The Cambridge ms (University library, Gg. 4.27) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 403]

GROUP E. FRAGMENT VI.

§ 1. THE CLERK'S HEAD-LINK. [Here begynneþe þe Prologe of/ þe Clerk/ of Oxenford

CAMBRIDGE MS. [Leaves 242 and 243 (containing the Clerk's Head-Link, the painting of him, and the first 8 stanzas of the Tale) are cut out.]

[Sir Clerk/ of Oxenford oure Oste sayd [Sloane MS 1685 folio 129b] Ye ride as stylle as Coy as dothe a mayde Were newe spoused sittynge at þe borde þis day ne herd/ I of youre mouthe a worde Line 4 I trowe þat ȝe study a-boute some sophyme But salamon saithe alle þenge hathe tyme ffor goddes sake bethe of better/ chere hit ys no tyme nowe to study here Line 8 Telle vs som mery tale by your fay ffor what man ys entred in to a play he nedes mote into þat play assent But precheth not as freres done in lent Line 12 To make us for oure olde synnes to wepe Ne þat þi Tale ne make vs not to slepe Telle vs some mery þenge of auentures ȝoure termes your figoures and your coloures Line 16 kepe hem in store tyl so be ȝe hem endite hieȝe style as when men to kynges wryte Spekethe so playne at þis tyme I you pray [Sloane MS 1685 folio 130a] þat we may vndirstonde what ȝe say Line 20 This worþi Clerke benyngely vnswared Oste quod he I am vnder your/ ȝerde ȝe haue as nowe of vs þe Gouernaunce And þerfore wolle I do ȝowe now obeysaunce Line 24

[6-text p 404] Line 24 As fer as reson askethe hardely [Sloane 1635, on leaf130] I wille you telle a tale whiche þat I lerned at Padow/ of a worþi clerke As prouyd by hys wordes and his werk/ Line 28 he ys nowe dede and nailid in his chest I pray to god to sende his saul gode reste Fraunceys petrak þe laureol poet hiȝt/ þis Clerk whos rethorik/ swete Line 32 Illumyeth alle Italy þurgh poetrye As lynean dyd of philosophi · Or lawe or oþere art particuler But dethe þat wolle suffre no þinge here Line 36 But as hit were twynkelynge of an eye Bothe hathe he slayne and alle shalle we deye But for to tellen of þis worthi man þat taught me þis tale as I first be-gan Line 40 I sey þat he first with hiȝe stile enditethe Or he þe body of his tale writeth A prochem in þe whiche desernethe he The Mounde & of Saluce þe contre Line 44 And spekethe of appenen þe hilles hie þat bene þe boundes · of west lumbardye And of Mounte resulus in special where as þe Pope out of a welle smal Line 48 Takith his first spryngynge and his sours Where as he holte þe euen streight way his cours To enel ward to Ferrar & to venyse The whiche a longe þenge were to devise Line 52 And truly as to my Iugement Me thynke hit a thinge impertinent/ Saue he wolle conueye his matere [Sloane MS 1685 folio 130b] But this is þe tale whiche þat ȝe shulle here Line 56

Here endeth þe Prologe

[6-text p 405]

& here be-gynneth þe Tale

[Sloane 1685, on leaf 130, back.]

[No gaps between the stanzas in the MS.]

There ys at þe weste syde of Itayle Line 57 Doun at þe root of vesulus þe cold A lusty playne habundaunt of vitayle Where many a Toun þou mayste be-holde Line 60 þat founded were in tyme of eldres old And many an oþer/ delectable siȝt/ And Saluce þis noble cuntre hiȝt Line 63

¶ A marquis whilom was in þat londe Line 64 As were his worþi eldres hym be-fore And obeisaunt and redy to his honde Were alle his legees bothe lesse & more Line 67 Thus in delyte he lyued and hath done ȝore By-loued and drad þurgh fauoure & fortune Bothe of his lordes and of his comune Line 70

// þere with he was as to speke of lynage Line 71 þe gentelest/ yborne of alle lumbardy A fayre person and stronge and yonge of age And fulle of honour/ and curtesye Line 74 discrete y-nouȝe his contrey for to guye Saue in some thenges he was to blame And Walter was þis yonge lordes name Line 77

¶ I blame hym þus þat he considerith nouȝt/ Line 78 In tyme comynge what myȝt be-tyde But on his luste present was alle his þouȝt And forto hauke and hunte on euery syde Line 81 Wele nyeȝ alle oþere cures let he slyde And eke he ne wolde þat was worste of alle Wedde no wyf for ouȝte þat myȝt be-falle Line 84

[6-text p 406] Line 84

‖ Only þat poynt his peple bare so sore [Sloane 1685, on leaf] 130, back. Line 85 þat flok/ mele on a day þei went [And oon of hem that wisest was of lore. Or ellis that the lorde wolde best/ assent. [Harl. 1758 folio 114b] ] Line 88 þat he shulde telle hym what his peple ment Or elles coude he wele shewe suche mater he to þe Marquis sayd as ȝe shulle here Line 91

O noble Marquis your humanyte [Sloane MS 1685 folio 131a] Line 92 Assuresse vs and ȝeue vs hardynesse As ofte tyme as hit ys necessite þat we you mowe telle oure heuynesse Line 95 Accepteth lord/ of youre gentilnesse þat we to you with pitous hert compleyne And let youre Eres nouȝt my voyce disdeyne Line 98

Alle haue I nouȝt/ to done in þis matere Line 99 None þan an other hathe in þis place ȝit for asmoche as ȝe my lord so dere haue alway shewed fauoure & grace Line 102 I. dare þe better/ aske of you a space Of audience to shewen oure request/ And ȝe my lord to done riȝt as you lust Line 105

ffor certes lord so wele vs lyketh you Line 106 And alle youre werkes and euere haue don þat we · Ne coude not oure owen self devisen howe we myȝt more lyf/ in felicite Line 109 Safe on þenge lord yf hit youre wille be þat for to be a wedded man ȝif þou lyst þan were youre pepull in soueren hertes rest/ [[Sloane 1685 extract ends]]

Bowith ȝoure nekke / vndyr þe blysful ȝok [Cambr. Univ. Lib. MS Gg. 4. 27] [folio 244a] Of souereynte / & not of seruyse Which þat men clepe / sponsayle or wedlok And thynkith lord / a-mong ȝoure thouȝtys wyse Line 116

[6-text p 407] Line 116 How þat oure dayis / passe in sundery wyse ffor thow we slepe / or wake or rome or ryde Ay fleth þe tyme / it nyl no man a-byde Line 119

And þow ȝoure / grene thouȝt floure as ȝit Line 120 In crepith age / al-wey as stylle as ston And deth manasith / euery age & smyt In eche estat / for þere escapith noon Line 123 And also serteyn / as we knowyn echon That we schal deye / as vncerteyn with alle Been of þat day / whan deth schal on vs falle Line 126

Acceptyth þanne / of vs þe trewe entent Line 127 That neuere ȝit / refusedyn þyn heste And we wele lord / ȝif þat ȝe wele assent Chese ȝow a wyf / in schort tyme at þe leste Line 130 Born of þe / gentilleste & of þe meste Of al þis lond / so þat it oghte seene Honour to god / & ȝow as we can deme Line 133

Delyuere vs / out of al þis bosy drede Line 134 And tak a wif for hyghe godis sake ffor ȝif it / so be-fel as god forbede That þorw ȝoure deth ȝoure lyf schulde slake Line 137 And þat a straunge successour schulde take ȝoure erytage o wo were vs on lyue Wherfore we prey ȝow hastyly to wyue Line 140

Hire meke preyere & here pitous chire Line 141 Made þe Markis herte to haue pytee ȝe wele quod he myn owene peple dere To þat I neuere erst thouȝte to streyne me Line 144 I me reioysede of myn libertee That selde tyme is founde in maryage There I was fre I mote been in seruage Line 147

[6-text p 408] Line 147

But na the les I se ȝoure trewe entent [folio 244b] And truste vp-on ȝoure wit & han don ay Werfore of myn fre wil I wele assente To wedde me as sone as euere I may Line 151 But þere as ȝe han proferede me to day To chese me a wyf I ȝow relese That choys & prey ȝow of þat profere sese Line 154

Let me a-lone In chesynge of myn wyf Line 162 That charge vp-on myn bak I wele endure But I ȝow preye & charge vp-on ȝoure lyf What wyf þat I take I ȝow ensure Line 165 To worschepe hire whil þat hyre lyf may dure In word & werk bothe here & ellis where As sche an emperourys douȝtir were Line 168

ffor god it wot þat childeryn oftyn been Line 155 Vnlyk here worthy elderys hem be-fore Bounte comyth of god / nat of þe treen Of whiche þey been engenderede & I-bore Line 158 I truste in goddis bounte & þerfore Myn maryage & myn estat & resste I hym be-take / he may don as hym leste Line 161

And ferþere more þis schal ȝe swere þat ȝe Line 169 A-geyn myn choys schul neyþer groche ne striue ffor sythe I schal for-gon myn lyberte At ȝoure request as euere mote i thryue Line 172 There as myn herte is set þere wele I wyue And but ȝe wele asente in swych manere I prey ȝow spekyth no mor of þis mateere Line 175

With hertely wil þey swore & a-sentyn Line 176 To al þis thyng þere sey no wigh nay Be-sekynge hym of grace er þat þey wente That he wolde grauntyn hem a serteyn day Line 179

[6-text p 409] Line 179 Of his sponsayle as sone as euere he may ffor ȝit alwey þe puple sumwhat dredde Lest þat þe markes no wyf wolde wedde Line 182

He grauntede hem a day swych as hym leste [folio 245a] Line 183 On which he wolde be weddit sekyrly And seyde he dede al þis at his requeste And þey with humble entent buxsomly Line 186 Knelynge vp-on hire kneis ful reuerently Hym thankede alle & þus þey han an ende Of hire entent & hom a-geyn þey wende Line 189

And here vp on he to hise offyserys Line 190 Comaundith for þe feste to purueye And to hyse priue knyȝtis & squyerys Swich charge ȝaf as hym leste on hem leye Line 193 And þey to hise comandementis obeye And ech [[In a later hand over an erasure.]] of hem doth al his dilygence To don vn-to þe feste reuerence Line 196

[PART II.]

[N [[A space has been left in the MS for this letter.]] ] Oght fer from thilke paleys honurable Where as þis Markys / schop his maryage Ther was a thorpt of sighte delytable In which þat poore folk of þat village Line 200 Haddyn here bestis & here herbergage And of hire labour tok here sustenaunce Aftyr þat þe erþe / ȝaf hem habundaunce Line 203

A-mongys þese poore / folk þere dwellede a man Line 204 Whiche þat was holde / poreste of hem alle But highe god / sumtyme sende can His grace in-to / a lytyl oysis stalle Line 207 Ianicula / men of þat thorp hym calle A doughtyr he hadde / fayr & ȝyng to syȝte [grisild [[In a later hand.]] ] And Grysilde / þis ȝynge maydyn hyȝte

[6-text p 410]

But for to speke / of verteuous beute Line 211 Thanne was sche on / þe fayreste vndyr sunne ffor pourely / I-fosterede vp was sche No lykerous lust / was thorw hire herte I-ronne Line 214 Weel oftere of / þe welle þan of þe tunne Sche drank & for / sche wolde vertu plese Sche knew wel labour / but non ydyl ese Line 217

But thow þis mayd / tendere was of age [folio 245b] Line 218 ȝit in þe ¹in here chaste virginite¹ [[^1_1 later]] There was enclosede rype & sad corage And in gret / reuerence & charyte Line 221 Hyre olde pore / fadyr fosterede sche A fewe schep / spynnynge on feld sche kepte Sche wolde not / ben ydyl tyl sche slepte Line 224

And whan sche homward / cam sche wolde brynge Line 225 Wortis or oþere / erbis tymys ofte The whiche sche dalf / & sette for hyre lyuynge And made hyre bed / ful harde & nothyng softe Line 228 And ay sche kepte hyre faderys lyf on lofte With euery obeysaunce & dilygence That child may don to / faders reuerence Line 231

Vp-on Grysilde / þis pore creature Line 232 fful ofte tyme / þis Markis sette his eye As he an huntyng / rod parauenture And whan it fel / þat he myȝte hire espye Line 235 He not with wauntoun / lokyng of folye His eyen cast on / here / but in sad wyse Vp-on hire cher / he wolde hym ofte a-vyse Line 238

Comendynge in his / herte / hire womanhede Line 239 And ek hire verteus / passynge ony wyght Of so ȝyng age / as wel in chere as dede ffor thogh þe puple / hath no gret ensyȝt Line 242

[6-text p 411] Line 242 In vertu he / consyderede ful ryȝt Hire bou[n]teis / & purposede þat he wolde Wedde hire only / ȝif þat he wedde schulde Line 245

The day of weddyng / cam but no wight kan Line 246 Telle what / woman þat it schulde be ffor whiche merueyle / wonderede manye a man And seydyn whan þat / þey were in pryuyte Line 249 Wele not oure lord / ȝit leue his vanyte Wele he not wedde / allas allas þe whyle Whi wele he þus hym self & vs begyle Line 252

But natheles þis Markis hath don make [folio 246a] Line 253 Of gounnys set / in gold & in asure Brochis & ryngis / for gresildis sake And of hire clothynge / tok he þe mesure Line 256 By a maydyn / lyk to hyr stature And ek of oþere / aornementis alle That on to swich / a weddyng schulde falle Line 259

The tyme of vnderne / of þe soneday Line 260 Aprochith that / þis weddynge schulde bee And al þe paleys / put was In aray Bothe halle & chaumberys / eche in hese degre Line 263 Housis of offysis / stuffed with gret plente There mayst þou sen / of deynteuous vitayle That may be founde / as fer as last ytaylle Line 266

This riche Markis / ryally arayed Line 267 Lordis & ladiis in his cumpaynye The whech to þe / feste were I-preyed And of his / retente þe bacherye Line 270 And manye a soun / of sundery melodye Vn-to þe village / of þe whiche I tolde In þis aray / þe ryȝte weye han holde Line 273

[6-text p 412] Line 273

Gresylde of þis / god wot ful Innocent Line 274 That for hire schapyn / was al þis aray To feche watyr / at a welle is went And comyth hom / as sone as euere sche may Line 277 ffor wel sche hadde / herd seyd þat ilke day The Markys schulde / wedde & ȝif sche myȝt Sche wolde fayn / a seyn sum of þat syȝte Line 280

Sche thouȝte sche wolde / with oþere maydenys stonde Line 281 That been myne felas / in oure dore & see The Mayrkysesse / & þerfore wele I fonde To doon at hom / as sone as it may bee Line 284 The labour which / þat longith on to me And þanne I may / at / leysere hire byholde ȝif sche this weye / vn-to þe castel holde Line 287

