Zu Lydgates Isopus / [ed. Julius Zupitza].

The tale of the cok, that founde a precyous [fol. 12r. a.] stone, groundyd by Isopus, the phylosopher of Rome, that yche man shuld take in gree suche, as god sent. [Die Überschrift rot C, dafür Isopos Fabules L]

Wisdom ys more in prise, þen gold in cofers, [ (1, 1)] [1 der Rubrikator hat das ihm klein vorgeschriebene grosse W hier ebensowenig gesetxt, wie R V. 225, B 358 und T 526 ‖ erstes in] * of L ‖ mit V. 1 und zum Teil mit V. 3 vgl. Albon 1, 895 f. A boke compyled rycher, than gold in coffers, Lyues of poetes and prudent philosophers; Fall of Princes fol. 95 v. a. oben This knot auayleth more, than gold in cofre, And is more glorious perpetually to abyde: A mighty prince to be a philosopher u. s. w.; 106 r. a. unten These old clerkes, these two philosophers, Were in tho dayes for doctrine souerayne Called in thys world the rich precious cofers; Minor Poems 185 Thre grete wysdoms . . . More of walewe . . ., Than al the golde, that is shet in thi cofre] To hem, þat haue sauour in lettrure. Olde examples of prudent philosophers Moche auaylyd to folke, þat dyd her cure [4 *availith L ‖ that bezieht sich auf philosophers, nicht etwa auf folke ‖ dyd] don L] To serche out lykenes in nature, [ 5] [5 in] of L] In whyche men myght conceue and clerely see Notable sentence of gret moralyte. [7 sentences L]

Vnto purpos þe poete laureate [8 Vnto my pur∣pos this L] Callyd Isopus dyd hym occupy [9 *hym so occupy L] Whylom in Rome to plese þe senate, [ 10] Fonde out fables, þat men myght hem apply To sondry matyrs, yche man for hys party, [12 that echman in his party L] Aftyr þeyr lust, to conclude in substaunce, Dyuerse moralytees set out to þeyr plesaunce.

Som of foules, of bestys and of fyssh, [ 15] [15 of bestis of foulis L ‖ ich löse die Schleife in C durch ys und nicht is auf wegen der Schreibung in V. 26. 27. 75. 84. 195. 196. 312. 337 u. s. w.] Thys Isopus founde out exsample pleyne. [16 *examples L.] Where syluer fayleþ, in a pewter dyssh Ryall dentees byn oft tymes seyne, And semblably poetes, in certeyne, [19 thus poyetes certayne L.]

In fables rude includyd gret prudence [ 20] And moralytees full notable of sentence.

Vnder blak erþe byn precious stones founde, Ryche saphyres and charbuncles full ryall, [23 charbuncles] *rubyes L (vgl. Edmund 1, 977 The ruby, kyng of stonys alle; Albon 1, 298 Amonge stones the ruby is moost shene; 3, 1182 Lyke to rubies most souerayne of renowne)] And, who þat myneþ downe lowe in þe grounde, [24 die Interpunktion bei Sauerstein (Komma erst hinter who) ist wohl nur ein Druckfehler ‖ downe fehlt L] Of gold and syluer groweþ þe mynerall; [ 25] [25 groweþ] *fyndith L ‖ Sauerstein hat hinter V. 25 keine Inter∣punktion, dagegen hinter V. 26 ein Komma] Perlys whyte, clere and orientall Ben oft founde in muscle shellys blake, And out of fables gret wysdom men may take. [28 And] So L ‖ wysdoms L]

For whyche I cast to folow þys poete [ 12r. b.] And hys fables in englyssh to translate, [ 30] And, þough I haue no rethoryk swete, [31 And þough] Although L, das Sauerstein, indem er nach V. 31 einen Strichpunkt setzt, zum Vorhergehenden zieht ‖ Vgl. Fall of Princes A III v. a. To set a part all rethorikes swete] Haue me excusyd: I was born in Lydgate; [32 Vgl. Daunce of Machabree (Len∣voye) Haue me excused: my name is John Lidgate; Rude of langage I was not borne in France] Of Tullius gardeyn I passyd nat þe gate, [33 Cäsur hinter gardeyn durch einen Punkt bezeichnet C; ebenso 59 h. haþe, 126 h. arestyd, 203 h. werst, 469 h. fayle, 495 h. frosshe ‖ passyd] entrid L ‖ Vgl. Lydgates Guy 74, 5 In Tullius gardyn he gadrid neuer flour; Edmund 1, 832 In Tullius gardeyn I gadrid neuer floures] And cause, why: I had no lycence There to gadyr floures of elloquence. [ 35]

