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

[6-text p 168]

GROUP B. (β. FRAGMENT III.)

§ 4. THE SHIPMAN'S TALE.

[& begynnethe þe tale [Sloane MS 1685 folio 192a]

A Marchaunt whilom dwellyd at seynt denys þat riche was for which men helde hym wys A wyfe he hade of excellent beaute And compenable and reuerent was she Whiche ys a thynge þat causeth more dispense þan worthe ys alle þe chere and reuerence Line 1196 þat men hem done at festees and at daunces Suche salutacions and contenaunces Passeth as doth þe shadowe vpon a walle But woo ys hym þat payen mot for alle Line 1200 þe cely husbonde algate he mot paie he mote vs clothe and vs arraie Alle for his owne worship rychely In whiche arraie we dauncen Iolilye Line 1204 And yf þat he may not parauenture Or elles luste none suche espense to endure But thynkith þat it is waste and y-loste þan mote a-noþere paien for oure coste Line 1208 Or lene vs golde & þat ys perilous This noble Marchaunt hylde a noble house ffor wwhiche he hade alday grete repaire ffor hys largesse and for hys wyf was faire Line 1212 þat wonder ys but herkeneth to my tale Amonges alle hys gestes grete & smale þere was a monke a faire man & a bolde I trowe .xx. wynter he was olde Line 1216 þat euere in on was drawynge to þat place þis yonge Monke þat was so faire of face

[6-text p 169] A-queynted was so with þat gode man [[Sloane MS 1685]] . . . . . Line 1220 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the Sloane MS, in Harl. 1758, or Reg. 18 C ii.]] And eke þis Monke of whiche I be-gan Line 1224 Were bothe two borne in oo vilage þe Monke hym cleymed as for cosynage And he a-yeyne saith not onys nay But was as glade as any foule of day Line 1228 ffor in his hert it was a grete plesaunce Thus bene þe knyt with eterne aliaunce Of Bretherheed/ whiles þat her lyf may dure And ilke of hem gan oþere assure Line 1232 ffre was dan Iohn and namly of dispense As in þat hous and fulle of diligence To do plesaunce and also grete costage he nouȝt for-yate to ȝeue þe laste page Line 1236 In alle þat hous but aftyr hir degre he ȝave þe lord / and siþens his meyne whan þat he came some manere honest thynge ffor whiche þei were as glade for hys comynge Line 1240 As foule ys fayne whan þe sonne vp rysethe Nomore here-of as nowe for þis sufficethe But so befelle þis Marchaunt on a day Schope hym to make redy hys array Line 1244 Toward þe town of Bruggeys for to fare To byen þere a porcion of ware ffor whiche he hathe to parys / sent anone A messangere and prayed hathe Dan Iohn Line 1248 þat he shulde come to seynt Denys to pleye with hym and with his wyf a day or tweye Or he to bruggeys went in alle wyse This noble Monke of whiche I you deuyse] [[Sloane extract ends]] Hath of his abbot as hym leste lycence [Camb. MS] [folio 314a] By-cause he was a man of hygh prudence

[6-text p 170] And ek an offycer out for to ryde To seen here granges & here bernys wyde Line 1256 And vn-to seynt Denys he comyth a-noon Who was so wolcome as myn lord daun Iohn Oure deere cosyn ful of curteysye With hym he brouȝte a Iubbe of Maluesye Line 1260 And ek a nothir ful of fyn vernage And volatyl as was his vsage And thus I lete hem drynke & ete & pleye This Marchaunt & this Monk a day or tweye Line 1264 The thredde day this Marchaunt vp a-ryseth And on hise nedis sadly hym auyseth And vp in-to his countour house goth he To rekene with hym self weel may be Line 1268 Of thilke ȝeer how that it with hym stod And how that he dispendit hadde his good And ȝif that he encresede were er non Hise bokis & hise baggis manyon Line 1272 He leyth be-forn hym on his county[n]g bord fful ryche was his tresor & his hord ffor which ful faste his countour dore he schette And ek he nolde that no man schulde hym lette Line 1276 Of hise acountis for the mene tyme And thus he syt [[altered]] tyl it was passid pryme ¶ Daun Iohn was rysyn in the morwe also And in the gardyn walkith to & fro Line 1280 And hath hise thyngis seyd ful curteysly This goode wyf cam walkynge pryuyly In-to the gardyn there as he walkyth softe And hym saluyth as he hath doon ofte Line 1284 A maydechild cam in hyre cumpaynye Whiche as hyre lyste sche may gouerne & gye ffor ȝit vndyr the ȝerde was the mayde ¶ O deere Cosyn myn daun Iohn sche sayde Line 1288 What aylyth ȝow so rathe for to ryse Nece quod he it oghte I-nogh suffyse

[6-text p 171] ffyue hourys for to slepe vp-on a nyght [folio 314b] But it were for an old appollyd wyght Line 1292 As been these weddede men that lye & dare As in a forme sit a very hare Were al for-strauȝt with houndys greet & smale But dere nece why be ȝe so pale Line 1296 I trowe certis that ȝoure goode man Hath ȝow laboured sythe the nyght be-gan That ȝow were nede to restyn hastily And with that word he lough ful meryely Line 1300 And of his owene thouȝt he wex al red This fayre wyf gan for to schake hire heed And seyde thus ȝa god wot al quod she [Nay cosyn myne hit stont not so with me [Sloane MS 1685 folio 193b] ffor by þat god þat yave me soule & lyf In alle þe reme of fraunce ys þere no wyf þat lasse luste hathe to þat sorie playe ffor I may syngen alas and weel awaye Line 1308 þat I was borne but to no wiȝt quod she] [[Sloane extract ends]] Dare I nat telle how that it stant with me [[Cambr. MS] (no gap above)] Wherefore I thynke out of this world to wende Or ellis of myn self to make an ende Line 1312 So ful am I of drede & of care / This Monk be-gan vp-on this wif to stare And seyde allas myn nece god for-beede That ȝe for ony sorwe or ony drede Line 1316 ffor-do ȝoure self but tellyth me ȝoure greef Parauenture I may in ȝoure myschif Conseyle or helpe / & therfore tellyth mee Alle ȝoure a-noy for it schal be secree Line 1320 ffor on myn portoos here I make an oth That neuere in myn lyue for lef ne loth Ne schal I of no conseyl ȝow be-wreye The same a-geyn to ȝow quod sche I seye Line 1324 By god & by this portos I ȝow swere Thow men woldyn me al in-to pecis tere

[6-text p 172] Ne schal I neuere for to goon to helle Be-wreye a word of thyng that ȝe me telle Line 1328 Noght for no Cosynage ne allyaunce But verrayly for loue & affyaunce Thus been th[e]y swore & here vp-on they keste And eche of hem told othir what hem leste Line 1332 Cosyn quod sche ȝif that I hadde a space As I haue non & namely in this place Thanne wolde I telle a legende of myn lyf [folio 315a] What I haue suffered sithe that I was a wyf Line 1336 With myn [[altered]] husbonde al be he youre cosyn Nay quod this monk by god & seynt martyn He nys no moore Cosyn vpon to me Than is the lef that hangyth on the tre Line 1340 I clepe hym so by seynt denys of fraunce To han the moore cause of acqueyntaunce Of ȝow whiche I haue louyd specyally A-bouyn alle wemen sikyrly Line 1344 This swere I ȝow on myn perfeccioun Tellyth ȝoure gref lest that he come a doun And hastyth ȝow & goth a-wey a-non Myn deere loue quod sche o myn daun Iohn Line 1348 fful leef were me this conseyl for to hyde But out it mot it may no moore a-byde ¶ Myn husbonde is to me the worste man That euere was sithe the world be-gan Line 1352 But sithe I am a wyf it sit nat me To telle no wigh of oure pryuyte Neythir a bedde ne in non othyr place God schilde I schulde it telle for his grace Line 1356 A wyf ne schal nat seyn of hyre housbonde But al honour as I can vndyrstonde Saue on to ȝow thus tellyn I schal As helpe me god he nys nat worth an al Line 1360 In no degre the valeu of a flye But ȝit me greuyth that most his negarderye

[6-text p 173] And weel ȝe wot that wemen naturelly Desyryn thyngis gaye [[altered]] as wel as I Line 1364 They wolde that here husbondys schulde bee Hardy . & ryche & wys & therto free And buxsom vnto his wyf & frosch a-bedde But by that ilke lord that for vs bledde Line 1368 ffor his honour mynself for to araye A sunday next I mot nedys paye An hunderede frankis or ellys am I lorn Ȝit weere me leuere that I weere on born Line 1372 Than me were don a slaundere or velanye [folio 315b] And ȝif myn husbonde ek myghte it espye I nere but lost & therefore I ȝow preye Lene me this summe or ellys mote I deye Line 1376 Daun Ion I seye lene me these hunderede frankys Parde I wele nat fayle yow myn thankys If that yow lyste to don that I ȝow praye ffor at a certeyn day I wele ȝow paye Line 1380 And don to ȝow that plesaunce & seruyse That I may don ryght as ȝow leste deuyse And but I do god take on me vengeaunce As foul as hadde Genyloun of fraunce Line 1384 ¶ This gemtil Monk answerde in this manere Now trewely myn owene lady dere I haue quod he on ȝow so greet routhe That I ȝow swere & plyȝte ȝow myn trouthe Line 1388 That whan youre husbonde is to flaunderys fare I wele delyuere yow out of this care ffor I wele brynge ȝow an hunderede frankys And with that word he caughte hire by the flankys Line 1392 And hire enbrasith harde & kyste hire ofte Goth now ȝoure wey quod he al stylle & softe And lat vs dyne as sone as euere he may ffor by myn Chylendere it is pryme of day Line 1396 Goth now & beth as trewe as I schal be Now ellys god forbeede sire quod sche

[6-text p 174] And forth sche goth as Ioly as a pye And bad the Cokys that they schulde hem hye Line 1400 So that men myghte dyne and that a-non Vp to this husbonde is this wyf a-gon And knokkyth at his countour boldely Who there quod he / petyr it am I Line 1404 Quod sche what sere how longe wele ȝe faste How long tyme wele ȝe / rekene & caste Youre summys & youre bokys & ȝoure thyngis The deuyl haue part of alle sweche rekenyngis Line 1408 Ye haue I-now parde of godys sonde Come doun to day & lat ȝoure baggis stonde Ne be ȝe nat aschamyd that daun Iohn [folio 316a] Schal fastynge al this day alenge goon Line 1412 What lat vs heere a masse & go we dyne Wyf quod this man lytyl canst thow deuyne The Curyouse besynesse that we haue ffor of vs Chapmen al so god me saue Line 1416 And by that lord that clepid is seynt Yue Skarsely a-mongis twelve ten schul thryue Contynewelly lastynge vn-to oure age We may wel make cher & good visage Line 1420 And dryue forth the world as it may be And kepyn oure estat in pryuytee Tyl we been ded or ellis that we pleye A pylgrymage or goon out of the weye Line 1424 And therefore haue I greet necessite Vp-on this queynte world tauyse me ffor euere mo we mote stonde in drede Of hap & fortune in oure Chapmanhede Line 1428 To flaunderis wele I go to morwe at day And come a-geyn as sone as euere I may ffor whiche myn deere wyf I the beseke As beth to to euery whit buxsom & meke Line 1432 And for to keepe oure good been curyous And honestely gouerne weel oure hous

[6-text p 175] Thow hast I-nough in euery maner wyse That to a thryfty houshold may suffyse Line 1436 The lakkyth non aray ne non vitayle Of syluyr in thyn purs schalt thow non fayle And with that word his countour dore he schette And doun he goth no lengere wolde he lette Line 1440 And hastily a masse was theere seyd And spedyly the tabelys weere I-leyd And to the dyner faste hem spedde And rychely this Monk the Chapman fedde Line 1444 At aftyr dyner daun Iohn sobyrly This Chapman tok apart & pryuyly He seyde hym thus / Cosyn it standyth so That wel I se to Bruggis wele Iego Line 1448 God & seynt Augustyn speede ȝow & gyde [folio 316b] I preye ȝow cosyn wysely that ȝe ryde Gouernyth ȝow also of ȝoure dyete Attemprely & namely in this heete Line 1452 By-twixe vs two nedyth ne straunge fare ffare weel cosyn god schylde ȝow from care And ȝif that ony by day or by nyght If it lye in myn power & myn myght Line 1456 That ȝe me wele [[later]] comaunde in ony wyse It schal be don ryght as ȝe wele deuyse othyng Or that ȝe go If it may be I wolde preye ȝow for to lene me Line 1460 An hunderede frankys for a wyke or tweye ffor serteyn bestes that I muste beye To store with a place & that is oures God helpe me so I wolde it were ȝourys Line 1464 I schal not fayle surely of myn day Nat for a thousent frankys a myle way But lat this thyng been secre I ȝow prey ffor ȝit to nygh[t] these bestis mot I beye Line 1468 And fare now weel myn owene cosyn deere Graunt mercy of ȝoure cost & of ȝoure goodely chere

[6-text p 176] This noble Marchaunt gentely a-non Answerede & seyde o cosyn myn daun Iohn Line 1472 Now sekyrly this is a smal requeste Myn gold is ȝourys whan that it ȝow leste And not only myn gold but myn chafare Taake what ȝow lyste god schilde that ȝe spare Line 1476 But o thyng is ȝe knowe it wel I-now Of chapmen that here monye is here plogh We may encrece whil we han a name But goldeles for to been it is a schame Line 1480 Payeth it a-geyn whan it lyth in ȝoure ese Aftyr myn myth ful fayn I wolde ȝow plese These hunderede frankys he fette forth a-noon And pryuyly he tok hem to daun Iohn Line 1484 No whyt of al this world wyste of this lone Sauynge this marchaunt & daun Iohn a-lone They drynke & speke & rome a whyle & pleye [folio 317a] Tyl that daun Iohn rydyth to his abbey Line 1488 The morwe cam & forth this marchaunt ridith To fflaunderis ward his prentys weel hym gydith Tyl he cam in-to Bruggis myriely Now goth this Marchaunt faste & busyly Line 1492 Aboute his neede & byeth & creaunceth He neythir pleyeth at deis ne daunceth But as a marchaunt schortely for to telle He lat his lyf & there I lete hym dwelle Line 1496 The soneday next the marchaunt was a-goon To seynt Denys is come daun Iohn With croune & berd al frosch & newe schaue In al the hous ne was so lyte a knawe Line 1500 Ne no whit ellys that he nas ful fayn That myn lord daun Iohn was come a-gayn And schortely to the poynt rygh[t] for to goon This fayre wyf a-cordyt with daun Iohn Line 1504 That for hise hunderede frankys he schulde al nyght Haue hyre in hise armys bolt vp ryȝt

[6-text p 177] And this acord parforned was in deede In myrthe al nyght a busy lyf they leede Line 1508 Til it was day that daun Iohn wente his way And bad the meyne fare wel haue good day ffor non of hem ne no wyght in the toun Hath of daun Iohn rygh non suspecyoun Line 1512 And forth he rydyth hom to his abbey Or wheere hym luste no more of hym I seye ¶ This Marchaunt whan that endit was the fayre To seynt Denys he gan for to rapayre Line 1516 And with his wyf he makyth feste & cheere And tellyth hyre that chaffare is so deere That nedys muste he make a cheyuyssance ffor he was boundyn in a reconyssance Line 1520 To payen twenty thousent sheeld a-non ffor with this marchaunt is to parys goo To borwe of certeyn frendys that he hadde A certeyn frankys & some with hym he ladde Line 1524 ¶ And whan that he was come in to the toun [folio 317b] ffor gret chieretee & greet facoun Vn-too daun Iohn he fyrst goth hym to pleye Nat for to axe or borwe of hym monye Line 1528 But for to wete & se of his weel fare And for to tellyn hym of hys chaffare As frendys doon whan they been met in feere Daun Iohn hym makyth feste & myry chieere Line 1532 And hym tolde a-geyn ful specially How he hadde weel I-bouȝt & graciously Thankede be god al hol his marchaundyse Saue that he wolde in alle wyse Line 1536 Makyn a cheuyciaunce as for hise beste And thanne he schulde ben In Ioye & reste ¶ Daun Iohn answerede sertis I am fayn That ȝe in heele are comyn hom a-gayn Line 1540 And ȝif that I were ryche as I haue blys Of twenty thousant sheld schulde ȝe nat mys

[6-text p 178] ffor ȝe so kyndely this othir day Lente me gold & as I can & may Line 1544 I-thankede be god & by seynt Iame But natheles I tok vn-to oure dame Ȝoure wyf at hom the same gold agayn Vp-on ȝoure benche sche wot it wel certeyn Line 1548 By certeyn tokenys that I can ȝow telle Now by ȝoure leue I may no lengere dwelle Oure abbot wole out of this toun a-noon And in his cumpaynye mote I goo Line 1552 Grete weel oure dame myn owene nece sweete And fare wel deere cosyn tyl we meete ¶ This marchaunt which that was ful war & wys Creanced hath & payed ek in parys Line 1556 To certeyn lumbardys redy in here hond The summe of gold & gat of hem his bond And hom he goth myrye as a popyniay ffor weele he knew he stood In swich aray Line 1560 That nedys mote he wynne in that vyage A thousent frankys a-bouyn al his Costage [Hys wyf fulle redy mette hym at þe ȝaate [Sloane MS 1685 folio 197a] And she was wonte of olde vsage algate Line 1564 And alle þat nyȝt in myrthe þei be sette ffor he was ryche and clerely oute of dette Whan it was day þis Marchaunt gan enbrace Hys wyf alle newe and kyssed here in þe face Line 1568 And pp he gothe and makethe hit wonder towe No more quod she be god ye haue ynouȝe And wantonly with hym agayne she playde Tylle at þe laste þis Marchaunt sayde Line 1572 By god quod he I am a lytelle wrothe With you my wyfe alle þouȝe yt be me lothe And woote ȝe why by god as þat I gesse ffor ye haue made a manere of straungenesse Line 1576 Be-twexte me and my Cosyn Daun Iohn Ȝe shulde haue warned me or I hade goon.

[6-text p 179] þat he hade you an hundred frankes payde [[Sloane MS 1685]] Be redy token · and he helde hym euel y-payde Line 1580 ffor þat I to hym spake of Cheuesaunce Me semyd so as by hys contenaunce But nathelees be god þat ys heuen kynge I þouȝte nouȝt to axe of hym no thynge Line 1584 I pray þe wyf ne do no more soo. Telle me alle way or þat I fro þe goo Ȝeue eny detoure hathe in myn absence I-payede þe laste þoroue þi necligence [Sloane MS 1685 folio 197b] I myȝt hym axe as thynge þat he hade payde Thys wyf was not aferde nor afrayde But boldely she sayd and þat a-none Mare I defye þat false Monke Daūn Iohn Line 1592 I kepe not of hys tokens neuere a dele He toke me certayne golde I woote hit wele What euel þedom of hys monke snowet ffor god it woote I wende withoute doute Line 1596 þat he hade yeue it me be cause of you To done þere-with myne honoure & my prowe ffor cosynage and eke for beel chere þat he hath hade full ofte tyme here Line 1600 But siþen I see I stonde in suche disioynt I wylle answere you shortly to þe poynt Ȝe haue mo slacker dettours þan am I ffor I wille pay you wele and redely Line 1604 ffro day to day and if so be þat I fayle I am youre wyf score it on my tayle And I shalle pay as sone as euere I may ffor be myn trouþe I haue on myn array Line 1608 And not in waste bestowed euery dele And for I haue bestoyed it so wele To youre honour for goddes sake y say As be not wrothe bot let vs jape & play Line 1612 Ȝe shalle my Ioly body haue to wedde Be god I nelle not pay you but a bed

[6-text p 180] ffor-yeue yt me myn owen spouse dere [[Sloane MS 1685]] Turne hyderward and make me better chere Line 1616 Thys Marchaunt sawe þere was no remedy And forto chyde it nere but foly Seþen hit may not amendid be And wyfe he sayde I forȝeue it þe Line 1620 But by þi lyf be no more so large. Kepe better my gode þis ȝeue I þe in charge Thus endeth nowe my tale and god vs sende Talynge ynouȝe vnto our lyfes ende // Amen [Sloane MS 1685 folio 198a]

Here endeth þe tale of þe Shipman

[6-text p 181]

Here begynneth þe Prolooge of þe Pryoresse [Sloane MS 1685 folio 198a]

WEle y-sayde be corpus Dominus quod oure hoost Nowe longe mote ye sayle be see cooste Sir gentil mayster gentil marynere God yeue þe Monke a þousand laste of quad ȝeere Line 1628 A ha felaw be ware of suche a jape The Monke putte in þe mannes hoode an ape And yn hys wyfes eke by seynt Dunstyn Droweth non monkes to your ynne Line 1632 But nowe passe ouere and let vs seke aboute Who shalle nowe telle of alle þis route An oþere tale and with þat worde he sayde As curteysely as hit hade bene a Mayde Line 1636 My lady Pryoresse with our leue So þat I you not wille to greue I wolde deme þat ye telle shulde A tale nexte yf so be þat ye wolde Line 1640 Nowe wolle ȝe vowchesafe my lady dere Gladly quod she and sayde as ye shall here

Here endeth þe Prolooge and begynneth þe tale

[6-text p 182]

[The Prologue.]

[No breaks between the stanzas in Sloane, Cambr. or Harl. MS.]

O lord oure lord þi nane so marvelous [[Sloane MS 1685]] ys in þis worlde y-sprad quod she ffor not only þi laude precious performed ys by men of dignyte Line 1646 But be þe mouthe of Children þi bownte Perfourmed ys for in oure brest soukynge Some tyme shewen þei þine heryinge Line 1649

Wherefore in lawde as I can beste & may Of the þat and of þe þat holy floure . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] To tellen a storie I woll do my labour Line 1653 Not þat I may encrece hir honoure ffor she hir self ys honoure & þerto roote Of bounte next hir sone of saules bote Line 1656

. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] O . bussh vnbrent brennynge in Moses siȝt But rauyssheþ doun fro þe dignete [Sloane MS 1685 folio 198b] Thorouȝe þine humblenesse þe goste þat in þe lyȝt Line 1660 Of whos vertu whan he in þine hert lyȝt Conceyued was þe fadres sapience helpe me to telle yt in þine reuerence Line 1663

¶ Lady þi bounte and þi magnificence Thy vertu and thy grete humilite There may no þinge expresse in no sentence ffor som tyme lady or men pray to þe Line 1667 þou geste be-fore of þi benygnite And geteste vs þe lyȝt/ þorouȝe þi prayere To leden vs vnto þi sone so clere Line 1670

[6-text p 183] Line 1670

Iy comynge ys to weyke O . blysfull quene [[Sloane MS 1685.]] fforto declare þi grete worthynesse þat I ne may þe wyȝt not sustene But as a chylde of twelfe moneth of age or lesse Line 1674 þat can vnneth eny worde expresse ffor so fare I and þerfore I you pray Gydeth my songe þat I shalle to you say Line 1677

[THE TALE.]

There was a Chylde in a grete cite Amonge crysten folke in þe Iewrye Susteyned by a lord of þat countre ffor foule vsurye and lucre of vlanye Line 1681 þat felle to Cryste and to hys companye And þorouȝe þe streete men myȝt ryde & wende ffor hyt was fre and open at eyþere ende Line 1684

Plyte scoole of crysten folke þere stoode Doun atte fyrthere ende in whiche þere were Chyldren an heepe comen of crysten bloode þat lerned in þat scole yere by ȝeere Line 1688 Suche manere doctryne as men vsyd þere Thys ys to say to synge and to rede As smale Chyldren do in hir Chylde-heede Line 1691

Amonge þese children was a wydowe sone A lytel Clerygion seuen yeere of age þat day by day to scole was hys wone And also eke where as he saw þe ymage [Sloane MS 1685 folio 199a] Line 1695 Of crystes modere hade he in vsage As hym was tauȝte to knele a-doun & say hys Aue marie as he goth by þe way Line 1698

[6-text p 184] Line 1698

Thus hathe þis wydowe hir litel Child tauȝt [[Sloane MS 1685.]] Oure blysfull lady Crystes modir dere To worshipe ay and he for-yate hit nouȝt ffor sely Chylde wylle al day sone lere Line 1702 But ay when I remembre me of þis matere Seynt Nicholace stonte euere in my presence ffor he so yonge to Crist dyd reuerence Line 1705

Thys Child his lytel booke lernynge As he sat in þe scole at hys primere he alma redemptoris mater herd synge As Children lernyd hir antephonere Line 1709 As · as he durste he drowe hym nere & nere And herkened ay þe wordes & þe noote Tylle he þe fyrste verse coude by roote Line 1712

Not what þat latyne was to seye ffor he so yonge and tendre was of age But on a day hys felawe he gan preye To expoune hym þis songe in hys langeage Line 1716 Or tellen hym why þis songe was in vsage Thus prayde him to construe and declare ffulle ofte tymes . on his knees bare Line 1719

Hys felawe whiche was eldere þan he Answeryd hym þus . þis songe I herde seye was made of oure blesfulle lady fre here to salowe and eke hir to preye Line 1723 To bene oure helpe and our socour whan we deye I can no more expone in þis matere I lerne songe I can but lytel gramere Line 1726

And ys þis songe made in reuerence Of crystes moder sayd þis Innocent Now certes I wylle do my diligent To konne þis or crystemasse be went Line 1730

[6-text p 185] Line 1730 Thouȝe I for my prymer shalle be shent [Sloane MS 1685 folio 199b] And to be beten þryse on an oure I wolle yt konne oure lady to honoure Line 1733

Hys felawe tauȝte hym hamward pryuely ffro day to day til he coude yt by roote And þan he songe it wele and boldely ffro worde to worde accordynge with þe note Line 1737 Thrys on a day it passed þorouȝe hys þrote To scoleward and hamward whan he went On Crystes modir sett was hys entente Line 1740

¶ As I haue sayd þorouȝe oute þe Iewrie Thys Chylde as he came to & fro ffulle merely þan wolde he synge & crye O alma redemptoris mater euere mo Line 1744 The swetnesse hath hys hert percid so Of Crystes moder þat to hir to praye he can not stynte of syngynge by þe weie] [[Sloane extract ends.]]