And as sche wolde / ouyr hyre throswald gon [folio 246b] The Markis cam / and gan hyre for to calle And sche sette doun / hyre watyr pot a-non By syde þe throschewald / in an oxis stalle Line 291 And doun vp-on hyre / kneis sche gan to falle And with sad cuntenaunce / knelede stylle Til sche hadde / herd þe lordis wille Line 294

This thoghtful Markys / spak vn-to þis mayde Line 295 fful sobirly / & seyth / in þis manere Where is ȝoure fadyr / O Grysild he seyde And sche with reuerence / In humble chere Line 298 Answerde lord / he is al redy here And in sche goth / sche ¹wolde no lengere lette¹ [[^1_1 Written over an era|sure in a later hand.]] And to þe Markis / sche hyre fadyr fette

He by the hond / thanne tok þis olde man Line 302 And seyde þus / whan he hym hadde a syde Ianicula / I neyþer may ne kan Lengere þe plesaunce / of myn herte hyde Line 305

[6-text p 413] Line 305 ȝif þat þou vouche saf/ what so be-tyde Thyn douȝtyr wele I / take ¹er þan I wende¹ [[^1_1 Written over an erasure in a later hand.]] As for myn wif / vn-to myn lyuys ende

Thow louyst me / I wot it wel serteyn Line 309 And art myn feythful / lyge man I-bore And al þat lykyth me / I dare wel seyn It lykyth þe / & specially þerfore Line 312 Tel me þat poynt / þat I haue seyd be-fore ȝif that þou wilt / vnto þat purpos drawe To take me / as for þyn sone in lawe Line 315

The sodeyn cas / þis man a-stonede so Line 316 That red he wex / a-bayst & al quakynge He stod oneþe / seyde he wordys moo But only this / lord quod he myn willyng Line 319 Is as ȝe wele / ne a-ȝens ȝoure lykyng I wele no thyng / ȝe be myn lord so dere Ryght as ȝow lyst / gouernyth þis matyere Line 322

That wel I wot / quod / þis Markis softely [folio 247a] Line 323 That in thy chambir / I & þou & sche Haue a colacioun / & wyst þou whi ffor I wele aske ȝif it hire wille be Line 326 To be myn wif / & rewele hyr aftyr me And al þis schal been don / in þyn presence I wele not spek / out of þyn audience Line 329

And in þe chambere / whil þey were a-boute Line 330 This tretys which / þat ȝe schul aftyr here The puple cam / vnto þe hous with-oute And wondere hem / in how oneste manere Line 333 And tentyfli sche / kepte hire fadyr dere But outyrly / Grisildis wondere myghte ffor neuere erst / ne saw sche swich a syghte Line 336

[6-text p 414] Line 336

No wondir ist / þow þat sche were a-stonyd Line 337 To seen so greet / a geste come in-to plase Sche neuere was / to swich a geste wonyd ffor whiche sche lokede / with ful pale face Line 340 But schortly þis / matyer for to chase These are þe wordis / þat þe Markis sayde To þis benynge / veray fey[t]hful mayde Line 343

Grysilde he seyde / ȝe schul wel vndyrstonde Line 344 It lykyt to ȝoure / fadyr & to me That I ȝow wedde / & ek it may so stonde As I suppose / ȝe wele þat it so be Line 347 But þese demaundis / aske I ferst quod he That sythe it schal / been don in hasty wyse Wele ȝe assentyn / or ellis ȝow auyse Line 350

I seye þis be ȝe / redy with good herte Line 351 To al myn lust / & þat I frely may As me best lykyth / do ȝow lauhe or smerte And neuere ȝe / to groche it nyght ne day Line 354 And ek whan I seye ȝa / ne seye not nay Neyther be word / ne frounnynge cuntenaunce Swere þis / & here I swere oure allyaunce Line 357

Wonderynge vp-on þis word quakynge for drede [folio 247b] Sche seyde lord / vndyng & vn-worthy I am to thilke honour þat ȝe me beede But as ȝe wele ȝoure self ryȝt so wele I Line 361 And here I swere / þat neuere wyllyngly In werk ne thouȝt I nyl ȝow disobeye ffo[r] to be ded thow me were loth to dye Line 364

T[h]is is I-nogh Grysilde myn quod he Line 365 And forth he goth with a ful noble cheere Out at þe dore & aftyr þat cam [[cam: later, over an erasure.]] sche And to þe puple he seyde in þis manere Line 368

[6-text p 415] Line 368 This is myn wif / quod he þat standyth heere Honoureth hire / & louyth hire I preye Who so me louyth þere is no more to seye Line 371

And for þat nothyng / of hire olde gere Line 372 Sche schulde brynge in-to his hous he bad That wemen schulde dispoylyn hire ryȝt þere Of whiche þese / ladyis were not ryȝt glad Line 375 To handele hire clothis / wherIn sche was clad But natheles þis mayde bryȝt of hewe ffrom foot to heed they cloþede han al newe Line 378

Hyre heris han þey kembit that lay vntrussede Line 379 fful rudely & with here fyngerys smale A coroun on hire heed þey han dressyd And set hire ful of nouchis grete & smale Line 382 Of hire a-ray what schulde I make a tale Oneþe þe puple hire knew for hire fayrnesse Whan sche translatede was in swich rychesse Line 385

This Markis hath hire spousede with a ryng Line 386 Brouȝt for þe same cause & þanne hire sette Vp-on an hors snow whit & wel amblenge And to his paleys he wolde no lengere lette Line 389 With Ioyful puple þat hire ledde & mette Conueyede hire & þus þe day þey spende In reuel tyl þe sonne gan descende Line 392

And shortely forth þis tale for to chace [folio 248a] Line 393 I seye þat to þis / newe Markysesse God hath swych fauour sent hire of his grace That it semede not bi liklynesse Line 396 That sche was born & fed in rewedenesse As in a Cote / or in an oxsis stalle But norchede in / an emperourys halle Line 399

[6-text p 416] Line 399

To euery wight sche wexen is so dere Line 400 And worchepeful / þat folk þere sche was bore And from hyre burthe knew hire ȝer be ȝere Oneþe trowede þey but durste a swore Line 403 That to Ianykele of which I spak be-fore Sche doghtir were / for as be coniecture Hem thouȝte sche was a-noþer cryature Line 406

ffor thow þat euere / verteuous was sche Line 407 Sche was encresede in swych excellence Of thewys goode / I-set in high bounte And so discret & fayr of eloquense Line 410 So benyngne & so dygne of reuerence And coude so þe puples herte embrace That eche hire louede þat lokede in hire face Line 413

Not only of Saluces in þe toun Line 414 Publischid was þe bounte of hyre name But ek be-sydyn in manye a regioun ȝif ony seyde wel a-noþer seyde þe same Line 417 So spradde of hire / high bounte þe fame That men & wemen as wel ȝynge as olde Com to saluce / vp-on hire to be-holde Line 420

This Water lowely nay but roially Line 421 Weddede with fortunat oneste In godis pes leuyth / ful honestely At hom / & outwar / grace I-nogh haþ he Line 424 And for he saw þat vndyr low degre Was ofte vertu hid / þe peple hym hilde A prudent man / & þat is seyn ful seelde Line 427

Not only this Grisyldis thourgh hire wit [folio 248b] Line 428 Koude al þe fet of wyfly humbilnesse But ek whan þe cas / requyrede it The comune profyt coude sche redresse Line 431

[6-text p 417] Line 431 There nas discord rancure ne heuynesse In al þat lond þat sche ne coude a-pese And wysely brynge hem in reste & ese Line 434

Thow þat hire husbonde / absent were a-non Line 435 ȝif gentyl men or oþere of hire cuntre Were wroth sche wolde / brynge hem at oon So wyse & rype wordis hadde she Line 438 And Iugementis of so gret equite þat sche from heuene sent as men wende Puple to saue & oþere men tamende Line 441

Not longe tyme aftyr þat þis gresylde Line 442 Was I-weddit sche a doughtyr hath I-bore Al hadde sche leuere a born a knaue chyld Glad was þe markis & þe folk þerfore Line 445 ffor thow a mayde chyld cam al by-fore Sche may vn-to a knauechild a-teyne By liklyhed syn sche nys nat bareyne Line 448

[PART III.]

Ther fel as it bi-fel tymys mo Line 449 Whan þat þis child hath soukede but a throwe This markis in his herte longith soo To tempte his wyf hire sadnesse for to knowe Line 452 That he ne myȝte out of his herte throwe This meruelious desyr his wyf tasayee Nedles god wot he thouȝte hyre for taffraye Line 455

He hadde a-sayed hire ryȝt I-now be-fore Line 456 And fond hire eeuere good / what neded it Hire for to tempte alwey more & more Thow sum men preyse it for a subtil wit Line 459 But as for me I seye þat yuele it sit Tassaye a wyf / whan þat it is noon nede And put hire in anguys & in drede Line 462

[6-text p 418] Line 462

ffor which þis Markys / wrowt in þis manere [folio 249a] Line 463 He cam alone / a nyȝt þere as sche lay With sterne face / & with ful sturdy chere And seyd thus / Grisilde quod he þat day Line 466 That I ȝow tok / out of ȝoure pore aray And put ȝow in estat/ of hegh noblesse ȝe han not þat / forgetyn as I gesse Line 469

I sey Grisilde / this present dignete Line 470 In which þat I haue / put ȝow / as I trowe Makyth ȝow nat / forȝetful for to be þat I ȝow tok / in pore estaat ful lowe Line 473 ffor ony wele / ȝe motyn ȝoure seluyn knowe Take heed of / euery word þat I ȝow seye Ther is no wight / þat hereth it but we tweye Line 476

Ye woot youre self wel / how that ye cam heere Line 477 In-to this hous / it is nat longe a-go And thow to me / þat ye been lef & deere Vn-to myn sentens ye been nothyng so Line 480 They seyn to hem / it is greet schame & wo ffor to been subiect / & been in seruage To the þat born art / of a smal village Line 483

And nameliche / sithe thyn doughtyr was bore Line 484 These wordis han / they spoke douteles But I desire / as I haue doon by-fore To lyue myn lyf / with hem in reste & pees Line 487 I may nat in / this cas been rechelees I mot doon with thyn / doghtyr for the beste Nat as I wolde / but as myn peple leste Line 490

And ȝit god wot / it is ful looght to me Line 491 But natheles / with-outyn ȝoure wytynge I wol not don / but this wol I quod he That ȝe to me / assente as in this thyng Line 494

[6-text p 419] Line 494 Schewe now ȝoure / pacience in ȝoure werkyng That ȝe me hyȝte / & swore in ȝoure wyllage That day that maked / was oure mariage Line 497

Whan sche hadde herd al this she noght a-meued [folio 249b] Neythir in word / ne chire nor cuntenaunce ffor as it semede sche was nat agreuyd Sche seyde lord al lyth in ȝore plesaunce Line 501 Myn chyld & .I. / with hertely obey-saunce Been ȝourys al & ȝe mowe saue or spille Youre owene thyng werkyth aftyr ȝoure wylle Line 504

There may no thyng god so myn soule saue Line 505 Lykyn ȝow þat may displesyn me Ne I desyre nothyng for to haue Ne drede for to lese saue only thee Line 508 T[h]is wil is in myn herte & ay schal bee No lenthe of tyme or deth schal this defase Ne change myn corage tyl a-noþer place Line 511

Glad was this markis of this answeryng Line 512 But ȝit he feynede as it were nat so Al drery was hise chir & hise lokynge Whan þat he schulde out of the chambir goo Line 515 Sone aftyr this a furlong woy or too He pryuyly hath told al his entente Vn-to a man & to his wif hym sente Line 518

A maner seriaunt was this priue man Line 519 The whiche that fei[t]hful ofte he foundyn hadde In thyngis grete & ek swiche folk wel kan Doon execucioun / in thyngis badde Line 522 The lord knew wel that he hym louede & dradde And whan this sergeaunt / wiste this lordis wille In-to þe chaumbre / he stalke hym ful stylle Line 525

[6-text p 420] Line 525

Madame he seyde ȝe mote for-ȝeue it me Line 526 Thow I do thyng to whiche I am constreynyd Ye ben so wis that ful weel knewe ȝe That lordis hestys mowe not been I-feynyd Line 529 They moun been weel bewailyd & compleynyd But men mot nede vntyl his lust obeye And so wele I / þere is no more to seye Line 532

This child I am comaundit for to take [folio 250a] Line 533 And spek no more but out the child he hente Dispitously & gan a chire make As they he wolde a slayn it er he wente Line 536 Grysyldis muste / al suffere & al consente And as a lomb sche sittyth meke & stylle And leet this crewel seriaunt don his wille Line 539

Suspecious was / þe/ diffame of this man Line 540 Suspect his face / suspect his word also Suspect the tyme / in which that this be-gan Allas hire doghtyr that sche louede so Line 543 Sche wende he wolde a slayn it ryght tho But natheles sche neyther wept ne sikyd Conformyng hire to that þe markis lykyd Line 546

But at the laste spekyn sche be-gan Line 547 And mekely sche to the seriaunt preyde So as he was a worthi gentil man That sche muste kysse hire child er þat it deyede Line 550 And on hire barm this lytyl child sche leyde With ful sad face & gan the child to blysse And lullede it & aftyr gan it to kysse Line 553

And thus sche seyde in ful benyngne voys Line 554 ffare wel myn child I schal þe neuere se But sythe I the haue markede with the croys Of thilke fadyr blyssede mote he bee Line 557

[6-text p 421] Line 557 That for vs deyede vp-on a coroys of tree Thyn soule lytyl chyld I the be-take ffor this nyȝt schat þou deye for myn sake Line 560

I trowe that to a norys in this cas Line 561 It hadde been hard / this routhe for to see Weel myghte a modyr / þanne han cryede allas But nathelas / sad / & stedefast was sche Line 564 That sche endurede / al aduercite And to þe sergeaunt / mekelyche sayde Haue here agayn / ȝoure ȝynge lite mayde Line 567

Seth now quod sche & doth myn lordis heste [folio 250b] But on thyng wele I preye ȝow of ȝoure grace That but myn lord forbad ȝow at the leste Berieth this lite bodi in sum place Line 571 That bestis ne non oþere briddis it to-race But he no word wolde to þat purpos seye But tok the child & wente vp-on hise weye Line 574

This sergeant cam vn-to his lord a-geyn Line 575 And of grysildis wordis & hire chere He told hym word in schort pleyn And hym presentyth with his doughtyr dere Line 578 Sumwhat this lord hadde routhe in this manere But natheles his purpos held he stylle As lordys doon whan they welen han here wille Line 581

And bad this segeaunt þat he priuyly Line 582 Schulde this chyld softe wynde & wrappe With alle cyrcumstauncis tenderely And carye it in a cofere or in a lappe Line 585 But vp peyne of his hed of for to swappe That no man schulde knowe of his entente Ne whens he cam ne wheþer þat he wente Line 588

[6-text p 422] Line 588

But at boloyne he to his sustyr deere Line 589 That thilke tyme of pavyk was cuntesse He schulde it take & schewe hire this matyere Bysekynge hire to don hyre bysynesse Line 592 This child to fostere in al gentillesse And whos chyld þat it was he bad hire hyde ffrom euery wyght for ought þat may be-tyde Line 595

This sergeaunt goth & hath ful-fyld this thyng Line 596 But to the markis now rotorne we ffor now goth he ful faste ymaginyng ȝif by his wywis cheer he myghte se Line 599 Or by hire word aperceyue that sche Were chaungede but he neuere hire coude fynde But euere in on I-lyke sadde & kynde Line 602

As glad as humble as besy in seruyse [folio 251a] Line 603 And ek in loue as sche was wone to be Was sche to hym in euery manere wyse Nor of hire doughtyr nouȝt a word spak she Line 606 Non accident for noon aduersite Was seyn in hire / ne neuere hire doughtiris name Ne nemenede sche in ernest nor in game Line 609

[PART IV.]

