CHAPTER VII.

Avayleth aught (quod she) power of might in mayntenaunce

of [men, to maken hem] worthy to come to this

knot?'

'Parde,' quod I, 'ye; for hertes ben ravisshed from suche

maner thinges.'

'Certes,' quod she, 'though a fooles herte is with thing

ravisshed, yet therfore is no general cause of the powers, ne of

a siker parfit herte to be loked after. Was not Nero the moste

shrewe oon of thilke that men rede, and yet had he power to

make senatours justices, and princes of many landes? Was not

that greet power?'

'Yes, certes,' quod I.

'Wel,' quod she, 'yet might he not helpe him-selfe out of

disese, whan he gan falle. How many ensamples canst thou

remembre of kinges grete and noble, and huge power †helden, and

yet they might not kepe hem-selve from wrecchednesse? How

wrecched was king Henry Curtmantil er he deyde? He had not

so moche as to cover with his membres; and yet was he oon

of the grettest kinges of al the Normandes ofspring, and moste

possession had. O! a noble thing and clere is power, that is not

founden mighty to kepe him-selfe! Now, trewly, a greet fole is

he, that for suche thing wolde sette the knotte in thyne herte!

Also power of rëalmes, is not thilke grettest power amonges the

worldly powers reckened? And if suche powers han wrecchednesse

in hem-selfe, it foloweth other powers of febler condicion to

ben wrecched; and than, that wrecchednesse shulde be cause of

suche a knotte! But every wight that hath reson wot wel that

wrecchednesse by no way may ben cause of none suche knotte;

wherfore suche power is no cause. That powers have wrecchednesse

in hem-selfe, may right lightly ben preved. If power lacke on

any syde, on that syde is no power; but no power is wrecchednesse:

for al-be-it so the power of emperours or kinges, or els

of their rëalmes (which is the power of the prince) strecchen

wyde and brode, yet besydes is ther mokel folk of whiche he

hath no commaundement ne lordshippe; and there-as lacketh his

power, his nonpower entreth, where-under springeth that maketh

hem wrecches. No power is wrecchednesse and nothing els;

but in this maner hath kinges more porcion of wrecchednesse

than of power. Trewly, suche powers ben unmighty; for ever

they ben in drede how thilke power from lesing may be keped

of sorow; so drede sorily prikkes ever in their hertes: litel

is that power whiche careth and ferdeth it-selfe to mayntayne.

Unmighty is that wrecchednesse whiche is entred by the ferdful

weninge of the wrecche him-selfe; and knot y-maked by wrecchednesse

is betwene wrecches; and wrecches al thing bewaylen;

wherfore the knot shulde be bewayled; and there is no suche

parfit blisse that we supposed at the ginning! Ergo, power in

nothing shulde cause suche knottes. Wrecchednesse is a kyndely

propertee in suche power, as by way of drede, whiche they mowe

nat eschewe, ne by no way live in sikernesse. For thou wost wel

(quod she) he is nought mighty that wolde don that he may not

don ne perfourme.'

'Therfore,' quod I, 'these kinges and lordes that han suffisaunce

at the ful of men and other thinges, mowen wel ben

holden mighty; their comaundementes ben don; it is nevermore

denyed.'

'Foole,' quod she, 'or he wot him-selfe mighty, or wot it

not; for he is nought mighty that is blynde of his might and wot

it not.'

'That is sothe,' quod I.

'Than if he wot it, he must nedes ben a-drad to lesen it. He

that wot of his might is in doute that he mote nedes lese; and so

ledeth him drede to ben unmighty. And if he recche not to lese,

litel is that worth that of the lesing reson reccheth nothing; and

if it were mighty in power or in strength, the lesing shulde ben

withset; and whan it cometh to the lesing, he may it not withsitte.

Ergo, thilke might is leude and naughty. Such mightes

arn y-lyke to postes and pillers that upright stonden, and greet

might han to bere many charges; and if they croke on any syde,

litel thing maketh hem overthrowe.'

'This is a good ensample,' quod I, 'to pillers and postes that

I have seen overthrowed my-selfe; and hadden they ben underput

with any helpes, they had not so lightly falle.'

'Than holdest thou him mighty that hath many men armed

and many servauntes; and ever he is adrad of hem in his herte;

and, for he gasteth hem, somtyme he mot the more fere have.

Comenly, he that other agasteth, other in him ayenward werchen

the same; and thus warnisshed mot he be, and of warnisshe the

hour drede. Litel is that might and right leude, who-so taketh

hede.'

'Than semeth it,' quod I, 'that suche famulers aboute kinges

and grete lordes shulde greet might have. Although a sypher in

augrim have no might in significacion of it-selve, yet he yeveth

power in significacion to other; and these clepe I the helpes to

a poste to kepe him from falling.'

