The Harleian ms. 7334 of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 168]

GROUP B. (β. FRAGMENT III.)

§ 4. THE SHIPMAN'S TALE.

¶ Here bygynneth þe Schipman his tale/

A Marchaunt whilom dwelled at seint Denys That riche was for which men hild him wys A wyf he had of excellent beaute And companable and reuerent was sche which is a þing þat causeth more despence Than worth is al þe cher and reuerence Line 1196 That men doon hem at festes or at daunces Such salutaciouns and continaunces Passeth as doþ þe schadow on a wal But wo is him þat paye moot for al Line 1200 The sely housbond algat moste pay [folio 194b] He most vs cloþe . in ful good array Al for his oughne worschip richely In which array we daunce iolily Line 1204 And if þat he may not parauenture Or elles wil not/ such dispens endure But þynkeþ it is wasted and I-lost Than moot anoþer paye for oure cost Line 1208 Or lene vs gold and þat is perilous The worþy marchaunt huld a noble hous/ For which he hadde alday gret repair For his largesce and for his wyf was fair Line 1212 what wonder is but herkneþ to my tale Amonges al þese gestes gret and smale / Ther was a monk a fair man and a bold I trowe þritty wynter he was old Line 1216 That euer in oon was drawyng to þat place / This ȝonge monk þat was so fair of face

[6-text p 169] Aqueynted was so wiþ þe goode man Siþ þat her firste knowleche bygan Line 1220 That in his hous as familier was he / As it possibil is a frend to be And for as mochil as þis goode man And eek þis monk of which þat I bygan Line 1224 were boþe tuo I-born in oon village / The monk him claymeth as for cosynage And he aȝein he saith nat oones nay But was as glad þer of as foul of day Line 1228 For to his hert it was a gret plesaunce / Thus ben þay knyt wiþ eterne alliaunce And ilk of hem gan oþer to assure / Of broþerhed whil þat her lif may dure Line 1232 Fre was daun Iohn and manly of despence / As in þat hous and ful of diligence To do plesaunce and also gret costage He nought forȝat to ȝeue þe leste page Line 1236 In al þat hous but after her degre / He ȝaf þe lord and siþþen þe meyne / whan þat he com som maner honest þing [folio 195a] For which þay were as glad of his comyng Line 1240 As foul is fayn . whan þat þe sonne vpriseþ No mor of þis as now for it suffiseþ But so bifel þis marchaunt on a day / Schop him to make redy his array / Line 1244 Toward þe toun of Bruges for to fare / To byen þer a porcioun of ware For which he hath to paris sent anoon A messanger and prayed had dan Iohn Line 1248 That he schuld come to seint Denys and play with him and wiþ his wyf a day or tway Er he to brigges went . in alle wise This nobil monk/ of which I ȝow deuyse Line 1252 Haþ of his abbot as him list licence By cause he was a man of heih prudence

[6-text p 170] And eek an officer out/ for to ryde / To se her graunges and her bernes wyde / Line 1256 And vnto seint denys he comeþ anoon who was so welcome as my lord dan Iohn Oure deere cosyn ful of curtesie / with him brought he a Iubbe of maluesie Line 1260 And eek/ anoþer ful of wyn vernage And volantyn as ay was his vsage And þus I lete hem ete and drynk and play This marchaunt and þis monk a day or tway Line 1264 The þridde day þis marchaund vp he riseth And on his needes sadly him auyseth And vp in to his countour hous goþ he To rekyn wiþ himself as wel may be / Line 1268 Of þilke ȝer how þat it with him stood And how þat he dispended had his good And if þat he encresced were or noon His bookes and his bagges many oon Line 1272 He haþ byforn him on his counter bord For riche was his tresor and his hord For which ful fast his countour dore he schette And eek he wolde no man schold him lette Line 1276 Of his accomptes for þe mene tyme / [folio 195b] And þus he sat til it was passed prime Dan Iohn was risen in þe morn also And in the gardyn walkith to and fro Line 1280 And haþ his þinges said ful curteisly This good wyf com walkyng ful priuely In to a gardyn þer he walkeþ softe And him salueþ as sche haþ doon ful ofte Line 1284 A mayde child com in hir compaignie which as hir list sche may gouerne and gye For ȝit vnder þe ȝerde was þe mayde O dere cosyn myn dan Iohn sche sayde Line 1288 what ayleþ ȝow so raþe to arise Nece quod he it aught ynough suffise

[6-text p 171] Fyue houres for to slepe a night But it were for eny old palled wight Line 1292 As ben þese weddid men þat lye and dare As in a forme liþ a wery hare were al forstraught with houndes gret and smale But dere nece why be ȝe so pale / Line 1296 I trowe certis þat oure goode man hath on ȝow laborid sith þe night bygan That ȝow were nede to resten hastiliche And with þat word he lowgh ful meriliche Line 1300 And of his owne þought he was al reed This faire wyf bygan to schake hir heed And sayde þus ȝe god wot al quod sche / Nay cosyn myn it stant not so wiþ me Line 1304 For by þat god þat ȝaf me soule and lif In al þe reme of Fraunce is þer no wif That lasse lust haþ to þat sory play For I may synge / allas and waylaway Line 1308 That I was born but to no wight quod sche Dar I not telle how it stont wiþ me Wherfor I þink out of þis lond to wende Or elles of my self to make an ende Line 1312 So ful am I of drede and eek of care This monk bygan vpon þis wif to stare And sayd allas my nece god forbede [folio 196a] That ȝe for eny sorw or eny drede / Line 1316 Fordo ȝour self but telleþ me ȝour greef Parauenture I may in ȝoure mescheef Councel or help and þerfor telleþ me Al ȝour annoy for it schal be secre Line 1320 For on my portos I make an oth That neuer in my lif for lief ne loþ Schal I of no counseil ȝou bywray The same aȝein quod sche to ȝow I say Line 1324 By god and by þis portos wil I swere Though men me wolde al in peces tere

[6-text p 172] Ne schal I neuer for to go to helle / Bywreye word . of þing þat ȝe me telle Line 1328 Not for no cosynage ne alliaunce But verrayly for loue and affiaunce Thus ben þay sworn and her-vpon I-kist And ilk of hem told oþer what hem list Line 1332 Cosyn quod sche if þat I had a space / As I haue noon and namly in þis place Then wold I telle a legend of my lyf what I haue suffred siþ I was a wyf Line 1336 wiþ myn housbond þough he be ȝour cosyn Nay quod þis monk by god and seint martyn He is no more cosyn vnto me Than is þis leef þat hongeþ on þe tre Line 1340 I clepid him so by seint Denis of Fraunce To haue þe more cause of acqueyntaunce Of ȝow which I haue loued specially Abouen alle wommen sikerly Line 1344 This swere I ȝow on my professioun Tellith ȝoure greef lest þat he come a doun And hasteth ȝow and goþ ȝour way anoon My deere loue quod sche . O dan Iohn Line 1348 Ful leef me were þis counseil to hyde But out it moot it may no more abyde Myn housbond is to me þe worste man That euer was siþþe þe world bigan Line 1352 But siþ I am a wif it sit nought me [folio 196b] To telle eny wight of oure priuete . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] God schilde I scholde telle it for his grace / Line 1356 A wyf ne schal not say of hir housbonde But al honour as I can vnderstonde Saue vnto ȝow þus moche telle I schal As help me god he is not worþ at al Line 1360 In no degre þe valieu of a flie But ȝit me greueth most his nigardye

[6-text p 173] And wel ȝe wot þat wymmen naturelly Desiren sixe þinges as wel as I Line 1364 They wolde þat here housbondes scholde be hardy and wys and riche and fre / And buxom to his wyf and freisch on bedde But by þe lord þat for vs alle bledde Line 1368 For his honour my seluen to array A sonday next comyng ȝit most I pay An hundred frank or elles I am lorn Ȝit were me leuer þat I were vnborn Line 1372 Than me were doon a sclaunder or vilenye · And if myn housbond eek might it espie I ner but lost and þerfor I ȝow pray . . . . . Line 1376 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] For a certein day I wol ȝow pay Line 1380 And do to ȝow what pleasaunce and seruise That I may do right as ȝou list deuyse And but I do god take on me vengeaunce As foul as hadde Geneloun of Fraunce Line 1384 This gentil monk answard in þis manere Now trewely myn owne lady deere / I haue on ȝow so gret pite and reuthe / That I ȝow swere and plighte ȝow my treuþe Line 1388 That whan ȝour housbond is to Flaundres fare I schal deliuer ȝow out of ȝoure care For I wol bringe ȝow an hundred frankes / And with þat word he caught hir by þe schankes Line 1392 And hir embraced hard and kist hir ofte Goth now ȝour way quod he al stille and softe / And let vs dyne as sone as ȝe may For by my chilindre it is prime of day [folio 197a] Line 1396 Goth now and beth as trew as I schal be / Now elles god forbede sire quod sche /

[6-text p 174] And forþ sche goth as ioly as a pye / And bad þe cookes þat þai schold hem hye / Line 1400 So þat men myghte dyne and þat anoon vp to hir housbond þis wif is goon And knokkeþ at / his dore boldely Qy la quod he. peter it am I Line 1404 Quod sche how longe sire wol ȝe fast how longe tyme wol ȝe reken and cast ȝour sommes and ȝour bokes and ȝour þinges / The deuel haue part of alle such rekenynges Line 1408 ȝe haue I-nough par dy of goddes sonde / Com doun to day and let ȝour bagges stonde Ne be ȝe not aschamed that Daun Iohn Schal al day fastyng þus elenge goon Line 1412 what let vs hiere masse and gowe dyne wif quod þis man litel canstow diuine The curious besynesse þat we haue For of vs chapmen so god me saue Line 1416 And by þat lord that cleped is seint Iue Scarsly among twelue two schuln þriue Continuelly lastyng in to her age we may wel make cheer and good visage Line 1420 And dryue forth þe world as it may be And kepen our estat in priuete Til we be deed or elles þat we play A pilgrimage or goon out of þe way Line 1424 And þerfor haue I / gret necessite Vpon þis queynte world to auyse me For euermor we moste stond in drede Of hap and fortun / in our chapmanhede Line 1428 To Flaundres to morw at day And come agayn as soone as I may For which my deere wif I þe byseeke And be to euery wight buxom and meeke Line 1432 And for to kepe oure good be curious And honestly gouerne wel our hous [folio 197b]

[6-text p 175] Thou hast ynough in euery maner wise That to a thrifty housbond may suffise Line 1436 The lakkeþ noon array ne no vitaile Of siluer in þy purs þou mayst not faile And with þat word his contour dore he schitte And doun he goþ no lenger wold he lette Line 1440 And hastily a masse was þer sayd And spedily þe tables were I-layd And to þe dyner faste þay hem spedde / And rychely þis Chapman þe monk fedde / Line 1444 And after dyner daun Iohn sobrely This chapman took on part and priuely / Sayd him þus. cosyn it stondeth so That wel I se to brigges wol ȝe go / Line 1448 God and seint austyn spede ȝou and gyde / I pray ȝow cosyn wisly þat ȝe ryde Gouerneth ȝow also of ȝour diete Al temperelly and namely in þis hete Line 1452 Bitwix vs tuo nedeth no straunge fare Far wel cosyn . god schilde ȝou fro care If eny þing þer be by day or night If it lay in my power and my might Line 1456 That ȝe wil me comaunde in eny wise It schal be doon right as ȝe wol deuyse / O thing er þat ȝe goon if it might be / I wolde pray ȝow for to lene me Line 1460 An hundred frankes for a wyke or tweye For certeyn bestis þat I moste beye / To store with a place þat is oures God help me so I wolde it were ȝoures Line 1464 I schal not faile seurly of my day Nought for a þousand frankes a myle way But let þis þing be secre I ȝow pray / For for þe bestis þis night most I pay Line 1468 And fare now wel myn owne cosyn deere Graunt mercy of ȝour cost and of ȝour cheere

[6-text p 176] This noble marchaunt gentilly anoon Answerd and sayde. O cosyn daun Iohn [folio 198a] Line 1472 Now sikerly þis is a smal request My gold is ȝoures whanne þat ȝow lest/ And nought oonly gold but my chaffare / Tak what ȝow liste / god schilde ȝe spare Line 1476 But oon þing is ȝe know it wel ynough Of chapmen þat her money is here plough we may creaunce whils we haue a name But goldles for to be it is no game Line 1480 Pay it agayn whan it liþ in ȝour ese / After my might ful fayn wold I ȝow plese / This hundred frankes he fet forth anoon And priuely he took hem to daun Iohn Line 1484 No wight in al þis world wist of þis loone Sauyng þe marchaund and dan Iohn alloone Thay drynke & speke and rome a while and play Til þat dan Iohn rydeþ to his abbay Line 1488 The morwe cam and forth þe marchaund rideth To Flaundres-ward his prentis wel him gydeth Til þat/ he cam to Brigges merily Now goth þis marchaund faste and busily Line 1492 Aboute his neede and bieth and creaunceth He neither pleyeth atte dys ne daunceþ But as a marchaund schortly for to telle he lad his lyf / and þer I let him duelle Line 1496 The sonday next þe marchaund is agoon To seint denys I-come is daun Iohn with croune and berd al freisch and newe I-schaue In al þe hous þer nas so litel a knaue Line 1500 Ne no wight elles þat he nas ful fayn For þat my lord dan Iohn was come agayn And schortly to þe poynte for to gon This faire wif acordith with dan Iohn Line 1504 That for þese hundred frank he schuld al night Haue hir in his armes bolt/ vpright

[6-text p 177] And þis acord parformed was in dede / In mirth al night a bisy lif þay lede / Line 1508 Til it was day þat dan Iohn went his way And bad þe meigne far wel haue good day [folio 198b] For noon of hem ne no wight in þe toun Hath of dan Iohn right noon suspeccioun Line 1512 And forth he rideth hom to his abbay Or wher him list/ no more of him I say / ¶ This marchaund whan þat endid was þe faire To seynt denys. he gan to repeire / Line 1516 And with his wif he makeþ fest and cheere And tellith hir þat chaffar is so deere That needes most he make a cheuisaunce For he was. bounde in a reconisaunce Line 1520 To paye twenty þousand scheldes anoon For which þis marchaund is to paris goon To borwe of certeyn frendes þat he hadde / A certein frankes and some with him he ladde / Line 1524 And whan þat he was come in to þe toun For gret chiertee and gret affeccioun Vnto Dan Iohn he first goth him to play Nought for to borwe of him no kyn monay Line 1528 But for to wite and se of his wel fare And for to telle him of his chaffare As frendes doon whan þay ben met in fere Dan Iohn him maketh fest and mery cheere Line 1532 And he him told agayn ful specially How he had bought right wel and graciously Thanked be god / al his marchaundise Saue þat he most in alle maner wise / Line 1536 Maken a cheuyssauns as for his best And þan he schulde be in ioye and rest Dan Iohn answerde certis I am fayn That ȝe in hele are comen hom agayn Line 1540 And if þat I were riche as haue I blisse Of twenty þousand scheld schuld ȝe not mysse

[6-text p 178] For ȝe so kyndely þis oþer day lente me gold and as I can and may Line 1544 I þanke ȝow by god and by seint Iame / But naþeles I took it to oure dame ȝoure wif þe same gold aȝein vpon ȝour bench . sche wot it wel certeyn [folio 199a] Line 1548 By certein toknes þat I can hir telle Now by ȝour leue I may no lenger duelle Oure abbot wol out of toun anoon And in his compaignye moot I goon Line 1552 Grete wel oure dame my nece swete And far wel dere cosyn til þat we meete This marchaund which þat was boþe war and wys / Creaunced haþ and payed eek in parys/ Line 1556 To certeyn lombardes redy in her hond This somme of gold and took of hem his bond And hom he goþ a mery as a popin iay For wel he knew he stood in such array Line 1560 That needes most he wynne in such viage A þousand frankes aboue al his costage His wyf redy mette him at þe gate As sche was wont of old usage algate Line 1564 And al þat night in mirþe þay ben sette For he was riche and clerly out of dette whan it was day þis marchaund gan embrace his wyf al newe and kist hir on hir face Line 1568 And vp he goth and maked it ful tough No more quod sche by god ȝe haue ynough And wantounly with him sche lay and playde Till atte laste þus þis marchaund sayde Line 1572 By god quod he I am a litel wroþ with ȝow my wyf alþough it be me loth And wite ȝe why by god as þat I gesse ȝe han I-maad a maner straungenesse / Line 1576 Bitwixe me and my cosyn dan Iohn ȝe schold haue warned me er I had goon

[6-text p 179] That he ȝow had an hundred frankes payd By redy tokne and huld him euel appayd Line 1580 For þat I to him spak of cheuysaunce Me semed so as by his countenaunce But naþeles by god of heuen king I þoughe nought to axe him no þing Line 1584 I pray þe wif do no more so Tel me alway er þat I fro þe go [folio 199b] If eny dettour haue in myn absence I-payed þe lest in þy necgligence Line 1588 I may him axe a þing þat he haþ payed This wyf was not affered ne affrayed But holly sche sayde and þat anoon Mary I diffy þat false monk dan Iohn Line 1592 I kepe not of his tokenes neuer a del he took me a certeyn gold/ þat wot I wel what euel thedom on his monkes snowte/ For god it wot I wende wiþoute doute Line 1596 That he had ȝeue it me by cause of ȝow To do þer with myn honour and my prow For cosynage and eek for bele cheer That he haþ had ful ofte tyme heer Line 1600 But synnes þat I stonde in þis disioynt I wol answer ȝow schortly to þe poynt Ȝe han mo slakke dettours þan am I For I wol pay ȝow wel and redily Line 1604 Fro day to day and if so be I faile I am ȝour wif score it vpon my taile And I schal paye it as soone as I may For by my trouþe I haue on myn array Line 1608 And nought on wast bistowed it euery del And for I haue bistowed it so wel To ȝoure honour for goddes sake I say As beþ nought wroþ but let vs laugh and play / Line 1612 Ȝe schul my ioly body haue to wedde/ By god I wol not pay ȝow but on bedde /

[6-text p 180] Forȝeue it me myn owne spouse deere / Turne hiderward and make better cheere Line 1616 This marchaund saugh noon oþer remedy And for to chide. it nas but foly Siþ þat þe þing may not amendid be / wif he sayde / and I forȝiue it þe Line 1620 But by þi lif ne be no more so large keep better my good þis ȝiue I þe in charge Thus endeþ now my tale and god vs sende Talyng ynough vnto our lyues ende / Amen / [[Foot of page. No other break in the MS.]] Line 1624

[6-text p 181]

WEl sayd by corpus boones quod oure host [folio 200a] Now longe mot þou sayle by þe cost Sir gentil maister gentil mariner God ȝiue þe monk a þousand last quadeȝer Line 1628 haha felaws be war for such a iape The monk put in þe mannes hood an ape And in his wyues eek by seint austyn Draweþ no monkes more vnto ȝour In Line 1632 But now pasouer and let vs loke aboute who schal telle first of al þis route / Anoþer tale / and wiþ þat wiþ þat word he sayde / As curteisly as it had ben a mayde / Line 1636 My lady prioresse by ȝour leue So þat I wist I scholde ȝow not greue I wolde deme þat ȝe telle scholde A tale next if so were þat ȝe wolde / Line 1640 Now wol ȝe vouche sauf my lady deere / Gladly quod sche / and sayd in þis manere [[Break of one line in the MS.]]

[6-text p 182]

[THE PROEM.]

O Lord oure lord þy name how merueylous [¶ Domine domi|nus noster.] Is in þis large world I-sprad quod sche For nought oonly þy laude precious Parformed is by men of heih degre But by mouthes of children þy bounte [¶ Ex ore infancium] Line 1647 Parformed is on oure brest soukynge Som tyme schewe þay þin heriynge [[No stanza-breaks in the MS.]] Line 1649

Wherfore in laude as I best can or may Line 1650 Of þe and of þy white lily flour which þat þe bar and is a mayde alway To telle a story I wil do my labour Nought þat I may encresce ȝoure honour Line 1654 For sche hir silf / is honour and roote Of bounte next hir sone and soules boote/ Line 1656

O modir mayde. O mayde mooder fre / Line 1657 O bussh vnbrent/ brennyng in Moises sight/ That rauysshedest / doun fro þe deite Thurgh þin humblesse þe gost þat in þe alight Of whos vertu he in þin herte pigh Line 1661 Conceyued was þe fadres sapience [folio 200b] help me to telle it in þy reuerence Line 1663

Lady þi bounte and þy magnificence Line 1664 Thy vertu and þi gret humilite Ther may no tonge expres in no science For som tyme lady er men pray to þe / Thow gost biforn of þy benignite Line 1668 And getist vs þe light þurgh þy prayere / To gyden vs þe way to þy sone sone so deere/ Line 1670

[6-text p 183] Line 1670

My connyng is to weyk o blisful queene Line 1671 For to declare þy grete worþinesse That I may not þis in my wyt susteene But as a child of twelf month old or lesse Than can vnnethes eny word expresse Line 1675 Right so fare I and þerfor I ȝou pray Endith my song þat I schal of ȝow say [[A break of one line in the MS.]] Line 1677

[THE TALE.]

THer was in acy in a greet Citee Line 1678 Amonges cristen folk a Iewerye Susteyned by a lord of þat contre For foul vsure and lucre of felonye / Hateful to crist and to his compaignye / Line 1682 And þurgh þe strete men might ride and wende / For it was fre and open at euerich ende Line 1684

A litel scole of cristen folk þer stood Line 1685 Doun at þe forþer ende in which þer were Children an heep ycomen of cristes blood That lered in þat scole ȝer by ȝere Such maner doctrine as men vsed þere Line 1689 This is to say to synge and to rede As smale childer doon in her childhede / Line 1691

Among þese children was a widow sone Line 1692 A litel clergeoun þat seue ȝer was of age That day by day to scole was his wone And eek also wher-so he saugh þymage Of cristes moder had he in vsage Line 1696 As him was taught to knele a doun and say / His Aue maria as he goþ by þe way [folio 201a] Line 1698

[6-text p 184] Line 1698

Thus haþ þis widow hir litel child I-taught Line 1699 Oure blisful lady cristes moder deere To worschip ay and he forȝat it nought For cely child wil alway soone leere But ay whan I remembre of þis matiere Line 1703 Seint Nicholas stont euer in my presence For he so ȝong to crist dede reuerence Line 1705

This litil child his litel book lernynge Line 1706 As he sat in þe scole at his primere He O alma redemptoris herde synge/ As children lerned her antiphonere And as he durst he drough hem ner and neere Line 1710 And herkned euer þe wordes and þe note Til he þe firste vers couþe al by rote Line 1712

Nought wist he what þis latyn was to say / Line 1713 For he so ȝong and tender was of age But on a day his felaw gan he pray / To expoune him þe song in his langage/ Or telle him what þis song was in vsage / Line 1717 This prayd he him to construe and declare Ful often tyme vpon his knees bare / Line 1719

His felaw which þat elder was þan he Line 1720 Answerd him þus. þis song I. haue herd seye was maked of our blisful lady fre Hire to saluen and eek hire to preye To ben our help and socour whan we deye Line 1724 I can no more expoune in this matere I lerne song I can no more gramer Line 1726

And is þis song I-maad in reuerence Line 1727 Of cristes moder sayde þis Innocent Now certes I wol do my diligence To conne it al er cristemasse be went

[6-text p 185] Though þat I for my primer schal be schent / Line 1731 And schal be betyn þries in an hour I wol it conne oure lady to honoure Line 1733

His felaw taught him homward priuely Line 1734 From day by day til he couþe it by rote And þan he song it wel and boldely [folio 201b] Twyes on þe day it passed þurgh his þrote From word to word accordyng to þe note Line 1738 To scoleward and homward whan he went On cristes moder was set al his entent Line 1740

As I haue sayd þurghout þe Iewrye Line 1741 This litel child as he cam to and fro Ful merily þan wold he synge and crie / O alma Redemptoris euer mo The swetnes haþ his herte persed so Line 1745 Of cristes moder that to hir to pray he can not stynt of syngyng by þe way / Line 1747

Oure firste foo þe serpent Sathanas Line 1748 That hath in Iewes hert his waspis nest Vpswal and sayde / o ebreik peple allas Is þis a þing to ȝow þat is honest That such a boy schal walken as him lest Line 1752 In ȝoure despyt and synge of such sentence which is aȝens ȝour lawes reuerence Line 1754

Fro þennes forth þe Iewes han conspired Line 1755 This Innocent out of þis world to enchace An homicide þer to han ȝe þay hired That in an aley had a priue place And as þe childe gan forþ by to pace Line 1759 This false iewe him hent and huld ful faste / And kut his þrote and þrewe him in atte laste Line 1761

[6-text p 186] Line 1761

I say in a wardrobe þay him þrew Line 1762 wher as the Iewes purgen her entraile O cursed folk O herodes al newe what may ȝour euyl entente ȝou auaile Morther wol out certeyn it wil nought faile Line 1766 And namly þer þonour of god schuld sprede The blood out crieþ on ȝour cursed dede / Line 1768

O martir soudit to Virginite Line 1769 Now maystow synge folowyng euer in oon The white lomb celestial quod sche / Of which þe grete euaungelist seint Iohn In pathmos wroot which seith þat þay goon Line 1773 Bifore þe lamb and synge a song al newe [folio 202a] That neuer fleischly wommen þay knewe Line 1775

This pore widowe wayteþ al þis night Line 1776 After þis litel child but he cometh nought For which as soone as it was dayes light with face pale in drede and busy þought Sche haþ at scole and elles-wher him sought Line 1780 Til fynally sche gan of hem aspye That he was last/ seyn in þe Iewerie Line 1782

With moodres pite in hir brest enclosed Line 1783 Sche goþ as sche were half out of hir mynde To euery place wher sche haþ supposed By liklihede hir child for to fynde And euer on cristes mooder meke and kynde Line 1787 Sche cried and atte laste þus sche wrought Among þe cursed Iewes sche him sought Line 1789

Sche freyned and sche prayed pitously Line 1790 To euery Iew þat dwelled in þat place To telle hir if hir child wente þer by Thay sayden nay but Ihū of his grace

[6-text p 187] Ȝaf in hir þought wiþinne a litel space Line 1794 That in þat place after hir sone sche cryde wher as he was cast in a put besyde / Line 1796

O grete god þat parformedist þin laude Line 1797 by mouth of Innocentȝ lo here þy might This gemme of chastite þis emeraude And eek of martirdom þe ruby bright Ther he with þrote I-kut lay vpright Line 1801 He . Alma redemptoris gan to synge So lowde þat al þe place bigan to rynge Line 1803

