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

[6-text p 500]

[THE PROEM.]

¶ The p[ro]loge of þe ffrankeleyn

Thise olde gentile britouns in here dayes Of diuerse auentures maden layes Rymeden in here firste britoun tonge Whiche layes with here instrumentz þey songe Line 712 Oþer elles radden hem for here plesaunce And on of hem haue I in remembraunce Which I schal seye wiþ as good wille as I can But sires by cause þat I am a burel man Line 716 At my begynnyng first I ȝou beseche haueþ me excused of my rude speche I lerned neuer rethorik certayn þing þat I speke it mot be bare and playn Line 720 I slepte neuer on þe mount of pernaso Ne neuer lered Marcus Thullius ne Cithero Colours of Rethorik ne knowe I non wiþouten drede But suche coloures as growen in þe mede Line 724 Oþir elles suche as men dye or peynte Colours of Rethorik ben me to queynte Myn spyrit feleþ nought of such matere But if ȝe luste my tale schul ȝe not here Line 728

[THE TALE.]

Ther was a knight þat loued and did his peyne Line 730 In amoryke þat cleped is Briteyne Line 729 To seruen a lady in his beste wise And many a labour and many a gret emprise Line 732

[6-text p 501] Line 732 he for his lady wrouȝt er sche were wonne ffor sche was on þe fairest vnder sonne [folio 159b] And eek þerto come of so heih kynrede That wel vnneþes durst þis knight for drede Line 736 Telle hire his wo his peyne and his distresse But atte laste sche for his worþinesse And namely for his meke obeissance haþ such a pite caught of his penaunce Line 740 That priuely sche felle of his acord To take him for hir housbonde and hire lord Of such lordschipe as men han ouer here wyues And for to lede þe more in blisse here lyues Line 744 Of his fre wille he swor hire as a knight þat neuer in his wille by day ne by night/ Ne schulde he vpon him take no maystrie Aȝeins hire wille ne kuyþe hire Ialousye Line 748 But hire obeye and folwe hire wille in al As ony louere to his lady schal Saue þat þe name of souereynete That wolde he han for schame of his degre Line 752 Sche þankeþ him and wiþ ful gret humblesse Sche sayde sire seþþen of your gentilnesse ȝe profre me to han a large reyne Ne wolde neuer god betwixe vs tweyne Line 756 As in my gilt were eyþer werre or stryf Sire I wil be ȝour owne humble trewe wijf haue here my trouþe til þat myn herte breste Thus be þey boþe in quiete and in reste Line 760 ffor o þing syres saufly dar I seye That frendes euerich oþer mote obeye If þay wole longe holde companye loue wol nought ben constreigned by maystrie Line 764 Whan maystrie comeþ þe god of loue anon Beteþ on his wynges and fare wel he is gon loue is a þing as any spiryt fre Wommen of kynde desiren liberte Line 768

[6-text p 502] Line 768 And nouȝt to be constreigned as a þral And so do men if I þe soþe seye schal [folio 160a] loke who þat is most pacient in loue / he is at his auauntage aboue Line 772 Pacience is an heih vertu certeyn ffor it venquissheþ as þese clerkes seyn Thynges þat Rigor schulde neuer atteigne ffor euery word men may nouȝt chyde ne pleyne / Line 776 lerneþ to suffre or elles so mote I gon ȝe schullen it lerne wheþer ȝe wole or non ffor in þis worlde certeyn no wight nys / þat he ne doþ or saiþ sumtyme amys / Line 780 Or oþir siknesse oþer constillacion Wyn wo or chaungyng of complexion Causeþ ful often to don amys oþer speken On euery wrong men may nouȝt ben awreken Line 784 After þe tyme moste be temperaunce To euery wight þat can no gouernance / And þerfore haþ þis worþy wise knight To lyue in ese suffraunce hire behight Line 788 And sche to him ful wisly gan to swere That neuer schulde þer be defaute in here / here may men sen an humble wyse acord Thus haþ sche take hir seruant and hire lord Line 792 Seruaunt in loue and lord in mariage Then was he boþe in lordschipe and seruage Seruage nay but in lordschipe aboue Seþyns þat he haþ boþe his lady and his loue Line 796 his lady certes and his wyf also The whiche þat lawe of loue acordeþ þer to And whan he was in þis prosperite home wiþ his wyf he goþ to his cuntre Line 800 Nouȝt fer fro pedmark þer as his dwellyng was Wher as he lyueþ in blisse and in solas Who couþe telle but he hadde wedded be þe ioye þe ese and þe prosperite / Line 804

