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

¶ Remedium contra Iram

[654]

REmedye agayns ire is a vertue þat men clepe mansuetude. þat is deboneirte. And eek anoþer vertue þat men clepe pacience or sufferaunce.

[655] debonairete wiþdrawith and restreigneþ þe stiringes and þe moeuynges of mannys corrage in his herte in such manere þat þai ne skip not out by anger ne by Ire [656] ¶ Suffraunce suffrith swetely al þe annoyaunce and þe wronges þat men doon to man outward [657] ¶ Seint Ierom saiþ þus of debonairte. þat it doþ noon harm to no wight ne saith ne for noon harm þat men doon ne sayn. he ne eschaufith nought agayns his resoun [658] ¶ This vertu comiþ som tyme of nature ¶ For as saith þe philosopher man is a quik þing by nature and tretable to goodnesse ¶ But whan debonairete is enformed of grace; þan is it þe more worþ

[659] ¶ Pacience þat is anoþer remedie. agains Ire is a vertu þat suffreth swetely euery mannes goodnes as is not wroþ for noon harm þat is doon to him. [660] þe philosopher saith þat pacience is þilke vertue þat suffrith deboneirly alle þe outrages of aduersite and euery wickid word [661] ¶ This vertue makiþ a man lik to god and makith him goddes oughne dere child as saiþ crist ¶ þis vertu destroyeþ þin enemy and þerfore saith þe wise man ¶ If þou wolt venquisch þin enemy lerne to suffre [662] ¶ And þou schalt vnderstonde þat man suffrith foure maners

[6-text p 644] of greuaunces in outward þinges. agains whiche he moot haue foure maners of pacience

[663] ¶ The firste greuaunce is of wicked wordes. þilke suffred Ihū crist wiþoute grucching ful paciently whan þe iewes despised him and reproued him ful ofte. [664] suffre þou þerfore paciently ¶ For þe wise man saiþ ¶ If [folio 271b] þou striue with a fool. þough þe fool be wroþ or þough he laughhe algate þou schalt haue no rest [665] ¶ That oþer greuaunce outward is to haue damage of þi catel; þer agayn suffred crist ful paciently whan he was despoylid of al þat he had in his lif and þat nas but his cloþis [666] ¶ The þridde greuaunce is. a man to haue harm in his body. þat suffred crist/ ful paciently in al his passioun [667] ¶ The ferþe greuaunce is in outrageous labour in werkis wherfore I say þat folk þat maken here seruauntȝ to trauaile to greuously or out of tyme as on haly dayes. soþely þay doon greet synne [668] ¶ Here against suffred crist ful paciently and taughte vs pacience whan he bar vpon his blisful schulder þe croys vpon which he schulde suffre despitous deth. [669] here may men lerne to be pacient. For certes nought oonly cristen ben pacient for þe loue of ihū crist and for guerdoun of þe blisful life þat is perdurable But þe olde paynymes þat neuer were cristen comaundedin and vseden þe vertu of pacience

[670] ¶ A philosopher vpon a tyme þat wolde haue bete his disciple for his grete trespas. For which he was gretly amoeued and brought a ȝerde to scoure þe child. [671] & whan þe child saugh þe ȝerde; he sayde to his maister ¶ what þenke ȝe to do ¶ I wolde bete þe quod þe maister for þi correccioun [672] Forsoþe quod þe child. ȝe oughte first correcte ȝoure silf þat han left al ȝoure pacience for þe gilt of a child [673] ¶ For soþe quod þe maister al wepyng. þou

[6-text p 645] saist soth. haue þou þe ȝerde my deere sone and correcte me for myn impacience. [674] Of pacience comeþ obedience. þurgh which a man is obedient to crist/ and to alle hem to which him oughte to be obedient in crist. [675] and vnderstonde wel þat obedience is parfyt. whan a man doþ gladly & hastily with good herte outrely al þat he scholde do [676] ¶ Obedience is generally to parforme þe doctrine of god and of his soueraignes to whiche him oughte to ben obeissant in alle rightwisnes. [[No break in the MS.]]

[677]

AFter þe synne of enuye and Ire. now wol I speke of . . . [no gap] accidie. For enuye blendith þe hert of a man and Ire troublith a man and accidie makith him heuy. þoughtful. and wrawe [678] ¶ Enuye and Ire maken bitternes in herte. which bitternesse is mooder of accidie and bynimith þe loue of alle goodnes. þanne is accidie þe anguische of trouble hert and seint augustyn saith . . . . . [no gap] [679] ¶ Certes þis is a dampnable synne. For it doþ wrong to Ihū [folio 272a] crist in as moche as it bynymeþ þe seruice þat we ought to do to crist wiþ alle diligence as saiþ Salomon [680] ¶ But accidie doþ noon such diligence. he doþ alle þing wiþ anoy and with drawenes. slaknes and excusacioun. and with ydelnes & vnlust for which þe book saith ¶ Accursed be he þat doþ þe seruice of god necligently [681] . . . . . [no gap] enemy to euery astaat of man ¶ For certes þestat of . . . . .[682] . . . [no gap in the MS.] Innocence. as was þastate of adam biforn þat he fel in to synne in which estate he is holden to worche as in herying and honouryng of god [683] ¶ Anoþer astat is þe state of sinful man. in which estate. men ben holden

