Middle English humorous tales in verse / edited by George H. McKnight.

Dame Siriz
Ci comence le fablel et la cointise de dame siriz.

As I com bi an waie, Hof on ich herde saie, Ful modi mon and proud; Wis he wes of lore, And gouþlich vnder gore, Line 5 And cloþed in fair sroud.

To louien he bigon On wedded wimmon, Þer-of he heuede wrong; His herte hire wes alon, Line 10 Þat reste neuede he non, Þe loue wes so strong.

Wel ȝerne he him biþoute Hou he hire gete moute In ani cunnes wise. Line 15

Line 15 Þat befel on an day Þe louerd wend away Hon his marchaundise.

He wente him to þen inne Þer hoe wonede inne, Line 20 Þat wes riche won; And com in to þen halle, Þer hoe wes srud wiþ palle, And þus he bigon:—

"God almiȝtten be her-inne!" Line 25 "Welcome, so ich euer bide wenne," Quod þis wif. "His hit þi wille, com and site, And wat is þi wille let me wite, Mi leuelif. Line 30

Bi houre louerd, heuene-king, If I mai don ani þing Þat þe is lef, Þou miȝtt finden me ful fre. Fol bleþeli willi don for þe, Line 35 Wiþ-houten gref."

"Dame, god þe forȝelde, Bote on þat þou me nout bimelde, Ne make þe wroþ, Min hernde willi to þe bede; Line 40 Bote wraþþen þe for ani dede Were me loþ."

"Nai I-wis, wilekin, For no-þing þat euer is min, Þau þou hit ȝirne, Line 45 Houncurteis ne willi be; Ne con I nout on vilte, Ne nout I nelle lerne.

Þou mait saien al þine wille, And I shal herknen and sitten stille, Line 50 Þat þou haue told. And if þat þou me tellest skil, I shal don after þi wil, Þat be þou bold.

And þau þou saie me ani same, Line 55 Ne shal I þe nouiȝt blame For þi sawe." "Nou ich haue wonne leue, Ȝif þat I me shulde greue, Hit were ho nlawe. Line 60

Line 60

Certes, dame, þou seist as hende, And I shal setten spel on ende, And tellen þe al, Wat ich wolde, and wi ich com; Ne con ich saien non falsdom, Line 65 Ne non I ne shal.

Ich habbe I-loued þe moni ȝer, Þau ich nabbe nout ben her Mi loue to schowe. Wile þi louerd is in toune, Line 70 Ne mai no mon wiþ þe holden roune Wiþ no þewe.

ȝurstendai ich herde saie, As ich wende bi þe waie, Of oure sire; Line 75 Me tolde me þat he was gon To þe feire of botolfston In lincolne-schire.

And for ich weste þat he ves houte, Þarfore ich am I-gon aboute Line 80 To speken wiþ þe. Him burþ to liken wel his lif, Þat miȝtte welde secc a vif In priuite.

Dame, if hit is þi wille, Line 85 Boþ dernelike and stille, Ich wille þe loue." "Þat woldi don for non þin[g], Bi houre louerd, heuene-king, Þat ous is boue! Line 90

Ich habe mi louerd þat is mi spouse, Þat maiden broute me to house Mid menske I-nou; He loueþ me and ich him wel, Oure loue is also trewe as stel, Line 95 Wiþ-houten wou.

Þau he be from hom on his hernde, Ich were ounseli, if ich lernede To ben on hore. Þat ne shal neuere be, Line 100 Þat I shal don selk falsete, On bedde ne on flore.

Neuer more his lif-wile, Thau he were on hondred mile Bi-ȝende rome, Line 105 For no þing ne shuldi take Mon on erþe to ben mi make, Ar his hom-come."

"Dame, dame, torn þi mod; Þi curteisi was euer god, Line 110 And ȝet shal be; For þe louerd þat ous haueþ wrout, Amend þi mod, and torn þi þout, And rew on me."

"We, we! oldest þou me a fol? Line 115 So ich euer mote biden ȝol, Þou art ounwis. Mi þout ne shalt þou newer wende; Mi louerd is curteis mon and hende, And mon of pris; Line 120

And ich am wif boþe god and trewe; Trewer womon ne mai no mon cnowe Þen ich am. Þilke time ne shal neuer bitide Þat mon for wouing ne þoru prude Line 125 Shal do me scham."

