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

[6-text p 500]

[and bygynnethe þe tale

[Sloane MS 1685 folio 145b]

[THE PROEM.]

Thys olde gentell Brytouns in hir/ dayes Of dyuerse auentures maden layes Remedyn in hert / first Britoun tonge Line 711 Whiche layes with her/ Instrumentes þei songe Oþere elles radden hem for her plesaunce And on of heme haue I in remembraunce Whiche shalle seye with as goode wille as I can But Sires be cause þat I am a burell man Line 716 At my begynnynge firste I you be-seche hauethe me excused of my rude speche I lerned neuere rethorike certayne Þenge þat I speke hit mote be bare & playne Line 720 I slepe neuere on þe Mount of pernaso Ne neuere lered marchus Tullius ne Cithero Colours of rethoryke ne knew I none with outen drede But suche Colours as growen in þe mede Line 724 Oþere elles suche as men dye or peynte Coloures of rethorike ben me to queynte Myne sperit feliþe · nouȝt of suche matere But ȝif you luste my tale shalle ȝe not here]

[THE TALE.]

IN Armoryk that callyd is Britayne [folio 287a] There was a knyȝt that louede & dede his payne To serue a lady in his beste wyse And manye a labour / manye a gret empryse Line 732

[6-text p 501] Line 732 He for his lady wrouȝte er sche weere woune ffor sche was on the fayreste vndyr sunne And ek therto come of so hegh kynrede That weel onethe durste this knyȝt for drede Line 736 Telle hire his woo his peyne & his distresse But at the laste / sche for his worthynesse And namely for his meke obeysaunce Hath swich a pete cauȝt for his penaunce Line 740 That pruyuyly sche fel of his acord To take hym for hire husbonde & for hire lord Of swich lordschepe as men han of here wyuys And for to leede þe more in blysse hire lyuys Line 744 Of his frewil he swoor hire as a knyȝt That he neuere his lyue day ne nyȝt Ne schulde vp on hym take maystrye A-geyn hire wil ne kythe hire Ialusye Line 748 But hire obeye & folwe hire wil in al As ony louere to his lady schal Saue that the name of souereynte That wele he haue for schame of his degre Line 752 Sche thankede hym with ful greet humblesse And seyde sire seyth of ȝoure gentillesse ȝe profere me to haue so greet a reyne Ne wolde neuere god be-twyn vs tweyne Line 756 As in myn gylt were other werre or stryf Syre I wele be ȝoure humble trewe wyf Haue here myn trouthe tyl myn herte breste Thus been they in quyete & in reste Line 760 ffor o thyng syrys sauely dare I seye That frendys eueryche oþer moote obeye ȝif they wele longe holde cumpannye Loue wele not been constreynede by maystrye Line 764 Whan maystrye comyth the god of loue anon Bethith his wyngis & farewel he is goon Loue is a thyng as ony spyryt free [folio 287b] Wemen of kynde desire libertee Line 768

[6-text p 502] Line 768 And not to been constreynd as a thral And so don men ȝif I soth seyn schal Loke ho so most is pacient in loue He is at his auauntag al a-boue Line 772 Pacience is an high vertu certeyn ffor it venquyschith as these clerkis seyn Thyngis þat rygour schulde neuere atteyne ffor euery word men may not chide or pleyne Line 776 Lernyth to suffere or ellis so mote I goon ȝe schul it lerne wheþer ȝe wele or non ¶ ffor in this world serteyn there no wyȝt is That he ne doth or seyth sumtyme a-mys Line 780 Ire seeknesse or constelacioun Wyn wo or chaungyng of complexioun Causeth oftyn to don amys or spekyn On euery wrong a man may not been wrekyn Line 784 Aftyr the tyme muste be thatemperaunce To euery wyȝt that can on gouernaunce And therfore hath this wyse worthi knyȝt To leue in ese sufferaunce to hire hyȝt Line 788 And sche to hym ful wisely gan to swere That there schulde neuere been defaute in hire ¶ Heere may men se an humble wys a-cord Thus hath sche take hire seruaunt & hire lord Line 792 Seruaunt in loue & lord in maryage Thanne was he bothe in lordschepe & seruage Seruage nay but in lo[r]dschepe a-boue Sythe he hath bothe his lady & his loue Line 796 His lady certis & his wyf also To whiche the lawe of loue a-cordyth þerto And whan he was in this prosperitee Hom with his wyf he goth to his cuntre Line 800 Nough fer fro pedmark þere his dwellynge was Where as he lyuyth in blysse & in solas Who coude telle but he hadde weddede bee The Ioye / the ese / & the prosperite Line 804

[6-text p 503] Line 804 That is be-twyn an husbonde & his wyf [folio 288a] A ȝeer & more lastyth this blysful lyf Tyl that the knyȝt of whom I spak of thus That of kayrrud was clepid Arueragus Line 808 Schoop hym to goon & dwelle a ȝeer or tweyne In Ingelond that clepid was er Breteyne To seeke in armys worschepe & honour ffor al his lust he sette in swich labour Line 812 And dwelte there too ȝeer the bok seyth thus Now wele I stynte of this Arueragus And speke I wele of dorigious his wyf That louyth hire husbonde as hire lyf Line 816 ffor hyse absence wepith sche & sykyth As doon these noble wyuys whan hem lykyth Sche / mornyth / wakyth / waylyth / fastith pleynyth Desyr of hise presens so hire streynyth Line 820 That al this wyde world sche sette at nouȝt Hire frendys whiche that knewe hyre heuy thouȝt Confortyn ³here in al³ that euere they may They preche hire they telle hire nyght & day Line 824 That causeles sche sleth hyre selue allas And euery confort possible in this cas They don to hire with al here besynesse Al for to make hire leue hire heuynesse Line 828 By proces as ȝe knowyn euerichoon Man may so longe grauyn in a stoon Tyl sum fygure ther-in enpryntid be So longe han they confortid tyl that sche Line 832 Resceyuede hath by hope & by resoun Thenprentyng of hire consolacyoun Thorw whiche / al hire sorwe gan swage Sche may not al wey duryn in swych rage Line 836 And ek Arueragus in al this care Hath sent hire lettere hom of his weelfare And that he hastely wele come a-geyn Or ellis hadde this sorwe hire herte slayn Line 840