[6-text p 646] to labore in praying to god for amendement of her synnes. and þat he wolde graunte hem to rise of here synnes [684] ¶ Anoþer estaat is þestate of which he is holde to werkis of penitence and certes to alle þese þinges is accidie enuye con|trarie for it loueþ no busynes at al [685] ¶ Now certis þis foule synne accidie is eek a ful gret enemy to þe liflode of þe body For it hath no purueaunce aȝens temperel necessite. for it forslowthith and for|sluggith and destroyeth alle goodes temporels by rechelesnes

[686] ¶ The ferþe þing is þat accidie is like hem þat ben in þe peyne of helle by cause of her slouþe and of her heuynes For þay þat ben dampned ben so bounde þat þay may nought wel do ne wel þenke [687] ¶ Of accidie cometh first þat a man is annoyed and encombrid for to do eny goodnes. and makith that god haþ abhominacioun of such accidie as saith seint Iohan.

[688] ¶ Now comeþ slouþe þat wol suffre noon hardnes ne no penaunce For soþely slouþe is so tendre and so delicat as saith Salomon þat he wol suffre noon hardnes ne penaunce. and þerfore he schendeth al þat he doth [689] ¶ Agayns þis roten hertid synne of accidie and of slouthe schulden men exercise hemself to do goode werkes and manly and vertuously cacchin corrage wel to doo. þink|ing þat oure lord ihū crist quiteþ euery good dede be it neuer so lyte. [690] ¶ Vsage of labour is a ful greet þing. for it makith as saiþ seint Bernard þe laborer to haue stronge armes and harde synewes ¶ And slouthe maketh hem feble and tendre [691] ¶ Thanne comeþ drede to bygynne to werke eny goode deedes; For certes what þat is enclined to don synne him þinkith it is so gret emprise for to vndertake to doon werkes of goodnes [692] / as . . . . .

[6-text p 647] . . . . . [no gap] saiþ seynt gregory

[693] ¶ Now comeþ wanhope þat is despair of þe mercy of god þat comeþ som tyme of to moche out|rageous sorwe [folio 272b] and som tyme of to moche drede ymagyn|ynge þat he haþ do so moche synne þat it wil not auaile him þough he wolde repent him and forsake synne. [694] þurgh which despeir or drede he abundith al his herte to alle maner synne as seith seint augustin. [695] whiche dampnable synne if þat it continue vnto his lyues ende it is cleped synnyng of þe holy gost. [696] This horrible synne is so perilous. þat he þat is despaired þer is no felonye ne no synne þat he doutith for to do. as schewed wel by Iudas. [697] Certes aboue alle synnes. þan is þis synne most displesant to crist and most aduersarie [698] sothely he þat despisith him is like þe coward campioun recreaunt þat seith recreaunt wiþoute neede. allas allas needeles is he recreaunt and needeles despaired [699] ¶ Certes þe mercy of god is euer redy to þe penitent and is aboue alle his werkes. [700] allas can not a man byþenk him on þe gospel of seint luk/ wher as crist saith þat as wel schal þer be ioye in heuen vpon a synful man þat doþ penitence as vpon nynety and nyne þat ben rightful men þat . . . . . [no gap] needen no penitence [701] ¶ loke forþer in þe same gospel þe ioye and þe fest of þe goode man þat had lost his sone. whan þe sone with repentaunce was torned to his fader [702] ¶ Can not þay remembre eek þat as saiþ seint luk xxiij^o. how þat þe þef þat was hangid biside ihū crist sayde ¶ lord remembre of me whan þou comest in to þy regne [703] ¶ Forsoþe saith crist. to day þou schalt be wiþ me in paradis [704] ¶ Certis þer is noon so horrible synne of

[6-text p 648] man þat it may in his lif be destroyed with penitence þorugh vertu of passioun of þe deth of crist [705] ¶ Allas what needith it man þanne to be despaired sith þat his mercy is so redy and large. aske and haue [706] ¶ Thanne comeþ sompnolent þat is sluggy slumbring which makiþ a man ben heuy and dul in body and in soule. and þis synne comeþ of slouþe [707] and certes þe tyme þat by way of resoun man schulde nouȝt slepe þat is by þe morwe but if þer were cause resonable [708] For soþely þe morwe tyde is most/ couenable to a man to say his prayers and for to þenk vpon his god and to honoure god and to ȝeue almes to þe pore þat first comeþ in þe name of crist [709] ¶ lo what saith Salamon. ¶ who-so wol by þe morwe arise and seeke me schal fynde [710] ¶ þan comeþ negligence that/ rekkith of no þing and how þat ignoraunce be moder of alle harm; Certis necgligence is þe norice [711] ¶ Necligence doþ no force whan he schal doon a þing whethir he doo it wel or baddely

