The assembly of gods: or, The accord of reason and sensuality in the fear of death; by John Lydgate. Ed. from the mss. with introduction, notes, index of persons and places, and glossary. By Oscar Lovell Triggs.

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Whan Phebus in the Crabbe had nere hys cours ronne Line 1 And toward the leon his iourne gan take, To loke on Pictagoras speere I had begonne, Syttyng all solytary alone besyde a lake, Line 4 Musyng on a maner how that I myght make Reason & Sensualyte in oon to acorde; But I cowde nat bryng about that monacorde. Line 7

Line 7

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For long er I myght, slepe me gan oppresse Line 8 So ponderously, I cowde make noon obstacle, In myne heede was fall suche an heuynesse, I was fayne to drawe to myn habytacle, Line 11 To rowne with a pylow me semyd best tryacle, So leyde I me downe my dyssese to releue. Anone came in Morpheus & toke me by the sleue. Line 14

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And as I so lay half in a traunse, Line 15 Twene slepyng and wakyng he bad me aryse, For he seyde I must yeue attendaunse To the gret Court of Mynos, the iustyse. Line 18 Me nought auaylyd ayene hym to sylogyse; For hit ys oft seyde by hem that yet lyues He must nedys go that the deuell dryues. Line 21

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When I sy no bettyr but I must go Line 22 I seyde I was redy at hys commaundment, Whedyr that he wold me leede to or fro. So vp I aroose and forthe with hym went, Line 25 Tyll he had me brought to the parlyament, Where Pluto sate and kept hys estate, And with hym Mynos, the Iuge desperate. Line 28

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But as we thedyrward went by the way, Line 29 I hym besought hys name me to tell. "Morpheus," he seyde, "thow me call may." "A syr," seyd I, "than where do ye dwell, Line 32 In heuen or in erthe outher elles in hell?" "Nay," he seyde, "myn abydyng most comonly Ys in a lytyll corner callyd Fantasy." Line 35

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And as sone as he these wordys had sayd, Line 36 Cerberus, the porter of hell, with hys cheyne Brought theder Eolus in raggys euyll arayd, Agayn whom Neptunus and Diana dyd compleyne Line 39 Seying thus, "O Mynos, thow Iuge souereyne, Yeue thy cruell iugement ageyn thys traytour soo That we may haue cause to preyse thy lord Pluto." Line 42

Line 42

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Then was there made a proclamasion, Line 43 In Plutoys name commaundyd silence Vppon the peyne of strayte correccion, That Diana and Neptunus myght haue audience Line 46 To declare her greefe of the gret offence To theym done by Eolus, wheron they compleynyd. And to begyn Diana was constreynyd. Line 49

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Whyche thus began as ye shall here Line 50 Seying in thys wyse, "O thow lord Pluto, With thy Iuge Mynos, syttyng with the in fere, Execute your fury vppon Eolus so Line 53 Accordyng to the offence that he to me hath do, That I haue no cause forther to apele, Whiche yef I do shall nat be for your wele. Line 56

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"Remembre furst howe I a goddesse pure Line 57 Ouer all desertys, forestes and chases, Haue take the guydyng and vndyr my cure. Thys traytour Eolus, hath many of my places Line 60 Dystroyed with hys blastes and dayly me manaces. Where any wood ys he shall make hyt pleyn Yef he to hys lyberte may resorte ayeyn. Line 63

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"The grettest trees that any man may fynde Line 64 In forest to shade the deere for her comfort, He breketh hem asondre or rendeth hem roote & rynde Out of the erthe—thys ys hys dysport, Line 67 So that the deere shall haue no resort Withyn short tyme to no maner shade; Wher thorough the game ys lykly to fade. Line 70

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"Whyche to my name a reproche syngler Line 71 Shuld be for euer whyle the world last, And to all the goddes an hygh dyspleser To see the game so dystroyed by hys blast; Line 74 Wherfore a remedy puruey in hast, And let hym be punysshyd aftyr hys offence. Consyder the cryme and yeue your sentence." Line 77

Line 77

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And when thus Diana had made her compleynt Line 78 To Mynos, the Iuge, in Plutoys presence, Came forthe Neptunus, with vysage pale & feynt, Desyryng of fauour to haue audyence, Line 81 Saying thus, "Pluto to thy magnyfycence I shall reherse what thys creature Eolus hath doon to me out of mesure. Line 84

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"Thow knowest well that I haue the charge Line 85 Ouer all the see, and therof god I am, No shyp may sayle, keruell, boot ner barge, Gret karyk, nor hulke with any lyuyng man, Line 88 But yef he haue my safe condyte than. Who me offendeth withyn my iurysdiccion Oweth to submyt hym to my correccion. Line 91

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"But in as mekyll as hit ys now soo Line 92 That ye hym here haue as your prysonere, I shall yow shew my compleynt loo, Wherfore I pray yow that ye woll hit here, Line 95 And let hym nat escape out of your daungere, Tyll he haue made full seethe and recompence For hurt of my name thorough thys gret offence. Line 98

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"Furst, to begynne, thys Eolus hath oft Line 99 Made me to retourne my course agayn nature With hys gret blastys, when he hath be a loft, And chargyd me to labour ferre out of mesure, Line 102 That hit was gret merueyle how I myght endure. The [foom] of my swet, wyll hit testyfy, That on the see bankes lythe betyn full hy. Line 105

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"Secundly, where as my nature ys Line 106 Bothe to ebbe and flowe and so my course to kepe, Oft of myn entent hath he made me mys. Where as I shuld haue fyllyd dykes depe Line 109 At a full watyr I might nat thedyr crepe Before my seson came to retorne ayeyne, And then went I fastyr than I wold certeyne. Line 112

Line 112

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"Thus he hath me dryuen ayen myn entent Line 113 And contrary to my course naturall. Where I shuld haue be he made me be absent To my gret dyshonour, & in especiall Line 116 Oo thyng he vsyd that worst was of all, For where as I my sauegard grauntyd, Ay in that cost he comonly hauntyd. Line 119

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"Of verrey pure malyce and of sylfe wyll, Line 120 Theym to dystroy in dyspyte of me To whom I promysyd, bothe in good and yll, To be her protectour in aduersyte, Line 123 That to theym shuld fall opon the see, And euyn sodenly, er they coude beware, With a sodeyn pyry, he lappyd hem in care. Line 126

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"And full oft sythe with hys boystous blast, Line 127 Er they myght be ware he drofe hym on the sande. And other whyle he brak top seyle and mast, Whyche causyd theym to perysshe er they came to lande. Then cursyd they the tyme that euer they me fande. Thus among the pepyll lost ys my name And so by hys labour put I am to shame. Line 133

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"Consydre thys mater and ponder my cause; Line 134 Tendre my compleynt as rygour requyreth; Shew forthe your sentence with a breef clause. I may nat long tary, the tyme fast expyreth, Line 137 The offence ys gret, wherfore hyt desyreth The more greuous peyne and hasty iugement. For offence doon wylfully woll noon auysment." Line 140

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And, when the god Pluto awhyle had hym bethought, Line 141 He rownyd with Mynos to know what was to do. Then he seyd opynly, "Loke thow fayle nought Thy sentence to yeue without favour so, Line 144 Lyke as thow hast herde the causys meuyd the to; And so euenly dele twene these partyes tweyn, That noon of hem haue cause on the other compleyn."

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Then seyd Mynos full indyfferently, Line 148 To Dyane & Neptunus, "Ys ther any more That ye wyll declare agayn hym opynly?" "Nay in dede," they seyde, "we kepe noon in store. Line 151 We haue seyde ynough to punysshe hym sore. Yef ye in thys matyr be nat parciall, Remembre your name was wont to be egall." Line 154

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"Well then," seyd Mynos, "now let vs here Line 155 What thys boystous Eolus for hymself can sey, For here, prima facie, to vs he doth apere That he hath offendyd—no man can sey nay. Line 158 Wherfore thow Eolus, without more delay, Shape vs an answer to thyne accusement. And ellys I most procede opon thy iugement." Line 161

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And euyn as Eolus was onwarde to haue seyde Line 162 For hys excuse, came yn a messynger Fro god Apollo to Pluto, and hym prayde On hys behalfe that he without daungere Line 165 Wold to hym come & bryng with hym [in] feere Diane & Neptunus on to hys banket; And yef they dysdeynyd hymsylf he wold hem fet. Line 168

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Moreouer he seyde to the god, Apollo Line 169 Desyryd to haue respyte of the iugement Of Eolus, bothe of Mynos & Pluto. So Dyane and Neptunus were therwith content, Line 172 And yef they were dysposyd to assent That he myght come vnto hys presence, He hit desyryd to know hys offence. Line 175

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"What sey ye herto," seyd Pluto to hem tweyn, Line 176 "Wyll ye bothe assent that hit shall be thus?" "Ye," seyde the goddesse, "for my part certeyn." "And I also," seyde thys Neptunus. Line 179 "I am well plesyd," quod thys Eolus. And when they had a whyle thus togedyr spoke, Pluto commaundyd the court to be broke. Line 182

Line 182

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And then togedyr went they in fere, Line 183 Pluto & Neptunus ledyng the goddesse, Whom folowyd Cerberus with hys prysonere. And alther last with gret heuynesse Line 186 Came I & Morpheus to the forteresse Of the god Apollo vnto hys banket, Where many goddys & goddesses met. Line 189

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When Apollo sye that they were come, Line 190 He was ryght glad and prayed hem to syt. "Nay," seyd Diane, "thys ys all and some. Ye shall me pardone, I shall nat syt yet. Line 193 I shall fyrst know why Eolus abyte And what execucion shall on hym be do For hys offence." "Well," seyd Apollo, Line 196

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"Madame, ye shall haue all your plesere, Line 197 Syth that hit woll none other wyse be. But furst I yow pray let me the mater here, Why he ys brought in thys perplexyte." Line 200 "Well," seyde Pluto, "that shall ye sone se." And gan to declare euen by and by Bothe her compleyntes ordynatly. Line 203

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And when Apollo had herd the report Line 204 Of Pluto, in a maner smylyng he seyde, "I see well, Eolus, thow hast small comfort Thy sylf to excuse; thow mayst be dysmayde Line 207 To here so gret compleyntes ayene the layde. That natwithstandyng, yef thow can sey ought For thyne owne wele, sey and tary nought." Line 210

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"Forsothe," seyd Eolus, "yef I had respyte, Line 211 Her to an answere cowde I counterfete. But to haue her grace more ys my delyte. Wherfore, I pray you all for me entrete, Line 214 That I may, by your request, her good grace gete. And what pyne or greef ye for me prouyde, Without any grogyng I shall hit abyde." Line 217

Line 217

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"Lo, good Madame," seyd god Apollo, Line 218 "What may he do more but sew to your grace. Beholde how the teares from hys eyen go. Hit ys satysfaccion half for hys trespase. Line 221 Now gloryous goddesse shewe your pyteous face To thys poore prysoner at my request. All we for your honour thynke thus ys best. Line 224

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"And yef hit lyke yow to do in thys wyse, Line 225 And to foryeue hym clerely hys offense, Oon thyng suerly I will yow promyse, Yef he eft rebelle and make resystence Line 228 Or dysobey vnto your sentence, For euery tree that he maketh fall, Out of the erthe an hundred aryse shall. Line 231

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"So that your game shall nat dyscrese Line 232 For lak of shade, I dar vndyrtake." "Well, syr Apollo," seyde she than, "woll I cese Of all my rancour and mery with yow make." Line 235 And then god Neptunus of hys mater spake, Seying thus, "Apollo, though Diana hym relese, Yet shall he su to me to haue hys pese." Line 238

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"A," seyde Apollo, "ye wend I had foryete Line 239 Yow for my lady Diane, the goddesse. Nay, thynke nat so, for I woll yow entrete As well as hyr without long processe. Line 242 Wyll ye agre that Pheb[e] your mastresse May haue the guydyng of your varyaunce?" "I shall abyde," quod he, "her ordynaunce." Line 245

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"Well then," quod Apollo, "I pray you goddes all, Line 246 And goddesses eke, that be heere present, That ye compaygnably wyll aboorde fall." "Nay then," seyde Othea, "hit ys nat conuenyent, Line 249 A dew ordre in euery place ys expedyent To be had, wherfore ye may nat let To be your owne marchall at your owne banket." Line 252

Line 252

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And when Apollo sy hit wold noon other be, Line 253 He callyd to hym Aurora, the goddesse, And seyde, "Thowgh ye wepe yet shal ye before me Ay kepe your course & put your sylf in [presse]." Line 256 So he her set furst at hys owne messe, With her moyst clothes with teares all be spreynt. The medewes in May shew therof her compleynt. Line 259

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Next hyr sate Mars, myghty god & strong, Line 260 With a flame of fyre enuyround all about, A crowne of yron on hys hede, a spere in hys hand. Hyt semyd by hys chere as he wold haue fought. Line 263 And next vnto hym, as I perceue mought, Sate the goddese Diana, in a mantell fyne Of blak sylke, purfylyd with poudryd hermyne, Line 266

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Lyke as she had take the mantell & the ryng. Line 267 And next vnto hyr, arayed royally, Sate the good Iupyter, in hys demenyng Full sad, and wyse he semyd sykerly. Line 270 A crown of tynne stoode on hys hede. And that I recorde of all philosophres That lytyll store of coyne kepe in her cofres. Line 273

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Ioynyd to hym in syttyng next ther was Line 274 The goddesse Iuno, full rychely beseene In a sercote that shone as bryght as glas, Of goldsmythes werke with spanglys wrought be-dene. Of royall rychesse wantyd she noone I wene. And next by her sate the god Saturne, That oft sythe causeth many oon to morne. Line 280

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But he was clad me thought straungely, Line 281 For of frost & snow was all his aray; In hys hand he helde a fawchon all blody. Hyt semyd by hys chere as he wold make a fray. Line 284 A bawdryk of isykles about hys nek gay He had, and aboue an hygh on hys hede, Cowchyd with hayle stonys, he weryd a crowne of leede.

