The Corpus ms (Corpus Christi coll., Oxford) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 168]

GROUP B. (β. FRAGMENT III.)

§ 4. THE SHIPMAN'S TALE.

¶ Here bygynneþ þe schipmannes tale

A Marchaunt whilom dwelled at Seint Denys That riche was for which men heelde him wys A wyf he hadde of excellent beaute And compynable and reuerent was sche Which is a þing þat causeþ more dispence þen worþ is alle þe cheere and reuerence Line 1196 That men haue doon at festes and at daunces Suche salutaciouns and contynances Passeþ as doþ þe schadewe on a wal But woo is him þat paye moot for al Line 1200 þe sely housband algates he moste paye he moot vs cloþe and vs arraye As for his owen worschipe richely In which aray we daunce Iolyly Line 1204 And if þat he nouȝt may per aduenture [folio 204b] Or elles luste no suche spenses endure / But þenkeþ it is waste and y-loste / Thenne moot anoþer payen for oure coste Line 1208 Or lene us golde and þat is perilous þis noble marchand held a noble hous ffor which he hadde alday gret repayre ffor his largenesse and for his wyf was fayre Line 1212 þat wonder is but herkeneþ to my tale Amonges all his gestes grete and smale / þer was a monk a fair man and a bolde I trowe a þritty wynter he was olde / Line 1216 That euer in oon was drawyng to þe place þis ȝonge monk þat was so fair of face

[6-text p 169] Aqueynted was so wiþ þis goode man Siþenes þat here firste knowleche bygan Line 1220 That in his hous as ffamuler was he As it is possible eny frend to be And for as mekel as þe goode man And eek þis monk of which þat I bygan Line 1224 Were boþe tuo y-born in o village The monk him claymeþ as for cosynage And he aȝein he saiþ nought ones nay But was as glad þer of as foul of day Line 1228 ffor to his herte it was a gret plesaunce þus ben þay knitte wiþ eterne alliaunce / And ilke of hem gan oþer for to assure / Of broþerhode whiles þat here lyf may dure Line 1232 ffre was daun Iohn and namely of dispense As in þat hous and ful of diligence To do plesaunce and also gret costage / he nought forgat to ȝiue þe leste page / Line 1236 In al þat hous but after here degre He ȝaf þe lord and seþins al his meyne / Whan þat he came som maner honest þing ffor which þey were al glad of his comyng Line 1240 As foul is fayn whan sonne vp ariseþ [folio 205a] Namore of þis as now for it suffiseþ But so bifell þis marchaund vpon a day Schop him to make redy his array Line 1244 Toward þe toun of Bruges for to fare To byen þere a porcioun of ware ffor which he haþ to Parys sent anon A messanger and preyed haþ doun Ion Line 1248 That he schulde come to seint Denys and pleye Wiþ him and with his wyf a day or tweye Or he to Bruges wente in all wyse This noble monk of which I ȝou deuyse Line 1252 haþ of his abbot as him lust licence By cause he was a man of heih prudence

[6-text p 170] And eek an officer out for to ryde To see here graunges and here bernes wyde Line 1256 And vnto seynt Denys he comeþ anon Who was so welcome as my lord daun Iohn Oure deere cosyn ful of curtesye Wiþ him brought he a Iobbe of maluesye Line 1260 And eek anoþer ful of good vernage And volatille as ay was his vsage And þus I lete hem ete and drynke and pleye This marchand and þis monk a day or tweye / Line 1264 The þridde day þis marchand vp ariseþ And on his needes sadly him aviseþ And vp in to his countourhous goþ he / To rekne wiþ himselue wel may be Line 1268 Of þilke ȝeer how þat it with him stood And how þat he despended hadde his good And if þat he encresed were or non his bokes and his bagges many oon Line 1272 he leyþ bifore him on his countyng bord fful riche was his tresour and his hoord ffor which ful faste his counterhous dore he schette And eek he nolde noman schulde him lette Line 1276 Of his acountes for þe mene tyme [folio 205b] And þus he sitte til it was passed prime Daun Iohn was rysen in þe morne also / And in þe gardyn walkeþ to and fro Line 1280 And haþ his þinges sayde deuoutely þis goode wyf cam walkynge pryuely In to þe gardyn þer he walkeþ softe And him salueth as sche haþ don ofte Line 1284 A mayden childe came in hire companye Which at hire luste may gouerne and gye ffor ȝit vnder þe ȝerde was þe mayde O deere Cosyn myn daun Iohn sche sayde / Line 1288 What eyleþ ȝou so raþe to aryse Nece quod he it aughte ynough suffise

[6-text p 171] ffyue houres for to slepen on a nyght But it were for an olde palled knight Line 1292 As ben þese wedded men þat lye and dare As in a forme sitte alway an hare Were al forstraught wiþ houndes grete and smale But deere neece why be ȝe so pale / Line 1296 I trowe certes þat oure goode man haþ ȝou laboured seþenes þe night bygan þat ȝou were neede to resten hastily And wiþ þat word he lough ful meryly Line 1300 And of his owne þought he wax al reed This fayre wyf gan to schake hire heed And sayde þus ȝe god wot al quod sche Nay cosyn myn it stant nouȝt so wiþ me / Line 1304 ffor by þat god þat ȝaff/ me soule and lyf In all þe rewme of ffraunce is þer no wyf That lasse lust haþ to þat sory pley ffor I may synge allas and welawey Line 1308 þat I was born but to no wight quod sche Dar I nouȝt telle how it stant wiþ me Wherfore I þenke out of þis lond to wende Or elles of myself to make an ende / Line 1312 So ful am I of drede and of care [folio 206a] This monk bygan vpon þis wyf to stare And sayde allas my neece god it forbede That ȝe for eny sorwe or ony drede Line 1316 ffordo ȝoure self but telleþ forþ ȝoure greef Peraduenture I may in ȝour mescheef Counseile or helpe and þerfore telleþ me All ȝoure annoye for it schal be secre Line 1320 ffor on my portos I make an oth þat neuer in my lijf for leef ne loþ Ne schal I of no counseil ȝou bewreye The same aȝein to ȝou quod sche I seye Line 1324 By god and by þis portos I swere þey men wolde me al to peeces tere

[6-text p 172] Ne schal I neuer for to go in to helle Bewreye a word of þing þat ȝe me telle / Line 1328 Nought for no cosynage ne alliaunce But verreily for loue and affiaunce Thus ben þey swore and her-vpon y-kiste And ilk of hem tolde oþer what hem liste Line 1332 Cosyn quod sche if I hadde a space As I haue non and namely in þis place þanne wolde I telle a legende of my lyf What I haue suffred sethens I was a wyf Line 1336 Wiþ myn housband and þeigh he be ȝour cosyn Nay quod þis monk by god and by seint Martyn he nys no more cosyn vnto me þan is þis leef þat hangeþ on þe tre Line 1340 I clepe him so by seint Denys in ffraunce To haue þe more cause of acqueyntaunce Of ȝou which I haue loued specially Abouen all wommen sikerly Line 1344 This were ynough on my profession Telleþ ȝoure greef lest þat he come a-doun And hasteþ ȝou and goþ ȝoure wey anon My deere loue quod sche O daun Iohn Line 1348 fful leef me were þis counseil to hyde [folio 206b] But out it mot it may no lenger abyde myn housbond is to me þe worste man þat euer was siþenes þe world bygan Line 1352 But siþenes I am a wyf it sit nouȝt me To telle no wight of oure pryuyte Neyþer a bedde ne in non oþer place God schilde I scholde telle it for his grace Line 1356 A wyf ne schal nat seyn of hire housband But all honour as I can vnderstande Saue vnto ȝou þus moche telle I schal As help me god he nys nouȝt worþ at al Line 1360 In no degre þe value of a flye But ȝit me greueþ most his nyggardye

[6-text p 173] And wel ȝe woot þat wommen naturelly Desyren þinges seuen as wel as I Line 1364 þey wolden þat here housbandes scholde be hardy and wys riche and þer-to fre And buxum to his wyf and freissch a bedde But by þat ilke lord þat for vs bledde Line 1368 ffor his honour my selue to arraye A sonday next I moste paye An hundred ffrankes or elles am I lorn Ȝet were me leuer þat I were vnborn Line 1372 þenne me were don a sclaunder or vilenye And if myn housbande eeke might aspye I nere but lost and þerfore I ȝou preye lene me þis somme and elles mot I deye Line 1376 Daun Iohn I say lene me þese hundred frankes Par de I wol not fayle þe my þankes If þat ȝou luste to do þat I ȝou pray ffor at a certein day I wole ȝou pay Line 1380 And do to ȝou what plesaunce and seruise That I may do right as ȝou lust deuyse And but I do god take on me vengaunce As foule as hadde genylon of ffraunce Line 1384 This gentil monk answerde in þis manere [folio 207a] Now trewely myn owen lady deere I haue quod he on ȝou so gret a rouþe That I ȝou swere and plighte ȝou my trouþe Line 1388 That whan ȝoure housbonde is to fflaundres fare I wol delyuer ȝou out of þis worldes care / ffor I wol bringen ȝou an hundred frankes And wiþ þat he caught hir by þe schankes Line 1392 And hire enbraced harde and kissed ofte Goþ now ȝoure weye quod he al stille and softe And let vs dyne as sone as euer ȝe may ffor by my chilyndre it is prime of þe day Line 1396 Goþ now and beþ as trewe as I schal be / Now elles god forbede sire quod sche

[6-text p 174] And forþ sche goþ as gelous as a pye And bad þe cokes þat þey schulde hem hye Line 1400 So þat men mighte dyne and þat anon vp to hir housbonde is þis wyf y-gon And knokkeþ at his countour boldely Quy la quod he peter it am I Line 1404 Quoþ sche what how longe wol ȝe faste / how longe tyme wol ȝe rekne and caste Ȝoure sommes ȝoure bokes and ȝoure þinges þe deuyl haue part on all suche rekenynges Line 1408 Ȝe han ynough parde of goddes sonde Come doun to day and lete ȝoure bagge stonde Ne be ȝe nought aschamed þat Daun Iohn Schal fastyng al þis day elenge gon Line 1412 What lete vs heere masse go we dyne Wyf quod þis man ful lytel canstow dyuyne The curious busynesse þat we haue ffor of vs chapmen so god me saue Line 1416 And by þat lord þat called is seint yue Skarsly amonges twelue tweye schuln þriue Continuelly lastyng vnto oure age We may wel make chere and good visage Line 1420 And dryue forþ þe world as it may be [folio 207b] And kepen oure estate in priuite Til we be deed or elles þat we pleye A pylgrymage or gon out of þe weye Line 1424 And þerfore haue I gret necessite vpon þis queynte worlde to auyse me ffor euermore we mote stande in drede Of happe and fortune in oure chapmanhede Line 1428 To fflaundres wol I go to morne at day And come aȝein as sone as euer I may ffor which my deere wyff I þe beseke As be to euery wight buxom and meke Line 1432 And for to kepe oure good be curious And honestly gouerne wel oure hous

[6-text p 175] þou hast ynough in euery maner wyse That to a thrifty housbonde may suffise Line 1436 The lakkeþ non array ne no vitayle Of Siluer in þi purs þou mayst nouȝt fayle And wiþ þat word his countour dore he schette And doun he goþ no lenger nolde he lette Line 1440 And hastyly a masse was þer sayde And speedly þe tables were layde And to þe dyner faste þey hem speede And richely þis monk þe Chapman fedde Line 1444 And after dyner daun Iohn soburly This Chapman took a part al pryuyly he seyde him þus cosyn it standeþ so þat wel I see to Bruges wolle ȝe go Line 1448 God and seint austyn spede ȝou and gyde I pray ȝou Cosyn wysly þat ȝe ryde Gouerneþ ȝou also of ȝoure dyete And temperally and namely in þis hete Line 1452 Bytwixe vs tuo needeþ no straunge fare ffare wel cosyn god schilde ȝou fro care If eny þing þer be by day or by night If it ligge in my power and my might Line 1456 That ȝe me wol comaunde in eny wyse [folio 208a] It schal be doon right as ȝe wil deuyse O þing er þat ȝe gon if þat it may be I wolde preye ȝou for þe loue of me Line 1460 An hundred frankes for a wyke or tweye ffor certeyn bestes þat I moste beye To store with a place þat is owres God helpe me I wolde þat it were ȝowres Line 1464 I schal nought fayle suerly of my day Nought for a þousand frankes a myle way But lete þis þing be secre I ȝou preye Ȝe schulle be payed wher þat I lyue or deye Line 1468 And fare now wel myn owen cosyn dere Graunt mercy of ȝoure cost and of ȝoure chere

[6-text p 176] This noble marchaunt gentilly anon Answerde and sayde O Cosyn daun Iohn Line 1472 Now sikerly þis is a smal requeste My gold is ȝoures whan þat euer ȝou leste And nought oonly my gold but my chaffare Tak what ȝou leste god schilde þat ȝe spare Line 1476 But o þing is ȝe knowe it wel ynough Of chapmen þat here monee is here plough We may creaunce whiles we haue a name / But goldles for to be it is no game Line 1480 Pay it aȝein whan it liþ in ȝour ese After my might ful fayn wolde l ȝou plese þise hundred frankes he fette forþ anon And pryuyly he took hit to daun Iohn Line 1484 No wight in al þis world wist of þis lone Sauyng þis marchaunt and daun Iohn allone þey dranken and romed out to pleye Til þat daun Iohn rydeþ to his abbeye Line 1488 þe morne came and forþ þis marchaunt rydeþ To fflaundres ward his prentys wel him gydeþ Til he cam in to Bruges meryly Now goþ þis marchaunt faste and bysyly Line 1492 Aboute his neede and byeþ and creaunceþ [folio 208b] he neyþer pleyeþ at þe dys ne daunceþ But as a marchand schortly for to telle he leet his wyf and þer I lete him dwelle Line 1496 þe sonday next þe marchaunt was agon To seint Denys I-comen is Daun Iohn Wiþ croune and berde freissch and newe schaue In al þe hous þer nas so lite a knaue Line 1500 Ne no wight elles þat he nas fayn ffor þat my lord doun Iohn was come agayn And schortly to here poynt for to gon þis fayre wyf acordeþ to daun Iohn Line 1504 And for þis hundred ffrankes he schulde al night haue hire in his armes bolt vpright

[6-text p 177] And þis acorde parfourmed was in dede In myrþe al night / a busy lyf þey lede Line 1508 Til it was day þat daun Iohn went his way And bade þe meyne far wel haue good day ffor non of hem ne no wight in þe toun haþ of daun Iohn right non suspecioun Line 1512 and forþ he rydeþ home to his abbay Or wher him luste no more of him I say This marchaunt whan þat ended was þe ffayre To seint Denys he gan for to repayre Line 1516 And wiþ his wyf he makeþ feste and chere And telleþ hire þat chaffare is so deere þat needes moste he make a Cheuesaunce ffor he was bounden in a reconysaunce Line 1520 To paye xx þousand scheldes anon ffor which þis marchaunt is y-wont to gon To borwe of certein frendes þat he hadde A certeyn frankes and some wiþ him he ladde Line 1524 And whan þat he was come in to þe toun ffor gret chierte and gret/ affeccioun vnto daun Iohn he ferst him goþ to pleye Nought for to borwe of him no moneye Line 1528 But for to wite and se of his welfare [folio 209a] And for to tellen him of his chaffare As frendes don when þey ben mette in feere Daun Iohn him makeþ feste and mery cheere Line 1532 And he him tolde aȝein ful specially how he hadde brought ful wel and graciously þanked be god al hool his marchaundise Saue þat he moste in all maner wyse Line 1536 Maken a cheuysance as for his beste And þenne he schulde be in ioye and reste Daun Iohn answerde certes I am fayn þat ȝe in hele be come home agayn Line 1540 And if þat I were riche as haue I blisse Of twenty þousand scheldes scholde ȝe nouȝt misse

[6-text p 178] ffor ȝe so kyndely þis oþer day Lente me golde as I can and may Line 1544 I þanke ȝou by god and by seint Iame But naþeles I took vnto oure dame Ȝoure wyf at home þe same gold aȝain vpon ȝoure benche sche wot it wel certain Line 1548 By certein toknes þat I can hire telle / Now by ȝoure leue I may no lenger dwelle Oure abbot wol out of þis toun anon And in his companye mot I gon Line 1552 Gret wel oure dame myn owen nece swete And fare wel dere cosyn til we mete This marchaunt wiþ þat was ful war and wys Creaunsed haþ and eek payed in Parys Line 1556 To certein lumbardes redy in here hand þis somme of gold and gat of hem þe band And home he goþ mery as popyngay ffor wel he knew he stood in such aray Line 1560 þat needes moste he wynne in such a viage A þousend frankes abouen al his costage his wyf ful redy mette him atte gate As sche was wont of old vsage algate Line 1564 And al þat night in mirþe þey besette / [folio 209b] ffor he was riche and clerly out of dette Whan it was day þis marchant gan enbrace / his wyf al newe and kissed hire on hire face Line 1568 And vp he goþ and makeþ it wonder tough No more quod sche by god ȝe haue ynough And wantounly aȝein wiþ him sche pleyde Tille atte laste þat þis marchant seyde Line 1572 By god quod he I am a litel wroþ Wiþ ȝou my wyf þough it be me loth And wote ȝe why by god as þat I gesse ffor ye haue made a maner straungenesse Line 1576 Bytwixen me and my cosyn daun Iohn Ȝe schulde haue warned me er I hadde gon

[6-text p 179] þat he hadde ȝou an hundred frankes payed By redy tokne and he him held yuel payed Line 1580 ffor þat I to him spak of cheuysaunce Me semed so as by his contynaunce But naþeles by god and heuen king I þoughte nought to axe of him no þing Line 1584 I pray þe wyf ne do no more so Telle me alway er þat I fro þe go If eny dettour haþ in myn absence I-payed þe leste þurgh þin necligence Line 1588 I might him axe a þing þat he haþ payed þis was nas nough affered ne affrayed But boldely sche seyde and þat anon Mary I diffye þat false monk daun Iohn Line 1592 I kepe nought of his tokenes neuer a deel he tok me certein gold þis wot I wel What euele þedam on his monkes snowte / ffor god it wot I wende wiþouten doute / Line 1596 þat he hadde ȝoue it me by cause of ȝou To do þer wiþ myn honour and my prow ffor cosynage and eek for bele chere þat he haþ had fulofte tyme heere But seþins I see I stonde in such disioynt [folio 211a] I wol answere ȝou schortly to þis poynt Ȝe haue mo slakker dettours þen am I ffor I wol paye ȝow wel and redily Line 1604 ffro day to day and if so be I fayle I am ȝour wyf score it vpon my tayle And I schal paye as sone as euer I may ffor by my trouþe I haue on myn array Line 1608 And nought on waste bestowed euery del And for I haue bestowed it so wel To ȝoure honour for goddes sake I say As be nought wroþ but lete vs laughe and play Line 1612 Ȝe schuln my ioly body haue to wedde / By god I nyl nought paye ȝou but a bedde

[6-text p 180] fforȝiue it me myn owen spouse deere / Turne hiderward and makeþ bettre cheere Line 1616 This marchaunt seyh þer was no remedye And for to chyde it nere but folye / Seþins þat þe þing may nought amended be Now wyf he sayde and I forȝiue it þe Line 1620 But by þin lyf ne be no more so large kepe bet my good þis ȝiue I þe in charge / þus endeþ now my tale and god vs sende Toylyng ynough vnto oure lyues ende Line 1624

Here endeþ þe schipmannes tale

¶ Explicit

[6-text p 181]

WEl seyde by corpus dominus Now lange mote þou sayle by þe coste Sire gentil mayster gentil marynere / God ȝiue þe monk a þousand last quade ȝere / Line 1628 A ha felawes beþ war of such a Iape / þe monk putte in þe mannes hood an ape / And in his wyues eek by seint austyn Draweþ no monkes more in to ȝoure In Line 1632 But now passe ouer and let vs seke aboute Who schal now telle ferst of al þis route Anoþer tale and wiþ þat word he sayde As curteysly as it hadde ben a mayde [folio 211b] My lady prioresse by ȝour leue So þat I wiste I schulde ȝou nought greue / I wolde deme þat ȝe telle schulde A tale next if so were þat ȝe wolde Line 1640 Now wole ȝe fouche sauf my lady deere / Gladly quoþ sche and sayde in þis manere

[6-text p 182]

Here begynneth þe tale of Alma redemptoris þe prioresses Tale.

¶ Domine dominus noster

¶ Prologe

O lord oure lord þin name how merueilous Is in þis large word y-spredde quod she ffor nought only þyn laud precious Parfourned is by men of dignite Line 1646 But by þe mouth of children þin bounte Parformed is for on oure brest soukynge Som tyme schewen þey þin heryynge Line 1649

¶ Wherfore in laude as I can best or may Of þe and of þe white lyly flour Which þat þe bar and is a mayde alwey To telle a story I wol don my labour Line 1653 Nought þat I may encrece hire honour ffor sche hireself is honour and þerto roote / Of bounte next hire sone of soules boote Line 1656

¶ O mooder mayde O mayde moder fre O busch vnbrent brennyng in moyses sight That rauyscheþ doun fro þe deytele þurgh þin humbles þe gost þat in þe alight Line 1660 Of whos vertu whan he in þin herte alight Conceyued was þe fadres sapience Help me to telle it in þin reuerence Line 1663

¶ Lady þin bounte and þin magnificence þin vertu and þin gret humilite Ther may no tonge expresse in no science ffor som tyme lady er men preye to þe Line 1667 þou gost biforn and þin benignite And getest vs to light þurgh þin prayere To gyden vs vnto þin sone so clere [folio 212a]

[6-text p 183]

My connyng is to wayk o blisful queene ffor to declare þin grete worþinesse That I ne may þe weighte nought susteene / But as a childe of xij monthe elde or lesse Line 1674 That can vnneþes any word expresse / Right so fare I and þerfore I ȝou preye Gydeþ my song þat I schal of ȝou seye Line 1677

[THE TALE.]

Ther was in a cite in a gret cite Amonges cristen folk and Iewerye Susteyned by a lord of þat cuntre ffor foule vsure and lucre of vilanye Line 1681 hatful to crist and to his companye And þurgh þe strete men mighte ryde or wende ffor it was fre and open at euery ende Line 1684

A lytel scole of cristen folk þer stood Doun at þe furþer ende in which þer were Children an heepe y-come of cristes blood That lered in þat scole ȝere by ȝeere Line 1688 Such maner doctrine as men vsed þere This is to say to syngen and to rede As smale children don in here childhede Line 1691

Among þis children was a wydewes sone A litel clergoun vij ȝer of age That day by day to scole was his wone / And eek also wher he saugh the ymage / Line 1695 Of cristes mooder hadde he in vsage As him was taught to knele a doun and seye his aue marie as he goþ by þe weye Line 1698

[6-text p 184] Line 1698

Thus haþ þis wydewe hire litel child y-tauȝt Oure blisful lady cristes mooder deere / To worschipe ay and he forgat it nought ffor sely child wol alday sone lere Line 1702 But ay whan I remembre me on þis matere Seynt Nicholas stant euer in my presence ffor he so ȝonge to crist dede reuerence Line 1705

¶ This child his litel book lernynge [folio 212b] As he sat in þe scole at his primere he alma redemptoris herde synge / As children lerned here antiphoner Line 1709 And as he durste he drough him ner and neer And herkned ay þe wordes and þe noote / Til he þe firste vers couþe al by roote / Line 1712

Nouȝt wiste he what þe latyn was to say ffor he so ȝong and tender was of age / But on a day his felawe gan he preye To expounen him þis song in his langage / Line 1716 Or tellen him why þis song was in vsage / This preyde he him to construe and declare / fful ofte tyme vpon his knees bare / Line 1719

his felawe which þat elder was þan he Answerde him þus þis song I haue herd say Was maked of oure blisful lady fre hire to salue and eeke hire for to pray Line 1723 To ben oure helpe and socour whan we deye I can no more expounde in þis matiere I lerne song I can but smale gramere / Line 1726

¶ And is þis song ymade in reuerence Of cristes mooder sayde þis Innocent Now certes I wol don my diligence To konne it er Cristemas be went Line 1730

[6-text p 185] Line 1730 þough þat I for my prymer schal be schent And schal [be] beten þries in an houre I wol it konne oure lady to honoure Line 1733

¶ his felawe taught him homward pryuyly ffro day to day til he couþe it by roote And þenne he sang it wel and boldely ffro word to word acordyng to þe note / Line 1737 þries on a day it passeþ þurgh his þrote / To scoleward and homward whan he went On cristes moder sette was his entent/ Line 1740

As I haue sayde þurghout þe Iewerie This litel childe as he came to and fro [folio 213a] fful meryly þen wolde he synge and crye / On alma redemptoris euermo Line 1744 The swetnes haþ his herte perced so Of cristes mooder þat to hure to preye He can nought stynte of syngynge by þe weye / Line 1747

¶ Oure firste foo þe serpent Sathanas That haþ in Iewes his waspes neste vp swalle and sayde O Ebrayke poeple allas / Is þis a þing to ȝou þat is honeste / Line 1751 þat suche a boy schal walken as him leste / In ȝoure despite and syngen of such sentence Which is aȝein oure lawes reuerence / Line 1754

¶ ffro þennes forth þe Iewes han conspired This Innocent out of þis world to chace In homicidie þer-to han þey hyred þat in an aley had a pryue place Line 1758 And as þe childe gan forby for to pace þis cursed Iew him hente and heeld faste And cutte his þrote and in a putte him caste / Line 1761

[6-text p 186] Line 1761

¶ I say þat in a wardrobe þey him drewe / Wher as þise Iewes purgen entraille O cursed folk of heroudes al newe / What may ȝoure euyl entent ȝou auayle / Line 1765 Mordre wole out certain it wol nought fayle And namely þere honour of god schulde sprede þe blood out cryeþ on ȝour cursed dede Line 1768

¶ O martyr sonded to virginite Now maystow syngen folwyng euer in oon The white lambe celestial quod he / Of which þe grete euaungelist seint Iohn Line 1772 In Pathmos wrot which seiþ þey þat gon Byforn þis lambe and synge a song al newe þat neuer fleisschly wommen þey knewe Line 1775

¶ þis pore wydewe wayteþ al þat night After þis litel childe but hom cam he nouȝt ffor whom as sone as it was dayes light [folio 213b] Wiþ face pale for drede and busy þought Line 1779 Sche haþ at scole and elles wher him sought Til fynally sche gan so fer aspye þat he was seyn last in þe Iewerye Line 1782

¶ With moodres pyte in hire brest enclosed Sche goþ as þough sche were half out of mynde / To euery place where sche haþ supposed By lyklyhede hire childe for to fynde Line 1786 And euer on cristes moder meke and kynde Sche cryed and at þe laste þus sche wrought Among þe cursed Iewes sche him sought Line 1789

Sche freyneþ and sche preyeþ pitously To euery Iewe þat dwelt in þilke place To telle hire if hire child went hem by They sayden nay but ihesus of his grace

[6-text p 187] Ȝaf in hire þought wiþ-in a litel space þat in þat place after hire sone sche cryede þer he was caste in a putte besyde Line 1796

¶ O grete lord þat parformed þin laude By mouþ of Innocence lo here þy might This gemme of chastite þis Emeraude And eek of martirdome þe ruby bright Line 1800 þer he wiþ þrote y-korue lay vpright he alma redemptoris gan to synge So loude þat al þe place gan to rynge Line 1803

¶ The cristen folk þat þurgh þe strete went In comen for to wondren on þis þing And hastely þey for þe prouost sent he came anon wiþouten eny taryyng Line 1807 And herieþ crist þat is of heuen king And eek his mooder honour of mankynde And after þat þe Iewes let he bynde Line 1810

This childe wiþ pitous lamentacion vp taken syngyng his song alway And with honour and gret procession / They carien him to þe next abbay [folio 214a] his moder swownyng by þe bere lay vnneþes mighte þe poeple þat was þere This newe rachel bringe fro his bere Line 1817

Wiþ torment and with schameful deþ ilkon This prouost doþ þis Iewes for to sterue That of þis moerdre wiste and þat anon he nolde non such cursednesse obserue / Line 1821 Euel schal haue þat euel wol deserue þerfore with wilde hors he dede him drawe And after þat he hynge him by þe lawe Line 1824

[6-text p 188] Line 1824

¶ Vpon þis beere ay liþ þis Innocent Biforn þe chief auter whiles masse last And after þat þe abbot/ wiþ his couent hadde spedde him for to burye him als fast Line 1828 And whan þey halywater on him cast Ȝit spak þe child when spreynt was þe holy water And sang O alma redemptoris mater Line 1831

¶ This abbot which þat was an holy man As monkes ben or elles oughten to be This ȝonge childe to coniure he bigan And sayde O deere childe I hailse þe Line 1835 By vertu of þe holy trinite Telle me what is þy cause for to synge Siþenes þat þy þrote is kutte at my semynge Line 1838

¶ My þrote is cutte vnto my nekke bon Sayde þis childe and as by way of kynde I schulde haue deyed ȝe long tyme agon But ihesu crist as ȝe in bookes fynde Line 1842 Wol þat his glorie laste and be in mynde And for þe worschipe of his moder deere / Ȝet may I synge O alma lowde and cleere Line 1845

¶ This welle of mercy crystes mooder swete I loued alwey as after my konnyng And whan þat I my lyff schulde lete To me sche cam and bad me for to synge Line 1849 This anteme verraily in my mynde deynge [folio 214b] as ȝe haue herd and when þat I hadde songe Me þought sche leyde a greyn vpon my tonge / Line 1852

¶ Wherfore I synge and synge moot certein In honour of þe blisful martir fre Til of my tonge of taken is þe greyn And after þat sayde sche þus to me Line 1856

[6-text p 189] Line 1856 My litel childe now wol I fecche þe Whan þat þy grein is fro þy tonge y-take Be nought a-gast I wol þe nought forsake Line 1859

¶ þis holy monk þis abbot him mene I his tunge out caught / and took awey þe greyn And he ȝaf up þe gost ful softely And when þis abbot / hadde þis wonder seyn Line 1863 his salte teeres stryked doun as reyn And gruff he fell al plat vnto þe grounde And stille he lay as he hadde ben y-bounde / Line 1866

¶ þe couent eek lay vppon þe pauyment Wepyng and herying cristes moder deere And after þat þay ryse and for ben went And toke awey þis martir fro his bere / Line 1870 And in a tombe of marbill stones clere Enclosen þey his litel body swete Ther he is now god leue vs for to mete Line 1873

¶ O ȝonge hewe of lincolle slayn also Wiþ cursed Iewes as it is notable ffor it nys but a litel while ago Preye eek for vs we synful folk vnstable Line 1877 That of his mercy god so merciable On vs his grete mercy multiplye ffor reuerence of his mooder marie AmeN

¶ Explicit //

[6-text p 190]

Whan seyde was þis tale euery man As sober was þat wonder was to se Til þat owre Oste Iape þo bygan And þenne at erst he loked vpon me And sayde þus what man art þou quod he Thou lokest as þou woldest fynde an hare / [folio 215a] ffor euer vpon þe ground I se þe stare Line 1887

Approche ner and loke meryly Now ware ȝou sires and let þis man han place he in þe waste is schapen as wel as I This were a popet in armes to embrace Line 1891 ffor any womman smal and fair of face he semeþ eluyssch by his contynaunce ffor vnto no wight doþ he dalyaunce Line 1894

Say now somwhat seþins oþer folk han sayd Telle vs a tale of merþe and þat anon Oste quod I ne be nought yuel a-payde ffor oþer tale certes can I non Line 1898 But of a Ryme I lerned longe agon Ȝe þat is good quod he schuln we here Som deynte þing me þinkeþ by his cheere. Line 1901

[6-text p 191]

¶ Here bygynneth þe tale of Chaucer of sire Thopas

[Fytte I.]