[6-text p 503] Line 804 That is bitwixe an housebond and his wyf A ȝeer and more lasted þis blisful lijf [folio 160b] Til þat þis knight of which I spak of þus þat of kynrede was cleped arneragus Line 808 Schope him to gon and dwelle a ȝeer or tweyne In engelond þat cleped eek was bretayne To seche in armes worschipe and eek honour ffor alle his lust he sette in such labour Line 812 And dwelleþ þere þe book saiþ þus Now wol I stynte of þis arneragus And speken I wole of dorygen his wijf þat loueþ hir housbonde as hire hertes lyf Line 816 And for his absens wepeþ sche and sikeþ / As don þese noble wyues when hem likeþ Sche mourneþ wakeþ wayleþ fasteþ & pleyneþ Desïre of his presence hire so destreyneþ Line 820 That alle þis wyde world sche sette at nouȝt hire freendes which þat knewe hire heuy þouȝt Conforted hire in al þat euer þey mighte or may They prechen hire þay tellen hire night and day Line 824 þat causeles sche sleeþ hire self allas / And euery confort possible in þis cas þey don to hire wiþ alle here busynes / And alle to make hire lete hir heuynes Line 828 By processe as ȝe knowe wel euerychon Men may so longe grauen in þe ston Til som figure þerinne enprentyd be So longe han þey conforted hire þat sche Line 832 Receyued haþ by hope and by reson The empryntyng of hir constillacion Thurgh which hire grete sorwe gan aswage / Sche may nought alway endure in such a rage / Line 836 And eek arneragus in al þis care haþ sent his lettres home in al þis fare And þat he wolde come hastly aȝayn Oþer hadde þis sorwe hire herte slayn Line 840

[6-text p 504] Line 840 hire frendes sawe hire herte gan to slake / And preyed hire on knees for goddes sake [folio 161a] To come and rome hire in companye Away to dryue hire derke fantasye Line 844 And fynally sche graunted þat requeste ffor wel sche sawe it was for þe beste Now stood hire castel faste by þe see And often wiþ hire freendes walked sche Line 848 hire to disporte on þe banke on heih Wher as sche many schippe and barge seih Seylinge here cours where hem luste to go But ȝit was þere a parcelle of hir wo Line 852 ffor to hir self ful often seyde sche Is þer no schippe of so many as I se Wole brynge home my lord þen wolde myn herte Al waryssche of þis bitter peynes smerte Line 856 Anoþer tyme þer wole sche sitte and þinke And caste hire eyen dounward fro þe brynke But whan sche saugh þe grisly rokkes blake ffor verray fere so wolde hire herte quake Line 860 þat on hire feet sche mighte nought hire sustene Thenne wolde sche sitte a doun vpon þe grene And pitously in to þe see byholde And sayn right þus wiþ sorowful hertes colde Line 864 Eterne god þat þurgh þy puruyaunce ledest þe world by certein gouernaunce In ydelnesse as men sayn ȝe no þing make But lord þese grisely feendly rokkes blake Line 868 That semen raþer a foul confusion Of werk þen any fayr creacion Of whiche a parfyt god and a stable Why han ȝe wrouȝt þis werk vnresonable Line 872 ffor by þis werke south north est and west Ther nys y-fostred man ne bryd ne best hit doþ no good to my witt but annoyeþ Se ȝe nouȝt lorde how mankynde it destroyeþ Line 876

[6-text p 505] Line 876 An hundred þousand bodyes of mankynde / han rokkes slayn al be þey nouȝt in mynde [folio 161b] Which mankynde is a fair part of þy werk That þou it madest y-like to þin hond werk Line 880 Thenne semed it ȝe hadde a gret chierte Toward mankynde but how þan may it be That ȝe suche menys make it to distroyen Whiche menys doþ no good but euer annoyen Line 884 I wot wel clerkes woln sayn as hem leste By argumentz þat al þing is for þe beste Though I ne can þe causes for soþe knowe but þilke god þat made wynd to blowe Line 888 As kepe my lord þis is my conclusion To clerkes lete I al disputacion But wolde god þat alle þe rokkes blake Were sonken in to helle for his sake / Line 892 These rokkes sleen myn herte for feere Thus wolde sche sayn with many a pitous teere hire freendes sawe þat nas no disport To romen by þe see but discomfort Line 896 And schopen for to pleyen som where elles / þey leden hire by Ryueres and by welles And eek in oþer places delitables þey daunce and pleye at Chesse and at tables Line 900 So on a day right on þe morne tyde vnto a gardyne þat was right þere besyde In which þat þey hadde made here ordynance Of vitaile and of oþer puruyaunce Line 904 They gon and pleyen hem al þe longe day And þis was on þe sixte morwe of may Which may hadde peynted wiþ his softe schoures / This gardyn ful of leues and of floures Line 908 And wiþ crafte of mannes hande so curiously Arayed haþ þis gardyn trayelly That neuer nas þer gardyn of such prys But if it were þe verrey paradys Line 912

[6-text p 506] Line 912 The odure of floures and þe freisshe sight / Wolde han made ony pensyf herte light [folio 162a] That euer was born / but if to gret siknesse / Oþer to gret sorwe hyld it in distresse / Line 916 And after dynere gan þey to daunce Line 918 So ful it was of beaute with plesaunce / Line 917 And synge also but dorigen allone Sche made alwey hire compleynt and hire mone Line 920 ffor sche ne saugh him on þe daunce go þat was hire housbond and hir loue also But naþeles sche moste a tyme abyde / And with good hope sche let hir sorwe glyde Line 924 vpon þis daunce amonges oþer men Daunced a squier biforen Dorigen That freisscher was and iolyer of array As to my dome þan is þe monþe of May Line 928 he syngeþ and daunceþ passyng any man That is or was siþenes þis world bygan Ther wiþ he was if men schulde him discryue / On þe beste farynge man on lyue / Line 932 ȝong strong right vertuous riche and wys And wel biloued and holden in gret prys And schortliche if þe soþe telle I schal vnwytyng of þis Dorigen at al Line 936 This lusty squyer seruaunt to venus Which þat y-cleped was Aurelius had loued hire best of eny creature Tuo ȝeer and more as was his aduenture / Line 940 But neuer durste he telle hire of his greuance Wiþoute cuppe he drank al his penaunce he was dispeyred no þing durst he seye Saue in his sawe somwhat wolde he wreye Line 944 his woo as in general compleynyng he sayde he louede and was biloued noþing Of such matiere made he many layes Songes compleigntes roundeletis virrelayes Line 948