The cristen folk þat þurgh þe strete went/ Line 1804 In comen for to wonder vpon þis þing And hastily for the prouost þay sent He cam anoon wiþoute tarying And heriede crist þat is of heuen kyng Line 1808 And eek his moder honour of mankynde And after þat þe Iewes let he bynde Line 1810

This child with pitous lamentacioun Line 1811 vp taken was syngyng his song alway [folio 202b] And with honour of gret processioun Thay caried him vnto þe next abbay His modir swownyng by þe beere lay Line 1815 Vnneþe might þe poeple þat was þere This newe Rachel bringe fro þe beere Line 1817

With torment and with schamful deth echon Line 1818 This prouost doþ þese Iewes for to sterue That of þis moerder wist and þat anoon he wolde no such cursednesse obserue Euel schal haue þat euyl wol deserue Line 1822 Therfore with wilde hors he dede hem drawe And after þat he heng hem by þe lawe Line 1824

[6-text p 188] Line 1824 Vpon his beere ay lith þis Innocent Line 1825 Biforn þe chief auter whiles þe masse last And after þat þabbot with his couent Haþ sped him for to burie him ful fast And whan þay halywater on him cast Line 1829 Ȝet spak þis child. whan spreynde was þe water And song O alma redemptoris mater Line 1831

This abbot which þat was an holy man Line 1832 As monkes ben or elles oughte be This ȝonge child to coniure he bigan And sayd O deere child I halse þe In vertu of þe holy trinite Line 1836 Tel me what is þy cause for to synge Sith þat þy throte is kit at my semynge Line 1838

My þrote is kit vnto my nekke boon Line 1839 Sayde þis child and as by way of kynde I schulde han ben deed long tyme a goon But Ihū crist as ȝe in bookes fynde wol þat his glorie laste and be in mynde Line 1843 And for þe worschip of his moder deere Ȝet may I synge. O alma lowde and cleere Line 1845

This welle of mercy cristes moder swete Line 1846 I loued alway as after my connynge And whan þat I my lyf schulde leete To me sche cam and bad me for to synge This antym verraily in my deyinge [folio 203a] Line 1850 As ȝe haue herd and whan þat I had songe Me þought sche layde a grayn vnder my tonge Line 1852

Wherfor I synge and synge moot certeyne Line 1853 In honour of þat blisful mayden fre Til fro my tonge taken is þe greyne And after þat þus saide sche to me

[6-text p 189] My litil child now wil I fecche þe Line 1857 whan þat þe grayn is fro þi tonge I-take Be nought agast I wol þe nought forsake Line 1859

This holy monk this abbot him mene I Line 1860 His tonge out caught and took awey þe greyn And he ȝaf vp þe gost ful softely And whan þe abbot hath þis wonder seyn His salte teres striken doun as reyn Line 1864 And gruf he fel a doun vnto þe grounde And stille he lay as he had ben y-bounde Line 1866

The couent eek lay on þe pauyment Line 1867 wepyng and herying cristes moder deere And after þat þay rise and forþ þay went And took away þis martir fro his beere / In a tombe of marble stoones cleere Line 1871 Enclosed þay þis litil body sweete Ther he is now god leue vs for to meete Line 1873

O ȝonge hughe of lyncoln slayn also Line 1874 wiþ cursed iewes as it is notable / For it nys but a litel while ago Pray eek for vs we synful folk vnstable That of his mercy god so merciable Line 1878 On vs his grete mercy multiplie For reuerence of his modir marie Amen [[No break in the MS.]] Line 1880

[6-text p 190]

Whan sayd was þis miracle euery man Line 1881 As sober was þat wonder was to se Til þat oure host to iape bigan And þan at erst/ he loked vpon me And sayde þus what man art þou quod he Line 1885 Thou lokest as þou woldest fynde an hare For euer vpon þe ground I se þe stare / Line 1887

Approche ner and loke merily [folio 203b] Line 1888 Now ware ȝou sires and let þis man haue space He in þe wast is schape as wel as I This were a popet in an arm to embrace For any womman smal and fair of face / Line 1892 He semeth eluisch by his countenaunce For vnto no wight doth he daliaunce Line 1894

Say now som what sins other folk han said Line 1895 Telle vs a tale and þat of mirthe anoon host quod I ne beþ nought euel apayd For other tale certes can I noon But of a rym I lerned ȝore agoon Line 1899 Ȝe þat is good quod he now schul we heere Som deynte þing me þinketh by his cheere [[Break of 1 line in the MS.]] Line 1901

[6-text p 191]

[The First Fit.] [[No stanza-gaps are in the MS., and no lines are inset.]]

LEsteneþ lordyngs . in good entent And I wol telle verrayment Of myrthe and solas Line 1904 Of a knyght was fair and gent In batail and in tornament His name was sir Thopas Line 1907

I-bore he was in fer conntre In Flaundres al byȝonde þe se At Poperyng in þe place Line 1910 His fader was a man ful fre And lord he was of þat contre As it was goddes grace Line 1913

Sir Thopas wax a doughty swayn whyt was his face as payndemayn His lippes reed as Rose / Line 1916 His rode is lik / scarlet en grayn And I ȝow telle in good certayn He had a semly nose Line 1919

His heer his berd was lik/ safroun That to his girdil raught a doun His schoon of Cordewane Line 1922 Of Brigges were his hosen broun His robe was of Sicladoun That coste many a Iane [folio 204a] Line 1925

[6-text p 192] Line 1925

He couþe hunt at wilde deer And ride on haukyng for ryuer with gray goshauk on honde Line 1928 Therto he was a good archeer Of wrastelyng was noon his peer Ther eny Ram schal stonde / Line 1931

Ful many mayde bright in bour Þay mourne for him paramour whan hem were bet to slepe Line 1934 But he was chast and no lecchour And sweet as is þe brembre flour That bereþ þe reede heepe / Line 1937

And so it fel vpon a day For soþ as I ȝow telle may / Sir Thopas wold out ryde Line 1940 he worth vpon his steede gray And in his hond a launcegay A long sword by his syde Line 1943

he priketh þurgh a fair forest/ Ther In is many a wilde best/ Ȝe boþe buk / and hare Line 1946 And as he prikeþ north and Est I tel it ȝow hym had almest Bityd a sory care Line 1949

Ther springen herbes greet and smale The licorys and þe Cetewale / And many a clow gilofre Line 1952 And notemuge to put in ale wheþir it be moist or stale Or for to lay in cofre Line 1955

[6-text p 193] Line 1955

The briddes synge it is no nay The sperhauk and þe popiniay That ioye it was to heere Line 1958 The þrostilcok maad eek his lay The woode dowue vpon þe spray So song ful lowde and cleere Line 1961

Sir Thopas fel in loue-longing whan that he herde þe briddes synge [folio 204b] And priked as he were wood Line 1964 His faire steede in his prikynge So swette þat men might him wrynge His sydes were al blood Line 1967

Sir Thopas eek so wery was For priking on þe softe gras So feers was his corrage Line 1970 That doun he layd him in þe place To make his steede som solace And ȝaf him good forage Line 1973

O seinte Mary benedicite what eylith þis loue at me To bynde me so sore Line 1976 My dremed al this night par de An elf queen schal my lemman be And slepe vnder my gore Line 1979

An Elf queen wol I haue I-wis For in this world no womman is worthy to be my make In toune [[as part of l. 1982]] Line 1982 Alle oþir wommen I forsake And to an Elf queen I me take By dale and eek by doune Line 1986

[6-text p 194] Line 1986

In to his sadil he clomb anoon And priked ouer stile and stoon An elf queen for to spye Line 1989 Til he so longe haþ ryden and goon That he fond in a priue woon The contre of fairye Line 1992 ¶ So wylde [[as part of l. 1992]] For in þat contre was þer noon; . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Neither wif ne childe [[as part of l. 1994]] Line 1996

Til þat þer cam a greet geaunt/ his name was sir Olifaunt A perilous man of dede Line 1999 he swar child by Termagaunt For if þou prike out of myn haunt Anoon I slee þe Line 2002 with my mace [[as part of l. 2002]] heer is þe queen of fayerie with harp. and lute and Symphonye dwellyng in þis place [[as part of l. 2005]] Line 2006

The child sayd also mote I the [folio 205a] To morwe wil I meete with þe whan I haue myn armure Line 2009 And ȝit I hope par ma fay That þou schalt with þis launcegay Abyen it ful soure Line 2012 ¶ þy mawe [[as part of l. 2012]] Schal I persyn if þat I may Er it be fully prime of day For heer schalt þou be slawe Line 2016

[6-text p 195] Line 2016

Sir thopas drough on bak ful fast This geaunt at him stoones cast / Out of a fell staf slynge Line 2019 But faire eschapeþ child thopas And al it was þurgh goddis gras And þurgh his berynge / Line 2022

Ȝet lesteneth lordynges to my tale / Merier þan þe nightyngale / I wol ȝow roune Line 2025 how sir thopas wiþ sides smale / Prikynge ouer hul and dale Is come ageyn to toune Line 2028

his mery men comaunded he To make him boþe game and gle For needes most he fight Line 2031 with a geaunt with heedes þre For paramours and iolite Of oon þat schon ful bright Line 2034

Do come he sayde my mynstrales And gestours for to telle tales Anoon in myn armynge Line 2037 Of Romaunces þat ben reales Of popes and of Cardinales And eek of loue likynge Line 2040

Thay fet him first þe swete wyn And made him eek in a maselyn A real spicerye Line 2043 Of gyngebred þat was so fyn And licorys and eek comyn with sugre þat is trye / [folio 205b] Line 2046

[6-text p 196] Line 2046

He dede next his white leere Of cloth of lake whyt and cleere A brech and eek a schert Line 2049 And next his schert an aketoun And ouer þat an haberioun For persyng of his hert Line 2052

And ouer þat a fyn hauberk was al I-wrought of Iewes werk Ful strong it was of plate Line 2055 And ouer þat his cote-armour As whyt as is a lily flour In which he wold debate Line 2058

his scheld was al of gold so red And þer Inne was a bores heed A charbocle by his syde / Line 2061 And ther he swor on ale and bred How þat þe geaunt schal be deed Bytyde what bytyde / Line 2064

His iambeux were of quirboily His swerdes schethe of yuory His helm of latoun bright Line 2067 His sadel was of rowel boon His bridel as þe sonne schon Or as þe moone light Line 2070

his spere was of Cipres That bodeth werre and no þing pees The heed ful scharp I-grounde / Line 2073 His steede was al dappul gray Hit goth an ambel in þe way / Ful softely and rounde Line 2076

[6-text p 197] Line 2076 ¶ In londe [[In line 2076]] lo lordes heer is a fyt If ȝe wil eny more of it To telle it wol I fonde [[No break in the MS.]] Line 2080

[The Second Fit.]

NOw hold ȝour mouth for charite Boþe knight and lady fre And herkneþ to my spelle Line 2083 Of batail and of chiualry And of ladys loue drewery [folio 206a] Anoon I wol ȝow telle / Line 2086

Men speken of Romauns of pris Of horn child and of ypotis Of Beuys and sir Gy Line 2089 Of sir libeaux and pleyn damour But sir thopas bereþ þe flour Of real Chiualry Line 2092

His goode steede he bistrood And forth vpon his way he glood As spark out of þe bronde Line 2095 Vpon his crest he bar a tour And þer In stiked a lily flour God schilde his corps fro schonde Line 2098

And for he was a knyȝt auntrous He nolde slepen in noon hous But liggen in his hood Line 2101 his brighte helm was his wonger And by him baytith his destrer Of herbes fyne and goode/ Line 2104

[6-text p 198] Line 2104 Himself drank water of þe welle As dede þe knight of pertinelle / So worthy vnder wede Line 2107 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[6-text p 199]

NO mor of þis for goddes dignite Quod our hoste / for þou makest me So wery of þy verrey lewednesse That al so wisly god my soule blesse / Line 2112 Myn eeres aken for þy drasty speche Now such a rym þe deuel I byteche This may wel be rym dogerel quoþ he why so quod I why wilt þou lette me Line 2116 More of my tale þan anoþer man Syn þat it is þe beste rym þat I can By god quod he for pleinly at o word Þy drasty rymyng is not worth a tord Line 2120 Þou dost nought elles but despendist tyme Sir at o word þou schalt no lenger ryme let se wher þou canst tellen ought in gest Or telle in prose som what atte lest [folio 206b] Line 2124 In which þer be so merthe or doctrine Gladly quod I by goddes swete pyne / I wol ȝow telle a litel þing in prose That oughte like ȝow as I suppose / Line 2128 Or elles certes ȝe be to daungerous It is a moral tale vertuous Al be it told som tyme in sondry wise Of sondry folk as I schal ȝow deuyse / Line 2132 As thus. ȝe woot þat euery euaungelist Þat telleþ vs þe peyne of Ihū crist Ne saith alle þing as his felawes doþ But naþeles here sentence is al soþ Line 2136 And alle accorden as in here sentence Al be þer in her tellyng difference /

[6-text p 200] For some of hem sayn more and some lesse / whan þay his pitous passioun expresse / Line 2140 I mene of mark mathew luk and Iohn But douteles her sentence is al oon Therfor lordynges alle I ȝow biseche If ȝow þink þat I varye as in my speche Line 2144 As þus þough þat I telle som what more Of prouerbes þan I haue herd bifore Comprehended in þis litel tretys here / To enforcen with þeffect of my matiere Line 2148 And þough I not þe same wordes say As ȝe haue herd / ȝit to ȝow alle I pray Blameþ me nought for in my sentence Schul ȝe no wher fynde difference Line 2152 Fro þe sentence of þis tretys lite After þe which þis litil tale I wryte And þerfor herkeneþ what I schal say And let me tellen al my tale I pray [[Break of 5 lines in the MS.]] Line 2156

[6-text p 201]

[There are no line-numbers or paragraph-breaks in the MS. Tyrwhitt's breaks are kept here, as they were in the Six-Text, to prevent slight differences in the Texts throwing out many lines.]

[2157] A ȝong man called Melibeus mighty and riche [folio 207a] bygat vpon his wif þat called was prudens. a doughter; which þat called was Sophie //

[2158] Vpon a day byfel þat for his desport he is went in to þe feldes him to / play. [2159] his wif and his douȝter eek haþ he laft in-with his hous of which þe dores were fast I-schitte. [2160] þre of his olde foos han it espyed. and setten laddres to þe walles of his hous and by þe wyndowes ben entred [2161] and beetyn his wyf and woundid his douȝter wiþ fyue mortal woundes in fyue sondry places [2162] þat is to sayn in here feet in here hondes in here eeres in here nose and in here mouth and lafte her for deed and went away

[2163] ¶ whan Melibeus retourned was in to his hous and seigh al þis meschief he lik a man mad rendyng his cloþes gan wepe and crie.

[2164] Prudens his wyf as ferforth as sche dorste bisouȝt him of his wepyng to stynte / [2165] But not for þi he gan to crie euer lenger þe more

[2166] ¶ this noble wyf prudence remembred hire vpon þe sentens of Ovide in his book that cleped is þe remedy of loue / wher as he seiþ [2167] ¶ he is a fool [¶ Ouidius de remedio amoris] þat destourbeþ þe moder to wepe in þe deth of hir childe til sche haue I-wept hir fille as for a certeyn tyme [2168] and þan schal man doon his diligence as with amyable wordes hire to recomforte and praye hire of

[6-text p 202] hire wepyng to stinte [2169] ¶ For which resoun þis noble wif prudens suffred hir housbonde for to wepe and crie / as for a certeyn space. [2170] and whan sche seigh hir tyme; sche sayd him in þis wise ¶ Allas my lord quod sche why make ȝe ȝoure self for to be lik a fool. [2171] For soþe it apperteyneþ not to a wys man to make such sorwe. [2172] Ȝoure douȝter wiþ þe grace of god schal warischt be and eschape. [2173] and al were it so þat sche right now were deed; ȝe ne oughte nouȝt as for hir deþ ȝoure silf destroye [2174] ¶ Senec saiþ. þe wise man schal not take to gret discomfort for þe deth of his children; [2175] but certes he schulde suffren it in pacience as wel as he abydeþ þe deþ of his owne persone

[2176] ¶ This melibeus answerde anoon & sayde ¶ what man quod he schuld of his wepynge stynte þat haþ a cause for to wepe [2177] ¶ Ihū crist [¶ Qualiter ihe christus fleuit propter mortem lazari] oure lord himself wepte for þe deth of laȝarus his frend [2178] ¶ Prudens answerde Certes wel I wot/ attemperel wepyng is no þing defended to him þat sorwful is. amonges folk in sorwe. But it is raþer graunted him to wepe / [2179] þe apostel poule vnto þe [Apostolus ad romanos] Romayns writeþ. A man schal reioyce with hem þat maken ioye / And wepe with such folk as wepen [2180] ¶ But þough attemperel [folio 207b] wepyng be graunted; Outrageous wepynge certes is defended // [2181] Mesure of wepynge be conserued. after þe lore of crist þat techeþ vs senec [2182] ¶ whan þat þi frend is deed quod he; let nought þin yen to moyste ben of teres ne to moche drye ¶ Al þough the teeres come out of þine eyȝen; let he not falle [2183] ¶ And whan þou hast forgon þy frend; do dili|gence to gete anoþer frende ¶ And þis is more wisedom þan to wepe for þy frend which þat þou hast lorn. For þer in is no boote [2184] ¶ And þerfore if ȝe gouerne ȝow by sapience put away sorwe out of ȝoure hert [2185] ¶ Remembreth ȝow þat Ihc Sirac saiþ

[6-text p 203] ¶ A man þat is ioyous and glad in herte; it him con|serveth florischinge in his age ¶ But soþly sorweful herte makeþ his boones drye [2186] ¶ he saiþ eek þus. þat sorwe in herte sleþ ful many a man [2187] ¶ Sa|lamon saiþ þat right as motthes in schepes flees annoyeth þe clothes. and þe smale wormes to þe tre; Right / so annoyeþ sorwe to þe herte [2188] ¶ wherfore vs oughte as wel in þe deþ of oure children as in þe losse of oure goodes temporales haue pacience

[2189] ¶ Remembreth ȝow vpon þe pacien Iop ¶ whan he hadde lost his children and his temporal sub|stance and in his body endured and receyued ful many a greuous tribulacioun; ȝit sayde he þus [2190] ¶ Oure lord it/ sent/ vnto me Oure lord it haþ raft fro me. Right so as oure lord wil; riȝt so be it doon ¶ I-blessed be þe name of oure lord [2191] To þese forsayde þinges answerith Melibeus vnto his wif Prudens Alle þine wordes ben soþ quod he and þerto pro|fytable ¶ But soþly myn herte is so troubled wiþ þis sorwe; þat I noot/ what to doone [2192] ¶ Let calle quod prudence þy trewe frendes alle and þy linage whiche þat ben trewe & wise. telleth hem ȝoure greuaunce and herken what þay say in counseilynge. and ȝow gouerne after here sentence. [2193] ¶ Salomon saith ¶ werke al þi þing by counseil and þe þar neuer rewe

[2194] ¶ Þan by þe counseil of his wyf prudens this melibeus let calle a gret congregacioun of peple [2195] as Surgiens. phisiciens olde and ȝonge and some of his olde enemyes recounsiled as by her semblaunt to his loue and to his grace. [2196] and þer wiþ al þer come some of his neighebours þat deden him reuerence more for drede þan for loue as happeþ ofte [2197] ¶ Ther comen also ful many subtil flaterers and wise aduoketes lerned in þe lawe

[2198] ¶ And whan þese folk togidere assemblid were; This melibeus in sorwful wyse schewed hem his caas.

[6-text p 204] [2199] and by þe maner of his speche; it semed þat in [folio 208a] herte he bar a cruel Ire redy to do venge|ance vpon his foos. and sodeynly desirede þat þe werre schulde bygynne. [2200] but natheles ȝit axed he her counseil in þis matier. [2201] ¶ A Sirurgien by licens and assent of suche as were wyse vp ros and to melibeus sayde as ȝe may hiere

[2202] ¶ Sire quod he as to vs Sirurgiens appertieneth þat we do to euery wight þe beste þat we can wher as we ben withholde and to oure pacient þat we do no damage [2203] ¶ wherfore it happeþ many tyme and ofte þat whan tweye han euerich wounded oþer; oo. same surgien heleþ hem boþe. [2204] where vnto oure art it is not perteyned to norische werre ne parties to supporte; [2205] but certes as to warisching of ȝoure douȝter al be it so þat sche perilously be woundid; we schullen do so tentyf besynes fro day to night þat with þe grace of god sche schal be hool and sound als soone as it is possible [2206] ¶ Almost right in þe same wise þe phisiciens answerden; saue þat þay sayden a fewe wordes more [2207] ¶ That ryght as maladies ben cured by her contraries; Right so schal men warissch werre by vengeaunce [2208] ¶ His neyhe|boures ful of enuye his feyned freendes þat semede recounsiled his flatereres [2209] maden semblaunt of wepyng and appaired and aggregged moche of þis matiere in preisyng gretly melibe of might. of power of Riches. and of frendes despisinge þe power of his aduersaries [2210] and sayden outerly þat he anoon schulde wreke him on his aduersaries be bygynnynge of werre

[2211] vp roos þanne an aduocate þat was wys. by leue and by counseil of oþere þat were wise and sayde / [2212] ¶ Lordynges. þe needes for whiche we ben assemblit in þis place is ful heuy þing and an heigh matier [2213] by cause of þe wrong & of þe wikkednes þat haþ ben doon and eek of þe grete damages þat

[6-text p 205] in tyme comyng ben possible to falle for þe same [2214] and eek by cause of þe grete richesse and power of þe partes bothe [2215] for þe whiche resouns it were a ful gret peril to erren in these materes [2216] ¶ wherfore melibeus þis is oure sentence ¶ we counseile ȝow abouen alle þinges þat riȝt anoon þou do diligence in kepyng of þy body in such a wyse þat þou ne wante noon espye ne wacche þy body for to saue [2217] ¶ And after þat we counseile þat in þin hous þou sette sufficaunt garnisoun So þat þay may as wel þy body as þin hous defende [2218] ¶ But certes for to moeue werre ne sodeynly for to do vengeance; we may not deme in so litel tyme þat it were profit|able [2219] ¶ wherfore we axen leysir [folio 208b] and a space [. . . .] in þis caas to demen [2220] ¶ For þe comune prouerbe saiþ þis ¶ he þat soone demeþ soone schal repente [2221] ¶ And eek men sayn þat þilke Iuge is wys þat soone vnderstondeþ a matier and Iuggeþ by leysir. [2222] ¶ For al be it so þat / alle taryinge is anoyful; algates it is no reproef in ȝeuynge of Iuggement. ne of ve[n]gaunce takyng whan it is suffisaunt and resonable [2223] and þat schewed oure lord ihū crist by en|sample ¶ For whan þat þe womman þat was I-take in aduoutrie was brouȝt in his presence to knowen what schulde be doon of hir persone Al be it þat he wist him self what þat he wolde answere; ȝit wolde he not answere sodeynly. but he wolde haue deliberacioun and in þe ground hem wrot twyes. [2224] and by þese causes we axe deliberacioun. and we schul þanne by þe grace of god counseile þe þing þat schal be profytable

[2225] ¶ Vpstarten þenne þe ȝonge folkes anoon at oones; and þe moste part of þat companye han skorned þese olde wise men and bygonne to make noyse and sayden [2226] ¶ Right so as whil þat/ Iren is hoot men scholden smyte; Right so schulde men wreke here wronges whil

[6-text p 206] þat þay ben freische and newe ¶ And with lowde vois þay cryde. werre. werre.