[6-text p 504] Line 840 Here freendis saw hyre sorwe gan a-slake And preyede hire / on kneis for godis sake To comyn & romyn heere in cumpanye [folio 288b] A-wey to dryue hire derke fantasye Line 844 And finally sche grauntede that requeste ffor wel sche thouȝte it was for the beste Now stood hire castel faste by the see And oftyn with hire frendis walkede sche Line 848 Hire to disporte on this banke an high Where that sche manye a schip & barge seigh Seylynge here cours / where as hem leste goo But thanne was that a parcel of hire woo Line 852 ffor to hire self ful ofte seyde sche Is there no schip / of so manye as I se Wil bryngyn hom myn lord thanne were myn herte Al warychid of hire bittere peynys smerte Line 856 A nothir tyme there wolde sche sitte & thynke And caste hire eyen / doun fro the brynke But whan sche say / the gresely rokis blake ffor verray feer / so wolde hyre herte quake Line 860 That on hire feet / sche myȝt hire not sustene Thanne wolde sche sitte / adoun vp on the grene And pitously / in-to the se by-holde And seye ryȝt thus / with sorweful sikys colde Line 864 Eterne god / that thour thyn puruyaunce Ledist the world / be Iuste gouernaunce In ydil as men seyn / ȝe nothyng make But lord these grysely / feendly rokkis blake Line 868 That semyn rathere / a foul confusioun Of werk than ony fayr creacioun Of which / a parfyt / wys god & stable Why han ȝe wrouȝt this werk onresonable Line 872 ffor bi this werk. South. North / West & Est There is I-fostered. no man / ne brid ne best It doth no good / to myn wit but a-noyith Se ȝe nat lord how mankynde it distroyeth Line 876

[6-text p 505] Line 876 An hunderede thousent / bodyis of mankynde Han rolkis slayn / al ben they nat in mynde Whiche mankynd is / so fayr a part of thyn werk That þou it madist / lyk to thyn owene merk Line 880 Thanne semythit ȝe hadde a gret chiertee [folio 289a] Toward mankynde but how thanne may it be That ȝe sweche meenys make it to distroyen Whiche menys doon no good but euere a-noyen Line 884 I wot wel clerkys wele seye as hem leste By argumentis that al is for the beste Thow I ne can the causis not I-knowe But that god / that made wynd to blowe Line 888 As keepe myn lord / this is myn conclusioun To clerkis leete I al discripcioun But wolde god that alle these rokkis blake Were sunkyn in-to helle for his sake Line 892 These rokkis sleen myn herte for the fere Thus seyde sche with manye a pitous teere Hire fryndys saw that it was no disport To romyn by the se but disconfort Line 896 And schopyn for to pleyen sum wher ellis They leddyn hire by reueris & by wellis And ek in othere places delectables Th[e]y dauncedyn the[y] pleyedyn at ches & tablys Line 900 So on a day ryȝt in the morwetide Vn-tyl a gardyn that was ther byside In whiche they haddyn mad here ordenaunce Of vitaylis & of othere puruyaunce Line 904 They goon & pleye hem al the longe day And this was on the sexte morwe of may Whiche may hadde peyntid wit^h hise softe schourys This gardyn ful of leuys & of flouris Line 908 And craft of manys hand so curiously Arayed hadde this gardyn trewely That neuere was thare gardy of swich a prys But it hadde been the verray paradys Line 912

[6-text p 506] Line 912 The odour of flourys & the frosche syght Wolde han maad ony herte for to lyȝt That euere was born but ȝif to gret seknesse Or to greet sorwe hadde it in distresse Line 916 So ful it was of beute with plesaunce At aftyr dyner gunne thei to daunce And synge also saue dorygeen alone [folio 289b] Whiche maade alwey hire compleynt & hyre mone Line 920 ffor sche ne saw hym on the daunce go That was hire husbonde & hire loue also But natheles sche mote a tyme ( a-byde And wyth good hope lete hire here slyde Line 924 Vp on this daunce a-mongis oþere men Daunsede a squier bi-fore Dorigen That froschere was & Iolyere of aray As to myn doon as is the monyth of may Line 928 He syngith daunseth passynge ony man That is or was syn the world be-gan Ther-with he was ȝif men schulde hym discryue On of te beste farynge man on lyue Line 932 ȝong. strong. ryght verteuous. & ryche. & wys And weel be-louyd & holdyn in greet prys And schortely ȝif the sothe tellyn schal Onwetyng of this Dorygen at al Line 936 This lusty squyer seruaun to venus Whiche þat I-clepede was aurelius Hadde louyd hire best of ony creature Too ȝeer & more as was his auenture Line 940 But neuere durste he telle hire his greuance Wyth-oute cuppe he drank al his penaunce He was dispeyred nothyng durste he seye Saue in his songis sumwhat wolde he wreye Line 944 His woo as in a gentyl compleynynge He seyde he louede & was belouyd nothyng Of swiche matiere made he manye layis Songis compleyntis / roundelis virelayes Line 948

