The Lansdowne ms of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 403]

GROUP E. FRAGMENT VI.

§ 1. THE CLERK'S HEAD-LINK.

LANSDOWNE MS.

¶ Incipit prologus Clerici; [on leaf 114]

Sir Clerc of Oxenforde owre Oste seide Ȝe ride as still and coie as doþ a maide Weer newe spowsed sittinge att þe borde This daie ne herde .I. of ȝoure tounge a worde Line 4 I trowe þat ȝe stody aboute some sophime Bot Salomon seiþe euery þinge haþe time For godessake beþe of Better chier It is no time for to stodie here. Line 8 Tel vs sum mery tale be ȝoure feie [folio 114b] For what man is entrede in-to pleie He nedes mote vnto þe plaie assent Bot preches nouht as freres done in lente Line 12 To make vs for oure olde sinnes wepe Ne þat þi tale Make us nouht to sl[e]pe Tell vs sum Mery þinge Of Auentures Ȝoure termes ȝoure coloures ȝoure figures Line 16 Kepe hem in store til so be ȝe enditen Hihe stylede as whan þat men to kinges writen Spekeþ so pleine att þis time .I. ȝou preie That we may vnderstonde what ȝe seie Line 20 ¶ Þis worþi clerke benyngly ansewerd Oste quod he .I. am vnder ȝoure ȝerde Ȝe hane of vs as noue þe gouernance And þerfore wil .I. do ȝowe obeissance Line 24

[6-text p 404] Line 24 As fer as reson axeþ hardely .I. will ȝowe tel a tale whiche þat .I. Lerened att Pādouse of a worþi clerke As preuede be his worde and his werk Line 28 He is nowe dede and nailed in his chist .I. praie to god ȝif his soule good ryst Fraunces Petrak þe Laureat poet Hiht þis clerke whos rethorik swoet Line 32 Enlumyned al. ytaile of Potrie As Linian dide of Philosophie Or lawe or oþer arte particulere Bote þat wil nouht suffur dwell here Line 36 Bot as it were a twynklinge of an eye Hem boþe haþe and al schal we dye Bot for to tell of þis worþi man þat tauht me þis tale as he gan Line 40 .I. seie þat wiþ hyhe stile first enditeþ Or he þe body of his tale writeþ A prohemye in þe whiche descriueþ he Pymonde and of Saluces þe Contre Line 44 And spekeþ of Appenyne þe hulles hihe þat buen þe boundes of lumbardie And of þe mounte vesulus in special Where as þe poe out of a wel smal Line 48 Takeþ his first springeinge and his sours þat estward ay encreseþ in his cours To Emel warde · ferrir and venise [folio 115a] Whiche of longe þinge were to deuise Line 52 And treuly as to my Iuggement Me þenkeþ þat a þinge impertinent Saue þat he wil con[u]eyn his matier Bot þis is tale whiche þat ȝe maie hier Line 56

Explicit prologus;

[6-text p 405]

hic incipit fabula [folio 115] [[No breaks are between the stanzas in the MS.]]

Ther is riht att þe west side of Itaile Line 57 Doune att þe rote of Vesulus þe colde A lusti pleine aboundaunt of vitaile Where mony a toure and toune þou maiste beholde Þat founden were in time of faders olde And mony anoþer delitable siht And Saluces þe noble contre hiht Line 63

A markes whilome lorde was of þat lande Line 64 [As were his worthi elderes hym be-fore [MS Reg. 18 C 2 folio 131b] [[MS Reg. 18 C 2omits l. 66-7.]] ] And obeissan aie redy to his hande Were al his lieges boþe lesse and more Line 67 Þus in delite he leueþ and haþ done ȝore Beloued and drad þorwhe fauoure of fortune Boþe of his lordes and of his comune Line 70

Þere-wiþ he was as to speke of Lignage Line 71 A faire person and stronge and ȝonge of age Line 73 The gentillest bore of lombardye Line 72 [And ful of honoure and of curtesye [[MS Reg. 18 C 2]] ] Discrete ynouhe his Contre for to Gye Saue in summe þinges he was to blame And Waltier was þis ȝonge lordes name. Line 77

I. blame him þus þat he considerd nouht Line 78 In time comynge what myht him be-tide Botte on his luste present was al his þouht [And for to hauke and hunte on euery syde [MS Reg. 18 C 2 folio 132a] ] Wel nyhe al oþere Cures lete he slide And eke he nolde þat was þe werst of all Wedde no wife for owhte þat maie befall Line 84

[6-text p 406] Line 84

Onely þat poynte his peple bare so sore Line 85 Þat flokingmele on a day to him þei went And of him þat wisest was of lore Or elles þat þe lorde beste wolde assent Line 88 Þat scholde tellen him what his peple ment Or elles couþe schew wele suche matier He to þe Markys seide as ȝe schal here Line 91

O noble Markes ȝoure humanite Line 92 Assuriþe vs and whisse vs hardines As oft as time is of necessite That we to ȝowe maie tell oure Heuinesse [folio 115b] Accept lorde now of ȝoure gentilnesse þat we wiþ petous hert to ȝowe pleine And late ȝoure eres nouht my voice disdeyne Line 98

¶ Al haue .I. nouht to done in þis matiere Line 99 Mor þan anoþere man haþe in þis place Ȝitte as for as muche as ȝe my lorde so dere Haue alweie schewde me fauore and grace Line 102 .I. dare þe better ax of ȝowe a space Off Audience to schewen oure request And ȝe my lorde to do riht as ȝowe liest Line 105

¶ For certes lorde so wele lykeþ vs ȝowe Line 106 And al ȝowre werkes and euer haþe þat we Ne couþe nouht oure seluen deuisen howe We myht leue in more felice Line 109 Saue o þinge lorde if ȝowre wil be þat for to be a wedded man ȝowe list þan were ȝoure peple in Souereigne hertes rest Line 112

¶ Bouþe ȝoure nek vnder þat blisfull ȝok Line 113 Off Souereignete nouht of seruise Whiche þat men clepe spowsal or wedlok And þinkeþ lord amonges ȝoure þouhtes wise Line 116

[6-text p 407] Line 116 [ffor of wedlok/ cometh gret emprise [[Harl. 1758, leaf 115; not in MS Reg. 18 C 2]] ] For þouhe we slepe or wake or roume or ride Ay. flieþ þe time and wil no man abide Line 119

And þouh ȝoure grene ȝouþe floure as ȝite Line 120 ¶ In crepeþ Age al wei as still as stone And deþe manasseþ euery age and smyteþ In eche astate for þer askapeþ none Line 123 And also certeigne as we knowe ichone þat we schal deie. As vncerteigne we all Biene of þat daie þat deþ schal on vs fall Line 126

¶ Accepte þan of vs þe trewe entente Line 127 þat neuer ȝit refuysed ȝoure hest And we lorde ȝif þat ȝe wil asente Chese ȝowe a wif in schort time att þe lest Line 130 Borne of þe gentelest and of the mest Of al þis londe so þat it ouht seme Honour to god and ȝowe as we can deme Line 133

¶ Deliuer vs of al þis besy dede Line 134 And takeþ a wif for hihe goddes sake ffor if it so be-fel as god for-bede þat þoure deþe ȝoure lignage scholde slake Line 137 And þat a stronge successoure scholde take [folio 116a] Ȝoure Heritage woo were vs on lyve Where-for we praie ȝowe hastely to wiue Line 140

¶ Here meke preiere and here pitouse chiere Line 141 Maaked ȝe Markes hert haue pite [Wol ye quod he myn oune peple deere [MS Reg. 18 C 2 folio 132b] ] To þat .y. nerste euer þouht to steyne me Line 144 I. me reIoysed of my lybertie Þat selden time is founden mariage Þere .I. was fre .I. most be in seruage Line 147

[6-text p 408] Line 147

¶ Bot naþeles .I. see ȝoure trewe entente Line 148 And truste vpon ȝoure witte and haue done aye Where-for wiþ all my fre wil .I. wil assente To wedde me als sone as eu[er]e .I. maie Line 151 Bot þere as ȝe haue proferd me to daie To chese me a wif .I. ȝowe relese Þat choise and pray ȝoue of ȝoure profure cese Line 154

¶ For .I. wote þat childern often bien Line 155 Vnlyke here elders hem before Bounte comeþ al of god nouht of þe strene Of whiche þei bue engenderd and y-bore Line 158 .I. truste in godese bounte and þere fore Myn mariage and myne astate and reste .I. him be-take he maie do as him leste Line 161

¶ Lete me alone in cheseinge of my wif Line 162 Þat charge vpon my bak .I. wil endure Bot .I. ȝowe preie and charge vpon ȝowre lif Þat what wife .I. take ȝe me assure Line 165 To worschip hire while þat hire life maie endure In worde and werke boþe here and euerywhere As sche an Emperoure douhter weere Line 168

¶ And ferþer-more þis schal ȝe swere þat ȝe Line 169 Aȝeine my choice schal neuer gruche ne strive ffor seþ .I. schal for-go my liberte Att ȝoure request as euer mot .I. þryve Line 172 þer as my hert is set þer wil .I. wiue [[This line at the side, in a different 15th-cent. hand.]] And bot ȝe wil assente in suche manere .I. praie ȝowe spekeþ no more of þis matiere Line 175

¶ Wiþ hertly wil þei swore and assenten Line 176 To al þis þinge þer seide no whiht naye Besekeinge him of grace or þat þei wenten þat he wold graunten hem a cerceigne daie Line 179

[6-text p 409] Line 179 Of his spowsel as sone as euere he maie For ȝit alweie þe peple sum what drede Lest þat þis Markes no wife wold wedde [folio 116b]

¶ He graunted hem a dai suche as him list Line 183 On whiche he wil be wedded sekurly. And seide He dide al þis att þeire request An þei wiþe humble entent ful buxhumly. Line 186 Kneleynge vpon here knese ful reuerently Him þonkynge all and þus þei haue an ende Of here entente and home aȝeine þei wende Line 189

¶ And here-vpon he to his officiers Line 190 Commaundeþ for þe feste to purveie And to his priue knyhtes and swyers Suche charge ȝaf as him list on hem leye Line 193 And þei to his commandement obeie And yche of hem doþ his diligence To do vn-to þe fest reuerence. Line 196

[PART II.]

Prima pars fabule

Nowht fer fro þe paleis honurable Line 197 Where as þe Markes schope his mariage The[re] stode a þrope of þe Cite delitable In whiche þat pouer folke of þat vilage Line 200 Hadden her bestes and her herbergage And of here laboure toke here sustinance After þe erþe ȝaf hem abundance Line 203

¶ Amonge þise pouer folke þer dwelled a man Line 204 Whiche was holde pouerest of hem al Bot þe hihe god sum time sende can His grace in-to a lite oxe stal Line 207 Ianicula Men of þat þorpe him cal A douhter had he faire ynouhe to siht An Crisilda þis ȝonge maiden hiht Line 210

[6-text p 410] Line 210

¶ Bot for to speke of vertuouse beute Line 211 Þan was sche one of þe fairest vnder sonne Ful pouerly fosterd was sche No lycourous luste was in hire hert yronne Line 214 Wele ofter of þe wel þan of þe tonne Sche dranke for sche wolde vertuse plese Sche knewe wele laboure bot none ydel ese Line 217

¶ Bot þouhe þis maide tender were of age Line 218 Ȝite in þe breste of hire virginite þere was y-closed ripe and scharpe corage And in a grete reuerence and charite Line 221 Hire olde pouer fader fosterd sche A fewe schepe spynynge on þe felde sche kepped [folio 117a] Sche nolde nouȝt be ydel til þat sche slepped Line 224

¶ And whan sche cam homwarde sche wald bringe Line 225 Wortes or oþer herbes times oft The whiche sche schredde and seþe for here leueinge And maade hire bedde ful harde and noþinge soft Line 228 And ay sche kepped her faders life on loft Wiþe euerye obeissance and dilegence Þat childe myht do to fadere reuerence Line 231

¶ Vpon Crizilda þe pouer creature Line 232 Ful oft siþe þe Markes sett is eye As he on hunteinge rode perauenture And whan it fell þat he myht hire aspye Line 235 He nouht wiþ wanton lokeinge of folye His eyen kast on hire bot in sad wise Vpon hire chere he wolde him of avise Line 238

¶ Commendinge in his ert here wommanhede Line 239 And eke hir vertue passinge any whihte Of so ȝonge age as wele in chere as in dede For þouhe þe peple haue no grete insiht Line 242

[6-text p 411] Line 242 In vertue he considered ful riht Her bounde and disposed þat he wolde Wedde hire onely if euere he wed scholde Line 245

¶ þe daie of weddinge cam bot no whihte can Line 246 Tel what womman þat it scholde be For whiche merveile wondereþ mony man And seiden whan þei were in priuete Line 249 Wil nouht oure lorde leue his vanite Wil he nouht wedde alas alas þe while Whi wil he þus him self and vs be-gile Line 252

¶ Bot naþeles þis Markes haþe done make Line 253 Of gemmes sette in golde. and in asure Broches and ringes for crisild sake And of hir cloþinge toke he þe mesure Line 256 Of a maiden lyke to hire stature And eke of oþer ornamentes al þat vnto suche a wedynge scholde fal Line 259

¶ The time of hundren of þe same daie Line 260 Aprocheþ þat þis weddynge schold be And al þe paleis putt was in araie Boþe hal and chambre iche in his degre Line 263 Houses of officez stoffed wiþ plente Ther mai þou see of daynteuos vitaile [folio 117b] That maie be founde as fer as last ytaile Line 266

¶ This Roial Markes richeli araide Line 267 Lordes and ladies in his compaigne The whiche vnto þe feste were praide And of his retenu þe bachellarie Line 270 Wiþ mony a soune of sundre Melodie Vnto þe vilage of whiche .I. tolde In þis arraie þe riht weie haþe holde Line 273