"Swete leumon, merci! Same ne vilani Ne bede I þe non; Bote derne loue I þe bede, Line 130 As mon þat wolde of loue spede, And fi[n]de won."

"So bide Ich euere mete oþer drinke, Her þou lesest al þi swinke; Þou miȝt gon hom, leue broþer, Line 135 For [ne] wille ich þe loue, ne non oþer, Bote mi wedde houssebonde; To tellen hit þe ne wille ich wonde." "Certes, dame, þat me forþinkeþ; An[d] wo is þe mon þa[t] muchel swinkeþ, Line 140 And at þe laste leseþ his sped! To maken menis his him ned. Bi me I saie ful I-wis, Þat loue þe loue þat I shal mis. An[d], dame, haue nou godnedai! Line 145 And þilke louerd, þat al welde mai, Leue þat þi þout so tourne, Þat ihc for þe no leng ne mourne."

Dreri-mod he wente awai, And þoute boþe niȝt and dai Line 150 Hire al for to wende. A frend him radde for to fare, And leuen al his muchele kare, To dame siriz þe hende.

Þider he wente him anon, Line 155 So suiþe so he miȝtte gon, No mon he ni mette. Ful he wes of tene and treie; Mid wordes milde and eke sleie Faire he hire grette. Line 160

"God þe I-blessi, dame siriz! Ich am I-com to speken þe wiz, For ful muchele nede. And ich mai haue help of þe Þou shalt haue, þat þou shalt se, Line 165 Ful riche mede."

"Welcomen art þou, leue sone; And if ich mai oþer cone In eni wise for þe do, I shal strengþen me þer-to. Line 170 For-þi, leue sone, tel þou me Wat þou woldest I dude for þe." "Bote, leue nelde, ful euele I fare; I lede mi lif wiþ tene and kare;

Wiþ muchel hounsele ich lede mi lif, And þat is for on suete wif Line 175 Þat heiȝtte margeri.

Ich haue I-loued hire moni dai, And of hire loue hoe seiz me nai; Hider ich com for-þi. Line 180

Bote if hoe wende hire mod, For serewe mon ich wakese wod, Oþer mi selue quelle. Ich heuede I-þout miself to slo; For-þen radde a frend me go Line 185 To þe mi sereue telle.

He saide me, wiþ-houten faille, Þat þou me couþest helpe and uaile, And bringen me of wo Þoru þine crafftes and þine dedes; Line 190 And ich wile ȝeue þe riche mede, Wiþ þat hit be so."

"Benedicite be herinne! Her hauest þou, sone, mikel senne. Louerd, for his suete nome, Line 195 Lete þe þerfore hauen no shome! Þou seruest affter godes grome, Wen þou seist on me silk blame. For ich am old, and sek and lame; Seknesse haueþ maked me ful tame. Line 200

Line 200 Blesse þe, blesse þe, leue knaue! Leste þou mes-auenter haue, For þis lesing þat is founden Opp-on me, þat am harde I-bonden. Ich am on holi wimon, Line 205 On wicchecrafft nout I ne con, Bote wiþ gode men almesdede. Ilke dai mi lif I fede, And bidde mi pater noster and mi crede, Þat goed hem helpe at hore nede, Line 210 Þat helpen me mi lif to lede, And leue þat hem mote wel spede. His lif and his soule worþe I-shend, Þat þe to me þis hernde haueþ send; And leue me to ben I-wreken Line 215 On him þis shome me haueþ speken."

"Leue nelde, bilef al þis; Me þinkeþ þa[t] þou art onwis. Þe mon þat me to þe taute, He weste þat þou hous couþest saute. Line 220 Help, dame siriþ, if þou maut, To make me wiþ þe sueting saut,

And ich wille geue þe gift ful stark, Moni a pound and moni a marke, Warme pilche and warme shon, Line 225 Wiþ þat min hernde be wel don. Of muchel godlec miȝt þou ȝelpe, If hit be so þat þou me helpe." "Liȝ me nout, wilekin, bi þi leute Is hit þin hernest þou tekest me? Line 230 Louest þou wel dame margeri?" "Ȝe, nelde, witerli; Ich hire loue, hit mot me spille, Bote ich gete hire to mi wille." "Wat, god wilekin, me reweþ þi scaþe, Line 235 Houre louerd sende þe help raþe!

