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

GROUP A. FRAGMENT I.

§ 1. GENERAL PROLOGUE.

HARLEIAN MS. 7334 (British Museum).

WHan that aprille with his schowres swoote [folio 1a] The drought of Marche haþ perced to þe roote And bathud euery veyne in swich licour Of which vertue engendred is þe flour Line 4 whan ȝephirus eek with his swete breeth Enspirud hath in euery holte and heeth The tendre croppes and þe ȝonge sonne hath in the Ram his halfe cours I-ronne Line 8 And smale fowles maken melodie That slepen al þe night wiþ open yhe So prikeþ hem nature in here corages Thanne longen folk to gon on pilgrimages Line 12 And palmers for to seeken straunge strondes To ferne halwes kouthe in sondry londes And specially from euery schires ende Of Engelond to Canturbury þey wende Line 16 The holy blisful martir for to seeke That hem haþ holpen whan þat þey were seeke

Byfel þat in þat sesoun on a day In Southwerk at þe Tabbard as I lay Line 20 Redy to wenden on my pilgrimage To Canturbury with ful deuout/ corage At night was come in to þat hostelrie Wel nyne and twenty in a companye Line 24 Of sondry folk by auenture I-falle In felaschipe and pilgryms were þei alle That toward Canturbury wolden ryde

The Chambres and þe stables weren wyde Line 28 And wel we weren esud atte beste And schortly whan þe sonne was to reste So hadde I spoken with hem euerychon That I was of here felawschipe anon Line 32 And made forward erly to a Ryse To take oure weye ther as I ȝow deuyse But natheles whiles I haue tyme and space Or þat I ferþere in þis tale pace Line 36 Me þinkeþ it acordant to resoun To telle ȝow alle þe condicioun Of eche of hem so as it semed me [folio 1b] And which þey weren and of what degre Line 40 And eek in what array þat þey were Inne And at a knight than wol I first bygynne

A Knight þer was and þat a worþy man That from þe tyme þat he ferst bigan Line 44 To ryden out he louede Chyualrye Trouthe and honour fredom and curtesie Ful worthi was he in his lordes werre And þerto hadde he riden noman ferre Line 48 As wel in Cristendom as hethenesse And euere honoured for his worþinesse At Alisandre he was whan it was wonne Ful ofte tyme he hadde þe bord bygonne / Line 52 Abouen alle naciouns in pruce In lettowe hadde Reyced and in Ruce No cristen man so ofte of his degre In Gernade atte siege hadde he be Line 56 At Algesir and riden in Belmarie At lieys was he and at Satalie At many a noble ariue hadde he be whan þey were wonne and in þe greete see Line 60 At mortal batailles hadde he ben fiftene And foughten for oure feith at Tramassene In lystes þries and ay slayn his foo

This ilke worþi knight hadde ben also Line 64 Somtyme with þe lord of Palatye Ageyn anoþer hethene in Turkye And eueremore he hadde a souereyn prys And þough he was worþy he was wys Line 68 And of his port as meke as a mayde he neuer ȝit no vilonye ne sayde In al his lyf vnto no maner wight he was a verray perfiȝt gentil knight Line 72 But for to telle ȝou of his array his hors was good but he ne was nouȝt gay Of fustyan he wered a Gepoun Al by smoterud with his haburgeoun Line 76 For he was late comen from his viage [folio 2a] And wente for to doon his pilgrimage

With him þer was his sone a ȝong squyer A louyer and a lusty bacheler Line 80 With lokkes crulle as þey were layde in presse Of twenty ȝeer he was of age I gesse Of his stature he was of euene lengthe And wondurly delyuer and gret of strengthe Line 84 And he hadde ben som tyme in Chiuachie In Flaundres in Artoys and in Picardie And born him wel as in so litel space In hope to stonden in his lady grace / Line 88 Embrowdid was he as it were a mede / Al ful of fresshe floures white and reede Syngynge he was or flowtynge al þe day he was as fressh as is the moneth of may Line 92 Schort was his goune with sleeues long and wyde wel cowde he sitte on hors and wel cowde he ryde he cowde songes wel make and endite Iustne and eek daunce and wel purtray and write Line 96 So hote he louede þat by nightertale he sleep nomore þan doþ a nightyngale Curteys he was lowly and seruysable

And carf byforn his fadur at þe table / Line 100

A ȝeman had he / and seruantes nomoo At þat tyme for him lust ryde soo And he was clad in coote and hood of grene A shef of pocok arwes bright and kene Line 104 vnder his belte he bar ful þriftily wel cowde he dresse his takel ȝomanly His arwes drowpud nouȝt wiþ fetheres lowe And in his hond he bar a mighty bowe Line 108 A not heed hadde he wiþ a broun visage Of woode craft cowde he wel al þe vsage vpon his arme he bar a gay bracer And by his side a swerd and a bokeler Line 112 And on þat oþer side a gay daggere harneysed wel and scharp as poynt of spere A cristofre on his brest of siluer schene [folio 2b] An horn he bar þe bawdrik was of grene Line 116 A forster was he sothely as I gesse

Ther was also a Nonne a prioresse That of hire smylyng was ful symple and coy hire grettest ooth nas but by seynt loy Line 120 And sche was clept/ madame Englentyne Ful wel sche sang þe seruise deuyne Entuned in hire nose ful semyly And frensch sche spak ful faire and fetysly Line 124 Aftur þe scole of Stratford atte Bowe For frensch of Parys was to hire vnknowe At mete wel I-taught was sche with alle Sche leet no morsel from hire lippes falle Line 128 Ne wette hire fyngres in hire sauce deepe wel cowde sche carie a morsel and wel keepe That no drope fil vppon hire brest In Curtesie was sett al hire lest Line 132 hire ouerlippe wypud sche so clene That in hire Cuppe was no ferþing sene Of grees whan sche dronken hadde hire draught

Ful semely aftur hir mete sche raught Line 136 And sikurly sche was of gret disport And ful plesant/ and amyable of port And peyned hire to counterfete cheere Of court and ben estatlich of manere Line 140 And to ben holden digne of Reuerence But for to speken of hire conscience Sche was so charitable and so pitous Sche wolde weepe if þat sche sawe a Mous Line 144 Caught in a trappe if it were deed or bledde Of smale houndes hadde sche þat sche fedde With rostud fleissh and mylk and wastel breed But sore wepte sche if oon of hem were deed Line 148 Or if men smot it wiþ a ȝerde smerte And al was conscience and tendre herte Ful semely hire wymple I-pynched was Hire nose streight hire eyen grey as glas Line 152 Hire mouth ful smal and þerto softe and reed [folio 3a] But sikurly sche hadde a fair forheed It was almost a spanne brood I trowe For hardily sche was not vndurgrowe Line 156 Ful fetys was hire cloke as I was waar Of smal coral aboute hire arme sche baar A peire of bedes gaudid al with grene And þer on heng a broch of gold ful schene Line 160 On which was first I-writen a crowned A. And after þat Amor vincit omnia. Anothur Nonne with hire hadde sche That was hire Chapelleyn and prestes þre Line 164

A Monk þer was a fair for the maistrie An out Rydere þat loved venerye A manly man to ben an abbot able Ful many a deynte hors hadde he in stable Line 168 And whan he rood men might his bridel heere Gyngle in a whistlyng wynd so cleere And eek as lowde as doþ þe chapel belle

Ther as þe lord was keper of þe selle Line 172 The Reule of seynt maure or of seint Beneyt By cause þat it was old and somdel streyt This ilke monk leet forby hem pace And helde aftur þe newe world þe space Line 176 he ȝaf nat of þat text a pulled hen That seiþ þat hunters been noon holy men Ne þat a monk whan he is Cloysterles Is likned to a fissche þat is watirles Line 180 This is to seyn a monk out of his cloystre But þilke text hild he not worþ an oystre / And I seide his opinioun was good what schulde he studie and make himseluen wood Line 184 Vppon a book in Cloystre alway to powre Or swynke with his handes and laboure As Austyn byt // how schal þe world be serued lat austyn haue his swynk to him reserued Line 188 Therfore he was a pricasour aright Greyhoundes he hadde as swifte as fowel in flight Of prikyng and of huntyng for þe hare [folio 3b] was al his lust for no cost wolde he spare Line 192 I saugh his sleues purfiled atte hond wiþ grys and that þe fynest of a lond And for to festne his hood vndur his chyn he hadde of gold y-wrought a curious pyn Line 196 A loue knotte in þe gretter ende þer was His heed was ballid and schon as eny glas And eek his face as he hadde be anoynt he was a lord ful fat and in good poynt Line 200 his eyen steep and rollyng in his heed That stemed as a forneys of a leed His bootes souple his hors in gret estat Now certeinly he was a fair prelat Line 204 he was not pale as a for-pyned goost A fat swan loued he best of eny roost His palfray was as broun as eny berye

A Frere þer was a wantoun and a merye Line 208 A lymytour a ful solempne man In alle the ordres foure is noon þat can So moche of daliaunce and fair langage He hadde I-made many a fair mariage Line 212 Of ȝonge wymmen at his owne cost vnto his ordre he was a noble post Ful wel biloued and famulier was he with Frankeleyns ouer al in his cuntre Line 216 And eek with worþi wommen of þe toun For he hadde power of confessioun As seyde himself more þan a curat For of his ordre he was licenciat/ Line 220 Ful sweetly herde he confessioun And plesaunt was his absolucioun He was an esy man to ȝeue penance Ther as he wiste han a good pitance Line 224 For vnto a poure ordre for to ȝeue Is signe þat a man is wel I-schreue For if he ȝaf he dorste make auaunt He wiste þat a man was repentaunt Line 228 For many a man so hard is of his herte [folio 4a] He may not wepe þough him sore smerte Therfore in stede of wepyng and prayeres Men mooten ȝiuen siluer to þe pore freres Line 232 His typet was ay farsud ful of knyfes And pynnes for to ȝiue faire wyfes And certayn he hadde a mery noote wel couthe he synge and pleye on a Rote Line 236 Of ȝeddynges he bar vtturly þe prys his nekke whit was as þe flour delys Ther to he strong was as a Champioun He knew wel þe tauernes in euery toun Line 240 And euery Ostiller or gay tapstere Bet þan a laȝer or a beggere For vnto such a worþi man as he

Acorded not as by his faculte Line 244 To haue with sike laȝars aqueyntaunce It is not honest it may not avaunce For to delen with such poraile But al with riche and sellers of vitaille Line 248 And ouer al þer eny profyt schulde arise Curteys he was. and lowe of seruyse Ther was no man no wher so vertuous He was þe beste begger in al his hous Line 252 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] For þough a widewe hadde but oo schoo So plesaunt was his In principio ȝet wolde he haue a ferthing or he wente his purchace was bettur þan his rente Line 256 And rage he couþe and pleye as a whelpe In loue-dayes ther couthe he mochil helpe For þer was he not like a cloysterer With a thred-bare cope as a pore scoler Line 260 But he was like a maister or a pope Of double worstede was his semy cope / That rounded was as a belle out of presse Somwhat he lipsede for wantounesse / Line 264 To make his Englissch swete vpon his tunge And in his harpyng whan þat he hadde sunge His eyȝen twynkeled in his heed aright [folio 4b] As don þe sterres in þe frosty night Line 268 This worthi lymytour was called huberd

A Marchaunt was þer wiþ a forked berd In motteleye high on horse he sat vppon his heed a Flaundrisch beuer hat/ Line 272 His botus clapsud faire and fetously His resons he spak ful solempnely Swownynge alway the encres of his wynnyng He wolde þe see were kepud for eny þing Line 276 Bitwixe Middulburgh and Orewelle /

wel couþe he in eschange scheeldes selle / This worþi man ful wel his witte bisette Ther wiste no man that he was in dette Line 280 So estately was he of gouernaunce with his bargayns and with his cheuysaunce For sothe he was a worþi man with alle Bot soth to say I not what men him calle / Line 284

A Clerk þer was of Oxenford also That vnto logik hadde longe I-go Al so lene was his hors as is a rake And he was not right fat I vndertake Line 288 But lokede holwe and þerto soburly Ful thredbare was his ouerest courtepy For he hadde nouȝt geten hym ȝit a benefice Ne was not worþy to hauen an office Line 292 For him was leuer haue at his beddes heed Twenty bookes cloþed in blak and reed Of Aristotil and of his philosophie Then Robus Riche or fithul or Sawtrie Line 296 But al þough he were a philosophre Ȝet hadde he but litul gold in cofre But al þat he might gete and his frendes sende On bookes and his lernyng he it spende Line 300 And busily gan for þe soules pray Of hem þat ȝaf him wherwith to scolay Of studie tooke he most cure and heede Not oo word spak he more þan was neede Line 304 Al þat he spak it was of heye prudence [folio 5a] And schort and quyk and ful of gret sentence Sownynge in moral manere was his speche / And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche Line 308

A Sergeant of lawe war and wys That often hadde ben atte paruys Ther was also ful riche of excellence Discret/ he was and of gret Reuerence Line 312 He semed such his wordes were so wise

Iustice he was fuloften in assise By patent and by pleyn comissioun For his science and for his heih renoun Line 316 Of fees and Robes had he many oon So gret a purchasour was þer no wher noon Al was fee symple to him in effecte his purchasyng might nought ben to hī m suspecte Line 320 No wher so besy a man as he þer nas / And ȝit he semed besier þan he was In termes hadde caas and domes alle That fro þe tyme þat kyng were falle Line 324 Ther to he couþe endite and make a þing Ther couþe no man pynche at his writyng And euery statute couthe he pleyn by roote He rood but hoomly in a medled coote Line 328 Gird with a seynt of silk wiþ barres smale Of his array telle I no lenger tale

A Frankeleyn þer was in his companye / whit was his berde as þe dayesye Line 332 Of his complexioun he was sangwyn wel loued he in þe morn a sop of wyn To lyue in delite was al his wone For he was Epicurius owne sone Line 336 That heeld opynyoun þat pleyn delyt was verraily felicite perfyt An houshaldere and þat a gret was he Seynt Iulian he was in his countre Line 340 his breed his ale was alway after oon A bettre envyned man was no wher noon. wiþoute bake mete was neuer his hous [folio 5b] Of fleissch and fissch and þat so plentyuous Line 344 Hit snewed in his hous of mete and drynk Of alle deyntees þat men cowde þynk Aftur þe sondry sesouns of þe ȝeer He chaunged hem at mete and at soper Line 348 Ful many a fat partrich had he in mewe

And many a brem and many a luce in stewe Woo was his Cook but if his sauce were Poynant and scharp and redy al his gere Line 352 His table dormant in his halle alway· Stood redy couered al þe longe day At sessions þer was he lord and sire Ful ofte tyme he was knight of þe schire Line 356 An Anlas and a gipser al of silk heng at his gerdul whit as morne mylk A schirreue hadde he ben and a counter was nowher such a worthi vauaser Line 360

AN haburdassher and a Carpenter A webbe a deyer and a Tapicer weren with vss eeke clothed in oo lyuere Of a solempne and gret fraternite Line 364 Ful freissh and newe his gere piked was Here knyfes were I-chapud nat with bras But al with siluer wrought ful clene and wel here gurdles and here pouches euery del Line 368 wel semed eche of hem a fair burgeys To sitten in a ȝeldehalle on þe deys Euery man for þe wisdom þat he can was schaply for to ben an aldurman · Line 372 For Catel hadde þey Inough and rente / And eek here wyfes wolde it wel assente / And elles certeyn hadde þei ben to blame It is right fair for to be clept Ma Dame Line 376 And for to go to vigilies al byfore And han a mantel rially I-bore

A Cook þei hadde with hem for þe nones To boyle chiknes and þe mary bones Line 380 And poudre marchaunt / tart and galyngale [folio 6a] wel cowde he knowe a drauȝt of londoun ale He cowde roste sethe boille and frie Make mortreux and wel bake a pye Line 384 But gret harm was it as it semede me

That on his schyne a mormal hadde he For blankmanger he made with þe beste

A Schipman was þer wonyng fer by weste Line 388 For ought I woot he was of Dertemouthe He rood vpon a rouncy as he couþe In a gowne of faldyng to þe kne A dagger hangyng on a laas hadde he Line 392 Aboute his nekke vnder his arm a doun The hoote somer had maad his hew al broun And certeinly he was a good felawe Ful many a draught of wyn had he drawe Line 396 From Burdeuxward, whil þat þe chapman sleep Of nyce conscience took he no keep If þat he foughte and hadde þe heiȝer hand By water he sente hem hoom to euery land Line 400 But of his craft to rikne wel þe tydes his stremes and his dangers him bisides His herbergh and his mone his lodemenage Ther was non such from hulle to Cartage Line 404 Hardy he was and wys to vndertake with many a tempest hath his berd ben schake He knew wel alle þe hauenes as þei were From Scotlond to the cape of fynestere Line 408 And euery Cryk in Bretayne and in Spayne His Barge y-clepud was the Magdelayne

Ther was also a Doctour of phisik In al þis world ne was þer non him lyk Line 412 To speke of phisik and of Surgerye For he was groundud in astronomye he kepte his pacient wondurly wel In houres by his magik naturel Line 416 wel cowde he fortune the ascendent Of his ymages for his pacient He knew þe cause of euery maladye [folio 6b] were it of cold or hete or moyst or drye Line 420 And where þei engendrid and of what humour

he was a verrey parfight practisour The cause I-knowe and of his harm þe roote Anon he ȝaf þe syke man his boote Line 424 Ful redy hadde he his apotecaries To sende him dragges and his letuaries For eche of hem made oþur to wynne Here frendschipe nas not newe to begynne Line 428 wel knew he þe olde Esculapius And deiscorides. and eeke Rusus Old ypocras. haly and Galien Serapyon. Razis and Auycen Line 432 Auerrois damascen and Constantyn Bernad and Gatisden and Gilbertyn Of his diete mesurable was he For it was of no superfluite Line 436 But of gret norisching and digestible His studie was but litel on þe bible In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al Lyned with taffata and with Sendal Line 440 And ȝit he was but esy in dispence He kepte þat he wan in pestilence For gold in phisik is a cordial Ther fore he louede gold in special Line 444

A Good wif was þer of byside bathe But sche was somdel deef and þat was skaþe Of cloth makyng sche hadde such an haunt Sche passed hem of ypris and of Gaunt Line 448 In al þe parisshe wyf ne was ther noon That to þe offryng byforn hire schulde goon And if þer dide certeyn so wroth was sche That sche was þanne out of alle charite Line 452 hire keuerchefs weren ful fyne of grounde I durste swere þey weyȝede ten pounde That on a sonday were vpon hire heed hire hosen were of fyn scarlett reed Line 456 Ful streyte y-teyed and schoos ful moyste and newe [folio 7a]

Bold was hir face and fair and reed of heewe Sche was a worþy womman al hire lyfe Housbondes atte chirche dore hadde sche fyfe Line 460 withouten oþur companye in ȝouthe But therof needeth nouȝt to speke as nouthe And þries hadde sche ben at Ierusalem Sche hadde passud many a straunge streem Line 464 At Rome sche hadde ben and at Boloyne In Galice at seynt Iame and at Coloyne Sche cowde moche of wandryng by þe weye Gattothud was sche soþly for to seye Line 468 vppon an amblere esely sche sat wymplid ful wel and on hire heed an hat As brood as is a bocler or a Targe A foot mantel aboute hire hupes large Line 472 And on hire feet a paire of spores scharpe In felawschipe wel cowde lawghe and carpe Of Remedyes of loue sche knew par chaunce For of þat art sche knew þe olde daunce Line 476

A Good man was ther of Religioun And was a pore persoun of a toun But riche he was of holy þought and werk He was also a lerned man a Clerk Line 480 That cristes gospel gladly wolde preche His parischens deuoutly wold he teche Benigne he was and wondur diligent And in aduersite ful pacient Line 484 And such he was I-proued ofte sithes Ful loth were him to curse for his tythes But raþer wolde he ȝeuen out of dowte vnto his pore parisschens aboute Line 488 Of his offrynge and eek of his substaunce he cowde in litel þing han suffisance wyd was his parisch and houses fer asondur But he ne lafte not for reyn ne þondur Line 492 In siknesse ne in meschief to visite

The ferrest in his parissche moche and lite Vppon his feet and in his hond a staf [folio 7b] This noble ensample vnto his scheep he ȝaf Line 496 That ferst he wroughte and after þat he taughte Out of þe gospel he þo wordes caughte / And þis figure he addid ȝit þerto That if gold ruste what schulde yren doo? Line 500 For if a prest be foul on whom we truste No wondur is a lewid man to ruste; And schame it is if a prest take kepe A schiten schepperd and a clene schepe Line 504 wel oughte a prest ensample for to ȝiue By his clennesse how þat his scheep schulde lyue he sette not his benefice to huyre And lefte his scheep encombred in þe myre Line 508 And ran to londoun vnto seynte poules To seeken him a chaunterie for soules Or with a brethurhede be wiþ-holde But dwelte at hoom and kepte wel his folde / Line 512 So þat þe wolf ne made it not myscarye He was a schepparde and no mercenarie And þough he holy were and vertuous he was to senful man nought dispitous Line 516 Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne But in his teching discret and benigne To drawe folk to heuen by clennesse By good ensample was his busynesse Line 520 But it were eny parsone obstinat what so he were of high or lowe estat him wolde he snybbe scharply for þe nones A bettre preest I trowe ther nowher non is Line 524 he waytud after no pompe ne reuerence Ne maked him a spiced conscience / But cristes lore and his apostles twelue he taught. and ferst he folwed it himselue Line 528

With hem þer was a plough man his broþur

That hadde I-lad of dong ful many a foþur A trewe swynker and a good was hee Lyuynge in pees and parfiȝt charitee Line 532 God loued he best al his trewe herte [folio 8a] At alle tymes þough him gamed or smerte And þanne his neighebour right as himselue He wolde threisshe and þerto dyke and delue Line 536 For cristes sake with euery pore wight wiþouten huyre if it laye in his might His tythes payede he ful faire and wel Bathe of his owne swynk and his catel Line 540 In a tabbard Rood vpon a mere

Ther was also a Reeue and a mellere A sompnour and a pardoner also A maunciple and my self þer was no mo Line 544

THe mellere was a stout carl for þe nones Full big he was of braun and eek of boones / That preuede wel for ouer al þer he cam At wrastlynge he wolde bere awey þe Ram Line 548 He was schort schuldred broode a þikke knarre Ther was no dore þat he nolde heue of harre Or breke it with a rennyng with his heed his berd as ony sowe or fox was reed Line 552 And þerto brood as þough it were a spade vpon þe cop right of his nose he hade A werte and þer on stood a tuft of heres Reede as þe berstles of a souwes eeres Line 556 his nose-þurles blake were and wyde A swerd and a bocler baar he by his side His mouth as wyde was as a gret forneys he was a Iangler and a golyardeys Line 560 And þat was most of synne and harlotries wel cowde he stele corn and tollen þries And ȝet he hadde a þombe of golde parde A whiȝt cote and blewe hood wered he Line 564 A bagge pipe. cowde he blowe and sowne

And þerwiþ al he brought vs out of towne

A Gentil maunciple was ther of a temple Of which achatours mighten take exemple Line 568 For to be wys in beyyng of vitaille For wheþur þat he payde or took by taille Algate he wayted so in his acate [folio 8b] That he was ay biforn and in good state Line 572 Now is not þat of god a ful fair grace That such a lewed mannes wit schal pace The wisdom of an heep of lernede men Of maystres hadde moo þan þries ten Line 576 That were of lawe expert and curious Of which þer were a doseyn in an hous worthi to be stiwardȝ of Rente and lond Of any lord þat is in Engelond Line 580 To make him lyue by his propre good In honour detteles but if he were wood Of lyue as scarsly as he can desire And able for to helpen al a schire Line 584 In any caas þat mighte falle or happe And ȝit this maunciple sette here aller cappe

The Reeue was a sklendre colerik man his berd was schaue as neigh as euer he can Line 588 his heer was by his Eres neigh I-schorn his top was dockud lyk a preest biforn Ful longe wern his leggus and ful lene Al like a staff ther was no calf y-sene Line 592 wel cowde he kepe a gerner and a bynne Ther was non auditour cowde on him wynne wel wiste he by the drought and by þe Reyn The ȝeeldyng of his seed and of his greyn Line 596 his lordes scheep his neet his dayerie his swyn his hors his stoor and his pultrie was holly in this Reeues gouernynge And by his couenaunt ȝaf þe Rekenynge Line 600 Syn þat his lord was .xx..^ti ȝeer of age

Ther couthe noman bringe him in arrerage Ther nas baillif ne herde ne oþer hyne That þey ne knewe his sleight and his couyne Line 604 They were adrad of him as of þe deth his wonyng was ful fair vpon an heth wiþ grene trees I-schadewed was his place he cowde bettre þan his lord purchace Line 608 Ful riche he was I-stored priuely [folio 9a] His lord wel couthe he plese subtilly To ȝeue him and lene him of his owne good And haue a þank a cote and eek an hood Line 612 In ȝouþe he lerned hadde a good mester he was a wel good wright a carpenter This Reeue sat vpon a wel good stot That was a pomely gray and highte Scot Line 616 A long surcote of blew vppon he hadde And by his side he bar a Rusty bladde Of Northfolk was þis Reeue of which I telle Byside a toun men callen Baldeswelle Line 620 Tukkud he was as is a frere aboute And euer he rood the hynderest of þe route

A Sompnour was þer with vs in þat place That hadde a fyr-reed Cherubyns face Line 624 For sawceflem he was with eyȝen narwe As hoot he was and leccherous as a sparwe Wiþ skalled browes blak and piled berd Of his visage children weren aferd Line 628 Ther nas quyk siluer litarge ne bremston Boras Ceruce ne oille of Tartre noon Ne oynement þat wolde clense and byte That him might helpen of his whelkes white Line 632 Ne of þe knobbes sittyng on his cheekes wel loued he garleek oynouns and ek leekes And for to drinke strong wyn reed as blood Thanne wolde he speke and crye as he were wood Line 636 And whan that he wel dronken hadde þe wyn

Than wolde he speke no word but latyn A fewe termes hadde he tuo or þre That he hadde lerned out of som decree Line 640 No wondur is he herde it al þe day And eek ȝe knowe wel how þat a Iay Can clepe watte as wel as can þe pope But who-so wolde in oþur þing him grope Line 644 Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophie Ay questio quid Iuris wolde he crye He was a gentil harlot and a kynde [folio 9b] A bettre felaw schulde men nowher fynde Line 648 He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn A good felawe han his concubyn A .xij. moneth. and excuse him atte fulle And pryuely a Fynch eek cowde he pulle Line 652 And if he fond owher a good felawe he wolde teche him for to haue non awe In such a caas of þe archedeknes curs But if a mannes soule were in his purs Line 656 For in his purs he scholde punyssched be Purs is the Ercedeknes helle quod he But wel I woot he lyeth right in dede Of cursyng oweth ech gulty man to drede Line 660 For curs wol slee. right as assoillyng saueth And also ware him of a Significauit In daunger he hadde at his owne assise The ȝonge gurles of the Diocise Line 664 And knew here counseil and was al here red A garland had he set vpon his heed As gret as it were for an ale stake A bokeler had he maad him of a cake Line 668

With him þer rood a gentil Pardoner Of Rounciual his frend and his comper That streyt was comen from þe court of Rome Ful lowde he sang com hider loue tome Line 672 The sompnour bar to him a stif burdoun

was neuere trompe of half so gret a soun This pardoner hadde heer as ȝelwe as wex But smothe it heng. as doth a strike of Flex Line 676 By vnces hynge his lokkes þat he hadde And þerwith he his schuldres ouerspradde Ful thenne it lay by culpons on and oon And hood for Iolitee ne wered he noon Line 680 For it was trussud vp in his walet Him þought he rood al of þe newe get Discheuele sauf his cappe he rood al bare Suche glaryng eyȝen hadde he as an hare Line 684 A vernicle hadde he sowed on his cappe [folio 10a] His walet lay byforn him in his lappe Bret ful of pardoun come from Rome al hoot A voys he hadde as smal as eny goot Line 688 No berd ne hadde he ne neuer scholde haue As smothe it was as it ware late I-schaue / I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare But of his craft fro Berwyk vnto ware Line 692 Ne was þer such another pardoner For in his male he hadde a pilwebeer which þat he saide was oure lady veyl he seide he hadde a gobet of þe seyl Line 696 That seynt Petur hadde whan he wente Vppon þe see til ihū crist him hente he hadde a cros of latoun ful of stones And in a glas he hadde pigges bones Line 700 But with þise reliqes whanne þat he fand A pore parsoun dwellyng vppon land vpon a day he gat him more moneye Than þat þe parsoun gat in monthes tweye Line 704 And þus with feyned flaterie and Iapes he made þe parsoun and þe poeple his apes But trewely to tellen atte laste He was in churche a noble ecclesiaste Line 708 wel cowde he rede a lessoun or a storye

But altherbest he sang an offertorie For wel [[later wyst at side]] he whan þat song was songe he moste preche and wel affyle his tunge Line 712 To wynne siluer as he right wel cowde Therefore he sang ful meriely and lowde

