The history of the Holy Grail, Englisht, ab. 1450 A.D., by Herry Lonelich, skynner, from the French prose (ab. 1180-1200 A. D.) of Sires Robiers de Borron. Re-edited from the unique paper ms. in Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, by Fredk. J. Furnivall ...

CHAPTER XXXII. [The Additional MS 10,292 (fol. 36 b, col. 3) heads this chapter 'Ensi que .j. tempest en mer la v deus nes furent en grant peril,' and begins 'En ceste partie dist li contes, que quant les .ix. mains en orent porte celidoine hors de la poeste calafer en petit d'eure, si comme on le sot uraiement, puis que il fu eslongies del pais tant comme l'espace de .x. iournees dure.']

Celidoyne's Adventures. How when the Nine Hands bear him from Calafere, he is carrid to an island, five days' sail from Nasciens's isle (p. 420); and it is very wild, and 'feeble comfort' for him (p. 421). A thunderstorm comes on, and Celidoyne gets into a cave (p. 421). Two ships come to the island, and an old mariner laments the hard fate of their crews (p. 422). Another tells him not to fear. Celidoyne approaches them: they are heathen Persians (p. 422), and are going, under their king Label, to fight the Syrians (p. 423). Label describd: he hates Chris∣tians. He has his pavilions pitcht on the shore. Celi∣doyne talks to his attendants, and they take him to King Label, who treats him kindly (p. 423), and asks who he is. Celidoyne tells him. Label says he knows Evalach, and is sorry to hear that he has changd his faith (p. 424). Celidoyne tells Label how he was deliverd from Calafere. Label wonders at the boy, and makes him a knight (p. 425), and lets him lie by him; and tells his Council that he should like to marry Celidoyne to his daughter (p. 426). Label then goes to bed, and has a Vision of a Tree from which flowers grow, and of a Fiery Serpent which destroys the tree and flowers (p. 426-7). In the morning the king's guards tell him they have caught a lion. They then wake Celidoyne, and take him to the king. Label orders his Council to be calld (p. 427), tells them his dream, and asks them to interpret it. They consult, but cannot. Celidoyne then rises, and tells the king that he will explain it to him (p. 428). Celidoyne then tells Label what he saw (p. 429), and declares that the Meadow means the World, which is pleasant to sin∣ners, who think that it will abide with them for ever (p. 429); but, as the meadow is scorcht by the sun, so will mankind be when the soul leaves the body (p. 430). As to the Tree, it signifies man's person, even Label's, which is feeble and poor (p. 430). And of the Flowers, there is an unfading one, the Virgin Mary (p. 430); her, Label did not see, but only fading ones, Bounty, Prowess, Courtesy, of which and other virtues Label has many, but not de∣voted to the service of God (p. 431). The Heap of Earth signifies the mass of man's sins; and Label has heapt sin on sin daily since his birth (p. 432). The Serpent signifies the death of the soul, which comes to those who will not turn from the joys of earth (p. 432).

Celidoyne then says that he will tell Label of a secret deed done by him, and warns him that he will die within four days (p. 433). Celidoyne then tells Label that God commands him to turn Christian; and as a sign tells him that he, Label, had secretly murderd his sister on the 1st of May, for refusing to let him lie with her, and had cast her body into the sea. Label says no earthly man could have known this (p. 434). He has his bed made ready; gives Celidoyne in charge to his barons (p. 435); goes to bed, and makes long and grievous lamentations, calling himself a poor caitiff, who shall die like the poorest man. And where shall he then go? (p. 435). What shall he take with him? (p. 436). He has nothing to meet death with, and none can tell him what he shall be after death. Therefore, let him remember his life, and choose now for endless joy or pain (p. 436), knowing that this world's joy is but sorrow and mourning. Wretch that he is; yet God has warnd him. And so he falls asleep (p. 437).

Now here declareth in this partye, how that the Nyne hondis Sekerlye [When the Nine hands deliverd Celidoyne from Calafere,] delyverid Celydeyne Owt of dawngere From alle the veniaunce of Calafere; [ 4] With Inne Schort tyme, Er he Cowde knowe, Ful fer from his Contre was he throwe Into the Se ful Apertlye; Al hol x. Iornes ful Sekerlye [ 8] [they left him 10½ days' journey off,] And half A Iorne, [tant com l'espasse de .x. iournees durent.—A.] —As Seith the book,— there was he left, ho-so wile it look, be the wil of the Maister Above, that on Celidoyne gan preven his love, [ 12] and lefte him there In An Yle [in an island.] besides that his fadir was In Exyle; [sour la riue de mer, en vne isle ou ses peres estoit.—A.] properly from his fadir fyve Iorne this Celydoyne was left ful sekerle. [ 16] and whanne In this yl he was there, Amyddes In the See he wiste neuere where, and therto A Child but of ȝong Age— [He was only 7 years and 5 months old.] vii. ȝere v. Monthes [iouenes enfes en l'aage de .x. ans seulement.—A.] —and þerto fair of visage, [ 20]

