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

[6-text p 500]

[THE PROEM.]

Incipit prologus de le ffrankeleyne. [on leaf 141]

THis olde gentil bretons in hire daies Of diuers auentures maden laies Rimyden in hir first breton tonge Whiche laies wiþ here instrumentes þei songe. Line 712 Oþer elles redden hem for her plesance [folio 141b] And one of hem haue .I. in rembrance Whiche .I. schal seie wiþ as goode wil as .I. can Bot sires be cause þat .I. am a burel man Line 716 Att my ginnynge first .I. ȝoue beseche Heueþ me excused of my roode speche .I. lernd neuer retorik certeine þinge þat .I. speke it most . be bare and pleine Line 720 .I. slept neuer on þe mount of parnaso Ne .y. neuere lerid Marcus . Tullius . ne Cithero Colours of retorike ne knewe .I. none wiþ-outen drede Bot suche colours as growen in þe mede Line 724 Or elles suche as men dye or peinte Colours of rethorik bene me to queynte My sprite feleþ nouȝt of suche Matier Bot if þou luste Mi tale schal .ȝe. [[nouht crosst out]] here. Line 728

Explicit prologus

Incipit fabula.

[THE TALE.]

Ther was a knyht þat loued and dide his peyne Line 730 In Armorik þat cleped is bretaigne Line 729 To seruen a lady in his best wise Line 731 And many a labour and mony a grete emprise

[6-text p 501] He for his lady wrouht er sche were wonne For sche was on of þe fairest vnder sonne And eke þere-to com of so hihe kinrede þat wele vnneþis dorst þis knyht for drede Line 736 Tel hir his woo his peine and his distresse Bot att þe last sche for his worþinesse And namely for his meke obeissance Haþ suche a pite cauht of his penance Line 740 þat priue sche fel of his accorde To take him for hir husbonde and hir lorde Of suche lor[d]schip as men haue ouer hire wyues And for to lede þe more in blisse her lyues Line 744 Of his fre wil he swore hire as a knyht þat neuer in his wil be daie ne be nyht Ne scholde he vpon him take no maistre Aȝeines hir wille ne kuythe hure Ielousye Line 748 Bot hire obeie and folowe hire wille in al As any louer to his ladi schal Saue þat þe name of Souereignete That wolde he haue for schame of his degre Line 752 Sche þonkeþ him and wiþ ful grete humblesse Sche seide sir seþþe ȝe of ȝoure gentilesse [folio 142a] ȝe profer me to haue als large a reyne Ne wold neuere god be-twix vs tueyne Line 756 As in my gulte ware eyþer werre or striffe Sir .I. wil be ȝoure owen humble trewe wif Haue here my trouþe til þat myn hert burst Thus buen þei boþe in quiete and in ruste Line 760 For o þinge sires saufly dar .I. seie þat frendes eueryche oþere motte obeie If þei wil longe hold compaigne Loue wil nouht buen constreyned be maistre Line 764 Whan Maistre commeþ god of loue anone Beteþ on his wenge and fare wele he is gone Loue is a þinge as any spirit fre Wemmene of kinde desiren liberte Line 768

[6-text p 502] Line 768 And nouht to be constreined as a þrall And so doþ men. if .I. þe soþe saie schall Loke who þat is most pacient in loue He is att auantage aboue Line 772 Paciens is an hihe vertue certeigne [ffor it venquyscheth as these clerkis seyne. [Harl. 1758 folio 128a] ] Thinges þat Rigor schol neuere atteigne For euery worde men maie nouht chide ne pleine Line 776 Lereneþ to suffur or elles so must .I. gone Ȝe scholne it leren wheþer so ȝe wol or none For in þis werlde certeine no wight ne is þat he ne doþ or seiþe sum time of mys Line 780 Or eiþer sekenes or constillacione Wyn wo or channgeinge of complexione Causeþ ful often to don amys or speken On euery wronge men maye nouht bue awreken Line 784 After þe time most be temperance To euery whiht þat can no gouernance And þerfore haþe þis worþe wise knyht To leue in ese suffrance hir be-hiht Line 788 And sche to him ful wiseli gan to swere þat neuere scholde be defaute in hire Here maie men seen an humble wise accorde Thus haþ sche take hire seruant and hir lorde Line 792 Seruant in loue and lorde in Mariage þan was he boþe in lordeschipe and seruage Seruage naye bot in lordeschip a-boue Seþen þat he haþ boþe his ladi and his loue Line 796 His lady certes and his wif also [folio 142b] The whiche þat lowe of loue accordeþ þarto And whan he was in þis prosperite Home wiþ his wif he goþ to his contre Line 800 Nouht ffer fro penmarke þar as his dwellinge was Where as he leues in blisse and in solas Who couþe tell bot he had wedded bue The . Ioye þe ese. and þe prosperite Line 804