[6-text p 412] Line 273

¶ Crisid of þis god wote ful innocente Line 274 That for hir schapen al þis arraie was To fecche water atte þe wel is went And comeþ home as sone as euer sche maie Line 277 For wele sche hadde herde saie þat ilke daie Þat Markes scholde wedde and if sche miht Sche wol feine haue seine sum of þat siht Line 280

¶ Sche þout .I. wil wiþ oþer maidens stonde Line 281 Þat bien my felaues in owre dore and see The Markes and þarfore wil .I. fonde To done att home as sone as it mai be Line 284 The laboure þat longeþ vnto me And þan .I. maie att leiser hire be-holde If sche þis waie in-to þe castel holde Line 287

¶ And as sche wolde ouer þe þresshewolde gone Line 288 The Markes came and ganne hire for to call And sche sett doune hire water pott a-none Be-side þe þresshewold of þis ox. stall Line 291 And doune vpon hir knesse sche gan to fall Wiþ sadde Countenance kneleþ still Til sche hadd herde what was þe lordes will Line 294

¶ This þouhtful Marquys spake vnto þis maide Line 295 Ful soburly and seide in þis manere Where es ȝowre fader Crizild he seide And sche wiþ reuerence and humble chiere Line 298 Ansewerd lorde he is all redie here And in sche goþe wiþ-oute langer lette And to þe Markys hir fader sche fette Line 301

¶ He be þe honde þan toke þis olde man Line 302 And seide þus whan he had him a side Ianicula .I. neyþere maie ne kan lenger þe plesance of myne herte hide Line 305

[6-text p 413] Line 305 If þat þou vouche-saf what so be-tide Þi douhter .I. wil take ar þat .I. wende [folio 118a] As for my wif vnto hire liues ende Line 308

¶ Thowe louest me .I. wote it wele certeine Line 309 And arte my feiþeful liege Maifaie y-bore And al þat likeþ me .I. dar wel seine It likeþ þe and specialische þere-fore Line 312 Tel me þat point as .I. haue seide be-fore If þat þou wilte vnto þat purpose drawe To take me as for þi son in lawe Line 315

¶ The sodeyne caas þe man a-stoned so Line 316 þat rede he wex a-bassched and al qwakynge He stoode vnneþ he seide worde no moo Bot only þus lorde quod he my willynge Line 319 Is as ȝe will nouht a-ȝeines ȝoure lykeynge .I. wil noþinge ȝe be my lorde so dere Bot as ȝow luste gouerneþ þis matier Line 322

¶ Ȝit wil .I. quod þis Markes softlye Line 323 Þat in þi chamber .I. and þowe and sche Haue a collacione and wost þu whie For .I. wil ax if þat hire wil bee Line 326 To be my wif and reule hire aftere me And al þis schal be done in þi presence .I. wil nouht speke owte of þine Audience Line 329

¶ And in hire Chambre while þei were aboute Line 330 Here treteis whiche þat ȝe schal after here The peple cam in to þe hous wiþ-oute And wondred hem in here honest manere Line 333 And tentifly sche kepped hir fadere dere Bot vtterly Crizilda wonder myht For neuer eft sauhe sche suche a siht Line 336

[6-text p 414] Line 336

¶ No wonder is þouhe þat sche were a-stoned Line 337 To se so grete a geste in þat place Sche neuer was to suche gestez woned For which sche lokede wiþ ful pale face Line 340 Bot schortly forþe þis matie[r] for to chace Thes aren þe wordes þat Markes seide To his benigne feiþ-ful maide Line 343

¶ Crizild he seide ȝe schal wele vnderstonde Line 344 It likeþ to ȝoure fader and to me Þat .I. ȝowe wedde and eke it maie so stonde As .I. suppose ȝe wil þat it so be Line 347 Bot þis demandes ax .I. first quod he. That seþen it schal be done in hastie wise [folio 118b] Wil ȝe assent or elles ȝowe avise Line 350

¶ I seie þis be redye wiþ goode herte Line 351 To al my lust and þat I. frely maie As me best þenkeþ do ȝowe knowe ore smerte And neuer þe to grucche it nyht ne daie Line 354 And eke whan .I. seie ȝe ne saie nouht naie Neyþer be worde ne be frounynge contenance Swere þis and here .I. swere oure alliance Line 357

¶ Weddinge vpon þis worde whakeinge for drede Line 358 Sche seide lorde vndigne or vnworþi Am .I. to þat ilke honor þat ȝe me bede Bot as ȝe wil ȝoure self riht so wil .I. Line 361 And here .I. swere þat neuer wilingely In werke ne þouhte .I. nyl ȝowe disobeie For to be dede þouhe me were loþe to deie Line 364

¶ This is ynouhe Crizilda myne quod he Line 365 And forþe he goþe wiþe a ful sobre chiere Oute atte þe dore and after þat cam sche And to þe peple he seide in þis maniere Line 368

[6-text p 415] Line 368 This is my wife quod he þat stondeþ hiere Honoureþ hir and loueþ hire eke .I. preie Who so me loueþe þare is no more to seie Line 371

¶ And for þat noþinge of hire olde gere Line 372 Sche scholde bringe in to his house he badde Þat wemmen scholde dispoylen [hire] riht þere Of whiche þe ladies weren noþinge gladde Line 375 To handel hire cloþes where in sche was cladde Bot naþeles þis maiden briht of hewe Fro þe fote to þe hede þei cloþed hane al newe Line 378

¶ Her here ha þei kembed þat laie vntressed Line 379 Thei tirede hir hede þat longe rudely laie dressed Line 381 Ful roodely. and wiþ hire fingers smale Line 380 Of hire araye what scholde .I. maake a tale Line 382 Sche is nowe faire of hewe þat arst was pale Vnneþ þe peple hire knewe for hire fairenesse Whan sche transemute was in suche rechesse Line 385

¶ This Markes haþ her wed wiþ a ringe Line 386 Brouht for þe same cause and hire sette Vpon an hors snowe white and wele Amblynge And to þe paleis ar he langer lette Line 389 Wiþ Ioyful peple þat hire ladde and mette Conueyde hire and þus þe daie þei spende [folio 119a] In reuele til þe sonne gan descende Line 392

¶ And schortly forþe þis tale for to chace Line 393 .I. seie þat to þis new Marquysesse God haþe suche fauore sent hire of his grace Þat it ne semed nouht be liknesse Line 396 Þat sche was borne and fedde in rudesse As in a Cote or in an ox stall Bot norissched in an Emperours hall Line 399

[6-text p 416] Line 399

¶ To euery whight sche waxen is so dere Line 400 And worschipful þat folke þere sche was bore And frome hire birþe knewe hire ȝere be ȝere Vnneþ trowed þei bot dorst han swore Line 403 That to Ianicul of whiche .I. spak before Sche douhter nas for as be couertore Hem þouht sche was a noþer creature Line 406

¶ For þouhe euere vertuous was sche Line 407 Sche was encresed in suche excellence Of þewes goode sette in hihe bounte And so discrete and faire of eloquence Line 410 So benigne and digne of reuerence And couþe so þe peple hertes so enbrace That iche hire loueþe þat lokeþ in hire face Line 413

¶ Nouȝt only of Saluces in þe toune Line 414 Purplyste was þe bounte of hire name Bote eke be-side in mony a Regioune If one seide wele a noþer seide þe same Line 417 So spredeþe of hire hihe bounte and fame That men and wemmen also wele ȝonge as olde Gone to Saluce vpon hire to be-holde Line 420

¶ Thus Walter lowly. nouȝt. but royalye Line 421 Wedded wiþ fortunate honeste In goddes pes leueþ ful esilye Att home and outewarde grace. ynowhe had he Line 424 And for he sauhe þat vnder lowe degre Was oft vertue hidde þe peple him helde A prudent man and þat is seene ful selde Line 427

¶ Nouht only þis Crisilde þourhe hire witte Line 428 Couþe al þe feiþe of wifly homlynesse Bot eke whan þat þe caas required it The comune profit couþe sche redresse Line 431

[6-text p 417] Line 431 Ther nas discorde rancor ne heuinesse In al þat londe þat sche couþe apese [folio 119b] An wisely bringe hem al in hertes ese Line 434

¶ Thouhe þat hir husbonde absent were anone Line 435 If gentil men or oþere of here contre Weere wroþe sche wolde bringe hem att one So wise and ripe wordes had sche Line 438 And Iuggement of so grete equite That from heuen ysente was as men wende The peple to plese and euery wronge to amende Line 441

¶ Nouht longe time after þat þis Crisilde Line 442 Was wedded sche a douhter haþ .I.-bore Al had hire leuer haue borne a knaue childe Gladd was þis markes and his folk þer fore Line 445 For þouhe a mayden childe cam al before Sche maie vnto a knaue childe atteigne Belikned seþ sche is nouht bareine Line 448

[Explicit] Secunda pars ffabule.

[PART III.]

There fel att befalleþ times mo [or ino] Line 449 Whan þat þis childe hadde sowked bot a þrowe This Markes in his hert langeþ so To tempt his wif hire saddenesse for to knowe Line 452 That he ne myht oute of his hert þrowe This meruelous desire his wif to assaie Nedeles god wote he þouht hire to affraie Line 455

¶ He hadde assaide hire ynouhe before Line 456 And fonde hire euere goode what nededeþe Hire for to tempte and alweie more and more Bot as for me .I. seie þat yuel it sitte Line 459 Þouhe sume men it preise for a subtile witte To assaie a wif whan þat it is no nede And to putten hire in angwysse and in drede Line 462

[6-text p 418] Line 462

¶ ffor whiche þis markys wrouht in þis manere Line 463 He cam a nyht alone þere as sche leye Wiþ steren face and wiþ trouble chiere And seide þus Cr[i]ȝilde quod he þat deye Line 466 Þat .I. ȝoue toke oute of ȝoure poure aray And putt ȝowe in astate of hihe noblesse Ȝe haue nouht for-geten as .I. gesse Line 469

¶ .I. seie Criselde þis present dignite Line 470 In whiche .I. haue put ȝowe as. I trowe Makeþ ȝowe nouht for-ȝeteful for to be Þat .I ȝowe toke in poure astate ful lowe Line 473 For any wele ȝe moste ȝoure selue knowe [folio 120a] Take hede of euery worde þat .I. ȝowe seie Þere is no whight þat hereþ it bot we tweye Line 476

¶ Ȝe wote ȝoure self wele howe þat ȝe com here Line 477 In to þis house þat is nouht longe a go And þouhe to me ȝe be riht leue and dere Vn-to my gentils ȝe be noþinge so Line 480 Thei seie to hem it is grete schame and woo For to be soubgetes and be in seruage To þe þat art borne of a smale vilage Line 483

¶ And namely seþþe þi douhter was bore Line 484 Þis wordes haue þei spoken doutelese Bot .I. desire as .I. haue done be-fore To lede my lyue wiþ hem in rest and pese Line 487 .I. maie nouht in þis caas be recheles .I. mote do wiþ þi douhter for þe best Nat as .I. wolde bot as my genteles leste. Line 490

¶ And ȝite god wote þis is ful loþe to me Line 491 Bot naþeles wiþ owten ȝoure witeinge .I. wil nouht do bot þis will .I. quod he Þat ȝe to me assent as in þis þinge Line 494

[6-text p 419] Line 494 Schewe nowe ȝoure pacience as in werkynge Þat me ȝe hiht and swore in ȝoure vilage Þat daie þat maked was oure Mariage Line 497

¶ Whan sche hadde herde al þis sche nat ameued Line 498 Neiþere in worde ne chiere ne countenance For as it semede sche was nouht agreued Sche saide lorde al liþe in ȝoure plesance Line 501 My childe and .I. wiþ hertly obeissance Bene ȝoures all. and ȝe mowe saue and spille Ȝoure owen þinge workeþ after ȝoure wille Line 504

¶ There maie no þinge so god my soule saue Line 505 Likeinge to ȝowe þat maie displesen me Ne .I. desire no þinge for to haue Ne drede for to leese saue onlye þe Line 508 Þis wil is in myne hert and aie schal be Ne lengeþ of time or deþe maie þis deface Ne chaunge myne corage to anoþer place Line 511

¶ Glad was þis Marquys for hir ansewaringe Line 512 Bot ȝit he feyned. as it wer nouht soo Al drery was his chier as his lokeinge Whan þat he scholde oute of þe chambre goo. Line 515 Sone after þis a furlonge waie or tuo [folio 120b] He priuely haþ tolde al his entent Vnto a man of his assent Line 518

¶ A maner seriant was þis priue man Line 519 Þe whiche he feiþeful often fonden hadd In þinge grete. and eke suche folke wele can. Done execucione of þinges badde Line 522 The lorde knewe wele þat he him loued and dradde And whan þis Sereiant knewe his lordes wille In-to þe chambure he stalked him ful stille Line 525

[6-text p 420] Line 525

¶ Madame He seide ȝe mot for-ȝiue it me Line 526 Þouhe .I. do þinge whiche .I. am constreeyned Ȝe bue so wise þat ful wele knowen ȝe Þat lordes hestes mow nouȝt be feyned Line 529 Þay may wele be weiled or compleyned Bot most nede to here luste obeie. And so wil .I. þer is no more to seie Line 532

¶ This childe am .I. commaunded for to take Line 533 And spak no more bot owte þe childe he hent Dispytously and gan a chere make As þouhe he wolde haue sleyne it ar he went Line 536 Crisilde most al suffur and consent And as a lombe sche sitteþ meke and still And lete þis seriant haue al his will Line 539

¶ Suspecious was þe fame of þis manne Line 540 Suspecte his face suspecte his worde also Suspecte þe time in whiche he þis be-ganne Alas his douhter þat sche loued so Line 543 Sche wende he wolde haue sleyne it riht þo Bot naþeles sche neyþer wepped ne siked Confemeinge hir to þat þat markes lyked Line 546

¶ Bot att þe last speke sche began Line 547 And mekely to þe seriant praiede So as he was a worþi gentil man Þat sche mot kisse hir childe ar þat it deide Line 550 And in hire barme þis litel childe sche leide Wiþ ful sadde face and gan þis childe to blisse And lulled it and affter gan it kisse Line 553