[2227] ¶ Vproos þo oon of þese olde wise and with his hond made countenaunce þat men schulde holde hem stille and ȝiuen him audience [2228] ¶ lordyngs quod he ther is ful many a man þat crieth werre werre wot ful litel what werre amounteth. [2229] werre at his bygynnyng haþ so greet and entre and so large þat euery wight may entre whan him likeþ and lightly fynde werre [2230] ¶ But certes what ende schal falle þerof; it is not lightly to knowe [2231] For soþly whan þat werre is oones bygonne; þer is ful many a child vnbore of his mooder þat schal sterue ȝong by cause of þilke werre or elles lyue in sorwe and deye in wrecchidnes [2232] ¶ & þerfore er þat eny werre be bygonne. men moste haue gret counseil and gret deliberacioun. [2233] ¶ And whan þis olde man wende to enforce his tale by resouns wel neigh alle at oones bygonne þay to rise for to breke his tale and beden him fulofte his wordes to abrigge. [2234] For soþly he þat precheþ to hem that liste not to heere his wordes his sermoun hem anoyeth [2235] ¶ For Ihesus Sirac saith þat wepyng in musik is a noyous þing. þis is to say ¶ As moche auayleþ to speke tofore folk/ to whiche his speche annoyeþ; as it is to synge byfore hem whiche þat wepith [2236] [folio 209a] ¶ And whan þis wise man saugh him wanted audience; al schamefast he sette him doun agayn [2237] ¶ For Salamon saith. ther as þou may haue noon audience; enforce þe not to speke [2238] ¶ I se wel quod þis wise man þat þe comune prouerbe is soþ ¶ That good counseil wantith whan it is most neede

[2239] ¶ Ȝit hadde þis melibeus in his counseil many folk þat priuely in his eere han counseled him certein þinges and counseled him þe contrarie in general audience

[2240] ¶ whan melibeus hadde herd ȝet þe grettest

[6-text p 207] party of his counseil were accorded þat he schulde make werre. Anoon he consented to here counseilyng and fully affermed here sentence [2241] ¶ Thanne dame Prudence whan þat sche saugh þat hir housbonde schop him to wreke him of his enemyes and to gynne werre; / Sche in ful humble wise whan sche saugh hire tyme sayde him þese wordes [2242] ¶ My lord quod sche I ȝow biseche as hertily as I dar and kan ne haste ȝow nought to faste and for alle guerdouns as ȝeue me audience [2243] ¶ For Peres Alfons saith ¶ who þat doþ to þe ouþer good or harm; haste þe nought to quyten him. For in þis wise þy freend wil abyde; and þin enemy schal þe lenger lyue in drede [2244] ¶ The prouerbe saiþ ¶ he hastith wel þat wisly can abyde and in wikked haste is no profyt

[2245] ¶ This melibeus answerde vn to his wyf prudens ¶ I purpose not quod he to werke by þy counseil for many causes and resouns ¶ For certes euery wight wolde holde me þanne a fool [2246] ¶ þis is to sayn ¶ If I for þy counseil wolde chaunge þinges þat affermed ben by so many wise; [2247] I say þat alle wommen be wikked and noon good of hem alle ¶ For of a þousand men saiþ Salomon I fond oon good man; But certes of alle wommen good womman fond I neuer noon [2248] ¶ And also certes if I gouernede me by þy counseil it schulde seme that I hadde ȝiuen to þe ouer me þe maistry and god forbeede er it so were [2249] ¶ For Ihc Syrac saiþ þat if a wif haue maistrie sche is contrarious to hir housbond [2250] ¶ and Salomon saith ¶ Neuer in þy lif to þy wyf ne to þy child ne to þy freend ne ȝeue no power ouer þiself ¶ For better it were þat þy children axen of þy persone þinges þat been needful to hem þan þou se þiself in þe hondes of þy children [2251] ¶ And also if I wolde werke by þy counselynge certes it most som tyme be secre til it were tyme þat it moste be

[6-text p 208] knowe and þis ne may not be [2252] . . . . .[2253] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

[2254] whan dame Prudence ful debonerly and with gret pacience hadde herd al þat hir housbonde liked for to seye ¶ Than axed sche of him licence [folio 209b] for to speke and sayde in þis wise [2255] ¶ My lord quod sche as to ȝoure firste resoun certes it may lightly be answered. For I say it is no foly to chaunge counsel whan þe þing/ is chaungid. For elles whan þe þing semeþ oþerwise þan it was biforn [2256] And moreouer I say þough þat ȝe han sworn and I-hight to parforme ȝoure emprise And naþeles ȝe wayue to parforme þilke same emprise by iuste cause men schulde not say þerfore þat/ ȝe were a lyere ne forsworn [2257] For þe book/ seiþ þat þe wise man makeþ no lesyng whan he torneth his corrage to þe better [2258] ¶ And al be it so þat ȝoure emprise be establid and ordeyned by gret multitude of poeple; ȝit thar ȝe not accomplise þilke same ordinaunce but ȝou like / [2259] For þe trouþe of þing and þe profyt ben rather founde in fewe folk þat ben wise and ful of resoun þan by gret multitude of folk þat euery man crieth and clatereþ what þat him likeþ soþely such multitude is not honest [2260] ¶ An to þe secounde resoun wher as ȝe sayn þat alle wommen ben wikke; Saue ȝoure grace. Certis ȝe despise alle wommen in þis wise and þat alle despysith saiþ þe book / [2261] And senec saith who-so wil haue Sapi|ence schal no man desprayse but he schal gladly teche þe science þat he can wiþoute presumpcioun of pryde [2262] and suche þinges as he nought can he schal not ben aschamed to lerne hem and enquere of lasse

[6-text p 209] folk þan himself [2263] ¶ And sire þer haþ be ful many a good womman . . . . .[2264] . . . . .if alle wommen hadde ben wikke [2265] after þat for þe grete bounte þat is in wommen; Oure lord ihu crist/ whan he was risen fro deþ to lyue apperede raþer to a womman þan to his apostles. [2266] ¶ And þough þat Salamon say he fond neuer good womman It folwith nouȝt þerfore þat alle wommen ben wikke. [2267] For þough þat he fonde noone goode wommen certes many a noþer man haþ founden many a womman ful goode and trewe [2268] ¶ Or elles parauenture þentent of Salamon was þis as in souereyn bounte. he fond no womman [2269] þis is to say þat þer is no wight þat haþ souerein bounte saue god aloone as he himself recordeþ in his euaun|gelie. [2270] For þer nys no creature so good þat him wantith som-what of þe perfeccioun of god þat is his makere [2271] ¶ Ȝoure þridde resoun is þis. ȝe seyn. þat if ȝe gouerned ȝow by counsel of me it schulde seme þat ȝe hadde yeue me the maystry and þe lordschipe ouer ȝoure persone. [2272] sire saue ȝoure grace it is not so. For if so were þat no man schulde be counseiled but by hem þat hadde maystrie and lordschipe of his persone; men wolde nought be counseiled so ofte [2273] ¶ For soþly þilke man þat axeth [folio 210a] counseil of a purpos. ȝet haþ he fre chois wheþer he wil werke by þat purpos or noon [2274] ¶ And so to ȝoure ferþe resoun þer ȝe sayn þat the ianglerie of wommen can hyde þinges þat þey wot not of as who saith þat a womman can nought hyde þat at sche woot; [2275] Sire þese wordes ben vnder|stonde of wommen þat ben iangelers and wikke. [2276] of whiche wommen men sayn þat þre þinges dryuen a man out of his oughne hous þat is to say. smoke. droppyng of reyn and wikked wyfes. [2277] of

[6-text p 210] suche wommen saiþ salomon þat it were better to a man to dwelle in desert þan with a womman þat is riotous [2278] and sire by ȝoure leue þat am not I [2279] ¶ For ȝe han ful ofte assayed my grete scilence and my grete pacience and eek how wel þat I can hyde and hele þinges þat ben secrely to hyde [2280] ¶ And soþly as to ȝoure fyfte resoun wher as ȝe sayn þat in wikkede coun|seil wommen venquisscheth men. god wot þilke resoun stont here in no stede / [2281] For vnderstondith now ȝe aȝein counseil to do wickidnes [2282] and if ȝe wil wirke wickidnes and ȝoure wyf restreyne þilke wicked purpos and ouercome ȝou by resoun and by good counseil; [2283] Certes ȝoure wyf oweth raþer be preised than y-blamed / [2284] ¶ Thus schulde ȝe vnder|stonde þe philosopher þat seiþ in wicked counseil wommen venquyschen her housbondes [2285] ¶ And þer as ȝe blame alle wymmen and here resouns; I schal schewe by many resouns and ensamples þat many a womman hath ben ful good and ȝit been and here counseiles ful holsome and profitable [2286] ¶ Eke some men han sayd þat þe counseilyng of wommen is ouþer to dere or to litel of pris [2287] But al be it so þat ful many a womman is badde and hir counseil vile and not worþ; ȝet han men founde many a ful good womman and ful discret and wys in counseilyng [2288] ¶ lo Iacob by counseil of his moder Rebecca wan þe blessyng of his fader ysaak and þe lordschipe of alle his breþeren [2289] ¶ Iudith by hire goode counseil delyuered þe Citee of Bethulie in which sche dwellid out of þe hous of Olophernus þat had it byseged and wolde it al destroye [2290] ¶ Abigayl deliuered Nabal hir housbond fro Dauid þe king þat wolde haue I-slayn him and appesed þe Ire of þe kyng by hir witte and by hir good counseil|ynge [2291] ¶ Hester by good counseil enhaunsed gretly þe poeple of god In þe regne of assuerus þe kyng [2292] and þe same bounte in good counseilyng of many

[6-text p 211] a good womman may men rede and telle [2293] And more ouer whan oure lord had creat adam oure forme fader; he sayde in þis wise [2294] ¶ Hit is not goode to be a man aloone. make we to him an help semblable to him self [2295] ¶ here may ȝe se þat if þat a womman were not [folio 210b] good and hir counseil good and profytable; [2296] oure lord god of heuen wolde neither haue wrouȝt hem ne called hem help of man but raþer confusioun to man [2297] ¶ And þer sayde oones a clerk in tuo versus ¶ what is better than gold. Iasper. And what is better þan Iasper; wisedom. [2298] and what is better than wisedom; womman. and what is better than good womman; No þing [2299] ¶ And sire by many oþer resouns may ȝe se þat many wommen ben goode and . . . [no gap in MS.] profitable [2300] and þerfore if ȝe wil truste to my counseil; I schal restore ȝou ȝoure douȝter hool and sound [2301] ¶ and eek I wil doon ȝou so moche þat ȝe schul haue honour in þis cause

[2302] ¶ whan Melibe had herd þese wordes of his wif prudens; he seide þus. [2303] ¶ I se wel þat þe word of Salomon is soþ ¶ he seith þat þe wordes þat ben spoken discretly by ordinaunce been hony combes. For þay ȝeuen swetnes to þe soule. and holmes to þe body [2304] ¶ And wyf bycause of þy swete wordes and eek for I haue assayed and proued þi grete sapiens & þi grete trouþe; I wil gouerne me by þy counseil in alle þinges

[2305] ¶ Now sire quod dame prudens and syn ȝe vouchen sauf to be gouerned by my counseilyng; I wil enforme ȝou how ȝe schul gouerne ȝoure self in chesyng of ȝoure counseil [2306] ¶ ȝe schul first/ in alle ȝoure werkes mekely biseche to þe hihe god þat he wol be ȝour counseilour [2307] & schape ȝou to þat entent þat he ȝiue ȝou counseil and confort as taughte Toby his sone [2308] ¶ At alle tymes þou schalt blesse

[6-text p 212] god and pray him to dresse þy wayes. and loke þat alle þi counseiles be in him for euermore [2309] ¶ Seint Iame eek saith ¶ If eny of ȝow haue neede of sapiens axe it of god. [2310] and aftirward þanne schul ȝe take counseil in ȝoure self. and examine wel ȝoure þouȝtes of suche þinges as ȝou þinkiþ þat is best for ȝoure profyt [2311] and þanne schul ȝe dryue fro ȝoure hertes þo þat ben contrarie to good counseil. [2312] þat is to say . Ire . coueytise . and hastynes

[2313] ¶ First he þat axeþ counseil of himself . certes he moste be wiþoute Ire . for many cause [2314] ¶ The first is þis ¶ He þat haþ gret Ire and wraþþe in himself . he weneth alwey he may do þing þat he may not doo [2315] ¶ And secoundly he þat is Irous and wroþ . he may not wel deme [2316] ¶ and he þat may not wel deme; may nought wel counseile [2317] ¶ The þridde is þis . þat he þa is Irous and wroth as saiþ Senec may not speke but blameful þinges [2318] and with his vicious wordes he stireþ oþer folk to anger and to Ire [2319] ¶ And eek sire ȝe moste dryue coueitise out of ȝoure herte / [2320] ¶ For þapostil saith þat coueytise is roote of alle harmes. [2321] And trusteth wel þat a coueitous man ne can not deme ne þinke [folio 211a] but oonly to fulfille þe ende of his coueitise [2322] ¶ And certes þat may neuer ben accomplised ¶ For euer þe more abundaunce þat he hath of riches . þe more he desireth [2323] And sire ȝe moste also dryue out of ȝour herte hastynes . [2324] For certes ȝe may nought deme for þe beste a sodein þouȝt þat falleþ in ȝoure herte ¶ But ȝe moste auyse ȝou on it ful ofte [2325] ¶ For as ȝe herde here biforn þe comune prouerbe is þis; þat he þat soone demeth soone repentith;

[2326] ¶ Sire ȝe ben not alway in lik disposicioun [2327] For certis som þing þat som tyme semeþ to ȝow þat it is good for to doo; anoþer tyme it semeþ to ȝou þe contrarie

[6-text p 213]

[2328] whan ȝe han taken counseil in ȝoure seluen . and han demed by good deliberacioun such þing as ȝow semeþ best [2329] ¶ þanne rede I ȝou þat ȝe kepe it secre . [2330] Bywreye nought ȝoure counseil to no persone but it so be þat ȝe wene sicurly that þurgh ȝoure bywreyinge ȝoure condicioun schal be to ȝow þe more profytable [2331] ¶ For Ihc Syrac saiþ ¶ Neiþer to þi foo ne to þi freend discouere not þy secre ne þy foly [2332] ¶ For þey wil ȝiue ȝou audience and lokyng and supportacioun in þi presence and scorn in thin absence [2333] ¶ anoþer clerk saiþ þat skarsly schalt þou fynde eny persone þat may kepe counseil secreely [2334] ¶ The book saith ¶ whil þou kepist þi counsail in þin herte þou kepest it in þi prisoun [2335] ¶ and whan þou bywreyest þi counseil to any wight; he holdeþ þe in his snare [2336] ¶ And þerfore ȝow is better hyde ȝoure counseil in ȝoure herte þan prayen him to whom ȝe haue bywryed ȝoure counseil þat he wol kepe it clos and stille [2337] ¶ For Seneca seith ¶ If so be þat þou ne maist not þin owne counsel hyde; how darst þou preven any oþer wight þi counseil secreely to kepe; [2338] ¶ But naþeles if þou wene securly þat þy bywreying of þy counsel to a persone wol make þy condicioun stonde in þe better plite; þanne schalt þou telle him þy counsel in þis wise [2339] ¶ First þou shalt make no semblaunt wher þe were leuer werre or pees . or þis or þat . ne schewe him not þi wille and þin entent . [2340] For truste wel þat comunly þese counseilours ben flaterers [2341] and namely þe counselours of grete lordes [2342] ¶ For þay enforcen hem alway raþer to speke plesaunt wordes enclynyng to þe lordes lust þan wordes þat been trewe and profitable [2343] ¶ And þerfore men say þat þe riche man haþ selden good coun|seil. but if he haue it of him self [2344] ¶ And after þat þou schalt consider þy frendes and þine enemyes . [2345] And as touching þy frendes; þou schalt con|sidere

[6-text p 214] which of hem beþ most faithful and most wise and eldest and most approuyd in counsaylinge [2346] ¶ And of hem schalt þou axe þy counsail as þe caas [folio 211b] requireth

[2347] ¶ I say þat first ȝe schul clepe to ȝour coun|seil ȝoure frendes that ben trewe [2348] ¶ For Salomon saiþ For right as þe hert of a man delitith in sauour þat is soote; Right so . þe counseil of trewe frendes ȝeueþ swetnes to þe soule [2349] ¶ he saith also ther may no þing be likened to þe trewe freend [2350] ¶ For certes gold ne siluer beþ nought so moche worþ as þe goode wil of a trewe freend . [2351] ¶ And eek he sayde þat a trewe frend is a strong defens who þat it fyndeþ certes he fyndeþ a gret tresour [2352] ¶ þanne schul ȝe eek considere if þat ȝoure trewe frendes ben discrete and wyse For þe book saith . axe þi counseil alwey of hem þat ben wyse . [2353] and by þis same resoun shul ȝe clepe to ȝoure counseil of ȝoure frendes þat ben of age suche as haue I-seye sightes and ben expert in many þinges and ben approuyd in counseylinges [2354] ¶ For þe book saith þat in olde men is þe sapience and in longe tyme þe prudence [2355] ¶ And tullius saiþ þat grete þinges ben not ay accompliced by strengþe ne by delyuernes of body; but by good counseil by auctorite of persones and by science . the whiche þre þinges ne been not feble by age; but certis þay enforsen and en|cresen day by day [2356] and thanne schul ȝe kepe þis for a general reule ¶ First schul ȝe clepe to ȝoure counseil a fewe of ȝoure frendes þat ben especial [2357] For Salomon saiþ ¶ Many frendes haue þou but among a þousand chese þe oon to be þy counseil|our . [2358] For al be it so þat þou first ne telle þy counseil but to a fewe; þou mayst afterward telle it to mo folk if it be neede [2359] But loke alwey þat þy counseilours haue þilke þre condiciouns þat I haue sayd

[6-text p 215] bifore þat is to say þat þay ben trewe and olde and of wys experiens [2360] ¶ And werke nouȝt alwey in euery neede by oon counseilour alloone ¶ For som tyme byhoueþ it be counseiled by many [2361] ¶ For Salomon saith ¶ Saluacioun of þinges is wher as þere beþ many counseilours.

[2362] Now siþ þat I haue told ȝow of which folk ȝe schul be counseled ¶ Now wil I telle ȝow which counseil ȝe ought eschiewe. [2363] First ȝe schal espie þe counseil of fooles ¶ For Salomon seiþ take no coun|seil of a fool For he ne can not counseile but after his oughne lust and his affeccioun [2364] ¶ The book seiþ þat þe proprete of a fool is þis he troweþ lightly harm of euery wight & lightly troweþ alle bounte in himself [2365] ¶ Thow schalt eschiewe eek þe counseil of alle flaterers suche as enforcen hem raþere to prayse ȝoure persone by flaterie þan for to telle ȝow þe soþ|fastnesse of þinges

[2366] ¶ wherfore Tullius saith Amonges alle pestilences þat [folio 212a] ben in frendschipe þat is þe grettest flaterie. ¶ And þerfore is it more neede þat þou eschiewe and drede flaterers more þan eny oþer peple [2367] ¶ The book saiþ. Þou schalt raþer drede and flee fro þe swete wordes of flaterers. þen fro þe egre wordes of þy frend þat saiþ þe þi soþes [2368] ¶ Salamon saiþ þat þe wordes of a flaterer is a snare to cacche in Innocentȝ [2369] ¶ He saiþ also. he þat spekeþ to his frend wordes of swetnesse and of plesaunce setteþ a nette byfore his feet to cacchen him [2370] and þerfore saiþ Tullius ¶ Encline not þin eeres to flaterers ne tak no confort of þe wordes of flaterers [2371] ¶ And Catoun saiþ Auyse the wel and eschiewe wordes of swetnes and of plesaunce [2372] and eek þou schalt eschiewe þe counselyng of þin olde enemyes þat ben recounsiled. [2373] Þe book saiþ. that wight retorneth soone in to þe

[6-text p 216] grace of his olde enemyes [2374] ¶ And ysope saith. Ne truste not to hem wiþ which þou hast had som tyme werre or enmyte. ne telle not hem þy counseil [2375] And Seneca telleþ þe cause why it may not be saith he þat wher as a greet fuyr haþ longe tyme endured; þat þere ne leueþ som vapour of hete [2376] ¶ And þerfore saith Salomon ¶ In þin olde enemy truste þou neuere [2377] ¶ For sicurly þough þin enemy be reconsiled and make þe cheer of humilite and lowteþ to þe his heed; ne trist him neuer [2378] For certes he makiþ þilke feyned humilite more for his profyt þan for eny loue of þi persone by cause he dem|yth to haue victorie ouer þi persone ¶ By such feyned countynaunce the whiche victorie he might nouȝt haue by stryf and werre [2379] ¶ And Petir Alfons saiþ ¶ Make no felaschipe with þine olde enemyes. for if þou do hem bounte; þey wil peruerten it in to wikkednes [2380] & eek þou most eschiewe þe counseilynge of hem þat ben þy seruauntȝ and beren þe gret reuerence. For par auenture þai say it more for drede þan for loue [2381] And þerfore saith a philosophre in þis wise ¶ Ther is no wight parfytly trewe to him þat he to sore dredeth [2382] ¶ And Tullius saith ¶ þer is no wight so gret of eny emperour þat onge may endure but if he haue more loue of þe peple than drede [2383] ¶ Thow also eschiewe þe counseil of folk þat ben dronkelewe For þay ne can no counsel hyde [2384] ¶ For Salomon saith ¶ Ther regneþ no priuete þer as is dronkenesse [2385] ¶ ȝe schul also haue in suspect þe counseil of such folk as counseileþ ȝou oon þing priuely and counseile ȝow þe contrarie openly [2386] ¶ For Cassiodorie saith it is a maner sleighte to hindre whan he schewiþ to doon oon þing openly and werkith priuely þe contrarie. [2387] ¶ þou schalt also [folio 212b] eschiewe þe counseil of wikked folkes ¶ For þe book saith. ¶ The counselyng of wikked folk is alway ful

[6-text p 217] of fraude [2388] ¶ and Dauid saith ¶ Blisful is þat man þat haþ not folwed þe counseilyng of wikked men or schrewes [2389] ¶ Thow schalt also eschiewe þe counseilynge of ȝonge folkes for here counseil is nought/ rype

[2390] ¶ Now sire syn I haue schewed ȝou of what folk ȝe schul take ȝoure counsail and of whiche folk ȝe schullen folwe þe counseil [2391] ¶ Now schal I teche ȝow how ȝe schul examyne ȝoure counseil after þe doctrine of tullius [2392] ¶ In the examynyng of ȝoure counseiloures; ȝe schul considre many þinges [2393] ¶ Al-thir first ȝe schul considre þat in þilke þing that þou proposist and vp what þing þou wilt haue counseil that verray trouthe be sayd and considerid. þis is to sayn. telle trewely þy tale [2394] ¶ For he þat saith fals may not wel be counseled in þat cas of which he lyeth [2395] ¶ And after þis þou schalt considere the þinges þat accorden to þat purpos. for to do by þy counseil if resoun accorde þer to [2396] ¶ and eek if þy might may accorde þer to. and if þe more part and þe better part of þy counseilours accorde þer-to or noon [2397] ¶ Thanne schalt þou considere what þing schal folwe of þat counsailynge. as hate. pees. werre. grace. profyt/. or damage and many oþer þinges [2398] ¶ And in alle þese þinges þou schalt chese þe beste and weyue alle oþer þinges [2399] Þanne schalt þou considre of what roote engendred is þy matier of þy counseil and what fruyt may conserue and engendre / [2400] ¶ Thow schalt also consider alle þese causes from whens þai ben spronge. / [2401] And whan ȝe haue examined ȝoure counseil as I haue said and which party is þe better and more profitable and han approued by many wise folkes and olde; [2402] Than schalt thow considre if þou maist performe it and make of it a good ende [2403] ¶ For resoun wol nought þat any man schuld bygynne a thing; but if he mighte parforme it and make þer-of a good ende. [2404] ne no wight

[6-text p 218] schulde take vpon him so heuy a charge þat he mighte not bere it [2405] ¶ For þe prouerbe seiþ ¶ He þat moche embrasith destroyeþ litel [2406] ¶ And Catoun seiþ Assay to do such þing as þou hast power to doon. lest þat þy charge oppresse þe so sore. þat þe bihoue to wayue þing þat þou hast bygonne [2407] ¶ And if so be þat þou be in doubte [folio 213a] wher þou maist parforme a þing or noon chese rather to suffre þan bygynne [2408] ¶ And petre alfons saith If þou hast might to doon a þing of which þou most repente it is better nay þan ȝee / [2409] þis is to sayn þat þe is better holde þy tongue stille þan to speke [2410] ¶ Than may ȝe vnderstonde by strenger resouns. þat if þou hast power to parforme a werk of which þou schalt repente; þanne is it better þat þou suffre þan bigynne. [2411] wel seyn þay þat defenden euery wight to assaie þing of which he is in doute wheþir he may parforme it or noon [2412] ¶ And after whan ȝe han examyned ȝoure counseil as I haue sayd biforn and knowen wel ȝe may par|forme ȝoure emprise; conferme it þanne sadly til it be at an ende

[2413] ¶ Now is it tyme and resoun þat I schewe ȝow whanne and wherfore þat ȝe may chaunge ȝoure coun|seil wiþouten reproef / [2414] ¶ Sothly a man may chaunge his purpos and his counseil if þe cause cesseþ or whan a newe cause bytydeþ [2415] ¶ For þe lawe seith ¶ vpon þinges þat newely bitydeþ bihoueþ newe counseil. [2416] and Seneca seith ¶ If þy counseil be comen to þe eeres of þin enemy; chaunge þy counsail [2417] ¶ Thow maist/ also chaunge þy counseil if so be þat þou fynde þat by errour or by oþer processe harm or damage may bytyde [2418] ¶ Also þou chaunge þy counseil if þay be dishonest or elles comuneth of dishoneste. [2419] For þe lawes sayn ¶ That alle þe hestes þat ben dishoneste ben of no valieu

[6-text p 219] [2420] and eek if it so be þat it be impossible. or may not goodly be parformed or kept

[2421] and take þis for a general reule ¶ That euery counseil þat is affermed or strengþed so strongly þat it may not be chaunged for no condicioun þat may bitide ¶ I say þat þilke counseil is wikked

[2422] ¶ þis melibeus whan he had herd þe doctrine of his wyf dame prudens answerde in þis wise [2423] ¶ Dame quod he ȝit as in to þis tyme ȝe han wel and couenably taught me as in general how I schal gouerne me in chesynge and in wiþholdynge of my counseiloures [2424] ¶ But now wold I fayn ȝe wolde condescende as in especial [2425] & telleþ me what semeþ or how likeþ ȝow by oure counseiloures þat we han chosen in oure present neede

[2426] ¶ My lord quod sche I byseke ȝow in al hum|blesce þat ȝe wil not wilfully repplye aȝeinst my resouns ne distempre ȝoure herte þough I say or speke þing þat ȝow displesith [2427] ¶ For god woot þat as in myn entent I speke it for ȝoure beste. for ȝoure honour. and for ȝour [folio 213b] profyt eek [2428] ¶ And soþly I hope þat ȝour be|nignite wol take it in to pacience [2429] ¶ For trusteþ me wel quod sche þat ȝoure counseil as in þis caas ne schulde not as for to speke propurly be called a counseilyng; but / a mocioun or a moeuynge of foly [2430] in which counseil ȝe han erred in many a sondry wise

[2431] ¶ First and forward ȝe han erred in þe gader|yng of ȝoure counseilours [2432] For ȝe schulde first han cleped a fewe folkes . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] if it hadde be neede [2433] ¶ But certes ȝe han sodeinly cleped to ȝour coun|seil a gret multitude of poeple ful cha[r]geous and ful anoyous for to hiere [2434] ¶ Also ȝe han erred for þer as ȝe schulde oonly haue clepid to ȝoure counseil ȝoure trewe frendes olde and wise; [2435] ȝe haue I-cleped straunge folk ȝonge folk. false flatereres and enemyes

[6-text p 220] reconsiled and folk þat doon ȝow reuerence wiþoute loue [2436] ¶ Eke also ȝe han erred; For ȝe han brouȝt with ȝow to ȝoure counseil. Ire. Coueitise and Hastynes. [2437] þe whiche þre þinges ben contra|rious to euery counsail honest and profitable [2438] ¶ The whiche þre þinges ȝe haue nought annentissched or destroyed neyþer in ȝoure self ne in ȝoure counseiloures as ȝe oughte [2439] ¶ Also ȝe haue erred. For ȝe haue schewed to ȝoure counseilours ȝoure talent and ȝoure affeccioun to make werre and for to doon vengeaunce anoon [2440] ¶ þay han espyed by ȝoure wordes to what þinge ȝe ben enclined [2441] and þerfore haue þay counseiled ȝow rather to ȝoure talent þan to ȝoure profyt [2442] ¶ Ȝe haue erred also; For it semeþ þat ȝow sufficeþ to haue been coun|seiled by þese counseilours only and wiþ litel auys [2443] wher-as in so gret and so heigh a neede it hadde be necessarious mo counseilours and more deliberacioun to parforme ȝoure emprise [2444] ȝe have erred also ¶ For . . . . .[2445] . . . . . [no gap] ȝe haue maked no diuisioun bytwixe ȝoure counsailours þis is to seyn bitwix ȝoure frendes and ȝoure feyned counseilours. [2446] ne ȝe ne haue nought I-knowe þe wille of ȝoure frendes olde and wise. [2447] But ȝe haue cast alle here wordes in an hochepoche / and enclyned ȝoure herte to þe more part and to þe gretter nombre and þere be ȝe condescendid [2448] ¶ And syn ȝe wot wel men schal alway fynde a gretter nombre of fooles þan of wyse men; [2449] and þerfore þe counsailes þat ben at congregaciouns and mul|titudes of folk. þer as men taken more reward to þe [folio 214a] nombre þan to þe sapience of persones. [2450] ȝe se wel þat in suche counseilynges fooles haue maystrie [2451] ¶ Melibeus answerde agayn and sayde ¶ I graunte wel þat I haue erred; [2452] But þere as þou hast told me toforn þat he is nought to blame þat chaungeþ his coun|seilours