[6-text p 503] Line 804 That is betwyx an husbonde and his wif A ȝere and more lasted þis blisfull liff Til þat þis kniht þe whiche .I. spak of þus þat of kynred was cleped Arneragus Line 808 Schope him to gone and dwelle a ȝere or tweyne In yngelond þat cleped eke was Bretayne To seche in armes worschipe and honoure For al his luste he sette in suche laboure Line 812 And dwelleþe þere þe boke seiþe þus Nowe wil .I. stint of þis arnaragus And speken .I. of Dorigen. his wif þat loueþ hire husbond as hire hertes lif Line 816 And for his absence wepeþ sche and sykeþ As done þis noble wives whan hem likeþ Sche morneþ wake waileþ fasteþ and pleyneþ Desire of his presence hir so distreineþ Line 820 That al þis wide werld sche sett att nouht Hire frendes whiche þat knewe hir heue þouht Comforted hire in al þat euer þei myht or maie Thei prechen hire þei telen hire nyht and daie Line 824 þat causeles sche sleþe hir self alas And euer-.I. comford possible in þis cas þei done to hire with al here bisinesse And al for to make hire lete hire heuynesse Line 828 Be proces as ȝe knowe wele euerychone Men Maie so longe graue in þe stone Til figure þer-inne printed be So longe haue þei comfort hire þat sche Line 832 Receyuede haþe be hope and be resone þe emprinteinge of hire constillacione Thoruhe whiche hire grete sorwe gan eswage Sche maie not alweie endure suche a rage Line 836 And eke Arnargus in al þis care Haþe sent hir lettres home in al þis fare. And þat he wolde come hastely aȝeine [folio 143a] Or elles hadde þis sorwe hire hert sleyne Line 840

[6-text p 504] Line 840 Hire frendes sauhe hire hert gan to slake And preide hire on knes for goddes sake To come and to Rome in companye Awaie to driue hire derke fantasie Line 844 And finally sche graunted þat request For wele sche sauhe it was for þe best Now stode hir castel fast by þe see And often wiþ hire frendes walked sche Line 848 Hir to disport on þe se banke on hihe Where as sche many schippes and barges seihe Seileinge her course where hem luste to goo Bot ȝite was þere a percel of hir woo Line 852 For to hir selue ful often seide sche Is þere no schippe of so mony as .I. see Wil bringe home my lorde þan wolde myne herte Al warisshe of þis bitter peine smarte Line 856 Anoþere time þere wil sche sitte and þenke And kast hir eye donward fro þe brenke Bot whan sche sawhe þe grisely Rokkes blake For verrei fere so wolde hire heret qwake Line 860 þat one hir feete sche myhte nouht hire susteigne þan wolde sche sit adoune vpon þe grene And pitously into þe see sche walde be-holde And seine riht þus wiþ sorweful hertes colde Line 864 Eterne god þat þoruhe þi purueance Ledest þe werlde be certein gouernance In ydelnes as men seine ȝe noþinge make Bot lorde þis griseli fendely Rockes blake Line 868 þat semen raþer a foule confusione Of werke þat any faire creacione Of whiche a parfit god and a stable Whi haue ȝe wrouht þis werk vnresonable Line 872 For be þis werke souþe. norþe. este and west þare nes ifostred man ne birde ne beste It doþe no good to my witte bot anoyeþ Sche ȝe nouht lor how mankinde it destrueþ. Line 876

[6-text p 505] Line 876 An hundreþ þousand bodyes of mankinde Haue rokkes sleine and al be þei nouht in mynde Whiche mankinde is so faire parte of þi werke þat þou it madest ylike to þine handwerke. Line 880 Than semed it ȝe hadde a grete chierte [folio 143b] To-ward mankynde bot howe þan maie it be That ȝe suche menys make it to destroyen Wyche menys doþ no good but euere annoyen Line 884 .I. woote wele clerkes woln sayn as hem lest By argumentz þat al þinges is for þe best They .I. ne can þe causes for soþe knowe Bot þilke god þat maade winde to blowe Line 888 As kepe my lorde þis conclusion To clerkis lat .I. al disputasion Bot wolde god. þat al þe Rokkes blake Ware sonken in-to hel for his sake Line 892 þes rokkes sleen myne hert for fere Thus wold sche seine wiþ mony a pitous tere Hire frendes sawe þat it nas no disporte To Roumen be þe see bot discomfort Line 896 And schopen for to pleyne sum where elles Thei leden hire be Reuers and be welles And eke in oþer place delitables Thei daunce and plei att chesse and att tables Line 900 So on a dai riht on þe morwe tide Vnto a Gardeine þat was riht þere beside In whiche þat þei had maade her ordinance Of vitaile and of oþer purueance Line 904 Thei gone and pleine hem al þe longe daie And þis was on þe sext morwe of maie Whiche had peintede wiþ his soft schoures This gardine ful of leues and of floures Line 908 And wyþ craft of mannes honde so curiously Araide had þis gardine trialli That neuer was þer gardine of suche prise Bot if it were þe verrei paradise Line 912

[6-text p 506] Line 912 The odur of floures and þe frisshe siht Wolde han maade ony pensif man liht That euer was borne bot if to grete sekenesse Oþer to grete sorwe hilde it in distresse Line 916 And after dener gan þei to daunce Line 918 So ful it was of beute wiþ plesance Line 917 And singen also bot Dorigen songe alone Sche made alweie here compleinte and hire mone Line 920 For sche ne sawhe him on þe daunce goo þat was hir husbonde and hire loue also Bot naþeles sche moste hire time a-bide [folio 144a] And wiþ goode hope lete sche here sorwe glide Line 924 Vpon þis daunce amonges oþere men Daunced a swyer to-forn Dorigen That frisscher was and Ioliere of araie As to my dome þan is þe moneþ of maie Line 928 He singeþ and daunseþ passinge any oþer man þat is or was seþþe þis werlde be-gan þare-wiþ he was if men schold him discryue On of þe beste faringe men on liue Line 932 ȝonge stronge riht vertuous ryche and wise And wele beloued and holden in grete prise And schortly if þe soþe tellen .I. schal Vnweteinge of þis dorigen att all Line 936 This lusty swyero seruant to Venus Whiche þat ycleped was aurelius Had loued hire best of any creature Two ȝere and more as was his aduenture Line 940 Bot neuer dorst he tellen hire of his greuance Wiþ-outen cuppe he drank al his penance He was dispeired noþinge dorst he saie Saue in his soule sum what wolde he wraie Line 944 His woo as in general compleineinge He seide he loued and was beloued no þinge Of suche Matier maade he mony layes Songes compleintes Roundeletis virrelayes Line 948

