The Cambridge ms (University library, Gg. 4.27) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.
About this Item
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 University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes. These materials are in the public domain. If you have questions about the collection, please contact mec-info@umich.edu. If you have concerns about the inclusion of an item in this collection, please contact libraryit-info@umich.edu.
"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
descriptionPage 308*
[6-text p 478]
GROUP F. FRAGMENT VII.
§ 1. THE SQUIRE'S HEAD-LINK. CAMBRIDGE MS.
[Harl. MS 7335 folio 129b]
[Squyer come ner if it youre wille beAnd sey sumwhat of loue for certes yeKonnen ther on as moche as ony manNay sere quod he but sweche thyng as y canLine 4 With hertly wille for y wil not rebelleAgeyn youre lust a tale wol y tellehaue me excusid if y speke a mysMi wille is good and lo my tale is this]
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[6-text p 479]
[Here bygynneth þe tale. [Sloane MS 1685 folio 78a]
[AT Sarray in þe londe of Sarcarye [Sloane MS 1685 folio 78b] There dwelt / a kynge þat weryd RussyeThouȝe whiche þere dyede many a duȝty manThys noble kynge was clepyd KambynskanLine 12 whiche in his tyme was of so grete rennounThat þer was nouthir/ in regiounSo excellent a lord / in alle þingeHym lakkith nouȝt þat longith to a kyngeLine 16 As of þe Cite whiche he was bornehe kepte hys lawe to whiche þat he was sworneAnd þerto he was hardy wyse & rycheAnd pitouse & Iuste alle wey ylicheLine 20 Sothe of/ hys worde benygne & honorableOf/ his corage as eney centre stable]Ȝon[ge fresshe stronge in armes desyrous]As on[y bachelere of alle hys hous]A fayr per[son he was & fortunat]And kepte a[lle wey so wele ryalle estate]That there na[s nouthir suche a noþere man]This noble kyng [of Tartre þis Kambynskan]Line 28 Hadde two sonys on [Eltheta his wif]Of whiche the eldeste [hiȝt Algarsife]That oþer sone was clepid [Camballo]A doughtyr hadde this worth[y kynge also]Line 32 That ȝyngeste was & hyghte CanaceBut for to telle ȝow al hire beauteeIt lyth not in myn tunge nyn myn kunnyngI dar nat vndyrtake so high a thyng
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[6-text p 480] Line 36 Myn engelysch is ek insufficientIt muste be a Rethor excellentThat coude hise colouris / longynge for that artȝif he schulde discryuyn euery partLine 40 I am non schich I mot speke as I canAnd so by-fil that this CambynskanHath twenty wyntyr boryn his diademeAs he was wone ffrom ȝer to ȝeer I demeLine 44 He leet the feste of his natyuiteeDoon cryen thour Sarray his Citee[The last Idus of Marche aftir þe yere [Sloane MS 1685 folio 79a] Phebus þe Sonne fulle Iolyf was & clereLine 48 ffor he was nyh · his exaltacionIn martes face and his mancionIn aries þe Coloryk þe hoot signefful lusty was þe weder & benygneLine 52 ffor whiche þe foules ayeyn þe son shenewhat for þe seson and þe yonge grenefful lowde songe hir affecciounshem semyd þei hade goten hem protecciounsLine 56 A-yeyne þe swerde of wynter kene & ColdeThis Kambynskan of whiche I haue you toldeIn riall vestement syt on hys deyswith a Dyademe full hiȝe in his paleysLine 60 And holte his feste sollempne & so richeþat in þis worlde ne was þere none hit lycheOf whiche yf I · shalle telle alle þe arrayThat wolde hit occupie a somers dayLine 64 And eke hit nedyth not to deviseAt euery cours þe ordre of h]ere seruyse [folio 277b] [I wolle not telle of her straun]ge sewys[Ne of here swannes ne of] here heirounnsewis[Eke in þat londe as tel]lyn knyȝtis olde[There ys some mete þat ys fulle] deynte holde[That in þis l]ond men reche of it but smal[There ys] no man that may reportyn al
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[6-text p 481] Line 72 [I wol] not taryin ȝow for it is prime[And] for it is no freut / but los of tymeVn-to myn fyrste I wele han myn recoursAnd so be-fel that aftyr the thredde coursLine 76 Whil that this kyng sat thus in his nobleyeHerkenynge his mynstrall here thyngis pleyeBy-forn hym at the bord deliciouslyIn at the halle dore al sodeynlyLine 80 There cam a knyght vp on a stede of brasAnd in his hand a brood myrour of glasVp on his thumbe he bar of gold a ryngAnd by his syde a nakede swerd hangyngLine 84 And vp he ridyth to the heye bord [folio 278a] In al the halle ne was there spokyn a wordffor merueyle of this knyght to be-holdefful besily they wayte ȝynge & oldeLine 88 This straunge knyȝt that cam thus sodeynlyAl armede saue his hed richelySaluyth kyng & queen & lordis alleBy ordere as the setyn in the halleLine 92 With so heigh reuerence & obeysauncesAs weel in his speche as in hise cuntenauncesThat Gaweyn with his olde curteysyeThow he weere comyn aȝen out of fayryeLine 96 Ne coude hym not amendyn / with a wordAnd aftyr thys by-fore the heye bordHe wyth a manly voys seyth his messageAftyr the forme vsed in hise ageLine 100 With-outyn vice of sillable or of lettereAnd for his tale schulde seme the bettreAcordau[n]t to hise wordis was hise chereAs techith the art of speche hem that it lereLine 104 Al be that I can not soune his styleNe can not clymbyn ouyr so hegh a styleȝit seye i this as to comune ententThus meche a-mountyth al that euere he ment
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[6-text p 482] Line 108 ȝif it so be þat I haue it in myndeHe seyde þe kyng of arabye & of yndeMyn lige lord on this solempne daySalueth ȝow as he best can or mayLine 112 And sendyth ȝow in honour of ȝoure festeBy me þat am al redy to ȝouere hesteThis steede of bras that esyly & welCan in the space of a day naturelLine 116 This is to seyne in foure & twenty ourysWhere so ȝow liste in drouȝte or ellis schourisBeryn ȝoure body in-to euery placeTo whiche ȝoure herte willyth for to paceLine 120 With-outyn wem of ȝow thour foul or fayrOr ȝif ȝow leste to flien as hyghe in þe ayrAs doth an egele whan hym lyste to soore [folio 278b] This same steede schal bere ȝow euere mooreLine 124 With-outyn harm tyl ȝe been there ȝow lestenThow that ȝe slepyn on his bak or restynAnd turne a-ȝen with wrythyng of a pynHe that it wrouȝte it coude ful manye a gynLine 128 He waytede ful manye a constelaciounEr he hadde doon this operaciounAnd knew ful manye a sel & manye a boond¶ This myrour ek that I haue in myn hondLine 132 Hath swich a myȝt that men may in it seWhan there schal falle ony aduerciteVn-to ȝoure regne / & to ȝoure self alsoAnd opynly ho is ȝoure frend or fooLine 136 And ouyral this ȝif ony lady bryȝtHath set hire herte on ony maner wyȝtȝif he be fals sche schal his tresoun seeHis newe loue & al his subtileteeLine 140 So opynly that ther schal nothyng hydeWherfore a-geyn this lusty somerys tydeThis myrour & this ryng that ȝe may seeHe hath sent on-to myn lady Canacee
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[6-text p 483] Line 144 ȝoure excellent doughtyr that is hereTe vertu of the ryng ȝif ȝe wile heereIs this that ȝif hire luste it for to weereVp-on hyre thumbe or in hire purs it beereLine 148 There is no foul that flyeth vndyr the heueneThat sche ne schal weel vndyrstondyn his steueneAnd knowe his menyng opynly & pleynAnd answere hym in his langage a-geynLine 152 And euery gres that growyth vp on rooteSche schal ek knowe & whom it schal don booteAlle be hise woundys neeuere so deepe & wydeThis nakede swerd that hangyth by myn sydeLine 156 Wich wertew hath that what man þe smyteThouru out his armeur it wele byteWere it as thikke as is a brauncheede ookAnd what man is wounded with that strokLine 160 Schal neuere be hol tyl þat þou lest of grace [folio 279a] To stroke hym with the plat / in þat placeTheere he is hurt this is as meche to seynȝe moote with the plat swerd a-geynLine 164 Stryke hym on the wounde & it wele closeThis a verray soth with-oute gloseIt faylyth not whil it is in ȝoure hoolldAnd whan this knyȝt hat thus his tale toldLine 168 He rydyth out of halle & doun he lytythHis steede whiche þat schon as sunne brighteStant in the court stylle as ony stoonThis knyght is to hise chambere lad a-noonLine 172 And is on arayed & to mete I-setThese presentis been ful ryally I-fetThis is to seyne the swyrd & the myrourAnd born a-non in-to the hye tourLine 176 with serteyn offycerys ordeynyd there foreAnd on to Canacee this ryng was boreSolempnely ther sche sit at þe tableBut sikyrly with-outyn ony fable
