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

¶ De Ira.[from the margin]

[533]

AFter enuye wol I descryuen þe synne of Ire. For soþely who so haþ enuye vpon his neighebor; anoon he wol comunly fynde him a matiere of wraþþe in word or in dede agayns him to whom he haþ envie. [534] and as wel comeþ Ire of pride

[6-text p 632] as of enuye ¶ For soþly he þat is proud or enuyous is lightly wroth.

[535] þis synne of Ire after þe descryuyng of seint austyn is wikked wille to ben auengid by word or by dede [536] ¶ Ire afte þe philosofer is þe feruent blood of man I-quiked in his hert þurgh which he wolde harm to him þat him hatiþ [537] ¶ For certes þe hert of man by eschawfyng and mornyng of his blood waxith so trouble / þat he is out of alle Iuggements of resoun [538] ¶ But ȝe schal vnder-stonde þat ire is in tuo maneres. þat oon of hem is good. þat oþer is wikke [539] ¶ The good Ire is by ialousy of goodnesse þurgh which a man is wroþ wiþ wikkidnes. and . . . . . [no gap] þer|fore saith a wise man þat ire is bet þan play. [540] This Ire is with deboneirete. and it is wroþ wiþ|oute bitternes. not wroth with þe man; but wroþ wiþ þe mys dedes of þe man as saiþ þe prophet dauid ¶ Irascimini & nolite peccare. &c [541] ¶ Now vnderstonde þat wikked Ire is in tuo maners þat is to sayn sodeyn Ire or hastif Ire wiþoute auysement and consenting of resoun. [542] the menynge and þe sentence of þis is þat þe resoun of a man ne con|sentith not to þilke sodein Ire. And þanne is it venial [543] ¶ anoþer Ire is ful wicked þat comeþ of felony of herte auysed & cast biforn with wickid wille to do vengeaunce and þerto his resoun consentith. and sothely þis is deedly synne. [544] þis ire is so dis|plesaunt to god þat it troublith his hous and chaceth þe holy gost out of mannes soule and wastith and de|stroyeth þe liknes of god . þat is to say þe vertu þat is in mannes soule [545] and put in him þe like|nes of þe deuel and bynymeth þe man fro god þat is his rightful lord [546] ¶ This Ire is a ful greet plesaunce to þe deuel. for it is þe deueles fornays þat is eschaufid wiþ þe fuyr of helle [547] ¶ For certes

[6-text p 633] right so as fuyr is more mighty to destroye erþely þinges þan eny oþer element; Right so Ire is mighty to destroye alle spirituel þinges [548] ¶ loke how þat fuyr of smale gledis þat ben almost dede vnder asshen wolden quiken agayn whan þay ben touched . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [folio 267b] by pride þat is couered in mannes herte [549] ¶ For certes fuyr may nouȝt come out of no þing . . . . . [no gap] naturelly as fuyr is drawe out of flintes with steel [550] ¶ Right so as pride is often tyme mater of Ire; Right so is Rancour norice and keper of Ire [551] ¶ Ther is a maner tree as saiþ seint Isydre . þat whan men maken fuyr of þilke tree and couer þe colis wiþ asshen; soþly þe fuyr of it wol lasten al a ȝer or more. [552] And right so fareþ it of rancour whan it oones is conceyued in þe hertis of som men; certein it wol lasten fro oon estren day vntil anoþer ester day and more. [553] but certis þilke man is ful fer fro þe mercy of god al þilke while

[554] ¶ In þis forsaide deueles fornays þer forgen þre schrewes. pride þat/ ay blowith & encresith þe fuyr by chidyng and wickid wordis [555] ¶ þanne stont enuye and blowith þe hoote Iren vpon þe hert/ of man wiþ a paire of longe tonges of rancour [556] and þanne þe sinne of contumelie or strif and cheste and baterith and forgeth by vileyns repreuynges [557] ¶ Certes þis cursed synne annoyeth boþe to þe man himsilf and eek to his neighebor ¶ For soþely almost al þe harm þat eny man doth to his neighebour comeþ þurgh wraþþe [558] ¶ For certis outrageous wraþþe doþ al þat euer þe deuyl him comaundeth. For he ne spareþ neyþer crist ne his moodir. [559] and in his out|rage anger and Ire. allas ful many oon at þat tyme felith in his herte ful wikkedly