[6-text p 507] Line 948 Howe þat he durst nouht his sorwe tell þat languisseþ as fire doþe in hell And deye seide he must as dide ekko For Narsisus þat dorst nouht tell hir wo Line 952 In oþere maner þan ȝe here me seie Ne dorst he nouht to hire his wo be-wreie Saue perauentur sumtime att daunces There ȝonge folke kepen her obseruaunces Line 956 It mai wel be he loked on hir face In suche a wise as man þat Axeþ grace Bot no þinge wist sche of his entent Naþeles it happed er þei þens went Line 960 Be cause þat he was hire neiȝbore And was a mon of worsc^hippe and honoure And had yknowen him of [[a later t after of]] times ȝore Thei fel in speche oft more and more Line 964 Vn-to his purpos drouhe Aurelius [folio 144b] And whan he sauhe his time he seid þus Madame quod he be god þat þis werld maade So þat .I. miht ȝoure hert glade Line 968 .I. wolde þat daie þat ȝoure Arnaragus Wente on see þat .I. Aurelius Hadde wente þat .I. scholde neuer haue com aȝeine For wele .I. wote my seruise is in veine Line 972 Mi guerdon nys bot bristinge of myn herte Ma dame reweþ vpon my peines smarte For as wiþ a swerd ȝe maie me sle or saue Here att ȝoure fote god wolde þat .I. were graue Line 976 .I. haue as nowe no leiser for to seie Haue merci on me swete or ȝe wolne do me deye Sche gan to loke vpon Aurelius Is þis ȝoure wil quod sche and seie ȝe þus Line 980 Neuer eft quod sche wist .I. what ȝe ment Bott nowe Aurely .I. know ȝoure entent Be þilke god þat ȝaue me soule and lif Ne schal .I. neuer be vntrewe wiff Line 984

[6-text p 508] Line 984 In worde ne in werke as fer as .I. haue witte .I. wil be his to whome þat .I. am knytte Bot affter þat þou pleine þus seide sche Line 988 Tak þis for final ansewer as for me Line 987 Aurely quod sche be hihe god aboue Ȝit wil .I. graunt ȝoue to be ȝoure loue Sen þus .I. ȝowe see so pitously compleigne Loke what daie þat yngelonde is breteigne Line 992 Ȝe remewe al þe rokkes stone be stone þat þei let schippe ne bote to gone .I. saie whan ȝe haue maade þis coste so clene Of Rokkes þat þer nys no stone seene Line 996 þan wil .I. loue ȝowe best of any mān Haue here my trouþe in al þat euer y can Is þere none oþer grace quod he No be þat lorde quod sche þat maade me Line 1000 For wele .I. wote þat. þat schal neuer be-tide Late suche foly oute of ȝoure hert glide What deynte scholde man haue be his lif For to loue a noþer mannes wif Line 1004 þat haþ hir body when so þat him likeþ Aurelius ful oft sore sikeþ Woo was Aurely whan þat he þis herde [folio 145a] And wiþ a sorwful hert þus ansewerde Line 1008 Madam quod he þis were an inpossible Than Mot .I. deie on sodeine deþe Orrible And wiþ þat worde he torned him anone Tho cam her oþer frendes mony one Line 1012 And in þe alies romed vp and doune And no þinge wist of þis conclusioune Bot sodenlye be-gan to reuel newe Til þat þe briht sonn lost his hewe Line 1016 For þe orizonte haþ raft þe sonne his liht This is as muche to saie as it was niht And home þei gone in ioye and in solas Saue onely wriched Aurelius alas Line 1020

[6-text p 509] Line 1020 He to his hous is gone wiþ sorweful hert He seiþe he maie nouht fro his deþ astert Him semeþ he feleþ his hert colde Vp to þe heuen his hondes gan he olde Line 1024 And on his kenes bare he sett him doune And in his raueinge seide his orisoune For verrei woo he oute of his witte he braide He nyst nouht what he spak bot þus he seide Line 1028 Wiþ pitous hert haþe he his compleinte be-gunne Vnto þe goddesse and first vnto þe sonne He seide Apollo god and gouernoure And euery planete herbe tre and floure Line 1032 þat ȝeuest after þine declinacione To iche of hem his tyme and his sesone And þin hebour chaungeþ lowe and hihe Lorde phebus cast þi me[r]ciable eyhe Line 1036 On wriched Aureli whiche þat am for-lorne Lo lorde my lady haþ my deþ sworne Wiþ-outen gilte bot þine benygnite Vppon myne dedly hert haue sum pyte Line 1040 Bot wele .I. wote lorde phebus if ȝou liste ȝe maie me helpe saue my ladi best Now voucheþ saue þat .I. maie ȝoue deuise Howe þat .I. maye be holpe and in what wise Line 1044 Ȝoure blisful suster lucina þe schene þat of þe see is chife goddes and qwene þouhe. neptunus haue deite in þe see Ȝite emperes aboue him is sche Line 1048 Ȝe knowen wele lorde riht as hir desire [folio 145b] Is to be queked and lihteþ of ȝoure fire For whiche she folowþ ȝowe ful besily Riht so þe see desireþ naturelly Line 1052 To folowen hir as sche þat is goddesse Boþ in þe see and in reuers more and lesse Wher-for lord Phebus þis is myn request Do þis miracle or .I. do myne hert to brest Line 1056

