Which stod upon the signes tuelve,  
753    Forth ek with the Planetes sevene,  
754    Whiche as thei sihe upon the hevene.
755    Of sondri constellacion 
756    In here ymaginacion  
757    With sondri kerf and pourtreture 
758    Thei made of goddes the figure.  
759    In thelementz and ek also  
760    Thei hadden a believe tho;     
761    And al was that unresonable:  
762    For thelementz ben servicable 
763    To man, and ofte of Accidence,
764    As men mai se thexperience,
765    Thei ben corrupt be sondri weie; 
766    So mai no mannes reson seie
767    That thei ben god in eny wise.
768    And ek, if men hem wel avise, 
769    The Sonne and Mone eclipse bothe,
770    That be hem lieve or be hem lothe,  
771    Thei soffre; and what thing is passible
772    To ben a god is impossible.
773    These elementz ben creatures, 
774    So ben these hevenly figures, 
775    Wherof mai wel be justefied
776    That thei mai noght be deified:  
777    And who that takth awey thonour  
778    Which due is to the creatour, 
779    And yifth it to the creature, 
780    He doth to gret a forsfaiture.
781    Bot of Caldee natheles  
782    Upon this feith, thogh it be les,
783    Thei holde affermed the creance; 
784    So that of helle the penance, 
785    As folk which stant out of believe, 
786    They schull receive, as we believe. 
787    Of the Caldeus lo in this wise
788    Stant the believe out of assisse:
789    Bot in Egipte worst of alle
790    The feith is fals, hou so it falle; 
791    For thei diverse bestes there 
792    Honoure, as thogh thei goddes were: 
793    And natheles yit forth withal 
794    Thre goddes most in special
795    Thei have, forth with a goddesse,    
796    In whom is al here sikernesse.
797    Tho goddes be yit cleped thus,
798    Orus, Typhon and Isirus:
799    Thei were brethren alle thre, 
800    And the goddesse in hir degre 
801    Here Soster was and Ysis hyhte,  
802    Whom Isirus forlai be nyhte
803    And hield hire after as his wif. 
804    So it befell that upon strif  
805    Typhon hath Isre his brother slain, 
806    Which hadde a child to Sone Orayn,  
807    And he his fader deth to herte
808    So tok, that it mai noght asterte
809    That he Typhon after ne slowh,
810    Whan he was ripe of age ynowh.
811    Bot yit thegipcienes trowe 
812    For al this errour, which thei knowe,  
813    That these brethren ben of myht  
814    To sette and kepe Egipte upriht, 
815    And overthrowe, if that hem like.
816    Bot Ysis, as seith the Cronique, 
817    Fro Grece into Egipte cam, 
818    And sche thanne upon honde nam
819    To teche hem forto sowe and eere,
820    Which noman knew tofore there.
821    And whan thegipcienes syhe 
822    The fieldes fulle afore here yhe,
823    And that the lond began to greine,  
824    Which whilom hadde be bareigne,- 
825    For therthe bar after the kinde  
826    His due charge,- this I finde,
827    That sche of berthe the goddesse 
828    Is cleped, so that in destresse  
829    The wommen there upon childinge  
830    To hire clepe, and here offringe 
831    Thei beren, whan that thei ben lyhte.  
832    Lo, hou Egipte al out of syhte    
833    Fro resoun stant in misbelieve
834    For lacke of lore, as I believe. 
835    Among the Greks, out of the weie 
836    As thei that reson putte aweie,  
837    Ther was, as the Cronique seith, 
838    Of misbelieve an other feith, 
839    That thei here goddes and goddesses,
840    As who seith, token al to gesses 
841    Of suche as weren full of vice,  
842    To whom thei made here sacrifice.
843    The hihe god, so as thei seide,  
844    To whom thei most worschipe leide,  
845    Saturnus hihte, and king of Crete
846    He hadde be; bot of his sete  
847    He was put doun, as he which stod
848    In frenesie, and was so wod,  
849    That fro his wif, which Rea hihte,  
850    Hise oghne children he to plihte,
851    And eet hem of his comun wone.
852    Bot Jupiter, which was his Sone  
853    And of full age, his fader bond  
854    And kutte of with his oghne hond 
855    Hise genitals, whiche als so faste  
856    Into the depe See he caste;
857    Wherof the Greks afferme and seie,  
858    Thus whan thei were caste aweie, 
859    Cam Venus forth be weie of kinde.
860    And of Saturne also I finde
861    How afterward into an yle  
862    This Jupiter him dede exile,  
863    Wher that he stod in gret meschief. 
864    Lo, which a god thei maden chief!
865    And sithen that such on was he,  
866    Which stod most hihe in his degre
867    Among the goddes, thou miht knowe,      
868    These othre, that ben more lowe, 
869    Ben litel worth, as it is founde.
870    For Jupiter was the secounde, 
871    Which Juno hadde unto his wif;
872    And yit a lechour al his lif  
873    He was, and in avouterie
874    He wroghte many a tricherie;  
875    And for he was so full of vices, 
876    Thei cleped him god of delices:  
877    Of whom, if thou wolt more wite, 
878    Ovide the Poete hath write.
879    Bot yit here Sterres bothe tuo,  
880    Saturne and Jupiter also,  
881    Thei have, althogh thei be to blame,
882    Attitled to here oghne name.  
883    Mars was an other in that lawe,  
884    The which in Dace was forthdrawe,
885    Of whom the clerk Vegecius 
886    Wrot in his bok, and tolde thus, 
887    Hou he into Ytaile cam, 
888    And such fortune ther he nam  
889    That he a Maiden hath oppressed, 
890    Which in hire ordre was professed,  
891    As sche which was the Prioresse  
892    In Vestes temple the goddesse,
893    So was sche wel the mor to blame.
894    Dame Ylia this ladi name
895    Men clepe, and ek sche was also  
896    The kinges dowhter that was tho, 
897    Which Mynitor be name hihte.  
898    So that ayein the lawes ryhte 
899    Mars thilke time upon hire that  
900    Remus and Romulus begat,
901    Whiche after, whan thei come in Age,
902    Of knihthode and of vassellage
903    Ytaile al hol thei overcome
904    And foundeden the grete Rome; 
905    In Armes and of such emprise  
906    Thei weren, that in thilke wise      
907    Here fader Mars for the mervaile 
908    The god was cleped of bataille.  
909    Thei were his children bothe tuo,
910    Thurgh hem he tok his name so,
911    Ther was non other cause why: 
912    And yit a Sterre upon the Sky 
913    He hath unto his name applied,
914    In which that he is signified.
915    An other god thei hadden eke, 
916    To whom for conseil thei beseke, 
917    The which was brother to Venus,  
918    Appollo men him clepe thus.
919    He was an Hunte upon the helles, 
920    Ther was with him no vertu elles,
921    Wherof that enye bokes karpe, 
922    Bot only that he couthe harpe;
923    Which whanne he walked over londe,  
924    Fulofte time he tok on honde, 
925    To gete him with his sustienance,
926    For lacke of other pourveance.
927    And otherwhile of his falshede
928    He feignede him to conne arede
929    Of thing which after scholde falle; 
930    Wherof among hise sleyhtes alle  
931    He hath the lewed folk deceived, 
932    So that the betre he was received.  
933    Lo now, thurgh what creacion  
934    He hath deificacion, 
935    And cleped is the god of wit  
936    To suche as be the foles yit. 
937    An other god, to whom thei soghte,  
938    Mercurie hihte, and him ne roghte
939    What thing he stal, ne whom he slowh.  
940    Of Sorcerie he couthe ynowh,  
941    That whanne he wolde himself transforme,      
942    Fulofte time he tok the forme 
943    Of womman and his oghne lefte;
944    So dede he wel the more thefte.  
945    A gret spekere in alle thinges
946    He was also, and of lesinges  
947    An Auctour, that men wiste non
948    An other such as he was on.
949    And yit thei maden of this thief 
950    A god, which was unto hem lief,  
951    And clepede him in tho believes  
952    The god of Marchantz and of thieves.
953    Bot yit a sterre upon the hevene 
954    He hath of the planetes sevene.  
955    But Vulcanus, of whom I spak, 
956    He hadde a courbe upon the bak,  
957    And therto he was hepehalt:
958    Of whom thou understonde schalt, 
959    He was a schrewe in al his youthe,  
960    And he non other vertu couthe 
961    Of craft to helpe himselve with, 
962    Bot only that he was a Smith  
963    With Jupiter, which in his forge 
964    Diverse thinges made him forge;  
965    So wot I noght for what desir 
966    Thei clepen him the god of fyr.  
967    King of Cizile Ypolitus 
968    A Sone hadde, and Eolus 
969    He hihte, and of his fader grant 
970    He hield be weie of covenant  
971    The governance of every yle
972    Which was longende unto Cizile,  
973    Of hem that fro the lond forein  
974    Leie open to the wynd al plein.  
975    And fro thilke iles to the londe 
976    Fulofte cam the wynd to honde:
977    After the name of him forthi  
978    The wyndes cleped Eoli  
979    Tho were, and he the god of wynd.    
980    Lo nou, hou this believe is blynd!  
981    The king of Crete Jupiter, 
982    The same which I spak of er,  
983    Unto his brother, which Neptune  
984    Was hote, it list him to comune  
985    Part of his good, so that be Schipe 
986    He mad him strong of the lordschipe 
987    Of al the See in tho parties; 
988    Wher that he wroghte his tyrannyes, 
989    And the strange yles al aboute
990    He wan, that every man hath doute
991    Upon his marche forto saile;  
992    For he anon hem wolde assaile 
993    And robbe what thing that thei ladden, 
994    His sauf conduit bot if thei hadden.
995    Wherof the comun vois aros 
996    In every lond, that such a los
997    He cawhte, al nere it worth a stre, 
998    That he was cleped of the See 
999    The god be name, and yit he is
1000   With hem that so believe amis.
1001   This Neptune ek was thilke also, 
1002   Which was the ferste foundour tho
1003   Of noble Troie, and he forthi 
1004   Was wel the more lete by.  
1005   The loresman of the Schepherdes, 
1006   And ek of hem that ben netherdes,
1007   Was of Archade and hihte Pan: 
1008   Of whom hath spoke many a man;
1009   For in the wode of Nonarcigne,
1010   Enclosed with the tres of Pigne, 
1011   And on the Mont of Parasie 
1012   He hadde of bestes the baillie,  
1013   And ek benethe in the valleie,        
1014   Wher thilke rivere, as men seie, 
1015   Which Ladon hihte, made his cours,  
1016   He was the chief of governours
1017   Of hem that kepten tame bestes,  
1018   Wherof thei maken yit the festes 
1019   In the Cite Stinfalides.
1020   And forth withal yit natheles 
1021   He tawhte men the forthdrawinge  
1022   Of bestaile, and ek the makinge  
1023   Of Oxen, and of hors the same,
1024   Hou men hem scholde ryde and tame:  
1025   Of foules ek, so as we finde, 
1026   Ful many a soubtiel craft of kinde  
1027   He fond, which noman knew tofore.
1028   Men dede him worschipe ek therfore, 
1029   That he the ferste in thilke lond
1030   Was which the melodie fond 
1031   Of Riedes, whan thei weren ripe, 
1032   With double pipes forto pipe; 
1033   Therof he yaf the ferste lore,
1034   Til afterward men couthe more.
1035   To every craft for mannes helpe  
1036   He hadde a redi wit to helpe  
1037   Thurgh naturel experience: 
1038   And thus the nyce reverence
1039   Of foles, whan that he was ded,  
1040   The fot hath torned to the hed,  
1041   And clepen him god of nature, 
1042   For so thei maden his figure. 
1043   An other god, so as thei fiele,  
1044   Which Jupiter upon Samele  
1045   Begat in his avouterie, 
1046   Whom, forto hide his lecherie,
1047   That non therof schal take kepe, 
1048   In a Montaigne forto kepe, 
1049   Which Dyon hihte and was in Ynde,
1050   He sende, in bokes as I finde:
1051   And he be name Bachus hihte,  
1052   Which afterward, whan that he mihte,    
1053   A wastour was, and al his rente  
1054   In wyn and bordel he despente.
1055   Bot yit, al were he wonder badde,
1056   Among the Greks a name he hadde; 
1057   Thei cleped him the god of wyn,  
1058   And thus a glotoun was dyvyn. 
1059   Ther was yit Esculapius 
1060   A godd in thilke time as thus.
1061   His craft stod upon Surgerie, 
1062   Bot for the lust of lecherie, 
1063   That he to Daires dowhter drowh, 
1064   It felle that Jupiter him slowh: 
1065   And yit thei made him noght forthi  
1066   A god, and was no cause why.  
1067   In Rome he was long time also 
1068   A god among the Romeins tho;  
1069   For, as he seide, of his presence
1070   Ther was destruid a pestilence,  
1071   Whan thei to thyle of Delphos wente,
1072   And that Appollo with hem sente  
1073   This Esculapius his Sone,  
1074   Among the Romeins forto wone. 
1075   And there he duelte for a while, 
1076   Til afterward into that yle,  
1077   Fro whenne he cam, ayein he torneth,
1078   Where al his lyf that he sojorneth  
1079   Among the Greks, til that he deide. 
1080   And thei upon him thanne leide
1081   His name, and god of medicine 
1082   He hatte after that ilke line.
1083   An other god of Hercules
1084   Thei made, which was natheles 
1085   A man, bot that he was so strong,
1086   In al this world that brod and long 
1087   So myhti was noman as he.  
1088   Merveiles tuelve in his degre,
1089   As it was couth in sondri londes,    
1090   He dede with hise oghne hondes
1091   Ayein geantz and Monstres bothe, 
1092   The whiche horrible were and lothe, 
1093   Bot he with strengthe hem overcam:  
1094   Wherof so gret a pris he nam, 
1095   That thei him clepe amonges alle 
1096   The god of strengthe, and to him calle.
1097   And yit ther is no reson inne,
1098   For he a man was full of sinne,  
1099   Which proved was upon his ende,  
1100   For in a rage himself he brende; 
1101   And such a cruel mannes dede  
1102   Acordeth nothing with godhede.
1103   Thei hadde of goddes yit an other,  
1104   Which Pluto hihte, and was the brother 
1105   Of Jupiter, and he fro youthe 
1106   With every word which cam to mouthe,
1107   Of eny thing whan he was wroth,  
1108   He wolde swere his commun oth,
1109   Be Lethen and be Flegeton, 
1110   Be Cochitum and Acheron,
1111   The whiche, after the bokes telle,  
1112   Ben the chief flodes of the helle:  
1113   Be Segne and Stige he swor also, 
1114   That ben the depe Pettes tuo  
1115   Of helle the most principal.  
1116   Pluto these othes overal
1117   Swor of his commun custummance,  
1118   Til it befell upon a chance,  
1119   That he for Jupiteres sake 
1120   Unto the goddes let do make
1121   A sacrifice, and for that dede
1122   On of the pettes for his mede 
1123   In helle, of which I spak of er, 
1124   Was granted him; and thus he ther    
1125   Upon the fortune of this thing
1126   The name tok of helle king.
1127   Lo, these goddes and wel mo
1128   Among the Greks thei hadden tho, 
1129   And of goddesses manyon,
1130   Whos names thou schalt hiere anon,  
1131   And in what wise thei deceiven
1132   The foles whiche here feith receiven.  
1133   So as Saturne is soverein  
1134   Of false goddes, as thei sein,
1135   So is Sibeles of goddesses 
1136   The Moder, whom withoute gesses  
1137   The folk Payene honoure and serve,  
1138   As thei the whiche hire lawe observe.  
1139   Bot forto knowen upon this 
1140   Fro when sche cam and what sche is, 
1141   Bethincia the contre hihte,
1142   Wher sche cam ferst to mannes sihte;
1143   And after was Saturnes wif,
1144   Be whom thre children in hire lif
1145   Sche bar, and thei were cleped tho  
1146   Juno, Neptunus and Pluto,  
1147   The whiche of nyce fantasie
1148   The poeple wolde deifie.
1149   And for hire children were so,
1150   Sibeles thanne was also 
1151   Mad a goddesse, and thei hire calle 
1152   The moder of the goddes alle. 
1153   So was that name bore forth,  
1154   And yit the cause is litel worth.
1155   A vois unto Saturne tolde  
1156   Hou that his oghne Sone him scholde 
1157   Out of his regne putte aweie; 
1158   And he be cause of thilke weie,  
1159   That him was schape such a fate, 
1160   Sibele his wif began to hate      
1161   And ek hire progenie bothe.
1162   And thus, whil that thei were wrothe,  
1163   Be Philerem upon a dai  
1164   In his avouterie he lai,
1165   On whom he Jupiter begat;  
1166   And thilke child was after that  
1167   Which wroghte al that was prophecied,  
1168   As it tofore is specefied: 
1169   So that whan Jupiter of Crete 
1170   Was king, a wif unto him mete 
1171   The Dowhter of Sibele he tok, 
1172   And that was Juno, seith the bok.
1173   Of his deificacion
1174   After the false oppinion,  
1175   That have I told, so as thei meene; 
1176   And for this Juno was the queene 
1177   Of Jupiter and Soster eke, 
1178   The foles unto hire sieke, 
1179   And sein that sche is the goddesse  
1180   Of Regnes bothe and of richesse: 
1181   And ek sche, as thei understonde,
1182   The water Nimphes hath in honde  
1183   To leden at hire oghne heste; 
1184   And whan hir list the Sky tempeste, 
1185   The reinbowe is hir Messager. 
1186   Lo, which a misbelieve is hier!  
1187   That sche goddesse is of the Sky 
1188   I wot non other cause why. 
1189   An other goddesse is Minerve, 
1190   To whom the Greks obeie and serve:  
1191   And sche was nyh the grete lay
1192   Of Triton founde, wher sche lay  
1193   A child forcast, bot what sche was  
1194   Ther knew noman the sothe cas.
1195   Bot in Aufrique sche was leid 
1196   In the manere as I have seid, 
1197   And caried fro that ilke place
1198   Into an Yle fer in Trace,      
1199   The which Palene thanne hihte,
1200   Wher a Norrice hir kepte and dihte. 
1201   And after, for sche was so wys
1202   That sche fond ferst in hire avis
1203   The cloth makinge of wolle and lyn, 
1204   Men seiden that sche was divin,  
1205   And the goddesse of Sapience  
1206   Thei clepen hire in that credence.  
1207   Of the goddesse which Pallas  
1208   Is cleped sondri speche was.  
1209   On seith hire fader was Pallant, 
1210   Which in his time was geant,  
1211   A cruel man, a bataillous: 
1212   An other seith hou in his hous
1213   Sche was the cause why he deide. 
1214   And of this Pallas some ek seide 
1215   That sche was Martes wif; and so 
1216   Among the men that weren tho  
1217   Of misbelieve in the riote 
1218   The goddesse of batailles hote
1219   She was, and yit sche berth the name.  
1220   Now loke, hou they be forto blame.  
1221   Saturnus after his exil 
1222   Fro Crete cam in gret peril
1223   Into the londes of Ytaile, 
1224   And ther he dede gret mervaile,  
1225   Wherof his name duelleth yit. 
1226   For he fond of his oghne wit  
1227   The ferste craft of plowh tilinge,  
1228   Of Eringe and of corn sowinge,
1229   And how men scholden sette vines 
1230   And of the grapes make wynes; 
1231   Al this he tawhte, and it fell so,  
1232   His wif, the which cam with him tho,
1233   Was cleped Cereres be name,
1234   And for sche tawhte also the same,      
1235   And was his wif that ilke throwe,
1236   As it was to the poeple knowe,
1237   Thei made of Ceres a goddesse,
1238   In whom here tilthe yit thei blesse,
1239   And sein that Tricolonius  
1240   Hire Sone goth amonges ous 
1241   And makth the corn good chep or dere,  
1242   Riht as hire list fro yer to yeere; 
1243   So that this wif be cause of this
1244   Goddesse of Cornes cleped is. 
1245   King Jupiter, which his likinge  
1246   Whilom fulfelde in alle thinge,  
1247   So priveliche aboute he ladde 
1248   His lust, that he his wille hadde
1249   Of Latona, and on hire that
1250   Diane his dowhter he begat 
1251   Unknowen of his wif Juno.  
1252   And afterward sche knew it so,
1253   That Latona for drede fledde  
1254   Into an Ile, wher sche hedde  
1255   Hire wombe, which of childe aros.
1256   Thilke yle cleped was Delos;  
1257   In which Diana was forthbroght,  
1258   And kept so that hire lacketh noght.
1259   And after, whan sche was of Age, 
1260   Sche tok non hiede of mariage,
1261   Bot out of mannes compaignie  
1262   Sche tok hire al to venerie
1263   In forest and in wildernesse  
1264   For ther was al hire besinesse
1265   Be daie and ek be nyhtes tyde 
1266   With arwes brode under the side  
1267   And bowe in honde, of which sche slowh 
1268   And tok al that hir liste ynowh  
1269   Of bestes whiche ben chacable:
1270   Wherof the Cronique of this fable
1271   Seith that the gentils most of alle     
1272   Worschipen hire and to hire calle,  
1273   And the goddesse of hihe helles, 
1274   Of grene trees, of freisshe welles, 
1275   They clepen hire in that believe,
1276   Which that no reson mai achieve. 
1277   Proserpina, which dowhter was 
1278   Of Cereres, befell this cas:  
1279   Whil sche was duellinge in Cizile,  
1280   Hire moder in that ilke while 
1281   Upon hire blessinge and hire heste  
1282   Bad that sche scholde ben honeste,  
1283   And lerne forto weve and spinne, 
1284   And duelle at hom and kepe hire inne.  
1285   Bot sche caste al that lore aweie,  
1286   And as sche wente hir out to pleie, 
1287   To gadre floures in a pleine, 
1288   And that was under the monteine  
1289   Of Ethna, fell the same tyde  
1290   That Pluto cam that weie ryde,
1291   And sodeinly, er sche was war,
1292   He tok hire up into his char. 
1293   And as thei riden in the field,  
1294   Hire grete beaute he behield, 
1295   Which was so plesant in his ije, 
1296   That forto holde in compainie 
1297   He weddeth hire and hield hire so
1298   To ben his wif for everemo.
1299   And as thou hast tofore herd telle  
1300   Hou he was cleped god of helle,  
1301   So is sche cleped the goddesse
1302   Be cause of him, ne mor ne lesse.
1303   Lo, thus, mi Sone, as I thee tolde, 
1304   The Greks whilom be daies olde
1305   Here goddes hadde in sondri wise,
1306   And thurgh the lore of here aprise  
1307   The Romeins hielden ek the same.     
1308   And in the worschipe of here name
1309   To every godd in special
1310   Thei made a temple forth withal, 
1311   And ech of hem his yeeres dai 
1312   Attitled hadde; and of arai
1313   The temples weren thanne ordeigned, 
1314   And ek the poeple was constreigned  
1315   To come and don here sacrifice;  
1316   The Prestes ek in here office 
1317   Solempne maden thilke festes. 
1318   And thus the Greks lich to the bestes  
1319   The men in stede of god honoure, 
1320   Whiche mihten noght hemself socoure,
1321   Whil that thei were alyve hiere. 
1322   And over this, as thou schalt hiere,
1323   The Greks fulfild of fantasie 
1324   Sein ek that of the helles hihe  
1325   The goddes ben in special, 
1326   Bot of here name in general
1327   Thei hoten alle Satiri. 
1328   Ther ben of Nimphes proprely  
1329   In the believe of hem also:
1330   Oreades thei seiden tho 
1331   Attitled ben to the monteines;
1332   And for the wodes in demeynes 
1333   To kepe, tho ben Driades;  
1334   Of freisshe welles Naiades;
1335   And of the Nimphes of the See 
1336   I finde a tale in proprete,
1337   Hou Dorus whilom king of Grece,  
1338   Which hadde of infortune a piece,-  
1339   His wif forth with hire dowhtres alle, 
1340   So as the happes scholden falle, 
1341   With many a gentil womman there  
1342   Dreint in the salte See thei were:  
1343   Wherof the Greks that time seiden,  
1344   And such a name upon hem leiden,     
1345   Nerei5des that thei ben hote, 
1346   The Nimphes whiche that thei note
1347   To regne upon the stremes salte. 
1348   Lo now, if this believe halte!
1349   Bot of the Nimphes as thei telle,
1350   In every place wher thei duelle  
1351   Thei ben al redi obeissant 
1352   As damoiselles entendant
1353   To the goddesses, whos servise
1354   Thei mote obeie in alle wise; 
1355   Wherof the Greks to hem beseke
1356   With tho that ben goddesses eke, 
1357   And have in hem a gret credence. 
1358   And yit withoute experience
1359   Salve only of illusion, 
1360   Which was to hem dampnacion,  
1361   For men also that were dede
1362   Thei hadden goddes, as I rede,
1363   And tho be name Manes hihten, 
1364   To whom ful gret honour thei dihten,
1365   So as the Grekes lawe seith,  
1366   Which was ayein the rihte feith. 
1367   Thus have I told a gret partie;  
1368   Bot al the hole progenie
1369   Of goddes in that ilke time
1370   To long it were forto rime.
1371   Bot yit of that which thou hast herd,  
1372   Of misbelieve hou it hath ferd,  
1373   Ther is a gret diversite.  
1374   Mi fader, riht so thenketh me.
1375   Bot yit o thing I you beseche,
1376   Which stant in alle mennes speche,  
1377   The godd and the goddesse of love,  
1378   Of whom ye nothing hier above 
1379   Have told, ne spoken of her fare,
1380   That ye me wolden now declare 
1381   Hou thei ferst comen to that name.      
1382   Mi Sone, I have it left for schame, 
1383   Be cause I am here oghne Prest;  
1384   Bot for thei stonden nyh thi brest  
1385   Upon the schrifte of thi matiere,
1386   Thou schalt of hem the sothe hiere: 
1387   And understond nou wel the cas.  
1388   Venus Saturnes dowhter was,
1389   Which alle danger putte aweie 
1390   Of love, and fond to lust a weie;
1391   So that of hire in sondri place  
1392   Diverse men felle into grace, 
1393   And such a lusti lif sche ladde, 
1394   That sche diverse children hadde,
1395   Nou on be this, nou on be that.  
1396   Of hire it was that Mars beyat
1397   A child, which cleped was Armene;
1398   Of hire also cam Andragene,
1399   To whom Mercurie fader was:
1400   Anchises begat Eneas 
1401   Of hire also, and Ericon
1402   Biten begat, and therupon, 
1403   Whan that sche sih ther was non other, 
1404   Be Jupiter hire oghne brother 
1405   Sche lay, and he begat Cupide.
1406   And thilke Sone upon a tyde,  
1407   Whan he was come unto his Age,
1408   He hadde a wonder fair visage,
1409   And fond his Moder amourous,  
1410   And he was also lecherous: 
1411   So whan thei weren bothe al one, 
1412   As he which yhen hadde none
1413   To se reson, his Moder kiste; 
1414   And sche also, that nothing wiste
1415   Bot that which unto lust belongeth, 
1416   To ben hire love him underfongeth.  
1417   Thus was he blind, and sche unwys:  
1418   Bot natheles this cause it is,    
1419   Why Cupide is the god of love,
1420   For he his moder dorste love. 
1421   And sche, which thoghte hire lustes fonde,
1422   Diverse loves tok in honde,
1423   Wel mo thanne I the tolde hiere: 
1424   And for sche wolde hirselve skiere, 
1425   Sche made comun that desport, 
1426   And sette a lawe of such a port, 
1427   That every womman mihte take  
1428   What man hire liste, and noght forsake 
1429   To ben als comun as sche wolde.  
1430   Sche was the ferste also which tolde
1431   That wommen scholde here bodi selle;
1432   Semiramis, so as men telle,
1433   Of Venus kepte thilke aprise, 
1434   And so dede in the same wise  
1435   Of Rome faire Neabole,  
1436   Which liste hire bodi to rigole; 
1437   Sche was to every man felawe, 
1438   And hild the lust of thilke lawe,
1439   Which Venus of hirself began; 
1440   Wherof that sche the name wan,
1441   Why men hire clepen the goddesse 
1442   Of love and ek of gentilesse, 
1443   Of worldes lust and of plesance. 
1444   Se nou the foule mescreance
1445   Of Greks in thilke time tho,  
1446   Whan Venus tok hire name so.  
1447   Ther was no cause under the Mone 
1448   Of which thei hadden tho to done,
1449   Of wel or wo wher so it was,  
1450   That thei ne token in that cas
1451   A god to helpe or a goddesse. 
1452   Wherof, to take mi witnesse,  
1453   The king of Bragmans Dindimus 
1454   Wrot unto Alisandre thus:  
1455   In blaminge of the Grekes feith      
1456   And of the misbelieve, he seith  
1457   How thei for every membre hadden 
1458   A sondri god, to whom thei spradden 
1459   Here armes, and of help besoghten.  
1460   Minerve for the hed thei soghten,
1461   For sche was wys, and of a man
1462   The wit and reson which he can
1463   Is in the celles of the brayn,
1464   Wherof thei made hire soverain.  
1465   Mercurie, which was in his dawes 
1466   A gret spekere of false lawes,
1467   On him the kepinge of the tunge  
1468   Thei leide, whan thei spieke or sunge. 
1469   For Bachus was a glotoun eke, 
1470   Him for the throte thei beseke,  
1471   That he it wolde waisshen ofte
1472   With swote drinkes and with softe.  
1473   The god of schuldres and of armes
1474   Was Hercules; for he in armes 
1475   The myhtieste was to fihte,
1476   To him tho Limes they behihte.
1477   The god whom that thei clepen Mart  
1478   The brest to kepe hath for his part,
1479   Forth with the herte, in his ymage  
1480   That he adresce the corage.
1481   And of the galle the goddesse,
1482   For sche was full of hastifesse  
1483   Of wraththe and liht to grieve also,
1484   Thei made and seide it was Juno. 
1485   Cupide, which the brond afyre 
1486   Bar in his hond, he was the Sire 
1487   Of the Stomak, which builleth evere,
1488   Wherof the lustes ben the levere.
1489   To the goddesse Cereres,
1490   Which of the corn yaf hire encress  
1491   Upon the feith that tho was take,    
1492   The wombes cure was betake;
1493   And Venus thurgh the Lecherie,
1494   For which that thei hire deifie, 
1495   Sche kept al doun the remenant
1496   To thilke office appourtenant.
1497   Thus was dispers in sondri wise  
1498   The misbelieve, as I devise,  
1499   With many an ymage of entaile,
1500   Of suche as myhte hem noght availe; 
1501   For thei withoute lyves chiere
1502   Unmyhti ben to se or hiere 
1503   Or speke or do or elles fiele;
1504   And yit the foles to hem knele,  
1505   Which is here oghne handes werk. 
1506   Ha lord, hou this believe is derk,  
1507   And fer fro resonable wit! 
1508   And natheles thei don it yit: 
1509   That was to day a ragged tre, 
1510   To morwe upon his majeste  
1511   Stant in the temple wel besein.  
1512   How myhte a mannes resoun sein
1513   That such a Stock mai helpe or grieve? 
1514   Bot thei that ben of such believe
1515   And unto suche goddes calle,  
1516   It schal to hem riht so befalle, 
1517   And failen ate moste nede. 
1518   Bot if thee list to taken hiede  
1519   And of the ferste ymage wite, 
1520   Petornius therof hath write
1521   And ek Nigargorus also; 
1522   And thei afferme and write so,
1523   That Promothes was tofore
1524   And fond the ferste craft therfore, 
1525   And Cirophanes, as thei telle,
1526   Thurgh conseil which was take in helle,
1527   In remembrance of his lignage 
1528   Let setten up the ferste ymage.      
1529   Of Cirophanes seith the bok,  
1530   That he for sorwe, which he tok  
1531   Of that he sih his Sone ded,  
1532   Of confort knew non other red,
1533   Bot let do make in remembrance
1534   A faire ymage of his semblance
1535   And sette it in the market place,
1536   Which openly tofore his face  
1537   Stod every dai to don him ese.
1538   And thei that thanne wolden plese
1539   The fader, scholden it obeie, 
1540   Whan that they comen thilke weie.
1541   And of Ninus king of Assire
1542   I rede hou that in his empire 
1543   He was next after the secounde
1544   Of hem that ferst ymages founde. 
1545   For he riht in semblable cas  
1546   Of Belus, which his fader was 
1547   Fro Nembroth in the rihte line,  
1548   Let make of gold and Stones fine 
1549   A precious ymage riche  
1550   After his fader evene liche;  
1551   And therupon a lawe he sette, 
1552   That every man of pure dette  
1553   With sacrifice and with truage
1554   Honoure scholde thilke ymage: 
1555   So that withinne time it fell,
1556   Of Belus cam the name of Bel, 
1557   Of Bel cam Belzebub, and so
1558   The misbelieve wente tho.  
1559   The thridde ymage next to this
1560   Was, whan the king of Grece Apis 
1561   Was ded, thei maden a figure  
1562   In resemblance of his stature.
1563   Of this king Apis seith the bok  
1564   That Serapis his name tok, 
1565   In whom thurgh long continuance  
1566   Of misbelieve a gret creance  
1567   Thei hadden, and the reverence    
1568   Of Sacrifice and of encence
1569   To him thei made: and as thei telle,
1570   Among the wondres that befelle,  
1571   Whan Alisandre fro Candace 
1572   Cam ridende, in a wilde place 
1573   Undur an hull a Cave he fond; 
1574   And Candalus, which in that lond 
1575   Was bore, and was Candaces Sone, 
1576   Him tolde hou that of commun wone
1577   The goddes were in thilke cave.  
1578   And he, that wolde assaie and have  
1579   A knowlechinge if it be soth, 
1580   Liht of his hors and in he goth, 
1581   And fond therinne that he soghte:
1582   For thurgh the fendes sleihte him thoghte,
1583   Amonges othre goddes mo 
1584   That Serapis spak to him tho, 
1585   Whom he sih there in gret arrai. 
1586   And thus the fend fro dai to dai 
1587   The worschipe of ydolatrie 
1588   Drowh forth upon the fantasie 
1589   Of hem that weren thanne blinde  
1590   And couthen noght the trouthe finde.
1591   Thus hast thou herd in what degre
1592   Of Grece, Egipte and of Caldee
1593   The misbelieves whilom stode; 
1594   And hou so that thei be noght goode 
1595   Ne trewe, yit thei sprungen oute,
1596   Wherof the wyde world aboute  
1597   His part of misbelieve tok.
1598   Til so befell, as seith the bok, 
1599   That god a poeple for himselve
1600   Hath chose of the lignages tuelve,  
1601   Wherof the sothe redely,
1602   As it is write in Genesi,  
1603   I thenke telle in such a wise 
1604   That it schal be to thin apprise.    
1605   After the flod, fro which Noe5
1606   Was sauf, the world in his degre 
1607   Was mad, as who seith, newe ayein,  
1608   Of flour, of fruit, of gras, of grein, 
1609   Of beste, of bridd and of mankinde, 
1610   Which evere hath be to god unkinde: 
1611   For noght withstondende al the fare,
1612   Of that this world was mad so bare  
1613   And afterward it was restored,
1614   Among the men was nothing mored  
1615   Towardes god of good lyvynge, 
1616   Bot al was torned to likinge  
1617   After the fleissh, so that foryete  
1618   Was he which yaf hem lif and mete,  
1619   Of hevene and Erthe creatour. 
1620   And thus cam forth the grete errour,
1621   That thei the hihe god ne knewe, 
1622   Bot maden othre goddes newe,  
1623   As thou hast herd me seid tofore:
1624   Ther was noman that time bore,
1625   That he ne hadde after his chois 
1626   A god, to whom he yaf his vois.  
1627   Wherof the misbelieve cam  
1628   Into the time of Habraham: 
1629   Bot he fond out the rihte weie,  
1630   Hou only that men scholde obeie  
1631   The hihe god, which weldeth al,  
1632   And evere hath don and evere schal, 
1633   In hevene, in Erthe and ek in helle;
1634   Ther is no tunge his miht mai telle.
1635   This Patriarch to his lignage 
1636   Forbad, that thei to non ymage
1637   Encline scholde in none wise, 
1638   Bot here offrende and sacrifise  
1639   With al the hole hertes love  
1640   Unto the mihti god above
1641   Thei scholden yive and to no mo: 
1642   And thus in thilke time tho    
1643   Began the Secte upon this Erthe, 
1644   Which of believes was the ferthe.
1645   Of rihtwisnesse it was conceived,
1646   So moste it nedes be received 
1647   Of him that alle riht is inne,
1648   The hihe god, which wolde winne  
1649   A poeple unto his oghne feith.
1650   On Habraham the ground he leith, 
1651   And made him forto multeplie  
1652   Into so gret a progenie,
1653   That thei Egipte al overspradde. 
1654   Bot Pharao with wrong hem ladde  
1655   In servitute ayein the pes,
1656   Til god let sende Moi5ses  
1657   To make the deliverance;
1658   And for his poeple gret vengance 
1659   He tok, which is to hiere a wonder. 
1660   The king was slain, the lond put under,
1661   God bad the rede See divide,  
1662   Which stod upriht on either side 
1663   And yaf unto his poeple a weie,  
1664   That thei on fote it passe dreie 
1665   And gon so forth into desert: 
1666   Wher forto kepe hem in covert,
1667   The daies, whan the Sonne brente,
1668   A large cloude hem overwente, 
1669   And forto wissen hem be nyhte,
1670   A firy Piler hem alyhte.
1671   And whan that thei for hunger pleigne, 
1672   The myhti god began to reyne  
1673   Manna fro hevene doun to grounde,
1674   Wherof that ech of hem hath founde  
1675   His fode, such riht as him liste;
1676   And for thei scholde upon him triste,  
1677   Riht as who sette a tonne abroche,      
1678   He percede the harde roche,
1679   And sprong out water al at wille,
1680   That man and beste hath drunke his fille: 
1681   And afterward he yaf the lawe 
1682   To Moi5ses, that hem withdrawe
1683   Thei scholden noght fro that he bad.
1684   And in this wise thei be lad, 
1685   Til thei toke in possession
1686   The londes of promission,  
1687   Wher that Caleph and Josue5
1688   The Marches upon such degre
1689   Departen, after the lignage
1690   That ech of hem as Heritage
1691   His porpartie hath underfonge.
1692   And thus stod this believe longe,
1693   Which of prophetes was governed; 
1694   And thei hadde ek the poeple lerned 
1695   Of gret honour that scholde hem falle; 
1696   Bot ate moste nede of alle 
1697   Thei faileden, whan Crist was bore. 
1698   Bot hou that thei here feith have bore,
1699   It nedeth noght to tellen al, 
1700   The matiere is so general: 
1701   Whan Lucifer was best in hevene  
1702   And oghte moste have stonde in evene,  
1703   Towardes god he tok debat; 
1704   And for that he was obstinat, 
1705   And wolde noght to trouthe encline, 
1706   He fell for evere into ruine: 
1707   And Adam ek in Paradis, 
1708   Whan he stod most in al his pris 
1709   After thastat of Innocence,
1710   Ayein the god brak his defence
1711   And fell out of his place aweie: 
1712   And riht be such a maner weie 
1713   The Jwes in here beste plit,  
1714   Whan that thei scholden most parfit     
1715   Have stonde upon the prophecie,  
1716   Tho fellen thei to most folie,
1717   And him which was fro hevene come,  
1718   And of a Maide his fleissh hath nome,  
1719   And was among hem bore and fedd, 
1720   As men that wolden noght be spedd
1721   Of goddes Sone, with o vois
1722   Thei hinge and slowhe upon the crois.  
1723   Wherof the parfit of here lawe
1724   Fro thanne forth hem was withdrawe, 
1725   So that thei stonde of no merit, 
1726   Bot in truage as folk soubgit 
1727   Withoute proprete of place 
1728   Thei liven out of goddes grace,  
1729   Dispers in alle londes oute.  
1730   And thus the feith is come aboute,  
1731   That whilom in the Jewes stod,
1732   Which is noght parfihtliche good.
1733   To speke as it is nou befalle,
1734   Ther is a feith aboven alle,  
1735   In which the trouthe is comprehended,  
1736   Wherof that we ben alle amended. 
1737   The hihe almyhti majeste,  
1738   Of rihtwisnesse and of pite,  
1739   The Sinne which that Adam wroghte,  
1740   Whan he sih time, ayein he boghte,  
1741   And sende his Sone fro the hevene
1742   To sette mannes Soule in evene,  
1743   Which thanne was so sore falle
1744   Upon the point which was befalle,
1745   That he ne mihte himself arise.  
1746   Gregoire seith in his aprise,     
1747   It helpeth noght a man be bore,  
1748   If goddes Sone were unbore;
1749   For thanne thurgh the ferste Sinne, 
1750   Which Adam whilom broghte ous inne, 
1751   Ther scholden alle men be lost;  
1752   Bot Crist restoreth thilke lost, 
1753   And boghte it with his fleissh and blod.  
1754   And if we thenken hou it stod 
1755   Of thilke rancoun which he payde,
1756   As seint Gregoire it wrot and sayde,
1757   Al was behovely to the man:
1758   For that wherof his wo began  
1759   Was after cause of al his welthe,
1760   Whan he which is the welle of helthe,  
1761   The hihe creatour of lif,  
1762   Upon the nede of such a strif 
1763   So wolde for his creature  
1764   Take on himself the forsfaiture  
1765   And soffre for the mannes sake.  
1766   Thus mai no reson wel forsake 
1767   That thilke Senne original 
1768   Ne was the cause in special
1769   Of mannes worschipe ate laste,
1770   Which schal withouten ende laste.
1771   For be that cause the godhede 
1772   Assembled was to the manhede  
1773   In the virgine, where he nom  
1774   Oure fleissh and verai man becom 
1775   Of bodely fraternite;
1776   Wherof the man in his degre
1777   Stant more worth, as I have told,
1778   Than he stod erst be manyfold,
1779   Thurgh baptesme of the newe lawe,
1780   Of which Crist lord is and felawe.  
1781   And thus the hihe goddes myht,
1782   Which was in the virgine alyht,      
1783   The mannes Soule hath reconsiled,
1784   Which hadde longe ben exiled. 
1785   So stant the feith upon believe, 
1786   Withoute which mai non achieve
1787   To gete him Paradis ayein: 
1788   Bot this believe is so certein,  
1789   So full of grace and of vertu,
1790   That what man clepeth to Jhesu
1791   In clene lif forthwith good dede,
1792   He mai noght faile of hevene mede,  
1793   Which taken hath the rihte feith;
1794   For elles, as the gospel seith,  
1795   Salvacion ther mai be non. 
1796   And forto preche therupon  
1797   Crist bad to hise Apostles alle, 
1798   The whos pouer as nou is falle
1799   On ous that ben of holi cherche, 
1800   If we the goode dedes werche; 
1801   For feith only sufficeth noght,  
1802   Bot if good dede also be wroght. 
1803   Now were it good that thou forthi,  
1804   Which thurgh baptesme proprely
1805   Art unto Cristes feith professed,
1806   Be war that thou be noght oppressed 
1807   With Anticristes lollardie.
1808   For as the Jwes prophecie      
1809   Was set of god for avantage,  
1810   Riht so this newe tapinage 
1811   Of lollardie goth aboute
1812   To sette Cristes feith in doute. 
1813   The seintz that weren ous tofore,
1814   Be whom the feith was ferst upbore, 
1815   That holi cherche stod relieved, 
1816   Thei oghten betre be believed 
1817   Than these, whiche that men knowe
1818   Noght holy, thogh thei feigne and blowe
1819   Here lollardie in mennes Ere. 
1820   Bot if thou wolt live out of fere,  
1821   Such newe lore, I rede, eschuie, 
1822   And hold forth riht the weie and suie, 
1823   As thine Ancestres dede er this: 
1824   So schalt thou noght believe amis.  
1825   Crist wroghte ferst and after tawhte,  
1826   So that the dede his word arawhte;  
1827   He yaf ensample in his persone,  
1828   And we the wordes have al one,
1829   Lich to the Tree with leves grene,  
1830   Upon the which no fruit is sene. 
1831   The Priest Thoas, which of Minerve  
1832   The temple hadde forto serve, 
1833   And the Palladion of Troie 
1834   Kepte under keie, for monoie, 
1835   Of Anthenor which he hath nome,  
1836   Hath soffred Anthenor to come 
1837   And the Palladion to stele,
1838   Wherof the worschipe and the wele
1839   Of the Troiens was overthrowe.
1840   Bot Thoas at the same throwe, 
1841   Whan Anthenor this Juel tok,  
1842   Wynkende caste awei his lok
1843   For a deceipte and for a wyle:
1844   As he that scholde himself beguile, 
1845   He hidde his yhen fro the sihte, 
1846   And wende wel that he so mihte    
1847   Excuse his false conscience.  
1848   I wot noght if thilke evidence
1849   Nou at this time in here estatz  
1850   Excuse mihte the Prelatz,  
1851   Knowende hou that the feith discresceth
1852   And alle moral vertu cesseth, 
1853   Wherof that thei the keies bere, 
1854   Bot yit hem liketh noght to stere
1855   Here gostliche yhe forto se
1856   The world in his adversite;
1857   Thei wol no labour undertake  
1858   To kepe that hem is betake.
1859   Crist deide himselve for the feith, 
1860   Bot nou our feerfull prelat seith,  
1861   "The lif is suete," and that he kepeth,
1862   So that the feith unholpe slepeth,  
1863   And thei unto here ese entenden  
1864   And in here lust her lif despenden, 
1865   And every man do what him list.  
1866   Thus stant this world fulfild of Mist, 
1867   That noman seth the rihte weie:  
1868   The wardes of the cherche keie
1869   Thurgh mishandlinge ben myswreynt,  
1870   The worldes wawe hath welnyh dreynt 
1871   The Schip which Peter hath to stiere,  
1872   The forme is kept, bot the matiere  
1873   Transformed is in other wise. 
1874   Bot if thei weren gostli wise,
1875   And that the Prelatz weren goode,
1876   As thei be olde daies stode,  
1877   It were thanne litel nede  
1878   Among the men to taken hiede  
1879   Of that thei hieren Pseudo telle,
1880   Which nou is come forto duelle,  
1881   To sowe cokkel with the corn, 
1882   So that the tilthe is nyh forlorn,  
1883   Which Crist sew ferst his oghne hond.      
1884   Nou stant the cockel in the lond,
1885   Wher stod whilom the goode grein,
1886   For the Prelatz nou, as men sein,
1887   Forslowthen that thei scholden tile.
1888   And that I trowe be the skile,
1889   Whan ther is lacke in hem above, 
1890   The poeple is stranged to the love  
1891   Of trouthe, in cause of ignorance;  
1892   For wher ther is no pourveance
1893   Of liht, men erren in the derke. 
1894   Bot if the Prelatz wolden werke  
1895   Upon the feith which thei ous teche,
1896   Men scholden noght here weie seche  
1897   Withoute liht, as now is used:
1898   Men se the charge aldai refused, 
1899   Which holi cherche hath undertake.  
1900   Bot who that wolde ensample take,
1901   Gregoire upon his Omelie
1902   Ayein the Slouthe of Prelacie 
1903   Compleigneth him, and thus he seith:
1904   "Whan Peter, fader of the feith, 
1905   At domesdai schal with him bringe
1906   Judeam, which thurgh his prechinge  
1907   He wan, and Andrew with Achaie
1908   Schal come his dette forto paie, 
1909   And Thomas ek with his beyete 
1910   Of Ynde, and Poul the routes grete  
1911   Of sondri londes schal presente, 
1912   And we fulfild of lond and rente,
1913   Which of this world we holden hiere,
1914   With voide handes schul appiere, 
1915   Touchende oure cure spirital, 
1916   Which is our charge in special,  
1917   I not what thing it mai amonte
1918   Upon thilke ende of oure accompte,  
1919   Wher Crist himself is Auditour,      
1920   Which takth non hiede of vein honour." 
1921   Thoffice of the Chancellerie  
1922   Or of the kinges Tresorie  
1923   Ne for the writ ne for the taille
1924   To warant mai noght thanne availe;  
1925   The world, which nou so wel we trowe,  
1926   Schal make ous thanne bot a mowe:
1927   So passe we withoute mede, 
1928   That we non otherwise spede,  
1929   Bot as we rede that he spedde,
1930   The which his lordes besant hedde
1931   And therupon gat non encress. 
1932   Bot at this time natheles, 
1933   What other man his thonk deserve,
1934   The world so lusti is to serve,  
1935   That we with him ben all acorded,
1936   And that is wist and wel recorded
1937   Thurghout this Erthe in alle londes 
1938   Let knyhtes winne with here hondes, 
1939   For oure tunge schal be stille
1940   And stonde upon the fleisshes wille.
1941   It were a travail forto preche
1942   The feith of Crist, as forto teche  
1943   The folk Paiene, it wol noght be;
1944   Bot every Prelat holde his See
1945   With al such ese as he mai gete  
1946   Of lusti drinke and lusti mete,  
1947   Wherof the bodi fat and full  
1948   Is unto gostli labour dull 
1949   And slowh to handle thilke plowh.
1950   Bot elles we ben swifte ynowh 
1951   Toward the worldes Avarice;
1952   And that is as a sacrifice,
1953   Which, after that thapostel seith,  
1954   Is openly ayein the feith  
1955   Unto thidoles yove and granted:      
1956   Bot natheles it is nou haunted,  
1957   And vertu changed into vice,  
1958   So that largesce is Avarice,  
1959   In whos chapitre now we trete.
1960   Mi fader, this matiere is bete
1961   So fer, that evere whil I live
1962   I schal the betre hede yive
1963   Unto miself be many weie:  
1964   Bot over this nou wolde I preie  
1965   To wite what the branches are 
1966   Of Avarice, and hou thei fare 
1967   Als wel in love as otherwise. 
1968   Mi Sone, and I thee schal devise 
1969   In such a manere as thei stonde, 
1970   So that thou schalt hem understonde.        
1971   Dame Avarice is noght soleine,
1972   Which is of gold the Capiteine;  
1973   Bot of hir Court in sondri wise  
1974   After the Scole of hire aprise
1975   Sche hath of Servantz manyon, 
1976   Wherof that Covoitise is on;  
1977   Which goth the large world aboute,  
1978   To seche thavantages oute, 
1979   Wher that he mai the profit winne
1980   To Avarice, and bringth it inne. 
1981   That on hald and that other draweth,
1982   Ther is no day which hem bedaweth,  
1983   No mor the Sonne than the Mone,  
1984   Whan ther is eny thing to done,  
1985   And namely with Covoitise; 
1986   For he stant out of al assisse
1987   Of resonable mannes fare.  
1988   Wher he pourposeth him to fare    
1989   Upon his lucre and his beyete,
1990   The smale path, the large Strete,
1991   The furlong and the longe Mile,  
1992   Al is bot on for thilke while:
1993   And for that he is such on holde,
1994   Dame Avarice him hath withholde, 
1995   As he which is the principal  
1996   Outward, for he is overal  
1997   A pourveour and an aspie.  
1998   For riht as of an hungri Pie  
1999   The storve bestes ben awaited,
2000   Riht so is Covoitise afaited  
2001   To loke where he mai pourchace,  
2002   For be his wille he wolde embrace
2003   Al that this wyde world beclippeth; 
2004   Bot evere he somwhat overhippeth,
2005   That he ne mai noght al fulfille 
2006   The lustes of his gredi wille.
2007   Bot where it falleth in a lond,  
2008   That Covoitise in myhti hond  
2009   Is set, it is ful hard to fiede; 
2010   For thanne he takth non other hiede,
2011   Bot that he mai pourchace and gete, 
2012   His conscience hath al foryete,  
2013   And not what thing it mai amonte 
2014   That he schal afterward acompte. 
2015   Bote as the Luce in his degre 
2016   Of tho that lasse ben than he 
2017   The fisshes griedeli devoureth,  
2018   So that no water hem socoureth,  
2019   Riht so no lawe mai rescowe
2020   Fro him that wol no riht allowe; 
2021   For wher that such on is of myht,
2022   His will schal stonde in stede of riht.
2023   Thus be the men destruid fulofte,
2024   Til that the grete god alofte 
2025   Ayein so gret a covoitise  
2026   Redresce it in his oghne wise:    
2027   And in ensample of alle tho
2028   I finde a tale write so,
2029   The which, for it is good to liere, 
2030   Hierafterward thou schalt it hiere. 
2031   Whan Rome stod in noble plit, 
2032   Virgile, which was tho parfit,
2033   A Mirour made of his clergie  
2034   And sette it in the tounes ije
2035   Of marbre on a piler withoute;
2036   That thei be thritty Mile aboute 
2037   Be daie and ek also be nyhte  
2038   In that Mirour beholde myhte  
2039   Here enemys, if eny were,  
2040   With al here ordinance there, 
2041   Which thei ayein the Cite caste: 
2042   So that, whil thilke Mirour laste,  
2043   Ther was no lond which mihte achieve
2044   With werre Rome forto grieve; 
2045   Wherof was gret envie tho. 
2046   And fell that ilke time so,
2047   That Rome hadde werres stronge
2048   Ayein Cartage, and stoden longe  
2049   The tuo Cites upon debat.  
2050   Cartage sih the stronge astat 
2051   Of Rome in thilke Mirour stonde, 
2052   And thoghte al prively to fonde  
2053   To overthrowe it be som wyle. 
2054   And Hanybal was thilke while  
2055   The Prince and ledere of Cartage,
2056   Which hadde set al his corage 
2057   Upon knihthod in such a wise, 
2058   That he be worthi and be wise 
2059   And be non othre was conseiled,  
2060   Wherof the world is yit merveiled
2061   Of the maistries that he wroghte 
2062   Upon the marches whiche he soghte.      
2063   And fell in thilke time also, 
2064   The king of Puile, which was tho,
2065   Thoghte ayein Rome to rebelle,
2066   And thus was take the querele,
2067   Hou to destruie this Mirour.  
2068   Of Rome tho was Emperour
2069   Crassus, which was so coveitous, 
2070   That he was evere desirous 
2071   Of gold to gete the pilage;
2072   Wherof that Puile and ek Cartage 
2073   With Philosophres wise and grete 
2074   Begunne of this matiere trete,
2075   And ate laste in this degre
2076   Ther weren Philosophres thre, 
2077   To do this thing whiche undertoke,  
2078   And therupon thei with hem toke  
2079   A gret tresor of gold in cophres,
2080   To Rome and thus these philisophres 
2081   Togedre in compainie wente,
2082   Bot noman wiste what thei mente. 
2083   Whan thei to Rome come were,  
2084   So prively thei duelte there, 
2085   As thei that thoghten to deceive:
2086   Was non that mihte of hem perceive, 
2087   Til thei in sondri stedes have
2088   Here gold under the ground begrave  
2089   In tuo tresors, that to beholde  
2090   Thei scholden seme as thei were olde.  
2091   And so forth thanne upon a day
2092   Al openly in good arai  
2093   To themperour thei hem presente, 
2094   And tolden it was here entente
2095   To duellen under his servise. 
2096   And he hem axeth in what wise;
2097   And thei him tolde in such a plit,  
2098   That ech of hem hadde a spirit,  
2099   The which slepende a nyht appiereth     
2100   And hem be sondri dremes lereth  
2101   After the world that hath betid. 
2102   Under the ground if oght be hid  
2103   Of old tresor at eny throwe,  
2104   They schull it in here swevenes knowe; 
2105   And upon this condicioun,  
2106   Thei sein, what gold under the toun 
2107   Of Rome is hid, thei wole it finde, 
2108   Ther scholde noght be left behinde, 
2109   Be so that he the halvendel
2110   Hem grante, and he assenteth wel;
2111   And thus cam sleighte forto duelle  
2112   With Covoitise, as I thee telle. 
2113   This Emperour bad redily
2114   That thei be logged faste by  
2115   Where he his oghne body lay;  
2116   And whan it was amorwe day,
2117   That on of hem seith that he mette  
2118   Wher he a goldhord scholde fette:
2119   Wherof this Emperour was glad,
2120   And therupon anon he bad
2121   His Mynours forto go and myne,
2122   And he himself of that covine 
2123   Goth forth withal, and at his hond  
2124   The tresor redi there he fond,
2125   Where as thei seide it scholde be;  
2126   And who was thanne glad bot he?  
2127   Upon that other dai secounde  
2128   Thei have an other goldhord founde, 
2129   Which the seconde maister tok 
2130   Upon his swevene and undertok.
2131   And thus the sothe experience 
2132   To themperour yaf such credence, 
2133   That al his trist and al his feith  
2134   So sikerliche on hem he leith,
2135   Of that he fond him so relieved, 
2136   That thei ben parfitli believed, 
2137   As thogh thei were goddes thre.  
2138   Nou herkne the soutilete.      
2139   The thridde maister scholde mete,
2140   Which, as thei seiden, was unmete
2141   Above hem alle, and couthe most; 
2142   And he withoute noise or bost 
2143   Al priveli, so as he wolde,
2144   Upon the morwe his swevene tolde 
2145   To themperour riht in his Ere,
2146   And seide him that he wiste where
2147   A tresor was so plentivous 
2148   Of gold and ek so precious 
2149   Of jeueals and of riche stones,  
2150   That unto alle hise hors at ones 
2151   It were a charge sufficant.
2152   This lord upon this covenant  
2153   Was glad, and axeth where it was.
2154   The maister seide, under the glas,  
2155   And tolde him eke, as for the Myn
2156   He wolde ordeigne such engin, 
2157   That thei the werk schull undersette
2158   With Tymber, that withoute lette 
2159   Men mai the tresor saufli delve, 
2160   So that the Mirour be himselve
2161   Withoute empeirement schal stonde:  
2162   And this the maister upon honde  
2163   Hath undertake in alle weie.  
2164   This lord, which hadde his wit aweie
2165   And was with Covoitise blent, 
2166   Anon therto yaf his assent;
2167   And thus they myne forth withal, 
2168   The timber set up overal,  
2169   Wherof the Piler stod upriht; 
2170   Til it befell upon a nyht  
2171   These clerkes, whan thei were war
2172   Hou that the timber only bar  
2173   The Piler, wher the Mirour stod,-
2174   Here sleihte noman understod,-
2175   Thei go be nyhte unto the Myne    
2176   With pich, with soulphre and with rosine, 
2177   And whan the Cite was a slepe,
2178   A wylde fyr into the depe  
2179   They caste among the timberwerk, 
2180   And so forth, whil the nyht was derk,  
2181   Desguised in a povere arai 
2182   Thei passeden the toun er dai.
2183   And whan thei come upon an hell, 
2184   Thei sihen how the Mirour fell,  
2185   Wherof thei maden joie ynowh, 
2186   And ech of hem with other lowh,  
2187   And seiden, "Lo, what coveitise  
2188   Mai do with hem that be noght wise!"
2189   And that was proved afterward,
2190   For every lond, to Romeward
2191   Which hadde be soubgit tofore,
2192   Whan this Mirour was so forlore  
2193   And thei the wonder herde seie,  
2194   Anon begunne desobeie
2195   With werres upon every side;  
2196   And thus hath Rome lost his pride
2197   And was defouled overal.
2198   For this I finde of Hanybal,  
2199   That he of Romeins in a dai,  
2200   Whan he hem fond out of arai, 
2201   So gret a multitude slowh, 
2202   That of goldringes, whiche he drowh 
2203   Of gentil handes that ben dede,  
2204   Buisshelles fulle thre, I rede,  
2205   He felde, and made a bregge also,
2206   That he mihte over Tibre go
2207   Upon the corps that dede were 
2208   Of the Romeins, whiche he slowh there. 
2209   Bot now to speke of the juise,
2210   The which after the covoitise 
2211   Was take upon this Emperour,  
2212   For he destruide the Mirour;      
2213   It is a wonder forto hiere.
2214   The Romeins maden a chaiere
2215   And sette here Emperour therinne,
2216   And seiden, for he wolde winne
2217   Of gold the superfluite,
2218   Of gold he scholde such plente
2219   Receive, til he seide Ho:  
2220   And with gold, which thei hadden tho
2221   Buillende hot withinne a panne,  
2222   Into his Mouth thei poure thanne.
2223   And thus the thurst of gold was queynt,
2224   With gold which hadde ben atteignt. 
2225   Wherof, mi Sone, thou miht hiere,
2226   Whan Covoitise hath lost the stiere 
2227   Of resonable governance,
2228   Ther falleth ofte gret vengance. 
2229   For ther mai be no worse thing
2230   Than Covoitise aboute a king: 
2231   If it in his persone be,
2232   It doth the more adversite;
2233   And if it in his conseil stonde, 
2234   It bringth alday meschief to honde  
2235   Of commun harm; and if it growe  
2236   Withinne his court, it wol be knowe,
2237   For thanne schal the king be piled. 
2238   The man which hath hise londes tiled,  
2239   Awaiteth noght more redily 
2240   The Hervest, than thei gredily
2241   Ne maken thanne warde and wacche,
2242   Wher thei the profit mihten cacche: 
2243   And yit fulofte it falleth so,
2244   As men mai sen among hem tho, 
2245   That he which most coveiteth faste  
2246   Hath lest avantage ate laste. 
2247   For whan fortune is therayein,
2248   Thogh he coveite, it is in vein; 
2249   The happes be noght alle liche,  
2250   On is mad povere, an other riche,
2251   The court to some doth profit,    
2252   And some ben evere in o plit; 
2253   And yit thei bothe aliche sore
2254   Coveite, bot fortune is more  
2255   Unto that o part favorable.
2256   And thogh it be noght resonable, 
2257   This thing a man mai sen alday,  
2258   Wherof that I thee telle may  
2259   A fair ensample in remembrance,  
2260   Hou every man mot take his chance
2261   Or of richesse or of poverte. 
2262   Hou so it stonde of the decerte, 
2263   Hier is noght every thing aquit, 
2264   For ofte a man mai se this yit,  
2265   That who best doth, lest thonk schal have;
2266   It helpeth noght the world to crave,
2267   Which out of reule and of mesure 
2268   Hath evere stonde in aventure 
2269   Als wel in Court as elles where: 
2270   And hou in olde daies there
2271   It stod, so as the thinges felle,
2272   I thenke a tale forto telle.  
2273   In a Cronique this I rede. 
2274   Aboute a king, as moste nede, 
2275   Ther was of knyhtes and squiers  
2276   Gret route, and ek of Officers:  
2277   Some of long time him hadden served,
2278   And thoghten that thei have deserved
2279   Avancement, and gon withoute; 
2280   And some also ben of the route
2281   That comen bot a while agon,  
2282   And thei avanced were anon.
2283   These olde men upon this thing,  
2284   So as thei dorste, ayein the king
2285   Among hemself compleignen ofte:  
2286   Bot ther is nothing seid so softe,  
2287   That it ne comth out ate laste;  
2288   The king it wiste, and als so faste,    
2289   As he which was of hih Prudence, 
2290   He schop therfore an evidence 
2291   Of hem that pleignen in that cas,
2292   To knowe in whos defalte it was. 
2293   And al withinne his oghne entente,  
2294   That noman wiste what it mente,  
2295   Anon he let tuo cofres make
2296   Of o semblance and of o make, 
2297   So lich that no lif thilke throwe
2298   That on mai fro that other knowe:
2299   Thei were into his chambre broght,  
2300   Bot noman wot why thei be wroght,
2301   And natheles the king hath bede  
2302   That thei be set in prive stede. 
2303   As he that was of wisdom slih,
2304   Whan he therto his time sih,  
2305   Al prively, that non it wiste,
2306   Hise oghne hondes that o kiste
2307   Of fin gold and of fin perrie,
2308   The which out of his tresorie 
2309   Was take, anon he felde full; 
2310   That other cofre of straw and mull  
2311   With Stones meind he felde also. 
2312   Thus be thei fulle bothe tuo, 
2313   So that erliche upon a day 
2314   He bad withinne, ther he lay, 
2315   Ther scholde be tofore his bed
2316   A bord upset and faire spred; 
2317   And thanne he let the cofres fette, 
2318   Upon the bord and dede hem sette.
2319   He knew the names wel of tho, 
2320   The whiche ayein him grucche so, 
2321   Bothe of his chambre and of his halle, 
2322   Anon and sende for hem alle,  
2323   And seide to hem in this wise:
2324   "Ther schal noman his happ despise; 