Oure fyrste fo the serpent satirnas [Camb. MS] [folio 321a] That hath in Ieues herte his waspis nest Vp swal & seyde O ebraik peple allas Is this to yow a thyng that is honest Line 1751 That swich a boy schal walkyn as hym lest In ȝoure despyt & syngyn of swich centence Which is a-ȝens oure lawys reuerence Line 1754

ffrom thenys forth the Iewys han conspyred This innocent out of this world to chace An homycyde thereto han they heryd Rygh in an aley at a pryue place Line 1758 And as the child gan forth by-for to pace This cursede Iew hym hente & held hym faste And kitte his throte & in a pit hym caste Line 1761

[6-text p 186] Line 1761

I seye that in a warderope they hym threwe Where as these Iewys purgyn here entrayle O cursede folk of herodes al newe What may ȝoure euele entent ȝow a-vayle Line 1765 Mordere wele out certeyn it wele nat fayle And namely there as thonour of god schal sprede The blod out cryeth on youre cursede dede Line 1768

O martyr soudede to virginite Now mayst tow syngyn folwynge euere in on The whyte lamb celestial quod sche Of whiche the greete euangelyst seynt Iohn Line 1772 In pathmos wrot / which seyth that they that gon By-forn this lamb & synge a song al newe That neuere fleschely woman they ne knewe Line 1775

This pore widewe which that waytith al that nyȝt Aftyr hire lytyl chil[d] & he cam nouȝt ffor which as sone as it was dayis lyȝt With face pale of drede & busy thouȝt Line 1779 Sche hath at scole & elles were hym souȝt Tyl fynally sche gan so fer espye That he last seyn was in the Ieuerye Line 1782

With moderis pite in hire brest enclosed [folio 321b] Sche goth as sche were half out of hire mynde To eueriplace where as sche hath supposid Be liklyhede / hire litil child to fynde Line 1786 And euere on crystis modyr meke & kynde Sche cryede & at the laste thus sche wrouȝte Among the cursede Iewys sche hym soughte Line 1789

Sche askyth & sche fraynyth pitously Of euery Iue that dwelte in thilke place To telle hire of hire child wente out forth by They seydyn nay but Ihesu of his grace Line 1793

[6-text p 187] Line 1793 Yaf in hire thouȝt with inne a lytyl space That in that place aftyr hire sone sche cryede Where he was casten in a pit be-syde Line 1796

O greete god that parfornedist this laude By mouth of innocentis lo here thyn myght This gemme of chastite this emeroude And ek of martyredom the rubye bryȝt Line 1800 There he with throte I-korvyn lygh vp ryght He alma redemptoris gan to synge So loude that al the place gan to rynge Line 1803

The cristene folk that thurgh the strete wente In comyn for to wonderyn vp-on this thyng And hastyliche they for the prouost sente He cam a-non with-outyn taryeng Line 1807 And heryeth Crist that is of heuene kyng And his modyr honour of mankynde And aftyr that the Iewis leet he bynde Line 1810

This child with pitous lamentacioun Vp takyn was syngynge his song alwey And with honour of greet processyoun They caryen hym vn-to the nexte abbey Line 1814 His modyr swoūnynge by the beere lay Vnnethe mygh[t]e the puple that was there This newe Rachel bryngyn from the beere Line 1817

With turnement & with schameful deth echon [folio 322a] This prouost doth these Iewis for to sterue That of this mustere wiste & that a-noon He nolde non swich cursedenesse obserue Line 1821 Euele schal he haue that euele wele disserue Therefore with wilde hors he dede hem drawe And aftyr that he hyng hem by the lawe Line 1824

[6-text p 188] Line 1824

Vp-on this beere lyth ay this Innocent Byfore the highe auteer whil the masse laste And aftyr that the albot with his couent Han sped hem for to buryen hym ful faste Line 1828 And whan they holy watyr on hem caste Ȝit spak this child whan sprent was holy watyr And song . O alma redemptoris mater Line 1831

This Abbot which that was an holy man As monkys been or ellis oughten bee This yonge child to coniure he be-gan And seyde o deere child I halse the Line 1835 In vertu of the holy trynytee Telle me what is thyn cause for to synge Sithe that thyn throte is kit to myn lokynge Line 1838

Myn throte is kit vn-to myn nekke bon Seyde this child & as be woye of kynde I schulde a deyed ȝa longe tyme a-gon But Ihesu Crist as ȝe in bokys fynde Line 1842 Wele that his glorye laste & be in mynde And for the worschepe of his modyr deere Ȝit may I synge O Alma . loude & cleere Line 1845

This welle of mercy cristis modyr swete I louede alwey as aftyr myn cunnynge And whan that I myn lyf schulde for-lete To me sche cam & bad me for to synge Line 1849 This anteme verayly in myn deyinge As ȝe han herd & whan that I hadde sunge Me thouthe sche leyde a greyn vp-on myn tunge Line 1852

Wherfore I synge & synge mot certeyn [folio 322b] In honour of that blysful maydyn fre Tyl fro myn tunge I-takyn is the greyn And aftyr that thus seyde sche to me Line 1856

[6-text p 189] Line 1856 Myn lytyl child now wele I feche the Whan that the greyn is from thyn tunge take Be nat agast I wele þe nat for-sake Line 1859

This holy monk this abbot hym mene I His tunge out caughte & tok awey the greyn And he ȝaf vp the gost ful softely And whan this abbot hadde this wondyr seyn Line 1863 Hise salte teris trekelede doun as reyn And grof he fel al flat vn-to the grounde And stille he lay / as he hadde leyn I-bounde Line 1866

The Conuent ek lay on the pauement Wepynge & herynge Cristis modyr deere And aftyr that they ryse & forth been went And toke awey this martir from his beere Line 1870 And in a toumbe of marbilstonys cleere Enclosyn they this lytil body sweete There he is now god leue vs for to meete Line 1873

O yonge Hugh of Lyncoln slayn also With cursede Iewis as it is notable ffor it is but a lytil while I-go Preye ek for vs we synful folk vnstable Line 1877 That of his mercy god so merciable On vs his greete mercy multyplye ffor reuerence of his modyr marye / Amen Line 1880

Heere hath the Prioresse endid hire tale

[6-text p 190]

Byhold the myrie talkynge of the Hoost to Chaucer [folio 322b]

WHan seyd was al this myrakele euery man [folio 323a] As sobere was that wondir was to see Til that oure hoost Iapyn tho [[later]] be-gan And thanne at erst he lokede vp-on mee [.i. Chaucer] And seide thus what man art thow quod he Thow lokyst as thu woldyst fynde an hare ffor euere vp-on the ground I se the staare Line 1887 Approchith neer & loke vp myryely Now ware ȝow seris & lat this man haue place He in the wast is schape as weel as I This weere a popet in an arm tenbrace Line 1891 ffor ony weman smal & fayr of face He semyth eluych by his cuntenaunce ffor vn-to no wygh doth he no dalyaunce Line 1894 Sey now sumwhat syn othere folk han seyd Telle vs a tale of myrthe & that a-non Hoost quod I ne beth nat yuele apayed ffor othir tale certis can I non Line 1898 But of a rȳm I lernede longe a-goon Ȝe that is good quod he now schul we here Sum deynte thyng me thynkyth by hise cheere Line 1901

[6-text p 191]

Heere begynnyth Chaucers tale of sere Thopas

[No breaks in the MS between the stanzas: third lines set on the right.]

[Fyt I.]

^lT^l [[The illuminator has put T, instead of L as directed.]] Estyth lordyngis in good entent And I wele telle verrayment Of myrthe & solas Line 1904 And of a knyght was fayr & gent In batayle & in turnement His name was sere Thopas Line 1907

I-born he was in fer cuntre In flaunderis al be-ȝounde þ^e see At poperyng in the place Line 1910 His fadir was a man ful fre And lord he was of that cuntre As it was godis grace Line 1913

Syre Thopas wex a doghty sweyn Whit was hise face as payn demayn Hise lippis rede as rose Line 1916 His rode is lyk skarlet engrayn As I ȝow telle in good certayn He hade a semely nose Line 1919

His heer his berd was lik saferon [folio 323b] That to his gerdil raughte a-doun Hise schon of cordewayne Line 1922 Of brugis were hire hosyn broun His robe was of siklatoun That coste manye a Iayne Line 1925

[6-text p 192] Line 1925

He coude hunte at wilde deer And ryde on hauking for ryueer With grey goshauk & hunde Line 1928 Therto he was a good archier Of wrastelyng was theere non his pir Theere ony ram schal stonde Line 1931

fful manye a maydyn brygh in bour They mornede for hym paramour whan hem were bet to slepe Line 1934 But he was chast and no lechour And sweete as is the brymbil flour that beryth the rede hepe Line 1937

And so it fil vp-on a day ffor-sothe as I ȝow telle may Sire Thopas wolde out ryde Line 1940 He worthith vp-on hise stede bay And in his hand a launcegay A long swerd by his syde Line 1943

He prykyth thorw a fayr forest Therein is manye a wylde best ye bothe bukkys & hare Line 1946 And as he prykyth north & est I telle it ȝow hym hadde al-mest Bytid a sory care Line 1949

Theere spryngyn erbis grete & smale The lycorys & the Cetewale And manye a clowe Ielofere Line 1952 And notemuge to putte in ale Whethir it be moyst or stale Or for to leye in cofere Line 1955

[6-text p 193] Line 1955

The bryddys synge it is non nay The sperhauk & the popyniay That Ioye it was to heere Line 1958 The thrustilcok made ek his lay The wode douwe vp-on the spray sche song ful loude & cleere Line 1961

Sire Thopas fil in loue longynge Al whan he herde the thrustil synge And prikede as he were wod Line 1964 Hise fayre stede in hise prykynge So swatte that men myȝte hym wrynge Hise sydys were al blod Line 1967

Sere topas ek so wery was ffor prykynge on the softe gras So fiers was hise corage Line 1970 That doun he leyde hym in the plas To makyn his stede sum solas And ȝaf hym good forage Line 1973

O seynte marye benedicite What eylyth this loue at me To bynde me so soore Line 1976 Me dremede al this nyght parde [folio 324a] An Elf queene schal myn leman be And slepe vndyr myn goore Line 1979

An Elf queene wele I haue I-wis ffor in this world no woman is Worthi to ben myn make Line 1982 In tounne Alle othere women I forsake And to an elf queene I me be-take by dale & ek by doūne Line 1986

[6-text p 194] Line 1986

In-to his sadyl he clomb a-non And prykyth ouyr style & ton An elf queen for tespye Line 1989 Til he so longe hath rydyn & goon That he fond in a pryue woon The cūntre of fayrye Line 1992 So wilde for in that cuntree was there non . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Neythir wif ne childe Line 1996

Til that theere cam a greet geaunt His name was sire olyfaunt A parlious man of dede Line 1999 He seyde child by termagaunt But ȝif thow pryke out of myn haunt Anon I sle thyn steede Line 2002 With Mace Here is this queen of fayrye With harpe & pype & Symphonye Dwellynge in this place Line 2006

The child seyde also mote I the To morwe wele I meete the Whan I haue myn armoure Line 2009 And ȝit I hope parmafay That thow schat with thyn launcegay Abyen it ful soure Line 2012 Thy mawe Thyn hauberk schal I persen if I may Er it be fully pryme of the day ffor heere schalt thow [[altered]] been slawe Line 2016

[6-text p 195] Line 2016

Syre Thopas drow a-bok ful faste This Ieaunt at hym stonys caste Out of a fel staf slynge Line 2019 But fayre eschapith sire thopas And al was thour godys gras And thour his fayre berynge Line 2022

Yit lestyth lordyngis to myn tale Muryere than the nyghtyngale I wele ȝow roune Line 2025 How sire Thopas with sydis smale Prykynge ouyr hil & dale Is comyn a-geyn to toūne Line 2028

Hise merye men comaundede hee To make hym bothe gamyn & glee for nedys muste he fyghte Line 2031 With a geaunt with hedis thre ffor paramour & Iolyte Of oon that schon ful bryȝt Line 2034

Do come he seyde myne mynstralis And Gestourys for to tellyn talys A-non in myn armyng Line 2037 Of romauncis that been royalis [folio 324b] Of popis & of Cardenalys And ek of loue lykynge Line 2040

They fette hym fyrst swete wyn And mede ek in a Mahelyn And royal spicerye Line 2043 Of gynge breed that was ful fyn And lychorys & ek comyn With sugere that is trye Line 2046

[6-text p 196] Line 2046

He dede next his white lere Of cloth of lake fyn & cleere A brech & ek a scherte Line 2049 And next his schirte an aketoun And ouyr that an habyrioun [[altered]] for persynge of his herte Line 2052

And ouyr that a fyn hauberk Was al I-wrouȝt of Iewys werk ful stronge it was of plate Line 2055 And ouyr that his coote armour As whit as is a lylye flour In whiche he wolde debate Line 2058

Hese shild was al of gold so red [[These lines are written in an other hand over an erasure.]] And there in was a borys hed [[These lines are written in an other hand over an erasure.]] A Charbokele by his syde Line 2061 And there he swor on ale & breed How that the Ieaunt schulde be deed By-tyde what betyde Line 2064

Hise Iambieux were of quyrboyly His swerdys schede of yuory Hise helm of latoun bryȝt Line 2067 His sadil was of rewel boon His brydyl as the sunne It schon Or as the moone lyght Line 2070

Hise spere was of fyn cipres That biddyth werre and no thyng pees The hed ful scharpe Igrounde Line 2073 Hise steede was of dapil gray It goth an ambil in the way ful softeli & rounde Line 2076

[6-text p 197] Line 2076 In londe Lo lordyngis [[altered]] myne here is a fyt If ȝe wele ony moore of it To telle it wele I fonde Line 2080

[Fyt II.]

Now holdyth ȝoure mouth for charyte bothe knygh & lady free And herkenyth to myn spelle Line 2083 Of batayle & of chyualry And of ladyis loue drewery A-noon I wele ȝow telle Line 2086

Men spekyn of romauncis of prys Of hornchild & of Ipotys Of Beevis & sire Gy Line 2089 Of sire lybeus & playndamour But sire Thopas beryth the flour Of royal chyualry Line 2092

His goode stede al he be-strod And forth vp-on his weye he glod As sparkele out of bronde Line 2095 [Vp on his creste he bar a tour. [Harl. 1758 folio 168b] And ther yn stiked a lilye flour. God schilde his cors fro schonde. Line 2098

¶ And for he was knyght Auntrous. He ne slepte in non hous. But logged in his hood. Line 2101 His bright helme was his wonger. And bi hym baited his dester. Of herbis fyn & good. Line 2104

[6-text p 198] Line 2104 ¶ Hym self drank water of the welle. [[Harl. MS 1758]] As dide the knyght sir Percyuelle. So worthely vnder wede. Till it was on a daye. Line 2108

¶ Here endeth Sir Thopas.]

[6-text p 199]

[The prolog of Mellibe [MS Reg. 18 C II folio 196b]

NO more of this for goddes dignite Quod oure oost for þou makest me So wery of þin lewdenes That also wisly god me bles Line 2112 Myn eres ake of thi darsty speche Now suche a ryme þe deuel I be-teche This may be wel ryme dogerell quod he Whi so quod I why wilt þou lette me Line 2116 More of my tale than an other man Sethyns it is þe beste ryme I can By god quod he pleynly I the say Thou shalt no lenger rymen here to day Line 2120 Thow dost noght elles but dyspendest tyme Sire oo word þou shalt no lenger ryme Let see wheþer þou canst telle ought in geste Or telle in prose somwhat at þe leste Line 2124 In whiche þer be somme merthe & som doctrine Gladly quod I by goddes swete pyne I wil ȝou telle a litel thing in prose That oughte lyke ȝou as I suppose Line 2128 Other elles certes ȝe ben to daungerous Hit is a moral tale vertuous Al be hit tolde somtyme in sundry wyse Of sondry folk as I shal ȝou deuyse Line 2132 As þus ȝe wote wel euery euaungeliste þat telleth vs of Ihesu Crist Ne saith not al þing as his felawe doth But natheles her sentence is al soth Line 2136 And alle accorden as in her sentence Al be ther in her tellynge difference

[6-text p 200] for some of hem seyn more & somme seyn lesse when þey his pitous passion expresse Line 2140 I mene of Marc Matheu Luke and Iohn But douteles her sentence is al on [MS Reg. 18 C II folio 197a] þerfore lordynges alle [I] ȝou beseche Ȝif þat ȝe þinke I varye in my speche Line 2144 As þus ȝif þat I telle somwhat more Of prouerbes þen ȝe haue herd byfore Comprehendid in þis litel tretys here To enforce with þe effecte of my matere Line 2148 And þoughe I nadde þe same wordes saye As ȝe han herd ȝit to alle ȝou I praye Blameth me not for as in myn sentence ȝe schal not fynden moche difference Line 2152 ffro þe sentence of þe tretys lyte After þe whiche þis mery tale I wryte And herkeneth what I schal seye And lete me telle my tale I preye Line 2156

Here endith the prolog //]

[6-text p 201]

[Here endith the prolog // And begynneþ the tale of Melibe

[There are no line-numbers or breaks between the paragraphs in the MS. Tyrwhitt's breaks are kept here to prevent slight differences in the Six Texts throwing out many lines.]

MS Reg. 18 C II, on leaf 197.]

[2157] A Yong man whilom celled Melibe myghti and ryche bygat vpon his wyf þat called was prudence a doughter whiche þat cleped sapience.

[2158] vpon a day fel þat he for his disport is went in to þe feldes him to pleye / [2159] his wyf and eke his doghter hath he left with-ynne his hous of whiche þe dores were faste I-schet // [2160] ffoure of his olde foos han hit aspyed. and . setten laddres to þe walles of his hous and by þe wyndowes ben entred [2161] and betyn hys wyf and wounded his doughter with fyue mortal woundes in fyue sondry places / [2162] This is to sayn in here feet in here hond and in here eres in hire nose and in here mouth & laften her for deed and wenten here way //

[2163] When Melibeus retorned was aȝeyn vntil his hous and sawh all þis meschief // And he I-lyke a mad man rend|yng his clothes gan to wype and crye euerlenger þe more //

[2164] Prudence his wyf as ferforth as sche durste by-soght him of his wepyng for to stynte [2165] but noght for-thi he gan to wipe & crye euer the lenger þe more //

[2166] This noble wyf prudence remembred here on þe sentence of Ovide in his book þat cleped is þe [Ovidius] remedye of loue / where he saith: [2167] he is a fool þat desturbeth þe moder for to wipe in þe deeth of hire child til sche haue wepte her fille for a certeyn tyme: [2168] Then schal man don his diligence with amyable wordes hire to conforte and [MS Reg. 18 C II folio 197b] to preye hire of

[6-text p 202] her wepyng for to stynte; [2169] for whiche reson this [MS Reg. 18 C II folio 197a] noble prudence suffred her housbonde for to wepe and crye as for a certayn space // [2170] And when she sawh her tyme she saide him in þis wyse / Alas my lord quod she whi make ȝe ȝoure self for to be lyke a fool; [2171] fforsothe it perteyneth not to a wisman to maken suche a sorwe / [2172] ȝoure Doughter with þe grace of god shal be warisched and askape / [2173] And all were it so þat sche right nowe were deed ȝe oughte not as for her deth] [folio 327a] [Camb. Univ. Libr. MS Gg, 4. 27, begins here.] ȝoure self dystroye // [2174] ¶ Senec seyth the wyse man schal nat take to greet disconfort for the deth of hise childeryn / [2175] but certis he schulde sufferyn it in pacience As wel as he a-bydyth the deth of hise propere persone /

[2176] ¶ This Melibeus answerde a-noon & seyde / What man quod he schulde of his wepynge stynte / that hath so greet a cause for to weepe / [2177] Ihesu crist oure lord hym self wepte for the deth of lasarus his freend [2178] ¶ Prudence answerede / crertys weel I wot / Atempre wepyng is no thyng defendit to hym that sorweful is a-mongis folk / in sorwe / but it is rathere graunted hym to weepe [2179] ¶ The apostele paule vn-to the romaynys wrythth / Man schal reioyse with hem that makyn Ioye / And wepyn with sweche folk as wepyn / [2180] but thogh attempere wepyng be grauntid / outrageous wepynge certis is defendid / [2181] mesure of wepynge schulde been consideryd aftyr the loore that techith vs Senek [2182] ¶ Whan that thyn frend is deed quod he / let not thynne eyen to moyste been of teerys / ne to meche dreye / Al-thow thynne terys comyn to thynne eyen / lat hem nat fallyn [2183] And whan thow hast forgoon thyn freend . . . [no gap in the MS.] & this is moore wysdom / than for to wepyn for thyn frend / whiche that thow hast loryn / for theere-inne is no boote / [2184] And therfore ȝif ȝe gouerne ȝow be sapience putte awey sorwe out of ȝoure hertis / [2185] Rememberyth yow that Ihesus Syrat seyth

[6-text p 203] A man that is ioyous & glad in herte / it hym con|seruyth floryschynge in his Age / & sothly sorweful herte makyt hise bonys dreye [2186] he seyth ek thus that sorwe in herte; sleth ful manye a man [2187] ¶ Sa|lomon seyth / that ryght as mothis in the schepis flesch anoyeth to the clothis / & the smale wermys to the tree / rygh so anoyith sorwe to the herte. [2188] Wherefore vs oughte as weel in the deth of oure childeryn; as in the loos of oure goodys temperelys haue pacience

[2189] ¶ Remembrith yow vp-on the paciente Iob / Whan he hadde lost hise childeryn & his temperel sul|staunce / & in his body endurynge & resceyuyd ful manye a greuous trybulacioun / yet seyde [folio 327b] he thus [2190] ¶ Oure lord hath [sente it me / oure lord hath] be-raft it me / rygh so as oure lord hath wold / rygh so it is don / I-blyssede be the name of oure lord / [2191] ¶ To these forseyde thyngis Answerde Melybeus to his wyf prudence ¶ Alle thynne wordys quod he been sothe & therto pro|fitabele / but trewely myn herte is troubeled / with this sorwe so greuously / that I not what to don. [2192] ¶ Lat calle quod Prudence thyn trewe frendys alle And thyn lynage / whiche that been wyse tellyth ȝoure cas And herkenyth what they seye in conseylynge And ȝow gouerne aftyr here sentente [2193] ¶ Salomon seith werke alle thyn thyngis by conseyl; & thow schalt neuere repente

[2194] ¶ Thanne by the conseyl of his wyf Prudence; this Mellibeus leet callyn / a gret congregacioun / of folk / [2195] as Surgeons Phisiciens olde folk And ȝynge & some of hise olde enemyis reconsyled As by here semblaunt / to his loue & in to hise grace / [2196] & therewithal theere come some of hise negheboris That dydyn hem reuerence / moore for dreede than for loue as it happith ofte / [2197] There comyn also manye subtyle flatererys / & wise aduocatys / lernede in the lawe

[2198] ¶ And whan these folk togedere assemblede were / this Mellibeus in sorweful wyse / schewede hem his cas /

[6-text p 204] [2199] & by the manere of hise speche / it semyd that in herte he bar a crewel yre / redy to doon venge|aunce vp-on hise fois / & sodeynly desyrede that the werre schulde begynne / [2200] but neuere the les ȝit axede he here conseyl / vp-on this matyere / [2201] A surgeen by lycence / And assent of sweche as were wyse vp ros & vn|to Melybeus seyde as ye may here

[2202] ¶ Sire quod he / as to vs surgeenys apertenyth that we do to euery wight the beste / that we can wheere as we been with holdyn / And to oure pacient that we don no damage / [2203] Wherfore it happith manye tyme / & ofte that whan twey men / hath euerych woundyd othyr .O. same surgeen helyth hem bothe / [2204] Wherfore vn-to oure art it is nat perteynent to noryche werre / ne partyis to supporte [2205] ¶ But sertys as to the waryschyng [folio 328a] of ȝoure doughtir Al be it so sche be perlyously woundit we schul do so ententyf bysynesse / from day to nygh That with the grace of god sche schal been hool & sound / as soone as is possible / [2206] Almost ryȝt in the same wyse the phisycionys answeredyn / Saue that they seydyn a fewe wordys moore / [2207] that ryght as maladyis ben cureede by here contraryis / rygh so schal men waryche / werre; by vengeaunce [2208] ¶ Hise neghe|boris ful of enuye / Hise feynede frendis that semede reconsyled & hise flatererys [2209] madyn semblaunt Of wepyng / & empeyrede & agregede meche of this matyr. in preysynge greetly Mellibie / of mygh of power / of rychesse & of frendys / despisynge the power of hise aduersaryis [2210] & seydyn vtrely that thy schuldyn Anon wrekyn hym on hise fois & begynne werre /

[2211] vp ros thanne an Aduocat / that was wys / by leue & by conseyl of othere / that weere wyse & seyde [2212] ¶ Lordyngis the neede which that we been assembled in this place / is ful heuy thyng / & an heygh matire [2213] by cause of the wrong & the wikkedenesse that hath been doon / & ek by resoun of the greete damages / that

[6-text p 205] in tyme comynge been possible to fallyn for the same / [2214] & ek by resoun of the greete rychesse & power of the partyis bothe [2215] for the whiche resonys / it weere a ful greet peril / to erryn in this matyer [2216] ¶ Wherefore Mellybeus this is oure sentens. we conseyle ȝow a-bouyn alle thynge / that rygh a-non thow do thyn dylygence / in kepynge of thyn propre persone in swich a wyse / that thow ne wante noon espie / ne wache thyn body for to saue [2217] ¶ And aftyr that we conseyle That in thyn hous thu sette suffyciaunt garnysoun. so that they may as weel thyn body as thyn hous defende [2218] But certys for to meue werre / ne sodeynly for to doon vengeauns we may not deme in so lytyl tyme. that it weere profit|able / [2219] Wherfore we axe leyser & espase to haue delyberacioun / in this cas to deeme [2220] ffor the comune prouerbe seyth this / He that soone demyth sone schal repente; [2221] & ek men seyn that [folio 328b] thylke Iuge is wys that sone vndyrstondyth a matiere And Iugith be leyseer / [2222] for al be it so that alle taryinge be a-noyeful algatis it is not to be repreuyd in yeuynge of iugement / ne in vengeaunce takynge whan it is suffisaunt & resonabele / [2223] & that schewede oure lord Ihesu cryst by en|saumple / for whan that woman was takyn in auouterye was brough in his presence to knowyn what schulde been don of hire persone / al be it that he wyste weel / hym self what that he wolde answere; yet ne wolde he nat answere sodeynly but he wolde haue deliberacioun & in the ground he wrot / twyis / [2224] & by these causis; we axe deliberacioun & we schul thanne by the grace of god conseyle the thyng that schal been profitable //

[2225] vp styrtyn thanne the ȝonge fok at onys & the moste partye of that cumpanye / han skorned this olde wise man And begunne to make noyse / & seydyn / that [2226] ryght so as whil that yryn is hoot / men schuldyn smytyn. rygh so schuldyn men wreke here wrongis / whil

[6-text p 206] that they been frosche & newe & with loude voys. [se escrièrent, "guerre! guerre! guerre!"