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[6-text p 484] Line 180 The hors of bras that may not been remeuydIt stant as it were to the ground I-glewydTher may no man out of the place it dryueffor noon engyn of wyndas or palyueLine 184 And cause whi for they can not the craftAnd therfore in the place they han it laftTil that þe knyght hath taughte hem the manereTo voydyn hym as ȝe schal aftyr heereLine 188 ¶ Gret was the pres that swarmyth to & froTo gauryn on this hors that standyth soffor it so high was & so brod & longSo wel proporciounnyd for to been strongLine 192 Ryȝt as it were a stede of lumbardyTherto so horsely & so quyk of IyeAs it a gentil poleys Courser wereffor certis from his tayl vn-to his eereLine 196 Nature ne art ne coude hym nat a-mendeIn no degre as al the peple wendeBut euere more here moste wondir was [folio 279b] How that it coude goon & was of brasLine 200 And was as fayr as al the peple seemedeDyuers folk dyuersly they demydAs manye hedis as many wittis þere beenThey murmuredyn as don a swarm of beenLine 204 And madyn skill aftyr here fantasyisRehersynge of these olde poetryisAnd seydyn it was lik the pegaseeThe hors that hadde wyngis for to fleeLine 208 Or ellis it was þe Grekis hors SynounThat brouȝte Troye to distrucciounAs men in these olde gestis reedeMyn herte quod on is eueremor in dredeLine 212 I trowe some men of armys been þerinneThat schapin hem this cete for to wynneIt were right good that alle thynge were knoweA nothir rounede to his felawe lowe
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[6-text p 485] Line 216 And seyde he lyede it is rathere likAn apparence mad by sum MagykAs Iogelouris pleye at these 1festis greete1Of sundery doutis thus they Iangele & treteAs lewede peple demyth comounlyOf thyngis that been mad more subtilyThan they can in here louwedenesse comprehendeThey demyn gladly to the baddere endeLine 224 And some of hem wonderedyn on the myrourThat born was vp in the hyghe tourHow men myȝtyn in it sweche thyngis seeA noþer answerde & seyde it may wel beLine 228 Naturelly by compociciounnysOf angles & of slygh reflecciounsAnd seydyn þat in rome was swich onThey spoken of Alocen & VitulounLine 232 And Aristotle þat wrytyn in here lyuysOf queynte Mirouris & of prospectyuysAs knowyn they that han here bokys herdAnd oþere folk han wonderede on the swerdLine 236 That wolde partyn thour out euery thyng [folio 280a] And fille in speche of Tholophus þe kyngAnd of achilles with his queynte speereffor he coude with it bothe hele & dereLine 240 Rygh in swich wise as men myȝte with the swerdOf which ryȝt now ȝe han ȝoure selue herdThey spekyn of sundery hardyng of metalAnd spoke of medycynys therwith-alLine 244 And how & whanne it schulde I-hardit beWhiche is vnknowe algate on-to meTho speke they of Canaceis ryngAnd seydyn alle of that swych a wondyr thyngLine 248 Of craft of ryngis herde they neuere noonSaue that he moyses & kyng salomonHadde a name of rounnynge in swich artThus seyth the peple & drawyn hem a part
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[6-text p 486] Line 252 But natheles some seydyn that it wasWondyr to makyn oof fern aschyn glasAnd ȝit ne is glas lich aschyn of fernBut for they han knowyn it so fernThere-fore chesen hire Iangelyng & hire wondyrAs soore wonderyn some of on cause of ȝoundyrOn ebbe on flod on gossomyr & on mystAnd alle thynge tyl that the cause is wistLine 260 Thus Iangele they & deeme & deuyseTil that þe kyng gan from his bord a-rysePhebus hath left the angle meridionalAnd ȝit ascendyng was the beste royalLine 264 The gentyl lyoun with his aldryanWhan that this tartre CambynscanRos from his bord þere that he sat ful hyeTo-fore hym goth the loude menstralcyeLine 268 Tyl he cam to hise chambere of parementisThere as they sounyn dyuerse InstrumentisThat is lyk an heuene for to hereNow dauncyn lusty venus chylderyn deereLine 272 ffor in the fych hire lady sat ful hygheAnd lokyn on hem with a frendely IyeThis noble kyng is set vp in his trone [folio 280b] This stronge knyght / is fet to hym ful soneLine 276 And on the daunce he goth with CanaceeHere is the reuel & the IolyteThat is nat able a dul man to deuyseHe muste haue knowe loue & his seruyseLine 280 And been a festelyche man as MayThat schulde ȝow deuyse swich arayWho coude tellen ȝow the forme of dauncisSo vncouth & so frosche cuntenauncisLine 284 Swich subtyl / lokyngis & dissimulyngisffor drede of Ialuse mennys aperceyvyngisNo man but lancelot & he is deedThere-fore I passe ouyr al this lustyhed
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[6-text p 487] Line 288 I seye namore but in this iolynesseI leete hem tyl men to the soper dresseThe styward bit spicis for to hyeAnd ek the wyn in al this melodyeLine 292 The vsscheris & the squyeris been I-goonThe spicis & the wyn be comyn a-noonThey ete & d[r]ynke & whan this hadde an endeVn-to the temple as reson was they wendeLine 296 The seruyse doun they soupyn al be dayWhat nedyth me reherce al here a-rayEche man wiste wel þat a kyngis festeHath plente to meste & ek to lesteLine 300 And deynteis moo than been to myn knowyngAt aftyr sopir goth this noble kyngTo seen this hors of bras with al the routeOf lordis & of ladyis hym a-bouteLine 304 Swich wonderyng was on this hors of brasThat syn the greete sege of Troye wasNe was there swich a wonderyng as was thoThere as men wonderedyn on an hors alsoLine 308 But finally this kyng askyth this knyghtThe vertu of this courser & the myȝtAnd preyede hym to telle his gouernaunceThis hors anon be-gan to tryppe & daunceLine 312 Whan that this knyght leyde hand vp-on his regne [folio 281a] And seyde sire there nys no moore to seyneBut whan thu lyste to ryde any whereȝe mote trylle a pyn stant in his eereLine 316 Whiche I schal ȝow telle be-twyxe vs twoȝe mote nemenyn hym to what place alsoOr to wat cuntre þat thow lyste to rydeAnd whan ȝe come there as ȝow leste abydeLine 320 Bydde hym discende & trylle a nothir pynffor theere lyth theffect of al the gynAnd he wele doun descende & don ȝoure willeAnd in that place he wele stonde stylle
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[6-text p 488] Line 324 Thow al the world the contrarye haddyn sworeHe schal not thens been drawe ne boreOr ȝif þou wit bidde hym thenys goonTrille this pyn & he wele vanyche a-noonLine 328 Out of the syȝte of euery maneere wyȝtAnd come a-geyn be it day or nyghtWhan that þou lystist to clepyn hym a-geynIn swich a gyse as I schal to ȝow seynLine 332 Bi-twixe ȝow & hym & that ful soneRide whan þou lyste there is no moore to dooneEnformede whan that kyng was of that knyghtAnd hath conseyuid in his wit a ryȝtLine 336 The manere & the forme of al this thyngThus glad & blythe this nobele kyngRepeyrith to his reuel as by-forynThe brydyl is in to the tour I-borynLine 340 And kept a-mong hyse Iewelys leue & deereThe hors vanyschit I not in what maneereOut of hire syȝte ȝe gete no more of meBut thus I lete in lust & iolyteLine 344 This Cambiscan hese lordis festenyngeTyl wol nygh þe day be-gan to sprynge
Secunda pars
THe noryce of digestyoun the sleepGan on hem wynke & bad hem take kepLine 348 That muche drynk & labour wolde han resteAnd with a galpynge mouth hem alle keste [folio 281b] And seyde it was tyme to lye a-dounffor blood was in his domynaciounLine 352 Cherisshet blod naturys frend quod heThey thankyn hym galpynge bi too by threAnd euery wyght gan drawyn hym to his resteAs slep hem hadde they take it for the beste
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[6-text p 489] Line 356 Here dremys schul not been told for mefful weere here heedys of fumositeeThat causeth drem of whiche þere is no chargeThey slepyn tyl it was pryme largeLine 360 The moste part but it were CanaceeSche was ful mesurable as wemen beeffor of hire fadyr hadde sche takyn leueTo gon to reste sone aftyr it was eueLine 364 Hire lyste not appallid for to beeNor on the morwe onfestelyche for to seAnd slepte hire fyrste sleep & thanne a-wokffor swich a slep sche in hire herte tokLine 368 Bothe of hyre queynte ryng & hire MirourThat twenty tyme sche changede hire colourAnd in hire sleep ryȝt for impresciounOf hire Mirour sche hadde a visiounLine 372 Where fore the sunne gan vp glydeSche clepede on hire maysteresse hire be sydeAnd seyde þat hire luste for to ryseThese olde wemen that been gladly wyseLine 376 As is hire Maysteresse answerede hire a-nonAnd seyde madame wheþer wele ȝe goonThus erly for the folk been alle at resteI wele quod sche a-ryse for me lesteLine 380 No lengere for to slepe & walke a-boūteHire Maystresse clepid wemen a greet routeAnd vp they ryse weel a ten or twelueVp rysyth frossche Canace hire selveLine 384 As rody as brygh as doth the ȝonge sunneThat in the Ram is foure degreis vpronneNoon heyere was he / whan sche redy was [folio 282a] And forth sche walkyth esyly a pasLine 388 A-rayed aftyr the lusty sesoun sooteLyȝtely for to pleye & walke on footeNot but with fyue or sexe of hyre meyneAnd in a trench forth in the park goth sche