In this estaat there passede been foure ȝeer Line 610 Er sche with childe was but as god wolde A knaue child be this Waltyr fful gracious & fayr for to be-holde Line 613 And whan that folk it to his fadyr tolde Not only he but al his court merye Was for this child & god þey thankede & herye Line 616

Whan it was two ȝeer old & fro þe brest Line 617 Departede of his norysce on a day This Markis caughte ȝet a-nothir best

[6-text p 423] To tempte his wyf ȝit oftere ȝif he may Line 620 O needeles was sche temptid in assay But weddede men ne knowe no mesure Whan that þey fynde a pacient creature Line 623

Wyf quod this Markys ȝe han herd er this Line 624 Myn peple beryth hevye oure maryage And namely sithe myn sone I-born is Now is it werse than euere in al oure age Line 627 The murmur sleth myn herte & myn corage ffor to mynne eris comyth the vois so smerte That it wel nygh distroyed hath myn herte Line 630

Now sey they thus now Waltyr is a-goon Line 631 Than schal the blood of Ianicle succede And been oure lord / for oþere haue we non Swich wordis seigh myn peple out of drede Line 634 Weel oughte I of swich murmour takyn heede ffor certeynly I drede swich sentence Thogh they not pleynly speke in myn audience Line 637

I wolde leue in pees ȝif that I myȝte [folio 251b] Line 638 Wherfore I am disposed vttyrly As I his sistyr seruede be nyghte Ryȝt so thynke I to serue hym priuyly Line 641 This warne I ȝow that ȝe nat sodeynly Out of ȝoure self / for no woo schulde out-raye Beth pacient & þerof I ȝow praye Line 644

I haue quod sche seyd thus & euere schal Line 645 I wol nothyng / ne nyl nothyng certeyn But as þou lyst not / greuyth me at al Thow that myn doughtir & myn sone be slayn Line 648 At ȝoure comaundement it is to seyn I haue not had no part of chyldere tweyne But fyrst seknesse / & aftyr wo & peyne Line 651

[6-text p 424] Line 651

Ye been oure lord doth with ȝoure owene thyng Line 652 Ryȝt as ȝow leste axseth no reed at me ffor as I leffte at hom al myn clothynge Whan I ferst cam to ȝow ryȝt so quod sche Line 655 Lefte I myn wil / & myn liberte / And tok ȝoure clothyng wherfore I ȝow preye Doth ȝoure plesaunce I wele ȝoure lust obeye Line 658

And sertis ȝif I hadde prescience Line 659 ȝoure wil to knowe er ȝe ȝoure lust me tolde I wolde it don with-outyn necligence But now I wot ȝoure lust & what ȝe wolde Line 662 Al ȝoure plesaunce ferme & stable I holde ffor wiste I þat myn deth wolde don ȝoure ese Ryȝt gladly wolde I deye ȝow to plese Line 665

Deth may not make non comparisoun Line 666 Vn-to ȝoure loue & whan this Markys say The constaunce / of his wyf he cast a doun Hise eyen too / & wonderyth that sche may Line 669 In pacience / suffere al this a-ray And forth he goth / with drery cuntenaunce But to his herte it was / a ful gret plesaunce Line 672

This vgely sergeaunt in þe same wyse [folio 252a] Line 673 That he hire douȝtyr cauȝte ryȝte so he Or werse ȝif men werse can deuyse Hath hent hire sone that ful was of beute Line 676 And euery in on so pacient was sche That sche no chere made of heuynesse But kisse hire sone / & aftyr gan it blysse Line 679

Saue this sche preyede hym that ȝif he myȝte Line 680 Hire litille sone he wolde in erthe graue Hise tendere lemys delitat to syȝte ffrom foulys & from bestis hym to saue Line 683

[6-text p 425] Line 683 But sche non answere myȝte haue He wente his wey as hym nothyng rouȝte But to bolonye he tenderly it brouȝte Line 686

This Markys wonderyth euere lengere the more Line 687 Vp on hire pacience & ȝif that he Ne hadde sothli knowe ther by-fore That parfytly hire childeryn louede sche Line 690 He wolde a went / þat of subtilite And of maleys or of crewel corage That sche hath suffered / this with sad visage Line 693

But weel he knew þat next hym self certeyn Line 694 Sche louede hire childeryn best in euery wyse But now of women wilde I axsyn fayn If these assayis myghte not suffyse Line 697 What coude a sturdy husbonde more deuyse To preue hire ¹wyffehode¹ [[^1_1 in a later hand.]] & hire stedefast-nesse And he contynuynge euere in sturdynesse Line 700

But þere been folk of swich condycioun Line 701 That whan þey han a certeyn purpos take They can not stynte of here entencioun But ryȝt as they were boundyn to þat stake Line 704 They wil not of that / ferste purpos slake Right so this ilke markis fullyche hath supposed To tempte his wyf / as he was fyrst purposed Line 707

Here waytith / ȝif be word or cuntenaunce [folio 252b] Line 708 That sche to hym was chaungit of corage But neuere coude he fynde varyaunce Sche was ay on in herte & in visage Line 711 And ay þe ferthere þat sche was in age The moore trewe ȝif þat it were possyble Sche was to hym in loue & more penyble Line 714

[6-text p 426] Line 714

ffor which it semede thus that of hem two Line 715 Nas but on wil for as Waltyr leste The same lust was hyre plesaunce also And god be thankede al fyl for the beste Line 718 Sche schewede wel for no wordely onreste A wyf as of hire self nothyng ne schulde Wille in effect / but as hire husbonde wolde Line 721

The sclaundere ofte & wyde spradde Line 722 That of a crewel herte / he wekkedely ffor he a poore woman wedded hadde Hath morderyd bothe hise childere priuyly Line 725 Swich mordere was a-mong hem comounly No wondyr is for to þe peplis ere There cam no word / but þat þey morderede were Line 728

ffor wych ther as his puple ther by / fore Line 729 Hadde loued hym wel the slaundere of his diffame Maade hem þat they hym hatid þerfore To been a morderere is an hateful name Line 732 But natheles for ernest ne for game He of his crewel purpos nolde stente To tempte his wyf was set al his entente Line 735

Whan þat this doghtyr twelf ȝeer was of age Line 736 He to the court of rome in subtyl wyse Enformede of his wil sente his massage Comaundynge hem sweche bullys to deuyse Line 739 As to his crewel purpos may suffyse How þat the pope as for the peplis reste Bad hym to wedde a-nothir ȝif hym leste Line 742

I seye he bad th[e]y schulde countrefete [folio 253a] Line 743 The popis bullis makynge mencioun That he hath leue his fyrste wif to lete And by the popis dispensacioun Line 746

[6-text p 427] Line 746 And stynte rancure & dissencioun By-twixe þe puple & hym thus seyth þ^e bulle The whiche they han pupliced at þ^e fulle Line 749

The rude peple as it no wondyr is Line 750 Wendyn ful wel that it hadde been ryȝt so But whan these tydyngis cam to Grysildis I deeme that hire herte was ful wo Line 753 But sche I-like sad for euere mo Disposede was this vmble cryature Thaduersite / of fortune al tendure Line 756

Abydynge euere his lust & his plesaunce Line 757 To wom that sche was ȝeuyn herte & al As to hire verray wordely suffysaunce But schortely ȝif this story I tellyn schal Line 760 This Markys wrytyn hath in special A lettere in wheche he schewith hys entente And secrely he to boloyne it sente Line 763

To the erl of pauyk which þat hadde tho Line 764 Wedded his sistyr preyede he specially To brynge hym hom a-geyn his chyldere two In honurable estat al opynly Line 767 But on thyng he hym preyede vtterely That he to no wyght for no manere. Sholde not telle whos childre th[e]y were Line 770

But seye the maydyn schulde I-weddid be Line 771 Vn-to the markis of saluce a-non And as this erl was preyed so dede he ffor at the day set he on his weye is goon Line 774 Toward saluce & lordis manyon In ryche a-ray this made for to gyde Hire ȝynge brothir rydynge by hire syde Line 777

[6-text p 428] Line 777

A-rayed was sche toward hire maryage [folio 253b] Line 778 This fresche mayde ful of gemmys cleere Hire brothir which seuene ȝeer was of age Arayede ek ful frosch in his manere Line 781 And thus in gret noblesse & with glad chere Towar Saluces schapynge hire Iourneye ffrom day to day they rydynge in here woye Line 784

[PART V.]

[A [[A space has been left in the MS for this letter.]] ]-Mong al this aftyr his wikkede vsage This Markys ȝit his wif to tempte more To the vttyreste priue of hire corage ffully to han experience & lore Line 788 ȝif that sche were as stedefast as by-foore He on a day in opyn audience fful boystously hath seyd hire this sentence Line 791

Certis Grisilde I hadde I-now plesaunce Line 792 To han ȝow to myn wif for ȝoure goodnesse As for ȝoure trouthe & for ȝoure obeisaunce Not for ȝorere lynage / ne for ȝoure rychesse Line 795 But now knowe I in verray sothfastnesse That in gret lordschepe If I wele auyse Ther is gret seruytut in sundery wyse Line 798

I may nat do as euery plowman may Line 799 Myn puple me constreynyth for to take A-noþer wyf & cryen day be day And ek þe popis rancure for to slake Line 802 Consenteth it þat dar I vndyr-take And trewely þus meche I ȝow seye Myn newe wif is comynge by the weye Line 805

Be strong of herte & woyde a-non hire place Line 806 And thilke dowere þat ȝe broughte me Take it a-geyn I graunte it of myn grace

[6-text p 429] Returnyth to ȝoure faderis hous quod he Line 809 No man may han alwey prosperite With euene herte I rede ȝow to endure The strok of fortune or of auenture Line 812

And sche answerde a-noon in pacience [folio 254a] Line 813 Myn lord quod sche I wot & wyste alwey How that by-twixe ȝoure magnificence And myn pouerte no wyght can ne may Line 816 Makyn comparysoun it is no nay I ne hylde me neuere dygne in no manere To be ȝoure wyf no / ne ȝoure chaumberere Line 819

And in this hous there ȝe me lady made Line 820 The hyghe god take I for myn witnesse And also wysely he myn soule so glade I hyld me neuere lady ne maystresse Line 823 But vmble seruaunt to ȝoure worthynesse And euere schal whil myn lyf may dure Abovyn euery wordely creature Line 826

That ȝe so longe of ȝoure benyngnetee Line 827 Han holde me in honour & nobleye Wher as I was not worthy for to bee That thanke I god / & ȝow to whom I preye Line 830 ffor ȝilde it ȝow ther is no more to seye And to myn fadyr gladly wele I wende And with hym dwelle vn-to myn lyuys ende Line 833

There I was fostered of a chyld ful smal Line 834 Tyl I be deed myn lyf there wele I leede A wydewe clene in body herte & al ffor sythe I ȝaf to ȝow myn maydynhede Line 837 And am ȝoure trewe wyf it is no drede God schilde swich a lordis wyf to take A-nothir man to husbonde or to make Line 840

[6-text p 430] Line 840

And of ȝoure newe wif god of his grace Line 841 So graunte ȝow wele & prosperitee ffor I wele gladly ȝildyn hire myn place In which þat I was blysful wone to be Line 844 ffor syth it lykyth ȝow myn lord quod sche That whilhom were al myn hertis reste That I schal gon .I. wele goon whan ȝow leste Line 847

But there as ȝe me profere swych dewarye [folio 254b] Line 848 As I fyrst brouȝte it is weel in myn mynde It were mynne wrechede clothis no thyng fayre The wheche to me were hard now for to fynde Line 851 O goode god how gentyl & how kynde ȝe semedyn be ȝoure speche & ȝoure visage The day that makyd was oure maryage Line 854

But soth is seyd / algate I fynde it trewe Line 855 ffor in effect it preuede is in me Loue is not old / as whan þat it is newe But sertis lord for noon aduercite Line 858 To deyen in þe cas it schal nat be That euere in word / or werk I schal repente That I ȝow ȝaf myn herte / with hol entente Line 861

Myn lord ȝe wot that In myn faderys place Line 862 ȝe dede me strype out of myn poore weede And rychely me claddyn of ȝoure grace To ȝow brouȝte I not ellis out of dreede Line 865 But feyth & meknesse & maydynhede And heere ageyn myn clothynge I restore And ek myn weddynge ryng for euere more Line 868

The remenaunt of ȝoure Iewellys redy bee Line 869 In with ȝoure chaumbere that dar I sayn Nakyd out of myn faderys hous quod sche I cam / & nakyd I mot / turne ageyn Line 872

[6-text p 431] Line 872 Al ȝoure plesaunce I wele folwe fayn But ȝit I hope it be not ȝoure entente That I smokles out of ȝoure paleys wente Line 875

ȝe coude not don so disonest a thyng Line 876 That ilke wombe in whiche ȝoure chyldere leye Schulde by-fore the peple in myn walkynge Be seyn al bare / therfore I ȝow preye Line 879 Lat me not lyk a werm / goon by the weye Remembrith ȝow myn owene lord so deere I was ȝoure wyf thow I onworthy weere Line 882

Wherfore in guerdoun of myn maydynhede [folio 255a] Line 883 Whiche that I brouȝte & not ageyn I bere As vouche ȝe saf / to ȝeue me to myn meede But swich a smok as I was wone to were Line 886 That I therwith may wrye þ^e wombe of hire That was ȝoure wyf / & here I take myn leue Of ȝow myn owene / lest that I ȝow greue Line 889