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And next in ordre was set by hys syde Line 288 Ceres, the goddesse, in a garment Of sak clothe made with sleues large & wyde, Embrowderyd with sheues & sykelys bent. Line 291 Of all maner greynes she sealyd the patent, In token that she was the goddesse of corne. Olde poetys sey she bereth the heruest horne. Line 294

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Then was there set the god Cupido, Line 295 All fresshe & galaunt & costlew in aray. With ouches & rynges he was beset so The paleys therof shone as though hit had be day. Line 298 A kerchyef of plesaunce stood ouer hys helme ay. The goddesse Ceres he lookyd in the face And with oon arme he hyr dyd enbrace. Line 301

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Next to Cupido in ordyr by and by, Line 302 Of worldly wysdom, sate the forteresse Callyd Othea, chyef grounde of polycy, Rewler of knyghthode, of Prudence the goddese. Line 305 Clad all in purpur was she more & lesse, Safe on her hede a crowne ther stood, Cowchyd with perles, oryent, fyne and good. Line 308

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And next to her was god Pluto set, Line 309 With a derke myst enuyrond all aboute, Hys clothyng was made of a smoky net. Hys colour was, bothe withyn & withoute, Line 312 Foule, derke & dymme; hys eyen gret & stoute. Of fyre and sulphure all hys odour wase; That wo was me whyle I behelde hys fase. Line 315

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Fortune, the goddesse, with her party face Line 316 Was vnto Pluto next in ordre set. Varyaunt she was; ay in short space Hyr whele was redy to turne without let. Line 319 Hyr gowne was of gawdy grene chamelet, Chaungeable of sondry dyuerse colowres, To the condycyons accordyng of hyr shoures. Line 322

Line 322

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And by her sate though he vnworthy were, Line 323 The rewde god Pan, of sheperdys the gyde, Clad in russet frese, & breched lyke a bere, With a gret tar box hangyng by hys syde. Line 326 A shepecrook in hys hand he sparyd for no pryde. And at hys feete lay a prykeryd curre. He ratelyd in the throte as he had the murre. Line 329

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Ysys, the goddesse, bare hym company. Line 330 For at the table next she sat by hys syde, In a close kyrtyll enbrowderyd curyously, With braunches & leues, brood, large & wyde, Line 333 Grene as any gresse in the somertyde. Of all maner frute she had the gouernaunce. Of sauerys odoryferous was her sustynaunce. Line 336

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Next hyr was then god Neptunus set. Line 337 He sauoryd lyke a fyssher—of hym I spake before. Hyt semyd by hys clothes as they had be wet. Aboute hym, in hys gyrdyll stede, hyng fysshes many a score. Of hys straunge aray meruelyd I sore. A shyp with a toppe & seyle was hys crest. Me thought he was gayly dysgysyd at that fest. Line 343

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Then toke Mynerue, the goddesse, her sete Line 344 Joyntly to Neptunus, all in curas clad, Gauntlettes on hyr handys, & sabatouns on hyr fete. She loked euer about as though she had be mad. Line 347 An hamer and a sythe on her hede she had. She weryd ii bokelers, oon by her syde, That other ye wote where; thys was all her pryde. Line 350

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Then came the good Bachus, and by her set hym downe, Holdyng in hys hande a cup full of wyne. Of grene vyne leues he weryd a ioly crowne. He was clad in clustres of grapes good and fyne. Line 354 A garland of yuy he chase for hys sygne; On hys hede he had a thredebare kendall hood; A gymlot and a fauset theropon stood. Line 357

Line 357

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Next hym sate Pheb[e], with hyr colour pale. Line 358 Fat she was of face but of complexyon feynt. She seyde she rewlyd Neptunus and made hym to avale, And ones in the moneth with Phebus was she meynt. Also ne were she Ceres were ateynt. Thus she sate & tolde the myght of hyr nature, And on hyr hede she weryd a crowne of syluyr pure.

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Ioyntly to her Mercurius tooke hys see Line 365 As came to hys course—wytnesse the zodyak. He had a gyldyn tong, as fyll for hys degree. In eloquence of langage he passyd all the pak, Line 368 For in hys talkyng no man cowde fynde lak. A box with quyksyluer he had in hys hand, Multyplyers know hit well in euery land. Line 371

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By him sate Dame Venus with colour crystallyne, Line 372 Whoos long here shone as wyre of goold bryght. Cryspe was her skyn, her eyen columbyne, Rauysshyd myn hert her chere was so lyght. Line 375 Patronesse of plesaunce, be namyd well se myght. A smokke was her wede, garnysshyd curyously. But aboue all other she had a wanton ey. Line 378

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On her hede she weryd a rede copyr crowne. Line 379 A nosegay she had made full pleasauntly. Betwene her and Aurora, Apollo set hym downe. With hys beames bryght he shone so feruently Line 382 That he therwith gladyd all the company. A crowne of pure gold was on hys hede set, In sygne that he was mastyr & lord of that banket.

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Thus was the table set rownde aboute Line 386 With goddys & goddesses, as I haue yow tolde. Awaytyng on the boorde was a gret route Of sage phylosophyrs & poetes many folde. Line 389 Ther was sad Sychero & Arystotyll olde, Tholome, Dorothe, with Dyogenes, Plato, Messehala, & wyse Socrates. Line 392

Line 392

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Sortes and Saphyrus with Hermes stood behynde. Line 393 Auycen and Aueroys with hem were in fere. Galyen & Ipocras, that physyk haue in mynde, With helpe of Esculapion, toward hem drow nere. Line 396 Virgyle, Orace, Ouyde and Omere, Euclyde, and Albert yaue her attendaunce, To do the goddys and goddesses plesaunce. Line 399

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Whore berdyd Orpheus was there with hys harpe Line 400 And as a poet musykall made he melody. Othyr mynstrall had they none, safe Pan gan to carpe Of hys lewde bagpype, whyche causyd the company Line 403 To lawe. Yet many mo ther were, yef I shuld nat ly, Som yong, som olde, bothe bettyr and werse, But mo of her names can I not reherse. Line 406

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Of all maner deyntees ther was habundaunce, Line 407 Of metys & drynkes foyson plenteuous. In came Dyscord to haue made varyaunce. But there was no rome to set hyr in that hous. Line 410 The goddys remembryd the scisme odyous Among the three goddesses that [s]he had wrought At the fest of Peleus, wherfor they thought Line 413

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They wold nat with her dele in auenture Line 414 Lest she theym brought to som inconuenyent. She, seyng thys, was wrothe out of mesure And in that gret wrethe out of the paleyce went, Line 417 Seying to hersylf that chere shuld þey repent. And anone with Attropos happyd she to mete, As he had bene a goste came in wyndyng shete. Line 420

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She toke hym by the hande & rownyd in hys eare Line 421 And told hym of the banket that was so delycate, Howe she was resceuyd, what chere she had there, And howe euery god sate in hys estate. "Ys hit thus!" quod Attropos, "what in the deuyllys date!" "Well," he seyde, "I see well howe the game gooth, Ones yet for your sake shall I make hem wrooth." Line 427

Line 427

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And when she had hym all togedyr tolde, Line 428 From her he departyd and of hyr toke hys leue, Seying that for hyr sake hys wey take he wolde In to the paleyce hys matyrs to meue. Line 431 And er he thens went he trowyd hem to greue With suche tydynges as he shuld hem tell. So forthe yn he went & spake wordys fell. Line 434

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When he came in the presence of the goddes all, Line 435 As he had be woode he lookyd hym about. His shete from his body down he let fall, And on a rewde maner he salutyd all the rout, Line 438 With a bold voyse, carpyng wordys stout. But he spake all holow, as hit had be oon Had spoke in another world þat had woo begoon. Line 441

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He stood forthe boldly with grym countenaunce, Line 442 Saying in thys wyse as ye shall here, "All ye gret goddys yeue attendaunce Vnto my wordys without all daungere, Line 445 Remembre howe ye made me your offycere All tho with my dart fynally to chastyse That yow dysobeyed or wold your law dyspyse. Line 448

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"And for the more sewerte ye seelyd my patent, Line 449 Yeuyng me full power soo to occupy, Wherto I haue enployed myn entent And that can Dame Nature well testyfy; Line 452 Yef she be examynyd she woll hit nat deny. For when she forsaketh any creature, I am ay redy to take hym to my cure. Line 455

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"Thus haue I dewly, with all my dilygence, Line 456 Executyd the offyce of olde antiquyte, To me by yow grauntyd, by your comon sentence. For I spared noon hygh nor low degre, Line 459 So that on my part no defaute hath be. For as sone as any to me commyttyd wase I smete hym to the hert—he had noon other grase.

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"Ector of Troy, for all hys chyualry, Line 463 Alexaunder, the grete & myghty conquerour, Iulius Cesar, with all hys company, Dauid, nor Iosue, nor worthy Artour, Line 466 Charles the noble, that was so gret of honour, Nor Iudas Machabee for all hys trew hert, Nor Godfrey of Boleyn cowde me nat astert. Line 469

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"Nabugodonozor, for all hys gret pryde, Line 470 Nor the King of Egypt, cruell Pharao, Iason, ne Hercules, went they neuer so wyde, Cosdras, Hanyball, nor gentyll Sypio, Line 473 Cirus, Achilles, nor many another mo, For feyre or foule gat of me no grace. But all be at the last I sesyd hem with my mace. Line 476

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"Thus hav I brought euery creature Line 477 To an ende bothe man, fysshe, foule & beste, And euery other thyng in whom Dame Nature Hath any iurysdiccion, owther most or leste, Line 480 Except oonly oon in whom your beheste Ys to me broke; for ye me promysyd That my myght of noon shuld haue be dyspysyd. Line 483

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"Wherof the contrary, dar I well avowe, Line 484 Ys trew; for oon there ys that wyll nat apply Vnto my correccion nor in no wyse bowe To the dynt of my dart for doole nor destyny. Line 487 What comfort he hath, nor the cause why That he so rebelleth, I can nat thynke of ryght But yef ye haue hym grauntyd your aldyrs saf con|dyght.

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"And yef ye so haue, then do ye nat as goddys, Line 491 For a goddes wrytyng may nat reuersyd be. Yef hit shuld I wold nat yeue 11 pesecoddys For graunt of your patent of offyce ner of fee. Line 494 Wherfore in thys mater do me equyte Accordyng to my patent, for tyll thys be do Ye haue no more my seruyce nor my good wyll lo."

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And when all the goddes had Attropos herde, Line 498 As they had be woode they brayde vp at oonys And seyde they wold nat reste tyll he were conqueryd, Taken and dystroyed, boody, blood and boonys; Line 501 And that they swere gret othes for the noonys Her lawe to dyspyce, that was so malapert. They seyde he shuld be taught for to be so pert. Line 504

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"Well," seyde Apollo, "yef he on erthe bee, Line 505 Wyth my brennyng chare I shall hym confound." "In feythe," quod Neptunus, "& yef he kepe the see, He may be full sure he shall sone be drownd." Line 508 "A syr," seyd Mars, "thys haue we well fownd That any dysobeyed owre godly precept, We may well thynke we haue to long slept. Line 511

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"But neuerthelese where I may hym fynde Line 512 With thundre and leyte about I shall hym chase." "And I," quod Saturnus, "before and behynde With my bytter colde shall shew hym hard grase." Line 515 "Well," seyd Mercurius, "yef I may see hys fase, For euer of hys speche I shall hym depryue; So that hym were bettyr be dede than a lyue." Line 518

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"Ye," quod Othea, "yet may he well be Line 519 In the eyre where he woll & ax yow no leue, Wherfore, my counsell ys that all we May entrete Neptunus hys rancour to foryeue, Line 522 And then I dowte not Eolus wyll hym myscheue; So may ye be sewre he shall yow nat escape, And elles of all your angre woll he make but a iape."