2325   I wot wel ye have longe served,  
2326   And god wot what ye have deserved:  
2327   Bot if it is along on me    
2328   Of that ye unavanced be,
2329   Or elles it be long on you,
2330   The sothe schal be proved nou,
2331   To stoppe with youre evele word. 
2332   Lo hier tuo cofres on the bord:  
2333   Ches which you list of bothe tuo;
2334   And witeth wel that on of tho 
2335   Is with tresor so full begon, 
2336   That if ye happe therupon, 
2337   Ye schull be riche men for evere.
2338   Now ches and tak which you is levere:  
2339   Bot be wel war, er that ye take; 
2340   For of that on I undertake 
2341   Ther is no maner good therinne,  
2342   Wherof ye mihten profit winne.
2343   Now goth togedre of on assent 
2344   And taketh youre avisement,
2345   For bot I you this dai avance,
2346   It stant upon youre oghne chance 
2347   Al only in defalte of grace:  
2348   So schal be schewed in this place
2349   Upon you alle wel afyn, 
2350   That no defalte schal be myn."
2351   Thei knelen alle and with o vois 
2352   The king thei thonken of this chois:
2353   And after that thei up arise, 
2354   And gon aside and hem avise,  
2355   And ate laste thei acorde; 
2356   Wherof her tale to recorde,
2357   To what issue thei be falle,  
2358   A kniht schal speke for hem alle.
2359   He kneleth doun unto the king,
2360   And seith that thei upon this thing,
2361   Or forto winne or forto lese, 
2362   Ben alle avised forto chese.  
2363   Tho tok this kniht a yerde on honde,
2364   And goth there as the cofres stonde,
2365   And with assent of everichon      
2366   He leith his yerde upon that on, 
2367   And seith the king hou thilke same  
2368   Thei chese in reguerdoun be name,
2369   And preith him that thei mote it have. 
2370   The king, which wolde his honour save, 
2371   Whan he hath herd the commun vois,  
2372   Hath granted hem here oghne chois
2373   And tok hem therupon the keie.
2374   Bot for he wolde it were seie 
2375   What good thei have, as thei suppose,  
2376   He bad anon the cofre unclose,
2377   Which was fulfild with straw and stones:  
2378   Thus be thei served al at ones.  
2379   This king thanne in the same stede  
2380   Anon that other cofre undede, 
2381   Where as thei sihen gret richesse,  
2382   Wel more than thei couthen gesse.
2383   "Lo," seith the king, "nou mai ye se
2384   That ther is no defalte in me;
2385   Forthi miself I wole aquyte,  
2386   And bereth ye youre oghne wyte
2387   Of that fortune hath you refused."  
2388   Thus was this wise king excused, 
2389   And thei lefte of here evele speche 
2390   And mercy of here king beseche.  
2391   Somdiel to this matiere lik
2392   I finde a tale, hou Frederik, 
2393   Of Rome that time Emperour,
2394   Herde, as he wente, a gret clamour  
2395   Of tuo beggers upon the weie. 
2396   That on of hem began to seie, 
2397   "Ha lord, wel mai the man be riche  
2398   Whom that a king list forto riche." 
2399   That other saide nothing so,  
2400   Bot, "He is riche and wel bego,  
2401   To whom that god wole sende wele."  
2402   And thus thei maden wordes fele, 
2403   Wherof this lord hath hiede nome,
2404   And dede hem bothe forto come     
2405   To the Paleis, wher he schal ete,
2406   And bad ordeine for here mete 
2407   Tuo Pastes, whiche he let do make.  
2408   A capoun in that on was bake, 
2409   And in that other forto winne 
2410   Of florins al that mai withinne  
2411   He let do pute a gret richesse;  
2412   And evene aliche, as man mai gesse, 
2413   Outward thei were bothe tuo.  
2414   This begger was comanded tho, 
2415   He that which hield him to the king,
2416   That he ferst chese upon this thing:
2417   He sih hem, bot he felte hem noght, 
2418   So that upon his oghne thoght 
2419   He ches the Capoun and forsok 
2420   That other, which his fela tok.  
2421   Bot whanne he wiste hou that it ferde, 
2422   He seide alowd, that men it herde,  
2423   "Nou have I certeinly conceived  
2424   That he mai lihtly be deceived,  
2425   That tristeth unto mannes helpe; 
2426   Bot wel is him whom god wol helpe,  
2427   For he stant on the siker side,  
2428   Which elles scholde go beside:
2429   I se my fela wel recovere, 
2430   And I mot duelle stille povere." 
2431   Thus spak this begger his entente,  
2432   And povere he cam and povere he wente; 
2433   Of that he hath richesse soght,  
2434   His infortune it wolde noght. 
2435   So mai it schewe in sondri wise, 
2436   Betwen fortune and covoitise  
2437   The chance is cast upon a Dee;
2438   Bot yit fulofte a man mai se  
2439   Ynowe of suche natheles,
2440   Whiche evere pute hemself in press  
2441   To gete hem good, and yit thei faile.      
2442   And forto speke of this entaile  
2443   Touchende of love in thi matiere,
2444   Mi goode Sone, as thou miht hiere,  
2445   That riht as it with tho men stod
2446   Of infortune of worldes good, 
2447   As thou hast herd me telle above,
2448   Riht so fulofte it stant be love:
2449   Thogh thou coveite it everemore, 
2450   Thou schalt noght have o diel the more,
2451   Bot only that which thee is schape, 
2452   The remenant is bot a jape.
2453   And natheles ynowe of tho  
2454   Ther ben, that nou coveiten so,  
2455   That where as thei a womman se,  
2456   Ye ten or tuelve thogh ther be,  
2457   The love is nou so unavised,  
2458   That wher the beaute stant assised, 
2459   The mannes herte anon is there,  
2460   And rouneth tales in hire Ere,
2461   And seith hou that he loveth streite,  
2462   And thus he set him to coveite,  
2463   An hundred thogh he sihe aday.
2464   So wolde he more thanne he may;  
2465   Bot for the grete covoitise
2466   Of sotie and of fol emprise
2467   In ech of hem he fint somwhat 
2468   That pleseth him, or this or that;  
2469   Som on, for sche is whit of skin,
2470   Som on, for sche is noble of kin,
2471   Som on, for sche hath rodi chieke,  
2472   Som on, for that sche semeth mieke, 
2473   Som on, for sche hath yhen greie,
2474   Som on, for sche can lawhe and pleie,  
2475   Som on, for sche is long and smal,  
2476   Som on, for sche is lyte and tall,  
2477   Som on, for sche is pale and bleche,
2478   Som on, for sche is softe of speche,
2479   Som on, for that sche is camused,
2480   Som on, for sche hath noght ben used,      
2481   Som on, for sche can daunce and singe; 
2482   So that som thing to his likinge 
2483   He fint, and thogh nomore he fiele, 
2484   Bot that sche hath a litel hiele,
2485   It is ynow that he therfore
2486   Hire love, and thus an hundred score,  
2487   Whil thei be newe, he wolde he hadde;  
2488   Whom he forsakth, sche schal be badde. 
2489   The blinde man no colour demeth, 
2490   But al is on, riht as him semeth;
2491   So hath his lust no juggement,
2492   Whom covoitise of love blent. 
2493   Him thenkth that to his covoitise
2494   Hou al the world ne mai suffise, 
2495   For be his wille he wolde have alle,
2496   If that it mihte so befalle:  
2497   Thus is he commun as the Strete, 
2498   I sette noght of his beyete.  
2499   Mi Sone, hast thou such covoitise?  
2500   Nai, fader, such love I despise, 
2501   And whil I live schal don evere, 
2502   For in good feith yit hadde I levere,  
2503   Than to coveite in such a weie,  
2504   To ben for evere til I deie
2505   As povere as Job, and loveles,
2506   Outaken on, for haveles 
2507   His thonkes is noman alyve.
2508   For that a man scholde al unthryve  
2509   Ther oghte no wisman coveite, 
2510   The lawe was noght set so streite:  
2511   Forthi miself withal to save, 
2512   Such on ther is I wolde have, 
2513   And non of al these othre mo. 
2514   Mi Sone, of that thou woldest so,
2515   I am noght wroth, bot over this  
2516   I wol thee tellen hou it is.  
2517   For ther be men, whiche otherwise,      
2518   Riht only for the covoitise
2519   Of that thei sen a womman riche, 
2520   Ther wol thei al here love affiche; 
2521   Noght for the beaute of hire face,  
2522   Ne yit for vertu ne for grace,
2523   Which sche hath elles riht ynowh,
2524   Bot for the Park and for the plowh, 
2525   And other thing which therto longeth:  
2526   For in non other wise hem longeth
2527   To love, bot thei profit finde;  
2528   And if the profit be behinde, 
2529   Here love is evere lesse and lesse, 
2530   For after that sche hath richesse,  
2531   Her love is of proporcion. 
2532   If thou hast such condicion,  
2533   Mi Sone, tell riht as it is.  
2534   Min holi fader, nay ywiss, 
2535   Condicion such have I non. 
2536   For trewli, fader, I love oon 
2537   So wel with al myn hertes thoght,
2538   That certes, thogh sche hadde noght,
2539   And were as povere as Medea,  
2540   Which was exiled for Creusa,  
2541   I wolde hir noght the lasse love;
2542   Ne thogh sche were at hire above,
2543   As was the riche qwen Candace,
2544   Which to deserve love and grace  
2545   To Alisandre, that was king,  
2546   Yaf many a worthi riche thing,
2547   Or elles as Pantasilee, 
2548   Which was the quen of Feminee,
2549   And gret richesse with hir nam,  
2550   Whan sche for love of Hector cam 
2551   To Troie in rescousse of the toun,- 
2552   I am of such condicion, 
2553   That thogh mi ladi of hirselve
2554   Were also riche as suche tuelve,     
2555   I couthe noght, thogh it wer so, 
2556   No betre love hir than I do.  
2557   For I love in so plein a wise,
2558   That forto speke of coveitise,
2559   As for poverte or for richesse
2560   Mi love is nouther mor ne lesse. 
2561   For in good feith I trowe this,  
2562   So coveitous noman ther is,
2563   Forwhy and he mi ladi sihe,
2564   That he thurgh lokinge of his yhe
2565   Ne scholde have such a strok withinne, 
2566   That for no gold he mihte winne  
2567   He scholde noght hire love asterte, 
2568   Bot if he lefte there his herte; 
2569   Be so it were such a man,  
2570   That couthe Skile of a womman.
2571   For ther be men so ruide some,
2572   Whan thei among the wommen come, 
2573   Thei gon under proteccioun,
2574   That love and his affeccioun  
2575   Ne schal noght take hem be the slieve; 
2576   For thei ben out of that believe,
2577   Hem lusteth of no ladi chiere,
2578   Bot evere thenken there and hiere
2579   Wher that here gold is in the cofre,
2580   And wol non other love profre:
2581   Bot who so wot what love amounteth  
2582   And be resoun trewliche acompteth,  
2583   Than mai he knowe and taken hiede
2584   That al the lust of wommanhiede, 
2585   Which mai ben in a ladi face, 
2586   Mi ladi hath, and ek of grace 
2587   If men schull yiven hire a pris, 
2588   Thei mai wel seie hou sche is wys
2589   And sobre and simple of contenance,     
2590   And al that to good governance
2591   Belongeth of a worthi wiht 
2592   Sche hath pleinli: for thilke nyht  
2593   That sche was bore, as for the nones
2594   Nature sette in hire at ones  
2595   Beaute with bounte so besein, 
2596   That I mai wel afferme and sein, 
2597   I sawh yit nevere creature 
2598   Of comlihied and of feture 
2599   In eny kinges regioun
2600   Be lich hire in comparisoun:  
2601   And therto, as I have you told,  
2602   Yit hath sche more a thousendfold
2603   Of bounte, and schortli to telle,
2604   Sche is the pure hed and welle
2605   And Mirour and ensample of goode.
2606   Who so hir vertus understode, 
2607   Me thenkth it oughte ynow suffise
2608   Withouten other covoitise  
2609   To love such on and to serve, 
2610   Which with hire chiere can deserve  
2611   To be beloved betre ywiss  
2612   Than sche per cas that richest is
2613   And hath of gold a Milion. 
2614   Such hath be myn opinion
2615   And evere schal: bot natheles 
2616   I seie noght sche is haveles, 
2617   That sche nys riche and wel at ese, 
2618   And hath ynow wherwith to plese  
2619   Of worldes good whom that hire liste;  
2620   Bot o thing wolde I wel ye wiste,
2621   That nevere for no worldes good  
2622   Min herte untoward hire stod, 
2623   Bot only riht for pure love;  
2624   That wot the hihe god above.  
2625   Nou, fader, what seie ye therto? 
2626   Mi Sone, I seie it is wel do. 
2627   For tak of this riht good believe,      
2628   What man that wole himself relieve  
2629   To love in eny other wise, 
2630   He schal wel finde his coveitise 
2631   Schal sore grieve him ate laste, 
2632   For such a love mai noght laste. 
2633   Bot nou, men sein, in oure daies 
2634   Men maken bot a fewe assaies, 
2635   Bot if the cause be richesse; 
2636   Forthi the love is wel the lesse.
2637   And who that wolde ensamples telle, 
2638   Be olde daies as thei felle,  
2639   Than mihte a man wel understonde 
2640   Such love mai noght longe stonde.
2641   Now herkne, Sone, and thou schalt hiere
2642   A gret ensample of this matiere. 
2643   To trete upon the cas of love,
2644   So as we tolden hiere above,  
2645   I finde write a wonder thing. 
2646   Of Puile whilom was a king,
2647   A man of hih complexioun
2648   And yong, bot his affeccioun  
2649   After the nature of his age
2650   Was yit noght falle in his corage
2651   The lust of wommen forto knowe.  
2652   So it betidde upon a throwe
2653   This lord fell into gret seknesse:  
2654   Phisique hath don the besinesse  
2655   Of sondri cures manyon  
2656   To make him hol; and therupon 
2657   A worthi maister which ther was  
2658   Yaf him conseil upon this cas,
2659   That if he wolde have parfit hele,  
2660   He scholde with a womman dele,
2661   A freissh, a yong, a lusti wiht, 
2662   To don him compaignie a nyht: 
2663   For thanne he seide him redily,  
2664   That he schal be al hol therby,      
2665   And otherwise he kneu no cure.
2666   This king, which stod in aventure
2667   Of lif and deth, for medicine 
2668   Assented was, and of covine
2669   His Steward, whom he tristeth wel,  
2670   He tok, and tolde him everydel,  
2671   Hou that this maister hadde seid:
2672   And therupon he hath him preid
2673   And charged upon his ligance, 
2674   That he do make porveance  
2675   Of such on as be covenable 
2676   For his plesance and delitable;  
2677   And bad him, hou that evere it stod,
2678   That he schal spare for no good, 
2679   For his will is riht wel to paie.
2680   The Steward seide he wolde assaie:  
2681   Bot nou hierafter thou schalt wite, 
2682   As I finde in the bokes write,
2683   What coveitise in love doth.  
2684   This Steward, forto telle soth,  
2685   Amonges al the men alyve
2686   A lusti ladi hath to wyve, 
2687   Which natheles for gold he tok
2688   And noght for love, as seith the bok.  
2689   A riche Marchant of the lond  
2690   Hir fader was, and hire fond  
2691   So worthily, and such richesse
2692   Of worldes good and such largesse
2693   With hire he yaf in mariage,  
2694   That only for thilke avantage 
2695   Of good this Steward hath hire take,
2696   For lucre and noght for loves sake, 
2697   And that was afterward wel seene;
2698   Nou herkne what it wolde meene.  
2699   This Steward in his oghne herte      
2700   Sih that his lord mai noght asterte 
2701   His maladie, bot he have
2702   A lusti womman him to save,
2703   And thoghte he wolde yive ynowh  
2704   Of his tresor; wherof he drowh
2705   Gret coveitise into his mynde,
2706   And sette his honour fer behynde.
2707   Thus he, whom gold hath overset, 
2708   Was trapped in his oghne net; 
2709   The gold hath mad hise wittes lame, 
2710   So that sechende his oghne schame
2711   He rouneth in the kinges Ere, 
2712   And seide him that he wiste where
2713   A gentile and a lusti on
2714   Tho was, and thider wolde he gon:
2715   Bot he mot yive yiftes grete; 
2716   For bot it be thurgh grete beyete
2717   Of gold, he seith, he schal noght spede.  
2718   The king him bad upon the nede
2719   That take an hundred pound he scholde, 
2720   And yive it where that he wolde, 
2721   Be so it were in worthi place:
2722   And thus to stonde in loves grace
2723   This king his gold hath abandouned. 
2724   And whan this tale was full rouned, 
2725   The Steward tok the gold and wente, 
2726   Withinne his herte and many a wente 
2727   Of coveitise thanne he caste, 
2728   Wherof a pourpos ate laste 
2729   Ayein love and ayein his riht 
2730   He tok, and seide hou thilke nyht
2731   His wif schal ligge be the king; 
2732   And goth thenkende upon this thing  
2733   Toward his In, til he cam hom 
2734   Into the chambre, and thanne he nom 
2735   His wif, and tolde hire al the cas. 
2736   And sche, which red for schame was, 
2737   With bothe hire handes hath him preid
2738   Knelende and in this wise seid,  
2739   That sche to reson and to skile  
2740   In what thing that he bidde wile 
2741   Is redy forto don his heste,  
2742   Bot this thing were noght honeste,  
2743   That he for gold hire scholde selle.
2744   And he tho with hise wordes felle
2745   Forth with his gastly contienance
2746   Seith that sche schal don obeissance
2747   And folwe his will in every place;  
2748   And thus thurgh strengthe of his manace
2749   Hir innocence is overlad,  
2750   Wherof sche was so sore adrad 
2751   That sche his will mot nede obeie.  
2752   And therupon was schape a weie,  
2753   That he his oghne wif be nyhte
2754   Hath out of alle mennes sihte 
2755   So prively that non it wiste  
2756   Broght to the king, which as him liste 
2757   Mai do with hire what he wolde.  
2758   For whan sche was ther as sche scholde,
2759   With him abedde under the cloth, 
2760   The Steward tok his leve and goth
2761   Into a chambre faste by;
2762   Bot hou he slep, that wot noght I,  
2763   For he sih cause of jelousie. 
2764   Bot he, which hath the compainie 
2765   Of such a lusti on as sche,
2766   Him thoghte that of his degre 
2767   Ther was noman so wel at ese: 
2768   Sche doth al that sche mai to plese,
2769   So that his herte al hol sche hadde;
2770   And thus this king his joie ladde,  
2771   Til it was nyh upon the day.  
2772   The Steward thanne wher sche lay 
2773   Cam to the bedd, and in his wise 
2774   Hath bede that sche scholde arise.      
2775   The king seith, "Nay, sche schal noght go."  
2776   His Steward seide ayein, "Noght so; 
2777   For sche mot gon er it be knowe, 
2778   And so I swor at thilke throwe,  
2779   Whan I hire fette to you hiere." 
2780   The king his tale wol noght hiere,  
2781   And seith hou that he hath hire boght, 
2782   Forthi sche schal departe noght, 
2783   Til he the brighte dai beholde.  
2784   And cawhte hire in hise armes folde,
2785   As he which liste forto pleie,
2786   And bad his Steward gon his weie,
2787   And so he dede ayein his wille.  
2788   And thus his wif abedde stille
2789   Lay with the king the longe nyht,
2790   Til that it was hih Sonne lyht;  
2791   Bot who sche was he knew nothing.
2792   Tho cam the Steward to the king  
2793   And preide him that withoute schame 
2794   In savinge of hire goode name 
2795   He myhte leden hom ayein
2796   This lady, and hath told him plein  
2797   Hou that it was his oghne wif.
2798   The king his Ere unto this strif 
2799   Hath leid, and whan that he it herde,  
2800   Welnyh out of his wit he ferde,  
2801   And seide, "Ha, caitif most of alle,
2802   Wher was it evere er this befalle,  
2803   That eny cokard in this wise  
2804   Betok his wif for coveitise?  
2805   Thou hast bothe hire and me beguiled
2806   And ek thin oghne astat reviled, 
2807   Wherof that buxom unto thee
2808   Hierafter schal sche nevere be.  
2809   For this avou to god I make,  
2810   After this day if I thee take,
2811   Thou schalt ben honged and todrawe.     
2812   Nou loke anon thou be withdrawe, 
2813   So that I se thee neveremore."
2814   This Steward thanne dradde him sore,
2815   With al the haste that he mai 
2816   And fledde awei that same dai,
2817   And was exiled out of londe.  
2818   Lo, there a nyce housebonde,  
2819   Which thus hath lost his wif for evere!
2820   Bot natheles sche hadde a levere;
2821   The king hire weddeth and honoureth,
2822   Wherof hire name sche socoureth, 
2823   Which erst was lost thurgh coveitise
2824   Of him, that ladde hire other wise, 
2825   And hath himself also forlore.
2826   Mi Sone, be thou war therfore,
2827   Wher thou schalt love in eny place, 
2828   That thou no covoitise embrace,  
2829   The which is noght of loves kinde.  
2830   Bot for al that a man mai finde  
2831   Nou in this time of thilke rage  
2832   Ful gret desese in mariage,
2833   Whan venym melleth with the Sucre
2834   And mariage is mad for lucre, 
2835   Or for the lust or for the hele: 
2836   What man that schal with outher dele,  
2837   He mai noght faile to repente.
2838   Mi fader, such is myn entente:
2839   Bot natheles good is to have, 
2840   For good mai ofte time save
2841   The love which scholde elles spille.
2842   Bot god, which wot myn hertes wille,
2843   I dar wel take to witnesse,
2844   Yit was I nevere for richesse 
2845   Beset with mariage non; 
2846   For al myn herte is upon on
2847   So frely, that in the persone 
2848   Stant al my worldes joie al one: 
2849   I axe nouther Park ne Plowh,      
2850   If I hire hadde, it were ynowh,  
2851   Hir love scholde me suffise
2852   Withouten other coveitise. 
2853   Lo now, mi fader, as of this, 
2854   Touchende of me riht as it is,
2855   Mi schrifte I am beknowe plein;  
2856   And if ye wole oght elles sein,  
2857   Of covoitise if ther be more  
2858   In love, agropeth out the sore.  
2859   Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde 
2860   Hou Coveitise hath yit on honde  
2861   In special tuo conseilours,
2862   That ben also hise procurours.
2863   The ferst of hem is Falswitnesse,
2864   Which evere is redi to witnesse  
2865   What thing his maister wol him hote:
2866   Perjurie is the secounde hote,
2867   Which spareth noght to swere an oth,
2868   Thogh it be fals and god be wroth.  
2869   That on schal falswitnesse bere, 
2870   That other schal the thing forswere,
2871   Whan he is charged on the bok.
2872   So what with hepe and what with crok
2873   Thei make here maister ofte winne
2874   And wol noght knowe what is sinne    
2875   For coveitise, and thus, men sain,  
2876   Thei maken many a fals bargain.  
2877   Ther mai no trewe querele arise  
2878   In thilke queste and thilke assise, 
2879   Where as thei tuo the poeple enforme;  
2880   For thei kepe evere o maner forme,  
2881   That upon gold here conscience
2882   Thei founde, and take here evidence;
2883   And thus with falswitnesse and othes
2884   Thei winne hem mete and drinke and clothes.  
2885   Riht so ther be, who that hem knewe,
2886   Of thes lovers ful many untrewe: 
2887   Nou mai a womman finde ynowe, 
2888   That ech of hem, whan he schal wowe,
2889   Anon he wole his hand doun lein  
2890   Upon a bok, and swere and sein
2891   That he wole feith and trouthe bere;
2892   And thus he profreth him to swere
2893   To serven evere til he die,
2894   And al is verai tricherie. 
2895   For whan the sothe himselven trieth,
2896   The more he swerth, the more he lieth; 
2897   Whan he his feith makth althermest, 
2898   Than mai a womman truste him lest;  
2899   For til he mai his will achieve, 
2900   He is no lengere forto lieve. 
2901   Thus is the trouthe of love exiled, 
2902   And many a good womman beguiled. 
2903   And ek to speke of Falswitnesse, 
2904   There be nou many suche, I gesse,
2905   That lich unto the provisours 
2906   Thei make here prive procurours, 
2907   To telle hou ther is such a man, 
2908   Which is worthi to love and can  
2909   Al that a good man scholde kunne;
2910   So that with lesinge is begunne  
2911   The cause in which thei wole procede,  
2912   And also siker as the crede    
2913   Thei make of that thei knowen fals. 
2914   And thus fulofte aboute the hals 
2915   Love is of false men embraced;
2916   Bot love which is so pourchaced  
2917   Comth afterward to litel pris.
2918   Forthi, mi Sone, if thou be wis, 
2919   Nou thou hast herd this evidence,
2920   Thou miht thin oghne conscience  
2921   Oppose, if thou hast ben such on.
2922   Nai, god wot, fader I am non, 
2923   Ne nevere was; for as men seith, 
2924   Whan that a man schal make his feith,  
2925   His herte and tunge moste acorde;
2926   For if so be that thei discorde, 
2927   Thanne is he fals and elles noght:  
2928   And I dar seie, as of my thoght, 
2929   In love it is noght descordable  
2930   Unto mi word, bot acordable.  
2931   And in this wise, fader, I 
2932   Mai riht wel swere and salvely,  
2933   That I mi ladi love wel,
2934   For that acordeth everydel.
2935   It nedeth noght to mi sothsawe
2936   That I witnesse scholde drawe,
2937   Into this dai for nevere yit  
2938   Ne mihte it sinke into mi wit,
2939   That I my conseil scholde seie
2940   To eny wiht, or me bewreie 
2941   To sechen help in such manere,
2942   Bot only of mi ladi diere. 
2943   And thogh a thousend men it wiste,  
2944   That I hire love, and thanne hem liste 
2945   With me to swere and to witnesse,
2946   Yit were that no falswitnesse;
2947   For I dar on this trouthe duelle,
2948   I love hire mor than I can telle.
2949   Thus am I, fader, gulteles,    
2950   As ye have herd, and natheles 
2951   In youre dom I put it al.  
2952   Mi Sone, wite in special,  
2953   It schal noght comunliche faile, 
2954   Al thogh it for a time availe 
2955   That Falswitnesse his cause spede,  
2956   Upon the point of his falshiede  
2957   It schal wel afterward be kid;
2958   Wherof, so as it is betid, 
2959   Ensample of suche thinges blinde 
2960   In a Cronique write I finde.  
2961   The Goddesse of the See Thetis,  
2962   Sche hadde a Sone, and his name is  
2963   Achilles, whom to kepe and warde,
2964   Whil he was yong, as into warde  
2965   Sche thoghte him salfly to betake,  
2966   As sche which dradde for his sake
2967   Of that was seid in prophecie,
2968   That he at Troie scholde die, 
2969   Whan that the Cite was belein.
2970   Forthi, so as the bokes sein, 
2971   Sche caste hire wit in sondri wise, 
2972   Hou sche him mihte so desguise
2973   That noman scholde his bodi knowe:  
2974   And so befell that ilke throwe,  
2975   Whil that sche thoghte upon this dede, 
2976   Ther was a king, which Lichomede 
2977   Was hote, and he was wel begon
2978   With faire dowhtres manyon,
2979   And duelte fer out in an yle. 
2980   Nou schalt thou hiere a wonder wyle:
2981   This queene, which the moder was 
2982   Of Achilles, upon this cas 
2983   Hire Sone, as he a Maiden were,  
2984   Let clothen in the same gere  
2985   Which longeth unto wommanhiede:  
2986   And he was yong and tok non hiede,      
2987   Bot soffreth al that sche him dede. 
2988   Wherof sche hath hire wommen bede
2989   And charged be here othes alle,  
2990   Hou so it afterward befalle,  
2991   That thei discovere noght this thing,  
2992   Bot feigne and make a knowleching,  
2993   Upon the conseil which was nome, 
2994   In every place wher thei come 
2995   To telle and to witnesse this,
2996   Hou he here ladi dowhter is.  
2997   And riht in such a maner wise 
2998   Sche bad thei scholde hire don servise,
2999   So that Achilles underfongeth 
3000   As to a yong ladi belongeth
3001   Honour, servise and reverence.
3002   For Thetis with gret diligence
3003   Him hath so tawht and so afaited,
3004   That, hou so that it were awaited,  
3005   With sobre and goodli contenance 
3006   He scholde his wommanhiede avance,  
3007   That non the sothe knowe myhte,  
3008   Bot that in every mannes syhte
3009   He scholde seme a pure Maide. 
3010   And in such wise as sche him saide, 
3011   Achilles, which that ilke while  
3012   Was yong, upon himself to smyle  
3013   Began, whan he was so besein. 
3014   And thus, after the bokes sein,  
3015   With frette of Perle upon his hed,  
3016   Al freissh betwen the whyt and red, 
3017   As he which tho was tendre of Age,  
3018   Stod the colour in his visage,
3019   That forto loke upon his cheke
3020   And sen his childly manere eke,  
3021   He was a womman to beholde.
3022   And thanne his moder to him tolde,  
3023   That sche him hadde so begon  
3024   Be cause that sche thoghte gon
3025   To Lichomede at thilke tyde,          
3026   Wher that sche seide he scholde abyde  
3027   Among hise dowhtres forto duelle.
3028   Achilles herde his moder telle,  
3029   And wiste noght the cause why;
3030   And natheles ful buxomly
3031   He was redy to that sche bad, 
3032   Wherof his moder was riht glad,  
3033   To Lichomede and forth thei wente.  
3034   And whan the king knew hire entente,
3035   And sih this yonge dowhter there,
3036   And that it cam unto his Ere  
3037   Of such record, of such witnesse,
3038   He hadde riht a gret gladnesse
3039   Of that he bothe syh and herde,  
3040   As he that wot noght hou it ferde
3041   Upon the conseil of the nede. 
3042   Bot for al that king Lichomede
3043   Hath toward him this dowhter take,  
3044   And for Thetis his moder sake 
3045   He put hire into compainie 
3046   To duelle with Dei5damie,  
3047   His oghne dowhter, the eldeste,  
3048   The faireste and the comelieste  
3049   Of alle hise doghtres whiche he hadde. 
3050   Lo, thus Thetis the cause ladde, 
3051   And lefte there Achilles feigned,
3052   As he which hath himself restreigned
3053   In al that evere he mai and can  
3054   Out of the manere of a man,
3055   And tok his wommannysshe chiere, 
3056   Wherof unto his beddefere  
3057   Dei5damie he hath be nyhte.
3058   Wher kinde wole himselve rihte,  
3059   After the Philosophres sein,  
3060   Ther mai no wiht be therayein:
3061   And that was thilke time seene.      
3062   The longe nyhtes hem betuene  
3063   Nature, which mai noght forbere, 
3064   Hath mad hem bothe forto stere:  
3065   Thei kessen ferst, and overmore  
3066   The hihe weie of loves lore
3067   Thei gon, and al was don in dede,
3068   Wherof lost is the maydenhede;
3069   And that was afterward wel knowe.
3070   For it befell that ilke throwe
3071   At Troie, wher the Siege lay  
3072   Upon the cause of Menelay  
3073   And of his queene dame Heleine,  
3074   The Gregois hadden mochel peine  
3075   Alday to fihte and to assaile.
3076   Bot for thei mihten noght availe 
3077   So noble a Cite forto winne,  
3078   A prive conseil thei beginne, 
3079   In sondri wise wher thei trete;  
3080   And ate laste among the grete 
3081   Thei fellen unto this acord,  
3082   That Prothes, of his record 
3083   Which was an Astronomien
3084   And ek a gret Magicien, 
3085   Scholde of his calculacion 
3086   Seche after constellacion, 
3087   Hou thei the Cite mihten gete:
3088   And he, which hadde noght foryete
3089   Of that belongeth to a clerk, 
3090   His studie sette upon this werk. 
3091   So longe his wit aboute he caste,
3092   Til that he fond out ate laste,  
3093   Bot if they hadden Achilles
3094   Here werre schal ben endeles. 
3095   And over that he tolde hem plein 
3096   In what manere he was besein, 
3097   And in what place he schal be founde;  
3098   So that withinne a litel stounde 
3099   Ulixes forth with Diomede  
3100   Upon this point to Lichomede      
3101   Agamenon togedre sente. 
3102   Bot Ulixes, er he forth wente,
3103   Which was on of the moste wise,  
3104   Ordeigned hath in such a wise,
3105   That he the moste riche aray, 
3106   Wherof a womman mai be gay,
3107   With him hath take manyfold,  
3108   And overmore, as it is told,  
3109   An harneis for a lusti kniht, 
3110   Which burned was as Selver bryht,
3111   Of swerd, of plate and ek of maile, 
3112   As thogh he scholde to bataille, 
3113   He tok also with him be Schipe.  
3114   And thus togedre in felaschipe
3115   Forth gon this Diomede and he 
3116   In hope til thei mihten se 
3117   The place where Achilles is.  
3118   The wynd stod thanne noght amis, 
3119   Bot evene topseilcole it blew,
3120   Til Ulixes the Marche knew,
3121   Wher Lichomede his Regne hadde.  
3122   The Stieresman so wel hem ladde, 
3123   That thei ben comen sauf to londe,  
3124   Wher thei gon out upon the stronde  
3125   Into the Burgh, wher that thei founde  
3126   The king, and he which hath facounde,  
3127   Ulixes, dede the message.  
3128   Bot the conseil of his corage,
3129   Why that he cam, he tolde noght, 
3130   Bot undernethe he was bethoght
3131   In what manere he mihte aspie 
3132   Achilles fro Dei5damie  
3133   And fro these othre that ther were, 
3134   Full many a lusti ladi there. 
3135   Thei pleide hem there a day or tuo, 
3136   And as it was fortuned so,     
3137   It fell that time in such a wise,
3138   To Bachus that a sacrifise 
3139   Thes yonge ladys scholden make;  
3140   And for the strange mennes sake, 
3141   That comen fro the Siege of Troie,  
3142   Thei maden wel the more joie. 
3143   Ther was Revel, ther was daunsinge, 
3144   And every lif which coude singe  
3145   Of lusti wommen in the route  
3146   A freissh carole hath sunge aboute; 
3147   Bot for al this yit natheles  
3148   The Greks unknowe of Achilles 
3149   So weren, that in no degre 
3150   Thei couden wite which was he,
3151   Ne be his vois, ne be his pas.
3152   Ulixes thanne upon this cas
3153   A thing of hih Prudence hath wroght:
3154   For thilke aray, which he hath broght  
3155   To yive among the wommen there,  
3156   He let do fetten al the gere  
3157   Forth with a knihtes harneis eke,-  
3158   In al a contre forto seke  
3159   Men scholden noght a fairer se,- 
3160   And every thing in his degre  
3161   Endlong upon a bord he leide. 
3162   To Lichomede and thanne he preide
3163   That every ladi chese scholde 
3164   What thing of alle that sche wolde, 
3165   And take it as be weie of yifte; 
3166   For thei hemself it scholde schifte,
3167   He seide, after here oghne wille.
3168   Achilles thanne stod noght stille:  
3169   Whan he the bryhte helm behield, 
3170   The swerd, the hauberk and the Schield,
3171   His herte fell therto anon;
3172   Of all that othre wolde he non,  
3173   The knihtes gere he underfongeth,    
3174   And thilke aray which that belongeth
3175   Unto the wommen he forsok. 
3176   And in this wise, as seith the bok, 
3177   Thei knowen thanne which he was: 
3178   For he goth forth the grete pas  
3179   Into the chambre where he lay;
3180   Anon, and made no delay,
3181   He armeth him in knyhtli wise,
3182   That bettre can noman devise, 
3183   And as fortune scholde falle, 
3184   He cam so forth tofore hem alle, 
3185   As he which tho was glad ynowh.  
3186   But Lichomede nothing lowh,
3187   Whan that he syh hou that it ferde, 
3188   For thanne he wiste wel and herde,  
3189   His dowhter hadde be forlein; 
3190   Bot that he was so oversein,  
3191   The wonder overgoth his wit.  
3192   For in Cronique is write yit  
3193   Thing which schal nevere be foryete,
3194   Hou that Achilles hath begete 
3195   Pirrus upon Dei5damie,  
3196   Wherof cam out the tricherie  
3197   Of Falswitnesse, whan thei saide 
3198   Hou that Achilles was a Maide.
3199   Bot that was nothing sene tho,
3200   For he is to the Siege go  
3201   Forth with Ulixe and Diomede. 
3202   Lo, thus was proved in the dede  
3203   And fulli spoke at thilke while: 
3204   If o womman an other guile,
3205   Wher is ther eny sikernesse?  
3206   Whan Thetis, which was the goddesse,
3207   Dei5damie hath so bejaped, 
3208   I not hou it schal ben ascaped
3209   With tho wommen whos innocence
3210   Is nou alday thurgh such credence
3211   Deceived ofte, as it is seene,    
3212   With men that such untrouthe meene. 
3213   For thei ben slyhe in such a wise,  
3214   That thei be sleihte and be queintise  
3215   Of Falswitnesse bringen inne  
3216   That doth hem ofte forto winne,  
3217   Wher thei ben noght worthi therto.  
3218   Forthi, my Sone, do noght so. 
3219   Mi fader, as of Falswitnesse  
3220   The trouthe and the matiere expresse,  
3221   Touchende of love hou it hath ferd, 
3222   As ye have told, I have wel herd.
3223   Bot for ye seiden otherwise,  
3224   Hou thilke vice of Covoitise  
3225   Hath yit Perjurie of his acord,  
3226   If that you list of som record
3227   To telle an other tale also
3228   In loves cause of time ago,
3229   What thing it is to be forswore, 
3230   I wolde preie you therfore,
3231   Wherof I mihte ensample take. 
3232   Mi goode Sone, and for thi sake  
3233   Touchende of this I schall fulfille 
3234   Thin axinge at thin oghne wille, 
3235   And the matiere I schal declare, 
3236   Hou the wommen deceived are,  
3237   Whan thei so tendre herte bere,  
3238   Of that thei hieren men so swere;
3239   Bot whan it comth unto thassay,  
3240   Thei finde it fals an other day: 
3241   As Jason dede to Medee, 
3242   Which stant yet of Auctorite  
3243   In tokne and in memorial;  
3244   Wherof the tale in special 
3245   Is in the bok of Troie write, 
3246   Which I schal do thee forto wite.
3247   In Grece whilom was a king,
3248   Of whom the fame and knowleching     
3249   Beleveth yit, and Peles  
3250   He hihte; bot it fell him thus,  
3251   That his fortune hir whiel so ladde 
3252   That he no child his oghne hadde 
3253   To regnen after his decess.
3254   He hadde a brother natheles,  
3255   Whos rihte name was Eson,  
3256   And he the worthi kniht Jason 
3257   Begat, the which in every lond
3258   Alle othre passede of his hond
3259   In Armes, so that he the beste
3260   Was named and the worthieste, 
3261   He soghte worschipe overal.
3262   Nou herkne, and I thee telle schal  
3263   An aventure that he soghte,
3264   Which afterward ful dere he boghte. 
3265   Ther was an yle, which Colchos
3266   Was cleped, and therof aros
3267   Gret speche in every lond aboute,
3268   That such merveile was non oute  
3269   In al the wyde world nawhere, 
3270   As tho was in that yle there. 
3271   Ther was a Schiep, as it was told,  
3272   The which his flees bar al of gold, 
3273   And so the goddes hadde it set,  
3274   That it ne mihte awei be fet  
3275   Be pouer of no worldes wiht:  
3276   And yit ful many a worthi kniht  
3277   It hadde assaied, as thei dorste,
3278   And evere it fell hem to the worste.
3279   Bot he, that wolde it noght forsake,
3280   Bot of his knyhthod undertake 
3281   To do what thing therto belongeth,  
3282   This worthi Jason, sore alongeth 
3283   To se the strange regiouns 
3284   And knowe the condiciouns  
3285   Of othre Marches, where he wente;
3286   And for that cause his hole entente     
3287   He sette Colchos forto seche, 
3288   And therupon he made a speche 
3289   To Peles his Em the king.
3290   And he wel paid was of that thing;  
3291   And schop anon for his passage,  
3292   And suche as were of his lignage,
3293   With othre knihtes whiche he ches,  
3294   With him he tok, and Hercules,
3295   Which full was of chivalerie, 
3296   With Jason wente in compaignie;  
3297   And that was in the Monthe of Maii, 
3298   Whan colde stormes were away. 
3299   The wynd was good, the Schip was yare, 
3300   Thei tok here leve, and forth thei fare
3301   Toward Colchos: bot on the weie  
3302   What hem befell is long to seie; 
3303   Hou Lamedon the king of Troie,
3304   Which oghte wel have mad hem joie.  
3305   Whan thei to reste a while him preide, 
3306   Out of his lond he hem congeide; 
3307   And so fell the dissencion,
3308   Which after was destruccion
3309   Of that Cite, as men mai hiere:  
3310   Bot that is noght to mi matiere. 
3311   Bot thus this worthi folk Gregeis
3312   Fro that king, which was noght curteis,
3313   And fro his lond with Sail updrawe  
3314   Thei wente hem forth, and many a sawe  
3315   Thei made and many a gret manace,
3316   Til ate laste into that place 
3317   Which as thei soghte thei aryve, 
3318   And striken Sail, and forth as blyve
3319   Thei sente unto the king and tolden 
3320   Who weren ther and what thei wolden.
3321   Oe5tes, which was thanne king,    
3322   Whan that he herde this tyding
3323   Of Jason, which was comen there, 
3324   And of these othre, what thei were, 
3325   He thoghte don hem gret worschipe:  
3326   For thei anon come out of Schipe,
3327   And strawht unto the king thei wente,  
3328   And be the hond Jason he hente,  
3329   And that was ate paleis gate, 
3330   So fer the king cam on his gate  
3331   Toward Jason to don him chiere;  
3332   And he, whom lacketh no manere,  
3333   Whan he the king sih in presence,
3334   Yaf him ayein such reverence  
3335   As to a kinges stat belongeth.
3336   And thus the king him underfongeth, 
3337   And Jason in his arm he cawhte,  
3338   And forth into the halle he strawhte,  
3339   And ther they siete and spieke of thinges,
3340   And Jason tolde him tho tidinges,
3341   Why he was come, and faire him preide  
3342   To haste his time, and the kyng seide, 
3343   "Jason, thou art a worthi kniht, 
3344   Bot it lith in no mannes myht 
3345   To don that thou art come fore:  
3346   Ther hath be many a kniht forlore
3347   Of that thei wolden it assaie."  
3348   Bot Jason wolde him noght esmaie,
3349   And seide, "Of every worldes cure
3350   Fortune stant in aventure, 
3351   Per aunter wel, per aunter wo:
3352   Bot hou as evere that it go,  
3353   It schal be with myn hond assaied." 
3354   The king tho hield him noght wel paied,
3355   For he the Grekes sore dredde,
3356   In aunter, if Jason ne spedde,
3357   He mihte therof bere a blame; 
3358   For tho was al the worldes fame  
3359   In Grece, as forto speke of Armes.  
3360   Forthi he dredde him of his harmes,     
3361   And gan to preche him and to preie; 
3362   Bot Jason wolde noght obeie,  
3363   Bot seide he wolde his porpos holde 
3364   For ought that eny man him tolde.
3365   The king, whan he thes wordes herde,
3366   And sih hou that this kniht ansuerde,  
3367   Yit for he wolde make him glad,  
3368   After Medea gon he bad, 
3369   Which was his dowhter, and sche cam.
3370   And Jason, which good hiede nam, 
3371   Whan he hire sih, ayein hire goth;  
3372   And sche, which was him nothing loth,  
3373   Welcomede him into that lond, 
3374   And softe tok him be the hond,
3375   And doun thei seten bothe same.  
3376   Sche hadde herd spoke of his name
3377   And of his grete worthinesse; 
3378   Forthi sche gan hir yhe impresse 
3379   Upon his face and his stature,
3380   And thoghte hou nevere creature  
3381   Was so wel farende as was he. 
3382   And Jason riht in such degre  
3383   Ne mihte noght withholde his lok,
3384   Bot so good hiede on hire he tok,
3385   That him ne thoghte under the hevene
3386   Of beaute sawh he nevere hir evene, 
3387   With al that fell to wommanhiede.
3388   Thus ech of other token hiede,
3389   Thogh ther no word was of record;
3390   Here hertes bothe of on acord 
3391   Ben set to love, bot as tho
3392   Ther mihten be no wordes mo.  
3393   The king made him gret joie and feste, 
3394   To alle his men he yaf an heste, 
3395   So as thei wolde his thonk deserve, 
3396   That thei scholde alle Jason serve, 
3397   Whil that he wolde there duelle. 
3398   And thus the dai, schortly to telle,    
3399   With manye merthes thei despente,
3400   Til nyht was come, and tho thei wente, 
3401   Echon of other tok his leve,  
3402   Whan thei no lengere myhten leve.
3403   I not hou Jason that nyht slep,  
3404   Bot wel I wot that of the Schep, 
3405   For which he cam into that yle,  
3406   He thoghte bot a litel whyle; 
3407   Al was Medea that he thoghte, 
3408   So that in many a wise he soghte 
3409   His witt wakende er it was day,  
3410   Som time yee, som time nay,
3411   Som time thus, som time so,
3412   As he was stered to and fro
3413   Of love, and ek of his conqueste 
3414   As he was holde of his beheste.  
3415   And thus he ros up be the morwe  
3416   And tok himself seint John to borwe,
3417   And seide he wolde ferst beginne 
3418   At love, and after forto winne
3419   The flees of gold, for which he com,
3420   And thus to him good herte he nom.  
3421   Medea riht the same wise,  
3422   Til dai cam that sche moste arise,  
3423   Lay and bethoughte hire al the nyht,
3424   Hou sche that noble worthi kniht 
3425   Be eny weie mihte wedde:
3426   And wel sche wiste, if he ne spedde 
3427   Of thing which he hadde undertake,  
3428   Sche mihte hirself no porpos take;  
3429   For if he deide of his bataile,  
3430   Sche moste thanne algate faile
3431   To geten him, whan he were ded.  
3432   Thus sche began to sette red  
3433   And torne aboute hir wittes alle,
3434   To loke hou that it mihte falle  
3435   That sche with him hadde a leisir
3436   To speke and telle of hir desir. 
3437   And so it fell that same day      
3438   That Jason with that suete may
3439   Togedre sete and hadden space 
3440   To speke, and he besoughte hir grace.  
3441   And sche his tale goodli herde,  
3442   And afterward sche him ansuerde  
3443   And seide, "Jason, as thou wilt, 
3444   Thou miht be sauf, thou miht be spilt; 
3445   For wite wel that nevere man, 
3446   Bot if he couthe that I can,  
3447   Ne mihte that fortune achieve 
3448   For which thou comst: bot as I lieve,  
3449   If thou wolt holde covenant
3450   To love, of al the remenant
3451   I schal thi lif and honour save, 
3452   That thou the flees of gold schalt have." 
3453   He seide, "Al at youre oghne wille, 
3454   Ma dame, I schal treuly fulfille 
3455   Youre heste, whil mi lif mai laste."
3456   Thus longe he preide, and ate laste 
3457   Sche granteth, and behihte him this,
3458   That whan nyht comth and it time is,
3459   Sche wolde him sende certeinly
3460   Such on that scholde him prively 
3461   Al one into hire chambre bringe. 
3462   He thonketh hire of that tidinge,
3463   For of that grace him is begonne 
3464   Him thenkth alle othre thinges wonne.  
3465   The dai made ende and lost his lyht,
3466   And comen was the derke nyht, 
3467   Which al the daies yhe blente.
3468   Jason tok leve and forth he wente,  
3469   And whan he cam out of the pres, 
3470   He tok to conseil Hercules,
3471   And tolde him hou it was betid,  
3472   And preide it scholde wel ben hid,  
3473   And that he wolde loke aboute,
3474   Therwhiles that he schal ben oute.  
3475   Thus as he stod and hiede nam,    
3476   A Mayden fro Medea cam  
3477   And to hir chambre Jason ledde,  
3478   Wher that he fond redi to bedde  
3479   The faireste and the wiseste eke;
3480   And sche with simple chiere and meke,  
3481   Whan sche him sih, wax al aschamed. 
3482   Tho was here tale newe entamed;  
3483   For sikernesse of Mariage  
3484   Sche fette forth a riche ymage,  
3485   Which was figure of Jupiter,  
3486   And Jason swor and seide ther,
3487   That also wiss god scholde him helpe,  
3488   That if Medea dede him helpe, 
3489   That he his pourpos myhte winne, 
3490   Thei scholde nevere parte atwinne,  
3491   Bot evere whil him lasteth lif,  
3492   He wolde hire holde for his wif. 
3493   And with that word thei kisten bothe;  
3494   And for thei scholden hem unclothe, 
3495   Ther cam a Maide, and in hir wise
3496   Sche dede hem bothe full servise,
3497   Til that thei were in bedde naked:  
3498   I wot that nyht was wel bewaked, 
3499   Thei hadden bothe what thei wolde.  
3500   And thanne of leisir sche him tolde,
3501   And gan fro point to point enforme  
3502   Of his bataile and al the forme, 
3503   Which as he scholde finde there, 
3504   Whan he to thyle come were.
3505   Sche seide, at entre of the pas  
3506   Hou Mars, which god of Armes was,
3507   Hath set tuo Oxen sterne and stoute,
3508   That caste fyr and flamme aboute 
3509   Bothe at the mouth and ate nase, 
3510   So that thei setten al on blase  
3511   What thing that passeth hem betwene:
3512   And forthermore upon the grene
3513   Ther goth the flees of gold to kepe     
3514   A Serpent, which mai nevere slepe.  
3515   Thus who that evere scholde it winne,  
3516   The fyr to stoppe he mot beginne,
3517   Which that the fierce bestes caste, 
3518   And daunte he mot hem ate laste, 
3519   So that he mai hem yoke and dryve;  
3520   And therupon he mot as blyve  
3521   The Serpent with such strengthe assaile,  
3522   That he mai slen him be bataile; 
3523   Of which he mot the teth outdrawe,  
3524   As it belongeth to that lawe, 
3525   And thanne he mot tho Oxen yoke, 
3526   Til thei have with a plowh tobroke  
3527   A furgh of lond, in which arowe  
3528   The teth of thaddre he moste sowe,  
3529   And therof schule arise knihtes  
3530   Wel armed up at alle rihtes.  
3531   Of hem is noght to taken hiede,  
3532   For ech of hem in hastihiede  
3533   Schal other slen with dethes wounde:
3534   And thus whan thei ben leid to grounde,
3535   Than mot he to the goddes preie, 
3536   And go so forth and take his preie. 
3537   Bot if he faile in eny wise
3538   Of that ye hiere me devise,
3539   Ther mai be set non other weie,  
3540   That he ne moste algates deie.
3541   "Nou have I told the peril al:
3542   I woll you tellen forth withal," 
3543   Quod Medea to Jason tho,
3544   "That ye schul knowen er ye go,  
3545   Ayein the venym and the fyr
3546   What schal ben the recoverir. 
3547   Bot, Sire, for it is nyh day, 
3548   Ariseth up, so that I may  
3549   Delivere you what thing I have,  
3550   That mai youre lif and honour save."
3551   Thei weren bothe loth to rise,    
3552   Bot for thei weren bothe wise,
3553   Up thei arisen ate laste:  
3554   Jason his clothes on him caste
3555   And made him redi riht anon,  
3556   And sche hir scherte dede upon
3557   And caste on hire a mantel clos, 
3558   Withoute more and thanne aros.
3559   Tho tok sche forth a riche Tye
3560   Mad al of gold and of Perrie, 
3561   Out of the which sche nam a Ring,
3562   The Ston was worth al other thing.  
3563   Sche seide, whil he wolde it were,  
3564   Ther myhte no peril him dere, 
3565   In water mai it noght be dreynt, 
3566   Wher as it comth the fyr is queynt, 
3567   It daunteth ek the cruel beste,  
3568   Ther may no qued that man areste,
3569   Wher so he be on See or lond, 
3570   Which hath that ring upon his hond: 
3571   And over that sche gan to sein,  
3572   That if a man wol ben unsein, 
3573   Withinne his hond hold clos the Ston,  
3574   And he mai invisible gon.  
3575   The Ring to Jason sche betauhte, 
3576   And so forth after sche him tauhte  
3577   What sacrifise he scholde make;  
3578   And gan out of hire cofre take
3579   Him thoughte an hevenely figure, 
3580   Which al be charme and be conjure
3581   Was wroght, and ek it was thurgh write 
3582   With names, which he scholde wite,  
3583   As sche him tauhte tho to rede;  
3584   And bad him, as he wolde spede,  
3585   Withoute reste of eny while,  
3586   Whan he were londed in that yle, 
3587   He scholde make his sacrifise 
3588   And rede his carecte in the wise 
3589   As sche him tauhte, on knes doun bent, 
3590   Thre sithes toward orient;     
3591   For so scholde he the goddes plese  
3592   And winne himselven mochel ese.  
3593   And whanne he hadde it thries rad,  
3594   To opne a buiste sche him bad,
3595   Which sche ther tok him in present, 
3596   And was full of such oignement,  
3597   That ther was fyr ne venym non
3598   That scholde fastnen him upon,
3599   Whan that he were enoynt withal. 
3600   Forthi sche tauhte him hou he schal 
3601   Enoignte his armes al aboute, 
3602   And for he scholde nothing doute,
3603   Sche tok him thanne a maner glu, 
3604   The which was of so gret vertu,  
3605   That where a man it wolde caste, 
3606   It scholde binde anon so faste
3607   That noman mihte it don aweie.
3608   And that sche bad be alle weie
3609   He scholde into the mouthes throwen 
3610   Of tho tweie Oxen that fyr blowen,  
3611   Therof to stoppen the malice; 
3612   The glu schal serve of that office. 
3613   And over that hir oignement,  
3614   Hir Ring and hir enchantement 
3615   Ayein the Serpent scholde him were, 
3616   Til he him sle with swerd or spere: 
3617   And thanne he may saufliche ynowh
3618   His Oxen yoke into the plowh  
3619   And the teth sowe in such a wise,
3620   Til he the knyhtes se arise,  
3621   And ech of other doun be leid 
3622   In such manere as I have seid.
3623   Lo, thus Medea for Jason
3624   Ordeigneth, and preith therupon  
3625   That he nothing foryete scholde, 
3626   And ek sche preith him that he wolde,  
3627   Whan he hath alle his Armes don, 
3628   To grounde knele and thonke anon     
3629   The goddes, and so forth be ese  
3630   The flees of gold he scholde sese.  
3631   And whanne he hadde it sesed so, 
3632   That thanne he were sone ago  
3633   Withouten eny tariynge. 
3634   Whan this was seid, into wepinge 
3635   Sche fell, as sche that was thurgh nome
3636   With love, and so fer overcome,  
3637   That al hir world on him sche sette.
3638   Bot whan sche sih ther was no lette,
3639   That he mot nedes parte hire fro,
3640   Sche tok him in hire armes tuo,  
3641   An hundred time and gan him kisse,  
3642   And seide, "O, al mi worldes blisse,
3643   Mi trust, mi lust, mi lif, min hele,
3644   To be thin helpe in this querele 
3645   I preie unto the goddes alle."
3646   And with that word sche gan doun falle 
3647   On swoune, and he hire uppe nam, 
3648   And forth with that the Maiden cam, 
3649   And thei to bedde anon hir broghte, 
3650   And thanne Jason hire besoghte,  
3651   And to hire seide in this manere:
3652   "Mi worthi lusti ladi dere,
3653   Conforteth you, for be my trouthe
3654   It schal noght fallen in mi slouthe 
3655   That I ne wol thurghout fulfille 
3656   Youre hestes at youre oghne wille.  
3657   And yit I hope to you bringe  
3658   Withinne a while such tidinge,
3659   The which schal make ous bothe game."  
3660   Bot for he wolde kepe hir name,  
3661   Whan that he wiste it was nyh dai,  
3662   He seide, "A dieu, mi swete mai."
3663   And forth with him he nam his gere, 
3664   Which as sche hadde take him there, 
3665   And strauht unto his chambre he wente, 
3666   And goth to bedde and slep him hente,      
3667   And lay, that noman him awok, 
3668   For Hercules hiede of him tok,
3669   Til it was undren hih and more.  
3670   And thanne he gan to sighe sore  
3671   And sodeinliche abreide of slep; 
3672   And thei that token of him kep,  
3673   His chamberleins, be sone there, 
3674   And maden redi al his gere,
3675   And he aros and to the king
3676   He wente, and seide hou to that thing  
3677   For which he cam he wolde go. 
3678   The king therof was wonder wo,
3679   And for he wolde him fain withdrawe,
3680   He tolde him many a dredful sawe,
3681   Bot Jason wolde it noght recorde,
3682   And ate laste thei acorde. 
3683   Whan that he wolde noght abide,  
3684   A Bot was redy ate tyde,
3685   In which this worthi kniht of Grece 
3686   Ful armed up at every piece,  
3687   To his bataile which belongeth,  
3688   Tok ore on honde and sore him longeth, 
3689   Til he the water passed were. 
3690   Whan he cam to that yle there,
3691   He set him on his knes doun strauht,
3692   And his carecte, as he was tawht,
3693   He radde, and made his sacrifise,
3694   And siththe enoignte him in that wise, 
3695   As Medea him hadde bede;
3696   And thanne aros up fro that stede,  
3697   And with the glu the fyr he queynte,
3698   And anon after he atteinte 
3699   The grete Serpent and him slowh. 
3700   Bot erst he hadde sorwe ynowh,
3701   For that Serpent made him travaile      
3702   So harde and sore of his bataile,
3703   That nou he stod and nou he fell:
3704   For longe time it so befell,  
3705   That with his swerd ne with his spere  
3706   He mihte noght that Serpent dere.
3707   He was so scherded al aboute, 
3708   It hield all eggetol withoute,
3709   He was so ruide and hard of skin,
3710   Ther mihte nothing go therin; 
3711   Venym and fyr togedre he caste,  
3712   That he Jason so sore ablaste,
3713   That if ne were his oignement,
3714   His Ring and his enchantement,
3715   Which Medea tok him tofore,
3716   He hadde with that worm be lore; 
3717   Bot of vertu which therof cam 
3718   Jason the Dragon overcam.  
3719   And he anon the teth outdrouh,
3720   And sette his Oxen in a plouh,
3721   With which he brak a piece of lond  
3722   And sieu hem with his oghne hond.
3723   Tho mihte he gret merveile se:
3724   Of every toth in his degre 
3725   Sprong up a kniht with spere and schield, 
3726   Of whiche anon riht in the field 
3727   Echon slow other; and with that  
3728   Jason Medea noght foryat,  
3729   On bothe his knes he gan doun falle,
3730   And yaf thonk to the goddes alle.
3731   The Flees he tok and goth to Bote,  
3732   The Sonne schyneth bryhte and hote, 
3733   The Flees of gold schon forth withal,  
3734   The water glistreth overal.
3735   Medea wepte and sigheth ofte, 
3736   And stod upon a Tour alofte:  
3737   Al prively withinne hirselve, 
3738   Ther herde it nouther ten ne tuelve,
3739   Sche preide, and seide, "O, god him spede,    
3740   The kniht which hath mi maidenhiede!"  
3741   And ay sche loketh toward thyle. 
3742   Bot whan sche sih withinne a while  
3743   The Flees glistrende ayein the Sonne,  
3744   Sche saide, "Ha, lord, now al is wonne,
3745   Mi kniht the field hath overcome:
3746   Nou wolde god he were come;
3747   Ha lord, that he ne were alonde!"
3748   Bot I dar take this on honde, 
3749   If that sche hadde wynges tuo,
3750   Sche wolde have flowe unto him tho  
3751   Strawht ther he was into the Bot.
3752   The dai was clier, the Sonne hot,
3753   The Gregeis weren in gret doute, 
3754   The whyle that here lord was oute:  
3755   Thei wisten noght what scholde tyde,
3756   Bot waiten evere upon the tyde,  
3757   To se what ende scholde falle.
3758   Ther stoden ek the nobles alle
3759   Forth with the comun of the toun;
3760   And as thei loken up and doun,
3761   Thei weren war withinne a throwe,
3762   Wher cam the bot, which thei wel knowe,
3763   And sihe hou Jason broghte his preie.  
3764   And tho thei gonnen alle seie,
3765   And criden alle with o stevene,  
3766   "Ha, wher was evere under the hevene
3767   So noble a knyht as Jason is?"
3768   And welnyh alle seiden this,  
3769   That Jason was a faie kniht,  
3770   For it was nevere of mannes miht 
3771   The Flees of gold so forto winne;
3772   And thus to talen thei beginne.  
3773   With that the king com forth anon,  
3774   And sih the Flees, hou that it schon;      
3775   And whan Jason cam to the lond,  
3776   The king himselve tok his hond
3777   And kist him, and gret joie him made.  
3778   The Gregeis weren wonder glade,  
3779   And of that thing riht merie hem thoghte, 
3780   And forth with hem the Flees thei broghte,
3781   And ech on other gan to leyhe;
3782   Bot wel was him that mihte neyhe,
3783   To se therof the proprete. 
3784   And thus thei passen the cite 
3785   And gon unto the Paleis straght. 
3786   Medea, which foryat him naght,
3787   Was redy there, and seide anon,  
3788   "Welcome, O worthi kniht Jason." 
3789   Sche wolde have kist him wonder fayn,  
3790   Bot schame tornede hire agayn;
3791   It was noght the manere as tho,  
3792   Forthi sche dorste noght do so.  
3793   Sche tok hire leve, and Jason wente 
3794   Into his chambre, and sche him sente
3795   Hire Maide to sen hou he ferde;  
3796   The which whan that sche sih and herde,
3797   Hou that he hadde faren oute  
3798   And that it stod wel al aboute,  
3799   Sche tolde hire ladi what sche wiste,  
3800   And sche for joie hire Maide kiste. 
3801   The bathes weren thanne araied,  
3802   With herbes tempred and assaied, 
3803   And Jason was unarmed sone 
3804   And dede as it befell to done:
3805   Into his bath he wente anon
3806   And wyssh him clene as eny bon;  
3807   He tok a sopp, and oute he cam,  
3808   And on his beste aray he nam, 
3809   And kempde his hed, whan he was clad,  
3810   And goth him forth al merie and glad
3811   Riht strawht into the kinges halle. 
3812   The king cam with his knihtes alle      
3813   And maden him glad welcominge;
3814   And he hem tolde the tidinge  
3815   Of this and that, hou it befell, 
3816   Whan that he wan the schepes fell.  
3817   Medea, whan sche was asent,
3818   Com sone to that parlement,
3819   And whan sche mihte Jason se, 
3820   Was non so glad of alle as sche. 
3821   Ther was no joie forto seche, 
3822   Of him mad every man a speche,
3823   Som man seide on, som man seide other; 
3824   Bot thogh he were goddes brother 
3825   And mihte make fyr and thonder,  
3826   Ther mihte be nomore wonder
3827   Than was of him in that cite. 
3828   Echon tauhte other, "This is he, 
3829   Which hath in his pouer withinne 
3830   That al the world ne mihte winne:
3831   Lo, hier the beste of alle goode."  
3832   Thus saiden thei that there stode,  
3833   And ek that walkede up and doun, 
3834   Bothe of the Court and of the toun. 
3835   The time of Souper cam anon,  
3836   Thei wisshen and therto thei gon,
3837   Medea was with Jason set:  
3838   Tho was ther many a deynte fet
3839   And set tofore hem on the bord,  
3840   Bot non so likinge as the word
3841   Which was ther spoke among hem tuo, 
3842   So as thei dorste speke tho.  
3843   Bot thogh thei hadden litel space,  
3844   Yit thei acorden in that place
3845   Hou Jason scholde come at nyht,  
3846   Whan every torche and every liht 
3847   Were oute, and thanne of other thinges 
3848   Thei spieke aloud for supposinges
3849   Of hem that stoden there aboute:     
3850   For love is everemore in doute,  
3851   If that it be wisly governed  
3852   Of hem that ben of love lerned.  
3853   Whan al was don, that dissh and cuppe  
3854   And cloth and bord and al was uppe, 
3855   Thei waken whil hem lest to wake,
3856   And after that thei leve take 
3857   And gon to bedde forto reste. 
3858   And whan him thoghte for the beste, 
3859   That every man was faste aslepe, 
3860   Jason, that wolde his time kepe, 
3861   Goth forth stalkende al prively  
3862   Unto the chambre, and redely  
3863   Ther was a Maide, which him kepte.  
3864   Medea wok and nothing slepte, 
3865   Bot natheles sche was abedde, 
3866   And he with alle haste him spedde
3867   And made him naked and al warm.  
3868   Anon he tok hire in his arm:  
3869   What nede is forto speke of ese? 
3870   Hem list ech other forto plese,  
3871   So that thei hadden joie ynow:
3872   And tho thei setten whanne and how  
3873   That sche with him awey schal stele.
3874   With wordes suche and othre fele 
3875   Whan al was treted to an ende,
3876   Jason tok leve and gan forth wende  
3877   Unto his oughne chambre in pes;  
3878   Ther wiste it non bot Hercules.  
3879   He slepte and ros whan it was time, 
3880   And whanne it fell towardes prime,  
3881   He tok to him suche as he triste 
3882   In secre, that non other wiste,  
3883   And told hem of his conseil there,  
3884   And seide that his wille were 
3885   That thei to Schipe hadde alle thinge  
3886   So priveliche in thevenynge,  
3887   That noman mihte here dede aspie     
3888   Bot tho that were of compaignie: 
3889   For he woll go withoute leve, 
3890   And lengere woll he noght beleve;
3891   Bot he ne wolde at thilke throwe 
3892   The king or queene scholde it knowe.
3893   Thei saide, "Al this schal wel be do:" 
3894   And Jason truste wel therto.  
3895   Medea in the mene while,
3896   Which thoghte hir fader to beguile, 
3897   The Tresor which hir fader hadde 
3898   With hire al priveli sche ladde, 
3899   And with Jason at time set 
3900   Awey sche stal and fond no let,  
3901   And straght sche goth hire unto schipe 
3902   Of Grece with that felaschipe,
3903   And thei anon drowe up the Seil. 
3904   And al that nyht this was conseil,  
3905   Bot erly, whan the Sonne schon,  
3906   Men syhe hou that thei were agon,
3907   And come unto the king and tolde:
3908   And he the sothe knowe wolde, 
3909   And axeth where his dowhter was. 
3910   Ther was no word bot Out, Allas! 
3911   Sche was ago. The moder wepte,
3912   The fader as a wod man lepte, 
3913   And gan the time forto warie, 
3914   And swor his oth he wol noght tarie,
3915   That with Caliphe and with galeie
3916   The same cours, the same weie,
3917   Which Jason tok, he wolde take,  
3918   If that he mihte him overtake.
3919   To this thei seiden alle yee: 
3920   Anon thei weren ate See,
3921   And alle, as who seith, at a word
3922   Thei gon withinne schipes bord,  
3923   The Sail goth up, and forth thei strauhte.
3924   Bot non espleit therof thei cauhte, 
3925   And so thei tornen hom ayein,     
3926   For al that labour was in vein.  
3927   Jason to Grece with his preie 
3928   Goth thurgh the See the rihte weie: 
3929   Whan he ther com and men it tolde,  
3930   Thei maden joie yonge and olde.  
3931   Eson, whan that he wiste of this,
3932   Hou that his Sone comen is,
3933   And hath achieved that he soughte
3934   And hom with him Medea broughte, 
3935   In al the wyde world was non  
3936   So glad a man as he was on.
3937   Togedre ben these lovers tho, 
3938   Til that thei hadden sones tuo,  
3939   Wherof thei weren bothe glade,
3940   And olde Eson gret joie made  
3941   To sen thencress of his lignage; 
3942   For he was of so gret an Age, 
3943   That men awaiten every day,
3944   Whan that he scholde gon away.
3945   Jason, which sih his fader old,  
3946   Upon Medea made him bold,  
3947   Of art magique, which sche couthe,  
3948   And preith hire that his fader youthe  
3949   Sche wolde make ayeinward newe:  
3950   And sche, that was toward him trewe,
3951   Behihte him that sche wolde it do,  
3952   Whan that sche time sawh therto. 
3953   Bot what sche dede in that matiere  
3954   It is a wonder thing to hiere,
3955   Bot yit for the novellerie 
3956   I thenke tellen a partie.  
3957   Thus it befell upon a nyht,
3958   Whan ther was noght bot sterreliht, 
3959   Sche was vanyssht riht as hir liste,
3960   That no wyht bot hirself it wiste,  
3961   And that was ate mydnyht tyde.
3962   The world was stille on every side;     
3963   With open hed and fot al bare,
3964   Hir her tosprad sche gan to fare,
3965   Upon hir clothes gert sche was,  
3966   Al specheles and on the gras  
3967   Sche glod forth as an Addre doth:
3968   Non otherwise sche ne goth,
3969   Til sche cam to the freisshe flod,  
3970   And there a while sche withstod. 
3971   Thries sche torned hire aboute,  
3972   And thries ek sche gan doun loute
3973   And in the flod sche wette hir her, 
3974   And thries on the water ther  
3975   Sche gaspeth with a drecchinge onde,
3976   And tho sche tok hir speche on honde.  
3977   Ferst sche began to clepe and calle 
3978   Upward unto the sterres alle, 
3979   To Wynd, to Air, to See, to lond 
3980   Sche preide, and ek hield up hir hond  
3981   To Echates, and gan to crie,  
3982   Which is goddesse of Sorcerie.
3983   Sche seide, "Helpeth at this nede,  
3984   And as ye maden me to spede,  
3985   Whan Jason cam the Flees to seche,  
3986   So help me nou, I you beseche."  
3987   With that sche loketh and was war,  
3988   Doun fro the Sky ther cam a char,
3989   The which Dragouns aboute drowe: 
3990   And tho sche gan hir hed doun bowe, 
3991   And up sche styh, and faire and wel 
3992   Sche drof forth bothe char and whel 
3993   Above in thair among the Skyes.  
3994   The lond of Crete and tho parties
3995   Sche soughte, and faste gan hire hye,  
3996   And there upon the hulles hyhe
3997   Of Othrin and Olimpe also, 
3998   And ek of othre hulles mo,          
3999   Sche fond and gadreth herbes suote, 
4000   Sche pulleth up som be the rote, 
4001   And manye with a knyf sche scherth, 
4002   And alle into hir char sche berth.  
4003   Thus whan sche hath the hulles sought, 
4004   The flodes ther foryat sche nought, 
4005   Eridian and Amphrisos,  
4006   Peneie and ek Sperchei5dos,
4007   To hem sche wente and ther sche nom 
4008   Bothe of the water and the fom,  
4009   The sond and ek the smale stones,
4010   Whiche as sche ches out for the nones, 
4011   And of the rede See a part,
4012   That was behovelich to hire art, 
4013   Sche tok, and after that aboute  
4014   Sche soughte sondri sedes oute
4015   In feldes and in many greves, 
4016   And ek a part sche tok of leves: 
4017   Bot thing which mihte hire most availe 
4018   Sche fond in Crete and in Thessaile.
4019   In daies and in nyhtes Nyne,  
4020   With gret travaile and with gret pyne, 
4021   Sche was pourveid of every piece,
4022   And torneth homward into Grece.  
4023   Before the gates of Eson
4024   Hir char sche let awai to gon,
4025   And tok out ferst that was therinne;
4026   For tho sche thoghte to beginne  
4027   Such thing as semeth impossible, 
4028   And made hirselven invisible, 
4029   As sche that was with Air enclosed  
4030   And mihte of noman be desclosed. 
4031   Sche tok up turves of the lond
4032   Withoute helpe of mannes hond,
4033   Al heled with the grene gras, 
4034   Of which an Alter mad ther was    
4035   Unto Echates the goddesse  
4036   Of art magique and the maistresse,  
4037   And eft an other to Juvente,  
4038   As sche which dede hir hole entente.
4039   Tho tok sche fieldwode and verveyne,
4040   Of herbes ben noght betre tueine,
4041   Of which anon withoute let 
4042   These alters ben aboute set:  
4043   Tuo sondri puttes faste by 
4044   Sche made, and with that hastely 
4045   A wether which was blak sche slouh, 
4046   And out therof the blod sche drouh  
4047   And dede into the pettes tuo; 
4048   Warm melk sche putte also therto 
4049   With hony meynd: and in such wise
4050   Sche gan to make hir sacrifice,  
4051   And cride and preide forth withal
4052   To Pluto the god infernal, 
4053   And to the queene Proserpine. 
4054   And so sche soghte out al the line  
4055   Of hem that longen to that craft,
4056   Behinde was no name laft,  
4057   And preide hem alle, as sche wel couthe,  
4058   To grante Eson his ferste youthe.
4059   This olde Eson broght forth was tho,
4060   Awei sche bad alle othre go
4061   Upon peril that mihte falle;  
4062   And with that word thei wenten alle,
4063   And leften there hem tuo al one. 
4064   And tho sche gan to gaspe and gone, 
4065   And made signes manyon, 
4066   And seide hir wordes therupon;
4067   So that with spellinge of hir charmes  
4068   Sche tok Eson in bothe hire armes,  
4069   And made him forto slepe faste,  
4070   And him upon hire herbes caste.  
4071   The blake wether tho sche tok,    
4072   And hiewh the fleissh, as doth a cok;  
4073   On either alter part sche leide, 
4074   And with the charmes that sche seide
4075   A fyr doun fro the Sky alyhte 
4076   And made it forto brenne lyhte.  
4077   Bot whan Medea sawh it brenne,
4078   Anon sche gan to sterte and renne
4079   The fyri aulters al aboute:
4080   Ther was no beste which goth oute
4081   More wylde than sche semeth ther:
4082   Aboute hir schuldres hyng hir her,  
4083   As thogh sche were oute of hir mynde
4084   And torned in an other kynde. 
4085   Tho lay ther certein wode cleft, 
4086   Of which the pieces nou and eft  
4087   Sche made hem in the pettes wete,
4088   And put hem in the fyri hete, 
4089   And tok the brond with al the blase,
4090   And thries sche began to rase 
4091   Aboute Eson, ther as he slepte;  
4092   And eft with water, which sche kepte,  
4093   Sche made a cercle aboute him thries,  
4094   And eft with fyr of sulphre twyes:  
4095   Ful many an other thing sche dede,  
4096   Which is noght writen in this stede.
4097   Bot tho sche ran so up and doun, 
4098   Sche made many a wonder soun, 
4099   Somtime lich unto the cock,
4100   Somtime unto the Laverock, 
4101   Somtime kacleth as a Hen,  
4102   Somtime spekth as don the men:
4103   And riht so as hir jargoun strangeth,  
4104   In sondri wise hir forme changeth,  
4105   Sche semeth faie and no womman;  
4106   For with the craftes that sche can  
4107   Sche was, as who seith, a goddesse, 
4108   And what hir liste, more or lesse,  
4109   Sche dede, in bokes as we finde,     
4110   That passeth over manneskinde.
4111   Bot who that wole of wondres hiere, 
4112   What thing sche wroghte in this matiere,  
4113   To make an ende of that sche gan,
4114   Such merveile herde nevere man.  
4115   Apointed in the newe Mone, 
4116   Whan it was time forto done,  
4117   Sche sette a caldron on the fyr, 
4118   In which was al the hole atir,
4119   Wheron the medicine stod,  
4120   Of jus, of water and of blod, 
4121   And let it buile in such a plit, 
4122   Til that sche sawh the spume whyt;  
4123   And tho sche caste in rynde and rote,  
4124   And sed and flour that was for bote,
4125   With many an herbe and many a ston, 
4126   Wherof sche hath ther many on:
4127   And ek Cimpheius the Serpent  
4128   To hire hath alle his scales lent,  
4129   Chelidre hire yaf his addres skin,  
4130   And sche to builen caste hem in; 
4131   A part ek of the horned Oule, 
4132   The which men hiere on nyhtes houle;
4133   And of a Raven, which was told
4134   Of nyne hundred wynter old,
4135   Sche tok the hed with al the bile;  
4136   And as the medicine it wile,  
4137   Sche tok therafter the bouele 
4138   Of the Seewolf, and for the hele 
4139   Of Eson, with a thousand mo
4140   Of thinges that sche hadde tho,  
4141   In that Caldroun togedre as blyve
4142   Sche putte, and tok thanne of Olyve 
4143   A drie branche hem with to stere,
4144   The which anon gan floure and bere  
4145   And waxe al freissh and grene ayein.    
4146   Whan sche this vertu hadde sein, 
4147   Sche let the leste drope of alle 
4148   Upon the bare flor doun falle;
4149   Anon ther sprong up flour and gras, 
4150   Where as the drope falle was, 
4151   And wox anon al medwe grene,  
4152   So that it mihte wel be sene. 
4153   Medea thanne knew and wiste
4154   Hir medicine is forto triste, 
4155   And goth to Eson ther he lay, 
4156   And tok a swerd was of assay, 
4157   With which a wounde upon his side
4158   Sche made, that therout mai slyde
4159   The blod withinne, which was old 
4160   And sek and trouble and fieble and cold.  
4161   And tho sche tok unto his us  
4162   Of herbes al the beste jus,
4163   And poured it into his wounde;
4164   That made his veynes fulle and sounde: 
4165   And tho sche made his wounde clos,  
4166   And tok his hond, and up he ros; 
4167   And tho sche yaf him drinke a drauhte, 
4168   Of which his youthe ayein he cauhte,
4169   His hed, his herte and his visage
4170   Lich unto twenty wynter Age;  
4171   Hise hore heres were away, 
4172   And lich unto the freisshe Maii, 
4173   Whan passed ben the colde shoures,  
4174   Riht so recovereth he his floures.  
4175   Lo, what mihte eny man devise,
4176   A womman schewe in eny wise
4177   Mor hertly love in every stede,  
4178   Than Medea to Jason dede?  
4179   Ferst sche made him the flees to winne,
4180   And after that fro kiththe and kinne
4181   With gret tresor with him sche stal,
4182   And to his fader forth withal     
4183   His Elde hath torned into youthe,
4184   Which thing non other womman couthe:
4185   Bot hou it was to hire aquit, 
4186   The remembrance duelleth yit. 
4187   King Peles his Em was ded,  
4188   Jason bar corone on his hed,  
4189   Medea hath fulfild his wille: 
4190   Bot whanne he scholde of riht fulfille 
4191   The trouthe, which to hire afore 
4192   He hadde in thyle of Colchos swore, 
4193   Tho was Medea most deceived.  
4194   For he an other hath received,
4195   Which dowhter was to king Creon, 
4196   Creusa sche hihte, and thus Jason,  
4197   As he that was to love untrewe,  
4198   Medea lefte and tok a newe.
4199   Bot that was after sone aboght:  
4200   Medea with hire art hath wroght  
4201   Of cloth of gold a mantel riche, 
4202   Which semeth worth a kingesriche,
4203   And that was unto Creusa sent 
4204   In name of yifte and of present, 
4205   For Sosterhode hem was betuene;  
4206   And whan that yonge freisshe queene 
4207   That mantel lappeth hire aboute, 
4208   Anon therof the fyr sprong oute  
4209   And brente hir bothe fleissh and bon.  
4210   Tho cam Medea to Jason  
4211   With bothe his Sones on hire hond,  
4212   And seide, "O thou of every lond 
4213   The moste untrewe creature,
4214   Lo, this schal be thi forfeture."
4215   With that sche bothe his Sones slouh
4216   Before his yhe, and he outdrouh  
4217   His swerd and wold have slayn hir tho, 
4218   Bot farewel, sche was ago  
4219   Unto Pallas the Court above,  
4220   Wher as sche pleigneth upon love,
4221   As sche that was with that goddesse,    
4222   And he was left in gret destresse.  
4223   Thus miht thou se what sorwe it doth
4224   To swere an oth which is noght soth,
4225   In loves cause namely.  
4226   Mi Sone, be wel war forthi,
4227   And kep that thou be noght forswore:
4228   For this, which I have told tofore, 
4229   Ovide telleth everydel. 
4230   Mi fader, I may lieve it wel, 
4231   For I have herde it ofte seie 
4232   Hou Jason tok the flees aweie 
4233   Fro Colchos, bot yit herde I noght  
4234   Be whom it was ferst thider broght. 
4235   And for it were good to hiere,
4236   If that you liste at mi preiere  
4237   To telle, I wolde you beseche.
4238   Mi Sone, who that wole it seche, 
4239   In bokes he mai finde it write;  
4240   And natheles, if thou wolt wite, 
4241   In the manere as thou hast preid 
4242   I schal the telle hou it is seid.
4243   The fame of thilke schepes fell, 
4244   Which in Colchos, as it befell,  
4245   Was al of gold, schal nevere deie;  
4246   Wherof I thenke for to seie
4247   Hou it cam ferst into that yle.  
4248   Ther was a king in thilke whyle  
4249   Towardes Grece, and Athemas
4250   The Cronique of his name was; 
4251   And hadde a wif, which Philen hihte,
4252   Be whom, so as fortune it dihte, 
4253   He hadde of children yonge tuo.  
4254   Frixus the ferste was of tho, 
4255   A knave child, riht fair withalle;  
4256   A dowhter ek, the which men calle
4257   Hellen, he hadde be this wif. 
4258   Bot for ther mai no mannes lif    
4259   Endure upon this Erthe hiere, 
4260   This worthi queene, as thou miht hiere,
4261   Er that the children were of age,
4262   Tok of hire ende the passage, 
4263   With gret worschipe and was begrave.
4264   What thing it liketh god to have 
4265   It is gret reson to ben his;  
4266   Forthi this king, so as it is,
4267   With gret suffrance it underfongeth:
4268   And afterward, as him belongeth, 
4269   Whan it was time forto wedde, 
4270   A newe wif he tok to bedde,
4271   Which Yno hihte and was a Mayde, 
4272   And ek the dowhter, as men saide,
4273   Of Cadme, which a king also
4274   Was holde in thilke daies tho.
4275   Whan Yno was the kinges make, 
4276   Sche caste hou that sche mihte make 
4277   These children to here fader lothe, 
4278   And schope a wyle ayein hem bothe,  
4279   Which to the king was al unknowe.
4280   A yeer or tuo sche let do sowe
4281   The lond with sode whete aboute, 
4282   Wherof no corn mai springen oute;
4283   And thus be sleyhte and be covine
4284   Aros the derthe and the famine
4285   Thurghout the lond in such a wise,  
4286   So that the king a sacrifise  
4287   Upon the point of this destresse 
4288   To Ceres, which is the goddesse  
4289   Of corn, hath schape him forto yive,
4290   To loke if it mai be foryive, 
4291   The meschief which was in his lond. 
4292   Bot sche, which knew tofor the hond 
4293   The circumstance of al this thing,  
4294   Ayein the cominge of the king 
4295   Into the temple, hath schape so,     
4296   Of hire acord that alle tho
4297   Whiche of the temple prestes were
4298   Have seid and full declared there
4299   Unto the king, bot if so be
4300   That he delivere the contre
4301   Of Frixus and of Hellen bothe,
4302   With whom the goddes ben so wrothe, 
4303   That whil tho children ben therinne,
4304   Such tilthe schal noman beginne, 
4305   Wherof to gete him eny corn.  
4306   Thus was it seid, thus was it sworn 
4307   Of all the Prestes that ther are;
4308   And sche which causeth al this fare 
4309   Seid ek therto what that sche wolde,
4310   And every man thanne after tolde 
4311   So as the queene hem hadde preid.
4312   The king, which hath his Ere leid,  
4313   And lieveth al that evere he herde, 
4314   Unto here tale thus ansuerde, 
4315   And seith that levere him is to chese  
4316   Hise children bothe forto lese,  
4317   Than him and al the remenant  
4318   Of hem whiche are aportenant  
4319   Unto the lond which he schal kepe:  
4320   And bad his wif to take kepe  
4321   In what manere is best to done,  
4322   That thei delivered weren sone
4323   Out of this world. And sche anon 
4324   Tuo men ordeigneth forto gon; 
4325   Bot ferst sche made hem forto swere 
4326   That thei the children scholden bere
4327   Unto the See, that non it knowe, 
4328   And hem therinne bothe throwe.
4329   The children to the See ben lad, 
4330   Wher in the wise as Yno bad
4331   These men be redy forto do.
4332   Bot the goddesse which Juno    
4333   Is hote, appiereth in the stede, 
4334   And hath unto the men forbede 
4335   That thei the children noght ne sle;
4336   Bot bad hem loke into the See 
4337   And taken hiede of that thei sihen. 
4338   Ther swam a Schep tofore here yhen, 
4339   Whos flees of burned gold was al;
4340   And this goddesse forth withal
4341   Comandeth that withoute lette 
4342   Thei scholde anon these children sette 
4343   Above upon this Schepes bak;  
4344   And al was do, riht as sche spak,
4345   Wherof the men gon hom ayein. 
4346   And fell so, as the bokes sein,  
4347   Hellen the yonge Mayden tho,  
4348   Which of the See was wo bego, 
4349   For pure drede hire herte hath lore,
4350   That fro the Schep, which hath hire bore, 
4351   As sche that was swounende feint,
4352   Sche fell, and hath hirselve dreint;
4353   With Frixus and this Schep forth swam, 
4354   Til he to thyle of Colchos cam,  
4355   Where Juno the goddesse he fond, 
4356   Which tok the Schep unto the lond,  
4357   And sette it there in such a wise
4358   As thou tofore hast herd devise, 
4359   Wherof cam after al the wo,
4360   Why Jason was forswore so  
4361   Unto Medee, as it is spoke.
4362   Mi fader, who that hath tobroke  
4363   His trouthe, as ye have told above, 
4364   He is noght worthi forto love 
4365   Ne be beloved, as me semeth:  
4366   Bot every newe love quemeth
4367   To him which newefongel is.
4368   And natheles nou after this,      
4369   If that you list to taken hiede  
4370   Upon mi Schrifte to procede,  
4371   In loves cause ayein the vice 
4372   Of covoitise and Avarice
4373   What ther is more I wolde wite.  
4374   Mi Sone, this I finde write,  
4375   Ther is yit on of thilke brood,  
4376   Which only for the worldes good, 
4377   To make a Tresor of Moneie,
4378   Put alle conscience aweie: 
4379   Wherof in thi confession
4380   The name and the condicion 
4381   I schal hierafterward declare,
4382   Which makth on riche, an other bare.
4383   Upon the bench sittende on hih
4384   With Avarice Usure I sih,  
4385   Full clothed of his oghne suite, 
4386   Which after gold makth chace and suite 
4387   With his brocours, that renne aboute
4388   Lich unto racches in a route. 
4389   Such lucre is non above grounde, 
4390   Which is noght of tho racches founde;  
4391   For wher thei se beyete sterte,  
4392   That schal hem in no wise asterte,  
4393   Bot thei it dryve into the net
4394   Of lucre, which Usure hath set.  
4395   Usure with the riche duelleth,
4396   To al that evere he beith and selleth  
4397   He hath ordeined of his sleyhte  
4398   Mesure double and double weyhte: 
4399   Outward he selleth be the lasse, 
4400   And with the more he makth his tasse,  
4401   Wherof his hous is full withinne.    
4402   He reccheth noght, be so he winne,  
4403   Though that ther lese ten or tuelve:
4404   His love is al toward himselve
4405   And to non other, bot he se
4406   That he mai winne suche thre; 
4407   For wher he schal oght yive or lene,
4408   He wol ayeinward take a bene, 
4409   Ther he hath lent the smale pese.
4410   And riht so ther ben manye of these 
4411   Lovers, that thogh thei love a lyte,
4412   That scarsly wolde it weie a myte,  
4413   Yit wolde thei have a pound again,  
4414   As doth Usure in his bargain. 
4415   Bot certes such usure unliche,
4416   It falleth more unto the riche,  
4417   Als wel of love as of beyete, 
4418   Than unto hem that be noght grete,  
4419   And, as who seith, ben simple and povere; 
4420   For sielden is whan thei recovere,  
4421   Bot if it be thurgh gret decerte.
4422   And natheles men se poverte
4423   With porsuite and continuance 
4424   Fulofte make a gret chevance  
4425   And take of love his avantage,
4426   Forth with the help of his brocage, 
4427   That maken seme wher is noght.
4428   And thus fulofte is love boght
4429   For litel what, and mochel take, 
4430   With false weyhtes that thei make.  
4431   Nou, Sone, of that I seide above 
4432   Thou wost what Usure is of love: 
4433   Tell me forthi what so thou wilt,
4434   If thou therof hast eny gilt. 
4435   Mi fader, nay, for ought I hiere.
4436   For of tho pointz ye tolden hiere
4437   I wol you be mi trouthe assure,      
4438   Mi weyhte of love and mi mesure  
4439   Hath be mor large and mor certein
4440   Than evere I tok of love ayein:  
4441   For so yit couthe I nevere of sleyhte, 
4442   To take ayein be double weyhte
4443   Of love mor than I have yive. 
4444   For als so wiss mot I be schrive 
4445   And have remission of Sinne,  
4446   As so yit couthe I nevere winne, 
4447   Ne yit so mochel, soth to sein,  
4448   That evere I mihte have half ayein  
4449   Of so full love as I have lent:  
4450   And if myn happ were so wel went,
4451   That for the hole I mihte have half,
4452   Me thenkth I were a goddeshalf.  
4453   For where Usure wole have double,
4454   Mi conscience is noght so trouble,  
4455   I biede nevere as to my del
4456   Bot of the hole an halvendel; 
4457   That is non excess, as me thenketh. 
4458   Bot natheles it me forthenketh;  
4459   For wel I wot that wol noght be, 
4460   For every day the betre I se  
4461   That hou so evere I yive or lene 
4462   Mi love in place ther I mene, 
4463   For oght that evere I axe or crave, 
4464   I can nothing ayeinward have. 
4465   Bot yit for that I wol noght lete,  
4466   What so befalle of mi beyete, 
4467   That I ne schal hire yive and lene  
4468   Mi love and al mi thoght so clene,  
4469   That toward me schal noght beleve.  
4470   And if sche of hire goode leve
4471   Rewarde wol me noght again,
4472   I wot the laste of my bargain 
4473   Schal stonde upon so gret a lost,
4474   That I mai neveremor the cost 
4475   Recovere in this world til I die.    
4476   So that touchende of this partie 
4477   I mai me wel excuse and schal;
4478   And forto speke forth withal, 
4479   If eny brocour for me wente,  
4480   That point cam nevere in myn entente:  
4481   So that the more me merveilleth, 
4482   What thing it is mi ladi eilleth,
4483   That al myn herte and al my time 
4484   Sche hath, and doth no betre bime.  
4485   I have herd seid that thoght is fre,
4486   And natheles in privete 
4487   To you, mi fader, that ben hiere 
4488   Min hole schrifte forto hiere,
4489   I dar min herte wel desclose. 
4490   Touchende usure, as I suppose,
4491   Which as ye telle in love is used,  
4492   Mi ladi mai noght ben excused;
4493   That for o lokinge of hire ye5
4494   Min hole herte til I dye
4495   With al that evere I may and can 
4496   Sche hath me wonne to hire man:  
4497   Wherof, me thenkth, good reson wolde
4498   That sche somdel rewarde scholde,
4499   And yive a part, ther sche hath al. 
4500   I not what falle hierafter schal,
4501   Bot into nou yit dar I sein,  
4502   Hire liste nevere yive ayein  
4503   A goodli word in such a wise, 
4504   Wherof min hope mihte arise,  
4505   Mi grete love to compense. 
4506   I not hou sche hire conscience
4507   Excuse wole of this usure; 
4508   Be large weyhte and gret mesure  
4509   Sche hath mi love, and I have noght 
4510   Of that which I have diere boght,
4511   And with myn herte I have it paid;  
4512   Bot al that is asyde laid, 
4513   And I go loveles aboute.    
4514   Hire oghte stonde if ful gret doute,
4515   Til sche redresce such a sinne,  
4516   That sche wole al mi love winne  
4517   And yifth me noght to live by:
4518   Noght als so moche as "grant mercy" 
4519   Hir list to seie, of which I mihte  
4520   Som of mi grete peine allyhte.
4521   Bot of this point, lo, thus I fare  
4522   As he that paith for his chaffare,  
4523   And beith it diere, and yit hath non,  
4524   So mot he nedes povere gon:
4525   Thus beie I diere and have no love, 
4526   That I ne mai noght come above
4527   To winne of love non encress. 
4528   Bot I me wole natheles  
4529   Touchende usure of love aquite;  
4530   And if mi ladi be to wyte, 
4531   I preie to god such grace hir sende 
4532   That sche be time it mot amende. 
4533   Mi Sone, of that thou hast ansuerd  
4534   Touchende Usure I have al herd,  
4535   Hou thou of love hast wonne smale:  
4536   Bot that thou tellest in thi tale
4537   And thi ladi therof accusest, 
4538   Me thenkth tho wordes thou misusest.
4539   For be thin oghne knowlechinge
4540   Thou seist hou sche for o lokinge
4541   Thin hole herte fro the tok:  
4542   Sche mai be such, that hire o lok
4543   Is worth thin herte manyfold; 
4544   So hast thou wel thin herte sold,
4545   Whan thou hast that is more worth.  
4546   And ek of that thou tellest forth,  
4547   Hou that hire weyhte of love unevene
4548   Is unto thin, under the hevene
4549   Stod nevere in evene that balance
4550   Which stant in loves governance. 
4551   Such is the statut of his lawe,      
4552   That thogh thi love more drawe
4553   And peise in the balance more,
4554   Thou miht noght axe ayein therfore  
4555   Of duete, bot al of grace. 
4556   For love is lord in every place, 
4557   Ther mai no lawe him justefie 
4558   Be reddour ne be compaignie,  
4559   That he ne wole after his wille  
4560   Whom that him liketh spede or spille.  
4561   To love a man mai wel beginne,
4562   Bot whether he schal lese or winne, 
4563   That wot noman til ate laste: 
4564   Forthi coveite noght to faste,
4565   Mi Sone, bot abyd thin ende,  
4566   Per cas al mai to goode wende.
4567   Bot that thou hast me told and said,
4568   Of o thing I am riht wel paid,
4569   That thou be sleyhte ne be guile 
4570   Of no brocour hast otherwhile 
4571   Engined love, for such dede
4572   Is sore venged, as I rede. 
4573   Brocours of love that deceiven,  
4574   No wonder is thogh thei receiven 
4575   After the wrong that thei decerven; 
4576   For whom as evere that thei serven  
4577   And do plesance for a whyle,  
4578   Yit ate laste here oghne guile
4579   Upon here oghne hed descendeth,  
4580   Which god of his vengance sendeth,  
4581   As be ensample of time go  
4582   A man mai finde it hath be so.
4583   It fell somtime, as it was sene, 
4584   The hihe goddesse and the queene 
4585   Juno tho hadde in compainie
4586   A Maiden full of tricherie;
4587   For sche was evere in on acord    
4588   With Jupiter, that was hire lord,
4589   To gete him othre loves newe, 
4590   Thurgh such brocage and was untrewe 
4591   Al otherwise than him nedeth. 
4592   Bot sche, which of no schame dredeth,  
4593   With queinte wordes and with slyhe  
4594   Blente in such wise hir lady yhe,
4595   As sche to whom that Juno triste,
4596   So that therof sche nothing wiste.  
4597   Bot so prive mai be nothing,  
4598   That it ne comth to knowleching; 
4599   Thing don upon the derke nyht 
4600   Is after knowe on daies liht: 
4601   So it befell, that ate laste  
4602   Al that this slyhe maiden caste  
4603   Was overcast and overthrowe.  
4604   For as the sothe mot be knowe,
4605   To Juno was don understonde
4606   In what manere hir housebonde 
4607   With fals brocage hath take usure
4608   Of love mor than his mesure,  
4609   Whan he tok othre than his wif,  
4610   Wherof this mayden was gultif,
4611   Which hadde ben of his assent.
4612   And thus was al the game schent; 
4613   She soffreth him, as sche mot nede, 
4614   Bot the brocour of his misdede,  
4615   Sche which hir conseil yaf therto,  
4616   On hire is the vengance do:
4617   For Juno with hire wordes hote,  
4618   This Maiden, which Eccho was hote,  
4619   Reproveth and seith in this wise:
4620   "O traiteresse, of which servise 
4621   Hast thou thin oghne ladi served!
4622   Thou hast gret peine wel deserved,  
4623   That thou canst maken it so queinte,
4624   Thi slyhe wordes forto peinte 
4625   Towardes me, that am thi queene, 
4626   Wherof thou madest me to wene     
4627   That myn housbonde trewe were,
4628   Whan that he loveth elleswhere,  
4629   Al be it so him nedeth noght. 
4630   Bot upon thee it schal be boght, 
4631   Which art prive to tho doinges,  
4632   And me fulofte of thi lesinges
4633   Deceived hast: nou is the day 
4634   That I thi while aquite may;  
4635   And for thou hast to me conceled 
4636   That my lord hath with othre deled, 
4637   I schal thee sette in such a kende, 
4638   That evere unto the worldes ende 
4639   Al that thou hierest thou schalt telle,
4640   And clappe it out as doth a belle." 
4641   And with that word sche was forschape, 
4642   Ther may no vois hire mouth ascape, 
4643   What man that in the wodes crieth,  
4644   Withoute faile Eccho replieth,
4645   And what word that him list to sein,
4646   The same word sche seith ayein.  
4647   Thus sche, which whilom hadde leve  
4648   To duelle in chambre, mot beleve 
4649   In wodes and on helles bothe, 
4650   For such brocage as wyves lothe, 
4651   Which doth here lordes hertes change
4652   And love in other place strange. 
4653   Forthi, if evere it so befalle,  
4654   That thou, mi Sone, amonges alle 
4655   Be wedded man, hold that thou hast, 
4656   For thanne al other love is wast.
4657   O wif schal wel to thee suffise, 
4658   And thanne, if thou for covoitise
4659   Of love woldest axe more,  
4660   Thou scholdest don ayein the lore
4661   Of alle hem that trewe be. 
4662   Mi fader, as in this degre 
4663   My conscience is noght accused;      
4664   For I no such brocage have used, 
4665   Wherof that lust of love is wonne.  
4666   Forthi spek forth, as ye begonne,
4667   Of Avarice upon mi schrifte.  
4668   Mi Sone, I schal the branches schifte  
4669   Be ordre so as thei ben set,  
4670   On whom no good is wel beset. 
4671   Blinde Avarice of his lignage 
4672   For conseil and for cousinage,
4673   To be withholde ayein largesse,  
4674   Hath on, whos name is seid Skarsnesse, 
4675   The which is kepere of his hous, 
4676   And is so thurghout averous,  
4677   That he no good let out of honde;
4678   Thogh god himself it wolde fonde,
4679   Of yifte scholde he nothing have;
4680   And if a man it wolde crave,  
4681   He moste thanne faile nede,
4682   Wher god himselve mai noght spede.  
4683   And thus Skarsnesse in every place  
4684   Be reson mai no thonk porchace,  
4685   And natheles in his degree 
4686   Above all othre most prive 
4687   With Avarice stant he this.
4688   For he governeth that ther is 
4689   In ech astat of his office 
4690   After the reule of thilke vice;  
4691   He takth, he kepth, he halt, he bint,  
4692   That lihtere is to fle the flint 
4693   Than gete of him in hard or neisshe 
4694   Only the value of a reysshe
4695   Of good in helpinge of an other, 
4696   Noght thogh it were his oghne brother.     
4697   For in the cas of yifte and lone 
4698   Stant every man for him al one,  
4699   Him thenkth of his unkindeschipe 
4700   That him nedeth no felaschipe:
4701   Be so the bagge and he acorden,  
4702   Him reccheth noght what men recorden
4703   Of him, or it be evel or good.
4704   For al his trust is on his good, 
4705   So that al one he falleth ofte,  
4706   Whan he best weneth stonde alofte,  
4707   Als wel in love as other wise;
4708   For love is evere of som reprise 
4709   To him that wole his love holde. 
4710   Forthi, mi Sone, as thou art holde, 
4711   Touchende of this tell me thi schrifte:
4712   Hast thou be scars or large of yifte
4713   Unto thi love, whom thou servest?
4714   For after that thou wel deservest
4715   Of yifte, thou miht be the bet;  
4716   For that good holde I wel beset, 
4717   For why thou miht the betre fare;
4718   Thanne is no wisdom forto spare. 
4719   For thus men sein, in every nede 
4720   He was wys that ferst made mede; 
4721   For where as mede mai noght spede,  
4722   I not what helpeth other dede:
4723   Fulofte he faileth of his game
4724   That wol with ydel hand reclame  
4725   His hauk, as many a nyce doth.
4726   Forthi, mi Sone, tell me soth 
4727   And sei the trouthe, if thou hast be
4728   Unto thy love or skars or fre.
4729   Mi fader, it hath stonde thus,
4730   That if the tresor of Cresus  
4731   And al the gold Octovien,  
4732   Forth with the richesse Yndien
4733   Of Perles and of riche stones,
4734   Were al togedre myn at ones,      
4735   I sette it at nomore acompte  
4736   Than wolde a bare straw amonte,  
4737   To yive it hire al in a day,  
4738   Be so that to that suete may  
4739   I myhte like or more or lesse.
4740   And thus be cause of my scarsnesse  
4741   Ye mai wel understonde and lieve 
4742   That I schal noght the worse achieve
4743   The pourpos which is in my thoght.  
4744   Bot yit I yaf hir nevere noght,  
4745   Ne therto dorste a profre make;  
4746   For wel I wot sche wol noght take,  
4747   And yive wol sche noght also, 
4748   Sche is eschu of bothe tuo.
4749   And this I trowe be the skile 
4750   Towardes me, for sche ne wile 
4751   That I have eny cause of hope,
4752   Noght also mochel as a drope. 
4753   Bot toward othre, as I mai se,
4754   Sche takth and yifth in such degre, 
4755   That as be weie of frendlihiede  
4756   Sche can so kepe hir wommanhiede,
4757   That every man spekth of hir wel.
4758   Bot sche wole take of me no del, 
4759   And yit sche wot wel that I wolde
4760   Yive and do bothe what I scholde 
4761   To plesen hire in al my myht: 
4762   Be reson this wot every wyht, 
4763   For that mai be no weie asterte, 
4764   Ther sche is maister of the herte,  
4765   Sche mot be maister of the good. 
4766   For god wot wel that al my mod
4767   And al min herte and al mi thoght
4768   And al mi good, whil I have oght,
4769   Als freliche as god hath it yive,
4770   It schal ben hires, while I live,
4771   Riht as hir list hirself commande.  
4772   So that it nedeth no demande,     
4773   To axe of me if I be scars 
4774   To love, for as to tho pars
4775   I wole ansuere and seie no.
4776   Mi Sone, that is riht wel do. 
4777   For often times of scarsnesse 
4778   It hath be sen, that for the lesse  
4779   Is lost the more, as thou schalt hiere 
4780   A tale lich to this matiere.  
4781   Skarsnesse and love acorden nevere, 
4782   For every thing is wel the levere,  
4783   Whan that a man hath boght it diere:
4784   And forto speke in this matiere, 
4785   For sparinge of a litel cost  
4786   Fulofte time a man hath lost  
4787   The large cote for the hod.
4788   What man that scars is of his good  
4789   And wol noght yive, he schal noght take:  
4790   With yifte a man mai undertake
4791   The hihe god to plese and queme, 
4792   With yifte a man the world mai deme;
4793   For every creature bore,
4794   If thou him yive, is glad therfore, 
4795   And every gladschipe, as I finde,
4796   Is confort unto loves kinde
4797   And causeth ofte a man to spede. 
4798   So was he wys that ferst yaf mede,  
4799   For mede kepeth love in house;
4800   Bot wher the men ben coveitouse  
4801   And sparen forto yive a part, 
4802   Thei knowe noght Cupides art: 
4803   For his fortune and his aprise
4804   Desdeigneth alle coveitise 
4805   And hateth alle nygardie.  
4806   And forto loke of this partie,
4807   A soth ensample, hou it is so,
4808   I finde write of Babio; 
4809   Which hadde a love at his menage,        
4810   Ther was non fairere of hire age,
4811   And hihte Viola be name;
4812   Which full of youthe and ful of game
4813   Was of hirself, and large and fre,  
4814   Bot such an other chinche as he  
4815   Men wisten noght in al the lond, 
4816   And hadde affaited to his hond
4817   His servant, the which Spodius
4818   Was hote. And in this wise thus  
4819   The worldes good of sufficance
4820   Was had, bot likinge and plesance,  
4821   Of that belongeth to richesse 
4822   Of love, stod in gret destresse; 
4823   So that this yonge lusty wyht 
4824   Of thing which fell to loves riht
4825   Was evele served overal,
4826   That sche was wo bego withal, 
4827   Til that Cupide and Venus eke 
4828   A medicine for the seke 
4829   Ordeigne wolden in this cas.  
4830   So as fortune thanne was,  
4831   Of love upon the destine
4832   It fell, riht as it scholde be,  
4833   A freissh, a fre, a frendly man  
4834   That noght of Avarice can, 
4835   Which Croceus be name hihte,  
4836   Toward this swete caste his sihte,  
4837   And ther sche was cam in presence.  
4838   Sche sih him large of his despence, 
4839   And amorous and glad of chiere,  
4840   So that hir liketh wel to hiere  
4841   The goodly wordes whiche he seide;  
4842   And therupon of love he preide,  
4843   Of love was al that he mente, 
4844   To love and for sche scholde assente,  
4845   He yaf hire yiftes evere among.  
4846   Bot for men sein that mede is strong,  
4847   It was wel seene at thilke tyde;     
4848   For as it scholde of ryht betyde,
4849   This Viola largesce hath take 
4850   And the nygard sche hath forsake:
4851   Of Babio sche wol no more, 
4852   For he was grucchende everemore, 
4853   Ther was with him non other fare 
4854   Bot forto prinche and forto spare,  
4855   Of worldes muk to gete encress.  
4856   So goth the wrecche loveles,  
4857   Bejaped for his Skarcete,  
4858   And he that large was and fre 
4859   And sette his herte to despende, 
4860   This Croceus, the bowe bende, 
4861   Which Venus tok him forto holde, 
4862   And schotte als ofte as evere he wolde.
4863   Lo, thus departeth love his lawe,
4864   That what man wol noght be felawe
4865   To yive and spende, as I thee telle,
4866   He is noght worthi forto duelle  
4867   In loves court to be relieved.
4868   Forthi, my Sone, if I be lieved, 
4869   Thou schalt be large of thi despence.  
4870   Mi fader, in mi conscience 
4871   If ther be eny thing amis, 
4872   I wol amende it after this,
4873   Toward mi love namely.  
4874   Mi Sone, wel and redely 
4875   Thou seist, so that wel paid withal 
4876   I am, and forthere if I schal 
4877   Unto thi schrifte specefie 
4878   Of Avarices progenie 
4879   What vice suieth after this,  
4880   Thou schalt have wonder hou it is,  
4881   Among the folk in eny regne
4882   That such a vice myhte regne, 
4883   Which is comun at alle assaies,  
4884   As men mai finde nou adaies.      
4885   The vice lik unto the fend,
4886   Which nevere yit was mannes frend,  
4887   And cleped is Unkindeschipe,  
4888   Of covine and of felaschipe
4889   With Avarice he is withholde. 
4890   Him thenkth he scholde noght ben holde 
4891   Unto the moder which him bar; 
4892   Of him mai nevere man be war, 
4893   He wol noght knowe the merite,
4894   For that he wolde it noght aquite;  
4895   Which in this world is mochel used, 
4896   And fewe ben therof excused.  
4897   To telle of him is endeles,
4898   Bot this I seie natheles,  
4899   Wher as this vice comth to londe,
4900   Ther takth noman his thonk on honde;
4901   Thogh he with alle his myhtes serve,
4902   He schal of him no thonk deserve.
4903   He takth what eny man wol yive,  
4904   Bot whil he hath o day to live,  
4905   He wol nothing rewarde ayein; 
4906   He gruccheth forto yive o grein, 
4907   Wher he hath take a berne full.  
4908   That makth a kinde herte dull,
4909   To sette his trust in such frendschipe,
4910   Ther as he fint no kindeschipe;  
4911   And forto speke wordes pleine,
4912   Thus hiere I many a man compleigne, 
4913   That nou on daies thou schalt finde 
4914   At nede fewe frendes kinde;
4915   What thou hast don for hem tofore,  
4916   It is foryete, as it were lore.  
4917   The bokes speken of this vice,
4918   And telle hou god of his justice,    
4919   Be weie of kinde and ek nature
4920   And every lifissh creature,
4921   The lawe also, who that it kan,  
4922   Thei dampnen an unkinde man.  
4923   It is al on to seie unkinde
4924   As thing which don is ayein kinde,  
4925   For it with kinde nevere stod 
4926   A man to yelden evel for good.
4927   For who that wolde taken hede,
4928   A beste is glad of a good dede,  
4929   And loveth thilke creature 
4930   After the lawe of his nature  
4931   Which doth him ese. And forto se 
4932   Of this matiere Auctorite, 
4933   Fulofte time it hath befalle; 
4934   Wherof a tale amonges alle,
4935   Which is of olde ensamplerie, 
4936   I thenke forto specefie.
4937   To speke of an unkinde man,
4938   I finde hou whilom Adrian, 
4939   Of Rome which a gret lord was,
4940   Upon a day as he per cas
4941   To wode in his huntinge wente,
4942   It hapneth at a soudein wente,
4943   After his chace as he poursuieth,
4944   Thurgh happ, the which noman eschuieth,
4945   He fell unwar into a pet,  
4946   Wher that it mihte noght be let. 
4947   The pet was dep and he fell lowe,
4948   That of his men non myhte knowe  
4949   Wher he becam, for non was nyh,  
4950   Which of his fall the meschief syh. 
4951   And thus al one ther he lay
4952   Clepende and criende al the day  
4953   For socour and deliverance,    
4954   Til ayein Eve it fell per chance,
4955   A while er it began to nyhte, 
4956   A povere man, which Bardus hihte,
4957   Cam forth walkende with his asse,
4958   And hadde gadred him a tasse  
4959   Of grene stickes and of dreie 
4960   To selle, who that wolde hem beie,  
4961   As he which hadde no liflode, 
4962   Bot whanne he myhte such a lode  
4963   To toune with his Asse carie. 
4964   And as it fell him forto tarie
4965   That ilke time nyh the pet,
4966   And hath the trusse faste knet,  
4967   He herde a vois, which cride dimme, 
4968   And he his Ere to the brimme  
4969   Hath leid, and herde it was a man,  
4970   Which seide, "Ha, help hier Adrian, 
4971   And I wol yiven half mi good."
4972   The povere man this understod,
4973   As he that wolde gladly winne,
4974   And to this lord which was withinne 
4975   He spak and seide, "If I thee save, 
4976   What sikernesse schal I have  
4977   Of covenant, that afterward
4978   Thou wolt me yive such reward 
4979   As thou behihtest nou tofore?"
4980   That other hath his othes swore  
4981   Be hevene and be the goddes alle,
4982   If that it myhte so befalle
4983   That he out of the pet him broghte, 
4984   Of all the goodes whiche he oghte
4985   He schal have evene halvendel.
4986   This Bardus seide he wolde wel;  
4987   And with this word his Asse anon 
4988   He let untrusse, and therupon 
4989   Doun goth the corde into the pet,
4990   To which he hath at ende knet     
4991   A staf, wherby, he seide, he wolde  
4992   That Adrian him scholde holde.
4993   Bot it was tho per chance falle, 
4994   Into that pet was also falle  
4995   An Ape, which at thilke throwe,  
4996   Whan that the corde cam doun lowe,  
4997   Al sodeinli therto he skipte  
4998   And it in bothe hise armes clipte.  
4999   And Bardus with his Asse anon 
5000   Him hath updrawe, and he is gon. 
5001   But whan he sih it was an Ape,
5002   He wende al hadde ben a jape  
5003   Of faierie, and sore him dradde: 
5004   And Adrian eftsone gradde  
5005   For help, and cride and preide faste,  
5006   And he eftsone his corde caste;  
5007   Bot whan it cam unto the grounde,
5008   A gret Serpent it hath bewounde, 
5009   The which Bardus anon up drouh.  
5010   And thanne him thoghte wel ynouh,
5011   It was fantosme, bot yit he herde
5012   The vois, and he therto ansuerde,
5013   "What wiht art thou in goddes name?"
5014   "I am," quod Adrian, "the same,  
5015   Whos good thou schalt have evene half."
5016   Quod Bardus, "Thanne a goddes half  
5017   The thridde time assaie I schal":
5018   And caste his corde forth withal 
5019   Into the pet, and whan it cam 
5020   To him, this lord of Rome it nam,
5021   And therupon him hath adresced,  
5022   And with his hand fulofte blessed,  
5023   And thanne he bad to Bardus hale.
5024   And he, which understod his tale,
5025   Betwen him and his Asse al softe 
5026   Hath drawe and set him up alofte     
5027   Withouten harm al esely.
5028   He seith noght ones "grant merci,"  
5029   Bot strauhte him forth to the cite, 
5030   And let this povere Bardus be.
5031   And natheles this simple man  
5032   His covenant, so as he can,
5033   Hath axed; and that other seide, 
5034   If so be that he him umbreide 
5035   Of oght that hath be speke or do,
5036   It schal ben venged on him so,
5037   That him were betre to be ded.
5038   And he can tho non other red, 
5039   But on his asse ayein he caste
5040   His trusse, and hieth homward faste:
5041   And whan that he cam hom to bedde,  
5042   He tolde his wif hou that he spedde.
5043   Bot finaly to speke oght more 
5044   Unto this lord he dradde him sore,  
5045   So that a word ne dorste he sein:
5046   And thus upon the morwe ayein,
5047   In the manere as I recorde,
5048   Forth with his Asse and with his corde 
5049   To gadre wode, as he dede er, 
5050   He goth; and whan that he cam ner
5051   Unto the place where he wolde,
5052   He hath his Ape anon beholde, 
5053   Which hadde gadred al aboute  
5054   Of stickes hiere and there a route, 
5055   And leide hem redy to his hond,  
5056   Wherof he made his trosse and bond; 
5057   Fro dai to dai and in this wise  
5058   This Ape profreth his servise,
5059   So that he hadde of wode ynouh.  
5060   Upon a time and as he drouh
5061   Toward the wode, he sih besyde
5062   The grete gastli Serpent glyde,  
5063   Til that sche cam in his presence,      
5064   And in hir kinde a reverence  
5065   Sche hath him do, and forth withal  
5066   A Ston mor briht than a cristall 
5067   Out of hir mouth tofore his weie 
5068   Sche let doun falle, and wente aweie,  
5069   For that he schal noght ben adrad.  
5070   Tho was this povere Bardus glad, 
5071   Thonkende god, and to the Ston
5072   He goth an takth it up anon,  
5073   And hath gret wonder in his wit  
5074   Hou that the beste him hath aquit,  
5075   Wher that the mannes Sone hath failed, 
5076   For whom he hadde most travailed.
5077   Bot al he putte in goddes hond,  
5078   And torneth hom, and what he fond
5079   Unto his wif he hath it schewed; 
5080   And thei, that weren bothe lewed,
5081   Acorden that he scholde it selle.
5082   And he no lengere wolde duelle,  
5083   Bot forth anon upon the tale  
5084   The Ston he profreth to the sale;
5085   And riht as he himself it sette, 
5086   The jueler anon forth fette
5087   The gold and made his paiement,  
5088   Therof was no delaiement.  
5089   Thus whan this Ston was boght and sold,
5090   Homward with joie manyfold 
5091   This Bardus goth; and whan he cam
5092   Hom to his hous and that he nam  
5093   His gold out of his Purs, withinne  
5094   He fond his Ston also therinne,  
5095   Wherof for joie his herte pleide,
5096   Unto his wif and thus he seide,  
5097   "Lo, hier my gold, lo, hier mi Ston!"  
