The Cambridge ms (University library, Gg. 4.27) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.
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Title
The Cambridge ms (University library, Gg. 4.27) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.
Author
Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400.
Publication
London :: Published for the Chaucer Society by K. Paul, Trench, Trübner,
1868-1879.
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"The Cambridge ms (University library, Gg. 4.27) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/AGZ8234.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 18, 2024.
Pages
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GROUP A. FRAGMENT I.
§ 1. GENERAL PROLOGUE. [Prologus. Libri.
CAMBRIDGE UNIV. MS. Gg. 4. 27. (Its gaps are filled in from Harl. 1758 and Sloane 1685.)
Whan that Aprille . with his schoures swote.The drought of Marche . hath perced to þe rote.And bathed euery veyne . in suche licoure.Of whiche vertue . engendrid ys the floure.Line 4 And ȝephirus eke . with his swete breth.Enspired hath . in euerie holt and heth.The tendre croppes . and the yong sonne.In to the Ram . his half cours ronne.Line 8 And smale fowles . maken melodye.That slepen all the nyght . with open eye.So priketh hem nature . in here corages.Than longen folk . to gon in pilgrymages.Line 12 And palmers for to seke . straunge strondesTo ferne halwes . couthe in sondry londes.And specialy . from euerie schires ende.Of Englond to Caunterburye thei wende.Line 16 The holy blisfull martyr . for to seke.That hem hath holpen . whan þat þei were seke.Byfell that . in that sesoun on a daye.In suthwerk . at the Thabard as I laye.Line 20 Redy to wenden . on my pilgrymage.To Caunterbury . with full deuoute corage.At nyght was come . in to þat hostelrye.Well nyne and twenty . in a companye.Line 24 Of sondry folk . by auenture falle.In felschip . and pilgrymes were þei alle.That towarde Cauntirbury . wolde ryde.
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[The chambres . and the stables weren wyde.Line 28 And well were esid . at the beste.And schortly . whan the sonne was to reste.So had I spoken . with hem euerychon.That I was . of here felaschip anon.Line 32 And made forward . erly for to ryse.To take oure way . there as I you deuyse.But natheles . while I haue tyme and space.Or that I ferþer . in this tale pace.]Line 36 Me thynketh it a-cordaunt to resounTo telle ȝow / al the conchusyounOf eche of hem as it semyth meAnd whiche þey were & of what degreLine 40 And ek in what aray þat they were inneAnd at a knyȝt þanne wele I ferst begynne¶ A knyght þere was & that a worthy manThat from the tyme that he ferst beganTo rydyn out he louede ChyualryeTrouthe honour fredom & curteysieLine 46 fful worthi was he in hese lordis werreAnd therto hadde he / redyn noman ferreLine 48 As wel in cristyndom as in hethnesseAnd euere honoured for hese worthynesse¶ At Alisandir he was whan it was wonneAnd ofte tyme / he hadde þe bord begunneLine 52 A-bouyn alle nacyounnys in PruceIn lectowe hadde he reysed & in reuceNon cristene man so ofte / of his degreIn gernage at þe sege ek hadde he beLine 56 Of Algazer & redyn in balmaryeAt leyeys was he & at satalyeWhan they were wonne & in þe grete seeAt manye a nobil aryue hadde he beLine 60 At mortal bataylis hadde he be fifteneAnd [foughten] for oure feith at tramesseneIn lystis thryis / & ay slayen his fo
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This ilke worthi knyth hadde ben alsoLine 64 Sumtyme with þe lord of PalatyeAgeyn anothir hethen / in TurkyeAnd eueremor he hadde a souereyn prysAnd thow that he were worthy he was wysLine 68 And of hese port as meke as is a maydeHe neuere ȝit non velany ne saydeIn al his lyȝf vn to no maner wightHe was a weray perfit gentil knyȝtLine 72 But for to telle ȝow of his aray [folio 132b] Hese hors were goode / but he was not gayOf fustien he werede a iopounAl besloteryd with hese habiriounLine 76 for he was late come from hese vyageAnd wente for to don here pilgrymage¶ With hym þere was / hese sone a ȝong squyerA louere / & a lusty bacheleerLine 80 With lokkis crulle as þey were leyd in presseOf twenty ȝer / of age he was I gesseOf hese stature / he was of euene lentheAnd wonderly delyuere / & of gret strentheLine 84 And he hadde ben sumtyme In chyuachieIn fflaunderis in artoys / & in pikardyeAnd boryn wel as of so litil spaseIn hope to stondyn / in hese lady graceLine 88 Enbroudit was he / as it were a medeAl ful of frossche flourys white & redeSyngynge he was or floutynge al the dayHe was as frosch as is the monyth of mayLine 92 Schort was his gounne / with sleuys longe & wideWel coude he sitte on hors / & fayre rydeHe coude songis make / & fayre enditeIuste & ek daunse / & wel portreye & wryteLine 96 So hote he louede þat be nyghter taleHe slepte no more than doth a nyghtyngaleCurteis he was loueli & seruysable
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And karf be-forn hese fadir at the tableLine 100 ¶ A ȝeman hadde he & seruauntys no mooAt that tyme / for he leste ryde sooAnd he was clad in cote & hod of greneA schef of pekok / arwys bryȝte & scheneLine 104 Vndir his belte he bar ful thryftylyWel coude he dresse hese takil ȝemanlyHese arwis droupede nought with federys loweAnd in his hand he bare a myghty boweLine 108 A not hed hadde he / with a broun vesage [folio 133a] Of wode craft wel coude he al þe usageVp on his arm he bar a gay braserAnd by his side / a swerd & a bokelerLine 112 And on that oþer side a gay daggereHarneysed wel / & schrap as poynt of spereA Cristofere / on his brest of siluyr scheneAn horn he bar þe baudryk was of greneLine 116 A foster was he sothli as I gesseTher was also a nunne a prieresse¶ That of here smylyng was ful simple & coyHere gretteste oth was but be seynt loyLine 120 And sche was clepid Madame Eglentynefful wel sche song / þe seruyse of deuyneEntuned in here nose so semelyAnd french sche spak ful fayre & fetyselyLine 124 As aftyr þe schole of stratforthe at the boweffor french of parys was to here onknowe¶ At mete wel I-tauȝt / was sche with alleSche let no morsel / from here lyppis falleLine 128 Ne wette here fyngyr / in here sause depeWel couthe sche carye a morsel / & wel kepeThat no drope ne fel vp on here brestIn curteysie was set ful meche here lystLine 132 Hire ouere lippe wipede sche so kleneThat in hire coppe þer was / no ferthyng seneOf gres / whan sche dronkyn / hadde her draught
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fful semely aftyr here mete sche raughtLine 136 And sekyrly sche was of gret disportAnd ful plesynge & amyable of portAnd peynede here to contyrfete chereOf court & to been / estatly of manereLine 140 And to ben holde dygne of reuerenceBut for to spekyn of here concienceSche was so charytable & so pitousSche wolde wepe ȝif that sche seye a mousLine 144 Kauȝt in a trappe ȝif it were ded or bledde [folio 133b] Of smale houndis hadde sche þat sche feddeWith rostid flesch or mylk or wastelbredBut sore wepte sche ȝif on of hem were dedLine 148 Or ȝif men smot it with a ȝerde smerteAnd al was concience & tendere herte¶ fful semely here wimpil pynched wasHere nose tretis here eyen greye as glasLine 152 Here mouth ful smal & þerto softe & redBut sekyrly / sche hadde a fayr forhedIt was almost a spanne brod I troweffor hardily sche was not vndir-groweLine 156 fful fetys was here cloke as I was warOf smale corl aboute here arm sche barA peyre of bedis I-gaudeit al with greneAnd þeron heng a broche of gold so keneLine 160 On wich þere was wretyn a cround AAnd aftyr Amor vincit omnia¶ A nothir nonne with here hadde sche¶ That was here chapelen & prestis thre¶ A monk þere was a fayr for the maystryeAn out ridere þat louede ueneryeA manly man to ben an abbot ablefful manye a deynte hors hadde he in stableLine 168 And whan he rod men myȝte his brydil hereGyngelyn in a whistelyng wynd als clereAnd ek as loude as doth the chapel belle
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There as this lord was kepere of the selleLine 172 The reule of seynt Maur / & of seynt benyghtBe cause that it was old & sumdel streytThis ilke monk let olde thynge paceAnd held aftyr the newe world the spaceLine 176 He ȝaf not of that tixt a pulled henneThat seith þat hunterys ben not holye menneNe that a monk whan he is rekelesIs lykened to a fysch that is watyrlesLine 180 This is to seyne a monk out of hese cloystre [folio 134a] But tilke tixt held he not worth an oystereAnd I seyde his opynyoun was goodWhat schulde he stodie & make hymseluyn woodLine 184 Vp on a bok in cloystere alwey to poureOf swynkyn with hese hondis & laboureAs Austyn bit how schal þe world be servidLet Austyn han his swynk to hym reservidLine 188 Therfore he was a prekasour aryȝtGrehou[n]dis he hadde as swift as foul in flyȝtOf prekyng & huntynge for the hareWas al hese lust for no cost wolde he spareLine 192 I sey hese sleuys / purfilid at the handWith grys / & that the feyneste of a landAnd for to festene his hod vndir his schynHe hadde of gold I-wrouȝt a ful coryous pynLine 196 A loue knot in the grettere ende þere wasHis hed was ballyd that schon as ony glasAnd ek hese face as he hadde ben enoyntHe was a lord ful fat & in good poyntLine 200 Hese eyen stepe & rollynge in hese hedThat stemyd as a furneys of a ledHese botis souple / his hors in gret estatNow serteynly he was a fayr prelatLine 204 He nas not pale as a forpynnede gostA fat swan louede he best of ony rostHis palfray was as broun as is a berye
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A frere þere was a wantoun & a meryeLine 208 ¶ A lymytour a ful solempne manIn alle the orderys foure is non that canSo mekil of daliauns & fayr langageHe hadde mad ful manye a maryageLine 212 Of ȝonge wemen at hese owene costOn to his ordere he was a noble postfful wel he louyd / & famyliar was heWith frankeleynys / oueral in his cuntreLine 216 And with worthi wemen of the toun [folio 134b] ffor he hadde power of confessiounAs seide hym self more than a curatffor of hese ordere he was licencyatLine 220 fful swetli herde he confessiounAnd plesaunt was hese absolucyounHe was an esi man to ȝeue penaunceThere as he wiste to han a good petaunsLine 224 Vnto pore orderis for to ȝeueIs ygne that a man Is wel I-schreueffor ȝif he ȝaf he durste make auauntHe wiste that a man was repentauntLine 228 ffor manye a man so hard is of hese herteHe may not wepe though hym sore smerteTherfore in stede of wepyng & preyeresMen mote ȝeue siluer to the pore freresLine 232 ¶ Hise tipet was ay farsed ful of knyuysAnd pynnys for to ȝeuyn fayre wywesAnd serteynli he hadde a merye throteWel couthe he synge & pleyen on a roteLine 236 Of ȝeddyngis he bar vttyrli the prysHis nekke whit was as the flour de lisTherto he strong was as a chaumpiounHe knew the tauernys wel in euery tounLine 240 And eueryche osteler & tapstereBet than a laser or a bakystereffor vn to swich a worthi man as he
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Acordith not as by his faculteLine 244 To haue with swiche sike men a-queyntaunceIt is not honest it may not auau[n]ceffor to dele with non swich parayleBut al with riche & selleris of vitayleLine 248 And oueral there profit schulde aryseCurteys he was & louly of seruyseTher was no man now so vertywousHe was the beste begere in hese housLine 252 . . . . .ffor thow a wedewe hadde not a scho [folio 135a] So plesaunt was his in principioȜit wolde he haue a ferthyng er he wenteHis purchas was wel betyr than hese renteLine 256 And rage he couthe as it were ryȝt a whelpIn louedayis there couthe he mekil helpffor there he was not lik a cloystererWith a thredbare kope as is a scholerLine 260 But he was lik a mystir or a popeOf double worstede was hese semeli kopeTha[t] rounded as a belle / out of the presseSumwhat he lipsede for hese wantounnesseLine 264 To make hese engelisch swete vp on his tungeAnd in hese harpynge whan that he hadde sungeHese eyȝyyn twynkeledyn in hese hed aryȝtAs don the sterrys / in the frosty nyghtLine 268 This worthi limytour / was cleped hobertA marchaunt was there with a forkede berdIn motle an heigh on horse he satVp on his hed a flaunderich bemysch hatLine 272 Hese botis clospede ful fetuselyHese resoun he spak ful plesauntlySounynge alwey the cres of hese wynnyngHe wolde the se / were kept for ony thyngLine 276 Be-twixe myddil-bourgh & orewelle
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Wel couthe en eschaung schildis selleThis worthi man ful wel his wit be-setteThere wiste no man that he was in detteLine 280 So estatli was he of hese gouernaunceWith hese bargaynys & hese cheuysancefforsothe he was a worthy man withalBut sothe to seyn I not how men hym calLine 284 A clerk there was of oxsenforthe alsoThat vnto logyk hadde longe I-goAs lene was hese hors as is a rakeAnd he nas not / 1rygh fat / I vndyrtake1Line 288 fful thredbare was hese ouereste courtepy [folio 135b] . . . . .ffor he hadde getyn hym ȝit no benefysNe was so wordely for to hauyn offysLine 292 ffor hym was lefere to haue at hese bedis hedTwenty bokis I-clad in blak or redOf Aristotle & his philoso-phieþan robis ryche or fedele or gay sautrieLine 296 But al be þat he was a philisofreþat hadde but lityl gold in cofreBut al þat he myȝte of hese frendis henteOn bokis & on lernynge he it spenteLine 300 And besily gan for þe soulys preyeOf hem þat ȝaf hym wherwith to schole heyeOf stodie tok he most kep & most hedeNot a word spak he more þan was nedeLine 304 And þat was seyd in forme & reuerenceAnd schort & quik & ful of hey sentenceSounynge in moral uertu was hese specheAnd gladly wolde he lerne & gladli te-cheLine 308 A seriaunt of the lawe bothe war & wysThat oftyn hadde ben at þe paruysHe was also ryche of excellenceDiscret he was & of gret reuerenceLine 312 He semede swich hese wordis were so wyse
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Iustyse he was ful oftyn in asyseBe patent & be pleyn commyssiounffor hese sience & for hese heye renounLine 316 Of feis & robis hadde he manyonSo gret a purchasour was neuere norAl was fesymple to hym in effectHis purchase myȝte not ben enfectLine 320 Neuere so besy a man as he þere nasAnd þat he semede besiere þan he wasIn termys hadde he cas & domys alleþat from the tyme of kyng welyam were falleLine 324 Therto he coude endite & make a thyng [folio 136a] Ther coude no man pynche at hese writyngAnd euery statut coude he pleyn be roteHe rod but homely in a medely coteLine 328 Gyrt with a seynt of silk with barrys smaleOf hese aray telle I no lengere taleA frankeleyn was in hese cumpanyeWhit was hese berd as is þe daysieLine 332 Of complexioun he was sanguynWel louede be þe morwe a soppe in wynTo leuyn in delit was euere hese woneffor he was epicurus owene soneLine 336 That held opynyoun þat pleyn delytWas uery felicite parfytAn housholdere & þat a gret was heSeynt Ielion he was in that cuntreLine 340 Hese bred hese ale was alwey aftyr onA betere enuynede man was nower nonWith-oute bake mete was neuere his housOf fysch & flesch & þat so plentyuousLine 344 It snowede in his mouth of mete & drynkOf alle deynteis that men coude þynkAftyr þe sundery sesenys of the ȝerSo chaungede he hese mete & hese soperLine 348 fful manye a fat perterych hadde he in mewe
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And many a brem / & manye a luce in steweWo was hese cook / but ȝif hese sauce werePoynaunt & redy al hese geereLine 352 His table dormaunt in hese halle alweyStod redy keuered / al the longe dayAt sessiounnys þere was he lord & syrefful ofte tyme he was kn[i]ght of the schyreLine 356 An Anlas & a gipser al of sylkHeng at hese gyrdil whit as morwyn mylkA schirreue hadde he ben & countourWas nower swich a vanasourLine 360 An habirdaschere & a carpenter [folio 136b] A webber a dyere & a taphiserAnd þey were clothid alle in on lyuereOf a ful solempne & a gret fraternyteLine 364 ffrorsch & newe here ger apikede wasHere knyues were chapid not with brasBut al with sylvir wrouȝt ful clene & welHere grerdelys & here pouchis euerydelLine 368 Wel semede eche of hem a fayr burgeysTo sittyn In a ȝilde halle on a deysEuerych for the wisdam that he canWas schaply for to ben an aldirmanLine 372 ffor catel hade þey I-now & renteAnd ek here wyuys wolde it wel assenteAnd ellis serteyn weryn þey to blameIt is ful fayr to be clepid madameLine 376 And gon to vigilis al be-foreAnd han a mental ryalliche I-boreA cok hadde þey with hem for þe nonysTo boile the chekenys & the marye bonysLine 380 And poudir Marchaunt tard & galyngaleWel coude he knowe a drauȝt of londen aleHe couth roste & sethe & boyle & fryeMakyn mortereus & wel bake a pyeLine 384 But gret harm was it as it semede me
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That on hese schene a mormal hadde heffor blankmanger þat made he at the besteA schipman was þere wonynge fer be westeffor ouȝt I wot he was of dertemoutheLine 389 He rod up on a rouncy as he coutheIn a gounne of faldynge to the kneA daggere hangynge on a lace hadde heLine 392 Aboute his nekke vndir his arm adounThe hote somyr hadde mad his hew al brounAnd serteynli he was a good felawefful manye a drauȝt of weyn hadde he I-draweLine 396 ffrom burdeux ward whil that the chapman slep [folio 137a] Of nyce consience tok he none kepȜif that he fauȝt & hadde the heyere handBe watyr he sente hem hom by euery landLine 400 But of hese craft to rekene wel hese tydisHese stremys & hese daungerys hym besydeHis herberwe & hese mone his lodmyngageThere nas non swich from hul to cartageLine 404 Hardy he was & wys to vndirtakeWith manye a tempest hadde his berd ben schakeHe knew alle þe hauenys as þey wereffro gotlond to the kape of fenystereLine 408 And euery Cryk in bretayne & in spayneHis barge clepid was de maudelayneWith vs þere was a doctour of phisikIn al þis world was ther non hym likLine 412 To speke of phisik & of surgeryeffor he was groundit in astronomyeHepte hese pacient a ful gret delIn houres by his Magik naturelLine 416 Wel couthe he fortwnen the ascendentOf hese ymagis / for hese pacientHe knew the cause of euery maladyeWere it hot or cold or moyst or dreyeLine 420 And where þey engendere & of what humour
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He was a veray parfyt praktysourThe cause I-knowe & of hese harm the roteAnon he ȝaf the seke man hese boteLine 424 fful redy hadde he sese apotecaryisTo syndyn hym hese droggis & hese letewaryisffor eche of hem made oþere for to wynneHere frenschepe was not newe to begynneLine 428 Wel knew he the olde exculapijsAnd diascorides & ek RufijsOlde ypocras lylye & galienSerapion Raȝis & AuycenLine 432 Auerois damascyen & constantyn [folio 137b] Bernard & Gadefleun & gilbertynOf hese diete mesurable was heffor it was of non superfluyteLine 436 But of gret nuryschynge & digestibleHis stody was wol lytyl in the bibleIn sanguyn & in pers he clad was allynede with taffata & sendalLine 440 And ȝit he was but esy of dispenceHe kepte that he wan in pestelenceffor gold in phisik is a cardialTherfore he louede gold in specialLine 444 A good wif was there of beside batheBut sche was sumdel def & þat was skatheOf cloth makyng sche hade swich an handSche passed hem of ypres & of gauntLine 448 In al the parich wif was there nonThat to the offerynge to fore her schulde gonAnd ȝif þere dede serteyn so wroth was scheThat sche was out of alle chariteLine 452 Here couercheis ful fyne were of groundI durste swere þey weyedyn a poundThat on a sunday weryn vp on here hedHere hosyn weryn of fyn skarlet redLine 456 fful streyte I-teyede & schois ful moyste & newe
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Bold was here face & fayr & red of heweSche was a worthi woman al here lyueHusbondis at cherche dore sche hadde fyueLine 460 With-outyn oþere compayne in ȝoutheBut þerof nedith not to speke as noutheAnd thryes hadde sche ben at IerusalemSche hadde passed manye a strong stremLine 464 At rome she hadde ben & at boloyneIn galis at seynt Iame & at coloyneSche couthe meche of wonderyng be þe weyeGat-toþed was sche sothly for to seyeLine 468 Vp-on an aumbelere ful esily sche sat [folio 138a] I-wympeled wel & on here hed an hatAs brod as is a bokeler or a targeA fot-mental a-boute here hepis largeLine 472 And on here fet a peyre of sporys scharpeIn felauschepe wel coude sche lawe & carpeOf remedijs of loue / sche knew per schaunceffor sche coude of that art / the olde daunseLine 476 A good man was there of religiounAnd was a pore persoun of a tounBut riche he was of holy thouȝt & werkHe was also a lerned man a clerkLine 480 That cristis gospel trewely wolde techeHese parischiens deuoutly wolde he techeBenyngne he was & wondyr delygentAnd in aduersite ful pacientLine 484 And swich he was preuyd ofte sythisfful loth were hym to cursyn for hese tythisBut rathere wolde he ȝeuyn out of douteVnto hese pore parschens abouteLine 488 Of hese offeryng & hese substau[n]ceHe couthe in lityl thyng han suffisiaunceWyd was hese parysch & housys fer asundirBut he ne lyfte not for reyn ne thondirLine 492 In seknesse nor in myschif to visite
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The fertheste in hese parich meche & liteVp on hese fet & in hese hond a stafThis noble ensaumple to hese schep he ȝafLine 496 That fyrst he wrouȝte & aftyrward he tauȝteOut of the gospel he to wordis cauȝteAnd this figure he addede þertoThat ȝif gold rustede what schal yryn doLine 500 That ȝif a pryst be foul on whom we trusteNo wondyr ist lewede men to rusteAnd schame it is ȝif a pryst take kepA schetyn schepperde & a clene schepLine 504 Wel outhe a prest ensaumple for to ȝeue [folio 138b] By hese clennesse how hese schep schulde leueHe sette not hese benefys to hyreAn let hese schep acumbrit in the myreAnd ran to lundene vn to seynt poulysLine 509 To seke hym a chauntriye for soulysOr with a broþerhed to be with holdeBut dwelte at hom & kepte wel hese foldeLine 512 So that þe wolf ne made it not myscarieHe was a schepherde & not a mersenaryeAnd þow he holy were & vertyuousHe was not to synful men dispitousLine 516 Ne of hese speche daungerous ne digneBut in hese techynge 3discreet & benygne3To drawyn folk to heuyn be clennesseBe good ensaumple this was hese besynesseLine 520 But ȝif it were ony persone obstynatWhat so he were of hey or low estatHym wolde he snybbyn scharpli for the nonysA bettyr pryst I trowe neuere non isLine 524 He waytid aftyr no pompe ne reuerenceNe makid [him] a spisede concienceBut cristis lore & hese apostill twelueHe taughte but fyrst he folwede it hym selueLine 528 With hym þere was a plowman that was hese broþer