LEsteneþ lordes in good entent And I wol telle verrament Of miracle and solace Line 1904 Al of a knight was fayr and gent In bataille and in tornament His name was sire Thopace Line 1907

I-born he was in ferre cuntre In fflaundres al beȝonde þe se At poperyng in þe place Line 1910 his fader was a man ful fre And lord he was of þat contre As it was goddes grace Line 1913

Sire Thopas was a doughty swayn Whyt was his face as Payndemayn his lyppes reed as Rose Line 1916 his robe is like Scarlet en grayn And I ȝou telle in good certayn he hadde a semely nose Line 1919

his berd his heer was lik saffroun That to his gurdel straught a-doun [folio 215b] his schoon of Cordewayne / Line 1922 Of Bruges were his hosen broun his robe was of Ciclatoun That coste many a Iayne Line 1925

[6-text p 192] Line 1925

he couþe hunte at wylde deer And Ryde an haukynge by þe ryuer Wiþ gray goshauk on honde Line 1928 Ther to he was a good archer Of wrastlyng was þer non his peer Ther any man schulde stonde Line 1931

fful many a mayde bright in bour They mourne for him paramour When þey were bet to slepe Line 1934 But he was chaste and no lecchour And swete as is þe bremble flour þat bereþ þe rede hepe Line 1937

¶ And so byfell vpon a day ffor soþe as I ȝou telle may Sire Thopas wolde out ryde Line 1940 he worþe vpon his steede gray And in his hande a launcegay A long swerd by his syde Line 1943

he prikeþ þurgh a fair forest Ther Inne is many a wilde beest Ȝe boþe bucke and hare Line 1946 And as he prikeþ north and Est I telle ȝou him hadde almest Betydde a sory care Line 1949

Ther springen herbes grete and smale The lycoris and þe Setuale And many a clowe Gylofre Line 1952 And notemuges to put in ale Wheþer it be moyst or stale Or for to leye in Coffre Line 1955

[6-text p 193] Line 1955

The briddes syngen it is nouȝt nay The sperhauk and þe popyngay [folio 216a] That Ioye it was to heere / Line 1958 The þrostilkok made eek his lay The woode dowfe vpon þe spray Sche sang ful loude and cleere Line 1961

Sire Thopas fell in loue longyng And whan he herde þe þrustel syng And priked as he were wood Line 1964 his faire steede in his prikynge So swette þat men might him wrynge his sydes were al blood Line 1967

Syre Thopas eek so wery was ffor prykyng on þe softe gras So fers was his corage Line 1970 That doun he leyde him in þat place To maken his steede som solace ffor he was so sauage Line 1973

O seynt mary benedicite What eyleþ þis loue at me To bynde me so sore Line 1976 Me dremed al þis night parde An elf queen schal my lemman be And slepe vnder my gore Line 1979

An Elf queene wol I loue ywys ffor in þis worlde no man is Worþy to be my make in toune Line 1982 All oþre wommen I forsake And to an elf queen I me bytake By dale and eek by downe Line 1986

[6-text p 194] Line 1986

In to his sadel he cam anon And prikeþ ouer stile and ston And elf queene for to aspie Line 1989 Til he so longe haþ ryden and gon That he fond in a priue woon The cuntre of fayrye Line 1992 ¶ So wylde ffor in þat cuntre nas þer non [folio 216b] . . . . . Neyþer wijf ne childe / Line 1996

Til him þer cam a Ioly geaunt his name was cleped sire Olyphaunt A perilous man of dede Line 1999 he seyde child by Termagaunt But if þou prike out of myn haunt Anon I slee þin steede Line 2002 ¶ Wiþ mace here is þe queene of fayerye Wiþ harpe and pype and Synphonye dwellynge in þis place / Line 2006

The childe seyde so mote I þe To morne wol I meeten þe When I haue myn armure Line 2009 And ȝit I hope par ma fay That þou schalt wiþ þis launcelay Abeyen it ful sore Line 2012 ¶ þurgh þine mawe / Schal I perce if I may Or it be fully pryme day ffor heere þou schalt be slawe / Line 2016

[6-text p 195] Line 2016

Sire Thopas drow a bak ful faste þis geaunt at him stones caste / Out of a felle staf slynge Line 2019 But faire askapeþ child Thopas And al it was þurgh goddes gras And þurgh his faire berynge Line 2022

Ȝit lesteneþ lordes to my tale/ Murier þen þe nightyngale ffor now I wole ȝou roune / Line 2025 how sire Thopas with sydes smale / Prykyng ouer downe and dale / Is come aȝain to toune Line 2028

his mery men comaunded he / To maken him boþe game and glee ffor needes moste he fight Line 2031 Wiþ o geaunt with hedes þre ffor paramour and Iolyte Of on þat schon ful bright Line 2034

Do come he seyde myne menstrales And gestours for to telle vs tales / Anon in myn armyng Line 2037 Of Romances þat ben realles / Of popes and of Cardynalles / And eek of loue lykyng Line 2040

They fette him ferst þe swete wyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . And lycoryus and eek comyn Wiþ sucre þat is trye Line 2046

[6-text p 196] Line 2046

He dede next his white leere Of cloþ of lake fyn and clere A breche and eek a scherte Line 2049 And next his scherte an aketoun And ouer þat an habergoun ffor persyng of his herte Line 2052

And ouer þat a fyn hauberk/ Was al y-wrought of Iewes werk fful strong it was of plate Line 2055 And ouer þat his cote armure / As whyt as is a lyly flour In which he wole debate Line 2058

his schelde was al of gold so red And þer Inne was a boores heed A charbokil him besyde Line 2061 And þer he swore on ale and breed That þe geaunt schulde be deed betyde what betyde Line 2064

his Iambes were of quyrboyly his swerdes scheþe of yuory his helme of latoun bright Line 2067 his sadel was of ruel bon his bridel as þe sonne schon Or as þe mone so light Line 2070

his spere was of fyn Cypres That bedeþ werre and no þing pees The heed ful scharpe y-grounde Line 2073 his steede was al dappel gray It goþ an ambel by þe way fful softely and rounde Line 2076

[6-text p 197] Line 2076 In londe Lo lordes myne heere a fytte If ȝe wole eny more of hitte To telle it wol I fonde Line 2080

[Fytte II.]

Now halde ȝoure mouþe par charite Boþe knight and lady fre And herkneþ to my spelle Line 2083 Of bataile and of chiualry And of ladyes loue drery Anon I wol ȝou telle Line 2086

Men speke of Romance of prys Of horn child and of ypotys Of Beuys and sire Gy Line 2089 Of sire libeus and pleyndamour But sire Thopas he bereþ þe flour Of real chiualry Line 2092

his goode steed al he bestrod And forþ upon his way he glod As sparcles out of þe bronde Line 2095 vpon his crest he bar a tour And þer Inne styked a lily flour God schilde his corps fro schonde Line 2098

And for he was a knight aunterous he nolde slepen in non hous But liggen in his hood Line 2101 his brighte helme was his wanger And by him bayteþ his destrer Of herbes fyne and goode Line 2104

[6-text p 198] Line 2104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 2108

[6-text p 199]

NO more of þis for goddes dignite Quoþ oure hoste for þou makest me So wery of þy lewednes That also wisly god me bles Line 2112 Myn eres ake of þin darsty speche [folio 217a] Now such a rymere þe deuel y beteche This may be wel rym dogerell quod he Why so quod I why wilt þou lette me Line 2116 More of my tale þan anoþer man Seþens it is þe beste Rym I can By god quod he pleynly I þe say þou schalt no lenger rymen heere to day Line 2120 Thow dost nought elles but dispendest tyme Sire at O word þou schalt no lengere ryme Let se wheþer þou canst telle ought in geste Or telle in prose somwhat at þe leste Line 2124 In which þer be som merþe and som doctrine Gladly quod I by goddes swete pyne I wol ȝou telle a litel þing in prose þat oughte like ȝou as I suppose / Line 2128 Or elles certeyn ȝe ben to daungerous It is a moral tale vertuous Al be it tolde somtyme in sondry wyse Of sondry folk as I schal ȝou deuyse Line 2132 As þus ȝe wote euery euaungeliste That telleþ vs of ihesu criste Ne saiþ nouȝt al þing as his felawe doþ But natheles here sentence is al soþ Line 2136 And all acorden as in here sentence Al be þer in here tellyng difference

[6-text p 200] ffor some of hem seyn more and some lesse Whan þey his pytous passioun expresse Line 2140 I mene of mark matheu luke and Iohn But douteles here sentence is al on Therfore lordinges all I ȝou beseche If þat ȝe þinke I varie in my speche Line 2144 As þus if þat I telle somwhat more Of prouerbis þen ȝe haue herd byfore Comprehendit in þis litel tretis heere To enforce with þeffecte of my matiere Line 2148 And þough I nadde þe same wordes saye [folio 217b] As ȝe han herd ȝit to alle ȝou I praye Blameþ me nought for as in my sentence Ȝe schal nought fynde mochil difference / Line 2152 ffro þe sentence of þe tretys lyyte After þe which þis mery tale I wryte And herkene what I schal seye And let me telle my tale I ȝou preye / Line 2156

[6-text p 201]

Here bygynneþ Chauceres tale of Melibe and his wyf Prudence and his doughter Sapience

[There are no line-numbers or breaks between the paragraphs in the MS. Tyrwhitt's breaks are kept here to prevent slight differences in the Six Texts throwing out many lines.]

[Corpus MS, on leaf 217, back.]

[2157] A Ȝong man whilom called Melibe mighty & riche bigate vpon his wyf þat called was Prudence. a doughter which þat cleped was Sapience

[2158] ¶ vpon a day felle þat he for his disporte is went in to þe feeldes him to pleye [2159] his wyf and eek his doughter haþ he lefte wiþinne his hous of which þe dores weren faste schette. [2160] ffoure of his olde foos han it aspyed. and setten ladderes to þe walles of his hous and by þe wyndowes ben y-entred [2161] ¶ and beeten his wyf and wounded his doughter with fyue mortaille woundes in .v. sondry places. [2162] þis is to say in hire feet in hire hand. in hire eeres in hire nose in hire mouþ ¶ and laften hire for deed and wenten here wey

[2163] ¶ When Melibeus retourned was aȝein in-til his hous and sawe al þis meschief ¶ he y-like a mad man rendyng his cloþes gan to weepe and crye

[2164] ¶ Prudence his wyf as ferforþ as sche dorste bysought him of his weepyng for to stynte [2165] ¶ but nouȝt for-þy he gan to wepe and crye euer lenger þe more

[2166] ¶ This noble wyf prudence remembred hire on þe sentence of Ovide in his bok þat cleped is þe remedy of loue where he saiþ [2167] he is a fool þat distourbeþ þe mooder for to wepe in þe deþ of hire childe til sche haue wepte hire fille as for a certein tyme [2168] Then schal man don his diligence with amyable wordes hire to comforte and to preye hire of

[6-text p 202] hire wepyng for to stynte [2169] ¶ ffor which resoun þis noble prudence suffred hire housbond for to weepe and crye as for a certeyn space [2170] ¶ And when sche saugh hire tyme sche seyde him in þis wyse ¶ Allas my lord quod sche why make ȝe ȝoure self for to be ylike a fool [2171] ffor soþe it apertyneþ nouȝt to a wise man to maken such a sorwe [2172] ¶ ȝoure doughter wiþ þe grace [folio 218a] of god schal be warisshed and askape [2173] ¶ And alle were it so þat sche right now were deed; ȝe oughte nouȝt as for hire deþ ȝoure self to destryue [2174] ¶ Senek saiþ þe wiseman schal nouȝt take to gret discomfort for þe deþ of his children [2175] but certes he schulde suffre it in pacience as wel as he abydeþ þe deþ of his owen propre persone

[2176] ¶ This Melibeus answerde anon and sayde ¶ What man quod he schulde of his wepyng stynte þat haþ so gret a cause for to weepe [2177] ¶ Ihesus crist oure lord himself wepte for þe deþ of lazarus his freend [2178] ¶ Prudens answerde ¶ certes wel I woot a-tempre weepyng is nouȝt defendid vnto him þat sorwful is among folk in sorwe ¶ But it is raþer y-graunted him to wepe [2179] ¶ The apostel Poule. vnto þe Romayns writeþ. Man schal reioyse wiþ hem þat maken ioye ¶ And weepen wiþ suche folk as wepen [2180] ¶ But þough a-tempre wepynge be y-graunted Outragous weepyng certes is defended [2181] ¶ Mesurable wepyng schulde be considered after þe lore þat techeþ vs Senek [2182] ¶ Whan þat þi freend is deed let nought þin yen to moyste ben of teeres ne to druye ¶ Al þough þe teeres comen of þin eyen let hem nouȝt fallen [2183] ¶ And whan þou hast forgon þi frende I rede þou do þy diligence to gete þe anoþer. and þis is more wiser þan for to wepe for þyn freend þe which þat þou hast lore ¶ ffor þer-in is no boote [2184] ¶ And þerfore if þou lust gouerne þe by Sapience; putte awey sorwe of ȝoure herte. [2185] ¶ Remembreþ ȝou þat Ihesus Cyrak / seiþ

[6-text p 203] a man þat is Ioyous and glad in herte hit him con|serueþ florisching in his age ¶ But soþly sorwful herte makeþ his bones dryue [2186] ¶ he saiþ eek þus ¶ þat sorwe in herte sleþ ful many a man [2187] Sa|lamon. seiþ þat right as moughtes in þe schepes flees annoyeþ to þe cloþes and þe smale wormes of þe trees ¶ Right so anoyeþ sorwe to þe herte [2188] ¶ Wherfore we ouȝt as wel in þe deþ of oure children as in þe losse of oure good haue pacience

[2189] ¶ Remembreþ ȝow vpon þe pacient Iob. whan he hadde lost his children and his temperel sub|stance / In his body endured and suffred many a greuous temptacion ¶ ȝet sayde he þus [2190] ¶ Oure lord quod he haþ ȝoue it me ¶ Oure lord haþ byreft it me Right so as oure lord haþ wolde right so be it don. y-blessed be þe name of oure lord [2191] ¶ To þese afore þinges Melibeus answerde to his wyf dame Prudence / Alle þine wordes quod he ben soþe and þerto pro|ffitable ¶ But trewly myn herte is troubled wiþ þis sorwe so greuously þat I not what to done [2192] ¶ let calle quod Prudence þin trewe frendes alle and þin lynage whiche þat ben wise Telle hem þyn [caas] [folio 218b] and herkne what þay say in counseillynge and ȝou gouerneth þer after here sentence [2193] Salomon saiþ werk alle þing by counseil and þou schalt neuer repente þe

[2194] ¶ Thenne by þe counseil of his wyf dame Pru|dence; Melibeus let callen a gret congregacion of folk [2195]. . . . . olde and ȝonge and some of his olde enemys reconsiled as by here semblant in to his loue and in to his grace [2196] ¶ And þer-wiþ-al þer come somme of his olde neyghebours and þat deden him reuerence more for drede þan for loue as it happeþ ofte [2197] ¶ Ther comeþ also ful many subtile flaterers and wyse aduocatis lerned in þe lawe

[2198] And whan þis folk / togidre assembled were; This Melibeus in sorwful wise schewed hem þis caas

[6-text p 204] [2199] ¶ And by þe manere of þis speche he bar in his herte a cruel yre redy to don venge|aunce vpon his foos And sodeynly desired þat þe werre schulde begynne [2200] ¶ But naþeles ȝit asked he here counseil vpon þis matere [2201] A Surgien by licence and assent of suche as were wyse vp ros vn|to Melibeus and sayde as ȝe may heere

[2202] Sire quod he as to vs surgiens aperteyneþ to euery wight þe beste þat we can were as we ben wiþholde ¶ And to oure paciences þat we do no damages [2203] þerfore it happeþ many tymes and ofte þat when tuo men haue euerich wounded oþer O same Surgien heleþ hem boþe [2204] ¶ Wherfore vnto oure art it nys nouȝt pertynent to norische werre ne parties to supporte [2205] ¶ But certes as to þe warisshyng of ȝour doughter be it so þat sche is perilously wounded; we schulde do so ententyfly busynes fro day to night þat wiþ þe grace of god sche schal be sound and hool as sone as it is possible [2206] ¶ Alle men in þis same wyse answerden and þe Phisiciens. saue þat þay sayden a fewe wordes more [2207] þat right as maladies ben heled by þe contraries Right so schal men warissche werre by vengaunce [2208] his neyghe|burs fulle of enuye his feynede freendes þat semed reconsiled his flaterers [2209] maden semblaunt of wepyng enpeyred and engregged meche of his matiere in preysynge gretly Melibeus of might of power of riches and of frendes despysynge þe power of his aduersaries [2210] and sayden outrely þat he anon schulde awreken him on his enemys and begynne werre

[2211] ¶ Vp ros þanne an aduoket þat was wys and sayde by leue and by counseil of oþere þat were wyse ¶ And sayde [2212] lordynges the neede for þe which we ben as|sembled in þis place is a ful heuy þing and an heigh matiere [2213] by cause of þe wrong and of þe wikkednesse þat haþ ben don and eeke by resoun of þe grete damage /

[6-text p 205] in tyme comynge ben possible to [folio 219a] falle for þis same cause [2214] and eek by resoun Of þe grete richesse and power of þe parties boþe [2215] ¶ ffor þe whiche resouns it were a gret perile for to erren in þis matiere // [2216] wherfore melibeus þis is oure sentence we counseile ȝou abouen alle þinges þat right anon þou do þi diligence in kepyng of þi propre persone in suche a wyse þat þou ne wante none aspye ne wacche þi body for to saue [2217] ¶ And after þat we counseile þat þou sette in þin hous suffisaunt garnysoun ¶ So þat þey may as wel þy body and þin hous defende [2218] ¶ But certes for to meve werre ne sodeinly for to do vengeance ¶ We may nouȝt deme in so litel tyme þat it were profit|able [2219] wherfore we asken leysir and space to haue deliberacion in þis cas to deme [2220] for þe commune prouerbe saiþ þus. he. þat sone demeþ sone schal repente [2221] ¶ And eek men say þus þat þilke Iuge is wys þat sone vnderstandeþ a matiere and Iugeþ by leysyr [2222] ¶ ffor al be it so þat alle taryynge be anoyful; algates it nys nouȝt to reproue in ȝeuyng of Iuggementz ne in vengaunce takynge whanne it is suffisaunt and resonable. [2223] and þat schewed oure lord ihesus crist by en|sample ¶ ffor when þat þe womman was taken in aduoutrye was brought in his presens to knowe what schal ben don with hire persone ¶ Al be it so þat he wiste wel himself what þat he wolde answere; ȝit ne wolde he nouȝt answere sodeinly but he wolde haue deliberacion and in þe grounde he wrot twyes [2224] ¶ And by þis cause we axen deliberacion And we schullen þanne by þe grace of god counseile þe þinge þat schal be profitable

[2225] ¶ Vp sterte þenne þe ȝonge folk atones; and þe moste partye of þat company haue scorned þis olde wise man and bygonne to make noyse and sayden [2226] right so ¶ as whiles þat yren is hoot men schulden smyte ¶ Right so men schulden wreken here wronges whiles

[6-text p 206] þay ben freissche and newe ¶ And with lowde voys þey cryden werre werre

[2227] vp ros þe on of þe olde wise and with his hande he made a contynaunce þat þey schulde halden hem stille and ȝiuen hem audience [2228] ¶ lordynges quod he þer is ful many a man þat crieþ werre werre þat wot ful litel what þat werre amounteþ [2229] ¶ werre at his bygynnyng haþ so gret an enteryng and so large ¶ That euery wight may entre when him likeþ. and lightly fynde werre [2230] ¶ But certes to what ende þat schal þer-of bifalle it nys nouȝt lightly to knowe [2231] ¶ whan þat werre is ones bygonne þer is ful many a childe vnborne of his moder þat schal sterue ȝong by cause of þilke werre Oþer elles lyue in sorwe and deye in wrecchednesse [2232] ¶ And þerfore er þat eny werre be bygonne men mosten [folio 219b] han gret counseil and good deliberacion [2233] ¶ And when þis olde man wende to enforcen his tale by reson wel neih alle at ones bygonne for to ryse for to breken his tale / and beden him fuloften of his wordes for to abregge [2234] ¶ ffor soþly he þat precheþ to hem þat luste nought his wordes ne his sermon hem annoyeþ [2235] ¶ ffor Ihesus Cirak saiþ þat musyke in wepynge is annoyous þing þus moche is to sayn as moche annoyeþ to speke bifore folk to whiche his speche annoyeþ; as it is for to syngen byforn him þat wepeþ [2236] ¶ And when þis wise man saugh þat him wantede audience; al schamfast he sette him doun aȝein. [2237] ffor Salomon seiþ. þer as þou mayst haue non audience; enforce þe nouȝt to speke [2238] ¶ I se wel quod þis wyse man þat þe commune prouerbe is soþ þat good counseil wanteþ. whan it is most nede

[2239] ¶ Ȝit hadde þis Melibeus in his counseille many folk þat priuely in his eere counseled him certein þing. and counseilled him þe contrary in general audience

[2240] ¶ When Melibeus hadde herd þat þe gretteste

[6-text p 207] party of his counseil were acorded þat he schulde make werre; anon he consentede to here counseilyng ¶ and fully affermed to here sentence [2241] ¶ Thanne dame Prudence whan þat sche saugh how þat hire housbonde schope him for to wreke him on his foes and to begynne werre ¶ Sche in ful humble wyse whan sche saugh hire tyme / seyde him in þise wordes [2242] ¶ My lord quod sche I ȝou beseche as hertely as I dar and can ¶ Ne haste ȝou nouȝt to faste ¶ And afore alle guerdouns ȝif me audience [2243] ¶ ffor Pieres Alphons. saiþ ¶ O who so doþ to þe good oþer harme haste þe nought to quyten hit ¶ ffor in þis wise þy frend wole abyde and þin enemy schal þe lengere lyue in drede [2244] ¶ The prouerbe saiþ þat he hasteþ him wel þat wisly can abyde ¶ and in wicked haste is no profyte

[2245] ¶ This mely be answerde to his wijf ¶ ¶ Prudence I purpose nought quod he to werke by þy counseille for many causes and resons ¶ ffor certes euery wight wolde halde me þenne a fool [2246] ¶ This is for to say ¶ If I for þy counseillyng wolde chaunge þinges þat ben ordeynt and affermed by so many wyse [2247] ¶ Sec|oundly I say þat alle wommen ben þikke and none goode of hem alle ffor of a þousend men saiþ Salomon I fand a good man But certes of alle wommen fond I neuer good womman [2248] ¶ And also certes if I gouerned me by þy counseil it schulde seme þat I hadde ȝoue to þe ouer me þe maystrie ¶ and god forbede þat it so were [2249] ¶ ffor Ihesus Cyrak [folio 220a] saiþ. þat if þin wijf haue maistrie; sche is contrarious to hire housebonde [2250] ¶ and Salomon saiþ ¶ Neuer in þy lyf to þy wyf ne to þy childe ne to þy freende ne ȝiue no power ouer þi self ¶ ffor bettre it were þat þin children asken of þy persone þinges þat hem needeþ ¶ þen þou [be] þi self in þe handes of þin children [2251] ¶ And also if I wole wirche by þi counseylyng; certes my counseille moste som tyme be secree til it were tyme þat it moste be

[6-text p 208] knowe and þis ne may nought be doo [2252. For it is written, 'þe Iangelry of wommen can huyde þinges þat þey wot nouȝt' [2253] Furthermore, the philosopher saith, 'in wikked counseil, wommen venquyssheþ men;' and for these reasons I ought not to make use of thy counsel. (See Prudence's answers to Reasons 4 & 5, below.)]