[6-text p 634] boþe of crist and eek of alle his halwes. [560] Is nat þis a cursed vice; yis certis. it bynymeth fro man his witte and his resoun and al his deboneire lyf spirituel þat scholde kepen his soule [561] ¶ Certes it bynymeþ eek goddis dewe lordschipe and þat is mannes soule. and þe loue of his neighebor. hit stryueþ eek alday agayns trouþe ¶ It reueth him eek þe quiete of his hert and subuertith his herte and his soule

[562] ¶ Of ire comeþ þese stynkynge engendrures ¶ First hate þat is old wraþþe discord þurgh which a man forsakiþ his olde frend þat he haþ loued ful longe. [563] and þanne comeþ werre and euery maner of wronge þat man doth to his neighebor in body or catel [564] ¶ Of þis cursed synne of Ire comeþ eek manslaughter. And vnderstonde wel þat homicidie þat is man-slaughter is in diuers wise. ¶ Som maner of homicidie is spirituel and som is bodily. [565] [folio 268a] Spirituel manslaughter is in sixe þinges ¶ First by hate as saith seint Iohan ¶ he þat hateþ his broþer is an homicide. [566] homicide is eek by bak-bytyng of whiche bakbiters saith Salamon þat þay haue twaye swerdes with whiche þay slen here neighebors. For soþely as wikke is to bynyme his good name as his lif. [567] homicidy is eek in ȝeuyng of wikkid counseil by fraude as for to ȝeue counseil to areyse wicked and wrongful custumes and taliages [568] of whiche saiþ Salomon ¶ leoun roryng and bere hungry ben like to þe cruel lordschipes in wiþholdyng or abbrigging of þe schipe or the hyre or þe wages of seruauntes or ellis in vsure or in withdrawyng of almes of pore folk [569] For whiche þe pore man saith ¶ Feedith him þat almost dyeth for hunger. for soþely but if þou feede him; þou slest him and eek þese ben dedly synnes. [570] bodily manslaughter is. whan þou sleest him wiþ þy tonge in oþer manere as whan þou comaundist to slen a man or elles ȝiuest counseil to slee a

[6-text p 635] man [571] ¶ Manslauȝter in dede is in foure maneres ¶ That oon is by lawe. Right as a Iustice dampnith him þat is coupable to þe deth. But let þe Iustice be war þat he do it rightfully and þat he do it nought for delit to spille blood; but for keping of rightwis|nes [572] ¶ Anoþer homicidy is doon for necessite. as whan a man sleþ anoþer him defendaunt. and þat he may noon oþer wise eschape fro his deth. [573] but certeynly if he may escape wiþ|oute slaughter of his aduersarie and sleth him he doth synne and he schal bere penaunce as for dedly synne. [574] ¶ Ek if a man by caas or aduenture schete an arwe or cast a stoon wiþ which he sleþ a man; he is an homicide. [575] Eke if a womman by negligence ouerlye hir child in hir sleping it is homicide and deedly synne [576] ¶ Eke whan man distourbith con|cepcioun of a child and makith a womman ouþer bareyn by drinke of venenous herbis þurgh whiche sche may nouȝt conceyue or sleth a child by drynkes. or elles putteþ certeyn material þinges in secre place to slee þe child. [577] or elles doþ vnkyndely synne by which man or womman schedith here nature in ma[n] or in place þer as þe child may nought be con|ceyued. or ellis if a womma[n] haue conceyued and hurt hirself and sleth þe child ȝit is it homycidie [578] [folio 268b] ¶ What say we eek of wommen þat mordren here children for drede of worldly schame. Certes an horrible homicidy. [579] homicidy is eek if a man ap|proche to a womman by desir of lecchery þurgh þe which þe child is perischt or elles smitith a womman wytyngly þurgh which sche sleeth hir child. alle þese ben homi|cides . . . . . [no gap] [580] ¶ Ȝit cometh þer of Ire many mo synnes as wel in word as in werk & þought. As he þat arettith vpon god and blamith god of þing of which he is himself gulty or despisith god and alle his halwes as doon þese cursed hasardours