[2227] Adonc se leva un des anciens,] And with hise hand made contenaunce that men schuldyn holdyn hem stylle / and ȝeuyn hym audience. [2228] lordyngis quod he theere is ful manye a man that cryeth werre werre; that wot ful lytil what werre amountyth / [2229] werre at hise begynny[n]g hath so greet an entre and so large; that euery whight may entre whan hym lykyth / & lyghtely fynde werre / [2230] but certis what ende therof schal falle; it is nat lyght to knowe [2231] ffor sothly whan that werre is onys begunne; there is ful manye a child born of hise modyr that schal sterue ȝong be cause of thilke werre / & ellys lyue in sorwe & deye in wrechedenesse / [2232] And therefore or that ony werre begynne men must haue gret conseyl / & gret deliberacyoun [2233] And whan this olde man wende for to enforse his tale be resouns wel nygh alleattonys / bygunne they to ryse / for to brekyn his tale & bodyn hym ful oftyn hise wordis to abregge [2234] for sothly he that pre [folio 329a] chith to hem / that lestyth not to heere hise wordys; his; sarmoun hem anoyeth [2235] ¶ ffor Ihesus Syrak seyth. that Musik in wepynge; is a-noyous thyng this is to seyne / as meche avaylyth to speke by-fore folk / to whiche hise speche anoyeth as doth to synge be-fore hym that wepith [2236] ¶ And whan that þis wyse man wantede audience; al schamefast he sette hym doun / agayn [2237] ¶ ffor salomon seyth. There as thow maght haue noon audience / enforce the not to speke / [2238] I se weel quod this wyse man that the comune prouerbe is soth that good conseyl wantyth whan it is most neede. [2239]

And ȝit hadde this Mellibeus in his conseyl manye folk that priuyly in hise eere conseylede hym / certeyn thyng. & conseyllede hym the contrarye; in general audyence// [2240] Whanne Melibeus hadde herd that the grettere

[6-text p 207] partye of his conseyl were acorded that he schulde make werre; a-noon he concentede to here conseylynge And fully affermede hire centence [2241] ¶ Thanne dame. prudence / whan that sche saw how that hire husbonde schop hym for to wreke hym on hise fois & to begynne werre / Sche in ful humble wyse whan sche sagh hire tyme / seyde hym these wordys [2242] Myn lord quod sche / I ȝow beseche al hertyly / as I dar & can. ne hastyth ȝow to faste / And for alle guerdounnys as ȝeuyth me audyence [2243] ¶ ffor Piers Alfonce seyth / who so that doth to the othir good or harm / haste the not to quite it / for in this wise / thi frend wole abyde / & thyn enemy schal the lengere lyue in drede // [2244] The prouerbe seyth / he hastyth weel that wisely can abyde / And in wikke hast is no profyt

[2245] ¶ This Melibee answerede vn-to his wyf prudence I purpose [. . . .] not to werkyn by thyn conseyl for manye causis & resonys / for certys euery whit wele holdyn me thanne a fool / [2246] this is to seyne / If I for thyn conseylynge wolde schaunge thyngis that been ordeyned And afformede be so manye wise [2247] ¶ Sec|undely I seye. [folio 329b] That alle wemen been wekke & noon good of hem alle. ffor of a thousent men seyth Salomon / I fond on good man / but certis of alle wemen good weman fond I neuere [2248] ¶ And also certys ȝif I gouernede me by thyn conseyl; it schulde seme that I hadde ȝouyn the the maisterye / & goddys forbode that it so were / [2249] for Ihesus Sirak seyth / that ȝif the wyf haue the maysterye / sche is contraryous to hire husbonde [2250] ¶ And Salomon seyth neuere in thyn lyf to thyn wyf / ne thyn child / ne to thyn frend ne ȝeue power ouyr thyn self / for bettere it weere That thynne childeryn axsyn of thyn persone thyngis that hem nedyth; than thow see thyn self in the hondys of thynne childeryn / [2251] And also ȝif I wolde werke by thyn conseylyng / certis myn conseyl muste been secre til it weere tyme that it muste ben

[6-text p 208] knowe & this it may nat bee [2252. For it is written, 'the Iangelerye of women can hide thyngis that they wot nought.' [2253] Furthermore the philo|sopher saith, 'in wikkede conseyl wemen venquysse men;' and for these reasons I ought not to make use of thy counsel. See lines 2274, 2280, p. 209, 210, below.] [2254]

WHan dame Prudence ful debonerly & with greet pacience hadde herd al that hire husbonde hadde seyd & that hym likede for to seyne / thanne axed sche of hym lycence for to spekyn & seyde in this wyse [2255] ¶ Myn lord quod sche as to ȝoure fyrste resoun certis it may lyghtely been answeryd ffor I seye that it is no folye for to chaunge conseyl / whan the thyng is chaungit / or ellys whan the þyng semyth othir wyse than it was by forn / [2256] And moore-ouyr I seye / that thogh that ȝe han sworn & by-hight to perforne ȝoure empryse / & nathe-les ye weyue to perforne tilke same empryse by iuste cause / men schulde nat seyn therefore / that ȝe weere a lyere ne for-sworn [2257] for the bok seyth that the wyse man makyth no lesynge; whan he turnyth hise corage to the bettere. [2258] And al be it so that ȝoure empryse be establid & ordeined / by gret multitude of folk / ȝit thar ȝe not accomplyssche thikke same ordynau[n]ce but ȝow lyke // [2259] ffor the trouthe of thyngis & the profyt been rathere ffoundyn in fewe folk that been wyse & ful of resoun than by greet multytude of folk theere euery man cryeth & clateryth what that hym lykyth / sothly swich [folio 330a] multytude is nat honest / [2260] And to the secunde resoun wheere that ȝe seyn that alle wemen been wekke. saue ȝoure grace / certis ȝe dispise alle wemen in this wyse / & he that alle dispiseth; alle displesyth as seyth the book / [2261] & senek seyth / that who so wele haue sapi|ence. schal no man dispreyse / but he schal gladly teche the cience that he can; with-outyn presumpcioun or pride / [2262] And sweche thyngis as he nought ne can; he schal not been aschamed to lerne hem / & enquyre of lasse

[6-text p 209] folk than hym self [2263] And syre that theere hath been ful manye a good woman; may lyghtely been preuyd / [2264] for certys / sere oure lord Ihesu crist / wolde neuere han descendit to been born of a woman; ȝif alle wemen hadde been wekke / [2265] And aftyr that for the greete bounte / that is in oure lord Ihesu crist / whan he was resyn from deth to lyue / aperede rathere to a woman than to hise apostellis / [2266] And thogh that salomon seyth that he ne fond neuere woman good; it ne folwyth nat therfore that alle wemen been wikke / [2267] for thow that he ne fond no good woman; certys manye a nothir man hat foundyn manye a woman ful good & trewe [2268] ¶ Or ellis the entent of Salomon perauenture was this / that as in souerein bounte he fond no woman / [2269] this is to seyne that theere is no wyȝt that hath souereyn bountee saue god a-lone / as he hym self recordyth in hise Euaun|gelie [2270] for theere is no cryature so good; that he ne wanthith sumwhat of the perfeccioun of god that is his makere [2271] ¶ Youre thredde resoun is this / ȝe seyn þat ȝif ȝe gouerne ȝow by myn conseyl; it schulde seme that ȝe hadde ȝeue me the maystrye & the lordschepe ouyr ȝoure persone / [2272] Sire saue ȝoure grace / it is nat so / for if it so were that no man schulde been conseyled but only of hem that hadde lordschepe & maystrye of his persone; men wolde nat been conseyled / so ofte / [2273] for sothly thilke man that axsith conseyl of a purpos / ȝit hath he fre choys whether he wele werke by that conseyl / or noon [2274] ¶ And [folio 330b] as to ȝoure forte resoun / there ȝe seyen that the Iangelerye of women can hide thyngis that they wot nought As ho sey that a woman can not hyde that sche wot [2275] Sire these wordys been vndyr|stonde / of women that been Iangleressis / & wekkede / [2276] of whiche wemen men seyn / that thre thyngis dryuyn a man out of his hous / that is to seyne smoke / droppynge of reyn & wikkede wyuys / [2277] And

[6-text p 210] of sweche wemen seyth salomon / that it weere bettere to dwelle in disert; than with a wekkede woman that is ryotous / [2278] And sire by ȝoure leue that am not .I. [2279] for ȝe han ful ofte assayed myn grete sylence & myn greete pacience / & ek how wel that I can hyde & helyn thyngis that men oughtyn secrely to hidyn [2280] ¶ And sothly as to ȝoure fyfte resoun where as ȝe seyn that in wikkede con|seyl / wemen venquysse men / god wot thikke resoun stant heere in no stede / [2281] for vndyrstonde now ȝe axe conseyl to do wekkedenesse / [2282. et se tu vouloies user de mauvais conseil et de mal faire] & ȝoure wif restreynyth thilke wekkede purpos / & ouyr-comyth ȝow be resoun & be good conseyl / [2283] certys ȝoure wyf; oughte rathere been preysed / than I-blamyd / [2284] thus schul ȝe vndyr|stonde the philysophere / that seyth In wekkede conseyl women wenquysschyn here husbondys [2285] ¶ And theere as ȝe blamyn alle wemen & here resonys / I schal schewe manye ensaumplys that manye a woman hath been ful good and ȝit been / & here conseylys holsom & profitable [2286] ¶ Ek sum men han seyd that the conseylynge of women is othir to dere or to lytyl of prys [2287] but al be it so that ful manie a woman is badde & here conseyl vile / & not worth / ȝit han men foundyn ful manye a good woman / & ful descreet & wis in conseyllynge / [2288] lo Iacob by conseyl of hise moodyr Rebekka / wan the benysoun of ysaak his fadyr & the lordschepe ouyr alle hise bretheryn / [2289] Iudith by hire goode conseyl; delyuerede the cete of Bethulye in whiche sche dwellede out of the bondys of Olofernus / that hadde it be-segit & wolde it al distroye [2290] ¶ Abygail deliuerede Nabal hire husbonde [folio 331a] from Dauid the kyng þat wolde han slayn hym & a-paysed the yre of the kyng bi hire wit / & by hyre goode con|seylyng [2291] Hester by hire goode conseyl / enhaunsede gretly the peple of god in the regne / of Assuerus the kyng [2292] ¶ And the same bountee in good conseylyng of

[6-text p 211] manye a good woman may men telle / [2293] & moore ouyr / whan that oure lord hadde creat Adam / oure forme fadyr / he seyde in this wyse / [2294] It is not good to be a man a-loone / make we to hym an helpe / semblable to hym self // [2295] Heere may ȝe se / that if that wemen weere not goode / ne here conseyl good & profytable; [2296] oure lord god of heuene wolde neythir han wrouȝt hem / ne callede hem helpe of man / but rathere confusyoun of man / [2297] And there seyde onys a clerk in two wers / What is betere than gold. Iaspre. What is betere than Iaspre / Wysdom / [2298] What is betere than wysdom / woman / & What is betere than good woman / no thyng. [2299] And sire by manye oþere resonys may ȝe se þat manye weemen been goode / & here conseyl good & profitable / [2300] and therfore ȝif ȝe wele troste to myn conseyl; I schal restore ȝow ȝoure douȝtyr hol & sound / [2301] and ek I wele do ȝow so mechil that ȝe schul haue honour in this cause [2302]

WHan Melibee / hadde herd the wordys / of his wyf Prudence / he seyde thus [2303] ¶ I se wel that the word of Salomon is soth // he seyth that wordis / that been spokyn discreetly by ordenaunce; been hony|combis / for they ȝeue swetenesse / to the soule / & holsom|nesse to the body [2304] ¶ And wif by cause / offe thynne swete wordys / and ek for I haue asayed & preuyd thyn greete sapience / & thyn greete trouthe / I wele gouerne me by thyn conseyl in alle thynge /. [2305]

NOw seere quod dame prudence / an syn ȝe wouche saf to been gouernyd by myn conseyl / I wele enforme ȝow / how ȝe schul gouerne ȝow / self in chesynge of ȝoure conseyl [2306] ¶ ȝe schal fyrst in alle ȝoure werkys / meekely besekyn to the hye god that he wele been ȝoure conseylour / [2307] and schapith ȝow to swych entente that he ȝeue ȝow conseyl & confort as tauȝte Thobie his sone // [2308] At alle tymys thow schat [folio 331b] plese

[6-text p 212] god / And preye hym to dresse thynne weyis / and loke þat alle thynne conseylis / been in hym for euere moore / [2309] seynt Iame / ek seyth / If onye of ȝow haue nede of sapience / axe it of god / [2310] And aftyrward thanne schal ȝe take conseyl in ȝoure self / & examyne wel ȝoure thouȝtis / of sweche thyngis / as ȝow thynkyth that been best for ȝoure profyt [2311] and thanne schul ȝe dryue forth / from ȝoure herte the thyngis that been contrarious to good conseyl / [2312] that is to seyne / yre coueytyse / & hastyfnesse /

[2313] ffyrst he that axsith conseyl of hymself / certis he muste ben with-outyn Ire / for manye causes // [2314] The ferste is this / he that hat gret wrathe & yre in hym self he wenyth alwey that he may don thyng; that he may not doon / [2315] And secundely he that is yrous / & wratheful / he ne may not wel deme / [2316] And he that may not wel deme / may not weel conseyle [2317] ¶ A|nothir is this / that he that is yrous & wratheful as seyth Senek / ne may not spekyn but blameful thyngis / [2318] and with hise vicyous wordis he steryth othere folk to angir / & to yre [2319] ¶ And ek sere ȝe muste dryue coueytyse out of ȝoure herte [2320] ffor thapostele seyth / that coueytyse / is rote of alle harmys / [2321] & truste weel / that a coueytous man ne can not deeme ne thynke; but only to fulfylle the ende of his coueytyse / [2322] and sertis that ne may neuere / been aconplichit / ffor euere the moore habundaunce that he hath of rychesse the more he desyryth [2323] ¶ And the moste also dryuyth out of ȝoure herte / hastyfnesse / for certys [2324] ȝe may not demyn for the beste of a sodeyn thouȝt that fallyth in ȝoure herte but ȝe muste avyse ȝow on it ful ofte / [2325] for as ȝe herde heere be-forn / the comune prouerbe / is this / that he that sone demyth soone repentyth //

[2326] Sire ȝe been not alwey I-lyk in disposicioun / [2327] for certys sum thyng / that sumtyme semyth to ȝow that it is good for to do; a nothir tyme it semyth to ȝow the contrarye

[6-text p 213]

[2328] ¶ Whan ȝe han takyn conseyl in ȝoure self / & han demyd by good deliberacioun / swych thyng as ȝow semyth best / [2329] thanne rede I ȝow [folio 332a] that ȝe kepe it secree / [2330] bewreye not ȝoure conseyl to no persone / but if so be that ȝe wenyn sekyrly / that thorw ȝoure bewreyinge / ȝoure condycioun schal ben to ȝow the moore profitable // [2331] ffor Ihesus Syrak seyth neythir to thyn fo ne to thyn frend / discouere not thyn secre ne thyn folye / [2332] for they wele ȝeue ȝow audyence & lokynge & supportacioun in ȝoure presence / & skorne ȝow in ȝoure absence / [2333] A nothir clerk seyth / that skarsely schalt thow fyndyn ony persone / that may kepe conseyl secrely / [2334] the bok seyth / whil that thow kepist thyn conseyl in thyn herte thow kepist it in thyn prysoun / [2335] And whan thow bewreyist thyn conseyl to ony whit he holdyth the in his snare [2336] And therfore ȝow is betere / to hyde ȝoure conseil in ȝoure herte; than preyen hym to whom ȝe han bewreyed ȝoure conseyl; that he wele kepe it clos & stylle [2337] ¶ ffor Seneca seyth If so be that thow ne mayst / not thyn owene conseyl hyde; how mayst thow preye ony othir whit thyn conseyl secrely to kepyn / [2338] But natheles ȝif thow wene sekyrly that thyn bewreyinge of thyn conseyl to a persone wele make thyn condycioun stondyn in the betere plyt thanne schat thow telle hym tyn conseyl in this wyse [2339] ffyrst thow schat make no semblaunt whethir the were leuere pes or werre / or this or that / ne shew hym nat thyn wil ne thyn entent / [2340] for troste weel that comounly these / conseylourys been flatererys [2341] namely the conseylourys of greete lordis / [2342] for they enforse hem alwey rathere to speke plesaunte wordis enclynynge to othere lordys lust; than othere that been trewe / & profitable / [2343] And therfore men seyn / that ryche men / han selde good con|seyl / but if he haue it of hym self / [2344] and aftyr that thow schat considere thyne frendys / & thynne enemyis. [2345] And as touchinge thyne frendys / thow schat con|sideryn

[6-text p 214] whiche are most feythful / & most wys & oldeste & most apreuid in conseylynge / [2346] & of hem schalt thow axe thyne conseyle; as the caas requiryth /

[2347] I seyde that fyrst [folio 332b] ȝe schul clepyn to ȝoure con|seyl ȝowre frendis that been trewe // [2348] ffor Salomon seyth that ryȝt as the herte of a man delythth in sauour that is sote / ryȝt so the conseyl of trewe frendys ȝeuyth swetnesse to the soule / [2349] & he seyth also theere may no thyng [be] to the trewe frend / [2350] for certis gold ne syluyr ben not so meche worth; as the goode wyl of a trewe frend [2351] ¶ And ek he seyth that a trewe frend / is a strong defens / who so that it fyndyth; sertis he fyndyth a greet tresor [2352] ¶ Thanne schul ȝe ek considere If that ȝoure trewe frendis; been descreete / & wise ffor the bok seyth / Axse alwey thyn conseyl of hem that been wyse / [2353] And by this same resoun / schul ȝe clepyn to ȝoure conseyl / of ȝoure frendis / that been of age / Sweche as han seyn / & been expert in manye thyngis And been apreuyd in manye thyngis conseilynge / [2354] ffor the bok seyth that in olde men is the sapience / & in long tyme the prudence // [2355] And tullius seyth / that greete thyngis ne ben not ay accompliced / be strenthe ne be delyuerenesse of body / But by conseyl be autoritee of personys / & by science / the whiche thre thyngis ben not feblid by age / but certys they enforsyn & en|cresyn day be day // [2356] And thanne schal ȝe keepe this for a general reule / ffyrst schal ȝe clepe to ȝoure conseyl a fewe of ȝoure frendys that been especial [2357] ffor Salomon seyth / Manye frendis haue thow / but a-mong a thousent cheese the on to been thyn conseyl|our [2358] ffor al be it so / that thow ne telle thyn conseyl but to a fewe / thow mayst aftyrward tellyn it to mo yf it be neede / [2359] but loke alwey that thyn conseylouris haue thilke thre condiciounnys / that I haue seyd

[6-text p 215] before / þat is to seye / that they been trewe wyse & of old experience / [2360] And werke not in euery thingis alwey be on conseylour alone / for sumtyme byhouyth it to been conseyled by manye / [2361] ffor salomon seyth / Saluacioun of thyngis is / where as there been manye conseylourys

[2362] ¶ Now sithe that I haue told ȝow / of whech folk ȝe schul ben conseylid. now wele I teeche ȝow whiche conseyl ȝe oughte to eschewe [2363] ¶ ffyrst ȝe schul eschewe/ the con [folio 333a] seylyng of folys / for salomon seyth take no con|seyl of a fool / for he ne can not conseyle but aftyr his owene lust & his affeccioun / [2364] The book seyth / that the properte of a fol is this he trowyth lyghtely harm of euery wight / & lyȝtely trowyth alle bounte in hym self / [2365] Thow schalt ek eschewe / the conseylynge of alle flatereris wheche as enforsen hem rathere to preysyn ȝoure persone by flaterye than to telle ȝow the sothe|ffastnesse of thyngis /

[2366] Wherfore Thullyus seyth / among alle the pestelences that been / in frenchepe / the gretteste is flaterye / & therfore it is more neede / that thow eschewe & drede flatererys than ony othir peple // [2367] The bok seyth thow schalt rathere drede & fle from the swete wordis of flaterynge preyseris / than from the egere wordis of thyn frend that seyth the thynne sothis [2368] ¶ Salomon seyth that the wordis of a flaterere is a snare to cachyn innocentis / [2369] he seyth also / that he that spekyth to hise frend / wordis of swetnesse & of plesaunce; settith a net be-forn hise feet to cachyn hym / [2370] & therfore seyth Tullius / Enclyne not thyne eris to flatereris / ne take no conseyl of wordis of flaterye / [2371] And Catoun seyth Auyse the weel & eschewe wordis of swetnesse & of plesaunce [2372] ¶ And ek thow schalt eschewe the conseylynge of thyne olde enemyis that been reconsyled // [2373] The bok seyth that no wight retornyth sauely into the

[6-text p 216] grace of hise olde enemy [2374] ¶ And ysope seyth / ne truste not to hem to wheche thow hast had sumtyme werre or enmytee ne telle hem not thyn conseyl / [2375] And Seneca tellyth the cause why / It may not be seyth he / that where as greet feer long tyme hath deured; that there ne dwellyth sum vapour of warmnesse [2376] And therfore Seyth Salomon / in thyn olde fo truste neuere / [2377] ffor sekirly / thow thyn enemy be reconsyled / & makyth the cheer of humylite / & loutyth to the with hise heed / ne truste hym neuere / [2378] ffor sekyrly he makyth thilke feynede humylitee more for his owene profyt than for loue of thyn persone / by cause that he dem|yth to haue victorie ouyr thyn persone / by swich feynede contenaunce / the [folio 333b] whiche victorie / he myȝte not haue be stryf or werre / [2379] & Petyr Alfonce seyth make non felaueschepe with thynne olde enemyis / for ȝif thow do hem bounte; they wele peruertyn it in to wikkedenesse // [2380] And ek thow muste eschewe the wekedenesse of hem & the conseyil that been thynne seruauntis & beryn the grete reuerence / for perauenture they seyn / it moore for drede than for loue. [2381] And therfore seyth a philisofere in this wyse / There is no whit perfytely trewe to hym that he to soore dredyth / [2382] And Tullius seyth / theere is no myȝt so greet of ony Emperour / that longe may endure / but ȝif he haue moore loue of the peple than drede [2383] ¶ Thow schalt also enchewe the conseylynge of folk that been dronkelewe / for they ne can no conseyl hyde / [2384] ffor Salomon seyth there is no priuyte; theere as regnyth dronkenesse // [2385] ȝe schal also han in suspect / the conseylynge of sweche folk as conseyle ȝow o thyng priuyly / & conseyle ȝow the contrarie opynly [2386] ¶ ffor Cassiodere seyth / that it is a manere sleyte to hynderyn whan a man schewith to don on thyng pryuyly & werkyth the contrarye opynly / [2387] Thow schalt also haue in suspect / the conseylynge of wekede folk ffor the bok seyth the conseylynge of wekede folk; is alwey ful

[6-text p 217] of fraude / [2388] And Dauid seyth blisful is that man that hath not folwid the conseylynge of schrewis / [2389] Thow schalt also eschewe the conseylynge of ȝonge folk for here conseyl is not rype [2390]

NOw sere sithe I haue schewyd to ȝow of whiche folk ȝe schul take ȝoure conseyl / & of whiche folk ȝe schul folwe the conseyl; [2391] now wele I teche ȝow how ȝe schul examyne ȝoure conseyl aftyr the doctryne of. thullyus [2392] ¶ In examynynge of ȝoure conseylourys; ȝe schul considere many thyngis / [2393] Aldyrferst thow schat considere that in thilke thyng that thow purposyst & vp-on what thyng thow wilt haue conseyl / that verray trouthe be seyd & conseruyd / This is to seyne / Telle trewely thyn tale / [2394] for he that seyth fals may not weel been conseyled / in that cas of whiche he lyeth / [2395] And [folio 334a] aftyr this thow schat considere the thyngis that acordyn to that / thow purposist to don by thyn conseyl|ours ȝif resoun acordyn therto / [2396] & ek ȝif thyn myȝt may atteyne therto / & ȝif the more part / & the betere part of thyne conseylouris acordyn therto / or no // [2397] Thanne schalt thow considere / What thyng schal folwe of that conseyllyng as. hate. pees. w[e]rre. grace. profyt or damage & manye othere thyngis / [2398] [et en toutes ces choses] thow schalt chese the beste / & weyuyn alle othere thyngis [2399] ¶ Thanne schalt thow considere / of what rote is engenderede the matyre of this conseyl / & what freut it may conteyne / & engen|deryn [2400] ¶ Thanne schalt [thow] considere ek alle these causes from whens they been sprongyn [2401] And whanne ȝe han examynyd ȝoure conseyl as ȝe haue seyd / & whiche partye is the betere & more profitable And han aproued it be manye wyse folk & olde. [2402] thanne schat thow considere; ȝif thow mayȝt perforne it & makyn of it a good ende / [2403] ffor resoun wele / that ony man schulde begynne a thyng / but ȝif he myȝte perforne it as hym oughte / [2404] Ne no wiȝt schulde

[6-text p 218] take vp-on hym / so heuy charge / that he myȝte not bere it / [2405] for the prouerbe seyth / he that to meche enbraset distreynyth lityl / [2406] And catoun seyth / Assay to don swich thyng as thow hast power to don / lest that the charge appresse the not so sore / that the be-houith to weyue thyng that thow hast begunne [2407] & ȝif so be that thow be endoute / wheþer thow mayȝt perforne it or non chese rathere to suffere than begynne / [2408] And Petyr Alfonce seyth / ȝir thow hast myȝt to doon a thyng / of whiche thow muste repente; it is betere // ȝa // than nay / [2409] this is to seyne the is betere to helde thyn tunge stylle; than for to spekyn / [2410] Thanne may ȝe vnderstonde by strongere resonys / that ȝif thow hast power / to perforne a werk of whiche thow auht repente; thanne is it betere / that thow suffere / than begynne / [2411] weel seyn they that defendyn euery wiȝt to asay a thyng of whiche he is endoute / whethir he may perforne it or no [2412] And aftyr whan ȝe han examynyd ȝoure [folio 334b] conseyl as I haue seyd beforn / & knowyn weel that ȝe may per|forne ȝoure emprise conforme it thanne sadli til it be at an ende— [2413]

NOw is it resoun & tyme that I schewe ȝow whanne & wherfore / that ȝe may chaunge ȝoure con|seylourys with-outyn repreve / [2414] Sothly a man may chaungyn hise [conseil et son] purpos ¶ ȝif the cause cesseth or whanne a new cas betydyth [2415] ¶ ffor the lawe seyth that vp-on thyngis / that newely betydyn / byhouyth newe conseyl / [2416] & seneca seyth / ȝif thyn conseyl is come to the eeris of thynne enemy / chaunge thyn conseyl. [2417] Thow mayst also chaunge thyn conseyl; ȝif so be that thow fynde that be errour / or be othere cause / harm or damage / may betyde / [2418] Also ȝif thyn conseyl [est déshonneste, ou vient de cause déshonneste, [2419] car les lois dient que toutes pro|messes that] be dishonest. been of no value /

[6-text p 219] [2420] And ek ȝif it so be / that it be inpossible / or may not been goodly performyd or kept //

[2421] And take this for a general rewle / that euery conseyl þat is affermyd so strongely that it may not been chongit for no condicioun that may betyde / I seye that thilke conseyl is wikke [2422]

THis Melibeus whan he hadde herd the doctryne / of his wyf / Dame Prudence; answerede in this wise [2423] Dame quod he as ȝit into this tyme / ȝe han weel & conabely tauȝt me as in general / how I schal gouerne me in chesynge & in wotholdynge of myne conseylouris [2424] ¶ But now wolde I fayn that ȝe woldyn condessendyn in especial / [2425] & tellyn how ȝow lykyth or what semyth ȝow by oure conseylouris that we han chosyn in oure present neede / [2426]

MYn lord quod sche I beseke ȝow in alle humblesse that ȝe wele nat wilfully repleye // a-ȝen myne resonys / ne distempare ȝoure herte thow I speke thyng that ȝow displese / [2427] ffor god wot that as in myn entent / I speke it for ȝoure beste. for ȝoure honour & for ȝoure profit ek / [2428] And sothly I hope that ȝoure be|nyngnete wele takyn it in pacience / [2429] Trustith me weel / quod sche that ȝoure conseyl / as in this cas [folio 335a] ne schulde nat as to spekyn propirly / been callyd a conseylynge / But a mocioun or a meuynge of foly [2430] in whiche conseyl ȝe han erred / [en moult de manière]

[2431] [Premièrement, tu as erré] in the assem|blynge of ȝoure conseylouris / [2432] ffor ȝe schulde ferst a clepid a fewe folk / [et puis après plusieurs] if it hadde been neede / [2433] But certis ȝe han clepid sodeynly to ȝoure con|seyl / a greet multitude of peple ful chargeaunt & ful anoyous for to heere [2434] ¶ Also ȝe han errid for theere as ȝe schulde only haue clepid to ȝoure conseyl ȝoure trewe frendis olde & wyse / [2435] ȝe han I-clepid straunge folk. ȝonge folk. false flatereris / & enemyis

[6-text p 220] reconsyled / & folk þat don ȝow reuerence with-outyn loue / [2436] And ek also ȝe han erred / for ȝe han brouȝt with ȝow to ȝoure conseyl; Ire. Coueytyse. & Hastifnesse / [2437] the wheche thre thyngis been con|traryous / to euery conseyl honeste & profitable / [2438] And the whiche thre thyngis; ȝe han not anientissed or destroyed hem neythir in ȝoure self ne in ȝoure conseylourys / as ȝe ouȝte [2439] ¶ Ȝe han erred also for ȝe han schewid to ȝoure conseylouris ȝoure talent & ȝoure affeccioun to makyn werre anon & for to doon vengeaunce / [2440] they han espied be ȝoure wordis to what thyng ȝe been enclyned / [2441] & therefore han they conseylid ȝow rathere to ȝoure talent; than to ȝoure profit [2442] ¶ Ȝe han errid also / for it semyth that ȝow suffysith to han been con|seylid by these conseylouris only / & with litil avis [2443] wheere as in so greet & in so high a neede / it hadde been necessarye / mo conseylouris / & moore deliberacioun / to perforne ȝoure emprise [2444] ¶ Ȝe han errid also ffor ȝe han not examynyd / ȝoure conseyl in the for seyde manere / ne due maneere / as the caas requiryth [2445] ¶ Ȝe han errid also for ȝe han makid non deuysioun / bytwixe ȝoure conseylouris / . . . . . [no gap] [2446] ne ȝe ne haue not knowe / the wil of ȝoure trewe frendis olde & wyse / [2447] but ȝe han cast alle here wordys in an hochepot / & enclyned ȝoure herte to the more part & to the grettere noumbere // And theere been ȝe condescendit / [2448] & sith ȝe wote weel that men schal [folio 335b] alwey fynde a grettere noumbre of folys than of wise men / [2449] & therfore in the conseylis that been at congregaciounnys & multitudis of folk there as men take more reward to the nombre than to the sapience of personis / [2450] ȝe seen weel that in sweche conseylyngis foolis han the maistrie [2451]