[2254] ¶ When dame Prudence ful debonerly and wiþ alle pacience hadde herde alle þat hire housbonde liked for to say: Then asked sche of him licence for to speke and sayde in þis wise [2255] ¶ My lord quod sche. as to ȝoure ferste resoun it may lightly ben answerde ¶ ffor I say þat it nys foly to chaunge counseille when þe þing is chaunged Oþer elles when þe þing semeþ oþer weyes þenne it semeþ aforn [2256] ¶ And more ouer I say þay þat ȝe haue sworn and behight to parfourme ȝoure emprise [et tu la laissoies a faire (Le Ménagier de Paris, i. 193)] by iuste cause; men schulde nouȝt seyn þerfore þat ȝe were a lyere ne forsworn [2257] ¶ ffor þe book seiþ þat þe wise man makeþ no lesynge when he torneþ his corage / to þe bettre [2258] ¶ And if it be so þat ȝoure emprise be establissht and ordeyned by gret multitude of folk ¶ ȝet þar þe nought acomplyse þilke ordynaunce but ȝou like [2259] ¶ ffor þe trouþe of þinges and for profite ben raþer founde. in fewe folk þat ben wise / and fulle of reson þen by gret multitude of folk þer euery man cryeþ and clatereþ when him likeþ ¶ soþly such multitude nys nought honeste [2260] and as to þe secounde reson wher as ȝe sayn þat alle wommen ben wikke; Saue ȝoure grace ffor certes ȝe despyseþ alle wommen in þis wise. and he þat alle despiseþ all dispyseþ as seiþ þe book [2261] ¶ And Senek seiþ þat who so wole haue sapi|ence. schal no man dispreyse ¶ But he schal gladly teche þe science þat he can wiþouten presumpsioun or pryde [2262] and suche þinges þat he nought ne can he schal nouȝt be asshamed to lere him and to enquere of lasse

[6-text p 209] folk þan of himself [2263] ¶ And sire þat þer haþ ben ful many a good womman may lightly be proued [2264] ¶ certes sire oure lord ihesu crist nolde neuer han descendet to be borne of a womman if alle wommen hadde be wicke [2265] ¶ And after þat for þe grete bounte þat is in wommen oure lord Ihesus when he was rysen fro deþ to lyfe appered raþer to womman þan to his apostels [2266] ¶ and þough þat Salomon saiþ þat he ne fond neuer womman good it [folio 220b] folweþ nought þerfore þat alle wommen ben wikke [2267] ¶ For þough þat he ne fonde no good womman Certes many anoþer man haþ founden many a womman ful good and trewe [2268] Or elles perauenture þe entent of Salamon was þus þat as in souereyn bounte he fande no womman [2269] This is to say þat þer nys no wight þat haþ parfyt bounte saue god allone as he himself recordeþ in his euaun|gelist [2270] ¶ For þer nys no creature so good that him ne wanteþ som what/ of þe perfeccion of god þat is his makere [2271] ¶ The þridde resoun is þis ȝe say þat if ȝe gouerne ȝou by my counseil hit schulde seme þat ȝe hadde ȝoue me þe maystry And þe lordschip of ȝoure persone // [2272] Sire saue ȝoure grace hit nys nought so ¶ For if so were þat no man schulde be counseled but oonly of hem þat hadde lorschipe and maystrye of his persone men nolde nought be counseiled so ofte. [2273] For soþly þilke men þat askeþ counseil of a purpos ¶ ȝet haþ he free wille wheþer he wol do after þat counsel or no [2274] ¶ And as to ȝoure fourþe reson þer as ȝe sayn þat þe Iangelry of wommen can huyde þinges þat þey wot nouȝt ¶ As who saiþ þat a womman can nought huyde what sche wot [2275] ¶ Sire þese wordes ben vnder|stonde of wommen þat ben Iangleresses and wicked [2276] of whiche wommen men sayn þat þre þinges dryueþ a man out of his hous. That is to say Smoke droppyng of Rayn and wickidde wyfes [2277] And

[6-text p 210] swiche wommen saiþ Salamon þat he were bettre to dwelle in desert þan with a womman þat is ryetous [2278] And sire by ȝoure leue þat am nought I [2279] ¶ For ȝe haue ful ofte assayed my grete Cilence and my grete pacience and eek how wel þat he can huyde and hele þinges þat men oughten secrely to huyden [2280] ¶ and soþ as to ȝoure fifte reson wher as ȝe say þat in wikked coun|seil wommen venquyssheþ men ¶ God wot þilke reson stant heere in no stede [2281] ¶ For vnderstandeth now ȝe axeth counseil for to do wikkednes [2282] and if ȝe wolen werke wikkednesse and ȝoure wijf restreyneþ þilke wikked purpos and ouercome ȝou by reson and by good counseil; [2283] certes ȝoure wyf oughte raþer to be preysed þen to be blamed [2284] ¶ This scholde ȝe vnder|stande þe philosophre þat saiþ In wicked counseil wommen venquysshen here housebondes [2285] ¶ and þere as ȝe blamen alle wommen & here resons; I schal schewe ȝou by many ensamples þat many wommen han ben ful goode and ȝet ben and here counsel holsome and profitable [2286] ¶ eeke some men han sayde þat þe counselyng of wommen is eyþer to deere or elles to lytel of pris [2287] ¶ But al be it so þat ful [folio 221a] many womman is badde and here counseil vile & nouȝt worþ; ȝet han men founde many a good womman and ful discret and wys in counselyng // [2288] lo Iacob þurgh þe goode counseil of his moder Rebekka wan þe benyson of his fader and þe lordschipe ouer alle his breþeren . [2289] Iudith þurgh hire goode counseil delyuered þe Cite of Buphelye in which sche dwelte out of þe lande of Olyuerne þat hadde it al byseged and wolde han al destruyet it [2290] ¶ Abegayle delyuered Nabal hir housbonde fro Dauid þe king þat wolde han slayn him and appaysede þe yre of þe king by hire witte and by hire goode counseil|yng [2291] ¶¶ Ester by hire counceil enchaunced gretly þe poeple of god in þe Regne of Assueres þe king [2292] and þe same bounte. in good counseiling of

[6-text p 211] many a womman may men telle [2293] ¶ And furþermore whan þat oure lord had created Adam oure forme fader; he sayde in þis wise / [2294] It nys nought good to be a man allone ¶ Make we an helper semblable to him|self. [2295] ¶ Here may ȝe see þat if þat womman were nouȝt good and hire counseil good and profytable; [2296] Oure lord god of heuene ne wolde neuer han y-wrouȝt hem ne called hem þe helper of man . . . . . [2297] ¶ And þer sayde ones a clerk in tuo vers / what is bettre þan a good Iaspre . . . . . wisdom [2298] And what is bettre þan wisdam womman and what is bettre þan womman þat is a good womman no þing [2299] ¶ And sire by many of oþer resons may ȝe seen þat many wommen ben goode and eek here counseil good and profitable [2300] ¶ And þerfore sire if ȝe wiln truste to my counseil; I schal restore ȝou ȝoure doughter hool and sound [2301] ¶ And eek þat I wol to ȝou don so moche þat ȝe schuln haue honour in þis caas

[2302] ¶ When melybe had herde þe wordes of his wijf Prudence; he sayde þus [2303] þat þe wordes of Salamon is soþ ¶ For he saiþ þat wordes þat ben' spoken discretly by ordynaunce ben hony combes ffor þey ȝiuen swetnesse to þe soule and holsomnes to þe body [2304] ¶ And wyf by cause of þine swete wordes and eeke for I haue y-proued and sayd þin grete sapience and þin grete trouþe I wol gouerne me by þyn counseyl in alle þing

[2305] ¶ Now sire quod dame Prudence and seþenes ȝe fouche sauf to be gouerned by my counseil; I wol enforme ȝou how þat ȝe schuln gouerne ȝoure self in chesyng of ȝoure counseilours [2306] ¶ ȝe schuln ferst fourme alle ȝoure wekes mekely byseken to þe hihe god þat he wol ben ȝour counseilour [2307] And schapeþ ȝou to such entent þat he ȝiue ȝou counseil and confort as taughte Thobye [folio 221b] to his sone [2308] at alle tymes. thou schalt/ blesse

[6-text p 212] god and preyen him to dresse / þine weyes. and loke also þat þine counseiles ben in him for euermore [2309] ¶ Seint Iame saiþ ¶ If any of ȝou haue neede of Sapience; aske it of god [2310] ¶ And afterward þenne schullen ȝe take counsel in ȝoure self and examyn wel ȝoure owne þouȝtes of swiche þinges as ȝou þenkeþ þat is best for ȝoure profyt [2311] ¶ And þenne schulle ȝe dryue fro ȝoure hertes þinges þat ben contrarious to good counseil [2312] þat is to say. Ire. Coueytise. and hastynes.

[2313] ffirst he þat askeþ counseil of himself; certes he moste be wiþouten Ire . . . . .[2314] . . . . . and wraþþe in himself he weneþ alwey þat he may do þing þat he may not do [2315] ¶ And secoundly he þat is Irous and wroþ he . . . . .[2316] may nought wel counseille [2317] ¶ The þridde is þis. þat he þat is Irous and wroþ as saiþ Senek ne may nought speke but blameful þinges [2318] And with þilke vicious wordes he stereþ oþer folk to anger and to Ire [2319] And eek sire ȝe moste drede coueytise out of ȝoure herte. [2320] ffor þe apostel seiþ þat coueytise is þe roote of alle harmes. [2321] And trusteth right wel þat a coueytous man ne can nought deme ne þenke but only to fulfille þe ende of his coueytise. [2322] and certes þat ne may neuer be acomplised. ffor euer þe more habundance þat he haþ of richesse; þe more he desireþ [2323] ¶ And sire ȝe moste also driue out of ȝour hertes hastynes [2324] ¶ For certes ȝe may nouȝt deme for þe beste a sodeyn þought þat falleþ in ȝoure herte ¶ But ȝe moste avise ȝou on hit ful ofte [2325] ¶ ffor as ȝe haue herd here biforn þe comune proverbe is þis That he þat sone demeþ sone repenteþ //

[2326] Sire ȝe ne be nouȝt alwey in ylike disposicion [2327] ffor certes som þing þat some tyme semeþ to ȝou þat is good for to do. Anoþer tyme it semeþ to ȝou þe contrarie.

[6-text p 213]

[2328] [When ye han taken counseile in your self And [Laud MS 600 folio 233a] han demed bi good deliberacion siche þing as you semiþ best [2329] ¶ þanne rede I / you that ye kepe it secre / [2330] bewrie not your counseile to no persone. bot it so be. þat ye wene sikerli þat þurgh your bewrieng / your condicion shal be to you þe more profitable [2331] ¶ For Ihesus Sirac saiþ ¶ Neiþer to þi foo ne to þi frende. discouer not þi secre ne þi foli. [2332] for þai wol yeue you audience and loking and supportacion in þi presence and scorne in þi absence. [2333] ¶ Anoþer clerc saiþ þat scarsli shalt þou finde any persone þat mai kepe counseil secreli. [2334] ¶ The book saiþ while þou kepest þi counsail in þin hert þou kepist it in þi prison / [2335] and whan þou bewriest þi counsaile to any wight / he holdeþ þe in his snare ./ [2336] And þerfore you is better hide your counsaile. in your hert / þan praien him to whom ye haue bewried your counseil þat he wol kepe it clos and stille. [2337] ¶ For Seneca saiþ if so be. þat þou ne maist not. þin owne counseile hide. How darst þou praien any oþer wight / þi counseil secreli to kepe. [2338] ¶ Bot naþeles if þou wene sicurli / þat þi bewriyng of þi counsaile to a persone wol make þi condicion to stonde in a better plite. Then shalt þou tellen him þi counseil in þis wise [2339] ¶ First þou shalt make no semblant / where þe were leuer werre or pees. or þis. or þat. ne shew him not þi wille / and þin entent [2340] ¶ For trust wel þat comunli þise counseilours. ben flaterers And [2341] namely þe counseil|lours of grete lordes. [2342] for þei enforcen hem alwei. raþer to speke plesant wordes. enclynyng to þe lordes lust þan wordes þat ben trewe. and profitable. [2343] [Laud MS 600 folio 233b] ¶ And þerfore men sai þat þe riche man haþ selden good coun|saile / bot he haue it of himself [2344] ¶ And aftir þat þou shalt considre þi frendes and þi enemyes ./ [2345] And as touching þi frendes. þou shalt con|sidre

[6-text p 214] whiche of hem beth most faiþful and most wise. and eldest and most approued in counseilyng [2346] and of hem shalt þou axe þi counsaile as þe caas requireth

[2347] ¶ I / sai þat first ye shul clepe to youre coun|saile / youre frendes þat ben trewe ./ [2348] For Salamon saiþ / for right as þe hert of a man delitiþ in sauour. þat is soote / right so þe counsaile of your trewe frendes / yeueþ swetnes to þe soule [2349] ¶ He saiþ also þer mai noþing be likned to þe trewe frende / [2350] ¶ For certes gold ne siluer be not so moche worþ. as þe good wille of a trewe frende / [2351] and eke he saiþ þat a trewe frende. is a stronge defence / who þat it findeþ. certis he findeþ a gret tresour [2352] ¶ þene shul ye eke considre / if þat youre trewe frendes ben discrete and wise / for þe book saiþ. axe þi counsaile alwai of hem þat ben wise. [2353] And bi þis same resoun. shul ye clepe to youre counsaile of youre frendes þat ben age. siche as haue sai sightes and ben expert in mony þinges. and ben approued in counseiling. [2354] for þe book saiþ þat in olde men is þe sapience. and in longe time þe prudence [2355] ¶ And tullius saiþ þat grete þinges ben not aye accompleed bi strengþe ne bi delyuernes of bodi. bot bi good counsail. bi auctorite of persones and bi science. þe whiche þre þinges ben not feble bi age ./ bot certes þai enforcen to en|cresen dai by dai. [2356] and þan shul ye kepe þis for a general rewle ¶ First shul ye clepe to youre counsaile a fewe of your frendes þat ben especial [2357] ¶ For Salamon saiþ mony frendes haue þou. bot among a þousand chese þe on to be þi conseil|lour / [2358] For al be it so þat þou first ne telle þi counseil bot to a fewe. þou maist aftirward telle it to moo folk / if it be nede. [2359] bot loke alwey þat þi counseilours haue þi[l]k þre condiciouns. þat I / haue said

[6-text p 215] before. þat is to sai þat þei be trewe and olde. and of wis experience. [2360] ¶ And wirke not alwey in euery nede / bi on counseilour allone. For somtyme behoueþ it be counseilid bi many. [2361] ¶ For Salamon saiþ. Saluacion of þinges is. where as þer ben many counselers.]

[2362] Now haue I tolde ȝou of which folk ȝe scholde be counseled NOw wol I teche ȝou which counseil ȝe owe to eschewe [2363] fferst ȝe schuln eschewe þe counseilyng of fooles. Salomon saiþ take no coun|seil of a fool ffor he wol counseile but after his owne luste and his affections [2364] ¶ The book/ saiþ þat þe proprete of a fool is þis ¶ he troweþ lightly harme of euery wight and lightly troweþ a bounte in himself [2365] ¶ Thou schalt eke eschewe þe counseiling of alle flaterers whiche enforcen hem raþer to preysen ȝoure persone by flaterye þan for to telle ȝou þe soþ|fastnesse of þinges

[2366] ¶ Wherfore Tullius saiþ among alle þe pestilence [folio 222a] þat ben in frendschipe þe grettest is flaterie ¶ And þerfore is it more nede þat þou eschewe and drede flaterers þan any oþer poeple / [2367] The book saiþ þou schalt raþer [drede and] fle fro þe swete wordes of flaterynge & preysyng þen fro þe egre wordes of þy frend þat saiþ þe þin soþes [2368] Salomon saiþ þat þe wordes of a flaterer is a snare to cacche Innocence [2369] ¶ he saiþ also. he þat spekeþ to his frend wordes of swetnes and of plesance; setteþ a nette biforn his feet to cacche him [2370] ¶ And þerfore Tullius saiþ Enclyne nouȝt þin eeres to flaterers Ne take no counseil of wordes of flaterie / [2371] and Caton saiþ ¶ Avise þe wel and eschewe þe wordes of swetnes and of plesaunce [2372] ¶ And eek þou schalt eschewe þe counsellyng of þine olde enemys þat be reconsiled [2373] The book saiþ þat no wight retourneþ saufly in to þe

[6-text p 216] grace of his olde enemy [2374] ¶ And Isope saiþ ¶ Ne truste nouȝt to hem to whiche som tyme þou hast had werre / or enmyte ne telle hem nouȝt þi counseille [2375] ¶ And Senek telleþ þe cause why it may nought be saith he þat where long tyme fuyr haþ endured þat þer dwelleþ som tyme vapour of hete [2376] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Salamon in þin olde foo truste þou neuere [2377] ffor sikerly þough þin enemy be reconsiled and makeþ þe chere of humilite and lowteþ to þe wiþ his heed ne truste him neuere [2378] ffor certes he makeþ þilke feyned humilite more for his profyt þan for eny humilite or for eny loue of þin persone by . . . . . such feyned contynance The which victory he might haue by stryf or werre [2379] And Petre Alfouns saiþ. make no felaschipe wiþ þine olde enemyes; ffor if þou do hem bounte þey wollen peruerten hit to wickednesse [2380] And eeke þou most eschewe þe counseilyng of hem þat ben þin seruantz and beren the gret reuerence ffor perauenture þey seyn it more for drede þan for loue [2381] ¶ And þerfore saiþ a Philosophre in þis wise ¶ Ther nys no wight parfytly trewe to him þat he to sore dredeþ [2382] ¶ And Tullius saiþ ¶ Ther nys no wight so gret of eny emperour þat longe may endure / but if he haue loue of þe poeple and drede [2383] ¶ Thow schalt eschewe also þe counseiling of folk þat ben drunkelewe for þey ne can no counselle huyde. [2384] Salamon saiþ þer nys no pryuyte þer as regneþ drunkenes [2385] ¶ ȝe schullen han also in suspecte to þe counseling of such folk as counseile ȝow a þing priuily and counseile ȝou a þing þat is contrarie openly [2386] ffor Cassidory saiþ þat it is a maner sleighte to hyndre his enemy when [folio 222b] he scheweþ to don a þing openly and werkeþ priuily þe contrarie [2387] ¶ Thou schalt haue also in þin suspecte þe conselynge of wikked folk . . . . . þat is alwey ful

[6-text p 217] of fraude [2388] and Dauid saiþ þat blisful is þe man þat haþ nought folwed þe counseling of schrewes [2389] ¶ Thow schalt also eschewe þe counseilling of ȝong folk ffor here counseilyng nys nought rype as Salomon saiþ

[2390] ¶ Now sire siþenes I haue schewed ȝou of which folk ȝe schuln take counsel and of which folk ȝe schuln folwe þe counsel / [2391] Now wol I teche ȝou how ȝe schuln examyn ȝoure counsel after the doctrine of Tullius [2392] in þe examynyng þenne of ȝoure counseilour ȝe schuln considere many þinges [2393] ¶ Alþer first þou schalt considere þilke þing þat þou purposest and vpon what þing þou wolt han counsell þat verray trouþe be sayde and conserued þis is to say telle trewly þin tale [2394] ¶ For he þat saiþ fals may [not] wel be counseiled in þat caas of which [he lyeth] [2395] ¶ And after þis þou schalt consideren þe þinges þat acorden to þat þou purposest for to be by þin counseil|ours if reson acordeþ þerto [2396] ¶ And eek if þi might may atteyne þerto ¶ And if þe more part and þe bettre part of ȝoure counseilours acorden þerto or no. [2397] þen schalt þou considere what þing schal folwe of here counseilinge. as hate pees werre grace profyt other damage and many oþer þinges [2398] And in alle þinges þou schalt chese þe beste and weyfe alle oþer þinges [2399] ¶ Thenne schalt þou considere of what roote it is engendred þe matier of þin counseil and what fruyt it may conceyue and engendre [2400] þou schalt eek considre alle þese causes for þe whiche þey ben spronge [2401] ¶ and whan ȝe haue examyned ȝoure counseil as I haue sayde and which partie is þe bettre and more profitable and hast aproued it by many wise folk and olde [2402] þanne schalt þou considere if þou mayst performe hit and make of hit a good ende [2403] ¶ For certes reson wol nouȝt þat any man schal begynne a þing but if he mighte performe hit as him owȝte [2404] ¶ Ne no wight schulde

[6-text p 218] taken vpon him so heuy a charge þat he mighte [not] bere it [2405] ¶ For þe prouerbe saiþ he þat to mochel enbraceþ distreyneþ litel [2406] ¶ And Caton saiþ ¶ Assay such þing as þou hast power to done leste þe charge oppresse þe to sore þat þe bihoueþ to weyue þing þat þou hast bygonne [2407] ¶ And if so be þat þou be in doute. wher þou maist performe a þing or non; chese raþer for to suffre þan for to bygynne [2408] ¶ And Pieres alphouns saith If þou hast might to don a þing of which þou most repente it is bettre . . . . .[2409] . . . . . halde þi tunge [folio 223a] stille þan for to speke [2410] ¶ Then may I vnderstonde by strenger resouns þat if þou hast power to performe a werk of which þou schalt repente þe ¶ Thenne is it bettre þat þou suffre þan bygynne [2411] wel seyn þey þat defenden euery wight to assaye a þing of which he is in doute wher he may performe it or non [2412] ¶ And after when ȝe haue examynd ȝoure conseill as I haue sayd biforn and knowe wel þat ȝe may per|forme ȝoure emprise; conferme it þenne sadly til it be at an ende

[2413] ¶ Now is it reson and tyme þat I schewe ȝou whenne and where-fore þat ȝe may chaunge ȝoure counsel|ours wiþouten ȝoure reprofe [2414] ¶ Soþly man may chaunge his purpos and his counseill if þe cause cesseth or whan a newe cause betydeþ [2415] ¶ For þe lawe seiþ vpon þinges þat newely betyden bihoueþ newe conseill [2416] ¶ And Senek saiþ ¶ If þin counseil come to þe eeres of þin enemys; chaunge þi conseill [2417] [Après, l'en peut changier son conseil] if so be þou fynde þat by errour or by ony oþer cause harme or damage may betyde [2418] ¶ Also of þin counsel be dishoneste oþer elles come of dishoneste cause; chaunge þin counsel [2419] ¶ For þe lawe saiþ/ þat alle bihestes þat ben dishoneste ne ben of no value.

[6-text p 219] [2420] and eek if so be þat it be impossible oþer may nouȝt gladly be performed oþer kepte

[2421] And take þis for a general reule / þat euery counsel þat is enformed so strongly þat it may nought be chaunged for no condicion þat may betyde; I say þat ilke consel is wicked.

[2422] ¶ Melibeus whan he hadde herd þe doctrine of his wijf dame prudence; he answerde in þis wyse. [2423] Dame quod he as ȝet vnto þis tyme ȝe han wel taught me as in generalle how I schal gouerne me and in þe chesyng and in þe wiþholdyng of my counseilours. [2424] But now wolde I fayn þat ȝe wolde condescende in special [2425] and telle me how þat likeþ ȝou or how þat semeþ ȝou by oure counseil|lours þat we haue chose in þis present neede

[2426] ¶ My lord quod sche I beseche ȝou in al humbles þat ȝe wolde nought wilfully reproeuen aȝein myn resons ne distempre ȝoure herte þough I speke þing þat ȝou displese [2427] ¶ ffor god woot as in myn entent I speke it as for þe beste for ȝoure honour and for ȝour profyt eeke [2428] ¶ And soþly I hope þat ȝoure be|nignite wol take it in pacience [2429] ¶ and trusteþ to me wel þat ȝoure counsel in þis cas ne scholde nouȝt as to speke proprely be called a counselynge but a mocioun or a meuyng of folye [2430] In which counseil ȝe haue herde in many a sondry wise

[2431] ¶ fferst and forþward ȝe han herd in þe assem|blyng of ȝour counsellours [2432] ¶ ffor ferst ȝe schulde haue cleped [folio 223b] a fewe folk to ȝoure counseille ¶ And after þat ȝe might haue schewed it to mo folk if it hadde be neede. [2433] But certes sodeinly ȝe han cleped to ȝoure coun|seil a gret multitude of poeple fulle chargaunt and ful annuyous for to heere [2434] ¶ And also ȝe haue herde furthere as ȝe schulde only haue cleped to ȝoure counselle ȝoure trewe frendes olde & wise [2435] ¶ ȝe han cleped also straunge folk ȝong folk fals flaterers and enemys

[6-text p 220] reconsiled and folk þat don ȝou reuerence wiþouten loue / [2436] and eek also ȝe haue herd for ȝe han brought wiþ ȝou to ȝoure counseil. Ire. coueytise and hastines [2437] þe whiche þre þinges ben contrary to euery good counseil and honest & profitable [2438] þe whiche þre þinges ȝe han nouȝt anyntesched oþer destruyed hem neyþer in ȝoure self ne in ȝoure / counceillours as ȝe aughte [2439] ¶ Ȝe han herde also for ȝe han schewed to ȝoure counseillours ȝoure talent ȝoure affeccion to make werre anon for to do vengeaunce [2440] And þey haue aspied by ȝoure wordes to what þing ȝe ben enclyned [2441] ¶ and þerfore haue þey raþer counseled ȝou to ȝoure talent þan to ȝoure profyt [2442] ȝe han herde also for semeþ it / sufficeþ to han ben coun|celed by þis counceillours oonly and wiþ litel auyse [2443] where as in so grete and in so heih a neede it haþ be necessarye mo counselours and mo deliberacions to parforme ȝoure emprise [2444] ¶ Ȝe han herd also for ȝe han herd nought ȝoure counsel in þe forseyde manere ne in dewe manere as þe cas requyreþ [2445] ¶ ȝe haue herd also for ȝe haue maad no dyuysion betwixe . . . . . ȝoure trewe frendes and ȝoure feyned concelours [2446] ¶ Ne ȝe haue nouȝt knowe þe wille of ȝoure trewe freendes olde and wise. [2447] but ȝe haue cast alle here wordes in an hoche potte and enclyned ȝoure herte to þe more part and to þe grettere nombre . . . . .[2448] . . . . . of fooles þenne of wise men. [2449] ¶ And þerfore þe counselynge þat ben at congregacions and mul|titudes of folk þer as men take more reward to þe nombre þen to Sapience of persones; [2450] ȝe seen wel þat in suche councelynges fooles haue þe maystrie [2451] ¶ Melybe answerde and sayde aȝein I graunte wel þat I haue herd [2452] ¶ But þer as þou hast tolde me þer biforn þat he nys nought to blame þat chaungeþ his coun|ceiloures

[6-text p 221] for certein caas and for certein and iuste cause [2453] I am al redy to chaunge myne counceilours right as þou woldest deuyse [2454] ¶ ffor þe prouerbe saith þat for to don synne is mannyssch But certes for to perseueren longe in synne is werkes of þe deuel.