¶ And þus sche seide in hire benigne voice Line 554 Fare wele my childe .I. schal þe neuer se Bot seþe .I. haue þe merked wiþ þe croyse Of þilke fader blissed mot þou be. Line 557

[6-text p 421] Line 557 Þat for vs deide vpon a cros of tre [folio 121a] Thi soule litel childe .I. him be-take For þis nyht schalt þou deie for my saake Line 560

¶ I trowe to a norice in þis caas Line 561 It hadde bien harde þis reuþe for to see Wele myht a moder þan haue cride alas Bott naþeles so sadde stedfast was sche Line 564 Þat sche endureþ al aduersite And to þe Seriaunte mekely sche seide Haue here aȝeine ȝoure litel ȝonge maide Line 567

¶ Goþe nowe quod sche and doþe my lordes heste Line 568 Bott o þinge wolde .I. praie ȝoue of ȝoure grace Þat but my lorde for-badde ȝowe att þe leste Beriþe þis litel body in sum place Line 571 Þat bestes ne birdes it to-race Bot he ne wolde no worde to þe pupos seie Bot toke þe childe and wente vpon his weie Line 574

¶ This seriaunt came vnto þis lorde aȝeine Line 575 And of Crisilde wordes and hir chiere He tolde him worde for worde in schorte and pleine And him presenteþ wiþ his douhter dere Line 578 Somwhat þis lorde had reuþe in his manere Bot naþeles his purpos helde he still As lordes done whan þei wil haue here will Line 581

¶ And badde þis sergeant þat he priuely Line 582 Scholde þis childe ful oft wynde and wrappe Wiþ al circumstance tenderly And Carie it in a cofer or in a lappe Line 585 Bott vppon peine his hede of for to swappe Þat no man scholde knowe of his entente Ne whene ne whedere þat he wente Line 588

[6-text p 422] Line 588

¶ Bot att þe Boloigne it to his suster dere Line 589 þat ilke time of Pauyke was Countesse He scholde it take and schewe hir þis matiere Be-secheinge hire to tone hir besinesse Line 592 This childe to fostre in al gentillesse And whos childe þat it was he bad hire hide Frome euery whiht for ouhte þat maie be-tide Line 595

¶ Þis sergeant goþe and haþe fulfilled þis þinge Line 596 Bot nowe to þis ma[r]kes retorne wee For nowe goþe he ful oft ymagyneinge ȝif be his wyues chiere he myht see Line 599 Or be hir worde perceyue þat sche [folio 121b] Were chaunged bot he neuer couþe hir finde Bot euere in one ylike sadde and kynde Line 602

¶ As gladde as besy as humble in seruise Line 603 And eke in loue as sche was wont to be Was sche to him in euery manere wise Ne of hir douhter nouht a worde spak sche Line 606 Accident for none aduersite Was seine in hire ne neuer hir douhter name Ne nemend sche in ernest ne in game Line 609

[Explicit] Tercia pars fabule.

[PART IV.]

IN þis . astate þere ben passed foure ȝere Line 610 Er sche wiþ childe was Bot as god wolde A knaue childe sche bare be þis waltere Ful gracious and faire to be-holde Line 613 And whan þat folke it to his fader tolde Nouht onlyche he but al þe contre mury Was for þis and god þei þonke and hery Line 616

¶ Whan it was tuo ȝere olde and fro þe breste Line 617 Departid of his norice on a daye þis Markes cauht ȝit anoþere leste

[6-text p 423] To tempte his wif ȝit ofter if he maie Line 620 O nedeles was sche tempted in assaie Bot wedded men knowen no mesure Whan þat þei finde a pacient creature Line 623

¶ Wif quod þis Markes ȝe haue herde of þis Line 624 My peple sekely bereþ heuye of oure mariage And namely seþ my son borne is Nowe is wers þan euer in al oure age Line 627 The mormure sleþe myn herte and myne corage For to myne eres commeþ voice so smarte That it wel nyhe destruyde hathe myne herte Line 630

¶ Nowe seye þei þus whan Waltier is a-gone Line 631 Than schal þe blode of Ianicle succede And bien oure lorde for oþere haue we none Suche wordes seiþe my peple it is no drede Line 634 Wele ouhte .I. of suche murmure taken hede For certeinly .I. drede suche sentence Þouhe þei nouht pleine speke in myne audience Line 637

¶ I wolde leue in pes if þat .I. myhte Line 638 Where-fore .I. am disposed vtterlye As .I. his suster serued be nyhte Riht so þenke .I. to serue him priuely [folio 122a] Line 641 Thus warne .I. ȝowe for ȝe nouht sodanly Oute of ȝoure selue for no woo scholde outraie Beþe pacient and þerfore .I. ȝow preie Line 644

¶ .I. haue quod sche saide and euer schal Line 645 .I. will no þinge certeigne Bot as ȝoue luste nouht greueþe me al Þouhe þat my douhter and my son bue sleine Line 648 Att ȝoure commandement þis is to seine .I. haue nouht had no parte of childern tweyne Bot first sekenesse and after woo and peine Line 651

[6-text p 424] Line 651

¶ Ȝe bene oure lorde do wiþ ȝoure owen þinge Line 652 Riht as ȝowe liste axeþe no rede att me For as .I. left att home al my cloþinge Whan .I. first came to ȝowe riht so quod sche Line 655 Lest .I. my wil and al my liberte And toke ȝoure cloþinge where-fore .I. ȝowe preie Doþe ȝoure plesance .I. wil ȝoure lust obeie Line 658

¶ And certes if .I. had prescience Line 659 Ȝoure will to knowe ar ȝe ȝoure lust me tolde .I. wolde it do wiþ-outen necligence Bot nowe .I. wote ȝoure luste and what ȝe wolde Line 662 Al ȝoure plesance ferme and plesance .I. holde For wist .I. þat my deþe wolde do ȝowe ese Riht gladly wolde .I. deie ȝowe to plese Line 665

¶ Deþ maie nouht make no comparisone Line 666 Vnto owre loue and whan þis Markis seye Þe Countenance. of his wif he cast a-doune His eyȝen tuo and wonderþ þat sche maye Line 669 In paciens suffur al þis araye And forþe he goþ wiþ drery countenance Bot to his hert it was riht grete plesance Line 672

¶ Þis Ogel seriant in þe same wise Line 673 Þat he hir douhte cauht riht so he Or wers. if men wers can deuise Haþe hente hire son þat ful was of beute Line 676 And euer in oone so paciente was sche That sche no chiere made of heuinesse Bott kissed hir son and after gan it blesse Line 679

¶ Saue þis sche praide him if þat he myht Line 680 Hir litel son he wolde in erþe graue His tendre limes delicate to siht Fro foules and fro bestes forto saue [folio 122b] Line 683

[6-text p 425] Line 683 Bot sche none ansewere of him myht haue He went his waie as he no þinge rouht Bot to Boleigne he tendurly it brouht Line 686

¶ This Markes wondreþ euer lenger þe more Line 687 Vpon hire paciens and if þat he Ne hadde soþely knowe þere before Þat perfitly hir cheldern loued sche Line 690 He wolde haue wende þat of summe subtilite And of Males or for cruel curage Þat sche hadde sufferd þis wiþ sadde visage Line 693

¶ Bot wele he knewe next him selue certeigne Line 694 Sche loued hir childern best in euery wise Bot nowe of wemmen wolde .I. axe feine If þes assaies myht nouht suffise Line 697 What couþe a stordy husbonde more deuyse to preue his wif and hir stedfastnesse And he continuinge euer in stordenesse Line 700

¶ Bot þere buen folke of suche condicione Line 701 þat whan þe haue a certeine purpos take þei can nouht stinte of hire entencion Bot riht as þei were bounden to a stake Line 704 þai wil nouht of þat first purpos slake Riht so þis ma[r]kes fully haþe purposyd To tempt his wif as he was firste disposyd Line 707

¶ He waiteþ if be worde or countenance Line 708 That sche to him was chaunged of Corage Bot neuer couþe he finde variance Sche was aie oon in hert and in visage Line 711 And aie þe forþer sche was in age The more trewe if þat it were possible Sche was to him loue and more pesible Line 714

[6-text p 426] Line 714

¶ For whiche it semed þus þat of hem tuo Line 715 Þer nas bot o will for as Waltier luste Þat same lust was hir plesance also And god he þonked as fel for þe beste Line 718 Sch schewed wele for no werldly vnreste A wif as of hire self no þinge ne scholde Wille in effecte bot as hir husbonde wolde Line 721

¶ The sclander of Walter oft and wide spradde Line 722 That of a cruel hert he wikkedly For he a pouer womman wedded hadde Had murdred boþ his childern priuely [folio 123a] Line 725 Suche murmur was ymonge hem comunly No wonder is for to þe peples ere Þere come no worde bot þat þei murdred were Line 728

¶ ffor whiche þer as his peple þere before Line 729 Had loued him wel þe sclaunder of his defame Maade hem þat þei hated him þer-fore To biene a Mordrer is an hateful name Line 732 Bot naþeles for ernest ne for game He of his crewel purpos nold stint To tempte his wif was sette al his entent Line 735

¶ Whan þat his douhter . xij. ȝere was of age Line 736 He to þe Courte of Rome in soubtile wise Enformed of his will and sente his message Commandeinge hem suche bulles to douise Line 739 In þis manere and in þis same gise Howe þat þe pope for his peple rest Bat him to wedde anoþer wif ȝif þat him lest Line 742

¶ I saie he badde þei scholde countrefete Line 743 The popes bulles makeinge mencione þat haþe leue his first wif to lete As by þe popes despensacione Line 746

[6-text p 427] Line 746 To stinte Rancor and discencione Be-twix his peple and him þus spake þe bulle The whiche þei han publisced att þe fulle Line 749

¶ The rode peple as it no wonder is Line 750 Wenden ful wel þat it hadd be riht so Bot whan þis tiþinges came to Crisildis .I. deme þat hire hert was ful woo Line 753 Bot sche ylike sadde for euer moo Disposed was þis humble creature To aduersite of fortune al to endure Line 756

¶ Abideinge euer his lust and his plesaunce Line 757 To wham sche was ȝeuen hert and al As to hir werldly verray suffisance Bot schortly ȝif þis storie tell .I. schal Line 760 This Marqwys writen haþe in special A lettre in whiche he scheweþ his entent And secretely he to Boleigne it sent Line 763

¶ To þe erle of pauyke whiche þat hadde þo Line 764 Wedded his suster prayede he specialy To bringe home aȝeine his childerne two Bot he o þinge praide vtterly [folio 123b] Line 767 Wiþ all his hert ful affectuously Þat he to no wight þouh man wolde enquere Schol nouht tellen whos childen þat þei were Line 770

¶ Bot seie þe maiden schold y-wedde be Line 771 Vn-to þe Markes of Salucez riht anone And as þis Erle was preide riht so dide For att þe daie sette . he on his waie is gone Line 774 To-wardes Salutz and lordes many one In riche Araie þis Mayden for to Gyde Hir ȝonge broþer rideynge be hire side Line 777

[6-text p 428] Line 777

¶ Araide was to-warde hir mariage Line 778 This frische maide ful of gemmes clere Hire broþer whiche þat seuen ȝere was of age Araide eke ful frische in his manere Line 781 And þus in grete noblesse and wiþ gladde chiere To-ward Saluces schapinge hire Iornaie Fro daie to daie þei rideinge in hire weie. Line 784

[Explicit] Quarta pars fabule

[PART V.]

Amonge al þis after his wikked vsage Line 785 Þis Markes ȝit his wif gan tempte more To þe vttrest preue of hir Corage Fulli to haue experiment and lore. Line 788 If þat sche was as stedfast as before He on a daie in open audience Ful bustusly haþ seide hir þis sentence Line 791

¶ Certes Crisilde .I. had .I.-nowhe plesance Line 792 To haue ȝowe to my wif for ȝoure goodnesse As for ȝoure trouþe and ȝoure obeissance Not for ȝoure lignage ne for ȝoure rechesse Line 795 Bot nowe quod he in verreie so þefastnesse That in grete lordeschippe ȝif .I. wil a-vise There is grete seruitute in sundre wise Line 798

¶ .I. maie not do as euery plouhe man may Line 799 My peple me constreyneþ forto take Anoþer wif and crien daie be daie And eke þe pope rankoure for to slake Line 802 Consenteþ it þat dare .I. vnder-tak And trewlye þus muche .I. wil ȝowe seie My newe wif is cominge be þe weie Line 805

¶ Be stronge of herte and voide anone hir place Line 806 And þilke dowaire þat ȝe brouhten me Tak it aȝeine .I. graunte it of my grace [folio 124a]

[6-text p 429] Retorneþ to ȝoure faders house quod he Line 809 No man maye alweie haue prosp[er]ite Wiþ euen hert .I. rede ȝoue to endure The stroke of fortune or of aventure Line 812

¶ And sche aȝeine ansewarde in pacience Line 813 My lorde seide sche .I. wote and wist al weie How þat be-twex ȝoure magnificence And my pouerte no whight can ne maie Line 816 Maken comparison þat is no naye .I. held me neuer digne in no manere To be ȝoure wif ne ȝit ȝoure chamberere Line 819

¶ And in þis þere ȝe me lady maade Line 820 The hihe god take .I. for my wittenesse And also wisely he my soule gladde .I. neuer helde me lady ne maistresse Line 823 Bot humble seruant to ȝoure worþinesse And euer schal while þat my lif maie dure Abouen euery worldly creature Line 826

¶ That ȝe so longe of ȝoure benignite Line 827 Haue holde me in honour and nobleie Where as .I. was nouht worþe to be þat þonke .I. god and ȝowe whome .I. preie Line 830 For-ȝelde it ȝow þere is no more to seye Vnto my fader gladly wil .I. wende And wiþ him duel vnto my lyues ende Line 833