Yet, as I can, forþe I woll procede [36 Yet as] Than L] In þys labour and my style dresse [37 and] I wil L ‖ Mit my style dresse vgl. Edmund 1, 204 ff. And, blissid martir, my stile do so dresse . . ., That I nat erre in my translacioun (vgl. V. 44)] To do plesaunce to þeym, þat shall hit rede, Requiryng hem of verrey gentylnes, [39 gentillesse L] Of her grace to rewe on my rudenes, [ 40] [40 rewe on] pardon L (vgl. mit der Lesart von C Minor Poems 22 O noble meyer, be it unto your plesaunce . . . On my rudnesse and on myne ignorance Of grace and mercy for to have pitee; Albon 2, 1979 ff. To haue compassyon, If ought be sayde in this translation Through ignorance . . ., and rewe on my symplenes)] Thys compilacion for to take at gree, Whyche theym to plese translatyd was by me.

And, yef I fall bycause of ignoraunce, [43 fall] *faile L.] That I erre in my translacion,

Lowly of hert and feyþfull obeysaunce [ 45] I me submyt to þeyr correccion, [46 obgleich auch L their hat, ist wohl þe zu schreiben (und dann das Komma hinter 46 zu streichen)] Of hem, þat haue more clere inspeccion [47 Of] To L 49 Me] And L ‖ they me nat L] In matyrs, þat touche poetry, Me to reforme þat þey nat deny.

And, as myn auctor doþe at þe cok begyn, [ 50] [50 doþe fehlt L] I cast me to folow hym in substaunce, Fro þe trouþe in sentence nat to twyn, As god and grace woll yeue me suffysaunce, Compyle þys lybell for a remembraunce: [54 lybell] qwayer L ‖ Sauerstein hat kein Zeichen nach V. 54 und ein Komma nach reders V. 55] To the reders hereaftyr may be founde [ 55] The thanke þerof fully to rebounde.

The cok of kynde haþe a crest rede [ (2, 1)] [57 hath of kynde L] Shape lyke a crowne, token of gret noblesse, By whyche he haþe, whyle hit stont on hys hede, As clerkys seyn, corage and hardynes, [ 60] [60 and] of L] And of hys berde melancolyk felnes: [ (2, 5)] Aboute hys nek by mercyall apparayll [62 *marcial L] Nature haþe yeue hym a stately auentayll. [63 a über der Zeile nachgetragen C]

Thys hardy foule with brest and voyce so clere [ 12v. a.] [64 so] ful L] Most trewly kepeþ þe tydes of þe nyght [ 65] Of custom namyd comon astrologere [ (2, 10)] [66 a comvne L (vgl. Minor Poems 151 Comoun astrologeer, as folk expert weel knowe, To kepe the howrys and tydis of the nyght)] In throwpes smale to make þeyr hertys lyght; [67 theyr fehlt L] With spores sharpe enarmyd for to fyght Lyke a champion iustly doþe attende, [69 Lyke a champion; vgl. Edmund 3, 398 Lyk a champioun in erthe sent from heuene; Albon 2,889 Lyke a champion agayn them to warrye; Fall of Princes 23 v. a. oben To acquite himselfe like a champion; Albon 2, 523 He rose vp lyke a stronge champyon ‖ doþe attende] to intende L] As a proud capten, hys broode for to defende; [ 70]

Beteþ hys wyngys, aforn or he do syng [ (2, 15)] [71 He betyng L] But sluggy hertys out of þeyr slepe to wake, [72 But] *Therwith L] When Lucyfer toward þe dawnyng [73 Lucyfer] sulphur L] Lawgheth in þe oryent and haþe þe west forsake [74 Lawghith in] Lowtith to L ‖ and] whan he L] To chase awey þe myghty clowdys blake: [ 75] [75 þe fehlt L ‖ *nyghty L.]

Towarde Aurora þys foule, who takeþ kepe, [ (2, 20)] [76 vgl. Edm. 3, 1014 Toward Aurora the martir . . . To hym appered ‖ ho that L] Byddyth folk ayene awake out of þeyr slepe, [77 to wake L]

Whos waker callyng þryes tolde in nombre [78 Whos waker] Voyce vigour L ‖ tolde fehlt L] With treble laudes youe to þe trinite [79 trebled L] Slouþe auoydyng clepeþ folk out of þer slombre [ 80] [80 þer fehlt L] (Good hope repeyreth to all, þat heuy bee), [ (2, 25)] Comforteþ þe seke in hys infirmite, [82 hys] theyr L] Causeþ merchauntys and pylgryms to be glad The þeuys swerde hyd vndyr þe shad