[2455] [folio 224a] To þis sentence answered anon dame Pru|dence and sayde. [2456] examyneþ quod sche ȝoure con|selle and let vs se þe which of hem haþ spoke more resonably and taught ȝou best conseil [2457] ¶ And for as moche as þat examinacion is necessary. let vs begynne at surgiens and at phisiciens þat first spaken of þis matiere [2458] ¶ I say þat Phisiciens & surgiens haue sayd ȝou in ȝoure consel discretly as hem oughte [2459] & in here speche sethens ful wisly þat to þe office of hem apperteyneþ to don to euery wight honour and profyt and nouȝt for to ennoye [2460] and after here crafte to don gret diligence vnto þe cure of hem whiche þat þey haue in here gouern|aunce [2461] and sir right as þey han answered wisly and discretly; [2462] Right so rede I þat þey ben heighly and souereynly guerdount for here noble speche [2463] and eek for þey schullen more do þe ententyf busynes in þe curacion of þin doughter deere [2464] ¶ ffor al be it so þat þei ben ȝoure freendes; þerfore schuln ȝe nouȝt suffre þat þey serue ȝou for nought [2465] ¶ But ȝe aughte þer after guerdon hem and payen hem here largesse [2466] ¶ and as touchynge þe proporcion which þat þe phisiciens encreseden in þis caas ¶ This is to sayn [2467] þat in maladyes is þat a contrary is warisshed by anoþer contrarie [2468] ¶ I wolde fayn knowe how ȝe vnderstode þilke text and what is ȝoure sentence [2469] ¶ Certes quod Mellibeus I vnderstande it in þis wise. [2470] Right as þey haue done me a contrary; so schuld I don hem anoþer [2471] ¶ ffor right as þey haue venged hem vpon me; and don me wrong; Right so wol I venge me vpon hem

[6-text p 222] and don hem wrong [2472] and þenne haue I cured a contrary by anoþer

[2473] ¶ lo lo quod dame prudence how lightly is euery man enclyned to his owne desir to his plesaunce [2474] ¶ Certes quod sche þe wordes of þe phisicien ne schulde nouȝt be vnderstande in þat wise [2475] ffor certes wikkednesse is nouȝt contrary to wickednes ne vengeance is nouȝt contrary to veng|aunce ne wrong to wrong [mais sont semblables. [2476] Et pour ce, vengence par vengence, ne injure par in|jure, n'est pas curé (Men. i. 206-7)] [2477] But euery of hem encreseþ and engreggeþ oþer [2478] ¶ But certes þe wordes of þe phisicien schullen ben vnder|stonde in þis wise [2479] ¶ ffor good and wicked|nesse ben tuo contrarious ¶ And pees and werre venge|ance and sufferance discord and acord and many oþer þinges [2480] ¶ But certes wickednesse schal ben y-warisched by goodnes. discord by acord. werre by pees and so forþ and oþer þinges [2481] ¶ And herto acordeþ seint Poule þe appostel and in many place [2482] he saiþ ¶ Ne ȝeldeþ nouȝt harm for [folio 224b] harm ne wicked speche [pour mesdit] [2483] But do wel to hem þat don þe harme and blesse hem þat saiþ to þe harme [2484] And many oþer places he amonysscheþ pees and acord [2485] ¶ But now wol I speke of þe coun|seil which was y-ȝoue vnto ȝou by men of lawe þe wise folk and olde folk [2486] þat sayden alle by on acorde as ȝe haue herde biforn [2487] ¶ That ouer alle þinges ȝe schullen don ȝoure diligence to kepe ȝoure persone and to warmstore ȝoure hous [2488] ¶ And þay sayden also þat in þis caas ȝe oughten to wirchen ful avisily and wiþ gret deliberacion [2489] ¶ And sir as to þe first poynt þat toucheþ vnto þe kepyng of ȝoure persone [2490] ȝe schullen vnderstande þat he þat haþ werre schal euermore deuoutely and mekely preyen biforn alle þinges [2491] þat Ihesus crist of his mercy wole

[6-text p 223] haue him in his proteccion and ben his souerein helpynge at his neede [2492] ffor certes in þis world nys no wight þat may be counseled ne kepte sufficiauntly wiþ|outen þe kepyng of oure lord ihesus crist [2493] To þis sentence accordeþ þe prophete dauid þat saiþ. [2494] If god ne kepe þe cite in ydel wakeþ he þat it kepeþ [2495] ¶ Now sir þenne schulle ȝe quyte þe kepyng of ȝoure persone to ȝoure trewe frendes þat ben aproved and y-knowe [2496] and of hem schuln ȝe asken helpe ȝoure persone for to kepe ¶ ffor Caton saiþ ¶ If þou hast neede of helpe; aske it of þin frendes [2497] ffor þer nys non so good a phisicien as þin trewe freend [2498] and after þis þenne schulle ȝe kepe ȝou fro alle straunge folk and fro lyeres And haue alway in suspecte here companye [2499] ¶ ffor pieres alphouns saiþ ¶ Ne take no companye by þe way of straunge man but it so be þou haue knowe him of lengere tyme. [2500] and if so be þat he falle in to þin company per|aduenture wiþouten þin assent [2501] enquere þenne as subtilly as þou canst of his conuersacion and of his lyf byfore and feyne þy way seynge þou woldest go þider as þou woldest nouȝt go. [2502] and if he bereþ a spere holde þe on þe right syde of him . and if he bereþ a swerde holde þe on þe left syde of him. [2503] and þenne schul ȝe kepe ȝou wisly fro alle such manere of poeple as Ihaue sayde ȝou here bifore and hem and here coun|sel eschewe [2504] And after þis þenne schulle ȝe kepe ȝou in such manere [2505] þat for any presumpcioun of ȝoure bodily strengþe þat ȝe ne dispise nought ne accounte nouȝt þe might of ȝoure aduersary so lyte þat ȝe lete þe kepynge of ȝoure persone for ȝoure presumpcion [2506] ffor euery wysman dredeþ his enemy [2507] ¶ And Salamon saiþ wel fool is he þat of al haþ drede [2508] ¶ ffor [folio 225a] certes he þat þurgh hardynesse of his herte and þurgh þe hardynes of himself haþ so gret presumpcion him schal yuele betyde [2509] ¶ Thenne

[6-text p 224] schuln ȝe euermore encountrewayte enbusschementȝ and alle espyaile. [2510] ffor as saiþ þe wise man . . . . . [2511] he ne falleþ in to no periles þat periles escheweþ [2512] ¶ And al be it/ so þat þou seme þat þou be in secre place ȝet schalt þou alwey don diligence in the kepynge of þin persone [2513] þis is to say. Ne be nouȝt necligent to kepe þin persone nought only fro þin grettest enemy . but only fro þin leste enemy [2514] Senek saiþ a man þat is wel auysed he dredeþ his leste enemy [2515] Ovide seiþ þat þe lytel wesel wol sle þe grete bole and þe wilde hert [2516] And þe prouerbe saiþ þat a luytel þorne may greeue a king ful sore ¶ And a litel hound wol holde þe wilde bore [2517] ¶ But naþeles I say nought þou schalt be so coward þat þou doute wher as is no drede [2518] ¶ The bok saiþ that some men haue gret lust to disceyue but ȝit þey drede to be de|sceyued [2519] . . . . . And kepe þe fro þe company of Scorners [2520] ¶ ffor þe book saiþ þat scorners ne makeþ no companye but flee here word as venym

[2521] ¶ Now as to þe secounde poynt where as ȝoure wise counceilours counseiled ȝou to warmstore ȝoure houses wiþ gret diligence [2522] ¶ I wolde fayn knowe how þat ȝe vnderstande þilke wordes and what is ȝoure sentence.

[2523] Mellibeus answerde and sayde Certes I vnder|stande in þis wise þat I schal warmstore myn hous wiþ toures suche as haue castelles and oþer maner of edifices & armure and archers [2524] betwen which þing if I may my persone and myn hous so kepe and defende þat myn enemys schuln be in drede myn hous for to approche.

[2525] to þis sentence answerde anon prudence warnysshing quod sche of heihe toures and of heihe edifices appertyneþ somtyme to pryde [2526] And eek men make heihe toures [et les grans édifices à grant travail et à grans

[6-text p 225] despens, et quant elles sont faites, elles ne vallent riens se elles ne sont defendues par sages et par bons amis loyaux, et à grans missions (Le Ménagier, i. 209)] [2527] ¶ And vnderstande wel þat þe grettest and þe strengest garnyson þat riche man may haue / as wel to kepen his persone and his goodes is [2528] þat he [be] biloued wiþ his subiectes and with his neihebours [2529] ¶ ffor þus saiþ Tullius That þer is a maner garnyson þat no man may venquysschen ne discomfite and þat is [2530] a lord to be loued of his citeȝeins and of his poeple

[2531] ¶ Now sire as to þe þridde poynt where as ȝoure olde and wise counseiloures sayden ¶ þat ȝou ne oughte nouȝt sodeinly ne hastely proceden in þis neede [2532] But þat ȝe oughten purueyen and apparayle ȝou in þis caas wiþ gret diligence and with gret deliberacion [2533] ¶ Trewely I trowe þat þay sayden right wisly and right soþ [2534] ¶ ffor Tullius saiþ In euery neede er þou begynne it apparayle þe with gret diligence. [2535] þenne say I þat in vengaunce takyng in werre in [folio 225b] bataille and in warnestoringe [2536] er þou bygynne ¶ I rede þat þou apparayle þe þer to ¶ And do it wiþ gret deliberacion [2537] ¶ ffor Tullius saiþ. þat lange apparaylinge biforn þe bataile makeþ schort victory [2538] ¶ And Cassidorus saiþ þe garnyson is strenger whan it is long tyme avised

[2539] But now lete vs speke of þe counseil þat was acorded by oure neyheboures suche as don ȝou reuerence wiþouten loue [2540] ȝoure olde enemys recon|siled ¶ ȝoure flaterers [2541] þat counceleden ȝou cer|teyn þinges priuely and openly counseileden ȝou þe contrarie [2542] ¶ The ȝonge folk also þat counseiled ȝou to vengen ȝou and to maken werre anon. [2543] ¶ And certes sire as I haue sayde byforn; ȝe haue gretly y-erred to han y-cleped suche maner of folk to ȝoure counselle [2544] ¶ Whiche counseiloures / ben ynough reproued by þe resons aforn sayde [2545] ¶ But naþeles let vs now descende to

[6-text p 226] þe special ȝe schuln ferst proceden after þe doctrine of Tullius [2546] ¶ Certes the trouþe of þis matier eyþer of þis counseil nedeþ not diligently enqueren [2547] ¶ ffor it is wel wiste whiche þey ben þat doon ȝou þis trespas & vilenye [2548] and how many trespasoures and in what manere þey han don to ȝou al þis wronge and alle þis vilanye [2549] ¶ And after þis þanne schullen ȝe examine ȝe secounde condicion þe which þat Tullius addeth in þis matiere [2550] ¶ ffor Tullius putteþ a þing which þat he clepeþ consentynge þis is to say [2551] who ben þay and whiche ben þay and how many þat consenten to þin counseil in þin willefulnesse to don hasty vengeance [2552] ¶ And let vs concidre also who ben þay and how many ben þay . . . . . þat consenten to ȝoure aduersaries [2553] And certes as to þe ferste poynt ¶ hit is wel knowen whiche ben þay þat consenten to oure hastyf wilful|nesse [2554] ¶ ffor trewely alle þo þat counselen ȝou to maken sodeyn werre ne ben nought ȝoure frendes [2555] ¶ let se now whiche ben þey þat ȝe holden so gretly ȝoure frendes as to ȝoure persone [2556] ¶ ffor al be it so þat ȝe ben mighty and ryche; certes ȝe ben but allone [2557] ¶ ffor certes ȝe ne han no childe but a doughter [2558] ne ȝe han no breþeren ne cosyns germayns ne non oþer neih kynrede [2559] ¶ Wherfore ȝoure enemys scholden stinte to plede wiþ ȝou ne to destruye ȝoure persone. [2560] ȝe knowen also þat ȝoure richesse moot ben dispended in diuerse partyes [2561] & when þat euery wight haþ his parte; þey woln take but litel rewarde to vengen þy deþ [2562] ¶ But þin enemys ben þre and þey haue many children breþeren cosyns and oþer neyh kynrede [2563] ¶ And þough so were þat þou haddest slayn of hem two oþer .iij. ȝet dwellen þere ynowe to [folio 226a] awreken here deþ and to slen þin persone [2564] ¶ And þeih so be þat ȝoure kynrede be more siker and stedefast þen

[6-text p 227] þe kyn of ȝoure aduersary [2565] ¶ ȝet neuer þe les ȝoure kynrede is but after kynrede þey ben but litel sibbe to ȝou [2566] ¶ And þe kyn of ȝoure enemys ben neigh sibbe to hem ¶ And certes as in þat he condicion is bettre þen is ȝoures [2567] ¶ þenne let vs consideren also of þe counseilynge of hem þat counseleden ȝou to taken sodeyn vengeance wheþer it acorde to reson or non. [2568] and certes ȝe knowen wel nay. [2569] ffor as by right and reson þer may no man take vengaunce of no wight ¶ But þe Iugge þat haþ Iurdixion of hit [2570] whan it is graunted him to take þilke vengeaunce hastely or at|temperelly as þe lawe requyreþ [2571] ¶ And ȝet more ouer of þilke worde þat Tullius clepeþ consenting; [2572] þou schalt consente if þin mighte & þin power may consente and suffice to þin wilfulnesse and to þin counseiloures [2573] ¶ And certes þou mayst wel say þat nay [2574] ¶ ffor sikerly as for to speken proprely we may do no þing but oonly such þing as we may doon rightfully [2575] ¶ And certes rightfully ne may ȝe take no vengaunce as of ȝoure propre auctorie [2576] ¶ Then may ȝe seen þat ȝoure power ne consenteþ nouȝt ne acordeþ nouȝt with ȝour willefulnesse [2577] Now lete vs examine þe þridde poynt þat Tullius clepeþ consequent [2578] Thou schalt vnderstanden þat þe vengaunce þat þou purposest for to take is conse|quent [2579] And þerfore falleþ anoþer vengaunce. Peril. and werre and oþre damages withouten nombre of whiche we ben nouȝ warre as at þis tyme [2580] ¶ And as touchinge þe forþe poynt/. þat Tullius clepeþ en|gendrynge [2581] ¶ þou schalt considere þat þis wrang which þat is don to þe is engendred of þe hate of þin enemys [2582] and of þe vengeance takynge ¶ And vpon þat wolde engendre anoþer vengeance and mochel sorwe and wastyng of richesse as I sayde er

[2583] ¶ Now sir as touchinge to þe poynt þat Tullius clepeþ causes which þat is þe laste poynt [2584] ¶ Thou

[6-text p 228] schalt vnderstande þat þe wrong þat þou hast receyued haþ certein causes [2585] whiche þat clerkes clepen Oriens et Officiens and causa longinqua and causa propinqua ¶ This is to sayn þe ferre cause [et la prou|chaine; [2586] la loingtaine est Dieu qui est cause de toutes causes [2587] la prouchaine est tes trois ennemis (Le Mén. i. 212)] [2588] accidental was hate [2589] The causes material ben þe .v. woundes of þin douȝter [2590] ¶ The cause formale is þe maner of here worchinge þat brouȝten laddres and clomben in at þine wyndowes / [2591] ¶ The cause final was for to slee þin douȝter it latted nought in as moche as in hem was [2592] ¶ But for to speken of þe ferre cause as [folio 226b] what ende þey schullen come Or what schal betyden of hem in þis caas ne can I nouȝt deeme. but by coniectyng and by supposynge [2593] ffor we schuln suppose [qu'ils avendront] to a wicked ende. [2594] by cause þe book of decrees saith ¶ Selden or wiþ gret peyne ben causes brouȝt to an ende when þey ben baldly bygonne

[2595] Now sir if men asked me why þat ȝe suffren men to don ȝou þis vilenye Certes I can not wel answere as for no soþfastnes [2596] ffor þe appostel saiþ þat þe sciences and þe Iuggementz of oure lord god ben mighty and deepe [2597] ¶ Ther may no man comprehende ne serche hem sufficiently [2598] ¶ Naþeles by certeins presumpcions & coniectynges I halde and bileeue [2599] þat god þat is ful of Iustice and of rightwisnesse haþ suffred þis bytyde by iuste cause resonable

[2600] ¶ þin name is mellibe þis is to say a man þat drinkeþ hony [2601] ¶ Thou hast y-drunke so meche hony of þe swete temperel richesses and delices & hon|ures of þis world [2602] þat þou art drunken and hast forȝeten oure lord ihu crist þin creatour [2603] ¶ Thou hast nouȝt don to him such honour as þe oughte [2604] ¶ Ne þou hast nouȝt wel take heede to

[6-text p 229] þe wordes of Ovide þat saiþ [2605] vnder þe hony of þe goodes of þin body is hyd þe venym þat sleeþ þe soule [2606] ¶ And Salomon saiþ ¶ If þou hast founden hony ete of hit what sufficeþ [2607] ¶ ffor if þou ete of hit out of mesure / þou schalt spewe and be needy and pore [2608] ¶ And peraduenture crist hath þe in spite and haþ turned away fro þe his face and his eres of misericorde [2609] and also he haþ suffred þat þou hast ben y-punyssht/ in þe maner þat þou hast y-trespast [2610] ¶ Thow hast don synne aȝeins oure lord ihu crist [2611] ¶ ffor certes þe þre enemys of man|kynde þat is to say þe fleissch. þe ffeend. and þe worlde [2612] ¶ þou hast suffred hem to entre in þin herte wilfully by þe wyndowes of þy body [2613] and hast nouȝt defended þe sufficeantly aȝeins here defautes and here temptacions So þat þay haue wounded þi soule in fyue place. [2614] ¶ this is to sayn þe deedly synnes þat ben entrede in to þin herte by þine .v. wittes [2615] And in þe same manere oure lord ihesu crist haþ and wolde and haþ suffred þat þine þre enemys ben entred in to þin hous by þe wyndowes [2616] and han wounded þine doughtres in þe forseyde manere

[2617] ¶ Certes quod Mellibe I se wel þat þat ȝe en|force ȝou mochel by wordes to ouercome me in such a manere þat I schal now vengen me of myn enemys [2618] Schewynge me þe periles and þe eueles þat mighten ffalle of þis vengeance [2619] ¶ But who so wolde considere in alle vengances [folio 227a] þe periles and eueles þat mighte sewe of vengance takynge; [2620] a man wolde neuere take vengance and þat were harme; [2621] ffor by þe veng|aunce takynge ben þe wickede men disseuered fro þe goode men [2622] ¶ And þo þat han wille to don wicked|nesse restreynen here wickede purpos whan þey seen þe punysschyng and þe chastysing of trespasours

[2623] [And to this answered dame Prudence: 'Certes,' said she, 'I grant you that from vengeance come many

[6-text p 230] benefits as well as many evils: [2624] yet vengeance be|longeth not to "a singuler persone," but only to the judges, and to those who have jurisdiction over evil-doers.'] [2625] ¶ And ȝit say I more þat right as a singuler persone synneþ in takinge vengance of anoþer man; [2626] Right so synneþ þe Iugge if he take no vengance of hem þat it han desserued // [2627] ffor Senek saiþ þus þat mayster is good þat reproeueþ schrewes [2628] ¶ And as Cassidory saiþ. A man dredeth to don outrages; whan he woot and knoweþ þat it displeseþ þe Iuge and þe soueraignes [2629] ¶ And anoþer saiþ þe Iugge þat dredeth do don right makeþ schrewes [2630] ¶ And seint Poul þe appostel saiþ in his epistle whan he writeþ vnto þe Romayns that þe Iuges beren nought þe spere wiþouten cause. [2631] but þay beren it to punysschen þe schrewes and þe mysdoers and for to de|fende þe goode men [2632] ¶ If ȝe woln þenne take vengance of ȝoure enemys; ȝe schuln retourne or haue ȝoure recours to þe Iuge þat haþ þe Iurdexion vpon him [2633] & he schal punyssche hem as þe lawe axeþ and requyreþ

[2634] ¶ A quod Mellibe þis vengance likeþ me noþing [2635] ¶ I beþinke me now how fortune haþ norisched me fro my childhode and haþ holpen me to passe many a straunge pas [2636] ¶ Now wol I assayen here trowynge with goddes grace and helpe þat sche schal helpe me my schame for to venge

[2637] ¶ Certes quod Prudence if ȝe woln worche by my counseille; ȝe schuln nouȝt assaye fortune by no way. [2638] Ne ȝe schuln nought lene ne borwe vnto hire after þe word of Senek [2639] ffor þinges þat ben folily doon and þat ben in hope of ffortune schuln neuere come to a good ende [2640] ¶ and as þe same senek seiþ ¶ The more clere and þe more schynynge þat fortune is; þe more brutel and þe sonnere y-broke sche is [2641] ¶ trusteþ nouȝt in hire for sche nys noþing stedefast ne stable [2642] ffor when þou trowest to be most siker or seure of hire

[6-text p 231] helpe; sche wol fayle þe and disceyue þe [2643] ¶ And wher as ȝe sayn þat fortune haþ norisshed ȝou fro ȝoure childhode [2644] I say ȝou þat in so mochel schuln ȝe þe lasse trusten in hire and in hire witte [2645] ¶ ffor Senek saiþ that what man is norisched by fortune; sche makeþ him to gret a fool [2646] ¶ Now þenne seþens ȝe desire and aske vengance ¶ And þe vengance þat is doon after þe lawe and biforn þe Iugge ne likeþ [folio 227b] ȝou nought [2647] and þe vengance þat is don in hope of fortune is peril|ous and vncerteyn [2648] ¶ Thenne haue ȝe non oþer remedye but for to haue ȝoure recours vnto þe soueraign Iuge þat vengeþ alle vilanyes and wronges [2649] ¶ And he schal venge ȝou after þat þin self witnesseþ [ . . . . . ] [2650] leueþ þe vengance to me and I schal don hit

[2651] ¶ Mellibe answerde ¶ If I ne venge me nouȝt of þe wrong þat men han doon to me [2652] ¶ I schal sompne or warne hem þat han don þis vilanye to me and alle oþre to don me anoþer vilanye [2653] ¶ ffor it is writen ¶ If þou take no vengance of an olde vilanye; þou somp|nest þin aduersarie to don þe a newe vylanye [2654] [Et ainsi, par souffrir l'en me feroit tant de villenies de toutes pars] þat I mighte neyþer bere it ne sus|tene [2655] and so schulde I be ouersette and halden ouer lowe [2656] ¶ ffor men sayn ¶ In mochil suffrynge schullen many þinges falle vnto þe whiche þou schalt not mowe suffre

[2657] ¶ Certes quod Prudence I graunte þat ouer mochil suffrance / is nought good [2658] ¶ But ȝet ne folweþ it nouȝt þer-of þat euery persone to whom men don vilanye take of it vengance [2659] ffor þat apper|teneþ and longeþ al only to þe Iuges ffor þey schuln venge þe vilenyes and þe iniuries [2660] and þerfore þo tuo auctoritees þat ȝe han sayde aboue ben oonly vnderstanden in þe Iuges [2661] ¶ ffor whan þey suffren ouer mochil þe wronges and vilanyes ben don

[6-text p 232] wiþouten punysschinge [2662] þay sompne nouȝt a man only for to do newe wronges but þay comaunden it [2663] ¶ Also a wise man saiþ þat þe Iuge þat cor|recteþ nouȝt þe synnere comaundeþ and biddeþ him to do synne [2664] ¶ And þe souerains and þe Iuges / mighten in here lande so mochel suffren of þe schrewes and mysdoers [2665] þat þey schulden by such suffraunce / by proces of tyme wexen of suche power and might þat þey schulde putte oute þe Iuges and þe soueraignes from here places [2666] and at þe laste maken hem leesen here lordschipes

[2667] ¶ But let vs now putte þat ȝe han leue to vengen ȝou [2668] ¶ If ȝe ben nouȝt of might and power as now to vengen ȝou [2669] ffor if ȝe woln maken comparison vnto þe might of ȝoure aduersaries ¶ ȝe schullen fynden in many þinges þat I haue schewed ȝou ben þis þat here condicion is bettre þan ȝoures [2670] ¶ And þerfore say I þat it is good as now þat ȝe suffre and be pacient

[2671] ¶ fferþermore ȝe knowen þat after þe commune sawe it is a woodnesse a man to streyne aȝeins a strenger or a more mighty man þen is himself [2672] ¶ And for to stryue wiþ a man of euene strengþe þat is to say [folio 228a] wiþ a strong man as he is it is peril [2673] ¶ And for to stryue wiþ a waykare man it is folye. [2674] and þerfore schulde a man fle stryuyng/ as mochel as he mighte [2675] ¶ As Salomon saith ¶ It is a gret worschipe to kepyn him fro noyse and stryf [2676] ¶ And if it so bifalle or happe þat a man of grettere might and strengþe þan þou art do þe greuaunce [2677] study and busy þe raþer to stille þe same greuaunce þan for to venge þe [2678] ¶ ffor Senek saiþ þat he putteþ him in gret perile þat stryueþ wiþ a gretter man þan he is himself [2679] ¶ And Catoun saiþ if a man of heyer astate or degre or more mighty þen þou do þe annoye or greuance Suffre him [2680] for he þat ones haþ greued þe

[6-text p 233] may anoþer tyme releue þe and helpe þe [2681] ¶ ȝit sette I cas ȝe han boþe might and licence to vengen ȝou [2682] I say þat þer ben many þinges þat schuln restreynen ȝou of vengannce takinge [2683] and make ȝou for to encline and for to suffre and for to haue pacience in þe wronges þat han be don to ȝou [2684] ¶ ffirste and forþward if ȝe woln concider þe defautes þat ben in ȝoure owne persone [2685] for whiche defautes god haþ suffred ȝou to haue þis tribulacion as I haue sayde ȝou here byforn. [2686] ¶ ffor þe Poete saiþ þat we oughten paciently taken þe tribu|lacions þat comeþ / to vs when we þenken and consydren þat we han disserued to han hem [2687] ¶ And seint Gregory saiþ ¶ þat whan a man considereþ wel þe nombre of his defautes and of his synnes [2688] þe peynes and þe tribulacions þat he suffreþ semen þe lasse vnto him [2689] ¶ And in als mochel as him þenk|eþ his synnes þe more heuy and greuous. [2690] ¶ In so moche semeþ his peyne þe lighter and þe esyer vnto him [2691] ¶ Also ȝe owen to encline and to bowen ȝoure herte to taken þe pacience of oure lord Ihesu crist as saiþ seint Petre in his Epistles [2692] ¶ Ihesu crist he saiþ haþ suffred for vs and ȝeuen ensample vnto euery man to folwe and to sewe him [2693] ffor he dede neuer synne ne neuere ne came a vileyns word out of his mouþ [2694] when men cursed him he cursed hem nought ¶ And when men beten him he manased hem nought [2695] ¶ Also þe grece pacience whiche seintes þat ben in paradys. han had in tribulacions þat þey han suffred wiþouten eny desert or gilte [2696] aughte mochel to stere ȝou to pacience [2697] [Après, moult te doit encliner à patience] [2698] considerynge þat þe tribulacions of þis worlde but litel while endureþ and soone passed ben and goon [2699] ¶ And þe Ioye þat man sekeþ to haue by pacience in tribulacion is perdurable / after þat þe

[6-text p 234] apostel saiþ in þe epistle [2700] ¶ The ioye of god he seiþ is perdurable þat is to sayn [folio 228b] euer lastynge [2701] ¶ Also troweþ and belieueþ stedefastly þat he is nought wel ynorissht ne wel y-taught þat can nouȝt haue pacience . . . . . [2702] ¶ ffor salamon saiþ þat þe doctrine of þe witte of man is knowen by pacience [2703] ¶ And in anoþer place he saiþ ¶ he þat is pacient gouerneþ him by gret prudence [2704] ¶ And ȝet Salamon saiþ þe angry and þe wraþful man makeþ noyse ¶ And þe pacient man attempereth him and stilleþ him. [2705] he saiþ also ¶ It is more worþ to be pacient þen to be right strong [2706] And he þat may haue þe lordschipe of his owne herte is more to prayse þen he þat by his force and strengþe takeþ grete cites [2707] ¶ And þerfore seiþ seint Iame in his Epistle þat pacience is a gret vertu of perfection

[2708] ¶ Certes quod Mellibe I graunte ȝou dame Prudence and pacience is a gret vertu of perfeccion [2709] ¶ But euery man may not haue þe perfection þat ȝe sechen [2710] ne I am nought of þe nombre of right par|fyt men [2711] ¶ ffor myn herte may neuer ben in pees vnto þe tyme it be venged [2712] ¶ and al be it so þat it was gret peril to myn enemys to don a vilanye in takinge vengaunce vpon me [2713] ¶ ȝet token þey non heede of þe perille ¶ But fulfilleden here wikkede wille and here corage. [2714] and þerfore me þenkeþ þat men ouȝten not to reproue me þough I putte me in-to a litel peril for to auenge me [2715] ¶ And þough I do a gret excesse þat is to say þough I do a vengance outrage by anoþer