'Certes,' quod she, 'thilke skilles ben leude. Why? But-if

the shorers be wel grounded, the helpes shulden slyden and suffre

the charge to falle; her might litel avayleth.'

'And so me thinketh,' quod I, 'that a poste alone, stonding

upright upon a basse, may lenger in greet burthen endure than

croken pilers for al their helpes, and her ground be not siker.'

'That is sothe,' quod she; 'for as, [if] the blynde in bering of

the lame ginne stomble, bothe shulde falle, right so suche pillers,

so envyroned with helpes, in falling of the grounde fayleth

†altogider. How ofte than suche famulers, in their moste pryde

of prosperitè, ben sodainly overthrowen! Thou hast knowe

many in a moment so ferre overthrowe, that cover might they

never. Whan the hevinesse of suche fayling cometh by case of

fortune, they mowe it not eschue; and might and power, if ther

were any, shulde of strength such thinges voyde and weyve; and

so it is not. Lo, than! whiche thing is this power, that, tho men

han it, they ben agast; and in no tyme of ful having be they

siker! And if they wold weyve drede, as they mow not, litel is

in worthines. Fye therfore on so naughty thing, any knot to

cause! Lo! in adversitè, thilk ben his foes that glosed and

semed frendes in welth; thus arn his familiers his foes and his

enemyes; and nothing is werse, ne more mighty for to anoy than

is a familier enemy; and these thinges may they not weyve; so

trewly their might is not worth a cresse. And over al thinge, he

that may not withdrawe the brydel of his flesshly lustes and his

wrecched complayntes (now think on thy-selfe) trewly he is not

mighty; I can seen no way that lyth to the knotte. Thilke

people than, that setten their hertes upon suche mightes and

powers, often ben begyled. Pardè, he is not mighty that may do

any thing, that another may doon him the selve, and that men

have as greet power over him as he over other. A justice that

demeth men ayenward hath ben often demed. Buserus slew his

gestes, and he was slayn of Hercules his geste. Hugest betraysshed

many men, and of Collo was he betrayed. He that with

swerde smyteth, with swerde shal be smitten.'

Than gan I to studyen a whyle on these thinges, and made

a countenaunce with my hande in maner to ben huisht.

'Now let seen,' quod she, 'me thinketh somwhat there is

within thy soule, that troubleth thy understanding; saye on what

it is.'

Quod I tho, 'me thinketh that, although a man by power have

suche might over me, as I have over another, that disproveth no

might in my person; but yet may I have power and might

never-the-later.'

'See now,' quod she, 'thyne owne leudenesse. He is mighty

that may without wrecchednesse; and he is unmighty that may it

not withsitte; but than he, that might over thee, and he wol,

putte on thee wrecchednesse, thou might it not withsitte. Ergo,

thou seest thy-selfe what foloweth! But now (quod she) woldest

thou not skorne, and thou see a flye han power to don harm to

an-other flye, and thilke have no might ne ayenturning him-selfe

to defende?'

'Yes, certes,' quod I.

'Who is a frayler thing,' quod she, 'than the fleshly body of

a man, over whiche have oftentyme flyes, and yet lasse thing than

a flye, mokel might in grevaunce and anoying, withouten any

withsittinge, for al thilke mannes mightes? And sithen thou

seest thyne flesshly body in kyndely power fayle, how shulde than

the accident of a thinge ben in more suretè of beinge than

substancial? Wherfore, thilke thinges that we clepe power is but

accident to the flesshly body; and so they may not have that

suretee in might, whiche wanteth in the substancial body. Why

there is no way to the knotte, [for him] that loketh aright after

the hye way, as he shulde.

CHAPTER VIII.

Verily it is proved that richesse, dignitè, and power ben not

trewe way to the knotte, but as rathe by suche thinges the

knotte to be unbounde; wherfore on these thinges I rede no

wight truste to gette any good knotte. But what shul we saye of

renomè in the peoples mouthes? Shulde that ben any cause?

What supposest thou in thyn herte?'

'Certes,' quod I, 'yes, I trowe; for your slye resons I dare not

safely it saye.'

'Than,' quod she, 'wol I preve that shrewes as rathe shul ben

in the knotte as the good; and that were ayenst kynde.'

'Fayn,' quod I, 'wolde I that here; me thinketh wonder how

renomè shuld as wel knitte a shrewe as a good person; renomè

in every degree hath avaunced; yet wist I never the contrarye.

Shulde than renomè accorde with a shrewe? It may not sinke in

my stomake til I here more.'

'Now,' quod she, 'have I not sayd alwayes, that shrewes shul

not have the knotte?'

'What nedeth,' quod I, 'to reherse that any more? I wot wel

every wight, by kyndely reson, shrewes in knitting wol eschewe.'