[6-text p 636] in diuers cuntrees. [581] þis cursed synne don þay whan þay felen in here herte ful wickidly of god and his halwes [582] ¶ also whan þay treten vnreuerently þe sacrament of þe auter. þilke synne is so gret þat vnneþe may it be relessed but þat þe mercy of god passith alle his werkes. and is so gret and so benigne [583] ¶ Thanne comeþ of Ire attry anger whan a man is scharply amonested in his schrifte to for|lete synne; [584] þanne wol he be angry and answere hokerly and angrily and defenden or excusen his synne by vnstedefastnesse of his fleisch. or elles he dede it to holde companye with his felawes. or ellis he saith þe fend entised him. [585] or elles he dide it for his ȝouthe. or ellis his complexioun is so corrageous þat he may not forbere. or ellis it is desteny. as he saith. . . . . [no gap] it comeþ him of gentilesce of his auncetrie and semblable þinges [586] ¶ Alle þese maner of folk so wrappen hem in here synnes þat þay wol nouȝt deliuer hemself ¶ For soþely no wight þat excuseth him wilfully of his synne may nought / be deliuered of his synne til þat he mekely biknoweþ his synne. [587] ¶ After þis þanne . . . . . [no gap] þat is expres agayns þe comaundementȝ of god & þis bifallith often of angir and of Ire [588] ¶ God saith. þou schalt not take þe name of þy lord god in vayn or in ydil. ¶ Also oure lord ihū crist saith by þe word of seint. Mathew . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [589] ¶ Ne wol ȝe not swere in alle manere. neither by heuen for it is goddes trone. ne by þe eorþe for it is þe benche of his feet. ne by ierusalem; for it is þe cite of a gret king. ne by þin heed; þou may nought make an her whit ne blak. [590] but sayeth by ȝoure word ȝe. ȝe. and nay. nay. and what it is more; it / is of euel. þus saith ihū crist [591] ¶ For cristes sake swereþ not so synfully in dismembring of crist. for cristes sake. bi

[6-text p 637] soule. [folio 269a] herte. boones and body. For certes it semeþ þat ȝe þenke þat cursed Iewes ne dismembrit nought ynough· þe precious persone of crist. but ȝe dismembre him more. [592] and if so be þat þe lawe com|pelle ȝow to swere. þanne reule ȝow after þe lawe of god in ȝoure swering as saiþ. Ieremie capitulo .iiij^to . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] ¶ Thou schalt kepe þre condiciouns. þou schalt swere in trouþe in doom and in rightwisnes [593] þis is to sayn. þou schalt swere soth. For euery lesyng is agayns crist. for crist is verray trouþe and þink wel þis þat euery gret swerer not compellid lawfully to swere þe wonder schal not departe fro his hous whil he vseth such vnleful sweringe [594] ¶ þou schalt eek swere in doom whan þou art constreigned by þy domes|man to witnesse þe trouþe. [595] eek þou schalt not swere for enuye ne for fauour ne for meede but / for rightwisnesse for declaring of it to worschip of god and helping of þin euen|cristen [596] and þerfore euery man þat takiþ goddes name in ydil or falsly sweriþ with his mouth or elles takiþ on him þe name of crist and callith himself a cristen man and lyueth agayn cristes lyuyng and his teching alle þay take cristes name in ydel [597] ¶ loke eek what saith seint peter Actuum ca^o. iiij^to ¶ Non est aliud nomen sub celo &c ¶ Ther is noon oþer name saith seint peter vnder heuen ne ȝeuen to noon men in which þay mowe be saued þat is to sayn but in þe name of ihū crist [598] ¶ Tak heede eek how þe precious name of crist as saith seint poule ad philippenses .ij^o. In nomine ihū &c ¶ That in þe name of ihū euery kne of heuenly creatures or erþely or of helle schulde bowe and . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] tremble to heeren it nempned. [599] ¶ Thanne semeþ it þat men þat sweren so horribly by his

[6-text p 638] blessed name þat þay despise it more bodyly þan dede þe cursed Iewes or elles þe deuel þat tremblith whan he heerith his name

[600] ¶ Now certis sith þat swering but it be lawfully doon is so heihly defendid; moche wors is forswering falsly and ȝit needeles

[601] what say we eek of hem þat deliten hem in swering and holden it a gentery or manly dede / to swere grete othis. and what of hem þat of verray vsage / ne cessen nouȝt to swere grete oþis al be not þe cause worþ a strawe; certes þis is horrible synne [602] ¶ Sweryng sodeynly wiþout auysement is eek a synne [603] ¶ But let vs now go to þilke horrible sweryng of adiuracioun and coniuraciouns as [folio 269b] doon þese false en|chauntours or nigromanciens in bacines ful or in a bright swerd in a churche or in a fuyr or in þe schulder bon of a scheep [604] ¶ I can not sayn but þat þay doon cursedly and dampnably agains þe faith of holy chirche