Callyd þe prophete of ioy and all gladnes, [ 85] [85 ioy and all] yowre alther L] Embassiatour of Phebus fyry lyght, [ (2, 30)] Whyche put awey by musicall swetnes [87 put C = puttith L] The vgly blaknes of þe derk nyght; [88 owgel L] For whyche me semeth, me shuld of dew ryght [89 zweites me] I L] For .iij. causes preferre þys foule among, [ 90] For waker kepyng, for hardynes and song. [ (2, 35)] [91 and for song L]

Thys foule ys waker ayen þe vyce of slouþe, [92 agenst L] In vertu strong and hardy, as a lyon, Stable, as a geaunt, opon a grounde of trouþe, [94 geaunt] * centre L (vgl. Albon 2, 935 Euer of one herte, as any centre, stable; Fall of Princes 106 v. b. unten In thys pur∣pose, as any centre, stable; Story of Thebes 364 r. b. Plein and hool, as a centre [gedruckt contre], stable) ‖ on L ‖ vgl. Albon 2, 898 His sabba∣tons set on grounde of trouthe] Ayene all vyces þe morall champion, [ 95] [95 mortal L] And with þe entewnes of hys melodious soun [ (2, 40)] [96 twnes L] He yeueþ ensample, as he hys voyce doþ reyse, [97 as—reyse] that we oure self shuld ease L] Howe day and nyght we the lord shall preyse. [98 Howe] That L ‖ shuld please L]

And, for because hys brest ys strong and cleere [ 12v. b.] And on hys tipto dysposeþ for to syng, [ 100] [100 And fehlt L ‖ typton disposyd L] He ys of poettys callyd chaunceleer. [ (2, 45)] [101 He ys of] These L ‖ callith hym L ‖ * chauntcliere L (lies Chauntecleere)] And, as myn auctour remembreþ by wrytyng, Whylom þys foule in a glad mornyng Reioysyd hym ayene the son shene [104 vgl. Giles 159 Dewy droopys ageyn the sonne sheene; Albon 2, 223 Agayne the son shene] With all hys flok to walke opon a grene. [ 105] [105 folke L ‖ a] the L.]

He was furst besy for to breke hys faste [ (2, 50)] [106 for fehlt L] With hys wyues about hym euerychone, On a small dong hyll to fynde a good repaste Gan scrape and sporne and fast about gone. [109 to scrape L ‖ to gon L] Hyd in þe dong hyll he fonde a iacynct stone, [ 110] Yet hys labour and hys besy cure [ (2, 55)] [111 vgl. Guy 66, 1 She scholde doon hir besy cure; Albon 1, 766 Of one assent did theyr busy cure; 2, 1820 Do thy busy cure; 3, 707 Of false malyce dyd theyr busy cure; 1204 Dyd his busy cure; p. 184 With his busy cure] Was for nat elles, but for hys pasture. [112 wegen L s. oben S. 3]

He yaue ensample, whyche gretly may auayle, [113 examples L] As he was oonly taught by nature, [114 taught only L] To auoyde slouþe by dylygent trauayle, [ 115] By honest labour hys lyuelood to procure. [ (2, 60)] For, who woll þryue, labour must endure; [117 þryue] travaile he L] For idylnes and froward negligence Makeþ sturdy beggars for lak of þeyr dyspence.

Losengowres, þat fele hem strong ynough, [ 120] [120 hem self L] Whyche haue sauour in slouþe and slogardy, [ (2, 65)] Haue leuer to beg, þen go at þe plough, [122 Had L ‖ to fehlt L ‖ at þe] to L] Dyche or delue þeymsylf to occupy. [123 Dygge L ‖ than hem self o. L] Thus idylnes causeþ robry [124 al robry L] In vacant pepyll, þat to and fro dyd wende: [ 125] [125 vacant] vagabundis L ‖ * doth L] For þeft arestyd at Tyburn make an ende. [ (2, 70)]

They be no men, but folkys bestiall, Voyde of reson oonly for lak of grace, [128 Voyded L] Whyche ete and drynke and labour nat at all. The cok was besy hys lyuelood to purchase [ 130] The long day in many diuerse plase, [ (2, 75)] Hym and hys broode oonly to forstre, in trouþe, Suche folke rebukyng, þat lyue in slombre and slouþe. [133 And suche folke to rebuken L]

Vertu gynneþ at occupacion, [ 13r. a.] [134 begynnyth L] Vyces all procede of idelnesse, [ 135] [135 founders L: Sauerstein hat an das Ende von V. 135 einen Strichpunkt gesetzt und dann weiter inter∣pungiert Vnto thefes, founders, and patroun (dahinter Komma); er scheint founders = 'Gründer' im modernsten Sinne genommen zu haben, freilich weiss ich nicht zu raten, wie er sich patroun zurechtgelegt hat] Vnto þeues foundres and patron; [ (2, 80)] Of thryft commeþ of vertuous besynesse, [137 Of] * As L (vielleicht stand im Original von C Os)] So of myschyef slouth ys chief maistresse: [138 myschief of L.]