[6-text p 510] Line 1056 þat þou next att þis opposicion Whiche in signe schal be of þe lyōn Haþe praide hire so grete a flode to bringe þat .v. faþom att þe lest it ouer springe Line 1060 The hiest rokke in Armorik bretaine And lat his flode endure ȝeres tueyne Than certes to my lady may .I. seie Holdeþ þoure heste þe rokkes bene awaie Line 1064 Lorde phebus do þis Miracle for me Preie hire sche go no faster cours þan ȝe .I. seie ȝoue þus prei ȝoure suster þat sche go None fastere cours þan ȝe þis ȝeres tuo Line 1068 þan schal sche euere be att þe foll al weie And springe lasten boþ nyht and daie And bot sche vowchesaue in suche manere To graunt me my lady souereigne dere Line 1072 Praie hir to sinken euery rok adoune In-to hir owen derke regione Vnder þe grounde þer pluto duelleþ inne Oþer neuer more schal .I. my lady wynne Line 1076 Thine temple in delphos wil .I barfote seek Lorde Phebus seþe ȝe þe teres on my cheke And of my pyne haue compassione And wiþ þat worde in swoune he fel a-doune Line 1080 And longe time he laie in traunce His broþer whiche þat knewe of his penaunce Vp cauht him and to bed him brouht Despeired in his torment and in his þouht Line 1084 Lo .I. þis woful creature lye Chese he for me weþer he wil leue or deye ¶ Arueragus wiþ hele and grete honoure As he was of þe chiualrie þe floure Line 1088 Is commen home and oþer worþi men. O blisfulful ert þou doregen That haste þin lusti husbande in þine Armes [folio 146a] þe frische knyht þe worþi man of armes Line 1092

[6-text p 511] Line 1092 þat loueþ þe as his owen hertes lif No þinge lust him to be ymaginatif Of any wight had spoke whiles was oute To hire of loue he maade þere-of no doute Line 1096 He nouhte entendeþ to none suche matiere Bot daunceþ Iustiþ and makeþ good chere As þus in ioy and blisse .I. late hem dwelle And of þe swete aurelius wil .I. tell Line 1100 In langure and in furious tormentes þus Two ȝere and more laie wreched Aurelius Or ony foote on erþe he myht gone Ne comfort in þis time had he none Line 1104 Saue of his broþer whiche þat was a clerke He knewe of al þis woo and of al þis werke For to none oþer creature certeine Of þis matier ne dorst he no worde seine Line 1108 Vnder his brest he bare his more secre Than euer dide Pamphilius for Galathe His brest was hole wiþ-owten for to sene Bot in his herte was aie þe arwe kene Line 1112 And wele ȝe wote þat a sore savoure In surgere ful perilous is þe cure Bot man myht touche þe arwe or come þerby His broþer wepeþ and weileþ priuely Line 1116 Til att þe last him fel in remembrance þat whiles he was att Orliaunce in fraunce As ȝonge clerkes þat buen licorous To reden artes þat buen curious Line 1120 Seken in euery halke and in euery herne Particulere sciens for to lerne He him remembreþ vpon a daie Att Orliance in stode a boke he saye Line 1124 Of Magik naturelle whiche is felawe þat was þat time a bacheller of lawe Al were he þere to lerne anoþer crafte An priuely vpan his deske he lafte Line 1128

[6-text p 512] Line 1128 þis boke whiche spak muche of þis operacions Toucheinge þe .xxviiij. Mancions That longeþ to þe mone and suche folye As in oure daies ne is not worþe a flye Line 1132 For holy cherche seiþe in owre beleue [folio 146b] Ne suffureþ none illusione vs to greue And whan þis booke was in remembraunce Anone for ioye he gan to daunce Line 1136 And to him self seide priuely Mi broþer schal be warisched hastely For .I. am seker þat þere be sciencis Be whiche men make diuers apparences Line 1140 Whiche as þe subtile tregitours pleine For oft att festes herd .I. seine þat tregetours wiþ in an hal large Haue maad in come water and a barge Line 1144 And in þe hall rowe vp and doune Som time haþe semed a grime lyoune [And som tyme floures spryngin in A mede Sum tyme wyne & grapis white & rede [Harl. 7333 folio 84b:2] [[ Not in Harl. 1758, leaf 132, or Reg. 17 D xv, leaf 183, back.]] ] Som tim a castel al of lyme and stone And whan him liked voide it anone Thus semed it to euery mannes siht Nowe þan conclude .I. þus if þat .I. myht Line 1152 At orlyance some olde felawe finde þat had þe mones mancions in mynde Oyþer magik naturel a-boue He scholde wele mak my broþer haue his loue Line 1156 For wiþ apparens a man maie make To mannenes siht þat al þe rokkes blake Of B[r]eteigne were went euerychone And þat schippes be þe brinke myht comen and gone Line 1160 And in suche forme endure a ȝere or tuo Then were my broþer waresched of his wo Then most sche nedes knowe hire be-hest Or elles he schamen hire schal att þe leste Line 1164

