The Harleian ms. 7334 of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 478]

GROUP F. FRAGMENT VII.

§ 1. THE SQUIRE'S HEAD-LINK.

HARLEIAN MS. 7334 (British Museum).

¶ Sir Squier com forþ . if þat ȝour wille be And say vs a tale for certes ȝe Connen þer-on as moche as ony man ¶ Nay sire quod he . but I wil say as I can Line 4 wiþ herty wil . for I wil not rebelle Against ȝour wille . a tale wil I telle Haue me excused if þat I speke amys My wil is good . and þerto my tale is this. Line 8

¶ Her endith þe prologe

[6-text p 479]

¶ And her bygynneth þe Squyeres tale

AT Sarray in þe lond of Tartary [folio 149a] Ther dwelled a kyng þat werryed russy Thurgh which þer deyed many a doughty man This nobil kyng was cleped Cambynskan Line 12 which in his tyme was of so gret renoun That þer nas nowher in no regioun So excellent a lord in alle þing / Him lakked nought þat longed to a kyng Line 16 As of þe secte of which þat he was born he kept his lawe . to which he was sworn And þerto he was hardy wys and riche / And pitous and Iust alway yliche Line 20 Soth of his word benign and honurable Of his corage as eny centre stable Ȝong freisch and strong in armes desirous As eny bachiler of al his hous Line 24 A fair person he was and fortunat And kepte so wel his real astat That þer was no wher such a ryal man This noble kyng þis tartre þis Cambynskan Line 28 hadde tuo sones by Elcheta his wyf Of which þe eldest/ highte Algaryf That oþer was I-cleped Samballo A doughter had þis worthi king also Line 32 That ȝongest was and highte Canace But for to telle ȝou al hir beaute It lith not on my tong ne my connyng I dar nouȝt vndertake so heigh a þing Line 36

[6-text p 480] Line 36 Myn englissh eek is insufficient he moste be a Rethor excellent That couþ his colours longyng for þat art If he schold hir discryue in eny part Line 40 I am non such I mot speke as I can And so bifel it þat þis Cambynskan haþ twenty wynter born his dyademe As he was wont fro ȝer to ȝer I deme Line 44 he leet þe fest of his natiuite: Don cryen þurgh Sarray his Cite The last Idus of march after þe ȝeer [folio 149b] Phebus þe sonne was Ioly and cleer Line 48 For he was neigh his exaltacioun In marcȝ face and in his mansioun In aries þe colerik þe hote signe Ful lusty was the wedir and benigne Line 52 For which þe foules aȝein þe sonne scheene what for þe sesoun & for þe ȝonge greene Ful lowde song in here affecciouns hem semed haue geten hem protecciouns Line 56 Aȝens þe swerd of wynter kene and cold This Cambynskan of which I haue told In royal vesture sittyng on his deys with dyadem ful heigh in his paleys Line 60 And held his fest . solempne and so riche That in þis worlde was þer noon it liche Of which if I schal tellen al þarray Than wold it occupie a someres day Line 64 And eek it neediþ nouȝt for to deuyse At euery cours þe ordre and þe seruyse I wol nat tellen of her straunge sewes Ne of her swannes ne here heroun-sewes Line 68 Ek in þat lond as tellen knightes olde Ther is som mete þat is ful deynte holde That in þis lond men recch of it but smal Ther is no man it may reporten al Line 72

[6-text p 481] Line 72 I wol not tarien ȝou for it is pryme And for it is no fruyt but los of tyme vnto my purpos. I wol haue my recours That so bifelle after þe þridde cours Line 76 whil þat þe kyng sit þus in his nobleye herkyng his mynstrales her þinges pleye Byforn him atte boord deliciously In atte halle dore al sodeynly Line 80 Ther com a knight vpon a steed of bras And in his hond a brod myrour of glas Vpon his thomb he had of gold a ryng And by his side a naked swerd hangyng Line 84 And vp he rideth to þe heyghe bord [folio 150a] In al þe halle ne was þer spoke a word For meruayl of þis knight him to byholde Ful besily þey wayten ȝong and olde Line 88 This straunge knight þat cam þus sodeynly Al armed sauf his heed ful richely; Salued the kyng and queen and lordes alle By ordre as þey seten in to halle / Line 92 with so heigh reuerens and obseruaunce As wel in speche as in contynaunce / That Ewen with his olde curtesye They he come aȝein out of fayrye Line 96 Ne couþe him nouȝt amende wiþ no word And after þis biforn þe highe bord he with a manly vois sayd his message After þe forme vsed in his langage Line 100 wiþouten vice of sillabil or letter And for his tale schulde seme þe better Accordaunt to his wordes was his cheere As techeth art of speche hem þat it leere Line 104 Al be it þat I can nat sowne his style Ne can nat clymben ouer so heigh a style / Ȝit say I þis as to comun entent Thus moche amounteth al þat euer he ment Line 108