The smok quod he that thow hast on thyn bak Line 890 Lete it be stylle & bere it forth with the But wel onethe thilke word he spak But wente his wey for reuthe & for pite Line 893 By-forn hyre folk / hyre seluyn strepyth sche And in hire smok with hed & feet al bare Toward hire faderys hous / forth is sche fare Line 896

The folk hyre folwyn / wepynge ¹in hire weye¹ [[^1_1 later]] And fortune ay they curssyn as they goon But sche from wepynge kepte hire eyen dreye Ne in this tyme word ne spak sche noon Line 900 Hyre fadyr þat of this tydyng herde a-non Curseth the day / & tyme that nature Schop hym to been a lyuys creature Line 903

[6-text p 432] Line 903

ffor out of doute this olde poure man Line 904 Was euere in suspect of hire maryage ffor euere he demede sythe that it be-gan That whan the lord fulfyld hadde his corage Line 907 Hym wolde thynke it were a disparage To his estat so lowe for to a-lyghte And woydyn hire / as sone as euere he myghte Line 910

A-geyn his doughtyr / hastyliche goth he Line 911 ffor he by noyse of folk / knew hire comyng And with hire olde coote / as it myghte be He cowerith hire / ful sorwefully wepynge Line 914 But on hire body / myghte it not brynge ffor rude was the cloth / & sche more of age By dayis fele / than at hire maryage Line 917

T[h]us with hire fadyr / for a certeyn space [folio 255b] Line 918 Dwellyth this flour of wyfly pacience That neythir by hire wordys ne hire face By-fore the folk ne ek in hire absence Line 921 Ne schewede sche þat hire was don offence Ne of hire highe estat no remembraunce Ne hadde sche as by hyre cuntenaunce Line 924

No wondyr is / for in hire greete estate Line 925 Hyre gost was ay in pleyn humylitee No tendere mouth non herte delicate No pompe no semblaunt of royaltee Line 928 But ful of pacient benygnetee Dyscreet & prideles / ay honurable And to hire husbonde euere mek & stable Line 931

Men speke of Iob / & most for his humblesse Line 932 As clerkis whan hem leste can wel endite Namely of men / but as in sothfastnesse Thow Clerkys preysyn wemen but a lyte Line 935

[6-text p 433] Line 935 There Can no man in humblesse hem a-quyte As wemen ¹can ne ben half so trewe¹ [[^1_1 later]] As wemen ben but it be falle of newe Line 938

[PART VI.]

¶ ffrom Boloygne as this erl of pauyk come Line 939 Of which þe fame vp sprong bothe more & lesse And to the peplis eris alle & some Was kouth eek that a newe Markisesse Line 942 He with hym broghte in swich pompe & richesse That neuere was there seyn with manys eye So noble a-ray in al west Lumbardye Line 945

This Markis which that shoop & knew al this Line 946 Er þat this erl was come / sente his massage ffor thilke sely pore ²Gresyldis² [[^2_2 later]] And sche with ²houmble² [[^2_2 later]] herte & glad visage Line 949 Noght in a swollyn thoght in hire corage Cam at his heste / & on hire kneis hire sette And reuerently & wisely / sche hym grette Line 952

Grisilde quod he / myn wil is outirly [folio 256a] Line 953 This mayde þat schal weddit been to me Resseyuede ben to morwe as roially As it possible is in myn hous to be Line 956 And ek that euery wiȝt in his degere Haue his estat / in sittynge & seruyse And hegh plesaunce / as I can best deuyse Line 959

I haue no wemen suffisaunt certeyn Line 960 The chambris for taraye in ordenaunce Aftyr myn lust & þerfore wolde I fayn That thyn were / al swich manere gouernaunce Line 963 Thow knowyst ek of old / al myn plesaunce Thow thyn aray be badde & euele be seye Do þou thyn deuer / at the leste weye Line 966

[6-text p 434] Line 966

Nat only lord þat I am glad quod sche Line 967 To do ȝoure lust / but .I. desyre also ȝow for to serue & plese in myn degre With-outyn feyntynge & schal euere mo Line 970 Ne neuere for no wele ne no wo Ne schal myn gost with-inne myn herte stente To loue ȝow best / with al myn hol entente Line 973

And with that word sche gan the hous to dighte Line 974 And tabellis for to sette & al redy make And peynede hire to don al þat sche myȝte Preyinge þ^e chambereris for godis sake Line 977 To haste hem & faste swepe & shake And sche þ^e moste / seruyable of alle Hath euery chambre arayed and his halle Line 980

A-boutyn vndryn gan this erl a-lyȝte Line 981 That with hym broghte these noble childere tweye ffor which the peple ran to seen the syght Of hire aray so rychely be seye Line 984 And thanne at erst a-mongis hem they seye That waltyr was no fol thow þat hym leste To chonge his wyf / for it was for the beste Line 987

ffor sche is fayrere as they demyn alle [folio 256b] Line 988 As is Gresilde & more tendere of age And fayrere freut be-twen hem schulde falle And more plesaunt for hire heye lenage Line 991 Hire brothir ek so fayr was of visage That hem to sen þ^e peple hath caught plesaunce Comendynge now þ^e Markys gouernaunce Line 994

O stormy puple / on sad & euere vntrewe [Auctor] Ay vndiscret & chaungynge as a fane Delytynge euere in rumbul þat is newe ffor lyk the mone / ay waxe ȝe & wane Line 998

[6-text p 435] Line 998 Ay ful of clappyng deere ynogh a Iane ȝoure dom is fals / ȝoure constaunce euel preuyth A ful greet fol is he þat on ȝow leuyth Line 1001

Thus seydyn sadde folk in þat Cetee Line 1002 Whan þat the peple gaȝede vp & doun ffor they were glad rygh for þ^e noueltee To haue a newe lady of hire toun Line 1005 No more of this now make I mencioun But to grysilde a-geyn wil I me dresse And telle hire constance & hire besynesse Line 1008

fful bisy was Grisilde / in euery thyng Line 1009 That to þ^e feste / was apertynent Rygh nought was sche / abast of hire clothynge Thow it were rude & sumdel ek to-rent Line 1012 But with glad chier to þ^e ȝate is went With oþere folk to greete the Markisesse And aftyr doth / forth hire besinesse Line 1015

With so glad chiere / hire gestis sche resseyuydh Line 1016 And so benyngnely euerych in his degre That no defaute no man aperseyuyth But ay they wondere / what sche myghte be Line 1019 That in so pore aray / was for to se And coude swich honour / & reuerence And worthily they preyse hire prudence Line 1022

In al this meene while / sche ne stente [folio 257a] Line 1023 That mayde & ek hire broth[i]r to comende With al hire herte in ful benyngne entente So wel þat no man coude hire pris a-mende Line 1026 But at þ^e laste / whan that þ^e lordys wende To syttyn doun to mete he gan to calle Grysilde as sche was bysy in the halle Line 1029

[6-text p 436] Line 1029

Grysilde quod he as it were in his pley Line 1030 How lykyth þ^e myn wif & hire beaute Ryȝt wel quod sche myn lord / for in good fey A fayrere saugh I neuere non þan sche Line 1033 I preye to god / ȝeue ȝow prosperite And so hope I þat he wele to ȝow sende Plesaunce I-now vn-to ȝoure lyuys ende Line 1036

O thyng biseke I ȝow & warne also Line 1037 That ȝe ne pryke / with no turmentynge This newe mayde as ȝe han don mo ffor sche is fosteryd in hire norychynge Line 1040 More tenderely & to myn supposynge Sche coude not aduercytee endure As coude a pore fosterede creature Line 1043

And whan this waltyr saugh hire pacience Line 1044 Hire glad chere & non maleyce at al And he so ofte hadde don hire offence And sche ay sad & constaunt as a wal Line 1047 Conteynynge euere / hire innocent ouyr al This sturdy Markys gan his herte dresse To rewe vp-on hire / wifly stedefastnesse Line 1050

That is I-nogh Grisilde myn quod he Line 1051 Be now no moore a-gast ne euele a-payed I haue thyn feyth & thyn benygnetee As wel as euere weman was a-sayed Line 1054 In gret estat & porely arayed Now knowe I deere wif / thyn stedefastnesse And hire in armys took / & gan hyre kesse Line 1057

And sche for wondyr tok of it no kep [folio 257b] Line 1058 Sche herde not what thyng he to hire seyde Sche ferde as sche hadde styrt out of hyre slep Tyl sche out of hire masedenesse a-breyde Line 1061

[6-text p 437] Line 1061 Grisilde quod he bi god that for vs deyede Thow art myn wif / ne non oþer ne haue Ne neuere ne hadde as god myn soule saue Line 1064

This is thyn douȝtyr / which þow hast supposyd Line 1065 To been myn wyf / þat oþer feithfully Schal been myn eyr / as I haue ay supposid Thow bar hym in thyn body trewely Line 1068 At Boloyne haue I kept hem pryuyly Take hem a-geyn for now þow mayst nat seye That þou hast lost non of thynne childeryn tweye Line 1071

And folk that oþere weyis han seyd of mee Line 1072 I warne hem weel that I haue don this dede ffor no maleys / nor for no creueltee But for tassaye in the thyn womanhede Line 1075 And not for to sle mynne childeryn god for-beede But for to kepe hem priuyly & stille Til I thyn purpos knew & al thyn wille Line 1078

Whan this sche herde / aswounne doun sche fallyth Line 1079 ffor pytous Ioye & aftyr hire swounynge Sche beþe hire ȝonge chyldere vn-to hyre callyth And in hire armys / pitously / wepynge Line 1082 Enbrasyth hym / & tenderely kyssynge fful lyk a modyr with hire salte terys Sche bathith bothe hire visage & hire herys Line 1085

O which a pitous thyng it was to se Line 1086 Hire swounnynge & hire humble voys for to heere Graunt mercy lord / god thanke ȝow quod sche That ȝe han sauede me mynne chyldere deere Line 1089 Now rekke I neuere to been ded ryȝt here Sithe I stonde in ȝoure loue & in ȝoure grace No fors of deth ne whan myn spiryt pace Line 1092

[6-text p 438] Line 1092

O tendere o ȝonge o deere childere mynne [folio 258a] Line 1093 ȝoure woful modyr / wende stedefastly That crewel houndis / or sum foul vermyn Haddyn etyn ȝow / but god of his mercy Line 1096 And ȝoure benyngne fadyr tendyrly Hath don ȝow kept & in that same stounde Al sodeynly sche swapte a-doun to grounde Line 1099

And in hire swough so sadly holdyth sche Line 1100 Hyre chylderyn two / whan sche gan hem tenbrace That with gret sleyȝt / & gret difficultee The chyldere from hire arm / they gunne a-race Line 1103 O manye a ter / on manye a pitous face Doun ran of hem that stodyn hire besyde Vnnethe a-boutyn hire myȝte they not a-byde Line 1106

Walter hire gladith / & hire sorwe slakyth Line 1107 Sche rysith vp abaschid from hire traunce And euery wiȝt hire Ioye & feste makyth Til sche hath cauȝt a-geyn hire cuntenaunce Line 1110 Walter hire doth so feythful plesaunce That it was deynte for to sen the cheere By-twixe hem two now the[y] ben met in feere Line 1113

These ladyis whan that they here tyme sey Line 1114 Han takyn hire & in-to chambere goon And strippe hire out of hire rude a-ray And in a cloth of gold that bryȝte schoon Line 1117 With a coroun of manye a ryche stoon Vp-on hire heed they in-to halle hire brouȝte And þere sche was honourede as hyre ouȝte Line 1120

Thus hath this pitous day a blysful ende Line 1121 ffor euery man & woman doth his myȝt This day in myrthe & reuel to dispende Tyl on the walkyn schon the sterrys lyȝt Line 1124

[6-text p 439] Line 1124 ffor more solempne in euery manys syȝt This feste was & grettere of costage Than was the reuel of hyre maryage Line 1127

fful manye a ȝeer in hih prosperite [folio 258b] Line 1128 Lyuyn these too in concord & in reste And richely his doghtyr maryede he Vn-to a lord on of the worthieste Line 1131 Of al ytayle & þanne in pees & reste Hise wyuys fadyr in his court he kepith Tyl þat þe soule out of the body crepith Line 1134

His sone succedith in his heritage Line 1135 In reste & pees aftyr his faderys day And fortenat was ek in mariage Al put he nat his wif in greet assay Line 1138 This world is nat so strong It is no nay As it hath been in olde tymys ȝoore And herkenyth what this auctor seyth therfore Line 1141

This stori is seyd noght for that wyuys schulde [Auctor] ffolwyn grysilde as in humylitee ffor it were importable thogh they wolde But for that euery wight in his degree Line 1145 Schulde been constaunt in aduersitee As was Grisilde / therfore this Petrak wryteth This story which he with high style endyteth Line 1148

ffor sythe a woman was so pacient Line 1149 Vn-to a mortal man wel more vs oghte Receyuyn al in gre þat god we see ffor greet skele is he / preue that he wroghte Line 1152 But he ne temptyth no man that he boughte As seith seynt Iame / If ye his pistyl reede He preuyth folk al day / it is no drede Line 1155

[6-text p 440] Line 1155

And sufferyth vs as for excercice Line 1156 With scharpe schourgis / of aduercitee fful ofte to be bet in sundery wyse Not for to knowe oure wil for certis he Line 1159 Er we were born knew al oure freletee And for oure beste is al his gouernaunce Lat vs thanne lyue in verteuous sufferaunce Line 1162

But on word lordynyis herkenyth er I go [folio 259a] Line 1163 It were ful hard to fynde now on dayis In al a toun Grysildis thre or two ffor ȝif that thei were / put to swych a-sayis Line 1166 The gold of hem han now so badde alayis With bras that thogh the coyn be fayr at Iye It wele rathere breste atwo than plye Line 1169

ffor which heere for the wyuys loue of bathe Line 1170 Whos lyf & al hyre secte god meynteene In high maystrye & ellis were it skathe I wele with lusty herte frosch & grene Line 1173 Sey ȝow a song to glade ȝow I wene And let vs stynte of ernest-ful matiere Herkenyth myn song / þat seyth in this manere Line 1176

Lenuoy de Chaucer

Grysilde is deed & ek hire pacience And bothe at onoys buryed in Ytayle ffor whiche in opene audience Line 1179 No weddede man / so hardy be tassaylle His wyuys pacience entrost to fynde Grisildis for in certeyn he schal faylle Line 1182

[6-text p 441] Line 1182

O noble wyuys ful of prudence Let noon humilite ȝoure tunge nayille Ne lat no klerk haue cause nor dilygence Line 1185 To wryte of ȝow a story of swych meruaile As of Grisildis pacient & kynde Lest Chicheuache / you swolwe in hire entrayle Line 1188

ffolwith Ecco / that holdyth no sylence But euere answerith at the countretayle Beth not bedaffyd for ȝoure Innocence Line 1191 But scharpely takyth on ȝow the gouernaile Enpryntith wel this lessoun in ȝoure mynde ffor comune profyt / sithe it may a-wayle Line 1194

Ye Archewyuys stondyth at ȝoure defence [folio 259b] Syn ȝe been stronge as is a greet Camayle Ne sufferyth nat / þat men ȝow doon offence Line 1197 And sklendere wyues feble as in batayle Beeth egre as is a tigre ȝong in ȝouthe Ay clappith as a melle I ȝow consayle Line 1200

Ne drede hem nat do hem no reuerence ffor thow thyn husbond / armede be in mayle The arwis of thyn crabbede eloquence Line 1203 Schal perce his brest & ek his auentayle In Ialusye I reede ek thow hym bynde And thow schat make hym couche as doth a quayle Line 1206

If thow be fayr / ther folk been in presence Schewe thu thyn visage & thyn aparayle ȝif thow be foul be fre of thyn dispence Line 1209 To gete the frendys ay do thyn trauayle Be ay of chir as lyght as lef on lynde And lat hym care & wepe & wrynge & wayle Line 1212

Heere hath the clerk of Oxenforthe ended his tale

[6-text p 477]

APPENDIX TO GROUP E, § 2. [? Original, but rejected, End-Link to the Clerk's Tale, perhaps following l. 1162, with which the paraphrase of Petrarch's Latin ends, or l. 1169.]