NOw haue I told ȝou schortly in a clause Thestat þarray þe nombre and eek þe cause Line 716 why þat assembled was þis companye In Southwerk at þis gentil Ostelrie That highte þe Tabbard faste by þe belle But now is tyme to ȝow for to telle Line 720 how þat we bare vs in þat ilke night whan we were in that Ostelrie alight And aftur wol I telle of oure viage [folio 10b] And al þe remenaunt of oure pilgrimage Line 724

But ferst I pray ȝou of ȝour curtesie That ȝe ne rette it nat my vilanye Though þat I speke al pleyn in þis matere And telle ȝou here wordes and here cheere Line 728 Ne though I speke here wordes propurly For þis ȝe knowen also wel as I who-so schal telle a tale aftur a man He moste reherce as neigh as euer he can Line 732 Euery word if it be in his charge Al speke he neuer so Rudely ne large Or elles he moot telle his tale vntrewe Or feyne þing or fynde his wordes newe Line 736 He may not spare þough he were his broþur He moste as wel sey oo word as anoþur Crist spak himself ful broode in holy writ And wel ȝe woot no vilanye is it Line 740 Eke Plato seith who-so þat can him rede The wordes mot be cosyn to þe dede Also I pray ȝou to forȝeue it me Al haue I folk nat set in here degre Line 744 Here in þis tale as þat þei schulde stonde

My witt is thynne. ȝe may wel vndurstonde

GReet cheere made oure ost vs euerichon And to þe souper sette he vs anon Line 748 He serued vs with vitaille atte beste Strong was þe wyn and wel to drynke vs leste A semely man oure Ooste was wiþ alle For to han been a Marchal in an halle Line 752 A large man was he with eyȝen stepe A fairere burgeys is þer noon in chepe Bold of his speche and wys and wel I-taught And of manhede lakkede he right naught Line 756 Eke þerto he was right a mery man And after soper playen he bygan And spak of myrthe. among oþur þinges whan þat we hadde maad our rekenynges Line 760 And sayde þus. Lo lordynges trewely [folio 11a] Ȝe ben to me right welcome hertily For by my trouthe if þat I schal not lye I ne saugh þis ȝeer so mery a companye Line 764 At oones in this herbergh as is now Fayn wold I do ȝow merthe wiste I how And of a merthe I am right now bythought To doon ȝou eese and it schal coste nought Line 768 Ȝe goon to Caunturbury god ȝou speede The blisful martir quyte ȝou ȝoure meede And wel I woot/ as ȝe gon by þe weye Ȝe schapen ȝow to talken and to pleye Line 772 For trewely comfort ne merthe is noon To Ryde by þe weye domb as a stoon And þerfore wol I make ȝou disport / As I seyde erst and do ȝou som confort Line 776 And if ȝow liketh alle by oon assent Now for to standen at my Iuggement And for to werken as I schal ȝou seye To morwe whan ȝe riden by þe weye Line 780 Now by my fadres soule þat is deed

But ȝe be merye smyteþ of myn heed hold vp ȝoure hond with-oute more speche Oure counseil was not longe for to seche Line 784 vs þoughte it nas nat worþ to make it wys And graunted him wiþoute more avys And bad him seie his verdite as him leste

LOrdynges quoþ he now herkeneþ for þe beste Line 788 But taketh not I pray ȝou in disdayn This is þe poynt to speken schort and playn That ech of ȝow to schorte with ȝoure weie / In þis viage schal telle tales tweye Line 792 To Caunturburiward I mene it so And homward he schal tellen oþur tuo Of auentures þat þer han bifalle And which of ȝow þat bereþ him best of alle Line 796 That is to seye þat telleþ in þis caas Tales of best sentence and of solas Schal han a soper at ȝour alþer cost [folio 11b] Here in þis place sittynge by þis post Line 800 whan þat we comen ageyn from Canturbery And for to make ȝou þe more mery I wol my seluen gladly with ȝou ryde Right at myn owen cost and be ȝoure gyde Line 804 And who-so wole my Iuggement withseie Schal paye for al we spenden by þe weye And if ȝe vouche sauf þat it be so Telle me anoon wiþouten wordes moo Line 808 And I wole erely schappe me þerfore This þing was graunted and oure othus swore with ful glad herte and prayden him also That he would vouche sauf for to doon so Line 812 And þat he wolde ben oure gouernour And of our tales Iugge and reportour And sette a souper at a certeyn prys And we wolde rewled be at his deuys Line 816 In heygh and lowe. and þus by oon assent

We been acorded to his Iuggement And þer-vpon þe wyn was fet anoon we dronken and to reste wente echoon. Line 820 wiþouten eny lengere taryinge A morwe whan þat þe day bigan to sprynge vp roos oure Ost and was oure althur cok And gaderud vs to-gidur alle in a flok Line 824 And forth we riden a litel more þan paas vnto þe waterynge of seint Thomas And þere oure Ost bigan his hors areste And seyde lordus herkeneþ if ȝow leste Line 828 Ȝe woot ȝoure forward and I it ȝou recorde If euesong and morwesong acorde Lat se now who schal telle ferst a tale As euere I moote drinke wyn or ale Line 832 who-so be rebel to my Iuggement Schal paye for al þat by the weye is spent Now draweth Cut/ er þat we forther twynne which þat hath þe schortest schal bygynne Line 836 Sire knight quoþ he maister and my lord [folio 12a] Now draweth Cut. for þat is myn acord Cometh ner quod he my lady prioresse And ȝe sir Clerk lat be ȝour schamfastnesse Line 840 Ne studieth nat ley hand to euery man Anon to drawen euery wight bigan And schortly for to tellen as it was were it by auenture or sort or cas Line 844 The soth is þis the Cut fil to the knight Of which ful glad and bliþe was euery wight And telle he moste his tale as was resoun By forward and by composicioun Line 848 As ȝe han herd what needeþ wordes moo And whan þis goode man seigh þat it was so As he that wys was and obedient To kepe his forward by his fre assent Line 852 He seyde syn I schal bygynne the game

what welcome be þou cut. a goddus name Now lat vs ryde and herkneþ what I seye And with þat word we riden forþ oure weye Line 856 And he bigan with right a merie chere; His tale. and seide right in þis manere. [[break of one line in the MS.]]

WHilom as olde stories tellen vs [on leaf12] Ther was a Duk þat highte Theseus Line 860 Of Athenes he was. lord and gouernour And in his tyme swich a conquerour That gretter was ther non vnder þe sonne Ful many a Riche Contre hadde he wonne Line 864 That with his wisdam and his chiualrie He conquered al the regne of Femynye That whilom was I-cleped Cithea And weddede the queen Ipolita Line 868 And brought hire hoom with him in his Contre with moche glorie and gret solempnite And eek hire ȝonge suster Emelye And þus with victorie and with melodye Line 872 Lete I þis noble duk to Athenes ryde / And al his Ost in armes him biside [folio 12b] At certes if it nere to long to heere I wolde han told ȝow fully þe manere Line 876 How wonnen was the regne of Femenye By Theseus and by his Chiualrye And of þe grete bataille for þe nones By-twix athenes. and amazones Line 880 And how asegid was ypolita The faire hardy Quyen of Cithea And of þe feste that was at hire weddynge And of þe tempest at hire hoom comynge Line 884 But al þat þing I most as now forbere I haue god wot a large feeld to Ere And wayke ben þe Oxen in my plough The remenaunt of the tale is long I-nough Line 888 I wol not lette eek. non of al þis rowte

lat euery felawe telle his tale aboute And lat see now who schal þe soper wynne Line 891 And ther I lafte I wolde agayn begynne [[break of one line in the MS.]]

This Duk of whom I make mencioun whan he was comen almost vnto þe toun In al his wele and in his moste pryde he was war as he cast his eyȝe aside Line 896 wher þat ther kneled in þe hye weye A companye of ladies tweye and tweye Ech after other clad in cloþes blake But such a cry and such a woo þey make Line 900 That in þis world nys creature lyuynge Ther herde such anoþer weymentynge And of þat cry ne wolde þey neuer stenten Til þey þe Reynes of his bridel henten Line 904 what folk be ȝe þat at myn hom comynge Partourben so my feste with cryenge Quod Theseus. haue ȝe so gret enuye Of myn honour þat þus compleyne and crie Line 908 Or who hath ȝow mysboden or offendid And telleþ me if it may ben amendid. And why þat ȝe ben clad þus al in blak [folio 13a] The oldest lady of hem alle spak Line 912 whan sche had swowned with a dedly chere That it was routhe for to seen or heere And seyde lord to whom fortune haþ ȝeuen victorie and as a conquerour to luyen Line 916 Nought greueth vs ȝoure glorie and honour But we beseken mercy and socour Haue mercy on oure woo and oure distresse Som drope of pitee thurgh ȝoure gentilnesse Line 920 Vppon vs wrecchede wommen lat þou falle For certus lord. ther nys noon of vs alle That sche nath ben a duchesse or a queene Now be we Caytifs as it is wel seene Line 924 Thanked be fortune. and hire false wheel

That noon estat assureth to ben weel And certus lord to abiden ȝoure presence [[a later 'here' in margin]] Ther in þe temple of þe goddesse Clemence Line 928 we han ben waytynge al þis fourtenight Now helpe vs lord syn it is in þy might I wrecche which þat wepe and waylle þus was whilom wyf to kyng Capaneus Line 932 That starf at Thebes. cursed be þat day And alle we þat ben in þis array And maken alle þis lamentacioun we leften alle oure housbondes at þe toun Line 936 whil þat þe sege. þer aboute lay And ȝet þe olde Creon welaway That lord is now of thebes þe citee Fulfilde of Ire and of Iniquite Line 940 He for despyt and for his Tyrannye To do þe deede bodyes vilonye Of alle oure lordes which þat ben I-slawe Haþ alle þe bodies on an heep y-drawe Line 944 And wol not suffren hem by noon assent Nother to ben y-buried nor I-brent But makeþ houndes ete hem in despite And with þat word withoute more respite Line 948 They fillen gruf and criden pitously [folio 13b] haue on vs wrecched wommen som mercy And lat oure sorwe synken in thyn herte This gentil duke doun from his courser sterte/ Line 952 with herte pitous whan he herde hem speke him þoughte þat his herte wolde breke whan he seyh hem so pitous and so maat That whilom weren of so gret estat Line 956 And in his armes he hem alle vp hente And hem conforteþ in ful good entente And swor his oth as he was trewe knight he wolde do so ferforþly his might Line 960 vpon þe tyraunt Creon hem to wreke

That al þe poeple of grece scholde speke how Creon was of Theseus y-serued As he þat haþ his deth right wel deserued Line 964 And right anoon wiþoute eny abood his baner he desplayeþ and forþ rood To Thebes-ward. and al his oost bysyde No ner athenes wolde he go ne ryde Line 968 Ne take his eese fully half a day But onward on his way þat nyght he lay And sente anoon ypolita þe queene And Emelye hir ȝonge suster schene Line 972 vnto the toun of athenes to dwelle And forth he ryt þer is no more to telle

The reede statue of mars with spere and targe So schyneþ in his white baner large Line 976 That alle þe feeldes gliteren vp and doun And by his baner was born his pynoun Of gold ful riche in which þer was I-bete The Minatour which þat he slough in Crete Line 980 Thus ryt þis Duk þus ryt þis Conquerour And in his oost of Cheualrie þe flour Til þat he cam to Thebes and alighte Faire in a feeld wher as he þoughte to fighte / Line 984 But schortly for to speken of þis þing with Creon which þat was of Thebes kyng He faught and slough him manly as a knight / [folio 14a] In pleyn bataille and putte his folk to flight/ Line 988 And by assaut he wan þe Cite aftur And rente doun boþe wal and sparre and raftur And to þe ladies he restored agayn The bones of here housbondes þat were slayn Line 992 To do exequies as was þo þe gyse But it were al to long for to deuyse The grete clamour and þe waymentynge which þat þe ladies made at þe brennynge Line 996 Of þe bodyes and þe grete honour

That Theseus the noble conquerour Doth to þe ladyes whan þey from him wente But schortly for to telle is myn entente Line 1000 whan þat þis worthy Duk þis Theseus hath Creon slayn and Thebes wonne þus Stille in þe feelde he took al night his reste And dide with al þe contre as him leste Line 1004

TO Ransake in þe cas of bodyes dede hem for to streepe of herneys and of wede / The pilours diden businesse and cure After þe bataile and discomfiture Line 1008 And so byfil þat in þe cas þei founde Thurgh girt with many a greuous blody wounde Two ȝonge knighte liggyng by and by Boþe in oon armes clad ful richely Line 1012 Of whiche two Arcite hight þat oon And þat oþur knight hight Palamon Nat fully quyk ne fully deed þey were But by here coote armure and by here gere Line 1016 Heraudes knewe hem wel in special As þey þat weren of the blood real Of Thebes and of Sistren tuo I-born Out of þe chaas þe pilours han hem torn Line 1020 And han hem caried softe vnto þe tente / Of Theseus and ful sone he hem sente Tathenes for to dwellen in prisoun Perpetuelly he wolde no Raunceoun Line 1024 And þis Duk whan he hadde þus I-doon [folio 14b] he took his host and hom he ryt anoon with laurer crowned as a conquerour And þere he lyueþ in Ioye and in honour Line 1028 Terme of his lyf what wolle ȝe wordes moo And in a tour in angwische and in woo · This Palamon and his felawe arcite For euermo þer may no gold hem quyte Line 1032 This passeþ ȝeer by ȝeer and day by day

Til it fel oones in a morwe of may That Emelie þat fairer was to seene Than is þe lilie on hire stalkes grene Line 1036 And fresscher þan the may with floures newe For with þe rose colour strof hire hewe I not which was þe fyner of hem two Er it was day as sche was wont to do Line 1040 Sche was arisen and al redy dight For may wole haue no sloggardye anyght The sesoun prikeþ euery gentil herte And makeþ him · out of his sleepe sterte Line 1044 And seith arys and do þin obseruance This maked Emelye han remembrance To do honour to May and for to ryse I-cloþed was sche fressh for to deuyse Line 1048 hire ȝolwe heer was browdid in a tresse Byhynde hire bak aȝerde long I gesse And in the gardyn at þe sonne vpriste Sche walkeþ vp and doun wher as hire liste Line 1052 Sche gadereþ floures party whyte and reede To make a certeyn gerland for hire heede And as an aungel heuenly sche song The grete tour þat was so þikke and strong Line 1056 which of þe castel was the cheef dongeoun Ther as þis knightes weren in prisoun Of which I tolde ȝow and telle schal was euene Ioynyng to þe gardeyn wal Line 1060 Ther as þis Emely hadde hire pleyynge Bright was þe sonne and cleer þat morwenynge And Palamon þis woful prisoner [folio 15a] As was his wone by leue of his gayler Line 1064 was risen and romed in a Chambre on heigh In which he al þe noble cite seigh And eek þe gardeyn ful of braunches grene Ther as þe fresshe Emelye þe scheene Line 1068 was in hire walk/ and romed vp and doun

This sorweful prisoner þis Palamon Gooth in þe chambre romyng to and fro And to himself compleynyng of his woo Line 1072 That he was born / ful ofte he seyd alas And so byfel by auenture or cas That þurgh a wyndow þikke and many a barre Of Iren greet and squar as eny sparre Line 1076 he cast his eyen vpon Emelya And þer with al he bleynte and cryed .A. As þat he stongen were vnto þe herte And with þat crye arcite anon vp sterte Line 1080 And seyde cosyn myn what eyleþ þe That art so pale and deedly for to see / why crydestow who haþ þe doon offence For goddes loue tak al in pacience Line 1084 Oure prisoun for it may non oþir be Fortune haþ ȝeuen vs þis aduersite Som wikke aspect / or disposicioun Of Saturne by sum constellacioun Line 1088 Hath ȝeuen vs þis alþough we hadde it sworn So stood þe heuen whan þat we were born we moste endure it þis is þe schort and pleyn This Palamon answered and seyde ageyn Line 1092 Cosyn for sothe of þis opynyoun Thou hast a veyn ymaginacioun This prisoun caused me not for to crye But I was hurt right now þurgh myn yhe Line 1096 Into myn herte þat wol my bane be The fairnesse of þe lady þat I see Ȝonde in þe gardyn rome to and fro Is cause of my cryyng and my wo Line 1100 I not wheþur sche be womman or goddesse / [folio 15b] But Venus is it/ sothly as I gesse And þer with al on knees a doun he fil And seyde venus if it be ȝoure wil Line 1104 Ȝow in þis gardyn þus to transfigure

Biforn me sorwful wrecched creature Out of þis prisoun help þat we may scape And if so be oure destyne be schape Line 1108 By eterne word to deyen in prisoun Of oure lynage haueth sum compassioun That is so lowe y-brought by Tyrannye And with þat word Arcite gan espye Line 1112 wher as this lady romed to and fro And with þat sight/ hire beaute hurt him so That if þat Palamon was wounded sore Arcite is hurt as moche as he or more Line 1116 And with a sigh. he seyde pitously The freissche beaute sleeth me sodeynly Of hir that rometh ȝonder in þe place And but I haue hir mercy and hir grace Line 1120 That I may see hir atte leste weye I nam but deed / ther nys no more to seye This Palamon whan he tho wordes herde Dispitously he loked and answerde Line 1124 whether seistow in ernest or in pley Nay quoþ Arcite in ernest in good fey God helpe me so me lust ful euele pleye This Palamon gan knytte his browes tweye Line 1128 Hit nere quod he to the no gret honour For to be fals ne for to be traytour To me that am thy cosyn and thy broþer I-swore ful deepe and ech of vs to oþer Line 1132 That neuer for to deyen in þe payne Til þat deeth departe schal vs twayne Neyþer of vs in lande to hynder other Ne in non other cas / my leeue broþer Line 1136 But þou schuldest trewly forþer me In euery caas and I schal forþer þe / This was þyn othe / and myn eek certayn [folio 16a] I wot right wel þou darst/ it nat wiþsayn Line 1140 Thus art þou of my counseil out of doute

And now thou woldest falsly ben aboute To loue my lady whom I loue and serue And euere schal vnto myn herte sterue Line 1144 Now certes fals arcite þou schal not so I loued hir first / and tolde the my woo As to my counseil / and to broþer sworn To forthere me as I haue told biforn Line 1148 For which thou art I-bounden as a knight To helpe me/ if it lay in þi might/ Or elles art þou fals I dar wel sayn This Arcite ful proudly spak agayn Line 1152 Thou schalt quoþ he be rather fals þan I But þou art fals / I telle þe vttirly For paramour I loued hir first þen þow what wolt þou sayn thou wost it not ȝit now Line 1156 wheþer sche be a womman or goddesse Thyn is affeccioun of holynesse And myn is loue as of a creature For which I tolde þe myn aduenture Line 1160 As to my cosyn / and my broþer sworn I pose þat þou louedest hire biforn wost þou nat wel the olde clerkes saw That who schal ȝeue a louer eny lawe Line 1164 loue is a grettere lawe by my pan Then may be ȝeue / to eny erþly man Therfore posityf lawe and such decre Is broke alway for love in ech degree Line 1168 A man moot needes loue maugre his heed he may nought fle it þough he schulde be deed Al be sche mayde or be sche widewe or wyf And þat is nat likly al þy lyf Line 1172 To stonden in hire grace no more schal I For wel þou wost þy seluen verrily That þou and I been dampned to prisoun Perpetuelly vs gayneth no Raunsoun Line 1176 We stryue as doth the houndes for the boon [folio 16b]

They foughte alday and ȝit here part was noon Ther com a kyte whil þat þey were wroþe That bar awey the boon bitwixe hem boþe Line 1180 And þerfore at the kynges court my broþer Eche man for himself þer is non other Loue if the list for I loue and ay schal And sothly leeue brother þis is al Line 1184 Eke in þis prisoun moote we endure And euery of vs take his auenture Gret was the stryf and long bytwixe hem tweye Ȝif þat I hadde leysir for to seye Line 1188 But to the effect it happed on a day To telle it ȝow as schortly as I may A worþy Duk þat highte Perotheus That felaw was to þe duk Theseus Line 1192 Syn þilke day þat þey were children lyte Was come to Athenes his felawe to visite And for to pley as he was wont to do For in þis world he loued noman so Line 1196 And he loued him as tendurly agayn So wel þey loued as olde bookes sayn That whan oon / was deed soþly to telle his felawe wente and sought him doun in helle Line 1200 But of þat story lyst me nought to write Duk Perotheus loued wel Arcite/ And hadde him knowe at Thebes ȝeer by ȝeer And fynally at requeste and prayer Line 1204 Of Perotheus withoute any raunsoun Duk Theseus him leet out of prisoun Frely to go wher him lust ouer al In such a gyse as I ȝou telle schal Line 1208 This was the forward playnly to endite Bitwixe Theseus and him Arcite That if so were þat Arcite were founde Euere in his lyf by daye night or stounde Line 1212 In eny contre of þis Theseus

And he were caught it was acorded thus That with a swerd he scholde lese his heed [folio 17a] Ther nas noon oþer remedy ne reed Line 1216 But took his leeue and homward he him spedde Lete him be war his nekke liþ to wedde

HOw gret a sorwe suffreþ now Arcite The deþ he feleþ þorugh his herte smyte Line 1220 He weepeth weyleth cryeth pitously To slen himself he wayteþ pryuyly he seyde allas þe day þat I was born Now is my prisoun werse þan was biforn Line 1224 Now is me schape eternally to dwelle Nought in purgatorie but in helle Allas þat euer knewe I Perotheus For elles had I dweld with Theseus Line 1228 I-fetered in his prisoun for euere moo Than had I ben in blis and nat in woo Oonly þe sight of hir whom þat I serue Þough þat I hir grace may nat deserue Line 1232 wold han sufficed right ynough for me O dere Cosyn Palamon quod he Þyn is þe victoire of þis auenture Ful blisfully in prisoun to endure Line 1236 In prisoun nay certes but in paradys wel hath fortune y-torned þe dys That haþ þe sight of hir and I the absence For possible is / syn þou hast hir presence Line 1240 And art a knight a worþi and an able But by som cas syn fortune is chaungable Thou maist to þy desir somtyme atteyne But I that am exiled and bareyne Line 1244 Of alle grace / and in so gret despeir That þer nys water erthe fyr ne eyr Ne creature that of hem maked is That may me helpe ne comfort in þis Line 1248 wel ought I sterue in wanhope and distresse

Far wel my lyf and al my Iolynesse

Allas why playnen folk so in comune Of purueance of god or of fortune Line 1252 That ȝeueth him ful ofte in many a gyse [folio 17b] wel better þan þei can hemself deuyse

SOm man desireþ for to haue richesse That cause is of his morthre/ or gret seeknesse Line 1256 And som man wolde out of his prisoun fayn That in his hous is of his mayne slayn Infinite harmes ben in þis mateere we wote neuere what þing we preyen heere Line 1260 we faren as he þat dronke is as a mows A dronke man wot wel he haþ an hous But he not nat which þe righte wey is þider And to a dronke man þe wey is slider Line 1264 And certes in þis world so faren we we seeken faste after felicite But we gon wrong ful ofte trewely Thus may we seyen alle and namely I Line 1268 That wende haue had a gret opinioun That ȝif I mighte skape fro prisoun Than had I be in ioye and parfyt hele Ther now I am exiled fro my wele / Line 1272 Syn þat I may not se ȝow Emelye I nam but deed ther nys no remedye

Vppon þat oþer syde Palomon whan he wiste þat arcite was agoon Line 1276 Such sorwe makeþ þat þe grete tour Resowneth of his grete ȝollyng and clamour The pure feteres of his schynes grete weren of his bitter salte teres wete Line 1280 Allas quod he arcita cosyn myn Of al oure strif god woot þe fruyt is þin Thow walkest now in Thebes at þi large/ And of my woo þou ȝeuest litel charge/ Line 1284 Thou maiste seen þou hast wysdom and manhede

Assemble al þe folk of oure kynrede And make a werre so scharpe in þis Cite That by som auenture or by som trete Line 1288 Þou mayst/ hire wynne to lady and to wyf For whom þat I most nedes leese my lyf For as by wey of possibilite [folio 18a] Syn þou art at þi large of prisoun free Line 1292 And art a lord gret is þin auantage More þan is myn þa^t sterue here in a kage For I moot weepe and weyle whil I lyue with al þe woo þat prisoun may me ȝyue Line 1296 And eek with peyne þat loue me ȝeueþ also And doubleþ al my peyne and al my wo Ther with þe fuyr of Ielousye vpsterte wiþinne his brest and hent him by þe herte Line 1300 So wodly / þat lik was he to by-holde The box tree or þe asschen deed and colde Tho seyde he O goddes cruel þat gouerne This world with byndyng & wiþ word eterne Line 1304 And writen in þe table of Athamaunte Ȝoure parlement and ȝoure eterne graunte what is mankynde more to ȝow holde Than is a scheep þat roukeþ in þe folde Line 1308 For slayn is man right as anoþer beste And dwelleþ eek in prisoun and arreste And haþ seknesse and greet aduersite And ofte tymes gilteles parde Line 1312 what gouernaunce is in ȝoure prescience That gilteles tormenteþ Innocence And ȝet encreceþ this al my penaunce That man is bounden to his obseruaunce Line 1316 For goddes sake to letten of his wille Ther as a beste may al his lust fulfille And whan a beste is deed he ne haþ no peyne But man after his deth moot wepe and pleyne Line 1320 þough in þis world he haue care and woo

wiþouten doute it may stonde so The answer of þis I lete to diuinis But wel I woot þat in þis world gret pyne is Line 1324 Allas I se a serpent or a þeef That many a trewe man haþ doon mescheef Gon at his large and wher him lust/ may turne But I moste be in prisoun þurgh saturne Line 1328 And eek þorugh Iuno Ialous and eke wood [folio 18b] That haþ destruyed wel neyh al þe blood Of Thebes wiþ his waste walles wyde / And venus sleeþ me on þat oþer syde / Line 1332 For Ielousye and fere of him Arcyte

NOw wol I stynte of Palamon a lite And lete him stille in his prisoun dwelle And of arcita for þan wol I telle Line 1336 The somer passeþ and þe nightes longe Encrescen double wise the peynes stronge Bothe of þe lover and þe prisoner I noot which hath þe wofullere cheer Line 1340 For schortly for to sey þis Palomon Perpetuelly is dampned in prisoun In cheynes and in feteres to be deed And Arcite is exiled vpon his heed Line 1344 For eueremo as out of þat contre Ne neuere mo schal he his lady see Now louyeres / axe I þis question who haþ þe worse Arcite or Palomon. Line 1348 That on may se his lady day by day But in prisoun he moot dwelle alway That oþer may wher him lust ryde or go But seen his lady schal he neuer mo Line 1352 Now deemeth as ȝou luste ȝe þat can For I wol telle forþ as I bigan

Whan þat arcite to Thebes come was Ful ofte a day he swelde and seyde alas Line 1356 For seen his lady schal he neuer mo And schortly to concluden al his wo So moche sorwe had neuer creature That is or schal whil þat þe world wol dure Line 1360 his sleep his mete his drynk is him by-raft That lene he wexe / and drye as eny schaft/ his eyen holwe / grisly to biholde his hewe falwe and pale as asschen colde Line 1364 And solitary he was and euer alone And dwellyng al þe night making his moone And if he herde song or Instrument/ [folio 19a] Then wolde he wepe he mighte nought be stent Line 1368 So feble were his spirites and so lowe And chaunged so þat no man couþe knowe his speche noþer his vois þough men it herde And in his gir for al þe world he ferde Line 1372 Nought oonly lyke þe louers maladye Of hercos but raþer lik manye Engendrud of humour malencolyk Byforne in his selle fantastyk Line 1376 And schortly turned was al vp so doun Bothe abyt and eek disposicioun Of him þis woful louere daun arcite what schulde I alway of his wo endite Line 1380 whan he endured hadde a ȝeer or tuoo In þis cruel torment peyne and woo At Thebes in his contre as I seyde vpon a night in sleep as he him leyde Line 1384 him þought þat how þe venged god mercurie / Byforn him stood and bad him to be murye his slepy ȝerd in hond he bar vp right An hat he wered vpon his heres bright / Line 1388

Line 1388 Arrayed was þis god as he took/ keepe As he was whan þat Argous took his sleep And seyde to athenes schalt þou wende Ther is þe schapen of þy wo an ende Line 1392 And with þat word arcite wook and sterte Now trewely how sore þat me smerte Quod he to athenes riȝt now wol I fare Ne for þe drede of deth schal I not spare Line 1396 To see my lady þat I loue and serue In hire presence I recche nat to sterue / And with þat word he caught a gret myrour And saugh þat chaunged was al his colour Line 1400 And saugh his visage was in anoþer kynge And right anoon it ran him into mynde That seþþen his face was so disfigured Of maladie the which he haþ endured Line 1404 he mighte wel if þat he bar him lowe [folio 19b] lyue in athenes eueremore vnknowe And see his lady wel neih day by day And right anon he chaunged his aray Line 1408 And cloþed him as a pore laborer And al alone saue oonly a squyer That knew his pryuyte and al his cas which was disgysed pourely as he was Line 1412 To athenes is he go þe nexte way And to þe court / he went vpon a day And at þe ȝate he profred his seruyse To drugge and drawe what so men wolde deuyse Line 1416 And schortly on þis matier for to seyn he fel in office with a Chambirleyn The which that dwellyng was with Emelye For he was wys and couthe sone aspye Line 1420 Of euery seruaunt which þat serued here wel couþe he hewe woode and water bere / For he was ȝonge and mighty for þe nones And þerto he was long and bygge of bones Line 1424