[6-text p 507] Line 948 how þat he durste nouȝt his sorwe telle / That langusshiþ as fuyre doþ in helle [folio 162b] And deye seyde he moste as did Ekko ffor narsisus þat durste nouȝt telle hir wo Line 952 In oþer manere þenne ȝe here me seye Ne durst he nouȝt to hire his wo bewreye Saue peraduenture som tyme at daunces There ȝong folk kepen here obseruaunces Line 956 hit may wel be he loked on hire face In such a wise as man þat askeþ grace But no þing wiste sche of his entent Naþeles it happed or þey þennes went Line 960 By cause þat he was hire neyȝebourre / And was a man of worschipe and honour And hadde knowen him ofte tymes ȝore / þey felle in speche ofte more and more / Line 964 vnto his purpos drowe aurelius And whan he saw his tyme he sayde þus Ma dame quod he by god þat þis world made So þat I wiste it mighte ȝour herte glade Line 968 I wolde þat day þat ȝoure arneragus / Wente on þe see þat I aurelius had went þat I schulde neuer haue come aȝain ffor wel I woot my seruise is in vayn Line 972 My guerdon nys but berstyng of myn herte / Ma dame reweþ vpon my peynes smerte ffor as wiþ a swerd ȝe may me sle or saue her at ȝoure foot god wolde þat/ I were graue / Line 976 I haue as now no more leysir for to seye / haue mercy on me swete or ȝe wolen do me deye Sche gan to loke vpon aurelius Is þis ȝoure wille quod sche and say ȝe þus Line 980 Neuer erst quod sche ne wist I what ȝe mente But now Aurely I knowe ȝoure entente By þilke god þat ȝaf me soule and lyf Ne schal I neuer be vntrewe wyf Line 984

[6-text p 508] Line 984 In word ne in werk as fer as I haue wit / I wole ben his to whom þat I am knyt [folio 163a] But after þat in pleyn þus seyde sche / Line 988 Tak þis for fynal answer as for me / Line 987 Aurely quod sche by hihe god aboue ȝit wol I graunte ȝou to be ȝoure loue Seþyns I ȝou se so pitously compleyne / loke what day þat engelond is Bryteyne / Line 992 ȝe remewe alle þe rokkes ston by stoon þat þay ne lette schip no boot to goon I say whan ȝe han made þese costes so clene Of Rokkes þat þer nys no ston y-sene / Line 996 þan wol I loue ȝou best/ of any man haue here my trouþe in al þat euer I can Is þere non oþer grace quod he / No by þat lord quod sche þat made me Line 1000 ffor wel I wot þat þat schal neuer betyde let such folye out of ȝour herte glyde What deynte schulde man haue by his lijf ffor to loue anoþer mannes wyf Line 1004 That haþ hir body whan so þat him likeþ Aurelius ful ofte sore sikeþ / Wo was aurely whan þat he þis herde / And wiþ a sorwful herte þus answerde / Line 1008 ma dame quod he þis were impossible / Thenne mot I deye on sodeyn deþ orrible / And wiþ þat word he torned him anon þo came hire oþer frendes many oon Line 1012 And in þe aleyes romed vp and don And no þing wiste of þis conclusion But sodeinly bygan to reuel newe / Til þat þe brighte sonne loste his hewe / Line 1016 ffor thorisowte haþ raft þe sonne his light þis is as moche to say as it was night And home þey gon in Ioye and in solas / Saue oonly wrecched aurelius allas / Line 1020

[6-text p 509] Line 1020 he to his hous is gon wiþ sorwful herte he seiþ he may not fro his deþ asterte [folio 163b] him semeþ he feliþ his herte colde vp to þe heuene his handes gan he holde Line 1024 And on his knees bare he sette him don And in his rauynge sayde his orison ffor verray wo out of his witte he breyde / he nyste nouȝt what he spak but þus he seyde Line 1028 Wiþ pitous herte haþ he his compleint bygonne vnto þe goddesse and first vnto þe sonne he sayde appollo god and gouernour And euery plaunte herbe tre and flour Line 1032 þat ȝeuest after þi declinacion To ilk of hem his tyme and his sesoun And þin herborwe chaungeþ lowe and heiȝe lord Phebus cast þin merciable eyȝe Line 1036 On wrecched Aurely þat am but lorn lo lord my lady haþ my deþ y-sworn Wiþouten gilt but þin benignite vpon my dedly herte haue sum pite Line 1040 But wel I wot lord Phebus if ȝou leste ȝe may me helpe saue my lady beste Now voucheþ sauf þat I may ȝou deuyse how þat I may be holpe and in what wyse Line 1044 ȝoure blisful suster lucyna þe schene þat of þe see is cheef goddesse & queene Though Neptunus haue deyte in þe see ȝit Emperesse abouen him is sche / Line 1048 ȝe knowen wel lord right as hire desire Is to be quyked and leteþ of ȝoure fire ffor which sche folweþ ȝou ful besyly Right so þe see desireþ naturelly Line 1052 To folwen hire as sche þat is goddesse Boþe in þe see and in Ryueres more and lesse Wher-fore lord Phebus þis is myn requeste Do þis myracle or I do myn herte to breste Line 1056