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But for to tell yow how Eolus was brought Line 526 In daunger of Pluto yet had I foryete, Wherfore on thys mater ferther wyll I nought Procede, tyll I therof haue knowleche yow lete. Line 529 Hyt fell on a day the wedyr was wete And Eolus thought he wold on hys disport Go to reioyse hys spyrytes and comfort. Line 532

Line 532

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He thought he wold see what was in the grownd, Line 533 And in a krauers forthe he gan hym dresse. A drowthe had the erthe late before fownd That causyd hit to chyne & krany more and lesse. Line 536 Sodeynly by weet constreynyd by duresse Was the ground to close hys superfyciall face So strayte that to scape Eolus had no space. Line 539

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Thys seyng Eolus he styll withyn aboode, Line 540 Sekyng where he myght haue goon out fer or nere. Anone he was aspyed and oon to Pluto roode And told hym how Eolus was in hys daungere. Line 543 Then seyde he to Cerberus, "Fet me that prysonere Till I haue hym seene; let him nat go at large. As thow wylt answer of hym I yeue þe charge." Line 546

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Thus was thys Eolus take prysoner. Line 547 Then happyd hit so that the same day Pluto had prefyxyd for a gret mater Mynos to syt in his roob of ray. Line 550 Wherfore Cerberus tooke the next way And led hym to the place where the court shalbe, Whedyr as I tolde yow Morpheus brought me. Line 553

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So thedyr came Diana caryed in a carre, Line 554 To make her compleynt as I told yow all. And so dyd Neptunus, that dothe bothe make & marre, Walewyng with hys wawes & tomblyng as a ball. Line 557 Her matyrs they meuyd fall what may befall. Ther was the furst syght that euer I theym sawe, And yef I neuer do efte I rekke nat a strawe. Line 560

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Bot now to my matyr to returne ageyn Line 561 And to begynne newe where I left— When all the goddes had done her besy peyn The wey to contryue how he shuld be reft Line 564 Of hys lyfe, that Attropos had no cause eft To compleyn, than Pheb[e] styrt vppon her fete And seyd, "I pray yow let me speke a worde yete: Line 567

Line 567

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"Othea meneth well to sey on thys wyse, Line 568 But all to entrete Neptunus, I hope, shall nat nede. Me semeth I alone durst take that entyrpryse Er I am begylyd, or elles I shall spede. Line 571 How say ye, Neptunus, shall I do thys dede? Wyll ye your rancour sese at my request?" "Madame," quod he, "reule me as ye lyketh best." Line 574

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"Gramercy," seyd she, "of your good wyll Line 575 That hit pleseth yow to shew me that fauour, Wherefore the goddes hygh plesure to fulfyll, Performe my desyre & leeue all olde rancour, Line 578 For our aldyrs wele & sauyng of our honour, Ageyn thys Eolus that ye long haue had." "Hyt ys doon," quoth he, "forsoth then am I glad."

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Seyde he, "Now then, Eolus, be thow to vs trew, Line 582 Kepe well the eyr, and owre gret rebell May we then soone euer to vs subdew." "Yes and that," quod Eolus, "shall ye here tell Line 585 No where in the eyre shall he reste nor dwell. Yef he do therof, put me in defaute, With my bytter blastys so shall I hym asaute." Line 588

85

"What," seyde the god Pluto, "what ys hys name Line 589 That thus presumeth ageyn vs to rebell?" "Vertew," quod Attropos, "that haue he mykyll shame, He ys neuer confoundyd, thus of hym here I tell." Line 592 "A," seyde thys Pluto, "in dede I know hym well, He hathe be euer myn vtter enemy. Wherfore thys mater ageyn hym take wyll I. Line 595

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"For all the baytys that ye for hym haue leyde, Line 596 Without myn helpe, be nat worth a peere. For though ye all the contrary had seyde, Yet wolde he breede ryght nygh your althrys eere. Line 599 No maner of thyng can hym hurt nor dere Saue oonly oon, a son of myn bastard, Whos name ys Vyce—he kepeth my vaward. Line 602

Line 602

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"Wherfore, yow Cerberus, now I the dyscharge Line 603 Of Eolus, and wyll that thow hydyr fette My dere son Vyce, & sey that I hym charge That he to me come without any lette, Line 606 Armyd at all poyntes, for a day ys sette, That he with Vertew for all the goddes sake, In our defense must on hym batayll take." Line 609

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Forthe then went Cerberus with hys fyry cheyne Line 610 And brought thedyr Vyce, as he commaundyd was, Ageyn noble Vertew that batayll to dereygne. On a glydyng serpent rydyng a gret pas, Line 613 Formyd lyke a dragon, scalyd harde as glas, Whos mouth flamyd feere without fayll. Wyngys had hit serpentyne and a long tayll. Line 616

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Armyd was Vyce all in cure boyle, Line 617 Hard as any horn, blakker fer then soot. An vngoodly soort folowyd hym parde, Of vnhappy capteyns of myschyef croppe & roote. Line 620 Pryde was the furst þat next hym roode, God woote, On a roryng lyon; next whom came Enuy, Syttyng on a wolfe—he had a scornfull ey. Line 623

90

Wrethe bestrode a wylde bore, and next hem gan ryde. In hys hand he bare a blody nakyd swerde. Next whom came Couetyse, that goth so fer and wyde, Rydyng on a olyfaunt, as he had ben aferde. Line 627 Aftyr whom rood Glotony, with hys fat berde, Syttyng on a bere, with hys gret bely. And next hym on a goot folowyd Lechery. Line 630

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Slowthe was so slepy he came all behynde Line 631 On a dull asse, a full wery pase. These were the capyteyns that Vyce cowde fynde B[e]st to set hys felde and folow on the chase. Line 634 As for pety capteyns many mo the[r] wase; As Sacrylege, Symony, & Dyssimulacion, Manslaughter, Mordre, Theft & Extorcion, Line 637

Line 637

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Arrogaunce, Presumpcion, with Contumacy, Line 638 Contempcion, Contempt, & Inobedience, Malyce, Frowardnes, Gret Ielacy, Woodnesse, Hate, Stryfe, and Impacience, Line 641 Vnkyndnesse, Oppression, with Wofull Neglygence, Murmour, Myschyef, Falshood & Detraccion, Vsury, Periury, Ly, and Adulacion, Line 644

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Wrong, Rauyne, Sturdy Vyolence, Line 645 False Iugement, with Obstynacy, Dysseyte, Dronkenes, and Improuydence, Boldnes in Yll, with Foule Rybaudy, Line 648 Fornycacion, Incest, and Auoutry, Vnshamefastnes, with Prodygalyte, Blaspheme, Veynglory, & Wordly Vanyte, Line 651

94

Ignoraunce, Diffydence, with Ipocrysy, Line 652 Scysme, Rancour, Debate, & Offense, Heresy, Errour, with Idolatry, New-Fangylnes, & sotyll False Pretense, Line 655 Inordinat Desyre of Worldly Excellense, Feynyd Pouert, with Apostasy, Disclaundyr, Skorne, & Vnkynde Ielousy, Line 658

95

Hoordam, Bawdry, False Mayntenaunce, Line 659 Treson, Abusion, & Pety Brybry; Vsurpacion, with Horryble Vengeaunce, Came alther last of that company. Line 662 All these pety capteyns folowyd by & by, Shewyng theymsylf in the palyse wyde, And seyde they were redy that batayll to abyde. Line 665

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Idylnesse set the comons in aray Line 666 Without the paleyse on a fayre felde. But there was an oost for to make a fray! I trow suche another neuer man behelde! Line 669 Many was the wepyn among hem þat þey welde! What pepyll they were that came to that dysport I shall yow declare of many a sondry sort. Line 672

Line 672

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Ther were bosters, braggars, & brybores, Line 673 Praters, fasers, strechers, & wrythers, Shamefull shakerles, soleyn shaueldores, Oppressours of pepyll, and myghty crakers, Line 676 Meyntenours of querelles, horryble lyers, Theues, traytours, with false herytykes, Charmers, sorcerers, & many scismatykes, Line 679

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Pryuy symonyakes, with false vsurers, Line 680 Multyplyers, coyn wasshers & clyppers, Wrong vsurpers, with gret extorcioners, Bakbyters, glosers, & fayre flaterers, Line 683 Malycious murmurers, with grete claterers, Tregetours, tryphelers, feyners of tales, Lastyuyous lurdeyns, & pykers of males, Line 686

99

Rowners, uagaboundes, forgers of lesynges, Line 687 Robbers, reuers, rauenouse ryfelers, Choppers of churches, fynders of tydynges, Marrers of maters, & money makers, Line 690 Stalkers by nyght, with euesdroppers, Fyghters, brawlers, brekers of lofedayes, Getters, chyders, causers of frayes, Line 693

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Tytyuyllys, tyrauntes, with turmentoures, Line 694 Cursyd apostates, relygyous dyssymulers, Closshers, carders, with comon hasardoures, Tyburne coloppys, and pursekytters, Line 697 Pylary knyghtes, double tollyng myllers, Gay ioly tapsters, with hostelers of the stewes, Hoores, and baudys—that many bale brewes, Line 700

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Bolde blasphemers, with false ipocrytes, Line 701 Brothelles, brokers, abhomynable swerers, Dryuylles, dastardes, dyspysers of ryghtes, Homycydes, poyseners, & comon morderers, Line 704 Skoldes, caytyffys, comborouse clappers, Idolatres, enchauntours, with false renegates, Sotyll ambidextres, & sekers of debates, Line 707

Line 707

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Pseudo prophetes, false sodomytes, Line 708 Quelmers of chyldren, with fornycatours, Wetewoldes that suffre syn in her syghtes, Auouterers, & abhominable auauntours Line 711 Of syn, gret clappers, & makers of clamours; Vnthryftys, & vnlustes came also to that game, With luskes, & loselles that myght nat thryue for shame.

103

These were the comons came thedyr that day Line 715 Redy bowne in batayll Vertew to abyde. Apollo, theym beholdyng, began for to say To the goddes & goddesses beyng there that tyde, Line 718 "Me seemeth conuenyent an herowde to ryde To Vertew, & byd hym to batayll make hym bone, Hymsylf to defende, for sowght he shalbe sone. Line 721

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"And let hym nat be sodenly take Line 722 All dyspurueyde or then he beware, For then shuld our dyshonour awake Yef he were cowardly take in a snare." Line 725 "Ee," quod Vyce, "for that haue I no care. I will auauntage take where I may." That heryng, Morpheus pryuyly stale away, Line 728

105

And went to warne Vertew of all thys afray, Line 729 And bade hym awake & make hymsylf strong, For he was lyke to endure that day A gret mortall shoure, er hit were euesong, Line 732 With Vyce, wherfore he bade him nat long Tary to sende aftyr more socour— Yef he dede, hit shuld turne hym to dolour. Line 735

106

And brefely the matyr to hym he declaryd, Line 736 Lyke as ye haue herde begynnyng & ende. "Well," quoth Vertu, "he shall nat be sparyd. To the felde I wyll wende how hit wende. Line 739 But gramercy, Morpheus, myn owne dere frende, Of your trew hert & feythefull entent That ye in thys mater to me ward haue ment." Line 742

Line 742

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Thys doon, Morpheous departyd away Line 743 Fro Vertu to the palyce retornyng ageyn. Noon hym aspyed, that I dar well say. In whyche tyme Vertew dyd hys besy peyn Line 746 Pepyll to reyse hys quarell to menteyn. Ymaginacion was hys messyngere— He went to warne pepyll bothe fer & nere. Line 749

108

And bade hem come in all the haste they myght Line 750 For to streyngthe Vertu, for, without fayll, He seyde he shuld haue, long or hit were nyght, With Vyce to do a myghty strong batayll; Line 753 Of vngracious gastes he bryngeth a long tayll. "Wherfore hit behoueth to helpe at thys nede And aftyr thys shall Vertu rewarde yowre mede." Line 756

109

When Imaginacion had goon hys cyrcute Line 757 To Vertews frendys thus all aboute, Withyn short tyme many men of myght Gaderyd to Vertew in all that they mowte. Line 760 They hym comfortyd & bad hym put no dowte Hys vttyr enemy Vyce to ouerthrow, Though he with hym brought neuer so gret arow.

110

And when Vertew sy the substaunce of hys oost, Line 764 He prayed all the comons to the felde hem hy, With her pety capteynys both lest & moost, And he with hys capteynys shuld folow redyly. Line 767 For he seyde he knew well that Vyce was full ny. And who myght furst of the felde recouer the centre Wold kepe out that other he shuld nat esyly entre. Line 770

111

Then sent he forthe Baptym to the felde before, Line 771 And prayed hym hertyly hit to ouerse, That no maner trayne nor caltrop theryn wore To noy nor hurt hym nor hys meyne. Line 774 And when he thedyr came he began to see How Vyce hys purseuaunte, Cryme Oryginall, Was entryd before and had sesyd vp all. Line 777

Line 777

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But as sone as herof Baptym had a syght, Line 778 He fled fast awey and left the felde alone. And anone Babtym entred with hys myght, Serchyng all about where thys Cryme had gone. Line 781 But the felde was clene defaute; fonde he none. Then cam Vertew aftyr with hys gret oost, And hys myghty capytayns, bothe leste & moost. Line 784

113

But to enforme yow howe he thedyr came, Line 785 And what maner capyteyns he to the felde brought— Hymsylfe, sekerly, was the furst man Of all hys gret hoost that thedyrward sought, Line 788 Syttyng in a chare that rychely was wrought, With golde & peerles & gemmes precious, Crownyd with laurer as lord vyctoryous. Line 791

114

Foure dowty knyghtys about the chare went Line 792 At euery corner on hit for to gyde, And convey accordyng to Vertew hys entent. At the furst corner was Ryghtwysnes that tyde, Line 795 Prudence at the second was set to abyde, At the thryd Streyngth, the fourth kept Temperaunce. These the chare gydyd to Vertew hys plesaunce. Line 798

115

Next to the chare, seuen capteyns ther roode, Line 799 Ychone aftyr other in ordre by and by. Humylyte was the furst; a lambe he bestroode. With countenaunce demure he roode full soburly. Line 802 A fawcon gentyll stood on hys helme on hy. And next aftyr hym came there Charyte Rydyng on a tygre, as fyll to hys degre. Line 805

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Roody as a roose ay he kept hys chere. Line 806 On hys helme on hygh a pellycan he bare. Next whom came Pacyence, þat nowhere hath no pere, On a camell rydyng, as voyde of all care. Line 809 A fenyx on hys helme stood. So forthe gan he fare. Who next hym folowyd but Lyberalyte, Syttyng on a dromedary, þat was bothe good & free.