Line 1424 To doon þat eny wight can him deuyse A ȝeer or two he was in þis seruise Page of þe chambre of Emelye þe bright And Philostrate he seide þat he hight Line 1428 But half so wel byloued a man as he Ne was þer neuer in court of his degree he was so gentil of his condicioun That þoruh out al þe court was his renoun Line 1432 They seyde þat it were a charite That Theseus would enhaunsen his degree And putten him in worschipful seruyse Ther as he might his vertu excersise Line 1436 And þus wiþinne a while his name spronge Boþe of his dedes and of goode tonge That Theseus haþ taken him so neer That of his Chambre he made him squyer Line 1440 And ȝaf him gold to mayntene his degree And eek men brought him out of his countre From ȝeer to ȝer ful pryuyly his rente [folio 20a] But honestly and sleighly he it spente Line 1444 That no man wondred how þat he it hadde And þre ȝeer in þis wise his lyf he ladde And bar him so in pees and eek in werre Ther nas no man þat Theseus haþ so derre Line 1448 And in þis blisse lete I now Arcite And speke I wole of Palomon alyte

IN derknes and orrible and strong prisoun This seuen ȝeer haþ seten Palomoun Line 1452 Forpyned what for woo and for destresse Who feleþ double sorwe and heuynesse But Palamon þat loue destreyneþ so That wood out of his witt he goþ for wo Line 1456 And eek þerto he is a prisoner Perpetuelly nat oonly for a ȝeer Who couþe ryme in englissch propurly His martirdam for-soþe it am nat .I. Line 1460

Line 1460 Therfore I passe as lightly as I may hit fel þat in þe seuenþe ȝeer in May The þridde night as olde bookes seyn That al þis storie tellen more pleyn Line 1464 were it by auenture or destene As whan a þing is schapen it schal be That soone aftur þe mydnyght Palamoun By helpyng of a freend brak his prisoun Line 1468 And fleeth þe cite fast as he may goo For he had ȝiue drinke his gayler soo Of a clarre maad of certeyn wyn with nercotykes and opye of Thebes fyn Line 1472 That al þat night þough þat men wolde him schake The gayler sleep he mighte nouȝt/ awake And þus he fleeþ as fast as euer he may The night was schort and faste by þe day Line 1476 That needes cost he moste himseluen hyde And til a groue ther faste besyde with dredful foot þan stalkeþ Palomoun For schortly þis / was his opynyoun Line 1480 That in þat groue he wolde him hyde al day [folio 20b] And in þe night þen wolde he take his way To Thebesward his frendes for to preye On Theseus to helpe him to werreye / Line 1484 And shortelich or he wolde lese his lyf Or wynnen Emelye vnto his wyf This is þeffect of his entente playn. Now wol I torne vnto Arcite agayn. Line 1488 That litel wiste how nyh þat was his care Til þat fortune haþ brought him in the snare

The busy larke messager of May Salueþ in hire song þe morwe gray Line 1492 And fyry Phebus ryseþ vp so bright That þe orient laugheþ of þe light And wiþ his stremes dryeþ in þe greues The siluer dropes hongyng in þe leeues Line 1496

Line 1496 And arcite þat is in þe court ryal With Theseus his Squyer principal Is risen and loketh on þe mery day And for to doon his obseruance to May Line 1500 Remembryng of þe poynt of his desire he on his courser stertyng as þe fire Is riden in to feeldes him to pleye Out of þe court were it a myle or tweye Line 1504 And to þe groue of which þat I ȝow tolde By auenture his wey he gan to holde To make him a garland of þe greues were it of woodewynde or hawþorn leues Line 1508 And lowde he song aȝens þe sonne scheene May wiþ al þyn floures and þy greene welcome be þou wel faire freissche may In hope þat I som grene gete may Line 1512 And fro his courser wiþ a lusty herte Into þe groue ful lustily he sterte And in a pathe he romed vp and doun Ther by auenture þis Palamoun Line 1516 was in a busche þat no man might him see Ful sore afered of his deþ was he No þing ne knew he þat it was Arcite [folio 21a] God wot he wolde haue trowed it ful lite Line 1520 But soþ is seyde goon ful many ȝeres That feld haþ eyen and þe woode haþ eeres It is ful fair a man to bere him euene For al day men meteþ atte vnset steuene Line 1524 Ful litel woot arcite of his felawe That was so neih to herken of his sawe For in þe busche he stynteþ now ful stille whan þat arcyte had romed al his fille / Line 1528 And songen al þe Roundel lustily In to a studie he fel sodeynly As doþ þe^s louers in here queynte geeres Now in þe croppe / now doun in þe breres Line 1532

Line 1532 Now vp now doun as boket in a welle Right as þe friday soþly for to telle / Now it schyneþ now it reyneþ faste Right so gan gery venus ouercaste Line 1536 The hertes of hire folk right as hir day Is grisful right so chaungeþ hire aray Selde is þe fryday al þe wyke I-like whan þat arcite hadde songe he gan to sike Line 1540 And sette him doun wiþouten eny more Alas quod he þat day þat I was bore how longe Iuno thurgh þy cruelte wiltow werreyen Thebes þe Citee Line 1544 Allas I-brought is to confusioun The blood royal of Cadme and Amphioun Of Cadynus / þe which was þe furst man That Thebes bulde or first þe toun bygan Line 1548 And of þat Cite first was crowned kyng Of his lynage / am I and his ofspring By verray line and of his stok ryal And now I am so caytyf and so þral Line 1552 That he þat is my mortal enemy I serue him as his squyer pourely And ȝet doth Iuno me wel more schame For I dar nought byknowe myn owne name Line 1556 But þer as I was wont to hote arcite [folio 21b] Now hoote I Philostrate nouȝt worth a myte Allas þou felle mars allas Iuno Thus haþ ȝoure Ire owre lynage fordo Line 1560 Saue oonly me and wrecchid Palomoun That Theseus martyreþ in prisoun And ouer al this to slee me vtterly Loue haþ his fyry dart so brennyngly Line 1564 I stykid þorugh my trewe careful herte That schapen was my deth erst þan my scherte Ȝe slen me with ȝoure eyhen Emelye Ȝe ben þe cause wherfore þat I dye Line 1568

Line 1568 Of al þe remenant of al myn oþer care Ne sette I nouȝt þe mountaunce of a tare So þat I couþe do ought to ȝoure pleasaunce And with þat word he fel doun in a traunce Line 1572 A longe tyme and aftirward vpsterte This Palamon þat þouȝte þurgh his herte he felt a cold swerd sodeynliche glyde For Ire he quook/ he nolde no lenger abyde Line 1576 And whan þat he haþ herd arcites tale As he were wood wiþ face deed and pale he sterte him vp out of þe bussches þikke And seyd arcyte / false traitour wikke/ Line 1580 Now art þou hent/ þat louest my lady so. For whom þat I haue al þis peyne and wo. And art my blood and to my counseil sworn And I ful ofte haue told þe heere byforn Line 1584 And hast by-Iaped here þe duke Theseus And falsly chaunged hast þy name þus I wol be deed or elles þou schalt dye Þou schalt not loue my lady Emelye Line 1588 But I wil loue hire oonly and nomo For I am Palomon þy mortal fo And þough þat I no wepen haue in þis place But out of prisoun am y-stert by grace Line 1592 I drede not þat oþer þou schalt dye Or þou ne schalt not loue Emelye Chese which þou wilt for þou schalt not asterte [folio 22a] This arcite with ful despitous herte Line 1596 whan he him knew and had his tale herde As fers as a lyoun pulleþ out a swerde And seide þus by god þat sitteþ aboue Nere it þat þou art sike and wood for loue Line 1600 And eek þat þou no wepne has in þis place But out of prisoun art y-stert by grace That þou ne schuldest deyen of myn hond For I defye þe seurte and þe bond Line 1604

Line 1604 which þat þou seyst I haue maad to þe For verray fool / þenk þat loue is fre And I wol loue hire mawgre al þy might But for þou art a gentil parfiȝt knight Line 1608 And wenest to dereyne hire by batayle haue heere my trouþe to morwe I nyl not fayle wiþouten wityng of eny oþer wight That heer I wol be founden as a knight Line 1612 And bryngen harneys right I-nough for þe And ches þe best and lef þe worst for me And mete and drynke/ þis night wil I bryng Inough for þe and cloþ for þy beddyng Line 1616 And if so be þat þou my lady wynne And sle me in þis wood þat/ I am Inne Thou maist wel haue þy lady as for me This Palomon answereþ I graunt it þe Line 1620 And þus þey ben departed til a morwe whan ech of hem had leyd his feith to borwe

OCupide / out of al charite O regne þat wolt no felaw haue with þe Line 1624 Ful soþ is seyde / þat loue ne lordschipe wol not his þonkes haue no felaschipe wel fynden þat arcite and Palamoun Arcite is riden anon to þe toun Line 1628 And on þe morwe or it were day light Ful priuely two harneys haþ he dight Boþe sufficaunt and mete to darreyne The batayl in þe feeld betwix hem tweyne Line 1632 And on his hors alone as he was born [folio 22b] he caryed al þis harneys him byforn And in þe groue at tyme and place I-sette This arcite and þis Palamon ben mette Line 1636 Tho chaungen gan here colour in here face Right as þe honterus in þe regne of Trace That stondeþ in þe gappe with a spere whan honted is þe lyoun or þe bere Line 1640

Line 1640 And hereþ him / comyng in þe greues And brekeþ boþe þe bowes and þe leues And þenkeþ here comeþ my mortel enemy wiþoute faile he mot be deed or I Line 1644 For eyþer I mot slen him at þe gappe Or he moot slee me if it me myshappe So ferden þey in chaungyng of here hew

AS fer as eyþer of hem oþer knew Line 1648 Ther nas no good day ne no saluyng But streyt wiþouten wordes rehersyng Euery of hem helpeþ to armen oþer As frendly as he were his owen broþer Line 1652 And þanne wiþ / here scharpe speres stronge They foyneden ech at oþer longe Tho it semed þat þis Palomon In his fightyng were a wood lyoun Line 1656 And as a cruel tygre was arcite And as wilde boores gonne þey smyte That froþen white as fome froþe wood vp to þe ancle þey faught in here blood Line 1660 And in þis wise I lete hem fiȝtyng welle And forþere I wol of Theseus telle

The destyne mynistre general That excused in þe world ouer al Line 1664 The purueans þat god haþ seye byforn So strong it is þat þey þe world had sworn The contrary of a þing by ȝe or nay Ȝet som tyme it schal falle vpon a day Line 1668 That falleþ nought eft in a þousend ȝeere For certeynly oure appetites heere Be it of pees oþer hate or loue [folio 23a] Al is it reuled by þe sight aboue Line 1672 This mene I now by mighty Theseus That for to honte is so desirous And namely þe grete hert in May That in his bed þer daweth him no day Line 1676

Line 1676 That he nys clad and redy for to ryde with hont/ and horn and houndes him byside For in his hontyng haþ he such delyt That is his ioye and his appetyt Line 1680 To been him self þe grete hertes bane For after may he serueþ now Dyane

Cleer was þe day as I haue told or þis And Theseus with alle Ioye and blys Line 1684 with his ypolita þe fayre queene And Emelye cloþed al in greene On hontyng be þay riden ryally And to þe groue þat stood þer faste by Line 1688 In which þer was an hert as men him tolde Duk Theseus þe streyte wey haþ holde And to þe launde he rydeþ him ful right There was þe hert y-wont to haue his flight Line 1692 And ouer a brook and so forþ in his weye This duk wol haue of him a cours or tweye wiþ houndes which as him lust to comaunde And whan þis Duk was come in to þe launde Line 1696 vnder þe sonne he lokeþ right anon he was war of arcite and Palomon That foughten breeme as it were boores tuo The brighte swerdes wente to and fro Line 1700 So hidously þat with þe leste strook It seemeþ as it wolde felle an Ook But what þey were noþing ȝit he woot This duk wiþ spores / his courser he smoot Line 1704 And at a stert he was bitwix hem tuoo And pullid out a swerd and cride hoo Nomore vp peyne / of leesyng of ȝour heed By mighty mars anon he schal be deed Line 1708 That smyteþ eny strook þat I may seen [folio 23b] But telleþ me what mestir men ȝe been That ben so hardy for to fighten heere wiþoute Iugge or oþer officere Line 1712

Line 1712 As it were in a lyste really This Palamon answerde hastily And seyde sire what nedeþ wordes mo we han þe deþ deserued boþe tuo Line 1716 Tuo woful wrecches been we and kaytyues That ben encombred of oure owne lyues And as þou art a rightful lord and Iuge Ne ȝeue vs neyþer mercy ne refuge/ Line 1720 But sle me first for seynte Charite But sle my felaw eek as wel as me Or sle him first for þough þou knowe him lyte This is þy mortal fo þis is arcite Line 1724 Þat fro þy lond is banyscht/ on his heed For which he haþ I-serued to be deed For þis is he þat come to þi gate And seyde þat / he highte Philostrate Line 1728 Thus haþ he Iaped þe many a yer And þou hast maad of him þy cheef squyer And þis is he þat loueth Emelye For siþ þe day is come þat I schal dye Line 1732 I make pleynly my confessioun Þat I am / þe woful Palamoun That haþ þi prisoun broke wikkedly I am þy mortal foo and it am I Line 1736 That loueþ so hoote / Emely þe bright That I wol dye present in hire sight Therfore I aske deeþ and my Iuwyse But slee my felaw in þe same wyse Line 1740 For boþe we haue serued to be slayn

This worthy duk answerde anon agayn And seide þis is / a schort conclusioun Ȝour owne mouþ by ȝour owne confessioun Line 1744 haþ dempned ȝou boþe / and I wil it recorde It needeþ nouȝt to pyne ȝow wiþ þe corde Ȝe schul be deed by mighty mars þe reede [folio 24a] The queen anon for verray wommanhede Line 1748

Line 1748 Gan for to wepe and so dede Emelye And alle þe ladies in companye Great pite was it as it þought hem alle That euere such a chaunce schulde falle Line 1752 For gentil men þei were and of gret estate And noþing but for loue was þis debate And saw here bloody woundes wyde and sore And alle þey cryde lesse and þe more Line 1756 Haue mercy lord vpon vs wommen alle And on here bare knees anoon þey falle And wolde haue kissed his bare feet right as he stood Till atte laste aslaked was his mood Line 1760 For pite renneþ sone in gentil herte And þough he for Ire quok and sterte he haþ it al considered in a clause The trespas of hem boþe and here cause Line 1764 And al-þough his Ire here gylt accused Ȝet he in his resoun hem boþe excused And þus he þought þat euery maner man wol help himself in loue if þat he can Line 1768 And eek delyuer himself out of prisoun And eek in his hert/ had compassioun Of wommen for þey wepen euer in oon And in his gentil hert he þought anoon Line 1772 And soþly he to himself seyde fy. vpon a lord þat wol haue no mercy But be a lyoun boþe in word in dede To hem þat ben in repentaunce and drede Line 1776 As wel as to a proud dispitious man That wol maynteyne þat he first bigan That lord haþ litel of discrecioun That in such caas can no diuisioun Line 1780 But wayteþ pride and humblenesse after oon And schortly whan his Ire is ouer gon He gan to loke on hem with eyen blake and light And spak þese same wordes al in hight Line 1784

Line 1784 The god of loue a benedicite [folio 24b] how mighty and how gret a lord is he Agayns his might þer gayneth non obstacle He may be cleped a god of his miracle Line 1788 For he can maken at his owen gyse Of euery herte / as him lust deuyse Lo her is arcite and Palomon That quytely / were out of my prisoun Line 1792 And might haue lyued in Thebes ryally And witen I am here mortal enemy And þat here deþ lith in my might also And ȝet haþ loue maugre here eyȝen tuo Line 1796 I-brought hem hider boþe for to dye Now lokeþ is nat þat an heih folye who may be a fole if þat he loue Byholde for goddes þaþ sitteþ aboue Line 1800 Se how þey blede be þey nought wel arrayed Thus haþ here lord þe god of loue hem payed here wages and here fees for here seruise And ȝet wenen they to ben wise / Line 1804 That seruen loue for ought þat may bifalle But þis is ȝette / þe beste game of alle That sche for whom þey haue þis Ielousye ¶ Can hem þerfore as moche þank as me Line 1808 Sche woot no more of al þis hoote fare By god þan wot a Cuckow or an hare But al moot ben assayed hoot or colde A man moot ben a fool oþer ȝong or olde Line 1812 I woot it by my self ful ȝore a-gon For in my tyme a seruant was I on And sythen þat I knewe of loues peyne And wot how sore it can a man destreyne Line 1816 As he þat haþ often ben caught in his lace I ȝou forȝeue holly þis trespace At þe request of þe queen þat kneleþ heere And eek of Emely my suster deere Line 1820

Line 1820 And ȝe schullen boþe anon vnto me swere That neuer ȝe schullen my corowne dere Ne make werre on me night ne day [folio 25a] But be my freendes alle þat ȝe may Line 1824 I ȝou forȝeue þis trespas euery dele And þey him swore his axyng euery dele And him of lordschip and of mercy prayde And he hem graunted mercy and þus he sayde Line 1828

TO speke of real lynage and riches Though þat sche were a queen or a prynces Ilk of ȝow boþe is worþy douteles To wedde when tyme is but naþeles Line 1832 I speke as for my suster Emelye For whom ȝe haue þis stryf and Ielousye ȝe woot ȝoure self sche may not wedde two At oones þough ȝe faughten euer mo Line 1836 That oon of ȝow or be him loth or leef he may go pypen in an Iuy leef This is to say sche may nought haue boþe Al be ȝe neuer so Ielous ne so loþe Line 1840 For-þy I put ȝou bothe in þis degre That ilk of ȝou schal haue his destyne As him is schape / and herken in what wyse Lo here ȝour ende of þat I schal deuyse Line 1844

My wil is þis. for playn conclusioun wiþouten eny repplicacioun If þat ȝou liketh tak it for þe best That euery of ȝou schal go wher him lest Line 1848 Frely wiþouten raunsoun or daungeer And þis day fyfty wykes fer ne neer Euerich of ȝou schal bryng an hundred knightes Armed for lystes vp at alle rightes Line 1852 Al redy to derayne hir by batayle And þus byhote I ȝou wiþouten fayle vpon my trouthe and as I am a knight That wheþir of ȝow boþe þat haþ might Line 1856

Line 1856 This is to seyn that wheþir he or þou May wiþ his hundred as I spak of now Sle his contrary or out of lystes dryue Him schal I ȝeue Emelye to wyue Line 1860 To whom þat fortune ȝeueþ so fair a grace [folio 25b] The lyste schal I make in þis place And god so wisly on my sowle rewe As I schal euen iuge ben and trewe Line 1864 ȝe schul non oþir ende wiþ me make That oon of ȝow schal be deed or take And if ȝou þinkeþ þis is wel I-sayde Say ȝoure avys and holdeþ ȝow a-payde Line 1868 This is ȝoure ende and ȝoure conclusioun who lokeþ lightly now but Palamoun who spryngeþ vp for ioye but arcite who couþe telle or who couþe endite Line 1872 The ioye þat is made in þis place whan Theseus haþ don so fair a grace But down on knees wente euery wight And þanked him with al here hertes might Line 1876 And namely þe thebanes ofte siþe And þus wiþ good hope and herte bliþe They taken here leue and hom-ward þey ryde To Thebes / wiþ olde walles wyde Line 1880 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

ATrow men wolde / it deme necligence If I forȝete to telle þe dispence Of Theseus þat goþ so busily To maken vp þe lystes rially Line 1884 & such a noble theatre as it was I dar wel say þat in þis world þer nas The circuite þer was a myle aboute walled of stoon and dyched al wiþoute Line 1888 Round was þe schap in maner of compaas

Ful of degre þe height of sixty paas That whan a man was set in o degre he letted nought his felaw for to se Line 1892

Estward þer stood a gate of marbul whit westward such anoþer in opposit/ And schortly to conclude such a place was non in erþe in so litel space Line 1896 In al þe lond þer nas no craftys man That geometry or arsmetrike can Ne purtreyour ne keruer of ymages [folio 26a] That Theseus ne ȝaf hem mete and wages Line 1900 The theatre for to maken and deuyse And for to don his right and sacrifise he Estward haþ vpon þe gate aboue In worschip of venus goddes of loue Line 1904 Don make an auter and an oratory And westward in þe mynde and in memory Of mars he haþ I-maked such an oþer That coste largely of gold a foþer Line 1908 And northward in a toret on þe walle Of alabaster whit and reed coralle An oratory riche for to see In worschip of Dyane goddes of chastite Line 1912 hath Theseus I-wrought in noble wise But ȝit/ had I forgeten to deuyse / The nobil keruyng and þe purtretures The schap þe contynaunce of þe figures Line 1916 That weren in þe Oratories þre

Furst in þe temple of venus þou may se wrought in þe wal ful pitous to byholde Thre broken slepes and þe sykes colde Line 1920 The sacred teeres and þe waymentyng The fuyry strokes and þe desiryng That loues servauntȝ in þis lyf enduren The othes þat by her couenantȝ assuren Line 1924 Plesance and hope desyr fool-hardynesse

Beaute and ȝouþe baudery and richesse Charmes and sorcery lesynges and flatery Dispense busynes and Ielousy Line 1928 That werud of ȝolo guldes a gerland And a cukkow sittyng on hire hand Festes instrumentȝ carols and daunces Lust and array and al þe circumstaunces / Line 1932 Of loue which I rekned and reken schal Ech by oþer / were peynted on þe wal And mo þan I / can make of mencioun For sothly al þe mount of Setheroun Line 1936 Ther Venus hath hir principal dwellyng [folio 26b] was schewed on þe wal here portrayng wiþ alle þe Gardyn and al þe lustynes Nought was forȝete þe porter ydelnes Line 1940 Ne Narcisus þe fayr of ȝore agon Ne ȝet þe foly of kyng Salomon Ne eek þe strengþe / of him hercules Thenchauntementȝ of Medea and Cerces Line 1944 Ne of turnus of which þe hard fuyry corage The riche Cresus caytif in seruage Thus may we see þat wisdom and riches Beaute ne sleight strengþe ne hardynes Line 1948 Ne may wiþ venus holde champartye For as sche lust þe world þan may sche gye lo al þis folk I-caught were in hire trace Til þay for wo fuloften sayde allas Line 1952 Sufficeþ þis ensample oon or tuo And þough I couþe reken a þousend mo The statu of venus glorious for to see was naked fletyng in þe large see Line 1956 And fro þe nauel doun al couered was with wawes grene as bright as eny glas A citole in hire right hond hadde sche And on hir heed ful semely on to see Line 1960 A rose garland ful swete and wel smellyng

And abouen hire heed dowues fleyng Biforn hir stood hir sone Cupido vpon his schuldres were wynges two Line 1964 And blynd he was as it is often seene A bowe he bar and arwes fair and greene

Why schuld I nouȝt as wel telle ȝou alle The portraiture þat was vpon þe walle Line 1968 wiþ in þe temple of mighty mars þe reede Al peynted was þe wal in lengþ and breede loke to þe Estres of þe grisly place That hight þe gret tempul of mars in trace Line 1972 In þat colde and in þat frosty regioun Ther as mars haþ his souereyn mancioun First on þe wal was peynted a foreste [folio 27a] In which þer dwelled neyther man ne beste / Line 1976 wiþ knotty knarry bareyn trees olde Of stubbes scharpe and hidous to byholde In which þer ran as wymbul in a swough As it were a storme schuld berst euery bough Line 1980 And downward on an hil vnder a bent / Ther stood þe tempul of marcȝ armypotent / wrought al of burned steel of which þentre was long and streyt and gastly for to see Line 1984 And þer out/ came a rage of suche aprise That it maad al þe gates for to rise The norþen light in at þe dore schon For wyndow on þe walle was þer noon Line 1988 Thorugh þe which men might no light discerne The dores wer alle. ademauntȝ eterne I-clenched ouer thward and endelong/ with Iren tough / and for to make it strong Line 1992 Euery piler þe tempul to susteene was tonne greet of Iren bright and schene Ther saugh I furst þe derk ymaginyng Of felony and al the compassyng Line 1996 The cruel Ire as reed as eny gleede

The pike-purs and eek þe pale drede The smyler wiþ þe knyf vnder his cloke The schipne brennyng with þe blake smoke Line 2000 The tresoun of þe murþeryng in þe bed The open werres wiþ woundes al bibled kuttud with bloody knyf and scharp manace Al ful of chirkyng was þat sory place Line 2004 The sleer of himself ȝet saugh I þere here herte blood haþ baþed al his here The nayl y-dryue in þe schode a-nyght The colde deþ with mouþ gapyng vpright Line 2008 A-myddes of þe tempul set/ meschaunce wiþ sory comfort and euel contynaunce I saugh woundes laughyng in here rage The hunt strangled with wilde bores corage Line 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] The sowe freten þe child right in þe cradel [folio 27b] The cook I-skalded for al his longe ladel Line 2020 Nought beþ forgeten þe infortune of mart The carter ouer-ryden wiþ his cart vnder þe whel ful lowe he lay a doun Ther were also of martȝ diuisioun Line 2024 The barbour and þe bowcher and þe smyth That forgeþ scharpe swerdes on his stith And al aboue depeynted in a tour Saw I conquest sittyng in gret honour Line 2028 with þe scharpe swerd ouer his heed hangynge by a sotil twyne threed Depeynted was þer þe slaught of Iulius Of grete Nero and of Anthonius Line 2032 Al be þat ilke tyme þey were vnborn

Ȝet was here deth depeynted þer byforn By manasyng of marcȝ right by figure So was it schewed right in þe purtreture Line 2036 As is depeynted in sterres aboue who schal be slayn or elles deed for loue Sufficeþ oon ensample in stories olde [[A break of one line in the MS.]]