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That hadde led of donge manye a fodirA trewe swynkere & a good was heleuynge in pes & parfit chariteLine 532 God louede he best with al hese hole herteAt alle tymys thow hym gamenede or smerteAnd thanne his nyȝhe-bour riȝt as hym selueHe wolde throsche & þerto dyke & delueLine 536 ffor cristis sake for / eue[r]y pore wyghtWith-outyn hyre / ȝif it leye in his myȝtHese tythis payede he ful fayre & welBothe of [his] propre swynk & his catelLine 540 In a tabbard he rod vp on a mere [folio 139a] There was also a reue & a mellereA somnour & a pardounner alsoA maunsiple & myn self there were no moThe meller was a strong carl for the nonysLine 545 ful big he was of braun & ek of bonysThat preuyd he wel for ouyr al þere he camAt wrastelynge he wolde haue alwey the ramLine 548 He was schort schulderid brod & thikke knarreTher nas no dore that he wolde heue of harreOor breke it at a rennyng with hese hedHis berd as ony sowe or fox was redLine 552 And þerto brod as þow it were a spadeVp on the cop ryȝt of hese nose he hadeA wrete & theron stod a tust of herysRed as the brostelis of a sowys erysLine 556 Hese nosetherlis blake were & wideA swerd & a bokeler bar he bi hese sydeHis mouth as a gret furneysHe was a ganglere & a galiardeysLine 560 And that was most of synne & harlotryeWel coude he stele corn & tolle twyeAnd that he hadde a tabbard2 of good parte2A whit cote & a blew hod werede heLine 564 A bagge pipe wel couthe he blowe & sounne
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And þerwithal he brouȝte / vs out of tounneA gentyl maunciple was þere of a templeOf whiche acatouris myȝte take exsaumpleLine 568 ffor to ben wys in beyinge of uytayleffor where that he payede or tok be tayleAlgate he waytide so in hese acateThat he was ay be-forin & in good stateLine 572 Now is not that of god / a ful fayr graceThat swich a lewede manys wit schal paceThe wisdam of an hep / of lernede menOf maystrys hadde he mo þan thryis tenLine 576 That were of lawe expert & corious [folio 139b] Of whiche þere were a doseyn in that housWorthi to ben styward of 2rente & lond2Of ony lord that is in yngelondLine 580 To make hym lyue / by his owene goodIn honour detteles but he werere wodOr leue as skarsely as hym liste desireAnd able for to helpyn al a schyreLine 584 In ony cas that myȝte falle or happeAnd ȝit this maunsiple / sette here allerys cappeThe reue was a sclendere colerik manHese berd was schaue as nygh as euere he canLine 588 His her was by hese erys ful rou[n]de I-schornHis top was dokkyd as a pryst be-fornfful longe were hese leggis & ful leney-lik a staf ther was no calf I-seneLine 592 Wel couthe he kepe a gerner & a bynneThere [was] non auditour couthe on hym wynneWel wiste he be þe droute & be the reynThe ȝildynge of hese sed & of hese greynLine 596 His lordis schep hese net hese deyeryeHese swyn hese hors hese stoor & his pultrieWas holly in þis revis gouernyngeAnd be þe couenaunt ȝaf the rekenyngeLine 600 Syn þat his lord was twenty ȝer of age
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The[r] coude no man bryngyn hym in a-rerageTher nas bayle herde ne oþer hyneThat he knew his sleythe & conyngeLine 604 The were adred of hym as of the deþHese wonyng was ful fayre / vp on an hethWith grene treis I-schadewid was hese placeHe couthe betere þan hese lord purchaseLine 608 fful riche he was a-storid preuylyHese lord. wel couthe he plese subtilyTo ȝeue & lene hym of hese owene goodAnd haue a thank & ȝit a cote and1 hood1.In ȝouthe he hadde lernyd a good mystir [folio 140a] Line 613 He was a wol good wryȝte a carpenterThis reue sat vp on a ful good stotThat was a pomeli grey & hyȝte skotLine 616 A long surcote of pers vp on he haddeAnd bi hese syde he bar a rusty bladeOf norfolke was þis reue of whiche I telleBe syde a toun men clepe baldiswelleLine 620 Tukkede he was as is a frere abouteAnd euere he rod þe hemereste of oure routeA somnour was þere with vs in that plaseThat hadde a fer red cherubynys faceLine 624 ffor sausefleme he was with eyen narweAs hot he was & lecherous as a sparweWith skalede browys blake & pilid berdOf hese vesage chylderyn weryn a-feridLine 628 Ther nas quyk siluyr litarge ne bronstonBoras seruse ne oyle of tartre nonNe oynement þat wolde clense & byteThat hym myȝte helpyn of hese whelkys whiteLine 632 Ne of the knobbis sittynge on hese schekesWel louede he garlek onyounnys & ek lekysAnd for to drynkyn strong wyn red as blodThanne wolde he speke & crye as he were wodLine 636 And whan he wel dronkyn hadde þe wyn
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Thanne wolde he speke no word but latynA fewe termys hadde he to or threThat he hadde lernyd out of sum decreLine 640 No wondir he herde it al the dayAnd ek ȝe knowe wel that a IayKan clepe watte as wel as can the popeBut who so couthe in oþere þyngis hym gropeLine 644 Thanne hadde he spent al hese philosophieAy questio quod Iurys wolde he cryeHe was a gentil harlot & a kyndeA betere felawe schulde men not fynndeLine 648 He wolde suffere for a quart of wyn [folio 140b] A good felawe to haue hese concubynA twelmonyth & excusyn hym at the fullefful pryuyly a fync ek couthe he pulleLine 652 And ȝif he fond ower a good felaweHe wolde techyn hym to haue non aweIn swich cas of the erchedekenys cursBut ȝif a manys soule were in hese porsLine 656 ffor in hese purs he schulde ponyschid bePurs is the erchedekynys helle seyde heBut wel I wot he lyeþ ryȝt in dedeOf cursyng owyth eche gilty man dredeLine 660 ffor curs wele sle ryȝt as asoylyng sauythAnd also war hym of a sygnyficauythIn daunger hadde he at hese owene gyseThe ȝonge gerlys of the diosyseLine 664 And knew here conseyl & was al here redA garlond hade he set vp on hese hedAs gret as it were for an ale stakeA bokeler hadde he mad hym of a cakeLine 668 With hym there rod a Ioly pardounnerOf rouncyuale his frend & his cumperThat streyt was comyn from the court of romefful loude he song loue come hedir comeLine 672 This somnour bar to hym a stif bordoun
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Was neuere triompe half of so gret a sounThis pardounner hade her as ȝelw as ony waxBut smothe it heng as doþ a strik of flexLine 676 Be ouncis heng hese lokkys þat he haddeAnd þerwith he hese schulderys ouerspraddeBut thenne it lay be culpounnys on & onAnd hod for Iolite werede he nonLine 680 ffor it was trussed vp in hese waletHym thouȝte he rod al of the newe ietDischeuele saf his cappe he rod al bareSweche glarynge. eyen. hadde. he as an hareLine 684 A vernykele hadde he sowyd vp on hese cappe [folio 141a] Hese walet be-foryn hym in hese lappeBret ful of pardoun come from rome hotA uoys he hath as smal as haþ a gotLine 688 No berd hadde he ne neuere schulde haueAs smothe it was / as it were late schaueI trowe he were a geldyns or a mareBut of hese craft from berewik in to wareLine 692 Ne was swich a noþer pardounnereffor in his male he hadde a pilwe bereWich þat he seyde was oure lady ueylHe seyde he hadde a gobet of þe seylLine 696 That seynt petyr hadde whan þat he wenteVp on þe se tyl that god hym henteHe hadde a cros / of latoun . ful of stonysAnd in a glas he hadde piggis bonysLine 700 But with þese relikys whan þat he fond.A pouere persoun vp on londVp on a day he gat hym more moneyeThan þe persoun gat in moneþis tweyeLine 704 And þus with feynede flaterye & IapisHe made the persoun & the puple hese apysBut trewely to tellyn at the lasteHe was in cherche a noble ecclesiasteLine 708 Wel couthe he rede a lessoun or a story
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But aldirbest he song an offratoryffor wel he wiste whan that song was sungeHe muste preche & wel affile hyse tungeLine 712 To wynne syluer as he wel coutheTherfore he song the meryerely & loudeNow haue I told ȝow sothly in a clauseThe estat tharay the noumbre & ek the causeLine 716 Whi assemblid was this cumpaynyIn southwerk at this ientil ostelryThat hyȝte the tabbard faste by þe belleBut now is tyme to ȝow for to telleLine 720 How that we beryn vs that ilke nyȝt [folio 141b] Whan that we were in that ostelrye alyȝtAnd aftyr wole I telle of oure viageAnd al the remenaunt of oure pilgrymageLine 724 But fyrst I prey ȝow of ȝoure curteysyeThat ȝe narette not myn velanyeThow that I pleynly speke in þis matereTo telle ȝow here wordys & here cherLine 728 Ne thow I speke here wordis properlyffor this ȝe knowyn als so wel as iWho so schal telle a tale aftyr a manHe mote reherse as nyh as euere he canLine 732 Eueryche a word ȝif it be in his chargeAl speke he neuere so rewedely & largeOr elle he mote telle his tale ontreweOr feyne þyng or fyndyn wordis neweLine 736 He may not spare al-they he wer his broþerHe mote as wel seyn on word as a noþerCrist spak hym self ful brode in holy wrytAnd wel ȝe wote no velany is itLine 740 Ek plato seyth ho so can hym redeThe wordys mote be chose to the dedeAlso I preye ȝow to forȝeue it meAl haue I not set folk in here degreLine 744 Here in this tale al as þey schulde stonde
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Myn wit is schort ȝe may wel vndyrstondeGret chere mad oure ost vs euerychonAnd to the soper sette he vs a-nonLine 748 He seruede vs with vitayle at the besteStrong was the wyn & wel to drynke vs listeA semely man oure ost was with alffor to ben a marchal of an halLine 752 A large man he was with eyne stepeA fayrere burgeys is þere non in chepe.Bold of hese speche & wis & wel I-tauȝtAnd of manhod hym lakkede ryȝt noȝtEke therto he was right a mery man [Sloane MS. 1685 folio 2b] And aftir soper pleyn he bygan.And spak of mirthe among and othere thingisWhanne that he hadde mad oure rykenyngesLine 760 And seide thus now lordyngis trewlyYe ben to me welcome ryght hertilyffor certis yf that I shal not lyeI sawe nought this yere so mery a companyeLine 764 At ones in this herborowe as it nowffayn wolde I don you myrthe wiste I howAnd of a myrthe I am right now bithoughtTo don yow ese and it shal coste nought.Line 768 Ye gon to Caunterbery god yow spedeThe blisfull martir quyte you youre medeAnd wel I wote as ye gon by the weyeYe schapen yow to talen and to pleyeLine 772 ffor truly comfort ne mirthe is noonTo riden by the weye doumbe as a stoonAnd therfore wole y maken you disportAs I seide arst and don yow som comfort /.Line 776 And if yow liketh alle by oon assentfforto stonden att my IuggementAnd forto werken as I shal yow seyeTo morowe whanne ye riden by the weyeLine 780 Now so god saue me at my most nede
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But ye be merie I wole yeue yow myn heedeHolde up youre hondis withoute more specheOure councel was not long forto secheLine 784 Vs thought it was not worth to make to wysAnd grauntide hym withouten more avys.And bade hym seie his verdoit as hym listeLordlyngis quod he herkeneth now for the besteLine 788 But take it nought / I praie ȝow in disdeigneThis is the poynt to speke short and pleigneThat eche of yow to short with oure weyeIn this viage shal telle tales tweyeLine 792 To caunterbury ward I mene it soAnd homward he shal tellen other twoOf auentoures that haue bifalleAnd which of yow that berith him best of alleLine 796 That is to seyn that tellith in this casTales of best sentence and moost solasShal haue a souper/ at oure aldercostHere in this place sittynge bi this postLine 800 Whanne that we comen ageyn fro CauntirburyAnd forto make yow the more myryI wole my siluen goodly with ȝou rideRight at myn owne caste and be youre gydeLine 804 And who so wole my iugement withseyeShal paye al that we spende by the weyeAnd if ye vouche saaf that it be soTelle me anoon without ony word mooLine 808 And I wole erly shape me therforeThis thing was graunted and oure othes sworeWith ful glad herte and preien him alsoThat he wolde vouche saaf forto do sooLine 812 And that he wolde be oure gouernourAnd of oure tales Iugge and reportour/And sette a soper / at a certeyn prysAnd we wolen reuled ben at youre deuysLine 816 In high and logh and thus by oon assent
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We ben acordid to the IuggementAnd theruppon the wyn was fet anoonWe dronken and to rest wente echonLine 820 Withouten ony lenger / tariyngA morow whanne the day gan to springeVp roos oure oost and was oure alde cokAnd gaderede us to gidre in a flokLine 824 And forth we riden a litil more than pasOnto the watering of seynt ThomasAnd there oure oost gan his hors aresteAnd seide lordis herkeneth if yow lesteLine 828 Ye wote youre forward and I it yow recorde [Sloane MS. 1685 folio 3b] If euensong and morowe song accordeLet se now who shal telle the firste taleAs euere mote I drynke wyn or aleLine 832 Who so rebelle to my IuggementShal paye for all that by the weye is spentNow drawith Cutt er that ye ferther/ twynneWhich that hath the shortest shal bigynneLine 836 Sir knyght quod he my maister/ and my lordNow drawith Cutt for that is accordCometh nere quod he my lady prioresseAnd ye Sir clerk lat be youre shamfastnesseLine 840 Ne studieth noght leye hond to euery manAnoon to drawe euery wight biganAnd shortly forto tellen as it wasWere it by auenture or by sort or casLine 844 The sothe is the Cutt fel to the knyghtOf which ful blythe and glad was euery wightAnd tellen he most his tale as it was resounBy forward and by composiciounLine 848 As ye han herd what nedith wordes mooAnd whanne this gode man sawe that it was sooAs he that wys was and obedientTo kepen his forward by his fre assentLine 852 He seide sithen I shal bigynne the game
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What welcome be the Cut a goddis name.Now lat us ride and herkneth what I seieAnd with that word we riden forth oure weyeLine 856 And he bigan with riȝt a mery chereHis tale anoon and seide as ye may heere
Heere endith the prolog of this book;
and heere bigynneth the first tale which is the knyghte tale
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¶ ffabula militis. [Sloane MS. 1685 folio 4a]
WHylom as olde stories tellen vsTher was a Duk that hight ThesiusOf Athenes he was lord and gouernourAnd in his tyme sich a conquerourThat gretter was noon vndir the sonnefful many a riche Contre hadde he wonneLine 864 What with his wisdom and his ChiualrieHe conqueride al the regne of femynyThe whylom was clepid sithiaAnd weddide the queene ypolitaLine 868 And brought hir hom with hym in his ContreWith mich glorie and gret solempnyteAnd eke hir yonge sister EmelyeAnd thus with victory and with melodieLine 872 Lat I this noble Duk to Athenes rideAnd al his oost in armes hym bisideAnd certis if it ne were to longe to heereI wolde haue told fully the manereLine 876 How wymmen was the regne of femynyeBy Theseus and by his chyualrieAnd of the gret batayle for the nonesBitwixen athenes and AmaȝonesLine 880 And how assegid was ypolitaThe fair / hardi queene of scithiaAnd of the feeste that was at hir weddingAnd of the . . . . at hir / home comyngLine 884 But al that [t]hing I moot as now forbereI haue god woot a large feld to ereAnd weyk ben the oxen in my ploughThe remenaunt of the tale is long ynoughLine 888 I wole not letten eke noon of this Route
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Lat euery felowe telle his tale a-bouteAnd lat se now who shal the soper wynneAnd ther as I left I wole bygynneLine 892 ¶ This Duk of whom I make meciounWhanne he was comen almost to the townIn al his wele and his moost pride [Sloane MS. 1685 folio 4b] He was ware as he caste eyȝe asideLine 896 Where that ther knelide in the high weyeA company of ladies tweye and tweyeEch aftir/ other/ cladde inchothes blakeBut sich a crie and sich a woo they makeLine 900 That in this world is creature lyuyngeThat herde sich another/ weymentyngAnd of this crie thei nolde neuere stenteTyl they the reynes of his bridel henteLine 904 What folk be ye that at myn hom comyngeDisturblen so my feeste with criyngeQuod Theseus haue ȝe so gret enuyeOf myn honour that thus compleyne and crieLine 908 Or who hath yow mysboden or offendidAnd telleth me if it may be amendidAnd whi that ye ben clothed thus in blakThe eldest lady of hem alle spakLine 912 Whanne she hadde swouned with a deedly chereThat it was reuthe forto seen and hereShe seide. lord to whom fortune hath ȝyuenVictorie and as a conquerour/ to lyuenLine 916 Not greueth vs youre glorie and youre honour/But we biseke mercy and socourHaue mercy on oure wo and oure distresseSum drope of pite thorough thi gentilnesseLine 920 Vppon vs wrecchid wymmen lat yow falleffor certis lord ther is noon of vs alleThat she nath ben a duchesse or a queneNow be we caytifs as it is wel seneLine 924 Thanked be fortune and hir/ fals wheel
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That noon estat ensureth forto ben welNow certis lord to abide youre presenceHeere in this temple of the goddess clemenceLine 928 We haue be waytyng al this fourte-nyghtHelpe vs lord sith it is in thy myght.¶ I wrecche which that wepe and weyle thus [Sloane MS. 1685 folio 5a] Was whylom wif of kyng cappaneusLine 932 That starf at thebes cursid be that dayAnd all we that ben in this arrayAnd maken all this lementaciounWe losten all oure hosbondis at that tounLine 936 While þat the assege there abowte layAnd yet now the olde Creon weilowayThat lord is now of thebes citeeffulfillid with ire and of iniquiteeLine 940 He for despite and for his tyrannyeTo don the dede bodies velonyeOf alle oure lordes which that ben slaweHath all the bodies on a hepe I-draweLine 944 And wole not suffre hem by non assentNeither/ to ben I-buried neither I-brentBut makith houndis ete hem in dispiteAnd with that word with outen more respiteLine 948 Thei fyllen gruf and crieden pitouslyHaue on vs wrecchid wymmen sum mercyAnd lat oure sorowe synken in thyne herte¶ This gentil duke from his Coursour/ he sterteLine 952 With herte pitous whanne he herde hem spekeHym thoughte that his hert wold brekeWhanne he sawe hem so pitee and so mateThat whilom were of so grete astateLine 956 And in his armes he hem vp henteAnd hem counfortith in ful good ententeAnd swoor his oothe as he was trewe knyght /He wole don so ferforthly his myghtLine 960 Vppon the treaunt Creon hem to wreke
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That alle the puple of grece shold spekeHow creon was of thebeus y-seruedLine 963 As he that hath his deth ful wel disseruedAnd ryȝt a-non with-oute more abod [folio 145a] Hese baner he displayeþ & forth rodTo thebes-ward & al hese ost by hese sideNo ner athenys wolde he go ne rydeLine 968 Ne take hese ese fully half a dayBut onward on hese way þat nyȝt he layAnd sente anon Ipolita the queneAnd emelie here ȝynge systyr scheneLine 972 Vn to the toun of Athenys to dwelleAnd forth he rit ther is no more to telleThe rede statue of mars with spere & targeSo schynyth in hese white baner largeLine 976 That alle the feldis glederyn vp & dounAnd bi hese baner is born hese penounOf gold ful ryche in whiche þere was I-beteThe mynatour whiche þat he slow in CreteLine 980 Thus ryȝt þis deuk þus ryȝt þis conquerourAnd in his cost of cheualrie the flourTil that he come to thebes & a-ligtheffayre in a feld there he thoute to fyghteLine 984 But schortli for to spekyn of this thyngWitht Creon which that was of thebes kyngHe faught & slow hym manly as a knyghtIn pleyn batayle & putte the folk to fleyȝLine 988 And by assent he wan the sete aftyrAnd rent a-doun bothe wal & spere & raftyrAnd to þe ladyis he restorede ageynThe bonys of here frendis þat were slaynLine 992 To don obsequies as was þo the gyseBut it were al to longe for to deuyseThe grete clamour & the waymentyngThat þe ladyis made at the brennyngLine 996 Of the bodyis & the grete honour
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That theseus the noble conquerourDoth to þe ladijs whan þey from hym weynteBut schortely for to telle is myn ententeLine 1000 Whan that this worthi duk this thesius [folio 145b] Hath Creon slayn & wonne thebes thusStille in that feld he tok al nyȝt hese resteAnd dede with al the cuntre as hym lesteLine 1004 To ransake in the taas of bedijs dedeHem for to strepe of harneys & of wedeThe pilouris dydyn besynesse & cureAftyr the batayle & discumfitureLine 1008 And so bi-fel that in the taas was foundeThorgh girt with manye a blody woundeTwo ȝonge knyȝtys liggynge by & byBothe in on armys wrouȝt ful richelyLine 1012 Of whiche too Arcita hyȝte þat onAnd that oþer knyȝt hyȝte palomounNot fully queke ne fully dede þey wereBut by here cote armoure & by here gereLine 1016 Theroudis knew hem best in specialAs þey þat were of the blod ryalOf Thebes & of systeryn to I-bornOut of the taas the pilouris han hem tornLine 1020 And han hem caryed softe on to the tenteOf thesyus & ful sone hem senteTo Athenes to dwellyn in presounPerpetually he nolde no raunsomLine 1024 And whan this worthi deuk haþ þus I-donHe tok hese Ost & hom he rit a-nonWith laurer crouned as a conquerourAnd there he lyuyth in ioye & in honourLine 1028 Terme of lyf what nediþ wordis moAnd in a tour in angwisch & in woThis Palamoun & hese felawe Arciteffor eueremor ther may mo gold hem quyteLine 1032 This passeth ȝer be ȝer & day be day
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Til it fel onys in a monyth of mayThat emale that fayrere was to seneThan is the lylie vp on hese stalke greneLine 1036 And frosscher than þe may with flourys newe [folio 146a] ffor with the rose colour frosch here heweI not whiche was fynere of hem tooEr it were day as was here wone to doLine 1040 Sche was a-resin & al redy dyȝtffor may wele haue no slogardye on nyȝtThe sesyn prekyth euery gentyl herteAnd makyth it out of hese slep to sterteLine 1044 And seyth a-rys & do þyn obseruaunceThis makith emalie to haue remembraunceTo don honure to may & for to ryseI-cloþed was sche fresch for to deuyseLine 1048 Here ȝelwe her was broyded in a tresseBe hynde here bak a ȝerde long I gesseAnd in the gardyn at the sunne vp-risteSche walkyth vp & doun & as here lystLine 1052 Sche gaderith flouris party white & redeTo make a suptyl garlond for here hedeAnd as an aungel heueneliche sche songThe grete tour that was so thikke & strongLine 1056 Whiche of the castel was the chef doniounThere as the knyȝtis weryn In presounOf whiche I tolde ȝow & telle schalAs euene ioynande to the castel walLine 1060 There as this emale hadde here pleyingBryȝt was the sunne & cler in that morwenyngAnd palamoun þis woful presonerAs was hese wone be leue of hese gaylerLine 1064 Was resyn & romede in a chau[m]bre an heyIn whiche he al the cete seyAnd ek the gardyn ful of braunchis greneThere as this frosche Emelye the scheneLine 1068 Was in here walk & romede vp & doun
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This sorweful louere this palamounGoth in the chambre romynge to & froAnd to hymselue compleynynge of hese woLine 1072 That I was born ful ofte he seyde allas [folio 146b] And so be-fel be auenture & casThat þorow a wyndowe thikke of manye a barreOf yryn gret & squere as ony sparreLine 1076 He caste his eye vp on emelyeaAnd þerwithal he blenthe & cryede AAs thow he stongyn were to þe herteAnd with þat cry a-non arcite vp styrteLine 1080 And seyde cosyn myn what eylith þeThat art so pale & dedly on to seWhi cryestow who hath the don offenseffor goddys loue tak al in pacienceLine 1084 Oure prysoun for it may non oþer beffortune haþ ȝouyn vs þis aduersiteSum wekede aspect or disposiciounOf saturne by sum constolaciounLine 1088 Hath ȝouyn vs þis al-þow we hadde it swornSo stod the heuene whan that we were bornWe muste endure it þis is the schorte & pleynThis Palamoun onswerde & seyde a-geynLine 1092 Cosyn for sothe of this opynyounþow hast a vayn ymagynacyounThis prisoun causede me not for to cryeBut I was hort ryȝt now thorgh-out myn yeLine 1096 In-to myn herte that wele myn bane beThe fayrenesse of myn lady þat I seȜond in the gardyn romyn to & froIs cause of al myn cryinge & myn woLine 1100 I ne wot wheþer sche be woman or godesseBut venus it is sothly as I gesseAnd þerwithal on kneis doun he felAnd seyde Venus ȝif it be þyn wilLine 1104 Ȝow in this gardyn thus to transfigure