MElibeus answerede agen & seyde I graunte wel that I haue erryd / [2452] but theere as thow hast told / me heere be-forn / that he nys to blame that chaungith his con|seyl

[6-text p 221] in certeyn cas / & for certeyn Iuste causis [2453] I am al redy to schaunge myn conseylouris / ryȝt as thow wolt deuyse / [2454] the prouerbe seyth that for to do synne / is mannyssch / But certis to perseuere longe therinne; is werk of the deuyl [2455]

TO this centence answerede anon Dame prudence / & seyde // [2456] Examynyth quod sche ȝoure con|seyl / & lat vs se the whiche of hem han spokyn moost resonablely & taught ȝow best conseyl // [2457] And for as meche as the examynacioun is necessarie / lat vs begynne at the Surgens / & at the phisiciens / that fyrst spekyn in this matyere / [2458] I seye ȝow that the surgeens & phisiciens han seyd ȝow in ȝoure conseyl descretly as hem ouȝte / [2459] & in here space seydyn ful wysely / that to the offyse of hem aperteynyth to doon to euery wyȝt honour & profyt / & no wyȝt to anoyen [2460] & aftyr here craft to don greet diligence vnto the cure of hem whiche that they han in here gouern|aunce / [2461] And sire ryȝt as they han answerid wisely & discretly / [2462] ryȝt so rede I that they been heyly & souereynly gwerdounnyd for here noble speche / [2463] And ek for they schuldyn don the moore ententif besynesse in the curacioun of thyn doughtyr deere / [2464] for al be it so / that they been ȝoure frendis / therfore schal ȝe nat sufferyn; that they serve ȝow for naught [2465] but ȝe oughtyn rathere gwerdounnyn hem & schewyn hem ȝoure largesse / [2466] And as touchynge the prepocicioun whiche the phisiciounnys encresedyn in this cas / this is to seyne / [2467] that in maladyis / that on contrarye is war [folio 336a] chid by a-nothir contrarye / [2468] I wolde fayn knowyn how ȝe vndyrstonde thilke text / & what is ȝoure sentence. [2469] CErtis quod Melibeus I vndirstonde it in this wise / [2470] that ryȝt as they han don. a contrarye ryȝt so schulde I doon hem a-nothir / [2471] ffor ryȝt as they han vengede hem on me / & don me wrong; ryȝt so schal I wengyn me vp-on hem

[6-text p 222] & doon hem wrong / [2472] And thanne haue I cured on contrarye by a-nothir [2473]

LO lo quod Dame Prudenence how lyȝtely is euery man enclyned to his owene desyr / & to his owene plesaunce / [2474] Certis quod sce the wordis of the phisiciens ne schuldyn not han been vndyrstondyn in this wise / [2475] for certis wikkedenesse is not contrarye to wikkedenesse / ne vengeaunce to vengeaunce / ne wrong to wrong / but [sont semblables [2476] Et pour ce, vengence par vengence, ne injure par injure, n'est pas curé, [2477] mais] euerich of hem encresith & morith othir // [2478] But certis the wordis of the phisiciens / schuldyn ben vndirstondyn in this wise / [2479] ffor good & wekede|nesse been two contraryis / & pees & werre / & venge|aunce & sufferraunce / discord & acord / and manye othere thyngis / [2480] But certis wikkedenesse; may been waryschid by goodnesse discord; by acord / werre; by pees / & so forth of othere thyngis // [2481] And heereto a-cordyth seynt Poule the apostelle in manye placis [2482] he seyth / Ne ȝildith not harm for harm / ne wikkede speche for wikkede speche / [2483] but doth weel to hym that doth the harm / And blysse hym that seyth to the harm / [2484] & in manye othere placis he amonestyth pees & accord / [2485] But now wele I spekyn to ȝow of the con|seyl that was ȝouyn to ȝow of the meen of lawe / and the wise folk [2486] that seydyn alle by on acord / as ȝe han herd by-fore / [2487] That ouer alle thynge ȝe schal don ȝoure diligence to kepyn ȝoure persone & to warnestore ȝoure hous / [2488] and seydyn also that in this caas ȝe oughtyn for to werkyn ful a-visely / & with greet delib[er]acioun / [2489] And sere as to the fyrste poynt that touchith to the kepynge of ȝoure persone / [2490] ȝe schul vndyrstonde that he that hath werre schal eueremore deuoutely & meekely preyen [folio 336b] before alle thynge [2491] that Ihesu cryst of his mercy / wele

[6-text p 223] han hym in hise protexioun / & ben his souereyn helpynge at hise neede / [2492] for certys in this world / theere is no wyȝt that may been conseylyd ne kept sufficyantly / with|outyn the keping of oure lord Ihesu Cryst / [2493] To this centence acordyth þ^e prophete dauid / that seyth / [2494] If god ne kepe the cete. In idyl. wake he that kepeth [2495] ¶ Now sere thanne schul ȝe commytte the kepynge of ȝoure persone to ȝoure trewe frendis that been aprouyd & I-knowe / [2496] & of hem schul ȝe axen helpe ȝoure persone for to kepe ¶ ffor catoūn seyth / ȝif thu hast nede of helpe; axe it of thynne frendis / [2497] ffor theere ne is noon so good a phisicien as thyn trewe frend / [2498] And aftyr this thanne schul ȝe keepe ȝow ffrom alle straunge folk and from lyeris / and haue alwey in suspekt / hire compaynye / [2499] ffor pers Alphonse seyth Ne take no compaignye by the weye of a strāng man but ȝif it be so that thow haue knowyn hym by a long tyme beforn / [2500] & ȝif so be that he falle / in-to thyn cumpanye per|auenture with-outyn thyn assent / [2501] enquire thanne as subtyly as thu mayst / of his conuersacioun / & of his lyf be-fore / & feyne thyn weye / Sey that thow wel go thedyr there that thow wilt not go / [2502] an ȝif he beryth a spere / hold the on the ryȝt syde / & ȝif he bere a swerd / hold the on the left syde [2503] ¶ And aftyr this thanne schal ȝe kepe ȝow wisely from alle sweche manere peple / as I haue seyd be-fore / And hem & here conseyl eschewe / [2504] And aftyr this thanne schal ȝe kepyn ȝow in swich maner / [2505] that for ony presumpcioun of ȝoure strenthe / that ȝe ne dispise / ne attempte not the myȝte of ȝoure aduersarye / so lite that ȝe lete the kepynge of ȝoure persone / for ȝoure presumpcioun / [2506] for euery wise man dredyth his enemy / [2507] And salomon seyth / Weleful is he that of alle thynge hath dreede / [2508] ffor certys he that þour the hardynesse of his herte or thorw the hardynesse of hym-self / hath to greet presumpcioun / hym schal euele betyde / [2509] Thanne

[6-text p 224] schal ȝe eueremoore countre wayte embusschementȝ / & espiaill // [2510] for Seneca seyth / that the wise man that dredith harmys / eschewith harmys / [2511] ne [folio 337a] he ne fallyth in-to perilys / that perilis eschewyth / [2512] And al|be-it so / that it seeme that thow art in sekyr place / ȝit schalt thow alwey doon diligence in kepynge of thyn persoone / [2513] this is to seyn ne be not necligent to keepen thyn persone / not only for thynne gretteste enemyis / but from thyn leste enemye / [2514] Seneca seyth / a man / that is weel auysed / he dredyth his leste enemye // [2515] Ouyde seith / that the litelle wesele / wele sle the greete bole & the wilde hert // [2516] And the book seyth that the lytil thorn; may pryke a kyng wol sore / & an hound wele holde the wylde boor / [2517] But nathelees I sey nat þat thow schat been so coward that thow doute there wheere-as is no drede / [2518] The book seyth / that sum folk han greet lust / to disseyue; but ȝit they dredyn hem to been dis|seyuyd / [2519] ȝit schalt thow dreede to ben enpoysounnyd / And keepe the from the cumpaygnye of skornerys / [2520] ffor the book seyth / woth skornerys make no compaignye / but fle here wordys as venym /

[2521] Now as to the secunde poynt / wheere-as ȝoure wise conseylourys / conseylede ȝow to warnestore / ȝoure hous with greet diligence / [2522] I wolde knowe how that ȝe vndyrstande / thilke wordis & what is ȝoure centence [2523]

MElibeus answerede & seyde / certis I vndyrstonde it in this wyse / That I schal warnestore myn hous / with touris & sweche as han castell & othere manere edifices & armure and artelleryes / [2524] by whiche thyngis I may myn persone & myn hous so kepyn & defendyn / that myne enemyis schul been in dreede myn hous for to aprochyn [2525]

TO this centence answerede anon Prudence // warne|storynge is quod sche of heye tourys & of greete edifices / [appertaining aucune ffois a orgueil [2526] apres on fait les tours et les grans edifices (MS Reg. 19 C vii, lf 133, bk)]

[6-text p 225] with greete costagis & with greete trauayle / And whan that they been accomplesed / ȝit be they not worth a stre but if they been defendit by trewe frendys that been olde & wyse // [2527] And vndyrstonde weel that the gretteste & the strengeste garnesoun that a ryche man may han / as weel to kepyn his persone [folio 337b] as hese goodis / is [2528] that he be belouyd with hise subiectis. And with hise neigheboris / [2529] ffor thus seyth thullyus that there is a manere garnesoun / that no man may venquische / Ne desconfite / & that is [2530] a lord to been belouyd / of hise citesynys & of his peple [2531]

NOw sere as to the thredde poynt wheer-as ȝoure olde & wise conseylouris / seydyn that ȝow ne ouȝtyn / not sodeynly ne not to hastifly procedyn in this neede / [2532] But that ȝow ouȝtyn purueyen / & appar|aylyn ȝow / in this cas / with greet diligence / & greet delyber|acioun / [2533] trewely I trowe that they seydyn / ryȝt wisely & ryȝt soth / [2534] for tullyus seyth in euery neede / er thow begynne it / apparayle the with gret diligence / [2535] Thanne seye I that in vengeaunce takynge in werre / in batayle / & in warnestoryinge / [2536] er thow begynne I reede / that thow apparayle the not therto & do it with greet dyligence & greet deliberacioun // [2537] ffor Thullyus seyth that longe apparaylynge / by-forn þ^e batayle / makyt schort victorye [2538] ¶ And Cassiodorus seyth The garnesoun is strongere whan it is longe tyme auysed

BUt now lat vs spekyn of the conseyl / that was acordit be ȝoure neigheboris / Sweche as doon ȝow reuerence with-outyn loue / [2540] ȝoure olde enenyis reconsyled / ȝoure flatereris [2541] that conseyledyn ȝow cer|teyn thyngis pryuyly / & opynly conseyledyn ȝow / the contrarye / [2542] The ȝonge folk also that conseylede ȝow / to venge ȝow & make werre a-noon [2543] And certis sere as I haue seyd be-forn; ȝe han greetly errid / to han clepid / swich manere folk to ȝoure conseil [2544] whiche conseylouris / been I-nowgh repreuyd / be the resonys a-fore-seyd / [2545] but natheles lat vs now dessende to

[6-text p 226] the special // ȝe schul fyrst procedyn / aftyr the doctrine / of thullius / [2546] Certis the trouthe of this matire or of this conseyl / nedyth not diligently enquire [2547] for it is weel wist whiche they been that han don to ȝow this trespas / and vilenye / [2548] and how manye trespasouris / and in what manere they han doon to ȝow al this wrong & al this vilenye // [2549] And aftyr this ȝe [folio 338a] schuln examyne al the secunde condicioun whiche þat the same thullyus addyth in this mateere / [2550] ffor tullius put a thyng whiche that he clepith consentynge / This is to seyne / [2551] who been they / & whiche been they / and how manye been they / & whiche been thei that consentedyn to ȝoure aduersaryis / [2552] [et considérons aussi qui sont ceulx, et quans, qui se consentent à tes adversaires. (Le Mén. i. 211.)] [2553] And certis as to the fyrste poynt / it is weel knowyn whiche folk been they / that consentedyn to ȝoure hastif wilful|nesse / [2554] ffor trewely alle tho that consentede ȝow to makyn sodeyn werre / ne been not ȝoure frendis / [2555] lat vs now considere [qui tu es et] whiche been they that ȝe holdyn ȝowre frendis / as to ȝoure persone [2556] ffor al be it so / that ȝe been myghty & ryche / Certis ȝe ne been but a-loone / [2557] for certis ȝe ne han no child but a douȝtyr / [2558] ne ȝe ne han breteren ne cosynys germaynys / ne noon othir nygh kenrede [2559] wherefore that ȝoure enemyis / for drede schulde stynte to plede / with ȝow or distroye ȝoure persone / [2560] ȝe knowyn also that ȝoure rychesse mote been despendit in dyuerce partis / [2561] and whan that euery wigh hath his part / they ne wele takyn but lityl reward to vengyn thyn deth // [2562] But thynne enemyis been thre and they han manye childeryn / bretheryn cosynys & othere nygh kenrede / [2563] and thow so weere / thow hadyst slayn of hem two or thre / ȝet dwellyn þere I-nowe to wrekyn here deth / & to sle tyn persone / [2564] & thow so be that ȝoure kynreede / be moore sekyr & stefast / than

[6-text p 227] the kenreede of ȝoure aduersarye / [2565] ȝet natheles / ȝoure kenrede nys but a fer kynrede they been but lytil sibbe to ȝow / [2566] and the kyn of ȝoure enenyis been nygh sibbe to hem / & certis as in þat heere condicioun is betere than is ȝourys // [2567] Tanne lat vs considere also / if the conseylynge of hem that conseyledyn / ȝow to takyn sodeyn vengeauns / whethir it acorded to resoun or no / [2568] And certis ȝe knowe wel nay / [2569] for as be ryȝt & resoun / theere may no man ta [folio 338b] kyn venieaunce on no wight but the Iuge that hath the Iurysdixioun of it / [2570] whanne it is I-grauntid / to take thilke vengeaunce / hastily or at|temprelly as the lawe requyrith / [2571] & ȝit moore ouyr / of thilke word that Thullius clepith consentynge [2572] thow schalt considered ȝif thyn myȝt & thyn power / may consente & suffise / to thyn wilfulnesse / & to thynne conseylourys [2573] and sertis thow mayst weel seyn þat nay / [2574] ffor sekirly as for to spekyn proprely. we may doon nothyng but only swich thyng as we may don it rithtfully / [2575] & certis ryȝtfully may ȝe take no venieaunce / as of ȝoure propre autorite [2576] thanne may ȝe seen / that ȝoure power ne consentith nat ne acordith nat with ȝoure wilfulnesse [2577] ¶ Lat vs now examyne the thredde poynt that / Thullius clepith consequent / [2578] Thow schalt vndyrstonde / that the vengeaunce that thow purposest for to take is the conse|quent / [2579] And therof folwith a-nothir uengeau[n]s / peril & werre & othere vengeaunce & damagis with-outyn noumbere / of whiche we been not war as at this tyme // [2580] And as touchynge the / fourte poynt / That Thullius clepith engenderynge / [2581] thow schalt considere that this wrong whiche that is doon to the; is engenderyd / of the hate of thynne enemyis / [2582] & of the vengeaunce takyng vp-on that / wolde engendere a-nothir / vengeaunce. And meche sorwe / in wastynge of rychessis as I seyde

[2583] ¶ Now sere as to the poynt that tullius clepith causes / with that is the laste poynt / [2584] thow

[6-text p 228] schalt vndirstonde / that the wrong that thow hast resceyuid hath certeyn causes / [2585] whiche that clerkis clepyn Oriens / & efficiens / And Causa longinqua / & Causa Propinqua / this is to seyne the ffer cause / & the nygh cause / [2586] the fer cause is almyghti god / that is cause of alle thyngis / [2587] the nygh cause is thynne thre enemyis / [2588] the cause accidental was hate / [2589] the cause material; been the fyue woundis of thyn doughtre [2590] The cause formal is the manere of here werkynge / that brougtyn ladderys & clombyn in at thyne wyndowis / [2591] the cause final was for to sle thyn dougtyr / It lettede nat in as meche as in hem [folio 339a] was // [2592] But for to spekyn of the ferthe cause as to what ende they schul come / or what schal finally betyde of hem in this caas / ne can I nat deeme / but be coniectynge & by supposynge [2593] for we schul suppose / that they schul come to a wekkede ende / [2594] bi-cause that the bok of Decreis seyth / Selde or woth greet peyne been causis I-brouȝt to a good ende / Whan they been baldely begunne [2595]

NOw sere ȝif meen wolde axsyn me whi that god sufferede / men to doon ȝow this veleny certis I can|not weel answeryn as for no Sothfastnesse / [2596] for thapostelle seyth that the sciencis & the iugementis of oure lord god / almyȝty; been ful deepe / [2597] there may no man comprehende / ne serchyn hem sufficiently [2598] ¶ Nathelees / bi certeyn presumpciounnys / & coneytyngis I holde & bileeue / [2599] that god whiche that is ful of iustise / & of ryghtwisnesse hath suffered this betyde by iuste cause / resonable

[2600] Thyn name is Melibee this is to seyne a man / that drynkyth hony / [2601] or he that hath I-dronkyn hony / so meche of sweete temperel richesse & delicis of honouris of this world [2602] that thow art dronkyn / & hast forgetyn Ihesu cryst thyn creature / [2603] thow ne hast nat doon to hym swich honour & reuerence / as the ouȝte [2604] ne thow ne hast not weel takyn keep to

[6-text p 229] the wordis of Ouide that seyth [2605] vndyr the hony of the goodis / of the body is hid the venym that sleth the soule / [2606] And salomon seyth ȝif thow hast foundyn hony / ete of it that suffyseth / [2607] ffor ȝif thow ete of it out of meseur / thow schalt spewe / & been nedy / & poure / [2608] & perauenture / cryst hat the in dispyt and hath turnede awey from the hys face & hise eeris of mysericorde / [2609] And also he hath sufferede / that thow hast been ponyschid / in the maneere that thow hast trespased / [2610] Thow hast doon synne a-geyn oure lord Ihesu cryst / [2611] ffor certis the thre enemyis / of mankynde that is to seyne / the flesch the feend & the world / [2612] thow hast suf [folio 339b] fred hem to entre in-to thyn herte wilfulli by the wyndowys / of thyn body / [2613] & hast not defendit thyn self sufficiauntly a-geyn here assautis / & here temptaciouns So that they han woundede thyn soule in fyue placis [2614] this is to seyne; the dedly synnys that been entered in-to thyn herte / by thynne fyue wittis / [2615] And in the same manere / oure lord crist hath wold & suffered that thyne .iij. enemyis been entrede in-to thyn hous by the wyndowys [2616] And han I-wounded thynne douȝtyr / in the forseyde manere / [2617]

CErtis quod Melibee I se wel that ȝe enforce ȝow mechel by wordis to ouyrcome me in swich manere; that I schal nat venge me of myne enemyis / [2618] Schewynge me the perilis & the euell that myȝtyn fallyn of this vengeaunce // [2619] But who so wolde considere / in alle vengeauncis the perilis & the yuyllys that myȝte sewe of vengeaunce takynge / [2620] a man wolde neuere take vengeaunce / & that were harm / [2621] for by the venge|aunce takynge; been the wikkede men disseuered from the goode men / [2622] And thei that han wil to doon wikkede|nesse; restreyne here wikkede purpos / whan they seen the ponyschynge & the chastisynge of the trespasourys / [2623]

[Ad ce respont dame prudence Certes dist elle Ie te ottroie que de vengance vient moult de biens

[6-text p 230] [2624] Mais faire vengance nappartient pas a vn chascun fors aux iuges / Et a ceulz qui ont les iuridicions sur les malfauteurs [MS Reg. 19 C xi folio 59b:2] ] [2625] And ȝit seye I moore / that ryȝt as a senguler persone synnyth in takynge vengeaunce / of a-nothir man; [2626] righ so synnyth the Iuge ȝif he do no vengeaunce / of hem that it han deseruyd / [2627] for Senek seyth / that maystir is good that preuyth schrewis / [2628] And as Cassiodere seyth / A man dredith to doon outrages / whan he wot & knowith that it displeseth to the Iugis / & to the souereynys / [2629] And a-nother seyth / The Iuge that dredith to doon ryȝt; makyth men schrewis // [2630] And seynt poule thapostelle seyth in his epistelle / whan he wrythith vnto the romaynys / that the Iuges berith not the spere / with-outyn cause; [2631] but they beryn it to ponysche þe schrewis & mysdoerys / & for to defendyn the Goode men [2632] Ȝif ȝe wele than [folio 340a] ne take vengeaunce of ȝoure enemyis / ȝe schul returne or haue ȝoure recours / to the Iuge that hath the Iurisdiccioun / vp-on hem / [2633] & he schal punyschyn hem as the lawe axit & requirith [2634]

Aquod Melibee this vengeaunce likyth me nothyng / [2635] I bethynke me now & take heed how fortune hath norichid me / from myn chyldeheede / & hath holpyn me to passyn manye a strong paas / [2636] now wele I assayen hire trowynge with godis helpe / that sche schal helpyn me myn schame for to venge [2637]

CErtis quod Prudence / If ȝe wele werke by myn con|seyl / ȝe schul not assaye fortune by no way / [2638] ne ȝe schul not lene / or bowe / on to here aftyr the word of senek / [2639] for thyngis that been folyly doon / & that been doon in hope of fortune / schuln neuere been brouȝt to good ende / [2640] And as the same Senek seyth / the moore cleer & the more schynynge that fortune is; the moore bretil & the sunnere brokyn sche is / [2641] truste nat in here for sche nys nat stedefast ne stable / [2642] ffor whan thow trowist to been most sekyr or sewir of hire

[6-text p 231] helpe; sche wele fayle & disseyue the / [2643] And wheere as ȝe seyn that Fortune hath norichid ȝoure childheede [2644] I seye that in so meche schul ȝe the lasse truste in here wit / [2645] For senek seyth / what man that is norichid by ffortune; sche makyth hym a greet fool / [2646] Now thanne syn ȝe desyre & aske vengeaunce / & the vengeaunce that is doon aftyr the lawe / & by-fore the Iuge / ne likyth ȝow nat [2647] And the vengeaunce that is doon in hope of fortune is perli|ous & vncerteyn / [2648] thanne haue ȝe noon othir remedie / but for to haue ȝoure recours / vn-to the souereyn Iuge that vengith alle vilanyis / & wrongis / [2649] & he schal venge ȝow aftyr / that hym self witnessith where as he seyth / [2650] leuyth the vengeaunce ¶ to me & I schal doon it [2651]

MElibie answerede / If I ne venge me not of the vilanye that men doon to me / [2652] I somoune or [folio 340b] warne hem that han doon to me that vilenye & alle othere to doon to me a-nothir vilenye / [2653] for it is wretyn / ȝif thow take ne vengeaunce of an opyn vilanye / thow somoun|yst thynne aduersaryis; to do the a newe velanye [2654] And also for myn sufferaunce men woldyn do me so meche vilenye / that I ne myghte neythir beere it ne sus|teene / [2655] & so schulde I bee put & holdyn ouyr lowe / [2656] ffor men seyn in meche sufferynge schal manye thyngis falle vn-to the whiche thow schalt nat mowe suffere [2657]

CErtis quod .prudence. I graunte now that ouyr meche sufferaunce / is nat good [2658] But ȝit ne folwith it not therof / that euery persone to whom men doon vilenye; tak of it vengeaunce / [2659] for that aper|tenyth & longith al only to the Iugis / for they schul venge / the vilanyis & the Iniurijs / [2660] And therfore to two autoriteis / that ȝe han seyd a-bouyn / been only vndyrstondyn In the Iugis / [2661] For whan they sufferyn ouermeche the wrongis & vilenyis to been doon

[6-text p 232] with-outyn punyschynge [2662] they somone nat a man al only for to doon newe wrongis / but they comaundyn it / [2663] also a wys man seyth / that the Iuge that cor|ectith nat the synnere comaundyth / & biddyth hym to do synne / [2664] & the Iugis & souereynys / myȝtyn in here land so meche suffere of the schrewis & mysdoerys; [2665] that they schuldyn by swich sufferaunce / by processe of tyme / waxen of swich poweer & myȝt / that they schuldyn puttyn out / the Iugis & the souereynys from here placis [2666] & at the laste makyn hem to lesyn here lordschepe //

[2667] But lat vs now putte that ye han leue to vengen ȝow / [2668] I seye ȝe been nat of myȝt & power as now to venge ȝow / [2669] ffor ȝif ȝe wele make comparisoun vn-to þ^e myȝt of ȝoure aduersaryis / ȝe schul fynde in manye thyngis that I haue schewid ȝow er this / that hire condicioun is bettere than ȝoures [2670] & therfore seye I that it is good / as now / that ȝe suffere & been pacient

[2671] Fertheremore ȝe knowe wel / that aftyr the comu [folio 341a] ne sawe. it is a woodnesse a man to stryue with a strongere / or a moore myȝty man / than he is hym selue / [2672] & for to stryue with a man of euene strenthe / that is to seyne with as strong a man as he is hymselue / it is peril / [2673] And for to stryue with a weykere man; it is folye / [2674] & therfore schulde a man fle stryuynge / as meche as he myȝte // [2675] ffor Salomon seyth it is a greet worschepe / to a man to kepyn hym from noyse / & stryf. [2676] & If it so befalle or happe / that a man be of grettere myȝt & strenthe / than thow art / do the greuaunce / [2677] stodye & besye the rathere to stylle the same greuaunce; than to venge the / [2678] ffor senek seyth / that he puttith hym in greet peryl / that stryuyth with a grettere man than he is hym self / [2679] And catoun seyth // If a man of heyere staat or degre or moore myȝt than thow / do the ony noye or greuaunce / suffere hym / [2680] ffor he that onys hath greuyd the /

[6-text p 233] mai a-nothir tyme releue the & helpe // [2681] Ȝit sette I caas ȝe han bothe a lycence / for to venge ȝow / [2682] I seye that theere been ful manye thyngis / that schul restreyne ȝow of vengeaunce takynge / [2683] & make ȝow for to enclyne to sufferre & for to han pacience / in the wrongis that han been don to ȝow / [2684] fferst & foreward ȝif ȝe wele / considere the defautis / . . . . .[2685] . . . . . [no gap] god hath suffered ȝow to haue this tribulacioun / as I haue seyd ȝow heere by-fore / [2686] For the Poete seyth that we ouȝtyn paciently / takyn the tribu|laciounnys that comyn to vs whan that we thynkyn & con|sideryn that we han deseruyd to han hem [2687] ¶ And seynt Gregorie seyth that whan a man considerith weel the noumbere of hise defautis & of hise synnys / [2688] the peynys & the tribulaciounnys that he sufferyth semyn the lasse vnto hym / [2689] And in as meche as hym sem|yth his synne is moore heuy / & greuous [2690] in so meche semyth his peyne the lyȝtere & the esiere vnto hym // [2691] Also ȝe owyn to enclyne / & bowe ȝoure herte to [folio 341b] take the pacience [[MS repeats the pacience]] of oure lord Ihesu cryst / as seyth seynt petyr / In hise episteles / [2692] Ihesu Crist he seith hath suffered for vs / & ȝeuyn ensample to euery man to folwe / & sewyn hym / [2693] for he dede neuere synne ne neuere cam there / A vileyns word out of his mouth [2694] whan men cursede hym; he cursede hem not / . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [2695] Also the greete pacience / whiche seyntis that been in paradys han had in tribulaciounnys / that they been I-sufferid with-outyn here desert or gilt / [2696] oughte meche stere ȝow to pacience / [2697] Ferthere more ȝe schul enforse ȝow to haue pacience / [2698] considerynge that the tribulaciounnys / of this world but lityl while endure / & soone passede been & goone / [2699] And the Ioye that a man sekyth for to han bi pacience in trybulaciounnys / is perdurable / aftyr that