[6-text p 510] Line 1056 þat þou next at þis apposicioun Which in þe signe schal be of þe leoun [folio 164a] And preyed hire so gret a flood to brynge That .v. fatheme at þe leste it ouer springe Line 1060 þe hyeste rokke in armorik Britayne And lete his flood endure ȝeres twayne Thenne certes to my lady may I saye holdeþ ȝoure hestes þe rokkes ben awaye Line 1064 lord Phebus do þis myracle for me Pray hire sche go no faster cours þan ȝe I say ȝou þus pray ȝour suster þat sche go None faster cours þan ȝe þis ȝeres tuo Line 1068 Then schal sche be euer at þe fulle alway And springe flood lasten boþe night and day And but sche fouche sauf in such manere To graunte me my lady souerein dere / Line 1072 Preye hire to synken euery rokke a doun In to hire owne darke Region vnder þe grounde þer Pluto duelleþ Inne Oþer neuer more schal I my lady wynne Line 1076 Thy temple in Delphos wol I barfoot seeke lord Phebus seeþ þe teeres on my cheeke / And of my peyne haue compassion And wiþ þat word in swowne he felle a doun Line 1080 And long tyme he lay in a traunce his broþer which þat knew of his penaunce vp caught him and to bedde him broughte Dispeyred in his torment and in his þought Line 1084 Lo y þis woful creature lete lye Chese he for me wheþer he wol lyue or dye Arneragus wiþ hele and gret honour As he was of Chyualry þe flour Line 1088 Is comen home and oþere worþy men O blisful art þou Dorigen þat hast þin lusty housbonde in þin armes þe freissche knight þe worþy man of armes Line 1092

[6-text p 511] Line 1092 That loueþ þe as his owen hertes lyf No þing luste he to be ymaginatyff [folio 164b] Of any wight hadde spoke while he was oute To hire of loue he made þer-of no doute Line 1096 he nouȝt entendeþ to no such matere But daunceþ Iustiþ and makeþ good cheere As þus in Ioye and blisse I lete hem dwelle And of þe swete Aurelyus wol I telle Line 1100 In langure and in furious tormentz þus Tuo ȝer and more lay wrecche aurelius Or ony foot on erþe he mighte gon No confort in þis tyme nade he non Line 1104 Saue of his broþer which þat was a clerk he knew of al þis wo and of al þis werk ffor to non oþer creature certeyn Of þis matiere ne durste he no word seyn Line 1108 vnder his brest he bar it more secre Then euer did Pamphilius for Galathe his brest was hole wiþouten for to sene But in his herte was ay þe arwe kene Line 1112 And wel ȝe knowen þat a sore sauure In surgerie ful perilous is þe cure But man might touche þe arwe or come þerby his broþer wepeþ and wayleþ priuyly Line 1116 Til atte laste him felle in remembraunce That whiles he was at Orlyaunce in ffraunce As ȝonge clerkes þat ben likerous To reden artes þat ben curious Line 1120 Seken in euery halk and euery herne Particuler sciences for to lerne he him remembreþ vpon a day At Orlyaunce in studye a book he say Line 1124 Of magique naturell which his felawe That was þat tyme a bachiler of lawe Al were he þere to lerne anoþer craft And priuely vpon his deske y-laft Line 1128

[6-text p 512] Line 1128 This book spak mochil of þis operacions Touchynge þe .xviij. mancions [folio 165a] That longen to þe mone and suche folye As in oure dayes nys nought worþ a flye Line 1132 ffor holy chirche saiþ in oure byleeue Ne suffreþ non illusion vs to greeue And whan þis book was in remembraunce Anon for ioye he gan for to daunce Line 1136 And to himselue sayde pryuely My broþer schal be warisshed hastily ffor I am siker þat þer ben sciences By whiche men maken dyuerse apparences / Line 1140 Whiche as þe subtile tregetoures pleyen ffor ofte at festes herde I seyen That tregettours wiþinne an halle large han made in come water and a barge / Line 1144 And in þe halle rowen vp and doun Som tyme haþ semed a grym leoun [and somtyme flouris springe / as in a mede somtyme a vyne & grapes / white & rede] Som tyme a castel al of lym and ston And whan hem liked voyded it anon þus semed it to euery mannes sight Now þenne conclude I þus if þat I might Line 1152 At Orliaunce som olde felawe I-fynde That hadde þe moones manciouns in mynde Oþer magike naturel aboue he scholde wel make my broþer han his loue / Line 1156 ffor wiþ apparens a man may make To mannes sight þat alle þe Rokkes blake Of Britaigne were y-went euerychon And schippes by þe brinke mighte comen and goon Line 1160 And in such forme endure a ȝeer or tuo þen were my broþer warissched of his wo þen most sche needes knowen hire byheste Or elles he schal schamen hire at þe leste Line 1164