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Be-for me sorweful wreche cryatureOut of this prysoun help þat we may skapeAnd ȝif so be myn destene be schapeLine 1108 By eterne world to deyen in presoun [folio 147a] Of oure kynrede haue sum compassiounThat is so lowe brouȝt be tyranyeAnd with that word Arcite gan asspieLine 1112 Where as this lady romede to & froAnd with that syȝt here beute hurte hym soThat ȝif þat Palamoun was woundede soreArcite is hurt as wel as he or moreLine 1116 And with a sik he seyde pitouslyThe frossche beute sloth me sodeynlyOf here that romyth in the ȝondir plaseAnd but I haue here mersy & here graseLine 1120 That I may sen here at the leste weyeI nam but ded þere nys no more to seyeThis Palamoun whan he þo wordis herdeDispitousli he lokede & answerdeLine 1124 Wheþer seyst þou this in ernest or in pleyNay quod arcyte in ernest be myn feyGod help me so me lyst but euel pleyeThis palamoun gan knytte hese browis tweyeLine 1128 It were to the quod he no gret honourffor to be fals ne for to be traytourTo me that am thyn cosyn & thyn brothirI-sworn ful depe & eche of vs to oþerLine 1132 That neuere for to deyin in peyneTil that the deth departe schal vs tweyneNeyþer of vs in loue to hynderyn oþerNe in non oþer cas myn leue broþerLine 1136 But þat þou schuldist trewely forþere meIn euery cas & I schal forthere theThis was þyn oth & myn also serteynI wote it wel þou darist it not with-seynLine 1140 Thus art þou of myn conseyl out of doute
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And now þou woldist falsely ben abouteTo loue myn lady whom I loue & serueAnd euere schal tyl that myn herte sterueLine 1144 Now certis false arcite þou schat not so [folio 147b] I louede here fyrst & tolde þe myn woAs to myn conseyl & to myn br[o]þer swornTo forthere me as I haue told be-fornLine 1148 ffor which þou art boundyn as a knyȝtTo helpyn me ȝif it leye in þy myȝtOr elle art þou fals I dare wel seynThis arcite ful proudely spak a-geynLine 1152 Þou schat quod he be raþere fals than IBut þou art fals I telle þe vttyrlyffor paramour I louede here ferst er þouWhat wit þou seyn þou wyst no ȝit nowLine 1156 Wheþer sche be a woman or goddesseThyn is affeccioun of holynesseAnd myn is loue as to creatureffor whiche I telle þe myn auentureLine 1160 As to myn cosyn & myn broþer swornI pose that þou louedist here be-fornWist þou not wel the olde clerkys saweThat ho schal ȝeue a louere ony laweLine 1164 Loue is a grettere lawe be myn panThan may ben ȝouyn to ony erthely manAnd þerfore posityf lawe & swich decreeIs brokyn alday for loue in eche degreeLine 1168 A man mote nedis loue maugre in hese hedHe may not flen þat þogh he schulde be dedAl be sche mayde or wedew or elle wifAnd it is not likly al thyn lyfLine 1172 To stondyn in here grace no more schal Iffarewel þou wist þyn seluyn veraylyThat þou & I ben dampned to presounPerpetuelly vs geynyth no raunsunLine 1176 We stryue as dede the houndis for the bon
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They fouȝte al day & ȝit here part was nonTher cam a kete whil that þey were wrotheThat bar awoy the bon be-twixe hem botheLine 1180 And þerfore at the kyngis court myn broþer [folio 148a] Eche man for hym self ther is non oþerLoue ȝif the lyst for I loue & ay schalAnd sothli leue broþer this is alLine 1184 Here in this presoun mote we endureAnd euerych of vs take his auentureGret was the stryf & long be-twixe hem tweyeȜif that I hadde leyser for to seyeLine 1188 But to þe effect it happede on a dayTo telle it ȝow as schortly as I mayA worthi deuk that hyȝte perotheusThat felawe was vn to deuk TheseuLine 1192 Syn thilke day þat þey were childeryn liteWas come to athenes hese falawe to visiteAnd for to pleye as he was wone to doffor in this world he louede no man soLine 1196 And he louede hym as tendirly ageynSo wel þey louedyn as olde bokys seynThat whan that on was ded sothly to telleHis felawe wente & souȝte hym doun in helleLine 1200 But of that story liste me not to wryteDeuk Perotheus louede wel arciteAnd hadde hym knowyn at thebes þer be ȝereAnd fynelli at requist & at preyereLine 1204 Of perotheus with-outyn ony raunsounDeuk Theseus hym let out of presounffreli to gon whil that hym leste ouyralIn swich agyse as I ȝow telle shalLine 1208 This was the forward pleynly for tenditBe-twixe Thesius & hym ArciteThat it were that Arcite were foundeEuere in his lyf be day or nyȝt or stoundeLine 1212 In ony cuntre of this thesyus
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And hee were cauth it was acordit þusThat with a swerd he wolde lese his hedTher nas non oþer remedie ne redLine 1216 But takyth his leue & homward he hym spedde [folio 148b] let hym be war his nekke lith to weddeHow gret a sorwe sufferith now arcyteThe deth he felyth thorgh his herte smyteLine 1220 He wepith weyleth cryeþ pitouslyTo slen hym self he waytyth priuylyHe seyde allas that day that I was boreNow is myn prisoun werse þan be-foreLine 1224 Now is me schapyn eternally to dwelleNot in purgatory but in helleAllas that euere knew I perotheusffor elle hadde I dwellid with thesyusLine 1228 I-fetered in his prisoun euere moThanne hadde I ben in blysse & not in woOnly the syȝthe of her whom that I serueThough I neuere here grace may disserueLine 1232 Wolde han suffysed ryȝt I-now for meO dere cosyn palamoun quod heThis is the victorie of this auenturefful blysful in prisoun mayst þow endureLine 1236 In prysoun nay parde but in paradysWel hath fortune I-turnede the deysThat hast the syȝt of here & I the absensffor possible is syn þow hast here presensLine 1240 And art a knyȝt a worthi & ableThat by sum cas syn fortune is chaungableThow mayȝt to þyn desyr sumtyme atteyneBut I that am exiled & barayneLine 1244 Of alle grace & in so gret dispeyrThat þere nys erthe watyr fyre ne eyrNe criatur that of hem makyd isThat may me helpyn or don comfort in thisLine 1248 Wel ouȝte I sterue in wanhope & distresse
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ffarwel myn lyf myn lust & myn gladnesseAllas whi pleyne men so in comuneOn puruyaunce of god or of fortuneLine 1252 That ȝeuyth hem ful ofte in manye a gyse [folio 149a] Wel betyr þan þey can hem self deuyseSum man desiryth for to haue richesseThat is cause of hese mordere or gret seknesseLine 1256 And some wolde out of hese presoun faynThat in hese hous is of hese meyne slaynInfynyte harmys ben in this matereWe wote not what þyng þat we preyen hereLine 1260 We farn as he þat dronke is as a mousA dronke man wot wel that he hath an housBut he not whiche the ryȝte weye is þedyrAnd to a dronke man the weye is sledyrLine 1264 And sertys in þis world so faryn weWe sekyn faste aftyr felyciteBut we gon wrong oftyn trewelyThus may we seyn alle & namely ILine 1268 That wende & hadde a gret opynyounThat I myȝte skapyn from prysounThanne hadde I be in ioye & parfyt heleThere now I am exilyd from myn weleLine 1272 Syn that I may not sen ȝow emalyeI nam but ded þere nys non oþer weyeVp on that oþer syde palamonWhan that he woste Arcyte was a-gonLine 1276 Swich sorwe he makyth that þe grete tourResounnyth of hese ȝoulyng & clamourThe pure feterys of hese schenys greteWeryn of hese bittere salte terys weteLine 1280 Allas quod he arcita cosyn mynOf al oure stryf god wot the freut is þynThow walkyst now in thebes at þyn largeAnd of myn wo þou ȝeuyst lityl chargeLine 1284 Thu mayst sen þou hast wisdom & manhede
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Assemblyn alle the folk of oure kynredeAnd make a werre so scharp on this cyteThat by sum auenture or sum treteLine 1288 Thw mayst haue here to lady & to wyf [folio 149b] ffor whom that I muste nedys lese myn lyfffor as be weye of possibiliteSithe þou art at thyn large of prisun freLine 1292 And art a lord gret is thyn auauntageMore than is myn that sterue here in a cageffor I mot wepe & waile whil I leueWith al the wo that prisoun may me ȝeueLine 1296 And ek with peyne that loue me ȝeuyth alsoThat dubelyth al myn turment & myn woTherwith the fyr of ielusye vp sterteWith-inne hese brest & hente hym by the herteLine 1300 So wodly that he lyk was to bi-holdeThe boxtere or the asschyn dede and coldeThanne seyde he O crewel goddis þat gouerneThis word woth byndyng of ȝoure word eterneLine 1304 And wretyn in the table of athamaunteThorw parlemen & ȝoure eterne graunteWhat is mankynde more on to ȝow holdeThus is the schep that rokiþ in the foldeLine 1308 ffor slayn is man ryght as a nothir besteAnd dwellith ek in prisoun & aresteAnd hath seknesse & gret aduersiteAnd ofte tyme gilteles pardeLine 1312 What gouernynge is in this prescienceThat gilteles turmentyth innocenceAnd encreseth þis al myn penaunceThat man is boundyn to hese obseruaunceLine 1316 ffor goddis sake to lettyn of hese willeTher as a beste may al hese lust fulfylleAnd whan a beste is ded he hath no peyneBut man aftyr his ded hym muste wepe & pleyneLine 1320 Though in þis world he haue care & wo
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With-outyn doute it may stondyn soThe answere of þis lete I to deuynysBut wel I wot that in þis world gret peyne isLine 1324 Allas I se a serpent or a thef [folio 150a] That manye a trewe man hath don myschefGon at hese large & wher hym liste may turneBut I mot ben in prisoun þour saturneLine 1328 And ek thorgh Iuno ielous & ek woodThat hath distroyed wol ny al the bloodOf thebes with hese waste wallys wydeAnd venus sleth me on þat oþer sydeLine 1332 ffor Ielousie & fer of hym ArcyteNow wele I stynte of palamoun a liteAnd late hym in hese prysoun stylle dwelleAnd of Arcyta forth I wele ȝow telleThe somyr passeþ & the nyȝtys longeEncresyn double wise the peynys strongeBothe of the louere & the prisounnerI not ho hath the wofulere mysterLine 1340 ffor schorth for to seyn this palamounPerpetuelly is dampned to prisounIn cheynys & in feterys to ben dedAnd Arcyte is exiled vp hese hedLine 1344 ffor eueremo as out of that cuntreNe neuere mo schal hese lady seȜow louerys axe I now þis questiounHo hath the werse arcyte or PalamounLine 1348 The ton may sen his lady day be dayBut in prisoun ho mot dwelle alwayThat othir where hym leste may ride or goBut sen hese lady schal he neuere moLine 1352 Now demyth as ȝow lyste ȝe þat canffor I wele telle forth as I be-gan
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[PART II. No gap in the MS.]
Whan that Arcyte to thebes comyn wasfful ofte a day he swelte & seyde allasLine 1356 ffor sen hese lady schal he neuere moAnd schortly to concludyn al hese woSo meche sorwe hadde neuere creatureThat is or schal whil that þe world may dureLine 1360 Hese slep hese mete // hese drynk is hym beraft [folio 150b] That lene he wex / & dreye as is a schaftHese eyne holwe / & gresely to beholdeHese hewe falwe / & pale as asschen coldeLine 1364 And solitarie he was / & euere aloneAnd waylynge al the nyȝt makynge hese moneAnd ȝif he herde song or instrumentThanne myȝte he wepe he myȝte not be stentLine 1368 So feble ek weryn hese spiritis & so loweAnd chaungit so þat no man coude hym knoweHese speche nor hese voys þow men it herdeAnd in hese ger for al the world he ferdeLine 1372 Not only lik the louere maladyeOf hereos but rathere lyk manyeEngenderid of humourys malencolikBe-forn hese owene selle fantastikLine 1376 And schortly turned was al vp so dounBothe abit & ek disposiciounOf his this woful louere daun ArciteWhat schulde i of hese wo alday endytLine 1380 Whan he endured hadde a ȝer or toThis crewel turment & this peyne & woAt thebes in his court as I seydeVp on a nyȝt in slep as he hym leydeLine 1384 Hym thouȝte that the vengede god mercuryeBe-forn hym stod & bad hym to be muryeHese slepi ȝerde in hond he bar vp ryȝtAn hat he werede vp on hese herys bryȝt
Line 1388
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Line 1388 Arayed was þis god as he tok kepAs he was whan that Argus tok hese slepAnd seyde hym thus to Athenys schat þou wyndeThere is the schapyn of thi wo an endeLine 1392 And with that word Arcyte wok & styrteNow trewely how sore that me smerteQuod he tathenys / rygh now wele I fareNe for the dred of deth schal I not spareLine 1396 To se myn lady that I loue & serue [folio 151a] In here presence I rekke not to sterueAnd with that word he cauȝte a gret myrourAnd saw that schaunged was al hese colourLine 1400 And say hese vesage al in anoþer kyndeAnd ryȝt a-non It ran hym in hese myndeThat sithe hese face was so disfygurydOf maledye whiche he hadde enduredLine 1404 He myȝte wel ȝif that he bar hym loweLeuyn in athenys euere more onknoweAnd sen hese lady wel ney day be dayAnd ryȝt a-non he chaungede hese arayLine 1408 And cladde hym as a pore labourerAnd al alone saue only a squyerThat knew hese preuyteis & al hese casWhiche was disgised porely as he wasLine 1412 Tatthenys is he gon þe nexte wayAnd to the court he wente vp-on a dayAnd at the gate he proferyth hese seruyseTo drogge & drawe what so men wolde deuyseLine 1416 And schortly of this mater for to seynHe fil in offys with a chaumbyrleynThe whiche that dwellynge was with emalyeffor he was wys & coude sone aspieLine 1420 Of euery seruaunt whiche that seruyth hereWel coude he hewyn wode & watyr bereffor he was ȝong & myȝty for the nonysAnd þerto he was long & big of bonys
Line 1424
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Line 1424 To don that ony with can hym deuyseA ȝer or too he was in þis seruysePage of the chaumbere of emale þe bryȝtAnd philostrate he seyde þat he hyȝtLine 1428 But half so wel be-louyd a man as heNe was there neuer in court of hese degreHe was so Ientyl of condiciounThat þour-out al the court was hese renounLine 1432 They seydyn that it were a charite [folio 151b] That Thesyus wolde enhaunsyn hese degreAnd puttyn hym in worschepful seruyseThere that he myȝte hese vertue excerciseLine 1436 And þus with-inne a while his name is sprongeBothe of hese dedis & hese goode tungeThat Thesius hath takyn hym so nerThat of hese chaumbere he made hym a squyerLine 1440 And ȝaf hym gold to meyntene his degreAnd ek men brouȝtyn hym out of hese cuntreffrom ȝer to ȝer ful priuyly hese renteBut onestly & slyly he it spenteLine 1444 That no man wonderede how þat he it haddeAnd thre ȝer in this wise his lyf he laddeAnd bar hym so in pes & ek in werreTher was no man that thesyus hath derreLine 1448 And in this blisse lete I now arciteAnd speke I wele of palamoun a liteIn derknesse & horrible & strong prisounThis seuene ȝer hath setyn palamounLine 1452 ffor-pynyd what for wo & for distresseWho feleth doubble sorwe & heuynesseBut palamoun þat loue distreynyth soThat wod of hese wit he goth for woLine 1456 And ek þerto he is a presounnerPerpetuelly not only for a ȝerWho coude ryme in englys properlyHis marterdam for sothe it am not I
Line 1460
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Line 1460 Therfore I passe as lyȝtely as I mayIt fel that in the seuynte ȝer In mayThe thredde nyȝt as olde bokys seynThat al this story tellyn more & pleynLine 1464 Were it by auenture or desteneAs whan a þyng is schapyn it schal beThat sone aftyr the mydnyȝt palamounBe helpyng of a frend brak hese presounLine 1468 And fleth the cete faste as he may go [folio 152a] ffor he hadde ȝouyn hese gayler dronkyn soOf a clarre mad of certeyn wynWith nertotikes & opie of Thebes fynLine 1472 That al that nyȝt though þat men wolde hym schakeThe gayler slep he myȝte not wakeAnd þus he fleth as faste as euere he mayThe nyȝt was schort & faste by the dayLine 1476 That nedis cost / he muste hym seluyn hideAnd tyl a groue faste þere besydeWith dredful fot þanne stalkyth palamounffor schortely þis was hese opynnyounLine 1480 That in þat groue he muste hym hide aldayAnd in the nyȝt þanne wolde he take his wayTo thebes-ward hese frendis for to preyeOn Thesyus to helpe hym for to weryeLine 1484 And schortly oþer he wolde lese hese lyfOr wynnyn emelye vn-to hese wyfThis is theffect & hese entente pleynNow wele I turne vn-to Arcite ageynLine 1488 That lityl wiste how nygh that was hese careTyl þat fortune hadde brought hym in þat snareThe besye larke messenger of the daySalueth in here song the morwe grayLine 1492 And fery phebus ryseth vp so bryghtThat al the oryent laugheeth of þe lyghtAnd with hese stremys dreyeth in þe greuysThe syluere dropis hangynge in the leuys
Line 1496
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Line 1496 And arcita that is in þe court royalWith Theseus is squyer pryncypalIs resyn & lokyth on the merye dayAnd for to don hese obseruance to mayLine 1500 Remembrynge on the poynt of hese desyrHe on a courser stertelynge as the fyrIs redyn in to þe feldis hym to pleyeOut of the court were it a myle or tweyeLine 1504 And to þe grene of wheche þat I ȝow tolde [folio 152b] By auenture his weye he gan to holdeTo make hym a garlond of the greuysWere it of wode-bynde or hawethorn leuysLine 1508 And loude he song a-ȝen the sunne scheneMay with alle thynne flourys & thynne greneWelcome be þou fayre frosche mayIn hope þat I sum grene getyn mayLine 1512 And from hese courser with a lusty herteIn-to the greue ful hastyleche he sterteAnd in a path he romede vp & dounThere as be auenture this palamounLine 1516 Was In a bosch that no man myȝte hym seffor sore ofered of hese death was heNe þyng ne knewe he that it was arcitGod wot he wolde a trowed it ful liteLine 1520 But soth is seyd gon sithe manye ȝerysThat þe feld hath eyen & þe wode hath erysIt is ful fayr a man to bere hym eueneffor al day metiþ men at vnset steveneLine 1524 fful lityl wot arcyte of hese felaweThat was so nygh to heryn of hese taleffor in the bosch he sittyth now ful stylleWhan þat Arcite hadde romede al hese fylleLine 1528 And sungyn al the roundele lustylyIn-to a stodye he fel sodeynlyAs don þese louerys in here queynte geresNow in the crop now doun in the brerys
Line 1532
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Line 1532 Now vp now doun as boket in a welleRyȝt as the fryday sothly for to telleNow it schynyth now it reynyth fasteRyȝt so can gery venus ouercasteLine 1536 The hertys of here folk ryȝt as here ȝe mayIs gerful ryȝt so chaungith sche araySelde is the fryday al the wouke lykWhanne that Arcyte hadde sunge he gan to sikLine 1540 And sette hym doun with-outyn ony more [folio 153a] Allas quod he that day þat I was boreHow longe Iuno thorw þyn crewelteWiltow werreyen Thebes the seteLine 1544 Allas I-brouȝt is to confusiounThe blod royal of Cadme & amphiounOf Cadme wich þat was þe ferste manThat Thebes beelte / or fyrst þe toun beganLine 1548 And of the Sete fyrst was crounnede kyngOf hese lynage was I / and hese of-spryngBy verray lyne / as of the stok royalAnd now I am so kaytif & so thralLine 1552 That he that is myn mortal enemyI serue hym as hese squyer purelyAnd ȝit doth Iuno me more schameffor I dare not beknowe myn owene nameLine 1556 There as I was wone to hyȝte arcyteNow highte I philostrate not worth a myȝteAllas þou felle Mars allas IunoThus hath ȝoure yre oure lynege fordoLine 1560 Saue only me wrechede PalamounThat Thesyus marteryth in presounAnd oueral þis to slen me vttyrlyLoue hath hese fery darte so brennyngelyLine 1564 I-stekid þour myn trewe carful herteThat schapyn was myn deþ er þan myn scherteȜe slen me with ȝoure eyen emelyeȜe ben the cause wherfore that I deye
Line 1568
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Line 1568 Of al the remenaunt of myn oþer careNe sette I not the mountenauns of a tareSo þat I coude don ouȝt to ȝoure plesaunseAnd with þat word he fyl down in a traunceLine 1572 A long tyme & aftyrward he vp styrteThis palamoun þat thoute þat thorw hese herteHe felte a cold swerd sodeynliche glydeffor yre he quok / no lengere wolde he bydeLine 1576 And whan þat he hadde herd Arcytis tale [folio 153b] As hewere wod with face ded and paleHe styrte hym vp out of the boschis þikkeAnd seyde arcite false traytour wikkeLine 1580 Now art þou hent þat louyst myn lady sofor whom þat I haue al þis peyne and woAnd art myn blod & to myn conseyl swornAs I ful oftyn haue seyd þe here be-fornLine 1584 And hast beiapid here deuk ThesyusAnd falsely chaunged þyn name thusI wele ben ded or ellys þou schat deyeþou schat not loue myn lady EmalyeLine 1588 But I wele loue here only & no moffor I am palamoun þyn mortal foAnd þow þat I no wepene haue in þis placeBut out of prisoun am styrt by graceLine 1592 I drede not þat outher þou schat deyeOr þou ne schat not louyn emalyeChes which þou wit or þou schat not asterteThis Arcyte with ful dispitous herteLine 1596 Whan he hym knew & hadde hese tale herdAs fers as lyoun pullede out a swerdAnd seyde þus bi god that set a-boueNere it þat þou art sek & wod for loueLine 1600 And ek for þou no wepen hast in þis placeThow schuldist neuere out of þis grene paseThat þou ne schuldist deyen of myn hondffor I defie the surete & the bondLine 1604
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Line 1604 Wiche þat þou seyst þat I haue mad to þeWhat veray fol þink wel that loue is freAnd I wele loue here maugre al þyn myȝtBut for as meche þou art a worthy knyȝtLine 1608 And wilnyst to darrayne here be batayleHaue here myn trouthe to-morwe I nyl not fayleWith-oute wetynge of ony oþer whightThat here I wele be foundyn as a knyghtLine 1612 And bryngyn harneys ryȝt I-now for the [folio 154a] And ches the best & lef the werste to meAnd mete and drynk þis nyȝt wele I bryngeI-nough for þe& clothis for þyn beddyngeLine 1616 And ȝif so be þat þou myn lady wynneAnd sle me in þis wode þere I am inneþou mayst wel han þyn lady as for meThis palamoun answerde I graunte it theLine 1620 And þus þey be toparted til a morweWhan eche of hem hadde leyd hese feyth to borweO cupide out of alle chariteO regne that wolde no felawe han with theLine 1624 fful soth is it seyd that loue and lordschepWolde not hese þankys han no felauschepWel fyndy þat arcite and palamounArcite is rydyn anon in to þe tounLine 1628 And on þe morwyn er it were day lyȝtfful fynly to harneys haþ he dyȝtBothe sufficiaunt & mete to darreeyneThe batayle in the feld be-tweixe hem tweyneLine 1632 And on hese horse alone as he was bornHe caryeth al þis harneys hym be-fornAnd in the groue at tyme & place I-setThis arcite & þis palamo[n] ben metLine 1636 To chaunge gan the colour in here faceRygh as the hunterys in the regne of traceThat stondiþ at the gap with a spereWhan huntede is the lyoun or the bere
Line 1640