Weste hic hit miȝtte ben forholen, Me wolde þunche wel solen Þi wille for to fullen. Make me siker wiþ word on honde, Line 240 Þat þou wolt helen, and I wile fonde If ich mai hire tellen.

For al þe world ne woldi nout Þat ich were to chapitre I-brout For none selke werkes. Line 245

Line 245 Mi iugement were sone I-giuen To ben wiþ shome somer driuen Wiþ prestes and with clarkes."

"I-wis, nelde, ne woldi Line 250 Þat þou heuedest uilani Ne shame for mi goed. Her I þe mi trouþe pliȝtte, Ich shal helen bi mi miȝtte, Bi þe holi roed!" Line 255

"Welcome, wilekin, hiderward; Her hauest I-maked a foreward Þat þe mai ful wel like. Þou maiȝt blesse þilke siþ, For þou maiȝt make þe ful bliþ; Line 260 Dar þou namore sike.

To goder-hele euer come þou hider, For sone willi gange þider, And maken hire hounderstonde. I shal kenne hire sulke a lore; Line 265 Þat hoe shal louien þe mikel more Þen ani mon In londe."

"Al so haui godes griþ, Wel hauest þou said, dame siriþ, And goder-hele shal ben þin. Haue her twenti shiling, Line 270 Þis ich ȝeue þe to meding, To buggen þe sep and swin."

"So ich euere brouke hous oþer flet, Neren neuer penes beter biset Þen þes shulen ben. Line 275 For I shal don a iuperti, And a ferli maistri, Þat þou shalt ful wel sen.

Pepir nou shalt þou eten, Þis mustart shal ben þi mete, Line 280 And gar þin eien to rene; I shal make a lesing Of þin heie-renning, Ich wot wel wer and wenne."

"Wat! nou const þou no god? Line 285 Me þinkeþ þat þou art wod: Ȝeuest þo þe welpe mustard?" "Be stille, boinard!

I shal mit þis ilke gin Gar hire loue to ben al þin. Line 290 Ne shal ich neuer haue reste ne ro Til ich haue told hou þou shalt do. Abid me her til min hom-come." "Ȝus, bi þe somer blome, Heþen nulli ben binomen, Line 295 Til þou be aȝein comen" Dame siriþ bigon to go, As a wrecche þat is wo, Þat hoe come hire to þen inne Þer þis gode wif wes inne. Line 300 Þo hoe to þe dore com, Swiþe reuliche hoe bigon: "Louerd," hoe seiþ, "wo is holde wiues, Þat in pouerte ledeþ ay liues; Not no mon so muchel of pine Line 305 As poure wif þat falleþ in ansine. Þat mai ilke mon bi me wite For mai I nouþer gange ne site. Ded woldi ben ful fain. Hounger and þurst me haueþ nei slain; Line 310 Ich ne mai mine limes on-wold, For mikel hounger and þurst and cold. War-to liueth selke a wrecche? Wi nul goed mi soule fecche?"

"Seli wif, god þe hounbinde! Line 315 To dai wille I þe mete finde For loue of goed. Ich haue reuþe of þi wo, For euele I-cloþed I se þe go, And euele I-shoed. Line 320

Com her-in, ich wile þe fede," "Goed almiȝtten do þe mede, And þe louerd þat wes on rode I-don, And faste fourti daus to non, And heuene and erþe haueþ to welde. Line 325 As þilke louerd þe forȝelde. Haue her fles and eke bred, And make þe glad, hit is mi red; And haue her þe coppe wiþ þe drinke; Goed do þe mede for þi swinke." Line 330 Þenne spac þat holde wif, Crist awarie hire lif! "Alas! Alas! þat euer I liue! Al þe sunne ich wolde forgiue Þe mon þat smite of min heued! Line 335 Ich wolde mi lif me were bireued!"