[6-text p 513] Line 1164 What schulde I make a lenger tale of þis Vnto his broþer bedde come he is And such confort he ȝaff him for to gon To Orlyaunce þat he vpstarte anon [folio 165b] Line 1168 And on his way forþward is he fare In hope to ben y-lissed of his care / When þay were come almost to þat Cite But if it were a tuo forlong oþir þre Line 1172 A ȝong clerk romyng by himself þey mette Which þat in latyn thriftily hem grette And after þat he sayde a wonder þing I knowe quod he þe cause of ȝoure comyng Line 1176 And er þey forþer any foote went he tolde hem alle þat was in here entent This brytoun clerk him asked of felawes The which þat he had knowen in olde dawes Line 1180 And he answerde him þat þey dede were / ffor which he wepe ful ofte many a tere Doun of his hors Aurelius light anon And forþ wiþ þis magicien forþ is he gon Line 1184 home to his hous and made hem wel at ese / hem lacked no vitayle þat hem might plese / So wel arrayed hous as þer was oon Aurelius in his lyf saugh noon Line 1188 He schewed him er he wente to sopere fforestes parkes ful of wilde deere [there saw he hartes / with hornys ful highe pasturynge right faire / & merilie Line 1192 he saw of hem an hundred / sleyn with houndes and somme with arwis blede / & bitter woundes he saw when voided were / the wilde dere these ffaukeners / vppon a faire Rivere] Line 1196 And how ffaukons han þe heron slayne Then sawe he knightes iusten in a playne And after þis he dide him such plesaunce That he him schewed his lady in a daunce Line 1200

[6-text p 514] Line 1200 On which himself he daunced as him þought And whan þis mayster þat þis magique wrought Sawh it was tyme to clappe his hondes tuo And fare wel al oure reuel is y-do Line 1204 And ȝit/ remewe þey neuer out of þis hous / Whiles þey sawe al þis sight merueylous But in his study þer as his bookes be þey saten stille and no wight but þey þre Line 1208 To him his mayster called þanne a squiere And seyde him þus is redy oure sopere [folio 166a] Almost an hour it is I vndertake Seþyns I ȝou bad oure souper to make Line 1212 When þat þis worþy men wenten with me vnto my study þer as my bokes be Sire quod this squyer when it likeþ ȝou It is al redy þey ȝe wolen right now / Line 1216 Go we þen soupe quod he and for þe beste / These auerous folk som tyme mote haue reste And after souper felle þey in trete What somme schulde þis maystres guerdon be / Line 1220 Te remewe alle þe rokkes of Brytaigne And eek fro Geroun to þe mouþ of Sayne he made it straunge / and swore so god him saue lasse þan a þousand pound he nolde nouȝt haue Line 1224 Ne gladly for þat somme ne wolde he gon Aurelius wiþ blisful herte anon Answerde þus fy on a þousand pound þis wyde worlde þat men seyn is round Line 1228 þat wolde I ȝiue if I were lord of it This bargayn is ful dryue for we be knyt / Ȝe schulle be payed trewely by my trouþe But lokeþ now for no necligence or slouþe Line 1232 ȝe tary vs heere no lenger þan to morwe Nay quod þis clerk haue heer my trouþe to borwe To bedde is gon aurelius whan him liste And wel neigh al þat night he hadde his reste Line 1236

[6-text p 515] Line 1236 That for his labour and for his hope of blisse his woful herte of penaunce hadde a lisse vpon þis morwe when þat it was day To Britaigne toke þay þe righte way Line 1240 Aurelius and þis magicien besyde And ben descendid þer þey woln abyde And þis was as þe bokes me remembre þe colde frosty sesoun of Decembre Line 1244 Phebus wax olde and hewed lik latoun That in his hoote declinacion [folio 166b] Schon as þe burnyd gold wiþ stremes bright But now in Scorpion a doun he light Line 1248 Wher as he schon ful pale I dar wel sayn The bitter frostes wiþ þe slete and rayn Destroyed haþ þe grene in euery ȝerde / Ianus sit by þe furye wiþ double berde Line 1252 And drynkeþ of his bugle horn þe wyn Biforn him stant þe braun of tuxed swyn And a nowel cryeþ euery lusty man Aurelius in al þat euer he can Line 1256 Doþ to his maister cheere and reuerence And preyeþ him to don his diligence To bryngen him out of his peynes smerte Or wiþ a swerd þat he wolde slitte his herte Line 1260 þat subtil clerk which þat rouþe hadde of þis man þat night and day he him spedde þat he ne lan To wayte a tyme of his conclusion This is to say to make illusioun Line 1264 I ne can no termes of astrologie / Line 1266 By which an apparence of Iogellerie / Line 1265 That sche and euery wight scholde wene and seye þat of Britaigne þe rokkes were aweye Line 1268 Oþer elles þey were sonken vnder grounde So atte laste whan þat he his tyme fonde To make his Iapes and his wrecchednes Of which a supersticious cursednesse Line 1272