The statue of mars vpon a carte stood Armed and loked grym as he were wood And ouer his heed þer schyneþ two figures Of sterres þat been cleped in scriptures Line 2044 That oon puella þat oþur Rubius This god of armes was arayed þus A wolf þer stood byforn him at his feet wiþ eyen reed and of a man he eet Line 2048 wiþ sotyl pencel depeynted was þis storie In redoutyng of mars and of his glorie

NOw to þe temple of Dyane þe chaste As schortly as I can I wol me haste Line 2052 To telle ȝou al þe descripcioun Depeynted ben þe walles vp and doun Of huntyng and of schamefast chastite Ther saugh I how woful Calystope / Line 2056 whan þat Dyane was agreued with here [folio 28a] was turned from a womman to a bere And after was sche maad þe loode-sterre Thus was it peynted I can say no ferre Line 2060 hire son is eek aftir as men may see Ther sawȝ I dyane turned in til a tree I mene nouȝt þe goddes Dyane But Peneus douȝter / þe whiche hight dane Line 2064 Ther saugh I atheon an hert I-maked For vengance þat he saugh Dyane al naked I saugh how þat his houndes han him caught And freten him for þat þey knew him naught Line 2068 Ȝit I-peynted was a litel forþer more

how atthalaunce huntyd þe wilde bore And Melyagre / and many anoþer mo For which Dyane wrought him care and woo Line 2072 Ther saugh I eek many anoþer story The which me list not drawe in to memory This goddess son / an hert ful hy he seet with smale houndes at hire feet Line 2076 And vnder-neþe hir feet sche had þe moone wexyng it was and schulde wane soone In gaude greene hire statue cloþed was wiþ bowe in hande and arwes in a cas Line 2080 hir eyȝen caste sche ful lowe adoun Ther Pluto haþ his derke regioun A womman trauailyng was hire biforn But for hire child so longe was vnborn Line 2084 Ful pitously lucyna gan she calle And seyde help / for þou mayst best of alle / wel couþe he peynte lyfly þat it wrouȝt wiþ many a floren he þe hewes bought Line 2088 Now been þise listes maad and Theseus / That at his grete cost arayed þus The temples and þe Theatres euery del whan it was don it liked him right wel Line 2092 But stynt I wil of Theseus a lite And speke of Palomon and of Arcite

THe day approcheþ of her attournyng [folio 28b] That euery schuld an hundred kniȝtes bryng Line 2096 The batail to derreyne as I ȝou tolde And til athenes her couenant to holde hath euery of hem brought an .C. knightes wel armed for þe werre at alle rightes Line 2100 And sikerly þer trowed many a man That / neuer siþþen þat þis world bigan For to speke of knighthod of her hond As fer as god haþ maked see or lond Line 2104 Nas of so fewe so good a company

For euery wight þat loueþ chyualry And wold his þankes haue a passant name he preyed þat he might be of þat game Line 2108 A wel was him þat þerto chosen was For if þer felle to morwe such a caas I knowe wel þat euery lusty knight/ That loueþ paramours and hath his might Line 2112 were it in Engelond or elles where / They wold here þankes wilne to be þere To fight for / a lady benedicite It were a lusty sighte for to see Line 2116 And right so ferden þey with Palomon wiþ him þer wente knyghtes many oon Some wol ben armed in an haburgoun In a bright brest plat and a gypoun Line 2120 And som wold haue a peyre plates large And som wold haue a prys scheld or a targe Som wol been armed on here legges weel And haue an ax and eek a mace of steel Line 2124 Ther nys no newe gyse þat it nas old Armed were þey as I haue told Euerich after his owen opinioun

Ther maistow se comyng wiþ Palomoun Line 2128 ligurge himself þe grete kyng of Trace Blak was his berd and manly was his face The cercles of / his eyen in his heed They gloweden bytwixe ȝolw and reed Line 2132 And lik a griffoun loked he aboute [folio 29a] with kempe heres on his browes stowte his lymes greet his brawnes hard and stronge his schuldres brood his armes rounde and longe Line 2136 And as þe gyse was in his contre Ful heye vpon a chare of gold stood he wiþ foure white boles in a trays In stede of cote armour in his harnays Line 2140 wiþ nayles ȝolwe and bright as eny gold

he had a bere skyn cole-blak for old his lange heer y-kempt byhynd his bak As eny rauen fether it schon for blak Line 2144 A wreþe of gold arm-gret and huge of wight/ Vpon his heed set ful of stoones bright Of fyne rubeus and of fyn dyamauntȝ Aboute his chare wente with white alauntȝ Line 2148 Twenty and mo as grete as eny stere To hunt at þe lyoun or at þe bere And folwed him with mosel fast I-bounde Colerd of gold and torettȝ fyled rounde Line 2152 An hundred lordes had he in his route Armed ful wel wiþ hertes stern and stoute

With arcita in stories as men fynde The gret Emetreus þe kyng of ynde Line 2156 Vppon a steede bay trapped in steel Couered wiþ cloþ and of gold dyapred wel Cam rydyng lyk / þe god of armes mars his coote armour was of a cloþ of Tars Line 2160 Cowched of perlys whyte round and grete his sadil was of brend gold newe bete A mantelet vpon his schuldre hangyng Bret-ful of Rubies reed and fir sparclyng Line 2164 His crispe her lik rynges was I-ronne And þat was ȝalwe and gliteryng as þe sonne his nose was heigh his eyen were cytryne His lippes rounde his colour was sangwyn Line 2168 A fewe freknes in his face y-spreynd Betwixe ȝolwe and somdel blak y-meynd And as a lyoun he his lokyng caste [folio 29b] Of fyue and twenty ȝeer his age I caste Line 2172 his berd was wel bygonne for to sprynge His voys was as a trumpe thunderynge vpon his heed he wered a laurer grene A garlond freisch and lusty for to sene Line 2176 vpon his hond he bar for his delyt

An Egle tame as eny lylie whyt An hundred lordes had he with him þer Al armed sauf here hedes in here ger Line 2180 Ful richely in alle maner þinges For trusteþ wel þat dukes Erles kynges were gadred in þis noble companye For loue and for encres of Chiualrye / Line 2184 Aboute þe kyng þer ran on euery part Ful many a tame lyoun and lepart And in þis wise þis lordes alle and some Been on the sonday to þe cite kome Line 2188 Aboute prime and in þe toun alight This Theseus þis duk þis worþy knight whan he had brought hem in to þis cite And ynned hem euerich at his degre Line 2192 he festeþ hem and doþ so gret labour To esen hem and do hem al honour That ȝit men wene þat no mannes wyt/ Of non estat þat cowde amenden it/ Line 2196 The mynstralcye þe seruyce at þe feste The grete ȝiftes to þe most and leste The riche aray of Thebes his paleys Ne who sat first ne last vpon þe deys Line 2200 what ladies fayrest ben or best daunsyng Or which of hem can daunce best or syng Ne who most felyngly spekeþ of loue what haukes sitten on þe perche aboue Line 2204 what houndes lyen in þe floor a-doun Of al þis make I now no mencioun But of þeffect þat þinkeþ me þe beste / Now comth þe poynt and herkneth if ȝou leste Line 2208 The sonday night or day bigan to springe [folio 30a] when Palomon þe larke herde synge Al þough it were nought day by houres tuo ȝit sang þe larke and Palomon also / Line 2212 with holy herte and with an heih corage

He roos to wenden on his pilgrymage Vnto þe blisful Cithera benigne I mene Venus honorable and digne Line 2216 And in here hour he walkeþ forþ a paas Vnto þe lystes þer hir temple was And doun he kneleþ and wiþ humble cheer And her sore and seide as ȝe schal heer Line 2220

FAirest O fairest / O lady myn Venus Doughter of Ioue and spouse to Vlcanus Thou glader of þe mount/ of Citheroun For þilke loue þou haddest to adeoun Line 2224 haue pite on my bitter teeres smerte And tak myn humble prayer to þin herte Allas I ne haue no langage for to telle Theffectes ne þe tormentȝ of myn helle Line 2228 Myn herte may myn harmes nat bewreye I am so confus þat I may not seye But mercy lady bright þat knowest wel My þought and felest what harm þat I fel Line 2232 Consider al þis and rew vpon my sore As wisly as I schal for euermore / Enforce my might þi trewe seruant to be And holde werre alday wiþ chastite Line 2236 That make I myn avow so ȝe me helpe I kepe nat of armes for to ȝelpe Ne nat I aske to morn to haue victorie Ne renoun in þis caas ne Veyne glorie Line 2240 Of pris of armes blowyng vp and doun But I wolde haue ful possessioun Of Emelye and dye in þi seruise Fynd þou þe maner how and in what wyse Line 2244 I recche nat but it may better be To haue victorie of him or he of me So þat I haue my lady in myn armes [folio 30b] For þough so be þat mars be god of armes Line 2248 And ȝe be venus þe goddes of loue

Ȝoure vertu is so gret in heuen aboue Thy temple wol I worschipe euermo And on þin auter wher I ryde or go Line 2252 I wol do sacrifice and fyres beete And if ȝe wol nat so my lady sweete Than pray I þe to morwe with a spere That arcita me þurgh the herte bere / Line 2256 Thanne rekke I nat whan I haue lost my lyf Though þat arcite haue hir to his wyf This is þeffect/ and ende of my prayeere Ȝif me my love my blisful lady deere Line 2260 whan thorisoun was doon of Palomon his sacrifice he dede and þat anoon Ful pitously with alle circumstances Al telle I nat as now his obseruances Line 2264 But at þe last þe statu of venus schook And made a signe wherby þat he took That his prayer accepted was þat day For þough þe signe schewed a delay Line 2268 Ȝet wist he wel þat graunted was his boone And wiþ glad herte he went him hom ful soone

The þrid hour in equal þat Palomon Bigan to Venus temple for to goon Line 2272 vp roos þe sonne and vp roos Emelye And to þe temple of Dian gan sche hye Hir maydens þat sche wiþ hir þider ladde Ful redily wiþ hem þe fyr þey hadde Line 2276 Thencens / þe cloþes and þemenant al That to þe sacrifice longen schal The hornes ful of meth as is þe gyse / Ther lakkeþ nouȝt to do here sacrifise Line 2280 Smokyng þe temple ful of cloþes faire This Emelye wiþ herte debonaire Hir body wessch wiþ wtir of a welle But how sche dide I ne dar nat telle Line 2284 But it be eny þing in general [folio 31a]

And ȝet it were a game to here it al To him þat meneth wel it were no charge But it is good a man be at his large Line 2288 hir brighte her was kempt vntressed al A Corone of a grene Ok cerial vpon hir heed was set ful fair and meete Tuo fyres on þe auter gan sche beete Line 2292 And did hir þinges as men may biholde In state of Thebes and þe bokes olde whan kynled was þe fyre wiþ pitous cheere / vnto Dyan sche spak as ȝe may heere Line 2296

Ochaste goddes of þe woodes greene To whom boþe heuen and erþe and see is seene Queen of þe regne of pluto derk and lowe Goddes of maydenes þat myn hert has knowe Line 2300 Ful many a ȝeer / ȝe woot what I desire As keep me fro þe vengans of þilk yre That atheon aboughte trewely Chaste goddesse wel wost þou þat I Line 2304 Desire to ben a mayden al my lyf Ne neuer wol I be no loue ne wyf I am ȝit þou wost of þi company A mayden and loue huntyng and venery Line 2308 And for to walken in þe woodes wylde And nought to ben a wyf and be with chylde Nouȝt wol I knowe þe company of man Now helpe me lady syþnes ȝe may and kan Line 2312 For þe formes þat þou hast in þe And Palomon þat haþ such loue to me And eek arcite þat loueþ me so sore This grace I praye þe wiþouten more Line 2316 And sende loue and pees betwix hem two And fro me torne a wey here hertes so That al here hoote loue and here desire Al here besy torment and al here fyre Line 2320 Be queynt or turned in anoþer place

And if so be þou wol do me no grace Or if my destyne be schapid so [folio 31b] That I schal needes haue on of hem two Line 2324 So send me him þat most desireþ me Biholde goddes of clene chastite The bitter teeres þat on my cheekes falle Syn þou art mayde and keper of vs alle Line 2328 My maydenhode þou kepe and wel conserue And whil I lyue a mayde I wil þe serue /

The fyres bren vpon þe auter cleer whil Emelye was in hire preyer Line 2332 But sodeinly sche saugh a sighte queynt For right anon on of þe fyres queynt And quyked agayn and after þat anon That oþer fyr was queynt and al a-gon Line 2336 And as it queynt it made a whistelyng As doþ a wete brond in his brennyng And at þe brondes end out ran anoon As it were bloody dropes many oon Line 2340 For which so sore agast was Emelye That sche wel neih mad was and gan to crie For sche ne wiste what it signifyed But oonely for feere þus sche cryed Line 2344 And wepte þat/ it was pite to heere And þer-wiþ-al Dyane gan appeere wiþ bow in hond right as a hunteresse And seyd a doughter stynt þyn heuynesse Line 2348 Among þe goddes hye it is affermed And by eterne word write & confermed Thou schalt be wedded vnto oon of þo That haue for þe so moche care and wo Line 2352 But vnto which of hem may I nat telle Far wel for I may her no lenger dwelle The fyres which þat on myn auter bren Schuln þe declare or þat þou go hen Line 2356 Thyn aduenture of loue and in þis caas

And wiþ þat word þe arwes in þe caas Of þe goddesse clatren faste and rynge And forþ sche went and made a vanysschynge Line 2360 For which this Emelye astoneyd was [folio 32a] And seide what amounteþ þis allas I put me vnder þy proteccioun Dyane and in þi disposicioun Line 2364 And hoom sche goþ anon þe nexte way This is þeffect/ þer nys no mor to say

The nexte houre of mars folwynge þis Arcite to þe temple walkyd is / Line 2368 To fyry mars to doon his sacrifise / with al þe rightes of his payen wise with pitous herte and heih deuocioun Right thus to mars he sayd his orisoun Line 2372 O stronge god þat in þe reynes cold Of trace honoured and lord art þou hold And hast in euery regne and euery land Of armes al þe bridel in þy hand Line 2376 And hem fortunest as þe lust deuyse Accept/ of me my pitous sacrifise If so be þat my ȝouthe may deserue And þat my might be worþi to deserue Line 2380 Thy godhed þat/ I may be on of þine Then pray I þe / to rewe on my pyne For þilke peyne and þat hoote fuyre The which whilom þou brendest for desyre Line 2384 whan þat þou vsedest þe gret bewte Of faire freissche Venus þat is so free And haddest hir in armes at þy wille And þough þe ones on a tyme mysfille Line 2388 whan Vlcanus had caught þe in his laas And fand þe liggyng by his wyf allaas For þilke sorwe þat was in þin herte haue reuthe as wel vpon my peynes smerte Line 2392 I am ȝong and vnkonnyng as þou wost

And as I trowe / wiþ loue offendid most / That euer was eny lyues creature / For sche þat doth me / al þis wo endure Line 2396 Ne rekkeþ neuer wheþer I synke or flete And wel I woot or sche me mercy heete I moot wiþ strengþe wyn hir in þe place [folio 32b] And wel I wot/ wiþouten help or grace Line 2400 Of þe / ne may my strengthe nought auayle Then help me lord to morn in my batayle For þilke fyr that whilom brende þe As wel as þis fire now brenneþ me Line 2404 And do to morn þat I haue þe victorie Myn be þe trauail al þin be þe glorie Thy souerein tempul wol I most honouren Of any place / and al way most labouren Line 2408 In þy plesaunce / and þy craftes strong And in þy tempul I wol my baner hong And alle þe armes of my companye And euermore vnto þat day I dye Line 2412 Eterne fyr I wol bifore þe fynde And eek to þis / avow I wol me bynde My berd myn heer þat hangeth longe a doun That neuer ȝit ne felt offensioun Line 2416 Of rasour ne of schere I wol þe ȝiue And be þy trewe seruaunt whiles I lyue lord haue rowþe vppon my sorwes sore ȝif me þy victorie I aske no more Line 2420

The preyer stynt/ of Arcita þe strange The rynges on þe tempul dore þat hange And eek the dores clatereden ful fast Of which arcita som what was agast Line 2424 The fires brenden on þe auter bright That it gan al þe tempul for to light/ A swote smel anon þe ground vp ȝaf And arcita anon his hand vp haf Line 2428 And more encens in to þe fyr ȝet cast

with oþir rightes and þan atte last The statu of mars bigan his hauberk ryng And with þat soun / he herd a murmuryng Line 2432 Ful lowe and dym / and sayde þis victorie For which he ȝaf to mars honour and glorie And þus with ioye and hope wel to fare Arcite anoon / vnto his Inne is fare / Line 2436 As fayn as foul is of þe brighte sonne [folio 33a] And right anon such stryf is bygonne For þat grauntyng in þe heuen aboue Bitwix venus and þe goddes of loue Line 2440 And marcz þe sterne god armypotent That Iupiter was busy it to stent Til þat þe pale Saturnes þe colde That knew so many of auentures olde Line 2444 Fond in his experiens an art/ That he ful sone haþ plesyd euery part And soþ is sayd eelde haþ gret auantage In eelde is boþe wisdom and vsage Line 2448 Men may þe eelde at-ren but nat at-rede Saturne anon to stynte stryf and drede Al be it þat / it be agayns his kynde Of al þis stryf he can remedy fynde Line 2452 My deere douȝter venus quod Satourne My cours þat haþ so wyde for to tourne haþ more power þan woot eny man Myn is þe drenchyng in þe see so wan Line 2456 Myn is þe prisoun in þe derke cote Myn is þe stranglyng & hangyng by þe þrote The murmur and þe cherles rebellyng The groynyng and þe pryue enpoysonyng Line 2460 I do vengance and pleyn correctioun whiles I dwelle in þe signe of þe lyoun Myn is þe ruen of þe hihe halles The fallyng of þe toures and þe walles Line 2464 Vpon þe mynour or þe Carpenter

I slowh Sampsoun in schakyng þe piler And myne ben þe maladies colde The derke tresoun and þe castes olde Line 2468 Myn lokyng is þe fadir of pestilens Now wepe nomore I schal do my diligence That Palomon þat is myn owen knight Schal haue his lady as þou him bihight Line 2472 þow marcz schal kepe his kniȝt ȝet neuerþeles Bitwixe ȝou þer moot som tyme be pees Al be ȝe nouȝt of oo complexioun [folio 33b] That ilke day causeþ such diuisioun Line 2476 I am þi ayel redy at þy wille wepe þou no more I wol þi lust fulfille Now wol I stynt of þe goddes aboue Of mars and of venus goddes of loue Line 2480 And telle ȝou as pleinly as I can The grete effecte for þat I bigan . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

GRet was þe fest in Athenus þat day And eek þat lusty sesoun of þat may Line 2484 Made euery wiȝt to ben in such plesaunce / That al the monday iousten þey and daunce And spende hit in venus heigh seruise / But by þe cause þat þey schuln arise Line 2488 Erly a morwe for to see þat fight vnto þeir rest wente þey at nyght And on þe morwe whan þe day gan spryng Of hors and hernoys noyse and clateryng Line 2492 Ther was in þe oostes al aboute And to þe paleys rood þer many a route Of lordes vpon steede and on/palfreys Ther mayst þou see deuysyng of herneys Line 2496 So vncowþ and so riche wrought & wel Of goldsmithry of browdyng and of steel

The scheldes bright / testers and trappures Gold-beten helmes / hauberks and cote armures Line 2500 lordes in paramentȝ on her coursers knightes of retenu and eek squyers Rayhyng þe speres and helmes bokelyng Girdyng of scheeldes wiþ layneres lasyng Line 2504 Ther as need is / þey were noþing ydel Ther fomen steedes on þe golden bridel; Gnawyng and faste / armurers also with fyle and hamer prikyng to and fro Line 2508 ȝemen on foote / and knaues many oon wiþ schorte staues as þikke as þey may goon Pypes trompes nakers and Clariounes þat in þe batail blewe bloody sownes / Line 2512 The paleys ful of pepul vp and doun [folio 34a] heer þre / þer / ten / haldyng her questioun Dyuynyng of þis Thebans knightes two Som seyden þus / som seyd it schal be so Line 2516 Som heelde with him with þe blake berd Som wiþ þe ballyd som wiþ þikke hered Som sayd he loked grym as he wold fight he haþ a sparth of .xx^ti. pound of wight Line 2520 Thus was þe halle ful of deuynyng Lang after þat þe sonne gan to spryng The gret Theseus / þat of his sleep is awaked with menstralcy and noyse þat was maked Line 2524 held ȝit þe chambre of his paleys riche Til þat Thebanes knyȝtes boþe I-liche honoured weren and in to Paleys fet Duk Theseus was at a wyndow set Line 2528 Arayed right as he were god in trone The pepul preseth þider was ful sone him for to seen / and doon him reuerence And eek herken his hest and his sentence Line 2532 An herowd on a skaffold made a hoo Til al þe noyse of þe pepul was I-doo

And whan he sawh þe pepul of noyse al stille Thus schewed he þe mighty dukes wille Line 2536

The lord haþ of his heih discrecioun Considered þat it were destruccioun To gentil blood to fighten in þis wise Of mortal batail now in þis Emprise Line 2540 were for to schapen þat þey schuld not dye he wol his firste purpos modifye No man þerfore vp peyne of los of lyf No maner schot/ ne pollax ne schort knyf Line 2544 In to þe lystes sende or þider bryng Ne schorte swerd for to stoke þe bytyng No man ne drawe ne bere by his side / Ne noman schal to his felawe ryde Line 2548 But oon cours with a scharpe spere Feyne if him lust on foote himself to were And he þat is at meschief schal be take / [folio 34b] And nat slayn but be brought to þe stake Line 2552 That schal be ordeyned on eyþer syde But þider he schal by force and þer abyde / And if so falle a cheuenten be take On eyþer side or elles sle his make / Line 2556 No lenger schal þe turneynge laste God spede ȝou goþ forþ and ley on faste wiþ long swerd and wiþ mace fiȝt ȝour fille Goþ now ȝour way þis is þe lordes wille Line 2560

The voice of þe poepul touchiþ heuen So lowde cried þei with mylde steuen God saue such a lord þat is so good he wilneþ no destruccioun of blood Line 2564 vp goþ þe trompes and þe melodye And to þe lystes ryde þe companye / By ordynaunce þurgh þe cite large Hangyng wiþ cloþ of gold and not wiþ Sarge Line 2568 Ful lik a lord þis nobul Duk cam ryde These tuo Thebans on eyþer side

And after rood þe queen and Emelye And after hem of ladyes anoþer companye Line 2572 And after hem of comunes after here degre And þus þey passeden þurgh þat cite And to þe lystes come þei by tyme It nas not of þe day ȝet fully pryme Line 2576 whan sette was Theseus riche and hye ypolita þe queen and Emelye And oþer ladyes in here degrees aboute vnto þe settes passeþ al þe route Line 2580 And westward þorugh þe ȝates of mart Arcite and eek þe hundred of his part with baners ys I-entred right anoon And þat selue moment Palomon Line 2584 Is vnder Venus Estward in þat place with baner whyt and hardy cheer of face

IN al þe world to seeke vp and doun So euen wiþoute Variacioun Line 2588 Ther nere suche companyes tweye [folio 35a] For ther nas noon so wys þat cowþe seye That any had of oþer auauntage Of worthines ne staat/ ne of visage Line 2592 So euene were þey chosen for to gesse And in two Renges faire þey hem dresse And whan he names I-rad were euerychon That in here nombre gile were þer noon Line 2596 Tho were þe gates schitt and cried lowde Dooþ now ȝour deuoir ȝonge knightes proude The heraldȝ laften here prikyng vp & doun Now ryngede þe tromp and Clarioun Line 2600 Ther is no more to say but Est and west In goþ þe speres in to þe Rest Ther seen men who can Iuste and who can ryde In goþ þe scharpe spere in to þe side Line 2604 Ther schyueren schaftes vpon schuldres þyk he feeleþ þurgh þe herte spon þe prik

vp sprengen speres on twenty foot on hight Out goon þe swerdes as þe siluer bright Line 2608 The helmes þer to-hewen and to-schrede Out brast þe blood wiþ stoute stremes reede with mighty maces þe bones þay to-breste he þurgh þe þikkest of þe þrong gan þreste Line 2612 Ther stomblen steedes strong and doun can falle / he rolled vnder foot as doþ a balle he feyneþ on his foot wiþ his tronchoun And him hurteleþ with his hors a doun Line 2616 He þurgh þe body hurt is and siþþen take Maugre his heed and brouȝt vnto þe stake / As forward was right þer he most abyde / Anoþer lad is on þat oþer syde Line 2620 And som tyme doþ Theseus hem to rest hem to refreissche and drinke if hem lest Ful ofte a-day haue þis Thebans twoo Togider y-met and wrought his felaw woo Line 2624 vnhorsed haþ ech oþer of hem tweye Ther nas no Tygyr in þe vale of Galgopleye whan þat hir whelp is stole whan it is lite [folio 35b] So cruel on þe hunt/ as is arcite Line 2628 For Ielous hert vpon þis Palomon Ne in Belmary þer is no fel lyoun That hunted is or for hunger wood Ne of his prey desireþ so þe blood Line 2632 As Palomon to sle his foo arcite This Ielous strokes on here helmes byte Out renneþ blood on boþe here sides reede Som tyme an ende þer is on euery dede Line 2636 For er þe sonne vnto þe reste went The strang kyng Emetreus gan hent This Palomon as he faught wiþ arcite And his swerd in his fleissch he did byte Line 2640 And by þe force of .xx.^ti he is take Vnȝolden and I-drawe vnto þe stake

And in þe Rescous of þis Palomon The stronge kyng · ligurgius is born a doun Line 2644 The kyng Emetreus for al his strengþe Is born out of his sadel his swerdes lengþe So hit him palamon er he were take But al for nought he was brought to þe stake / Line 2648 his hardy herte might him helpe nouȝt He most abyde whan þat he was caught By force and eek by composicioun who sorweþ now but Palomoun Line 2652 That moot no more gon agayn to fight And whan þat Theseus had seen þat sight he cryed hoo / nomore for it is doon Ne noon schal lenger vnto his felaw goon Line 2656 I wol be trewe Iuge and nouȝt partye Arcyte of Thebes schal haue Emelye That haþ by his fortune hire I-wonne Anoon þer is noyse bygonne Line 2660 For ioye of þis so lowde and heye with alle It semed þat þe listes wolde falle what can now fayre Venus doon aboue what seiþ sche now what doþ þis queen of loue / Line 2664 But wepeþ so for wantyng of hir wille [folio 36a] Til þat hire teeres in þe lystes fille Sche sayde I am aschamed douteles Satournus seyde douȝter hold þy pees Line 2668 Mars haþ his wille his knight haþ his boone And by myn heed þou schalt be esed soone The trompes wiþ þe lowde mynstralcy The herawdes þat ful lowde ȝolle and cry Line 2672 Been in here ioye / for daun arcyte But herkneþ me and stynteþ but a lite which a miracle bifel anoon This arcyte fersly haþ don his helm a doun Line 2676 And on his courser for to schewe his face he priked endlange in þe large place

lokyng vpward vpon his Emelye And sche agayn him cast a frendly yȝe Line 2680 For wommen as for to speke in comune Þay folwe alle þe fauour of fortune And was alle his cheer and in his hert Out of þe ground a fyr infernal stert Line 2684 From Pluto send at þe request of Saturne For which his hors for feere gan to turne And leep a syde and foundred as he leep And or þat arcyte may take keep Line 2688 he pight him on þe pomel of þe heed That in þat place he lay as he were deed his brest tobroken with his sadil bowe As blak he lay as eny col or crowe Line 2692 So was þe blood y-ronne in his face Anon he was y-born out of þe place with herte sore to Theseus paleys Tho was he coruen out of his harneys Line 2696 And in a bed y-brought ful fair and blyue For ȝit he was in memory and on lyue And alway cryeng after Emelye Duk Theseus and al his companye Line 2700 Is comen hom to Athenes his Cite with alle blys and gret solempnite Al be it þat þis auenture was falle [folio 36b] he nolde nought discomfort hem alle / Line 2704 Men seyde eek þat arcita schuld nought dye he schal be helyd of his maladye And of anoþer þing þey were as fayn That of hem alle þer was noon y-slayn Line 2708 Al were þey sore hurt and namely oon That wiþ a spere was þirled his brest boon To oþer woundes and to broken armes Some hadde salue and some hadde charmes Line 2712 Fermacyes of herbes and eek saue They dronken for þey wolde here lyues haue

For which þis noble duk as he wel can Comforteþ and honoureþ euery man Line 2716 And made reuel al þe lange night vnto the straunge lordes as it was right Ne þer was holden to discomfytyng But as a Iustes or as a turmentyng Line 2720 For soþly þer was no discomfiture For fallyng is but an aduenture Ne to be lad wiþ fors vnto þe stake Vnȝolden and wiþ twenty knightes take Line 2724 A person allone wiþouten moo And rent forþ by arme foot and too And eek his steede dryuen forþ wiþ staues wiþ foote men boþe ȝemen and knaues Line 2728 It was aretted him no vylonye Ne no maner man held it no cowardye

FOr which Theseus lowd anon leet crie To stynten al rancour and al enuye Line 2732 The gree as wel on o syde as on oþer And euery side lik as oþeres broþer And ȝaf hem ȝiftes after here degre And fully heeld a feste dayes þre Line 2736 And conueyed þe knightes worþily Out of his toun a iournee largely And hom went euery man þe righte way Ther was no more but far wel haue good day Line 2740 Of þis batayl I wol no more endite [folio 37a] But speke of Palomon and of arcyte

Swelleþ þe brest of Arcyte and þe sore Encresceþ at his herte more and more Line 2744 The cloþred blood for eny lechecraft Corrumpith and in his bouk I-laft That noþer veyne blood ne ventusyng Ne drynk of herbes may ben his helpyng Line 2748 The vertu expulsik or animal For þilke vertu cleped natural

Ne may þe venym voyde ne expelle The pypes of his lounges gan to swelle Line 2752 And euery lacerte in his brest adoun Is schent with venym and corrupcioun Him gayneþ noþer for to get his lyf Vomyt vp-ward ne dounward laxatif / Line 2756 Al is to-broken þilke regioun Nature haþ now no dominacioun And certeynly wher nature wil not wirche Far wel phisik go bere þe man to chirche Line 2760 This al and som þat arcyte moste dye For which he sendeþ after Emelye And Palomon þat was his cosyn deere Thanne seyd he þus as ȝe schul after heere Line 2764

Naught may þe woful spirit/ in myn herte Declare a poynt of my sorwes smerte To ȝou my lady þat I loue most But I byquethe þe seruice of my gost Line 2768 To ȝou abouen euery creature Syn þat my lyf may no lenger dure Allas þe woo allas þe peynes stronge That I for ȝou haue suffred and so longe Line 2772 Allas þe deþ allas myn Emelye Allas departyng of our companye Allas myn hertes queen allas my wyf Myn hertes lady ender of my lyf Line 2776 what is þis world what asken men to haue Now wiþ his loue now in his colde graue Allone wiþouten eny companye [folio 37b] Far wel my swete far wel myn Emelye Line 2780 And softe take me in ȝour armes tweye For loue of god and herkneþ what I seye I haue heer with my cosyn Palomon had stryf and rancour many a day I-gon Line 2784 For loue of ȝow and eek for Ielousie / And Iupiter so wis my sowle gye

