The pilgrimage of the life of man, English by John Lydgate, A. D. 1426, from the French of Guillaume de Deguileville, A. D. 1330, 1335. The text ed. by F. J. Furnivall ... With introduction, notes, glossary and indexes by Katharine B. Locock ...

About this Item

Title

Author

Guillaume, de Deguileville, 14th cent.

Publication

London,: Pub. for the Early English text society by K. Paul, Trench, Trübner & co., limited,

1899-1904.

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The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes. These materials are in the public domain. If you have questions about the collection, please contact mec-info@umich.edu. If you have concerns about the inclusion of an item in this collection, please contact libraryit-info@umich.edu.

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"The pilgrimage of the life of man, English by John Lydgate, A. D. 1426, from the French of Guillaume de Deguileville, A. D. 1330, 1335. The text ed. by F. J. Furnivall ... With introduction, notes, glossary and indexes by Katharine B. Locock ..." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/AJT8111.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 11, 2024.

Pages

Page 624

                      
                        now I ha told myn ádventure
                      
                        of all that evar I dyd endure,
                        Line 23276 
                      
                        of Scilla and her houndës fell,
                      
                        and eke (as ye ha hard me tell)
                      
                        of Envy and of Treason,
                      
                        and of falce Detractïon.
                        Line 23280 
                      
                        how they ha wrought to my hyndrynge
                      
                        In the absens of the kynge
                      
                        and of his portar, in sertayne.

                      
                        But when they were come home agayne,
                        Line 23284 
                      
                        and enteryd in-to the castell,
                      
                        it lyked me ryght wonder well.
                      
                        a-non I went to his presens,
                      
                        and tolde hym of the gret offens
                        Line 23288 
                      
                        whiche that Scilla with hir hounds
                      
                        had don to me within his bounds,
                      
                        by the conspiracïon
                      
                        of Envy and [of] Treason:
                        Line 23292 
                      
                        my wrong I dyd specifye.

                      
                        the kynge a-non let make a crye,
                      
                        that were-so-evar they myght be
                      
                        found in towne or in citie, [Stowe folio 364a] 

                        Line 23296

Page 625

                      
                        Line 23296 
                      
                        that folkë shuld them sparë nought,
                      
                        to his presens till they were brought.
                      
                        for he cast hym, anone ryght,
                      
                        on them to done iustice and ryght,
                        Line 23300 
                      
                        that they go no more at large;
                      
                        and gave his porter eke in charge
                      
                        forto shette the gatës sore,
                      
                        that they entre there no more,
                        Line 23304 
                      
                        nor that they have ther no chere.

                      
                        and then I saughe a messagere
                      
                        wher the kynge of custome dwells,
                      
                        In the castell ryngë bells,
                        Line 23308 
                      
                        for to maken ássemblé,
                      
                        where the kynge set in his se,
                      
                        of the ladyes that ther dwell,
                      
                        (of whome to-forne ye have herd tell,)
                        Line 23312 
                      
                        that suffred gret oppressyon
                      
                        of Envy and Detraccïon,
                      
                        of Scillas houndës, by berkynge,
                      
                        in th[e] absens of the kynge,
                        Line 23316 
                      
                        of their drede and mortall rage,
                      
                        wher-of they suffred gret damage.

                      
                        'Madams,' quod this messegere,
                      
                        'the kynge, most myghty of power,
                        Line 23320 
                      
                        whiche hathe, in great charitie,
                      
                        (in effecte, as ye shall se,)
                      
                        and purposethe in his entent,
                      
                        he hathe be longe from yow absent,
                        Line 23324 
                      
                        (as ye know yowr-selffe full well,)
                      
                        but of new, to this castell,
                      
                        he is come for his pleasaunce;
                      
                        and he hathe made an ordynaunce
                        Line 23328 
                      
                        and statutës full covenáble,
                      
                        to yow echon ryght profytable,
                      
                        commaundynge yow, echon, in dede,
                      
                        that, hens-forthe, ye ha no drede
                        Line 23332 
                      
                        of your enemys, nor hevynesse, [Stowe folio 364b] 
                      
                        but that yow do yowr besynesse
                      
                        (as it is the kyngës will)
                      
                        yowr office truly to fulffyll,

                        Line 23336

Page 626

                      
                        Line 23336 
                      
                        'as ye dyd, when ye began,
                      
                        and bettar, yf ye bettar can;
                      
                        for the kynge (as ye shall se)
                      
                        will on your foon avengid be:
                        Line 23340 
                      
                        to yow I ha no more to say.'

                      
                        than the messengar went his way,
                      
                        and thes ladys, by good advyse,
                      
                        full truly dyd theyr offyse,
                        Line 23344 
                      
                        evereche, lyke to ther degre,
                      
                        voyde of all contrariouste;
                      
                        and (shortly for to devyse)
                      
                        wher that truthë and iustice
                        Line 23348 
                      
                        be truly kept in any place,
                      
                        I dare sayne ther abydythe grace;
                      
                        And where the gatë is kept well,
                      
                        of palays, maner, or castell,
                        Line 23352 
                      
                        that vycis may ha none entrie,
                      
                        that place stant in suërte,
                      
                        and eche thynge tournethe for the best;
                      
                        for, ther is peace, and ther is rest,
                        Line 23356 
                      
                        and evar gladly, to theyr forthynge,
                      
                        ther abyte the ryghtffull kynge;
                      
                        and ther is suraunce & eke trust.

                      
                        and afftar this, I had a lust,
                        Line 23360 
                      
                        cawght in my-selfe a great corage,
                      
                        for to holden my passage,
                      
                        and greatly gan my selffe delyght,
                      
                        dyvers castells to vysyte,
                        Line 23364 
                      
                        for to consythar the maner
                      
                        of euery maner offycer,
                      
                        How euerych dede in his degre.

                      
                        and it is good, a man to se
                        Line 23368 
                      
                        many thyngës, and to here,
                      
                        for therby a man may lere [Stowe folio 365a] 
                      
                        ful moche thynge outward by syght,
                      
                        and take example to done right.
                        Line 23372

                      
                        And whan I hadde ther-to lycence
                      
                        I wente and dede my diligence
                      
                        to visiten, and to se
                      
                        ful many wonderful countre.

                        Line 23376

Page 627

                      
                        Line 23376 
                      
                        and ther I fond ful gret foysoun
                      
                        Of many dyuers Religyoun;
                      
                        and I saugh, of many oon,
                      
                        The gretë bondës euerychon
                        Line 23380 
                      
                        broke, that shuld hem wel conserve,
                      
                        yef they wold hem wel observe,
                      
                        Kepe hem from al aduersite,
                      
                        as here-to-forn ye dedë se,
                        Line 23384 
                      
                        Whan the smale wikres brak,
                      
                        The hopës wenten al to wrak,
                      
                        And many shippes for lak, allas,
                      
                        Was yperysshed in the same cas,
                        Line 23388 
                      
                        and brought vnto confusïoun,
                      
                        (toforn as is maad mensïoun)
                      
                        for lak in their gouernaunces,
                      
                        Nat kepyng their obseruaunces.
                        Line 23392

                      
                        And her-vpon I ferther wente
                      
                        to senë more (in myn entente).
                      
                        And withyne a litel space
                      
                        I cam into a noble place;
                        Line 23396 
                      
                        and at the gate I saugh somers;
                      
                        and on hem sittë, fressh of chers,
                      
                        Aungels, of gret vertu;
                      
                        and hafter hem, kam Gracë Dieu,
                        Line 23400 
                      
                        fresshly Ridyng in a char.

                      
                        and the gate (I was wel war)
                      
                        Of the castel stood vnshet. [folio 287b] 
                      
                        and truëly, whan I had met
                        Line 23404 
                      
                        the Somers, I gan enquere
                      
                        of oon, that he wold[ë] lere
                      
                        goodly, and informë me, [Stowe folio 365a] 
                      
                        whos the somers sholdë be,
                        Line 23408 
                      
                        Which hadde, vpon hir weye,
                      
                        Aungels hem to conveye,
                      
                        Only for to make hem strong.

The aungel:

'To Grace Dieu,' quod he, 'they long.' 23412

The pilgrym:

Quod I to oon that rood behynde, "telle me wher I shal hir fynde."

Page 628

The Aungel: [Stowe folio 365b]

Quod thaungel, 'as it is due, her, in hast, she shal vs sue.' 23416

                      
                        And in my way so I me bar,
                      
                        that I fonde hir in hir char;
                      
                        and a-mong hir folkës alle,
                      
                        benignëly she gan me calle,
                        Line 23420 
                      
                        and bad I shold ek ha no fere
                      
                        to tellë what I dedë there.

The pilgrym:

                        And I answeryd anon ryght,
                      
                        how I wente to haue a syght
                        Line 23424 
                      
                        of sondry castelles (it is no doute,)
                      
                        that in the countre stood aboute,
                      
                        and of folkës gouernaunce,
                      
                        that ther abood for her plesaunce.
                        Line 23428

Grace dieu: [folio 288a] 

                        Graciously, y-wys, quod she,
                      
                        'Now thou hast yfounden me
                      
                        toforn or that I was ago.
                      
                        but (withoutë wordës mo),
                        Line 23432 
                      
                        come and folwe on after me,
                      
                        and many thyngës thou shalt se.'

                      
                        and she ladde me, vp and doun,
                      
                        by many diuerse mansïoun,
                        Line 23436 
                      
                        In cloystres, as wentë tho
                      
                        Round about, to and fro:
                      
                        ther I saugh vertues and ek vices,
                      
                        and many dyuerse edifices.
                        Line 23440 
                      
                        I saugh ther places ruynous,
                      
                        and to dwelle in / perillous.

                      
                        she shewed me, on our walkyng,
                      
                        an oldë lady ther haltyng,
                        Line 23444 
                      
                        and (as by her contenaunce,)
                      
                        She haddë ther gret gouernaunce:
                      
                        she bar a Rewle of a masoun,
                      
                        and pleyed by derysïoun,
                        Line 23448 
                      
                        and (as I coudë tho espie)
                      
                        by a maner mokerye.

Page 629

                      
                        In hir hand (as I was war)
                      
                        a gretë spoon also she bar;
                        Line 23452 
                      
                        and as she reysed it a-lofte,
                      
                        to hir mouth she putte it ofte.
                      
                        And also (as to my reward,)
                      
                        hir hed was turned ek bakward,
                        Line 23456 
                      
                        that toforn (as I ha mynde,)
                      
                        Was turned and ysette behynde.

[Grace Dieu]:

                        Quod Grace dieu a-noon to me, [folio 288b] 
                      
                        'at the eyë thou mayst se;
                        Line 23460 
                      
                        this hous (yef thou canst espye,)
                      
                        whilom was by masounrye
                      
                        bilt, and founded spiritually [Stowe folio 366a] 
                      
                        by sent Benet, feithfully
                        Line 23464 
                      
                        by lyne and level of masoun,
                      
                        thorugh gostly foundacïoun,
                      
                        for which, whilom parmanable,
                      
                        it was tabidë the mor stable.
                        Line 23468

                      
                        'conceyve also, (by my doctryne,)
                      
                        thyng that is maad by rule and lyne,
                      
                        In it self hath more beaute
                      
                        tendure, and mor stabilite.
                        Line 23472 
                      
                        but whan the masoun was agoon,
                      
                        the rulë wente, and that a-noon,
                      
                        and the lynë stood nat faire
                      
                        Whan the rulë gan apaire;
                        Line 23476 
                      
                        and thus the rule, and ek the lyne,
                      
                        bothe attonës gan declyne.
                      