[6-text p 513] Line 1164 What scholde make a longer tale of þis Vnto his broþer bedde commen he is And suche comfor[t] he ȝaf him for to gone To Orliaunce þat vp sterte anone Line 1168 And on his waie forwarde is he fare In hope to be lessed of his care Whan þeie were come almoste to þat Citee Bot if were a tuo furlonge or þree Line 1172 A ȝonge clerke romeynge by himselfe þei · mette Whiche þat in latine þrefteli hem grette And after þat seide he a wonder þinge .I. knowe quod he þe cause of ȝoure comynge. Line 1176 An er þei forþer any foote wente He tolde hem al þat was in her en-tent This briton clerke him asked of felawes The whiche þat he had knowen in olde dawes Line 1180 And he anseward him þat þei dede were For whiche he wepped ful oft mony a tere Downe of his hors Aurelius liht anone And furþe wiþ þis Magicien is he gone Line 1184 Home to his howse and maade hem wele att ese Hem lakked no vitaile þat hem myht plese So wele araide hous as þer was one Aurelius in his lif ne sawe he none Line 1188 He schewde him ar he went to soper Forest Parkes ful of wilde dere [þer sawe he hertes with hornes hyȝe / The grettest that euer were se with ye / He / say of hem An hunderid slayn with houndes And some with Arowes bled & bitter woundes He say whan voydid were thes wylde der þe fauconers vp on A faire rever [Harl. 7333 folio 84b:2] [[ Not in Harl. 1758, leaf 132, back. In Reg. 17 D xv, leaf 184, back.]] ] Line 1196 And how fakons haue þe heron sleine Than sawe he knyhtes Iusten in a pleine And after þis he dide him suche plesance That he him schewde his lady in a daunce Line 1200

[6-text p 514] Line 1200 On whiche him self he daunced as him þouht And whan þis maister þat þis magik wrouht Sawe it was time he clapped his hondes two And fare wele al oure reuel is do Line 1204 And ȝitte remewe þei neuere oute of þis house Whiles þei sawe al þis siht meruelouse Bot in his stodye þere as his bokes be The[i] satten stil and no whight bot þei þre Line 1208 To him þis maister called þan a swyere And seide him þus is redi oure sopere Al most an houre it is .I. vndertake Seþens .I. ȝowe badde oure soper to make Line 1212 When þat þis worþi men wenten wiþ me Vnto my stode þer as my bokes be Sire quod þis Swye[r] whan it lykeþ ȝoue It is al rede þouhe ȝe wolde riht nowe Line 1216 Go we þan to soupe quod he and for þe best þes auerous folke sum time mot haue rest And after soper fel þei in trete What somme schold þis maister guerdone be Line 1220 To remoue al þe rokkes of bretaigne And eke fro geroun to þe mouþe of seine He maade it straunge. and swore so god him saue Lesse þan a þousand pounde he nolde not haue Line 1224 Ne gladly for þe somme ne wolde he gone [folio 147b] Aurelius wiþ blisful herte anone Onsewarde þus fy on a þousand pounde This wide werlde þat men seine is rounde Line 1228 That wold .I. ȝeue if .I. were lorde of it This Bargeyne is ful dreue for we bue knyt Ȝe schollene be paide treuly be my trouþe Bot lokeþ nowe for no necligens or sleuþe Line 1232 Ȝe tary vs here no longer þan to morwe Nay quod þis clerke haue here my trouþe to borwe To bed is gone Aurelius whan him luste And wel nyhe al þat nyht he had his ruste Line 1236

[6-text p 515] Line 1236 That for his laboure and for his hope of blisse His woful herte of penance hadde a lisse Vpon þis mo[r]we whan þat it was daie To bretaine toke þei þe riht weie Line 1240 Aurelius and þis magicien be side And buene descendit þere þei wilne a-bide And þis was as þe bokes me remembre The colde frosty seson of decembre Line 1244 Phebus waxede olde and hewed ylike latoun þat in his hote declinacioun Schone as þe burnyd gold wiþ stremes briht Bot nowe in scorpion a-doune he liht Line 1248 Where as he schone ful pale .I. dare wel seien The bitter frostes wiþ slete and reine Destruyed haþ ȝe grene in euery ȝerde Ianus sit be fire wiþ double berde Line 1252 And drinkeþ of his bugle horne þe wyne. Be-forne him stant þe braune of þe twext swyne And a nouel crieþ euery lusti man Aurelius in al þat euere he can. Line 1256 Doþe his maister chier and reuerence And preyeþ him to done his diligence To bringen him oute of his peines smerte Oþer wiþ a swerde þat he wold slitt his herte Line 1260 That subtille clerk whiche þat reuþe hadde on þis man þat nyht and daie he him spedde þat he ne lan To waite a time of his conclusione þis is to seie to make illucione Line 1264 .I. ne can no termes of astrologie Line 1266 Be whiche an apparens of Iogellery Line 1265 That sche and euery wight schold wene and seie [folio 148a] þat of Bretaigne þe rokkes were aweie Line 1268 Or elles þei were sonken vnder grounde So att þe last whan that he his time founde To make his Iapes and his wrechednesse Of whiche a supersticious cursedenesse Line 1272

[6-text p 516] Line 1272 His tables colletanes forþ he brouht Ful wele corrected for þere lakked nouht Ne his collectes ne his expans ȝeres Ne his rotes ne his oþere geres Line 1276 As biene is centres and his argumentez And his proporcione conuenientez For his equacions in euery þinge And be his .viij. spere in his wirkinge Line 1280 He knewe howe fere alnaþe was. yschoue From þe heued of þilke fix aries aboue þat in þe .ix. spere considerd is Ful subtilli he calleþ al þis Line 1284 And whan he had fonde his first mancion He knewe þe remenant be proporcion And knewe þe ariseinge of þe mone wele And in whos face and terme euery dele Line 1288 And knewe ful wele þe mones mansion Accordant to his operacion And k[n]ewe al so his oþer obseruauncez For suche illusions and suche meschaunces Line 1292 As eyþen folke vside þilke daies For whiche no longer Maked he delaies Bott þoruhe his magik for a weke or tweie It semede þat al þe rokkes were a waie Line 1296 Aurelius whiche þat despayred is Weþer he schal haue his or fare amys Awaiteþ nyht and daie of þis miracle And whan he knewe þer was none obstacle Line 1300 þat voided were þes rokkes euerychon Doune to his maistres fete he fel a none And seide .I. wooful wriche Aurelius Thank ȝowe lord and lady myne Venus Line 1304 That me haue holpe fro my .Cares colde And to þe temple forþe his weie haþe holde Where ke knewe he scholde his lady se And whan he sawhe his time anone riht he Line 1308