[6-text p 507] Line 948 How he durste not his sorwe telle But languscht as a furye doth in helle And deye he muste he seyde as dede Ekko ffor Narcisus that durste not telle his wo Line 952 In othere maner than ȝe here me seye Ne durste he nat to hire his woo be-wreye Saue that parauenture sumtyme at daunces There ȝonge folk kepyn here obseruaunces Line 956 It may wel be he lokede on hire face [folio 290a] In swich a wyse as men that askyth grace But no thyng wiste sche of his entente Nathe-les it happid er they thens wente Line 960 By cause that he was hire neghebour And was a man of worchepe & honour And hadde I-knowyn hym of tyme ȝore They fille in speche & they more & more Line 964 Vn-to his purpos drow aurelius And whan he saw his tyme he seyde thus Madame quod he by god that this world maade So that I wyste it myȝte ȝoure herte glade Line 968 I wolde þat day that ȝoure arueragus Wente ouyr the se that I Aurelyus Hadde went there neuere I schulde a comyn a-geyn ffor weel I woot myn seruyse is in veyn Line 972 My guerdoun is but brestynge of myn herte Madame rewyth on mynne peynys smerte ffor with a word ȝe may ne sle & saue Heere at ȝoure feet god wolde that I were graue Line 976 I ne haue as now no leyser more to seye Hauyth mercy swete or ellis ȝe do me deye ¶ Sche gan to lokyn vp on aurelius Is this ȝoure wil quod sche & seye ȝe thus Line 980 Neuere erst quod sche ne wiste I what ȝe mente But now Aurelius I knewe ȝoure entente By-twixe god that ȝaf me soule & lyf Ne schal I neuere been vntrewe wyf Line 984

[6-text p 508] Line 984 In word ne werk as fer as I haue wit I wele been his to whom that I am knyt Take this for fynal answere as of me But aftyr in pleyn thus seyde sche Line 988 Aurele quod sche bi hye god a-boue Ȝit wolde I grauntyn ȝow to been ȝoure loue Syn I se ȝow so pitously compleyne Loke what day that endelyng Breteyne Line 992 Ȝe remoue alle the rolkis ston be ston That they ne lette schyp ne boot to goon I seye whan ȝe han mad the cost so clene [folio 290b] Of rokkis that there ne is no stoon I-seene Line 996 Thanne wele I loue ȝow best of ony man Haue here myn trouthe In al that euere I can Is there noon othis grace quod he No be that lord quod sche that makede me Line 1000 ffor wel I wot that I^t schal neuere betyde Lat sweche folyis out of ȝoure herte slyde What deynte schulde a man han in his lyf ffor to go loue a-noþer manys wyf Line 1004 That hath hire body whan so that hym lykyth Aurelius ful ofte sore sykyth Wo was aurelius whan that he this herde And with a sorweful herte he thus answerde Line 1008 Madame quod he this were an Impossible Thanne mote I deye on sodeyn deth horrible And with that word he turnede hym a-non T^ho come here othere frendis manyon Line 1012 And in the aleyijs they romede vp & doun And no thyng wiste of this conclusioun But sodeynly begunne reuel newe Til that the bryȝte sunne loste his hewe Line 1016 ffor thorisonte refte þe sunne his lyȝt This is as meche to seye as it was nyȝt And hom they goon In Ioye & in solas Saue only wreche Aurelius allas Line 1020

[6-text p 509] Line 1020 He to his hous is goon with sorweful herte He seth he may not from his deth asterte Hym somede that he felte his herte colde Vp to the heuene hise hondis he gan holde Line 1024 And on hise kneis bare he sette hym doun And in his rauynge seyde his orysoun ffor verray woo out of his wit he broyde He nyste what he spak but thus he seyde Line 1028 With pitous herte his pleynt hath he bygunne Vnto the goddis & fyrst vp to the sunne ¶ He seyde Appollo god & gouernour Of euery plaunte herbe tre & flour Line 1032 That ȝeuyst aftyr thi declinacioun [folio 291a] To eche of hem his tyme & his sesoun As thyn herberwe chaungith lowe & hyghe Lord phebus cast thyn merciable Iye Line 1036 On wrechede auryele wheche that am but lorn Lo lord myn lady hath myn deth I-sworn With-outyn gilt but thyn benyngnete Vp-on myn dedly herte haue sum petee Line 1040 ffor wel I wot lord phebus If thow lest ȝe may me helpe saue myn lady best Now vouchith saf that I may ȝow deuyse How that I may been holpe & in what wyse Line 1044 ¶ Ȝoure blysful systyr luciane the schene That of the see is cheef goddesse & queene Thow neptinius haue deyte on the see ȝit Enaparensse a-bouyn hym is sche Line 1048 ȝe knowyn weel lord that ryȝt as hire desyr is to been quykyd & lyghtenyd of ȝoure fyer ffor whiche sche folwyth ȝow ful busyly Ryȝt so the see desyryth naturelly Line 1052 To folwyn hire as sche that is goddesse Bothe in the se & ryuerys more & lesse Therfore lord phebus this is myn request Do this myrakele or do myn herte brest Line 1056