[6-text p 221] in certeyn caas and for certeyn iuste causes [2453] ¶ I am al redy to chaunge my counseilours right as þou wilt deuyse [2454] ¶ The prouerbe saith þat for to do synne is mannysch. But/ certes for to perseuere longe in synne is werk of þe deuyl

[2455] ¶ To þis sentence anoon answerde dame pru|dens and saide [2456] ¶ Examineth quod sche ȝoure coun|sail and let vs se which of hem haþ spoke most resonably and taught ȝou best counsail [2457] And for as moche as þe examinacioun is necessarie; let vs byginne at þe Surgiens and at þe phisiciens þat first speken in þis matiere [2458] ¶ I say ȝou þat þe surgiens and þe physiciens han sayd ȝow in ȝoure counseil discretly as hem ought [2459] and in here speche sayden ful wisely þat to þe office of hem appendith to doon to euery wight honour and profyt. and no wiȝt to annoye [2460] and after here craft to do gret diligence vn to þe cure of hem which þat þay haue in here gouern|aunce [2461] And sire right as þay answerde wisely and discretly; [2462] Right so rede I þat þay be heihly and soueraignly guerdoned for here noble speche / [2463] and eek for þey schullen do þe more ententyf besynes in þe curyng of ȝoure douȝter dere [2464] ¶ For al be it so þat þai be ȝoure frendes; þerfore schul ȝe nought suffre þat þay schul serue ȝow for nouȝt / [2465] But ȝe oughte þe raþere to guerdoune hem and schewe hem ȝoure largesse [2466] ¶ & as touchynge þe proposiciouns whiche þe phisiciens han schewed ȝou in þis caas þis is to sayn [2467] þat in maladyes oon contrarie is warisshed by anoþer contrarie. [2468] I wolde fayn knowe þilke text and how þay vnderstonde it and what is ȝoure entente [2469] ¶ Certes quod Melibeus vnderstonden it is in þis wise [2470] þat right as þay han do me a contrarie; right so schold I do hem anoþer [2471] ¶ For right as þai han venged hem on me and doon me wrong; Right so schal I venge me vp on hem

[6-text p 222] and doon hem wrong [2472] and þanne haue I cured oon contrarie by anoþer

[2473] ¶ lo lo quod Dame prudence how lightly is euery man enclyned to his oughne plesaunce and to his oughne desir [2474] ¶ Certes quod sche þe wordes of þe phisiciens [folio 214b] ne schulde nouȝt haue ben vnderstonde sone in þat wise [2475] ¶ For certes wikkednesse is no contrarie to wickednesse. ne vengauns to vengeaunce. ne wrong to wrong; but þai ben semblable [2476] And þer|fore on vengeaunce is nouȝt warisshed by anoþer venge|aunce. ne oon wrong by anoþer wrong. [2477] but euerych of hem encreseth and engreggith oþer [2478] ¶ But certes þe wordes of þe phisiciens schul ben vnderstonde in þis wise. [2479] For good and wikked|nesse ben tuo contraries. and pees and werre. venge|aunce & sufferaunce. Discord and accord and many oþer þinges [2480] ¶ but certes wikkednes schal be warrisshed by goodnesse. Discord by accord. werre by pees and so forth of oþer þinges [2481] ¶ And her-to accordith seint paul þe apostil in many places [2482] ¶ He saith . ne ȝeldith nouȝt harm for harm. ne wikked speche for wikked speche [2483] ¶ But do wel to him þat doþ þe harm and blesse him that doþ þe harm [2484] and in many oþer places he amonesteth pees and accord [2485] ¶ But now wil I speke to ȝow of þe coun|seil which was ȝiue to ȝow by þe men of lawe & þe wise folkes [2486] þat sayde alle by oon accord as ȝe haue herd byfore [2487] That ouer alle þinges ȝe schal do ȝoure diligence to kepe ȝoure persone and to warmstore ȝoure hous. [2488] and seyden also þat in þis ȝow aughte for to wirche ful auysily and with gret deliberacioun. [2489] ¶ And sire as to þe firste poynt þat touched to þe kepinge of ȝoure persone; [2490] ȝe schul vnderstonde. þat he þat haþ werre; schal euermore deuoutly and mekely prayen biforn alle þinges [2491] þat Ihū crist wil of his mercy

[6-text p 223] haue him in his proteccioun and ben his souerayn helpyng at his neede / [2492] ¶ For certes in þis world þer nys no wight þat may be counseiled or kept sufficaun[t]ly wiþ|oute þe kepinge of oure lord ihū crist [2493] ¶ To þis sentence accordeþ þe prophete Dauid þat seith [2494] ¶ If god ne kepe not þe citee. in ydel wakith he þat kepith hit [2495] ¶ Now sire þanne schul ȝe committe þe keping of ȝoure persone to ȝoure trewe frendes þat ben approued and y-knowe [2496] and of hem schul ȝe axen help ȝoure persone to kepe ¶ For Catoun saith ¶ If þou haue neede of help; axe it of þy freendes. [2497] For þer is noon so good a phisicien at neede; as is a trewe frend. [2498] ¶ And after þis; þan schal ȝe kepe ȝou fro alle straunge folkes and fro lyeres and haue alway in suspect/ here compaignye [2499] ¶ For Pieres alfons saith ¶ Ne take no compaignie by the [folio 215a] way of a straunge man. but/ so be þat þou knowe him of a lenger tyme [2500] And if so be he falle in to þy compaignye par auenture wiþouten þin assent; [2501] enquere þanne as subtilly as þou maist of his conuersacioun and of his lyf bifore and feyne þy way and say þat þou wilt go þider as þou wolt nought goon [2502] ¶ And if he bere a spere ¶ hold þe on the right syde ¶ And if he bere a swerd; holde þe on þe lyft syde. [2503] and so after þis. þanne schul ȝe kepe ȝou wisely from al such peple as I haue sayd bifore / and hem and here counseil eschiewe [2504] ¶ And after þis. þanne schul ȝe kepe ȝow in such manere [2505] þat for eny presumpcioun of ȝoure strengþe þat ȝe despise not þe might of ȝoure aduersarie so lite þat ȝe lete þe kepinge of ȝoure persone for ȝoure presumpcioun. [2506] For eny wis man dredeþ his enemy [2507] ¶ And Salomon saith ¶ weleful is he þat of alle haþ drede. [2508] For certes he þat þurgh hardynes of his herte and þurgh þe hardinesse of himself. haþ to gret presumpcioun; him schal euyl bitide [2509] ¶ þanne

[6-text p 224] schal ȝe euermore counterwayte enbusshementȝ and alle espiaille [2510] ¶ For Senec saith þat þe wise man þat drediþ harmes / eschiewith harmes. [2511] ne he ne falliþ in to noone perils þat perils eschieweþ [2512] ¶ And al be it so þat þe seme þat þou art in sikur place; ȝit schaltow alway do þy diligence in kepyng of þy persone [2513] ¶ This is to say ¶ Be not necgligent to kepe þy persone nought oonly for þy gretteste enemyes; but fro þy lest enemyes [2514] ¶ Senec saith ¶ A man þat is wel auysed; he drediþ his lest enemy [2515] ¶ Ovide seiþ þat þe litel wesil wol sle þe grete bole and þe wilde hert. [2516] ¶ And þe book saiþ. a litel þorn wol prikke a þing ful sore. ¶ And an hound wol holde þe wilde boore [2517] ¶ But naþeles I say not þat ȝe schul be so moche a coward þat ȝe doute where is no neede or drede [2518] ¶ þe book saiþ þat som folk haue gret lust to disceyue ¶ but ȝit þay dreden hem to be de|ceyued [2519] ¶ Ȝet schal ȝe drede to ben empoisoned ¶ And kepe þe fro þe companye of scorners [2520] For þe book saith with scorners make no compaignye but flee hem and here wordes as venym

[2521] ¶ Now as to þe secounde poynt where as ȝoure wise counseilours warnede ȝow to warmstore ȝoure hous with gret diligence; [2522] I wolde fayn wite [folio 215b] how þat ȝe vnderstoode þilke wordes what is ȝoure sentence

[2523] ¶ Melibeus answerde and saide ¶ Certes I vnder|stonde it in þis wise þat I schal warmstore myn hous with toures suche as han castiles and oþer maner edifices and armure and artilries [2524] by suche þinges I may my persone & myn hous so kepen and edifien and defenden þat myn enemyes schul be in drede myn hous to approche

[2525] ¶ To þis sentence answerde dame prudence ¶ warmstorynge quod sche of heihe toures and grete edifices . . . . .[2526] . . . . . [no gap] wiþ grete

[6-text p 225] costages and gret trauaile and whan þat þay ben accomplised ȝit beþ þay nouȝt worth a straw but if þey be defended by trewe frendes þat beþ olde and wise [2527] ¶ And vnderstondeþ þat þe grettest strength or garnisoun that þe riche man may haue as wel to kepe his persone as his goodes is [2528] þat he be biloued wiþ his subgites and wiþ his neighebours [2529] ¶ For þus saith tullius ¶ That þer is a maner garnisoun þat no man may venquisshe ne discomfite and þat is [2530] a lord to be biloued with his citeȝeins and of his peple

[2531] ¶ Now þanne as to ȝoure þridde poynt where as ȝoure olde and wyse counseillours sayde. ȝe oughte nought sodeinly ne hastily procede in þis neede. [2532] but þat ȝe oughte purueyen ȝow and apparaile ȝow in þis caas wiþ greet diligence and gret deliberacioun; [2533] trewely I trowe þat þay sayden soþ and right wisely [2534] ¶ For Tullius saith ¶ In euery nede er þou bigynne it/ apparaile þe wiþ gret diligence [2535] ¶ Thanne say I þat in vengeance takinge in werre in bataile and in warmstoringe of þin hous [2536] er þou bygynne I rede þat þou apparaille þe þerto and do it with gret deliberacioun. [2537] For tullius saith ¶ That long apparaylyng byfore þe bataille; makeþ schort victorie [2538] ¶ And Cassidorus saiþ ¶ The garnisoun is strenger whan it is long tyme auysed

[2539] ¶ But now let vs speke of þe counseil þat was accorded by ȝoure neighebours suche as doon ȝou reuerence wiþoute loue. [2540] ¶ Ȝoure olde enemyes recoun|siled [2541] þat counseile ȝow cer|teyn þinges pryuely and openly counseile ȝow þe contrarie [2542] ¶ Þe ȝonge also þat counsaile ȝow to make werre and venge ȝow anoon [2543] ¶ And certes sire as I haue sayd byforn ȝe haue gretly erred to haue cle [folio 216a] ped such maner folk to ȝoure counseil [2544] whiche be now repreued by þe resouns byfore sayd [2545] ¶ But naþeles let vs now descende to

[6-text p 226] þe purpose special ¶ Ȝe schul first procede after þe doctrine of Tullius [2546] ¶ Certes þe trouþe of þis or þis counseil nedeþ nought diligently enquere [2547] For it is wel wist whiche it ben þat doon to ȝow þis trespas and vilonye [2548] & how many trespasoures and in what maner þay han to ȝow doon al þis wrong and al þis vilonye [2549] ¶ And after þat schul ȝe examyne þe secounde condicioun which Tullius addiþ þer to in þis matier [2550] ¶ Tullius put a þing which þat he clepeth couetynge. þis is to sayn [2551] who ben þay and whiche ben þay and how many þat consentid to þis matiere and to þy counsail in þy wilfulnesse to do hasty vengeaunces [2552] & let vs considere also who ben þo and how many ben þo . . . . . [no gap] þat ben counseilours to ȝoure aduersaries. [2553] and certes as to þe first poynt it is wel knowen whiche folk ben þay þat consentid to ȝoure first/ wilful|nes. [2554] For trewly alle þo þat counsailled ȝow to make sodeyn werre beþ nouȝt ȝoure frendes [2555] ¶ let vs considre whiche ben þo þat ȝe holde so gretly ȝoure frendes as to ȝoure persone [2556] ¶ For al be it so þat ȝe be mighty and riche; certes ȝe been alloone. [2557] for certes ȝe haue no childe but a douȝter. [2558] ne ȝe haue no breþeren ne cosins germayns ne noon oþer neigh kynrede / [2559] wherfore þat ȝoure enemyes for drede schulden stynte for to plede wiþ ȝou and stryue ȝoure persone [2560] ¶ Ȝe knowe also þat ȝoure richesses mooten in diuers parties be departed. [2561] and whan euery wight haþ his part; þay wol take but litel reward to venge þy deth [2562] ¶ But þyne enemyes ben þre and haue many children breþeren. cosynes and oþere neigh kynrede. [2563] and þough it so were ȝe hadde slayn of hem tuo or thre; ȝet dwellen þere ynowe to wreke here deth and sle þi persone [2564] ¶ And þough so were þat ȝoure kynrede were more sekir and stedefast þan

[6-text p 227] þe kynrede of ȝoure aduersaries; [2565] ȝit naþeles ȝoure kynrede nis but litel kinrede and litel sib to ȝow [2566] and þe kyn of ȝoure enemyes ben neigh sibbe to hem. and certes as in þat here condicioun is bet þan ȝoures [2567] ¶ Þanne let vs considere also if þe counseilynge of hem þat counseiled ȝow to take sodein vengeance wheþir it accorde to resoun [2568] & certes [folio 216b] ȝe knowe wel nay [2569] ¶ For as by right and resoun þer may no man take vengeaunce vpon no wight but þe Iugge þat/ haþ iurediccioun of it [2570] whan it is y-graunted him to take þilke vengeaunce hastily or at|temperelly as þe lawe requireth. [2571] and ȝit more|ouer of þilke word þat Tullius clepith consentynge [2572] þou schalt considre if þy might and þy power may consente and suffice to þy wilfulnes and to þy counseilours. [2573] and certes þou maist/ wel say þat nay / [2574] For sicurly as for to speke properly we may doo no þing but oonly oon þing/ which we may do rightfully [2575] ¶ And certes rightfully may ȝe take no vengeance as of ȝoure owne auctorite [2576] ¶ Than may ȝe se þat ȝoure power consentith not ne accordith not wiþ ȝoure wilfulnesse [2577] ¶ let vs now examyne þe þridde poynt þat Tullius clepeþ consequente. [2578] þou schalt vnderstonde þat þe vengeance þat þou purposiddest for to take is conse|quent. [2579] and þer of folweþ anoþer vengeaunce. peril and werre and oþer damages wiþoute nombre of whiche we be not war as at þis tyme [2580] ¶ And as touching þe fourþe poynt that tullius clepeþ en|gendrynge; [2581] þou schalt considre þat þis wrong which þat is doon to þe is engendred of þe hate of þin enemyes [2582] and of þe vengeaunce takinge vp þat wolde engendre anoþer vengeaunce & moche sorwe and wastyng of riches as I sayde

[2583] ¶ Now sire as to þe poynt þat Tullius clepith causes whiche þat þe laste poynt [2584] þou

[6-text p 228] schalt vnderstonde þat þe wrong þat þou hast receyued haþ certeyn causes [2585] whiche þat clerkes calle Orience and Officience. and causa longinqua. and causa propinqua. þis is to say. þe fer cause. and þe neigh cause. [2586] for þe fer cause is almighty god þat is cause of alle þinges. [2587] þe nere cause is þe þre enemyes. [2588] þe cause accidental was hate. [2589] þe causes materiales been þe fyue woundes of þy doughter. [2590] the cause formal is þe maner of here werkyng þat brought in laddres and clombe in at þin wyndowes. [2591] þe cause final was for to sle þy doughter hit letted nouȝt in as moche as was in hem [2592] ¶ But for to speke of þe fer cause as to what ende þay schal come or what schal finally betyde of hem in þis cause. can I not deme but by comittyng and by supposyng. [2593] For we schul suppose þat þay schul come to a wikked ende [2594] by cause þat þe book of degrees saith ¶ Seelden or wiþ gret peyne ben causes I-brought to [folio 217a] a good ende. whan þay ben euyl bygonne

[2595] Now sire if men wolde axe me why þat ȝe suffrede men to do ȝow þis wrong and vilonye; Certes I can not wel answere as for no soþfastnes [2596] For þe apostil saith. þat þe sciences and þe Iuggements of oure lord god almyghty ben ful deepe [2597] ¶ Ther may no man comprehende ne serchen hem sufficiauntly [2598] ¶ Natheles by certeyn presumpciouns and coniectinges I holde and bilieue [2599] þat god which þat is ful of iustice and of rightwisnesse haþ suffred þis to betyde by iuste cause resonable

[2600] ¶ Thy name Melibe is to say a man þat drynkeþ hony. [2601] þou hast y-dronke so moche hony of sweete temperel richesses and delices and hon|ours of þis world [2602] þat þou art dronke and hast forȝete Ihū crist þy creatour. [2603] þou hast not doon him such honour and reuerence as þe oughte to doone. [2604] ne þou hast nouȝt wel taken keep to

[6-text p 229] þe wordes of Ovide þat saith [2605] ¶ vnder þe hony of þy goodes of þy body is hid þe venym þat sleeþ þi soule [2606] ¶ And Salomon saith ¶ If þou haue fouunde hony. ete of it þat sufficeþ. [2607] For if þou ete of it out of mesure; þou schalt spewe and be nedy and pouere. [2608] and perauenture crist haþ þe in despit. and hath torned away fro þe his face and his eeres of misericorde [2609] ¶ And also he haþ suffred þat þou hast ben punysshed in þe maner þat þou hast I-trespassed [2610] ¶ Thou hast doon synne aȝeinst oure lord crist. [2611] for certes þi þre enemyes of man|kinde þat is to say þy flessch þe feend and þe world. [2612] þou hast y-suffred hem to entre in to þin herte wilfully by þe wyndow of þy body [2613] and hast nouȝt defended þiself sufficiently agayns here asceutis and here temptaciouns So þat þay haue woundid þi soule in fyue places [2614] This is to sayn þe dedly synnes þat ben entred in to þin herte by þy fyue wyndowes [2615] ¶ And in þe same maner oure lord crist hath wolde and suffred þat þy þre enemyes ben entred in to þin hous by þo wyndowes [2616] and haue I-woundid þi doughter in þe forsayde maner

[2617] ¶ Certes quod Melibeus I se wel þat ȝe en|force ȝow moche by wordes to ouercome me. in such manere þat I schal not venge me on myn enemyes [2618] schewynge me þe perils and þe yueles þat mighten falle of þis vengeaunce [2619] ¶ But who-so wolde considre in alle vegeaunces þe periles and þe yueles þat mighten folwe of vengeaunces takynge. [2620] a man wolde neuer take vengeaunce and þat were harm. [2621] For by venge|aunce takynge be [folio 217b] wikked men destruyed and disseuered fro þe goode men. [2622] and þay þat haue wille to wikked|nes restreignen here wikked purpos whan þay seen þe punysshyng and þe chastisyng of trespasours [2623] . . . . .

[6-text p 230] [2624] . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [2625] ¶ And ȝit say I more þat right so as a sengle persone synneþ in taking of vengeaunce; [2626] Right so þe Iugge synneþ if he doo no vengeaunce on him þat it haþ deserued [2627] ¶ For Senec saith þus ¶ he þat maister is he saith good to reproue schrewes [2628] And as Cassoder saith ¶ A man dredeþ to doon outrage whan he woot and knoweþ þat it displeseþ to þe Iugges and þe soueraynes. [2629] and anoþer saith ¶ The Iugge þat dredeþ to demen right makeþ schrewes // [2630] And seint poul þappostoil saith in his epistil whan he writeþ to þe romayns ¶ The Iugges bere not þe spere wiþoute cause. [2631] but þay beren it to punysshe þe schrewes and mys doers and for to defende wiþ þe goode men. [2632] If ȝe wol take vengeaunce on ȝoure enemyes ȝe schul retourne or haue recours to þe Iugges þat haue iurediccioun vpon hem [2633] and he schal pun[i]ssche hem as þe law axeþ and requireþ

[2634] ¶ A quod melibeus þis vengeaunce likeþ me no þing [2635] I byþenke me now and take heed how fortune haþ norissched me fro my childhode and haþ holpe me to passen many a strayt passage [2636] ¶ Now wol I aske her þat sche schal wiþ goddes help helpe me my schame for to venge

[2637] ¶ Certes quod prudence if ȝe wil wirche by my counseil. ȝe schul not assaye fortune by no maner way [2638] ne schul not lene ne bowe vnto hire after þe word of Senec [2639] ¶ For þinges þat beþ folye and þat beþ in hope of fortune schul neuer come to good ende [2640] ¶ And as þe same Senek saiþ ¶ The more cleer· and þe more schynynge þat fortune is þe more brutil and þe sonner brekeþ sche. [2641] so trusteþ nought in hire For sche is nouȝt stedefast ne stable [2642] ¶ For whan þou wenest or trowest to be most seur of hir

[6-text p 231] help. sche wol fayle þe and deceyue þe. [2643] And wher as ȝe say þat fortune haþ norisshed ȝow fro ȝoure childhode [2644] I say þat in so mochel ȝe schul þe lasse truste in hire and in hire witte [2645] ¶ For Senek saith ¶ what man þat is norissched by fortune; sche makeþ him to gret a fool [2646] ¶ Now siþþe ȝe desire and axe vengeaunce and þe vengeaunce þat is doon . . . . .[2647] . . . . . [no gap] in hope of fortune is peril|ous and vncerteyn [2648] þanne haueþ noon [folio 218a] oþer remedye but for to haue recours vnto þe soueraigne Iugge þat vengith alle vilonies and wronges [2649] and he schal venge ȝow after þat himself witnesseþ where as he saith [2650] ¶ leueþ þe ve[n]geaunce to me and I schal ȝelde it

[2651] ¶ Melibeus answerd. If I ne venge me nouȝt of þe vilonye þat men haue doon vnto me. [2652] I schal sounere warne hem þat han doon to me þat vilonye and alle oþere to doo me anoþer vilonye [2653] For it is writen ¶ Tak no vengeaunce of an old vilonye þou suf|frest þin aduersarie do þe a newe vilonye. [2654] and also for my suffraunce men wolde do me so moche vilonye þat I mighte neither bere it ne sus|teyne it. [2655] and so schulde I be put over lowe [2656] For men say In moche sufferynge schal many þinges falle vnto whiche þou schal nouȝt mowe suffre

[2657] ¶ Certes quod prudence I graunte ȝow wel þat ouer mochil suffraunce is nouȝt good; [2658] but ȝit folwiþ it nought þerof þat euery persone to whom men doon vilonye take of it vengeaunce. [2659] For it apper|tieneþ and longeþ al oonly to þe Iugges. For þay schul venge þe vilonyes and þe iniuries. [2660] and þerfore þe auctoritees þat ȝe haue sayd aboue been oonly vnderstonden in þe Iugges [2661] ¶ For whan þay suffre to mochil þe wronges and þe vilonyes that ben doon

[6-text p 232] wiþoute punysshyng [2662] þay somne not a man oonly to doo newe wronges; but þay comaunde hit. [2663] also þe wise man saith ¶ The Iugge þat correct|eþ not þe synnere comaundith him and byddith him doon anoþer synne [2664] ¶ And þe Iugges and souereignes mighten in here lond so mochil suffren of þe schrewes and mys-doeres [2665] þat þay schulde by such suffraunce by proces of tyme wexen of such power and might þat þay schulde put out þe Iugges and þe souereignes from here places [2666] & atte laste do hem lese here lordschipes

[2667] But lete vs now putte þat ȝe han leue to venge ȝow. [2668] I say ȝe ben nouȝt of might ne power as now to venge ȝou [2669] ¶ For if he wolde make comparisoun as to þe might ¶ Of ȝoure aduersaries ȝe schulde fynde in many þinges þat I haue I-schewed ȝow er þis þat here condicioun is bettre þan ȝoures [2670] And þerfore say I þat it is good as now þat ȝe suffre and be pacient

[2671] ¶ Forþermore ȝe knowe þat after [folio 218b] þe comune sawe it is a woodnesse a man to stryue with a strenger or a more mighty man þan him-seluen is [2672] And for to stryue wiþ a man of euene strengþe þat is to say with as strong a man as he is. it is peril. [2673] and for to stryue with a weykere it is folye [2674] and þerfore schulde a man fle stryuynge as moche as he mighte [2675] ¶ For Salomon seith ¶ It is a gret worschipe a man to kepe him fro noyse and stryf [2676] ¶ And if it so bifalle or happe þat a man of gretter might and strengthe þan þou art do þe greuaunce [2677] stude and busye þe raþer to stille þe same greuaunce þan for to venge þe [2678] ¶ For Senec saith. he putteþ him in a gret peril þat stryueth wiþ a gretter man þan he himseluen is [2679] ¶ And Catoun saith ¶ If a man of heiher estat or degre or more mighty þen þou do þe anoþer grieuaunce; Suffre him. [2680] For he þat haþ oones don þe a grieuaunce

[6-text p 233] may anoþer tyme relieue þe and helpe þe. [2681] Ȝit sette I a caas ȝe haue bothe might and licence to venge ȝow; [2682] I say þer ben ful many þinges þat schulde restreinge ȝow of vengeaunce takynge [2683] and make ȝow to encline to suffre and to haue pacience of þe wronges þat han ben doon to ȝow. [2684] First and forward ȝe wol considre þe defautes þat been in ȝoure owne persone. [2685] for whiche defautes god haþ suffred ȝow to haue þis tribulacioun as I haue sayd ȝow her byfore [2686] ¶ For þe poete saith // we oughten paciently to suffre þe tribu|lacioun þat cometh to vs whan þat we þenken and consideren þat we han deserued to haue hem [2687] ¶ And seint poul saith þat whan a man considereþ wel þe nombre of his defautes and of his synnes: [2688] þe peynes and þe tribulaciouns þat he suffereþ semen þe lasse vnto him [2689] ¶ and in as moche as him þenk|ith his synnes þe more heuy and greuous; [2690] in so moche his peyne is þe lighter and þe more esier vn-to him [2691] ¶ Also ȝe oughten to encline and bowe ȝoure herte to take þe pacience of oure lord ihū crist. as seiþ seint peter in his epistles [2692] ¶ Ihū crist he seiþ haþ suffred for vs and ȝiuen ensample vnto euery man to folwe and sewe him. [2693] For he dede neuer synne ne neuer cam vileyns worde out of his mouþ [2694] whan men cursed him; he cursed hem not ¶ And whan men beete him; he manased hem not. [2695] ¶ Also þe grete pacience which þat seintes þat been in paradys [folio 219a] han had in tribulaciouns þat þay haue had and suffred withoute desert/ or gult [2696] oughte moche stire ȝow to pacience [2697] ¶ Forþer|more ȝe schul enforce ȝow to haue pacience [2698] consideringe þat þe tribulaciouns of þis world but litel while enduren & soone passed ben and goon [2699] ¶ And þe ioye þat a man secheþ to haue by pacience in tribulaciouns is perdurable after þat þe

[6-text p 234] apostil seiþ in his epistil [2700] ¶ The ioye of god he saiþ is perdurable þat is to say euer-more lastynge [2701] ¶ Also troweth and bilieueþ stedefastly þat he is not wel norisched and taught þat can nought haue pacience or wil nouȝt receyue pacience [2702] ¶ For Salomon saith þat þe doctrine and þe witte of a man is I-knowe by pacience [2703 ¶ And in anoþer place he seiþ ¶ he þat hath pacience; gouerneþ him by gret prudence [2704] ¶ And þe same salamon seiþ. þat þe wraþful and þe angry man makeþ noyses. and þe pacient man attempereth and stilleþ him. [2705] he seiþ also ¶ It is more worth to be pacient þan for to be right strong. [2706] And And he þat may haue his lordschipe of his oughne herte; is more worþ and more to preise þan he þat by his force & by his strengthe takeþ grete citees [2707] ¶ And þerfore saith seint Iame in his epistil þat pacience is a gret vertu of perfeccioun.