'Than,' quod she, 'the good ought thilke knotte to have.'

'How els?' quod I.

'It were greet harm,' quod she, 'that the good were weyved

and put out of espoire of the knotte, if he it desyred.'

'O,' quod I, 'alas! On suche thing to thinke, I wene that

heven wepeth to see suche wronges here ben suffred on erthe; the

good ought it to have, and no wight els.'

'The goodnesse,' quod she, 'of a person may not ben knowe

outforth but by renomè of the knowers; wherfore he must be

renomed of goodnesse, to come to the knot.'

'So must it be,' quod I, 'or els al lost that we carpen.'

'Sothly,' quod she, 'that were greet harm, but-if a good man

might have his desyres in service of thilke knot, and a shrewe to

be †weyved, and they ben not knowen in general but by lacking

and praysing, and in renomè; and so by the consequence it

foloweth, a shrewe to ben praysed and knit; and a good to be

forsake and unknit.'

'Ah,' quod I tho, 'have ye, lady, ben here abouten; yet wolde

I see, by grace of our argumentes better declared, how good and

bad do acorden by lacking and praysing; me thinketh it ayenst

kynde.'

'Nay,' quod she, 'and that shalt thou see as yerne; these

elementes han contrarious qualitees in kynde, by whiche they

mowe not acorde no more than good and badde; and in [some]

qualitees they acorde, so that contraries by qualitè acorden by

qualitè. Is not erthe drye; and water, that is next and bitwene

th'erthe, is wete? Drye and wete ben contrarie, and mowen not

acorde, and yet this discordaunce is bounde to acorde by cloudes;

for bothe elementes ben colde. Right so the eyre, that is next

the water, is wete; and eke it is hot. This eyre by his hete

contrarieth water that is cold; but thilke contrarioustè is oned †by

moysture; for bothe be they moyst. Also the fyr, that is next

the †eyre and it encloseth al about, is drye, wherthrough it

contrarieth †eyre, that is wete; and in hete they acorde; for

bothe they ben hote. Thus by these acordaunces discordantes

ben joyned, and in a maner of acordaunce they acorden by

conneccion, that is, knitting togither; of that accorde cometh

a maner of melodye that is right noble. Right so good and bad

arn contrarie in doinges, by lacking and praysing; good is bothe

lacked and praysed of some; and badde is bothe lacked and

praysed of some; wherfore their contrarioustee acorde bothe by

lacking and praysing. Than foloweth it, though good be never

so mokel praysed, [it] oweth more to ben knit than the badde;

or els bad, for the renomè that he hath, must be taken as wel as

the good; and that oweth not.'

'No, forsothe,' quod I.

'Wel,' quod she, 'than is renomè no way to the knot. Lo,

foole,' quod she, 'how clerkes wryten of suche glorie of renomè:—"O

glorie, glorie, thou art non other thing to thousandes of folke

but a greet sweller of eeres!" Many oon hath had ful greet renomè

by false opinion of variaunt people. And what is fouler than

folk wrongfully to ben praysed, or by malice of the people giltlesse

lacked? Nedes shame foloweth therof to hem that with wrong

prayseth, and also to the desertes praysed; and vilanye and

reproof of him that disclaundreth.

Good child (quod she) what echeth suche renomè to the

conscience of a wyse man, that loketh and mesureth his goodnesse,

not by slevelesse wordes of the people, but by sothfastnesse

of conscience? By god, nothing. And if it be fayr, a mans name

be eched by moche folkes praysing, and fouler thing that mo folk

not praysen? I sayd to thee a litel here-beforn, that no folk in

straunge countreyes nought praysen; suche renomè may not

comen to their eeres, bycause of unknowing and other obstacles,

as I sayde: wherfore more folk not praysen, and that is right foul

to him that renomè desyreth, to wete, lesse folk praisen than

renomè enhaunce. I trowe, the thank of a people is naught

worth in remembraunce to take; ne it procedeth of no wyse

jugement; never is it stedfast pardurable. It is veyne and fleing;

with winde wasteth and encreseth. Trewly, suche glorie ought to

be hated. If gentillesse be a cleer thing, renomè and glorie to

enhaunce, as in reckening of thy linage, than is gentilesse of thy

kinne; for-why it semeth that gentilesse of thy kinne is but

praysing and renomè that come of thyne auncestres desertes:

and if so be that praysing and renomè of their desertes make

their clere gentillesse, than mote they nedes ben gentil for their

gentil dedes, and not thou; for of thy-selfe cometh not such

maner gentilesse, praysinge of thy desertes. Than gentillesse of

thyne auncesters, that forayne is to thee, maketh thee not gentil,

but ungentil and reproved, and-if thou continuest not their

gentilesse. And therfore a wyse man ones sayde: "Better is it

thy kinne to ben by thee gentyled, than thou to glorifye of thy

kinnes gentilesse, and hast no desert therof thy-selfe."