To speken of a seruaunt proprely with alle circumstaunces trewely Line 2788 That is to seyn trouþe honour and knighthede wysdom humblesse astaat. and by kynrede Fredam and al þat longeþ to þat art So Iupiter haue of my soule part Line 2792 As in þis world right now ne know I non So worthy to be loued as Palomon That serueth ȝou and wol do al his lyf And if þat ȝe schul euer be a wyf Line 2796 Forȝet not Palomon þat gentil man And with þat word his speche faile gan For fro his herte vp to his brest was come The cold of deþ þat him had ouercome Line 2800 And ȝet more ouer in his armes twoo Þe vital strengþ is lost and al a-goo Only the intellect wiþouten more That dwelled in his herte sik and sore Line 2804 Gan fayle whan þe herte felte deth Duskyng his eyȝen two and fayled breth But on his lady ȝit he cast his ye his laste word was mercy Emelye / Line 2808 His spiryt chaunged was and wente þer As I cam neuer I can nat tellen wher Therefore I stynte I nam no dyuynistre / Of soules fynde I not in þis registre Line 2812 Ne me list nat thopynyouns to telle Of hem þough þat þei wyten wher þey dwelle Arcyte is cold ther mars his soule gye Now wol I speke forþ of Emelye / Line 2816

Shright Emely and howled Palomon [folio 38a] And Theseus his sustir took anon Swownyng and bar hir fro þe corps a way what helpeþ it to tarye forþ þe day Line 2820 To telle how þat sche weep boþe eue & morwe For in swich caas wommen can haue such sorwe

whan þat here housbonds ben from hem ago That for þe more part þey sorwen so Line 2824 Or elles fallen in such maladye That atte laste certeynly þey dye Infynyt been þe sorwes and þe teeres Of olde folk þat ben of tendre ȝeeres Line 2828 So gret a wepyng was þer noon certayn whan Ector was I-brought al freissh I-slayn As þat þer was for deþ of þis Theban For sorwe of him þer weepeþ boþe child and man Line 2832 At troye allas þe pite þat was þere Cracchyng of cheekes rendyng eek of here why woldist / þou be deed þis wommen crye And haddest gold ynowȝ.and Emelye Line 2836 No man mighte / glade Theseus / Sauyng his olde fader Egeus / That knew þis worldes transmutacioun As he hadde seen it torne vp and doun Line 2840 Ioye after woo and woo aftir gladnesse And schewed him ensample and likenesse

Right as þer deyde neuer man quod he That he ne lyued in erþe in som degree Line 2844 Ȝit þer ne lyuede neuer man he seyde In al þis world þat som tyme he ne deyde This world nys but a þurghfare ful of woo And we ben pilgryms passyng to and froo Line 2848 Deþ is an ende of euery worldly sore And ouer al þis ȝit seide he mochil more To þis effect // ful wysly to enhorte The peple þat schulde him recomforte Line 2852

Duk Theseus with al his busy cure Cast busyly wher þat þe sepulture Of good arcyte may best y-maked be [folio 38b] And eek most honurable in his degre Line 2856 And atte last he took conclusioun That ther as first Arcite and Palomon

hadden for loue þe batail hem bytwene That in the selue groue soote and greene Line 2860 Ther as he hadde his amorous desires His compleynt and for loue his hoote fyres he wolde make a fyr in which thoffice Funeral he might al accomplice Line 2864 And leet comaunde anon to hakke and hewe / The Okes olde and lay hem on a rewe In culpouns wel arrayed for to brenne his officers wiþ swifte foot þey renne Line 2868 And ryde anon at his comaundement And after þis Theseus hath I-sent After a beer and it al ouer spradde wiþ cloþ of golde þe richest þat he hadde Line 2872 And of þe same sute he clad arcyte vpon his hondes were his gloues white Eke on his heed a croune of laurer grene / And in his hond a swerd ful bright and kene Line 2876 He leyde him bare þe visage on þe beere Ther wiþ he weep þat pite was to heere And for þe poeple schulde see him alle / whan it was day he brought hem to þe halle Line 2880 That roreth of þe cry and of þe soun Tho cam þis woful Theban Palomoun wiþ flotery berd and ruggy asshy heeres In cloþis blak y-dropped al wiþ teeres Line 2884 And passyng oþer of wepyng Emelye The rewfullest of al þe companye In as moche as þe seruice schulde be The more nobul and riche in his degre Line 2888 Duk Theseus leet forth þre steedes bryng That trapped were in steel al gliteryng And couered wiþ armes of dan arcyte Vpon þe steedes that weren grete & white Line 2892 Ther seeten folk / of which oon bar his scheeld [folio 39a] Anoþer his spere vp in his hondes heeld

The þridde bar with him his bowe turkeys Of brend gold was þe caas and eek þe herneys Line 2896 And riden forth a paas with sorwful chere Toward þe groue as ȝe schul after heere The noblest of þe grekes þat þer were vpon here schuldres carieden þe beere Line 2900 with slak paas and eyhen reed and wete Thurgh-out þe cite by þe maister streete That sprad was al with blak and wonder hye Right of þe same is al þe stret I-wrye Line 2904 vpon þe right hond went olde Egeus And on þat oþer syde duk Theseus with vessels in here hand with gold wel fyn As ful of hony mylk and blood and wyn Line 2908 Eke Palomon with a gret companye And after þat com woful Emelye with fyr in hond as was þat tyme þe gyse / To do þoffice of funeral seruise Line 2912

Heyȝ labour and ful gret apparailyng was at þe seruice and at þe fyr makyng That with his grene top þe heuen raughte And twenty fadme of brede tharme straughte / Line 2916 This is to seyn þe boowes were so brode Of stree first was þer leyd ful many a loode but how þe fyr was makyd vpon highte Ne eek þe names how þe trees highte Line 2920 As Ook · fyr · birch · asp · aldir · holm · popler · wilw. elm plane. assch. box. chesteyn lynde laurer. Mapul. thorn · beech · hasil · ew · wyppyltre how þey weren felde schal nouȝt be told for me Line 2924 Ne how þe goddes ronnen vp and doun Disheryt of here habitacioun In which þey whilom woned in rest/ and pees Nymphes. Faunes and Amadryes Line 2928 Ne how þe beestes and þe briddes alle Fledden for feere / whan þe woode was falle /

Ne how þe ground agast was of þe light [folio 39b] That was nought wont to see no sonne bright Line 2932 Ne how þe fyr was couchid first wiþ stree And þanne with drye stykkes clouen in three And þanne wiþ grene woode and spicerie And þanne wiþ cloth of gold and wiþ perrye Line 2936 And gerlandes hangyng with ful many a flour The myrre thensens wiþ also gret odour Ne how arcyte lay among al þis Ne what richesse / aboute his body is Line 2940 Ne how þat Emely as was þe gyse Putt in þe fyr of funeral seruise Ne how she swowned whan sche made þe fyre Ne what sche spak ne what was hire desire Line 2944 Ne what iewels men in þe fyr þo cast whan þat þe fyr was gret and brente fast And how sum caste hir scheeld and summe her spere And of here vestimentȝ which þat þey were Line 2948 And cuppes ful of wyn and mylk and blood Vnto þe fyr þat brent as it were wood Ne how þe gregoys wiþ an huge route Thre tymes ryden al þe fyr aboute Line 2952 vpon þe lefte hond with an heih schoutyng And þries wiþ here speres clateryng And þries how þe ladyes gan to crye Ne how þat lad was homeward Emelye Line 2956 Ne how arcyte is brent to aschen colde / . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Al thilke night ne how þe grekes pleye / The wake pleyes kepe I nat to seye Line 2960 who wrastleþ best naked wiþ oyle enoynt Ne who þat bar him best in no disoynt I wol not telle eek how þat þey ben goon Hom til athenes whan þe pley is doon Line 2964 But schortly to þe poynt now wol I wende And maken of my longe tale an ende

By proces and by lengþe of certeyn ȝeres Al styntyd is þe mornyng and þe teeres Line 2968 Of alle grekys by oon general assent Than semed me ther was a parlement [folio 40a] At athenes on a certeyn poynt / and cas Among þe whiche poyntes spoken was Line 2972 To han wiþ certeyn contrees alliaunce / And haue fully of Thebans obeissance For which þis noble Theseus anon let senden after gentil Palomon Line 2976 Vnwist of him what was þe cause and why But in his blake cloþes sorwfully he cam at his comaundement in hye Tho sente Theseus for Emelye Line 2980 whan þey were sette and hussht was al þe place And Theseus abyden hadde a space Or eny word cam fro his wyse brest His eyen set he þer as was his lest Line 2984 And wiþ a sad visage he syked stille And after þat right þus he seide his wille

The firste moeuere of þe cause aboue whan he first made þe fayre cheyne of loue Line 2988 Gret was theffect / and heigh was his entente / wel wist he why and what þerof he mente For which þat faire cheyne of loue he bond The fyr þe watir eyr and eek þe lond Line 2992 In certeyn boundes þat þey may not flee That same prynce and moeuere eek quod he / haþ stabled in þis wrecched world a doun Certeyn dayes and duracioun Line 2996 To alle þat er engendrid in þis place Ouer þe day þey may nat pace Al mowe they ȝit wel here dayes abregge Ther needeþ non auctorite tallegge Line 3000 For it is preued by experience But þat me lust declare my sentence

Than may men wel by þis ordre discerne That þilke moeuere stabul is and eterne Line 3004 wel many men knewe but it be a fool That euery partye dyryueþ from his hool For nature haþ nat take his bygynnyng Of no partye ne cantel of a þing [folio 40b] Line 3008 But of a þing þat parfyt is and stable / Descendyng so til it be corumpable And þerfore of his wyse purueaunce / He hath so wel biset his ordenaunce Line 3012 That spices of þinges and progressiouns Schullen endure by successiouns And nat eterne be wiþoute lye This maistow vnderstand and se at ye Line 3016

LO þe Ook þat haþ so long norisschyng Fro tyme þat it gynneþ first to spring And as so long a lyf as we may see Ȝet atte laste wasted is þe tree Line 3020 COnsidereþ eek how þat þe harde stoon vnder oure foot / on which we trede and goon Ȝit wasteth it as it liþ by þe weye The brode Ryuer som tyme wexeþ dreye Line 3024 The grete townes see we wane and wende Than may I see þat al þing haþ an ende

OF man and womman se we wel also / That wendeþ in oon of þis termes two Line 3028 That is to seyn / in ȝouþe or elles in age he moot ben deed / þe kyng as schal a page / Sum in his bed som in þe deepe see Som in þe large feel as men may se / Line 3032 Ther helpeþ naught al goþ þilke weye Thanne may I see wel þat al þing schal deye what makeþ þis but Iubiter þe kyng The which is prynce and cuase of alle thing Line 3036 Conuertyng al vnto his propre wille From which he is dereyned soþ to telle /

And here agayn no creature of lyue Of no degre auayleþ for to stryue Line 3040

Than is it wisdom as þenkeþ me To maken vertu of necessite And take it wel þat we may nat eschewe And namely þat þat to vs alle is dewe / Line 3044 And who-so gruccheþ aught he doþ folye And rebel is to him þat al may gye [folio 41a] And certeynly a man haþ most honour To deyen in his excellence and flour Line 3048 whan he is siker of his goode name Than haþ he doon his freend ne him no schame And gladder ought his freend ben of his deþ whan with honour is ȝolden vp þe breth Line 3052 Thanne whan his name appeled is for age For al forgeten is his vasselage Thanne is it best as for a worþi fame To dye whan a man is best of name Line 3056 The contrary of al this is wilfulnesse why grucchen we why haue we heuynesse / That good arcyte of chyualry þe flour Departed is with worschip and honour Line 3060 Out of þis foule prisoun of þis lyf why gruccheþ heer his cosyn and his wyf Of his wel fare þat louen him so wel Can he hem thank / nay / god woot neuer a del Line 3064 That boþe his soule and eek hem self offende And ȝet þey may here lustes nat amende

That may I conclude of þis longe serye But aftir wo I rede vs to be merye Line 3068 And þanke Iubiter al of his grace And or þat we departe fro þis place / I rede þat we make of sorwes two O parfyt ioye lastyng euer mo Line 3072 And lokeþ now wher most sorwe is her-Inne / Ther wol we first amenden and bygynne /

Sustyr quod he þis is my ful assent wiþ al thauys heer of my parlement Line 3076 That gentil Palomon ȝour owne knight That serueþ ȝow with herte wil and might And euer haþ doon syn fyrst tyme ȝe him knewe That ȝe schul of ȝour grace vpon him rewe Line 3080 And take him for ȝour housbond and for lord Lene me ȝoure hand for þis is oure acord let see now of ȝour wommanly pite he is a kynges broþir sone pardee [folio 41b] Line 3084 And þough he were a pore bachiller Syn he haþ serued ȝou so many a ȝeer And had for ȝou so gret aduersite hit moste be considered trusteþ me Line 3088 For gentil mercy aughte passe right Than seyde he þus to Palomon ful right I trowe þer needeþ litel sermonyng To make ȝou assente to þis þing Line 3092 Com neer and tak ȝour lady by þe hond Bitwix hem was I-maad anon þe bond That highte matrimoyn or mariage By alle þe counseil and þe baronage Line 3096 And thus with blys and eek wiþ melodye Haþ Palomon I-wedded Emelye And god þat al þis wyde world haþ wrought Send him his loue þat haþ it deere I-bought Line 3100 For now is Palomon in al his wele Lyuynge in blisse richesse and in hele And Emely him loueth so tendirly And he hir serueþ also gentilly Line 3104 That neuer wordes hem bitweene Of gelousy ne of non oþir teene / Thus endeþ Palomon and Emelye And god saue al þis fayre companye / Amen. Line 3108

HEre endeþ þe knightes tale

¶ And þus bygynneþ þe prologe of þe myllere [[No break in the MS.]]

WHan þat þe knight had þus his tale I-told In al þe route nas þer ȝong ne old That he ne seyde it was a noble story And worþi to be drawen in memory Line 3112 And namely þe gentils euerich oon Oure host þo lowh and swoor so moot I goon This goþ right wel vnbokeled is þe male / Let se now who schal telle anoþer tale Line 3116 For trewely þis game is wel bygonne / Now telleþ now sir monk if þat ȝe konne Som what to quyte wiþ þe knightes tale / The Myller þat for drunken was al pale Line 3120 So þat vnnethe vpon his hors he sat [folio 42a] he wold auale nowþer hood ne hat Ne abyde no man for his curtesye But in Pilates voys he gan to crye Line 3124 And swor by armes and by blood and bones I can a noble tale for þe noones with which I wol now quyte þe knightes tale Oure hoost saugh wel how dronke he was of ale Line 3128 And seyde Robyn abyde my leue broþer Som bettre man schal telle vs first anoþer Abyd and let vs worken þriftyly By goddes soule quod he þat wol nat I Line 3132 For I wol speke or elles go my way Oure host answed / tel on a deuel way Thou art a fool þy witt is ouercome / ¶ Now herkneþ quod þis myller al and some Line 3136 But first I make a protestacioun That I am dronke I knowe wel by my soun And þerfore if þat I mys speke or seye wyte it þe ale of Southwerk I ȝou preye Line 3140

Line 3140 For I wol telle a legende and a lyf Bothe of a Carpenter and of his wyf how þat þe clerk haþ set þe wriȝtes cappe /

The reue answered and seyde stynt þi clappe / Line 3144 let be þy lewed drunken harlottrye It is a synne and eek a greet folye To apeyren eny man or him defame And eek to brynge wyues in ylle name Line 3148 Thou mayst ynowȝ of oþer þinges seyn This dronken Miller spak ful sone a-geyn And seyde leeue brother Osewold who hath no wyf he is no Cokewold Line 3152 But I seye not þerfore þat þou art oon Ther been ful goode wyues many oon And euer a þousand goode agayns oon badde That knowest þou wel þy self but if þou madde Line 3156 why art þou angry with my tale now / I haue a wyf par de as wel as thow Ȝit nolde I for the oxen in my plough [folio 42b] Take vpon me more þan ynough Line 3160 Though þat þou deme þiself þat þou be oon I wol bileeue wel þat I am [[a later n prefixt]] oon An housbond schal not be inquisityf Of goddes pryuete ne of his wyf Line 3164 So þat he fynde goddes foysoun þere Of þe remenaunt needeþ nought enquere / what schuld I seye but þat þis proud Millere he nolde his wordes for no man forbere Line 3168 But tolde his cherlisch tale in his manere Me aþinkeþ þat I schal reherce it heere And þerfor euery gentil wight I preye. For goddes loue as deme nat þat I seye Line 3172 Of yuel entent but for I moot reherse here wordes alle ¶ al be þey better or werse Or elles falsen som of my mateere And þerfor who-so list it nat to heere Line 3176

Line 3176 Turne ouer þe leef and cheese anoþer tale For he schal fynde ynowe bothe gret and smale Of storial þing þat toucheþ gentilesse And eek more ryalte and holynesse Line 3180 Blameþ nat me If þat ȝe cheese amys The Miller is a cherl ȝe know wel þis So was þe reeue and oþir many mo And harlotry þey tolden boþe two Line 3184 Auyseþ ȝou and put me out / of blame And men schulde nat make ernest of game

HEre endeþ þe prologe of þe Miller [[No break in the MS.]]

¶ And bygynneth his tale

Whilom þer was dwellyng at Oxenford A riche gnof that gestes heeld to boorde And of his craft he was a Carpenter Line 3189 wiþ him þer was dwellyng a pore scoler had lerned art but al his fantasye was torned for to lerne astrologye Line 3192 An cowde a certeyn of conclusiouns To deme by interrogaciouns If þat men axed him in certeyn houres [folio 43a] whan þat men schuld han drought or ellys schoures Line 3196 Or if men axed him what schulde bifalle Of euery þing I may nouȝt reken hem alle This clerk was cleped heende Nicholas Of derne loue he cowde and of solas Line 3200 And þer wiþ he was sleigh and ful priue And lik amayden meke for to se A chambir had he in his hostillerye Alone wiþouten eny compaignye Line 3204 Ful fetisly I-dight with herbes soote / And he himself as swete as is þe roote Of lokorys or eny Cetewale his almagest and bookes gret and smale Line 3208 his astrylabe longyng for his art his augrym stoones leyen faire a part On schelues couched at his beddes heed his presse I-couered wiþ a faldyng reed Line 3212 And al aboue þer lay a gay Sawtrye On which he made a nightes melodye So swetely þat al þe chambur rang And angelus ad virginem he sang Line 3216 And after þat he sang þe kynges note Ful often blissed was his mery þrote

And þus þis sweete clerk his tyme spente After his frendes fyndyng and his rente Line 3220

This carpenter had weddid newe a wyf which þat he loved more þan his lyf Of eyȝteteene ȝeer sche was of age Gelous he was and heeld hir narwe in cage Line 3224 For sche was wilde & ȝong and he was old And demed himself be lik a Cokewold he knew nat Catoun for his wit was rude That bad man schulde wedde his similitude Line 3228 Men schulde wedde aftir here astaat For eelde and ȝouþe ben often at debaat But syn þat he was brouȝt in to þe snare He moste endure as oþere doon his care Line 3232 Fair was þe ȝonge wyf and þer wiþ al As eny wesil hir body gent and smal [folio 43b] A seynt sche wered barred al of silk A barmcloþ eek as whit as morne mylk Line 3236 vpon hir lendes ful of many a gore whit was hir smok and browdid albyfore And eek byhynde on hir coler aboute Of coleblak silk wiþinne and eek wiþoute Line 3240 The tapes of hir white voluper weren of þe same sute of hire coler hir filet brood of silk y-set ful heye And certeynly sche hadd a licorous eyȝe Line 3244 Ful smal y-pulled weren hir browes two / And þo were bent as blak as a slo Sche was wel more blisful on to see Than is þe newe perionette tree Line 3248 And softer þan þe wol is of a weþir And by hir gurdil hyng a purs of leþir Tassid wiþ silk and perled wiþ latoun In al þis world to seken vp and doun Line 3252 Ther nys no man so wys þat couþe þenche / So gay a popillot or such a wenche /

For brighter was þe smylyng of hir hewe Than in þe tour þe noble I-forged newe Line 3256 But of hir song it was as lowde and ȝerne As eny swalwe chiteryng on a berne Ther to sche cowde skippe and make game As eny kyde or calf folowyng his dame Line 3260 hir mouth was sweete as bragat is or meth Or hoord of apples layd in hay or heth wynsyng sche was as is a Ioly colt long as a mast / and vpright as a bolt / Line 3264 A broch sche bar vpon hir loue coleer As brod as is þe bos of a bocleer hir schos were laced / on hir legges heyȝe Sche was a primerole [[a later & is put in here]] a pigges neyȝe Line 3268 For eny lord haue liggyng in his bedde Or ȝet for eny good ȝeman to wedde Now sir and eft sir / so bifel þe cas That on a day þis heende Nicholas [folio 44a] Line 3272 Fil wiþ þis ȝonge wyf to rage and pleye whil þat hir housbond was at Oseneye As clerkes ben ful sotil and ful queynte And pryuely he caught hir by þe queynte Line 3276 And seyde I-wis but if I haue my wille For derne loue of þe lemman I spille / And heeld hir harde by þe haunche boones And seyde lemman loue me al at ones Line 3280 Or I wol dye as wisly god me saue And sche sprang out / as doþ a colt/ in traue And wiþ hir heed sche wried fast awey I seyde I wol nat kisse þe by my fey Line 3284 why let be quod sche / lat be þou nicholas / Or I wol crye out harrow and allas Do wey ȝour handes for ȝour curtesye This nicholas gan mercy for to crye Line 3288 And spak so faire and profred him so faste/ That sche hir loue him graunted atte laste /

And swor hir oth / by seynt thomas of kent That sche wol be at his comaundement Line 3292 whan þat sche may hir leysir wel aspye Myn housbond is so ful of Ielousie / That but ȝe wayten wel and be pryue I woot right wel I am but deed quod sche Line 3296 Ȝe mosten be ful derne as in þis caas Ther of ne care þe nought quod Nicholas A clerk haþ litherly byset his while But if he cowde a carpenter bygyle Line 3300 And þus þey ben acorded and I-sworn To wayte a tyme as I haue told biforn

Whan Nicholas had doon þus euery del And thakked hire aboute þe lendys wel Line 3304 he kist hir sweet / and takeþ his sawtrye And pleyeþ fast and makeþ melodye Than fyl it þus / þat to þe parisch chirche / Cristes owen werkes for to wirche Line 3308 This goode wyf / went on an haly day Hir forheed schon as bright as eny day [folio 44b] So was it waisschen whan sche leet hir werk

NOw þer was of þat chirche a parisch clerk Line 3312 The which þat was I-cleped Absolon Crulle was his heer and as þe gold it schon And strowted as a fan right large and brood Ful streyt and euene lay his ioly schood Line 3316 his rode was reed his eyȝen gray as goos with Powles wyndowes coruen in his schoos In his hoses reed he went fetusly I-clad he was ful smal and propurly Line 3320 Al in a kirtel of a fyn wachet Schapen with goores in þe newe get And þer vpon he had a gay surplys As whyt as is þe blosme vpon þe rys Line 3324 A mery child he was so god me saue wel couþe he lete blood and clippe and schaue

And make a chartre of lond and acquitaunce In twenty maners he coude skip and daunce Line 3328 After þe scole of Oxenforde þo And wiþ his legges casten to and fro And pleyen songes on a smal rubible Therto he sang som tyme a lowde quynyble Line 3332 And as wel coude he pleye on a giterne / In al þe toun nas brewhous ne tauerne That he ne visited with his solas Ther as any gaylard tapster was Line 3336 Bot soþ to say he was som del squaymous Of fartyng / and of speche daungerous This absolon þat ioly was and gay Goþ wiþ a senser on þe haly day Line 3340 Sensyng þe wyues of þe parisch fast And many a louely look on hem he cast And namely on þis Carpenteres wyf To loke on hire him þought a mery lyf Line 3344 Sche was so propre sweete and licorous I dar wel sayn if sche had ben a mous And he a cat he wold hir hent anoon

This parisch clerk this Ioly Absolon [folio 45a] Line 3348 Haþ in his herte such a loue longyng That of no wyf ne took he noon offryng / For curtesy he seyde he wolde noon The moone at night ful cleer and brighte schoon Line 3352 And absolon his giterne haþ I-take For paramours he seyde he wold awake / And for he goþ iolyf and amerous / Til he cam to þe Carpenteres hous Line 3356 A litel after þe cok had y-crowe / And dressed him vp by a schot wyndowe / That was vnder þe Carpenteres wal he syngeþ in his voys gentil and smal Line 3360 Now deere lady if þi wille be I praye ȝow þat ȝe wol rewe on me

Ful wel acordyng to his gyternyng This carpenter awook and herde him syng Line 3364 And spak vnto his wyf and sayde anoon what alisoun herestow not absolon That chaunteþ þus vnder oure boure smal And sche answerd hir housbond þer wiþ al Line 3368 Ȝis God woot Iohn I heere it euery del

This passeþ forth what wil ȝe bet þan wel Fro day to day þis Ioly Absolon So woweþ hire þat him is wo bigon Line 3372 he wakeþ al þe night and al þe day To kembe his lokkes brode and made him gay he wowith hire by mene and by brocage And swor he wolde ben hir owne page / Line 3376 he syngeþ crowyng as a nightyngale And sent hire pyment meth and spiced ale / And wafres pypyng hoot out of þe gleede For þat sche was of toune he profred meede Line 3380 For som folk wol be wonne for richesse And som for strokes som for gentillesse Som tyme to schewe his lightnes and maistrye he pleyeth herodȝ on a scaffold hye Line 3384 But what avayleþ him as in þis caas / Sche loueþ so þis heende Nicholas [folio 45b] That absolon may blowe þe bukkes horn he ne had for al his labour but a skorn Line 3388 And þus sche makeþ absolon hir ape And al his ernest torneþ to a Iape

Ful soþ is þis prouerbe it is no lye Men seyn right þus alway þe ney slye Line 3392 Makeþ þe ferre leef to be loþ For þough þat absolon be wood or wroth By cause þat he fer was from here sight This Nicholas haþ stonden in his light Line 3396 Now bere þe wel þou heende Nicholas For absolon may wayle and synge allas

¶ And so bifell it on a Satyrday This Carpenter was gon to Osenay Line 3400 And heende Nicholas and alisoun Acordid ben to þis conclusioun That Nicholas schal schapen hem a wyle This sely Ielous housbond to begyle / Line 3404 And if so were þis game wente aright Sche schulde slepe in his arm al night For þis was hire desir and his also And right anoon wiþouten wordes mo Line 3408 This Nicholas no lenger wold he tarye But doþ ful softe in to his Chambur carye Boþe mete and drynke for a day or tweye And to hir housbond bad hir for to seye Line 3412 If þat he axed after Nicholas Sche schulde seye sche wiste nat wher he was Of al þat day sche saw him nat with eye Sche trowed he were falle in som maladye Line 3416 For no cry þat hir mayden cowde him calle he nolde answere for nought þat may bifalle

This passeþ forþ al þat ilke satyrday Tha Nicholas in his chambre lay Line 3420 And eet and drank and dede what/ him leste Til soneday þe sonne was gon to reste This sely carpenter haþ gret meruaile [folio 46a] Of Nicholas or what þing may him ayle Line 3424 And seyde I am a-drad by seynt Thomas It stondeþ nat aright wiþ Nicholas God schilde þat he deyde sodeinly This world is now ful tykel sikerly Line 3428 I saugh to-day a corps y-born to chirche That now on monday last I saugh him wirche Go vp quod he vnto his knaue anoon Clepe at his dore and knokke wiþ a stoon Line 3432 Loke how it is and telle me boldely This knaue goþ him vp ful sturdily

And at þe chambir dore whil he stood he cryed and knokked as þat he were wood Line 3436 what how what do ȝe mayster nicholay how may ȝe slepen al þis longe day But al for nought he herde nat o word An hole he fond right lowe vpon a boord Line 3440 Ther as þe cat was wont in for to creepe / And at þat hole he loked in ful deepe / And atte laste he hadde of him a sight This nicholas sat euer gapyng vpright Line 3444 As he had loked on þe newe moone Adoun he goþ and tolde his mayster soone In what aray he sawh þis ilke man This carpenter to blessen him bygan Line 3448 And seyde now help vs seynte Frideswyde A man woot litel what him schal betyde This man is falle with his astronomye In som woodnesse or in som agonye Line 3452 I thought ay wel how þat it schulde be Men schulde nought knowe of goddes pryuyte ¶ Ȝe blessed be alwey a lewed man That nat but oonly his bileeue can Line 3456 So ferde anoþer clerk with astronomye / he walked in the feeldes for to prye vpon þe sterres what þer schulde bifalle Til he was in a marle pit I-falle / Line 3460 he saugh nat þat but ȝet by seint Thomas / Me reweth sore for heende nicholas [folio 46b] he schal be ratyd of his studyyng If þat I may by ihū heuen kyng Line 3464 Gete me a staf þat I may vnder spore whil þat þou Robyn heuest vp þe dore he schal out of his studyyng as I gesse And to þe chambir dore he gan him dresse / Line 3468 his knaue was a strong karl for þe noones And by þe hasp he haf it vp at oones