117

On hys helme for hys crest he bare an ospray. Line 813 And next aftyr hym folowyd Abstynence, Rydyng on an hert, hys trapure was gay, He semyd a lorde of ryght gret excellence. Line 816 A popyniay was hys crest; he was of gret dyffence. Next hym folowyd Chastyte on an unycorn, Arymd at all poyntes behynde and beforn. Line 819

118

A turtyldoue he bare an hygh for hys crest. Line 820 Then came Good Besynesse, last of the seuyn, Rydyng on a panter, a sondry colouryd best, Gloryously beseene as he had come from heuyn. Line 823 A crane on hys hede stood, hys crest for to steuyn. All these seuyn capteynes had standardes of pryce, Eche of hem acordyng aftyr hys deuyse. Line 826

119

Many pety capteyns aftyr these went, Line 827 As Trew Feythe, & Hoope, Mercy, Peese, & Pyte, Ryght, Trowthe, Mekenesse, with Good Entent, Goodness, Concorde, & Parfyte Vnyte, Line 830 Honest Trew Loue, with Symplycyte, Prayer, Fastyng, Preuy Almysdede, Ioynyd with the Artycles of the Crede, Line 833

120

Confession, Contrycion, and Satysfaccion, Line 834 With Sorow for Synne, & Gret Repentaunce, Foryeuenes of Trespas, with Good Dysposicion, Resystence of Wrong, Performyng of Penaunce, Line 837 Hooly Deuocion, with Good Contynuaunce, Preesthood theym folowyd with the Sacramentes, And Sadnesse also with the Commaundementes, Line 840

121

Sufferaunce in Trowble, with Innocency, Line 841 Clennesse, Continence, and Virginite, Kyndnesse, Reuerence, with Curtesy, Content & Plesyd with Pyteous Pouerte, Line 844 Entendyng Well, Mynystryng Equyte Twene ryght & wrong, Hoole Indyfferency, And Laboryng the Seruyce of God to Multyply, Line 847

Line 847

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Refuse of Rychesse & Worldly Veynglory, Line 848 Perfeccion, with Parfyte Contemplacion, Relygyon, Profession well kept in Memory, Verrey Drede of God, with Holy Predycacion, Line 851 Celestiall Sapience, with Goostly Inspiracion; Grace was the guyde of all thys gret meyny. Whom folowyd Konnyng with hys genalogy— Line 854

123

That ys to sey, Gramer, and Sophystry, Line 855 Philosophy Naturall, Logyk, & Rethoryk, Arsmetry, Geometry with Astronomy, Canon & Cyuyle, melodyous Musyk, Line 858 Nobyll Theology, and Corporall Physyk, Moralizacion of Holy Scripture, Profounde Poetry and Drawyng of Picture— Line 861

124

These folowyd Konnyng & thedyr with hym came, Line 862 With many oon moo offryng her seruyce To Vertew at that nede; but natwithstandyng than Som he refusyd and seyde in nowyse Line 865 They shuld with hym go, and, as I coude auyse, These were her names: fyrst, Nygromansy, Geomansy, Magyk, and Glotony, Line 868

125

Adryomancy, Ornomancy, with Pyromancy, Line 869 Fysenamy also, and Pawmestry, And all her sequelys, yef I shult nat ly. Yet Konnyng prayed Vertu he wold nat deny Line 872 Theym for to know nor dysdeyne with hys ey On hem to loke, wherto Vertew grauntyd. How[be] hit in hys werres he wold nat þey hauntyd. Line 875

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So had they Connyng lyghtly to depart Line 876 From Vertew hys felde, and they seyng thys By comon assent hyryd theym a cart And made hem be caryed toward Vyce y-wys. Line 879 Fro thensforth to serue hym they wold nat mys. Full lothe they were to he mastyrles; In stede of the bettyr the worse ther they ches. Line 882

Line 882

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But foorth to relese all the remenaunt Line 883 Of pety capteyns that with Vertu were, Moderat Dyete, & Wysdom auenaunt, Euyn Wyght & Mesure, Ware of Contagious Geere, Line 886 Lothe to Offende, and Louyng ay to Lere, Worshyp, & Profyt, with Myrthe in Manere, These pety capteyns with Vertew were in fere. Line 889

128

Comones hem folowyd a gret multitude. Line 890 But in [comparyson] to that other syde I trow ther was nat, brefely to conclude, The x^th man that batayll to abyde. Line 893 Yet neuerthelese, I shall nat fro yow hyde What maner pepyll they were & of what secte, As neere as my wyt therto wyll me dyrecte. Line 896

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Ther were notable and famous doctours, Line 897 Example yeuers of lyuyng gracyous, Perpetuell prestes and dyscrete confessours, Of Holy Scriptur declares fructuous, Line 900 Rebukers of synne & myschefes odyous, Fysshers of fowles, & lovers of clennes, Dyspysers of veyn & worldly ryches, Line 903

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Pesyble prelates, iustyciall gouernours, Line 904 Founders of churches, with mercyfull peeres, Reformers of wrong of her progenitours On peynfull poore pyteous compassioners, Line 907 Well menyng merchauntes, with trew artyfyceres, Vyrgyns pure, and also innocentes, Hooly matronys, with chaste contynentes, Line 910

131

Pylgryms, & palmers, with trew laborers, Line 911 Hooly heremytes, goddes solycitours, Monasteriall monkes, & well dysposyd freres, Chanons, & nonnes, feythfull professoures, Line 914 Of worldly peple trew coniugatoures, Louers of Cryst, confounders of yll, And all that to godward yeue her good wyll, Line 917

Line 917

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Mayntenours of ryght, verrey penytentes, Line 918 Distroyers of errour, causers of Vnyte, Trew actyf lyuers that set her ententes The dedes to performe of mercy and pyte, Line 921 Contemplatyf peple that desyre to be Solytary seruauntes vnto God alone, Rather then to habounde in rychesse euerychone. Line 924

133

These, with many mo then I reherse can, Line 925 Were come thedyr redy that batayll to abyde, And take such part as fyll to Vertew than. Vyce to ouercome they hopyd for all hys pryde, Line 928 All though that he had more pepyll on hys syde, For the men that Vertu had were full sewre To trust on at Nede & Konnyng in armure. Line 931

134

Macrocosme was the name of the felde Line 932 Where thys gret batayle was set for to be. In the myddes therof stood Conscience, & behelde Whyche of hem shuld be brought to captyuyte. Line 935 Of that nobyll tryumphe iuge wold he be. Synderesys sate hym withyn closyd as in a parke, With hys tables in hys hand her dedys to marke. Line 938

135

To come in to the felde were hygh weyes fyue, Line 939 Free to bothe partyes, large, broode and wyde. Vertu wold nat tary, but hyghyd hym thydyr blyue, Lest he were by Vyce deceuyd at that tyde. Line 942 Long out of the felde lothe he was to abyde, In auentur that he out of hyt were nat kept, For then wolde he haue thought he had to long slept.

136

In thys mene tyme whyle Vertu thus preuydyd Line 946 For hym and hys pepyll the feld for to wynne, He chargyd euery man by Grace to be guydyd, And all that euer myght the felde to entre ynne. Line 949 In all that seson went Orygynall Synne To lete Vyce know how Baptym, with hys oost, Had entryd Macrocosme & serchyd euery coost. Line 952

Line 952

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"A," seyde Vyce, "than I se well hit ys tyme Line 953 Baners to dysplay & standardys to auaunce. Allmost to long haddyst thow taryed, Cryme, To let vs haue knowlege of thys puruyaunce. Line 956 Yet I trow I shall lerne hem a new daunce. Wherfore I commaunde yow all without delay Toward the felde drawe, in all the haste ye may." Line 959

138

Then seyde the god Pluto that all men myght here, Line 960 "Vyce, I the charge, as thow wylt eschew Our heynous indignacion, thow draw nat arere But put the forthe boldly to ouerthrow Vertew." Line 963 "In feythe," quoth Attropos, "and I shall aftyr sew For yef he escape your handys thys day, I tell yow my seruyce haue ye lost for ay." Line 966

139

Forthe then rode Vyce with all hys hoole streyngth, Line 967 On hys steede serpentyn, as I tolde yow before. The oost that hym folowyd was of a gret leyngth. Among whom were penowns & guytornes many a score. But as he went thederward—I shall tell yow more Of hys pety capteyns—he made many a knyght, For they shuld nat fle but manly with hym fyght. Line 973

140

He dubbyd Falshood, with Dyssymulacion, Line 974 Symony, Vsure, Wrong, and Rebawdy, Malyce, Deceyte, Ly, with Extorcion, Periury, Diffidence, and Apostasy, Line 977 With Boldnesse in Yll to bere hem company— These xiiii knyghtes made Vyce that day; To wynne theyr spores they seyde they wold asay.

141

In lyke wyse, Vertew dubbyd on hys syde Line 981 Of hys pety capteynes other fourtene, Whyche made her avowe with hym to abyde. Her spores wold they wynne þat day, hit shuld be sene These were her names, yef hit be as I wene: Feythe, Hope and Mercy, Trouthe, & also Ryght, With Resystence of Wrong, a full hardy wyght, Line 987

Line 987

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Confession, Contricion, with Satisfaccion, Line 988 Verrey Drede of God, Performyng of Penaunce, Perfeccyon, Konnyng, and Good Dysposicion. And all knyt to Vertu they were by allyaunce. Line 991 Wherfore to hym they made assewraunce, That felde to kepe as long as they myght And in hys quarell ageyn Vyce to fyght. Line 994

143

The Lord of Macrocosme and rewler of that fee Line 995 Was callyd Frewyll, chaunger of the chaunse, To whom Vertew sent embassatours three, Reson, Discresion, & Good Remembraunse, Line 998 And prayed hym be fauorable hys honour to enhaunse, For but he had hys favour at that poynt of nede He stoode in gret doute he coude nat lyghtly spede.

144

In lyke wyse, Vyce embassatours thre, Line 1002 For hys party, vnto Frewyll sent, Temptacion, Foly, & Sensualyte, Praying hym of fauour that he wold assent Line 1005 To hym, as he wolde at hys commaundment Haue hym, eftsones, when he lyst to call On hym for any thyng þat aftyrward myght fall. Line 1008

145

Answere yaue he noon to neyther party, Line 1009 Saue oonly he seyde the batayle wold he se. To wete whyche of hem shuld haue the victory, Hit hyng in hys balaunce the ambyguyte. Line 1012 He seyde he wold nat restrayne hys lyberte. When he come where sorow shuld awake, Then hit shuld be know what part he woll take. Line 1015

146

Whan Vertew and Vyce, be her embassatours, Line 1016 Knew of thys answere, they stood in gret doute. Neuerthelese, they seyde they wold endure tho shoures And make an ende shortly of that they went aboute. So forthe came Vyce with all hys gret route. Er he came at the felde he sent yet pryuyly Sensualyte before, in maner of a spy, Line 1022

Line 1022

147

Whyche sewe the felde with hys vnkynde seede Line 1023 That causyd Vertu aftyr mykyll woo to feele. For therof grew nought but all oonly weede, Whyche made the grounde as slepyr as an yele. Line 1026 He went ayene to Vyce and told hym euery dele How he had done, and bade hym com away For he had so purueyde that Vyce shuld haue the day.

148

Soo, as hit happyd, at the felde they mete, Line 1030 Freewyll, Vertew & Vyce, as trypartyte, Safe Vertew a lytell before the felde had gete, And elles hys auauntage forsothe had he full lyght Nat for then encombryd so was neuer wyght As Vertew and hys men were with the ranke wede That in the felde grew of Sensualytees sede. Line 1036

149

But as sone as Vyce of Vertu had a syght, Line 1037 He gan swage gonnes as he had be woode. That heryng, Vertew commaundyd euery wyght To pauyse hym vndyr the sygne of the roode, Line 1040 And bad hem nat drede but kepe styll wher they stoode. Hyt was but a shoure shuld soone confound, Wherfore he commaundyd theym stand & kepe her ground.

150

And when Vyce came nerer to the felde, Line 1044 He callyd soore for bowes and bade hem shote faste. But Vertew and hys meyny bare of with the shelde Of the blessyd Trynyte ay tyll shot was paste. Line 1047 And when shot was doon, Vyce came forthe at laste, Purposyng the felde with assawte to wyn. But Vertew kept hit long—he myght nat entyr theryn.

151

All that tyme Frewyll & hym bethought Line 1051 To whyche he myght leue & what part he wold take. At last Sensualyte had hym so fer brought That he seyde pleynly he Vertu wold forsake, Line 1054 And in Vyce hys quarell all hys power make. "Y-wis," quoth Reason, "that ys nat for the beste." "No forse," seyde Frewyll, "I wyll do as my lyste."