[2708] . . . . . [no gap] [2709] but euery man may not haue þe perfeccioun þat ȝe seekyn [2710] ne I am not of þe nombre of right par|fyte men; [2711] For myn herte may neuer be in pees vnto þe tyme it be venged [2712] ¶ And al be it/ so that it was a gret peril to myne enemyes to don me a vilonye in takinge vengeaunce vpon me; [2713] ȝit tooken þay noon heede of þe peril but filden here wikked desir and her corrage. [2714] and þerfore me þenkith men oughten nought repreue me þough I putte me in a litel peril for to venge me [2715] ¶ And þough I do a gret excesse þat is to say þat I venge oon outrage by anoþer

[2716] ¶ A quod dame prudence ȝe say ȝoure wille and as ȝow likith. [2717] but in noon caas in þe world a man ne schulde nouȝt doon outrage ne excesse for to venge him. [2718] ¶ For Cassidore saiþ. as euel doþ he þat auengith him by outrage as he þat doth þe

[6-text p 235] outrage / [2719] and þerfore ȝe schul venge ȝow after þe ordre of right þat is to sayn by þe lawe and nouȝt by excesse ne by outrage [2720] ¶ And also if ȝe wil venge ȝow of þe outrage of ȝoure aduersaries in oþer maner þan right comaundeþ; ȝe synnen [2721] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Senec / that [folio 219b] a man schal neuer venge schrewednes by schrewednes. [2722] ¶ And if ȝe say þat axeþ a man to defende violence by vyolence. and fightyng by fightynge [2723] ¶ Certes ȝe say soþ whan þe defence is doon anoon wiþouten interualle or wiþouten taryinge or dilay [2724] for to defenden him and nought for to venge him [2725] ¶ And it bihoueþ a man putte such attemperance in his defence; [2726] þat men haue no cause ne matiere to repreuen him that defendith him of excesse and outrage . . . . . [no gap] [2727] ¶ Parde ȝe knowe wel þat ȝe make no defence as now for to defende ȝow but for to venge ȝow [2728] and so semeþ it / þat ȝe haue no wille to do ȝoure wille attemperelly [2729] & þerfore me þenkiþ þat pacience is good ¶ For Salamon saith þat he þat is not pacient schal haue gret harm.

[2730] ¶ Certes quod melibeus I graunte ȝou wel þat whan a man is inpacient and wroth. . . . . [no gap] [2731] for þe lawe saith þat he is coupable þat entremettith him or mellith him with such þing as aperteyneþ not vnto him [2732] ¶ Dan Salamon saiþ. he þat entremetteþ him of þe noyse or stryf of anoþer man. is lik him þat takith þe hound by þe eeres. [2733] For right as he þat takiþ þe strong hound by þe eeres is oþer while biten with þe hound; [2734] riȝt in þe same wise it is resoun þat he haue harm þat by his impacience melleþ him of þe noise of anoþer man where it aperteyneþ not to him [2735] ¶ But/ ȝe schul knowe wel þat þis dede þat

[6-text p 236] is to sayn myn disease and my grief toucheþ me right neigh. [2736] and þerfore þough I be wroþ; it is no meruayle. [2737] and sauynge ȝour grace I can not see þat it mighte gretly harme me þough I toke vengeaunce. [2738] For I am richer and more mighty þan myne enemyes been / [2739] And wel knowe ȝe þat by money and by hauynge of grete posses|siouns ben alle þe þinges of þis world gouernede [2740] ¶ And Salamon saith þat alle þinges obeyen to moneye / dispraisynge þe power of his aduersaries

[2741] . . . . . [no gap] ¶ Tho sche spak and sayde in þis wyse [2742] ¶ Certes deere sire I graunte ȝow þat ȝe ben riche and mighty [2743] and þat richesse is good to hem þat wel haue geten it/ and þat wel conne vse it [2744] For right as þe body of a man may not be wiþoute þe soule; no more may a man lyue wiþoute temperel goodes [2745] and by rich|esse may a man gete him greet frendschipe / [2746] [folio 220a] ¶ And þerfore saith Pamphilles. If a neet-hurdes douȝter he saiþ be riche; sche may cheese of a þousand men which she wol take to hir housbonde [2747] ¶ For of a þousand men oon wil not forsake hir ne refuse hire [2748] ¶ And þis pamphilles seiþ also ¶ If þou be right happy þat is to sayn if þou be right riche; þanne schalt þou fynde a gret nombre of felawes and frendes [2749] ¶ And if þy fortune chaunge þat þou wax pore; fare wel frendschipe. [2750] For þou schalt ben aloone wiþouten eny companye but if it be þe compaignye of pore folk // [2751] And ȝit saith þis pamphillus more ouer ¶ That þey þat/ ben þral and bonde of linage schullen ben maad worþy and noble by richesse [2752] ¶ And right so as by richesse þer come many goodes; Right so by pouert comen þer many harmes.[. . . .] [2753] . . . . .

[6-text p 237] . . . . . [no gap] [2754] And þer|fore clepeþ Cassidore pouert. . . . .] ruyne. [2755] þat is to sayn þe moder of ouerþrowyng or fallynge doun [2756] ¶ & þerfore Pieres alphons oon of þe grettest aduersites of þis world is; [2757] whan a free man by kyn or burthe is constreigned by pouert to eten þe almes of his enemyes [2758] ¶ And þe same seiþ Innocent in oon of his bookes ¶ þat sorweful & vnhappy is þe condicioun of a pouere begger. [2759] for if he axe nouȝt his mete; he deyeth for hungir; [2760] and if he axe; he deyeþ for schame. And algates þe necessite constreigneþ hym to axe. [2761] And þerfore saiþ Salamon þat bettre it is to deye þan to haue such pouert [2762] And as þe same Sala|mon saith Bettir is to deye on bitter deth þan for to lyue in such a wyse [2763] ¶ By þese resouns þat I haue sayd vnto ȝow and by many anoþer resoun þat I knowe and couþe say [2764] I graunte ȝow þat richesses ben goode to hem þat gete hem wel. & to hem þat hem wel vsen [2765] ¶ And þerfore wol I schewe ȝow how ȝe schulde bere ȝow in getyng of riches and in what maner ȝe schulde vse hem

[2766] ¶ First ȝe schulde gete hem wiþoute gret desir by good leysir sokyngly and nought ouer hastily [2767] ¶ For a man þat is to desirynge for to gete riches abandoneth him first to þefte and to alle oþere yueles [2768] ¶ And þerfore saiþ Salamon ¶ he þat hastith him to bisyly to waxe riche; schal ben noon Innocent [2769] ¶ He saiþ also þat þe riches þat hastily comeþ to a man; soone & lightly goth and passeth fro a man [2770] ¶ But þat richesse þat [folio 220b] comeþ alway litel and litel waxeþ alway and multiplieþ [2771] ¶ And sire ȝe schal gete richesse by ȝoure witte and by ȝoure trauayle vnto ȝoure profyt [2772] and þat wiþoute wrong or harm doynge to eny oþer persone [2773] ¶ For þe lawe

[6-text p 238] saith þat no man makeþ himself riche þat doþ harm to anoþer wight. [2774] þis is to say. þat nature defendeþ and forbedith by right þat no man make himself riche vnto þe harm of anoþer persone. [2775] Tullius saith. þat no sorwe ne drede of deth. ne thought þat may falle to a man [2776] is so moche aȝeinst nature as a man to encresce his oughne profyt to þe harm of anoþer man [2777] ¶ And þough þe grete men and þe riche men gete richesse more lightly þan þou; [2778] ȝit schalt þou not be ydil ne slowe to þy profyt/ For þou schalt in alle wise flee ydil|nes. [2779] For Salamon saith þat ydelnesse techiþ a man to do many yueles [2780] ¶ And þe same salamon saiþ þat he þat trauaileth and besieþ him to tilye þe lond schal ete þe breed. [2781] But he þat is ydil and casteþ him to no busynesse ne occupacioun schal falle in to pouert and deye for hunger [2782] ¶ And he þat is ydel and slough can neuer fynde him tyme for to do his profyt [2783] ¶ For þer is a versifiour saith; þe ydel man excuseþ him in wynter by cause of þe grete colde. And in somer by enchesoun of þe grete hete. [2784] ¶ For þese causes saith Catoun ¶ waketh and enclineþ ȝow nouȝt ouer moche for to slepe. For ouermoche reste norischeþ and causeþ many vices [2785] ¶ And þerfore saith seint Ierom; Doþ some goode deedes þat þe deuel which þat is oure enemy ne fynde ȝow vnoccupied [2786] ¶ For þe deuel ne takiþ not lightly vnto his werkes suche as he fyndeth occupied in goode werkes

[2787] ¶ þanne þus in getynge of riches ȝe moot flee ydelnesse / [2788] ¶ and afterward ȝe schul vse þe richesses þe whiche ȝe han geten by ȝoure witte and by ȝoure trauaile [2789] in such a maner þat men holde ȝow not skarce / ne to sparynge ne to fool large þat is to say ouer large a spender [2790] For right as men blamen an auerous man by cause of his skarsete and chyncherie [2791] in þe same manere is he to blame

[6-text p 239] þat spendeth ouer largely [2792] ¶ And þerfore saith Catoun ¶ Vse he saith þi richesses þat þou hast y-geten [2793] in such a manere þat þay haue no matier ne cause to calle þe neiþer wrecche ne chynche [2794] ¶ For it is gret schame to a man to [folio 221a] haue a pouer herte and a riche purse [2795] ¶ He saith also þe goodes þat þou hast I-geten vse hem by mesure þat is to say spende hem mesurably [2796] For þay þat folily wasten and spenden þe goodes þat þay haue; [2797] whan þay haue no more propre of here oughne; þay schape hem to take þe goodes of anoþer man [2798] ¶ I say thanne ȝe schul flee auarice [2799] vsynge ȝour richesse in such manere þat . . . [no gap] ȝoure [. . . .] be buried. [2800] but þat ȝe haue þanne in ȝoure might and in ȝoure weldynge. [2801] For þe wise man reproueþ þe auerous man and saith þus in tuo versus [2802] ¶ wher-to and why burieth a man his goodes by his auarice and knowiþ wel þat needes most he deye. [2803] for deth is þe ende of euery man as in this present lif. [2804] And for what cause or enchesoun ioyneþ he him or knetteþ him so fast vnto his goodes [2805] þat alle his wittes mowe nought disseuer him or departe him fro his goodes [2806] & knowiþ wel or oughte knowe wel þat whan he is deed he schal no þing bere with him out of þis world. [2807] ¶ And þerfore seiþ seint/ Austyn þat þe auerous man is likned vnto helle. [2808] þat þe more þat it swolwith þe more it desireþ to swolwe and deuoure [2809] ¶ And as wel as ȝe wolde eschewe to be cleped an auerous man or chinche; [2810] as wel schulde ȝe kepe ȝow and gouerne ȝow in such a wise þat men cleped ȝow nouȝt fool large [2811] ¶ Therfore saiþ Tullius ¶ The goodes he saiþ of þin hous schulde nought ben hidde ne kepte so clos; but þat þay might ben opened by pite and by bonairete [2812] þat is to sayn to ȝiue hem part þat han gret neede. [2813]

[6-text p 240] ne þy goodes schul not be so open to be euery mannes goodes [2814] ¶ Aftirward in getynge of ȝoure richesses and in vsynge hem ȝe schul alway haue þre þinges in ȝoure herte [2815] þat is to say Oure lord god. Conscience. and good name. [2816] First ȝe schul haue god in ȝoure herte [2817] and for no riches ȝe schul in no manere doo no þing which might displese god þat is ȝour creatour and ȝoure maker. [2818] For after þe word of Salamon. It is better to haue litil good wiþ loue of god. [2819] þan to haue mochil good and tresor and lese þe loue of his lord god. [2820] And þe prophete saith. Better is to ben a good man and haue litel good þan tresore [2821] þe to ben holden a schrewe and haue gret riches [2822] ¶ And ȝit say I forþer more þat ȝe schuln alway doon ȝoure businesse to gete ȝow riches. [2823] so þat ȝe gete hem with good conscience [2824] ¶ And þe apostil seith. ther [folio 221b] nys þing in þis world of which we schuln haue so gret ioye as whan oure conscience bereþ vs good witnes [2825] ¶ And þe wise man saith substaunce of a man is ful good whan synne is not in his conscience. [2826] Afterward in getynge of ȝoure richesses and in vsynge of hem [2827] þou most haue gret busynesse & gret diligence þat ȝoure good name be alway kept and conserued [2828] ¶ For Sala|mon saiþ. better it is and more abelith a man for to haue a good name þan for to haue gret riches [2829] and þerfore he saith in anoþer place. Do gret diligence saiþ Salamon in kepyng of þy frend and of þy good name. [2830] For it schal lenger abyde wiþ þe þan eny tresor be it neuer so precious [2831] ¶ And certes he schulde nouȝt be cleped a gentil man þat after god and good conscience alle þinges left ne doþ his diligence and busynesse to kepe his good name. [2832] And Cassidore saith þat it is signe of a good man & a gentil or of a gentil herte whan a man loueþ or desireþ to

[6-text p 241] haue a good name . [2833] and þerfore saith seint augustyn þat þer ben tuo þinges þat ben necessarie and needful [2834] and þat is good conscience and good loos [2835] þat is to sayn. good conscience in þin oughne persone inward. and good loos of þin neghebor outward. [2836] and he þat trusteþ him so moche in his good conscience [2837] þat he displeseþ and settiþ at nought his good name or loos and rekkeþ nought þough he kepe not his good name; nys but a cruel churl

[2838] ¶ Sire now haue I schewed ȝow how ȝe schulde doon in getyng of good and riches and how ȝe schuld vse hem [2839] I see wel þat for þe trust þat ȝe haue in ȝoure riches; ȝe wolde meue werre and bataile [2840] ¶ I counseile ȝow þat ȝe bygynne no werre in trust of ȝoure riches. for thanne suffisen not werres to mayn|tene [2841] ¶ And þerfore saith a philosophre ¶ That man þat desireþ and wol algate haue werre; schal neuer haue sufficeaunce. [2842] For þe richere þat he is; þe gretter dispense most he make if he wol haue wor|schipe or victorie [2843] ¶ And Salamon saith. þe gretter riches þat a man haþ; þe moo despendours he haþ. [2844] And deere sire al be it so þat for ȝoure riches ȝe mowe haue moche folk; [2845] ȝit byhoueþ it not ne it is not good to bygynne werre þer as ȝe may in oþer maner haue pees vnto ȝoure worschipe and profyt. [2846] For þe victorie of batailles þat ben in þis world lith not in gret nombre or multitude of poeple ne in vertu of man; [2847] but it [folio 222a] lith in þe wille & in þe hond of oure lord god almighty [2848] And Iudas machabeus which was goddes knight [2849] whan he schulde fighte aȝeinst his aduersaries þat hadde a gretter nombre & a gretter mul|titude of folk and strengere þan was þe poeple of þis macha|be. [2850] ȝit he reconforted his litel poeple / and sayde ryȝt in þis wise [2851] ¶ As lightly quod he may oure lord god almighty ȝiue victory to fewe folk.

[6-text p 242] . . [no gap] [2852] For þe victorie of batailles comeþ nouȝt by þe grete nombre of poeple; [2853] but it comeþ fro oure lord god of heuen [2854] ¶ And dere sire for as moche as þer is no man certeyn if it be worþi þat god ȝiue him victorie . . . . . [no gap] or nouȝt after þat þat Salamon saiþ. [2855] þerfore euery man schulde gretly drede werres to bygynne . [2856] And by cause þat in batailles falle many meruayles and periles [2857] and happeþ oþer while þat as soone is þe grete man slayn as þe litel man . [2858] and as it is writen in þe secounde book of kynges þe deedes of batayles be auenturous and no thing certeyn [2859] For as lightly is oon hurt with a spere as anoþer. [2860] and þerfore is gret peril in werre . þerfore schulde a man flee and eschewe werre in as moche as a man may goodly [2861] ¶ For Salamon saith . ¶ he þat loueth peril schal falle in peril

[2862] ¶ After þat dame prudens hadde spoke in þis maner; Mellibe answerde and sayde [2863] ¶ I se wel dame þat by ȝoure faire wordes and by ȝoure resouns þat ȝe haue schewed me þat þe werre likeþ ȝow no þing . [2864] but/ I haue not/ ȝit/ herd ȝoure coun|seil how I schal doo in þis neede

[2865] ¶ Certes quod sche I counseile ȝow þat ȝe accorde wiþ ȝoure aduersaries and þat ȝe haue pees with hem [2866] ¶ For seint Iame saiþ in his epistles þat by concord and pees þe smale ryches wexen grete . [2867] and by debaat and discord þe gret richesses fallen doun [2868] ¶ And ȝe knowe wel þat oon of þe moste grettest and soueraign þinges þat is in þis world is vnite & pees [2869] ¶ And þerfore saith oure lord ihū crist to his aposteles in þis wise [2870] ¶ wol happy and blessed be þay þat louen and purchacen pees . for þay ben called children of crist [2871] ¶ A quod Melibe. Now se I wel þat ȝe louen not myn honour ne my worschipe [2872] and knoweþ wel þat myne

[6-text p 243] aduersaries han bygonne þis debate and brige by here outrage [2873] And ȝe see wel þat þay require ne praye me not of pees. ne þay askyn nouȝt to be recounseild; [2874] wol ȝe þanne þat I goo & [folio 222b] meke me vnto hem and crie hem mercy . [2875] for soþe þat were not my worschipe [2876] ¶ For right as men seyn þat ouer gret pryde engendreþ despisyng. so fareþ it by to gret humblete or mekenesse

[2877] ¶ Thanne bygan dame prudence to make sem|blant of wraþþe and sayde. [2878] Certes sire saue ȝoure grace. I loue ȝoure honour and ȝoure profyt as I doo myn owne and euer haue doon [2879] ȝe ne mowe noon oþer seyn [2880] ¶ And ȝit if I hadde sayd ȝe scholde haue purchaced pees and þe reconsiliacioun. I ne hadde not moche mys-take me ne seyd amys; [2881] For þe wise man saith. þe dis|cencioun bigynneþ by anoþer man and þe reconsilynge bygynneþ by þyself [2882] ¶ And þe prophete saith ¶ Flee schame and schrewednesse and doo goodnesse. [2883] Seeke pees and folwe it as moche as in þe is. [2884] Ȝet seiþ he not þat ȝe schul raþer pursewe to ȝoure aduersaries for pees þan þei schul to ȝow. [2885] For I knowe wel þat ȝe be so hard-herted þat ȝe wil doo no þing for me [2886] ¶ And salamon saith . he þat is ouer hard herted atte laste he schal mys happe and my[s]-tyde

[2887] ¶ whan melibe had seyn dame prudence make semblaunce of wraþþe; he sayde in þis wise . [2888] dame I pray ȝow þat ȝe be not displesed of þinges þat I say [2889] For ȝe knoweth wel þat I am angry and wroþ and þat is no wonder. [2890] and þay þat ben wroþ wot not wel what þay doon ne what þay say [2891] þerfore þe prophete saiþ þat troublit eyen haue no cleer sight [2892] ¶ But sayeth and counsaileþ me forþ as ȝow likeþ For I am redy to doo right as ȝe wol desire. [2893] and if ȝe reproue me of my folye; I am þe more holde to loue ȝow and to prayse

[6-text p 244] ȝow [2894] ¶ For Salamon saiþ þat he þat repreueþ him þat doth folie; [2895] he schal fynde gretter grace þan he þat deceyueth him by swete wordes

[2896] ¶ Thanne sayde dame prudence I make no semblant of wraþþe ne of anger but for ȝoure grete profyt [2897] ¶ For Salamon saith . he is more worth þat re|proueþ or chydeþ a fool for his folie schewynge him semblant of wraþþe [2898] þan he þat supporteþ him and prayseþ him in his mysdoyng . and laugheþ at his folie [2899] ¶ And þis same Salomon saiþ afterward þat by þe sorweful visage of a man þat is to sayn by sory and heuy countenaunce of a man [2900] þe fool correcteþ himself and amendeþ

[2901] ¶ þanne sayde Melibeus. I schal not conne an|swere to so many resouns as ȝe putten to me and schewen. [2902] sayeth schortly ȝoure wille and ȝoure [folio 223a] coun|seil. and I am al redy to fulfille and parfourme it

[2903] ¶ Thanne dame prudence discouered al here coun|sail and hire wille vn-to him and sayde [2904] ¶ I counseile ȝow quod sche aboue alle þinges þat ȝe make pees bitwen god and ȝow [2905] and beþ reconsiled vnto him and to his grace. [2906] for I haue sayd ȝow her biforn. God hath suffred ȝow haue þis . . . [no gap] disease for ȝoure synnes [2907] and if ȝe do as I say ȝow god wol sende ȝoure aduersaries vnto ȝow [2908] and make hem falle at ȝoure feet al redy to doo ȝoure wille and ȝoure co|maundement [2909] ¶ For Salamon saith. whan þe con|dicioun of man is plesant and likyng to god; [2910] he chaungeþ þe hertes of þe mannes aduersaries and con|streigneþ hem to biseke him of pees & of grace. [2911] and I pray ȝow let me speke wiþ ȝoure aduersaries in priue place [2912] for þay schul not knowe it by ȝoure wille or ȝoure assent [2913] ¶ And þanne whan I knowe here wille and here assent; I may counseile ȝow þe more seurly

[2914] ¶ Dame quod Melibeus doþ ȝoure wille and

[6-text p 245] ȝoure likyng [2915] For I putte me holly in ȝoure disposicioun and ordinaunce

[2916] ¶ Thanne Dame prudence whan sche seih þe good wille of hir housbond . sche deliuered and took a vis by hir self [2917] þenkynge how sche mighte bringe þis neede vnto a good conclusioun and to a good ende [2918] ¶ And whan sche saugh hire tyme; sche sente for þese aduersaries to come vnto hire in to a priue place [2919] and schewed wysly vnto hem þe grete goddes þat comen of pees [2920] and þe grete harmes and perils þat ben in werre [2921] and sayde to hem in goodly manere how þat hem aughte to haue gret re|pentaunce [2922] of þe iniurie & wrong þat þay hadde doon to Melibe hire lord and vnto hire and hire douȝter.

[2923] and whan þay herden þe goodly wordes of dame prudence [2924] þey were þo surprised and rauyssched and hadden so gret ioye of hire þat wonder was to telle [2925] ¶ A lady quod thay . ȝe haue schewed vnto vs þe blessyng of swetnes after þe sawe of Dauid þe prophete [2926] for þe recounsilyng which we be nouȝt worþy to haue in no manere. [2927] But we oughten require it wiþ gret contricioun and humilite. [2928] ȝe of ȝoure grete goodnes haue presented vnto vs [2929] ¶ Now we se wel þat þe science of Salamon is ful trewe [2930] he saith þat swete wordes multiplien and encrescen frendes and maken schrewes to ben debonaire and meke.