"Seli wif, what eilleþ þe?" "Bote eþe mai I sori be: Ich heuede a douter feir and fre, Feiror ne miȝtte no mon se. Line 340 Hoe heuede a curteis hossebonde; Freour mon miȝtte no mon fonde. Mi douter louede him al to wel; For þi maki sori del. Oppon a dai he was out wend, Line 345 And þar-þoru wes mi douter shend. He hede on ernde out of toune; And com a modi clarc wiþ croune, To mi douter his loue beed, And hoe nolde nout folewe his red. Line 350 He ne miȝtte his wille haue, For no þing he miȝtte craue. Þenne bigon þe clerc to wiche, And shop mi douter til a biche. Þis is mi douter þat ich of speke; Line 355 For del of hire min herte breke. Loke hou hire heien greten, On hire cheken þe teres meten.

For þi, dame, were hit no wonder, Þau min herte burste assunder. Line 360 A[nd] wose euer is ȝong houssewif, Ha loueþ ful luitel hire lif, And eni clerc of loue hire bede, Bote hoe grante and lete him spede." "A! louerd crist, wat mai þenne do! Line 365 Þis enderdai com a clarc me to, And bed me loue on his manere, And ich him nolde nout I-here. Ich trouue he wolle me forsape. Hou troustu, nelde, ich moue ascape?" Line 370 "God almiȝtten be þin help Þat þou ne be nouþer bicche ne welp! Leue dame, if eni clerc Bedeþ þe þat loue-werc, Ich rede þat þou grante his bone, Line 375 And bicom his lefmon sone. And if þat þou so ne dost, A worse red þou ounderfost."

"Louerd crist, þat me is wo, Þat þe clarc me hede fro, Line 380 Ar he me heuede biwonne.

Me were leuere þen ani fe That he heuede enes leien bi me, And efft-sones bigunne.

Euer-more, nelde, ich wille be þin, Line 385 Wiþ þat þou feche me willekin, Þe clarc of wam I telle, Giftes willi geue þe Þat þou maiȝt euer þe betere be, Bi godes houne belle!" Line 390

"Soþliche, mi swete dame, And if I mai wiþ-houte blame, Fain ich wille ffonde; And if ich mai wiþ him mete, Bi eni wei oþer bi strete, Line 395 Nout ne willi wonde.

Haue goddai, dame! forþ willi go." "Allegate loke þat þou do so As ich þe bad; Bote þat þou me wilekin bringe, Line 400 Ne mai neuer lawe ne singe, Ne be glad."

"I wis, dame, if I mai, Ich wille bringen him ȝet to-dai, Bi mine miȝtte." Line 405 Hoe wente hire to hire inne, Her hoe founde wilekinne, Bi houre driȝtte!

"Swete wilekin, be þou nout dred, For of þin her[n] de ich haue wel sped. Line 410 Swiþe com for þider wiþ me, For hoe haueþ send affter þe. I-wis nou maiȝt þou ben aboue, For þou hauest grantise of hire loue." "God þe for-ȝelde, leue nelde, Line 415 Þat heuene and erþe haueþ to welde!"

Þis modi mon bigon to gon Wiþ Siriz to his leuemon In þilke stounde. Dame Siriz bigon to telle, Line 420 And swor bi godes ouene belle, Hoe heuede him founde.

"Dame, so haue ich wilekin sout, For nou haue ich him I-brout." "Welcome, wilekin, swete þing, Line 425 Þou art welcomore þen þe king.

Wilekin þe swete, Mi loue I þe bihete, To don al þine wille. Turnd ich haue mi þout, Line 430 For I ne wolde nout Þat þou þe shuldest spille."

"Dame, so ich euere bide noen, And ich am redi and I-boen To don al þat þou saie. Line 435 Nelde, par ma fai! Þou most gange awai, Wile ich and hoe shulen plaie."

"Goddot so I wille: And loke þat þou hire tille, Line 440 And strek out hire þes. God ȝeue þe muchel kare, Ȝeif þat þou hire spare, Þe wile þou mid hire bes.

And wose is onwis, Line 445 And for non pris Ne con geten his leuemon, I shal, for mi mede, Garen him to spede, For ful wel I con." Line 450

Appendix to Dame Siriz

Hic Incip^t Interludium de clerico et puella.