¶ Ther .I. was fostred a childe ful small Line 834 Til .I. be dede my lif þer wil .I. lede A wedowe clen in body hert and all For seþþe .I. ȝaue to ȝowe my maidenhede Line 837 And am ȝoure trewe wif it is no drede God schelde suche a lordes wif to take Anoþer man to husbonde or to make Line 840

[6-text p 430] Line 840

¶ And of ȝowre newe wif god of his grace Line 841 So graunt ȝowe wele and hihe profperite For .I. wil gladly ȝelden hire my place In whiche .I. was blisful wonte to be Line 844 For seþe it likeþ ȝowe my lorde quod sche That whilom were al myn hertes rest That .I. schal go .I. wil go whan ȝoue lest Line 847

¶ Bot þere as ȝe me profer suche dowaire Line 848 As .I. fist brouht it is wele in my mynde It were my wreched cloþes noþinge faire [folio 124b] The whiche to me were nowe ful hard to finde Line 851 O goode god howe gentil and howe kinde Ȝe Semed be ȝoure speche and be ȝoure visage The daie þat maked was oure mariage Line 854

¶ Bott soþe is seide al gate .I. finde it trewe Line 855 For in effecte it proued is on me Loue is nouht olde as whan þat it is newe Bot certes lorde for none aduersite Line 858 To deien in þe caas it schal nouht be Þat euer in worde or werke .I. schal repent Þat .I. ȝowe ȝafe myne herte in hole entent Line 861

¶ Lorde ȝe wote þat in my faders place Line 862 Ȝe dide me stripe out of my poure wede And richely me cladden of ȝoure grace To ȝowe brouht .I. not elles out of drede Line 865 Bot feiþe and nakednes and maidenhede And here aȝeine ȝoure cloþinge .I. restore And eke ȝowre weddinge ringe for euer more Line 868

¶ Þe remenant of ȝoure Iewels redi be Line 869 Wiþþe in ȝoure chambre dar .I. sauely seine Naked oute of my faders house quod sche .I. cam and naked .y. mote aȝeine Line 872

[6-text p 431] Line 872 Al ȝoure plesance wold .I. folow feine Bot ȝit .I. hope it be nouht ȝoure entent þat smokles oute of ȝoure paleys .I. went Line 875

¶ Ȝe couþe nouht do so dishonest a þinge Line 876 þat þilke wombe in whiche ȝoure childern leye Scholde be-for þe peple in my walkinge Be seene al bare whe[r] for .I. ȝowe praye Line 879 Late me nouht like a werme go be þe waie Remembre ȝowe myn owen lorde so dere .I. was ȝowre wif þouhe .I. vnworþe were Line 882

¶ Wherefore in guerdon of myn maidenhede Line 883 Whiche þat .I. brouht and not awaie .I. bere As vowcheþ saue to ȝeue to my mede Bot suche a smok as .I. was wonte to were. Line 886 þat .I. þer-wiþ maie wrie þe wombe of here þat was ȝoure wif. and here take .I. my leue Of ȝowe myne owen lorde leste .I. ȝowe greue Line 889

¶ The smokke quod he þat þou haste vpon þi bakke Line 890 Lat it still and bere it forþe wiþ þe Bot vnneþ þilke worde he spake [folio 125a] Bott wente his weie for rewþe and pite Line 893 Be-forne þe folke hir seluen strepeþ sche And in hire smoke wiþ foote and hede al bare To-ward hir fader house sche is fare Line 896

¶ The folke hire folowen wepein in hir weie Line 897 And fortune aie þei cursen as þei gone Bot sche fro wepeinge kepped her eyȝen drie Ne in þis time worde ne spak sche none Line 900 Hire fader þat þis tiþinge herd a-none Cursiþ þe daie and time þat nature Schope him to be a lyues creature Line 903

[6-text p 432] Line 903

¶ ffor oute of doute þis olde poure man Line 904 Þat whan þe lorde had fulfilde his corage For euer it demed siþþe it first began Him wold þinge it were disparage Line 907 To wedde one of so pouere a lignage To his astate so lowe to a lyht And voide hir as sone as euer he myht Line 910

¶ Aȝeine his douhter hastely goþe he Line 911 For he be noyse of folke knewe hire comeinge And wiþ hire olde cote as it miht be He couerde hir ful sorwfully wepinge Line 914 Bot on hir bodi myht he it nouht bringe For rude was þe cloþe and more of age Be fele daies þan was hire Mariage Line 917

¶ Thus wiþ hire fader for a certeine space Line 918 Dwelleþ þis floure of wifly pacience That neyþe[r] be hir wordes ne be hir face Be-forne þe folke ne eke in hir absence. Line 921 Ne schewede sche þat hir was done offence Ne of hire hihe astate in remembrance Ne hadde sche as be hir countenance Line 924

¶ No wondere is for in hire grete astate Line 925 Hire goste was euer in pleine humilite No tendre mouþe none herte delicate Ne pompe ne semblant of roialte Line 928 Bot ful of pacience and benignite Discrete and prideles ay honurable And to hir husbond euere meke and stable Line 931

¶ Men speken of Iob and most of his humblesse Line 932 As clerkes whan hem liste can endite Namely of men bot as in sothefastnesse [folio 125b] Thow clerkes preisen wemmen bo[t] a lite Line 935

[6-text p 433] Line 935 Ther can no man in humblesse him acquite As wemmen can ne can be halfe so trewe As wemmen buen bot it be fal of newe Line 938

[PART VI.]

¶ Fro Boleyne is þis erle of pauyhe comme Line 939 Of whiche þe fame vp spronge to more and lesse And to þe peple eres al and somme Was Couþe eke þat a new Marquysesse Line 942 He wiþ him brouht in suche pompe and recchesse Þat neuer was þer seen wiþ mannes eye So noble araie in al west lumbardeye Line 945

¶ Ther Markes whiche þat knewe and schope al þis Line 946 Or þat þis Erle was comme sent his message For þilke cely poure Crisild And sche wiþ humble herte and glad visage Line 949 Nouhte wiþþe no swollen hert in hire Corage Cam att hire heste and on hir knes hir sette And reuerently and wisly sche him grette Line 952

¶ Crisilda quod he my wil is vtterlye Line 953 This maiden þat schal be wedded to me Receyved be morwe as Roiallye As possible is in my house to be Line 956 And eke þat euery wyght in his degre Haue his astate in sittinge and seruice And hihe plesance as .I. can best deuise Line 959

¶ .I. haue no womman suffisant certeine Line 960 The chambres for to arraie in ordinance After my lust; and þere-fore wolde .I. feine Þine were al suche maner gouernance Line 963 Þou knowest eke of olde al my plesance Þouhe þine araie be bad and yuel be-seye Do þou þi deuere att þe leste waie Line 966

[6-text p 434] Line 966

¶ Not only lorde þat .I. am gladde quod sche Line 967 To do ȝoure lust bot .I. desire also Ȝowe for to serue and plese in my degre Wiþ-outen feynteinge and schal euer moo Line 970 Ne neuer for no wele ne for woo Ne schal þe goste wiþ-inne myne hert stinte To loue ȝow best wiþ al my trewe entente Line 973

¶ And wiþ þat worde sche gan þe house to diht Line 974 And tables for to sette aud beddes make And peyned hire to done al þat sche myht [folio 126a] Preieinge þe chambreres for goddes sake Line 977 To hasten hem and fast swepe and shake And sche þe most seruisiable of all Haþe euery chambre arraide and his hall Line 980

¶ Aboute vndern gan þis erle alyht Line 981 And wyþ him brouht his noble childern tweye For-wiþ þe peple ran to see þat siht Of hir arraye so Richely beseye Line 984 and þan at arst amonges hem þei sey þat Walter was no fule þouhe þat him leste To chaunge his wif for it was for þe beste Line 987

¶ For sche is fairere as þei demen alle Line 988 Þan is Crisilde and more tendir of age And feirer fruyte betwene hem schold fall And more plesance for hir hihe lignage Line 991 Hir broþer eke so faire was of visage That hem to se þe peple haþ kauht plesance Commendynge nowe þe Markes gouernance Line 994

¶ O stormy peple vnsad and euer vntrewe Line 995 Ay indiscrete and chaungeinge as a fane Deliteinge aye in Romble þat is newe Fare like þe mone ay wexen ȝe and wane Line 998

[6-text p 435] Line 998 Ay ful of Clappinge dere ynowhe a Iane Ȝoure dome as fals ȝoure inconstance wele preueþ A for grete fole is he þat on ȝowe leueþ Line 1001

¶ Thus seiden sadde folke in þat Cite Line 1002 Whan þat þe peple gased vp and doune For þei were glad riht for þe nouelte To haue a newe lady of here toune Line 1005 No more of þis now make .I. mencione Bot to Crisilde anone .I. wil me dresse And tel hir Constance and hir besinesse Line 1008

¶ Ful besy was crisilde in euery þinge Line 1009 Þat to þe feste was apertenent Riht nouht was sche abassched of hire cloþinge þouhe it were rode and eke somdele to-rente Line 1012 Bot wiþ glad chiere to þe ȝate is wente Wyþ oþere folke to grete þe marquysesse And after þat doþ forþe hire besinesse Line 1015

¶ Wiþ so gladde chiere his gestes sche resceyueþ Line 1016 And conyngly eueryche in his degre Þat defaute no man apperceyueþ Bot aie þei wondren what sche myht be [folio 126b] Line 1019 That in so pouer araye was for to se And couþe suche honoure and reuerence And worþely þe preised hire prudence Line 1022

¶ In al þis men while sche ne stinte Line 1023 This maiden and eke hir broþer to commende Wiþ al hir hert wiþ ful benynge entente So wele þat no man couþe hir prise amende Line 1026 Bot att þe laste whan þes lordes wende To sitten doune att mete he gan to call Crisilde as sche was busy in his hall Line 1029

[6-text p 436] Line 1029

¶ Crisild quod he as it were in his pleie Line 1030 Howe likeþ þe my wif and hire beaute Riht wele quod sche my lorde for in goode feie A feirer sawhe .I. neuer none þan sche Line 1033 .I. prei to god ȝif. ȝoue prosperite And so hope .I. þat he wil to ȝoue sende Plesance ynowhe vnto ȝoure liues ende Line 1036

¶ .O. þinge beseche .I. ȝowe and warne also Line 1037 Þat ȝe prikke wiþ no turnementynge Þis tender maiden as ȝe haue done mo For sche is fosterd in hir norischeinge Line 1040 More tendrely and to my supposinge Sche couþe nouht aduersite endure As couþe a pore fostred creature Line 1043

¶ And whan þis Waltier sauhe hire pacience Line 1044 Hir glad chiere and no malece att al And he so oft had done hire offence And sche aye sadde and constante as a wal Line 1047 Continuinge euer hire Innocens ouer al This stordy Markes gan his hert dresse To rewen on hire wifly stedfastnesse Line 1050

¶ This is ynouhe Crisilde myne quod he Line 1051 Be nowe no more agaste ne yuel a-paide .I. haue þi feiþe and þi benignite As wele as euer womman was assaide Line 1054 In grete astate and pouerly araide Now knowe .I. dere wife þi stedfastnesse And hire in armes toke and gan hir kesse Line 1057

¶ And sche for wonder toke of it no kepe Line 1058 Sche þouht nouht what þinge he to hir seide Sche ferde as sche had stert oute of hir slepe [Line repeated at top of leaf 127] Til sche oute of hir masedenesse abraide [folio 127a] Line 1061

[6-text p 437] Line 1061 Crisida quod he be god þat for vs deide Thou ert my wif ne none oþer .I. haue Ne neuer had so god my soule saue Line 1064

¶ This is þi douhter whiche þou hast supposed Line 1065 To be my wif þat toþer faiþe fully Schal be myne heire as .I. haue aye purposed Thou bare hem in þi bodi trewly. Line 1068 Att Boleyne haue .I. kepped hem priuely Takeþ hem aȝeine for nowe maist þou nouȝt sey Þat þou hast lorne none of þi children tweie Line 1071

¶ And folke þat oþere wise haue seide of me Line 1072 .I. warne hem wele þat .I. haue done þis dede For no malece ne for no cruelte Bot for to assaie in þe þi wommanhede Line 1075 And nouht for to sle my childern god for-bede Bot for to kepe hem priuely and still Til .I. þi purpos knewe and al þi will Line 1078

¶ Whan sche þis herde a swoune doune sche falleþ Line 1079 For pitous Ioye and after hire swoneinge Sche boþe hir ȝonge childerne to hire calleþ And in hir armes pytously wepeinge Line 1082 Embraseþ hem and tendurly kissinge Ful lyk a mode wiþþe hir salte teres Sche baþes boþ hire vesage and hire eres Line 1085

¶ O whiche a pitous syht it was to see Line 1086 Hir swoneynge and hire humble voice to here Graunt mercye lord god .I. þonked ȝowe quod sche þat ȝe haue sauede me my childern dere Line 1089 Nowe reche .I. neuere to be dede riht here Seþþe .I. stonde in ȝoure loue and in ȝoure grace No force of deþe ne whan my sprite passe Line 1092

[6-text p 438] Line 1092

¶ O tender o dere o ȝonge childern myne Line 1093 Ȝoure woful modere wende stedfastly Þat cruel houndes or sum foule vermyne Had eten ȝowe bot god of his mercye Line 1096 And ȝoure benigne fader tendurly Haþe done ȝowe kepe in þe same stounde Al sodanly sche swapped a-downe to grounde Line 1099

And in hir swoune so sadly haldeþ sche Line 1100 Here childern tuo whan sche gan hem enbrace That wiþ grete slyht and grete difficulte [folio 127b] The childerne from hir harme þei gun race Line 1103 O many a tere on mony a pitous face Doune ranne on hem þat stoden hir be side Vnneþ aboute hir myhten þei a-bide Line 1106