                        and feithfully, in this castel,
                      
                        the rulë was nat kept ryght wel;
                        Line 23480 
                      
                        for, sith the halt held this place,
                      
                        al good rulë gan difface.
                      
                        of vertu ek she is so bare,
                      
                        the edifices to repare;
                        Line 23484 
                      
                        for the old fundacïoun,
                      
                        She hath nat but derisïoun;
                      
                        She reccheth nat what-euere falle;
                      
                        thaugh the stoonës fallen alle,

                        Line 23488

Page 630

                      
                        Line 23488 
                      
                        'of vertu, bilden in the place;
                      
                        for, save to play and to solace,
                      
                        I dar sey she, in hir werkyng,
                      
                        Intendeth to noon other thyng.'
                        Line 23492

The Pylgrym:

                        "Ma dame," quod I, "to my semyng, [folio 289a] 
                      
                        this placë first, in his bildyng,
                      
                        (Who consydereth euerydel)
                      
                        the masounry was nat maad wel,
                        Line 23496 
                      
                        Was not duely maad, nor stable,
                      
                        Sith it is not parmanable."

Grace Dieu:

                        'Touchyng the bildyng, tak good heed:
                      
                        the masounry, (it is no dreed,)
                        Line 23500 
                      
                        I dar ful wel thy-self assure,
                      
                        it was maad for to endure,
                      
                        and to haue last for many yer,
                      
                        Save oonly the morter
                        Line 23504 
                      
                        Was not iustly (as I ha sayd)
                      
                        stably among the stoonës layd,
                      
                        ffounded vpon true entent
                      
                        more stedfastly than is cyment.
                        Line 23508

                      
                        'It was first maad of orisouns,
                      
                        of fastyng and affliccïouns,
                      
                        to holde the cloystre round about
                      
                        by stablenesse, and not gon out
                        Line 23512 
                      
                        into the world, vagabound, [Stowe folio 366b] 
                      
                        the edifices to confound;
                      
                        but in their cloystres stille abyde
                      
                        in mekënesse, and not in pryde,
                        Line 23516 
                      
                        Haue their frequentacïouns
                      
                        in prayër and in orisouns;
                      
                        erly on morwen to aryse,
                      
                        in vertu to haue excercyse;
                        Line 23520 
                      
                        and at festës more and lasse,
                      
                        oftë tymës syngë masse.

                      
                        'this was whilom, (I you ensure,)
                      
                        of their morter, the temprure,
                        Line 23524 
                      
                        founded vppon charyte,
                      
                        on concord and fraternyte,

Page 631

                      
                        'In love and in perfeccïoun,
                      
                        Voyde of al devisïoun, [folio 289b] 
                        Line 23528 
                      
                        In parfit pes and vnyte
                      
                        of high and lowe in their degre,
                      
                        for love only of crist ihesu.

                      
                        'And yef the morter, in his vertu,
                        Line 23532 
                      
                        had abide in stabilnesse,
                      
                        Withouten eny doublenesse,
                      
                        Lich the first fundacïoun,
                      
                        The werkë nad not falle a-doun,
                        Line 23536 
                      
                        but stable stonde in his degre.

                      
                        'and now, echon ha liberte,
                      
                        at þeir lust, to slepe and wake;
                      
                        and noon other hed ne take
                        Line 23540 
                      
                        forto kepe their óbseruaunce:
                      
                        and thus, for lak of gouernaunce,
                      
                        Pes from hem, and vnyte,
                      
                        Exilëd is, and charyte.
                        Line 23544

                      
                        'thát whilom gaff drynke and foode,
                      
                        and vnto pore their lyvëloode,
                      
                        oonly of mercy and pyte,
                      
                        and, held hospitalyte;
                        Line 23548 
                      
                        and, of euery manere age,
                      
                        gaf to pore folk herbegage,
                      
                        such as thei seyen, in distresse,
                      
                        in myschif, and in Seknesse.'
                        Line 23552

Pilgrim:

"Ma dame (and ye list take hede,) Who hath nought, (it is no drede,) may not parten his Almesse to folk that Leven in distresse." 23556

Grace Dieu:

                        'Thow seyst soth, (as thynketh me,)
                      
                        but wher thou leggest pouerte,
                      
                        whilom thei had suffisaunce,
                      
                        plente ynowh, and hábundaunce,
                        Line 23560 
                      
                        whan thei worsheped in special [Stowe folio 367a] 
                      
                        The myghty kyng that gaf hem al [folio 290a] 
                      
                        suffisaunce in euery lond;
                      
                        but now he hath withdrawe his hond

                        Line 23564

Page 632

                      
                        Line 23564 
                      
                        'for their offences; this the fyn:
                      
                        ther goodës drawen to declyn;
                      
                        for thei be Rekles of livyng
                      
                        forto serue that noble kyng;
                        Line 23568 
                      
                        and, for slouth and necligence,
                      
                        they doon in o thyng gret offence.
                      
                        ffor wher the lord (in his degre)
                      
                        Duely shuld honnourëd be,
                        Line 23572 
                      
                        the place is not, with diligence,
                      
                        Clenly kept with reuerence;
                      
                        for beforn, and ek behynde,
                      
                        Yraynes and webbës men may fynde;
                        Line 23576 
                      
                        and also ek, (yef thou take hede,)
                      
                        Swalwes and othre bryddës brede;
                      
                        and also ek (through al their boundes)
                      
                        dong of doggës and ek of houndes,
                        Line 23580 
                      
                        nettles and wedës round aboute,
                      
                        in cymyterys ful gret route,
                      
                        lich a disert or places wilde,
                      
                        wher no man hath lust to bilde,
                        Line 23584 
                      
                        Replevisshëd of al ordure,
                      
                        as it were withouten cure;
                      
                        and many oother dishonestës,
                      
                        bestial in ther degres,
                        Line 23588 
                      
                        mor than I can here devyse.

                      
                        'ánd crist ihesus dede iustyse
                      
                        on hem that in the temple solde:
                      
                        becausë oonly thei were bolde
                        Line 23592 
                      
                        to done dishonnour to his hous,
                      
                        he was in party Regerous,
                      
                        As the gospel kan you telle;
                      
                        he bett hem out with a flagelle,
                        Line 23596 
                      
                        That noon of hem durst abyde.

                      
                        'Wherfore this halte that here is guyde, [folio 290b] 
                      
                        list nat, of hir frowardnesse,
                      
                        suchë thyngës to redresse,
                        Line 23600 
                      
                        nor do seruyse in hir werkyng
                      
                        for tentende vpon the kyng:
                      
                        her look, hir cher, (as ye may se,)
                      
                        is vpon worldly vanyte,

                        Line 23604

Page 633

                      
                        Line 23604 
                      
                        'and al hir hertes besynesse,
                      
                        rather than on holynesse;
                      
                        for which the kyng (iustly and wel,
                      
                        that considereth euerydel) [Stowe folio 367b] 
                        Line 23608 
                      
                        hem to quytë wil not cesse,
                      
                        maketh their goodës to discresse;
                      
                        and, for their pompe and their pryde,
                      
                        Set her Richesse out a-syde,
                        Line 23612 
                      
                        ámenusyng their substance,
                      
                        their tresour and their hábundance,
                      
                        Which made hem first their lord forsake.

                      
                        'therfore he can it fro hem take
                        Line 23616 
                      
                        Whan-euere he list, who lokë wel;
                      
                        ffor the Prophete Ezechel
                      
                        Writeth, (who so taketh hede)
                      
                        Idelnesse, plente of bred,
                        Line 23620 
                      
                        caused (in conclusïoun)
                      
                        of Sodom the distruccïoun.'

Pilgrim:

"I pray yov, telle on a-noon ryght, She that halteth in my syght, 23624 What is hir name, and hir offys, of whom ye sette so litel prys?"

Grace Dieu:

                        'To make a playn discripcïoun,
                      
                        She is called 'Abusïoun,'
                        Line 23628 
                      
                        because, the good that god hath sent,
                      
                        by hir thei ben wrongly dispent,
                      
                        And ageyn his wul abused;
                      
                        Wherof she may nat ben excused. [folio 291a] 
                        Line 23632

                      
                        'She halt a rule of a masoun,
                      
                        only by fals collusïoun;
                      
                        for, to the rule that she is bounde,
                      
                        (Whan the trouth is sough[t] and founde,
                      
                        Therto she haveth no reward,)
                        Line 23637 
                      
                        Hir hed ytourned is bakward;
                      
                        Vnto the world she cast hir look,
                      
                        Wich, vnder colour, she forsook.
                        Line 23640

'hir spon also doth signefye the foulë vice of Glotonye,

Page 634

                      
                        'for, ageyn ryght and al Resoun,
                      
                        by force and vsurpacïoun,
                        Line 23644 
                      
                        she hath forsake the vnyte
                      
                        of fraternal antiquyte,
                      
                        by perfeccïoun to contune
                      
                        to haue hir goodës in comune.
                        Line 23648

                      
                        'but this fals Abusïoun,
                      
                        only by vsurpacioun
                      
                        In Religioun (who list se),
                      
                        fonde out the vice of propurte,
                        Line 23652 
                      
                        Which is thyng most vicïous,
                      
                        rennyng among religïous, [Stowe folio 368a] 
                      
                        Which causeth ofte discord and stryf,
                      
                        contrary to Thapostles lyf.
                        Line 23656

                      
                        'In propurte (ye may ther rede)
                      
                        thei ne dide nothyng possede;
                      
                        her good was comoun, in certeyn.
                      
                        Wherfore the Spon that thou hast seyn
                        Line 23660 
                      
                        ys callede 'Syngularyte,'
                      
                        thyng to possede in propurte;
                      
                        to gedre the fattë (thus I mene,)
                      
                        vnto hir self, and leve the lene:
                        Line 23664 
                      
                        As the Prophete Ezechiel,
                      
                        to the sheperdes of Israel
                      
                        Spak and wrot, ful yore a-go:
                      
                        'Sorwe be to you, and wo, [folio 291b] 
                        Line 23668 
                      
                        that ne take to nothyng hede,
                      
                        but your silven forto fede;
                      
                        not lik sheperdes of cristus hous;
                      
                        but verray wolvës Ravinous,
                        Line 23672 
                      
                        liggyng awayt, bothe nyght and day,
                      
                        forto devoure what thei may:
                      
                        they takë bothë mylk and wolle;
                      
                        and the fatte, away thei pulle
                        Line 23676 
                      
                        with the spoon of cruelte
                      
                        ycalled Syngularyte,
                      
                        thei Robbë pantener and purs,
                      
                        and gete hem oftë Cristes cours.
                        Line 23680

'ffor which cause, I, Abusïoun, ám come of entencïoun

Page 635

                      
                        'Such abusïouns to se,
                      
                        and their superfluyte
                        Line 23684 
                      
                        to kutte away, which that thei vse,
                      
                        and their goodes to ámenuse.