Clericus ait, "Damishel, reste wel!" "Sir, welcum, by saynt michel!" "Wer esty sire, wer esty dame?" "By gode, es noyer her at hame." Line 5 "Wel wor suilc a man to life Yat suilc a may mithe haue to wyfe." "Do way, by crist and leonard, No wily lufe na clerc fayllard, Na kepi herbherg, clerc, in huse, no y flore Line 10 Bot his hers ly wit uten dore. Go forth yi way, god sire, ffor her hastu losye al yi wile." "Nu, nu, by crist and by sant ihon; In al yis land ne wis hi none, Line 15 Mayden, yat hi luf mor yan ye, Hif me micht euer ye bether be. ffor ye hy sory nicht and day, Y may say, hay wayleuay!" Y luf ye mar yan mi lif, Line 20 Yu hates me mar yan yayt dos chnief. Yat es nouct for mys-gilt, Certhes, for yi luf ham hi spilt. A, suythe mayden, reu of me, Yat es ty luf hand ay salbe, Line 25

Line 25 ffor ye luf of y[e] mod[er] of efne, Yu mend yi mode and her my steuene!" "By crist of heuene and sant ione, Clerc of scole ne kepi non, ffor many god wymman haf yai don scam — Line 30 By crist, yu michtis haf ben at hame!" "Synt it noyir gat may be, Ihesu crist by-te[c] hy ye, And send neulic bot yar inne, Yat yi be lesit of al my pyne." Line 35 "Go nu, truan, go nu, go, ffor mikel yu canstu of sory and wo!"

"God te blis, mome helwis!" "Son, welcum, by san dinis!" "Hic am comin to ye, mome, Line 40 Yu hel me noth, yu say me sone. Hic am a clerc yat hauntes scole, Y lydy my lif wyt mikel dole. Me wor leuer to be dedh, Yan led ye lif yat hyc ledh Line 45 ffor ay mayden with and schen, ffayrer ho lond hawy non syen. Yo hat mayden malkyn, y wene. Nu yu wost quam y mene. Yo wonys at the tounes ende, Line 50 Yat suyt lif so fayr and hende. Bot if yo wil hir mod amende,

Neuly crist my ded me send! Men send me hyder, vyt-vten fayle, To haf yi help anty cunsayle; Line 55 Yar for amy cummen here, Yat yu salt be my herand-bere, To mac me and yat mayden sayct, And hi sal gef ye of my nayct, So yat heuer al yy lyf Line 60 Saltu be ye better wyf. So help me crist, and hy may spede, Riche saltu haf yi mede." "A, son, vat saystu? Benedicite! Lift hup yi hand and blis ye! Line 65 ffor it es boyt syn and scam, Yat yu on me hafs layt thys blam. ffor hic am anald quyne and a lam, Y led my lyf wit godis loue, Wit my roc y me fede, Line 70 Cani do non oyir dede, Bot my pater noster and my crede, To say crist for missedede, And myn auy mary — ffor my scynnes hic am sory — Line 75 And my deprofundis ffor al yat y sin lys; ffor cani me non oyir yink— Yat wot crist, of heuene kync. Ihesu crist of heuene hey, Line 80

Line 80 Gef yat hay may heng hey, And gef yat hy may se, Yat yay be heng' on a tre, Yat yis ley as leyit onne me. ffor aly wymam ami on." Line 85