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[6-text p 490] Line 392 The vapour which that from the erthe glodMade the sunne to seme rody & broodBut natheles it was so fayr a syȝtThat it made alle here hertis for to lyȝtLine 396 That for the sesoun & the morwenyngeAnd for the foulys that sche herde syngeffor ryȝt a-noon she wiste what they menteRyȝt by here song & knew al here ententeLine 400 The kn te whi that eueri tale is toldȝif it be taryed tyl that lust be coldOf hem that han it aftyr herkenyd ȝooreThe sauour passith euere lengere the mooreLine 404 ffor fulsumnesse of his prolixiteAnd by the same resoun thynkyth meI schulde to þe knotte condescendeAnd makyn of hire walkynge sone an endeLine 408 ¶ A-mydde a tre fordreyed as whyt as chalkAs canascee was pleyinge in hire walkThere sat a facoun ouyr hire heed ful hyeThat with a pytous voys so gan to cryeLine 412 That al the wode resounnede of hire cryI-beetyn hath sche hire self so pitouslyWith bothe hire wyngis tyl the reede bloodRan endelyng the tree there sche stoodLine 416 And euere in on sche cryede al wey & schr[i]kteAnd with hire bek hire seluyn so sche prykteThat þere nys tygre ne non so crewel besteThat dwellyth eythir in wode or in foresteLine 420 That nolde a wept ȝif that he weepe coudeffor sorwe of hire sche shrikte alwey so loudeffor there was neuere man ȝit on lyueIf that I coude a facoun weel dyscryueLine 424 That herde of swich a nothyr / ȝit/ of fayrnese [folio 282b] As weel of plumage as of gentyllesseOf schap & of al that myghte I-rekenede beeA facoun peregryn thanne semeede sche
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[6-text p 491] Line 428 Of fremde lond / & eueremore as sche stoodSche swounnyth now & now for lak of blodTyl wel nygh is sche fallyn from the treeThis fayre kyngis doughtir CanaceeLine 432 That on hire fyngyr bar the queynte ryngThour whiche sche vndyrstod weel euery thyngThat ony foul myghte in hise ledene seynAnd coude answere in his ledene ageynLine 436 Hath vndyrstonde what this facoun seydeAnd wel nygh for the routhe almost sche deyedeAnd to the tre sche goth ful hastylyAnd on this facoun lokyth pitouslyLine 440 And held hire lappe a-brod for well sche wysteThe facoun muste falle from the twysteWhan that it swounnede next for lak of bloodA long while to waytyn hire sche stoodLine 444 Til at the laste sche spak in this maneereVn-to the hauk as ȝe schul aftyr here¶ What is the cause ȝif it be for to telleThat ȝe been in this furyal peyne of helleLine 448 Quod Canace vn-to this hauk a-boueIs this for sorwe of deth or los of loueffor as I trowe these been causys twoThat causyn most a gentyl herte woLine 452 Of oþer harm it needyth not to spekynffor ȝe ȝoure self vp-on ȝoure self ben wrekynWhiche previth weel that eythir loue or dredeMoot been enchesoun of ȝoure crewel deedeLine 456 Syn that I se non oþer wight ȝow chaceffor loue of god as doth ȝoure self sum graceOr what may been ȝoure helpe for west nor estNe saugh I neuere er now no brid ne besteLine 460 That ferde with hym self so pitouslyȜe sle me wyth ȝoure sorwe verraylyI haue of ȝow so greet compassioun [folio 283a] ffor godis loue come from the tre a-doun
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[6-text p 492] Line 464 And as I am kyngis doughtyr treweȝif that I verrayly the cause kneweOf ȝoure deseese ȝif it lay in myn mygh[t]I wole amendyn it er it weere nyghtLine 468 As wisely helpe me greete god of kyndeAnd erbis schal I ryȝt I-nowe fyndeTo heele with ȝoure hurtis hastelyTho schrykt this facoun moore ȝit pitouslyLine 472 Than euere sche dede & fyl to grounde a-noonAnd lith a swounne ded lych a stoonTyl canace hath in hire lappe hire takeVn-to the tyme sche gan of swow a-wakeLine 476 And aftyr that sche of hire swow a-breydeRygh in hire haukys ledene thus sche seydeThat pete rennyth sone in gentyl herteffelynge his simylitud in peynys smerteLine 480 Is preuyd alday as men may it I-seAs weel by werk as by autoriteffor gentyl herte kytheth gentillesseI se weel ȝe han of myn distresseLine 484 Compassioun myn fayre CanaceeOf verray womanly benygneteeThat nature in ȝoure prynciples han I-setBut for noon hope for to fare the betLine 488 But for to obeye vnto ȝoure herte freeAnd for to makyn oþere / be war by meAnd bi the whelp chastysed is the lyounRygh for that cause & for that conclusiounLine 492 Whil that I haue a leyser & a spaceMyn harm I wele confesse er I paceAnd euere whil that on hire toldeThat othir wepte as sche to watyr woldeLine 496 Tyl that the facoun bad hire to been stylleAnd wyth a syk ryȝt thus sche seyde hire tille¶ That I was brad allas that harde dayAnd fosterede in a roche of marbyl gray
Line 500
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[6-text p 493] Line 500 So tenderely eylyth / it eylede me [folio 283b] I nyste not what was aduercyteTyl I coude fle ful hye vndyr the skyeTho dwellede a tercelet me faste byeLine 504 That semede weel of alle gentillesseAl weere he ful of tresoun & falsenesseIt was so wrappid vndyr humble chireAnd vndyr hewe of trouthe in swych maneereLine 508 Vndyr plesaunce & vndyr bisy pyneThat I not cude a wend he coude feyneSo deepe in greyn he dyede his colourysRyȝt as a serpent hid hym vndyr flourysLine 512 Tyl he may seen his tyme for to byteRygh so this god of loue this ypocryteDoth so hise sermonys & obeysauncisAnd kepyth in semblaunt alle hise4 cuntenauncys4That sounnyn in to gentilesse of loueAs in a toumbe is al the fayrenesse a-boueAnd vndir is þe cors swich as ȝe wootSwich was this ypocryte bothe cold & hootLine 520 And in this wise he seruede his ententThat saue the feend non wiste what he mentTil he so longe hadde wepid & compleynedAnd manye a ȝeer his seruyse to me feynydLine 524 Tyl that myn herte to pitous & to nyceAl innocent of his crounede malyceffor-fered of his deth as thoughte meVp-on hise othis & hise seureteeLine 528 Grauntede hym loue vp-on this condiciounThat euere more myn honour & renounWere sauyd bothe priue & apertThis is to seyne that aftyr his desertLine 532 I ȝaf hym al myn herte & al myn thoughtGod wot & he / þat oþerwyse noghtAnd tok his hert in chong of myn for ayBut soth is seyd goon sithe manye a day
Line 536
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[6-text p 494] Line 536 A trewe wigh & a thef thynkyn nat oonAnd whan he saugh the thyng so fer a-goonThat I hadde grauntede fully myn looue [folio 284a] In swich a gise as it was seyd a-boueLine 540 And ȝeuyn hym myn trewe herte as freAs he swoor he ȝaf his herte to meA-non this tigre ful of doubilnesseffil on hise kneis with so deuout humblesseLine 544 With so high reuerence as bi hire cheereSo lyk a gentil louere of manereSo rauyschid as it semede for the IoyeThat neuere Troylis Ne parys of TroyeLine 548 Iason certis ne non oþer manSyn lameth was / þat aldyrferst be-ganTo louyn too as wrytyn folk by-fornNe neuere syn the fyrste man was bornLine 552 Ne coude man by twenty thousent partCountyrfete the sophemys of his artNe were worthi onbokele his galocheThere doubilnesse or feynynge schulde aprocheLine 556 Ne so coude thanke a whit as he dede meHis manere was an heuene for to seTo ony weman were [s]che neuere so wysSo peyntede he & kembede at poynt deuysLine 560 As weel hise wordis as hise contenaunceAnd I louede hym for his obeysaunceAnd for the trouthe I demede in his herteThat ȝif so were that ony thyng hym smerteLine 564 Al were it neuere so lyte & I it wisteMe thouȝte I felte deth myn herte twysteAnd schortely so fer forth this thyng wentThat myn wil was his willis instrumentLine 568 This is to seye myn wil obeyede his wilIn alle thynge as fer as resoun filKepynge the boundis of myn worchepe euereNe neuere hadde I thyng so leef ne leuere
Line 572
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[6-text p 495] Line 572 As hym god wot ne neuere schal no moThis lastede lengere than a ȝeer or tweThat I supposede of hire not but goodBut finally thus at the laste it stoodLine 576 That fortune wolde that he muste twynne [folio 284b] Out of that place which that he is inneWhere me was woo that is no questyounI can not make of it discripciounLine 580 ffor on thyng dar I telle baldelyI knowe what is the peyne of deth therbySwich harm I felte for he ne myȝte beleueSo on a day of me he tok his leueLine 584 So sorwefully ek that I wende verraylyThat he hade felt as meche harm as IWhan that I herde hym speke & saw his heweBut natheles I thoute he was so treweLine 588 And ek that he repeyre schulde ageynWith-inne a lytil while sotth to seynAnd resoun wolde ek that he moste goffor his honour as ofte it happith soLine 592 That I maade vertu of necesciteeAnd tok it weel syn that it muste beeAs I best myghte I hidde from hym myn sorweAnd tok hym by the hond seynt Iohn to borwLine 596 And seyde hym thus lo I am ȝourys alBeth swich as I to ȝow haue been & schalWhat he answerde it nedyth not reherceWho can seye bet than he / ho can seye werseLine 600 Whan he hath al I-seyd thanne hath he donTherefore byhouyth hire a ful long sponThat schulde ete with a feend thus haue I herd seyeSo at the laste he mote forth his weyeLine 604 And forth he flyeth til he cam there hym lesteWhan it cam hym to purpos for to resteI trowe he hadde thilke tyxt in myndeThat alle thynge repeyrynge to hise kynde
Line 608