[6-text p 516] Line 1272 his tables colletanes forþ he brought fful wel corrected ne þer lakked nouȝt/ Ne his collectes ne his expans ȝeres Ne his rotes ne his oþer geres / Line 1276 As ben his centrys and his argumentz And his proporcions conuenientz ffor his equacions in euery þing And by his viij spere in his werkynge Line 1280 he knew how fer Alnaþe was y-schoue ffro þe hede of þilke fixe aries aboue [folio 167a] That in þe ix^e spere considered is fful subtilly he calkeþ al þis / Line 1284 And whan he hadde founde his firste mansion he knewe þe remenaunt by proporcion And knewe þe arisyng of/ þe mone wel And in whos face and terme euery del Line 1288 And knew ful wel þe moones mansion acordant to his operacion And knew also his oþer obseruaunces / ffor suche illusions and suche meschaunces / Line 1292 As heþin folk vsed þilke dayes ffor whiche no lenger maked he delayes But þough his magik for a wike or tweye / It semed as alle þe rokkes were aweye Line 1296 Aurelyus which þat dispeyred is Wheþer he schal han his loue or fare amys Awayteþ night and day of þis myracle / And whan he knewe þat þer was non obstacle Line 1300 þat voyded were þise rokkes euerychon Doun to þis maistres feet he felle anon And seyde I woful wrecche aurelius þanke ȝou lord and lady myn venus Line 1304 That me han holpe fro my cares colde / And to þe temple forþ his way haþ holde Where he knewe he scholde his lady se And whan he saugh his tyme anon right he Line 1308

[6-text p 517] Line 1308 Wiþ dredful herte and humble cheere / Salued haþ his souerayn lady deere / My rightful lady quod þis woful man Whom I most drede and loue as I best kan Line 1312 And loþest were of alle þis world displese / Nere it þat I for ȝou haue suche disese That I moste dye her at ȝour foot anon But not wolde I telle how me is wo bygon Line 1316 But certes eyþer most I deye or pleyne / ȝe sleen me gilteles for verrey peyne / [folio 167b] But of my deþ þough ȝe haue no rouþe Auyseþ ȝou er þat ȝe lese ȝour trouþe Line 1320 Repentiþ ȝou for þilke god aboue / Or ȝe me sleen by cause þat I ȝou loue / ffor ma dame wel ȝe wot þat ȝe han hight Nought/ þat I chalenge eny þing of right Line 1324 Of ȝou souereyne lady but ȝoure grace But in a gardyn ȝonde at such a place ȝe wot right wel þat ȝe behighte me And in myn hande my trouþe plighte me Line 1328 To loue me best god wot ȝe sayde so Al be þat I vnworþy am þerto Madame I speke it for þe honour of ȝow More þen to saue myn hertes lyf right now / Line 1332 I haue don so as ȝe haue commannded me And if ȝe vouche sauf ȝe may go se / And as ȝou luste haueþ ȝoure byheste in mynde ffor quyk or deed right þus ȝe schulle me fynde Line 1336 In ȝow liþ al to do me lyue or deye But wel I wot þe rokkes ben aweye / he took his leeue and sche astoned stood In alle hir face þer nas a drop of blood Line 1340 Sche wende neuer han comyn in such a trappe Allas quod sche þat þis euer schulde happe ffor wende I neuer by possibilite þat such a muster or such a meruaile schulde be Line 1344

[6-text p 518] Line 1344 It is aȝein þe processe of nature And home sche goþ a sorwsul creature ffor verray feere vnneþes may sche go Sche wepeþ and wayleþ a day or tuo Line 1348 And swowneþ þat it rouþe was to se But why it was to no wight tolde sche ffor out of toune was gon arneragus But to hir self sche sayde and spak þus Line 1352 In hire compleynt as ȝe schullen after heere Wiþ face pale and wiþ sorweful cheere [folio 168a] Allas quod sche on þe fortune I pleyne That vnwar hast wrapped me in þi cheyne Line 1356 ffor which þe eschape wot I no socour Saue oonly deþ oþer elles dishonour On of þese tuo bihoueþ me to chese But naþeles ȝit hadde I leuer to lese / Line 1360 My lif þan of my body to han a schame Oþer knowe my self fals oþer lese my name / And wiþ my deþ I may be quyte y-wys haþ þer nouȝt many a wyf er þis Line 1364 And many a mayden y-slayn hem self allas Raþir þan wiþ here bodyes don trespas And certes lo þise stories beren witnesse Whan xxx tyrauntz ful of cursednesse Line 1368 hadde slayn Phydon in athenes atte leste þey comaunded his douȝtres to areste / And bryngen hem byforn hem in dispyt Al naked to fulfille here foule delyt Line 1372 And in here fadres blod þey made hem daunce vpon þe pament god ȝeue hem meschaunce ffor whiche þese woful maydens ful of drede / Raþer þan þey wolde lese here maydenhede / Line 1376 þay pryuely ben stert in to a welle / And dreynt hemselue as þe bookes tell They of mesue lete enquere and seke Of lacedemye .L. maydens eeke Line 1380