[6-text p 482] Line 108 If it so be þat I haue it in mynde / ¶ he sayd þe kyng of Arraby and yynde My liege lord on þis solempne day Saluteth ȝou as he best can or may Line 112 he sendeth ȝou in honour of ȝour feste By me þat am redy at al his heste This steede of bras þat esily and wel That can in the space of o day naturel Line 116 This is to say in four an twenty houres wher-so ȝou lust / in droughþe or in schoures Beren ȝour body in to euery place To which ȝour herte wilneþ for to pace Line 120 wiþouten wem of ȝou þurgh foul and fair Or if ȝou lust to flee as heiȝ in þair As doþ an egle whan him list to sore [folio 150b] This same steede schal bere ȝou euermore / Line 124 wiþoute harm til ȝe be þer ȝou leste Though þat ȝe slepen on his bak or reste And torne aȝein with wryþing of a pyn he þat it wrought cowþe ful many a gyn Line 128 he wayted many a constellacioun Er he had do þis operacioun And knew ful many a seal and many a bond ¶ This mirour eek þat I haue in myn hond Line 132 haþ such a mighte / þat men may in it see when þer schal falle eny aduersite Vnto ȝour regne vnto ȝour self also And openly who is ȝour frend or fo Line 136 And ouer al þis if eny lady bright hath set hir hert on eny maner wight If he be fals sche schal his tresoun see his newe loue and his subtilite Line 140 So openly þat þer schal noþing hyde wherfor aȝeins þis lusty somer tyde This mirour and þis ryng þat ȝe may see he haþ send to my lady Canacee Line 144

[6-text p 483] Line 144 Ȝour excellente doughter þat is heere ¶ The vertu of þis ryng and ȝe wol heere; Is þis / þat who . so lust it for to were vpon hir thomb / or in hir purs to bere Line 148 Ther is no foul / þat fleeth vnder þe heuen That schal vnderstonden his steuen. And know his menyng openly and pleyn and answer him in his langage aȝeyn Line 152 And euery gras . þat groweþ vpon roote Sche schal eek know / to whom it wol do boote Al be his woundes neuer so deep and wyde ¶ This naked swerd þat hangeþ by my syde Line 156 Such vertu hath þat what man þat it smyte Thurghout his armur it wol kerue and byte were it as þikke as a braunched ook And what man is I-wounded with þe strook Line 160 Schal neuer be hool / til þat ȝou lust of grace [folio 151a] To strok him wiþ þe plat in þilke place; Ther he is hurt . þis is as moche to seyn Ȝe moote with þe platte swerd aȝein Line 164 Stroke him in þe wound and it wol close / This is þe verray soth wiþouten glose / It failleth nought whil it is in ȝour hold And whan þis knight þus had his tale told Line 168 he rit out of þe halle and doun he light his steede which þat schon as sonne bright Stant in þe court as stille as eny stoon This knight is to his chambre lad anoon Line 172 he is vnarmed and to mete I-sett This presentȝ ben ful richely I-fett This is to sayn, the swerd and the myrrour And born anon vnto þe highe tour Line 176 with certein officers ordeynd þerfore And vnto Canace þe ryng is bore; Solempnely ther sche syt atte table But sikerly wiþouten eny fable Line 180

[6-text p 484] Line 180 The hors of bras þat may nat be remewed It stant as it were to the ground I-glewed Ther may no man out of þe place it dryue For noon engyn of wyndyng or polyue· Line 184 And cause why for þey can nouȝt þe craft And þerfor in the place þei haue it laft Til þat þe knight haþ taught hem þe manere To voyden him as ȝe schul after heere Line 188 Greet was þe pres þat swarmed to and fro To gauren on þis hors þat stondeth so For it so wyd was and so brod and long So wel proporcioned to be strong Line 192 Right as it were a steed of lumbardye Ther-to so horsly and so quyk of ye As it a gentil poyleys courser were For certes fro his tayl vnto his eere Line 196 Nature ne art ne couþe him nouȝt amende In no degre as al þe poeple wende But euermore her moste wonder was [folio 151b] How þat it couþe goon and was of bras Line 200 It was of fayry as þe poeple semed Diuerse peple . diuersly þey demed As many hedes as many wittes been They murmured as doþ a swarm of been Line 204 And made skiles after her fantasies Rehersyng of þe olde poetries And seyden it was I-like þe pagase .i. equus pegaseus The hors þat hadde wynges for to fle / Line 208 Or elles it was þe grekissch hors Synon That broughte troye to destruccioun As men may in þe olde gestes rede / Myn hert quod oon is euermor in drede Line 212 I trow som men of armes ben þerinne That schapen hem þis cite for to wynne It were good / þat such þing were knowe / Anoþer rowned to his felaw lowe / Line 216

[6-text p 485] Line 216 And sayde it lyth for it is raþer lik An apparence maad by som magik As Iogelours pleyen at þis festes grete Of sondry þoughtes þus þey Iangle and trete Line 220 As lewed peple demeth comunly Of þinges þat ben maad more subtily Than þey can in her lewednes comprehende They deemen gladly to the badder ende Line 224 And som of hem wondred of þe mirrour That born was vp in to þe maister tour How men might in hit suche þinges se Anoþer answerd and sayd it might wel be Line 228 Naturelly by composiciouns Of angels and of heigh reflexiouns And sayde þat in Rome was such oon They speeke of al-ceyt and Vitilyon Line 232 Of aristotle / þat writen in her lyues Of queynte myrrours and prospectyues As knowen þey þat han her bokes herd And oþer folk haue wondred on þe swerd Line 236 That wolde passe þorughout euery þing [folio 152a] And fel in speche of Thelophus þe kyng And of achilles for his queynte spere For he couþe with hit boþe hele and dere Line 240 Right in such wyse as men may wiþ þe swerd Of which right now ȝe haue ȝour seluen herd They speeken of sondry hardyng of metal And speken of medicines þer wiþ al Line 244 And how and whan it schulde harded be / which is vnknowe / algat vnto me / Tho speeken þey of Canacees ryng And seyden alle / þat such a wonder þing Line 248 Of craft of rynges herd þey neuer noon Sauf þat he moyses and kyng Salamon Had a name of connyng in such art Thus seyen þe peple on euery part Line 252