This worthi clerk whan endede was his tale Oure ost seyde & swor by godys bonys Me were leuere than a barel ale Myn wif at hom hadde herd this legende onys Line 4 This was a gentil tale for the nonys As to myn purpos woste ȝe myn wille But thyng that wil nat be lat it be stille Line 7

[6-text p 442]

Heere folwith the prologe of the marchauntes tale [folio 259b]

[Leaf 260 (containing the Merchant's prologue, the painting of him, and 20 lines of the tale) has been cut out of the Cambridge MS Gg. 4. 27.]

[Cambr. Univ. MS Dd. 4. 24.]

[Wepyng and waylyng / care and other sorwe [Camb. Dd. 4. 24 folio 106a] I knowe I-now / on Euen and on morwe Quod the Marchaunt / and so don othere moo That wedded ben / I trowe that it be so fful wel I wot / it fareth so by me I haue a wyf / the werste that may be ffor though the fend / to hire I-coupled were She wolde him ouer macche / I dar wel swere Line 1220 what shulde I ȝow reherce / in special hire heye malice / she is a shrewe with al There is a long / and a large difference Be-twix Grisildis / grete pacience Line 1224 And of my wyf / the passyng cruelte were I vnbounden / also mot I the I wolde neuere eft / comen in the snare we wedded men / lyue in sorwe and care Line 1228 Assay who so wyl / and he shal fynde That I seye soth / be seynt Thomas of Inde As for the more part / I seye nat alle God shilde that it shulde / so byfalle Line 1232 A goode sire hoost / I haue I-wedded be Theise Monthes two / and more nat parde And ȝet I trowe / that he that al his lyue wyflees hath ben / though that man wold him ryue Line 1236 Vn-to the hert / ne coude in no manere Tellen so meche sorwe / as I now here Coude tellen / of my wyues cursidnes Now quod oure Host / Marchaunt so god ȝow blis Line 1240 Syn ȝe so mechil knowen / of that art fful hertily I pray ȝow / telle vs part Gladly quod he / but of myn owen sore ffor sory hert / I telle may nomore] [[Dd. 4. 24 extract ends]]

[6-text p 443] [Sloane 1685 folio 87]

[Whilome þere was dwellynge in Lumbardye A worþi knyȝt þat borne was at pavye In whiche he lyued in grete prosperite And sixty ȝere a wyfles man was he Line 1248 And folowyd ay hys bodyly delyte On womman þere as was hys appetyte As don þese foules þat ben seculers And whan þat he was paste sixty ȝeres Line 1252 Were hit for holynesse or for doteage I can not sey but suche a grete corage hade þis knyȝt to be a weddid man þat day and nyȝt he dothe all þat he can Line 1256 To aspye where þat he wedded myȝt be Praynge oure lorde to graunten hym þat he Myȝt onys knowe þat blessefulle lyf That ys bytwext an husbonde & his wyf Line 1260 And for to leuen vnder þat holy bonde With first god man to womman bande Non other lyf seyde he ys worthe a bene For wedlok ys so esy & so clene] [[Sloane 1685 extract ends]] That in this world it is a paradys [Camb. Gg. 4. 27] [folio 261a] Thus seyde this olde knyght þat was so wys And serteynly as soth as god Is kyng To take a wyf it is a glorious thyng Line 1268 And nemely whan a man is old & hore Thanne is a wyf the freut of his tresore Thanne schulde he take a ȝong wyf & a fayr On whiche he myȝte engendere & been eyr Line 1272

[6-text p 444] Line 1272 And leede his lyf in ioye & in solace Where as these bachelerys synge allas Whan that they fynde ony aduercitee In loue which is but childis vanytee Line 1276 And trewely it is weel to been so That bachelerys han ofte peyne & wo On brothil ground they bylde / & brothelnesse They fynde / whan they wene sekyrnesse Line 1280 They lyue but as a bryd or as a beste In lyberte & vndyr non areste There as a weddede man in his estat Leuyth a lyf blysful & ordenat Line 1284 Vndyr the ȝok of maryage I-bounde Wel may his herte in ioye & blisse aboūnde ffor who can been so buxsum as a wif Who is so trewe & ek so ententyf Line 1288 To keepe hym syk & hol as is his make ffor weel or wo sche wele hym not for-sake Sche is nat wery hym to loue & serue Thogh þat he lye bedrede tyl he sterue Line 1292 And ȝit some clerkys seyn it is nat so Of which þ^e theofraste is on of tho What fors thow Theofraste lyste to lye Ne take no wyf quod he for husbonderye Line 1296 As for to spare in houshold thyn dispence A trewe seruaunt doth more diligence Thyn good to kepe than tyn owene wyf ffor sche wele cleyme half part al hire lyf Line 1300 And ȝyf þou be sek so god me save Thynne verray frendys or a trewe knave Wele kepe þe bet / than sche that wayth ay [folio 261b] Aftyr thyn good / & hath doon manye a day Line 1304 And ȝif thow take a wyf on to thyn hold / fful lyghtely mayst þou been a coukewold [¶ Caue] This sentence / & manye an hunderede werse Wryth this man / there god his bonys cursse Line 1308

[6-text p 445] Line 1308 But takyth no kep of alle swich vanytee Defye Theofraste & herke me A wyf is godys ȝifte verrayly Alle oþere manere ȝiftys hardyly Line 1312 As londys [[first lordys]] rentys / pasture or comune Or meoblys alle been ȝiftys of fortune That passyn / as a schadewe vp on a wal But dredles if pleynly speke I schal Line 1316 A wyf wele laste & in thyn hous endure Weel lengere than the lyste parauenture Maryage is a ful gret sakrement He which that hath no wyf I helde hym schent Line 1320 He lyuyth helpeles & al desolat I speke of folk in seculeer estat And herke why I seye nat this for noght That weman is for manys helpe I-wrought Line 1324 The heye god [[first good]] whan he badde adam makyd And say hym al a-lone bely nakyd / God of his greete goodnesse seyde than Lat vs now make an helpe vn-to this man Line 1328 Lyk to hym self & thanne he made hym Eue Heere may ȝe se & [[erasure]] here may ȝe preue That wif is manys helpe & his confort His paradys terestre / & his desport Line 1332 So buxsum & so vertevous is sche They muste nedis liue in vnite On flesch they been & on blood as I gesse Hath but oon herte / in wele & in destresse Line 1336 A wif a seynte Marie benedicite How myȝte a man han ony aduersite That hath a wif sertis I can not seye The blysse that is be-twixe hem tweye Line 1340 Ther may non tunge telle nor herte thynke [folio 262a] ȝif he be pore sche helpith hym to swynke Sche kepith his good / & wastyth neuere a del Al that hire husbonde luste hire likyth weel Line 1344

[6-text p 446] Line 1344 Sche seyth nat onys nay whan he seyth ye Do this seyth he al redy sere seyth sche O blysful ordere of wedlok precious Thow art so merye & ek so vertyuous Line 1348 And so comendit & apreuyd ek That euery man that halt hym worth a lek Vp-on hise bare kneis oghte al his lyf Thankyn his god that hym hath sent a wyf Line 1352 Or ellys preye to god hym for to fynde A wif to laste vn-to his lyuys ende ffor thanne his lyf is set in sekyrnesse He may not ben disseyuyd as I gesse Line 1356 So þat he werche aftyr his wyuys reed Thanne may he baldely beryn vp his heed They been so trewe & therwithal so wise ffor which ȝif þou wilt werkyn as the wyse Line 1360 Do alwey so as wemen wele þ^e reede Lo how that Iacob as these clerkys rede By good conseyl of his modyr Rebekke Bond the kidis skyn a-boutyn his nekke Line 1364 ffor which his faderis benyson he wan Lo Iudith as the story telle can By good conseyl sche godys peple kepte And slow hym Olefernus as he slepte Line 1368 Lo Abigayl bi good conseyl how sche Sauede hire husbonde / Naabal whan þat he Schulde a be slayn & loke Ester also By good conseyl deliuerede out of woo Line 1372 The peple of god / & made hym Mardoche To assure en-haunsede for to bee There nys no thyng In gre superlatyf As seyth senec. A-boue an humble wyf Line 1376 Suffere thyn wyuys tunge as catoun bit Sche schal comaunde & sche schal suffere it And ȝit sche wele obeye of curteysye [folio 262b] A wyf is kepere of thyn husbondrye Line 1380

[6-text p 447] Line 1380 Weel may the syke man bewayle & wepe There as þer is no wif the hous to kepe I warne the ȝif wisely thow wilt werche Loue wel thyn wif / as Cryst louede his cherche Line 1384 If thow louyst thyn self thow louyst thyn wyf No man hatyth his flesch but in his lyf He fosteryth it & therfore bidde I the Cheryche thyn wyf or thow schat neuere the Line 1388 Husbonde or wyf / what so men Iape or pleye Of wordely folk / holdyn þe sikere weye They been so knyt there may non harm be-tyde And namely vp-on the wyuys syde Line 1392 ffor which this Ianuarye of whiche I tolde Considerede hath with hise dayis olde The lusty lyf / the vertyvous quiete That is in maryage hony swete Line 1396 And for hise frendis on a day he sente To tellyn hem teffect of his entente ¶ With face sad / his tale he hath hem told He seyde frendis I am hor & old Line 1400 And alwey god wot on myn pittis brynke Vp-on the soule sumwhat muste I thynke I haue myn body folyly dispendit Blyssede be god that it schal ben a-mendit Line 1404 ffor I wele been certayn a weddede man And that a-noon / in al the haste I can Vn-to sum mayde fayr & tendere of age I preye ȝow schapith for myn maryage Line 1408 Al sodeynly for / I nyl nat a-byde And I wele fonde tespie on myn syde To whom I may been weddit hastyly But for as meche as ȝe been mo than I Line 1412 Ȝe schul rathere swich a thyng espyen Than I & wheere me best were to allyen But on thyng werne I ȝow mynne freendis deere I wele non old wyf han in no manere — Line 1416

[6-text p 448] Line 1416 Sche schal not passe twenty ȝeer certayn [folio 263a] Old fysch & ȝong flesch/ wolde I haue ful fayn Bet is quod he a pyk than a pykerel And bet than old bef is the tendere veel Line 1420 I wil no weman / thretty ȝeer of age It is but benestraw / & gret forage And ek these olde wyuys god it wot They cunne so meche craft on wadis boot Line 1424 So meche broke harm whan hem leste That with hem schulde I neuere lyue in reste ffor sundery scolys make subtyl clerkys Woman of manye scole half a clerk is Line 1428 But serteynly a ȝong thyng may men gye Ryght as men may warm wex with handis plye Wherfore I sey ȝow pleynly in a clause I wele noon old wyf han for this cause Line 1432 ffor ȝif so were I hadde swich myschaunce That I in hire ne coude haue no plesaunce Thanne schulde [I] lede myn lyf in a-vouterye And streyt to the deuyl whan I deye Line 1436 Ne chyldere schulde I none vp-on hire gete Ȝit were me leuere houndis haddyn me etyn Than that myn erytage schulde falle In straunge hand & this I telle ȝow alle Line 1440 I dote not I wot the cause why Men schulde wedde & ferthere more wot I There spekyth manye a man of mariage That wot no more of it than wot myn page Line 1444 ffor whiche causis men schulde take a wyf Sith he ne may nat liue chast his lyf Tak hym a wyf with gret deuocioun By cause of leful procreacioun Line 1448 Of childere too thonour of god a-boue And nat only / for paramour or loue And for they schulde / lecherye eschue And ȝilde here dette / whan þat it is dewe Line 1452

[6-text p 449] Line 1452 Or for eche of hem / schulde helpyn oþer In myschif / as a systyr / schal the brothir And lyuyn in chastite ful holy-ly [folio 263b] But siris bi ȝoure leue þat am not I Line 1456 ffor god be thankyd I dar make a-vaunt I fele myn lemys starke & suffisaunt To do al that a man bihouyth to I wot myn self best what I may do Line 1460 Thow I be hor I fare as doth a tree That blosmeth er than freut I-wexe bee A blosmy tre is neythir dreye ne ded I fele me nower hor but on myn heed Line 1464 Myn herte & alle mynne lymys been as grene As laurer thourgh þ^e ȝeer is ay seene And syn that ȝe han herd al myn entente I prey ȝow to myn wil ȝe wele assente Line 1468 ¶ Dyuers men dyuersly hym tolde Of mariage manye ensaumplis olde Some blamede it some preysede it certeyn But at the laste schortely for to seyn Line 1472 As alday fallyth altercacioun By-twyxe fryndys in disputacioun There fyl a stryf bi-twyxen hise bretheryn two Of which that on is clepid placebo [Placebo] Iustinus sothly cleped was that oþer Placebo seyde o Ianuarye brothir fful lityl neede/ hadde ȝe myn lord so decre Conseyl to axe of ony that is heere Line 1480 But that ȝe been so ful of sapience That ȝow ne lykyth for ȝoure hye prudence To wyue fro the word of Salamon [ ] [[No gap in MS, but a mark of omission; and a line is left blank at the bottom of the leaf for the omitted words.] Werke alle thynge by conseyl thus seyth he And thanne schat þou not repente the And thow that salamon spak swych a word Myn owene deere brothir & myn lord Line 1488