& therto Closed In A wondir place; In the Same plase þere that he wase, vppon the ton side A wylde forest [On one side of Celidoyne is a wild-beast forest;] Walkyng wel ful of Raveynous beste; [ 24] the tothyr was the Open see, Where as litel Comfort thanne Sawh he [on the other,] but hyghe Rokkes & wateres wilde; [rocks and sea.] this was feble Comfort for A Childe: [ 28] but ȝif he hadde had þ^e More Compenye, To A child it was ful gret Anoye. Anon As thus In this yl he was, The wedyr gan chongen In that plas, [ 32] To dyrkene, & to Reyne it gan ful faste, [It rains, lightens, and thunders.] And to lyhtene and thondren thanne Atte laste: And So Oribly ferde that trowbelynge, that semede An Ende Al the world to bryinge. [ 36] thanne this Child of tendir Age Sawgh that the See was So savage And So spetous onne forto loke, that for drede his herte tho quoke [ 40] lest that the wawes Of the se Scholde han Comen þere he hadde be; And so vpe Into the yl he drowh him faste, [Celidoyne takes refuge in a cleft of the rock.] & In a Rokke he Aspyde Atte laste [ 44] Where it was Cloven In part Asondir, And thedir In he wente for ferd of thondir Also sore Abasched As he Myhte be; [leaf 38] And Evere to wardis the see loked he. [ 48] So longe atte laste loked he there Tyl him thowhte, As be his Manere, he sawh where Comen, As to his Eye, [He sees ships coming to his island.] Schepis with Meyne tho Sekerlye, [ 52] So that the wawes of the Se To that yl hem drof ful Sikerle. thanne they Criden þat with-Inne were, "Save vs, oþer we schole perschen here." [ 56]

And whilles they Criden, & Maden this fare. Tweyn Schepis to þat yl A-Ryved there; [Two ships come to the island.] To the Same Roche there Celydoyne was, Comen bothe Schepis, As was here gras. [ 60] And whanne that they weren Aryved there, thanne Cam þere forth An Old Marynere [An old mariner] that Knew more thanne Ony Othir Of Al that Compenye Among þat fothir; [ 64] And thus he Seyde ful sore wepinge, With deolful Noise and Sore Cryenge: "Sire," he seide, "this ys A wondir Chaunce, that of Oure lyves we weren In dowtaunce; [ 68] and now is mochel wers than it was Er, [says they're worse off on the island than the sea,] For we ben In A grettere daunger; For here Nys non thyng but wilde beste That vs schal devouren, bothe Mest & leste, [ 72] [as wild beasts 'll devour them.] and Serpentes bolde, and dragouns wilde, that don devowren bothe Man and Childe." thanne sterte there forth An Old Knyht, And Spak to the Maister with Al his Myht; [ 76] "Maister," he seide, "have thow non fere, Whiles that fyve hundred knyhtes ben here; Of the bestes we scholen not drede, So mochel we trosten In Owre Manhede." [ 80] And In the Mene whille þat thus gonnen talke, Celydoyne to hem ward gan forto walke, [Celidoyne walks towards them.] and Supposed that Cristene they hadde ben, but paynemes they weren Alle beden, [ 84] ¹ and born of the lond of percye,— [They are pagan Persians,] thus weren they Alle ful Sekerlye— And wenten toward the Ost of Syrre, [going to fight the Syrians.] that Kyng Samwelis brothir had slayn Sekerle, [¹-¹ et ne de perse, et aloient a ost el roiaume de syre, sour samuel, qui le frere au roi de perse auoit ochis.—A.] [ 88] for that with his wif he hym fond dishonestly, Aȝens lawe of lond.