152

Vertu was full heuy, when he sy Frewyll Line 1058 Take part with Vyce, but yet neuerthelesse He dyd that he myght the felde to kepe styll. Tyll Vyce, with Frewyll, so sore gan hym oppresse That he was constreynyd clerely by duresse A lytyll tyne abak to make abew retret. All thyng consyderyd hit was the best feet. Line 1064

153

Furst to remembre how Vyces part was Line 1065 Ten ayene oon strengor by lyklynes, And than how Frewyll was with hym allas, Whoo cowde deme Vertew but in heuynes; Line 1068 Moreouer to thynke how that slyper gres, That of Sensualyte hys vnkynde seede grew Vndyr foote in standyng encombryd Vertew. Line 1071

154

Yet natwithstandyng, Vertew hys men all Line 1072 Nobully theym bare and faught myghtyly. Howe be hyt, the slepyr grasse made many of hem fall, And from thense in maner depart sodeynly. Line 1075 That seyng, Vyce hys oost began to showt and cry And seyde, "On in Pluto name! On! & all ys owre! For thys day shall Vyce be made a conquerour!"

155

Thus Vertew was by myght of Vyce & Frewyll Line 1079 Dreuen out of the felde—hit was the more pyte. Howe be hit, yet Baptym kept hys ground styll, And with hym aboode Feythe, Hoope and Unyte, Line 1082 And Kunnyng also, with comons a gret meyne, Confessyon, Contricion were redy at her hande, And Satysfaccion, Vyce to wythstande. Line 1085

156

But all the tyme whyle Vertew was away Line 1086 A myghty conflycte kept they with Vyce his rowte, And yet neuerthelese for all that gret affray Hoope stood vpryght & Feythe wold neuer lowte; Line 1089 And euermore seyd Baptym, "Syres put no dowte Vertu shall retorne & haue hys entente. Thys felde shalbe our & elles let me be shent."

157

And whyle these pety-capteynes susteynyd thus the feelde, With Vertew hys rerewarde came Good Perseueraunce, An hogy myghty hoost, & when he behelde How Vertew hym withdrew he toke dysplesaunce, Line 1096 And when he to hym came he seyde, "Ye shall your chaunce Take as hit falleth, wherfore returne ye must. Yet oonys for your sake with Vyce shall I iust. Line 1099

158

"Allas that euer ye shuld leese thus your honour, Line 1100 And therwith also, the hygh perpetuell crowne, Whyche ys for yow kept in the celestiall tour. Wherfore be ye callyd Cristes Champyon? Line 1103 How ys hit that ye haue no compassyon On Baptym, Feythe, & Hoope, Konnyng, & Vnyte, That stant so harde be stadde & fyght as ye may see?

159

"All the tresour erthely vndyr the fyrmament, Line 1107 That euer was made of goddes creacion To rewarde theym euynly, were nat equyualent For her noble labour in hys afflyccion. Line 1110 Wherfore take vppon yow your iurysdyccion. Rescu yondyr knyghtes & recontynu fyght. And elles adew your crowne for all your gret meryt."

160

With these & suche wordys, as I haue yow tolde, Line 1114 By good Perseueraunce vttryd in thys wyse, Vertu hym remembryd & gan to wex bolde And seyd, "Yeue trew knyghtes to rescu I auyse. Line 1117 Let vs no lengor tary from thys entrepryse." Agayn to the felde so Vertew retornyd, That causyd hem be mery þat long afore had mornyd.

161

"Avaunt baner," quoth he, "in the name of Ihesu." Line 1121 And with that hys pepyll set vp a gret showte And cryed with a lowde voyce, "A Vertew! A Vertew!" Then began Vyce hys hooste for to loke abowte, Line 1124 But I trowe Perseueraunce was nat long withowte He bathyd hys swerde in hys foes blood. The boldyst of hem all nat oonys hym withstood.

162

Constaunce hym folowyd & brought hym hys spere. Line 1128 But when Perseueraunce saw Vyce on hys stede, No man cowde hym let tyll he came there. For to byd hym ryde, I trow hit was no nede. Line 1131 All Vertew hys ost prayde for hys good spede. Agayn Vyce he roode with hys gret shaft And hym ouerthrew for all hys sotyll craft. Line 1134

163

That seyng, Frewyll came to Conscience, Line 1135 And gan hym to repent that he with hym had bee, Praying hym of counsell for hys gret offence That he agayn Vertew had made hys armee, Line 1138 What was best to do. "To Humylyte," Quoth Conscience, "must þou go." So he hym thedyr sent Disguysyd that he were nat knowen as he went. Line 1141

164

And when he thedyr came, Humylyte hym took Line 1142 A token, & bad hym go to Confessyon, And shew hym hys mater with a peteous look. Whyche doon he hym sent to Contrycion, Line 1145 And fro thensforth to Satysfaccion. Thus fro poost to pylour was he made to daunce, And at the last he went forthe to Penaunce. Line 1148

165

But now for to tell yow—when Vyce was ouerthrow Line 1149 A gret parte of his oost about hym gan resorte. But he was so febyll that he cowde no man know. And when they sy þat they knew no comforte, Line 1152 But caryed hym awey be a pryuy porte. And as they hym caryed Dyspeyre with hym met; With Vyce hys reward he came theym for to fet. Line 1155

166

Then came ther downe goodly ladyes tweyne, Line 1156 From the hygh heuyn aboue the firmament, And seyde the gret Alpha & Oo, most souereyne, For that nobyll tryumphe, had hem thedyr sent; Line 1159 Oon of hem to dryue Vyce to gret torment With a fyry scourge that she bare in her hande. And so he dede dyspeyre and all his hoole bande.

167

The name of thys lady was callyd Prescience. Line 1163 She neuer left Vyce, ne noon that wold hym folow, Tyll they wer commyttyd by the diuine sentence All to peyne perpetuell and infynyte sorow. Line 1166 Ryghtwysnes went to see that no man shuld hem borow. Thus all entretyd sharpely were they, tyll Cerberus Had hem beshut withyn hys gates tenebrus. Line 1169

168

And all the whyle that Prescience with her scorge smert To rewarde Vyce gan hyr thus occupy, With all hys hoole bende, aftyr her desert, That other gloryous lady that came fro heuyn on hy, Line 1173 Hauyng in her hande the palme of vyctory, Came downe to Vertu and toke hym to that present, Seying thus that Alpha & Oo haue hym sent. Line 1176

169

And as ferre as I aryght cowde vndyrstand Line 1177 That ladyes name was Predestinacion. Vertu & hys hoost she blessyd with her hand And in heuen grauntyd hem habitacion, Line 1180 Where to eche of hem reseruyd was a crown, She seyde, in token that they enherytours Of the glory were and gracious conquerours. Line 1183

170

Whyche doon, thoo ladyes ayene togedyr met Line 1184 And toward heuyn vp they gan to [fly], Embrasyd in armes as they had be knet Togedyr with a gyrdyll; but so sodenly Line 1187 As they were vanysshyd saw I neuer thyng with ey. And anon Vertew with all hys company Knelyd down and thankyd God of that vyctory. Line 1190

171

Yet had I foryete when Vyce was ouerthrow Line 1191 To haue tolde yow how many of Vyce hys oost Gan to seek Peese, and darkyd downe full low, And besought Mercy, what so euer hys cost, Line 1194 To be her mene to Vertew, elles they were but lost. And som in lyke wyse to Feythe & Hoope sought What to do, for peese they seyde they ne rought. Line 1197

Line 1197

172

Som also to Baptym sewyd to be her mene; Line 1198 Som to oon, som to other, as they hem gete myght. But all to Confession went to make hem clene. And as they came by Conscience he theym bad goo lyght, Er than olde Attropos of hem had a syght. For yef he so theym tooke lost they were for euer. He seyde Vyce to forsake ys bettyr late then neuer.

173

Som eke for socour drew to Circumcysion, Line 1205 But by hym cowde they gete but small fauour, For he in that company was had but in derysion. Neuerthelese to Feythe he bade hem go labour, Line 1208 Praying theym for olde acqueyntance theym socour. "Well," quoth Feythe, "for hys sake, I shall do that I may do But furst for the best wey Baptym go ye to.

174

"For by hym sonnest shull ye recouer grace, Line 1212 Whyche shall to Vertu bryng yow by processe; Wherfore in any wyse looke ye make good face, And let no man know of your heuynes." Line 1215 So they were by Baptym brought out of dystres— Turnyd all to Vertew; & when thys was doon, Vertu commaundyd Frewyll before hym com. Line 1218

175

To whom thus he seyde, "I haue gret meruayll Line 1219 Ye durst be so bolde Vyces part to take. Who bade yow do so & yaue yow that counsayll? Iustly vnto that ye shall me pryuy make." Line 1222 Then seyde Frewyll & swemfully spake, Knelyng on hys kne with a chere benygne, "I pray yow, syr, let pyte your eares to me enclyne

176

"And I shall yow tell the verrey sothe of all, Line 1226 Howe hit was, & who made me that wey drawe. For sothe, Sensualite, hys propre name they call." "A," seyde Reason, "then I know well that felawe. Wylde he ys & wanton, of me stant hym noon awe." "Ys he soo?" quod Vertu, "well he shalbe taught As a pleyer shuld to drawe another draught." Line 1232

Line 1232

177

And with that came Sadnesse with hys sobre chere, Line 1233 Bryngyng Sensualyte, beyng full of thought, And seyde that he had take hym prysonere. "A welcome!" seyde Vertew, "now haue I that I sought. Blessyd be that good lord as thow wolde ys hit nought." "Why art thow so wantoun & wylde," he seyde, "for shame! Er thow go at large thow shalt be made more tame.

178

"But stande apart awhyle tyll I haue spoke a woorde Line 1240 With Frewyll a lytell, & then shalt thow know What shalbe thy finaunce;" & then he seyde in boorde Vnto Frewyll, "The bende of your bowe Line 1243 Begynneth to slake, but suche as ye haue sowe Must ye nedes reepe—ther ys noon other way. Natwithstandyng that let see what ye can say. Line 1246

179

"What ys your habylyte me to recompense Line 1247 For the gret harme that ye to me haue do?" "Forsothe," seyd Frewyll in opyn audyense, "But oonly Macrocosme more haue I nat lo. Line 1250 Take that, yef hit plese yow, I wyll that hit be so. Yef I may vndyrstand, ye be my good lorde." "In dede," seyde Vertu, "to that wyll I acorde." Line 1253

180

Then made Vertu Reson hys lyeftenaunt, Line 1254 And yaue hym a gret charge Macrocosme to kepe. That doon, Sensualyte yelde hym recreaunt, And began for to angre byttyrly to wepe. Line 1257 For he demyd sewerly hys sorow shuld nat slepe. Then made Vertu Frewyll bayll[e] vndyr Reson, The felde for to occupy to hys behoue that seson. Line 1260

181

And then seyde Vertu to Sensualyte, Line 1261 "Thow shalt be rewardyd for thy besynesse. Vndyr thys fourme all fragylyte Shalt thow forsake, bothe more & lesse, Line 1264 And vnder the guydyng shalt thow be of Sadnesse. All though hit somewhat be ageyn thy hert, Thy iugement ys yeuyn—thow shalt hit nat astert."

182

And euen with that came in Dame Nature, Line 1268 Saying thus to Vertew, "Syr ye do me wrong By duresse & constreynt to put thys creature, Gentyll Sensualyte, that hath me seruyd long, Line 1271 Cleerly from hys liberte, & set hym among Theym that loue hym nat, to be her vnderlowte, As hit were a castaway or a shoo clowte. Line 1274

183

"And, parde, ye know well a rewle haue I must Line 1275 Withyn Macrocosme; forsoth, I sey nat nay." Quoth Vertu, "But Sensualyte shall nat performe your lust Lyke as he hath do before thys, yef I may. Line 1278 Therfro hym restrayn Sadnesse shall assay. Howe be hit, ye shall haue your hoole lyberte Withyn Macrocosme, as ye haue had, fre." Line 1281

184

And when Vertu had to Nature seyd thus, Line 1282 A lytyll tyne hys ey castyng hym besyde, He sy in a corner standyng, Morpheus, That hym before warnyd of the verryly tyde. Line 1285 "A syres," seyd Vertu, "yet we must abyde. Here ys a frende of owre may nat be foryete. Aftyr hys desert we shall hym entrete." Line 1288

185

"Morpheus," seyd Vertu, "I thanke yow hertyly Line 1289 For your trew hert & your gret labour, That ye lyst to come to me soo redyly, When ye undyrstood the commyng of that shour. Line 1292 I thanke God & yow of sauyng of myn honour. Wherfore thys pryuylege now to you I graunt, That withyn Macrocosme ye shall haue your haunt.

186

"And of fyue posternes the keyes shall ye kepe, Line 1296 Lettyng in and out at hem whom ye lyst, As long as in Macrocosme your fadyr woll crepe. Blere whos ey ye woll hardyly with your myst, Line 1299 And kepe your werkes close there as in a chyst. Safe I wold desyre yow spare Pollucion, For nothyng may me plese that sowneth to corrup|cion."