[6-text p 517] Line 1308 Wiþ d[r]edeful herte and humble chiere [folio 148b] Saluyd haþ his souereigne lady dere ¶ My rihtful lady quod þis woful man Whome .I. moste drede and loue as .I. best can Line 1312 And loþest wer of al þis werlde displese Nere it þat .I. for ȝowe haue suche disese þat .I. muste deye here att ȝoure fote anone Bot nouht wold .I. tel howe me is wo begone Line 1316 Bot certes eyþer must .I. deye or pleine Ȝe sleine me giltles for verrei peine Bot of my deþe ȝouhe ȝe haue no reuþe Aviseþ ȝowe ar þat ȝe lese ȝoure treuþe Line 1320 Repenteþ ȝowe for þilke god aboue Or ȝe me sleyne because þat .I. ȝowe loue For madame wele ȝe wote þat ȝe haue hiht [Nouȝt that I Chalenge ony thing of ryght [Harl. 7333 folio 85a:2] ] Of ȝow souereigne ladye bot ȝoure grace Bot in a gardeine ȝonde in suche a place ȝe woote riht wele þat ȝe be-hiht me And in ȝoure honde ȝoure trouþe pliht me Line 1328 To loue me best god wote ȝe saide so And al be þat. þat .I. vnworþe am þerto Madame .I. speke it for þe honoure of ȝoue More þan to saue myn herte lif riht nowe Line 1332 .I. haue done as ȝe haue commanded me And if ȝe vouche-saf ȝe maie go see And as ȝow luste haueþ ȝoure behest in mynde For whikke or dede riht þus ȝe schal me fynde Line 1336 In ȝowe liþe al to do me lyue or deye Bot wele .I. wote þe rokkes bene aweye He toke his leue and sche astonyed stode In al hir face þere nas a drope of blode Line 1340 Sche wende neuer haue commen in suche a trappe Alas quod sche þat euer þis scholde happe For wend .I. neuer be possibelite That suche a mustre or suche a merveile scholde be Line 1344

[6-text p 518] Line 1344 It is aȝeine þe process of Nature [[These lines are trans|posed in the MS.]] And home sche goþ a sorweful creature [[These lines are trans|posed in the MS.]] For verraie vnneþ maie sche go Sche wepeþ and weyleþ a daie or tuo Line 1348 And swowneþ þat it reuþ was to see Bot whi it was to no whight tolde sche· For oute of toune was gone Arneragus [This line is repeated on top of leaf 149] Bot to hir selfe sche saide and spak þus [folio 149a] Line 1352 In hire compleint as ȝe schollen affter here Wiþ face pale and wiþ sorwheful chiere Alas quod sche on þe fortune .I. pleine þat vnwar hast wrapped me in þi cheyne Line 1356 For whiche þe Eskape wote .I. no socoure Saue only deþe oþir dishonoure One of þis tuo behoueþ me to chese Bot naþeles ȝit hadde leuere to lese Line 1360 Mi lif þan of my bodi to haue a schame Oþer knowe my self fals oþer lese my name And wiþ my deþ .I. may me quyte y-wis Haþ þere nouht mony a wif ar þis Line 1364 And mony a maiden ysleine hire self alas Raþer þat wiþ hire bodis done trespas And certes lo þes stories bereþ wittenesse Whan .xxx. tyrantez ful of cursednesse Line 1368 Had sleyne Phidon in Athenes att þe lest Thei commaunded his douhtres to arest And bringen hem be-forne him in despite Al naked to ful-fil hire foule delite Line 1372 And in here faders blode þe[i] made hem daunce Vppon þe pament god ȝeue hem meschaunce For whiche þes woful maidens ful of drede Raþer þan þe[i] wolden lese here maidenhede Line 1376 þei priuely bene stert in-to a well And dreinte hem self as þe bokes tell. Thei of Mesne lete e[n]quere and seke Of lacedemye .l. maydens eke Line 1380

[6-text p 519] Line 1380 On whiche þei wolden done here licherye Bot was þere none of al þat companye þat sche nas sleyne wiþ a gladd entent And raþer chase to deye þan for to assent Line 1384 To bien oppressed [[? MS ofpressed]] of here maidenhede Whi schold .I. þan to deye buen in drede ¶ Lo eke þe tyrant Anstoclides þat loued a maide þat hiht simphalides Line 1388 Whan þat hir fader sleine was on a nyht Vnto Dyanes temple goþe sche a-none riht And hent þe ymage wiþ hire armes tuo Fro whiche ymage wold sche neuer goo Line 1392 No wyht myȝt of it hire hande race [folio 149b] Til sche was sleine in þe selue place Nowe seþen þat maidens hadd suche despite To bien defouled wiþ mannes foule delite Line 1396 Wele auht a wif raþer her self sle þat to bue defouled as þenkeþ me That schal .I. seien of Asdrubardis wiff þat att Cartage beraft hir self here liff Line 1400 For whan sche sawe þa romeine wanne þe toune Sche toke hir children al and swep adoune In to þe fire and chase raþer to deye þan any Romeyne did hire velanye Line 1404 Haþ nouht Lucres sleyne hire self alas Att Rome þare sche oppressed was Of Tarquyne for hire þouht it was a schame To leue whan þat sche had lost hire name Line 1408 The .viij. Maidens of Milesye also Haue sleyne hem self for drede and woo Raþer þan folke of Gaule schold hem oppresse Mo þan a þousand storis as .I. gesse Line 1412 Couþe .I. nowe tell as toucheinge þis matier Whan Abradas was sleyne his wif so dere Hire selfe slowhe and lete hire blode to glide In Abradas woundes brode and wide Line 1416