[6-text p 234] thapostele seyth in his epistele [2700] ¶ The Ioye of God is perdurable that is to seyne euere lastynge / [2701] Also trowith & bileuyth stedefastly / that he nys not weel I-noryschid / ne weel I-tauȝt that can not haue pacience / or wele not receyue pacyence / [2702] For salomon seyth / that the doctryne & the wit of a man is knowyn by pacience / [2703] And in a-nothir place he seyth that he that is pacient gouernyth hym by greet prudence / [2704] And the same Salomon seyth / That the angry & the wratheful man; makyth noysis / & the pacient man attempereth hym & stillith / [2705] he seyth also it is moore worth to ben pacient; than for to ben ryȝt strong / [2706] And he that may haue the lordschepe of hese owene herte; he is moore to preyse / than he that by his force or strenthe; takyth greete ceteis [2707] And therefore seyth seynt Iame In his epistle / that Pacience is a greet vertu of perfeccioun. [2708]

CErtis quod Melibee I graunte ȝow dame Prudence / that Pacience is a greet vertu of perfeccioun [2709] But euery man may not han the perfeccioun that ȝe seekyn / [2710] ne I am not of the noumbre of ryȝt per|fite men / [2711] For myn herte may neuere been in pees / vnto the tyme it be ven [folio 342a] git / [2712] And al be it so / that it was greet peril to mynne enemyis to doon me a vilenye / in takynge vengeaunce vp-on me; [2713] ȝit take they noon heede at the peril /. but fulfilledyn here wekede wil / & here corage / [2714] & therfore me thynkyth men ouȝte nat repreue me thogh I putte me in a lityl peril / For to vengyn me / [2715] And thow I do a greet excesse / that is to seyne that I venge oon outrage / by a-nothir. [2716]

Aquod dame Prudence / ȝe seyn ȝoure wil & As ȝow likyth / [2717] but in noo cas of the world a man schulde nat doon outrage ne exces. ffor to vengyn hym / [2718] For Cassiodere seyth / that as euele doth he that vengith hym by outrage; as he that doth the

[6-text p 235] outrage / [2719] And therefore ȝe schul venge ȝow; aftyr the ordere of ryȝt / that is to seyne by the lawe / & nat by excesse / ne by outrage [2720] And also ȝif ȝe wele venge ȝow / of the outrage of ȝoure aduersarijs in othere maneere than ryȝt comaundyth / ȝe synnyn [2721] & therfore seyth Senek / that a man schal neuere venge schrewedenesse by schrewedenesse / [2722] & ȝif ȝe seyn that ryȝt axeth a man to defende violence / [ . . . . .] & fyȝtynge. By fytynge [2723] certis ȝe seyn soth / whan the defence is doon a-noon with-outyn interual or with-outyn taryinge or delay [2724] for to defende hym; & not for to venge hym / [2725] And it behouth that a man putte swich attemperaunce in his defence / [2726] that men haue no cause / ne matere to repreuyn hym; that defendyth hym from excesse & outrage / for ellis weere it a-geyn resoun / [2727] ¶ Parde ȝe knowyn weel that ȝe makyn no defence / as now for to defende ȝow; but for to venge ȝow / [2728] And so sewith it that ȝe han no wil / to doon ȝoure deede atemperelly / [2729] And therfore me thynkyth / that Pacience is good ffor Salomon seyth / that he that is not pacient; schal haue greet harm [2730]

CErtis quod Melibee I graunte ȝow that whan a man is inpacient & wroth of that that touchith hym / not / & that apertenyth [folio 342b] nat vn-to hym; thow it harme hym it is no wondyr / [2731] for the lawe seyth that he is coupable that entyrmetith or medelyth with swich thyng / as apertenyth nat vn-to hym [2732] ¶ And Salomon seith that he that entirmetyth hym of the noyse of stryf / of a-nothir man / is lyk to hym that takith an hound bi the eeris / [2733] For ryȝt as he that takith a strong hound bi the eris; is othirwhile betyn with the hound / [2734] Ryȝt in the same wise is it resoun that he haue harm that by his enpacience medelyth hymself bi the noyse of a-nothir man where as it aperteynyth not vn-to hym / [2735] But ȝe knowyn weel that this deede that

[6-text p 236] is to seyne / myn greef & myn deseese touchith me ryȝt now / [2736] And therfore thow I be wroth & in|pacient; it is no meruayle // [2737] And sauynge ȝoure grace / I can not seen that it myȝte greetly harme me thow I tok vengeaunce [2738] ffor I am richere & moore myȝty than myne enemy is been // [2739] And weel knowe ȝe that by monee & by hauynge / greete posses|siouns been alle thyngis of this world / gouernyd [2740] ¶ And salomon seith That alle these thyngis obeye to monye. [2741]

WHanne Prudence hadde herd these wordis of hire hosisbonde how he auaunted hym of hese richesse / and of hise mene / dispreysynge the poweer / of hise aduersaryis / sche spak & seyde in this wyse / [2742] Certis deere sere / I graunte ȝow that ȝe been riche / & myghty / [2743] & that the richessis been goode to hem / that han weel I-getyn hem and that weel cunne vse hem // [2744] For rygh as the body of a man may not leue with-outyn the soule; no moore may it leue with-oute the temperel goodis / [2745] and by richessis may a man getyn hym best frendis / [2746] And therefore seyth Pamphilles ¶ If Auerthes doughtir he seyth be ryche / Sche may chesen of a thousent men . . . . .[2747] . . [no gap in the MS.] / oon wele not forsakyn hyre ne refusyn hire / [2748] And this Pamphiles seith also / If thow be ryȝt happy / that is to seyne / If [folio 343a] thow be ryȝt ryche / thow schat fyndyn a greet noumbere of felawys & frendis / [2749] And ȝif thyn fortune chonge Fare weel freendschepe & felaweschepe / [2750] for thow schat been a-loone / with-outyn ony cumpanye But if it be the cumpanye of poore folk [2751] ¶ And ȝit seyth this Pamphilles moore ouyr That they that been / boonde & thralle / of linage schuln been made worthy & noble bi the richesses [2752] & ryȝt so as by richessis theere comyn manye goodys; ryȝt so by pouerte / comyn theere manye harmys / & euellis / [2753] For greet pouerte; con|streynyth

[6-text p 237] a man to doon manye euellis / [2754] And th[e]r|fore clepith Cassiodere / pouerte the moodyr of ruine / [2755] that is to seyne the modyr of ouyrthrowynge or of fallynge doun / [2756] And therrefore seyth Peers alfonce On of the gretteste aduersiteis of this world is [2757] whan a fre man by kynde / or of burthe is constreyned / bi pouerte / to ete te almesse / of hise enemy / [2758] & the same seyth Innocent in oon of hise bookis / he seith that sorweful & myshappi · is the condicioun of a poore beggere / [2759] for if he axe nat his meete / he dieth fore hungir / [2760] And ȝif he axe / he dieth for ¶ schame / And algatis necescitee constreynyth hym to axe / [2761] And therfore seith Salomon / betere is it to deye than for to haue swich pouerte / [2762] And as the same Salo|mon seith Betere it is to deye of bittere deth; than for to leuyn in swich wyse / [2763] By these resonys that I haue seyd vn-to ȝow / & by manye othere resonys / that I coude seye / [2764] I graunte ȝow that richessis been goode to hem that hem getyn weel / And to hem that weel vsyn the rychessis / [2765] and therffore wele I schewe ȝow how ȝe schul haue ȝow in [amassant les (Le Ménagier, i. 222)] rychessis & in what maneere ȝe schul vse hem /

[2766] Fyrst ȝe schul geete hem with-outyn greet desyr / bi good leyseer / sokyngely but nat ouer hastyfely / [2767] For a man that is to desyrynge / to geete rychessis / abandonyth hym fyrst to thefte & to alle othere euyllis / [2768] And therfore seyth Salomon he that hastyth hym to busily to wexen ryche / he schal been noon innocent / [2769] he [folio 343b] seyth also that the rychesse that hastily comyth to a man; soone anlyghtely goth & passith from a man / [2770] But that richesse that comyth lityl & lyȝtil / wexeth alwey & multyplyeth / [2771] And sere ȝe schul gete richessis by ȝoure wit / & by ȝoure trauayle / vn-to ȝoure profyt [2772] & that with-outyn wrong or harm doinge to ony othir persone / [2773] For the law

[6-text p 238] seyth / that there makyth no man hym ryche / ȝif he do harm to a-nothyr witht. [2774] this is to seyne / that nature defendyth / & forbedyth by ryght / that no man make hym self ryche; vn-to the harm of a-nothyr / persone. [2775] And thullius seyth / that no sorwe ne no drede / of deth ne nothing that may falle vn-to a man [2776] is so meche ageyns nature; as a man to encrese his owene profit / to the harm of a-nothir man / [2777] And thow the greete men / & the myȝty men / getyn richessis / moore lyȝthely than thow / [2778] ȝit schalt thu nat been ydyl ne slow to don thyn profit ffor thow schalt in alle wise / fleen ydilnesse / [2779] ffor Salomon seyth / that idilnesse techith a man to doon manye euyllis / [2780] And the Same Salomon seyth that he that trauaylith / & besijth hym to tilyin his lond schal etyn breed / [2781] But he that is idyl & castyth hym to no besynesse / ne ocupacioun schal falle in-to pouerte / & deye for hungir / [2782] And he that is ydil & slow / can neuere fyndyn conabele tyme for to doon his profyt [2783] ffor there is a versefiour seyth / that the ydele man excuseth hym in wyntyr bi cause of greet cold / & in somyr by cause of the greete heete / [2784] For these causes / seyth catoun wakyth & enclynyth ȝow nat ouyrmeche for to slepe / ffor ouyrmeche slep causeth & norichith manye vicis [2785] And therfore seyth seynt Ierome / doth some goode dedys / that the deuyl whiche is oure enemy / ne fynde ȝow nat vn-ocupied / [2786] For the deuyl takyth nat lyȝtely vn-to hise werk|ynge sweche as he fyndyth ocupied in goode werkis /

[2787] Thanne thus in getynge richesses the muste fleen Idilnesse / [2788] & aftyrward ȝe schul vse the rychesses / whiche ȝe han getyn by ȝoure wit And by ȝoure trauayle / [2789] in swich manere that men holdyn [folio 344a] ȝow nat to scars ne to sparynge / ne fool large / that is to seyne ouyr large a spendere / [2790] For ryȝt as men blamyn an auericious man / by cause of hise scarcite & chyncherye; [2791] ryȝt so / in the same wise / is he to blame

[6-text p 239] that spendyth ouyr largely / [2792] And therefere seyth Catoun vse he seyth thynne richessis / that þ^u hast getyn [2793] in swich a maner / that men haue ne matier ne cause to calle the neythir wreche ne chinchere / [2794] ffor it is greet schame to a man to haue a poore herte & a ryche purs [2795] he seyth also the goodis that thow hast getyn / vse hem by meseur / that is to s[e]yne spende mesurabely / [2796] for they that folyly wastyn & despendyn the goodis that they han / [2797] whan they han no moore propere of here owene / they schapyn hem to takyn the goodis of a-nothyr man [2798] ¶ I seye thanne ȝe schul fleen aueryce [2799] vsynge ȝoure richessis in swich manere / that men seye nat that ȝoure richessis been I-buryed / [2800] But that ȝe haue hem in ȝoure myȝt & in ȝoure weldynge // [2801] ffor a wys man repreuyth the auericious man / & seyth thus in two vers / [2802] Wherto & whi buryeth a man hise goodis bi his greete aueryce / & knowyth weel that nedis muste he deye / [2803] for deth is the ende of euery man as in this present lyf / [2804] And for what cause & what enchesoun / ioynyth he hym or knyttyth he hym / so faste vnto hise goodis / [2805] that alle hise wittys moun nat disseueren hym ne departyn hym from hise goodis / [2806] & knowith weel or oughte to knowyn / that whan he is deed he schal no thyng bere with hym / ouȝt of þis world / [2807] And therefore seyth seynt Augustyn / that the auarycious man is lykkened vn-to helle / [2808] that the more it swolwith / the moode desyr it hath to swolwe / & deuoure / [2809] And as weel as ȝe wolde eschewe / to been called an auerycious man / or chynche / [2810] as weel schulde ȝe keepe ȝow & gouerne ȝow in swich a wyse / that men ne calle ȝow nat fool large / [2811] Therfore seyth Tullius / the goodis he seyth of thyn hous schulde not been kept [folio 344b] ne hid so cloos / But that they myȝtyn been openyd bi pete & debonayeretee / [2812] that is to seyne to ȝeuyn hem part / that han greet neede / [2813]

[6-text p 240] Ne thynne goodis schulde not been so opyn / to been euery manys goodis [2814] ¶ Aftyrward in getynge of ȝoure richesse & in vsynge hem / ȝe schul alwey haue thre thyngis in ȝoure herte / [2815] that is to seyne oure lord god Concience / And good name // [2816] ffyrst ȝe schul haue god in ȝoure herte / [2817] And for no rychesse ȝe schul doon no thyng that schulde displese oure lord good / that is ȝoure creature & makere / [2818] ffor aftyr the word of salomon / It is bettere to haue a lytil good with the loue of god [2819] than to haue meche good / & tresor And leese the loue of hise lord god / [2820] And the prophete seyth / that t[h]e moore prophit & the betere it is to been a good man / & haue lytil good & tresore; [2821] than to been heldyn a schrewe & haue greete rychessis [2822] And ȝit seye I ferthere moore / that ȝe schul alwey doon ȝoure besynesse to gete ȝow richessis [2823] so that ȝe gete hem with good concience // [2824] And thapostelle seyth / that there ne is thyng in this world of whiche ȝe schulde haue so greet Ioye / as whan oure concience beryth vs witnesse / [2825] And the wise man seyth. The substaunce of a man is ful good / whan synne is not in mannys concience / [2826] Aftyrward in getynge of ȝoure richessis / & in vsynge of hem [2827] ȝow muste haue greet besynesse / And greet dilligence / that ȝoure goode name be alwey kept & conseruyd / [2828] ffor Salo|mon seyth that betere it is / & moore it a-vaylith a man to haue a good name than for to haue manye rych[e]ssis / [2829] And therfore he seyth in a-nothir place / Doo greet diligence seyth salomon in kepynge of thyn frend & of thyn goode name / [2830] for it schal longere a-bydyn / with the than ony tresore be it neuere so precious / [2831] and certis he schulde nat been callid a gentil man that aftyr god & good concience / alle thynge left / ne doth his diligence / & bisynesse to kepyn his goode name // [2832] And Cassiodere seyth / That it is [folio 345a] signe of a gentil herte / whan a man louyth & desiryth to haue a good name /

[6-text p 241] [2833] And therfore seyth seynt austyn / that there been two thyngis that been necessarye & nedeful [2834] & that is good Concience & good loos / [2835] that is to seyne good concience to thyn owene parsone / In word and good los / for thyn neyghebore owtward / [2836] And he that trustith hym so mechil in hise goode concience / [2837] that he displesith & settyth at nouȝt / his goode name or los / & rekkith nat thow he kepith nat his goode name / nys but a crewel cherl /

[2838] Sire now haue I schewid ȝow / how ȝe schuldyn doon to getyn rychessis / & how ȝe schuldyn vsyn hem / [2839] And I se weel that for the trust that ȝe han in ȝoure richessis / ȝe wele meue werre / & batayle [2840] ¶ I conseyle ȝow that ȝe begynne no werre in trust of ȝoure rychessis / for they ne suffyse not / werrys to mayn|tene / [2841] And therfore seyth a philysophere That man that desyryth & wele algatis han werre / schal neuere han suffisaunce / [2842] for the rychere that he is the grettere dispencis wolde he makyn / ȝif he wele haue wor|schepe & victorie [2843] And Salomon seyth / that the grettere rychessis that a man hath; the mo dispendouris / he hath [2844] ¶ And deere sere / al be it so that for ȝoure rychessis / ȝe mowe haue meche folk / [2845] ȝit behouyth it nat / ne it is nat good to bryngyn werre / where as ȝe mowe in othere manere haue pees / vn-to ȝoure worschepe & profyt / [2846] ffor the victorye of bataylis / that been in this world / lyth not in grete nou[m]bre or multitude of peple / ne in the vertew of man / [2847] but it lyth in the wil & in the vertu of oure lord god / almighty / [2848] & therfore Iudas / Machabeus / whiche was goddis knygh / [2849] whanne he schulde fyghte aȝen hyse aduersaryis that a grettere noumbre & a grettere mul|titude of puple of folk & was strongere / than was his puple of Machabye / [2850] ȝit he reconfortyth his litil cumpanye / & seyde ryȝt in this wise / [2851] Also lyghtely quod he may oure lord god / almyghty ȝeue victorye to a fewe folk;

[6-text p 242] as to manye folk / [2852] [folio 345b] for the victorie of batayle / comyth not by the greete noumbre of peple [2853] but it comyth from oure lord god / of heuene [2854] ¶ And deere sere for as meche as theere is no man / certeyn if it be worthi that god ȝeue hym victorie / . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] or noght aftyr that salomon seyth / [2855] therfore euery man / schulde greetly drede werris / to begynne / [2856] And by cause that in bataylis fallyn manye perilis / [2857] And happith othir|while / that as soone as the greete man slayn as the lityl man / [2858] And as it is I-wretyn in the secunde book of kyngis / the deedis of bataylis been auenturouse And no thyng certeyn / [2859] for as lyȝtely is on hurt with a spere as a-nothir / [2860] And for there is gret peril in werre / therfore schulde a man fle & eschewe werre in as meche as a man may goodly / [2861] ffor Salomon seyth / he that louyth peril / schal falle in peril / [2862]

Aftyr that Dame Prudence hadde spokyn in this maneere / Melibee answerede & seyde [2863] I se weel dame prudence / that be ȝoure fayre wordys and by ȝoure resonys / that ȝe han schewede me; that the werre lykyth ȝow no thyng / [2864] but I haue not ȝit herd ȝoure conseyl / how I schal doon / in this neede [2865]

CErtis quod sche / I conseyle ȝow that ȝe acorde with ȝoure aduersaryis / & that ȝe han pees with hem / [2866] ffor seynt Iame seyth / in hise epistellis That by concord & pees / the smale rychessis waxen greete / [2867] & by debat & discord / the greete richessis fallyn doun [2868] & ȝe knowyn weel that on of the gretteste / & most souereyn thyng that is in this world / is vnytee & pees / [2869] and therfore seyde oure lord Ihesu Crist to hise apostell in this wyse / [2870] wol happi & blyssede been they / that louyn & purchasyn pees / for they been callede childeryn of god / [2871] A Quod Melibee / Now se I that ȝe louyn not myn honour / ne myn worchepe / [2872] ȝe knowyn weel that mynne

[6-text p 243] aduersaryis han begunne this debaat & brige / by here outrage [2873] & ȝe seen weel that they ne requiryn ne preyen me nat of pees / ne they axsyn nat to been reconsylid / [2874] wele ȝe thanne that I goo and meeke / me & obeye me to hem / & crye hem mercy / [2875] for sothe that weere nat myn worschepe / [2876] ffor ryȝt as men [folio 346a] seyn / that oure greete homelynesse / engenderyth dispressynge so faryth it / by too gret humilte or meeknesse [2877]

Thanne bygan Daame Prudence / to makyn sem|blaunt of wrethe & seyde [2878] Certis sire saue ȝoure grace / I loue ȝoure honour & ȝoure profyt as I do myn owene / & euere haue do / [2879] ne ȝe ne noon othir seyen neuere the contrarye / [2880] And ȝit If I hadde seyd / that ȝe schulde / han purchasyd / the pees & the reconsyliacyoun / I ne hadde nat meche mystake me / ne sayd a-mys // [2881] ffor the wise man seyth / The dis|sencioun begynnyth by a-nothir man / & the reconsylyng bygynnyth by thi self / [2882] And the prophete seyth ffle schrewedenesse & do goodnesse / [2883] Seeke pees & folwe it in-asmeche as ȝe may / [2884] ȝit seye I nat / that ȝe schul rathere / pursewe to ȝoure aduersarye / for pees / than they schul to ȝow / [2885] ffor I knowe weel that ȝe been so hard hertid / that ȝe weele doon no thyng for me // [2886] And Salomon seyth / that he that hath ouyr hard an herte / that he at the laste schal myshappe or mystyde.

Whanne Melibee hadde herd dame Prudence makyn semblaunt / of wrathe / he seyde in this wise / [2888] Dame I preye ȝow that ȝe been nat displesid / of thyngis that I seye / [2889] ffor ȝe knowe weel / that I am angery & wroth / & that is no wondyr / [2890] & they that been wrothe; wetyn nat weel what they doon / ne what they seyn / [2891] Therfore the prophete seyth / that troublede eyen han no cleer syȝt / [2892] but seyth & conseylyth me / as ȝou lykyth / for I am redy to do / ryght as ȝe wele desire / [2893] and ȝif ȝe repreue me of myn folye / I am the moore holdyn for to loue ȝow & to preyse

[6-text p 244] ȝow // [2894] ffor Salomon seyth / that he that repreuyth hym that doth folye [2895] he schal fynde grettere grace / than he that disseyuyth hym with sweete wordys / [2896]

Thanne seyde dame Prudence / I make no semblaund / of wrathe ne of angir: but for ȝoure greete profyth / [2897] ffor Salomon seyth he is more worth / that re|preuyth or chydyth / a fool for hise folyee / schewynge hym semelaunt of wrethe; [2898] than he that support[it]h hym / & preysith hym in his mysdoinge. [folio 346b] and laughit at hise folye / [2899] and this same salamon seyth aftyrward / that by the sorweful visage of a man that is to seyne by the sorye & heuy cuntenaunce / of a man [2900] the fool / correctyth & amendyth hymself / [2901]

Thanne seyde Melibee / I schal nat cunne answere to so manye & fayr resonys as ȝe puttyn on to me / & schewyn / [2902] seyth schortely vn-to me ȝoure wil & ȝoure conseyl / & I am al redy to performe it & fulfille it /

Whanne Dame Prudence discouerede al hire wil on to hym & seyde / [2904] I conseyle ȝow quod sche abouyn alle thynges / that ȝe makyn pees by-twexe god and ȝow / [2905] & beth reconsyled vn-to hym / & to hise grace / [2906] ffor as I haue seyd ȝow heere by-forn / God hath sufferid ȝow to haue this tribulacioun & dissese for ȝoure synnys / [2907] and ȝif ȝe do as I seyde ȝow / god wele sende ȝore aduersarijs vn-to ȝow / [2908] & make hem to falle at ȝoure feet / redy to doon ȝoure wil & ȝoure com|aundement / [2909] for Salomon seyth / whanne the con|dicioun of a man / is plesaunt & lykynge to god / [2910] he chaungith the hertis of the mannys aduersarijs & con|streynyth hem to beseke hym of pees & of grace [2911] & I preye ȝow lat me spekyn with ȝoure aduersarijs pryuyly / [2912] for they schal nat knowe that it be of ȝoure wil / or ȝoure assent / [2913] and thanne whanne I knowe here wil & here entent I may conseyle ȝow the moore sewerly

[2914] DAme quod Melibee doth ȝoure wil &

[6-text p 245] ȝoure lykynge / [2915] for I putte me holly in ȝoure disposicioun and ordynaunce [2916]

Thanne dame Prudence whanne sche saw the greete wil of hire husbonde / delibered & took auys in hireself / [2917] thynkynge how sche myȝte brynge this neede into a good conclusioun / & to a good ende [2918] And whan sche saw hire tyme sche sente for hise aduersaryis / to come vn-to hire into a priue place / [2919] & schewede wisely vn-to hem / the greete goodis that comyn of pees [2920] & the greete harmys / & perilis that comyn in werre / [2921] & seyde to hem in a goodely manere / how that [folio 347a] hem oughte to han greet re|pentaunce / [2922] of the Iniurie & the wrong that they hadde doon to hire lord / and vn-to hire & to hyre douȝtyr [2923]

And whanne / they herdyn the goodelyche wordis off Dame Prudence / [2924] they weere so suppreysed / & rauyschit & haddyn so greet Ioye of hire that wondyr was to seen / or telle // [2925] A lady quod they ȝe han schewyd vnto vs / the blyssynge of swettnesse / aftyr the sawe of dauyth the prophete / [2926] ffor the reconsilyng whiche we ne been nat worthi for to haue / in no maneere / [2927] but we ouȝtyn to requiryn it with vericontrycioun / & humilitee that [2928] ȝe of ȝoure greete goodnesse / haue presentid vn|to vs / [2929] Now se we weel / that the science & the cun|nynge / of Salomon is ful trewe / [2930] ffor he seyth that sweete wordys / multiplyen & encresyn frendis / & makyn schrewys to been debonayre & meeke /

[2931] Certis quod they / we putte oure deede & al oure matyere & cause al only in ȝoure goode wil / [2932] and been redy to obeye to the comaunde|ment of myn lord / Melibee / [2933] And therefore deere & benygne lady / we preye ȝow & beseke ȝow as mekely as we cunne / And moun / [2934] that it like vnto ȝoure greete goodnesse / to fulfylle in deede ȝoure good|lyche wordis // [2935] ffor we consideryn & knowelechyn /

[6-text p 246] that we haue offendit & greuyd myn lord Melibee out of mesure [2936] so fer forth that we been nat of poweer / to makyn hise amendis / [2937] And therfore we obligyn & byndyn vs & oure frendis for to doon his wil / & al his comaundementz / [2938] but perauenture he hath swich heuynesse & swich wrathe to vsward / by cause of oure offence [2939] that he wele enioynyn vs swich a peyne as we mowe nat bere ne sustene / [2940] And therfore noble lady we besekyn to thyn womanly pete / [2941] to takyn swich auysement / in this neede / that we ne oure frendis been nat diseritid ne distroyed / thorw oure folye [2942]

CErtis quod Prudence / it is an hard thyng [et per|illeuse] [2943] that a man putte hym al vtreely in arbitracioun / and Iugement & in the mygh & power of hyse enemyis / [2944] ffor Salomon seyth / Leeuyth me [folio 347b] & ȝeuyth credence to that that I schal seyn / I seye quod he the puple / folk / & gouernouris of holy cherche [2945] to thyn sone to thyn wif / to thyn frend ne to thyn brothyr [2946] ne ȝeue thow neuere mygh ne maystrye / of thyn body whil thow leuyst [2947] ¶ Now sithyn that he defendyth that a man schulde nat ȝeuyn to hise brothir ne to his frend the myȝt of hise body / [2948] by a strongere resoun / he defendith & forbedyth a man / to ȝeuyn hym self to his enemy / [2949] And nathe|les I conseyle ȝow that ȝe mystruste nat myn lord / [2950] for I wot weel & knowe verrayly / that he is debonayre / and meeke large curteys / [2951] & no|thyng desyrous / ne coueytous of good ne rychesse / [2952] for there ne is no thyng in this world / that he desiryth; saue only worschepe & honour / [2953] fferthere-moore I knowe & am ryȝt sekyr that he schal nothyng doon in this neede with-outyn myn conseyl / [2954] And I schal so werkyn in this cause / that by the grace of oure lord god ȝe schul been reconsyled vn-to vs

[2955] Thanne seydyn they with oon wois / worschepe|ful

[6-text p 247] lady we putte vs & alle oure goodis // all fully in ȝoure wil & disposicioun [2956] and been redy to come / what day it lyke vnto ȝoure noblesse / to lymite vs / or assigne vs / [2957] for to makyn oure obligacioun / & boond as strong as it likith vn-to ȝoure goodnesse / [2958] that we mowe fulfylle the wil of ȝow // and of myn lord Melibee [2959]

Whanne Dame Prudence / hadde herd the answerys of these men / sche bad hem gon a-gayn priuyly / [2960] and sche retornede to hire lord Melibee / and tolde hym how sche foond hise aduersarijs ful repentaunt / [2961] knowelechynge ful lowely here synnys & trespase and how they were redy / to suffere alle peyne / [2962] requirynge & preyinge hym / of merci & pete [2963]

Thanne seyde Melibee / he is weel worthi to haue pardoun & forȝeuenesse of hise synne / that excusith nat his synne / [2964] but [folio 348a] knowelecheth & repentith hym axinge indulgence [2965] ffor Senek saith theere is the remissioun & forȝeuenesse of synne / wheere as the con|fescioun is / [2966] neighbore to innocence; is confessioun / [2967] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And therfore I assente / & conferme me to haue pees / [2968] but it is good that we doon not with-outyn the assent & wil of oure frendis [2969]