¶ Walter hire gladeþ and hire sorwe slakeþ Line 1107 Sche riseþ vp a-basched from hir traunce And euery wyht hire ioyeþ and fest makeþ Til sche haþe cauht aȝeine her countenance Line 1110 Waltier hir doþe feiþefully plesance Þat it is deynteþ for to see þe chiere Be-twexe hem tuo nowe þei bue mette in fere Line 1113

¶ This ladyse whan þat þei her time seie Line 1114 Han taken hire and in to chambre gone And strippen hir oute of hir rode araie And in a cloþe of golde þat briht schone Line 1117 Wiþ a corenal and mony a riche stone Vpon hir hede þei in-to hal hir brouhte And þan sche was honoured as sche ouhte Line 1120

¶ Thus haþe þis pytous daie a blisful ende Line 1121 For euery man and womman doþe her myht This daie in merþe and reuel to despende Til on þe welkine schone þe sterres briht Line 1124

[6-text p 439] Line 1124 For more solempne in euery mannes siht This feste was and gretter of costage Than was þe reuel of hir Mariage Line 1127

¶ Ful mony a ȝere in hihe prosperite Line 1128 Leuen þis tuo in concorde and rest And richely his douhter maried he Vn-to a lorde one of þe worþiest Line 1131 Of all ytaile þan. and pees and rest His wives fader in his courte he kepeþ Til þat his soule oute of his body crepeþ Line 1134

¶ His sonne succedeþ in his heritage Line 1135 In reste and pes after his fader daie And fortunate eke was in mariage Al pute he nouht his wif in grete assaie Line 1138 þis werlde is not so stronge it is no naye As it haþe bue in olde time ȝore And erkeneþ what þis auctor seiþ þere-fore Line 1141

¶ This storie is seide not for þat wyues scholde Line 1142 Folowen Crisilde as in humilite For it were importable þouhe þei wolde [folio 128a] Bot for þat euery whight in his degre Line 1145 Scholde be constant in aduersite As was Crisilda þer-for Petrake wryteþ This story whiche he wiþ hihe stile enditeþ Line 1148

¶ For seþþe a womman was so paciente Line 1149 Vnto a mortel man wele more vs ouht Receyuen al in gre þat god vs sente For grete skylles he proueþ þat he wrouht Line 1152 Bot he tempteþ no man þat he bouht As seiþe seinte Iame if ȝe his pistel rede He proueþ folke aldaie it is no drede Line 1155

[6-text p 440] Line 1155

¶ And suffreþ vs as for oure exercise Line 1156 Wiþ scharpe scourges of aduersite Ful often to be beten in sundry wise Nouȝt for to knowe oure wil for certes he Line 1159 Or we ware borne knewe al oure frelete And for oure best is al his gouernance Lete vs þan leue in vertuous suffrance Line 1162

¶ Bot lordinges o worde herkeneþ ar .I. go Line 1163 It ware ful harde to finde nowe a dayes In al a toune Crisildes one or tuo For if þat þei were put to suche assaies Line 1166 The golde of hem haþe nowe so bad laies Wiþ bras þat þouhe þe coyne be faire at eye It wolde raþer briste y tuo þan plye Line 1169

¶ For whiche: for þe wyues loue of baþe Line 1170 Whas lyf and al here helþe god maynteigne In hire maystre and elles ware it skaþe .I. wolde wiþ lusty herte frische and grene Line 1173 Sey ȝowe a songe to glad ȝowe .I. wene And latte us stint of enestful matiere Herkeneþ my songe þat seiþe in þis manere Line 1176

Lenvoye de Chaucer

Criselde is dede and hir pacience And boþe at ones beried in ytaile Wher-fore .I. crie in open audience Line 1179 No wedded man be hardie to assaile His wives pacience in hope to finde Crisildez for certes he schal faile Line 1182

[6-text p 441] Line 1182

O noble wyues ful of ire prudence Lat none humylite ȝoure tonge naile Ne late no clerke haue cause or diligence [folio 128b] Line 1185 To write of ȝowe a storie of suche merveile As Crisilde pacient and kinde Lest chicheuache ȝowe swelowe in hire entreile Line 1188

Foloweþ here to and holdeþ no silence Bot euer answer att þe countretaile Beþ nouht bedaffed for ȝoure innocence Line 1191 Bot scharpely take on ȝowe þe gouernaile Enprinteþ wele þis lesson in ȝoure mynde For commune profite seþþe it maie availe Line 1194

þe Archewyues standeþ att þe fense Seþ ȝe be stronge as is a grete Camaile Ne suffreþ nouȝt þat men do ȝowe offence Line 1197 And sclender wives and febel as in a bataile Beþ egre as is a tigre ȝonde in. Inde Ay clappeþ as a melle .I. ȝowe counseile Line 1200

Ne drede hem nouht . ne do hem no reuerence For þouhe þi husbonde armed be in maile Þe arwes of þi crabbed eloquence Line 1203 Schal pers his breste and eke his aduentaile In gelowsye .I. rede eke þou him binde And þou make him couche as doþe a qwaile Line 1206

If þow bue faire þere folke bue in presence schew þou þi visage and þine aparaile If þo be foule be fre of þi dispence Line 1209 To gete þe frendes do aye þi trauayle Be ay of chier as liht as lef on lynde And late him care and wepe and wringe and wayle. Line 1212

Explicit commendacio

[6-text p 443]

Incipit ffabula. [on leaf 128, back]

WHilome þer was dwellinge in lumbardie A worþi knyht þat borne was in Paue In whiche he leued in grete prosperite And .xl. ȝere a wifles man was he Line 1248 And folowde aye his bodely delite On wemmen was his hole appetite As done þes foles þat bu seculere And whan þat he was passed .lx. ȝere Line 1252 Were it for holynes or for dotage .I. can nouht seie but suche a grete corage Had þis knyht to be a wedded man ¹Þat daie and nyht he doþ al þat he can To aspie where he myht wedded be¹ [^1_1 repeated on leaf 129] Preinge oure lorde to grant him þat he [folio 129a] myht ones knowe þat blisful life þat is betwex an husbond and his wif Line 1260 And for to leue vnder þat holy honde Wiþ wiche god first man and womman bonde None oþer life seide he is worþe a bene For wedlok is so esy and so clene Line 1264 That in þis werlde it is a paradise Thus seide þis olde knyht þat was so wise An certeinly as soþe as godde is kenge To take a wif it is a gloriouse þinge Line 1268 And namely whan a man is olde and hore þan is a wif fruyt of his tresore þan scholde he take a ȝonge wif and a faire On whiche he myht engender him an heire Line 1272

[6-text p 444] Line 1272 And leden his lif in Ioy and solace Where as þe bachellier singen alace Whan þat þei finden any aduersite In loue whiche þat is bot childes vanite Line 1276 And trewli it sitte wele to be so þat bachilliers haue ofte peine and woo On brutel grounde þei boiled brutilnesse þei finde frelte whan þei wene Sikernesse Line 1280 þei leue bot as a burde or as a beste In liberte and vnder none areste þere as a wedded man in his astate Leueþ . his lyf blisful and ordinate Line 1284 Vnder þe ȝokke of mariage .ybounde Wele may his herte In Ioy and blisse abounde For who can be so buxum as a wife Who is so trewe and eke so tentife Line 1288 To kepe him seeke and hole as is his make For wele or woo sche nyll nouht him for-sake Sche is nouht werye him to loue and serue þeih þat he lye beddred til he sterue Line 1292 And ȝit somme clerkes seine it is nouht so Of whiche Theofrast is one of þo What fors þouhe Theofrast list lye Ne take no wif quod he for husbandrie Line 1296 As for to spare in householde þi despence A trew seruant doþe more diligence [folio 129b] Thine goode to kepe þan þine owen wif For sche wil claime half parte in al hire lif Line 1300 And ȝif þat þou be seke so god me saue Thyne verrey frendes or a trew knaue Wil kepe þe bett þan sche þat waiteþ aie After þi goode and haueþ do mony daie Line 1304 [And if thou take a wife that to the is vn-trewe. ffull ofte tyme it schall the rewe. [Harl. 1758 folio 77a] [ Not in Addit. 5140, leaf 149] ] To þis entente and an .C. siþes wers Writeþ þis man þere god his soule cors Line 1308

[6-text p 445] Line 1308 Bot take no kepe of al such vanite Defye Theofrast and herkeneþ me ¶ A wif is goddes ȝift verraily Al oþer maner ȝiftes hardely Line 1312 As landes rentes pasture or comune Oþer eyþer ȝiftes þat bien mebles of fortune þat passen as a schadowe on a wal Bot drede nouht if pleinly speke I. schal Line 1316 A wif wil last and in þine house endure Wel langer þan þe list endure Mariage is a ful grete sacrament He whiche haþ no wif .I. holde him schent Line 1320 He leueþ helples and is al desolate .I. speke of folke in seculere astate And herken whi .I. seie nouht þis for nouht þe womman is for mannes helpe I-wrouht Line 1324 þe hihe god whan he had Adam maked And sauhe him a-lone b[e]ly nakeded God of his grete goodnesse seide he þan Latt vs nowe make an helpe to þis man Line 1328 .I.-like to him selfe and þat he maade Eue Here maie ȝe see and here be preue Þat wif is mannes help and comforte His paradise terestre and his disporte Line 1332 So buxum and so vertuus is sche þei moste nedes leue in vnite O flesche and o blode as .I. gesse Ne haþe bot on herte in wele and in destresse Line 1336 A wif a seinte mare benedicite Howe myhte a man haue any aduersite þat haþ a wif certes .I. can nouht seye The blisse þat is be-tuex hem tueye Line 1340 Þere maie no tunge tel or hert þinke. If he be pouere Sche helpeþ him to swynke [folio 130a] Sche kepeþ his gode and wasteþ neuer a dele And al þat hire husbond lust hire lykeþ wele Line 1344

[6-text p 446] Line 1344 Sche seiþ nouht ones naie whan he seiþe ȝe Doþ þis saiþe he Alredy sire seiþ sche O blisful order. o wedlok precious þou ert so mery and eke so vertuous Line 1348 And so commended and approued eke þat euery mon þat holdeþ him worþe a leke Vpon his bare knees ouht al his lif Thonken his god þat him haþ sente a wif Line 1352 Oþire praie god him for to sende A wif to last vnto his lyues ende For þan his lif is sett in sekurnesse He may nouhte be deceiued as .I. gesse Line 1356 So þat he worche after his wyues rede þan maie he boldely bere vp his hede þei buen so trewe and so wise For wiche if þou wilt worchen as þe wise Line 1360 Do al waie so as þe womman wil þe reede Lo howe þat Iacob as þes clerkes rede Be goode Counsel of his moder Rebek Bande þe kidde scynne aboute his nek Line 1364 For whiche his faders benison he wan Lo Iudith as þe storie eke tel can Be wise Counsel sche goddes peple kept [[t rubbed out]] And slowhe him Olofernus while he slept Line 1368 Lo howe Abigaile be gode counsel howe þat sche Saued hir husbond nabal whan þat he Schold haue be sleyne and Loke after al so Be goode counsel deliuerd out of wo Line 1372 The peple of god and made hem mardothe Of Assure enchaunced for to be There nes noþinge in [[? in in a later hand]] gre superlatiff As seiþ Senec aboue an humble wif Line 1376 Suffurþ þi wiues tonge as Caton bitte Sche schal commande and þou schalt suffur it And ȝute sche will obeie of Curtesye A wif is keper of þin husbondrie Line 1380

[6-text p 447] Line 1380 Wele maie þe seke man be-waile and wepe þere as þere nes no wif þe house to kepe .I. warne þe if wisely þou wilt worche Loue wele þi wif as crist loueþ his chirche [folio 130b] If þou loues þi self þou loues þi wif Line 1385 No man hateþ his flesche bot in his lif He fostreþe it and þer-for bid .I. þe Chirische þi wif or þou scalt neuer þe Line 1388 Husband and wif whatt so men Iape or pleie Of werldly folke holde þe riht weie Thei buen so knytte þer maie non harme be-tide And namely vpon the wif side Line 1392 For whiche þis Ianuare of whiche .I. tolde Considered in wiþ his daies olde The lusty þe vertuous quiete That is in mariage any swete Line 1396 And for his frendes on a daie sent To tellen hem þeffect of his e[n]tent Wiþ face sadde he haþ hem þis tale tolde He seide frendes .I. am hore and olde Line 1400 And almoste god wote att my puttes brinke Vpon my soule sum what most .I. þinke .I. haue my body folely dispended .I.-blissed be god þat it schal be amended Line 1404 For .I. wil be certeine a wedded man And þat in al þe hast þat .I. can Vnto sum maide faire and tendre of age .I. praie ȝowe schape for mi Mariage Line 1408 Als sudanly for .I. wil nouht abide And .I. wil fonde aspie on my side To whome .I. maie be wedded hastely Bot for also muche as ȝe buen mo þan .I. Line 1412 ȝe scholl raþerne suche a þinge aspyen þan .I. and where me lust best to allyen Bot o þinge warne .I. ȝowe my frendes dere .I. wil none olde wif haue in no manere Line 1416

[6-text p 448] Line 1416 Sche schal nouht passe .xvj. ȝere certeigne Olde flesshe and ȝonge flesshe þat wolde .I. haue ful feine Bet is quod he a pike þan a pikerele And better þan olde bufe is tendre vele Line 1420 .I. wil no womman .xx. ȝere of age It nes bot benestrawe. and grete forage And eke þis olde wedowes god it wote þei kon so muche craft on wades bote Line 1424 So mechil broken harme whan þat hem lest Þat wiþe hem schold .I. neuere leue in rest [folio 131a] For sondre scoles makeþ soubstile clerkes Wemmen of mony a scole halue a clerke is Line 1428 Bot certeynly a ȝonge þinge maie me guye Riht as men maie warme wex wiþ hondes to plie Where-for .I. seie ȝowe pleynly in clause .I. wil none olde wif for þis cause Line 1432 For if so weer if .I. hadde so meschaunce That .I. in hire couþe haue [no] plesance Than scholde .I. lede my lyf in adultrie And so strike to þe deuel whan .I. deie Line 1436 Ne chil scholde .I. none vpon hir geten Ȝit were me leuer houndes had me eten þat þat my heritage schold fal In straunge hande and þus .I. tel ȝowe al Line 1440 .I. doute nouht .I. wote þe cause whye Men schold wedde and forþer more wote .I. Ther spekeþ mony men of Mariage That wote no more of it þan wote my page Line 1444 For whiche cause men schold tak a wif If he maie nouht chast be be his lif Tak him a wif wiþ grete deuociōn Be cause of leueful procreaciōn Line 1448 Of Childer to þe honour of god aboue And not onely for paramour and for loue And for þei scholde lychery eschewe And ȝelde her dettes whiles þat it is newe Line 1452