So happed, that Amongs this Compenye was thike tyme the kyng Of percye, [ 92] Which that was ȝong man, bothe faire & lel; his Name was Clepid there Kyng Label; [Label is King of Persia.] which was A knyht bothe stalworthe and worthy, And vppon his Enemyes ful Crwel & hardy; [ 96] but In Al the world So mochel hatred [? for 'So moche ne hated:'—ne nus ne haoit si mortel∣ment crestiens com il faisoit.'—A.] he than [He hates Chris∣tians.] As he dyde the trewe Cristene Man. And whanne to this Roche Aryved they were, Anon kyng Label Comanded there— [ 100] Whanne he Sawh þ^e wedyr was Ouerpast, And it Gan to Cleren Atte last,— he Charged that his pavylouns weren pyht, For there wolde he Resten Al Nyht. [ 104] Anon they fulfilden his Comaundement, And pyhten his pavylouns þere present. And whiles they weren Abowten here harneys, Celydoyne Cometh down In to that pres, [ 108] [Celidoyne asks the Persians who they are.] And hem Grette In his Manere, And Axed of what Contre þat they were. And they that of him hadde wondir tho, Merveylled what Contre that he Cam fro, [ 112] And thus him Answerid Certeinlye, 'that they weren of the lond of percye:' And so they token this Child Anon, And to Kyng Label they gonne to gon. [ 116] thanne whanne Kyng label hym behelde [King Label] So faire A Child, and of so ȝong Elde, And therto Clothed So Richely, In his herte he hadde gret ferly, [ 120] And thowhte he was Comen of gentyl Kynde, for this Ran Euere In kyng Labelis Mynde. And that Child ful gret Chere he Made, [receives Celidoyne kindly.] And fayn he was that Child to glade, [ 124]

& sore desired he forto knowe the Childes kenrede vppon A rowe; So that this Child he gan to freyne, [King Label asks Celidoyne whence he comes.] And gan to Axen thanne Certeyne [ 128] Of what Contre that he was. And thanne þat child so ful of gras, [Celidoyne] that Cowde more In his degre thanne ony oþer Child ful Sekerle, [ 132] Told hym Evene the Rihte weye Of Al his Kynrede ful Sekerlye, & told hym Ek More ouer therto [tells him,] that his fadir newe Cristened was tho, [ 136] [and how Nasciens] And Al the lond Abowtes In-virown, "And, sire, Cristened I am with-owten More sermown, [and he, Celidoyne,] & Cristendom I took Certemie Of the hyghe bischope Of Cristiente, [ 140] [were christend by Joseph.] the wheche hyght Iosepe, I vndirstonde, that Crist Sacrid bisschope with his owun honde." Whanne kyng Label herde of this tydyng, With-Inne him Self he made Mochel Mornyng, [ 144] For he knew kyng Eualach ful wel, And of his prowesse tho Everydel that Eualach dyde with his Owne hond; thus dide he Celidoyne to vndirstond; [ 148] "Also, Celidoyne, ful Certeinly [Label laments that Mordreins and Nasciens have turnd Christians] I knowe thy fadir As A knyht worthy; Wherfore me Repenteth In Myn herte, For these tydynges don me smerte, [ 152] that they ben torned to the wikked fay, And han forsaken here Owne lay; [and forsaken paganism.] and Also thy Self, with gret folye, thy feith hast forsaken vtterlye, [ 156] therfore with me schalt thow go, to Asayen what I kan don the to; And ȝit schalt thow tellen Me how that thou Come Into this Contre, [ 160]

Into So savage and so wilde A plase, there as Neuere to foren tymes Man I-wase." And Celydoyne hym tolde Anon, [Celidoyne tells Label how he and Nasciens were deliverd from Calafere.] 'how that he Owt of presown was gon, [ 164] Owt of the hows of Calafere that My fadyr & I In presown were, and how bothe they weren Owt past thorwh Cristes Myht, and that In hast.' [ 168] "And whanne Calafer sawh that it was so that my Fadir owt of presown was go, thanne Comanded Calafere Anon that An hy Into þ^e towr I scholde gon; [ 172] and there, of his hy Crwelte, Of that hye towr down Caste he Me. but Iesus Crist, of his goodnesse, [Christ had him caught in mid-air,] Wold me not weten In swich distresse; [ 176] But be his Mynestres there Anon I was deliuered from Alle my fon. and whanne I was In myn fallyng, they me Resceyved with-owten taryenge, [ 180] [and brought to this island.] and Into this plase they me browhte; but Sekerly I ne sawh hem nowhte. Wherfore, Iesus Crist, graunt Mercye, that so me deliueredest from myn Euemye!" [ 184] Whanne the kyng herde Al this Mevyng, [King Label con∣sults his men,] With-Inne him Self he Made gret Morneng, and seide tho to his Compenye, "Of this Child I Merveille now Certeinlye." [ 188] thanne Seide his Cownseil to hym tho, "Maketh hym A Knyht, we reden ȝow so, For that, sire, is the manere Of Cristen peple Everiwhere; [ 192] For An Awnter vs thenketh In oure Mynde, that A fairere Child schole ȝe neuere fynde." there the kyng him made knyht Anon tho, [and then knights Celidoyne.] Supposing Of his feith to putten hym fro. [ 196]