And in þe floor þe dore fil doun anoon This nicholas sat stille as eny stoon Line 3472 And euer he capyd vpward to þe eyr This Carpenter wende he were in despeir And hent him by þe schuldres mightily And schook him harde and cryed spitously Line 3476 what Nicholas what how man loke a doun A-wake and þynk on cristes passioun I crowche þe from Elues and from wightes Ther-with þe night-spel seyde he anon rightes Line 3480 On þe foure halues of þe hous aboute / And of þe þreisshfold of þe dore wiþoute lord Ihū crist and seynte bendight Blesse þis hous from euery wikkede wight Line 3484 for nyghtes verray þe white pater-noster wher wonestow now, seynte petres soster And atte laste heende Nicholas Gan for to syke sore and seyde allas Line 3488 Schal al þe world be lost eft sones now This Carpenter answerde what seystow / what þenk on god as we doon men þat swynke This Nicholas answerde fette me drynke Line 3492 And after wol I speke in pryuyte Of certeyn þing þat toucheþ þe and me I wol telle it non oþer man certayn This Carpenter goþ forth and comþ agayn Line 3496 And brought of mighty ale a large quart/ whan ech of hem y-dronken had his part This Nicholas his dore gan to schitte And dede þis carpenter doun by him sitte [folio 47a] Line 3500 And seide Iohan myn host ful leue and deere Thou schalt vpon þy trouþe swere me heere / That to no wight þou schalt þis counsel wreye For it is cristes counsel þat I seye Line 3504 And if þou telle it man þou art forlore For þis vengaunce þou schalt han þerfore

That if þou wreye me þou schalt be wood Nay crist forbede it for his holy blood Line 3508 Quod þo þis sely man I am no labbe Though I it say I am nought leef to gabbe / Say what þou wolt I schal it neuer telle / To child ne wyf by him þat harwed helle Line 3512

Now Iohan quod nicholas I wol not lye I haue I-founde in myn astrologye As I haue loked in þe moone bright That now on monday next at quarter night Line 3516 Schal falle a reyn and þat so wilde and wood That half so gret was neuer Noes flood This worlde he seyde more þan an hour Schal ben I-dreynt so hidous is þe schour Line 3520 Thus schal mankynde drenche and leese his lyf This Carpenter answered allas my wyf And shal she drenche allas myn alisoun For sorwe of þis he fel almost adoun Line 3524 And seyde is þer no remedy in þis caas whe ȝis for gode quod heende Nicholas If þou wolt werken aftir lore and reed Thou maist nought worke after þin owen heed Line 3528 For þus seiþ Salomon þat was ful trewe werke by counseil / and þou schalt nat rewe And if þou worken wolt by good counsail I vndertake wiþouten mast and sail Line 3532 Ȝet schal I sauen hir and þe and me hastow nat herd / how saued was Noe whan þat our lord had warned him biforn That al þe world wiþ watir schulde be lorn Line 3536 Ȝis quod þis Carpenter ful ȝore ago hastow nought herd quod Nicholas also [folio 47b] The sorwe of Noe wiþ his felaschipe That he hadde or he gat his wyf to schipe Line 3540 him hadde wel leuer I dar wel vndertake / At þilke tyme þan alle his weþeres blake

That sche hadde a schip hir self allone And þerfore wostow what is best to doone / Line 3544 This axeþ hast and of an hasty þing Men may nought preche or make taryyng Anon go gete vs fast in to þis In A knedyng trowh or elles a kemelyn Line 3548 For ech of vs but loke þat þey be large In which þat we may rowe as in a barge And haue þer In vitaille suffisant But for o day, fy on þe remenant Line 3552 The water schal aslake and gon away Aboute prime vppon þe nexte day But Robyn may not wite of þis þy knaue Ne ek þy mayde Gille I may not saue Line 3556 Aske nought why for þough þou aske me I wol nat tellen goddes pryuete Sufficeth þe but if þat þy witt/ madde To haue as gret a grace as noe hadde / Line 3560 Thy wyf schal I wel sauen out of doute / Go now þy wey and speed þe heer aboute And whan þou hast for hir and þe and me / I-goten vs þis knedyng tubbes þre Line 3564 Than schalt þou hange hem in þe roof ful hie That no man of oure purueaunce aspye And whan þou þus hast doon as I haue seyd And hast our vitaille faire in hem I-leyd Line 3568 And eek an ax to smyte þe corde a-two whan þat þe water comeþ þat we may goo And breke an hole an hye vpon þe gable In to þe gardynward ouer þe stable / Line 3572 That we may frely passen forþ oure way whan þat þe grete schour is gon away Than schaltow swymme as mery I vndertake As doth þe white doke aftir hir drake [folio 48a] Line 3576 Than wol I clepe how alisoun how Ion. [Beoth merye for the flood passeþ a-non] [[in a later hand]]

And þou wolt seye heyl maister nicholay Good morn I see þe wel for it is day Line 3580 And þan schul we be lordes al oure lyf Of al þe world as noe and his wyf But of oo þing I warne þe ful right Be wel auysed of þat ilke nyght Line 3584 That we ben entred in to schippes boord That not of vs ne speke not a word Ne clepe ne crye but be in his preyere For it is goddes owne heste deere Line 3588 Thy wyf and þou most hangen fer a-twynne For þat bitwixe ȝou schal be no synne No more in lokyng þan þer schal in dede / This ordynaunce is seyd, so god me speede / Line 3592 To morwe at night whan men ben a slepe / In to our knedyng tubbes wol we crepe / And sitte þer abydyng goddes grace / Go now þy way I haue no lenger space Line 3596 To make of þis no lenger sermonyng Men seyn þus / send þe wyse and sey no þing Thou art so wys it needeth nat þe teche Go saue oure lyf and þat I þe byseche / Line 3600

This seely carpenter goþ forþ his way Ful ofte he seyd allas and weylaway And to his wyf he told his pryuete And sche was war and knew it bet þan he / Line 3604 what al this wente cast was for to seye / But naþeles sche ferd as sche schuld deye And seyde allas go forth þy way anoon help vs to skape or we be ded echon Line 3608 I am þy verray trewe wedded wyf Go deere spouse and help to saue oure lyf lo which a gret þing is affeccioun A man may dye for ymaginacoun Line 3612 So deepe may impressioun be take This seely Carpenter bygynneth quake [folio 48b]

him þenkeþ verrayly þat he may se Noes flood come walkyng as þe see / Line 3616 To drenchen alisoun his hony deere he weepeþ wayleþ he maketh sory cheere he sikeþ with ful many a sory swough And goth and geteth him a knedyng trough Line 3620 And after þat a tubbe and a kymelyn And pryuely he sent hem to his In And heng hem in þe roof in pryuete His owne hond þan made laddres þre Line 3624 To clymben by þe ronges and þe stalkes vnto þe tubbes hangyng in þe balkes And hem vitayled boþe trough and tubbe with breed and cheese wiþ good ale in a Iubbe Line 3628 Suffisyng right ynough as for a day But or þat he had maad al þis array he sent his knaue and eek his wenche also vpon his neede to londoun for to go Line 3632 And on þe monday whan it drew to nyght he schette his dore wiþouten candel light And dressed al þis þing as it schuld be And schortly vp þey clumben alle þre Line 3636 They seten stille wel a forlong way Now pater noster clum quod Nicholay And Clum quod Ion and Clum . quod. Alisoun This Carpenter seyd his deuocioun Line 3640 And stille he sitt and byddeþ his prayere Ay waytyng on þe Reyn if he it heere The deede sleep for verray busynesse Fil on þis Carpenter right as I gesse / Line 3644 Abowten courfew tyme or litel more For trauail of his goost he groneþ sore And eft he routeþ for his heed myslay Doun of þe laddir stalkeþ Nicholay Line 3648 And alisoun ful softe a doun hir spedde wiþouten wordes mo þey goon to bedde

Ther as þe Carpenter was wont to lye Ther was þe Reuel and þe melodye [folio 49a] Line 3652 And þus lith alisoun and Nicholas In busynesse of myrþe and of solas Til þat þe belles of laudes gan to rynge And freres in þe Chauncel gan to synge Line 3656

This parissch clerk þis amerous absolon That is for loue so harde and woo bygon vpon þe Monday was at Osenay with company him to desporte and play Line 3660 And axed vpon caas a cloysterer Ful pryuely after þe carpenter And he drough him a part out of þe chirche And sayde nay I say him nat here wirche Line 3664 Syn satirday I trow þat he be went For tymber þer our abbot hath him sent/ For he is wont for tymber for to goo And dwellen at þe graunge a day or tuo Line 3668 Or elles he is at his hous certayn wher þat he be I can nat soþly sayn

This absolon ful ioly was and light And thoughte now is tyme wake al night Line 3672 For sikerly I sawh him nought styryng Aboute his dore syn day bigan to spryng So mote I þryue I schal at Cokkes crowe Ful pryuely go knokke at his wyndowe Line 3676 That stant ful lowe vpon his bowres wal To alisoun þan wol I tellen al My loue-longyng for ȝet I schal not mysse That atte leste wey I schal hir kisse Line 3680 Som maner comfort schal I haue par fay My mouth haþ icched al þis longe day That is a signe of kissyng atte leste Al nyght I mette eek I was at a feste Line 3684 Ther fore I wol go slepe an hour or tweye And al þe night þan wol I wake and pleye

whan þat þe firste cok haþ crowe anoon vp ryst þis Iolyf louer absolon Line 3688 And him arrayeþ gay at poynt deuys But first he cheweþ greyn and lycoris [folio 49b] To smellen swete or he hadde kempt his heere vnder his tunge a trewe loue he beere / Line 3692 For þer by wende he to be gracious he romeþ to þe carpenteres hous And stille he stant vnd þe schot wyndowe / vnto his brest it raught/ it was so lowe / Line 3696 And softe he cowhiþ with a semy soun what do ȝe hony comb swete alisoun My fayre bryd my swete Cynamome Awake lemman myn and spekeþ tome Line 3700 wel litel þynke ȝe vpon my wo That for ȝoure loue I swelte þer I go No wonder is if þat I swelte and swete / I morne as doþ a lamb after þe tete Line 3704 I-wis lemman I haue such loue-longyng That like a turtil trewe is my moornyng I may not ete no more þan a mayde / ¶ Go fro þe wyndow Iakke fool sche sayde / Line 3708 As help me god it wol not be com paine I loue anoþer and elles were I to blame wel bet þan þe by Ihū absolon Go forþ þy wey or I wol cast a stoon Line 3712 And let me slepe a twenty deuelway Allas quod absolon and weylaway That trewe loue was euer so ylle bysett/ Þanne kisseth me syn it may be no bett Line 3716 For Iesus loue and for þe loue of me wilt þou þan go þy wey þer with quod sche Ȝe certes lemman quod þis absolon Than mak þe redy quod sche I come anon Line 3720 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] This absolon doun sette him on his knees

And seide I am a lord at alle degrees Line 3724 For after þis I hope þer comeþ more Lemman þy grace / and swete bryd þyn ore The wyndow sche vndyd and þat in hast haue doon quod sche com of and speed þe fast Line 3728 lest þat our neygheboures þe aspye This absolon gan wipe his mouþ ful drye [folio 50a] Derk was þe night as picche or as a cole / Out atte wyndow putte sche hir hole / Line 3732 And absolon him fel no bet ne wers But wiþ his mouth he kist hir naked ers Ful sauorly, whan he was war of þis Abak he sterte and þought it was amys Line 3736 For wel he wist a womman haþ no berd he felt a þing al rough and long I-herd And seyde fy allas what haue I do Tehee quod sche / and clapt þe wyndow to Line 3740 And absolon goþ forþ a sory paas A berd a berd / quod heende Nicholas By goddes corps þis game goþ fair and wel This seely absolon herd euery del Line 3744 And on his lippe he gan for angir byte And to himself he seyde I schal þe quyte

Who rubbiþ now who froteth now his lippes Line 3747 wiþ dust wiþ sand wiþ straw wiþ cloth wiþ chippes But absolon þat seith fulofte allas My soule bytake I vnto Sathanas But me were leuer þan alle þis toun quod he Of þis dispit awroken for to be Line 3752 Allas quod he allas I nadde bleynt his hoote loue was cold and al I-queynt For fro þat tyme þat he had kist hire ers Of paramours ne sette he nat a kers Line 3756 For he was helyd of his maledye Fulofte paramours he gan deffye And wept as doþ a child þat is I-bete A softe paas went he ouer þe strete / Line 3760

Line 3760 Vnto a smyth men clepith daun Gerueys That in his forge smythed plowh harneys He scharpeth schar and cultre bysily This absolon knokkeþ al esily Line 3764 And seyde vnto Geruays and þat anoon what who art thou; it am I Absolon what Absolon what [[a later for is put here]] cristes swete tree why ryse ȝe so rathe benedicite [folio 50b] Line 3768 what eyleþ ȝou some gay gurl god it woot haþ brought ȝou þus vpon þe verytrot By seinte noet / ȝe wot wel what I mene This absolon ne roughte nat a bene Line 3772 Of al þis pley no word agayn he ȝaf For he hadde more tow on his distaf Than Gerueys knew and seyde freend so deere That hote cultre in þe Chymney heere Line 3776 As lene it me I haue þer wiþ to doone I wol it bring agayn to þe ful soone Gerueys answerde / certes were it gold Or in a poke nobles al vntold Line 3780 Ȝe schul him haue as I am trewe smyth Ey cristes fo [[a later te is added]] what wil ȝe do þer wiþ Ther of quod absolon be as be may I schal wel telle it þe to morwe day Line 3784 And caughte þe cultre by þe colde stele Ful soft out at þe dore he gan it stele / And wente vnto þe carpenteres wal he cowheþ first and knokkeþ þer wiþ al Line 3788 vpon the wyndow right as he dede er This alisoun answerde who is ther That knokkest so; I warant it a þeef why nay quod he god woot my sweete leef Line 3792 I am þyn absolon, O my derlyng Of gold quod he I haue þe brought a ryng My mooder ȝaf it me so god me saue Ful fyn it is and þerto wel I-graue Line 3796

Line 3796 This wol I ȝiue þe / if þou me kisse This Nicholas was rise for to pysse And þought he wold amenden al þe Iape he schulde kisse his ers or þat he skape Line 3800 And vp þe wyndow dyde he hastily And out his ers putteþ he pryuely Ouer þe buttok to haunche bon And þer wiþ spak þis clerk þis absolon Line 3804 Spek sweete bryd I wot nat wher þou art /. This Nicholas anon let flee a fart [folio 51a] As gret as it had ben a thundir dent And with þat strook he was almost I-blent Line 3808 And he was redy with his yren hoot And Nicholas amyd þe ers he smoot Of goþ þe skyn an hande brede aboute The hoote cultre brente so his toute Line 3812 And for þe smert / he wende for to dye As he were wood anon he gan to crye help watir watir / help for goddes herte This Carpenter out of his slumber sterte Line 3816 And herd on crye watir as he were wood He þought allas for now comeþ Noes flood he sit him vp wiþoute wordes mo And wiþ his ax he smot þe corde a-two Line 3820 And doun he goþ he fond nowthir to selle / No bred ne ale til he com to þe selle/ Vpon þe floor and þer aswoun he lay vp styrt hir alisoun and Nicholay Line 3824 And cryden out and harrow in þe strete / The neyghebours boþe smal and grete / In ronnen for to gauren on þis man That a swowne lay boþe pale and wan Line 3828 For with þe fal he brosten had his arm But stond he muste to his owne harm For whan he spak he was anon born doun with heende Nicholas and alisoun Line 3832

Line 3832 They tolden euery man þat he was wood he was a gast and feerd of Noes flood Thurgh fantasie þat of his vanite / he hadde I-bought him knedyng tubbes þre / Line 3836 And hadde hem hanged in þe roof aboue / And þat he preyed hem for goddes loue / To sitten in þe roof par compaignye The folk gan lawhen at his fantasye / Line 3840 In to þe roof þey kyken and þey gape And torne al his harm in to a Iape For what so euer þe carpenter answerde Hit was for nought no man his resoun herde [folio 51b] Line 3844 wiþ oþis greet he was so sworn a doun That he was holden wood in al þe toun For euery clerk anon right heeld wiþ oþir They seyde þe man was wood my leeue broþer Line 3848 And euery man gan lawhen at his stryf Thus swyued was þe Carpenteres wyf For al his kepyng and his gelousye And absolon haþ kist hir neþir ye Line 3852 And Nicholas is skaldid in his towte This tale is doon and god saue al þe route

HEre endeth þe Millers tale [[No break in the MS.]]

¶ And bygynneþ þe prologe of þe Reeue

Whan folk hadde lawhen of þis nyce caas Of Absolon and heende Nicholas Line 3856 Dyuerse folk dyuersely þey seyde But for þe moste part þey lowh and pleyde / Ne at þis tale I sawh no man him greue But it were oonly Osewald þe Reeue Line 3860 By cause he was of Carpentrye craft A litel Ire is in his herte is laft He gan to grucche and blamed it a lite So theek quod he ful wel coude I þe quyte Line 3864 with bleryng of a prowd mylleres ye If þat me luste speke of Ribaudye

But yk am old me list not pley for age Gras tyme is doon my foddir is now forage Line 3868 My whyte top writeþ myn olde ȝeeres / Myn hert is al so moulyd as myn heeres / And ȝit I fare as doþ an open-ers That ilke fruyt is euer lenger þe wers Line 3872 Til it be rote in mullok or in stree we olde men I drede so fare we / Til we be roten can we nat be rype we hoppen alway whil þe world wol pype Line 3876 For in oure wil þer stikeþ euer a nayl To haue an hoor heed and a greene tayl As hath a leek for þough oure might be doon Oure wil desireþ folye euer in oon Line 3880 For whan we may nat do þan wol we speke / [folio 52a] Ȝet in oure aisshen old is fyr I-reke / Foure gledys haue we which I schal deuyse Auantyng / lyyng / angur coueytise Line 3884 This foure sparkys longen vnto eelde / Oure olde lymes mowen be vnweelde /

But wil ne schal nat fayle vs þat is soþ And ȝet I haue alwey a coltes toþ Line 3888 As many a ȝeer as it is passed henne Syn þat my tappe of lyf bygan to renne / For sikirlik whan I was born anon Deth drough þe tappe of lyf and leet it goon Line 3892 And now so longe / haþ þe tappe I-ronne Til þat almost al empty is þe tonne The streem of lyf now droppeth on þe chymbe The sely tonge may wel rynge and chimbe [[? first clymbe]] Line 3896 Of wrecchednes þat passed is ful ȝoore with olde folk / sauf dotage is no more

Whan þat oure host had herd oure sermonyng he gan to speke as lordly as a kyng Line 3900 And seyde what amounteþ al þis wit what schul we speke alday of holy wryt The deuyl made a Reue for to preche Or of a sowter schipman or a leche / Line 3904 Sey forþ þi tale and tarye nat þe tyme Lo heer is Depford / and it is passed prime Lo Grenewich þer many a schrewe is Inne It were al tyme þi tale to bygynne Line 3908

NOw sires quod þis Osewold þe Reue I pray ȝow alle // þat noon of ȝou him greeue Though I answere and somwhat sette his howue For leeful is wiþ force force to showue Line 3912 This dronken myllere haþ I-told vs heer how þat bygiled was a Carpenter Parauenture in scorn for I am oon And by ȝour leue I schal him quyte anoon Line 3916 Right in his cherles termes wol I speke / I pray to God his nekke mot tobreke he can wel in myn eye see a stalke [folio 52b] But in his owne he can nought seen a balke Line 3920

HEre endeþ þe prologe of þe Reue [[No break in the MS.]]

And here bygynneþ his tale

AT Trompyngtoun nat fer fro Cantebrigge Ther goth a brook and ouer þat a brigge Vpon þe whiche brook þer stant a melle And þis is verray soþ þat I ȝou telle / Line 3924 A meller was þer dwellyng many a day As eny Pecok he was prowd and gay Pipen he coude and fissh and nettys beete And turne cuppes wrastle wel and scheete Line 3928 Ay by his belt he bar a long panade And of a swerd ful trenchaunt was þe blade A Ioly popper bar he in his pouche Ther was no man for perel durst him touche / Line 3932 A Scheffeld thwitel bar he in his hose Round was his face and camois was his nose As pyled as an ape was his skulle/ he was a market beter at þe fulle Line 3936 Ther durste no wight hand vpon him legge That he ne swor anon he schuld abegge / A þeef he was for-soþ of corn and mele And þat a sleigh and vsyng for to stele / Line 3940 his name was hoote deynous Symekyn A wyf he hadde / come of noble kyn The parsoun of the toun hir fader was with hire he ȝaf ful many a panne of bras Line 3944 For þat Symkyn schuld in his blood allye Sche was I-fostryd in a Nonnerye For Symkyn wolde no wyf as he sayde But sche were wel I-norissched and a mayde / Line 3948 To sauen his estaat and ȝomanrye And sche was proud and pert/ as is a pye A ful fair sighte was þer on hem two / On haly dayes bifore hir wolde he go Line 3952

Line 3952 with his typet ybounde aboute his heed And sche cam aftir in a gyte of reed And Symkyn hadde hosen of þe same / [folio 53a] Ther durste no wight clepe hir but ma dame / Line 3956 was noon so hardy walkyng by þe weye That with hir dorste rage or elles pleye But if he wold be slayn of Symekyn· wiþ panade or with knyf or boydekyn· Line 3960 For gelous folk ben perilous eueremo Algate þey wolde here wyues wende so And eek for sche was somdel smoterlich Sche was as deyne as water in a dich Line 3964 As ful of hokir and of bissemare hir thoughte ladyes oughten hir to spare / what for hir kynreed and hir nortelrye That sche had lerned in þe Nonnerye Line 3968 A douȝter hadden þey betwix hem two Of .xx.^ti ȝeer wiþouten eny mo Sauyng a child that was of half ȝer age In cradil lay and was a proper page / Line 3972 This wenche þikke and wel I-growen was wiþ Camoys nose and eyȝen gray as glas / And buttokkes brode and brestes round and hye But right fair was hir heer I wol nat lye / Line 3976 The parsoun of þe toun for sche was feir In purpos was to maken hir his heir / Boþe of his catel / and his mesuage / And straunge made it of hir mariage Line 3980 his purpos was to bystow hir hye In to som worþy blood of ancetrye For holy chirche good moot be despendid On holy chirche blood þat is descendid Line 3984 Therfore he wolde his Ioly blood honoure / Though þat he schulde holy chirche deuoure

GRet soken had þis meller oute of doute with whete and malt of al þe lond aboute Line 3988

Line 3988 And namely þer was a gret Collegge Men clepe it þe Soler hall of Cantebregge Ther was here whete and eek here malt I-grounde / And on a day it happed on a stounde / Line 3992 Syk lay þe mauncyple on a maledye [folio 53b] Men wenden wisly þat he schulde dye For which þis meller stal both mele & corn A þousend part more þan byforn Line 3996 For þer biforn he stal but curteysly But now he is a þeef outrageously For which þe wardeyn chidde and made fare But ther of sette þe meller not a tare Line 4000 he crakked boost and swor it was nat so Thanne weren þere poore scoleres tuo That dwelten in þe halle of which I seye Testyf þey were and lusty for to pleye Line 4004 And oonly for here mirþe and reuelrye [[the l is later]] Vppon þe wardeyn bysily þey crye To ȝeue hem leue but a litel stounde / To go to melle and see here corn I-grounde Line 4008 And hardily þey dursten ley here nekke / The meller schuld nat stel hem half a pekke Of corn by sleighte ne by force hem reue And atte last þe wardeyn ȝaf hem leue Line 4012 Iohn hight þat oon and Alayn hight þat oþer Of o toun were þey born þat highte Strothir / Fer in þe north I can nat telle where / This aleyn makeþ redy al his gere Line 4016 And on an hors þe sak he cast anoon Forþ goþ aleyn þe clerk and also Ion wiþ good swerd and wiþ bocler by her side Iohn knew þe way þat hem needith no gyde / Line 4020 And at þe mylle þe sak a-doun he layth Alayn spak first al heil Symond in faith how fares þy faire doughter and þy wyf aleyn welcome quod Symond by my lyf Line 4024

Line 4024 And Iohn also how now what do ȝe heere By god quod Iohn, Symond, neede has na peere him falles serue himself þat has na swayn Or elles he is a fon as clerkes sayn Line 4028 Our mancyple as I hope wil be deed Swa werkes ay þe wanges in his heed And therfore I is come and eek aleyn [folio 54a] To grynde oure corn and carie it / ham ageyn Line 4032 I prey ȝou speed vs in al þat ȝe may It schal be doon quod Symkyn by my fay what wol ȝe do whil þat it is in hande By god right by þe hoper wol I stande Line 4036 Quod Iohn and se how þat þe corn gas Inne Ȝet sawh I neuer by my fader kynne / how þat þe hoper waggis to and fra Aleyn answerde / Iohn and wiltow swa Line 4040 Than wol I be by-neþe by my croun And se how þat þe mele fallys doun In to þe trough þat schal be my desport / For Ion in faith I may be of ȝour sort Line 4044 I is as ille a meller as ere ȝe This mellere smyleth for here nycete And þought al þis is doon but for a wyle They wenen þat no man may hem bigile Line 4048 But by my þrift ȝet schal I blere here ye For al here sleight and al here philosophie / The more queynte knakkes þat þey make / The more wol I stele whan I take / Line 4052 In stede of mele ȝet wol I ȝeue hem bren The grettest clerkes beþ not wisest men As whilom to þe wolf þus spak þe mare Of al hert art ne counte I nat a tare Line 4056 Out at þe dore he goth ful pryuyly whan þat he saugh his tyme sotyly he lokeþ vp and doun til he hath founde The Clerkes hors þer as it stood I-bounde / Line 4060

Line 4060 Behynde þe mylle vnder a leuesel And to þe hors he goþ him faire and wel He strepeth of þe bridel right anoon And whan þe hors was loos he gan to goon Line 4064 Toward þe fen þere wilde mares renne For wiþ wihe / þurgh þikke and eek þurgh þenne This meller goth agayn and no word seyde But doth his note and wiþ þe clerkes pleyde / Line 4068 Til þat her corn was fair and wel I-grounde [folio 54b] And whan þe mele was sakked and I-bounde / This Iohn goþ out and fynt his hors a-way And gan to crye harrow and weylaway Line 4072 Oure hors is lost aleyn for goddes banes Step on þy feet cum on man al at anes Aleyn ȝour wardeyn haþ his parfray lorn This aleyn al forgeteþ mele and corn Line 4076 Al was out of his mynd his housbondrye what wikked way is he gan gan he crye The wyf cam lepyng inward wiþ a ren Sche seyde allas ȝour hors goþ to þe fen Line 4080 wiþ wylde mares as fast as he may go / vnþank come on his heed þat band him so / And he þat bettir schuld han knyt þe Reyne Allas quod Iohan aleyn / for cristes peyne Line 4084 Leg doun þi swerd and I sal myn alswa / I is ful wight god wat as is a Ra By goddes hart/ he sal nat scape vs bathe why nad þou put þe capil in þe lathe Line 4088 Ilhail aleyn by god þou is a fon This sely clerkes speeden hem anoon Toward þe fen boþe aleyn and eek Ion And whan þe myller sawh þat þey were gon Line 4092 he half a busshel of þe flour haþ take And bad his wyf go knede it in a cake he seyde I trowe þe clerkes ben a ferd Ȝet can a Miller make a clerkes berd Line 4096

Line 4096 For al his art/ ȝe lat hem go here way lo wher þey goon // ȝe lat þe children play They get hym nat so lightly by my croun This seely clerkes ronnen vp and doun Line 4100 wiþ keep / keep. stand stand Iossa ware derere Ga wightly þou and I sal keep him heere / But schortly til þat it was verray night / They cowde nat þough þey did al here might Line 4104 here capil cacche it ran away so fast / Til in a diche þey caught / him atte last/ wery and wete as bestys in þe Reyn [folio 55a] Comth sely Iohn and wiþ him comþ aleyn Line 4108 Allas quod Iohn þat day þat I was born Now are we dryue til heþing and to scorn Oure corn is stole men woln vs foles calle / Bathe þe wardeyn and eek our felaws alle / Line 4112 And namely þe myller weyloway Thus pleyneth Iohn as he goþ by þe way Toward þe mylle and bayard in his hand The myller sittyng by þe fyr he fand Line 4116 For it was night and forþer might þey nought But for þe loue of god þey him bisought As herberwh and of ese as for her peny Þe myller sayd agayn if þer be eny Line 4120 Swich as it is ȝit schul ȝe haue ȝour part Myn hous is streyt. / but ȝe han lerned art/ Ȝe conne by argumentes make a place A myle brood of twenty foote of space / Line 4124 let se now if þis place may suffyse Or make it rom wiþ speche as is ȝour gyse Now Symond seyde þis Iohn by seynt Cuthberd Ay is þou mery and þat is fair answerd Line 4128 I haue herd say men suld take of twa þinges Slik as he fynt / or tak slik as he bringes But specially I pray þe host ful deere Get vs som mete and drynk and mak vs cheere Line 4132