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Line 1640 An herith hym come russchynge in the greuysAnd brekith boþe the bowis & the leuysAnd þynkyth here comyth myn mortal enemyWith-oute fayle he mote be ded or ILine 1644 ffor eyþer I mote slen hym at the gapOr he slen me ȝif that me mys hapSo ferdyn þey in chaungyng of here heweAs fer as eueryche of hem oþer kneweLine 1648 Ther nas no good day ne no saluynge [folio 154b] But streyt with-oute word or rehersyngeEueryche of hem halp for to arme oþerAs frendly as he were hese owene brothyrLine 1652 And aftyr þat with scharpe sperys strongeThey foynedyn eche at oþer wondyr longeThow myȝtist wene þat þis palamounIn hese fyȝt were a wood lyounLine 1656 And as a cruel tygre was arciteAs wilde borys gunne þey to smyteThat frothyn white as fom for yre wodVp to the anches foute þey in here blodLine 1660 And in this wyse lete I hem fyghtynge dwelleAnd forth I wele of thesyus ȝow telleThe destenye mynystere generalThat executyth in the world oueralLine 1664 The puruyauns þat god hath seyn be-fornSo strong it is þat thow þe world hadde swornThe contrarye of a thyng be ȝa or nayȜit sumtyme it schal fallyn on a dayLine 1668 That fallyth not eft with inne a thousent ȝereffor certeynly oure aspectis hereBe it of werre or pes or hate or loueAl is þis reuled be the siȝte a-boueLine 1672 This mene I now be myȝty thesyusThat for to huntyn is so desirousAnd namely at the grete hert in mayThat in hese bed þere dawede hym no day
Line 1676
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Line 1676 That he nys clad & redy for to rydeWith hunte & horn & houndis hym besydeffor in hese huntynge hath he swych delyȝtThat it is al hese Ioye & apetytLine 1680 To ben hym self the grete hertys baneffor ofte mars he seruyth now dyaneCler was þe day as I haue told or thisAnd Thesyus with alle Ioye & blys [folio 155a] With hese ypolita the fayre queneAnd Emale clothed al in greneOn huntyng be þey redyn reallyAnd to the groue stod ful faste byLine 1688 In whech there was an hert as men him toldeDeuk thesyus þe ryȝte weye hath holdeAnd to the launde he rydith hym ful ryȝtffor there was the hert wone to have his flyȝtLine 1692 And ouer a brok & so forth on hese weyeThis deuk wele han a cours with hym or tweyeWith houndis which as hym lyste comaundeAnd whan This deuk was comyn vn-to þe laundeLine 1696 Vndir the sunne he lokyth & þat a-nonHe was war of Arcite & PalamonThat foutyn breme as it were boris tooThe bryȝte swerdis wentyn to & froLine 1700 So hidously that with the leste strokIt semede as it wolde felle an okBut what þey were no þyng he ne wotThis deuk hese courser with the sporys smotLine 1704 And at a stert he was be-twixe hem tooAnd pulle out a swerd & cryede hooNo more vp peyne of lesynge of ȝoure hedBe myghti mars he schal a-non be dedLine 1708 That smyth ony strok that I may senBut telle me what myster men ȝe benThat ben so hardy for to fytyn hereWith-outyn Iuge or oþer offiser
Line 1712
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Line 1712 As it were in a listis ryalyThis Palamon answerde hastylyAnd seyde sere what nedith wordis moWe haue the deth deseruyd bothe twoLine 1716 Two woful wrechis ben we two caytyuysThat ben encomberit of oure owene lyuysAnd as þou art a ryȝtful lord & IugeNe ȝif vs neythir mercy ne refugeLine 1720 But sle me ferst for seynte charite [folio 155b] But sle myn felawe ek as wel as meOr sle hym ferst for þow þou knowist it lyteHe is þyn dedly enemy arcyteLine 1724 That fro þyn lond is banysschid on his hedffor which he hath [de]seruyd to ben dedffor this is he that come on to þyn ȝateAnd seyde that he hyte philostrateLine 1728 Thus hath he Iapid þe ful manye a ȝerAnd þow hast makid hym þyn squyerAnd this is he that louyth Emelyeffor sithe the day is come that I schal deyeLine 1732 I make pleyn myn confessiounThat I am thilke woful PalamounThat hath thyn presoun broke wekedelI am thi mortal fo / & it am ILine 1736 That louyth so hote Emalia the bryȝteThat I wele deye present in here syȝteWherfore I aske deth & myn Iu-wiseBut sle myn felawe in the same wiseLine 1740 ffor bothe haue we disseruyd to ben slaynThis worthi deuk answerde anon agaynAnd seyde þis is a schort conclusyounȜoure owene mouth be ȝoure confessiounLine 1744 Hath dampned ȝow & I wele it recordeIt nedith not to pyne ȝow with the cordeȜe schul be ded be myȝty mars the redeThe quene a-non for veray woman-hede
Line 1748
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Line 1748 Gan for to wepe & so dede emelyeAnd alle the ladyis in the cumpanyeGret pete was it as it thoughte hem alleThat euere swich a chaunse schulde falleLine 1752 ffor gentil men þey were of gret estatAnd noþyng but for loue was this debatAnd saw here blody woundis wide & soreAnd alle criedyn both lasse & moreLine 1756 Haue mersi lord vpon vs wemen alle [folio 156a] And on here bare kneis adoun þey falleAnd wilde a kissede hese fet þere as he stodTil at the laste a-slakede was hese modLine 1760 ffor pete rennyt sone in gentil herteAnd though he ferst for yre quok & stertehe hath consideryd schortely in a clauseThe trespase of hem bothe & ek the causeAnd al-thow that hese yre hese gilt acusedLine 1765 Ȝit in hese resoun he hem bothe excusedAs thus he thouthe wel that euery manWele helpe hym selve in loue ȝif that he canLine 1768 And delyuere hym self ȝif that he mounAnd ek hese herte hade compassiounOf wemen for þey wepyn euere in onAnd in hese gentil herte he thouȝte a-nonLine 1772 And softe to hym self he seyde fyVpon a lord that wele haue no mercyBut byn a lyoun bothe in word & dedeTo hem that ben in repentaunt & dredeLine 1776 As wel as to a proud dispitous manThat wele meyntene that he ferst beganThat lord hath lityl discreciounThat in swich cas hath no dyuysiounLine 1780 But weyeth pride & humblesse aftyr onAnd schortly whan hese yre is þus agonHe gan to lokyn vp with eyȝyn lyȝteAnd spak these same wordis alle on hyȝte
Line 1784
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Line 1784 The god of loue a benediciteHow myghti & how gret a lord is heA-ȝens hese myȝt þere geynyth none obstakellHe may be clepid a god for hese myrakellLine 1788 ffor he can makyn at hese owene gyseOf eueryche herte as he leste deuyseLo here þis arcite & þis PalamounThat quytely weryn out of presounLine 1792 And myȝtyn a leuyd in thebes really [folio 156b] And wetyn I am here mortal enemyAnd that here deth lyth in myn myȝt alsoAnd ȝit hath loue maugry here eyȝyn twoLine 1796 Brought hem hedyr bothe for to deyeNow lokith is not this an hey folyeWho may ben a fol but ȝif he loueBehold for godis sake that sit a-boueLine 1800 Se how þey blede be þey not wel arayedThus hath here lord the god of loue hem payedHere wagis & here feis for here seruyseAnd ȝit þey wene for to ben ful wyseLine 1804 That seynth loue for ouȝt that may be-falleBut þis is ȝit the beste gise of alleThat sen for whom they han this iolyteKan hem therfore as meche thank as meLine 1808 Sche wot no more of al this hote fareBy god than wot a kokkow or an hareBut al mote ben asayed hot or coldA man mot nede ben a fol or ȝong or oldLine 1812 I wote it be myn self ful ȝore agonffor in myn tyme a seruaunt was I onAnd þerfore syn I knowe of loue peyneAnd wot how sore it can a man distreyneLine 1816 As he that hath ofte be cauȝt in his lasI ȝow for-ȝeue al holy this trespasAt request of the quen that knelith hereAnd ek of emalye myn systir dere
Line 1820
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Line 1820 And ȝe schul bothe a-non vn-to me swereThat neuere mo ȝe schul myn cuntre dereNe mak werre vp-on me nyȝt ne dayBut ben mynne frendys in al that ȝe mayLine 1824 I ȝow for-ȝeue þis trespas euerydelAnd þey hym sworyn hise axinge fayre & welAnd hym of lordschepe & of mercy preyedeAnd he hem grauntede grace & þus he seydeLine 1828 To speke of ryal lynage & of rychesse [folio 157a] Thow that sche were a quen or a princesseEche of ȝow bothe is worthi doutelesTo weddyn whan tyme is / but neuer the lesLine 1832 I speke as for myn sustyr Emalyeffor whom ȝe han þis stryf of IelousyeȜe wote ȝoure self sche may not wedde twoAt onys þey ȝe fyȝte euere moLine 1836 To on of ȝow / al be hym loth or lefHe mote go pipe in an yuy lefThis is to seyn sche may not now han botheAl be ȝe neuere so Ielous ne so wrotheLine 1840 And for-thi I ȝow putte in þis degreThat eche of yow schal han hese desteneAs hym is schapyn & herkenyth in what wyseLo here ȝoure ende of that I schal ȝow deuyseLine 1844 Myn wil is this for plat conclusiounWith-outyn ony replicacyounȜif that ȝow likyth tak it for the besteThat eueryche of ȝow schal gon ryȝt were hym lesteLine 1848 ffrely with-oute raunsum or daungerAnd þis day fifty woukis fer & nerEueryche of ȝow schal brynge an hunderit knyghtisArmyd for lystis vp at alle ryghtisLine 1852 Al redy to darrayne here by batayleAnd this be-hote I ȝow with-outyn fayleVp on myn trouthe & as I am a knyȝtThat whethir of ȝow bothe that hath myght
Line 1856
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Line 1856 This is to seyne that wheþer he or þouMay with hese hunderede as I spak of nowSle hese contrarye or out of lystis dryueThan schal I ȝeue Emalye to wyueLine 1860 To whom that fortune ȝeuyth so fayr a graceThe lystis schal I make ryȝt here in þis plaseAnd god so wisely on myn soule reweThat I schal euene Iuge ben & treweLine 1864 Ȝe schul non oþer ende with me make [folio 157b] That on of ȝow schal be ded or takeAnd ȝif ȝow þynkith þis is wel I-saydSeyth ȝoure auys and holdith ȝow apayedLine 1868 This is ȝoure ende & ȝoure conclusyounWho lokyth lyȝtely now but palamounWho spryngyth vp for Ioye but arciteWho couthe telle or who couthe enditeLine 1872 The Ioye that is now schewid in the placeWhan Thesius hath / don so fayr a graceBut doun on kneis wente euery man[er] wiȝtAnd þankede hym with al here herte & myȝtLine 1876 And nameliche the thebens ofte sytheAnd þus with god hope & with herte blytheThey take here leue & homward þey gunne rydeTo Thebes with olde wallys wydeLine 1880
[PART III. No gap in the MS.]
I trowe men wolde it deme necligenceȜif I for-ȝete to telle þe dispenceOf Thesius that goth so besilyTo makyn vp the listis ryallyLine 1884 That swich a noble theatre as it wasI dar wel seyn in this world þere nasThe Cyrcuyt a myle was abouteWallyd of ston & dychid al with-outeLine 1888 Round was the schap in maner of cumpas
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fful of degreis the heyȝte of sexty pasThat whan a man was set on a degreHe lettyth not his felawe for to seLine 1892 Estward þere stod a gate of marbil whitWestward swich a noþer in the oppositAnd schortly for to conclude swich a placeWas non in erthe of so lytil spaceLine 1896 ffor in the lond þere nas no crafty manThat iemetrye or arsmetrik canNe portretour ne keruere of ymagisThat Thesyus hym ȝaf mete & wagisLine 1900 The theatre for to makyn & deuyse [folio 158a] And for to don his ryte & sacryfiseHe est-ward hath vp on the gate a-boueIn worschepe of venus goddesse of loueDon make an auter & an oratoryeLine 1905 And on the westward in memoryeOf mars he makyd hat ryȝt swich a noþerThat coste of gold largely a fotherLine 1908 And norward in a toret of the walOf alabastre whit & red coralAn oratorye ryche for to seIn worschepe of Diane of chastiteHath Thesius don wrouȝt in noble wiseLine 1913 But ȝit hadde I forȝetyn to deuyseThe noble keruyng & the portreytureThe schap the contenaunce & the fygureLine 1916 That weryn in these oratoryis threffyrst in the temple of venus mayst þou seWrouȝt on the wal ful pitous to be-holdThe brokene slepis & the sikys coldeLine 1920 The secret terys & þe waymentyngThe fery strokys of the desyryngThat louys seruauntys of this lyf endurenThe Cothis that here couenauntys assurynLine 1924 Plesaunce hope desyr folhardynesse
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Beute & ȝouthe baudrie richesseCharmys & force lesynge & flateryeDispence besynesse & IelousyeLine 1928 That werede of ȝelwe flourys a garlondAnd a cokkow sittynge on hese handffestis instrumentis karolys daunsislust & aray & alle þe circumstancisLine 1932 Of loue whiche that I reken & rekne schalBe ordere were peyntid on the walAnd mo þan I can make of mencyounffor sothly al the mount of CytherounLine 1936 There venus hath hese pryncipal dwellyng [folio 158b] Was schewid in the wal in portreyingWith al the gardyn & the besynesseNot was forȝetyn the portyr ydilnesseLine 1940 Ne narcyus the fayre of ȝore a-gonAnd ȝit the folye of kyng salamonAnd ek the grete strenthe of erculesThenchauntementz of Media / & CircesLine 1944 Ne of Turnes / with the hardy ferce corageThe ryche Cresus caytyf in seruageThus may ȝe sen that wisdam ne rychesseBeute ne sleythe strenthe ne hardynesseLine 1948 Ne may with wenus holde champardyeffor as here lust the world þanne may sche gyeLo alle these folk so cauȝt were in here laseTil they for wo ful ofte seyde allasLine 1952 Suffyseth here ensaumplys on or toAnd þow I couthe rekene a thousent moThe statue of Venus gloryous for to seWas makyd fletynge in the large seLine 1956 And from the nauelle doun al couered wasWhich was grene & bryȝt as ony glasA Cythole in here ryȝt hand hadde scheAnd on here hed so semely for to seLine 1960 A rose garlond frosch & wel smellynge
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A-boue here hed here dounnys flekeryngeBy-forn here stod here sone cupidoVp-on hese schulderys wyngis hadde he toLine 1964 And blynd he was as it is ofte seneA bowe he bar & arwys bryȝte & keneWhi schulde I not as wel telle ȝow alThe portreyture that was vp-on þe walLine 1968 With-inne the wal of myȝty mars the redeAl peyntid was the wal in lenthe & bredeLyk to the Estrys of the gresely placeThat hyȝte the grete temple of Mars in TraceLine 1972 In tylke colde frosty regyoun [folio 159a] Ther as Mars hath hese souereyne mancyounffyrst on the wal was peynted a forestIn whiche þere dwellith neyþer man ne besteLine 1976 With knotty knarry bareyne treis oldeOf stubbis scharpe and hidous to beholdeIn whiche þerein ran a rumbil in a swoghAs þow a storm schulde brestyn euery bowghLine 1980 And doun from an hyl vndyr a benteThere stod the temple of Mars armypotenteWrouȝt al of bornede stel of wheche thentreWas long & stryt and gastely for to seLine 1984 And ther-out come a rage in swich a weseThat it made al the gate for to reseThe northren light In at the dorys shonffor wyndow on the wal was there nonLine 1988 Thorw whiche men myghte ony lyth discerneThe doris were ale of athamanutȝ eterneI-clenchede ouerthwert & endelongWith yryn tough & for to make it strongLine 1992 Euery peler the temple to susteyneWas tunne gret of yryn bryȝt & scheneThere saugh I fyrst the derke ymagynyngOf felonye and the compassyngLine 1996 The crewel yre red as ony glede
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The pike-purs & the pale dredeThe smylere with the knyf vndyr the clokeThe shepne brennynge with the blake smokeLine 2000 The tresoun & the morderyng in the bedThe opene werre with woundis al be-bledContek with blody knyf & scharp manaceAl ful of chyrkyng was that sory placeLine 2004 The sloere of hym self ȝit saw I þereHese herte blod hath bathed al hese hereThe nayl I-dreue in the schod a nyȝtThe colde deth with mouth gapynge vp ryghtLine 2008 In myddis of the temple there sat myschaunce [folio 159b] With disconfort & sory cuntenaunsȜit saw I wodnesse laughynge in hese rageArmyd compleynt / outes & fers corageLine 2012 The careyn in the bosch with throte I-korweA thousent slayn & not of qualm I-storveThe tyraunt with the pray by forse I-raftThe toun distroyed there was no þyng laftLine 2016 Ȝit saw I brent the schepis hospesterysThe hunte strangeled with the wilde berysThe sowe fretyn the child ryȝt in þe cradilThe cook I-skaldit for al hese longe ladilLine 2020 Nouȝt was for-ȝetyn by the infortune of martheThe cartere ouyr redyn with hese carteVndir the whil ful lowe lay he a-dounThere were also of martyrs dyvysiounLine 2024 The labourer the bocher & the smythThat forgith scharpe swerdis on the steythAnd al a-boute depeyntid in a tourSaw I conquest sittynge in gret honourLine 2028 With the scharpe swerd ouyr his hedHangyng by a sotyl twynede thredDepeyntid was the slautre of IulyusOf grete nero & of antonyusLine 2032 Al be that ilke tyme they were onborn
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Ȝit was here deth depeyntid þere be-fornBy manasynge of mars ryȝt by fygureSo was it schewid in that portretureLine 2036 As is depeyntid in the sertres aboveWho schal be slayn or elle ded for loueSuffiseth on ensaumple in storyis oldeI may not rekene hem thow I woldeLine 2040 The statue of mars vp-on a carte stodArmyd & lokede grym as he were wodAnd ouer hese hed þere schynyn two figurysOf storyis þat ben clepid in scripturysLine 2044 That on puella that othir Rubeus [folio 160a] This god of armys was arayed thusA wolf there stod be-forn hym at hese fetWith eyȝyn rede & of a man he etLine 2048 With sotyl pensel was depeyntid þis storyIn redoutynge of mars & of hese gloryNow to the temple of dyane the chasteAs schortly as I can I wele me hasteLine 2052 To telle ȝow al the discripciounDepeyntid ben the walle vp & dounOf huntyng & of schamfast schastiteTher saw I how woful CalistopeLine 2056 Whan that dyane agreuyd was with hereWas turnyd from a woman til a bereAnd aftyr was sche mad the lode sterreThat shynyth in the hevyn / from yow so ferreHere sone is ek a sterre as men may seThere saw I dane I-turnede til a treI mene not the goddesse dyaneBut Pennyus douȝtyr whiche that hyȝte daneLine 2064 There saw I. Attheon / an hert I-makidffor vengaunce that he saw dyane al nakydI saw how that hese houndis han hym cautAnd fretyn hym for that þey knewe hym notLine 2068 Ȝit peyntid was a lityl ferþere more
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How atthalaunte huntid þe wilde boreAnd Melyagre & manye a-noþer moffor whiche diane wrouȝte hym care & woLine 2072 There saw I manye a-noþer wondir storyThe wheche me lyste not drawe to memoryThis goddesse on an hart / wol hye setWith smale hundys / al aboute here fetLine 2076 And vndirnethe here fet / sche hadde a moneWaxinge it was & schulde wanye soneIn gaude grene here statue clothede wasWith bowe in hond & arwis in a casLine 2080 Here eyȝyn caste sche / ful lowe adoun [folio 160b] Ther pluto hath / here derke regiounA woman trauaylynge / hadde sche be-fornBut for here child / so longe was on-bornLine 2084 fful pitusly lucyane gan sche calleAnd seyde help for þou mayst best of alleWel coude he peynte lyfly that it wrouȝteWith manye a floreyn / heye it was bouȝteLine 2088 Now ben these lystis / made & thesyusThat at hese grete cost arayed þusThe temple & the theatre euerydelWhan it was don / it likede hym wondyr welLine 2092 But stynte I wele of Thesyus a lyteAnd speke of Palamoun & [of] ArciteThe day a-prochith of here returnyngeThat eueryche schulde an hunderit knyȝtis bryngeLine 2096 The batayle to darrayn as I ȝou toldeAnd to atenys here couenaunt for to holdeHath eueryche of hem brouȝt an hunderit knyȝtisWel armede for to werre at alle ryȝtisLine 2100 And sekyrly þere trowede manye a manThat neuere sithe that the world be-ganAs for to spe[ke] of knyght-hod of here hondAs fer as god hath makyd se & sondLine 2104 Nas of so fewe so noble a cumpany
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ffor euery wyȝt that louede chyualryAnd wolde hese þank han a passaunt nameHath preyed that he myȝte ben of that gameLine 2108 And wel was hym that þerto schosyn wasffor ȝif there fel to-morwe swich a casȜe knowe wel that euery lusty knyȝtTh[a]t louyth paramouris & hath hese myȝtLine 2112 Were it in yngelond or ellys whereThey wolden here thankys willyn to be thereTo fyghtyn for a lady benediciteIt were a lusty syȝte for to seLine 2116 And ryȝt so ferdyn þey with Palamoun [folio 161a] With hym þere wentyn knyghtys manye onSome wele ben armede in an habiriounAnd in a brest plate & in a lyȝt IopounLine 2120 And some wele haue a peyre platys largeAnd some wele haue a pruce schild or a targeSome wele ben armyd on hese leggys welAnd han an ax & some a mace of stelLine 2124 There is non newe gyse that it nas oldArmede were þey as I haue ȝow toldEueryche aftyr hese opynyounTher mayst þou sen / comynge with palamounLine 2128 Ligurge hym selue / the grete kyng of traceBlak was hese berd / & manlyche was hese faceThe Cerkelys of hese eyen / in hese hedThey glowedyn / by-twethyn ȝelw & redLine 2132 And lyk a grefoun lokede he a-bouteWith kempe herys on hese browys stouteHis lemys grete / hese brawnys grete & strongeHese schuderys brode hese armys rounde & longeLine 2136 And as the gyse was in his cuntrefful heye vp on a char of gold stod heWith foure white bolys in the traysIn stede of hese cote armour ouer hese harneysLine 2140 With naylys ȝelwe & bryghte as ony gold
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He hadde a berys skyn / cole blak for oldHese longe her was kemb be-hynde his bakAs ony rauenys fedyr it schon for blakLine 2144 A wrethe of gold / arm gret of heuge weighteVp-on hese hed set ful of stonys bryghteOf fynne rubeis & of dyamauntysA-boute hese char there wente whyȝte AlauntisLine 2148 Twenty & mo as grete as ony sterTo huntyn at the lyoun or the derAnd folwede hym with mosel faste I-boundeColerid of gold / & torettys fylede roundeLine 2152 An hunderit lordis hadde he in hese route [folio 161b] Armede ful wel with hertis sterne & stouteWith arcyta in storyis as men fyndeThe grete emetreus the kyng of IndeLine 2156 Vp-on a stede bay trappit in stelCouered in cloth of gold diaperyd welCome rydynge liik the god of armys marsHese cote armeure was of cloth of tarisLine 2160 Couchede with perlys white & rounde & greteHese sadil was of brend gold newe beteA mantyl vp-on hese schuldyr hangyngeBret ful of Rubyis rede &as fer sparkelyngeLine 2164 Hese crispe her lyk ryngis was I-rouneAnd þat was ȝelw / & glederit as the sonneHese nose was hey hese eyȝyn bryght sitryneHese lyppis rounde hese colour was sanguynLine 2168 A fewe frakenys in hese face I-sprendBe-twixe ȝelw / & sumdel blak I-meyndAnd as a lyoun he hese lokynge casteOf fyue & twenty ȝer / hese age I casteLine 2172 Hese berd was wel begunne for to spryngeHese voys was as a trumpe thonderyngeVp-on hese hed he werede a laurer greneA garlond frosch & lusti for to seeneLine 2176 Vp-on hese hond he bar for hes deduyt
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An egle tame as ony lylye whitAn hunderid lordys hadde he with hym thereAlle armede sone / here hedis in al here gereLine 2180 fful rychely in alle maner thyngisffor trustyth wel that dukis erlys kyngisWere gaderid in this noble cumpanyeffor loue & for encres of chiwalryeLine 2184 A-bouthe this kyng / there ran on euery partfful manye a tame / lyoun & lebardAnd in this wise / these lordis alle & someBen on the soneday / to the sete comeLine 2188 Aboute prime & in the toun a-light [folio 162a] This thesyus this deuk this worthi knyghtWhanne he hadde brouȝt hem in-to hese ceteAnd innede hem / euerych at hese degreLine 2192 He festith hem / & doth so gret labourTo esyn hem / & don hem alle honourThat ȝit men wenyn / that no mannys witOf non estat / ne coude amendyn itLine 2196 The menstralcye / the seruyse at the festeThe grete ȝiftys to the meste & lesteThe ryche aray of thesyus palaysNe ho sat ferst or last vp-on the deysLine 2200 What ladyis fayrest ben or best daunsyngeOr whiche of hem can daunsyn best or syngeNe who most felyngely / spekyth of loueWhat haukys syttyn on the perche a-boueLine 2204 What houndys liggyn in the flor adounOf al this make I now no mencyounBut al theffect that þynkyth me the besteNow comyth the poynt / & herkenyth ȝif ȝow lysteLine 2208 The soneday nyȝt er day be-gan to spyngeWhan palamoun The larke herde syngeAl-þey it were nought / day be ourys toȜit song the larke / & palamoun alsoWith holy herte & with an hey corage