5098   His wif hath wonder therupon, 
5099   And axeth him hou that mai be.
5100   "Nou be mi trouthe I not," quod he, 
5101   "Bot I dar swere upon a bok,      
5102   That to my Marchant I it tok, 
5103   And he it hadde whan I wente: 
5104   So knowe I noght to what entente 
5105   It is nou hier, bot it be grace. 
5106   Forthi tomorwe in other place 
5107   I wole it fonde forto selle,  
5108   And if it wol noght with him duelle,
5109   Bot crepe into mi purs ayein, 
5110   Than dar I saufly swere and sein,
5111   It is the vertu of the Ston." 
5112   The morwe cam, and he is gon  
5113   To seche aboute in other stede
5114   His Ston to selle, and he so dede,  
5115   And lefte it with his chapman there.
5116   Bot whan that he cam elleswhere, 
5117   In presence of his wif at hom,
5118   Out of his Purs and that he nom  
5119   His gold, he fond his Ston withal:  
5120   And thus it fell him overal,  
5121   Where he it solde in sondri place,  
5122   Such was the fortune and the grace. 
5123   Bot so wel may nothing ben hidd, 
5124   That it nys ate laste kidd:
5125   This fame goth aboute Rome 
5126   So ferforth, that the wordes come
5127   To themperour Justinian;
5128   And he let sende for the man, 
5129   And axede him hou that it was.
5130   And Bardus tolde him al the cas, 
5131   Hou that the worm and ek the beste, 
5132   Althogh thei maden no beheste,
5133   His travail hadden wel aquit; 
5134   Bot he which hadde a mannes wit, 
5135   And made his covenant be mouthe  
5136   And swor therto al that he couthe
5137   To parte and yiven half his good,    
5138   Hath nou foryete hou that it stod,  
5139   As he which wol no trouthe holde.
5140   This Emperour al that he tolde
5141   Hath herd, and thilke unkindenesse  
5142   He seide he wolde himself redresse. 
5143   And thus in court of juggement
5144   This Adrian was thanne assent,
5145   And the querele in audience
5146   Declared was in the presence  
5147   Of themperour and many mo; 
5148   Wherof was mochel speche tho  
5149   And gret wondringe among the press. 
5150   Bot ate laste natheles  
5151   For the partie which hath pleigned  
5152   The lawe hath diemed and ordeigned  
5153   Be hem that were avised wel,  
5154   That he schal have the halvendel 
5155   Thurghout of Adrianes good.
5156   And thus of thilke unkinde blod  
5157   Stant the memoire into this day, 
5158   Wherof that every wysman may  
5159   Ensamplen him, and take in mynde 
5160   What schame it is to ben unkinde;
5161   Ayein the which reson debateth,  
5162   And every creature it hateth. 
5163   Forthi, mi Sone, in thin office  
5164   I rede fle that ilke vice. 
5165   For riht as the Cronique seith
5166   Of Adrian, hou he his feith
5167   Foryat for worldes covoitise, 
5168   Fulofte in such a maner wise  
5169   Of lovers nou a man mai se 
5170   Full manye that unkinde be:
5171   For wel behote and evele laste
5172   That is here lif; for ate laste, 
5173   Whan that thei have here wille do,  
5174   Here love is after sone ago.  
5175   What seist thou, Sone, to this cas?     
5176   Mi fader, I wol seie Helas,
5177   That evere such a man was bore,  
5178   Which whan he hath his trouthe suore
5179   And hath of love what he wolde,  
5180   That he at eny time scholde
5181   Evere after in his herte finde
5182   To falsen and to ben unkinde. 
5183   Bot, fader, as touchende of me,  
5184   I mai noght stonde in that degre;
5185   For I tok nevere of love why, 
5186   That I ne mai wel go therby
5187   And do my profit elles where, 
5188   For eny sped I finde there.
5189   I dar wel thenken al aboute,  
5190   Bot I ne dar noght speke it oute;
5191   And if I dorste, I wolde pleigne,
5192   That sche for whom I soffre peine
5193   And love hir evere aliche hote,  
5194   That nouther yive ne behote
5195   In rewardinge of mi servise
5196   It list hire in no maner wise.
5197   I wol noght say that sche is kinde, 
5198   And forto sai sche is unkinde,
5199   That dar I noght; bot god above, 
5200   Which demeth every herte of love,
5201   He wot that on myn oghne side 
5202   Schal non unkindeschipe abide:
5203   If it schal with mi ladi duelle, 
5204   Therof dar I nomore telle. 
5205   Nou, goode fader, as it is,
5206   Tell me what thenketh you of this.  
5207   Mi Sone, of that unkindeschipe,  
5208   The which toward thi ladischipe  
5209   Thou pleignest, for sche wol thee noght,  
5210   Thou art to blamen of that thoght.  
5211   For it mai be that thi desir, 
5212   Thogh it brenne evere as doth the fyr, 
5213   Per cas to hire honour missit,    
5214   Or elles time com noght yit,  
5215   Which standt upon thi destine:
5216   Forthi, mi Sone, I rede thee, 
5217   Thenk wel, what evere the befalle;  
5218   For noman hath his lustes alle.  
5219   Bot as thou toldest me before 
5220   That thou to love art noght forswore,  
5221   And hast don non unkindenesse,
5222   Thou miht therof thi grace blesse:  
5223   And lef noght that continuance;  
5224   For ther mai be no such grevance 
5225   To love, as is unkindeschipe. 
5226   Wherof to kepe thi worschipe, 
5227   So as these olde bokes tale,  
5228   I schal thee telle a redi tale:  
5229   Nou herkne and be wel war therby,
5230   For I wol telle it openly. 
5231   Mynos, as telleth the Poete,  
5232   The which whilom was king of Crete, 
5233   A Sone hadde and Androchee 
5234   He hihte: and so befell that he  
5235   Unto Athenes forto lere 
5236   Was send, and so he bar him there,  
5237   For that he was of hih lignage,  
5238   Such pride he tok in his corage, 
5239   That he foryeten hath the Scoles,
5240   And in riote among the foles  
5241   He dede manye thinges wronge; 
5242   And useth thilke lif so longe,
5243   Til ate laste of that he wroghte 
5244   He fond the meschief which he soghte,  
5245   Wherof it fell that he was slain.
5246   His fader, which it herde sain,  
5247   Was wroth, and al that evere he mihte, 
5248   Of men of Armes he him dighte 
5249   A strong pouer, and forth he wente      
5250   Unto Athenys, where he brente 
5251   The pleine contre al aboute:  
5252   The Cites stode of him in doute, 
5253   As thei that no defence hadde 
5254   Ayein the pouer which he ladde.  
5255   Eges, which was there king, 
5256   His conseil tok upon this thing, 
5257   For he was thanne in the Cite:
5258   So that of pes into tretee 
5259   Betwen Mynos and Eges 
5260   Thei felle, and ben acorded thus;
5261   That king Mynos fro yer to yeere 
5262   Receive schal, as thou schalt here, 
5263   Out of Athenys for truage  
5264   Of men that were of myhti Age 
5265   Persones nyne, of whiche he schal
5266   His wille don in special
5267   For vengance of his Sones deth.  
5268   Non other grace ther ne geth, 
5269   Bot forto take the juise;  
5270   And that was don in such a wise, 
5271   Which stod upon a wonder cas. 
5272   For thilke time so it was, 
5273   Wherof that men yit rede and singe, 
5274   King Mynos hadde in his kepinge  
5275   A cruel Monstre, as seith the geste:
5276   For he was half man and half beste, 
5277   And Minotaurus he was hote,
5278   Which was begete in a riote
5279   Upon Pasiphe, his oghne wif,  
5280   Whil he was oute upon the strif  
5281   Of thilke grete Siege at Troie.  
5282   Bot sche, which lost hath alle joie,
5283   Whan that sche syh this Monstre bore,  
5284   Bad men ordeigne anon therfore:  
5285   And fell that ilke time thus, 
5286   Ther was a Clerk, on Dedalus, 
5287   Which hadde ben of hire assent    
5288   Of that hir world was so miswent;
5289   And he made of his oghne wit, 
5290   Wherof the remembrance is yit,
5291   For Minotaure such an hous,
5292   Which was so strange and merveilous,
5293   That what man that withinne wente,  
5294   Ther was so many a sondri wente, 
5295   That he ne scholde noght come oute, 
5296   But gon amased al aboute.  
5297   And in this hous to loke and warde  
5298   Was Minotaurus put in warde,  
5299   That what lif that therinne cam, 
5300   Or man or beste, he overcam
5301   And slow, and fedde him therupon;
5302   And in this wise many on
5303   Out of Athenys for truage  
5304   Devoured weren in that rage.  
5305   For every yeer thei schope hem so,  
5306   Thei of Athenys, er thei go
5307   Toward that ilke wofull chance,  
5308   As it was set in ordinance,
5309   Upon fortune here lot thei caste;
5310   Til that Theses ate laste,  
5311   Which was the kinges Sone there, 
5312   Amonges othre that ther were  
5313   In thilke yeer, as it befell, 
5314   The lot upon his chance fell. 
5315   He was a worthi kniht withalle;  
5316   And whan he sih this chance falle,  
5317   He ferde as thogh he tok non hiede, 
5318   Bot al that evere he mihte spiede,  
5319   With him and with his felaschipe 
5320   Forth into Crete he goth be Schipe; 
5321   Wher that the king Mynos he soghte, 
5322   And profreth all that he him oghte  
5323   Upon the point of here acord.     
5324   This sterne king, this cruel lord
5325   Tok every day on of the Nyne, 
5326   And put him to the discipline 
5327   Of Minotaure, to be devoured; 
5328   Bot Theses was so favoured, 
5329   That he was kept til ate laste.  
5330   And in the meene while he caste  
5331   What thing him were best to do:  
5332   And fell that Adriagne tho,
5333   Which was the dowhter of Mynos,  
5334   And hadde herd the worthi los 
5335   Of Theses and of his myht,  
5336   And syh he was a lusti kniht, 
5337   Hire hole herte on him sche leide,  
5338   And he also of love hir preide,  
5339   So ferforth that thei were al on.
5340   And sche ordeigneth thanne anon  
5341   In what manere he scholde him save, 
5342   And schop so that sche dede him have
5343   A clue of thred, of which withinne  
5344   Ferst ate dore he schal beginne  
5345   With him to take that on ende,
5346   That whan he wolde ayeinward wende, 
5347   He mihte go the same weie. 
5348   And over this, so as I seie,  
5349   Of pich sche tok him a pelote,
5350   The which he scholde into the throte
5351   Of Minotaure caste rihte:  
5352   Such wepne also for him sche dighte,
5353   That he be reson mai noght faile 
5354   To make an ende of his bataile;  
5355   For sche him tawhte in sondri wise, 
5356   Til he was knowe of thilke emprise, 
5357   Hou he this beste schulde quelle.
5358   And thus, schort tale forto telle,  
5359   So as this Maide him hadde tawht,    
5360   Theses with this Monstre fawht,
5361   Smot of his hed, the which he nam,  
5362   And be the thred, so as he cam,  
5363   He goth ayein, til he were oute. 
5364   Tho was gret wonder al aboute:
5365   Mynos the tribut hath relessed,  
5366   And so was al the werre cessed
5367   Betwen Athene and hem of Crete.  
5368   Bot now to speke of thilke suete,
5369   Whos beaute was withoute wane,
5370   This faire Maiden Adriane, 
5371   Whan that sche sih Theses sound,  
5372   Was nevere yit upon the ground
5373   A gladder wyht that sche was tho.
5374   Theses duelte a dai or tuo  
5375   Wher that Mynos gret chiere him dede:  
5376   Theses in a prive stede  
5377   Hath with this Maiden spoke and rouned,
5378   That sche to him was abandouned  
5379   In al that evere that sche couthe,  
5380   So that of thilke lusty youthe
5381   Al prively betwen hem tweie
5382   The ferste flour he tok aweie.
5383   For he so faire tho behihte
5384   That evere, whil he live mihte,  
5385   He scholde hire take for his wif,
5386   And as his oghne hertes lif
5387   He scholde hire love and trouthe bere; 
5388   And sche, which mihte noght forbere,
5389   So sore loveth him ayein,  
5390   That what as evere he wolde sein 
5391   With al hire herte sche believeth.  
5392   And thus his pourpos he achieveth,  
5393   So that assured of his trouthe
5394   With him sche wente, and that was routhe. 
5395   Fedra hire yonger Soster eke, 
5396   A lusti Maide, a sobre, a meke,  
5397   Fulfild of alle curtesie,      
5398   For Sosterhode and compainie  
5399   Of love, which was hem betuene,  
5400   To sen hire Soster mad a queene, 
5401   Hire fader lefte and forth sche wente  
5402   With him, which al his ferste entente  
5403   Foryat withinne a litel throwe,  
5404   So that it was al overthrowe, 
5405   Whan sche best wende it scholde stonde.
5406   The Schip was blowe fro the londe,  
5407   Wherin that thei seilende were;  
5408   This Adriagne hath mochel fere
5409   Of that the wynd so loude bleu,  
5410   As sche which of the See ne kneu,
5411   And preide forto reste a whyle.  
5412   And so fell that upon an yle, 
5413   Which Chyo hihte, thei ben drive,
5414   Where he to hire his leve hath yive 
5415   That sche schal londe and take hire reste.
5416   Bot that was nothing for the beste: 
5417   For whan sche was to londe broght,  
5418   Sche, which that time thoghte noght 
5419   Bot alle trouthe, and tok no kepe,  
5420   Hath leid hire softe forto slepe,
5421   As sche which longe hath ben forwacched;  
5422   Bot certes sche was evele macched
5423   And fer from alle loves kinde;
5424   For more than the beste unkinde  
5425   Theses, which no trouthe kepte,
5426   Whil that this yonge ladi slepte,
5427   Fulfild of his unkindeschipe  
5428   Hath al foryete the goodschipe
5429   Which Adriane him hadde do,
5430   And bad unto the Schipmen tho 
5431   Hale up the seil and noght abyde,
5432   And forth he goth the same tyde  
5433   Toward Athene, and hire alonde
5434   He lefte, which lay nyh the stronde     
5435   Slepende, til that sche awok. 
5436   Bot whan that sche cast up hire lok 
5437   Toward the stronde and sih no wyht, 
5438   Hire herte was so sore aflyht,
5439   That sche ne wiste what to thinke,  
5440   Bot drouh hire to the water brinke, 
5441   Wher sche behield the See at large. 
5442   Sche sih no Schip, sche sih no barge
5443   Als ferforth as sche mihte kenne:
5444   "Ha lord," sche seide, "which a Senne, 
5445   As al the world schal after hiere,  
5446   Upon this woful womman hiere  
5447   This worthi kniht hath don and wroght! 
5448   I wende I hadde his love boght,  
5449   And so deserved ate nede,  
5450   Whan that he stod upon his drede,
5451   And ek the love he me behihte.
5452   It is gret wonder hou he mihte
5453   Towardes me nou ben unkinde,  
5454   And so to lete out of his mynde  
5455   Thing which he seide his oghne mouth.  
5456   Bot after this whan it is couth  
5457   And drawe into the worldes fame, 
5458   It schal ben hindringe of his name: 
5459   For wel he wot and so wot I,  
5460   He yaf his trouthe bodily, 
5461   That he myn honour scholde kepe."
5462   And with that word sche gan to wepe,
5463   And sorweth more than ynouh:  
5464   Hire faire tresces sche todrouh, 
5465   And with hirself tok such a strif,  
5466   That sche betwen the deth and lif
5467   Swounende lay fulofte among.  
5468   And al was this on him along, 
5469   Which was to love unkinde so, 
5470   Wherof the wrong schal everemo    
5471   Stonde in Cronique of remembrance.  
5472   And ek it asketh a vengance
5473   To ben unkinde in loves cas,  
5474   So as Theses thanne was, 
5475   Al thogh he were a noble kniht;  
5476   For he the lawe of loves riht 
5477   Forfeted hath in alle weie,
5478   That Adriagne he putte aweie, 
5479   Which was a gret unkinde dede:
5480   And after this, so as I rede, 
5481   Fedra, the which hir Soster is,  
5482   He tok in stede of hire, and this
5483   Fel afterward to mochel teene.
5484   For thilke vice of which I meene,
5485   Unkindeschipe, where it falleth, 
5486   The trouthe of mannes herte it palleth,
5487   That he can no good dede aquite: 
5488   So mai he stonde of no merite 
5489   Towardes god, and ek also  
5490   Men clepen him the worldes fo;
5491   For he nomore than the fend
5492   Unto non other man is frend,  
5493   Bot al toward himself al one. 
5494   Forthi, mi Sone, in thi persone  
5495   This vice above all othre fle.
5496   Mi fader, as ye techen me, 
5497   I thenke don in this matiere. 
5498   Bot over this nou wolde I hiere, 
5499   Wherof I schal me schryve more.  
5500   Mi goode Sone, and for thi lore, 
5501   After the reule of coveitise  
5502   I schal the proprete devise
5503   Of every vice by and by.
5504   Nou herkne and be wel war therby.
5505   In the lignage of Avarice, 
5506   Mi Sone, yit ther is a vice,      
5507   His rihte name it is Ravine,  
5508   Which hath a route of his covine.
5509   Ravine among the maistres duelleth, 
5510   And with his servantz, as men telleth, 
5511   Extorcion is nou withholde:
5512   Ravine of othre mennes folde  
5513   Makth his larder and paieth noght;  
5514   For wher as evere it mai be soght,  
5515   In his hous ther schal nothing lacke,  
5516   And that fulofte abyth the packe 
5517   Of povere men that duelle aboute.
5518   Thus stant the comun poeple in doute,  
5519   Which can do non amendement;  
5520   For whanne him faileth paiement, 
5521   Ravine makth non other skile, 
5522   Bot takth be strengthe what he wile.
5523   So ben ther in the same wise  
5524   Lovers, as I thee schal devise,  
5525   That whan noght elles mai availe,
5526   Anon with strengthe thei assaile 
5527   And gete of love the sesine,  
5528   Whan thei se time, be Ravine. 
5529   Forthi, mi Sone, schrif thee hier,  
5530   If thou hast ben a Raviner 
5531   Of love. Certes, fader, no:
5532   For I mi ladi love so,  
5533   That thogh I were as was Pompeie,
5534   That al the world me wolde obeie,
5535   Or elles such as Alisandre,
5536   I wolde noght do such a sklaundre;  
5537   It is no good man, which so doth.
5538   In good feith, Sone, thou seist soth:  
5539   For he that wole of pourveance
5540   Be such a weie his lust avance,      
5541   He schal it after sore abie,  
5542   Bot if these olde ensamples lie. 
5543   Nou, goode fader, tell me on, 
5544   So as ye cunne manyon,  
5545   Touchende of love in this matiere.  
5546   Nou list, mi Sone, and thou schalt hiere, 
5547   So as it hath befalle er this,
5548   In loves cause hou that it is 
5549   A man to take be Ravine 
5550   The preie which is femeline.  
5551   Ther was a real noble king,
5552   And riche of alle worldes thing, 
5553   Which of his propre enheritance  
5554   Athenes hadde in governance,  
5555   And who so thenke therupon,
5556   His name was king Pandion. 
5557   Tuo douhtres hadde he be his wif,
5558   The whiche he lovede as his lif; 
5559   The ferste douhter Progne hihte, 
5560   And the secounde, as sche wel mihte,
5561   Was cleped faire Philomene,
5562   To whom fell after mochel tene.  
5563   The fader of his pourveance
5564   His doughter Progne wolde avance,
5565   And yaf hire unto mariage  
5566   A worthi king of hih lignage, 
5567   A noble kniht eke of his hond,
5568   So was he kid in every lond,  
5569   Of Trace he hihte Teres; 
5570   The clerk Ovide telleth thus. 
5571   This Teres his wif hom ladde,  
5572   A lusti lif with hire he hadde;  
5573   Til it befell upon a tyde, 
5574   This Progne, as sche lay him besyde,
5575   Bethoughte hir hou it mihte be
5576   That sche hir Soster myhte se,    
5577   And to hir lord hir will sche seide,
5578   With goodly wordes and him preide
5579   That sche to hire mihte go:
5580   And if it liked him noght so, 
5581   That thanne he wolde himselve wende,
5582   Or elles be som other sende,  
5583   Which mihte hire diere Soster griete,  
5584   And schape hou that thei mihten miete. 
5585   Hir lord anon to that he herde
5586   Yaf his acord, and thus ansuerde:
5587   "I wole," he seide, "for thi sake
5588   The weie after thi Soster take
5589   Miself, and bringe hire, if I may." 
5590   And sche with that, there as he lay,
5591   Began him in hire armes clippe,  
5592   And kist him with hir softe lippe,  
5593   And seide, "Sire, grant mercy."  
5594   And he sone after was redy,
5595   And tok his leve forto go; 
5596   In sori time dede he so.
5597   This Teres goth forth to Schipe
5598   With him and with his felaschipe;
5599   Be See the rihte cours he nam,
5600   Into the contre til he cam,
5601   Wher Philomene was duellinge, 
5602   And of hir Soster the tidinge 
5603   He tolde, and tho thei weren glade, 
5604   And mochel joie of him thei made.
5605   The fader and the moder bothe 
5606   To leve here douhter weren lothe,
5607   Bot if thei weren in presence;
5608   And natheles at reverence  
5609   Of him, that wolde himself travaile,
5610   Thei wolden noght he scholde faile  
5611   Of that he preide, and yive hire leve: 
5612   And sche, that wolde noght beleve,      
5613   In alle haste made hire yare  
5614   Toward hir Soster forto fare, 
5615   With Teres and forth sche wente.  
5616   And he with al his hole entente, 
5617   Whan sche was fro hir frendes go,
5618   Assoteth of hire love so,  
5619   His yhe myhte he noght withholde,
5620   That he ne moste on hir beholde; 
5621   And with the sihte he gan desire,
5622   And sette his oghne herte on fyre;  
5623   And fyr, whan it to tow aprocheth,  
5624   To him anon the strengthe acrocheth,
5625   Til with his hete it be devoured,
5626   The tow ne mai noght be socoured.
5627   And so that tirant raviner,
5628   Whan that sche was in his pouer, 
5629   And he therto sawh time and place,  
5630   As he that lost hath alle grace, 
5631   Foryat he was a wedded man,
5632   And in a rage on hire he ran, 
5633   Riht as a wolf which takth his preie.  
5634   And sche began to crie and preie,
5635   "O fader, o mi moder diere,
5636   Nou help!" Bot thei ne mihte it hiere, 
5637   And sche was of to litel myht 
5638   Defense ayein so ruide a knyht
5639   To make, whanne he was so wod 
5640   That he no reson understod,
5641   Bot hield hire under in such wise,  
5642   That sche ne myhte noght arise,  
5643   Bot lay oppressed and desesed,
5644   As if a goshauk hadde sesed
5645   A brid, which dorste noght for fere 
5646   Remue: and thus this tirant there
5647   Beraft hire such thing as men sein  
5648   Mai neveremor be yolde ayein, 
5649   And that was the virginite:
5650   Of such Ravine it was pite.    
5651   Bot whan sche to hirselven com,  
5652   And of hir meschief hiede nom,
5653   And knew hou that sche was no maide,
5654   With wofull herte thus sche saide,  
5655   "O thou of alle men the worste,  
5656   Wher was ther evere man that dorste 
5657   Do such a dede as thou hast do?  
5658   That dai schal falle, I hope so, 
5659   That I schal telle out al mi fille, 
5660   And with mi speche I schal fulfille 
5661   The wyde world in brede and lengthe.
5662   That thou hast do to me be strengthe,  
5663   If I among the poeple duelle, 
5664   Unto the poeple I schal it telle;
5665   And if I be withinne wall  
5666   Of Stones closed, thanne I schal 
5667   Unto the Stones clepe and crie,  
5668   And tellen hem thi felonie;
5669   And if I to the wodes wende,  
5670   Ther schal I tellen tale and ende,  
5671   And crie it to the briddes oute, 
5672   That thei schul hiere it al aboute. 
5673   For I so loude it schal reherce, 
5674   That my vois schal the hevene perce,
5675   That it schal soune in goddes Ere.  
5676   Ha, false man, where is thi fere?
5677   O mor cruel than eny beste,
5678   Hou hast thou holden thi beheste 
5679   Which thou unto my Soster madest?
5680   O thou, which alle love ungladest,  
5681   And art ensample of alle untrewe,
5682   Nou wolde god mi Soster knewe,
5683   Of thin untrouthe, hou that it stod!"  
5684   And he than as a Lyon wod  
5685   With hise unhappi handes stronge     
5686   Hire cauhte be the tresses longe,
5687   With whiche he bond ther bothe hire armes,
5688   That was a fieble dede of armes, 
5689   And to the grounde anon hire caste, 
5690   And out he clippeth also faste
5691   Hire tunge with a peire scheres. 
5692   So what with blod and what with teres  
5693   Out of hire yhe and of hir mouth,
5694   He made hire faire face uncouth: 
5695   Sche lay swounende unto the deth,
5696   Ther was unethes eny breth;
5697   Bot yit whan he hire tunge refte,
5698   A litel part therof belefte,  
5699   Bot sche with al no word mai soune, 
5700   Bot chitre and as a brid jargoune.  
5701   And natheles that wode hound  
5702   Hir bodi hent up fro the ground, 
5703   And sente hir there as be his wille 
5704   Sche scholde abyde in prison stille 
5705   For everemo: bot nou tak hiede
5706   What after fell of this misdede. 
5707   Whanne al this meschief was befalle,
5708   This Teres, that foule him falle, 
5709   Unto his contre hom he tyh;
5710   And whan he com his paleis nyh,  
5711   His wif al redi there him kepte. 
5712   Whan he hir sih, anon he wepte,  
5713   And that he dede for deceite, 
5714   For sche began to axe him streite,  
5715   "Wher is mi Soster?" And he seide
5716   That sche was ded; and Progne abreide, 
5717   As sche that was a wofull wif,
5718   And stod betuen hire deth and lif,  
5719   Of that sche herde such tidinge: 
5720   Bot for sche sih hire lord wepinge, 
5721   She wende noght bot alle trouthe,
5722   And hadde wel the more routhe.
5723   The Perles weren tho forsake  
5724   To hire, and blake clothes take;     
5725   As sche that was gentil and kinde,  
5726   In worschipe of hir Sostres mynde
5727   Sche made a riche enterement, 
5728   For sche fond non amendement  
5729   To syghen or to sobbe more:
5730   So was ther guile under the gore.
5731   Nou leve we this king and queene,
5732   And torne ayein to Philomene, 
5733   As I began to tellen erst. 
5734   Whan sche cam into prison ferst, 
5735   It thoghte a kinges douhter strange 
5736   To maken so soudein a change  
5737   Fro welthe unto so grete a wo;
5738   And sche began to thenke tho, 
5739   Thogh sche be mouthe nothing preide,
5740   Withinne hir herte thus sche seide: 
5741   "O thou, almyhty Jupiter,  
5742   That hihe sist and lokest fer,
5743   Thou soffrest many a wrong doinge,  
5744   And yit it is noght thi willinge.
5745   To thee ther mai nothing ben hid,
5746   Thou wost hou it is me betid: 
5747   I wolde I hadde noght be bore,
5748   For thanne I hadde noght forlore 
5749   Mi speche and mi virginite.
5750   Bot, goode lord, al is in thee,  
5751   Whan thou therof wolt do vengance
5752   And schape mi deliverance."
5753   And evere among this ladi wepte, 
5754   And thoghte that sche nevere kepte  
5755   To ben a worldes womman more, 
5756   And that sche wissheth everemore.
5757   Bot ofte unto hir Soster diere
5758   Hire herte spekth in this manere,
5759   And seide, "Ha, Soster, if ye knewe 
5760   Of myn astat, ye wolde rewe,  
5761   I trowe, and my deliverance    
5762   Ye wolde schape, and do vengance 
5763   On him that is so fals a man: 
5764   And natheles, so as I can, 
5765   I wol you sende som tokninge, 
5766   Wherof ye schul have knowlechinge
5767   Of thing I wot, that schal you lothe,  
5768   The which you toucheth and me bothe."  
5769   And tho withinne a whyle als tyt 
5770   Sche waf a cloth of Selk al whyt 
5771   With lettres and ymagerie, 
5772   In which was al the felonie,  
5773   Which Teres to hire hath do;
5774   And lappede it togedre tho 
5775   And sette hir signet therupon 
5776   And sende it unto Progne anon.
5777   The messager which forth it bar, 
5778   What it amonteth is noght war;
5779   And natheles to Progne he goth
5780   And prively takth hire the cloth,
5781   And wente ayein riht as he cam,  
5782   The court of him non hiede nam.  
5783   Whan Progne of Philomene herde,  
5784   Sche wolde knowe hou that it ferde, 
5785   And opneth that the man hath broght,
5786   And wot therby what hath be wroght  
5787   And what meschief ther is befalle.  
5788   In swoune tho sche gan doun falle,  
5789   And efte aros and gan to stonde, 
5790   And eft sche takth the cloth on honde, 
5791   Behield the lettres and thymages;
5792   Bot ate laste, "Of suche oultrages,"
5793   Sche seith, "wepinge is noght the bote:"  
5794   And swerth, if that sche live mote, 
5795   It schal be venged otherwise. 
5796   And with that sche gan hire avise
5797   Hou ferst sche mihte unto hire winne
5798   Hir Soster, that noman withinne, 
5799   Bot only thei that were suore,    
5800   It scholde knowe, and schop therfore
5801   That Teres nothing it wiste;
5802   And yit riht as hirselven liste, 
5803   Hir Soster was delivered sone 
5804   Out of prison, and be the mone
5805   To Progne sche was broght be nyhte. 
5806   Whan ech of other hadde a sihte, 
5807   In chambre, ther thei were al one,  
5808   Thei maden many a pitous mone;
5809   Bot Progne most of sorwe made,
5810   Which sihe hir Soster pale and fade 
5811   And specheles and deshonoured,
5812   Of that sche hadde be defloured; 
5813   And ek upon hir lord sche thoghte,  
5814   Of that he so untreuly wroghte
5815   And hadde his espousaile broke.  
5816   Sche makth a vou it schal be wroke, 
5817   And with that word sche kneleth doun
5818   Wepinge in gret devocioun: 
5819   Unto Cupide and to Venus
5820   Sche preide, and seide thanne thus: 
5821   "O ye, to whom nothing asterte
5822   Of love mai, for every herte  
5823   Ye knowe, as ye that ben above
5824   The god and the goddesse of love;
5825   Ye witen wel that evere yit
5826   With al mi will and al my wit,
5827   Sith ferst ye schopen me to wedde,  
5828   That I lay with mi lord abedde,  
5829   I have be trewe in mi degre,  
5830   And evere thoghte forto be,
5831   And nevere love in other place,  
5832   Bot al only the king of Trace,
5833   Which is mi lord and I his wif.  
5834   Bot nou allas this wofull strif! 
5835   That I him thus ayeinward finde  
5836   The most untrewe and most unkinde    
5837   That evere in ladi armes lay. 
5838   And wel I wot that he ne may  
5839   Amende his wrong, it is so gret; 
5840   For he to lytel of me let, 
5841   Whan he myn oughne Soster tok,
5842   And me that am his wif forsok."  
5843   Lo, thus to Venus and Cupide  
5844   Sche preide, and furthermor sche cride 
5845   Unto Appollo the hiheste,  
5846   And seide, "O myghti god of reste,  
5847   Thou do vengance of this debat.  
5848   Mi Soster and al hire astat
5849   Thou wost, and hou sche hath forlore
5850   Hir maidenhod, and I therfore 
5851   In al the world schal bere a blame  
5852   Of that mi Soster hath a schame, 
5853   That Teres to hire I sente: 
5854   And wel thou wost that myn entente  
5855   Was al for worschipe and for goode. 
5856   O lord, that yifst the lives fode
5857   To every wyht, I prei thee hiere 
5858   Thes wofull Sostres that ben hiere, 
5859   And let ous noght to the ben lothe; 
5860   We ben thin oghne wommen bothe." 
5861   Thus pleigneth Progne and axeth wreche,
5862   And thogh hire Soster lacke speche, 
5863   To him that alle thinges wot  
5864   Hire sorwe is noght the lasse hot:  
5865   Bot he that thanne had herd hem tuo,
5866   Him oughte have sorwed everemo
5867   For sorwe which was hem betuene. 
5868   With signes pleigneth Philomene, 
5869   And Progne seith, "It schal be wreke,  
5870   That al the world therof schal speke." 
5871   And Progne tho seknesse feigneth,
5872   Wherof unto hir lord sche pleigneth,
5873   And preith sche moste hire chambres kepe, 
5874   And as hir liketh wake and slepe.    
5875   And he hire granteth to be so;
5876   And thus togedre ben thei tuo,
5877   That wolde him bot a litel good. 
5878   Nou herk hierafter hou it stod
5879   Of wofull auntres that befelle:  
5880   Thes Sostres, that ben bothe felle,-
5881   And that was noght on hem along, 
5882   Bot onliche on the grete wrong
5883   Which Teres hem hadde do,-  
5884   Thei schopen forto venge hem tho.
5885   This Teres be Progne his wif
5886   A Sone hath, which as his lif 
5887   He loveth, and Ithis he hihte:
5888   His moder wiste wel sche mihte
5889   Do Teres no more grief
5890   Than sle this child, which was so lief.
5891   Thus sche, that was, as who seith, mad 
5892   Of wo, which hath hir overlad,
5893   Withoute insihte of moderhede 
5894   Foryat pite and loste drede,  
5895   And in hir chambre prively 
5896   This child withouten noise or cry
5897   Sche slou, and hieu him al to pieces:  
5898   And after with diverse spieces
5899   The fleissh, whan it was so toheewe,
5900   Sche takth, and makth therof a sewe,
5901   With which the fader at his mete 
5902   Was served, til he hadde him ete;
5903   That he ne wiste hou that it stod,  
5904   Bot thus his oughne fleissh and blod
5905   Himself devoureth ayein kinde,
5906   As he that was tofore unkinde.
5907   And thanne, er that he were arise,  
5908   For that he scholde ben agrise,  
5909   To schewen him the child was ded,
5910   This Philomene tok the hed 
5911   Betwen tuo disshes, and al wrothe    
5912   Tho comen forth the Sostres bothe,  
5913   And setten it upon the bord.  
5914   And Progne tho began the word,
5915   And seide, "O werste of alle wicke, 
5916   Of conscience whom no pricke  
5917   Mai stere, lo, what thou hast do!
5918   Lo, hier ben nou we Sostres tuo; 
5919   O Raviner, lo hier thi preie, 
5920   With whom so falsliche on the weie  
5921   Thou hast thi tirannye wroght.
5922   Lo, nou it is somdel aboght,  
5923   And bet it schal, for of thi dede
5924   The world schal evere singe and rede
5925   In remembrance of thi defame: 
5926   For thou to love hast do such schame,  
5927   That it schal nevere be foryete."
5928   With that he sterte up fro the mete,
5929   And schof the bord unto the flor,
5930   And cauhte a swerd anon and suor 
5931   That thei scholde of his handes dye.
5932   And thei unto the goddes crie 
5933   Begunne with so loude a stevene, 
5934   That thei were herd unto the hevene;
5935   And in a twinclinge of an yhe 
5936   The goddes, that the meschief syhe, 
5937   Here formes changen alle thre.
5938   Echon of hem in his degre  
5939   Was torned into briddes kinde;
5940   Diverseliche, as men mai finde,  
5941   After thastat that thei were inne,  
5942   Here formes were set atwinne. 
5943   And as it telleth in the tale,
5944   The ferst into a nyhtingale
5945   Was schape, and that was Philomene, 
5946   Which in the wynter is noght sene,  
5947   For thanne ben the leves falle    
5948   And naked ben the buisshes alle. 
5949   For after that sche was a brid,  
5950   Hir will was evere to ben hid,
5951   And forto duelle in prive place, 
5952   That noman scholde sen hir face  
5953   For schame, which mai noght be lassed, 
5954   Of thing that was tofore passed, 
5955   Whan that sche loste hir maidenhiede:  
5956   For evere upon hir wommanhiede,  
5957   Thogh that the goddes wolde hire change,  
5958   Sche thenkth, and is the more strange, 
5959   And halt hir clos the wyntres day.  
5960   Bot whan the wynter goth away,
5961   And that Nature the goddesse  
5962   Wole of hir oughne fre largesse  
5963   With herbes and with floures bothe  
5964   The feldes and the medwes clothe,
5965   And ek the wodes and the greves  
5966   Ben heled al with grene leves,
5967   So that a brid hire hyde mai, 
5968   Betwen Averil and March and Maii,
5969   Sche that the wynter hield hir clos,
5970   For pure schame and noght aros,  
5971   Whan that sche seth the bowes thikke,  
5972   And that ther is no bare sticke, 
5973   Bot al is hid with leves grene,  
5974   To wode comth this Philomene  
5975   And makth hir ferste yeres flyht;
5976   Wher as sche singeth day and nyht,  
5977   And in hir song al openly  
5978   Sche makth hir pleignte and seith, "O why,
5979   O why ne were I yit a maide?" 
5980   For so these olde wise saide, 
5981   Which understoden what sche mente,  
5982   Hire notes ben of such entente.      
5983   And ek thei seide hou in hir song
5984   Sche makth gret joie and merthe among, 
5985   And seith, "Ha, nou I am a brid, 
5986   Ha, nou mi face mai ben hid:  
5987   Thogh I have lost mi Maidenhede, 
5988   Schal noman se my chekes rede."  
5989   Thus medleth sche with joie wo
5990   And with hir sorwe merthe also,  
5991   So that of loves maladie
5992   Sche makth diverse melodie,
5993   And seith love is a wofull blisse,  
5994   A wisdom which can noman wisse,  
5995   A lusti fievere, a wounde softe: 
5996   This note sche reherceth ofte 
5997   To hem whiche understonde hir tale. 
5998   Nou have I of this nyhtingale,
5999   Which erst was cleped Philomene, 
6000   Told al that evere I wolde mene, 
6001   Bothe of hir forme and of hir note, 
6002   Wherof men mai the storie note.  
6003   And of hir Soster Progne I finde,
6004   Hou sche was torned out of kinde 
6005   Into a Swalwe swift of winge, 
6006   Which ek in wynter lith swounynge,  
6007   Ther as sche mai nothing be sene:
6008   Bot whan the world is woxe grene 
6009   And comen is the Somertide,
6010   Than fleth sche forth and ginth to chide, 
6011   And chitreth out in hir langage  
6012   What falshod is in mariage,
6013   And telleth in a maner speche 
6014   Of Teres the Spousebreche.  
6015   Sche wol noght in the wodes duelle, 
6016   For sche wolde openliche telle;  
6017   And ek for that sche was a spouse,  
6018   Among the folk sche comth to house, 
6019   To do thes wyves understonde      
6020   The falshod of hire housebonde,  
6021   That thei of hem be war also, 
6022   For ther ben manye untrewe of tho.  
6023   Thus ben the Sostres briddes bothe, 
6024   And ben toward the men so lothe, 
6025   That thei ne wole of pure schame 
6026   Unto no mannes hand be tame;  
6027   For evere it duelleth in here mynde 
6028   Of that thei founde a man unkinde,  
6029   And that was false Teres.
6030   If such on be amonges ous  
6031   I not, bot his condicion
6032   Men sein in every region
6033   Withinne toune and ek withoute
6034   Nou regneth comunliche aboute.
6035   And natheles in remembrance
6036   I wol declare what vengance
6037   The goddes hadden him ordeined,  
6038   Of that the Sostres hadden pleigned:
6039   For anon after he was changed 
6040   And from his oghne kinde stranged,  
6041   A lappewincke mad he was,  
6042   And thus he hoppeth on the gras, 
6043   And on his hed ther stant upriht 
6044   A creste in tokne he was a kniht;
6045   And yit unto this dai men seith, 
6046   A lappewincke hath lore his feith
6047   And is the brid falseste of alle.
6048   Bewar, mi Sone, er thee so falle;
6049   For if thou be of such covine,
6050   To gete of love be Ravine  
6051   Thi lust, it mai thee falle thus,
6052   As it befell of Teres.
6053   Mi fader, goddes forebode!     
6054   Me were levere be fortrode 
6055   With wilde hors and be todrawe,  
6056   Er I ayein love and his lawe  
6057   Dede eny thing or loude or stille,  
6058   Which were noght mi ladi wille.  
6059   Men sein that every love hath drede;
6060   So folweth it that I hire drede, 
6061   For I hire love, and who so dredeth,
6062   To plese his love and serve him nedeth.
6063   Thus mai ye knowen be this skile 
6064   That no Ravine don I wile  
6065   Ayein hir will be such a weie;
6066   Bot while I live, I wol obeie 
6067   Abidinge on hire courtesie,
6068   If eny merci wolde hir plie.  
6069   Forthi, mi fader, as of this  
6070   I wot noght I have don amis:  
6071   Bot furthermore I you beseche,
6072   Som other point that ye me teche,
6073   And axeth forth, if ther be auht,
6074   That I mai be the betre tauht.
6075   Whan Covoitise in povere astat
6076   Stant with himself upon debat 
6077   Thurgh lacke of his misgovernance,  
6078   That he unto his sustienance  
6079   Ne can non other weie finde
6080   To gete him good, thanne as the blinde,
6081   Which seth noght what schal after falle,  
6082   That ilke vice which men calle
6083   Of Robberie, he takth on honde;  
6084   Wherof be water and be londe  
6085   Of thing which othre men beswinke    
6086   He get him cloth and mete and drinke.  
6087   Him reccheth noght what he beginne, 
6088   Thurgh thefte so that he mai winne: 
6089   Forthi to maken his pourchas  
6090   He lith awaitende on the pas, 
6091   And what thing that he seth ther passe,
6092   He takth his part, or more or lasse,
6093   If it be worthi to be take.
6094   He can the packes wel ransake,
6095   So prively berth non aboute
6096   His gold, that he ne fint it oute,  
6097   Or other juel, what it be; 
6098   He takth it as his proprete.  
6099   In wodes and in feldes eke 
6100   Thus Robberie goth to seke,
6101   Wher as he mai his pourpos finde.
6102   And riht so in the same kinde,
6103   My goode Sone, as thou miht hiere,  
6104   To speke of love in the matiere  
6105   And make a verrai resemblance,
6106   Riht as a thief makth his chevance  
6107   And robbeth mennes good aboute
6108   In wode and field, wher he goth oute,  
6109   So be ther of these lovers some, 
6110   In wylde stedes wher thei come
6111   And finden there a womman able,  
6112   And therto place covenable,
6113   Withoute leve, er that thei fare,
6114   Thei take a part of that chaffare:  
6115   Yee, though sche were a Scheperdesse,  
6116   Yit wol the lord of wantounesse  
6117   Assaie, althogh sche be unmete,  
6118   For other mennes good is swete.  
6119   Bot therof wot nothing the wif
6120   At hom, which loveth as hir lif  
6121   Hir lord, and sitt alday wisshinge  
6122   After hir lordes hom comynge: 
6123   Bot whan that he comth hom at eve,      
6124   Anon he makth his wif beleve, 
6125   For sche noght elles scholde knowe: 
6126   He telth hire hou his hunte hath blowe,
6127   And hou his houndes have wel runne, 
6128   And hou ther schon a merye Sunne,
6129   And hou his haukes flowen wel;
6130   Bot he wol telle her nevere a diel  
6131   Hou he to love untrewe was,
6132   Of that he robbede in the pas,
6133   And tok his lust under the schawe
6134   Ayein love and ayein his lawe.
6135   Which thing, mi Sone, I thee forbede,  
6136   For it is an ungoodly dede.
6137   For who that takth be Robberie
6138   His love, he mai noght justefie  
6139   His cause, and so fulofte sithe  
6140   For ones that he hath be blithe  
6141   He schal ben after sory thries.  
6142   Ensample of suche Robberies
6143   I finde write, as thou schalt hiere,
6144   Acordende unto this matiere.  
6145   I rede hou whilom was a Maide,
6146   The faireste, as Ovide saide, 
6147   Which was in hire time tho;
6148   And sche was of the chambre also 
6149   Of Pallas, which is the goddesse 
6150   And wif to Marte, of whom prouesse  
6151   Is yove to these worthi knihtes. 
6152   For he is of so grete mihtes, 
6153   That he governeth the bataille;  
6154   Withouten him may noght availe
6155   The stronge hond, bot he it helpe;  
6156   Ther mai no knyht of armes yelpe,
6157   Bot he feihte under his banere.  
6158   Bot nou to speke of mi matiere,  
6159   This faire, freisshe, lusti mai, 
6160   Al one as sche wente on a dai 
6161   Upon the stronde forto pleie,     
6162   Ther cam Neptunus in the weie,
6163   Which hath the See in governance;
6164   And in his herte such plesance
6165   He tok, whan he this Maide sih,  
6166   That al his herte aros on hih,
6167   For he so sodeinliche unwar
6168   Behield the beaute that sche bar.
6169   And caste anon withinne his herte
6170   That sche him schal no weie asterte,
6171   Bot if he take in avantage 
6172   Fro thilke maide som pilage,  
6173   Noght of the broches ne the Ringes, 
6174   Bot of some othre smale thinges  
6175   He thoghte parte, er that sche wente;  
6176   And hire in bothe hise armes hente, 
6177   And putte his hond toward the cofre,
6178   Wher forto robbe he made a profre,  
6179   That lusti tresor forto stele,
6180   Which passeth othre goodes fele  
6181   And cleped is the maidenhede, 
6182   Which is the flour of wommanhede.
6183   This Maiden, which Cornix be name
6184   Was hote, dredende alle schame,  
6185   Sih that sche mihte noght debate,
6186   And wel sche wiste he wolde algate  
6187   Fulfille his lust of Robberie,
6188   Anon began to wepe and crie,  
6189   And seide, "O Pallas, noble queene, 
6190   Scheu nou thi myht and let be sene, 
6191   To kepe and save myn honour:  
6192   Help, that I lese noght mi flour,
6193   Which nou under thi keie is loke."  
6194   That word was noght so sone spoke,  
6195   Whan Pallas schop recoverir
6196   After the will and the desir  
6197   Of hire, which a Maiden was,  
6198   And sodeinliche upon this cas     
6199   Out of hire wommanisshe kinde 
6200   Into a briddes like I finde
6201   Sche was transformed forth withal,  
6202   So that Neptunus nothing stal 
6203   Of such thing as he wolde have stole.  
6204   With fetheres blake as eny cole  
6205   Out of hise armes in a throwe 
6206   Sche flih before his yhe a Crowe;
6207   Which was to hire a more delit,  
6208   To kepe hire maidenhede whit  
6209   Under the wede of fethers blake, 
6210   In Perles whyte than forsake  
6211   That no lif mai restore ayein.
6212   Bot thus Neptune his herte in vein  
6213   Hath upon Robberie sett;
6214   The bridd is flowe and he was let,  
6215   The faire Maide him hath ascaped,
6216   Wherof for evere he was bejaped  
6217   And scorned of that he hath lore.
6218   Mi Sone, be thou war therfore 
6219   That thou no maidenhode stele,
6220   Wherof men sen deseses fele
6221   Aldai befalle in sondri wise; 
6222   So as I schal thee yit devise 
6223   An other tale therupon, 
6224   Which fell be olde daies gon. 
6225   King Lichaon upon his wif  
6226   A dowhter hadde, a goodly lif,
6227   A clene Maide of worthi fame, 
6228   Calistona whos rihte name  
6229   Was cleped, and of many a lord
6230   Sche was besoght, bot hire acord 
6231   To love myhte noman winne, 
6232   As sche which hath no lust therinne;
6233   Bot swor withinne hir herte and saide  
6234   That sche wolde evere ben a Maide.  
6235   Wherof to kepe hireself in pes,      
6236   With suche as Amadriades
6237   Were cleped, wodemaydes, tho, 
6238   And with the Nimphes ek also  
6239   Upon the spring of freisshe welles  
6240   Sche schop to duelle and nagher elles. 
6241   And thus cam this Calistona
6242   Into the wode of Tegea, 
6243   Wher sche virginite behihte
6244   Unto Diane, and therto plihte 
6245   Her trouthe upon the bowes grene,
6246   To kepe hir maidenhode clene. 
6247   Which afterward upon a day 
6248   Was priveliche stole away; 
6249   For Jupiter thurgh his queintise 
6250   From hire it tok in such a wise, 
6251   That sodeinliche forth withal 
6252   Hire wombe aros and sche toswal, 
6253   So that it mihte noght ben hidd. 
6254   And therupon it is betidd, 
6255   Diane, which it herde telle,  
6256   In prive place unto a welle
6257   With Nimphes al a compainie
6258   Was come, and in a ragerie 
6259   Sche seide that sche bathe wolde,
6260   And bad that every maide scholde 
6261   With hire al naked bathe also.
6262   And tho began the prive wo,
6263   Calistona wax red for schame; 
6264   Bot thei that knewe noght the game, 
6265   To whom no such thing was befalle,  
6266   Anon thei made hem naked alle,
6267   As thei that nothing wolden hyde:
6268   Bot sche withdrouh hire evere asyde,
6269   And natheles into the flod,
6270   Wher that Diane hirselve stod,
6271   Sche thoghte come unaperceived.  
6272   Bot therof sche was al deceived; 
6273   For whan sche cam a litel nyh,    
6274   And that Diane hire wombe syh,
6275   Sche seide, "Awey, thou foule beste,
6276   For thin astat is noght honeste  
6277   This chaste water forto touche;  
6278   For thou hast take such a touche,
6279   Which nevere mai ben hol ayein." 
6280   And thus goth sche which was forlein
6281   With schame, and fro the Nimphes fledde,  
6282   Til whanne that nature hire spedde, 
6283   That of a Sone, which Archas  
6284   Was named, sche delivered was.
6285   And tho Juno, which was the wif  
6286   Of Jupiter, wroth and hastif, 
6287   In pourpos forto do vengance  
6288   Cam forth upon this ilke chance, 
6289   And to Calistona sche spak,
6290   And sette upon hir many a lak,
6291   And seide, "Ha, nou thou art atake, 
6292   That thou thi werk myht noght forsake. 
6293   Ha, thou ungoodlich ypocrite, 
6294   Hou thou art gretly forto wyte!  
6295   Bot nou thou schalt ful sore abie
6296   That ilke stelthe and micherie,  
6297   Which thou hast bothe take and do;  
6298   Wherof thi fader Lichao 
6299   Schal noght be glad, whan he it wot,
6300   Of that his dowhter was so hot,  
6301   That sche hath broke hire chaste avou. 
6302   Bot I thee schal chastise nou;
6303   Thi grete beaute schal be torned,
6304   Thurgh which that thou hast be mistorned, 
6305   Thi large frount, thin yhen greie,  
6306   I schal hem change in other weie,
6307   And al the feture of thi face 
6308   In such a wise I schal deface,
6309   That every man thee schal forbere." 
6310   With that the liknesse of a bere 
6311   Sche tok and was forschape anon.     
6312   Withinne a time and therupon  
6313   Befell that with a bowe on honde,
6314   To hunte and gamen forto fonde,  
6315   Into that wode goth to pleie  
6316   Hir Sone Archas, and in his weie 
6317   It hapneth that this bere cam.
6318   And whan that sche good hiede nam,  
6319   Wher that he stod under the bowh,
6320   Sche kneu him wel and to him drouh; 
6321   For thogh sche hadde hire forme lore,  
6322   The love was noght lost therfore 
6323   Which kinde hath set under his lawe.
6324   Whan sche under the wodesschawe  
6325   Hire child behield, sche was so glad,  
6326   That sche with bothe hire armes sprad, 
6327   As thogh sche were in wommanhiede,  
6328   Toward him cam, and tok non hiede
6329   Of that he bar a bowe bent.
6330   And he with that an Arwe hath hent  
6331   And gan to teise it in his bowe, 
6332   As he that can non other knowe,  
6333   Bot that it was a beste wylde.
6334   Bot Jupiter, which wolde schylde 
6335   The Moder and the Sone also,  
6336   Ordeineth for hem bothe so,
6337   That thei for evere were save.
6338   Bot thus, mi Sone, thou myht have
6339   Ensample, hou that it is to fle  
6340   To robbe the virginite  
6341   Of a yong innocent aweie:  
6342   And overthis be other weie,
6343   In olde bokes as I rede,
6344   Such Robberie is forto drede, 
6345   And nameliche of thilke good  
6346   Which every womman that is good  
6347   Desireth forto kepe and holde,    
6348   As whilom was be daies olde.  
6349   For if thou se mi tale wel 
6350   Of that was tho, thou miht somdiel  
6351   Of old ensample taken hiede,  
6352   Hou that the flour of maidenhiede
6353   Was thilke time holde in pris.
6354   And so it was, and so it is,  
6355   And so it schal for evere stonde:
6356   And for thou schalt it understonde, 
6357   Nou herkne a tale next suiende,  
6358   Hou maidenhod is to commende. 
6359   Of Rome among the gestes olde 
6360   I finde hou that Valerie tolde
6361   That what man tho was Emperour
6362   Of Rome, he scholde don honour
6363   To the virgine, and in the weie, 
6364   Wher he hire mette, he scholde obeie
6365   In worschipe of virginite, 
6366   Which tho was of gret dignite.
6367   Noght onliche of the wommen tho, 
6368   Bot of the chaste men also 
6369   It was commended overal:
6370   And forto speke in special 
6371   Touchende of men, ensample I finde, 
6372   Phyryns, which was of mannes kinde  
6373   Above alle othre the faireste 
6374   Of Rome and ek the comelieste,
6375   That wel was hire which him mihte
6376   Beholde and have of him a sihte. 
6377   Thus was he tempted ofte sore;    
6378   Bot for he wolde be nomore 
6379   Among the wommen so coveited, 
6380   The beaute of his face streited  
6381   He hath, and threste out bothe hise yhen, 
6382   That alle wommen whiche him syhen
6383   Thanne afterward, of him ne roghte: 
6384   And thus his maidehiede he boghte.  
6385   So mai I prove wel forthi, 
6386   Above alle othre under the Sky,  
6387   Who that the vertus wolde peise, 
6388   Virginite is forto preise, 
6389   Which, as thapocalips recordeth, 
6390   To Crist in hevene best acordeth.
6391   So mai it schewe wel therfore,
6392   As I have told it hier tofore,
6393   In hevene and ek in Erthe also
6394   It is accept to bothe tuo. 
6395   And if I schal more over this 
6396   Declare what this vertu is,
6397   I finde write upon this thing     
6398   Of Valentinian the king 
6399   And Emperour be thilke daies, 
6400   A worthi knyht at alle assaies,  
6401   Hou he withoute Mariage 
6402   Was of an hundred wynter Age,     
6403   And hadde ben a worthi kniht  
6404   Bothe of his lawe and of his myht.  
6405   Bot whan men wolde his dedes peise  
6406   And his knyhthode of Armes preise,  
6407   Of that he dede with his hondes, 
6408   Whan he the kinges and the londes
6409   To his subjeccion put under,  
6410   Of al that pris hath he no wonder,  
6411   For he it sette of non acompte,  
6412   And seide al that may noght amonte  
6413   Ayeins o point which he hath nome,  
6414   That he his fleissh hath overcome:  
6415   He was a virgine, as he seide;
6416   On that bataille his pris he leide. 
6417   Lo nou, my Sone, avise thee.  
6418   Yee, fader, al this wel mai be,  
6419   Bot if alle othre dede so, 
6420   The world of men were sone go:
6421   And in the lawe a man mai finde, 
6422   Hou god to man be weie of kinde  
6423   Hath set the world to multeplie; 
6424   And who that wol him justefie,
6425   It is ynouh to do the lawe.
6426   And natheles youre goode sawe 
6427   Is good to kepe, who so may,  
6428   I wol noght therayein seie nay.  
6429   Mi Sone, take it as I seie;
6430   If maidenhod be take aweie 
6431   Withoute lawes ordinance,      
6432   It mai noght failen of vengance. 
6433   And if thou wolt the sothe wite, 
6434   Behold a tale which is write, 
6435   Hou that the King Agamenon,
6436   Whan he the Cite of Lesbon 
6437   Hath wonne, a Maiden ther he fond,  
6438   Which was the faireste of the Lond  
6439   In thilke time that men wiste.
6440   He tok of hire what him liste 
6441   Of thing which was most precious,
6442   Wherof that sche was dangerous.  
6443   This faire Maiden cleped is
6444   Criseide, douhter of Crisis,  
6445   Which was that time in special
6446   Of thilke temple principal,
6447   Wher Phebus hadde his sacrifice, 
6448   So was it wel the more vice.  
6449   Agamenon was thanne in weie
6450   To Troieward, and tok aweie
6451   This Maiden, which he with him ladde,  
6452   So grete a lust in hire he hadde.
6453   Bot Phebus, which hath gret desdeign
6454   Of that his Maiden was forlein,  
6455   Anon as he to Troie cam,
6456   Vengance upon this dede he nam
6457   And sende a comun pestilence. 
6458   Thei soghten thanne here evidence
6459   And maden calculacion,  
6460   To knowe in what condicion 
6461   This deth cam in so sodeinly; 
6462   And ate laste redyly 
6463   The cause and ek the man thei founde:  
6464   And forth withal the same stounde
6465   Agamenon opposed was,
6466   Which hath beknowen al the cas
6467   Of the folie which he wroghte.    
6468   And therupon mercy thei soghte
6469   Toward the god in sondri wise 
6470   With preiere and with sacrifise, 
6471   The Maide and hom ayein thei sende, 
6472   And yive hire good ynouh to spende  
6473   For evere whil sche scholde live:
6474   And thus the Senne was foryive
6475   And al the pestilence cessed. 
6476   Lo, what it is to ben encressed  
6477   Of love which is evele wonne. 
6478   It were betre noght begonne
6479   Than take a thing withoute leve, 
6480   Which thou most after nedes leve,
6481   And yit have malgre forth withal.
6482   Forthi to robben overal 
6483   In loves cause if thou beginne,  
6484   I not what ese thou schalt winne.
6485   Mi Sone, be wel war of this,  
6486   For thus of Robberie it is.
6487   Mi fader, youre ensamplerie
6488   In loves cause of Robberie 
6489   I have it riht wel understonde.  
6490   Bot overthis, hou so it stonde,  
6491   Yit wolde I wite of youre aprise 
6492   What thing is more of Covoitise. 
6493   With Covoitise yit I finde 
6494   A Servant of the same kinde,  
6495   Which Stelthe is hote, and Mecherie 
6496   With him is evere in compainie.      
6497   Of whom if I schal telle soth,
6498   He stalketh as a Pocok doth,  
6499   And takth his preie so covert,
6500   That noman wot it in apert.
6501   For whan he wot the lord from home, 
6502   Than wol he stalke aboute and rome; 
6503   And what thing he fint in his weie, 
6504   Whan that he seth the men aweie, 
6505   He stelth it and goth forth withal, 
6506   That therof noman knowe schal.
6507   And ek fulofte he goth a nyht 
6508   Withoute Mone or sterreliht,  
6509   And with his craft the dore unpiketh,  
6510   And takth therinne what him liketh: 
6511   And if the dore be so schet,  
6512   That he be of his entre let,  
6513   He wole in ate wyndou crepe,  
6514   And whil the lord is faste aslepe,  
6515   He stelth what thing as him best list, 
6516   And goth his weie er it be wist. 
6517   Fulofte also be lyhte of day  
6518   Yit wole he stele and make assay;
6519   Under the cote his hond he put,  
6520   Til he the mannes Purs have cut, 
6521   And rifleth that he fint therinne.  
6522   And thus he auntreth him to winne,  
6523   And berth an horn and noght ne bloweth,
6524   For noman of his conseil knoweth;
6525   What he mai gete of his Michinge,
6526   It is al bile under the winge.
6527   And as an hound that goth to folde  
6528   And hath ther taken what he wolde,  
6529   His mouth upon the gras he wypeth,  
6530   And so with feigned chiere him slypeth,
6531   That what as evere of schep he strangle,  
6532   Ther is noman therof schal jangle,  
6533   As forto knowen who it dede;  
6534   Riht so doth Stelthe in every stede,    
6535   Where as him list his preie take.
6536   He can so wel his cause make  
6537   And so wel feigne and so wel glose, 
6538   That ther ne schal noman suppose,
6539   Bot that he were an innocent, 
6540   And thus a mannes yhe he blent:  
6541   So that this craft I mai remene  
6542   Withouten help of eny mene.
6543   Ther be lovers of that degre, 
6544   Which al here lust in privete,
6545   As who seith, geten al be Stelthe,  
6546   And ofte atteignen to gret welthe
6547   As for the time that it lasteth. 
6548   For love awaiteth evere and casteth 
6549   Hou he mai stele and cacche his preie, 
6550   Whan he therto mai finde a weie: 
6551   For be it nyht or be it day,  
6552   He takth his part, whan that he may,
6553   And if he mai nomore do,
6554   Yit wol he stele a cuss or tuo.  
6555   Mi Sone, what seist thou therto? 
6556   Tell if thou dedest evere so. 
6557   Mi fader, hou? Mi Sone, thus,-
6558   If thou hast stolen eny cuss  
6559   Or other thing which therto longeth,
6560   For noman suche thieves hongeth: 
6561   Tell on forthi and sei the trouthe. 
6562   Mi fader, nay, and that is routhe,  
6563   For be mi will I am a thief;  
6564   Bot sche that is to me most lief,
6565   Yit dorste I nevere in privete
6566   Noght ones take hire be the kne, 
6567   To stele of hire or this or that,
6568   And if I dorste, I wot wel what: 
6569   And natheles, bot if I lie,
6570   Be Stelthe ne be Robberie  
6571   Of love, which fell in mi thoght,
6572   To hire dede I nevere noght.
6573   Bot as men sein, wher herte is failed, 
6574   Ther schal no castell ben assailed; 
6575   Bot thogh I hadde hertes ten, 
6576   And were als strong as alle men, 
6577   If I be noght myn oghne man
6578   And dar noght usen that I can,
6579   I mai miselve noght recovere. 
6580   Thogh I be nevere man so povere, 
6581   I bere an herte and hire it is,  
6582   So that me faileth wit in this,  
6583   Hou that I scholde of myn acord  
6584   The servant lede ayein the lord: 
6585   For if mi fot wolde awher go, 
6586   Or that min hand wolde elles do, 
6587   Whan that myn herte is therayein,
6588   The remenant is al in vein.
6589   And thus me lacketh alle wele,
6590   And yit ne dar I nothing stele
6591   Of thing which longeth unto love:
6592   And ek it is so hyh above, 
6593   I mai noght wel therto areche,
6594   Bot if so be at time of speche,  
6595   Ful selde if thanne I stele may  
6596   A word or tuo and go my way.  
6597   Betwen hire hih astat and me  
6598   Comparison ther mai non be,
6599   So that I fiele and wel I wot,
6600   Al is to hevy and to hot
6601   To sette on hond withoute leve:  
6602   And thus I mot algate leve 
6603   To stele that I mai noght take,  
6604   And in this wise I mot forsake
6605   To ben a thief ayein mi wille 
6606   Of thing which I mai noght fulfille.
6607   For that Serpent which nevere slepte
6608   The flees of gold so wel ne kepte
6609   In Colchos, as the tale is told, 
6610   That mi ladi a thousendfold
6611   Nys betre yemed and bewaked,      
6612   Wher sche be clothed or be naked.
6613   To kepe hir bodi nyht and day,
6614   Sche hath a wardein redi ay,  
6615   Which is so wonderful a wyht, 
6616   That him ne mai no mannes myht
6617   With swerd ne with no wepne daunte, 
6618   Ne with no sleihte of charme enchaunte,
6619   Wherof he mihte be mad tame,  
6620   And Danger is his rihte name; 
6621   Which under lock and under keie, 
6622   That noman mai it stele aweie,
6623   Hath al the Tresor underfonge 
6624   That unto love mai belonge.
6625   The leste lokinge of hire yhe 
6626   Mai noght be stole, if he it syhe;  
6627   And who so gruccheth for so lyte,
6628   He wolde sone sette a wyte 
6629   On him that wolde stele more. 
6630   And that me grieveth wonder sore,
6631   For this proverbe is evere newe, 
6632   That stronge lokes maken trewe
6633   Of hem that wolden stele and pyke:  
6634   For so wel can ther noman slyke  
6635   Be him ne be non other mene,  
6636   To whom Danger wol yive or lene  
6637   Of that tresor he hath to kepe.  
6638   So thogh I wolde stalke and crepe,  
6639   And wayte on eve and ek on morwe,
6640   Of Danger schal I nothing borwe, 
6641   And stele I wot wel may I noght: 
6642   And thus I am riht wel bethoght, 
6643   Whil Danger stant in his office, 
6644   Of Stelthe, which ye clepe a vice,  
6645   I schal be gultif neveremo.
6646   Therfore I wolde he were ago  
6647   So fer that I nevere of him herde,  
6648   Hou so that afterward it ferde:      
6649   For thanne I mihte yit per cas
6650   Of love make som pourchas  
6651   Be Stelthe or be som other weie, 
6652   That nou fro me stant fer aweie. 
6653   Bot, fader, as ye tolde above,
6654   Hou Stelthe goth a nyht for love,
6655   I mai noght wel that point forsake, 
6656   That ofte times I ne wake  
6657   On nyhtes, whan that othre slepe;
6658   Bot hou, I prei you taketh kepe. 
6659   Whan I am loged in such wise  
6660   That I be nyhte mai arise, 
6661   At som wyndowe and loken oute 
6662   And se the housinge al aboute,
6663   So that I mai the chambre knowe  
6664   In which mi ladi, as I trowe, 
6665   Lyth in hir bed and slepeth softe,  
6666   Thanne is myn herte a thief fulofte:
6667   For there I stonde to beholde 
6668   The longe nyhtes that ben colde, 
6669   And thenke on hire that lyth there. 
6670   And thanne I wisshe that I were  
6671   Als wys as was Nectanabus  
6672   Or elles as was Prothes, 
6673   That couthen bothe of nigromaunce
6674   In what liknesse, in what semblaunce,  
6675   Riht as hem liste, hemself transforme: 
6676   For if I were of such a forme,
6677   I seie thanne I wolde fle  
6678   Into the chambre forto se  
6679   If eny grace wolde falle,  
6680   So that I mihte under the palle  
6681   Som thing of love pyke and stele.
6682   And thus I thenke thoghtes fele, 
6683   And thogh therof nothing be soth,
6684   Yit ese as for a time it doth:
6685   Bot ate laste whanne I finde  
6686   That I am falle into my mynde,    
6687   And se that I have stonde longe  
6688   And have no profit underfonge,
6689   Than stalke I to mi bedd withinne.  
6690   And this is al that evere I winne
6691   Of love, whanne I walke on nyht: 
6692   Mi will is good, bot of mi myht  
6693   Me lacketh bothe and of mi grace;
6694   For what so that mi thoght embrace, 
6695   Yit have I noght the betre ferd. 
6696   Mi fader, lo, nou have ye herd
6697   What I be Stelthe of love have do,  
6698   And hou mi will hath be therto:  
6699   If I be worthi to penance  
6700   I put it on your ordinance.
6701   Mi Sone, of Stelthe I the behiete,  
6702   Thogh it be for a time swete, 
6703   At ende it doth bot litel good,  
6704   As be ensample hou that it stod  
6705   Whilom, I mai thee telle nou. 
6706   I preie you, fader, sei me hou.  
6707   Mi Sone, of him which goth be daie  
6708   Be weie of Stelthe to assaie, 
6709   In loves cause and takth his preie, 
6710   Ovide seide as I schal seie,  
6711   And in his Methamor he tolde  
6712   A tale, which is good to holde.  
6713   The Poete upon this matiere
6714   Of Stelthe wrot in this manere.  
6715   Venus, which hath this lawe in honde
6716   Of thing which mai noght be withstonde,
6717   As sche which the tresor to warde
6718   Of love hath withinne hir warde, 
6719   Phebum to love hath so constreigned,
6720   That he withoute reste is peined 
6721   With al his herte to coveite      
6722   A Maiden, which was warded streyte  
6723   Withinne chambre and kept so clos,  
6724   That selden was whan sche desclos
6725   Goth with hir moder forto pleie. 
6726   Leuchotoe, so as men seie, 
6727   This Maiden hihte, and Orchamus  
6728   Hir fader was; and befell thus.  
6729   This doughter, that was kept so deere, 
6730   And hadde be fro yer to yeere 
6731   Under hir moder discipline 
6732   A clene Maide and a Virgine,  
6733   Upon the whos nativite  
6734   Of comelihiede and of beaute  
6735   Nature hath set al that sche may,
6736   That lich unto the fresshe Maii, 
6737   Which othre monthes of the yeer  
6738   Surmonteth, so withoute pier  
6739   Was of this Maiden the feture.
6740   Wherof Phebus out of mesure
6741   Hire loveth, and on every syde
6742   Awaiteth, if so mai betyde,
6743   That he thurgh eny sleihte myhte 
6744   Hire lusti maidenhod unrihte, 
6745   The which were al his worldes welthe.  
6746   And thus lurkende upon his stelthe  
6747   In his await so longe he lai, 
6748   Til it befell upon a dai,  
6749   That he thurghout hir chambre wall  
6750   Cam in al sodeinliche, and stall 
6751   That thing which was to him so lief.
6752   Bot wo the while, he was a thief!
6753   For Venus, which was enemie
6754   Of thilke loves micherie,  
6755   Discovereth al the pleine cas 
6756   To Clymene, which thanne was      
6757   Toward Phebus his concubine.  
6758   And sche to lette the covine  
6759   Of thilke love, dedli wroth
6760   To pleigne upon this Maide goth, 
6761   And tolde hire fader hou it stod;
6762   Wherof for sorwe welnyh wod
6763   Unto hire moder thus he saide:
6764   "Lo, what it is to kepe a Maide! 