187

And when he had thus seyde, þe keyes he hym tooke, Line 1303 And toward hys castell with hys pepyll went, Byddyng Reason take good heede & about looke, That Sensualyte by Nature were nat shent. Line 1306 "Kepe hym short," he seyde, "tyll hys lust be spent. For bettyr were a chylde to be vnbore, Then let hyt haue the wyll & for euer be lore." Line 1309

188

And when olde Attropos had seen & herde all thys, Line 1310 How Vertew had opteynyd, astonyed as he stood, He seyd to hymsylf, "Somwhat ther ys amys, I trow well my patent be nat all good," Line 1313 And ran to the palyse as he had be wood, Seying to the goddes, "I see ye do but iape, Aftyr a worthy whew haue ye made me gape. Line 1316

189

"Howe a deuyll way shuld I Vertu ouerthrow, Line 1317 When he dredyth nat all your hoole rowte! How can ye make good your patent, wold I know. Hyt ys to impossybyll to bryng that abowte; Line 1320 For stryke hym may I nat—that ys out of dowte." "A, good Attropos," seyd god Apollo, "An answer conuenyent shalt thow haue herto. Line 1323

190

"The wordys of thy patent, dar I well say, Line 1324 Streche to no ferther but where dame Nature Hath iurisdiccion; there to haue thy way, And largesse to stryke as longeth to thy cure. Line 1327 And as for Vertu he ys no creature Vnder the predicament conteynyd of quantyte. Wherfore hys destruccion longeth nat to the." Line 1330

191

"A haa!" seyd Attropos, "then I se well Line 1331 That all ye goddes be but counterfete. For oo God ther ys that can euery dell Turne as hym lyst, bothe dry & whete, Line 1334 In to whos seruyce I shall assay to gete. And yef I may ones to hys seruyce come Your names shalbe put to oblyuyone." Line 1337

Line 1337

192

Thus went Attropos fro the paleyce wrooth. Line 1338 But in the mene tyme, whyle that he there was, Glydyng by the palyce, Resydyuacion gooth Toward Macrocosme, with a peyntyd fase, Line 1341 Clad lyke a pylgrym, walkyng a gret pase, In the forme as he had bene a man of Ynde. He wende haue made Reson & Sadnesse boþe blynde.

193

With Sensualyte was he soone aqueyntyd, Line 1345 To whom he declaryd hys matyr pryuyly. Yet he was espyed for all hys face peyntyd. Then Reson hym commaundyd pyke hym thens lyghtly. "For hys ease," quoth Sadnes, "so counseyll hym wyll I." So was Sensualyte ay kept vndyr foote, That to Resydyuacion myght he doo no boote. Line 1351

194

Then went he to Nature & askyd hyr auyse, Line 1352 Hys entent to opteygne what was best to do. She seyde: "Euer syth Vertew of Vyce wan the pryse, Reson with Sadnes hath rewlyd the fylde so, Line 1355 That I and Sensualyte may lytyll for the do. For I may no more but oonly kepe my cours. And yet ys Sensualyte strengor kept & wours." Line 1358

195

Thus heryng, Residiuacion fro thens he went ageyn, Line 1359 Full of thought & sorow þat he myght nat spede. Then Reson & Sadnesse toke wede hokes tweyn, And all wylde wantones out of the fylde gan wede, Line 1362 With all the slyper grasse that grew of the sede That Sensualyte before theryn sew; And for thens forthe kept hit clene for Vertew. Line 1365

196

Then began new gresse in the fylde to spryng, Line 1366 All vnlyke that other, of colour fayre & bryght. But then I aspyed a meruelous thyng. For the grounde of the felde gan wex hoore & whyte. I cowde nat conceyue how that be myght, Tyll I was enformyd & taught hit to know, But where Vertew occupyeth must nedys well grow.

197

Yet in the mene tyme, whyle the fylde thus grew, Line 1373 And Reson with Sadnesse therof had gouernaunce, Many a pryuy messynger thedyr sent Vertew, To know yef hit were guydyd to hys plesaunce; Line 1376 Now Prayer, efte Fastyng, & oftyn tyme Penaunce, And when he myght goo pryuyly, Almesdede, And bade hym to hys power helpe wher he sy nede.

198

Whyle that fylde thus rewlyd Reson with Sadnes, Line 1380 Mawgre Dame Nature for all her carnall myght, Came thedyr Attropos, voyde of all gladnes, Wrappyd in hys shete, & axyd yef any wyght Line 1383 Cowde wysshe hym the wey to the Lorde of Lyght, Or ellys where men myght fynd Ryghtwysnesse. "Forsothe," seyde Reason, "I trow, as I gesse, Line 1386

199

"At Vertu hys castell ye may soone hym fynde, Line 1387 Yef ye lyst þe labour thedyr to take, And there shall ye know, yef ye be nat blynde, The next wey to the Lorde of Lyght, I vndyrtake." Line 1390 So thedyr went Attropos, peticion to make To Ryghtwysnes, praying that he myght Be take in to the seruyce of the Lord of Lyght. Line 1393

200

"What," seyde Ryghtwysnes, "thow olde dotyng foole, Whome hast thow seruyd syth the world began But oonly hym? Where hast thow go to scoole? Whether art thow double, or elles the same man Line 1397 That thow were furst?" "A syr," seyde he than, "I pray yow hertyly holde me excusyd. I am olde & febyll; my wittes ar dysvsyd." Line 1400

201

"Well," seyde Ryghtwysnes, "for as moche as thow Line 1401 Knowest nat thy mastyr, thy name shall I chaunge. Dethe shalt thow be callyd, from hens forward now, Among all the pepyll thow shalt be had straunge. Line 1404 But when thow begynnest to make thy chalaunge, Dredde shalt thow be, wher so thow become, And to no creature shalt thow be welcome. Line 1407

Line 1407

202

"And as for theym whom thow dedyst serue, Line 1408 For as moche as they presume on hem to take That hygh name of God, they shall as they deserue Therfore be rewardyd, I dar vndyrtake, Line 1411 With peyn perpetuell, among fendes blake, And her names shall be put to oblyuyon Among men, but hit be in derysyon." Line 1414

203

"A ha!" seyde Attropos, "now begyn I wex gladde Line 1415 That I shall thus avengyd of hem be, Syth they so long tyme haue made me so madde." "Yee," quoth Ryghtwysnes, "here what I sey to the: The Lord of Lyght sent the worde by me That in Macrocosme sesyne shalt thow take; Wherfore thy darte redy loke thow make." Line 1421

204

And as sone as Vertu that vndyrstood, Line 1422 He seyde he was plesyd that hit shuld so be. And euyn forthewith he commaundyd Presthood To make hym redy the felde for to se. Line 1425 Soo thedyr went Presthood with benygnyte, Conueying thedyr the blessyd sacrament Of Eukaryst. But furst were theder sent Line 1428

205

Confession, Contricion, and Satisfaccion, Line 1429 Sorow for Synne, & gret Repentaunce, Holy Deuocion, with Good Dysposicion— All these thedyr came & also Penaunce, Line 1432 As her dewte was to make puruyaunce Ageyn the commyng of that blessyd Lorde. Feythe, Hoope, & Charyte therto were acorde. Line 1435

206

Reason with Sadnes dyd hys dylygence Line 1436 To clense the fylde withyn & without. And when they sy the bodyly presence Of that hooly Eukaryst, lowly gan they lowte. Line 1439 So was that Lord receuyd, out of dowte, With all humble chere, debonayr & benygne, Lykly to hys plesure—hit was a gret sygne. Line 1442

Line 1442

207

Then came to the fylde the mynystre fynall, Line 1443 Called Holy Vnccion, with a crysmatory. The v hygh weyes in especiall Therof he anoyntyd & made hit sanctuary. Line 1446 Whom folowyd Dethe, whych wold nat tary Hys feruent power there to put in vre, As he was commaundyd, grauntyng Dame Nature.

208

He toke hys darte, callyd hys mortall launce, Line 1450 And bent hys stroke toward the feldys herte. That seyng, Presthoode bade Good Remembraunce Toward the felde turne hym & aduerte. Line 1453 For except hym all vertues thense must sterte. And euyn with that, Dethe there sesyne took; And then all the company clerely hit forsook. Line 1456

209

And as sone as Dethe thus had sesyn take, Line 1457 The colour of the felde was chaungyd sodenly, The grasse theryn, seere as though hit had be bake. And the fyue hygh weyes were muryd opon hy, Line 1460 That fro thensforward noon entre shuld therby. The posternes also were without lette, Bothe inward & outward, fyn fast shette. Line 1463

210

Whyche doon, sodenly Dethe vanysshyd away, Line 1464 And Vertu exaltyd was aboue the firmament, Where he toke the crowne of glory that ys ay Preparate by Alpha & Oo omnipoten[t]. Line 1467 The swete Frute of Macrocosme þedyr with hym went. And on all thys mater as I stood musyng thus, Agayn fro the felde to me came Morpheus, Line 1470

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Seying thus, "What chere! howe lyketh the thys syght? Hast thow sene ynowgh, or wyll thow se more?" "Nay syr," I seyde," my trouthe I þow plyght, Thys ys suffysyent, yef I knew wherfore Line 1474 Thys was to me shewyd, for therof the lore Coueyte I to haue, yef I gete myght." "Folow me," quod he, "and haue thy delyght." Line 1477

Line 1477

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So I hym folowyd, tyll he had me brought Line 1478 To a fouresquare herber wallyd round about. "Loo," quoth Morpheus, "here mayst thow þat þow sought Fynde, yef thow wyll, I put the out of dout." Line 1481 A lytyll whyle we stood styll there without, Tyll Wytte, chyef porter of that herber gate, Requyryd by stody, let vs in ther ate. Line 1484

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But when I came in I meruelyd gretly Line 1485 Of that I behelde & herde there reporte. For furst, in a chayar, apparaylyd royally, There sate Dame Doctryne, her chyldren to exorte. And about her was many a sondry sorte; Som wyllyng to lerne dyuerse scyence, And som for to have perfyte intellygence. Line 1491

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Crownyd she was lyke an Emperesse, Line 1492 With iii crownes standyng on her hede on hy. All thyng about hyr an infynyte processe Were to declare, I tell yow certeynly. Line 1495 Neuerthelese som in mynde therof haue I, Whyche I shall to yow, as God wyll yeue me grace, As I sawe & herde, tell in short space. Line 1498

215

Fast by Doctryne on that oon syde, Line 1499 As I remembre, sate Holy Texte, That openyd hys mouthe to the pepyll wyde, But nat in comparyson to Glose that sate next. Line 1502 Moralyzacion with a cloke context Sate; & Scrypture was scrybe to theym all. He sate ay wrytyng of that that shuld fall. Line 1505

216

These were tho that I there knew— Line 1506 By no maner wey of olde aqueyntaunce, But as I before saw theym with Vertew Company in felde & hauyng dalyaunce. Line 1509 And as I thus stood half in a traunce, Whyle they were occupyed in her besynesse, Abowte the walles myn ey gan I dresse. Line 1512

Line 1512

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Where I behelde the meruelous story Line 1513 That euer I yet saw in any pycture, For on tho walles was made memory Singlerly of euery creature Line 1516 That there had byn, bothe forme and stature; Whos names reherse I wyll, as I can Bryng theym to mynde in ordre—euery man Line 1519

218

Furst, to begyn, there was in portrature Line 1520 Adam; & Eue holdyng an appyll round; Noe in a shyp; & Abraham hauyng sure A flynt stone in hys hand; & Isaac lay bound Line 1523 On an hygh mount; Iacob slepyng sound, And a long laddyr stood hym besyde; Ioseph in a cysterne was also there that tyde. Line 1526

219

Next whom stood Moyses, with hys tables two; Line 1527 Aaron & Vrre, hys armes supportyng; Ely in a brennyng chare was there also. And Elyze stood, clad in an hermytes clothyng; Line 1530 Dauid with an harpe & a stoon slyng. Isaye, Ieremy, and Ezechiell; And closyd with lyons, holy Danyell; Line 1533

220

Abacuc, Mychee, with Malachy; Line 1534 And Ionas out of a whales body commyng; Samuell in a temple; & holy Zakary Besyde an awter all blody standyng; Line 1537 Osee with Iudyth stoode there conspyryng The dethe of Oloferne; and Sal[a]mon also, A chylde with hys swerde dyuydyng in two. Line 1540

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Many moo prophetys certeynly there were, Line 1541 Whos names now come nat to my mynde. Melchisedech also aspyed I there, Bred & wyne offryng as fyll to hys kynde. Line 1544 Ioachym and Anne stood all behynde, Embrasyd in armes to the gyldyn gate. And holy Iohn Baptyst in a desert sate. Line 1547

Line 1547

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And now commyth to my remembraunce Line 1548 I am avysyd I saw Sodechy, And Amos also, with sobre countenaunce, Standyng with her faces toward Sophony. Line 1551 Neemy & Esdras bare hem company. The holy man Ioob as an impotent, Then folowyd in pycture with Thoby pacyent. Line 1554

223

These, with many mo, on that oon syde Line 1555 Of that grene herber portrayed were. "A," seyde Morpheous, "a lytyll tyme abyde. Turne thy face where thy bak was ere Line 1558 And beholde well what thou seest there." Than I me turnyd as he me bade, With hert stedefast & countenaunce sade Line 1561

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Where I saw Petyr, with hys keyes, stande; Line 1562 Poule with a swerde; Iames also With a scalop; & Thomas holdyng in hys hande A spere; & Phylyp aprochyd hym too. Line 1565 Iames, the lesse, next hem in pycture loo Stood, with Bartylmew, whyche was all flayn. Symon & Thadee shewyd how they were slayn. Line 1568

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Mathy and Barnabe, drawyng lottys, stood. Line 1569 Next whom was Marke, a lyon hym by Hys booke holdyng; & Mathew, in hys mood, Resemblyd an Aungell with wynges gloryosly. Line 1572 Luke had a calfe to holde hys booke on hy. And Iohn with a cupp & palme in hys hande; An Egle bare hys booke—thus saw I hem stande.