[6-text p 520] Line 1416 And seide my body att þe leste waye þar schal no whight defoule it if þat .I. maie What schold .I. mo ensamples here of sayne Seþen þat so many haue hem selfe slayne Line 1420 Wele raþer þan þei wolde defouled be .I. wil conclude what is best for me [To sle my self thanne be defoulid thus I wol be trewe vn-to Arueragus [Harl. 7335 folio 151a] [[Not in Harl. 1758, leaf 135;or Harl. 7333, leaf 85, bk, col. 2; or Sloane 1686, leaf 285.]] ] Oþir rather sle my self in sum manere As did Demonycious douhter dere Because þat sche nold nouht defouled be O cedasus. it is ful grete pite Line 1428 To reden howe þin douhtern deyden alas þat slowhe hem self for suche a maner cas As grete pite was it· or more Theban Maiden þat fo[r] Nichasor Line 1432 [hir seluen slowgh right for swich manere wo An othir theban mayde dede right so [Harl. 7335 folio 151a] [[ In Harl. 7333, lf 85, back, col. 2;not in Harl. 1758, leaf 135;or Sloane 1686, leaf 285.]] [[spurious]] ] Hire had wedded and dressed For one of Macedoyne had hire oppressed Line 1435 What scha[l] .I. seie of Nichostratifs wif þat for suche caas beraft hire self hir lif Howe trew was eke to Alcebiades [folio 150a] His loue þat fo[r] to deyen chese Line 1440 Then for to suffren his body vmbreide be Lo whiche a wif was Alcestem quod sche What Emore of good Penolope Al grece knoweþ of her chastitee Line 1444 Parde of Leodomya is wreten þus Thate whan att troye was slayne protheselayus No longer wolde sche leue after his daye þe same of noble Porcia tel .I. maie Line 1448 Wiþ-outen brutus couþ sche nouht leue To whome he had al hole hir herte .yȝeue The parfyte wyfhode of Arthemesye Honouryd is þurhe al þe barberye Line 1452

[6-text p 521] Line 1452 O Teuta queene in þine wifly chastite To al wyves maie a merrour be . . . [no gap in the MS: these lines] . . . . [known only in Ellesmere MS.] Line 1456 Thus pleyned dorigen a day or tueye Purposed euere þat sche wolde deye ¶ Bot Naþeles on þe þredde nyht Home cam Arueragus þe worþi knyht Line 1460 And axed hire whi þat sche wepped so sore And sche gan wepen euere þe longere more Alas quod sche þat euer was .I. borne Thus haue .I. seide quod sche þus haue .I. sworne Line 1464 .I. tolde him al as ȝe haue herde before .It nedeþ nouht to rehersen it no more This husbonde wiþ glad chere in sondre wise Anseward and seide as .I. schal ȝowe deuyse Line 1468 Es þer ouht elles dorigen bot þis Nay naye quod sche god helpe me so as wis This is to meche· and it were goddes will ȝe wife quod he lat slepe þat is still Line 1472 It maie be wele ȝit perauentur to seie Sche schol ȝoure trouþe holden be my faie For god so wisly helpe me .I. hadde well leuer ystiked for to be Line 1476 For verrei loue whiche þat .I. to ȝoue haue Bot if ȝe scholde ȝoure trouþe saue Trouþe is þe hiest þinge þat man maie kepe Bot wiþ þat worde he brast anone to wepe Line 1480 And seide .I. ȝoue for-bede vpon peyne of deþe þat neuer whiles ȝe last lif ne breþe. Til no wihte telle howe þat þis matier [folio 150b] As .I. maye kepe .I. wil me wo endure Line 1484 Ne make no countenance of heuynesse þat folke of ȝowe maie deme harme or gesse And forþe he cleped a swyer and a maide Goþe forþe anone wiþ Dorogen he saide Line 1488

[6-text p 522] Line 1488 And bringeþe hir to suche a place anone þei toke her leue and on þeire wei þei gone Bot þei ne wist whie sche þedere went He nold no whiht telle hire entent Line 1492 . . . . . [[These lines known only in the Ellesmere MS.]] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 1496 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] This Swyere whiche þat hiht Aurelius On dorigen whiche þat was so amerous Line 1500 Of aduenture happed. hire to mete A-mydde þe toune riht in þe quek strete As sche was boune to gone þe waie forþ riht To-warde þere as sche had hiht Line 1504 And he was to þe Gardeine ward also For wele he spiede whan sche wold go Owte of hire hous to any maner place Bot þus þei mette of aduenture or of grace Line 1508 And he saluyd hire wiþ glad entente And axed of hire wheder þat sche wente And sche ansewarde half as sche was madde [Vnto the gardyn as my husbonde bad [Sloane 1686 folio 205b] ] My trouþe for to holde alas alas Aurelius gan wonder of þis caas And in his hert had grete compassione Of hire and of hire lamentacione Line 1516 And of Arnaragus þe worþi knyht þat bad hire holde al þat sche hiht So loþe he was his wif schold breke hir trouþe And in his herte he kest of þis grete rouþe Line 1520 Consideringe þe beste on euery side þat fro his luste were him better abide þan done so hihe a cherles wrechednesse Aȝeines ffraunchis and aȝeynes al gentillesse Line 1524