6765   To Phebus dar I nothing speke,
6766   Bot upon hire I schal be wreke,  
6767   So that these Maidens after this 
6768   Mow take ensample, what it is 
6769   To soffre her maidenhed be stole,
6770   Wherof that sche the deth schal thole."
6771   And bad with that do make a pet, 
6772   Wherinne he hath his douhter set,
6773   As he that wol no pite have,  
6774   So that sche was al quik begrave 
6775   And deide anon in his presence.  
6776   Bot Phebus, for the reverence 
6777   Of that sche hadde be his love,  
6778   Hath wroght thurgh his pouer above, 
6779   That sche sprong up out of the molde
6780   Into a flour was named golde, 
6781   Which stant governed of the Sonne.  
6782   And thus whan love is evele wonne,  
6783   Fulofte it comth to repentaile.  
6784   Mi fader, that is no mervaile,
6785   Whan that the conseil is bewreid.
6786   Bot ofte time love hath pleid 
6787   And stole many a prive game,  
6788   Which nevere yit cam into blame, 
6789   Whan that the thinges weren hidde.  
6790   Bot in youre tale, as it betidde,
6791   Venus discoverede al the cas, 
6792   And ek also brod dai it was,  
6793   Whan Phebus such a Stelthe wroghte,     
6794   Wherof the Maide in blame he broghte,  
6795   That afterward sche was so lore. 
6796   Bot for ye seiden nou tofore  
6797   Hou stelthe of love goth be nyhte,  
6798   And doth hise thinges out of syhte, 
6799   Therof me liste also to hiere 
6800   A tale lich to the matiere,
6801   Wherof I myhte ensample take. 
6802   Mi goode Sone, and for thi sake, 
6803   So as it fell be daies olde,  
6804   And so as the Poete it tolde, 
6805   Upon the nyhtes micherie
6806   Nou herkne a tale of Poesie.  
6807   The myhtieste of alle men  
6808   Whan Hercules with Eolen,  
6809   Which was the love of his corage,
6810   Togedre upon a Pelrinage
6811   Towardes Rome scholden go, 
6812   It fell hem be the weie so,
6813   That thei upon a dai a Cave
6814   Withinne a roche founden have,
6815   Which was real and glorious
6816   And of Entaile curious, 
6817   Be name and Thophis it was hote. 
6818   The Sonne schon tho wonder hote, 
6819   As it was in the Somer tyde;  
6820   This Hercules, which be his syde 
6821   Hath Eolen his love there, 
6822   Whan thei at thilke cave were,
6823   He seide it thoghte him for the beste  
6824   That sche hire for the hete reste
6825   Al thilke day and thilke nyht;
6826   And sche, that was a lusti wyht, 
6827   It liketh hire al that he seide: 
6828   And thus thei duelle there and pleide  
6829   The longe dai. And so befell,     
6830   This Cave was under the hell  
6831   Of Tymolus, which was begrowe 
6832   With vines, and at thilke throwe 
6833   Faunus with Saba the goddesse,
6834   Be whom the large wildernesse 
6835   In thilke time stod governed, 
6836   Weere in a place, as I am lerned,
6837   Nyh by, which Bachus wode hihte. 
6838   This Faunus tok a gret insihte
6839   Of Eolen, that was so nyh; 
6840   For whan that he hire beaute syh,
6841   Out of his wit he was assoted,
6842   And in his herte it hath so noted,  
6843   That he forsok the Nimphes alle, 
6844   And seide he wolde, hou so it falle,
6845   Assaie an other forto winne;  
6846   So that his hertes thoght withinne  
6847   He sette and caste hou that he myhte
6848   Of love pyke awey be nyhte 
6849   That he be daie in other wise 
6850   To stele mihte noght suffise: 
6851   And therupon his time he waiteth.
6852   Nou tak good hiede hou love afaiteth
6853   Him which withal is overcome. 
6854   Faire Eolen, whan sche was come  
6855   With Hercules into the Cave,  
6856   Sche seide him that sche wolde have 
6857   Hise clothes of and hires bothe, 
6858   That ech of hem scholde other clothe.  
6859   And al was do riht as sche bad,  
6860   He hath hire in hise clothes clad    
6861   And caste on hire his gulion, 
6862   Which of the Skyn of a Leoun  
6863   Was mad, as he upon the weie  
6864   It slouh, and overthis to pleie  
6865   Sche tok his grete Mace also  
6866   And knet it at hir gerdil tho.
6867   So was sche lich the man arraied,
6868   And Hercules thanne hath assaied 
6869   To clothen him in hire array: 
6870   And thus thei jape forth the dai,
6871   Til that her Souper redy were.
6872   And whan thei hadden souped there,  
6873   Thei schopen hem to gon to reste;
6874   And as it thoghte hem for the beste,
6875   Thei bede, as for that ilke nyht,
6876   Tuo sondri beddes to be dyht, 
6877   For thei togedre ligge nolde, 
6878   Be cause that thei offre wolde
6879   Upon the morwe here sacrifice.
6880   The servantz deden here office
6881   And sondri beddes made anon,  
6882   Wherin that thei to reste gon 
6883   Ech be himself in sondri place.  
6884   Faire Eole hath set the Mace  
6885   Beside hire beddes hed above, 
6886   And with the clothes of hire love
6887   Sche helede al hire bed aboute;  
6888   And he, which hadde of nothing doute,  
6889   Hire wympel wond aboute his cheke,  
6890   Hire kertell and hire mantel eke 
6891   Abrod upon his bed he spredde.
6892   And thus thei slepen bothe abedde;  
6893   And what of travail, what of wyn,
6894   The servantz lich to drunke Swyn 
6895   Begunne forto route faste. 
6896   This Faunus, which his Stelthe caste,  
6897   Was thanne come to the Cave,  
6898   And fond thei weren alle save     
6899   Withoute noise, and in he wente. 
6900   The derke nyht his sihte blente, 
6901   And yit it happeth him to go  
6902   Where Eolen abedde tho  
6903   Was leid al one for to slepe; 
6904   Bot for he wolde take kepe 
6905   Whos bed it was, he made assai,  
6906   And of the Leoun, where it lay,  
6907   The Cote he fond, and ek he fieleth 
6908   The Mace, and thanne his herte kieleth,
6909   That there dorste he noght abyde,
6910   Bot stalketh upon every side  
6911   And soghte aboute with his hond, 
6912   That other bedd til that he fond,
6913   Wher lai bewympled a visage.  
6914   Tho was he glad in his corage,
6915   For he hir kertell fond also  
6916   And ek hir mantell bothe tuo  
6917   Bespred upon the bed alofte.  
6918   He made him naked thanne, and softe 
6919   Into the bedd unwar he crepte,
6920   Wher Hercules that time slepte,  
6921   And wende wel it were sche;
6922   And thus in stede of Eole  
6923   Anon he profreth him to love. 
6924   But he, which felte a man above, 
6925   This Hercules, him threw to grounde 
6926   So sore, that thei have him founde  
6927   Liggende there upon the morwe;
6928   And tho was noght a litel sorwe, 
6929   That Faunus of himselve made, 
6930   Bot elles thei were alle glade
6931   And lowhen him to scorne aboute: 
6932   Saba with Nimphis al a route  
6933   Cam doun to loke hou that he ferde, 
6934   And whan that thei the sothe herde, 
6935   He was bejaped overal.  
6936   Mi Sone, be thou war withal    
6937   To seche suche mecheries,  
6938   Bot if thou have the betre aspies,  
6939   In aunter if the so betyde 
6940   As Faunus dede thilke tyde,
6941   Wherof thou miht be schamed so.  
6942   Min holi fader, certes no. 
6943   Bot if I hadde riht good leve,
6944   Such mecherie I thenke leve:  
6945   Mi feinte herte wol noght serve; 
6946   For malgre wolde I noght deserve 
6947   In thilke place wher I love.  
6948   Bot for ye tolden hier above  
6949   Of Covoitise and his pilage,  
6950   If ther be more of that lignage, 
6951   Which toucheth to mi schrifte, I preie 
6952   That ye therof me wolde seie, 
6953   So that I mai the vice eschuie.  
6954   Mi Sone, if I be order suie
6955   The vices, as thei stonde arowe, 
6956   Of Covoitise thou schalt knowe
6957   Ther is yit on, which is the laste; 
6958   In whom ther mai no vertu laste, 
6959   For he with god himself debateth,
6960   Wherof that al the hevene him hateth.  
6961   The hihe god, which alle goode
6962   Pourveied hath for mannes fode
6963   Of clothes and of mete and drinke,  
6964   Bad Adam that he scholde swinke  
6965   To geten him his sustienance: 
6966   And ek he sette an ordinance  
6967   Upon the lawe of Moi5ses,  
6968   That though a man be haveles, 
6969   Yit schal he noght be thefte stele. 
6970   Bot nou adaies ther ben fele,     
6971   That wol no labour undertake, 
6972   Bot what thei mai be Stelthe take
6973   Thei holde it sikerliche wonne.  
6974   And thus the lawe is overronne,  
6975   Which god hath set, and namely
6976   With hem that so untrewely 
6977   The goodes robbe of holi cherche.
6978   The thefte which thei thanne werche 
6979   Be name is cleped Sacrilegge, 
6980   Ayein the whom I thenke alegge.  
6981   Of his condicion to telle, 
6982   Which rifleth bothe bok and belle,  
6983   So forth with al the remenant     
6984   To goddes hous appourtenant,  
6985   Wher that he scholde bidde his bede,
6986   He doth his thefte in holi stede,
6987   And takth what thing he fint therinne: 
6988   For whan he seth that he mai winne, 
6989   He wondeth for no cursednesse,
6990   That he ne brekth the holinesse  
6991   And doth to god no reverence; 
6992   For he hath lost his conscience, 
6993   That though the Prest therfore curse,  
6994   He seith he fareth noght the wurse. 
6995   And forto speke it otherwise, 
6996   What man that lasseth the franchise 
6997   And takth of holi cherche his preie,
6998   I not what bedes he schal preie. 
6999   Whan he fro god, which hath yive al,
7000   The Pourpartie in special, 
7001   Which unto Crist himself is due, 
7002   Benymth, he mai noght wel eschue 
7003   The peine comende afterward;  
7004   For he hath mad his foreward  
7005   With Sacrilegge forto duelle, 
7006   Which hath his heritage in helle.
7007   And if we rede of tholde lawe,
7008   I finde write, in thilke dawe 
7009   Of Princes hou ther weren thre
7010   Coupable sore in this degre.  
7011   That on of hem was cleped thus,  
7012   The proude king Antiochus; 
7013   That other Nabuzardan hihte,  
7014   Which of his crualte behyhte  
7015   The temple to destruie and waste,
7016   And so he dede in alle haste; 
7017   The thridde, which was after schamed,  
7018   Was Nabugodonosor named,    
7019   And he Jerusalem putte under, 
7020   Of Sacrilegge and many a wonder  
7021   There in the holi temple he wroghte,
7022   Which Baltazar his heir aboghte, 
7023   Whan Mane, Techel, Phares write  
7024   Was on the wal, as thou miht wite,  
7025   So as the bible it hath declared.
7026   Bot for al that it is noght spared  
7027   Yit nou aday, that men ne pile,  
7028   And maken argument and skile  
7029   To Sacrilegge as it belongeth,
7030   For what man that ther after longeth,  
7031   He takth non hiede what he doth. 
7032   And riht so, forto telle soth,
7033   In loves cause if I schal trete,     
7034   Ther ben of suche smale and grete:  
7035   If thei no leisir fynden elles,  
7036   Thei wol noght wonden for the belles,      
7037   Ne thogh thei sen the Prest at masse;  
7038   That wol thei leten overpasse.
7039   If that thei finde here love there,     
7040   Thei stonde and tellen in hire Ere, 
7041   And axe of god non other grace,  
7042   Whyl thei ben in that holi place;    
7043   Bot er thei gon som avantage  
7044   Ther wol thei have, and som pilage  
7045   Of goodli word or of beheste, 
7046   Or elles thei take ate leste  
7047   Out of hir hand or ring or glove,
7048   So nyh the weder thei wol love,  
7049   As who seith sche schal noght foryete, 
7050   Nou I this tokne of hire have gete: 
7051   Thus halwe thei the hihe feste.  
7052   Such thefte mai no cherche areste,  
7053   For al is leveful that hem liketh,  
7054   To whom that elles it misliketh. 
7055   And ek riht in the selve kinde
7056   In grete Cites men mai finde  
7057   This lusti folk, that make it gay,  
7058   And waite upon the haliday:
7059   In cherches and in Menstres eke  
7060   Thei gon the wommen forto seke,  
7061   And wher that such on goth aboute,  
7062   Tofore the faireste of the route,
7063   Wher as thei sitten alle arewe,  
7064   Ther wol he most  his bodi schewe,  
7065   His croket kembd and theron set  
7066   A Nouche with a chapelet,  
7067   Or elles on of grene leves,
7068   Which late com out of the greves,
7069   Al for he scholde seme freissh.  
7070   And thus he loketh on the fleissh,      
7071   Riht as an hauk which hath a sihte  
7072   Upon the foul, ther he schal lihte; 
7073   And as he were of faierie, 
7074   He scheweth him tofore here yhe  
7075   In holi place wher thei sitte,
7076   Al forto make here hertes flitte.
7077   His yhe nawher wole abyde, 
7078   Bot loke and prie on every syde  
7079   On hire and hire, as him best lyketh:  
7080   And otherwhile among he syketh;  
7081   Thenkth on of hem, "That was for me,"  
7082   And so ther thenken tuo or thre, 
7083   And yit he loveth non of alle,
7084   Bot wher as evere his chance falle. 
7085   And natheles to seie a soth,  
7086   The cause why that he so doth 
7087   Is forto stele an herte or tuo,  
7088   Out of the cherche er that he go:
7089   And as I seide it hier above, 
7090   Al is that Sacrilege of love; 
7091   For wel mai be he stelth away 
7092   That he nevere after yelde may.  
7093   Tell me forthi, my Sone, anon,
7094   Hast thou do Sacrilege, or non,  
7095   As I have said in this manere?
7096   Mi fader, as of this matiere  
7097   I wole you tellen redely
7098   What I have do; bot trewely
7099   I mai excuse min entente,  
7100   That nevere I yit to cherche wente  
7101   In such manere as ye me schryve, 
7102   For no womman that is on lyve.
7103   The cause why I have it laft  
7104   Mai be for I unto that craft  
7105   Am nothing able so to stele,  
7106   Thogh ther be wommen noght so fele. 
7107   Bot yit wol I noght seie this,
7108   Whan I am ther mi ladi is,     
7109   In whom lith holly mi querele,
7110   And sche to cherche or to chapele
7111   Wol go to matins or to messe,-
7112   That time I waite wel and gesse, 
7113   To cherche I come and there I stonde,  
7114   And thogh I take a bok on honde, 
7115   Mi contienance is on the bok, 
7116   Bot toward hire is al my lok; 
7117   And if so falle that I preie  
7118   Unto mi god, and somwhat seie 
7119   Of Paternoster or of Crede,
7120   Al is for that I wolde spede, 
7121   So that mi bede in holi cherche  
7122   Ther mihte som miracle werche 
7123   Mi ladi herte forto chaunge,  
7124   Which evere hath be to me so strange.  
7125   So that al mi devocion  
7126   And al mi contemplacion 
7127   With al min herte and mi corage  
7128   Is only set on hire ymage; 
7129   And evere I waite upon the tyde. 
7130   If sche loke eny thing asyde, 
7131   That I me mai of hire avise,  
7132   Anon I am with covoitise
7133   So smite, that me were lief
7134   To ben in holi cherche a thief;  
7135   Bot noght to stele a vestement,  
7136   For that is nothing mi talent,
7137   Bot I wold stele, if that I mihte,  
7138   A glad word or a goodly syhte;
7139   And evere mi service I profre,
7140   And namly whan sche wol gon offre,  
7141   For thanne I lede hire, if I may,
7142   For somwhat wolde I stele away.  
7143   Whan I beclippe hire on the wast,
7144   Yit ate leste I stele a tast, 
7145   And otherwhile "grant mercy"  
7146   Sche seith, and so winne I therby    
7147   A lusti touch, a good word eke,  
7148   Bot al the remenant to seke
7149   Is fro mi pourpos wonder ferr.
7150   So mai I seie, as I seide er, 
7151   In holy cherche if that I wowe,  
7152   My conscience it wolde allowe,
7153   Be so that up amendement
7154   I mihte gete assignement
7155   Wher forto spede in other place: 
7156   Such Sacrilege I holde a grace.  
7157   And thus, mi fader, soth to seie,
7158   In cherche riht as in the weie,  
7159   If I mihte oght of love take, 
7160   Such hansell have I noght forsake.  
7161   Bot finali I me confesse,  
7162   Ther is in me non holinesse,  
7163   Whil I hire se in eny stede;  
7164   And yit, for oght that evere I dede,
7165   No Sacrilege of hire I tok,
7166   Bot if it were of word or lok,
7167   Or elles if that I hir fredde,
7168   Whan I toward offringe hir ledde,
7169   Take therof what I take may,  
7170   For elles bere I noght away:  
7171   For thogh I wolde oght elles have,  
7172   Alle othre thinges ben so save
7173   And kept with such a privilege,  
7174   That I mai do no Sacrilege.
7175   God wot mi wille natheles, 
7176   Thogh I mot nedes kepe pes 
7177   And malgre myn so let it passe,  
7178   Mi will therto is noght the lasse,  
7179   If I mihte other wise aweie.  
7180   Forthi, mi fader, I you preie,
7181   Tell what you thenketh therupon, 
7182   If I therof have gult or non.     
7183   Thi will, mi Sone, is forto blame,  
7184   The remenant is bot a game,
7185   That I have herd the telle as yit.  
7186   Bot tak this lore into thi wit,  
7187   That alle thing hath time and stede,
7188   The cherche serveth for the bede,
7189   The chambre is of an other speche.  
7190   Bot if thou wistest of the wreche,  
7191   Hou Sacrilege it hath aboght, 
7192   Thou woldest betre ben bethoght; 
7193   And for thou schalt the more amende,
7194   A tale I wole on the despende.
7195   To alle men, as who seith, knowe 
7196   It is, and in the world thurgh blowe,  
7197   Hou that of Troie Lamedon  
7198   To Hercules and to Jasoun, 
7199   Whan toward Colchos out of Grece 
7200   Be See sailende upon a piece  
7201   Of lond of Troie reste preide,-  
7202   Bot he hem wrathfulli congeide:  
7203   And for thei founde him so vilein,  
7204   Whan thei come into Grece ayein, 
7205   With pouer that thei gete myhte  
7206   Towardes Troie thei hem dyhte,
7207   And ther thei token such vengance,  
7208   Wherof stant yit the remembrance;
7209   For thei destruide king and al,  
7210   And leften bot the brente wal.
7211   The Grecs of Troiens many slowe  
7212   And prisoners thei toke ynowe,
7213   Among the whiche ther was on, 
7214   The kinges doughter Lamedon,  
7215   Esiona, that faire thing,  
7216   Which unto Thelamon the king  
7217   Be Hercules and be thassent
7218   Of al the hole parlement    
7219   Was at his wille yove and granted.  
7220   And thus hath Grece Troie danted,
7221   And hom thei torne in such manere:  
7222   Bot after this nou schalt thou hiere
7223   The cause why this tale I telle, 
7224   Upon the chances that befelle.
7225   King Lamedon, which deide thus,  
7226   He hadde a Sone, on Priamus,  
7227   Which was noght thilke time at hom: 
7228   Bot whan he herde of this, he com,  
7229   And fond hou the Cite was falle, 
7230   Which he began anon to walle  
7231   And made ther a cite newe, 
7232   That thei whiche othre londes knewe 
7233   Tho seiden, that of lym and Ston 
7234   In al the world so fair was non. 
7235   And on that o side of the toun
7236   The king let maken Ylioun, 
7237   That hihe Tour, that stronge place, 
7238   Which was adrad of no manace  
7239   Of quarel nor of non engin;
7240   And thogh men wolde make a Myn,  
7241   No mannes craft it mihte aproche,
7242   For it was sett upon a roche. 
7243   The walles of the toun aboute,
7244   Hem stod of al the world no doute,  
7245   And after the proporcion
7246   Sex gates weren of the toun
7247   Of such a forme, of such entaile,
7248   That hem to se was gret mervaile:
7249   The diches weren brode and depe, 
7250   A fewe men it mihte kepe
7251   From al the world, as semeth tho,
7252   Bot if the goddes weren fo.
7253   Gret presse unto that cite drouh,
7254   So that ther was of poeple ynouh,
7255   Of Burgeis that therinne duellen;
7256   Ther mai no mannes tunge tellen      
7257   Hou that cite was riche of good. 
7258   Whan al was mad and al wel stod, 
7259   King Priamus tho him bethoghte
7260   What thei of Grece whilom wroghte,  
7261   And what was of her swerd devoured, 
7262   And hou his Soster deshonoured
7263   With Thelamon awey was lad:
7264   And so thenkende he wax unglad,  
7265   And sette anon a parlement,
7266   To which the lordes were assent. 
7267   In many a wise ther was spoke,
7268   Hou that thei mihten ben awroke, 
7269   Bot ate laste natheles  
7270   Thei seiden alle, "Acord and pes."  
7271   To setten either part in reste
7272   It thoghte hem thanne for the beste 
7273   With resonable amendement; 
7274   And thus was Anthenor forth sent 
7275   To axe Esionam ayein 
7276   And witen what thei wolden sein. 
7277   So passeth he the See be barge
7278   To Grece forto seie his charge,  
7279   The which he seide redely  
7280   Unto the lordes by and by: 
7281   Bot where he spak in Grece aboute,  
7282   He herde noght bot wordes stoute,
7283   And nameliche of Thelamon; 
7284   The maiden wolde he noght forgon,
7285   He seide, for no maner thing, 
7286   And bad him gon hom to his king, 
7287   For there gat he non amende
7288   For oght he couthe do or sende.  
7289   This Anthenor ayein goth hom  
7290   Unto his king, and whan he com,  
7291   He tolde in Grece of that he herde, 
7292   And hou that Thelamon ansuerde,      
7293   And hou thei were at here above, 
7294   That thei wol nouther pes ne love,  
7295   Bot every man schal don his beste.  
7296   Bot for men sein that nyht hath reste, 
7297   The king bethoghte him al that nyht,
7298   And erli, whan the dai was lyht, 
7299   He tok conseil of this matiere;  
7300   And thei acorde in this manere,  
7301   That he withouten eny lette
7302   A certein time scholde sette  
7303   Of Parlement to ben avised:
7304   And in the wise it was devised,  
7305   Of parlement he sette a day,  
7306   And that was in the Monthe of Maii. 
7307   This Priamus hadde in his yhte
7308   A wif, and Hecuba sche hyhte, 
7309   Be whom that time ek hadde he 
7310   Of Sones fyve, and douhtres thre 
7311   Besiden hem, and thritty mo,  
7312   And weren knyhtes alle tho,
7313   Bot noght upon his wif begete,
7314   Bot elles where he myhte hem gete
7315   Of wommen whiche he hadde knowe; 
7316   Such was the world at thilke throwe:
7317   So that he was of children riche,
7318   As therof was noman his liche.
7319   Of Parlement the dai was come,
7320   Ther ben the lordes alle and some;  
7321   Tho was pronounced and pourposed,
7322   And al the cause hem was desclosed, 
7323   Hou Anthenor in Grece ferde.  
7324   Thei seten alle stille and herde,
7325   And tho spak every man aboute:
7326   Ther was alegged many a doute,
7327   And many a proud word spoke also;
7328   Bot for the moste part as tho     
7329   Thei wisten noght what was the beste,  
7330   Or forto werre or forto reste.
7331   Bot he that was withoute fere,
7332   Hector, among the lordes there
7333   His tale tolde in such a wise,
7334   And seide, "Lordes, ye ben wise, 
7335   Ye knowen this als wel as I,  
7336   Above all othre most worthi
7337   Stant nou in Grece the manhode
7338   Of worthinesse and of knihthode; 
7339   For who so wole it wel agrope,
7340   To hem belongeth al Europe,
7341   Which is the thridde parti evene 
7342   Of al the world under the hevene;
7343   And we be bot of folk a fewe. 
7344   So were it reson forto schewe 
7345   The peril, er we falle thrinne:  
7346   Betre is to leve, than beginne
7347   Thing which as mai noght ben achieved; 
7348   He is noght wys that fint him grieved, 
7349   And doth so that his grief be more; 
7350   For who that loketh al tofore 
7351   And wol noght se what is behinde,
7352   He mai fulofte hise harmes finde:
7353   Wicke is to stryve and have the worse. 
7354   We have encheson forto corse, 
7355   This wot I wel, and forto hate
7356   The Greks; bot er that we debate 
7357   With hem that ben of such a myht,
7358   It is ful good that every wiht
7359   Be of himself riht wel bethoght. 
7360   Bot as for me this seie I noght; 
7361   For while that mi lif wol stonde,
7362   If that ye taken werre on honde, 
7363   Falle it to beste or to the werste, 
7364   I schal miselven be the ferste
7365   To grieven hem, what evere I may.    
7366   I wol noght ones seie nay  
7367   To thing which that youre conseil demeth, 
7368   For unto me wel more it quemeth  
7369   The werre certes than the pes;
7370   Bot this I seie natheles,  
7371   As me belongeth forto seie.
7372   Nou schape ye the beste weie."
7373   Whan Hector hath seid his avis,  
7374   Next after him tho spak Paris,
7375   Which was his brother, and alleide  
7376   What him best thoghte, and thus he seide: 
7377   "Strong thing it is to soffre wrong,
7378   And suffre schame is more strong,
7379   Bot we have suffred bothe tuo;
7380   And for al that yit have we do
7381   What so we mihte to reforme
7382   The pes, whan we in such a forme 
7383   Sente Anthenor, as ye wel knowe. 
7384   And thei here grete wordes blowe 
7385   Upon her wrongful dedes eke;  
7386   And who that wole himself noght meke
7387   To pes, and list no reson take,  
7388   Men sein reson him wol forsake:  
7389   For in the multitude of men
7390   Is noght the strengthe, for with ten
7391   It hath be sen in trew querele
7392   Ayein an hundred false dele,  
7393   And had the betre of goddes grace.  
7394   This hath befalle in many place; 
7395   And if it like unto you alle, 
7396   I wolde assaie, hou so it falle, 
7397   Oure enemis if I mai grieve;  
7398   For I have cawht a gret believe  
7399   Upon a point I wol declare.
7400   This ender day, as I gan fare 
7401   To hunte unto the grete hert, 
7402   Which was tofore myn houndes stert,     
7403   And every man went on his syde
7404   Him to poursuie, and I to ryde
7405   Began the chace, and soth to seie,  
7406   Withinne a while out of mi weie  
7407   I rod, and nyste where I was. 
7408   And slep me cauhte, and on the gras 
7409   Beside a welle I lay me doun  
7410   To slepe, and in a visioun 
7411   To me the god Mercurie cam;
7412   Goddesses thre with him he nam,  
7413   Minerve, Venus and Juno,
7414   And in his hond an Appel tho  
7415   He hield of gold with lettres write:
7416   And this he dede me to wite,  
7417   Hou that thei putt hem upon me,  
7418   That to the faireste of hem thre 
7419   Of gold that Appel scholde I yive.  
7420   With ech of hem tho was I schrive,  
7421   And echon faire me behihte;
7422   Bot Venus seide, if that sche mihte 
7423   That Appel of mi yifte gete,  
7424   Sche wolde it neveremor foryete, 
7425   And seide hou that in Grece lond 
7426   Sche wolde bringe unto myn hond  
7427   Of al this Erthe the faireste;
7428   So that me thoghte it for the beste,
7429   To hire and yaf that Appel tho.  
7430   Thus hope I wel, if that I go,
7431   That sche for me wol so ordeine, 
7432   That thei matiere forto pleigne  
7433   Schul have, er that I come ayein.
7434   Nou have ye herd that I wol sein:
7435   Sey ye what stant in youre avis."
7436   And every man tho seide his,  
7437   And sundri causes thei recorde,  
7438   Bot ate laste thei acorde  
7439   That Paris schal to Grece wende,     
7440   And thus the parlement tok ende. 
7441   Cassandra, whan sche herde of this, 
7442   The which to Paris Soster is, 
7443   Anon sche gan to wepe and weile, 
7444   And seide, "Allas, what mai ous eile?  
7445   Fortune with hire blinde whiel
7446   Ne wol noght lete ous stonde wel:
7447   For this I dar wel undertake, 
7448   That if Paris his weie take,  
7449   As it is seid that he schal do,  
7450   We ben for evere thanne undo."
7451   This, which Cassandre thanne hihte, 
7452   In al the world as it berth sihte,  
7453   In bokes as men finde write,  
7454   Is that Sibille of whom ye wite, 
7455   That alle men yit clepen sage.
7456   Whan that sche wiste of this viage, 
7457   Hou Paris schal to Grece fare,
7458   No womman mihte worse fare 
7459   Ne sorwe more than sche dede; 
7460   And riht so in the same stede 
7461   Ferde Helenus, which was hir brother,  
7462   Of prophecie and such an other:  
7463   And al was holde bot a jape,  
7464   So that the pourpos which was schape,  
7465   Or were hem lief or were hem loth,  
7466   Was holde, and into Grece goth
7467   This Paris with his retenance.
7468   And as it fell upon his chance,  
7469   Of Grece he londeth in an yle,
7470   And him was told the same whyle  
7471   Of folk which he began to freyne,
7472   Tho was in thyle queene Heleyne, 
7473   And ek of contres there aboute
7474   Of ladis many a lusti route,  
7475   With mochel worthi poeple also.  
7476   And why thei comen theder tho,
7477   The cause stod in such a wise,-      
7478   For worschipe and for sacrifise  
7479   That thei to Venus wolden make,  
7480   As thei tofore hadde undertake,  
7481   Some of good will, some of beheste, 
7482   For thanne was hire hihe feste
7483   Withinne a temple which was there.  
7484   Whan Paris wiste what thei were, 
7485   Anon he schop his ordinance
7486   To gon and don his obeissance 
7487   To Venus on hire holi day, 
7488   And dede upon his beste aray. 
7489   With gret richesse he him behongeth,
7490   As it to such a lord belongeth,  
7491   He was noght armed natheles,  
7492   Bot as it were in lond of pes,
7493   And thus he goth forth out of Schipe
7494   And takth with him his felaschipe:  
7495   In such manere as I you seie  
7496   Unto the temple he hield his weie.  
7497   Tydinge, which goth overal 
7498   To grete and smale, forth withal 
7499   Com to the queenes Ere and tolde 
7500   Hou Paris com, and that he wolde 
7501   Do sacrifise to Venus:  
7502   And whan sche herde telle thus,  
7503   Sche thoghte, hou that it evere be, 
7504   That sche wole him abyde and se. 
7505   Forth comth Paris with glad visage  
7506   Into the temple on pelrinage, 
7507   Wher unto Venus the goddesse  
7508   He yifth and offreth gret richesse, 
7509   And preith hir that he preie wolde. 
7510   And thanne aside he gan beholde, 
7511   And sih wher that this ladi stod;
7512   And he forth in his freisshe mod 
7513   Goth ther sche was and made her chiere,
7514   As he wel couthe in his manere,  
7515   That of his wordes such plesance 
7516   Sche tok, that al hire aqueintance,     
7517   Als ferforth as the herte lay,
7518   He stal er that he wente away.
7519   So goth he forth and tok his leve,  
7520   And thoghte, anon as it was eve, 
7521   He wolde don his Sacrilegge,  
7522   That many a man it scholde abegge.  
7523   Whan he to Schipe ayein was come,
7524   To him he hath his conseil nome, 
7525   And al devised the matiere 
7526   In such a wise as thou schalt hiere.
7527   Withinne nyht al prively
7528   His men he warneth by and by, 
7529   That thei be redy armed sone  
7530   For certein thing which was to done:
7531   And thei anon ben redi alle,  
7532   And ech on other gan to calle,
7533   And went hem out upon the stronde
7534   And tok a pourpos ther alonde 
7535   Of what thing that thei wolden do,  
7536   Toward the temple and forth thei go.
7537   So fell it, of devocion 
7538   Heleine in contemplacion
7539   With many an other worthi wiht
7540   Was in the temple and wok al nyht,  
7541   To bidde and preie unto thymage  
7542   Of Venus, as was thanne usage;
7543   So that Paris riht as him liste  
7544   Into the temple, er thei it wiste,  
7545   Com with his men al sodeinly, 
7546   And alle at ones sette ascry  
7547   In hem whiche in the temple were,
7548   For tho was mochel poeple there; 
7549   Bot of defense was no bote,
7550   So soffren thei that soffre mote.
7551   Paris unto the queene wente,  
7552   And hire in bothe hise armes hente  
7553   With him and with his felaschipe,
7554   And forth thei bere hire unto Schipe.      
7555   Up goth the Seil and forth thei wente, 
7556   And such a wynd fortune hem sente,  
7557   Til thei the havene of Troie cauhte;
7558   Where out of Schipe anon thei strauhte 
7559   And gon hem forth toward the toun,  
7560   The which cam with processioun
7561   Ayein Paris to sen his preie. 
7562   And every man began to seie
7563   To Paris and his felaschipe
7564   Al that thei couthen of worschipe;  
7565   Was non so litel man in Troie,
7566   That he ne made merthe and joie  
7567   Of that Paris hath wonne Heleine.
7568   Bot al that merthe is sorwe and peine  
7569   To Helenus and to Cassaundre; 
7570   For thei it token schame and sklaundre 
7571   And lost of al the comun grace,  
7572   That Paris out of holi place  
7573   Be Stelthe hath take a mannes wif,  
7574   Wherof that he schal lese his lif
7575   And many a worthi man therto, 
7576   And al the Cite be fordo,  
7577   Which nevere schal be mad ayein. 
7578   And so it fell, riht as thei sein,  
7579   The Sacrilege which he wroghte
7580   Was cause why the Gregois soughte
7581   Unto the toun and it beleie,  
7582   And wolden nevere parte aweie,
7583   Til what be sleihte and what be strengthe 
7584   Thei hadde it wonne in brede and lengthe, 
7585   And brent and slayn that was withinne. 
7586   Now se, mi Sone, which a sinne
7587   Is Sacrilege in holy stede:
7588   Be war therfore and bidd thi bede,  
7589   And do nothing in holy cherche,  
7590   Bot that thou miht be reson werche. 
7591   And ek tak hiede of Achilles, 
7592   Whan he unto his love ches 
7593   Polixena, that was also     
7594   In holi temple of Appollo, 
7595   Which was the cause why he dyde  
7596   And al his lust was leyd asyde.  
7597   And Troilus upon Criseide  
7598   Also his ferste love leide 
7599   In holi place, and hou it ferde, 
7600   As who seith, al the world it herde;
7601   Forsake he was for Diomede,
7602   Such was of love his laste mede. 
7603   Forthi, mi Sone, I wolde rede,
7604   Be this ensample as thou myht rede, 
7605   Sech elles, wher thou wolt, thi grace, 
7606   And war the wel in holi place 
7607   What thou to love do or speke,
7608   In aunter if it so be wreke
7609   As thou hast herd me told before.
7610   And tak good hiede also therfore 
7611   Upon what forme, of Avarice
7612   Mor than of eny other vice,
7613   I have divided in parties  
7614   The branches, whiche of compainies  
7615   Thurghout the world in general
7616   Ben nou the leders overal, 
7617   Of Covoitise and of Perjure,  
7618   Of fals brocage and of Usure, 
7619   Of Skarsnesse and Unkindeschipe, 
7620   Which nevere drouh to felaschipe,
7621   Of Robberie and privi Stelthe,
7622   Which don is for the worldes welthe,
7623   Of Ravine and of Sacrilegge,  
7624   Which makth the conscience agregge; 
7625   Althogh it mai richesse atteigne,
7626   It floureth, bot it schal noght greine 
7627   Unto the fruit of rihtwisnesse.  
7628   Bot who that wolde do largesse
7629   Upon the reule as it is yive, 
7630   So myhte a man in trouthe live
7631   Toward his god, and ek also
7632   Toward the world, for bothe tuo  
7633   Largesse awaiteth as belongeth,  
7634   To neither part that he ne wrongeth;
7635   He kepth himself, he kepth his frendes,
7636   So stant he sauf to bothe hise endes,  
7637   That he excedeth no mesure,
7638   So wel he can himself mesure: 
7639   Wherof, mi Sone, thou schalt wite,  
7640   So as the Philosophre hath write.
7641   Betwen the tuo extremites  
7642   Of vice stant the propretes
7643   Of vertu, and to prove it so  
7644   Tak Avarice and tak also
7645   The vice of Prodegalite;
7646   Betwen hem Liberalite,  
7647   Which is the vertu of Largesse,  
7648   Stant and governeth his noblesse.
7649   For tho tuo vices in discord  
7650   Stonde evere, as I finde of record; 
7651   So that betwen here tuo debat 
7652   Largesse reuleth his astat.
7653   For in such wise as Avarice,  
7654   As I tofore have told the vice,  
7655   Thurgh streit holdinge and thurgh skarsnesse 
7656   Stant in contraire to Largesse,  
7657   Riht so stant Prodegalite  
7658   Revers, bot noght in such degre. 
7659   For so as Avarice spareth, 
7660   And forto kepe his tresor careth,
7661   That other al his oghne and more 
7662   Ayein the wise mannes lore 
7663   Yifth and despendeth hiere and there,  
7664   So that him reccheth nevere where.  
7665   While he mai borwe, he wol despende,
7666   Til ate laste he seith, "I wende";  
7667   Bot that is spoken al to late,
7668   For thanne is poverte ate gate
7669   And takth him evene be the slieve,  
7670   For erst wol he no wisdom lieve. 
7671   And riht as Avarice is Sinne, 
7672   That wolde his tresor kepe and winne,  
7673   Riht so is Prodegalite: 
7674   Bot of Largesse in his degre, 
7675   Which evene stant betwen the tuo,
7676   The hihe god and man also  
7677   The vertu ech of hem commendeth. 
7678   For he himselven ferst amendeth, 
7679   That overal his name spredeth,
7680   And to alle othre, where it nedeth, 
7681   He yifth his good in such a wise,
7682   That he makth many a man arise,  
7683   Which elles scholde falle lowe.  
7684   Largesce mai noght ben unknowe;  
7685   For what lond that he regneth inne, 
7686   It mai noght faile forto winne
7687   Thurgh his decerte love and grace,  
7688   Wher it schal faile in other place. 
7689   And thus betwen tomoche and lyte 
7690   Largesce, which is noght to wyte,
7691   Halt evere forth the middel weie:
7692   Bot who that torne wole aweie 
7693   Fro that to Prodegalite,
7694   Anon he lest the proprete  
7695   Of vertu and goth to the vice;
7696   For in such wise as Avarice
7697   Lest for scarsnesse his goode name, 
7698   Riht so that other is to blame,  
7699   Which thurgh his wast mesure excedeth, 
7700   For noman wot what harm that bredeth.  
7701   Bot mochel joie ther betydeth,    
7702   Wher that largesse an herte guydeth:
7703   For his mesure is so governed,
7704   That he to bothe partz is lerned,
7705   To god and to the world also, 
7706   He doth reson to bothe tuo.
7707   The povere folk of his almesse
7708   Relieved ben in the destresse 
7709   Of thurst, of hunger and of cold;
7710   The yifte of him was nevere sold,
7711   Bot frely yive, and natheles  
7712   The myhti god of his encress  
7713   Rewardeth him of double grace;
7714   The hevene he doth him to pourchace 
7715   And yifth him ek the worldes good:  
7716   And thus the Cote for the hod 
7717   Largesse takth, and yit no Sinne 
7718   He doth, hou so that evere he winne.
7719   What man hath hors men yive him hors,  
7720   And who non hath of him no fors, 
7721   For he mai thanne on fote go; 
7722   The world hath evere stonde so.  
7723   Bot forto loken of the tweie, 
7724   A man to go the siker weie,
7725   Betre is to yive than to take:
7726   With yifte a man mai frendes make,  
7727   Bot who that takth or gret or smal, 
7728   He takth a charge forth withal,  
7729   And stant noght fre til it be quit. 
7730   So forto deme in mannes wit,  
7731   It helpeth more a man to have 
7732   His oghne good, than forto crave 
7733   Of othre men and make him bounde,
7734   Wher elles he mai stonde unbounde.  
7735   Senec conseileth in this wise,
7736   And seith, "Bot, if thi good suffise
7737   Unto the liking of thi wille, 
7738   Withdrawh thi lust and hold the stille,
7739   And be to thi good sufficant."    
7740   For that thing is appourtenant
7741   To trouthe and causeth to be fre 
7742   After the reule of charite,
7743   Which ferst beginneth of himselve.  
7744   For if thou richest othre tuelve,
7745   Wherof thou schalt thiself be povere,  
7746   I not what thonk thou miht recovere.
7747   Whil that a man hath good to yive,  
7748   With grete routes he mai live 
7749   And hath his frendes overal,  
7750   And everich of him telle schal.  
7751   Therwhile he hath his fulle packe,  
7752   Thei seie, "A good felawe is Jacke";
7753   Bot whanne it faileth ate laste, 
7754   Anon his pris thei overcaste, 
7755   For thanne is ther non other lawe
7756   Bot, "Jacke was a good felawe."  
7757   Whan thei him povere and nedy se,
7758   Thei lete him passe and farwel he;  
7759   Al that he wende of compainie 
7760   Is thanne torned to folie. 
7761   Bot nou to speke in other kinde  
7762   Of love, a man mai suche finde,  
7763   That wher thei come in every route  
7764   Thei caste and waste her love aboute,  
7765   Til al here time is overgon,  
7766   And thanne have thei love non:
7767   For who that loveth overal,
7768   It is no reson that he schal  
7769   Of love have eny proprete. 
7770   Forthi, mi Sone, avise thee
7771   If thou of love hast be to large,
7772   For such a man is noght to charge:  
7773   And if it so be that thou hast
7774   Despended al thi time in wast 
7775   And set thi love in sondri place,
7776   Though thou the substance of thi grace     
7777   Lese ate laste, it is no wonder; 
7778   For he that put himselven under, 
7779   As who seith, comun overal,
7780   He lest the love special
7781   Of eny on, if sche be wys; 
7782   For love schal noght bere his pris  
7783   Be reson, whanne it passeth on.  
7784   So have I sen ful many on, 
7785   That were of love wel at ese, 
7786   Whiche after felle in gret desese
7787   Thurgh wast of love, that thei spente  
7788   In sondri places wher thei wente.
7789   Riht so, mi Sone, I axe of thee  
7790   If thou with Prodegalite
7791   Hast hier and ther thi love wasted. 
7792   Mi fader, nay; bot I have tasted 
7793   In many a place as I have go, 
7794   And yit love I nevere on of tho, 
7795   Bot forto drive forth the dai.
7796   For lieveth wel, myn herte is ay 
7797   Withoute mo for everemore  
7798   Al upon on, for I nomore
7799   Desire bot hire love al one:  
7800   So make I many a prive mone,  
7801   For wel I fiele I have despended 
7802   Mi longe love and noght amended  
7803   Mi sped, for oght I finde yit.
7804   If this be wast to youre wit  
7805   Of love, and Prodegalite,  
7806   Nou, goode fader, demeth ye:  
7807   Bot of o thing I wol me schryve, 
7808   That I schal for no love thryve, 
7809   Bot if hirself me wol relieve.
7810   Mi Sone, that I mai wel lieve:
7811   And natheles me semeth so, 
7812   For oght that thou hast yit misdo
7813   Of time which thou hast despended,  
7814   It mai with grace ben amended.
7815   For thing which mai be worth the cost
7816   Per chaunce is nouther wast ne lost;
7817   For what thing stant on aventure,
7818   That can no worldes creature
7819   Telle in certein hou it schal wende,
7820   Til he therof mai sen an ende.
7821   So that I not as yit therfore
7822   If thou, mi Sone, hast wonne or lore:
7823   For ofte time, as it is sene,
7824   Whan Somer hath lost al his grene
7825   And is with Wynter wast and bare,
7826   That him is left nothing to spare,
7827   Al is recovered in a throwe;
7828   The colde wyndes overblowe,
7829   And still be the scharpe schoures,
7830   And soudeinliche ayein his floures
7831   The Somer hapneth and is riche:
7832   And so per cas thi graces liche,
7833   Mi Sone, thogh thou be nou povere
7834   Of love, yit thou miht recovere.
7835     Mi fader, certes grant merci:
7836   Ye have me tawht so redeli,
7837   That evere whil I live schal
7838   The betre I mai be war withal
7839   Of thing which ye have seid er this.
7840   Bot overmore hou that it is,
7841   Toward mi schrifte as it belongeth,
7842   To wite of othre pointz me longeth;
7843   Wherof that ye me wolden teche
7844   With al myn herte I you beseche.

Explicit Liber Quintus.



Incipit Liber Sextus


Est gula, que nostrum maculavit prima parentem
     Ex vetito pomo, quo dolet omnis homo
Hec agit, ut corpus anime contraria spirat,
     Quo caro fit crassa, spiritus atque macer.
Intus et exterius si que virtutis habentur,
     Potibus ebrietas conviciata ruit.
Mersa sopore labis, que Bachus inebriat hospes,
     Indignata Venus oscula raro premit.


1      The grete Senne original,  
2      Which every man in general 
3      Upon his berthe hath envenymed,  
4      In Paradis it was mystymed:
5      Whan Adam of thilke Appel bot,
6      His swete morscel was to hot, 
7      Which dedly made the mankinde.
8      And in the bokes as I finde,  
9      This vice, which so out of rule  
10     Hath sette ous alle, is cleped Gule;
11     Of which the branches ben so grete, 
12     That of hem alle I wol noght trete, 
13     Bot only as touchende of tuo  
14     I thenke speke and of no mo;  
15     Wherof the ferste is Dronkeschipe,  
16     Which berth the cuppe felaschipe.
17     Ful many a wonder doth this vice,
18     He can make of a wisman nyce, 
19     And of a fool, that him schal seme  
20     That he can al the lawe deme, 
21     And yiven every juggement  
22     Which longeth to the firmament
23     Bothe of the sterre and of the mone;    
24     And thus he makth a gret clerk sone 
25     Of him that is a lewed man.
26     Ther is nothing which he ne can, 
27     Whil he hath Dronkeschipe on honde, 
28     He knowth the See, he knowth the stronde, 
29     He is a noble man of armes,
30     And yit no strengthe is in his armes:  
31     Ther he was strong ynouh tofore, 
32     With Dronkeschipe it is forlore, 
33     And al is changed his astat,  
34     And wext anon so fieble and mat, 
35     That he mai nouther go ne come,  
36     Bot al togedre him is benome  
37     The pouer bothe of hond and fot, 
38     So that algate abide he mot.  
39     And alle hise wittes he foryet,  
40     The which is to him such a let,  
41     That he wot nevere what he doth, 
42     Ne which is fals, ne which is soth, 
43     Ne which is dai, ne which is nyht,  
44     And for the time he knowth no wyht, 
45     That he ne wot so moche as this, 
46     What maner thing himselven is,
47     Or he be man, or he be beste. 
48     That holde I riht a sori feste,  
49     Whan he that reson understod  
50     So soudeinliche is woxe wod,  
51     Or elles lich the dede man,
52     Which nouther go ne speke can.
53     Thus ofte he is to bedde broght, 
54     Bot where he lith yit wot he noght, 
55     Til he arise upon the morwe;  
56     And thanne he seith, "O, which a sorwe 
57     It is a man be drinkeles!" 
58     So that halfdrunke in such a res 
59     With dreie mouth he sterte him uppe,
60     And seith, "Nou baillez a the cuppe."      
61     That made him lese his wit at eve
62     Is thanne a morwe al his beleve; 
63     The cuppe is al that evere him pleseth,
64     And also that him most deseseth; 
65     It is the cuppe whom he serveth, 
66     Which alle cares fro him kerveth 
67     And alle bales to him bringeth:  
68     In joie he wepth, in sorwe he singeth, 
69     For Dronkeschipe is so divers,
70     It may no whyle stonde in vers.  
71     He drinkth the wyn, bot ate laste
72     The wyn drynkth him and bint him faste,
73     And leith him drunke be the wal, 
74     As him which is his bonde thral  
75     And al in his subjeccion.  
76     And lich to such condicion,
77     As forto speke it other wise, 
78     It falleth that the moste wise
79     Ben otherwhile of love adoted,
80     And so bewhaped and assoted,  
81     Of drunke men that nevere yit 
82     Was non, which half so loste his wit
83     Of drinke, as thei of such thing do 
84     Which cleped is the jolif wo; 
85     And waxen of here oghne thoght
86     So drunke, that thei knowe noght 
87     What reson is, or more or lesse. 
88     Such is the kinde of that sieknesse,
89     And that is noght for lacke of brain,  
90     Bot love is of so gret a main,
91     That where he takth an herte on honde, 
92     Ther mai nothing his miht withstonde:  
93     The wise Salomon was nome, 
94     And stronge Sampson overcome, 
95     The knihtli David him ne mihte
96     Rescoue, that he with the sihte  
97     Of Bersabee ne was bestad, 
98     Virgile also was overlad,      
99     And Aristotle was put under.  
100    Forthi, mi Sone, it is no wonder 
101    If thou be drunke of love among, 
102    Which is above alle othre strong:
103    And if so is that thou so be, 
104    Tell me thi Schrifte in privite; 
105    It is no schame of such a thew
106    A yong man to be dronkelew.
107    Of such Phisique I can a part,
108    And as me semeth be that art, 
109    Thou scholdest be Phisonomie  
110    Be schapen to that maladie 
111    Of lovedrunke, and that is routhe.  
112    Ha, holi fader, al is trouthe 
113    That ye me telle: I am beknowe
114    That I with love am so bethrowe, 
115    And al myn herte is so thurgh sunke,
116    That I am verrailiche drunke, 
117    And yit I mai bothe speke and go.
118    Bot I am overcome so,
119    And torned fro miself so clene,  
120    That ofte I wot noght what I mene;  
121    So that excusen I ne mai
122    Min herte, fro the ferste day 
123    That I cam to mi ladi kiththe,
124    I was yit sobre nevere siththe.  
125    Wher I hire se or se hire noght, 
126    With musinge of min oghne thoght,
127    Of love, which min herte assaileth, 
128    So drunke I am, that mi wit faileth 
129    And al mi brain is overtorned,
130    And mi manere so mistorned,
131    That I foryete al that I can  
132    And stonde lich a mased man;  
133    That ofte, whanne I scholde pleie,  
134    It makth me drawe out of the weie
135    In soulein place be miselve,  
136    As doth a labourer to delve,  
137    Which can no gentil mannes chere;
138    Or elles as a lewed Frere, 
139    Whan he is put to his penance,
140    Riht so lese I mi contienance.
141    And if it nedes to betyde, 
142    That I in compainie abyde, 
143    Wher as I moste daunce and singe 
144    The hovedance and carolinge,  
145    Or forto go the newefot,
146    I mai noght wel heve up mi fot,  
147    If that sche be noght in the weie;  
148    For thanne is al mi merthe aweie,
149    And waxe anon of thoght so full, 
150    Wherof mi limes ben so dull,  
151    I mai unethes gon the pas. 
152    For thus it is and evere was, 
153    Whanne I on suche thoghtes muse, 
154    The lust and merthe that men use,
155    Whan I se noght mi ladi byme, 
156    Al is foryete for the time 
157    So ferforth that mi wittes changen  
158    And alle lustes fro me strangen, 
159    That thei seie alle trewely,  
160    And swere, that it am noght I.
161    For as the man which ofte drinketh, 
162    With win that in his stomac sinketh 
163    Wext drunke and witles for a throwe,
164    Riht so mi lust is overthrowe,
165    And of myn oghne thoght so mat
166    I wexe, that to myn astat  
167    Ther is no lime wol me serve, 
168    Bot as a drunke man I swerve, 
169    And suffre such a Passion, 
170    That men have gret compassion,
171    And everich be himself merveilleth  
172    What thing it is that me so eilleth.
173    Such is the manere of mi wo
174    Which time that I am hire fro,    
175    Til eft ayein that I hire se. 
176    Bot thanne it were a nycete
177    To telle you hou that I fare: 
178    For whanne I mai upon hire stare,
179    Hire wommanhede, hire gentilesse,
180    Myn herte is full of such gladnesse,
181    That overpasseth so mi wit,
182    That I wot nevere where it sit,  
183    Bot am so drunken of that sihte, 
184    Me thenkth that for the time I mihte
185    Riht sterte thurgh the hole wall;
186    And thanne I mai wel, if I schal,
187    Bothe singe and daunce and lepe aboute,
188    And holde forth the lusti route. 
189    Bot natheles it falleth so 
190    Fulofte, that I fro hire go
191    Ne mai, bot as it were a stake,  
192    I stonde avisement to take 
193    And loke upon hire faire face;
194    That for the while out of the place 
195    For al the world ne myhte I wende.  
196    Such lust comth thanne unto mi mende,  
197    So that withoute mete or drinke, 
198    Of lusti thoughtes whiche I thinke  
199    Me thenkth I mihte stonden evere;
200    And so it were to me levere
201    Than such a sihte forto leve, 
202    If that sche wolde yif me leve
203    To have so mochel of mi wille.
204    And thus thenkende I stonde stille  
205    Withoute blenchinge of myn yhe,  
206    Riht as me thoghte that I syhe
207    Of Paradis the moste joie: 
208    And so therwhile I me rejoie, 
209    Into myn herte a gret desir,  
210    The which is hotere than the fyr,
211    Al soudeinliche upon me renneth, 
212    That al mi thoght withinne brenneth,    
213    And am so ferforth overcome,  
214    That I not where I am become; 
215    So that among the hetes stronge  
216    In stede of drinke I underfonge  
217    A thoght so swete in mi corage,  
218    That nevere Pyment ne vernage 
219    Was half so swete forto drinke.  
220    For as I wolde, thanne I thinke  
221    As thogh I were at myn above, 
222    For so thurgh drunke I am of love,  
223    That al that mi sotye demeth  
224    Is soth, as thanne it to me semeth. 
225    And whyle I mai tho thoghtes kepe,  
226    Me thenkth as thogh I were aslepe
227    And that I were in goddes barm;  
228    Bot whanne I se myn oghne harm,  
229    And that I soudeinliche awake 
230    Out of my thought, and hiede take
231    Hou that the sothe stant in dede,
232    Thanne is mi sekernesse in drede 
233    And joie torned into wo,
234    So that the hete is al ago 
235    Of such sotie as I was inne.  
236    And thanne ayeinward I beginne
237    To take of love a newe thorst,
238    The which me grieveth altherworst,  
239    For thanne comth the blanche fievere,  
240    With chele and makth me so to chievere,
241    And so it coldeth at myn herte,  
242    That wonder is hou I asterte, 
243    In such a point that I ne deie:  
244    For certes ther was nevere keie  
245    Ne frosen ys upon the wal  
246    More inly cold that I am al.  
247    And thus soffre I the hote chele,
248    Which passeth othre peines fele; 
249    In cold I brenne and frese in hete: 
250    And thanne I drinke a biter swete    
251    With dreie lippe and yhen wete.  
252    Lo, thus I tempre mi diete,
253    And take a drauhte of such reles,
254    That al mi wit is herteles,
255    And al myn herte, ther it sit,
256    Is, as who seith, withoute wit;  
257    So that to prove it be reson  
258    In makinge of comparison
259    Ther mai no difference be  
260    Betwen a drunke man and me.
261    Bot al the worste of everychon
262    Is evere that I thurste in on;
263    The more that myn herte drinketh,
264    The more I may; so that me thinketh,
265    My thurst schal nevere ben aqueint. 
266    God schilde that I be noght dreint  
267    Of such a superfluite:  
268    For wel I fiele in mi degre
269    That al mi wit is overcast,
270    Wherof I am the more agast,
271    That in defaulte of ladischipe
272    Per chance in such a drunkeschipe
273    I mai be ded er I be war.  
274    For certes, fader, this I dar 
275    Beknowe and in mi schrifte telle:
276    Bot I a drauhte have of that welle, 
277    In which mi deth is and mi lif,  
278    Mi joie is torned into strif, 
279    That sobre schal I nevere worthe,
280    Bot as a drunke man forworthe;
281    So that in londe where I fare 
282    The lust is lore of mi welfare,  
283    As he that mai no bote finde. 
284    Bot this me thenkth a wonder kinde, 
285    As I am drunke of that I drinke, 
286    So am I ek for falte of drinke;  
287    Of which I finde no reles: 
288    Bot if I myhte natheles     
289    Of such a drinke as I coveite,
290    So as me liste, have o receite,  
291    I scholde assobre and fare wel.  
292    Bot so fortune upon hire whiel
293    On hih me deigneth noght to sette,  
294    For everemore I finde a lette:
295    The boteler is noght mi frend,
296    Which hath the keie be the bend; 
297    I mai wel wisshe and that is wast,  
298    For wel I wot, so freissh a tast,
299    Bot if mi grace be the more,  
300    I schal assaie neveremore. 
301    Thus am I drunke of that I se,
302    For tastinge is defended me,  
303    And I can noght miselven stanche:
304    So that, mi fader, of this branche  
305    I am gultif, to telle trouthe.
306    Mi Sone, that me thenketh routhe;
307    For lovedrunke is the meschief
308    Above alle othre the most chief, 
309    If he no lusti thoght assaie, 
310    Which mai his sori thurst allaie:
311    As for the time yit it lisseth
312    To him which other joie misseth. 
313    Forthi, mi Sone, aboven alle  
314    Thenk wel, hou so it the befalle,
315    And kep thi wittes that thou hast,  
316    And let hem noght be drunke in wast:
317    Bot natheles ther is no wyht  
318    That mai withstonde loves miht.  
319    Bot why the cause is, as I finde,
320    Of that ther is diverse kinde 
321    Of lovedrunke, why men pleigneth 
322    After the court which al ordeigneth,
323    I wol the tellen the manere;  
324    Nou lest, mi Sone, and thou schalt hiere. 
325    For the fortune of every chance  
326    After the goddes pourveance
327    To man it groweth from above,     
328    So that the sped of every love
329    Is schape there, er it befalle.  
330    For Jupiter aboven alle,
331    Which is of goddes soverein,  
332    Hath in his celier, as men sein, 
333    Tuo tonnes fulle of love drinke, 
334    That maken many an herte sinke
335    And many an herte also to flete, 
336    Or of the soure or of the swete. 
337    That on is full of such piment,  
338    Which passeth all entendement 
339    Of mannes witt, if he it taste,  
340    And makth a jolif herte in haste:
341    That other biter as the galle,
342    Which makth a mannes herte palle,
343    Whos drunkeschipe is a sieknesse 
344    Thurgh fielinge of the biternesse.  
345    Cupide is boteler of bothe,
346    Which to the lieve and to the lothe 
347    Yifth of the swete and of the soure,
348    That some lawhe, and some loure. 
349    Bot for so moche as he blind is, 
350    Fulofte time he goth amis  
351    And takth the badde for the goode,  
352    Which hindreth many a mannes fode
353    Withoute cause, and forthreth eke.  
354    So be ther some of love seke, 
355    Whiche oghte of reson to ben hole,  
356    And some comen to the dole 
357    In happ and as hemselve leste 
358    Drinke undeserved of the beste.  
359    And thus this blinde Boteler  
360    Yifth of the trouble in stede of cler  
361    And ek the cler in stede of trouble:
362    Lo, hou he can the hertes trouble,  
363    And makth men drunke al upon chaunce    
364    Withoute lawe of governance.  
365    If he drawe of the swete tonne,  
366    Thanne is the sorwe al overronne 
367    Of lovedrunke, and schalt noght greven 
368    So to be drunken every even,  
369    For al is thanne bot a game.  
370    Bot whanne it is noght of the same, 
371    And he the biter tonne draweth,  
372    Such drunkeschipe an herte gnaweth  
373    And fiebleth al a mannes thoght, 
374    That betre him were have drunke noght  
375    And al his bred have eten dreie; 
376    For thanne he lest his lusti weie
377    With drunkeschipe, and wot noght whider
378    To go, the weies ben so slider,  
379    In which he mai per cas so falle,
380    That he schal breke his wittes alle.
381    And in this wise men be drunke
382    After the drink that thei have drunke: 
383    Bot alle drinken noght alike, 
384    For som schal singe and som schal syke,
385    So that it me nothing merveilleth,  
386    Mi Sone, of love that thee eilleth; 
387    For wel I knowe be thi tale,  
388    That thou hast drunken of the duale,
389    Which biter is, til god the sende
390    Such grace that thou miht amende.
391    Bot, Sone, thou schalt bidde and preie 
392    In such a wise as I schal seie,  
393    That thou the lusti welle atteigne  
394    Thi wofull thurstes to restreigne
395    Of love, and taste the swetnesse;
396    As Bachus dede in his distresse, 
397    Whan bodiliche thurst him hente  
398    In strange londes where he wente.
399    This Bachus Sone of Jupiter    
400    Was hote, and as he wente fer 
401    Be his fadres assignement  
402    To make a werre in Orient, 
403    And gret pouer with him he ladde,
404    So that the heiere hond he hadde 
405    And victoire of his enemys,
406    And torneth homward with his pris,  
407    In such a contre which was dreie 
408    A meschief fell upon the weie.
409    As he rod with his compainie  
410    Nyh to the strondes of Lubie, 
411    Ther myhte thei no drinke finde  
412    Of water nor of other kinde,  
413    So that himself and al his host  
414    Were of defalte of drinke almost 
415    Destruid, and thanne Bachus preide  
416    To Jupiter, and thus he seide:
417    "O hihe fader, that sest al,  
418    To whom is reson that I schal 
419    Beseche and preie in every nede, 
420    Behold, mi fader, and tak hiede  
421    This wofull thurst that we ben inne 
422    To staunche, and grante ous forto winne,  
423    And sauf unto the contre fare,
424    Wher that oure lusti loves are
425    Waitende upon oure hom cominge." 
426    And with the vois of his preiynge,  
427    Which herd was to the goddes hihe,  
428    He syh anon tofore his yhe 
429    A wether, which the ground hath sporned;  
430    And wher he hath it overtorned,  
431    Ther sprang a welle freissh and cler,  
432    Wherof his oghne boteler
433    After the lustes of his wille 
434    Was every man to drinke his fille.  
435    And for this ilke grete grace 
436    Bachus upon the same place     
437    A riche temple let arere,  
438    Which evere scholde stonde there 
439    To thursti men in remembrance.
440    Forthi, mi Sone, after this chance  
441    It sit thee wel to taken hiede
442    So forto preie upon thi nede, 
443    As Bachus preide for the welle;  
444    And thenk, as thou hast herd me telle, 
445    Hou grace he gradde and grace he hadde.
446    He was no fol that ferst so radde,  
447    For selden get a domb man lond:  
448    Tak that proverbe, and understond
449    That wordes ben of vertu grete.  
450    Forthi to speke thou ne lete, 
451    And axe and prei erli and late
452    Thi thurst to quenche, and thenk algate,  
453    The boteler which berth the keie 
454    Is blind, as thou hast herd me seie;
455    And if it mihte so betyde, 
456    That he upon the blinde side  
457    Per cas the swete tonne arauhte, 
458    Than schalt thou have a lusti drauhte  
459    And waxe of lovedrunke sobre. 
460    And thus I rede thou assobre  
461    Thin herte in hope of such a grace; 
462    For drunkeschipe in every place, 
463    To whether side that it torne,
464    Doth harm and makth a man to sporne 
465    And ofte falle in such a wise,
466    Wher he per cas mai noght arise. 
467    And forto loke in evidence 
468    Upon the sothe experience, 
469    So as it hath befalle er this,
470    In every mannes mouth it is
471    Hou Tristram was of love drunke  
472    With Bele Ysolde, whan thei drunke  
473    The drink which Brangwein hem betok,
474    Er that king Marc his Eem hire tok      
475    To wyve, as it was after knowe.  
476    And ek, mi Sone, if thou wolt knowe,
477    As it hath fallen overmore 
478    In loves cause, and what is more 
479    Of drunkeschipe forto drede,  
480    As it whilom befell in dede,  
481    Wherof thou miht the betre eschuie  
482    Of drunke men that thou ne suie  
483    The compaignie in no manere,  
484    A gret ensample thou schalt hiere.  
485    This finde I write in Poesie  
486    Of thilke faire Ipotacie,  
487    Of whos beaute ther as sche was  
488    Spak every man, - and fell per cas, 
489    That Pirotos so him spedde, 
490    That he to wyve hire scholde wedde, 
491    Wherof that he gret joie made.
492    And for he wolde his love glade, 
493    Ayein the day of mariage
494    Be mouthe bothe and be message
495    Hise frendes to the feste he preide,
496    With gret worschipe and, as men seide, 
497    He hath this yonge ladi spoused. 
498    And whan that thei were alle housed,
499    And set and served ate mete,  
500    Ther was no wyn which mai be gete,  
501    That ther ne was plente ynouh:
502    Bot Bachus thilke tonne drouh,
503    Wherof be weie of drunkeschipe
504    The greteste of the felaschipe
505    Were oute of reson overtake;  
506    And Venus, which hath also take  
507    The cause most in special, 
508    Hath yove hem drinke forth withal
509    Of thilke cuppe which exciteth
510    The lust wherinne a man deliteth:    
511    And thus be double weie drunke,  
512    Of lust that ilke fyri funke  
513    Hath mad hem, as who seith, halfwode,  
514    That thei no reson understode,
515    Ne to non other thing thei syhen,
516    Bot hire, which tofore here yhen 
517    Was wedded thilke same day,
518    That freisshe wif, that lusti May,  
519    On hire it was al that thei thoghten.  
520    And so ferforth here lustes soghten,
521    That thei the whiche named were  
522    Centauri, ate feste there  
523    Of on assent, of an acord  
524    This yonge wif malgre hire lord  
525    In such a rage awei forth ladden,
526    As thei whiche non insihte hadden
527    Bot only to her drunke fare,  
528    Which many a man hath mad misfare
529    In love als wel as other weie.
530    Wherof, if I schal more seie  
531    Upon the nature of the vice,  
532    Of custume and of exercice 
533    The mannes grace hou it fordoth, 
534    A tale, which was whilom soth,
535    Of fooles that so drunken were,  
536    I schal reherce unto thine Ere.  
537    I rede in a Cronique thus  
538    Of Galba and of Vitellus,  
539    The whiche of Spaigne bothe were 
540    The greteste of alle othre there,
541    And bothe of o condicion
542    After the disposicion
543    Of glotonie and drunkeschipe. 
544    That was a sori felaschipe:
545    For this thou miht wel understonde, 
546    That man mai wel noght longe stonde 
547    Which is wyndrunke of comun us;
548    For he hath lore the vertus,  
549    Wherof reson him scholde clothe; 
550    And that was seene upon hem bothe.  
551    Men sein ther is non evidence,
552    Wherof to knowe a difference  
553    Betwen the drunken and the wode, 
554    For thei be nevere nouther goode;
555    For wher that wyn doth wit aweie,
556    Wisdom hath lost the rihte weie, 
557    That he no maner vice dredeth;
558    Nomore than a blind man thredeth 
559    His nedle be the Sonnes lyht, 
560    Nomore is reson thanne of myht,  
561    Whan he with drunkeschipe is blent. 
562    And in this point thei weren schent,
563    This Galba bothe and ek Vitelle, 
564    Upon the cause as I schal telle, 
565    Wherof good is to taken hiede.
566    For thei tuo thurgh her drunkenhiede
567    Of witles excitacioun
568    Oppressede al the nacion
569    Of Spaigne; for of fool usance,  
570    Which don was of continuance  
571    Of hem, whiche alday drunken were,  
572    Ther was no wif ne maiden there, 
573    What so thei were, or faire or foule,  
574    Whom thei ne token to defoule,
575    Wherof the lond was often wo: 
576    And ek in othre thinges mo 
577    Thei wroghten many a sondri wrong.  
578    Bot hou so that the dai be long, 
579    The derke nyht comth ate laste:  
580    God wolde noght thei scholden laste,
581    And schop the lawe in such a wise,  
582    That thei thurgh dom to the juise
583    Be dampned forto be forlore.      
584    Bot thei, that hadden ben tofore 
585    Enclin to alle drunkenesse,-  
586    Here ende thanne bar witnesse;
587    For thei in hope to assuage
588    The peine of deth, upon the rage 
589    That thei the lasse scholden fiele, 
590    Of wyn let fille full a Miele,
591    And dronken til so was befalle
592    That thei her strengthes losten alle
593    Withouten wit of eny brain;
594    And thus thei ben halfdede slain,
595    That hem ne grieveth bot a lyte. 
596    Mi Sone, if thou be forto wyte
597    In eny point which I have seid,  
598    Wherof thi wittes ben unteid, 
599    I rede clepe hem hom ayein.
600    I schal do, fader, as ye sein,
601    Als ferforth as I mai suffise:
602    Bot wel I wot that in no wise 
603    The drunkeschipe of love aweie
604    I mai remue be no weie, 
605    It stant noght upon my fortune.  
606    Bot if you liste to comune 
607    Of the seconde Glotonie,
608    Which cleped is Delicacie, 
609    Wherof ye spieken hier tofore,
610    Beseche I wolde you therfore. 
611    Mi Sone, as of that ilke vice,
612    Which of alle othre is the Norrice, 
613    And stant upon the retenue 
614    Of Venus, so as it is due, 
615    The proprete hou that it fareth  
616    The bok hierafter nou declareth.     
617    Of this chapitre in which we trete  
618    There is yit on of such diete,
619    To which no povere mai atteigne; 
620    For al is Past of paindemeine 
621    And sondri wyn and sondri drinke,
622    Wherof that he wole ete and drinke: 
623    Hise cokes ben for him affaited, 
624    So that his body is awaited,  
625    That him schal lacke no delit,
626    Als ferforth as his appetit
627    Sufficeth to the metes hote.  
628    Wherof this lusti vice is hote
629    Of Gule the Delicacie,  
630    Which al the hole progenie 
631    Of lusti folk hath undertake  
632    To feede, whil that he mai take  
633    Richesses wherof to be founde:
634    Of Abstinence he wot no bounde,  
635    To what profit it scholde serve. 
636    And yit phisique of his conserve 
637    Makth many a restauracioun 
638    Unto his recreacioun,
639    Which wolde be to Venus lief. 
640    Thus for the point of his relief 
641    The coc which schal his mete arraie,
642    Bot he the betre his mouth assaie,  
643    His lordes thonk schal ofte lese,
644    Er he be served to the chese: 
645    For ther mai lacke noght so lyte,
646    That he ne fint anon a wyte;  
647    For bot his lust be fully served,
648    Ther hath no wiht his thonk deserved.  
649    And yit for mannes sustenance,
650    To kepe and holde in governance,     
651    To him that wole his hele gete
652    Is non so good as comun mete: 
653    For who that loketh on the bokes,
654    It seith, confeccion of cokes,
655    A man him scholde wel avise
656    Hou he it toke and in what wise. 
657    For who that useth that he knoweth, 
658    Ful selden seknesse on him groweth, 
659    And who that useth metes strange,
660    Though his nature empeire and change
661    It is no wonder, lieve Sone,  
662    Whan that he doth ayein his wone;
663    For in Phisique this I finde, 
664    Usage is the seconde kinde.
665    And riht so changeth his astat
666    He that of love is delicat:
667    For though he hadde to his hond  
668    The beste wif of al the lond, 
669    Or the faireste love of alle, 
670    Yit wolde his herte on othre falle  
671    And thenke hem mor delicious  
672    Than he hath in his oghne hous:  
673    Men sein it is nou ofte so;
674    Avise hem wel, thei that so do.  
675    And forto speke in other weie,
676    Fulofte time I have herd seie,
677    That he which hath no love achieved,
678    Him thenkth that he is noght relieved, 
679    Thogh that his ladi make him chiere,
680    So as sche mai in good manere 
681    Hir honour and hir name save, 
682    Bot he the surplus mihte have.
683    Nothing withstondende hire astat,
684    Of love more delicat 
685    He set hire chiere at no delit,      
686    Bot he have al his appetit.
687    Mi Sone, if it be with thee so,  
688    Tell me. Myn holi fader, no:  
689    For delicat in such a wise 
690    Of love, as ye to me devise,  
691    Ne was I nevere yit gultif;
692    For if I hadde such a wif  
693    As ye speke of, what scholde I more?
694    For thanne I wolde neveremore 
695    For lust of eny wommanhiede
696    Myn herte upon non other fiede:  
697    And if I dede, it were a wast.
698    Bot al withoute such repast
699    Of lust, as ye me tolde above,
700    Of wif, or yit of other love, 
701    I faste, and mai no fode gete;
702    So that for lacke of deinte mete,
703    Of which an herte mai be fedd,
704    I go fastende to my bedd.  
705    Bot myhte I geten, as ye tolde,  
706    So mochel that mi ladi wolde  
707    Me fede with hir glad semblant,  
708    Though me lacke al the remenant, 
709    Yit scholde I somdel ben abeched 
710    And for the time wel refreched.  
711    Bot certes, fader, sche ne doth; 
712    For in good feith, to telle soth,
713    I trowe, thogh I scholde sterve, 
714    Sche wolde noght hire yhe swerve,
715    Min herte with o goodly lok
716    To fede, and thus for such a cok 
717    I mai go fastinge everemo: 
718    Bot if so is that eny wo
719    Mai fede a mannes herte wel,  
720    Therof I have at every meel
721    Of plente more than ynowh; 
722    Bot that is of himself so towh,      
723    Mi stomac mai it noght defie. 
724    Lo, such is the delicacie  
725    Of love, which myn herte fedeth; 
726    Thus have I lacke of that me nedeth.
727    Bot for al this yit natheles  
728    I seie noght I am gylteles,
729    That I somdel am delicat:  
730    For elles were I fulli mat,
731    Bot if that I som lusti stounde  
732    Of confort and of ese founde, 
733    To take of love som repast;
734    For thogh I with the fulle tast  
735    The lust of love mai noght fiele,
736    Min hunger otherwise I kiele  
737    Of smale lustes whiche I pike,
738    And for a time yit thei like; 
739    If that ye wisten what I mene.
740    Nou, goode Sone, schrif thee clene  
741    Of suche deyntes as ben goode,
742    Wherof thou takst thin hertes fode. 
743    Mi fader, I you schal reherce,
744    Hou that mi fodes ben diverse,
745    So as thei fallen in degre.
746    O fiedinge is of that I se,
747    An other is of that I here,
748    The thridde, as I schal tellen here,
749    It groweth of min oghne thoght:  
750    And elles scholde I live noght;  
751    For whom that failleth fode of herte,  
752    He mai noght wel the deth asterte.  
753    Of sihte is al mi ferste fode,
754    Thurgh which myn yhe of alle goode  
755    Hath that to him is acordant, 
756    A lusti fode sufficant. 
757    Whan that I go toward the place  
758    Wher I schal se my ladi face, 
759    Min yhe, which is loth to faste, 
760    Beginth to hungre anon so faste,     
761    That him thenkth of on houre thre,  
762    Til I ther come and he hire se:  
763    And thanne after his appetit  
764    He takth a fode of such delit,
765    That him non other deynte nedeth.
766    Of sondri sihtes he him fedeth:  
767    He seth hire face of such colour,
768    That freisshere is than eny flour,  
769    He seth hire front is large and plein  
770    Withoute fronce of eny grein, 
771    He seth hire yhen lich an hevene,
772    He seth hire nase strauht and evene,
773    He seth hire rode upon the cheke,
774    He seth hire rede lippes eke, 
775    Hire chyn acordeth to the face,  
776    Al that he seth is full of grace,
777    He seth hire necke round and clene, 
778    Therinne mai no bon be sene,  
779    He seth hire handes faire and whyte;
780    For al this thing withoute wyte  
781    He mai se naked ate leste, 
782    So is it wel the more feste
783    And wel the mor Delicacie  
784    Unto the fiedinge of myn yhe. 
785    He seth hire schapthe forth withal, 
786    Hire bodi round, hire middel smal,  
787    So wel begon with good array, 
788    Which passeth al the lust of Maii,  
789    Whan he is most with softe schoures 
790    Ful clothed in his lusti floures.
791    With suche sihtes by and by
792    Min yhe is fed; bot finaly,
793    Whan he the port and the manere  
794    Seth of hire wommanysshe chere,  
795    Than hath he such delice on honde,  
796    Him thenkth he mihte stille stonde, 
797    And that he hath ful sufficance  
798    Of liflode and of sustienance     
799    As to his part for everemo.
800    And if it thoghte alle othre so, 
801    Fro thenne wolde he nevere wende,
802    Bot there unto the worldes ende  
803    He wolde abyde, if that he mihte,
804    And fieden him upon the syhte.
805    For thogh I mihte stonden ay  
806    Into the time of domesday  
807    And loke upon hire evere in on,  
808    Yit whanne I scholde fro hire gon,  
809    Min yhe wolde, as thogh he faste,
810    Ben hungerstorven al so faste,
811    Til efte ayein that he hire syhe.
812    Such is the nature of myn yhe:
813    Ther is no lust so deintefull,
814    Of which a man schal noght be full, 
815    Of that the stomac underfongeth, 
816    Bot evere in on myn yhe longeth: 
817    For loke hou that a goshauk tireth, 
818    Riht so doth he, whan that he pireth
819    And toteth on hire wommanhiede;  
820    For he mai nevere fulli fiede 
821    His lust, bot evere aliche sore  
822    Him hungreth, so that he the more
823    Desireth to be fed algate: 
824    And thus myn yhe is mad the gate,
825    Thurgh which the deyntes of my thoght  
826    Of lust ben to myn herte broght. 
827    Riht as myn yhe with his lok  
828    Is to myn herte a lusti coc
829    Of loves fode delicat,  
830    Riht so myn Ere in his astat, 
831    Wher as myn yhe mai noght serve, 
832    Can wel myn hertes thonk deserve 
833    And fieden him fro day to day 
834    With suche deyntes as he may. 
835    For thus it is, that overal,  
836    Wher as I come in special, 
837    I mai hiere of mi ladi pris;      
838    I hiere on seith that sche is wys,  
839    An other seith that sche is good,
840    And som men sein, of worthi blod 
841    That sche is come, and is also
842    So fair, that nawher is non so;  
843    And som men preise hire goodli chiere: 
844    Thus every thing that I mai hiere,  
845    Which souneth to mi ladi goode,  
846    Is to myn Ere a lusti foode.  
847    And ek min Ere hath over this 
848    A deynte feste, whan so is 
849    That I mai hiere hirselve speke; 
850    For thanne anon mi faste I breke 
851    On suche wordes as sche seith,
852    That full of trouthe and full of feith 
853    Thei ben, and of so good desport,
854    That to myn Ere gret confort  
855    Thei don, as thei that ben delices. 
856    For al the metes and the spices, 
857    That eny Lombard couthe make, 
858    Ne be so lusti forto take  
859    Ne so ferforth restauratif,
860    I seie as for myn oghne lif,  
861    As ben the wordes of hire mouth: 
862    For as the wyndes of the South
863    Ben most of alle debonaire,
864    So whan hir list to speke faire, 
865    The vertu of hire goodly speche  
866    Is verraily myn hertes leche. 
867    And if it so befalle among,
868    That sche carole upon a song, 
869    Whan I it hiere I am so fedd, 
870    That I am fro miself so ledd, 
871    As thogh I were in paradis;
872    For certes, as to myn avis,
873    Whan I here of hir vois the stevene,
874    Me thenkth it is a blisse of hevene.
875    And ek in other wise also      
876    Fulofte time it falleth so,
877    Min Ere with a good pitance
878    Is fedd of redinge of romance 
879    Of Ydoine and of Amadas,
880    That whilom weren in mi cas,  
881    And eke of othre many a score,
882    That loveden longe er I was bore.
883    For whan I of here loves rede,
884    Min Ere with the tale I fede; 
885    And with the lust of here histoire  
886    Somtime I drawe into memoire  
887    Hou sorwe mai noght evere laste; 
888    And so comth hope in ate laste,  
889    Whan I non other fode knowe.  
890    And that endureth bot a throwe,  
891    Riht as it were a cherie feste;  
892    Bot forto compten ate leste,  
893    As for the while yit it eseth 
894    And somdel of myn herte appeseth:
895    For what thing to myn Ere spreedeth,
896    Which is plesant, somdel it feedeth 
897    With wordes suche as he mai gete 
898    Mi lust, in stede of other mete. 
899    Lo thus, mi fader, as I seie, 
900    Of lust the which myn yhe hath seie,
901    And ek of that myn Ere hath herd,
902    Fulofte I have the betre ferd.
903    And tho tuo bringen in the thridde, 
904    The which hath in myn herte amidde  
905    His place take, to arraie  
906    The lusti fode, which assaie  
907    I mot; and nameliche on nyhtes,  
908    Whan that me lacketh alle sihtes,
909    And that myn heringe is aweie,
910    Thanne is he redy in the weie 
911    Mi reresouper forto make,  
912    Of which myn hertes fode I take. 
913    This lusti cokes name is hote         
914    Thoght, which hath evere hise pottes hote 
915    Of love buillende on the fyr  
916    With fantasie and with desir, 
917    Of whiche er this fulofte he fedde  
918    Min herte, whanne I was abedde;  
919    And thanne he set upon my bord
920    Bothe every syhte and every word 
921    Of lust, which I have herd or sein. 
922    Bot yit is noght mi feste al plein, 
923    Bot al of woldes and of wisshes, 
924    Therof have I my fulle disshes,  
925    Bot as of fielinge and of tast,  
926    Yit mihte I nevere have o repast.
927    And thus, as I have seid aforn,  
928    I licke hony on the thorn, 
929    And as who seith, upon the bridel
930    I chiewe, so that al is ydel  
931    As in effect the fode I have. 
932    Bot as a man that wolde him save,
933    Whan he is seck, be medicine, 
934    Riht so of love the famine 
935    I fonde in al that evere I mai
936    To fiede and dryve forth the day,
937    Til I mai have the grete feste,  
938    Which al myn hunger myhte areste.
939    Lo suche ben mi lustes thre;  
940    Of that I thenke and hiere and se
941    I take of love my fiedinge 
942    Withoute tastinge or fielinge:
943    And as the Plover doth of Eir 
944    I live, and am in good espeir 
945    That for no such delicacie 
946    I trowe I do no glotonie.  
947    And natheles to youre avis,
948    Min holi fader, that be wis,  
949    I recomande myn astat
950    Of that I have be delicat. 
951    Mi Sone, I understonde wel     
952    That thou hast told hier everydel,  
953    And as me thenketh be thi tale,  
954    It ben delices wonder smale,  
955    Wherof thou takst thi loves fode.
956    Bot, Sone, if that thou understode  
957    What is to ben delicious,  
958    Thou woldest noght be curious 
959    Upon the lust of thin astat
960    To ben to sore delicat, 
961    Wherof that thou reson excede:
962    For in the bokes thou myht rede, 
963    If mannes wisdom schal be suied, 
964    It oghte wel to ben eschuied  
965    In love als wel as other weie;
966    For, as these holi bokes seie,
967    The bodely delices alle 
968    In every point, hou so thei falle,  
969    Unto the Soule don grievance. 
970    And forto take in remembrance,
971    A tale acordant unto this, 
972    Which of gret understondinge is  
973    To mannes soule resonable, 
974    I thenke telle, and is no fable. 
975    Of Cristes word, who wole it rede,  
976    Hou that this vice is forto drede
977    In thevangile it telleth plein,  
978    Which mot algate be certein,  
979    For Crist himself it berth witnesse.
980    And thogh the clerk and the clergesse  
981    In latin tunge it rede and singe,
982    Yit for the more knoulechinge 
983    Of trouthe, which is good to wite,  
984    I schal declare as it is write
985    In Engleissh, for thus it began. 
986    Crist seith: "Ther was a riche man, 
987    A mihti lord of gret astat,
988    And he was ek so delicat    
989    Of his clothing, that everyday
990    Of pourpre and bisse he made him gay,  
991    And eet and drank therto his fille  
992    After the lustes of his wille,
993    As he which al stod in delice 
994    And tok non hiede of thilke vice.
995    And as it scholde so betyde,  
996    A povere lazre upon a tyde 
997    Cam to the gate and axed mete:
998    Bot there mihte he nothing gete  
999    His dedly hunger forto stanche;  
1000   For he, which hadde his fulle panche
1001   Of alle lustes ate bord,
1002   Ne deigneth noght to speke a word,  
1003   Onliche a Crumme forto yive,  
1004   Wherof the povere myhte live  
1005   Upon the yifte of his almesse.
1006   Thus lai this povere in gret destresse 
1007   Acold and hungred ate gate,
1008   Fro which he mihte go no gate,
1009   So was he wofulli besein.  
1010   And as these holi bokes sein, 
1011   The houndes comen fro the halle, 
1012   Wher that this sike man was falle,  
1013   And as he lay ther forto die, 
1014   The woundes of his maladie 
1015   Thei licken forto don him ese.
1016   Bot he was full of such desese,  
1017   That he mai noght the deth eschape; 
1018   Bot as it was that time schape,  
1019   The Soule fro the bodi passeth,  
1020   And he whom nothing overpasseth, 
1021   The hihe god, up to the hevene
1022   Him tok, wher he hath set him evene 
1023   In Habrahammes barm on hyh,
1024   Wher he the hevene joie syh    
1025   And hadde al that he have wolde. 
1026   And fell, as it befalle scholde, 
1027   This riche man the same throwe
1028   With soudein deth was overthrowe,
1029   And forth withouten eny wente 
1030   Into the helle straght he wente; 
1031   The fend into the fyr him drouh, 
1032   Wher that he hadde peine ynouh
1033   Of flamme which that evere brenneth.
1034   And as his yhe aboute renneth,
1035   Toward the hevene he cast his lok,  
1036   Wher that he syh and hiede tok
1037   Hou Lazar set was in his Se
1038   Als ferr as evere he mihte se 
1039   With Habraham; and thanne he preide 
1040   Unto the Patriarch and seide: 
1041   "Send Lazar doun fro thilke Sete,
1042   And do that he his finger wete
1043   In water, so that he mai droppe  
1044   Upon my tunge, forto stoppe
1045   The grete hete in which I brenne."  
1046   Bot Habraham answerde thenne  
1047   And seide to him in this wise:
1048   "Mi Sone, thou thee miht avise
1049   And take into thi remembrance,
1050   Hou Lazar hadde gret penance, 
1051   Whyl he was in that other lif,
1052   Bot thou in al thi lust jolif 
1053   The bodily delices soghtest:  
1054   Forthi, so as thou thanne wroghtest,
1055   Nou schalt thou take thi reward  
1056   Of dedly peine hierafterward  
1057   In helle, which schal evere laste;  
1058   And this Lazar nou ate laste  
1059   The worldes peine is overronne,  
1060   In hevene and hath his lif begonne  
1061   Of joie, which is endeles.     
1062   Bot that thou preidest natheles, 
1063   That I schal Lazar to the sende  
1064   With water on his finger ende,
1065   Thin hote tunge forto kiele,  
1066   Thou schalt no such graces fiele;
1067   For to that foule place of Sinne,
1068   For evere in which thou schalt ben inne,  
1069   Comth non out of this place thider, 
1070   Ne non of you mai comen hider;
1071   Thus be yee parted nou atuo." 
1072   The riche ayeinward cride tho:
1073   "O Habraham, sithe it so is,  
1074   That Lazar mai noght do me this  
1075   Which I have axed in this place, 
1076   I wolde preie an other grace. 
1077   For I have yit of brethren fyve, 
1078   That with mi fader ben alyve  
1079   Togedre duellende in on hous; 
1080   To whom, as thou art gracious,
1081   I preie that thou woldest sende  
1082   Lazar, so that he mihte wende 
1083   To warne hem hou the world is went, 
1084   That afterward thei be noght schent 
1085   Of suche peines as I drye. 
1086   Lo, this I preie and this I crie,
1087   Now I may noght miself amende."  
1088   The Patriarch anon suiende 
1089   To his preiere ansuerde nay;  
1090   And seide him hou that everyday  
1091   His brethren mihten knowe and hiere 
1092   Of Moi5ses on Erthe hiere  
1093   And of prophetes othre mo, 
1094   What hem was best. And he seith no; 
1095   Bot if ther mihte a man aryse 
1096   Fro deth to lyve in such a wise, 
1097   To tellen hem hou that it were,  
1098   He seide hou thanne of pure fere 
1099   Thei scholden wel be war therby.     
1100   Quod Habraham: "Nay sikerly;  
1101   For if thei nou wol noght obeie  
1102   To suche as techen hem the weie, 
1103   And alday preche and alday telle 
1104   Hou that it stant of hevene and helle, 
1105   Thei wol noght thanne taken hiede,  
1106   Thogh it befelle so in dede
1107   That eny ded man were arered, 
1108   To ben of him no betre lered  
1109   Than of an other man alyve."  
1110   If thou, mi Sone, canst descryve 
1111   This tale, as Crist himself it tolde,  
1112   Thou schalt have cause to beholde,  
1113   To se so gret an evidence, 
1114   Wherof the sothe experience
1115   Hath schewed openliche at ije,
1116   That bodili delicacie
1117   Of him which yeveth non almesse  
1118   Schal after falle in gret destresse.
1119   And that was sene upon the riche:
1120   For he ne wolde unto his liche
1121   A Crumme yiven of his bred,
1122   Thanne afterward, whan he was ded,  
1123   A drope of water him was werned. 
1124   Thus mai a mannes wit be lerned  
1125   Of hem that so delices taken; 
1126   Whan thei with deth ben overtaken,  
1127   That erst was swete is thanne sour. 
1128   Bot he that is a governour 
1129   Of worldes good, if he be wys,
1130   Withinne his herte he set no pris
1131   Of al the world, and yit he useth
1132   The good, that he nothing refuseth, 
1133   As he which lord is of the thinges. 
1134   The Nouches and the riche ringes,
1135   The cloth of gold and the Perrie 
1136   He takth, and yit delicacie    
1137   He leveth, thogh he were al this.
1138   The beste mete that ther is
1139   He ett, and drinkth the beste drinke;  
1140   Bot hou that evere he ete or drinke,
1141   Delicacie he put aweie, 
1142   As he which goth the rihte weie  
1143   Noght only forto fiede and clothe
1144   His bodi, bot his soule bothe.
1145   Bot thei that taken otherwise 
1146   Here lustes, ben none of the wise;  
1147   And that whilom was schewed eke, 
1148   If thou these olde bokes seke,
1149   Als wel be reson as be kinde, 
1150   Of olde ensample as men mai finde.  
1151   What man that wolde him wel avise,  
1152   Delicacie is to despise,
1153   Whan kinde acordeth noght withal;
1154   Wherof ensample in special 
1155   Of Nero whilom mai be told,
1156   Which ayein kinde manyfold 
1157   Hise lustes tok, til ate laste
1158   That god him wolde al overcaste; 
1159   Of whom the Cronique is so plein,
1160   Me list nomore of him to sein.
1161   And natheles for glotonie  
1162   Of bodili Delicacie, 
1163   To knowe his stomak hou it ferde,
1164   Of that noman tofore herde,
1165   Which he withinne himself bethoghte,
1166   A wonder soubtil thing he wroghte.  
1167   Thre men upon eleccioun     
1168   Of age and of complexioun  
1169   Lich to himself be alle weie  
1170   He tok towardes him to pleie, 
1171   And ete and drinke als wel as he.
1172   Therof was no diversite;
1173   For every day whan that thei eete,  
1174   Tofore his oghne bord thei seete,
1175   And of such mete as he was served,  
1176   Althogh thei hadde it noght deserved,  
1177   Thei token service of the same.  
1178   Bot afterward al thilke game  
1179   Was into wofull ernest torned;
1180   For whan thei weren thus sojorned,  
1181   Withinne a time at after mete 
1182   Nero, which hadde noght foryete  
1183   The lustes of his frele astat,
1184   As he which al was delicat,
1185   To knowe thilke experience,
1186   The men let come in his presence:
1187   And to that on the same tyde, 
1188   A  courser that he scholde ryde  
1189   Into the feld, anon he bad;
1190   Wherof this man was wonder glad, 
1191   And goth to prike and prance aboute.
1192   That other, whil that he was oute,  
1193   He leide upon his bedd to slepe: 
1194   The thridde, which he wolde kepe 
1195   Withinne his chambre, faire and softe  
1196   He goth now doun nou up fulofte, 
1197   Walkende a pass, that he ne slepte, 
1198   Til he which on the courser lepte
1199   Was come fro the field ayein. 
1200   Nero thanne, as the bokes sein,  
1201   These men doth taken alle thre
1202   And slouh hem, for he wolde se
1203   The whos stomak was best defied: 
1204   And whanne he hath the sothe tryed, 
1205   He fond that he which goth the pass 
1206   Defyed best of alle was,    
1207   Which afterward he usede ay.  
1208   And thus what thing unto his pay 
1209   Was most plesant, he lefte non:  
1210   With every lust he was begon, 
1211   Wherof the bodi myhte glade,  
1212   For he non abstinence made;
1213   Bot most above alle erthli thinges  
1214   Of wommen unto the likinges
1215   Nero sette al his hole herte, 
1216   For that lust scholde him noght asterte.  
1217   Whan that the thurst of love him cawhte,  
1218   Wher that him list he tok a drauhte,
1219   He spareth nouther wif ne maide, 
1220   That such an other, as men saide,
1221   In al this world was nevere yit. 
1222   He was so drunke in al his wit
1223   Thurgh sondri lustes whiche he tok, 
1224   That evere, whil ther is a bok,  
1225   Of Nero men schul rede and singe 
1226   Unto the worldes knowlechinge,
1227   Mi goode Sone, as thou hast herd.
1228   For evere yit it hath so ferd,
1229   Delicacie in loves cas  
1230   Withoute reson is and was; 
1231   For wher that love his herte set,
1232   Him thenkth it myhte be no bet;  
1233   And thogh it be noght fulli mete,
1234   The lust of love is evere swete. 
1235   Lo, thus togedre of felaschipe
1236   Delicacie and drunkeschipe,
1237   Wherof reson stant out of herre, 
1238   Have mad full many a wisman erre 
1239   In loves cause most of alle:  
1240   For thanne hou so that evere it falle, 
1241   Wit can no reson understonde, 
1242   Bot let the governance stonde 
1243   To Will, which thanne wext so wylde,
1244   That he can noght himselve schylde      
1245   Fro no peril, bot out of feere
1246   The weie he secheth hiere and there,
1247   Him recheth noght upon what syde:
1248   For oftetime he goth beside,  
1249   And doth such thing withoute drede, 
1250   Wherof him oghte wel to drede.
1251   Bot whan that love assoteth sore,
1252   It passeth alle mennes lore;  
1253   What lust it is that he ordeigneth, 
1254   Ther is no mannes miht restreigneth,
1255   And of the godd takth he non hiede: 
1256   Bot laweles withoute drede,
1257   His pourpos for he wolde achieve 
1258   Ayeins the pointz of the believe,
1259   He tempteth hevene and erthe and helle,
1260   Hierafterward as I schall telle. 
1261   Who dar do thing which love ne dar? 
1262   To love is every lawe unwar,  
1263   Bot to the lawes of his heste 
1264   The fissch, the foul, the man, the beste  
1265   Of al the worldes kinde louteth. 
1266   For love is he which nothing douteth:  
1267   In mannes herte where he sit, 
1268   He compteth noght toward his wit 
1269   The wo nomore than the wele,  
1270   No mor the hete than the chele,  
1271   No mor the wete than the dreie,  
1272   No mor to live than to deie,      
1273   So that tofore ne behinde  
1274   He seth nothing, bot as the blinde  
1275   Withoute insyhte of his corage
1276   He doth merveilles in his rage.  
1277   To what thing that he wole him drawe,  
1278   Ther is no god, ther is no lawe, 
1279   Of whom that he takth eny hiede; 
1280   Bot as Baiard the blinde stede,  
1281   Til he falle in the dich amidde, 
1282   He goth ther noman wole him bidde;  
1283   He stant so ferforth out of reule,  
1284   Ther is no wit that mai him reule.  
1285   And thus to telle of him in soth,
1286   Ful many a wonder thing he doth, 
1287   That were betre to be laft,
1288   Among the whiche is wicchecraft, 
1289   That som men clepen Sorcerie, 
1290   Which forto winne his druerie 
1291   With many a circumstance he useth,  
1292   Ther is no point which he refuseth. 
1293   The craft which that Saturnus fond, 
1294   To make prickes in the Sond,  
1295   That Geomance cleped is,
1296   Fulofte he useth it amis;  
1297   And of the flod his Ydromance,
1298   And of the fyr the Piromance, 
1299   With questions echon of tho
1300   He tempteth ofte, and ek also 
1301   Ae5remance in juggement 
1302   To love he bringth of his assent:
1303   For these craftes, as I finde,
1304   A man mai do be weie of kinde,
1305   Be so it be to good entente.  
1306   Bot he goth al an other wente;
1307   For rathere er he scholde faile, 
1308   With Nigromance he wole assaile  
1309   To make his incantacioun
1310   With hot subfumigacioun.    
1311   Thilke art which Spatula is hote,
1312   And used is of comun rote  
1313   Among Paiens, with that craft ek 
1314   Of which is Auctor Thosz the Grek,  
1315   He worcheth on and on be rowe:
1316   Razel is noght to him unknowe,
1317   Ne Salomones Candarie,  
1318   His Ydeac, his Eutonye; 
1319   The figure and the bok withal 
1320   Of Balamuz, and of Ghenbal 
1321   The Seal, and therupon thymage
1322   Of Thebith, for his avantage  
1323   He takth, and somwhat of Gibiere,
1324   Which helplich is to this matiere.  
1325   Babilla with hire Sones sevene,  
1326   Which hath renonced to the hevene,  
1327   With Cernes bothe square and rounde,
1328   He traceth ofte upon the grounde,
1329   Makende his invocacioun;
1330   And for full enformacioun  
1331   The Scole which Honorius
1332   Wrot, he poursuieth: and lo, thus
1333   Magique he useth forto winne  
1334   His love, and spareth for no Sinne. 
1335   And over that of his Sotie,
1336   Riht as he secheth Sorcerie
1337   Of hem that ben Magiciens, 
1338   Riht so of the Naturiens
1339   Upon the Sterres from above
1340   His weie he secheth unto love,
1341   Als fer as he hem understondeth. 
1342   In many a sondry wise he fondeth:
1343   He makth ymage, he makth sculpture, 
1344   He makth writinge, he makth figure, 
1345   He makth his calculacions, 
1346   He makth his demonstracions;  
1347   His houres of Astronomie
1348   He kepeth as for that partie      
1349   Which longeth to thinspeccion 
1350   Of love and his affeccion; 
1351   He wolde into the helle seche 
1352   The devel himselve to beseche,
1353   If that he wiste forto spede, 
1354   To gete of love his lusti mede:  
1355   Wher that he hath his herte set, 
1356   He bede nevere fare bet 
1357   Ne wite of other hevene more. 
1358   Mi Sone, if thou of such a lore  
1359   Hast ben er this, I red thee leve.  
1360   Min holi fader, be youre leve 
1361   Of al that ye have spoken hiere  
1362   Which toucheth unto this matiere,
1363   To telle soth riht as I wene, 
1364   I wot noght o word what ye mene. 
1365   I wol noght seie, if that I couthe, 
1366   That I nolde in mi lusti youthe  
1367   Benethe in helle and ek above 
1368   To winne with mi ladi love 
1369   Don al that evere that I mihte;  
1370   For therof have I non insihte 
1371   Wher afterward that I become, 
1372   To that I wonne and overcome  
1373   Hire love, which I most coveite. 
1374   Mi Sone, that goth wonder streite:  
1375   For this I mai wel telle soth,
1376   Ther is noman the which so doth, 
1377   For al the craft that he can caste, 
1378   That he nabeith it ate laste. 
1379   For often he that wol beguile 
1380   Is guiled with the same guile,
1381   And thus the guilour is beguiled;
1382   As I finde in a bok compiled  
1383   To this matiere an old histoire, 
1384   The which comth nou to mi memoire,  
1385   And is of gret essamplerie 
1386   Ayein the vice of Sorcerie,
1387   Wherof non ende mai be good.      
1388   Bot hou whilom therof it stod,
1389   A tale which is good to knowe 
1390   To thee, mi Sone, I schal beknowe.  
1391   Among hem whiche at Troie were,  
1392   Uluxes ate Siege there  
1393   Was on be name in special; 
1394   Of whom yit the memorial
1395   Abit, for whyl ther is a mouth,  
1396   For evere his name schal be couth.  
1397   He was a worthi knyht and king
1398   And clerk knowende of every thing;  
1399   He was a gret rethorien,
1400   He was a gret magicien; 
1401   Of Tullius the rethorique, 
1402   Of king Zorastes the magique, 
1403   Of Tholome thastronomie,
1404   Of Plato the Philosophie,  
1405   Of Daniel the slepi dremes,
1406   Of Neptune ek the water stremes, 
1407   Of Salomon and the proverbes, 
1408   Of Macer al the strengthe of herbes,
1409   And the Phisique of Ypocras,  
1410   And lich unto Pictagoras
1411   Of Surgerie he knew the cures.
1412   Bot somwhat of his aventures, 
1413   Which schal to mi matiere acorde,
1414   To thee, mi Sone, I wol recorde. 
1415   This king, of which thou hast herd sein,  
1416   Fro Troie as he goth hom ayein
1417   Be Schipe, he fond the See divers,  
1418   With many a wyndi storm revers.  
1419   Bot he thurgh wisdom that he schapeth  
1420   Ful many a gret peril ascapeth,  
1421   Of whiche I thenke tellen on, 
1422   Hou that malgre the nedle and ston  
1423   Wynddrive he was al soudeinly 
1424   Upon the strondes of Cilly,    
1425   Wher that he moste abyde a whyle.
1426   Tuo queenes weren in that yle 
1427   Calipsa named and Circes;  
1428   And whan they herde hou Uluxes
1429   Is londed ther upon the ryve, 
1430   For him thei senden als so blive.
1431   With him suche as he wolde he nam
1432   And to the court to hem he cam.  
1433   Thes queenes were as tuo goddesses  
1434   Of Art magique Sorceresses,
1435   That what lord comth to that rivage,
1436   Thei make him love in such a rage
1437   And upon hem assote so, 
1438   That thei wol have, er that he go,  
1439   Al that he hath of worldes good. 
1440   Uluxes wel this understod, 
1441   Thei couthe moche, he couthe more;  
1442   Thei schape and caste ayein him sore
1443   And wroghte many a soutil wyle,  
1444   Bot yit thei mihte him noght beguile.  
1445   Bot of the men of his navie
1446   Thei tuo forschope a gret partie,
1447   Mai non of hem withstonde here hestes; 
1448   Som part thei schopen into bestes,  
1449   Som part thei schopen into foules,  
1450   To beres, tigres, Apes, oules,
1451   Or elles be som other weie;
1452   Ther myhte hem nothing desobeie, 
1453   Such craft thei hadde above kinde.  
1454   Bot that Art couthe thei noght finde,  
1455   Of which Uluxes was deceived, 
1456   That he ne hath hem alle weyved, 
1457   And broght hem into such a rote, 
1458   That upon him thei bothe assote; 
1459   And thurgh the science of his art
1460   He tok of hem so wel his part,
1461   That he begat Circes with childe.
1462   He kepte him sobre and made hem wilde,     
1463   He sette himselve so above,
1464   That with here good and with here love,
1465   Who that therof be lief or loth, 
1466   Al quit into his Schip he goth.  
1467   Circes toswolle bothe sides
1468   He lefte, and waiteth on the tydes, 
1469   And straght thurghout the salte fom 
1470   He takth his cours and comth him hom,  
1471   Where as he fond Penolope; 
1472   A betre wif ther mai non be,  
1473   And yit ther ben ynowhe of goode.
1474   Bot who hir goodschipe understode
1475   Fro ferst that sche wifhode tok, 
1476   Hou many loves sche forsok 
1477   And hou sche bar hire al aboute, 
1478   Ther whiles that hire lord was oute,
1479   He mihte make a gret avant 
1480   Amonges al the remenant 
1481   That sche was on of al the beste.
1482   Wel myhte he sette his herte in reste, 
1483   This king, whan he hir fond in hele;
1484   For as he couthe in wisdom dele, 
1485   So couthe sche in wommanhiede:
1486   And whan sche syh withoute drede 
1487   Hire lord upon his oghne ground, 
1488   That he was come sauf and sound, 
1489   In al this world ne mihte be  
1490   A gladdere womman than was sche. 
1491   The fame, which mai noght ben hidd, 
1492   Thurghout the lond is sone kidd, 
1493   Here king is come hom ayein:  
1494   Ther mai noman the fulle sein,
1495   Hou that thei weren alle glade,  
1496   So mochel joie of him thei made. 
1497   The presens every day be newed,  
1498   He was with yiftes al besnewed;  
1499   The poeple was of him so glad,
1500   That thogh non other man hem bad,    
1501   Taillage upon hemself thei sette,
1502   And as it were of pure dette  
1503   Thei yeve here goodes to the king:  
1504   This was a glad hom welcomyng.
1505   Thus hath Uluxes what he wolde,  
1506   His wif was such as sche be scholde,
1507   His poeple was to him sougit, 
1508   Him lacketh nothing of delit. 
1509   Bot fortune is of such a sleyhte,
1510   That whan a man is most on heyhte,  
1511   Sche makth him rathest forto falle: 
1512   Ther wot noman what schal befalle,  
1513   The happes over mannes hed 
1514   Ben honged with a tendre thred.  
1515   That proved was on Uluxes; 
1516   For whan he was most in his pes, 
1517   Fortune gan to make him werre 
1518   And sette his welthe al out of herre.  
1519   Upon a dai as he was merie,
1520   As thogh ther mihte him nothing derie, 
1521   Whan nyht was come, he goth to bedde,  
1522   With slep and bothe his yhen fedde. 
1523   And while he slepte, he mette a swevene:  
1524   Him thoghte he syh a stature evene, 
1525   Which brihtere than the sonne schon;
1526   A man it semeth was it non,
1527   Bot yit it was as in figure
1528   Most lich to mannyssh creature,  
1529   Bot as of beaute hevenelich
1530   It was most to an Angel lich: 
1531   And thus betwen angel and man 
1532   Beholden it this king began,  
1533   And such a lust tok of the sihte,
1534   That fain he wolde, if that he mihte,  
1535   The forme of that figure embrace;
1536   And goth him forth toward the place,
1537   Wher he sih that ymage tho,    
1538   And takth it in his Armes tuo,
1539   And it embraceth him ayein 
1540   And to the king thus gan it sein:
1541   "Uluxes, understond wel this, 
1542   The tokne of oure aqueintance is 
1543   Hierafterward to mochel tene: 
1544   The love that is ous betuene, 
1545   Of that we nou such joie make,
1546   That on of ous the deth schal take, 
1547   Whan time comth of destine;
1548   It may non other wise be." 
1549   Uluxes tho began to preie  
1550   That this figure wolde him seie  
1551   What wyht he is that seith him so.  
1552   This wyht upon a spere tho 
1553   A pensel which was wel begon, 
1554   Embrouded, scheweth him anon: 
1555   Thre fisshes alle of o colour 
1556   In manere as it were a tour
1557   Upon the pensel were wroght.  
1558   Uluxes kneu this tokne noght, 
1559   And preith to wite in som partie 
1560   What thing it myhte signefie, 
1561   "A signe it is," the wyht ansuerde, 
1562   "Of an Empire:" and forth he ferde  
1563   Al sodeinly, whan he that seide. 
1564   Uluxes out of slep abreide,
1565   And that was riht ayein the day, 
1566   That lengere slepen he ne may.
1567   Men sein, a man hath knowleching 
1568   Save of himself of alle thing;
1569   His oghne chance noman knoweth,  
1570   Bot as fortune it on him throweth:  
1571   Was nevere yit so wys a clerk,
1572   Which mihte knowe al goddes werk,
1573   Ne the secret which god hath set 
1574   Ayein a man mai noght be let. 
1575   Uluxes, thogh that he be wys,     
1576   With al his wit in his avis,  
1577   The mor that he his swevene acompteth, 
1578   The lasse he wot what it amonteth:  
1579   For al his calculacion, 
1580   He seth no demonstracion
1581   Al pleinly forto knowe an ende;  
1582   Bot natheles hou so it wende, 
1583   He dradde him of his oghne Sone. 
1584   That makth him wel the more astone, 
1585   And schop therfore anon withal,  
1586   So that withinne castel wall  
1587   Thelamachum his Sone he schette, 
1588   And upon him strong warde he sette. 
1589   The sothe furthere he ne knew,
1590   Til that fortune him overthreu;  
1591   Bot natheles for sikernesse,  
1592   Wher that he mihte wite and gesse
1593   A place strengest in his lond,
1594   Ther let he make of lym and sond 
1595   A strengthe where he wolde duelle;  
1596   Was nevere man yit herde telle
1597   Of such an other as it was.
1598   And forto strengthe him in that cas,
1599   Of al his lond the sekereste  
1600   Of servantz and the worthieste,  
1601   To kepen him withinne warde,  
1602   He sette his bodi forto warde;
1603   And made such an ordinance,
1604   For love ne for aqueintance,  
1605   That were it erly, were it late, 
1606   Thei scholde lete in ate gate 
1607   No maner man, what so betydde,
1608   Bot if so were himself it bidde. 
1609   Bot al that myhte him noght availe, 
1610   For whom fortune wole assaile,
1611   Ther mai be non such resistence, 
1612   Which mihte make a man defence;      
1613   Al that schal be mot falle algate.  
1614   This Circes, which I spak of late,  
1615   On whom Uluxes hath begete 
1616   A child, thogh he it have foryete,  
1617   Whan time com, as it was wone,
1618   Sche was delivered of a Sone, 
1619   Which cleped is Thelogonus.
1620   This child, whan he was bore thus,  
1621   Aboute his moder to ful age,  
1622   That he can reson and langage,
1623   In good astat was drawe forth:
1624   And whan he was so mochel worth  
1625   To stonden in a mannes stede, 
1626   Circes his moder hath him bede
1627   That he schal to his fader go,
1628   And tolde him al togedre tho  
1629   What man he was that him begat.  
1630   And whan Thelogonus of that
1631   Was war and hath ful knowleching 
1632   Hou that his fader was a king,
1633   He preith his moder faire this,  
1634   To go wher that his fader is; 
1635   And sche him granteth that he schal,
1636   And made him redi forth withal.  
1637   It was that time such usance, 
1638   That every man the conoiscance
1639   Of his contre bar in his hond,
1640   Whan he wente into strange lond; 
1641   And thus was every man therfore  
1642   Wel knowe, wher that he was bore:
1643   For espiaile and mistrowinges 
1644   They dede thanne suche thinges,  
1645   That every man mai other knowe.  
1646   So it befell that ilke throwe 
1647   Thelogonus as in this cas; 
1648   Of his contre the signe was
1649   Thre fisshes, whiche he scholde bere
1650   Upon the penon of a spere:     
1651   And whan that he was thus arraied
1652   And hath his harneis al assaied, 
1653   That he was redy everydel, 
1654   His moder bad him farewel, 
1655   And seide him that he scholde swithe
1656   His fader griete a thousand sithe.  
1657   Thelogonus his moder kiste 
1658   And tok his leve, and wher he wiste 
1659   His fader was, the weie nam,  
1660   Til he unto Nachaie cam,
1661   Which of that lond the chief Cite
1662   Was cleped, and ther axeth he 
1663   Wher was the king and hou he ferde. 
1664   And whan that he the sothe herde,
1665   Wher that the king Uluxes was,
1666   Al one upon his hors gret pas 
1667   He rod him forth, and in his hond
1668   He bar the signal of his lond 
1669   With fisshes thre, as I have told;  
1670   And thus he wente unto that hold,
1671   Wher that his oghne fader duelleth. 
1672   The cause why he comth he telleth
1673   Unto the kepers of the gate,  
1674   And wolde have comen in therate, 
1675   Bot schortli thei him seide nay: 
1676   And he als faire as evere he may 
1677   Besoghte and tolde hem ofte this,
1678   Hou that the king his fader is;  
1679   Bot they with proude wordes grete
1680   Begunne to manace and threte, 
1681   Bot he go fro the gate faste, 
1682   Thei wolde him take and sette faste.
1683   Fro wordes unto strokes thus  
1684   Thei felle, and so Thelogonus 
1685   Was sore hurt and welnyh ded; 
1686   Bot with his scharpe speres hed  
1687   He makth defence, hou so it falle,  
1688   And wan the gate upon hem alle,  
1689   And hath slain of the beste fyve;    
1690   And thei ascriden als so blyve
1691   Thurghout the castell al aboute. 
1692   On every syde men come oute,  
1693   Wherof the kinges herte afflihte,
1694   And he with al the haste he mihte
1695   A spere cauhte and out he goth,  
1696   As he that was nyh wod for wroth.
1697   He sih the gates ful of blod, 
1698   Thelogonus and wher he stod
1699   He sih also, bot he ne knew
1700   What man it was, and to him threw
1701   His Spere, and he sterte out asyde. 
1702   Bot destine, which schal betide, 
1703   Befell that ilke time so,  
1704   Thelogonus knew nothing tho
1705   What man it was that to him caste,  
1706   And while his oghne spere laste, 
1707   With al the signe therupon 
1708   He caste unto the king anon,  
1709   And smot him with a dedly wounde.
1710   Uluxes fell anon to grounde;  
1711   Tho every man, "The king! the king!"
1712   Began to crie, and of this thing 
1713   Thelogonus, which sih the cas,
1714   On knes he fell and seide, "Helas!  
1715   I have min oghne fader slain: 
1716   Nou wolde I deie wonder fain, 
1717   Nou sle me who that evere wile,  
1718   For certes it is right good skile." 
1719   He crith, he wepth, he seith therfore, 
1720   "Helas, that evere was I bore,
1721   That this unhappi destine  
1722   So wofulli comth in be me!"
1723   This king, which yit hath lif ynouh,
1724   His herte ayein to him he drouh, 
1725   And to that vois an Ere he leide     
1726   And understod al that he seide,  
1727   And gan to speke, and seide on hih, 
1728   "Bring me this man." And whan he sih
1729   Thelogonus, his thoght he sette  
1730   Upon the swevene which he mette, 
1731   And axeth that he myhte se 
1732   His spere, on which the fisshes thre
1733   He sih upon a pensel wroght.  
1734   Tho wiste he wel it faileth noght,  
1735   And badd him that he telle scholde  
1736   Fro whenne he cam and what he wolde.
1737   Thelogonus in sorghe and wo
1738   So as he mihte tolde tho
1739   Unto Uluxes al the cas, 
1740   Hou that Circes his moder was,
1741   And so forth seide him everydel, 
1742   Hou that his moder gret him wel, 
1743   And in what wise sche him sente. 
1744   Tho wiste Uluxes what it mente,  
1745   And tok him in hise Armes softe, 
1746   And al bledende he kest him ofte,
1747   And seide, "Sone, whil I live,
1748   This infortune I thee foryive."  
1749   After his other Sone in haste 
1750   He sende, and he began him haste 
1751   And cam unto his fader tyt.
1752   Bot whan he sih him in such plit,
1753   He wolde have ronne upon that other 
1754   Anon, and slain his oghne brother,  
1755   Ne hadde be that Uluxes 
1756   Betwen hem made acord and pes,
1757   And to his heir Thelamachus
1758   He bad that he Thelogonus  
1759   With al his pouer scholde kepe,  
1760   Til he were of his woundes depe  
1761   Al hol, and thanne he scholde him yive 
1762   Lond wher upon he mihte live. 
1763   Thelamachus, whan he this herde,     
1764   Unto his fader he ansuerde 
1765   And seide he wolde don his wille.
1766   So duelle thei togedre stille,
1767   These brethren, and the fader sterveth.
1768   Lo, wherof Sorcerie serveth.  
1769   Thurgh Sorcerie his lust he wan, 
1770   Thurgh Sorcerie his wo began, 
1771   Thurgh Sorcerie his love he ches,
1772   Thurgh Sorcerie his lif he les;  
1773   The child was gete in Sorcerie,  
1774   The which dede al this felonie:  
1775   Thing which was ayein kynde wroght  
1776   Unkindeliche it was aboght;
1777   The child his oghne fader slowh, 
1778   That was unkindeschipe ynowh. 
1779   Forthi tak hiede hou that it is, 
1780   So forto winne love amis,  
1781   Which endeth al his joie in wo:  
1782   For of this Art I finde also, 
1783   That hath be do for loves sake,  
1784   Wherof thou miht ensample take,  
1785   A gret Cronique imperial,  
1786   Which evere into memorial  
1787   Among the men, hou so it wende,  
1788   Schal duelle to the worldes ende.
1789   The hihe creatour of thinges, 
1790   Which is the king of alle kinges,
1791   Ful many a wonder worldes chance 
1792   Let slyden under his suffrance;  
1793   Ther wot noman the cause why, 
1794   Bot he the which is almyhty.  
1795   And that was proved whilom thus, 
1796   Whan that the king Nectanabus,
1797   Which hadde Egipte forto lede,-  
1798   Bot for he sih tofor the dede 
1799   Thurgh magique of his Sorcerie,  
1800   Wherof he couthe a gret partie,      
1801   Hise enemys to him comende,
1802   Fro whom he mihte him noght defende,
1803   Out of his oghne lond he fledde; 
1804   And in the wise as he him dredde 
1805   It fell, for al his wicchecraft, 
1806   So that Egipte him was beraft,
1807   And he desguised fledde aweie 
1808   Be schipe, and hield the rihte weie 
1809   To Macedoine, wher that he 
1810   Aryveth ate chief Cite. 
1811   Thre yomen of his chambre there  
1812   Al only forto serve him were, 
1813   The whiche he trusteth wonder wel,  
1814   For thei were trewe as eny stiel;
1815   And hapneth that thei with him ladde
1816   Part of the beste good he hadde. 
1817   Thei take logginge in the toun
1818   After the disposicion
1819   Wher as him thoghte best to duelle: 
1820   He axeth thanne and herde telle  
1821   Hou that the king was oute go.
1822   Upon a werre he hadde tho; 
1823   But in that Cite thanne was
1824   The queene, which Olimpias 
1825   Was hote, and with sollempnete
1826   The feste of hir nativite, 
1827   As it befell, was thanne holde;  
1828   And for hire list to be beholde  
1829   And preised of the poeple aboute,
1830   Sche schop hir forto riden oute  
1831   At after mete al openly.
1832   Anon were alle men redy,
1833   And that was in the monthe of Maii, 
1834   This lusti queene in good arrai  
1835   Was set upon a Mule whyt:  
1836   To sen it was a gret delit 
1837   The joie that the cite made;  
1838   With freisshe thinges and with glade    
1839   The noble toun was al behonged,  
1840   And every wiht was sore alonged  
1841   To se this lusti ladi ryde.
1842   Ther was gret merthe on alle syde;  
1843   Wher as sche passeth be the strete, 
1844   Ther was ful many a tymber bete  
1845   And many a maide carolende:
1846   And thus thurghout the toun pleiende
1847   This queene unto a pleine rod,
1848   Wher that sche hoved and abod 
1849   To se diverse game pleie,  
1850   The lusti folk jouste and tourneie; 
1851   And so forth every other man, 
1852   Which pleie couthe, his pley began, 
1853   To plese with this noble queene. 
1854   Nectanabus cam to the grene
1855   Amonges othre and drouh him nyh. 
1856   Bot whan that he this ladi sih
1857   And of hir beaute hiede tok,  
1858   He couthe noght withdrawe his lok
1859   To se noght elles in the field,  
1860   Bot stod and only hire behield.  
1861   Of his clothinge and of his gere 
1862   He was unlich alle othre there,  
1863   So that it hapneth ate laste, 
1864   The queene on him hire yhe caste,
1865   And knew that he was strange anon:  
1866   Bot he behield hire evere in on  
1867   Withoute blenchinge of his chere.
1868   Sche tok good hiede of his manere,  
1869   And wondreth why he dede so,  
1870   And bad men scholde for him go.  
1871   He cam and dede hire reverence,  
1872   And sche him axeth in cilence 
1873   For whenne he cam and what he wolde.
1874   And he with sobre wordes tolde,  
1875   And seith, "Ma dame, a clerk I am,  
1876   To you and in message I cam,  
1877   The which I mai noght tellen hiere;     
1878   Bot if it liketh you to hiere,
1879   It mot be seid al prively, 
1880   Wher non schal be bot ye and I." 
1881   Thus for the time he tok his leve.  
1882   The dai goth forth til it was eve,  
1883   That every man mot lete his werk;
1884   And sche thoghte evere upon this clerk,
1885   What thing it is he wolde mene:  
1886   And in this wise abod the queene,
1887   And passeth over thilke nyht, 
1888   Til it was on the morwe liht. 
1889   Sche sende for him, and he com,  
1890   With him his Astellabre he nom,  
1891   Which was of fin gold precious
1892   With pointz and cercles merveilous; 
1893   And ek the hevenely figures
1894   Wroght in a bok ful of peintures 
1895   He tok this ladi forto schewe,
1896   And tolde of ech of hem be rewe  
1897   The cours and the condicion.  
1898   And sche with gret affeccion  
1899   Sat stille and herde what he wolde: 
1900   And thus whan he sih time, he tolde,
1901   And feigneth with hise wordes wise  
1902   A tale, and seith in such a wise:
1903   "Ma dame, bot a while ago, 
1904   Wher I was in Egipte tho,  
1905   And radde in scole of this science, 
1906   It fell into mi conscience 
1907   That I unto the temple wente, 
1908   And ther with al myn hole entente
1909   As I mi sacrifice dede, 
1910   On of the goddes hath me bede 
1911   That I you warne prively,  
1912   So that ye make you redy,  
1913   And that ye be nothing agast; 
1914   For he such love hath to you cast,  
1915   That ye schul ben his oghne diere,      
1916   And he schal be your beddefiere, 
1917   Til ye conceive and be with childe."
1918   And with that word sche wax al mylde,  
1919   And somdel red becam for schame, 
1920   And axeth him that goddes name,  
1921   Which so wol don hire compainie. 
1922   And he seide, "Amos of Lubie."
1923   And sche seith, "That mai I noght lieve,  
1924   Bot if I sihe a betre prieve."
1925   "Ma dame," quod Nectanabus,
1926   "In tokne that it schal be thus, 
1927   This nyht for enformacion  
1928   Ye schul have an avision:  
1929   That Amos schal to you appiere,  
1930   To schewe and teche in what manere  
1931   The thing schal afterward befalle.  
1932   Ye oghten wel above alle
1933   To make joie of such a lord;  
1934   For whan ye ben of on acord,  
1935   He schal a Sone of you begete,
1936   Which with his swerd schal winne and gete 
1937   The wyde world in lengthe and brede;
1938   Alle erthli kinges schull him drede,
1939   And in such wise, I you behote,  
1940   The god of erthe he schal be hote." 
1941   "If this be soth," tho quod the queene,
1942   "This nyht, thou seist, it schal be sene. 
