The complete works of Geoffrey Chaucer. Vol. 7. Chaucerian and other pieces / edited from numerous mauscripts by the Rev. Walter W. Skeat.

XIII. BEWARE OF DOUBLENESS.

(Balade made by Lydgate.)

THIS world is ful of variaunce [1. From F. (Fairfax 16); collated with Ed. (ed. 1561). Also in A. (Ash∣mole 59), in which it is much altered; other copies in Ha. (Harl. 7578), and Ad. (Addit. 16165).] In every thing, who taketh hede, [2. F. whoo.] That faith and trust, and al constaunce, Exyled ben, this is no drede; And, save only in womanhede, [ 5] I can [nat] see no sikernesse; [6. I suþþly nat.] But for al that, yet, as I rede, Be-war alway of doublenesse.

Also these fresshe somer-floures [9. F. A. these; Ed. that.] Whyte and rede, blewe and grene, [ 10] Ben sodainly, with winter-shoures, Mad feinte and fade, withoute wene; [12. F. feynt; Ha. Ed. feinte.] That trust is non, as ye may seen, [13. F. Ed. sene.] In no-thing, nor no stedfastnesse, Except in women, thus I mene; [ 15] Yet ay be-war of doublenesse.

The croked mone, this is no tale, Som whyle is shene and bright of hewe, [18. F. A. Ad. is shene; Ed. ishene.] And after that ful derk and pale, And every moneth chaungeth newe; [ 20] That, who the verray sothe knewe, [21. F. A. who so; Ha. Ad. Ed. who.] Al thing is bilt on brotelnesse, Save that these women ay be trewe; [23. Ad. these; rest om.] Yet ay be-war of doublenesse.

The lusty fresshe somers day, [ 25] And Phebus with his bemes clere, Towardes night, they drawe away, And no lenger liste appere; [28. Ha. Ad. no; F. Ed. non.] That, in this present lyf now here [29. F. So; rest That.] Nothing abit in his fairnesse, [ 30] [30. F. abytte; Ed. abieth; Ad. abydeth.] Save women ay be founde intere And devoid of doublenesse. [32. In the margin of F. Ad.—Per Antifrasim.]

The see eke, with his sterne wawes, Ech day floweth newe again, And, by concours of his lawes, [ 35] The ebbe foloweth, in certain; [36. F. Ad. Ha. foloweth; Ed. repeats floweth from l. 34. A. Soone affter that comthe thebbe certeyne.] After gret drought ther comth a rain, That farewel here al stabelnesse, [38. F. Ha. farewel al her; Ed. Ad. farewel here al.] Save that women be hole and plain; Yet ay be-war of doublenesse. [ 40]

Fortunes wheel goth round aboute A thousand tymes, day and night: Whos cours standeth ever in doute For to transmew; she is so light. For which adverteth in your sight [ 45] Th'untrust of worldly fikelnesse, Save women, which of kindly right Ne have no tache of doublenesse. [48. F. Ad. Ha. haue; Ed. hath. F. tachche; Ed. teche.]

What man may the wind restraine Or holde a snake by the tail, [ 50] Or a sliper eel constraine [51. F. slepur; Ha. sleper; Ed. Ad. slipper.] That it nil voide, withouten fail; [52. A. nyl; Ad. nil; Ha. wol; F. wil; Ed. will.] Or who can dryve so a nail [53. A. dryve so depe a.] To make sure new-fangelnesse, [54. Ed. suere.] Save women, that can gye hir sail [ 55] To rowe hir boot with doublenesse. [55,56. Ad. hir; Ha. F. her; Ed. their.]

At every haven they can aryve Wher-as they wote is good passage;

Of innocence, they can not stryve With wawes nor no rokkes rage; [ 60] So happy is hir lodemanage, [61. F. happe; Ha. Ed. happy. F. her (=hir); Ed. their.] With nelde and stoon hir cours to dresse, [62. F. nelde; Ed. Ha. nedle. F. Ha. her; Ed. their.] That Salamon was not so sage To find in hem no doublenesse. [64. F. Ha. hem; Ed. them.]

Therfor who-so hem accuse [ 65] [65. F. Wherfor; Ed. Ha. Ad. Therefore. MSS. hem; Ed. them.] Of any double entencioun, To speke, rowne, other to muse, [67. Ed. rowme (!).] To pinche at hir condicioun; [68. F. hyr; Ad. hir; Ha. her; Ed. their.] Al is but fals collusioun, [69. A. Ad. nys (for is).] I dar right wel the sothe expresse; [ 70] They have no better proteccioun [71. Ed. better; F. bette; Ha. Ad. bet.] But shroude hem under doublenesse. [72. MSS. hem; Ed. them.]

So wel fortúned is hir chaunce [73. Ad. Ed. their.] The dys to turnen up-so-doun, [74. F. Ed. turne; Ad. Ha. turnen.] With sys and sink they can avaunce, [ 75] And than, by revolucioun, They sette a fel conclusioun Of ambes as, in sothfastnesse; [78. F. Ambes ase; Ad. Ha. aumbes as; Ed. lombes, as (!)] Though clerkes make mencioun Hir kind is fret with doublenesse. [ 80]

Sampsoun had experience That women were ful trewe founde, [82. F. weren; Ed. A. were. MSS. founde; Ed. ifound.] Whan Dalida, of innocence, With sheres gan his heer to rounde; [84. A. heres; Ad. here; Ed. heere; F. hede.] To speke also of Rosamounde [ 85] And Cleopatras feithfulnesse, The stories plainly wil confounde [87. F. Ad. Ed. The; A. Hir.] Men that apeche hir doublenesse. [88. MSS. hir, her; Ed. their.]

Sengle thing ne is not preised, Nor oo-fold is of no renoun; [ 90] [90. F. oo folde; A. oone folde; Ed. ofolde.] In balaunce whan they be peised,

For lakke of weght they be bore doun; And for this cause of just resoun, [92. F. A. Ad. weght; Ha. wight; Ed. waighte. A. borne.] These women alle, of rightwisnesse, Of chois and free eleccioun [ 95] Most love eschaunge and doublenesse. [96. A. Ad. Haue stuffed hem with doublenesse.]

Lenvoy.

O ye women, which been enclyned, [97. A. that (for which).] By influence of your nature, To been as pure as gold y-fyned In your trouth for to endure, [ 100] [100. A. In alle youre touches for. Ad. trouthe for tendure.] Arm your-self in strong armure [101. For Arm read Armeth?] Lest men assaile your sikernesse: [102. Ha. assaye.] Set on your brest, your-self t'assure, [103. F. A. Ad. tassure; Ed. Ha. to assure.] A mighty sheld of doublenesse. [104. F. Ed. shelde; A sheelde.]