That Nyht the Kyng Ordeynede so, that wachche Abowtes hym scholde be do; And Celidoyne he worscheped there ouer Alle thing, & Al Nyht be hym lay As his derlyng. [ 200] tho whanne the Child on Slepe was, [King Label says he'd like] Ȝit slepte not the Kyng, As happed be Cas, but Axede Of his Conseil there Anon, 'What were best with that Child to don, [ 204] that thus hath Taken Cristiente, And his Owne lay forsaketh he.' "Ȝif I Cowde don him it forsake, My dowhter his wif thanne wolde I Make; [ 208] [to marry his daughter to Celi∣doyne if he'd turn heathen.] For I knowe ful wel In My Mynde that he is Comen of ful gentyl kynde, So that he may not faille In non wyse; he Moste ben A knyht Of worthy Aprise; [ 212] So thanne my dowhter schal he have, And Al my Rem bothe Sownd & save." Thanne Aftyr the kyng was leyd Anon, And Every Man to his wachche gan gon, [ 216] the kyng On Slepe be-fyl Anone; ¹ And thus sone hym Cam vision vppone. hym thowhte that In A medewe he was, [Label has a Vision] Whiche was large & Grene In that plas; [ 220] And In that Medewe A fair Tre there was tho, [of a fair Tree full of flowers,] And Many diuers flowres Owt of it Gonnen go, that Envirownd this Tre Al Abowte, And ful of flowres it heng with-owte, [ 224] As it Axeth the kende After A tre; And this Manere wise thus thouht he. Whiche tre the kyng beheld ful faste,

And þer-Offen Merveilled Atte laste [ 228] how this tre Swiche flowres scholde bere, [¹-¹ et maintenant li fu auis qu'il estoit en .j. pre, grant, et large, et verdoiant, et biel. Et en chel pre auoit vne ouchele [pot] de terre qui estoit toute nueue, et estoit emplie de motes de terre. Et ichele ouchele estoit par de-fors toute auirounee de flours qui de li issoient ausi comme d'un arbre naissent par nature flours et fuelles. Et li rois regardoit l'ouchele, dont il se meruilloit moult quant il en ueoit flours issir.—A.] Wher-offen he Merveilled In his Manere. And besides this Tre Cam Owt A Serpent, [and a Serpent that casts out fire,] that there flawmes of fyr out Caste verament, [ 232] and wasted this faire tre Anon, [and burns up the Tree and its flowers.] And Alle the flowres þere Everichon: thanne Anon After, I the plyht, Al this was past Owt of the kynges syht. [ 236] Thanne on the Morewe whanne it was day, the wachche to hym Cam with-owten delay, And tolden hym how they hadden that Nyht [Label's men tell him they've caught a lion.] Taken A lyown with ryht gret myht, [ 240] So that they thowhten, As I vndirstond, That lyown to leden Into here Owne lond. Thann to Celydoyne tooken they þe way, And A-wooken the Child there he lay; [ 244] [They wake Celi∣doyne,] for ful sore On slepe was he, that Al nyht to fore In thowht had be For his fadir Sire Nasciens, That he ne hadde ben In his presens. [ 248] And whanne he was Clothed Anon tho, To the kyng Anon was he browht to; [and take him to the King.] thanne the kyng him took be the hond, And sette hym At his feet, I vndirstond. [ 252] thanne Comanded he there anon that Alle his Conseille to forn him scholde gon. [Label summons his Council,] And the wysest of Alle his Meyne, to forn hym they sembled ful sekerle. [ 256] And whanne they weren sembled Everichon, To hem the kyng thanne seide Anon: "Lordynges," quod the kyng tho, [and tells them of his Vision.] "A wondir avicioun this Nyht Cam me to; [ 260] Wherfore In Ese neuere schal I be tyl there-Offen I knowne the Certeynte, And wherto that it Tornen May,