Notes

• In the variant readings, W.=Wright, M.=Mätzner. Besides the variants indicated W. & M. have regularly th for þ and v for consonantal u. In the text of the present volume the punctuation is supplied by the editor.
• Title. MS. comēce, W. fables, MS. fablel.
• W. & M. be|gon.
• W. & M. Therof.
• W. & M. bi-thoute.
• W. & M. into, M. them.
• MS. her inne.
• W. & M. Quod.
• W. & M. comme.
• W. & M. leve lif.
• MS. Wiþ houten, W. & M. Withhouten.
• W. & M. for-ȝelde.
• W. & M. bi melde.
• W. & M. i-wis.
• MS. no þing.
• M. alle.
• W. & M. hounlaw.
• W. & M. What.
• W. & M. i-loved.
• W. & M. ȝursten-dai.
• W. & M. Lincolneschire, MS. lincolne schire.
• W. & M. i-gon.
• W. sett, M. selc.
• MS. þin.
• M. meiden.
• W. & M. i-nou. MS. I nou.
• W. & M. With houten, MS. Wiþ houten.
• W. & M. falseté.
• MS. Bi ȝende rome.
• W. & M. shuld I.
• W. & M. bi-tide.
• W. & M. lemmon, MS. lenmon, or leumon (?).
• MS. & W. fide.
• W. & M. ich.
• MS. om. 'ne.'
• W. & M. for-thinketh.
• MS. An, W. & M. And, MS. þa.
• W. & M. i-wis. MS. I. wis.
• MS. An. W. & M. godne dai.
• M. Dreri-mod.
• MS. siriz, as usually.
• W. & M. i-blessi. MS. I. blessi.
• W. & M. i-com. MS. I-com.
• W. & M. ther-to.
• W. & M. For-thi.
• W. & M. Nelde.
• W. & M. i-loved. MS. I. loued.
• W. & M. seith.
• W. & M. for-thi.
• W. & M. miselve.
• W. & M. i-thout.
• W. & M. withhouten.
• W. & M. vaile.
• W. & M. bless.
• W. & M. mesaventer, MS. mes auenter.
• W. & M. Oppon, i-bonden, MS. I bonden.
• W. & M. witchecrafft.
• W. & M. pater-noster.
• W. & M. i-shend.
• W. & M. i-wreken.
• W. & M. speken.
• W. & M. Nelde. bi-lef.
• MS. þa; W. & M. that.
• W. touhest, MS. couþest or touþest(?).
• MS. apound, amarke.
• W. tehest, M. techest.
• W. & M. Nelde.
• MS. wilekin.
• MS. louerd.
• W. & M. for-holen.
• W. & M. i-brout.
• W. & M. I-wis, Nelde.
• W. & M. vilani.
• MS. wilekin.
• W. & M. i-maked.
• W. To geder hele, M. To goder hele. W. & M. hide[r].
• MS. alore.
• W. & M. in.
• W. & M. jugement, i-given.
• W. Have, M. Hawe.
• W. & M. juperti, MS. aiuperti.
• MS. Pepis.
• MS. alesing.
• W. tho, M. thou.
• MS. nero.
• MS. hom come.
• W. & M. bi|nomen.
• W. & M. Hounger.
• W. & MS. on wold.
• W. & M. War-to. MS. awrecche.
• W. & M. i-clothed, MS. I. cloþed.
• W. & M. i-shoed, MS. I shoed.
• W. & M. herin.
• W. & M. loverd, i-don.
• W. & M. for-ȝelde.
• W. & M. drinke.
• W. & M. Goed mede the for.
• W. & M. olde.
• W. & M. for-give.
• W. & M. off.
• W. & M. bi-reved.
• W. & M. dóuter. MS. adouter.
• W. & M. Feirer.
• MS. nomon.
• W. & M. douter.
• W. & M. For-thi mak I.
• MS. adai, W. & M. oute.
• W. & M. thar- forn, douter.
• MS. amodi.
• W. & M. douter.
• W. & M. nothing.
• W. & M. bi-gon.
• MS. abiche.
• W. & M. douter.
• W. & M. For-thi, wonder.
• W. & M. thah.
• MS. A, W. & M. hever.
• M. Hoe.
• W. & M. An.
• W. & M. graunte.
• M. inserts ^*I^* after mai.
• W. & M. i-here.
• W. & M. for-sape.
• W. & M. Nelde.
• W. & M. graunte.
• W. & M. bi-com.
• MS. efft sones, W. & M. bi-gunne.
• W. & M. Evermore, Nelde.
• W. & M. give.
• W. & M. withhoute.
• W. & M. fonde.
• W. & M. god dai.
• M. inserts ^*I^* after mai.
• W. & M. I-wis.
• MS. herde.
• M. for^*th^* thider.
• W. & M. affter.
• W. & M. I-wis.
• W. & M. grauntise.
• MS. for ȝelde. W. & M. Nelde.
• W. & M. i-brout.
• W. & M. bi-hete.
• W. & M. i-boen.
• M. here.
• W. & M. pris.
• Clericus
• Puella
• Clericus
• Puella
• Clericus
• Puelia
• Clericus
• Puella
• Clericus
• Puella
• Clericus
• Mome-Elwis
• Clericus
• Mome Ellwis