[6-text p 486] Line 252 But naþeles som seiden þat it was / wonder þing to make of ferne glas / And ȝit is glas nouȝt like aisschen of ferne But for þey han I-knowen it so ferne Line 256 Therfor cesseth her ianglyng and her wonder And sore wondred som of cause of þonder On ebbe and flood on gossomer and on myst And on alle þing til þat þe cause is wist Line 260 Thus Ianglen þey and demen and deuyse Til þat þe kyng gan fro his bord arise

Phebus hath lost þe angel merydyonal And ȝit/ ascendyng was a best roial Line 264 The gentil lyoun wiþ his adryan whan þat þis gentil kyng þis Cambynskan Ros fro his bord þer as he sat ful hye Biforn him goth ful lowde menstralcye Line 268 Til he cam to his chambre of Parementȝ Ther as þer were diuers instrumentȝ That is y-like an heuen for to heere ¶ Now dauncen lusty Venus children deere Line 272 For in þe fissch. her lady sat ful heyȝe And lokeþ on hem with a frendly eyȝe / This noble kyng is set vpon his trone / This straunge knight is fet to him ful sone [folio 152b] Line 276 And in the daunce he gan with Canace / her is þe reuel and þe iolyte That is not able a dul man to deuyse he most haue knowe loue and his seruise / Line 280 And ben a festly man as freisch as may That schulde ȝou deuyse such array who couthe telle ȝou þe forme of daunce; So vncouth and such a freisch countinaunce Line 284 Such subtil lokyng of dissimilynges For drede of Ialous folk apparceyuynges No man but launcelet and he is deed Therfore I passe ouer al þis lustyheed Line 288

[6-text p 487] Line 288 A say no more but in þis Iolynesse / I lete hem til men to soper hem dresse The styward byt þe spices for to hye And eek þe wyn in al þis melodye Line 292 Thes vsschers and þes squyers ben agon The spices and þe wyn is come anoon They eet and drank and whan þis had an ende / vnto þe temple as resoun was þey wende / Line 296 The seruise doon þey and soupen al by day what needeth ȝou to rehersen her array Ech man wot wel þat a kynges feste hath plente to þe lest and to the meste Line 300 And deyntees mo þan ben in my knowyng And after souper goþ þis noble kyng To see þis hors of bras wiþ al his route Of lordes and of ladyes al aboute / Line 304 Swich wondryng was þer on þis hors of bras That seth þis grete siege of troye was / Ther as men wondred on an hors also Ne was þer such a wondryng as was þo Line 308 But fynally þe kyng asked þe knight The vertu of þis courser and þe might And prayd him tellen of his gouernaunce The hors anoon gan for to trippe and daunce Line 312 whan þe knight leyd hand vpon his rayne And sayde sir þer is nomore to sayne [folio 153a] But whan ȝou lust to ryde any where / ȝe moote trille a pyn stant in his ere Line 316 which I schal telle ȝou bitwen vs two ȝe moste nempne him to what place also Or what countre ȝou luste for to ryde And whan ȝe come þer ȝou lust abyde Line 320 Bid him descende and trille anoþer pynne For þer in lith þe fet of al þe gynne / And he wol doun descend and do ȝour wille And in þat place he wol abyde stille Line 324

[6-text p 488] Line 324 Though al þe world had þe contrary swore he schal nat thennes be I-þrowe ne bore Or if ȝou lust to bid him þennes goon Trille þis pyn and he wol vanyssh anoon Line 328 Out of þe sight of euery maner wight And come aȝein . be it by day or night whan þat ȝou lust to clepen him aȝayn In such a gyse as I schal ȝow sayn Line 332 Bitwixe ȝou and me and þerfor soone Byd whan ȝou lust þer nys nomor to doone Enformed when þe kyng was of þe knight And had conceyued in his wit aright Line 336 The maner of þe forme and al þis þing Ful glad and blith þis noble doughty kyng Repeyryng to his reuel as biforn The bridel is vnto þe tour I-born Line 340 And kept among his Iewels leef and deere The hors vanyscht I not in what manere Out of her sight ȝe get nomore of me But þus I lete him in his iolite Line 344 This Cambinskan his lordes festeyng Til wel neigh þe day bigan to spryng

Explicit prima pars //

Incipit secunda pars

The norice of digestioun þe sleep Gan to him wynk and bad of him take keep Line 348 That merthe and labour wol haue his reste with a galpyng mouth he him keste And sayd þat it was tyme to lye doun [folio 153b] For blood was in his dominacioun Line 352 Cherischeþ natures þanne quod he They þankyn him galpyng by two and þre And euery wight gan drawe him to his rest As sleep hem bad þey took it for þe best/ Line 356

[6-text p 489] Line 356 here dremes schul not now be told for me Ful were here heedes of fumosite That causeþ drem of which þer is no charge / They slepen til it was prime large / Line 360 The moste part but it were Canace Sche was ful mesurable as wommen be For of hir fader haþ sche take hir leue To go to reste soon after it was eue / Line 364 hir luste not appalled for to be Ne on þe morwe vnfestly for to se / And kept hir firste sleep and þan awook For such a Ioye sche in herte took Line 368 Boþe of hir queynte ryng and hir myrrour That twenty tyme chaunged hire colour And in hire sleep right for impressioun Of hir myrrour sche had a visioun Line 372 wher-for er þat þe sonne vp gan glyde / Sche cleped vpon her maistresse beside / And sayde þat hire luste for to ryse These olde wommen þat ben gladly wise Line 376 As is here maystresse answered hir anoon And sayd madame whider wold ȝe goon Thus erly for folk ben alle in reste / I wil quod sche aryse for me leste Line 380 No lenger for to slepe and walke aboute hir maistres clepeth wommen a gret route / And vp þey risen a ten oþer a twelue vp ryseþ fresshe Canace hir selue Line 384 As rody and bright as is þe ȝonge sonne That in þe Ram is ten degrees I-ronne Non heiher was he whan sche redy was And forth sche walked esily a pas Line 388 Arayed after þe lusty sesoun soote [folio 154a] lightly for to play and walke on foote Nought but wiþ fyue or six of hir meyne And a trench fer in þe park goþ sche / Line 392