Line 4132 And we wol paye trewly at þe fulle wiþ empty hand men may na hawkes tulle Lo heer our siluer redy for to spende This meller in to toun his doughter sende Line 4136 For ale and breed and rosted hem a goos And band her hors he schold no more go loos And in his owne chambir hem made a bed with schetys and with chalouns fair I-spred Line 4140 Nat from his owen bed ten foot or twelue / his doughter had a bed al by hir selue Right in þe same chambre by and by Hit mighte be no bet and cause why / Line 4144 Ther was no rommer herberw in þe place [folio 55b] They sowpen and þey speke hem to solace And dronken euer strong ale atte beste Aboute mydnyght wente þey to reste Line 4148 wel haþ þe myller vernysshed his heed Ful pale he was for dronken and nat reed he ȝoxeth and he spekeþ þurgh þe nose / As he were on þe quakke or on þe pose / Line 4152 To bed he goþ and wiþ him goþ his wyf As eny Iay sche light was and iolyf So was his ioly whistel wel y-wet The cradil at hire beddes feet is set Line 4156 To rokken and to ȝiue þe child to souke / And whan þat dronken was al in þe crouke To bedde went the douȝter right anon To bedde goþ aleyn and also Ion Line 4160 Ther nas no more him needed no dwale This meller haþ so wysly bibbed ale / That as an hors he snortith in his sleep Ne of his tayl bihynd took / he no keep Line 4164 his wyf burdoun a ful strong Men might her rowtyng heeren a forlong The wenche routeþ eek par companye Aleyn þe clerk þat herd þis melodye Line 4168

Line 4168 He pokyd Iohn / and seyde slepistow Herdistow euer slik a sang er now Lo slik a couplyng is betwix hem alle A wilde fyr vpon þair bodyes falle Line 4172 wha herkned euer swilk a ferly þing / Ȝe þei sul haue þe flour of ille endyng This lange night þer tydes me na rest But ȝet na fors al sal be for þe best Line 4176 For Iohn sayd he as euer mot I þryue If þat I may ȝone wenche sal I swyue Som esement haþ lawe schapen vs For Iohn þer is a lawe þat says þus Line 4180 That if a man in a poynt be agreued [¶ Qui in vno grauatur in alio debet releuari] That in anoþer he sal be releeued Oure corn is stoln soþly it is na nay [folio 56a] And we haue had an ylle fitt to day Line 4184 And syn I sal haue nan amendement Agayn my los I wol haue esement / By godde sale it sal nan oþer be / This Iohn answerd / aleyn auyse þe Line 4188 The Miller is a parlous man he sayde And if þat he out of his sleep abrayde he mighte do vs boþe a vilonye Aleyn answerd I count it nat a flye Line 4192 And vp he roos and by þe wenche crepte This wenche lay vpright and faste slepte Til he so neih was or sche might aspye That it had ben to late for to crye Line 4196 And schortly for to seye þey weren at oon Now pley aleyn for I wol speke of Ion ¶ This Iohn lith stille a forlong whyle or two And to him self compleyned of his woo Line 4200 Allas quod he þis is a wikked Iape / Now may I say þat I am but an ape Ȝet haþ my felaw somwat for his harm he haþ þe myllers doughter in his arm Line 4204

Line 4204 he auntred him and has his needes sped And I lye as a draf sak in my bed And when þis Iape is tald anoþer day I sal be held a daf a cokenay Line 4208 vnhardy is vnsely as men saith I wol arise and auntre it in good faiþ And vp he ros and softely he wente / vnto þe cradil and in his hand it hente Line 4212 And bar it softe vnto his beddis feet Soone after þis þe wyf hir routyng leet / And gan awake and went hir for to pisse And cam agayn and gan hir cradel mysse Line 4216 And groped heer and þer but sche fond noon Allas quod sche / I had almost mys goon I had almost goon to þe clerkes bed Ey bendicite þan had I foule I-sped Line 4220 And forþ sche goþ til sche þe cradil fand [folio 56b] Sche gropith alway forther with hir hand And fand þe bed and þoughte nat but good By cause þat þe cradil by hit stood Line 4224 Nat knowyng wher sche was for it was derk But fair and wel sche creep in to þe clerk And lith ful stille and wolde han caught a sleep wiþinne a while Iohn þe clerk vp leep Line 4228 And on this goode wyf leyþ on ful sore So mery a fytt/ ne hadd sche nat ful ȝore he prikeþ harde and deepe as he were mad This Ioly lyf han þis twey clerkes had Line 4232 Til þat þe þridde cok bygan to synge Aleyn wax wery in þe dawenynge For he had swonken al þe longe night/ And seyd far wel malyn my sweete wight Line 4236 The day is come I may no lenger byde / But euermo wher so I go or ryde I am þin owen clerk so haue I seel Now deere lemman quod sche go far wel Line 4240

Line 4240 But or þou go o thing I wol þe telle whan þat þou wendist homward by þe melle Right at þe entre of þe dore byhynde Thou schalt a cake of half a busshel fynde Line 4244 That was I-maked of þyn owen mele Which þat I hilp myn owen self to stele And goode lemman god þe saue and kepe And wiþ þat word almost sche gan to weepe Line 4248

Aleyn vprist and þought er þat it dawe I wol go crepen in by my felawe And fand þe cradil wiþ his hand anon By god þought he al wrong I haue I-goon Line 4252 My heed is toty of my swynk to nyght That / makes me þat I ga nouȝt aright I wot wel by þe cradel I haue mys go heer lith þe myller and his wyf also Line 4256 Forþ he goþ in twenty deuelway vnto þe bed þer as þe Miller lay he wende haue crope by his felaw Ion [folio 57a] And by þe myller in he creep anon Line 4260 And caught him by þe nekke and soft he spak And seyde Ion þou swyneshed awak For cristes sowle and here a noble game For by þat lord þat cleped is seynt Iame Line 4264 As I haue þries in þis schorte night Swyued þe myllers douȝter bolt vpright whiles þou hast as a coward ben agast Ȝe false harlot quod þis mellere hast/ Line 4268 A false traitour false clerk quod he Thou schalt be deed by goddes dignite who durste be so bold to disparage My doughter þat is com of hih lynage / Line 4272 And by þe þrote-bolle he caught aleyn And he hent him dispitously ageyn And on þe nose he smot him with his fest Doun ran þe blody streem vpon his brest Line 4276

Line 4276 And in þe floor wiþ nose and mouþ to-broke They walweden as pigges in a poke And vpon þay goon and doun þey goon anon Til þat þe Millner stumbled at a ston Line 4280 And doun he felle / bakward on his wyf That wyste noþing of þis nyce stryf For sche was falle a sleepe a litel wight wiþ Ion þe Clerk þat waked al þe night Line 4284 And wiþ þe falle right out of slepe sche brayde help holy croys of Bromholme sche sayde In manus tuas lord to þe I calle / Awake Symond þe feend is in þin halle Line 4288 My hert is broken help I am but deed Ther lythe vpon my wombe and on myn heed Help Symkyn for þis false clerkes fight This Iohn stert vp as fast as euer he might Line 4292 And grasped by þe walles to and fro To fynde a staf & sche sturt vp also And knewe þe estres bet þan dede Ion And by þe wal sche took a staf anon Line 4296 And sawh a litel glymeryng of light [folio 57b] For at an hool in schon þe moone light And by þat light she saugh hem boþe two But sikirly sche wiste nat who was who Line 4300 But sche saugh a whit þing in hir ye And whan sche gan þis white þing aspye Sche wend þe clerk had wered a volupeer And wiþ a staf sche drough hir neer and neer Line 4304 And wend haue hit þis Aleyn atte fulle And smot þis meller on þe piled sculle And doun he goþ and cryeþ harrow I dye This clerkes beeten him wel and leet him lye Line 4308 And greyth hem wel and take her hors anon And eek/ here mele and hoom anon þey goon And at the Millen dore þey tok here cake Of half a buisshel flour ful wel I-bake Line 4312

Line 4312 Thus is þe prowde Miller wel I-bete And haþ I-lost þe gryndyng of þe whete / And payed for þe soper euerydel Of aleyn and of Iohn þat beten him wel Line 4316 His wyf is swyued and his doughter als Lo such it is a Miller to be fals And þerto þis prouerbe is seyd ful soþ he þar nat weene wel þat euyl doþ Line 4320 A gylour schal him self bygiled be And god þat sittest in þy mageste Saue al þis compaignie gret and smale / Line 4323 Thus haue I quit þe Miller in his tale /

¶ her endeþ þe Reeues tale [[Break of one line in the MS.]]

The Cook of londoun whil þe Reeue spak For Ioye he þought / he clawed him on þe bak ha ha quod he / for cristes passioun This meller haþ a scharp conclusioun / Line 4328 vpon his argument of herburgage wel seyde Salomon in his langage / Ne bryng nat euery man in to þyn hous For herburgage by night is perilous Line 4332 wel aught a man avised for to be whom þat he brought in to his pryuyte [folio 58a] I pray to god so gyf my body care / Ȝif euer siþþe I highte hogge of ware Line 4336 herd I better myller set a werke / he hadde a Iape of malice in þe derke / And þerfore if ȝe fouche sauf to heere But god forbede þat we stynten heere / Line 4340 A tale of me þat am a pouer man I wol ȝow telle as wel as I kan A litel Iape þat fel in oure cite Oure host seyde I graunt it the Line 4344 Now telle on Roger & loke it be good For many a pastey hastow lete blood And many a Iakk of douer hastow sold That haþ be twyes hoot and twyes cold Line 4348 Of many a pilgrym hastow cristes curs For þy persly þey faren ȝet þe wors That they haue eten wiþ þe stubbil goos For in þy schoppe is many a flye loos Line 4352 Now goode / gentil Roger by þy name / But ȝit I pray þe be nought wroþ for game . . . . . [No gap in the MS.] Thow saist ful soþ quod Roger by my faith Line 4356

Line 4356 But soth play quad play as þe flemyng saith . . . . . [No gap in the MS.] Be thou nat wroþ or we departe her Though þat my tale be of an hostyler Line 4360 But naþeles I wol not telle it ȝit/ But or we departe it schal be quyt/ And þer wiþ al he lowh / and made chere And seyde his tale as ȝe schal after heere [[No break in the MS.]] Line 4364

A Prentys dwelled whilom in oure Citee, Of a craft of vitaillers was he Gaylard he was as goldfynch in þe schawe / Broun as a bery and a propre felawe Line 4368 wiþ lokkes blak and kempt ful fetously Dauncen he cowde wel and prately That he was cleped Perkyn reuellour he was ful of loue and paramour Line 4372 As is þe hony combe of hony swete wel were þe wenche þat mighte him meete [folio 58b] . . . . . . . . . . [No gap in the MS.] Line 4376

FOr whan þer eny rydyng was in cheepe / Out of þe schoppe þider wolde he lepe / Tyl he hadde al þat sight I-seyn And daunced wel he nold nat come ageyn Line 4380 And gadred him a meyne of his sort To hoppe and synge and make such disport And þer þey setten steuene for to meete To pleyen atte dys in such a strete Line 4384 For in þe toun ne was þer no prentys That fairer cowde caste a peyre dys Than Perkyn couþe and þerto he was free / Of his dispence in place of pryuyte Line 4388 That fand his mayster wel in his chaffare For often tyme he fond his box ful bare For such a ioly prentys reuelour That haunteþ dys Reuel or paramour Line 4392 his maister schal it in his schoppe abye Al haue he no part of þe mynstralcye For þefte and ryot be conuertyble Al can þey pley on giterne and rubible Line 4396

Line 4396 Reuel and trouþe as in a lowe degre They ben ful wroþ al day as ȝe may see This Ioly Prentys with his mayster bood Til he was oute neyȝ of his prentys hood Line 4400 Al were he snybbyd boþe erly and late And som tyme lad with reuel in to Newgate But atte laste his mayster him bythought vpon a day whan he his papyr sought Line 4404 Of a prouerbe þat siþ þis same word wel bette is roten appul out of hord Than it rote al þe remenaunt/ So fareth it by a ryotous seruaunt Line 4408 hit is ful lasse harm to late him pa Than he schend al þe seruauntes in þe place Therfore his mayster ȝaf him acqueyntaunce And bad him go wiþ sorwe and wiþ meschaunce Line 4412 And þus þe ioly prentys had his leue // Now let hym ryot al þe night or leue. [[Lines 4413, 4414 form the last line of the page in the MS.]]

APPENDIX TO GROUP A.

[THE SPURIOUS TALE OF GAMELYN.]

LItheth and lestneþ and herkneþ aright [folio 59a] Line 1 And ȝe schul heere a talkyng of a doughty knight Sire Iohn of Boundys was his right name he cowde of/ norture ynough & mochil of game Line 4 Thre sones þe knight · þat with his body he wan The eldest was a moche schrewe / and sone he bygan his breþeren loued wel here fader / and of him were agast / The eldest deserued his fadres curs / and had it at þe last / Line 8 The goode kniȝt his fader lyuede so ȝore That deth was comen him to and handled him ful sore The goode knight cared sore . sik þer he lay how his children scholde lyuen after his day Line 12 he hadde ben wyde wher . but non housbond he was Al þe lond þat he had / it was verrey purchas Fayn he wold it were dressed / amonges hem alle That ech of hem had his part / as it might falle / Line 16 Tho sent he in to cuntre after wise knightes To helpe delen his londes / and dressen hem to rightes he sent hem word by lettres / þey schulden hye blyue yf þey wolde speke with him whil he was on lyue / Line 20

Line 20 ¶ Tho þe knyghtes herden / sik þer he lay hadde þey no reste noþer night ne day Til þey comen to him þer he lay stille / On his deþ bedde . to abyde goddes wille Line 24 Þan seyde þe goode knight syk þer he lay lordes I ȝou warne for soþ wiþoute nay I may no lengere lyuen heer in þis stounde For þurgh goddes wille deþ draweth me to grounde Line 28 Ther nas non of hem alle . þat herd him aright Þat þey hadden reuþe of þat ilke knight And seyde sir for goddes loue ne dismay ȝou nought God may do bote of bale þat is now I-wrought Line 32 ¶ Than spak þe goode knight sik þer he lay Boote of bale god may sende I wot it is no nay But I byseke ȝou kniȝtes for þe loue of me Goþ and dresseþ my lond among my sones þre Line 36 And sires for þe loue of god deleþ hem nat amys And forgetiþ nat Gamelyn my ȝonge sone þat is Takeþ heed to þat on as wel as to þat oþer [folio 59b] Selde ȝe see ony Eyr helpen his broþer Line 40 ¶ þo leete þey þe knight lyen þat was nought in hele / And wenten in to counseil his londes for to dele / For to delen hem alle /. to oon þat was her þought And for Gamelyn was ȝongest / he schuld haue nouȝt Line 44 Al þe lond þat þer was þey dalten it in two And leeten Gamelyn þe ȝonge wiþoute lond go And ech of hem seyde to oþer ful lowde His breþeren might ȝeue him lond whan he good cowde Line 48 whan þey hadde deled þe lond at here wille þey come aȝein to þe knight þer he lay ful stille And tolden him anon-right / how þey hadden wrought And þe knight þere he lay liked it right nought Line 52 Than seyde þe knight / by seynt Martyn For al þat ȝe haue y-doon ȝit is the lond myn For goddes loue neyhebours stondeþ alle stille And I wil dele my lond / after my wille Line 56

Line 56 Iohan myn eldeste sone / schal haue plowes fyue That was my fadres heritage whil he was on lyue And my myddeleste sone / fyf plowes of lond That I halp for to gete wiþ my right hond Line 60 And al myn other purchas / of londes and leedes Þat I byqueþe gamelyn / and alle my goode steedes And I byseke ȝow goode men þat lawe conne of londe For Gamelynes loue þat my queste stonde Line 64 Thus dalte þe knight his lond by his day Right on his deþ bed / sik þer he lay And sone aftirward he lay stoon stille / And deyde whan tyme com / as it was cristes wille Line 68 And anon as he was deed and vnder gras I-graue / Sone þe elder broþer gyled þe ȝonge knaue He took in to his hond / his lond as his leede And Gamelyn himselfe / to clothen and to feede Line 72 He clothed him and fed him yuel and eek wroþe And leet his londes forfare and his houses boþe his parkes and his woodes / and dede noþing wel And seþþen he it abought on his faire fel Line 76 So longe was Gamelyn in his broþeres halle [folio 60a] For þe strengest of good wil þey doutiden him alle / Þer was non þer Inne nowþer ȝong ne olde That wolde wraþþe Gamelyn were he neuer so bolde / Line 80 Gamelyn stood on a day in his broþeres ȝerde And bygan wiþ his hond to handlen his berde he þought on his londes þat layen vnsawe And his faire Okes þat doun were I-drawe Line 84 his parkes were I-broken / and his deer byreeued Of alle his goode steedes noon was him byleued his howses were vnhiled / and ful yuel dight Tho þoughte Gamelyn it wente nought aright Line 88 Afterward cam his broþer walkynge þare And seyde to Gamelyn is our mete ȝare / Tho wraþþed him gamelyn and swor by goddes book Thou schalt go bake þi self / I wil nouȝt be þy cook Line 92

Line 92 how broþer Gamelyn / how answerest þou now / þou spake neuer such a word as þou dost now / By my faith seyde Gamelyn now me þinkeþ neede / Of alle þe harmes þat I haue I tok neuer ar heede Line 96 My parkes ben tobroken and my deer byreued Of myn armure and my steedes nought is me bileued Al þat my fader me byquaþ al goþ to schame / And þerfor haue þou goddes curs broþer by þy name Line 100 Than byspak his broþer þat rape was of rees / Stond stille gadelyng / and hold right þy pees / Thou schalt be fayn for to haue þy mete and þy wede / what spekest þou Gamelyn of lond oþer of leede Line 104 Thanne seyde Gamelyn þe child þat was ying Cristes curs mot he haue þat clepeþ me gadelyng I am no worse gadelyng ne no worse wight But born of a lady and geten of a knight Line 108 Ne durst he nat to Gamelyn ner a foote go But clepide to him his men and seyde to hem þo Goþ and beteþ þis boy and reueþ him his wyt / And lat him leren anoþer tyme to answere me bet Line 112 Thanne seyde þe child ȝonge Gamelyn Cristes curs mot þou haue broþer art þou myn And if I schal algate be beten anon [folio 60b] Cristes curs mot þou haue but þou be þat oon Line 116 And anon his broþer in þag grete hete Made his men to fette staues Gamelyn to bete whan þat euerich of hem / a staf had I-nome Gamelyn was war anon þo he seigh hem come Line 120 þo gamelyn seyh hem come / he loked ouer al And was war of a pestel stood vnder a wal Gamelyn was light of foot / and þider gan he lepe And drof alle his broþeres men right on an hepe Line 124 he loked as a wilde lyoun and leyde on good woon Tho his broþer say þat he bigan to goon · he fley vp in til a loft and schette þe dore fast Thus Gamelyn wiþ þe pestel made hem alle agast Line 128

Line 128 Some for Gamelynes loue / and some for his eyȝe / Alle þey drowe by halues // þo he gan to pleyȝe / what how now seyde Gamelyn euel mot ȝe thee wil ȝe bygynne contek and so sone flee / Line 132 Gamelyn sought his broþer / whider he was flowe And saugh wher he loked out / at a wyndowe / Broþer sayde Gamelyn com a litel ner And I wil teche þe a play atte bokeler Line 136 his broþer him answerde and swor by seynt Rycher whil þe pestel is in þin hond I wil come no neer Broþer I wil make þy pees / I swere by cristes ore Cast away þe pestel and wraþþe þe nomore / Line 140 I mot neede sayde Gamelyn wraþþe me at oones For thou wolde make þy men to breke myne boones Ne had I hadde mayn and might in myn armes To haue I-put hem fro me he wolde haue do me harmes Line 144 Gamelyn sayde his broþer be þou nought wroþ For to seen þe haue harm it were me right loþ I ne dide it nouȝt broþer but for a fondyng For to loken or þou were strong and art so ying Line 148 Com a doun þan to me and graunte me my bone Of þing I wil þe aske / and we schul saughte sone Doun þan cam his broþer þat fykil was and felle And was swiþe sore agast of þe pestelle Line 152 he seyde broþer Gamelyn aske me þy boone [folio 61a] And loke þou me blame but I graunte sone Thanne seyde Gamelyn broþer I-wys And we schulle ben at oon þou most me graunte þis Line 156 Al þat my fader me byquath whil he was on lyue / Þou most do me it haue ȝif we schul nat stryue / That schalt þou haue Gamelyn I swere by cristes ore Al þat þi fader the byquaþ þough þou woldest haue more Line 160 Thy lond þat lyþ laye ful wel it schal be sowe And þyn howses reysed vp þat ben leyd so lowe Thus seyde þ^e knight to Gamelyn wiþ mowthe / And þought eek of falsnes / as he wel couþe / Line 164

Line 164 The king þought on tresoun / and Gamelyn on noon And went and kist his broþer / and whan þey were at oon Allas ȝonge Gamelyn noþing he ne wiste / wiþ which a false tresoun his broþer him kiste / Line 168

LIþeth and lestneþ and holdeþ ȝour tonge And ȝe schul heere talkyng of Gamelyn þe yonge Ther was þer bysiden cryed a wrastlyng And þerfor þer was sette vp a Ram and a Ryng Line 172 And Gamelyn was in good wil/ to wende þerto / For to preuen his might what he cowþe do Broþer seyde Gamelyn by seynt Richer Thou most lene me to nyȝt // a litel Courser Line 176 That is freisch to the spore on for to ryde I most on an Erande a litel her byside By god seyd his brother of steedes in my stalle Go and chese þe þe best and spare non of alle Line 180 Of steedes or of course þat stonden hem bisyde And tel me goode broþer whider þou wolt ryde ¶ her byside broþer is cryed a wrastlyng And þerfor schal be set vp a Ram and a Ryng Line 184 Moche worschip it were broþer to vs alle Might I þe Ram and þe Ryng bryng home to þis halle A steede þer was sadeled smertely and skeet Gamelyn did a paire spores fast on his feet Line 188 he set his foot in styrop / þe steede he bystrood And toward þe wrastelyng þe ȝonge child rood Tho Gamelyn þe yonge was ride out at þe gate [folio 61b] The fals kniȝt his broþer lokked it after þate Line 192 And bysoughte ihū crist þat is heuen kyng he mighte breke his nekke in þat wrastlyng As sone as Gamelyn com þer þe place was / he lighte doun of his steede and stood on þe gras / Line 196 And þer he herd a Frankeleyn wayloway syng And bigan bitterly his hondes for to wryng Goode man seyde Gamelyn why makestow þis fare Is þer no man þat may ȝou helpe out of þis care Line 200

Line 200 Allas seyde þis Frankeleyn þat euer was I bore For tweye stalworþe sones / I wene þat I haue lore A Champioun is in þe place / þat haþ I-wrought me sorwe For he haþ slayn my two sones / but if god hem borwe / Line 204 I wold ȝeue ten pound by ihū crist and more wiþ þe nones I fand a man to handil him sore Goode man seyde Gamelyn wilt þou wel doon hold myn hors whil my man draweþ of my schoon · Line 208 And help my man to kepe my cloþes and my steede / And I wil in to place go / to loke if I may speede / By god sayde þe Frankeleyn anon it schal be doon I wil my self be þy man / and drawen of þy schoon Line 212 And wende þou in to þe place / ihū crist þe speede / And drede not of þy cloþes nor of þy goode steede /

BArfoot and vngert . Gamelyn in cam Alle þat weren in þe place heede of him þey nam Line 216 how he durst auntre him of him to doon his might That was so doughty champioun in wrastlyng and in fight vp sterte þe Champioun raply and anoon Toward ȝonge Gamelyn / he bigan to goon Line 220 And sayde who is þy fader and who is þy sire For soþe þou art a gret fool þat þou come hire Gamelyn answerde þe champioun tho þou knewe wel my fader / whil he couþe go Line 224 whiles he was on lyue / by seint martyn Sir Iohn of Boundys was his name and I gamelyn Felaw seyde þe champioun al so mot I þryue I knew wel þy fader whil he was on lyue Line 228 And þiself Gamelyn I wil þat þou it heere [folio 62a] whil þou were a ȝong boy a moche schrewe þou were þan seyde Gamelyn and swor by cristes ore Now I am older woxe þou schalt me fynd a more Line 232 By god sayde þe Champioun welcome mote þou be Come þou ones in myn hond schalt þou neuer þe It was wel wiþinne þe night and þe moone schon whan Gamelyn and þe Champioun to-gider gon to goon Line 236

Line 236 The champioun caste tornes to Gamelyn þat was prest And Gamelyn stood stille and bad him doon his best Thanne seyde Gamelyn to þe Champioun Thou art fast aboute to brynge me a doun Line 240 Now I haue I-proued many tornes of þyne Thow most he seyde prouen on or tuo of myne Gamelyn to þe Champioun ȝede smartly anon Of alle þe tornes þat he cowþe he schewed him but oon Line 244 And kast him on þe left syde þat þre ribbes tobrak And þerto his oon arm þat ȝaf a gret crak Thanne seyde Gamelyn smertly anoon Schal it be holde for a cast or elles for noon. Line 248 By god seyd þe Champioun wheþer þat it bee he þat comes ones in þin hand schal he neuer þee Than seyde þe Frankeleyn / þat had his sones þere Blessed be þou gamelyn þat euer þou bore were Line 252 The Frankleyn seyd to þe Champioun of him stood him noon eye This is yonge Gamelyn þat taughte þe þis pleye Aȝein answerd the Champioun þat liked no þing well he is a liþer mayster and his pley is riȝt fell Line 256 Siþ I wrastled first / it is I-go ful ȝore But I was neuere my lyf handled so sore Gamelyn stood in þe place allone wiþoute serk And seyd if þer be eny mo lat hem come to werk Line 260 The Champioun þat peyned him to werke so sore It semeþ by his continaunce þat he wil nomore Gamelyn in þe place / stood as stille as stoon· For to abyde wrastelyng but þer com noon Line 264 Ther was noon with Gamelyn wolde wrastle more / For he handled þe Champioun so wonderly sore / Two gentil men þer were þat yemede þe place [folio 62b] Comen to Gamelyn god ȝeue him goode grace Line 268 And sayde to him do on / þyn hosen and þy schoon For soþe at þis tyme þis feire is I-doon· And þan seyde Gamelyn so mot I wel fare / I haue nought ȝet haluendel sold vp my ware / Line 272

Line 272 Tho seyde þe Champioun so brouk I my sweere he is a fool þat þer of beyeþ / þou sellest it so deere Tho sayde þe Frankeleyn þat was in moche care Felaw he seyde / why lakkest þou his ware / Line 276 By seynt Iame in Galys þat many man haþ sought Ȝet it is to good cheep þat þou hast I-bought Tho þat wardeynes were of þat wrastlyng Come and broughte Gamelyn þe Ram and þe Ryng Line 280 And seyden haue Gamelyn þe Ryng and þe Ram For þe best wrasteler þat euer here cam· Thus wan Gamelyn þe Ram and þe Ryng And wente wiþ moche ioye home in þe mornyng Line 284 His broþer seih wher he cam with þe grete rowte / And bad schitte þe gate and holde him wiþoute The porter of his lord was ful sore agast And stert anon to þe gate and lokked it fast Line 288

NOw litheþ and lestneþ boþe ȝong and olde And ȝe schul heere gamen of Gamelyn þe bolde Gamelyn com þerto for to haue comen In. And þanne was it I-schet faste wiþ a pyn Line 292 Than seyde Gamelyn porter vndo þe yate For many good mannes sone stondeþ þer-ate Than answerd þe porter and swor by goddes berd Thow ne schalt Gamelyn come in to þis ȝerde Line 296 Thow lixt sayde Gamelyn so browke I my chyn he smot þe wyket wiþ his foot and brak awey þe pyn The porter seyh þo it might no better be He sette foot on erþe he bigan to flee Line 300 By my faiþ seyde Gamelyn þat trauail is I-lore For I am of foot as light as þou þough þou haddest swore Gamelyn ouertook þe porter and his teene wrak And gert him in þe nekke þat þe bon tobrak Line 304 And took him by þat oon arm and þrew him in a welle [folio 63a] Seuen fadmen it was deep . as I haue herd telle / whan Gamelyn þe yonge þus hadde pleyd his play Alle þat in þe ȝerde were drewen hem a way Line 308