How passinge is the beautee of flesshly bodyes, more flittinge

than movable floures of sommer! And if thyne eyen weren as good

as the lynx, that may seen thorow many stone walles, bothe fayre

and foule, in their entrayles, of no maner hewe shulde apere to

thy sight; that were a foule sight. Than is fayrnesse by feblesse

of eyen, but of no kynde; wherfore thilke shulde be no way to

the knot; whan thilke is went, the knotte wendeth after. Lo,

now, at al proves, none of al these thinges mowe parfitly ben in

understanding, to ben way to the during blisse of the knotte.

But now, to conclusion of these maters, herkeneth these wordes.

Very sommer is knowe from the winter: in shorter cours draweth

the dayes of Decembre than in the moneth of June; the springes

of Maye faden and †falowen in Octobre. These thinges ben not

unbounden from their olde kynde; they have not lost her werke

of their propre estat. Men, of voluntarious wil, withsitte that

hevens governeth. Other thinges suffren thinges paciently to

werche; man, in what estat he be, yet wolde he ben chaunged.

Thus by queynt thinges blisse is desyred; and the fruit that

cometh of these springes nis but anguis and bitter; al-though it

be a whyle swete, it may not be with-holde; hastely they departe;

thus al-day fayleth thinges that fooles wende. Right thus hast

thou fayled in thy first wening. He that thinketh to sayle, and drawe

after the course of the sterre de polo antartico, shal he never

come northward to the contrarye sterre of polus articus; of whiche

thinges if thou take kepe, thy first out-waye-going "prison" and

"exile" may be cleped. The ground falsed underneth, and so

hast thou fayled. No wight, I wene, blameth him that stinteth

in misgoing, and secheth redy way of his blisse. Now me

thinketh (quod she) that it suffyseth in my shewing; the wayes

by dignetè, richesse, renomè, and power, if thou loke clerely, arn

no wayes to the knotte.'

CHAPTER IX.

'Every argument, lady,' quod I tho, 'that ye han maked in

these fore-nempned maters, me thinketh hem in my ful

witte conceyved; shal I no more, if god wil, in the contrarye be

begyled. But fayn wolde I, and it were your wil, blisse of the

knotte to me were declared. I might fele the better how my

herte might assente, to pursue the ende in service, as he hath

begonne.'

'O,' quod she, 'there is a melodye in heven, whiche clerkes

clepen "armony"; but that is not in brekinge of voice, but it is

a maner swete thing of kyndely werching, that causeth joye[s]

out of nombre to recken, and that is joyned by reson and by

wysdome in a quantitè of proporcion of knitting. God made al

thing in reson and in witte of proporcion of melody, we mowe not

suffyse to shewe. It is written by grete clerkes and wyse, that,

in erthly thinges, lightly by studye and by travayle the knowinge

may be getten; but of suche hevenly melody, mokel travayle wol

bringe out in knowing right litel. Swetenesse of this paradyse

hath you ravisshed; it semeth ye slepten, rested from al other

diseses; so kyndely is your herte therein y-grounded. Blisse of

two hertes, in ful love knitte, may not aright ben imagined; ever

is their contemplacion, in ful of thoughty studye to plesaunce,

mater in bringinge comfort everiche to other. And therfore, of

erthly thinges, mokel mater lightly cometh in your lerning.

Knowledge of understonding, that is nigh after eye, but not so

nigh the covetyse of knittinge in your hertes. More soverain

desyr hath every wight in litel heringe of hevenly conninge than

of mokel material purposes in erthe. Right so it is in propertee

of my servauntes, that they ben more affiched in steringe of litel

thinge in his desyr than of mokel other mater lasse in his

conscience. This blisse is a maner of sowne delicious in

a queynte voice touched, and no dinne of notes; there is non

impression of breking labour. I can it not otherwyse nempne,

for wantinge of privy wordes, but paradyse terrestre ful of delicious

melody, withouten travayle in sown, perpetual service in ful joye

coveyted to endure. Only kynde maketh hertes in understonding

so to slepe, that otherwyse may it nat be nempned, ne in other

maner names for lyking swetnesse can I nat it declare; al sugre

and hony, al minstralsy and melody ben but soot and galle in

comparison, by no maner proporcion to reken, in respect of this

blisful joye. This armony, this melody, this perdurable joye may

nat be in doinge but betwene hevens and elementes, or twey

kyndly hertes ful knit in trouth of naturel understonding, withouten

weninge and disceit; as hevens and planettes, whiche thinges

continually, for kyndly accordaunces, foryeteth al contrarious

mevinges, that in-to passive diseses may sowne; evermore it

thirsteth after more werking. These thinges in proporcion be

so wel joyned, that it undoth al thing whiche in-to badnesse by any

way may be accompted.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'this is a thing precious and noble. Alas!