[6-text p 449] Line 1452 Or for þat ilke man schold help oþer In Meschef as a suster schal do a broþer And leue in Chastite ful heuenly Bot sires be ȝoure leue þat am nouht .I. Line 1456 For god be þonke-it .I. dar make a-vaunt .I. fele my lymes stark and sufficeant To done al þat a man be-longeþ to do .I. wote my seluen best what .I. may do Line 1460 Thouhe .I. be hore as doþe a treie þat blossomeþ ar þat þe fruyte y-waxe bue A blossome tre is neiþer drie ne dede .I. feel me nowhwhere hore bot on myn hede Line 1464 Myne herte and my lymes buen as grene As laurer þat þorwh. þe ȝere is seene And seþen ȝe haue herd al myne entent .I. prai ȝow to mi wil þat ȝe assent [folio 131b] Line 1468 Diuers men diuers him tolde Off Mariages mony ensa[m]ples olde Somme blamed it som preised it certeigne Bot att þe last schortly for to seine Line 1472 As al dai falleþ altercacione Be-twex frendes in disputacione There fel a strif be-twix his breþern tuo Of whiche þat tone was cleped Placebo Line 1476 Placebo seide O. Ianuer broþer To ȝou tel .I. þis tale and to none oþere Foll litel nede had ȝe my lorde so dere Counsel to ax of any þat is here Line 1480 Bot þat ȝe be oone so ful of sapience þat ȝowe ne likeþ for ȝoure hihe prudence To wayue fro þe worde of Salomone This worde seide he vnto vs euerychone Line 1484 Wirke al þinge be counseile þus seide he And þan schal þou nouht repent þe Bot þouhe þat Salomon spek suche a worde Mine owen dere broþer and my lorde Line 1488

[6-text p 450] Line 1488 So wisly god my soule bringe att rest .I. holde ȝoure owen consel is þe best For broþer myne of me take þis motif .I. haue nowe bue a court man al my lif Line 1492 And god wote þouhe .I. vnworþi be .I. haue stande in ful grete degre Abouten lordes in ful grete astate Ȝit hadde .I. neuer wiþ none of hem at bate Line 1496 .I. neuer hem contraried trewly .I. wote wele þat mi lorde can more þan .I. What þat he seiþe .I. holde it ferme and stable .I. seide þe same or elles þinge semblable Line 1500 A fful grete fole is any counselloure þat seruith any lorde of hihe honoure þat dar presume or ones þinken it þat is counsel schol pas his lordes witte Line 1504 Nay lordes ben no foles be my faie Ȝe haue ȝoure selfe spoken here to-daie So hihe sentence so holy and so wele þat .I. consent and conferme euery dele Line 1508 Ȝoure wordez al and ȝoure opynyoun Be god þer nys no man in al þis toune Ne in Itaile couþe bette haue saide [folio 132a] Crist haldeþ him of þis ful wele apaied Line 1512 And trewly . it is an hihe corage Of any man þat stoupin in his age To tak a ȝonge wif be my fader kinne Ȝoure herte hongeþ vpon a Ioly pinne. Line 1516 Doþ nowe in þis matier riht as ȝowe leste For finaly .I. halde it for þe best ¶ Iustinus þat ay still satt and herde He riht on þis wise to placebo he ansewarde Line 1520 Nowe broþer myne be pacient .I. praie Seþins ȝe haue seide and herkeneþ whatt .I. saie Senec amonge oþere wordes wise Seiþe þat a man ouht him riht wele avise Line 1524

[6-text p 451] Line 1524 To whome he ȝeue his londe oþer his catel And seþins .I. auht avise me riht wel To whom .I. ȝeue my good aweye fro me Wele more .I. auht auyse [me parde] Line 1528 To whome .I. ȝeue my body for alweie .I. warne ȝowe wele it is no childes pleie To take a vif wiþ-outen avisement Men most enquere þis is my assent Line 1532 Wheþer sche be wise and sobre oþere dronkenlewe Oþere proude oþere vþerweie a schrewe A chidistere oþere a wastour of þyne goode Oþere riche oþere pouere oþere of maners woode Line 1536 Al be it so þat no man finde schal None in þis werlde þat trotteþ hole in al Ne man ne beste suche as men deuise Bot naþeles it auht ynouȝe suffise Line 1540 Wiþ any wif if þat so were sche hadde Mo goode þewes þan hir vices badde And al þis askeþ leiser to enquere For god it woote .I. haue weppet mony a tere Line 1544 Ful priuely seþ þat .I. had a wif Preiseþ who so wol a wedded mannes lif Certein .I. finde it bot cost and care And obseruaunces of al blisses bare Line 1548 And ȝite god. wote my neihbours aboute And namely of wemmen mony a route Saine þat .I. haue þe most stedfast wif And eke þe mekest oon þat beriþ lif Line 1552 Bot .I. wote beste where wringeþ me my schoo [folio 132b] Ȝe maie for me riht as ȝoue likeþ doo Aviseþ ȝowe ȝe bue a man of Age Howe þat ȝe entren in to Mariage Line 1556 And namely wiþ a ȝonge wif and a faire Be him þat maad water erþe and ayre The ȝongest man þat it in al þis route Is besy ynowhe to bringe it aboute Line 1560

[6-text p 452] Line 1560 To haue his alone trusteþ to me Ȝe schol nouȝt only plesen hire ȝeres þre Þis is to sai done hire plesance A wif axeþ ful mony an obse[r]uance Line 1564 .I. praie ȝowe þat ȝe ne been yuel apaide Wele quod þis Ianuar and hast þou al seide A strawe for þi Senec and for þi prouerbes .I. count nouht a panyȝer ful of herbes Line 1568 Of skole termes wisere men þan þoue As þou hast herde assenten riht nowe To my purpos Placebo what seie ȝe .I. seie it is a corsed man quod he Line 1572 Þa[t] letteþ matrimonye sekurlye And wiþ þat worde þei resen sodanlye And buen assented ffulli þat he schold Be wedded whan him lust and whan he wolde Line 1576 The fantasy and þe besy curiousenesse Fro day to day gan in þe soule impresse Of Ianuare aboute his mariage Many faire schapen and mony faire visage Line 1580 þere passeþ þourhe his hert nyht be nyht As who so take a merour pulisshed briht And set it in a comune Market place Than scholde he se mony a figure pace Line 1584 Be his merour and in þe same wise Gan Ianuar in wiþ his þouht deuise Of Maidenes whiche þat dwelt be side He wiste nouht where he myht abide Line 1588 For þouhe þat one haþe beuty in hir face Anoþer stant so in þe peples grace For hir sadnes and hire benignite þat of þe peple grettest voice had sche Line 1592 And sum were riche and had bad name Bot naþeles betuyx ernest and game He att þe laste apoynted him on one [folio 133a] An lete al oþere fro his hert gone Line 1596

[6-text p 453] Line 1596 And ches hire of his owen autorite For loue is blinde al daie and maie nouht se And whan þat he was in þe bedde brouhte He purtreide in his hert and in his þouhte Line 1600 Her fressche beute and hire age tendre Her myddel small and hir armes longe and sklender Hire wise gouernance and hir grete gentilnesse Here wommanlye bereinge and hire gentil sadnesse Line 1604 And whan þat he was fro hire condescendid Him þouht his þouht miht nouȝt bue amendid For whan þat he him selfe concludid hadde Him þouht euery oþer mannes witte so badde Line 1608 þat impossible it were to replie Aȝeins his choys þis was his fantasie His frendes sent he to att his instance And preide hem to done him þat plesance Line 1612 þat hastely þei wolden done to him come He wolde a-brigge her laboure al and somme It nedeþ no more for him to gone or ride He was apoynted þere he wolde abide Line 1616 Placebo cam and eke his frendes sone And alder first he badde hem al a bone þat none of hem none argumentez make Aȝeines þe purpos whiche þat he haþ take Line 1620 Whiche purpos was plesant to god seide he And verrei grounde of his prosperite He seide þer was a maiden in þe toune Whiche þat of beute hadde grete renoune Line 1624 Al were it so sche were of smal degre Sufficeþ him hire ȝouþe and hire beaute Whiche maide he seide schold be his wyf To lede in ese and in holynesse his lif Line 1628 And þonked god þat he myht haue hire al That no whight wiþ his blisse parten schal And preide hem to laboure in þis nede And schapid þat he failed nouht to spede Line 1632

[6-text p 454] Line 1632 For þan he seide his spirte was att ese þan is quod he noþinge may me displese Saue o þinge prikeþ in my conscience The whiche .I. wil reherce in ȝoure presence Line 1636 .I. haue herd saie ful ȝare agoo [folio 133b] There maie no man haue parfite blisses tuoo This is to seie in erþe and eke in heuen For þouhe he kepped him fro þe sinnes seuen Line 1640 And eke for euery braunche of þilke þree Ȝite is þere so parfite prosperite And so grete ese and luste in mariage Þat euer .y. am agast noue in myn age Line 1644 Þat .I. schal lede nowe so mery a lyf here [So delycat / wyth-outen woo and stryf That y shal haue myn heuene / in erthe heer [Addit. MS 5140 folio 155a] ] [Not in Sloane 1685, leaf 92, back; or Harl. 1758, leaf 80, back; or Harl. 7333, leaf 70, bk; or Sloane 1686, leaf 182; or Reg. 18 C 2, leaf 95, back]] For seþ þat verrei heuen is bouht so dere Wiþ tribulacione and wiþ grete penance How scholde .I. leue in suche plesance As al wedded men doþe wiþ her wives Com to þe blisse þere caste eterne on lyue is Line 1652 This is my drede and ȝe my breþerne tweie Assoileþe me þis question .I. ȝowe preie Iustinus whiche þat hated his foly Anseweringe anone riht in his Iaperye Line 1656 And for he wolde his longe tale abrugge He wolde none auctorite alegge Bot seide sire so þere bue none obstacle Oþere þan þis god of hihe meracle Line 1660 And of his mercy maie so for ȝoue worche þat ar ȝe haue ȝoure ȝiftes of holi churche Ȝe maie repent of wedded mannes lif In whiche ȝe seine þere nys neiþer woo ne strif Line 1664 And elles god for-bede bot if he sent A wedded man grace him to repent Wel often raþer þan a sengel man And þere-for sir þe best rede .I. kan Line 1668

[6-text p 455] Line 1668 Dispeireþ ȝowe nouȝt haueþ in memorie Perauenture sche maie be ȝoure purgarie Sche maie bue goddes mene and goddes whippe þan schal ȝoure soule vp to heuen skippe Line 1672 Swifter þan doþ an arwe oute of a bowe .I. hope to gode here afterwarde schalt þou knowe þat þere ne is so grete felicite In mariage ne neuer more schal be Line 1676 þat ȝe schal lache of ȝoure saluacion So þat ȝe vse as scyl is and reson þe lustes of ȝoure wif attemperaly And þat ȝe plese hire nouht to amorously Line 1680 And þat ȝe kepe ȝoue eke fro oþere sinne [folio 134a] Mi tale is done for my witt is þinne Beþe nouht agast here-of my broþer Bo[t] lat vs wade fro þis matire to anoþer Line 1684 Þe wif of baþe if ȝe haue vnderstonde On mariage whiche ȝe haue on honde Declared haþe ful wel in litel space Fareþ nowe wele god haue ȝowe in his grace Line 1688 And wiþþe þis word þis Iustine and his broþer Haue [take] here leue and elke of hem of oþer For whan þei sawhe it most nedes bue Thei wrouht so be wise sleiht and trete Line 1692 þat sche þis maide wiche þat Mayus hiht As hastifly as euer þat sche myht Schal wedded bue vn-to Ianuarie .I. trowe it were to longe ȝoue to tarie Line 1696 If .I. ȝowe tolde of euery scrite or bande Be whiche þat sche was ffeffed in his lande Oþere for to herken of her riche araie Bot finaly commen is þis daie Line 1700 þat to þe chirche boþe bue þei went For to receyuen þe holy sacrament Forþ comeþ þe preste wiþ þe stole aboute his nek And badd hir be like Sarra and Rebek Line 1704

[6-text p 456] Line 1704 In wisdome and treuthe of mariage And seide his orisons as his vsage And crowched hem and badde god scholde hem blesse And maad al sekur .I.-nouhe wiþ holynesse Line 1708 Thus buen þei wedded wiþ solempnite And att þe feste sitteþ he and sche Wiþ oþer worþi folke vpon þe dese Al ful of Ioye and blisse is þe palese Line 1712 An ful of instrumentes and of vitaile Þe most deinteuous of al ytaile Be-forne hem of Instrumentes whiche soune That Orpheus. ne of Phebes Ampheoune Line 1716 Ne maad neuer suche a Melodye And att euery cours cam loude Menstralcie That neuer Ioab tromped for to here Neiþer Theodomas ȝit halfe so clere Line 1720 And Thebes whan þe Cite was in doubte Bachus þe wyne hem schenkeþ al a-boute. And venus lauheþ on euery wyht [folio 134b] For Ianuar was becom hir knyht Line 1724 And wolde boþe assaien his corage In liberte and eke in Mariage And wiþ hir fire-bronde wiþ hir honde aboute Daunceþ to-fore þe bride al aboute Line 1728 An certeinly .I. dar wele seie riht þis Emyneus þat god of weddinge is Sawe neuer in his lif so mery a wedded man Halde þou þi pes þou poet Marcean Line 1732 Þat writest vs þat ilke weddinge mury Of hire Philologie. and of Mercury And of þe songe þat þe Muses songe So smale as eke þi penne and eke þi tonge Line 1736 For to discriuen of þis Mariage Whan tender ȝouþe haþe wedded stoupeinge age Ther is suche murþe þat it maie nouht be writ Assaieþ it ȝoure self þan maie ȝe wit Line 1740