226

Gregory and Ierome, Austyn and Ambrose, Line 1576 With pylyons on her hedys, stood lyke doctours. Bernard with Anselme, and, as I suppose, Thomas of Alquyn, & Domynyk, confessours, Line 1579 Benet, & Hew, relygyous gouernours, Martyne, & Iohn, with bysshops tweyne, Were there also, & Crysostom certeyne. Line 1582

Line 1582

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Behynde all these was worshipfull Beede. Line 1583 All behynde & next him stood Orygene, Hydyng hys face, as he of hys deede Had hem ashamyd—ye woot what I mene; Line 1586 For of errour was he nat all clene. And on that syde stood there, last of all, The nobyll prophetyssa, Sybyll men hyr call. Line 1589

228

Let me remembre me, now I yow pray, Line 1590 My brayne ys so thynne, I deme in myn hert Som of the felyshyp that I there say, In all thys whyle, have I ouerstert. Line 1593 A benedycyte noon ere cowde I aduert To thynke on Andrew the Apostyll with hys crosse, Whom to forgete were a gret losse. Line 1596

229

Many oon moo were peyntyd on that wall, Line 1597 Whos names now come nat to my remembraunce. But these I markyd in especiall. And moo cowde I tell, in contynuaunce Line 1600 Of tyme, but forthe to shewe yow the substaunce Of thys matyr, in the myddes of that herbere, Sate Doctryne, coloryd as any crystall clere. Line 1603

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Crownyd as I tolde yow late here before, Line 1604 Whos apparayll was worthe tresour infynyte— All erthely rychesse count I no more To that in comparyson valewyng then a myte. Line 1607 Ouer her heede houyd a culuer fayre & whyte, Oute of whos byll procedyd a gret leme Downward to Doctryne, lyke a son beme. Line 1610

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The wordys of Doctryne yaue gret redolence, Line 1611 In swetness of sauour, to her dysciples all. Hyt ferre excedyd myrre and frankensence Or any other tre spyce or ellys gall. Line 1614 And when she me aspyed, anon she gan me call. And commaundyd Morpheus that he shuld bryng me neere; For she wolde me shew the effecte of my desyre. Line 1617

Line 1617

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She seyde, "I know the cause of thy commyng Line 1618 Ys to vndyrstand, be myn enformacion, Sensybly, the mater of Morpheus hys shewyng As he hath the ledde aboute in vysyon. Line 1621 Wherfore now I apply thy naturall reson Vnto my wordys, &, er thow hens wende, Thow shalt hit know, begynnyng & ende. Line 1624

233

"Furst, where Eolus to Pluto was brought, Line 1625 By hys owne neglygence takyn prysonere Withyn the erthe; for he to ferre sought— Sygnyfyed ys nomore be that matere Line 1628 But oonly to shew the howe hit dothe apere That welthe, vnbrydelyd dayly at thyne ey, Encreseth mysrewle & oft causyth foly. Line 1631

234

"For lyke as Eolus, beyng at hys large, Line 1632 Streytyd hym sylf thorow his owne lewdenesse— For he wold deele where he had no charge— Ryght so wantons, by her wyldenesse, Line 1635 Oft sythe bryng hem sylf in dystresse, Because they somtyme to largely deele. What may worse be suffryd than ouer mykyll weele

235

"By Mynos, the iuge of hell desperate, Line 1639 May he vndyrstand Goddes ryghtwysnes, That to euery wyght hys peyne deputate Assygneth, acordyng to hys wykydnes. Line 1642 Wherfore he ys callyd Iuge of crewelnes. And as for Diana & Neptunus compleynt, Fyguryd may be fooles reson feynte. Line 1645

236

"For lyke as they made her suggestion Line 1646 To haue me Eolus from course of hys kynde Whyche was impossible to bryng to correccion, For euermore hys liberte haue wyll the wynde. Line 1649 In lyke wyse, fooles otherwhyle be blynde, Wenyng to subdew, with her oon hande, That ys ouer mekyll for all an hoole lande. Line 1652

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"But what foloweth therof that shall thow heere: Line 1653 When they were come to the banket, The gret Apollo, with hys sad chere, So fayre & curteysly gan theym entrete, Line 1656 That he made her beerdys on the new gete. Loo, what wysdom dothe to a foole— Wherfore ar chyldren put to scoole. Line 1659

238

"Oft ys hit seene, with sobre contenaunce, Line 1660 That wyse men fooles ouercome ay, Turnyng as hem lyst and all her varyaunce, Chaunge from ernest in to mery play. Line 1663 What were they bothe amendyd that day? When they were dreuyn to her wyttes ende, Were they nat fayne to graunt to be hys frende? Line 1666

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"Ryght so fooles, when they haue doon Line 1667 All that they can, than be they fayne Yeue vp her mater to oblyuyon. Without rewarde they haue no more brayne. Line 1670 And yet full oft hath hit be seyne, When they hit haue foryete and set at nought, That they full deere haue aftyrward hit bought. Line 1673

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"And as for all tho that represent Line 1674 To be callyd goddys at that banket, Resemble false ydollys; but to thys entent Was Morpheous commaundyd thedyr the to fet, Line 1677 That thow shuldest know the maner & the get Of the paynym lawe and of her beleue, How false idolatry ledeth hem by the sleue. Line 1680

241

"For soone vppon the worldys creacion, Line 1681 When Adam & Eue had broke the precept— Whyche clerkes call the Tyme of Deuyacion, The worldly pepyll in paynym law slept, Line 1684 Tyll Moyses vndyr God the tables of stone kept. In whyche tyme poetys feynyd many a fable To dyscrete reson ryght acceptable. Line 1687

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"And to the entent that they should sownde Line 1688 To the eares of hem the more plesauntly That they shuld reede or here, þey yaue theym a grounde And addyd names vnto theym naturally; Line 1691 Of whom they spake & callyd hem goddes hy, Som for the streyngthe & myght of her nature, And som for her sotyll wytty coniecture. Line 1694

243

"By nature thus as the seuyn planettys Line 1695 Haue her propre names by astronomers, But goddys were they called by oold poetys, For her gret feruency of wyrkyng in her speres— Line 1698 Experyence preueth thys at all yeres. And for as other that goddes callyd be For sotyll wytte, that shall I teche the. Line 1701

244

"How they by that hygh name of god came. Line 1702 In thys seyd tyme, the pepyll was so rude That what maner creature, man or woman, Cowde any nouelte contryue & conclude Line 1705 For the comon wele, all the multitude Of the comon peple a god shuld hym call, Or a goddesse, aftyr hit was fall Line 1708

245

"Of the same thyng that was so new founde— Line 1709 As Ceres, for she the craft of tylthe founde, Wherby more plenteuosly corne dyd habounde, The pepyll her callyd thorout euery londe Line 1712 Goddesse of Corne, wenyng in her honde Had leyn all power of cornys habundaunce. Thus wer the paynemes deceyuyd by ignoraunce.

246

"In lyke maner, Isys was callyd the Goddesse Line 1716 Of Frute, for she fyrst made hit multyply By the meane of gryffyng: and so by processe The name of Pan gan to deyfy, Line 1719 For he furst founde the mene shepe to guy. Som tooke hit also by her condicion As Pluto, Fortune, & suche other don. Line 1722

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"Thus all that poetys put vndyr couerture Line 1723 Of fable the rurall pepyll hit took Propyrly as acte, refusyng the fygure; Which errour som of hem neuer forsook. Line 1726 Oft a false myrrour deceyueth a mannys look, As thow mayst dàyly proue at thyne ey. Thus were the paynyms deseuyd generally. Line 1729

248

"That seyng, the dedely enemy of mankynde, Line 1730 By hys power permyssyue, entryd the ymages Withyn the temples to make the pepyll blynde In her idolatry, standyng on hygh stages; Line 1733 In so moche, whoo vsyd daungerous passages, Any maner wey by watyr or be londe, When hyd hys sacryfyce, hys answere redy founde.

249

"Thus duryng the Tyme of Deuyacion. Line 1737 From Adam to Moyses, was idolatry Thorow the world vsyd in comon opynyon. These were the goddys that thow there sy. Line 1740 And as for the awayters that stood hem by They polytyk philosophyrs & poetes were, Whyche feynyd the fables that I speke of here. Line 1743

250

"Then sesyd the Tyme of Deuyacion, Line 1744 When Moyses receuyd that tables of stone, Entryng the Tyme of Reuocacion. On the Mount of Synay, stondyng alone, Line 1747 God yaue hym myght ayene all hys fone. And then began the Olde Testament Whyche to the pepyll by Moyses was sent. Line 1750

251

"And that tyme duryd to the incarnacion Line 1751 Of Cryst, & then began hit to sese. For then came the Tyme of Reconsylyacion Of man to God—I tell the doutlese— Line 1754 When the Son of Man put hym in prese, Wylfully to suffre dethe for mankynde. In holy scrypture thys mayst thow fynde. Line 1757

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"Thys Reconsylyacion was the Tyme of Grace, Line 1758 When foundyd was the churche vppon the feyr stoon, And to holy Petyr the key delyueryd was Of heuyn; then helle dyspoyled was anoon. Line 1761 Thus was mankynde delyueryd from hys foon. And then began the New Testament That the Crystyn pepyll beleue in present. Line 1764

253

"Whyche iii tymes, a sondry deuydyd, Line 1765 Mayst thow here see, yef thow lyst beholde. The furst behynde the yn pycture ys prouydyd. The second of the lyft hande shewe prophetes olde. Line 1768 The iii^de on the ryght hande here hit ys to the tolde. Thus hast thow in vysyon the verrey fygure Of these iii tymes here shewyd in purtrayture. Line 1771

254

"That ys to sey, furst, of Deuyacion Line 1772 From Adam to Moyses, recordyng Scripture; Secund, fro Moyses to the incarnacion Of Cryst kepeth Reuocacions cure. Line 1775 And as for the thryd, thow mayst be verrey sure, Wyll dure from thens to the worldes ende. But now the iiii^th must thow haue in mynde, Line 1778

255

"Whyche ys callyd propurly, the Tyme of Pylgremage Line 1779 Aftyr som; & som name hit otherwyse And call hyt the Tyme of Daungerous Passage; And som Tyme of Werre, that fully hyt dyspyse. Line 1782 But what so hit be namyd, I woll the auyse— Remembre hit well and prynte hit in thy mynde, Wherof the fygure mayst thow me behynde. Line 1785

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"And elles remembre thysylf in thyn hert, Line 1786 Howe Vyce & Vertu dayly theym occupy, In maner, oon of hem hym to peruert, Another, to bryng hym to endeles glory. Line 1789 Thus they contynu fyght for the victory. Hyt ys no nede herof to tell the moore, For in thys short vysyon thow hast seen hit before.

257

"And as for Attropos greuous compleynt Line 1793 Vnto the goddes betokeneth nomore But oonly to shewe the how frendely constreynt On a stedfast hert weyeth full soore. Line 1796 Good wyll requyreth good wyll ayene therfore. Dyscorde to Dethe hathe ay byn a frende, For Dyscorde bryngeth many to her ende. Line 1799

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"Wherfore Dethe thought he wolde avengyd be Line 1800 On hys frendes quarell yef that he myght, For her gret vnkyndnes, in so moche as she Was among hem all had so in despyte Line 1803 And at that banket made of so lyte; Whyche causyd hym among hem to cast in a boon, That found theym gnawyng ynough euerychoon. Line 1806

259

"Thus oft ys seen oo frende for a nother Line 1807 Wyll say & do & somtyme matyrs feyne; And also kynnysmen, a cosyn, or a brother, Woll for hys aly, er he haue cause, compleyne. Line 1810 And where that he loueth do hys besy peyne, Hys frendes matyr as hys owne to take, Whyche oft sythe causeth mochyll sorow awake. Line 1813

260

"Be hyt ryght or wrong, he changeth nat a myte- Line 1814 As toward that poynt he taketh lytell heede. So that he may haue hys froward appetyte Performyd, he careth nat howe hys soule speede, Line 1817 Of God or deuyll have suche lytyll dreede. Howe be hyt, oon ther ys þat Lorde ys of all, Whyche to euery wyght at last rewarde shall. Line 1820

261

"And as for the batayll betwene Vyce & Vertew holde, So pleynly appereth to the inwardly, To make exposicion therof, new or olde, Were but superfluyte—therfore refuse hit I. Line 1824 In man shall thow fynde that werre kept dayly, Lyke as thow hast seen hit fowtyn before thy face; The pyctur me behynde shewyth hit in lytyll space.