Thys ydelnes causeþ folk in dede [139 Thys = Thus L] To waste þeyr dayes in myschief and in nede. [ 140]

With scrapyng, spornyng all þe long day [ (2, 85)] [141 and spornyng L] The cok was besy hym and hys broode to fede, Founde a iacyncte, whyche in þe dong hyll lay, A ryche stone and a precious, as I rede; [144 as I rede] in dede L (vgl. die nächste Zeile in L)] Of whyche stone when þe cok toke hede, [ 145] [145 As I rede of L ‖ þe cok] he L] Stynt awhyle, sodenly abrayde, [ (2, 90)] [146 til sodainly at abrayde L; vgl. Edmund 2, 468 f. He gan abraide In fel lan∣gage, and thus to him he saide; 3, 594 f. Dide sodenly abrayde, And unto Oswy euene thus it sayde; 965 f. The martir gan abraide, And to his chapleyn euene thus he saide; 1084 f. Sodenly abrayde, To his freendis euene thus he sayde u. s. w.] And to þe ston euyn þus he sayde: [147 And to] Vnto L]

'Who þat knew þy nature and þy kynde, [148 erstes þy] the L ‖ and] of L] All þe propurtees, whyche of the be tolde, [149 And al thy L] A ieweller, yef he þe myght fynde, [ 150] [150 if that he myght the L] Wolde for þy vertues close þe in golde. [ (2, 95)] Euax to the yeueþ praysyng manyfolde, [Euax rex Arabum] [152 die in C rot geschriebene Randbemerkung fehlt L ‖ he yevith L] Whos lapydary bereþ opynly wytnesse, [153 His L] Geyn sorow and wo þou bryngest in gladnesse. [154 Agaynst L]

The best iacyncte in Ethiope ys founde [ 155] And ys of colour lyke þe saphyre ynde, [ (2, 100)] Comforteþ men, þat ly in prison bounde, Makeþ men strong and hardy of hys kynde, [158 hys] * theyr L] Contract synewes þe iacyncte doþ vnbynde: Yet for all þy vertuous excellence [ 160] Twene þe and me ys no conuenience. [ (2, 105)] [161 Bitwene L]

For me þou shalt in þys place abyde, With the I haue lyght or nought to done. [163 litel L] Late þese merchantys, þat go so ferr and ryde, Trete of þy valew, wheþer hit be late or sone, [ 165] Deme, how þe cherle came furst in þe mone: [ (2, 110)] [166 Late hem deme L] Of suche mysteryes I take but lytell hede; [167 mysterie I can take L ‖ kepe L] Me lyst nat hewe chyppes aboue myn hede. [168 to hewe L ‖ ouer L (vgl. Edmund 3, 5 ff. And I am ferful aboue myn hed to hewe, Lyst fro∣ward chippis of presumcioun Sholde blynde myn eyen in ther fallyng doun).]

Precyous stones longen to iewellers [ 13r. b.] And to princes, when þey lyst wel be seyn: [ 170] [170 wel] to L] To me more deynte in bernes or garners [ (2, 115)] [171 is in L ‖ or in L] A lytell rewarde of corn or good greyn. [172 or of L ‖ Sauerstein hat hinter diesem Verse keine Interpunktion, dafür aber einen Strichpunkt hinter To take in V. 173, das aber ohne Zweifel zum Folgenden gehört] To take þys stone to me hit were but veyn: Set more store (I haue hit of nature) [174 * I set L ‖ of] by L] Among rude chaffe to shrape for my pasture. [ 175]

Lyke as folkys of relykys haue deynte, [ (2, 120)] Theron þey set a valew or a pryce, [177 And theron set L] Hygh maters profounde and secrete [178 Hygh] Like as L (aus V. 176) ‖ * secre L (die überlieferten Texte bieten öfter secret für das vom Reim ver∣langte secre: Minor Poems 165 Tunge spreynt withe sugre, the galle kept secret [: the = ae. þêon]; Albon 3, 1272 Theyr trouble and rumour was not kept secrete [: aduersite, citie])] Ne shuld nat without gret auyce [179 Ne] None L] Be shewyd in opyn to hem, þat be nat wyse; [ 180] For, as a wyseman in wysdom haþe delyte, [ (2, 125)] Ryght so a foole of doctrine haþe dyspyte.