[2931] certes quod þay we putten oure deede and al oure matier and cause al holly in ȝoure good wille [2932] and ben redy to obeye to þe speche [folio 223b] and to þe comaundement of my lord Melibe. [2933] and þerfore deere & benigne lady we pray ȝow and byseke ȝow as meekely as we conne and may [2934] þat it like to ȝowre grete goodnes to fulfille in deede ȝoure good|liche wordes. [2935] For we considere and knowleche wel

[6-text p 246] þat we haue offended and greued my lord Melibe out of resoun and out of mesure [2936] so ferforth þat we ben nouȝt/ of power to make his amendes. [2937] and þerfore we oblie vs and bynde vs and oure frendes for to doo al his wille and his comaundementȝ. [2938] But perauenture he haþ such heuynes & such wraþþe to vs ward by cause of oure offence; [2939] þat he wol enioyne vs such peyne as we mow not bere ne susteyne [2940] ¶ and þerfore noble lady we biseke to ȝoure wommanly pite [2941] to take such auysement in þis neede þat we ne oure frendes ben not disherited and destroyed þurgh oure folye

[2942] ¶ Certes quod dame prudence it is an hard þing and right a perilous [2943] þat a man put him al outrely in þe arbitracioun and Iuggement and þe might and power of his enemyes [2944] ¶ For Salamon saiþ leeueþ and ȝiueth credence to þat þat I schal say. I say quod he ȝeue poeple and gouernours of holy chirche [2945] to þy sone to þi wyf/. and to þy frend ne to þy brother [2946] ne ȝeue þou neuer might ne maystry of þy body whil þou lyuest [2947] ¶ Now sith he defendith a man schulde not ȝiue to his broþer ne to his frend þe might of his body. [2948] by a strenger resoun he defendeþ and forbedith a man to ȝiue his body to his enemye. [2949] but naþe|les I counseile ȝow þat ȝe mystruste nouȝt my lord. [2950] For I wot wel and knowe verraily þat he is debonaire and meke. large curteys [2951] and no þing desirous ne coueytous of good ne richesse. [2952] For þer nys no þing in þis world þat he desireth saue oonly worschipe and honour. [2953] Forþermore I knowe and am right seure þat he wol no þing doo in þis neede wiþoute counsail of me [2954] and I schal so worche in this cause þat by þe grace of oure lord god ȝe schul be recounsiled vnto vs

[2955] ¶ Thanne sayde þay with oon voys worschipful

[6-text p 247] lady we putte vs and oure goodes al fully in ȝoure wille and disposicioun [2956] and ben redy to come what day þat it like ȝow and vnto ȝoure noblesse / to limite vs or assigne vs [2957] for to make oure obligacioun and bond as strong as it likeþ to ȝoure goodnes [2958] þat we mowe fulfille þe wille of ȝow and of my lord Melibe

[2959] ¶ whan dame prudence had [folio 224a] herd þe an|sweres of þise men. sche bad hem go agayn pryuely [2960] and sche retourned to hir lord Melibe and tolde him how sche fond his aduersaries ful repentant [2961] knowlechinge ful lowely here synnes and trespasses and how þay were redy to suffre alle peyne [2962] requiring and praying him of mercy and pite

[2963] ¶ þanne saide Melibeus. he is wel worþy to haue pardoun and forȝeuenes of his synne þat excusith not his synne [2964] but knowlecheþ and repentith him axinge indulgence. [2965] For Senek saith. þere is þe remissioun and forȝeuenesse wher as þe confessioun is [2966] ¶ For confessioun is neighebor to Innocence [2967] And he saith in anoþer place. he þat hath schame of his synne knowlechith it/ . . . . . [no gap] and þerfore I assente and conferme me to haue pees. [2968] but it is good þat we doo it nouȝt wiþoute assent & þe wille of oure frendes

[2969] ¶ Thanne was prudence right glad & iolyf and sayde. [2970] Certes sire quod sche ȝe ben wel and goodly auysed. [2971] for right as by þe counsail and assent and help of ȝoure frendes ȝe haue be stired to venge ȝow & make werre; [2972] Right so wiþ|oute here counseil schul ȝe nought acorde ȝow ne haue pees wiþ ȝoure aduersaries. [2973] For þe lawe saith. Ther nys no þing so good by way of kinde as þing to be vnbounde by him þat it was bounde

[2974] And þanne dame prudence wiþoute delay or taryinge sente anoon messageres for here kyn and for here olde frendes whiche þat were trewe and wyse [2975]

[6-text p 248] and tolde hem by ordre in þe presence of Melibe of þis matier as it is aboue expressed and declared [2976] and praide hem þat þay wolde ȝiue here avys and coun|seil what best were to doon in þis matiere [2977] ¶ And whan melibeus frendes hadde take here auys and deliber|acioun of þe forsayde matier [2978] and hadden examyned it by greet besynes and gret diligence [2979] þey ȝafe him ful counsail to haue pees and reste. [2980] and þat Melibeus schulde wiþ good hert resceyue his aduersaries to forȝiuenes and mercy

[2981] ¶ And whan dame prudence had herd thassent of hir lord Melibeus and counseil of his frendes [2982] accorde wiþ hire wille & hire entencioun; [2983] sche was wonderly glad in herte and sayde [2984] ¶ Ther is a noble prouerbe þat saith ¶ The goodnesse þat þou maist do þis day; [2985] abyde not ne delaye it nouȝt/ vnto to morwe. [2986] and þerfore I counseile ȝow ȝe sende ȝoure messageres [folio 224b] whiche þat ben discrete and wise [2987] vnto ȝoure aduersaries tellynge hem on ȝoure bihalue [2988] þat if þay wol trete of pees and of accord [2989] þat þay schape hem wiþoute dilay or taryinge to come vnto vs. [2990] which þing was parformed in dede [2991] and whan þese trespasours and repentynge folk/ of here folies þat is to sayn þe aduersaries of Melibe [2992] hadden herd what þe messangeres sayden vnto hem; [2993] þay were right glad and iolif and answerden ful mekely and benignely [2994] ȝeldynge graces & þankinges to here lord Melibe and to al his compaignye [2995] and schope hem wiþout delay to go wiþ þe messangeres and obeye hem to þe comaundement of here lord Melibe

[2996] ¶ And right anoon þay token here way to þe court of Melibe / [2997] and token wiþ hem some of here trewe frendes to make faith for hem and for to ben here borwes [2998] ¶ And whan þay were comen to

[6-text p 249] þe presence of Melibeus he seyde hem þise wordes [2999] ¶ It stondith þus quod Melibeus and soþ it is þat ȝe [3000] causeles and wiþouten skile and resoun [3001] haue doon gret iniuries and wronges to me and to my wyf prudence and to my douȝter also. [3002] For ȝe haue entred in to myn hous by violence [3003] and haue doon such outrage þat alle men knowe wel þat ȝe haue deserued þe deth. [3004] And þerfore wil I knowe and wite of ȝow [3005] wheþer ȝe wol putte þe punyschment and þe chastisement and þe vengeaunce/ of þis outrage in þe wille of me and of my wif dame prudence or ȝe wil not

[3006] ¶ Þanne þe wisest of hem þre answerde for hem alle & sayde [3007] ¶ Sire quod he we knowe wel þat we be vnworþy to come to þe court of so gret a lord and so worþy as ȝe be [3008] ¶ For we han so gretly mystake vs and haue offendid and giltid in such a wise ageins ȝoure heighe lordschipe [3009] þat trewely we haue deserued þe deþ [3010] ¶ But ȝit/ for þe greete goodnes and debonairete þat al þe world witnesseþ of ȝoure persone; [3011] we submitten vs to þin excellence and benignite of ȝoure gracious lordschipe [3012] and ben redy to obeye to alle ȝoure comaundementȝ [3013] bisekynge ȝow þat of ȝoure merciable pite ȝe wol considre oure grete repentaunce and lowe submissioun [3014] and graunte vs forȝiuenes of oure outrage trespas and offence. [3015] For wel ȝe knowen þat ȝoure liberal grace and mercy strechen forþere in to good|nesse þan doþ oure outrage gilt and trespas in to wikkednes [3016] al be it þat cursedly & damp|nably we [folio 225a] haue agilt aȝeinst ȝoure highe lordschipe

[3017] ¶ Thanne Melibe took hem vp fro þe ground ful benignely [3018] and resceyued here obligaciouns and here londes by here oþes vpon here plegges & borwes [3019] and assigned hem a certeyn day to retourne vnto his court [3020] for to accepte and receyue þe sentence and

[6-text p 250] iuggement þat Melibe wolde comaunde to be doon on hem by þese causes aforn sayde. [3021] which þing ordeyned; euery man retourned home to his hous

[3022] ¶ And whan þat Dame prudence saugh hire tyme; sche feyned and axed hire lord Melibe [3023] what vengeance he þoughte to take vpon his aduersaries.

[3024] to which Melibeus answerd and saide. Certes quod he I þenke and purpose me fully [3025] to dis|herite hem of al þat euer þay haue and for to putte hem in exil for euermore

[3026] Certes quod dame prudence þis were a cruel sentence and mochil aȝeinst resoun [3027] For ȝe ben riche ynough & haue noon neede of oþer mennes good [3028] and ȝe mighte lightly gete ȝow a coueitous name [3029] which is vicious þing and oughte to ben eschewed of euery man [3030] for after þe sawe of þe word of þapostil; Couetise is roote of alle harmes. [3031] And þerfore it were bettre for ȝow to lese so moche good of ȝoure oughne þan for to take of here good in þis manere. [3032] For bettir it is to lese good wiþ worschipe þan it is to wynne good with vilonye and schame. [3033] and euer a man oughte to do his diligence and his busynesse to gete him a good name. [3034] . . . . . [no gap] [3035] but he schulde enforce him alway to do som þing by which he may renouele his good name. [3036] for it is writen þat þe olde goode loos of a man is soone doon or goon and passed whan it is not newed ne re|noueled. [3037] And as touchinge þat ȝe sayn þat ȝe wol exile ȝoure aduersaries; [3038] þat þinketh me mochil aȝeinst resoun and out of mesure [3039] con|sideriþ þe power þat þay han ȝyue to ȝow vpon here body and on hemself [3040] ¶ And it is writen þat he is worþy to lese his priuelege þat mys vseth þe might and þe power þat is ȝeue to him [3041] ¶ And ȝit I sette þe caas ȝe mighte en|ioyne hem þat peyne by right and lawe [3042] which I

[6-text p 251] trowe ȝe mow nouȝt do [3043] I say ȝe mighte nouȝt putte it to execucioun perauenture [3044] and þanne were it likly to torne to þe werre as it was biforn [3045] And þerfore if ȝe wol þat men do ȝow obeis|saunce; ȝe moste deme more curteisly [3046] þis is to sayn. ȝe moste ȝiue more esyere sentence & iuggement [3047] ¶ For [folio 225b] it is writen. he þat most curteysly comaundeth to him men most obeyen. [3048] and þer|fore I pray ȝow þat in þis necessite and in þis neede ȝe caste ȝow to ouercome ȝoure herte [3049] ¶ For Senek saiþ. he þat ouercomeþ his herte ouercomeþ twyes [3050] ¶ And thullius saith. þer is no þing so comendable in a gret lord [3051] as whan he is debon|aire and meeke and appesith him liȝtly [3052] ¶ And I pray ȝow þat ȝe wol forbere now to do vengeaunce [3053] in such a manere þat ȝoure goode name may be kept/ & conserued. [3054] and þat men mowe haue cause / and matiere to prayse ȝow of pite and of mercy [3055] and þat ȝe haue noon cause to repente ȝow of þing þat ȝe doon [3056] ¶ For senec saith ¶ he ouercomeþ in an euel manere þat repenteþ him of his victorie [3057] ¶ wher|fore I pray ȝow let mercy be in ȝoure herte [3058] to theffect and thentent þat god almighty haue mercy and pite vpon ȝow in his laste iuggement [3059] ¶ For seint Iame saith in his Epistil; Iuggement wiþ oute mercy schal be doon to him þat haþ no mercy vpon another wight

[3060] whan Melibe had herd þe grete skiles and resouns of dame prudens and wys informacioun and techynge; [3061] his herte gan enclyne to þe wille of his wyf consideryng hir trewe entent; [3062] con|fermed him anoon and consented fully to werke after hir reed and counseil [3063] ¶ And þankid god of whom pro|cedeth al goodnes þat him sente a wif of so gret discrecioun [3064] ¶ And whan þe day cam þat his aduer|saries schulden appere in his presence; [3065] he spak

[6-text p 252] ful goodly and sayde in þis wise. [3066] ¶ Al be it so þat of ȝoure pryde and heigh presumpcioun and folye and of ȝoure negligence/ and vnconnynge [3067] ȝe haue mys-bore ȝow and trespassed vnto me; [3068] ȝit/ for as moche as I se and biholde ȝoure humilite [3069] þat ȝe ben sory and repentaunt of ȝoure giltes; [3070] hit constreigneth me to do ȝow grace. and mercy. [3071] wherfore I receyue ȝow to my grace [3072] and forȝeue ȝow outerly alle þe offenses iniuries and wronges þat ȝe haue don to me and agayns me and myne / [3073] this is þeffect & to þis ende þat god of his endeles mercy [3074] wole at þe tyme of oure deyinge forȝiue vs oure giltes þat we haue trespased to him in þis wrecched world. [3075] for douteles & we ben sory & repentaunt of þe synnes & giltes whiche we haue trespassed Inne in þe sight of oure lord god; [3076] he is so free and [folio 226a] so merci|able [3077] þat he wil forȝiue vs oure gultes [3078] and bringe vs to þe blisse þat neuer haþ ende AmeN

¶ Here endith Chaucer his tale of Melibe

[6-text p 253]

¶ And here bygynneþ þe prologe of þe monkes tale / [[Break of one line in the MS.]]

Whan ended was my tale of Melibe Line 3079 And of prudence and hire benignite Oure hoste sayde as I am faithful man And by þe precious corpus Madryan I hadde leuer þan a barel ale That godeleef my wyf had herd þis tale Line 3084 For sche is no þing of such pacience As was þis melibeus wyf dame prudence By goddes boones whan I bete my knaues Sche bringeth me forth þe grete clobbet staues Line 3088 And crieþ slee þe dogges euerychon And breke of hem boþe bak and bon And if þat eny neghebour of myne wol nought to my wyf in chirche enclyne Line 3092 Or be so hardy to hir to trespace whan sche comþ hom sche rampeth in my face And crieþ false coward wreke þy wyf By Corpes bones I wil haue þy knyf Line 3096 And þou schalt/ haue my distaf and go spynne Fro day to night þus sche wil bygynne / Allas sche saith þat euer I was I-schape To wedde a mylk-sop or a coward ape Line 3100 That wil be ouer-lad wiþ euery wight þou darst nought stonde by þy wyues right This is my lif but if þat I wil fight And out atte dore anoon I most me dight / Line 3104 And ellis I am lost / but if þat I Be lik a wilde leoun fool-hardy I wot wel sche wol do me sle som day Som neighebor and þanne renne away Line 3108 For I am perilous with knyf in honde Al be it þat I dar not hir wiþ-stonde

[6-text p 254] For sche is big in armes by my faith Line 3111 That schal he fynde þat hire mys doth or saith [folio 226b] But let vs passe a way fro þis matiere My lord þe monk quod he be mery of chere / For ȝe schul telle a tale trewely Lo Rowchestre stant heer faste by Line 3116 Ryde forþ myn oughne lord brek nouȝt oure game But by my trouþe I can not ȝoure name whether schal I calle ȝow my lord dan Iohn Or daūn Thomas or elles dan albon Line 3120 Of what hous be ȝe by ȝour fader kyn I vow to god þou hast a ful fair skyn It is a gentil pasture þer þou gost Thow art not lik a penaunt or a goost Line 3124 vpon my faith þou art an officer Som worþy sexteyn or som Celerer For by my fader soule as to my doome Thou art an officer whan þou art at hoom Line 3128 No pouer cloysterer ne non nouys But a gouernour wily and wys And þer wiþ al of brawne and of bones A wel faryng persone for þe noones Line 3132 I praye god ȝiue him confusioun Þat first/ þe brouȝte to religioun Thow woldist han be a tredefoul aright haddist þou as gret a leue as might Line 3136 To parforme al þi wil in engendrure Thow haddist bigeten many a creature Allas why werest þou so wyd a cope God ȝif me sorwe and I were a pope Line 3140 Nought only þou but euery mighty man Though he were schore brode vpon his pan Schuld han a wif for al þis world is lorn Religioun hath take vp al þe corn Line 3144 Of tredyng and we burel men ben schrympes Of feble trees þer comeþ feble ympes

[6-text p 255] This makiþ þat oure heires ben so sclender And feble þat þay may not wel engender Line 3148 This makeþ þat our wyfes wol assaye Religious folk for þay may bettre paye [folio 227a] Of venus payementes þan may we God woot no lusscheburghes paye ȝe / Line 3152 beþ nouȝt wroþ my lorde þough I play For oft in game a soth I haue herd say This worþy monk took al in pacience / And saide I wol doon al my diligence Line 3156 Als fer as souneþ in to honeste / To telle ȝow a tale or tuo or þre And if ȝow lust to herken hiderward I wil ȝow say þe lif of seint Edward Line 3160 Or elles first tredis wil I ȝow telle / Of which I haue an hundred in my celle / Tregedis is to sayn a certeyn storie As olde bookes maken vs memorie Line 3164 Of hem þat stood in greet prosperite And is fallen out of heigh degre In to miserie and endith wrecchedly And þay ben versifyed comunly Line 3168 Of six feet which men clepe exametron In prose ben eek endited many oon And in metre eek and in sondry wise Lo þis declaryng ought ynough suffise / Line 3172 Now herkneþ if ȝow likith for to heere But first I ȝow biseche in þis matiere / þough I by ordre telle not þise þinges Be it of popes emperours or kynges Line 3176 After her age as men may write fynde But telle hem som bifore. and som byhynde / As it comeþ now / to my remembraunce haueþ me excused of myn ignoraunce [[Break of one line in the MS.]] Line 3180

[6-text p 256]

Iwol bywaile in maner of tregedye The harm of hem þat stood in heigh degre And fallen so þe is no remedye To bring hem out of her aduersite Line 3184 For certeynly whan fortune lust to flee Ther may no man þe cours of hir whiel holde let no man truste in blynd prosperite [folio 227b] Beþ war by þese ensamples trewe and olde / [[No stanza-breaks in the MS.]] Line 3188

[Lucifer.]

AT lucifer þough he an aungil were [¶ Lucifer] And no man at/ him wil I bygynne For þough fortune may non aungel dere From heigh degre ȝit/ fel he for his synne Line 3192 Doun in to helle. wher he ȝet is Inne O lucifer brightest of aungels alle Now art þou Sathanas þat maist nouȝt twynne Out of miserie in which þou art falle Line 3196

[Adam.]

Lo adam in þe feld of Damassene [¶ Adam] wiþ goddes oughne fynger wrought was he / And nought bigeten of mannes sperma vnclene And welt al paradys sauyng oon tre Line 3200 had neuer worldly man suche degre As adam til he for mys gouernance was dryuen out of heigh prosperite To labour and to helle and to meschaunce Line 3204

[6-text p 257]

[Sampson.]

Lo Sampson . þat was annunciate [¶ Sampson] By þangel long er his natiuite / And was to god almighty consecrate And stood in nobles whil þat he might se Line 3208 was neuer such anoþer as was he To speke of strengþ . and þerto hardynesse But to his wyfes tolde he his secre Thurgh which he slough himself for wrecchidnesse / Line 3212

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 3216 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 3220

Thre hundred foxis . tok Sampson for Ire And alle her tayles he togider bond And sette þe foxes tailes alle on fuyre For he in euery tail hath knyt a brond Line 3224 And þay brent alle þe cornes of þat lond And alle her Olyuers . and vynes eeke A þousand men he slough eek wiþ his hond And hadde no wepen but an asses cheeke Line 3228

Whan þay were slayn so þursted him þat he was wel ner lorn for which he gan to preye That god wolde of his peyne haue som pite And send him drynk and elles most he deye Line 3232 And out of his asses cheke þat was so dreye [folio 228a] Out of a woung toþ sprong anon a welle Of which he dronk ynough schortly to seye Thus halp him god as Iudicum can telle Line 3236

[6-text p 258] Line 3236

By verray fors of algason on a night Maugre þe philistiens of þat cite The gates of þe toun he haþ vp plight/ And on his bak caried hem haþ he / Line 3240 heigh vpon an hil wher men might hem se / O noble almighty Sampson leef and deere haddest þou nought to wommen told þy secre In al þe world ne hadde be þy peere Line 3244

This sampson neyther siser dronk ne wyn / Ne on his heed com rasour noon ne schere By precept of þe messager diuyn For alle his strengþes in his heres were Line 3248 And fully twenty wynter ȝer by ȝere/ he hadde of Ierusalem þe gouernaunce But soone he schal wepe many a teere For wymmen schuln him bringe to meschaunce Line 3252

Vn-to his lemman Dalida he tolde That in his heres al his strengþe lay And falsly to his foomen sche him solde And slepyng in hir barm vpon a day Line 3256 Sche made to clippe or schere his heres away And made his foomen al his craft espien And whan þay fond him in þis array Thay bound him fast and put out boþe his yen Line 3260

But er his heer clipped was or I-schaue Ther was no bond wiþ which men might him bynde But now is he in prisoun in a caue Ther as þay made him at þe querne grynde Line 3264 O noble Sampson strengest of al man kynde O whilom iugge in glory and in richesse / Now maystow wepe wiþ þine eyȝen blynde Sith þou fro wele art falle to wrecchednesse Line 3268

[6-text p 259] Line 3268

Thend of þis caytif was as I schal say his foomen made a fest vpon a day And made him as here fool biforn hem play [folio 228b] And þis was in a temple of gret array Line 3272 But/ atte last he made a foul affray For he two pilers schook and made hem falle And doun fel temple and al and þer it lay And slough himsilf and eek his fomen alle Line 3276

This is to sayn þe princes euer ichon And eek þre þousand bodies were þer slayn with fallyng of þe grete temple of stoon Of Sampson wil I no more sayn Line 3280 Be war by þese ensamples olde and playn That no man telle his counseil to his wyf Of such þing as he wold haue secre fayn If/ þat/ it touche his lymes or his lif Line 3284

[Hercules.]

Of Ercules þe souereyn conquerour [¶ De Ercule] Singing his werkes laude and heigh renoun For in his tyme of strength he bar þe flour he slough and rafte þe skyn fro þe leoun Line 3288 he of Centaures layde þe bost a doun he arpies slough þe cruel briddes felle The gold appul he raft fro þe dragoun he drof out cerbures þe fend of helle Line 3292

He slough þe cruel tyrant bupherus And made his hors to frete him fleisch and boon he slough þe verray serpent venencus Of Adiloyus tuo hornes he raft oon Line 3296 he slough Catus in a caue of stoon he slough þe geaunt adeus þe stronge he slough þe grisly leoun and þat anoon And bar þe heed vpon his necke longe Line 3300

[6-text p 260] Line 3300

Was neuer wight / siþþen þe world bigan That slough so many monstres as dede he Thurgh-out þe wide world his name ran what for his strengþe and for his bounte Line 3304 And euery roialme went he for to se he was so strong þer might no man him lette At boþe þe worldes endes as saith trophe In stede of boundes he a piler sette Line 3308

A lemman hadde þis noble campioun [folio 229a] That highte Deianire freissh as may And as þese clerkes maken mencioun Sche haþ him sent a schurte fresch and gay Line 3312 Alas þis schirt allas and wailaway Enuenymed was soþly with alle That er he hadde wered it half a day It made his fleisch al fro his bones falle / Line 3316

But natheles som clerkes hir excusen By oon þat highte Nessus þat it makyd Be as be may I wil nouȝt hir accusyn But on his bak/ he wered þis schirt al naked Line 3320 Til þat his fleisch was for þe venym blaked And whan he saugh noon oþer remedye In hote colis he haþ himself I-raked For no venym deyned him to dye Line 3324

Thus starf þis mighty and worthy Ercules lo who may truste fortune eny þrowe For him þat folweþ al þis world of pres Er he be war is oft y-layd ful lowe / Line 3328 Ful wys is he þat/ can himseluen knowe / Be war for whan þat fortune lust to glose / Than waytith sche hir man to ouerþrowe / By suche way as he wolde lest suppose Line 3332

[6-text p 261]

[Nebuchadnezzar.]

The mighty trone þe precious tresor [¶ De rege Nabugodonosor] The glorious ceptre and real mageste That had þe king Nabugodonosore wiþ tonge vnnethes may descryued be Line 3336 he twyes wan ierusalem þat Cite The vessel out of þe temple he wiþ him ladde / [¶ Danielis 4^to regum &c] At Babiloyne was his souereyn see In which his glorie and his delyt he ladde / Line 3340

The fairest children of þe blood roial Of Israel he dede gelde anoon And made ylk of hem to ben his þral Amonges oþre Daniel was oon Line 3344 That was þe wisest/ child of euerychoon For he þe dremes of þe king expouned Ther as in Caldeyn was þer clerkes noon [folio 229b] That wiste to what fyn his dremes souned Line 3348

This proude king let make a statu of gold Sixty cubites long and seuen in brede To which ymage boþe ȝonge and olde / Comaunded he to loue and haue in drede Line 3352 Or in a fornays ful of flames rede he schulde be brent þat wolde not obeye / But neuer wolde assente to þat dede Danyel ne his felawes tweye Line 3356

This king of kinges preu was elate he wende god þat sit in mageste Ne might him nought / bireue of his estate But sodeynly he left/ his dignite Line 3360 I-lik a best him semed for to be And eet hay as an oxe and lay þer-oute / In rayn with wilde bestes walkyd he. [til certein tyme was i-come aboute [[In margin, in a later hand.]] ]

[6-text p 262]

And lik/ an Eglis fetheres were his heres his hondes like a briddes clowes were Til god relessed him a certeyn ȝeres And ȝaf him witte and þanne with many a tere Line 3368 he þanked god and euer he is afere To doon amys or more to trespace And er þat tyme he layd was on bere he knew wel god was ful of might and grace Line 3372

His sone which þat highte Balthaȝar That huld þe regne after his fader day he by his fader couþe nought be war For proud he was of hert/ and of array Line 3376 And eek an ydolaster was he ay his heigh astate assured him in pryde But fortune cast him doun and þer he lay And sodeynly his regne gan diuide Line 3380

A fest he made vnto his lordes alle vpon a tyme he made hem bliþe be And þan his officeres gan he calle Goþ bringeth forth þe vessealx quod he Line 3384 The which my fader in his prosperite Out of þe temple of ierusalem byraft [folio 230a] And to oure hihe goddis þanke we/ Of honours þat oure eldres with vs laft Line 3388

His wif his lordes and his concubines Ay dronken whiles her arriont last Out of þis noble vesseals sondry wynes And on a wal þis king his yhen cast / Line 3392 And saugh an hond armles þat wroot fast / For fere of which he quook and siked sore þis hond þat balthaȝar so sore agast wrot. mane. techel. phares. and no more / Line 3396

[6-text p 263] Line 3396

In al þe lond magicien was noon That couþe expounde what þis lettre ment But Daniel expoundiþ it anoon And sayde king god þy fader sent Line 3400 Glori and honour. regne tresor and rent And he was proud and no þing god ne dredde And þerfor god gret wreche vpon him sent And him biraft þe regne þat he hadde / Line 3404

He was out cast of mannes compaignye with asses was his habitacioun And eete hay in wet and eek in drye Til þat he knew by grace and by resoun Line 3408 That god of heuen had dominacioun Ouer euery regne and euery creature And þan had god of him compassioun And him restored to his regne and his figure Line 3412

Eke þou þat art his sone art proud also And knowest al þis þing so verrayly And art rebel to god and art his fo þou dronk eek of his vessel bodily Line 3416 Thy wyf eek and þy wenche sinfully Dronke of þe same vessel sondry wynes And heriest false goddes cursedly Therfore to þe schapen ful gret pyne es Line 3420

This hond was send fro god þat on þe wal wrot. mane. techel. phares truste me Thy regne is doon þou weist nouȝt at al Diuidid is þy regne and it schal be [folio 230b] Line 3424 To meedes and to perses ȝeuen quod he And þilke same night þe king was slawe And Darius occupied his degre þough þerto neyþer had he right ne lawe / Line 3428

[6-text p 264] Line 3428

Lordyngs ensample her-by may ȝe take how þat in lordschip is no sikernesse For whan fortune wil a man forsake Sche bereþ a-way his regne and his richesse / Line 3432 And eek his frendes boþe more and lesse / And what man hath of frendes þe fortune Mishap wil make hem enemyes I gesse [þis prouerbe is ful soth & ful comune [[In a later hand in the margin.]] ] [[No break in the MS.]]