[712] ¶ Of þe remedy of þese tuo synnes as saith [folio 273a] þe wise man ¶ That he þat dredith god he sparith nouȝt to do þat him ought to don. [713] and he þat loueth god wol do diligence to plese god by his werkis and abounde himself with alle his mightes wel for to doon [714] ¶ Thanne comith ydelnes þat is þe ȝate of alle [¶ Omnium ma|lorum mater est negligencia] harmes. and ydil man is like an hous þat/ haþ noone walles. þe deueles may entre on euery syde or schete at him at discouert/ by temptaciouns on euery syde [715] ¶ This ydelnes is þe thurrok/ of alle wickid vileyns þoughtes and of alle iangles tryfles and of alle ordure [716] ¶ Certes þe heuen is ȝeuen to hem þat wol laboure and nouȝt to ydil folk ¶ Eke dauid saith That / þay ne ben not in þe labour of men ne þay schul not be wiped with men þat is to sain in purgatorie

[6-text p 649] [717] ¶ Certes þanne semeth it þat þay schal be tormentid wiþ þe deuel in helle but if þay don penitence

[718] ¶ þanne comith þe synne þat men clepe tarditas. as whan a man is so latrede or tarying er he wil torne to god. and certis þat is a gret foly. he is like him þat fallith in to þe diche and wol not arise / [719] And þis vice cometh of a fals hope þat he þinkith he schal lyue longe. but þat hope fayleþ ful ofte

[720] ¶ þanne comith laches. þat is he when he bigynneth any good werk anoon he wol forlete it and stynte as doon þay þat/ han eny wight to gouerne. and ne take of hem no more keep anoon as þay fynde eny contrarie or eny anoy [721] ¶ þese ben þe newe schepherdes þat leten her schep wityngely go renne to þe wolf þat is in þe breres or don no force of her oughne gouernaunce. [722] Of þis comeþ pouert and destruccioun boþe of spirituel and of temperel þinges ¶ Thanne comeþ a maner of coldenesse þat freseþ al þe hert of man [723] þanne cometh vndeuocioun þurgh which a man is so blunt & as saiþ seint Bernard he haþ such a langour in soule þat he may neyþeir rede ne synge in holy chirche ne heere ne þinke on deuocioun in holy chirche ne trauayle with his hondes in no good werk þat nys þo him vnsauory and al [724] þanne waxith he slow and slombry and soone wol he be wroþ and soone is enclined to hate and to enuye [725] ¶ þanne comith þe synne of worldly sorwe such as is clepid tristicia þat sleth man as saith seint poule [726] ¶ For certis such sorwe werkith to þe deth of þe soule. & of þe body also. For þer of cometh þat a man is anoyed of his oughne lif. [727] which sorwe schorteþ ful ofte þe lif of a man or þat his tyme is come by way of kynde [[No break in the MS.]]

[6-text p 650]

[728] ¶ Agains þis horrible [folio 273b] synne of accidie and þe braunches of þe same þer is a vertu þat is cleped fortitudo or strengþe þat is affeccioun þurgh which a man despiseth alle noyous þinges [729] ¶ This vertu is so mighty & so vigurous þat it dar wiþstonde mighty and wisely kepe himself from perils þat ben wicked and wrastil agains þe assautes of þe deuel. [730] For it enhaunsith and enforceþ þe soule. Right as accidie abateth it and makith it feble. For þis fortitudo may endure by long sufferaunce þe trauailes þat ben conuenables

[731] ¶ This vertu haþ many spices. þe first is cleped magnanimite þat is to sayn gret corrage. For certis þer bihoueþ gret corrage agains accidie lest þat it ne swolwe not þe soule by þe synne of sorwe or destroye it by wanhope [732] ¶ This vertu makith folk vndertake harde þinges and greuous þinges by his owne wille willfuly and resonably. [733] and for als moche as þe deuel fighteth agaynst a man more by queyntise and by sleight þan by strengþe; þerfore many a man schal aȝeinstonde him by witte. and by resoun and by dis|crecioun. [734] Thanne is þer þe vertu of faith and hope in god and in his seintes to eschew. and to acomplice þe goode werkes in þe whiche he purposith fermely to continue. [735] thanne comeþ seurte or sikernes and þat is whan a man doutith no trauaile in tyme comyng of good werk þat a man haþ bygonne [736] ¶ þanne comeþ magnificence þat is to say whan a man doth and parformith grete werkes of goodnesse þat he hath bygonne. and þat is þende why þat men schulden do goode werkes. for in þe accomplising of grete goode werkes liþ þe grete guerdoun. [737] þanne is þer constaunce þat is stablenes of corrage and þis schulde ben in herte by stedefast faiþ. and in mouthe. and in

[6-text p 651] beryng. and in cheer and in deede. [738] eek þer ben mo special remedies agayns accidie, in dyuers werkis and in consideracioun of þe peyne of helle and of þe ioye of heuen and in þe trust of þe hyhe grace of þe holy gost. þat wil ȝeue him might to parforme his good entent. [[No break in the MS.]]