                      
                        'The Aungels han hem take away,
                      
                        Which thou mettest this same day,
                        Line 23688 
                      
                        With gretë somers in sothnesse,
                      
                        ledyng away the gret Richesse,
                      
                        to parte it (of entencïoun)
                      
                        to folk that in deuocïoun
                        Line 23692 
                      
                        lede her livës in comune,
                      
                        and in deuocioun do contune;
                      
                        such as in god gretly delyte,
                      
                        fro good to bet alway profyte.
                        Line 23696

                      
                        'figure herof, ye may se,
                      
                        how that by olde Antiquyte,
                      
                        the bible ful wel can you tel,
                      
                        how the childre of Israel
                        Line 23700 
                      
                        took of Egypt the Tresour
                      
                        In recompense of her labour. [Stowe folio 368b] 
                      
                        As for guerdoun, by dwëte
                      
                        Whan they passed the redë Se, [folio 292a] 
                        Line 23704 
                      
                        they tooke in thyng by Robberye,
                      
                        as clerkës list to specifye;
                      
                        they barë with hem gret substaunce,
                      
                        only by Goddës ordynaunce,
                        Line 23708 
                      
                        Egipciens (it is no drede)
                      
                        Were not worthy it to possede.

                      
                        'and som folk deme off Resoun,
                      
                        that folk that haue possessïoun,
                        Line 23712 
                      
                        and ben cursed of livyng,
                      
                        It is leful (by their demyng)
                      
                        forto spoylle hem duëly,
                      
                        and yeve it hem that ben worthy.'
                        Line 23716

Pilgrim:

                        Touchyng that oppynyoun,
                      
                        thus I answerd of Resoun:
                      
                        "god ne doth nat thus alway,
                      
                        who that conceyveth, day by day;
                        Line 23720 
                      
                        for ther ys many an vsurer

Page 636

                      
                        "in dyuers londës fer and ner,
                      
                        that wynnë gold ful cursedly,
                      
                        and it possede ful vnworthily,
                        Line 23724 
                      
                        how falsly that they come therto;
                      
                        and god suffreth that it be so;
                      
                        and yet, to pore they yeve no thyng,
                      
                        though they be ryghtful of livyng."
                        Line 23728

Grace Dieu:

                        'As to thy conclusïoun,
                      
                        ther is noon solucïoun:
                      
                        god gaf neuere (fer nor ner,)
                      
                        licence to noon vsurer,
                        Line 23732 
                      
                        that he shuld (I the ensure)
                      
                        ben admytted to fals vsure.
                      
                        god suffreth hem to han tresour,
                      
                        gold, Richesse, and gret honour:
                        Line 23736 
                      
                        of al the tresour that they weld,
                      
                        To hym they shal acountës yeld. [folio 292b] 
                      
                        first, they it wan by violence,
                      
                        of god hauyng no licence;
                        Line 23740 
                      
                        wherfor, to their Dampnacïoun,
                      
                        he suffreth their pocessïoun,
                      
                        as he haddë no reward;
                      
                        but he wil punysshe hem afterward,
                        Line 23744 
                      
                        (though they for a while habound,)
                      
                        the vice of Vsure to confound.

                      
                        'but goodës of religïous,
                      
                        that was yeve in-to her hous
                        Line 23748 
                      
                        In ther first foundacïoun,
                      
                        their tresour and possessïoun,
                      
                        it was yove hem of almesse
                      
                        for their gretë perfitnesse,
                        Line 23752 
                      
                        of entent that, day and nyght, [Stowe folio 369a] 
                      
                        that they shold, with al their myght,
                      
                        Worshepe god with grete honours,
                      
                        and truely pray for their foundours.
                        Line 23756

                      
                        'and iustly, this condicïoun
                      
                        is worth an obligacïoun.
                      
                        that whan it falleth their fooly,
                      
                        that thei not vsë duëly

                        Line 23760

Page 637

                      
                        Line 23760 
                      
                        'their offices as thei sholde do,
                      
                        to kepe ther obseruaunces also
                      
                        (lich to their professïoun)
                      
                        in prayer and deuocïoun,
                        Line 23764 
                      
                        god wil, of his ryghtful lawe,
                      
                        to chastice hem, his hond with-drawe,
                      
                        suffre her goodës to vnthryve,
                      
                        but if thei amende hem blive;
                        Line 23768 
                      
                        yive it to hem that wil hym serue,
                      
                        and his comandëmentes obserue.

                      
                        'herof ye may sen a figure
                      
                        fful wel rehersed in scripture:
                        Line 23772 
                      
                        In Egipt whilom, how it fel,
                      
                        Whan the childre of Israel [folio 293a] 
                      
                        Wher ther in subieccïoun
                      
                        al that ilkë regioun;
                        Line 23776 
                      
                        thorugh their travaill and labour,
                      
                        was maad ryche of gret tresour;
                      
                        but afterward (as ye may se)
                      
                        Vij yeres of Sterylite
                        Line 23780 
                      
                        folwed on, (as ye may red,)
                      
                        wherof Ioseph took good hed
                      
                        long a-forn, of high prudence;
                      
                        and þaugh his noble providence,
                        Line 23784 
                      
                        Ageyn the hunger, Echë syde,
                      
                        ful prudently gan to provide,
                      
                        and shop ther-fore a remedye,
                      
                        (as Genesis doth specifye;)
                        Line 23788 
                      
                        for, thorugh the myght of goddës hond,
                      
                        he sustened al the lond
                      
                        from hunger and aduersite,
                      
                        The vij yer of Sterilite.
                        Line 23792

                      
                        'but of al this gretë dede,
                      
                        thei of Egipt took non hede,
                      
                        to thanken (in especial)
                      
                        the myghti lord that gaf hem al;
                        Line 23796 
                      
                        nor wolde suffre, in no wyse,
                      
                        Israel do sacrifyse;
                      
                        but held in subieccïoun,
                      
                        out of the lond of promyssioun.

                        Line 23800

Page 638

                      
                        Line 23800 
                      
                        'wherfore, merveille neuere a del,
                      
                        thaugh god suffred Israel,
                      
                        oonly of his ryghtwesnesse,
                      
                        to robben hem of their Richesse,
                        Line 23804 
                      
                        and spoylen hem of their Tresour. [Stowe folio 369b] 
                      
                        god gaf it hem for their labour,
                      
                        And as for a mede in guerdoun,
                      
                        Departyng from that Regioun.
                        Line 23808

                      
                        'They hadde disserued it of yore,
                      
                        by gret labour that sat hem sore, [folio 293b] 
                      
                        thorugh cónstreynt of Kyng Pharao,
                      
                        which wolde not suffren hem to go,
                        Line 23812 
                      
                        Nor to departe in rest and pes,
                      
                        for no massage of Moyses;
                      
                        but put hem euere in delay,

                      
                        'and thus the lord can take a-way
                        Line 23816 
                      
                        Richesse of folkës vicïous,
                      
                        and yive it hem that be vertuous;
                      
                        As he hath done here in this place:
                      
                        thou mayst beholde it with thy face.'
                        Line 23820

Pilgrim:

                        "Certes," quod I with hevy cher,
                      
                        "In other places mo than her
                      
                        (to tellë shortly, and not tarye)
                      
                        I ha beholde the contrary,
                        Line 23824 
                      
                        wher folk, by gret deuocïoun,
                      
                        han kept their religïoun
                      
                        ful streytly, in gret honeste,
                      
                        that han falle in pouerte,
                        Line 23828 
                      
                        bothe of liflood and vesture,
                      
                        that thei myghtë nat endure,
                      
                        Mischef hath hem brought so lowe.
                      
                        and fayn I wold the causë knowe,
                        Line 23832 
                      
                        why god wil suffre their grevaunce,
                      
                        forto lakke their suffisaunce."

Grace Dieu:

Quod Grace Dieu a-noon to me, 'I wil herof answere the, 23836 and make therof no gret delay; but her cometh oon nov in our way,

Page 639

                      
                        'and I wil first, of good resoun,
                      
                        knowen his entencïoun;
                        Line 23840 
                      
                        or go thy self, by my biddyng,
                      
                        And axe the cause of his comyng.'

                      
                        And sodeynly, good hede I took; [folio 294a] 
                      
                        and cast on syde on hym my look,
                        Line 23844 
                      
                        which, lich a dwerf, (this the caas,)
                      
                        of his fetures shapen was.
                      
                        a pyk of Iren, sharp and longe,
                      
                        he held, that was of makyng strong.
                        Line 23848

Pilgrim:

And to me-ward his look he layde. but first, to hym ryght thus I sayde. "Telle on, thou dwerf, (ha no shame,) To vs, thyn office and thy name." 23852

Sterelite:

                        'I called am (yef thou list se)
                      
                        Of folkës alle, 'Sterility,' [Stowe folio 370a] 
                      
                        which ha this hous maad ful bareyn,
                      
                        bothe of frut and ek of greyn.
                        Line 23856 
                      
                        Ther good, their lond, (yef it be sought,)
                      
                        I ha distruyed and brought to nought:
                      
                        This my craft and myn offys;
                      
                        and therfor (by gret avys)
                        Line 23860 
                      
                        to castë folk in pouerte,
                      
                        I am called 'Sterilite;'
                      
                        foul and ougly of look and cher:
                      
                        In Egypt I dwellëd vij yer.
                        Line 23864 
                      
                        wher I abyde, (be wel certeyn,)
                      
                        I make the land to be bareyn.'

Grace Dieu:

Quod Gracë Dieu, 'a litel space, Go thy way out of this place; 23868 and what-so-euere herafter falle, whan me list, I shal the calle.'

                      
                        And whan that tourned was his bak, [folio 291b] 
                      
                        Gracë dieu thus to me spak:
                        Line 23872 
                      
                        'touchyng the goodës, day be day,
                      
                        which that I ha take away
                      
                        fro this placë here present,

Page 640

                      
                        'I dide [it] oonly of entent
                        Line 23876 
                      
                        that other folk shold it possede,
                      
                        which (bothe in wark and ek in dede,)
                      
                        lede her lyf in perfitnesse,
                      
                        In vertu, and more holynesse
                        Line 23880 
                      
                        than thei which that her now be.

                      
                        'and touchyng that thou askest me,
                      
                        Thou shalt haue answere therof noon.
                      
                        but first, I chargë the to goon
                        Line 23884 
                      
                        to hir that is the Selerere
                      
                        of this place that stondeth here;
                      
                        aske hir (that thou mayst conceyve)
                      
                        touchyng the good she doth receyve,
                        Line 23888 
                      
                        to telle the playnly al the guyse,
                      
                        how it is spent, and in what wyse.
                      
                        and, hir to knowe among hem alle,
                      
                        'Purveyauncë' folk hir calle.
                        Line 23892 
                      
                        and whan she hath declared al,
                      
                        thou shalt haue (in specïal)
                      
                        of the demaunde (by good resoun)
                      
                        a truë Declaracïoun,
                        Line 23896 
                      
                        as it accordeth and is dwe.

                      
                        'and forth my Somers I wil swe;
                      
                        for, in this place, on no syde,
                      
                        I caste me no lenger to abyde;
                        Line 23900 
                      
                        nor neuere (to speke in wordës playn)
                      
                        hider to retourne agayn,
                      
                        til the tyme that I may se
                      
                        that vertu and honeste [Stowe folio 370b] 
                        Line 23904 
                      
                        Resortë by deuocïoun
                      
                        Into thys Religïoun.'