Cenobia of palmire þe queene As writen parciens of hir noblesse So worþy was in armes and so keene That no wight passed hir in hardynesse Line 3440 Ne in lynage ne in oþer gentilesse / Of þe kinges blood / of pers sche is descendid I say þat sche had not most/ fairnesse But of hir schap sche might not ben amendid Line 3444

Fro hir childhod / I fynde þat sche fledde Office of wommen and to woode sche went And many a wilde hertes blood sche schedde with arwes brode þat sche to hem sent / Line 3448 Sche was so swyft þat sche anoon hem hent And whan þat sche was elder sche wolde kille Leouns / lebardes / and beres alto-rent And in hir armes weld hem at hir wille Line 3452

Sche dorste wilde bestes dennes seke/ And renne in þe mounteyns al þe night And slepe vnder a bussh and sche couþe eeke wrastil by verray fors and verray might Line 3456 wiþ eny ȝong man were he neuer so wight Ther mighte no þing in hir armes stonde She kept hir maydenhed from euery wight To no man deyned hire to be bonde Line 3460

[6-text p 265] Line 3460

But atte last hir frendes han hir maried To Odenake a prince of þat Citee Al were it so þat sche him longe taried [folio 231a] And ȝe schul vnderstonde how þat he Line 3464 had suche fantasies as hadde sche / But naþeles whan þay were knyt in fere Thay lyued in ioye and in felicite For ech of hem had oþer leef and deere Line 3468

Saue oon þing sche wolde neuer assent By no way þat he schulde by hir lye But oones for it was hir playn entent To haue a child þe world to multiplie Line 3472 And also soone as she might aspye / That sche was not wiþ childe ȝit in dede / Than wold sche suffre him doon his fantasie Eft sones and nought but oones out of drede / Line 3476

And if sche were wiþ child at þilke cast No more schuld he playe þilke game Til fully fourty dayes were y-past Than wold sche suffre him to do þe same Line 3480 Al were þis Odenake wilde or tame he gat no more of hir for þus sche sayde hit nas but wyues lecchery and schame / In oþer caas if þat/ men with hem playde / Line 3484

Tuo sones by þis Odenak had sche The which sche kept/ in vertu and lettrure But now vnto our purpos torne we I say so worschipful a creature Line 3488 And wys. worþy. and large with mesure So penyble in þe werre and curteys eeke Ne more labour might in werre endure / was no wher noon in al þis world to seeke Line 3492

[6-text p 266] Line 3492

Hir riche array if it might be told As wel in vessel as in hir cloþing Sche was al cloþed in perre and gold And eek sche lafte nought for hir huntyng Line 3496 To haue of sondry tonges ful knowing whan sche had leyser // and might þerto entent To lerne bookes was al hir likyng How sche in vertu might hir lif despent Line 3500

And schortly of þis story for to trete [folio 231b] So doughty was hir housbond and eek sche That þay conquered many regnes grete In thorient with many a fair citee Line 3504 Appurtienant vnto that mageste / Of Rome. and with strong hond hulden hem fast Ne neuer might her fomen doon hem fle Ay while Odenakes dayes last/ Line 3508

Her batails who / so lust hem for to rede Agayn Sapor þe king and oþer mo And how þat þis processe fel in dede why sche conquered and what title had þerto Line 3512 And after of hir meschief and hir woo / how þat sche was deceyued and I-take / let hem vnto my mayster perark go That writeth of þis ynough I vndertake / Line 3516

Whan Odenake was deed sche mightily The regnes huld and wiþ hir propre hond Aȝeins hir foos sche faught ful trewely That þer nas king ne prince in þat lond Line 3520 That he nas glad if he þat grace fond That sche ne wold vpon his lond werraye with hir þay made alliaunce by bond To ben in pees and let hir ryde and play Line 3524

[6-text p 267] Line 3524

The emperour of Rome Claudius Ne him biforn þe romayn· Galiene Ne dorste neuer be so corrageous Ne noon ermine ne Egipciene Line 3528 No Surrien ne noon arrabiene wiþinne þe feld þat durste with hir fight Lest þat sche wold hem wiþ her hondes sleen Or wiþ hir meyne putten hem to flight Line 3532

In kinges abyt went hir sones tuo As heires of her fadres regnes alle And hermanno and Themaleo here names were and Parciens men hem calle / Line 3536 But ay fortune hath in hir hony galle This mighty queene may no while endure Fortune out of hir regne made hir falle [folio 232a] To wrecchednesse and to mys aduenture Line 3540

Aurilian whan þat þe gouernaunce Of Rome cam in-to his hondes tway / he schop him of þis queen to do vengeaunce / And with his legiouns he took þe way Line 3544 Toward Cenoby and schortly to say he made hir flee and atte last hir hent And feterid hir and eek hir children tweye And wan þe lond and home to Rome he went Line 3548

Amonges oþer þinges þat he wan hir chaar þat was wiþ gold wrouȝt and perre This grete Romayn þis aurilian hath with him lad for þat men schulde se Line 3552 Bifore þis triumphe walkith sche / And gilte cheynes in hir necke hongynge Coroun sche was as aftir hir degre [and ful of perre chargid here clothynge [[In a later hand in the margin.]] ]

[6-text p 268]

Allas fortune. sche that whilom was Dredful to kinges and to Emperoures Now gaulith al þe pepul on hir alas And sche þat helmyd was in starke stoures / Line 3560 And wan bifore tounes stronge and toures Schal on heed now were a wyntermyte And sche þat bar þe cepter ful of floures Schal bere a distaf hir self for to quyte [[No break in the MS.]] Line 3564

O noble petro. þe glori of Spayne / [¶ De petro his|pannie rege] whom fortune held so heigh in mageste wel oughte men þy pitous deþ complayne Thy bastard broþer made þe to fle Line 3568 And after / at a sege by subtilte þow were bytrayed and lad to his tent wher / as he with his oughne hond slough þe Succedyng in þy lond and in þy rent Line 3572

The feld of snow with thegle of blak þer-Inne Caught wiþ þe leoun reed coloured as is þe gleede he brewede þe cursednesse and synne The wikked nest werker of þis neede Line 3576 Nought Oliuer ne Charles þat ay took heede Of trouthe and honour but/ of armoryk [folio 232b] Geniloun oliuer corruptid for nede Broughte þis worþy king in such a bryk [[No break in the MS.]] Line 3580

O worþy petro king of Cipres also [¶ De petro Cipre rege] That alisaunder wan by heigh maistrye / Ful many an hethen wroughtest þou ful wo Of which þin oughne lieges had enuye Line 3584 And for no þing but for þy chiualrie þay in thy bed han slayn þe by þe morwe Thus can fortune þe whel gouerne and gye And out of ioye bringe men in to sorwe [[No break in the MS.]] Line 3588

[6-text p 269] Line 3588

Of Melayn grete Barnabo viscount [¶ De Barnabo Co|mite Mediolano] God of delyt and strength of lumbardye why schuld þyn infortune I nought accounte Syn in astaat þou clombe were so hye Line 3592 Thy broþer sone þat was þy double allie For he þy neuew was and sone in lawe wiþinne his prisoun made þe to dye But why ne how not I þat þou were slawe / [[No break in the MS.]] Line 3596

Of erl hugilin of pise þe langour [¶ De hugilino Comite Pise] Ther may no tonge telle þe pite But litel out of pise stant a tour In whiche tour / in prisoun put was he / Line 3600 And with him been his litil children þre Theldest skarsly fyf ȝer was of age / Allas fortune it was gret cruelte Suche briddes to put in such a cage Line 3604

Dampnyd he was to deye in þat prisoun For Roger which þat bisschop was of pise Had on him maad a fals suggestioun Thurgh which þe peple gan on him arise Line 3608 And putte him in prisoun in such wise As ȝe han herd and mete and drynk he hadde So smal þat wel vnneþe it may suffise And þer wiþ al it was ful pore and badde Line 3612

And on a day bifel þat in þat hour whan þat his mete was wont to be brought The gayler schet þe dores of þat tour He herd it wel but he saugh it nought [folio 233a] Line 3616 And in his hert anoon þer fel a þought þat þay for hungir wolde doon him dyen Alas quod he allas þat I was wrought Ther-wiþ þe teeres felle fro his eyen Line 3620

[6-text p 270] Line 3620

His ȝongest sone þat þre ȝer was of age Vnto him sayde fader why do ye wepe whan wil þe gayler bringen oure potage Is þer no morsel bred þat ȝe doon kepe Line 3624 I am so hongry þat I may not sleepe Now wolde god þat I might slepe euer Than schuld not hunger in my wombe crepe Ther is no þing saue bred þat me were leuer Line 3628

Thus day by day þis child bigan to crie Til in his fadres barm a-doun he lay And sayde far wel fader I moot dye And kist his fader and dyde þe same day Line 3632 And whan þe woful fader deed it say For wo his armes tuo he gan to byte And sayde fortune alas and waylaway Thin false querel al my woo I wyte Line 3636

His childer wende þat it for hongir was That he his armes gnew and nought for wo And sayden fader do nought so allas But rather et þe fleisch vpon vs tuo Line 3640 Oure fleisch þou ȝaue vs / oure fleisch þou take vs fro And ete ynough right þus þay to him seyde And after þat wiþinne a day or tuo Thay layde hem in his lappe a-doun and deyde Line 3644

Himself despeired eek for honger starf Thus ended is þis mighty eorl of pise For his estate fortune fro him carf Of þis tegrede it ought ynough suffise / Line 3648 who-so wil it hiere in lenger wise Rede þe gret poet of Itaile That highte Daunt for he can it deuise Fro poynt to poynt nouȝt oon word wil he fayle [[No break in the MS.]] Line 3652

[6-text p 271] Line 3652

Al þough Nero were als vicious [¶ De Nerone] As any fend that lith ful lowe adoun [folio 233b] Ȝit as tellith vs Swethoneus This wyde world had in subieccioun Line 3656 Boþe Est and west and Septemtrioun Of rubies. safers. and of perles white were alle his cloþes embroudid vp and doun For he in gemmis / gretly gan delite Line 3660

More delyt. more pomp of array Mor proud was neuer Emperour þan he That ylke cloth þat he had wered a day After þat tyme he nolde it neuer se Line 3664 Nettis of gold þred. had he gret plente To fissche in tyber whan him lust to pleye his willes were as lawe in his degre For fortune as his frend wold him obeye Line 3668

He Rome brent for his delicacie The senatours he slough vpon a day To here how men wolde wepe and crye And slough his broþer . and by his suster lay Line 3672 his modir made he in pitous array For hir wombe slyt he to byholde wher he conceyued so waylaway / þat he so litel of his moodir tolde Line 3676

No teer out of his eyen for þat sight/ Ne cam but sayde a fair womman was sche Gret wonder is þat he couþe or might Be domesman on hir beaute Line 3680 The wyn to bringen him comaundid he And drank anoon noon oþer wo he made whan might is torned vnto cruelte Allas to deepe wil þe venym wade / Line 3684

[6-text p 272] Line 3684

IN ȝouþe a maister had þis emperour To teche him letterure and curtesye For of moralite he was þe flour And in his tyme but if þe book lye Line 3688 And whil his maister had of him maistrie he made him so connyng and so souple / That long tyme it was or tyrranye Or ony vice dorst on him vncouple / [folio 234a] Line 3692

This Seneca of which þat I deuyse [¶ Seneca] By cause Nero had of him such drede For fro vices he wolde him chastise Discretly by word and nouȝt by dede / Line 3696 Sir wold he sayn an emperour mot neede / Be vertuous and hate tyrannye For which he in a bath made him to bleede On boþe his armes til he moste dye Line 3700

The nero hadde eek a custumance / No ȝouþe aȝein his maister for to ryse / which afterward him þought a gret greuaunce Therfore he made him deye in þis wise Line 3704 But naþeles þis Seneca þe wise Ches in bath to deye in þis manere / Raþer þan to haue anoþer tyrannye And þus haþ Nero slayn his maister deere / Line 3708

Now fel it so þat fortune lust no lenger The highe pride of Nero to cherice For þough he were strong ȝit was sche strenger Sche þoughte þus by god I am to nyce Line 3712 To set a man þat is ful sad of vice In high degre and emperour him calle / By god out of his cite I wil him trice whan he lest weneþ sonnest schal byfalle Line 3716

[6-text p 273] Line 3716

The poeple ros on him vpon a night For heigh defaute and whan he it aspyed Out of his dores anoon he haþ him dight Aloone and þer he wende haue ben allyed Line 3720 he knokked fast and ay þe more he cried The faster schette þay þe doores alle/ Than wist he wel he had himself mysgyed And went his way no lenger durst he calle Line 3724

The peple cried and rumbled vp and doun That with his eris herd he how þay sayde Wher is þis fals traitour þis neroun For fere almost out of his witte he brayde / Line 3728 And to his goddes pitously he prayde / For socour but it mighte nought betyde / [folio 234b] For drede of þis him þoughte þat he dyde And ran in to a gardyn hym to hyde Line 3732

And in þis gardyn fond he cherlis twaye Sittyng by a fuyr ful greet and reed And to þese che[r]les tuo he gan to pray To sleen him and to girden of his heed Line 3736 That to his body whan he were deed were despyt y-doon for his defame himself he slough he couþe no better reed Of which fortune þai lough and hadde game / [[No break in the MS.]] Line 3740

Was neuer Capitaigne vnder a king / [¶ De Olipherno] Thas regnes mo put in subieccioun Ne strenger was in feld of alle þing As in his tyme ne gretter of renoun Line 3744 Ne more pompous in heih presumpcioun Than Oliphern . which þat fortune ay kist So licorously . and ladde him vp and doun Til that his heed was of er he it wist Line 3748

[6-text p 274] Line 3748

Nought oonly þat þe world had of him awe / For lesyng of riches and liberte But made euery man reneye his lawe / Nabugodonosor was lord sayde he / Line 3752 Noon oþer god schuld honoured be Aȝeinst his heste dar no wight trespace [¶ Et fecerunt filij israel secundum quod constituit eis dominus sacerdos Elyachym] Saue in Betholia a strond cite wher Eliachim a prest of þat place

But tak keep of þat day of Olipherne Amyd his ost/ he dronke lay on night wiþinne his tente large as is a berne And ȝit for al his pomp and al his might Line 3760 Iudith a womman as he lay vpright Slepyng his heed of smot and fro his tent Ful priuely sche stal from euery wight And with his heed vnto hir toun sche went [[No break in the MS.]] Line 3764

What needith it of king antiochius [¶ De Rege Anti|ochie illustri.] To telle his heye real mageste / his heyhe pride his werke venemous For such anoþer was þer noon as he [folio 235a] Line 3768 Redeþ which þat he was in machabe And redith þe proude wordes þat he sayde And why he fel fro his prosperite And in an hil . how wrecchidly he deyde Line 3772

Fortune him haþ enhaunced so in pryde That verraily he wend he might han teyned Vnto þe sterris vpon euery syde / And in a balaunce weyen what ech mounteyned Line 3776 And alle þe floodes of þe see restreyne And goddes peple had he most in hate hem wold he slee in torment and in peyne wenyng þat god ne might his pride abate Line 3780

[6-text p 275] Line 3780

And for þat Nichosor and Thimothe / with Iewes were venquist/ mightily Vn to þe Iewes such an hate had he / That he bad graithe his chaar hastily Line 3784 And swor and sayde ful despitously Vnto Ierusalem he wold eft soone To wreke his Ire on it ful cruelly But of his purpos he was let ful soone Line 3788

God for his manace him so sore smoot wiþ inuisible wounde. incurable That in his guttes carf so and bot That his peynes were importable Line 3792 And certeynly þe wreche was resonable For on many a man. dede he peyne But fro his purpos cursed and dampnable / For al his smert he nolde him nought restreyne / Line 3796

But bad anoon apparailen his host And sodeynly er he was of it ware God dampned al his pride and al his bost For he so sore fel out of his chare Line 3800 That his lymes and his skyn to-tare / So þat he no more might go ne ryde / But in a chare men aboute him bare / Al forbrosed boþe bak and syde / Line 3804

The wreche of god him smot so cruely That in his body wicked wormes crept [folio 235b] And þer with al he stonk/ so orribly That noon of his meyne þat him kep[t]e Line 3808 wheþer þat he wook or elles slepte Ne mighte nought þe stynk of him endure In þis meschief he weyled and eek wepte / And knew god lord of euery creature Line 3812

[6-text p 276] Line 3812

To al his host and to himself also Ful wlatsom was þe stynk and þe carayne No man might him bere to ne fro And in stynk/ and orrible payne Line 3816 he starf ful wrecchedly in a mountayne Thus haþ þis robbour and þis homicide / That many a man made wepe and playne / Swich guerdoun is þat longeþ vnto pryde [[No break in the MS.]] Line 3820

The story of alisaunder is so comune [¶ De alexandro magno philip|pi regis mace|donie filio &c /] That every wight þat haþ discrecioun haþ herd som what or al of this fortune Thys wyde world as in conclusioun Line 3824 he wan by strengþe or for his heigh renoun Thay were glad for pees vnto him sende The pride of man and bost he layd a doun Wher-so he cam. vnto þe worldes ende / Line 3828

Comparisoun ȝit mighte neuer be maked Bitwen him and noon oþer conquerour For al þis world for drede of him haþ quaked he was of knyghthod and of fredam flour Line 3832 Fortune him made þe heir of hir honour Saue wyn and wymmen no þing might aswage his heigh entent in armes and labour So was he ful of lumyne corage Line 3836

What pite were it to him þough I ȝow tolde Of Darius and an hundred þousand mo Of kynges princes Dukes and eorles bolde / which he conquered and brouȝt/ vnto wo Line 3840 I say as fer as men may ryde or go The world was his what schold I more deuyse / . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Of his knighthood it mighte nouȝt suffise / Line 3844

[6-text p 277] Line 3844

Twelf ȝer he regned as saith machabe [folio 236a] Philippes son of Macedon he was That first was king in Crece þat contre O worþy gentil alisaundre alas Line 3848 That euer schulde falle such a caas Empoysoned of þin oughne folk þou were Thyn fortune is torned in to an aas And right for þe ne wepte sche neuer a teere Line 3852

Who schal me ȝiue teeres to compleigne The deþ of gentiles and of fraunchise That al þe worlde had in his demeigne And ȝit him þought it mighte nouȝt suffice Line 3856 So ful was his corage of high emprise / Allas who schal helpe me to endite/ Fals infortune and poysoun to deuyse The whiche two al þis wo I wyte [[No break in the MS.]] Line 3860

By wisedom manhod and gret labour Fro humble bed to royal mageste / Vp roos he Iulius þe conquerour That wan al thoccident by land and see Line 3864 By strengþe of hond or elles by trete / And vnto Rome made hem contributarie And siþþe of Rome þemperour was he Til þat fortune wax his aduersarie / Line 3868

O mighty Cesar þat in Thessalie Agains pompious fader þin in lawe That of þe orient had al þe chiualrie Als fer as þat þe day bigynnes to dawe Line 3872 Thorugh þi knighthod þou hast him take and slawe Saue fewe folk þat with pompeus fledde Þurgh which þou puttist al þorient in awe Thanke fortune þat so wel þe spedde Line 3876

[6-text p 278] Line 3876

But now a litel while I wil bywaile This pompeus þe noble gouernour Of Rome which þat flowe fro þis bataile Alas I say oon of his men a fals traitour Line 3880 his heed of smoot to wynne his fauour Of Iulius and him þe heed he brouȝt Alas pomp of þe orient conquerour [folio 236b] That fortune to such a fyn þe brought Line 3884

To Rome agayn repaireþ Iulius wiþ his triumphe laurial ful hye But on a tyme brutus Cassius That euer had to his estat enuye / Line 3888 Ful priuely haþ made conspiracie / Agains þis Iulius in subtil wise / Cast the place . in which he schulde dye with boydekyns as I schal ȝow deuyse / Line 3892

This Iulius to þe Capitoile went vpon a day as he was wont to goon And in þe Capitoil anoon him hent This false brutus and his oþer foon Line 3896 And stiked him wiþ boydekyns anoon with many a wounde and þus þay let him lye But neuer gront he at no strook but oon Or elles at tuo but if þe storie lye Line 3900

So manly was þis Iulius of hert/ And so wel loued estatly honeste That þough his deedly woundes sore smert his mantil ouer his hipes caste he Line 3904 For no man schulde seen his priuete And as he lay deyinge in a traunce And wiste wel þat verrayly deed was he Of honeste ȝet had he remembraunce / Line 3908

[6-text p 279] Line 3908

Lucan to þe þis story I recomende And to Swetoun and to Valirien also That al þe story writen word and ende / how to þese grete conqueroures tuo Line 3912 Fortune was first frend and siþþen fo No man trust vpon hir favour longe / But haue hir in awayt for euermo witnesse on alle þise conqueroures stronge [[No break in the MS.]] Line 3916

Off riche gresus whilom king of lyde [¶ Gresus leuit|ici capitulo .ij^o de spiritu phitonisse ha|bendo octos' iiij^o libro Re|gum capitulo primo] Of which gresus . Cirus him sore dradde / Ȝet was he caught amyddes al his pride And to þe fuyr to brenne him men him ladde But such a rayn doun fro þe heuen schadde [folio 237a] That slough þe fuyr and made him to eschape But to be war ȝet grace noon he hadde / Til fortune on þe galwes made him gape Line 3924

Whan he was eschaped he couþe nouȝt/ stent For to bygynne a newe werre agayn he wende wel for þat fortune him sent Such hap þat he eschaped þurgh þe rayn Line 3928 That of his foos he mighte not be slayn And eek a sweuen vpon a night he mette Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn That in vengeaunce he al his herte sette / Line 3932

Vpon a tree he was set as him þouȝt wher Iubiter him wissch boþe bak and side And phebus eek a fair towail him brouȝt To drye him with and þerfore wax his pride Line 3936 And to his douȝter þat stood him biside which þat he knew in heigh science abounde / And bad hire telle what it signifyde And sche his dreem right þus gan expounde / Line 3940

[6-text p 280] Line 3940

The tree quod sche þe galwes is to mene And Iubiter likenith snow and rayn And phebus with his towail so clene Tho ben þe sonne stremes soþ to sayn Line 3944 Thow schalt enhangid ben fader certayn Rayn schal þe wasch and sonne schal þe drye Thus warned sche him ful plat and ek ful playn his doughter which þat called was phanie Line 3948

And hanged was Gresus þis proude king his real tour might him not auaile / Tegredis ne noon oþer maner þing Ne can in I synge crie ny biwayle Line 3952 But for þat fortune wil alway assayle wiþ vnwar strook þe regnes þat ben proude For whan men trusteth hir than wil sche faile And couer hir brighte face with a clowde Line 3956

¶ Here endeþ þe monk his tale [[No break in the MS.]]

[6-text p 281]

¶ & here bygynne þe prologe of þe Nonne prestes tale . of þe kok and þe hen.

HO sire quod the knight no more of þis [folio 237b] That ȝe han said is right ynough y-wys And mochil mor . for litel heuynesse Is right I-nough for moche folk I gesse Line 3960 I say for me it is a gret disease wher as men han ben in gret welþe and ease To hieren of her sodeyn fal allas And þe contraire is ioye and gret solas Line 3964 As whan a man haþ ben in pore estate And clymbith vp and wexeþ fortunate And þer abydeþ in prosperite Such þing is gladsom as þinkith me Line 3968 And of such þing were goodly for to telle ȝe quod our host by seinte paules belle ȝe say right soþ þis monk haþ clappid lowde he spak how fortune was clipped with a clowde Line 3972 I not neuer what and als of tregedie Right now ȝe herd and pardy no remedye It is for to bywayle or compleyne That þat is doon and also it is a peyne Line 3976 As ȝe han said to hiere of heuynesse / Sire monk no more of þis . so god ȝour soule blesse Ȝour tale anoyeth al þis compaignie Such a tale is nouȝt worth a boterflye Line 3980 For þer Inne is noon disport ne game wherfor sir monk . damp Pieres by ȝour name I pray ȝow hertly tel vs som what ellis For sicurly ner gingling of þe bellis Line 3984

[6-text p 282] Line 3984 Þat on ȝour bridil hong on euery syde By heuen king þat for vs alle dyde I schold er þis han falle doun for sleep Al þough þe slough had neuer ben so deep Line 3988 Than had ȝour tale . haue be told in vayn For certeynly as þese clerkes sayn wher as a man may haue noon audience Nought helpith it to tellen his sentence Line 3992 And wel I wot þe substance is in me If eny þing schal wel reported be Sir say som what of huntyng I ȝow pray [folio 238a] Nay quod þe monk I haue no lust to play Line 3996 Now let another telle as I haue told // Than spak our ost wiþ rude speche and bold // And said vnto the nonnes prest anoon // Come ner þou prest . come ner þou sir Iohn // Line 4000 Tel vs such þing as may our hertes glade Be bliþe al þough þou ryde vpon a iade // what þough þin hors be boþe foul and lene // If he wil serue þe rek not a bene // Line 4004 lok þat þin hert be mery euer mo // Ȝis sire ȝis hoste . also mot I go // But I be mery I-wis I wol be blamed // And right anoon he haþ his tale tamyd // Line 4008 And þus he sayd vnto vs euerich oon // This sweete prest this goodly man sir Iohn

¶ Explicit prologus [[No break in the MS.]]