[6-text p 510] Line 1056 That now next at this opposicioun Which in the sygne schal be of the lyoun As preyeth hire so greet a flood to brynge That fyue fademe at the leste it ouyr sprynge Line 1060 The hyeste rok in armorik briteyne And lat this flod endure ȝerys tweyne Thanne sertys to myn lady may I seye Holdyth ȝoure heste the rokkis been a-wey Line 1064 Lord phebus doth this myrakele for me Preyeth hyr sche go no fastere cours than ȝe I seye preye ȝoure systyr that sche goo Non fastere course / these ȝerys two Line 1068 Thanne schal sche been at the fulle alwey And spryng flood laste bothe nyght & day And but she wouchesaf in swich maneere [folio 291b] To graunte me myn souereyn lady deere Line 1072 Preye hire to synke euery rokke a-doovn In to hire owene derke regioun Vndyr the ground there pluto dwellyth Inne Or neuere more schal I myn lady wynne Line 1076 Thy temple in delphos wil I barfoot seke Lord phebus se the teris on myn cheke And of myn peyne haue compassioun And with word for sorwe he fel a-doun Line 1080 ²And long tyme he lay / forth in a traunce² His brothir which that knew of his penaunce Vp cauȝte hym / & to bedde hath hym brouȝt Dispeyrede in this turnement & this thoght Line 1084 Lete I this woful creature lye Chese he for me / where he wele leue or dye ¶ Arueragus / with heye & gret honour As he that was of chyualrye the flour Line 1088 Is comyn hom & othere worthy men O blysful art tow now thow Dorigeoun That hast thyn lusty husbonde in thyne armys The frosche knyȝt the worthi man of armys Line 1092

[6-text p 511] Line 1092 That louyt the as his owene hertis lyf Nothⁱng luste hym to be ymaginatyf ȝif ony wight hadde spoke whil he was oute To hire of loue he hadde of it no doute Line 1096 He not entendyth to no swich matere But dauncith Iustyth makyth hire good chere And thus in Ioye & blysse I leete hem dwelle And of the sike Aurelyus I wele ȝow telle Line 1100 ¶ In langure & in turnemen furyus Two ȝeer & moore lay wreche aurelyus Er ony foote he myȝte on erthe goon Ne confort in this tyme ne hadde he noon Line 1104 Saue of his brothir which that was a clerk He knew of al this wo & al this werk ffor to noon othir creature certeyn Of this matere he durste no word seyn Line 1108 Vndyr his brest he bar it sore [folio 292a] And so fer forth it greuede hym ^the moore Than euere dede Pamplius or Galatheene His brest was sor with-outyn for to sene But in his herte ay was the arwe kene Line 1112 And weel ȝe knowe that of a sursanure In surgerye is parlious the cure But men myȝte tuche the arwe or come therby His brothir wep & waylede pryuyly Line 1116 Til at the laste hym fil in remembraunce That whil he was at orlionys in fraunce As ȝonge clerkis that been likerous To rendyn artis that been curious Line 1120 Sekin in eueri halk & euery herne Particuler sciencis for to lerne He hym remembrede that vp-on a day At orlionys in stodie he say Line 1124 Of magyk naturel whiche that his felawe That was that tyme a bacheler of lawe Al were he there to lerne a nothir craft Hadde priuyly vp on his deske laft Line 1128

[6-text p 512] Line 1128 Touchynge the eyghte & twenty manciounnys Line 1130 That longyn to the moone & swich folye Line 1131 Swich book that spak meche of the operaciounnys Line 1129 [As in oure dayes nys not worþe a flye] ffor holycherchis feyth in oure beleue Line 1133 Ne suffere noone illusiounnys vs to greue And whan this bok was in remembraunce Anoon for ioye his herte gan to daunce Line 1136 And to hym self he seyde pryuyly Myn brother schal been warshit hastily ffor I am sekyr that theere ben sciencis By whiche men mak diuers apparencis Line 1140 Sweche as these subtyle tregettourys pleye ffor ofte at festis / haue I weel herd seye That tregettouris with-inne an halle large Haue mad come in a watyr & a barge Line 1144 And in the halle rowyn vp & doun Sumtyme haue semyd to come a grym lyoun And sumtyme flouris sprynge as in a mede [folio 292b] Sumtyme a vine & grapis white & reede Line 1148 Sumtyme a castel al of lym & stoon And whan hym lykith woydede it anoon Thus semede it to euery manys syȝt Now thanne conclude I thus as ȝif I myght Line 1152 At orlyonys sum old felaue I fynde That hadde these monys manciounnys in mynde Or othere Magyk naturel a-boue He schulde weel make myn brothir han his love Line 1156 ffor with apparens a clerk may make To mannys syȝt that alle the rokkis blake Of Brytaygne were voydede euerychon And schippis by the brynke comyn & goon Line 1160 And in swich forme endure a day or two Thanne were myn brothir warsched of his woo Thanne muste sche nedys holdyn hyre by-heste Or ellis he schal schame hire at the leste Line 1164

[6-text p 513] Line 1164 What schulde I make a lengere tale of this Vnto hise brotheris bed he comyn is And swich confort he ȝaf hym for to goon To Orlyonys that he vp styrte a-noon Line 1168 And in his weye forward is he fare In hope for to been lessede of his care Whan they were come / almost to that cete But ȝif it were a two furlong or thre Line 1172 A ȝong clerk romynge by hym self he mette Whiche that in latyn thrystily hym grette And aftyr that he seyde a wondyr thyng I knowe quod he the cause of ȝoure comyng Line 1176 And er they ferthere ony foote wente He told hem al that was in here entente This Britoun Clerk hym askede of felawys The whiche hem had knowe of olde dawis Line 1180 And he answerde hem that they dede were ffor which he wepte ful ofte manye a teere Doun of his hors Aurelyus lyȝte a-non And with this Magicien forth is he gon Line 1184 Hom to his hous & maade hem wel at eese [folio 293a] Hem lakkede no vitayle that myghte hem pleese So weel arayede hous as there was oon Aurelyus in his lyf saw neuere noon Line 1188 He shewede hym er he wente to soper fforestis / parkis ful of wylde deer There saugh he hertis with here hornys hye The gretteste that euere were seyn with Iye He saw of hem an hunderede weere slayn with houndis And some with arwis bledde of bittere wondys He say whan woyded were the wylde deer The faucounneris vp-on a fayr reuer Line 1196 That with here haukys han the heyroun slayn Tho saugh he knyȝtis slayn in a playn And aftyr this he dede hym swich plesaunce That he hym schewede his lady on a dau[n]ce Line 1200