                      
                        And with that word, (as I was war,) [folio 295a] 
                      
                        I saugh hir gon in-to hir char.
                        Line 23908 
                      
                        and in this while (of good entent,
                      
                        lich to hir comandëment)
                      
                        I wentë with a sobre chere,
                      
                        forth vnto the celere[re].
                        Line 23912 
                      
                        and, my iourne to avaunce,
                      
                        I knewe hir by hir contenaunce;
                      
                        for (the trouthë to expresse)

Page 641

                      
                        She was of gret sobrenesse,
                        Line 23916 
                      
                        of gret reuerence and honeste,
                      
                        and of gret maturyte;
                      
                        saad of look, and ek of cher,
                      
                        Egle-eyëd, bryght and cler.
                        Line 23920

[The Pilgrim]:

                        "Ma dame," quod I, "of good entent,
                      
                        Gracë Dieu hath to you sent,
                      
                        that ye sholde (in wordës fewe)
                        Line 23923 
                      
                        the playnë trouthë to me shewe,
                      
                        wher ye puttë the rychesse
                      
                        that ye receyve, in sothfastnesse."

Celerar:

                        And she that spak no word in vyyn,
                      
                        to me answerd thus agayn;
                        Line 23928 
                      
                        'al that I haue in my depos,
                      
                        from hir ther shal nothyng be clos.
                      
                        Kome forth in hast, and folwe me,
                      
                        and thou shalt the trouthë se.'
                        Line 23932

                      
                        and I cam after (for the best),
                      
                        and she gan vnlokke a chest,
                      
                        the whichë, whan I dedë se,
                      
                        I gan gretly abasshë me,
                        Line 23936 
                      
                        for the huchche (it is no doute)
                      
                        was ful of holës round aboute;
                      
                        and at ech hole (as thoughtë me)
                      
                        an hand put out, I didë se,
                        Line 23940 
                      
                        (who-so euere slepe or wake) [folio 295b] 
                      
                        Redy to receyve and take.

Pilgrim:

I prayëd her, to specifye what thyng it dedë signefye. 23944

Celerar:

                        'To telle, and voiden al deceyt,
                      
                        this the place of the receyt
                      
                        of goodës, which that, day and nyght,
                      
                        kome to this place of verray ryght,
                        Line 23948 
                      
                        (forto speke in general,)
                      
                        but this handes consumen al,
                      
                        Spende and waste on euery syde, [Stowe folio 371a]

Page 642

                      
                        'that ther may no thyng abyde,
                        Line 23952 
                      
                        for to departë by almesse
                      
                        to folk that liven in distresse.'

Pilgrim:

"Ma dame," quod I, "as semeth me, ye sholde, of ryght and equyte, 23956 The handës kerve, and kutte away, and stoppe the holës nyght and day."

Provide[n]s Celerar:

                        Quod Providence anoon to me,
                      
                        'Thes, ben the handës thre,
                        Line 23960 
                      
                        which that thevës (by assent)
                      
                        ar wont to vsen (of entent),
                      
                        I menë, pyratys of the Se,
                      
                        which bryngë folk in pouerte.
                        Line 23964

                      
                        'The first hand of allë thre,
                      
                        ys called (lernë this of me,)
                      
                        'the hand of Dymës,' by gadryng,
                      
                        To gadre vp dymës for the kyng. [folio 296a] 
                        Line 23968

                      
                        'the tother hand, ful sorë pulles
                      
                        gold for trentals and for bulles,
                      
                        and dyuers subuencïouns
                      
                        and grevous contribucïouns,
                        Line 23972 
                      
                        graunted (in especïal)
                      
                        at Chipytres general.
                      
                        the handës do no thyng, nor werche,
                      
                        but waste the good of holy cherche.'
                        Line 23976

Pilgrim:

                        "What hand is that (telle on, let Se,)
                      
                        Which hath an Eye (as thynketh me,)
                      
                        Sett in the myddës of the hand?
                      
                        for I saugh neuere (on Se nor land)
                        Line 23980 
                      
                        Such another her-toforn,
                      
                        Sith the tyme that I was born."

Providens:

                        'Be nat astonyed, neuere a del!
                      
                        this hand is (who so lokë wel,)
                        Line 23984 
                      
                        of our noble Visitour,
                      
                        Which doth his peyne and his labour
                      
                        to looke for lucre and fals guerdoun,

Page 643

                      
                        'alway, for retribucïoun,
                        Line 23988 
                      
                        they caste her eyë for wynnyng,
                      
                        and, ryght nought for ámendyng;
                      
                        take (in their entencïouns,)
                      
                        pans for procuracïouns.
                        Line 23992 
                      
                        ther entent, in no wyse,
                      
                        ys sett on ryght nor on iustice.

'ek other handës, mo than thre, han cast vs in gret pouerte.' 23996

[The Pilgrim:]

                        With that word, makyng no delay,
                      
                        I took my leve and wente away. [Stowe folio 371b] 
                      
                        I hadde no leve, (shortly to telle,)
                      
                        but shop me hom to my castel.
                        Line 24000 
                      
                        And on my wayë, me be-fel,
                      
                        I mette an olde oon in that tyde, [folio 296b] 
                      
                        that to me kam on the left syde,
                        Line 24004 
                      
                        Of whos look I was affrayed:
                      
                        hir handës partid, and displayed
                      
                        vpward to a castel wal,
                      
                        resemblyng (as me thought in al)
                        Line 24008 
                      
                        That hir entent was to ascende
                      
                        vpon the wal, or to descende.

                      
                        a blak Ravoun (it is no doute,)
                      
                        took his flyght ful round aboute,
                        Line 24012 
                      
                        Wher-so-euere that she went.
                      
                        and I knewh nothyng what it ment;
                      
                        But I caste, withynne a throwe,
                      
                        playnly that I woldë knowe,
                        Line 24016 
                      
                        of al thys thyng som evidence;
                      
                        and wente a-noon to hir presence.
                      
                        and first of al, I gan enquere,
                      
                        to telle me what she didë there;
                        Line 24020 
                      
                        of name and of condicïoun
                      
                        Make a declaracïoun.

Apostacye:

Quod she, 'yef thou konne espye, I am called 'Apostacye,' 24024

Page 644

                      
                        Line 24024 
                      
                        'which whilom, of entencïoun,
                      
                        madë my professïoun,
                      
                        In al my bestë feythful wyse,
                      
                        for to ha do truely seruyse
                        Line 24028 
                      
                        duryng my lif, vnto the kyng
                      
                        that is most myghty of werkyng.

                      
                        'I sette myn hand vnto the plough;
                        Line 24031 
                      
                        But I haue hym falsed ynough, [folio 297a] 
                      
                        tourned the bak (as thou mayst se)
                      
                        vnto wordly vanyte,
                      
                        left myn homage, trouth and al,
                      
                        and am kome doun ouere the wal
                        Line 24036 
                      
                        for vayn glorie (out of doute);
                      
                        In many countre roune aboute,
                      
                        of entent, for to purchaas
                      
                        prosperite and vayn solas.
                        Line 24040

                      
                        'and yet ful ofte (in many caas,)
                      
                        myn entent and purpos was,
                      
                        fro worldly glorie, fals and vayn,
                      
                        to haue tourned hom agayn,
                        Line 24044 
                      
                        and amended my livyng
                      
                        In the seruyse of the kyng;
                      
                        but truely (it is no nay) [Stowe folio 372a] 
                      
                        the Ravoun was euere in my way.'
                        Line 24048

Pilgrim:

                        "Truely, and thou dedest wel,
                      
                        thou sholdest lette neuere a del
                      
                        for to delayë so thy paas.
                      
                        thaugh that he crye on thé, 'cras, cras,'
                        Line 24052 
                      
                        thou sholdest remembre thé among,
                      
                        and take noon hede vnto his song."

Apostasie:

                        'The trouthë forto specifye,
                      
                        I folwe, in myn Apostasye,
                        Line 24056 
                      
                        In my passage vp and doun,
                      
                        the Ravenës condicïoun,
                      
                        that whilom was of Noe sent
                      
                        out of the arkë, of entent
                        Line 24060 
                      
                        to beholden how it stood,
                      
                        of the deluge and the flood

Page 645

                      
                        'boyllyng with many sturdy wawe;
                      
                        Wher the water gan withdrawe.
                        Line 24064

                      
                        'but the Raven fond a kareyn;
                      
                        therfore he cam not agayn. [folio 297b] 
                      
                        and I stonde in the samë caas,
                      
                        abyde, and synge alway 'cras, cras,'
                        Line 24068 
                      
                        makyng many fals delayes,
                      
                        and prolongë forth my dayes,
                      
                        forto Resorten hom ageyn,
                      
                        and spendë thus my tyme in veyn.'
                        Line 24072

Pilgrim:

                        "Thy werkës (yef I shal not tarye)
                      
                        ben vnhappy and contrárye;
                      
                        and thyn handës, bothë two,
                      
                        ben yperced þorugh also.
                        Line 24076 
                      
                        greyn nor frut, vpon no syde,
                      
                        In no wysë wyl abyde;
                      
                        for shortly (who so list to sek)
                      
                        al goth thorugh, and wasteth ek.
                        Line 24080 
                      
                        Who-so-euere the trouthe atame,
                      
                        thy tonge is dampned, and ek lame,
                      
                        that it may seyn noon orisoun,
                      
                        nor make no supplicacïoun,
                        Line 24084 
                      
                        Which sholdë ben acceptable
                      
                        vnto that kyng most honourable.
                      
                        he is not plesed, (on noo syde,)
                      
                        Whil in this staat thou dost abyde,
                        Line 24088 
                      
                        and hast no purpos to Retourne,
                      
                        but in the world dost ay soiourne."

Apostacie:

                        'Truëly, to thy sentence
                      
                        I may yevë ful credence;
                        Line 24092 
                      
                        for Seynt Poule hym-silfë saith,
                      
                        (to whom, men must yevë fayth,
                      
                        and ful belevë to his word,) [Stowe folio 372b] 
                      
                        'who is not withynne shippes bord,
                        Line 24096 
                      
                        stant in perail of Perysshyng,
                      
                        and on the poynt of his drownyng,'
                      
                        fel fer from his savacïoun,
                      
                        ffor lakkyng of discrecïoun. [folio 298a] 

                        Line 24100

Page 646

                      
                        Line 24100 
                      
                        'and I wot wel, for my partye,
                      
                        I issed out thorugh my folye;
                      
                        Wherfore I stonde in nonecerteyn,
                      
                        yef I retourned hom ageyn,
                        Line 24104 
                      
                        wher I sholdë gracë haue,
                      
                        therby my soulë for to save.'

Pilgrim:

                        "ne doute the nat to tourne ageyn,
                      
                        but be therof ryght wel certeyn,
                        Line 24108 
                      
                        That of grace thou shalt not faille,
                      
                        So that thou makë a stoupaille
                      
                        of the hoolës that open be
                      
                        in thyn handes (as thou maist se),
                        Line 24112 
                      
                        this to mene, in sentement,
                      
                        that playn and hool be thyn entent,
                      
                        grounded on perfeccïoun;
                      
                        and that, by gret deuocïoun,
                        Line 24116 
                      
                        that thou make thyn hertë stable,
                      
                        and of entent not variable.
                      
                        look her-to on euery syde,
                      
                        for I may no lenger abyde,
                        Line 24120 
                      
                        for, I castë me a-noon,
                      
                        hom to my castel forto goon,
                      
                        and by the nextë wayë wende,
                      
                        and ther, vnto my livës ende,
                        Line 24124 
                      
                        abiden in the samë place,
                      
                        lik as god wil yeve me grace."