[6-text p 283]

¶ Here bygynneth the Nonne prest his tale

APore wydow . som del stope in age was whilom duellyng in a pore cotage Line 4012 Bisyde a groue stondyng in a dale This wydow of which I telle ȝow my tale Syn þilke day þat sche was last a wif / In paciens ladde . a ful symple lyf Line 4016 For litel was hir catel and hir rent By housbondry . of such as god hir sent Sche fond hir self and eek hir doughtres tuo Thre large sowes had sche and no mo Line 4020 Thre kyn . and eek a scheep þat highte malle. Ful sooty was hir bour and eek hir halle In which she eet ful many a sclender meel Of poynaunt saws hir needid neuer a deel Line 4024 Noon deynteth morsel passid þorugh hir þrote Hir dyete was accordant to hir cote Repleccioun ne made hir neuer sik Attempre dyete was al hir phisik Line 4028 And exercise and hertes suffisaunce The goute lette hir no þing for to daunce Ne poplexie schente not hir heed No wyn ne drank he noþer whit ne reed [folio 238b] Line 4032 Hir bord seruyd boþe with whit and blak Milk and broun bred in which sche fond no lak Saynd bacoun and som tyme an ey or tweye For sche was as it were a maner deye Line 4036 A ȝerd sche had enclosed al aboute wiþ stikkes and a drye dich wiþoute In which she had a Cok þat hight Chaunteclere In al þe lond of crowyng was noon his peere Line 4040

[6-text p 284] Line 4040 His vois was merier þan þe mery Orgon On masse dayes þat in þe chirche goon wel sikerer was his crowyng in his logge þan is a Clok or an abbay Orologge Line 4044 By nature knew he ech ascensioun Of equinoxial in þilke toun For whan degrees fyftene were ascendid Thanne crew he it might not ben amendid Line 4048 His comb was redder þan þe fyn coral And batayld as it were a castel wal his bile was blak and as þe geet it schon lik asur were . his legges and his ton Line 4052 His nayles whitter þan þe lily flour And lik þe burnischt gold was his colour This gentil cok had in his gouernaunce Seuen hennes for to do al his plesaunce Line 4056 whiche were his sustres and his paramoures And wonder lik to him as of coloures Of whiche þe fairest hiewed on hir þrote was cleped fayre damysel pertilote Line 4060 Curteys sche was discret and debonaire And companable and bar hir self ful faire Syn þilke day þat sche was seuen ȝer old That sche haþ trewely þe hert in hold Line 4064 Of chaunteclere loken in euery lith He loued hir so þat wel him was þer-with But such a ioye was it to here him synge whan þat þe brighte sonne gan to springe Line 4068 In swete accord my lief is faren on londe Fro þilke tyme as I haue vnderstonde [folio 239a] Bestis and briddes cowde speke and synge And so byfel þat in a dawenynge Line 4072 As Chaunteclere among his wyues alle / Sat on his perche þat was in his halle And next him sat þis faire pertelote This Chauntecler gan gronen in his þrote Line 4076

[6-text p 285] Line 4076 As man þat in his dreem is drecched sore / And whan þat Pertelot þus herd him rore Sche was agast and sayde herte deere what eylith ȝow to grone in þis manere Line 4080 Ȝe ben a verray sleper fy for schame And he answerd and sayde þus ma dame I pray ȝow þat ȝe take it nouȝt agreef By god me mette I was in such meschief Line 4084 Right now þat ȝit myn hert/ is sore afright Now god quod he my sweuen rede aright And keep my body out of foul prisoun Me mette how þat I romed vp and doun Line 4088 wiþinne oure ȝerd wher as I saugh a beest/ was lik an hound and wold haue maad arrest/ Vpon my body and wold han had me deed His colour was bitwixe ȝolow and reed Line 4092 And tipped was his tail and boþe his eeres with blak/. vnlik þe remenaunt of his heres His snowt was smal with glowynge yen tweye Ȝet of his look/ for fer almost I deye Line 4096 This caused me my gronyng douteles A way quod sche. fy on ȝow herteles Allas quod sche for by þat god aboue Now haue ȝe lost myn hert and al my loue Line 4100 I can nought loue a coward by my feith For certis what so eny womman seith we alle desiren if it mighte be To haue housbondes hardy riche and fre Line 4104 And secre and no nygard ne no fool Ne him þat is agast of euery tool Ne noon auaunter by þat god aboue How dorst ȝe sayn for schame vnto ȝour loue [folio 239b] Line 4108 That any þing might make ȝow afferd haue ȝe no mannes hert and han a berd Allas and can ȝe ben agast of sweuenys Nought god wot / but vanite in sweuen is Line 4112

[6-text p 286] Line 4112 Sweuens engendrid ben of replecciouns And often of fume and of complexiouns whan humours ben to abundaunt in a wight Certes þis dreem which ȝe han met to-night Line 4116 Comeþ of þe grete superfluite Of ȝoure reede Colera parde which causeth folk to dremen in here dremes Of arwes and of fuyr with reede beemes Line 4120 Of rede bestis þat þai wil him byte / Of Contek and of whelpis greet and lite Right as þe humour of malencolie Causeþ in sleep ful many a man to crye Line 4124 For fere of beres or of boles blake Or elles blake deueles wol hem take Of oþer humours couþe I telle also That wirken many a man in slep ful woo Line 4128 But I wol passe as light[l]y as I can lo Catoun which þat was so wis a man Sayde he nouȝt þus ne do no force of dremes Now sire quod sche whan we fle fro þise beemes Line 4132 For goddis loue as tak som laxatyf Vp peril of my soule and of my lyf I counsel ȝow þe best I wol not lye . . . . . Line 4136 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Though in þis toun is noon apotecarie I schal my-self tuo herbes techyn ȝow That schal be for ȝour hele and for ȝoure prow Line 4140 And in oure ȝerd þo herbes schal I fynde The whiche han of her proprete by kynde To purgen ȝow byneþe and eek aboue Forget not þis for goddis oughne loue Line 4144 ȝe ben ful colerik of complexioun ware þe sonne in his ascencioun Ne fynd ȝow not/ replet in humours hote And if it do I dar wel lay a grote [folio 240a] Line 4148

[6-text p 287] Line 4148 That ȝe schul haue a feuer terciane Or an agu þat may be ȝoure bane A day or tuo ȝe schul haue digestiues Of wormes er ȝe take ȝour laxatiues Line 4152 Of lauriol Century and fumytere Or elles of Elder bery þat growith þere / Of Catapus or of gaytre berijs Of erbe yue groweþ in our ȝerd þer mery is Line 4156 Pike hem vpright as þay growe and et hem In · Be mery housbond for ȝour fader kyn Drediþ non dremes I can say no more Ma dame quod he graunt mercy of ȝour lore Line 4160 But naþeles as touching daun Catoun That hath of wisdom such a gret renoun Though þat he bad no dremes for to drede By god men may in olde bookes rede Line 4164 Of many a man more of auctorite That euer catoun was so mot I the That al þe reuers sayn of his sentence And han wel founden by experience Line 4168 That dremes ben significaciouns As wel of ioye as of tribulaciouns That folk enduren in þis lif present Ther nedeth make of þis noon argument Line 4172 The verray preue schewith it in dede Oon of þe grettest auctorite þat men rede Saith þus · þat whilom tway felawes wente On pylgrimage in a ful good entente / Line 4176 And happed so þay com in to a toun wher as þer was such congregacioun Of people and eek so streyt of herbergage þat þay fond nouȝt as moche as oon cotage / Line 4180 In which þat þay might boþe I-logged be wherfor þay mosten of necessite As for þat night depart her compaignye And ech of hem goþ to his hostelrye Line 4184

[6-text p 288] Line 4184 And took his loggyng as it wolde falle That oon of hem was loggid in a stalle [folio 240b] Fer in a ȝerd with oxen of þe plough That oþer man was logged wel ynough Line 4188 As was his aduenture or fortune That vs gouernith alle in comune And so bifel þat long er it were day This oon met in his bed þer as he lay Line 4192 how þat his felaw gan vpon him calle And sayd allas for in an oxe stalle / This night I schal be murdrid þer I lye Now help me deere broþer or I dye Line 4196 In alle cum to me he sayde This man out of his slep for fer abrayde But whan þat he was waked out of his sleep he torned him and took of þis no keep Line 4200 him þought him dreem nas but a vanite / Thus twies in his sleepe dremed he And at/ þe þridde tyme ȝet his felawe Com as him þought and sayd I am now slawe Line 4204 Bihold my bloody woundes deep and wyde Arise vp erly in þe morwe tyde / And at the west gate of þe toun quod he / A cart of donge þere schalt þou see Line 4208 In which my body is hyd priuely Do þilke cart arresten boldely My gold caused my mourdre soþ to sayn And told him euery poynt how he was slayn Line 4212 with a ful pitous face pale of hewe And truste wel his dreem he fond ful trewe / For on þe morwe as sone as it was day To his felawes In he took þe way Line 4216 And whan þat he cam to þis oxe stalle After his felaw he bigan to calle / The hostiller answered him anoon And sayde sire ȝour felaw is agoon Line 4220

[6-text p 289] Line 4220 Als soone as day he went/ out of þe toun This man gan falle in a suspeccioun Remembring on his dremes þat he mette / And forth he goth no lenger wold he lette [folio 241a] Line 4224 Vnto þe west gate of þe toun and fond A dong cart went as it were to donge lond That was arrayed in þe same wise As ȝe han herd þe deede man deuise / Line 4228 And with an hardy hert he gan to crie Vengeaunce and iustice of þis felonye My felaw mordrid is þis same night And in þis carte . he lith heer vpright Line 4232 I crye out on þe ministres quod he / That schulde kepe and reule þis Cite harrow allas her lith my felaw slayn what schold I more vnto þis tale sayn Line 4236 The peple vpstert and caste þe carte to grounde / And in þe myddes of þe dong þay founde The dede man þat mordred was al newe / O blisful god þou art ful iust and trewe Line 4240 Lo how þow bywreyest mordre al day Mordre wil out certes it is no nay Morder is so wlatsom and abhominable To god that is so iust and resonable Line 4244 That he ne wold nouȝt suffre it hiled be Though it abyde a ȝeer or tuo or þre Morder wil out þis is my conclusioun And right anoon þe mynistres of þat toun Line 4248 Han hent þe carter and so sore him pyned And eek the hostiller so sore engyned That þay biknew her wikkednes anoon And were anhonged by þe nekke boon Line 4252 Here may men se þat dremys ben to drede And Certes in þe same book I rede Right in þe nexte Chapitre after þis I gabbe nought so haue I ioye or bliss Line 4256

[6-text p 290] Line 4256 Tuo men þat wolde haue passed ouer see / For certeyn causes in-to fer cuntre If þat þe wynd ne hadde ben contrarie That/ made hem in a Cite for to tarie Line 4260 That stood ful mery vpon an hauen syde / But on a day agayn þe euen tyde [folio 241b] The wynd gan chaunge and [blew] right as him list Iolyf and glad þey wenten vnto rest Line 4264 And casten hem ful erly for to sayle But herkneþ to þat oon man fel a gret meruayle That oon of hem in his slepyng as he lay him met a wonder drem a-gayn þe day Line 4268 him þought a man stood by his beddes syd And him comaunded þat he schuld abyde And sayd him þus if þou to morwe wende Thow schalt be dreynt my tale is at an ende Line 4272 ¶ He wook and told his felaw what he mette And prayde him his viage to lette As for þat day he prayd him to abyde his felaw þat lay by his beddis syde Line 4276 Gan to lawgh and scorned him ful fast No dreem quod he may so myn herte gaste / That I wil lette for to do my þinges I sette not a straw by þy dremynges Line 4280 For sweuens been but vanitees and iapes Men dreme al day of owles and of apes And eke of many a mase þer with al Men dreme of þinges þat neuer be schal Line 4284 But sith I see þat þou wilt her abyde / And þus forslouthe wilfully þy tyde God wot it reweth me and haue good day And þus he took his leue and went his way Line 4288 But er he hadde half his cours I-sayled Noot I nouȝt why. ne what meschaunce it ayled But casuelly þe schippes bothom rent And schip and man vnder þe watir went Line 4292

[6-text p 291] Line 4292 In sight of oþer schippes þer byside That with him sailed at þe same tyde And þerfore faire pertelot so deere By such ensamples olde maistow leere Line 4296 That no man scholde be to recheles Of dremes for I say þe douteles That many a dreem ful sore is for to drede Lo in þe lif of seint/ kenelm I rede [folio 242a] Line 4300 That was kenulphus sone þat noble king Of mertinrike how kenilm mette a þing A lutil he was mordred vpon a day His mordre in his auysioun he say Line 4304 His norice him expouned euerydel His sweuen and bad him for to kepe him wel For traisoun for he nas but seuen ȝer old And þerfore litel tale haþ he told Line 4308 Of eny drem so holy was his hert By god I hadde leuer þan my schert þat ȝe had rad his legend as haue I Dame pertelot I say ȝow trewely Line 4312 Macrobius þat writ þe avisioun In auffrik of þe worþy Cipioun Affermeþ dremes and saith þat þay been Warnyng of þinges þat men after seen Line 4316 And forþermore I pray ȝow lokeþ wel In þe olde testament of Daniel If he huld dremes eny vanyte / Rede eek of Ioseph and þer schal ȝe see / Line 4320 wheþir dremes ben som tyme I say nought alle warnyng of þinges þat schul after falle Lok of Egipt þe king daun pharao his baker and his botiler also Line 4324 whethir þay felte noon effect in dremis who-so wol seke actes of sondry remys May rede of dremes many a sondry þing Lo Cresus which þat was of lydes king Line 4328

[6-text p 292] Line 4328 Mette þat he sat vpon a tre which signified he schuld hanged be / Lo hir andromachia Ectors wif That day þat Ector schulde lese his lif Line 4332 Sche dremed on þe same night byforn how þat þe lif of Ector schulde be lorn If þilke day he wente to batayle / Sche warned him but it might nouȝt auaile / Line 4336 He wente forþ to fighte naþeles But he was slayn anoon of achilles [folio 242b] But þilke tale is al to long to telle/ And eek/ it is neigh day I may not duelle Line 4340 Schortly I say as for conclusioun That I schal haue of þis auisioun Aduersite and I say forþermore That I ne telle of laxatifs no store Line 4344 For þay ben venemous I wot it wel I hem defye I loue hem neuer a del Now let vs speke of mirthe and lete al þis Madame pertilot so haue I blis Line 4348 Of o þing god haþ me sent large grace For whan I see þe beaute of ȝour face Ȝe ben so scarlet hiew about ȝour eyȝen hit makith al my drede for to deyȝen Line 4352 For als siker as In principio Mulier est hominis confusio Madame þe sentence of þis latyn is womman is mannes ioye and mannes blis Line 4356 For when I fiele a-night ȝour softe syde / Al be it þat I may not on ȝou ryde For þat ȝour perche is mad so narrow allas / I am so ful of ioye and solas Line 4360 That I defye boþ sweuen and drem And with þat word he fleigh doun fro þe beem For it was day and eek his hennes alle with a chuk. he gan hem for to calle / Line 4364

[6-text p 293] Line 4364 For he had found a corn lay in þe ȝerd Real he was he was nomore aferd he fetherid pertelote. twenty tyme And trad as ofte er þat it was prime Line 4368 he lokith as it were a grim lioun And on his toon he romeþ vp and doun him deyneth not to set his foot to grounde And chukkiþ whan he haþ a corn I-founde Line 4372 And to him rennen þan his wifes alle Thus real as a prince is in his halle ¶ Leue I þis Chauntecler in his pasture And after wol I telle his aduenture [folio 243a] Line 4376 whan þat þe moneth in which þe world bigan That highte march whan god maked first man was complet and passed were also Syn march bygan tway monþes and dayes tuo Line 4380 Byfell þat Chauntecler in al his pride His seuen wyues walkyng by his syde Cast vp his eyȝen to þe brighte sonne That in þe signe of Taurus had I-ronne Line 4384 Twenty degrees and oon and som what more And knew by kynde and by noon oþer lore þat it was prime and crew with blisful steuen The sonne he sayde. is clomben vpon heuen Line 4388 Twenty degrees and oon and som what more I-wis Ma dame pertelot my worldes blis Herknith þese blisful briddes how þay synge / And seth þese freissche floures how þay springe Line 4392 Ful is myn hert of reuel and solaas But sodeinly him fel a sorwful caas For euer þe latter end of ioye is wo God wot þat worldly ioye is soone ago Line 4396 And if [a] Rethor couþe faire endite hem a Cronique saufly might he write As for a souerayn notabilite [¶ Petrus comestor] Now euery wys man let him herkne me Line 4400

[6-text p 294] Line 4400 This story is also trewe I vndertake As þe book is of Launcelot þe lake That womman huld in ful gret reuerence Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence Line 4404 A Colefox ful / sleigh of iniquite That in þe groue had woned ȝeres þre By heigh ymaginacioun forncast The same nighte þurgh þe hegge brast Line 4408 In to þe ȝerd þer Chaunteclere þe faire was went and eek his wyues to repaire And in a bed of wortes stille he lay Til it was passed vndern of þe day Line 4412 waytyng his tyme on Chaunteclere to falle / As gladly doon þese homicides alle [folio 243b] That in awayte lyn to morther men O false mordrer lurkyng in þy den Line 4416 O newe Scariot newe Genilon Fals dissimilour. greke Synon That broughtest troye al outrely to sorwe O Chauntecler. O cursed be þe morwe Line 4420 That þou in to þe ȝerd flough fro þe bemys Thow were ful wel I-warned by þy dremys That þilke day was perilous to þe But what þat god forwot most needes be / Line 4424 After þe opynyoun of certeyn clerkis witnesse on him þat eny clerk is That in scole is gret altercacioun In þis matier and gret desputesoun Line 4428 And hath ben of an hundred þousend men But ȝit I can not. bult it to þe bren As can þe holy doctor augustyn Or boece. or þe bisshop Bradwardyn Line 4432 Wheþer þat goddis worþy forwetyng Streigneth me needely for to do a þing Needely clepe I simple necessite Or elles. if fre choys be graunted me Line 4436

[6-text p 295] Line 4436 To do þat same þing or to do it nouȝt Though god forwot it er þat it was wrought Or of his wityng streyneþ neuer a deel But by necessite condicionel Line 4440 I wol not haue to do of such matiere My tale is of a Cok as ȝe schal hiere That took his counseil of his wyf with sorwe / To walken in þe ȝerd vpon þe morwe Line 4444 That he had met þe dreme þat I tolde wymmens counseiles ben fulofte colde wommannes counseil brouȝt vs first to woo And made adam fro paradys to go Line 4448 Ther as he was ful mery and wel at ease But for I not to him it might displease If I counseil of womman wolde blame Pas ouer for I sayd it in my game [folio 244a] Line 4452 Red auctours wher þay trete of such matiere And what þay sayn of wommen ȝe may heere These ben þe cokkes wordes and not myne I can / noon harme / of wommen diuine / Line 4456 Faire in þe sond to baþe hir merily lith pertelot and alle hir sustres by Agayn þe sonne and Chaunteclere so free Sang merier þan þe meremayd in þe see Line 4460 For phisiologus seith sicurly how þat þay syngen wel and merily And so byfel þat as he cast his ye Among þe wortes on a boterflye Line 4464 he was war of þis fox þat lay ful lowe No þing ne list him þanne for to crowe But cryde anoon. cok. cok/. and vp he stert As man þat was affrayed in his hert Line 4468 For naturelly a beest desireth flee Fro his contrarie if / he may it see þough he neuer er had sayn it with his ye þis Chaunteclere whan he gan it aspye Line 4472

[6-text p 296] Line 4472 he wold han fled but þat þe fox anon Said gentil sire / allas why wol ȝe goon Be ȝe affrayd of me þat am ȝoure frend Certes I were worse þan any feend Line 4476 If I to ȝow wold harm or vilonye I am nouȝt come ȝour counsail to espye . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 4480 But trewely ȝe haue als mery a steuen As eny aungel hath þat is in heuen Ther wiþ ȝe han in musik more felynge Than had Boece or eny þat can synge Line 4484 My lord ȝour fader god his soule blesse / And ȝoure moder of her gentilesse han in myn hous I-been to my gret ease And Certes sire ful fayn wold I ȝow please Line 4488 But for men speke of syngyng I wol say So mot I brouke wel myn yen tway Saue ȝe I herde neuer man so synge As dede ȝour fadir in þe morwenynge [folio 244b] Line 4492 Certes it was of hert al þat he song And for to make his vois þe more strong he wold so peynen him þat wiþ boþe his yen he moste wynke so lowde he wolde crien Line 4496 And stonden on his typtoon þer wiþ al And streche forth his necke long and smal And eek/ he was of such discressioun That þer nas no man in no regioun Line 4500 That him in song or wisdom mighte passe I haue wel rad in Daun Burnel thasse Among his verses how þer was a Cok For a prestes sone ȝaf him a knok Line 4504 vpon his leg whil he was ȝong and nyce He made him for to lese his benefice But certeyn þer is no comparisoun Bitwix þe wisdom and discressioun Line 4508

[6-text p 297] Line 4508 Of ȝoure fader and of his subtilte Now syngeþ sire for seinte charite let se can ȝe ȝour fader countrefete This Chanteclere his wynges gan to bete Line 4512 As man that couþe his tresoun nought espye So was he rauyssht wiþ his flaterie Allas lordynges many a fals flatour Is in ȝour hous and many a losengour Line 4516 That pleasen ȝow wel more by my faith Than he þat soþfastnesse vnto ȝow saith Rediþ Ecclesiast of flaterie Beþ war ȝe lordes of her treccherie / Line 4520 This Chaunteclere stood heihe vpon his toos Strecching his necke and his yhen cloos And gan to crowe lowde for þe noones/ And daun Russel þe fox stert vp at oones Line 4524 And by þe garget hente Chaunteclere And on his bak toward þe woode him bere For ȝit was þere / no man þat him sewed O desteny þat maist not ben eschiewed Line 4528 Allas þat Chaunteclere fleigh fro þe bemis Allas his wif roughte nought of dremis [folio 245a] And on a friday fel al þis meschaunce O venus þat art god of pleasaunce Line 4532 Syn þat þy seruant was þis Chaunteclere And in þy seruice did al his powere More for delit þan þe world to multiplie why woldest þou suffre him on þy day to dye Line 4536 O gaufred dere mayster souerayn That whan þe worþy king Richard was slayn with schot compleynedist/ his deþ so sore why ne had I nouȝt þy sentence and þy lore Line 4540 þe friday for to chiden as dede ȝe For on a fryday soþly slayn was he Than wold I schewe how þat I couþe pleyne / For Chauntecleres drede and for his peyne Line 4544

[6-text p 298] Line 4544 Certis such cry ne lamentacioun was neuer of ladies maad whan Ilioun was wonne and pirrus with his strit swerd whan he hente kyng priam by þe berd Line 4548 And slough him as saith vs Eneydos As maden alle þe hennes in þe clos whan þay had sayn of Chauntecler þe sight Nought soueraignly . dam pertelote schright Line 4552 Ful lowder þan did hasdrubaldes wyf whan þat hir housebond had lost/ his lyf And þat þe Romayns had I-brent Cartage Sche was so ful of torment and of rage / Line 4556 That wilfully vnto þe fuyr sche stert And brend hir seluen with a stedfast hert O woful hennes right so cride ȝe As whan þat Nero brente þe cite Line 4560 Of Rome criden þe senatoures wyues For þat her housbondes losten alle here lyues wiþouten gult þis nero hath hem slayn Now wol I torne to my matier agayn Line 4564 ¶ The sely wydow and hir doughtres tuo herden þese hennys crie and maken wo And out at dores starte þay anoon And sayden þe fox toward þe woode is goon [folio 245b] Line 4568 And bar vpon his bak þe cok away And criden out harrow and wayleway ha . ha . þe fox and after him þay ran And eek with staues many anoþer man Line 4572 Ran Colle our dogge and talbot and Garlond And Malkyn wiþ a distaf in hir hond Ran cow and calf and þe verray hoggoes So were þey fered for berkyng of dogges Line 4576 And schowtyng of þe men and wymmen eke Þay ronne þat þay þought her herte breke Thay ȝelleden as feeldes doon in helle The dokes criden as men wold hem quelle Line 4580

[6-text p 299] Line 4580 The gees for fere flowen ouer þe trees Out of þe hyues cam þe swarm of bees So hidous was þe noyse a benedicite Certes þough Iakke straw and his meyne Line 4584 Ne maden schoutes neuer half so schrille whan þat þay wolden eny flemyng kille / As þilke day was maad vpon þe fox Of bras þay brough hornes and of box Line 4588 Of horn of boon in which þay blew and powped And þer with al thay schryked and þay howped It semed as þat heuen schulde falle Now goode men I pray herkneþ alle / Line 4592 lo how fortune torneþ sodeinly The hope and pride eek of her enuy This Cok þat lay vpon þis foxes bak In al his drede vnto the fox he spak Line 4596 And saide sire if þat I were as ȝe Ȝet schuld I sayn as wis god helpe me Turneþ aȝein ȝe proude cherles alle A verray pestilens vpon ȝow falle / Line 4600 Now am I come vnto þis woodes syde / Maugre ȝoure heed þe Cok/ schal heer abyde I wol him ete in faith and þat anoon The Fox answerd in faith it schal be doon Line 4604 And whil he spak þat word al sodeinly This Cok brak from his mouth delyuerly [folio 246a] And heigh vpon a tree he fleigh anoon And whan þe fox seigh þat he was I-goon Line 4608 Allas quod he o. Chaunteclere allas I haue to ȝow quod he y-don trespas In as moche as I makid ȝow aferd whan I ȝow hent and brouȝt out of þe ȝerd Line 4612 But sire I dede it in no wicked entent Com doun and I schal telle ȝow what I ment I schal say soþ to ȝow god help me so Nay þan quod he I schrew vs boþe tuo Line 4616

[6-text p 300] Line 4616 And first I schrew my self boþe blood and boones If þou bigile me. any ofter þan oones Thou schalt no more þurgh þy flaterye Do me to synge and wynke with myn ye Line 4620 For he þat wynkith whan he scholde se Al wilfully god let him neuer the Nay quod þe Fox but god ȝiue him meschaunce / þat is so vndiscret of gouernaunce / Line 4624 þat iangleth whan he scholde holde his pees Lo such it is for to be recheles And necligent and trust on flaterie / But ȝe þat holde / þis tale a folye / Line 4628 As of a Fox. or of a cok or of an hen Takith þe moralite goode men For seint poul saiþ þat al þat writen is To oure doctrine it is I-write I-wys Line 4632 Takith þe fruyt and let þe chaf be stille Now goode god. if þat it be þy wille As saith my lor so make vs alle good men And bring vs alle. to his blisse ameN Line 4636

¶ Here endeþ þe tale of Chaunteclere and pertelote [[No break in the MS.]]