In herte schal I neuere ben glad parfay. [ 264] & this is the Cause that I for ȝow sente, Ȝif Ony of ȝow be ȝoure Entente [[MS Ententente]] Cowde me declaren the verite, & what signefiaunce þat this myhte be." [ 268] So þat he declared to hem his Avisiown, [Label tells his Council his Vision,] Of Al that he hadde Sein, hol & som; And Aftir, hem preide Everichon [and asks 'em to explain it.] here Avis to schewen þer-offen Anon. [ 272] thanne these Men thowhte hem be-twene, What Maner of thing it scholde Mene; but they ne Cowden for non thing bryngen that vicyown to An Endyng. [ 276] And so they seiden to þ^e kyng Anon, 'that non Exposiscioun Cowde they don.' [They can't.] thanne the Kyng Abascht hym sore, & seide, "somwhat it tokeneth, with-owten More." [ 280] "Sire," they Seiden verament, "We konne non oþer knowen in owre Entent." Whanne that the Child wheche þere sat [Then the boy Celidoyne] Atte the kynges feet, undirstood Al that [ 284] Whiche the kyng hadde Schewed to his Meyne, there-offen to han knowen the verite, this Child him dressed vp Anon, & on his feet stood to forn hem Echon, [ 288] [ . . . . . . . no gap in the MS.] And forto speken wolde he wonden [[wende, turn]] for non, But spak so lowde to the kyng that þere offen þ^e peple hadde Merveillyng: [ 292] "Kyng label, I se wel now here [tells Label that he'll] that thy Conseil ne Can in non Manere the declaren the verite; but, sire kyng, I schal schowen it to the, [ 296] [expound the Vision, as God enables him.] lik as the grete Maister Above, Whos Servaunt I am, & whom I love, Me hath schewed In My Mynde,

the goode lord that is so kende. [ 300] "thou sie In thyn Avisiown [Celidoyne tells Label he saw a Meadow,] A grene Medwe, Alle & som, & þere-Inne was A fair Tre [a Tree surrounded by Flowers,] þat with flowres Envirownd was he; [ 304] And Aftyr thou sye A Serpent, [and a Serpent that destroyd the Flowers.] wherthorw Alle the floures weren schent. "Now schal I tellen the my Resown As Cometh to myn ȝonge discressioun, [ 308] For I nam but ȝong, and litel of wyt, So gret A thing to declaren It. but wete þou wel In Certeyn, that þ^e holigost fulfilleth pleyn [ 312] Alle his Servauntes Everychon; & so be his Miht I schal the it vndon. "The medewe that was so fair & Grene, [leaf 39] signefieth the world ful of treye & tene; [ 316] [The Meadow is the World,] and ȝit is likenge to alle tho that there-Inne Abyden & go, an tho þat there-Inne ben wel at Ese, And Namliche to synneris it doth hem plese [ 320] that lyn Evere In gret dedly synne, To hem þ^e world is plesyng neþer more ne Mynne; For thus they wenen, with-owten Mo, That the world scholde neuere hem fro, [ 324] and that Evere In strengthe scholde they be, and the world with hem laste ful Sikerle; & thus they hopen Algates to dwelle In Ioye & blisse, as I ȝow telle. [ 328] "but ho so wele vndirstonde the verite, I schal declaren, and ȝe welen herkenen Me; and Oþer wise it is in signefiaunce here, for the Medwe fareth In this manere: [ 332] [which in the morning is green and full of flowers,] On þ^e Morwe it is grene, & ful of flowres that fair is to Syhte, & swete of Odours; and At Even, be hete of the Sonne, [and at even is]

Forskorchid & drye to-gederis ben Ronne: [ 336] [scorcht and dry,] Ryht so fareth Mankynde Anon Whanne the Sowle from the body is gon, [like man's soul when it's left the body.] to this Medwe may likned I-be, as to foren tymes I schew to the. [ 340] "and what this tre ¹ doth signefie, [The Tree means] Whiche is of feble Nature Sekerlye, Signefieth be mannes persone here, [man's person,] That Is so poure In Alle Manere, [ 344] and is Comen of so poure kynde, Ȝif thou wilt here-offen taken Mynde; and of so gret Freelnesse & Caytyvete here offen cometh Man, As thou myht se: [ 348] this day A man he Is, to Morwen Is he non: [which to-day is, and to-morrow is not,] & so it schal fare be vs now Everichon. but sekerly, kyng label, to this Tre [like King Label.] At this tyme I lykne now the. [¹-¹ Si dois apres ueoir la senefianche de l'ouchele [pot], qui est feble chose et mauuaise, et de si poure sustenanche ke ele puet maintenant estre brisie, Et ke li potiers le fist de li∣mon [mud] vil et mauuais; senefie home, qui est si poure chose, et com crees de si mauuaise semenche, qu'il est ausi frailles et ausi caitis comme li pos qui de legier est brisies. Ensi frailles est hom, car or endroit est, et ore endroit n'est mie. Par l'ouchele ke tu veis en ton songe, es tu seneflies, rois labiel.—A.] [ 352] "and of the flowres that þere Abowtes be, be-thenk with-Inne thi self, and be-hold & se; but And thou wilt herkene to me, of A blessid flowr I schal tellen the, [ 356] that Neuere defaded for non thing, [The unfading Flower is the Virgin Mary.] whiche is þ^e virgine Modyr of þ^e glorous kyng, That bar god & Man, Owre Savyour, whiche is Marye modir & Maide, þat blessid flour. [ 360] this flour, non thing Apeyren it May, from þ^e begynneng Into domesday; and there as Oþer flowres boþ^e dryen & fade, this flowr is Evere bothe Ioyful & glade. [ 364] "but of this flour that is bothe bryht & Cler,