                      
                        and whan I was kome hom ageyn,
                      
                        of al that euere I had seyn,
                        Line 24128 
                      
                        I madë playn Relacïoun
                      
                        to folk of that Religïoun;
                      
                        and afterward (I you ensure,)
                      
                        ther fel a wonder áventure,
                        Line 24132 
                      
                        the whichë, whan I dede aduerte,
                      
                        yt liked nothyng to myn herte:
                      
                        I saw tweyne oldë (by assent,) [folio 298b] 
                      
                        Kome to me of oon entent,
                        Line 24136 
                      
                        Wonder dyuers of her cheres;
                      
                        and bothë two wer massageres:
                      
                        the toon of hem (I was wel war)

Page 647

                      
                        Vpon hir bak, a bed she bar;
                        Line 24140 
                      
                        The tother (if I shal not feyne)
                      
                        bar also, patentës tweyne;
                      
                        the toon also, in hir commyng, [Stowe folio 273a] 
                      
                        gird with a baudrek, for wrastelyng:
                        Line 24144 
                      
                        In their comyng I fonde gret lak,
                      
                        and evene thus to me they spak:

Age & Sicknes:

                        'deth,' quod they, 'hath to thé sent
                      
                        bothe vs tweynë, of entent,
                        Line 24148 
                      
                        pleynly to the to declare,
                      
                        that hym self ne wil not spare
                      
                        forto come to the anoon;
                      
                        and bad, aforn we sholdë goon,
                        Line 24152 
                      
                        and done our fullë besynesse,
                      
                        with al our myghte, the to opprese,
                      
                        and not departe fro the at al,
                      
                        til thou be cast, and haue a fal,
                        Line 24156 
                      
                        that he may, at his commyng,
                      
                        fyndë the, by our workyng,
                      
                        So awhapëd and amat,
                      
                        that he may seyn to thé, 'chek mat."
                        Line 24160

Pilgrim:

                        Quod I, "declareth vnto me,
                      
                        ffirst of allë, what ye be.
                      
                        I knowë not your gouernaunce; [folio 299a] 
                      
                        With deth I ha non áqueyntaunce;
                        Line 24164 
                      
                        and yef that he be your maystresse,
                      
                        I pray you, first, that ye expresse
                      
                        your office, and your seruyse,
                      
                        and your namës doth devyse."
                        Line 24168

Age & Sicknes:

                        Quod they, 'it wer not but in veyn,
                      
                        With vs to stryve, or wynse ageyn;
                      
                        for, ther is noon so hardy,
                      
                        so wys, so Richë, so myghty,
                        Line 24172 
                      
                        that may, by forcë nor allye,
                      
                        holden with vs Champartye.

'for deth hath had, ful yore agoon, lordshipe of folkës euerychoon; 24176

Page 648

                      
                        Line 24176 
                      
                        'for, who considereth allë thynges,
                      
                        Drad more of lordës and of kynges
                      
                        than of folkës (who list se)
                      
                        which that duellen in pouerte.
                        Line 24180 
                      
                        for porë folk that lakkë bred,
                      
                        desire ful oftë to ben ded.

                      
                        'and, yef thou aryght behold,
                      
                        vnto deth thou art yhold,
                        Line 24184 
                      
                        that he, toforn hath to the sent;
                      
                        for ofte, without avisëment
                      
                        he cometh to folkës vnwarly,
                      
                        and hem assailleth sodeynly,
                        Line 24188 
                      
                        though the contrary had sworn.
                      
                        but, he hath vs sent to-forn,
                      
                        as massagers to warnë the; [Stowe folio 273b] 
                      
                        from his power thou mayst not fle;
                        Line 24192 
                      
                        and ech of vs (withoutë blame)
                      
                        Shal declarë the his name.'

[Sekenesse:]

                        The firstë to me dede expresse:
                      
                        quod she, 'my name is Sekënesse.
                        Line 24196 
                      
                        helthe and I, but litel space [folio 299b] 
                      
                        May abiden in O place.
                      
                        we wrastlen ofte (as men may se);
                      
                        som whilë she venquyssheth me,
                        Line 24200 
                      
                        and, som tymë, in certeyn,
                      
                        I over-throwë hir ageyn,
                      
                        make hir forto bowe hir chyne.
                      
                        and, ne werë that medicyne
                        Line 24204 
                      
                        ys causë that she doth releve,
                      
                        my sayllyng shold hir often greve.
                      
                        but, maugre hir potacïouns
                      
                        ánd dyuerse confeccïouns,
                        Line 24208 
                      
                        and other sondry lettuaryes
                      
                        Makëd at the potycaryes,—
                      
                        bothe emplastres drye and moystes,
                      
                        and oynementës put in boystes,—
                        Line 24212 
                      
                        yet deth and I (who lyst espye)
                      
                        Haue, at the lastë, the maystrye.

'first I souke vp (for the nones)

Page 649

                      
                        'the mary closëd in the bones,
                        Line 24216 
                      
                        and (wher that it be bad or good,)
                      
                        waste the flessh, and drynke the blood;
                      
                        And thus my silf, I cónsume al
                      
                        the vertu that called is 'vital';
                        Line 24220 
                      
                        and at the last (who list knowe,)
                      
                        ley hym in a bed ful lowe,
                      
                        That deth may (withouten stryf)
                      
                        a-noon bereve hym of his lyf.'
                        Line 24224

Pilgrim:

"Sothly, thou art no massagere, to whom men sholdë makë chere."

Secnes:

                        'ffor sothë, yis, (who taketh hede,)
                      
                        folk ar holde to me in dede;
                        Line 24228 
                      
                        for, sikë folkës to avaunce,
                      
                        I make hem to ha répentaunce
                      
                        Whan she was put out of mynde, [folio 300a] 
                      
                        and therby, a menë fynde,
                        Line 24232 
                      
                        that folkës, by contricïoun,
                      
                        may come to their savacïoun;
                      
                        for proudest folkes, (as I gesse,)
                      
                        I chastysë with Seknesse.
                        Line 24236

                      
                        'and first, I hauë gret delit, [Stowe folio 374a] 
                      
                        from hem to take their appetit;
                      
                        their .v. wittës and Resoun,
                      
                        I be-reve hem, vp and doun,
                        Line 24240 
                      
                        make (as thou shalt vnderstonde,)
                      
                        folk so feble, thei may not stonde.

'and we be comë to thè blyve, with thè to wrastlen and to stryve.' 24244

Pilgrim:

"Or ye to me don eny shame, let me first knowen the name of the tother massager, That loketh with so fel a cher." 24248

Sicknes:

'I grauntë wel she shal the telle, yef thou wilt a whilë duelle.'

Age:

Page 650

                      
                        Quod she, 'of folkës that ben sage,
                      
                        I am of custom callëd 'Age,'
                        Line 24252 
                      
                        Contrarïous (as it is kouth)
                      
                        to hir that is ycalled Youth,
                      
                        which whilom had (thou myghtest se)
                      
                        fresshë fetheres forto fle.
                        Line 24256 
                      
                        but Age hath plukked hem away,
                      
                        that vnnethë gon I may;
                      
                        my fet be now (who taketh hede)
                      
                        hevy as they were of lede;
                        Line 24260 
                      
                        I may not gon, but with labour,
                      
                        and yet of Deth I am corour,
                      
                        knowe in Countres fer and ner.

                      
                        'And who that is a massager, [folio 300b] 
                      
                        Wher he holdeth his passáge,
                        Line 24265 
                      
                        mut do truely his masságe,
                      
                        and the trouthë telle of ryght.

                      
                        'I am vnweldy, ánd not lyght;
                        Line 24268 
                      
                        and (to speke in wordës fewe,)
                      
                        myn empty skyn doth wel shewe
                      
                        what that I am; and ouer more,
                      
                        thou mayst se, by my lokkës hore,
                        Line 24272 
                      
                        and by ryvéls of my viságe,
                      
                        How that I am called 'Age,'
                      
                        of whom, folkës that discerne,
                      
                        may ful many thyngës lerne.
                        Line 24276

                      
                        'though that wasted be my blood,
                      
                        I ha seyn bothe evel and good;
                      
                        Preved (if I shal not feyne)
                      
                        ende and gynnyng of bothe tweyne.
                        Line 24280 
                      
                        age, in konnyng doth excelle;
                      
                        who muchë seth, can muchë telle:
                      
                        no man in konnyng (this, the chef,)
                        Line 24283 
                      
                        withoutë syght may ha no pref.'

Pilgrim:

"To herë now, myn entent is, [Stowe folio 374b] what betokne thi patentës; and after that, make no delay, but take thy leve, and go thy way." 24288

Age:

Page 651

                      
                        'wher-so it like the, or displese,
                      
                        I wil abiden at myn eese,
                      
                        And fro this placë not retourne,
                      
                        but euere in on with thè soiourne.
                      
                        I may not parte lyghtly a-way,
                        Line 24293 
                      
                        as Youthë dede this other day.
                      
                        She thè forsook (in verray dede)
                      
                        whan thou haddest to hir most nede;
                        Line 24296 
                      
                        she went hir way, and took hir flyght,
                      
                        and fled a-noon out of thy syght; [folio 301a] 
                      
                        caste hir neuere to come ageyn:
                      
                        to looken after, wer but veyn.
                        Line 24300 
                      
                        but I, be leyser mut abyde,
                      
                        tóward dethe to be thy guyde;
                      
                        for, til deth come, I vndertake
                      
                        that I shal the not forsake.
                        Line 24304

                      
                        'I haue doon my besy peyne.
                      
                        to bryngë thé patentës tweyne,
                      
                        oonly of fauour, for thy best;
                      
                        ther-vp-on that thou mayst reste,
                        Line 24308 
                      
                        and of noon entencïoun
                      
                        to takë fro the thy bordoun:
                      
                        to the, bothë may availle.

                      
                        'and, for mor suer sowpewaille,
                        Line 24312 
                      
                        to the bordoun spiritual,
                      
                        a staf is nedful, temporal:
                      
                        Euerych of hem with-outë wene,
                      
                        the tother must of ryght sustene;
                        Line 24316 
                      
                        for whan the tó part doun doth falle,
                      
                        help of the tother he must calle,
                      
                        yef hym list hym-self assure.
                      
                        but thou ne shalt not wel endure
                        Line 24320 
                      
                        the felle assautës of vs tweyne;
                      
                        for, we ne shal no lenger feyne,
                      
                        but (for short conclusïoun)
                      
                        ber thè to the Erthe a-doun.'
                        Line 24324

Pilgrim:

And bothë tweynë, with a brayd, vpon a bed they ha me layd, for they wolde not of me faille,

Page 652

                      
                        ther tabyde, til deth assaille.
                        Line 24328 
                      
                        And in distresse and gret affray, [folio 301b] 
                      
                        vpon the bed whil I thus lay,
                      
                        I myghtë tho no ferther gon, [Stowe folio 375a] 
                      
                        to me a lady cam a-noon,
                        Line 24332 
                      
                        with ful many noble signe,
                      
                        of cher and lok, ful benigne,
                      
                        (I dar ryght wel record,)
                      
                        Whos namë was 'Myserycord;
                        Line 24336 
                      
                        oon of hir brestës opon was,
                      
                        to yeve me mylk in such a caas.
                      
                        And also (as I was war,)
                      
                        me semptë that a corde she bar,
                        Line 24340 
                      
                        to bynden hay (so thoughtë me).
                      