1943   And if it falle into mi grace,
1944   Of god Amos, that I pourchace 
1945   To take of him so gret worschipe,
1946   I wol do thee such ladischipe,
1947   Wherof thou schalt for everemo
1948   Be riche." And he hir thonketh tho, 
1949   And tok his leve and forth he wente.
1950   Sche wiste litel what he mente,  
1951   For it was guile and Sorcerie,
1952   Al that sche tok for Prophecie.  
1953   Nectanabus thurghout the day,     
1954   Whan he cam hom wher as he lay,  
1955   His chambre be himselve tok,  
1956   And overtorneth many a bok,
1957   And thurgh the craft of Artemage 
1958   Of wex he forgeth an ymage.
1959   He loketh his equacions 
1960   And ek the constellacions, 
1961   He loketh the conjunccions,
1962   He loketh the recepcions,  
1963   His signe, his houre, his ascendent,
1964   And drawth fortune of his assent:
1965   The name of queene Olimpias
1966   In thilke ymage write was  
1967   Amiddes in the front above.
1968   And thus to winne his lust of love  
1969   Nectanabus this werk hath diht;  
1970   And whan it cam withinne nyht,
1971   That every wyht is falle aslepe, 
1972   He thoghte he wolde his time kepe,  
1973   As he which hath his houre apointed.
1974   And thanne ferst he hath enoignted  
1975   With sondri herbes that figure,  
1976   And therupon he gan conjure,  
1977   So that thurgh his enchantement  
1978   This ladi, which was innocent 
1979   And wiste nothing of this guile, 
1980   Mette, as sche slepte thilke while, 
1981   Hou fro the hevene cam a lyht,
1982   Which al hir chambre made lyht;  
1983   And as sche loketh to and fro,
1984   Sche sih, hir thoghte, a dragoun tho,  
1985   Whos scherdes schynen as the Sonne, 
1986   And hath his softe pas begonne
1987   With al the chiere that he may
1988   Toward the bedd ther as sche lay,
1989   Til he cam to the beddes side.
1990   And sche lai stille and nothing cride, 
1991   For he dede alle his thinges faire  
1992   And was courteis and debonaire:      
1993   And as he stod hire fasteby,  
1994   His forme he changeth sodeinly,  
1995   And the figure of man he nom, 
1996   To hire and into bedde he com,
1997   And such thing there of love he wroghte,  
1998   Wherof, so as hire thanne thoghte,  
1999   Thurgh likinge of this god Amos  
2000   With childe anon hire wombe aros,
2001   And sche was wonder glad withal. 
2002   Nectanabus, which causeth al  
2003   Of this metrede the substance,
2004   Whan he sih time, his nigromance 
2005   He stinte and nothing more seide 
2006   Of his carecte, and sche abreide 
2007   Out of hir slep, and lieveth wel 
2008   That it is soth thanne everydel  
2009   Of that this clerk hire hadde told, 
2010   And was the gladdere manyfold 
2011   In hope of such a glad metrede,  
2012   Which after schal befalle in dede.  
2013   Sche longeth sore after the dai, 
2014   That sche hir swevene telle mai  
2015   To this guilour in privete,
2016   Which kneu it als so wel as sche:
2017   And natheles on morwe sone 
2018   Sche lefte alle other thing to done,
2019   And for him sende, and al the cas
2020   Sche tolde him pleinly as it was,
2021   And seide hou thanne wel sche wiste 
2022   That sche his wordes mihte triste,  
2023   For sche fond hire Avisioun
2024   Riht after the condicion
2025   Which he hire hadde told tofore; 
2026   And preide him hertely therfore  
2027   That he hire holde covenant
2028   So forth of al the remenant,  
2029   That sche may thurgh his ordinance  
2030   Toward the god do such plesance,         
2031   That sche wakende myhte him kepe 
2032   In such wise as sche mette aslepe.  
2033   And he, that couthe of guile ynouh, 
2034   Whan he this herde, of joie he louh,
2035   And seith, "Ma dame, it schal be do.
2036   Bot this I warne you therto:  
2037   This nyht, whan that he comth to pleie,
2038   That ther be no lif in the weie  
2039   Bot I, that schal at his likinge 
2040   Ordeine so for his cominge,
2041   That ye ne schull noght of him faile.  
2042   For this, ma dame, I you consaile,  
2043   That ye it kepe so prive,  
2044   That no wiht elles bot we thre
2045   Have knowlechinge hou that it is;
2046   For elles mihte it fare amis, 
2047   If ye dede oght that scholde him grieve." 
2048   And thus he makth hire to believe,  
2049   And feigneth under guile feith:  
2050   Bot natheles al that he seith 
2051   Sche troweth; and ayein the nyht 
2052   Sche hath withinne hire chambre dyht,  
2053   Wher as this guilour faste by 
2054   Upon this god schal prively
2055   Awaite, as he makth hire to wene:
2056   And thus this noble gentil queene,  
2057   Whan sche most trusteth, was deceived. 
2058   The nyht com, and the chambre is weyved,  
2059   Nectanabus hath take his place,  
2060   And whan he sih the time and space, 
2061   Thurgh the deceipte of his magique  
2062   He putte him out of mannes like, 
2063   And of a dragoun tok the forme,  
2064   As he which wolde him al conforme
2065   To that sche sih in swevene er this;    
2066   And thus to chambre come he is.  
2067   The queene lay abedde and sih,
2068   And hopeth evere, as he com nyh, 
2069   That he god of Lubye were, 
2070   So hath sche wel the lasse fere. 
2071   Bot for he wolde hire more assure,  
2072   Yit eft he changeth his figure,  
2073   And of a wether the liknesse  
2074   He tok, in signe of his noblesse 
2075   With large hornes for the nones: 
2076   Of fin gold and of riche stones  
2077   A corone on his hed he bar,
2078   And soudeinly, er sche was war,  
2079   As he which alle guile can,
2080   His forme he torneth into man,
2081   And cam to bedde, and sche lai stille, 
2082   Wher as sche soffreth al his wille, 
2083   As sche which wende noght misdo. 
2084   Bot natheles it hapneth so,
2085   Althogh sche were in part deceived, 
2086   Yit for al that sche hath conceived 
2087   The worthieste of alle kiththe,  
2088   Which evere was tofore or siththe
2089   Of conqueste and chivalerie;  
2090   So that thurgh guile and Sorcerie
2091   Ther was that noble knyht begunne,  
2092   Which al the world hath after wunne.
2093   Thus fell the thing which falle scholde,  
2094   Nectanabus hath that he wolde;
2095   With guile he hath his love sped,
2096   With guile he cam into the bed,  
2097   With guile he goth him out ayein:
2098   He was a schrewed chamberlein,
2099   So to beguile a worthi queene,
2100   And that on him was after seene. 
2101   Bot natheles the thing is do; 
2102   This false god was sone go,    
2103   With his deceipte and hield him clos,  
2104   Til morwe cam, that he aros.  
2105   And tho, whan time and leisir was,  
2106   The queene tolde him al the cas, 
2107   As sche that guile non supposeth;
2108   And of tuo pointz sche him opposeth.
2109   On was, if that this god nomore  
2110   Wol come ayein, and overmore, 
2111   Hou sche schal stonden in acord  
2112   With king Philippe hire oghne lord, 
2113   Whan he comth hom and seth hire grone. 
2114   "Ma dame," he seith, "let me alone: 
2115   As for the god I undertake 
2116   That whan it liketh you to take  
2117   His compaignie at eny throwe, 
2118   If I a day tofore it knowe,
2119   He schal be with you on the nyht;
2120   And he is wel of such a myht  
2121   To kepe you from alle blame.  
2122   Forthi conforte you, ma dame, 
2123   Ther schal non other cause be."  
2124   Thus tok he leve and forth goth he, 
2125   And tho began he forto muse
2126   Hou he the queene mihte excuse
2127   Toward the king of that is falle;
2128   And fond a craft amonges alle,
2129   Thurgh which he hath a See foul daunted,  
2130   With his magique and so enchaunted, 
2131   That he flyh forth, whan it was nyht,  
2132   Unto the kinges tente riht,
2133   Wher that he lay amidde his host:
2134   And whanne he was aslepe most,
2135   With that the See foul to him broghte  
2136   And othre charmes, whiche he wroghte
2137   At hom withinne his chambre stille, 
2138   The king he torneth at his wille,
2139   And makth him forto dreme and se 
2140   The dragoun and the privete
2141   Which was betuen him and the queene.    
2142   And over that he made him wene
2143   In swevene, hou that the god Amos,  
2144   Whan he up fro the queene aros,  
2145   Tok forth a ring, wherinne a ston
2146   Was set, and grave therupon
2147   A Sonne, in which, whan he cam nyh, 
2148   A leoun with a swerd he sih;  
2149   And with that priente, as he tho mette,
2150   Upon the queenes wombe he sette  
2151   A Seal, and goth him forth his weie.
2152   With that the swevene wente aweie,  
2153   And tho began the king awake  
2154   And sigheth for his wyves sake,  
2155   Wher as he lay withinne his tente,  
2156   And hath gret wonder what it mente. 
2157   With that he hasteth him to ryse 
2158   Anon, and sende after the wise,  
2159   Among the whiche ther was on, 
2160   A clerc, his name is Amphion: 
2161   Whan he the kinges swevene herde,
2162   What it betokneth he ansuerde,
2163   And seith, "So siker as the lif, 
2164   A god hath leie be thi wif,
2165   And gete a Sone, which schal winne  
2166   The world and al that is withinne.  
2167   As leon is the king of bestes,
2168   So schal the world obeie his hestes,
2169   Which with his swerd schal al be wonne,
2170   Als ferr as schyneth eny Sonne." 
2171   The king was doubtif of this dom;
2172   Bot natheles, whan that he com
2173   Ayein into his oghne lond, 
2174   His wif with childe gret he fond.
2175   He mihte noght himselve stiere,  
2176   That he ne made hire hevy chiere;
2177   Bot he which couthe of alle sorwe,  
2178   Nectanabus, upon the morwe 
2179   Thurgh the deceipte and nigromance      
2180   Tok of a dragoun the semblance,  
2181   And wher the king sat in his halle, 
2182   Com in rampende among hem alle
2183   With such a noise and such a rore,  
2184   That thei agast were also sore
2185   As thogh thei scholde deie anon. 
2186   And natheles he grieveth non, 
2187   Bot goth toward the deyss on hih;
2188   And whan he cam the queene nyh,  
2189   He stinte his noise, and in his wise
2190   To hire he profreth his servise, 
2191   And leith his hed upon hire barm;
2192   And sche with goodly chiere hire arm
2193   Aboute his necke ayeinward leide,
2194   And thus the queene with him pleide 
2195   In sihte of alle men aboute.  
2196   And ate laste he gan to loute 
2197   And obeissance unto hire make,
2198   As he that wolde his leve take;  
2199   And sodeinly his lothly forme 
2200   Into an Egle he gan transforme,  
2201   And flyh and sette him on a raile;  
2202   Wherof the king hath gret mervaile, 
2203   For there he pruneth him and piketh,
2204   As doth an hauk whan him wel liketh,
2205   And after that himself he schok, 
2206   Wherof that al the halle quok,
2207   As it a terremote were; 
2208   Thei seiden alle, god was there: 
2209   In such a res and forth he flyh. 
2210   The king, which al this wonder syh, 
2211   Whan he cam to his chambre alone,
2212   Unto the queene he made his mone 
2213   And of foryivenesse hir preide;  
2214   For thanne he knew wel, as he seide,
2215   Sche was with childe with a godd.
2216   Thus was the king withoute rodd  
2217   Chastised, and the queene excused
2218   Of that sche hadde ben accused.      
2219   And for the gretere evidence, 
2220   Yit after that in the presence
2221   Of king Philipp and othre mo, 
2222   Whan thei ride in the fieldes tho,  
2223   A Phesant cam before here yhe,
2224   The which anon as thei hire syhe,
2225   Fleende let an ey doun falle, 
2226   And it tobrak tofore hem alle:
2227   And as thei token therof kepe,
2228   Thei syhe out of the schelle crepe  
2229   A litel Serpent on the ground,
2230   Which rampeth al aboute round,
2231   And in ayein it wolde have wonne,
2232   Bot for the brennynge of the Sonne  
2233   It mihte noght, and so it deide. 
2234   And therupon the clerkes seide,  
2235   "As the Serpent, whan it was oute,  
2236   Went enviroun the schelle aboute 
2237   And mihte noght torne in ayein,  
2238   So schal it fallen in certein:
2239   This child the world schal environe,
2240   And above alle the corone  
2241   Him schal befalle, and in yong Age  
2242   He schal desire in his corage,
2243   Whan al the world is in his hond,
2244   To torn ayein into the lond
2245   Wher he was bore, and in his weie
2246   Homward he schal with puison deie." 
2247   The king, which al this sih and herde, 
2248   Fro that dai forth, hou so it ferde,
2249   His jalousie hath al foryete. 
2250   Bot he which hath the child begete, 
2251   Nectanabus, in privete  
2252   The time of his nativite
2253   Upon the constellacioun 
2254   Awaiteth, and relacion  
2255   Makth to the queene hou sche schal do,     
2256   And every houre apointeth so, 
2257   That no mynut therof was lore.
2258   So that in due time is bore
2259   This child, and forth with therupon 
2260   Ther felle wondres many on 
2261   Of terremote universiel:
2262   The Sonne tok colour of stiel 
2263   And loste his lyht, the wyndes blewe,  
2264   And manye strengthes overthrewe; 
2265   The See his propre kinde changeth,  
2266   And al the world his forme strangeth;  
2267   The thonder with his fyri levene 
2268   So cruel was upon the hevene, 
2269   That every erthli creature 
2270   Tho thoghte his lif in aventure. 
2271   The tempeste ate laste cesseth,  
2272   The child is kept, his age encresseth, 
2273   And Alisandre his name is hote,  
2274   To whom Calistre and Aristote 
2275   To techen him Philosophie  
2276   Entenden, and Astronomie,  
2277   With othre thinges whiche he couthe 
2278   Also, to teche him in his youthe 
2279   Nectanabus tok upon honde. 
2280   Bot every man mai understonde,
2281   Of Sorcerie hou that it wende,
2282   It wole himselve prove at ende,  
2283   And namely forto beguile
2284   A lady, which withoute guile  
2285   Supposeth trouthe al that sche hiereth:
2286   Bot often he that evele stiereth 
2287   His Schip is dreynt therinne amidde;
2288   And in this cas riht so betidde. 
2289   Nectanabus upon a nyht, 
2290   Whan it was fair and sterre lyht,
2291   This yonge lord ladde up on hih  
2292   Above a tour, wher as he sih  
2293   Thee sterres such as he acompteth,  
2294   And seith what ech of hem amonteth,     
2295   As thogh he knewe of alle thing; 
2296   Bot yit hath he no knowleching
2297   What schal unto himself befalle. 
2298   Whan he hath told his wordes alle,  
2299   This yonge lord thanne him opposeth,
2300   And axeth if that he supposeth
2301   What deth he schal himselve deie.
2302   He seith, "Or fortune is aweie
2303   And every sterre hath lost his wone,
2304   Or elles of myn oghne Sone 
2305   I schal be slain, I mai noght fle." 
2306   Thoghte Alisandre in privete, 
2307   "Hierof this olde dotard lieth": 
2308   And er that other oght aspieth,  
2309   Al sodeinliche his olde bones 
2310   He schof over the wal at ones,
2311   And seith him, "Ly doun there apart:
2312   Wherof nou serveth al thin art?  
2313   Thou knewe alle othre mennes chance 
2314   And of thiself hast ignorance:
2315   That thou hast seid amonges alle 
2316   Of thi persone, is noght befalle."  
2317   Nectanabus, which hath his deth, 
2318   Yit while him lasteth lif and breth,
2319   To Alisandre he spak and seide
2320   That he with wrong blame on him leide  
2321   Fro point to point and al the cas
2322   He tolde, hou he his Sone was.
2323   Tho he, which sory was ynowh, 
2324   Out of the dich his fader drouh, 
2325   And tolde his moder hou it ferde 
2326   In conseil; and whan sche it herde  
2327   And kneu the toknes whiche he tolde,
2328   Sche nyste what sche seie scholde,  
2329   Bot stod abayssht as for the while  
2330   Of his magique and al the guile. 
2331   Sche thoghte hou that sche was deceived,      
2332   That sche hath of a man conceived,  
2333   And wende a god it hadde be.  
2334   Bot natheles in such degre,
2335   So as sche mihte hire honour save,  
2336   Sche schop the body was begrave. 
2337   And thus Nectanabus aboghte
2338   The Sorcerie which he wroghte:
2339   Thogh he upon the creatures
2340   Thurgh his carectes and figures  
2341   The maistrie and the pouer hadde,
2342   His creatour to noght him ladde, 
2343   Ayein whos lawe his craft he useth, 
2344   Whan he for lust his god refuseth,  
2345   And tok him to the dieules craft.
2346   Lo, what profit him is belaft:
2347   That thing thurgh which he wende have stonde,
2348   Ferst him exilede out of londe
2349   Which was his oghne, and from a king
2350   Made him to ben an underling; 
2351   And siththen to deceive a queene,
2352   That torneth him to mochel teene;
2353   Thurgh lust of love he gat him hate,
2354   That ende couthe he noght abate. 
2355   His olde sleyhtes whiche he caste,  
2356   Yonge Alisaundre hem overcaste,  
2357   His fader, which him misbegat,
2358   He slouh, a gret mishap was that;
2359   Bot for o mis an other mys 
2360   Was yolde, and so fulofte it is; 
2361   Nectanabus his craft miswente,
2362   So it misfell him er he wente.
2363   I not what helpeth that clergie  
2364   Which makth a man to do folie,
2365   And nameliche of nigromance,  
2366   Which stant upon the mescreance. 
2367   And forto se more evidence,
2368   Zorastes, which thexperience  
2369   Of Art magique ferst forth drouh,    
2370   Anon as he was bore, he louh, 
2371   Which tokne was of wo suinge: 
2372   For of his oghne controvinge  
2373   He fond magique and tauhte it forth;
2374   Bot al that was him litel worth, 
2375   For of Surrie a worthi king
2376   Him slou, and that was his endyng.  
2377   Bot yit thurgh him this craft is used, 
2378   And he thurgh al the world accused, 
2379   For it schal nevere wel achieve  
2380   That stant noght riht with the believe:
2381   Bot lich to wolle is evele sponne,  
2382   Who lest himself hath litel wonne,  
2383   An ende proveth every thing.  
2384   Sal, which was of Juys king,
2385   Up peine of deth forbad this art,
2386   And yit he tok therof his part.  
2387   The Phitonesse in Samarie  
2388   Yaf him conseil be Sorcerie,  
2389   Which after fell to mochel sorwe,
2390   For he was slain upon the morwe. 
2391   To conne moche thing it helpeth, 
2392   Bot of to mochel noman yelpeth:  
2393   So forto loke on every side,  
2394   Magique mai noght wel betyde. 
2395   Forthi, my Sone, I wolde rede 
2396   That thou of these ensamples drede, 
2397   That for no lust of erthli love  
2398   Thou seche so to come above,  
2399   Wherof as in the worldes wonder  
2400   Thou schalt for evere be put under. 
2401   Mi goode fader, grant mercy,  
2402   For evere I schal be war therby: 
2403   Of love what me so befalle,
2404   Such Sorcerie aboven alle  
2405   Fro this dai forth I schal eschuie,     
2406   That so ne wol I noght poursuie  
2407   Mi lust of love forto seche.  
2408   Bot this I wolde you beseche, 
2409   Beside that me stant of love, 
2410   As I you herde speke above 
2411   Hou Alisandre was betawht  
2412   To Aristotle, and so wel tawht
2413   Of al that to a king belongeth,  
2414   Wherof min herte sore longeth 
2415   To wite what it wolde mene.
2416   For be reson I wolde wene  
2417   That if I herde of thinges strange, 
2418   Yit for a time it scholde change 
2419   Mi peine, and lisse me somdiel.  
2420   Mi goode Sone, thou seist wel.
2421   For wisdom, hou that evere it stonde,  
2422   To him that can it understonde
2423   Doth gret profit in sondri wise; 
2424   Bot touchende of so hih aprise,  
2425   Which is noght unto Venus knowe, 
2426   I mai it noght miselve knowe, 
2427   Which of hir court am al forthdrawe 
2428   And can nothing bot of hir lawe. 
2429   Bot natheles to knowe more 
2430   Als wel as thou me longeth sore; 
2431   And for it helpeth to comune, 
2432   Al ben thei noght to me comune,  
2433   The scoles of Philosophie, 
2434   Yit thenke I forto specefie,  
2435   In boke as it is comprehended,
2436   Wherof thou mihtest ben amended. 
2437   For thogh I be noght al cunnynge 
2438   Upon the forme of this wrytynge, 
2439   Som part therof yit have I herd, 
2440   In this matiere hou it hath ferd.

Explicit Liber Sextus



Incipit Liber Septimus.


Omnibus in causis sapiens doctrina salutem
     Consequitur, nec habet quis nisi doctus opem.
Naturam superat doctrina, viro quod et ortus
     Ingenii docilis non dedit, ipsa dabit.
Non ita discretus hominum per climata regnat,
     Quin magis ut sapiat, indiget ipse schole.


1      I Genius the prest of love,
2      Mi Sone, as thou hast preid above
3      That I the Scole schal declare
4      Of Aristotle and ek the fare  
5      Of Alisandre, hou he was tauht,  
6      I am somdel therof destrauht; 
7      For it is noght to the matiere
8      Of love, why we sitten hiere  
9      To schryve, so as Venus bad.  
10     Bot natheles, for it is glad, 
11     So as thou seist, for thin aprise
12     To hiere of suche thinges wise,  
13     Wherof thou myht the time lisse, 
14     So as I can, I schal the wisse:  
15     For wisdom is at every throwe 
16     Above alle other thing to knowe  
17     In loves cause and elleswhere.
18     Forthi, my Sone, unto thin Ere,  
19     Though it be noght in the registre  
20     Of Venus, yit of that Calistre
21     And Aristotle whylom write 
22     To Alisandre, thou schalt wite.  
23     Bot for the lores ben diverse, 
24     I thenke ferst to the reherce 
25     The nature of Philosophie, 
26     Which Aristotle of his clergie,  
27     Wys and expert in the sciences,  
28     Declareth thilke intelligences,  
29     As of thre pointz in principal.  
30     Wherof the ferste in special  
31     Is Theorique, which is grounded  
32     On him which al the world hath founded,
33     Which comprehendeth al the lore. 
34     And forto loken overmore,  
35     Next of sciences the seconde  
36     Is Rethorique, whos faconde
37     Above alle othre is eloquent: 
38     To telle a tale in juggement  
39     So wel can noman speke as he. 
40     The laste science of the thre 
41     It is Practique, whos office  
42     The vertu tryeth fro the vice,
43     And techeth upon goode thewes 
44     To fle the compaignie of schrewes,  
45     Which stant in disposicion 
46     Of mannes free eleccion.
47     Practique enformeth ek the reule,
48     Hou that a worthi king schal reule  
49     His Realme bothe in werre and pes.  
50     Lo, thus danz Aristotiles  
51     These thre sciences hath divided 
52     And the nature also decided,  
53     Wherof that ech of hem schal serve. 
54     The ferste, which is the conserve
55     And kepere of the remnant, 
56     As that which is most sufficant  
57     And chief of the Philosophie, 
58     If I therof schal specefie 
59     So as the Philosophre tolde,  
60     Nou herkne, and kep that thou it holde. 
61     Of Theorique principal  
62     The Philosophre in special 
63     The propretees hath determined,  
64     As thilke which is enlumined  
65     Of wisdom and of hih prudence 
66     Above alle othre in his science: 
67     And stant departed upon thre, 
68     The ferste of which in his degre 
69     Is cleped in Philosophie
70     The science of Theologie,  
71     That other named is Phisique, 
72     The thridde is seid Mathematique.
73     Theologie is that science  
74     Which unto man yifth evidence 
75     Of thing which is noght bodely,  
76     Wherof men knowe redely 
77     The hihe almyhti Trinite,  
78     Which is o god in unite 
79     Withouten ende and beginnynge 
80     And creatour of alle thinge,  
81     Of hevene, of erthe and ek of helle.
82     Wherof, as olde bokes telle,  
83     The Philosophre in his resoun 
84     Wrot upon this conclusioun,
85     And of his wrytinge in a clause  
86     He clepeth god the ferste cause, 
87     Which of himself is thilke good, 
88     Withoute whom nothing is good,
89     Of which that every creature  
90     Hath his beinge and his nature.  
91     After the beinge of the thinges  
92     Ther ben thre formes of beinges: 
93     Thing which began and ende schal, 
94     That thing is cleped temporal;
95     Ther is also be other weie 
96     Thing which began and schal noght deie.
97     As Soules, that ben spiritiel,
98     Here beinge is perpetuel:  
99     Bot ther is on above the Sonne,  
100    Whos time nevere was begonne, 
101    And endeles schal evere be;
102    That is the god, whos mageste 
103    Alle othre thinges schal governe,
104    And his beinge is sempiterne. 
105    The god, to whom that al honour  
106    Belongeth, he is creatour, 
107    And othre ben hise creatures: 
108    The god commandeth the natures
109    That thei to him obeien alle; 
110    Withouten him, what so befalle,  
111    Her myht is non, and he mai al:  
112    The god was evere and evere schal,  
113    And thei begonne of his assent;  
114    The times alle be present  
115    To god, to hem and alle unknowe, 
116    Bot what him liketh that thei knowe:
117    Thus bothe an angel and a man,
118    The whiche of al that god began  
119    Be chief, obeien goddes myht, 
120    And he stant endeles upriht.  
121    To this science ben prive  
122    The clerkes of divinite,
123    The whiche unto the poeple prechen  
124    The feith of holi cherche and techen,  
125    Which in som cas upon believe 
126    Stant more than thei conne prieve
127    Be weie of Argument sensible: 
128    Bot natheles it is credible,  
129    And doth a man gret meede have,  
130    To him that thenkth himself to save.
131    Theologie in such a wise 
132    Of hih science and hih aprise 
133    Above alle othre stant unlike,
134    And is the ferste of Theorique.  
135    Phisique is after the secounde,  
136    Thurgh which the Philosophre hath founde  
137    To techen sondri knowlechinges
138    Upon the bodiliche thinges.
139    Of man, of beste, of herbe, of ston,
140    Of fissch, of foughl, of everychon  
141    That ben of bodely substance, 
142    The nature and the circumstance  
143    Thurgh this science it is ful soght,
144    Which vaileth and which vaileth noght. 
145    The thridde point of Theorique,  
146    Which cleped is Mathematique, 
147    Devided is in sondri wise  
148    And stant upon diverse aprise.
149    The ferste of whiche is Arsmetique, 
150    And the secounde is seid Musique,
151    The thridde is ek Geometrie,  
152    Also the ferthe Astronomie.
153    Of Arsmetique the matiere  
154    Is that of which a man mai liere 
155    What Algorisme in nombre amonteth,  
156    Whan that the wise man acompteth 
157    After the formel proprete  
158    Of Algorismes Abece: 
159    Be which multiplicacioun
160    Is mad and diminucioun  
161    Of sommes be thexperience  
162    Of this Art and of this science. 
163    The seconde of Mathematique,  
164    Which is the science of Musique, 
165    That techeth upon Armonie  
166    A man to make melodie
167    Be vois and soun of instrument
168    Thurgh notes of acordement,
169    The whiche men pronounce alofte, 
170    Nou scharpe notes and nou softe,  
171  Nou hihe notes and nou lowe, 
172    As be the gamme a man mai knowe, 
173    Which techeth the prolacion
174    Of note and the condicion. 
175    Mathematique of his science
176    Hath yit the thridde intelligence
177    Full of wisdom and of clergie 
178    And cleped is Geometrie,
179    Thurgh which a man hath thilke sleyhte,
180    Of lengthe, of brede, of depthe, of heyhte
181    To knowe the proporcion 
182    Be verrai calculacion
183    Of this science: and in this wise
184    These olde Philosophres wise, 
185    Of al this worldes erthe round,  
186    Hou large, hou thikke was the ground,  
187    Controeveden thexperience; 
188    The cercle and the circumference 
189    Of every thing unto the hevene
190    Thei setten point and mesure evene. 
191    Mathematique above therthe 
192    Of hyh science hath yit the ferthe, 
193    Which spekth upon Astronomie  
194    And techeth of the sterres hihe, 
195    Beginnynge upward fro the mone.  
196    Bot ferst, as it was forto done, 
197    This Aristotle in other thing 
198    Unto this worthi yonge king
199    The kinde of every element 
200    Which stant under the firmament, 
201    Hou it is mad and in what wise,  
202    Fro point to point he gan devise.
203    Tofore the creacion  
204    Of eny worldes stacion,  
205    Of hevene, of erthe, or eke of helle,  
206    So as these olde bokes telle, 
207    As soun tofore the song is set
208    And yit thei ben togedre knet,
209    Riht so the hihe pourveance
210    Tho hadde under his ordinance 
211    A gret substance, a gret matiere,
212    Of which he wolde in his manere  
213    These othre thinges make and forme. 
214    For yit withouten eny forme
215    Was that matiere universal,
216    Which hihte Ylem in special.  
217    Of Ylem, as I  am enformed,
218    These elementz ben mad and formed,  
219    Of Ylem elementz they hote 
220    After the Scole of Aristote,  
221    Of whiche if more I schal reherce,  
222    Foure elementz ther ben diverse. 
223    The ferste of hem men erthe calle,  
224    Which is the lowest of hem alle, 
225    And in his forme is schape round,
226    Substancial, strong, sadd and sound,
227    As that which mad is sufficant
228    To bere up al the remenant.
229    For as the point in a compas  
230    Stant evene amiddes, riht so was 
231    This erthe set and schal abyde,  
232    That it may swerve to no side,
233    And hath his centre after the lawe  
234    Of kinde, and to that centre drawe  
235    Desireth every worldes thing, 
236    If ther ne were no lettyng.
237    Above therthe kepth his bounde
238    The water, which is the secounde 
239    Of elementz, and al withoute  
240    It environeth therthe aboute. 
241    Bot as it scheweth, noght forthi 
242    This soubtil water myhtely, 
243    Thogh it be of himselve softe,
244    The strengthe of therthe perceth ofte; 
245    For riht as veines ben of blod
246    In man, riht so the water flod
247    Therthe of his cours makth ful of veines, 
248    Als wel the helles as the pleines.  
249    And that a man may sen at ije,
250    For wher the hulles ben most hyhe,  
251    Ther mai men welle stremes finde:
252    So proveth it be weie of kinde
253    The water heyher than the lond.  
254    And over this nou understond, 
255    Air is the thridde of elementz,  
256    Of whos kinde his aspirementz 
257    Takth every lifissh creature, 
258    The which schal upon erthe endure:  
259    For as the fissh, if it be dreie,
260    Mot in defaute of water deie, 
261    Riht so withouten Air on lyve 
262    No man ne beste myhte thryve, 
263    The which is mad of fleissh and bon;
264    There is outake of alle non.  
265    This Air in Periferies thre
266    Divided is of such degre,  
267    Benethe is on and on amidde,  
268    To whiche above is set the thridde: 
269    And upon the divisions  
270    There ben diverse impressions 
271    Of moist and ek of drye also, 
272    Whiche of the Sonne bothe tuo 
273    Ben drawe and haled upon hy,  
274    And maken cloudes in the Sky, 
275    As schewed is at mannes sihte;
276    Wherof be day and ek be nyhte 
277    After the times of the yer 
278    Among ous upon Erthe her
279    In sondri wise thinges falle. 
280    The ferste Periferie of alle
281    Engendreth Myst and overmore  
282    The dewes and the Frostes hore,  
283    After thilke intersticion  
284    In which thei take impression.
285    Fro the seconde, as bokes sein,  
286    The moiste dropes of the reyn 
287    Descenden into Middilerthe,
288    And tempreth it to sed and Erthe,
289    And doth to springe grass and flour.
290    And ofte also the grete schour
291    Out of such place it mai be take,
292    That it the forme schal forsake  
293    Of reyn, and into snow be torned;
294    And ek it mai be so sojorned  
295    In sondri places up alofte,
296    That into hail it torneth ofte.  
297    The thridde of thair after the lawe 
298    Thurgh such matiere as up is drawe  
299    Of dreie thing, as it is ofte,
300    Among the cloudes upon lofte, 
301    And is so clos, it may noght oute,- 
302    Thanne is it chased sore aboute, 
303    Til it to fyr and leyt be falle, 
304    And thanne it brekth the cloudes alle, 
305    The whiche of so gret noyse craken, 
306    That thei the feerful thonder maken.
307    The thonderstrok smit er it leyte,  
308    And yit men sen the fyr and leyte,  
309    The thonderstrok er that men hiere: 
310    So mai it wel be proeved hiere
311    In thing which schewed is fro feer, 
312    A mannes yhe is there nerr 
313    Thanne is the soun to mannes Ere.
314    And natheles it is gret feere 
315    Bothe of the strok and of the fyr,  
316    Of which is no recoverir
317    In place wher that thei descende,
318    Bot if god wolde his grace sende. 
319    And forto speken over this,
320    In this partie of thair it is 
321    That men fulofte sen be nyhte 
322    The fyr in sondri forme alyhte.  
323    Somtime the fyrdrake it semeth,  
324    And so the lewed poeple it demeth;  
325    Somtime it semeth as it were  
326    A Sterre, which that glydeth there: 
327    Bot it is nouther of the tuo, 
328    The Philosophre telleth so,
329    And seith that of impressions 
330    Thurgh diverse exalacions  
331    Upon the cause and the matiere
332    Men sen diverse forme appiere 
333    Of fyr, the which hath sondri name. 
334    Assub, he seith, is thilke same, 
335    The which in sondry place is founde,
336    Whanne it is falle doun to grounde, 
337    So as the fyr it hath aneled, 
338    Lich unto slym which is congeled.
339    Of exalacion I finde 
340    Fyr kinled of the fame kinde, 
341    Bot it is of an other forme;  
342    Wherof, if that I schal conforme 
343    The figure unto that it is,
344    These olde clerkes tellen this,  
345    That it is lik a Got skippende,  
346    And for that it is such semende, 
347    It hatte Capra saliens. 
348    And ek these Astronomiens  
349    An other fyr also, be nyhte
350    Which scheweth him to mannes syhte, 
351    Thei clepen Eges, the which brenneth
352    Lik to the corrant fyr that renneth 
353    Upon a corde, as thou hast sein,  
354    Whan it with poudre is so besein 
355    Of Sulphre and othre thinges mo. 
356    Ther is an other fyr also, 
357    Which semeth to a mannes yhe  
358    Be nyhtes time as thogh ther flyhe  
359    A dragon brennende in the Sky,
360    And that is cleped proprely
361    Daaly, wherof men sein fulofte,  
362    "Lo, wher the fyri drake alofte  
363    Fleth up in thair!" and so thei demen. 
364    Bot why the fyres suche semen 
365    Of sondri formes to beholde,  
366    The wise Philosophre tolde,
367    So as tofore it hath ben herd.
368    Lo thus, my Sone, hou it hath ferd: 
369    Of Air the due proprete 
370    In sondri wise thou myht se,  
371    And hou under the firmament
372    It is ek the thridde element, 
373    Which environeth bothe tuo,
374    The water and the lond also.  
375    And forto tellen overthis  
376    Of elementz which the ferthe is, 
377    That is the fyr in his degre, 
378    Which environeth thother thre 
379    And is withoute moist al drye.
380    Bot lest nou what seith the clergie;
381    For upon hem that I have seid 
382    The creatour hath set and leid
383    The kinde and the complexion  
384    Of alle mennes nacion.  
385    Foure elementz sondri ther be,
386    Lich unto whiche of that degre
387    Among the men ther ben also
388    Complexions foure and nomo,
389    Wherof the Philosophre treteth,  
390    That he nothing behinde leteth,  
391    And seith hou that thei ben diverse, 
392    So as I schal to thee reherse.
393    He which natureth every kinde,
394    The myhti god, so as I finde, 
395    Of  man, which is his creature,  
396    Hath so devided the nature,
397    That non til other wel acordeth: 
398    And be the cause it so discordeth,  
399    The lif which fieleth the seknesse  
400    Mai stonde upon no sekernesse.
401    Of therthe, which is cold and drye, 
402    The kinde of man Malencolie
403    Is cleped, and that is the ferste,  
404    The most ungoodlich and the werste; 
405    For unto loves werk on nyht
406    Him lacketh bothe will and myht: 
407    No wonder is, in lusty place  
408    Of love though he lese grace. 
409    What man hath that complexion,
410    Full of ymaginacion  
411    Of dredes and of wrathful thoghtes, 
412    He fret himselven al to noghtes. 
413    The water, which is moyste and cold,
414    Makth fleume, which is manyfold  
415    Foryetel, slou and wery sone  
416    Of every thing which is to done: 
417    He is of kinde sufficant
418    To holde love his covenant,
419    Bot that him lacketh appetit, 
420    Which longeth unto such delit.
421    What man that takth his kinde of thair,
422    He schal be lyht, he schal be fair, 
423    For his complexion is blood.  
424    Of alle ther is non so good,  
425    For he hath bothe will and myht  
426    To plese and paie love his riht: 
427    Wher as he hath love undertake,  
428    Wrong is if that he be forsake.  
429    The fyr of his condicion 
430    Appropreth the complexion  
431    Which in a man is Colre hote, 
432    Whos propretes ben dreie and hote:  
433    It makth a man ben enginous
434    And swift of fote and ek irous;  
435    Of contek and folhastifnesse  
436    He hath a riht gret besinesse,
437    To thenke of love and litel may: 
438    Though he behote wel a day,
439    On nyht whan that he wole assaie,
440    He may ful evele his dette paie. 
441    After the kinde of thelement, 
442    Thus stant a mannes kinde went,  
443    As touchende his complexion,  
444    Upon sondri division 
445    Of dreie, of moiste, of chele, of hete,
446    And ech of hem his oghne sete 
447    Appropred hath withinne a man.
448    And ferst to telle as I began,
449    The Splen is to Malencolie 
450    Assigned for herbergerie:  
451    The moiste fleume with his cold  
452    Hath in the lunges for his hold  
453    Ordeined him a propre stede,  
454    To duelle ther as he is bede: 
455    To the Sanguin complexion  
456    Nature of hire inspeccion  
457    A propre hous hath in the livere 
458    For his duellinge mad delivere:  
459    The dreie Colre with his hete 
460    Be weie of kinde his propre sete 
461    Hath in the galle, wher he duelleth,
462    So as the Philosophre telleth.
463    Nou over this is forto wite,  
464    As it is in Phisique write 
465    Of livere, of lunge, of galle, of splen,
466    Thei alle unto the herte ben  
467    Servantz, and ech in his office  
468    Entendeth to don him service, 
469    As he which is chief lord above. 
470    The livere makth him forto love, 
471    The lunge yifth him weie of speche, 
472    The galle serveth to do wreche,  
473    The Splen doth him to lawhe and pleie, 
474    Whan al unclennesse is aweie: 
475    Lo, thus hath ech of hem his dede.  
476    And to sustienen hem and fede 
477    In time of recreacion,  
478    Nature hath in creacion 
479    The Stomach for a comun Coc
480    Ordeined, so as seith the boc.
481    The Stomach coc is for the halle,
482    And builleth mete for hem alle,  
483    To make hem myghty forto serve
484    The herte, that he schal noght sterve: 
485    For as a king in his Empire
486    Above alle othre is lord and Sire,  
487    So is the herte principal, 
488    To whom reson in special
489    Is yove as for the governance.
490    And thus nature his pourveance
491    Hath mad for man to liven hiere; 
492    Bot god, which hath the Soule diere,
493    Hath formed it in other wise. 
494    That can noman pleinli devise;
495    Bot as the clerkes ous enforme,  
496    That lich to god it hath a forme,
497    Thurgh which figure and which liknesse 
498    The Soule hath many an hyh noblesse 
499    Appropred to his oghne kinde. 
500    Bot ofte hir wittes be mad blinde
501    Al onliche of this ilke point,
502    That hir abydinge is conjoint  
503    Forth with the bodi forto duelle:
504    That on desireth toward helle,
505    That other upward to the hevene; 
506    So schul thei nevere stonde in evene,  
507    Bot if the fleissh be overcome
508    And that the Soule have holi nome
509    The governance, and that is selde,  
510    Whil that the fleissh him mai bewelde. 
511    Al erthli thing which god began  
512    Was only mad to serve man; 
513    Bot he the Soule al only made 
514    Himselven forto serve and glade. 
515    Alle othre bestes that men finde 
516    Thei serve unto here oghne kinde,
517    Bot to reson the Soule serveth;  
518    Wherof the man his thonk deserveth  
519    And get him with hise werkes goode  
520    The perdurable lyves foode.
521    Of what matiere it schal be told,
522    A tale lyketh manyfold  
523    The betre, if it be spoke plein: 
524    Thus thinke I forto torne ayein  
525    And telle plenerly therfore
526    Of therthe, wherof nou tofore 
527    I spak, and of the water eke, 
528    So as these olde clerkes spieke, 
529    And sette proprely the bounde 
530    After the forme of Mappemounde,  
531    Thurgh which the ground be pourparties 
532    Departed is in thre parties,  
533    That is Asie, Aufrique, Europe,  
534    The whiche under the hevene cope,
535    Als ferr as streccheth eny ground,  
536    Begripeth al this Erthe round.
537    Bot after that the hihe wrieche  
538    The water weies let out seche  
539    And overgo the helles hye, 
540    Which every kinde made dye 
541    That upon Middelerthe stod,
542    Outake Noe5 and his blod,  
543    His Sones and his doughtres thre,
544    Thei were sauf and so was he;-
545    Here names who that rede rihte,  
546    Sem, Cam, Japhet the brethren hihte;-  
547    And whanne thilke almyhty hond
548    Withdrouh the water fro the lond,
549    And al the rage was aweie, 
550    And Erthe was the mannes weie,
551    The Sones thre, of whiche I tolde,  
552    Riht after that hemselve wolde,  
553    This world departe thei begonne. 
554    Asie, which lay to the Sonne  
555    Upon the Marche of orient, 
556    Was graunted be comun assent  
557    To Sem, which was the Sone eldeste; 
558    For that partie was the beste 
559    And double as moche as othre tuo.
560    And was that time bounded so; 
561    Wher as the flod which men Nil calleth 
562    Departeth fro his cours and falleth 
563    Into the See Alexandrine,  
564    Ther takth Asie ferst seisine 
565    Toward the West, and over this
566    Of Canahim wher the flod is
567    Into the grete See rennende,  
568    Fro that into the worldes ende
569    Estward, Asie it is algates,  
570    Til that men come unto the gates 
571    Of Paradis, and there ho.  
572    And schortly for to speke it so, 
573    Of Orient in general 
574    Withinne his bounde Asie hath al.
575    And thanne upon that other syde
576    Westward, as it fell thilke tyde,
577    The brother which was hote Cham  
578    Upon his part Aufrique nam.
579    Japhet Europe tho tok he,  
580    Thus parten thei the world on thre. 
581    Bot yit ther ben of londes fele  
582    In occident as for the chele, 
583    In orient as for the hete, 
584    Which of the poeple be forlete
585    As lond desert that is unable,
586    For it mai noght ben habitable.  
587    The water eke hath sondri bounde,
588    After the lond wher it is founde,
589    And takth his name of thilke londes 
590    Wher that it renneth on the strondes:  
591    Bot thilke See which hath no wane
592    Is cleped the gret Occeane,
593    Out of the which arise and come  
594    The hyhe flodes alle and some;
595    Is non so litel welle spring, 
596    Which ther ne takth his beginnyng,  
597    And lich a man that haleth breth 
598    Be weie of kinde, so it geth  
599    Out of the See and in ayein,  
600    The water, as the bokes sein. 
601    Of Elementz the propretes  
602    Hou that they stonden be degres, 
603    As I have told, nou myht thou hiere,
604    Mi goode Sone, al the matiere 
605    Of Erthe, of water, Air and fyr. 
606    And for thou saist that thi desir
607    Is forto witen overmore 
608    The forme of Aristotles lore, 
609    He seith in his entendement,  
610    That yit ther is an Element
611    Above the foure, and is the fifte,  
612    Set of the hihe goddes yifte, 
613    The which that Orbis cleped is. 
614    And therupon he telleth this, 
615    That as the schelle hol and sound
616    Encloseth al aboute round  
617    What thing withinne an Ey belongeth,
618    Riht so this Orbis underfongeth  
619    These elementz alle everychon,
620    Which I have spoke of on and on. 
621    Bot overthis nou tak good hiede, 
622    Mi Sone, for I wol procede 
623    To speke upon Mathematique,
624    Which grounded is on Theorique.  
625    The science of Astronomie  
626    I thinke forto specefie,
627    Withoute which, to telle plein,  
628    Alle othre science is in vein 
629    Toward the scole of erthli thinges: 
630    For as an Egle with his winges
631    Fleth above alle that men finde, 
632    So doth this science in his kinde.  
633    Benethe upon this Erthe hiere 
634    Of alle thinges the matiere,  
635    As tellen ous thei that ben lerned, 
636    Of thing above it stant governed,
637    That is to sein of the Planetes. 
638    The cheles bothe and ek the hetes,  
639    The chances of the world also,
640    That we fortune clepen so, 
641    Among the mennes nacion 
642    Al is thurgh constellacion,
643    Wherof that som man hath the wele,  
644    And som man hath deseses fele 
645    In love als wel as othre thinges; 646   The stat of
realmes
and of kinges
647    In time of pes, in time of werre 
648    It is conceived of the Sterre:
649    And thus seith the naturien
650    Which is an Astronomien.
651    Bot the divin seith otherwise,
652    That if men weren goode and wise 
653    And plesant unto the godhede, 
654    Thei scholden noght the sterres drede; 
655    For o man, if him wel befalle,
656    Is more worth than ben thei alle 
657    Towardes him that weldeth al. 
658    Bot yit the lawe original, 
659    Which he hath set in the natures,
660    Mot worchen in the creatures, 
661    That therof mai be non obstacle, 
662    Bot if it stonde upon miracle 
663    Thurgh preiere of som holy man.  
664    And forthi, so as I began  
665    To speke upon Astronomie,  
666    As it is write in the clergie,
667    To telle hou the planetes fare,  
668    Som part I thenke to declare, 
669    Mi Sone, unto thin Audience.  
670    Astronomie is the science  
671    Of wisdom and of hih connynge,
672    Which makth a man have knowlechinge 
673    Of Sterres in the firmament,  
674    Figure, cercle and moevement  
675    Of ech of hem in sondri place,
676    And what betwen hem is of space, 
677    Hou so thei moeve or stonde faste,  
678    Al this it telleth to the laste. 
679    Assembled with Astronomie  
680    Is ek that ilke Astrologie 
681    The which in juggementz acompteth
682    Theffect, what every sterre amonteth,  
683    And hou thei causen many a wonder
684    To tho climatz that stonde hem under.
685    And forto telle it more plein,
686    These olde philosphres sein
687    That Orbis, which I spak of err, 
688    Is that which we fro therthe a ferr 
689    Beholde, and firmament it calle, 
690    In which the sterres stonden alle,  
691    Among the whiche in special
692    Planetes sefne principal
693    Ther ben, that mannes sihte demeth, 
694    Bot thorizonte, as to ous semeth.
695    And also ther ben signes tuelve, 
696    Whiche have her cercles be hemselve 
697    Compassed in the zodiaque, 
698    In which thei have here places take.
699    And as thei stonden in degre, 
700    Here cercles more or lasse be,
701    Mad after the proporcion
702    Of therthe, whos condicion 
703    Is set to be the foundement
704    To sustiene up the firmament. 
705    And be this skile a man mai knowe,  
706    The more that thei stonden lowe, 
707    The more ben the cercles lasse;  
708    That causeth why that some passe 
709    Here due cours tofore an other.  
710    Bot nou, mi lieve dere brother,  
711    As thou desirest forto wite
712    What I finde in the bokes write, 
713    To telle of the planetes sevene, 
714    Hou that thei stonde upon the hevene
715    And in what point that thei ben inne,  
716    Tak hiede, for I wol beginne, 
717    So as the Philosophre tauhte  
718    To Alisandre and it betauhte, 
719    Wherof that he was fulli tawht
720    Of wisdom, which was him betawht.
721    Benethe alle othre stant the Mone,
722    The which hath with the See to done:
723    Of flodes hihe and ebbes lowe 
724    Upon his change it schal be knowe;  
725    And every fissh which hath a schelle
726    Mot in his governance duelle, 
727    To wexe and wane in his degre,
728    As be the Mone a man mai se;  
729    And al that stant upon the grounde  
730    Of his moisture it mot be founde.
731    Alle othre sterres, as men finde,
732    Be schynende of here oghne kinde 
733    Outake only the monelyht,  
734    Which is noght of himselve bright,  
735    Bot as he takth it of the Sonne. 
736    And yit he hath noght al fulwonne
737    His lyht, that he nys somdiel derk; 
738    Bot what the lette is of that werk  
739    In Almageste it telleth this: 
740    The Mones cercle so lowe is,  
741    Wherof the Sonne out of his stage
742    Ne seth him noght with full visage, 
743    For he is with the ground beschaded,
744    So that the Mone is somdiel faded
745    And may noght fully schyne cler. 
746    Bot what man under his pouer  
747    Is bore, he schal his places change 
748    And seche manye londes strange:  
749    And as of this condicion
750    The Mones disposicion
751    Upon the lond of Alemaigne 
752    Is set, and ek upon Bretaigne,
753    Which nou is cleped Engelond; 
754    For thei travaile in every lond. 
755    Of the Planetes the secounde  
756    Above the Mone hath take his bounde,
757    Mercurie, and his nature is this,
758    That under him who that bore is, 
759    In boke he schal be studious  
760    And in wrytinge curious, 
761    And slouh and lustles to travaile
762    In thing which elles myhte availe:  
763    He loveth ese, he loveth reste,  
764    So is he noght the worthieste;
765    Bot yit with somdiel besinesse
766    His herte is set upon richesse.  
767    And as in this condicion,  
768    Theffect and disposicion
769    Of this Planete and of his chance
770    Is most in Burgoigne and in France. 
771    Next to Mercurie, as wol befalle,
772    Stant that Planete which men calle  
773    Venus, whos constellacion  
774    Governeth al the nacion 
775    Of lovers, wher thei spiede or non, 
776    Of whiche I trowe thou be on: 
777    Bot whiderward thin happes wende,
778    Schal this planete schewe at ende,  
779    As it hath do to many mo,  
780    To some wel, to some wo.
781    And natheles of this Planete  
782    The moste part is softe and swete;  
783    For who that therof takth his berthe,  
784    He schal desire joie and merthe, 
785    Gentil, courteis and debonaire,  
786    To speke his wordes softe and faire,
787    Such schal he be be weie of kinde,  
788    And overal wher he may finde  
789    Plesance of love, his herte boweth  
790    With al his myht and there he woweth.  
791    He is so ferforth Amourous,
792    He not what thing is vicious  
793    Touchende love, for that lawe 
794    Ther mai no maner man withdrawe, 
795    The which venerien is bore 
796    Be weie of kinde, and therefore  
797    Venus of love the goddesse 
798    Is cleped: bot of wantounesse  
799    The climat of hir lecherie 
800    Is most commun in Lombardie.  
801    Next unto this Planete of love
802    The brighte Sonne stant above,
803    Which is the hindrere of the nyht
804    And forthrere of the daies lyht, 
805    As he which is the worldes ije,  
806    Thurgh whom the lusti compaignie 
807    Of foules be the morwe singe, 
808    The freisshe floures sprede and springe,  
809    The hihe tre the ground beschadeth, 
810    And every mannes herte gladeth.  
811    And for it is the hed Planete,
812    Hou that he sitteth in his sete, 
813    Of what richesse, of what nobleie,  
814    These bokes telle, and thus thei seie. 
815    Of gold glistrende Spoke and whiel  
816    The Sonne his carte hath faire and wiel,  
817    In which he sitt, and is coroned 
818    With brighte stones environed;
819    Of whiche if that I speke schal, 
820    Ther be tofore in special  
821    Set in the front of his corone
822    Thre Stones, whiche no persone
823    Hath upon Erthe, and the ferste is  
824    Be name cleped Licuchis;
825    That othre tuo be cleped thus,
826    Astrices and Ceramius.  
827    In his corone also behinde,
828    Be olde bokes as I finde,  
829    Ther ben of worthi Stones thre
830    Set ech of hem in his degre:  
831    Wherof a Cristall is that on, 
832    Which that corone is set upon;
833    The seconde is an Adamant; 
834    The thridde is noble and avenant,
835    Which cleped is Ydriades.  
836    And over this yit natheles 
837    Upon the sydes of the werk, 
838    After the wrytinge of the clerk, 
839    Ther sitten fyve Stones mo:
840    The smaragdine is on of tho,  
841    Jaspis and Elitropius
842    And Dendides and Jacinctus.
843    Lo, thus the corone is beset, 
844    Wherof it schyneth wel the bet;  
845    And in such wise his liht to sprede 
846    Sit with his Diademe on hede  
847    The Sonne schynende in his carte.
848    And forto lede him swithe and smarte
849    After the bryhte daies lawe,  
850    Ther ben ordeined forto drawe 
851    Foure hors his Char and him withal, 
852    Wherof the names telle I schal:  
853    Erithes the ferste is hote, 
854    The which is red and schyneth hote, 
855    The seconde Acteos the bryhte,
856    Lampes the thridde coursier hihte,  
857    And Philoges is the ferthe, 
858    That bringen lyht unto this erthe,  
859    And gon so swift upon the hevene,
860    In foure and twenty houres evene 
861    The carte with the bryhte Sonne  
862    Thei drawe, so that overronne 
863    Thei have under the cercles hihe 
864    Al Middelerthe in such an hye.
865    And thus the Sonne is overal  
866    The chief Planete imperial,
867    Above him and benethe him thre:  
868    And thus betwen hem regneth he,  
869    As he that hath the middel place 
870    Among the Sevene, and of his face
871    Be glade alle erthly creatures,  
872    And taken after the natures
873    Here ese and recreacion.
874    And in his constellacion
875    Who that is bore in special,  
876    Of good will and of liberal
877    He schal be founde in alle place, 
878    And also stonde in mochel grace  
879    Toward the lordes forto serve 
880    And gret profit and thonk deserve.  
881    And over that it causeth yit  
882    A man to be soubtil of wit 
883    To worche in gold, and to be wys 
884    In every thing which is of pris. 
885    Bot forto speken in what cost 
886    Of al this erthe he regneth most 
887    As for wisdom, it is in Grece,
888    Wher is apropred thilke spiece.  
889    Mars the Planete bataillous
890    Next to the Sonne glorious 
891    Above stant, and doth mervailes  
892    Upon the fortune of batailes. 
893    The conquerours be daies olde 
894    Were unto this planete holde: 
895    Bot who that his nativite  
896    Hath take upon the proprete
897    Of Martes disposicioun  
898    Be weie of constellacioun, 
899    He schal be fiers and folhastif  
900    And desirous of werre and strif. 
901    Bot forto telle redely  
902    In what climat most comunly
903    That this planete hath his effect,  
904    Seid is that he hath his aspect  
905    Upon the holi lond so cast,
906    That there is no pes stedefast.  
907    Above Mars upon the hevene,
908    The sexte Planete of the sevene, 
909    Stant Jupiter the delicat, 
910    Which causeth pes and no debat.  
911    For he is cleped that Planete 
912    Which of his kinde softe and swete  
913    Attempreth al that to him longeth;  
914    And whom this planete underfongeth  
915    To stonde upon his regiment,  
916    He schal be meke and pacient
917    And fortunat to Marchandie 
918    And lusti to delicacie  
919    In every thing which he schal do.
920    This Jupiter is cause also 
921    Of the science of lyhte werkes,  
922    And in this wise tellen clerkes  
923    He is the Planete of delices. 
924    Bot in Egipte of his offices  
925    He regneth most in special:
926    For ther be lustes overal  
927    Of al that to this lif befalleth;
928    For ther no stormy weder falleth,
929    Which myhte grieve man or beste, 
930    And ek the lond is so honeste 
931    That it is plentevous and plein, 
932    Ther is non ydel ground in vein; 
933    And upon such felicite  
934    Stant Jupiter in his degre.
935    The heyeste and aboven alle
936    Stant that planete which men calle  
937    Saturnus, whos complexion  
938    Is cold, and his condicion 
939    Causeth malice and crualte 
940    To him the whos nativite
941    Is set under his governance.  
942    For alle hise werkes ben grevance
943    And enemy to mannes hele,  
944    In what degre that he schal dele.
945    His climat is in Orient,
946    Wher that he is most violent. 
947    Of the Planetes by and by, 
948    Hou that thei stonde upon the Sky,  
949    Fro point to point as thou myht hiere, 
950    Was Alisandre mad to liere.
951    Bot overthis touchende his lore, 
952    Of thing that thei him tawhte more  
953    Upon the scoles of clergie 
954    Now herkne the Philosophie. 
955    He which departeth dai fro nyht, 
956    That on derk and that other lyht,
957    Of sevene daies made a weke,  
958    A Monthe of foure wekes eke
959    He hath ordeigned in his lawe,
960    Of Monthes tuelve and ek forthdrawe 
961    He hath also the longe yeer.  
962    And as he sette of his pouer  
963    Acordant to the daies sevene  
964    Planetes Sevene upon the hevene, 
965    As thou tofore hast herd devise, 
966    To speke riht in such a wise, 
967    To every Monthe be himselve
968    Upon the hevene of Signes tuelve 
969    He hath after his Ordinal  
970    Assigned on in special, 
971    Wherof, so as I schal rehersen,  
972    The tydes of the yer diversen.
973    Bot pleinly forto make it knowe  
974    Hou that the Signes sitte arowe, 
975    Ech after other be degre
976    In substance and in proprete  
977    The zodiaque comprehendeth 
978    Withinne his cercle, as it appendeth.  
979    The ferste of whiche natheles 
980    Be name is cleped Aries,
981    Which lich a wether of stature
982    Resembled is in his figure.
983    And as it seith in Almageste, 
984    Of Sterres tuelve upon this beste
985    Ben set, wherof in his degre  
986    The wombe hath tuo, the heved hath thre,  
987    The Tail hath sevene, and in this wise,
988    As thou myht hiere me divise, 
989    Stant Aries, which hot and drye  
990    Is of himself, and in partie
991    He is the receipte and the hous  
992    Of myhty Mars the bataillous. 
993    And overmore ek, as I finde,  
994    The creatour of alle kinde 
995    Upon this Signe ferst began
996    The world, whan that he made man.
997    And of this constellacioun 
998    The verray operacioun
999    Availeth, if a man therinne
1000   The pourpos of his werk beginne; 
1001   For thanne he hath of proprete
1002   Good sped and gret felicite.  
1003   The tuelve Monthes of the yeer
1004   Attitled under the pouer
1005   Of these tuelve Signes stonde;
1006   Wherof that thou schalt understonde 
1007   This Aries on of the tuelve
1008   Hath March attitled for himselve,
1009   Whan every bridd schal chese his make, 
1010   And every neddre and every Snake 
1011   And every Reptil which mai moeve,
1012   His myht assaieth forto proeve,  
1013   To crepen out ayein the Sonne,
1014   Whan Ver his Seson hath begonne. 
1015   Taurus the seconde after this 
1016   Of Signes, which figured is
1017   Unto a Bole, is dreie and cold;  
1018   And as it is in bokes told,
1019   He is the hous appourtienant  
1020   To Venus, somdiel descordant. 
1021   This Bole is ek with sterres set,
1022   Thurgh whiche he hath hise hornes knet 
1023   Unto the tail of Aries, 
1024   So is he noght ther sterreles.
1025   Upon his brest ek eyhtetiene  
1026   He hath, and ek, as it is sene,  
1027   Upon his tail stonde othre tuo.
1028   His Monthe assigned ek also
1029   Is Averil, which of his schoures 
1030   Ministreth weie unto the floures.
1031   The thridde signe is Gemini,  
1032   Which is figured redely 
1033   Lich to tuo twinnes of mankinde, 
1034   That naked stonde; and as I finde,  
1035   Thei be with Sterres wel bego:
1036   The heved hath part of thilke tuo
1037   That schyne upon the boles tail, 
1038   So be thei bothe of o parail; 
1039   But on the wombe of Gemini 
1040   Ben fyve sterres noght forthi,
1041   And ek upon the feet be tweie,
1042   So as these olde bokes seie,  
1043   That wise Tholomes wrot. 
1044   His propre Monthe wel I wot
1045   Assigned is the lusti Maii,
1046   Whanne every brid upon his lay
1047   Among the griene leves singeth,  
1048   And love of his pointure stingeth
1049   After the lawes of nature  
1050   The youthe of every creature. 
1051   Cancer after the reule and space 
1052   Of Signes halt the ferthe place. 
1053   Like to the crabbe he hath semblance,  
1054   And hath unto his retienance  
1055   Sextiene sterres, wherof ten, 
1056   So as these olde wise men  
1057   Descrive, he berth on him tofore,
1058   And in the middel tuo be bore,
1059   And foure he hath upon his ende. 
1060   Thus goth he sterred in his kende,  
1061   And of himself is moiste and cold,  
1062   And is the propre hous and hold  
1063   Which appartieneth to the Mone,
1064   And doth what longeth him to done.  
1065   The Monthe of Juin unto this Signe  
1066   Thou schalt after the reule assigne.
1067   The fifte Signe is Leo hote,  
1068   Whos kinde is schape dreie and hote,
1069   In whom the Sonne hath herbergage.  
1070   And the semblance of his ymage
1071   Is a leoun, which in baillie  
1072   Of sterres hath his pourpartie:  
1073   The foure, which as Cancer hath  
1074   Upon his ende, Leo tath 
1075   Upon his heved, and thanne nest  
1076   He hath ek foure upon his brest, 
1077   And on upon his tail behinde, 
1078   In olde bokes as we finde. 
1079   His propre Monthe is Juyl be name,  
1080   In which men pleien many a game. 
1081   After Leo Virgo the nexte  
1082   Of Signes cleped is the sexte,
1083   Wherof the figure is a Maide; 
1084   And as the Philosophre saide, 
1085   Sche is the welthe and the risinge, 
1086   The lust, the joie and the likinge  
1087   Unto Mercurie: and soth to seie  
1088   Sche is with sterres wel beseie, 
1089   Wherof Leo hath lent hire on, 
1090   Which sit on hih hir heved upon, 
1091   Hire wombe hath fyve, hir feet also 
1092   Have other fyve: and overmo
1093   Touchende as of complexion,
1094   Be kindly disposicion
1095   Of dreie and cold this Maiden is.
1096   And forto tellen over this 
1097   Hir Monthe, thou schalt understonde,
1098   Whan every feld hath corn in honde  
1099   And many a man his bak hath plied,
1100   Unto this Signe is Augst applied.
1101   After Virgo to reknen evene
1102   Libra sit in the nombre of sevene,  
1103   Which hath figure and resemblance
1104   Unto a man which a balance 
1105   Berth in his hond as forto weie: 
1106   In boke and as it mai be seie,
1107   Diverse sterres to him longeth,  
1108   Wherof on hevede he underfongeth 
1109   Ferst thre, and ek his wombe hath tuo, 
1110   And doun benethe eighte othre mo.
1111   This Signe is hot and moiste bothe, 
1112   The whiche thinges be noght lothe
1113   Unto Venus, so that alofte 
1114   Sche resteth in his hous fulofte,
1115   And ek Saturnus often hyed 
1116   Is in this Signe and magnefied.  
1117   His propre Monthe is seid Septembre,
1118   Which yifth men cause to remembre,  
1119   If eny Sor be left behinde 
1120   Of thing which grieve mai to kinde. 
1121   Among the Signes upon heighte 
1122   The Signe which is nombred eighte
1123   Is Scorpio, which as feloun
1124   Figured is a Scorpioun. 
1125   Bot for al that yit natheles  
1126   Is Scorpio noght sterreles;
1127   For Libra granteth him his ende  
1128   Of eighte sterres, wher he wende,
1129   The whiche upon his heved assised
1130   He berth, and ek ther ben divised
1131   Upon his wombe sterres thre,  
1132   And eighte upon his tail hath he.
1133   Which of his kinde is moiste and cold  
1134   And unbehovely manyfold;
1135   He harmeth Venus and empeireth,  
1136   Bot Mars unto his hous repeireth,
1137   Bot war whan thei togedre duellen.
1138   His propre Monthe is, as men tellen,
1139   Octobre, which bringth the kalende  
1140   Of wynter, that comth next suiende. 
1141   The nynthe Signe in nombre also, 
1142   Which folweth after Scorpio,  
1143   Is cleped Sagittarius,  
1144   The whos figure is marked thus,  
1145   A Monstre with a bowe on honde:  
1146   On whom that sondri sterres stonde, 
1147   Thilke eighte of whiche I spak tofore, 
1148   The whiche upon the tail ben bore
1149   Of Scorpio, the heved al faire
1150   Bespreden of the Sagittaire;  
1151   And eighte of othre stonden evene
1152   Upon his wombe, and othre sevene 
1153   Ther stonde upon his tail behinde.  
1154   And he is hot and dreie of kinde:
1155   To Jupiter his hous is fre,
1156   Bot to Mercurie in his degre, 
1157   For thei ben noght of on assent, 
1158   He worcheth gret empeirement. 
1159   This Signe hath of his proprete  
1160   A Monthe, which of duete
1161   After the sesoun that befalleth  
1162   The Plowed Oxe in wynter stalleth;  
1163   And fyr into the halle he bringeth, 
1164   And thilke drinke of which men singeth,
1165   He torneth must into the wyn; 
1166   Thanne is the larder of the swyn;
1167   That is Novembre which I meene,  
1168   Whan that the lef hath lost his greene.
1169   The tenthe Signe dreie and cold, 
1170   The which is Capricornus told,
1171   Unto a Got hath resemblance:  
1172   For whos love and whos aqueintance  
1173   Withinne hise houses to sojorne  
1174   It liketh wel unto Satorne,
1175   Bot to the Mone it liketh noght,  
1176   For no profit is there wroght.
1177   This Signe as of his proprete 
1178   Upon his heved hath sterres thre,
1179   And ek upon his wombe tuo, 
1180   And tweie upon his tail also. 
1181   Decembre after the yeeres forme, 
1182   So as the bokes ous enforme,  
1183   With daies schorte and nyhtes longe 
1184   This ilke Signe hath underfonge. 
1185   Of tho that sitte upon the hevene
1186   Of Signes in the nombre ellevene 
1187   Aquarius hath take his place, 
1188   And stant wel in Satornes grace, 
1189   Which duelleth in his herbergage,
1190   Bot to the Sonne he doth oultrage.  
1191   This Signe is verraily resembled 
1192   Lich to a man which halt assembled  
1193   In eyther hand a water spoute,
1194   Wherof the stremes rennen oute.  
1195   He is of kinde moiste and hot,
1196   And he that of the sterres wot
1197   Seith that he hath of sterres tuo
1198   Upon his heved, and ben of tho
1199   That Capricorn hath on his ende; 
1200   And as the bokes maken mende, 
1201   That Tholomes made himselve,
1202   He hath ek on his wombe tuelve,  
1203   And tweie upon his ende stonde.  
1204   Thou schalt also this understonde,  
1205   The frosti colde Janever,  
1206   Whan comen is the newe yeer,  
1207   That Janus with his double face  
1208   In his chaiere hath take his place  
1209   And loketh upon bothe sides,  
1210   Somdiel toward the wynter tydes, 
1211   Somdiel toward the yeer suiende, 
1212   That is the Monthe belongende 
1213   Unto this Signe, and of his dole  
1214   He yifth the ferste Primerole.
1215   The tuelfthe, which is last of alle 
1216   Of Signes, Piscis men it calle,  
1217   The which, as telleth the scripture,
1218   Berth of tuo fisshes the figure. 
1219   So is he cold and moiste of kinde,  
1220   And ek with sterres, as I finde, 
1221   Beset in sondri wise, as thus:
1222   Tuo of his ende Aquarius
1223   Hath lent unto his heved, and tuo
1224   This Signe hath of his oghne also
1225   Upon his wombe, and over this 
1226   Upon his ende also ther is 
1227   A nombre of twenty sterres bryghte, 
1228   Which is to sen a wonder sighte. 
1229   Toward this Signe into his hous  
1230   Comth Jupiter the glorious,
1231   And Venus ek with him acordeth
1232   To duellen, as the bok recordeth.
1233   The Monthe unto this Signe ordeined 
1234   Is Februer, which is bereined,
1235   And with londflodes in his rage  
1236   At Fordes letteth the passage.
1237   Nou hast thou herd the proprete  
1238   Of Signes, bot in his degre
1239   Albumazar yit over this 
1240   Seith, so as therthe parted is
1241   In foure, riht so ben divised 
1242   The Signes tuelve and stonde assised,  
1243   That ech of hem for his partie
1244   Hath his climat to justefie.  
1245   Wherof the ferste regiment 
1246   Toward the part of Orient  
1247   From Antioche and that contre 
1248   Governed is of Signes thre,
1249   That is Cancer, Virgo, Leo:
1250   And toward Occident also
1251   From Armenie, as I am lerned,  
1252   Of Capricorn it stant governed,  
1253   Of Pisces and Aquarius: 
1254   And after hem I finde thus,
1255   Southward from Alisandre forth
1256   Tho Signes whiche most ben worth 
1257   In governance of that doaire, 
1258   Libra thei ben and Sagittaire 
1259   With Scorpio, which is conjoint  
1260   With hem to stonde upon that point: 
1261   Constantinople the Cite,
1262   So as the bokes tellen me, 
1263   The laste of this division 
1264   Stant untoward Septemtrion,
1265   Wher as be weie of pourveance 
1266   Hath Aries the governance  
1267   Forth with Taurus and Gemini. 
1268   Thus ben the Signes propreli  
1269   Divided, as it is reherced,
1270   Wherof the londes ben diversed.  
1271   Lo thus, mi Sone, as thou myht hiere,  
1272   Was Alisandre mad to liere 
1273   Of hem that weren for his lore.  
1274   But nou to loken overmore, 
1275   Of othre sterres hou thei fare
1276   I thenke hierafter to declare,
1277   So as king Alisandre in youthe
1278   Of him that suche thinges couthe 
1279   Enformed was tofore his yhe
1280   Be nyhte upon the sterres hihe.  
1281   Upon sondri creacion 
1282   Stant sondri operacion, 
1283   Som worcheth this, som worcheth that;  
1284   The fyr is hot in his astat
1285   And brenneth what he mai atteigne,  
1286   The water mai the fyr restreigne,
1287   The which is cold and moist also.
1288   Of other thing it farth riht so
1289   Upon this erthe among ous here;  
1290   And forto speke in this manere,  
1291   Upon the hevene, as men mai finde,  
1292   The sterres ben of sondri kinde  
1293   And worchen manye sondri thinges 
1294   To ous, that ben here underlinges.  
1295   Among the whiche forth withal 
1296   Nectanabus in special,  
1297   Which was an Astronomien
1298   And ek a gret Magicien, 
1299   And undertake hath thilke emprise
1300   To Alisandre in his aprise 
1301   As of Magique naturel
1302   To knowe, enformeth him somdel
1303   Of certein sterres what thei mene;  
1304   Of whiche, he seith, ther ben fiftene, 
1305   And sondrily to everich on 
1306   A gras belongeth and a Ston,  
1307   Wherof men worchen many a wonder 
1308   To sette thing bothe up and under.  
1309   To telle riht as he began, 
1310   The ferste sterre Aldeboran,  
1311   The cliereste and the moste of alle,
1312   Be rihte name men it calle;
1313   Which lich is of condicion 
1314   To Mars, and of complexion 
1315   To Venus, and hath therupon
1316   Carbunculum his propre Ston:  
1317   His herbe is Anabulla named,  
1318   Which is of gret vertu proclamed.
1319   The seconde is noght vertules;
1320   Clota or elles Pliades  
1321   It hatte, and of the mones kinde 
1322   He is, and also this I finde, 
1323   He takth of Mars complexion:  
1324   And lich to such condicion 
1325   His Ston appropred is Cristall,  
1326   And ek his herbe in special
1327   The vertuous Fenele it is.  
1328   The thridde, which comth after this,
1329   Is hote Algol the clere rede, 
1330   Which of Satorne, as I may rede, 
1331   His kinde takth, and ek of Jove  
1332   Complexion to his behove.  
1333   His propre Ston is Dyamant,
1334   Which is to him most acordant;
1335   His herbe, which is him betake,  
1336   Is hote Eleborum the blake.
1337   So as it falleth upon lot, 
1338   The ferthe sterre is Alhaiot, 
1339   Which in the wise as I seide er  
1340   Of Satorne and of Jupiter  
1341   Hath take his kinde; and therupon
1342   The Saphir is his propre Ston,
1343   Marrubium his herbe also,  
1344   The whiche acorden bothe tuo. 
1345   And Canis maior in his like
1346   The fifte sterre is of Magique,  
1347   The whos kinde is venerien,
1348   As seith this Astronomien. 
1349   His propre Ston is seid Berille, 
1350   Bot forto worche and to fulfille 
1351   Thing which to this science falleth,
1352   Ther is an herbe which men calleth  
1353   Saveine, and that behoveth nede  
1354   To him that wole his pourpos spede. 
1355   The sexte suiende after this  
1356   Be name Canis minor is; 
1357   The which sterre is Mercurial 
1358   Be weie of kinde, and forth withal, 
1359   As it is writen in the carte, 
1360   Complexion he takth of Marte. 
1361   His Ston and herbe, as seith the Scole,
1362   Ben Achates and Primerole. 
1363   The sefnthe sterre in special 
1364   Of this science is Arial,  
1365   Which sondri nature underfongeth. 
1366   The Ston which propre unto him longeth,
1367   Gorgonza proprely it hihte:
1368   His herbe also, which he schal rihte
1369   Upon the worchinge as I mene, 
1370   Is Celidoine freissh and grene.  
1371   Sterre Ala Corvi upon heihte  
1372   Hath take his place in nombre of eighte,  
1373   Which of his kinde mot parforne  
1374   The will of Marte and of Satorne:
1375   To whom Lapacia the grete  
1376   Is herbe, bot of no beyete;
1377   His Ston is Honochinus hote,  
1378   Thurgh which men worchen gret riote.
1379   The nynthe sterre faire and wel  
1380   Be name is hote Alaezel,
1381   Which takth his propre kinde thus
1382   Bothe of Mercurie and of Venus.  
1383   His Ston is the grene Amyraude,  
1384   To whom is yoven many a laude:
1385   Salge is his herbe appourtenant  
1386   Aboven al the rememant. 
1387   The tenthe sterre is Almareth,
1388   Which upon lif and upon deth  
1389   Thurgh kinde of Jupiter and Mart 
1390   He doth what longeth to his part.
1391   His Ston is Jaspe, and of Planteine 
1392   He hath his herbe sovereine.  
1393   The sterre ellefthe is Venenas,  
1394   The whos nature is as it was  
1395   Take of Venus and of the Mone,
1396   In thing which he hath forto done.  
1397   Of Adamant is that perrie  
1398   In which he worcheth his maistrie;  
1399   Thilke herbe also which him befalleth, 
1400   Cicorea the bok it calleth.
1401   Alpheta in the nombre sit, 
1402   And is the twelfthe sterre yit;
1403   Of Scorpio which is governed, 
1404   And takth his kinde, as I am lerned;
1405   And hath his vertu in the Ston
1406   Which cleped is Topazion:  
1407   His herbe propre is Rosmarine,
1408   Which schapen is for his covine. 
1409   Of these sterres, whiche I mene, 
1410   Cor Scorpionis is thritiene;  
1411   The whos nature Mart and Jove 
1412   Have yoven unto his behove.
1413   His herbe is Aristologie,  
1414   Which folweth his Astronomie: 
1415   The Ston which that this sterre alloweth, 
1416   Is Sardis, which unto him boweth.
1417   The sterre which stant next the laste, 
1418   Nature on him this name caste 
1419   And clepeth him Botercadent;  
1420   Which of his kinde obedient
1421   Is to Mercurie and to Venus.  
1422   His Ston is seid Crisolitus,  
1423   His herbe is cleped Satureie, 
1424   So as these olde bokes seie.  
1425   Bot nou the laste sterre of alle 
1426   The tail of Scorpio men calle,
1427   Which to Mercurie and to Satorne 
1428   Be weie of kinde mot retorne  
1429   After the preparacion
1430   Of due constellacion.
1431   The Calcedoine unto him longeth, 
1432   Which for his Ston he underfongeth; 
1433   Of Majorane his herbe is grounded.  
1434   Thus have I seid hou thei be founded,  
1435   Of every sterre in special,
1436   Which hath his herbe and Ston withal,  
1437   As Hermes in his bokes olde
1438   Witnesse berth of that I tolde.
1439   The science of Astronomie, 
1440   Which principal is of clergie 
1441   To dieme betwen wo and wel 
1442   In thinges that be naturel,
1443   Thei hadde a gret travail on honde  
1444   That made it ferst ben understonde; 
1445   And thei also which overmore  
1446   Here studie sette upon this lore,
1447   Thei weren gracious and wys
1448   And worthi forto bere a pris. 
1449   And whom it liketh forto wite 
1450   Of hem that this science write,  
1451   On of the ferste which it wrot
1452   After Noe5, it was Nembrot,
1453   To his disciple Ychonithon 
1454   And made a bok forth therupon 
1455   The which Megaster cleped was.
1456   An other Auctor in this cas
1457   Is Arachel, the which men note;  
1458   His bok is Abbategnyh hote.
1459   Danz Tholome is noght the leste, 
1460   Which makth the bok of Almageste;
1461   And Alfraganus doth the same, 
1462   Whos bok is Chatemuz be name. 
1463   Gebuz and Alpetragus eke
1464   Of Planisperie, which men seke,  
1465   The bokes made: and over this 
1466   Ful many a worthi clerc ther is, 
1467   That writen upon this clergie 
1468   The bokes of Altemetrie,
1469   Planemetrie and ek also,
1470   Whiche as belongen bothe tuo, 
1471   So as thei ben naturiens,  
1472   Unto these Astronomiens.
1473   Men sein that Habraham was on;
1474   Bot whether that he wrot or non, 
1475   That finde I noght; and Moi5ses  
1476   Ek was an other: bot Hermes 
1477   Above alle othre in this science 
1478   He hadde a gret experience;
1479   Thurgh him was many a sterre assised,  
1480   Whos bokes yit ben auctorized.
1481   I mai noght knowen alle tho
1482   That writen in the time tho
1483   Of this science; bot I finde, 
1484   Of jugement be weie of kinde  
1485   That in o point thei alle acorden:  
1486   Of sterres whiche thei recorden  
1487   That men mai sen upon the hevene,
1488   Ther ben a thousend sterres evene
1489   And tuo and twenty, to the syhte 
1490   Whiche aren of hemself so bryhte,
1491   That men mai dieme what thei be, 
1492   The nature and the proprete.  
1493   Nou hast thou herd, in which a wise 
1494   These noble Philosophres wise 
1495   Enformeden this yonge king,
1496   And made him have a knowleching  
1497   Of thing which ferst to the partie  
1498   Belongeth of Philosophie,  
1499   Which Theorique cleped is, 
1500   As thou tofore hast herd er this.
1501   Bot nou to speke of the secounde,
1502   Which Aristotle hath also founde,
1503   And techeth hou to speke faire,  
1504   Which is a thing full necessaire 
1505   To contrepeise the balance,
1506   Wher lacketh other sufficance.
1507   Above alle erthli creatures
1508   The hihe makere of natures  
1509   The word to man hath yove alone, 
1510   So that the speche of his persone,  
1511   Or forto lese or forto winne, 
1512   The hertes thoght which is withinne 
1513   Mai schewe, what it wolde mene;  
1514   And that is noghwhere elles sene 
1515   Of kinde with non other beste.
1516   So scholde he be the more honeste,  
1517   To whom god yaf so gret a yifte, 
1518   And loke wel that he ne schifte  
1519   Hise wordes to no wicked us;  
1520   For word the techer of vertus 
1521   Is cleped in Philosophie.  
1522   Wherof touchende this partie, 
1523   Is Rethorique the science  
1524   Appropred to the reverence 
1525   Of wordes that ben resonable: 
1526   And for this art schal be vailable  
1527   With goodli wordes forto like,
1528   It hath Gramaire, it hath Logiqe,
1529   That serven bothe unto the speche.  
1530   Gramaire ferste hath forto teche 
1531   To speke upon congruite:
1532   Logique hath eke in his degre 
1533   Betwen the trouthe and the falshode 
1534   The pleine wordes forto schode,  
1535   So that nothing schal go beside, 
1536   That he the riht ne schal decide.
1537   Wherof full many a gret debat 
1538   Reformed is to good astat, 
1539   And pes sustiened up alofte
1540   With esy wordes and with softe,  
1541   Wher strengthe scholde lete it falle.  
1542   The Philosophre amonges alle  
1543   Forthi commendeth this science,  
1544   Which hath the reule of eloquence.  
1545   In Ston and gras vertu ther is,  
1546   Bot yit the bokes tellen this, 
1547   That word above alle erthli thinges 
1548   Is vertuous in his doinges,
1549   Wher so it be to evele or goode. 
1550   For if the wordes semen goode 
1551   And ben wel spoke at mannes Ere, 
1552   Whan that ther is no trouthe there, 
1553   Thei don fulofte gret deceipte;  
1554   For whan the word to the conceipte  
1555   Descordeth in so double a wise,  
1556   Such Rethorique is to despise 
1557   In every place, and forto drede. 
1558   For of Uluxes thus I rede, 
1559   As in the bok of Troie is founde,
1560   His eloquence and his facounde
1561   Of goodly wordes whiche he tolde,
1562   Hath mad that Anthenor him solde 
1563   The toun, which he with tresoun wan.
1564   Word hath beguiled many a man;
1565   With word the wilde beste is daunted,  
1566   With word the Serpent is enchaunted,
1567   Of word among the men of Armes
1568   Ben woundes heeled with the charmes,
1569   Wher lacketh other medicine;  
1570   Word hath under his discipline
1571   Of Sorcerie the karectes.  
1572   The wordes ben of sondri sectes, 
1573   Of evele and eke of goode also;  
1574   The wordes maken frend of fo, 
1575   And fo of frend, and pes of werre,  
1576   And werre of pes, and out of herre  
1577   The word this worldes cause entriketh, 
1578   And reconsileth whan him liketh. 
1579   The word under the coupe of hevene  
1580   Set every thing or odde or evene;
1581   With word the hihe god is plesed,
1582   With word the wordes ben appesed,
1583   The softe word the loude stilleth;  
1584   Wher lacketh good, the word fulfilleth,
1585   To make amendes for the wrong; 
1586   Whan wordes medlen with the song,
1587   It doth plesance wel the more.
1588   Bot forto loke upon the lore  
1589   Hou Tullius his Rethorique 
1590   Componeth, ther a man mai pike
1591   Hou that he schal hise wordes sette,
1592   Hou he schal lose, hou he schal knette,
1593   And in what wise he schal pronounce 
1594   His tale plein withoute frounce. 
1595   Wherof ensample if thou wolt seche, 
1596   Tak hiede and red whilom the speche 
1597   Of Julius and Cithero,  
1598   Which consul was of Rome tho, 
1599   Of Catoun eke and of Cillene, 
1600   Behold the wordes hem betwene,
1601   Whan the tresoun of Cateline  
1602   Descoevered was, and the covine  
1603   Of hem that were of his assent
1604   Was knowe and spoke in parlement,
1605   And axed hou and in what wise 
1606   Men scholde don hem to juise. 
1607   Cillenus ferst his tale tolde,
1608   To trouthe and as he was beholde,
1609   The comun profit forto save,  
1610   He seide hou tresoun scholde have
1611   A cruel deth; and thus thei spieke, 
1612   The Consul bothe and Catoun eke, 
1613   And seiden that for such a wrong 
1614   Ther mai no peine be to strong.  
1615   Bot Julius with wordes wise
1616   His tale tolde al otherwise,  
1617   As he which wolde her deth respite, 
1618   And fondeth hou he mihte excite  
1619   The jugges thurgh his eloquence  
1620   Fro deth to torne the sentence
1621   And sette here hertes to pite.
1622   Nou tolden thei, nou tolde he; 
1623   Thei spieken plein after the lawe,  
1624   Bot he the wordes of his sawe 
1625   Coloureth in an other weie 
1626   Spekende, and thus betwen the tweie,
1627   To trete upon this juggement, 
1628   Made ech of hem his Argument. 
1629   Wherof the tales forto hiere, 
1630   Ther mai a man the Scole liere
1631   Of Rethoriqes eloquences,  
1632   Which is the secounde of sciences
1633   Touchende to Philosophie;  
1634   Wherof a man schal justifie
1635   Hise wordes in disputeisoun,  
1636   And knette upon conclusioun
1637   His Argument in such a forme, 
1638   Which mai the pleine trouthe enforme
1639   And the soubtil cautele abate,
1640   Which every trewman schal debate.
1641   The ferste, which is Theorique,  
1642   And the secounde Rethorique,  
1643   Sciences of Philosophie,
1644   I have hem told as in partie, 
1645   So as the Philosophre it tolde
1646   To Alisandre: and nou I wolde 
1647   Telle of the thridde what it is, 
1648   The which Practique cleped is.
1649   Practique stant upon thre thinges
1650   Toward the governance of kinges; 
1651   Wherof the ferst Etique is named,
1652   The whos science stant proclamed 
1653   To teche of vertu thilke reule,
1654   Hou that a king himself schal reule 
1655   Of his moral condicion  
1656   With worthi disposicion 
1657   Of good livinge in his persone,  
1658   Which is the chief of his corone.
1659   It makth a king also to lerne 
1660   Hou he his bodi schal governe,
1661   Hou he schal wake, hou he schal slepe, 
1662   Hou that he schal his hele kepe  
1663   In mete, in drinke, in clothinge eke:  
1664   Ther is no wisdom forto seke  
1665   As for the reule of his persone, 
1666   The which that this science al one  
1667   Ne techeth as be weie of kinde,  
1668   That ther is nothing left behinde.  
1669   That other point which to Practique 
1670   Belongeth is Iconomique,
1671   Which techeth thilke honestete
1672   Thurgh which a king in his degre 
1673   His wif and child schal reule and guie,
1674   So forth with al the companie 
1675   Which in his houshold schal abyde,  
1676   And his astat on every syde
1677   In such manere forto lede, 
1678   That he his houshold ne mislede. 
1679   Practique hath yit the thridde aprise, 
1680   Which techeth hou and in what wise  
1681   Thurgh hih pourveied ordinance
1682   A king schal sette in governance 
1683   His Realme, and that is Policie, 
1684   Which longeth unto Regalie 
1685   In time of werre, in time of pes,
1686   To worschipe and to good encress 
1687   Of clerk, of kniht and of Marchant, 
1688   And so forth of the remenant  
1689   Of al the comun poeple aboute,
1690   Withinne Burgh and ek withoute,
1691   Of hem that ben Artificiers,  
1692   Whiche usen craftes and mestiers,
1693   Whos Art is cleped Mechanique.
1694   And though thei ben noght alle like,
1695   Yit natheles, hou so it falle,
1696   O lawe mot governe hem alle,  
1697   Or that thei lese or that thei winne,  
1698   After thastat that thei ben inne.
1699   Lo, thus this worthi yonge king  
1700   Was fulli tauht of every thing,  
1701   Which mihte yive entendement  
1702   Of good reule and good regiment  
1703   To such a worthi Prince as he.
1704   Bot of verray necessite 
1705   The Philosophre him hath betake  
1706   Fyf pointz, whiche he hath undertake
1707   To kepe and holde in observance, 
1708   As for the worthi governance  
1709   Which longeth to his Regalie, 
1710   After the reule of Policie.
1711   To every man behoveth lore,
1712   Bot to noman belongeth more
1713   Than to a king, which hath to lede  
1714   The poeple; for of his kinghede  
1715   He mai hem bothe save and spille.
1716   And for it stant upon his wille, 
1717   It sit him wel to ben avised, 
1718   And the vertus whiche are assissed  
1719   Unto a kinges Regiment, 
1720   To take in his entendement:
1721   Wherof to tellen, as thei stonde,
1722   Hierafterward nou woll I fonde.
1723   Among the vertus on is chief, 
1724   And that is trouthe, which is lief  
1725   To god and ek to man also. 
1726   And for it hath ben evere so, 
1727   Tawhte Aristotle, as he wel couthe, 
1728   To Alisandre, hou in his youthe  
1729   He scholde of trouthe thilke grace  
1730   With al his hole herte embrace,  
1731   So that his word be trewe and plein,
1732   Toward the world and so certein  
1733   That in him be no double speche: 
1734   For if men scholde trouthe seche 
1735   And founde it noght withinne a king,
1736   It were an unsittende thing.  
1737   The word is tokne of that withinne, 
1738   Ther schal a worthi king beginne 
1739   To kepe his tunge and to be trewe,  
1740   So schal his pris ben evere newe.
1741   Avise him every man tofore,
1742   And be wel war, er he be swore,  
1743   For afterward it is to late,  
1744   If that he wole his word debate. 
1745   For as a king in special
1746   Above alle othre is principal 
1747   Of his pouer, so scholde he be
1748   Most vertuous in his degre;
1749   And that mai wel be signefied 
1750   Be his corone and specified.  
1751   The gold betokneth excellence,
1752   That men schull don him reverence
1753   As to here liege soverein. 
1754   The Stones, as the bokes sein,
1755   Commended ben in treble wise: 
1756   Ferst thei ben harde, and thilke assisse  
1757   Betokneth in a king Constance,
1758   So that ther schal no variance
1759   Be founde in his condicion;
1760   And also be descripcion  
1761   The vertu which is in the stones 
1762   A verrai Signe is for the nones  
1763   Of that a king schal ben honeste 
1764   And holde trewly his beheste  
1765   Of thing which longeth to kinghede: 
1766   The bryhte colour, as I rede, 
1767   Which in the stones is schynende,
1768   Is in figure betoknende 
1769   The Cronique of this worldes fame,  
1770   Which stant upon his goode name. 
1771   The cercle which is round aboute 
1772   Is tokne of al the lond withoute,
1773   Which stant under his Gerarchie, 
1774   That he it schal wel kepe and guye. 
1775   And for that trouthe, hou so it falle, 
1776   Is the vertu soverein of alle,
1777   That longeth unto regiment,
1778   A tale, which is evident
1779   Of trouthe in comendacioun,
1780   Toward thin enformacion,
1781   Mi Sone, hierafter thou schalt hiere
1782   Of a Cronique in this matiere.
1783   As the Cronique it doth reherce, 
1784   A Soldan whilom was of Perce, 
1785   Which Daires hihte, and Ytaspis  
1786   His fader was; and soth it is 
1787   That thurgh wisdom and hih prudence 
1788   Mor than for eny reverence 
1789   Of his lignage as be descente 
1790   The regne of thilke empire he hente:
1791   And as he was himselve wys,
1792   The wisemen he hield in pris  
1793   And soghte hem oute on every side,  
1794   That toward him thei scholde abide. 
1795   Among the whiche thre ther were  
1796   That most service unto him bere,  
1797   As thei which in his chambre lyhen  
1798   And al his conseil herde and syhen. 
1799   Here names ben of strange note,  
1800   Arpaghes was the ferste hote, 
1801   And Manachaz was the secounde,
1802   Zorobabel, as it is founde 
1803   In the Cronique, was the thridde.
1804   This Soldan, what so him betidde,
1805   To hem he triste most of alle,
1806   Wherof the cas is so befalle: 
1807   This lord, which hath conceiptes depe, 
1808   Upon a nyht whan he hath slepe,  
1809   As he which hath his wit desposed,  
1810   Touchende a point hem hath opposed. 
1811   The kinges question was this; 
1812   Of thinges thre which strengest is, 
1813   The wyn, the womman or the king: 
1814   And that thei scholde upon this thing  
1815   Of here ansuere avised be, 
1816   He yaf hem fulli daies thre,  
1817   And hath behote hem be his feith 
1818   That who the beste reson seith,  
1819   He schal receive a worthi mede.  
1820   Upon this thing thei token hiede 
1821   And stoden in desputeison, 
1822   That be diverse opinion 
1823   Of Argumentz that thei have holde
1824   Arpaghes ferst his tale tolde,
1825   And seide hou that the strengthe of kinges
1826   Is myhtiest of alle thinges.  
1827   For king hath pouer over man, 
1828   And man is he which reson can,
1829   As he which is of his nature  
1830   The moste noble creature
1831   Of alle tho that god hath wroght:
1832   And be that skile it semeth noght,  
1833   He seith, that eny erthly thing
1834   Mai be so myhty as a king. 
1835   A king mai spille, a king mai save, 
1836   A king mai make of lord a knave  
1837   And of a knave a lord also:
1838   The pouer of a king stant so, 
1839   That he the lawes overpasseth;
1840   What he wol make lasse, he lasseth, 
1841   What he wol make more, he moreth;
1842   And as the gentil faucon soreth, 
1843   He fleth, that noman him reclameth; 
1844   Bot he al one alle othre tameth, 
1845   And stant himself of lawe fre.
1846   Lo, thus a kinges myht, seith he,
1847   So as his reson can argue, 
1848   Is strengest and of most value.  
1849   Bot Manachaz seide otherwise, 
1850   That wyn is of the more emprise; 
1851   And that he scheweth be this weie.  
1852   The wyn fulofte takth aweie
1853   The reson fro the mannes herte;  
1854   The wyn can make a krepel sterte,
1855   And a delivere man unwelde;
1856   It makth a blind man to behelde, 
1857   And a bryht yhed seme derk;
1858   It makth a lewed man a clerk, 
1859   And fro the clerkes the clergie  
1860   It takth aweie, and couardie  
1861   It torneth into hardiesse; 
1862   Of Avarice it makth largesse. 
1863   The wyn makth ek the goode blod, 
1864   In which the Soule which is good 
1865   Hath chosen hire a resting place,
1866   Whil that the lif hir wole embrace. 
1867   And be this skile Manachas 
1868   Ansuered hath upon this cas,  
1869   And seith that wyn be weie of kinde 
1870   Is thing which mai the hertes binde 
1871   Wel more than the regalie. 
1872   Zorobabel for his partie 
1873   Seide, as him thoghte for the beste,
1874   That wommen ben the myhtieste.
1875   The king and the vinour also  
1876   Of wommen comen bothe tuo; 
1877   And ek he seide hou that manhede 
1878   Thurgh strengthe unto the wommanhede
1879   Of love, wher he wole or non, 
1880   Obeie schal; and therupon, 
1881   To schewe of wommen the maistrie,
1882   A tale which he syh with yhe  
1883   As for ensample he tolde this,-  
1884   Hou Apemen, of Besazis  
1885   Which dowhter was, in the paleis 
1886   Sittende upon his hihe deis,  
1887   Whan he was hotest in his ire 
1888   Toward the grete of his empire,  
1889   Cirus the king tirant sche tok,  
1890   And only with hire goodly lok 
1891   Sche made him debonaire and meke,
1892   And be the chyn and be the cheke 
1893   Sche luggeth him riht as hir liste, 
1894   That nou sche japeth, nou sche kiste,  
1895   And doth with him what evere hir liketh;  
1896   Whan that sche loureth, thanne he siketh, 
1897   And whan sche gladeth, he is glad:  
1898   And thus this king was overlad
1899   With hire which his lemman was.  
1900   Among the men is no solas, 
1901   If that ther be no womman there; 
1902   For bot if that the wommen were, 
1903   This worldes joie were aweie: 
1904   Thurgh hem men finden out the weie  
1905   To knihthode and to worldes fame;
1906   Thei make a man to drede schame, 
1907   And honour forto be desired:  
1908   Thurgh the beaute of hem is fyred
1909   The Dart of which Cupide throweth,  
1910   Wherof the jolif peine groweth,
1911   Which al the world hath under fote. 
1912   A womman is the mannes bote,  
1913   His lif, his deth, his wo, his wel; 
1914   And this thing mai be schewed wel,  
1915   Hou that wommen ben goode and kinde,
1916   For in ensample this I finde. 
1917   Whan that the duk Ametus lay  
1918   Sek in his bedd, that every day  
1919   Men waiten whan he scholde deie, 
1920   Alceste his wif goth forto preie,
1921   As sche which wolde thonk deserve,  
1922   With Sacrifice unto Minerve,  
1923   To wite ansuere of the goddesse  
1924   Hou that hir lord of his seknesse,  
1925   Wherof he was so wo besein,
1926   Recovere myhte his hele ayein.
1927   Lo, thus sche cride and thus sche preide, 
1928   Til ate laste a vois hir seide,  
1929   That if sche wolde for his sake  
1930   The maladie soffre and take,  
1931   And deie hirself, he scholde live.  
1932   Of this ansuere Alceste hath yive
1933   Unto Minerve gret thonkinge,  
1934   So that hir deth and his livinge 
1935   Sche ches with al hire hole entente,
1936   And thus acorded hom sche wente. 
1937   Into the chambre and whan sche cam, 
1938   Hire housebonde anon sche nam 
1939   In bothe hire Armes and him kiste,  
1940   And spak unto him what hire liste;  
1941   And therupon withinne a throwe
1942   This goode wif was overthrowe 
1943   And deide, and he was hool in haste.
1944   So mai a man be reson taste,  
1945   Hou next after the god above  
1946   The trouthe of wommen and the love, 
1947   In whom that alle grace is founde,  
1948   Is myhtiest upon this grounde 
1949   And most behovely manyfold. 
1950   Lo, thus Zorobabel hath told  
1951   The tale of his opinion:
1952   Bot for final conclusion
1953   What strengest is of erthli thinges,
1954   The wyn, the wommen or the kinges,  
1955   He seith that trouthe above hem alle
1956   Is myhtiest, hou evere it falle. 
1957   The trouthe, hou so it evere come,  
1958   Mai for nothing ben overcome; 
1959   It mai wel soffre for a throwe,  
1960   Bot ate laste it schal be knowe. 
1961   The proverbe is, who that is trewe, 
1962   Him schal his while nevere rewe: 
1963   For hou so that the cause wende, 
1964   The trouthe is schameles ate ende,  
1965   Bot what thing that is troutheles,  
1966   It mai noght wel be schameles,
1967   And schame hindreth every wyht:  
1968   So proveth it, ther is no myht
1969   Withoute trouthe in no degre. 
1970   And thus for trouthe of his decre
1971   Zorobabel was most commended, 
1972   Wherof the question was ended,
1973   And he resceived hath his mede
1974   For trouthe, which to mannes nede
1975   Is most behoveliche overal.
1976   Forthi was trouthe in special 
1977   The ferste point in observance
1978   Betake unto the governance 
1979   Of Alisandre, as it is seid:  
1980   For therupon the ground is leid  
1981   Of every kinges regiment,  
1982   As thing which most convenient
1983   Is forto sette a king in evene
1984   Bothe in this world and ek in hevene.
1985   Next after trouthe the secounde, 
1986   In Policie as it is founde,
1987   Which serveth to the worldes fame
1988   In worschipe of a kinges name,
1989   Largesse it is, whos privilegge  
1990   Ther mai non Avarice abregge. 
1991   The worldes good was ferst comune,  
1992   Bot afterward upon fortune 
1993   Was thilke comun profit cessed:  
1994   For whan the poeple stod encresced  
1995   And the lignages woxen grete, 
1996   Anon for singulier beyete  
1997   Drouh every man to his partie;
1998   Wherof cam in the ferste envie
1999   With gret debat and werres stronge, 
2000   And laste among the men so longe,
2001   Til noman wiste who was who,  
2002   Ne which was frend ne which was fo. 
2003   Til ate laste in every lond
2004   Withinne hemself the poeple fond 
2005   That it was good to make a king, 
2006   Which mihte appesen al this thing
2007   And yive riht to the lignages 
2008   In partinge of here heritages 
2009   And ek of al here other good; 
2010   And thus above hem alle stod  
2011   The king upon his Regalie, 
2012   As he which hath to justifie  
2013   The worldes good fro covoitise.  
2014   So sit it wel in alle wise 
2015   A king betwen the more and lesse 
2016   To sette his herte upon largesse 
2017   Toward himself and ek also 
2018   Toward his poeple; and if noght so, 
2019   That is to sein, if that he be 
2020   Toward himselven large and fre
2021   And of his poeple take and pile, 
2022   Largesse be no weie of skile  
2023   It mai be seid, bot Avarice,  
2024   Which in a king is a gret vice.  
2025   A king behoveth ek to fle  
2026   The vice of Prodegalite,
2027   That he mesure in his expence 
2028   So kepe, that of indigence 
2029   He mai be sauf: for who that nedeth,
2030   In al his werk the worse he spedeth.
2031   As Aristotle upon Chaldee  
2032   Ensample of gret Auctorite 
2033   Unto king Alisandre tauhte 
2034   Of thilke folk that were unsauhte
2035   Toward here king for his pilage: 
2036   Wherof he bad, in his corage  
2037   That he unto thre pointz entende,
2038   Wher that he wolde his good despende.  
2039   Ferst scholde he loke, hou that it stod,  
2040   That al were of his oghne good
2041   The yiftes whiche he wolde yive; 
2042   So myhte he wel the betre live:  
2043   And ek he moste taken hiede
2044   If ther be cause of eny nede, 
2045   Which oghte forto be defended,
2046   Er that his goodes be despended: 
2047   He mot ek, as it is befalle,  
2048   Amonges othre thinges alle 
2049   Se the decertes of his men;
2050   And after that thei ben of ken
2051   And of astat and of merite,
2052   He schal hem largeliche aquite,  
2053   Or for the werre, or for the pes,
2054   That non honour falle in descres,
2055   Which mihte torne into defame,
2056   Bot that he kepe his goode name, 
2057   So that he be noght holde unkinde.  
2058   For in Cronique a tale I finde,
2059   Which spekth somdiel of this matiere,  
2060   Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere. 