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[6-text p 496] Line 608 Gladyth hym self thus seye men as I gesseMen loue of propyr kynde newefangilnesseAs bryddys don that men in cage feedeffor thow thu nyȝt & day of hem take heedeLine 612 And strawe hyre cage / as softe as ony silkAnd ȝeue hym sugere hony breed & Mylk[Ȝit riȝt a none as þat hys dore ys vppe [Sloane MS 1685 folio 85b] he with hys feete wille spurne doune hys CuppeLine 616 And to þe woode he wolle & wormes eteSo newefangylle bene þei of hyr meteAnd louen noueleryes of propre kyndeNo gentyllnesse of bloode may hem byndeLine 620 So farithe þis Tarselet allas þe dayThouȝe he were gentylle fresshe & gayAnd goodly for to sene and humble & frehe sawe opon a tyme a kyte fleLine 624 And sodeynly he louythe þis kyte soþat alle his loue ys clene fro me gooAnd hathe his trouthe falsehede in þis wyseThus hathe þe kyte my loue in hys seruyceLine 628 And I am lorne with oute remedyAnd with þat worde þis faucon gan to cryeAnd swoned efte in Canaces barme [Sloane MS 1685 folio 86a] Grete was þat sorowe of þat haukes harmeLine 632 þat Canacee and alle hir women madeþei · nyste howe þei myȝt þe faucon gladeBut Canace home berithe hir in hir lappeAnd softely in plastres gan hir wrappeLine 636 There as she with hir beeke hathe hurte hir silfeNowe can not Canace but erbys delueOf herbes precious and fyne of heweOute of þe grounde and maken salues neweLine 640 To helyn with þe hauke fro day to nyȝtScho dothe hir besynesse & alle hir myȝtAnd by hir beddys hede sho made and muweAnd couerid hit with velowetys blewe
Line 644
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[6-text p 497] Line 644 In sene of trouthe þat ys in woman seneAnd alle with oute þe muwe ys · peyntyd greneIn whiche were paynted alle þese false foulesAnd bethe þe Tydifs terselettys & owlys.Line 648 Riȝt for dispyte were peyntid hem by sydePyes on hem for to crye and chydeþus lete I Canace hir hauke kepyngeI wolle no more as nowe speke of hir ryngeLine 652 Tylle hit come efte to purpos for to saynhow þat þis faucon gate hir loue a ȝeynRepentaunt as þe story tellithe vsBy mediacion of CambassusLine 656 The kynges sone of whiche y you toldeBut hennes I wolle processe holdeTo speken of aventures and of bataylesþat ȝit was neuere herde so grete mervaylesLine 660 ffirst wolle I telle you of kambynskanþat in hys tyme many a Citee wanAnd aftyr wolle I speke of Algarsyfhow þat he wan Theodora to his wyfLine 664 ffor whanne fulle ofte in grete perelle he wasNe hade he ben holpen by þe hors of brasAnd aftyr wolle I speke with Camballo [Sloane MS 1685 folio 86b] þat fauȝt in lystes with þe bretheren two ·Line 668 ffor Canace or þat he myȝt hir wynneAnd þere I lefte I wolle a-gayne by-gynneAppollo whirlithe vp hys chare so hyȝeTylle þat þe god Marcurius hows þe skyeLine 672
Here endith þe tale of þe sqyere]
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[6-text p 498]
[Here begynnyth þe prologge of þe Marchaunt
[Sloane MS 1685 folio 86b]
IN faythe sqyere þou haste þe wele quytAnd gentely I preyse wele þi wytteQuod þe Marchaunte considerynge þis ȝoutheSo felyngely thouȝthe spekist sir I the alloutheLine 676 As to my dome þere ys none þat ys hereOf eloquence þat shalle be þi pere[And if þou lif god [ȝ]if þe goode chaunceAnd in vertu send þe perseueraunce]Line 680 ffor of þi speche I haue grete deynteI haue a . sone and by þe triniteI hade leuere þan twenty pounde worth of londeþouȝe hit riȝt nowe were fallen in myne hondeLine 684 ye are a man of suche discrecionAs þat ye ben fy vpon possessionBut yf a man by vertuous with alleI haue my sone snybbyd and ȝit I shalleLine 688 ffor he to vertu listith not entendeBut for to pley at dyes and to dispendeAnd lese alle þat he hathe ys hys vsageAnd he hade leuere talke with a pageLine 692 þan to commune with eny gentille wiȝtWhere he myȝt lerne gentilnesse ariȝtStrawe for youre gentilnesse quod our OsteWhat Marchaunt Sir parde wele þou wosteLine 696 þat eche of you mot tellen atte lesteA tale or twoo or breken hys by-hesteþat knowe I wele quod þe Marchaunt certayneI prey you not hauethe me in disdeyne
Line 700
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[6-text p 499] Line 700 Thouȝe to þis man yf I speke a worde or twoTelle on þi tale with out wordes mooGladly Sir Oste quod he I wolle obey [Sloane MS 1685 folio 87a] Vnto youre wille nowe herkeneth what I seyeLine 704 I wolle not contrarye you in no wyseAs fer as my wyttes woll sufficeI prey to god þat hit mot plesen youþan wote I wele þat hit ys gode ynoweLine 708
Here endithe þe prologge of þe Marchaunt]
descriptionPage 330
[6-text p 500]
[and bygynnethe þe tale
[Sloane MS 1685 folio 145b]
[THE PROEM.]
Thys olde gentell Brytouns in hir/ dayesOf dyuerse auentures maden layesRemedyn in hert / first Britoun tongeLine 711 Whiche layes with her/ Instrumentes þei songeOþere elles radden hem for her plesaunceAnd on of heme haue I in remembraunceWhiche shalle seye with as goode wille as I canBut Sires be cause þat I am a burell manLine 716 At my begynnynge firste I you be-sechehauethe me excused of my rude specheI lerned neuere rethorike certayneÞenge þat I speke hit mote be bare & playneLine 720 I slepe neuere on þe Mount of pernasoNe neuere lered marchus Tullius ne CitheroColours of rethoryke ne knew I none with outen dredeBut suche Colours as growen in þe medeLine 724 Oþere elles suche as men dye or peynteColoures of rethorike ben me to queynteMyne sperit feliþe · nouȝt of suche matereBut ȝif you luste my tale shalle ȝe not here]
[THE TALE.]
IN Armoryk that callyd is Britayne [folio 287a] There was a knyȝt that louede & dede his payneTo serue a lady in his beste wyseAnd manye a labour / manye a gret empryse
Line 732
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[6-text p 501] Line 732 He for his lady wrouȝte er sche weere wouneffor sche was on the fayreste vndyr sunneAnd ek therto come of so hegh kynredeThat weel onethe durste this knyȝt for dredeLine 736 Telle hire his woo his peyne & his distresseBut at the laste / sche for his worthynesseAnd namely for his meke obeysaunceHath swich a pete cauȝt for his penaunceLine 740 That pruyuyly sche fel of his acordTo take hym for hire husbonde & for hire lordOf swich lordschepe as men han of here wyuysAnd for to leede þe more in blysse hire lyuysLine 744 Of his frewil he swoor hire as a knyȝtThat he neuere his lyue day ne nyȝtNe schulde vp on hym take maystryeA-geyn hire wil ne kythe hire IalusyeLine 748 But hire obeye & folwe hire wil in alAs ony louere to his lady schalSaue that the name of souereynteThat wele he haue for schame of his degreLine 752 Sche thankede hym with ful greet humblesseAnd seyde sire seyth of ȝoure gentillesseȝe profere me to haue so greet a reyneNe wolde neuere god be-twyn vs tweyneLine 756 As in myn gylt were other werre or stryfSyre I wele be ȝoure humble trewe wyfHaue here myn trouthe tyl myn herte bresteThus been they in quyete & in resteLine 760 ffor o thyng syrys sauely dare I seyeThat frendys eueryche oþer moote obeyeȝif they wele longe holde cumpannyeLoue wele not been constreynede by maystryeLine 764 Whan maystrye comyth the god of loue anonBethith his wyngis & farewel he is goonLoue is a thyng as ony spyryt free [folio 287b] Wemen of kynde desire libertee
Line 768
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[6-text p 502] Line 768 And not to been constreynd as a thralAnd so don men ȝif I soth seyn schalLoke ho so most is pacient in loueHe is at his auauntag al a-boueLine 772 Pacience is an high vertu certeynffor it venquyschith as these clerkis seynThyngis þat rygour schulde neuere atteyneffor euery word men may not chide or pleyneLine 776 Lernyth to suffere or ellis so mote I goonȝe schul it lerne wheþer ȝe wele or non¶ ffor in this world serteyn there no wyȝt isThat he ne doth or seyth sumtyme a-mysLine 780 Ire seeknesse or constelaciounWyn wo or chaungyng of complexiounCauseth oftyn to don amys or spekynOn euery wrong a man may not been wrekynLine 784 Aftyr the tyme muste be thatemperaunceTo euery wyȝt that can on gouernaunceAnd therfore hath this wyse worthi knyȝtTo leue in ese sufferaunce to hire hyȝtLine 788 And sche to hym ful wisely gan to swereThat there schulde neuere been defaute in hire¶ Heere may men se an humble wys a-cordThus hath sche take hire seruaunt & hire lordLine 792 Seruaunt in loue & lord in maryageThanne was he bothe in lordschepe & seruageSeruage nay but in lo[r]dschepe a-boueSythe he hath bothe his lady & his loueLine 796 His lady certis & his wyf alsoTo whiche the lawe of loue a-cordyth þertoAnd whan he was in this prosperiteeHom with his wyf he goth to his cuntreLine 800 Nough fer fro pedmark þere his dwellynge wasWhere as he lyuyth in blysse & in solasWho coude telle but he hadde weddede beeThe Ioye / the ese / & the prosperite
Line 804