Line 2213
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Line 2213 He ros to wendyn / on hese pilgrymageVn-to the temple blysful Cythera benygneI mene venus honurable & dygneLine 2216 And in here hour he walkith forth a pasVn-to the lystis there here temple wasAnd doun he knelith & with vmble chereAnd herte sor / he seyde as ȝe shal hereLine 2220 ffayreste of fayre / O lady myn venusDoughtyr to Ioue / & spouse of VlcanusThow gladere of / the mount of Cytherounffor thilke loue / þou haddyst to AdounLine 2224 Haue pete of myne bittere teris smerte [folio 162b] And tak myn humble preyere at þyn herteAllas I ne haue no langage to telleTheffectis ne the turmentis of myn helleLine 2228 Myn herte may myn harm not bewreyenI am so confus þat I can not seyenBut mercy lady brygh that knowyst welMyn thought & fest what harmys that I felLine 2232 Considere al this & rew vp-on myn sorAs wisely as I schal ȝit eueremorEnforte myn myȝt thi trewe seruaunt beAnd holdyn werre alwey with chastiteLine 2236 That make I myn owene so ȝe me helpeI kepe not of armys for to ȝelpeNe I ne axe not / to morwe to haue victoryeNe renoun in this cas / ne ven gloryeLine 2240 Of prys of armys blowyn vp & dounBut I wolde haue fully possessiounOf Emelye & deye / in þyn seruyseffynd þou the maner how & in what wyseLine 2244 I reche not but I may betere beTo haue victorye of hem & þey of meSo that I haue myn lady in myne armysffor thow so be / that Mars I god of armysLine 2248 Ȝoure vertu is so gret in heuene a-boue
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That ȝif þou lyst I schal wel haue myn loueThyn temple wele I worschepe euere moAnd on thyn auter where I ryde or goLine 2252 I wele don sacrifyse & ferys beteAnd ȝif ȝe wele not so myn lady sweteThanne prey I the to-morwe with a spereThat Arcitha / me þour the herte bereLine 2256 Than rekke I not whan I haue last myn lyfThow Arcithe / wynne here to hese wyfThis is theffect / & ende of myn preyereȜyf me myn loue þou blysful lady dereLine 2260 Whan þe orysoun was don of palamoun [folio 163a] Hese sacrifyse he dede & þat a-nonfful pitously with al circumstaunceAl telle I not as now hese obseruaunceLine 2264 But at the laste the statwe of Venus schokAnd made a sygne wherby that he tokThat hese preyere acceptid was that dayffor though the sygne schewede a delayLine 2268 Þo wiste he wel þat grauntid was hese boneAnd with glad herte he wente hym hom ful soneThe threde hour inequal that PalamounBe-gan to Venus temple for to gonLine 2272 Vp ros the sunne & vp ros EmalyeAnd to the temple of dyane gan hyeHere maydenys þat sche thidir with her laddefful redyly þe fuyr with hem þey haddeLine 2276 Thensens the clothis & the remenaunt alThat to the sacrifise longyn schalThe hornys ful of mete / as was the gyseTher lakkede not to don here sacryfiseLine 2280 Smokynge þe temple ful of clothis fayreThis Emelye with herte debonayreHere body wesch with watyr of a welleBut how sche dede here ryte / I dar not telleLine 2284 But ȝif it be ony þyng / in general
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And ȝit it were a game to here it alTo hym that menyth wel / it were no chargeBut it is good a man be at hese largeLine 2288 Here bryghte her was kempt vntrussed alA coroun of a grene ok cerialVp-on her hede was / set / ful fayre & meteToo fyrys on the auter / gan sche beteLine 2292 And dede here thyngis as men may beholdeIn stace of Thebes & these bokys oldeWhan kyndelit was this fuyr with pitous chereVn-to dyane sche spak / as ȝe may hereLine 2296 O chaste goddesse of the wodys grene [folio 163b] To whom boþe heuene & erthe & se is seneQuen of the regne / of pluto dirk and loweGoddesse of maydenys / þat myn herte hast knoweLine 2300 fful manye a ȝer and wost what I desireSo kep me from þyn veniance & þyn yreThat attheon Aboughte crewellyChaste godesse wel wost þou that ILine 2304 Desire to ben a maydyn al myn lyfNe neuere wele I be no loue ne wyfI am þou wost ȝit / of thyn compaygnyeA mayde & loue huntyng & veneryLine 2308 And for to walkyn in the wodys wildeAnd not to ben a wyf & ben with chyldeNot wele I knowe compaynye of manNow help lady sithe ȝe may [&] canLine 2312 ffor to thre formeste that þou hast in þeAnd palamoun that hath swich loue to meAnd ek arcite that louyth me so soreThis grace I preie the with-oute moreLine 2316 And send loue & pes be-twixe hem toAnd from me turne a-wey here hertis soThat alle here hote loue & al here desyrAnd al here besy turment and here fyrLine 2320 Be queynt & turne in a noþer place
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And ȝif so be þou wilt not do me graceOr ȝif myn destene be schapen soThat I schal nedys han on of hem toLine 2324 As send me hym that most desyryth meBe-hold goddesse of clene chastiteThe bittere terys that on myne che-kys falleSyn þou art maydyn & kepere of vs alleLine 2328 My maydynhed þou kepe & wel conserueAnd whil I leue / a mayde I wele þe serueThe fyrys brenne vp on the auter clereWhyl Emalye was þus in here preyereLine 2332 But sodeynly sche sey a seyghte queynte [folio 164a] ffor ryght a-non [on] of the ferys queynteAnd quekede a-geyn & aftyr that anonThat othyr fer was queynt & al a-gonLine 2336 And as it queynte it made a whistelyngAs don the wete brondis in here brennyngAnt at the brondis ende out ran a-nonAs it were blodi dropis many onLine 2340 ffor which so sore agast was emalyeThat sche was wol nygh mad & gan to cryeffor sche nyste what it sygnefyedBut only for the fer þus hath sche cryedLine 2344 And wep þat it was pete for to hereAnd þerwithal diane gan apereWith bowe in hond rygh as an hunteresseAnd seyde doughtir stynt þyn heuynesseLine 2348 Among the goddys hye it is afermydAnd by eterne world wretyn and confermydThow schalt ben weddit vn-to on of twoThat han for the so meche care & woLine 2352 But vn-to whiche of hem I can not telleffarwel for I ne may no lengere dwelleThe furys whiche þat on myn auter brenneSchul the declaryn or that þou go henneLine 2356 Thyn auenture / of loue as in this cas
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And with þat word / þe arwis in the casOf the goddesse clateryn faste & ryngeAnd forthe sche wente & made auanysschyngeLine 2360 ffor wich / this emaly / a-stonyd wasAnd seyde what amountyth this allasI putte me in thyn protecciounDyane & in thyn dispocycyounLine 2364 And hom sche goth anon the nexte weyeThis is theffect þere is no more to seyeThe nexte hour of Mars folwynge thisArcite vn-to the temple walked isLine 2368 Of ferse Mars / to don his sacrifyse [folio 164b] With al his rygh / of hese poyn deviseWith pitous herte & hey deuocyounRygh þus to Mars he seyde hese orysounLine 2372 O stronge god / that in the regnys coldeOf trace honoured art & lord I-holdeAnd hast in euery regne and euery londOf armys al the bridil in þyn hondLine 2376 And hem fortunyst as the lyste deuyseAccepte of me myn pitous sacrifyseȜif it so be that myn ȝouthe may disserueAnd that myn myght be worthi for to serveLine 2380 Thyn godhed that I may ben on of thyneThanne preye I the / to rewe vp-on myn pyneffor thylke pyne & thylke hote fuyrIn whiche whilhom þou brentist for desyrLine 2384 Whan that þou vsedest the beuteOf fayre ȝouthe frossche venus freAnd haddist here in armys at þyn willeAl-though the onys on a tyme mysfylleLine 2388 Whan vlcanus hadde caught þe in hese lasAnd fond the lyggynge by his wife allasffor thilkee sorwe / that was in thyn herteHaue routhe as wel vp-on myne peynys smerteLine 2392 I am ȝong / and oncunnynge as þou wyst
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And as I trowe with loue offendit mostThat euere was ony / lyuys cryatureffor sche that doth me al this wo endureLine 2396 Ne rechith neuere whedyr I synke or fleeteAnd wel I wot er sche me mercy heteI mot with strenthe wynne here in the placeAnd wel I wot / with-oute helpe or graceLine 2400 Of the; ne may myn strenthe not a-vayleThan help me lord to morwe in myn batayleffor thilke fuyr that whilhom brente theAs wel as thilke fer / now brennyth meLine 2404 And do þat I to morwe haue victorie [folio 165a] Myn be þe trauayle & thyn the gloryeThyn souereyn templ wel I muste honoureOf ony place & alwey most laboureLine 2408 In thyn pleasaunce & in thi craftys strongeAnd in thi temple I mowe myn baner hongeAnd alle the armys of myn cumpanyeAnd euere mo vn-to þat day I deyeLine 2412 Eterne fuyr I wele be-fore the fyndeAnd ek to this a-wow I wele me byndeMyn berd myn her that hangith long adounThat neuere ȝit me felte offencyounLine 2416 Of rasour ne of schere I wele the ȝeueAnd ben thyn trewe seruaunt whil I leueNow lord haue routhe vp on mynne sorwis soreȜif me the victorie I aske the no moreLine 2420 The preyer stynte of arcita the strongeThe ryngis on the temple dore that hengeAnd ek the doris clateredyn ful fasteOf which arcita sum-what hym gasteLine 2424 The fuyres brende vp on the autyr bryȝtThat it gan al the temple for to lyȝtA swete smel a-non the ground vp ȝafAnd arcita anon hese hond vp hafLine 2428 And more ensens in to the fuyr he caste
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With othere ryȝtys mo and at the lasteThe statue of mars be-gan hese hauberk ryngeAnd with that soun he herde a murmuryngeLine 2432 fful lowe & dym þat seyde þus victoryeffor which he ȝaf / to Mars1. the glorye1And þus with Ioye & and hope wel to fareArcita anon vn-to his in is fareLine 2436 As fayn as foul is of the bryȝte sunneAnd ryȝt anon þere is swich stryf be-gunneffor thilke grauntynge in the heuene aboueBe-twixe venus the goddesse of loueLine 2440 And mars the sterne god Armypotent [folio 165b] That Iupiter was besi it to stynteTil that þe pale saturne the coldeThat knowith so manye of auentouris oldeLine 2444 ffond in hese old experience an artThat he ful sone hath plesid euery partAs soth is seyd elde hat gret auauntageIn elde is bothe wisdam & vsageLine 2448 Men may the elde at-renne & not at-redeSaturne a-non to stynte stryf & dredeAl be it þat it is ageyn hese kyndeOf al this stryf he gan remedie fyndeLine 2452 Myn dere douȝtyr venus quod saturneMyn course þat hath so wyde for to turneHath more power than wit ony manMyn is the drenchyng in the se so wanLine 2456 Myn is the prisoun in the derke coteMyn is the strangelyng & hangynge bi the throteThe murmur & the cherle rebellyngeThe groynynge & the priue enpoysounyngeLine 2460 I do veniaunce and pleyn corecciounWhyl I dwelle in the sygne of the lyounMyn is the ruyne of the heye hallysThe fallynge of the tourys & of the wallysLine 2464 Vp-on the mynour or the carpenter
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I slow Samson schakynge þe pillerAnd myne ben the maladijs coldeThe darke tresounnys & the castis oldeLine 2468 Myn lokynge is þe fadir of pestelenceNow wep no more I schal don diligenceThat Palamoun that is þyn owene knyȝtSchal han hese lady as þou hast hym hyȝtLine 2472 Though Mars schal helpe hese knyȝt ȝit neuerthelesBe-twixen ȝow there may ben sumtyme pesAlle be ȝe not of on complexiounThat causeth al day swich dyuysiounLine 2476 I am thyn aiel redi at thyn wille [folio 166a] Wep now no more I wil þyn lust fulfylleNow wil I stynte of the goddis aboueMars & venus goddesse of loueLine 2480 And tellyn ȝow as goodly as I canThe grete effect for whiche þat I began
[PART IV. ]
Gret was the feste in Athenys þat dayAnd ek the lusti sesen of þat mayLine 2484 Made euery whitht to ben in swich plesaunceThat al that moneday Iustene they & daunceAnd spendyn it in venus hey seruyseAnd by the cause that þey schulde ryseLine 2488 Erly for to sen the grete fyȝtVnto here reste wente þey þat nygh[t]And on the morwe whan þat day gan spryngeOf hors & harneys noyse & clateryngeLine 2492 There was in ostelleryis al abouteAnd to the paleys rod þere manye a routeOf lordys vp-on stedis & palfreyisThere mayst þou sen / deuysyng of harneysLine 2496 So vncouth & so ryche & wrough so welOf gold smetheris / of broudynge & of stel
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The scheldys bryghte testers & trappurysGold hew helmys hauberkis cote armurysLine 2500 lordis in paramentis on here courserysKnyghtis of retenew & ek squyerysNaylynge the sperys & helmys bokelyngeGiggynge of schyldys with lanyerys la-syngeLine 2504 Ther as nede is þey were no þyng ydylThe fomy stedis on the goldene brydylGnawynge faste .the. armurys alsoWith fyle & hamyr prikynge to & froLine 2508 Thanne on fote comounnys manye onWith schorte stauys / as thikke as þey may gonPypis trumpis nakerys claryounnysThat in the batayle blowyn blody sounysLine 2512 The paleys ful of peplys vp & doun [folio 166b] Here thre þere ten / holdynge here questyounDeuynynge of these / thebene knyghtis tooSome seyde thus / some seydyn it schulde be soLine 2516 Some heldyn with hym with the blake berdSome with the ballede some with the thykke heridSome seyde he lokede grymme & he wolde fyghteHe hath a sparth of twenty pound of weighteLine 2520 Thus was the halle ful of dynynyngeLonge aftyr that the sunne be-gan to spryngeThe grete thesyus that of hese slep a-wakydWith mynstrelsye & noyse that was makydLine 2524 Held ȝit the chambre of hese paleys rycheTyl that the theben knyghtis bothe I-licheHonoure weryn / in-to the paleys fetDeuk thesyus is at a wyndowe setLine 2528 Arayed wel as he were a god in troneThe puple presede dedyrward ful soneHym for to sen & don hey reuerenceAnd ek to herkene his hest & his sentenceLine 2532 An heraud on a skaffald made an hooTil al the noyse of the puple was I-do
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And whan he say / the noyse of puple al stylleTho schewede he the myghty dukis willeLine 2536 The lord hath of hese hey discrecyounConsyderit þat it were distructyounTo gentyl blod to fygtyn in the gyseOf mortel batayle now in this empryseLine 2540 Wherfore to schapyn þat þey schul not dyeHe wele hese ferste purpos modyfyeNo man þerfore vp peyne of los of lyfNo maner schort polax / no schort knyfLine 2544 In to the lystys sende ne dedyr bryngeNe schort swerd for to steke with poynt bytyngeNo man it drawe ne bere it by hese sydeNe no man schal vn to hese felawe rydeLine 2548 But on cours with a scharp I-grounde spere [folio 167a] ffayn ȝif hym lyst / on fote hym self to wereAnd he that is at myschef schal be takeAnd not slayn / but ben brought vn-to the stakeLine 2552 That schal ben ordeynyd on eyþer sydeBut dedir he schal be forse & þere abydeAnd ȝif so falle the cheuynteyn be takeOn eythyr syde or ellys slen hese makeLine 2556 No lengere schal the turnyinge lesteGod spede ȝow. goth forth / & leyth on fasteWith long swerd & with macys fytyth ȝoure fylleGoth now ȝoure wey / this is the lordys willeLine 2560 The voys of peple touchede the heueneSo longe cryedyn þey with merye steueneGod sawe swich a lord þat is so goodHe wylnyth non distructioun of blodLine 2564 Vp goth the trumpys & the melodyeAnd to the lystis rit the cumpaynyeBy ordenaunce Throuout The sete largeHangit with cloth of gold & not with sargeLine 2568 fful lyk a lord þis noble deuk gan rydeThese too thebenys vp on eyþer syde
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And aftyr rod the quen & emelyeAnd aftyr þat a noþer cumpanyeLine 2572 Of on & oþer aftyr here degreAnd thus þey passyn thour out the citeAnd to the lystis come þey betymeIt nas not of the day fully prymeLine 2576 Whan set was Thesyus ful ryche & hyeYpolita the quen & EmelyAnd oþere ladyis in degreis abouteVnto the setis / presith al the routeLine 2580 And westwardis thorugh þe gatys vndyr martheArcite & ek the hunderit of hese parteWith baner red is enteryd rygh a-nonAnd in that selue moment PalamonLine 2584 Is vndyr venus Estward in the place [folio 167b] With baner whit & hardy cher & facIn al the world to sekyn vp & dounSo euene with-oute variacyounLine 2588 There ne were sweche cumpanyis tweyeffor þere ne was non that coude seyeThat ony hadde of oþer auauntageOf worthynesse ne of estat ne ageLine 2592 So euene were þey chosen for to gesseAnd too ryngis fayre þey hem dresseWhan that here namys rad were euerychonThat in here noumbre gile was þere nonLine 2596 Tho were the gatys schette & cryed was loudeDo now ȝoure deuer ȝynge knyghtis proudeThe heroudys lefte here prykynge vp & dounNow ryngyn trompys loude & claryounLine 2600 There is no more to seyne but west & estIn gon the sperys ful gladly in at restIn goth the scharpe spere in to þe sydeTher sen men ho can Iuste & ho can rydeLine 2604 There sleueryn sperys vp-on schildys þikkeHe felyth thorw the herte spon the prykke
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Vp spryngyn sperys twenty fote on heyghteOut gon þe swerdis as the syluyr bryghtLine 2608 The helmys they hewyn & to-schredeOut brest the blod with sterne stremys redeWith myghty macys the bonys they to-bresteHe thour the thikkeste of the thrang gan thresteLine 2612 There semblyn stedys stronge & doun goth alHe rollith vndyr fote as doth a balHe foynyth on hese feet with hese trunchounAnd he hym hurtelith with hese hors adounLine 2616 He thour the body is hurt & sithe takeMagry his hed & brough vn-to the stakeAs forward was / ryȝt þere he wolde abydeAnoþer lad is on that oþer sydeLine 2620 And sumtyme doth hem Thesius to reste [folio 168a] Hem to frossche & drynkyn ȝif hem lestefful ofte a day han these Thebens twoTo-gedere I-met & wrought hese felawys woLine 2624 Vn-horsede hath eche oþer of hem tweyeTher nas no Tigre in the vale of GalgopheyeWhan that here whelp is stole whil it is lyteSo crewel on the hunte as is arcyteLine 2628 ffor Ielous herte vp-on this PalamounNe in Belmarye þere ne is non so fel lyounThat huntid is or for hese hungyr wodNe of hese prey desyreth so the blodLine 2632 As Palamoun to slen hese fo ArcyteThe Ieluse strokys on here helmys byteOut rennyth blod on boþe here sydis redeSumtyme an ende þere is of eyþer dedeLine 2636 ffor er the sunne vn-to þe reste wenteThe strong kyng / emetryus gan henteThis Palamoun as he faught with ArcyteAnd made his swerd depe in hese flesch to biteLine 2640 And be the forse of twenty is he takeVn-ȝoldyn & Idrawyn to the stake
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And in the rescous of this palamounThe stronge kyng lygurge is born adounLine 2644 And kyng Emetrius [al] for hese strentheIs born out of hese sadil a swerdis lentheSo hitte hym palamoun or he were takeBut al for nought he was brought to the stakeLine 2648 Hese hardy herte myghte hym helpe noughtHe muste abyde whan that he was caughtBy forse & ek by compocyciounWho sorwith now but woful palamounLine 2652 That may no more gon ageyn to fyghteAnd whan that Thesius hadde seyn that syghteVn-to the folk that foughtyn thus echonHe cryede ho / no more for it is donLine 2656 I wele be trewe iuge & no partye [folio 168b] Arcite of Thebes schal haue EmelyeThat bi hese fortune hath here fayre wonneA-non þere is a noyse of puple begunneLine 2660 ffor ioye of this so loude & heye with alIt semede þat the lystis schulde falWhat can now fayre venus don aboueWhat seyth sche now / what doth this quen of loueLine 2664 But wepith so / for wantynge of here willeTyl þat here terys in the lystis fylleSche seyde I am a-schamyd dutelesSaturne seyde douȝtyr hold þyn pesLine 2668 Mars hath his wille his knyght al hese boneAnd be myn hed þou schat ben esed soneThe trumpis with the loude mestrelcyeThe heroudis þat ful loude ȝelle & cryeLine 2672 Ben in here wele for ioye of daun ArcyteBut herkenyth me & styntyth now a liteWhich a merakele þere be-fel a-nonThis ferse arcyte hath of hese helm I-donLine 2676 An[d] on a courser for to schewe hese faceHe prikyth endelong the same plase
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Lokynge vpward vp on þis EmelyeAnd sche ageyn hym caste a frendely yeLine 2680 . . . . .. . . . .And was al hese cher as in hese herteOut of the ground a furye infernal sterteLine 2684 ffrom pluto sent at request of saturneffor which hese hors for fer gan to turneAnd lep a syde & founderede as he lepAnd er þat arcite may takyn kepLine 2688 He pyghte hym on the pomel of hese hedThat in þe place he lay as he were dedHis brest to-brostyn withe sadil boweAs blak he lay as ony cole or croweLine 2692 So was the blod ronnyn in hese faceA-non he was I-born out of the placeWith herte sor to theseus paleys [folio 169a] Tho was he korvyn out of hese harneysLine 2696 And in a bed I-brout ful fayre & blytheffor he was ȝit in memory & alyueAnd alwey cryinge aftyr EmelyeDuk Thesius with al hese cumpanyeLine 2700 Is comyn hom to athenus hese ceteWith al blys & gret solempneteAl be it þat this / auenture was falleHe nylde not disconfortyn hem alleLine 2704 Men seyde ek that Arcita schal not deyeHe schal ben helyd of hese maladyeAnd of a noþer þyng þey wern as faynThat of hem alle was þere non I-slaynLine 2708 Alle were þey sore I-hurt & namely onThat with a spere was therlyd hese brest bonTo othere woundis & to brokene armysSome haddyn saluys & some haddyn charmysffermacies of erbis & ek saueLine 2713 Þey dronken / for þey woldyn here lemys haue
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ffor which this noble deuk as he wel canConfortyth & honoureþ euery manLine 2716 And made reuel al the longe nyghtVn to þo straunge lordis as was ryghtNe þere was holdyn non disconfitingeBut as a iustis or a turneynyngeLine 2720 ffor sothely þere was non disconfitureffor fallynge nys not but an auentureNe to be lad be forse on to the stakeVnȝoldyn &. with twenty knyghtis I-takeLine 2724 On persone a-lone with-oute moAnd haried by arm fote & toAnd ek hese stede dreuyn forth with stauysWith footmen bothe ȝemen & ek knavysLine 2728 It nas arettyd hym no velanyeThere may no man clepe it cowardyeffor which a-non deuk Theseus let crye [folio 169b] To styntyn alle rancure & enuyeLine 2732 The gre as wel on o syde as of othirAnd eythyr syde liche lyk a oþeris brothirAnd ȝeue hem ȝiftys aftyr here degreAnd fully held a feste dayis threLine 2736 And conueyed þe kyng worthilyOut of hese town a iurne largelyAnd hom wente euery man the ryghe wayÞere was no more but farwel & heue good dayLine 2740 Of this batayle I wele no more endyteBut speke we of palamoun & arciteSwellyth the brest of Arcite & the sorEncreseth at hese herte more & morLine 2744 The cloterede blod for ony leche-craftCorupteth & is in hese bouk I-laftThat neyþer veyne blod ne ventusyngeNe drynk of erbis may ben hese helpyngeThe vertu expulsyf of anymalLine 2749 ffor thilke vertu clepe I natural