[6-text p 490] Line 392 The vapour which þat of þe erthe glod Makeþ þe sonne seme rody and sot But naþeles it was so fair a sight That it made alle here hertes for to light Line 396 what for þe sesoun what for þe mornyng And for þe foules þat sche herde syng For right anoon sche wiste what þey ment Right by here song and knew al here entent / Line 400 ¶ The knotte why þat euery tale is told If that it be taryed til lust be cold Of hem þat han hit after herkned ȝore The sauour passeth euer lenger þe more Line 404 For fulsomnes of þe prolixite And by þis same resoun thinketh me I schulde to þe knotte condescende / And make of hir walkynge sone an ende· Line 408 A-myddes a tree for-druye as whit as chalk As Canace was pleyyng in hir walk There sat a faukoun ouer hir heed ful hye Þat with a pitous vois bigan to crye Line 412 I-beten hadde sche hir self so pitously That al the woode resowned of hire cry wiþ boþe hir wynges to þe reede blood Ran endelong þe tree þer as sche stood Line 416 And euer in oon sche cried and schryght And wiþ hir bek hir selue so sche pight That þer nys tigre non ne cruel beste That dwelleþ eyþer in wood or in foreste Line 420 That nold han wept if þat he cowde For sorw of hir sche schright alwey so lowde For þer nas neuer ȝit no man on lyue If that he couþe a faukoun discriue Line 424 That herd of such anoþer of fairnesse As wel of plumage as of gentillesse Of schap of al þat might I-rekened be [folio 154b] A faukoun peregryn þan semed sche Line 428

[6-text p 491] Line 428 Of fremde lond and euer as sche stood Sche swowned now and now for lak of blood Til wel neigh sche falleþ fro þe tre This faire kynges doughter Canace Line 432 That on hir fynger bar þe queynte ryng Thurgh which sche vnderstood wel euery þing That eny foul may in his lydne sayn And couþe answer him in his lydne agayn Line 436 haþ vnderstonde what þe faukoun seyde And wel neigh almost for rewthe sche deyde And to þe tree sche goth ful hastily And on þis faukoun lokeþ pitously Line 440 And held hir lappe a-brod for wel sche wist The faukoun moste falle fro þe twist whan þat it swowned next for lak of blood A long while to wayten hir sche stood Line 444 Til atte last sche spak in þis manere Vnto þe hauk as ȝe schul after heere ¶ what is þe cause if it be for to telle That ȝe ben in þat furyall peyne of helle Line 448 Quod Canace vnto þis hauk aboue Is þis for sorwe of deth or elles loue For as I trowe þis ben causes tuo That causen most a gentil herte wo Line 452 Of oþer harm it needeþ nouȝt to speke For ȝe ȝour self vpon ȝour self awreke which þat preueþ wel þat either Ire or drede Mote ben enchesoun of ȝour cruel dede Line 456 Sith þat I see noon oþer wight ȝou chace For loue of god so doþ ȝour selue grace Or what ben ȝour helpe for west ner Este Ne saugh I neuer er now no bryd ne beste Line 460 That ferde with himself so pitously Ȝe sle me with ȝour sorwe so verrily I haue of ȝou so gret compassioun For goddes loue com fro þe tree a doun Line 464

[6-text p 492] Line 464 And as I am a kynges doughter trewe [folio 155a] If þat I verrayly þe cause knewe Of ȝour disese if it lay in my might I wold amenden it if þat I might Line 468 Als wisly help me grete god of kynde And herbes schal I right ynowe fynde To helen with ȝour hurtes hastyly Tho schright þis faukoun more pitously Line 472 Than euer sche did and fil to ground anoon And lay a-swowne deed as eny stoon Til Canace hath in hir lap y-take vnto þat tyme sche gan of swowne slake / Line 476 And after þat sche gan of swown abreyde Right in hir haukes lydne thus sche seyde That pite renneth sone in gentil hert Felyng his similitude in peynes smerte Line 480 Is proued alday as men may see As wel by werk as by auctorite For gentil herte kepeth gentillesse / I see wel þat ȝe haue on my distresse Line 484 Compassioun my faire Canace Of verray wommanly benignite / That nature in ȝour principles haþ set But noon hope for to fare þe bet Line 488 But for to obeye vnto ȝour herte fre And for to make othere war by me As by þe whelp chastised is þe lyoun And for þat cause and þat conclusioun Line 492 whiles þat I haue a leyser and a space Myn harm I wil confessen er I pace And whil sche euer of hir sorwe tolde That oþer wept as sche to water wolde / Line 496 Til þat þe faucoun bad hir to be stille / And with a sighhe / þus sche sayd hir tille ¶ Ther I was allas þat ilke day And fostred in a Roch of marble gray Line 500