                        and, of mercy and pyte,
                      
                        to me that lay, like a wrecche,
                      
                        She gan hir corde abrood to strecche;
                        Line 24344 
                      
                        And ful goodly, with that sygne,
                      
                        to me she sayd with cher benygne:

Mysericord:

                        'Rys a-noon, and suë me,
                      
                        for by thy cher, I do wel se
                        Line 24348 
                      
                        that thou art feblyd of thy myght,
                      
                        and thou list not her a-ryght;
                      
                        Wherfore I wil the fostre and guye,
                      
                        and lede the to the fermerye.'
                        Line 24352

Pilgrim:

Quod I, "that were ful glad to me. But, for I wot not what ye be, I pray you with ful humble cher, your namë, that ye wil me lere." 24356

Misericord:

                        'My namë, yef it be conceyved, [folio 302a] 
                      
                        I ought wel to ben receyued,
                      
                        for, whan Iuges, for offence
                      
                        han yovëd hir sentence,
                        Line 24360 
                      
                        I do my peyne and my labour,
                      
                        of Iustice and of Rigour
                      
                        forto do remissïoun,

Page 653

                      
                        'and make a mittigacïoun
                        Line 24364 
                      
                        (as folkës may ful wel discerne).

                      
                        'for whan the kyng that is eterne,
                      
                        had yoven in sentëment
                      
                        a ful dredful Iugëment
                        Line 24368 
                      
                        of Adam and the lynage,
                      
                        forto deye for their outrage,
                      
                        I cam to hym ful humblely,
                      
                        and prayed hym ful benygnëly,
                        Line 24372 
                      
                        the myghty kyng celestial,
                      
                        not forto distruyen al;
                      
                        but that he wold, in his grevaunce,
                      
                        modefyen his vengeaunce,
                        Line 24376 
                      
                        and to with-drawe his Iugëment.

                      
                        'and his bowë that was bent,
                      
                        I made hym drawë of the corde,
                      
                        and, for sygnës of concorde,
                        Line 24380 
                      
                        Sette it in the heven alofte;
                      
                        and (as men may se ful ofte)
                      
                        In tookne of pes, and not of wrak,
                      
                        from vs he tourned hath his bak, [Stowe folio 375b] 
                      
                        that, of his mercyáble lawe,
                        Line 24385 
                      
                        he may not the bowë drawe,
                      
                        whan of mercy (as it is knowe)
                      
                        toward hym-self he drough the bowe.
                        Line 24388

                      
                        'whan he, for our Inyquyte,
                      
                        dyed vpon the rodë tre,
                      
                        he bought our gilt so sore.
                      
                        and vnderstond, ouer more, [folio 302b] 
                        Line 24392 
                      
                        vp nor doun (who lokë wel)
                      
                        he may not drawe it neuer a del.
                      
                        for, of the bowë the discord,
                      
                        vnderstondë by the cord:
                        Line 24396 
                      
                        I made hem so forto acorde,
                      
                        that called am 'Misericorde.'
                      
                        for (yef thou dost wel vnderstond)
                      
                        the stryng therof is in myn hond:
                        Line 24400 
                      
                        thou mayst behold it wel, and se;
                      
                        for, of mercy and of pyte,
                      
                        I drawe out wrecches from her charge,

Page 654

'and makë hem go loos at large. 24404

                      
                        'therfore folkës alle acorde
                      
                        to callë me 'Miséricorde';
                      
                        of which (by declaracïoun)
                      
                        to make an exposicïoun,
                        Line 24408 
                      
                        Misericordë, truëly
                      
                        ys, on wrecches to han mercy.

                      
                        'thus my namë thou shalt knowe;
                      
                        I drawe hem vp, whan they ben lowe.
                        Line 24412 
                      
                        the cordeler that waf the corde
                      
                        of pes, vnyte, and concorde,
                      
                        only on wrecches to han pyte,
                      
                        hyr name was called 'Charyte.'
                        Line 24416

                      
                        'and yef the corde wer broke a-sondre,
                      
                        ther is nó man, (her nor yondre,)
                      
                        though he euere dide his peyne,
                      
                        that myghtë to the heven atteyne;
                        Line 24420 
                      
                        for, by this corde (as I the told)
                      
                        allë Synners must hem hold,
                      
                        and playnly clymben vp therby,
                      
                        oonly of pyte and mercy.'
                        Line 24424

Pilgrim:

                        "lady, put me out of doute,
                      
                        why ha ye now drawen oute
                      
                        Oon of your brestës fayr and whyte [folio 303a] 
                      
                        (which to behold, I me delyte,)
                        Line 24428 
                      
                        like as ye woldë be my bote,
                      
                        wasshe me with your mylk most sote?"

Misericord:

                        'Truely,' quod she '(yef ye take hede,)
                      
                        of my mylk thou hast mor nede
                        Line 24432 
                      
                        (yef the trouthe be iustly told)
                      
                        than outher of siluer, outher of gold,
                      
                        or of any precious ston,
                      
                        forto rekne hem euerychon.
                        Line 24436 
                      
                        for this mylk which thou dost se, [Stowe folio 376a] 
                      
                        ys called Mercy and Pyte,
                      
                        allë Synners to sustene;
                      
                        and to releve hem in their tene,
                        Line 24440 
                      
                        it bryngeth hem in rest and pees.

Page 655

                      
                        'And, like as Aristotiles
                      
                        writte, that mylk is nothyng elles
                      
                        (as allë Philesophres telles)
                        Line 24444 
                      
                        but blood, by transmutacïoun
                      
                        thorugh hete and lent decoccïoun,
                      
                        tourned away from his rednesse
                      
                        to perfectioun of whytenesse;
                        Line 24448 
                      
                        and (to speke in wordës playn)
                      
                        this nomorë forto sayn,
                      
                        that a man that ys irous,
                      
                        froward and malencolious,
                        Line 24452 
                      
                        hath but red blood: and that rednesse
                      
                        may neuere tournë to whitenesse
                      
                        (as clerkës sayn,) but yef so be
                      
                        it be decoct by charyte,
                        Line 24456 
                      
                        that his malicious appetit
                      
                        be itourned into whit,
                      
                        thorugh perfectïoun of hete
                      
                        of charyte, that ys most swete,
                        Line 24460 
                      
                        Than the smoke of fals envye,
                      
                        the fume eke of maléncolye, [folio 303b] 
                      
                        fleth away, in rednesse,
                      
                        chaunged clene into whitenesse.
                        Line 24464

                      
                        'and who that drynketh of this mylk—
                      
                        mor sote and softe than any silk—
                      
                        foryeveth (in a litel space)
                      
                        ech offencë and trespace
                        Line 24468 
                      
                        that men ha gilt hym in his live;
                      
                        hym list no more ageyn to stryve.

                      
                        'of such mylk, most of vertu,
                      
                        gret plente haddë crist ihesu;
                        Line 24472 
                      
                        Shewed his brestis of pyte
                      
                        whan he was hanged on a tre.
                      
                        he suffred tho (it is no doute,)
                      
                        the likour for to Renne aboute,
                        Line 24476 
                      
                        and for to shede it out yffere
                      
                        than he was stonken with a spere,
                      
                        the syde of his humanyte,
                      
                        on alle synful to ha pyte,
                        Line 24480 
                      
                        for to wasshe away our vyce.

Page 656

                      
                        'was neuere moder nor noryce
                      
                        that gaf such mylkë her-to-fore
                      
                        to hir child, whan it was bore.
                        Line 24484 
                      
                        his brestes, that be most fair and whyte,
                      
                        most holy, and fresshest of delyte,
                      
                        arn euere open to folkës alle.
                      
                        his voycë, synners doth ek calle,
                        Line 24488 
                      
                        and bit hem in their hertë thenke,
                      
                        of his sootë mylk to drynke: [folio 376b] 
                      
                        'for blod of ire is noon in me,
                      
                        but mylk of mercy and pyte,'
                        Line 24492 
                      
                        which wassheth away al vengeaunce:
                      
                        who hath this mylk, hath suffisaunce.

                      
                        'The Redë blood (as folk may se)
                      
                        y-chaunged is, by charyte,
                        Line 24496 
                      
                        Into whyte mylk, hoolsom and good,
                      
                        shaad for mankynd vpon the rood; [folio 304a] 
                      
                        with the which, I fostred and fede
                      
                        allë folkës that ha nede,
                        Line 24500 
                      
                        such as list, by on acorde,
                      
                        for to be drawë with my corde,
                      
                        to alle I am so mercyable,
                      
                        to my fader, Résemblable,
                        Line 24504 
                      
                        and to my moder Charyte.

                      
                        'for whan that I may any se
                      
                        In myschief, hunger, outher thurst,
                      
                        hem to fede, it is my lust.
                        Line 24508 
                      
                        naked and nedy, that ben lothe,
                      
                        I haue in custom hem to clothe;
                      
                        And, gretly I me delyte,
                      
                        folk in prisoun to visyte;
                        Line 24512 
                      
                        and ledë, with a glad visage,
                      
                        pore folk to their herbegage;
                      
                        And thei that deye in pouerte,
                      
                        to burye hem, I délite me:
                        Line 24516 
                      
                        to suchë labour I entende;
                      
                        al thyng amys, I do amende;
                      
                        folkës sike and vnweldy,
                      
                        of pyte only and mercy,
                        Line 24520 
                      
                        I serve hem in humylite.

Page 657

                      
                        'And now I am ycome to the,
                      
                        In al my bestë feythful wyse,
                      
                        forto profre my seruyse.'
                        Line 24524

Pilgrim:

                        "Ma dame," quod I, "as it is due,
                      
                        my lust is gretly you to sue;
                      
                        but, for my gretë febilnesse,
                      
                        which me restreyneth by distresse,
                        Line 24528 
                      
                        And, þees massagers also
                      
                        Causen that I may not go.
                      
                        And if ye wold, of your goodnesse,
                      
                        Doon your gretë besynesse
                        Line 24532 
                      
                        Thes massagers to putte away, [folio 304b] 
                      
                        I wolde (withoutë mor delay)
                      
                        folwe, in al my best entent,
                      
                        to gon at your comandëment."
                        Line 24536

Misericord:

                        'Truely (nouther nygh nor ferre)
                      
                        I may not voydë nor differre
                      
                        the massagers from thy presence;
                      
                        but I shal do my diligence,
                        Line 24540 
                      
                        with my cordë, thè tenbrace,
                      
                        and to lede thè to the place [Stowe folio 377a] 
                      
                        which called is the Fermerye.
                      
                        the massagers her fastë by,
                        Line 24544 
                      
                        I ha no myght hem to coharte,
                      
                        to maken hem fro thè departe.
                      
                        til that deth hym-silf assaille,
                      
                        tabiden on the, they wil not faylle.'
                        Line 24548

Pilgrim:

                        Than anoon Myserycorde
                      
                        gan tenbrace me in hir corde.
                      
                        and the oldë, bothë tweyne,
                      
                        Were present, and dide her peyne
                        Line 24552 
                      
                        to brynge me to my bed anoon,
                      
                        and list not from me fer to goon.
                      
                        and therwith-al, ánoon ryght
                      
                        I gan to feblen of my myght
                        Line 24556 
                      
                        mor and mor, erly and late,
                      
                        til the porter at the gate

Page 658

                      
                        broughtë me two massagers,
                      
                        benygne and goodly of her chers.
                        Line 24560

[The Porter:] 

                        Quod the porter anoon to me: [folio 305a] 
                      
                        'I ha thè brought (yef thou lyst se)
                      
                        two massagers (it is no nay)
                      
                        which shal the teche the ryghtë way
                        Line 24564 
                      
                        to Ierusalem the cite;
                      
                        for (bi tooknes that I se,)
                      
                        I conceyve (on euery syde)
                      
                        thou mayst her, no while abyde.
                        Line 24568 
                      
                        wherfore, to makë thy passage,
                      
                        Send hem toforne, on thy massage,
                      
                        that thou mayst, by thy sendyng,
                      
                        be bet receyved at thi comyng,
                        Line 24572 
                      
                        withouten eny spot of blame.
                      