[6-text p 514] Line 1200 On whiche hym selue daunsede as hym thouȝte And whanne this Maystyr that this Magik wrouȝt Saw it was tyme he clapte hise handis two And farweel al oure reuel was a go Line 1204 And remoūuede they neuere out of the hous Whil they seye al the syght meruelious But in hise stodie there as hise bokys be They seetyn stille & no whit but they thre Line 1208 To hym his maystir callede his squyer And seyde thus is redy oure soper Almost an hour it is I vndyrtake Sythe I ȝow bad oure soper for to make Line 1212 Whan that these worthi men wentyn with me In-to myne stodye there as mynne bokis be Syre quod this squyer whan that it lykyth ȝow It is al redy thow ȝe wele rygh now Line 1216 Go we thanne suppe as for the beste These amerouse folk sumtyme mote han reste At aftyr soper felle they in tretee What summe schulde this maysteris gerdoun bee Line 1220 To remeuyn alle the rokkis of bretayne And ek from Gerounde to the mount of Sayne He made it straung & swor so god hym saue [folio 293b] Lasse than a thousent pound wolde he nat haue Line 1224 Ne gladli for that summe wolde he nat goon Aurelyus with blysful herte a-noon Answerde thus fy on a thousent pound This wide world which that men seyn is round Line 1228 I wolde it ȝeue ȝif I weere lord of it This bargayn is ful drewyn for we been knyt Ȝe schal been payed trewely be myn trouthe But lokyth now for no necligence ne slouthe Line 1232 Ȝe tarye vs no lengere than to morwe Nay quod this clerk / here myn feyth to borwe To bedde is goon Aurelius whan hym leste And wel nygh al that nyght he hadde his reste Line 1236

[6-text p 515] Line 1236 What for his labour & his hope of blys His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lys Vp on the morwe whan that it was day To bryteyne toke they the ryȝte way Line 1240 Aurelyus & the Magicyoun by syde And been descendit there they wele vnbyde And this was as the bokys me remembre The colde frosty sesoun of decembre Line 1244 Phebus wex old & hewid lyk latoun That in his hoote declynacioun Schon as the burnet gold with streemys bryȝte But now in Caprycorn adoun he lyghte Line 1248 Wheere as he schon ful pale I dar weel seyn The bittere frostis with the sleet & reyn Distroyed hat the grene & euery ȝerd Ianus sit by the fyr with double berd Line 1252 And drynkyth of hyse bugle horn the wyn By-forn hym stant braun / of the tuskyd swyn An Nowel syngyth / eueuery lusty man Aurelius in al that euere he can Line 1256 Doth to his maystyr chier & reuerence And preyeth hym to don his dilygence To bryngyn hym out of hise peynys smerte Or with a swerd that he wolde slytte his herte Line 1260 This subtyl clerk swych routhe hadde of this man [folio 294a] That nygh[t] & day he spedde hym as he kan To waytyn a tyme of his conclusioun That is to seyne to makyn illusioun Line 1264 By swich an apparens or iogilrye I ne can no termys of astrologie That sche & euery wygh[t] schulde wene & seye That of Brytayne the rokkys were a-weye Line 1268 Or ellys they were sunkyn vndyr grounde So at the laste he hath his tyme I-founde To make hise Iapis & hise wrechedenesse Of swich a supersticious cursedenesse Line 1272

[6-text p 516] Line 1272 Hise tablis colletanes / forth he brouȝte fful weel correctid / ne there lakkede nough[t] Neythir his collect / ne his expans ȝeeris Ne hise rotis ne hise othere geris Line 1276 As been hise sentris & hise argumentis And hise proporciounnys conuenyentis ffor hise equatiou[n]s / in euery thyng And by his .8^e. speere / in his werkyng Line 1280 He knew ful weel / hu fer Alnath was schoue ffro the hed of thilke / fixe aries a-boue That in the nynte speere considered is fful subtily he calkelid al this Line 1284 Whan he hadde founde his fyrste mancioun He knew the remenaunt / by proporcyoun And knew tharysyng of the moone weel And in whos face & terme euerideel Line 1288 And knew ful weel the monys mancioun A-cordaunt to his operacioun And knew also hise othere obseruauncis ffor sweche illusiounnys & sweche myschauncis Line 1292 As hethene folk vsedyn / in thilke dayis ffor which no lengere makyth he delayis But thour his magik for a wyke or tweye It semede þat alle the rokkys were aweye Line 1296 ¶ Aurelyus which that ȝit dispeyred is Where he schal han his loue / or fare a mys Awaytht nygh[t] & day on this myrakele [folio 294b] And whan he knew þat there was noon obstakele Line 1300 That woydede weere the rokkys euerychon Doun to hise maysteris feet he fel a-noon And seyde I woful wreche aurelyus Thanke I ȝow lord & lady myn Venus Line 1304 That me han holpyn of myne caris colde And to the temple his weye forth hath helde Where as he knew he schulde his lady see And whan he saw his tyme a-noon ryght he Line 1308