[6-text p 493] Line 500 So tendrely that noþing eyled me / I wiste not / what was aduersite Til I couþe flee ful heigh vnder þe sky [folio 155b] Tho dwelled a tercelet me faste by Line 504 That semed welle of alle gentillesse Al were he ful of tresoun and falsnesse It was I-wrapped vnder humble cheere And vnder heewe of trouþe in such manere Line 508 Vnder plesaunce and vnder besy peyne That no wight wende þat he couþe feyne So deep in greyn he deyed his colours Right as a serpent hut him vnder floures Line 512 Til he may see his tyme for to byte Right so þis god of loue, þis ypocrite Doþ so his sermonys and his obseruaunce/ vnder subtil colour and aqueyntaunce Line 516 That sowneth vnto gentilesse of loue As in a thombe is al þe faire aboue And vnder is þe corps whiche þat ȝe wot Such as was þis Ipocrite boþe cold and hot Line 520 And in this wise he serued his entent That sauf þe feend noon wiste what he ment Til he so long had weped and compleyned And many a ȝeer his seruice to me feyned Line 524 Til þat myn hert to pitous and to nyce Al Innocent of his crouned malice For-fered of his deth as þoughte me vpon his othes and his sewerte Line 528 Graunted him loue vpon þis condicioun That euermo myn honour and my renoun were saued boþe pryuy and apert This is to sayn þat after his desert Line 532 I ȝaf him al myn hert and al my þought god woot and he þat oþer weye nought And took his hert in chaunge of myn for ay But soþ is sayd go siþens many a day Line 536

[6-text p 494] Line 536 A trew wight and a theef þenketh nouȝt oon And when he saugh þe þyng so fer I-goon That I graunted him fully my loue / In such a wyse as I haue sayd aboue / Line 540 And ȝeuen him my trewe hert as fre [folio 156a] As he swor he ȝaf his herte to me / Anon þis Tigre ful of doublenesse Fil on his knees with so gret deuoutenesse Line 544 wiþ high reuerence and as by his chere So lyk a gentil louer of manere So rauysched as it semede for Ioye That neuer Iason ne Parys of Troye Line 548 Iason certes ne noon oþer man Siþ lameth was þat alþer first bygan To louen two as writen folk biforn Ne neuer siþ þe firste man was born Line 552 Ne couþe man by twenty þousand part Contrefete þe sophemes of his art Ne were worþy to vnbokel his galoche Ther doublenes of feynyng schold approche Line 556 Ne so couþe þankyn a knight as he did me His maner was an heuen for to see To eny womman were sche neuer so wys So peynteth he and kembeth poynt deuys Line 560 As wel his wordes as his continaunce And I so loued him for his obeisaunce And for þe trouthe I demed in his herte That if so were þat eny þing him smerte Line 564 And were it neuer so litel and I it wist Me þought I felte deth at myn hert twist And schortly so ferforth þis þing went That my wil was his willes instrument Line 568 This is to say my wille obeied his wille In alle þing as fer as resoun fille kepyng þe boundes of my worschip euer Ne neuer had I þing so leef ne leuer Line 572

[6-text p 495] Line 572 As him god woot ne neuer schal nomo This laste lenger þan a ȝeer or two That I supposed of him nought but good But fynally atte laste þus it stood Line 576 That fortune wolde þat he moste twynne Out of þe place which þat I was Inne wher me was wo it is no questioun / [folio 156b] I can nat make of it descripcioun Line 580 For o þing dar I telle boldely I know what is þe peyne of deth þerby which harm I felt for he ne mighte byleue So on a day of me he took his leue Line 584 So sorwful eek þat I went verrayly That he had feled als moche as I whan þat I herd him speke and saugh his hewe But naþeles I þought he was vntrewe Line 588 And eek þat he schulde repeire aȝeyn wiþinne a litel while soþ to seyn And resoun wold eek þat he moste go: for his honour Wher-for I wold not ben ayein his honour Line 592 Than I made vertu of necessite And took it wel seþens it moste be As I best might I had for him my sorwe And took him by þe hand seint Iohn to borwe Line 596 And sayde þus / lo I am ȝour al Beþ such as I haue be to ȝou and schal what he answerd it needeþ nat to reherse who can best say þan he, who can do werse // Line 600 whan he haþ al wel sayd þan haþ he doon Therfor bihoueþ him a ful long spoon That schal ete wiþ a feend þus herd I say So atte last he moste forþ his way Line 604 And forth he fleeth til he cam þer him leste whan it cam him to purpos for to reste I trow he hadde þilke text in mynde That alle þing repeyryng to his kynde Line 608

[6-text p 496] Line 608 Gladeþ himself þus sey men as I gesse Men louen of kynde newefangilnesse As briddes doon þat men in cage feede For þeigh þou night and day take of hem heede Line 612 And straw her cage faire and soft as silk And ȝeue hem sugre hony breed and mylk Ȝet right anoon as his dore is vppe he with his feet wil sporne doun his cuppe Line 616 And to þe wode

[6-text p 514]

[Brit. Mus. Harl. 7334 begins again, leaf 157.]

lasse þan a þousand pound he wolde nought haue Line 1224 Ne gladly for þat somme he wolde not goon Aurilius wiþ blisful hert anoon Answerde þus. fy on a þousand pound This wyde world which þat men say is round Line 1228 I wold it ȝiue if I were lord of it/ This bargeyn is ful dryue for we ben knyt Ȝe schal be payed trewly by my trouþe / But lokeþ now for necligence or slouþe Line 1232 Ȝe tarie vs heer no lenger þan to morwe / Nay quod þis clerk haue her my faith to borwe To bed is goon aurilius whan him leste And wel neigh al night he had his reste Line 1236