Thanne was prudence / ryȝt glad & Ioyeful and seyde / [2970] Certis sere quod sche / ȝe han weel & goodly answeryd / [2971] for rygh as by the conseyl / assent & helpe of ȝoure frendis / ȝe han been stirid to venge ȝow / & make werre / [2972] ryȝt so with|outyn hire conseyl / schul ȝe nat acordyn / ȝow / ne haue pees with ȝoure aduersarijs / [2973] ffor the lawe seith There ne is no thyng so good be woye of kynde as a thyng to been onbounde / by hym that it was I-bou[n]de //

[2974] And thanne Dame Prudence / with-outyn delay or taryinge / sente a-non hire messagis for hire kyn & for hire olde frendis / whiche that were trewe / & wyse [2975]

[6-text p 248] & tolde hem bi ordere in the presence of Melibee / al this matieere as it is a-boue expressid / & declared / [2976] And preyede hem that they wolde ȝeue hire a-vis & con|seyl / what best were to don in this neede // [2977] And whanne Melibees frendis haddyn takyn hire auys / & deliber|acioun of the forseyde matieere [2978] & hadde examynede it bi greet auysement & besynesse & greet diligence / [2979] they ȝeve ful conseyl / for to haue pees & reste / [2980] And that melibee schulde resseyue with good herte hise aduer|saryis / to forȝeuenesse & mercy

[2981] ¶ And whanne dame Prudence / hadde herd thassent of hire lord / Melibee & the conseyl of hise frendis / [2982] acord / with hire wil / & hyre entencioun [2983] sche was wondirly glad / in hire herte / & seyde / [2984] there is an old prouerbe / quod sche / that seyth That the goodnesse that thow mayght don this day do it / [2985] & abyde not ne delaye it not til tomorwe / [2986] & therfore I conseyle that ȝe sende ȝoure massagis / sweche as been discreete / & wyse. [2987] vn-to ȝoure aduersaryis / tellynge [folio 348b] hem on ȝoure behalue / [2988] that ȝif they wele trete of pees / & of acord / [2989] that they schape hem with-outyn delay or tarynge to comyn vn-to vs / [2990] whiche thing perfornede was / in deede [2991] & whanne these trespasouris & repentynge folk of here folyis / that is to seyne the aduersaryis of Melibee / [2992] haddyn herd what these messageris seydyn vn-to hem / [2993] they weere right glad & ioyeful / & answeredyn ful mekely & benygnely [2994] ȝeldynge gracis / & thankyngis to here lord Melibee & to alle his cumpaynye / [2995] & schopyn hem with-outyn delay to gon with the massangeris / & obeye to the comaundement of here lord Melibee //

[2996] & ryȝt a-noon they toke here woye to the court / of Melibee / [2997] & tokyn with hem summe of here trewe frendis to make feith for hem / & for to been here borwys / [2998] And whanne they were come to

[6-text p 249] the presence / of Melibee / he seyde hem these wordys / [2999] It standith thus quod Melibee / & soth it is that [3000] causeles & with-outyn skille / & resoun ȝe [3001] han doon greete Iniurijs & wrongis / to me & to myn wif Prudence And to myn doughtyr also / [3002] for ȝe han entred in-to myn hous by violence / [3003] & han doon swich outrage that alle men knowyn wel / that ȝe han deseruyd the deth / [3004] And therfore wele I knowe & wete of ȝow [3005] whethir ȝe wele putte the ponyschynge and the chastisynge in-to vengeaunce / of this outrage in the wil of me / & of myn wyf; or ȝe wele nat [3006]

¹THanne the wyseste of hem thre / answerede for hem alle & seyde / [3007] Sire we knowe wel that we been onworthy to come to the court of so gret a lord & so worthy as ȝe been [3008] ffor we han so greetly mystakyn vs / & han offendit & agilt in swich a wise ageyn ȝoure hye lordschepe / [3009] that trewely we han deseruyd the deth / [3010] But ȝit for the greete goodnesse & debonaierete / that al the world witnessith of ȝoure persoone / [3011] we submyttyn vs to the excellence & the benygnete of ȝoure graciouse lordschepe [3012] And been redy to obeye [folio 349a] to alle ȝoure comandementis/ [3013] besekynge ȝow that of ȝoure Merciable pete / ȝe wolde considere oure geeete repentaunce & lowe submissioun [3014] & graunte vs forȝeuenesse of oure outrageous trespacis and offence [3015] for weel we knowyn / that ȝoure liberal grace / & mercy / strechyn hem ferthere / in-to good|nesse; than don oure outrageous giltis & trespacis in-to wekedenesse [3016] Albe-it that cursedely & damp|nably we han gilt agen ȝoure highe lordschepe.¹ [[^1_1 All this paragraph is repeated in the MS, begin|ning Whanne instead of Thanne.]] [3017]

THanne Melibee tok hem vp from the ground ful benygnely / [3018] & resseyuede here oblygacyounys & here bondis / by here othis vpon here plegges / & borewis / [3019] and assignede hem a certeyn day to retourne vn-to hise courtt [3020] forto resceyue & accepte the sentence/

[6-text p 250] & Iugement that Melibee wolde commaunde to been doon on hem / by the cause afforseid. [3021] whyche thyngis or|deynyd / euery man retourned to his hous //

[3022] And whanne that dame Prudence saw hire tyme sche feynede and axede hire lord Melibee [3023] [folio 349b] what vengeaunce he thouȝte to takyn of hise aduersaries [3024]

TO whiche Melibee answerede & seyde certis quod he I thynke & purpose me fully [3025] to dys|erite hem of al that they han / & for to putte hem in exil for euere. [3026]

CErtis quod dame prudence this were a crewel sentence / & mechil a-geyn resoun / [3027] for ȝe been riche I-now / & han non ned of othere menys / [3028] & ȝe myȝtyn lyȝtely in this wyse / getyn ȝow a coueytous name [3029] whiche is a vicious thyng & oughte to been eschewid of euery good man / [3030] ffor aftyr the sawe of the word of thapostele / Coueytyse is roote of alle harmys / [3031] & therfore it were betere / for ȝow to lese so meche good / of ȝoure owene; than for to takyn of hire good / in this manere [3032] ffor betere it is to lese good / with worchepe; thanne it is to wynne good with vilanye / & schame / [3033] And euery man oughte to doon his diligence / & his besynesse / to getyn hym a good name / [3034] & ȝit schal he nat only / besye hym in kepynge his good name; [3035] but he schal also enforsyn hym alwey to doon sumthing by whiche he may renouelle / hise goode name [3036] ffor it is wretyn / that the olde goode loos / or goode name / of a man is soone goon & passid / whanne it nys nat newid ne re|nouellyd / [3037] And as touchynge that ȝe seyn ȝe wele exile ȝoure aduersaryis / [3038] that thynkyth me mekyl ageyn resoun And out of meseure / [3039] con|syderede the power that they han ȝeuyn ȝow vp-on hem-self / [3040] And it is wretyn that he is worthy to leese hise priuylege that mysuseth & the poweer / that is ȝeuyn hym / [3041] & I sette caas / ȝe myȝte enioyne hem / that peyne by ryȝt / & by lawe / [3042] whiche I

[6-text p 251] trowe ȝe ne may not do / [3043] I seye ȝe myght nat putte it to execucioun parauenture [3044] & thanne weere it likly to returne to the werre as it was by-forn [3045] & therfore ȝif ȝe wele that men doon ȝow obeys|aunce / ȝe muste deeme moore curteysly [3046] this is to seye ȝe muste ȝeue moore esy sentenceȝ & Iugementis / [3047] ffor it is wrete / that he that most curteysli comaundyth / to hym; meen muste obeye / [3048] & there|fore I preye ȝow / that in this necescite / & this neede ȝe caste ȝow to ouercome ȝoure herte // [3049] ffor senek seyth that he that [ones] ouyrcomyth [folio 350a] [is cut out] [Harl. 1758 folio 181b] [his/herte ouercomeþ twies/ [3050] And Tullius/ seith. þer is/ no þing/ so [¶ Tullius/.] comendable in a gret lorde. [3051] as/ when he is/ debon|eire & meke. & appesiþ hym mekeli. [3052] And I praie you · þat ye woll/ forbere now to do vengeaunce [3053] in suche a maner þat your good name maie be kept & conserued. [3054] & þat men maie haue cause & mater/ to preise you in pite & mercy. [3055] & þat ye haue no cause to repent you of þing/ þat ye done. [3056] ffor Senek seith. he ouercomeþ in euyll/ [¶ Seneca.] maner þat repentiþ hym of his/ victorie. [3057] Wher|fore I praie you lat/ mercy ben in your herte [3058] to þ^e effecte & þ^e entente þat god almyȝti haue mercy vp-on you in his/ last iugement [3059] ³¶ ffor seynt/ Iame seith in his/ epistell/. Iugement³ [[^3_3 in margin]] with [¶ Iacobus/.] out mercy schall/ be do to. hym. þat haþ no mercy of anoþer wight.

[3060] When Me [Harl. 1758 folio 182a] libe had herd þ^e grete skiles/ & resons/ of dame Prudence & of/ her/ wise informacions/ & techinges/. [3061] his herte gan enclyne to þ^e wille of his/ wif. considering/ to her trewe entent/. [3062] con|formed hym anon & assentid fulli to wirchen aftir/ hir/ counceile. [3063] & þankid god of/ whom procediþ all/ goodnes/ þat hym sent a wif/ of so gret discrecion. [3064] And when þ^e daie come þat his/ aduer|saries/ schulden appere in his presence. [3065] he spak/

[6-text p 252] to hem full/ goodli & seide to hem in þis/ wise. [3066] ¶ All/ be it/ so þat of your pride & hie presumpcion & folie & of your necligence & vnkonnyng. [3067] Ye haue mys/ born you & trespaced to me. [3068] Yet for as/ meche as/ I se & beholde your gret humylite [3069] & þat ye ben sorie & repentaunt of/ your giltes/. [3070] it/ constreyneþ me to do yow grace & mercy · [3071] wherfore I receyue you to my grace. [3072] & foryeuen/ you intierli alle þ^e offences/ yniuries/ & wrongis/· þat ye han done ayenst/ me & myn. [3073] to þis/ effecte & to þis/ ende þat god of his/ endeles/ mercy · [3074] will/ at þe tyme of diyng/. foryeuen/ our/ giltes/ þat we haue trespaced vn-to hym in þis/ wrecchid worlde. [3075] ffor doutles/ if/ we be sorie & repentaunt/ of þ^e synnes/ & giltes/· in þ^e whiche we han trespaced in þ^e sight/ of our/ lord god. [3076] he is/ so fre & so merci|full/. [3077] þat he will/ foryeuen/ vs/ our/ giltes/. [3078] & bryngen vs/ to þilke blis/ þat neuer hath ende . To whiche blis/ he vs/ brynge · þat blood on crois/ for vs/ did sprynge. Qui cum deo patre. & cetera.//

Here/ endith Chaucers/ tale/ of Melibe/ And Prudence/] [[Harl. MS 1758 extract ends]]

[6-text p 253]

[Here be-gynneth þe Prolooge of þe Monke. [Sloane MS 1685 folio 201b]

Whan endid was þis tale of Melybe And of / Prudence and of hir/ benygnyte Line 3080 Oure hoste sayd as I am a · feyth-full man And by þe preciouse corpus madryan I hade leuere þan a Barelle of ale þat godeleve my wyf hade hard þis tale Line 3084 ffor she nys no þenge of suche pacience · As was þis Melibeus wyfes prudence Be godes bones whan I bete my knaues. Sche bryngeth me þe grete clubbed staves. Line 3088 And cryethe slee þe dogges euereycheon And breke bothe backe and bone And ȝif þat ony neghebour of myne Wolle not in chirche to my wyf enclyne Line 3092 Or be so hardy to her/ to trespace When she cometh home she renneth in my face And cryeth false coward wreke þi wyfe By corpus bonus I wylle haue þi knyfe Line 3096 And þou shalte haue my distafe and go spynne ffro day to nyȝt riȝt þus she wolle begynne Alas she seithe þat euere I was shape To wedde a melke soppe or so grete an ape Line 3100 þat wolle bene ouere lade with euery wyȝt þou dorste not stonde by þi wyf a ryȝt Thys ys my lyfe but ȝif I wolde fyȝt And oute at þe dore a-none I mote me dyȝt Line 3104 Or elles I am lost but ȝif þat I Be lyke a wylde lyonn foule hardy I wote wele she wylle do me slee som day [Sloane MS 1685 folio 202a] Line 3107 Some neyȝeboure and þan go my way] [[Sloane extract ends]] For I am perlious with knyf in honde [Camb. Univ. Lib. MS Gg. 4.27] [folio 351a] Al be it that I dar nat hire with-stonde

[6-text p 254] For sche is big in armys by myn feyth That schal he fynde that hire mys doth or seyth Line 3112 But lat vs passe a-way from this matiere Myn lord the Monk be merye of cheere For ȝe schul telle a tale trewely Lo rouchestre stant heere faste by Line 3116 Ryde forth myn owene lord / brek nat oure game But by myn trouthe I knowe nat ȝoure name Wher schal I calle ȝow myn lord daund Iohn Or daun Thomas or ellis daun Albon Line 3120 Of what hous be ȝe by ȝoure fadyr kyn I voue to god thow hast a ful fayr skyn It is a gentyl pasture theere thow gost Thow art nat lyk a penaunt or a gost Line 3124 Vp-on myn feyth thow art sum offyseer Sum worthi Sexteyn or sum Celereer ffor by myn fadyr soule as to myn doom Thow art a maystyr whan thow art at hom Line 3128 No poore Cloysterer ne non nouys But a gouernour worthy & wis And therwithal of braun & of bonys A weel farynge persone for the nonys Line 3132 I preye to god ȝeue hem confusioun That ferst the brouȝte vn-to relygeoun Thow woldyst a been a tredefowel aryȝt Haddyst thow as greet a leue as thow hast myght Line 3136 To perforne al this lust in engendernge Thow haddyst begetyn manye a creature Allas why werys thow so syd a cope God ȝeue me sorwe but & I were a pope Line 3140 Nat only thow but euery myghty man Thow he were schore hye vp on his pan Schulde han a wif for al the world is lorn Religeous hath takyn vp al the corn Line 3144 Of tythyng / & we borel meen been schrympis [folio 351b] Of feble treis theere comyn febele ympis

[6-text p 255] This makyth that oure eyris been so sklendere And feble that they may not weel engendere Line 3148 This makyth that oure wiuys wele assaye Relygeous folk for ȝe mowe the betere paye Of Venus payementis than mowe we God wot no lusschebruys paye ȝe Line 3152 But be nat wroth myn lord thow that I pleye Ful ofte in game a sothe I haue herd seye

THis worthy Monk tok al in pacience And seyde I wele don al myn diligence Line 3156 As fer as sounyth in-to honeste To telle ȝow a tale or two or three And ȝif thow leste to herkyn hedyrward I wele ȝow seyn the lyf of seynt Edeward Line 3160 Or ellis fyrst tragedeis wele I telle Of whiche I haue an hundered in myn celle Tragedie is to seyne a certeyn storye As olde bokys makyn vs memorie Line 3164 Of hym that stod in greet prosperitee & is I-fallyn out of hygh degre In-to myserye & endyth wrechedely And they been vercified comounly Line 3168 Of sexe feet whiche men callyn exametroun In prose ek endytid been many on And ek in metre in manye a sundery wyse Lo this declarynge oughte I-nough suffyse Line 3172 Now herkyth ȝif ȝow lyke for to heere But fyrst I ȝow be-seke in this matiere Thow I be ordere telle nat these thyngis Be it of popis emperourys or kyngis Line 3176 Aftyr here agis as men rede & fynde But telle hem some by-fore & some be-hynde As it comyth to myn remembraunce Haue me excusede of myn ygnoraunce Line 3180

[6-text p 256]

Here begynnyth the Monk his tale [[Painting of the Monk on horseback.]] [folio 352a]

I [[This initial I is carried down to line 3198, in MS.]] Wole be-wayle in manere of Tragedie The harm of hem that stood in hey degre And fellyn so that theere nas no remedie To brynge hem out of here aduercitee Line 3184 For certeyn whan that fortune leste to fle Theere may no man the cours of hire withholde Lat not man truste on blynd prosperitee By-war by these exsaumplys trewe & olde Line 3188

[Lucifer.]

At lucyfer thow he an aungel weere [Lucifer] And not a man at hym I wele begynne For thow fortune may noon aungel deere From high degre ȝit fel he for his synne Line 3192 Doun in-to helle where as he ȝit is inne O lucifer bryȝteste / of aungellis alle Now art thow satenas that mayst not twynne Out of myserie / in which that thow art falle Line 3196

[Adam.]

Loo Adam in the feeld of damassene [Adam] With goddys owene fyngyr mad was hee And not begetyn of manys sperme onclene And welte al paradys sauynge on tree Line 3200 Hadde neuere wordely man so heigh degree As adam tyl he for mysgouernaunce Was dreue out of his hye prosperite To labour & to helle & to myschaunce Line 3204

[6-text p 257]

[Sampson.]

Loo Sampson that was annunciat [folio 352b] [Samson] By aungel longe er his natyuite And was to god almyghty consecrat And stood in noblesse whil he myȝte see Line 3208 Was neuere swich a-nothir as was hee To speke of strenthe & therwyth hardynesse But to hise wiuys tolde he his secree Thorw whiche he slow hym self for wrechedenesse Line 3212

Sampson this noble almyghty champioun With-outyn wepene saue hise handis tweye He slow & al to-rente the lyoun Toward his weddyng walkynge by the weye Line 3216 His false wif coude hym so pleese & preye Til sche his conseyl knew & sche vntrewe Vn-to hise fois his conseyl gan be-wreye And hym forsok & tok a-nothir newe Line 3220

Thre hunderede foxis tok Sampson for yre And alle here taylys he to-gedere bond And sette the foxis taylys alle on feere For he on euery tayl hadde knyt a brond Line 3224 And they brende alle the corn in that lond On alle hire Oliueis [[is corrected]] & vinys ek A thousent men ek slow he with his hond And hadde non wepene but an assis cheeke Line 3228

Whan they were slayn so trustede hym that he Was wol nygh lorn for which he gan to preye That god wolde on his peyne han sum pete And sende hym drynk / or ellis muste he deye Line 3232 And of this Assis cheke that was dreye Owt of a wange tooth / sprong a-noon a welle Of whiche he drank I-nough schortely to seye Thus helpede hym god as Iudicum can telle Line 3236

[6-text p 258] Line 3236

By verray force at a Gaȝan on a nyght Maugere philistienys of that Citee The ȝatis of the toun he hath vp plyȝt [folio 353a] And on his bak I-karyede hem hath hee Line 3240 Hye on an hil wheere as men myȝte hym se O noble almyghty Sampson leue & deere Haddist thow nat told to women thyn secre In al this world ne hadde be thyn peere Line 3244

This Sampson neythir Sythir drank ne wyn Nor on his heed cam rasor non ne scheere By precept of the massangeer deuyn / For alle hise strenthis in hise heris weere Line 3248 And fully twenty wyntyr ȝeer be ȝeere He hadde of Israel the gouernaunce But soone schal he wepe ful manye a teere For women schal hym brynge to myschaunce Line 3252

Vn-to his leman Dalida he tolde That in hise heris al hise strenthe lay And falsely to hise fomen sche hym solde And slepynge vp in hire barm vp-on a day Line 3256 Sche maade to clippe or schere his heer a-way And made his fomen his craft espyen And whan that they hym fond in this aray They boundyn hym faste & puttyn out hise eyen Line 3260

But er his heed / was clyppid or I-schaue Theere was no bond [[nd,] / with whiche men [en, corrected]] mygh hym bynde But now is he / in prisoun in a Caue Wheere as they made / hym at the querne to grynde Line 3264 O noble Sampson / strongeste of man kynde O whilom Iuge / in glorye & in rychesse Now mayst thow wepyn / with thynne eyen blynde Sythe thow from wele / art fallyn in wrechedenesse Line 3268

[6-text p 259] Line 3268

The ende of this caytyf was as I schal seye Hise fomen made / a feste vp-on a day And made hym as a fool / by-fore hem pleye And this was in a temple / of greet aray Line 3272 But at the laste he maade a foul affray [folio 353b] For he two pilleris schok / & made hem falle And doun fil temple & al there it lay And slow hym self & ek hise fo-men alle Line 3276

This is to seyne the pryncis euerychon And ek thre hunderede bodyis weere theere slayn With fallynge of the greete temple of stoon Of Sampsoun wele I no moore seyn Line 3280 Beth war bi this ¹exsaummple olde & pleyn¹ [[^1_1 later]] That no man telle here conseyl to here wyuys Of swich thyng as they wele haue secre fayn If that it touche / hire / lymys or hire lyuys Line 3284

[Hercules.]

Of Hercules the souereyn conquerour [¶ Hercules] Syngyn his laude his werkis & his renoun For in his tyme of [[of corrected]] strenthe he was the flour He slow & rafte the skyn from the lyoun He of Centauros leyde the beste a-doun He arpijs slow the crewel briddys felle He goldene appillis / rafte of the dragoun He drow out Cerberus out of helle Line 3292

He slow the crewel tyraunt Busirus And made his hors to frete hym flesch & boon He slow the fery serpent venymous Of Achilois hornys ³too / he brak on³ [[^3_3 corrected]] Line 3296 And he slow Cakus in a Caue of stoon. He slow the geaunt Antheus the stronge He slow the gresely boor & that a-noon And bar the heed vp-on his spere longe Line 3300

[6-text p 260] Line 3300

Was neuere wight swich sithe that this world be-gan That slow so manye monstris as dede he Thourw out this wide world his name ran What for his strenthe & for his hye bounte Line 3304 And euery reume wente he for to se He was so strong that no man myghte hym lette At boothe the wordys endis seyth trophee [folio 354a] In-stede of boundis / he a piller sette Line 3308

A lemman hadde this noble Champioun That highte dianira / frosch as may And as these clerkis makyn mencyoun Sche hath hym sent a scherte frosch & gay Line 3312 Allas this scherte allas & weyleaway Enuenymyd was so subtyl with alle That er that he hadde wered it half a day It made his flesch al from hise bonys falle Line 3316

But natheles summe clerkis hire excusyn By on that hyghte Nessius that it makid Be as be may I wele hire not excusyn But on his bak this scherte he werede al nakid Line 3320 Til that the scherte was for the venym blakid And whan he saw noon othir remedye In hoote colys he hath hym self I-rakyd For with no venym deynede hym to deye Line 3324

Thus starf this myghti Hercules Lo ho may truste on fortune ony throwe ffor hym that folwith al this world of prees Er he be war is ofte I-leyd ful lowe Line 3328 fful wis Is he that can hym seluyn knowe Beeth war for whanne that fortune leste to glose Thanne waytith [[ith corrected]] sche hire man to ouerthrowe By swich a weye as he wolde lest suppoose Line 3332

[6-text p 261]

[Nebuchadnezzar.]

¶ The myȝty trone the precious tresor [¶ Nabegodonosor] The gloriouse Ceptre & royal mageste That hadde the kyng Nabegodonosor With tunge onethe may discryuede be Line 3336 He twijs wan Ierusalem Cete The vessel of the temple he with hym ladde At babiloine was his souereyn see In whiche his glorye & his delyt he ladde Line 3340

The fayreste childeryn of the blod royal [folio 354b] Of Israel he leet do gilde a-noon And makede eche of hem to been his thral A-mongis othere Danyel was oon Line 3344 That was the wiseste child of euerichon For he the dremys of the child expoungnede Where-as in chaldeye clerk was theere noon That wiste to what fyn hise dremys sounede Line 3348

The proude kyng leet make a statute of gold Syxti Cubitis longe & seuene in breede To whiche ymage he bothe ȝonge & olde Comaunded to loute & haue in dreede Line 3352 Or in a furneys ful of flaumbis reede He schal been brend that wolde not obeye But neuere wolde assente to that deede Danyel ne hise ȝonge felawys tweye Line 3356

This kyng of kyngis proud was & elayt He wende that god that sit in Mageste Ne myghte hym not byreue of his estat And sodeynly he loste his dygnetee Line 3360 And lik a beste hym semede for to bee And eet hey as an oxe & lay there oute In reyn with wilde bestis walkede he Tyl certeyn tyme was I-comyn a-boute Line 3364

[6-text p 262] Line 3364

And lyk an egellis federis wexsyn his erys Hise naylis lyk a briddis clawis weere Til god relesede hym a certeyn ȝerys And ȝaf hym wit & thanne with manye a teere Line 3368 He thankede god & euere his lyf in feere Was he to doon a-mys or moore trespace And tyl that tyme / he leyd was on his beere He knew that god was ful of myȝt & graace Line 3372

[Belshazzar.]

His sone which that hyȝte Balthasar [Baltasar] That held the regne aftyr hire fadyris day He by his fader coude not be war [folio 355a] ffor proud he was of herte & of aray Line 3376 And ek an ydolastre was he ay Hise hye estat assurede hym in pryde But fortune caste hym doun & there he lay And sodeynly his regne he gan deuyde Line 3380

A feste he made vnto hise lordis alle Vp-on a day & bad hem blythe bee And thanne hise offiseris gan he calle Goth bryngith forth the vessell quod he Line 3384 Which that myn fadyr in his prosperite Out of the temple of ¹Ierusalem¹ [[^1_1 corrected]] berafte And to oure hye goddis thanke we Of honour that oure olderis with vs lafte Line 3388

His wif hise lordis & hise concubynys Ay dronkyn whil here apetitis laste Out of these noble vessellis sundery wynys And on a wal this kyng his eyen caste Line 3392 And saw an hand armles that wrot ful faste ffor ¹feere¹ [[^1_1 corrected]] of whiche he quok & sykede soore This hand that balthasar so soore a-gaste Wroot Mane ¹techel¹ [[^1_1 corrected]] phares & na moore Line 3396

[6-text p 263] Line 3396

In al that land magicien was non That coude expoungne what these letterys mente But danyel expoungnede it a-noon And seyde kyng god to thyn fadyr sente Line 3400 Glorie & honour / regne tresor rente And he was proud / & no thyng god ne dradde And therfore god greet ¹wreche¹ [[^1_1 corrected]] on hym sente And hym berafte / the regne that he hadde Line 3404

He was out cast of manny cumpaynye With assis was his habytacioun And eet hay as a beste / in weet & drye Tyl that he knew by grace & by resoun Line 3408 That god of heuene hath domynacioun [folio 355b] Of euery regne / & euery creature And thanne hadde god of hym compascioun And hym restorede his regne & his figure Line 3412

Ek thow that art his sone art proud also And knowist alle these sygnys verrayly And art rebel to god & art his foo Thow drank ek of hise wellys boldely Line 3416 Thyn wyf ek & thynne wenchis synfully Dronke of the same vessel sundery wynys And heryist false goddis cursedely Therfore to the I-schapyn ful greet pyne is Line 3420

This hand was sent from god that on the wal Wroot mane techel phares trust to me Thyn regne is doon thow weyest noght at al Deuidit is thyn regne / & it schal bee Line 3424 To Medes & to perses ȝeuyn quod he And tilke same nyȝt this kyng was slawe And Daryus ocupied his degree Thow he thereto hadde neythir ryȝt ne lawe Line 3428

[6-text p 264] Line 3428

Lordyngis ensaumple hereby may ȝe take. How that in lordschepe is no sekyrnesse. For whan fortune wele a man forsake. Sche beryth a-wey his regne & hys rychesse. Line 3432 And ek hise frendis bothe moore & lasse. For what that hath frendis thourr fortune. Mishap wele make hem enemyis I gesse. This prouerbe is ful soth & ful comune. Line 3436

[Zenobia.]