Golde and stones be for a kyngys hede, Stele ys tryed for platys in armure, [184 in] * and L] To couer churches couenable ys lede, [ 185] Brasse for belles, iren long to endure [ (2, 130)] [186 long] strong L] (Thus euery þyng foloweþ hys nature), Pryncys to reygne, knyghtys for batayll, Plowmen for tylþe, shypmen forto sayll. [189 Cäsur hinter tylþe durch einen Strich angedeutet C; ebenso 272 hinter be, 276 hinter here, 278 hinter youres, 501 hinter esca∣pyd ‖ shippes L]

The hert desyreþ to drynke of crystall welles, [ 190] [190 Ps. 41, 1 Quemadmodum desiderat ceruus ad fontes aquarum] The swan to swymme in large brood riueres, [ (2, 135)] [191 desirith to L ‖ brood fehlt L] The gentyll faucon with gesse and ryche belles [192 iessis L] To cache hys pray lyke to hys desyres, [193 lyke to hys desyres 'nach Wunsch'; vgl. 200 Lyke hys opinion; Albon 2, 720 To serue hym duely lyke my profession; 1428 A place assigned lyke theyr opi∣nion; 1598 f. For to accomplysshe, that we haue begon, Agayn our moste enemy lyke to our entention; 1763. 1800, 1879. 3, 663. 1253; Edmund 2, 615 u. s. w.] I with my brode to scrape afore garneres: [194 And I L ‖ afore] in corn L] Precious stonys noþyng apperteyne [ 195] [195 doth appartene L] To gese nor fovlys, þat pasture on þe grene. [ (2, 140)] [196 To gees ne ganders nor L.]

Of þeyr nature as folke byn dysposyd, [197 folkes L] Diuersely þey make eleccion. [198 theyr eleccioun L] Double of vertu þe saphyr in gold closyd. Yche man cheseþ lyke hys opinion: [ 200] On cheseþ þe best of wysdom and reson, [ (2, 145)] And anoþer (hys eyen byn so blynde) [202 S. hat keine Klammer und nur am Ende des Verses ein Komma] Cheseþ þe werst, þe best he lyt behynde.' [203 he lyt (= let)] abidith L Das in C rot geschriebene Wort Lenuoy fehlt L]

Lenuoy. [ 13v. a.]

Though þys fabyll be boysters and rurall, [204 bo boystous L (vgl. Albon 2, 469 Boyṣtous folk and rude, aber auch Minor Poems 166 Bosters withe boreas)] Ye may þeryn consider þyngys þre: [ 205] [205 conceyve L] Howe þat diligence in especiall [ (2, 150)] [206 þat fehlt L] Haþe agayn slouþe caught þe souereynte, [207 agenst L] And, where fre choyse haþ hys liberte, [208 auch L hat hath, aber dies scheint ein gemeinschaftlicher Fehler für at (vgl. Minor Poems 262 See Baraban goon at his liberte): das Komma hinter V. 208 (Sauerstein hat da einen mir unbegreiflichen Strichpunkt) ist dann zu tilgen] Cheseþ þe werst in ernest or in game, Who, but hymsylf, þerof ys to blame? [ 210] [210 is therof L]

Who foloweþ vertu, vyces doþ eschew, [ (2, 155)] He cheseþ þe best in myn opinion. [212 He] Who (aus der vorhergehenden Zeile) L ‖ þe fehlt L ‖ in] to L] The cok demyd, to hym hit was more dew Small simple grayne, þen stones of hygh renoun, [214 hygh] grete (vgl. Edmund 1, 181 Noblesse and hih renoun; 246 His famous hih renoun; 387 Al his hih renoun; 854 Thoruh his hih renoun; 938 The marcial hih renoun u. s. w.)] Of all tresour chief possessioun. [ 215] Suche, as god sent, eche man take at gre, [ (2, 160)] Nat prowde with ryches nor groge with pouerte. [217 zweites with] in L]

The worldly man laboreth for rychesse, And on the worlde he set all hys intent. The vertuos man to auoyde all ydelnesse [ 220] [220 * man fehlt L] With suffisaunce holde hymsylf content. [ (2, 165)] [221 holdith L] Eche man þerfore with suche, as god haþ sent, Thanke þe lorde, in vertu kepe hem stable, [223 and in L ‖ * hym L] Whyche ys conclusion of þys lytyll fable. [224 das erste n in con∣clusion aus etwas anderem C ‖ lite L]

Explicit. [Explicit rot C, Here endith the tale of Isope how that the cok fonde a iaconet stone in þe dunghill L.]