262

"And as for Macrocosme, hit ys no more to say Line 1828 But the lesse worlde, to the comon entent Whyche applyed ys to man both nyght and day— So ys man the felde to whyche all were sent Line 1831 On both partyes; & they that thedyr went Sygnyfy nomore but aftyr the condicion Of euery mans opynyon. Line 1834

263

"And as for the nobyll knyght Perseueraunce, Line 1835 Whyche gate the felde when hit was almost goon, Betokeneth nomore but the contynuaunce Of vertuous lyuyng tyll dethe hath ouergoon. Line 1838 Who so wyll doo, rewardyd ys anon, As Vertu was with the crowne on hy, Whyche ys nomore but euerlastyng glory. Line 1841

264

"And as for Prescience and Predestinacion, Line 1842 That eche of hem rewardyd aftyr hys desert, Is to vndyrstond nomore but dampnacion To vycyous pepyll ys the verrey scourge smert Line 1845 Rewarde; for they fro Vertu wolde peruert. And endelese ioy ys to hem that be electe Rewardyd & to all that folow the same secte. Line 1848

265

"And as for the keyes of the posterns fyue, Line 1849 Whyche were to Morpheus rewardyd for hys labour, Sygnyfy nat ellys but whyle man ys on lyue Hys v inwarde wyttes shalbe euery houre Line 1852 In hys slepe occupyed, in hele and in langoure, With fantasyes, tryfyls, illusions & dremes, Whyche poetys call Morpheus stremes. Line 1855

266

"And as for Resydiuacion ys nomore to sey Line 1856 But aftyr confession turnyng ayene to syn, Whyche to euery man retorneth sauns deley To vycyous lyuyng ageyn hym to wyn. Line 1859 Whyle any man lyueth wyll hit neuer blyn, That cursyd conclusion for to bryng abowte, But Reson with Sadnes kepe hit styll owte. Line 1862

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"Here hast thow propurly the verrey sentence Line 1863 Herde now declaryd of thys vysyon. The pycture also yeueth clere intellygence, Therof beholdyn with good discresyon. Line 1866 Loke well aboute & take consyderasion, As I haue declaryd, whether hit so be." "A syr," quoth Morpheus, "what tolde I the! Line 1869

268

"Hast thow nat now thyne hertes desyre? Line 1870 Loke on yon wall yonder before." And all that tyme stood I in a wyre Whyche way furst myn hert wold yeue more Line 1873 To looke; in a stody stood I therfore. Neuerthelese at last, as Morpheus me badde, I lokyd forward with countenaunce sadde, Line 1876

269

Where I behelde in portrayture Line 1877 The maner of the felde, euyn as hit was Shewyd me before; & euery creature On boothe sydes beyng drawyn in small space Line 1880 So curyously, in so lytell a compace, In all thys world was neuer thyng wrought; It were impossyble in erthe to be thought. Line 1883

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And when I had long beholde that pycture— Line 1884 "What," quoth Morpheous, "how long shalt thow looke, Daryng as a dastard, on yon portrayture? Come of for shame; thy wytte stant a crooke." Line 1887 I heryng that myn hert to me tooke, Towarde the iiii^th wall turnyng my vysage, Where I sawe poetys & phylosophyrs sage, Line 1890

271

Many oon mo then at the banket Line 1891 Seruyd the goddes, as I seyde before. Som were made standyng, & som in chayeres set, Som lookyng on bookes, as they had stodyed sore, Line 1894 Som drawyng almenakes, & in her handes bore Astyrlabes, takyng the altytude of the sonne— Among whom Dyogenes sate in a tonne. Line 1897

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And as I was lokyng on that fourthe wall, Line 1898 Of Dyogenes beholdyng the ymage, Sodeynly Doctryne began me to call, And bad me turne toward hyr my vysage. Line 1901 And so then I dyd with humble corage. "What thynkest thow," she sayde, "hast thow nat thentent Yet of these foure wallys—what they represent? Line 1904

273

"The pycture on the fyrst, that standeth at my bake, Line 1905 Sheweth the the present Tyme of Pylgremage, Of whyche before I vnto the spake, Whyche ys the Tyme of Daungerus Passage. Line 1908 The secund, dyrectly ageyn my vysage, The Tyme expresseth of Deuyacion, Whyle paynym lawe had the domynacion. Line 1911

274

"The thryd wall, standyng on my lyft hande, Line 1912 The Tyme representeth of Reuocacion. And the fourth, standyng on my ryght hande, Determyneth the Tyme of Reconsylyacion. Line 1915 Thys ys the effect of thy vysion. Wherfore the nedyth nomore theron to muse— Hit were but veyn thy wittes to dysvse. Line 1918

275

"But duryng the Tyme of Reconsiliacion Line 1919 Thy Tyme of Pylgremage looke well thow spende And then woll gracious Predestinacion Bryng the to glory at thy last ende." Line 1922 And euyn with that cam to my mynde My furst conclusion that I was abowte To haue drevyn, er slepe made me to lowte— Line 1925

276

That ys to sey, howe Sensualyte Line 1926 With Reason to acorde myght be brought aboute. Whyche causyd me to knele downe on my kne And beseke Doctryne determyne that doute. Line 1929 "Oo Lord God!" seyde Doctryne, "canst thow nat with oute Me that conclusion bryng to an ende? Ferre ys fro the wytte & ferther good mende." Line 1932

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And euen with that Dethe gan appere, Line 1933 Shewyng hymsylf as though that he wolde Hys darte haue occupyed withyn that herbere. But ther was noon for hym, yong nor olde, Line 1936 Saue oonly I, Doctryne hym tolde, And when I herde hyr with hym comon thus, I me withdrew behynde Morpheus, Line 1939

278

Dredyng full soore lest he with hys dart, Line 1940 Thorow Doctrynes wordes, any entresse In me wolde haue had or claymed any part— Whyche shuld haue causyd me gret heuynesse. Line 1943 Withyn whyche tyme & short processe, Came theder Reason & Sensualyte. "A," quoth Doctryne, "ryght welcome be ye. Line 1946

279

"Hyt ys nat long syth we of yow spake. Line 1947 Ye must, er ye go, determyne a dowte." And euyn with that she the mater brake To theym and tolde hit euery where abowte. Line 1950 I wold haue be thens, yef I had mowte. For feere I lookyd as blak as a coole. I wold haue cropyn in a mouse hoole. Line 1953

280

"What!" quoth Doctryne, "where ys he now, Line 1954 That meuyd thys mater straunge & diffuse? He ys a coward — I make myn avow. He hydeth hys hede, hys mocion to refuse." Line 1957 "Blame hym nat," quoth Reson, "alwey that to vse When he seeth Dethe so neere at hys hande. Yet ys hys part hym to wythstande. Line 1960

281

"Or, at the leste way, ellys fro hym flee Line 1961 As long as he may—who dothe otherwyse As an ydiote." Quoth Sensualyte, "Who dredyth nat Dethe wyse men hym dyspyse." "What!" seyde Doctryne, "how long hathe thys gyse Beholdyn & vsyd thus atwyx yow tweyne? Yee were nat wont to acorde certeyne." Line 1967

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"Yes," quoth Reson, "in thys poynt, alway Line 1968 To euery man haue we yeuen our counsayll Dethe for to flee as long as they may. All though we otherwyse haue done our trauayll Line 1971 Yche other to represse, yet withoute fayll In that poynt oonly dyscordyd we neuer. Thus condescendyd theryn be we for euer." Line 1974

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"A! A!" seyde Doctryne, "then ys the conclusion Line 1975 Clerely determynyd of the gret dowte That here was meuyd" — & halfe in derysion She me then callyd & bade me loke owte. Line 1978 "Come forthe," she seyde, "and feere nat thys rowte." And euen with that, Reson and Sensualyte And Dethe fro thens were vanysshyd all thre. Line 1981

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Then lokyd I forthe as Doctryne me badde. Line 1982 When Dethe was goon, me thought I was bolde To shew my sylf, but yet was I sadde. Me thought my dowte was nat as I wolde, Line 1985 Clerely and opynly declaryd & tolde. Hit sownyd to me as a parable, Derke as a myste, or a feynyd fable. Line 1988

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And Doctryne my conceyte gan espy. Line 1989 "Wherfore," seyde she, "standyst thow so styll? Whereyn ys thy thought? Art thow in stody Of thy question? Hast thow nat thy fyll Line 1992 To the declaryd? Tell me thy wyll. Herdest thow nat Reson & Sensualyte Declare thy dowte here before the?" Line 1995

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"Forsothe," quoth I, "I herde what they seyde. Line 1996 But neuerthelese my wyt ys so thynne, And also of Dethe I was so afrayed, That hit ys oute where hyt went ynne. Line 1999 And so that matyr can I nat wynne Without your helpe & benyuolence Therof to expresse the verray sentence." Line 2002

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"Well," quoth Doctryne "then yeue attendaunce Line 2003 Vnto my wordes, & thow shalt here Opynly declaryd the concordaunce Atwene Sensualyte & Reson in fere. Line 2006 Yef thow take hede, hit clerely dothe apere How they were knette in oon opynyon. Bothe agayn Dethe helde contradyccyon. Line 2009

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"Whyche concordaunce nomore sygnyfyeth Line 2010 To pleyne vndyrstandyng, but in euery mane Bothe Sensualyte & Reson applyeth Rather Dethe to fle then with hit to be tane. Line 2013 Loo in that poynt accorde they holly thane. And in all other they clerely dyscorde. Thus ys trewly set thy doutfull monacorde." Line 2016

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I, heryng that, knelyd on my kne Line 2017 An thankyd her lowly for hyr dyscyplyne, That she vouchesafe, of hyr benygnyte, Of tho gret dowtys me to enlumyne. Line 2020 Well was she worthy to be called Doctryne, Yef hit had be nomore but for the solucion Of my demaunde and of thys straunge vysyon. Line 2023

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And as I with myne heede began for to bow, Line 2024 As me well ought to do hyr reuerence, She thens departyd — I cannat tell how. But withyn a moment goon was she thens. Line 2027 Then seyde Morpheus, "Let vs go hens. What shuld we heere tary lengere? Hast thow nat herde a generall answere Line 2030

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To all thy matyrs that thow lyst to meue? Line 2031 My tyme draweth nere that I must rest." And euyn therwith he tooke me by the sleue And seyde, "Goo we hens, for that hold I best. Line 2034 As good ys ynowgh as a gret feste. Thow hast seen ynowgh; hold the content." And euyn with that forthe with hym I went, Line 2037

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Tyll he hade me brought agene to my bedde, Line 2038 Where he me founde, and then pryuyly He stale awey. I cowde nat vndyrstande Where he became, but sodenly Line 2041 As he came, he went — I tell yow veryly. Whyche doon, fro slepe I gan to awake. My body all in swet began for to shake Line 2044

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For drede of the syght that I had seene, Line 2045 Wenyng to me all had be trew Actuelly doon where I had beene, The batayll holde twene Vyce & Vertew. Line 2048 But when I sy hit, hit was but a whew, A dreme, a fantasy, & a thyng of nought. To study theron I had nomore thought. Line 2051

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Tyll at the last I gan me bethynke Line 2052 For what cause shewyd was thys vysyon. I knew nat; wherfore I toke pen & ynke And paper to make therof mencion Line 2055 In wrytyng, takyng consideracion That no defaute were founde in me, Wheron accusyd I ought for to be Line 2058

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For slowthe, that I had left hit vntolde— Line 2059 Nowthyr by mowthe nor in remembraunce Put hit in wrytyng; wher thorow manyfolde Weyes of accusacion myght turne me to greuaunce. Line 2062 All thys I saw as I lay in a traunce, But whedyr hit was with myne ey bodyly Or nat in certayn, God knoweth and nat I. Line 2065

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That to dyscerne I purpose nat to deele. Line 2066 So large by my wyll hit longeth nat to me. Were hit dreme or vysion, for your own wele, All that shall hit rede, here rad, or se, Line 2069 Take therof the best & let the worst be— Try out the corne clene from the chaff And then may ye say ye have a sure staff Line 2072

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To stande by at nede, yef ye woll hit holde Line 2073 And walke by the way of Vertu hys loore. But alwey beware, be ye yong or olde, That your frewyll ay to Vertu moore Line 2076 Apply than to Vyce, the eysyer may be boore The burdyn of the fylde, that ye dayly fyght Agayn your iii enemyes, for all her gret myght. Line 2079

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That ys to sey, the Deuyll & the Flesshe Line 2080 And also the Worlde, with hys glosyng chere, Whyche on yow looketh euer newe & fresshe— But he ys nat as he doth apere. Line 2083 Lok ye kepe yow ay out of hys daungere. And so the vyctory shall ye obteyne, Vyce fro yow exylyd & Vertew in yow reyne. Line 2086

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And then shall ye haue the triumphall guerdoun Line 2087 That God reserueth to euery creature Aboue in hys celestiall mansioun, Joy and blys infinite, eternally to endure. Line 2090 Wherof we say we wold fayn be sure. But the wey thedyrward to holde be we lothe, That oft sythe causeth the good Lorde to be wrothe.

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And by oure desert oure habitacion chaungeth Line 2094 Fro ioy to peyne & woo perpetuelly, From hys gloryous syght thus he vs estraungeth, For our vycyous lyuyng, thorough owre owne foly. Line 2097 Wherfore let vs pray to that Lord of Glory, Whyle we in erthe bee, that he wyll yeue vs grace, So vs here to guyde that we may haue a place, Line 2100

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Accordyng to oure regeneracion, Line 2101 With heuynly spyrytes, hys name to magnyfy Whyche downe descendyd for our redempcion, Offryng hym sylf on the crosse to hys fadyr on hy. Line 2104 Now benygne Ihesu, that born was of Mary, All that to thys vysion haue yovyn her audyence, Graunt eternall ioy aftyr thy last sentence. Line 2107

Amen.