that falsnesse ever, or wantrust shulde ever be maynteyned, this

joye to voyde. Alas! that ever any wrecche shulde, thorow wrath

or envy, janglinge dare make, to shove this melody so farre

a-backe, that openly dar it nat ben used; trewly, wrecches ben

fulfilled with envy and wrathe, and no wight els. Flebring

and tales in suche wrecches dare appere openly in every wightes

eere, with ful mouth so charged, [with] mokel malice moved

many innocentes to shende; god wolde their soule therwith were

strangled! Lo! trouth in this blisse is hid, and over-al under

covert him hydeth; he dar not come a-place, for waytinge of

shrewes. Commenly, badnesse goodnesse amaistreth; with my-selfe

and my soule this joye wolde I bye, if the goodnesse were

as moche as the nobley in melody.'

'O,' quod she, 'what goodnesse may be acompted more in

this material worlde? Truly, non; that shalt thou understonde.

Is nat every thing good that is contrariant and distroying yvel?'

'How els?' quod I.

'Envy, wrathe, and falsnesse ben general,' quod she; 'and

that wot every man being in his right mynde; the knotte, the

whiche we have in this blisse, is contrariaunt and distroyeth such

maner yvels. Ergo, it is good. What hath caused any wight

to don any good dede? Fynd me any good, but-if this knotte

be the cheef cause. Nedes mot it be good, that causeth so

many good dedes. Every cause is more and worthier than thing

caused; and in that mores possession al thinges lesse ben

compted. As the king is more than his people, and hath in

possession al his rëalme after, right so the knot is more than

al other goodes; thou might recken al thinges lasse; and that

to him longeth, oweth in-to his mores cause of worship and of

wil †to turne; it is els rebel and out of his mores defending to

voyde. Right so of every goodnesse; in-to the knotte and

in-to the cause of his worship [it] oweth to tourne. And trewly,

every thing that hath being profitably is good, but nothing hath

to ben more profitably than this knot; kinges it mayntayneth,

and hem, their powers to mayntayne. It maketh misse to ben

amended with good governaunce in doing. It closeth hertes

so togider, that rancour is out-thresten. Who that it lengest

kepeth, lengest is glad[d]ed.'

'I trowe,' quod I, 'heretykes and misse-mening people hence-forward

wol maintayne this knotte; for therthorough shul they

ben maintayned, and utterly wol turne and leve their olde yvel

understanding, and knitte this goodnesse, and profer so ferre

in service, that name of servauntes might they have. Their

jangles shal cese; me thinketh hem lacketh mater now to alege.'

'Certes,' quod Love, 'if they, of good wil thus turned, as thou

sayst, wolen trewly perfourme, yet shul they be abled party

of this blisse to have; and they wol not, yet shul my servauntes

the werre wel susteyne in myn helpe of maintenaunce to the ende.

And they, for their good travayle, shullen in reward so ben meded,

that endelesse joye body and soule †to-gider in this shullen

abyden. There is ever accion of blisse withouten possible

corrupcion; there is accion perpetuel in werke without travayle;

there is everlasting passife, withouten any of labour; continuel

plyte, without cesinge coveyted to endure. No tonge may telle,

ne herte may thinke the leest point of this blisse.'

'God bring me thider!' quod I than.

'Continueth wel,' quod she, 'to the ende, and thou might not

fayle than; for though thou spede not here, yet shal the passion

of thy martred lyfe ben written, and rad toforn the grete Jupiter,

that god is of routhe, an high in the holownesse of heven, there

he sit in his trone; and ever thou shalt forward ben holden

amonge al these hevins for a knight, that mightest with no

penaunce ben discomfited. He is a very martyr that, livingly

goinge, is gnawen to the bones.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'these ben good wordes of comfort; a litel

myne herte is rejoyced in a mery wyse.'

'Ye,' quod she; 'and he that is in heven felith more joye,

than whan he firste herde therof speke.'

'So it is,' quod I; 'but wist I the sothe, that after disese

comfort wolde folowe with blisse, so as ye have often declared,

I wolde wel suffre this passion with the better chere. But my

thoughtful sorowe is endelesse, to thinke how I am cast out

of a welfare; and yet dayneth not this yvel non herte, non hede,

to meward throwe: which thinges wolde greetly me by wayes

of comfort disporte, to weten in my-selfe a litel with other me[n]

ben y-moved; and my sorowes peysen not in her balaunce the

weyght of a peese. Slinges of her daunger so hevily peysen,

they drawe my causes so hye, that in her eyen they semen but

light and right litel.'