[6-text p 517] Line 1308 With dredful herte & with humble cheere Saluyth hath his souereyn lady deere ¶ Myn ryghte lady quod this woful man Whom I most dreede & loue as I best can Line 1312 And lothest weere of al this world displeese Neere it þat I for ȝow / haue swich disese That I muste deyen here at ȝoure fot a-non Nat wolde I telle how me is wo bygoon Line 1316 But sertys othir muste I deye or pleyne Ȝe sle me giltles for veray peyne But of myn deth thow ȝe han no routhe A-vyseth ȝow er than ȝe breke ȝoure trouthe Line 1320 repente ȝow for thilke god a-boue Er ȝe me sle by cause that I ȝow loue ffor madame weel ȝe wot what ȝe han hyȝt Nat that I chalange ony thyng of ryght Line 1324 Of ȝow myn souereyn lady but ȝoure grace But in a gardyn / ȝond in swich a place Ȝe woot ryȝt weel what ȝe be-hyghtyn me And in myn hand ȝoure trouthe plyghte ȝe Line 1328 To loue me god wot ȝe seyde so Al be that I vnworthi am therto Madame I speke it for the honour of ȝow Moore than to saue myn hertys lyf ryȝt now Line 1332 I haue don so as ȝe comaundede me And ȝif ȝe vouche saf ȝe may go se Doth as ȝow lyste hauyth ȝoure heste in mynde ffor quyk or ded rygh[t] there ȝe schul me fynde Line 1336 In ȝow lyth al to do me lyue or deye [folio 295a] But weel I wot the rolkis been a-weye He takyth his leue & sche a-stonyd stod In al hire face nas a drope of blood Line 1340 Sche wenede neuere / haue come in swich a trappe Allas quod sche that euere this schulde happe ffor wende I neuere by possibilite That swich a monstre or merueyle myghte be Line 1344

[6-text p 518] Line 1344 It is ageyn the prosses of nature And hom sche goth a sorweful criature ffor verray fer onethe/ may sche go Sche wepith waylyth al a day or two Line 1348 And swounnyth that routhe it was to see But whi it was to no wyȝt tolde schee ffor out of tounne was goon arueragus But to hire self sche spak & seyde thus Line 1352 With pale face & with ful sorweful cheere In hire compleynt as ȝe schal aftyr heere ¶ Allas quod sche on the fortune I pleyne That vndyr wrapped / hast me in thyn cheyne Line 1356 ffor which to skape woot I no socour Saue only deth / or ellys dishonour Oon of these two / by-howith me to cheese But na-theles ȝit haue I leuere to lese Line 1360 Myn lyf than of myn body to han a schame Or knowyn myn self fals or lese myn name And with myn deth I may been quit I-wis Hat there nat manye a noble wyf er this Line 1364 And manye a maydyn I-slayn hire self allas rathere than with hire body don trespas Ȝis certis lo these storyis bere witnesse Whan thretty tirauntis ful of cursedenesse Line 1368 Hadde slayn Phidoun in atthenes at the feste They comaundit his doughtren for tareste And bryngyn here by-forn hym in despit Al nakid to fulfylle his foule delyt Line 1372 And in here fadyris blood they made hem daunce Vp on the pauement god ȝeue hym myschance ffor which these woful maydenys ful of drede [folio 295b] Rathere than thy wolde lese here maydynheede Line 1376 They priuyly ben styrt in-to a welle And drenkte hem seluyn as the bokys telle ¶ They of Messene lete enquire & seke Of Latedomye fifty madenys eke Line 1380

[6-text p 519] Line 1380 On whiche they wolde doon here lecherye But was theere noon of al that cumpaynye That sche nas slayn & with a good entente Ches rathere for to deye / than assente Line 1384 To been oppressed of hire maydynhede Whi schulde I thanne to deye been en drede ¶ Loke ek the tyraunt aristoclides That louede a mayden / hyghte stymphabides Line 1388 Whan that hire fadyr slay was on a nyght On to dyane temple goth sche ryȝt And hente the emage in hire armys two ffrom which I-mage wolde sche nat go Line 1392 No whygh[t] myghte hire handys of it a-race Tyl sche was slayn ryȝt in the selue place ¶ Now sythe that maydenys / haddyn swich dispit To been defoyled with manys foule delyt Line 1396 Weel oghte a wyf rathere hyre selue slee Than been defoyled as it semyth mee What schal I seye of hasdrubales wyf That at cartage be-rafte hire self hire lyf Line 1400 Whan sche say that romaynys wan the tounn Sche tok hire chyldere alle & skypte a-doun In-to the fer & ches rathere to deye Than ony romayn dede hire vilanye Line 1404 ¶ Hath not lucresse I-slayn hire self allas At rome whan sche oppressed was Of Tarquyn for hire thoughte it was a schame To lyuyn whan sche hadde lost hire name Line 1408 ¶ The seuene maydenys of Melesye also Han slayn hem self for verray drede & wo rathere than folk of gaule hem schulde opperesse Mo than a thousent storyis as I gesse Line 1412 Coude I now telle as touchynge this mateere [folio 296a] ¶ Whan Hadrabate was slayn his wyf so deere Hire selvyn slow / & leet hire blood to glyde In Hadrabis woundis deepe & wyde Line 1416