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Ne may the vertu voyde ne expelleThe pypis of hese lungys gunne to swelleLine 2752 And euery lacerte in hese brest adounIs schent with vertu & corupcyounHym gaynyth neyþer for to gete his lyfVomyt vpwar ne dounward laxatyfLine 2756 Al is to-brostyn / thilke regiounNature hath no domynacyounAnd serteynly þere nature wele not werchffarwel fysyk go bere the man to schercheLine 2760 This al and sum that arcite mot deyeffor which he sendyth Aftyr EmalyeAnd palamoun that was hese cosyn dereThanne seyde he þus as ȝe schul aftyr hereLine 2764 Nowt may the woful spyrt in myn herteDeclare on poynt of alle mynne sorwis smerteDo ȝow myn lady that I loue most [folio 170a] But I be-quethe the spyrit of myne gostLine 2768 To ȝow a-bouyn euery cryatureSyn that myn lyf may no lengere dureAllas the wo allas the peynys strongeThat I for ȝow haue suffered & so longeLine 2772 Allas the deth allas myn EmelyeAllas the partynge of oure cumpaynyeAllas myn hertis quene allas myn wifMyn hertis lady endere of myn lyfLine 2776 What is this world what askyn men to haueNow with hese loue now in hese colde graueA-lone withoutyn ony cumpanyeffarewel myn swete fo myn emelyeLine 2780 And softe tak me in ȝoure armys tweyeffor loue of god & herkene what I schal seyeI haue here with myn cosyn palamounHad strif & rancur manye a day agonLine 2784 ffor loue of ȝow & for myn IelusyeAnd Iupiter so wisely myn soule gye
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To spekyn of a seruaunt proprelyWith alle circumstauncys trewelyLine 2788 That is to seyne / strenth. honour. knyghede.Wisdam. vmblesse. estat. & hey kynrede.ffredom. & al that longith to that artSo Iupiter haue of myn soule partLine 2792 As in þis world now ne knowe I nonSo worthi to be louyd as palamonThat seruyth ȝow & wele don al hese lyfAnd ȝif that euere ȝe schul be a wifLine 2796 ffor-ȝet not palamoun the gentyl manAnd with that word hese speche fayle ganffor from hese herte vp to hese brest was comeThe colde of deth þat hadde hym ouercomeLine 2800 And ȝit more ouyr for in hese armys twoThe vital strenthe is lost & al a-goOnly the intellect with-outyn more [folio 170b] That dwellede in hese herte syk & soreLine 2804 Gan fayle whan the herte felte dethDusked hese eyne þo & faylede brethBut on hese lady ȝit caste he hese eyeHese laste word was mercy EmelyeLine 2808 Hese spyrit schaungede hous & wente þereAs I cam neuere I can not telle whereThere-fore I stynte I neam no dyuynystereOf soulys fynde I not in þis registreLine 2812 Ne me ne leste thilke opynyounnys to telleOf hem though they write / where þat þey dwelleArcyte is cold there Mars hese soule gyeNow wele I speke forth of EmelyeLine 2816 Schrikte Emelye & houlith palamounAnd thesyus hese sistyr tok a-nonSwounnynge & bar here from the cors awayWha helpith it to tarie forth the dayLine 2820 To telle how sche wep bothe eue & morweffor in swich cas wemen haue swich sorwe
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Whan that here hosbondys ben from hem a-goThat for the more part þey sorwe soLine 2824 Or ellys fallyn in swich maledyeThat at the laste serteynly þey deyeInfynyte ben / the sorwis & þe terysOf olde folk & folk of tendere ȝerysLine 2828 In al the toun for deth of this Thebanffor hym there wepith boþe child & manSo gret a wepynge was there non sertaynWhan Ettor was brought al frosch I-slaynTo troye allas the pete þat was thereLine 2833 Crachynge of chekys / rentynge of hereWhi woldist þou ben ded þese wemen cryeAnd haddyst gold I-now & emelyeLine 2836 No man myghte glade ThesyusSauynge hese olde fadyr egyusThat knew this worldis transmutacyoun [folio 171a] As he hadde seyn it vp & dounLine 2840 Ioye aftyr wo & wo aftyr gladnesseAnd schewede hem ensaumplys & lyknesseRyght as þere deyede neuere man quod heThat he ne leuede in erthe in sum degreLine 2844 Ryght so þere leuede neuere man he seydeIn al this world that sumtyme he ne deyedeThis world is not but a thourfare ful of woAnd we ben pilgrymys passynge to & froLine 2848 Deth is an ende of euery wordely soreAnd oueral þis ȝit seyde he mechil moreTo this effect ful wisely to enhorteThe pule that þey schulde hem reconforteLine 2852 Deuk Thesyus with al hese besi cureCast now wher þat þe sepultureOf goode Arcyt may best I-makyd beAnd ek most honurable in hese degreLine 2856 And at the laste he tok conclusiounThat þere as fyrst arcite & palamoun
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Haddyn for loue the batayle hem be-tweneThat þe selue groue sote & greneLine 2860 Ther as he hadde hese amerouse desyresHese compleynt & for loue hese hote fyresHe wolde make a fyr in whiche thoffysfuneral. he myghte al a-compliceLine 2864 And let comaunde anon to hakke & heweThe okys olde & leyn hem on a reweIn culpounnys wel arayed for to brenneHese offyserys with swifte feet þey renneLine 2868 And ryde a-non at hese comaundementAnd aftyr þis thesius hath sche sentAftyr a bere & it al ouer-spraddeWith cloth of gold the rycheste that he haddeLine 2872 And of the same sute he cladde arciteVp-on hese hondis hese glouys whyteEk on hese hed a coroune of laurer grene [folio 171b] And in hese hand a swerd ful brygh & keneLine 2876 He leyde hym bare þe vesage on the bereTherwith he wept þat pete was to hereAnd for the puple schulde sen hym alleWhan it was day he broughte hym to þe halleLine 2880 That roryth of þe cryinge & þe sounTho cam þis woful Theban PalamunWith flotery & rogi flateri herysIn cloþys blake I-droppid al with terysLine 2884 And passynge oþere of wepynge EmelyeThe reufuleste of al the cumpaynyeIn as meche as the seruyse schulde beThe more noble & ryche in hese degreLine 2888 Duk Thesyus let forth thre stedis bryngeThat trappede were al in stel al glederyngeAnd keuered the armys of daun arcyteVp-on þese stedis grete & whiteLine 2892 There setyn folk of which on bar hese schyldAnothir hese spere vp on hese hondys held
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The thredde bar with hem hese bowe turkeysOf brend gold was the cas & ek the harneysLine 2896 And redyn forth a pas with sorweful chereToward the groue as ȝe schul aftyr hereThe nobileste of the grekys þat þere wereVp on here schulderyn caryedyn the bereLine 2900 With slak pas & eighen . reede & weteThorugh-out the Cete / by the maystyr streteThat sprad was al with blak & wondyr hyeRyght of the same is the strete I-wryeLine 2904 Vp-on the ryght hand wente old egeusAnd on that oþer syde deuk ThesyusWith vessellys in here hondys of gold ful fynAl ful of. hony. mylk. blod & wyn.Line 2908 Ek Palamoun with ful gret cumpaynyeAnd aftyr that cam woful emelyeWith fuyre in hond as was þat tyme þe gyse [folio 172a] To don the offyse of feneral seruyseLine 2912 Hey labour & ful gret aparaylyngeWas at the seruyse & the fer makyngeThat with hese gret top the heuene raughteAnd twenty fademe of brede þe armys straughteLine 2916 This is to seyne þe bowys were so brodeOf treis fyrst þere were leyd manye a lodeBut how þe fuyr was makyd vp on heighteNe ek the namys what þe treis hyghteLine 2920 As. ook. fyrre. Birch. asp. Aldyr. Holm. PopelerWylw. Elm. Plane. Assh. Box. chesteyn. lynde. laurerMapil. thorn. Bech. hasil. Ew. Whippil. trreHow þey were feld schal not be told for meLine 2924 Ne how the goddys rennyn vp & dounDysheritid of here abitacyounIn wheche þey wendyn in reste & pesNymphus ffaunes & amadriesLine 2928 Ne how the bestis & þe bryddys alleffleddyn for fer whan the wode was falle
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Ne how the ground agast was of the lyghtThat was not wont to sen the sunne brygh[t]Line 2932 Ne how the fer was couche fyrst with streAnd þanne with dreye stikkis clouyn a threAnd þanne with grene wode & spiceryeAn þanne with cloth of gold & with perryeLine 2936 And garlondis hangynge with mani a flourThe mirre þe ensens with al so gret odourNe how arcite lay a-mong al þisNe what richesse a-boute hese body IsLine 2940 Ne how þat Emelye as was te gysePutte in the fuyr of funeral seruyseNe how sche swounnede whan men made þe fuyrNe what sche spak ne what was here desyrLine 2944 Ne what Iewell men in the fuyr casteWhan þat the fuyr was gret & brente fasteNe how some caste here schyld & some here spere [folio 172b] And of here vestementis which þat they wereLine 2948 And cuppis ful of wyn & mylk & blodIn-to the fuyr þat brente as it were wodNe how the grekys with an heuge routeThryes redyn al the fuyre a-bouteLine 2952 Vp-on the left half with a loud schoutyngeAnd thryes with here sperys clateryngeAnd thryes how the ladyis gunne cryeNe how that lad was hom-ward EmalyeLine 2956 Ne how Arcyte was brent to asschyn coldeNe how that lyche / wake was I-holdeAl thilke nyght ne how the grekys pleyeThe wake-pleyis ne kepe I not to seyeLine 2960 Who wrestelyth best nakyd with oille enoyntNe who þat bar hym best in no disioyntI wele not tellyn ek how þat þey gonHom to athenys whan the pley is donLine 2964 But schortly to the poynt þanne wele I wendeAnd makyn of myn longe tale an ende
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Be proces & be lenthe a certeyn ȝerysAl styntyd is the mournyng & the terysLine 2968 Of grekys be on general assentThan semede me þere was a parlementAt athenes vp on certeyn poyntys and casA-mong the poyntys spokyn wasLine 2972 To haue with certeyn poyntys alyanceAnd haue fully of thebans obeissaunceffor which this nobil theseus anonLet sendyn aftyr gentil palamonLine 2976 Vnwist of hym what was the cause & whyBut in hese blake cloþis sorwefullyHe come at hese owene comaundement in hyeTo sente Theseus / for emelyeLine 2980 Whan þey were set & hust was al the place [folio 173a] And thesyus abedyn hadde a spaceEr ony word cam from hese wyse brestHese eynyn sette he þere as was hese lestLine 2984 And with a sad visage he sikede stilleAnd aftyr þat ryght þus he seyde hese willeThe ferste mournere of the cause aboueWhan he ferst made þe cheyne of loueLine 2988 Gret was theffect & hy was hese ententWel wiste he why & what þerof he mentffor with that fayre cheyne of loue he bondThe fuyr the eyre the watyr & the londLine 2992 In certeyn boundys þat þey may not fleThat same prince & þat same Moeuere quod heHath stablyschid in this wrechede world a dounCerteyn dayis & duraciounLine 2996 To alle þat is engenderid in þis placeOuer the whiche day þey may not paceAlle mowe þey ȝit þe dayis wel a-breggeÞere nedyth non autorite to leggeLine 3000 ffor it is preuyd be experyenceBut þat me lyste to clare myn sentence
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Thanne may men by þis ordere wel diserneThat tylke moeuere stylle & sterneLine 3004 Wel may men knowe but it be a folThat euery part dryuyth from hese holffor nature hath takyn hese begynnyngOf no party or of a cantel of a þyngLine 3008 But of a þyng þat parfyt is & stableDessendynge so til it be corumpableAnd þerfore for hese wise puruyaunceHe hath so wel be-set hese ordenaunceLine 3012 That specyfie of þyngis & progressiounnysShul endure be succesciounnysAnd not eterne with-outyn ony lyeThis mayst þou vndyrstondyn & sen at eyeLine 3016 lo þe ok that hath so long a norichynge [folio 173b] ffrom the tyme þat it ferst begynnyth to spryngeAnd hat so long a lyf as we may seȜit at the laste wastyd is the treLine 3020 Considerith ek how that the harde stonVndir oure fet on whiche we trede & gonȜit wastith it as it lyth be the weyeThe brode reuyr sumtyme waxeth dreyeLine 3024 The grete tounnys se we wane & wendeThan may I say þat al þis thyng hath endeOf man & woman se we we wel alsooThat nedyth in on of þese termys tooLine 3028 This is to seyne in ȝouthe or ellys ageHe mote be ded the kyng as schal a pageSome in his bed some in the depe seSome in the large feld as men may seLine 3032 There helpith not al goth that ilke weyeThanne may I seyn al þis þyng mote nedis deyeWhat makyth þis but Iupiter þe kyngThat is prynce & cause of alle thyngLine 3036 Conuertynge al vn-to hese propere welleffrom wiche it is deryvit soth to telle
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And here ageyn no cryatour on. lyueOf no degre a-uaylith for to stryueLine 3040 Thanne is it wisdom as it þynkyt meTo makyn vertu of necessiteAnd take it wel that we may not escheweAnd nameli that to vs alle is deweLine 3044 And ho so grochit out he doth folyeAnd rebel is to hym þat al may gyeAnd serteynly a man hath most honourTo deyen in hese excellence & flourLine 3048 Whan he is sekyr of hese goode nameThanne hath he don hese frend ne hym no schameAnd gladdere owith hese frend to ben of dethWhan with honour is ȝoldyn vp hese brethLine 3052 Than whan his name apeyred is for age [folio 174a] ffor al forgetyn is his wasseyllageThanne is it best as for a worthi fameA man to deye whan he is best of nameLine 3056 The contrarie of al this is wilfulnesWhy groche we why haue we heuynesThat goode arcite of chyualrye flourDepartid is with deynte & honourLine 3060 Out of þis foule prysoun of þis lyfWhy grochyn here his cosyn & his wifOf [his welfare that loueth hem so wel]Can he hem thank nay god wot neuere adelLine 3064 That boþe hese soule & ek hym self offendeAnd ȝit þey mowe here lustis not amendeWhat may I conclude of þis longe seryeBut aftyr wo I rede vs to be meryeLine 3068 And thankyn Iupiter of al hese graceAnd er þat we departe from þis placeI rede we make of sorwys tooOn parfyt Ioye lastynge eueremoLine 3072 And lokyth now where most sorwe is her inneThere [wil I first bigynne
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[Suster quod he this is my ful assentWith alle thaues heere of my parlementLine 3076 That gentyl palamon ȝoure owne knyghtThat seruyth ȝou with wil herte and myghtAs euer hath don sithen ȝe first hym kneweThat ȝe shul of ȝoure [grace] vpon him reweLine 3080 And taken for husbond and for lordLene me ȝoure hond for this is oure acordeLete see now if youre wommanly piteeHe is a kingis brother sone pardeLine 3084 A[nd thouȝ he be a pore bachelereS[ithen he hath serued ȝou so many a ȝereA[nd had for ȝou so gret aduersiteIt [most be considered leuyth me]Line 3088 ffor gentyl mercy owith to passyn ryght [folio 174b] Than seyde he þus to palamoun ful rygh[t]I trowe þere nedyth lytil sarmonyngeTo make ȝow assente to the thyngeLine 3092 Come ner & tak ȝoure lady bi the hondBy-tweþyn hem was mad anon the bondThat hyghte matrymonye or mariageBy al the cuntre & the barounnageLine 3096 And þus with al blys & melodyHath Palamoun I-wedded emelyAnd god þat al þis wyde word hath wroughtSynde hym his loue þat hath it dere aboughtLine 3100 ffor now is Palamoun in alle weleleuynge in blysse in richesse & in heleAnd Emelye hym louyth so tenderelyAnd he here seruyth so gentyllyLine 3104 That neuere was þere no word hem be-twenOf Ielousye or ony oþer teeneThus endyth Palamoun & EmelyeAnd god saue al this ffayre cumpaynye.Line 3108
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SO whan þe knyght hath þus hese tale told [folio 175a] In al þe route nas þere ȝyng ne oldThat he ne seyde it nas a noble storyAnd worthy for to drawe to memoryLine 3112 And nameli þe gentilis euerychonOur ost lough and swor so mote I gonThys goth aryght onbokeled is the maleLet sen now who schal telle a noþer taleLine 3116 ffor trewely the game is wel begunneNow tellyth ȝe sere monk ȝyf þat ȝe cunneSumwhat to quite with þe knyghtis taleThe mellere that dronke was al paleLine 3120 So that a-nethe vp on his hors he satHe nulde a-vale neythyr hod ne hatNe abyde no man for hese curteysyeBut in pilat voys he gan to cryeLine 3124 And swor by armys & by blod & bonysI can a noble tale for thenonysWith whiche he wele now quyte þe knyȝtis taleOure ost saw þat he was dronke of aleLine 3128 And seyde a-byd Robyn myn leue brothyrSum betere man schal telle vs fyrst a nothyrOnbyd & lat vs werke thryftylyBy goddys soule / quod he þat wele nat ILine 3132 ffor I wele speke or ellys gon myn weyOure ost answerde telle on a deleweyThow art a fol thy wit is ouercomeNow herkenygh quod the mellere alle & someLine 3136 But fyrst I make a protestacyounThat I am dronke I knowe it be myn sounAnd þerfore ȝif I mys speke or seyeWite it the ale of Southwerk I preye
Line 3140
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Line 3140 ffor I wele telle a legende & a lyfBothe of a carpenter & hese wyfHow that a clerk hath set the wryghtis cappeThe reue answerde & seyde stynt þyn clappeLine 3144 let be þyn lewede dronke harlotrye [folio 175b] It is a synne & ek a gret folyeTo apeyre ony man or hym diffameAnd ek to bryngyn whyuys in swych fameLine 3148 þou mayst I-now of oþere thyngis saynThis dronkyn mellere spak ful sone ageynAnd seyde leue brothyr OsewoldHo hath no wif he is no coukewoldLine 3152 But I seye not þerfore þat þou art onThere ben ful goode wivis manyonAnd euer a thousent goode a-ȝens on baddeThat knowyst þou wel þyn self / but ȝif þou maddeLine 3156 Why art þou angry with myn tale nowI haue a wif also as wel as þouȜit nolde I not for the oxsyn in myn plowTakyn vp on me more þan I-nowLine 3160 As demyn in myn self þat þou were onI wele be-leue wel þat I ne am nonAn husbonde schal not ben inquysityfOf goddis priuyte nor of hese wyfLine 3164 So he may fyndyn godis foysounn thereOf the remenaunt nedyth not tenquyreWhat schalde I seyn But this mellereHe wolde hese wordys for no man forbereLine 3168 But tolde hese cherlych tale in hese manereMe thynkyth I schal reherse it hereAnd þerfore euery gentyl wygh I preyeffor goddys loue demyth not þat I seyeLine 3172 Of euyl entent but for I mot reherseHere talys al be þey betere or werseOr ellys fallyn sum of myn matereAnd þerfore who so leste it not here
Line 3176
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Line 3176 Turne ouer the lef & ches a noþer talefor he schal fynde I-nowe grete & smaleOf storyal thyng þat touchith gentillesseAn ek Morallite and holynesseLine 3180 Blamyth not me ȝif ȝe chesyn amys [folio 176a] The mellere is a cherl ȝe knowe wel thisSo was the reue & oþere manye moAnd harlotrye þey tolde bothe toLine 3184 Avyseth ȝow put me out of blameAnd ek men schal not makyn ernest of game
here endith the prologe/
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& here begynnyth the tale.
WHilhom þere was dwellinge in OxenfordeA ryche gnoff þat gestis helde to bordeLine 3188 And of his craft a carpenterWith hym þere was dwellynge a pore scolerHadde lernede art but of hese fantasyeWas turned for to lernyn astronomyeLine 3192 And coude a certyn of conclusiounysTo demyn by interrogacyounnysȜif that men axsed hym in certeyn hourysWhan men schulde haue droughte or elle schourysLine 3196 Or ȝif men axsede hym what schulde be-falleOf euery thyng I may not rekene hem alleThis clerk was clepid hende nycholasOf derne loue he coude & of solasLine 3200 And þerto he was sly & ful preueAnd lyk a mayde meke for to seA chambre hadde he in that ostelryeAlone with-outyn ony compaygnyeLine 3204 fful fetously I-dygh with erbis soteAnd he hym self as swete as is the roteOf licorys or ony CetewaleHese almageste & bokys grete & smaleLine 3208 Hese augrym stonys lynge fayre apartHese astellabre longynge for hese artOn scheluys couchede at hese bedys hedHese presse I-couered with a faldynge redLine 3212 And al aboue þere lay a gay sautryeOn whiche he made on nyghtis melodyeSo swetely þat al the chambere rong [folio 176b] And Angelus ad uirginem he songLine 3216 And aftyr þat he song the kyngis notefful oftyn blyssede was hese mery throte
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And þus this swete clerk hese tyme he spenteAftyr hese frendys fyndynge & hese renteLine 3220 This carpenter hadde weddid newe a wyfWhiche þat he louede more þan hese lyfOf eightene ȝer sche was of ageIelous he was & held here narwe in cageLine 3224 ffor sche was wilde & ȝyng & he was oldAnd demede hym self / ben lyk a coukewoldHe knew not catoun for hese wit was rudeThat bad men schulde wedde here symylitudeLine 3228 Men schulde wedde aftyr here estatffor ȝoughte & elde ben oftyn at debatBut sythyn þat he was fallyn in the snareHe muste endure as oþere folk hese careLine 3232 ffayr was þis ȝonge wif & þerwith alAs ony wesele here body gent & smalA seynt sche werede þe seynt al of sylkA barme cloth as whit as ony mylkLine 3236 Vp on here lendis ful of manye a goreWhit was here smok I-brouded al be-foreAnd ek be-hyndyn on here coller abouteOf col blak silk with-inne & ek with-outeLine 3240 The tapes of here white voluperWere of the same sute of here collerHyre filet brod of silk I-set ful hyeAnd sekyrly sche hadde a lycorous eyeLine 3244 fful smale I-pullede were hese browis toAnd þo were bent & blake as is a sloSche was more blysful on to seThan is the newe pere Ionete treLine 3248 And softere than is the wolle of a wedyrAnd by here gerdil heng a purs of ledyrTassellid with sylk & perlit with latoun [folio 177a] In al this world to sekyn vp & dounLine 3252 There is no man so wys that coude thyncheSo gay a popelote or swych a wenche
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fful bryght was the schynynge of here heweThan in þe tour/ the noble forgit neweLine 3256 But of here song it was as loude & ȝerneAs ony swalwe syttynge on a berneAnd þerto sche coude skippe & make gameAs ony kede or kalf folwende hese dameLine 3260 Here mouth was swete as braket or the metheOr hord of appillis leyd in hay or hetheWynsynge sche was as is a ioly coltLong as a mast & vp ryght as a boltLine 3264 A broche she bar vp on here lowe colerAs brod as is the bos of a bokelerHere schois were lasyd on here leggis hyeSche was a prymrole & a piggis nyeLine 3268 ffor ony lord to liggyn in hese beddeOr ek for ony good ȝeman to weddeNow sere & eft sere so be-fel the casThat on a day this hendyn NicholasLine 3272 ffil with þis ȝynge wif rage & pleyeWhil þat here husbonde was at HoseneyeAs clerkys ben ful sotyl & ful queynteAnd priuyly he caughte here bi þe queynteLine 3276 And seyde I-wis but I mowe haue myn willeffor derne loue of the lemman I spilleAnd held here harde be the haunche bonysAnd seyde lemman loue me al at onysLine 3280 Or I wele deyin al so god me saueAnd sche sprong as a colt doth in the traueAnd with here hed sche wrythed faste a-weySche seyde I wel not kysse þe be my feyLine 3284 Whi let be quod sche let be nycholasOr I wele crye out harrow allasDo wey ȝoure hondis for ȝoure curteysy [folio 177b] This nycholas gan mercy for to cryLine 3288 And spak so fayre & proferede hym so fasteThat sche here loue hym grauntede at þe laste