2061   In Rome, to poursuie his riht,
2062   Ther was a worthi povere kniht,  
2063   Which cam al one forto sein
2064   His cause, when the court was plein,
2065   Wher Julius was in presence.  
2066   And for him lacketh of despence, 
2067   Ther was with him non advocat 
2068   To make ple for his astat. 
2069   Bot thogh him lacke forto plede, 
2070   Him lacketh nothing of manhede;  
2071   He wiste wel his pours was povere,  
2072   Bot yit he thoghte his riht recovere,  
2073   And openly poverte alleide,
2074   To themperour and thus he seide: 
2075   "O Julius, lord of the lawe,  
2076   Behold, mi conseil is withdrawe  
2077   For lacke of gold: do thin office
2078   After the lawes of justice:
2079   Help that I hadde conseil hiere  
2080   Upon the trouthe of mi matiere." 
2081   And Julius with that anon  
2082   Assigned him a worthi on,  
2083   Bot he himself no word ne spak.  
2084   This kniht was wroth and fond a lak 
2085   In themperour, and seide thus:
2086   "O thou unkinde Julius, 
2087   Whan thou in thi bataille were
2088   Up in Aufrique, and I was there, 
2089   Mi myht for thi rescousse I dede 
2090   And putte noman in my stede,  
2091   Thou wost what woundes ther I hadde:
2092   Bot hier I finde thee so badde,  
2093   That thee ne liste speke o word  
2094   Thin oghne mouth, nor of thin hord
2095   To yive a florin me to helpe. 
2096   Hou scholde I thanne me beyelpe  
2097   Fro this dai forth of thi largesse, 
2098   Whan such a gret unkindenesse 
2099   Is founde in such a lord as thou?"  
2100   This Julius knew wel ynou  
2101   That al was soth which he him tolde;
2102   And for he wolde noght ben holde 
2103   Unkinde, he tok his cause on honde, 
2104   And as it were of goddes sonde,  
2105   He yaf him good ynouh to spende  
2106   For evere into his lives ende.
2107   And thus scholde every worthi king  
2108   Take of his knihtes knowleching, 
2109   Whan that he syh thei hadden nede,  
2110   For every service axeth mede: 
2111   Bot othre, which have noght deserved
2112   Thurgh vertu, bot of japes served,  
2113   A king schal noght deserve grace,
2114   Thogh he be large in such a place.  
2115   It sit wel every king to have 
2116   Discrecion, whan men him crave,  
2117   So that he mai his yifte wite:
2118   Wherof I finde a tale write,  
2119   Hou Cinichus a povere kniht
2120   A Somme which was over myht
2121   Preide of his king Antigonus. 
2122   The king ansuerde to him thus,
2123   And seide hou such a yifte passeth  
2124   His povere astat: and thanne he lasseth,  
2125   And axeth bot a litel peny,
2126   If that the king wol yive him eny.  
2127   The king ansuerde, it was to smal
2128   For him, which was a lord real;  
2129   To yive a man so litel thing  
2130   It were unworschipe in a king.
2131   Be this ensample a king mai lere  
2132   That forto yive is in manere: 
2133   For if a king his tresor lasseth 
2134   Withoute honour and thonkles passeth,  
2135   Whan he himself wol so beguile,  
2136   I not who schal compleigne his while,  
2137   Ne who be rihte him schal relieve.  
2138   Bot natheles this I believe,  
2139   To helpe with his oghne lond  
2140   Behoveth every man his hond
2141   To sette upon necessite;
2142   And ek his kinges realte
2143   Mot every liege man conforte, 
2144   With good and bodi to supporte,  
2145   Whan thei se cause resonable: 
2146   For who that is noght entendable 
2147   To holde upriht his kinges name, 
2148   Him oghte forto be to blame.  
2149   Of Policie and overmore 
2150   To speke in this matiere more,
2151   So as the Philosophre tolde,  
2152   A king after the reule is holde  
2153   To modifie and to adresce  
2154   Hise yiftes upon such largesce
2155   That he mesure noght excede:  
2156   For if a king falle into nede,
2157   It causeth ofte sondri thinges
2158   Whiche are ungoodly to the kinges.  
2159   What man wol noght himself mesure,  
2160   Men sen fulofte that mesure
2161   Him hath forsake: and so doth he 
2162   That useth Prodegalite, 
2163   Which is the moder of poverte,
2164   Wherof the londes ben deserte;
2165   And namely whan thilke vice
2166   Aboute a king stant in office 
2167   And hath withholde of his partie 
2168   The covoitouse flaterie, 
2169   Which many a worthi king deceiveth, 
2170   Er he the fallas aperceiveth  
2171   Of hem that serven to the glose. 
2172   For thei that cunnen plese and glose,  
2173   Ben, as men tellen, the norrices 
2174   Unto the fostringe of the vices, 
2175   Wherof fulofte natheles 
2176   A king is blamed gulteles. 
2177   A Philosophre, as thou schalt hiere,
2178   Spak to a king of this matiere,  
2179   And seide him wel hou that flatours 
2180   Coupable were of thre errours.
2181   On was toward the goddes hihe,
2182   That weren wrothe of that thei sihe 
2183   The meschief which befalle scholde  
2184   Of that the false flatour tolde. 
2185   Toward the king an other was, 
2186   Whan thei be sleihte and be fallas  
2187   Of feigned wordes make him wene  
2188   That blak is whyt and blew is grene 
2189   Touchende of his condicion:
2190   For whanne he doth extorcion  
2191   With manye an other vice mo,  
2192   Men schal noght finden on of tho 
2193   To groucche or speke therayein,  
2194   Bot holden up his oil and sein
2195   That al is wel, what evere he doth; 
2196   And thus of fals thei maken soth,
2197   So that here kinges yhe is blent 
2198   And wot not hou the world is went.  
2199   The thridde errour is harm comune,  
2200   With which the poeple mot commune
2201   Of wronges that thei bringen inne:  
2202   And thus thei worchen treble sinne, 
2203   That ben flatours aboute a king. 
2204   Ther myhte be no worse thing  
2205   Aboute a kinges regalie,
2206   Thanne is the vice of flaterie.
2207   And natheles it hath ben used,
2208   That it was nevere yit refused
2209   As forto speke in court real; 
2210   For there it is most special, 
2211   And mai noght longe be forbore.  
2212   Bot whan this vice of hem is bore,  
2213   That scholden the vertus forthbringe,  
2214   And trouthe is torned to lesinge,
2215   It is, as who seith, ayein kinde,
2216   Wherof an old ensample I finde.  
2217   Among these othre tales wise  
2218   Of Philosophres, in this wise 
2219   I rede, how whilom tuo ther were,
2220   And to the Scole forto lere
2221   Unto Athenes fro Cartage
2222   Here frendes, whan thei were of Age,
2223   Hem sende; and ther thei stoden longe, 
2224   Til thei such lore have underfonge, 
2225   That in here time thei surmonte  
2226   Alle othre men, that to acompte  
2227   Of hem was tho the grete fame.
2228   The ferste of hem his rihte name 
2229   Was Diogenes thanne hote,  
2230   In whom was founde no riote:  
2231   His felaw Arisippus hyhte, 
2232   Which mochel couthe and mochel myhte.  
2233   Bot ate laste, soth to sein,  
2234   Thei bothe tornen hom ayein
2235   Unto Cartage and scole lete.  
2236   This Diogenes no beyete  
2237   Of worldes good or lasse or more 
2238   Ne soghte for his longe lore, 
2239   Bot tok him only forto duelle 
2240   At hom; and as the bokes telle,  
2241   His hous was nyh to the rivere
2242   Besyde a bregge, as thou schalt hiere. 
2243   Ther duelleth he to take his reste, 
2244   So as it thoghte him for the beste, 
2245   To studie in his Philosophie, 
2246   As he which wolde so defie 
2247   The worldes pompe on every syde. 
2248   Bot Arisippe his bok aside 
2249   Hath leid, and to the court he wente,  
2250   Wher many a wyle and many a wente
2251   With flaterie and wordes softe
2252   He caste, and hath compassed ofte
2253   Hou he his Prince myhte plese;
2254   And in this wise he gat him ese  
2255   Of vein honour and worldes good. 
2256   The londes reule upon him stod,  
2257   The king of him was wonder glad, 
2258   And all was do, what thing he bad,  
2259   Bothe in the court and ek withoute. 
2260   With flaterie he broghte aboute  
2261   His pourpos of the worldes werk, 
2262   Which was ayein the stat of clerk,  
2263   So that Philosophie he lefte  
2264   And to richesse himself uplefte: 
2265   Lo, thus hadde Arisippe his wille.  
2266   Bot Diogenes duelte stille 
2267   A home and loked on his bok:  
2268   He soghte noght the worldes crok 
2269   For vein honour ne for richesse, 
2270   Bot all his hertes besinesse  
2271   He sette to be vertuous;
2272   And thus withinne his oghne hous 
2273   He liveth to the sufficance
2274   Of his havinge. And fell per chance, 
2275   This Diogene upon a day,
2276   And that was in the Monthe of May,  
2277   Whan that these herbes ben holsome, 
2278   He walketh forto gadre some
2279   In his gardin, of whiche his joutes 
2280   He thoghte have, and thus aboutes
2281   Whanne he hath gadred what him liketh, 
2282   He satte him thanne doun and pyketh,
2283   And wyssh his herbes in the flod 
2284   Upon the which his gardin stod,  
2285   Nyh to the bregge, as I tolde er.
2286   And hapneth, whil he sitteth ther,  
2287   Cam Arisippes be the strete
2288   With manye hors and routes grete,
2289   And straght unto the bregge he rod. 
2290   Wher that he hoved and abod;  
2291   For as he caste his yhe nyh,  
2292   His felaw Diogene he syh,  
2293   And what he dede he syh also, 
2294   Wherof he seide to him so: 
2295   "O Diogene, god thee spede.
2296   It were certes litel nede  
2297   To sitte there and wortes pyke,  
2298   If thou thi Prince couthest lyke,
2299   So as I can in my degre."  
2300   "O Arisippe," ayein quod he,  
2301   "If that thou couthist, so as I, 
2302   Thi wortes pyke, trewely
2303   It were als litel nede or lasse, 
2304   That thou so worldly wolt compasse  
2305   With flaterie forto serve, 
2306   Wherof thou thenkest to deserve  
2307   Thi princes thonk, and to pourchace 
2308   Hou thou myht stonden in his grace, 
2309   For getinge of a litel good.  
2310   If thou wolt take into thi mod
2311   Reson, thou myht be reson deeme  
2312   That so thi prince forto queeme
2313   Is noght to reson acordant,
2314   Bot it is gretly descordant
2315   Unto the Scoles of Athene."
2316   Lo, thus ansuerde Diogene  
2317   Ayein the clerkes flaterie.
2318   Bot yit men sen thessamplerie 
2319   Of Arisippe is wel received,  
2320   And thilke of Diogene is weyved. 
2321   Office in court and gold in cofre
2322   Is nou, men sein, the philosophre
2323   Which hath the worschipe in the halle; 
2324   Bot flaterie passeth alle  
2325   In chambre, whom the court avanceth;
2326   For upon thilke lot it chanceth  
2327   To be beloved nou aday. 
2328   I not if it be ye or nay,  
2329   Bot as the comun vois it telleth;
2330   Bot wher that flaterie duelleth  
2331   In eny lond under the Sonne,  
2332   Ther is ful many a thing begonne  
2333   Which were betre to be left;  
2334   That hath be schewed nou and eft.
2335   Bot if a Prince wolde him reule  
2336   Of the Romeins after the reule,  
2337   In thilke time as it was used,
2338   This vice scholde be refused, 
2339   Wherof the Princes ben assoted.  
2340   Bot wher the pleine trouthe is noted,  
2341   Ther may a Prince wel conceive,  
2342   That he schal noght himself deceive,
2343   Of that he hiereth wordes pleine;
2344   For him thar noght be reson pleigne,
2345   That warned is er him be wo.  
2346   And that was fully proeved tho,  
2347   Whan Rome was the worldes chief, 
2348   The Sothseiere tho was lief,  
2349   Which wolde noght the trouthe spare,
2350   Bot with hise wordes pleine and bare
2351   To Themperour hise sothes tolde, 
2352   As in Cronique is yit withholde, 
2353   Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere  
2354   Acordende unto this matiere.  
2355   To se this olde ensamplerie,  
2356   That whilom was no flaterie
2357   Toward the Princes wel I finde;  
2358   Wherof so as it comth to mynde,  
2359   Mi Sone, a tale unto thin Ere,
2360   Whil that the worthi princes were
2361   At Rome, I thenke forto tellen.  
2362   For whan the chances so befellen  
2363   That eny Emperour as tho
2364   Victoire hadde upon his fo,
2365   And so forth cam to Rome ayein,  
2366   Of treble honour he was certein, 
2367   Wherof that he was magnefied. 
2368   The ferste, as it is specefied,  
2369   Was, whan he cam at thilke tyde, 
2370   The Charr in which he scholde ryde  
2371   Foure whyte Stiedes scholden drawe; 
2372   Of Jupiter be thilke lawe  
2373   The Cote he scholde were also;
2374   Hise prisoners ek scholden go 
2375   Endlong the Charr on eyther hond,
2376   And alle the nobles of the lond  
2377   Tofore and after with him come
2378   Ridende and broghten him to Rome,
2379   In thonk of his chivalerie 
2380   And for non other flaterie.
2381   And that was schewed forth withal;  
2382   Wher he sat in his Charr real,
2383   Beside him was a Ribald set,  
2384   Which hadde hise wordes so beset,
2385   To themperour in al his gloire
2386   He seide, "Tak into memoire,  
2387   For al this pompe and al this pride 
2388   Let no justice gon aside,  
2389   Bot know thiself, what so befalle.  
2390   For men sen ofte time falle
2391   Thing which men wende siker stonde: 
2392   Thogh thou victoire have nou on honde, 
2393   Fortune mai noght stonde alway;  
2394   The whiel per chance an other day
2395   Mai torne, and thou myht overthrowe;
2396   Ther lasteth nothing bot a throwe." 
2397   With these wordes and with mo 
2398   This Ribald, which sat with him tho,
2399   To Themperour his tale tolde:  
2400   And overmor what evere he wolde, 
2401   Or were it evel or were it good, 
2402   So pleinly as the trouthe stod,  
2403   He spareth noght, bot spekth it oute;  
2404   And so myhte every man aboute 
2405   The day of that solempnete 
2406   His tale telle als wel as he  
2407   To Themperour al openly.
2408   And al was this the cause why;
2409   That whil he stod in that noblesse, 
2410   He scholde his vanite represse
2411   With suche wordes as he herde.
2412   Lo nou, hou thilke time it ferde 
2413   Toward so hih a worthi lord:  
2414   For this I finde ek of record,
2415   Which the Cronique hath auctorized. 
2416   What Emperour was entronized, 
2417   The ferste day of his corone, 
2418   Wher he was in his real Throne
2419   And hield his feste in the paleis
2420   Sittende upon his hihe deis
2421   With al the lust that mai be gete,  
2422   Whan he was gladdest at his mete,
2423   And every menstral hadde pleid,  
2424   And every Disour hadde seid
2425   What most was plesant to his Ere,
2426   Than ate laste comen there 
2427   Hise Macons, for thei scholden crave
2428   Wher that he wolde be begrave,
2429   And of what Ston his sepulture
2430   Thei scholden make, and what sculpture 
2431   He wolde ordeine therupon. 
2432   Tho was ther flaterie non
2433   The worthi princes to bejape; 
2434   The thing was other wise schape  
2435   With good conseil; and otherwise 
2436   Thei were hemselven thanne wise, 
2437   And understoden wel and knewen.  
2438   Whan suche softe wyndes blewen
2439   Of flaterie into here Ere, 
2440   Thei setten noght here hertes there;
2441   Bot whan thei herden wordes feigned,
2442   The pleine trouthe it hath desdeigned  
2443   Of hem that weren so discrete.
2444   So tok the flatour no beyete  
2445   Of him that was his prince tho:  
2446   And forto proven it is so, 
2447   A tale which befell in dede
2448   In a Cronique of Rome I rede. 
2449   Cesar upon his real throne 
2450   Wher that he sat in his persone  
2451   And was hyest in al his pris, 
2452   A man, which wolde make him wys, 
2453   Fell doun knelende in his presence, 
2454   And dede him such a reverence,
2455   As thogh the hihe god it were:
2456   Men hadden gret mervaille there  
2457   Of the worschipe which he dede.  
2458   This man aros fro thilke stede,  
2459   And forth with al the same tyde  
2460   He goth him up and be his side
2461   He set him doun as pier and pier,
2462   And seide, "If thou that sittest hier  
2463   Art god, which alle thinges myht,
2464   Thanne have I do worshipe ariht  
2465   As to the god; and other wise,
2466   If thou be noght of thilke assisse, 
2467   Bot art a man such as am I,
2468   Than mai I sitte faste by,  
2469   For we be bothen of o kinde." 
2470   Cesar ansuerde and seide, "O blinde,
2471   Thou art a fol, it is wel sene
2472   Upon thiself: for if thou wene
2473   I be a god, thou dost amys 
2474   To sitte wher thou sest god is;  
2475   And if I be a man, also 
2476   Thou hast a gret folie do, 
2477   Whan thou to such on as schal deie  
2478   The worschipe of thi god aweie
2479   Hast yoven so unworthely.  
2480   Thus mai I prove redely,
2481   Thou art noght wys."  And thei that herde 
2482   Hou wysly that the king ansuerde,
2483   It was to hem a newe lore; 
2484   Wherof thei dradden him the more,
2485   And broghten nothing to his Ere, 
2486   Bot if it trouthe and reson were.
2487   So be ther manye, in such a wise 
2488   That feignen wordes to be wise,  
2489   And al is verray flaterie  
2490   To him which can it wel aspie.
2491   The kinde flatour can noght love 
2492   Bot forto bringe himself above;  
2493   For hou that evere his maister fare,
2494   So that himself stonde out of care, 
2495   Him reccheth noght: and thus fulofte
2496   Deceived ben with wordes softe
2497   The kinges that ben innocent. 
2498   Wherof as for chastiement  
2499   The wise Philosophre seide,
2500   What king that so his tresor leide  
2501   Upon such folk, he hath the lesse,  
2502   And yit ne doth he no largesse,  
2503   Bot harmeth with his oghne hond  
2504   Himself and ek his oghne lond,
2505   And that be many a sondri weie.  
2506   Wherof if that a man schal seie, 
2507   As forto speke in general,  
2508   Wher such thing falleth overal
2509   That eny king himself misreule,  
2510   The Philosophre upon his reule
2511   In special a cause sette,  
2512   Which is and evere hath be the lette
2513   In governance aboute a king
2514   Upon the meschief of the thing,  
2515   And that, he seith, is Flaterie. 
2516   Wherof tofore as in partie 
2517   What vice it is I have declared; 
2518   For who that hath his wit bewared
2519   Upon a flatour to believe, 
2520   Whan that he weneth best achieve 
2521   His goode world, it is most fro. 
2522   And forto proeven it is so 
2523   Ensamples ther ben manyon, 
2524   Of whiche if thou wolt knowen on,
2525   It is behovely forto hiere 
2526   What whilom fell in this matiere.
2527   Among the kinges in the bible 
2528   I finde a tale, and is credible, 
2529   Of him that whilom Achab hihte,  
2530   Which hadde al Irahel to rihte;  
2531   Bot who that couthe glose softe  
2532   And flatre, suche he sette alofte
2533   In gret astat and made hem riche;
2534   Bot thei that spieken wordes liche  
2535   To trouthe and wolde it noght forbere, 
2536   For hem was non astat to bere,
2537   The court of suche tok non hiede.
2538   Til ate laste upon a nede, 
2539   That Benedab king of Surie 
2540   Of Irahel a gret partie,
2541   Which Ramoth Galaath was hote,
2542   Hath sesed; and of that riote 
2543   He tok conseil in sondri wise,
2544   Bot noght of hem that weren wise. 
2545   And natheles upon this cas 
2546   To strengthen him, for Josaphas, 
2547   Which thanne was king of Judee,  
2548   He sende forto come, as he 
2549   Which thurgh frendschipe and alliance  
2550   Was next to him of aqueintance;  
2551   For Joram Sone of Josaphath
2552   Achabbes dowhter wedded hath, 
2553   Which hihte faire Godelie. 
2554   And thus cam into Samarie  
2555   King Josaphat, and he fond there 
2556   The king Achab: and whan thei were  
2557   Togedre spekende of this thing,  
2558   This Josaphat seith to the king, 
2559   Hou that he wolde gladly hiere
2560   Som trew prophete in this matiere,  
2561   That he his conseil myhte yive
2562   To what point that it schal be drive.  
2563   And in that time so befell,
2564   Ther was such on in Irahel,
2565   Which sette him al to flaterie,  
2566   And he was cleped Sedechie;
2567   And after him Achab hath sent:
2568   And he at his comandement  
2569   Tofore him cam, and be a sleyhte 
2570   He hath upon his heved on heyhte 
2571   Tuo large hornes set of bras, 
2572   As he which al a flatour was, 
2573   And goth rampende as a leoun  
2574   And caste hise hornes up and doun,  
2575   And bad men ben of good espeir,  
2576   For as the hornes percen their,  
2577   He seith, withoute resistence,
2578   So wiste he wel of his science
2579   That Benedab is desconfit. 
2580   Whan Sedechie upon this plit  
2581   Hath told this tale to his lord, 
2582   Anon ther were of his acord
2583   Prophetes false manye mo 
2584   To bere up oil, and alle tho  
2585   Affermen that which he hath told,
2586   Wherof the king Achab was bold
2587   And yaf hem yiftes al aboute. 
2588   But Josaphat was in gret doute,  
2589   And hield fantosme al that he herde,
2590   Preiende Achab, hou so it ferde, 
2591   If ther were eny other man,
2592   The which of prophecie can,
2593   To hiere him speke er that thei gon.
2594   Quod Achab thanne, "Ther is on,  
2595   A brothell, which Micheas hihte; 
2596   Bot he ne comth noght in my sihte,  
2597   For he hath longe in prison lein.
2598   Him liketh nevere yit to sein 
2599   A goodly word to mi plesance; 
2600   And natheles at thin instance 
2601   He schal come oute, and thanne he may  
2602   Seie as he seide many day; 
2603   For yit he seide nevere wel." 
2604   Tho Josaphat began somdel  
2605   To gladen him in hope of trouthe,
2606   And bad withouten eny slouthe 
2607   That men him scholden fette anon.
2608   And thei that weren for him gon, 
2609   Whan that thei comen wher he was,
2610   Thei tolden unto Micheas
2611   The manere hou that Sedechie  
2612   Declared hath his prophecie;  
2613   And therupon thei preie him faire
2614   That he wol seie no contraire,
2615   Wherof the king mai be desplesed,
2616   For so schal every man ben esed, 
2617   And he mai helpe himselve also.  
2618   Micheas upon trouthe tho
2619   His herte sette, and to hem seith,  
2620   Al that belongeth to his feith
2621   And of non other feigned thing,
2622   That wol he telle unto his king, 
2623   Als fer as god hath yove him grace. 
2624   Thus cam this prophete into place
2625   Wher he the kinges wille herde;  
2626   And he therto anon ansuerde,  
2627   And seide unto him in this wise: 
2628   "Mi liege lord, for mi servise,  
2629   Which trewe hath stonden evere yit, 
2630   Thou hast me with prisone aquit; 
2631   Bot for al that I schal noght glose 
2632   Of trouthe als fer as I suppose; 
2633   And as touchende of this bataille,  
2634   Thou schalt noght of the sothe faile.  
2635   For if it like thee to hiere, 
2636   As I am tauht in that matiere,
2637   Thou miht it understonde sone;
2638   Bot what is afterward to done 
2639   Avise thee, for this I sih.
2640   I was tofor the throne on hih,
2641   Wher al the world me thoghte stod,  
2642   And there I herde and understod  
2643   The vois of god with wordes cliere  
2644   Axende, and seide in this manere:
2645   "In what thing mai I best beguile
2646   The king Achab?" And for a while 
2647   Upon this point thei spieken faste. 
2648   Tho seide a spirit ate laste, 
2649   "I undertake this emprise."
2650   And god him axeth in what wise.  
2651   "I schal," quod he, "deceive and lye
2652   With flaterende prophecie  
2653   In suche mouthes as he lieveth." 
2654   And he which alle thing achieveth
2655   Bad him go forth and don riht so.
2656   And over this I sih also
2657   The noble peple of Irahel  
2658   Dispers as Schep upon an hell, 
2659   Withoute a kepere unarraied:  
2660   And as thei wente aboute astraied,  
2661   I herde a vois unto hem sein, 
2662   "Goth hom into your hous ayein,  
2663   Til I for you have betre ordeigned."
2664   Quod Sedechie, "Thou hast feigned
2665   This tale in angringe of the king." 
2666   And in a wraththe upon this thing
2667   He smot Michee upon the cheke;
2668   The king him hath rebuked eke,
2669   And every man upon him cride: 
2670   Thus was he schent on every side,
2671   Ayein and into prison lad, 
2672   For so the king himselve bad. 
2673   The trouthe myhte noght ben herd;
2674   Bot afterward as it hath ferd,
2675   The dede proveth his entente: 
2676   Achab to the bataille wente,  
2677   Wher Benedab for al his Scheld
2678   Him slouh, so that upon the feld 
2679   His poeple goth aboute astray.
2680   Bot god, which alle thinges may, 
2681   So doth that thei no meschief have; 
2682   Here king was ded and thei ben save,
2683   And hom ayein in goddes pes
2684   Thei wente, and al was founde les
2685   That Sedechie hath seid tofore.  
2686   So sit it wel a king therfore 
2687   To loven hem that trouthe mene;  
2688   For ate laste it wol be sene  
2689   That flaterie is nothing worth.  
2690   Bot nou to mi matiere forth,  
2691   As forto speken overmore
2692   After the Philosophres lore,  
2693   The thridde point of Policie  
2694   I thenke forto specifie. 
2695   What is a lond wher men ben none?
2696   What ben the men whiche are al one  
2697   Withoute a kinges governance? 
2698   What is a king in his ligance,
2699   Wher that ther is no lawe in londe? 
2700   What is to take lawe on honde,
2701   Bot if the jugges weren trewe?
2702   These olde worldes with the newe 
2703   Who that wol take in evidence,
2704   Ther mai he se thexperience,  
2705   What thing it is to kepe lawe,
2706   Thurgh which the wronges ben withdrawe 
2707   And rihtwisnesse stant commended,
2708   Wherof the regnes ben amended.
2709   For wher the lawe mai comune  
2710   The lordes forth with the commune,  
2711   Ech hath his propre duete; 
2712   And ek the kinges realte
2713   Of bothe his worschipe underfongeth,
2714   To his astat as it belongeth, 
2715   Which of his hihe worthinesse 
2716   Hath to governe rihtwisnesse, 
2717   As he which schal the lawe guide.
2718   And natheles upon som side 
2719   His pouer stant above the lawe,  
2720   To yive bothe and to withdrawe
2721   The forfet of a mannes lif;
2722   But thinges whiche are excessif  
2723   Ayein the lawe, he schal noght do
2724   For love ne for hate also. 
2725   The myhtes of a king ben grete,  
2726   Bot yit a worthi king schal lete 
2727   Of wrong to don, al that he myhte;  
2728   For he which schal the poeple ryhte,
2729   It sit wel to his regalie  
2730   That he himself ferst justefie 
2731   Towardes god in his degre: 
2732   For his astat is elles fre 
2733   Toward alle othre in his persone,
2734   Save only to the god al one,  
2735   Which wol himself a king chastise,  
2736   Wher that non other mai suffise. 
2737   So were it good to taken hiede
2738   That ferst a king his oghne dede 
2739   Betwen the vertu and the vice 
2740   Redresce, and thanne of his justice 
2741   So sette in evene the balance 
2742   Towardes othre in governance, 
2743   That to the povere and to the riche 
2744   Hise lawes myhten stonde liche,  
2745   He schal excepte no persone.  
2746   Bot for he mai noght al him one  
2747   In sondri places do justice,  
2748   He schal of his real office
2749   With wys consideracion  
2750   Ordeigne his deputacion 
2751   Of suche jugges as ben lerned,
2752   So that his poeple be governed
2753   Be hem that trewe ben and wise.  
2754   For if the lawe of covoitise  
2755   Be set upon a jugges hond, 
2756   Wo is the poeple of thilke lond, 
2757   For wrong mai noght himselven hyde: 
2758   Bot elles on that other side, 
2759   If lawe stonde with the riht, 
2760   The poeple is glad and stant upriht.
2761   Wher as the lawe is resonable,
2762   The comun poeple stant menable,  
2763   And if the lawe torne amis,
2764   The poeple also mistorned is. 
2765   And in ensample of this matiere  
2766   Of Maximin a man mai hiere,
2767   Of Rome which was Emperour, 
2768   That whanne he made a governour  
2769   Be weie of substitucion 
2770   Of Province or of region,  
2771   He wolde ferst enquere his name, 
2772   And let it openly proclame 
2773   What man he were, or evel or good.  
2774   And upon that his name stod
2775   Enclin to vertu or to vice,
2776   So wolde he sette him in office, 
2777   Or elles putte him al aweie.  
2778   Thus hield the lawe his rihte weie, 
2779   Which fond no let of covoitise:  
2780   The world stod than upon the wise,  
2781   As be ensample thou myht rede;
2782   And hold it in thi mynde, I rede.
2783   In a Cronique I finde thus,
2784   Hou that Gayus Fabricius,  
2785   Which whilom was Consul of Rome, 
2786   Be whom the lawes yede and come, 
2787   Whan the Sampnites to him broghte
2788   A somme of gold, and him besoghte
2789   To don hem favour in the lawe,
2790   Toward the gold he gan him drawe,
2791   Wherof in alle mennes lok  
2792   A part up in his hond he tok, 
2793   Which to his mouth in alle haste 
2794   He putte, it forto smelle and taste,
2795   And to his yhe and to his Ere,
2796   Bot he ne fond no confort there: 
2797   And thanne he gan it to despise, 
2798   And tolde unto hem in this wise: 
2799   "I not what is with gold to thryve, 
2800   Whan non of all my wittes fyve
2801   Fynt savour ne delit therinne.
2802   So is it bot a nyce Sinne  
2803   Of gold to ben to covoitous;  
2804   Bot he is riche and glorious,
2805   Which hath in his subjeccion  
2806   Tho men whiche in possession  
2807   Ben riche of gold, and be this skile;  
2808   For he mai aldai whan he wile,
2809   Or be hem lieve or be hem lothe, 
2810   Justice don upon hem bothe."  
2811   Lo, thus he seide, and with that word  
2812   He threw tofore hem on the bord  
2813   The gold out of his hond anon,
2814   And seide hem that he wolde non: 
2815   So that he kepte his liberte  
2816   To do justice and equite,  
2817   Withoute lucre of such richesse. 
2818   Ther be nou fewe of suche, I gesse; 
2819   For it was thilke times used, 
2820   That every jugge was refused  
2821   Which was noght frend to comun riht;
2822   Bot thei that wolden stonde upriht  
2823   For trouthe only to do justice
2824   Preferred were in thilke office  
2825   To deme and jugge commun lawe:
2826   Which nou, men sein, is al withdrawe.  
2827   To sette a lawe and kepe it noght
2828   Ther is no comun profit soght;
2829   Bot above alle natheles 
2830   The lawe, which is mad for pes,  
2831   Is good to kepe for the beste,
2832   For that set alle men in reste.  
2833   The rihtful Emperour Conrade  
2834   To kepe pes such lawe made,
2835   That non withinne the cite 
2836   In destorbance of unite 
2837   Dorste ones moeven a matiere. 
2838   For in his time, as thou myht hiere,
2839   What point that was for lawe set 
2840   It scholde for no gold be let,
2841   To what persone that it were.  
2842   And this broghte in the comun fere, 
2843   Why every man the lawe dradde,
2844   For ther was non which favour hadde.
2845   So as these olde bokes sein,  
2846   I finde write hou a Romein,
2847   Which Consul was of the Pretoire,
2848   Whos name was Carmidotoire,
2849   He sette a lawe for the pes,  
2850   That non, bot he be wepneles, 
2851   Schal come into the conseil hous,
2852   And elles as malicious  
2853   He schal ben of the lawe ded. 
2854   To that statut and to that red
2855   Acorden alle it schal be so,  
2856   For certein cause which was tho: 
2857   Nou lest what fell therafter sone.  
2858   This Consul hadde forto done, 
2859   And was into the feldes ride; 
2860   And thei him hadden longe abide, 
2861   That lordes of the conseil were, 
2862   And for him sende, and he cam there 
2863   With swerd begert, and hath foryete,
2864   Til he was in the conseil sete.  
2865   Was non of hem that made speche, 
2866   Til he himself it wolde seche,
2867   And fond out the defalte himselve;  
2868   And thanne he seide unto the tuelve,
2869   Whiche of the Senat weren wise,  
2870   "I have deserved the juise,
2871   In haste that it were do." 
2872   And thei him seiden alle no;  
2873   For wel thei wiste it was no vice,  
2874   Whan he ne thoghte no malice, 
2875   Bot onliche of a litel slouthe:  
2876   And thus thei leften as for routhe
2877   To do justice upon his gilt,  
2878   For that he scholde noght be spilt. 
2879   And whanne he sih the maner hou  
2880   Thei wolde him save, he made avou
2881   With manfull herte, and thus he seide, 
2882   That Rome scholde nevere abreide 
2883   His heires, whan he were of dawe,
2884   That here Ancestre brak the lawe.
2885   Forthi, er that thei weren war,  
2886   Forth with the same swerd he bar 
2887   The statut of his lawe he kepte, 
2888   So that al Rome his deth bewepte.
2889   In other place also I rede,
2890   Wher that a jugge his oghne dede 
2891   Ne wol noght venge of lawe broke,
2892   The king it hath himselven wroke.
2893   The grete king which Cambises 
2894   Was hote, a jugge laweles  
2895   He fond, and into remembrance 
2896   He dede upon him such vengance:  
2897   Out of his skyn he was beflain
2898   Al quyk, and in that wise slain, 
2899   So that his skyn was schape al meete,  
2900   And nayled on the same seete  
2901   Wher that his Sone scholde sitte.
2902   Avise him, if he wolde flitte 
2903   The lawe for the coveitise,
2904   Ther sih he redi his juise.
2905   Thus in defalte of other jugge
2906   The king mot otherwhile jugge,
2907   To holden up the rihte lawe.  
2908   And forto speke of tholde dawe,  
2909   To take ensample of that was tho,
2910   I finde a tale write also, 
2911   Hou that a worthi prince is holde
2912   The lawes of his lond to holde,  
2913   Ferst for the hihe goddes sake,  
2914   And ek for that him is betake  
2915   The poeple forto guide and lede, 
2916   Which is the charge of his kinghede.
2917   In a Cronique I rede thus  
2918   Of the rihtful Ligurgius,  
2919   Which of Athenis Prince was,  
2920   Hou he the lawe in every cas, 
2921   Wherof he scholde his poeple reule, 
2922   Hath set upon so good a reule,
2923   In al this world that cite non
2924   Of lawe was so wel begon
2925   Forth with the trouthe of governance.  
2926   Ther was among hem no distance,  
2927   Bot every man hath his encress;  
2928   Ther was withoute werre pes,  
2929   Withoute envie love stod;  
2930   Richesse upon the comun good  
2931   And noght upon the singuler
2932   Ordeigned was, and the pouer  
2933   Of hem that weren in astat 
2934   Was sauf: wherof upon debat
2935   Ther stod nothing, so that in reste 
2936   Mihte every man his herte reste. 
2937   And whan this noble rihtful king 
2938   Sih hou it ferde of al this thing,  
2939   Wherof the poeple stod in ese,
2940   He, which for evere wolde plese  
2941   The hihe god, whos thonk he soghte, 
2942   A wonder thing thanne him bethoghte,
2943   And schop if that it myhte be,
2944   Hou that his lawe in the cite 
2945   Mihte afterward for evere laste. 
2946   And therupon his wit he caste 
2947   What thing him were best to feigne, 
2948   That he his pourpos myhte atteigne. 
2949   A Parlement and thus he sette,
2950   His wisdom wher that he besette  
2951   In audience of grete and smale,
2952   And in this wise he tolde his tale: 
2953   "God wot, and so ye witen alle,  
2954   Hierafterward hou so it falle,
2955   Yit into now my will hath be  
2956   To do justice and equite
2957   In forthringe of comun profit;
2958   Such hath ben evere my delit. 
2959   Bot of o thing I am beknowe,  
2960   The which mi will is that ye knowe: 
2961   The lawe which I tok on honde,
2962   Was altogedre of goddes sonde 
2963   And nothing of myn oghne wit; 
2964   So mot it nede endure yit, 
2965   And schal do lengere, if ye wile.
2966   For I wol telle you the skile;
2967   The god Mercurius and no man  
2968   He hath me tawht al that I can
2969   Of suche lawes as I made,  
2970   Wherof that ye ben alle glade;
2971   It was the god and nothing I, 
2972   Which dede al this, and nou forthi  
2973   He hath comanded of his grace 
2974   That I schal come into a place
2975   Which is forein out in an yle,
2976   Wher I mot tarie for a while, 
2977   With him to speke, as he hath bede. 
2978   For as he seith, in thilke stede 
2979   He schal me suche thinges telle, 
2980   That evere, whyl the world schal duelle,  
2981   Athenis schal the betre fare. 
2982   Bot ferst, er that I thider fare,
2983   For that I wolde that mi lawe 
2984   Amonges you ne be withdrawe
2985   Ther whyles that I schal ben oute,  
2986   Forthi to setten out of doute 
2987   Bothe you and me, this wol I preie, 
2988   That ye me wolde assure and seie 
2989   With such an oth as I wol take,
2990   That ech of you schal undertake  
2991   Mi lawes forto kepe and holde."  
2992   Thei seiden alle that thei wolde,
2993   And therupon thei swore here oth,
2994   That fro the time that he goth,  
2995   Til he to hem be come ayein,  
2996   Thei scholde hise lawes wel and plein  
2997   In every point kepe and fulfille.
2998   Thus hath Ligurgius his wille,
2999   And tok his leve and forth he wente.
3000   Bot lest nou wel to what entente 
3001   Of rihtwisnesse he dede so:
3002   For after that he was ago, 
3003   He schop him nevere to be founde;
3004   So that Athenis, which was bounde,  
3005   Nevere after scholde be relessed,
3006   Ne thilke goode lawe cessed,  
3007   Which was for comun profit set.  
3008   And in this wise he hath it knet;
3009   He, which the comun profit soghte,  
3010   The king, his oghne astat ne roghte;
3011   To do profit to the comune,
3012   He tok of exil the fortune,
3013   And lefte of Prince thilke office
3014   Only for love and for justice,
3015   Thurgh which he thoghte, if that he myhte,
3016   For evere after his deth to rihte
3017   The cite which was him betake.
3018   Wherof men oghte ensample take
3019   The goode lawes to avance  
3020   With hem which under governance  
3021   The lawes have forto kepe; 
3022   For who that wolde take kepe  
3023   Of hem that ferst the lawes founde, 
3024   Als fer as lasteth eny bounde 
3025   Of lond, here names yit ben knowe:  
3026   And if it like thee to knowe
3027   Some of here names hou thei stonde, 
3028   Nou herkne and thou schalt understonde.
3029   Of every bienfet the merite
3030   The god himself it wol aquite;
3031   And ek fulofte it falleth so, 
3032   The world it wole aquite also,
3033   Bot that mai noght ben evene liche: 
3034   The god he yifth the heveneriche,
3035   The world yifth only bot a name, 
3036   Which stant upon the goode fame  
3037   Of hem that don the goode dede.  
3038   And in this wise double mede  
3039   Resceiven thei that don wel hiere;  
3040   Wherof if that thee list to hiere
3041   After the fame as it is blowe,
3042   Ther myht thou wel the sothe knowe, 
3043   Hou thilke honeste besinesse  
3044   Of hem that ferst for rihtwisnesse  
3045   Among the men the lawes made, 
3046   Mai nevere upon this erthe fade. 
3047   For evere, whil ther is a tunge, 
3048   Here name schal be rad and sunge 
3049   And holde in the Cronique write; 
3050   So that the men it scholden wite,
3051   To speke good, as thei wel oghten,  
3052   Of hem that ferst the lawes soghten 
3053   In forthringe of the worldes pes.
3054   Unto thebreus was Moi5ses  
3055   The ferste, and to thegipciens
3056   Mercurius, and to Troiens  
3057   Ferst was Neuma Pompilius, 
3058   To Athenes Ligurgius 
3059   Yaf ferst the lawe, and to Gregois  
3060   Forones hath thilke vois,
3061   And Romulus to the Romeins.
3062   For suche men that ben vileins
3063   The lawe in such a wise ordeigneth, 
3064   That what man to the lawe pleigneth, 
3065   Be so the jugge stonde upriht,
3066   He schal be served of his riht.  
3067   And so ferforth it is befalle 
3068   That lawe is come among ous alle:
3069   God lieve it mote wel ben holde, 
3070   As every king therto is holde;
3071   For thing which is of kinges set,
3072   With kinges oghte it noght be let.  
3073   What king of lawe takth no kepe, 
3074   Be lawe he mai no regne kepe. 
3075   Do lawe awey, what is a king? 
3076   Wher is the riht of eny thing,
3077   If that ther be no lawe in londe?
3078   This oghte a king wel understonde,  
3079   As he which is to lawe swore, 
3080   That if the lawe be forbore
3081   Withouten execucioun,
3082   If makth a lond torne up so doun,
3083   Which is unto the king a sclandre.  
3084   Forthi unto king Alisandre 
3085   The wise Philosophre bad,  
3086   That he himselve ferst be lad 
3087   Of lawe, and forth thanne overal 
3088   So do justice in general,  
3089   That al the wyde lond aboute  
3090   The justice of his lawe doute,
3091   And thanne schal he stonde in reste.
3092   For therto lawe is on the beste  
3093   Above alle other erthly thing,
3094   To make a liege drede his king.  
3095   Bot hou a king schal gete him love  
3096   Toward the hihe god above, 
3097   And ek among the men in erthe,
3098   This nexte point, which is the ferthe  
3099   Of Aristotles lore, it techeth:  
3100   Wherof who that the Scole secheth,  
3101   What Policie that it is 
3102   The bok reherceth after this.  
3103   It nedeth noght that I delate 
3104   The pris which preised is algate,
3105   And hath ben evere and evere schal, 
3106   Wherof to speke in special,
3107   It is the vertu of Pite,
3108   Thurgh which the hihe mageste 
3109   Was stered, whan his Sone alyhte,
3110   And in pite the world to rihte
3111   Tok of the Maide fleissh and blod.  
3112   Pite was cause of thilke good,
3113   Wherof that we ben alle save: 
3114   Wel oghte a man Pite to have  
3115   And the vertu to sette in pris,  
3116   Whan he himself which is al wys  
3117   Hath schewed why it schal be preised.  
3118   Pite may noght be conterpeised
3119   Of tirannie with no peis;  
3120   For Pite makth a king courteis
3121   Bothe in his word and in his dede.  
3122   It sit wel every liege drede  
3123   His king and to his heste obeie, 
3124   And riht so be the same weie  
3125   It sit a king to be pitous 
3126   Toward his poeple and gracious
3127   Upon the reule of governance, 
3128   So that he worche no vengance,
3129   Which mai be cleped crualte.  
3130   Justice which doth equite  
3131   Is dredfull, for he noman spareth;  
3132   Bot in the lond wher Pite fareth 
3133   The king mai nevere faile of love,  
3134   For Pite thurgh the grace above, 
3135   So as the Philosphre affermeth,
3136   His regne in good astat confermeth. 
3137   Thus seide whilom Constantin: 
3138   "What Emperour that is enclin  
3139   To Pite forto be servant,  
3140   Of al the worldes remenant 
3141   He is worthi to ben a lord."  
3142   In olde bokes of record 
3143   This finde I write of essamplaire:  
3144   Troian the worthi debonaire,  
3145   Be whom that Rome stod governed, 
3146   Upon a time as he was lerned  
3147   Of that he was to familier,
3148   He seide unto that conseiller,
3149   That forto ben an Emperour 
3150   His will was noght for vein honour, 
3151   Ne yit for reddour of justice;
3152   Bot if he myhte in his office 
3153   Hise lordes and his poeple plese,
3154   Him thoghte it were a grettere ese  
3155   With love here hertes to him drawe, 
3156   Than with the drede of eny lawe. 
3157   For whan a thing is do for doute,
3158   Fulofte it comth the worse aboute;  
3159   Bot wher a king is Pietous,
3160   He is the more gracious,
3161   That mochel thrift him schal betyde,
3162   Which elles scholde torne aside. 
3163   Of Pite forto speke plein, 
3164   Which is with mercy wel besein,
3165   Fulofte he wole himselve peine
3166   To kepe an other fro the peine:  
3167   For Charite the moder is
3168   Of Pite, which nothing amis
3169   Can soffre, if he it mai amende.  
3170   It sit to every man livende
3171   To be Pitous, bot non so wel  
3172   As to a king, which on the whiel 
3173   Fortune hath set aboven alle: 
3174   For in a king, if so befalle  
3175   That his Pite be ferme and stable,  
3176   To al the lond it is vailable
3177   Only thurgh grace of his persone;
3178   For the Pite of him al one 
3179   Mai al the large realme save. 
3180   So sit it wel a king to have  
3181   Pite; for this Valeire tolde, 
3182   And seide hou that be daies olde 
3183   Codrus, which was in his degre  
3184   King of Athenis the cite,  
3185   A werre he hadde ayein Dorrence: 
3186   And forto take his evidence
3187   What schal befalle of the bataille, 
3188   He thoghte he wolde him ferst consaille
3189   With Appollo, in whom he triste; 
3190   Thurgh whos ansuere this he wiste, 
3191   Of tuo pointz that he myhte chese,  
3192   Or that he wolde his body lese
3193   And in bataille himselve deie,
3194   Or elles the seconde weie, 
3195   To sen his poeple desconfit.  
3196   Bot he, which Pite hath parfit
3197   Upon the point of his believe,  
3198   The poeple thoghte to relieve,
3199   And ches himselve to be ded.  
3200   Wher is nou such an other hed,
3201   Which wolde for the lemes dye?
3202   And natheles in som partie 
3203   It oghte a kinges herte stere,
3204   That he hise liege men forbere.  
3205   And ek toward hise enemis  
3206   Fulofte he may deserve pris,  
3207   To take of Pite remembrance,  
3208   Wher that he myhte do vengance:  
3209   For whanne a king hath the victoire,
3210   And thanne he drawe into memoire 
3211   To do Pite in stede of wreche,
3212   He mai noght faile of thilke speche 
3213   Wherof arist the worldes fame,
3214   To yive a Prince a worthi name.  
3215   I rede hou whilom that Pompeie,  
3216   To whom that Rome moste obeie,
3217   A werre hadde in jeupartie 
3218   Ayein the king of Ermenie, 
3219   Which of long time him hadde grieved.  
3220   Bot ate laste it was achieved 
3221   That he this king desconfit hadde,  
3222   And forth with him to Rome ladde 
3223   As Prisoner, wher many a day  
3224   In sori plit and povere he lay,  
3225   The corone of his heved deposed, 
3226   Withinne walles faste enclosed;  
3227   And with ful gret humilite 
3228   He soffreth his adversite. 
3229   Pompeie sih his pacience
3230   And tok pite with conscience, 
3231   So that upon his hihe deis 
3232   Tofore al Rome in his Paleis, 
3233   As he that wolde upon him rewe,  
3234   Let yive him his corone newe 
3235   And his astat al full and plein  
3236   Restoreth of his regne ayein, 
3237   And seide it was more goodly thing  
3238   To make than undon a king, 
3239   To him which pouer hadde of bothe.  
3240   Thus thei, that weren longe wrothe, 
3241   Acorden hem to final pes;  
3242   And yit justice natheles
3243   Was kept and in nothing offended;
3244   Wherof Pompeie was comended.  
3245   Ther mai no king himself excuse, 
3246   Bot if justice he kepe and use,  
3247   Which for teschuie crualte 
3248   He mot attempre with Pite. 
3249   Of crualte the felonie  
3250   Engendred is of tirannie,  
3251   Ayein the whos condicion
3252   God is himself the champion,  
3253   Whos strengthe mai noman withstonde.
3254   For evere yit it hath so stonde, 
3255   That god a tirant overladde;  
3256   Bot wher Pite the regne ladde,
3257   Ther mihte no fortune laste
3258   Which was grevous, bot ate laste 
3259   The god himself it hath redresced.  
3260   Pite is thilke vertu blessed  
3261   Which nevere let his Maister falle; 
3262   Bot crualte, thogh it so falle
3263   That it mai regne for a throwe,  
3264   God wole it schal ben overthrowe:
3265   Wherof ensamples ben ynowhe
3266   Of hem that thilke merel drowhe. 
3267   Of crualte I rede thus: 
3268   Whan the tirant Leoncius
3269   Was to thempire of Rome arrived, 
3270   Fro which he hath with strengthe prived
3271   The pietous Justinian, 
3272   As he which was a cruel man,  
3273   His nase of and his lippes bothe 
3274   He kutte, for he wolde him lothe 
3275   Unto the poeple and make unable. 
3276   Bot he which is al merciable, 
3277   The hihe god, ordeigneth so,  
3278   That he withinne a time also, 
3279   Whan he was strengest in his ire,
3280   Was schoven out of his empire.
3281   Tiberius the pouer hadde,  
3282   And Rome after his will he ladde,
3283   And for Leonce in such a wise 
3284   Ordeigneth, that he tok juise 
3285   Of nase and lippes bothe tuo, 
3286   For that he dede an other so, 
3287   Which more worthi was than he.
3288   Lo, which a fall hath crualte,
3289   And Pite was set up ayein: 
3290   For after that the bokes sein,
3291   Therbellis king of Bulgarie
3292   With helpe of his chivalerie  
3293   Justinian hath unprisoned  
3294   And to thempire ayein coroned.
3295   In a Cronique I finde also 
3296   Of Siculus, which was ek so
3297   A cruel king lich the tempeste,  
3298   The whom no Pite myhte areste,-  
3299   He was the ferste, as bokes seie,
3300   Upon the See which fond Galeie
3301   And let hem make for the werre,- 
3302   As he which al was out of herre  
3303   Fro Pite and misericorde;  
3304   For therto couthe he noght acorde,  
3305   Bot whom he myhte slen, he slouh,
3306   And therof was he glad ynouh.
3307   He hadde of conseil manyon,
3308   Among the whiche ther was on, 
3309   Be name which Berillus hihte; 
3310   And he bethoghte him hou he myhte
3311   Unto the tirant do likinge,
3312   And of his oghne ymaginynge
3313   Let forge and make a Bole of bras,  
3314   And on the side cast ther was 
3315   A Dore, wher a man mai inne,  
3316   Whan he his peine schal beginne  
3317   Thurgh fyr, which that men putten under.  
3318   And al this dede he for a wonder,
3319   That whanne a man for peine cride,  
3320   The Bole of bras, which gapeth wyde,
3321   It scholde seme as thogh it were 
3322   A belwinge in a mannes Ere,
3323   And noght the criinge of a man.  
3324   Bot he which alle sleihtes can,  
3325   The devel, that lith in helle fast, 
3326   Him that this caste hath overcast,  
3327   That for a trespas which he dede 
3328   He was putt in the same stede,
3329   And was himself the ferste of alle  
3330   Which was into that peine falle  
3331   That he for othre men ordeigneth;
3332   Ther was noman which him compleigneth. 
3333   Of tirannie and crualte 
3334   Be this ensample a king mai se,  
3335   Himself and ek his conseil bothe,
3336   Hou thei ben to mankinde lothe
3337   And to the god abhominable.
3338   Ensamples that ben concordable
3339   I finde of othre Princes mo,  
3340   As thou schalt hiere, of time go.
3341   The grete tirant Dionys,
3342   Which mannes lif sette of no pris, 
3343   Unto his hors fulofte he yaf  
3344   The men in stede of corn and chaf,  
3345   So that the hors of thilke stod  
3346   Devoureden the mennes blod;
3347   Til fortune ate laste cam, 
3348   That Hercules him overcam, 
3349   And he riht in the same wise  
3350   Of this tirant tok the juise: 
3351   As he til othre men hath do,  
3352   The same deth he deide also,  
3353   That no Pite him hath socoured,  
3354   Til he was of hise hors devoured.
3355   Of Lichaon also I finde 
3356   Hou he ayein the lawe of kinde
3357   Hise hostes slouh, and into mete 
3358   He made her bodies to ben ete 
3359   With othre men withinne his hous.
3360   Bot Jupiter the glorious,  
3361   Which was commoeved of this thing,  
3362   Vengance upon this cruel king 
3363   So tok, that he fro mannes forme 
3364   Into a wolf him let transforme:  
3365   And thus the crualte was kidd,
3366   Which of long time he hadde hidd;
3367   A wolf he was thanne openly,  
3368   The whos nature prively 
3369   He hadde in his condicion. 
3370   And unto this conclusioun, 
3371   That tirannie is to despise,  
3372   I finde ensample in sondri wise, 
3373   And nameliche of hem fulofte, 
3374   The whom fortune hath set alofte 
3375   Upon the werres forto winne.  
3376   Bot hou so that the wrong beginne
3377   Of tirannie, it mai noght laste, 
3378   Bot such as thei don ate laste
3379   To othre men, such on hem falleth;  
3380   For ayein suche Pite calleth 
3381   Vengance to the god above. 
3382   For who that hath no tender love 
3383   In savinge of a mannes lif,
3384   He schal be founde so gultif, 
3385   That whanne he wolde mercy crave 
3386   In time of nede, he schal non have. 
3387   Of the natures this I finde,  
3388   The fierce Leon in his kinde, 
3389   Which goth rampende after his preie,
3390   If he a man finde in his weie,
3391   He wole him slen, if he withstonde. 
3392   Bot if the man coude understonde 
3393   To falle anon before his face 
3394   In signe of mercy and of grace,  
3395   The Leon schal of his nature  
3396   Restreigne his ire in such mesure,  
3397   As thogh it were a beste tamed,  
3398   And torne awey halfvinge aschamed,  
3399   That he the man schal nothing grieve.  
3400   Hou scholde than a Prince achieve
3401   The worldes grace, if that he wolde 
3402   Destruie a man whanne he is yolde
3403   And stant upon his mercy al?  
3404   Bot forto speke in special,
3405   Ther have be suche and yit ther be  
3406   Tirantz, whos hertes no pite  
3407   Mai to no point of mercy plie,
3408   That thei upon her tirannie
3409   Ne gladen hem the men to sle; 
3410   And as the rages of the See
3411   Ben unpitous in the tempeste, 
3412   Riht so mai no Pite areste 
3413   Of crualte the gret oultrage, 
3414   Which the tirant in his corage
3415   Engendred hath: wherof I finde
3416   A tale, which comth nou to mynde.
3417   I rede in olde bokes thus:
3418   Ther was a Duk, which Spertachus 
3419   Men clepe, and was a werreiour,  
3420   A cruel man, a conquerour  
3421   With strong pouer the which he ladde.  
3422   For this condicion he hadde,  
3423   That where him hapneth the victoire,
3424   His lust and al his moste gloire 
3425   Was forto sle and noght to save: 
3426   Of rancoun wolde he no good have 
3427   For savinge of a mannes lif,  
3428   Bot al goth to the swerd and knyf,  
3429   So lief him was the mannes blod. 
3430   And natheles yit thus it stod,
3431   So as fortune aboute wente,
3432   He fell riht heir as be descente 
3433   To Perse, and was coroned king.  
3434   And whan the worschipe of this thing
3435   Was falle, and he was king of Perse,
3436   If that thei weren ferst diverse,
3437   The tirannies whiche he wroghte, 
3438   A thousendfold welmore he soghte 
3439   Thanne afterward to do malice.
3440   The god vengance ayein the vice  
3441   Hath schape: for upon a tyde, 
3442   Whan he was heihest in his Pride,
3443   In his rancour and in his hete
3444   Ayein the queene of Marsagete,
3445   Which Thameris that time hihte,  
3446   He made werre al that he myhte:  
3447   And sche, which wolde hir lond defende,
3448   Hir oghne Sone ayein him sende,  
3449   Which the defence hath undertake.
3450   Bot he desconfit was and take;
3451   And whan this king him hadde in honde, 
3452   He wol no mercy understonde,  
3453   Bot dede him slen in his presence.
3454   The tidinge of this violence  
3455   Whan it cam to the moder Ere, 
3456   Sche sende anon ay wydewhere  
3457   To suche frendes as sche hadde,  
3458   A gret pouer til that sche ladde.
3459   In sondri wise and tho sche caste
3460   Hou sche this king mai overcaste;
3461   And ate laste acorded was, 
3462   That in the danger of a pass, 
3463   Thurgh which this tirant scholde passe,
3464   Sche schop his pouer to compasse 
3465   With strengthe of men be such a weie
3466   That he schal noght eschape aweie.  
3467   And whan sche hadde thus ordeigned, 
3468   Sche hath hir oghne bodi feigned,
3469   For feere as thogh sche wolde flee  
3470   Out of hir lond: and whan that he
3471   Hath herd hou that this ladi fledde,
3472   So faste after the chace he spedde, 
3473   That he was founde out of array. 
3474   For it betidde upon a day, 
3475   Into the pas whanne he was falle,
3476   Thembuisschementz tobrieken alle 
3477   And him beclipte on every side,  
3478   That fle ne myhte he noght aside:
3479   So that ther weren dede and take 
3480   Tuo hundred thousend for his sake,  
3481   That weren with him of his host. 
3482   And thus was leid the grete bost 
3483   Of him and of his tirannie:
3484   It halp no mercy forto crie
3485   To him which whilom dede non; 
3486   For he unto the queene anon
3487   Was broght, and whan that sche him sih,
3488   This word sche spak and seide on hih:  
3489   "O man, which out of mannes kinde
3490   Reson of man hast left behinde
3491   And lived worse than a beste, 
3492   Whom Pite myhte noght areste, 
3493   The mannes blod to schede and spille
3494   Thou haddest nevere yit thi fille.  
3495   Bot nou the laste time is come,  
3496   That thi malice is overcome:  
3497   As thou til othre men hast do,
3498   Nou schal be do to thee riht so."
3499   Tho bad this ladi that men scholde  
3500   A vessel bringe, in which sche wolde
3501   Se the vengance of his juise, 
3502   Which sche began anon devise; 
3503   And tok the Princes whiche he ladde,
3504   Be whom his chief conseil he hadde, 
3505   And whil hem lasteth eny breth,  
3506   Sche made hem blede to the deth  
3507   Into the vessel wher it stod: 
3508   And whan it was fulfild of blod, 
3509   Sche caste this tirant therinne, 
3510   And seide him, "Lo, thus myht thou wynne  
3511   The lustes of thin appetit.
3512   In blod was whilom thi delit, 
3513   Nou schalt thou drinken al thi fille." 
3514   And thus onliche of goddes wille,
3515   He which that wolde himselve strange
3516   To Pite, fond mercy so strange,  
3517   That he withoute grace is lore.  
3518   So may it schewe wel therfore 
3519   That crualte hath no good ende;  
3520   Bot Pite, hou so that it wende,  
3521   Makth that the god is merciable, 
3522   If ther be cause resonable 
3523   Why that a king schal be pitous. 
3524   Bot elles, if he be doubtous  
3525   To slen in cause of rihtwisnesse,
3526   It mai be said no Pitousnesse,
3527   Bot it is Pusillamite,
3528   Which every Prince scholde flee. 
3529   For if Pite mesure excede, 
3530   Kinghode may noght wel procede
3531   To do justice upon the riht:  
3532   For it belongeth to a knyht
3533   Als gladly forto fihte as reste, 
3534   To sette his liege poeple in reste, 
3535   Whan that the werre upon hem falleth;  
3536   For thanne he mote, as it befalleth,
3537   Of his knyhthode as a Leon 
3538   Be to the poeple a champioun  
3539   Withouten eny Pite feigned.
3540   For if manhode be restreigned,
3541   Or be it pes or be it werre,  
3542   Justice goth al out of herre, 
3543   So that knyhthode is set behinde.
3544   Of Aristotles lore I finde,
3545   A king schal make good visage,
3546   That noman knowe of his corage
3547   Bot al honour and worthinesse:
3548   For if a king schal upon gesse
3549   Withoute verrai cause drede,  
3550   He mai be lich to that I rede;
3551   And thogh that it be lich a fable,  
3552   Thensample is good and resonable.
3553   As it be olde daies fell,  
3554   I rede whilom that an hell 
3555   Up in the londes of Archade
3556   A wonder dredful noise made;  
3557   For so it fell that ilke day, 
3558   This hell on his childinge lay,  
3559   And whan the throwes on him come,
3560   His noise lich the day of dome
3561   Was ferfull in a mannes thoght
3562   Of thing which that thei sihe noght,
3563   Bot wel thei herden al aboute 
3564   The noise, of which thei were in doute,
3565   As thei that wenden to be lore
3566   Of thing which thanne was unbore.
3567   The nerr this hell was upon chance  
3568   To taken his deliverance,  
3569   The more unbuxomliche he cride;  
3570   And every man was fledd aside,
3571   For drede and lefte his oghne hous: 
3572   And ate laste it was a Mous,  
3573   The which was bore and to norrice
3574   Betake; and tho thei hield hem nyce,
3575   For thei withoute cause dradde.  
3576   Thus if a king his herte ladde
3577   With every thing that he schal hiere,  
3578   Fulofte he scholde change his chiere
3579   And upon fantasie drede,
3580   Whan that ther is no cause of drede.
3581   Orace to his Prince tolde, 
3582   That him were levere that he wolde  
3583   Upon knihthode Achillem suie  
3584   In time of werre, thanne eschuie,
3585   So as Tersites dede at Troie. 
3586   Achilles al his hole joie  
3587   Sette upon Armes forto fihte; 
3588   Tersites soghte al that he myhte 
3589   Unarmed forto stonde in reste:
3590   Bot of the tuo it was the beste  
3591   That Achilles upon the nede
3592   Hath do, wherof his knyhtlihiede 
3593   Is yit comended overal. 
3594   King Salomon in special 
3595   Seith, as ther is a time of pes, 
3596   So is a time natheles
3597   Of werre, in which a Prince algate  
3598   Schal for the comun riht debate  
3599   And for his oghne worschipe eke. 
3600   Bot it behoveth noght to seke  
3601   Only the werre for worschipe, 
3602   Bot to the riht of his lordschipe,  
3603   Which he is holde to defende, 
3604   Mote every worthi Prince entende.
3605   Betwen the simplesce of Pite  
3606   And the folhaste of crualte,  
3607   Wher stant the verray hardiesce, 
3608   Ther mote a king his herte adresce, 
3609   Whanne it is time to forsake, 
3610   And whan time is also to take 
3611   The dedly werres upon honde,  
3612   That he schal for no drede wonde,
3613   If rihtwisnesse be withal. 
3614   For god is myhty overal 
3615   To forthren every mannes trowthe,
3616   Bot it be thurgh his oghne slowthe; 
3617   And namely the kinges nede 
3618   It mai noght faile forto spede,  
3619   For he stant one for hem alle;
3620   So mote it wel the betre falle
3621   And wel the more god favoureth,  
3622   Whan he the comun riht socoureth.
3623   And forto se the sothe in dede,  
3624   Behold the bible and thou myht rede 
3625   Of grete ensamples manyon, 
3626   Wherof that I wol tellen on.  
3627   Upon a time as it befell,  
3628   Ayein Judee and Irahel  
3629   Whan sondri kinges come were  
3630   In pourpos to destruie there  
3631   The poeple which god kepte tho,- 
3632   And stod in thilke daies so,  
3633   That Gedeon, which scholde lede  
3634   The goddes folk, tok him to rede,
3635   And sende in al the lond aboute, 
3636   Til he assembled hath a route 
3637   With thritti thousend of defence, 
3638   To fihte and make resistence  
3639   Ayein the whiche hem wolde assaille:
3640   And natheles that o bataille  
3641   Of thre that weren enemys  
3642   Was double mor than was al his;  
3643   Wherof that Gedeon him dradde,
3644   That he so litel poeple hadde.
3645   Bot he which alle thing mai helpe,  
3646   Wher that ther lacketh mannes helpe,
3647   To Gedeon his Angel sente, 
3648   And bad, er that he forther wente,  
3649   Al openly that he do crie  
3650   That every man in his partie  
3651   Which wolde after his oghne wille
3652   In his delice abide stille 
3653   At hom in eny maner wise,  
3654   For pourchas or for covoitise,
3655   For lust of love or lacke of herte, 
3656   He scholde noght aboute sterte,  
3657   Bot holde him stille at hom in pes: 
3658   Wherof upon the morwe he les  
3659   Wel twenty thousend men and mo,  
3660   The whiche after the cri ben go. 
3661   Thus was with him bot only left  
3662   The thridde part, and yit god eft
3663   His Angel sende and seide this
3664   To Gedeon: "If it so is 
3665   That I thin help schal undertake,
3666   Thou schalt yit lasse poeple take,  
3667   Be whom mi will is that thou spede. 
3668   Forthi tomorwe tak good hiede,
3669   Unto the flod whan ye be come,
3670   What man that hath the water nome
3671   Up in his hond and lapeth so, 
3672   To thi part ches out alle tho;
3673   And him which wery is to swinke, 
3674   Upon his wombe and lith to drinke,
3675   Forsak and put hem alle aweie.
3676   For I am myhti alle weie,  
3677   Wher as me list myn help to schewe  
3678   In goode men, thogh thei ben fewe." 
3679   This Gedeon awaiteth wel,  
3680   Upon the morwe and everydel,  
3681   As god him bad, riht so he dede. 
3682   And thus ther leften in that stede  
3683   With him thre hundred and nomo,  
3684   The remenant was al ago:
3685   Wherof that Gedeon merveileth,
3686   And therupon with god conseileth,
3687   Pleignende as ferforth as he dar.
3688   And god, which wolde he were war 
3689   That he schal spede upon his riht,  
3690   Hath bede him go the same nyht
3691   And take a man with him, to hiere
3692   What schal be spoke in his matere
3693   Among the hethen enemis;
3694   So mai he be the more wys, 
3695   What afterward him schal befalle.
3696   This Gedeon amonges alle
3697   Phara, to whom he triste most,
3698   Be nyhte tok toward thilke host, 
3699   Which logged was in a valleie,
3700   To hiere what thei wolden seie;  
3701   Upon his fot and as he ferde, 
3702   Tuo Sarazins spekende he herde.  
3703   Quod on, "Ared mi swevene ariht, 
3704   Which I mette in mi slep to nyht.
3705   Me thoghte I sih a barli cake,
3706   Which fro the Hull his weie hath take, 
3707   And cam rollende doun at ones;
3708   And as it were for the nones, 
3709   Forth in his cours so as it ran, 
3710   The kinges tente of Madian, 
3711   Of Amalech, of Amoreie, 
3712   Of Amon and of Jebuseie,
3713   And many an other tente mo 
3714   With gret noise, as me thoghte tho, 
3715   It threw to grounde and overcaste,  
3716   And al this host so sore agaste  
3717   That I awok for pure drede."  
3718   "This swevene can I wel arede,"  