'O! for,' quod she, 'heven with skyes that foule cloudes

maken and darke †weders, with gret tempestes and huge,

maketh the mery dayes with softe shyning sonnes. Also the

yere with-draweth floures and beautee of herbes and of erth;

the same †yere maketh springes and jolitè in Vere so to renovel

with peinted coloures, that erthe semeth as gay as heven. Sees

that blasteth and with wawes throweth shippes, of whiche the

living creatures for greet peril for hem dreden; right so, the

same sees maketh smothe waters and golden sayling, and comforteth

hem with noble haven that firste were so ferde. Hast

thou not (quod she) lerned in thy youth, that Jupiter hath in

his warderobe bothe garmentes of joye and of sorowe? What

wost thou how soone he wol turne of the garment of care,

and clothe thee in blisse? Pardè, it is not ferre fro thee. Lo,

an olde proverbe aleged by many wyse:—"Whan bale is greetest,

than is bote a nye-bore." Wherof wilt thou dismaye? Hope

wel and serve wel; and that shal thee save, with thy good bileve.'

'Ye, ye,' quod I; 'yet see I not by reson how this blisse

is coming; I wot it is contingent; it may falle on other.'

'O,' quod she, 'I have mokel to done to clere thyne understanding,

and voyde these errours out of thy mynde. I wol

prove it by reson, thy wo may not alway enduren. Every thing

kyndely (quod she) is governed and ruled by the hevenly bodyes,

whiche haven ful werchinge here on erthe; and after course

of these bodyes, al course of your doinges here ben governed

and ruled by kynde.

Thou wost wel, by cours of planettes al your dayes proceden;

and to everich of singuler houres be enterchaunged stondmele

about, by submitted worching naturally to suffre; of whiche

changes cometh these transitory tymes that maketh revolving of

your yeres thus stondmele; every hath ful might of worchinge,

til al seven han had her course about. Of which worchinges and

possession of houres the dayes of the weke have take her names,

after denominacion in these seven planettes. Lo, your Sonday

ginneth at the first hour after noon on the Saturday, in whiche

hour is than the Sonne in ful might of worching; of whom Sonday

taketh his name. Next him foloweth Venus, and after

Mercurius, and than the Moone; so than Saturnus, after whom

Jovis; and than Mars; and ayen than the Sonne; and so forth

†by .xxiiii. houres togider; in whiche hour ginning in the seconde

day stant the Moone, as maister for that tyme to rule; of whom

Monday taketh his name; and this course foloweth of al other

dayes generally in doing. This course of nature of these bodyes

chaunging stinten at a certain terme, limitted by their first kynde;

and of hem al governementes in this elemented worlde proceden,

as in springes, constellacions, engendrures, and al that folowen

kynde and reson; wherfore [in] the course that foloweth, sorowe

and joy kyndely moten entrechangen their tymes; so that

alway oon wele, as alway oon wo, may not endure. Thus seest

thou appertly, thy sorowe in-to wele mot ben chaunged; wherfore

in suche case to better syde evermore enclyne thou shuldest.

Trewly, next the ende of sorowe anon entreth joy; by maner

of necessitè it wol ne may non other betyde; and so thy conti[n]gence

is disproved; if thou holde this opinion any more, thy

wit is right leude. Wherfore, in ful conclusion of al this, thilke

Margaryte thou desyrest hath ben to thee dere in thy herte, and

for her hast thou suffred many thoughtful diseses; herafter shal

[she] be cause of mokel mirth and joye; and loke how glad canst

thou ben, and cese al thy passed hevinesse with manifolde

joyes. And than wol I as blythly here thee speken thy mirthes

in joye, as I now have y-herd thy sorowes and thy complayntes.

And if I mowe in aught thy joye encrese, by my trouthe, on

my syde shal nat be leved for no maner traveyle, that I with

al my mightes right blythly wol helpe, and ever ben redy you

bothe to plese.' And than thanked I that lady with al goodly

maner that I worthily coude; and trewly I was greetly rejoysed

in myne herte of her fayre behestes; and profered me to be

slawe, in al that she me wolde ordeyne, while my lyf lested.

CHAPTER X.

'Me thinketh,' quod I, 'that ye have right wel declared,

that way to the knot shuld not ben in none of these

disprovinge thinges; and now, order of our purpos this asketh,

that ye shulde me shewe if any way be †thider, and whiche

thilke way shulde ben; so that openly may be seye the verry

hye way in ful confusioun of these other thinges.'