                        and makë to hem, in thi name,
                      
                        a maner of commyssïoun,
                      
                        and ek a procuracïoun,
                        Line 24576 
                      
                        that they may, thorugh their werkyng,
                      
                        be receyuëd of the kyng
                      
                        thorugh fauour of their langage,
                      
                        to taken vp their herbergage
                        Line 24580 
                      
                        In that cyte clestial,
                      
                        wher the kyng is éternal.

                      
                        'thes ladyes namës to expresse,
                      
                        they ben Prayer and Almesse;
                        Line 24584 
                      
                        And they ben redy, bothë tweyne,
                      
                        In this caas to done her peyne.'

[The Pilgrim:]

                        "Truely," quod I to the porter,
                      
                        "I wolde, with al myn hert entier,
                        Line 24588 
                      
                        don almës of entencïoun;
                      
                        but I ha noo pocessïoun,
                      
                        nor nothyng in propurte,
                      
                        but al thyng in communyte.
                        Line 24592 
                      
                        al propurte, I ha forsake,
                      
                        And to pouerte me take,
                      
                        Of myn ordre, in sothfastnesse. [folio 305b]

"Wherfore, touchyng such almesse, [Stowe folio 377b]

Page 659

                      
                        "I ha sothly no powere
                        Line 24597 
                      
                        to make of hir a massagere,
                      
                        to takë herbergage for me
                      
                        In that hevenly, chef cyte.
                        Line 24600 
                      
                        almës, and al such oother thynges,
                      
                        mot ben of lordës and of kynges
                      
                        Sent to-forn to that cyte,
                      
                        Yef they wil wel receyved be,
                        Line 24604 
                      
                        ther to make her purveaunce,
                      
                        terberwe hem to their plesaunce.

                      
                        "for (who-so list the trouthë lere)
                      
                        alle estates in this world here—
                        Line 24608 
                      
                        kyngës, prynces, bothë two,
                      
                        Dukës, lordës ek also,—
                      
                        Reekne hem allë, by and by,
                      
                        and thei be pilgrymës as I:
                        Line 24612 
                      
                        let hem toforn pourveyë wel
                      
                        forto take vp their hostel,
                      
                        Sende her massagers to se
                      
                        their herbergage in that cyte,
                        Line 24616 
                      
                        that, for lak of providence,
                      
                        through slouth, or through necligence,
                      
                        they be dispurveyed, at her comyng,
                      
                        as Barlam telleth of a kyng,
                        Line 24620 
                      
                        which, of custom synguler,
                      
                        Reyned neuere but a yer
                      
                        In a lond; and this the ende,
                      
                        than of forcë he must wende
                        Line 24624 
                      
                        Into an Ilond (in certeyn)
                      
                        that was of vitaille ful bareyn;
                      
                        and thus this kyng cam to meschaunce,
                      
                        for laak oonly of pourveyaunce,
                        Line 24628 
                      
                        that he toforn, for his availle,
                      
                        lyst to sendë no vitaille.
                      
                        Ther was noon other menë wey; [folio 306a] 
                      
                        for hunger, he must nedë deye.
                        Line 24632

                      
                        "after whom, thus stood the cas,
                      
                        that a-nother kyng ther was,
                      
                        which shuldë for a yer succede;
                      
                        but he was wys, and took good hede,

                        Line 24636

Page 660

                      
                        Line 24636 
                      
                        "whil he stood in háboundaunce,
                      
                        forto make his purveyaunce,
                      
                        to sendë, in the samë while,
                      
                        vitaille into that bareyn Ile.
                        Line 24640 
                      
                        he was prudent, aforn to se,
                      
                        to provide that Scarsete
                      
                        sholde sodeynly hym not assaille:
                      
                        wherfore, hé sent his vitaille
                        Line 24644 
                      
                        Into that yle that bareyn was.

                      
                        "wherfore, let ech man in such caas,
                      
                        sen aforn, in his resoun, [Stowe folio 378a] 
                      
                        while he stant in pocessïoun
                        Line 24648 
                      
                        of his Rewme, by good avys
                      
                        to sende aforn to paradys,
                      
                        to taken vp, in that cyte,
                      
                        herbergage lik his degre;
                        Line 24652 
                      
                        as whilom dedë seynt Lowys,
                      
                        the holy kyng that was so wys:
                      
                        Whil he hadde domynacïoun
                      
                        thorugh-out al his Regïoun,
                        Line 24656 
                      
                        he ne was not necligent,
                      
                        but sent aforn, of good entent,
                      
                        his massagers and his corrours,
                      
                        his vitaillers, his pourveyours,
                        Line 24660 
                      
                        only for his ávauntage,
                      
                        to taken vp his herbergage
                      
                        In that ilkë noble Rewm,
                      
                        called hevenly Ieurusalem;
                        Line 24664 
                      
                        wher he was, for a memórye,
                      
                        Receyved forto regne in glorye,
                      
                        that holy kyng contemplatif, [folio 306b] 
                      
                        for the vertues of his lif,
                        Line 24668 
                      
                        his prayours and his orysouns,
                      
                        his fastynges and deuocïouns,
                      
                        his mercy meynt with ryghtwesnesse,
                      
                        his compassiouns, his almesse,
                        Line 24672 
                      
                        of cherches his foundacïouns,
                      
                        and other dyuers mansïouns
                      
                        y-mad for folkës pore and blynde,
                      
                        Which, neuére, shal out of mynde:

                        Line 24676

Page 661

                      
                        Line 24676 
                      
                        "alle thes vertues (in substaunce)
                      
                        made aforn hym pourveyaunce;
                      
                        took vp a paleys most Royal
                      
                        In that cyte celestial,
                        Line 24680 
                      
                        for kyng Lowys, that holy man,
                      
                        as his lif rehercë can,
                      
                        wel bet than I can expresse.

                      
                        "and for my part, touchyng almesse,
                        Line 24684 
                      
                        I may not make hir (fer nor ner)
                      
                        forto be my massager:
                      
                        She nys not pertynent to me,
                      
                        which ha no thyng in propurte,
                        Line 24688 
                      
                        but by licence (in certeyn)
                      
                        oonly of my souuereyn.

                      
                        "wherfore (of entencïoun)
                      
                        I shal make a commyssïoun
                        Line 24692 
                      
                        to oon that is prudent and sage,
                      
                        to taken vp myn herbergage:
                      
                        the name of whom is Prayer,
                      
                        to go toforn as massager."
                        Line 24696

Prayer:

Quod Prayer, 'for thy best, I wil fulfillë thy requeste as forforth as I ha myght, and as toforn I ha behyght.' [Stowe folio 378b] 24700

[The Pilgrim]:

                        And with that word, anoon Siknesese
                      
                        bad hir hastë fast, and dresse, [folio 307a] 
                      
                        withouten eny mor delay,
                      
                        forto spede hir on hir way;
                        Line 24704 
                      
                        and without eny longer space,
                      
                        for tavoyden anoon the place.

[Siknesse]:

                        Quod she, 'it is now no sesoun
                      
                        to maken a comyssïoun,
                        Line 24708 
                      
                        at this tymë, to prayere;
                      
                        for, playnly (who list to lere,)
                      
                        bothe at complyn and at pryme,
                      
                        it hath be mad afore this tyme;
                        Line 24712 
                      
                        or ellës, herbergage to wynne,

Page 662

'It were to late now to begynne.'

Pilgrim:

                        "God me grauntë grace and mynde,
                      
                        good herbergagë forto fynde;
                        Line 24716 
                      
                        for now I haue ynowh to do,
                      
                        of veray cónstreynt and of wo,
                      
                        to remembre on my siknesse."

                      
                        and with that word, ther gan in dresse
                        Line 24720 
                      
                        oon vpon my bed anoon,
                      
                        the cruelist of al my foon;
                      
                        of whom in soth, whan I took hede,
                      
                        I lostë speche, of veray drede:
                        Line 24724 
                      
                        I myghtë make no questïoun
                      
                        to axen hir condicïoun,
                      
                        she was so dredful of hir chere:
                      
                        a sithe she bar, and ek a bere;
                        Line 24728 
                      
                        sette hir foot vpon my brest,
                      
                        for to maken on me arest.
                      
                        but than a lady of gret vertu, [folio 307b] 
                      
                        that was called Gracë dieu,
                        Line 24732 
                      
                        bad hir a wylë letë be,
                      
                        whil that she spak a word to me.

Deathe:

                        'Sey on, and tarye neuer a del;
                      
                        for I may not abiden wel.
                        Line 24736 
                      
                        I haate soothly al taryyng;
                      
                        and I ne love non ábidyng.
                      
                        the cause is this, (who taketh hede)
                      
                        I ha mo thyngës forto spede,
                        Line 24740 
                      
                        In other places mo than oon;
                      
                        wherfore telle on, for I mot goon.'

[Grace Dieu]:

                        Gracë dieu, hir look she layde
                      
                        Vp-on me, and thus she sayde:
                        Line 24744 
                      
                        'thou stanst vpon a streyt passáge,
                      
                        now as in thy pilgremáge.
                      
                        Deth is present, as thou maist se,
                      
                        fro the which, no man may fle.
                        Line 24748 
                      
                        she is of contynaunce odyble, [Stowe folio 379a]

Page 663

                      
                        'and of thyngës most terryble;
                      
                        she is the ende of euery thyng;
                      
                        and now she cast, at hir commyng,
                        Line 24752 
                      
                        thy lif playnly, as thou shalt knowe,
                      
                        with hir sithë vp to mowe:
                      
                        And afterward, this the fyn,
                      
                        to puttë thè in hir coffyn;
                        Line 24756 
                      
                        and after, of entencïoun,
                      
                        to yeve thè in pocessïoun
                      
                        to wormës (as thou shalt ek knowe,)
                      
                        that liggen in the erthë lowe;
                        Line 24760 
                      
                        the which (as I wel tellë can)
                      
                        Is commón to euery man.

                      
                        'ther may no man, of no degre,
                      
                        hygh nor lowh, his power fle.
                        Line 24764 
                      
                        ffor, lych as herbës and as floures, [folio 308a] 
                      
                        that spryngen with sootë shoures
                      
                        bothe in Aprill and in May,
                      
                        and afterward (it is no nay,)
                        Line 24768 
                      
                        with a sythe (who list to knowe,)
                      
                        they ben on erthë leyd ful lowe,
                      
                        and far-wel then al their fresshnesse!
                      
                        farwel her colour and grenesse!
                        Line 24772 
                      
                        It not appereth, her nor there,
                      
                        the hootë Sonne maketh hem Sere;
                      
                        Ther colours and their fressh aray,
                      
                        al ys tourned into hay.
                        Line 24776

                      
                        'and, thou, that so longë be
                      
                        Grene and lusty forto se,
                      
                        Deth (his power for to kythe,)
                      
                        wil abatyn with his sythe
                        Line 24780 
                      
                        thy grenesse, and ek also
                      
                        parten thè on peces two,
                      
                        The soule, the body, her and yonder,
                      
                        and maken hem to parte assondre.
                        Line 24784 
                      
                        for, playnly, as thou shalt lere,
                      
                        they may, as now, not gon yfere;
                      
                        the soulë mustë go tofore,
                      
                        and the body shal be bore,

                        Line 24788

Page 664

                      
                        Line 24788 
                      
                        'In erthe to haue his mansïoun,
                      
                        and tournë to corrupcïoun;
                      
                        and afterward, be wel certeyn,
                      
                        Ioyned with the soule ageyn,
                        Line 24792 
                      
                        and ben to-gidre eternally.