¶ Cenobia of palimerye queene [¶ Cenobia] As wrytyn percyens of hire noblesse So worthi was in armys & so keene That no whit passede hire in hardynesse Line 3440 Ne in lynage nor othir gentillesse Of kyngis blod of perse is sche dessendid I seye that sche hadde not mooste fayrenesse [folio 356a] But of hire schap sche myȝte nat been a-mendid. Line 3444

From hire childhod / I fynde that sche fledde Offise of wemen & to wode sche wente And manye a wylde hertis blood sche schedde With arwis broode that sche to hym sente Line 3448 Sche was so swift that sche anoon hem hente And whan that sche was eldere sche wolde kylle Leonys lebardis & beris al to-rente And in hire armys wilde hem at hire wille Line 3452

Sche durste wilde beestis denys seeke And rennyn in the mounteigny[s] al be nyght And slepyn vndyr the busch / & sche coude ek Wrastellyn by verray forse & verray myght Line 3456 With any ȝong man were he neuere so wight There myghte no thyng in hire armys stonde Sche kepte hire maydynheed from euery wyght To no man degnede hire for to been bonde Line 3460

[6-text p 265] Line 3460

But at the laste hire frendys haddyn hire maryed To onedake a prynce of that cuntree Al weere it so that sche hem longe taryed And ȝe schal vndyrstonde how that he [[he corrected]] Line 3464 Hadde swiche fantasyis as hadde sche But nathelees whan they weere knyt in feere They leuede in Ioye & in felycite For eche of hem hadde othir leef & deere Line 3468

Saue on thyng that sche wolde neuere assente By no wey. that he schulde by hire lye But ones: for it was hire pleyn entente To haue a child the world to multyplye Line 3472 And also sone as sche myghe espye That sche was nat with childe with that deede Thanne wolde sche suffere hym don his fantasye Eft sonys & not but onys out of dreede Line 3476

And If sche were with childe [[childe, more, corrected]] at tylke cast [folio 356b] Namore [[childe, more, corrected]] schulde he pleyen tylke game Tyl fynally fourty dayis weere past Thanne wolde sche onys suffere hym the same Line 3480 Al weere this Onedake wilde or tame He gat na moore of hire for thus sche sayde It was to wyuys lecherye & schame In othir cas ȝif men with hem playede Line 3484

Two sonys bi this Onedake hadde sche The whiche sche kepte / in vertu & lettyrure But now vn-to oure tale turne we I seye so worschepeful a criature Line 3488 And wis therewith & large with mesure So peynyble in the werre & curteys ek Ne moore labour myghte in werre endure Was noon thow al this world men schulde seeke Line 3492

[6-text p 266] Line 3492

Hyre ryche aray myghte not be told As wel in vessel as in hyre clothynge Sche was al clad in perre & in golde And ek sche lafte not for noon huntynge Line 3496 To haue of sundery tungis ful knowynge Whan that sche leyseer hadde / & for to entende To lerne bokys was hire lykynge How sche myghte in wertu hire lyf dyspende Line 3500

And schortely of this story for to trete So doughty was hire husbonde & ek sche That they conquerede manye regnys greete In the oryent with manye a fayr cete Line 3504 Apertenaunt vn-to the mageste Of rome & with strong hand held hem faste Ne neuere myghte hire fomen don hem fle Ay whil ¹that Onadakys dayis laste¹ [[^1_1 later correction]] Line 3508

Hyre bataylis who so lyste hem for to reede A-gayn soper the kyng & othere moo And how that al this proces fyl in deede [folio 357a] Why sche conquerede & what tytle therto Line 3512 And aftyr of hire myschif & hire wo Hov [[Hov corrected]] that sche was be-segit & I-take Let hym vn-to myn maystir Petraik go That writ I-nough of this I vndyrtake Line 3516

Whan Onedake was deed sche myghtyly The regnys held & with hire propre hond A-gayns hire fois sche faught so crewelly That theere nas kyng nor prynce in al that lond Line 3520 That he nas glad ȝif he that grace fond That sche ne wolde vp-on his lond werreye With hire they made allyaunce by bond To been in pees & leete hire ryde & pleye Line 3524

[6-text p 267] Line 3524

The Emperour of rome Claudius Ne hym be-forn the [[R corrected]] Romen Galyeen Ne durste neuere been so corageous Ne noon Ermyn ne non Egipcien Line 3528 Ne Surreyn ne non Arabieen With-inne the feeldys that durste with hire fyȝt Lest that sche wolde hem wit hire handis sleen Or with hire meyne puttyn hem to flyght Line 3532

In kyngis habite wente hire sonys two As heyris of hire faderys regnes alle And hermanno / & thimalao Hire namys were as .persiens. hem calle [[first calde]] Line 3536 But ay fortune hath in hire hony galle This myghty queen may no while endure Fortune out of hire regne / made hire falle To wrechedenesse & to mysauenture Line 3540

Aurelyan whan that the gouernaunce [Aurelian] Of Rome cam In-to hire handis tweye He schop vp-on his queen to doon vengeaunce And with hise legiounnys he tok his weye Line 3544 Toward Senobie & schortely for to seye [folio 357b] He made hire fle / & at the laste hire hente And feterede hire & ek hire chyldere tweye And wan the lond & hom to rome he wente Line 3548

A-mongis othere thyngis that he wan Hire chaar that was with gold wrought & perre This greete roman this aurelian Hath with hym lad for that men schulde it se Line 3552 By-forn his triumphe walkyth sche With gilte cheynys ¹vp-on here nekke hangynge¹ [[^1_1, later corrections]] Corounede was sche as [[later corrections]] aftyr hyre degree And ful of perre chargit hire clothynge Line 3556

[6-text p 268] [6-text p 271] Line 3556

Allas fortune sche that whilom was Dredeful to kyngis & to emperourys Now gauryth al the peple on hire allas And sche that helmede was in starke stourys Line 3560 And wan by force tounnys stronge & tourvs Schal on hire heed now were a vitremyte And sche that bar the Ceptre ful of flour Schal bere a distaf hire cost forto quyte [[The modern instances which should come here, are at the end of the Tale in this MS]] Line 3564

[Nero.]

Al-thow that Nero were vicious [Nero] As ony feend that lyth ful lowe a-doun Line 3654 Ȝit as tellyth vs Switonyus This wide world hadde in subieccioun Line 3656 Bothe est & west / North & Septemptrioun Of Rubees Safferys / & of perlys whyte Weere alle hise clothis broudede vp & doun For he in gemmys gretly gan delyte Line 3660

More delicat / more pompous of aray Moore proud was neuere emperour than hee That ilke cloth that he hadde wered a day Aftyr that tyme he wolde it neuere se Line 3664 Nettis of gold thred hadde he greet plente To fysche in tibre whan hym lyste to pleye His lustis were alle lawe in his decree [folio 358a] For fortune as his frend / hym wolde obeye Line 3668

He Rome brende for his delicasie The Senatouris he slow vp-on a day To heere how that men schulde weepe & crye And slow his brothir & by his sistyr lay Line 3672 His modyr made he in pytous array ffor he hyre wombe slytte to byholde Wheere he conseyuede was so weyle-awey That he so lytyl of his modyr tolde Line 3676

[6-text p 271] [6-text p 272] Line 3676

No teer out of hise eyen for that syght Ne cam but seyde a fayr woman was sche Greet wondyr is how that he coude or myghte Be domysman of hire deede beaute Line 3680 The wyn to bryngyn hym comaundede he And drank a-noon / non othyr wo he made Whan myght is Ioyned on to creweltee Allas to deepe wil the venym wade Line 3684

In ȝouthe a maystyr hadde this Emperour To teche hym letterure & curteysye For of moralite he was the floure As in his tyme but ȝif bokis lye Line 3688 And whil this Maystyr hadde of hym maystrye He makede hym so cunning [[ing corrected]] & so souple That long tyme it was er tyranye Or ony vice durste on hym oncouple Line 3692

This Seneca / of which that I deuyse By cause that Nero hadde of hym swich dreede For he from vicis wolde hym ay chastyse Discretly by word & not by deede Line 3696 Syre wolde he seyn an emperour mot neede Been vertyuous & hatyn tyrannye For which he in a bath made hym to bleede On bothe hise armys tyl he muste deye Line 3700

This Nero hadde ek of a custumance [folio 358b] In ȝouthe a-geyn his maystyr for to ryse Which aftyrward hym thoughte a greet greuaunce Therfore he made hym deye in this wyse Line 3704 But natheles this Seneca the wise Ches in a bath to deye in this ²manere² [[^2_2 corrected]] Rathere than han a-nothir ³turmantrise³ [[^3_3 tur, ise corrected]] And thus hath Nero slayn his maystir deere Line 3708

[6-text p 272] [6-text p 273] Line 3708

Now fil it so that fortune leste no lengere The hyghe pryde of nero to cheryce For thow that he were strong ȝit was sche strengere Sche thouȝte thus bi god I am to nyce Line 3712 To sette a man that is fulfyld of vice In high degre & emperour hym calle By god out of his seete I wele hym tryce Whan he lest wenyth / sonest schal he falle Line 3716

The peple ros vp on hym on a nygh[t] For his defaute & whan he it espyed Out of his doris he hath a-non hym dygh[t] A-loone & theere he wende a been alyed Line 3720 He knokkede faste & ay the more he cryede The fastere schettyn they the dorys alle Tho wiste he weel he hadde hym self mys gyede And wente his wey no lengere durste he calle Line 3724

The peple cryede / & rumblede vp & doun That with hise eris herde he how they seyde Wheere is this false tyraunt this neroun For fer almost out of his wit he broyde Line 3728 And to hise goddis pitously he preyede For socour but it myghte not be-tyde For dreed of this hym thoughte he deyede And ran in-to a gardyn hym to hyde Line 3732

And in this gardyn fond he cherlys tweye That seetyn by a fyr / greet & reed And to these cherlys two he gan to preye [folio 359a] To sleen hym & to gyrdyn of his heed Line 3736 That to his body whan that he was deed Weere no dispyt doon / for his defame Hym selue he slow be coude no betere red Of whiche fortune lough & hadde game Line 3740

[6-text p 273] [6-text p 274]

[Holofernes.]

¶ Was neuere a capitayn vndyr a kyng [Olifern] That regnys mo pute in subieccioun Ne strongere was in feeld [[d later]] of alle thyng As in his tyme ne grettere of renoun Line 3744 Ne moore pompous in high presumpcioun Than oloferne whiche fortune ay kyste So licorously & ladde hym vp & doun Til that his hed was of or that he wyste Line 3748

Nat only that this world hadde hym in awe For lesynge of rychesse or liberte But made euery man reneye his lawe Nabugodonosor was god seyde hee Line 3752 Noon othir god schulde adowred bee A-geyn this heste no whigh dar trespace Saue in Bethulia a strong cete Where Eliachym a prest was of that place Line 3756

But tak keep of the deth of Oloferne A-mydde his ost / he dronke lay a nyght With-inne his tente / as large as is a berne And ȝit for al his pompe & al his myght Line 3760 Iudith a woman as he lay vp-right Slepynge his heed of smot / & from his tente Ful priuyly sche stal from euery wight And with his heed / vn-to hire towr sche wente Line 3764

[Antiochus.]

What nedyth it of kyng antiochus [Antiochus] To telle his hyghe royal magestee His hyghe pride hise werkys venymous For swich a-nothyr was theere non as he Line 3768 Reede which that he was in machabee [folio 359b] And reede the proude wordis that he seyde And whi he fyl from high prosperite And in an hil how wrechedely he deyede Line 3772

[6-text p 274] [6-text p 275] Line 3772

Fortune hadde hym [[? MS byn]] enchauntede so in pride That verrayly he wende he myghte attayne On-to the sterris vp-on euery syde And in a balaunce weyn eche mountayne Line 3776 And alle the flodys of the see restrayne And goddis peple hadde he most in hate Hem wolde he slen in turnement & in peyne Wenynge that god ne myghte his pride a-bate Line 3780

And for that nychanore & thymothee With Iewis were venquischid myghtily Vn-to the Iewis swich an hate hadde he That he bad ordeyne his char ful hastily Line 3784 And swoor & seyde ful dispitously Vn-to Ierusalem he wolde eft soone To wreeke his yre on it ful crewelly But of his purpos he was let ful soone Line 3788

God for his manace hym so soore smot With inuisible wounde ay incurable That in hise guttis carveit so & bot That hise peynys were Importable Line 3792 And certeynly the wreche was resonable For manye a manys guttis dede he peyne But from his purpos cursede & dampnable For al his smert he wolde hym nat restrayne Line 3796

But bad a-noon aparaylyn his host And sodeynly er he was of it war God dauntede al his pryde & al his bost For he so sore fil out of his Chaar Line 3800 That ²it hese² [[^2_2 corrected]] lymys & his skyn to-tar So that he neythir myghte go ne ryde But in a chaar men a-boute hym bar [folio 360a] Al forbrosed bothe bak & syde Line 3804

[6-text p 275] [6-text p 276] Line 3804

The wreche of god hym smoot so crewelly That thurgh his body wikkede wermys crepte And therwythal he stank so horybely That noon of al his meyne that hym kepte Line 3808 Whethir so he a-wok or ellis sleepte Ne myghte not the stynk of hym endure In this myschef he waylede & ek wepte And knew god lord of euery cryature Line 3812

To al his host & to hym self also Ful wlatsom was the stynk of his carayne No man myghte hym beryn to ne fro And in this stynk & in this horible peyne Line 3816 He starf ful wrechedely in a mounteyne Thus hath this robbour & this homycyde That manye a man made to weepe & pleyne Swich gwerdoun as bylongith on-to pryde Line 3820

[Alexander the Great.]

¶ The storye of alysaundir is so comune [Alisaundyr] That euery wight that hath discrecioun Hath herd al or sumwhat of his fortune This wyde world as in conclusioun Line 3824 He wan by strenthe / & for his highe renoun They weere glad for pees vn-to hym sende The pride of man & beste he leyde a-doun Wheere so he cam vn-to the worldis ende Line 3828

Comparisoun myghte neuere ȝit been makyd By-twixen hym & a-nothir conquerour For al this world for dreed of hym hath quakyd He of knyghthod & of fredom flour Line 3832 Fortune hym made the heyere of hire honour Save wyn & wemen no thyng myȝte aswage His hye entente in armys & labour So ful he was of lyonyn corage Line 3836

[6-text p 276] [6-text p 277] Line 3836

What preys weere it for hym thow that I tolde [folio 360b] Of daryus & an hunderede thousent mo Of Kyngis Dukis. Erlys. pryncis bolde Whiche he conquerede & broughte in-to woo Line 3840 I seye as fer as men may ryde or go The world was his what schulde I moore deuyse For thow I wryte or tolde ȝow euere mo Of his knyghthod it myghte not suffyse Line 3844

Twelue ȝeer he regnede / as seyth Machabee Philippis sone of Macidonye he was That fyrst was kyng of grece the cuntre O worthi gentile Alisaundere allas Line 3848 That euere schulde fallyn swich a cas Enpoisounnede of thynne owene folk thow weere Thyn sys fortune hath turnede in-to aas And for the ne wepe sche neuere a teere Line 3852

Who schal me ȝeuyn teerys to compleyne The deth of gentilesse & of fraunchise That al this world weldede in his demeigne And ȝit hym thoughte it myghte nat suffyse Line 3856 So ful was his corage / of high empryse Allas ho schal me helpe to endyte ffals fortune & poysoun to dispise The whiche two of al this wo I wyte Line 3860

[Julius Cæsar.]

¶ By wisdam manhod & by greet labour [Iulius] From homble bed to royal mageste Vp ros he Iulius the conquerour That wan al th [[o corrected]] occydent bothe lond & se Line 3864 By strenthe of hand or ellys by tretee And vn-to Roome made hem trybutarye And sithe the Emperour of rome was he Tyl that fortune wex his Aduersarye Line 3868

[6-text p 277] [6-text p 278] Line 3868

¶ O myghty Cesar that in Thessalye [Cesar] A-geyns Pompeynys fadyr thyn in lawe That of thorient hadde al the Chiualrye [folio 361a] As fer as that the day be-gynnyth dawe Line 3872 Thow thour thyn kynghod hast hem take & slawe Saue fewe folk that with Pompeious fledde Thorw which thow puttist al the oryent in awe Thanke fortune that so weel the spedde Line 3876

But now a lytyl while I wele bewayle / This Pompeyous this nobele gouernour Of Rome whiche that fleigh at this batayle I seye on of his men a fals traytour Line 3880 His hed of smot to wynnyn hym fauour Of Iulius & hym the hed he broughte Allas Pompeye of thorient Conquerour That ffortune vn-to swich a fyn the broughte Line 3884

To Rome a-gayn repayrith Iulius With his tryumphe lauryat ful hye But on a tyme Brutus Cassius That euere hadde of his estaat enuye Line 3888 Ful pryuyly hath mad conspiracye A-geyns this Iulius in subtyl wise And caste the place in whiche he schulde deye With boydekynys / as I schal ȝow deuyse Line 3892

This Iulius to the capitolye wente Vp-on a day as he was wone to goon And in the Capitolye a-non hym hente This false Brutus & ¹hese othere ffoon¹ [[^1_1 corrected]] Line 3896 And stikede hym with Boydekynys a-noon With manye a wounde & thus they leete hym lye But neuere gront he at no strok but oon Or ellis at two / but if his storye lye Line 3900

[6-text p 278] [6-text p 279] Line 3900

So manly was this Iulyus at herte And so weel louyd estatly honeste That thow hise dedly woundis soore smerte His mental ouer his hepis castyth he Line 3904 For non man schulde seen his priuyte [folio 361b] And as he lay on deyinge in a traunce And wiste verrayly that deed he muste bee Of honeste ȝit hadde he remembraunce Line 3908

Lucan to this storye I recomende And to Swetoun & to valerius also That of the storye wrytyn word & ende How that these greete Conquerourys two Line 3912 Fortune was fyrst freend & sithe a foo No man ne truste vp-on hire fauour longe But haue hire in a-wayte for euere mo Witnesse on alle these conquerourys stronge Line 3916

[Cresus.]

¶ This ryche crysus whilom kyng of lyde [Crisus] Of whiche Cresus / Cirus soore hym dradde Ȝit was he caught a-mydde al his pryde And to be brent men to the fuyr hym ladde Line 3920 But swich a reyn doun from the walkyn shadde That slow the fuyr & made hym to escape But to be war no grace ȝit he hadde Til fortune on the galwis made hym gape Line 3924

Whan he escapid was ¹he can nat stente¹ [[^1_1 corrected]] For to begynne a newe werre a-gayn He wende weel for that fortune hym sente Swich hap that he escapid thour the rayn Line 3928 That of hise fois he myghte nat been slayn And ek a sweuene vp-on a nyght he mette Of which he was so proud & ek so fayn That in vengeaunce he al his herte sette Line 3932

[6-text p 279] [6-text p 280] [6-text p 268] Line 3932

Vp-on a tre he was as that hym thouȝte Where Iubiter hym wesch bothe bak & syde And phebus ek a fayr towayle hym broughte To dreye hym with & therfore wex his pryde Line 3936 And to his doughtyr which that stod hym besyde Which that he knew in high science habounde He bad hire telle hym [[m corrected]] what it signefye [folio 362a] And sche his dreem bygan ryght thus expoungne Line 3940

The tre quod sche the galwis is to meene. And Iubiter bitokenyth snow & reyn. And Phebus with his towayle so cleene. Tho been the sunnys stremys for to seyn. Line 3944 Thow schat an hangede been fadyr certayn. Reyn schal the wasche & sounne schal the dreye. Thus warnede hym ful plat & ful pleyn. His doughtyr which that callede was Phanye. Line 3948

An hangede was Cresus the proude kyng His royal trone myghte hym not a-vayle Tragedy is noon othir manere thyng Ne can in syngynge crye ne bewayle Line 3952 But for that fortune al day wele assayle With vn-war strok the regnys that been proude For whan men trustyth hire thanne wele sche fayle And couere hire brighte face with a cloude [[These 4 modern instances should follow 'Zenobia,' p. 486 (6-T. 268).]] Line 3956

[Peter the Cruel, of Spain.]

.O. noble .O. worthy Petro glorie of Spayne [Petro] Whom fortune heeld [[d late]] so highe in mageste Weel oughtyn men thyn petous deth to compleyne Out of thyn land thyn brothir made the fle Line 3568 And aftyr at a sege by subtyletee Thow were betraysed & lad vn-to his tente Wheere as he with his owene hand slow the Succedynge in thy regne & in thyn rente Line 3572

[6-text p 268] [6-text p 269] Line 3572

The feld [[d, g, ak, corrected]] of snow / with the egel [[d, g, ak, corrected]] of blak [[d, g, ak, corrected]] therin Caugh with the lymerod colourede al with glede. [[Bertrand du Guesclin.]] He brew this cursedenesse & al this synne The wekede nest was werkere of this neede Line 3576 Nought Charles / Olyuer that tok ay hede Of trouthe & honour but of armoryke [[Oliver de Mauny of Britanny.]] Genyloun Olyuer corrupt for meede Broughte this worthi kyng to swich a bryke Line 3580

[Peter of Cyprus.]

O worthy Petro Kyng of Cipre also [folio 362b] [Petro] That Alisaundere wan by high maystrye fful manye an hethene wroughtist thow ful wo Of whiche tweyne oune lyges hadde envie Line 3584 And for no thyng but for thy chiualrye They in thyn bed han slayn the by the morwe Thus can fortune / hire wheel gouerne & gye And out of Ioye brynge men to sorwe Line 3588

[Bernabo Visconti, of Milan.]

¶ Of Melan grete [[? MS.?G]] Bernabo Viscounte God of delyt & schorge of lumbardye Whi schulde I nough thyn Infortune acounte Syn in estat thow clombyn weere so hye Line 3592 Thyn brotherys sone that was thyn double allye ffor he thyn nevew was & sone in lawe With-inne his prysoun made the to deye But why he how not I that thow weere slawe Line 3596

[Ugolino, Count of Pisa.]

¶ Of the Erl hugelyn of Pyre the langour Theere may no tunge telle for pite But lytyl out of Pize stant a tour In which tour in prysoun put was he Line 3600 And with hym been hise lyte childere thre The oldeste skarsely fyue ȝeer was of age Allas fortune it was greet crewelte Swiche bryddis to putte in swich a cage Line 3604

[6-text p 269] [6-text p 270] Line 3604

Dampnede was he to deye in that prysoun For Roger which that bischop was of Pyze Hadde on hym mad a fals suggestioun Thour the peple gan vp-on hym ryse Line 3608 And puttyn hym in prysoun in swich wyse As ȝe han herd & mete & drynk he hadde So smal that wel anethe it may suffyse And there withal it was fful poore & badde Line 3612

And on a day by-fel that in that hour Whan that his meete / wont was to been brought [[Leaves 363-4, Camb. MS, are cut out; till l. 3653.]] [The Ieylour shet þe dores of þe toure [Sloane MS 1685 folio 209a] he herd it wele but he sawe it nouȝt Line 3616 As in hys herte a-none þere felle a þouȝt þat þei for hungre wolde done hem dye Alas. quod he Alas þat I was wrouȝt þere-with þe teeres felle fro þe eye Line 3620

His ȝonge sonne þre ȝeere was of age Vnto hym said fader why do ȝe wepe Whan wille þe Gaylour brynge our potage Is þere no morselle brede þat ȝe do kepe Line 3624 I am so hongerye þat I may not slepe Nowe wolde god þat I myȝte slepen euere [Than schulde non hungre in my wombe crepe. Ther/ is/ nothyng saue breed that me were leuyr/. [Harl. 1758 folio 188b] ] Line 3628

Thys day by day þe childe gan to crye [Sloane MS 1685 folio 209a] Tyll in hys ffadere barme a doune hit lay And said fadir/ fare wele I mot deye And kyste hys fader and deyde þe same daye Line 3632 And whan hys woofulle fadere did hym saye ffor. woo hys armes too he gan to byte And sayde fortune Alas and weylaway þi. false wyles my woo I may wyte Line 3636

[6-text p 270] Line 3636

His children þat fortune hungry was [[Sloane MS 1685]] þat he hys armes gnewe and not for woo And said fader do not so Alas. But rathere ete þe flesshe vpon vs twoo Line 3640 Oure. flessh þou yaveste vs take oure flesshe vs fro. And ete y-nouȝe riȝt þus to hym þei saide [Sloane MS 1685 folio 209b] And after þat with-In a day or two þei leyde hem doune in his lappe & dyed Line 3644

Hym selfe dispeyred eke for honger starfe Thus endid ys þe myȝti Erle of pyse ffro hyeȝe estate fortune fro hym carf Of þis Tregedye hit ouȝt ynouȝe suffice Line 3648 ho · so wylle here hit/ in a lenger wyse Redeth þe grete poete of Itayle þat/ hyȝt/ Daunte for he can hit deuyse Line 3651 ffro poynte to poynte not oo worde wille he fayle] [[Sloane ex|tract ends.]]