'Thou shalt,' quod she, 'understande that [of] one of three

lyves (as I first sayd) every creature of mankynde is sprongen,

and so forth procedeth. These lyves ben thorow names departed

in three maner of kyndes, as bestialliche, manliche, and resonabliche;

of whiche two ben used by flesshely body, and the thirde

by his soule. "Bestial" among resonables is forboden in every

lawe and every secte, bothe in Cristen and other; for every

wight dispyseth hem that liveth by lustes and delytes, as him

that is thral and bounden servaunt to thinges right foule; suche

ben compted werse than men; he shal nat in their degree ben

rekened, ne for suche one alowed. Heritykes, sayn they, chosen

lyf bestial, that voluptuously liven; so that (as I first sayde to

thee) in manly and resonable livinges our mater was to declare;

but [by] "manly" lyfe, in living after flesshe, or els flesshly wayes

to chese, may nat blisse in this knotte be conquered, as by reson

it is proved. Wherfore by "resonable" lyfe he must nedes it

have, sithe a way is to this knotte, but nat by the firste tway lyves;

wherfore nedes mot it ben to the thirde; and for to live in flesshe,

but nat after flessh, is more resonablich than manliche rekened

by clerkes. Therfore how this way cometh in, I wol it blythely

declare.

See now (quod she) that these bodily goodes of manliche

livinges yelden †sorowfulle stoundes and smertande houres. Who-so

†wol remembre him to their endes, in their worchinges they

ben thoughtful and sorie. Right as a bee that hath had his hony,

anon at his flight beginneth to stinge; so thilke bodily goodes at

the laste mote awaye, and than stinge they at her goinge, wherthrough

entreth and clene voydeth al blisse of this knot.'

'Forsothe,' quod I, 'me thinketh I am wel served, in shewing

of these wordes. Although I hadde litel in respect among other

grete and worthy, yet had I a fair parcel, as me thought, for the

tyme, in forthering of my sustenaunce; whiche while it dured,

I thought me havinge mokel hony to myne estat. I had richesse

suffisauntly to weyve nede; I had dignitè to be reverenced in

worship. Power me thought that I had to kepe fro myne enemyes,

and me semed to shyne in glorie of renomè as manhood asketh

in mene; for no wight in myne administracion coude non yvels

ne trechery by sothe cause on me putte. Lady, your-selve

weten wel, that of tho confederacies maked by my soverains

I nas but a servaunt, and yet mokel mene folk wol fully ayenst

reson thilke maters maynteyne, in whiche mayntenaunce [they]

glorien them-selfe; and, as often ye haven sayd, therof ought

nothing in yvel to be layd to me-wardes, sithen as repentaunt

I am tourned, and no more I thinke, neither tho thinges ne

none suche other to sustene, but utterly distroye, without medlinge

maner, in al my mightes. How am I now cast out of al

swetnesse of blisse, and mischevously [is] stongen my passed

joy! Soroufully muste I bewayle, and live as a wrecche.

Every of tho joyes is tourned in-to his contrary. For richesse,

now have I povertè; for dignitè, now am I emprisoned; in

stede of power, wrecchednesse I suffre; and for glorie of renomè,

I am now dispysed and foulich hated. Thus hath farn Fortune,

that sodaynly am I overthrowen, and out of al welth dispoyled.

Trewly, me thinketh this way in entree is right hard; god graunt

me better grace er it be al passed; the other way, lady, me

thought right swete.'

'Now, certes,' quod Love, 'me list for to chyde. What ayleth

thy darke dulnesse? Wol it nat in clerenesse ben sharped?

Have I nat by many resons to thee shewed, suche bodily goodes

faylen to yeve blisse, their might so ferforth wol nat strecche?

Shame (quod she) it is to say, thou lyest in thy wordes. Thou

ne hast wist but right fewe that these bodily goodes had al atones;

commenly they dwellen nat togider. He that plentè hath in riches,

of his kinne is ashamed; another of linage right noble and wel

knowe, but povert him handleth; he were lever unknowe.

Another hath these, but renomè of peoples praysing may he nat

have; overal he is hated and defamed of thinges right foule.

Another is fair and semely, but dignitè him fayleth; and he that

hath dignitè is croked or lame, or els misshapen and foully dispysed.

Thus partable these goodes dwellen commenly; in one

houshold ben they but silde. Lo! how wrecched is your truste

on thing that wol nat accorde! Me thinketh, thou clepest thilke

plyte thou were in "selinesse of fortune"; and thou sayest, for

that the selinesse is departed, thou art a wrecch. Than foloweth

this upon thy wordes; every soule resonable of man may nat dye;

and if deth endeth selinesse and maketh wrecches, as nedes of

fortune maketh it an ende. Than soules, after deth of the body,

in wrecchednesse shulde liven. But we knowe many that han

geten the blisse of heven after their deth. How than may this

lyf maken men blisful, that whan it passeth it yeveth no wrecchednesse,

and many tymes blisse, if in this lyfe he con live as he

shulde? And wolt thou acompt with Fortune, that now at [t]he

first she hath don thee tene and sorowe? If thou loke to the

maner of al glad thinges and sorouful, thou mayst nat nay it, that

yet, and namely now, thou standest in noble plyte in a good

ginning, with good forth-going herafter. And if thou wene to be

a wrecch, for such welth is passed, why than art thou nat wel

fortunate, for badde thinges and anguis wrecchednesse ben passed?