[6-text p 457] Line 1740 If þat .I. lakke or none in þis matiere Mayus þat siht wiþ so benigne a chiere Hire to be-holde it semed faire Qween estier loked neuer wiþ suche an eye Line 1744 On assure so meke a loke haþe sche .I. maie ȝoue nouȝt deuise al here aboute Bot þus muche of hir beute tell .I. maie That sche was like þe briht morwe of maie Line 1748 Fulfillede of beaute and plesance This Ianuar is rauisshed in a traunce And att euery time he loked on hire face Bot in his herte he gan hire to manace Line 1752 þat he þat nyht in armes wolde hire streine Harder þan euer paris dide Elyne Bot naþeles ȝit had he grete pite þat þilke nyht offenden hir must he Line 1756 And þouht Alas o tender creature Now wold god ȝe myht wele endure Al my corage it is so scharpe and kene .I. am a-gaste ȝe schollen it nouht sustene Line 1760 Bot god for-bede þat .I. ded al my myht Nowe wolde god þat it were waxen nyht And þat þe nyht wolde lasten euer mo .I. wolde þat al þis peple war a-go Line 1764 And fynaly he doþ al his laboure [folio 135a] As he best myht saueinge his honoure To haste hem fro þe mete in subtile wise The time cam þat reson was to rise Line 1768 And after þat men daunce and drinke fast And spices al aboute þe house þei cast An ful of ioy and blisse is euery man All bot a swyere þat hiht Damyan Line 1772 Whiche karue to-for þe knyht many daie He was so rauisshed on his lady maie Þat for þe verraie peine he wex nere wode Almoste he suelte and swouned þere he stode Line 1776

[6-text p 458] Line 1776 As þat sche bare daunceinge in hire honde So fressche sche was and þer-to so likeande [[Spurious. In Sloane 1686, leaf 184, back] And to his bed he went him hastely. No more of him att þis time speke .I. Line 1780 Bote .I. lete him wepe ynowe and pleine Til frische maie wil rewe on his peine O perelous fire þat in þe bedde strawe bredeþ O famylere foo þat is seruise bedeþ Line 1784 O seruant traitur fals holy hiew .y-lyke to þe nadder sleiȝe and in bosom vntrewe God schelde vs al fro ȝoure iniquitance O Ianuere dronken in plesance Line 1788 O mariage see how þine Damyan þine owen swyer and þine borne man Entendeþ to do þe velanye God grant þe þine harme to aspie Line 1792 For in þis werlde ne is wers pestilence Þan humble fo aldaie in þi presence Performed haþ þis devine daie his ark diurne No longer maie þe bodie of him soiorne Line 1796 The oriȝote as in þat latitude Niht wiþ his mantil þat is derke and rude Gan for to sprede þe mysprei aboute For whiche departed is þe lusti route Line 1800 For Ianuer wiþ þonke on euery side Home to her houses lustely þei ride þer as þei done her þinges as hem lest And whan þei sawe her time go to rest Line 1804 Sone after þat þis hastif Ianuare Wil go to bedde. he wil no longer care. He drinkeþ. ypocras clarre and vernage [folio 135b] Of spices ote to encresen his corage Line 1808 And many a letuarie had he ful fyne Suche as þe Cursed Monke Dam Constantine Haþe wreten in his boke of coitue To eten hem al he was noþinge eschewe Line 1812

[6-text p 459] Line 1812 And þus to his priue frendes saide he For goddes loue as sone as it may be Late voyden al þis house in curteis wise sone Line 1815 Men dronke and þe trauers droue anone Line 1817 þe bride was brouht to bedd as stil as stone Line 1818 So hasted Ianuarie it most be done [[spurious]] [And when the bedde was with the preste blessed [Harl. 1758 folio 82a] ] Owte of þe chambre haþ euery wyght him dressed Line 1820 And Ianuare haþe fast in armes take His frisshe maie his paradis his maake He lulliþ hire he kisseþ hir ful oft Wiþ þilke bristeles of his berde vnsoft Line 1824 ylike to þe skinne of hundefische scharpe as brere For he was schaue al newe in his manere He rubbeþ hir vpon hire tender face And seid þus alas .I. must trespace Line 1828 To ȝowe my spowse and ȝowe gretely offende Or time come þat .I. wil downe descende Bot naþeles considereþ þis quod he þer nys no werkman whatt so euere he be Line 1832 þat maie boþe werche wele and hastelye This wil be done att leyser parfitelye It is no force howe lon[ge] þat we pleye .I. troue in wedlok complete be we tueye Line 1836 And yblissed be þat ȝok þat we bue inne For in oure actes we mowe do no sinne A man maie do no sinne wiþ his wif Ne hurt him self wiþ his owen knyf Line 1840 Nowe we haue leue to pley vs be þe lawe Thus laboureþ he til þat þe daie gun dawe And þan he takeþ a soppe in fine clarre And vp riht in his bedde þan sitteþ he Line 1844 And after þat he songe ful loude and clere An kessed his wif and maade wantoun chere He was al coltisshe and ful of ragerie And ful of Girgun as is a flecked pye Line 1848

[6-text p 460] Line 1848 The slake skynne aboute his necke sshakeþ While þat he songe so chaunteþ he and crakeþ Bot god woote watt maie ȝouþe in hire hert [folio 136a] Whan sche him sawhe vpsitinge in his schert Line 1852 In hys nyht cappe and wiþ his nek lene Sche preiseþ nouht his pleyinge worþe a bene Than saide he þus Mi ristinge wil .I. take Nowe daie is comme .I. maie no lenger wake Line 1856 And doune he laide his hed and slept to prime And afterward whan þat he sawhe his time Vpriseþ Ianuer bot þe frisshe maie Holdeþ hir chambre vnto þe ferþe daie Line 1860 As vsages is for wives for þe best For euery loboure som time mote haue rest Oþere elles longe maie he nouht endure This is to seie no liues creature Line 1864 Be it of fisshe or birde or beste or man ¶ Nowe wil .I. speke of woful Danyan þat longuriþ for loue as ȝe schol here The for .I. speke to him in þis manere Line 1868 .I. seye o cely Damyan alas Ansewer to þis demaunde as in þis cas How schal tow to þi lady fresshe maie Tel þi woo sche wil al weie seie naie Line 1872 Eke if þou speke sche wil þi wo be-wreye God bu þin helpe .I. can no better seie This seke Damyan in venus fire So berneþ þat he deyeþ for desire Line 1876 For whiche he put his lif in aduenture Ne lenger myht he in þis wise endure Bot priuely a pennere gan he borwe And in a lettre wrote he al his sorwe Line 1880 In manere of a compleint oþere a laie Vnto þis faire and fresshe lady maie And in a purse of silke honge on his schert He haþ it put and leide it att his hert Line 1884

[6-text p 461] Line 1884 The mone þat att none was þat ilke daie Þat Ianuar haþe wedded þat fressche maie In tuo of taure was in þe Cankre gliden So longe haþe sche in hir chambre byden Line 1888 As custume is vnto þis noblis all A bride schal nouhte eten in þe hall Til daies foure oþere þre att leste .I.-passed buen þan late hir go to feste Line 1892 The fourte daie complete fro none to none [folio 136b] Whan þat þe hihe messe was done In hall sitteþ þis Ianuer and maie As fresshe as is þe briht somers daie Line 1896 And so be-fel howe þat þis goode man Remembreþ him vpon þis Damian And seide seinte marie howe maie þis be þat Damyan entendeþ nouht to me Line 1900 Is he aie seke or howe maie þis be-tide His swyers whiche þat stoden him be-side excuseinge him be cause of his sekenesse Whiche þat letid him to done his besinesse Line 1904 None oþere cause myht make him care That me for-þinkeþ quod þis Ianuare He is a gentil swyer be my trouþe If þat he deie it were harme and rouþe Line 1908 He is as wise discrete and secre As any man .I. wote of his degre And þer-to manly and eke seruisable And for to be a þrifty man riht able Line 1912 Bot after mete as sone as euer y maie .I. wil my self viset him and eke maie To done him al þe comfort þat .I. can And for þat worde blissed him euery man Line 1916 þat of his bounte and his gentilnesse He wolde so comforten him in his sekenesse His swyere for it was a gentil dede Dame quod he þis Ianuare takeþ good hede Line 1920

[6-text p 462] Line 1920 Att þe after mete ȝe wiþ ȝoure wemmen all Whan ȝe haue buen in chambre oute of þis hall þat al ȝe gone to se þis Damyon Doþe him disporte he is a gentile mon Line 1924 And telleþ him þat .I. wil him vesyte Haue .I. noþinge bot rest me a lyte [And spede you faste for y wol abide Til that ye slepe faste be my syde [Harl. 7335 folio 122a] ] [[Not in Sloane 1685, lf 96; or Harl. 1758, lf 83, bk; or Sloane 1686, lf 186, bk; or Reg. 18 C 2, leaf 99; or Harl. 7333, leaf 72.]] Nowe wiþ þat worde he gan to him call A swyer þat was marchal of his hall And tolde him certeine þinges whatt he wolde This frische maie haþ streiht her weie yholde Line 1932 Wiþ al hire wemmen vnto þis Damyan Doune be his bed side satt sche þan Comforteing him as goodly as sche maie This Damyan whan þat he his tim saie Line 1936 In secrete wise his purse and eke his bille [folio 137a] In whiche þat he had wreten al his wille Haþ pute in to hir honde wiþ-outen more Saue þat he syked wonder sore Line 1940 And soþe to hir riht þus seide he Mercye and þat ȝe discouereþ nouht me For .I. am dede if þat þis þinge be kidde This purs haþ sche inne withe hire bosome hidde Line 1944 And went hir waie ȝe gette no more of me Vn-to Ianuer Commen is sche An on his bedde side sitte ful soft He takeþ hir and kisseþ hire ful oft Line 1948 And leide him doune to slepe and þat anone Sche feyne hir þat sche most gone þer as ȝe wote þat euery whight must nede And whan sche of þis bill haþ taken hede Line 1952 Sche rent it al to cloutes atte þe last And in þe priue softly sche it cast Who stodieþ nowe bot faire fresche maie And a-doune be Ianuare sche laie Line 1956

[6-text p 463] Line 1956 That slepet til þat þe couhe him haþ awaked Anone he preide hire to stripen hire al naked He wolde of hire he seide haue sum plesance He seide hire cloþes did him encumbrance Line 1960 And sche obeieþ be he leef or loþe Bot lest þat precious folke be wiþ me wroþe How þat he wrouht .I. dar to ȝowe nouht tell Oþere wheþer þat he þouht on paradis or of hell Line 1964 Bot .I. lete hem werche in here wise Te euesonge ringe and þat þei mot arise Were it be destany or aueuture Were it be influence or be nature Line 1968 Oþer in constillacione þat in suche astate The heuen stoode þat time fortunate Was for to putte a bil of venus werkes For al þinge haþe time as seiþe þe clerkes Line 1972 To any womman for to gete hire loue .I. kan not sei bot þe grete god aboue þat knoweþ þat none acte is causeles He deþ of al for .I. wil holde my pes Line 1976 Bot soþe is þis howe þat þis maie Haþ take suche impression þat daie On pite on þis seke Damyan [folio 137b] That fro hir herte sche ne driue can Line 1980 The remembrance for to done him ese Certeine þouht sche whome þat þis þinge displese .I. rek nouȝt for here .I. him assure To loue him beste of any creature Line 1984 Thouhe he no more hadde þan his scherte Lo pite renneþ sone in gentile herte Here maye ȝe see howe excellent fraunches In wemmen is whan þei narwe hem avise Line 1988 Sum terant þere is as þere be mony one That haþ an herte as hard as any stone Whiche wolde haue late him sterue in þe place Wel raþare þan haue graunted him þat grace Line 1992

[6-text p 464] Line 1992 And hem reioysen in þeire crouel pride And reccheþ nouȝt to bue an homycide This gentil maie ful filled of al pite Riht so of hire honde a letter maade sche Line 1996 In whiche sche graunteþ him of hire verraie grace Thar lakeþ nouht onely bot daie and place Where þat sche miht to his lust suffice For it schal bue riht as he wil deuise Line 2000 And whan sche see hire tim vpon a daie To visite þis Damyan goþe þis faire maie And sotelly þis letter doune sche þrest Vnder his pilowe rede if him lest Line 2004 Sche takeþ him be þe honde and harde him tueste So secretely þat no whight it weste And bad him be al hole and forþe sche wente To Ianuare whan þat he for hire sente Line 2008 Vp riseþe Damyan þe next morwe Al passed was his sekenes and his sorwe He kembeþ him and proyneþ and pikeþ He doþ al þat his lady luste and likeþ Line 2012 And eke to Ianuare he goþe as lowe As euere dide a doge for þe bowe He is so plesante to euery man Fro craft it is who þat it can Line 2016 þat euery whight is feine to teche him goode And fully in his ladie grace he stode Thus lete .I. Damyan aboute his nede And my tale forþe .I. wil procede Line 2020 Somme clerkes halden þat felicite [folio 138a] Stant in delite and þarefor he This Noble Ianuare wiþ al his myht In honest wise as longeþ to a knyht Line 2024 Schope him to leue ful deliciously His houseynge his arraie al honestly To his degre was maked as kenges Amonge oþere of his honest þinges Line 2028