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[6-text p 503] Line 804 That is be-twyn an husbonde & his wyf [folio 288a] A ȝeer & more lastyth this blysful lyfTyl that the knyȝt of whom I spak of thusThat of kayrrud was clepid ArueragusLine 808 Schoop hym to goon & dwelle a ȝeer or tweyneIn Ingelond that clepid was er BreteyneTo seeke in armys worschepe & honourffor al his lust he sette in swich labourLine 812 And dwelte there too ȝeer the bok seyth thusNow wele I stynte of this ArueragusAnd speke I wele of dorigious his wyfThat louyth hire husbonde as hire lyfLine 816 ffor hyse absence wepith sche & sykythAs doon these noble wyuys whan hem lykythSche / mornyth / wakyth / waylyth / fastith pleynythDesyr of hise presens so hire streynythLine 820 That al this wyde world sche sette at nouȝtHire frendys whiche that knewe hyre heuy thouȝtConfortyn 3here in al3 that euere they mayThey preche hire they telle hire nyght & dayLine 824 That causeles sche sleth hyre selue allasAnd euery confort possible in this casThey don to hire with al here besynesseAl for to make hire leue hire heuynesseLine 828 By proces as ȝe knowyn euerichoonMan may so longe grauyn in a stoonTyl sum fygure ther-in enpryntid beSo longe han they confortid tyl that scheLine 832 Resceyuede hath by hope & by resounThenprentyng of hire consolacyounThorw whiche / al hire sorwe gan swageSche may not al wey duryn in swych rageLine 836 And ek Arueragus in al this careHath sent hire lettere hom of his weelfareAnd that he hastely wele come a-geynOr ellis hadde this sorwe hire herte slayn
Line 840
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[6-text p 504] Line 840 Here freendis saw hyre sorwe gan a-slakeAnd preyede hire / on kneis for godis sakeTo comyn & romyn heere in cumpanye [folio 288b] A-wey to dryue hire derke fantasyeLine 844 And finally sche grauntede that requesteffor wel sche thouȝte it was for the besteNow stood hire castel faste by the seeAnd oftyn with hire frendis walkede scheLine 848 Hire to disporte on this banke an highWhere that sche manye a schip & barge seighSeylynge here cours / where as hem leste gooBut thanne was that a parcel of hire wooLine 852 ffor to hire self ful ofte seyde scheIs there no schip / of so manye as I seWil bryngyn hom myn lord thanne were myn herteAl warychid of hire bittere peynys smerteLine 856 A nothir tyme there wolde sche sitte & thynkeAnd caste hire eyen / doun fro the brynkeBut whan sche say / the gresely rokis blakeffor verray feer / so wolde hyre herte quakeLine 860 That on hire feet / sche myȝt hire not susteneThanne wolde sche sitte / adoun vp on the greneAnd pitously / in-to the se by-holdeAnd seye ryȝt thus / with sorweful sikys coldeLine 864 Eterne god / that thour thyn puruyaunceLedist the world / be Iuste gouernaunceIn ydil as men seyn / ȝe nothyng makeBut lord these grysely / feendly rokkis blakeLine 868 That semyn rathere / a foul confusiounOf werk than ony fayr creaciounOf which / a parfyt / wys god & stableWhy han ȝe wrouȝt this werk onresonableLine 872 ffor bi this werk. South. North / West & EstThere is I-fostered. no man / ne brid ne bestIt doth no good / to myn wit but a-noyithSe ȝe nat lord how mankynde it distroyeth
Line 876
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[6-text p 505] Line 876 An hunderede thousent / bodyis of mankyndeHan rolkis slayn / al ben they nat in myndeWhiche mankynd is / so fayr a part of thyn werkThat þou it madist / lyk to thyn owene merkLine 880 Thanne semythit ȝe hadde a gret chiertee [folio 289a] Toward mankynde but how thanne may it beThat ȝe sweche meenys make it to distroyenWhiche menys doon no good but euere a-noyenLine 884 I wot wel clerkys wele seye as hem lesteBy argumentis that al is for the besteThow I ne can the causis not I-knoweBut that god / that made wynd to bloweLine 888 As keepe myn lord / this is myn conclusiounTo clerkis leete I al discripciounBut wolde god that alle these rokkis blakeWere sunkyn in-to helle for his sakeLine 892 These rokkis sleen myn herte for the fereThus seyde sche with manye a pitous teereHire fryndys saw that it was no disportTo romyn by the se but disconfortLine 896 And schopyn for to pleyen sum wher ellisThey leddyn hire by reueris & by wellisAnd ek in othere places delectablesTh[e]y dauncedyn the[y] pleyedyn at ches & tablysLine 900 So on a day ryȝt in the morwetideVn-tyl a gardyn that was ther bysideIn whiche they haddyn mad here ordenaunceOf vitaylis & of othere puruyaunceLine 904 They goon & pleye hem al the longe dayAnd this was on the sexte morwe of mayWhiche may hadde peyntid with hise softe schourysThis gardyn ful of leuys & of flourisLine 908 And craft of manys hand so curiouslyArayed hadde this gardyn trewelyThat neuere was thare gardy of swich a prysBut it hadde been the verray paradys
Line 912
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[6-text p 506] Line 912 The odour of flourys & the frosche syghtWolde han maad ony herte for to lyȝtThat euere was born but ȝif to gret seknesseOr to greet sorwe hadde it in distresseLine 916 So ful it was of beute with plesaunceAt aftyr dyner gunne thei to daunceAnd synge also saue dorygeen alone [folio 289b] Whiche maade alwey hire compleynt & hyre moneLine 920 ffor sche ne saw hym on the daunce goThat was hire husbonde & hire loue alsoBut natheles sche mote a tyme ( a-bydeAnd wyth good hope lete hire here slydeLine 924 Vp on this daunce a-mongis oþere menDaunsede a squier bi-fore DorigenThat froschere was & Iolyere of arayAs to myn doon as is the monyth of mayLine 928 He syngith daunseth passynge ony manThat is or was syn the world be-ganTher-with he was ȝif men schulde hym discryueOn of te beste farynge man on lyueLine 932 ȝong. strong. ryght verteuous. & ryche. & wysAnd weel be-louyd & holdyn in greet prysAnd schortely ȝif the sothe tellyn schalOnwetyng of this Dorygen at alLine 936 This lusty squyer seruaun to venusWhiche þat I-clepede was aureliusHadde louyd hire best of ony creatureToo ȝeer & more as was his auentureLine 940 But neuere durste he telle hire his greuanceWyth-oute cuppe he drank al his penaunceHe was dispeyred nothyng durste he seyeSaue in his songis sumwhat wolde he wreyeLine 944 His woo as in a gentyl compleynyngeHe seyde he louede & was belouyd nothyngOf swiche matiere made he manye layisSongis compleyntis / roundelis virelayes
Line 948
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[6-text p 507] Line 948 How he durste not his sorwe telleBut languscht as a furye doth in helleAnd deye he muste he seyde as dede Ekkoffor Narcisus that durste not telle his woLine 952 In othere maner than ȝe here me seyeNe durste he nat to hire his woo be-wreyeSaue that parauenture sumtyme at dauncesThere ȝonge folk kepyn here obseruauncesLine 956 It may wel be he lokede on hire face [folio 290a] In swich a wyse as men that askyth graceBut no thyng wiste sche of his ententeNathe-les it happid er they thens wenteLine 960 By cause that he was hire neghebourAnd was a man of worchepe & honourAnd hadde I-knowyn hym of tyme ȝoreThey fille in speche & they more & moreLine 964 Vn-to his purpos drow aureliusAnd whan he saw his tyme he seyde thusMadame quod he by god that this world maadeSo that I wyste it myȝte ȝoure herte gladeLine 968 I wolde þat day that ȝoure arueragusWente ouyr the se that I AurelyusHadde went there neuere I schulde a comyn a-geynffor weel I woot myn seruyse is in veynLine 972 My guerdoun is but brestynge of myn herteMadame rewyth on mynne peynys smerteffor with a word ȝe may ne sle & saueHeere at ȝoure feet god wolde that I were graueLine 976 I ne haue as now no leyser more to seyeHauyth mercy swete or ellis ȝe do me deye¶ Sche gan to lokyn vp on aureliusIs this ȝoure wil quod sche & seye ȝe thusLine 980 Neuere erst quod sche ne wiste I what ȝe menteBut now Aurelius I knewe ȝoure ententeBy-twixe god that ȝaf me soule & lyfNe schal I neuere been vntrewe wyf
Line 984
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[6-text p 508] Line 984 In word ne werk as fer as I haue witI wele been his to whom that I am knytTake this for fynal answere as of meBut aftyr in pleyn thus seyde scheLine 988 Aurele quod sche bi hye god a-boueȜit wolde I grauntyn ȝow to been ȝoure loueSyn I se ȝow so pitously compleyneLoke what day that endelyng BreteyneLine 992 Ȝe remoue alle the rolkis ston be stonThat they ne lette schyp ne boot to goonI seye whan ȝe han mad the cost so clene [folio 290b] Of rokkis that there ne is no stoon I-seeneLine 996 Thanne wele I loue ȝow best of ony manHaue here myn trouthe In al that euere I canIs there noon othis grace quod heNo be that lord quod sche that makede meLine 1000 ffor wel I wot that It schal neuere betydeLat sweche folyis out of ȝoure herte slydeWhat deynte schulde a man han in his lyfffor to go loue a-noþer manys wyfLine 1004 That hath hire body whan so that hym lykythAurelius ful ofte sore sykythWo was aurelius whan that he this herdeAnd with a sorweful herte he thus answerdeLine 1008 Madame quod he this were an ImpossibleThanne mote I deye on sodeyn deth horribleAnd with that word he turnede hym a-nonTho come here othere frendis manyonLine 1012 And in the aleyijs they romede vp & dounAnd no thyng wiste of this conclusiounBut sodeynly begunne reuel neweTil that the bryȝte sunne loste his heweLine 1016 ffor thorisonte refte þe sunne his lyȝtThis is as meche to seye as it was nyȝtAnd hom they goon In Ioye & in solasSaue only wreche Aurelius allas