[6-text p 519] Line 1380 On which þey wolden don here leccherie But was þer non of al þat companye / þat sche nas slayn and wiþ a glad entent Chese raþir for to dye þan for to assent Line 1384 To ben oppressed of here maydenhede Why schulde I þanne to deye ben in drede lo eke þe tyraunt Anstoclydes þat loued a mayde þat/ hight Symphalides Line 1388 Whan þat hir fader slayn was on a night/ vnto þe Dyanes temple goþ sche anon right [folio 168b] hente þe ymage with hire armes tuo ffro which ymage wolde sche neuere go Line 1392 No wight might of hit hir armes race Til sche was slayn in þe selue place / Now seþyns þat maydens hadde such despit/ To ben defouled wiþ mannes foul delyt Line 1396 Wel aught a wyf raþer hirself to sle/ þan ben defouled as þenkeþ me þat schal I sayn of hasdrubaldes wyf That/ at kartage byraft hir self hir lyf Line 1400 ffor whan sche sawh þat/ Romayns wan þe toun Sche took hir children alle and swept a doun In to þe fuyr and ches raþer to dye þan eny Romeyn did hir vilanye Line 1404 haþ nouȝt lucres y-slayn hir self allas At Rome þere sche oppressed was Of Tarquyn for hir þought it was a schame / To lyue whan þat sche had lost hire name / Line 1408 The viij. maydens of Milesye also / han slayn hem self for drede and for wo Raþir þan folke of gaule scholde hem oppresse / Mo þen a þousend stories as I gesse / Line 1412 Couþe I now telle as touchinge þis matere Whan habradas was slayn his wyf so dere hire self slough and let hir blood to glyde In habradas woundes brode and wyde / Line 1416

[6-text p 520] Line 1416 And seyde my body at þe leste way þer schal no wight defoule it if þat I may What schulde I mo ensamples her of sayn Siþþen þat so many han hemselue slayn Line 1420 Wel raþer þan þey wolde defouled be / I wol conclude what is best for me [to sle my selue / than be defouled thus I wol be trewe / to Arueragus] Line 1424 Oþir raþer sle my self in som manere As Demonicious doughter dere By cause þat sche nolde not defouled be / O Cedasus it is ful gret pite [folio 169a] Line 1428 To reden how þi doughtren deyeden allas þat slowe hemself for such a maner caas As gret appetyt was it or more The Theban mayden þat for Nichasore Line 1432 [hir selue slowe / right for suche manere woo another Theban maiden dide right so] hire hadde wedded and y-dressed ffor on of Macedoigne hadde hire oppressed Line 1435 þat schal I sayn of Nicharatiffs wijf þat for such cas byrafte hir self hir lyf how trewe was eek to alcebiades his loue þat for to deyen chees Line 1440 þan for to suffren his body vmbreyde be lo which a wyf was Alcestem quod sche What Emore of good Penolope / Al Grece knoweþ of hir chastite Line 1444 Pardee of leodomia is write þus That when at Troye was slayn protheselayus No lenger nolde sche lyue after his day The same of noble Porcia I telle may Line 1448 Wiþoute Brutus couþe sche not lyue To whom he hadde al hol his herte ȝiue The parfyt wyfhod of archemesy honoured is þurgh al þe Barbary Line 1452

[6-text p 521] Line 1452 O teuta queen in þy wyfly chastite To alle wyfes may a myrour be . . . . . . . Line 1456 þus playned Dorigen a day or tweye Purposed euere þat sche wolde deye But naþeles vpon þe þridde night hom cam arneragus þe worþy knight Line 1460 And asked hire why þat sche weep so sore And sche gan weepen euer lenger þe more Allas quod sche þat euer was I born þus haue I seyd quod he þus haue I sworn Line 1464 I told him alle as ȝe han herde bifore It needeþ nouȝt/ to rehersen it nomore This housbond wiþ glad cheere in sondry wise / Answerd and sayde as I schal ȝou deuyse / [folio 169b] Is þer ought elles Dorigen but þis Nay nay quod sche god help me so as wis This is to meche and it were goddes wille ȝe wyf quod he let slepe þat is stille Line 1472 It may be wel ȝit peraduenture to say ȝe schullen ȝour trouþe holden by my fay ffor god so wisly helpe me I hadde wel leuere y-stiked for to be / Line 1476 ffor verray loue which þat I to ȝou haue But if ȝe schulde ȝoure trouþe saue Trouþe is ȝe heihest þing þat man may kepe But wiþ þat word he brast anon to weepe / Line 1480 And sayde I ȝou forbede vp payne of deþ That neuer whiles þe lasteþ lyf and breþ To no wight telle how þat þis matere / As I may kepe I wole my woo endere Line 1484 Ne make no contynaunce of heuynesse That folk of ȝou may deme harme or gesse And forþ he cleped a squyer and a mayde Goþ forþ anon wiþ Dorigen he sayde / Line 1488

[6-text p 522] Line 1488 And bringeþ hire to such a place anon þey tooke her leue and on þair way þey gon But þey ne wiste why sche þider wente he nolde no wight telle hire entente Line 1492 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 1496 . . . . . . . . . . This squyer which þat hight Aurelyus On Dorigen which þat was so amerous Line 1500 Of aduenture happed hire to mete Amyd þe toun right in þe quyke strete As sche was boun to gon þe wey forþ right Toward þe gardyn þer as sche hadde hight Line 1504 And he was to þe gardynward also ffor wel he spyed whan sche wolde go Out of hir hous to eny maner place But þus þey mette of auenture or of grace Line 1508 And he saluyþ hire wiþ glad entent And axed of hire whider þat sche wente / [folio 170a] And sche answerde half as sche were mad vnto þe gardyn as myn housbonde bad Line 1512 My trouþe for to holde allas allas Aurelius gan wonder of þis caas And in his herte had gret compassion Of hire and of hire lamentacion Line 1516 And of Arneragus þe worþy knight And bad hire holde al þat sche hight So loþ he was his wijf schulde breke hir trouþe And in his herte he caste of þis gret rouþë Considerynge þe beste on euery syde / That fro his luste were him better abyde Than don so heigh a cherles wrecchednes Aȝeins fraunchise and aȝein al gentilnes Line 1524