[6-text p 465] Line 2028 He had a grardyne al walled wiþ stone So faire a gardyne wote .I. ney where none For oute of doute .I. verraily suppose þat he þat wrote þe romans of þe rose Line 2032 Ne couþe of it þe bewte wele deuise Ne Priapus ne miht noȝt suffise Þouhe he be god of Gardyns for to telle The beute of þe gardyn and of þe welle Line 2036 That vnder a laurer alwaie grene Ful oft time kinge Pluto and his queene Preserpina. and all hire fairee Disporten hem and maken melodee Line 2040 Abouten þat wel and daunced as men tolde This noble knyht þis Ianuare þe olde Suche deinte haþ in hit to walken and to pleie That he wil suffur no wyht to be þe kaie Line 2044 Saue he him self for of þe smale wiket He bare alwaie of siluer a kleket Wiþ þe whiche whan þat him vnschette And whan he walde paie his wif hire dette Line 2048 In somer seson þeder wolde he goo And maie his wiff and no whiht bot þei tuoo An þinges whiche þat were nouht done abedde þei in þe Gardeine performed haue and spedde Line 2052 And in þis wise mony a mery daie Leued þis Ianuare and fressche maie Bott werldly Ioy mai nouht alweie endure To Ianuare ne to no werldly creture Line 2056 O sodeine happe o þou fortune vnstable .I.-lyke to þe . þe scorpion vnstable þat flaterst wiþ þin hede whan þou wilt stinge Thi taile . is deþ þoruhe þine enuenymynge Line 2060 O brutel ioye O swete poyson queynte O mynester þat solely can peinte Thin ȝeftes vnder þe hewe of stedfastnesse [folio 138b] þat þou deceyuedest boþe more and lesse Line 2064

[6-text p 466] Line 2064 Whi hast þou Ianuer þus deceyued And haddest him for þi ful frende receyued And now þou hast be-raft him boþ his eyen For sorwe of whiche desireþ he to deiȝen Line 2068 Alas þis noble Ianuare þat is so fre Amydde his luste and his prosperite Is waxon blinde and al sodanly His deþ þere-for desireþ he vtterly Line 2072 And þere-wiþ-al þe fire of Ielousye Lest þat his [wif] schold fall in sum folye So bernt his hert þat wolde feine Thatt summe man boþe hir and him had sleine Line 2076 For neuer after his deþ ne in his lif Ne wolde he þat sche were loue ne wif Bot euer leue as a wedew in cloþes blake Soule as a tortle doþe þat haþ lost hir make Line 2080 Bot att þe last after a Moneþ or tuey His sorwhe gan to swage soþe to sey For whan he wiste it mai none oþer be He paciently tok his aduersite Line 2084 Saf oute of doute maie he noȝt for-gone Þat he nas Ielous euer more in one Whiche Ielouse it was so outrageous þat neiþere in hal ne in none oþere hous Line 2088 Ne in none oþere place neuer þe mo He nold suffre hir neyþer ride nor go Bot if þat he hande on hire alweie For whiche ful of wepeþ frische maye Line 2092 þat loueþ Damyan so benyngly þat sche mote eiþer deie sodanly Or elles sche most han him att hire lust Sche waiteþ whan hire hert wald birst Line 2096 Vppon þat oþer side Damyan Becommen is þe sorwfulhest man Þat euer was for neiþer niht ne daie Ne myht he speke a worde to fresche maie Line 2100

[6-text p 467] Line 2100 As to his purpos of no suche matier Bot if þat Ianuare most it here þat had on honde vpon hire euermoo And neuer les be writeinge to and fro Line 2104 An priue signes wist he what sche ment [folio 139a] And sche knewe of þe syne of his entent O Ianuare what myht þe availe þouhe þou myht see as fer as schippes saile Line 2108 For also good is a blynde deceyued be As to be deceiued whan a man may se Lo Argus whiche þat hadd . an .C. yene For all þat euere he couþe poure oþir prine Line 2112 Ȝit was he blent and god wote so be moo That wenene wisly þat it is nouht soo Passe ouer is an ese and seie no more This fresche maie of whiche .I. spak of ȝore Line 2116 In warme wax haþe emprintid þis cliket Þat Ianuare bare of þat smale wiket Be whiche into his gardine oft he went And Damyan þat knewe hire entent Line 2120 The cleket counterfetid priuely There is no more to seie bot hastely Some wonder be his cleket scha[l] be-tide Whiche ȝe schollen here if ȝe wollen abide Line 2124 O noble Ouide soþe seist þou god woote What sleyht is it þouhe it be longe and hote That he nil finde it oute in somme manere By Pyramus and thesbe maie men lere. Line 2128 Thouhe þei were kepped ful longe treite ouer al Thei biene acorded rowneinge þoruhe a wal There is no whight couþe han founde oute suche a sleihte Bot nowe to purpos ar þat daies eyhte Line 2132 Were passe or þe Moneþ of Iuyl befyll Þat Ianuare haþ cauht so grete a will Thoruhe engine of his wife him for to pleie In his Gardine and no whiht bot þei tweie Line 2136

[6-text p 468] Line 2136 That in a mor vn-to his may seide he Rise vp my wife my loue my lady fre The turtlys voice is herde my doufe swete The winter is gone wiþ al Reynes wete Line 2140 Com forþe nowe wiþ þin eyȝen Columbyne Howe feirer buen þi brestes þan is wyne The gardine es enclosed al aboute Com forþe my white spouse oute of doute Line 2144 Þou hast me wounded in myn hert o wif No spotte in þe was in al my lif Com forþ and lat vs take oure disporte [folio 139b] .I. chese þe for my wif and my comforte Line 2148 Suche olde lewde wordes vsed he On Damya[n] a signe Maade sche þat he scholde go be-forne wiþ his cleket þis Damyan haþe openede þe weket Line 2152 And in he sterte and þat in suche manere þat no wight myht it se ne here And still he sit vnder a busche anone This Ianuare so blinde as is a stone Line 2156 Wiþ Mayus in his honde and no whight mo In to his frische gardein is he goo And clapped to þe weket sodanlye Nowe wif quod he here nys bot þou and .I. Line 2160 þat art the creature þat .I. best loue For be þat lorde þat sitteþ vs al aboue .I. had leuer deyȝen on a knyf Than þe offenden my dere treue wif Line 2164 For goddes sake þinke howe .I. þe ches Nouht for no Coueites douteles Bott onely for þe loue .I. had to þe And þouht þat .I. be olde and maye nouht see Line 2168 Be to me trewe and .I. wil tel ȝowe whie Certes þrei þinges schal ȝe winne þere bie Firste loue of Criste and to ȝowre self honour And al myne Heritage tonne and toure Line 2172

[6-text p 469] Line 2172 .I. ȝeue it ȝowe make charters as ȝowe liste þis schal be do to morwe ar sonne ariste So wissely god my soule bringe in blisse And pray ȝowe on Couenant þat ȝe me kesse Line 2176 And þouhe þat .I. be Ielouse wite me nowht Ȝe buen so depe enprinted in myne þouht þat whan þat .I. considere ȝoure beute And þere-wiþ-al þe vnlikly elde of me Line 2180 .I. maie nouht sertes þouhe .I. schold deie For-bere to be oute ȝoure compaigne For verrei loue þis is wiþ-outen doute Nowe kisse me wif and lat vs rome aboute Line 2184 ¶ This frisshe maye whan sche þis wordes herde Benigly to Ianuare ansewerd Bot first & forwarde sche began to wepe .I. haue quod sche a soule for to kepe Line 2188 As wele as ȝe and also myne honour [folio 140a] And of my wifhede þilke tender floure Whiche þat .I. haue assured in ȝoure honde Whan þat þe preste to ȝowe my body bonde Line 2192 Wharfor .I. wil ansewer in þis manere Wiþ loue of ȝoue my lorde so dere .I. praie god þat neuer dawe þat day. Þat .I. ne sterue as foule as womman maye Line 2196 Ȝif euer y do vnto my kynne þat schame Or elles .I. enpeire so my name þat .I. be ffalse and if .I. do þat lake To stripe me and putte me in a sake Line 2200 And in þe next Riuere do me drenche .I. am a gentil womman and no wenche Whi speke ȝe þus but men ben euyre vntrewe And wemmen haue repreef of ȝowe ay newe Line 2204 Ȝe can noon oþere continaunce yleue Bot speke to us as vntreste and in repreue And wiþ þat worde sche sauhe wher Damyane Satt in þe busche and knele he beganne Line 2208

[6-text p 470] Line 2208 And wiþ hire fingers signes maade sche þat Damyan scholde climbe vpon þe tre þat chargede was wiþ fruyte a[n]d vpe he wente For verraily he knewe al hir entent Line 2212 And euery signe þat sche couþe make Wele bett þan Ianuare hire owen make For in a lettre sche had told him al Of þis matiere houe he werche schal Line 2216 And þus I lete sette in þe pire And Ianuare and Mayus rouneinge ful merie Briht was þe daie and bleue þe firmament Phebus of golde doune haþ his stremes sent Line 2220 To gladen euery floure wiþ his warmenesse He was þat time in geminis as .I. gesse Bot litul fro his declinacioun Of Cancer Iouys exaltacioun Line 2224 ¶ And so be-fel in a briht morwe tide þat in þe gardine on þat ferþire side Pluto þat is þe kinge of faire And mony a ladi in his companye Line 2228 Folowinge his wif þe queene Proserpina Whiche þat he rauesched oute of proserpina. Whiles þat sche gaderd floures in a mede [folio 140b] In claudian ȝe maie þe storis rede Line 2232 How in his grisly carte he hire fette This kinge of ffaire a-doune him sette Vppon a benche of torues frische and grene And riht anone seide he þus vnto his qwene Line 2236 My wif quod he þat maie not seie naie The experiens proueth it euery daie The treson whiche þat womman doþ to man Ten hundreþ þousand tell .I. can Line 2240 Notable of ȝoure vntreuþe and brutelnes Of Salomon rychest of al riches Ful filled of Sapiens and of werly glorie Ful worþi bien þi wordes to memorie Line 2244

[6-text p 471] Line 2244 To euery wiht þat witte and reson can þus preiseþ he ȝitte þe bounte of man Amonge a .M. men ȝit fonde .I. one Bot of al wemmen fonde .I. neuer none Line 2248 þus seiþe þe kinge þat knoweþ ȝoure wikkednesse And ihesus filius Syrak as .I. gesse Ne spekeþ of ȝowe but seldyn reuerence A wilde fire a corrupt pestilence Line 2252 So fal vpon ȝoure bodies ȝit to nyht Ne see nouht þis honurable knyht Because alas þat he is blinde and olde His owen man schal make him cokewolde Line 2256 Loo where he sitte þe lichoure in þe tree Nowe wil .I. graunte of my Maiestee Vnto þis olde blinde worþi knyht þat he schal haue aȝeine his eyȝen siht Line 2260 Whan þat his wif wold done him velanye Than schal he knowe al her harlotrye Boþe in repreue of hire and oþere mo Ȝe schal quod Procerpine and wil ȝe soo Line 2264 Nowe be my Moders sire soule .I. swere þat .I. schal ȝeue hire sufficeant ansewere And alle wemmen after for ȝoure saake þat þouhe þei buen in any gilte ytake Line 2268 Wiþ face bolde þei schollen hem self excuse And bere hem doune þat wolde hem accuse For lakke of ansewere non of hem schollen deyen Al had ȝe seihe a þinge wiþ boþ ȝoure eyȝen. Line 2272 Ȝit schollon we so visage it hit hardelye [folio 141a] And wepe and swere and chide subtellye þat ȝe schol buen as lewde as arne gese What rekkeþ me of ȝoure auctoritees Line 2276 .I. wote wele þis Iewe þis Salomone Fande of vs wemmen fules many one Bot þouhe þat he fonde no goode womman There haþe he founde mony anoþere man Line 2280

[6-text p 472] Line 2280 [Wommen ful trew ful good ful vertuous Witnes on hem þat dwellen in cristes hous Wiþ martirdom þey prouyd hir [[MS h]] constance The romaygne Iestis maken remembrānce Of many a verry trewe wyff also But sire ne be nouȝt wroth as be it soo þouȝ þat he seide he fond no good womman I praye ȝow take þe sentence of þe man [Reg. 18 C ii folio 103b] [[ Not in Harl. 1758, leaf 87; or Harl. 7335, leaf 127; or Sloane 1686, leaf 192, back; but in Addit. 5140, leaf 166, bk; 17 D xv, leaf 121, bk; Sloane 1685, leaf 101; the sheet out of Harl. 7333 (lf72-73).]] ] Line 2228 He ment þus þat in souereigne bounte Nys none bot god neyþere he ne sche Ey for verrey god þat nys bot one What make ȝe so muche of Salomone Line 2292 What þouhe he maad a temple goddes hous What þouhe he were riche and glorious So maade he a temple of fals goddes Who myht do a þinge þat more for-bode is Line 2296 Parde als faire as ȝe his name implastre He was a lichoure and a ydolastre And in his elde he verrei god for-soke And ȝif þat god na hadde as seiþe þe boke Line 2300 yspared him for his fader saake he scholde Haue lost his reigne sauner þat he wolde .I. sett nouht of al þe velany þat ȝe of wemmen write a botterflie Line 2304 .I. am a womman nedes most .I. speke Or elles swel til myn hert breke For þeþins he seide þat we be Iangelers As euer mote .I. brouke boþe my tresses Line 2308 I schal spare for no curtesie to spek him harme þat wolde vs velanye Dame quod þis pluto be no longer wroþe .I. ȝeue it vp bot seþen .I. swore myn oþe Line 2312 þat [I] wolde graunt him his siht aȝeine My worde schal stande þat warne .I. þe certeine .I. am a kinge it sitte me nouht to lye And .I. quod sche a queene of fayre Line 2316

[6-text p 473] Line 2316 Hire ansewar sche schal haue .I. vnder-take Lat us no mo wordes nowe make. [[For the rest of the Tale (from Harl. MS 1758) see the Appendix.]] Line 2318

Explicit fabula Mercatoris.
(As in Sloane 1686, and Corpus.)