Line 1020
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[6-text p 509] Line 1020 He to his hous is goon with sorweful herteHe seth he may not from his deth asterteHym somede that he felte his herte coldeVp to the heuene hise hondis he gan holdeLine 1024 And on hise kneis bare he sette hym dounAnd in his rauynge seyde his orysounffor verray woo out of his wit he broydeHe nyste what he spak but thus he seydeLine 1028 With pitous herte his pleynt hath he bygunneVnto the goddis & fyrst vp to the sunne¶ He seyde Appollo god & gouernourOf euery plaunte herbe tre & flourLine 1032 That ȝeuyst aftyr thi declinacioun [folio 291a] To eche of hem his tyme & his sesounAs thyn herberwe chaungith lowe & hygheLord phebus cast thyn merciable IyeLine 1036 On wrechede auryele wheche that am but lornLo lord myn lady hath myn deth I-swornWith-outyn gilt but thyn benyngneteVp-on myn dedly herte haue sum peteeLine 1040 ffor wel I wot lord phebus If thow lestȝe may me helpe saue myn lady bestNow vouchith saf that I may ȝow deuyseHow that I may been holpe & in what wyseLine 1044 ¶ Ȝoure blysful systyr luciane the scheneThat of the see is cheef goddesse & queeneThow neptinius haue deyte on the seeȝit Enaparensse a-bouyn hym is scheLine 1048 ȝe knowyn weel lord that ryȝt as hire desyris to been quykyd & lyghtenyd of ȝoure fyerffor whiche sche folwyth ȝow ful busylyRyȝt so the see desyryth naturellyLine 1052 To folwyn hire as sche that is goddesseBothe in the se & ryuerys more & lesseTherfore lord phebus this is myn requestDo this myrakele or do myn herte brest
Line 1056
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[6-text p 510] Line 1056 That now next at this opposiciounWhich in the sygne schal be of the lyounAs preyeth hire so greet a flood to bryngeThat fyue fademe at the leste it ouyr spryngeLine 1060 The hyeste rok in armorik briteyneAnd lat this flod endure ȝerys tweyneThanne sertys to myn lady may I seyeHoldyth ȝoure heste the rokkis been a-weyLine 1064 Lord phebus doth this myrakele for mePreyeth hyr sche go no fastere cours than ȝeI seye preye ȝoure systyr that sche gooNon fastere course / these ȝerys twoLine 1068 Thanne schal sche been at the fulle alweyAnd spryng flood laste bothe nyght & dayAnd but she wouchesaf in swich maneere [folio 291b] To graunte me myn souereyn lady deereLine 1072 Preye hire to synke euery rokke a-doovnIn to hire owene derke regiounVndyr the ground there pluto dwellyth InneOr neuere more schal I myn lady wynneLine 1076 Thy temple in delphos wil I barfoot sekeLord phebus se the teris on myn chekeAnd of myn peyne haue compassiounAnd with word for sorwe he fel a-dounLine 1080 2And long tyme he lay / forth in a traunce2His brothir which that knew of his penaunceVp cauȝte hym / & to bedde hath hym brouȝtDispeyrede in this turnement & this thoghtLine 1084 Lete I this woful creature lyeChese he for me / where he wele leue or dye¶ Arueragus / with heye & gret honourAs he that was of chyualrye the flourLine 1088 Is comyn hom & othere worthy menO blysful art tow now thow DorigeounThat hast thyn lusty husbonde in thyne armysThe frosche knyȝt the worthi man of armys
Line 1092
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[6-text p 511] Line 1092 That louyt the as his owene hertis lyfNothing luste hym to be ymaginatyfȝif ony wight hadde spoke whil he was outeTo hire of loue he hadde of it no douteLine 1096 He not entendyth to no swich matereBut dauncith Iustyth makyth hire good chereAnd thus in Ioye & blysse I leete hem dwelleAnd of the sike Aurelyus I wele ȝow telleLine 1100 ¶ In langure & in turnemen furyusTwo ȝeer & moore lay wreche aurelyusEr ony foote he myȝte on erthe goonNe confort in this tyme ne hadde he noonLine 1104 Saue of his brothir which that was a clerkHe knew of al this wo & al this werkffor to noon othir creature certeynOf this matere he durste no word seynLine 1108 Vndyr his brest he bar it sore [folio 292a] And so fer forth it greuede hym the mooreThan euere dede Pamplius or GalatheeneHis brest was sor with-outyn for to seneBut in his herte ay was the arwe keneLine 1112 And weel ȝe knowe that of a sursanureIn surgerye is parlious the cureBut men myȝte tuche the arwe or come therbyHis brothir wep & waylede pryuylyLine 1116 Til at the laste hym fil in remembraunceThat whil he was at orlionys in fraunceAs ȝonge clerkis that been likerousTo rendyn artis that been curiousLine 1120 Sekin in eueri halk & euery herneParticuler sciencis for to lerneHe hym remembrede that vp-on a dayAt orlionys in stodie he sayLine 1124 Of magyk naturel whiche that his felaweThat was that tyme a bacheler of laweAl were he there to lerne a nothir craftHadde priuyly vp on his deske laft
Line 1128
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[6-text p 512] Line 1128 Touchynge the eyghte & twenty manciounnysLine 1130 That longyn to the moone & swich folyeLine 1131 Swich book that spak meche of the operaciounnysLine 1129 [As in oure dayes nys not worþe a flye]ffor holycherchis feyth in oure beleueLine 1133 Ne suffere noone illusiounnys vs to greueAnd whan this bok was in remembraunceAnoon for ioye his herte gan to daunceLine 1136 And to hym self he seyde pryuylyMyn brother schal been warshit hastilyffor I am sekyr that theere ben sciencisBy whiche men mak diuers apparencisLine 1140 Sweche as these subtyle tregettourys pleyeffor ofte at festis / haue I weel herd seyeThat tregettouris with-inne an halle largeHaue mad come in a watyr & a bargeLine 1144 And in the halle rowyn vp & dounSumtyme haue semyd to come a grym lyounAnd sumtyme flouris sprynge as in a mede [folio 292b] Sumtyme a vine & grapis white & reedeLine 1148 Sumtyme a castel al of lym & stoonAnd whan hym lykith woydede it anoonThus semede it to euery manys syȝtNow thanne conclude I thus as ȝif I myghtLine 1152 At orlyonys sum old felaue I fyndeThat hadde these monys manciounnys in myndeOr othere Magyk naturel a-boueHe schulde weel make myn brothir han his loveLine 1156 ffor with apparens a clerk may makeTo mannys syȝt that alle the rokkis blakeOf Brytaygne were voydede euerychonAnd schippis by the brynke comyn & goonLine 1160 And in swich forme endure a day or twoThanne were myn brothir warsched of his wooThanne muste sche nedys holdyn hyre by-hesteOr ellis he schal schame hire at the leste
Line 1164
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[6-text p 513] Line 1164 What schulde I make a lengere tale of thisVnto hise brotheris bed he comyn isAnd swich confort he ȝaf hym for to goonTo Orlyonys that he vp styrte a-noonLine 1168 And in his weye forward is he fareIn hope for to been lessede of his careWhan they were come / almost to that ceteBut ȝif it were a two furlong or threLine 1172 A ȝong clerk romynge by hym self he metteWhiche that in latyn thrystily hym gretteAnd aftyr that he seyde a wondyr thyngI knowe quod he the cause of ȝoure comyngLine 1176 And er they ferthere ony foote wenteHe told hem al that was in here ententeThis Britoun Clerk hym askede of felawysThe whiche hem had knowe of olde dawisLine 1180 And he answerde hem that they dede wereffor which he wepte ful ofte manye a teereDoun of his hors Aurelyus lyȝte a-nonAnd with this Magicien forth is he gonLine 1184 Hom to his hous & maade hem wel at eese [folio 293a] Hem lakkede no vitayle that myghte hem pleeseSo weel arayede hous as there was oonAurelyus in his lyf saw neuere noonLine 1188 He shewede hym er he wente to soperfforestis / parkis ful of wylde deerThere saugh he hertis with here hornys hyeThe gretteste that euere were seyn with IyeHe saw of hem an hunderede weere slayn with houndisAnd some with arwis bledde of bittere wondysHe say whan woyded were the wylde deerThe faucounneris vp-on a fayr reuerLine 1196 That with here haukys han the heyroun slaynTho saugh he knyȝtis slayn in a playnAnd aftyr this he dede hym swich plesaunceThat he hym schewede his lady on a dau[n]ce
Line 1200