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And swor here oth be seynt Thomays of kentThat he wolde ben at hese comaundementLine 3292 Whan þat sche may here layser wel asspyeMyn husbonde is so ful of IelousyeThat but ȝe waite wel & ben priueI wot ryght wel I am but ded quod scheLine 3296 Ȝe muste ben ful derne as in þis casNay þerof care ȝe not quod NicholasA clerk hadde lethyrly be-set hese whileBut ȝif he coude a carpenter be-gyleLine 3300 And þus they ben acordit & I-swornTo wayte a tyme as I haue told be-fornWhan Nicholas hadde don þis euery delAn thakkede here a-boute the lendis welLine 3304 He kyssith here swete & takyth hese sautryeAnd pleyeth faste & makyth melodyeThanne fel it thus þat to þe parich chercheCrystys owene werkys for to wercheLine 3308 This goode wyf wente on an haly dayHere forehed schon as bryght as ony daySo was it wasschyn whan sche let here werkNow was þere of that cherche a parysch clerkLine 3312 The wheche þat was clepid absolonCrol was hese her & as þe gol it schonAnd strut as a fan large & brodfful streyt & euene lay hese Ioly schodLine 3316 His rode was red hese eyȝyn greye as gosWith poulys wyndow I-korwyn on hese schoisIn hosyn rede he wente fetuslyI-clad he was ful smal & properlyLine 3320 Al in a kyrtel of a lyght vachetfful fayre & thikke . ben the poyntis setAnd þerupon he hadde a gay surplys [folio 178a] As whit as is the blome on the rysLine 3324 A merye chyld he was so god me saueWel coude he letyn blod & wel schaue
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And make a chartere of lond & aquitaunceIn twenty manerys coude he trippe & daunceLine 3328 Aftyr the skole of Oxenforthe þoAnd with hese leggis castyn to & froAnd pleyen songys on a smal rubybeTherto he song sumtyme a loud quynybleLine 3332 And as wel coude he pleye on a geterneIn al the toun nas brew hous ne tauerneThat he ne visityd with hese solasThere ony galiard tapstere wasLine 3336 But soth to seyn he was sumdel coymousOf fartynge & of speche daungerousThis absalon that Ioly was & gayGoth with a senser on the halydayLine 3340 Sensynge þe wyuys of the parych fasteAnd manye a louely lok on hem he casteAnd namely on þis Carpenterys wyfTo loke on here he thouȝte a merye lyfLine 3344 Sche was so propere & swete & lycurousI dar wel seyn ȝif sche hadde ben a mousAnd he a cat he wolde here hente a-nonThis parych clerk þis Ioly AbsalonLine 3348 Hath in hese herte swich a louelongyngeThat of no wif tok he non offeryngeffor curteysye he seyde he wolde nonThe mone whan it was nyght ful bryghte it schonLine 3352 And absalon hadde hese geterne takeffor paramourys he thoughte for to wakeAnd forth he goth Iolyf & amerousTyl he come to þe carpenterys housLine 3356 A lytil aftyr þe cokkys hadde croweAnd dressede hym vp be a schot wyndoweThat was vp on the carpenterys wal [folio 178b] He syngyth in hese wois gentil & smalLine 3360 Now dere lady ȝif thyn wille beI preye ȝow that ȝe wele rewe on me
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fful wel acordaunt to hese geternyngeThis carpentire a-wok & herde hym syngeLine 3364 And spak vn to hese wyf & seyde a-nonWhat alysoun heryst not þou absalonThat schauntyth þus vndyr oure bouris walAnd sche answerde here husbonde þerwithalLine 3368 Ȝis god wot Ihun I here it euerydelThis passeth forth what wele ȝe bet þan welffrom day to day this Ioly AbsolonSo wowith here þat hym is wo begonLine 3372 He wakyth al the nyght & al the dayHe kempte hese lokys brode & made hym gayHe wowith here be menys & procageAnd swor he wolde ben here owene pageLine 3376 He syngyth brokkynge as a nyghtyngaleHe sente here pyment mede & spicede aleAnd waferys pipinge hote out of the gledeffor sche was of tounne he proferede medeLine 3380 ffor sum folk wele be wonne for richesseAnd some for strokys & some for gentillesseSumtyme to schewe hese lyghtnesse & maystrieHe pleyeth heroudis vp on a skafald hyeLine 3384 But what auaylyth hym in þis casSche louyth so þis hende NicolasThat Absalon may blowe the bukkys hornHe ne hadde for al hese labour but a skornLine 3388 And sche makyth Absalon here apeAnd al hese ernest is turnyd tyl a Iapefful soth is this prouerbe it is no lyeMen seyth ryght þus the nyght slyeLine 3392 Makyth the chartere lef to be loothffor thow that absalon be wod or wrothBe cause þat he fer was from here syght [folio 179a] This nyght Nicholas stod in hese lyghtLine 3396 Now bere the wel þou hende nycholasffor absalon may wepe & synge allas
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And so befel it on a satyrdayThis carpenter was gon to OsenayLine 3400 And hende nycholas & AlysounAcordede ben to this conclusiounThat Nicholas schal schapyn hym a wileThis sely Ielous husbonde to begyleLine 3404 And ȝif so be this game wente aryghtSche schulde slepe in hese armys al nyghtffor this was here desyr & hese alsoAnd rygh a-non with-outyn wordys moLine 3408 This nicholas no lengere wolde taryeBut doth ful softe vnto hese chambere caryeBothe mete & drynk for a day or tweyeAnd to here husbonde bad here for to seyeLine 3412 Ȝif that he axede aftyr NicholasSche schulde seye he nyste neuer wher he wasOf al þe day sche say hym not with yeSche trowyth þat he was in maladyLine 3416 ffor no cry here mayde coude calleHe nulde answere for no thyng that myghte falleThis passeth forth al þat satyrdayThat Nicholas stille in hese chambere layLine 3420 And et & slep & dede what hym lysteThil soneday þat the sunne goth to resteThis sely carpenter hath so gret merueyleOf Nicholas or what thyng myghte hym eyleLine 3424 And seyde I am adred be seynt thomaysIt stondyth not a-rygh with nycholasGod schylde þat he deyede sodeynlyThis world is now ful tekyl sekyrlyLine 3428 I saw to day a cors boryn to schercheThat now on moneday last I saugh hym wercheGo vp quod he vn to hese knaue a-non [folio 179b] Clepe at hese dore or knokke with a stonLine 3432 Loke how it is & telle me boldelyThis knaue goth hym vp ful sturdyly
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And at the chambere dore whil that he stodHe cryede & knokkede as þey he were wodLine 3436 What how what do ȝe Maystyr NicholayHow may ȝe slepen al the longe dayBut al for nought he herde not a wordAn hole he fond ful lowe vp on a bordLine 3440 There as the cat was wont in for to crepeAnd at the hole he lokede in ful depeAnd at the laste he hadde of hym a syghThis Nicholas sat alwey gapynge vp ryghLine 3444 As he hadde kykyd on the newe moneAdoun he goth & tolde hese maystyr soneIn what aray he saw this ilke manThis carpenter to blyssyn hym be-ganLine 3448 And seyde helpe vs seynte frydiswydeA man wot lytyl what hym schal betydeThis man is falle with hese astronemyeIn sum wodnesse or in sum agonyeLine 3452 I thoughte ay wel how þat it schulde beMen schulde not knowe of goddis priuyteȜe blyssede be alwey a lewede manThat nought but only his bileue canLine 3456 So ferde a nothyr clerk with astronomyeHe walkede in the feldis for to prieVp on the sterrys what þere schulde befalleTil he was in a marbil pyt I-falleLine 3460 He say not that but ȝit be seynt ThomaysMe rewyth sore of hende NycholasHe schal be ratyd of hese stodyingȜif that I may be Ihesu heuene kyngLine 3464 Get me a staf that I may vndyr sporeWhil that þou robyn hevyst vp the doreHe schal out of hese stodyinge as I gesse [folio 180a] And to the chambere dore he gann hym dresseLine 3468 Hese knave was a strong carl for the nonysAnd by the haspe he haf it of at onys
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And in the flor the dore lay a-nonThis nycholas sat ay as stylle as stonLine 3472 And euere gapede vpward in to the eyreThis Carpenter wende he hadde 1ben in dispeyre1And hente hym by the schulderis myghtylyAnd shok hym harde & cryede dispitouslyLine 3476 What Nicholas what how loke adounAwake & thynk on crystis pasciounI crouche the from elvys & from whitysTherwith the nyght spel a-non ryghtisLine 3480 On foure haluys of the hous abouteAnd on the throsschewald of the dore with-outeIhesu cryst & seynt benedytBlysse this hous from euery wede wyghLine 3484 ffor the nyghtis verie / the white pater nosterWhere wonyst þou now seynte peterys systyrAnd at the laste þis hende NicholasGan for to syke sore & seyde allasLine 3488 Schal al the world ben lost eftsonys nowThis carpente answerde what seynst þouWhat thynk on god as men don whan þey swinkeThis Nicholas answerde fet me drynkeLine 3492 And aftyr wele I speke in priuyteOf serteyn thyng that touchith me & theI wele telle it non oþer man certeynThis carpentyr goth doun & comyth ageynLine 3496 And broughte of myghti ale a large quartAnd whanne that eche of hem hade dronke his partThis Nicholas hese dore faste schetteAnd doun the Carpenter by hym he setteLine 3500 And seyde Ihun myn ost lef & dereThow schat vp on thi trouthe swere me hereThat to no wyght þou schat þis conseyl wreye [folio 180b] ffor it is crystis conseyl that I seyeLine 3504 And ȝif þou telle it man þou art forloreffor this veniaunce þou schat han þerfore
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That ȝif þou wreye me þou schat ben wodNay cryst forbede for hese holy bloodLine 3508 Quod þo this selye man I nam no labbeNe þow I seye I ne am not lef to gabbeSey what þou wylt I schal it neuere telleTo chyld ne wyf by hym that harwede helleLine 3512 Now Iohn quod Nicholas I nyl not lyeI haue I-foundyn in myn astronemyeAs I haue lokyd in the mone bryghtThat now a moneday nest at quarter nyghtLine 3516 Schal falle a reyn & that so wilde & wodThat half so gret was neuere Noyes flodThis world he seyde in more thn an oureSchal be drenk so hydous is the schourLine 3520 Thus schal mankynde drenche & lese here lyfThis carpenter answerede allas myn wifAnd schal sche drenche allas myn alysounffor sorwe of this he fel almost a dounLine 3524 And seyde is there no remedye in this casWhi ȝis for gode / quod hende NicholaȜif þou wilt werkyn aftyr lore & redThow mayst not werkyn aftyr þyn owene redLine 3528 ffor thus seyth salamon that was for treweWerk al be conseyl & þou schalt not rewAnd ȝif þou werke wylt be good conseylI vndyrtake withoute mast or saylLine 3532 Ȝit schal I schaue here & the & meHast þou not herd how sauyd was noeWhan þat oure lord hadde warnede hym befornTha al the word with wayr schulde be lornLine 3536 Ȝis quod this carpenter ful ȝore agoHast þou not herd quod Nicholas alsoThe sorwe of Noe with hese felauschepe [folio 181a] E[r] þan he myghte gete hese wyf to schepeLine 3540 Hym hadde ben lefere I dar wel vndyrtakeAl thilke tyme than hese wederis blake
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That sche hadde had a schep here self a loneAnd þerto wost þou what is best to doneLine 3544 This askyth haste & of an hasty thyngMen may not preche ne make tayingAnon go gete vs faste in to þys inA knedyng trow or ellys a kemelyngLine 3548 ffor eche of vs but loke that þey be largeI wheche we mowe sweme as in a bargeAnd han þerinne vitayle suffyciauntBut for a day fy on the remenauntLine 3552 The watyr schal aslake & gon awayAboute pryme on the nexte dayBut robyn may not wetyn of this thyn knaveNe ek thym maydyn gille I may not sveLine 3556 Axe not whi for thow þou axe meI wele not telle godis priuyteSuffyseth þe but ȝif thy wit maddeTo han as gret a grace as Noe haddeLine 3560 Thyn wif schal I wel saue out of douteGo now thyn wey / & sped the here abouteBut whan þou hast for here & þe & meI-getyn vs these knedyng tubbys threLine 3564 Thanne schat þou hangyn hem in the rof ful hyeThat no man of oure puruyaunce aspyeAnd whan þou hast þus don as I haue seydAnd hast oure vitayle fayre in hem leydLine 3568 And ek an ax to smyte the corde a twoWhan that the watyr comyth þat we may gooAnd breke an hole an hey vp on the gableInto the gardynward ouer the stabeleLine 3572 That we mowe frely passe forth ore wayWhan that the grete schour is gon a-wayThan schat þou sweme as merye I vndyrtake [folio 181b] As doth the white doke aftyr the drakeLine 3576 Thanne wele I clepe how alisoun how IonBe merye for the flod wele passe a-non
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And þou wit seyn heyl maystyr NicholayGood morwe for I se þe wel for it is dayLine 3580 And thanne schul we be lordys al oure lyueOf al the world as Noe was & hese wyueBut of a thyng I warne the ful ryghtBe wel auysed on þat ilke nyghtLine 3584 That we ben enteryd in to schepys bordThat non of vs ne speke not a wordNe clepe ne crye but ben in hese preyereffor it is goddys owene heste dereLine 3588 Thyn wyf & þou motyn hangyn fer a twenffor that be-twixe ȝow schal ben no synNo more in lokynge þan þere schal in dedeThis ordenaunce is seyd go god þe spedeLine 3592 To morwe at nyght whan we ben alle aslepeIn to oure knedynge tulbis we schul crepeAnd sittynge þere abydynge goddys graceGo now þyn way I ne haue no lengere spaceLine 3596 To make of thys no lengere sarmounnyngMen seyth þus / synd þe wyse & sey no þyngThow art so wys it nedyth þe not techeGo saue oure lyf & that I þe besecheLine 3600 This sely carpenter goth forth hese wayfful ofte he seyde allas & welle awayAnd to hese wif he tolde hese priuyteAnd sche was war & knew it bet þan heLine 3604 What al this queynte cast was for to sayBut neuertheles sche ferde as sche wolde dayAnd seyde allas go forth þyn waye a-nonHelp vs to skape / er we ben dede eche onLine 3608 I am thyn verray trewe weddede wyfGo dere spouse & help to saue oure lyfLo which a gret thyng is affeccyoun [folio 182a] Men may deye thour ImagynacyounLine 3612 So depe may impressioun be takeThis sely Carpenter begynnyth to quake
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Hym thynkyth verayly þat he may seNoyous flod come walwynge as the seLine 3616 To drenchyn alysoun hese hony dereHe wepyth waylyth makyth sory chereHe sykyth with manye a sory swoughAnd goth & getyth hym a knedyng troughLine 3620 And aftyr a tubbe & a kemelynAnd pryuyly he sente hem to hese inAnd hyng hem in the rof in priuyteWith his owene hand he made ladderys threLine 3624 To klymbyn bi þe roungis & the stalkysOn to the tubbe hangynge in the balkisAnd hem vitaylede bothe trow & tubbeWith bred & chese with good alle in a tubbeLine 3628 Suffysynge rygh I-now as for a dayBut er he hadde mad al thys arayHe sente hese knaue & ek hese wenche alsoVp on hese nedis to lundene for to goLine 3632 And on the moneday whan it drow to nyghtHe schette hese dore with-outyn candele lyghAnd dressede alle thynge as it schulde beAnd schortly vp they clumbe alle threLine 3636 They setyn stylle wel a furlong weyNow pater noster clum seyde NicholayAnd clum quod Ion & clum quod AlysounThis carpentyr seyde hese deuocyounLine 3640 And stylle he sit & biddyth hese preyereAwaytynge on the reyn ȝif he it hereThe dede slep for verray besynesseffel on this Carpentyr rygh as I gesseLine 3644 A-boute corfeu tyme or lyte moreffor trauayl of hese gost he groynede soreAnd efft he routyth for hese hed mys lay [folio 182b] Doun on the laddere stalkyth NicholayLine 3648 And Alysoun ful softe a doun sche speddeWith-outyn wordys mo þey gon to bedde
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There as the carpentyr is wone to lyeThere was the reuel & the melodyeLine 3652 And þus lyth alysoun & NycholasIn besynesse of merthe & of solasTyl þat the belle of laudis gan to ryngeAnd frerys in the schaunsel gunne syngeLine 3656 Thys parich clerk this Amerouse AbsalonThat is for loue alwey so wo begonVp on the moneday was at oseneyeWith cumpanye hym to disporte & pleyeLine 3660 And axede vp on cas a cloystererfful priuyly aftyr Ion the carpenterAnd he drow hym a part out of the chercheAnd seyde I saw here not wercheLine 3664 Syn satyrday I trowe that he be wentffor tymbyr þere oure abbot hath hym sentffor he is wont for tymbyr for to goAnd dwellyn at the graunge a day or tooLine 3668 Or ell he is at hese hous serteynWhere that he be I can not sothly seynThis absalon ful Ioly was & lyghtAnd thoughte now is tyme to wakyn al nyghLine 3672 ffor sekyrly I say hym not steryngeA-boutyn hese dore tyl day be-gan to spryngeSo mot I the I schal at cokkys crowefful priuyly knocke at hese wyndoweLine 3676 That stant ful lowe vndyr hese bourys walTo alysoun now wele I tellyn alMyn loue longynge for ȝit I schal not mysseThat at the leste weye I schal here kysseLine 3680 Sum maner confort schal I haue parfayMyn mouth hath ȝechid al þis longe dayThat is a sygne of kyssynge at the leste [folio 183a] Al nyght me mette I was at a festeLine 3684 Therfore I wele go slepe an oure or tweyeAnd al the nyght þanne wele I wake & pleye
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Whan that the ferste Cok hath crowe a-nonVp rist this Ioly louere this absalonLine 3688 And hym arayeþ gay at poyn deuyseBut fyrst he schewith greyn & licorysTo smelle sote er he hadde kemb his herVndyr hese tunge a trewe loue he berLine 3692 ffor therby wende he to be graciousHe romyth to the carpenterys housAnd stille he stant vndyr the schot wyndoweVn to hese brest it raught it was so loweLine 3696 And softe he coude with a semy sounWhat do ȝe hony komb ȝe swete alysounMyn fayre bryd myn swete synamomeAwakyth leman myn & spekyth to meLine 3700 Wol lytil thynkyn ȝe vp on myn woThat for ȝoure loue I swete þere I goNo wondyr ist þow I swalte & sweteI morne as doth a lamb aftyr þe teteLine 3704 I-wis leman I haue so meche loue longyngThat lik a turtele I trowe is myn mornyngI may not ete no more þan a maydeGo from the wyndowe Iakke fol sche saydeLine 3708 As helpe me god it wele not be cumpameI loue a-nothir & ell I were to blameWel bet þan þe be Ihesu AbsalonGo forth þyn way or I wele caste a stonLine 3712 And let me slepe a twenty dele weyAllas quod absalon & welleaweyThat trewe loue was euere so euele be-setThan kys me syn it may be no betLine 3716 ffor Ihesus loue & for the loue of meWilt þou þanne go thyn wey therewith quod scheȜa certis lemman quod þis absalon [folio 183b] Thanne mak þe redi quod sche I come anonLine 3720 . . . . .. . . . .This Absalon sette hym doun on hese kneis
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And seyde I am a lord at alle degreisLine 3724 ffor aftyr this I hope þere comyth moreleman thyn grace & swete bryd þyn oreThe wyndowe sche ondoth & that in hasteHaue don quod sche come of & sped þe fasteLine 3728 Lest that thyn neyhebouris þe aspyeThis absalon gan wype his mouth ful dryeDerk was the nyght as pouche or as the coleAnd out at the wyndowe sche putte here ars holeLine 3732 And absalon fel neyþer bet noþer wersBut with hese mouth he kyste here nakede arsfful sauourly er he were war of thisA bakke he styrte & thouthe it was a mysLine 3736 ffor wel he wiste a woman hadde no berdHe felte a thyng al row & long I-herydAnd seyde fy allas what haue I doTe he quod sche & claptte here wyndowe toLine 3740 And absalon goth forth a sory pasA berd a berd quod hynde NicholasBi goddis corpus this goth fayre & welThis sely absalon herde euerydelLine 3744 And on his lippe he gan for angyr biteAnd to hym self he seyde I schal þe quyteWho rubbyth now ho frotyth now hese lippisWith dust with sond with straw with cloth with schippisBut absolon þat seyth ful ofte allasMyn soule be-take I onto saternasBut me were betere þan al this toun quod heOf þis dispyt a-wrokyn for to beLine 3752 Allas quod he allas why ne hadde I bleyntHese hote loue was cold & al I-queyntffor from that tyme that he hadde kyst his ersOf paramour he sette not a kresLine 3756 ffor he was heled of hese maladye [folio 184a] fful ofte paramouris he gan defyeAnd wepte as doth a chyld þat is I-beteA softe pas he wente ouer the strete
Line 3760
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Line 3760 Vn tyl a smyth men clepedyn daun IeruysThat in hese forge he smethede plow harneysHe scharpith schar & cultyr besylyThis absalon knokyth al besylyLine 3764 And seyde ondo Geruays & þat a-nonWhat ho art þou it am I AbsalonWhat Absalon what crystis swete treWhi ryse ȝe so rathe ey benedicyteLine 3768 What eylyth ȝow sum gay gerl god it wotHath brouȝt ȝow þus vp on the merytotThis Absolon ne roughte not a beneBe seynte note ȝe wete wel what I meneLine 3772 Of al this pley no word he ne spakHe hadde more tow on hese rakWhan geruays knew & seyde fren so dereThat hote cultyr in the chemene hereLine 3776 As lene it me I haue þerwith to doneI wele bryngyn it þe a-geyn ful soneGerueys answerede sertis were it goldOr in a poke nobellys al ontoldLine 3780 Thu schuldyst haue as I am trewe smythEy cristis foo what wele ȝe do þerwithTher-of quod Alsalon be as be mayI schal wel telle it þe to morwe dayLine 3784 And caughte þe cultyr by the colde stelefful softe out at þe dore hym gan steleAnd wente vnto þe carpenterys walHe knokyth fyrst & kallyth þerwithalLine 3788 Vp on þe wyndowe rygh as he dede erThis alysoun answerde ho is therThat knokyst so I warent the a thefWhy nay quod he god wot myn swete lefLine 3792 I am thyn absalon myn derelyng [folio 184b] Of gold quod he I haue þe brought a ryngMyn modyr ȝaf it me so god me sauefful fyn it is & þerto wel I-graue
Line 3796
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Line 3796 This wele I ȝeuen þe ȝif I þe kysseThis Nicholas was resyn for to pysseAnd thoute he wolde a-mendyn al þe IapeHe schulde kysse hese ars er þan he spakeLine 3800 And vp the wyndowe dede he hastylyAnd out hese ars he puttyth pryuylyOuer the buttok / to þe haunche bonAnd þerwith spak this absolonLine 3804 Spek swete brid I not where þou artThis Nicholas a-non let flye a fartAs gret as it hadde ben a thondyr dentAnd with þe strok he was almost I-blentLine 3808 And he was redy with hese yryn hotAnd Nicholas a mydde þe ars he smotOff goth the skyn / an hande brede abouteThe hote cultyr / brende so hese touteLine 3812 And for the smert he wende for to deyeAs he were wod / for wo he gan to cryeHelp watyr watyr / help for godys herteThis carpenter / out of hese slombir sterteLine 3816 And herde on cryen / watyr as he were wodAnd thoughte allas now comyth Newel flodHe sit hym vp with/oute wordys moAnd with hese ax / he smette the corde on toLine 3820 A doun he fel. he fond no thyng to selleNeyþer bred ne ale / Ne no thyng elleVp on the flor / & þere aswounne he layVp styrte here Alysoun & nycholayLine 3824 And cryedyn out / harrow in the streteThe neygheborys boþe smale & greteIn ronne for to gauryn on þis man.That ȝit a swounne he lay boþe pale & wan.ffor with that fal he brusten hath his arme [Sloane MS. 1685 folio 43a] But stonden he must vnto his owne harmeffor whanne he spak he was anoon bore dounWith hynde Nicholas and Alisoun
Line 3832
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Line 3832 Thei tolde euery man that he was woodHe was a-gast so of the Nowels floodThurgh fantasie that of his vanyteHe hadde bought hym kneding tubbes threeLine 3836 And hadde hem hanged in the roof aboueAnd that he praiede hem for goddis loueTo sitten in the roof par companyeThe folk gan laughwen at his fantasieLine 3840 And to the roof thei kiken and thei gapeAnd turned al his harm vnto a Iapeffor what this carpentere answerdeIt was for nought no man his resoun herdeLine 3844 With othes gret he was sworne adounThat he was holden wood in al that tounffor euery clerk anoon right helde with otherThei seide the man is wood my leue brotherLine 3848 And euery wight gan laughwen at his stryfThus swyued was the carpenters wyfffor al his kepyng and his Ialousie [Sloane MS. 1685 folio 43b] And Absolon hath kist hir nethir yeLine 3852 And Nicholas is scaldid in his touteThis tale is don and god saue al the route
Explicit fabula molendinarij.
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¶ Heere bigynneth the prolog of the Reues Tale.