[605] what say we of hem þat bilieuen on diuinailes as by flight or by nois of briddes or of bestes or by sort by geomancie. by dremes. by chirkyng of dores or crakking of howses. by gnawyng of rattis and such maner wrecchidnes [606] ¶ Certes al þis þing is defended by god and holy chirche for whiche þay ben accursed til þay come to amendement þat on such filthe bisetten here bileeue. [607] Charmes for woundes or malady of men or of bestes if þay take eny effect. it may be paraduenture þat god suffreþ hit for folk schulde ȝeue þe more faiþ and reuerence to his name

[608] ¶ Now wol I speke of lesynge whiche gener|ally is fals signifiaunce of word in entent to desceyuen his euencristen [609] Som lesyng is of whiche þer cometh noon auauntage to noon wight and som lesyng torneþ to þe ease or profit of som man.

[6-text p 639] and to damage of an oþer man [610] ¶ Anoþer lesyng for to saue his lif or his catel . . . . . [no gap] comeþ of delit/ for to lye. in which delit þay wol forge a long tale and paynte it with alle circumstaunces wher as þe ground of þe tale is fals [611] ¶ Som lesyng comeþ. For he wolde susteyne his word ¶ Som lesyng cometh of rechelesnes wiþoute auisement and sem|blable þinges

[612] ¶ lat vs now touche þe vice of flaterie which cometh not gladly but for drede or for coueitise [613] ¶ Flaterie is generally wrongful preysing. Flater|ers ben þe deueles norices þat norisshen his children wiþ mylk of þe losingerie. [614] forsoþe Salamon saith þat flaterie is worse þan detraccioun. for som tyme de|traccioun makith an hawteyn man be þe more humble for he dredith detraccioun ¶ But certes flaterie makith a man to enhaunsen his hert/ and his countenaunce [615] ¶ Flaterers ben þe deueles enchauntours. For þay maken man to wene of himself þat he is like to þat he is nouȝt like. [616] Þay ben like Iudas þat bitraised . . . . . [no gap] to selle him to his enemy þat is þe deuel [617] ¶ Flaterers ben þe deueles chapeleyns þat singen ay. placebo. [618] I rekene flaterers in þe vices of Ire. For ofte tyme if oon man be wroþ wiþ anoþer. þanne wol he flatere som man to mayntene him in his querel

[619] Speke we now of such cursyng as comeþ of Irous hert malisoun generally may be said euery maner power of harm. such [folio 270a] cursyng bireueþ man fro þe regne of god as saiþ seint poule [620] ¶ And ofte tyme such cursyng wrongfully retourneþ agayn to hym þat curseth as þat retourneþ agayn to his owne nest. [621] and ouer alle þinges men oughten eschewe to cursen here oughne children and ȝiue to þe deuel here engendrure as ferforth as in hem is Certis it is gret peril and gret synne

[6-text p 640]

[622] ¶ let vs þanne speke of chydynge and reproche whiche þat ben ful grete woundes in mannes hert . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] [623] ¶ For certis vnneþe may a man plainly ben accordid with him þat him openly reuyled and reproued and disclaundrid. þis is a ful grisly synne as crist saith in þe gospel. [624] and takith keep now þat he þat reproueþ his neighebor. ouþer he reproueþ him by som harm of peyne. . . . .[625]. . . . . [no gap in the MS.] þanne tornith þe reproef to ihū crist. For peyne is sent by þe rightwis sonde of god and by his suffraunce be it meselrie or many oþer maladies. [626] and if he repreue him vncharitably as þou holour þou dronk|elewe harlot and so forth þanne aperteyneth þat to þe reioysing of þe deuel þat euer haþ ioye þat men doon synne. [627] And certis chidyng may nought come but out of a vileins herte ¶ For after þe abundaunce of þe herte spekeþ þe mouth ful ofte. [628] and ȝe schal vnderstonde þat loke by any way whan any man schal chastise anoþer þat he be war fro chyding or repreuyng. For trewely but he be war; he may ful lightly quiken þe fuyr of anger and of wraþþe which þat he schulde quenchen: and par auenture sleþ þat he mighte chaste with benig|nite. [629] for as saiþ salamon ¶ The amiable tonge is þe tree of lif þat is to sayn of lif espirituel. and soþely dislaue tonge sleþ þe spirit of him . . . . . [no gap] þat is repreued [630] ¶ lo what saith seint augustyn ¶ Ther is no þing so lik þe fendes child as he þat ofte chideþ ¶ Seint poule seiþ eek I seruaunt of god bihoueth nouȝt to chide. [631] and þough þat chidyng be a vileins þing bitwixe alle maner folk/; ȝit is it certes more vncouenable bitwix a man and his wif. For þer is neuer rest