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[6-text p 514] Line 1200 On whiche hym selue daunsede as hym thouȝteAnd whanne this Maystyr that this Magik wrouȝtSaw it was tyme he clapte hise handis twoAnd farweel al oure reuel was a goLine 1204 And remoūuede they neuere out of the housWhil they seye al the syght merueliousBut in hise stodie there as hise bokys beThey seetyn stille & no whit but they threLine 1208 To hym his maystir callede his squyerAnd seyde thus is redy oure soperAlmost an hour it is I vndyrtakeSythe I ȝow bad oure soper for to makeLine 1212 Whan that these worthi men wentyn with meIn-to myne stodye there as mynne bokis beSyre quod this squyer whan that it lykyth ȝowIt is al redy thow ȝe wele rygh nowLine 1216 Go we thanne suppe as for the besteThese amerouse folk sumtyme mote han resteAt aftyr soper felle they in treteeWhat summe schulde this maysteris gerdoun beeLine 1220 To remeuyn alle the rokkis of bretayneAnd ek from Gerounde to the mount of SayneHe made it straung & swor so god hym saue [folio 293b] Lasse than a thousent pound wolde he nat haueLine 1224 Ne gladli for that summe wolde he nat goonAurelyus with blysful herte a-noonAnswerde thus fy on a thousent poundThis wide world which that men seyn is roundLine 1228 I wolde it ȝeue ȝif I weere lord of itThis bargayn is ful drewyn for we been knytȜe schal been payed trewely be myn troutheBut lokyth now for no necligence ne sloutheLine 1232 Ȝe tarye vs no lengere than to morweNay quod this clerk / here myn feyth to borweTo bedde is goon Aurelius whan hym lesteAnd wel nygh al that nyght he hadde his reste
Line 1236
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[6-text p 515] Line 1236 What for his labour & his hope of blysHis woful herte of penaunce hadde a lysVp on the morwe whan that it was dayTo bryteyne toke they the ryȝte wayLine 1240 Aurelyus & the Magicyoun by sydeAnd been descendit there they wele vnbydeAnd this was as the bokys me remembreThe colde frosty sesoun of decembreLine 1244 Phebus wex old & hewid lyk latounThat in his hoote declynaciounSchon as the burnet gold with streemys bryȝteBut now in Caprycorn adoun he lyghteLine 1248 Wheere as he schon ful pale I dar weel seynThe bittere frostis with the sleet & reynDistroyed hat the grene & euery ȝerdIanus sit by the fyr with double berdLine 1252 And drynkyth of hyse bugle horn the wynBy-forn hym stant braun / of the tuskyd swynAn Nowel syngyth / eueuery lusty manAurelius in al that euere he canLine 1256 Doth to his maystyr chier & reuerenceAnd preyeth hym to don his dilygenceTo bryngyn hym out of hise peynys smerteOr with a swerd that he wolde slytte his herteLine 1260 This subtyl clerk swych routhe hadde of this man [folio 294a] That nygh[t] & day he spedde hym as he kanTo waytyn a tyme of his conclusiounThat is to seyne to makyn illusiounLine 1264 By swich an apparens or iogilryeI ne can no termys of astrologieThat sche & euery wygh[t] schulde wene & seyeThat of Brytayne the rokkys were a-weyeLine 1268 Or ellys they were sunkyn vndyr groundeSo at the laste he hath his tyme I-foundeTo make hise Iapis & hise wrechedenesseOf swich a supersticious cursedenesse
Line 1272
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[6-text p 516] Line 1272 Hise tablis colletanes / forth he brouȝtefful weel correctid / ne there lakkede nough[t]Neythir his collect / ne his expans ȝeerisNe hise rotis ne hise othere gerisLine 1276 As been hise sentris & hise argumentisAnd hise proporciounnys conuenyentisffor hise equatiou[n]s / in euery thyngAnd by his .8e. speere / in his werkyngLine 1280 He knew ful weel / hu fer Alnath was schoueffro the hed of thilke / fixe aries a-boueThat in the nynte speere considered isfful subtily he calkelid al thisLine 1284 Whan he hadde founde his fyrste manciounHe knew the remenaunt / by proporcyounAnd knew tharysyng of the moone weelAnd in whos face & terme euerideelLine 1288 And knew ful weel the monys manciounA-cordaunt to his operaciounAnd knew also hise othere obseruauncisffor sweche illusiounnys & sweche myschauncisLine 1292 As hethene folk vsedyn / in thilke dayisffor which no lengere makyth he delayisBut thour his magik for a wyke or tweyeIt semede þat alle the rokkys were aweyeLine 1296 ¶ Aurelyus which that ȝit dispeyred isWhere he schal han his loue / or fare a mysAwaytht nygh[t] & day on this myrakele [folio 294b] And whan he knew þat there was noon obstakeleLine 1300 That woydede weere the rokkys euerychonDoun to hise maysteris feet he fel a-noonAnd seyde I woful wreche aurelyusThanke I ȝow lord & lady myn VenusLine 1304 That me han holpyn of myne caris coldeAnd to the temple his weye forth hath heldeWhere as he knew he schulde his lady seeAnd whan he saw his tyme a-noon ryght he
Line 1308
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[6-text p 517] Line 1308 With dredful herte & with humble cheereSaluyth hath his souereyn lady deere¶ Myn ryghte lady quod this woful manWhom I most dreede & loue as I best canLine 1312 And lothest weere of al this world displeeseNeere it þat I for ȝow / haue swich diseseThat I muste deyen here at ȝoure fot a-nonNat wolde I telle how me is wo bygoonLine 1316 But sertys othir muste I deye or pleyneȜe sle me giltles for veray peyneBut of myn deth thow ȝe han no routheA-vyseth ȝow er than ȝe breke ȝoure troutheLine 1320 repente ȝow for thilke god a-boueEr ȝe me sle by cause that I ȝow loueffor madame weel ȝe wot what ȝe han hyȝtNat that I chalange ony thyng of ryghtLine 1324 Of ȝow myn souereyn lady but ȝoure graceBut in a gardyn / ȝond in swich a placeȜe woot ryȝt weel what ȝe be-hyghtyn meAnd in myn hand ȝoure trouthe plyghte ȝeLine 1328 To loue me god wot ȝe seyde soAl be that I vnworthi am thertoMadame I speke it for the honour of ȝowMoore than to saue myn hertys lyf ryȝt nowLine 1332 I haue don so as ȝe comaundede meAnd ȝif ȝe vouche saf ȝe may go seDoth as ȝow lyste hauyth ȝoure heste in myndeffor quyk or ded rygh[t] there ȝe schul me fyndeLine 1336 In ȝow lyth al to do me lyue or deye [folio 295a] But weel I wot the rolkis been a-weyeHe takyth his leue & sche a-stonyd stodIn al hire face nas a drope of bloodLine 1340 Sche wenede neuere / haue come in swich a trappeAllas quod sche that euere this schulde happeffor wende I neuere by possibiliteThat swich a monstre or merueyle myghte be
Line 1344
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[6-text p 518] Line 1344 It is ageyn the prosses of natureAnd hom sche goth a sorweful criatureffor verray fer onethe/ may sche goSche wepith waylyth al a day or twoLine 1348 And swounnyth that routhe it was to seeBut whi it was to no wyȝt tolde scheeffor out of tounne was goon arueragusBut to hire self sche spak & seyde thusLine 1352 With pale face & with ful sorweful cheereIn hire compleynt as ȝe schal aftyr heere¶ Allas quod sche on the fortune I pleyneThat vndyr wrapped / hast me in thyn cheyneLine 1356 ffor which to skape woot I no socourSaue only deth / or ellys dishonourOon of these two / by-howith me to cheeseBut na-theles ȝit haue I leuere to leseLine 1360 Myn lyf than of myn body to han a schameOr knowyn myn self fals or lese myn nameAnd with myn deth I may been quit I-wisHat there nat manye a noble wyf er thisLine 1364 And manye a maydyn I-slayn hire self allasrathere than with hire body don trespasȜis certis lo these storyis bere witnesseWhan thretty tirauntis ful of cursedenesseLine 1368 Hadde slayn Phidoun in atthenes at the festeThey comaundit his doughtren for taresteAnd bryngyn here by-forn hym in despitAl nakid to fulfylle his foule delytLine 1372 And in here fadyris blood they made hem daunceVp on the pauement god ȝeue hym myschanceffor which these woful maydenys ful of drede [folio 295b] Rathere than thy wolde lese here maydynheedeLine 1376 They priuyly ben styrt in-to a welleAnd drenkte hem seluyn as the bokys telle¶ They of Messene lete enquire & sekeOf Latedomye fifty madenys eke
Line 1380
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[6-text p 519] Line 1380 On whiche they wolde doon here lecheryeBut was theere noon of al that cumpaynyeThat sche nas slayn & with a good ententeChes rathere for to deye / than assenteLine 1384 To been oppressed of hire maydynhedeWhi schulde I thanne to deye been en drede¶ Loke ek the tyraunt aristoclidesThat louede a mayden / hyghte stymphabidesLine 1388 Whan that hire fadyr slay was on a nyghtOn to dyane temple goth sche ryȝtAnd hente the emage in hire armys twoffrom which I-mage wolde sche nat goLine 1392 No whygh[t] myghte hire handys of it a-raceTyl sche was slayn ryȝt in the selue place¶ Now sythe that maydenys / haddyn swich dispitTo been defoyled with manys foule delytLine 1396 Weel oghte a wyf rathere hyre selue sleeThan been defoyled as it semyth meeWhat schal I seye of hasdrubales wyfThat at cartage be-rafte hire self hire lyfLine 1400 Whan sche say that romaynys wan the tounnSche tok hire chyldere alle & skypte a-dounIn-to the fer & ches rathere to deyeThan ony romayn dede hire vilanyeLine 1404 ¶ Hath not lucresse I-slayn hire self allasAt rome whan sche oppressed wasOf Tarquyn for hire thoughte it was a schameTo lyuyn whan sche hadde lost hire nameLine 1408 ¶ The seuene maydenys of Melesye alsoHan slayn hem self for verray drede & worathere than folk of gaule hem schulde opperesseMo than a thousent storyis as I gesseLine 1412 Coude I now telle as touchynge this mateere [folio 296a] ¶ Whan Hadrabate was slayn his wyf so deereHire selvyn slow / & leet hire blood to glydeIn Hadrabis woundis deepe & wyde
Line 1416