In thyn Avicion haddist þou non warneng ther; For that flowr fareth In non degre As the flowres that weren schewed to the. [ 368] The flowres that Fadyn so Every day, [The Flowers that fade are] Abowtes the, Sire, they ben In fay. And wilt thow knowen, sire, what they be? Anon, Sire, I schal here declaren hem the: [ 372] The ton flowr is bownte, ful Sekerly; [1. bounty;] The secund prowesse; the thrydde is Cortesy; [2. prowess;] and Manye other vertwes ben The Abowte, [3. courtesy;] Mo thanne Anoþer man hath, sawnz dowte, [ 376] And bettere Norture In Alle degre thanne Manye Oþer ben Sekerle; For As manie vertwes thou hast, with-Owt n variaunce, [all which, and others, Label has;] As Euere hadde Man that is ful of Mescreaunce; [ 380] And therto thou Art bothe fair & semly; [and is fair,] but not to god, I sey ȝow pleynly, [but not to God.] but onliche to that fals & strong Enemy that Alle dayes of thy lyve thou woschepist only. [ 384] For so manye vertwes In the ben As Evere In Miscreaunce A man may sen; Wherfore it is gret Rowthe & pyte that so gracious vertwes In Miscreaunt schold be. [ 388] "Now schal I the declaren [for 'have I the declarid': the French is, "Or t'ai de∣moustre," fait li enfes, "ke l'ouchiele senefie, et les flours qui entour estoient."—A.] Every del —and thow wilt vndirstondyn Me wel— What signefieth that Ilke tre, and the floures that þere-Abowtes be; [ 392] and the ² hepe of Erthe that is therby, [The heap of earth] As schal I the declaren ful Openly. "that hepe, it is to vndirstonde,

that mankynde In ony londe [ 396] [is mankind filld with mortal sins.] be fild so ful of dedly Synne, of filthes of wrechchednesse, hem Alle with Inne and Every day they hepen More and More, & gaderen hepe vppon hepe, þat doth hem sore, [ 400] be wrechchednesse & Many Othir thing, Everyday to here Owne hyndring, and greven sore here Creatour, Whiche that they Owten don honour; [ 404] And they welen not Amenden hem for non thing, For speche neþer for Manassyng. [²-² The earth is in the pot: see the French note to l. 341, p. 430. Ore te dirai ke la mote de terre senefie. La terre amon∣chelee dedens le pot, senefie la grant carge des pechies morteus ke li hom maleureus amonchiele chascun iour dedens soi plus et plus par mesesrer encontre son creatour, quant il ne se ueut amender, ne pour parole ne pour amonestement ke on li die.—A.] "and this hepe, sire, Is with-Innen the, [This heap of sins is in King Label,] and from thy birthe Euere hath be; [ 408] For sethen of thy modyr that þou were bore, didest thou Nevere good, lasse ne more, [who never did good, but always ill, to his Creator.] but Euere Contrarye thy Creatour [ne fesis tu riens, ne en parole ne en oeure, qui ne fust contre ton creatour.—A.] thou hast him wraththed In Every Our; [ 412] and thus hast þou gaderid with-Inne the, hepe vppon hepe ful Sekerle, and Every day Synne vppon synne, and of this lif noldest þou not blynne; [ 416] thanne thus be thin Aviciown thou Art the same, bothe Alle & som. "Now of this Serpent I schal the telle, [The Serpent is the death of the soul of men who] and thou wilt lestene me vntylle: [ 420] the serpent, the deth of þ^e sowle doth signefye, Of Man that In this world lyveth bodily, and In the world hath passeng delyt, Where-offen neuere that he wolden ben qwyt; [ 424] and for non warneng ne wil not he Tornen to the Ioye that is lastyngle: [will not turn to everlasting joy,] and for they welen not don so, to Endeles deth therfore they go. [ 428] [and therefore go to endless death.] of thyn Avicioun this is the signefiaunce,