[2716] ¶ A quod dame prudence ȝe seyn ȝoure wille and as ȝou likeþ [2717] ¶ But in no caas of þe world a man ne scholde nouȝt don outrage ne excesse for to vengen him [2718] ¶ ffor Cassidory saiþ þat as euel doþ he þat auengeþ him by outrage as he þat doþ þe

[6-text p 235] outrage [2719] and þerfore ȝe schullen vengen ȝou after þe ordre of right þat is to sayn by þe lawe and [nought] by excesse ne by outrage [2720] ¶ Also if ȝe woln vengen ȝou of þe outrage of ȝoure aduersaries in oþer manere þenne right comaundeþ; ȝe synnen [2721] ¶ Therfore saiþ Senek þat a man schal neuer vengen schrewedenesse [by schrewedenesse] // [2722] And if ȝe say þat right axeþ to defende violence by violence and fightynge by fyghtynge [2723] ¶ Certes ȝe say soþ when þe defens is don right anon wiþouten interualle or wiþouten taryenge or delay [2724] for to defenden him and nought for to vengen him [2725] ¶ And it bihoueþ þat a man putte such attemperance in his defense [2726] þat men han no cause ne matier to reproeuen him þat defendeþ him of excesse and of outrage . . . . . [2727] ¶ Par de ȝe knowe wel þat ȝe maken non deffense / as now for to defende ȝou But for to venge ȝou [2728] and so seweþ it þat ȝe haue no wille to do ȝoure deede attemperelly [2729] and þerfore me þenkiþ [folio 229a] þat pacience is good ¶ ffor Salamon saiþ þat he þat is nought pacient schal haue gret harme

[2730] ¶ Certes quod Mellibe ¶ I graunte wel þat whan a man is vnpacient and wroþ of þat þat toucheþ him nouȝt and þat appertieneþ nought vnto him þough hit harme him it is no wonder [2731] ¶ ffor þe lawe saiþ þat he þat is coupable þat entermeteþ him or medeleþ him wiþ suche þing as apperteyneþ nouȝt vnto him [2732] ¶ And Salomon saith þat he þat entremeteþ him of þe noyse or þe stryf of anoþer man is ylike to him þat takeþ an hound by þe eeres [2733] ¶ ffor right as he þat takeþ a straunge hounde by þe eeres is oþerwhile y-byten wiþ þe hounde / [2734] Right in þe same wyse is þe reson þat he haue harme þat by his inpacience medleþ him of þe noyse of anoþer man wher as it apperteyneþ nouȝt vnto him [2735] ¶ But ȝe knowen wel þat þis dede þat

[6-text p 236] is to sayn my grief and myn disese toucheþ me right neigh [2736] and þerfore þough I be wroþ and in|pacient it is no meruaylle [2737] ¶ And sauynge ȝoure grace I can nouȝt se þat it mighte gretly harme þough I toke vengance [2738] ¶ ffor I am richer and more mighty þen myn enemys ben [2739] ¶ And wel knowe ȝe þat by monye and by hauyng grete posses|sions ben alle þe þinges of þis world gouernede [2740] ¶ And Salamon saiþ. alle þinges obeyen to moneye

[2741] ¶ Whan Prudence hadde herd hire housbande to auaunten him of his richesse and of his moneye and dispreys|inge of power and his aduersaries ¶ ¶ Sche spake and sayde on þis wise [2742] ¶ Certis deere sir I graunte ȝou þat ȝe ben riche and mighty [2743] ¶ And þat þe richesses ben goode to hem þat han wel y-geten hem and þat wel can vsen hem [2744] ¶ ffor right as þe body of man may nought lyue wiþoute þe soule ¶ No more may it lyue withouten temperele goodes [2745] and by rich|esse may a man geten him grace [2746] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Pamphilles If eny gaddes doughter he saiþ be riche. Sche may cheese he saiþ of a þousand men [which she will for her husband [2747] and of the thousand] ¶ oon wol nought forsaken hire ne refusen hire [2748] ¶ And þis Pamphilles saith also ¶ If þou be riȝt happy ¶ þat is to say. If þou be right riche þou schalt fynden a gret nombre of felawes and frendes [2749] ¶ And if þin fortune chaungeþ þat is if þou wexe pore; ffare wel frendschipe and felaschipe [2750] ¶ ffor þou schalt ben allone wiþouten any companye but if it be þe companye of good folk [2751] ¶ And ȝit saiþ þis Pamphilles more ouer / þat þey þat ben þralle & bonde of linage schuln ben maad worþy and noble by þe richesses. [2752] ¶ And right so as by richesses þer comen many goodes ¶ Right so by pouert comeþ many harmes and eueles. [2753] ffor gret pouert con|streigneþ

[6-text p 237] [folio 229b] a man to don many eueles. [2754] And þer|fore clepeþ Cassidore Pouert. þe mooder of ruyne [2755] þat is to say þe moder of ouerþrowing or fallyng doun [2756] ¶ And þerfore saith Pieres alphouns ¶ On of þe grettest aduersary of þis world is [2757] when a freo by kynde or of birþe is constreigned by pouert to eten þe almes of his enemy [2758] ¶ And þe same saiþ Innocent in oon of his bookes. þat sorwfulle and myshappy is þe condicion of a pouere begger [2759] ¶ ffor if he axe nought his mete he deyeþ for hunger [2760] ¶ And if he axe he deyeþ for schame ¶ And algates necessite constreigneþ him to axe [2761] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Salamon þat bettre is to deye þan to haue such pouert [2762] ¶ ȝet saiþ Sala|mon þat bettre is to deye of bitter deþ þan for to lyue in suche wyse [2763] ¶ By þese resons þat I haue sayde vnto ȝou and by many oþer resons þat I kouþe say [2764] ¶ I graunte ȝou þat richesse ben good to hem þat geten hem wel and to hem þat wel vsen þe richesses [2765] ¶ And þerfore wol I schewe ȝow how ȝe schuln haue ȝou [en acquerant Richesses et en amassant icelles [Reg. 19 C vii folio 140b] ]

[2766] ¶ fferst ȝe schuln geten hem wiþouten gret desire by good leysir sokyngly and nouȝt ouer hastily [2767] ¶ ffor a man þat is to desyringe to gete richesse; abandoneþ him ferst to þefte and to alle oþer eueles [2768] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Salamon ¶ he þat hasteþ him ouer busyly to waxe ryche schal ben non Innocent [2769] ¶ he saiþ also þat þe richesse þat hastely comeþ to a man ¶ sone and lightly goþ and passeþ fro a man [2770] ¶ But þat richesse þat comeþ lytel and litel waxeþ alwey and multiplieþ [2771] And sir ȝe schuln gete richesse ynough by ȝoure witte and by ȝoure trauayle vnto ȝoure profyt/ [2772] and þat wiþouten wrang or harme doynge to ony oþer persone [2773] ¶ ffor þe lawe

[6-text p 238] saiþ þat þer makeþ no man himself ryche if he do harm to anoþer wight [2774] [car la loy dit que nul ne se face riche au dommage d'autruy (Le Ménagier de Paris, tome i. page 222)] [2775] ¶ And Tullius saiþ ¶ þat no sorwe ne no drede of deþ ne no þing þat may falle vnto man [2776] is so mochil aȝeins nature ¶ as a man to encresce his owne profyt to þe harme of anoþer man [2777] ¶ And þouȝ þe grete men and þe riche men geten richesse more lightly þen þou [2778] ȝet schalt þou nouȝt ben ydel ne slowe to don þin profyt ¶ ffor þou schalt in alle wise flee ydelnesse [2779] ¶ ffor Salamon saiþ þat ydelnesse techeþ man to don many eueles [2780] ¶ And eek he saiþ þat he þat trauayleþ and busyeþ him to tylyen his lande schal eten breed [2781] but he þat is ydel and casteþ him nought to no busynesse ne occupacion schal falle in-to pouert and deye for hunger [2782] ¶ and he þat is ydel & slowh can neuer fynde couenable tyme for to doon his profyte [2783] ffor [folio 230a] þer is a versifiour þat saiþ þat þe ydel man excuseþ him in wynter by cause of þe grete colde ¶ And in somer by cause of þe grete hete [2784] ¶ ffor þise causes saiþ Caton ¶ wakeþ and enclyneþ ȝou nought ouer mochil for to slepe ¶ ffor ouermoche reste norissheþ and causeþ many vices [2785] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Seint Ierom ¶ Doþ some goode deedes þat þe deuyl which is oure enemy · ne fynde ȝou vnoccupied [2786] ¶ ffor þe deuel ne takeþ nouȝt lightly vnto his worch|inge suche as he fyndeþ y-occupyed in goode werkes

[2787] ¶ Thenne þus ¶ In getynge riches; ȝe mosten flee ydelnesse [2788] ¶ and afterwarde ȝe schuln vse þe richesses þe whiche ȝe han geten by ȝoure witte and by ȝoure trauayle [2789] in suche a manere þat men halden ȝou not to scars ne to sparynge ne to fool large þat is to say ouer large a spender [2790] ¶ ffor right as men blamen an auerous man by cause of his skarste and þinking [2791] in þe same wyse is he to blame

[6-text p 239] þat spendeþ ouer largely [2792] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Caton ¶ vse þine riches þat þow hast y-geten [2793] in such manere þat men han no matiere ne cause to clepe þe wrecche ne chynche [2794] ¶ ffor it is gret schame to a man to haue a pouere herte and a riche purse [2795] ¶ he saiþ also þe goodes þat þou haste y-geten vse hem by mesure þat is to sayn spende mesurably [2796] ¶ ffor þey þat folily wasten and dispenden þe goodes þat þey han [2797] whan þay haue no more propre of here owne; þey schapen hem to take þe goodes of anoþer man [2798] ¶ I say þanne þat he schal flee auarice [2799] vsynge ȝoure richesse in suche a manere that men say not þat ȝoure richesses ben y-buried [2800] but þat ȝe han hem in ȝoure might and in ȝoure weldynge [2801] ffor a wise man reproueþ þe auerous man and saiþ þus in tuo vers [2802] ¶ wherto and why burieþ a man his goodes by his auarice and knoweþ wel þat needes moste he dye [2803] ¶ ffor deþ is þe ende of euery man as in þis present lyf [2804] ¶ And for what cause or encheson ioigneþ he him or knetteþ he hem so faste vnto his goodes [2805] þat alle his wittes mowen nouȝt disseueren him or departen him fro his goodes. [2806] and knoweþ wel or owghte to knowe þat whan he is deed he schal nouȝt bere out of þe world wiþ him [2807] ¶ and þerfore saiþ seint Austyn þat þe auerous man is likned vnto helle [2808] ¶ þat þe more it cheweþ þe more desir it haþ to swelwe and deuoure [2809] ¶ And as wel alle ȝe wolde eschewe to ben y-cleped an auerous man or a chynche [2810] ¶ As wel schulde ȝe gouerne ȝou and kepe ȝou in such a wyse þat men clepe ȝou nouȝt to large [2811] ¶ þerfore Tullius [folio 230b] saiþ ¶ The goodes he saiþ of þin hous schulde not ben hydde ne kepte in cloos but þat þay mighte ben opened wiþ pitee and with debonairtee [2812] þat is to say to ȝeuen hem part þat han gret neede [2813]

[6-text p 240] ¶ Ne þine goodes schullen not ben so opene to ben euery mannes goodes [2814] ¶ afterward in getynge of ȝour richesses ¶ And in vsynge hem ȝe schuln alway haue þre þinges in ȝoure herte [2815] [c'est assavoir, Dieu, conscience, et bonne fame, et renommée. [2816] Tu dois doncques avoir Dieu en ton cuer (Le Ménagier, i. 224)] [2817] ¶ And for no richesse ȝe schuln doon no þing þat may be displesaunce to god þat is ȝoure creatour and ȝoure maker [2818] ¶ ffor after þe word of Salamon ¶ hit is bettre to haue a luytel good wiþ þe loue of god. [2819] þan to haue mochil good and tresour and lese þe loue of his lord god [2820] ¶ And þe prophete saiþ. þat better it is to ben a good man and haue lytel good and tresour. [2821] þan to be halden a schrewe and to haue gret richesse [2822] ¶ ȝet say I forþermore þat ȝe schuln don ȝoure busynesse to geten ȝou richesse [2823] So þat ȝe geten hem wiþ good conscience [2824] ¶ And þe appostel saiþ þat þer is no þing in þis world of which we schulden haue so gret ioye; as when oure conscience bereþ vs good witnesse [2825] ¶ And þe wise man saiþ ¶ The substaunce of a man is ful good when synne is nought in mannes conscience [2826] ¶ Aftirward in getyng of ȝoure Richesses and in vsynge of hem; [2827] ȝe moste haue gret busynesse and gret diligence that ȝoure goode name be alwey kepte and conserued [2828] ¶ ffor Sala|mon saiþ ¶ þat better it is and more auayleþ a man to haue good name þen to haue grete richesses [2829] ¶ And þerfore he saiþ in anoþer place ¶ Do gret diligence saiþ Salamon in kepyng of þin frende and of þin goode name [2830] ¶ ffor it schal lenger abyde with þe þan eny tresour be it neuer so precious [2831] ¶ And certes he schulde nouȝt be cleped a gentil man þat after god and good conscience alle þinges lefte þat he ne doþ his busynesse ne diligence to kepen his good name [2832] ¶ And Cassidorie saiþ þat it is signe of a good herte whan a man loueþ and desyreþ to haue a good name

[6-text p 241] [2833] ¶ And þerfore seiþ seint austyn þat þer ben tuo þinges þat ben necessary and needfulle [2834] ¶ And þat is good consciens [2835] to þin owne persone inward and good loos ffor þin neyhebour outward [2836] ¶ And he þat trusteþ him so mechel in his goode conscience [2837] þat he displeseþ and setteþ it at nouȝt his good name or loos and rekkeþ nouȝt þat he kepeþ nouȝt his good name nys but a cruel cherle

[2838] ¶ Sire now haue I schewed ȝow how ȝe schuln doon in getynge of richesse and how ȝe schuln vsen hem [2839] ¶ And I se wel þat for þe truste þat ȝe han in richesse ȝe wollen moeue bataile [folio 231a] and werre [2840] ¶ I counsele ȝou þat ȝe begynne no werre in truste of ȝoure richesses ¶ ffor þey sufficen nouȝt werres to meyn|tene [2841] ¶ And þerfore saiþ a Philosophre ¶ That a man desireþ and wol algates han werre schal neuer haue sufficaunce [2842] ¶ ffor þe richere þat he is þe gretter despenses moot he make if he wole haue wor|schipe and victory [2843] ¶ And Salamon saith þat þe grettere richesse þat a man haþ þe more dispendoures he haþ [2844] ¶ And deere sir al be it so þat for ȝoure richesses ȝe may han moche folk [2845] ¶ ȝet byhoueþ it nought ne it is nouȝt good to begynne werre wher as ȝe may in oþer manere haue pees vnto ȝoure worschipe and profyt [2846] ¶ ffor þe victories of Batailles þat ben in þis world liþ nouȝt in gret nombre of multitude of poeple ne in þe vertu of man; [2847] but it lith in þe wille and in þe hande of our lord ihesu crist // [2848] And þerfore Iudas Makabeus which was goddes knight [2849] when he schulde fighten aȝeins his aduersaries þat hadde a gretter nombre & a gretter mul|titude of folk and strenger þen was þe poeple of Macha|bee [2850] ¶ ȝet he recomforted his litel companye and sayde right in þis wise [2851] ¶ As lightly quod he may our lord god almighty ȝeue victory to fewe folk

[6-text p 242] as to many folk [2852] ¶ ffor þe victory of bataile comeþ nouȝt by gret nombre of poeple; [2853] but it comeþ fro oure lord of heuene // [2854] ¶ And deere sire for as mochil as þer is no man certein if it be worþy þat god ȝeue him victory . . . . . or nouȝt. after þat Salomon seiþ [2855] ¶ þerfore euery man schulde gretly drede werres to begynne [2856] ¶ And by cause þat in batailles schuln fallen many periles [2857] ¶ And happeþ oþerwhile þat as sone is þe grete man slayn as þe litel man [2858] ¶ And as it is writen in þe seconde book of kynges ¶ The deedes of batailles ben aduenturous and vncertein [2859] ffor as lightly as is oon y-hurt wiþ a spere as anoþer. [2860] and þerfore is gret perile in werre ¶ Therfore schulden men flee and eschewe werre in as mechel as a man may goodly [2861] ¶ ffor Salamon saiþ ¶ he þat loueþ perill; schal falle in perille

[2862] ¶ After þat dame prudence hadde spoken in þis manere ¶ Mellibe answerde and sayde [2863] ¶ I se wel dame Prudence þat by ȝoure faire wordes and by ȝoure resons þat [vous mettez avant, que] þe werre lykeþ ȝou noþing [2864] ¶ But I haue not ȝit herde ȝoure wyse coun|sel how I schal do in þis neede.

[2865] Certes quod sche I counseile ȝou þat ȝe acorde wiþ ȝoure aduersaries and þat ȝe haue pees wiþ hem [2866] ¶ ffor seint Iame saiþ in his Epistles þat by concord and pees þat smale richesses waxen grete [2867] ¶ And by debat and discord þe grete richesses fallen [folio 231b] doun [2868] ¶ And ȝe knowen þat oon of þe grettest and most souerayn þing þat is in þis world is vnite and pees [2869] ¶ And þerfore sayde oure lord Ihesu crist to his appostles in þis wyse [2870] ¶ Wel happy and blessed ben þay þat louen and purchacen pees ffor þey ben cleped þe children of god [2871] ¶ A quod Mellibe now I se wel þat ȝe louen nouȝt myn honour ne my worschipe [2872] ¶ ȝe knowe wel þat myn

[6-text p 243] aduersaries han bygonne þis debaat and brigge by here outrage [2873] ¶ And ȝe seen wel þat þey neuer queren ne preyen me nought of pees Ne þey asken me nouȝt to be recon|silede [2874] ¶ Wole ȝe þanne þat I go meke me and obeye me to hem . and crye hem mercy; [2875] ffor soþe þat were not my worschipe [2876] ¶ ffor right as men sayn þat ouer gret homlynesse engendreþ despysyng So fareþ it by to gret humilite and mekenesse

[2877] ¶ Then bygan dame prudence to make sem|blaunt of wraþþe and sayde [2878] ¶ Certez sire saue ȝour grace ¶ I loue ȝour honour and ȝour profyt as I do myn owne and euer haue doon [2879] ne ȝe ne noon oþer ne saugh neuer þe contrarye [2880] ¶ And ȝet if I hadde sayd ȝe schulde haue purchaced þe pees and þe reconsiliacion; I nad nought mochel mystaken me ne y-sayde amys [2881] ¶ ffor þe wise man saith. þe dis|sencion bygynneþ by anoþer man and þe reconsilynge begynneþ by þinself [2882] ¶ And þe prophete saiþ ¶ fflee schrewednesse and do goodnesse [2883] ¶ Seche pees and folwe it as mechil as in þe is / [2884] ¶ ȝet saiþ he nought ¶ ȝet schuln ȝe raþer pursewe to ȝour aduersaryes for pees þan þey schuln to ȝou [2885] ¶ ffor I knowe wel þat ȝe ben so harde y-herted þat ȝe wolen don no þing for me [2886] ¶ And Salamon saiþ ¶ þat he þat haþ euer an hard herte; atte laste he schal myshappe and mystryde

[2887] ¶ Whan Mellibe hadde herde dame Prudence make semblant of wraþþe ¶ he sayde in þis wyse [2888] ¶ Dame I pray ȝou þat ȝe ben nouȝt displesed of þinges þat I say ȝou [2889] ffor ȝe knowe wel þat I am angry and wroþ and þat is no wonder [2890] ¶ and þo þat ben wroþ witen not wel what þey doon ne what þay sayn [2891] ¶ Wherfore þe prophete saiþ þat / troubled eyen han no cleer sight [2892] ¶ But sitteþ and counseileþ me right as ȝow liste. ffor I am redy to doon right as ȝe woln desire [2893] ¶ And if ȝe reproeuen me of my folye ¶ I am þe more halden to loue ȝow and to preysen

[6-text p 244] ȝou [2894] ¶ ffor Salamon saiþ ¶ he þat reproueþ him þat dooþ folye; [2895] he schal fynden grettere grace þan he þat disceyueþ him by wordes

[2896] ¶ Then sayde dame Prudence ¶ I make no semblaunt of wraþþe / ne of anger but for ȝoure owne profyt [2897] ¶ ffor Salomon saiþ ¶ he is [folio 232a] more worþ þat re|proueþ or chideþ a fool for his folye schewing him semblant of wraþþe; [2898] þan he þat supporteþ him / . . . . in his mysdoynge & laugheþ at his folye [2899] ¶ And þis same Salomon saiþ afterward þat by þe sorwful visage of man þat is to say by sory and heuy contynaunce of a man [2900] þe folk correcteþ and amendeþ him self

[2901] ¶ Than sayde Mellibe ¶ I schal nouȝt konne an|swere vnto so many resons as ȝe putteþ to me and scheweþ [2902] Sayeþ schortly ȝour wille and ȝoure coun|seil and I am al redy to fulfille and parforme

[2903] ¶ Thenne dame Prudence discouered al hire wille vnto him and sayde [2904] ¶ I counseile ȝou quod he abouen alle þing þat ȝe maken pees betwixen god and ȝou [2905] and beþ reconsiled vnto him and vnto his grace [2906] ¶ ffor as I haue sayde ȝou here-byforn god haþ suffred ȝou to haue þis tribulacion and disese for ȝoure synnes [2907] and if ȝe doon as I say ȝou god wol sende ȝoure aduersaries vnto ȝou [2908] and maken ȝoure aduersaries fallen at ȝoure feet . redy to doon ȝour wille and ȝoure comaundement [2909] ¶ ffor Salomon saiþ whan þe con|dicion of man is plesaunt and likinge vnto god // [2910] he chaungeþ þe hertes of mannes aduersaries and con|streigneþ hem to besechen him of pees and of grace [2911] ¶ And I pray ȝou let me speke wiþ ȝour aduersaries in priue place [2912] ¶ ffor þey schuln nouȝt knowe þat it be ȝoure wille or ȝoure assent [2913] and þenne whan I knowe here wille and here assent ¶ I may counsel ȝou þe more seurly

[2914] ¶ Dame quod Mellibe doþ ȝoure wille and

[6-text p 245] ȝoure likynge [2915] ¶ ffor I putte me holly in ȝoure disposicion and ordinance

[2916] ¶ Thenne dame Prudence whan sche saugh þe goode wille of hire housbonde sche delyuered and took a-vys in hire self [2917] þenking how sche mighte bringe þis neede. vnto a good conclusion and to a good ende [2918] ¶ And whan sche saugh hire tyme sche sente for þe aduersaries to come vnto hire in-to a priue place [2919] and schewed wysely vnto hem þe grete goodnesse þat comeþ of pees [2920] and þe grete harmes and periles þat ben in werre [2921] ¶ And sayde to hem in a goodly manere hou þat hem ¶ aughte to haue gret re|pentaunce [2922] of þe Iniury and wrong þat þey hadden doon to Mellibe hire lord and vnto hire and vnto hire doughter

[2923] ¶ And when þey herden þe goode wordes of dame Prudence. [2924] þey weren so supprised and rauysscht and hadden so gret ioye of hire þat wonder was to telle [2925] ¶ A lady quod þay ȝe han schewed vnto vs þe blessyng of swetnesse after þe sawe of dauid þe prophete [2926] ¶ ffor þe reconsilyng which we ne ben nouȝt worþy to haue in no manere [2927] ¶ But we oughten requiren hit wiþ gret contricion & [folio 232b] humilite [2928] ȝe of ȝoure grete goodnesse han presented vnto vs [2929] ¶ Now se we wel þat þe science and þe connynge of Salamon is ful trewe. [2930] ffor he saiþ þat swete wordes multiplyen and encrescen freendes and maken schrewes to be debonaire and meeke

[2931] ¶ Certes quod þay we putten oure dede and all oure matiere and cause al holly in ȝoure goode wille [2932] and ben redy to obeye to þe speche of þe comaunde|ment of my lord Mellibe [2933] ¶ And þerfore deere and benigne lady we preyen ȝou and besechen ȝou as mekely as we conne and mowen [2934] þat it like vnto ȝoure grete goodnesse to fulfille in dede ȝoure goode wordes [2935] ¶ ffor we considren and knowlechen

[6-text p 246] þat we han offended and y-greued my lord Mellibe out of reson and mesure [2936] so ferforþ þat we be nouȝt of power to maken him amendes [2937] ¶ And þerfore we oblige vs and oure frendes for to don alle his wille and his comaundement [2938] ¶ But perauenture he haþ such heuynesse and such wraþþe to vs ward by cause of oure offense [2939] ¶ That woln enioygne vs such peyne þat we may not bere ne sustene [2940] ¶ And þerfore noble lady we beseche to ȝoure wommanly pite [2941] to taken such avisement/ in þis neede þat we ne oure freendes ne ben nouȝt disherited þurgh oure folye

[2942] ¶ Certes quod Prudence ¶ It is an hard þing and right perilous [2943] þat a man putte him al outrely in þe arbitracion and Iuggement and in þe might & power of his enmys [2944] ¶ ffor Salamon saiþ ¶ leeueþ me and ȝeueþ credence to þat þat I schal sayn ¶ I say yeuere peple and gouernours of holy chirche [2945] to þin sone to þin wyf [à ton frère] and to þin freende [2946] [ne donne puissance sur toy en toute ta vie [2947] Se il a doncques deffendu que l'en ne donne . . . à frère ne à ami (Le Ménagier, i. 230)] þe might of his body [2948] ¶ By a strenger reson he defendeþ and forbedeþ a man to ȝiue himself vnto his enemy [2949] ¶ And naþe|les I counseile ȝou þat ȝe mystruste nouȝt my lord [2950] ¶ ffor I wot wel and knowe wel þat he is debonaire and meke large & courteys [2951] and no þing desirous of good ne coueytous to haue richesse [2952] ¶ ffor þer is no þing in þis world þat he desireþ saue worschipe and honour [2953] ¶ fforþermore I knowe wel and I am right seur þat he schal noþing do in þis neede withouten my counseil [2954] ¶ And I schal so worchen in þis cause by þe grace of oure lord god þat ȝe schuln ben reconsiled vnto vs

[2955] ¶ þenne sayden þey wiþ oo voys ¶ Worschipful

[6-text p 247] lady we putten vs and oure goodes al fully in ȝoure wille and disposicion [2956] and [been] redy to come what [day] ȝou likeþ vnto ȝoure noblesse to lymyten vs or to assignen vs [2957] for to maken oure obligacion and bond as strong as it likeþ vnto ȝoure goodnesse [2958] þat we may fulfille þe wille of ȝou and of my lord Mellibe

[2959] ¶ Whan dame Prudence hadde herd þe an|sweres of þese men; sche bad hem gon ayayn pryuyly [2960] ¶ And sche [folio 233a] retourned aȝein to hire lord Mellybe and tolde him how sche fond his aduersaries ful repentaunt [2961] and knowlechinge ful reuerently and lowely here synnes and here trespaces and how þey weren redy to suffre alle peyne. [2962] requyrynge and preyng him of mercy and pite

[2963] ¶ Thenne sayde Mellibe: he is wel worþy to haue pardon and forȝeuenesse [qui ne excuse point son péchié, [2964] mais le recongnoist et s'en repent et demande indulgence; [2965] car Sénèque dit là est rémission (Le Ménagier, i. 231)] wher as confession is [2966] ¶ ffor confession is neighebor to Innocence [2967] ¶ And he saith in anoþer place ¶ he þat haþ schame for his synne and knowlecheþ it . . . . . ¶ And þerfore I assente and conferme to haue pees [2968] ¶ But it is good þat we do it nouȝt wiþouten þe assente and wille of oure freendes