3719   Quod thother Sarazin anon: 
3720   "The barli cake is Gedeon, 
3721   Which fro the hell doun sodeinly 
3722   Schal come and sette such ascry  
3723   Upon the kinges and ous bothe,
3724   That it schal to ous alle lothe: 
3725   For in such drede he schal ous bringe, 
3726   That if we hadden flyht of wynge,
3727   The weie on fote in desespeir 
3728   We scholden leve and flen in their, 
3729   For ther schal nothing him withstonde."
3730   Whan Gedeon hath understonde  
3731   This tale, he thonketh god of al,
3732   And priveliche ayein he stal, 
3733   So that no lif him hath perceived.  
3734   And thanne he hath fulli conceived  
3735   That he schal spede; and therupon
3736   The nyht suiende he schop to gon 
3737   This multitude to assaile. 
3738   Nou schalt thou hiere a gret mervaile, 
3739   With what voisdie that he wroghte.  
3740   The litel poeple which he broghte,  
3741   Was non of hem that he ne hath
3742   A pot of erthe, in which he tath 
3743   A lyht brennende in a kressette, 
3744   And ech of hem ek a trompette 
3745   Bar in his other hond beside; 
3746   And thus upon the nyhtes tyde 
3747   Duk Gedeon, whan it was derk, 
3748   Ordeineth him unto his werk,
3749   And parteth thanne his folk in thre,
3750   And chargeth hem that thei ne fle,  
3751   And tawhte hem hou they scholde ascrie 
3752   Alle in o vois per compaignie,
3753   And what word ek thei scholden speke,  
3754   And hou thei scholde here pottes breke 
3755   Echon with other, whan thei herde
3756   That he himselve ferst so ferde; 
3757   For whan thei come into the stede,  
3758   He bad hem do riht as he dede.
3759   And thus stalkende forth a pas
3760   This noble Duk, whan time was,
3761   His pot tobrak and loude ascride,
3762   And tho thei breke on every side.
3763   The trompe was noght forto seke; 
3764   He blew, and so thei blewen eke  
3765   With such a noise among hem alle,
3766   As thogh the hevene scholde falle.  
3767   The hull unto here vois ansuerde,
3768   This host in the valleie it herde,  
3769   And sih hou that the hell alyhte;
3770   So what of hieringe and of sihte,
3771   Thei cawhten such a sodein feere,
3772   That non of hem belefte there:
3773   The tentes hole thei forsoke, 
3774   That thei non other good ne toke,
3775   Bot only with here bodi bare  
3776   Thei fledde, as doth the wylde Hare.
3777   And evere upon the hull thei blewe, 
3778   Til that thei sihe time, and knewe  
3779   That thei be fled upon the rage; 
3780   And whan thei wiste here avantage,  
3781   Thei felle anon unto the chace.  
3782   Thus myht thou sen hou goddes grace 
3783   Unto the goode men availeth;  
3784   But elles ofte time it faileth
3785   To suche as be noght wel disposed.  
3786   This tale nedeth noght be glosed, 
3787   For it is openliche schewed
3788   That god to hem that ben wel thewed 
3789   Hath yove and granted the victoire: 
3790   So that thensample of this histoire 
3791   Is good for every king to holde; 
3792   Ferst in himself that he beholde 
3793   If he be good of his livinge, 
3794   And that the folk which he schal bringe
3795   Be good also, for thanne he may  
3796   Be glad of many a merie day,  
3797   In what as evere he hath to done.
3798   For he which sit above the Mone  
3799   And alle thing mai spille and spede,
3800   In every cause, in every nede 
3801   His goode king so wel adresceth, 
3802   That alle his fomen he represseth,  
3803   So that ther mai noman him dere; 
3804   And als so wel he can forbere,
3805   And soffre a wickid king to falle
3806   In hondes of his fomen alle.  
3807   Nou forthermore if I schal sein  
3808   Of my matiere, and torne ayein
3809   To speke of justice and Pite  
3810   After the reule of realte, 
3811   This mai a king wel understonde, 
3812   Knihthode mot ben take on honde, 
3813   Whan that it stant upon the nede:
3814   He schal no rihtful cause drede, 
3815   Nomore of werre thanne of pes,
3816   If he wol stonde blameles; 
3817   For such a cause a king mai have 
3818   That betre him is to sle than save, 
3819   Wherof thou myht ensample finde. 
3820   The hihe makere of mankinde
3821   Be Samuel to Sal bad, 
3822   That he schal nothing ben adrad  
3823   Ayein king Agag forto fihte;
3824   For this the godhede him behihte,
3825   That Agag schal ben overcome: 
3826   And whan it is so ferforth come, 
3827   That Sal hath him desconfit,
3828   The god bad make no respit,
3829   That he ne scholde him slen anon.
3830   Bot Sal let it overgon
3831   And dede noght the goddes heste: 
3832   For Agag made gret beheste 
3833   Of rancoun which he wolde yive,  
3834   King Sal soffreth him to live  
3835   And feigneth pite forth withal.  
3836   Bot he which seth and knoweth al,
3837   The hihe god, of that he feigneth
3838   To Samuel upon him pleigneth, 
3839   And sende him word, for that he lefte  
3840   Of Agag that he ne berefte 
3841   The lif, he schal noght only dye 
3842   Himself, bot fro his regalie  
3843   He schal be put for everemo,  
3844   Noght he, bot ek his heir also,  
3845   That it schal nevere come ayein. 
3846   Thus myht thou se the sothe plein,  
3847   That of tomoche and of tolyte 
3848   Upon the Princes stant the wyte. 
3849   Bot evere it was a kinges riht
3850   To do the dedes of a knyht;
3851   For in the handes of a king
3852   The deth and lif is al o thing
3853   After the lawes of justice.
3854   To slen it is a dedly vice,
3855   Bot if a man the deth deserve;
3856   And if a king the lif preserve
3857   Of him which oghte forto dye, 
3858   He suieth noght thensamplerie 
3859   Which in the bible is evident:
3860   Hou David in his testament,
3861   Whan he no lengere myhte live,
3862   Unto his Sone in charge hath yive 
3863   That he Joab schal slen algate;  
3864   And whan David was gon his gate, 
3865   The yonge wise Salomon  
3866   His fader heste dede anon, 
3867   And slouh Joab in such a wise,
3868   That thei that herden the juise  
3869   Evere after dradden him the more,
3870   And god was ek wel paid therfore,
3871   That he so wolde his herte plye  
3872   The lawes forto justefie.  
3873   And yit he kepte forth withal 
3874   Pite, so as a Prince schal,
3875   That he no tirannie wroghte;  
3876   He fond the wisdom which he soghte, 
3877   And was so rihtful natheles,  
3878   That al his lif he stod in pes,  
3879   That he no dedly werres hadde,
3880   For every man his wisdom dradde. 
3881   And as he was himselve wys,
3882   Riht so the worthi men of pris
3883   He hath of his conseil withholde;
3884   For that is every Prince holde,  
3885   To make of suche his retenue  
3886   Whiche wise ben, and to remue 
3887   The foles: for ther is nothing
3888   Which mai be betre aboute a king,
3889   Than conseil, which is the substance
3890   Of all a kinges governance.
3891   In Salomon a man mai see
3892   What thing of most necessite  
3893   Unto a worthi king belongeth. 
3894   Whan he his kingdom underfongeth,
3895   God bad him chese what he wolde, 
3896   And seide him that he have scholde  
3897   What he wolde axe, as of o thing.
3898   And he, which was a newe king,
3899   Forth therupon his bone preide
3900   To god, and in this wise he seide:  
3901   "O king, be whom that I schal regne, 
3902   Yif me wisdom, that I my regne,  
3903   Forth with thi poeple which I have, 
3904   To thin honour mai kepe and save."  
3905   Whan Salomon his bone hath taxed,
3906   The god of that which he hath axed  
3907   Was riht wel paid, and granteth sone
3908   Noght al only that he his bone
3909   Schal have of that, bot of richesse,
3910   Of hele, of pes, of hih noblesse,
3911   Forth with wisdom at his axinges,
3912   Which stant above alle othre thinges.  
3913   Bot what king wole his regne save,  
3914   Ferst him behoveth forto have 
3915   After the god and his believe 
3916   Such conseil which is to believe,
3917   Fulfild of trouthe and rihtwisnesse:
3918   Bot above alle in his noblesse
3919   Betwen the reddour and pite
3920   A king schal do such equite
3921   And sette the balance in evene,  
3922   So that the hihe god in hevene
3923   And al the poeple of his nobleie 
3924   Loange unto his name seie. 
3925   For most above all erthli good,  
3926   Wher that a king himself is good 
3927   It helpeth, for in other weie 
3928   If so be that a king forsueie,
3929   Fulofte er this it hath be sein, 
3930   The comun poeple is overlein  
3931   And hath the kinges Senne aboght,
3932   Al thogh the poeple agulte noght.
3933   Of that the king his god misserveth,
3934   The poeple takth that he descerveth 
3935   Hier in this world, bot elleswhere  
3936   I not hou it schal stonde there. 
3937   Forthi good is a king to triste  
3938   Ferst to himself, as he ne wiste 
3939   Non other help bot god alone;  
3940   So schal the reule of his persone
3941   Withinne himself thurgh providence  
3942   Ben of the betre conscience.  
3943   And forto finde ensample of this,
3944   A tale I rede, and soth it is.
3945   In a Cronique it telleth thus:
3946   The king of Rome Lucius 
3947   Withinne his chambre upon a nyht 
3948   The Steward of his hous, a knyht,
3949   Forth with his Chamberlein also, 
3950   To conseil hadde bothe tuo,
3951   And stoden be the Chiminee 
3952   Togedre spekende alle thre.
3953   And happeth that the kinges fol  
3954   Sat be the fyr upon a stol,
3955   As he that with his babil pleide,
3956   Bot yit he herde al that thei seide,
3957   And therof token thei non hiede. 
3958   The king hem axeth what to rede  
3959   Of such matiere as cam to mouthe,
3960   And thei him tolden as thei couthe. 
3961   Whan al was spoke of that thei mente,  
3962   The king with al his hole entente
3963   Thanne ate laste hem axeth this, 
3964   What king men tellen that he is: 
3965   Among the folk touchende his name,  
3966   Or be it pris, or be it blame,
3967   Riht after that thei herden sein,
3968   He bad hem forto telle it plein, 
3969   That thei no point of soth forbere, 
3970   Be thilke feith that thei him bere. 
3971   The Steward ferst upon this thing
3972   Yaf his ansuere unto the king 
3973   And thoghte glose in this matiere,  
3974   And seide, als fer as he can hiere, 
3975   His name is good and honourable: 
3976   Thus was the Stieward favorable, 
3977   That he the trouthe plein ne tolde. 
3978   The king thanne axeth, as he scholde,
3979   The Chamberlein of his avis.  
3980   And he, that was soubtil and wys,
3981   And somdiel thoghte upon his feith, 
3982   Him tolde hou al the poeple seith
3983   That if his conseil were trewe,  
3984   Thei wiste thanne wel and knewe  
3985   That of himself he scholde be 
3986   A worthi king in his degre:
3987   And thus the conseil he accuseth 
3988   In partie, and the king excuseth.
3989   The fol, which herde of al the cas  
3990   That time, as goddes wille was,  
3991   Sih that thei seiden noght ynowh,
3992   And hem to skorne bothe lowh, 
3993   And to the king he seide tho: 
3994   "Sire king, if that it were so,  
3995   Of wisdom in thin oghne mod
3996   That thou thiselven were good,
3997   Thi conseil scholde noght be badde."
3998   The king therof merveille hadde, 
3999   Whan that a fol so wisly spak,
4000   And of himself fond out the lack 
4001   Withinne his oghne conscience:
4002   And thus the foles evidence,  
4003   Which was of goddes grace enspired, 
4004   Makth that good conseil was desired.
4005   He putte awey the vicious  
4006   And tok to him the vertuous;  
4007   The wrongful lawes ben amended,  
4008   The londes good is wel despended,
4009   The poeple was nomore oppressed, 
4010   And thus stod every thing redressed.
4011   For where a king is propre wys,  
4012   And hath suche as himselven is
4013   Of his conseil, it mai noght faile  
4014   That every thing ne schal availe:
4015   The vices thanne gon aweie,
4016   And every vertu holt his weie;
4017   Wherof the hihe god is plesed,
4018   And al the londes folk is esed.  
4019   For if the comun poeple crie, 
4020   And thanne a king list noght to plie
4021   To hiere what the clamour wolde, 
4022   And otherwise thanne he scholde  
4023   Desdeigneth forto don hem grace, 
4024   It hath be sen in many place, 
4025   Ther hath befalle gret contraire;
4026   And that I finde of ensamplaire. 
4027   After the deth of Salomon, 
4028   Whan thilke wise king was gon,
4029   And Roboas in his persone  
4030   Receive scholde the corone,
4031   The poeple upon a Parlement
4032   Avised were of on assent,  
4033   And alle unto the king thei preiden,
4034   With comun vois and thus thei seiden:  
4035   "Oure liege lord, we thee beseche
4036   That thou receive oure humble speche
4037   And grante ous that which reson wile,  
4038   Or of thi grace or of thi skile. 
4039   Thi fader, whil he was alyve  
4040   And myhte bothe grante and pryve,
4041   Upon the werkes whiche he hadde  
4042   The comun poeple streite ladde:  
4043   Whan he the temple made newe, 
4044   Thing which men nevere afore knewe  
4045   He broghte up thanne of his taillage,  
4046   And al was under the visage
4047   Of werkes whiche he made tho. 
4048   Bot nou it is befalle so,  
4049   That al is mad, riht as he seide,
4050   And he was riche whan he deide;  
4051   So that it is no maner nede,  
4052   If thou therof wolt taken hiede, 
4053   To pilen of the poeple more,  
4054   Which long time hath be grieved sore.  
4055   And in this wise as we thee seie,
4056   With tendre herte we thee preie  
4057   That thou relesse thilke dette,  
4058   Which upon ous thi fader sette.  
4059   And if thee like to don so,
4060   We ben thi men for everemo,
4061   To gon and comen at thin heste." 
4062   The king, which herde this requeste,
4063   Seith that he wole ben avised,
4064   And hath therof a time assised;  
4065   And in the while as he him thoghte  
4066   Upon this thing, conseil he soghte. 
4067   And ferst the wise knyhtes olde, 
4068   To whom that he his tale tolde,  
4069   Conseilen him in this manere; 
4070   That he with love and with glad chiere 
4071   Foryive and grante al that is axed  
4072   Of that his fader hadde taxed;
4073   For so he mai his regne achieve  
4074   With thing which schal him litel grieve.  
4075   The king hem herde and overpasseth, 
4076   And with these othre his wit compasseth,  
4077   That yonge were and nothing wise.
4078   And thei these olde men despise, 
4079   And seiden: "Sire, it schal be schame  
4080   For evere unto thi worthi name,  
4081   If thou ne kepe noght the riht,  
4082   Whil thou art in thi yonge myht, 
4083   Which that thin olde fader gat.  
4084   Bot seie unto the poeple plat,
4085   That whil thou livest in thi lond,  
4086   The leste finger of thin hond 
4087   It schal be strengere overal  
4088   Than was thi fadres bodi al.  
4089   And this also schal be thi tale, 
4090   If he hem smot with roddes smale,
4091   With Scorpions thou schalt hem smyte;  
4092   And wher thi fader tok a lyte,
4093   Thou thenkst to take mochel more.
4094   Thus schalt thou make hem drede sore
4095   The grete herte of thi corage,
4096   So forto holde hem in servage.
4097   This yonge king him hath conformed  
4098   To don as he was last enformed,  
4099   Which was to him his undoinge:
4100   For whan it cam to the spekinge, 
4101   He hath the yonge conseil holde, 
4102   That he the same wordes tolde 
4103   Of al the poeple in audience; 
4104   And whan thei herden the sentence
4105   Of his malice and the manace, 
4106   Anon tofore his oghne face 
4107   Thei have him oultreli refused
4108   And with ful gret reproef accused.  
4109   So thei begunne forto rave,
4110   That he was fain himself to save;
4111   For as the wilde wode rage 
4112   Of wyndes makth the See salvage, 
4113   And that was calm bringth into wawe,
4114   So for defalte of grace and lawe 
4115   This poeple is stered al at ones 
4116   And forth thei gon out of hise wones;  
4117   So that of the lignages tuelve
4118   Tuo tribes only be hemselve
4119   With him abiden and nomo:  
4120   So were thei for everemo
4121   Of no retorn withoute espeir  
4122   Departed fro the rihtfull heir.  
4123   Al Irahel with comun vois  
4124   A king upon here oghne chois  
4125   Among hemself anon thei make, 
4126   And have here yonge lord forsake;
4127   A povere knyht Jeroboas 
4128   Thei toke, and lefte Roboas,  
4129   Which rihtfull heir was be descente.
4130   Lo, thus the yonge cause wente:  
4131   For that the conseil was noght good,
4132   The regne fro the rihtfull blod  
4133   Evere afterward divided was.  
4134   So mai it proven be this cas  
4135   That yong conseil, which is to warm,
4136   Er men be war doth ofte harm. 
4137   Old age for the conseil serveth, 
4138   And lusti youthe his thonk deserveth
4139   Upon the travail which he doth;  
4140   And bothe, forto seie a soth, 
4141   Be sondri cause forto have,
4142   If that he wole his regne save,  
4143   A king behoveth every day. 
4144   That on can and that other mai,  
4145   Be so the king hem bothe reule,  
4146   For elles al goth out of reule.  
4147   And upon this matiere also 
4148   A question betwen the tuo  
4149   Thus writen in a bok I fond;  
4150   Wher it be betre for the lond 
4151   A king himselve to be wys, 
4152   And so to bere his oghne pris,
4153   And that his consail be noght good, 
4154   Or other wise if it so stod,  
4155   A king if he be vicious 
4156   And his conseil be vertuous.  
4157   It is ansuerd in such a wise, 
4158   That betre it is that thei be wise  
4159   Be whom that the conseil schal gon, 
4160   For thei be manye, and he is on; 
4161   And rathere schal an one man  
4162   With fals conseil, for oght he can, 
4163   From his wisdom be mad to falle, 
4164   Thanne he al one scholde hem alle
4165   Fro vices into vertu change,  
4166   For that is wel the more strange.
4167   Forthi the lond mai wel be glad, 
4168   Whos king with good conseil is lad, 
4169   Which set him unto rihtwisnesse, 
4170   So that his hihe worthinesse  
4171   Betwen the reddour and Pite
4172   Doth mercy forth with equite. 
4173   A king is holden overal 
4174   To Pite, bot in special 
4175   To hem wher he is most beholde;  
4176   Thei scholde his Pite most beholde  
4177   That ben the Lieges of his lond, 
4178   For thei ben evere under his hond
4179   After the goddes ordinaunce
4180   To stonde upon his governance.
4181   Of themperour Anthonius 
4182   I finde hou that he seide thus,  
4183   That levere him were forto save  
4184   Oon of his lieges than to have
4185   Of enemis a thousend dede. 
4186   And this he lernede, as I rede,  
4187   Of Cipio, which hadde be
4188   Consul of Rome. And thus to se
4189   Diverse ensamples hou thei stonde,  
4190   A king which hath the charge on honde  
4191   The comun poeple to governe,  
4192   If that he wole, he mai wel lerne.  
4193   Is non so good to the plesance
4194   Of god, as is good governance;
4195   And every governance is due
4196   To Pite: thus I mai argue  
4197   That Pite is the foundement
4198   Of every kinges regiment,  
4199   If it be medled with justice. 
4200   Thei tuo remuen alle vice, 
4201   And ben of vertu most vailable
4202   To make a kinges regne stable.
4203   Lo, thus the foure pointz tofore,
4204   In governance as thei ben bore,  
4205   Of trouthe ferst and of largesse,
4206   Of Pite forth with rihtwisnesse, 
4207   I have hem told; and over this
4208   The fifte point, so as it is  
4209   Set of the reule of Policie,  
4210   Wherof a king schal modefie
4211   The fleisschly lustes of nature, 
4212   Nou thenk I telle of such mesure,
4213   That bothe kinde schal be served 
4214   And ek the lawe of god observed. 
4215   The Madle is mad for the the femele,
4216   Bot where as on desireth fele,
4217   That nedeth noght be weie of kinde: 
4218   For whan a man mai redy finde 
4219   His oghne wif, what scholde he seche
4220   In strange places to beseche  
4221   To borwe an other mannes plouh,  
4222   Whan he hath geere good ynouh 
4223   Affaited at his oghne heste,  
4224   And is to him wel more honeste
4225   Than other thing which is unknowe?  
4226   Forthi scholde every good man knowe 
4227   And thenke, hou that in mariage  
4228   His trouthe pliht lith in morgage,  
4229   Which if he breke, it is falshode,  
4230   And that descordeth to manhode,  
4231   And namely toward the grete,  
4232   Wherof the bokes alle trete;  
4233   So as the Philosophre techeth 
4234   To Alisandre, and him betecheth  
4235   The lore hou that he schal mesure
4236   His bodi, so that no mesure
4237   Of fleisshly lust he scholde excede.
4238   And thus forth if I schal procede,  
4239   The fifte point, as I seide er,  
4240   Is chastete, which sielde wher
4241   Comth nou adaies into place;  
4242   And natheles, bot it be grace 
4243   Above alle othre in special,  
4244   Is non that chaste mai ben all.  
4245   Bot yit a kinges hihe astat,  
4246   Which of his ordre as a prelat
4247   Schal ben enoignt and seintefied,
4248   He mot be more magnefied
4249   For dignete of his corone, 
4250   Than scholde an other low persone,  
4251   Which is noght of so hih emprise.
4252   Therfore a Prince him scholde avise,
4253   Er that he felle in such riote,  
4254   And namely that he nassote 
4255   To change for the wommanhede  
4256   The worthinesse of his manhede.  
4257   Of Aristotle I have wel rad,  
4258   Hou he to Alisandre bad,
4259   That forto gladen his corage  
4260   He schal beholde the visage
4261   Of wommen, whan that thei ben faire.
4262   Bot yit he set an essamplaire,
4263   His bodi so to guide and reule,  
4264   That he ne passe noght the reule,
4265   Wherof that he himself beguile.  
4266   For in the womman is no guile 
4267   Of that a man himself bewhapeth; 
4268   Whan he his oghne wit bejapeth,  
4269   I can the wommen wel excuse:  
4270   Bot what man wole upon hem muse  
4271   After the fool impression  
4272   Of his ymaginacioun, 
4273   Withinne himself the fyr he bloweth,
4274   Wherof the womman nothing knoweth,  
4275   So mai sche nothing be to wyte.  
4276   For if a man himself excite
4277   To drenche, and wol it noght forbere,  
4278   The water schal no blame bere.
4279   What mai the gold, thogh men coveite?  
4280   If that a man wol love streite,  
4281   The womman hath him nothing bounde; 
4282   If he his oghne herte wounde, 
4283   Sche mai noght lette the folie;  
4284   And thogh so felle of compainie  
4285   That he myht eny thing pourchace,
4286   Yit makth a man the ferste chace,
4287   The womman fleth and he poursuieth: 
4288   So that be weie of skile it suieth, 
4289   The man is cause, hou so befalle,
4290   That he fulofte sithe is falle
4291   Wher that he mai noght wel aryse.
4292   And natheles ful manye wise
4293   Befoled have hemself er this, 
4294   As nou adaies yit it is 
4295   Among the men and evere was,  
4296   The stronge is fieblest in this cas.
4297   It sit a man be weie of kinde 
4298   To love, bot it is noght kinde
4299   A man for love his wit to lese:  
4300   For if the Monthe of Juil schal frese  
4301   And that Decembre schal ben hot, 
4302   The yeer mistorneth, wel I wot.  
4303   To sen a man fro his astat 
4304   Thurgh his sotie effeminat,
4305   And leve that a man schal do, 
4306   It is as Hose above the Scho, 
4307   To man which oghte noght ben used.  
4308   Bot yit the world hath ofte accused 
4309   Ful grete Princes of this dede,  
4310   Hou thei for love hemself mislede,  
4311   Wherof manhode stod behinde,  
4312   Of olde ensamples as I finde. 
4313   These olde gestes tellen thus,
4314   That whilom Sardana Pallus,
4315   Which hield al hol in his empire 
4316   The grete kingdom of Assire,  
4317   Was thurgh the slouthe of his corage
4318   Falle into thilke fyri rage
4319   Of love, which the men assoteth, 
4320   Wherof himself he so rioteth, 
4321   And wax so ferforth wommannyssh, 
4322   That ayein kinde, as if a fissh  
4323   Abide wolde upon the lond, 
4324   In wommen such a lust he fond,
4325   That he duelte evere in chambre stille,
4326   And only wroghte after the wille 
4327   Of wommen, so as he was bede, 
4328   That selden whanne in other stede
4329   If that he wolde wenden oute, 
4330   To sen hou that it stod aboute.  
4331   Bot ther he keste and there he pleide, 
4332   Thei tawhten him a Las to breide,
4333   And weve a Pours, and to enfile  
4334   A Perle: and fell that ilke while,  
4335   On Barbarus the Prince of Mede
4336   Sih hou this king in wommanhede  
4337   Was falle fro chivalerie,  
4338   And gat him help and compaignie, 
4339   And wroghte so, that ate laste
4340   This king out of his regne he caste,
4341   Which was undon for everemo:  
4342   And yit men speken of him so, 
4343   That it is schame forto hiere.
4344   Forthi to love is in manere.  
4345   King David hadde many a love, 
4346   Bot natheles alwey above
4347   Knyhthode he kepte in such a wise,  
4348   That for no fleisshli covoitise  
4349   Of lust to ligge in ladi armes
4350   He lefte noght the lust of armes.
4351   For where a Prince hise lustes suieth, 
4352   That he the werre noght poursuieth, 
4353   Whan it is time to ben armed, 
4354   His contre stant fulofte harmed, 
4355   Whan thenemis ben woxe bolde, 
4356   That thei defence non beholde.
4357   Ful many a lond hath so be lore, 
4358   As men mai rede of time afore 
4359   Of hem that so here eses soghten,
4360   Which after thei full diere aboghten.  
4361   To mochel ese is nothing worth,  
4362   For that set every vice forth 
4363   And every vertu put abak,  
4364   Wherof priss torneth into lak,
4365   As in Cronique I mai reherse: 
4366   Which telleth hou the king of Perse,
4367   That Cirus hihte, a werre hadde  
4368   Ayein a poeple which he dradde,  
4369   Of a contre which Liddos hihte;  
4370   Bot yit for oght that he do mihte
4371   As in bataille upon the werre,
4372   He hadde of hem alwey the werre. 
4373   And whan he sih and wiste it wel,
4374   That he be strengthe wan no del, 
4375   Thanne ate laste he caste a wyle 
4376   This worthi poeple to beguile,
4377   And tok with hem a feigned pes,  
4378   Which scholde lasten endeles, 
4379   So as he seide in wordes wise,
4380   Bot he thoghte al in other wise. 
4381   For it betidd upon the cas,
4382   Whan that this poeple in reste was, 
4383   Thei token eses manyfold;  
4384   And worldes ese, as it is told,  
4385   Be weie of kinde is the norrice  
4386   Of every lust which toucheth vice.  
4387   Thus whan thei were in lustes falle,
4388   The werres ben foryeten alle; 
4389   Was non which wolde the worschipe
4390   Of Armes, bot in idelschipe
4391   Thei putten besinesse aweie
4392   And token hem to daunce and pleie;  
4393   Bot most above alle othre thinges
4394   Thei token hem to the likinges
4395   Of fleysshly lust, that chastete 
4396   Received was in no degre,  
4397   Bot every man doth what him liste.  
4398   And whan the king of Perse it wiste,
4399   That thei unto folie entenden,
4400   With his pouer, whan thei lest wenden, 
4401   Mor sodeinly than doth the thunder  
4402   He cam, for evere and put hem under.
4403   And thus hath lecherie lore
4404   The lond, which hadde be tofore  
4405   The beste of hem that were tho.  
4406   And in the bible I finde also 
4407   A tale lich unto this thing,  
4408   Hou Amalech the paien king,
4409   Whan that he myhte be no weie 
4410   Defende his lond and putte aweie 
4411   The worthi poeple of Irael,
4412   This Sarazin, as it befell,
4413   Thurgh the conseil of Balaam  
4414   A route of faire wommen nam,  
4415   That lusti were and yonge of Age,
4416   And bad hem gon to the lignage
4417   Of these Hebreus: and forth thei wente 
4418   With yhen greye and browes bente 
4419   And wel arraied everych on;
4420   And whan thei come were anon  
4421   Among thebreus, was non insihte, 
4422   Bot cacche who that cacche myhte,
4423   And ech of hem hise lustes soghte,  
4424   Whiche after thei full diere boghte.
4425   For grace anon began to faile,
4426   That whan thei comen to bataille 
4427   Thanne afterward, in sori plit
4428   Thei were take and disconfit, 
4429   So that withinne a litel throwe  
4430   The myht of hem was overthrowe,  
4431   That whilom were wont to stonde. 
4432   Til Phinees the cause on honde
4433   Hath take, this vengance laste,  
4434   Bot thanne it cessede ate laste, 
4435   For god was paid of that he dede:
4436   For wher he fond upon a stede 
4437   A couple which misferde so,
4438   Thurghout he smot hem bothe tuo, 
4439   And let hem ligge in mennes yhe; 
4440   Wherof alle othre whiche hem sihe
4441   Ensamplede hem upon the dede, 
4442   And preiden unto the godhiede 
4443   Here olde Sennes to amende:
4444   And he, which wolde his mercy sende,
4445   Restorede hem to newe grace.  
4446   Thus mai it schewe in sondri place, 
4447   Of chastete hou the clennesse 
4448   Acordeth to the worthinesse
4449   Of men of Armes overal; 
4450   Bot most of alle in special
4451   This vertu to a king belongeth,  
4452   For upon his fortune it hongeth  
4453   Of that his lond schal spede or spille.
4454   Forthi bot if a king his wille
4455   Fro lustes of his fleissh restreigne,  
4456   Ayein himself he makth a treigne,
4457   Into the which if that he slyde, 
4458   Him were betre go besyde.  
4459   For every man mai understonde,
4460   Hou for a time that it stonde,
4461   It is a sori lust to lyke, 
4462   Whos ende makth a man to syke 
4463   And torneth joies into sorwe. 
4464   The brihte Sonne be the morwe 
4465   Beschyneth noght the derke nyht, 
4466   The lusti youthe of mannes myht, 
4467   In Age bot it stonde wel,  
4468   Mistorneth al the laste whiel.
4469   That every worthi Prince is holde
4470   Withinne himself himself beholde,
4471   To se the stat of his persone,
4472   And thenke hou ther be joies none
4473   Upon this Erthe mad to laste, 
4474   And hou the fleissh schal ate laste 
4475   The lustes of this lif forsake,  
4476   Him oghte a gret ensample take
4477   Of Salomon, whos appetit
4478   Was holy set upon delit,
4479   To take of wommen the plesance:  
4480   So that upon his ignorance 
4481   The wyde world merveileth yit,
4482   That he, which alle mennes wit
4483   In thilke time hath overpassed,  
4484   With fleisshly lustes was so tassed,
4485   That he which ladde under the lawe  
4486   The poeple of god, himself withdrawe
4487   He hath fro god in such a wise,  
4488   That he worschipe and sacrifise  
4489   For sondri love in sondri stede  
4490   Unto the false goddes dede.
4491   This was the wise ecclesiaste,
4492   The fame of whom schal evere laste, 
4493   That he the myhti god forsok, 
4494   Ayein the lawe whanne he tok  
4495   His wyves and his concubines  
4496   Of hem that weren Sarazines,  
4497   For whiche he dede ydolatrie. 
4498   For this I rede of his sotie: 
4499   Sche of Sidoyne so him ladde, 
4500   That he knelende his armes spradde  
4501   To Astrathen with gret humblesse,
4502   Which of hire lond was the goddesse:
4503   And sche that was a Moabite
4504   So ferforth made him to delite
4505   Thurgh lust, which al his wit devoureth,  
4506   That he Chamos hire god honoureth.  
4507   An other Amonyte also
4508   With love him hath assoted so,
4509   Hire god Moloch that with encense
4510   He sacreth, and doth reverence
4511   In such a wise as sche him bad.  
4512   Thus was the wiseste overlad  
4513   With blinde lustes whiche he soghte;
4514   Bot he it afterward aboghte.  
4515   For Achias Selonites,
4516   Which was prophete, er his decess,  
4517   Whil he was in hise lustes alle, 
4518   Betokneth what schal after falle.
4519   For on a day, whan that he mette 
4520   Jeroboam the knyht, he grette 
4521   And bad him that he scholde abyde,  
4522   To hiere what him schal betyde.  
4523   And forth withal Achias caste 
4524   His mantell of, and also faste
4525   He kut it into pieces twelve, 
4526   Wherof tuo partz toward himselve 
4527   He kepte, and al the remenant,
4528   As god hath set his covenant, 
4529   He tok unto Jeroboas,
4530   Of Nabal which the Sone was,  
4531   And of the kinges court a knyht: 
4532   And seide him, "Such is goddes myht,
4533   As thou hast sen departed hiere  
4534   Mi mantell, riht in such manere  
4535   After the deth of Salomon  
4536   God hath ordeigned therupon,  
4537   This regne thanne he schal divide:  
4538   Which time thou schalt ek abide, 
4539   And upon that division  
4540   The regne as in proporcion 
4541   As thou hast of mi mantell take, 
4542   Thou schalt receive, I undertake.
4543   And thus the Sone schal abie  
4544   The lustes and the lecherie
4545   Of him which nou his fader is."  
4546   So forto taken hiede of this, 
4547   It sit a king wel to be chaste,  
4548   For elles he mai lihtly waste 
4549   Himself and ek his regne bothe,  
4550   And that oghte every king to lothe. 
4551   O, which a Senne violent,  
4552   Wherof so wys a king was schent, 
4553   That the vengance in his persone 
4554   Was noght ynouh to take al one,  
4555   Bot afterward, whan he was passed,  
4556   It hath his heritage lassed,  
4557   As I more openli tofore 
4558   The tale tolde. And thus therfore
4559   The Philosophre upon this thing  
4560   Writ and conseileth to a king,
4561   That he the surfet of luxure  
4562   Schal tempre and reule of such mesure, 
4563   Which be to kinde sufficant
4564   And ek to reson acordant,  
4565   So that the lustes ignorance  
4566   Be cause of no misgovernance, 
4567   Thurgh which that he be overthrowe, 
4568   As he that wol no reson knowe.
4569   For bot a mannes wit be swerved, 
4570   Whan kinde is dueliche served,
4571   It oghte of reson to suffise; 
4572   For if it falle him otherwise,
4573   He mai tho lustes sore drede. 
4574   For of Anthonie thus I rede,  
4575   Which of Severus was the Sone,
4576   That he his lif of comun wone 
4577   Yaf holy unto thilke vice, 
4578   And ofte time he was so nyce, 
4579   Wherof nature hire hath compleigned 
4580   Unto the god, which hath desdeigned 
4581   The werkes whiche Antonie wroghte
4582   Of lust, whiche he ful sore aboghte:
4583   For god his forfet hath so wroke 
4584   That in Cronique it is yit spoke.
4585   Bot forto take remembrance 
4586   Of special misgovernance
4587   Thurgh covoitise and injustice
4588   Forth with the remenant of vice, 
4589   And nameliche of lecherie, 
4590   I finde write a gret partie
4591   Withinne a tale, as thou schalt hiere, 
4592   Which is thensample of this matiere.
4593   So as these olde gestes sein, 
4594   The proude tirannyssh Romein  
4595   Tarquinus, which was thanne king 
4596   And wroghte many a wrongful thing,  
4597   Of Sones hadde manyon,  
4598   Among the whiche Arrons was on,  
4599   Lich to his fader of maneres; 
4600   So that withinne a fewe yeres 
4601   With tresoun and with tirannie
4602   Thei wonne of lond a gret partie,
4603   And token hiede of no justice,
4604   Which due was to here office  
4605   Upon the reule of governance; 
4606   Bot al that evere was plesance
4607   Unto the fleisshes lust thei toke.  
4608   And fell so, that thei undertoke 
4609   A werre, which was noght achieved,  
4610   Bot ofte time it hadde hem grieved, 
4611   Ayein a folk which thanne hihte  
4612   The Gabiens: and al be nyhte  
4613   This Arrons, whan he was at hom  
4614   In Rome, a prive place he nom 
4615   Withinne a chambre, and bet himselve
4616   And made him woundes ten or tuelve  
4617   Upon the bak, as it was sene; 
4618   And so forth with hise hurtes grene 
4619   In al the haste that he may
4620   He rod, and cam that other day
4621   Unto Gabie the Cite, 
4622   And in he wente: and whan that he
4623   Was knowe, anon the gates schette,  
4624   The lordes alle upon him sette
4625   With drawe swerdes upon honde.
4626   This Arrons wolde hem noght withstonde,
4627   Bot seide, "I am hier at your wille,
4628   Als lief it is that ye me spille,
4629   As if myn oghne fader dede."  
4630   And forthwith in the same stede  
4631   He preide hem that thei wolde se,
4632   And schewede hem in what degre
4633   His fader and hise brethren bothe,  
4634   Whiche, as he seide, weren wrothe,  
4635   Him hadde beten and reviled,  
4636   For evere and out of Rome exiled.
4637   And thus he made hem to believe, 
4638   And seide, if that he myhte achieve 
4639   His pourpos, it schal wel be yolde, 
4640   Be so that thei him helpe wolde. 
4641   Whan that the lordes hadde sein  
4642   Hou wofully he was besein, 
4643   Thei token Pite of his grief; 
4644   Bot yit it was hem wonder lief
4645   That Rome him hadde exiled so.
4646   These Gabiens be conseil tho  
4647   Upon the goddes made him swere,  
4648   That he to hem schal trouthe bere
4649   And strengthen hem with al his myht;
4650   And thei also him have behiht 
4651   To helpen him in his querele. 
4652   Thei schopen thanne for his hele 
4653   That he was bathed and enoignt,  
4654   Til that he was in lusti point;  
4655   And what he wolde thanne he hadde,  
4656   That he al hol the cite ladde 
4657   Riht as he wolde himself divise. 
4658   And thanne he thoghte him in what wise 
4659   He myhte his tirannie schewe; 
4660   And to his conseil tok a schrewe,
4661   Whom to his fader forth he sente 
4662   In his message, and he tho wente,
4663   And preide his fader forto seie  
4664   Be his avis, and finde a weie,
4665   Hou they the cite myhten winne,  
4666   Whil that he stod so wel therinne.  
4667   And whan the messager was come
4668   To Rome, and hath in conseil nome
4669   The king, it fell per chance so  
4670   That thei were in a gardin tho,  
4671   This messager forth with the king.  
4672   And whanne he hadde told the thing  
4673   In what manere that it stod,  
4674   And that Tarquinus understod  
4675   Be the message hou that it ferde,
4676   Anon he tok in honde a yerde, 
4677   And in the gardin as thei gon,
4678   The lilie croppes on and on,  
4679   Wher that thei weren sprongen oute, 
4680   He smot of, as thei stode aboute,
4681   And seide unto the messager:  
4682   "Lo, this thing, which I do nou hier,  
4683   Schal ben in stede of thin ansuere; 
4684   And in this wise as I me bere,
4685   Thou schalt unto mi Sone telle." 
4686   And he no lengere wolde duelle,  
4687   Bot tok his leve and goth withal 
4688   Unto his lord, and told him al,  
4689   Hou that his fader hadde do.  
4690   Whan Arrons herde him telle so,  
4691   Anon he wiste what it mente,  
4692   And therto sette al his entente, 
4693   Til he thurgh fraude and tricherie  
4694   The Princes hefdes of Gabie
4695   Hath smiten of, and al was wonne:
4696   His fader cam tofore the Sonne
4697   Into the toun with the Romeins,  
4698   And tok and slowh the citezeins  
4699   Withoute reson or pite, 
4700   That he ne spareth no degre.  
4701   And for the sped of this conqueste  
4702   He let do make a riche feste  
4703   With a sollempne Sacrifise 
4704   In Phebus temple; and in this wise  
4705   Whan the Romeins assembled were, 
4706   In presence of hem alle there,
4707   Upon thalter whan al was diht 
4708   And that the fyres were alyht,
4709   From under thalter sodeinly
4710   An hidous Serpent openly
4711   Cam out and hath devoured al  
4712   The Sacrifice, and ek withal  
4713   The fyres queynt, and forth anon,
4714   So as he cam, so is he gon 
4715   Into the depe ground ayein.
4716   And every man began to sein,  
4717   "Ha lord, what mai this signefie?"  
4718   And therupon thei preie and crie 
4719   To Phebus, that thei mihten knowe
4720   The cause: and he the same throwe
4721   With gastly vois, that alle it herde,  
4722   The Romeins in this wise ansuerde,  
4723   And seide hou for the wikkidnesse
4724   Of Pride and of unrihtwisnesse,  
4725   That Tarquin and his Sone hath do,  
4726   The Sacrifice is wasted so,
4727   Which myhte noght ben acceptable 
4728   Upon such Senne abhominable.  
4729   And over that yit he hem wisseth,
4730   And seith that which of hem ferst kisseth 
4731   His moder, he schal take wrieche 
4732   Upon the wrong: and of that speche  
4733   Thei ben withinne here hertes glade,
4734   Thogh thei outward no semblant made.
4735   Ther was a knyht which Brutus hihte,
4736   And he with al the haste he myhte
4737   To grounde fell and therthe kiste,  
4738   Bot non of hem the cause wiste,  
4739   Bot wenden that he hadde sporned 
4740   Per chance, and so was overtorned.  
4741   Bot Brutus al an other mente; 
4742   For he knew wel in his entente
4743   Hou therthe of every mannes kinde
4744   Is Moder: bot thei weren blinde, 
4745   And sihen noght so fer as he. 
4746   Bot whan thei leften the Cite 
4747   And comen hom to Rome ayein,  
4748   Thanne every man which was Romein
4749   And moder hath, to hire he bende 
4750   And keste, and ech of hem thus wende
4751   To be the ferste upon the chance,
4752   Of Tarquin forto do vengance, 
4753   So as thei herden Phebus sein.
4754   Bot every time hath his certein, 
4755   So moste it nedes thanne abide,  
4756   Til afterward upon a tyde  
4757   Tarquinus made unskilfully 
4758   A werre, which was fasteby 
4759   Ayein a toun with walles stronge 
4760   Which Ardea was cleped longe, 
4761   And caste a Siege theraboute, 
4762   That ther mai noman passen oute. 
4763   So it befell upon a nyht,  
4764   Arrons, which hadde his souper diht,
4765   A part of the chivalerie
4766   With him to soupe in compaignie  
4767   Hath bede: and whan thei comen were 
4768   And seten at the souper there,
4769   Among here othre wordes glade 
4770   Arrons a gret spekinge made,  
4771   Who hadde tho the beste wif
4772   Of Rome: and ther began a strif, 
4773   For Arrons seith he hath the beste. 
4774   So jangle thei withoute reste,
4775   Til ate laste on Collatin, 
4776   A worthi knyht, and was cousin
4777   To Arrons, seide him in this wise:  
4778   "It is," quod he, "of non emprise
4779   To speke a word, bot of the dede,
4780   Therof it is to taken hiede.  
4781   Anon forthi this same tyde 
4782   Lep on thin hors and let ous ryde:  
4783   So mai we knowe bothe tuo  
4784   Unwarli what oure wyves do,
4785   And that schal be a trewe assay."
4786   This Arrons seith noght ones nay:
4787   On horse bak anon thei lepte  
4788   In such manere, and nothing slepte, 
4789   Ridende forth til that thei come 
4790   Al prively withinne Rome;  
4791   In strange place and doun thei lihte,  
4792   And take a chambre, and out of sihte
4793   Thei be desguised for a throwe,  
4794   So that no lif hem scholde knowe.
4795   And to the paleis ferst thei soghte,
4796   To se what thing this ladi wroghte  
4797   Of which Arrons made his avant:  
4798   And thei hire sihe of glad semblant,
4799   Al full of merthes and of bordes;
4800   Bot among alle hire othre wordes 
4801   Sche spak noght of hire housebonde. 
4802   And whan thei hadde al understonde  
4803   Of thilke place what hem liste,  
4804   Thei gon hem forth, that non it wiste, 
4805   Beside thilke gate of bras,
4806   Collacea which cleped was, 
4807   Wher Collatin hath his duellinge.
4808   Ther founden thei at hom sittinge
4809   Lucrece his wif, al environed 
4810   With wommen, whiche are abandoned
4811   To werche, and sche wroghte ek withal, 
4812   And bad hem haste, and seith, "It schal
4813   Be for mi housebondes were,
4814   Which with his swerd and with his spere
4815   Lith at the Siege in gret desese.
4816   And if it scholde him noght displese,  
4817   Nou wolde god I hadde him hiere; 
4818   For certes til that I mai hiere  
4819   Som good tidinge of his astat,
4820   Min herte is evere upon debat.
4821   For so as alle men witnesse,  
4822   He is of such an hardiesse,
4823   That he can noght himselve spare,
4824   And that is al my moste care, 
4825   Whan thei the walles schulle assaile.  
4826   Bot if mi wisshes myhte availe,  
4827   I wolde it were a groundles pet, 
4828   Be so the Siege were unknet,  
4829   And I myn housebonde sihe."
4830   With that the water in hire yhe  
4831   Aros, that sche ne myhte it stoppe, 
4832   And as men sen the dew bedroppe  
4833   The leves and the floures eke,
4834   Riht so upon hire whyte cheke 
4835   The wofull salte teres felle. 
4836   Whan Collatin hath herd hire telle  
4837   The menynge of hire trewe herte, 
4838   Anon with that to hire he sterte,
4839   And seide, "Lo, mi goode diere,  
4840   Nou is he come to you hiere,  
4841   That ye most loven, as ye sein." 
4842   And sche with goodly chiere ayein
4843   Beclipte him in hire armes smale,
4844   And the colour, which erst was pale,
4845   To Beaute thanne was restored,
4846   So that it myhte noght be mored. 
4847   The kinges Sone, which was nyh,  
4848   And of this lady herde and syh
4849   The thinges as thei ben befalle, 
4850   The resoun of hise wittes alle
4851   Hath lost; for love upon his part
4852   Cam thanne, and of his fyri dart 
4853   With such a wounde him hath thurghsmite,  
4854   That he mot nedes fiele and wite 
4855   Of thilke blinde maladie,  
4856   To which no cure of Surgerie  
4857   Can helpe. Bot yit natheles
4858   At thilke time he hield his pes, 
4859   That he no contienance made,  
4860   Bot openly with wordes glade, 
4861   So as he couthe in his manere,
4862   He spak and made frendly chiere, 
4863   Til it was time forto go.  
4864   And Collatin with him also 
4865   His leve tok, so that be nyhte
4866   With al the haste that thei myhte
4867   Thei riden to the Siege ayein.
4868   Bot Arrons was so wo besein
4869   With thoghtes whiche upon him runne,
4870   That he al be the brode Sunne 
4871   To bedde goth, noght forto reste,
4872   Bot forto thenke upon the beste  
4873   And the faireste forth withal,
4874   That evere he syh or evere schal,
4875   So as him thoghte in his corage, 
4876   Where he pourtreieth hire ymage: 
4877   Ferst the fetures of hir face,
4878   In which nature hadde alle grace 
4879   Of wommanly beaute beset,  
4880   So that it myhte noght be bet;
4881   And hou hir yelwe her was tresced
4882   And hire atir so wel adresced,
4883   And hou sche spak, and hou sche wroghte,  
4884   And hou sche wepte, al this he thoghte,
4885   That he foryeten hath no del, 
4886   Bot al it liketh him so wel,  
4887   That in the word nor in the dede 
4888   Hire lacketh noght of wommanhiede.  
4889   And thus this tirannysshe knyht  
4890   Was soupled, bot noght half ariht,  
4891   For he non other hiede tok,
4892   Bot that he myhte be som crok,
4893   Althogh it were ayein hire wille,
4894   The lustes of his fleissh fulfille; 
4895   Which love was noght resonable,  
4896   For where honour is remuable, 
4897   It oghte wel to ben avised.
4898   Bot he, which hath his lust assised 
4899   With melled love and tirannie,
4900   Hath founde upon his tricherie
4901   A weie which he thenkth to holde,
4902   And seith, "Fortune unto the bolde  
4903   Is favorable forto helpe." 
4904   And thus withinne himself to yelpe, 
4905   As he which was a wylde man,  
4906   Upon his treson he began:  
4907   And up he sterte, and forth he wente
4908   On horsebak, bot his entente  
4909   Ther knew no wiht, and thus he nam  
4910   The nexte weie, til he cam 
4911   Unto Collacea the gate  
4912   Of Rome, and it was somdiel late,
4913   Riht evene upon the Sonne set,
4914   As he which hadde schape his net 
4915   Hire innocence to betrappe.
4916   And as it scholde tho mishappe,  
4917   Als priveliche as evere he myhte 
4918   He rod, and of his hors alyhte
4919   Tofore Collatines In,
4920   And al frendliche he goth him in,
4921   As he that was cousin of house.  
4922   And sche, which is the goode spouse,
4923   Lucrece, whan that sche him sih, 
4924   With goodli chiere drowh him nyh,
4925   As sche which al honour supposeth,  
4926   And him, so as sche dar, opposeth
4927   Hou it stod of hire housebonde.  
4928   And he tho dede hire understonde 
4929   With tales feigned in his wise,  
4930   Riht as he wolde himself devise, 
4931   Wherof he myhte hire herte glade,
4932   That sche the betre chiere made, 
4933   Whan sche the glade wordes herde,
4934   Hou that hire housebonde ferde.  
4935   And thus the trouthe was deceived
4936   With slih tresoun, which was received  
4937   To hire which mente alle goode;  
4938   For as the festes thanne stode,  
4939   His Souper was ryht wel arraied. 
4940   Bot yit he hath no word assaied  
4941   To speke of love in no degre; 
4942   Bot with covert subtilite  
4943   His frendly speches he affaiteth,
4944   And as the Tigre his time awaiteth  
4945   In hope forto cacche his preie.  
4946   Whan that the bordes were aweie  
4947   And thei have souped in the halle,  
4948   He seith that slep is on him falle, 
4949   And preith he moste go to bedde; 
4950   And sche with alle haste spedde, 
4951   So as hire thoghte it was to done,  
4952   That every thing was redi sone.  
4953   Sche broghte him to his chambre tho 
4954   And tok hire leve, and forth is go  
4955   Into hire oghne chambre by,
4956   As sche that wende certeinly  
4957   Have had a frend, and hadde a fo,
4958   Wherof fell after mochel wo.  
4959   This tirant, thogh he lyhe softe,
4960   Out of his bed aros fulofte,  
4961   And goth aboute, and leide his Ere  
4962   To herkne, til that alle were 
4963   To bedde gon and slepten faste.  
4964   And thanne upon himself he caste 
4965   A mantell, and his swerd al naked
4966   He tok in honde; and sche unwaked
4967   Abedde lay, but what sche mette, 
4968   God wot; for he the Dore unschette  
4969   So prively that non it herde, 
4970   The softe pas and forth he ferde 
4971   Unto the bed wher that sche slepte, 
4972   Al sodeinliche and in he crepte, 
4973   And hire in bothe his Armes tok. 
4974   With that this worthi wif awok,  
4975   Which thurgh tendresce of wommanhiede  
4976   Hire vois hath lost for pure drede, 
4977   That o word speke sche ne dar:
4978   And ek he bad hir to be war,  
4979   For if sche made noise or cry,
4980   He seide, his swerd lay faste by 
4981   To slen hire and hire folk aboute.  
4982   And thus he broghte hire herte in doute,  
4983   That lich a Lomb whanne it is sesed 
4984   In wolves mouth, so was desesed  
4985   Lucrece, which he naked fond: 
4986   Wherof sche swounede in his hond,
4987   And, as who seith, lay ded oppressed.  
4988   And he, which al him hadde adresced 
4989   To lust, tok thanne what him liste, 
4990   And goth his wey, that non it wiste,
4991   Into his oghne chambre ayein, 
4992   And clepede up his chamberlein,  
4993   And made him redi forto ryde. 
4994   And thus this lecherouse pride
4995   To horse lepte and forth he rod; 
4996   And sche, which in hire bed abod,
4997   Whan that sche wiste he was agon,
4998   Sche clepede after liht anon  
4999   And up aros long er the day,  
5000   And caste awey hire freissh aray,
5001   As sche which hath the world forsake,  
5002   And tok upon the clothes blake:  
5003   And evere upon continuinge,
5004   Riht as men sen a welle springe, 
5005   With yhen fulle of wofull teres, 
5006   Hire her hangende aboute hire Eres, 
5007   Sche wepte, and noman wiste why. 
5008   Bot yit among full pitously
5009   Sche preide that thei nolden drecche
5010   Hire housebonde forto fecche  
5011   Forth with hire fader ek also.
5012   Thus be thei comen bothe tuo, 
5013   And Brutus cam with Collatin, 
5014   Which to Lucrece was cousin,  
5015   And in thei wenten alle thre  
5016   To chambre, wher thei myhten se  
5017   The wofulleste upon this Molde,  
5018   Which wepte as sche to water scholde.  
5019   The chambre Dore anon was stoke, 
5020   Er thei have oght unto hire spoke;  
5021   Thei sihe hire clothes al desguised,
5022   And hou sche hath hirself despised, 
5023   Hire her hangende unkemd aboute, 
5024   Bot natheles sche gan to loute
5025   And knele unto hire housebonde;  
5026   And he, which fain wolde understonde
5027   The cause why sche ferde so,  
5028   With softe wordes axeth tho,  
5029   "What mai you be, mi goode swete?"  
5030   And sche, which thoghte hirself unmete 
5031   And the lest worth of wommen alle,  
5032   Hire wofull chiere let doun falle
5033   For schame and couthe unnethes loke.
5034   And thei therof good hiede toke, 
5035   And preiden hire in alle weie 
5036   That sche ne spare forto seie 
5037   Unto hir frendes what hire eileth,  
5038   Why sche so sore hirself beweileth, 
5039   And what the sothe wolde mene.
5040   And sche, which hath hire sorwes grene,
5041   Hire wo to telle thanne assaieth,
5042   Bot tendre schame hire word delaieth,  
5043   That sondri times as sche minte  
5044   To speke, upon the point sche stinte.  
5045   And thei hire bidden evere in on 
5046   To telle forth, and therupon, 
5047   Whan that sche sih sche moste nede, 
5048   Hire tale betwen schame and drede
5049   Sche tolde, noght withoute peine.
5050   And he, which wolde hire wo restreigne,
5051   Hire housebonde, a sory man,  
5052   Conforteth hire al that he can,  
5053   And swor, and ek hire fader bothe,  
5054   That thei with hire be noght wrothe 
5055   Of that is don ayein hire wille; 
5056   And preiden hire to be stille,
5057   For thei to hire have al foryive.
5058   Bot sche, which thoghte noght to live, 
5059   Of hem wol no foryivenesse,
5060   And seide, of thilke wickednesse 
5061   Which was unto hire bodi wroght, 
5062   Al were it so sche myhte it noght,  
5063   Nevere afterward the world ne schal 
5064   Reproeven hire; and forth withal,
5065   Er eny man therof be war,  
5066   A naked swerd, the which sche bar
5067   Withinne hire Mantel priveli, 
5068   Betwen hire hondes sodeinly
5069   Sche tok, and thurgh hire herte it throng,
5070   And fell to grounde, and evere among,  
5071   Whan that sche fell, so as sche myhte, 
5072   Hire clothes with hire hand sche rihte,
5073   That noman dounward fro the kne  
5074   Scholde eny thing of hire se: 
5075   Thus lay this wif honestely,  
5076   Althogh sche deide wofully.
5077   Tho was no sorwe forto seke:  
5078   Hire housebonde, hire fader eke  
5079   Aswoune upon the bodi felle;  
5080   Ther mai no mannes tunge telle
5081   In which anguisshe that thei were.  
5082   Bot Brutus, which was with hem there,  
5083   Toward himself his herte kepte,  
5084   And to Lucrece anon he lepte, 
5085   The blodi swerd and pulleth oute,
5086   And swor the goddes al aboute 
5087   That he therof schal do vengance.
5088   And sche tho made a contienance, 
5089   Hire dedlich yhe and ate laste
5090   In thonkinge as it were up caste,
5091   And so behield him in the wise,  
5092   Whil sche to loke mai suffise.
5093   And Brutus with a manlich herte  
5094   Hire housebonde hath mad up sterte  
5095   Forth with hire fader ek also 
5096   In alle haste, and seide hem tho 
5097   That thei anon withoute lette 
5098   A Beere for the body fette;
5099   Lucrece and therupon bledende 
5100   He leide, and so forth out criende  
5101   He goth into the Market place 
5102   Of Rome: and in a litel space 
5103   Thurgh cry the cite was assembled,  
5104   And every mannes herte is trembled, 
5105   Whan thei the sothe herde of the cas.  
5106   And therupon the conseil was  
5107   Take of the grete and of the smale, 
5108   And Brutus tolde hem al the tale;
5109   And thus cam into remembrance 
5110   Of Senne the continuance,  
5111   Which Arrons hadde do tofore, 
5112   And ek, long time er he was bore,
5113   Of that his fadre hadde do 
5114   The wrong cam into place tho; 
5115   So that the comun clamour tolde  
5116   The newe schame of Sennes olde.  
5117   And al the toun began to crie,
5118   "Awey, awey the tirannie
5119   Of lecherie and covoitise!"
5120   And ate laste in such a wise  
5121   The fader in the same while
5122   Forth with his Sone thei exile,  
5123   And taken betre governance.
5124   Bot yit an other remembrance  
5125   That rihtwisnesse and lecherie
5126   Acorden noght in compaignie
5127   With him that hath the lawe on honde,  
5128   That mai a man wel understonde,  
5129   As be a tale thou shalt wite, 
5130   Of olde ensample as it is write. 
5131   At Rome whan that Apius,
5132   Whos other name is Claudius,  
5133   Was governour of the cite, 
5134   Ther fell a wonder thing to se
5135   Touchende a gentil Maide, as thus,  
5136   Whom Livius Virginius
5137   Begeten hadde upon his wif:
5138   Men seiden that so fair a lif 
5139   As sche was noght in al the toun.
5140   This fame, which goth up and doun,  
5141   To Claudius cam in his Ere,
5142   Wherof his thoght anon was there,
5143   Which al his herte hath set afyre,  
5144   That he began the flour desire
5145   Which longeth unto maydenhede,
5146   And sende, if that he myhte spede
5147   The blinde lustes of his wille.  
5148   Bot that thing mai he noght fulfille,  
5149   For sche stod upon Mariage;
5150   A worthi kniht of gret lignage,  
5151   Ilicius which thanne hihte,
5152   Acorded in hire fader sihte
5153   Was, that he scholde his douhter wedde.
5154   Bot er the cause fully spedde,
5155   Hire fader, which in Romanie  
5156   The ledinge of chivalerie  
5157   In governance hath undertake, 
5158   Upon a werre which was take
5159   Goth out with al the strengthe he hadde
5160   Of men of Armes whiche he ladde: 
5161   So was the mariage left,
5162   And stod upon acord til eft.  
5163   The king, which herde telle of this,
5164   Hou that this Maide ordeigned is 
5165   To Mariage, thoghte an other. 
5166   And hadde thilke time a brother, 
5167   Which Marchus Claudius was hote, 
5168   And was a man of such riote
5169   Riht as the king himselve was:
5170   Thei tuo togedre upon this cas
5171   In conseil founden out this weie,
5172   That Marchus Claudius schal seie 
5173   Hou sche be weie of covenant  
5174   To his service appourtenant
5175   Was hol, and to non other man;
5176   And therupon he seith he can  
5177   In every point witnesse take, 
5178   So that sche schal it noght forsake.
5179   Whan that thei hadden schape so, 
5180   After the lawe which was tho, 
5181   Whil that hir fader was absent,  
5182   Sche was somouned and assent  
5183   To come in presence of the king  
5184   And stonde in ansuere of this thing.
5185   Hire frendes wisten alle wel  
5186   That it was falshed everydel, 
5187   And comen to the king and seiden,
5188   Upon the comun lawe and preiden, 
5189   So as this noble worthi knyht 
5190   Hir fader for the comun riht  
5191   In thilke time, as was befalle,  
5192   Lai for the profit of hem alle
5193   Upon the wylde feldes armed,  
5194   That he ne scholde noght ben harmed 
5195   Ne schamed, whil that he were oute; 
5196   And thus thei preiden al aboute. 
5197   For al the clamour that he herde,
5198   The king upon his lust ansuerde, 
5199   And yaf hem only daies tuo 
5200   Of respit; for he wende tho,  
5201   That in so schorte a time appiere
5202   Hire fader mihte in no manere.
5203   Bot as therof he was deceived;
5204   For Livius hadde al conceived 
5205   The pourpos of the king tofore,  
5206   So that to Rome ayein therfore
5207   In alle haste he cam ridende, 
5208   And lefte upon the field liggende
5209   His host, til that he come ayein.
5210   And thus this worthi capitein 
5211   Appiereth redi at his day, 
5212   Wher al that evere reson may  
5213   Be lawe in audience he doth,  
5214   So that his dowhter upon soth 
5215   Of that Marchus hire hadde accused  
5216   He hath tofore the court excused.
5217   The king, which sih his pourpos faile, 
5218   And that no sleihte mihte availe,
5219   Encombred of his lustes blinde
5220   The lawe torneth out of kinde,
5221   And half in wraththe as thogh it were, 
5222   In presence of hem alle there 
5223   Deceived of concupiscence  
5224   Yaf for his brother the sentence,
5225   And bad him that he scholde sese 
5226   This Maide and make him wel at ese; 
5227   Bot al withinne his oghne entente
5228   He wiste hou that the cause wente,  
5229   Of that his brother hath the wyte
5230   He was himselven forto wyte.  
5231   Bot thus this maiden hadde wrong,
5232   Which was upon the king along,
5233   Bot ayein him was non Appel,  
5234   And that the fader wiste wel: 
5235   Wherof upon the tirannie,  
5236   That for the lust of Lecherie 
5237   His douhter scholde be deceived, 
5238   And that Ilicius was weyved
5239   Untrewly fro the Mariage,  
5240   Riht as a Leon in his rage,
5241   Which of no drede set acompte 
5242   And not what pite scholde amounte,  
5243   A naked swerd he pulleth oute,
5244   The which amonges al the route
5245   He threste thurgh his dowhter side, 
5246   And al alowd this word he cride: 
5247   "Lo, take hire ther, thou wrongfull king, 
5248   For me is levere upon this thing 
5249   To be the fader of a Maide,
5250   Thogh sche be ded, that if men saide
5251   That in hir lif sche were schamed
5252   And I therof were evele named."  
5253   Tho bad the king men scholde areste 
5254   His bodi, bot of thilke heste,
5255   Lich to the chaced wylde bor, 
5256   The houndes whan he fieleth sor, 
5257   Tothroweth and goth forth his weie, 
5258   In such a wise forto seie  
5259   This worthi kniht with swerd on honde  
5260   His weie made, and thei him wonde,  
5261   That non of hem his strokes kepte;  
5262   And thus upon his hors he lepte, 
5263   And with his swerd droppende of blod,  
5264   The which withinne his douhter stod,
5265   He cam ther as the pouer was  
5266   Of Rome, and tolde hem al the cas,  
5267   And seide hem that thei myhten liere
5268   Upon the wrong of his matiere,
5269   That betre it were to redresce
5270   At hom the grete unrihtwisnesse, 
5271   Than forto werre in strange place
5272   And lese at hom here oghne grace.
5273   For thus stant every mannes lif  
5274   In jeupartie for his wif
5275   Or for his dowhter, if thei be
5276   Passende an other of beaute.  
5277   Of this merveile which thei sihe 
5278   So apparant tofore here yhe,  
5279   Of that the king him hath misbore,  
5280   Here othes thei have alle swore  
5281   That thei wol stonde be the riht.
5282   And thus of on acord upriht
5283   To Rome at ones hom ayein  
5284   Thei torne, and schortly forto sein,
5285   This tirannye cam to mouthe,  
5286   And every man seith what he couthe, 
5287   So that the prive tricherie,  
5288   Which set was upon lecherie,  
5289   Cam openly to mannes Ere;  
5290   And that broghte in the comun feere,
5291   That every man the peril dradde  
5292   Of him that so hem overladde. 
5293   Forthi, er that it worse falle,  
5294   Thurgh comun conseil of hem alle 
5295   Thei have here wrongfull king deposed, 
5296   And hem in whom it was supposed  
5297   The conseil stod of his ledinge  
5298   Be lawe unto the dom thei bringe,
5299   Wher thei receiven the penance
5300   That longeth to such governance. 
5301   And thus thunchaste was chastised,  
5302   Wherof thei myhte ben avised  
5303   That scholden afterward governe, 
5304   And be this evidence lerne,
5305   Hou it is good a king eschuie 
5306   The lust of vice and vertu suie. 
5307   To make an ende in this partie,  
5308   Which toucheth to the Policie 
5309   Of Chastite in special, 
5310   As for conclusion final 
5311   That every lust is to eschue  
5312   Be gret ensample I mai argue: 
5313   Hou in Rages a toun of Mede
5314   Ther was a Mayde, and as I rede, 
5315   Sarra sche hihte, and Raguel  
5316   Hir fader was; and so befell, 
5317   Of bodi bothe and of visage
5318   Was non so fair of the lignage,  
5319   To seche among hem alle, as sche;
5320   Wherof the riche of the cite, 
5321   Of lusti folk that couden love,  
5322   Assoted were upon hire love,  
5323   And asken hire forto wedde.
5324   On was which ate laste spedde,
5325   Bot that was more for likinge,
5326   To have his lust, than for weddinge,
5327   As he withinne his herte caste,  
5328   Which him repenteth ate laste.
5329   For so it fell the ferste nyht,  
5330   That whanne he was to bedde dyht,
5331   As he which nothing god besecheth
5332   Bot al only hise lustes secheth, 
5333   Abedde er he was fully warm
5334   And wolde have take hire in his Arm,
5335   Asmod, which was a fend of helle,
5336   And serveth, as the bokes telle, 
5337   To tempte a man of such a wise,  
5338   Was redy there, and thilke emprise, 
5339   Which he hath set upon delit, 
5340   He vengeth thanne in such a plit,
5341   That he his necke hathe writhe atuo.
5342   This yonge wif was sory tho,  
5343   Which wiste nothing what it mente;  
5344   And natheles yit thus it wente
5345   Noght only of this ferste man,
5346   Bot after, riht as he began,  
5347   Sexe othre of hire housebondes
5348   Asmod hath take into hise bondes,
5349   So that thei alle abedde deiden, 
5350   Whan thei her hand toward hir leiden,  
5351   Noght for the lawe of Mariage,
5352   Bot for that ilke fyri rage
5353   In which that thei the lawe excede: 
5354   For who that wolde taken hiede
5355   What after fell in this matiere, 
5356   Ther mihte he wel the sothe hiere.  
5357   Whan sche was wedded to Thobie,
5358   And Raphael in compainie
5359   Hath tawht him hou to ben honeste,  
5360   Asmod wan noght at thilke feste, 
5361   And yit Thobie his wille hadde;  
5362   For he his lust so goodly ladde, 
5363   That bothe lawe and kinde is served,
5364   Wherof he hath himself preserved,
5365   That he fell noght in the sentence. 
5366   O which an open evidence
5367   Of this ensample a man mai se,
5368   That whan likinge in the degre
5369   Of Mariage mai forsueie,
5370   Wel oghte him thanne in other weie  
5371   Of lust to be the betre avised.  
5372   For god the lawes hath assissed  
5373   Als wel to reson as to kinde, 
5374   Bot he the bestes wolde binde 
5375   Only to lawes of nature,
5376   Bot to the mannes creature 
5377   God yaf him reson forth withal,  
5378   Wherof that he nature schal
5379   Upon the causes modefie,
5380   That he schal do no lecherie, 
5381   And yit he schal hise lustes have.  
5382   So ben the lawes bothe save
5383   And every thing put out of sclandre;
5384   As whilom to king Alisandre
5385   The wise Philosophre tawhte,  
5386   Whan he his ferste lore cawhte,  
5387   Noght only upon chastete,  
5388   Bot upon alle honestete;
5389   Wherof a king himself mai taste, 
5390   Hou trewe, hou large, hou joust, hou chaste  
5391   Him oghte of reson forto be,  
5392   Forth with the vertu of Pite, 
5393   Thurgh which he mai gret thonk deserve 
5394   Toward his godd, that he preserve
5395   Him and his poeple in alle welthe
5396   Of pes, richesse, honour and helthe 
5397   Hier in this world and elles eke.
5398   Mi Sone, as we tofore spieke  
5399   In schrifte, so as thou me seidest, 
5400   And for thin ese, as thou me preidest, 
5401   Thi love throghes forto lisse,
5402   That I thee wolde telle and wisse
5403   The forme of Aristotles lore, 
5404   I have it seid, and somdiel more 
5405   Of othre ensamples, to assaie 
5406   If I thi peines myhte allaie  
5407   Thurgh eny thing that I can seie.
5408   Do wey, mi fader, I you preie:
5409   Of that ye have unto me told  
5410   I thonke you a thousendfold.  
5411   The tales sounen in myn Ere,  
5412   Bot yit min herte is elleswhere, 
5413   I mai miselve noght restreigne,  
5414   That I nam evere in loves peine: 
5415   Such lore couthe I nevere gete,  
5416   Which myhte make me foryete
5417   O point, bot if so were I slepte,
5418   That I my tydes ay ne kepte
5419   To thenke of love and of his lawe;  
5420   That herte can I noght withdrawe.
5421   Forthi, my goode fader diere, 
5422   Lef al and speke of my matiere
5423   Touchende of love, as we begonne:
5424   If that ther be oght overronne
5425   Or oght foryete or left behinde  
5426   Which falleth unto loves kinde,  
5427   Wherof it nedeth to be schrive,  
5428   Nou axeth, so that whil I live
5429   I myhte amende that is mys.
5430   Mi goode diere Sone, yis.  
5431   Thi schrifte forto make plein,
5432   Ther is yit more forto sein
5433   Of love which is unavised. 
5434   Bot for thou schalt be wel avised
5435   Unto thi schrifte as it belongeth,  
5436   A point which upon love hongeth  
5437   And is the laste of alle tho, 
5438   I wol thee telle, and thanne ho. 

Explicit Liber Septimus.



Incipit Liber Octavus


Que favet ad vicium vetus hec modo regula confert,
     Nec novus e contra qui docet ordo placet.
Cecus amor dudum nondum sua lumina cepit,
     Quo Venus impositum devia fallit iter.


1      The myhti god, which unbegunne
2      Stant of himself and hath begunne
3      Alle othre thinges at his wille, 
4      The hevene him liste to fulfille 
5      Of alle joie, where as he  
6      Sit inthronized in his See,
7      And hath hise Angles him to serve,  
8      Suche as him liketh to preserve, 
9      So that thei mowe noght forsueie:
10     Bot Lucifer he putte aweie,
11     With al the route apostazied  
12     Of hem that ben to him allied,
13     Whiche out of hevene into the helle 
14     From Angles into fendes felle;
15     Wher that ther is no joie of lyht,  
16     Bot more derk than eny nyht
17     The peine schal ben endeles;  
18     And yit of fyres natheles  
19     Ther is plente, bot thei ben blake, 
20     Wherof no syhte mai be take.  
21     Thus whan the thinges ben befalle,  
22     That Luciferes court was falle
23     Wher dedly Pride hem hath conveied, 
24     Anon forthwith it was pourveied  
25     Thurgh him which alle thinges may;
26     He made Adam the sexte day 
27     In Paradis, and to his make
28     Him liketh Eve also to make,  
29     And bad hem cresce and multiplie.
30     For of the mannes Progenie,
31     Which of the womman schal be bore,  
32     The nombre of Angles which was lore,
33     Whan thei out fro the blisse felle, 
34     He thoghte to restore, and felle 
35     In hevene thilke holy place
36     Which stod tho voide upon his grace.
37     Bot as it is wel wiste and knowe,
38     Adam and Eve bot a throwe, 
39     So as it scholde of hem betyde,  
40     In Paradis at thilke tyde  
41     Ne duelten, and the cause why,
42     Write in the bok of Genesi,
43     As who seith, alle men have herd,
44     Hou Raphael the fyri swerd 
45     In honde tok and drof hem oute,  
46     To gete here lyves fode aboute
47     Upon this wofull Erthe hiere. 
48     Metodre seith to this matiere,
49     As he be revelacion  
50     It hadde upon avision,  
51     Hou that Adam and Eve also 
52     Virgines comen bothe tuo
53     Into the world and were aschamed,
54     Til that nature hem hath reclamed
55     To love, and tauht hem thilke lore, 
56     That ferst thei keste, and overmore 
57     Thei don that is to kinde due,
58     Wherof thei hadden fair issue.
59     A Sone was the ferste of alle,
60     And Chain be name thei him calle;
61     Abel was after the secounde,  
62     And in the geste as it is founde,
63     Nature so the cause ladde,  
64     Tuo douhtres ek Dame Eve hadde,  
65     The ferste cleped Calmana  
66     Was, and that other Delbora.  
67     Thus was mankinde to beginne; 
68     Forthi that time it was no Sinne 
69     The Soster forto take hire brother, 
70     Whan that ther was of chois non other: 
71     To Chain was Calmana betake,  
72     And Delboram hath Abel take,  
73     In whom was gete natheles  
74     Of worldes folk the ferste encres.  
75     Men sein that nede hath no lawe, 
76     And so it was be thilke dawe  
77     And laste into the Secounde Age, 
78     Til that the grete water rage,
79     Of Noeh which was seid the flod, 
80     The world, which thanne in Senne stod, 
81     Hath dreint, outake lyves Eyhte. 
82     Tho was mankinde of litel weyhte;
83     Sem, Cham, Japhet, of these thre,
84     That ben the Sones of Noe5,
85     The world of mannes nacion 
86     Into multiplicacion  
87     Was tho restored newe ayein
88     So ferforth, as the bokes sein,  
89     That of hem thre and here issue  
90     Ther was so large a retenue,  
91     Of naciouns seventy and tuo;  
92     In sondri place ech on of tho 
93     The wyde world have enhabited.
94     Bot as nature hem hath excited,  
95     Thei token thanne litel hiede,
96     The brother of the Sosterhiede
97     To wedde wyves, til it cam 
98     Into the time of Habraham. 
99     Whan the thridde Age was begunne,
100    The nede tho was overrunne, 
101    For ther was poeple ynouh in londe: 
102    Thanne ate ferste it cam to honde,  
103    That Sosterhode of mariage 
104    Was torned into cousinage, 
105    So that after the rihte lyne  
106    The Cousin weddeth the cousine.  
107    For Habraham, er that he deide,  
108    This charge upon his servant leide, 
109    To him and in this wise spak, 
110    That he his Sone Isaa5c 
111    Do wedde for no worldes good, 
112    Bot only to his oghne blod:
113    Wherof this Servant, as he bad,  
114    Whan he was ded, his Sone hath lad  
115    To Bathuel, wher he Rebecke
116    Hath wedded with the whyte necke;
117    For sche, he wiste wel and syh,  
118    Was to the child cousine nyh. 
119    And thus as Habraham hath tawht, 
120    Whan Isaa5c was god betawht,  
121    His Sone Jacob dede also,  
122    And of Laban the dowhtres tuo,
123    Which was his Em, he tok to wyve,
124    And gat upon hem in his lyve, 
125    Of hire ferst which hihte Lie,
126    Sex Sones of his Progenie, 
127    And of Rachel tuo Sones eke:  
128    The remenant was forto seke,  
129    That is to sein of foure mo,  
130    Wherof he gat on Bala tuo, 
131    And of Zelpha he hadde ek tweie. 
132    And these tuelve, as I thee seie,
133    Thurgh providence of god himselve
134    Ben seid the Patriarkes tuelve;  
135    Of whom, as afterward befell, 
136    The tribes tuelve of Irahel
137    Engendred were, and ben the same 
138    That of Hebreus tho hadden name, 
139    Which of Sibrede in alliance
140    For evere kepten thilke usance
141    Most comunly, til Crist was bore.
142    Bot afterward it was forbore  
143    Amonges ous that ben baptized;
144    For of the lawe canonized  
145    The Pope hath bede to the men,
146    That non schal wedden of his ken 
147    Ne the seconde ne the thridde.
148    Bot thogh that holy cherche it bidde,  
149    So to restreigne Mariage,  
150    Ther ben yit upon loves Rage  
151    Full manye of suche nou aday  
152    That taken wher thei take may.
153    For love, which is unbesein
154    Of alle reson, as men sein,
155    Thurgh sotie and thurgh nycete,  
156    Of his voluptuosite  
157    He spareth no condicion 
158    Of ken ne yit religion, 
159    Bot as a cock among the Hennes,  
160    Or as a Stalon in the Fennes, 
161    Which goth amonges al the Stod,  
162    Riht so can he nomore good,
163    Bot takth what thing comth next to honde. 
164    Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde,
165    That such delit is forto blame.  
166    Forthi if thou hast be the same  
167    To love in eny such manere,
168    Tell forth therof and schrif thee hiere.  
169    Mi fader, nay, god wot the sothe,
170    Mi feire is noght of such a bothe,  
171    So wylde a man yit was I nevere, 
172    That of mi ken or lief or levere 
173    Me liste love in such a wise: 
174    And ek I not for what emprise 
175    I scholde assote upon a Nonne,
176    For thogh I hadde hir love wonne,
177    It myhte into no pris amonte,  
178    So therof sette I non acompte.
179    Ye mai wel axe of this and that, 
180    Bot sothli forto telle plat,  
181    In al this world ther is bot on  
182    The which myn herte hath overgon;
183    I am toward alle othre fre.
184    Full wel, mi Sone, nou I see  
185    Thi word stant evere upon o place,  
186    Bot yit therof thou hast a grace,
187    That thou thee myht so wel excuse
188    Of love such as som men use,  
189    So as I spak of now tofore.
190    For al such time of love is lore,
191    And lich unto the bitterswete;
192    For thogh it thenke a man ferst swete, 
193    He schal wel fielen ate laste 
194    That it is sour and may noght laste.
195    For as a morsell envenimed,
196    So hath such love his lust mistimed,
197    And grete ensamples manyon 
198    A man mai finde therupon.  
199    At Rome ferst if we beginne,  
200    Ther schal I finde hou of this sinne
201    An Emperour was forto blame,  
202    Gayus Caligula be name, 
203    Which of his oghne Sostres thre  
204    Berefte the virginite:  
205    And whanne he hadde hem so forlein, 
206    As he the which was al vilein,
207    He dede hem out of londe exile.  
208    Bot afterward withinne a while
209    God hath beraft him in his ire
210    His lif and ek his large empire: 
211    And thus for likinge of a throwe 
212    For evere his lust was overthrowe.  
213    Of this sotie also I finde,
214    Amon his Soster ayein kinde,  
215    Which hihte Thamar, he forlay;
216    Bot he that lust an other day 
217    Aboghte, whan that Absolon 
218    His oghne brother therupon,
219    Of that he hadde his Soster schent, 
220    Tok of that Senne vengement
221    And slowh him with his oghne hond:  
222    And thus thunkinde unkinde fond. 
223    And forto se more of this thing, 
224    The bible makth a knowleching,
225    Wherof thou miht take evidence
226    Upon the sothe experience. 
227    Whan Lothes wif was overgon
228    And schape into the salte Ston,  
229    As it is spoke into this day, 
230    Be bothe hise dowhtres thanne he lay,  
231    With childe and made hem bothe grete,  
232    Til that nature hem wolde lete,  
233    And so the cause aboute ladde 
234    That ech of hem a Sone hadde, 
235    Moab the ferste, and the seconde 
236    Amon, of whiche, as it is founde,
237    Cam afterward to gret encres  
238    Tuo nacions: and natheles, 
239    For that the stockes were ungoode,  
240    The branches mihten noght be goode; 
241    For of the false Moabites  
242    Forth with the strengthe of Amonites,  
243    Of that thei weren ferst misgete,
244    The poeple of god was ofte upsete
245    In Irahel and in Judee, 
246    As in the bible a man mai se. 
247    Lo thus, my Sone, as I thee seie,
248    Thou miht thiselve be beseie  
249    Of that thou hast of othre herd:
250    For evere yit it hath so ferd,
251    Of loves lust if so befalle
252    That it in other place falle  
253    Than it is of the lawe set,
254    He which his love hath so beset  
255    Mote afterward repente him sore. 
256    And every man is othres lore; 
257    Of that befell in time er this
258    The present time which now is 
259    May ben enformed hou it stod, 
260    And take that him thenketh good, 
261    And leve that which is noght so. 
262    Bot forto loke of time go, 
263    Hou lust of love excedeth lawe,  
264    It oghte forto be withdrawe;  
265    For every man it scholde drede,  
266    And nameliche in his Sibrede, 
267    Which torneth ofte to vengance:  
268    Wherof a tale in remembrance, 
269    Which is a long process to hiere,
270    I thenke forto tellen hiere.  
271    Of a Cronique in daies gon,
272    The which is cleped Pantheon, 
273    In loves cause I rede thus,
274    Hou that the grete Antiochus, 
275    Of whom that Antioche tok  
276    His ferste name, as seith the bok,  
277    Was coupled to a noble queene,
278    And hadde a dowhter hem betwene: 
279    Bot such fortune cam to honde,
280    That deth, which no king mai withstonde,  
281    Bot every lif it mote obeie,  
282    This worthi queene tok aweie.  
283    The king, which made mochel mone,
284    Tho stod, as who seith, al him one  
285    Withoute wif, bot natheles 
286    His doghter, which was piereles  
287    Of beaute, duelte aboute him stille.
288    Bot whanne a man hath welthe at wille, 
289    The fleissh is frele and falleth ofte, 
290    And that this maide tendre and softe,  
291    Which in hire fadres chambres duelte,  
292    Withinne a time wiste and felte: 
293    For likinge and concupiscence 
294    Withoute insihte of conscience
295    The fader so with lustes blente, 
296    That he caste al his hole entente
297    His oghne doghter forto spille.  
298    This king hath leisir at his wille  
299    With strengthe, and whanne he time sih,
300    This yonge maiden he forlih:  
301    And sche was tendre and full of drede, 
302    Sche couthe noght hir Maidenhede 
303    Defende, and thus sche hath forlore 
304    The flour which she hath longe bore.
305    It helpeth noght althogh sche wepe, 
306    For thei that scholde hir bodi kepe 
307    Of wommen were absent as thanne; 
308    And thus this maiden goth to manne, 
309    The wylde fader thus devoureth
310    His oghne fleissh, which non socoureth,
311    And that was cause of mochel care.  
312    Bot after this unkinde fare
313    Out of the chambre goth the king,
314    And sche lay stille, and of this thing,
315    Withinne hirself such sorghe made,  
316    Ther was no wiht that mihte hir glade, 
317    For feere of thilke horrible vice.  
318    With that cam inne the Norrice
319    Which fro childhode hire hadde kept, 
320    And axeth if sche hadde slept,
321    And why hire chiere was unglad.  
322    Bot sche, which hath ben overlad 
323    Of that sche myhte noght be wreke,  
324    For schame couthe unethes speke; 
325    And natheles mercy sche preide
326    With wepende yhe and thus sche seide:  
327    "Helas, mi Soster, waileway,  
328    That evere I sih this ilke day!  
329    Thing which mi bodi ferst begat  
330    Into this world, onliche that 
331    Mi worldes worschipe hath bereft."  
332    With that sche swouneth now and eft,
333    And evere wissheth after deth,
334    So that welnyh hire lacketh breth.  
335    That other, which hire wordes herde,
336    In confortinge of hire ansuerde, 
337    To lette hire fadres fol desir
338    Sche wiste no recoverir:
339    Whan thing is do, ther is no bote,  
340    So suffren thei that suffre mote;
341    Ther was non other which it wiste.  
342    Thus hath this king al that him liste  
343    Of his likinge and his plesance, 
344    And laste in such continuance,
345    And such delit he tok therinne,  
346    Him thoghte that it was no Sinne;
347    And sche dorste him nothing withseie.  
348    Bot fame, which goth every weie, 
349    To sondry regnes al aboute 
350    The grete beaute telleth oute 
351    Of such a maide of hih parage:
352    So that for love of mariage
353    The worthi Princes come and sende,  
354    As thei the whiche al honour wende, 
355    And knewe nothing hou it stod.
356    The fader, whanne he understod,  
357    That thei his dowhter thus besoghte, 
358    With al his wit he caste and thoghte
359    Hou that he myhte finde a lette; 
360    And such a Statut thanne he sette,  
361    And in this wise his lawe he taxeth,
362    That what man that his doghter axeth,  
363    Bot if he couthe his question 
364    Assoile upon suggestion 
365    Of certein thinges that befelle, 
366    The whiche he wolde unto him telle, 
367    He scholde in certein lese his hed. 
368    And thus ther weren manye ded,
369    Here hevedes stondende on the gate, 
370    Till ate laste longe and late,
371    For lacke of ansuere in the wise,
372    The remenant that weren wise  
373    Eschuieden to make assay.  
374    Til it befell upon a day
375    Appolinus the Prince of Tyr,  
376    Which hath to love a gret desir, 
377    As he which in his hihe mod
378    Was likende of his hote blod, 
379    A yong, a freissh, a lusti knyht,
380    As he lai musende on a nyht
381    Of the tidinges whiche he herde, 
382    He thoghte assaie hou that it ferde.
383    He was with worthi compainie  
384    Arraied, and with good navie  
385    To schipe he goth, the wynd him dryveth,  
386    And seileth, til that he arryveth:  
387    Sauf in the port of Antioche  
388    He londeth, and goth to aproche  
389    The kinges Court and his presence.  
390    Of every naturel science,  
391    Which eny clerk him couthe teche,
392    He couthe ynowh, and in his speche  
393    Of wordes he was eloquent; 
394    And whanne he sih the king present, 
395    He preith he moste his dowhter have. 
396    The king ayein began to crave,
397    And tolde him the condicion,  
398    Hou ferst unto his question
399    He mote ansuere and faile noght, 
400    Or with his heved it schal be boght:
401    And he him axeth what it was. 
402    The king declareth him the cas
403    With sturne lok and sturdi chiere,  
404    To him and seide in this manere: 
405    "With felonie I am upbore, 
406    I ete and have it noght forbore  
407    Mi modres fleissh, whos housebonde  
408    Mi fader forto seche I fonde, 
409    Which is the Sone ek of my wif.  
410    Hierof I am inquisitif; 
411    And who that can mi tale save,
412    Al quyt he schal my doghter have;
413    Of his ansuere and if he faile,  
414    He schal be ded withoute faile.  
415    Forthi my Sone," quod the king,  
416    "Be wel avised of this thing, 
417    Which hath thi lif in jeupartie."
418    Appolinus for his partie,  
419    Whan he this question hath herd, 
420    Unto the king he hath ansuerd 
421    And hath rehersed on and on
422    The pointz, and seide therupon:  
423    "The question which thou hast spoke,
424    If thou wolt that it be unloke,  
425    It toucheth al the privete 
426    Betwen thin oghne child and thee,
427    And stant al hol upon you tuo."  
428    The king was wonder sory tho, 
429    And thoghte, if that he seide it oute, 
430    Than were he schamed al aboute.  
431    With slihe wordes and with felle 
432    He seith, "Mi Sone, I schal thee telle, 
433    Though that thou be of litel wit,
434    It is no gret merveile as yit,
435    Thin age mai it noght suffise:
436    Bot loke wel thou noght despise  
437    Thin oghne lif, for of my grace  
438    Of thretty daies fulle a space
439    I grante thee, to ben avised."
440    And thus with leve and time assised 
441    This yonge Prince forth he wente,
442    And understod wel what it mente, 
443    Withinne his herte as he was lered, 
444    That forto maken him afered
445    The king his time hath so deslaied. 
446    Wherof he dradde and was esmaied,
447    Of treson that he deie scholde,  
448    For he the king his sothe tolde; 
449    And sodeinly the nyhtes tyde, 
450    That more wolde he noght abide,  
451    Al prively his barge he hente 
452    And hom ayein to Tyr he wente:
453    And in his oghne wit he seide 
454    For drede, if he the king bewreide, 
455    He knew so wel the kinges herte, 
456    That deth ne scholde he noght asterte, 
457    The king him wolde so poursuie.  
458    Bot he, that wolde his deth eschuie,
459    And knew al this tofor the hond, 
460    Forsake he thoghte his oghne lond,  
461    That there wolde he noght abyde; 
462    For wel he knew that on som syde 
463    This tirant of his felonie 
464    Be som manere of tricherie 
465    To grieve his bodi wol noght leve.  
466    Forthi withoute take leve, 
467    Als priveliche as evere he myhte,
468    He goth him to the See be nyhte  
469    In Schipes that be whete laden:
470    Here takel redy tho thei maden
471    And hale up Seil and forth thei fare.  
472    Bot forto tellen of the care  
473    That thei of Tyr begonne tho, 
474    Whan that thei wiste he was ago, 
475    It is a Pite forto hiere.  
476    They losten lust, they losten chiere,  
477    Thei toke upon hem such penaunce,
478    Ther was no song, ther was no daunce,  
479    Bot every merthe and melodie  
480    To hem was thanne a maladie;  
481    For unlust of that aventure
482    Ther was noman which tok tonsure,
483    In doelful clothes thei hem clothe, 
484    The bathes and the Stwes bothe
485    Thei schetten in be every weie;  
486    There was no lif which leste pleie  
487    Ne take of eny joie kepe,  
488    Bot for here liege lord to wepe; 
489    And every wyht seide as he couthe,  
490    "Helas, the lusti flour of youthe,  
491    Our Prince, oure heved, our governour, 
492    Thurgh whom we stoden in honour, 
493    Withoute the comun assent  
494    Thus sodeinliche is fro ous went!"  
495    Such was the clamour of hem alle.
496    Bot se we now what is befalle 
497    Upon the ferste tale plein,
498    And torne we therto ayein. 
499    Antiochus the grete Sire,  
500    Which full of rancour and of ire 
501    His herte berth, so as ye herde, 
502    Of that this Prince of Tyr ansuerde,
503    He hadde a feloun bacheler,
504    Which was his prive consailer,
505    And Taliart be name he hihte:  
506    The king a strong puison him dihte  
507    Withinne a buiste and gold therto,  
508    In alle haste and bad him go  
509    Strawht unto Tyr, and for no cost
510    Ne spare he, til he hadde lost
511    The Prince which he wolde spille.
512    And whan the king hath seid his wille, 
513    This Taliart in a Galeie
514    With alle haste he tok his weie: 
515    The wynd was good, he saileth blyve,
516    Til he tok lond upon the ryve 
517    Of Tyr, and forth with al anon
518    Into the Burgh he gan to gon, 
519    And tok his In and bod a throwe. 
520    Bot for he wolde noght be knowe, 
521    Desguised thanne he goth him oute;  
522    He sih the wepinge al aboute, 
523    And axeth what the cause was, 
524    And thei him tolden al the cas,  
525    How sodeinli the Prince is go.
526    And whan he sih that it was so,  
527    And that his labour was in vein, 
528    Anon he torneth hom ayein, 
529    And to the king, whan he cam nyh,
530    He tolde of that he herde and syh,  
531    Hou that the Prince of Tyr is fled, 
532    So was he come ayein unsped.  
533    The king was sori for a while,
534    Bot whan he sih that with no wyle
535    He myhte achieve his crualte, 
536    He stinte his wraththe and let him be. 
537    Bot over this now forto telle 
538    Of aventures that befelle  
539    Unto this Prince of whom I tolde,
540    He hath his rihte cours forth holde 
541    Be Ston and nedle, til he cam 
542    To Tharse, and there his lond he nam.  
543    A Burgeis riche of gold and fee
544    Was thilke time in that cite, 
545    Which cleped was Strangulio,  
546    His wif was Dionise also:  
547    This yonge Prince, as seith the bok,
548    With hem his herbergage tok;  
549    And it befell that Cite so 
550    Before time and thanne also,  
551    Thurgh strong famyne which hem ladde
552    Was non that eny whete hadde. 
553    Appolinus, whan that he herde 
554    The meschief, hou the cite ferde,
555    Al freliche of his oghne yifte
556    His whete, among hem forto schifte, 
557    The which be Schipe he hadde broght,
558    He yaf, and tok of hem riht noght.  
559    Bot sithen ferst this world began,  
560    Was nevere yit to such a man  
561    Mor joie mad than thei him made: 
562    For thei were alle of him so glade, 
563    That thei for evere in remembrance  
564    Made a figure in resemblance  
565    Of him, and in the comun place
566    Thei sette him up, so that his face 
567    Mihte every maner man beholde,
568    So as the cite was beholde;
569    It was of latoun overgilt: 
570    Thus hath he noght his yifte spilt. 
571    Upon a time with his route 
572    This lord to pleie goth him oute,
573    And in his weie of Tyr he mette  
574    A man, the which on knees him grette,  
575    And Hellican be name he hihte,
576    Which preide his lord to have insihte  
577    Upon himself, and seide him thus,
578    Hou that the grete Antiochus
579    Awaiteth if he mihte him spille. 
580    That other thoghte and hield him stille,  
581    And thonked him of his warnynge, 
582    And bad him telle no tidinge, 
583    Whan he to Tyr cam hom ayein, 
584    That he in Tharse him hadde sein.
585    Fortune hath evere be muable  
586    And mai no while stonde stable:  
587    For now it hiheth, now it loweth,
588    Now stant upriht, now overthroweth, 
589    Now full of blisse and now of bale, 
590    As in the tellinge of mi tale 
591    Hierafterward a man mai liere,
592    Which is gret routhe forto hiere.
593    This lord, which wolde don his beste,  
594    Withinne himself hath litel reste,  
595    And thoghte he wolde his place change  
596    And seche a contre more strange. 
597    Of Tharsiens his leve anon 
598    He tok, and is to Schipe gon: 
599    His cours he nam with Seil updrawe, 
600    Where as fortune doth the lawe,  
601    And scheweth, as I schal reherse,
602    How sche was to this lord diverse,  
603    The which upon the See sche ferketh.
604    The wynd aros, the weder derketh,
605    It blew and made such tempeste,  
606    Non ancher mai the schip areste, 
607    Which hath tobroken al his gere; 
608    The Schipmen stode in such a feere, 
609    Was non that myhte himself bestere, 
610    Bot evere awaite upon the lere,  
611    Whan that thei scholde drenche at ones.
612    Ther was ynowh withinne wones 
613    Of wepinge and of sorghe tho; 
614    This yonge king makth mochel wo  
615    So forto se the Schip travaile:  
616    Bot al that myhte him noght availe;  
617    The mast tobrak, the Seil torof, 
618    The Schip upon the wawes drof,
619    Til that thei sihe a londes cooste. 
620    Tho made avou the leste and moste,  
621    Be so thei myhten come alonde;
622    Bot he which hath the See on honde, 
623    Neptunus, wolde noght acorde, 
624    Bot altobroke cable and corde,
625    Er thei to londe myhte aproche,  
626    The Schip toclef upon a roche,
627    And al goth doun into the depe.  
628    Bot he that alle thing mai kepe  
629    Unto this lord was merciable, 
630    And broghte him sauf upon a table,  
631    Which to the lond him hath upbore;  
632    The remenant was al forlore,  
633    Wherof he made mochel mone.
634    Thus was this yonge lord him one,
635    Al naked in a povere plit: 
636    His colour, which whilom was whyt,  
637    Was thanne of water fade and pale,  
638    And ek he was so sore acale
639    That he wiste of himself no bote,
640    It halp him nothing forto mote
641    To gete ayein that he hath lore. 
642    Bot sche which hath his deth forbore,  
643    Fortune, thogh sche wol noght yelpe,
644    Al sodeinly hath sent him helpe, 
645    Whanne him thoghte alle grace aweie;
646    Ther cam a Fisshere in the weie, 
647    And sih a man ther naked stonde, 
648    And whan that he hath understonde
649    The cause, he hath of him gret routhe, 
650    And onliche of his povere trouthe
651    Of suche clothes as he hadde  
652    With gret Pite this lord he cladde.  
653    And he him thonketh as he scholde,  
654    And seith him that it schal be yolde,  
655    If evere he gete his stat ayein, 
656    And preide that he wolde him sein
657    If nyh were eny toun for him. 
658    He seide, "Yee, Pentapolim,
659    Wher bothe king and queene duellen."
660    Whanne he this tale herde tellen,
661    He gladeth him and gan beseche
662    That he the weie him wolde teche:
663    And he him taghte; and forth he wente  
664    And preide god with good entente 
665    To sende him joie after his sorwe.  
666    It was noght passed yit Midmorwe,
667    Whan thiderward his weie he nam, 
668    Wher sone upon the Non he cam.
669    He eet such as he myhte gete, 
670    And forth anon, whan he hadde ete,  
671    He goth to se the toun aboute,
672    And cam ther as he fond a route  
673    Of yonge lusti men withalle;  
674    And as it scholde tho befalle,
675    That day was set of such assisse,
676    That thei scholde in the londes guise, 
677    As he herde of the poeple seie,  
678    Here comun game thanne pleie; 
679    And crid was that thei scholden come
680    Unto the gamen alle and some  
681    Of hem that ben delivere and wyhte, 
682    To do such maistrie as thei myhte.  
683    Thei made hem naked as thei scholde,
684    For so that ilke game wolde,  
685    As it was tho custume and us, 
686    Amonges hem was no refus:  
687    The flour of al the toun was there  
688    And of the court also ther were, 
689    And that was in a large place  
690    Riht evene afore the kinges face,
691    Which Artestrathes thanne hihte. 
692    The pley was pleid riht in his sihte,  
693    And who most worthi was of dede  
694    Receive he scholde a certein mede
695    And in the cite bere a pris.  
696    Appolinus, which war and wys  
697    Of every game couthe an ende, 
698    He thoghte assaie, hou so it wende, 
699    And fell among hem into game: 
700    And there he wan him such a name,
701    So as the king himself acompteth 
702    That he alle othre men surmonteth,  
703    And bar the pris above hem alle. 
704    The king bad that into his halle 
705    At Souper time he schal be broght;  
706    And he cam thanne and lefte it noght,  
707    Withoute compaignie al one:
708    Was non so semlich of persone,
709    Of visage and of limes bothe, 
710    If that he hadde what to clothe. 
711    At Soupertime natheles  
712    The king amiddes al the pres  
713    Let clepe him up among hem alle, 
714    And bad his Mareschall of halle  
715    To setten him in such degre
716    That he upon him myhte se. 
717    The king was sone set and served,
718    And he, which hath his pris deserved
719    After the kinges oghne word,  
720    Was mad beginne a Middel bord,
721    That bothe king and queene him sihe.
722    He sat and caste aboute his yhe  
723    And sih the lordes in astat,  
724    And with himself wax in debat 
725    Thenkende what he hadde lore,  
726    And such a sorwe he tok therfore,
727    That he sat evere stille and thoghte,  
728    As he which of no mete roghte.
729    The king behield his hevynesse,  
730    And of his grete gentillesse  
731    His doghter, which was fair and good
732    And ate bord before him stod, 
733    As it was thilke time usage,  
734    He bad to gon on his message  
735    And fonde forto make him glad.
736    And sche dede as hire fader bad, 
737    And goth to him the softe pas 
738    And axeth whenne and what he was,
739    And preith he scholde his thoghtes leve.  
740    He seith, "Ma Dame, be your leve 
741    Mi name is hote Appolinus, 
742    And of mi richesse it is thus,
743    Upon the See I have it lore.  
744    The contre wher as I was bore,
745    Wher that my lond is and mi rente,  
746    I lefte at Tyr, whan that I wente:  
747    The worschipe of this worldes aghte,
748    Unto the god ther I betaghte."
749    And thus togedre as thei tuo speeke,
750    The teres runne be his cheeke.
751    The king, which therof tok good kepe,  
752    Hath gret Pite to sen him wepe,  
753    And for his doghter sende ayein, 
754    And preide hir faire and gan to sein
755    That sche no lengere wolde drecche, 
756    Bot that sche wolde anon forth fecche  
757    Hire harpe and don al that sche can 
758    To glade with that sory man.  
759    And sche to don hir fader heste  
760    Hir harpe fette, and in the feste
761    Upon a Chaier which thei fette
762    Hirself next to this man sche sette: 
763    With harpe bothe and ek with mouthe 
764    To him sche dede al that sche couthe
765    To make him chiere, and evere he siketh,  
766    And sche him axeth hou him liketh.  
767    "Ma dame, certes wel," he seide, 
768    "Bot if ye the mesure pleide  
769    Which, if you list, I schal you liere, 
770    It were a glad thing forto hiere."  
771    "Ha, lieve sire," tho quod sche, 
772    "Now tak the harpe and let me se 
773    Of what mesure that ye mene." 
774    Tho preith the king, tho preith the queene,  
775    Forth with the lordes alle arewe,
776    That he som merthe wolde schewe; 
777    He takth the Harpe and in his wise  
778    He tempreth, and of such assise  
779    Singende he harpeth forth withal,
780    That as a vois celestial
781    Hem thoghte it souneth in here Ere, 
782    As thogh that he an Angel were.  
783    Thei gladen of his melodie,
784    Bot most of alle the compainie
785    The kinges doghter, which it herde, 
786    And thoghte ek hou that he ansuerde,
787    Whan that he was of hire opposed,
788    Withinne hir herte hath wel supposed
789    That he is of gret gentilesse.
790    Hise dedes ben therof witnesse
791    Forth with the wisdom of his lore;  
792    It nedeth noght to seche more,
793    He myhte noght have such manere, 
794    Of gentil blod bot if he were.
795    Whanne he hath harped al his fille, 
796    The kinges heste to fulfille, 
797    Awey goth dissh, awey goth cuppe,
798    Doun goth the bord, the cloth was uppe,
799    Thei risen and gon out of halle.  
800    The king his chamberlein let calle, 
801    And bad that he be alle weie  
802    A chambre for this man pourveie, 
803    Which nyh his oghne chambre be.  
804    "It schal be do, mi lord," quod he. 