Line 308 Þey dredden him ful sore for werkes þat he wrouȝte And for þe faire company þat he þider broughte Gamelyn ȝede to þe gate / and leet it vp wyde he leet in alle maner men þat gon in wold or ryde Line 312 And seyde ȝe be welcome wiþouten eny greeue / For we wiln be maistres heer / and aske no man leue / Ȝestirday I lefte / seyde ȝonge Gamelyn· In my broþer Seller .v. tonne of wyn Line 316 I wil not þat þis compaignye parten a-twynne / And ȝe wil doon after me while eny sope is þrynne And if my broþer grucche or make foul cheere Line 319 Oþer for spense of mete or drynk þat we spenden heere / I am oure catour / and bere oure aller purs / he schal haue for his grucchyng seint maries curs My broþer is a nyggoun / I swer by cristes ore And we wil spende largely þat he haþ spared ȝore / Line 324 And who þat makeþ grucchyng / þat we here dwelle he schal to þe porter in to þe draw-welle vij. dayes and .vij. nyght Gamelyn held his feste with moche myrþ and solas / þat was þer and no cheste / Line 328 In a litel toret his brother lay I-steke And sey hem wasten his good but durst he not speke Erly on a mornyng on þe viij.^e day The gestes come to Gamelyn and wolde gon here way Line 332 Lordes seyde Gamelyn / wil ȝe so hye Al þe wyn is not ȝet y-dronke so brouk I myn ye Gamelyn in his herte was he ful wo whan his gestes took her leue from him for to go Line 336 he wold þey had lenger abide / and þey seyde nay But bitaughte Gamelyn god and good day Thus made Gamelyn his fest / and brought it wel to ende And after his gestys took leue to wende Line 340

LItheþ and lestneþ and holdeþ ȝoure tonge And ȝe schul heere gamen of Gamelyn þe ȝonge / herkneþ lordynges and lesteneþ aright [folio 63b] whan alle gestes were goon how Gamelyn was dight Line 344

Line 344 Al þe whil þat Gamelyn heeld his mangerye his broþer þought on him be wreke / wiþ his treccherie Tho Gamelyns gestes were riden and I-goon Gamelyn stood allone frendes had he noon Line 348 Tho after ful soone wiþinne a litel stounde Gamelyn was I-take and ful hard I-bounde Forþ com þe fals knight out of þe selleer To Gamelyn his broþer he ȝede ful neer Line 352 And sayde to Gamelyn who made þe so bold For to stroye my stoor of myn houshold Broþer seyde Gamelyn wraþþe þe right nouȝt For it is many day I-gon siþþen it was bouȝt Line 356 For broþer þou hast I-had by seynt richer Of xv. plowes of lond þis .xvj. ȝer And of alle þe beestes þou hast forþ bred That my fader me biquath on his deth bed Line 360 Of al þis xvj. ȝeer I ȝeue þe þe prow For þe mete and þe drynk þat we haue spended now / Thanne seyde þe fals knyȝt euel mot he the Herkne broþer Gamelyn what I wol ȝeue þe Line 364 For of my body broþer geten heir haue I noon I wil make þe myn heir I swere by seint Iohn Par ma foy sayd Gamelyn and if it so be And þou þenke as þou seyst god ȝelde it þe Line 368 No þing wiste Gamelyn of his broþeres gyle Therfore he him bigyled in a litel while Gamelyn seyde he o thing/ I þe telle Tho þou þrewe my porter in þe draw-welle Line 372 I swor in þat wraþþe and in þat grete moot That þou schuldest be bounde boþe hand and foot Therfore I þe biseche brother Gamelyn Lat me nought be forsworn broþer art þou myn Line 376 lat me bynde þe now boþe hand and feet For to holde myn avow as I þe biheet Broþer sayde Gamelyn also mot I þe Thou schalt not be forsworen for þe loue of me Line 380

Line 380 Tho made þey Gamelyn to sitte might he nat stonde [folio 64a] Til þey had him bounde boþe foot and honde / The fals knight his broþer of Gamelyn was agast And sent aftir feteres to feteren him fast Line 384 His broþer made lesynges on him þer he stood And told hem þat comen In þat Gamelyn was wood Gamelyn stood to a post bounden in þe halle / Tho þat comen in þer loked on him alle / Line 388 Euer stood Gamelyn euen vpright But mete ne drynk had he non neiþer day ne night Than seyde Gamelyn broþer by myn hals Now I haue aspied þou art a party fals / Line 392 had I wist þat tresoun þat þou haddest y-founde I wolde haue ȝeue þe strokes or I had be bounde / Gamelyn stood bounden stille as eny stoon· Two dayes and two nightes mete had he noon Line 396 Thanne seyde Gamelyn þat stood y-bounde stronge / Adam Spencer me þinkþ I faste to longe Adam Spencer now I byseche þe For þe mochel loue my fader loued þe/ Line 400 yf þou may come to þe keyes lese me out of bond And I wil parte wiþ þe of my free lond Thanne seyde adam þat was þe Spencer I haue serued þy broþer þis xvj. ȝeer Line 404 If I leete þe goon out of his bour he wolde say afterward I were a traytour Adam sayde Gamelyn so brouk I myn hals þou schalt fynde my broþer atte laste fals Line 408 Therfor broþer adam louse me out of bond And I wil parte wiþ þe of my free lond vp swich a forward seyde adam I-wys I wil do þerto al þat in me is Line 412 Adam seyde Gamelyn al so mot I þe I wol hold þe couenaunt and þou wil me Anon as adames lord to bedde was I-goon Adam took þe keyes and leet gamelyn out anoon Line 416

Line 416 He vnlokked Gamelyn boþe hand and feet In hope of auauncement þat he him byheet Than seyde Gamelyn þanked be goddes sonde [folio 64b] Now I am loosed boþe foot and honde / Line 420 had I now eten and dronken aright Ther is noon in þis hous schulde bynde me þis night Adam took Gamelyn as stille as ony stoon And ladde him into spence rapely and anon Line 424 And sette him to soper right in a priue stede he bad him do gladly and Gamelyn so dede Anon as gamelyn hadde eten wel & fyn And þerto y-dronke wel of þe rede wyn Line 428 Adam seyde Gamelyn what is now þy reed wher I go to my broþer and girde of his heed Gamelyn seyde adam it schal not be so I can teche þe a reed þat is worþ þe two Line 432 I wot wel for soþe þat þis is no nay we schul haue a mangery right on sonday Abbotes and priours many heer schal be And oþer men of holy chirche as I telle þe / Line 436 Thow schalt stonde vp by þe post as þou were hond-fast/ And I schal leue hem vnloke awey þou may hem cast whan þat þey haue eten and waisschen here hondes Thou schalt biseke hem alle to bryng þe out of bondes Line 440 And if þey wille borwe þe þat were good game Then were þou out of prisoun and I out of blame And if euerich of hem say vnto vs nay I schal do anoþer I swere by þis day Line 444 Thou schalt haue a good staf and I wil haue anoþer And cristes curs haue þat oon þat faileþ þat oþer Ȝe for gode sayde Gamelyn I say it for me If I fayle on my syde yuel mot I þe Line 448 If we schul algate assoile hem of here synne warne me broþer adam whan I schal bygynne Gamelyn seyde adam by seynte charite I wil warne þe byforn whan þat it schal be Line 452

Line 452 whan I twynk on þe loke for to goon And cast awey þe feteres and com to me anoon· Adam seide Gamelyn blessed be þy bones That is a good counseil ȝeuyng for þe nones Line 456 If þey werne me þanne to brynge me out of bendes [folio 65a] I wol sette goode strokes right on here lendes Tho þe sonday was I-come and folk to þe feste / Faire þey were welcomed boþe lest and meste Line 460 And euer as þey atte halle/ dore comen In· They caste þeir eye on ȝonge Gamelyn The fals knight his broþer ful of trechery Alle þe gestes þat þer wer atte mangery Line 464 Of Gamelyn his broþer he tolde hem with mouþe Al þe harm and þe schame þat he telle couþe Tho þey were serued Of messes tuo oþer þre Than seyde Gamelyn how serue ȝe me Line 468 It is nouȝt wel serued by god þat al made That I sytte fastyng and oþer men make glade The fals knight his broþer þer þat he stood Tolde alle his gestes þat Gamelyn was wood Line 472 And Gamelyn stood stille and answerde nought But adames wordes he held in his þought / Tho Gamelyn gan speke dolfully wiþ alle / To þe grete lordes þat saten in þe halle Line 476 lordes he seyde for cristes passioun helpeþ brynge Gamelyn out of prisoun Than seyde an abbot sorwe on his cheeke he schal haue cristes curs and seynte maries eeke Line 480 That þe out of prisoun beggeþ oþer borwe But euer worthe hem wel þat doþ þe moche sorwe After þat abbot þan spak anoþer I wold þin heed were of þough þou were my broþer Line 484 Alle þat þe borwe / foule mot hem falle Thus þey seyde alle þat were in þe halle Than seyde a priour yuel mot he þryue It is moche skaþe boy þat þou art on lyue Line 488

Line 488 Ow . seyde Gamelyn so brouk I my bon Now I haue aspyed þat freendes haue I non Cursed mot he worþe boþe fleisch and blood That euer do Priour or abbot ony good Line 492 Adam þe Spencer took vp þe cloþ And loked on Gamelyn and say þat he was wroth Adam on þe pantrye litel he þought / [folio 65b] But tuo goode staues to hall dore he brouȝt Line 496 Adam loked on Gamelyn and he was war anoon And cast awey þe feteres and he bigan to goon Tho he com to adam he took þat oo staf And bygan to worche and goode strokes ȝaf Line 500 Gamelyn cam into þe halle and þe spencer boþe And loked hem aboute as þey had be wroþe Gamelyn sprengeþ holywater wiþ an Oken spire ./ That some þat stoode vpright fel in þe fire Line 504 Ther was no lewede man þat in þe halle stood That wolde do Gamelyn eny þing but good But stood besyde and leet hem boþe werche For þey hadde no rewþe of men of holy cherche Line 508 Abbot or priour monk or Chanoun That Gamelyn ouertok anon þey ȝeeden doun Ther was non of hem alle þat wiþ his staf mette That he made him ouerþrowe and quyt him his dette Line 512 Gamelyn seyde adam for seynte charite Pay large lyuerey for þe loue of me And I wil kepe þe dore so euer here I masse / Er þey ben assoyled þere schan noon passe Line 516 Dowt þe nought seyde Gamelyn whil we ben in feere kep þou wel þe dore / and I wol werche heere Stere þe good adam and lat þer noon flee And we schul telle largely how many þer be Line 520 Gamelyn seyde adam do hem but good Þey ben men of holy chirche / draw of hem no blood Saue wel þe croune and do hem non harmes But brek boþe her legges and siþþen here armes Line 524

Line 524 Thus Gamelyn and adam wroughte right fast And pleyden wiþ þe monkes and made hem agast Thider þey come rydyng iolily wiþ swaynes And hom aȝen þey were I-lad in cartes and in waynes Line 528 Tho þey hadden al y-don þan seyde a gray frere Allas sire abbot what dide we now heere Tho þat comen hider it was a cold reed vs hadde ben better at home wiþ water and breed Line 532 Whil Gamelyn made ordres of monkes and frere / [folio 66a] Euer stood his broþer and made foul chere / Gamelyn vp wiþ his staf þat he wel knew And gert/ him in þe nekke þat he ouerþrew Line 536 Alitel aboue þe girdel þe Riggebon tobarst/ And sette him in þe feteres þer he sat arst Sitte þer broþer sayde Gamelyn· For to colyn þy blood as I dide myn Line 540 As swiþe as þey hadde / I-wroken hem on here foon They askeden watir and wisschen anoon. what some for here loue and some for awe / Alle þe seruantȝ serued hem of þe beste lawe / Line 544 The scherreue was þennes but a fyue myle And al was y-told him in a litel while How Gamelyn and adam had doon a sory rees Bounden and I-wounded men aȝein þe kinges pees Line 548 Tho bigan sone strif for to wake / And þe scherref aboute Gamelyn for to take /

NOw lytheþ and lestneþ so god ȝif ȝou goode fyn And ȝe schul heere good game of ȝonge Gamelyn Line 552 Four and twenty ȝonge men þat heelden hem ful bolde Come to þe schirref and seyde þat þey wolde / Gamelyn and adam fetten away The scherref ȝaf hem leue soþ as I ȝou say Line 556 They hyeden faste wold þey nought bylynne / Til þey come to þe ȝate þer Gamelyn was Inne They knokked on þe gate þe porter was ny And loked out at an hol as man þat was sly Line 560

Line 560 The porter hadde byholde hem a litel while / he loued wel Gamelyn and was adrad of gyle And leet þe wyket stonden y-steke ful stylle And asked hem wiþoute what was here wille Line 564 For al þe grete company þanne spak but oon Vndo þe gate porter and lat vs in goon Than seyde þe porter so brouke I my chyn ȝe schul sey ȝour erand er ȝe comen In Line 568 Sey to Gamelyn and adam if here wille be we wil speke wiþ hem wordes two or þre Felaw seyde þe porter stond þere stille [folio 66b] And I wil wende to Gamelyn to witen his wille Line 572 In went þe porter to Gamelyn anoon And seyde sir I warne ȝou her ben come ȝour foon The scherreues meyne ben atte gate / For to take ȝou boþe schul ȝe na skape / Line 576 Porter seyde Gamelyn so moot I wel þe / I wil allowe þe þy wordes whan I my tyme se Go agayn to þe ȝate and dwel wiþ hem a while And þou schalt se right sone porter a gyle Line 580 Adam sayde Gamelyn looke þe to goon we haue foomen atte gate and frendes neuer oon It ben þe schirrefes men þat hider ben I-come / They ben swore to-gidere þat we schul be nome / Line 584 Gamelyn seyde adam hye þe right blyue / And if I faile þe þis day euel mot I þryue And we schul so welcome þe scherreues men That som of hem schul make here beddes in þe den Line 588 Atte posterne gate Gamelyn out went / And a good cart staf in his hand he hente Adam hente sone anoþer gret staf For to helpe Gamelyn and goode strokes ȝaf Line 592 Adam felde tweyne and Gamelyn felde þre The oþer setten feet on erþe and bygonne fle what seyde adam so euer here I masse I haue a draught of good wyn / drynk er ȝe passe / Line 596

Line 596 Nay by god sayde þay / þy drynk is not good It wolde make mannes brayn to lien in his hood Gamelyn stood stille and loked him aboute And seih þe scherreue come with a gret route / Line 600 Adam seyde Gamelyn what be now þy reedes Here comþ þe scherreue and wil haue oure heedes Adam sayde Gamelyn my reed is now þis Abide we no lenger lest we fare amys Line 604 I rede þat we to wode goon ar þat we be founde Better is vs þer loos þan in town y-bounde / Adam took by þe hond ȝonge Gamelyn And euerich of hem tuo drank a draught of wyn Line 608 And after took her coursers and wenten her way [folio 67a] Tho fond þe scherreue nest but non ay The scherreue lighte a-doun and went in to þe halle / And fond þe lord y-fetered faste wiþ alle/ Line 612 The scherreue vnfetered him sone and þat anoon And sent after a leche to hele his rigge boon

LEte we now þis fals knight . lyen in his care And talke we of Gamelyn and loke how he fare Line 616 Gamelyn in to þe woode stalkede stille And adam þe Spenser liked ful ylle / Adam swor to Gamelyn by seynt Richer Now I see it is mery to be a Spencer Line 620 That leuer me were / keyes for to bere / Than walken in þis wilde woode my clothes to tere / Adam seyde Gamelyn dismaye þe right nought Many good mannes child in care is I-brought Line 624 And as þey stoode talkyng boþen in feere / Adam herd talkyng of men and neyh him þought þei were Tho Gamelyn vnder þe woode loked aright vij. score of ȝonge men he saugh wel a dight Line 628 Alle satte atte mete compas aboute / Adam seyde Gamelyn now haue we no doute After bale comeþ boote þurgh grace of god almight Me þynkeþ of mete and drynk þat I haue a sight Line 632

Line 632 Adam lokede þo vnder woode bowȝ And whan he seyh mete he was glad ynough For he hopede to god for to haue his deel And he was sore alonged after a good meel Line 636 As he seyde þat word þe mayster outlawe Saugh Gamelyn and adam vnder woode schawe / Ȝonge men seyde þe maister by þe goode roode I am war of gestes / god send vs non but goode Line 640 Ȝonder ben tuo ȝonge men wonder wel adight And parauenture þer ben mo / who-so loked aright Ariseþ vp ȝe ȝonge men and fetteþ hem to me / It is good þat we witen what men þey bee / Line 644 Vp þer sterten seuene / fro þe dyner And metten with Gamelyn and adam Spenser whan þey were neyh hem þan seyde þat oon [folio 67b] Ȝeldeth vp ȝonge men ȝour bowes and ȝour floon · Line 648 Thanne seyde Gamelyn þat yong was of elde Moche sorwe mot he haue þat to ȝou hem ȝelde / I curse non oþer but right my selue Þey ȝe fette to ȝow fyue þanne ȝe be twelue / Line 652 Tho þey herde by his word þat might was in his arm Ther was non of hem alle / þat wolde do him harm. But sayd vnto gamelyn myldely and stille Com afore our maister and sey to him þy wille Line 656 yonge men sayde Gamelyn by ȝour lewte what man is ȝour maister þat ȝe wiþ be Alle þey answerde wiþoute lesyng Oure maister is I-crouned of outlawes kyng Line 660 Adam seyde Gamelyn gowe in cristes name / he may neyþer mete ne drynk werne vs for schame / If þat he be heende and come of gentil blood he wol ȝeue vs mete an drynk and doon vs som good Line 664 By seynt Iame seyd adam / what harm þat I gete / I wil auntre to þe dore þat I hadde mete Gamelyn and adam wente forþ in feere And þey grette þe maister þat þey founde þere Line 668

Line 668 Than seide þe maister kyng of outlawes what seeke ȝe ȝonge men vnder woode schawes Gamelyn answerde þe kyng wiþ his croune / he moste needes walke in woode þat may not walke in towne / Sire we walke not heer noon harm for to do Line 673 But if we meete wiþ a deer to scheete þerto / As men þat ben hungry and mow no mete fynde And ben harde bystad vnder woode lynde Line 676 Of Gamelynes wordes þe maister hadde rouþe / And seyde ȝe schal haue ynough haue god my trouþe / he bad hem sitte þer adoun for to take reste / And bad hem [[? MS. eite]] ete and drynke and þat of þe beste / Line 680 As þey sete and eeten and dronke wel and fyn · Than seyd þat oon to þat oþer / þis is Gamelyn. Tho was þe maister outlawe in to counseil nome And told how it was Gamelyn þat þider was I-come / Line 684 Anon as he herde how it was bifalle [folio 68a] he made him maister vnder him ouer hem alle / wiþin þe þridde wyke him com tydyng To þe maister outlawe þat þo was her kyng Line 688 That he schulde come hom his pees was I-made And of þat goode tydyng he was þo ful glad Tho seyde he to his ȝonge men soþ for to telle / Me ben comen tydynges I may no lenger dwelle / Line 692 Tho was Gamelyn anon wiþoute taryyng Made maister outlawe and crouned her kyng ¶ Tho was Gamelyn crouned kyng of outlawes And walked a while vnder woode schawes Line 696 The fals knight his broþer was scherreue and sire And leet his broþer endite for hate and for Ire / Tho were his bonde-men sory and noþing glade whan Gamelyn her lord wolues-heed was cryed & made Line 700 And sente out of his men wher þey might him fynde For to seke Gamelyn vnder woode lynde / To telle him tydynges how þe wynd was went And al his good reued and his men schent Line 704

Line 704 ¶ whan þey had him founde on knees þey hem sette / And a-doun wiþ here hood and here lord grette / Sire wraþþe ȝou nought for þe goode roode / For we haue brought ȝou tydynges but þey be nat goode Line 708 Now is þy broþer scherreue and haþ þe baillye And he haþ endited þe and wolues-heed doþ þe crie ¶ Allas seyde Gamelyn þat euer I was so slak Þat I ne hadde broke his nekke þo his Rigge brak Line 712 Goþ greteþ hem wel myn housbondes and wyf I wol ben atte nexte schire haue god my lyf Gamelyn came wel redy to þe nexte schire/ And þer was his broþer boþe lord and sire / Line 716 Gamelyn com boldelych in to þe moot halle And put a doun his hood among þe lordes alle God saue ȝou alle lordynges þat now here be But Brokebak Scherreue euel mot þou þe / Line 720 why hast þou do me þat schame and vilonye / For to late endite me and woluesheed me crye Tho þought þe fals knight for to ben awreke [folio 68b] And leet take Gamelyn most he nomore speke Line 724 Might þer be nomore grace but Gamelyn atte last was cast in to prisoun and fetered ful fast Gamelyn haþ a broþer þat highte sir Ote As good a knight and heende as mighte gon on foote Line 728 Anon þer ȝede a messager to þat goode knight And told him altogidere how Gamelyn was dight Anon as sire Ote herde how Gamelyn was a dight he was wonder sory was he no þing light Line 732 And leet sadle a steede and þe way he nam And to his tweyne breþeren anon right he cam Sire seyde sire Ote to þe scherreue þo / we ben but thre breþeren schul we neuer be mo Line 736 And þou hast y-prisoned þe best of vs alle / Swich anoþer broþer yuel mot him bifalle Sire Ote seide þe fals knight lat be þi curs / By god for þy wordes he schal fare þe wurs Line 740

Line 740 To þe kynges prisoun anon he is y-nome And þer he schal abyde til þe Iustice come / Par de seyde sir Ote better it schal be I bidde him to maympris þat þou graunt him me Line 744 Til þe nexte sittyng of delyueraunce And þanne lat Gamelyn stande to his chaunce Broþer in swich a forthward I take him to the / And by þi fader soule þat þe bygat and me Line 748 But if he be redy whan þe Iustice sitte / Thou schalt bere þe Iuggement for al þi grete witte I graunte wel seide sir Ote þat it so be Let delyuer him anon and tak him to me / Line 752 Tho was Gamelyn delyuered to sire Ote his broþer And þat night dwelleden þat on wiþ þat oþer On þe morn seyde Gamelyn to sir Ote þe heende Broþer he seide I moot / forsothe fro þe wende Line 756 To loke how my ȝonge men leden here lyf whether þey lyuen in Ioie or elles in stryf By god seyde sire Ote / þat is a cold reed Now I see þat al þe cark schall fallen on myn heed Line 760 For whan þe Iustice sitte and þou be nought I-founde I schal anon be take and in þy stede I-bounde / [folio 69a] Broþer sayde Gamelyn dismaye þe nought For by seint Iame in gales þat many man haþ sought Line 764 If þat god almighty hold my lyf and witt I wil be þer redy whan þe Iustice sitt Than seide sir Ote to Gamelyn god schilde þe fro schame Com whan þou seest tyme / and bring vs out of blame / Line 768

LItheþ and lestneþ and holdeþ ȝou stille / And ȝe schul here how Gamelyn had al his wille / Gamelyn wente aȝein vnder woode Rys And fond þere pleying ȝonge men of prys Line 772 Tho was ȝonge Gamelyn glad & bliþe ynough whan he fond his mery men vnder woode bough Gamelyn and his men talked in feere / And þey hadde good game here maister to heere Line 776

Line 776 They tolden him of auentures þat þey hadde founde / And Gamelyn hem tolde aȝein how he was fast I-bounde whil Gamelyn was outlawed had he no cors There was no man þat for him ferde þe wors Line 780 But abbotes and priours monk and Chanoun On hem left he no þing whan he might hem nom whil Gamelyn and his men made merþes ryue The fals knight his broþer yuel mot he þryue / Line 784 For he was fast about boþe day and oþer For to hyre þe quest to hangen his broþer Gamelyn stood on a day and as he biheeld The woodes and þe schawes in þe wilde feeld Line 788 he þought on his broþer how he him beheet That he wolde be redy whan þe Iustice seet he þoughte wel þat he wolde wiþoute delay Come afore þe Iustice to kepen his day Line 792 And seide to his ȝonge men dighteþ ȝou ȝare / For whan þe Iustice sitt we moote be þare / For I am vnder borwe til þat I come / And my broþer for me to prisoun schal be nome / Line 796 By seint Iame seyde his ȝonge men and þou rede þerto Ordeyne how it schal be and it schal be do / whil Gamelyn was comyng þer þe Iustice sat/ The fals knight his broþer forȝat he nat þat [folio 69b] Line 800 To huyre þe men on his quest to hangen his broþer Though he hadde nought þat oon he wolde haue þat oþer Tho cam Gamelyn fro vnder woode Rys And broughte wiþ him / his ȝonge men of prys Line 804 ¶ I se wel seyde Gamelyn þe Iustice is sette Go aforn adam and loke how it spette / Adam went in to þe halle and loked al aboute he seyh þere stonde lordes gret and stoute / Line 808 And sir Ote his broþer fetered wel fast Þo went adam out of halle as he were agast Adam said to Gamelyn and to his felaws alle Sir Ote stant I-fetered in þe moot halle Line 812

Line 812 Ȝonge men seide Gamelyn þis ȝe heeren alle Sir Ote stant I-fetered in þe moot halle If God ȝif vs grace wel for to doo he schal it abegge þat broughte þertoo Line 816 Thanne sayde adam þat lokkes hadde hore / Cristes curs most he haue þat him bond so sore And þou wilt Gamelyn do after my red Ther is noon in þe halle schal bere a-wey his heed Line 820 Adam seyde Gamelyn we wilne nought don so / we wil slee þe giltyf and lat þe oþer go I wil in to þe halle /and wiþ þe Iustice speke / On hem þat ben gultyf I wil ben a-wreke Line 824 lat non skape at þe dore take ȝonge men ȝeme / For I wil be Iustice þis day domes to deme God spede me þis day at my newe werk Adam com on with me / for þou schalt be my clerk Line 828 His men answereden him and bad him doon his best And if þou to vs haue neede þou schalt fynde vs prest we wiln stande with þe whil þat we may dure And but we werke manly pay vs non hure / Line 832 yonge men seyde Gamelyn so mot I wel þe As trusty a maister ȝe schal fynde of me / Right þere þe justice sat in þe halle In wente Gamelyn amonges hem alle Line 836 ¶ Gamelyn leet/ vnfetere his broþer out of beende Thanne seyde sir Ote his broþer þat was heende [folio 70a] Thou haddest almost Gamelyn dwelled to longe For þe quest is oute on me þat I schulde honge Line 840 Broþer seyde Gamelyn so god ȝif me good rest This day þey schuln ben hanged þat ben on þy quest And þe Iustice boþe þat is Iugges man And þe scherreue boþe þurgh him it bigan Line 844 Than seyde Gamelyn to þe Iustise Now is þy power y-don þou most nedes arise Thow hast ȝeuen domes þat ben yuel dight I wil sitten in þy sete an dressen hem aright Line 848

Line 848 The Iustice sat stille and roos nought anoon And Gamelyn cleuede his cheeke boon Gamelyn took him in his arm and no more spak But þrew him ouer þe barre and his arm tobrak Line 852 Durste non to Gamelyn seye but good For fered of þe company þat wiþoute stood Gamelyn sette him doun in þe Iustices sete / And sire Ote his broþer by him / and adam at his feet Line 856 whan Gamelyn was I-set in þe Iustices sete herkneþ of a bourde þat Gamelyn dede / he leet fetre þe Iustice and his fals broþer And dede hem come to þe barre þat oon wiþ þat oþer Line 860 Tho Gamelyn hadde þus y-doon had he no rest Til he had enquered who was on þe quest For to deme his broþer sir Ote for to honge / Er he wiste which þey were he þoughte ful longe Line 864 But as sone as Gamelyn wiste wher þey were he dede hem euerichone fetere in feere / And bringen hem to þe barre and sette hem in rewe / By my faiþ seyde þe Iustice þe Scherreue is a schrewe Line 868 Than seyde Gamelyn to þe Iustise Thou hast y-ȝeue domes of þe wors assise And þe .xij. sisours þat weren of þe queste / They schul ben hanged þis day so haue I reste Line 872 Thanne seide þe scherreue to ȝonge Gamelyn · Lord I crie þe mercy broþer art þou myn Therfore seyde Gamely haue þou cristes curs For and þou were maister ȝit I schulde haue wors [folio 70b] Line 876 For to make schort tale and nouȝt to tarie longe he ordeyned him a queste of his men so stronge The Iustice and þe scherreue boþe honged hye To weyuen wiþ ropes and wiþ þe wynd drye Line 880 And þe .xij. sisours sorwe haue þat rekke Alle þey were hanged faste by þe nekke / Thus ended þe fals knight wiþ his treccherie That euer had I-lad his lyf in falsnes and folye Line 884

Line 884 He was hanged by þe nek and nouȝt by þe purs That was þe meede þat he had for his fadres curs Sir Ote was eldest and Gamelyn was ȝing þey wenten wiþ here freendes euen to þe kyng Line 888 They made pees wiþ þe kyng of þe best assise The kyng loued wel sir Ote and made him Iustise And after þe kyng made Gamelyn boþe in Est and west Chef Iustice of al his fre forest Line 892 Alle his wighte ȝonge men þe kyng forȝaf here gilt And sitthen in good office þe kyng hem hath I-pilt Thus wan Gamelyn his lond and his leede Line 895 And wrak him of his enemys and quyt hem here meede And sire Ote his broþer made him his heir And siþþen wedded Gamelyn a wyf boþe good and feyr They lyueden to-gidere / whil þat crist wolde And siþen was Gamelyn grauen vnder molde Line 900 And so schal we alle may þer no man fle God bryng vs to þe Ioye þat euer schal be / AMEN [[The rest of the page, eleven lines, is blank in the MS.]]