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[6-text p 520] Line 1416 And seyde myn body at the leste wayThere schal no man defoylyn ȝif I mayWhat schulde I mo ensaumplys hereof saynSyn that so manye / han hem selue slaynLine 1420 Wel rathere than they wolde defoyled beI wele conclude that it is bet to meTo slen myn self than ben defoyled thusI wele been trewe vn-to ArueragusLine 1424 Or rathere slen myn self in sum manere¶ As dede democienys doughtyr deereBi-cause sche wolde not defoylyd be¶ O Cedasus it is ful greet piteLine 1428 To redyn how thynne doughteryn deyedyn allasThat slow hem self for swych manere cas¶ As greet a pyte was it or wel mooreThe theban maydyn that for nychanoreLine 1432 Hire seluyn slow / ryȝt for swych maner wo¶ A nothir theban maydyn dede ryȝt soffor on of massedoyne hadde hire oppressedSche with hyre deth hyre maydynhed redressedLine 1436 ¶ What schal I seyn of nycherates wyfThat for swich cas berafte hire self hyre lyf¶ How trowe ȝe ek was AlthebiadesHyre loue al rathere for to deyen cheesLine 1440 Than for to sufferyn hyse body onburyede be¶ Loo which a wyf was Alceste quod sche¶ What seyth Omer of goode penolopeeAs Crece knowyth of hire chastiteeLine 1444 ¶ Parde of Lacedomya is wrytyn thusThat whan at troye was slayn ProtheselausNo lengere wolde sche leuyn aftyr hise day¶ The same of noble porcya tellyn I mayLine 1448 With-outyn Brutus coude sche nat lyueTo whom sche hadde al hol hire herte ȝyue¶ The parfyte wifhod of Arthemesye [folio 296b] Honoured is thour al the Barbarye
Line 1452
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[6-text p 521] Line 1452 ¶ O Teuta queen / thyn wyfly chastiteeTo alle wyuys may a myrour bee. . . . .. . . . .Thus pleynede Dorigen a day or tweyeLine 1457 Purposynge euere that sche wolde deyeBut natheles vp-on the thredde nyȝtHom cam Arueragus this worthy knyȝtLine 1460 And axed hire why that sche weep so soreAnd sche gan wepyn euere lengere the more¶ Allas quod sche that euere was I bornThus haue I seyd quod sche thus haue I swornLine 1464 And tolde hym al as ȝe han herd be-foreIt nedith nat reherse ȝow no mooreThis husbonde with glad cheere in frendely wyseAnswerede & seyde as I schal ȝow deuyseLine 1468 Is there ought ellis / Dorigene but thisNay nay quod sche god helpe me so as wisThis is to meche & it were godys willeȝa wyf quod he / lat slepyn & be stylleLine 1472 [hit may be wele ȝit perauenture to say [Sloane MS 1685 folio 155b] ȝe sholen yuore trouthe holden by youre fay]ffor god so wysely haue mercy vp-on meI hadde wel leuere I-stekyd for to beLine 1476 ffor verray loue whiche that I to ȝow haueBut ȝif ȝe schulde ȝoure trouthe kepe & saueTrouthe is the heyeste thyng that man may kepeAnd with that word he brast a-non to weepeLine 1480 And seyde I ȝow forbede vp peyne of dethThat neuere whil ȝow lastyt lyf or brethTo wyght telle thow of this auentureAs I best may I wele myn wo endureLine 1484 Ne make no cuntenaunce of heuynesseThat folk of ȝow may deme harm or gesseAnd forth he clepith a squyer & a maydeGoth forth a-non with Dorigene he sayde
Line 1488
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[6-text p 522] Line 1488 And bryngith hire to swich a place a-nonThey take here leue & on here weye they gonBut they ne wyste why she thidyr wenteHe nolde no wight tellyn his ententeLine 1492 . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . .Line 1496 . . . . .. . . . .This squier which that hyȝte aurelyus [folio 297a] On Dorigene that was so amerousLine 1500 Of auenture happede hire to meeteA-myd the toun rygh[t] in the quykkeste streteAs sche was boun to go the woye ful ryȝtToward the gardyn there that sche hadde hightLine 1504 And he was to the gardynward alsoffor weel he spyed whan sche woldo goOut of hire hous to ony maner placeBut thus they mette of auenture or graceLine 1508 And he saluyth hire with good ententeAnd axed hire whidyrward sche wenteAnd sche answerde half as sche were madVn-to the gardyn as myn husbonde badLine 1512 Myn trouthe for to holde allas allas¶ Aurelius gan wonderyn of this casAnd in his herte hadde greet compassiounOf hire & of hire lamentaciounLine 1516 And of Arueragus the worthi knightThat bad hire holdyn al that sche hadde hiȝtSo loth hym was his wyf schulde breke hire troutheAnd in his herte he caughte of this greet routheLine 1520 Considerynge the beste on euery sydeThat for his lust ȝit were hym leuere a-bydeThan don so high a cherliche wrechedenesseAgayns fraunchese of alle gentillesseLine 1524
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[6-text p 523] Line 1524 ffor which in fewe wordys seyde he thusMadame sythe to ȝoure lord ArueragusThat sithe I se his grete gentillesseTo ȝow & eek I se wel ȝoure distresseLine 1528 That he were leuere han schame & that were routheThan ȝe to me schulde breke thus ȝoure troutheI haue wel leuere euere to suffere woThan I departe the loue by-twixe ȝow twoLine 1532 I ȝow relese madame in-to ȝoure hondQuyt euery surement & euery bondThat ȝe han mad to me as here be-fornSith thylke tyme which that ȝe were bornLine 1536 Myn trouthe I plyghte I schal ȝow neuere re-preue [folio 297b] Of no beheste & here I take myn leeueAs ofthe treweste & the beste wyfThat euere ȝit I knew in al myn lyfLine 1540 But euery wif be war of hire byhesteOn Dorigene / remembr[i]th at the lesteThus can a squyer doon a gentyl deedeAs weel as kan a knyȝt / with-outyn dredeLine 1544 ¶ Sche thankede hym vp-on hire kneis al bareAnd hom vn-to hire husbonde is sche fareAnd told hym al as ȝe han herd me seyd/And be ȝe sykyr / he was so weel apayedLine 1548 That weere impossible me to wryteWhat schulde I lengere / of this cas endyteArueragus & Dorygene / his wyfIn souereyn blysse leedyn forth here lyfLine 1552 Neuere eft ne was there angyr hem be-tweneHe cherysseth hire ryȝt as sche were a queeneAnd sche was with hym trewe for eueremooreOf these two folk ȝe gete of me no moreLine 1556 ¶ Aurelyus that his cost hath al for-lornCursith the tyme that euere was he bornAllas quod he allas that I be-hyȝteOf purede gold a thousent pound of wighte
Line 1560
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[6-text p 524] Line 1560 On to this philysophere how schal I doI se namoore but that I am fordoMyn erytage mote I nedis selleAnd ben a beggere heere may I nat dwelleLine 1564 And schamyn al myn kynrede in this placeBut I of hym may getyn betere graceBut natheles I wele of hym assayeAt serteyn dayis ȝeer be ȝer to payeLine 1568 And thanke hym of his greete curteysyeMyn trouthe wele I kepe I wele nat lyeWith herte sor he goth vnto his cofereAnd bryngith gold vn-to this philisophereLine 1572 The valew of fyue hunderede pound I gesseAnd hym be-sechith of hise gentilesse[To graunten hym dayes of þe paymentAnd sayde Maystere .I. dare wele make a vaunteLine 1576 I fayled neuere of my trouþe ȝetffor sykerly my dette shalle be quytTowardes ȝowe howe þat euere I fareTo gone a beggere in my kirtell bareLine 1580 But wolde ȝe vouche saue vpon suerteTwo ȝere or þre for to respiten meThen were I welle for elles mot I selleMyne herytage þere nys no more to telleLine 1584 Thys phylosophre soberly vnswaredAnd said þus when he þis worde herdehaue I not holde Couenaunte vnto þeȝee certes wele and truly quod heLine 1588 haste þou not hade þi lady as þe lykestNo no quod he and sorowfull he siȝeþeWhat was þe cause telle me yf þou canAurelius his tale a-none be-ganLine 1592 And tolde hym alle as ȝe han hard by-forehit nedith not to rehersen hit no morehe sayd Arueragus of gentilnes [Sloane MS 1685 folio 157b] hade leuere dye in sorowe and dystresse
Line 1596
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[6-text p 525] Line 1596 Than hys wyf were of hir/ trouþe falseThe · sorowe of Doregen he tolde hym alsehowe · loþe hir/ was to ben a wykked wyfAnd þat she leuere þat day loste · hir lyfLine 1600 And þat hir/ trouþe she · swore þorough InnocenceSche neuere erste herd speke of apparenceþat made me han of hir/ so grete piteAnd riȝt as frely as he sent hir/ meLine 1604 As frely sent I hir/ to hym a-gayneThys ys alle and somme þere nys no more to sayneThys phylosofre answered leue broþerEuere yche of/ you did gentilnesse to oþereLine 1608 þou arte a squyer/ and he ys a knyȝtBut god for-bede for hys blysfull myȝtBut ȝif a. Clerk couþe do a gentel dedeAs wele as ony of you withouten dredeLine 1612 Sir/ I relese þe þi þousand poundeAs þou riȝt nowe were cropen oute of groundeNe neuere or nowe hadest þou knowe meffor I wylle not taken a peny of þeLine 1616 ffor alle my craft and nouȝt for my travayleþou haste y-payed wele for my vitayleIt ys y-nouȝe and fare wele and haue god dayAnd toke his hors and forth he gothe hys wayLine 1620 Lordynges. þis question wylle I axe noweWhiche was þe most fre as þenkeþe youNow telleþe me or þat I ferthere wendeI can no more my tale ys at an endeLine 1624
Here endithe þe Frankeleyns tale]
Notes
Camb. MS, leaf 277;part of leaf torn off; filled-in here from Sl. 1685