[6-text p 523] Line 1524 For whiche in fewe wordes seide he þus Madame seiþe to ȝoure lorde Arneragus þat seþin .I. see þis grete gentillesse To ȝowe. and eke .I. see wele ȝoure destresse Line 1528 þan ȝe to me þus scholde breke ȝoure trouþe Line 1530 Sertes me þinkeþ it were riht grete rouþe [[spurious 1529]] .I. haue wele leuer euer to suffre woo [folio 151a] Then .I. departe þe loue be-tuex ȝow tuoo Line 1532 .I. ȝowe reles ma dame in to ȝoure honde Quyte euery surement and euery bonde þat ȝe haue maade to me as here be-forne Seþyns þilke time þat ȝe were borne Line 1536 My trouþe .I. plihte .I. schal ȝowe neuer repreue Of no by-heste and here .I. take my leue As of þe trewest and þe best wif þat euere ȝit knewe .I. in al my lyf Line 1540 Bot euer y wyht bewar of hire behest On dorigen remembreþ att þe lest þus can a swyer done a gentil dede As wele as kan a knyht wiþ outen drede Line 1544 Sche þonke him vppon hire knees al bare And home vnto hire housebonde is sche fare And told him all ȝe haue herde me seide And be ȝe seker he was so wele apaide Line 1548 þat it were impossible to write What schold .I. longer of þis cas endite Arueragus and Dorigene his wif In seuereigne blisse leden forþe here lyfe Line 1552 Neuer eft ne was þere anger hem be-twene He chiriseþ hire as þouhe sche where a quene And sche was to him treue for euer more Line 1555 Aurelius þat his cost haþe Al forlore Line 1557 Curseþ þe time þat euer he was borne Line 1558 For certes he seiþ .I. am for-lorne [[spurious]] Alas quod he alas þat I be-hiht O pured gold .a. þousand pou[n]de of wyht Line 1560

[6-text p 524] Line 1560 Vn-to þis Philofre howe schal .I. do .I. se no more bot þat .I. am for-do Myne heritage most .I. nedes sell And buen a begger here may .I. no longer dwell Line 1564 And schamen al þis kinrede in þis place Bot .I. of him maie gette þe better grace [But netheles I wolle of him assay At Certeyne yeeris and dayes to pay [Harl. 7333 folio 86a:2] [[ Also in Reg. 17 D 15, leaf 190, and Harl. 1758, leaf 136. Not in Sloane 1686, leaf 206, back.]] ] .I. wil þonke him of his grete curtesie Myne trouþe wil .I. kepe .I. wil nouht lye Wiþ hert sore he goþe vnto his cofre And brouht golde vnto his philosofre Line 1572 The valewe of .vj.^C pounde .I. gesse And him besecheþ of his gentillesse To graunt him daies of þe remenant [folio 151b] And maistere .I. dare wele make auaunt Line 1576 .I. failed neuer my trouþe as ȝite For sekurly my dettes schal .I. quyte To-warde ȝowe howe euer þat .I. fare To gone abigged in my kirtel bare Line 1580 Bot wold ȝe vouche sauf vpon suyrte Two ȝere oþer þre te respite me Then ware .I. wele for elles most. I sell Myne heritage þer nys no more to tell Line 1584 Thi[s] philosophre soburly ansewerd And seid þus whan he þes wordes herde Haue .I. nouht holden couenant vnto þe ȝis certes wele and treuly quod he Line 1588 Hast þou not had þi lady as þe lykeþ No no quod he and sorwfully he sikeþ Whatt was þe cause tel me if þou can Aurelius his tale a-none be-gan Line 1592 And tolde him al as ȝe han herde be-fore It nedeþ nouht to rehersen no more [He seide Arneragus/ of gentilnesse. [Harl. 1758 folio 136b] [[ Also in Harl. 7333, lf 86, back, col. 1,and Reg. 17 D 15, leaf 136, back.]] Had leuyr/ dye in sorow & distresse.

[6-text p 525] Than his/ wif were of hir/ trouthe fals/. [Harl. 1758. Not in Sloane 1686, leaf 207.] The sorow of Dorigen he tolde hym als/. How loth hir/ was/ to ben a wickid wif. And that sche leuyr/ had that day lost hir/ lif. Line 1600 And that hir/ trouthe sche swore thorogh ynnocence. Sche neuyr/ erst/ herd speke of apparence [[Harl. extr. ends]] ] And riht as frely as he sent hire to me Line 1604 þat maad me haue of hire so grete pite Line 1603 As frely sent .I. hire to hime aȝeine This is al and somme þere nys no more to seine This philofre Ansewerde leue broþere Euer-iche of ȝowe ded gentlyche to oþere Line 1608 þou ert a swyere and he is a knyht Bot god for-bede for his blisful myht Bot if a clerke couþe do as gentil a dede As wele as any of ȝowe it is no drede Line 1612 Sire .I. reles þe þi þousand pounde As þou riht nowe were crepe out of þe grounde Ne neuere or nowe ne haddest knowe me For sir .I. wil nouȝt take a peny of þe Line 1616 For al my craft ne nouȝt for my trauaile þou haste y-paiede wele for my vitaile It is ynowhe and fare wele and haue good daie He toke his hors and forþe he goþe his waie Line 1620 //Lordinges þis question þan wald .I. ax nowe Whyche was þe most fre as þenkeþ ȝowe Nowe telleþ me or þat .I. forþe wende .I. can no more my tale is att an ende. Line 1624

Explicit Liber /

[folio 152a]