[6-text p 281]

[Here begynneth þe Prolooge of þe Nunne Preoste·

[Sloane MS 1685 folio 213b]

Hoo quod / þe knyȝt gode sir / no more of thys þat ȝe han sayde ys riȝt ynoweȝ y-wys. And mochel more for litel hevynesse ys ryȝt ynouȝe to mechel folk as I gesse Line 3960 I sey for me hit ys a grete disese Where as men han ben in grete helth & eese [Sloane MS 1685 folio 214a] To herene of her/ sodeyn fall Alas And þe Contrarye is. grete Ioy & solace Line 3964 And whan a man hath ben in pore estate And clymbith vp and wexeth fortunate And þere abydeth in prosperite Suche thynge ys gladsom as hit thynketh me Line 3968 And þouȝe suche thynge were goodely forto telle //Ye. quod/ oure hoost by Seynt Poules belle Ye say riȝt sothe þis Monke clappeth loude he. spake howe fortune couered with a cloude Line 3972 I note neuere what & also of a treaide Ryȝt/ nowe ye herd & parde no remedie hit ys forto be-wayle & complayne. þat þat ys done and als hit ys a payne Line 3976 As ye haue sayd/ to here of/ hevinesse Sir/ Monke no more of þis so god you blesse Your/ tale annoyeth al þis companye Suche talkynge ys not worth a butter-flyeȝ Line 3980 And þere-in ys. no sporte nor/ no game Where-fore Sir/ Monke doun Piers by your name I pray you hertely telle vs som what elles ffor siker nere clynkynge of/ your belles Line 3984

[6-text p 282] Line 3984 þat in your bridell hongeth on euery syde [[Sloane MS 1685]] By heuen kynge þat for vs alle dyede I shalle for þis falle doun for slepe Al-þouȝe þe sloweȝ hade neuere be so depe Line 3988 þan hath youre tale ben tolde in vayne ffor certeynly as þese clerkes sayne Where as a man may han none audience Nouȝt helpeth to tellen hys sentence Line 3992 And wele I woote þe substaunce ys in me yf ony thynge shal wele reportid be Sir/ saye some what of huntynge I you praye Nay quod / þe Monke I· haue no luste to playe Line 3996 Nowe let a noþer telle as I haue tolde þan spake our Oste with rude speche and bolde [Sloane MS 1685 folio 214b] And sayd vnto þe Nonnes Preost a-none Come nere Sir Preost comme nere sir Iohn Line 4000 Telle vs suche thenges as may our hertes glade Be mery þoūȝe þou ryde vpon A Iade. þat/ þei þine hors . be foul or lene Yf/ he wille serve þe recke þe nouȝt/ a bene Line 4004 looke þat þine hert/ be mery euere mo · Ȝis . hoste [q]uod he so mote I ryde or go · But/ I be mery y-wys I wille be blamed And riȝt/ a-none he hathe hys tale y-tamed · Line 4008 And þus he sayde to vs euereichon Thys swete preost/ þis gode man Sir/ Iohn

Here endeth þe Prologge

[6-text p 283]

& begynneth þe tale

[Sloane MS 1685 folio 214b]

Apore wydowe some dele stope in age Was whilom dwellynge in a narow cotage Line 4012 Be-sydes a grove stondynge in a dale Thys wydow of whiche I telle you my tale Syþens þilke day þat she was laste a wyfe In pacience ladde a fulle symple lyf Line 4016 ffor lytelle was hir/ catelle & hir rent By husbondry of suche þat god hir/ sent Sche fonde hir/ self / & eke hir douȝtren two· Thre large sowes hade she & no moo Line 4020 Thre kyne & eke a shepe þat hiȝt/ mal fful soty was hir/ boure and eke hir / hall In whiche she ete many a sclender mele Of/ poynaunte sawce hir nedeth nevere a dele Line 4024 No deynte Morsell passed hir/ throote hir diete was accordaunt to hir coote Replecion ne made her neuere seke A-tempre dyete was alle hir/ physike Line 4028 And excercise & hert sufficiaunce. þe gowte let hir/ no thynge to daunce Ne poplexie ne shente nouȝt hir/ heede Ne wyne dronke she neiþer whyte nor reede Line 4032 Her bord was served moste with white & blake [Sloane MS 1685 folio 215a] Mylke and browne brede in whiche she fonde no lake Seynde bakon and some tyme an eye or tweie ffor she was as hit were a manere of a deie Line 4036 A gardeyne she hade enclosed alle aboute With stykes and a drye dyche with-oute In whiche she hade a Cok/ þat hyȝt Chauntelere In alle þe londe of Crawynge was hys peere Line 4040

[6-text p 284] Line 4040 hys voice was muryer þan þe murye orgon [[Sloane MS 1685]] On masse dayes þat in þe Chirche goon Wele sykerere was þe crowynge in hys loggo Then ys a Clok /. or an Abbey orlogge Line 4044 Be nature he knewe eche ascencioun Of equynoxiol of þilke toune ffor when degrees xv were discended þan knewe he þat it myȝt not be amendid] [[Sloane extract ends]] His colour was reddere than the fyne coral [Camb. Univ. MS Gg. 4. 27] [folio 365a] And batayled as it were a castel wal His byl was blak / and as the Ieet it schoon Like asure weere hise leggis & hise toon Line 4052 Hise naylis whittere / than the lylye flour And lik the burnede gold was his colour This gentil kok hadde in his gouernaunce Seuene hennys for to doon al his plesaunce Line 4056 Whiche weere hise susterys & hise paramouris And wondyr lyk to hym of colourys Of whiche the fayreste hewyd on hire throte Was clepid fayre dameselle Pertelote Line 4060 Curteys sche was / discreet & debonayre And compaynable & bar hire self so fayre Syn thilke day that sche was seue ȝeer old That trewely sche hath the herte in hold Line 4064 Of Chauntecleer lokyn in euery lith He louede hym so that weel was hym therwith But swich a Ioye it was to heere hem synge Whan that the bryghte sune be-gan to sprynge Line 4068 With sweete a-cord myn lef is faryn on londe ffor thilke tyme as I haue vndyrstonde Bestis & bryddis coude speke & synge And so be-fel that in a dawenynge Line 4072 As Chauntecleer a-mong hise wyuys alle Sat on his perche that was in an halle And next hym sat Dame Pertelote This Chauntecleer gan gronyn in his throte Line 4076

[6-text p 285] Line 4076 As man that in his dreem is drechid sore And whan that pertelote thus herde hym roore Sche was a-gast & seyde herte deere What eylyth ȝow to groone in this maneere Line 4080 ȝe been a verray slepere fy for schame· And he answerde thus / & seide Madame I preye ȝow that ȝe take it nat at gref By god me mette I was in swich myschef Line 4084 Rygh now that ȝit myn herte is soore afrit Now god quod he myn sweuene reche a-rygh[t] And kepe myn body out of foul prysoun [folio 365b] Me mette how that I romede vp & doun Line 4088 With-inne oure ȝerd where that I saw a beste Was lik an hound & wolde han mad a-reste Vp-on myn body & anhad me deed His colour was be-twixe ȝelw & reed Line 4092 And typpid was his tayl & bothe hise eris With blak onlyk the remenaunt of hise heris His snoute smal with glowynge eyen tweye Ȝit for his lok for fer almost I deye Line 4096 This causede me myn gronyng douteles Avoy quod sche fy on ȝow herteles Allas quod sche for by that god a-boue Now han ȝe lost myn herte & al myn loue Line 4100 I can nat loue a coward by myn feyth ffor certys what so any woman seyth We alle desyryn ȝif it myghte be To han husbondis hardy wyse & fre Line 4104 And secre / & no nygard ne no fool Ne hym that is agast of euery tool Ne noon auauntour by that god a-boue How durste ȝe seyn for schame on to ȝoure loue Line 4108 That any thyng myghte make ȝow a-feryd Han ȝe no manys herte & han a berd Allas & cunne ȝe been agast of sweuenys No thyng god wot but vanite in sweuen is Line 4112

[6-text p 286] Line 4112 Sweuenys engenderyn / of repleciounnys And ofte of fume & of complexiounys Whanne humouris been to haboundaunt in a wight Sertis this drem whiche ȝe han met to nyght Line 4116 Comyth of the greete superfluite Of ȝoure reede colera parde Whiche causyn folk to dredyn in here dremys Of arwis & of fyr with rede lemys Line 4120 Of rede bestis that they wele hym byte Of contek & of whelpis greete & lite Righ as the humour of malencolye Causith ful manye a man in slep to crye Line 4124 ffor feer of blake beris / or of bolys blake [folio 366a] Or ellis blake deuyllis wole hem take Of othere humouris coude I telle also That werkyn manye a man in sleep ful wo Line 4128 But I wele passe as lyghtely as I can To Catoun which that was so wis a man Seyde he nat thus ne do no fors of dremys [Sompnia ne cures] Now sire quod sche whan we flye from the bemys Line 4132 ffor godis loue tak sum laxatyf Vp peril of myn soule & of myn lyf I conseyle ȝow the beste I wele nat lye That bothe of colere & of malencolye Line 4136 ȝe porge ȝow & for ȝe schal nat tarye Thow in this toun is non apotecarye I schal myn self to erbis techyn ȝow That schul been for ȝoure hele & for ȝoure prow Line 4140 And in oure ȝerd two erbis schal I fynde The whiche han of here propirte by kynde To porge ȝow be-nethe & ek a-bove ffor-ȝet nat this for godis owene lowe Line 4144 ȝe been ful colerik of complexioun Ware the sunne in his ascencioun Ne fynde ȝow nat replet / of humouris hoote ffor yef he do / I dar leye a grote Line 4148

[6-text p 287] Line 4148 That ȝe schul han a feuere terciane Or an agu that may been ȝoure bane A day or two ȝe schul haue digestivis Of wermys er ȝe take ȝoure laxatyues Line 4152 Of lauriole sentaurye / & fumeteere Or ellis of Elebre that growith theere Of Catapuce / or of Gattris beryis Or Erbe Iue that growith in oure ȝerd theere merye is Pikke hem vp righ as they growe & ete hem in Line 4157 Be merye husbonde for ȝoure fadyr kyn Dredyth no dreem I can seye ȝow no moore Madame quod he graunnt mercy of ȝoure lore Line 4160 But natheles as touchith Daun Catoun That hath of wisdam swich a greet renoun Thow that he bad no dremys for to dreede [folio 366b] By god men may in olde bokis rede Line 4164 Of manye a man moore of autorite Than euere catoun was so mote I the That al the reuers seyn of his sentence And han weel foundyn by experience Line 4168 That dremys been signyficaciounnys As wel of ioye as of tribulaciounnys That folk enduryn in this lyf present Theere nedyth of this makyn non argument Line 4172 The verray preue schewith it in dede ¶ Some of the gretteste autourys as men reede [Naracio] Seyth thus that to felawys wente On pilgrymage with a ful good ente[nte] Line 4176 And happede so they comyn in a toun Where as theere was swich a congregacioun Of peple & ek so streyt of herbigage That they ne founde as meche as a cotage Line 4180 In whiche they myghe bothe I-loggede be Wherefore they musten of necescite As for that nyght departyn cumpaynye And eche of hem goth to his ostellerye Line 4184

[6-text p 288] Line 4184 And tok his logyng as it wolde falle That on of hem was logit in a stalle ffer in a ȝerd with oxin of the plough That othir man was logid weel I-nough Line 4188 As was his auenture / or his fortune That vs gouernyth alle as in comune And so be-fel that longe er it was day This man mette in his bed there as he lay Line 4192 How that his felawe gan vp-on hym calle And seyde allas for in an oxis stalle This nyght I schal been morderid there I lye Now help me deere brotyr er I deye Line 4196 In alle haste come to me he seyde This man out of his slep for fer abreyde And whan that he was wakenede of his slep He turnede hym & tok of this no keep Line 4200 Hym thoughte his dreem nas but a vanyte [folio 367a] Thus twyis in his slepynge dremede he And at the thredde tyme / ȝit his felawe Cam as hym thoughte / & seyde I am now slawe Line 4204 Byhold mynne blody woundis deepe & wyde A-ris vp erly in the morwe tyde And at the west gate / of the toun quod he A carteful of donge / there thu schat se Line 4208 In wich myn body is hid ful pryuyly Do thilke carte a-reste boldely Myn gold causede myn mordere certeyn And tolde hym euery poynt how he was slayn Line 4212 With a wol pitous face pale of hewe And truste weel this drem he fond ful trewe ffor on the morwe as sone as it was day To his felawe he tok te nexte way Line 4216 And whan that he cam to his oxis stalle Aftyr his felawe he be-gan to calle ¶ The hosteleer answerede hym a-non And seyde sere ȝoure felawe is a-goon Line 4220

[6-text p 289] Line 4220 As sone as day he wente out of the toun This man gan fallyn in suspecioun Remembrynge hym on the dremys that he mette And forth he goth no lengere wolde he lette Line 4224 Vn-to the Westgate of the toun & fond A dong carte wente as it weere to dunge lond That was a-rayed in that same wyse As ȝe han herd the dede man deuyse Line 4228 And with an hardy herte he gan to crye Vengeaunce & Iustise of this felonye Myn felawe morderede is this same nyght And in this carte heere he lyth gapynge vp-ryght Line 4232 I crye out on the mynystris quod he That schulde kepe & rewele this cete Harrowe allas here lyth myn felawe slayn What schulde I moore vnto this tale sayn Line 4236 The peple out sterte & caste the carte to grounde And in the myddyl of the donge they founde The dede man that morderede was al newe [folio 367b] O blysful god that art so Iuste & trewe Line 4240 Lo how that thow bewreyis mordere alway Mordere wele out that se we day be day Mordere is so wlatsome & abhomynable To god that is so Iust & resonable Line 4244 That he ne wele not suffere that it helid be Thow it abyde a ȝeer or two or thre Mordere wele out this myn conclusioun And ryght a-noon mynyste of that toun Line 4248 Han hent the cartere & so sore hym pynyd And ek the hosteller so soore engyned That they be-knewe here wikkedenesse a-non And weere an hangede by the nekke boon Line 4252 Here may men seen that dremys been to drede ¶ And certis in the same bok I reede Rygh in the nexte chapitere aftyr this I gabbe not so haue I ioye or blys Line 4256

[6-text p 290] Line 4256 Two men that wolde a passed ouyr the see ffor certeyn cause in-to a fer cuntre If that the wynd ne hadde been contrarye That made hem in a cete for to tarye Line 4260 That stod ful merye vp-on an hauene syde But on a day a-geyn the euetyde The wynd gan schaunge & blew rygh as hem leste Iolyf & glad they wente to here reste Line 4264 And castyn hem ful erly for to sayle But herkenyth to that on man fyl a gret meruayle That on of hem in slepynge as he lay Hym mette a wondyr drem a-geyn the day Line 4268 Hym though[t]e a man stod bi his bedys side And hym comaunded that he schulde a-byde And seyde hym thus ȝif thow to morwe wende Thow schat ben dreynk / myn tale is at an ende Line 4272 He wok & tolde / his felawe what he mette And preyede hym his viage for to lette As for that day he preyede hym for to a-bide His felawe that lay bi his bedys syde Line 4276 Gan for to lauhe & skornde hym ful faste [folio 368a] No drem quod he may so myn herte agaste That I wele lette for to do myne thyngis I sette not a straw / by thynne dremyngis Line 4280 ffor dremys been but uanyteis & Iapis Men dreme al day of oulis & of apis And of manye a mase there withal Men dreme of thyng that neuere was ne schal Line 4284 But sithe I se that thow wild here a-byde And thus for slouthen / wilfully thyn tyde God wot it rewith me / & haue good day And thus he tok his leue & wente his way Line 4288 But er that he hadde half his cours I-seyled Not I not why / ne what myschaunce it eyled But casewelly / the schipis boteme it rente And schip & man vndyr the watyr wente Line 4292

[6-text p 291] Line 4292 In sight of othere schepis besyde That with hem seyled at the morwe tyde And therefore fayre pertelote so deere By sweche ensaumplis olde mayst thow leere Line 4296 That no man schulde been so recheles Of dremys for I seye the douteles That manye a drem / ful soore is for to drede Lo in the lyf of seynt kenelm I reede Line 4300 That was kenulphus sone the noble kyng Of Merturyke how kenelm mette a thyng A lite er he was mordered on a day His mordere in his auysioun he say Line 4304 His noryce hym expoungnede euerydel His sweuene / & bad hym / for to keepe hym weel ffrom tresoun but he was but seuene ȝeer old And therfore lytil taale hath he told Line 4308 Of any drem so holy was his herte By god I hadde leuere than myn scherte That ȝe hadde rad his legende as haue I Dame pertelote I seye ȝow trewely Line 4312 Matrobeus that wret thauysioun In Affryk of the worthi Ciprioun Affermyth dremys & seyth that they been [folio 368b] Warnynge of thyngis that men aftyr seen Line 4316 And ferthere more I prey ȝow lokyth weel In the olde testement of danyel ȝif he helde dremys ony vanyte Redyth ek of Iosep & there ȝe schul se Line 4320 Wheere dremys ben sumtyme I seye nat alle Warnynge of thyngis that schul aftyr falle Loke of Egip the kyng daun pharao His bakere & his boteler also Line 4324 Wheere they ne feltyn non effect in dremys Who so wele seke actis of sundery remys May reede of dremys manye a sundery thyng Lo Cresus that was of lide kyng Line 4328

[6-text p 292] Line 4328 Mette he nat how that he sat vp-on a tre Whiche signefyed anhangid schulde bee Lo heere Andromatha ectoris wif That day that Ector schulde lese his lyf Line 4332 Sche dremede on the same nyght by-foren How that the lyf of Ector schulde been loryn ȝif thilke day he wente in-to batayle Sche warnede hym but it myghte nat auayle Line 4336 He wente for to fyghte netheles But he was slayn a-noon of Achilles But tylke tale is al to long to telle And ek it is nygh day I may nat dwelle Line 4340 Certeynly I seye as for conclusioun That I schal han of this auysioun Aduersite / & I seye ferthere-moore That I ne telle of laxatyuys no store Line 4344 ffor they been venimes I wot it weel I hem defye I loue hem neuere a deel Now lat vs speke of myrthe & stynte al this Madame pertelote so haue I blys Line 4348 Of on thyng god hath sent me large grace ffor whanne I se the beute in ȝoure face ȝe been so skarlet red aboute ȝoure eyen It makyth al myn dred / for to deyen Line 4352 ffor al so sekyr as In principio [folio 369a] Mulier est homin[i]s confusio Madame the sentence of this latyn is Woman is manys Ioye & al his blys Line 4356 ffor whan I fele a nyght ȝoure softe syde Al be it that I may nat on ȝow ryde ffor that oure perche is mad so narw allas I am so ful of Ioye & of solas Line 4360 That I defye bothe sweuene & drem And with th[a]t word he fley doun from the beem ffor it was day & ek hise hennys alle And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle Line 4364

[6-text p 293] Line 4364 ffor he hadde foundyn a corn lay in the ȝerd Royal he was he nas no moore aferyd He feterede Pertelote twenty tyme And trad as ofte er it was pryme Line 4368 He lokyth as it weere a grym lyoun And on hise tois he romyth vp & doun Hym deynyth nat to sette hise feet to grounde He chukkith whan he hath a corn I-founde Line 4372 And to hym rennyn thanne hise wyuys alle Thus royal as a prynce is in an halle Leue I this chauntecleer in his pasture And aftyr wele I telle his auenture Line 4376 ¶ Whan that the monythe / in which that the world be-gan That high[t]e March / whan god ferst makede man Was compleet & passede weere also Syn March bygan .30. dayis & two Line 4380 By-fel that chauntecleer in al his pryde His seuene wyuys walkynge hym by-syde Caste vp hire eyen to the bryghte sunne That in the signe of taurus hadde I-rounne Line 4384 Twenty degreis & on & sumwhat moore And knew by kynde & by noon othir lore That It was pryme & krew with b[l]ysful steuene The sunne on heye is clombyn vp on heuene Line 4388 .90. degreis & on & moore I-wis Madame pertelote myn wordelis blys Herkenyth these blysful brydis how they synge [folio 369b] And se the frosche flouris how they sprynge Line 4392 fful is myn herte of reuel & solas But sodeynly hym fel a sorweful cas ffor euere the lattere ende of Ioye is wo God wot that wordely ioye / is soone ago Line 4396 And ȝif a retor coude fayre endyte He in a cronicle sauely myghte it wryte As for a souereyn notabilyte Now euery wise man now herkene me Line 4400

[6-text p 294] Line 4400 This storye is also trewe I vndyrtake As Is the bok of launcelot de lake That women heelde in ful greet reuerence Now wele I turne a-geyn to myn sentence Line 4404 A col fox ful of sly Iniquite That in the groue hadde dwelled ȝeris thre By hygh Imaginacioun for-cast The same nyght thour-out the hegis brast Line 4408 In-to the ȝerd there chauntecleer the fayre Was wont & ek hise wyuys to repayre And In a bed of wortis stylle he lay Til it was passed onderen of the day Line 4412 Waytynge his tyme on Chauntecleer to falle As gladly doon these homycidis alle That in a-wayt liggyn to morderen men O false morderour lurkynge in thyn den Line 4416 O newe Scariot / newe Genysoun ffalse dissimylour / O Grek Synoun That broughtist Troye al vttyrly to sorwe O Chauntecheer a-cursede be that morwe Line 4420 That thow in-to that ȝerd / flaw from the bemys Thow weere ful weel I-warnede be thynne dremys That thilke day was perlyous to the But what that god forwot mot nedis be Line 4424 Aftyr the opynioun of certeyn clerkis Witnesse on hym that ony perfyt clerk is That in scole is greet altercacioun In this matiere & greet disputacioun Line 4428 And han been of an hunderede thousent men [folio 370a] But I can not butte it to the breen As can the holy doctour Augustyn Or Boece or the bisshop Bradwardyn Line 4432 Whethir that goddys worthi forwetyng Streynyth me nedely for to do that thyng Needely clepe I symple necescite Or ellis fre choys be grauntede me Line 4436

[6-text p 295] Line 4436 To do that same thyng or do it not Thow god fore-wot it er that I was wrought Or ȝif his wetynge streynyth neuere a deel But by necescite condiciounnel Line 4440 I wele not han to done of swich mateere Myn tale is of a cok as ȝe may here That tok his conseyl of his wif with sorwe To walkyn in the ȝerd vp-on that morwe Line 4444 That he hadde met the drem that I ȝow tolde Womenys conseylis been ful oftyn colde Womenys conseylis broughte vs ferst to woo And made Adam from paradys to go Line 4448 Theere as he was ful merye & weel at ese But for I not to whom I myghte displese ȝif I conseyl of women wolde blame Passe ouyr for I seyde it in myn game Line 4452 Reede autouris wheere they trete of sweche matiere And what they sey / of women / ȝe may here These been the cokkis wordis & nat myne I can noon harm on no woman deuynne Line 4456 ffayre in the sond to bathe hire meryely Lyth Pertelote & alle hire susteryn by A-geyn the sunne & Chauntecleer so free Song meryere than the mermeydyn in the se Line 4460 ffor phisiologus seyth sekyrly How that they syngyn weel & meryely And so be-fel that as he caste his yen A-mong the wortis on a botyrflye Line 4464 He was war of this fox that lay ful lowe No thyng ne lyste hym thanne for to crowe But criede a-noon kok kok & vp he styrte [folio 370b] As man that was afrayed in his herte Line 4468 ffor naturelly / a beste desirith fle ffrom his contrarye / ȝif he myghte it se Thow he neuere erst hadde sey it with his Iye ¶ This chauntecleer whan he gan hym espye Line 4472

[6-text p 296] Line 4472 He wolde a fled but that the fox a-noon Seyde gentyl sire / allas whidyr wole ȝe goon Be ȝe afrayed of me that am ȝoure freend Now certys I were werse than a feend Line 4476 ȝyf I to ȝow harm or velenye I am nat come ȝoure conseyl for tespie But trewely the cause of myn comynge Was only for to herkene how that ȝe synge Line 4480 ffor trewely ȝe han so merie a steuene As ony aungel hath that is in heuene Therewith ȝe han In musik moore felyng Than hadde. boece. or ony that can syng Line 4484 Myn lord ȝoure fadyr god his soule blys And ek ȝoure modyr of hire gentilles Han in myn hous I-been to myn greete ese But certys syre ful fayn wolde I ȝow pleese Line 4488 ¶ But for men speke of syngyng I wil seye So mote I broukyn weel myn eyen tweye Saue ȝow I herde neuere man so synge As dede ȝoure fadyr in the morwenynge Line 4492 Certis it was of herte al that he song And for to make his voys the moore strong He wolde peyne hym that with bothe hise eyen He muste wynke so loude he muste cryen Line 4496 And stondyn on his typton therewithal And streche forth his nekke long & smal And ek he was of swich discrecyoun That there was no man in no regioun Line 4500 That hym in song or wisdam myghte passe I haue weel red in daun burnel the Asse A-mong hise vers how that ther was a kok ffor a prestis sone ȝaf hym a knok Line 4504 Vp-on his leg whil he was ȝond & nyce [folio 371a] He made hym for to lese his benefice But certeyn there ne is no comparisoun By-twixe the wisdom & discrecioun Line 4508

[6-text p 297] Line 4508 Of ȝoure fadyr & of his subtiletee Now syngith sere for seynte charite Lat se cunne ȝe ȝoure fadyr countyrfete This chauntecleer hise wyngis gan to beete Line 4512 As man that coude his tresoun nat aspye So was he rauyschid with his flaterye ¶ Allas ȝe lordis manye a flaterour Is in ȝoure court & manye a losengeour Line 4516 That plesen ȝow weel more be myn fayth Than he that sothfastmesse vn to ȝow sayth Redyth ecclesiaste of flaterye Beth war ȝe lordis of hire trecherye Line 4520 This Chauntecleer stood hye vp-on hise tois Strechynge his neke & held his eyen clos And gan to crowe loude for the nonys And daun Rusell the fox styrte vp at at anys Line 4524 And by the garget hente Chauntecleer And on his bak to the wode hym beer ffor ȝit theere ne was no man that hym sewid O destene that mayst nat been eschewid Line 4528 Allas that Chauntecleer fley from the bemys Allas his wyf ne roughte nat of dremys And on a fryday fil al this myschaunce O venus that art goddesse of plesaunce Line 4532 Syn that thyn seruaunt was this chau[n]tecleer And in thyn seruyse dede al his power Moore for delyt than world to multeplye Why woldist tow suffere hym on thyn day to deye Line 4536 O ganfryd deere maystyr souereyn That whan thyn worthy kyng Richard was slayn With schot compleynedist his deth so soore Whi ne hadde I-nough thyn centence & thyn loore Line 4540 The fryday for to chide as dedyn ȝe ffor on a fryday sothly slayn was he Thanne wolde I schewyn how that I coude pleyne [folio 371b] ffor Chauntecleeres dreede & for his peyne Line 4544

[6-text p 298] Line 4544 ¶ Certis swich cry ne lamentacioun Was neuere of ladijs mad whan ylyoun Was wone & Pirrus with his streyte swerd Whan that he hadde hent kyng priame bi the berd Line 4548 And slayn hym as seyth vs Enidos As madyn alle the hennys in the cloos Whan they hadde of Chauntecler the syght But souereynly dame Pertelote shryght Line 4552 fful loudere than dede Hasdrubalis wyf Whan that hire husbonde hadde y-lost his lyf And that the Romaynys haddyn brent Cartage Sche was so ful of turnement & of rage Line 4556 That wilfully in-to the feer sche sterte And brende hire seluyn with a stedefaste herte O woful hennys ryght so cryedyn ȝe As whan that nero brende the Cete Line 4560 Of Rome cryedyn / Senatouris wyuys ffor that here husbondys lostyn alle here lyuys With-outyn gylt this Nero hath hem slayn Now wole I turne to myn tale agayn Line 4564 ¶ The sely wedewe & ek here doughteryn two Herdyn these hennys crye & makyn wo And out at the dorys stirte they a-non And seyen the fox toward the groue gon Line 4568 And bar vp-on his bak the Cok away And cryedyn out harow & weyleawey .Ha. ha. the fox & aftyr hym they ran And ek with stonys many a-nothir man Line 4572 Ran Colle oure doge & talbot & Garland And Malkyn with a distaf in hire hand Ran cow & Calf & ek the verray hoggis ffor-fered for berkynge of the doggis Line 4576 And schoutyng of the men & women ek They ronne so they thoute here herte brek They ȝelledyn as fendis doon in helle The dokis cryedyn as men wolde hem quelle [folio 372a] [of the Cambr. MS is cut out.]

[6-text p 299] [Out of the hyues/ come the swarme of bees/. [Harl. 1758 folio 199a] The gees/ for feer/ flowyn ouyr/ the trees/. So hidous/ was/ the nois/ a benedicite. Certis/ he Iak/ strawe & his/ meyne. Line 4584 Ne made neuyr/ schoutis/ half so schrille. When that thei wolde anye fflemyng kille. As/ that/ ilke daie was/ made vp-on the ffox. [Harl. 1758 folio 199a] Of/ bras/ thei broght bemes/ & of box. Line 4588 Of horn & boon in whiche thei poupid. And ther with all/ thei schrichid & schoutid. It semyd as/ that/ heuyn schulde falle. Now good men I praie you herkenyth alle. Line 4592 Lo how fortune turneth sodenlye. The hope & eke pride of her/ enuye. This/ Cok/ that laie vp on the ffox bak. In all his/ drede vn-to the ffox spak/. Line 4596 And seide sir/ if/ I were as/ ye. Yet schulde I seie as/ wis/ god helpe me. Turne a-yen ye proude chirles/ alle. A verry pestilence vp-on you falle. Line 4600 Now am I come vn-to this/ Wode side. Maugre your/ heed the Cok schall/ here a-bide. I woll/ hym ete in feyth & that a-non. The ffox answerid in feith it schall be don. Line 4604 And he spak/ that word all/ sodenly. This Cok brak/ fro his/ mouthe delyuerly. And hye vp on a tre he flewe a non. And when the ffox sawe that/ he was/ gon. Line 4608 Alas quod he O chauntecler/ allas/. I haue quod he don to you trespas/. In as/ meche as/ I made you a-ferde. When I you hent & broght out/ of/ the yerde. Line 4612 But sir/ I dide it noght in no wicked entent/. Cometh downe & I schall/ telle you what I ment. I schall/ seie soth so god helpe me so. Naie than quod he I schrewe vs/ bothe two. Line 4616

[6-text p 300] Line 4616 And first/ I schrewe my self bothe blood & bones/. [[Harl. 1758.]] If thou be-gile me ofter/ than ones. Thou schalt/ no more with thi flaterie. Do me syng & wynke with myn ye. Line 4620 ffor he that wynketh when he schulde se. As/ wisly god lete hym neuyr/ the. Naie quod the ffox god yeue hym myschaunce. That is/ so vndiscrete of gouernaunce. Line 4624 That iangleth when he schulde haue pees/. Lo suche is/ for to be recheles/. And necligent/ & trusteth on flaterie. But ye that/ holdyn this/ folie. Line 4628 As/ of a ffox of a Cok/ & of an hen. Taketh the moralite good men. ffor seynt Poule seith all that writen is/. To our/ doctryne it is/ writen y-wis/. Line 4632 Taketh the fruyt & letith the chaf be stille/. Now good god if it be thi wille. [Harl. 1758 folio 200a] As/ seith my lorde so make vs/ alle good men. And bryng vs/ alle to his/ hye blis/ amen. Line 4636

Here endith the/ tale/ of the Nonnes/ Preest/.] [[Harl. 1758 extract ends.]] [[The Manciple's Prologue follows in Harl. 1758, after a space of 28 lines in the middle of page 200.]]