[6-text p 520] Line 1416 And seyde myn body at the leste way There schal no man defoylyn ȝif I may What schulde I mo ensaumplys hereof sayn Syn that so manye / han hem selue slayn Line 1420 Wel rathere than they wolde defoyled be I wele conclude that it is bet to me To slen myn self than ben defoyled thus I wele been trewe vn-to Arueragus Line 1424 Or rathere slen myn self in sum manere ¶ As dede democienys doughtyr deere Bi-cause sche wolde not defoylyd be ¶ O Cedasus it is ful greet pite Line 1428 To redyn how thynne doughteryn deyedyn allas That slow hem self for swych manere cas ¶ As greet a pyte was it or wel moore The theban maydyn that for nychanore Line 1432 Hire seluyn slow / ryȝt for swych maner wo ¶ A nothir theban maydyn dede ryȝt so ffor on of massedoyne hadde hire oppressed Sche with hyre deth hyre maydynhed redressed Line 1436 ¶ What schal I seyn of nycherates wyf That for swich cas berafte hire self hyre lyf ¶ How trowe ȝe ek was Althebiades Hyre loue al rathere for to deyen chees Line 1440 Than for to sufferyn hyse body onburyede be ¶ Loo which a wyf was Alceste quod sche ¶ What seyth Omer of goode penolopee As Crece knowyth of hire chastitee Line 1444 ¶ Parde of Lacedomya is wrytyn thus That whan at troye was slayn Protheselaus No lengere wolde sche leuyn aftyr hise day ¶ The same of noble porcya tellyn I may Line 1448 With-outyn Brutus coude sche nat lyue To whom sche hadde al hol hire herte ȝyue ¶ The parfyte wifhod of Arthemesye [folio 296b] Honoured is thour al the Barbarye Line 1452

[6-text p 521] Line 1452 ¶ O Teuta queen / thyn wyfly chastitee To alle wyuys may a myrour bee . . . . . . . . . . Thus pleynede Dorigen a day or tweye Line 1457 Purposynge euere that sche wolde deye But natheles vp-on the thredde nyȝt Hom cam Arueragus this worthy knyȝt Line 1460 And axed hire why that sche weep so sore And sche gan wepyn euere lengere the more ¶ Allas quod sche that euere was I born Thus haue I seyd quod sche thus haue I sworn Line 1464 And tolde hym al as ȝe han herd be-fore It nedith nat reherse ȝow no moore This husbonde with glad cheere in frendely wyse Answerede & seyde as I schal ȝow deuyse Line 1468 Is there ought ellis / Dorigene but this Nay nay quod sche god helpe me so as wis This is to meche & it were godys wille ȝa wyf quod he / lat slepyn & be stylle Line 1472 [hit may be wele ȝit perauenture to say [Sloane MS 1685 folio 155b] ȝe sholen yuore trouthe holden by youre fay] ffor god so wysely haue mercy vp-on me I hadde wel leuere I-stekyd for to be Line 1476 ffor verray loue whiche that I to ȝow haue But ȝif ȝe schulde ȝoure trouthe kepe & saue Trouthe is the heyeste thyng that man may kepe And with that word he brast a-non to weepe Line 1480 And seyde I ȝow forbede vp peyne of deth That neuere whil ȝow lastyt lyf or breth To wyght telle thow of this auenture As I best may I wele myn wo endure Line 1484 Ne make no cuntenaunce of heuynesse That folk of ȝow may deme harm or gesse And forth he clepith a squyer & a mayde Goth forth a-non with Dorigene he sayde Line 1488

[6-text p 522] Line 1488 And bryngith hire to swich a place a-non They take here leue & on here weye they gon But they ne wyste why she thidyr wente He nolde no wight tellyn his entente Line 1492 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 1496 . . . . . . . . . . This squier which that hyȝte aurelyus [folio 297a] On Dorigene that was so amerous Line 1500 Of auenture happede hire to meete A-myd the toun rygh[t] in the quykkeste strete As sche was boun to go the woye ful ryȝt Toward the gardyn there that sche hadde hight Line 1504 And he was to the gardynward also ffor weel he spyed whan sche woldo go Out of hire hous to ony maner place But thus they mette of auenture or grace Line 1508 And he saluyth hire with good entente And axed hire whidyrward sche wente And sche answerde half as sche were mad Vn-to the gardyn as myn husbonde bad Line 1512 Myn trouthe for to holde allas allas ¶ Aurelius gan wonderyn of this cas And in his herte hadde greet compassioun Of hire & of hire lamentacioun Line 1516 And of Arueragus the worthi kⁿight That bad hire holdyn al that sche hadde hiȝt So loth hym was his wyf schulde breke hire trouthe And in his herte he caughte of this greet routhe Line 1520 Considerynge the beste on euery syde That for his lust ȝit were hym leuere a-byde Than don so high a cherliche wrechedenesse Agayns fraunchese of alle gentillesse Line 1524

[6-text p 523] Line 1524 ffor which in fewe wordys seyde he thus Madame sythe to ȝoure lord Arueragus That sithe I se his grete gentillesse To ȝow & eek I se wel ȝoure distresse Line 1528 That he were leuere han schame & that were routhe Than ȝe to me schulde breke thus ȝoure trouthe I haue wel leuere euere to suffere wo Than I departe the loue by-twixe ȝow two Line 1532 I ȝow relese madame in-to ȝoure hond Quyt euery surement & euery bond That ȝe han mad to me as here be-forn Sith thylke tyme which that ȝe were born Line 1536 Myn trouthe I plyghte I schal ȝow neuere re-preue [folio 297b] Of no beheste & here I take myn leeue As of^the treweste & the beste wyf That euere ȝit I knew in al myn lyf Line 1540 But euery wif be war of hire byheste On Dorigene / remembr[i]th at the leste Thus can a squyer doon a gentyl deede As weel as kan a knyȝt / with-outyn drede Line 1544 ¶ Sche thankede hym vp-on hire kneis al bare And hom vn-to hire husbonde is sche fare And told hym al a^s ȝe han herd me seyd/ And be ȝe sykyr / he was so weel apayed Line 1548 That weere impossible me to wryte What schulde I lengere / of this cas endyte Arueragus & Dorygene / his wyf In souereyn blysse leedyn forth here lyf Line 1552 Neuere eft ne was there angyr hem be-twene He cherysseth hire ryȝt as sche were a queene And sche was with hym trewe for eueremoore Of these two folk ȝe gete of me no more Line 1556 ¶ Aurelyus that his cost hath al for-lorn Cursith the tyme that euere was he born Allas quod he allas that I be-hyȝte Of purede gold a thousent pound of wighte Line 1560