as me scheweth the holy gost with-Owten variaunce. "and for þat in me thou schalt han more Affyaunce, [That Celidoyne may be more trusted,] I schal the tellen of a more dowtaunce, [ 432] of swich A thing As thou hast don longe tymes hens, & fern Agon, and thou hast evere In supposing that þer-offen knoweth non Erthly thing [ 436] [he says he'll tel. Label a secret thing.] but thou Alone, ful Certeinle; but þou art desceyved, I telle it the; For he that knoweth Alle thing, Me hath it put in vndirstondyng." [ 440] Whanne the kyng herd him thus seye, Al Red he was for schame Sekerlye: "Sey on," quod the kyng tho Anon, "What is that thing whiche I have don, [ 444] that thou seyst non knoweth but I: Sey on what it is now, belamy." "Sire," quod Celydoynes tho, "that schal I anon gladliche do: [ 448] And thou wilt, Aforn Al thyn Meyne, Owther thou wilt Ellis, In prevyte. ¹ For As I haue be ful supposing of Enformeng of þat glorious kyng, [ 452] the prikkes of deth doth signefie [The Serpent means the pricks of death,] the serpent, I sey the ful sekerlye." [¹-¹ et si le vous mande par moi li haus maistres, chil qui set toutes les choses qui sont a uenir, ke li serpens ke vous veistes en uostre songe, senefle le point de la mort ou vous estes venus."—A.] "Schal I thanne dyen?" quod the kyng. "Ȝe, with-Inne fowre dayes, with-owten varyeng, [ 456] Owt of this world schalt thou pace; [and Label will die within 4 days.] but whedir thou Nost, ne Into what place. and therfore loke what Conseille thow wilt have, Ȝif that thou thenke thy Sowle to save; [ 460] and loke that thou now leve Me, For thing that I schal tellen to the."

thanne this kyng took hym on Syde, to weten what he mente At that tyde. [ 464] "Sire kyng, warneng I ȝeve to the, [Celidoyne tells Label how] Anon that Cristene Man that thou be; And thus Sente the forto Say, the hyghe Maister that is god verray; [ 468] And be this Tokene he sente to the, that non thing to him Is preve: how that thou, the ferst day of May, [on May 1 he murderd his sister because she wouldn't lie with him.] thin Owne Soster thou slowe In fay, [ 472] For Cause sche wolde not suffren the with hire bodyly to done Synne and foolee. And whanne þou Sye sche wold not don so, And thy folye Concentyn therto, [ 476] Anon thou smotest of here hed, & Into the se threw it In that sted; Anon the bodi Aftir thou threw Also; this Movrdre didest thou with-owten Mo. [ 480] And to this wendest þou ful Sekerle that non Man hadde ben preve; but he that is Aboven Alle thing, Of this Made me to haven vndirstondyng: [ 484] therfore, lord, worschepid Mot thou be, that sweche thing openly schewest to Me!" Whanne the Kyng herde hym tho speken so, "Merveilles thou hast me told," quod þ^e kyng tho, [ 488] [Label confesses that no earthly man could have told him this.] "For there nys non Man Erthly levenge that I supposid coude telle me this thinge; And of Myn Avicioun hast þou me told verray trowthes be many fold, [ 492] And so openly as thou hast declared it to me Cowde non Erthly man don Certeinle." thanne he Comaunded his Meyne ful sone [He orders his bed to be made.] his bed to Maken, for þerto wolde he gone, [ 496] For distempred A lytel he was, So he hem tolde In that plas

they fulfiden Anon his byddyng In Alle Maner wise, to plesen the kyng; [ 500] And thanne Comaunded he his barouns Anon, Good warde of þat child to setten vppon. thanne they Answeryd hym Anon, And seide his Comaundement scholde be don. [ 504] To his Cowche wente the kyng thanne, [King Label goes to bed,] Also hevy As Ony Erthly Manne, And warned his Barouns Everichon, 'that Nyhe hym Comen scholde neuere on; [ 508] Whethir he be freend other kynnes man, Ny hym Scholde Comen non Maner of Man.' So that they kouered the kynges pavyloun, that of non wyht he scholde heren þ^e sown, [ 512] and Also that alle Maner of Clerte From that kyng defended scholde be. The Kyng on his Cowche was leyd Anone, And to hym Self he Made ful gret Mone [ 516] For the wordes that Child Celidoyne [and moans over what Celidoyne has told him.] to hym hadde there seid In Certeyne. thanne gan he to wepen wondirly Sore, With wryngeng of hondis, & ȝit Mochel more, [ 520] that the water of his Eyen Ran by hym Adown, [He weeps bitterly,] Al Abowtes his body there In virown; And thus to his persone he gan Compleyne of Manye Caytyvetes tho In Certeyne: [ 524] "Ow thou now ful powre Caytyf, [says he's a poor caitiff,] With owten Counseil, & Cursid Of lyf, that Neuere ne woldest Counseilled be to non good lyveng, In non Maner degre, [ 528] that the myhte Counseille thy sowle to save; [with no one to save his soul:] Swich Maner Counseille wost thou not have! Now, fals Caytyf, here schalt thou deye [he shall die;] As the porest man In the world trewlye. [ 532] "Whedir schalt þou go, thou Cursed Caytyf, [and where shall he go?] Whanne from thy body Is past thy lyf?