[6-text p 515] Line 1236 what for his labour and his hope of blisse His woful hert of penaunce had a lisse / vpon þe morwe whan þat it was day To breteigne take þei þe righte way Line 1240 Aurilius and þis magicien bisyde And ben descendid þer þay wol abyde And þis was as þese bookes me remembre The colde frosty seisoun of Decembre Line 1244 Phebus wax old and hewed lyk latoun That in his hoote declinacioun Schon as þe burned gold with stremes bright But now in Capricorn a-doun he light Line 1248 wher as he schon ful pale I dar wel sayn The bitter frostes with þe sleet and rayn Destroyed haþ þe grene in euery ȝerd Ianus sit by þe fuyr wiþ double berd Line 1252 And drynkeþ of his bugle horn þe wyn Biforn him stont þe braun of toskid swyn And Nowel crieþ euery lusty man Aurilius in al þat euer he can Line 1256 Doþ to his maister chier and reuerence And peyneþ him to doon his diligence To bringen him out of his peynes smerte Or wiþ a swerd þat he wold slytte his herte Line 1260 This subtil clerk such rouþe had of þis man That night and day he spedeþ him þat he can [folio 157b] To wayte a tyme of his conclusioun This is to say to make Illusioun Line 1264 By such an apparence of iogelrie I can no termes of astrologie That sche and euery wight schold wene and saye That of Breteygn þe rokkes were a waye Line 1268 Or elles þey sonken were vnder þe grounde So atte last he haþ a tyme I-founde To make his iapes and his wrecchednesse / Of such a supersticious cursednesse / Line 1272

[6-text p 516] Line 1272 His tables tollitanes forþ he brought Ful wel corrected ne þer lakked nought Neiþer his collect ne his expans yeeres Ne his rootes ne his oþer geeres / Line 1276 As ben his centris & his argumentis And his proporcionels conuenientis For her equaciouns in euery þing / And by his þre speeres in his worching Line 1280 he knew ful wel how fer alluath was schoue For þe heed of þilk fixe aries aboue That in þe fourþe speere considred is Ful subtilly he calkild al þis Line 1284 whan he had founde his firste mancioun He knew þe remenaunt by proporcioun And knew þe arisyng of þis moone wel And in whos face and terme and euery del Line 1288 And knew ful wel þe moones mancioun Acordaunt to his operacioun And knew also his other obseruaunces For suche illusiouns and suche meschaunces Line 1292 As hethen folk vsed in þilke dayes For which no lenger maked he delayes But þurgh his magik for a wike or tweye It semed þat þe rokkes were aweye Line 1296 Aurilius which ȝet dispayred is wher he schal haue his loue or fare amys Awayteþ night and day on þis miracle And whan he knew þat þer was noon obstacle [folio 158a] Line 1300 That voyded were þese rokkes euerich oon Doun to his maistres feet he fel anoon And sayd I wrecched woful aurilius Thanke ȝou lord and my lady Venus Line 1304 That me han holpe fro my cares colde / And to þe temple his way forþ he haþ holde wher as he knew he schold his lady se And whan he saugh his tyme anoon right he Line 1308

[6-text p 517] Line 1308 with dredful hert and with ful humble cheere Salued haþ his owne lady deere My souerayn lady quod þis woful man whom I most drede and loue as I can Line 1312 And loþest were of al þis world displese / Nere it þat I for ȝou haue such desese / That I most deye her at ȝoure foot anoon Nought wold I telle how me is wo bygoon Line 1316 But certes ouþer most I dye or pleyne Ȝe sleen me gulteles for verrey peyne But of my deþ þough þat ȝe haue no rouþe Auyseth ȝow or þat ȝe breke ȝour trouþe Line 1320 Repenteþ ȝow for þilke god aboue Ȝe me sleen by cause þat I ȝou loue For madame wel ȝe woot what/ ȝe han hight Nat þat I chalenge eny þing of right Line 1324 Of ȝow my souerayn lady but ȝoure grace But in a gardyn ȝonde at such a place Ȝe wot right wel what ȝe byhighte me And in myn hond ȝour trouþe plighte ȝe Line 1328 To loue me best god woot/ ȝe sayde so Al be þat I vnworthy am þerto Ma dame I speke it for thonour of ȝow More þan to saue myn hertes lif right now Line 1332 I haue do so as ȝe comaunded me And if ȝe vouche sauf ȝe may go se Doþ as ȝou list haue ȝoure byheste in mynde For quyk or deed right þer ȝe schul me fynde Line 1336 In ȝow liþ al to do me lyue or deye But wel I wot þe rokkes ben aweye [folio 158b] he takeþ his leue and he astoned stood In alle hir face nas oon drop of blood Line 1340 Sche wend neuer haue be in such a trappe Allas quod sche þat euer þis schulde happe For wend I neuer by possibilite That such a monstre or merueyl mighte be / Line 1344

[6-text p 518] Line 1344 It is agayns þe proces of nature And hom sche goþ a sorwful creature For verray fere vnneþe may sche go Sche wepeþ wayleþ al a day or tuo Line 1348 And swowneþ þat it rouþe was to see But why it was to no wight tolde sche For out of toune was goon aruegarius But to hir self sche spak/ and sayde þus Line 1352 wiþ face pale and with ful sorwful chiere In hir compleignt as ȝe schul after hiere ¶ Allas quod sche on þe fortune I pleyne That vnwar, wrapped me hast, in þy cheyne Line 1356 Fro which tescape woot I no socour Saue oonly deþ or elles dishonour Oon of þese tuo bihoueth me to chese / But naþeles ȝet haue I leuer leese Line 1360 My lif þan of my body to haue schame Or knowe my-selue fals or lese my name / And with my deþ I may be quyt I-wys Hath þer not many a noble wyf er þis / Line 1364 And many a mayden slayn hir-self allas Raþer þan with her body doon trespas / Ȝis certeynly lo stories beren witnes whan þritty tirauntȝ ful of cursednes Line 1368 hadde slayn phidon in athenes atte fest Thay comaunded his doughtres to arest And bryngen hem biforn hem in despit And naked to fulfille her foule delyt Line 1372 In her fadres blood þey made hem daunce vpon þe pauyment god ȝeue hem meschaunce For which þese woful maydens ful of drede Raþer þan þey wolde lese her maydenhede [folio 159a] Line 1376 They priuely ben stert in to a welle / And drenched hemselfen as þe bookes telle ¶ They of mecene leet enquere and seeke / Of lacidomye fifty maydenes eeke / Line 1380