WHanne folk han laughwen at this nyce casOf Absolon and hynde NicholasLine 3856 Dyuerse folk dyuersely they seideBut for the more part thei lough and pleydeNe at this tale I saw no man him greueBut it were oonly Oswold the ReueLine 3860 By cause he was of Carpenteres craftA litel ire is in his herte laftHe gan to grucche and blamede it a liteSo the yk quod he ful wel kouthe I ȝou quiteLine 3864 With blering of a proude mellers yeIf that me list to speke of rybaudyeBut yk am old me list not pleye for ageGras tyme is don my foddere is forageLine 3868 This white top writeth myn olde ȝeresMyn herte is al so mouled as myn heresBut if I fare as doth an openersThat ilk fruyt is euere lenger the wersLine 3872 Til it be roten in mullok or in streeWe olde men I drede so fare weTil we be roten can we nought be ripeWe hoppen alweye while the world wil pipeLine 3876 ffor in oure wille ther stiketh euere a naileTo haue an hoor her / and a grene taileAs hath a leek . for though oure might be gonOure wille desireth folye euere in oonLine 3880 ffor whanne we may nought don than wil we spekeȜit in oure asshen old is fire rekeffoure gledes haue we whiche I shal diuiseAuauntyng . liyng . Angre . CoueitiseLine 3884 These foure sparkles longith vnto elde [Sloane MS. 1685 folio 40a] Oure olde lymes mowe wel be vnwelde
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But wille ne shal not failen that is sothAnd ȝit haue I alwey a coltes tothLine 3888 As many a ȝere as it is passed henneSith that my tappe of lyf bigan to renneffor sekyrly whan I was boryn anon [folio 186a] Deth drow þe tappe of lyf & let it gonLine 3892 And euere sithe hath so þe tappe IronneTil þat almost al emty is þe tunneThe strem of lyf now droppith on þe chymbeThe sely tunge may wel rynge & chymbeLine 3896 Of wrechedenesse þat passede is ful ȝoreWith olde folk saue dotage is no moreWhan þat þe ost hadde herd this sarmounnyngHe gan to spek as lordly as a kyngLine 3900 He seyde what amountyth al þis witWhat schul we speke al day of holy writThe deuyl made a reue for to precheAnd of a soutere schipman or a lecheLine 3904 Sey forth thyn tale & tarye not þe tymeLo Depeforthe & it is half weye prymeLo Grenewych þere manye a schrewe is inneIt were hey tyme þyn tale to begynneLine 3908 Now serys quod this Osowold the reueI preye ȝow alle þat ȝe nat ȝow greueThow I answere & sumdel sette hese howeffor lefful it is þat forse / forse of schoweLine 3912 This dronkene mellere hath I-told vs hereHow þat begiled was a carpentereParauenture in scorn for I am onAnd by ȝoure leue I schal ȝow quyte a-nonLine 3916 Ryght in hese cherlis termys wele I spekeI preye to god his nelke mote brekeHe can wel in myn eye sen a stalkeBut in hese owene he can not sen a balke
Line 3920
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Here begynnyth the Reue his tale
AT Trompyngtoun not fer fram cantabregge [folio 186b] Þere goth a brok & ouer þat a breggeVp on þe which brok þer stant a melleAnd this is veray soth þat I ȝou telleLine 3924 A mellere was þer dwellynge many a dayAs ony pekok he was proud & gayPype he coude and fyssche and netys beeteAnd turne cuppis & wel wrestele & scheteLine 3928 Ay by hese belte he bar a long panadeAnd of a swerd ful trenchaunt was the bladeA Ioly poppere bar he in hese poucheTher was no man for peryl durste hym toucheLine 3932 A sheffeld Thwytel bar he in hese hoseRound was hese face & kammede was hese noseAs pelyd as an ape was hese skolleHe was a markat betere at þe fulleLine 3936 There durste no wygh hand vp on hym leyeThat he ne swor þat he schulde anon a-beyeA thef he was for sothe of corn & meleAnd þat a sly & vsaunt for to steleLine 3940 And his name was hotyn deynous symkynA wif he hadde comyn of noble kynThe persoun of the toun here fadyr wasWith here he ȝaf ful many a peny of brasLine 3944 ffor þat Symkyn schulde in hese blod alyeSche was fostered in a nunneryeffor Symkyn wolde no wyf as he seydeBut sche were wel Inoryschid & a maydeLine 3948 To sauyn hese estat of ȝemanryeAnd sche was proud & pert as is a pyeA ful fayr syghte was it on hem toOn holye dayis be-forn here wolde he ge
Line 3952
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Line 3952 With hese typet boundyn a-boutyn hese hedAnd sche come aftyr in a gite of redAnd symkyn hadde hosyn of the sameTher durste no wygh clepyn here but dameLine 3956 Was non hardy þat wente be þe weye [folio 187a] That durste with here rage or onys pleyeBut ȝif he wolde be slayn of symkynWith panade or knyf or boytekynLine 3960 ffor Ielous folk ben perelous euere moAlgate þey wolde here wyuys wenden soAnd ek for sche was sumwhat smotyrlychSche was as dygne as watyr In a dichLine 3964 And ful of hokyr & of bismeryeSche thoughte þat a lady schulde here spareyeWhat for here kynrede & here NorteryeThat sche hadde lerned in þe nunneryeLine 3968 A doughtyr hadde þey be-twixe hem tooOf twenty ȝer with-outyn ony mooSauynge a chyld þat was of sene ȝer ageIn cradil it lay & was a propere pageLine 3972 This wenche thikke & wel I-growyn wasWith cammuse nose & eyen greye as glasButtokkys brode & brestis rounde & hyeBut rygh fayr was here her I wele not lyeLine 3976 This persoun of the toun for sche was so fayrIn purpos was to makyn here hese eyrBut of hese catel & hese mesewageAnd straunge he made it of here marygeLine 3980 Hese purpos was for to be-stowe here hyeIn to sum worthi blod of aunceteryeffor holicherche good / mote ben dispenditOn holy cherchis blod / þat is dessenditLine 3984 Þerfore he wolde / hese holy blod honoureThow þat he holy cherche / schulde devoureGret sokene hath / this mellere out of douteWith whete & malt / of al the lond a-boute
Line 3988
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Line 3988 And namely þere was a gret collegeMen clepyth þe soler halle at cantebregeThere was heyre whete & here malt I-groundeAnd on a day it happede in a stoundeLine 3992 Sek lay þe mauncypele on a malady [folio 187b] Men wendyn wisely þat he schulde deyffor which this mellere stal bothe mele & cornAn hundere tyme more þan be-fornLine 3996 ffor þere be-forn he stal but curteyslyBut now he was a thef outragyouslyffor whych þe wardeyn schod & made fareBut therof sette this mellere not a tareLine 4000 He crakyth bost & swor it was not soÞanne were there pore clerkys tooThat dwelledyn in þis halle of whiche I seydeTestyf þey were & lusty for to pleyeLine 4004 And only for here myrthe & reueryeVp on þe wardeyn besily þey cryeTo ȝeue hem leue but a lite stoundeTo gon to melle / to sen here corn I-groundeLine 4008 And hardely þey durste leyn here nekkeThe mellere schulde not stele hem half a pekkeOf corn be sleyghte ne be forse hem reueAnd at þe laste þe wardeyn ȝaf hem leueLine 4012 Ion highte þat on & aleyn hyghte þat oþerOf on toun were þey born þat hyghte strotherffer in the north I can not tellyn whereThis aleyn makyth redy al hese gereLine 4016 And on an hors he caste þe sak a-nonForth goth aleyn þe clerk & also IonWith good swerd & bokeler bi here sydeIon knew þe weye hem nedyth no gydeLine 4020 And at þe melle þe sak a-doun he leythAleyn spak fyrst alheyl symound in feythHow farys þyn fayre douȝtyr & thyn wifAleyn wolcome quod symkyn be myn lyf
Line 4024
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Line 4024 And Iohn also how now what do ȝe hereSymond quod Iohn bi god nede has no pereHe muste serue hym self þat has no sweynOr ellis he is a fol as clerkis seynLine 4028 Oure maunciple I hope he wele be ded [folio 188a] Swa werkis ay / þe wangis in hese hedAnd þerfore is I come & ek aleynTo grynde oure corn & carie it hom a-geynLine 4032 I prey ȝow spede vs hene as ȝe mayIt schal be don quod symkyn be myn fayWhat wel ȝe don whil þat it is in handeBy god ryȝt by þe hopyr wele I standeLine 4036 Quod Ion & sen how þe corn goth inȜit saw I neuere be myn fadir kynHow þat þe hopir wagis to & fraAleyn answerede & seyde wist þou swaLine 4040 Thanne wele I be beneth bi myn crounAnd sen how þat þe mele fallyth donIn to þe trow þat schal ben myn dysportffor Iohn yfayth I may ben of ȝore sortLine 4044 I is as ille a mellere as is ȝeThis mellere smylede of here nyseteeAnd thouȝte al þis it nys don but for a wyleThey wene þat no man may hem be-gyleLine 4048 But be myn thryft / ȝit wele I blere here yeffor al þe sleyȝte in here philosofyeThe more queynte crokede þat þey makeThe more wele I stele whan I takeLine 4052 In stede of flour / ȝit wele I ȝeue hēm brenThe gretteste clerkys ben not wyseste menAs whilom to þe wolf þus spak þe mareOf al here art I counte not a tareLine 4056 Out at þe dore he goth ful pryuylyWhan þat he saw hese tyme softelyHe lokyth vp & doun tyl he haue foundeThe clerkys hors þere as it stod I-bounde
Line 4060
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Line 4060 Be-hynde þe melle vndyr a leueselAnd to þe hors he goth fayre & welHe strepith of þe brydil ryght a-nonAnd whan þe hors was los he gynnyth gonLine 4064 Toward þe fen þere wilde marys renne [folio 188b] And forth with wehe þour theke & thorw thenneThis mellere gooth a-ȝen / no word he seydeBut doth his note & with þe clerkis pleyedeLine 4068 Til þat here corn was wel & fayre groundeAnd whan þe mele is salkyd & I-boundeThis Iohn goth out & fynt his hors awayAnd gan to crye harow & weyleawayLine 4072 Oure hors is lorn aleyn for godys bonysStep on thyn foot Aleyn come of atonysAllas oure wardeyn has hese palfrey lornThis aleyn for-gat bothe mele & cornLine 4076 Al was out of hese mynde hese hosebondryeWhat whedir is he gon he gan to cryeThe wyf cam lepynge inward with a renSche seyde alas ȝoure hors goth to þe fenLine 4080 Wyth wylde marys as faste as sche may goVn-thank come on hese hand þat bond hym soAnd he þat betere schulde a knyt þe reyneAllas quod aleyn for crystis peyneLine 4084 Ley doun þyn swerd / & I wele myn al swaI is ful wyȝt god woot as is a raaBy goddis herte / he schal nat skape vs baþeWhi ne haddist þou pit þe capyl in þe latheLine 4088 Ille hayl aleyn be god þou is a fonneThese sely clerkis han ful faste I-ronneToward þe fen / bothe aleyn & ek IohnAnd whan þe mellere saw þat þey were gonLine 4092 He half a buschel of here flour hath takeAnd bad hese wif gon knede it in a kakeHe seyde I trowe þe clerkys were a-ferydȜit can a mellere make a clerkys berd
Line 4096
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Line 4096 ffor al here art now lat hem gon here woyeLo where he goth þat lat þe childeryn pleyeThey gete hym not so lyȝtely / be myn crounThese sely clerkys rennen vp & dounLine 4100 Wyth kep kep / stand stand stand Iossa ware þe rere [folio 189a] Ga whystele thow & I schal kepe hymm hereBut schortly til þat it was veray nyghtThey coude not Thow they don al here myȝtLine 4104 Here capil cache he ran al wey so fasteTyl in a dych þey caughte hym at þe lasteWery & wet as beste is in þe reynComyth sely ion & with hym comyth aleynLine 4108 Allas quod Iohn þe day þat I was bornNow are we dreuyn tyl hethng & to scornOure corn is stole men wele vs folys calleBoþe þe wardayn & oure felas alleLine 4112 And namely þe mellere weyleaweyThus pleynyth Iohn as he goth be þe weyToward þe melle / & bayard in hese hondThe mellere sittynge by þe fyr he fondLine 4116 ffor it was nyȝt & ferþere myȝte þey noughtBut for þe loue of god þey hym be-soughtOf herberwe & of ese for here penyThe mellere seyde a-geyn ȝif þere be enyLine 4120 Swich as it is ȝit schal ȝe haue ȝoure partMyn hous is streyt but ȝe han lernede artȜe cunne with argumentis make a placeA myle brod of twenty fote of spaceLine 4124 Let se now ȝif þis space may suffyseOr make it roum with speche as is ȝoure gyseNow symond seyde Iohn be seynt CutbertAy art þou merye & þis is fayre answerydLine 4128 I haue herd seyd men schal tan of too thyngisSwich as he fynd or take swich as he bryngisBut specially I preye þe hoot & deereGete vs sum mete & drynk & make vs chere
Line 4132
descriptionPage 119
Line 4132 And we wele paye trewely at þe folleWith emty hand men may none haukys tolleLo here oure syluyr / redy for to spendeThis mellere in to þe tounne hese doughtyr sendeLine 4136 ffor ale & bred & rostede hem a goos [folio 189b] And bond here hors it schulde not gon loosAnd in hese owene chaumbir made a bedWith schetis & with chalounnys fayre I-spredLine 4140 Not from his owene bed ten fote or twelveHese douȝtyr hadde a bed al by here selueRygh in þe same schaumbyr by & byIt myȝte ben no bet & cause whyLine 4144 There was non roumere herberw in þe plaseThe soupe & þey speke hem to solaseAnd dronkyn ay strong ale at þe besteAboute medenyȝt wente þey to resteLine 4148 Wel hath this mellere vernychid hese hedfful pale he was for-drunke & not redHe ȝyksneth & spekyth þourw þe noseAs he were on þe quakke or on þe poseLine 4152 To bedde he goþ & with hym goth his wifAs ony iay sche lyȝt was & iolyfSo was here ioly whistele wel I-wetThe cradil at here beddys feet is setLine 4156 To rokke & to ȝeue þe child to soukeAnd whan þat dronkyn al was in þe croukeTo bedde wente þe douȝtyr ryȝt a-nonTo bedde goth aleyn & ek IohnLine 4160 Ther nas no mor hem neded no dwaleThis mellere hath so wysely bibbit alleThat as an hors he snortyth in hese slepNe of hese tayl ne takyth he no kepLine 4164 Hese wif bar hym a burdoun a ful strongMen myȝtyn here hyre route too furlongThe wenche routyth ek par cumpaynyeAleyn þe clerk þat herde þis melodye
Line 4168
descriptionPage 120
Line 4168 He pokede ion & seyde slepist þouHerdist þou euere swich a song er nowLo swich a copil is a-mong hem alleA wylde fyr mote on here bodyis falleLine 4172 Ho herkenyth euere swich a ferly thyng [folio 190a] Ȝa þey schal haue þe flour of ille endyngThis longe nyȝt þere tydis me no resteBut ȝit no fors al schal ben for the besteLine 4176 ffor Iohn seyde he as euere mote I thryueȜif þat I may þe wenche wele I schryueSum esement has lawe I-schapyn vsffor Iohn þere is a lawe þat says þusLine 4180 That ȝif a man in a poynt be a-greuydThat in a noþer he schal ben releuydOure corn is stolin schortly it is non nayAnd we han had an ille fit al þis dayLine 4184 And syn I schal han non a-mendementA-geyn my los I wele haue eysementBy godys sale it schal non oþer beThis Iohn answerde Aley a-vise þeLine 4188 The mellere is a perlyous man he seydeAnd ȝif þat he out of hese slep a-breydeHe myȝte vs don bothe a velanyeAlyn answerde I counte hym not a flyeLine 4192 And vp he sterte & by þe wenche he crepteThis wenche lay vp ryght & faste slepteTyl he so nygh was er sche myghte aspyeThat it hadde be to late for to cryeLine 4196 And schortely for to seyn þey were at onNow pley aleyn for I wele speke of ionThis Iohn lyth stylle a furlong wey or tooAnd to hym self he makyth reuthe & wooLine 4200 Allas quod he þis is a wekede iapeNow may I seyn þat I is but an apeȜit hath myn felawe sumwhat for hese harmHe has þe melleris douȝtyr in hese arm
Line 4204
descriptionPage 121
Line 4204 He auntered hym & has hese nedis spedAnd I lye as a draf sek in myn bedAnd whan þis iape is told a noþer dayI schal ben told a daffe a cokenayLine 4208 I wele ryse & antere it be myn fay [folio 190b] Vn-hardi is vn-sely þus men sayAnd vp he ros & softely he wenteVn to þe cradil & in hese hond it henteLine 4212 And bar it softe vn to hese bedis feetSone aftyr þis þe wyf here routyng letAnd gan to wake & lefte for to pysseAnd cam a-geyn & gan here cradil mysseLine 4216 And gropede here & þere / but sche fond nonAllas quod sche I hadde almost mys gonI hadde al most gon to þe clerkys bedEy benedyste þanne hadde I foule I-spedLine 4220 And forth sche goth tyl sche þe cradel fondSche gropede alwey ferþere with here hondAnd fond þe bed & thouȝte not but goodBe cause þat þe cradyl by it stodLine 4224 And nyste where sche was for it was derkAnd fayre & wel sche crep in bi þe clerkAnd lyth ful stylle & wolde a cauȝt a slepWith-inne a while þis Iohn vp lepLine 4228 And on þis goode wif he leyth on soreSo merye a fit ne hadde sche ful ȝoreHe prikyth harde & sore as he were madThis ioly lyf han þese too klerkis ladLine 4232 Tyl þat þe fyrste kok be-gan to syngeAleyn wex wery in þe dawenyngeffor he hadde swonkyn al þe longe nyȝtAnd seyde farwel malyn swete wyȝtLine 4236 The day is come I may no lengere bydeBut euere more where so I go or rydeI is þyn owene clerk so haue I selNow dere leman quod sche go fare weel
Line 4240
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Line 4240 But er þou go on thyng I wele þe telleWhan þat þou wendyst homward be þe melleRyȝt at þe entre of þe dore be-hynde [folio 191a] Þou schat a cake of half a buschel fyndeLine 4244 Þat was I-makyd ryȝt of þyn owene meleWhich þat I halp myn fadyr for to steleAnd goode leman god þe saue & kepeAnd with þat word sche gan almost to wepeLine 4248 Aleyn vp ryst & thoughte er þan it daweI wele gon crepe in by myn felaweAnd fond þe cradyl with hese hand a-nonBy god þouȝte he al wrong I haue mys gonLine 4252 Myn hed is toty of myn swynk to nyȝtÞat makyth me þat I go not aryȝtI wot wel by þe cradyl I haue mys goHere lyth þe mellere & hese wyf alsoLine 4256 And forth he goth a twenty delewayVn to þe bed þere þat þe mellere layHe wende a crepid bi hese felawe IonAn by þe mellere in he crepede a-nonLine 4260 And cauȝte hym by þe nekke softe he spakHe seyde þou Iohn þou sweuenyst a-wakffor cristis soule & here a nobele gameffor by þat lord þat called is seynt IameLine 4264 As I haue thryes in þe schorte nyȝtSwyuyd þe melleris douȝtyr bolt vp ryȝtWhil þou hast as a coward been a-gastȜa false harlot quod þe mellere hastLine 4268 A false traytour false clerk quod heThow schat ben ded be godis dyneteHo durste ben so bold to disparageMyn douȝtyr þat is comyn of swych lenageLine 4272 And by the throte bolle he caughte aleynAnd he hente hym dyspitously a-geynAnd on þe nose he smot hym with hese festDoun ran þe blod strem vp on hese brest
Line 4276
descriptionPage 123
Line 4276 And in þe floor with nose & mouth to-brokeThey walwe as don too piggis in a pokeAnd vp þey gon & don a-geyn a-non [folio 191b] Tyl þat þe mellere spurnede aȝen a stonLine 4280 And doun he fyl bakward vp on hese wifThat wiste no þyng of þis nyse stryfffor sche was falle a slepe a lyte wyghtWith Iohn þe clerk þat wakede al nyȝtLine 4284 And with þe fal out of here slep sche brydeHelp holy croys of bromeholm sche seydeIn manus tuas lord to þe I calleA-wake symond þe fend is on vs falleLine 4288 Myn herte is brokyn allas I ne am but dedThere lyth on vp on myn wombe & on myn hedHelp symkyn for þe false klerkys fyȝteThis Iohn styrte vp as faste as euere he myȝteLine 4292 And graspith by the walle to & fraTo fynde a staf & sche styrte vp alswaAnd knew þe estis betere þan dede þis IohnAnd bi þe wal a staf sche fond a-nonLine 4296 And saw a lytyl schemeryng of a lyȝtffor at an hole in schon þe mone brytAnd by þat lyȝt sche say hem boþe tooBut sekyrly sche nyste ho was whoLine 4300 But as sche say a whit thyng in here eyeAnd whan sche gan þe whyte þyng espyeSche wende þe clerk hadde wered a wolyperAnd with the staf sche drow ay ner & nerLine 4304 And wende an hit þes aleyn at þe fulleAnd smot þe mellere on þe pylede sculleAnd doun he goth harow I deyeThese clerkys bete hym wel & lete hym lyeLine 4308 And hastede hem & toke here leue a-nonAnd ek here mele & on here woye þey gonAnd at þe melle ȝit þey toke here kakeOf half a buschel flour wol wel I-bake
Line 4312
descriptionPage 124
Line 4312 Thus is þe proude mellere wel I-beteAnd hath I-lost the gryndyng of þe weteAnd payed for þe souper euery del [folio 192a] Of aleyn & of Iohn þat bete hym welLine 4316 Hese wyf is swyuyd & hese doughtyr alsLo swich It is a mellere to ben falsAnd þerfore this prouerbe is seyd ful sothHym thar not wene wel þat euele dothLine 4320 A gylour schal hym self begylede beAnd god þat settyth hye in magesteSave all þese cumpanyis grate & smaleThus haue I quit þe mellere in myn taleLine 4324
descriptionPage 125
THe cook of lundene whil þe reue spakffor ioye hym thouȝte he clawede hym on þe bakHa ha ha for cristys passyounThis mellere hadde a scharp conclusyounLine 4328 Vp on his argument of herbergageWel seyde salamon / on his langageNe brynge not euery with in to þyn housffor herberwynge be nyȝte is perlyousLine 4332 Wel auȝte a man avysede for to beWhom þat he brouȝte in to hese priuyteI preye to god so ȝeue me sorwe & careSyn euere I highte hoge of wareLine 4336 Herde I euere a mellere betere I-set a werkeHe hadde a Iape of maleys in þe derkeBut god for-bede þat we stentyn hereAnd þerfore ȝif ȝe wouche saf to hereLine 4340 A tale of me þat am a pore manI wele ȝow telle as wel as euere I canA lytyl Iape what fel in oure ceteOure ost answerde & seyde I graunte it þeLine 4344 Now telle on roger & loke þat it be goodffor manye a paste hast þou letyn blodAnd manye a rakke of douere hast þou sold/That hath ben twyes hot & twyes cold [folio 192b] Line 4348 Of manye a pilgrym hast þou cristis cursffor of thyn persele ȝit thy fare þe wersThat þey han etyn with thyn stobil goosffor in thyn schoppe is manye a flye losLine 4352 Now telle on gentyl roger be þyn nameBut ȝit I preye þe be not wroth for gameA man may sey ful soth in game & playThow seyst ful soth quod roger be myn fay
Line 4356
descriptionPage 126
Line 4356 But sooth pley quaad pley as þe flemyng seythAnd þerfore herry bayly be þyn feythBe þou not wroth er we partyn hereThow þat myn tale be of an ostelereLine 4360 But natheles I wele nat telle it ȝetBut er we parte I-wis þou schat be quitAnd þerwithal he low & made chereAnd seyde hese tale as ȝe schal aftyr hereLine 4364
descriptionPage 127
Here begynnyst the kok of lundene hi tale
[Nearly all leaf 193 of Camb. MS is cut out. Only He l. 4372, As 4373, We 4374, At 4375, H 4376, ff 4377, and bits of O and T, 4378-9, are left, and se of plase, l. 4410, and aunce 4412.]
A Prentis whilom dwellid in oure citee [Sloane MS. 1685 folio 50b] And of a craft of vitalers was heGaillard he was as gol-fynche in þe schaweBroun as bery. a proper short felaweLine 4368 With lokkes blake I-kempt ful fetislyDaunce he kouþe so wel and IolylyThat he clepid perkyn reueilloureHe was as ful of loue and paramourLine 4372 As is þe hive ful of hony sweteWel was þe wenche with him myght meteAt euery bridale wold he synge and hoppeHe louede bette þe tauerne þan þe shoppeLine 4376 ffor whan þer any ridynge was in chepe [Sloane MS. 1685 folio 51a] Out of þe Shoppe þeder wold he lepeTil þat he had al þe sight I-seynAnd daunced wel wold he not come a-gayneLine 4380 And gedrid hym mony of his sortTo hoppe and synge and make suche disportAnd þere þey setten steuene for to meteTo pleyn at þe dys in suche a streteLine 4384 ffor in þe toun nas ner no prentisThat fairer couþe cast a peyre of dysThen perkyn couth and þerto he was freeOf his dispence in place of pryuyteLine 4388 That fonde his maister wel in his chaffareffor ofte tyme he fonde his box ful bareffor sikirly a prentis reuelour. . . . .Line 4392 His maystir shuld it in his shep abyeAl haue not part of þe mynstralcieffor theft and riot þei ben conuertibleAl can he pleye on geterne or rubible
Line 4396
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Line 4396 Reuel and trouth as in lowe degreeThey ben ful wroth al day as men may seeThis Iolye prentis with his mayster boodeTil he were nyghe oute of his prentis-hoodeLine 4400 Al were he snybbit erly and lateAnd somtyme lad with Reuel to NewgateBut at last his maystir him by-þoghtVpon a day whan he his paper soughtLine 4404 Of a prouerbe þat saith þis same wordWel bet is roten appel oute of hoordeThan þat it rotet alle þe remenantSo farith it by a ryocous seruantLine 4408 It is ful lasse harme to late hym passeThan he shend alle þe seruauntz in þe placeTherfore his maystir ȝaf him a quytaunceAnd bade him go with sorow and myschaunceLine 4412 And þus this Ioly prentis had his leuee [Sloane MS. 1685 folio 51b] Now let hym Riot al þe nyght or leueAnd for ther is no theof with-oute a lokeThat helpith hym to wasten and to sowkeLine 4416 Of þat he bribe can or borow mayAnoon he sent his bede and his arrayVn to a couper of his owne soortThat loued dys Reuel and disportLine 4420 And had a wif þat held for contynaunceA shope and swyfed for hir sustynaunce
Arcita (in Boccaccio) comes from the quarter of 'Euro' (VII. 114): Pale|mone comes 'Dall' altra parte' (VII. 118). No mention is made by Boccaccio of their banners being red and white.
Bocc. makes many of them slain: 'Artifilio,' 'Cornisso' (VIII. 15), 'Rifeo,' 'Arione' (36), 'Narizio' (39), and others, and describes their funerals (X. 4-8).
'Niun potea racconsolar Teseo,' says Boccaccio (XI. 9), not excepting 'Egeo;' but he immediately goes on to speak of the old man's attempt to con|sole 'Palemone,' and the rest,—without the slightest success (XI. 11).—(See also XI. 33.)