[2969] ¶ Then was Prudence right glad and Ioyeful and sayde [2970] ¶ Certes sire quod sche ¶ ȝe han goodly and wel answered [2971] ¶ ffor right as by counseil assent and helpynge of ȝoure frendes ȝe han ben styred to vengen ȝou and make werre; [2972] Right so wiþ|outen here counseil schulle ȝe nought acorde þough ȝe ne haue pees wiþ ȝoure aduersaries [2973] ¶ ffor þe lawe saith ¶ þer is no þing so good by way of kynde as þing to ben vnbounden by hym þat it was y-bounde

[2974] ¶ And þenne dame Prudence wiþouten delay or taryinge sent anon messagers for hire kyn and for hire olde frendes whiche þat were trewe and wyse [2975]

[6-text p 248] ¶ and tolde hem by ordre in þe presence of Mellybe al þe matiere as it is abouen expressed and declared [2976] ¶ and preyden hem þat þey wolden yeuen hire a wyse coun|seille ¶ what best were to doon in þis matiere [2977] ¶ And whan mellibeus counseil hadde taken here avys and good de|liberacion of þe forsayde matiere [2978] and hadden examyned it by gret busynesse and gret diligence [2979] þey ȝeuen ful counseil for to haue pees and reste [2980] And þat Mellibe schulde receyue hit with good herte of his aduersaries to forȝiuenes and mercy

[2981] ¶ And whan dame Prudence hadde herde þe assent of hire lord Mellibe and þe counseil of hire frendes [2982] acorded wiþ hire wille and entencion [2983] sche was wonderly glad in herte and sayde [2984] ¶ Ther is an olde prouerbe quod sche saiþ þat þe goodnesse þat þu mayst do þis day do it [2985] and abyd it/ nought ne delay it nought til to morwe [2986] ¶ And þerfore I counseile þat ȝe sende ȝoure messagers whiche þat ben discrete and wise [2987] vnto ȝoure aduersaries / tellynge hem in ȝoure bihalue [2988] if þey wolen trete of pees and acorde [2989] þat þey schapen hem wiþouten delay or taryynge comynge to vs [2990] ¶ which þing performed was in dede [2991] and whan þese trespasoures and repentynge folk of here folyes þat is to say þe aduersaries of Mellibe [2992] hadden herde what þese messangeres [folio 233b] sayden vnto hem; [2993] þey weren ful glad and ioyfulle and answerden ful mekely and benygnely [2994] ȝeldynge graces and þankes to here lord Mellibe and to alle his companye [2995] ¶ and schopen hem wiþouten delay to go wiþ þe messangeres and obeye to þe comaundement of here lord Mellibe

[2996] ¶ And right anon þey token here wey to Mellibe [2997] ¶ And toke þe somme of here trewe wordes and frendes to maken feiþ for hem and for to ben here borwes [2998] ¶ And whanne þey comen to

[6-text p 249] þe presence of Mellibe ¶ he seyde hem þese wordes [2999] ¶ It stant þus quod Mellibe and soþ it is þat ȝe [3000] causeles and wiþouten skile and reson [3001] han don grete Iniuries and wronges to me and to my wyf Dame Prudence and to myn doughter also [3002] ¶ ffor ȝe han entred in-to myn hous by vyolence [3003] and han doon suche outrage þat alle men knowen wel þat ȝe han disserued þe deþ [3004] ¶ And þerfore wil I knowen and wyten of ȝou [3005] wheþer þat ȝe wollen putte þe punysschement and chastisyng and þe vengaunce of þis outrage in þe wille of me and my wyf dame Prudence or ȝe woln nouȝt

[3006] ¶ Thenne þe wisest of hem þre answerde for hem alle and sayde [3007] sir quod he we knowen wel þat we ben vnworþy to come to ȝoure court of so gret a lord and of so worþy as ȝe ben [3008] ffor we han so gretly mystaken vs and han offended and agult in such a wise aȝeins ȝour heighe lordschipe. [3009] þat trewly we han deserued þe deth [3010] ¶ But ȝit for þe grete goodnesse and debonairte þat alle þe world witnesseþ of ȝoure persone [3011] ¶ we submitten vs to þe excellence and benignite of ȝoure gracious lordschipe [3012] and ben redy to obeye to alle ȝour comaundementz [3013] besechynge ȝou þat of ȝoure mercyable pite. ȝe woln considre oure grete repentaunce and lowe submission [3014] and to graunte vs forȝeuenesse of oure outragous trespas and offence [3015] ¶ ffor wel we knowe þat ȝoure liberalle grace & mercy streccheþ ferþer in-to good nesse þan don oure outrageous gultes and trespaces in-to wickednesse. [3016] al be hit. þat cursedly and damp|nably we han gult aȝeins ȝoure heyhe lordschipe

[3017] ¶ Thenne Mellibe took him vp fro þe grounde ful benygnely [3018] and receyued here obligacions and here bandes by here oþes vppon here plegges and here borwes [3019] and assigned hem a certeyn day to retournen vnto his courtes [3020] ¶ ffor to accepte and receyue þe sentences and

[6-text p 250] þe Iuggementes þat Mellibe wolde comande to ben don on hem by þe causes a-forn sayde / [3021] whiche þinges ordeyned; euery man retournede [folio 234a] to his hous

[3022] ¶ And when þat dame Prudence saugh hire tyme sche f[r]eyned and axede hire lord mellibe [3023] what vengance he þouȝt to take of his aduersaries

[3024] To which mellibe answerde and sayde ¶ Certez quod he I þenke and purpose fully [3025] to dis|herite hem of al þat þay han ¶ And for to putten hem in exile for euere

[3026] ¶ Certes quod Dame Prudence þis were a cruel sentence and mochel aȝeins reson [3027] ¶ ffor ȝe ben riche ynough and han no neede of oþer mennes good [3028] and ȝe mighte lightly geten ȝou a coueytous name [3029] which is a vicious þing and oughte [be] eschewed of euery man [3030] ¶ ffor after þe sawe of þe appostel Coueitise is roote of alle harmes [3031] ¶ And þerfore it were bettre to lese so mochel good of ȝoure owne þan for to take of here good in þis manere [3032] ¶ ffor better it is to leese good wiþ worschipe þenne it is good to wynne worschipe wiþ vilanye and schame [3033] ¶ And euery man oughte to don his busynesse and to geten him a good name [3034] ¶ and ȝet schal he nouȝt only kepen him in kepyng of his good name [3035] ¶ But he schal also enforcen him alwey to don som þing by which he may renouelle his good name [3036] ¶ ffor it is write þat þe olde goode loos or good name of a man is sone goon and passed when it is nouȝt newed and re|nouelled [3037] ¶ And as touchinge þat ȝe sayn þat ȝe woln exile ȝoure aduersaries [3038] þat þenkeþ me mochil aȝeins reson and out of mesure [3039] ¶ Con|sidereþ þe power þat ȝe han ȝouen ȝou vpon hemself [3040] and it is writen. þat he is worþy to lesen his priuilege þat misvseþ it ¶ The might and þe power þat is ȝouen him. [3041] And I sette caas þat ȝe might annoye hem þat peyne by right and by lawe [3042] which I

[6-text p 251] trowe ȝe may nouȝt do [3043] I say ne ne mighte nouȝt putte it to execucion perauenture [3044] and þenne were it likly to retorne to þe werre as it was byforn [3045] ¶ And þerfore if ȝe woln þat men do ȝou obeis|sance; ȝe moste deme more curteisly [3046] þis is to sayn ȝe moste ȝiue more esy sentences and Iugementz [3047] ¶ for it is writen þat he þat most courteisly comaundeth; to him men most obeyen [3048] ¶ And þer|fore I pray ȝou þat in þis necessite and in þis neede; ȝe casten þerfore to ouercome ȝoure herte [3049] ¶ ffor Senek saiþ ¶ he þat oones ouercomeþ his herte; ouercomeþ twyes [3050] ¶ And Tullius saiþ ¶ Ther is no þing so comendable in a gret lord [3051] as whan he is debon|aire and meeke and appeseþ him meekely [3052] ¶ And I pray ȝou þat ȝe woln forbere now to do vengance [3053] in such a manere. þat ȝoure goode name may be kepte and conserued [3054] and þat man may haue [folio 234b] cause and matiere to preyse ȝou of pite and of mercy [3055] and þat ȝe han no cause to repente ȝou of þing þat ȝe doon [3056] ¶ ffor Senek seiþ; he ouercomeþ in euel manere þat repenteþ him of his victory [3057] ¶ Wher|fore I pray ȝou let mercy be in ȝoure herte [3058] to þeffecte and þe entent þat god almighty haue mercy vpon ȝou in his laste Iuggement [3059] [Car saint Jacques dit en son épistre: jugement] ¶ wiþ|outen mercy schal be to him þat haþ no mercy of anoþer wight

[3060] ¶ Whan mellibe had herde þe grete skiles and resons of Dame Prudence and of hire wise informacions and techinges; [3061] his herte gan enclyne to þe wille of his wyf consyderyng to þe trewe entent [3062] con|formed him anon ¶ And assented fully to worchen after hire counseil. [3063] and þankeþ god of/ whom procedeth all goodnesse þat him sente a wyf of so gret discrecion [3064] ¶ And when þe day came þat his aduer|saries schulde apperen in his presence; [3065] he spake

[6-text p 252] to hem ful goodly and sayde to hem in þis wise/ [3066] ¶ Al be it so þat of ȝoure pruyde and by presumpcion and folye ¶ and of ȝoure necligence and vnkunnynge [3067] ȝe han mysborn ȝou and trespassed to me /./ [3068] ȝet for as meche as I se and byholde ȝoure grete humilite [3069] and þat ȝe ben sory and repentaunt of ȝoure gultes; [3070] it constreigneth me to do ȝou grace and mercy [3071] ¶ Wherfore I receyue ȝou vnto my grace/ [3072] and forȝiue ȝou outrely alle þe offenses Iniuries and wronges þat ȝe han doon aȝeins me and myne [3073] to þis effecte and to þis ende / þat god of his endeles mercy [3074] wol at þe tyme of oure deyinge forȝiuen oure gultes þat we han trespast vnto him in þis wrecchede world // [3075] ¶ ffor douteles if we ben sory and repentaunt of þe synnes and gultes þe whiche we han trespassed in þe sight of oure lord god; [3076] he is so fre and so mercy|ful [3077] þat he wol forȝiuen vs oure gultes [3078] and bryngen vs to þilke blisse þat neuer haþ ende. To which blisse he vs bringe That blood on crosse for vs gan springe Qui cum patre /

¶ Here endeþ Chaucers tale of Mellibe //

[6-text p 253]

¶ Prologus Monachi

Whan ended was þe tale of Mellibe And of Prudence and hire benignite Line 3080 Oure hoost sayde as I am feyþful man And By þe precious corpus Madryan I hadde leuer þan a barel ale That goode leef my wyf had herd þis tale Line 3084 ffor sche nys no þing of such pacience As was þis Mellibeus wyf Prudence By goddes bones whan I bete my knaues [folio 235a] Sche bringeþ me þe grete clobbed stanes Line 3088 And cryeþ sle þe dogges euerychon And breke boþe bak and bon And if þat any neyghebour of myne Wol nouȝt in chirche to my wif enclyne Line 3092 Or be so hardy to hire to trespace Whan sche comeþ home sche rumpeth me þe face and cryeþ false coward wreke þin wyf By corpus bones I wol haue þy knyf Line 3096 And þou schalt haue my distaf and go spynne ffro day to night right þus sche wol begynne Allas sche saiþ þat euer I was y-schape To wedde a melksop or a coward ape / Line 3100 That wil ben ouerled wiþ euery wight Thou darst nouȝt stonde by þy wyf aright This is my lyf but if þat I wolde fight And out at þe dore anon I mot me dight Line 3104 Or elles I am lost but if þat I Be like a wilde leon fool hardy I wot wel sche wol do me slee som day Som neihebore and þanne I go my way Line 3108 ffor I am perilous wiþ knyf on honde / Al be it þat I dar hire nouȝt wiþstonde /

[6-text p 254] ffor sche is bigge in armes by my feiþ That schal he fynde þat hire mysdoþ or seiþ Line 3112 But lat vs passe away fro þis matiere / My lord sire monk he saiþ be mery of cheere / ffor ye schul telle a tale trewely Lo Rouchestre stant here faste by Line 3116 Ryd forþ myn owne lord brek nouȝt our game But by my trouþe I knowe nouȝt ȝoure name / Wheþer I schal calle ȝou my lord daun Iohn Or Daun Thomas or elles Daun Albon Line 3120 Of what hous be ȝe by your fader kyn I vowe to god þou hast a ful fayr skyn It is a gentil pasture þer þou gost [folio 235a] Thou art nouȝt like a penant or a gost Line 3124 Vppon my feiþ þou art som officer Som worþy Sexteyn or som Celerer ffor by my fader soule as to my dome Thou art a maister whan þou art at home Line 3128 No pouer cloysterer ne no pouer novys But gouernour wyly and wys And þer-with-al of brawnes and of bones A wel faryng persone for þe nones Line 3132 I pray to god ȝiue him confusion That ferst þe brought in to religion Thou woldest haue ben a tredefoul aright Haddest þou as gret leue as þou hast might Line 3136 To perfourme al þy lust in engendure / Thou haddest bygeten many a creature Allas why werest þou so wyd a Cope God ȝif me sorwe and I were a Pope Line 3140 Nouȝt oonly þou but euery mighty man Though he were schore heyhe vpon his pan Schulde haue a wyf for al þis world is lorn Religion haþ take vp al þe corn Line 3144 Of tredyng and we borelle men ben schrimpes Of feeble trees þer comeþ wrecched ympes

[6-text p 255] This makeþ þat oure heires ben so sclendre And feble þat þay may not wel engendre Line 3148 This makeþ þat oure wyfes wol assay Religious folk for þey may bettre pay Of venus payement þen mowen we God woot no lussheburghes paye ȝe Line 3152 But beþ nought wroþ my lord þough þat I play fful ofte in game a soþ I haue herd say This worþy monk took al in pacience And sayde I wil do al my diligence Line 3156 As fer as sowneþ in to honeste To telle ȝou a tale or tuo or þre And if ȝou liste herkne hiderward [folio 236a] I wol ȝou seyn þe lyf of seint Edward Line 3160 Or elles tregedys first wol I telle Of whiche I haue an hundred in my selle Tregedye is for to telle a certein storye As olde bookes maken memorie Line 3164 Of hem þat stood in gret prosperite And is y-falle out of heigh degre In-to miserie and endeþ wrecchedly And þey ben vercefyed comenly Line 3168 Of sixe foote whiche þat men clepen examytron In proce eek ben endited many oon And eek in metre in many a sondry wyse Lo þis aughte ȝou ynough suffyse Line 3172 Now herkneþ if ȝou liste for to heere But first I ȝou beseche in þis mateere / þough I by ordre telle nouȝt þese þinges Be it of Popes Emperours or Kynges Line 3176 And after here ages as men writen fynde But telle hem some bifore some behinde As it comeþ now to my remembrance Haueþ me excused of myn ignorance

¶ Explicit prologus monachi

[6-text p 256]

¶ Here telleþ þe monk // De casibus virorum illustrium ¶ C^m. xxj^m.

I Wol bewayle in maner of Tregedye The harme of hem þat standeþ in heih degre And fellen so þat þer nas no remedye To bringen hem out of here aduersite Line 3184 ffor certein when þat fortune lust to fle Ther may no man of hire þe cours wiþholde / [²Lat nonis truste on blyn[d] prosperite²] Beþ war by þis ensamples ȝong and olde Line 3188

[Lucifer.]

At lucifer þough he an aungel were And nought a man at him I wol begynne ffor þeigh fortune may non aungel dere ffrom heih degre ȝet felle he for his synne Line 3192 Doun in-to helle wher as he ȝet is Inne O lucifer brightest of aungeles alle Now art þou Sathanas þat mayst not twynne [folio 236b] Out of miserie which þou art y-falle Line 3196

De Adamo [in margin.]

[LO Adam in the felde of/ Damascene. [Harl. MS 1758 folio 184a] With goddis/ owne finger/ wroght/ was/ he. And not bi getyng/ of/ mannes/ sperme vnclene. And welte all Paradis/ sauyng/ oo tre. Line 3200 Had neuyr/ worldly man so hye degree. As/ Adam had till he for his/ gouernaunce. Was/ dryuen out/ of/ his/ hye prosperite. To labour/ an to helle & to myschaunce.]

[6-text p 257]

[Sampson.]

¶ Lo Sampson which was annunciate By þangel long er his natiuite / And was to god almighty consecrate And stood in nobles whiles he mighte se Line 3208 Was neuer such anoþer as was he To speke of strengþe and þerto hardynes But to his wyues tolde he his secre Thurgh which he slough himself þurgh wrecchednes Line 3212

¶ Sampson þis noble and mighty champion Wiþouten wepen sauf his handes tweye he slough and al to-rente þe leoun Toward his weddyng walkyng by þe weye Line 3216 his false wyf couþe him so plese and preye / Til sche his counseil knewe and sche vntrewe Vnto his foos his counseil gan bewreye And him forsok and took anoþer newe Line 3220

¶ An hundred foxes tok Sampson for Ire And alle here tayles he togyder bond And sette þe foxes tayles alle on fuyre ffor he in euery tail haþ putt a brond Line 3224 And þey brent alle þe cornes in þat lond And eek here Olyues and here vynes eeke A þousend men eek he slough wiþ his hond And hadde no wepne but an asse cheeke Line 3228

¶ Whan þey were slayn so þursted him þat he Was wel neigh lorn for which he gan to preye That god wolde of his peyne haue som pite [folio 237a] And sende him drinke or elles most he deye / Line 3232 And of þis asse cheeke þat was so druye Out of a wang tooþ sprang anon a welle Of which he drank ynough schortly to seye Thus hilpe him god as Iudicium can telle Line 3236

[6-text p 258] Line 3236

¶ By verray force at Gasan on a night Maugre philistiens of þat Cite The gates of þe toun he haþ vp plight And on his bakke y-karyed hem haþ he Line 3240 heighe on an hille where as men mighte se O noble almighty Sampson leef and deere That strong and noble haþ be / In alle þis world ne hadde þer ben þy peere Line 3244

¶ This Sampson neuer cyder drank ne wyn Ne on his heed came Rasour non ne scheere By precepte of þe messanger deuyn ffor alle his strengþe was in his here Line 3248 And fully twenty ȝeer by ȝere he hadde of Israel þe gouernance But after soone schal he wepe many a teere ffor wommen schuln bringe him to meschance Line 3252

¶ Vnto his lemman Dalida he tolde That in his heeres alle his strengþe lay And falsly to his fomen sche him solde And slepyng vpon hire barme vpan a day Line 3256 Sche made to clippe or schere his here away And made his foomen alle his crafte aspyen And whan þat þay him fond in such aray They bonde him faste and putte out his eyen Line 3260

¶ But er his heer was y-clipped or y-schaue Ther was no bond þat might him bynde But now is he in prisoun putte in a Caue Where as þey made him at þe querne grynde Line 3264 O noble Sampson strengest of mankynde O whilom Iugge in glorie and in richesse Now maystow wepe with þin eyen blynde [folio 237b] Seþenes þou art fro wele falle in to wrecchidnesse Line 3268

[6-text p 259] Line 3268

¶ The ende of þis Caytiffe was as I schal seye his foomen made a feste vp-on a day And made him as here fool biforn hem pleye And þis was [in] a temple of gret aray Line 3272 But at þe laste he made a foul affray ffor he tuo postes schook and made hem falle / And doun fel temple and al þer it lay And slough himself and eek his foomen alle Line 3276

¶ This is to say þe princes euerichon And eek a þousand bodyes were þey slayn Wiþ fallyng of þe grete temple of stoon Of Sampson ne wol I no more sayn Line 3280 Beþ war of þis ensample olde and playn That noman telle here counseil to here wyues Of such þing as þay wolde haue secre fayn If þat it touche here lymes or here lyues Line 3284

[Hercules.]

¶ Of Ercule þe soueraign conquerour Syngen his werkes lewede and heih renoun ffor in his tyme of strengþe he bar þe flour he slough and rafte þe skyn fro þe leoun Line 3288 he of sent arwes leyde þe boost a doun he arpyes slough þe cruel briddes felle he golden apples rafte þe dragoun he drough out Serberois þe hound of helle Line 3292

¶ He slough þe cruel tyraunt Buserus And made his hors to frete him fleissh and boon He slough þe verray serpent venymous Of Achilles tuo hornes brark he oon Line 3296 And he slough Cacus in a Cave of ston He slough þe geaunt Anteus þe stronge / He slough þe grisly boor and þat anoon And bar þe heed vpon his necke longe Line 3300

[6-text p 260] Line 3300

¶ Was neuer wight siþen þe world bygan þat slough so many monstres as dede he Thurgh out þis wilde world his name ran [folio 238a] What for his strengþe and for his bounte Line 3304 And euery Reeme went he for to see He was so strong þat no man might him lette And boþe þe worldes ende saith trophe / In stede of boundes he a piler sette Line 3308

¶ A lemman hadde þis noble Campion That highte Deianyre freissh as may And as þe clerkes maden mencion Sche haþ him sent a scherte freisch and gay Line 3312 Allas þis scherte and weylaway Enuenymed was subtily wiþ alle That or þat he had wered it half a day It made his boones fro his fleissch to falle / Line 3316

¶ But naþeles some clerkes hire exusen By oon þat highte Nessus þat it maked Be as be may I wol hire nought accusen But on his bakke þe scherte he weres al naked Line 3320 Tille þat his fleissh was fro þe venym blaked And whan he saugh non oþer remedye In hote coles he haþ himself y-raked ffor wiþ no venym deyned he to dye Line 3324

¶ Thus starf þis worþy mighty hercules Lo who may truste on fortune ony þrowe ffor him þat folweþ alle þis world of prees Er he be war is ofte y-leyd ful lowe Line 3328 fful wys is he þat himself can knowe Beþ war for when þat fortune lust to glose / Than wayteþ sche hire man doun to þrowe By such a way as he wolde lest suppose // Line 3332

[6-text p 261]

[Nebuchadnezzar.]

¶ The mighty trone þe precious tresor The glorious septir and realle mageste That hadde þe king Nabugodonosor Wiþ tunge vnneþe may discryued be Line 3336 he twyes nam Iherusalem þe cite / The vessel of þe temple he wiþ him ladde ¶ At Babiloyne was his souerain see / [folio 238b] In which his glorie and his delit he hadde / Line 3340

The fayrest children of þe blood royalle Of Ierusalem he dede do gylde anon And maked eche of hem to ben his þralle Among alle oþer Daniel was oon Line 3344 That was þe wisest childe of euerychon ffor he þe dremes of þe king expowned Wher as in Caldey clerk was þer non That wiste to what fyn his dremes sowned Line 3348

¶ This proude king leet make a statue of golde Sixty cubites longe and seuen in brede To which Image boþe ȝonge and olde Comaunded he to lowte and haue in drede / Line 3352 Or in a fourneys ful of flammes rede He schal be brent þat wolde nought obeye But neuere wolde assente to þat dede Danyel ne his ȝonge felawes tweye Line 3356

¶ This king of kynges proude and elat he wende god þat sitte in mageste Ne might him nought byreue of his estate But sodeinly he lost his dignite Line 3360 And like a beeste him seemed for to be And ete hey as an oxe and lay þer oute In reyn wiþ wilde bestes walked he Til a certein tyme was come aboute Line 3364

[6-text p 262] Line 3364

¶ And ylike an Egles feþeres were his heres And nayles like briddes clawes were / God releeued him at certeyn ȝeeres And ȝaf him witte and þanne wiþ many a tere Line 3368 he þankede god and euer his lyf in feere Was he to don amys or more trespas And or þat y-leyd was on his beere he knew wel þat god was ful of might and grace Line 3372

[Belshazzar.]

¶ his sone which þat highte Baltyzar þat heeld þe regne after his fader day he by his fader couþe nouȝt be war [folio 239a] ffor prowd he was of herte and of array Line 3376 And eek an ydolatre was he ay his heihe astate asseured him in pryde But fortune caste him doun and þer he lay And sodeinly his regne gan deuyde / Line 3380

¶ A feste he made vnto his lordes alle vpon a tyme he made hem bliþe be / And þenne his officeres gan he calle Goode bringeth forth þe vesselles quod he Line 3384 Which þat my fader in his prosperite Out of þe temple of Ierusalem byrafte And to oure heihe goddes þanke we Of honour þat oure eldres wiþ vs lafte Line 3388

¶ His wyf his lordes and his concubynes Ay drunken whiles here appetyte laste / Out of þis noble vesseles sondry wynes / And on a wal þis king his eyhen caste Line 3392 And saugh an hande armles þat/ wrot ful faste ffor feer of which he quook and siked sore This hande þat Baltazar made so sore agast Wrot mane techel phares and no more Line 3396

[6-text p 263] Line 3396

¶ In al þat lond magicien was þer non That couþe expoune what þis lettre ment But Daniel expouned it anon And sayde king god to þi fader sent Line 3400 Glory and honour Regne tresor and rent And he was prowde and no þing god ne dradde / And þerfore god gret wreche vpon him sent And him byrafte þe regne þat he hadde Line 3404

¶ He was out cast of mannes companye Wiþ asses was his habitacion And eete hey as a beeste in wete and drye Til þat he knew by grace and by resoun Line 3408 That god of heuen haþ domynacion Ouer euery regne and euery creature And þenne hadde god of him compassion [folio 239b] And him restored his regne and his figure Line 3412

¶ Eke þou þat art his sone art proud also And knowest alle þis þinges pryuyly and art rebell to god and art his foo Thou drank eeke of his vessels boldely Line 3416 Thy wyf eek and þy wenche synfully Drank of þe same vessels sondry wynes And heryed false goddes cursedly Ther fore to þe schapen gret pyne is / Line 3420

¶ This hand was sent fro god þat on þe wal Wrot mane techel phares truste me Thin regne is doon þou weyest not at al Deuyded is þy regne and it schal be Line 3424 To Medes and to Perses ȝeuen quod he And þilke same night þe king was slawe And Daryus occupieth his degre They he þerto nad neyþer right ne lawe Line 3428

[6-text p 264] Line 3428

¶ Lordynges her-by ensample may ȝe take How þat in lordschipe is no sikernesse ffor whan fortune wole a man forsake He bereþ a-wey his regne and his richesse / Line 3432 And eek his freendes boþe more and lesse And what man haþ freendes þurgh fortune Mishap wole make hem enemys I gesse This prouerbe is ful soþ and ful commune Line 3436

[Zenobia.]