[6-text p 519] Line 1380 On which þay wolden doon her leccherie But was þer noon of al þat companye was slayn and wiþ a good entente Ches raþer for to deye þan to assente Line 1384 To ben oppressed of hir maydenhede why schuld I þan to deyen ben in drede ¶ Lo eek þe Tyraunt/ aristoclides That loued a mayden heet Stimphalides Line 1388 whan þat hir father slayn was on a night vnto dyanes temple goþ sche right And hent þe ymage in hir hondes tuo Fro which ymage wold sche neuer go Line 1392 No wight might of hit/ hir hondes race Til sche was slayn right in þe selue place Now siþ þat maydens hadde such despit To ben defouled with mannes foul delit Line 1396 wel aught a wif rather hirself to sle Than be defouled as it thenkeþ me ¶ what schal I seyn of hasdrubaldes wyf That at Cartage byraft hir-self þe lyf Line 1400 For whan sche saugh þat Romayns wan þe toun Sche took hir children alle and skipte a doun In to þe fuyr and ches raþer to deye Than eny romayn dide hir vilonye Line 1404 ¶ Haþ nought lucresse slayn hirself allas At Rome whanne sche oppressid was Of tarquyn for hir þought it was a schame / To lyuen whan sche hadde lost hir name Line 1408 ¶ The seuen maydens of milifie also han slayn hemself for verray drede and wo Raþer þan folk of Gawle hem schulde oppresse Mo þan a thousand stories as I gesse Line 1412 Couþe I now telle as touching þis matiere ¶ whan habradace was slayn his wif so deere [folio 159b] hir-seluen slough and leet hir blood to glyde / In habradaces woundes deepe and wyde / Line 1416

[6-text p 520] Line 1416 And seyde my body atte leste way Ther schal no wight defoulen if I may what schold I mo ensamples her of sayn Seþþen so many han hemseluen slayn Line 1420 wel raþer þan þey wolde defouled be / I wol conclude þat it is best for me To slen myself þan be defouled þus I wol be trewe vnto aruegarius Line 1424 Or rather sle myself in som manere As dede Democionis douȝter deere By cause sche wolde nought defouled be / O cedasus it is ful gret pite Line 1428 To reden how þy doughteren dyed allas That slowe hemself for suche maner caas As gret a pite was it or wel more The theban mayden þat for nichonore Line 1432 hir-seluen slough right for such maner wo Anoþer Theban mayden dede right so For oon of macidone had hir oppressed Sche with hire deþ maydenhede redressed Line 1436 what schal I sayn of Niceratis wif That for such caas biraft hir self hir lyf how trewe eek was cito alcebiades his loue. þat rather to dyen ches Line 1440 Than for to suffre his body vnburied be Lo which a wif was alceste quod sche what saiþ omer of good penolope Al grece knoweþ of hir chastite Line 1444 Par di of laodomya is writen þus That whan out of Troye was Protheselaus No lenger wol sche lyue after his day The same of noble porcia telle I may Line 1448 wiþoute brutes kynde sche myȝt not lyue To whom sche had al hool hir herte ȝyue The parfyt wyfhod of artemesye honoured is þurgh al þe Barbarie [folio 160a] Line 1452

[6-text p 521] Line 1452 O thena queen þy wifly chastite To alle wyues may a mirour be . . . . . . . Line 1456 Thus playned Dorigen a day or tweye Purposyng euer þat sche wolde deye But naþeles vpon þe thridde night hom cam arueragus þis worþy knight Line 1460 And asked hir why þat sche wept so sore / And sche gan wepe euer lenger þe more Allas quod sche þat euer was I born Thus haue I sayd quod sche þus haue I sworn Line 1464 And told him al as ȝe han herd biforn It nedeþ nought reherse it you no more ¶ This housbond wiþ glad chiere in good wise Answerd and sayde as I schal ȝou deuyse Line 1468 Is þer aught elles Dorigen but þis Nay nay quod sche god me so rede & wis This is to moche and it were goddes wille Ȝe wyf quod he let slepe þat may be stille Line 1472 It may be wel peraunter ȝet to day Ȝe schal ȝour trouþe holden by my fay For god so wisly haue mercy on me I hadde wel leuer I-stekid for to be Line 1476 For verray loue which I to ȝou haue / But if ȝe scholde ȝour trouþe kepe and saue Trouþe is þe heighest þing þat men may kepe But wiþ þat word he gan anoon to wepe Line 1480 And sayde I ȝow forbede vp peyne of deþ That neuer whil þe lasteth lyf or breth To no wight telle þou of þis auenture As I may best I wil my woo endure Line 1484 Ne make no contenaunce of heuynesse Þat folk of ȝou may deme harm or gesse And for he cleped a squyer and a mayde Goþ forþ anoon wiþ Dorigen he sayde Line 1488