Art thou now come first in-to the hostry of this lyfe, or els the

both of this worlde? Art thou now a sodayn gest in-to this

wrecched exile? Wenest there be any thing in this erthe stable?

Is nat thy first arest passed, that brought thee in mortal sorowe?

Ben these nat mortal thinges agon with ignorance of beestial wit,

and hast receyved reson in knowing of vertue? What comfort is

in thy herte, the knowinge sikerly in my service [to] be grounded?

And wost thou nat wel, as I said, that deth maketh ende of al

fortune? What than? Standest thou in noble plyte, litel hede

or recking to take, if thou let fortune passe dy[i]ng, or els that

she fly whan her list, now by thy lyve? Pardy, a man hath

nothing so leef as his lyf; and for to holde that, he doth al his

cure and diligent traveyle. Than, say I, thou art blisful and

fortunat sely, if thou knowe thy goodes that thou hast yet

†beleved, whiche nothing may doute that they ne ben more worthy

than thy lyf?'

'What is that?' quod I.

'Good contemplacion,' quod she, 'of wel-doing in vertue in tyme

coming, bothe in plesaunce of me and of thy Margarit-peerle.

Hastely thyn hert in ful blisse with her shal be esed. Therfore dismay

thee nat; Fortune, in hate grevously ayenst thy bodily person,

ne yet to gret tempest hath she nat sent to thee, sithen the holding

cables and ankers of thy lyfe holden by knitting so faste, that

thou discomforte thee nought of tyme that is now, ne dispayre

thee not of tyme to come, but yeven thee comfort in hope of

weldoing, and of getting agayn the double of thy lesing, with

encresing love of thy Margarite-perle therto! For this, hiderto,

thou hast had al her ful daunger; and so thou might amende al

that is misse and al defautes that somtyme thou diddest; and

that now, in al thy tyme, to that ilke Margaryte in ful service of

my lore thyne herte hath continued; wherfore she ought moche

the rather enclyne fro her daungerous sete. These thinges ben

yet knit by the holding anker in thy lyve, and holden mote they;

to god I pray, al these thinges at ful ben perfourmed. For whyle

this anker holdeth, I hope thou shalt safely escape; and [in a]

whyle thy trewe-mening service aboute bringe, in dispyte of al

false meners that thee of-newe haten; for [in] this trewe service

thou art now entred.'

'Certayn,' quod I, 'among thinges I asked a question, whiche

was the way to the knot. Trewly, lady, how-so it be I tempt you

with questions and answers, in speking of my first service, I am

now in ful purpos in the pricke of the herte, that thilke service

was an enprisonment, and alway bad and naughty, in no maner

to be desyred; ne that, in getting of the knot, may it nothing

aveyle. A wyse gentil herte loketh after vertue, and none other

bodily joyes alone. And bycause toforn this in tho wayes I was

set, I wot wel my-selfe I have erred, and of the blisse fayled; and

so out of my way hugely have I ronne.'

'Certes,' quod she, 'that is sothe; and there thou hast miswent,

eschewe the path from hens-forward, I rede. Wonder

I trewly why the mortal folk of this worlde seche these ways

outforth; and it is preved in your-selfe. Lo, how ye ben confounded

with errour and folly! The knowing of very cause and way is

goodnesse and vertue. Is there any thing to thee more precious

than thy-selfe? Thou shalt have in thy power that thou woldest

never lese, and that in no way may be taken fro thee; and thilke

thing is that is cause of this knot. And if deth mowe it nat reve

more than an erthly creature, thilke thing than abydeth with thy-selfe

soule. And so, our conclusion to make, suche a knot, thus

getten, abydeth with this thinge and with the soule, as long as

they laste. A soule dyeth never; vertu and goodnesse evermore

with the soule endureth; and this knot is parfit blisse. Than

this soule in this blisse endlesse shal enduren. Thus shul hertes

of a trewe knot ben esed: thus shul their soules ben plesed: thus

perpetually in joye shul they singe.'

'In good trouth,' quod I, 'here is a good beginning; yeve us

more of this way.'

Quod she, 'I said to thee nat longe sithen, that resonable lyf

was oon of three thinges; and it was proved to the soule.