¶ Cenobya of Palymere þe queene As writen Persiens of hire noblesse So worþy was in armes and so keene That no wight passed hire in hardynesse / Line 3440 Ne in lynage ne in oþer gentillesse / Of kinges blood of Perce sche descended I saye þat sche nad nouȝt most fairnesse But of hire schap sche might nought ben amended Line 3444

¶ ffro hire childhode I fynde þat sche fledde Office of wommen and to woode sche wente And many a wilde hertes blood sche schedde [folio 240a] With arwes brode þat sche to hem sente / Line 3448 Sche was so swyfte þat sche anon hem hente And whan þat sche was elder sche wold kille Leouns luperdes and beres alto-rent And in hire armes welde hem at hire wille Line 3452

¶ Sche dorste wilde bestes dennes seeke And rennen in þe mounteinz al þe night And slepe vnder a bussche and sche couþe eeke Wrastlen by verray force and verray might Line 3456 Wiþ any ȝong man were he neuer so wight Ther mighte no þing in hir armes stonde Sche kepte hir maydenhed fro euery wight To no man deyned hire to be bonde / Line 3460

[6-text p 265] Line 3460

¶ But atte laste hir freendes han hire maryed To Odenake a Prince of þat Cite Al were it so þat sche hem longe taryed And ȝe schuln vnderstonde how þat he Line 3464 Hadde suche fantasies as hadde sche But naþeles whan þey were knette in feere They lyueden in ioye and in felicite ffor sche of hem hadde oþer leef and deere / Line 3468

[Saue oo thyng/ that/ sche wolde neuyr/ assente. [Harl. MS 1753 folio 187a] ] By no wey þat he schulde by hire lye But ones for it/ was hire pleyne entent To haue a childe þe world to multiplye Line 3472 And al so sone as sche might aspye That sche nas nouȝt wiþ childe wiþ þat dede Thanne wolde sche suffre him don his fantasye Eftsone and nouȝt but ones out of drede / Line 3476

¶ And if sche were wiþ childe at þilke caste No more schulde he pleye þilke game Til fully fourty dayes were paste Thenne wolde sche ones do suffre him þe same Line 3480 Al were þis Odenak wilde or tame he gat nomore of hire for þus sche sayde It was to wyfes lecchery and schame / In oþer caas if þat men with hem playde [folio 240b]

¶ Tuo sones by þis Odonak had sche The whiche sche kepte in vertu and lettrure But now vnto oure tale turne we / I saye þat worschipful creature Line 3488 And wys þerwith and large wiþ mesure So penyble in þe werre and curteys eeke No more laboure mighte in werre endure Was non þey alle þis world men schulde seke Line 3492

[6-text p 266] Line 3492

¶ Hire riche aray mighte nought be told As wel in vessel as in hir cloþinge Sche was al cladde in perrye and in goolde And eek sche lefte nought for non huntynge Line 3496 To haue of sondry tonges folk knowynge Whan þat sche leyser hadde and for to entende To lerne bookes was al hire likynge How sche in vertu might hir lyf dispende Line 3500

[And schortly of/ this/ storie for to entrete. [Harl. MS 1758 folio 187b] ] ¶ So doughty was hire housebande as sche That þey conquered many regnes grete In þe orient wiþ many a fair Cite Line 3504 Apportienant vnto þe mageste Of Rome and with strong hand heeld hem faste Ne neuer might here fomen don hem fle Ay whiles þat Oedenak dayes laste Line 3508

¶ Here batayles who so luste hem for to ride· Agayn Sapor þe king and oþer mo· And how þat al þis proces felle in ·dede· Why sche conquered and what title had þerto Line 3512 And after of hire meschief and hire woo how þat sche was beseged and y-take let him vnto my mayster Petrarke go That writ of þis ynough I vndertake Line 3516

¶ Whan Odenake was deed sche mightily The regnes huld and wiþ hir propre hand Agayn hire foos sche faught trewely That þer nas king ne Prince in al þat land Line 3520 That he nas gladde if þat he grace fand [folio 241a] That sche ne wolde vpon his land werrey With hire þey made alleyance by band To ben in pees and lete hir ryde and pley Line 3524

[6-text p 267] Line 3524

¶ The Emperour of Rome Claudius Ne him byforn þe Romain Galien Ne dorste neuer be so coragius Ne non Ermyne ne non Egipcien Line 3528 Ne Surrien ne non arabien Wiþinne þe feeld þat dorste with hire fight Lest þat sche wolde hem wiþ hir handes sleen Or with hire meyne putten hem to flight Line 3532

[IN kynges/ abite wente hir/ sones/ two . [Harl. MS 1758 folio 187b] ] As Eyres of here regnes alle And hermanno and Thymalao Here names were as Perciens hem calle Line 3536 But ay fortune haþ ay in hir hony galle This mighty queene may no while en-dure ffortune out of hire regne made hire falle To wrecchednes and to mysauenture Line 3540

¶ Aurelion whan þat þe gouernance Of Rome cam in-to his handes tweye he schoop vpon þis queen to do vengance And wiþ his legiouns he took his weye Line 3544 Toward Cenobye and schortly for to seye He made hir flee and at þe last hir bent And fetered hire and eek hir children tweye And wan þe lond and home to Rome þey went Line 3548

¶ Among þese oþer þinges þat he wan hire char þat was wiþ gold wrought and perre This grete Romayn þis aurelian Haþ wiþ him ladde for þat men schulde se Line 3552 Byforn his tryumphe walkeþ sche Wiþ gilte cheynes on hire necke hangyng Corouned sche was as after hire degre And ful of perre charged hire cloþing Line 3556

[6-text p 268] Line 3556

¶ Allas fortune sche þat whilom was Dredful to kynges and to emperoures· [folio 241b] Now gaureþ al þe poeple on hire allas· And sche þat helmed was in starke stoures· Line 3560 And wan by force townes strong and toures· Schal on hire heede were a vytremyte And sche þat bar þe septre ful of floures Schal bere a distaff hir costes for to quyte Line 3564

[Peter the Cruel, of Spain.]

¶ O noble o worþy petre glorie of Spayne Whom fortune helde so heyh in mageste Wel oughte men þin pitous deþ complayne Thy bastard broþer made þe to fle And after at a sege by subtilte þow were betrayed and lad to his tent Line 3570 Wher as he wiþ his owen hand slough þe Succedyng in þy regne and in þin rent' Line 3572

¶ The feeld of snow wiþ þe egle blak þer-Inne Caught wiþ þe lymrodde coloures as þe gledes he brew þis cursednes and al þe synne The wicked neste was werker of þis needes Nought Charles Olyuer þat ay took god heede Of trouþe and honour but of armorekke Line 3578 Genyloun Olyuer corupte for meede Broughtest þis worþi king in such a brekke Line 3580

[Peter of Cyprus.]

¶ Worþy Petre king of Cypre also þat alisaundre wan by heigh maystrie fful many an heþen wroughtest þou ful wo Of which þin owen liege had enuye Line 3584 And for no þing but for þin Chiualrie They in þin bedde han slayn þe by þe morwe Thus gan fortune gouerne and gye And out of ioye bringe men in-to sorwe Line 3588

[6-text p 269]

[Bernabo Visconti, of Milan.]

¶ Of Melane gret barnabo viscounte God of delite and scourge of lumbardye Why schulde nouȝt I þin fortune acounte / Seþþen in estaat þou clombe were so hihe Line 3592 Thin broþer sone þat was þin double allye ffor he þin neuew was and sone in lawe [folio 242a] Wiþinne his prison made þe to deye But why ne how wot I þat þou were slawe // Line 3596

[Ugolino, Count of Pisa.]

¶ Of þe erl hugelyne of Pyse þe langour Ther may no tunge telle for pite But lytel out of pyse stant a toure In which toure in prison putte was he Line 3600 And wiþ him ben his litel children þre The eldest skarsly .v. ȝer was of age allas fortune it was gret cruelte Suche briddes for to putte in such a kage Line 3604

¶ Dampned he was to deyen in þat prison ffor Roger which þat bisschop was of pyse Hadde on him maade a fals suggestion Thurgh which þe poeple gan on him aryse Line 3608 And putten him to pryson in swich wyse As ȝe haue herde and mete and drynk he hadde . . . . . And þer-wiþ-al it was ful pore and badde Line 3612

¶ And on a day bifelle þat in þat oure Whan þat his mete was wont to be brought The Gailler schutte þe dores of þe toure He herde it wel but he saugh it nought Line 3616 And in his herte anon þer felle a þought Þat þey for hunger wolde don him deyen Allas quod he allas þat I was wrought Þer-wiþ þe teeres felle fro his eyen Line 3620

[6-text p 270] Line 3620

¶ his ȝonge sone þat þre ȝeer was of age vnto him sayde fader why do ȝe wepe When wil þe Gaylere bringen oure potage Is þer no morsel bred þat ȝe do kepe Line 3624 I am so hungry þat I may nought slepe Now wolde god þat I might slepen euer Thanne schulde non hunger in my wombe crepe þer nys no þing sauf bred þat me were leuer Line 3628

¶ Thus day by day þis childe gan to crye Til in his fadres barme a doun it lay And sayde fare wel fader I mot deye [folio 242b] And kissed his fader and deyde þe same day Line 3632 And whan þe woful fader ded him say ffor wo his armes tuo he gan to byte / And sayde allas fortune and welaway Thyn fals wheel my wo I may al wyte Line 3636

¶ His children wende þat it for hunger was þat he his armes gnowe and nought for wo And sayde fader do nouȝt so allas But raþer ete þe fleissch vpon ous tuo Line 3640 Oure fleissch þou ȝaf vs take oure flessch vs fro And ete ynough right þus to him þay sayde / And after þat wiþinne a day or tuo They leyde hem doun right in his lappe and deyde / Line 3644

Himself dispeyred eek for hunger starf Thus ended is þe mighty erl of Pyse ffro heih estate fortune fro him karf Of þis tregetrye it ought ynough suffise / Line 3648 Who so wol heere it in a lenger wise Redeþ þe grete poete of ytayle / That highte daunte for he can it deuyse ffro poynt to poynt nouȝt o word wol he fayle Line 3652

[6-text p 271]

[Nero.]

¶ Al þough þat Nero was as vicious As eny feend þat liþ ful lowe adoun Ȝet he as telleþ vs Swetheneus This wilde world haþ in Subieccioun Line 3656 Boþe Est and west and Septemptrioun Of Rubies Saphires and of perlis white Were alle his cloþes brouded vp and doun ffor he in gemmes grete gan delyte Line 3660

¶ More delicate more pompous of array More proud was neuer emperour þan he Þat ilke cloþ þat he had wered a day After þat tyme he nolde it neuer se Line 3664 Nettes of golde þred hadde he gret plente To fissche in Tybre when him leste to pleye his lustes were as lawe in his degre [folio 243a] ffor fortune as his freende wolde him obeye Line 3668

¶ He Rome brente for his delicacye The senatoures he slough vpon a day To heere how þat men wolde weepe and crye And slough his broþer and by his suster lay Line 3672 His mooder made he in pitous aray ffor he hire wombe slitte to byholde Where he consceyued was so weylaway Þat he so litel of his moder tolde Line 3676

¶ No teere out of his eyhen for þat sight Ne came but sayde a fair womman was sche Gret wonder is þat he couþe or might Be domesman of hire ded beute Line 3680 The wyn to brynge þo comanded he And drank anon. non oþer wo he made / Whan might is ioygned vnto cruelte Allas to deepe wole þe venym wade Line 3684

[6-text p 272] Line 3684

¶ In ȝouþe a mayster hadde þis emperour To teche him lettrure and curtesye ffor of moralite he was þe flour As in his tyme but if bookes lye Line 3688 And whiles his mayster hadde of him maystrye He made him so konnyng and so souple / That longe tyme it was or tyrannye Or any vice dorste in him vncouple Line 3692

¶ This Seneka of which I deuyse By cause nero hadde of him such drede ffor he for vices wolde him chastise Discretly as by word and nought by drede Line 3696 Sire wolde he sayn an Emperour moot neede Be vertuous and hate tyrauntrye ffor which he him in bathe made to blede In boþe his armes til he moste dye Line 3700

¶ This nero hadde eek of a costummance In ȝouþe aȝeins his mayster for to ryse Which aftirward him þought a gret greuaunce [folio 243b] Therfore he made him deye in þis wise Line 3704 But naþeles þis Seneke þe wise / Chees in a bathe to deye in þis manere / Raþer þan han anoþer tormentrye And þus haþ Nero slayn his mayster deere Line 3708

¶ Now felle it so þat fortune lust no lenger þe heihe pryde of nero to cherissche ffor þough he were strong ȝet was sche strenger Sche þoughte þus by god I am to nyse Line 3712 To setten a man þat is fulfilde of vice In heigh degre and emperour him calle By god out of his sete I wol him tryce When he lest weneþ sonnest schal he falle Line 3716

[6-text p 273] Line 3716

¶ The poeple ros vpon him on a night ffor his defaute and whan he it aspyed Out of his dores anon he haþ him dight Allone and þer he wende han ben allyed Line 3720 he knokked faste and ay þe more he cryed þe faster schutten þey þe dores alle Tho wiste he wel he hadde himself begyled And went his way no lenger dorste he calle / Line 3724

¶ The poeple cryed and rombled vp and doun þat wiþ his eeres herde he how þey sayde Wher is þis false tyraunt þis Neroun ffor fere almost out of his witte a brayde Line 3728 And to his goddes pitously he sayde ffor socour but it mighte nought betyde ffor drede of þis him þoughte þat he deyde and ran in to a gardyn him to huyde Line 3732

¶ And in þis gardyn fond he cherles tweye And saten by a fuyre ful grete and rede And to þe cherles twey he gan to preye To slen him and to gurden of his hede Line 3736 That to his body whan þat he were dede Were no despite y-done for his deffame / Himself he slough he couþe no better reed [folio 244a] Of which fortune lough and hadde a game Line 3740

[Holofernes.]

¶ Was neuer Capitayn vnder a king þat regnes mo putte in subieccioun Ne strenger was in feeld of alle þing As in his tyme ne gretter of Renoun Line 3744 Ne more pompous in heigh presumpcioun Then Olyferne which fortune ay keste / So likerously and ladde him vp and doun Til þat he hed was er þat he wiste / Line 3748

[6-text p 274] Line 3748

¶ Nought oonly þat þis world had of him awe / ffor lesyng of Richesse and liberte But he made euery man reneye his lawe / Nabugodonosor was lord sayde Line 3752 Non oþer god schulde honoured be Aȝeins his heste no wight dar trespace / Saue in Bethulya a strang Cite Where Elyachim a prest was of þat place Line 3756

¶ But take keepe of þe deþ of Olypherne Amydde his hoste he drunke lay a nyght Wiþinne his tente large as is a berne / And ȝet for alle his pompe and alle his might Line 3760 Iudith a womman as he lay vpright Slepyng his heed of smot and fro his tent / fful pryuyly sche stal fro euery wight . . . . . Line 3764

[Antiochus.]

¶ What needeþ it of king antiochus To telle his heihe and real mageste his heighe pruyde his werkes venymous ffor such anoþer nas neuer non as he Line 3768 Redeþ which þat he was in Machabe And redeþ þe proude wordes þat he sayde And why he felle fro his prosperite And in an hulle how wrecchedly he deyde Line 3772

¶ ffortune him hadde enhaunced so in pruyde þat verrayly he wende he mighte atteyne vnto þe sterres vpon euery syde Line 3775 And in a balaunce to weye vche mountayne / [folio 244b] And alle þe floodes of þe see restreyne And goddes poeple hadde he most in hate Hem wolde he sle in torment and peyne / Wenyng þat god ne might his pruyde abate Line 3780

[6-text p 275] Line 3780

¶ And for þat Nichamour and Thymothee Wiþ Iewes were venquyscht mightily Vnto þe Iewes swich an hate hadde he That he hadde greythed his chaar ful hastily Line 3784 And swor and sayde ful dispitously vnto Ierusalem he wolde eft sone / To wreke his Ire on hit ful cruelly But of his purpos he was lette ful sone / Line 3788

¶ God for his manace him so sore smot/ Wiþ inuisible wounde ay vncurable/ That in his guttes karf so and bote That his peynes were importable Line 3792 And certeynly þe wreche was resonable ffor many mannes guttes dede he payne But fro his pourpos cursed and dampnable ffor alle his smerte he nolde him nought restreyne Line 3796

¶ But bad anon apparaylen his Oste And sodeinly er he was of hit/ ware God daunted alle his pruyde and alle his boste ffor he so sore felle out of his chare Line 3800 That hurt his lymes and his skyn totare So þat he ne mighte go ne ryde But in a Chayer men aboute him bare Al forbrused boþe bak and syde Line 3804

¶ The wreche of god him smot so cruelly That in his body wickede wormes crepte And þer-wiþ-al he stank so orribly That non of alle his meigne þat him kepte / Line 3808 Wheþer so þat he wook or elles slepte / Ne mighte nought/ þe stynk of him endure In þis meschief he weyled and eek wepte / And knewe god lord of euery creature [folio 245a] Line 3812

[6-text p 276] Line 3812

¶ To alle his host and to himself also fful wlatsom was þe stynke of þis Careyne No man ne mighte him bere to ne fro And in his stynke and in his horible peyne Line 3816 He starf ful wrecchedly in a mounteyne Thus haþ þis robbour and þis homicide That many a man made to weepe and pleyne Such guerdon as bilongeþ vnto pruyde / Line 3820

[Alexander the Great.]

¶ The story of alisaundre is so commune That euery wight þat haþ discrecioun haþ herd somwhat or al of his fortune This wilde world as in conclusioun Line 3824 He wan by strengþe or for his heigh renoun They weren glad for pees vnto him sende The pruyde of man and beste he leyde a doun Wher so he cam vnto þe worldes ende Line 3828

¶ Comparison might neuer ȝit/ be maked Betwix him and anoþer conquerour ffor alle þis worlde for drede of him haþ quaked he was of knighthede and of fredam flour Line 3832 ffortune him made þe heier of hure honour Saue wyn and wommen no þing might aswage / His heihe entent in armes and labour So was he fulle of louynge corage Line 3836

¶ What pite were it to him þey I ȝou tolde Of darius and an .C. þousand mo Of kinges princes dukes eerles bolde Which he conquered and brouȝt hem in-to woo Line 3840 I say as fer as man may ryde or goo Þe worlde was his what schulde I more deuyse ffor þough I write or tolde ȝou euermo Of his knighthode he mighte nought suffise Line 3844

[6-text p 277] Line 3844

¶ Twelf ȝeer he regned as saiþ Machabe Philippes sone of Macedo he was / That first was king of Grece þe Contre / O worþy gentil alisandre allas [folio 245b] Line 3848 þat euer schulde falle such a caas Enpoysoned of þin folk þou were þyn. S fortune haþ torned in-to an aas And ȝet for þe ne weep sche neuer a tere Line 3852

¶ Who schal men ȝeue teeres to compleyne The deþ of gentilesse and of fraunchise þat alle þe world weeldid in his demeygne / And ȝet him þoughte it might not suffise / Line 3856 So ful was his corage of heigh emprise Allas who schal me helpe to endite ffals fortune and poyson to despise þe whiche tuo of al þis wo I wite Line 3860

[Julius Cæsar.]

¶ By wisedom manhede and by labour ffro humbleheed and fro Royal mageste vp ros he Iulius þe Conquerour That alle þe Occident by land and fee Line 3864 By strengþe of hand or elles by tretee And vnto Rome made hem tributarie And seþenes of Rome þemperour was he Til þat fortune wax his aduersarie Line 3868

¶ O mighty Cesar þat in Tessalye Aȝens Pompeus fader þin in lawe That of þe Orient hadde al þe chiualrye as ferre as þat þe day begynneþ dawe Line 3872 þou þorugh þin knighthode þou hast hem take and slawe / Saue fewe folk þat wiþ Pompeus fledde / þurgh which þou puttest al þe Orient in awe Thanke fortune þat so wel þe spedde Line 3876

[6-text p 278] Line 3876

¶ But now a litel while I wol bewayle / þis Pompeus þis noble gouernour Of Rome which þat fleigh at þis batayle I say on of his men a fals traytour Line 3880 His heed of smoot/ to wynne him fauour Of Iulius and him þe heed broughte Allas Pompeye of þe Orient conquerour That fortune vnto such a finye broughte [folio 246a] Line 3884

¶ To Rome aȝein repayreþ Iulius Wiþ his triumphe laureate ful heyȝe But on a tyme Brutus Cassius That euer had of his heigh estaat enuye Line 3888 fful priuily had maad conspiracie Aȝeins þis Iulius in subtil wise And caste þe place in which he schulde deye Wiþ boydekynnes as I schal ȝou deuyse Line 3892

¶ Þis Iulius to þe Capithole went vppon a day as he was wont to goon And in þe Capitolye anon him hent This false brutus on his foule foon Line 3896 And stiked him wiþ boydekynnes anon Wiþ many a wounde and þus þey leet/ him lye But neuer gronte he at no stroke but oon Or elles at tuo but if his story lye Line 3900

¶ So manly was þis Iulius of herte And so wel loued estaatly honeste That þough his dedly woundes so sore smerte His mantel ouer his hepes caste he Line 3904 ffor noman schulde seen his priuyte And as he lay as deyinge in a traunce And wiste verrily þat deed was he Of honeste ȝet hadde he remembrance Line 3908

[6-text p 279] Line 3908

¶ Lucane to þis story I recomende And to Sweton and to Valerius also That of þis story writeþ word and ende how þat þese grete conqueroures tuo Line 3912 ffortune was ferst freend and siþen a foo No man ne truste vpon his fauour longe But haue hire in awayte for eueremo Witnesse on alle þise conqueroures stronge Line 3916

[Cresus.]

¶ This riche Cresus whilom king of lyde Of whiche Cresus Cyquus sore him dradde Ȝet was he caught amyddes alle his pryde Line 3919 And to be brent men to þe fuyre him ladde [folio 246b] But such a reyn doun fro þe walken schadde þat slough þe fuyr and made him to askape But to be war ȝet no grace he hadde Til fortune on þe galwes made him gape Line 3924

¶ Whan he askaped was he can not stynte ffor to begynne a newe reyne aȝein he wende wel for þat fortune him sente Such happe þat he escaped þurgh þe rayn Line 3928 That of his foos he mighte not be slayn And swich a swefne vppan a night he mette Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn That in vengaunce he alle his herte sette Line 3932

¶ Vpon a tree he was as þat him þoughte There Iubiter him wisshe boþe halse and syde And Phebus eek a fair towayle him broughte To druye him wiþ and þerfore wax his pryde Line 3936 And to his doughter þat stood him besyde Which þat he knew in heigh sentence abounde He bad hire telle him what it signefyed And sche his dreemes bygan right þus expounde Line 3940

[6-text p 280] Line 3940

¶ The tree quod sche þe galwes is to mene And Iubiter bitokneþ snow and rayn And Phebus wiþ his towayle so clene Tho be þe sonne stremes for to sayn Line 3944 Thou schalt an honged be fader certayn Reyn schal þe waissche and sonne schal þe druye þus warned him ful platte and ful playn His doughter þat called was Phanye / Line 3948

¶ An honged was Cresus þe proude king His roial trone might him nought auayle Tegedie is non oþer maner þing Ne can synnynge crye ne by-wayle Line 3952 But þat fortune alway wol assayle / Wiþ vnwar strook þe regnes that ben proude ffor whan men trusteþ hire þan wol sche fayle And couere hire brighte face wiþ a cloude [folio 247a] Line 3956

¶ Explicit/

[6-text p 281]

¶ Here begynneþ þe prologe of þe nonne prestes tale

HO quod þe knight goode sire nomore of þis þat ȝe han sayde is right ynough ywis And meche more for litel heuynesse Is right ynough to meche folk as I gesse / Line 3960 [I sey for me . it is a grete disease [Reg. 17 D. xv folio 273b] Where as men han bien . in grete welth and ease To here of theyr sodayn falle alas And the contrary is Ioy . and grete solas Line 3964 And whan a man hath bien in pouer estate And clymbith vp . and wexith fortunate And ther abydith · in prosperite [Reg. 17 D. xv folio 274a] Swiche thyng is gladsom . as it thynkyth me Line 3968 And of swiche thynges . were goodely for to telle Ya quod oure host . be seynt poulis belle Ye say right soth . this monk be clappid lowde He spak how fortune . was couered with a clowde Line 3972 I not neuer what . and als of a tregedye Right now ye herd . and parde no remedye Is it for to be-wailen . and compleyn That . that is don . and als it is a peyn Line 3976 As ye have sayd . to here of hevynesse Sir monke nomore of this . so god yow blisse Yowre tale anoyeth . al this company Swiche thyng is nat worth a boterflye] ȝoure tales don vs no desport ne game Wherfore sir monk Doun Pieres by ȝour name I pray ȝou hertely telle vs som what elles ffor siker nere clynkyng of ȝoure belles / Line 3984

[6-text p 282] Line 3984 þat on ȝoure brydel hangeþ on euery syde / By heuene king þat for vs alle dyde I schal for þis falle doun for slepe / Al þough þe slough hadde neuer ben so depe Line 3988 þan hadde ȝoure tale be told in vayn ffor certeinly as þese clerkes sayn Wher as a man may han non audience Nought helpeþ it to tellen his sentence Line 3992 And wel I woot þe substance is in me / If eny þing schal wel reported be Sire say somwhat of huntyng I ȝou pray Nay quod þe monk I haue no lust to play Line 3996 Now lete anoþer telle as I haue tolde þanne spak oure Ost wiþ ruyde speche and bolde And sayde vnto þe nonnes prest anon Come ner sire prest com hider sir Iohn Line 4000 Telle vs such þing as may oure hertes glade Be mery þough þou ryde vpon a Iade / What þough þin hors be hagged foul or lene If he wol serue þe rekke þe nought a bene Line 4004 Loke þat þin herte be mery euermo ȝis Ost quod he so mote I ryde or go But I be mery I-wys I wil be blamed And right anon he haþ his tale tamed Line 4008 And þus he seyde to vs euerychon This swete prest þis goode man sir Iohn .