                      
                        'Now loke that thou be ful redy;
                      
                        for yf ther be no lak in the, [folio 308b] 
                      
                        thou shalt go streyht to the cyte
                        Line 24796 
                      
                        Of the kyngdom and the Rewm
                      
                        that called ys Ierusalem,
                      
                        to which thy pilgremage was sette.

                      
                        'thou art come to the wyket
                        Line 24800 
                      
                        (Which is gynnyng of thy labour,)
                      
                        thow beheld in a myrrour,
                      
                        whan thow were ful tendre of age,
                      
                        at gynnyng of thy pilgrymage;
                        Line 24804 
                      
                        and therfor now thou art sette
                      
                        at the boundes of the wyket,
                      
                        I consaille the, first to crye
                      
                        Vnto my Fadre for mercye,
                        Line 24808 
                      
                        behotyng the lady dame Penaunce,
                      
                        yef thou ha not in suffisaunce
                      
                        Don to her, whil thou wer here,
                      
                        Iustly and truely thy devere;
                        Line 24812 
                      
                        thou art in wil, at thy partyng,
                      
                        thorugh grace and mercy of the kyng,
                      
                        that Regneth eternally in glorye,
                      
                        It to fulfille in purgatorye;
                        Line 24816 
                      
                        ther tabiden in that place,
                      
                        tyll the lord wil do thè grace,
                      
                        of his mercy, at the laste.'

                      
                        And, for the tymë cam on faste,
                        Line 24820 
                      
                        and my spechë gan to faille,
                      
                        I thoughte it fooly for tasaille
                      
                        Gracë dieu with questïouns,
                      
                        with demandës or resouns.
                        Line 24824 
                      
                        And (as I coude ek wel discerne)
                      
                        Deth abood at the posterne,
                      
                        and gan to letë goon his sythe,
                      
                        his cruel myght on me to kythe,

                        Line 24828

Page 665

                      
                        Line 24828 
                      
                        And gan so streytly me coharte,
                      
                        That the soulë mot departe.
                      
                        And, such a feer anoon me took, [folio 309a] 
                      
                        Out of my slep that I a-wook.
                        Line 24832

¶ La fin du premier pèlerinaige De l'homme durant qu'est En vie. Deo gratias.

Notes

[hounds St.]

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[MS. Cott. Vitell. C. xiii, [folio 287a] , begins again.]

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[C. & St.]

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[lycens St.]

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[ther St., om. C.]

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[wyrks St. (See p. 588, above.)]

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[peryshyd St.]

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[sat St.]

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[6-syllable line]

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[C. & St.]

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[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]

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[See 1. 23,444]

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[St. & C.]

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[lust C., last St.]

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[werk C., worke St.]

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[heode St.]

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[land . . .hand St.]

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[land . . .hand St.]

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[place St.]

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[suche St., such C.]

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[is set St.]

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[will St.]

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[known St.]

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[curs St.]

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[yt wan St.]

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[wnto St.]

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[then St.]

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[eche syde St., ech a syde C.]

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[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]

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[hethar St.]

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[knew St., knowe C.]

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[trouth C.]

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[playn trouth C., playn truthe St.]

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[St., after l. 23928, om. C.]

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[trouth C., truthe St.]

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[whiche St., which C.]

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[thought C., thowght St.]

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[wher C., who St.]

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[and St., and to C.]

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[Blank for Illumination.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[6-syllable line]

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[chapters St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[and St.]

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[6-syllable line]

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[my way St.]

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[way C., St.]

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[No gap in either MS.]

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[ravyn St.]

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[wold C., would St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[best C., St.]

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[done St.]

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[plughe St.]

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[ynughe St., nough C.]

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[worldly St.]

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[round St.]

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[? MS., hem C., them St.]

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[raven St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[shulst St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[trouth C., truthe St.]

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[in, om. St.]

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[C. & St.]

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[C. & St.]

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[C. & St.]

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[spend C.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[seke . . eke St.]

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[for to tourn St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[selfe St., silf C.]

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[syppes St.]

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[yswyd St.]

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[for St., om. C.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[a om. St.]

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[St., apon C.]

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[St., next way C.]

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[which C., whiche St.]

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[St. & C.]

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[messengers St., massager C.]

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[comming St., counning C.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[shold C., shuld St.]

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[to oppresse St., tappresse C.]

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[Blank for Illumination.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[none St.]

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[or St.]

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[lak C., lake St.]

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[desyr ofte for St.]

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[to toforn C.]

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[messengers St.]

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[may St.]

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[first C., St.]

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[St. & C.]

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[some tym St.]

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[ware St., wer C.]

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[last C., St.]

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[wast St., baste C.]

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[ys cally St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[messenger St.]

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[shold C., shuld St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[this St.]

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[sycknesse St.]

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[fivë]

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[St., om. C.]

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[messenger St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[whil C., whill St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[mayst St.]

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[vnneth C., vnnethe St.]

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[knowne St.]

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[St.]

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[messenger St.]

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[message St.]

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[trouth C., truthe St.]

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[in St.]

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[folk that C., folke that St.]

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[without C., withe out St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[the om. C., the St.]

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[the om. St.]

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[towardeth C., toward deathe St.]

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[patents C., St.]

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[to St.]

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[supewayle St.]

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[out C., St.]

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[not, om. C., St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[St.]

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[myght St., C.]

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[thought C., St.]

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[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[feble St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[have gyven C.]

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[eterne St., sterne C.]

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[yove C., gyven St.]

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[and St., on C.]

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[sygns C., sygne St.]

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[6-syllable line]

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[St. & C.]

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[canst St.]

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[this nam St.]

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[wave St.]

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[myght C., St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[or St.]

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[it St., a C.]

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[& St., om. C.]

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[lyte St.]

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[St. & C.]

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[6-syllable line

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[St. & C.]

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[tha any C., than St.]

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[C. & St.]

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[stongen St.]

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[mylke St., mylk C.]

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[voyce St., voys C.]

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[men St.]

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[mankyng C., mankynd St.]

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[fedd . . nedde St.]

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[be St., om. C.]

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[en C., in St.]

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[such C., suche St.]

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[best C., St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[thes messengers St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[messengers St.]

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[for St.]

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[brought C. & St., messengers St.]

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[6 lines blank for an Illumination.]

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[brought C. & St., messengers St.]

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[ryght C., St.]

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[message St.]

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[St., C. burnt]

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[to harbour, lodge]

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[theyr mesengars St.]

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[one St.]

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[C. & St.]

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[shuld C., St.]

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[dyd St.]

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[messengers St.]

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[vitilars St.]

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[reme St.]

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[St., C. burnt]

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[shall nevar St.]

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[sessenger (!) St.]

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[messenger St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[farforthe St.]

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[reason St.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[me St., om. C.]

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[oon C., on St.]

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[myght C., St.]

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[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]

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[St., C. burnt.]

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[that St., tha C.]

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[St., om. C.]

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[See the French on p. 665.]

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[Pilgrim St., om. C.]

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[selfe St., ta vie DeG.]

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[in St.]

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[that St.]

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[thow St., C. burnt]

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[it St., a C.]

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The last sayings of Death, Grace Dieu, and the Pilgrim are, in De Guileville's French (Petit's edition, Foeillets xcj. 4—xcij. 2):—
LA MORT.
OR dictes tost donc / ce dist elle,Car moult ie he longue vielle:Prestement me vueil deliurer,Car autre part me fault aler.
LE PELERIN.
¶ Adonc vint grace dieu a moy,Et me dist doulcement, Or voy.
GRACE DIEU.
¶ Je voy bien, qu'à l'estroit passaigeTu es de ton pèlerinaige.Voicy la Mort, qui de pres t'est,Qui, des choses terribles estLa fin / et le terminement. [Petit folio xcij] Ta vie, tantost faulcher entent,Et la mectre du tout à fin;Et puis ton corps en vng cofinElle mectra, pour le baillerAux vers puans, pour le manger.Ceste chose est toute communeA tout chascun et a chascune:Homme, en ce monde, est exposéA la mort, comme l'herbe au préEst a la faulx / aussi est feyn,Qui huy est verd / et sec demain;Or as esté verd vng long temps,Et si as receu pluyes et vens;Mais fault maintenant te faulchier,Et en deux pieces despiecer.L'huys est estroit / l'ame / et la cherNe pourroient ensemble passer.L'ame premiere passera,Et puis apres la chair yra.Mais si tost ne sera ce mie;Auant sera la chair pourrie,Et autre fois regeneréeEn la grant commune assemblée.Doncques regarde se apoincteyDeuement tu es, et appareilley.S'à toy ne tient, tantost verrasLa grant cité ou tendu as.Tu es au guichet et à l'huysQue ou mirouer piecà tu vis.Se tu es despoillé et nuz,Dedans tantost seras receuz.Celle entrée tu auoies moult chier,Lors quant tu la vis au premier;Et toutesfois, tant ie te dy,Qu'à mon père tu cryes mercy,En prometant à penitence,Que, se n'en as à souffisanceFait / volentiers tu la ferasEn purgatoire, ou tu iras.
LE PELERIN.
OR vous dy ie / que lors se i'eussePeu bien parler / que ie luy eusseFait des demandes dont i'auoyeGrant doubte / et que pas ne sauoie, [Petit folio xcij:2] Folie est d'actendre au besoing,Car souuent on cuide que loingSoit la mort; qu'elle est aux postis,Bien ie le sceu / ie fuz soubzpris.La mort laissa sa faulx courir,Et me fist du corps departir.Ce me sembla en ce moment,Si que, de l'espouentementEsueillé et desdormy fu,Et me trouuay si esperdu,Qu'auiser ie ne me pouoieSe ia mort ou en vie i'estoie,Jusqu'à tant que i'ouy sonnerL'orologe de nuyt, pour leuer:Et aussi lors chantoient les cocqs;Pour quoy, leuer me cuiday lors;Mais ne peu / car fuz retenuDe la grant pensée ou ie fuPour le myen aduentureux songe,Ou quel, se quelque vne mensongeEstoit meslée ou contenue,Ou qui fust de peu de value.Nul esmerueiller ne s'en doit,Car iamais froment on ne voitCroistre / qu'entour paille n'y aye,Jusques que dehors on l'en traye;Par quoy, s'en mon songe y a grain,Et auecques paille ou estrainy ait / ce qu'est bon / soit gardé;Ce que n'est bon, soit hors venné.Que ne dy pas tant seulementPour ce premier liure present,Dont cy endroit ie feray fin,Pour me reposer en chemin,Mais aussi pour ce que s'ensuit,Ou tout le grain en paille gist,Que recommande aux bons venneurs,Qui sceuent hors venner erreurs.

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[Corresponds to English line] 24735

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[not englisht]

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The pilgrimage of the life of man, English by John Lydgate, A. D. 1426, from the French of Guillaume de Deguileville, A. D. 1330, 1335. The text ed. by F. J. Furnivall ... With introduction, notes, glossary and indexes by Katharine B. Locock ...

About this Item

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