[6-text p 523] Line 1524 ffor which in fewe wordes sayde he þus Ma dame seiþ to ȝoure lord Arneragus þat seþyns I se þis grete gentilnes / To ȝou and ek I se wel ȝoure distres Line 1528 þen ȝe to me þus schulde breke ȝoure trouþe Line 1530 Certes me þinkeþ it were right gret rouþe I haue wel leuer euer to suffre wo þen I departe þe loue betwixe ȝou tuo Line 1532 I ȝou relesse ma dame in to ȝoure hand Quyte euery surement and euery band That ȝe han made to me as here byforn Siþens þilke tyme that ȝe were born Line 1536 My trouþe I plight I schal ȝou neuer repreue Of no biheste and here I take my leue / As of þe trewest and þe beste wyf þat euer ȝit/ I knew in al my lyf Line 1540 But euery wight be war of hire byheste On Dorigen remembreþ atte leste / Thus can a squier don a gentil dede As wel as can a knight wiþouten drede Line 1544 Sche þanked him vppon hir knees al bare And home vnto hire housbonde is sche fare [folio 170b] And tolde hem alle as ȝe han herde me sayde And be ȝe siker he was so wel a-payde / Line 1548 þat it were inpossible to write / What schulde I lengere of þis cas endite / Arneragus and dorigen his wijff In souerayn blisse leden forþ here lyff Line 1552 Neuer eft ne was þer anger hem betwene he cherisscheþ hire as þough sche were a quene And sche was to him trewe for euermore Line 1555 Aurelius þat his cost haþ al forlore Line 1557 Curseþ þe tyme þat euer he was y-born Line 1558 ffor certes he seiþ I am forlorn Allas quod he allas þat I behight Of pured gold a þousand pound of wight/ Line 1560

[6-text p 524] Line 1560 vnto þis philosofre how schal I do I se no more but þat I am fordo / Myn heritage moot I needes selle And ben a beggere here may I no lenger dwelle Line 1564 And schamen al my kynrede in þis place But I of him may gete bettre grace / [but natheles / I wol of him assaye at certeyne dayes / yere bi yere to paye] Line 1568 I wole þonke him of his grete curtesye My trouþe wol I kepe I wol nouȝt lye Wiþ herte sore he goþ vnto his coffre And broughte gold vnto his philosophre Line 1572 The value of .v. hundred pound I gesse And him besecheþ of his gentilnesse To graunte him dayes of þe remenant And maister I dar wel make auaunt Line 1576 I fayled neuer my trouþe as ȝit ffor sikerly my dettes schal be quyt Towardes ȝou how euer þat I fare To gon abegged in my kirtel bare Line 1580 But wolde ȝe fouche sauf vpon suerte Two ȝere or þre to respiten me þenne were I wel for elles moste I selle / [myn heritage / ther is no more to telle [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14 folio 261b] this Philosophre soburly answerde and seide thus / whan he these wordes herde haue I nat holden couenaunt / vn-to the yis certes / wel & trewely / quod he Line 1588 hast thow nat had thi lady / as the liketh no no quod he / & sorowfully he siketh what was the cause / telle me if thou can Aurelius his tale / anoon bigan Line 1592 and tolde him al / as ye han herde bifore hit nedith nat / to rehersen it no more he seide Arueragus / of gentilnesse had leuer dien / in sorow & distresse Line 1596

[6-text p 525] Line 1596 than his wiff / were of hir trouthe fals the sorow of Dorigen / he told him als how loth hir was / to ben a wikked wiff and that she leuere had that day lost hir liff Line 1600 and that hir trouthe she swore / thorugh innocence she neuere erst herde speke / of apparence that made me han of hir / so grete pite and right as frely / as he sente hir to me Line 1604 as frely sente I hir / to him ageyne this is al & som / ther is no more to seyne this Philosophre answerde / leue brother [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14 folio 262a] eueryche of yow dide gentilly / to other Line 1608 thow art a squyer / & he is a knyght but god forbede / for his blisful myght but if a Clerke / couthe do a gentil dede as wel as any of yow / it is no drede Line 1612 sir I relece the / thi thousand pounde as thow right now / were crope out of the grounde ne neuere er now / ne haddist thow knowe me for sir I wol nat taken / a peny of the Line 1616 for al my crafft / ne nought for my travaile thow hast I-paide wel / for my vitaile hit is I-now / & farewel haue good day and toke his hors / & forth he goth his way Line 1620 lordinges this question / than wold I axe now whiche was the most fre / as thenketh yow now telleth me / er that I ferther wende I can no more / my tale is at an ende. Line 1624

Here endith the ffrankeleyne his tale]

Notes

• on leaf 159
• .i. luna lucyna.
• [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14]
• [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14.]
• [These lines are trans|posed in the MS.]
• [These lines are trans|posed in the MS.]
• [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14]
• [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14]
• [spurious]
• no gap in the MS: these lines
• known only in Ellesmere MS.
• [Not in Arch. Seld. B. 14. These lines known only in the Ellesmere MS.]
• no gap in the MS.
• [blots over e later]
• [spurious 1529]
• [spurious]
• [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14]
• [a leaf out of the Corpus MS.]
• [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14]
• [Arch. Seld. extr. ends]