[6-text p 641] And þerfore saith Salamon ¶ An hous þat is vncouered & droppyng and a chidyng wyf ben like [632] a man þat is in dropping hous in many partes þough he eschewe þe dropping in oon place; it droppeþ on him in anoþer place ¶ So farith it by a chydinge wyf; But sche chide him in oon place; sche wol chide him in anoþer [633] ¶ And þerfore better is a morsel of bred with ioye þan an hous ful of delices with chyding seiþ Salamon [634] [folio 270b] ¶ Seint poul saith ¶ O ȝe wommen be ȝe sugettis to ȝoure housbondes as bihoueþ in god. And ȝe men loueth ȝoure wyues ad Colocenses iij^o.

[635] ¶ Afterward speke we of scornyng which is a wikked þing and sinful and namely whan he scornith a man for his goode workes [636] ¶ For certes suche scornes faren lik þe foule toode þat may nought endure þe soote smel of þe vine roote whan it florischith. [637] þese scorners ben partyng felawes wiþ þe deuel. For þay han ioye whan þe deuel wynneth and sorwe whan he leseth [638] ¶ Thay ben aduersaries of Ihū crist. for þay haten þat he loueth þat is to saye sauacioun of soule

[639] Speke we now of wikked counseil ¶ For he þat wickid counseil ȝiueth. he is a traytour. for he deceyueþ him þat trusteþ in him ¶ vt achitofel ad absolonem ¶ But naþeles ȝet is his wikkid counseil first aȝens him|self [640] ¶ For as saith the wise man ¶ Euery fals lyuyng haþ þis proprete in him self. þat he þat wil annoye anoþer man; he annoyeth first himself. [641] ¶ and men schul vnderstonde þat men schulde nought take his counseil of fals folk ne of angry folk/ . . . . .] ne of folk þat louen specially to moche her oughne profyt ne in to moche worldly. folk. namely in coun|selyng of soules

[642] Now comeþ þe synne of hem þat sowen and maken discord amonges folk which is a synne þat/

[6-text p 642] crist hateþ outrely . and no wonder is. for god died for to make concord. [643] and more schame do þay to crist þan dede þay þat him crucifiede ¶ For god loueth bettre þat frendschipe be amonges folk ¶ þanne he dide his owne body which þat/ he ȝaf for vnite. þerfore ben þay likned to þe deuel þat euer ben aboute to make discord

[644] ¶ Now comith þe sinne of double tonge. suche as speken faire biforn folk and wikkedly bihynde or elles þay make semblaunt as þough þay speke of good entencioun or ellis in game & play and ȝit þay speke in wikked entent

[645] ¶ Now comeþ þe wreying of counseil þurgh which a man is famed ¶ Certes vnnethe may he restore þat damage

[646] ¶ Now comeþ manace þat is an open foly. For he þat ofte man[a]ceth he threttith more þan he may parfourme ful ofte tyme

[647] ¶ Now comeþ Idel wordes þat is wiþoute profyt of him þat spekith þo wordes and eek of him þat herkeneþ þo wordes. or elles ydel wordes ben þo þat ben needeles or wiþouten entent of naturel profyt [648] and al be it þat ydil wordes ben som tyme venial synne; ȝit schulde men doute hem. For we schuln ȝiue rekenynge of hem bifore [folio 271a] god

[649] ¶ Now comith iangeling þat/ may nouȝt be wiþ|oute synne as saith Salamon ¶ It is a signe of apert folie [650] and þerfore a philosophre whan men askid him how men schulde plese þe poeple and he answerde ¶ Do many goode werkes. and spek/ fewe iangeles

[651] ¶ After þis comeþ þe synne of iapers þat ben þe deueles apes For þay maken folk to laughen at here iapes or iaperie as folk doon at/ þe gaudes of an ape / Suche iapes defendith seint poule [652] ¶ Loke how þat vertuous and holy wordes conforten hem

[6-text p 643] þat trauailen in þe seruice of crist; Right so conforten þe violent wordes and knakkis and iaperies hem þat trauayle in þe seruice of þe deuyl [653] ¶ These ben þe synnes þat/ comeþ of . . . . . [no gap] Ire and of oþer synnes [[No break in the MS.]]