[6-text p 450] Line 1488 So wysely god myn soule brynge at reste I holde ȝore conseyl is the beste ffor brothir myn of me tak this motyf I haue now been a court man al myn lyf Line 1492 And god it wot thow I onworthy bee [folio 264a] I haue stondyn in ful gret de-gree A-boutyn lordis of ful high estaat Ȝeet hadde I neuere with non of hem debaat Line 1496 I neuere hem contraryed trewely I woot weel that myn lord can moore þan I What that he seyth I holde it ferme & stable I sey the same or ellys thyng semblable Line 1500 A ful gret fol is ony conseyllour That seruyth ony lord of hey onour That dar presume or ellys thynkyn it That his conseyl schulde passe his lordis wit Line 1504 Nay lordis been none folys be myn fay Ȝee han ȝoure self schewid heere to day So high sentence so holyly & so wel That I consente & conferme euery deel Line 1508 Ȝoure wordis alle & ȝoure opynyoun By god there nys no man in al this toun Ne in al ytayil that coude bet a sayd Cryst hoold hym of this consayl wol weel apayed Line 1512 And trewely it is an hygh corage Of ony man that schapyn is in age To takyn a ȝong wyf by myn fader ken Ȝoure herte hangith on a Ioly pyn Line 1516 Doth now in this matyr ryȝt as ȝow lyst ffor finally I holde it for the best ¶ Iustinus þat ay stylle sat & herde [Iustinus] Ryȝt in this wyse / to placebo answerde Line 1520 Now brothir myn be pacient I preye Syn ȝe han seyd & herkenyth what I seye Senek a-mong hise othere wordis wyse [Seneca.] Syn that a man hym ouȝte rygh weel tavise Line 1524

[6-text p 451] Line 1524 To whom he ȝeuyth his lond or his catel And syn I ouȝte a-vise me ryȝt wel To whom I ȝeue myn good a-wey fro me Weel more I ouȝte avisede be Line 1528 To whom I ȝeue myn body for alwey I warne ȝow weel it is no childys pley To take a wif with-oute a-vysement [folio 264b] Meen muste enquyre this is myn assent Line 1532 Wher sche be wys & sobere or dronkelewe Or proud or othere weyis a schrewe A chidystere or wastouur of thyn good Or ryche or pore or ellis mannyssch wood Line 1536 Al be it so that no man fyndyn schal Noon in this world that trottyth hool in al Ne man ne beste whiche as men coude deuyse But nathe-lees it oghte I-nough suffise Line 1540 With ony wyf ȝif so were that sche hadde Moo thewys goode / than / vicis badde And al this askyth leyser for tenqueere ffor god it wot I haue wepte manye a tere Line 1544 fful priuyly syn that I hadde a wyf Preyso ho so wole a weddede manys lyf Certeyn I fynde it but cost & care And obseruancis of alle blyssis bare Line 1548 And ȝit god wot myne neighe-bouris a-boute And namely of women manye a route Seyn that I haue the moste stedefast wyf And ek the mekeste on that beryth lyf Line 1552 But I wot best where wryngeth me myn scho Ye mowe for ryght as ȝow leste do A-viseth ȝow ȝe been a man of age How that ȝe enteryn / in-to a maryage Line 1556 And namely with a ȝyng wif. & a fayr By hym that maade watyr erthe & ayr The ȝyngeste man that is in al this route Is bisy I-nogh to bryngyn it a-boute Line 1560

[6-text p 452] Line 1560 To han his wif a-lone trostyth me ȝe schul not plese hire fully ȝerys thre This is to seyne to don hire ful plesaunce A wyf axeth ful manye an obseruaunce Line 1564 I preye ȝow that ȝe ben nat euele a-payed ¶ Weel quod this Ianuarye hast þou sayd Straw for thyne senek & for thyn prouerbis I counte not a paner ful of erbys Line 1568 Of scole termys wisere men than thow [folio 265a] As thow hast herd assentedyn right now To myn purpos Placebo what sey ȝe I seye it is a cursede man quod he Line 1572 That lettyth matrimonye sekerly And with that word they rysyn sodeynly [[deynly corrected: sodeynli in margin]] And been assentid fully that he schulde Been wedded whan hym leste & where he wolde Line 1576 ¶ His fantasye / & curyous besynesse ffrom day to day / gan in the soule enpresse ffor Ianuarye a-boute his maryage Manye fayr schap & manye fayr visage Line 1580 There passede thorw his herte nygh^t be nyght As who so take a myrour pulschede bryght And sette it in a comoun market place Thanne schulde he seen manye a figeur pace [[first face]] By his myrour & in the same wyse Gan Ianuarie in with his thought a-vyse Of maydenys which that dwellyn hym by syde He wiste nat where that he myghte a-byde Line 1588 ffor ȝif that on haue beute in his face A nothir stant so in the puplis grace ffor hire sadnesse & hire benyngnetee Tha^t of the peple gretteste voys hadde sche Line 1592 And some were ryche & haddyn badde name But natheles by-twixe ernest & game He at the laste apoyntyd hym on on And leet alle oþere from his herte goon Line 1596

[6-text p 453] Line 1596 And chese hire of his owene autoritee ffor loue is blynd alday & may not see And whan that he was in his bedde brought He portreyede in his herte & in his thought Line 1600 Hire frossche beute & hyre age tendere Hire myddyl smal & hire armys longe & sklendere Hire wise gouernaunce / hire gentillesse Hire womanly berynge & hire sadnesse Line 1604 And whan that he on hire was condessendit Hym thouȝte his choys myȝte not been a-mendit ffor whan that he hym selue concludede hadde [folio 265b] Hym thouȝte eche othere manys wit so badde Line 1608 That impossible it were to replye A-geyn his choys that was his fantassie Hise frendis sente he th^o [[to altered to th^o]] at his instaunce And preyede hem to do hym that plesaunce Line 1612 That hastely they wolde don hym come He wolde abrege hire lordschepe alle en some Nedyth namore for hym to goon ne ryde He [[e corrected]] was a-poyntid there he wolde a-bide Line 1616 Placebo cam & ek hise frendis soone And aldyrferst he had hem alle a boone That noone of hem / noone argumentis make Ageyn the purpos which that he hath take Line 1620 Which purpos was plesaunt to god seyde he And verray ground of his prosperitee He seyde there was a maydyn in the toun Which that of beute hadde greet renoun Line 1624 Al weere it so sche weere of smal degre Suffiseth hym hire ȝouthe & hire beutee Whiche mayde he seyde he wolde han to his wyf To leede in ese & holynesse his lyf Line 1628 And thankede god that he myȝte han hire al That no wyȝt of his blysse partyn schal And preyede hem to laboure in this nede And schapen that he fayle nat to speede Line 1632

[6-text p 454] Line 1632 ffor thanne he seyde his spiryght was at ese Thanne is quod he no thyng may me displese Saue on thyng prikyth in myn concience The whiche I wele reherce in ȝoure presence Line 1636 ¶ I haue he seyde herd seyd / ful ȝore ago There may no man haue parfit blyssis two This is to seyne in erthe & ek in heuene ffor thow he kepe hym from the synnys seuene Line 1640 And ek from euery braunce of tylke tree Ȝit is there so parfit felicite And so greet ese & lust in maryage That euere I am a-gast / now in myn age Line 1644 That I schal leede now so merie a lyf [folio 266a] So delicat with-oute woo & stryf That I schal han myn heuene in erthe here ffor sythe that veray heuene is bouȝt so dere Line 1648 With tribulacyounnys & greet penaunce How schulde I thanne lyue in swich plesaunce As alle weddede men doon with here wyuys Come to the blis there Crist eterne on liue is Line 1652 This is myn drede & ȝe myne brethere tweye Assoylyth me this questioun I preye ¶ Iustinus whiche that hatith his folye Answerde a-noon ryȝt in his Iaperye Line 1656 And for he wolde his longe tale abregge He wolde non autorite a-legge But seyde sere so there be noon obstakele Othir than this god of his heye mirakele Line 1660 And of his mercy may so for ȝow werche That er ȝe han ȝoure ryȝt of holy cherche ȝe may repente of weddede manys lyf In whiche ȝe se ther is no woo ne stryf Line 1664 And ellis god for-beede but he sente A weddede man hym grace to repente Wel ofte rathere than a sengle man And therfore syre the beste reed þat I can Line 1668

[6-text p 455] Line 1668 Dispeyre ȝow not but hauyth in memorye Perauntir sche may been ȝoure purgatorye Sche may been goddis meene & goddys whippe Thanne schal ȝoure soule vp to heuene skyppe Line 1672 Swiftere than an arwe out of a bowe I hope to god here aftyr ȝe schul knowe That ther is non so greet felycite In maryage ne neuere mor schal be Line 1676 That ȝow schal lette of ȝoure saluacioun So that ȝe vse as skil is & resoun The lustis of ȝoure wyf attemprely And that ȝe plese hire nat to amourously Line 1680 And that ȝe kepe ȝow ek from othere synne Myn tale is doon for myn wit is thenne Byth not a-gast heere-of myn brothir dere [folio 266b] But let vs wadyn [[o corrected]] out of this mateere Line 1684 The wyf of bathe ȝif ȝe han vndyrstonde Of maryage which ȝe han on honde Declarid hath ful wel in lytyl space ffaryth now weel god haue ȝow in his grace Line 1688 And with that word this Iustyne & his brothir They take here leue & eche of hem of othir ffor whan they sagh that it muste needis be They wroughte so sly & wys tretee Line 1692 That sche this mayde which þat Mayus hyghte As hastyly as euere sche myghte Schal weddede been on to this Ianuarye I trowe it weere to longe now to tarye Line 1696 Ȝif I ȝow tolde of euery scrit & bond By which that sche was feffyd in his [[l corrected]] lond Or for to herkene of hire ryche aray But fynally is comyn the day Line 1700 That to the cherche bothe be they went ffor to resceyue the holy sacrement fforth comyth the prest with stole a-bout his nekke And bad hire be lyk sarra & rebekke Line 1704

[6-text p 456] Line 1704 In wisdam & in trouthe of maryage And seyde his orysounnys as is vsage And crouchith hem & bit god schulde hem blysse And made al sikyr I-nough with holynesse Line 1708 Thus been they weddit with solempnetee And at the laste sittyth he & sche With othere worthi folk vp on the deys Al ful of Ioye & blisse is the paleys Line 1712 And ful of instrumentis & of vitayle The moste deynteuous of al Itaylle By-forn hem stood swich instrument of soun That Orpheus nor [[r corrected]] Thebes Amphioun Line 1716 Ne made neuere swich a melodye At euery cours þan cam loud menstralsye That neuere trumped Ieob for to heere Ne Theodomas ȝit half so cleere Line 1720 At Thebes whan the Citee was in doute [folio 267a] Bacus the wyn hem shynketh alle a-boute And venus laugheth vp-on euery wyght ffor Ianuarye bycomyn was hire knyght Line 1724 And wolde bothe asaye hise corage In liberte & ek in maryage And with hire fyr brond in hire han^d a-boute Daunceth by-fore the bryde & al the route Line 1728 And certeynly I dare ryȝt wel sey this Ymeneus / that god of weddyng is Saw neuere his lyf / so merye a weddede man Hold thow thyn pees / thow poete Marcian Line 1732 That wrytist vs that ilke weddyng murye Of hire Philologie / & hym mercurie And of the song that the Musys sunge To smal is bothe thi penne & ek thyn tunge Line 1736 ffor to discryue of thyn maryage Whan tender ȝouthe haue weddit stoupynge age There is swych myrthe It may not been I-wretyn Assayeth it ȝoure self thanne may ȝe wetyn Line 1740

[6-text p 457] Line 1740 Ȝif that I lye or noon / in this matyre Mayus that sit with / so benynge a cheere Hire to byholde it semede fayrye Queen Ester lokede neuere with swich an eye Line 1744 On Assure / so meke a lok hath sche I may ȝow nat deuyse al hure beutee But thus meche of hire beute telle I may That sche was lyk the bryȝte morwe of may Line 1748 fful fyld of alle beute & of plesaunce This Ianewarye is rauyst in a traunce At euery tyme he lokede on hire face But in his herte he gan hire manace Line 1752 That he that nyght in armys wolde hire streyne Hardere than euere parys dede Eleyne But natheles ȝit hadde he greet pitee That ilke nyȝt offendyn hire muste hee Line 1756 And thouȝte allas o tendere creature Now wolde god ȝe myȝte wel endure Al myn corage it is so scharp & keene [folio 267b] I am a-gast ȝe schul it not susteene Line 1760 But god for-beede þat I dede al myn myȝt Now wolde god [[first good]] that it were waxe nyght And that the nyȝt / wolde lastyn euere mo I wolde that al this peple were a-go Line 1764 And fynally he doth al his labour As he best myghte / sauynge his honour To haste hem from the meete in subtyl wyse The tyme cam that resoun was to ryse Line 1768 And aftyr that men daunce / & drynkyn faste And spicis al aboute the hous they caste And ful of ioye & blysse is euery man Alle but a squier· hyte Damyan Line 1772 The whiche carf by-fore þ^e knyght manye a day He was rauysschd on his lady May That for the verray peyne he was nygh wood Almost he schulde a swounnede as he stod Line 1776

[6-text p 458] Line 1776 So soore hath venus hurt him with hire brond As that sche bar daunsynge in hire hand [[a partly altered to o]] And to here bed they wentyn hastyly Na moore at this tyme speke I Line 1780 But theere I leete hym weepe I-nogh & pleyne Tyl frosche may wele rewyn on his peyne O perylous fyr þat in the bed straw bredyth [Auctor] O famulier fo that his seruise beedith Line 1784 O seruaunt traitour false homeli hewe Lyk to the neddere in bosum sly ontrewe God schilde vs alle from ȝoure aqueyntaunce O Ianuarie dronkyn in plesaunce Line 1788 In mariage se how thyn damyan Thyn owene squyer & thyn bore man Entendyth for do the velanye God graunte the thyn homely fo tespye Line 1792 ffor in this world is wersse pestelence Than homely foo alwey in thyn presence ¶ Parformede hath the sunne his ark dyurne No lengere may the body of hym soiurne Line 1796 On thorisonte / as in that latitude [folio 268a] Nigh with his mental that is derk & rude Gan ouersprede Themysperie a-boute ffor which departid is this blisful route Line 1800 ffrom Ianuarie with stant on euery syde Hoom tyl here housis hastily they ryde Where as they don here thyngis as hem leste And whan they saw here tyme goon to reste Line 1804 Soone aftyr that this lusty Ianuarye Wol go to bedde he wil no lengere tarye He drynkith Ipocras clarre [[? first cleree]] & vernage Of spicis hoote tencresyn his corage Line 1808 And manye a letuarie hadde he ful fyn Swych as the cursede Monk daun Constantyn Hath wretyn in his cursede bok de Coitu To ete hem alle he was no thyng eschu Line 1812