What, trowest thou, Caytyf & wrechche Also, thy Crowne to have whanne þou dost go, [ 536] Owther thy Septre In thyn hond? What, wenest þou to ben kyng of a lond, And to haven lordschepe As thou hast here, And therto so moche welthe In Alle Manere? [ 540] [King Label says that he has] A, thou Caytevous kyng In Alle Manere, With Owten Cownsil that the konne lere! Now atte ferste myhtest thou knowe that þou hast non Conseille, neþer hy ne lowe. [ 544] [no counsellor.] A, kyng and Caytyf Also, With owten Ioye Art thou Euere Mo. For this that me clepeth the prykke of deth, Whanne that Eche man schal lesen his breth, [ 548] thanne forsaken Me bothe Modir & wyf, And Alle the peple that Evere boren lyf; For there kan non of hem Alle tellen what Aventures me schal be-falle [ 552] [None can tell him what shall befall him when he quits this world.] Whanne owt of this world that I schal gon, What Aventures me scholen fallen vppon; Whethir Riche other powre that I schal be, Owther A man of lowere degre, [ 556] Owther At Ese, Other At non Ese. "O caytevous kyng, ho schal the þere plese? O thou wrechche and Ek Caytevous kyng, that hast here So gret A gaderyng, [ 560] And so Manye worschepis As thou hast here! O, powre wrechche, what schalt þou han Ellis where? And whanne hens that thou schalt go, thow nost whether to Ioye oþer elles to wo. [ 564] Now, Caytevous kyng, Remembre the wel Of Alle thy lyveng Everydel; And ȝit, powre Creature, whiles þou Art here, Conseille the bettere, and In Other Manere; [ 568] For At thine choys now shal it be, [Now he must choose joy or punishment.] Whethyr to Ioye oþer to peyne þat thou wilt fle,

Whanne Owt of this world thou schalt pace, thow wost neuer Into what Manere of place. [ 572] "For of this worldys Ioye Inowh haue I, [King Label has enough of this world's joy:] As mochel As Ony Erthly man trewly that Evere of myn Age was born— As I have Rehersed here beforn— [ 576] But for As Mochel As that I have knowenge that this worldis Ioye nys but sorwe & mornenge, And that In Morneng schal ben the Ende, Alle sweche as I am Euere forto schende, [ 580] thanne knowe I wel that In Every Owr the Ioye of this world Nys but dolowr, [it is but sorrow and wretchedness.] Wraththe, Envye, and wrechchednesse; this hath me thus browht In distresse. [ 584] thus thanne be my self now may I knowe, that Alle my Ioyes to sorwe ben torned On A rowe. "A, kyng Caytyf, whanne thou hennest dost go, And Into what place þou Nost, ne whedyr to, [ 588] And whethir that sorwe schole Euere hauen Endynge, Owther Ellis Endelesly to ben lastynge! O most vnworthy wrechche that Evere was, Now þ^e Ende of thy lif Aprocheth In this plas, [ 592] [His end draws nigh.] And the begynneng of thy Sorwe & Care Now hast thou fownden Every whare. Now bethenke the, the moste wrechche þat euere was born, [leaf 40] why ne wost thou knowen this here beforn? [ 596] For he that knoweth Alle Manere of thing, [God has reprovd him,] Of hym it is to me ful gret Reprovyng; and he that knoweth Alle thing that is Comenge, and that to me hath now sent this warnenge, [ 600] [and warnd him] Whethir þat I wele Chesen Ioye other peyne, [to choose either future bliss or pain.] he hath me warned now In Certeyne." And thus In sweche maneres, & In Mornenge, the kyng there fyl tho On Slepinge; [ 604] Al be-wept lik As he there was, he fil on slepe In that plas. [There is no new chapter in the Manuscript.]