[6-text p 522] Line 1488 And bryngeþ hir to such a place anoon Thay take her leue and on her wey þey gon But þay ne wiste why sche þider went He nolde no wight tellen his entent [folio 160b] Line 1492 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 1496 . . . . . . . . This squyer which þat hight aurelius On dorigen 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 goon þe wey forþ-right Toward þe Gardyn þer as sche had hight Line 1504 And he was to þe gardynward also / For wel he spyed whan sche wolde go Out of hir hous to eny maner place But þus þay mette of aduenture or grace Line 1508 And he salueth hir with glad entent And askith hire whiderward sche went/ And sche answered half as sche were mad vnto þe gardyn as myn housbond bad Line 1512 My trouþe for to holde allas allas Aurilius gan wondren on þis caas And in his hert had gret compassioun Of hire and of hir lamentacioun Line 1516 And of Arueragus þe worþy knight That bad hir hold al þat sche hadde hight So loþ him was his wif schuld breke hir trouþe And in his hert he caught of this gret rouþe Line 1520 Consideryng þe best on euery syde That fro his lust ȝet were him leuer abyde Than doon so high a cheerlissch wrecchednesse Agayns fraunchis of alle gentilesce Line 1524

[6-text p 523] Line 1524 For which in fewe wordes sayd he þus Madame saith to ȝour lord arueragus That siþ I se his grete gentilesse To ȝou. and eek I se wel ȝour distresse Line 1528 That him were leuer haue schame and þat were rouþe / Than ȝe to me schulde breke ȝoure trouþe I haue wel leuer euer to suffre woo Than I departe þe loue bytwix ȝow tuo Line 1532 I ȝow relesse madame in to ȝour hond Quyt euery seurement and euery bond That ȝe han maad to me as her biforn Sith þilke tyme which þat ȝe were born [folio 161a] Line 1536 My trouþe I plight I schal ȝow neuer repreue Of no byhest and her I take my leue As of þe trewest and þe beste wif That euer ȝit I knew in al my lyf Line 1540 But euery wyf be war of hir byhest On Dorigen remembreþ atte lest Thus can a squyer doon a gentil dede As wel as can a knyght wiþouten drede Line 1544 Sche þankeþ him vpon hir knees al bare / And hoom vnto hir housbond is sche fare / And told him al as ȝe han herd me sayd And be ȝe siker he was so wel a-payd Line 1548 That it were impossible me to write what schuld I lenger of þis caas endite Arueragus and Dorigen his wif In souereyn blisse leden forþ here lyf Line 1552 Neuer eft ne was þer anger hem bytwen he cherisscheþ hir as þough sche were a queen And sche was to him trewe for euermore / Of þese tuo folk ȝe gete for me nomore / Line 1556 ¶ Aurilius þat his cost haþ al forlorn Curseþ þe tyme þat euer he was born Allas quod he allas þat I byhight Of pured gold a thousand pound of wight Line 1560

[6-text p 524] Line 1560 vnto þis philosophre how schal I doo I se no more but þat I am for-doo Myn heritage moot I needes selle / And ben a begger her may I not duelle Line 1564 And schamen al my kynrede in þis place But I of him may gete better grace But naþeles I wol of him assay At certeyn dayes ȝeer by ȝer to pay Line 1568 And þanke him of his grete curtesye My trouþe wol I kepe I wol nouȝt lye with herte soor he goþ vn to his cofre And broughte gold vnto þis philosophre Line 1572 The value of fyf hundred pound I gesse And him bysecheth of his gentilesce [folio 161b] To graunte him dayes of þe remenaunt And sayde maister I dar wel make auaunt Line 1576 I fayled neuer of my trouþe as ȝit For sikerly my dettes schal be quyt Towardes ȝow how þat euer I fare To goon a begge in my kurtil bare Line 1580 But wolde ȝe vouche sauf vpon seurte Tuo ȝer or þre for to respite me Than were I wel for elles most I selle Myn heritage þer is nomore to telle Line 1584 ¶ Þis philosophre sobrely answerde / And seyde þus whan he þese wordes herde Haue I not holden couenaunt vnto þe; Ȝis certes wel and trewely quod he / Line 1588 Hastow nouȝt had þy lady as þe liketh No no quod he and sorwfully he sikeþ what was þe cause tel me if þou can Aurilius his tale anoon bygan Line 1592 And told him al as ȝe han herd bifore It needeþ nat to ȝou reherse it more he sayde arueragus of gentilesse had leuer dye in sorwe and in distresse Line 1596

[6-text p 525] Line 1596 Than þat his wyf were of hir trouþe fals The sorwe of Dorigen he tolde him als how loþ hir was to ben a wikked wikked wyf And þat sche leuer had han lost hir lyf Line 1600 And þat hir trouþe sche swor þurgh Innocence Sche neuer erst hadde herd speke of apparence That made me han of hir so gret pyte By cause hir housebond sente hir to me Line 1604 And right as frely sent I hir to him agayn Þis is al and som þer is no more to sayn The philosopher answerde leue broþer Euerich of ȝow dede gentilly to oþer Line 1608 Thow art a squyer and he is a knight But god forbede for his blisful might But if a clerk couþe doon as gentil dede As wel as eny of ȝou it is no drede [folio 162a] Line 1612 Sire I relesse þe þy þousond pound As þou right now were crope out of þe ground Ne neuer er now ne haddest knowen me For sire I wol not take a peny of þe Line 1616 For al my craft ne nought for my trauayle / Thou hast y-payed wel for my vitayle / It is ynough and far wel haue good day And took his hors and forþ he goþ his way Line 1620 ¶ Lordynges þis questioun wolde I axe now / which was þe moste free as þinketh ȝow Now telleþ me or þat I ferþer wende / I can no more my tale is at an ende / Line 1624

¶ Here endeth þe Frankeleynes tale

Notes

• [No break in the MS.]
• [No break in the MS.]
• [first, 'sche']
• [spurious]
• [Eight leaves are here missing from the MS.]
• no gap in the MS.: these lines are
• known only in the Ellesmere MS.
• no gap in the MS.: these lines are
• known only in the Ellesmere MS.
• [No break in the MS.]