[6-text p 459] Line 1812 And to hise priue frendis thus seyde he ffor godis loue as soone as it may bee Let voydyn al this hous in curteys wyse And they han doon ryȝt as they wole deuyse Line 1816 Men drynkyn & the trauys drawe a-non The bryde was brough a bedde as stylle as ston And whan the bed was was with the prest I-blyssid Out of the chambere hath euery wygh hym dressid Line 1820 And Ianuarye hath faste in armys take His frosche May his paradys his make He lullyth hire he kissith hire ful ofte With thilke brustelis of his berd on-softe Line 1824 Lyk to the skyn of houndfysch scharp as brere ffor he was schaue al newe in his manere He rubbith hire a-boute hire tendere face And seide thus allas I mote trespace Line 1828 To ȝow myn spouse & ȝow gretly offende Er tyme come that I schal doun dessende But nathe-les consideryth this quod he There wot no werkeman what so euere he be Line 1832 That may bothe werke weel & hastely This wil been don at leyser parfitly It is no fors how longe that we pleye [folio 268b] In trewe wedlok coupplit been we tweye Line 1836 And blyssede be the ȝok that we been inne ffor in [oure] actis we mowe don no synne A man may doon no synne with his wif Ne hurte hym selue with his owene knyf Line 1840 ffor we han leue to pleye vs bi the lawe Thus labourith he tyl the day gan dawe And thanne he takyth a soppe in fyn clarree And vp ryȝt in his bed thanne sittyth hee Line 1844 And aftyr that he song ful loude & clere And kyste his wif & made wantoun cheere He was al coltissh / ful of ragerye And ful of Iargoun / as a flekkede pye Line 1848

[6-text p 460] Line 1848 The slakke skyn a-boute his nekke shakyth Whil that he song so chuntyth he & crakyth But god wot wat that May thouȝte in hire herte Whan sche hym say vp syttyn in his scherte Line 1852 In his nyght cappe & in his nekke lene Sche preyseth nat his pleying worth a beene Thanne seyde he thus myn reste wele I take Now day is come I may no lengere waake Line 1856 And doun he leyde his heed & slep tyl pryme And aftyrward whan that he saugh his tyme Vp ryseth Ianuarie but frosche may Held [[ld corrected]] hire chaumbere tyl the fourte day Line 1860 As vsage is of wyuys for the beste ffor euery labour sumtyme mote han reste Or ellis longe may he not endure This is to seyne no lyuys creature Line 1864 Be it of fysch or bryd or beste or man ¶ Now wele I speke of woful Damian That languysseþ for loue as ȝe schal heere Therfore I speke to hym in this maneere Line 1868 I seye O sely Damyan / allas Answere to myn demaunde as in this cas How schalt thow to thyn lady frosche May Telle thyn wo / sche wele alwey seye nay Line 1872 Ek ȝif thu speke sche wele thyn wo bi-wreye [[y corrected]] [folio 269a] God be thyn helpe I can no betere seye This syke Damyan in Venus fyr So brennyth that he deyeth for desyr Line 1876 ffor which he put his lyf in auenture No lengere myghte he in this lyf endure But pryuyly a pennere gan he borwe And in a lettere wrot he al his sorwe Line 1880 In maner of a compleynt or a lay Vn-to his fayre frosche lady May And in a purs of silk he hyng on his scherte He hath it put & leyd it at his herte Line 1884

[6-text p 461] Line 1884 The mone that at noon was thilke day That Ianuarie hath weddyd frosche May In two of Taur was in-to Cancre glydyn So longe hath Mayus in hire chaumbre a-bedyn Line 1888 As custome is vn-to these nobles alle A bryde schal nat etyn in the halle Til foure or thre dayis at the leste I-passede been thanne lat hire goon to feste Line 1892 The fourte day compleet from noon to noon Wha [[first What]] that the hie masse was I-doon In halle sit this Ianuarye & May As frosche as is the bryghte somerys day Line 1896 And so bi-fel how that this goode man Remembrede hym vp-on Damyan And seyde seyntemarye how may this be That damyan entendith nat to me Line 1900 Is he ay sik or how may it be-tyde Hise squyeris that stodyn there by syde Excusede hym by cause of his siknesse Whiche lettede hyn to don his busynesse Line 1904 Noon othir cause myȝt make hym to tarye That me forthynkyth quod this Ianuarye He is a gentil squyer by myn treuthe ȝif that he deye it were harm & reuthe Line 1908 He is as wys descreet & as secre As ony man I wot of hys degre And therto manly & ek seruysable [folio 269b] And for to been a thrifty man ryȝt able Line 1912 But aftyr mete as sone as euere I may I wele myn self visite hym & eek May To don hym al the confort þat I kan And for that ilke word hym blyssede euery man Line 1916 That of his bounte & his gentillesse he wolde so confortyn in seknesse his squyer for it was a gentyl dede Dame quod this Ianuarye tak good heede Line 1920

[6-text p 462] Line 1920 At aftyr mete ȝe with ȝore women alle Whan ȝe han been in chaumbere out of this halle That alle ȝe go to se this damyan Doth hym disport he is a gentil man Line 1924 And tellyth hym that I wele hym visite Haue I no thyng but restede me a lyte And speede ȝow faste for I wele a-byde Til that ȝe slepe faste by myn syde Line 1928 And with that word he gan to hym to calle A squyer that was marchale of his halle And told hym serteyn wordis that he wolde This frosche May hath streyt hire woye I-holde Line 1932 With alle hire wemen on to Damyan Doun by his beddis syde sit sche than Confortynge hym as goodly as sche may This damyan whan that his tyme he say Line 1936 In secre wyse his purs & ek his bille In which that he I-wrytyn hadde [[he erased]] his wille Hath put In-to hire hand with-outyn moore Saue þat he sikyth wondyr deepe & soore Line 1940 And softely to hire thus seyde he Mercy & that ȝe nat discouere me ffor I am deed ȝif that this thyng be kyd This purs hat^h sche / in with hire bosum hid Line 1944 And wente hyre woy ȝe gete no more of me But vn-to Ianuarye I-comyn is. sche That on his. beddis. syde sat ful softe And t^hakyth hire & kysseth hire ful ofte Line 1948 And leyde hym doun to slepe & that a-non [folio 270a] Sche feynede hire as that sche muste goon There as ȝe wot that euery man mot neede And whan sche of that bille hath takyn heede Line 1952 Sche rente it al to cloutis at the laste And in the pryue softely it caste ¶ Who stodyeth now but fayre frosche May A-doun by olde Ianuarye sche lay Line 1956

[6-text p 463] Line 1956 That slepte tyl that the co^vhe [[first coghe]] hath hym a-wakyd A-non he preyede hire to stryppe hire al nakyd He wolde of hire he seyde han sum plesaunce And seyde hire clothis dide hym encumbraunce Line 1960 And sche obeyeth be hire lef or loth But lest the precious folk be with me wroth How that he wrouȝte I dar not to ȝow telle Or whethir hire thoughte it ^paradys or helle Line 1964 But heere I lete hem werke in hire wyse Til euynsong rong & thanne they muste ryse Were it by desteny or by auenture Were it by influence or by nature Line 1968 Or constellacioun / that in swich estat The heuene stood / that tyme fortunat ffor to putte a bille / forth of venus werkis ffor alle thynge hath tyme / as sey these clerkys Line 1972 To ony woman for to geete hire loue I can not seye but greete god a-boue That knowith that noon act is causeles He deeme of alle / for I wil holde myn pees Line 1976 But soth is this how that this frossche May Hath take swich emprescioun that day Of pite of this ilke damyan That from hire herte sche ne dryue can Line 1980 This [[rme altered]] remembraunce for to doon hym ese Sertayn thouȝte sche / whom that this thyng displese I rekke not / for here I hym assure To loue hym best/ of ony criature Line 1984 Thow he namore / hadde than his scherte Lo pete rennyth sone / in gentyl herte Heere may ȝe se how excellent fraunchise [folio 270b] In wemen is whan they hem weel a-vise Line 1988 Sum tyraunt is as theere been manyon That hath [[h inserted]] an herte as hard as is a ston Which wolde a lat hym steruyn in the place Wel rathere than grauntyn hym hire grace Line 1992

[6-text p 464] Line 1992 And hem reioysyn in hire crewel pryde And rekkyn nat to been An homytyde This gentil May fulfyld of pitee Ryȝt of hire owene hand makede sche Line 1996 In which sche grauntyth hym hire werra^y grace There lakkyth not but only day & space Where that sche myȝte vn-to his lust suffyse ffor it schal been ryȝt as ȝe wele deuyse Line 2000 And whan sche saugh hire tyme vp-on a day To visite þis Damyan/ goth May And subtyly this lettere doun sche threste Vndyr his pilwe rede it ȝif him leste Line 2004 Sche takyth hym by the hand & harde [[rde corrected]] hym twyste So secrely that no man of it wyste And bad hym been al hol / & forth sche wente To Ianuarye whan that he for hire sente Line 2008 ¶ Vp ryseth Damyan [[a corrected]] the nexte morwe Al passede was his siknesse & his sorwe And kymbith hym & proynyth [[a partly al|tered to o]] hym & pikyth He dooth al th^at hym luste & lykyth Line 2012 And ek to Ianuarye he goth as lowe As euere dede a dogge for the bowe He is so plesaunt on to euery man ffor craft is al / ho so do it can Line 2016 That euery wyȝt is fayn to don hym good And fully in his ladyis grace he stood Thus leete I Damyan a-boute his neede And in myn tale forth I wele procede Line 2020 ¶ Some clerkis seyn that felicitee Stant in delyt / & therfore serteyn he This noble Ianuarie with al his myȝt In honeste wys as longith to a knyȝt Line 2024 Schop hym to lyue ful delyciously [folio 271a] His housynge his a-ray as honestely To his degre was makyd as a kyng is A-mongis his othere honeste thyngis Line 2028

[6-text p 465] Line 2028 He made a gardyn wallede al wyth stoon So fayr a gardyn woot I nowher noon ffor out of doute I verrayly suppose That he that wrot the romauns of the rose Line 2032 Ne coude of it the beute weel deuyse Ne priapus ne myȝte nat suffyse Thow he be god of gardynys for to telle The beaute of the gardyn & the welle Line 2036 That stood vndyr a laurer al wey grene fful ofte tyme he pluto & his queene Proserpen & al hire fayrye Disportyn hem & makyn melodye Line 2040 A-boute that welle & dauncedyn as men tolde This noble knyght this Ianuarye the olde Swich deynte hath [[h inserted: i altered]] // in it to walke & pleye That he wele no wyȝt suffere to bere þ^e keye Line 2044 But he hym self / for of the smale wiket He bar alwey of syluyr a Clyket Of which whan that hym lykith he it on-schette And whan he wolde paye his wyf hire dette Line 2048 In somyr sesoun thidyr wolde he go And May his wyf & no wyȝt but they two And thyng that were nat doon a bedde He in the gardyn parfornede hem & spedde Line 2052 And in this wyse manye a merye day Lyuede this Ianuarye & frossche May But wordely ioye may non alwey dure To Ianuarie ne to non creature Line 2056 ¶ O sodeyn hap o fortune onstable Lyk to the scorpioun so deceyuable That flateris wythyn hed whan þou wolt stynge Thyn tayl is deeth thourgh thyn enuenymynge Line 2060 O bretil Ioye o sweete venym queynte O Monstre that so subtyly canst peynte Tynne ȝiftys vndyr colour of stedefastnesse [folio 271b] That thow disseuyst bothe moore & lesse Line 2064

[6-text p 466] Line 2064 Whhy hast thow Ianuaris thus disseyuyd That haddyst hym for thyn fulle frend resceyuyd And now thow hast by-raft hym bothe his Iyen ffor sorwe of which desyryth he to deyen Line 2068 Allas this noble Ianuarye free A-mydde his lust & his prosperitee Is waxen blynd / & that al sodeynly He wepith & he waylyth pitously [[pitously corrected]] Line 2072 And therwithal the fyr of Ielusye Lest that his wif schulde falle in sum folye So brente his herte that he wolde fayn That sum man bothe hym & hire hadde slayn Line 2076 ffor neythir aftyr his deth ne his lyf Ne wolde he that sche weere loue ne wyf But euere lyue as widewe in clothis blake Soul as the turtle that hat lost hire make Line 2080 But at the laste aftyr a monyth or tweye His sorwe gan a-swage soth to seye ffor whan he wiste / he may noon oþer bee He paciently takyth his aduersite Line 2084 Saue out of doute he may not for-goon That he was Ielous eueremor in oon Whiche Ielusye it was so outrageous That neythir in halle ne in noon othir hous Line 2088 Ne in non othir place neuere the mo He nolde suffere hire neythir to ryde or go But ȝif that he hadde hand on hire alwey ffor which ful ofte wepith fresche May Line 2092 That louyth Damyan so benygnely That sche mot othir deye sodeynly Or ellys sche mote han hym as hire leste Sche wayth whan hire herte wolde breste Line 2096 ¶ Vp-on that othir syde ek damyan By-comyn is the sorwefuleste man That euere was for neythyr nyȝt ne day Ne myȝte he speke a worde with frosche May Line 2100

[6-text p 467] Line 2100 As to his purpos of no swich mateere [folio 272a] But If that Ianuarie muste it heere That hadde an hand vp-on hire euere mo But natheles by wrytyng too & froo Line 2104 And priue sygnys wiste he what sche mente And sche knew ek the fyn of his entente O Ianuarye what myȝte it the a-vayle [Auctor//] Thow myȝtist se as fer as schepis sayle Line 2108 ffor also good is blynd disseyuyd bee As to be disseyuyd whan a man may see Lo Argus which that hadde an hunderede eyen ffor al that he coude poure or pryen Line 2112 Ȝit was he blynd as god wot so been mo That wenyn wisely that it be nat so Passe ouyr is an ese I seye namoore This frosche May that I spak of so ȝore Line 2116 In warm wex hath enpryntit the klyket That Ianuarye [[first Ianuerye]] bar of that smale wiket By which in to his gardyn ofte he wente And Damyan that knew al his entente Line 2120 The klyket countirfetid priuyly There nys no more to seye but hastily Sum wondyr bi this cliket schal by-tyde Which ȝe schul here ȝif ȝe wele on byde Line 2124 O noble ouyde ful soth is seyd god wot [Auctor] What sleyȝte is it thow it be longe & hoot That he nyle it fynde out in sum manere By Piramus & Tisbee / may men leere Line 2128 Thow they were kept ful longe streyt ouyral They been a-cordit rounynge thorw a wal Ther no with koude a founde swich a slyghte But now to purpos er than dayis eyghte Line 2132 Were passed er the monyth of Iuil [[uil corrected]] be-fel That Ianuarie hath cauȝt so greet a wyl Thour eggyng of his wif hym for to pleye [[ye corrected]] In his gardyn & no wight but thy tweye Line 2136