805    Appolinus of whom I mene
806    Tho tok his leve of king and queene 
807    And of the worthi Maide also, 
808    Which preide unto hir fader tho, 
809    That sche myhte of that yonge man
810    Of tho sciences whiche he can 
811    His lore have; and in this wise  
812    The king hir granteth his aprise,
813    So that himself therto assente.  
814    Thus was acorded er thei wente,  
815    That he with al that evere he may
816    This yonge faire freisshe May 
817    Of that he couthe scholde enforme;  
818    And full assented in this forme  
819    Thei token leve as for that nyht.
820    And whanne it was amorwe lyht,
821    Unto this yonge man of Tyr 
822    Of clothes and of good atir
823    With gold and Selver to despende 
824    This worthi yonge lady sende: 
825    And thus sche made him wel at ese,  
826    And he with al that he can plese 
827    Hire serveth wel and faire ayein.
828    He tawhte hir til sche was certein  
829    Of Harpe, of Citole and of Rote, 
830    With many a tun and many a note  
831    Upon Musique, upon mesure, 
832    And of hire Harpe the temprure
833    He tawhte hire ek, as he wel couthe.
834    Bot as men sein that frele is youthe,  
835    With leisir and continuance
836    This Mayde fell upon a chance, 
837    That love hath mad him a querele 
838    Ayein hire youthe freissh and frele,
839    That malgre wher sche wole or noght,
840    Sche mot with al hire hertes thoght 
841    To love and to his lawe obeie;
842    And that sche schal ful sore abeie. 
843    For sche wot nevere what it is,  
844    Bot evere among sche fieleth this:  
845    Thenkende upon this man of Tyr,  
846    Hire herte is hot as eny fyr, 
847    And otherwhile it is acale;
848    Now is sche red, nou is sche pale
849    Riht after the condicion
850    Of hire ymaginacion; 
851    Bot evere among hire thoghtes alle, 
852    Sche thoghte, what so mai befalle,  
853    Or that sche lawhe, or that sche wepe, 
854    Sche wolde hire goode name kepe  
855    For feere of wommanysshe schame. 
856    Bot what in ernest and in game,  
857    Sche stant for love in such a plit, 
858    That sche hath lost al appetit
859    Of mete, of drinke, of nyhtes reste,
860    As sche that not what is the beste; 
861    Bot forto thenken al hir fille
862    Sche hield hire ofte times stille
863    Withinne hir chambre, and goth noght oute:
864    The king was of hire lif in doute,  
865    Which wiste nothing what it mente.  
866    Bot fell a time, as he out wente 
867    To walke, of Princes Sones thre  
868    Ther come and felle to his kne;  
869    And ech of hem in sondri wise 
870    Besoghte and profreth his servise,  
871    So that he myhte his doghter have.  
872    The king, which wolde his honour save,  
873    Seith sche is siek, and of that speche 
874    Tho was no time to beseche;
875    Bot ech of hem do make a bille
876    He bad, and wryte his oghne wille,  
877    His name, his fader and his good;
878    And whan sche wiste hou that it stod,  
879    And hadde here billes oversein,  
880    Thei scholden have ansuere ayein.
881    Of this conseil thei weren glad, 
882    And writen as the king hem bad,  
883    And every man his oghne bok
884    Into the kinges hond betok,
885    And he it to his dowhter sende,  
886    And preide hir forto make an ende
887    And wryte ayein hire oghne hond, 
888    Riht as sche in hire herte fond. 
889    The billes weren wel received,
890    Bot sche hath alle here loves weyved,  
891    And thoghte tho was time and space  
892    To put hire in hir fader grace,  
893    And wrot ayein and thus sche saide: 
894    "The schame which is in a Maide  
895    With speche dar noght ben unloke,
896    Bot in writinge it mai be spoke; 
897    So wryte I to you, fader, thus:  
898    Bot if I have Appolinus,
899    Of al this world, what so betyde,
900    I wol non other man abide. 
901    And certes if I of him faile, 
902    I wot riht wel withoute faile 
903    Ye schull for me be dowhterles." 
904    This lettre cam, and ther was press 
905    Tofore the king, ther as he stod;
906    And whan that he it understod,
907    He yaf hem ansuer by and by,  
908    Bot that was do so prively,
909    That non of othres conseil wiste.
910    Thei toke her leve, and wher hem liste 
911    Thei wente forth upon here weie.  
912    The king ne wolde noght bewreie  
913    The conseil for no maner hihe,
914    Bot soffreth til he time sihe:
915    And whan that he to chambre is come,
916    He hath unto his conseil nome 
917    This man of Tyr, and let him se  
918    The lettre and al the privete,
919    The which his dowhter to him sente: 
920    And he his kne to grounde bente  
921    And thonketh him and hire also,  
922    And er thei wenten thanne atuo,  
923    With good herte and with good corage
924    Of full Love and full mariage 
925    The king and he ben hol acorded. 
926    And after, whanne it was recorded
927    Unto the dowhter hou it stod, 
928    The yifte of al this worldes good
929    Ne scholde have mad hir half so blythe:
930    And forth withal the king als swithe,  
931    For he wol have hire good assent,
932    Hath for the queene hir moder sent. 
933    The queene is come, and whan sche herde
934    Of this matiere hou that it ferde,  
935    Sche syh debat, sche syh desese, 
936    Bot if sche wolde hir dowhter plese,
937    And is therto assented full.  
938    Which is a dede wonderfull,
939    For noman knew the sothe cas  
940    Bot he himself, what man he was; 
941    And natheles, so as hem thoghte, 
942    Hise dedes to the sothe wroghte  
943    That he was come of gentil blod: 
944    Him lacketh noght bot worldes good, 
945    And as therof is no despeir,  
946    For sche schal ben hire fader heir, 
947    And he was able to governe.
948    Thus wol thei noght the love werne  
949    Of him and hire in none wise,  
950    Bot ther acorded thei divise  
951    The day and time of Mariage.  
952    Wher love is lord of the corage, 
953    Him thenketh longe er that he spede;
954    Bot ate laste unto the dede
955    The time is come, and in her wise
956    With gret offrende and sacrifise 
957    Thei wedde and make a riche feste,  
958    And every thing which was honeste
959    Withinnen house and ek withoute  
960    It was so don, that al aboute 
961    Of gret worschipe, of gret noblesse 
962    Ther cride many a man largesse
963    Unto the lordes hihe and loude;  
964    The knyhtes that ben yonge and proude, 
965    Thei jouste ferst and after daunce. 
966    The day is go, the nyhtes chaunce
967    Hath derked al the bryhte Sonne; 
968    This lord, which hath his love wonne,  
969    Is go to bedde with his wif,  
970    Wher as thei ladde a lusti lif,  
971    And that was after somdel sene,  
972    For as thei pleiden hem betwene, 
973    Thei gete a child betwen hem tuo,
974    To whom fell after mochel wo. 
975    Now have I told of the spousailes.  
976    Bot forto speke of the mervailes 
977    Whiche afterward to hem befelle, 
978    It is a wonder forto telle.
979    It fell adai thei riden oute, 
980    The king and queene and al the route,  
981    To pleien hem upon the stronde,  
982    Wher as thei sen toward the londe
983    A Schip sailende of gret array.  
984    To knowe what it mene may,  
985    Til it be come thei abide; 
986    Than sen thei stonde on every side, 
987    Endlong the schipes bord to schewe, 
988    Of Penonceals a riche rewe.
989    Thei axen when the ship is come: 
990    Fro Tyr, anon ansuerde some,  
991    And over this thei seiden more
992    The cause why thei comen fore 
993    Was forto seche and forto finde  
994    Appolinus, which was of kinde 
995    Her liege lord: and he appiereth,
996    And of the tale which he hiereth 
997    He was riht glad; for thei him tolde,  
998    That for vengance, as god it wolde, 
999    Antiochus, as men mai wite,
1000   With thondre and lyhthnynge is forsmite;  
1001   His doghter hath the same chaunce,  
1002   So be thei bothe in o balance.
1003   "Forthi, oure liege lord, we seie
1004   In name of al the lond, and preie,  
1005   That left al other thing to done,
1006   It like you to come sone
1007   And se youre oghne liege men  
1008   With othre that ben of youre ken,
1009   That live in longinge and desir  
1010   Til ye be come ayein to Tyr." 
1011   This tale after the king it hadde
1012   Pentapolim al overspradde, 
1013   Ther was no joie forto seche; 
1014   For every man it hadde in speche 
1015   And seiden alle of on acord,  
1016   "A worthi king schal ben oure lord: 
1017   That thoghte ous ferst an hevinesse 
1018   Is schape ous now to gret gladnesse."  
1019   Thus goth the tidinge overal. 
1020   Bot nede he mot, that nede schal:
1021   Appolinus his leve tok, 
1022   To god and al the lond betok
1023   With al the poeple long and brod,
1024   That he no lenger there abod. 
1025   The king and queene sorwe made,  
1026   Bot yit somdiel thei weren glade 
1027   Of such thing as thei herden tho:
1028   And thus betwen the wel and wo
1029   To schip he goth, his wif with childe, 
1030   The which was evere meke and mylde  
1031   And wolde noght departe him fro, 
1032   Such love was betwen hem tuo. 
1033   Lichorida for hire office  
1034   Was take, which was a Norrice,
1035   To wende with this yonge wif, 
1036   To whom was schape a woful lif.  
1037   Withinne a time, as it betidde,  
1038   Whan thei were in the See amidde,
1039   Out of the North they sihe a cloude;
1040   The storm aros, the wyndes loude 
1041   Thei blewen many a dredful blast,
1042   The welkne was al overcast,
1043   The derke nyht the Sonne hath under,
1044   Ther was a gret tempeste of thunder:
1045   The Mone and ek the Sterres bothe
1046   In blake cloudes thei hem clothe,
1047   Wherof here brihte lok thei hyde.
1048   This yonge ladi wepte and cride, 
1049   To whom no confort myhte availe; 
1050   Of childe sche began travaile,
1051   Wher sche lay in a Caban clos:
1052   Hire woful lord fro hire aros,
1053   And that was longe er eny morwe, 
1054   So that in anguisse and in sorwe 
1055   Sche was delivered al be nyhte
1056   And ded in every mannes syhte;
1057   Bot natheles for al this wo
1058   A maide child was bore tho.
1059   Appolinus whan he this knew,  
1060   For sorwe a swoune he overthrew,
1061   That noman wiste in him no lif.  
1062   And whanne he wok, he seide, "Ha, wif, 
1063   Mi lust, mi joie, my desir,
1064   Mi welthe and my recoverir,
1065   Why schal I live, and thou schalt dye? 
1066   Ha, thou fortune, I thee deffie, 
1067   Nou hast thou do to me thi werste.  
1068   Ha, herte, why ne wolt thou berste, 
1069   That forth with hire I myhte passe? 
1070   Mi peines weren wel the lasse."  
1071   In such wepinge and in such cry  
1072   His dede wif, which lay him by,  
1073   A thousend sithes he hire kiste; 
1074   Was nevere man that sih ne wiste 
1075   A sorwe unto his sorwe lich;  
1076   For evere among upon the lich 
1077   He fell swounende, as he that soghte
1078   His oghne deth, which he besoghte
1079   Unto the goddes alle above 
1080   With many a pitous word of love; 
1081   Bot suche wordes as tho were  
1082   Yit herde nevere mannes Ere,  
1083   Bot only thilke whiche he seide. 
1084   The Maister Schipman cam and preide 
1085   With othre suche as be therinne, 
1086   And sein that he mai nothing winne  
1087   Ayein the deth, bot thei him rede,  
1088   He be wel war and tak hiede,  
1089   The See be weie of his nature 
1090   Receive mai no creature 
1091   Withinne himself as forto holde, 
1092   The which is ded: forthi thei wolde,
1093   As thei conseilen al aboute,  
1094   The dede body casten oute. 
1095   For betre it is, thei seiden alle,  
1096   That it of hire so befalle,
1097   Than if thei scholden alle spille.
1098   The king, which understod here wille
1099   And knew here conseil that was trewe,  
1100   Began ayein his sorwe newe 
1101   With pitous herte, and thus to seie:
1102   "It is al reson that ye preie.
1103   I am," quod he, "bot on al one,  
1104   So wolde I noght for mi persone  
1105   Ther felle such adversite. 
1106   Bot whan it mai no betre be,  
1107   Doth thanne thus upon my word,
1108   Let make a cofre strong of bord, 
1109   That it be ferm with led and pich." 
1110   Anon was mad a cofre sich, 
1111   Al redy broght unto his hond; 
1112   And whanne he sih and redy fond  
1113   This cofre mad and wel enclowed, 
1114   The dede bodi was besowed  
1115   In cloth of gold and leid therinne. 
1116   And for he wolde unto hire winne 
1117   Upon som cooste a Sepulture,  
1118   Under hire heved in aventure  
1119   Of gold he leide Sommes grete 
1120   And of jeueals a strong beyete
1121   Forth with a lettre, and seide thus:
1122   "I, king of Tyr Appollinus,
1123   Do alle maner men to wite, 
1124   That hiere and se this lettre write,
1125   That helpeles withoute red 
1126   Hier lith a kinges doghter ded:  
1127   And who that happeth hir to finde,  
1128   For charite tak in his mynde, 
1129   And do so that sche be begrave
1130   With this tresor, which he schal have."
1131   Thus whan the lettre was full spoke,
1132   Thei haue anon the cofre stoke,
1133   And bounden it with yren faste,  
1134   That it may with the wawes laste,
1135   And stoppen it be such a weie,
1136   That it schal be withinne dreie, 
1137   So that no water myhte it grieve.
1138   And thus in hope and good believe
1139   Of that the corps schal wel aryve,  
1140   Thei caste it over bord als blyve.  
1141   The Schip forth on the wawes wente; 
1142   The prince hath changed his entente,
1143   And seith he wol noght come at Tyr  
1144   As thanne, bot al his desir
1145   Is ferst to seilen unto Tharse.  
1146   The wyndy Storm began to skarse, 
1147   The Sonne arist, the weder cliereth,
1148   The Schipman which behinde stiereth,
1149   Whan that he sih the wyndes saghte, 
1150   Towardes Tharse his cours he straghte. 
1151   Bot now to mi matiere ayein,  
1152   To telle as olde bokes sein,  
1153   This dede corps of which ye knowe
1154   With wynd and water was forthrowe
1155   Now hier, now ther, til ate laste
1156   At Ephesim the See upcaste 
1157   The cofre and al that was therinne. 
1158   Of gret merveile now beginne  
1159   Mai hiere who that sitteth stille;  
1160   That god wol save mai noght spille. 
1161   Riht as the corps was throwe alonde,
1162   Ther cam walkende upon the stronde  
1163   A worthi clerc, a Surgien, 
1164   And ek a gret Phisicien,
1165   Of al that lond the wisest on,
1166   Which hihte Maister Cerymon;  
1167   Ther were of his disciples some. 
1168   This Maister to the Cofre is come,  
1169   He peiseth ther was somwhat in,  
1170   And bad hem bere it to his In, 
1171   And goth himselve forth withal.  
1172   Al that schal falle, falle schal;
1173   Thei comen hom and tarie noght;  
1174   This Cofre is into chambre broght,  
1175   Which that thei finde faste stoke,  
1176   Bot thei with craft it have unloke. 
1177   Thei loken in, where as thei founde 
1178   A bodi ded, which was bewounde
1179   In cloth of gold, as I seide er, 
1180   The tresor ek thei founden ther  
1181   Forth with the lettre, which thei rede.
1182   And tho thei token betre hiede;  
1183   Unsowed was the bodi sone, 
1184   And he, which knew what is to done, 
1185   This noble clerk, with alle haste
1186   Began the veines forto taste, 
1187   And sih hire Age was of youthe,  
1188   And with the craftes whiche he couthe  
1189   He soghte and fond a signe of lif.  
1190   With that this worthi kinges wif 
1191   Honestely thei token oute, 
1192   And maden fyres al aboute; 
1193   Thei leide hire on a couche softe,  
1194   And with a scheete warmed ofte
1195   Hire colde brest began to hete,  
1196   Hire herte also to flacke and bete. 
1197   This Maister hath hire every joignt 
1198   With certein oile and balsme enoignt,  
1199   And putte a liquour in hire mouth,  
1200   Which is to fewe clerkes couth,  
1201   So that sche coevereth ate laste;
1202   And ferst hire yhen up sche caste,  
1203   And whan sche more of strengthe cawhte,
1204   Hire Armes bothe forth sche strawhte,  
1205   Hield up hire hond and pitously  
1206   Sche spak and seide, "Ha, wher am I?
1207   Where is my lord, what world is this?"  
1208   As sche that wot noght hou it is.
1209   Bot Cerymon the worthi leche  
1210   Ansuerde anon upon hire speche
1211   And seith, "Ma dame, yee ben hiere, 
1212   Where yee be sauf, as yee schal hiere  
1213   Hierafterward; forthi as nou  
1214   Mi conseil is, conforteth you:
1215   For trusteth wel withoute faile, 
1216   Ther is nothing which schal you faile, 
1217   That oghte of reson to be do."
1218   Thus passen thei a day or tuo;
1219   Thei speke of noght as for an ende, 
1220   Til sche began somdiel amende,
1221   And wiste hireselven what sche mente.  
1222   Tho forto knowe hire hol entente,
1223   This Maister axeth al the cas,
1224   Hou sche cam there and what sche was.  
1225   "Hou I cam hiere wot I noght,"
1226   Quod sche, "bot wel I am bethoght
1227   Of othre thinges al aboute":  
1228   Fro point to point and tolde him oute  
1229   Als ferforthli as sche it wiste. 
1230   And he hire tolde hou in a kiste 
1231   The See hire threw upon the lond,
1232   And what tresor with hire he fond,  
1233   Which was al redy at hire wille, 
1234   As he that schop him to fulfille 
1235   With al his myht what thing he scholde.
1236   Sche thonketh him that he so wolde, 
1237   And al hire herte sche discloseth,  
1238   And seith him wel that sche supposeth  
1239   Hire lord be dreint, hir child also;
1240   So sih sche noght bot alle wo.
1241   Wherof as to the world nomore 
1242   Ne wol sche torne, and preith therfore 
1243   That in som temple of the Cite,  
1244   To kepe and holde hir chastete,  
1245   Sche mihte among the wommen duelle.  
1246   Whan he this tale hir herde telle,  
1247   He was riht glad, and made hire knowen 
1248   That he a dowhter of his owen 
1249   Hath, which he wol unto hir yive 
1250   To serve, whil thei bothe live,  
1251   In stede of that which sche hath lost; 
1252   Al only at his oghne cost  
1253   Sche schal be rendred forth with hire. 
1254   She seith, "Grant mercy, lieve sire,
1255   God quite it you, ther I ne may."
1256   And thus thei drive forth the day,  
1257   Til time com that sche was hol;  
1258   And tho thei take her conseil hol,  
1259   To schape upon good ordinance 
1260   And make a worthi pourveance  
1261   Ayein the day whan thei be veiled.  
1262   And thus, whan that thei be conseiled, 
1263   In blake clothes thei hem clothe,
1264   This lady and the dowhter bothe, 
1265   And yolde hem to religion. 
1266   The feste and the profession  
1267   After the reule of that degre 
1268   Was mad with gret solempnete, 
1269   Where as Diane is seintefied; 
1270   Thus stant this lady justefied
1271   In ordre wher sche thenkth to duelle.  
1272   Bot now ayeinward forto telle 
1273   In what plit that hire lord stod inne: 
1274   He seileth, til that he may winne
1275   The havene of Tharse, as I seide er;
1276   And whanne he was aryved ther,
1277   And it was thurgh the Cite knowe,
1278   Men myhte se withinne a throwe,  
1279   As who seith, al the toun at ones,  
1280   That come ayein him for the nones,  
1281   To yiven him the reverence,
1282   So glad thei were of his presence:
1283   And thogh he were in his corage  
1284   Desesed, yit with glad visage 
1285   He made hem chiere, and to his In,  
1286   Wher he whilom sojourned in,  
1287   He goth him straght and was resceived. 
1288   And whan the presse of poeple is weived,  
1289   He takth his hoste unto him tho, 
1290   And seith, "Mi frend Strangulio, 
1291   Lo, thus and thus it is befalle, 
1292   And thou thiself art on of alle, 
1293   Forth with thi wif, whiche I most triste. 
1294   Forthi, if it you bothe liste,
1295   My doghter Thaise be youre leve  
1296   I thenke schal with you beleve
1297   As for a time; and thus I preie, 
1298   That sche be kept be alle weie,  
1299   And whan sche hath of age more,  
1300   That sche be set to bokes lore.  
1301   And this avou to god I make,  
1302   That I schal nevere for hir sake 
1303   Mi berd for no likinge schave,
1304   Til it befalle that I have 
1305   In covenable time of age
1306   Beset hire unto mariage."  
1307   Thus thei acorde, and al is wel, 
1308   And forto resten him somdel,  
1309   As for a while he ther sojorneth,
1310   And thanne he takth his leve and torneth  
1311   To Schipe, and goth him hom to Tyr, 
1312   Wher every man with gret desir
1313   Awaiteth upon his comynge. 
1314   Bot whan the Schip com in seilinge, 
1315   And thei perceiven it is he,  
1316   Was nevere yit in no cite  
1317   Such joie mad as thei tho made;  
1318   His herte also began to glade 
1319   Of that he sih the poeple glad.  
1320   Lo, thus fortune his hap hath lad;
1321   In sondri wise he was travailed, 
1322   Bot hou so evere he be assailed, 
1323   His latere ende schal be good.
1324   And forto speke hou that it stod 
1325   Of Thaise his doghter, wher sche duelleth,
1326   In Tharse, as the Cronique telleth, 
1327   Sche was wel kept, sche was wel loked, 
1328   Sche was wel tawht, sche was wel boked,
1329   So wel sche spedde hir in hire youthe  
1330   That sche of every wisdom couthe,
1331   That forto seche in every lond
1332   So wys an other noman fond,
1333   Ne so wel tawht at mannes yhe.
1334   Bot wo worthe evere fals envie!  
1335   For it befell that time so,
1336   A dowhter hath Strangulio, 
1337   The which was cleped Philotenne: 
1338   Bot fame, which wole evere renne,
1339   Cam al day to hir moder Ere,  
1340   And seith, wher evere hir doghter were 
1341   With Thayse set in eny place, 
1342   The comun vois, the comun grace  
1343   Was al upon that other Maide, 
1344   And of hir doghter noman saide.  
1345   Who wroth but Dionise thanne? 
1346   Hire thoghte a thousend yer til whanne 
1347   Sche myhte ben of Thaise wreke
1348   Of that sche herde folk so speke.
1349   And fell that ilke same tyde, 
1350   That ded was trewe Lychoride, 
1351   Which hadde be servant to Thaise,
1352   So that sche was the worse at aise, 
1353   For sche hath thanne no servise  
1354   Bot only thurgh this Dionise, 
1355   Which was hire dedlich Anemie 
1356   Thurgh pure treson and envie. 
1357   Sche, that of alle sorwe can, 
1358   Tho spak unto hire bondeman,  
1359   Which cleped was Theophilus,
1360   And made him swere in conseil thus, 
1361   That he such time as sche him sette 
1362   Schal come Thaise forto fette,
1363   And lede hire oute of alle sihte,
1364   Wher as noman hire helpe myhte,  
1365   Upon the Stronde nyh the See, 
1366   And there he schal this maiden sle. 
1367   This cherles herte is in a traunce, 
1368   As he which drad him of vengance 
1369   Whan time comth an other day; 
1370   Bot yit dorste he noght seie nay,
1371   Bot swor and seide he schal fulfille
1372   Hire hestes at hire oghne wille. 
1373   The treson and the time is schape,  
1374   So fell it that this cherles knape  
1375   Hath lad this maiden ther he wolde  
1376   Upon the Stronde, and what sche scholde
1377   Sche was adrad; and he out breide
1378   A rusti swerd and to hir seide,  
1379   "Thou schalt be ded." "Helas!" quod sche, 
1380   "Why schal I so?" "Lo thus," quod he,  
1381   "Mi ladi Dionise hath bede,
1382   Thou schalt be moerdred in this stede."
1383   This Maiden tho for feere schryhte, 
1384   And for the love of god almyhte  
1385   Sche preith that for a litel stounde
1386   Sche myhte knele upon the grounde,  
1387   Toward the hevene forto crave,
1388   Hire wofull Soule if sche mai save: 
1389   And with this noise and with this cry, 
1390   Out of a barge faste by,
1391   Which hidd was ther on Scomerfare,  
1392   Men sterten out and weren ware
1393   Of this feloun,and he to go,  
1394   And sche began to crie tho, 
1395   "Ha, mercy, help for goddes sake!
1396   Into the barge thei hire take,
1397   As thieves scholde, and forth thei wente. 
1398   Upon the See the wynd hem hente, 
1399   And malgre wher thei wolde or non,  
1400   Tofor the weder forth thei gon,  
1401   Ther halp no Seil, ther halp non Ore,  
1402   Forstormed and forblowen sore 
1403   In gret peril so forth thei dryve,  
1404   Til ate laste thei aryve
1405   At Mitelene the Cite.
1406   In havene sauf and whan thei be, 
1407   The Maister Schipman made him boun, 
1408   And goth him out into the toun,  
1409   And profreth Thaise forto selle. 
1410   On Leonin it herde telle,  
1411   Which Maister of the bordel was, 
1412   And bad him gon a redy pas 
1413   To fetten hire, and forth he wente, 
1414   And Thaise out of his barge he hente,  
1415   And to this bordeller hir solde. 
1416   And he, that be hire body wolde  
1417   Take avantage, let do crye,
1418   That what man wolde his lecherie 
1419   Attempte upon hire maidenhede,
1420   Lei doun the gold and he schal spede.  
1421   And thus whan he hath crid it oute  
1422   In syhte of al the poeple aboute,
1423   He ladde hire to the bordel tho. 
1424   No wonder is thogh sche be wo:
1425   Clos in a chambre be hireselve,  
1426   Ech after other ten or tuelve 
1427   Of yonge men to hire in wente;
1428   Bot such a grace god hire sente, 
1429   That for the sorwe which sche made  
1430   Was non of hem which pouer hade
1431   To don hire eny vileinie.  
1432   This Leonin let evere aspie,  
1433   And waiteth after gret beyete;
1434   Bot al for noght, sche was forlete, 
1435   That mo men wolde ther noght come.  
1436   Whan he therof hath hiede nome,  
1437   And knew that sche was yit a maide, 
1438   Unto his oghne man he saide,  
1439   That he with strengthe ayein hire leve 
1440   Tho scholde hir maidenhod bereve.
1441   This man goth in, bot so it ferde,  
1442   Whan he hire wofull pleintes herde  
1443   And he therof hath take kepe, 
1444   Him liste betre forto wepe 
1445   Than don oght elles to the game. 
1446   And thus sche kepte hirself fro schame,
1447   And kneleth doun to therthe and preide 
1448   Unto this man, and thus sche seide: 
1449   "If so be that thi maister wolde 
1450   That I his gold encresce scholde,
1451   It mai noght falle be this weie: 
1452   Bot soffre me to go mi weie
1453   Out of this hous wher I am inne, 
1454   And I schal make him forto winne 
1455   In som place elles of the toun,  
1456   Be so it be religioun,  
1457   Wher that honeste wommen duelle. 
1458   And thus thou myht thi maister telle,  
1459   That whanne I have a chambre there, 
1460   Let him do crie ay wyde where,
1461   What lord that hath his doghter diere, 
1462   And is in will that sche schal liere
1463   Of such a Scole that is trewe,
1464   I schal hire teche of thinges newe, 
1465   Which as non other womman can 
1466   In al this lond." And tho this man
1467   Hire tale hath herd, he goth ayein, 
1468   And tolde unto his maister plein 
1469   That sche hath seid; and therupon,  
1470   Whan than he sih beyete non
1471   At the bordel be cause of hire,  
1472   He bad his man to gon and spire  
1473   A place wher sche myhte abyde,
1474   That he mai winne upon som side  
1475   Be that sche can: bot ate leste  
1476   Thus was sche sauf fro this tempeste.  
1477   He hath hire fro the bordel take,
1478   Bot that was noght for goddes sake, 
1479   Bot for the lucre, as sche him tolde.  
1480   Now comen tho that comen wolde
1481   Of wommen in her lusty youthe,
1482   To hiere and se what thing sche couthe:
1483   Sche can the wisdom of a clerk,  
1484   Sche can of every lusti werk  
1485   Which to a gentil womman longeth,
1486   And some of hem sche underfongeth
1487   To the Citole and to the Harpe,  
1488   And whom it liketh forto carpe
1489   Proverbes and demandes slyhe, 
1490   An other such thei nevere syhe,  
1491   Which that science so wel tawhte:
1492   Wherof sche grete yiftes cawhte, 
1493   That sche to Leonin hath wonne;  
1494   And thus hire name is so begonne 
1495   Of sondri thinges that sche techeth,
1496   That al the lond unto hir secheth
1497   Of yonge wommen forto liere.  
1498   Nou lete we this maiden hiere,
1499   And speke of Dionise ayein 
1500   And of Theophile the vilein,  
1501   Of whiche I spak of nou tofore.  
1502   Whan Thaise scholde have be forlore,
1503   This false cherl to his lady  
1504   Whan he cam hom, al prively 
1505   He seith, "Ma Dame, slain I have 
1506   This maide Thaise, and is begrave
1507   In prive place, as ye me biede.  
1508   Forthi, ma dame, taketh hiede 
1509   And kep conseil, hou so it stonde." 
1510   This fend, which this hath understonde,
1511   Was glad, and weneth it be soth: 
1512   Now herkne, hierafter hou sche doth.
1513   Sche wepth, sche sorweth, sche compleigneth, 
1514   And of sieknesse which sche feigneth
1515   Sche seith that Taise sodeinly
1516   Be nyhte is ded, "as sche and I  
1517   Togedre lyhen nyh my lord."
1518   Sche was a womman of record,  
1519   And al is lieved that sche seith;
1520   And forto yive a more feith,  
1521   Hire housebonde and ek sche bothe
1522   In blake clothes thei hem clothe,
1523   And made a gret enterrement;  
1524   And for the poeple schal be blent,  
1525   Of Thaise as for the remembrance,
1526   After the real olde usance 
1527   A tumbe of latoun noble and riche
1528   With an ymage unto hir liche  
1529   Liggende above therupon 
1530   Thei made and sette it up anon.  
1531   Hire Epitaffe of good assisse 
1532   Was write aboute, and in this wise  
1533   It spak: "O yee that this beholde,  
1534   Lo, hier lith sche, the which was holde
1535   The faireste and the flour of alle, 
1536   Whos name Thai5sis men calle. 
1537   The king of Tyr Appolinus  
1538   Hire fader was: now lith sche thus. 
1539   Fourtiene yer sche was of Age,
1540   Whan deth hir tok to his viage." 
1541   Thus was this false treson hidd,  
1542   Which afterward was wyde kidd,
1543   As be the tale a man schal hiere.
1544   Bot forto clare mi matiere,
1545   To Tyr I thenke torne ayein,  
1546   And telle as the Croniqes sein.  
1547   Whan that the king was comen hom,
1548   And hath left in the salte fom
1549   His wif, which he mai noght foryete,
1550   For he som confort wolde gete,
1551   He let somoune a parlement,
1552   To which the lordes were asent;  
1553   And of the time he hath ben oute,
1554   He seth the thinges al aboute,
1555   And told hem ek hou he hath fare,
1556   Whil he was out of londe fare;
1557   And preide hem alle to abyde, 
1558   For he wolde at the same tyde 
1559   Do schape for his wyves mynde,
1560   As he that wol noght ben unkinde.
1561   Solempne was that ilke office,
1562   And riche was the sacrifice,  
1563   The feste reali was holde: 
1564   And therto was he wel beholde;
1565   For such a wif as he hadde on 
1566   In thilke daies was ther non. 
1567   Whan this was do, thanne he him thoghte
1568   Upon his doghter, and besoghte
1569   Suche of his lordes as he wolde, 
1570   That thei with him to Tharse scholde,  
1571   To fette his doghter Taise there:
1572   And thei anon al redy were,
1573   To schip they gon and forth thei wente,
1574   Til thei the havene of Tharse hente.
1575   They londe and faile of that thei seche
1576   Be coverture and sleyhte of speche: 
1577   This false man Strangulio, 
1578   And Dionise his wif also,  
1579   That he the betre trowe myhte, 
1580   Thei ladden him to have a sihte  
1581   Wher that hir tombe was arraied. 
1582   The lasse yit he was mispaied,
1583   And natheles, so as he dorste,
1584   He curseth and seith al the worste  
1585   Unto fortune, as to the blinde,  
1586   Which can no seker weie finde;
1587   For sche him neweth evere among, 
1588   And medleth sorwe with his song. 
1589   Bot sithe it mai no betre be, 
1590   He thonketh god and forth goth he
1591   Seilende toward Tyr ayein. 
1592   Bot sodeinly the wynd and reyn
1593   Begonne upon the See debate,  
1594   So that he soffre mot algate  
1595   The lawe which Neptune ordeigneth;  
1596   Wherof fulofte time he pleigneth,
1597   And hield him wel the more esmaied  
1598   Of that he hath tofore assaied.  
1599   So that for pure sorwe and care, 
1600   Of that he seth his world so fare,  
1601   The reste he lefte of his Caban, 
1602   That for the conseil of noman 
1603   Ayein therinne he nolde come, 
1604   Bot hath benethe his place nome, 
1605   Wher he wepende al one lay,
1606   Ther as he sih no lyht of day.
1607   And thus tofor the wynd thei dryve, 
1608   Til longe and late thei aryve 
1609   With gret distresce, as it was sene,
1610   Upon this toun of Mitelene,
1611   Which was a noble cite tho.
1612   And hapneth thilke time so,
1613   The lordes bothe and the comune  
1614   The hihe festes of Neptune 
1615   Upon the stronde at the rivage,  
1616   As it was custumme and usage, 
1617   Sollempneliche thei besihe. 
1618   Whan thei this strange vessel syhe  
1619   Come in, and hath his Seil avaled,  
1620   The toun therof hath spoke and taled.  
1621   The lord which of the cite was,  
1622   Whos name is Athenagoras,  
1623   Was there, and seide he wolde se 
1624   What Schip it is, and who thei be
1625   That ben therinne: and after sone,  
1626   Whan that he sih it was to done, 
1627   His barge was for him arraied,
1628   And he goth forth and hath assaied. 
1629   He fond the Schip of gret Array, 
1630   Bot what thing it amonte may, 
1631   He seth thei maden hevy chiere,  
1632   Bot wel him thenkth be the manere
1633   That thei be worthi men of blod, 
1634   And axeth of hem hou it stod; 
1635   And thei him tellen al the cas,  
1636   Hou that here lord fordrive was, 
1637   And what a sorwe that he made,
1638   Of which ther mai noman him glade.  
1639   He preith that he here lord mai se, 
1640   Bot thei him tolde it mai noght be, 
1641   For he lith in so derk a place,  
1642   That ther may no wiht sen his face: 
1643   Bot for al that, thogh hem be loth, 
1644   He fond the ladre and doun he goth, 
1645   And to him spak, bot non ansuere 
1646   Ayein of him ne mihte he bere 
1647   For oght that he can don or sein;
1648   And thus he goth him up ayein.
1649   Tho was ther spoke in many wise  
1650   Amonges hem that weren wise,  
1651   Now this, now that, bot ate laste
1652   The wisdom of the toun this caste,  
1653   That yonge Taise were asent.  
1654   For if ther be amendement
1655   To glade with this woful king,
1656   Sche can so moche of every thing,
1657   That sche schal gladen him anon. 
1658   A Messager for hire is gon,
1659   And sche cam with hire Harpe on honde, 
1660   And seide hem that sche wolde fonde 
1661   Be alle weies that sche can,  
1662   To glade with this sory man.  
1663   Bot what he was sche wiste noght,
1664   Bot al the Schip hire hath besoght  
1665   That sche hire wit on him despende, 
1666   In aunter if he myhte amende, 
1667   And sein it schal be wel aquit.  
1668   Whan sche hath understonden it,  
1669   Sche goth hir doun, ther as he lay, 
1670   Wher that sche harpeth many a lay
1671   And lich an Angel sang withal;
1672   Bot he nomore than the wal 
1673   Tok hiede of eny thing he herde. 
1674   And whan sche sih that he so ferde, 
1675   Sche falleth with him into wordes,  
1676   And telleth him of sondri bordes,
1677   And axeth him demandes strange,  
1678   Wherof sche made his herte change,  
1679   And to hire speche his Ere he leide 
1680   And hath merveile of that sche seide.  
1681   For in proverbe and in probleme  
1682   Sche spak, and bad he scholde deme  
1683   In many soubtil question:  
1684   Bot he for no suggestioun  
1685   Which toward him sche couthe stere, 
1686   He wolde noght o word ansuere,
1687   Bot as a madd man ate laste
1688   His heved wepende awey he caste, 
1689   And half in wraththe he bad hire go.
1690   Bot yit sche wolde noght do so,  
1691   And in the derke forth sche goth,
1692   Til sche him toucheth, and he wroth,
1693   And after hire with his hond  
1694   He smot: and thus whan sche him fond
1695   Desesed, courtaisly sche saide,  
1696   "Avoi, mi lord, I am a Maide; 
1697   And if ye wiste what I am, 
1698   And out of what lignage I cam,
1699   Ye wolde noght be so salvage."
1700   With that he sobreth his corage  
1701   And put awey his hevy chiere. 
1702   Bot of hem tuo a man mai liere
1703   What is to be so sibb of blod:
1704   Non wiste of other hou it stod,  
1705   And yit the fader ate laste
1706   His herte upon this maide caste, 
1707   That he hire loveth kindely,  
1708   And yit he wiste nevere why.  
1709   Bot al was knowe er that thei wente;
1710   For god, which wot here hol entente,
1711   Here hertes bothe anon descloseth.  
1712   This king unto this maide opposeth, 
1713   And axeth ferst what was hire name, 
1714   And wher sche lerned al this game,  
1715   And of what ken that sche was come. 
1716   And sche, that hath hise wordes nome,  
1717   Ansuerth and seith, "My name is Thaise,
1718   That was som time wel at aise:
1719   In Tharse I was forthdrawe and fed, 
1720   Ther lerned I, til I was sped,
1721   Of that I can. Mi fader eke
1722   I not wher that I scholde him seke; 
1723   He was a king, men tolde me:  
1724   Mi Moder dreint was in the See." 
1725   Fro point to point al sche him tolde,  
1726   That sche hath longe in herte holde,
1727   And nevere dorste make hir mone  
1728   Bot only to this lord al one, 
1729   To whom hire herte can noght hele,  
1730   Torne it to wo, torne it to wele, 
1731   Torne it to good, torne it to harm. 
1732   And he tho toke hire in his arm, 
1733   Bot such a joie as he tho made
1734   Was nevere sen; thus be thei glade, 
1735   That sory hadden be toforn.
1736   Fro this day forth fortune hath sworn  
1737   To sette him upward on the whiel;
1738   So goth the world, now wo, now wel: 
1739   This king hath founde newe grace,
1740   So that out of his derke place
1741   He goth him up into the liht, 
1742   And with him cam that swete wiht,
1743   His doghter Thaise, and forth anon  
1744   Thei bothe into the Caban gon 
1745   Which was ordeigned for the king,
1746   And ther he dede of al his thing,
1747   And was arraied realy.  
1748   And out he cam al openly,  
1749   Wher Athenagoras he fond,  
1750   The which was lord of al the lond:  
1751   He preith the king to come and se
1752   His castell bothe and his cite,  
1753   And thus thei gon forth alle in fiere, 
1754   This king, this lord, this maiden diere.  
1755   This lord tho made hem riche feste  
1756   With every thing which was honeste, 
1757   To plese with this worthi king,  
1758   Ther lacketh him no maner thing: 
1759   Bot yit for al his noble array
1760   Wifles he was into that day,  
1761   As he that yit was of yong Age;  
1762   So fell ther into his corage  
1763   The lusti wo, the glade peine 
1764   Of love, which noman restreigne  
1765   Yit nevere myhte as nou tofore.  
1766   This lord thenkth al his world forlore,
1767   Bot if the king wol don him grace;
1768   He waiteth time, he waiteth place,  
1769   Him thoghte his herte wol tobreke,  
1770   Til he mai to this maide speke
1771   And to hir fader ek also
1772   For mariage: and it fell so,  
1773   That al was do riht as he thoghte,  
1774   His pourpos to an ende he broghte,  
1775   Sche weddeth him as for hire lord;  
1776   Thus be thei alle of on acord.
1777   Whan al was do riht as thei wolde,  
1778   The king unto his Sone tolde  
1779   Of Tharse thilke traiterie,
1780   And seide hou in his compaignie  
1781   His doghter and himselven eke 
1782   Schull go vengance forto seke.
1783   The Schipes were redy sone,
1784   And whan thei sihe it was to done,  
1785   Withoute lette of eny wente
1786   With Seil updrawe forth thei wente  
1787   Towardes Tharse upon the tyde.
1788   Bot he that wot what schal betide,  
1789   The hihe god, which wolde him kepe, 
1790   Whan that this king was faste aslepe,  
1791   Be nyhtes time he hath him bede  
1792   To seile into an other stede: 
1793   To Ephesim he bad him drawe,  
1794   And as it was that time lawe, 
1795   He schal do there his sacrifise; 
1796   And ek he bad in alle wise 
1797   That in the temple amonges alle  
1798   His fortune, as it is befalle,
1799   Touchende his doghter and his wif
1800   He schal beknowe upon his lif.
1801   The king of this Avisioun  
1802   Hath gret ymaginacioun, 
1803   What thing it signefie may;
1804   And natheles, whan it was day,
1805   He bad caste Ancher and abod; 
1806   And whil that he on Ancher rod,
1807   The wynd, which was tofore strange, 
1808   Upon the point began to change,  
1809   And torneth thider as it scholde.
1810   Tho knew he wel that god it wolde,  
1811   And bad the Maister make him yare,  
1812   Tofor the wynd for he wol fare
1813   To Ephesim, and so he dede.
1814   And whanne he cam unto the stede 
1815   Where as he scholde londe, he londeth  
1816   With al the haste he may, and fondeth  
1817   To schapen him be such a wise,
1818   That he may be the morwe arise
1819   And don after the mandement
1820   Of him which hath him thider sent.  
1821   And in the wise that he thoghte, 
1822   Upon the morwe so he wroghte; 
1823   His doghter and his Sone he nom, 
1824   And forth unto the temple he com 
1825   With a gret route in compaignie, 
1826   Hise yiftes forto sacrifie.
1827   The citezeins tho herden seie 
1828   Of such a king that cam to preie 
1829   Unto Diane the godesse, 
1830   And left al other besinesse,  
1831   Thei comen thider forto se 
1832   The king and the solempnete.  
1833   With worthi knyhtes environed 
1834   The king himself hath abandoned  
1835   Into the temple in good entente. 
1836   The dore is up, and he in wente, 
1837   Wher as with gret devocioun
1838   Of holi contemplacioun  
1839   Withinne his herte he made his schrifte;  
1840   And after that a riche yifte  
1841   He offreth with gret reverence,  
1842   And there in open Audience 
1843   Of hem that stoden thanne aboute,
1844   He tolde hem and declareth oute
1845   His hap, such as him is befalle, 
1846   Ther was nothing foryete of alle.
1847   His wif, as it was goddes grace, 
1848   Which was professed in the place,
1849   As sche that was Abbesse there,  
1850   Unto his tale hath leid hire Ere:
1851   Sche knew the vois and the visage,  
1852   For pure joie as in a rage 
1853   Sche strawhte unto him al at ones,  
1854   And fell aswoune upon the stones,
1855   Wherof the temple flor was paved.
1856   Sche was anon with water laved,  
1857   Til sche cam to hirself ayein,
1858   And thanne sche began to sein:
1859   "Ha, blessed be the hihe sonde,  
1860   That I mai se myn housebonde, 
1861   That whilom he and I were on!"
1862   The king with that knew hire anon,  
1863   And tok hire in his Arm and kiste;  
1864   And al the toun thus sone it wiste. 
1865   Tho was ther joie manyfold,
1866   For every man this tale hath told
1867   As for miracle, and were glade,  
1868   Bot nevere man such joie made 
1869   As doth the king, which hath his wif.  
1870   And whan men herde hou that hir lif 
1871   Was saved, and be whom it was,
1872   Thei wondren alle of such a cas: 
1873   Thurgh al the Lond aros the speche  
1874   Of Maister Cerymon the leche  
1875   And of the cure which he dede.
1876   The king himself tho hath him bede, 
1877   And ek this queene forth with him,  
1878   That he the toun of Ephesim
1879   Wol leve and go wher as thei be, 
1880   For nevere man of his degre
1881   Hath do to hem so mochel good;
1882   And he his profit understod,
1883   And granteth with hem forto wende.  
1884   And thus thei maden there an ende,  
1885   And token leve and gon to Schipe 
1886   With al the hole felaschipe.  
1887   This king, which nou hath his desir,
1888   Seith he wol holde his cours to Tyr.
1889   Thei hadden wynd at wille tho,
1890   With topseilcole and forth they go, 
1891   And striken nevere, til thei come
1892   To Tyr, where as thei havene nome,  
1893   And londen hem with mochel blisse.  
1894   Tho was ther many a mowth to kisse, 
1895   Echon welcometh other hom, 
1896   Bot whan the queen to londe com, 
1897   And Thaise hir doghter be hir side, 
1898   The joie which was thilke tyde
1899   Ther mai no mannes tunge telle:  
1900   Thei seiden alle, "Hier comth the welle
1901   Of alle wommannysshe grace."  
1902   The king hath take his real place,  
1903   The queene is into chambre go:
1904   Ther was gret feste arraied tho; 
1905   Whan time was, thei gon to mete, 
1906   Alle olde sorwes ben foryete, 
1907   And gladen hem with joies newe:  
1908   The descoloured pale hewe  
1909   Is now become a rody cheke,
1910   Ther was no merthe forto seke,
1911   Bot every man hath that he wolde.
1912   The king, as he wel couthe and scholde,
1913   Makth to his poeple riht good chiere;  
1914   And after sone, as thou schalt hiere,  
1915   A parlement he hath sommoned, 
1916   Wher he his doghter hath coroned 
1917   Forth with the lord of Mitelene, 
1918   That on is king, that other queene: 
1919   And thus the fadres ordinance  
1920   This lond hath set in governance,
1921   And seide thanne he wolde wende  
1922   To Tharse, forto make an ende 
1923   Of that his doghter was betraied.
1924   Therof were alle men wel paied,  
1925   And seide hou it was forto done: 
1926   The Schipes weren redi sone,  
1927   And strong pouer with him he tok;
1928   Up to the Sky he caste his lok,  
1929   And syh the wynd was covenable.  
1930   Thei hale up Ancher with the cable, 
1931   The Seil on hih, the Stiere in honde,  
1932   And seilen, til thei come alonde 
1933   At Tharse nyh to the cite; 
1934   And whan thei wisten it was he,  
1935   The toun hath don him reverence. 
1936   He telleth hem the violence,  
1937   Which the tretour Strangulio  
1938   And Dionise him hadde do
1939   Touchende his dowhter, as yee herde;
1940   And whan thei wiste hou that it ferde, 
1941   As he which pes and love soghte, 
1942   Unto the toun this he besoghte,  
1943   To don him riht in juggement. 
1944   Anon thei were bothe asent 
1945   With strengthe of men, and comen sone, 
1946   And as hem thoghte it was to done,  
1947   Atteint thei were be the lawe 
1948   And diemed forto honge and drawe,
1949   And brent and with the wynd toblowe,
1950   That al the world it myhte knowe:
1951   And upon this condicion 
1952   The dom in execucion 
1953   Was put anon withoute faile.  
1954   And every man hath gret mervaile,  
1955   Which herde tellen of this chance,  
1956   And thonketh goddes pourveance,  
1957   Which doth mercy forth with justice.
1958   Slain is the moerdrer and moerdrice 
1959   Thurgh verray trowthe of rihtwisnesse, 
1960   And thurgh mercy sauf is simplesse  
1961   Of hire whom mercy preserveth;
1962   Thus hath he wel that wel deserveth.
1963   Whan al this thing is don and ended,
1964   This king, which loved was and frended,
1965   A lettre hath, which cam to him  
1966   Be Schipe fro Pentapolim,  
1967   Be which the lond hath to him write,
1968   That he wolde understonde and wite  
1969   Hou in good mynde and in good pes
1970   Ded is the king Artestrates,  
1971   Wherof thei alle of on acord  
1972   Him preiden, as here liege lord, 
1973   That he the lettre wel conceive  
1974   And come his regne to receive,
1975   Which god hath yove him and fortune;
1976   And thus besoghte the commune 
1977   Forth with the grete lordes alle.
1978   This king sih how it was befalle,
1979   Fro Tharse and in prosperite  
1980   He tok his leve of that Cite  
1981   And goth him into Schipe ayein:  
1982   The wynd was good, the See was plein,  
1983   Hem nedeth noght a Riff to slake,
1984   Til thei Pentapolim have take.
1985   The lond, which herde of that tidinge, 
1986   Was wonder glad of his cominge;  
1987   He resteth him a day or tuo
1988   And tok his conseil to him tho,  
1989   And sette a time of Parlement,
1990   Wher al the lond of on assent 
1991   Forth with his wif hath him corouned,
1992   Wher alle goode him was fuisouned.  
1993   Lo, what it is to be wel grounded:  
1994   For he hath ferst his love founded  
1995   Honesteliche as forto wedde,  
1996   Honesteliche his love he spedde  
1997   And hadde children with his wif, 
1998   And as him liste he ladde his lif;  
1999   And in ensample his lif was write,  
2000   That alle lovers myhten wite  
2001   How ate laste it schal be sene
2002   Of love what thei wolden mene.
2003   For se now on that other side,
2004   Antiochus with al his Pride,  
2005   Which sette his love unkindely,  
2006   His ende he hadde al sodeinly,
2007   Set ayein kinde upon vengance,
2008   And for his lust hath his penance.  
2009   Lo thus, mi Sone, myht thou liere
2010   What is to love in good manere,  
2011   And what to love in other wise:  
2012   The mede arist of the servise;
2013   Fortune, thogh sche be noght stable,
2014   Yit at som time is favorable  
2015   To hem that ben of love trewe.
2016   Bot certes it is forto rewe
2017   To se love ayein kinde falle, 
2018   For that makth sore a man to falle, 
2019   As thou myht of tofore rede.  
2020   Forthi, my Sone, I wolde rede 
2021   To lete al other love aweie,  
2022   Bot if it be thurgh such a weie  
2023   As love and reson wolde acorde.  
2024   For elles, if that thou descorde,
2025   And take lust as doth a beste,
2026   Thi love mai noght ben honeste;  
2027   For be no skile that I finde
2028   Such lust is noght of loves kinde.  
2029   Mi fader, hou so that it stonde, 
2030   Youre tale is herd and understonde, 
2031   As thing which worthi is to hiere,  
2032   Of gret ensample and gret matiere,  
2033   Wherof, my fader, god you quyte. 
2034   Bot in this point miself aquite  
2035   I mai riht wel, that nevere yit  
2036   I was assoted in my wit,
2037   Bot only in that worthi place 
2038   Wher alle lust and alle grace 
2039   Is set, if that danger ne were.  
2040   Bot that is al my moste fere: 
2041   I not what ye fortune acompte,
2042   Bot what thing danger mai amonte 
2043   I wot wel, for I have assaied;
2044   For whan myn herte is best arraied  
2045   And I have al my wit thurghsoght 
2046   Of love to beseche hire oght, 
2047   For al that evere I skile may,
2048   I am concluded with a nay: 
2049   That o sillable hath overthrowe  
2050   A thousend wordes on a rowe
2051   Of suche as I best speke can; 
2052   Thus am I bot a lewed man. 
2053   Bot, fader, for ye ben a clerk
2054   Of love, and this matiere is derk,  
2055   And I can evere leng the lasse,  
2056   Bot yit I mai noght let it passe,
2057   Youre hole conseil I beseche, 
2058   That ye me be som weie teche  
2059   What is my beste, as for an ende.
2060   Mi Sone, unto the trouthe wende  
2061   Now wol I for the love of thee,  
2062   And lete alle othre truffles be. 
2063   The more that the nede is hyh,
2064   The more it nedeth to be slyh  
2065   To him which hath the nede on honde.
2066   I have wel herd and understonde, 
2067   Mi Sone, al that thou hast me seid, 
2068   And ek of that thou hast me preid,  
2069   Nou at this time that I schal 
2070   As for conclusioun final
2071   Conseile upon thi nede sette: 
2072   So thenke I finaly to knette  
2073   This cause, where it is tobroke, 
2074   And make an ende of that is spoke.  
2075   For I behihte thee that yifte 
2076   Ferst whan thou come under my schrifte,
2077   That thogh I toward Venus were,  
2078   Yit spak I suche wordes there,
2079   That for the Presthod which I have, 
2080   Min ordre and min astat to save, 
2081   I seide I wolde of myn office 
2082   To vertu more than to vice 
2083   Encline, and teche thee mi lore. 
2084   Forthi to speken overmore  
2085   Of love, which thee mai availe,  
2086   Tak love where it mai noght faile:  
2087   For as of this which thou art inne, 
2088   Be that thou seist it is a Sinne,
2089   And Sinne mai no pris deserve,
2090   Withoute pris and who schal serve,  
2091   I not what profit myhte availe.  
2092   Thus folweth it, if thou travaile,  
2093   Wher thou no profit hast ne pris,
2094   Thou art toward thiself unwis:
2095   And sett thou myhtest lust atteigne,
2096   Of every lust thende is a peine, 
2097   And every peine is good to fle;  
2098   So it is wonder thing to se,  
2099   Why such a thing schal be desired.
2100   The more that a Stock is fyred,  
2101   The rathere into Aisshe it torneth; 
2102   The fot which in the weie sporneth  
2103   Fulofte his heved hath overthrowe;  
2104   Thus love is blind and can noght knowe 
2105   Wher that he goth, til he be falle: 
2106   Forthi, bot if it so befalle  
2107   With good conseil that he be lad,
2108   Him oghte forto ben adrad. 
2109   For conseil passeth alle thing
2110   To him which thenkth to ben a king; 
2111   And every man for his partie  
2112   A kingdom hath to justefie,
2113   That is to sein his oghne dom.
2114   If he misreule that kingdom,  
2115   He lest himself, and that is more
2116   Than if he loste Schip and Ore
2117   And al the worldes good withal:  
2118   For what man that in special  
2119   Hath noght himself, he hath noght elles,  
2120   Nomor the perles than the schelles; 
2121   Al is to him of o value:
2122   Thogh he hadde at his retenue 
2123   The wyde world ryht as he wolde, 
2124   Whan he his herte hath noght withholde 
2125   Toward himself, al is in vein.
2126   And thus, my Sone, I wolde sein, 
2127   As I seide er, that thou aryse,  
2128   Er that thou falle in such a wise
2129   That thou ne myht thiself rekevere; 
2130   For love, which that blind was evere,  
2131   Makth alle his servantz blinde also.
2132   My Sone, and if thou have be so, 
2133   Yit is it time to withdrawe,  
2134   And set thin herte under that lawe, 
2135   The which of reson is governed
2136   And noght of will. And to be lerned,
2137   Ensamples thou hast many on 
2138   Of now and ek of time gon, 
2139   That every lust is bot a while;  
2140   And who that wole himself beguile,  
2141   He may the rathere be deceived.  
2142   Mi Sone, now thou hast conceived 
2143   Somwhat of that I wolde mene; 
2144   Hierafterward it schal be sene
2145   If that thou lieve upon mi lore; 
2146   For I can do to thee nomore
2147   Bot teche thee the rihte weie:
2148   Now ches if thou wolt live or deie. 
2149   Mi fader, so as I have herd
2150   Your tale, bot it were ansuerd,  
2151   I were mochel forto blame. 
2152   Mi wo to you is bot a game,
2153   That fielen noght of that I fiele;  
2154   The fielinge of a mannes Hiele
2155   Mai noght be likned to the Herte:
2156   I mai noght, thogh I wolde, asterte,
2157   And ye be fre from al the peine  
2158   Of love, wherof I me pleigne. 
2159   It is riht esi to comaunde;
2160   The hert which fre goth on the launde  
2161   Not of an Oxe what him eileth;
2162   It falleth ofte a man merveileth 
2163   Of that he seth an other fare,
2164   Bot if he knewe himself the fare,
2165   And felt it as it is in soth, 
2166   He scholde don riht as he doth,  
2167   Or elles werse in his degre:  
2168   For wel I wot, and so do ye,  
2169   That love hath evere yit ben used,  
2170   So mot I nedes ben excused.
2171   Bot, fader, if ye wolde thus  
2172   Unto Cupide and to Venus
2173   Be frendlich toward mi querele,  
2174   So that myn herte were in hele 
2175   Of love which is in mi briest,
2176   I wot wel thanne a betre Prest
2177   Was nevere mad to my behove.  
2178   Bot al the whiles that I hove 
2179   In noncertein betwen the tuo, 
2180   And not if I to wel or wo  
2181   Schal torne, that is al my drede,
2182   So that I not what is to rede.
2183   Bot for final conclusion
2184   I thenke a Supplicacion 
2185   With pleine wordes and expresse  
2186   Wryte unto Venus the goddesse,
2187   The which I preie you to bere 
2188   And bringe ayein a good ansuere. 
2189   Tho was betwen mi Prest and me
2190   Debat and gret perplexete: 
2191   Mi resoun understod him wel,  
2192   And knew it was sothe everydel
2193   That he hath seid, bot noght forthi 
2194   Mi will hath nothing set therby. 
2195   For techinge of so wis a port 
2196   Is unto love of no desport;
2197   Yit myhte nevere man beholde  
2198   Reson, wher love was withholde,  
2199   Thei be noght of o governance.
2200   And thus we fellen in distance,  
2201   Mi Prest and I, bot I spak faire,
2202   And thurgh mi wordes debonaire
2203   Thanne ate laste we acorden,  
2204   So that he seith he wol recorden 
2205   To speke and stonde upon mi syde 
2206   To Venus bothe and to Cupide; 
2207   And bad me wryte what I wolde,
2208   And seith me trewly that he scholde 
2209   Mi lettre bere unto the queene.  
2210   And I sat doun upon the grene  
2211   Fulfilt of loves fantasie, 
2212   And with the teres of myn ije 
2213   In stede of enke I gan to wryte  
2214   The wordes whiche I wolde endite 
2215   Unto Cupide and to Venus,  
2216   And in mi lettre I seide thus.
2217   The wofull peine of loves maladie,  
2218   Ayein the which mai no phisique availe,
2219   Min herte hath so bewhaped with sotie, 
2220   That wher so that I reste or I travaile,  
2221   I finde it evere redy to assaile 
2222   Mi resoun, which that can him noght defende: 
2223   Thus seche I help, wherof I mihte amende. 
2224   Ferst to Nature if that I me compleigne,  
2225   Ther finde I hou that every creature
2226   Som time ayer hath love in his demeine,
2227   So that the litel wrenne in his mesure 
2228   Hath yit of kinde a love under his cure;  
2229   And I bot on desire, of which I misse: 
2230   And thus, bot I, hath every kinde his blisse.
2231   The resoun of my wit it overpasseth,
2232   Of that Nature techeth me the weie  
2233   To love, and yit no certein sche compasseth  
2234   Hou I schal spede, and thus betwen the tweie 
2235   I stonde, and not if I schal live or deie.
2236   For thogh reson ayein my will debate,  
2237   I mai noght fle, that I ne love algate.
2238   Upon miself is thilke tale come, 
2239   Hou whilom Pan, which is the god of kinde,
2240   With love wrastlede and was overcome:  
2241   For evere I wrastle and evere I am behinde,  
2242   That I no strengthe in al min herte finde,
2243   Wherof that I mai stonden eny throwe;  
2244   So fer mi wit with love is overthrowe.  
2245   Whom nedeth help, he mot his helpe crave, 
2246   Or helpeles he schal his nede spille:  
2247   Pleinly thurghsoght my wittes alle I have,
2248   Bot non of hem can helpe after mi wille;  
2249   And als so wel I mihte sitte stille,
2250   As preie unto mi lady eny helpe: 
2251   Thus wot I noght wherof miself to helpe.  
2252   Unto the grete Jove and if I bidde, 
2253   To do me grace of thilke swete tunne,  
2254   Which under keie in his celier amidde  
2255   Lith couched, that fortune is overrunne,  
2256   Bot of the bitter cuppe I have begunne,
2257   I not hou ofte, and thus finde I no game; 
2258   For evere I axe and evere it is the same. 
2259   I se the world stonde evere upon eschange,
2260   Nou wyndes loude, and nou the weder softe;
2261   I mai sen ek the grete mone change, 
2262   And thing which nou is lowe is eft alofte;
2263   The dredfull werres into pes fulofte
2264   Thei torne; and evere is Danger in o place,  
2265   Which wol noght change his will to do me grace. 
2266   Bot upon this the grete clerc Ovide,
2267   Of love whan he makth his remembrance, 
2268   He seith ther is the blinde god Cupide,
2269   The which hath love under his governance, 
2270   And in his hond with many a fyri lance 
2271   He woundeth ofte, ther he wol noght hele; 
2272   And that somdiel is cause of mi querele.  
2273   Ovide ek seith that love to parforne
2274   Stant in the hond of Venus the goddesse,  
2275   Bot whan sche takth hir conseil with Satorne,
2276   Ther is no grace, and in that time, I gesse, 
2277   Began mi love, of which myn hevynesse  
2278   Is now and evere schal, bot if I spede:
2279   So wot I noght miself what is to rede.  
2280   Forthi to you, Cupide and Venus bothe, 
2281   With al myn hertes obeissance I preie, 
2282   If ye were ate ferste time wrothe,  
2283   Whan I began to love, as I you seie,
2284   Nou stynt, and do thilke infortune aweie, 
2285   So that Danger, which stant of retenue 
2286   With my ladi, his place mai remue.  
2287   O thou Cupide, god of loves lawe,
2288   That with thi Dart brennende hast set afyre  
2289   Min herte, do that wounde be withdrawe,
2290   Or yif me Salve such as I desire:
2291   For Service in thi Court withouten hyre
2292   To me, which evere yit have kept thin heste, 
2293   Mai nevere be to loves lawe honeste.
2294   O thou, gentile Venus, loves queene,
2295   Withoute gult thou dost on me thi wreche; 
2296   Thou wost my peine is evere aliche grene  
2297   For love, and yit I mai it noght areche:  
2298   This wold I for my laste word beseche, 
2299   That thou mi love aquite as I deserve, 
2300   Or elles do me pleinly forto sterve.
2301   Whanne I this Supplicacioun
2302   With good deliberacioun,
2303   In such a wise as ye nou wite,
2304   Hadde after min entente write 
2305   Unto Cupide and to Venus,  
2306   This Prest which hihte Genius 
2307   It tok on honde to presente,  
2308   On my message and forth he wente 
2309   To Venus, forto wite hire wille. 
2310   And I bod in the place stille,
2311   And was there bot a litel while, 
2312   Noght full the montance of a Mile,  
2313   Whan I behield and sodeinly
2314   I sih wher Venus stod me by.  
2315   So as I myhte, under a tre  
2316   To grounde I fell upon mi kne,
2317   And preide hire forto do me grace:  
2318   Sche caste hire chiere upon mi face,
2319   And as it were halvinge a game
2320   Sche axeth me what is mi name.
2321   "Ma dame," I seide, "John Gower."
2322   "Now John," quod sche, "in my pouer 
2323   Thou most as of thi love stonde; 
2324   For I thi bille have understonde,
2325   In which to Cupide and to me  
2326   Somdiel thou hast compleigned thee, 
2327   And somdiel to Nature also.
2328   Bot that schal stonde among you tuo,
2329   For therof have I noght to done; 
2330   For Nature is under the Mone  
2331   Maistresse of every lives kinde, 
2332   Bot if so be that sche mai finde 
2333   Som holy man that wol withdrawe  
2334   His kindly lust ayein hir lawe;  
2335   Bot sielde whanne it falleth so, 
2336   For fewe men ther ben of tho, 
2337   Bot of these othre ynowe be,  
2338   Whiche of here oghne nycete
2339   Ayein Nature and hire office  
2340   Deliten hem in sondri vice,
2341   Wherof that sche fulofte hath pleigned,
2342   And ek my Court it hath desdeigned  
2343   And evere schal; for it receiveth
2344   Non such that kinde so deceiveth.
2345   For al onliche of gentil love 
2346   Mi court stant alle courtz above 
2347   And takth noght into retenue  
2348   Bot thing which is to kinde due, 
2349   For elles it schal be refused.
2350   Wherof I holde thee excused,  
2351   For it is manye daies gon,
2352   That thou amonges hem were on 
2353   Which of my court hast ben withholde;  
2354   So that the more I am beholde 
2355   Of thi desese to commune,  
2356   And to remue that fortune, 
2357   Which manye daies hath the grieved. 
2358   Bot if my conseil mai be lieved, 
2359   Thou schalt ben esed er thou go  
2360   Of thilke unsely jolif wo, 
2361   Wherof thou seist thin herte is fyred: 
2362   Bot as of that thou hast desired 
2363   After the sentence of thi bille, 
2364   Thou most therof don at my wille,
2365   And I therof me wole avise.
2366   For be thou hol, it schal suffise:  
2367   Mi medicine is noght to sieke 
2368   For thee and for suche olde sieke,  
2369   Noght al per chance as ye it wolden,
2370   Bot so as ye be reson scholden,  
2371   Acordant unto loves kinde. 
2372   For in the plit which I thee finde, 
2373   So as mi court it hath awarded,  
2374   Thou schalt be duely rewarded;
2375   And if thou woldest more crave,  
2376   It is no riht that thou it have." 
2377   Venus, which stant withoute lawe 
2378   In noncertein, bot as men drawe  
2379   Of Rageman upon the chance,
2380   Sche leith no peis in the balance,  
2381   Bot as hir lyketh forto weie; 
2382   The trewe man fulofte aweie
2383   Sche put, which hath hir grace bede,
2384   And set an untrewe in his stede. 
2385   Lo, thus blindly the world sche diemeth
2386   In loves cause, as tome siemeth: 
2387   I not what othre men wol sein,
2388   Bot I algate am so besein, 
2389   And stonde as on amonges alle 
2390   Which am out of hir grace falle: 
2391   It nedeth take no witnesse,
2392   For sche which seid is the goddesse,
2393   To whether part of love it wende,
2394   Hath sett me for a final ende 
2395   The point wherto that I schal holde.
2396   For whan sche hath me wel beholde,  
2397   Halvynge of scorn, sche seide thus: 
2398   "Thou wost wel that I am Venus,  
2399   Which al only my lustes seche;
2400   And wel I wot, thogh thou beseche
2401   Mi love, lustes ben ther none,
2402   Whiche I mai take in thi persone;
2403   For loves lust and lockes hore
2404   In chambre acorden neveremore,
2405   And thogh thou feigne a yong corage,
2406   It scheweth wel be the visage 
2407   That olde grisel is no fole:  
2408   There ben fulmanye yeres stole
2409   With thee and with suche othre mo,  
2410   That outward feignen youthe so 
2411   And ben withinne of pore assay.  
2412   Min herte wolde and I ne may  
2413   Is noght beloved nou adayes;  
2414   Er thou make eny suche assaies
2415   To love, and faile upon the fet, 
2416   Betre is to make a beau retret;  
2417   For thogh thou myhtest love atteigne,  
2418   Yit were it bot an ydel peine,
2419   Whan that thou art noght sufficant  
2420   To holde love his covenant.
2421   Forthi tak hom thin herte ayein, 
2422   That thou travaile noght in vein,
2423   Wherof my Court may be deceived. 
2424   I wot and have it wel conceived, 
2425   Hou that thi will is good ynowh; 
2426   Bot mor behoveth to the plowh,
2427   Wherof the lacketh, as I trowe:  
2428   So sitte it wel that thou beknowe
2429   Thi fieble astat, er thou beginne
2430   Thing wher thou miht non ende winne.
2431   What bargain scholde a man assaie,  
2432   Whan that him lacketh forto paie?
2433   Mi Sone, if thou be wel bethoght,
2434   This toucheth thee; foryet it noght:
2435   The thing is torned into was; 
2436   That which was whilom grene gras,
2437   Is welked hey at time now. 
2438   Forthi mi conseil is that thou
2439   Remembre wel hou thou art old."  
2440   Whan Venus hath hir tale told,
2441   And I bethoght was al aboute, 
2442   Tho wiste I wel withoute doute,  
2443   That ther was no recoverir;
2444   And as a man the blase of fyr 
2445   With water quencheth, so ferd I;  
2446   A cold me cawhte sodeinly, 
2447   For sorwe that myn herte made 
2448   Mi dedly face pale and fade
2449   Becam, and swoune I fell to grounde.
2450   And as I lay the same stounde,
2451   Ne fully quik ne fully ded,
2452   Me thoghte I sih tofor myn hed
2453   Cupide with his bowe bent, 
2454   And lich unto a Parlement, 
2455   Which were ordeigned for the nones, 
2456   With him cam al the world at ones
2457   Of gentil folk that whilom were  
2458   Lovers, I sih hem alle there  
2459   Forth with Cupide in sondri routes. 
2460   Min yhe and as I caste aboutes,  
2461   To knowe among hem who was who,  
2462   I sih wher lusty Youthe tho,  
2463   As he which was a Capitein,
2464   Tofore alle othre upon the plein 
2465   Stod with his route wel begon,
2466   Here hevedes kempt, and therupon 
2467   Garlandes noght of o colour,  
2468   Some of the lef, some of the flour, 
2469   And some of grete Perles were;
2470   The newe guise of Beawme there,  
2471   With sondri thinges wel devised, 
2472   I sih, wherof thei ben queintised.  
2473   It was al lust that thei with ferde,
2474   Ther was no song that I ne herde,
2475   Which unto love was touchende;
2476   Of Pan and al that was likende
2477   As in Pipinge of melodie
2478   Was herd in thilke compaignie 
2479   So lowde, that on every side  
2480   It thoghte as al the hevene cride
2481   In such acord and such a soun 
2482   Of bombard and of clarion  
2483   With Cornemuse and Schallemele,
2484   That it was half a mannes hele
2485   So glad a noise forto hiere.  
2486   And as me thoghte, in this manere
2487   Al freissh I syh hem springe and dance,
2488   And do to love her entendance 
2489   After the lust of youthes heste. 
2490   Ther was ynowh of joie and feste,
2491   For evere among thei laghe and pleie,  
2492   And putten care out of the weie, 
2493   That he with hem ne sat ne stod. 
2494   And overthis I understod,  
2495   So as myn Ere it myhte areche,
2496   The moste matiere of her speche  
2497   Was al of knyhthod and of Armes, 
2498   And what it is to ligge in armes 
2499   With love, whanne it is achieved.
2500   Ther was Tristram, which was believed  
2501   With bele Ysolde, and Lancelot
2502   Stod with Gunnore, and Galahot
2503   With his ladi, and as me thoghte,
2504   I syh wher Jason with him broghte
2505   His love, which that Creusa hihte,  
2506   And Hercules, which mochel myhte,
2507   Was ther berende his grete Mace, 
2508   And most of alle in thilke place 
2509   He peyneth him to make chiere 
2510   With Eolen, which was him diere. 
2511   Theses, thogh he were untrewe  
2512   To love, as alle wommen knewe,
2513   Yit was he there natheles  
2514   With Phedra, whom to love he ches:  
2515   Of Grece ek ther was Thelamon,
2516   Which fro the king Lamenedon  
2517   At Troie his doghter refte aweie,
2518   Eseonen, as for his preie, 
2519   Which take was whan Jason cam 
2520   Fro Colchos, and the Cite nam 
2521   In vengance of the ferste hate;  
2522   That made hem after to debate, 
2523   Whan Priamus the newe toun 
2524   Hath mad. And in avisioun  
2525   Me thoghte that I sih also 
2526   Ector forth with his brethren tuo;  
2527   Himself stod with Pantaselee, 
2528   And next to him I myhte se,
2529   Wher Paris stod with faire Eleine,  
2530   Which was his joie sovereine; 
2531   And Troilus stod with Criseide,  
2532   Bot evere among, althogh he pleide, 
2533   Be semblant he was hevy chiered, 
2534   For Diomede, as him was liered,  
2535   Cleymeth to ben his parconner.
2536   And thus full many a bacheler,
2537   A thousend mo than I can sein,
2538   With Yowthe I sih ther wel besein
2539   Forth with here loves glade and blithe.
2540   And some I sih whiche ofte sithe 
2541   Compleignen hem in other wise;
2542   Among the whiche I syh Narcise
2543   And Piramus, that sory were.  
2544   The worthy Grek also was there,  
2545   Achilles, which for love deide:  
2546   Agamenon ek, as men seide, 
2547   And Menelay the king also  
2548   I syh, with many an other mo, 
2549   Which hadden be fortuned sore 
2550   In loves cause. And overmore  
2551   Of wommen in the same cas, 
2552   With hem I sih wher Dido was, 
2553   Forsake which was with Enee;  
2554   And Phillis ek I myhte see,
2555   Whom Demephon deceived hadde; 
2556   And Adriagne hir sorwe ladde, 
2557   For Theses hir Soster tok
2558   And hire unkindely forsok. 
2559   I sih ther ek among the press 
2560   Compleignende upon Hercules 
2561   His ferste love Deyanire,  
2562   Which sette him afterward afyre: 
2563   Medea was there ek and pleigneth 
2564   Upon Jason, for that he feigneth,
2565   Withoute cause and tok a newe;
2566   Sche seide, "Fy on alle untrewe!"
2567   I sih there ek Deijdamie,  
2568   Which hadde lost the compaignie  
2569   Of Achilles, whan Diomede  
2570   To Troie him fette upon the nede.
2571   Among these othre upon the grene 
2572   I syh also the wofull queene  
2573   Cleopatras, which in a Cave
2574   With Serpentz hath hirself begrave  
2575   Alquik, and so sche was totore,  
2576   For sorwe of that sche hadde lore
2577   Antonye, which hir love hath be: 
2578   And forth with hire I sih Tisbee,
2579   Which on the scharpe swerdes point  
2580   For love deide in sory point; 
2581   And as myn Ere it myhte knowe,
2582   Sche seide, "Wo worthe alle slowe!" 
2583   The pleignte of Progne and Philomene
2584   Ther herde I what it wolde mene, 
2585   How Teres of his untrouthe  
2586   Undede hem bothe, and that was routhe; 
2587   And next to hem I sih Canace, 
2588   Which for Machaire hir fader grace  
2589   Hath lost, and deide in wofull plit.
2590   And as I sih in my spirit, 
2591   Me thoghte amonges othre thus 
2592   The doghter of king Priamus,  
2593   Polixena, whom Pirrus slowh,  
2594   Was there and made sorwe ynowh,  
2595   As sche which deide gulteles  
2596   For love, and yit was loveles.
2597   And forto take the desport,
2598   I sih there some of other port,
2599   And that was Circes and Calipse, 
2600   That cowthen do the Mone eclipse,
2601   Of men and change the liknesses, 
2602   Of Artmagique Sorceresses; 
2603   Thei hielde in honde manyon,  
2604   To love wher thei wolde or non.  
2605   Bot above alle that ther were 
2606   Of wommen I sih foure there,  
2607   Whos name I herde most comended: 
2608   Be hem the Court stod al amended;
2609   For wher thei comen in presence, 
2610   Men deden hem the reverence,  
2611   As thogh they hadden be goddesses,  
2612   Of al this world or Emperesses.  
2613   And as me thoghte, an Ere I leide,  
2614   And herde hou that these othre seide,  
2615   "Lo, these ben the foure wyves,  
2616   Whos feith was proeved in her lyves:
2617   For in essample of alle goode 
2618   With Mariage so thei stode,
2619   That fame, which no gret thing hydeth, 
2620   Yit in Cronique of hem abydeth." 
2621   Penolope that on was hote, 
2622   Whom many a knyht hath loved hote,  
2623   Whil that hire lord Ulixes lay
2624   Full many a yer and many a day
2625   Upon the grete Siege of Troie:
2626   Bot sche, which hath no worldes joie
2627   Bot only of hire housebonde,  
2628   Whil that hir lord was out of londe,
2629   So wel hath kept hir wommanhiede,
2630   That al the world therof tok hiede, 
2631   And nameliche of hem in Grece.
2632   That other womman was Lucrece,
2633   Wif to the Romain Collatin;
2634   And sche constreigned of Tarquin 
2635   To thing which was ayein hir wille, 
2636   Sche wolde noght hirselven stille,  
2637   Bot deide only for drede of schame
2638   In keping of hire goode name, 
2639   As sche which was on of the beste.  
2640   The thridde wif was hote Alceste,
2641   Which whanne Ametus scholde dye  
2642   Upon his grete maladye, 
2643   Sche preide unto the goddes so,  
2644   That sche receyveth al the wo 
2645   And deide hirself to yive him lif:  
2646   Lo, if this were a noble wif. 
2647   The ferthe wif which I ther sih, 
2648   I herde of hem that were nyh  
2649   Hou sche was cleped Alcione,  
2650   Which to Seyix hir lord al one
2651   And to nomo hire body kepte;  
2652   And whan sche sih him dreynt, sche lepte  
2653   Into the wawes where he swam, 
2654   And there a Sefoul sche becam,
2655   And with hire wenges him bespradde  
2656   For love which to him sche hadde.
2657   Lo, these foure were tho
2658   Whiche I sih, as me thoghte tho, 
2659   Among the grete compaignie 
2660   Which Love hadde forto guye:  
2661   Bot Youthe, which in special  
2662   Of Loves Court was Mareschal, 
2663   So besy was upon his lay,  
2664   That he non hiede where I lay 
2665   Hath take. And thanne, as I behield,
2666   Me thoghte I sih upon the field, 
2667   Where Elde cam a softe pas 
2668   Toward Venus, ther as sche was.  
2669   With him gret compaignie he ladde,  
2670   Bot noght so manye as Youthe hadde: 
2671   The moste part were of gret Age, 
2672   And that was sene in the visage,  
2673   And noght forthi, so as thei myhte, 
2674   Thei made hem yongly to the sihte:  
2675   Bot yit herde I no pipe there 
2676   To make noise in mannes Ere,  
2677   Bot the Musette I myhte knowe,
2678   For olde men which souneth lowe, 
2679   With Harpe and Lute and with Citole.
2680   The hovedance and the Carole, 
2681   In such a wise as love hath bede,
2682   A softe pas thei dance and trede;
2683   And with the wommen otherwhile
2684   With sobre chier among thei smyle,  
2685   For laghtre was ther non on hyh. 
2686   And natheles full wel I syh
2687   That thei the more queinte it made  
2688   For love, in whom thei weren glade. 
2689   And there me thoghte I myhte se  
2690   The king David with Bersabee, 
2691   And Salomon was noght withoute;  
2692   Passende an hundred on a route
2693   Of wyves and of Concubines,
2694   Juesses bothe and Sarazines,  
2695   To him I sih alle entendant:  
2696   I not if he was sufficant, 
2697   Bot natheles for al his wit
2698   He was attached with that writ
2699   Which love with his hond enseleth,  
2700   Fro whom non erthly man appeleth.
2701   And overthis, as for a wonder,
2702   With his leon which he put under,
2703   With Dalida Sampson I knew,
2704   Whos love his strengthe al overthrew.  
2705   I syh there Aristotle also,
2706   Whom that the queene of Grece so 
2707   Hath bridled, that in thilke time 
2708   Sche made him such a Silogime,
2709   That he foryat al his logique;
2710   Ther was non art of his Practique,  
2711   Thurgh which it mihte ben excluded  
2712   That he ne was fully concluded
2713   To love, and dede his obeissance.
2714   And ek Virgile of aqueintance 
2715   I sih, wher he the Maiden preide,
2716   Which was the doghter, as men seide,
2717   Of themperour whilom of Rome; 
2718   Sortes and Plato with him come,  
2719   So dede Ovide the Poete.
2720   I thoghte thanne how love is swete, 
2721   Which hath so wise men reclamed, 
2722   And was miself the lasse aschamed,  
2723   Or forto lese or forto winne  
2724   In the meschief that I was inne: 
2725   And thus I lay in hope of grace. 
2726   And whan thei comen to the place 
2727   Wher Venus stod and I was falle, 
2728   These olde men with o vois alle  
2729   To Venus preiden for my sake. 
2730   And sche, that myhte noght forsake  
2731   So gret a clamour as was there,  
2732   Let Pite come into hire Ere;  
2733   And forth withal unto Cupide  
2734   Sche preith that he upon his side
2735   Me wolde thurgh his grace sende  
2736   Som confort, that I myhte amende,
2737   Upon the cas which is befalle.
2738   And thus for me thei preiden alle
2739   Of hem that weren olde aboute,
2740   And ek some of the yonge route,  
2741   Of gentilesse and pure trouthe
2742   I herde hem telle it was gret routhe,  
2743   That I withouten help so ferde.  
2744   And thus me thoghte I lay and herde.
2745   Cupido, which may hurte and hele 
2746   In loves cause, as for myn hele
2747   Upon the point which him was preid  
2748   Cam with Venus, wher I was leid  
2749   Swounende upon the grene gras.
2750   And, as me thoghte , anon ther was  
2751   On every side so gret presse, 
2752   That every lif began to presse,  
2753   I wot noght wel hou many score,  
2754   Suche as I spak of now tofore,
2755   Lovers, that comen to beholde,
2756   Bot most of hem that weren olde: 
2757   Thei stoden there at thilke tyde,
2758   To se what ende schal betyde  
2759   Upon the cure of my sotie. 
2760   Tho myhte I hiere gret partie 
2761   Spekende, and ech his oghne avis 
2762   Hath told, on that, an other this:  
2763   Bot among alle this I herde,  
2764   Thei weren wo that I so ferde,
2765   And seiden that for no riote  
2766   An old man scholde noght assote; 
2767   For as thei tolden redely, 
2768   Ther is in him no cause why,  
2769   Bot if he wolde himself benyce;  
2770   So were he wel the more nyce. 
2771   And thus desputen some of tho,
2772   And some seiden nothing so,
2773   Bot that the wylde loves rage 
2774   In mannes lif forberth non Age;  
2775   Whil ther is oyle forto fyre, 
2776   The lampe is lyhtly set afyre,
2777   And is fulhard er it be queynt,  
2778   Bot only if it be som seint,  
2779   Which god preserveth of his grace.  
2780   And thus me thoghte, in sondri place
2781   Of hem that walken up and doun
2782   Ther was diverse opinioun: 
2783   And for a while so it laste,  
2784   Til that Cupide to the laste,  
2785   Forth with his moder full avised,
2786   Hath determined and devised
2787   Unto what point he wol descende. 
2788   And al this time I was liggende  
2789   Upon the ground tofore his yhen, 
2790   And thei that my desese syhen 
2791   Supposen noght I scholde live;
2792   Bot he, which wolde thanne yive  
2793   His grace, so as it mai be,
2794   This blinde god which mai noght se, 
2795   Hath groped til that he me fond; 
2796   And as he pitte forth his hond
2797   Upon my body, wher I lay,  
2798   Me thoghte a fyri Lancegay,
2799   Which whilom thurgh myn herte he caste,
2800   He pulleth oute, and also faste  
2801   As this was do, Cupide nam 
2802   His weie, I not where he becam,  
2803   And so dede al the remenant
2804   Which unto him was entendant, 
2805   Of hem that in Avision  
2806   I hadde a revelacion,
2807   So as I tolde now tofore.  
2808   Bot Venus wente noght therfore,  
2809   Ne Genius, whiche thilke time 
2810   Abiden bothe faste byme.
2811   And sche which mai the hertes bynde 
2812   In loves cause and ek unbinde,
2813   Er I out of mi trance aros,
2814   Venus, which hield a boiste clos,
2815   And wolde noght I scholde deie,  
2816   Tok out mor cold than eny keie
2817   An oignement, and in such point  
2818   Sche hath my wounded herte enoignt, 
2819   My temples and my Reins also. 
2820   And forth withal sche tok me tho 
2821   A wonder Mirour forto holde,
2822   In which sche bad me to beholde  
2823   And taken hiede of that I syhe;  
2824   Wherinne anon myn hertes yhe  
2825   I caste, and sih my colour fade, 
2826   Myn yhen dymme and al unglade,
2827   Mi chiekes thinne, and al my face
2828   With Elde I myhte se deface,  
2829   So riveled and so wo besein,  
2830   That ther was nothing full ne plein,
2831   I syh also myn heres hore. 
2832   Mi will was tho to se nomore  
2833   Outwith, for ther was no plesance;  
2834   And thanne into my remembrance
2835   I drowh myn olde daies passed,
2836   And as reson it hath compassed,  
2837   I made a liknesse of miselve  
2838   Unto the sondri Monthes twelve,  
2839   Wherof the yeer in his astat  
2840   Is mad, and stant upon debat, 
2841   That lich til other non acordeth.
2842   For who the times wel recordeth, 
2843   And thanne at Marche if he beginne, 
2844   Whan that the lusti yeer comth inne,
2845   Til Augst be passed and Septembre,  
2846   The myhty youthe he may remembre 
2847   In which the yeer hath his deduit
2848   Of gras, of lef, of flour, of fruit,
2849   Of corn and of the wyny grape.
2850   And afterward the time is schape 
2851   To frost, to Snow, to Wind, to Rein,
2852   Til eft that Mars be come ayein: 
2853   The Wynter wol no Somer knowe,
2854   The grene lef is overthrowe,  
2855   The clothed erthe is thanne bare,
2856   Despuiled is the Somerfare, 
2857   That erst was hete is thanne chele. 
2858   And thus thenkende thoghtes fele,
2859   I was out of mi swoune affraied, 
2860   Wherof I sih my wittes straied,  
2861   And gan to clepe hem hom ayein.  
2862   And whan Resoun it herde sein 
2863   That loves rage was aweie, 
2864   He cam to me the rihte weie,  
2865   And hath remued the sotie  
2866   Of thilke unwise fantasie, 
2867   Wherof that I was wont to pleigne,  
2868   So that of thilke fyri peine  
2869   I was mad sobre and hol ynowh.
2870   Venus behield me than and lowh,  
2871   And axeth, as it were in game,
2872   What love was. And I for schame  
2873   Ne wiste what I scholde ansuere; 
2874   And natheles I gan to swere
2875   That be my trouthe I knew him noght;
2876   So ferr it was out of mi thoght, 
2877   Riht as it hadde nevere be.
2878   "Mi goode Sone," tho quod sche,  
2879   "Now at this time I lieve it wel,
2880   So goth the fortune of my whiel; 
2881   Forthi mi conseil is thou leve." 
2882   "Ma dame," I seide, "be your leve,  
2883   Ye witen wel, and so wot I,
2884   That I am unbehovely 
2885   Your Court fro this day forth to serve:
2886   And for I may no thonk deserve,  
2887   And also for I am refused, 
2888   I preie you to ben excused.
2889   And natheles as for the laste,
2890   Whil that my wittes with me laste,  
2891   Touchende mi confession 
2892   I axe an absolucion  
2893   Of Genius, er that I go."
2894   The Prest anon was redy tho,  
2895   And seide, "Sone, as of thi schrifte
2896   Thou hast ful pardoun and foryifte; 
2897   Foryet it thou, and so wol I."
2898   "Min holi fader, grant mercy,"
2899   Quod I to him, and to the queene 
2900   I fell on knes upon the grene,
2901   And tok my leve forto wende.  
2902   Bot sche, that wolde make an ende,  
2903   As therto which I was most able, 
2904   A Peire of Bedes blak as Sable
2905   Sche tok and heng my necke aboute;  
2906   Upon the gaudes al withoute
2907   Was write of gold, Por reposer.  
2908   "Lo," thus sche seide, "John Gower, 
2909   Now thou art ate laste cast,  
2910   This have I for thin ese cast,
2911   That thou nomore of love sieche. 
2912   Bot my will is that thou besieche
2913   And preie hierafter for the pes, 
2914   And that thou make a plein reles 
2915   To love, which takth litel hiede 
2916   Of olde men upon the nede, 
2917   Whan that the lustes ben aweie:  
2918   Forthi to thee nys bot o weie,
2919   In which let reson be thi guide; 
2920   For he may sone himself misguide,
2921   That seth noght the peril tofore.
2922   Mi Sone, be wel war therfore, 
2923   And kep the sentence of my lore  
2924   And tarie thou mi Court nomore,  
2925   Bot go ther vertu moral duelleth,
2926   Wher ben thi bokes, as men telleth, 
2927   Whiche of long time thou hast write.
2928   For this I do thee wel to wite,  
2929   If thou thin hele wolt pourchace,
2930   Thou miht noght make suite and chace,
2931   Wher that the game is nought pernable; 
2932   It were a thing unresonable,  
2933   A man to be so overseie.
2934   Forthi tak hiede of that I seie; 
2935   For in the lawe of my comune  
2936   We be noght schape to comune, 
2937   Thiself and I, nevere after this.
2938   Now have y seid al that ther is  
2939   Of love as for thi final ende:
2940   Adieu, for y mot fro the wende." 
2941   And with that word al sodeinly,
2942   Enclosid in a sterred sky, 
2943   Venus, which is the qweene of love, 
2944   Was take in to hire place above, 
2945   More wiste y nought wher sche becam.
2946   And thus my leve of hire y nam,  
2947   And forth with al the same tide  
2948   Hire prest, which wolde nought abide,  
2949   Or be me lief or be me loth,  
2950   Out of my sighte forth he goth,  
2951   And y was left with outen helpe. 
2952   So wiste I nought wher of to yelpe, 
2953   Bot only that y hadde lore 
2954   My time, and was sori ther fore. 
2955   And thus bewhapid in my thought, 
2956   Whan al was turnyd in to nought, 
2957   I stod amasid for a while, 
2958   And in my self y gan to smyle 
2959   Thenkende uppon the bedis blake, 
2960   And how they weren me betake, 
2961   For that y schulde bidde and preie. 
2962   And whanne y sigh non othre weie 
2963   Bot only that y was refusid,  
2964   Unto the lif which y hadde usid  
2965   I thoughte nevere torne ayein:
2966   And in this wise, soth to seyn,  
2967   Homward a softe pas y wente,  
2968   Wher that with al myn hol entente 
2969   Uppon the point that y am schryve
2970   I thenke bidde whil y live.
2971   He which withinne daies sevene
2972   This large world forth with the hevene 
2973   Of his eternal providence  
2974   Hath mad, and thilke intelligence
2975   In mannys soule resonable  
2976   Hath schape to be perdurable, 
2977   Wherof the man of his feture  
2978   Above alle erthli creature 
2979   Aftir the soule is immortal,
2980   To thilke lord in special, 
2981   As he which is of alle thinges
2982   The creatour, and of the kynges  
2983   Hath the fortunes uppon honde,
2984   His grace and mercy forto fonde  
2985   Uppon my bare knes y preie,
2986   That he this lond in siker weie  
2987   Wol sette uppon good governance. 
2988   For if men takyn remembrance  
2989   What is to live in unite,  
2990   Ther ys no staat in his degree
2991   That noughte to desire pes,
2992   With outen which, it is no les,  
2993   To seche and loke in to the laste,  
2994   Ther may no worldes joye laste.  
2995   Ferst forto loke the Clergie, 
2996   Hem oughte wel to justefie 
2997   Thing which belongith to here cure, 
2998   As forto praie and to procure 
2999   Oure pes toward the hevene above,
3000   And ek to sette reste and love 
3001   Among ous on this erthe hiere.
3002   For if they wroughte in this manere 
3003   Aftir the reule of charite,
3004   I hope that men schuldyn se
3005   This lond amende. And ovyr this, 
3006   To seche and loke how that it is 
3007   Touchende of the chevalerie,  
3008   Which forto loke, in som partie  
3009   Is worthi forto be comendid,  
3010   And in som part to ben amendid,  
3011   That of here large retenue 
3012   The lond is ful of maintenue, 
3013   Which causith that the comune right 
3014   In fewe contrees stant upright.  
3015   Extorcioun, contekt, ravine
3016   Withholde ben of that covyne, 
3017   Aldai men hierin gret compleignte
3018   Of the desease, of the constreignte,
3019   Wher of the poeple is sore oppressid:
3020   God graunte it mote be redressid.
3021   For of knyghthode thordre wolde  
3022   That thei defende and kepe scholde  
3023   The comun right and the fraunchise  
3024   Of holy cherche in alle wise, 
3025   So that no wikke man it dere, 
3026   And ther fore servith scheld and spere:
3027   Bot for it goth now other weie,  
3028   Oure grace goth the more aweie.  
3029   And forto lokyn ovyrmore,  
3030   Wher of the poeple pleigneth sore,  
3031   Toward the lawis of oure lond,
3032   Men sein that trouthe hath broke his bond 
3033   And with brocage is goon aweie,  
3034   So that no man can se the weie
3035   Wher forto fynde rightwisnesse.  
3036   And if men sechin sikernesse  
3037   Uppon the lucre of marchandie,
3038   Compassement and tricherie 
3039   Of singuler profit to wynne,  
3040   Men seyn, is cause of mochil synne, 
3041   And namely of divisioun,
3042   Which many a noble worthi toun 
3043   Fro welthe and fro prosperite 
3044   Hath brought to gret adversite.  
3045   So were it good to ben al on, 
3046   For mechil grace ther uppon
3047   Unto the Citees schulde falle,
3048   Which myghte availle to ous alle,
3049   If these astatz amendid were, 
3050   So that the vertus stodyn there  
3051   And that the vices were aweie:
3052   Me thenkth y dorste thanne seie, 
3053   This londis grace schulde arise. 
3054   Bot yit to loke in othre wise,
3055   Ther is a stat, as ye schul hiere,  
3056   Above alle othre on erthe hiere, 
3057   Which hath the lond in his balance: 
3058   To him belongith the leiance  
3059   Of Clerk, of knyght, of man of lawe;
3060   Undir his hond al is forth drawe 
3061   The marchant and the laborer; 
3062   So stant it al in his power
3063   Or forto spille or forto save.
3064   Bot though that he such power have, 
3065   And that his myghtes ben so large,  
3066   He hath hem nought withouten charge,
3067   To which that every kyng ys swore:  
3068   So were it good that he ther fore 
3069   First un to rightwisnesse entende,  
3070   Wherof that he hym self amende
3071   Toward his god and leve vice, 
3072   Which is the chief of his office;
3073   And aftir al the remenant  
3074   He schal uppon his covenant
3075   Governe and lede in such a wise, 
3076   So that ther be no tirandise, 
3077   Wherof that he his poeple grieve,
3078   Or ellis may he nought achieve
3079   That longith to his regalie.  
3080   For if a kyng wol justifie 
3081   His lond and hem that beth withynne,
3082   First at hym self he mot begynne,
3083   To kepe and reule his owne astat,
3084   That in hym self be no debat  
3085   Toward his god: for othre wise
3086   Ther may non erthly kyng suffise 
3087   Of his kyngdom the folk to lede, 
3088   Bot he the kyng of hevene drede. 
3089   For what kyng sett hym uppon pride  
3090   And takth his lust on every side 
3091   And wil nought go the righte weie,  
3092   Though god his grace caste aweie 
3093   No wondir is, for ate laste
3094   He schal wel wite it mai nought laste, 
3095   The pompe which he secheth here.  
3096   Bot what kyng that with humble chere
3097   Aftir the lawe of god eschuieth  
3098   The vices, and the vertus suieth,
3099   His grace schal be suffisant  
3100   To governe al the remenant 
3101   Which longith to his duite;
3102   So that in his prosperite  
3103   The poeple schal nought ben oppressid, 
3104   Wherof his name schal be blessid,
3105   For evere and be memorial. 
3106   And now to speke as in final, 
3107   Touchende that y undirtok  
3108   In englesch forto make a book  
3109   Which stant betwene ernest and game,
3110   I have it maad as thilke same 
3111   Which axe forto ben excusid,  
3112   And that my bok be nought refusid
3113   Of lered men, whan thei it se,
3114   For lak of curiosite:
3115   For thilke scole of eloquence 
3116   Belongith nought to my science,  
3117   Uppon the forme of rethoriqe  
3118   My wordis forto peinte and pike, 
3119   As Tullius som tyme wrot.  
3120   Bot this y knowe and this y wot, 
3121   That y have do my trewe peyne 
3122   With rude wordis and with pleyne,
3123   In al that evere y couthe and myghte,  
3124   This bok to write as y behighte, 
3125   So as siknesse it soffre wolde;  
3126   And also for my daies olde, 
3127   That y am feble and impotent, 
3128   I wot nought how the world ys went. 
3129   So preye y to my lordis alle  
3130   Now in myn age, how so befalle,  
3131   That y mot stonden in here grace:
3132   For though me lacke to purchace  
3133   Here worthi thonk as by decerte, 
3134   Yit the symplesse of my poverte  
3135   Desireth forto do plesance 
3136   To hem undir whos governance  
3137   I hope siker to abide.  
3138   But now uppon my laste tide
3139   That y this book have maad and write,  
3140   My muse doth me forto wite,
3141   And seith it schal be for my beste  
3142   Fro this day forth to take reste,
3143   That y nomore of love make, 
3144   Which many an herte hath overtake,  
3145   And ovyrturnyd as the blynde  
3146   Fro reson in to lawe of kynde;
3147   Wher as the wisdom goth aweie 
3148   And can nought se the ryhte weie 
3149   How to governe his oghne estat,  
3150   Bot everydai stant in debat
3151   Withinne him self, and can nought leve.
3152   And thus forthy my final leve 
3153   I take now for evere more, 
3154   Withoute makynge any more, 
3155   Of love and of his dedly hele,
3156   Which no phisicien can hele.  
3157   For his nature is so divers,  
3158   That it hath evere som travers
3159   Or of to moche or of to lite, 
3160   That pleinly mai noman delite,
3161   Bot if him faile or that or this.
3162   Bot thilke love which that is 
3163   Withinne a mannes herte affermed,
3164   And stant of charite confermed,
3165   Such love is goodly forto have,  
3166   Such love mai the bodi save,  
3167   Such love mai the soule amende,  
3168   The hyhe god such love ous sende 
3169   Forthwith the remenant of grace; 
3170   So that above in thilke place 
3171   Wher resteth love and alle pes,  
3172   Oure joie mai ben endeles. 


Explicit iste liber, qui transeat, obsecro liber,
Vt sine liuore vigeat lectoris in ore.
Qui sedet in scannis celi det vt ista lohannis
Perpetuis annis stet pagina grata Britannis,
Derbeie Comiti, recolunt quem laude periti,
Vade liber purus, sub eo requiesce futurus.


[End of CONFESSIO AMANTIS]