¶ Explicit prologus

[6-text p 283]

¶ Here begynneþ þe nonnes prestes tale of þe kokke & his vij. hennes

A Pouere wydewe somdel stope in age [folio 247b] Was whilom dwellyng in a narwe cotage Line 4012 Besydes a groue standyng in a dale This wydewe of which I telle ȝou my tale Seþins þilke day þat sche was last/ a wyf In pacience ladde a ful simple lyf Line 4016 ffor litel was hire catelle and hire rent By housbondrye of such as god hire sent Sche fand hire self and eek hire doughtren tuo þre large sowes hadde sche and nomo Line 4020 Thre kyn and eek a scheep þat highte malle fful sooty was hire bour and eek hire halle In which sche eet ful many a sklender mel Of poynant Sause hire needed neuer a del Line 4024 No deynte morsell passed hire þrote Hire dyete was acordant to hire cote Replecion ne made hire neuere seeke A-tempree diete was alle hire Phiseke Line 4028 And excersise and hertes suffisance The gowte letted hire no þing to daunce Ne Poplexie ne schente not hire heed No wyn ne drank sche neyþer whit ne reed Line 4032 Hire bord was serued most wiþ whit and blak Milk and broun breed in which sche fond no lak Seynd bacon and somtyme an ey or tweye ffor sche was as it was a maner deye Line 4036 A gardyn sche hadde enclosed alle aboute Wiþ stikkes and a druye diche wiþoute In which sche hadde a cokk þat highte Chaunteclere In alle þe land of crowyng nas his peere Line 4040

[6-text p 284] Line 4040 his voys was merier þan þe mery Orgon On masse dayes þat in þe chirche gon Wel sikerer was þe crowyng in his logge þan is a clokke or eny abbay orlogge Line 4044 By nature he knew eche assencion Of equinoxial of þilke toun ffor whan degrees .xv. were discendid [folio 248a] þenne knew he þat it might nought ben amended Line 4048 His cambe was redder þen þe fyn coralle And batailled as it were a castel walle Ylike asure were his legges and his toon His byle was blak and as þe Iet it schon Line 4052 His nayles whitter þen þe lily flour And ylike burnysscht gold was his colour This gentil cokke hadde in his gouernance / .vij. hennes for to doon his plesance Line 4056 Whiche weren his sustres and his paramoures And wonder ylike to him as of coloures Of which þe fairest hewed on þe þrote Was cleped faire damisel pertelote Line 4060 Curteys sche was discret and debonaire And companable / and bar hire self so faire Siþens þilke day þat sche was seuenyght olde þat trewely sche haþ þe herte in holde Line 4064 Of chaunteclere loken in euery liþ He loued hire so þat wel was him þerwith But such a ioye as it was to heere hem synge Whan þat þe brighte sonne gan to springe Line 4068 In swete acorde my leef is fare in londe / ffor þilke tyme as I haue vnderstonde Beestes and briddes couþe speke and synge And so bifelle þat in a dawenynge / Line 4072 As Chaunteclere among his wyfes alle Satte on his perche þat was in þe halle And next him sat þis faire Pertelote þis Chaunteclere gan gronen in his þrote Line 4076

[6-text p 285] Line 4076 As a man þat is in his dreme drecched sore And when þat Pertelote þus herde him rore Sche was agast/ and sayde herte deere What eyleþ ȝou to grone in þis manere Line 4080 ȝe ben a verray sleper fy for schame / And he answerde and sayde þus ma dame / I pray ȝou þat ȝe take it not to greef [folio 248b] By god me mette þat I was in such mescheef Line 4084 Right now þat ȝet myn herte is sore afright Now quod he my sweuene reed aright And keepe my body out of foul prisoun Me mette þat I romed vp and doun Line 4088 Wiþinne oure ȝerde wher as I saugh a beeste Was lik an hound and wolde han made areste / vpon my body and wolde han had me deed His colour was betwixe whit and reed Line 4092 And tipped was his tail and boþe his eeres Wiþ blak vnlik þe remenant of his heeres his snowte smal with glowyng eyen tweye ȝet of his look for feer almost I deye Line 4096 This caused me my gronyng douteles Avoy quod sche // ffy on ȝou herteles Allas quod sche; ffor by þat god aboue Now haue ȝe lost myn herte and al my loue Line 4100 I can nought loue a coward by my feiþ ffor certes what so eny womman seiþ We wolle alle desyren if it mighte be To haue housbondes hardy wise and fre Line 4104 And secre ne no nyggard ne no fool Ne him þat is agast of euery tool Ne non auauntour by þat god aboue How dorste ȝe say for schame vnto ȝoure loue / Line 4108 That eny þing might make ȝou aferd Han ȝe no mannes herte and han a berd Allas and konne ȝe be agast of sweuons [Nothyng god wote. but vanite in sweuene is [Reg. 17 D xv folio 276a] ]

[6-text p 286] Sweuenes engendren of replexiones [And oft of synne. and of complexiouns] When humours ben to habundaunt in a wight Certes þis dreme which ȝe han herd to nyght Line 4116 Cometh of þe grete superfluite Of ȝoure reede colre sire parde Which causeþ folk to dremen here dreemes Of arwes and of fuyre with reede leemes Line 4120 Of reede bestes þat woln hem byte [folio 249a] Of Contelle and of whelpes grete an lyte Right as he humour malencolie Causeþ many a man in slepe to crye Line 4124 ffor feere of beres and of boles blake Or elles blake deueles woln hem take Of oþer humours couþe I telle also þat worken many a man in sleep ful woo Line 4128 But I wol passe as lightly as I can Lo Caton which þat was so wys a man Sayde he nouȝt þus ne do no force of dremes Now sire quod sche whan we flee fro þe beemes Line 4132 ffor goddes loue as takeþ som laxatif Vp peril of my soule and of my lyf I counceile ȝou þe beste I wol not lye þat boþe of colre and of malencolye Line 4136 ȝe purge ȝou and for ȝe schuln nought tary þough þat in þis toun is non apotecary I schal my self to herbes techen ȝou That schal ben ȝoure hele and ȝoure prow Line 4140 And in þe gardyn þo herbes schal I fynde The whiche han of here proprete by kynde To purgen ȝou byneþe and eek aboue fforȝeteþ nouȝt þis for goddes owne loue Line 4144 ȝe ben ful Colrik of Compleccion Were þe sonne in his ascencion Ne fynde ȝou replete and ȝoure humors hote and if it do I dar wel leye a groote Line 4148

[6-text p 287] Line 4148 That ȝe schuln haue a feuer terciane Or an agu þat may ben ȝoure bane A day or tuo ȝe schuln haue digestyues Of wormes er ȝe take ȝoure laxatyues Line 4152 Of laureole Centure and of fumytere Or ellis of Ellebore þat groweþ þere Of Catapuce or of gaytres buryes Of herbe yue growyng in oure ȝerde þer mery is Line 4156 Pek hem vp right as þey growe and et hem In [folio 249b] Be mery housbande for ȝoure fadres kyn Dredeþ no dreem I can say ȝou no more Ma dame quod he gramercy of ȝoure lore Line 4160 But naþeles as touching dann Catoun That haþ of wisdom such a gret renoun By god men may in olde bookes reede Oon of þe grettest auctour out of drede Line 4164 Of many a man more of auctorite þenne euer Caton was so mote I þe That alle þe reuers sein of his sentence And han wel founden by experience Line 4168 þat dreemes ben significacions As wel of ioye as of tribulacions þat folk enduren in þis lyf present Ther needeþ nouȝt to make of þis non argument Line 4172 The verray preef scheweþ it in dede On of þe grettest auctour þat men rede Saiþ þus þat whilom tuo felawes went On pylgrimage in a ful good entent Line 4176 And happed so þey camen in-to a toun Wher as þer was such congregacion Of poeple and eek of streight herburgage That þey ne fand as moche as a cotage / Line 4180 In which þey boþe might y-logged be Wherfore þey mosten of necessite As for þat night departe of companye And vche of hem goþ vnto his ostelrye Line 4184

[6-text p 288] Line 4184 And took his loggynge as it wolde falle That oon of hem was logged in a stalle fferre in a ȝerde wiþ oxen of þe plough þat oþer man was logged wel ynough Line 4188 As was his aduenture or his fortune þat vs gouerneþ alle as in comune And so bifelle it lange er it was day þis man mette in his bedde þer as he lay Line 4192 how þat his felaw gan on him to calle [folio 250a] And sayde allas for in an oxe stalle This night schal I be mourdred þer I lye Now help me deere broþer er I dye Line 4196 In alle haste come to me he seyde This man out of his sleep for feere abrayde But whan þat he was wakened out of his slepe he turned him and tok of þis no kepe / Line 4200 Him þought his dreem was nought/ but vanyte þus twyes in his sleping dremed he And at þe þridde tyme ȝet his felawe Came as him þought I am now y-slawe Line 4204 Byholde my bloody woundes deepe and wyde / Arys vp erely in þe morne tyde / And at þe west gate of þe toun quod he A carte fulle of dunge þere schalt þou se / Line 4208 In which my body is hidde ful pryuyly Do þilke carte aresten boldely My golde caused my murdre soþ to sayn And tolde him euery poynt how he was slayn Line 4212 Wiþ a ful pitous face pale of hewe And truste wel his dreem he fand ful trewe ffor on þe morwe as sone as it was day To his felawes In he tok þe way Line 4216 And whan he com vnto þis Oxe stalle After his felawe he bigan to calle The Ostiler answered him anon And sayde sire ȝoure felawe is y-gon Line 4220

[6-text p 289] Line 4220 As sone as day he wente out of þe toun This man gan falle in gret suspecion Remembryng on his dreemes þat he mette And forþ he goþ no lenger wolde he lette Line 4224 Vnto þe west gate of þe toun and fonde A dung carte as he wente to dunge þe londe / þat was arrayed in þe same wyse As ȝe han herde þe deede man deuyse Line 4228 And wiþ an hardy herte he gan to crye [folio 250b] Vengaunce and Iustice of þis felonye My felawe murdred is þis same night And in þis cart he lyþ gapyng vpright Line 4232 [I Crie oute on þe mynistris quod he [MS Harl. 7333 (Shirley's) folio 113a:1] Þat shulde kepe and rewle þis citee Harrow allas here lith my felaw slayn What shuld I more vn-to this tale sayn Line 4326 Þe peple out sterte / & caste þe carte to grounde And in the medil of the donge þei founde] The deede man þat murdred was al newe O blisful god þat art so iuste and trewe / Line 4240 Lo how þat þou bywreyest murdre alway Murdre wole out þat se we day by day Mordre is so wlatsom and abhominable To god þat is so iuste and resonable Line 4244 That he wol not suffre it hiled be They it abyde a ȝeer or tuo or þre Mordre wole out þis is my conclusion And right anon ministres of þe toun Line 4248 And hente þe cartere and sore him pyned And eek þe osteller so ferre engyned That þey beknewe here wickednesse anon And weren hanged by þe nekke boon Line 4252 Heer may men see þat dreemes ben to drede And certes in þe same book I rede Right in þe nexte chapitre I rede of þis I gabbe nought/ so haue I ioye & blis Line 4256

[6-text p 290] Line 4256 Tuo men þat wolde han passed þe see ffor certein cause in-to a ferre cuntre If þat þe wynde nad y-be contrary Þat made hem in a Cite for to tary Line 4260 That stood ful mery vpon an hauen side But on a day aȝens þe euen tyde The wynd gan chaunge and blowen as him leste Iolyf and glad þey wenten vnto reste Line 4264 And casten hem ful erly for to seyle But herkne þat oo man felle in gret pereyle That oon of hem in slepyng as he lay Him mette a wonder dreme aȝeins þe day Line 4268 Him þought a man stood by his beddes syde And him comānded þat he schulde abyde And seyde him þus if þou to morwe wende [folio 251a] Thou schalt be draynt my tale is at an ende Line 4272 he awook and tolde his felawe what he mette and prayed him his viage for to lette As for þat day he prayde him to abyde his felawe þat lay by his beddes syde Line 4276 Gan for to laughe and scorned him ful faste No dreme quod he may myn herte agaste Þat I wol lette for to do my þinges I sette nouȝt a straw by þy dremynges Line 4280 ffor sweuenes ben but vanytes and Iapes Men dreme alway of owles and of apes And of many a mase þer-wiþ-all Men dremen of þing þat neuer was ne schal Line 4284 But siþenes I se þat þou wolt here abyde And þus forslowþen wilfully þe tyde God wot it reweþ me and haue good day And thus he took his leeue and went his way Line 4288 And er þat he hadde half his cours y-sayled Not I nought why ne what meschaunce it ayled But casuelly þe schippes botme rent And schip and man vnder þe water went Line 4292

[6-text p 291] Line 4292 In sight of oþer schippes him besyde þat wiþ him seyled at þe same tyde And þerfore he seyde Pertelote so deere By suche ensamples olde maist þou leere Line 4296 þat no man schulde be to recheles Of dremes for I say þe dowteles That many a dreem fol sore is for to drede Lo in þe lyf of Seint kenelme I rede Line 4300 þat was kenulphes sone þe noble king Of Mertenrike how kenelme met a þing A litel er was murdred on a day His murdre in his avision he say Line 4304 His norice him expouned eury del His sweuene and bad him for to kepe him wel ffor treson but he was seuen ȝeer old [folio 251b] And þerfore litel tale haþ he told Line 4308 Of eny dreem so holly was his herte By god I hadde leuer þan my scherte þat ȝe hadde herde his legende as haue I Dame pertelote I say ȝou trewely Line 4312 Macrobeus þat writ þe avisioun In affryke of þe worþy Cyprioun Affermeþ dremes and saiþ þat þay ben Warnyng of þinges þat men after seen Line 4316 And furþermore I pray ȝou lokeþ wel þe olde testament of Daniel If he heeld dreemes of any vanyte Reede eek of Ioseph and þer schuln ȝe see Line 4320 Wheþer dremes ben som tyme I say not alle Warnyng of þinges þat schuln after falle Loke of Egypt þe king Daun Pharao His baker and his botiler also Line 4324 Wher þey ne felten noon effecte in dremes Who so wol seche þe acte of sondry Remes May rede of dreemes many a wonder þing Lo Cresus which þat was of lyde king Line 4328

[6-text p 292] Line 4328 Mette he nouȝt þat he sat on a tree Which signified he schulde anhanged be Lo here adromacha Ectores wiff That day þat Ector schulde lese his lyff Line 4332 Sche dreemed on þe same night byforn How þat þe lyff of Ector schulde be lorn If þilke day he went in-to Batayle Sche warned him but it might nouȝt auayle Line 4336 He wente for to feighten neuer þe les But he was slayn of oon achilles But þilke tale is al to long to telle And eek it is neigh day I may nouȝt dwelle Line 4340 Schortly I say as for conclusion þat I schal haue of þis auision Of aduersitees and I say forþermore [folio 252a] That I nel telle of laxatifs no store Line 4344 ffor þey ben venymous I wot right wel I hem diffye I loue hem neuer a del Now let vs speke of myrþe and stynte al þis Madame pertelote so haue I blis Line 4348 Of o þing god me haþ sent large grace ffor when I se þe beaute of ȝour face ȝe ben so skarlet reed aboute ȝoure eyen It makeþ alle my drede for to deyen Line 4352 ffor al so siker as In principio Mulier est hominis confusio Ma dame þe sentence of þis latyn is Womman is mannes ioye and al his blys Line 4356 ffor whan I feele a night ȝoure softe syde Al be it þat I may nought on ȝou ryde ffor þat oure perche is maad so narwe allas I am so fulle of ioye and solas Line 4360 That I diffye boþe sweuen and dreem And wiþ þat word he fleigh doun fro þe beem ffor it was day and eek his hennes alle And wiþ a chukke he gan hem for to calle Line 4364

[6-text p 293] Line 4364 ffor he had founde a corn lay in þe ȝerde Real he was nomore aferde He feþerede pertelote twenty tyme And tradde as ofte er it were prime Line 4368 He lokeþ as it were a grym lyoun And on his toos he romed vp and doun Him deygned nouȝt to sette his feet on grounde Ay chukked he whan he hadde a corn y-founde Line 4372 And to him þanne ranne his wyfes alle Þus real as a prince in his halle leue I þis Chaunteclere in his pasture And after wol I telle of his aduenture Line 4376 When þe monþe in which þe world bigan þat highte march when god ferst made man Was complete and passed were also [folio 252b] Seþins marche bygan þritty dayes and tuo Line 4380 Bifelle þat Chaunteclere in alle his pryde his seuen wyues walkyng him bysyde Caste vp his eyen to þe brighte sonne That in þe signe of Taurus was y-ronne; Line 4384 Twenty degrees. and oon and somwhat more He knew by kynde and by non oþer lore That it was pryme and crew wiþ blisful steuene The sonne he sayde is clumben vp on heuene Line 4388 xl. degrees and oon and more y-wys Madame pertelote my worldes blys Herkne how þese blisful briddes synge and see þe freisshe floures how þay springe Line 4392 fful is myn herte of Reuel and solace But sodeinly him fel a sorwful case ffor euer þe latter ende of Ioye is sone ago And comunly often tyme it falleþ so Line 4396 And if a Rethor couþe faire endite He in a Cronique mighte saufly write As for a souereyn notabilite / Now euery wise man herkene to me Line 4400

[6-text p 294] Line 4400 This story is also trewe I vndertake As is þe book of launcelot þe lake þat wommen heelde in ful gret reuerence Now wol I torne aȝein to my sentence Line 4404 A kolle fox ful of sleighte and iniquite That in þe groue had woned ȝeeres þre By heih ymaginacion aforn caste þe same night þurghout þe hegges braste Line 4408 In-to þe yerde þer Chaunteclere þe faire Was wont and eek his wyfes to repayre And in a bedde of worstes stille he lay Til it was passed vndern of þe day Line 4412 Wayting his tyme on chaunteclere to falle As gladly doon þese homicydes alle [folio 253a] That in awayte ligge to murþre men O false murdrour roukyng in þy den Line 4416 O newe scariote and newe Genyloun ffals dissimulour O greke Synon That broughtest Troye outrely to sorwe O Chaunteclere acorsed be þat morwe Line 4420 þat þou in þe ȝerde fleyȝe fro þe beemes Thou were ful wel y-warned by þin derems That þilke day was perilous to þe But þat at god afore wot moot needes be Line 4424 After þe opynyon of certein clerkes Witnesse on him þat any clerk/ is That in scole gret altercacion In þis matiere and gret disputeson Line 4428 And haþ ben of an hundred þousand men But I ne can nouȝt bulte it to þe bren As can þe holy doctour augustyn Or Boece or þe Bisschoppe Bradwardyn Line 4432 Wheþer þat/ goddes wille afore wetyng Streyneþ me needely for to don a þing Needly clepe I simple necessite Or elles if þe free choys be graunted me / Line 4436

[6-text p 295] Line 4436 To do þat same þing or to do it nouȝt þough god forwot it er it was y-wrought Or of his wetyng streigneþ neuer a del But by necessite condicionel Line 4440 I wol not haue to doone of such matiere My tale is of a cokk as ȝe schuln after heere That took his counseil of his wyf wiþ sorwe To walke in-to þe ȝerd vppon þe morwe Line 4444 That he had mette þe dreem as I ȝou tolde Wommens counseiles ben ful ofte colde Wommans counseil brought vs ferst to wo And made adam fro paradys to go Line 4448 þer as he was ful mery and wel at ese / But for I not whom it might displese [folio 253b] If I councel of wommen wolde blame Passe ouer I seyde it in my game Line 4452 Rede auctours wher þey trete of such matiere And what þay sein of wommen ȝe may heere These ben þe cokkes wordes and nought myne I can non harme of no womman devyne Line 4456 ffayre in þe sande to baþe hire merily liþ pertelote and alle hire sustres by Aȝein þe sonne and Chaunteclere so fre Sange meriere þan þe mere-mayde in þe see Line 4460 ffor Physyalogus saiþ witterly How þat þey sungen wel and merily And so bifelle as he cast his ye amonges þe wortes vpon a butterflye Line 4464 He was war of þis ffox þat lay ful lowe ¶ No þing ne luste him þanne for to crowe But cryed anon kok kok and vp he sterte As man þat was affrayed in his herte Line 4468 ffor naturelly a beste desireþ to fle ffro his contrarye if he may it se þey he neuer hadde seye it erst wiþ his ye This Chaunteclere when he gan him espye Line 4472

[6-text p 296] Line 4472 he wolde han fledde but þat þe fox anon Sayde gentil sire allas what wol ȝe doon Been ȝe affrayed of me þat am ȝoure freende Certes sire þen be ȝe vnheende Line 4476 If I to ȝou wolde harme or vilanye I am nought come ȝoure councel to aspie But trewely þe cause of my comynge Was oonly to herkne how þat ȝe synge / Line 4480 ffor trewely ȝe han as mery a steuene As any aungel haþ þat is in heuene Ther-with ȝe han in Physike more felynge þat hadde boys or eny þat can synge Line 4484 My lord ȝoure fader god his soule blesse And eek ȝoure mooder of hire gentilnesse [folio 254a] han in myn hous I-ben ful wel at eese and certes sire ful fayn wolde I ȝou pleese Line 4488 But for men speken of syngyng I wolde seye So mote I brouke myne eyen tweye Saue ȝou I ne herde neuer man so synge As dide ȝoure fader in þe morwenynge Line 4492 Certes it was of herte al þat he sange And for to make his voys þe more strange He wolde so peyne him þat wiþ boþe his eyen He moste wynke so lowde he dide cryen Line 4496 And standen on his typtoos þer-wiþ-al And strecche forþ his nekke long and smal And eek he was of such discrecion That þer was no man in no region Line 4500 That him in song or wisdam mighte passe I haue wel rad daun burnelle the asse Among his vers þer was a kok ffor a prestes sone ȝaf him a knok Line 4504 Vpon his legges whil he was yong and nyce He made him for to leese his benefice But certein þer is no comparison Betwixe þe wisdam and discrecion Line 4508

[6-text p 297] Line 4508 Of ȝoure fader and of his subtilte Now syngeþ sire for seinte Charite Let see conne ȝe ȝoure fader countrefete þis Chaunteclere his wynges gan to bete Line 4512 As man þat couþe his treson not aspye So was he rauysscht wiþ his flaterye ¶ Allas ȝe lordes many a fals flatour Is in ȝoure Court and many a losengour Line 4516 þat pleasen ȝou more by my feiþ Then he þat soþfastnesse vnto ȝou seiþ Redeþ ecclesiastre of flaterie Beþ war ȝe lordes of here treccherie Line 4520 This Chaunteclere stood heye vpon his toos Strecching his necke and huld his eyen clos [folio 254b] And gan to crowe lowde for þe nones And daun Russel stert vp al at oones Line 4524 And by þe gargage hente Chaunteclere And on his bak toward the woode him bere ffor ȝet was þere noman þat him sewed O destyne þat mayst not ben eschewed Line 4528 Allas þat Chaunteclere fel fro þe bemes Allas his wyf ne roughte nought of dremes And on a friday felle al þis meschaunce O venus þat art goddesse of plesaunce Line 4532 Seþines þat þi seruant was þis Chaunteclere And in þin seruise dede al his powere / More for delite þan þe world to multiplie Why woldestow suffre him / on þin day to dye Line 4536 O Gaufrede deere maister souerayn That whan þy worþy king Richard was slayn Wiþ schotte compleynedest his deþ so sore Why ne hadde I now þin sentence and þin lore Line 4540 The friday for to chyde as deden ȝe / ffor on a ffriday schortly slayn was he þenne wolde I schewe ȝou how þat I couþe pleyne ffor Chaunteclere and for his peyne Line 4544

[6-text p 298] Line 4544 Certes such cry ne lamentacion Was of ladyes maade whan yleon Was wonne and Purris wiþ his streighte swerd Whenne he hente king Pryam by þe berd Line 4548 And slayn him as seyde Enneydos As maden alle þe hennes in þe cloos Whan þey hadde seye of chaunteclere þe sight But soueraynly dame Pertelote schright Line 4552 fful lowder þen dede hasdrubaldes wyff Whan þat hire housbonde hadde lost his lyff And þat þe Romayns had berud Cartage Sche was so fulle of torment and of Rage Line 4556 þat wilfully in to þe fuyr sche sterte And brend hir selue wiþ a stedefast herte [folio 255a] O wofulle hennes right so cryede ȝe As whan þat Nero brende þe Cite Line 4560 Of Rome cryden þe Senatours wyfes ffor þat here housbondes schulde leese here lyues Wiþouten gilte Nero haþ hem slayn ¶ Now wole I turne vnto my tale agayn Line 4564 This seely widewe and hire doughtres tuo Herden þe hennes crien and make woo / And out at þe dore sterten þay anon And sawe þe fox toward þe groue goon Line 4568 And bar vpon his bak þe kok away And cryden out harrow and weloway A ha þe fox and after him þay ran And eek with staues many anoþer man Line 4572 Ran colle oure dogge Talbot and Garlond And Malkyn wiþ hire distaf in hire hond Ran cow and calf and eek þe verrey hogges Sore aferde for berkyng of þe dogges Line 4576 And schowtyng of men and of wommen eeke þey ronne so her hert þey þought tobreeke They yelleden as feendes don in helle The dokes cryden as men wolde hem quelle Line 4580

[6-text p 299] Line 4580 Out of þe huyues come þe swarm of bees þe gees for feere flowen ouer þe trees So hidous was þe noyse a benedicite Certes he Iakke strawe and his meynee Line 4584 Ne maden neuere schoutes half so schrille Whan þat þay wolden eny flemyng kille As þat ilke day was maad vpon þe ffox Of bras þey broughte beemes and of Box Line 4588 Of horne and boon in whiche þey pouped And þer-wiþal þey schriched and þey schouted It semed as þat heuen schulde falle Now goode men I pray ȝou herkneþ alle Line 4592 Lo how fortune turneþ sodeinly The hope and eek þe pruyde of here enuye [folio 255b] This Cok þat lay vpon þis foxes bak In alle his drede vnto þe fox he spak Line 4596 And sayde sire if I were as ȝe Ȝet schuld I say as wis god helpe me Turneþ aȝein ȝe proude cherles alle A verray pestilence vpon ȝou falle Line 4600 Now am I come vnto þis woodes syde Maugre ȝour heed þe cok schal here abyde I wole him ete in feiþ and þat anon The ffox answerde in feiþ it schal be don Line 4604 and [as] he spak þat word al sodeinly This Cok brak fro his mouþ delyuerly An heigh vpon a tree he fleigh anoon And whan þe fox saugh þat he was goon Line 4608 Allas quod he O Chaunteclere allas I haue quod he don to ȝow a trespas In als moche as I made ȝou afferd When I ȝou hente and brought out of þe ȝerd Line 4612 But sire I dede it nought in no wicked entent Come doun and I schal telle ȝou what I ment I schal ȝou seye soþ god helpe me so / Nay þanne quod he I schrewe vs boþe tuo / Line 4616

[6-text p 300] Line 4616 And ferst I schrewe my self boþe blood and bones If þou begile me ofter þan ones / Thou schalt nomore wiþ þin flaterye Do me to synge and wynke wiþ myn ye Line 4620 ffor he þat wynkeþ whan he schulde se As wisly god let him neuer þe Nay quod þe fox god ȝiue him meschaunce That is so vndiscret of gouernaunce Line 4624 þat iangleþ whan he schulde haue pees Lo suche it is for to be recheles / and necligent and trusteþ on flaterye But ȝe þat halden þis tale a folye Line 4628 As of a fox and of a cok and an hen Takeþ þe moralite goode men [folio 256a] ffor seint poule saiþ / alle þat writen is To oure doctrine / it is y-writen y-wis Line 4632 Takeþ þe fruit/ and leteþ þe chaff be stille Now goode god if þat it be þin wille / As seiþ my lord so make vs alle goode men And bringe vs alle to his heihe blisse ameN Line 4636

Here endeþ þe Nonne prestes tale

Notes

• on leaf 204
• Ca^m
• xvij^m.
• [Skip a leaf which is headed Thopas.]
• [No gaps between the stanzas.]
• [MS ihc]
• [? to later]
• ¶ Chaucere
• [No gaps between the stanzas in the MS.]
• Ca^m xix^m
• no gap in the MS.
• go back to leaf 210
• [wrongly dotted under]
• [In margin of MS, in a later hand,

  And mede eek in a mas . . . & ryal spicerye. Of gyngebreed þat was f . .]
• no gap in the MS.
• [bi his syde in a later hand]
• back of leaf 210
• [ys, put in by a later hand]
• [In a later hand, in the margin, is

  him self drank water of þe welleas dede þe knyȝt sire Peroyuelleso worþili vnder wede

  ]
• no gap in the MS.
• on leaf 210, back
• go on to
• [nat in a later hand]
• [lite in a later hand]
• [þerfore added on margin of MS in another hand]
• ¶ C^m.xx^m.
• ¶ Senek/
• ¶ Ihesus Cyrak/
• ¶ Salomon
• ¶ Iob
• Salomon
• no gap
• ¶ Ihesus Cirak/
• ¶ Salomon
• no gap.
• no gap.
• no gap in the MS.
• no gap in the MS.
• [A great bit is now omitted in Corpus.]
• nota
• [Laud MS 600]
• [Laud MS]
• [Laud MS ex|tract ends]
• Corpus MS, on leaf 221, back
• no gap
• no gap
• no gap
• no gap
• no gap in the MS.
• no gap in the MS.
• no gap in the MS.
• ¶ Tullius
• ¶ Tullius.
• ¶ Tullius.
• ¶ Cassidorus
• no gap
• [ (margin) stryue]
• no gap
• no gap.
• no gap in the MS.
• [corrected]
• no gap
• no gap
• [Le Mén. i. 235]
• on leaf 234, back
• [No breaks between the stanzas in the MS.]
• [stoden, later, in the margin]
• [^2_2 later, in margin]
• ¶ Primo de lucifero
• [Harl. extract ends]
• ¶ De Ercule
• ¶ De Rege Nabu|godonosore
• ¶ De Baltazar dicti Regis Nabugodo|nosor filio
• ¶ De Cenobia Paly|merie regina
• [wrongly markt b in margin, by a later corrector, to follow a (De nero &c).
• ¶ De Petro Spayne
• ¶ Rege
• ¶ Bertheun Claykyn
• ¶ Olyuer Mawny
• [Bertrand du Guesclin, & his cousin Sir Oliver de Mauny, l. 3579.]
• ¶ De petro regis
• ¶ Cypri
• ¶ De Barnabo vicecomite
• ¶ Mediolano /
• ¶ De hugylyno Comite Pisano.
• no gap in the MS.
• [wrongly markt .a. by a later corrector, to go before Peter of Spain.]
• De nero
• ¶ De Olipherno
• no gap in the MS.
• ¶ De antiochio illustri.
• ¶ De alexandro magno philippi Regis Macedonie filio.
• ¶ De Iulio Cesare.
• Cresus.
• on leaf 247
• [no gap in the Corpus MS]
• [MS Reg. extract ends]
• Ca^m xxij^m.
• not in Reg. 18 C 2, lf 228
• [not in Reg. 18 C 2]
• [MS Reg. 17 D xv]
• [Not in Sloane 1685, leaf 217, back; or in Sloane 1686, leaf 285.]
• [Harl. extract ends]
• ¶ Nota bene