[6-text p 468] Line 2136 That in a morwe vn-to this May sente hee Rys vp myn wyf myn loue myn lady free The turtell voys is herd myn douwe sweete [folio 272b] The wyntir is goon with hise reynys weete [[first sweete]] Come forth with thynne eyne columbyn Line 2141 Hou fayrere been thynne brestis than is wyn The gardyn is enclosede al a-boute Come forth myn leue spouse out of doute Line 2144 Thow hast me wounded in myn herte o wyf No spot of the ne knowe I al myn lyf Come forth & lat vs takyn oure disport I cheese the for Myn wif & myn confort Line 2148 Sweche olde lowede wordys vsede he On Damyan a signe made sche That he schulde go bi-forn with his Cliket Damyan hath thanne openid the weket Line 2152 And in he sterte & that in swich manere That no wyght myghte it wetyn nothir I-here And stylle he sit vndyr a busch a-noon This Ianuarie as blynd as is a ston Line 2156 With Mayus in his hand no wyȝt mo In to his frosche gardyn is go And clapte to the weket sodeynly Now wyf he seyde heere nys but thow & .I. Line 2160 That art the creatour that I best loue ffor by that lord that sit in heuene a-boue Leuere I hadde to deyin on a knyf Than ȝow offendyn trewe deere wyf Line 2164 ffor godys sake thynk how I the chees Nought for no coueytyse douteles But only for the loue I hadde to the And thow that I be old & may not se Line 2168 Beth to me trewe & I telle ȝow whi Thre thyngis certis schul ȝe wynne þer-by ffyrst loue of crist & to ȝoure self honour And al myn eritage toun & tour Line 2172

[6-text p 469] Line 2172 I ȝeue it ȝow makyth charteris as ȝow leste This schal been don to morwe er sunne reste So wysely myn soule good brynge to blysse I prey ȝow fyrst in couenau[n]t ȝe me kysse Line 2176 And thow that I be Ialous wite me noght [folio 273a] Ȝe been so deepe enpryntid in myn thought That whan that I considere ȝoure beute And therwithal the onlikely elde of me Line 2180 I may not certis thow I schulde deye fforbeere to been out of ȝoure cumpaynye ffor verray loue this is with-outyn doute Now kys me wif & lat vs rome a-boute Line 2184 This frosche may whan sche these wordys herde Benyngnely to Ianuarye answerde But fyrst & forward sche be-gan to wepe I haue quod sche a soule for to kepe Line 2188 As wel as ȝe & also my honour And of myn wyfhod [[h altered]] theilke tendir flour Whiche that I haue assurede in ȝoure hond Whan that the prest to ȝow the body bond Line 2192 Wherfore I wele answere in this manere By the leue of ȝow myn lord so deere I preye to god that neuere dauwe þ^e day That I ne sterve as foule as woman may Line 2196 Ȝif euere I do on to myn kyn that schame Oþer ellys I enpeyre so myn name That I be fals / & if I do that lak Do strepe me & putte me in a sak Line 2200 And in the nexte ryuer do me drenche I am a gentil woman & no wenche Whi speke ȝe thus but men been euere vntrewe And women haue repref of ȝow ay newe Line 2204 ȝe can noon othir cuntenauns I leue · But speke to vs of onthrift & repreue And with that word sche saw where Damyan Sat in the busch & coghe sche be-gan Line 2208

[6-text p 470] Line 2208 And with hire fyngir signis made sche That Damyan schulde clymbe vp on a tre That chargede was with freut & vp he wente ffor verrayly he knew al hire entente Line 2212 And euery signe that sche coude make Wel bet than Ianuarye hire owene make ffor in a lettere sche hadde tolde hym al [folio 273b] Of this matire how he werchin schal Line 2216 And thus I leete hym sitte vp on the pyrye And Ianuarye & May romynge merie ¶ Bryȝt was the day & blev the fyrmament Phebus hath of gold hise stremys doun sent Line 2220 To gladyn euery flour with his gladnesse He was that tyme in gemynys as I gesse But lytyl from his declinacioun / Of Cancer Iouis exaltacioun Line 2224 And so byfel that bryȝte morwe tyde That in that gardyn · in the ferthere syde Pluto that is kyng of fayrye And manye a lady in his cumpainygnye [[nyg corrected]] ffolwynge his wyf the queen Proserpyne Eche aftyr othir right as ony lyne Whil that sche gaderede flourys in the mede In Claudian ȝe may the storijs rede Line 2232 How in his gr^esely carte he hire sette This kyng of fayrye thanne a-doun hym sette Vp-on a benche of turuys frosche & greene And ryght a-non thus seyde he to his queene Line 2236 ¶ Myn wyf quod he there may no man sey nay Thexperience so preuyth euery day The tresoun / which that wemen doon to man Ten hunderede thousent tellyn I can Line 2240 Notable of ȝoure ontrouthe & brotilnesse O salamon [[? salomon]] wys & rycheste of rychesse fful fyld of sapience & of wordely glorye fful worthi been thynne wordis to memorie Line 2244

[6-text p 471] Line 2244 To euery witht that wit & resoun can Thus preyseþ he ȝit the bounte of man A-mongis a thousent men ȝit fond I oon But of wemen alle fond I noon Line 2248 Thus seyde þ^e kyng þat knowith ȝoure wikkedenesse And Ihesus [[MS Ihc]] filyus Syrac as I gesse Ne spekyth of ȝou but selde reuerence A wylde fyr & corupt pestylence Line 2252 So falle vp-on ȝoure bodyis ȝit tonyght [folio 274a] Ne se ȝe nat this honurable knyght By cause allas that he is blynd & old His owene man schal make him Cokewold Line 2256 Lo heere he sit the lecchour in the tree Now wele I grauntyn of myn mageste On-to this olde blynde worthi knyght That he schal han a-ȝyn hie eyen sight Line 2260 Whan that his wyf wolde don hym vilenye Thanne schal he knowe al hire harloterye Bothe in repref of hire & of othere mo Ȝe shal / quod Proserpyne wol ȝe so Line 2264 Now by myn moderys syris soule I swere That I schal ȝeue hire sufficiaun[t] answere And alle women aftyr for hire sake That thow they ben in ony gilt I-take Line 2268 With face bold they schuln hem self excuse And bere hem doun that wolde hem accuse ffor lak of answere non of hem schal deye Al hadde men seyn a thyng with bothe hise eyen Line 2272 Ȝit schul we wemen visage it hardely And weepe & swere & chyde subtyly So þat ȝe men schul been as lewede as gees What rekkith me of ȝoure autoriteis Line 2276 I wot wel that this Iew this Salamon [[altered to Salomon]] ffond of vs wemen folis many on But thow he ne fond no good woman Ȝit hath there foundyn manye a nothir man Line 2280

[6-text p 472] Line 2280 wemen ful trewe ful goode & verteuous witnesse that dwelle in crystis hous with martyrdom thy preuyn here constau[n]ce The romayn geestis ek makyn remembraunce Line 2284 Of manye a verray trewe wyf also But sire be nat wroth / al be it so Thow that he seye he fond no good woman I prey ȝow takyth the sentense of the man Line 2288 He mente thus that in souereyn bountee Nis noon but god that sit in trynitee ¶ Ey for verray god that is but on [folio 274b] What make ȝe so meche of salamon Line 2292 What thow he made a temple godys hous What thow he weere ryche & gloryous So maade he ek a temple of false goddis How myȝte he don a thyng that moore forbodyn is Line 2296 Parde as fayre as ȝe his name enplaystre He was a lechour & an ydolastere And in his elde he verray god for-sok And ȝif god ne hadde as seyth the bood Line 2300 I-sparede for his faderis sake he schulde Haue lost his regne rathere than he wolde I sette ryght noght al [[? for at]] al the vilanye That ȝe of wemen wryte a Botyrflye Line 2304 I am a woman nedis muste I speke Or ellis swelle tyl myn herte breke ffor sithyn he seyde we been Iangleressis As euerre mote I brouke mynne tressis Line 2308 I schal nat spare for non curteysye To speke hym harm that wolde hym vilanye Dame quod this pluto be no lengere wroth I ȝeue it vp but sithe I swor myn oth Line 2312 That I wolde graunte hym his syghte ageyn Myn word schal stonde I werne ȝow certeyn I am a kyng it sit me not to lye And I quod sche a quen of fayrye Line 2316

[6-text p 473] Line 2316 Hire answere schal sche han I vndyr-take Lat vs no moore wordis hereof make ffor sothe I wele no lengere ȝow contrarye ¶ Now lat vs turne a-geyn to Ianuarye Line 2320 That in the gardyn with his fayre May Syngith ful muriere than the popyniay Ȝow loue I best & schal & othir noon So longe a-boute the aleyis is he goon Line 2324 Til he was comyn a-geyn thilke pirie Where as this Damyan sittyth ful merye And hye a-mong the frossche leuys grene This frosche may that is so bryȝt & schene Line 2328 Gan for to sike & seyde allas myn syde [folio 275a] Now sire quod sche for ough that may be-tyde I muste han of the perys that I se Or I mot deye so sore longith me Line 2332 To etyn of the smale perys grene Help for hire loue that is / of heuene queene I telle ȝow weel a woman In myn plyt May han to freut so greet an apetyt Line 2336 That sche may deyen but sche of it haue Allas quod he that I ne hadde here a knaue That coude clymbe allas allas quod he That I am blynd ȝa sere no fors quod sche Line 2340 But wolde ȝe vouche saf for godis sake The pirie inwith ȝoure armys for to take ffor weel I wot that ȝe mystroste me Thanne schulde I klymbe wel I-nough quod sche Line 2344 So I myn foot myȝte sette vp-on ȝoure bak Certys quod he ther-on schal been no lak Myghte I ȝow helpyn with myn herte blod He stoupede doun & on his bak sche stod Line 2348 And caughte hire by a twyste & vp sche goth Ladyis I preye ȝow þat ȝe been nat wroth I can nat glose I am a rude man And sodeynly a-noon this Damyan Line 2352

[6-text p 474] Line 2352 Gan pullyn vp the smok & in he throng And whan that pluto saw this greete wrong To Ianuarye he ȝaf a-geyn his syght And maade hym se as wel as euere he myght Line 2356 And whan that he hadde cauȝt his siȝt a-geyn Ne was there neuere man of thyng so fayn But on his wyf his thouȝt was euere mo Vp to the tre he caste his eyen two Line 2360 And saw that Damyan his wyf hadde dressed In swich maner it may not been expressed But ȝif I wolde speke vncurteysly And vp he ȝaf a roryng & a cry Line 2364 As doth the modyr whan the schild schal deye Out help allas / harrow he gan to crye O stronge lady stoore what dost thow [folio 275b] And sche answerde sire what eylyth ȝow Line 2368 Hauyth pacience & resoun in ȝoure mynde I haue ȝow holpyn on bothe ȝoure eyen blynde Vp peril of myn soule I schal not lyen As me was tauȝt to hele with ȝoure eyen Line 2372 Was no thyng bet to makyn ȝow to see Than strogele [[first strugele]] with a man vp on a tree God wot I dede it with ful good entente Strogele quod he / ȝa algate in it wente Line 2376 God ȝeue ȝow bothe on schamys deth to deyen He swyuede the I say it with mynne eyȝen And ellis be I hangid bi the hals Thane is quod sche myn medecyn al fals Line 2380 ffor certeynly ȝif that ȝe myȝte see Ȝe wolde not seyn these wordys vn-to me Ȝe han sum glemesyng & no parfyt syght I se quod he as weel as euere I myȝt Line 2384 Thankyd be god with bothe myne eyen two And bi myn treuthe me thynkyth he dede þ^e soo Ȝa maȝe maȝe good sere quod sche This thank haue I for I maade ȝow to se Line 2388

[6-text p 475] Line 2388 Allas quod sche that euere I was so kynde Now dame quod he lat al passe out of mynde Come doun myn lyf & If I haue myssayd God helpe me so as I am euele a-payid Line 2392 But by myn fadyr soule I wende haue seyn How that this Damyen hadde by the leyn And that thyn smok hadde leyn vp-on his brest Ȝa sere quod sche ȝe may wene [[ne altered]] as ȝow lyst But sere a man that wakyth out of slep He may not sodeynly takyn kep Vp-on a thyng ne seen it parfytly Til that he be a-dawed verrayly Line 2400 Rygh so a man that longe hath blynd ybe Ne may not sodeynly so weel I-see ffyrst whan his syȝte is come newe ageyn As he that hath a day or too I-seyn [[1 leaf out of Camb. MS]] [Tylle þat youre siȝt y-stabled by a while [Sloane MS 1685 folio 102b] þere may fulle many a siȝt you be-gyle By ware I prey you for by heuen kynge Fulle many a man weneth to see a thynge Line 2408 And hit ys all an oþere þan hit semyth he mysse conceyueth mysse demeth And with þat worde she lepe doun of þat tre Thys Ianuarye who was glade but she Line 2412 he kyssith and clypythe hir fulle ofte And on hir wombe he strokethe hir fulle softe And to hys palys home he hathe hir ladde Nowe gode men I prey you to be glad Line 2416 Thus endethe here my tale of Ianuarye God blesse vs and his modir/ Seynt Mary Amen] [[Sloane 1685 extract ends]]

[6-text p 476] [Harl. MS 7335 folio 129]

[_b y goddes mercy seide oure ost tho Now swich a wif y preye god kepe me fro Line 2420 lo swiche sleighthes and subtilites In wommen ben for ay as besy as bees Ben they vs sely men for to deseyue And from a sothe euere wil they weyue Line 2424 Bi this marchauntis tale hit preueth wel And natheles as trewe as ony steel I haue a wif thogh that she poore be But of hir tonge a labbyng shrewe is she Line 2428 And yit she hath an heepe of vices moo Ther-of no fors let al swiche thynges goo But wite ye what in counseil be it seide Me reweth sore y am vn to here teyed [Harl. MS 7335 folio 129b] Line 2432 ffor and y shulde rekene euery vice which that she hath y-wis y were to nyse And cause whi it shulde reported be And told to here of sume of this compaignie Line 2436 Of whom it nedith nat for to declare Syn wommen konnen oute swiche chaffare And ek my wit sufficeth not ther too To tellen al wherfore my tale is do] Line 2440