[6-text p 524] Line 1560 On to this philysophere how schal I do I se namoore but that I am fordo Myn erytage mote I nedis selle And ben a beggere heere may I nat dwelle Line 1564 And schamyn al myn kynrede in this place But I of hym may getyn betere grace But natheles I wele of hym assaye At serteyn dayis ȝeer be ȝer to paye Line 1568 And thanke hym of his greete curteysye Myn trouthe wele I kepe I wele nat lye With herte sor he goth vnto his cofere And bryngith gold vn-to this philisophere Line 1572 The valew of fyue hunderede pound I gesse And hym be-sechith of hise gentilesse [To graunten hym dayes of þe payment And sayde Maystere .I. dare wele make a vaunte Line 1576 I fayled neuere of my trouþe ȝet ffor sykerly my dette shalle be quyt Towardes ȝowe howe þat euere I fare To gone a beggere in my kirtell bare Line 1580 But wolde ȝe vouche saue vpon suerte Two ȝere or þre for to respiten me Then were I welle for elles mot I selle Myne herytage þere nys no more to telle Line 1584 Thys phylosophre soberly vnswared And said þus when he þis worde herde haue I not holde Couenaunte vnto þe ȝee certes wele and truly quod he Line 1588 haste þou not hade þi lady as þe lykest No no quod he and sorowfull he siȝeþe What was þe cause telle me yf þou can Aurelius his tale a-none be-gan Line 1592 And tolde hym alle as ȝe han hard by-fore hit nedith not to rehersen hit no more he sayd Arueragus of gentilnes [Sloane MS 1685 folio 157b] hade leuere dye in sorowe and dystresse Line 1596

[6-text p 525] Line 1596 Than hys wyf were of hir/ trouþe false The · sorowe of Doregen he tolde hym alse howe · loþe hir/ was to ben a wykked wyf And þat she leuere þat day loste · hir lyf Line 1600 And þat hir/ trouþe she · swore þorough Innocence Sche neuere erste herd speke of apparence þat made me han of hir/ so grete pite And riȝt as frely as he sent hir/ me Line 1604 As frely sent I hir/ to hym a-gayne Thys ys alle and somme þere nys no more to sayne Thys phylosofre answered leue broþer Euere yche of/ you did gentilnesse to oþere Line 1608 þou arte a squyer/ and he ys a knyȝt But god for-bede for hys blysfull myȝt But ȝif a. Clerk couþe do a gentel dede As wele as ony of you withouten drede Line 1612 Sir/ I relese þe þi þousand pounde As þou riȝt nowe were cropen oute of grounde Ne neuere or nowe hadest þou knowe me ffor I wylle not taken a peny of þe Line 1616 ffor alle my craft and nouȝt for my travayle þou haste y-payed wele for my vitayle It ys y-nouȝe and fare wele and haue god day And toke his hors and forth he gothe hys way Line 1620 Lordynges. þis question wylle I axe nowe Whiche was þe most fre as þenkeþe you Now telleþe me or þat I ferthere wende I can no more my tale ys at an ende Line 1624

Here endithe þe Frankeleyns tale]

Notes

• [Sloane extr.ends]
• Camb. MS
• [? MS ini for nn]
• [A, first a]
• [first hire]
• [^3_3 corrected]
• [ȝe corrected]
• [h, first ȝ]
• [A, first a]
• [o corrected]
• [este corrected]
• [h later]
• [first that]
• [i later]
• [orygeen cor.]
• [ere corrected]
• [o corrected]
• [sus corrected]
• [more corrected]
• [I corrected]
• [w corrected]
• [first schpp]
• [plu corrected]
• [^2_2 on an erasure]
• [y corrected]
• [spurious]
• nota bacularium
• [Sloane 1685]
• [rshit corrected]
• [first senn]
• [a altered]
• [so altered]
• [first strong]
• [i later]
• [c corrected]
• [r altered]
• [first thikke]
• [I ȝo corrected]
• [kap corrected]
• [el corrected]
• [h altered]
• [first he]
• [ey corrected]
• [first god]
• [ty corrected]
• [ad cor.]
• [f corrected]
• ['that' scratcht out]
• [n altered]
• [o. pres corrected]
• [A corrected]
• [el corrected]
• [first hyre]
• [first hife]
• [Not in any Brit. Mus., Cambr., or Bodleian MS, or Christ-Church.]
• no gap in the MS.
• [first haue]
• [Not in any MS in the Brit. Mus., Cambridge or Oxford, or the Helmingham MS. l. 1493-8 known only in the Ellesmere MS.]
• no gap in the MS.
• [y altered]
• [sse later]
• [ly first hi]
• [first trowe]
• [Camb. MS, leaves 298, 299, 300, and 301, are cut out.]
• Sloane 1685, on leaf 157
• [Sloane 1685]
• [The Doctor's Tale followed in the Cambridge MS: one leaf only, 302, is left.]